Chapter 256
Chapter 256
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 256
>Chapter Title: Even More Not That
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After Pola had calmed down.
I led him out of the academy.
“Um…… where are we headed?”
“For now, just follow me.”
The place we arrived at was the Second Black-White Slums.
If you’re wondering why the Black-White Slums all of a sudden in this time-sensitive situation, it was because of the conversation I’d had with Parun earlier.
- You’re here? Decided to go through with it after all, huh.
- Yeah. So, could you analyze this for me?
- This is……
What I’d asked Parun to analyze was the artifact showing whether the Kalia Mercenary Captain was alive or not.
I’d figured artifacts like this were inherently vulnerable to tracking, so maybe there was a way to exploit that.
Parun had apparently thought the same and done some digging of his own.
- I wasn’t sure at first since it was a real one, but it’s a Life Gem.
- A Life Gem……
- You don’t know it? It was pretty famous back in the old war days. Noble daughters gave them to their lovers as tokens praying for their safe return.
That rang a bell.
Life Gem.
Also known as Death Sign.
But why “Death Sign,” such a grim name meaning “mark of death”? There was a story behind it.
‘During the old wars, the tracking method got out and it was abused, right?’
In other words, a token of life meant to pray for a loved one’s return ended up giving the enemy a means to track them.
That’s why gifting jewels to those heading to war became taboo—the Life Gem incident.
A truly tragic tale, but good news for us.
Why?
Because it gave us a lead on tracking the stuffy Kalia Mercenary Captain.
But.
‘Tch, of course it wouldn’t be that easy.’
There was a problem.
- It’s not widely known now, but the empire was the one who figured out the tracking method and abused it back then. After the war, they destroyed all related records.
Even getting this much info was possible only because Parun was a professor at Jenion Academy, which was pro-empire.
Anyway, to sum it up.
‘Tracking is possible, but……’
The method had been destroyed.
Parun said he could probably find the records if he looked, but it would take a fair bit of time.
‘And analyzing the artifact now would take time too, right?’
So, what to do?
Run around on foot?
‘Not happening.’
The reason I came to the Second Black-White Slums was that someone here might know how to track a Life Gem.
And who was that?
A few days ago, I flung open the door to the director’s office of the newly completed orphanage.
“Rihaym senior, have you been doing well as of late?”
Was he reading?
At my visit, Rihaym senior set down his reading glasses and blinked before speaking.
“……Tower Lord?”
“Yes, it’s me.”
“What brings you here so suddenly? At this hour. And with…… a guest in tow.”
I got straight to the point.
“Do you happen to know about Life Gems?”
“Life Gems?”
“Yes, Death Signs. They were popular artifacts from the old wars, and I had a question.”
Here was my thinking.
If the empire really abused Life Gems, then Rihaym senior of all people might know the details.
The headmaster might too, but……
‘This is Rihaym senior’s domain.’
As Muspellun Grand Duke and a key figure in imperial magic back then, he must have seen or heard something.
Was my hunch right?
“……I know it. Of course I do.”
I was certain.
Rihaym senior knew how to track Life Gems.
His face had darkened like a criminal recalling a forgotten evil deed.
“But why ask about Life Gems?”
I didn’t pry into the story.
I just briefly explained Pola’s situation.
Once he’d heard the whole tale.
“……That’s why we need the tracking method for the Life Gem.”
Rihaym senior closed his eyes as if organizing his thoughts. It didn’t take long for him to speak.
“So it comes full circle after all?”
His voice carried a hint of regret.
Rihaym senior said.
“I know the tracking method…… How could I not? I led the research on Life Gems.”
“You mean……”
Rihaym senior nodded at Pola’s agitated voice.
“I’ll tell you. It’s to save someone, so of course I will. But it’ll take a little time to make the preparations.”
“How long?”
“Until dawn. That alright?”
I nodded.
Of course it was.
No need to even ask.
* * *
After entrusting the Life Gem to Rihaym senior, I headed to the orphanage’s reception room with Pola.
‘For now, the tracking issue is solved.’
All that was left was to wait for Rihaym senior’s preparations and then head out to track immediately.
But first, we needed to sort out the situation.
“So, where’s the Kalia Mercenary Corps rescue team at?”
The rescue team here meant the members who hadn’t joined the Ro.De War and stayed at base.
After confirming the captain was alive, they’d hastily packed and set out……
“They’ve arrived at Homoru Territory, I heard.”
“Homoru Territory?”
“Yes, all warp gates near the front lines were closed, so they went to the nearest one available……”
That was Homoru Territory.
“What’s the plan from here?”
“……For now, join up with Lortel’s main force, get search permission, then move out right away.”
Pola’s expression as he spoke wasn’t bright.
Why?
It sounded fine at first glance, but he knew the odds were slim.
‘Joining the main force from Homoru, then getting to the disappearance site would take no small amount of time.’
The rescue team probably didn’t move with any real confidence either. They just had to do something.
Thinking that far, I paused to collect my thoughts.
A light silence settled between us.
How much time passed like that?
I spoke up.
“Pola, you’re sitting out the tracking.”
“……Pardon? W-Why……”
Pola trailed off in confusion, but it was obvious to me.
“You came to the Second Black-White Slums as the client to know how things were going. But from here on, no.”
Why?
Because Pola was an unavoidable burden.
He’d hinder movement, and once we entered Decullan territory, who knew what could happen.
“I…… I can handle myself plenty……”
“You think you can handle yourself? You really believe that?”
“……”
Pola clamped his mouth shut.
He knew it too.
Clinging on would just make him dead weight.
Frustrated by that fact, he clenched his fists and trembled, and I silently took in the sight for a moment.
I could understand his feelings.
‘He must’ve been desperate to come to Parun.’
Clutching at straws.
Maybe an academy professor could help in a pinch. Holding onto faint hope despite knowing it was futile.
But feelings were feelings.
“You need to sit this out.”
“……”
At my words, Pola hung his head.
He looked furious at his own powerlessness, but I spoke calmly to him.
“You’ve done enough.”
This was sincere.
Why?
Because rescuing the Kalia Mercenary Captain was impossible from the start.
With all warp gates near the battlefield closed, who from Hazen city could reach the front lines to save him?
‘Decullan’s searches aren’t a joke either……’
Even if luck let you dodge them, supplies were the issue.
They wouldn’t have packed a ton for battle, and even pocket dimensions had limits.
‘If it was just the captain stranded alone, he might scrape by……’
But if not, it was dire.
With dwindling food, a group leader had few options.
They’d take their shot while strength remained.
So, rescuing the Kalia Mercenary Captain was impossible.
‘……If Pola hadn’t come to Parun.’
If the Magic Tower requested to join, Lortel’s young patriarch would gladly open a controlled warp gate.
And it cut search time drastically too.
So.
This was sincere.
“You’ve done enough, so stay here.”
The situation still wasn’t hopeful, but the near-zero odds had risen because Pola came to us.
Did he sense that?
“I…… understand.”
Tears fell onto the back of Pola’s hands.
“Please, I beg you.”
I nodded at that.
“Of course. At minimum, I’ll bring back the body.”
At least I’d honor his soul.
That was the best promise I could make.
* * *
Dawn broke.
Soon after, Rihaym senior came to the reception room.
“I’ve made the preparations. First, take the Life Gem. Feel anything?”
“Yes.”
Gripping the Life Gem, a faint mana signal registered.
“With proper equipment, you could amplify it and pinpoint the location, but this is the limit now. Still, it should be enough, right?”
“Yes, more than enough.”
The signal was so weak I had to push my senses to the max, but it was plenty as a compass to the Kalia Mercenary Captain’s position.
Afterward, Rihaym senior shared a few key facts about the Life Gem I needed to know.
Once everything was said.
“But, speaking of which……”
Rihaym senior glanced at Pola and asked.
“He’s going with you?”
He seemed concerned about Pola heading to the warzone too.
“No way.”
At my reply, Rihaym senior nodded in relief and spoke to Pola.
“Don’t worry too much. He’s a jerk personality-wise, but his skills are the real deal.”
“……Yes, thank you.”
He’d tossed it out to lighten the mood, like a joke, but Pola’s response was awkward.
Anyway, after the talk.
“Then I’ll be off.”
“Good luck.”
“Please.”
“Sure.”
I said goodbye to Rihaym senior and Pola, then left the orphanage. Or tried to—something caught my eye.
Pola’s palm, smeared with dried bloodstains.
He’d gripped so hard his callused hand was deeply gouged, blood flowing freely.
‘……Tch, bad omen.’
I turned away and walked on.
But I thought.
I said at minimum the body, but……
‘……I’ll bring him back alive, no matter what.’
Why?
Because that’s how I get Arapurugin’s land.
Not because Pola was annoying, or an old roommate. Not some fateful bond either.
That was it, plain and simple.
* * *
That evening.
A brilliant flash rippled from the warp gate in the territory where Lortel was stationed.
Young Patriarch Sion, in full armor, smiled and welcomed the figure stepping through.
“Tower Lord, been well?”
……The Ro.De War.
The moment the Magic Tower’s Tower Lord joined the fray.