128 Chapter 127: Soul
"It was quite difficult to lead everyone at first but I got used to it, teacher. It is similar to a shogi board except it is in real life."
"I wasn't mistaken about you. This is where your strongest talent lies."
As their time passed by, Nobu got to know many things.
For once, the statuses of his friends had risen by a level or two. The Artemis Familia members alone are now sitting at Level Four, with Rethusa being at Level Five. Hephaestus Familia also welcomed Tsubaki's ascension to Level Seven.
The most shocking things, however, are the special ones among them.
Lili, for instance, had reached Level Eight by continuously diving into the Dungeon's lower floors. The encounters against Monster Rex and her ability to defeat them played a part, too.
Still, she lagged behind an even monstrous Aiz. With her direct lineage being from a Great Spirit, she wasn't far off from reaching Level Nine. She is currently the strongest adventurer in Orario.
Although, Lili chose to hide her real level, being Level Seven on the official papers.
"I had a talk with Aiz-san. Her presence alone is enough to completely shock the world."
"You wanted to be the contingency plan. It's a good decision…"
Inwardly, Nobu's thoughts ran far and wide.
'I had a bad feeling when I returned to our world.'
Despite the fact that he successfully killed Kenjaku and the Black Dragon, he still hasn't forgotten about the vision he saw in Glastonbury as well as Kenjaku's dying words. Nettesheim's disappearance is also concerning.
'I really have to start working tomorrow. I had enough rest.'
As he made his decisions, he chose to warn Lili.
"...My world is currently undergoing drastic changes. I don't know if it would affect the connection to this world. If, on the off chance, we lose contact, I will leave the planning up to you."
"...Understood."
Seeing her immediate understanding, Nobu saw how she learned many things while he was away.
"There's still the others…"
Aside from Lili, the three girls directly taught by him—Haruhime, Filvis, and Ein—are all at Level Seven. The same went Riveria and Lefiya.
Their special circumstances alone caused them to easily grasp Mana Furnace. This was something to be expected during the 'Age of Gods' in this world where talented individuals appear at a large amount.
Most importantly, they are all centered in a single city, making it extremely easy to disseminate such advanced techniques.
Overall, Orario currently has more than ten Level Seven and two Level Eight. The power of half of these people could be further propelled by two levels through Mana Furnace and Haruhime's enchantment magic.
It isn't wrong to dub this current trend as "Orario's golden age".
"Right… Do you want to settle the odds from the gods who gave you that nickname?"
"No… but what do you mean, teacher?"
"It's just that… I could tear open a hole in Tenkai and throw them back there. Then, I'll bring them back here. Isn't that a good payback?"
Nobu's playful side emerged at this moment.
*****
'Lili's reaction when I threatened to throw them back…'
The tip of my mouth raised up.
With my current level, it should be enough to tear open a hole to their spiritual realm and interact with the higher-order beings residing there. I already have a certain level of confidence even without [Ein Sof]. Now that I have it, I could pull that off better.
Pssshk-!
With a swipe of my index and middle finger, I opened a 'pathway' to a familiar place. The atmosphere within the dimly-lit throne room hasn't changed. The pressure coming from a god's Arcanum still existed here.
However, things are different now.
"It has been quite some time, Ouranos-sama."
"Indeed, foreigner."
As usual, the robed old-man, Ouranos, sat on his throne as he continuously used his Arcanum. He is the sole god privileged to be able to use it in Gekai.
"I presume you are the one responsible for that white light… as well as the obliteration of the Black Dragon."
"Yes. I claim that as my doing."
I am not as reserved as before. Back then, I readied for the possibility that Ouranos had ill intentions against me. I didn't have to worry about that now, at the very least.
"There is still Antares in the Far West, but it won't be for long."
"..."
If the Black Dragon was unforgivable, Antares is something I would like to tear apart with my own hands.
It caused the entire Artemis Familia and Artemis herself untold suffering.
For a moment, a portion of my psychic chill was unleashed.
"What do you seek to do upon your return?" He asked.
"Nothing much. I would simply like to maintain Gekai's current stability. For that to happen… I will announce my current status to the entire world."
"...I see."
From the beginning to end, I didn't seek to take over a world, much less Gekai. All of my efforts until now are due to the threat of the Black Dragon. Forming a circle of influence is a secondary effect.
Even then, it could still be maintained to remain as a 'neutral force' that could either ensure peace or fight against a single threat within Gekai.
Declaring my current status to the entire world will completely stabilize it.
For a few seconds, Ouranos silently looked at me. It was as if he was thinking of something.
'Taking over the world, perhaps…'
"I will inform Royman to do as such."
"I will have to thank you."
I spoke before making a slight bow.
"Right. I want to ask something."
"Go ahead." Ouranos replied.
"Is Alfia still inside the dungeon?"
Before I come home, there are still two matters I have to settle. Alfia's well-being is one of them.
From what I've heard from Lili, she helped them several times during their dungeon dives. However, she wasn't seen by them for a few months by now.
"Even a small sign would help." I added.
"...Sigh..."
Ouranos sighed as if reminiscing about something.
"She will die. That was the message she left Fels with."
"I understand."
After bidding farewell, I cut a pathway directly to the dungeon's depths.
*****
"Archiatius, overload." (Mana Furnace, Overload.)
Zoom-!
In an instant, an indescribable pressure swept over the fifty-eighth floor. The monsters who felt it instantly ran away. Bits of frost were condensed on the uneven floor.
Tap-!
Tap-!
The source of the pressure is a man wearing a pair of black overcoat and pants. His white hair contrasted the black outfit, yet it still fitted him well.
A brief glimmer passed by his golden pupils.
'Alfia…'
Nobu recalled the woman whom he coincidentally met as he dealt with the Demi-spirits. Turns out, she was the one behind their moves as a means to let Orario grow stronger against the Black Dragon.
Having faced it, Nobu is aware of its true strength. If not for the fact it dove straight to his trap, he wouldn't have been able to deal with it that easily.
To put it simply, it is a worthy foe against a Magister on the same level as Suimei.
If the people of Gekai faced it without the Modern Magic System he introduced, it would be an extremely arduous battle.
'...There.'
As he stepped forward, he suddenly disappeared before reappearing to somewhere else. Nobu touched a portion of a dungeon wall before letting out a unique signature.
Psshk-!
It retracted before revealing a hidden room. It is a simple space made by hollowing out the dungeon's walls. It has a wooden desk, shelf, and a bed.
Lying on top of the bed is a silver-haired woman.
Briefly, Nobu looked at her and saw that she wasn't breathing anymore. On closer look, he discovered that her ethereal body is still present.
'She's still alive… but not for long.'
He frowned before activating all nine of his mind partitions. 387 million thoughts passed by his head as he sought for the solution to her predicament.
'I currently have five chances.'
The two chances were spent on using [Ein Sof] against Kenjaku and reviving Suguru Getou. Those actions alone brought a special-grade sorcerer and Satoru Gojo's trust on Nobu's side.
'This illness… It's quite strange. Why does it remind me of the Heavenly Restriction?'
Toji and Maki Zen'in could not utilize a single bit of cursed energy. In turn, they have an insane physical strength—enough to put special-grade sorcerers to shame. It is similar to the saying "You gain something, you lose something."
Alfia is extremely talented, to the point she could learn Mana Furnace two months upon contacting it. That was how she managed to prolong her life until now when she was supposed to die two and a half years ago.
If the price for her absurd talent is an illness, it could be seen as an equal payoff.
'Was it something imposed by the world? Or is it something that came with her talent?'
Nobu is very familiar with 'fate' and how it could affect people. Suimei, for once, carried a fate that enabled him to directly fight against the looming end. He is the one destined to bring an end towards the end.
Toji and Maki Zen'in also touched upon this subject. Their fate is a form of shackle. Only when they "break" their fates would they be able to access their insane physical prowess.
In Maki's case, it is the death of her sister that pushed her to be complete, thus breaking her pre-determined fate.
'To solve things at their roots…'
In the end, Nobu decided to resolve everything on their roots.
He started by taking out several metal boxes and placed it all around the room. It serves as an 'amplifier' of what is about to come.
'Studying Mahito for a few days yielded some results…'
Out of every force in his world, the magicians and sorcerers contended on which one knew soul the most.
Despite being imprisoned, Nobu could still make several findings from Mahito, the special-grade curse who could manipulate the soul at will. That was a feat not even the magicians could do easily. He is simply that special of an existence.
In simplest terms, the physical body is the representation of reality, the astral body is a slight projection of the soul, and the ethereal body (soul) is the blueprint of the former two.
Alfia's illness affects all three of them. By curing it, she would be able to achieve her "peak" state—to utilize her talents to their fullest.
As for how to do that…
"It'll rely on yourself, Alfia."
