Chapter 68
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: The Abyss Monster (7)
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"Hah... Hah..."
Ragged breaths stabbed at his lungs.
Even after squeezing through that narrow, rough crevice, he had run without a moment's rest.
His legs ached as if they would fall off, and every muscle in his body screamed in protest.
'Faster, I have to tell them faster...'
But the boy grit his teeth against the searing pain and forced his body onward.
He knew the fate of not only his family, but his entire tribe, rested on his shoulders.
The image was seared into his mind: the city ravaged by monsters crawling from the dark abyss, and the Great Chieftain's somber face as he gripped the boy's shoulders and made his plea.
'I must...'
This was while the Legion had already stabilized, communicating with Shin-woo and taking a moment to reorganize.
Shaking his head, the boy, unaware of this news, thought only of climbing higher.
His people had settled there because the ruins of their ancestors remained relatively intact, but that didn't mean the upper floors were empty.
For his purpose, there was no need to traverse all the dozens of floors above.
"Ugh!"
The panting boy staggered and fell on his rear.
Thudding toward him, a golem with a glowing core in its chest blocked his path.
Unlike the golems of the lower floors, the ones in this area had not been ordered to fight the Ruin Fungus.
"In-invasion! Now! We... danger!"
The boy cried out from his crouched position. Not in their own language, but in the human tongue he had picked up over time.
The golem, which had been about to crush him, froze in place.
A moment of silence passed.
"Get... on...?"
The golem extended its open palm toward the boy.
Only a low hum could be heard. After a moment, the boy steeled himself and climbed onto the golem's hand.
"Nothing much to see here. Besides, wasn't this place cleared out years ago?"
The tone was filled with a boredom that paid no mind to his surroundings. It seemed he had no intention of a thorough inspection in the first place.
"Y-yes, that's right, Vice-President. Still, our branch has discovered several species in the ancient labyrinth..."
"I'm not particularly interested. Doesn't that labyrinth already have an owner? Let's head back."
"What...?"
At his words, the people who had been waiting with tense anticipation were slightly taken aback.
They had prepared a great many things for the visit of such an important figure. Not only had they done a deep clean, but countless people had toiled to scrub the floors and walls with toothbrushes until they shone.
And now, after a single glance, he was declaring his departure.
"But Vice-President! You haven't had a chance to properly review our research findings!"
"Hmm?"
Just then, an indignant voice cut through.
A young woman in a pure white robe that served as her lab coat stepped forward. Everyone stared at her, aghast.
"Researcher Reina."
He read her name from her name tag. Then, he let out a smirk.
"I've seen enough. What is there to delve into here, anyway? I met with the mayor yesterday. The entire city is unremarkable. Competition with the other academies is fierce right now; I have no time to invest in the research of those who've been pushed into a dead-end post in a quiet place like this."
"But..."
"If you want to hold my attention, and if you want to be promoted to Central, you'll need to bring me something truly groundbreaking."
Without mincing words, he turned to leave with his entourage.
The harsh truth left everyone on site frozen. They felt wronged and resentful, but there was nothing they could do.
To a mage belonging to the Academy that governed this world, the Academy's will was law and truth.
"Am I wrong? Reina. If your abilities were so outstanding, wouldn't your research have already been presented to me at Central?"
"No... sir."
She lowered her head, her voice barely a whisper.
The gazes of surprise that had been on her now turned to animosity and irritation. They thought she had needlessly stepped out of line and soured the Vice-President's mood.
"Ahem, let's be on our way, Vice-Presi..."
"Sir! It's an emergency!"
But a report that came in at that moment stopped him in his tracks.
"Alright. Now this is getting a little interesting. Wouldn't you agree, Director?"
"Y-yes, sir! What in the world is..."
The Vice-President couldn't hide the smirk playing on his lips.
The place, now bustling with the academy mages who had suddenly gathered, was the entrance to a cave known as the gateway to the ancient labyrinth.
A sharp-eared boy with peculiar markings drawn on his body stood in their midst, trembling with fear.
"But... I'm certain the native Moonlight Elves were extremely wary of us. We couldn't even conduct proper research..."
"Can you communicate with him?"
Mages were fundamentally thirsty for research—for material.
This was especially true for mages in the frontiers like this, who had to compete for promotions through their research achievements.
"He did manage to stammer out a few words. But he seems to have clammed up out of fear now."
"How amusing. What is your name?"
The Vice-President scoffed at the testimony of the mage who controlled the guard golem, then pointed his staff at the boy's chest and spoke.
"Yelson."
As if understanding the meaning, the boy, who had been silent before their arrival, spoke his name with wavering eyes.
A murmur of surprise went through the mages as human words came from the mouth of a member of this mysterious race.
"Good... Yelson. Why have you broken the treaty of mutual non-interference that your people proposed and entered our..."
"Invasion! Now! We in danger! Monsters from below, they come!"
The Vice-President tried to calmly continue his questions as their representative, but Yelson, not understanding him, blurted out what he had to say in a rush.
He had no choice. Even at this very moment, his people were dying.
"What is the meaning of..."
"Help, need help. Help!"
If nothing else, his desperation and urgency were conveyed to everyone.
Among the bewildered mages was Reina, who had her hand clamped over her mouth.
"Everyone, quiet! It seems this is not a matter to be taken lightly. Chief Secretary, bring that child over here for now."
As the atmosphere grew chaotic, the Vice-President struck the ground with his staff, sending a shallow shockwave rippling through the area.
"You mean him, sir?"
"Are we to stand here like this all day?"
"N-no, sir!"
As he glared, the terrified secretary scrambled to snatch Yelson's hand and practically drag him over.
The bewildered Yelson shouted something, but no one moved. While all the mages present were curious, none dared to defy the Academy.
"Vice-President! From his testimony, it sounds like their situation is dire. Therefore..."
"You again, Researcher Reina. A mere researcher should focus on her duties. Do you think I don't know what I'm doing?"
In the end, it was Reina who spoke up again.
And just as expected, he paid her words no mind.
"Vice-President. In that case, I will at least contact the mayor. We should dispatch an investigation team at once..."
"No, don't."
He shook his head at the Director, who was trying to curry favor right after they had left the spot.
Yelson could only listen to their unintelligible words with a look of anxiety.
"Sir? But..."
"Director, you're eager to come to Central, aren't you? We seem to have some excellent research material right here. For instance... the anatomy of a native ancient species. What do you say? Intriguing, isn't it?"
With a grin, he suddenly placed a hand on the Director's shoulder.
The Director's face paled in an instant, and his Adam's apple bobbed.
"You see, I'm still in a hurry for more research. And you people have no idea. You don't know what a massive burden I carry. Heh."
He then suddenly chuckled and started walking ahead on his own.
The bewildered crowd paused for a moment to watch him, but the man who had just thrown them into confusion had his mind entirely elsewhere.
'Foolish creatures. They've only just learned to use rudimentary spells. But if the entire race, with their faint but present talent, can develop it just a little more to enable large-scale collective magic, it could change the tide.'
His eyes gleamed. A part of his vision was displaying an entirely different world.
On a dark and barren land, a horde of creatures, numbering at least in the tens of thousands, was living as a pack.
As if they had heard he was watching, they were startled and prostrated themselves on the ground, showing their reverence.
For the god who gave them knowledge and insight.
"Rise. There is no time for that. The war is not over."
At his command, the creatures rose again and resumed their tasks.
The fact that his very life depended on the survival of these lowly beings, who were no more than beasts before they met him, was a constant pressure.
"What of the item from those Ashkrud bastards?"
[It is ready now.]
He continued walking ahead, handling his affairs. This was a matter that required constant attention, but it was something he could never do in front of others.
"No matter how much there is to research, no matter how coveted it might be, I have to survive first."
He looked over the screen and grinned.
His units. Creatures that some humans called kobolds were carrying precious items in wooden crates, moving toward a specific location.
In any case, his exchange with this mysterious other world had been of great help to his power and social standing.