Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: The Treacherous Subject Has His Uses
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'That damned old man...! He actually died and took it with him!'
'The Manifestation and Methodology of Divine Magic' was authored by the Grand Magus of the Magic Tower, Dalken Dyna.
This 'Divine Magic' was a new magical system concept. To prove and complete it, Dalken Dyna conducted every experiment imaginable. With many failures, research funds were sucked up like a whale, yet no results were produced. Still, Dalken Dyna never gave up and continued his research relentlessly.
The accumulated debt alone was 1 million platinum coins. When they could no longer bear it and offered to forgive the debt on the condition of halting the research and discarding the materials, the old man had indeed taken it with him after he died.
'He's a truly disgusting old geezer. I'll grant he lived longer than me, but to take it with him even after death! What's so great about his Divine Magic! Damn it!'
"Lord Beonald, is something the matter?"
"No, nothing's wrong. I just got the order mixed up and was recalling it again."
Beonald showed no outward sign and promptly finished the borrowing records for the books he had brought as well. Then, he and his party slowly exited the 'Nest of Eggs,' re-locked it, and closed the door.
"For now, we've only brought the necessary items. We'll open it properly once we finish constructing our proper mansion and territory up here. Is that alright, Young Master?"
"Hmm, I think that would be best."
"We'll have a lot to do once we get out."
Beonald, smiling and lightening the mood, thought about the tasks ahead while also pondering Dalken Dyna, who had stolen 'The Manifestation and Methodology of Divine Magic.'
Since it was his son, Alterio, who approved the book's loan, it must have been about 500 years since it was taken from this place.
'Hmm... Moreover, according to Selina, after I died, a chaotic civil war broke out in the Magic Tower over my legacy. After that, the Dyna family won and founded the Kingdom of Dyna, which is the historical progression... So, that old man... eventually just retrieved his own thing, spent time in the Magic Tower's civil war, and then died? Hmmmm...'
"Oooh, my goodness, such precious texts even the current Magic Tower can't obtain...! As expected, ancient ruins are amazing. Ahhh~ With this, I can escape being an eternal 4th rank! Promotion to 5th, 6th rank...!"
"Selina?"
"Yes? What, what is it?"
"I have a question. By any chance... do you know a Grand Magus named Dalken Dyna?"
"Huh? Are you asking that now? Among those with the profession of magician, not knowing Grand Magus Dalken Dyna? That's like calling yourself a magician without knowing mana manipulation! He is the founding ancestor of the Kingdom of Dyna, the final victor of the Magic Tower civil war, who gathered the lost legacies of magic again to build a new Magic Tower."
"Oh ho..."
While he himself had been erased from records and forgotten, the name of the old man who couldn't even budge in the Magic Tower was now passed down as a great figure. Beonald felt quite displeased.
However, thanks to that, he could naturally hear stories about Dalken Dyna, so he appropriately interjected prompts and continued listening to her tale.
"After that, until he passed away about 300 years ago, he reigned as the head of the Magic Tower and the King of the Kingdom of Dyna. Although he eventually died, the scale of the Magic Tower and the Kingdom of Dyna, the authority of magicians, etc... the impact he had on the continent is said to be immense."
"I see. But... he died 300 years ago? How? Wasn't he... human?"
"Yes. He is said to have been human, but... being a Grand Magus, he must have been on a different level."
'...That damn old geezer, just how long did he live? He seemed like an old man even from the time I entered the Magic Tower. Is he even human?'
An old man who lived tediously long. He remembered how the old man, insisting he had to keep living to find that 'Truth,' resorted to all sorts of desperate measures.
Incidentally, that field of research related to extending life involved the human body. As a Grand Alchemist who dabbled in it, Beonald also had memories of being tediously pestered.
'He kept causing a fuss, demanding I make strange potions. Of course, I received benefits too, so I couldn't refuse...'
Dalken Dyna's obsessive personality regarding magic was problematic, but the title of Grand Magus wasn't for nothing—his magical prowess was top-notch.
Especially for Beonald, who wanted to create magical artifacts, improving or developing magical formulas was paramount. Dalken Dyna would effortlessly create and refine the formulas Beonald requested.
'Anyway, he lived disgustingly long, that damn old man. Wait a minute...'
'I... I will definitely reach the 'Truth'. Cough! Cough!'
'...Something feels off. Hmm... The Kingdom of Dyna.'
Recalling the image of Dalken Dyna, clinging tenaciously to life, Beonald felt an ominous premonition and glanced toward the northern direction where the Kingdom of Dyna lay.
However, with a mountain of pressing tasks at hand, he couldn't reach out or do anything about the Kingdom of Dyna now. He decided to send someone to gather information later when he had more time.
A few days later, in Heidi's territory.
It was now late autumn. A strange carriage entered the territory, bustling with winter preparations and various construction projects.
This carriage, bearing a modest merchant guild mark, was unfamiliar. However, it presented the permit received from the imperial capital and the merchant association certificate to the knight guarding the gate. After verification, it entered the territory. Inside the carriage, an old man wearing a shabby robe looked at the territory's scenery and let out a quiet exclamation of admiration.
"Heh heh heh, this is quite... more prosperous than expected."
"I heard from people in the village that this village... no, this city was built less than a year ago. Your... I mean, Elder."
The middle-aged knight, who almost said 'Your Majesty,' quickly changed it to 'Elder.' He was Sir Legion, a guardian of the imperial palace, disguised and leading a knight order escorting Calem Empire's Emperor Geraldo Calem here in secret.
"Heh heh heh, anyway... it's truly an impressive city. Small but running very efficiently."
The Emperor, having ruled the empire for a long time and having considerable insight into cities, repeatedly admired the neatly constructed city layout.
Seeing the well-organized roads and mansions, drainage ditches for safety, sewers, and even the spacing of alleyways widened to prepare for fires, he thought it was the kind of city he had wanted to build and was amazed.
"Is this his skill? Heh heh heh."
"Elder, look over there."
"Oh, what is that?"
Turning his head at Sir Legion's words, he saw a cart loaded with a giant monster passing by.
The giant monster, standing about 5 meters tall, was an Ogre—notorious for its monstrous strength and tough hide, and one of the dangerous species humans feared for its fondness for human flesh.
"...An Ogre? Heh heh, it's my first time seeing one outside of the taxidermied specimen in the imperial palace museum."
"Moreover... it's not just one, Elder. To catch one, you'd have to be prepared for considerable sacrifices... Even considering their fearsome hunger, must they go to such lengths? Especially after the war, the soldiers' sacrifices must have been great."
"Hmm... Indeed."
There were three Ogres loaded on the carts. Targeting just one required the sacrifice of many knights and soldiers. Sir Legion estimated that even for three, at least a hundred soldiers would have died or been injured.
"Let's first find out the details. That Beonald fellow must have considered what we're thinking as well."
The two began touring the city in earnest, collecting information.
First, they wanted to know the latest information about the three Ogres seen today, including how much military force was invested in monster hunting.
When they subtly asked a merchant selling meat in the village after giving him money, the answer flowed smoothly.
"Ah, those Ogres were probably caught by Lord Heidi, the territorial lord, and Young Master Cedron."
"But, fighting such dangerous monsters must result in heavy casualties, right?"
"Hmm, we thought so too, but... perhaps because the Young Master and Lord Heidi's martial prowess is exceptional, there were almost no casualties. Even if someone dies, it's... well, due to other reasons or absurd accidents?"
"Heh..."
Sir Legion found the merchant's words strange.
The claim that there were no casualties when hunting dangerous species monsters was utterly unbelievable.
If they were easy to catch, humanity would have hunted them all long ago to recover magic stones, blood, and materials, leading to greater prosperity. While he couldn't fully believe the merchant's words, he could guess that this territory had some know-how for monster hunting.
"...That's the situation, Elder. It seems there's some special know-how or technique that gives them an advantage in monster hunting."
"Hmm..."
"To find out... we probably need to go to that mansion."
The mansion Sir Legion pointed to. It was the center of this city, Heidi's mansion, which also doubled as a workshop for dismantling captured monsters.
Since the by-products from dangerous species monsters were incredibly valuable, it was a necessary choice to protect them.
Anyway, the Emperor, needing to uncover Beonald's secrets, agreed with Sir Legion's suggestion. He immediately gathered all the Imperial Knight Order members guarding the carriage and decided to enter directly. However, a soldier guarding the entrance stopped them.
"Halt. This place is not open to just anyone."
"Ah, we are merchants from the capital. We came hoping to conduct some business here... May we enter?"
"Merchants? Hmm... I see. But, even for business, Lord Beonald already has many prior appointments, so I'm not sure if you can see him today. Just today, there are ten merchants from trading companies, five nobles, and people from various guilds and associations—quite a long waiting list."
"Heh heh... Then when might we be able to see him?"
"You'd have to wait at least two weeks."
"Hmmm... Then we'll discuss it with our Elder for a moment."
Sir Legion retreated, first parking the carriage beside the mansion entrance, then consulted with the Emperor on how to proceed.
They had to decide whether to withdraw and return to the capital, or reveal the Emperor's identity and force their way in for an audience.
Listening to Sir Legion's report, the Emperor began to ponder deeply.
"Hmmm..."
"Since we've confirmed there are suspicious points, perhaps sending someone later? Or leaving a few Imperial Knights behind to gather information and report back might also be fine, Elder. Or summoning him to the capital is also a good method."
"Hmmmm... Give me a moment."
The Emperor fell into brief contemplation.
This wasn't a sightseeing trip. He had left the capital with great resolve, putting aside the food shortage problem to come here personally. It would be too wasteful to return empty-handed without any results.
Moreover, his reason warned that now that he knew something innovative was happening in this city under Beonald's lead, he shouldn't just go back and give the man more time.
"Hmmmm... Difficult."
Even if he revealed his identity and entered for an audience, it might only boost the man's reputation without gaining any practical benefits for himself.
As Sir Legion suggested, leaving people behind to gather information later and then dealing with it wouldn't be too late.
With no option seeming definitively better, the Emperor continued pondering to make a somewhat rational choice.
'What should I do...?'
"I today too~ pick up my hammer~ and sing a song~ Lalalala~ Come on! Once we move this last one, we're done, so let's finish quickly and go have some chicken and a cool beer! No matter what Lord Beonald orders, I'll cover it! Everyone, hang in there!"
'That voice...?'
While deep in thought, the Emperor heard a familiar voice from somewhere and, startled, rose from the carriage to look outside.
There, a girl with deep brown hair and red eyes, sweating profusely, was holding a hammer and directing a line of carts transporting stone blocks.
The Emperor stared at the girl in shock because, apart from the hair color, she looked exactly like his daughter.
"...Zel, Zelcy?"
"E, Elder, what's wrong?"
"Am I... am I seeing things? Look, look over there..."
"That is...! Aaah!"
Following the Emperor's gaze, Sir Legion also looked and couldn't suppress his astonishment. As a knight closest to the imperial family, there was no way he wouldn't recognize Princess Zelcy's face.
However, neither was entirely sure it was her. Apart from the different hair color, unlike the always expressionless, cold, and quiet impression she had in the imperial palace, the girl over there was moving cheerfully with a smile as bright as sunlight.
"Hmmm... Hmmmm..."
The Emperor, too shocked, looked at her once more with a confused expression to gain more certainty, but she soon led the carts inside and disappeared from view.
And so, the Emperor decided to postpone leaving this place for now and instructed Sir Legion to immediately secure lodging in this village.