“Watcher….”
As a term used to describe the assistants to the lighthouse keeper, it possessed a rather remarkable title.
If it were called the “Eye of Blue,” it would likely be associated with the lighthouse keeper’s duty of vigilantly observing impending disasters emanating from the open sea.
“We know what we have to do, and we’ve never hesitated, not even once.”
Amon conveyed this sentiment while subtly turning his gaze toward the moon ascending amidst the mist.
“However, we’ve had to go through countless trials and errors, as if fumbling in the dark, and in that process, we’ve shed a lot of blood.”
In Amon’s eyes, as he turned slowly to regard Lennok, there was an unmistakable emotion of sorrow.
“I’ve always thought how nice it would’ve been if, even a small clue or a faint hope… had been observed and left behind through Her eyes.”
“…”
“I wanted to know why She left Her final message to an outsider like you before departing. It was my petty desire.”
“Unfortunately, what you are looking for is not in the words left by the Ascendant,” Lennok replied.
“It was merely a few words exchanged concerning my own personal circumstances.”
Lennok slowly raised his head, taking a puff from his cigarette.
The faintly glowing ember at the tip of his lips paled in comparison to the starlight illuminating the night sky.
At the culmination of this arduous journey, what sort of legacy could Lennok leave behind?
To uncover that answer, Lennok was presently en route to meet the lighthouse keeper.
“So, where is the lighthouse now?”
To meet the lighthouse keeper, one must ultimately locate the lighthouse.
Even within the Philenom autonomous region, there was some intrigue surrounding the enigmatic ancient relic.
However, instead of addressing Lennok’s inquiry, Amon grasped the steering wheel and elevated the wingboat high into the sky.
“It would be better to hear the detailed explanation directly.”
Immediately afterward, the clouds concealing the night sky dispersed, unveiling a radiant moon.
Lennok’s mouth slightly parted as he comprehended that Amon’s wingboat was heading towards the moon.
Oooooo….
A gentle breeze rustled his ears as fine cracks began to appear on the moon’s surface.
Creeeak…!!
Simultaneously, their gaze met a colossal fissure tearing open at the center of the moon.
It appeared as if a pathway had been unveiled to the moon, an awe-inspiring and mysterious spectacle.
However, relying on his potent magical sensitivity and intuition, Lennok grasped precisely what had transpired.
“A barrier that allows entry using the concept of the moon as a medium. And it is an extremely… intricate and high-level sealing spell.”
“Your perception is quite extraordinary.”
Lennok’s contemplation extended even further.
Until Amon opened the door, not even Lennok had detected the concealed space.
A barrier crafted by a highly skilled master of sealing over an extensive period. But if such a feat was achievable, why employ the moon as a conduit?
Lennok intuitively grasped the answer and involuntarily exclaimed,
“So that’s it… the light of the lighthouse illuminating the open sea signifies the reflected light of the moon orbiting outside the planet?”
“…”
“The lighthouse that observes the apocalypse moves on lunar power, so it also used the moon as a medium to hide its location. This is the first time I’ve seen this level of celestial magic…”
Activation of this celestial magic necessitates an extraordinarily long duration and is painstaking to prepare. Despite these various drawbacks, including the immense expenses involved, the magnitude and caliber of the magic it unleashes are famously unparalleled compared to other forms of spells.
If the lighthouse’s concealment relies on the moon, it must employ a spell of immense scale that encompasses the entire autonomous region. It’s understandable that Lennok, who has become accustomed to the region’s magic, hasn’t detected this.
This implies that the Drug Lord couldn’t employ the same methods as the watchers to hide his vault.
Amon turned back to Lennok, his face pale.
“Now I can guess why The Great Seer chose you.”
“Is that so?”
“…I will save my words from here on. The remaining words should be with that person.”
The two promptly followed the fractured veins on the moon’s surface into an inner space.
At first glance, it appeared they were entering the moon itself, but what lay hidden here was a different type of floating island.
While it might not rival the scale of the seven largest islands in the autonomous region, it was still a spacious meadow that could comfortably accommodate hundreds.
At the center of this meadow stood a massive tower leaning at an angle.
Judging by the tower’s circumference and height, it should have been tall enough to touch the sky.
However, only the middle and lower portions of the tower remained on the ground; the top had completely vanished.
Despite its damaged exterior, the tower, constructed from a dark blue material with a very low magic transmittance rate, maintained its dignified appearance despite losing its original form.
“…”
Silently, Amon guided Lennok into the tower.
Despite the battered exterior, the interior was remarkably well-organized. Several people bustled about in a spacious lobby, each attending to their duties.
Lennok’s initial expectations differed somewhat. The organization of the watchers appeared busier and more ordinary than he had anticipated.
When Lennok inquired about this, Amon replied casually.
“Even if we move with the lighthouse as a base, money doesn’t grow from the ground. We encourage various activities to maintain the organization’s core and original purpose.”
“Don’t you receive any support from the autonomous government?”
Upon hearing this, Amon broke into a smile for the first time.
It was then that Lennok felt like he was finally being regarded as an equal.
“We may be located within the autonomous region, but we’re not tied to it.”
“…”
“It’s a relationship where neither party interferes with the other. That’s why The Great Seer’s last external movement became such a hot topic. No one expected that she would personally involve herself in the armistice negotiations with Vulcan.”
Amon remarked as they continued on.
“Everyone believed there must have been another reason.”
The implication of ‘another motive’ was apparent without the need for elaboration.
They traversed the spacious lobby and ascended to the surprisingly pleasant upper floors of the tower.
Lennok focused his magical senses, but aside from an unusually audible rush of wind, nothing out of the ordinary caught his attention.
They traversed a lengthy corridor where a gentle breeze flowed and arrived at a spacious hall.
At the far end of the hall, furthest from the entrance, a large chair stood beneath a prominent blue tri-eye symbol, the unmistakable emblem of the Lighthouse Keeper.
A girl sat in that sizable chair with her eyes closed, awaiting someone.
Amon didn’t utter a word; he simply stepped aside to allow Lennok to approach.
Lennok advanced along a broad aisle, extending five meters on either side, and approached the girl.
Though the girl was aware that Lennok was drawing near, she kept her eyes shut.
Despite the absence of any discernible magic, it felt as though the air surrounding them settled into a tranquil calmness.
It didn’t even seem like she was breathing.
Even though her eyes were closed, and she sensed with her mana, there was an emptiness about her, as if confronting a void.
A young girl who appeared to be around ten years old. Is this what the next lighthouse keeper looks like?
The girl spoke first.
“I didn’t think you would come.”
“Why not?”
“Because I didn’t get any response since that day.” she replied.
“Among the talented wizards of the mundane world, there are many who no longer find meaning in the word ‘ascension.’ Some even dismiss it as an empty rumor and think of it as a waste of time.”
“…”
“I just thought you might be one of them.”
“Or maybe you thought I had already joined an organization with completely different goals from yours.”
This time, the girl remained silent.
Lennok briefly glanced around and shrugged.
“Are we going to stand and talk?”
“I apologize. Due to the ancient spells placed on this space, other objects are not allowed to remain for long… But if you want, you can sit on the carpet. It’s cleaned every day, so it should be clean.”
“…”
Though the atmosphere lightened a bit, Lennok had no intention of taking a seat as suggested. This was a place for listening to her and deciding on the future course of action. He didn’t intend to pressure the lighthouse keeper, but he couldn’t let himself be taken lightly either.
Instead of sitting down, Lennok brought up another topic.
Behind the girl appeared a blue third eye.
The symbol, created by the overlapping of three pupils, was undoubtedly the ‘Eye of Blue,’ the organization Amon had mentioned.
“When we were in contact, there was no talk about the organization. You didn’t build an organization of this scale in the meantime, did you?”
“That is correct.” the girl replied calmly. “The organization I lead, this Eye of Blue, is a militant group formed by watchers who follow my inadequate self, unable to fully perform the duties of a lighthouse keeper.”
As she slightly opened her eyes, a profusion of blue light emanated from both eyes.
“Let me formally introduce myself.”
“…”
“I am the leader of the Eye of Blue, Lapis Falcia. The only blood relative of The Great Seer Madria Falcia, and now the lighthouse keeper who has inherited her estate.”
“My name is Evan. I work at Rabatenon University.”
Lennok didn’t forget the status he had to reveal at this point.
The moment Lapis had reached out to Lennok had coincided with his participation in a conference as an assistant professor at Rabatenon University, using the alias Evan.
The reason she had summoned Lennok now was because she had realized his prior contact with Madria Falcia.
“When we briefly spoke before, I didn’t mention the name ‘Eye of Blue’ because I thought there was a low chance that you, Evan, would come to the autonomous region,” Lapis calmly explained.
“To be precise, as I mentioned earlier, I thought you might not be interested in our proposal at all.”
“…”
“At such a young age, you’re an assistant professor at Rabatenon University, which is directly operated by the Vulcan City Government. I heard the lab you are affiliated with is Aris Richellen’s Lab. You must undoubtedly be proficient in both theory and practice.”
Lennok found it somewhat surprising to hear Aris Richellen’s name mentioned by Lapis. While she was recognized as a genius in Vulcan, he hadn’t anticipated the lighthouse keeper of a distant autonomous region mentioning her name.
The talent possessed by a wizard who had reached Level 6 at such a young age must indeed be extraordinary. There was no need to discuss the treatment Lennok would receive if his own remarkable abilities were revealed.
Lennok, who had been quick to think, retrieved a cigarette from his pocket and placed it between his lips. He needed to exercise caution in his choice of words from this point onward.
“Well, what you’ve seen and heard may not be everything.”
“…”
“If you’ve looked into my background, you’d already know.”
Indeed, there wasn’t a single piece of information she could uncover about him. The only recently updated detail was that he was a Spirit Master, a fact known to Lapis since their first encounter at the conference.
What exactly had The Great Seer seen in him that had led to her final testament?
Lapis closed her eyes, which emitted a radiant glow. She had taken ample time for contemplation and had reached a decision. Now it was time to offer him the opportunity to choose.
“I won’t say much. Please become our Watcher.”
“…”
“Just recently, near Vulcan, a massive event that threatened ‘Observation’ occurred. Dark Wizard Craig Tillyan summoned a fragment of the ‘Annihilator’ Arcotreenia with the help of a terrorist organization and a cult.”
“That incident was resolved by an independent wizard named Van, but similar events will continue to happen.”
“Hmm.”
Lennok couldn’t help but smirk involuntarily upon hearing a familiar name, but Lapis remained unaware.
“The sky is opening again,” she continued, her expression growing increasingly serious.
At that moment, the cave’s ceiling darkened, revealing a transparent night sky with stars beginning to shine. It was then that Lennok realized that this cave functioned as a planetarium of sorts. This cavernous space was an establishment of the lighthouse for observing the sky thousands of miles away.
“Order on this land is becoming disrupted, and chaos unlike anything before will come. And there are those who welcome and wish for it, like Pandemonium.”
Beneath the starry cave ceiling, Lapis whispered, “Eye of Blue aims to block those who wish to create a new door in this sky and maintain the mission of Observation. Please help us.”
“……”
“We must… prevent Hell from descending upon this land.”
“Watcher….”
As a term used to describe the assistants to the lighthouse keeper, it possessed a rather remarkable title.
If it were called the “Eye of Blue,” it would likely be associated with the lighthouse keeper’s duty of vigilantly observing impending disasters emanating from the open sea.
“We know what we have to do, and we’ve never hesitated, not even once.”
Amon conveyed this sentiment while subtly turning his gaze toward the moon ascending amidst the mist.
“However, we’ve had to go through countless trials and errors, as if fumbling in the dark, and in that process, we’ve shed a lot of blood.”
In Amon’s eyes, as he turned slowly to regard Lennok, there was an unmistakable emotion of sorrow.
“I’ve always thought how nice it would’ve been if, even a small clue or a faint hope… had been observed and left behind through Her eyes.”
“…”
“I wanted to know why She left Her final message to an outsider like you before departing. It was my petty desire.”
“Unfortunately, what you are looking for is not in the words left by the Ascendant,” Lennok replied.
“It was merely a few words exchanged concerning my own personal circumstances.”
Lennok slowly raised his head, taking a puff from his cigarette.
The faintly glowing ember at the tip of his lips paled in comparison to the starlight illuminating the night sky.
At the culmination of this arduous journey, what sort of legacy could Lennok leave behind?
To uncover that answer, Lennok was presently en route to meet the lighthouse keeper.
“So, where is the lighthouse now?”
To meet the lighthouse keeper, one must ultimately locate the lighthouse.
Even within the Philenom autonomous region, there was some intrigue surrounding the enigmatic ancient relic.
However, instead of addressing Lennok’s inquiry, Amon grasped the steering wheel and elevated the wingboat high into the sky.
“It would be better to hear the detailed explanation directly.”
Immediately afterward, the clouds concealing the night sky dispersed, unveiling a radiant moon.
Lennok’s mouth slightly parted as he comprehended that Amon’s wingboat was heading towards the moon.
Oooooo….
A gentle breeze rustled his ears as fine cracks began to appear on the moon’s surface.
Creeeak…!!
Simultaneously, their gaze met a colossal fissure tearing open at the center of the moon.
It appeared as if a pathway had been unveiled to the moon, an awe-inspiring and mysterious spectacle.
However, relying on his potent magical sensitivity and intuition, Lennok grasped precisely what had transpired.
“A barrier that allows entry using the concept of the moon as a medium. And it is an extremely… intricate and high-level sealing spell.”
“Your perception is quite extraordinary.”
Lennok’s contemplation extended even further.
Until Amon opened the door, not even Lennok had detected the concealed space.
A barrier crafted by a highly skilled master of sealing over an extensive period. But if such a feat was achievable, why employ the moon as a conduit?
Lennok intuitively grasped the answer and involuntarily exclaimed,
“So that’s it… the light of the lighthouse illuminating the open sea signifies the reflected light of the moon orbiting outside the planet?”
“…”
“The lighthouse that observes the apocalypse moves on lunar power, so it also used the moon as a medium to hide its location. This is the first time I’ve seen this level of celestial magic…”
Activation of this celestial magic necessitates an extraordinarily long duration and is painstaking to prepare. Despite these various drawbacks, including the immense expenses involved, the magnitude and caliber of the magic it unleashes are famously unparalleled compared to other forms of spells.
If the lighthouse’s concealment relies on the moon, it must employ a spell of immense scale that encompasses the entire autonomous region. It’s understandable that Lennok, who has become accustomed to the region’s magic, hasn’t detected this.
This implies that the Drug Lord couldn’t employ the same methods as the watchers to hide his vault.
Amon turned back to Lennok, his face pale.
“Now I can guess why The Great Seer chose you.”
“Is that so?”
“…I will save my words from here on. The remaining words should be with that person.”
The two promptly followed the fractured veins on the moon’s surface into an inner space.
At first glance, it appeared they were entering the moon itself, but what lay hidden here was a different type of floating island.
While it might not rival the scale of the seven largest islands in the autonomous region, it was still a spacious meadow that could comfortably accommodate hundreds.
At the center of this meadow stood a massive tower leaning at an angle.
Judging by the tower’s circumference and height, it should have been tall enough to touch the sky.
However, only the middle and lower portions of the tower remained on the ground; the top had completely vanished.
Despite its damaged exterior, the tower, constructed from a dark blue material with a very low magic transmittance rate, maintained its dignified appearance despite losing its original form.
“…”
Silently, Amon guided Lennok into the tower.
Despite the battered exterior, the interior was remarkably well-organized. Several people bustled about in a spacious lobby, each attending to their duties.
Lennok’s initial expectations differed somewhat. The organization of the watchers appeared busier and more ordinary than he had anticipated.
When Lennok inquired about this, Amon replied casually.
“Even if we move with the lighthouse as a base, money doesn’t grow from the ground. We encourage various activities to maintain the organization’s core and original purpose.”
“Don’t you receive any support from the autonomous government?”
Upon hearing this, Amon broke into a smile for the first time.
It was then that Lennok felt like he was finally being regarded as an equal.
“We may be located within the autonomous region, but we’re not tied to it.”
“…”
“It’s a relationship where neither party interferes with the other. That’s why The Great Seer’s last external movement became such a hot topic. No one expected that she would personally involve herself in the armistice negotiations with Vulcan.”
Amon remarked as they continued on.
“Everyone believed there must have been another reason.”
The implication of ‘another motive’ was apparent without the need for elaboration.
They traversed the spacious lobby and ascended to the surprisingly pleasant upper floors of the tower.
Lennok focused his magical senses, but aside from an unusually audible rush of wind, nothing out of the ordinary caught his attention.
They traversed a lengthy corridor where a gentle breeze flowed and arrived at a spacious hall.
At the far end of the hall, furthest from the entrance, a large chair stood beneath a prominent blue tri-eye symbol, the unmistakable emblem of the Lighthouse Keeper.
A girl sat in that sizable chair with her eyes closed, awaiting someone.
Amon didn’t utter a word; he simply stepped aside to allow Lennok to approach.
Lennok advanced along a broad aisle, extending five meters on either side, and approached the girl.
Though the girl was aware that Lennok was drawing near, she kept her eyes shut.
Despite the absence of any discernible magic, it felt as though the air surrounding them settled into a tranquil calmness.
It didn’t even seem like she was breathing.
Even though her eyes were closed, and she sensed with her mana, there was an emptiness about her, as if confronting a void.
A young girl who appeared to be around ten years old. Is this what the next lighthouse keeper looks like?
The girl spoke first.
“I didn’t think you would come.”
“Why not?”
“Because I didn’t get any response since that day.” she replied.
“Among the talented wizards of the mundane world, there are many who no longer find meaning in the word ‘ascension.’ Some even dismiss it as an empty rumor and think of it as a waste of time.”
“…”
“I just thought you might be one of them.”
“Or maybe you thought I had already joined an organization with completely different goals from yours.”
This time, the girl remained silent.
Lennok briefly glanced around and shrugged.
“Are we going to stand and talk?”
“I apologize. Due to the ancient spells placed on this space, other objects are not allowed to remain for long… But if you want, you can sit on the carpet. It’s cleaned every day, so it should be clean.”
“…”
Though the atmosphere lightened a bit, Lennok had no intention of taking a seat as suggested. This was a place for listening to her and deciding on the future course of action. He didn’t intend to pressure the lighthouse keeper, but he couldn’t let himself be taken lightly either.
Instead of sitting down, Lennok brought up another topic.
Behind the girl appeared a blue third eye.
The symbol, created by the overlapping of three pupils, was undoubtedly the ‘Eye of Blue,’ the organization Amon had mentioned.
“When we were in contact, there was no talk about the organization. You didn’t build an organization of this scale in the meantime, did you?”
“That is correct.” the girl replied calmly. “The organization I lead, this Eye of Blue, is a militant group formed by watchers who follow my inadequate self, unable to fully perform the duties of a lighthouse keeper.”
As she slightly opened her eyes, a profusion of blue light emanated from both eyes.
“Let me formally introduce myself.”
“…”
“I am the leader of the Eye of Blue, Lapis Falcia. The only blood relative of The Great Seer Madria Falcia, and now the lighthouse keeper who has inherited her estate.”
“My name is Evan. I work at Rabatenon University.”
Lennok didn’t forget the status he had to reveal at this point.
The moment Lapis had reached out to Lennok had coincided with his participation in a conference as an assistant professor at Rabatenon University, using the alias Evan.
The reason she had summoned Lennok now was because she had realized his prior contact with Madria Falcia.
“When we briefly spoke before, I didn’t mention the name ‘Eye of Blue’ because I thought there was a low chance that you, Evan, would come to the autonomous region,” Lapis calmly explained.
“To be precise, as I mentioned earlier, I thought you might not be interested in our proposal at all.”
“…”
“At such a young age, you’re an assistant professor at Rabatenon University, which is directly operated by the Vulcan City Government. I heard the lab you are affiliated with is Aris Richellen’s Lab. You must undoubtedly be proficient in both theory and practice.”
Lennok found it somewhat surprising to hear Aris Richellen’s name mentioned by Lapis. While she was recognized as a genius in Vulcan, he hadn’t anticipated the lighthouse keeper of a distant autonomous region mentioning her name.
The talent possessed by a wizard who had reached Level 6 at such a young age must indeed be extraordinary. There was no need to discuss the treatment Lennok would receive if his own remarkable abilities were revealed.
Lennok, who had been quick to think, retrieved a cigarette from his pocket and placed it between his lips. He needed to exercise caution in his choice of words from this point onward.
“Well, what you’ve seen and heard may not be everything.”
“…”
“If you’ve looked into my background, you’d already know.”
Indeed, there wasn’t a single piece of information she could uncover about him. The only recently updated detail was that he was a Spirit Master, a fact known to Lapis since their first encounter at the conference.
What exactly had The Great Seer seen in him that had led to her final testament?
Lapis closed her eyes, which emitted a radiant glow. She had taken ample time for contemplation and had reached a decision. Now it was time to offer him the opportunity to choose.
“I won’t say much. Please become our Watcher.”
“…”
“Just recently, near Vulcan, a massive event that threatened ‘Observation’ occurred. Dark Wizard Craig Tillyan summoned a fragment of the ‘Annihilator’ Arcotreenia with the help of a terrorist organization and a cult.”
“That incident was resolved by an independent wizard named Van, but similar events will continue to happen.”
“Hmm.”
Lennok couldn’t help but smirk involuntarily upon hearing a familiar name, but Lapis remained unaware.
“The sky is opening again,” she continued, her expression growing increasingly serious.
At that moment, the cave’s ceiling darkened, revealing a transparent night sky with stars beginning to shine. It was then that Lennok realized that this cave functioned as a planetarium of sorts. This cavernous space was an establishment of the lighthouse for observing the sky thousands of miles away.
“Order on this land is becoming disrupted, and chaos unlike anything before will come. And there are those who welcome and wish for it, like Pandemonium.”
Beneath the starry cave ceiling, Lapis whispered, “Eye of Blue aims to block those who wish to create a new door in this sky and maintain the mission of Observation. Please help us.”
“……”
“We must… prevent Hell from descending upon this land.”
