Chapter 315: Something is Strange (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 315: Something is Strange (2)
It had been a little over a week since Alon left the Marquisate and set off for the Magic Society.
“You’re saying the Strange Gates are appearing more frequently than before?”
“Yes. Apparently, they’ve been causing quite a lot of trouble here and there lately because of that.”
Evan muttered, “Between the bandits and now this, things are a total mess. Life just isn't easy,” to which Alon asked:
“Didn’t you say the bandits were suppressed to the point of extinction?”
“Well, yes, but those types of people are always cropping up. It’s not like that around Lartania, but… I hear they’re still popping up elsewhere. Still, the Strange Gates are the biggest headache these days.”
Alon fell into thought.
Strange Gates. It is about time for them to increase.
Recalling that about two years had passed since the start of the original story, Alon scratched his head.
If this were the original game, would it be around the mid-to-late stages by now?
It had diverged so much from the original plot that calling it the ‘original’ felt awkward now. Regardless, looking strictly at the timeline and the events occurring, it was indeed the mid-to-late phase.
As he remembered it, the latter half of Psychedelia was filled with descriptions of the world turning into an apocalypse due to the Sins and the gradually increasing Strange Gate phenomenon.
Still, compared to that, things are certainly peaceful now.
In the ‘original,’ the damage was catastrophic no matter how hard Elivan worked to stop the Sins. That was to be expected, given the sheer number of powerhouses and soldiers deployed. On top of that, the Outer Gods—
“…Hmm?”
“Is something wrong?”
When Alon let out an involuntary groan of doubt, Penia, who had been playing with Blackie, looked up and asked.
Alon shook his head naturally and kept his thoughts to himself.
…The Outer Gods should have appeared by now, shouldn't they?
Of course, the Outer Gods didn't always appear in the game, but based on the lore he knew, there should have been at least some mention of them by this point.
“Evan.”
“Yes?”
“Has there been any news regarding the Outer Gods lately?”
“Outer Gods? Hmm—I don’t think there’s been anything for at least a year?”
“Is that so…?”
“Why do you ask all of a sudden?”
“No, it’s nothing.”
Alon brushed off Evan’s question and tilted his head.
In truth, things had changed so much that worrying about this might be foolish. In the game, the appearance of an Outer God was sometimes described simply as ‘Such-and-such place was destroyed by an Outer God’ rather than the player facing them directly.
That was why Alon had forgotten about it. Still, it nagged at him.
The Outer Gods and the Sins are definitely linked. Well, it’s better if they don’t show up, so if they aren’t even mentioned, I suppose I shouldn't go looking for trouble. Hmm…
His thoughts soon drifted to the Strange Gates that appeared even more frequently in the latter half of the game. Or rather, a curiosity he had pushed aside finally reared its head.
Come to think of it… what exactly are the Strange Gates?
When he played Psychedelia, he had just dismissed them as a lore element forced in by the developers to add more dungeons, but now he noticed something strange.
The Strange Gates aren't linked to the Sins or the Outer Gods.
The Sins and the Outer Gods had a connection. After all, the Outer Gods were entities from the forgotten Age of Gods. However, the Strange Gates had nothing to do with ‘Sin,’ the central theme of Psychedelia.
If he had to find a connection, it was only that the appearance of the Strange Gates coincided with the appearance of the Sins.
And even that doesn't seem to match up very well here.
After a brief moment of deep thought, Alon shook the worries away. Even in the game, there was no mention of what happened to the Strange Gates after all the Sins were dealt with. Fundamentally, despite being a dark fantasy, Psychedelia always had a happy ending regardless of the route.
“Marquis, we’re almost there.”
As always, Evan’s voice interrupted his musings. Alon naturally shifted his gaze outside the carriage.
Immediately, the massive Magic Tower came into view—a sight that never failed to inspire awe. He took a moment to admire the tower as it soared endlessly into the sky.
“Marquis, let’s go!”
The carriage came to a halt. Following Penia’s shout, Alon stepped out and headed toward the library where Heinkel was.
Not long after.
[It’s been a while.]
“…It has been a while.”
Alon met Heinkel for the first time in a long time.
* * *
Immediately after exchanging brief pleasantries.
“Um, Lady Heinkel? May I ask you something?”
[What is it?]
“Do you remember what you said last time? About the magic formulas.”
Heinkel thought for a moment at Penia’s words and then nodded.
[Mmm—well, I remember.]
“Actually, the Marquis and I have been thinking about that part for a while now—”
Penia jumped straight into the subject, relaying the results of her month-long research with Alon to Heinkel.
Heinkel listened in silence.
[So, your calculation ability drops immediately after using a formula. That’s why you want to automate the calculations like a switch? By sending commands to the linked magic orbs all at once. But currently, that’s impossible.]
“Well, it’s possible for very basic things. But if the calculations get even slightly complex, or in the case of the Phrases the Marquis uses, it’s impossible.”
[Mmm—]
Heinkel groaned to herself a few times in thought before speaking.
[I think I have a rough idea of why it’s not working.]
“Really?”
[How long do you plan to stay?]
“Uh—”
Penia looked at Alon, trailing off.
“…About a week should be fine.”
When Alon answered her gaze, Heinkel nodded.
[Then go rest and wait for a bit. Something just occurred to me.]
“Thank you for your help.”
[It’s nothing. More importantly—could you show me your magic now?]
At Heinkel’s words, Alon remembered what Penia had said a month ago and nodded.
“That isn’t difficult, but what should I show you?”
[Hmm… If possible, one of the spells you use that is linked to the past?]
“The past?”
[Yes.]
After a moment’s thought, Alon immediately began forming hand seals and reciting a Phrase.
A short while later.
The Ice Crystal Flower Spear appeared before Alon and then vanished. Even though he had made it very small just for the demonstration, the library froze over in an instant.
However, rather than the frozen library, Heinkel focused intently on the Ice Crystal Flower Spear Alon had created.
[If you don’t mind, could you use it one more time?]
At her request, Alon used the Ice Crystal Flower Spear again without hesitation. Even though it targeted a very small area, his mana drained rapidly.
Still, his mana pool was no longer at the point where two uses would cause depletion.
…Though it certainly would if he used another spell after this.
Alon looked at Heinkel. She was making a low humming sound, seemingly lost in thought.
After a period of silence.
[…As I thought.]
Heinkel suddenly muttered.
[I’m asking just in case, but how much do you actually know about the magic you use?]
She threw the question at Alon.
“The magic I use?”
[Yes. I’m not asking about how to use it. Strictly speaking, I’m asking about its history.]
Alon thought carefully about Heinkel’s question. In truth, he knew both a lot and very little about the magic he used through Phrases.
What I know is—
The fact that the hand seals and Phrases were created during the era of Babiloia. Other than that, just that modern magic is a deteriorated version of the magic used with Phrases.
When Alon answered based on the information Yongrin had given him when he first visited the ruins in the Colony, Heinkel, who had been listening calmly, nodded in agreement.
[I see, so you knew as well.]
“Exactly which part are you referring to?”
[The deterioration of magic. I assume what you just showed me was Ice Spear?]
Alon was slightly surprised behind his expressionless mask. While the Ice Crystal Flower Spear was indeed the original form of the Ice Spear spell, the outward difference between them was vast.
“…That is correct.”
If Yongrin hadn't told him, Alon wouldn't have known either. When he nodded honestly, Heinkel nodded back as if she had expected it.
[Then, did you also know this?]
“…Know what?”
[The fact that information about the original magic you just showed me is secretly hidden within the ‘deteriorated’ versions we use.]
“…!”
She had just dropped a bombshell.
* * *
In a wasteland where nothing existed, right on the border between the Empire and the United Kingdoms.
Inside a hideout located within a cavern.
“We still haven't found the ‘Gem of the Blind One.’”
“I see.”
Nangwon was listening to a report.
“I am sorry.”
“…Are there difficulties in the search?”
“It’s not that, but the ‘Gem of the Blind One’ is something that hasn't appeared in any of the information we’ve gathered so far. We are looking into it through new channels.”
Nangwon nodded at the informant, who answered with his head bowed low.
“Understood. But find out as quickly as possible.”
“I will do my best. Also, I have an additional matter to report.”
“Speak.”
“Yes, it’s regarding the Divine Land you mentioned last time.”
The informant began his story calmly.
“As a result of investigating the Divine Land, it appears that Marquis Palatio intends to take a new stand in the heavens.”
“…A new stand in the heavens?”
“Yes. To the outside world, rumors are circulating that he was simply granted additional territory, but that is merely what the outsiders say. Among those selected as the Marquis’s knights, the story is already spreading.”
“I see—”
As Nangwon muttered his agreement, his sister, Nangyeon, who had been leaning back in her chair, sat up straight.
“So, what are you going to do?”
“If that is truly the Great One’s will, then naturally, I must do my absolute best to assist him.”
Answering her question without a moment’s hesitation, Nangwon looked back at the informant.
“You said there were rumors spreading regarding the Divine Land?”
“Yes, rumors have been spreading that one can use the power of Kalanon just by going to the Divine Land… but the situation is currently a bit ambiguous.”
“What exactly does that mean?”
“Recently, people who left the Divine Land have been going around saying it was all groundless nonsense.”
“Spread a counter-rumor.”
“If you mean a rumor—”
“I mean spread the word that it’s true—that you can use power if you go to the Divine Land.”
“Understood.”
“And. Spread rumors about the Great One as well.”
“…What kind of rumors?”
At the informant’s question, Nangwon tapped his chair for a moment.
“…They said he’s clearing out bandits to enter the Divine Land, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Spread the rumor that the Great One intended all of it from the start.”
“Understood.”
“And after the word has spread like that—”
Nangwon proceeded to give the informant detailed instructions on what to do next.
Eventually, after the informant left.
“You’re quite dedicated, aren't you?”
“Of course, Sister. It’s the Great One’s work; is there anything I wouldn't do? Besides, this is something that should have been done long ago.”
“In what sense?”
“The fools in this place know nothing of the Great One’s greatness.”
Therefore—
“I must make them all realize. The greatness of the Marquis.”
Nangwon whispered in a voice filled with infinite gravity.
At that moment.
“…Achoo!”
“Do you have a cold?”
Because Heinkel had suddenly left, saying she had work to do and that they would finish their talk tomorrow, Alon had exited the library and was eating a sweet potato as usual.
“No, I don’t think it’s a cold… but I just felt a strange chill…”
At the sudden cold sensation, he shivered involuntarily.