Eren had made use of the Sage legacies as stepping stones to expand his knowledge across diverse domains and amass a range of proficiencies in such a short time.
The Sage legacies he had selected were impeccably aligned with his aptitudes and passions. They functioned as convenient shortcuts, enabling him to secure his desired gains from Anfang prior to embarking on his journey to explore other realms.
In addition to Sage Minerva's inheritance, the butcher had embraced the legacies of Nira Nightshade, Ivar Ironside, Youffie Loxley, and Sansara Sage. One might say that he had even absorbed a portion of Sage Eliza's inheritance with the Sin Series Marks and her gifting him with Argo.
The discussion between Eren and Minerva lasted for almost a day. By the end of the discussion, Eren bowed in front of Sage Minerva once again before conveying his thanks.
"Your guidance has been invaluable, Sage Minerva. If you don't mind, I plan to seek out your true self after I step out of Anfang," Eren expressed with a tone of deep respect. Minerva raised an eyebrow before addressing him.
"Hmm? You are already planning to get out of Anfang with your current Rank?" Minerva's voice held a touch of surprise.
"It kind of makes sense though. Considering the peculiarities of the Immortal Planes, I suppose the Master Rank is enough of a qualification.
Alright. If you succeed in exiting Anfang and venturing to the world where I reside, you're welcome to locate me.
Honestly? If you had acquired the Virtue Series Marks, I could have arranged a means for you to leave. A special Gate could have been created, blessed by the Virtue Series Marks, guiding you to my world.
But it's useless for the current you, given your possession of the Sin Series Marks. The way out I could offer is perilous, if not fatal," Minerva concluded with a sigh.
Eren found himself surprised by Minerva's extensive knowledge across various domains. Despite aligning herself with the divine faction, she had chosen an independent route instead of aligning with the Anfang Alliance.
The Sage had attained access to the Virtue Series Marks on her own accord, forging her own passage out of Anfang without compromising with the Anfang Alliance's restrictive terms.
It appeared that Minerva had uncovered an alternative route to transcend into the Immortal Planes. Her method involved a fusion of potion usage, alchemy, and reverse-summoning formations, a stark departure from the approaches taken by Sansara Sage or the Anfang Alliance.
As Eren delved deeper into the achievements of exceptional Sages spanning various eras, his fascination with their accomplishments grew. Each outstanding Sage of their generation, it seemed, had responded to the same question in their own unique ways. They had come up with their own set of answers. And all these diverse solutions held equal merit, none overshadowing the others.
'Damn. I guess no Sage from Anfang should be underestimated, regardless of their domain. The progress of the Rankers here, considering the isolation of Anfang from broader interworld civilizations, is remarkable,' Eren mused to himself as he rose from his meditative pose and stood.
"Sage Minerva, it seems you seek a suitable wielder for the Virtue Series Marks, am I right? I believe I have a candidate who could excel in acing all your trials. With a bit of guidance from me, they can surely meet all your expectations," Eren stated, a smile gracing his features.
At this juncture, Minerva had intuited that Eren sought a quid pro quo for proposing a fitting candidate for her Virtue Marks.
"Hmm. I could surely use the right candidate capable of embracing my core legacy fully. I will entrust them with all the wisdom I've shared with you. Plus, I want to guide them regarding the manifold applications of the Virtue Series Marks I have come to develop on my own.
But it seems you desire something in return for presenting such a candidate to me. So, do share, what is it?" Minerva inquired with a sense of urgency.
Eren's manner of communication hinted that his recommended candidate was exceedingly capable of receiving her legacy in its entirety. Minerva couldn't help getting intrigued by Eren's proposal.
"I don't want anything big after receiving all the rewards from you. I just want your assurance that this Utopia will persist in its current state even after you've chosen the ideal heir to inherit your legacy. Is that possible?"
Eren inquired, a trace of uncertainty tingeing his tone. He perceived Utopia's architecture as self-sustaining, yet he harbored doubts about Minerva's commitment to its continuity after selecting her successor. It was plausible that the Sage would opt to close the Utopia after finding her true heir.
"It seems you still want to milk this place for all it has even though you are planning to leave Anfang. Hehe. you sure are a greedy fellow. Not wanting to lose everything you've built so far, I take it?" Eren nodded to Minera's casual query.
Minerva chuckled before continuing further.
"Hehe. I can relate. To be completely frank, I intended to permanently close this secluded dimension once I identified the true heir to my legacy," Minerva shared, her fingers toying with her hair, winding the strands around them absentmindedly.
"You see, Eren, I also pledged to grant Meeli her freedom once I discovered the rightful successor to my legacy. This release from her role as the guardian of this Utopia has long been her aspiration.
She grew genuinely thrilled when she learned that you might be the heir I sought. However, since you haven't yet received my core legacy, Meeli's duty as the Utopia's caretaker had to be continued.
If the candidate you propose does indeed fulfill all my criteria, I am willing to maintain Utopia's operation with the assurance that Meeli will be relieved from her role.
Her departure would entail certain functionalities of the Utopia ceasing or functioning improperly. Moreover, you would need to arrange for a few individuals to ensure the smooth operation of the remaining setup.
While the Utopia is, in essence, self-sustaining, a degree of watchfulness is necessary. Assuming you agree with this arrangement, I can introduce some modifications and delegate control over the Utopia to you.
This, of course, hinges on your ability to provide the right candidate in the first place," Minerva calmly proposed.
