Chapter 196
Chapter 196
The king remembers.The brilliant past of this land.
It wasn’t fertile soil, perhaps, but there had once been fields and forests, and rivers that sometimes overflowed.
Above all, magic advanced here using mines rich with mana stones as a base.
But as if everything were an illusion, it struck the country and the whole land in an instant.Literally — like a calamity.
“Could it be that you… actually know of the Calamity of Death…?”“Not only I. Likely high-ranking members of the church and noble houses know as well. Well, I overheard it through awkward means.”
It was a strange thing.
Shrugging his shoulders, he exuded nothing but ease — no tension, no fear — which made it stranger still.
“You say such a carefree thing despite knowing what the Calamity of Death is.”“I know at least a little. As a Westerner of noble birth, I haven’t neglected my history studies. Or rather, this is closer to archaeology than history, perhaps?”
With a cheeky tone he continued.
“It’s an odd ability. To turn the whole of the West into a dried-up wasteland where life cannot dwell… it sounded like nonsense from some legend or myth, impossible to believe.”
Indeed.The Calamity of Death stole all life from this land.Its start was water.
That, too, explained why this place had become a sea of sand utterly out of place.
“…And yet you remain so unperturbed.”“Of course. I am Hans Byron. Though my title is modest, I am of noble blood. I have not forgotten the grace you once bestowed upon me, Your Majesty.”
In his hand was the wand that had once been his tool.
“That’s little more than a pick to unlock things.”“Oh, come now. How much that little thing has helped me.”
He fondled the wand like a trinket and smiled at me.
“Well, grace aside — if that Calamity is released into the world, won’t we all be in danger? So we must deal with it while we can.”“This isn’t a matter to toss off lightly. The power of the Calamity does not end there.”
The Calamity of Death did not stop at destroying water.
It warped life and spawned all manner of abominations, blurring the line between death and life.
A truly alien ability beyond explanation by magic. Even though it had been sealed, the Archmage who sealed it had paid a heavy price.
“Your resolve deserves applause, but I am gravely concerned.”“Why the worry?”“…If your words spring from a frivolous attitude, you will surely regret it. As I have.”
The curse of living on as the ruined and the dead was only the beginning. A worse curse might yet fall.
“Haha, Your Majesty. Do you mean the curse of being forgotten by all?”“…You know well.”
After paying a heavy price to seal the Calamity, the king had nothing left.The curse wiped his existence from history.
Great deeds — even his name — were not recorded or spoken of anywhere.
“So once again I warn you. If your heart is light, give it up now…”“Your Majesty, did I not already say — we intend to handle it while we’re at it.”
The joking air that had hung for so long vanished. Hans, face grown serious, cut in.
“My debt to Your Majesty is a secondary matter. Even if I owed you nothing, I, Hans Byron, would gladly assist in hunting down the Calamity of Death.”“To hunt it? That Calamity?”“Of course.”“Why? You could meet my fate. It’s no easy choice.”
By now I was curious. Beyond bravery, what drove the conviction in him? What made his stance feel like a mission?
“Well…”
He scratched his cheek and then finally spoke the answer I’d been waiting for.
“It threatens the world that I wish to share with my precious one. Anything that stands in the way must be removed.”“‘Precious one.’ A lover, then? For the earth-mage who came with you?”“…Ha. When we first met I’d never have expected you to be so humorous. You have a knack for jokes.”
He shook his head and then straightened his face.
“A precious one need not be a lover. My liege… Luciana Speda. For her I am ready to walk into a furnace.”“Oh? Loyalty, then.”“If you must name where this affection points, that would be it.”
It was astonishing. Before a Calamity, people abandon lovers, lieges—any relationship—yet he showed no hesitation. Only the duty to clear away obstacles remained.
“…I hear your resolve. I thought you timid, but I was mistaken. You are truly resolute.”“Call it resolve if you must. We are merely agents of its suppression — too grand a phrase for such a task.”
He shrugged and reclaimed his earlier jesting tone.
“Your Majesty, remember just one thing.”“What is that?”“I believe it is you who maintain the seal. Is that not correct?”
Correct. But the seal’s term was drawing near, which posed a problem.
“That’s right.”“Good. Then you can also freely undo the seal, yes?”“…That is true. But why ask?”
As if he’d been waiting, Hans grinned at that reply.
“If we can assemble the force to slay the Calamity, we will return to you. All you will need to do is lift the seal.”“…Huh.”
He had not expected that. I’d assumed the king would merely say to wait longer and endure.
Instead he asked them to open the seal of that monstrous thing.
‘Well. A madman who boasts he’ll slay the Calamity is bound to make a mad request to match.’
I snickered, half amused. Tossing a few trinket relics in a desperate bid had led to this odd alliance.
“…You call the Calamity a mere target to be slain. Hah — I knew you were bold to speak of death in my presence, but this exceeds even that.”
The sound of cracking phalanges echoed as the mummy clenched a fist.
‘With this one, perhaps… we could achieve something great.’
A spark of hope seemed to kindle in his chest.
“Hans Byron. Bring death to me and perform the rites of mourning.”“Yes, you called?”
If that was the task, there was only one thing to do: full support. Finances, relics, everything.
“My teachings you refused; at least accept my counsel. For a mage it will surely help.”
Even the knowledge of the Archmage himself.
“For the time being we’ll use that underground tomb as our base.”“Why?”“There’s nowhere in the Sahel Region safer than this place.”
They all nodded at my words.
“Indeed… if it weren’t for that skeleton insisting on serving us sewer-rat steaks, it would be quite a decent place to rest.”
So even here. I rubbed my forehead at the skeletons’ precious behavior—skeletons that ought to have once been an elite guard.
“Ah, Lady Roberc. Still, wasn’t it marvelous? When else will you have an experience like this?”“Lady Evergreen, please keep your dignity. And I don’t exactly oppose it. I agree that it’s safe for now.”
A dungeon filled with monsters being the safest place — it sounds absurd, but that was the reality.
A ducal manor? If the duke harbors ill intent, surveillance is expected. Other lands under his sway are the same.
Shantytowns? Pickpockets, thieves, swindlers preying on noble ladies.
Ironically, the dungeon was the only place they could rest securely.
“Besides, even monsters can give advice worth heeding. It helped me in ways different from my mother’s teachings!”
I half-feared sand would lodge in Freesia’s ears — she fluttered them with excitement.
“I envy you again. Lady Roberc and Lady Frontal actually received instruction in person.”“…It truly was helpful.”
A flame flickered at Elizabeth’s fingertips. To the eye it looked like ordinary magic, but I noticed a significant difference.
“You omitted the incantation.”“Oh, you noticed? Once you get the knack, the rest is easy. All thanks to that mummy.”
Because she skipped the incantation, the flame’s edge was a little unstable, but its battlefield utility was incomparable.
‘Smooth progress. If their growth continues, they’ll learn Resonance soon enough.’
A little more dungeon-grinding for EXP and it would be possible — not just for Elizabeth, but for everyone here.
“By the way, you look brighter today. Something good happen overnight?”“Hehe. A fiancée’s eyes can’t be fooled.”
Indeed. Since arriving in the West I’d felt livelier than before.
Was it that yesterday’s negotiations went well? That was part of it. But the bigger reason was the gift I’d received.
“…What is that?”“Hoho, this object? It’s the treasured possession of the boss who taught you all! Graciously bestowed by the king himself.”
It’s human nature to want to brag if you’d found good loot.
So did I.
“It looks plainer than I expected.”“It’s aged. The gilt is worn and it lacks luster, but its power is certain.”
[Nameless King’s Staff][The weapon of the Archmage who achieved the sealing of the Calamity.][A weapon that once held the mana of a great hero for ages, its performance surpasses ornaments of all manner. With a bit of repair its former glory may be restored.]
[Greatly increases the wearer’s mana.][Greatly adjusts the casting speed of magic.][…]
The status window that flashed up was so extensive it was hard to read at a glance. It was, plainly put, an overpowered relic.
‘Still, it’s out of my reach.’
As with most overpowered relics, a measure to prevent low-level abuse had been built in by the designers.
[…][Only usable by Archmage-class wielders who possess an Imaginal Barrier.]
Unique magic and unique skills, and realms beyond — even if one ignored the Imaginal Barrier limitation…
I’d already changed class to something else, and as one who used both mana and aura in the body, the Archmage role was effectively off the table.
‘Well, that doesn’t mean it’s entirely unusable.’
One person came to mind immediately — an Archmage without a staff, yet someone who sends me unending support.
“Enough showing off. So — dungeon again today?”“Good question. The dungeon is fine, but don’t we have a priority issue to handle first?”
We had arrived in the Sahel Region for a reason. I tucked the staff into the ankha* (anchor?) and instead spread the montage out; everyone’s eyes focused on it.
“Let’s finish the work ahead of schedule.”
Jack the Ripper.It was time to push the notorious fugitive back into his cell.