Ludger thought about the existence of the gods.
Once, many gods had existed in this world. Great and small, strong and weak. Each possessed their own traits, and together they created the world in harmony, mingling with their creations.
But that world met its end due to Lumenis’s betrayal.
Lumenis betrayed the other gods, stole their names and authorities, and imprisoned them beyond a distant dimension.
It was an utterly selfish desire—to monopolize this beautiful world for himself alone.
And so Lumenis proclaimed himself the one and only god, founded the Lumenis ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) Church, and ruled the continent for a long time.
‘But not all gods were driven into another dimension.’
The prime example was the Goddess of Dreams.
She had not been cast out into a sub-dimension, but instead lay in an unending sleep deep within the deepest layer of Dreamland.
That didn’t mean her authority had weakened, either.
Just the act of her awakening and stretching had exerted a tremendous influence from the dream world upon reality.
Because the goddess herself did not desire that outcome, she fell back into slumber and the situation calmed—but it was more than enough to prove that a god still existed somewhere in this world.
‘And now, this continent called Hyperborea that suddenly appeared.’
A new continent said to lie beyond the Heavenly Sea after passing the northern continent.
Something that had long been dismissed as mere legend was now confirmed to have been observed, so its existence could be considered certain.
‘If it’s an unknown continent where nothing has yet been uncovered, there may be something else there that we don’t know. Perhaps mysteries we thought long extinct are overflowing there.’
If one were to compare it to Earth, it would be something like the Arctic. Compared to the Eastern Continent, its scale might not be large, but the size of a continent did not dictate the value of the mysteries it contained.
‘In fact, precisely because it was hidden in secrecy until now, the odds are higher that something lies there.’
Others had reached a similar conclusion.
That was why they were hastily assembling expeditions and trying to head for Hyperborea.
“You told me all this because you want us to seize the relic before it falls into the hands of other dangerous people.”
After all, this involved Demon King worshippers and remnants of the Bretus Theocracy.
He couldn’t even imagine what would happen if a relic fell into the hands of people like that.
The moment they committed some mad act in hopes of resurrecting the past, the continent would be plunged into chaos.
As the Emperor of the Empire, Aileen had to stop that at all costs.
“I’m aware there are plenty of other capable people besides me.”
At that, Aileen snorted as if the idea were absurd.
“Well, it’s true there are outstanding talents. There’s Sir Lutus Wardot, and his disciple, Sir Alex. Beyond that, the Empire has many master-class knights and great mages. But even so, I judge that it’s still not enough.”
“And I am enough?”
“That degree of modesty is a sickness. At this point, I’m tired of arguing about your abilities. So I’ll speak plainly. Will you help me confirm the existence of the relic and retrieve it?”
Aileen spoke to Ludger with the solemnity befitting an Emperor.
No matter how personal this meeting was, it was effectively an imperial command.
For a citizen of the Empire, it would be difficult to refuse.
But Ludger thought seriously about it.
Imperial law? An imperial edict?
None of that had any influence on him. He was a grand mage who stood above such rules.
Aileen knew that as well. She knew that if Ludger refused, there was no proper alternative.
“I’ve only just returned to Seorn and am in the middle of adjusting to life as a teacher. Personally, I’d prefer not to be bothered by outside interference unless absolutely necessary.”
At Ludger’s words, tinged with faint skepticism, Aileen, Hans, and Elmarra all tensed.
Depending on whether Ludger was involved or not, the ease of everything that followed would differ by an entire order of magnitude.
“Still, a new continent and a relic there... I can’t deny that it piques my curiosity.”
Hyperborea, a land that existed only in legend.
And if traces of an unknown god remained there, wouldn’t it hold great value just to see them?
Of course, there might be nothing at all. But even that would be fine.
At the very least, there would be relics—and perhaps even the ancient civilization that gave rise to those relics.
At the same time, Ludger understood why Aileen had called for him.
‘If someone who can move faster than anyone else, even beyond the continent, takes on the job, I’d feel reassured too.’
With a faint, inward chuckle, Ludger spoke to Aileen.
“Partly out of personal curiosity—and partly because you’ve shown me consideration before—I’ll accept the request.”
“Is that so. That’s truly a relief.”
Aileen smiled broadly, as if she had expected this.
“If we’re going, it’ll have to be over the weekend.”
In that sense, it was fortunate that he was the Special Class instructor.
If it had been regular classes, it would have been difficult to make time.
“Hans has already prepared the materials in advance, so you can receive a briefing from him.”
“Couldn’t you have just ordered everything done? Did you really need to come in person?”
“This concerns the fate of the continent. How could I simply sit back and issue orders?”
That wasn’t just a statement made to preserve appearances.
Aileen von Exilion.
She had once nearly been overthrown by a coup, and had nearly lost the nation to Liberation Army terrorism and the Bretus Theocracy’s machinations.
She overcame countless crises to ascend to the throne.
Though her usual demeanor was cold and severe, her desire for peace was second to none.
Ludger knew that, which was why he listened to her and accepted her proposal.
‘The Bretus Theocracy may be finished, but the continent’s situation is still unstable. In fact, with Lumenis’s oppression gone, everything that had been suppressed is now rising to the surface all at once.’
When bubbles that had been sleeping in the depths all surged upward at once, conflict and chaos were inevitable.
‘I was hoping to live quietly and comfortably for once, but I guess that was never going to be easy.’
Still, he didn’t find it all that regrettable.
As someone who also wished for peace, he didn’t want to see events that would cause further turmoil.
And perhaps it was because of the path he had walked until now.
Having traversed much of the continent, the idea of a place completely unknown to him stirred his yearning.
‘If I hadn’t become a teacher, I might have ended up as a wandering adventurer like that kid Aidan.’
Aileen asked,
“When will you move? You should at least make some preparations.”
“There’s nothing to teach anyway, so since we’re already talking about it, let’s move right away.”
“As expected, you’re quick to act. That’s why I like you all the more. It’s a pity—we finally met like this in private, but we don’t even have time to catch up.”
“We can catch up after I return.”
“Very well. With you taking charge, I can finally breathe easier. When you return, I’ll hear the report directly from you.”
With a faint smile, Ludger crooked his finger at Hans.
“Hans.”
“Y-Yes? Me?”
“Is there anyone else here named Hans? We’re moving immediately, so if there’s anything you haven’t packed yet, hurry and get it. We’ll need to move as fast as possible.”
“W-Wait a second, brother. Don’t tell me I’m going too?”
“Then who am I supposed to get the briefing from? And you’re the one who knows the most about that side, aren’t you?”
“Well, I mean, that’s true, but...”
Seeing Hans hesitate, Ludger let out a small laugh.
“Already living on a leash?”
Hans looked, for lack of a better comparison, like a married man so tightly controlled by his wife that he couldn’t even make plans to go drinking.
“No, Seridan wouldn’t stop me over something like that. That’s not the problem. If anything, I’m worried she’ll insist on coming along.”
“...Hmm. That could indeed be a problem.”
Seridan’s temperament hadn’t mellowed with age. There was a very real possibility that the moment she saw ancient ruins, she’d try to blow them up.
No—there was a near certainty she would.
Even now, living with Hans, she was apparently manufacturing all kinds of strange explosives.
Rumor had it that sometimes even military contractors came to seek her advice.
“So, you’re saying you’re not prepared? That’s not like you.”
“...Of course that’s not it.”
As he suspected.
Hans knew Ludger’s personality well enough to expect that the moment he heard the story, he’d want to move immediately.
The only thing Hans hesitated over was leaving for a long time without telling Seridan.
He looked at Ludger with a gaze tinged with desperation.
A look that said he couldn’t persuade Seridan himself, but surely his brother could.
“Hans. I’m not married, so there’s nothing I can really tell you.”
“Hah. I figured even you would find that difficult, brother.”
“Still, I can at least pass along some advice from those who went before.”
“T-That would be? I’m all ears.”
Hans’s eyes lit up as he perked his ears.
Aileen and Elmarra were also watching with clear interest, curious what kind of advice Ludger would give.
“Hans. It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.”
* * *
Bwaaaang!
At the harbor of a city at the far edge of the northern continent, Ludger was struck by a frigid wind blowing in from afar.
“Ugh. It’s freezing to death. I mean, I bundled up as much as I could, too.”
Beside him, Hans trembled as he complained.
After staying in the Empire, where spring had arrived, coming to the north where only bitter cold reigned made it inevitable.
Especially along the coast, where relentless gales howled without pause.
At present, Ludger and Hans were waiting for a ship to cross the sea.
“Brother, wouldn’t it be better to just use that spatial movement ability of yours and zip right over?”
With Ludger’s power to cross continents, there’d be no need to wait for a ship in such cold—they could go straight to Hyperborea.
“It’s a place I’ve never been to even once. Without knowing the coordinates, how could I move directly? I’d be lucky if I didn’t end up falling into the middle of the Heavenly Sea.”
“Ghn... I guess that’s true, but did we really need to come all the way to the Kingdom of Sevilla? This harbor isn’t that big—it’ll be hard to find a ship sturdy enough to cross the Heavenly Sea.”
Hans’s doubts were understandable.
“Don’t worry. There’s a reason we came here. Ah, and right on cue, there it is.”
From afar, a single ship could be seen approaching the two of them.
It was a fairly luxurious and large vessel.
Compared to the massive passenger liners others would take, it was less than half the size—but precisely because it was smaller, it looked faster and sturdier.
“No, wait—rather than that symbol carved on the ship... If I’m not mistaken, that can’t be...”
“Yes. It’s the emblem of the Selmore family.”
A premier magitech family of the Kingdom of Sevilla, one that had produced two Color Mages.
The ship bearing the Selmore family crest—stylized water and ice—soon docked at the harbor.
“No matter what, you can’t wander a trackless ocean without knowing the coordinates. So we had no choice but to seek the help of experts in this field.”
At that moment, someone leapt down from the deck of the docked ship.
Hans gasped and staggered back in surprise.
The person landed lightly in front of Ludger.
“Long time no see.”
As she pushed aside the sharp, cold sea wind, a fragrant scent of water tickled his nose.
Facing Casey Selmore, who greeted him, Ludger returned the greeting.
“Yes. Have you been well?”
“More or less. But I heard about it. You’re teaching again at Seorn?”
“It seems the rumors travel far. Well, things just turned out that way.”
“My, my. It suits you, but at the same time, it doesn’t.”
“That’s why I’m doing this as a side job.”
At Ludger’s joking remark, Casey laughed, shrugging her shoulders as if to say that was true.
Watching them, Hans’s eyes went wide.
Had those two always been that close?
At least from what Hans remembered, Casey had always bared her teeth at Ludger—more like a rival than anything else.
‘No, wait... more importantly... that look she’s giving him...’
Hans used to be oblivious to such things, but the moment he earned the label of a married man, he began seeing what he once couldn’t.
‘Huh. So that’s how it is.’
As Hans nodded to himself in understanding, Casey asked Ludger,
“So, why did you call me here?”
“I didn’t call for you specifically.”
“If you asked the family for help, that makes it my job. So what is it? Tell me. Ah—let me guess. It’s that, right?”
Casey already seemed to have figured out why Ludger was here.
“Hyperborea. The newly appeared unknown continent.”