My Measurement: The Villain Desires a Satisfying Payback

"―You're telling me you come from another world? That's why you passed the trial so easily?"

To hasten things, I explained to Kolo Tjahn that I had successfully completed the 12th Floor Trial, and thus, cleared the Magic Tower.

He didn't seem to believe me, of course, as I suddenly came out of nowhere and claimed to have effortlessly done the very thing that he, as well as the other Archwizard, had been working hard for many years to accomplish, and in the span of a single day at that.

But, such distrust could easily be solved.

Taking a couple steps towards him in an inconspicuous manner, I put a hand on his shoulder.

"Everything I say is the truth."

Thanks to Reality, he changed his sceptical attitude in an instant and we could get right to business.

It wasn't really mind control or something―I simply made him more trusting of my words.

Now, he should be willing to help me without resistance.

"You can use teleportation magic, can't you? Take me to the World Tree."

It hadn't taken long to clear the Magic Tower, and by now, roughly 9 days have passed since I departed from River with Lud.

Naturally, I didn't have precise information of when exactly the Hero would be summoned, but it was public knowledge that it would occur sometime in the next three weeks.

The thing is, I don't want to wait a potential three weeks. Especially if there's no need to.

So, instead of waiting for the Hero to be summoned, I will go to the other Transcendent who is most likely to assist me.

"Teleportation magic? Why, of course I can. But, going to the World Tree is impossible."

Unfortunately, however, there was an obstacle in the way. At first, I thought it might've been due to a limitation of magic, but Kolo Tjahn's subsequent words changed my mind.

"The kingdom of elves has a powerful magic barrier encompassing it, as well as the World Tree itself. Because their magic borrows the nature energy of the World Tree, it's not possible for a human to interfere enough to cast a complicated magic like teleportation, even if it's an Archwizard like me."

Or at least, that's what he said.

To be honest, even after clearing the entirety of the Magic Tower, I knew next-to-nothing about magic.

Well, I didn't bother to learn about it, nor did I care to pay attention to any of the scholastic trial clear requirements like magic formulas or such, so I suppose it isn't totally unexpected, though it doesn't really matter; I'm sure I would be able to use it any time I wanted if I so wished.

Anyhow, if that's the case, then I should simply visit the other Transcendents for some 'persuasion' in the meantime.

Even if there is no chance of cooperation, it beats waiting for weeks with nothing to do until the Hero is summoned.

"Then, take me to the Demon King."

"Uh. It's possible to get kind of close, but the Demon King's castle is also surrounded by concentrated demonic energy..."

"..."

Worshipped by the demons whose land it protects and enshrouded with dense energy that formed a powerful barrier―As it turned out, the Demon King's situation was similar to that of the World Tree, and teleportation was likewise impossible.

Recalling all the Transcendents I saw whilst going through the trials of the 10th and 11th Floors and the dominant presences they emanated, for a moment, I was struck with the foreboding sense that every Transcendent would follow the same pattern.

Fortunately, I was quickly proven wrong.

"Then, the Dragon King."

I named a Transcendent whom I had previously been told was presumably capable of dimensional travel.

"The Land of Dragons is layered with many mantles of thick magic energy, and the temperature will be exceedingly hot due to all the volcanoes and exposed magma chambers, so it may be extremely tough to bear without strong magic or extensive preparation, but it is possible to teleport there if you want."

"It's fine. Things like magic energy and environmental burdens don't affect me. Just go."

With the unparalleled protection of Reality shielding me from anything I could ever fear, there was nothing that warranted concern, be it dragons or the climate in which they live.

Rather, they should be the ones concerned about me.

Thinking as such to myself, I blinked, and before I knew it, my surroundings had abruptly changed; swapped with a slightly familiar place as a tremendous volcano stood tall in front of me.

"We're here."

Perhaps it was because he had gone through the same trial I had, but Kolo Tjahn had taken me to one of the same locations I had glimpsed during the 11th Floor Trial.

Seeing it in a new light like this, I realised just how convenient magic could be.

"What's the plan now?" Kolo Tjahn asked, but I felt no need to give an answer.

Thinking about something for a moment, I decided to continue.

This would be a degree of reality manipulation I hadn't attempted successfully before, but I was convinced I could handle it without an issue.

Briefly, I closed my eyes and recalled the sensation of omnipotence gained from the transcendental energy I absorbed during the trial.

Internally, I stated.

I have boundless transcendental energy.

Energy whose quantity can't be compared to that of the other Transcendents, and whose quality is of far greater potency.

Two sentences are all it took as I began to feel a vivid sensation flow through my body, similar to what I felt in the trial and yet somehow different.

It felt indescribable; something like pure power, vitality, and presence, combined into one and multiplied.

My senses expanded dramatically, and it now was as if I could 'see' or 'feel' the land and everything else around me just by breathing.

Slowly, I opened my eyes.

"..."

The feeling persisted.

I knew I had succeeded from that alone, but even if it weren't so, I could tell simply by looking at Kolo Tjahn's face, who was rendered speechless by my display of unfathomable ability.

"This... Even more than the Hero..." Wearing an expression of disbelief, he muttered under his breath.

I recalled hearing that experienced mages could extend their natural lifespan through magic, so it wasn't a particular surprise that an Archwizard like him was old enough to have witnessed the previous Hero despite bearing the appearance of a young man.

It was proof that I was now of greater 'status' than the Transcendents of this Otherworld.

However, just this wouldn't be enough to garner the presence of the Transcendent who inhabited these lands.

Thus, I commanded:

"Dragon King; appear before me."

I didn't even have to wait a fraction of a second.

"...!?"

Kolo Tjahn let out a voiceless exclamation as a colossal creature suddenly materialised out of nowhere.

Taking a shape identical to that of the typical western idea of dragons from Earth, the Dragon King was in the form of a massive reptilian; four-legged and owning a pair of giant folded wings.

RUMBLE...!!

Shaking the ground with even the slightest movement, the black-scaled Dragon King turned its head down towards me, its golden eyes glistening.

[...How rude.]

A deep, thunderous voice entered my head, which I immediately identified as belonging to the dragon in front of me.

To be honest, I couldn't care for what it had to say except one thing,

"Will you send me home?"

There was no need to tell it to answer carefully, nor to provide context.

If it couldn't even understand what I was asking and foresee the consequences without a warning, then there was no need to bother.

[...You are asking for me to provide interdimensional travel? Transcendent.]

"Will you?"

[Is that something I would agree to just like that?]

It should've been clear as day just how disparate our statuses as Transcendents are from each other, and yet the Dragon King refused to cooperate for some reason.

[You are strong for a human, even for a being who has achieved transcendence, and yet, you appear foolish.]

Indeed, it was a sudden proposal, but it should be obvious what will happen if he refuses.

"I don't care what you think I look like. It's a simple question; just answer yes or no."

I have already asked twice, and if he continues to deny a prolonged life for a third time, then... Well, it doesn't need to be stated.

[Hah. Ridiculous. Stop pestering me and get out of my domain, Transcendent human.]

But, perhaps the Dragon King was blinded by his own ego, as he refused.

Did his pride make him think he would win in battle? I didn't know what it was, but I began to feel like he wouldn't have been able to send me to Earth even if he cooperated.

"Okay then."

In that case, there wasn't much I could do.

"―Die."

CRASH-!!

The dragon's body abruptly slammed into the ground like a detached puppet, motionless.

"...Huh? The Dragon King... is dead...?"

Seemingly returning to his senses from the absurdity of the situation, Kolo Tjahn muttered again, but there was no need to answer the obvious.

Turning to face him, I asked for but one thing.

"Take me to the Northern Star's Glacial Palace."

Twelve Transcendents―surely one of them would be able to help me.