Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Search
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The Tower Lords residing in the uppermost floors of the Mage Towers were people unified by a single piece of public consensus.
Do not get involved with them under any circumstances.
Do not look at them, speak to them, or even think about them.
Nothing good would come of it.
And right now, the bizarre noises emanating from the top floor of the Red Magic Tower were undoubtedly prime evidence reinforcing that reputation.
“⋯⋯Why is the Tower Lord acting like that?”
With thick dark circles hanging under her eyes, one of the secretaries asked in a daze.
The Mage Tower's top floor and the secretary's office where they worked were strictly separated. Soundproofing and everything else was perfect.
Yet, the faint screams drifting in from afar, piercing through all that, were truly impressive.
Having listened to a colorful array of screams like 'How did this happen' 'This can't be right' 'Even I couldn't do it' 'A human doing that is impossible' 'Fuck' and so on, the senior secretary shrugged her shoulders and replied.
“⋯⋯Who knows? I heard something that shouldn't have been solved got solved.”
“Yes?”
“You know, that research topic she was originally working on.”
“Ah- The 'Tear of the Star'?”
It was a fairly famous item in the Red Magic Tower.
The Mage Tower's treasure that had been surrendered to the Empire's Emperor out of submission to force.
Rumor had it that the current Red Magic Tower Lord was researching ways to restore it since the decryption key had been lost.
“I heard the code got cracked yesterday out of nowhere. She sensed it somehow?”
“⋯⋯How would she know the code for an item in the Empire got cracked?”
“She's the Tower Lord. One of the pinnacles of magic. And to begin with, she herself—”
The secretary's words cut off abruptly as she was about to continue.
It probably wouldn't have mattered anyway.
“—Secretary—!”
“Shit, you scared me.”
The explanation she was about to give was overtaken by a massive 'dragon's head' that burst through the door, splintering it.
A dragon.
The apex among all mana-based lifeforms.
One of those at the pinnacle of all magic, capable of obliterating an entire city with just its breath.
“Get the word out right now! I'm heading to the other side of the continent! Handle the aftermath!”
“⋯⋯Tower Lord, if you go out like that, even if the army mobilizes for a subjugation, it'd be legal.”
“Oh, right.”
Mana swirled around the huffing dragon, and soon a brilliant flash— engulfed its body.
What emerged was a tall beauty covered head to toe in red.
Red eyes, red hair, red dress.
She ground her teeth audibly as she stormed into the secretary's office, grabbed her bag, and slung it over her shoulder.
⋯⋯For the owner of a Mage Tower to move around like this without any attendants, in such light attire, was truly remarkable.
“But where exactly are you going?”
“—The Empire!”
The red dragon—the Red Magic Tower Lord—continued huffing as she spoke.
“I have to see with my own eyes who this bastard is that accomplished something even I couldn't!”
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-Gear Info
◆ Tear of the Star
A necklace embedded with a gem bearing the blood seals of the five Tower Lords. Crafted from metal sourced from an unidentified secondary dimension, it can generate near-infinite mana.
Functions can be continuously added by supplying 'mana catalysts.'
▶ When activated, provides infinite mana for 3 seconds.
-Skill Info
◆ Divine Descent
Manifests the consciousness dwelling within the Holy Sword into the caster's body.
▶ Massive mana must precede this, or side effects may occur. Proceed with caution!
Carlyle gazed at the window floating before him with a puzzled look.
The description of the Tear of the Star was understandable enough. It matched exactly the functions he remembered.
The problem was this skill unlocked on the Holy Sword right now.
If it was the consciousness within the Holy Sword, that would be Gray, but what did it mean to 'manifest' it into his own body?
[From what I can guess, it means I can borrow your body to move.]
“⋯⋯Hmm.”
In short.
Exactly 3 seconds.
It meant the Holy Sword could use his body.
‘⋯⋯.’
[⋯⋯.]
Carlyle and the Holy Sword fell silent.
Their minds mixing within one body.
[Isn't good just good? You can just think of it as a new tool for emergencies.]
“⋯⋯It'd be nice if it were that simple.”
[Oh?]
“There was a similar ability developed in the Mage Tower once. A Tower Lord who didn't want to die of old age tried to achieve immortality by swapping bodies while keeping their consciousness intact. By transferring just their mind into another person's body.”
[That's a new one. What happened?]
“Their consciousness mixed with the host's, and they went mad in the end.”
[⋯⋯.]
“The same could happen between me and the Hero. We shouldn't abuse it.”
[⋯⋯You're right about that.]
Unknown side effects could occur.
It felt best to use it as sparingly and cautiously as possible.
‘Still.’
It was a skill that could temporarily manifest the 'strongest of humanity'—not just anyone—into his body.
It would surely be a great help in emergencies.
“⋯⋯.”
No, wait a minute.
On second thought, was there even a reason to use this?
He could freely change the Holy Sword's form right now. The only limitation was insufficient mana.
So, with equipment like the Tear of the Star providing 'infinite' mana, couldn't he manifest this person right away?
In that case, let's try it. As they say, pull out the iron while it's hot.
“Here goes, Hero!”
[⋯⋯Alright, give it a try.]
In an empty area, he steeled his resolve grandly and activated the Tear of the Star.
A mist of light enveloped Carlyle's body.
Massive mana surged through the circuits he had carved into his body, and he slammed it all into the Holy Sword.
What he envisioned was the Hero with a perfectly intact body⋯⋯!
[⋯⋯.]
“⋯⋯.”
And at the result that appeared immediately after.
Carlyle and the Hero both fell silent.
“⋯⋯Uh.”
[⋯⋯.]
A hand.
A human hand.
The Holy Sword Carlyle had been holding had transformed into a plump, bluish human hand floating in midair.
And with Carlyle grabbing onto it, it looked like he was shaking hands with a severed wrist.
⋯⋯From the feel of it, this was the Hero's hand.
“⋯⋯Uh, so like.”
Before he could even speak, the plump Hero's hand slapped Carlyle sharply across the cheek.
[Are you messing with me, you—!]
“It's not my fault—!”
Even with the Tear of the Star supplying near-infinite mana, all he could barely manifest was one of the Hero's hands.
Just how monstrous was this person⋯⋯
[⋯⋯For the time being, let's go with me using your body as a medium in emergencies.]
‘⋯⋯Understood.’
After reaching that agreement, Carlyle rubbed his reddened cheek and started walking.
Today was the day Siona was properly conducting that 'field trip' or whatever with Gray and him. He needed to head to the meeting spot.
‘More importantly.’
Carlyle scratched his cheek while glancing around.
‘This is so blatant it's not even funny.’
The place they were walking right now was the black market behind the capital.
A hub teeming with all sorts of mercenaries, arms dealers, hitmen⋯⋯ and various other criminals.
And Gray and Carlyle were strolling through it under Siona's lead.
Not a single friendly gaze flew their way from the surroundings.
In a den filled with bottom-feeders and gutter rats, people like Gray and Siona, dripping with nobility, inevitably drew eyes whether they liked it or not.
⋯⋯No matter how you looked at it, this wasn't a place a professor would personally escort students to.
They must have come here for a reason.
‘Leaving Vespa and the Princess at the inn, huh.’
No wonder she only brought Gray and him out. There had to be a purpose.
“⋯⋯Professor. This is a field trip, right?”
“This is a field too, so learn whatever you can. Then it becomes a field trip, doesn't it?”
“⋯⋯.”
She'd be impossible if she couldn't even speak properly.
As Carlyle sighed deeply, Siona slowly came to a halt.
The outskirts of the black market, an abandoned building district.
Even in the dark, damp atmosphere of the black market, this was the most desolate spot.
The barren buildings, questionable if anyone even lived there, reeked only of musty mold.
“From now on, we need to search the area around here.”
Siona said in a flat tone.
“Search for what, exactly?”
“Blood, corpses, anything violent—find it all.”
“⋯⋯.”
“We have evidence that Devil Worshippers' hideout is around here.”
“⋯⋯.”
“Eum- Truth be told, I don't expect much. They move so quietly underground, after all. Since it's the first day, I'd be satisfied with any decent clue.”
What Devil Worshippers?
⋯⋯Field trip, she said.
Learn whatever you can, she said.
What exactly was there to learn? Distrust in Siona and the Gray Cardinal?
“Let's finish up quick and go.”
Gray, apparently just as baffled, let out a heavy sigh and trudged into the abandoned buildings.
Even ordinary people would feel at least a bit of fear, but her eyes held nothing but boredom.
As expected of our Lady. Fearless to the point of having lost her humanity⋯⋯
[⋯⋯The conclusion's a bit off, isn't it?]
Ignoring the protesting Holy Sword, Carlyle also stepped into the abandoned buildings.
And surely, Gray's bravado would be rewarded soon enough.
They could rack up results quickly.
“⋯⋯Hmm.”
Carlyle stopped in front of a certain abandoned house.
Compared to the others, it felt unusually large. Like the rest, no signs of life came from inside.
‘Something feels off?’
[In what way?]
‘Their habits—they usually dig massive underground caverns beneath large houses like this as camouflage. Like moles.’
[⋯⋯True, but where's the proof this is that house?]
‘It's exactly the size they prefer. They always favored houses precisely this size.’
[⋯⋯⋯⋯What?]
‘The location's isolated on the outskirts, and the slope looks perfect for digging in.’
Spot on.
Time for some Devil Worshipper tracking one-two-three.
From tangling with them in every single playthrough, he could pinpoint their tastes blindfolded⋯⋯
“Student Carlyle? Did you find something?”
“Yeah, this place seems suspicious.”
“⋯⋯Hmm, doesn't look particularly unusual to me, but what makes you—”
Before Siona could finish.
-!!!!!
⋯⋯The house Carlyle had pointed out collapsed entirely.
From a single blow someone unleashed, the building crumbled with a thunderous roar, kicking up clouds of dust around them.
“⋯⋯.”
“⋯⋯.”
Carlyle and Siona blankly stared at Gray, who had just done it.
She was withdrawing the fist she had smashed into the wall.
“What she says is usually right.”
“⋯⋯.”
“Better to just do it than waste time questioning why.”
“⋯⋯No, Hero, isn't that a bit too hasty?”
“So what.”
“⋯⋯.”
“I wanna get inside quick, so let's wrap this up. What else do we need to find in there?”
As expected of our Lady.
So impatient she's lost all sense—
[⋯⋯Just once.]
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