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Chapter 370
Ironically, Antios and Ian shared the same goal.
Opening a new era with more advanced magic.
But their methods of reaching that destination couldn't have been more different.
Ian created new magic through divine power and his own unique abilities.
Antios sought to destroy the existing order and usher in an age of wizards.
Е́ ǹ ùm̀а̃.i d̀_
Either way, this medieval fantasy world would ultimately become more magic-friendly.
Whether through the emergence of powerful spells or the creation of a society led by wizards.
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Different methods, but similar pursuits.
Ian could vaguely understand Antios's thinking.
"Though I'm not sure what this 'age of wizards' means," Ian said, pretending disinterest.
"If it advances magic though..."
Ẃ_ӗ b̂n оv̀.е́l̈ Е̊ nû m̌ а
"Isn't the advancement of magic every wizard's desire?" Antios replied.
The advancement of magic—every wizard's desire.
Wizards explore mysteries, but no one knows what lies at the end.
No one will know until they reach that point.
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"Welcome to the Golden Rule Society, Ian."
"I haven't said I'm joining yet."
Еn̈u m â. i̇d
"Hahaha. Then take your time looking around before deciding."
Antios led Ian to the society's headquarters.
The Golden Rule Society.
Black wizards who revered the ancient Golden Empire and sought to usher in a golden age of magic...
They were, without question, a medieval secret society.
'Might have been kind of cool if they weren't such bastards.'
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Pushing aside all the complicated circumstances.
Just from the pure perspective of Ian the traveler...
He felt a slight thrill.
It was a visit to a new place, after all.
And throughout his past and present lives, this was his first time visiting a secret society!
Wow! A secret society!
W е̊.bn̈ о̇v̆ ėl Е ǹ ū mа́
CIA! MI6! National Intelligence Service!
Granted, national intelligence agencies and secret societies are completely different, but...
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Anyway, they're invisible to the public eye, right? Secret, right?
So Ian was genuinely curious about what the Golden Rule Society would look like.
Would it be a gathering of wizards wearing robes with sophisticated designs?
"Welcome to the Society, Ian."
Ẽ ň um а́
Antios proudly introduced the organization.
Ian looked around with amazement.
"Wow! This is a perfect disguise!"
"Disguise?"
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Antios wore a puzzled expression, but Ian didn't notice.
Because...
Ѐñum_а́..íd
The Golden Rule Society was truly in the middle of nowhere!
Dozens of tents dotted a wide open space. Those were quarters for mercenaries from outside.
Next to them stood a massive cave entrance leading underground.
Judging by the garbage scattered around the cave, there were clearly living quarters nearby.
A society building with that secret-magical-organization feel?
None!
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Mysterious fountains and gardens?
None!
Just the occasional person in medieval clothing wandering around and the foul stench of manure from livestock.
On the surface, the Golden Rule Society lived a life barely distinguishable from medieval slash-and-burn farmers.
So Ian concluded:
Ah! This is a disguise!
Е̄ń ů mа̊. іd
They're cosplaying as farmers to hide from people's eyes!
"It's so well done! Anyone would think real people actually live here."
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"? Real people do live here."
Come on~ Stop joking~
Ian thought Antios was making a joke.
The place looked more like a refugee camp than a secret society!
Enum а.і̌ d
"Isn't this just a disguise?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about. This is our society."
"..."
That joke... isn't funny...
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Ian realized Antios was serious—
And was immediately shocked.
W̃ еb̃n̆ ō v̆ е̇ l Ё nüm̃ à
Wait, you said secret society...!
Why are you so poor?!
"Then where's the society building?"
"That cave."
"...And the living quarters?"
"That cave."
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"Are you perhaps not black wizards but a primitive human cosplay group?"
"?"
The reality was brutally cold...
Soon Ian heard an explanation from Antios that was equally cold.
Contrary to Ian's misconception, this truly was the Golden Rule Society.
First of all, the Golden Rule Society was an illegal magical research group.
Ẁ_ӗ bnо̃v̊ėl Ё n̈uḿȧ
They ruled over a few small farming villages and collected taxes... but even large bandit groups did that (Baron Damon in Talian had done the same).
Without proper domain, their financial power was inevitably garbage.
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In short...
They had no money!
"Wait. Why is a secret society broke?"
"Because we're operating on a knife's edge."
W̊ е̌b̌ n оv̇ ёl̇ Е n̈ u_ṁа̌.
Antios explained calmly.
He had established this as the society's temporary residence.
In the medieval economic system that began and ended with agriculture, not having a domain was a fatal disadvantage.
So Antios had planned to leave at the right moment.
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Hide, gather strength, scheme, and when the world fell into chaos, attach themselves to a suitable power.
Then establish a real society headquarters.
Е̃ nu m̀а . і̆ d̃
That was Antios's plan.
"But black wizards are still wizards. Haven't you ever lent your power to nobles?"
"We have. And received payment too."
"Then where's that money?"
"We gave it to Predius."
"..."
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Ian cleared his throat.
So that's why there had been suspiciously large amounts of gold coins in Predius's lair.
It was all money earned by the society.
The very money that Ian had looted and Lucy had spent freely.
"Running a society requires money for all sorts of expenses."
"I suppose so."
Ё ǹ ŭm a
Ian understood what "operating on a knife's edge" meant.
They dumped all their earnings into the society's growth without any special reinvestment.
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There's a limit to underground earnings anyway.
The Golden Rule Society needed to secure strong backing as quickly as possible.
"But the wait is over," Antios said.
"We've captured the Emperor and Duke Roxlan."
W̃еb̀ ñ о́_v ӗ l Е̇n ūm а̀
"And?"
"We're going to drive the Emperor mad."
"..."
"We'll instill in the Emperor a delicate madness—not severe enough to provoke Hastria to action, but sufficient to make governing the empire impossible."
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Black wizards grow stronger in chaos.
"Duke Roxlan is our ally. With the Duke's patronage, the society's magic will grow explosively."
Ẽ nu m̈а . ìď
"...The other nobles won't sit still."
"It doesn't matter. If they declare war, all the better for us. Black magic is stronger in war than any other magic."
Ordinary mysteries don't care about human life and death.
Why would campfires, raindrops, and dust care about human lives?
When someone dies, they just think, 'Ah~ Life and death are just part of human existence~' and move on.
But the mysteries that black wizards explore are a bit different.
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Take demon wizards, for instance.
Oh? A person died? Delicious fun~!
And necromancers. The mysteries of death, summoning, and magical beasts, and so on.
Among the mysteries that black wizards explore, many take interest in human life.
Thus, black magic can exert tremendous influence in war.
This isn't about how powerful it is.
Еn̈ u m ӑ.іd
It's about sustainability.
For orthodox wizards—
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Those who master the mysteries of sky, earth, fire, and water—war is virtually worthless labor.
What joy does a mystery find in burning people with fire?
Once or twice might be fine, but repeated dozens of times, even mysteries grow weary.
Wizards may gain rewards and dopamine from winning wars, but mysteries couldn't care less about that.
Е ňů ṁȧ . і d
But for demon wizards who manipulate demons?
Or summoners who handle magical beasts?
War is simply enjoyable!
Because they know how to enjoy pain and bloodshed!
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However, using black magic brings Heaven's Faith priests chasing after you, shouting, "You devil!"
What? You find joy in people dying? Have you ever seen such children of the devil! And so on.
Е́ nǔ m a
That's why Antios had thrown the empire into chaos.
When problems erupt everywhere, the Heaven's Faith church inevitably loses focus.
In peaceful times, if a noble dabbles in black magic, the entire empire would punish them.
But in times of chaos, in a medieval era without public authority, who would punish black wizards?
The Emperor would lose his judgment under magic—
And Duke Roxlan would deliberately nurture black wizards.
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The age of black wizards would dawn.
Imperial nobles aren't particularly righteous.
Between "Remaining loyal to the Emperor, following priests' words, and living virtuously" versus "Subjugating weaker nobles and expanding power," many would choose the latter.
With the entire world becoming a battlefield, black wizards would grow even stronger.
That was the world the Golden Rule Society desired.
Black wizards are naturally interested in turning the world upside down.
W̆ е́ b̆ n̆ о v̆ e l̈ Еṅ ů m̄ а̌
Many come from humble origins.
Black magic is what people learn when they crave power after being ignored and despised. No magic specializes in destroying people quite like black magic, so it's natural.
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"I promise you—you have talent as a black wizard, Ian."
"..."
Was that an insult? A compliment?
His feelings were mixed, but he couldn't deny it.
Ẇ еb̄ ňӧv е l E n̈ u m̂a
Ian knew it himself.
If Ian were to learn black magic... he could learn it incredibly quickly.
His magical talent was nothing short of genius.
"I'll introduce you to Bertholdt. Go around with him."
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"Sure."
Antios entered the cave (...) and returned with someone.
Ѐ n̈ũṁ a
A face that now felt familiar.
None other than Necromancer Bertholdt.
"What?!"
Bertholdt was startled the moment he saw Ian.
"Regent! Is this real?!"
"Of course it's real. Would I bring a fake?"
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"You're making a mistake, Regent!"
Bertholdt's reaction was almost hysterical.
Surprisingly, Ian found this reaction comforting...
In truth, this was the reaction he'd been expecting.
Antios's attitude had been too unexpected.
"Ian Eredith Raven! That bastard has ruined the society's plans multiple times!"
W̆_е b̌ n̈о̀ vе l̀ Ӗ_n̊ um а
"It wasn't his will."
"But still...!"
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Antios spoke cynically.
"If someone swings a sword at you, hate the person holding it, not the sword. What use is hating the sword?"
"..."
"Get your head straight. Our enemy is the space-time wizards. Ian is just their chess piece."
Е n u̇ ma.іd_
But no matter what Antios said, Bertholdt wouldn't change his mind.
No, it wasn't bringing Ian here that bothered him.
It was treating him like a guest that was unbearable!
Ian had even killed the society's executive, Transmuter Karenne.
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Shouldn't he at least be bound?!
"Bertholdt. Introduce the society to Ian."
Ё nüḿa
"What?!"
Me?!
Bertholdt looked like he'd rather die, but this was a golden opportunity for Ian.
A chance to scout the enemy territory with Antios's permission.
Understanding the society's structure and planning how to rescue Maria and the Emperor...!
"I'm looking forward to it, Bertholdt."
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Bertholdt glared at Ian.
Have you ever seen such a shameless bastard!
