#199. change.
* * *
As the saying goes, it is impossible to know when and how everything in the world will turn out.
The proof is the situation in London right now.
After the fog on the first day of Walpurgis Night, a radical change has taken place in London.
“Is that an item that chases away the fog?”
“okay! Did I see the effect clearly yesterday too?”
“To develop an item like that… It’s the Magus Guild, after all.”
It was a big change for the Magus guild members to roam around London, erecting hundreds of staffs and pillars.
However, the biggest change is the power structure in London.
And it was the eyes of the citizens.
“Anyway, is it really possible to get rid of the dark time with that?”
“of course. That’s what the Grand Duke of Magic does. Should I fail?”
“But that’s right, isn’t it something the Countess Sea Serpent hasn’t even touched for decades?”
“So it’s even bigger. Even if you fail, isn’t it better than not even trying like a coward?”
“Oh, what a coward! Watch your words!”
Originally, the influence on the British Empire was dominated by the Countess Sea Serpent, albeit slightly, rather than the Magus Guild.
However, after the incident at the ball, the balance shifted sharply towards the Magus Guild.
Along with the eyes of longing and anticipation that had been directed towards the knights of the count family, they turned towards the players of Magus.
“Have you forgotten how diligently the count’s knights helped out when the chaos broke out the other evening?”
“That’s the same for the Magus Guild.”
“but…!”
“Hey, I know the grace of the count family well. But isn’t the fact that the Magus Guild will remove the gloomy hour really doesn’t stop it?”
“…”
As much as the magus guild was favored, the prestige of the Countess Sea Serpent fell rapidly.
It was because the fact that Rose was opposed to Carol’s plan to get rid of the dark time spread through the mouths of those who attended the ball.
It was unavoidable.
The gloomy hour is a London horror.
The Countess Sea Serpent is opposed to the Magus Guild, who are trying to get rid of it.
It was natural as a Londoner to want to side with the former of the two. Especially after experiencing the fog in the evening.
At least, the people who said they were against it, fearing that the count family might accidentally touch the curse and go berserk, were the medicine department.
Those who were a bit harsh even clamored that Rose was deliberately interfering with the achievements of the Magus Guild in order to protect the power and influence of the count family.
He is a count who has been protecting the British Empire for generations and carrying out all kinds of charity work.
The reputation they had built up over hundreds of years was overturned by the Magus Guild, which lasted only a few decades.
At this point, it is only natural that even the benevolent Blue Dragon clan would be resentful.
However, the Countess was silent.
As always, I just patrol and keep order.
He did not interfere with the work of the Magus Guild or offered an explanation, and maintained his usual attitude in silence.
Those who criticized the count raised their voices, saying that it was because the more they did it, the more they were stabbed, and those who defended them gradually became suspicious.
…without even knowing that public opinion is being led by someone.
‘at las.’
Tower in the middle of London.
It is the headquarters of the Magus Guild and is regarded as one of the two symbols of London along with the Earl of the Sea Serpent.
At the top of what is commonly called the Magic Tower, an old man with white hair and a white beard was immersed in emotion.
‘Just now.’
It was a really long time.
As soon as the Iron Age opens, jump into the dungeon and risk your life to level up.
After researching magic-type skills and finding out how to use them, he used them as bait to gather players and build a force.
Under the pretext of the agreement, he ate away the power of the Blue Dragon clan and raised the Magus Guild to be comparable to that of the Sea Serpent Count family.
Secretly supporting the royal family, who had become a puppet of the Blue Dragon clan, and signing an agreement.
Even for him, the oldest player, this result, which he had finally reached after spending almost half his life, made him soak in memories.
click.
Could it be because of the distant memories?
Carol opened the location on the necklace.
And I looked at the photos in the location with vague eyes.
“Wait a minute, Amelia.”
“It will all be over soon.”
“The tricks of those liars, and the curse that reigned over London…” He
muttered to himself quietly, holding the locket in his hand as if praying.
Turning around with the locket necklace back on his neck, Carol strode into the tower.
To prepare for the ritual to dispel the gloomy hour that will take place tomorrow.
It was a short time later that an official document was sent from the Magus Guild.
『Magus concert held.
When: 12:00 noon on the third day of Walpurgis Night.
Location: In front of Magus Guild Headquarters.
Organized by Magus Guild.
Sponsored by: Duke Robert.
We invite you to a historical stage where the time of darkness disappears.]
From the misty fuss on the first day to the construction and debate on the second day.
Compared to last year, when they just laughed and chatted for four days, this year’s Walpurgis Night was particularly confusing to Londoners.
And the official notice from the Magus Guild was enough to put a peak in such confusion.
A concert held at noon, when the hour of darkness begins. That alone was enough to make it a topic of conversation.
In particular, what the Magus Guild professed.
In other words, the rumor that this concert would eliminate the gloomy time fueled the confusion.
I didn’t know that even the Magus Guild would go out of their way to get rid of the gloomy time in a few days.
But the confusion was short-lived.
finally the next morning.
People who came out to the streets with high expectations gathered in front of the magic tower one after another.
“Hey, are you really going?”
“I have to go. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to watch the fog disappear.”
“But if something goes wrong then…”
“Uh huh, what kind of unlucky thing is that? Do you know who led this? The magic lord, the magic lord! Do you think there is a mistake in what he is doing?”
Belief in the Magic Lord, the great player of the Iron Age, and the Magus, who became the center of the British Empire in just a few decades.
And above all, the hope that they might no longer have to fear the fog moved them.
As time passed, the number of people increased, and eventually, as noon approached, the streets were filled with more than tens of thousands of people.
It wasn’t just the general crowd.
The distinguished guests who had participated in the ball were also seated in the audience seats set aside in front of the stage.
It was a truly historic event that so many people came out on the streets ahead of the gloomy hour.
Was it like that?
With noon finally approaching, the performers who came up on the stage in front of the Magic Tower all had proud faces.
Just being in charge of such an important concert at the Magus Guild is an amazing career.
The eyes of Londoners who were young with expectations and hopes were enough to add pride to it.
And the three people who are at the forefront of the orchestra that filled the stage like that.
“Then please proceed as planned.”
“Don’t worry. There will be no mistakes in the orchestra I lead.”
“I’m worried that my lack of songs will become a nuisance.”
Karl, the magic lord, smiled happily while wearing a robe and holding a staff.
Duke Robert, the Grand Duke of White, was wearing a neat tuxedo, holding a baton, and making an arrogant expression.
And lastly, Claire, a duke-level player and an officer of the Liberation Brigade, dressed in a performance dress.
“Heh heh heh, it was a humble word. Miss Clare. A high-level singer like you is rare not only in the British Empire, but throughout Europe.”
“Thank you for your words.”
Claire pretended to be humble, but inside she grumbled.
Because he knew that, as Carol had said, the fact that high-level singers were rare was the reason he had been called to this distant country.
But what can I do?
The rule of the criminal organization Liberation Brigade is to do what your superior tells you to do.
Claire, who didn’t want to die just yet, maintained her usual pretentious smile.
“Now then, let’s get ready.”
It seemed that he would not tolerate even a single mistake.
After shaking hands and conversing with not only the two of them, but each of the performers one by one, confirming it until the end, Karl stepped forward to the stage.
And then I looked around.
‘Earl Rose… I guess he really didn’t come.’
Carol slightly frowned.
The reason why the two most important seats in the bleachers were empty was because it was confirmed that there was not even a single Knight of the Count’s family, let alone Rose, among the spectators.
It was an unexpected result for him, who had expected her to attend even to confirm the result.
‘Hmm, even if I talk about the count or the princess, I’m still a girl after all.’
It was a while to be cynical, recalling reports from guild members that he was unable to recover from the shock he received at the ball and seemed to be confined to his house.
Carol immediately let go of her thoughts about Rose and added strength to the hand holding the wand.
It was because he had no time to have such useless thoughts ahead of the long-cherished dream he had been preparing for half his life.
Could it be because of Carol’s tension?
The performers on stage as well as the spectators gathered on the street swallowed dry saliva while keeping silent.
The hour and minute hands finally overlapped, and the signal they had been waiting for rang out.
Dang-
“Let’s get started!”
Follow me!
The moment a bell rang as if a thousand iron rods were hitting a thousand iron pillars.
As Robert’s hand, which was holding the baton, moved, the instruments of the orchestra on the stage began to play one after another.
A performance that started without a proper practice.
But there were no mistakes.
The people gathered here are all high-level players.
It was because they were performers who would be recognized as first-class or second-class no matter where they went in the world, where they could create a perfect performance just by activating their skills.
And the ensemble that started like that echoed throughout London through canes and pillars installed in various places.
It was no ordinary performance.
Dazzle enemies, buff allies, or shock them.
A skill of high-level players that creates special effects through playing.
The enormous power contained within them was fused into one under the command of Robert, a major supply player, and was causing tremendous amplification through the staff and pillars.
Ssssss.
‘I wonder if this bell was the medium!’
Carol’s eyes flashed.
A gloomy fog that should have started spreading out gradually at the same time as the bell rang.
It is because I saw that it was not spread properly as if it was disturbed by something.
After confirming the results of his long research, Carol lightly beckoned, and Robert, who received the signal, swung the baton more fervently and conducted the orchestra.
Dang- Dada-
da-da-da-da-da-dan!
Bells ringing in the fog.
A performance by a high-level player orchestra.
As the two intertwined in the air, the air shook as windows everywhere shattered.
The London battle system, a far-away mystery, collided with the performance skills of numerous players, causing enormous damage in the aftermath alone.
But Carol didn’t care.
Rather, he encouraged the guild members to amplify the performance transmitted through the item and sent the final signal.
At that signal, Claire starts singing and the moment the shaking of the fog reaches its peak.
Carol raised her staff and shouted in a loud voice.
“Great Elemental Break (higher element decomposition)!”
Deed deed deed!
The light emitted from the staff was scattered in the air, and the fog gathering from all sides began to shake more violently.
Ten lords who are the absolutes of this era.
Among them, the 9th class skills that only he could use were pushing away the fog and the sound of bells in concert with the music echoing in London.
If used as a destructive power, it would have been enough to blow up an entire city.
Dang-
Nevertheless, the sound of the bell and the fog did not disappear easily. On the contrary, even though they were shaken and disturbed, they continued to come to cover London.
Indeed, it was a majesty worthy of ancient magic that even the demon god could block.
But Carol didn’t give up.
I just activated the skill again by drawing out the power of all the items I had prepared for the day and putting it in my staff.
“『Spell Rank Up: Spell Hierarchy Enhancement]』 『Double Spell: Spell Dualization』 『Great Elemental Break (Higher Element Disintegration)』!”
Aaaaaaaang!
The moment when the light emitted from Carol’s staff with that cry amplified as if it exploded, creating a huge pillar of light connecting heaven and earth.
Pagang!
the bell breaks
The mist disperses to pieces.
Brilliant light illuminated London.
“Ohhh!”
“It’s light! It’s sunlight!”
“I never thought I would see the noon sky in London in my lifetime…!”
All the citizens of London who were gathered here burst into cheers as they watched the sunlight permeate the center of the pillar of light that pierced the sky.
Among them, there were not a few who shed tears of emotion because they were so moved.
The fact that the curse of the fog that had been overshadowing London for over half a century had disappeared was making them go wild.
However, Carol was not as happy with this result as they were.
He just looked up at the sky with a complicated expression while fiddling with the location on his necklace.
Are you happy?
is it sad
Or is it nonsense?
Carol, who was immersed in a whirlwind of emotions she didn’t even know she had, eventually gently closed her eyes.
But he didn’t know
Also, Claire, one of the people who decorated this stage, was wearing a strange smile.
That from the moment the fog disappeared, the shadows cast over London began to sway like wild beasts released from chains.
and after a while
“Quaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Waves of shadow covered London with tearing screams.
