Chapter 109: To a Distant Land (3) |
In the end, we all ended up heading down to the Magic Tower together. The people of the Temple appeared somewhat hesitant about that but didn’t try to stop us outright.
They did warn us to watch out for snakes and that if anyone got injured, we should bring them back here, though.
On our way down, Bers tried to make us do parkour, as I’d expected.
I could go into more detail about it, but to summarize, Deb almost cracked his skull open.
“Next time, I’ll definitely go alone.”
“Are you already backing out, young hunter?!”
“Don’t force us to take paths only you can use, you maniac!”
“This was quite productive. Keeping pace was a bit of a challenge, but… I didn’t realize there were so many alternate routes besides the main roads.”
While Deb was desperately yelling how this couldn’t even be called parkour anymore, the Inquisitor clenched her fists. Her green eyes and flushed cheeks shone with a fresh, vibrant glow, seemingly indicating that she’d found this experience quite exhilarating.
“Demon Knight, you really should join us next time…!”
Never. At least, not in this city!
I desperately avoided the kimchi dumpling’s eager gaze. If she thought that would make me change my mind, she was wrong. Hmph.
“Come on, let’s go inside.”
At that moment, the Archmage calmly led us inside. The tower standing in the middle of the lake had its doors wide open, welcoming us.
The architecture looked like someone had plucked the dome offSt. Peter’s Basilica orSt. Paul’s Cathedral.
“I’d thought this Magic Tower was just really small, but could it be that the main building is actually completely underwater…?”
“It wasn’t always like this, but as the city developed and the waterways shifted, it just ended up like that. Still, the water helps dampen the noise, so both the wizards and the residents are happy with this arrangement.”
Anyway, we had to cross the lake to enter the tower.
We walked along the path leading over the water. The water flowing on both sides made me feel as if I were on a boat. Even though the bridge was solid, this subtle motion made my stomach churn.
Was that perhaps why there weren’t many people crossing it?
“If there’s just a single crack in the wall, we’ll all end up drowning…”
“Don’t say such scary things. Besides, there’s no way it could break so easily. The first thing the wizards ensured when the tower started getting submerged was their own safety.”
Things would usually break right after someone claimed they didn’t break easily. At least this was just a lake, not the sea, so swimming would be much easier.
Just in case, I noted the direction of the nearest shore as I stepped into the tower.
Through the open door, I could see a reception desk. The interior decorations were simpler than I’d expected but still quite lavish, objectively speaking.
“We’re here to see White Wind. May we enter?”
“The Great Sage? Do you have an appointment…?”
Instead of answering, the Archmage simply presented an emblem to them. The person behind the desk jumped in surprise. Their legs immediately straightened, and they bent over into a 90-degree bow.
“I’ll guide you to the research wing!”
“Hoho, there’s no need to be so formal.”
“N-N-Not at all, Sir Archmage!”
The desk clerk handed out visitor passes to us with trembling hands, telling us that we should never take them off under any circumstances.
Apparently, the security in the research wing was so strict that anyone without a visitor pass would be detained immediately and dragged to the interrogation room.
Finding it a bit inconvenient to wear around my neck, I wrapped it around my wrist like a bracelet instead. The clerk didn’t seem to mind, so it looked like that much was acceptable.
“This way, please.”
The clerk led us down one of the branching paths.
I didn’t know where the other path would lead, but seeing how people in civilian clothes were coming and going from there, I assumed it had to be some kind of public area.
“You can’t look outside from here, huh?”
“Rather than setting up a barrier strong enough to repel water, it’s far more efficient to build and reinforce the building by engraving reinforcement magic.”
“…So, there aren’t any windows anywhere?”
“Probably not. Unless a material capable of withstanding water pressure while still being transparent enough to see through is discovered, it will likely remain this way forever, as well.”
We followed the clerk down the stairs. The staircase, which didn’t have a single window and was merely illuminated by artificial lights, reminded me of a subway station.
“Huh. How can anyone even live in a stuffy place like this?”
“Haha, wizards take to the outside less than house mice do! So there’s no way they would worry about this place being stuffy!”
Then, as we reached the bottom of the stars and truly entered the research wing, a familiar voice that didn’t belong to anyone in our current group interrupted our chat.
“S-Siiiiiiir Great Sage White Wind!”
“Yeah. I’ll take it from here, so you can head back. And… It’s been a while! I’m glad to see you’re doing well. Yeah, yeah. While we’re at it, could you tell me in detail about how the seal got shattered? I’ve heard the outline, but nothing beats hearing it from you personally.”
There he was, that research maniac.
“How did you know we were coming?”
“Huh? Aah. It was a coincidence! Some idiot was secretly experimenting in an arcane-free zone, broke a wall, and nearly drowned us all. I was in the process of scolding them when I just happened to see you guys!”
Sir White Wind, Murlock, laughed loudly while sharing that rather ominous story, leaving our entire group completely pale faced.
“You told me the walls wouldn’t break so easily…!”
“…I didn't consider internal threats. My apologies. I retract my previous statement.”
“Heeey!!”
“Hmph. Berserk knows how to swim. If things get sticky, I can just swim to the lake's surface and escape!”
“What’s the point if only you can survive, Berserk?!”
Deb clutched his head and looked toward the Inquisitor as his last hope. The kimchi dumpling, her expression resolute, solemnly spoke up.
“I can deploy a barrier to block the water’s path, allowing everyone to escape while I hold it back for you…!”
That was at least a somewhat sensible plan, though it would mean she’d be sacrificing herself. Deb finally facepalmed.
It felt like a scene from a sitcom.
“Alright, alright, let’s go. I’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival!”
“My, I didn’t expect you to be so excited. It pains me to say this, but you’ll probably need to step away from this research for now.”
“Why?!?!”
White Wind reacted like a puppy whose food bowl had been taken away.
“Why? Because I have something to discuss with you. You weren’t the only one working on the seal, so there should be another wizard working with you who can take care of this. Leave it to them and come with me.”
“No! No!! I’ve been looking forward to this moment for so long! There was a lot I wanted to ask him, as weeell!!”
“Then ask me instead.”
White Wind whined, but the Archmage was firm in his stance. He called out to the wizard waiting behind White Wind and gave them instructions.
It was so amusing to see the Archmage’s orders seemed to take precedence, even though White Wind was supposed to be in charge of this branch.
“Well then, let’s go, Sir Demon Knight.”
…I was saddened that I now had to step into the center of this madness again.
“The rest of you can tour the tower. Who knows what useful things you might discover. Especially you, Inquisitor. Feel free to ask around for a place where you can test your skills as well as your strategies. Make sure to do so.”
“Ah, understood.”
“Berserk has always wanted to experience fighting against magic. This is a great chance to see if I can withstand it!”
“…I’ll go with Berserk.”
“Thank you.”
As such, our group dispersed.
* * *
* * *
Having come to a proper facility, I repeated what I had done in Canaves so they could gather more precise data.
In other words, I needed to unleash a flurry of skills again to check their output.
“Does the Demon ever speak to you?”
During the process, the wizard pushing me to my limits asked me that question.
Given my character setting, in that I would absolutely cooperate to fend off the Demon despite being extremely uncomfortable with this, I raised my previously furrowed eyebrows high.
“I’m just asking to get more accurate data.”
The wizard was more socially adept than that White Wind. Instead of pressing me, she provided a reason for her question. That was a more effective approach.
I reluctantly unclenched my jaw.
“No.”
However, regardless of my character setting, I’d never actually experienced something like that. How would that Demon, who was only supposed to exist in my settings, even talk to me?
“Are you sure?”
“I meant what I said.”
Aware of the gazes focused on me, I gripped the armrest of the chair I was sitting on more tightly. The metallic handle groaned unpleasantly as it bent in my grip.
The other wizards immediately turned their heads away.
“Then what does it feel like when the Demon takes control?”
However, the wizard before me was different. She continued questioning me calmly. Her business-like demeanor felt oddly more likable to me.
“…You wretch!”
However, regardless of how likable I thought she was, character settings were character settings.
I sprang up from my seat and glared down at the wizard. She was particularly short for a Middle, so I practically had to bend over to look down at her.
“Please explain.”
“I already told the Great Sage.”
“It wouldn’t hurt to repeat what you told the Great Sage, would it?”
Wow, this person had some serious guts and eloquence. If someone taller than me snarled at me like that, I would immediately back down.
Impressed by her boldness, I pondered what I should do next. Going by my character settings, I would probably run off at this point, right?
Bang!
“Ah!”
So why shouldn’t I do that, then?
“Ah, but the measurements aren’t finished yet!”
I bolted out of there. All the people here had also been pestering me to show them my right arm, so there was no hesitation in my actions.
My character would rather bite off his tongue and die than willingly show it to others. Even when White Wind asked me to do it, I hadn’t relented.
Surprisingly, White Wind didn’t really insist. So why should I listen to his underlings?!
“W-Wait a moment!”
Nope, not listening.
I shook off the wizards’ hands and exited the building. The layout was a bit complex, but I could still leave by retracing my steps. Hehehe.
“Hehe, I just need this for this month’s thesis…”
“Pomegranate tea, that damned pomegranate tea was the problem. If only I hadn’t drunk that pomegranate tea, I wouldn't have ended up here. Uuurgh.”
“I’m a talking potato… a potato that can do nothing but talk…”
“Hey. Hey! Emergency! Mage Chonghai is moving all the materials and equipment to another branch! Get the word out to the lab members there, quickly!”
In the process of my escape, I got a glimpse of the daily lives of the wizards. It was impossible not to notice as I made my way out, passing by those guys moving around like zombies.
“Sir Sage… Please let my thesis pass…”
“Chief Wizard or whatever, it’s all just meaningless. Whether you’re a chief or just a regular wizard, we’re all simply slaves to the Sages…”
It seemed the hierarchy went from Great Sage (Archmage) to Sage (Mage) to Chief Wizard and lastly to regular wizards…
Honestly, just from overhearing them, this place sounded exactly like a graduate school. I’d never actually been to one, but I had heard plenty of stories.
“Urgh, this is so frustrating. I’d rather go to the Magic Tower of Sir Azure Lake than be tormented here…”
“Are you stupid? Do you think they’d take a wizard who couldn’t survive under Sir White Wind?”
“They even accepted a wizard with no Arcane Power. I think I'll be fine…”
“You really are an idiot.”
“It’s not about just being accepted by them. If you go there as you are, they’ll just make you hunt merfolk, you know?”
“Damn it!”
I’d always thought of them as research maniacs, but it seemed like wizards didn’t have it easy, either.
I couldn’t help but feel a bit sympathetic. However, when thinking back to the gazes of those who seemed to view me only as mere research material, I immediately looked at them with a straight face.
“Who are you? Why is a civilian in the research wing…”
I climbed the stairs, tilting my arm slightly so that guy had a clear view of my visitor’s pass. I could see the desk, the lobby, and the door leading outside.
I was almost outside.
Aiiiiight.
After tossing the visitor’s pass back to the desk, I quickly made my way to the bridge.
After being in that enclosed space devoid of natural light for a couple of hours, I felt an immediate rush of relief as I took a step outside.
I hadn’t realized how much I preferred open spaces. That was also why I didn’t take the subway often.
“If you get too close to the railing, you might get eaten.”
Who might be that kind… Wait, did they say ‘get eaten’, not ‘fall in’?
“Didn’t you see the warning sign?”
I turned my head a bit to see who was warning me here. Judging by the robes and that emblem, they were probably a wizard. They looked quite… young.
“Anyway, step back. Dozens of people have been attacked by that thing already.”
Seeing the kid barely reach my chest surprised me a little.
Of course, being overly surprised just because someone looked young would be incredibly rude, so I quickly composed myself. They might just be short for an adult.
“What are you doing? I said step back.”
Rather than kind, their voice sounded fairly blunt. It seemed they’d had to deal with many people like me who hadn’t read the warning sign all day long.
“You really aren’t listening, huh? Are you deaf as well as blind—”
However, personal attacks really were crossing the line!?
“Watch out!”
I moved my hand to my waist and drew my sword.
Swish!
Something lunged at me from the lake, splattering crimson liquid as my blade cut through it.
“You’re warning the wrong person here, kid.”
So, what exactly was that thing attacking me…? Oh, this wasn’t South America, so why did a giant water snake pop out here?
In that case, shouldn’t they ban people from accessing the lake altogether instead of just warning them about getting too close to the railing?
No wonder the Temple people warned us to watch out for snakes when we told them we were going to the Magic Tower!
“Th-That snake, in one hit.”
I glanced at the bisected water snake sinking into the lake and stepped back from the railing.
While it hadn’t been particularly frightening, I had no desire to remain by the railing after enduring that kid’s fiery verbal assault.
“Wait, wait!”
However, that sharp-tongued fellow grabbed me once more. When they realized who they were dealing with, all their ferocity seemed to dissipate, and the grip on my arm was soft, a mere touch.
“Do you perhaps take requests? If so, can you handle these snakes for us?!”
And this interaction even led to a Sidequest?
“Please, I’m begging you! If this continues, all our customers coming for Arcane supplies will disappear!!”
Was this an opportunity, perhaps…?