Chapter 17: The World Situation
Starfall Year 834, December 7th, Northern Lands, Moldavia Territory, Main City.
A month had passed in the blink of an eye since the trial on the Ural Plains concluded. As Saint Lawrence Cathedral rang out the seasonal bell of the Winter Moon, the entire city was shrouded in a sky-obscuring blizzard, covered in endless white. Farmers and hunters who had toiled for a year rested in their warm homes. Workers expanding the city halted construction as the violent snowstorm raged. Most adventurers, for once, settled down, moving instead to taverns to boast about their experiences over the past year.
Due to Moldavia Territory's pioneering formal exploration, information regarding the Divine Calamity Mist began to spread throughout the entire Empire, and indeed across the entire continent. Factions that had originally cautiously sealed off these unknown regions began to try and exploit them instead. Of course, they lacked the boldness of warriors, sending hundreds of elites to participate in the trial collectively. These factions sent their elites one by one to explore the rules of the Divine Calamity Mist trial. Some achieved certain results, but the vast majority of explorations ended in failure. Many powerful figures, frustrated and envious, sighed that their side lacked a Legendary expert like the Northern Lands to hold the line, and dared not take too great a risk.
Of course, none of this had anything to do with Moldavia. The entire main city was now immersed in a relaxed yet hopeful and vibrant atmosphere. The smiles on the residents' faces were more numerous than in the past few years, or even the past decade, combined.
The head of the Radcliffe Family, who ruled this land, the Count of the Northern Lands, had advanced to Legendary. The impact of such an event on a city, on a territory, surpassed many people's imaginations. Besides the increasing number of adventurers drawn by the reputation, there were tangible benefits.
First, there was the tilt of Imperial policy. To congratulate the Lord on achieving Legendary, a decree was issued from Morlai Palace on the very day the warrior returned to his territory. Almost all merchant guilds established in Moldavia were astonished to discover that they no longer needed to pay the cumbersome tariffs on trade routes. Furthermore, many previously restricted precious strategic materials and luxury goods were now opened for trade with them. That was for commerce. Regarding construction, the Imperial Royal Family generously allowed Moldavia to expand freely towards the Great Aias Mountains, "until its territory befits the status of a Legendary expert."
There were numerous other benefits, too many to list. Besides those from the Imperial government, there were also overtures from many other noble families. While sending congratulatory gifts, many great nobles with eligible daughters in their households tried every way to find out what "that one" preferred. After all, that person was only in his early twenties and had already achieved Legendary, with at least one or two hundred years of prime ahead of him. If a marriage alliance could be successfully arranged, it would mean their family would have the greatest and most solid backing in the world for the next one or two centuries.
One must understand, other Legendary experts either already had families or were itinerant, single-mindedly pursuing truth or Holy Light. Even if there were suitable candidates, they were at least a hundred years old. Setting aside whether they would accept, if one actually married their daughter off to such a person, the sycophancy would be far too ugly. But that one in Moldavia was of the right age, reportedly still single, without even a lover. This level of high-quality stock was practically unique in the world. If the investment succeeded, the returns would be truly astronomical.
Of course, it wasn't just about that. Some noble families didn't have daughters, but they had sons! Upon learning that the Legendary warrior was indeed planning to take on a few students recently, these nobles were even more excited than those with daughters. In the cold relationships of noble families, except for a few that still retained warmth, daughters were mostly tools for marriage alliances. Only sons received rigorous training. This meant their children had a better chance of becoming the warrior's students.
One must understand, in a world with supernatural power, "the inheritance of power" is infinitely more important than "personal connections." Many nobles would deliberately send their children to serve as attendants under certain experts. After all, for most powerful figures, familial affection and romantic love must yield to interests. Only the power grasped in one's own hands is true and real, the greatest interest in this world.
If their children truly became the warrior's students and received a Legendary inheritance, even if bound by oath not to pass it on, it was still a possibility leading to the summit. For such a possibility, many would sacrifice everything.
In all discussions about the warrior, his name never appeared.
Yes, throughout the Mycroft Continent now, in all newspapers, books, and news, the warrior's true name was no longer used. Instead, various epithets and titles were employed. In fact, aside from Saint Eagle, the Pope of the Church of the Seven Gods, revered by tens of thousands, the names of most Legendary experts almost never appeared in print or speech. Even Israel, as Emperor, was most often referred to as "Imperial Emperor" or "Sky Dragon Knight." Some said it was a sign of respect; others claimed that Legendary experts had reached an extraordinary level, and merely uttering their names would allow them to sense it.
However, another major event was gradually replacing the craze over the newly emerged Legendary expert, becoming the hottest topic of idle conversation.
About half a year ago, in the western mountain region of the continent, an elite adventurer team hired by Grand Duke Roman was exploring the mountainous area when they accidentally discovered a deep abyss hidden within a gorge. It led deep into the earth, with underground rivers flowing along the way and numerous luminous fungi providing light. Following the river downstream, the team was shocked to find a gigantic, vast cavity hidden beneath the mountains. This underground cavity was nearly the size of a duchy, or even larger, supported by countless stalagmite-like stone pillars. Along the riverbank, the adventurer team also found traces left by intelligent life. It was a finely crafted Adamantite longsword. The incredibly tough blade showed obvious damage, and there was residual blood on the hilt. The surrounding ground was pockmarked with countless craters tens of meters wide, the aftermath of Gold-rank, or even Ultimate-rank, magical bombardment.
Undoubtedly, intelligent life existed within this enormous underground cavity. They possessed technology strong enough for fine Adamantite processing and at least Gold-rank combat power. Other types of fungi grew around the luminous fungi of the underground world. After attempting to consume them, the adventurer team immediately realized these were a food source very suitable for large-scale cultivation in the underground world. Some special fungi even had effects similar to magical plants. After detailed study by alchemists, they might even replace some expensive potion ingredients.
Undoubtedly, this seemingly barren underground world, with only mushrooms, was actually a treasure trove of gold.
The adventurer team hurried back to the Roman Duchy to report. The young and vigorous Grand Duke Roman, only in his thirties, immediately recognized this as an unprecedented opportunity. Since the adventurer team was too powerful, he chose cooperation over silencing them to keep the secret. This was undoubtedly a wise decision. The generously rewarded adventurer team did their utmost to lead the Grand Duke's army to seal off the mountain area at the first opportunity, securing the entrance to the underground abyss.
The news was kept secret for half a year. Only now, with winter's arrival making supply transport for the stationed army difficult, the Roman Duchy could no longer hide its actions. Under probing harassment from neighboring countries, the young Grand Duke had to withdraw his army and spread the news of the underground abyss entrance to the entire world. By this time, the Roman Duchy had already used its army to harvest mountains of magical fungi and had begun attempting to cultivate those fast-growing edible mushrooms in suitable environments.
"The underground world, huh."
In the study of the Lord's Manor in Moldavia's main city, Joshua looked at the latest issue of the Mage Weekly in his hand. Spellcasters were always full of enthusiasm for exploring new things, let alone those magical mushrooms. After skimming through at least fifty pages of papers on those peculiar fungi, the warrior finally found the part he was interested in: "No traces of an underground civilization found yet? That makes sense. The Dark Elf Kingdom should be in the midst of civil war right now, and the Stone Dwarves have only recently gained independence from the Dark Elves. They're busy fighting for their lives in the central area of the great cavity and haven't moved towards the edges recently. It's normal that Grand Duke Roman hasn't discovered them... Hmm, should still be Grand Duke now?"
By his side, Rin, who was processing official documents, had grown accustomed to the various novel bits of information Joshua casually uttered. Although the black-haired boy didn't know that every word the warrior spoke would cause a huge stir outside, he understood that Joshua wouldn't talk to himself without reason.
So, he temporarily put down his pen, turned his head, and asked, "Master enjoys this kind of news? Should I order a few more similar publications? Winter has come, and those adventurers are quite idle. If we issue a quest, many would be willing to take it."
"No need." Joshua shook his head. "It's just new maps and new races. Not much to do with us."
As the Magic Tide descended, more and more new races would appear on the continental stage. Besides the Dark Elves and Stone Dwarves who had revealed traces in the western mountains, the Fishmen along the eastern plains' coast, whose fertility had greatly increased due to rising mana concentration, had also abandoned their usual low profile and begun frequent harassing actions. Influenced by them, the Siren race, which had been unheard from for centuries and almost become a legend, would also send envoys in the near future to cooperate with the Seven Luminaries Council.
The Far South region, ravaged by Mad Dragons and in ruins, temporarily lacked the energy to explore unknown areas like other regions. They were merely doing their best, with the cooperation of the Church of the Seven Gods and the merchant alliances, to restore cities that had been reduced to rubble. As many nobles and local great families had died fighting the Mad Dragons, the reborn Far South Kingdom began generously enfeoffing the now-uninhabited lands to experts who had rendered meritorious service in the war. Consequently, batches of new nobles started toiling diligently for their own territories. Beneath the surface, undercurrents surged, and a conspiracy targeting the Far South royal family was slowly taking shape.
As for the Empire, it was said that the Fairy race, which had once assisted the founding Emperor of the Northern Empire in establishing the nation, had some scattered members stepping out of the "Fairyland" located outside the world, seeking things that interested them. These pure energy beings, no larger than a normal person's finger or at most a palm, possessed the most exquisite and powerful magical item forging capabilities in this world. They were the only beings, besides the gods, capable of forging "Holy Swords," those divine artifacts.
"Master!"
From outside the study came Firefly's crisp voice. Joshua had long known of the girl's arrival, but he only now turned his head towards the door. After opening the door, the silver-haired girl immediately reported, "Those students from Winterfell Academy have all arrived. When do you plan to receive them?"
"Right now, I suppose."
Casually putting aside the Mage Weekly in his hand, Joshua first closed his eyes, doing his best to restrain the naturally overflowing aura from his body. Using the method taught by the Nature Mentor, he subtly suppressed most of his external pressure. Then he opened his eyes and said to Firefly, "Tell them to come in one by one to see me. Let them be at ease. This is just an assessment, not really taking on disciples."
"Yes!" The girl replied briskly, then trotted out with light steps to inform the guards at the Lord's Manor entrance.
Inside the study, Rin also stopped his work, temporarily excused himself, and left the room for Joshua and the students he was about to assess. The warrior watched the boy leave, then looked up at the ceiling carved with simple patterns.
In his mind, he recalled the scene from a month ago once more.
The Chaotic Void. A long path of light composed of countless worlds stretched towards the distant multiverse. The spectacular, breathtaking river of stars flickered. That was the path the Sage had trodden, the worlds he had passed through.
The being of immense power, surpassing gods, who had defeated the Abyss and Chaotic Evil, after leaving behind the means to restore his homeland, resolutely embarked on a solitary journey. Why did he do this? What was his goal? What truth had he learned that made him so determined?
All truths were shrouded in mist, yet all clues pointed back to that erased period of history.
"The Lost Three Hundred Years." The warrior murmured softly to himself. "How rare. It's actually piqued my curiosity."