Descent into the Depths
The Astra Trading Company was located in the bustling commercial district.
It occupied an entire towering building.
Creeeak.
I pushed open the door and stepped inside, immediately greeted by the sight of busy employees hurrying about.
“Welcome...!”
“What can we do for you...?”
Maybe it was because the maids had dolled me up before I left—Aria's residence, to be precise—but as I strode in confidently, the staff glanced up at me cautiously.
Then again, from what the maids had said, I must have looked like some noble knight to them.
No wonder the average employees seemed a bit intimidated.
Amid the crowd, I spotted a woman in her mid-thirties with red hair.
She stood right at the center counter, wearing the same wary expression as the others.
I approached her directly. “I'm here on behalf of Rowell.”
“Ah, yes, we were expecting someone today.”
Her face changed in an instant.
Not just hers—the others, who I'd taken for ordinary staff, shifted their expressions too and returned to their tasks.
...Were they all acting just now?
Damn, this Boyd family's secret intelligence agency is no joke.
Whatever.
“I'll guide you inside.”
I followed her lead deeper in.
There were only stairs leading up to the second floor, but when she manipulated a device, a staircase descending below revealed itself.
The facilities down there were surprisingly pristine. A reception room came into view as we descended.
“You're the substitute for Rowell?”
A middle-aged man in a luxurious suit lounged on the sofa.
“Yes, that's me.”
“Younger than I expected. I figured someone my age, since he's a Complete Aura user.”
He had white hair verging on gray and wore a monocle over one eye, giving him a cold, sharp impression.
“I'm Lorentz, branch manager of the Astra Trading Company's capital outpost. What's your name?”
“Lane.”
“Good to meet you.”
His expression was impassive as he eyed me, but there was no disdain—just the look of someone appraising a young stand-in for Rowell.
He appeared middle-aged, but a powerhouse running a capital branch had to be older than he looked.
“Follow me. I'll introduce you to the team first.”
We ventured deeper, where a group of armed men and women waited—about twenty, all looking highly capable.
“These are my direct subordinates. They'll join the reconnaissance.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
“Likewise.”
They stood in a neat line, weapons at the ready. Less like intelligence operatives, more like elite special forces.
...Teaming up with them meant this op leaned more toward combat than mere scouting.
“No gear of your own?”
“No, nothing special.”
“...An Aura user without custom equipment?”
“Problem?”
Lorentz gave me a look like I'd grown a second head at the mention of no gear.
“Fine, we'll outfit you. Heinz, gear him up.”
“Yes, sir.”
He said it generously enough.
“Here’s your equipment.”
“Thanks.”
The man called Heinz handed over the kit, and I suited up: chainmail under a leather vest, tough leather gloves and boots, and a high-quality longsword at my hip. It made for a solid loadout.
Full armor like this was rare—Colosseum special events aside. Back then, it was minimal protection; at the mansion, no need at all.
“Fit all right?”
“Yeah, looks sturdy.”
Not so bulky it hindered movement, but the protection seemed reliable.
For someone like me, who tended to tank hits, this would help—a lot. Maybe halve the damage from ten sword strikes.
“Briefing time, then.”
“Got it.”
Geared up, I listened to the rundown.
Twenty well-trained operatives plus an Aura user, probing a kingdom underground facility.
Apparently, two years back, remnants of the Lugar Kingdom—the ones who attacked the Boyd estate—had been spotted here alongside demon worshippers.
No wonder the combat-heavy lineup. They were expecting a fight.
“Let's move out.”
With the basics covered, we headed straight for the underground sewers.
“This area's off-limits...”
“We're here on kingdom authority for an investigation.”
“Uh... Understood!”
Guards at the outskirts entrance yielded immediately to Lorentz's claim.
“Inside.”
The sewers matched expectations: dank and dark. I raised my lantern.
“Seriously, we have official permission?”
I'd figured a secret outfit would sneak in. This was brazen.
“Of course. The Boyd family personally requesting access? The royals have no reason to refuse.”
“Ah...”
Secret agencies weren't all shadows and skulking, apparently.
Made sense for the Boyds' stature—they could demand rights outright.
“Let's run a quick scan.”
Deeper in, Lorentz raised his black-gloved arm.
Then.
Whirr—
A blue magic circle bloomed in the dim depths.
And.
Shhh—
Blue lines snaked from it, racing along the sewer walls.
“This is...”
“Basic detection spell.”
“Impressive.”
All the magic I'd seen was fireballs exploding everywhere. Practical stuff like this? First time.
Lorentz lowered his hand after a moment. “Nothing detected. Press on.”
“Yes, sir.”
From the briefing, he was a formidable mage on top of being a Complete Aura user. With twenty elites, this felt less like a sewer sweep and more like a high-tier monster raid.
They must view the remnants as a serious threat.
I stayed alert, trailing Lorentz into the depths.
* * *
We cleared underground levels one and two.
Then halted before a massive door.
“This is...”
“Entrance to level three. Strictly off-limits normally.”
Hard to call it a door at first glance.
Lorentz touched the wall; his subordinates cleared debris, revealing it.
“Lock mechanism here.”
“Smash it open.”
“That okay?”
“We have permission. They'll reseal it when we leave.”
Efficient with prior approval.
Level three beyond was a world apart.
Lantern light revealed mossy, dilapidated ancient facilities—but leagues beyond the sewers above in sophistication.
“This place...”
“Ancient empire aqueduct system.”
Word was the Adel Kingdom repurposed the old empire's underground waterways.
Sealing the main system and using only up to level two handled the capital's sewage? Insane—until you pictured Rome from my past life.
A continent-dominating superpower, plus magic? Peak tech made sense.
“Caution from here. Remnants likely hiding nearby.”
“Understood.”
Lorentz scanned with magic again, then we probed level three proper.
Deeper in, the layout emerged: high ceilings, pillars, even buildings.
Less aqueduct, more... settlement?
Dormitory-like structures too.
...What godlike engineering was this ancient empire's?
Abandoned for eons, decayed—yet the surface world had regressed. Classic medieval fantasy.
Mid-exploration, a huge door loomed ahead, flanked by ancient iron rails.
“Here...”
“To level four. Connects to a sealed mine now.”
“A mine under sewers? Risky, no?”
Digging this deep was mad enough. Another layer below?
“Dangerous, yes—but resources were too rich. They threw everything at it back then.”
“...Incredible.”
The omnipotent ancient empire pulled it off.
“No wonder scholars obsess over rediscovering it.”
“I'd kill to see it.”
“The current empire's made good progress restoring it. Worth a visit someday...”
Then.
BOOM—!!!
The door exploded violently.
“...! Everyone, evade!”
Lorentz reacted sharply, magic circle flaring.
I fixed on the blast site, sword half-drawn. Black shadows emerged.
Finally, the lurkers showed.
The ancient tech was fascinating, but my body itched for action anyway.
Despite the ambush, I drew my blade with a spark of grim anticipation.