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While the boy and girl calmed their emotional turmoil through the adults they could rely on, the adults had to continue doing what adults do.

“Even if we can’t do anything about all the terminals of Omphalos scattered across the world, at least we can’t leave them alone on this continent and its affiliated islands.”

“The Demon Clan’s goals, while different in scale compared to Omphalos, are equally dangerous. If their true intention is to rewrite the world’s rules, even if they don’t directly use Omphalos, significant world pressure will inevitably arise as they pursue their goals. In the end, it will only add more burden to Omphalos.”

Brantley Somz chimed in on Kaliastra’s words. His mention of “world pressure” was a problem that anyone involved in the path of spells couldn’t ignore, nodding in agreement.

“Well, this has truly become more than just one person or group’s problem.”

“This is different from the previous demon activities. It’s unavoidable, isn’t it?”

When Setanta grumbled, Sophia responded with a light smile. Setanta, who had been suspiciously glaring at her smiling face, suddenly let out a hollow laugh as if he finally understood.

“Huh, then I can guess why you came all the way to this forest. You want to borrow our influence, don’t you?”

Sophia nodded with a sly smile in response to Setanta’s question.

“Spot on.”

“Ugh, so you didn’t even bring up the matter and made us step forward on our own.”

Setanta, looking like he’d been tricked, continued.

“Indeed, what’s most needed now is control over the spell world. Whether it’s Omphalos or its terminals, even if someone finds and takes them, only spellcasters would know how to use them. Me, Kali, and that Skald guy over there could certainly influence most of the spell world on this continent.”

“Exactly. Brantley Somz has already agreed to cooperate with my plan. I came to ask for your and Kaliastra’s cooperation as well.”

Kaliastra asked Sophia, “What exactly do you want from us?”

After a moment of organizing her thoughts, Sophia asked Setanta and Kaliastra in turn.

“Setanta, you must have influence over the Druid community, right? The spell societies of Gallia, Caledonia, and the western part of the Empire are still heavily influenced by Druids, correct?”

“Mm, roughly.”

“The Alchemist Guild holds influence over Rotaringia, southern Franquia’s Occitania, and the eastern coastal regions of the Sea of Tethys, right?”

“Correct. You’re well-informed.”

“Then, with your combined influence, we can at least extend our eyes and ears over Franquia, Caledonia, Rotaringia, and the eastern coast of the Sea of Tethys. Assuming we get help from the Skald community, including Somz, for the spell societies of the northern Empire, the Jutland Peninsula, and the Baltic Sea region, theoretically, we could control all of Europe.”

Setanta, who had been grumbling earlier, nodded more readily than expected.

“Alright. After all, this is about the world’s safety. If I can help, I should.”

But then, Setanta’s expression changed, and he spoke regretfully.

“However, it’s a shame. As you probably know, Kali and I are currently tied up protecting the forest’s spirit veins. If we want to influence the spell society normally, we can’t just abandon our duties. If we leave our responsibilities and act recklessly…”

“We’ll lose that influence.”

“Exactly.”

Setanta clicked his tongue and nodded.

“As long as Ogma’s Oak Tree remains asleep, we can’t leave the forest.”

“Have you tried waking the oak tree?”

“Why wouldn’t we? It’s not like we want to spend our precious youth tied to this forest. But…”

“In the end, we failed miserably.”

Kaliastra continued after Setanta trailed off.

“Once, Setanta tried to communicate with the oak tree using Druid techniques, but it completely ignored him…”

“Another time, Kali tried to force it awake with an elixir, but it backfired. Oh, Kali was a sight to see then.”

“Setanta!”

“Hahaha, back then, the oak tree, rudely awakened, started sleep-talking violently…”

“Se‧Tan‧Ta─?”

“Whoa!”

As Kaliastra’s fingers, guided by the subtle techniques of Rotaringia’s guild swordsmanship, aimed for Setanta’s sensitive underarm, Setanta let out a somewhat frivolous scream while dodging. Sophia, watching this comedy with a smile, suddenly spoke up.

“That problem.”

“Huh? What problem?”

As Setanta reacted to Sophia’s sudden remark, Kaliastra’s fingers successfully pinched his side, eliciting a clear scream. Sophia then said, “That Ogma’s Oak Tree. I think I can wake it up.”

Both Kaliastra and Setanta froze.

+++++

“Let me take a moment to collect my thoughts. I’m a bit tired.”

After Sophia’s bombshell announcement and the ensuing intense discussion and meeting, Setanta rubbed his temples with his fingers and spoke.

“Alright, let’s take a break. Everyone probably needs some personal time, so let’s spend some time apart for now.”

With Sophia agreeing, the tumultuous tea party went on a brief hiatus. Setanta and Kaliastra, looking slightly apologetic, went into the hut to discuss something privately.

“Since it’s a rare chance to go home, Conra, spend some time with your parents today. It’s good to play the role of a son once in a while.”

Following Sophia’s words, Conra went with his parents, and Maria, caught off guard, was led away by Conra.

‘Seems like Conra has taken a liking to Maria. Whether he realizes it or not, I can’t tell.’

Recalling the subtle looks Setanta and Kaliastra exchanged when Conra followed Maria, Sophia smiled faintly.

Looking around, Brantley Somz had already left. Earlier, with Setanta’s permission, he had secluded himself in the library where Druid poetry and literature were stored. His beaming face as he entered the library looked more like a poet than a spellcaster.

‘Karl Hector Meyer seems… quite stimulated by the earlier exchange.’

Karl Hector Meyer was deep in meditation, holding his sword. He seemed to have gained significant inspiration from the earlier exchange between father and son. Even during the tea party, he had been fidgeting, eager to get up. As soon as the meeting paused, he went to a corner, drew his sword, and began a mental duel.

The subtle shifts in weight, friction, and recoil as weapons bound together in Karl’s mental duel hinted at how meticulously he recreated his imaginary opponent.

The realm of mental imagery was no easy feat, but Sophia believed a swordsman of Karl’s caliber could surely take that step.

In this world, swordsmen didn’t know internal energy manipulation, so concepts like sword aura didn’t exist. However, those who trained the Reverse Muscle Technique to its limits became embodiments of physical force, and those who reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship mastered techniques applicable in most battlefields.

Some from renowned families who learned unique Reverse Muscle Techniques could change their skin color, hold their breath underwater for long periods, or move as flexibly as mollusks, but these were purely physical traits.

However, they couldn’t emit energy to form protective barriers or sword auras to protect their swords or strike formless or distant enemies. Without relying on spell items or special elixirs, they had no means to protect themselves in higher-dimensional spaces.

But mastering mental imagery could allow even those without internal energy to surpass such limits. Just as main strength takes precedence over spell waves in the spell system, mental imagery could occupy a similar position.

Thus, once one reached mental imagery, even if abducted into a mysterious hyperspace governed by different laws, it wouldn’t be impossible to protect oneself with mental imagery, provided one maintained the mental strength to invoke it.

This might be a necessary quality to face high-ranking demons or higher-dimensional beings in the future. So, if Karl mastered mental imagery, it would be excellent for Sophia.

As Sophia remained alone, the spirit Lucas-Kukunis spoke to her.

{A moment, if you don’t mind?}

‘Hm, what is it?’

{About the conversation you just had with the Druid and Alchemist. You left out ‘Al-Andalus’ from the mentioned regions.}

‘Al-Andalus? Ah, Andalusia. You mean Hiberia?’

Sophia, momentarily puzzled by the unfamiliar name, deduced it from the sound and clicked her tongue.

‘Tsk, typical of someone from Anatolia to use such a baseless name.’

{You’re one to talk, calling someone’s hometown Anatolia. Anyway, forget that. Just answer the question.}

‘You sound like you’re delegating answers to someone. Well, it’s not a big deal, so I’ll answer. Yes, I intentionally left it out.’

{Why? I didn’t look into it deeply, but I thought that land also had Druid and Alchemist influence.}

Sophia raised an eyebrow at Lucas-Kukunis’s question.

‘You’re not even a spellcaster, yet you’ve grasped that much?’

{I was a pirate, you know. And pirates are often just honest merchants in peacetime.}

‘Honest, huh? That honesty must have dried up and died.’

{Grr… Forget about the definition of honesty. Why did you leave it out? Al-Andalus controls the entrance to the Sea of Tethys and can influence the Al-Tingar region through it, right?}

‘If you want to nitpick, Al-Tingar is a Bronze Age name. In modern times, it should be called Maghreb.’

Despite the banter, Lucas-Kukunis pressed on, and Sophia, clicking her tongue, decided to answer. After all, the spirit Drayg-Haegis, though silent, also seemed to be listening.

Suddenly, a small, milky-white figure resembling a young girl appeared beside Sophia. It was Gabrielle, her contracted spirit. Without a word, Gabrielle looked at Sophia with worried eyes. Sophia smiled wryly.

‘Really, being too closely connected can be a bit much sometimes.’

Being more closely linked than other spirits, Gabrielle could somewhat guess Sophia’s hidden thoughts. While this allowed for seamless coordination without prior communication, it could also be inconvenient at times.

In any case, Sophia needed to sort out the situation and her own state of mind. Answering the spirit’s question served that purpose as well.

Using her Qi Sense to confirm that Maria was far away with Conra, Sophia quietly began to speak.

 

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