CH 95

4th Awakening.

When I saw those four letters while playing <The Abandoned World> in my previous life, I was puzzled.

[‘Isn’t the awakening of transcendental people up to the 3rd Awakening?’]

As I was sure, it was right that Transcendent awakening is only up to the 3rd awakening.

What users called the 4th Awakening was a fraudulent item released for high-level users during the summer vacation in the game.

‘The item’s name was probably <Heart of the Black Forest>.’

In other words, a magic item that can temporarily buff a character.

TL: A buff is an effect that strengthens an in-game character.

I heard that if you use that item to temporarily boost your stats, you will become superior in every way to a Transcendentalist who has completed the 3rd Awakening.

but…

‘I can’t get it, the difficulty level of getting it is really high.’

Most of the items were very difficult to acquire as they were new items for high-level people who could easily get them.

Three SSS-grade minerals can be obtained by digging 999,999 minerals.

And in the game, it is said the super-expensive items and divine powers I had to combine to make them.

Even in the world I live in, the setting of the game was strictly enforced.

‘Most of the top-level minerals are still buried in the ground, so you won’t be able to buy them with money.’

Minerals like Aquarine and Rose Quartz, which I love, were not rare, but low-level minerals.

But the top-level minerals, which contained ‘spiritual power’, a different kind of magic, were at a different level.

‘If you think you can’t buy it with money, you can dig it up. Likely, they’re still buried.’

Luckily, I had a rough idea of where the minerals needed for the combination came from.

I wouldn’t have been able to do it alone, but now I have plenty of people willing to run around with pickaxes for me.

‘As expected, this is the best way to protect the children.’

Daniel and Lydia, who completed their 3rd awakening at a young age, were exceptions.

Damon and Arsene had yet to reach the 3rd awakening, which was only possible when they faced unbearably painful trials.

And, I didn’t want my kids to go through that ordeal at a young age.

“Vikram. To protect the children, I think we need magic that allows them to temporarily exert their powers in case of an emergency.”

“A magic that has that kind of effect, um…”

Vikram rolled his eyes as if nothing came to mind, then looked at the flask containing the Fog of Fall.

“You’re not saying that you’re going to use this to strengthen the bodies of the youngsters.”

“Of course not. No matter how much power is needed, I wouldn’t do anything that would strain their bodies.”

It is morally and ethically wrong to do such a thing.

‘How much does the Fog of Fall affect a person’s body?’

When I added that it was not the Fog of Fall, Vikram seemed to think for a moment, then lit his eyes and asked.

“Your Highness, Grand Duchess, do you have any new inventions in mind?”

If it was an invention, was it an invention…?

“Sacred Tower or a masterpiece like the Sacred Tower.”

Vikram’s eyes, which had been tired enough to believe that he was a zombie rather than a human until just now, had a strange look.

“Inventions like the sacred Tower?”

“New research…?”

The wizards, who were each doing their own thing in the lab, stood up straight like a meerkat who discovered something and started snooping in my direction.

‘People who are really serious about their research…’

Inwardly, I admired their enthusiasm and craziness.

“It’s just a concept for now. As I have seen in books before, I think using top-level minerals can help children defend themselves.”

“When the draft comes out, be sure! Please share with me.”

Vikram reacted the same way he did when he first saw the jewels being enchanted.

I felt reassured that he would help me with my research even if I didn’t try.

“Okay. First of all, I think I need Wiz’s help. The first thing to do is to collect information about the highest quality minerals…”

Talking to Vikram, take a moment to think of top-level minerals that have appeared in the world today.

‘wait for a sec. The lands where the top-level minerals were said to have been owned by Grand Duchess Prause, aren’t they?’

It never seemed to be a coincidence.

[“Because buying land that smells divine is a hobby that Grand Duke Prause has had for generations.”]

Especially since I remembered what Daniel said when I was buying the land to build the sacred tower the other day.

I started to have reasonable doubts.

‘I don’t think it’s the divine scent that dragons smell…?’

* * *

A few days later.

At the imperial palace, preparations were in full swing for the elders’ meeting, where officials gathered among themselves to look at major issues in state affairs and decide future policy directions.

‘Today, everyone is dead.’

Peter, a low-ranking official in charge of opening the door and guiding the elders to their seats, though.

It was far from always a lively atmosphere as it was a place where high-ranking officials who liked to weigh things gathered, but it had been a long time since such a gloomy atmosphere.

‘It was just like this when Count Vliette said he touched the fog of corruption.’

Well, it was no wonder the elders were so grim.

It was after Grand Duchess Prause repaired the ‘Divine Barrier’, which could be said to be the symbol of the emperor of the Obelir Empire.

Most of the elders who oversaw state affairs with the emperor supported the crown prince.

It was natural that Duke Gelon had strengthened the function of the Council of Elders for convenience in the first place.

However, there were signs of a tectonic shift today.

“We can no longer ignore the influence of His Highness Prince Prause. Honestly…we are not the servants of the Duke of Zelon, are we?”

The subject of the bomb remarks was Count Baines.

He was younger than other nobles, so he was always interested in the world and newspapers.

He was also the favorite elder of Peter and other low-ranking officials.

“Count Baines. You’d better speak carefully. Even before the arrival of His Highness, the Duke of Gelon…”

“Count Aren. Even if you say so, you are agitated by my words.”

“hmm…”

Count Aren, the second most influential noble after the Duke of Jellon in the Council of Elders, stroked his beard without answering.

It was because he knew that everyone in this room agreed with Count Baines’ words.

“I know you have a penchant for new things, but be careful. Hasn’t the Council of Elders already decided to swear allegiance to His Highness Tahar?”

“Of course it was. Even right before the undead monsters broke the barrier, didn’t you schedule for His Highness Tahar’s coronation ceremony?”

“….”

The elders only cleared their throats for no reason but did not open their mouths first.

Not only those present here but also the people who paid little attention to the Mage Tower knew one thing.

“Honestly, did the Magic Tower deceive Duke Gelon and secretly study the Fog of Fall? It must have been ordered by the Duke of Gelon.”

“That’s it…”

Duke Gelon drew the line by killing the owner of the tower and floating it in the river, but that was just to buy time.

“We are supporting the crown prince to stabilize the political situation, not using the fog of Fall to turn a family into a royal family that does not know what to do with the empire.”

“Count Baines!”

Count Aren stopped him.

However, it was not yesterday or today that the Duke of Gelon’s excessively arbitrary behavior was noticeable.

‘Especially now that Grand Duke and Duchess Prause have grown enough to keep Gelon in check, their actions are more noticeable.’

To the silent elders, Count Baines hit the decisive blow.

Tuk!

“This is <Obelir Post>, a general information magazine published by the Holt Company these days. Look here.”

[The new mansion of Grand Duke Prause and his wife]

The one-page leaflet showed the location of the mansion that the Grand Duke and Duchess had recently purchased.

“It means that he will use his power even in the capital’s political world.”

“That’s right. If he thinks that the Duke of Gelon is so corrupt, wouldn’t that noble Prause step forward?”

Yes. The Grand Duke must know the situation better than we do to say that he is researching and securing materials from the Magic Tower.”

“The Grand Duke did not purchase the mansion simply for His Highness the Grand Duchess, who was concerned about His Majesty’s health.”

A shadow fell on the faces of the elders.

In the past, it had been easy to decide what course of action to take when there was only Tahar as a possible successor.

After thinking about it for a while, Count Aren decided to take a conservative stance as usual.

“For now, let’s wait and see Grand Duke Prause’s actions.”

“What?”

“The Grand Duke will know that it will be quite troublesome if he goes head-to-head fight with the Duke of Gelon, so he may have bought a mansion just for warning and check—”

It was before Count Aren had finished speaking.

Tok Tok!

Someone politely knocked on the door. Peter opened the door slightly.

“His Highness Grand Duke Prause sent a letter.”

“Grand Duke Prause?”

Count Baines opened the letter himself and quickly skimmed through it.

The Grand Duke’s clear handwriting and outspoken content of the correspondence came out with exclamation.

He handed the letter to Count Aren and said,

“Count Aren. It looks like Grand Duke Prause will fight until the end.”

“What…?”

“The Grand Duke has informed that he wants to participate in the Grand Founding International Conference, where only politicians from the capital will participate.”