It Really Was a Complete Mystery!

"Other regions?"

As Roger muttered, his gaze fell on the map of the mortal world not far away. "Graycastle Empire? Tiele Chiefdom? Elven Kingdom? Dragon Island? What a pity the goddess of the Tulip Kingdom won't let us touch it. Otherwise, we wouldn't have to agonize over this."

The Tulip Kingdom was known as the Thousand-Tower Kingdom, the nation with the most human mages. Legend had it that the country possessed as many as twenty-eight Legendary Mages, with countless High-Order Mages and Mid-Order Mages as common as grass.

Without a doubt, it was the best place to expand the Magic Web.

"There's no helping it. The Tulip Kingdom involves a very old god. Not only the goddess—almost no gods set foot on that land. Of course, that may also be because the Tulip Kingdom is merely a small island tucked away in a corner. No one would be willing to risk their life against a god for so few believers..."

"You've already told me that." Roger took a deep breath. "Then let's choose the Graycastle Empire and the Elven Kingdom. There are no fanatical believers of ours on Dragon Island, the Tiele Chiefdom is too scattered to expand into conveniently, and the populations of the other small nations are ultimately too thinly dispersed... I just don't know whether these elves, who live for three thousand years, will be interested in our Magic Web. I hear they're a people who dislike change."

The Graycastle Empire bordered the Dawn Kingdom and was the strongest human nation.

They even possessed organized Mage Legions.

The enormous Greycastle Mage Legion alone ensured that Magic Net Rings would spread rapidly.

By comparison, the elves were truly an uncertain factor... They lived long lives, were conservative and rigid, and disliked change.

The emergence of the Magic Web might provoke strong resistance from them.

"Elves? Perhaps the emergence of the Magic Web will create a few ripples in their eternally unchanging world. They're so bored that they actually talk to trees..."

"That's because they have mastered natural magic."

Before the book could say anything more, Betty, who had returned, cut it off. "Seriously, Roger, you've surprised me again. Just as you said, the Dawn Kingdom's ministers had been keeping an eye on Hedy's little shop all along. The moment the Mana Bomb was launched, they bought a huge batch and took them back."

"Now the Dawn Kingdom's two Legendary Mages have already led teams to study them. It won't be long before they understand the principles behind Mana Bombs, and your goal of spreading them will be achieved!"

Just as Roger was about to speak, Betty continued, "But you were wrong about one thing. The king of the Dawn Kingdom wasn't involved in the entire process. It was the Hand of the Kingdom who did it. It seems... Anyway, you were wrong!"

"Huh? The king wasn't involved? Maybe we failed to monitor him."

Roger could not help frowning.

Based on his memories of the Dawn Kingdom's upper ranks, the king should certainly have appeared. Then, coupled with the discussions among mages on the Magic Web, it seemed the king had truly vanished...

He had once asked the Magic Goddess about the specifics of his sacrifice back then, but he had received no answer.

She had merely said that the matter involved many gods, not something mortals could endure, not even mortals who had become Divine Spirits.

Once they learned the truth, there was a high chance they would be contaminated by the rules.

But how could he, a mere mortal, have involved so many gods?

Or perhaps he had merely been a suitable tool?

And what role had his royal father played in all this? Why had he never appeared again after that day?

Roger's thoughts could not help wandering, and his expression grew somewhat grave.

"What are you thinking about? Why did your expression suddenly become so serious? Even if the king didn't personally direct it, the Hand of the Kingdom was more or less the same, wasn't he?"

Betty's voice reached him and snapped Roger back to his senses.

"It's nothing. I just thought of some other matters." Roger shook his head, casting the jumble of thoughts from his mind. Once he became a god, he would have plenty of time to investigate them. He might even be able to get the answer directly from the Magic Goddess.

"Since we've confirmed that someone will study Mana Bombs, we don't need to pay attention to them anymore. Let's figure out how to spread Magic Net Rings through the Graycastle Empire! Graycastle is far more valuable than Dawn!"

The imperial capital of the Graycastle Empire.

Countless buildings surrounded a towering gray fortress that stood atop the central mountain.

This was the heart of the entire empire.

Although it was merely a new imperial palace built a little over a century ago, it gave off a deep, steady feeling, as if it had stood here for a thousand years without decay!

A mage dressed in black robes arrived at a magnificent palace with a book in his hands. He looked to be only around thirty, with an elegant temperament and wise eyes.

The moment he entered, his attention fell upon a figure hiding in the shadows not far away.

Only after confirming that there was no threat did he speak. "Your Majesty, I have answered your summons."

"Sit, Archmage Andrew." The Graycastle Emperor nodded slightly. "As you can see, my Shadow gathered some information outside. It concerns the Dawnfolk and... the Magic Goddess."

The instant Andrew heard the words "Magic Goddess," a clear change appeared in his eyes.

Watching all this, the Graycastle Emperor thought to himself, As expected, choosing him was the right decision. Though he has withdrawn from the Royal Mage Association, that does not change the fact that he is a believer of the Magic Goddess. And he is a very young Legendary Mage—the person most likely to communicate with the Magic Goddess! Even if he only converted to avoid a political marriage.

With that thought, the Graycastle Emperor waved his hand. As though receiving an order, the Shadow instantly appeared beside Andrew and handed him a ring.

"This is a magical item that has recently become popular in the Dawn Kingdom. It is called a Magic Net Ring..."

A hoarse voice emerged from the shadows, swiftly recounting all the information they had collected concerning the Magic Net Ring and the Magic Internet.

A divine gift from the Magic Goddess?

You could communicate by praying to the goddess?

After a brief conversation, Andrew understood why the Graycastle Emperor had summoned him...

"Archmage Andrew, you are a convert to the Magic Goddess. I believe you should be able to easily judge whether this truly is a divine gift from the Magic Goddess. Now, it is yours."

"I am a convert to the Magic Goddess, but I do not know who the Technology God is, so I cannot guarantee that I will be able to sense anything."

After making that disclaimer, Andrew accepted the ring without hesitation and began to pray.

As a believer of the Magic Goddess, he felt no pressure whatsoever about doing so.

Yet after one round of prayer, the ring showed no reaction at all.

This caused the Graycastle Emperor to frown slightly, and his gaze could not help shifting toward the mass of Shadow.

The instant he looked away, however, he caught sight of Andrew's expression changing drastically from the corner of his eye. At the same time, an unfathomable aura enveloped him!

A god was answering his prayer!

The Magic God? Or the Technology God?!