An ordinary profession creates the world's strongest

Hajime, still feeling tired from the effects of Limit Break: Overpowered, said this with a wry smile.

Yue and the others seemed to agree, especially Guanghui and the others, whose mental fatigue seemed to have reached its limit. Their expressions looked like they were praying for no more trials.

After reaching the top of the tree branch stairs, the group saw the familiar tree holes on the trunk of the big tree.

There was already a magic circle in the cave. The moment everyone stood on the magic circle, a bright light appeared as usual and the transfer began.

After the light stopped, Hajime and the others saw a garden before their eyes.

The air was very fresh and the sky felt very close to them.

The garden, roughly the size of the school gymnasium, was beautiful, with a delicate waterway flowing from a clear spring, and the grounds resembled a lawn. Small trees bearing fruit stood amidst a small white building.

At first, they seemed to be standing in a corner of a garden surrounded by waterways and trees.

There was a circular area with bridges on all four sides and a magic circle carved on the ground.

"Hey, Nagumo! Is that it!?"

Guanghui seemed a little impatient and stretched out his finger and said.

At the deepest part of the garden stood a particularly large tree. Just as we were standing right now, the tree grew on a small circular island surrounded by a waterway, with a stone slab buried at its roots.

They stopped Guanghui from rushing out and began to observe their surroundings.

It was obvious at a glance that they were at a very high place, after all, the blue sky could be seen horizontally.

Tio cautiously walked to the edge of the garden and peered down.

"...How amazing, Master! Looks like this is the top of a huge tree, huh?"

Hearing Tio's words, Hajime and the others gathered at the edge of the garden.

Then I looked down——I see, it seemed just as Tio said.

A vast sea of ​​thick fog is visible before us, and no matter how we look at it, this place is far above the sea of ​​trees.

If there is such a huge tree in the sea of ​​trees, it must be the big tree Uya Aruto.

However, Hajime called a halt to Tio's speculation.

"...Hey, isn't that strange? When we flew over the sea of ​​trees on Fornil, we didn't see any large trees. Even if we only estimate the height up to the thick fog, this garden must be at least four hundred meters high. If that's the case..."

Having said this, Shi realized the strangeness of his words.

Ultimately, based on the height of the trees as seen from the ground, their upper edges should have risen above the thick fog obscuring the sea of ​​trees and protruded into the sky.

However, it was incredible that they had not seen any big trees from Fornir so far.

"...I see. It must be the concealment magic that's at work."

"...Hmm, it could be using spatial magic to refract light, or shifting space itself. Or it could be soul magic, causing our perception to be interfered with by the soul level..."

Yue seemed to be supplementing Hajime's deductions and conducting a magical investigation.

There are also magics that hinder cognition among dark magic, but this scale is unusual. So it's most likely magic from the Age of Gods, but even Yue couldn't immediately identify the specific reason.

Because Yue and Tio, both magic experts, were interfered with, but they didn't feel anything unusual, so how could people not shudder.

I only heard someone swallowing their saliva, but no one made any ridicule because everyone felt the same way.

The various trials prepared by the Great Labyrinth are indeed both terrible and insidious, but the creator is, after all, a liberator, not just a person with a bad character.

"As expected, this seems to be the end."

Hajime and the others looked at each other, nodded, and walked towards the stone slab.

They walked across the lovely arched bridge that led to the innermost island.

In an instant, the stone slabs began to glow, and yellow-green magic power flowed into the waterway. The waterway itself seemed to be a magic circle, and the shimmering waterway emitted a phosphorescent light like fireflies.

Hajime felt the same feeling of his memory being scrutinized that he always had when he entered a large maze, and then the feeling of being forcibly instilled with knowledge came over him.

Hajime and the others were already used to it, but one of them groaned due to the shock and strange feeling.

Just as Hajime was about to speak of the new Age of Gods magic he had read from the influx of knowledge, the trees on the stone slabs began to twist.

Shi and the others didn't know what was going on and were on full alert.

Ignoring Yu Shi and the others, the trees twisted and deformed under the slowly rising phosphorescent light, and finally a human face began to take shape in the center of the trunk.

The tree trunk was bulging, forming a human figure from the shoulders up, with a face that looked like a woman.

Then, when her appearance was completely formed, the woman opened her eyes and spoke softly:

"First, I would like to congratulate you on your success in passing the various Great Labyrinths and the trials arranged by me, Ludirise Hartner. I offer you my highest respect, and at the same time, I offer my deepest apologies for the difficult and arduous trials I have imposed upon you."

Apparently, this is a recording medium using trees, similar to the recording artifact prepared by Oscar Orcus.

"...She feels like a princess."

Hearing Kaori say this, Hajime and the others nodded in agreement.

Lutilis Hartner seemed to possess the same royal aura and dignity as Liliana.

Because it is formed from a tree trunk, her features are not very clear, but it can be seen that she has straight hair parted in the middle and is quite beautiful. Judging from her pointed ears, she may be a forest person.

"However, this is a necessary test. Having passed through the other Great Labyrinths, you should have gained some understanding of the relationship between the gods and us, the tragedies of the past, and what is happening now... right? Therefore, I hope you will understand the difference between an unshakable bond and a easily wavering heart. Since you have made it this far, you must also understand that the heart has both strengths and weaknesses. I deeply hope that this experience will be of benefit to you in the future."

Shia and the others listened to Luutilis with respectful expressions.

However, Hajime seemed to have lost his patience, his expression saying, "Stop talking nonsense." However, he still knew the situation and listened to Lutiris's words obediently.

"I don't know why you seek my magic—"Sublimation Magic"—but how you use it is up to you. I simply hope you won't become addicted to power. If the time comes, then follow the guidance of your bonds."

Hajime began to look around, searching for the strategy certificate no matter how hard he looked, and he seemed to have stopped listening to Lutiris. Judging from the way he kept looking at the stone tablet, he might take it out himself soon.

To be on the safe side, Xia held Shi's left hand, Yue held Shi's right hand, and Kaori hugged Shi's waist tightly. They silently asked Shi to observe their expressions. It seemed that Shi could hold on for a while longer.

"As I have taught you, the Age of Gods magic I have passed on to you, 'Sublimation,' can at least significantly evolve all powers. However, the true value of this magic lies elsewhere."

Hajime's eyes suddenly widened, and he looked at Lutimer again in confusion, because the knowledge Lutimer had given her did not mention the true value of sublimation magic.

Realizing that Hajime's attention had returned to the subject of his conversation, Yue and the others untied him. Shizuku and the others stared at them in disbelief, wondering, "What are you doing?"

"Sublimation magic, as its name suggests, elevates all 'powers', even the magic of the Age of Gods. Creation magic, gravity magic, soul magic, transformation magic, space magic, regeneration magic... these are powerful forces that act upon the very foundations of the principles. Once they have all evolved significantly and combined, they will reach a level of magic that surpasses the magic of the Age of Gods, a magic that can be called divine skill—'concept magic'."

Someone swallowed, and the sound was exceptionally clear.

Hajime's eyes widened in surprise.

His mind flashed back to what Millardi Leason had said when they were in the Leason Labyrinth.

——You must obtain the Age of Gods magic of all of us 'Liberators', because it is necessary for your wish.

I remember she said this, she was referring to conceptual magic.

"Conceptual magic—literally, it's magic that allows various concepts to manifest and operate in this world. However, even if one acquires all the magic of the Age of Gods, this magic is not so easy to cultivate, because conceptual magic is not a theory, but a magic created through the will of the extreme."

This is why knowledge cannot be copied using magic circles.

Hajime frowned after hearing the explanation.

"The will to the limit"—what a vague explanation.

"Even if the seven of us 'Liberators' joined forces, we can only create three types of conceptual magic, but that's enough for us... I'll give one of them to you."

After Luutilis finished speaking, the center of the stone slab slid open, and something like a pocket watch appeared inside.

Hajime picked up the object. It had a translucent lid on the front, and a single pointer inside. The back had the emblem of Ludirise Hartner depicted on it, suggesting it also served as a proof of victory.

Just as Hajime was carefully examining the object in his hand, Lutris began to explain again.

"It's called the 'Guidance Compass', and the concept it instills is—"

——Indicate where you want to go.

「!?」

The moment he heard these words, Hajime could actually hear the sound of his own heartbeat.

Hajime even felt like a fire was burning inside him. The sounds around him faded away, and only the same words echoed in his mind.

"Point out where you want to go."

So that's...

"As long as there is a wish in your heart, the compass will lead you to where you want to go. Whether it is the whereabouts of the person you want to find, or the whereabouts of the hidden items, even if it is in another world."

"——!"

The 'other world' that Lutiris mentioned must be the world where God exists.

If conceptual magic can only be created by extreme will, then the liberator's will is, needless to say, to overthrow God.

Then this compass was created to find the location of God. Oscar probably used materials that generate magic and endow conceptual magic to create this compass.

However, since it is said that it can be used even in other worlds, and this compass can even guide the world of God, then my hometown Japan should also be able to guide.

The step to return to hometown is accomplished.

Finally, finally I got a clue!!

An indescribable joy welled up in Hajime's heart.

The overwhelming joy was beyond words, and Hajime didn't know how to express it.

His hand holding the compass was shaking.

After crying out in the abyss that day, the goal I set in my heart after my rebirth was to return to my hometown.

How far have I come so far? My past journeys flash through my mind like a revolving lantern.

Be patient, now is not the time to shed tears.

Feeling the warmth threatening to overflow from the depths of his eyes, Hajime said this to his heart.

As if reaffirming his resolve, Hajime clenched his left hand. His left hand was made of machinery, and although it was completely distorted, it was also Hajime's pride.

Yue behind him looked up at Shi with an extremely gentle gaze, and then a pair of small hands, as if to cover Shi's prosthetic hands, held him tightly.

"Once you have acquired all the magic of the Age of Gods, you can go anywhere as long as you have a clear will."

Although it wasn’t due to her joy at seeing Hajime, anyone could see that Luutilis’s face formed from the tree was smiling.

Lutiris said the last words.

On the other side of the record, in a world far in the past, her sincere prayers were conveyed to Hajime and the others living in the present.

"I sincerely pray that you will be able to choose your future with your own free will, and that the path you take will be filled with joy."

Ludiris returned to the trees with a smile on her face.

This is the top of a large tree. The tree left behind by Lutilis is growing on top of that tree. Thinking about it this way, it feels like Lutilis is actually living in that tree.

In front of the stone slab that had stopped glowing, as if immersed in the afterglow, or as if trying hard to digest what had just happened, the quiet time slowly passed, and the only sounds around were the breeze and the rustling of leaves.

Finally, Hajime broke the silence.

As if trying hard to remain calm, Hajime asked Yue in a tone that suppressed his emotions.

"Yue, just to be on the safe side, I have to ask you something... If I use sublimation magic... can I use space magic... to travel through space?"

Behind Hajime, the shocked auras of Kouki and the others spread.

Yue knew the importance of this sentence, so she did not answer lightly. She tried her best to explore the possibility.

She made full use of the knowledge she had been taught, as well as the knowledge of undoubtedly the best and most powerful magician of the modern era. After constant consideration and reflection, repeated attempts and experiments, the answer she finally obtained was...

"…………sorry."

"yes……"

That's exactly what's going on. If transcending worlds were possible solely through sublimated space magic, then the liberators wouldn't have to go through so much trouble.

Lutiris said that they created three types of conceptual magic.

One is the concept of a "compass of guidance," a magic that can guide you to where you want to go.

Then, the remaining two must be the concept of traveling to a different world, and the concept of defeating the gods that inhabit that world.

In other words, if one has not reached the realm of conceptual magic, traveling through the world is extremely difficult.

Perhaps because she couldn't meet Hajime's expectations, Yue looked dejected. Hajime looked at her with gentle eyes and combed her beautiful golden hair with his fingers.

Feeling the touch on her skin, Yue shrank her neck as if it was itchy and looked up at Hajime.

"That's fine. I was just trying my luck. There's only one necessary Age of Gods spell left, so all we have to do is get it. Anyway, Yue, there's no need to look like that."