Chapter 770: A Cascade of Blessings (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 770: A Cascade of Blessings (4)
Knights and other warriors fundamentally differed from mages in the paths they pursued.
While the pinnacle for a warrior was the pursuit of greater power, most mages were more devoted to exploring the mysteries of the world than to power itself. This was why so many mages were requesting to defect, drawn by the legendary name of the magic family, “Hister.”
To mages who understood the significance of “Record Magic,” the very existence of the Hister family was the key to unlocking the world’s ultimate mysteries. This fact remained unchanged, even though the Histers’ period of activity was not particularly long compared to other prestigious families, and most of their history had been lost to time.
Suddenly, Jin thought of the promotional billboards of Valeria that the Golden Top Merchant Guild had installed all over the world. A chuckle escaped him as he recalled the image of her—so unlike the real Valeria—sporting a bright smile and even a wink.
“Why are you laughing like that?”
“I just remembered your advertisement. Looking at this list, it seems there are easily over a hundred people here.”
“And those are only the engineers I’ve shortlisted from the magic scholars—specifically, those who are professors or doctors. We’ve received over two thousand applications.”
“Two thousand? That’s far more than I expected.”
“And they’re still pouring in.”
If Valeria had belonged to Zipple, and if the world weren't in such turmoil, the number of applications would likely have been several times higher.
“It’s not just because of me; it’s also thanks to Lady Ruet’s existence being revealed. She is also using the Hister name now, after all.”
Jin had not bothered to hide Ruet’s existence after bringing her to Tikan. Instead, he had announced that Runcandel was protecting a newly discovered survivor of the Hister family. There was no reason to worry about Zipple’s reaction, and strictly speaking, the statement wasn’t false.
Rather than perceiving it as Valeria having lied about being the last survivor, the public reacted positively to the appearance of another Record Mage.
Of course, Zipple and Kinzelo knew or suspected Ruet’s true identity. However, Zipple could not afford to provoke Jin recklessly, and Kinzelo actually welcomed the news. Orgal, in particular, expected that once Ruet’s memories returned, it would be easier to find clues regarding Lokia.
“Among those on this list, is there anyone worth a closer look?”
“There is one person. A man named Saial Rootber.”
“A name I’ve never heard before.”
“He’s a low-ranking noble from the Pailin Kingdom. A junior engineer at Pailin 3rd University, thirty-three years old.”
Pailin 3rd University was not a particularly prestigious school among magic engineering students.
“For a junior engineer to make a list of top-tier candidates, he must have some special ability.”
“I’m about to find out. I recall reading about the Rootber family in one of the Hister heritage sites I’ve opened.”
According to what Valeria had seen in the heritage site, the Rootber family had once formed a brief alliance with the Histers. However, only a record of the alliance being broken remained; the specific details were unconfirmed. With a member of the Rootber family now submitting an application, Valeria couldn't help but be curious.
Jin nodded as Valeria explained.
“A family that was once allied with the Hister family of that era… If that’s true, the fact that the Rootbers have no influence now might be Zipple’s doing.”
“I think so too. My ancestors didn't leave any records that felt particularly hostile toward the Rootbers. That’s why I occasionally looked for members of the Rootber family even before I joined you. And now I’ve found one. Since you’re here, let’s go meet him together.”
The two of them boarded the Red Owl and headed for the outskirts of the city where Pailin 3rd University was located. After applying simple disguises using Golden Top Tribe cosmetics they had on board, they visited the university and were able to meet Saial without delay.
“Who might you two be…? You were looking for me?”
“I am Jin Runcandel. This is Valeria Hister.”
“Pardon?”
As they removed their wigs and wiped away their makeup, Saial’s jaw dropped as if he were about to faint.
“Y-You! It’s really you!”
Without being asked, Saial immediately locked the door to the lounge and bowed deeply, his posture one of utmost humility.
“I am Saial Rootber, the one who submitted an application to the Alliance! For the two of you to visit me in person… D-did you perhaps come because you recognized my family’s past?”
“Why don’t you tell us first?” Valeria asked. “How did the Rootber and Hister families become allies, and why did that alliance end?”
Saial glanced nervously between Jin and Valeria.
“Speak freely,” Jin said. “I will not harm you, regardless of what you say.”
Valeria nodded as well. Even if the Rootber family had betrayed the Histers, it likely hadn't significantly affected the grand scheme of things. If it had, Zipple wouldn’t have left the Rootbers alone.
“I understand, Sir Jin. However, you mentioned that our families were allies in the past… but what I know is a bit different.”
“How so?”
“My late grandfather and my parents always told me the same thing. They said our Rootber family survived thanks to the Hister family, and that we must repay that debt one day.”
“Survived… thanks to my family?” Valeria asked.
Saial nodded. “Yes. We Rootbers are an ordinary family. However, one of our ancestors who lived in the 1400s supposedly had a special talent for magic engineering. His name was Zen Rootber.”
Zen Rootber was also a figure unknown to the general public. However, Valeria remembered the name Zen from the heritage site. He was the one who had formed the alliance with the Histers.
“It seems Zen received a request from the Hister family at the time. It was a request to manufacture a certain object, and I heard they worked on its development jointly with the Histers for a while.”
“Do you know what that object was?”
“Well… since it’s a story passed down like a legend in my family, I only heard that it was something that allowed for conversation over ultra-long distances.”
The moment they heard those words, realization dawned on both Jin and Valeria.
An ultra-long-distance communication device.
That was an item closely related to the “Wavelength Tracking Summoning” that Valeria and Quaul were currently developing. In fact, it applied to any device that included the phrase “Wavelength Tracking.”
Currently, Quaul and Valeria were developing every possible item related to bringing the Pluto Tribe of Laprarosa into the human world. One of their creations was the Red Sphere, which enabled a limited Fighting God Union. Another project they were developing was precisely this: an ultra-long-distance communication device. If direct summoning proved too difficult, they intended to first create a means to hold real-time conversations with Laprarosa.
“To be honest, I always thought it was just an exaggerated family legend,” Saial continued. “But seeing how the world has been changing lately, I started to think it might have been real. Rapid technological progress has been made since chaos descended upon the world. Above all, seeing Record Magic with my own eyes has made me even more certain.”
“An ultra-long-distance communication device…” Jin murmured. “You’re saying the Hister family requested that from your ancestor.”
“Yes.”
“Is there no other story passed down about it? Whether it was completed, or if any technical documents survived?”
“My grandfather and parents believed it was completed but hidden somewhere.”
“Then do you have any object that could serve as evidence?” Valeria asked this time.
Saial gave an embarrassed smile. “I do have… this. It’s a paper said to have been left by Zen, and it’s a family heirloom.”
Saial spoke as he unfastened a pendant he wore around his neck. Inside was a single sheet of paper, folded many times over. It was so old and worn that it almost looked like a piece of trash.
As Saial carefully unfolded the paper, sentences composed of codes were revealed.
And Jin had seen those exact same codes once before. They were from the magic tome of Shuziel Hister, which he had obtained from the Tessing Underground Auction House. The code system on Saial’s paper was a perfect match for the one written in that tome.
Valeria’s eyes widened as she saw the encrypted text.
“May I examine this?”
“Please, feel free.”
The encrypted text, as translated by Valeria, contained the following:
May 12, 1457. With the help of the great magic engineer Zen Rootber, we have finally succeeded in developing the communication device.
>
However, we cannot withstand the enemies who seek this device and its blueprints. Therefore, we have decided to hide the device in Maliet Hister’s heritage site. This is the only way to prevent the extermination of the Rootber family.
>
It pains me that we could never properly use the device we finally completed, and that Zen’s achievements will be forgotten for a long time.
>
Thankfully, Zen Rootber agreed with my decision, even though it meant he had to part from his family because of us. Ah! Zen, I thank you once again for your great judgment and sacrifice.
>
All of Zen Rootber’s knowledge and achievements, his soul and my body, our spirits…
>
They will remain in Maliet’s heritage site. As long as the enemies do not find them, they will remain there forever.
>
Therefore, my descendant who reads this letter, find Maliet’s heritage site.
>
The location of Maliet’s heritage site is recorded on the back of this letter.
>
It is a heritage site notorious even among Record Mages, so be sure to challenge it only after you have attained sufficient strength.
According to the paper, the communication device Zen Rootber created with the Hister family had already been completed in the 1400s. Furthermore, Zen of the Rootber family had never betrayed the Histers; on the contrary, the Histers owed him a great debt.
Valeria calmed her racing heart and examined the paper several times. Then, she shared the contents with Jin and Saial.
“…The family legend was actually true,” Saial breathed.
“On the contrary,” Valeria said, her voice filled with emotion. “If the contents of this paper are true, then I, as the direct descendant of Hister, am the one who must offer thanks and repayment.”
“Oh, please don't think of it that way! It was my ancestor’s doing, not mine. I simply wish to work as part of the Barmul Alliance. Even if this paper hadn't existed, I would have applied to the Alliance as a magic engineer.”
Jin and Valeria nodded and smiled.
Not only had the contractor of the God of Architecture suddenly appeared and top-tier magic engineers come seeking them, but now they even had the legacy of Hister and Zen. It was one piece of good fortune after another.
“We will provide a fitting reward as soon as we confirm things at Maliet’s heritage site, Saial,” Valeria said. “For now, let’s head to Tikan.”
At her words, Saial jumped for joy, unable to hide his delight.