CHAPTER 162
Cruden Island.
A remote island floating in the vast ocean of the 2nd World, Urjea.
Unlike a normal island, this one is constantly moving along the vast sea. Because of this, it is not easy to find, and its location cannot be predicted.
Black Dawn took careful note of this.
That is why they set up an experimental site there.
An Artificial Transcendent.
The entire island is a giant laboratory for its development.
They procured materials from Black Dawn's headquarters and conducted experiments on Cruden Island.
Through this process, Black Dawn had obtained some meaningful results.
The only problem was that not a shred of human morality was applied to these experiments.
From ordinary people to countless other races, Apostles, and even Fantasy Species—Black Dawn captured whatever they could get their hands on and used them for their experiments.
Countless experiments were conducted for the sole purpose of creating an Artificial Transcendent.
And in those experiments, far too many were sacrificed.
Even my Resurrection magic was of no use to them.
Most had their bodies mixed with Apostles, preventing the magic from functioning properly.
Of course, even if they were to awaken, it was highly unlikely they would be of sound mind after being exposed to such conditions for so long.
The one saving grace was that the Regular Army had successfully brought down Cruden Island.
They dismantled the experiments being conducted and arrested everyone involved.
With the culprits interrogated and everything about the experiments revealed, it was safe to say that the Cruden Island incident was resolved.
It was a result that showed the desperate efforts of the Regular Army.
However, Asheria Eve was not among them.
I tapped my fingers on the carriage’s armrest and pressed my lips together.
On Cruden Island, the experiments had continued right up until the Regular Army arrived.
At a glance, it might seem like the Artificial Transcendent project was in full swing.
There were several bizarre attempts that looked as if they were trying to create a physical body.
Of course, it seems they all failed.
But separate from that, it also meant that there were results obtained through these experiments.
The personnel involved said they had not yet completed the Artificial Transcendent.
But with the results they had obtained so far, they must have accumulated a significant amount of information.
And that information would be entirely in the hands of Asheria Eve.
Indeed, the report also detailed the experimental results.
As a layman in this field, there were many parts I couldn’t immediately understand.
However, there were some parts I could make sense of.
'To create a Transcendent, a medium that has reached the level of a quasi-Transcendent is required.'
A quasi-Transcendent.
It was said that the first Sword Lord had reached such a level.
And one more person.
Not long ago, there was someone else who reached the level of a quasi-Transcendent.
'Bloody Crown.'
The man who had been granted a massive amount of power from a Transcendent and attained the level of a quasi-Transcendent.
Of course, I interfered midway, so he was never completed.
But the Sin of Pride had risked his own life to collect the remains of Bloody Crown after he had been turned to dust.
Could that have fulfilled the condition?
It would be troublesome if it did, but…
'I have a feeling it’s not enough.'
I slowly tapped the carriage's armrest and furrowed my brow.
I was steadily thwarting Black Dawn and even growing stronger, so what was this nagging feeling?
I couldn't tell if I was being overly sensitive or if the situation was genuinely that precarious.
'The pursuit of Asheria Eve continues, but…'
Even that effort has been diminished now that Rapha Hastel has collapsed from his worsening heart condition.
It was a toss-up whether she could be caught even when Rapha Hastel was active, so it was safe to assume we had effectively lost her.
Of course, Ririran and the other space mages are constantly monitoring the 2nd World and the Void.
It certainly wouldn't be easy for her to break through.
But I have a feeling.
A feeling that this entire situation is something Asheria Eve had calculated to some extent.
'The timing is too good.'
She knew that Rapha Hastel, the one pursuing her, was running out of time, so she didn't care if she was being chased. Could it be that she made that judgment from the start and intentionally revealed herself at this time?
'Everyone's attention is fixated on Asheria Eve.'
In the first place, why would Asheria Eve, who had hidden herself until now, suddenly appear?
There was no need for her to reveal her identity just because of me.
The value of Resurrection magic is great, but it was unlikely to have been included in their plans.
'The Emperor, the Commander-in-Chief, the Sin of Wrath.'
With people's attention scattered in every direction right now…
What is Black Dawn aiming for?
I slowly folded the report on Cruden Island.
I couldn't be sure how much the experimental data obtained from the island had helped them.
'I guess I have no choice but to talk to that guy.'
The Sin of Pride.
Arborex.
He’s a smart one, so I’ve avoided talking to him, but he’s the one who would know the most.
Clunk—
Just then, the carriage came to a stop.
As I stepped outside, I saw the frontline branch building.
Unlike the central headquarters, this building was located near the 2nd World to allow for rapid deployment.
Anastasia was here, having returned after the Cruden Island sortie.
As I walked inside, picturing her face which I hadn't seen in a while, I saw members of the Regular Army.
Most of them were people I had seen at least once before.
“Saint!”
“You’ve come!”
They greeted me warmly.
The central headquarters is one thing, but it feels like the people on the front lines welcome me more.
While there are those at Central who have never been indebted to me, most of the people on the front lines have been in my debt at some point.
Either they were revived themselves, or their comrades were.
Perhaps because of that, they cheered enthusiastically as soon as they saw me.
“You’ve got quite a lot of avid fans.”
“That’s because I’m popular.”
I played along with Inferno's remark and headed inside.
“Lieutenant General Inferno, you’ve arrived. Lieutenant General Anastasia is waiting for you in her office.”
“Lead the way at once.”
One of Anastasia’s aides quickly greeted us and guided the way.
Thanks to him, we arrived at the Lieutenant General’s office smoothly, where we saw Anastasia with her jacket draped over her chair.
Seeing the beads of sweat on her forehead, it looked like she had just returned from a light training session.
“Hmm, a lot of familiar faces,” Anastasia said, looking at me and my party with a broad smile.
We had worked together on several operations before, so we had developed a certain fondness for each other.
“You’ve come a long way. Have a seat.”
Moreover, she had a look that said she knew why we were here.
I sat on the sofa with Aranseol and Babiyen beside me, and the aide tactfully brought out tea and refreshments.
Decent quality snacks.
It was a detail that revealed how Anastasia ran the frontline branch.
“So, Inferno. Is it that topic again?”
“That’s right. Just as you guessed, Anastasia, we need you to be the Commander-in-Chief.”
“You always treated me like a musclehead. Why are you trying to give me the Commander-in-Chief position now?”
So, she was holding a grudge about that.
Inferno let out a cough, having nothing to say for himself.
“I only said that because you often act so simple-minded.”
“And what good would a simple-minded person do as Commander-in-Chief?”
“No, right now, that’s exactly the kind of person who needs to be Commander-in-Chief.”
Just as Anastasia was about to politely refuse, Inferno cut her off.
She looked at Inferno with an expression that asked if he was serious.
But Inferno’s face was resolute.
“Anastasia, the tides of the era are shifting ominously. If we’re not careful, the entire Regular Army could be swept away by the current, leading to an irreversible outcome. What we need now is the simplicity to stand firm in this moment. We don't need someone who worries about the future, but a solid person who can endure the present.”
The flow of the times always causes many old things to perish and new things to bloom.
The Regular Army is no different.
The harsh gales of time.
To withstand them, a rock harder than the gale itself was needed.
Anastasia was more than qualified to be that Commander-in-Chief.
“Kandelhar, he also has more than enough capability to be the Commander-in-Chief.”
“Yes, I don’t deny that. I’ve known Kandelhar for a long time.”
Kandelhar was a talent perfectly suited to be Commander-in-Chief.
It didn't matter whether he was a native of this world or a Transferee.
However.
“Kandelhar sees only the distant future. He fails to see the reality that is right in front of us.”
An era of war.
In this era, Kandelhar was looking at a future that was far too distant and unrealistic.
“If we cannot endure the now, the Regular Army will collapse. To be precise, this is a crisis not just for the Regular Army, but for the entire world.”

Anastasia fell silent.
She, too, had been watching the flow of the times carefully.
And that was precisely why she was hesitating even more.
“……………I cannot become someone like Lord Rapha Hastel.”
Commander-in-Chief Rapha Hastel.
He led the Regular Army down the right path.
His will has carried on to the present day, saving and protecting many.
As such, Rapha Hastel was a man worthy of respect.
“When did any of us ask you to become someone like Lord Rapha Hastel?”

However, the Commander-in-Chief did not necessarily have to perform their duties in the same way as Rapha Hastel.
“It’s okay to be a little lacking.”
Inferno stood up from his seat and pressed both hands on the table.
“I’ll take care of the parts you’re lacking in. The other Lieutenant Generals will also gladly help. Lord Rapha Hastel chose us for that very purpose.”
The position of Commander-in-Chief is not a lonely one meant to be held alone.
It was a position to be led with the support and help of everyone.
Rapha Hastel did not turn the Regular Army into a dictatorship.
One cannot do anything alone.
Knowing that, he founded the Regular Army for the sake of the Transferees and the world.
“Anastasia, everyone on the front lines supports you. They are all just waiting for you to answer their call.”

Deep contemplation settled on Anastasia’s face.
She must have had many thoughts about the current situation as well.
The position of Commander-in-Chief is burdensome.
Inferno’s words alone were not yet enough to persuade her.
Therefore.

“Lieutenant General Anastasia.”
I decided to speak up.
“If you don’t become the Commander-in-Chief, we will never be able to root out Black Dawn.”
I, too, was a person who had been closest to the front lines against Black Dawn.
“Asheria Eve. We both witnessed her firsthand, did we not?”
A monster, and the most demonic woman in the world.
There’s no telling what that madwoman will do next.
If the initiative shifts from the present to the future now, we will face an irreversible outcome.
“Lieutenant General Anastasia, you must take charge. You are the only one among the Lieutenant Generals who will actively command the Regular Army to uproot Black Dawn.”
“Huuu.”
Anastasia let out a long sigh.
She leaned back in her chair with a complicated expression and opened her lips.
“Alright, let’s say I run in the election for Commander-in-Chief.”
Finally, she voiced the matter she had been deliberating.
“But there’s no guarantee I’ll win this election. You and the other frontline generals may support me, but Central is different. Everyone there deeply supports Kandelhar.”
I had been to Central and experienced that firsthand.
That’s why I came here.
“The biggest reason Lieutenant General Kandelhar has so much support is because he has the backing of the Imperial Family, right?”
Anastasia’s gaze turned to me.
A look of “surely not” dawned on her face.
That “surely” was exactly it.
A chilling smile crept onto my lips.
“I will steal all of that support away from him.”
Sorry, but I have no intention of playing by the rules.