Weapon Master of the Count’s Family

Chapter 83. The Immortal Great Mage (3)

“There are only two moments when a mage is quiet: when they’re asleep, and when they’re dead.”

This saying existed because mages were the kind of people who caused trouble if left alone

and even bigger trouble if ignored.

Do mages get some kind of disease that kills them if they live quietly? Now they’re even causing chaos in someone else’s world.

Their troublemaking had escalated to the point of potentially summoning the god of destruction,

bringing the world to the brink of a catastrophic apocalypse.

I couldn’t delay any longer.

To prevent the worst-case scenario, I had to act as quickly as possible.

“At least knowing his motive might help with the search. Plus, the mages from the Ether Research Society are analyzing Ernst’s magic right now.”

“That’s reassuring, but is it enough?”

Until yesterday, Hel hadn’t been particularly concerned about Ernst.

He saw him as an annoying mosquito buzzing around the room—irritating but not a major threat.

But now the situation had changed.

The possibility of an unprecedented crisis that could trigger an apocalypse had shifted his attitude dramatically.

“I was going to take my time, but that won’t do. Find a way to locate him as fast as possible. I’ll grant whatever you need.”

“Trust the Society. They’re all brilliant minds; they’ll likely find a clue soon.”

“Is there nothing I can do?”

“As I mentioned before, I’d be grateful if you could build us a ship.”

“That’s not difficult.”

Hel gestured toward the window, and ripples formed on the sea beyond the barrier.

A massive warship emerged.

“Will that do?”

It was a dreadnought-class battleship.

Even in the archipelago kingdom, where all territories were islands, such a flagship was only deployed in full-scale wars.

And now, it had been created with a flick of his hand.

“More than enough…”

A smile spread across my face as I gazed at the colossal ship.

Then, as if struck by a good idea, I spoke.

“Actually, I was thinking of a smaller vessel, but I didn’t expect it to be this big. So, may I recruit more crew?”

“Crew? Who?”

Suitable candidates began to form in my mind.

***

Meanwhile, a heated debate was unfolding at the Ether Research Society.

“No, that’s not it!”

“If you layer an invisibility spell over a defensive barrier, it’s possible! Using light refraction?”

“Even then, it’d still be detected by tracking magic. And even if your method worked, there’s the issue of fixed coordinates. Maintaining layered spells while moving is impossible.”

“What about this approach? For example…”

Renowned mages proposed various theories on how Ernst could have evaded detection.

But their opinions were divided, and reaching a consensus was difficult.

The reason was that, as souls, they could only theorize mentally and lacked the ability to actually cast spells.

“Would that even work? If mana is split like that, its sustainability would weaken.”

“Theoretically, it makes sense… Ugh, this is frustrating! We can’t even test it.”

The mages continued their discussion, heads together.

Amid this, Lilith bit her nails, lost in deep thought.

There’s no need to think so complexly. There might be a simpler, easier way.

She endlessly imagined what she would have done if she were Ernst.

Dozens of scenarios played out in her mind.

But executing such strategies was no easy feat, even for a legendary witch like her.

Instead of intertwining a defensive barrier with invisibility, what if he erased his mana signature immediately after deploying spatial teleportation?

Lilith sank into deep contemplation.

Tracking a mage who had evaded a god’s eyes for centuries was no simple task.

Since magic was artificial, it inevitably left traces.

For even a god to fail to detect those traces meant it wasn’t just luck—

it was undeniably Ernst’s skill.

Lilith narrowed her eyes, forming a new hypothesis.

If that’s possible, it explains why he hasn’t been caught. But the question is how he sustained spatial teleportation, which consumes immense mana, for centuries.

No easy answers emerged from magical logic.

But she had no intention of giving up.

Lilith wasn’t alone in this resolve; all the Society’s mages felt the same.

They, too, were once legendary figures, possessing unparalleled knowledge and insight.

The thought that Ernst was a step above them crossed their minds, but their scholarly pride refused to accept it easily.

No matter how exceptional a mage, there’s always a flaw. There has to be…

In the midst of this, I visited them again.

“Are these the same people chanting about ether? At this rate, even the Reapers might not notice if they took you away.”

Despite my words, the Society’s mages remained in a state of intense focus.

They were analyzing magical runes, heads together, seemingly oblivious to my arrival.

“You’re here? Sorry, we haven’t found an answer yet,” Lilith said.

“That’s fine. If it were that easy, a god wouldn’t have failed to find him,” I replied, shrugging.

“That makes me even more determined to win,” Lilith said.

“How about we set the stage for that determination and see what you can do?”

Lilith tilted her head, puzzled.

“What?”

“A ship to hunt Ernst has been prepared. But it’s bigger than expected, so we’re recruiting crew. I think the people here are perfect for the job.”

Lilith paused, intrigued, and thought for a moment.

The journey to track Ernst was certainly appealing.

But she pointed out a practical issue first.

“I’d love to go, but I’m not sure we’d be useful unless you need our minds.”

Lilith and the other mages here were souls, with no means to directly intervene in reality.

“Of course, your magical skills are needed. I’ve already gotten permission from the god.”

“Permission?”

“He agreed to grant physical bodies to those who join me as crew for this journey.”

“Really?”

Lilith’s eyes widened, and the surrounding mages turned to me in unison.

“Physical bodies?”

“So we can cast magic again?”

For those who hadn’t had the chance to wield magic since becoming souls, this was a dream come true.

Their eyes sparkled with excitement, and hopeful whispers filled the room.

But I raised a hand to calm the atmosphere.

“Settle down. We can’t take everyone. Hel permitted only five people. Only five can join us.”

“Five?”

A quiet tension settled over the room.

Lilith sighed, touching her forehead in distress.

“Only five… It’s going to be tough deciding who to take.”

The mages glanced at each other, some already moving their lips as if convinced they were the best fit.

I sighed lightly and said, “There’s not much time to deliberate. We’re departing soon, so please decide quickly.”

Lilith tapped the desk with her fingertip, deep in thought.

“Alright. We’ll select based strictly on necessary skills, so please make your recommendations.”

With that, the auditorium’s atmosphere grew heavier.

Everyone wanted to claim their spot, but cautious recommendations began in the serious mood.

“First, Brant must be included. His spatial magic research is top-tier in our Society. If Ernst is using teleportation, Brant’s analytical skills will be invaluable.”

The first recommendation.

The other mages nodded, showing no objections.

“I recommend Nea. She’s a master of tracking magic. She advanced mana tracking through countless experiments. She’ll help find Ernst’s traces.”

Lilith listened intently with a serious expression, waiting for more suggestions.

“I also…”

“Then I recommend…”

Lilith nodded, jotting down the recommended mages’ names.

Suddenly, one mage raised his voice confidently.

“I recommend the Head! No one in the Society rivals her in combat magic. Who knows? We might have to fight Ernst!”

“That’s true!”

“Hahaha!”

The Society’s final recommendation was their Head, the Calamity Witch Lilith.

Lilith sighed, exasperated, but a faint smile curved her lips.

“Fine. If you recommend me, I won’t refuse.”

Thus, the elite team of five mages to track Ernst was selected.

***

I led the chosen mage souls to the outskirts of the Citadel, where the warship was docked.

Gaiard, Hel, and Nidra, who led the Reapers, were already waiting.

“What’s this? Feeling sentimental and came to greet me?” I teased.

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m here to make sure you don’t pull any tricks,” Nidra shot back.

“Oh, how scary.”

Hel shook his head at our bickering.

“Have you brought all the mage souls?”

I stepped forward and answered respectfully.

“Yes. They’ll make tracking easier. Please grant them physical bodies.”

“Alright, as promised.”

Nidra seemed displeased but didn’t intervene.

“Souls, for this journey only, I’ll bend the order and grant you physical bodies.”

A powerful aura emanated from Hel’s hand, forming faint rings of light around Lilith and the mages.

The rings slowly split, cocooning them like chrysalises.

As the light intensified and then faded, their living bodies, as they were in life, took shape.

“This is…”

“Wow!”

They looked at each other in wonder, moving cautiously.

Having existed as souls for so long, the sensation of a living body felt unfamiliar yet exhilarating.

“We’re really back!”

Hel watched their reactions and asked in a calm voice, “So, are you ready?”

“Absolutely.”

“Good luck.”

And so, the warship carrying me, Gaiard, and the newly embodied mages set sail from the Citadel, gliding over the Black Sea.

Splash.

The massive warship cut through the Black Sea.

Dark waves broke against its sides.

Standing at the bow, gazing at the pitch-black sea, I smiled and said,

“Let’s go meet the Great Mage.”

***

Far away, a lone ship drifted across the boundless ocean.

On its deck stood a figure, eyes closed, standing in silence.

Ernst Romarn.

He let his robes flutter in the wind, sensing a faint disturbance.

An irritating mana was slowly approaching from beyond the sea.

Who is it? Someone seeking me.

Ernst slowly reached out and lifted the staff before him.

The faint magical runes along its surface glowed brightly, and a soft light spread in all directions.

As if responding to the light, figures began to take shape in the sea breeze on the deck.

Clank, clank, clank.

Crystal soldiers emerged one by one on the deck.

Their armor gleamed in the light, maintaining perfect formation, awaiting Ernst’s command.

Come. Not even a god can stop me.

His gaze remained fixed on the horizon, his eyes burning with unwavering resolve.