Chapter 264

Chapter 264. Infiltrating Sky Island

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Black Ship alone was peaceful amid the confusion and chaos.

No ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍one blocked its bow. No one even looked at it, nor could they. What could they look at when they could see nothing?

The ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Black Ship had activated a Perception-Blocking Barrier and a mana-wave blocking barrier using the Sphere of the Polar Night within it.

Wrapped ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍in the sphere formed by the two barriers, it hid inside and sailed unhurriedly through the battlefield.

“We ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍have passed the Tower of the Sky’s defensive perimeter. We will reach Sky Island in an hour.”

At ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Head Maid’s report, Josephine, who stood nearby, could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

“Good work, Josephine.”

“No! It’s thanks to everyone here doing their part!”

Josephine had been gnawing at her nails as though she might bite them off. Only after passing the worst danger could she finally smile.

The same was true of Akiell and Tolan in a corner of the control room. They had probably been even more nervous than Josephine, and they wiped away cold sweat.

“A relief. Truly a relief.”

“That took ten years off my life.”

The Sphere of the Polar Night that the Wisdom Trio had worked together to make functioned as intended and deceived Wisdom.

The Black Ship was sailing toward its destination, Sky Island, and would arrive before long. Then it would be time for the daggers to move.

“Head maid. Prepare yourself.”

“Yes.”

She bowed and withdrew for a moment.

“Are the Head Maid and Dante really the only ones going onto Sky Island?”

The youngest son nodded at the concern on Josephine’s face.

“Sending a crowd would only make things cumbersome. One or two daggers are enough.”

One dagger for the enemy’s throat. One dagger for the enemy’s heart. Exactly two daggers would descend upon Sky Island in an hour.

“Of course, it’s not that I don’t trust Dante. I just can’t help worrying.”

“Even if something happens to me, the Black Ship will make its own way back to the East. You don’t need to worry too much.”

“N-no, that isn’t what I meant….”

Josephine shifted in place, working her lips, averting her eyes, and unable to keep her hands still.

It was a different kind of nervousness from when she had been biting her nails. Akiell watched her quietly and sighed.

―Dumbass.

After that curse, which no one could hear and which left no evidence, he left the room. Tolan clicked his tongue and followed him.

The youngest son, suddenly on the receiving end of the insult, watched them go before uttering a word.

“Oh. How are those telepathy lessons I told you to take from Akiell going?”

“I think they’re going fairly well. Akiell said I’m doing decently, too, and I should be able to learn it without much trouble at this rate.”

“That’s good. The more people who can use telepathy, the better.”

When he had time, he would try changing telepathy into a form that everyone could use easily.

If possible, it would be good to turn it into some kind of device so people could contact each other even when they were apart.

It would be a kind of radio, far inferior to telepathy but an option for many people.

Once mastered, telepathy, which made no sound, was still superior.

―Still, God is fair. He gave you all sorts of talents but withheld the most important one.

If he could send his voice past walls and floors, out of sight like Akiell over there, it would be like adding flowers to brocade—an excellent finishing touch.

And the youngest son caught up with Akiell as well. He traced the telepathic signal Akiell had just sent back to its source and sent his voice in return.

―What have you been going on about?

―Miss Josephine. Just because she spends her days hammering iron doesn’t mean she’s made of steel. She’s sensitive, so treat her with some sensitivity.

―Fine. I get it.

―Good grief.

The telepathic exchange ended there.

Josephine was still working her lips. She must have been worried sick.

He said something to reassure her for now.

“Recently, I gained something like an insight.”

“…When? The day you got drunk on the deck and the Head Maid carried you inside?”

“Yes. That day.”

That day had evidently left an impression on the people aboard the ship; they still talked about it.

The youngest son himself thought such a day could happen, but perhaps everyone else had found it extraordinarily unlike him.

It occurred to him that the incident might have made Josephine worry more.

“I haven’t told anyone but the Head Maid because the opportunity never came up, but I wasn’t drinking because of some terrible burden, as you seem to think.”

“Mm. I thought that might be the case.”

“So I’ll say it again. You don’t need to worry too much. Everything will go well.”

At those last words, Josephine’s eyes widened for an instant, then blinked.

“…That’s strange. When you say it, Dante, it really feels as though everything will go well.”

“It really will.”

KNOCK, KNOCK—

The Head Maid knocked on the door from outside.

“Young Master. It is nearly time to prepare.”

“Understood.”

As he answered his subordinate outside, his pale hand rose to Josephine’s blue hair.

He gently pressed down her slightly tousled hair, feeling its softness.

“I’ll be back.”

“Y-yes. But you can’t just come back. You have to come back safely.”

“I will. I’ll come back safely.”

With a faint smile, the youngest son passed her and stepped outside. The waiting Head Maid followed him.

“May I ask what insight you gained?”

“Well, it isn’t something I can demonstrate during this infiltration. Even if I tell you, you won’t see it now.”

“Is that the right clothing for an infiltration?”

The youngest son’s clothes, which the Head Maid had pointed out, fluttered loosely enough to be called shabby.

One might worry that he had picked up the habit from his teacher, but he himself was unbothered.

“I know you have more experience with infiltrations, but I chose clothes that would bother me as little as possible.”

“Clothes suited to an infiltration should be clothes that do not draw the enemy’s attention, rather than clothes that do not bother you.”

“Didn’t you say it was time to prepare? Or will you keep talking like that on Sky Island, too?”

“I am only offering advice out of concern.”

“You and everyone else, always worrying.”

A smile spread across the youngest son’s face despite the annoyance in his words. Considering how he had begun, he could not help smiling.

The Head Maid knew it, too, and replied.

“Is it not better than having a blade pointed at you?”

“Yes. Better than that.”

They went to the Black Ship’s exit. Of course it would normally stay shut at this altitude, but today was different.

Until they reached Sky Island, the two reviewed their routes and each of their duties, then met each other’s eyes.

“Their main forces will all be at the front, so you should be able to knock them out easily. Think of everyone in there as a prisoner.”

“Understood.”

“I’ll go to the tower at the Center of Sky Island. You deal with the guards around the outskirts.”

“Yes. Then I will see you later.”

“Yes. See you later.”

RUMBLE—

The Black Ship’s door opened and quickly closed again. In that brief gap, two people dropped out.

The lord and his vassal split off in different directions. They met each other’s eyes in midair and promised to meet again.

One of them, the lord, the king, had entered the enemy’s formation himself, yet no one knew it.

[Since when did you know how to sneak around?]

The fierce wind of his descent buffeted his ears, but he could hear Enad’s snide remark clearly.

―It’s what I’m worst at.

[You know how to hide your expression from lying to people, but how do you intend to hide that body of yours?]

―To be honest, I don’t intend to try very hard to hide it.

As he answered, his Bloodshot eyes flashed open. He was so close to the ground now that he could almost touch it.

SHWAAASH—

The youngest son raised a wave of blood, slowed himself at once, and landed on Sky Island.

He immediately came face-to-face with the mages guarding the Tower of the Sky, making a mockery of the word infiltration.

“Y-you’re…!”

“The F-Fifth Son…!”

“Correct.”

As a reward for the right answer, he gave them unconsciousness. The wave of blood solidified in an instant at his hand and became chains that tightened around their necks.

Before they could resist, their brains, deprived of air, switched off their bodies.

[Is that why you came with the Head Maid but sent her elsewhere? If she stayed close, the nagging would never end?]

―This is why I can’t stand perceptive fellows.

Smiling, the youngest son moved the mages into an inconspicuous corner.

“Let’s run.”

Having made what was probably the worst possible choice for an infiltration his first move, he quite literally ran.

The loose clothing the Head Maid had criticized flapped in his wake, making noise in the wind.

‘So that’s why she told me to change.’

Only now grasping the lofty wisdom of his more experienced colleague, the novice smiled and circled the Tower of the Sky.

He took a wide route around the outskirts and knocked out every mage he encountered.

Their expressions upon suddenly meeting the man responsible for the war were all much the same. So were the words they spoke.

“Time to go in.”

He stepped into the Tower of the Sky. It was even quieter inside than out.

[Even a cemetery would be noisier than this place.]

Enad’s remark was scathing.

No wonder: nearly everyone who usually occupied the building had gone elsewhere.

He took the stairs all the way to the top of the tower.

An elevator would have taken him there comfortably, but then he would pass right by the mages stationed along the way.

“The F-Fifth Son…!”

“I’m tired of that reaction.”

Leaving the mages alone would create another complication, so he knocked out every last one.

Everyone capable of fighting had gone to the front. There was no one here who could exchange blows with him.

The mages repeatedly fell without knowing what to do against his irregular attacks, which blended Samche into Blood Stream Sorcery.

Once he cleared the center this way, the Head Maid would handle the island’s perimeter. Meanwhile, he could accomplish what he had come for.

“There’s a teleportation magic circle here.”

[Is this not just a conference hall?]

“It looks that way, but this place wasn’t even used as a conference hall originally. They only used it because the war brought so many people to the island.”

[You speak confidently for someone who is not part of their family.]

It had been his family in the past. And there was another trick he knew from that past.

“Wisdom likes riddles and puzzles. You’ll find these old-fashioned devices all over their holdings.”

He went to the outer wall lined with bookshelves on one side of the conference hall and pulled a book.

CLICK—

GRRRRIND—

The shelf from which he had pulled the book split to either side. Beyond it lay the objective of this campaign: the heart of Sky Island.

“There.”

The youngest son smiled deeply as he examined the magic circles one by one.

At the same time, he sent a signal to the head butler in Eclipse. The head butler’s task was to copy them exactly.

That would establish a teleportation connection from the Fifth Son’s camp in the East to Eclipse.

Then they could use Sky Island as their first base without any problems with supplies, and they could receive reinforcements as well.

[The magic circle looks a little small to handle supplies as well.]

“We can make it bigger. There’s a large one here on Sky Island, too. What matters is connecting it to this original.”

The youngest son nodded slightly.

“That puts us halfway there. Once the head butler has received the entire signal, we can move on to the next stage.”

He smiled at his plan’s gradual progress, but a telepathic voice full of static crackled in his head.

―Fifth, Son. Your, Gatekeeper, escort, spotted, a wyvern, heading, for Sky, Island, and said, to tell you…

The telepathy was noisy enough to make him scratch his ear without realizing it, but he could understand it.

“Looks like someone on their side has caught on.”

Smiling, the youngest son left the room inscribed with magic circles.

When he reached the top floor’s wall of windows, he saw something flying through the sky from the direction Akiell had mentioned.

It was Wisdom’s Second Daughter, who had been locked in a staring contest with his Clone until just a short while ago.

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