Chapter 12: Let Us Lead Them Forward
Opening the thick solid wood door, what came into Priest's view was a pale golden crystal lamp in the style of ancient Edda religious art. He raised his head and looked around, seeing light sandwiched between white and gold filling the entire octagonal hall. Priest immediately noticed a rotating rune pulsing at the center of the crystal lamp, providing bright yet non-dazzling magical illumination.
This was the communication hall of the Champion Academy Castle, housing thirty-two powerful communication artifacts capable of cross-continental contact, along with eight private communication rooms. Because the students and teachers of Winterfell Academy were not necessarily all locals, the academy had specially built this communication hall for those whose hometowns lay on the other side of the continent to speak with their families. Apart from the public instruments in the hall, if one wished to discuss conspiratorial topics, they could also apply for soundproof rooms for extended conversations.
Inside the hall, five people were contacting distant relatives. They noticed Priest's arrival but paid him no attention, continuing their own conversations.
"There's nothing bad about it except it's a bit strict... Mm, the teachers are all too strong. I feel somewhat oppressed. Those are the only flaws; I can't find any others." A young woman in expensive attire.
"Yes, Dad, I have enough money here. No need to wire any. The cost of living in Moldavia isn't high—it's even cheaper than in our Merchant Alliance." A woman who appeared to be a young lady.
"Don't worry, Mom. The academy's courses are very detailed. The tutors back home are only Silver High-rank, but here at the academy, any random instructor is Gold-rank... Oh, and can you believe it? Recently, the swordsmanship teacher took leave, and the substitute was none other than Mr. Brandon of the Kaos Family! That's an Ultimate-rank expert! Too bad he only came to guide us for one class." An ordinary-looking man, but with what seemed to be an Imperial Capital noble crest on his chest.
"Father, we must accelerate the popularization of mana technology within our territory. Don't be stingy with funds. Here under Count Radcliffe, I can feel the tide of the times—if we don't look forward, we will undoubtedly be eliminated." Another man with a noble crest.
"I'm fine, don't worry. The mission is simple. My squad and I are confident we can make the top ten. Once I achieve a ranking next time, I'll return home and marry you." A man with an upright posture and plain clothing.
Voices of varying sizes and tones, male and female, came from all around. Priest paused slightly in his steps, but the information terminal on his wrist flickered with a cyan-blue glow, guiding his direction. Following the terminal's instructions, he chose private communication room number 02.
Arriving at the door of the room, Priest raised his hand, letting the information terminal align with the magic array on the doorframe. With a cyan beam of light shooting from the terminal onto the array, the door opened with a faint hum, and Priest strode inside.
The private communication room was simply decorated—white paint, wooden chairs, and a ceiling. Facing him, he could even burp, proving that Priest's psychological resilience was indeed very strong.
Regarding Priest's performance, Joshua was unperturbed. After laughing heartily a few times, he seriously answered all of Priest's questions: "First, why choose you... Priest O'Minney, don't underestimate yourself. You are the student with the fifth-highest written exam score, first in practical combat, and second overall in this new student assessment. Choosing you is only natural."
"Secondly, while the matter of the External Exploration Department hasn't reached the point where absolutely no one else can know, if you learn about it and decide not to join, the academy instructors will erase this memory from you. Do you agree to this?"
"I agree."
Without any time to think, Priest answered directly.
"Very good."
Joshua nodded pleasantly. "Next, I speak, and you listen."
Joshua's narration was not long. In a brief explanation of less than three minutes, Priest clearly understood the true nature of the 'Imperial Foreign Exploration Department.'
It was a department dedicated to exploring worlds beyond the Mycroft Continent. Its purpose was to conduct large-scale reconnaissance and observation missions of the outside world, organized into squads or individuals. Within the department, all members were extraordinary—each capable of standing alone and solving the vast majority of problems. Even if you weren't elite at the start, it would forge you into the elite of elites.
It was independent of the Imperial Military and had no connection to the Imperial Royal Mage Association. It was directly subordinate to the Imperial Royal Family, a brand-new department. For this reason, it screened talent across the entire empire, not even letting slip a small fry like Priest, who had yet to fully mature. If he chose to join, Priest would become a seed of the department, receiving full cultivation, and might even achieve Ultimate-rank in the future.
This was an opportunity.
The man knew this deep in his heart. Without a doubt, this was a chance to change his fate, to change his future life. Priest felt his heart beating faster, and surging blood began to heat his entire body—a department prefixed with 'Imperial,' one that even a Legendary expert took so seriously, would undoubtedly pour the entire empire's strength into its projects... Was there a better opportunity? If one wanted to become a strong person, could there be a better chance than this? There was none.
However, exploring other worlds? That was even more distant than escorting a merchant caravan to the other side of the continent, and about as dangerous as surveying the Abyss...
Thinking this, the shadow of his sister Brandy appeared in Priest's mind for an instant. He hesitated for a moment, the vow he had once made to never be separated from her echoing in his ears... But soon, he hardened his heart and made a decision.
I'm sorry, little Brandy. Although living in Moldavia during this time has been pleasant and relaxed, happier than ever before... But that alone is not enough. Indulging in this shallow happiness only corrodes my spirit.
What I want is not just these simple 'happinesses.' What I want is absolute 'peace of mind.'
Closing his eyes, Priest had already made up his mind: Without a doubt, only by gaining greater strength could he better protect his sister.
After the mad dragon disaster that had taken almost all of his family, Priest had understood this truth: if one merely remained an ordinary person, then in times of crisis, they could protect nothing. When disaster struck, his father couldn't protect his mother, his mother couldn't protect his younger brother, and he himself couldn't protect his family. He could only desperately save his sister from the dragon's claws and flee the village... But how many times in a lifetime could such a life-or-death miracle succeed?
Entrusting one's life to the mercy of fate was the most laughable thing of all.
Yes, Priest had come from the far south of the empire to Moldavia simply because it was safer here, under the protection of a Legendary expert, than anywhere else. Living behind the wall called 'the shelter of the strong,' he could lead a comfortable and peaceful life—no need to explore distant lands, no need to choose divergent paths, no need to worry about the unknown beyond, no need to guard against potential dangers. Everyone could live a happy and easy life with the gradually popularizing mana technology, spending their entire lives that way.
But people cannot stay within the walls forever, always being the ones protected.
Priest wanted to become the wall that could protect his sister.
This was his choice. The man would never regret it.
"Why me?"
Asking the initial question again, after learning the information about the Imperial Foreign Exploration Department, Priest became even more puzzled: "My results might indeed be outstanding, but the empire has so many Gold-rank and Ultimate-rank experts... and you, Dean, a Legendary who can freely enter and leave the Abyss. If it were them, or you, exploring worlds, wouldn't the efficiency be countless times faster than ours?"
To this, Joshua behind the light screen shook his head, his expression somewhat impatient: "You didn't understand what I said... Very well, I'll explain it to you in the simplest terms."
"Priest O'Minney, I chose you for many reasons."
In the shadows, the warrior slightly narrowed his eyes. Two points like sparks of red light flickered in the darkness as he calmly said: "You have exceptional talent. Even before coming of age, you possess divine strength that can temporarily wrestle with a green dragon. Your combat talent is top-notch. Even without breaking through to Silver-rank, you could defeat a Silver Mid-rank magical beast in the illusion test."
"You have no parents, meaning no elders to constrain your actions. You have a sister, meaning you still have ties to this world. You have friends, trust in companions, a positive personality, firm beliefs, strong psychological endurance, excellent overall mental quality, and good moral character."
"Priest, exploring other worlds requires the elite of humanity. The reason Israel and I don't choose those older Gold-rank or Ultimate-rank experts is simply that they don't qualify as elite. How can these fellows, who don't even understand basic surveying equipment, mathematics, or geography, shoulder the great responsibility of surveying humanity's path forward? Rather than cultivating these people who only know how to fight—well, let me rephrase, those who fight without using their brains—as members of the exploration team, it's better to train newcomers like you from scratch."
"Most importantly." At this point, Joshua sighed: "Different worlds have different reactions to supernatural power. Some are lenient, some are repulsive. These people who became Gold-rank in the Mycroft World have already been branded with Mycroft's mark. If the foundational world is similar, it's fine, but if the differences are too great, then Transcendents who haven't reached Legendary-rank will either self-destruct or be severely suppressed in strength."
Without any concealment, revealing information that only Legendary experts could understand, Joshua, who had traversed many worlds and felt the repulsion of various Steel Forces, spoke of the greatest difficulty in exploring the multiverse: "They simply cannot become members of the exploration team."
Hearing this, Priest, who had been listening intently, was stunned: "Eh, if that's the case, then if we become Gold-rank, won't we also be repulsed?"
Joshua gently shook his head and smiled: "This is precisely the reason for choosing young people like you, who have talent but haven't yet set foot on the path of the supernatural."
As he spoke, Joshua slightly raised his head. Behind the light screen, he seemed to be looking up at the ceiling, his gaze as if piercing through the sky. With a tone tinged with a hint of amusement, he said: "You will be sent into the void outside the world, into the Myriad Realms Sacrificial Ground, one of the most special places in the multiverse. You will live, train, receive various teachings and assessments there, and thus acquire supernatural power that is universally applicable across the multiverse."
"You will become Transcendents completely different from those of the past."
After speaking, Joshua's gaze dropped, looking directly at Priest. He said: "Now, Priest O'Minney, tell me your decision."
Was there even a second choice?
Priest stood up. Facing the light screen, he bowed his head, knelt on one knee, and spoke in the most sincere tone possible.
"I am willing to join!"
...
"Wasting so much time on this young man... Joshua, are you too idle? The information terminal's servers aren't that stable yet. You could spend your time checking on them."
In the Lord's Manor study, Nostradamus sat on the sofa nearby. The old mage watched Joshua close the light screen before him and complained somewhat dissatisfied: "A full twelve minutes. He's just a talented young man. There's no need to be so serious."
"You're wrong there. Treating everyone seriously can never be called a waste of time."
Beside him, Joshua, who had picked up a book again, shook his head. He took a sip of tea: "Moreover, Priest is no ordinary person. I've looked into his past. Do you think an ordinary person could, at eighteen, drive off a young green dragon and then run twenty kilometers with his sister to take refuge in a fortress?"
"Oh? So, does that mean this little fellow..."
Hearing this, Nostradamus also sensed something was off. He frowned and said: "Is he a descendant of some divine bloodline? Or the cross-generational bloodline of some Legendary expert?"
"Don't always resort to bloodline theory, Nostradamus. Don't you dislike nobles? Rather, it's precisely because he has no bloodline at all that I pay so much attention to him... Most importantly, I really like his character. Not content with ordinary happiness, wanting to hold his fate in his own hands—this is the seed of a strong person in my mind. Lisa meets this standard; Ivan and Alva are still a bit lacking."
"And besides, I do feel a bit emotional."
His gaze fixed on the words in the book, Joshua read the content while speaking in a barely audible voice: "Although I've said this often before, repeated it to the point of numbness, I still can't help but say it again... This is the era of the Great Magic Tide. Saints descend, heroes rise, the Abyss lurks, and evil gods spy."
The most glorious, the most beautiful, and also the worst, the most detestable era.
"Nostradamus."
"Hm? What is it."
"A new generation of strong people is about to appear."
"I know."
The old man chewed over his own words. First, he frowned slightly and sighed, but then he smiled and shook his head: "I'm not old yet."
"I know."
Joshua replied like that. He recalled the blessing that the Sky Lord Gael had given to this era before his passing—a blessing for future generations to surpass them, to go further than them, to reach places they had never reached.
And so, the warrior smiled faintly and said: "So, let us lead them forward."