The villainous young master just wants to live a Buddhist-like life.

　However, the orcs, elves, and other subhuman races also took the opportunity to make their own demands.

　They hoped that St. Marian Academy could provide the technology for magical trains so that railways could be built in the alien territories as well.

　Transportation infrastructure is crucial for a nation's development. While nations generally don't want to see this happen, from Principal Art's personal perspective, she has actually been planning such developments all along.

　Convenient transportation can shorten the distance between different races, giving them more opportunities to understand each other and gradually eroding racial barriers.

　Although this idea was somewhat idealistic, she had been taking action towards it. Unexpectedly, the orcs, elves, and other races had taken the initiative to propose it. Of course, she couldn't refuse.

　However, she took the opportunity to propose an "international train" and listed the Free City as a transit point.

　Once this proposal is approved, the Free City will immediately become an international trade zone, and the status of the Magic Alliance will rise accordingly.

　Since the City of Freedom nominally belongs to the human kingdom, the human kingdom can also reap huge benefits.

　The proposal was subsequently passed.

　During the ongoing meetings, more proposals were put forward. Some were passed, some were not, but the overall trend was positive.

　The World Cup Duel Challenge was scheduled for Easter.

Chapter 1424 Darkdemon's Path to Enlightenment (4k)

　While the date for the World Cup Duel Challenge was finally set, construction of the City of Liberty had already begun.

　Within Dark's "Mind Palace," there is already a complete design model of the Magic City.

　The entire Magic City is divided into twenty-two areas. However, apart from the central area, which has detailed interior decorations, the designs of the other twenty-one areas are only detailed at the room level.

　This is mainly because they belong to the category of "battle zones" and are more likely to be destroyed during the World Cup Duel Challenge.

　Therefore, given the current tight schedule, there is really no need to waste time and resources on this aspect.

　However, once the basic construction is complete, if there is still time, a portion of the twenty-one areas can be separated into "non-combat areas" and further developed according to the theme of each area to highlight the concept of "city duels".

　After all, the construction of this magical city was aimed at becoming a "duel city".

　Dark had even devised a strategy in his mind.

　Apart from the dueling arena in the central area, the Sorcerer League could sell tickets for "live viewing".

　Then, those who bought tickets were asked to "play" the roles of city residents, or NPCs, on site.

　At that time, it will even be possible to sell various peripheral products and costumes of various themes in the "non-combat area".

　Under these circumstances, the entire World Cup Duel Challenge will inevitably be developed into the most unique world-class competition in the world.

　But back then, perhaps the tickets for "watching live" would be even more popular than the tickets for watching inside the stadium.

　Of course, tickets for the preliminary rounds, semi-finals, and main competition should be sold separately. The entire competition schedule can also be extended appropriately to allow contestants some rest time.

　As for the specifics, a decision will be made based on the approximate number of participants.

　This year is the first World Cup Duel Challenge, and there are still many aspects to consider; it's impossible to decide everything at once.

　On the evening of January 10th.

　Dark completed his final "Great Sin" absorption of the month. Fortunately, he took his experimental toolbox with him when he left the academy, so his research did not fall behind.

　During his time in the Free City, he basically spent his days participating in design and his nights conducting research.

　However, as the design was completed and the Magic City entered the construction phase, the time allocation gradually changed.

　He consciously participated in the initial construction—of course, as an "apprentice".

　Building without practice is just empty talk.

　The construction of the Magic City this time is also an excellent opportunity for him.

　He instantly transformed into SpongeBob SquarePants, frantically absorbing knowledge related to construction.

　Then one day, he suddenly realized that this knowledge could also be applied to magic alchemy.

　The entire process of magical transmutation is like building a skyscraper; any mistake in the details could lead to deviations or even failure in the transmutation process.

　The reason he can maintain such a high success rate in his experiments is not primarily due to his exceptionally high level of magical skill, but rather simply because of the overwhelmingly powerful catalyst and filler that is "Great Sin."

　His "edifice" was actually riddled with cracks, which he patched up entirely with "major sins."

　He can indeed rely on "great sins" to maintain the success rate of magic alchemy, but that is not conducive to improving the level of magic.

　If he wants to raise his magical abilities to the level of the professors, he can't continue like this indefinitely.

　Of course, this mainly depends on his own ideas and goals.

　If the goal is simply to become the "God of Magic," then there is also the possibility of "proving the Way through force."

　However, if you have higher expectations for yourself, you must face your shortcomings squarely and then fill in the gaps one by one, just like building a skyscraper.

　Within his "Palace of Thought," a "Magic Tower" gradually formed, and his entire mind settled down.

　He saw the cracks within the "Magic Building" and began to illuminate the magical knowledge he had unconsciously skipped in the past.

　Then, a flood of insights came rushing in like a tidal wave.

　He could clearly feel that his magical abilities were rising rapidly along with his architectural abilities.

　January 15th.

　Half a month has already passed since the start of the new year.

　Dark's daily routine became studying construction during the day, studying magic at night, and then going to the construction site late at night to act as a "supervisor".

　Because of the existence of a "soundproof barrier," the construction of the Magic City did not need to worry about affecting the sleep of the residents of the Free City. From the very beginning, it was a construction plan that ran around the clock.

　From the day the meeting ended, human and material resources were continuously transported over.

　The population of the Magic City is now almost as large as that of a small town.

　Dark also had the opportunity to witness the different building methods of various races. Among them, the most "modern" was undoubtedly the goblin's building method.

　The most "magical" aspect is the Elven way of building. Things like "one seed, one treehouse" are incredibly basic.

　With the aid of various racial abilities and spells, the construction speed is incredibly fast.

　The construction of the Magic City is being renovated almost every day.

　January 16th, Saturday.

　Aurora has finally finished the city plan for the Free City for the new year. And this also means that she has to go back to school.

　Unlike Dak, she was only a second-year student. Even if she was ahead of her time in her studies, she was still just a "student".

　Dark took some time to spend a night with Aurora in the City of Freedom before sending her onto the dragon's back. Then, together with Lord Montilfali and others, he watched her fly towards St. Marian Academy aboard the "Sword of the Mountain Giant." Before midnight on January 17th, Aurora and Nix returned to the academy and resumed their academy life.

　Meanwhile, Dac continued to "work bricks".

　Then, on the afternoon of January 18th, Principal Arte arrived in the City of Freedom, accompanied by Professors Mitia and Cazell.

　Professor Mitia's arrival was to plant "spell stakes" in the Magic City.

　Using the ubiquitous "spellposts," she can activate a spell barrier that covers the entire Magic City, one of the future defensive measures. Professor Kazel, on the other hand, is here to carry out a magical engineering project, the purpose of which is to connect the Magic City's dueling arena with the open-air dueling arena inside the academy.

　The projection mechanism in the academy's open-air dueling arena is irreplaceable.

　To project the dueling matches in the Magic City to various parts of the world, the projection must first be transmitted to the academy, then distributed to other dueling halls around the world, and finally radiated from those dueling halls to smaller projection devices.

　These are all the research findings of Professor Kazel.

　And from that day onward.

　Dark became Professor Cazell's sidekick.

　He has already learned about eight or nine tenths of the construction process of general buildings.

　It's time to learn magical engineering.

　If he can master the skills, he will be able to apply this experience to the construction of the "Magnemite Network".

　January 20th, Wednesday.

　Arvit and Claire personally visited the City of Freedom.

　At this point, eighty percent of the foundation of the Magic City had been laid, and from the air, the outlines of the building, resembling a blueprint, could already be seen. Dark, engrossed in being a "sidekick," initially didn't want to get involved. However, lacking the necessary strength, he was forced by Alvit to show her around the early stages of the Magic City's construction.

　That evening, a banquet was held in the city lord's mansion to welcome the Valkyrie and the Sage of the Beasts.

　However, the additional participants were only a few high-ranking officials from the Freedom City and the principal and professors of St. Marian College.

　The banquet was cleared away after only two hours. Having eaten and drunk their fill, Dak and the others then proceeded to the meeting room.

　The stated purpose of Arvit and Claire's visit to the City of Freedom was to discuss the rules of the first World Cup Duel Challenge with Principal Arte.

　Of course, she already had a contingency plan in hand before she came here.

　This World Cup Duel Challenge is actually very important for the advancement of the Magic Path.

　Just like building a house requires laying a foundation first.

　This World Cup Duel Challenge is the foundation of the Magic God Path. Therefore, for them, there is no option of failure. This World Cup Duel Challenge must be won!

　Moreover, ordinary success is not enough; it must be perfect and surpass expectations! Therefore, ordinary competition schedule plans are not acceptable.

　There must be a phenomenon that can shake the entire world for this World Cup Duel Challenge to be etched in history.

　Arvit's proposal was to "create a god".

　Of course, they cannot create gods out of thin air, so the whole "creating gods" is only for the general public.

　The actual situation was not "creating a god," but rather "summoning a god." "It is time to awaken Hermes."

　"It's albeit in a flat tone," said Arvit.

　At this time, it had been less than a year since Hermes founded the path of magic and fell into slumber.

　The Magic Alliance is still in its "foundational" stage, and even its new base is still under construction.

　Normally, there shouldn't be such a rush. But is that really the case in reality?

　The successful hosting of the Academy Championship has made "God's Influence" more active than ever before, and mages all over the world have gained an understanding of magic duels under the Shinto ritual.

　Therefore, the progress of Shinto rituals was not slow at all; in fact, it could be said that it was somewhat too fast.

　This is all because the academy championship was such a success.

　The main reason was that St. Marian Academy's dueling halls, which were located all over the world, successfully projected the dueling matches to all parts of the continent, making almost everyone on the continent aware of magic duels.

　If this first World Cup Duel Challenge can achieve the same level of success as the Academy Championship, it will surely advance the Shinto ritual to an even higher level.

　Even without being actively awakened, Hermes should have woken up by now.

　"Active awakening" and "passive awakening" are naturally two different concepts.

　The fact is that if humanity wants a better future, it has to rely on Hermes.

　Therefore, the Sorcerer's League, as the representative of humanity, would be best advised to forge a closer relationship with Hermes.

　Humans are already fickle, let alone gods.

　Therefore, it is impossible to bet everything on Hermes' "divine works".

　If possible, you should try your best to gain his favor and guide him to always stand on the side of humanity.

　And

　"Actively awakening Hermes" is such a win-win solution.

　It can both win Hermes' favor and make this first World Cup duel challenge surpass both ancient and modern times.

　If successful.

　This will be the sign of the gods' resurrection!

　Finally, the question is how to do it without leaving a trace.

　"It's not a big problem, as long as we use a double-elimination format in the main tournament."

　"Dark said casually."

　Everyone present was extremely intelligent, so they understood immediately and smiled.

　Claire said, "Indeed, as long as you do some basic preparations before the game, you can just let things take their course."

　"Principal," said Arvit, "you scheduled the competition for Easter; did you perhaps have ulterior motives?"

　"Guess what?" Principal Art said mysteriously. She then received a barrage of eye-rolls in return.