This Archimonde Isn't So Cold

Diakum Zastins... forget it, just call him "Dick." His "personal circumstances" were a little too genuine, so he did not particularly dislike this multi-meaning "nickname." What man would hate it when every use of his nickname was a compliment?

The Eredar were no different. It was simply an instinct common to all males!

In any case, the information Dick had just written down for his "old principal," Archimonde, was not fabricated.

Though he knew very clearly how history would unfold from here, it was impossible to imagine out of thin air the details buried beneath the grand narrative. Especially when he was dealing with someone as intelligent as Archimonde, one of Argus's foremost minds.

In truth, Dick could more or less guess why Archimonde had appeared here tonight.

On one hand, he wanted firsthand information about the Awakeners' Cult from him, this "deep-sea" source.

On the other hand, if things went badly, he would most likely be silenced personally by his "old superior," Archimonde.

It was a simple matter.

In any world with a social order and normal moral values, sending a spy to search for evidence of one's mentor's crimes would be an unbearable blow to the reputation of an academic leader like Archimonde.

Even dressing it up as "turning from darkness to the light" or "putting righteousness before family" could not change its essence. After all, if you always used your own people as stepping stones, who would dare accomplish great things with you?

Besides, his mentor's social standing was several levels higher than his!

Therefore, no matter why he had dispatched a spy, once this matter was exposed, all the prestige Archimonde had painstakingly accumulated through years of performance and disguise would vanish into smoke.

He had always been cautious in this regard, probably because this "principal's" own rise to power in his early years had not exactly been glorious.

As a student of the Enlightener Sarkir, he had once resorted to the methods of a sycophant in order to stand out, fawning over Sarkir at every opportunity. Only after flattering him to his satisfaction had he obtained the position of principal of the Arcane Academy, the most esteemed and important post among Arcane Mages. Then, through diligent study and truly exceptional talent, he had been regarded by the Enlightener as a successor.

The unpresentable things he had done to rise through the ranks were still discussed in private by his colleagues. If a spy scandal erupted now, Archimonde truly would not be able to clear his name.

He was only in the middle to upper ranks of Eredar politics now. At a time like this, cultivating his reputation was essential.

Based on all this, Dick looked weak at the moment, but his nerves were actually stretched to the limit. He knew that if he revealed even the slightest flaw in tonight's conversation, he would never live to see tomorrow's sun.

As for praying that Archimonde might show him mercy...

Was that a joke?

Did he have some misunderstanding about the weight carried by the name "Archimonde"? In the future history of this starry sea, that name was practically synonymous with betrayal, ruthlessness, madness, and extermination!

"Diakum, I know you are exhausted, but you must explain everything you saw clearly. This is important! It is important to us, to the tens of thousands of students in the entire Arcane Academy, and even to all of Eredar civilization!

"The conflict between the Holy Light faith that arose a thousand years ago and our ancient arcane tradition is growing ever more severe. As the leader of spellcasters, I must gain prestige and power in order to lead the Arcane Mages in handling this conflict with greater rationality. As a Holy Light Believer, you surely do not wish to see more conflict either, do you?

"This Awakeners' coup is the most important part of our plan. Dealing with Sarkir, who is stubborn and has already fallen into fel madness, would benefit both sides!"

Archimonde had made a decision, but he did not act in haste. Instead, he sat back down in his chair and spoke to Dick in an exceptionally righteous and solemn tone.

"Therefore, I must know every detail before I can determine what to do next."

Dick picked up his pen again, but Archimonde shook his head and said, "We cannot leave evidence behind for something like this. I will cast a mind spell on you, allowing us to communicate temporarily on a spiritual level. It will make you feel pressure and worsen your injuries, but we both know it is necessary.

"Are you ready?"

What could Dick say in response to this rotten blue giant's question?

Refuse?

What a joke. The man had not even given him the option to refuse.

He could only force himself to focus as he watched Archimonde flip through his grimoire. With elegant and precise casting gestures, he gathered arcane energy into a cluster of runes that revolved around his palm, then sent that thread of magic into the protagonist's body when it touched his forehead.

Dick immediately reacted.

A translucent light screen flickered before his eyes with a notification:

[External power connected... Determining power pathway... Determination: Arcane Force · Mind Magic System · Advanced Mind Sight!

Notice!

The caster is peering into your memories.

Do not worry. "Veil of the Afterlife" status is active! Caster "Archimonde · Legendary Arcane Mage/High-Ranking Warlock" cannot peer into content he should not see.]

As the notification appeared, Dick felt a layer of "gauze" settle over his mind, concealing certain things that could not be shown to others. He could also feel an invisible force, like a pair of hands stirring through his memories on the spiritual plane.

Yet only memories belonging to "Diakum" could be touched. Everything hidden in Dick's heart remained completely beyond the perception of Archimonde, even with his mastery as a top-tier Arcane Mage.

He did not resist the intrusion. Instead, in an utterly candid manner, he took the initiative to ask in his mind, "Principal, are you going to report Sarkir's sinister and terrifying rebellion plan to the Triumvirate immediately?

"I think you must!

"From what I uncovered in the Awakeners' Cult, those Arcane Mages bewitched by Sarkir have already mastered evil fel spells. They are hiding in their respective territories, secretly summoning demons from among the stars and treating them as a new breakthrough in the field of Arcane Mages.

"This is poison injected into Eredar civilization!

"Sarkir has gone mad!

"He is no longer that wise and farsighted leader of the Arcane Mages. He has become fel's dog, preparing to turn his followers into dogs as well, then offer our homeland to that terrifying evil god.

"That being he calls 'The Benefactor'..."

"You know quite a lot. Just as expected of 'Dick'!"

Archimonde praised him through their mental connection.

"If you did not become a Vindicator, you would surely make something of yourself as a detective in Mac'Aree. Choosing you as my eyes was indeed the right decision. I have already seen the lists in your memories used to tally and plot supplies, as well as the identities of the Awakeners' Cult members planted in important positions throughout Mac'Aree.

"These are enough to prove that he is plotting rebellion.

"You are right!

"My mentor Sarkir has embarked upon a path that will bring disaster to the world. We must tell the honorable Executor Velen and the steadfast commander Kil'jaeden about this.

"But not now!"

"Hm? Why?"

Dick asked in surprise.

"Principal, is it not the correct course to try to stop a disaster before it happens?"

"Because we do not have compelling evidence to accuse Sarkir, Dick."

Having seen what he wanted to see, Archimonde was quite satisfied. He patiently guided this "warrior" who was poor at scheming.

"Right now, we only have you as a witness. But Sarkir's prestige on Argus is too great. He is the spellcaster who has come closest to the 'Progenitor Wizard' in arcane attainment throughout history. I once personally measured Sarkir's cranial features. The other fools all thought I was merely flattering him.

"But they did not know that the Enlightener's cranial features truly bore at least a ninety percent resemblance to the magical artifacts left behind by the Progenitor Wizard.

"He genuinely possesses enough talent to become a second Progenitor Wizard!

"He is unquestionably Argus's current leader among Arcane Mages. Even Velen and Kil'jaeden cannot wield their authority when facing him. That alone is enough for any accusation we make against him without sufficient evidence to be turned back against us.

"For such a major matter, Dick, a witness alone is not enough. We must obtain physical evidence!

"The ledgers you saw, the documents that cannot be forged, the magical artifacts Arcane Mages use to contact one another, and so on. We must collect all of them.

"But I will arrange it.

"You, our important witness, are the trump card in the hands of us righteous people who care for civilization and seek to save it. You must rest well from now on. Once I have prepared the physical evidence, you will accompany me to the Seat of the Triumvirate and lay out the stakes before the two Grand Executors.

"This cannot be rushed, but it cannot be delayed either.

"Hm. It will be somewhat difficult to execute, but it is nothing I cannot handle."

"Indeed. You are the wisest Eredar I have ever seen. You were born blessed with wisdom. Even without the Enlightener recognizing your talent, you would surely have accomplished great things."

Dick quietly flattered him through their mental connection.

"In truth, I have always felt indignant on your behalf. Being merely the principal of the Arcane Academy is far too beneath your talents."

"Oh?"

Archimonde looked at Dick in surprise and asked in an amused tone, "Then what position do you think I should hold in our world?"

"Of course... Grand Executor, leading civilization!"

Dick explained with great seriousness.

"Commander Kil'jaeden, steadfast and valiant, represents the Vindicators and warriors. He embodies Eredar courage and strength. Everyone praises how, under the guidance of benevolence and courage, the Eredar will eventually stride proudly into the stars.

"Though the benevolent and honorable Lord Velen was once an outstanding representative of the Arcane Mages, in recent years he has grown increasingly fond of the Holy Light faith. We Holy Light Believers all believe that it is only a matter of time before Grand Executor Velen accepts the Holy Light Doctrine and becomes a priest. At that time, he will represent the Eredar's new faith in the future.

"Yet if that happens, will not the symbol of wisdom he originally represented be left vacant?

"How can it be right for wisdom, such an important quality, to have no representative in our civilization?

"I admit that Sarkir, the Enlightener, is indeed qualified to become the third Executor. But he has gone mad. He is too old. Time has mercilessly stripped away his wisdom and turned him into a fool bewitched by fel.

"But you are still young!

"You possess a brighter future than Sarkir. If Sarkir unfortunately falls, then you will be the unquestionable leader of the Arcane Mages and the symbol of Eredar wisdom!

"Would someone like you not be qualified to Set Foot On the Seat of the Triumvirate and become the third leader alongside benevolence and courage? Even a crude warrior like me understands this. Could it be that you yourself do not recognize it?

"Forgive my bluntness, but your greatest flaw is excessive humility!

"Sometimes, you are even too conservative. You only bury your head in your own duties and worry only about the nation and its people, yet you have never realized that you should ascend to a greater position in order to make better use of your talents.

"Therefore..."

Dick clenched his fist excitedly and shouted in his mind, "Give the order, Principal! At a single command from you, I will lead the Vindicators under my command and become your sharp blade for cutting down evil. We will punish Sarkir and his mad followers! We absolutely cannot allow a group of lunatics to drag our glorious civilization into darkness."

"Presumptuous!"

Archimonde rose to his feet and ended the mind sight.

With a stern expression, he rebuked Dick, "How can you tempt an upright and incorruptible Arcane Mage into the vile vortex of power? Whether I can enter the Seat of the Triumvirate and serve the great cause of civilization is a choice for the Eredar people, to be judged by the two Grand Executors. It is not something righteous people as simple and brave as you and I should concern ourselves with.

"Besides, I am very satisfied with my current position!

"My only wish is to care for the Academy's students and teach them not to follow Sarkir's old path. And your evaluation of Lord Sarkir is too harsh.

"Dick, I understand your reckless loyalty, but you cannot judge such an accomplished leader of the Arcane Mages so casually!

"His contributions to Argus and Eredar civilization are beyond the reach of you and me. We must always hold respect for him in our hearts. However, you are right. The brighter and more magnificent he is, the greater the destruction he will cause when he falls into darkness. We truly must stop this foolish and absurd rebellion before disaster occurs.

"Hm, you have suffered enough tonight, child. Rest.

"I will send someone to treat you. Do not wander about during this time. Stay here.

"If you are a sharp blade that cuts down evil, then you must be drawn at the crucial moment."

Archimonde said no with his mouth, but the delight in his eyes was nearly overflowing. He truly did harbor such ambitions, but the feeling of being "urged forward" by a loyal subordinate was rather pleasant.

That delight, coupled with tonight's important information, made him even more satisfied with Dick. He deeply felt that bringing this poor orphan from Krokuun to the capital, Mac'Aree, had been the right choice. Over these years, the young man had indeed worked diligently, and he had indeed done everything Archimonde asked of him well.

Especially the information he had brought back by risking his life this time—it was enough to establish an advantage.

Perhaps when he Set Foot On the Seat of the Triumvirate in the name of the "symbol of wisdom," he should give Dick a reward worthy of his efforts.

After all, rewarding meritorious subjects was an essential skill for every Ambitious Person.

With that thought, he prepared to leave.

But Dick rose and waved, indicating that he had more to say. Archimonde glanced at him, reactivated his mind sight to complete their mental connection, and heard Dick say, "I suspect I may have been betrayed, Principal. Otherwise, there is no explanation for why I suffered a sudden assassination attempt tonight. It is not that I distrust your other followers, but the risk of a Betrayer is objectively present.

"Therefore, I request that you allow me to choose my own security personnel here. It is not that I do not trust the Arcane Mages under your command, but..."

"Hm, that is only proper."

Archimonde narrowed his eyes.

The sudden assassination attempt against Dick after he left the Awakeners' Cult headquarters tonight had indeed been abrupt. There was absolutely a traitor! Sarkir's influence among the Arcane Mages was too terrifying. Even as principal of the Arcane Academy, Archimonde could not fully guarantee that there were no spies for Sarkir at his side.

This assassination attempt was most likely deliberately arranged by Sarkir to intimidate him, meant to force Archimonde to decide immediately whether he would respond to the Awakeners' Cult's invitation.

The Enlightener clearly valued his outstanding disciple highly. He even insisted on bringing Archimonde into something as significant as a coup.

To be honest, that sincere regard made Archimonde feel a trace of guilt toward the mentor who had promoted him, but it quickly vanished without a trace.

After all, he was a rather pure creature of power. Before authority and strength, anything could be discarded.

"Can you find defenders worthy of trust?"

Archimonde said, "Your identity is special now. They must be trustworthy enough."

"Then we cannot choose Arcane Mages, Principal. Every Arcane Mage in the Academy grew up listening to Sarkir's stories. The admiration and worship in their hearts give them enough reason to betray us."

Dick coughed as he spoke in his mind.

"We must choose Vindicators!

"We warriors have never been valued by Sarkir. He thinks we are too dull-witted, and that because we believe in the Holy Light's teachings and follow the Naaru's precepts, there is no possibility of wisdom remaining in our minds. More importantly, because of the conflict between the Holy Light faith and arcane tradition you described, he simply does not take us seriously and would not bother trying to win us over.

"My deputy, Malderan, is my confidant!

"I have worked well with him for years. Though he does not know that I serve you, his character is upright, and he is a native of Mac'Aree. His family also holds considerable power and is quite prestigious in the capital region.

"Once Sarkir's rebellion is truly carried out, his family will be in danger as well. Therefore, I am confident I can persuade him to become our ally!"

"Malderan. I remember him."

As the Academy's principal, Archimonde managed this advanced institution that was like a small city, and all authority over personnel appointments and dismissals rested in his hands. Thus, he knew the Academy's bureaucratic system inside and out. When Dick mentioned the name, he nodded and offered a somewhat harsh assessment.

"Vindictor Malderan is indeed a 'model' among Holy Light Believers. He possesses every fine quality: loyal, upright, rigid, dutiful, forever preaching righteousness, and incapable of adapting.

"He will do.

"I will send an Academy guard to notify him. But will he alone be enough?"

"Have you forgotten? I am also a high-ranking Vindictor, Principal."

Dick made a fist-clenching, sword-swinging gesture and said confidently, "Tonight, I was only defeated by a shameless sneak attack. In a direct fight, Malderan and I would be enough to handle several times our number in assassins. Besides, even Sarkir would not dare cause such open destruction on your territory."

"Hmph. Of course he would not."

Archimonde snorted, offered a few more routine words of reassurance, then left under cover of night with the escort of several Arcane Mages. The Safe House in the corner of the Arcane Academy finally quieted down.

Only then did Dick let out a long breath.

His back was drenched in sweat.

On one hand, his body truly was weak.

On the other, he was grateful that he had not died at Archimonde's hands. Honestly, once was enough when it came to surviving by kissing someone's toes.

He did not believe he would receive a good ending.

If Archimonde successfully killed his mentor and gained a high position as a result, then to prevent those unspeakable secrets from being revealed, Dick would still be silenced.

If Archimonde failed to kill his mentor, then things would be even worse.

By then, Sarkir—already mad to the bone—would definitely lead the lunatics of the Awakeners' Cult in offering Argus to the Dark Titan. At that point, everyone could happily line up to join the Burning Legion, collect fel allowances, and enjoy the wonderful life of a destroyer.

The best possible outcome would be following old Velen onto a fleeing Naaru spaceship, allowing the wandering of the next ten thousand years to grind away his spirit until he became a coward who only knew how to hide whenever trouble came.

But even such a humble ending required Dick to find a way to connect with old Velen and secure that broken ticket to becoming a ragged, starving vagrant among the stars.

Yet between a security captain like him and the highest Executor, the channel with the better chance of success seemed to be a message in a bottle. The one with the worse chance was hoping that Velen would suddenly see a prophetic revelation tonight before he went to sleep holding his wife and children...

I had to give it everything I had!

Dick lay back on the bed, closed his eyes to rest, and, like Archimonde, made a certain dark resolve that night.

He would do everything in his power to change this predetermined stretch of history. Not just for Argus's lasting peace, not just for the Eredar's future. Those reasons were too hypocritical. He preferred to be more honest: this was for his own future!

This was to keep himself from ending up in the miserable position of having to lick demons' ass cracks just to survive.

Thankfully, the timing was just right, leaving him plenty of room to maneuver.

Most importantly, the meddlesome "time cops," the Bronze Dragons, had no jurisdiction over Argus. This was twenty-five thousand years before the official history of the Dark Portal began. The Dragon Aspects were still merrily fighting the Dragon Wars against their savage Incarnate Dragon Blight Boar cousins.

That gave Dick all the freedom he needed to act. All he needed was some courage, cunning intelligence, and a little luck. Maybe he really could turn fate around.

So, what should he do next? Where should he begin?

With that thought, he set his mind turning, searching through historical details that might never appear on this timeline.

He thought until his head spun, only stopping when he could take no more, yet he still had no fully formed plan.

Ah, things had come to this. Better sleep first.