Chapter 8 – Interlude: The Magic Guild’s ‘First Lord of Phantoms Activation Experiment’
Kingdom Calendar Year 155. Lindbell Magic Guild Archives.
First Lord of Phantoms Activation Experiment
- Supervisor: B-Rank Mage, Cain Liestia
- Observers: A-Rank Mage, Zamel Kartus; Three C-Rank Mages
- Pilot: C-Rank Mage, Demeter Springal
—Report from B-Rank Mage, Cain Liestia—
With the capture of Dorothea Samuels, the Magic Guild made an unexpected acquisition: one of the legendary giant armors known as the Lords, the Lord of Phantoms.
At the time of discovery, a captured mage was piloting the ‘Ancient Artifact.’ It is believed she was in a hypnotic state induced by drugs and was forced to attack other mages under Dorothea’s orders. She is currently weakened from severe mana depletion, but her life is not in danger.
Furthermore, she had been taught the activation sequence for the Lord of Phantoms. It is likely Dorothea Samuels planned to kill her afterward, as there would be no merit in granting such knowledge to a Magic Guild mage.
Interrogation of Dorothea Samuels revealed the existence of three other Lords. (It is believed others still exist, but as Dorothea took her own life, further information is unavailable.) The names of the confirmed Lords are as follows:
- Lord of Beasts
- Lord of Paladins
- Lord of Nosferatu
This information confirms that remnants of the Sanctuary Church Elysium Temple are still active. It is almost certain that they possess two of the other Lords.
In light of this, the Lindbell Magic Guild has decided to conduct an activation experiment on the Lord of Phantoms. Given that Church remnants possess other Lords, we must ascertain this one’s capabilities. This experiment was proposed by B-Rank Mage Cain Liestia and approved by A-Rank Mage Zamel Kartus. The experiment will be held at the capital’s ‘Magic Proving Ground.’ Observers will be B-Rank Mage Cain, A-Rank Mage Zamel, and several C-Rank mages.
Addendum:
After her initial interrogation, Dorothea Samuels took her own life. As a result, the identity of the individual who defeated her remains unknown.
According to her testimony, her attacker was “young, yet possessed the air of an old man.” This person allegedly used a holy sword and referred to the 200-year-old “Traitor Sage” as “my child.” This testimony is so absurdly fantastical that it is likely misinformation intended to confuse us.
We shall tentatively refer to this individual as the ‘Holy Sword Mage,’ but as a senior member of the Magic Guild, I can only pray they are not an enemy.
Kingdom Calendar Year 155, Month of the 5th Moon, 13th Day.
B-Rank Mage, Cain Liestia
—Magic Guild Proving Ground—
“We will now begin the experiment, Demeter Springal. Have you taken the mana-enhancing potion?”
“Yes, Cain-sama.”
This was the Magic Guild’s Proving Ground, also known as the Colosseum—the very same place where Yuuki Grossalia and Alex Kielce had dueled just ten days prior. Compared to that day, the spectator stands were nearly empty.
In the center of the arena stood the massive, one-armed suit of armor. Beside it were Demeter, dressed in casual clothes, and Prince Cain, in his robes. Demeter had forgone her usual robe for a shirt and short trousers, which were easier to move in and allowed for a clearer reading of her mana flow.
“I apologize for rushing this, Demeter,” Prince Cain said, looking up at the Lord of Phantoms. “We have very little information on the Lords. We shouldn’t be experimenting so hastily, but…”
“It cannot be helped, my lord. Not when remnants of the Sanctuary Church may possess others,” Demeter replied, shaking her head. “I have heard the reports from the senior mages who were in the forest. It fires a strange light from its back that drains both mana and life force.”
“And on top of that, it repels all offensive magic…”
It was too dangerous. The Magic Guild had to develop countermeasures for when they inevitably encountered the other Lords. That was why this experiment was being fast-tracked.
“If you feel your mana is nearing depletion, get out of the armor immediately. Understood?”
“Understood, Cain-sama.”
Demeter nodded. Cain stepped back, away from the giant armor.
From a distance, the Lord of Phantoms looked like a one-armed golem. Its total height was about twice that of an adult man. Its legs were short, but its one remaining arm was bizarrely long, capable of touching the ground even while standing.
Unlike typical armor, which is equipped piece by piece, the Lord of Phantoms was different. Its entire front panel opened, allowing a person to step inside. Once they were in, a magical connection was established, allowing the pilot to move it with thought alone.
“Now then—I will begin.”
Demeter said with a bow before stepping inside the Lord of Phantoms. With a heavy clank, the front armor sealed. Inside, Demeter began the activation chant. With her small murmur, lines of mana began to race across the armor’s surface.
“—Activation complete.”
With Demeter’s voice, the Lord of Phantoms slowly raised its enormous fist. The observing mages let out a collective “Ooh.” The activation of a Lord, the strongest of the ‘Ancient Artifacts’—for mages dedicated to mastering their craft, it was like watching a legend come to life.
“…It is a deeply moving sight,” Zamel murmured from the stands. “However, I still believe this experiment is premature, Prince Cain.”
“I am here as a B-Rank Mage. Please, call me Cain, Elder Zamel,” Prince Cain replied with a wry smile, not turning to face the old mage behind him. “Besides, if you felt it was premature, why did you approve the experiment?”
“Because even if I had refused, you would have simply secured approval from someone else, would you not?”
“…Who can say?”
“That is the kind of man you are. In that case, I am more at ease having the experiment conducted where I can keep an eye on it.”
“I am humbled by your insight, Elder Zamel.”
“Hmph.”
“…It’s starting.”
As Cain spoke, several C-Rank mages advanced into the arena. Staffs in hand, they began to chant.
“O, crimson sphere from the stars”—”Engulf my foes”—”And reduce them to cinders”!!”
“Activate: Burning Meteor!!”
Two mages launched their fireballs. The carriage-sized orbs of flame rocketed toward the Lord of Phantoms. As per Cain’s instructions, their aim was off. If Demeter just stood still, they would miss. But—
—Hmph!
The Lord of Phantoms extended its single arm. Its massive fist collided with the fireballs.
BOSSHUUUUU!!
“Ooooh!!” “It shattered it in one blow?!”
Cain and Zamel cried out in spite. Upon striking the Lord’s fist, the fireballs had simply disintegrated and vanished.
“Demeter! Did you feel any impact? Any pain?!”
“—None at all.”
A calm voice replied from within the armor. As she said, she seemed completely unharmed.
“Even an Anti-Magic Shell would transfer some of the shock,” Cain mused.
“No, to my eyes, the magic itself was extinguished the moment it made contact,” Zamel said. “Is the armor itself inscribed with a defensive formula? One perhaps far beyond our own technology…”
“Your eyes are sparkling, Elder Zamel,” Prince Cain said, hiding a smile. “You know the danger, yet you cannot help but be excited to see an ‘Ancient Artifact’ in motion. You truly are a mage to the bone.”
“I don’t need to hear that from you. More importantly, you’ve kept the general public away from this test, I trust?” Elder Zamel fixed Cain with a sharp glare. “If anyone without magic knowledge saw this… they might get strange ideas. They might try to weaponize it, or decide that mages who wield such things are a threat. The ignorant are beyond help.”
“Attendance is restricted to high-ranking mages.”
“And you have sworn your sister, the duke’s daughter, and her guardian knight to secrecy?”
“Of course… However.”
“…However?”
“To be honest, I find my sister’s guardian knight to be… unfathomable.” Cain said, his gaze still locked on the Lord of Phantoms. “He fought a C-Rank mage, Alex Kielce, and won a head-on victory. And when I offered him a reward for capturing Dorothea, he seemed utterly uninterested. It’s possible he sees the world from a different dimension than we do.”
“Iris’s knight… Yuuki Grossalia, was it?”
“Yes.”
“Hmph. You’re overthinking it. He’s just the illegitimate son of a barony.”
“…Perhaps you’re right.”
Prince Cain dropped the subject. In the arena, Demeter’s Lord had just deflected a third spell. The mages were aiming at its arm to avoid harming the pilot. Fire, earth—all were ineffective. Ice magic seemed to work, but only to slow it down slightly.
“Hmph. That should be enough for today.”
Ten minutes had passed. Cain stepped forward to signal the end of the test.
“Wait, Prince Cain.” Elder Zamel stopped him. “There’s no point in only testing its defenses. We must see its power.”
“This is its very first activation. We shouldn’t push it.”
“If you wish for a sparring partner, I will lend you my golem.”
“Weren’t you the one who said this experiment was premature, Elder Zamel?”
“If we are to experiment, we should get it all done in one go!”
Without waiting for Cain’s reply, Zamel’s staff began to trace a sigil. He scattered magical crystals on the ground and began his incantation.
“In the name of A-Rank Mage Zamel Kartus, I command you! My servant! Come forth!!”
“Elder Zamel!”
“The more we repeat this test, the more likely the information is to leak,” the old mage said, his beard shaking with a smile. “To protect that secret, let us be thorough on the first try. We must be perfectly prepared, so the Sanctuary Church cannot gain an advantage.”
A magic circle appeared at Zamel’s feet. From it emerged a stone golem, one size larger than the Lord of Phantoms.
“Stop this, Elder Zamel! Any more will be too much of a burden on Demeter!”
“All I must do is prove that my golem is stronger than that oversized suit of armor! Then we will have no need to fear the Sanctuary Church!”
“GUOOOOOOH!!” The stone golem roared. Shoving aside the other mages in the arena, it lumbered toward the Lord of Phantoms.
“Demeter Springal! The test is aborted! Get out of there immediately!”
“You will not flee! That is an order!” Zamel bellowed.
The Lord of Phantoms‘ ‘gaze’ darted between Zamel and the approaching golem. While its pilot hesitated, the golem closed the distance.
“GUOOOOOOH!!“
“Now, Demeter! Let’s see you stop my golem’s might!”
“—Y-Yes, sir!”
With Demeter’s voice, the Lord of Phantoms raised its one arm. The stone golem reared back its own and brought it down…
DOOOOM!!
“…It didn’t even last three minutes,” Zamel whispered, his voice thick with emotion. The giant armor had caught the stone golem with its one arm, stopped it cold, and then simply toppled it.
“My golem… it was no match at all! This… this is the legendary Lord! Haha! Hahahahahahaha!!”
“That is quite enough! Let’s end this!”
“Not yet! Not yet, not yet…”
“That is enough, Elder Zamel!! We are not the Sanctuary Church!”
Prince Cain’s shout cut through the old mage’s laughter.
“You were the one who proposed sealing Elysium out of caution for the Church! What are you doing, losing yourself to this?!”
“…Ah… no… I was…”
Realizing he had been on the verge of losing control, the old mage cleared his throat. “…My apologies. You are right. That is enough.”
“Yes. We have confirmed the Lord is powerful. That is sufficient.”
“No, you are right. My apologies. I was… overwrought.”
“Demeter. The test is over. You may come out.”
In response to Cain’s command, the front of the Lord of Phantoms opened. Demeter emerged and immediately dropped to her knees.
“Are you alright, Demeter?!”
“…My mana… it’s all gone. Even with the potion…” Pale-faced, Demeter collapsed onto the ground. “This… is not something humans should wield. This should not… exist…”
“Demeter?!”
“I… I was fighting just to suppress the urge to attack… My fellow mages… even you, Cain-sama, and Elder Zamel… I started to think of you all as… insignificant. That… is what this ‘Ancient Artifact’ is…”
“It seems we have acquired something truly troublesome…”
What was most terrifying was that this Lord wasn’t even in perfect condition. And that, somewhere out there, was a person who could defeat it easily.
“I propose that this Lord of Phantoms be designated a First-Class Sealed Ancient Artifact,” Prince Cain announced to Elder Zamel. “All information regarding it should be managed by the Guild’s Sages, and it should be placed in a vault that can only be opened with the unanimous consent of all Sages.”
“I have no objection. But I have one condition.” Elder Zamel stroked his long beard. “Appoint me as its head administrator. I have no desire to use it, of course. But I wish to study it. To see if our technology can replicate it.”
“As you wish. But you will share your research findings.”
“Of course.”
“And you promise not to use it.”
“I understand.”
Worker golems entered the arena to haul the inert Lord of Phantoms to the vault. It would be managed in the Magic Guild’s deepest storage. Its existence and its research would be known only to the high-ranking mages known as Sages. The next time that armor would be used… would be if another Lord attacked.
“Good work, Demeter Springal.” Cain took out a mana recovery potion and handed it to her. “I’m sorry. We truly needed to confirm the power of that armor.”
“…No, I…”
“It is truly dangerous. For now, simply knowing that is enough.”
Cain stared blankly as the giant armor was carried away. “The return of the Sanctuary Church remnants must be kept secret from the populace. If they knew, it would cause a panic. For now, the Guild and the Royal Family must gather information on them.”
“Cain-sama…”
“Now… I wonder where the other Lords are?” Prince Cain murmured.
His voice was so soft that even Demeter, sitting right beside him, could not hear.
“…Somewhere out there, perfect versions must exist, not this incomplete one. The Lord of Beasts, the Lord of Paladins… I want to see them with my own eyes. And if possible… as my own ‘Ancient Artifact’…”
Muttering this to himself, Prince Cain left the proving ground.
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