The Omerion Mountains were a place where rugged mountains overlapped one after another.
The terrain was so complicated that even the Empire, which stood opposed to influential families across the continent, had given up on conquering it.
‘The Omerion Mountains....’
Wirn had visited the Omerion Mountains in his previous life as well.
Even then, he had come to subjugate Demon Worshippers.
‘They’re like cockroaches.’
Demon Worshippers.
Those who formed contracts with demons from the Demon Realm and wielded wicked black magic.
Wirn had spent quite a long time in these mountains dealing with them.
‘But I died before they did.’
Yet even by the time Wirn was executed, the Omerion Mountains had remained a haven for Demon Worshippers.
It was nearly impossible to eradicate a Cult whose hideouts twisted together like an ant nest.
RATTLE!
As Wirn was thinking about the Omerion Mountains, the carriage he was riding came to a stop.
“We have arrived at the Phantasmal Transit Array.”
The mage in the driver’s seat announced that they had reached their intermediate destination.
Wirn stepped down from the family carriage.
HUM....
A softly glowing spherical object came into view.
‘It’s been a while since I’ve seen one.’
Wirn stared at it.
The Phantasmal Transit Array was something developed as magic advanced.
‘At this point in time, it’s still something only the Daylin Family possesses.’
Its power was simple.
It instantly transported someone to their intended destination.
On top of that, it had the advantage of being able to move faster and over greater distances than a Teleportation Magic Circle.
“Wirn. Do you know what this is?”
Just then, Began approached Wirn as he examined the Phantasmal Transit Array.
Perhaps he saw an opportunity to show off his knowledge, because his shoulders were practically raised with pride.
“If you use this, you can arrive at your destination in the blink of an eye, no matter how far away it is. It’s also one of our family’s secret magics.”
“....”
Wirn blinked at Began’s explanation.
‘Look at the corners of this bastard’s mouth.’
He chuckled inwardly at Began’s openly smug expression.
His intention was painfully obvious.
Wirn could practically hear the thought in Began’s head.
You’ve never seen anything like this before, have you?
‘He wants to show off his dignity as the older brother. Something like that, probably. It’s obvious even without asking.’
Wirn looked at Began’s smiling face and considered whether he should play along.
“That’s an impressive spell.”
“Right?”
“Then could you explain the Phantasmal Transit Array to me in detail?”
“...Huh?”
Began flinched at Wirn’s question.
His proudly raised shoulders suddenly dropped, and confusion spread across his face.
“You’ve used the Phantasmal Transit Array several times, haven’t you? Then you must understand this magic to some extent as well, right?”
“....”
“And since you’re a mage who has reached the Third Circle, Brother, I’m sure you know all about it.”
By the time Wirn finished speaking, Began was opening and closing his mouth wordlessly.
‘I don’t know anything about it.’
Began himself knew almost nothing about the Phantasmal Transit Array.
It was still a realm far beyond what he could understand.
Giving a detailed explanation was completely impossible for him at his current level.
“O-Of course.”
But he couldn’t admit that here.
Wirn was looking at him with expectant eyes.
Besides, if he honestly admitted that he didn’t know, Wirn would surely use it as an excuse to land another blow on him.
“I know it very well.”
Began lied to Wirn.
“I see... Hmm.”
Wirn nodded.
“Then once we return to the family, I’ll receive your instruction on the Phantasmal Transit Array.”
“Huh?”
“Now, let’s use the array. We can continue this conversation after we return to the family.”
Wirn walked past Began and headed toward the Phantasmal Transit Array.
“....”
Began stared blankly at Wirn’s back.
‘I’m screwed.’
At the same time, he despaired upon realizing that he would now have to explain the Phantasmal Transit Array to Wirn.
***
Using the Phantasmal Transit Array was simple.
All one had to do was step inside the rotating sphere.
HUM....
So even after using it, Wirn felt nothing particularly special.
He had used devices similar to the Phantasmal Transit Array in the Empire before.
‘More importantly... this place is damn huge.’
What caught Wirn’s attention wasn’t the Phantasmal Transit Array, but the enormous mountain range before him.
WHOOOOSH!
A mountain range massive enough for fierce, cutting winds to sweep across it stood in the middle of the desert.
The mountains intertwined like the stems of a tree.
‘It’s the perfect place for bastards who worship demons to hide.’
Wirn clicked his tongue.
He hadn’t expected to return to this tiresome mountain range again.
“This is the Omerion Mountains.”
As Wirn gazed at the mountains with a weary expression, Kemen, who had come with him, approached from the side.
Kemen had also been assigned to the mission and had accompanied Wirn.
He belonged to Group One, which would directly participate in the subjugation.
“From convicted criminals... to the Demon Worshippers we have come to capture. Those who bring harm to the continent live in these mountains like parasites.”
“Just looking at it, I can believe that.”
Wirn nodded.
This vast mountain range was the perfect place for people to hide.
It was only natural that all kinds of people would gather here.
“But most leave them alone. There is no benefit to be gained from occupying the mountains.”
“Then why was a subjugation mission issued this time?”
“They plundered a merchant company under our protection.”
Kemen stared at the mountains as he finished speaking.
Anger seeped from his eyes.
HUM....
“We must make them fully understand how terrifying the Daylin Family can be.”
The three Circles within Kemen’s body began to rotate.
Mana carrying a murderous air poured from his body and spread through the surroundings.
Wirn nodded as he watched Kemen’s mana, which was thick with killing intent.
He agreed that they needed to engrave fear into those people.
“So there is no need for you to feel sympathy for the wicked bastards hiding inside.”
Kemen stepped forward as soon as he finished speaking.
“Eren... Un... Derian.”
Then he chanted an incantation.
FLASH.......
A sphere radiating light as bright as the sun appeared in midair.
“Umben.”
ZING!
The sphere blasted a hole into the ground ahead.
CRUMBLE!
The hole collapsed, revealing an underground passage leading deeper inside.
“The passage is exactly where the report said it would be. They should be hiding inside.”
Kemen nodded.
Thanks to those who supplied information to the family, they had known the location of their targets for quite some time.
There was no need to go through the trouble of breaking apart the ground one section at a time to locate them.
“Group One, enter.”
Only one thing remained.
“No prisoners. Kill them all.”
They would show these people the terror of the Daylin Family.
***
The underground passage was illuminated by Kemen’s light and the mana of the other mages.
Wirn entered it together with Kemen.
“Do not interfere with our long-cherished wish!”
“Die!”
“You wicked mages!”
Before long, they encountered Demon Worshippers hiding throughout the passage.
“B-Blood... give me blood!”
They were already out of their minds.
The whites of their eyes had turned red, and saliva poured from their mouths like water.
They didn’t even seem to realize they were facing mages.
There wasn’t a trace of fear in their eyes.
BOOM!
Of course, that did nothing to change their fate.
The mages of the Daylin Family weren’t the sort to be frightened by people like them.
HUM... BANG! BANG! BANG!
Mana Bullets flew from every direction toward the Demon Worshippers rushing out into the passage.
Their skin was pierced through, and the attackers charging from all sides collapsed to the ground.
“We’ve eliminated everyone in sight.”
“Keep moving deeper.”
Wirn passed their corpses and continued farther into the passage.
“Lord Kemen. The path splits ahead.”
They reached a section where the passage divided into five different paths.
“What about detection magic?”
“It isn’t working. It seems they possess an artifact that interferes with magic.”
“Then we have no choice but to search personally.”
Kemen frowned at the mage’s answer.
He didn’t particularly like the situation.
They would have to split their forces.
“From this point on, divide into pairs and wipe them out.”
Still, they couldn’t simply turn back.
Completing the mission was their duty.
Moreover, if this operation failed, it would undoubtedly damage the Daylin Family’s reputation.
That was something they could never allow.
“Young Master Wirn will—”
“I’ll go with Brother.”
Wirn cut Kemen off.
“Don’t worry too much. If anything dangerous happens, I’ll send a signal immediately.”
“....”
Kemen swallowed as he looked at Wirn.
‘They said he displayed overwhelming power during the Hunting Ceremony.’
If he were being completely honest, Kemen wanted to reject Wirn’s request.
In his eyes, Wirn was still practically a child.
This was even his first mission.
“...Understood.”
But Kemen didn’t do that.
He thought this, too, would serve as valuable experience.
Besides, Began was now a proper Third-Circle mage.
Unless something truly unusual happened, he should be capable of handling it.
“Young Master Began. Please take good care of Young Master Wirn.”
“...All right.”
Began nodded.
‘You’ve grown a great deal.’
Kemen smiled faintly at the sight.
When Began had first participated in a mission, he had trembled at the sight of a corpse.
But now he had matured to the point that there was no comparison with how he had been back then.
‘But Young Master Wirn is just as calm.’
Wirn was the same.
He gazed calmly at the corpses and blood scattered around them.
For some reason—
the moment Kemen saw that expression, a chill ran through him.
‘He was like this the first time he saw blood too.’
He remembered that Wirn had never shown fear in the past either.
Not when he cut himself while reading a book.
Not when he encountered a Treeman during the Hunting Ceremony.
And not even now, while facing Demon Worshippers.
Where does Young Master Wirn feel fear?
The question suddenly arose in Kemen’s mind.
RUMBLE—!
At that moment, the cavern shook.
HUM!
At the same time, a Magic Circle hidden beneath the ground revealed itself.
“Blood Magic!”
Magical patterns drawn in blood.
Kemen frowned when he saw them.
He immediately prepared to chant an incantation to break the Magic Circle.
GUSH!
But blood erupted from the crimson Magic Circle.
Then the blood pouring from it engulfed Kemen and the others.
And Wirn—
“Where the hell am I this time?”
—Opened his eyes again inside an unknown underground sanctuary.