Chapter 186: 185

Chapter 185

Sungchul found a carriage as well as two tamed horses on his way to Ixion by chance . So Sungchul followed the main road without a care in the world riding the carriage he happened upon . Soon, he came across a few people still living in the area . They were people who did not run away from the eastern regions .

It seemed as though these people were greatly afraid of outsiders . Just by noticing Sungchul approach from afar, they ran home and hid themselves .

Sungchul intentionally hurried past the villages .

“What kind of place was Ixion?”

Sungchul briefly fell into thoughts about the past at Bertelgia’s question before he answered .

“It’s a small country . It also had a Magic School . ”

“Was it better than Airfruit?”

“Well . I don’t know, but I do recall that it was treated as one of the top schools in the eastern regions . ”

The wealthier eastern regions of the continent had higher population and levels of education compared to the rest of the continent . Though it had no large nation nor powerful armies, it was far more plentiful in talented individuals compared to the central or western regions . This is why it was no surprise to Sungchul that hidden masters like Phoebe Canvas or Angelo Rooks have appeared from the eastern regions .

This was why the Emperor did not wish for the various nations of the east to bind together . If a grand nation spanning the entire east were to be formed, it could pose serious challenges to the hegemony of the Empire . The Kingdom of Ruteginea regularly invaded the east to haul away a great number of orphans and slaves to crush potential rivals ahead of time, but the Emperor used sly political maneuvers to control the east . Ixion was one of the resting points for Sungchul in the past when he was taking a trip in the region .

“…Ixion’s king looked unremarkable and was small in stature, but he was a remarkable man . He opposed the creation of the World Parliament until the very end . ”

“I wasn’t curious about the king though . ”

“The only thing I remember is the king . The streets were decently beautiful, but it was a country without distinction . ”

Sungchul remembered something as he was speaking .

“Ah . There’s that too . ”

“What?”

“There was a restaurant that made an unbelievable Onion Soup . There were probably no store in the entire continent that could make as good soup as that restaurant . ”

“Again, again with eating . ”

“…”

Bertelgia did not enjoy the topic of food all that much . Inhabiting a body that is unable to eat must be one of the reasons, but it seemed as though she didn’t find much pleasure in food from the start .

“Then what do you enjoy?”

It was the first time Sungchul asked Bertelgia about her taste in food .

“Me?”

“Yes . ”

Bertelgia fell to her side on the seat of the carriage and fell into thought for a moment before she seemed to remember something and replied in a merry tone .

“Grasshopper . ”

“Grasshopper?”

“Yeah . You have no idea how tasty it is if you remove the legs and roast it over a fire!”

This made Sungchul think to himself .

‘And who was it that complained when I ate Fat Innkeeper worm?’

Sungchul does not eat grasshoppers . It wasn’t like he completely refused to eat insects, but he didn’t eat them unless they were a kind of a delicacy, as opposed to a substitute for food .

“To be honest, there wasn’t much else to eat back in my day . The weather was terrible all the time, leading to a chronic famine . We’ve had to often live off of grass and the like . ”

Bertelgia replied in a timid attitude for once .

“Really?”

“Although it did seem like the Seven Heroes ate good food . The reason why I said before that Desfort was a good person was because he brought food with him as a present each time he came to our house to visit . ”

“I see that he’s not fundamentally a bad man . ”

The journey continued . They arrived within sight of Ixion . The shape of a Colossus could be seen in the distant horizon .

‘Is that the city said to be made overnight? I can’t find anything that looks familiar . ’

The closer they got to the city, the more Sungchul felt that this was not an emergency city erected hastily . Tall and magnificent walls that surrounded the city, and the numerous spires that rose above them; It didn’t look like a city that was made overnight at all . Once they reached the walls, Sungchul saw that as opposed to a defensive structure, the walls were essentially a piece of art in their structure and decoration .

But the thing that was the most concerning was the unnatural energy surrounding the entirety of the city . Several types of boundary barriers as well as barriers of unknown function completely covered the city . It looked like it wouldn’t be easy infiltrating this city from below or from above . Sungchul fell into thought after seeing the city up close .

‘The scariest thing about this city might not be the fact that it was made in one day, but rather the formations that surround the city . ’

Under the walls were a gate guarded by Magic Swordsmen .

Once Sungchul reached the wall, they blew on a horn .

“Are you the Destroyer?”

One of the guards approached Sungchul and asked courteously . Once Sungchul nodded, the gates were opened . Beyond the gates were a large crowd .

“Please go ahead . ”

The guards politely invited Sungchul in . Once Sungchul passed through the barrior and entered the walls, the citizens all bowed in Sungchul’s direction in unison .

“It is the visit by the great Destroyer!”

“All, bow in respect to the Destroyer!”

A sudden festival seemed to erupt in the otherwise quiet ivory colored city . A large assortment of bells began to ring without pause as flower petals were scattered in the wind . Lively music could be heard all over .

It seemed like the residents of Ixion were full heartedly welcoming Sungchul’s arrival .

“What is this? This is somehow scary . ”

It wasn’t strange for Bertelgia to tremble . This was the first time Sungchul received this kind of welcome upon becoming the Enemy of the World .

“…”

But even more suspicious than this was an eerie flow that permeated the city . He couldn’t pick out exactly what, but the very air seemed fundamentally different and unnatural . As if the order of another world was in play .

The reason why Sungchul was reacting sensitively to such a thing was because he had a similar experience in the past .

‘I get the same unnatural feeling as the time I was on my way to meet god . Although it’s clearly different from that…’

But whatever were to appear, there was not a thing in this world that could harm Sungchul . Sungchul continued to look around as he thought as such .

Sungchul noticed that there was a statue that took place all over the city . A strong male figure with four arms . It was a being that was more mystical, like a demon or a god, than a man .

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‘Just what is this? It’s a figure I’ve never seen before . ’

There were far too many similar statues to pass it off as a whimsical creation of a random sculptor . Sungchul asked a soldier who was walking alongside him .

“What is that?”

The soldier smiled as he responded to the question .

“It’s the guardian of the city, Sidmia . ”

“Sidmia?”

It was a name he has never heard before .

“I’m an outsider so I don’t know very much about it, but I’ve heard that it’s been worshiped as the guardian deity of Ixion since long ago . ”

It’s the first he’s heard this .

Although he was hunted as a heretic, Sungchul had known about Ixion since long ago . Let alone Sidmia, he’s never even seen a single statue like this before .

‘How strange . For a city made overnight to be a center of a pagan religion . ’

Sungchul quietly walked through the city as he gazed over the crowd of people who all looked his way with a smile and look of wonder .

At the center of the ivory city and under the Colossus was Vestiare’s palace . Vestiare was waiting for Sungchul at the entrance of the palace along with smaller versions of herself acting as maids .

“I’ve been waiting for you, Destroyer . ”

Vestiare gave a refined smile as she courteously greeted him .

“What are you scheming?”

Sungchul’s tone was cold despite having been given a grand welcome involving a great number of people . He judged that the current situation was concealing malicious machinations of Vestiare .

“What do you mean by scheming? All I’ve done is do my due diligence in treating you in a way that you deserve . ”

Vestiare replied to Sungchul as she looked him straight in the eye . She then led Sungchul inside . Sungchul followed her without a word and entered Vestiare’s palace under the Colossus .

Once they entered a reception room that was decorated in pure white tones, small Vestiares served them with tea and snacks . Bertelgia gave an uncomfortable reaction upon seeing the children Vestiares .

“What’s up with them? They’re not Homunculi nor Fairies…”

“There is no point analyzing behaviors of evil magicians, Bertelgia . ”

Sungchul picked up a steaming cup of tea and gave it a taste . It was of highest quality . It lacked the stench of poison . Sungchul boldly drank the tea . It had an as exquisite taste as its aroma . However, the snack was not up to par in his opinion .

“How is it? The tea and snack I’ve personally prepared?”

Vestiare appeared alone in the reception room as he was enjoying the tea . Sungchul glared at her as he gave a gruff reply .

“The tea is top quality, but the snacks are mediocre . ”

“Oh my, what a strict evaluation . ”

Sungchul quietly watched Vestiare take a seat in front of him with openly hostile eyes . Once she was seated, Sungchul cut to the chase .

“Why did you call me?”

Vestiare smiled with her eyes as she took a sip of her tea . Sungchul couldn’t help but acknowledge that Vestiare’s level of beauty was difficult to match by anyone on the continent .

‘She would probably be considered a top beauty even among the High Elves . ’

But he has far surpassed the age where he would be tempted by her appearance . Nevermind that his body was not one that could in the first place . Vestiare drank her tea under the cold glare of Sungchul before meeting his eyes with a graceful stare .

“You have no reason to fight us . ”

“Are you wanting some sort of cease fire?”

He was about to say that she was saying the same thing as Dragoman . It wasn’t out of consideration for Dragoman . Sungchul simply did not want to reveal to Vestiare that he obtained information from him .

“I have learned the reason why you have abandoned your place among the Thirteen Champions of the Continent and left on a journey . There were a few interesting facts . ”

Vestiare put down her tea and analyzed Sungchul . She could not find any kind of reaction from Sungchul .

“So?”

All he did was give a surly reply . Vestiare continued with a faint smile .

“I’ve learned that you’ve been living happily after adopting the daughter of the princess of Ruteginea . Until she was brought to the brink of death due to the Curse of Extinction . ”

“…”

“Curse of Extinction . ”

An indecipherable smile appeared on Vestiare’s lips .

“I’ve heard that it’s been widely accepted that the curse is divine in nature and therefore unbreakable . ”

“What is it that you want to say?”

“The Curse of Extinction is not impossible to break like it is commonly believed in the current era . ”

“Are you saying that there is a way to undo the curse?”

Vestiare nodded with a smile at Sungchul’s question .

“Yes . ”

Sungchul had an uncomfortable recollection upon hearing this . He recalled the prank by Sajator’s remnant long ago in the Summoning Palace . Sungchul had been greatly enraged at the time, which led to him vowing to kill Sajators and then carrying it out .

“There is something I want to show you . Since you look like someone who trusts his eyes more than his ears, simply showing you something is probably going to be more effective than giving you a long explanation . ”

Vestiare stood up from her seat

Sungchul suppressed great many questions and suspicions as he got up and followed her .

Vestiare walked to the back of the palace . Once he reached the back gardens, the form of the kneeling Colossus blocked his view . Sungchul glared at the Colossus and spoke .

“Are you saying that there is something to see inside of the Colossus?”

“No . It’s below . ”

Vestiare pointed at something below the Colossus .

Under the shadow of the Colossus was a domed building the size of a mansion .

TL Note: The comment about onion soup makes me think the eastern region is actually kind of like idelic medieval France .

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