The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 338

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 338. Gray Zone (2)
Iliana remained unreachable.
Not a single word of contact had gotten through to her.
“Perhaps she’s busy?”
That was certainly possible.
During my time with the Allied Forces, such situations arose frequently enough.
Being holed up in the Underground Vault for days on end.
Losing track of time while absorbed in research.
She had even deliberately severed all outside contact before.
“There was a risk she might spiral out of control, after all.”
Iliana’s Peak Intelligence [A+].
Her intellectually sensitive nature meant that everything in the world acted as mental stress upon her.
So it was possible this was happening now as well…but.
“Still, something feels off about this.”
Off was off, no matter how I rationalized it.
For one thing, Iliana hadn’t broken down.
Unlike in my previous life, Iliana was remarkably stable now.
Therefore, there was no reason for her to deliberately cut off outside contact due to mental stress.
“She could be conducting research or exploring ruins, but….”
I needed to find out exactly what was going on.
* * *
A spire that soared so high it seemed to pierce the very heavens.
Hundreds of layers of magical circles interwoven along the tower’s surface formed a colossal mana circuit unto themselves.
The cradle of all mages across the Continent.
Langritd Magic Tower.
It was no exaggeration to say that all the knowledge of the Continent was preserved here.
Therefore, its systems and regulations were equally stringent.
In other words, those who could systematically manage such precious knowledge were essential.
“Iliana, I think it’s about time we organized the Library!”
Deputy Archivist Gwendolyn.
The reason she heaved such a deep sigh today.
That woman simply hadn’t changed at all.
“How many days has she been cooped up in the Library now?”
She no longer even bothered to respond.
Gwendolyn shook her head in resignation.
She knew that stubborn streak could not be broken.
“…Sigh, I’ll organize things and head out first.”
Gwendolyn gathered several grimoires in her arms and moved her feet.
The silent Library.
Only the sound of turning pages echoed intermittently, and it was at that moment.
“This is…!”
Iliana’s eyes widened in shock.
One page, then another.
Her hands trembled violently as she turned the pages.
And when she reached the final page.
“…I have to tell Adrian.”
Cold sweat drenched Iliana’s palms.
…She had to tell him.
She absolutely had to reveal this truth to Adrian.
Iliana bolted to her feet.
It was at that moment.
-Truth is not always the right answer, so sometimes wisdom lies in knowing when to turn away from it.
A chilling voice brushed past her ear.
Iliana’s head turned slowly.
The silent library.
Between the bookshelves shrouded in darkness.
Someone stood there.
A blurred silhouette.
The figure obscured by shadow remained ambiguous.
-Thus, the wise do not pursue truth, but sometimes choose silence instead.
Iliana’s hands trembled.
She swallowed hard, her throat constricting.
-In that sense, there are no fools quite like mages.
Click. Click.
The mysterious silhouette stepped out from between the shelves.
“You are…!!”
Iliana’s eyes flew wide open.
The being now revealed from the darkness.
This entity was every clue she had pursued.
Erased and distorted records.
Deliberately concealed gaps.
It was the being hidden behind all those lies.
Iliana had finally uncovered the truth.
And thus, the identity of that being.
The truth she had discovered was… cruel.
“Mages will claw and dig, even if truth is poison.”
The library space convulsed in an instant.
Shadows draped between the shelves rippled as if alive.
Iliana instinctively stumbled backward.
But she clenched her teeth.
I clenched my trembling hands as I spoke.
“The truth exists there, which is why it’s being uncovered.”
Iliana kept her eyes fixed on the presence in the darkness.
“As long as you exist there, someone would have dug it up even if it weren’t me.”
“….”
“Just as hiding the sun and claiming it doesn’t exist cannot stop the sun’s warmth from enveloping The Continent, so too is it with truth.”
The Library’s magical lamp flickered.
The surroundings were engulfed in an ominous aura.
And the presence in the darkness spoke.
“How bold.”
The voice was quiet.
Yet it was cold as winter frost.
“And equally foolish.”
A chilling sensation crept up the nape of Iliana’s neck.
“The sun gives life from a distance, but as it draws near, it burns away everything. Truth is the same.”
“….”
“That is why I have hidden the truth from sight. So it cannot be known, cannot be approached.”
“….”
“That is the nature of truth.”
“….”
“It must shine softly within ignorance. If you recklessly unearth it, your eyes will be blinded by that light.”
When kept at a proper distance.
When one remains properly ignorant.
When it exists at an unreachable remove.
“Truth possesses its greatest and noblest value.”
Those who seek truth are wise.
Those who find truth are fools.
The presence in the darkness looked down at Iliana and whispered.
“I shall grant you mercy.”
With those words, a sphere materialized before Iliana.
A sphere of azure light.
Centered on the sphere, the Library’s air seemed to shatter, and silence dominated the space.
“It is the Sphere of Oblivion.”
The presence in the darkness spoke softly.
“It will help you forget all the truths you have seen, heard, and understood here.”
“….”
“You can return to your peaceful, ordinary life.”
Opening your eyes in the morning as always.
Conducting magical research as always.
Living and laughing and talking as though nothing had ever happened.
“Then everyone will be safe, and no one will be hurt.”
Or.
“We die miserably, having glimpsed the cruel truth.”
Live as a sage, turning away from truth.
Die as a fool, having grasped it.
Iliana answered without hesitation.
“Even if it makes me a fool, I won’t turn away from the truth.”
Even at the edge of the Battlefield, I hunger for truth.
Iliana drew forth her crimson mana.
* * *
“As you instructed, Adrian, I mobilized every connection Schönne had—known and unknown alike—and conducted a thorough investigation!”
Adlern wore a confident expression.
It seemed he had achieved something.
Adlern cleared his throat and continued.
“Academic societies across the Continent, Merchant Guilds, research institutes, noble houses, Back Alleys—even other Magic Towers—I combed through them all!”
“Just the results.”
“…Unfortunately, I couldn’t establish contact with Iliana.”
And then Adlern’s expression grew dejected.
His confident demeanor vanished without a trace.
I wondered why he’d been so confident in the first place.
‘Wasn’t he like this when we first met?’
It seemed so.
Adlern truly hadn’t changed at all.
In any case.
“Was such a scattered investigation really necessary?”
Academic societies, Merchant Guilds, research institutes, noble houses, Back Alleys.
Even other Magic Towers.
It was excessive just to contact Iliana.
Investigating only the Langritd Magic Tower would have sufficed.
“That’s the thing. A few days ago, the Langritd Magic Tower entered a Sealed State, so we had no choice.”
“A Sealed State?”
“Indeed.”
Adlern nodded and continued his explanation.
“As you know, Adrian, when a Magic Tower enters a Sealed State, all external communications are severed, are they not?”
I knew that much.
Which was why I was puzzled.
“The Langritd Magic Tower sealed itself?”
The Langritd Magic Tower was far removed from such measures.
The cradle of all mages across the Continent.
The Langritd Magic Tower, entangled in complex interests with multiple Kingdoms.
If I sealed the tower, the ripples would spread across The Continent immediately. Throughout history, I knew of no precedent for such a sealing.
In other words.
‘This never happened in my previous life…?’
I asked Adlern.
“What’s the reason?”
“There’s been no official announcement. But this Schönne!”
Adlern thumped his chest rhythmically as he spoke.
“She mobilized every connection she had, every connection she didn’t have—”
“Just the conclusion.”
“…Apparently it’s to focus on ultra-high-level precision magic research.”
“Ultra-high-level precision magic?”
“Yes, sir.”
Adlern nodded and continued.
“Schönne didn’t hear the details either, but it’s supposedly magic that requires extraordinary precision control.”
“So they sealed the tower for that?”
“They’ve entered a temporary closure state to prevent external interference and magical disturbances.”
“So it’s a temporary sealing?”
“Yes, sir. They plan to reopen within a month.”
But until then, it remained sealed.
Meaning no contact whatsoever from the outside was possible.
Even mages affiliated with Langritd Magic Tower couldn’t make contact except through pre-authorized channels.
“Schönne attempted contact through the Predator Merchant Company’s sponsorship lines, but everything was blocked.”
“Hmm.”
I fell into thought for a moment.
Even calling it a temporary closure, this level of sealing was thorough.
“But why sever all communication lines entirely?”
“Due to the nature of precision magic, even the slightest magical vibrations or external information exchange can act as variables.”
I understood.
But I wasn’t convinced.
“And you don’t even know what precision magic they’re researching?”
“That’s correct.”
Adlern glanced around before whispering carefully.
“…Something smells off about this.”
I shared that sentiment.
But I couldn’t act on mere suspicion.
“Schönne’s instincts tell her this isn’t simple research.”
“What’s your evidence?”
“If Langritd Magic Tower simply wanted to research quietly, there’d be no reason to announce a sealing so publicly.”
“Hmm.”
That was certainly true.
A public announcement issued, all external contact severed, even sponsorship lines rejected—and the entire Magic Tower sealed shut?
“It seems as though they’re being excessively cautious, sir.”
“The intention behind the closure isn’t seclusion, but rather blockade?”
“That is Schönne’s assessment, sir.”
Adlern continued with a grave expression.
“They’re not attempting to avoid external interference—they’re drawing a firm line against the outside world. As if—”
“They’re trying to hide something.”
“Precisely, sir.”
Adlern clapped his palms together and nodded in agreement.
I gathered my thoughts methodically.
Iliana, unreachable.
The Langritd Magic Tower, sealed.
And an excessively thorough external lockdown.
For all of this to be coincidence seemed far too convenient.
“…I’ll need to visit the Langritd Magic Tower directly to learn the truth.”
Adlern responded immediately.
“Schönne has already attempted such a visit, sir.”
Adlern paused briefly before continuing.
“However, all entry routes have been blocked. Even your identity as Adrian, sir, was deemed inadmissible at the gates.”
Currently, I was the talk of the realm as the Dragon Slayer.
Even with the tower sealed, it would be difficult for them to refuse me outright.
Yet they had refused nonetheless—a stark declaration that they would sever all contact…or so it seemed.
“It matters not.”
There were ways to breach the seal and enter.
* * *
The Langritd Magic Tower.
The Elder Council Chamber, situated in its lofty and silent upper reaches.
Magical runes adorned the chamber’s ceiling, where enchanted luminaries cast their radiant glow.
Dozens of elders sat gathered around the central circular table, conducting their assembly.
“All internal corridors within the tower shall be sealed.”
“Even the examination wing and research wing?”
“Yes. Each sector will operate independently. Unified assemblies are forbidden.”
The elder’s words drew nods from the others assembled.
Then, in that very moment.
Whirrrr!
The magical artifact sphere embedded at the chamber’s center pulsed with azure light.
The elder gestured, and a translucent human silhouette materialized in the air.
“What is the matter?”
-A visitor has just arrived from outside, sir.
“Do they not understand the tower is currently sealed?”
-I am aware, but since the visitor has been classified as a VIP guest of the highest order….
“Who is it?”
-The name was Kim Fujiwara Bloodhound.
In that instant, the eyes of the elders wavered.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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