Morgott had never held particularly high expectations for the Cuckoos' allegiance.
As far as he was concerned, they were already doomed if they remained in Liurnia, so taking them in had simply been a practical decision.
Since the Academy of Raya Lucaria had sealed itself off and largely abstained from the Shattering, Leyndell bore no direct grudge against the Cuckoos.
The Cuckoo Knights had once cooperated with the Academy from within and without, striking the Carian Royal Family so hard that it never truly recovered.
On paper, it sounded like an impressive achievement.
In reality, however, the Carian side had already been weakened considerably.
By then, Radahn and Rykard had long since entered the Golden Order's sphere through Radagon's lineage, while Ranni was still young.
In other words, when the Academy launched its rebellion, the Carian faction lacked even a single demigod-level combatant.
Had there been even one demigod present to intervene, neither the Academy nor the Cuckoos would have made much of an impact.
Still, it demonstrated just how skilled they were at identifying and exploiting opportunities.
As for why the Academy and the Cuckoos were allowed to continue operating afterward...
Even Morgott wasn't entirely certain.
Perhaps it had been his mother's way of weakening House Caria.
Perhaps it had been a political calculation involving the royal in-laws.
Whatever the reason, Morgott's conclusion remained the same.
The Cuckoos' military value was limited.
They wouldn't significantly strengthen Leyndell.
The only reason he was willing to accept them was that allowing Lucian to wipe them out entirely would ultimately benefit his enemy more than himself.
However, after meeting the Mimic Tear standing before him, Morgott finally found something worth looking forward to.
Because a Mimic Tear changed the equation entirely.
When it came to high-level combat power, Mimic Tears were far more valuable than an ordinary army.
If this one could fully utilize its abilities, it might prove exceptionally useful.
The Mimic Tear spoke.
"You may have the entire Cuckoo army."
"I only ask for one thing in return."
"Information regarding the Deeproot Depths."
"And if possible, access to the region itself."
Morgott raised an eyebrow.
"Thou wouldst barter an entire host for the sake of a single scrap of knowledge?"
"What a…"
Seeing that Morgott hadn't immediately responded, the Mimic Tear apparently misunderstood his reaction.
It continued.
"The Cuckoo army has already suffered substantial losses."
"Some units never returned due to my own orders."
"But most of our defensive equipment and supplies successfully reached the Altus Plateau."
"If you believe that isn't worth the price, then I have no greater bargaining chip."
Morgott regarded it with a peculiar expression.
Who negotiates like this?
Offering every asset up front and openly admitting its weaknesses?
"No," he said at last.
"I am but somewhat taken aback."
"A host in exchange for knowledge, even knowledge incomplete, is yet a bargain most favorable."
"I see no cause to refuse it."
The Mimic Tear nodded in satisfaction.
It felt no attachment whatsoever toward the Cuckoo army.
To it, the soldiers had always been tools.
They existed to accomplish tasks on its behalf.
If they could now be exchanged for useful information, then they were serving their final purpose.
That, in its view, was the proper way to use the Cuckoos.
Although the initial agreement had been reached, Morgott showed no sign of ending the meeting.
Instead, he addressed the Mimic Tear again.
"I take it thou dost not reckon thyself amongst the terms of this bargain."
The Mimic Tear shook its head.
"I am not a Cuckoo."
Understanding its meaning, Morgott nodded.
"Hast thou a name?"
The Mimic Tear answered immediately.
"Lopez."
"A name given to me long ago by someone important."
Standing beside him, Merrill risked a brief glance.
Then he quickly looked away.
After serving Lopez for so long, this was the first time he had ever heard that name.
Morgott nodded.
"Lopez. Very well."
"Then let us amend the terms of our accord."
"I deem it shall redound to the benefit of us both."
Lopez nodded.
"Go on."
Meeting his gaze, Morgott spoke plainly.
"In truth, I bear little regard for the Cuckoo host."
"To mine eye, that entire army is of lesser worth than thee alone."
"I would seek to secure thy aid."
"Name thy conditions."
"I shall strive to meet them as best I may."
"For in comparison to the Cuckoo host, Leyndell may offer rewards far more considerable."
Nearby, Merrill quietly turned his head and pretended to admire the scenery.
Honestly... the Cuckoos aren't that weak.
Why does everyone keep treating us like we're worthless?
After considering the proposal, Lopez agreed almost immediately.
At the same time, he revealed the condition he desired.
"I want access to the depths beneath the Royal Capital."
"To the roots of the Erdtree."
"I seek the Eternal City hidden there."
"There is something within it that is extremely important to me."
"If you grant me passage, I will fight on your behalf."
"You are powerful."
"If I imitate you, then against Lucian we should no longer be at a disadvantage in either numbers or strength."
Morgott nodded slightly.
That was exactly what he wanted.
To oppose Lucian, more top-tier combatants were needed.
A Mimic Tear capable of controlling the Cuckoo army and suppressing any resistance among its followers could not possibly be weak.
"Access unto the Deeproot Depths may be arranged."
"Speak, what is it thou seekest? I shall have mine agents aid thee in thy search."
This time Lopez answered without hesitation.
"The Tear Chalice."
"The origin of all Mimic Tears."
"With a Tear Chalice, one can strengthen that origin and gradually advance toward perfection."
"It is an indispensable catalyst for a Mimic Tear's growth."
Morgott looked him over with curiosity.
"Thou hast never sought to strengthen thyself with one?"
Lopez shook his head.
Then nodded.
"I've never possessed a Tear Chalice."
"That doesn't mean I've remained at the same level all this time."
Now Morgott's interest was genuinely piqued.
"Then, apart from the chalice… by what other means might a Mimic Tear be made to grow in strength?"
Lopez replied calmly.
"Without a Tear Chalice, true transformation is impossible."
"But accumulation is still possible."
"I have absorbed several wandering Mimic Tears throughout the Lands Between."
"In doing so, I increased my own quality."
Morgott glanced at him in surprise.
"Is it so, that Mimic Tears are capable of this?"
"They can," Lopez answered.
"A Mimic Tear's power is limited."
"Some beings are simply too powerful to imitate."
"Fusion is an instinctive response triggered when confronted with such targets."
He paused briefly.
"Though among all Mimic Tears..."
"I'm probably the only one who actively hunts and devours my own kind."
"So even if they merged with me, there wouldn't be any negative consequences."
"If the other Mimic Tear possessed self-awareness, though, I have no idea what the outcome would be."
Having received his answer, Morgott let the subject drop and shifted the conversation back to the Tear Chalices.
"Wherefore only now dost thou begin thy search for the Tear Chalices?"
"There is not but one Eternal City."
Lopez shook his head.
"I've been searching for Tear Chalices from the very beginning."
"But it was never a matter of time alone."
"For countless years, I had no way of returning to the Eternal Cities."
"After Radahn halted the stars, all destinies connected to the night sky were sealed as well."
"The most obvious victims were the Carian Royal Family and the sorcerers, but the Eternal Cities were affected too."
"It wasn't until some time after Radahn's death that I finally began uncovering traces of the various Eternal Cities."
"Fate is a strange thing. Even a Mimic Tear like me can be bound by it..."
Understanding the circumstances, Morgott chose not to press further.
There would be plenty of time to learn more later.
He extended a large hand toward Lopez, and the Mimic Tear accepted the gesture.
With that handshake, their partnership was sealed.
A faint smile appeared on Morgott's face.
"Then the accord standeth fixed."
"I bid thee welcome unto Leyndell."
—
For an ordinary Mimic Tear, finding a Tear Chalice was extraordinarily difficult.
The Eternal Cities had long since fallen. Access routes had vanished, and even locating them was a challenge.
Without a path to the cities themselves, thoroughly exploring their ruins in search of a Tear Chalice was nearly impossible.
Even Lopez, who controlled the Cuckoo Army and commanded countless subordinates to search on his behalf, had spent ages without success.
Fortunately, progress had finally been made underground.
They had discovered the location of Nokstella, Eternal City.
Although Stormveil had completely secured Liurnia, forcing the Cuckoos to abandon the region, a substantial force had entered the underground before the withdrawal.
Lopez had placed great hopes on that expedition.
After all, the nearest Tear Chalice was likely waiting there.
What Lopez would probably never imagine was that some Mimic Tears had far better luck.
Some could crawl out of an Eternal City and immediately be picked up by someone, obtaining a Tear Chalice with almost absurd ease.
If Lopez ever learned that fact, it would be interesting to see his reaction.
—
Lucian sat inside the Cuckoo command tent, resting his chin on one hand.
Before him sat a group of Cuckoo commanders, each shrinking into themselves like nervous quail.
"So what you're saying is..."
"A long time ago, a Mimic Tear suddenly gained self-awareness and then took control of the entire Cuckoo Army?"
The commanders nodded vigorously.
"That thing is a monster!"
"We tried to resist once."
"We gathered every force we could and fought with everything we had, but we couldn't defeat it."
"It can transform into all kinds of creatures, and it isn't even made of flesh and blood."
"It can even become a dragon!"
Listening to their animated descriptions, Lucian nodded thoughtfully.
A Mimic Tear capable of becoming a dragon?
Interesting.
Still, an ordinary dragon shouldn't be enough to overwhelm so many Cuckoo commanders at once. The details remained unclear.
In any case, simply learning that such a hidden enemy existed was enough for now.
Once he knew the culprit's identity, the reason the Cuckoos had come here became obvious.
They had been sent to search Nokstella for a Tear Chalice.
For a Mimic Tear, nothing could be more important.
Recalling everything the commanders had told him, Lucian asked another question.
"You mentioned that the main body of the Cuckoo Army has already passed through the Grand Lift of Dectus and reached the Altus Plateau, correct?"
"Does that mean the Cuckoo Army is now cooperating with Leyndell?"
The commanders exchanged uncertain looks.
They hadn't accompanied the main force and knew little about what had happened aboveground.
Still, troops had been transferred upward in wave after wave without incident. That could only mean Leyndell had granted permission.
One commander finally gathered his courage and replied.
"Yes... The Cuckoo Army is currently operating under Leyndell's command."
"But our rank isn't high enough to know what agreement was made."
Lucian raised an eyebrow.
It wasn't surprising, but it was still mildly unexpected.
The Cuckoos had never exactly enjoyed a stellar reputation in the Lands Between.
Then again, it hardly mattered.
Even if the Cuckoos and Leyndell joined forces, they no longer posed a meaningful threat to him.
How many troops could they possibly gather?
Tens of thousands?
Hundreds of thousands?
Lucian had become vastly stronger than he was before.
At this point, he had surpassed any demigod from the days of the Shattering.
Against him, an army was little more than a number that could be erased at will.
A coalition of a few tens of thousands?
He could wipe it out in a single strike.
Let them come if they dared.
He would send them back utterly defeated.
And while he was at it, he could even earn a decent amount of runes.
These days, even opponents on the level of demigods were beginning to feel inadequate.
The armies he had once assembled for warfare had become largely unnecessary. He alone could sweep through entire battlefields.
From now on, armies would probably serve mostly administrative purposes, holding territory and managing newly acquired lands.
At that moment, one of the Cuckoo commanders spoke up with a flattering smile.
"My lord, why not allow us to clear the path for you to the Eternal City?"
"That city is no ordinary place. It's a remnant of the Nox civilization—"
Lucian waved a hand, cutting him off.
"No need."
His understanding of the Eternal Cities far surpassed theirs.
He knew where nearly every valuable item was hidden.
Rising from his seat, Lucian walked toward the tent entrance, lost in thought.
As the terrifying figure departed, the commanders collectively breathed sighs of relief.
'We survived...'
But had they really?
That final thought was the last thing any of them ever experienced.
Their bodies had already been consumed by searing flames, reduced to drifting ash.
In the past, Lucian might have ignored them.
But now that the Cuckoos had allied themselves with Leyndell, there was no reason to show mercy.
Even if they abandoned their search for the Eternal City, they would still be enemies once they returned to the surface.
Since it required so little effort, he might as well deal with them here and now.
With a single blaze, the entire Cuckoo encampment was burned away until nothing remained.
Stretching lazily, Lucian looked ahead.
The Tear Chalice in Nokstella was as good as secured.
The final unnamed Eternal City, however, lay beneath the Royal Capital, deep within the Deeproot Depths.
That Mimic Tear was dangerously close to it.
There was no telling whether it might obtain the chalice first.
For now, everything depended on what would happen once Asimi absorbed the Tear Chalice from Nokstella.
If that was enough to complete her transformation, all the better.
If not, then another trip to the Deeproot Depths would be unavoidable.
Setting the matter aside, Lucian passed through the ant nest and finally arrived at Nokstella, Eternal City.
Beneath the false night sky stood the city, magnificent, silent, and untouched by time.
Gazing upon its breathtaking skyline, Lucian stepped forward and entered.