Chapter 324: Dog (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 324: Dog (1)
Immediately after arriving at the explorer camp, Alon was showered with another round of "thank yous."
It had been two weeks since he awkwardly left the camp and headed straight for the Magic Tower.
"We’re almost there—"
Penia spoke as she looked at the silhouette of the Magic Tower in the distance, and Alon replied.
"I didn't think I'd be coming to the Magic Society this often."
"I agree with that. But was it really okay not to stop by?"
"Where are you talking about?"
"The Luxible Grand Duchy. You said you had to go there at least once, but then you just came straight here."
Alon nodded, recalling the moment.
It was as she said.
Originally, when he first arrived at the camping grounds, he had considered stopping by the Luxible Grand Duchy. The Ronobelli Jungle was near the duchy, after all.
However, the reason Alon hadn't gone was because of a rumor he had overheard by chance upon arriving in Caslot.
‘Hey, did you hear?’
‘Hear what?’
‘Come on, man. I’m trying to start a conversation here.’
‘Ahem. So, what is it?’
‘Hmph—word is, the Luxible Grand Duchy is preparing something.’
‘Preparing? Preparing what?’
‘There are rumors they’re secretly readying soldiers. Of course, no one knows exactly what for, but apparently, things are incredibly busy on the inside.’
‘Soldiers? Does that mean there’s going to be a war?’
‘Hmm—I doubt it’s that, but anyway, that’s the word going around.’
Since it was something he had heard quite often during his two-day rest in Caslot, Alon decided not to visit the Luxible Grand Duchy. He felt it wasn't a good idea to drop by while the nation was so preoccupied.
‘Well, the rumor about preparing soldiers is probably fake.’
Of course, Alon didn't believe the rumors at face value. While there was no smoke without fire, he had recently learned the hard way how much rumors could be distorted.
"They looked busy."
Alon gave Penia a short answer, but his mind briefly drifted to another rumor he had heard in Luxible.
‘Three of the Strongest died in Ashtalon, they say.’
Alon had realized soon after that this rumor was also distorted. According to his inquiry with the information guild, the three strong individuals who had taken a commission from Ashtalon had simply lost contact, and the rumor had twisted into their deaths.
Still, he had placed an additional request with the information guild because the events in Ashtalon itself were suspicious.
‘Well, I’ll find out soon enough.’
Alon pushed those thoughts aside and naturally brought up another topic.
"I wonder if at least one more magic has been interpreted?"
Penia replied immediately.
"Hmm—they probably haven't finished the whole thing yet, right?"
"You think so?"
"Yes. While there isn't that much of a difference between the 1st Tier and the 2nd Tier... if the Tier Magic itself is a mass of information, it’ll be harder to interpret."
Penia added, "We’ve only just managed to find two Phrases for the 1st Tier, haven't we?" Alon nodded.
"That’s true."
"Still, this is an incredibly fast pace."
As Penia said, the speed of interpreting the Tier Magic information was much faster than expected. In just two weeks, they had succeeded in finding two Phrases.
"But the real struggle starts from here."
"You mean finding the sentences?"
"Yes. I think we can find the last remaining Phrase soon, but finding the Sentences is basically manual labor."
It was an undeniable truth. Finding the three Phrases had been exhausting enough to make their eyes bloodshot, but according to what he’d heard from Heinkel, the Sentences were even worse.
Not long after Alon had that thought...
"Marquis, please step down."
"Right."
After confirming that Basiliora had retreated into the ring as if he’d been waiting for the moment they arrived at the tower, Alon began walking inside with Penia.
But as soon as they entered to meet Heinkel, he was momentarily taken aback by the sight of so many mages.
At this time of year, there shouldn't have been this many mages around.
"Penia, is it already time for the Magic Society to convene?"
"Uh—no? The Magic Society should be a long way off...?"
Penia answered, looking just as bewildered. She stroked her chin as if wondering if she had missed something, but soon shook her head.
Just as Alon, Penia, and Evan were staring at the crowd of mages in confusion...
"Oh? It’s Marquis Palatio—"
Someone spoke up.
And then—
──────The surroundings fell silent in an instant.
"??"
When the place that had been buzzing with a crowd suddenly went quiet, Alon paused.
What was going on? Did something happen?
He looked around with that thought, but only for a moment.
"Marquis Palatio?"
"He’s here?"
"Where, where—"
"Ah, over there."
"Gasp—!"
As if they had been waiting for him, all eyes converged on Alon at once. Before Alon could even say a word—
"Marquis Palatio! Please, give us a lesson at the Red Magic Tower—!"
"Marquis Palatio! Let’s have a talk!"
"An exchange! Let’s hold an exchange meeting!!"
"Or at least a magic demonstration just once!"
"Is it true that what you used last time was really 'Light'!?"
Seeing the mages swarming toward him like madmen, Alon felt his spirit drain away.
* * *
"Whew—"
"Are you alright, Marquis?"
"I’m fine—thanks to you, I survived."
"Oh, it was nothing."
In the end, Alon was able to escape the swarming mages thanks to Penia. Although it had been a long time since Penia had stayed at the Marquis Palatio’s estate, she had always attended the Magic Society, and perhaps because of that, everyone quickly made way for her when she showed a hint of her temper.
‘...What kind of life is she living when I’m not looking?’
He briefly recalled the mages scrambling to clear a path the moment Penia showed even a flicker of anger.
"Mmm—but this is going to be troublesome. I think the Tower Masters will be arriving soon."
"The Tower Masters...?"
"It seems the impact of that Light magic was huge. Did you see them earlier? They were all gathered over there using Light magic together."
"...I saw."
Yes, he had seen it clearly. Even as they made way for Penia, the mages of the five towers were incessantly casting Light magic in the gaps between the paths, shouting things like "Look at my magic!!"
Alon had felt like a celebrity walking a red carpet.
...Not that he had ever wanted to feel that way...
With Penia’s voice in the background saying, ‘Any normal mage would be like that. I would have been too if I didn't know better,’ they soon arrived at the library.
[Oh, you’re here?]
They encountered Heinkel, who waved lightly as if this were a common occurrence.
[It’s been a month, hasn't it? Is your business all finished?]
"Yes, I’ve completed what I set out to do."
[How is the research?]
At Heinkel’s follow-up question, Alon gave a brief briefing on the current situation.
"Hmm—so you’ve interpreted two Phrases? And you found a Beastkin for the Light magic?"
"That is correct."
"So, how is the completed 'Light' magic?"
"...It’s quite something. In fact, it’s difficult for my mana to sustain it."
"To the point of exhaustion after one use?"
"Correct."
Heinkel nodded with a hum.
"Actually, I’d love to appreciate the Light magic—but first, let me tell you about the research progress."
"How is the 2nd Tier magic coming along?"
This time Alon asked, and Heinkel thought for a moment before answering.
"To be blunt, it’s a bit difficult. In the month you were gone, we barely managed to find one Phrase."
"If it’s only that much—"
"I know, it’s not that fast. Oh, right. If it weren't for the friend you gave me, it would have taken much longer."
"...Is the difference between the 1st Tier and the 2nd Tier that significant?"
He had already realized there would be a difference, but seeing Heinkel struggle for the first time made Alon quite surprised as well.
She nodded.
"Quite a bit. Extracting the necessary information from the magic is the same. It’s just that the method of finding the Phrases has become more complex."
"...For example?"
"Mmm—"
Heinkel pondered how to make an analogy, then remembered something and waved her hand.
A piece of paper was pulled toward her.
"...This is—"
"A blueprint. From the 'Old Era'—"
Heinkel spread a blueprint that looked incredibly complex even at a glance before Alon’s eyes.
"Simply put, the interpretation of the 1st Tier you’re solving is like this blueprint. But the 2nd Tier—"
She waved her hand again, bringing another blueprint and overlapping it.
"—is this."
"..."
"It’s exactly as it looks. For the 1st Tier, one blueprint is enough, but for the 2nd Tier, you can only find the Phrase by combining separate blueprints like this."
As soon as the two blueprints were joined front to back, a new structure appeared. Alon nodded in understanding at the sight of the dense and incredibly complex design.
[But don't worry. Even if it takes a bit longer, I don't think we’ll ever fail to interpret the blueprints.]
"Is that so?"
[Yeah—well, that’s what I think for now. Oh, and how long do you plan on staying?]
"At the tower?"
[Yes.]
Alon thought for a moment before answering.
"I’ll probably be here for about a week. I have some additional things to ask."
[Good. Then go in and rest for today, and could I ask for a magic demonstration tomorrow?]
"Understood."
With that promise made, they concluded their conversation.
* * *
Returning to the 1st Layer, Alon saw a familiar face for the first time in a long while.
"It has been a long time! Marquis Palatio...!"
"...Tower Master?"
It was Selaim Mikardo, the Blue Tower Master. Approaching with his characteristic good-natured smile, he gave a brief greeting to Penia as well.
"Have you been well!"
"Yes. I’ve been well, but what brings you here...?"
As he replied, Alon belatedly remembered Penia’s words from earlier about the Tower Masters coming.
Selaim shouted brightly and clearly toward him.
"Of course, I came because of the Marquis’s Light magic! I didn't expect to run into you like this, though."
"Ah."
"Could I perhaps ask for a demonstration?"
"A demonstration—"
"The Light magic. I truly wish to see it with my own eyes just once."
Selaim sent him a desperate look. Alon considered it for a moment, then remembered he had already decided to demonstrate the magic for Heinkel anyway.
Just as he was about to agree—
"Tsk—"
He heard a blatant clicking of a tongue and turned his gaze.
There, he found a woman standing.
A woman dressed in green, wearing a chillingly cold expression.
"Oh, Sharan Poranu. You came as well?"
Alon, who had been looking at her, finally realized her identity at Selaim’s words.
‘The Green Tower Master. Sharan Poranu.’
She was a character who had appeared as an ally to the player several times in Psychedelia. Among the Tower Masters, she was the Archmage who had come closest to the 9th Tier while alive.
As Alon recalled the information in his head, she didn't hide her blatant glare.
"Of course I came. Because of someone’s preposterous lies."
—That was what she said.
* * *
In the middle of a forest where everything was stained with blood.
In that place where the leaves were dyed a dark crimson, there was a man.
The man’s appearance was somewhat bizarre.
Soaked in sloth, his two eyes, which were staring blankly, each held two pupils.
Purple threads of unknown origin drifted and floated in the air around his body.
He, 'Sloth,' who sat on the fragments of a broken cocoon as if devoid of any desire, stared blankly up at the sky.
It was the middle of the night. There was the Milky Way.
A cluster of stars, large and small.
Stars that shone particularly bright.
The sky was glowing brilliantly, as if it wanted to light up the earth like the sun.
"Sigh—"
The man, who had been quietly watching the high firmament, slowly let out a deep sigh.
"I hate it—"
He muttered.
"I hate it—"
He muttered again.
"I haaaate it—"
The man muttered incessantly.
As if chanting a spell, he repeated the same words because he truly found this situation a hassle. Eventually, he hung his head low.
Then, he stood up, staggering weakly.
Crack—cr-cr-cr-crack!
Then, the broken cocoon he had been sitting on melted away with ruthless speed. At the same time, it was sucked into his body.
Squelch—squelch!
The surroundings began to be dyed black. As if expanding its territory, the pitch-black color slowly spread outward.
Watching that sight...
"But—"
The man who muttered with bored eyes—
The Sin of Sloth.
"Still, I suppose I have to do it."
He whispered as if sighing.
"Because this is my duty."