Chapter 165
Chapter 165
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: 55. The Mad Magitech Scholar (3)
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Baron Legacy and the fifty magitech scholars of Unit 142 had awakened from their long slumber that began in ancient times.
The glass tubes in which they had been hibernating were the most advanced and well-maintained among all the Empire Reconstruction Plan facilities Raymond had ever seen.
He couldn't know for sure why, but Raymond guessed that the mad Baron Legacy, who possessed exceptional magitech skills at the time, had personally overseen and inspected the hibernation facility where they would sleep.
Having hibernated in such an outstanding facility, Baron Legacy and the members of Unit 142 regained their senses far more quickly upon awakening than the other hibernation subjects of the Empire Reconstruction Plan.
Of course, right after waking, they showed signs of disorientation, but by early the next morning, Baron Legacy appeared perfectly fine as he visited the Emperor's office in the Viceroy's Castle.
"Unit 142's commanding officer, Baron Legacy, reporting as summoned by His Majesty the Emperor."
Baron Legacy announced his identity and purpose to the Royal Guards stationed at the entrance to the Emperor's office.
Having been forewarned of his visit, the Royal Guards conducted a minimal inspection before granting him passage.
One Royal Guard gave a short knock on the office door and announced Baron Legacy's arrival inside.
Soon, the door opened, and Baron Legacy stepped inside with a somewhat tense expression.
"I see His Majesty the Emperor."
Entering the office, Baron Legacy saluted with crisp precision.
Dressed neatly in a red uniform with gold-trimmed glasses, he looked less like a mad magitech scholar and more like a tidy soldier or scholar.
"You've arrived at just the right time."
It happened to be the moment when a simple meal had just ended.
With the conquest of three kingdoms including the Jeyst Magitech Kingdom, the establishment of a viceroy's office, and the outbreak of war with the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom, the volume of duties burdening Raymond had grown immensely. Lately, he often took light meals in the office amid his busy schedule.
Raymond set down his fork and knife, wiped his lips with a napkin, and looked up at Baron Legacy.
"Baron Legacy. How is your condition?"
"No issues, Your Majesty. I could throw myself into the front lines of magitech research to restore the glory of the Philius Empire right this instant."
Baron Legacy exuded strong confidence. Indeed, despite the long hibernation, his complexion was healthy, and his eyes were clear.
This was a far cry from the disheveled, manic appearance he'd shown upon first awakening. Now, he seemed far removed from the typical image of a madman, presenting instead as a calm, diligent scholar.
But Raymond, who knew the [Empire of the Dead] worldview settings, was aware of the madness lurking behind Baron Legacy's ordinary facade.
"If you're ready to jump into research right away, you must have recovered well."
"Yes, Your Majesty. Just give the order, and I'll rebuild the fallen Magitech Engineering Division."
"That's fine, of course, but first, Baron Legacy, there's something you need to do."
"What is it, Your Majesty?"
"You know the location where the Royal Heart slumbers and how to open its entrance, correct?"
Royal Heart.
In ancient times, it was a massive airship directly under the Philius Empire's Emperor, though in practice operated by the Imperial Army.
Raymond knew of the Royal Heart's existence, but not its location or the incantation to unseal its entrance.
According to the [Empire of the Dead] worldview settings, only the mad magitech scholar, Baron Legacy, knew that location and unsealing incantation.
At Raymond's question, the mask Baron Legacy had been maintaining shattered. He opened his mouth with a smile brimming with madness.
"Of course, Your Majesty."
"The Royal Heart... where is it?"
"Close by."
As he answered with a sly grin, Raymond instinctively knew his guess about the location was correct.
"Beneath the Viceroy's Castle...?"
That something was sleeping underground beneath the royal palace was one of the classic clichés in fantasy novels.
"Yes, Your Majesty. The Royal Heart slumbers right below us."
It seemed [Empire of the Dead] couldn't escape that fantasy cliché either. Raymond shook his head briefly at Baron Legacy's answer.
"Lead the way."
"Will you awaken the Royal Heart now?"
Raymond nodded slowly at Baron Legacy's question before speaking.
"The Northern Central Army has crossed the border, but the Lisbon Maritime Kingdom's forces are resisting fiercely, inflicting no small casualties on our side. We need to awaken the Royal Heart as quickly as possible."
"You plan to strike the capital's central city at once with the Royal Heart and the airship fleet."
"Exactly, Baron Legacy. The airship fleet alone wouldn't suffice, but with the Royal Heart joining, it'll be different. The Royal Heart should still have its magitech cannons intact."
Magitech cannons.
The ultimate weapon from the ancient era when magitech civilization shone brightest.
In simple terms, they were cannons engraved with magic incantations that could fire powerful spells, but they required advanced magitech expertise to produce and maintain. No one, not even the Jeyst Magitech Kingdom, had been able to recreate them since ancient times.
"I'll guide you right away."
"I'll have Marquis Blizzard prepare the Royal Guard."
"Understood. While the Royal Guard assembles, may I prepare the magitech equipment to facilitate the unsealing?"
As Raymond nodded in response instead of answering, Baron Legacy slipped out a sly, mad grin unique to him and left the office.
"Count Alphonse."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Summon Marquis Blizzard. Tell him we're not going somewhere dangerous, so just twenty Royal Guards will suffice."
"Understood."
Soon, Marquis Blizzard and the Royal Guards assembled upon summons. Right after, Baron Legacy arrived, preparations complete.
"Did you bring all the equipment?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Fortunately, the magitech gear was well-preserved during hibernation, so everything is usable. This will greatly shorten the time to unseal the incantation."
Welcoming news. A smile spread across Raymond's lips.
"Let's depart immediately."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Baron Legacy took the lead at his response, with Raymond and his entourage following.
The path downward was nearby, hidden by complex secret passages and concealment spells. But Baron Legacy knew the way well and was adept at dispelling the spells, finding it with ease.
Oddly, the 'path' downward wasn't stairs but a massive chamber. Baron Legacy explained it was a magitech device: injecting incantation into the chamber would lower the entire space underground.
As he said, upon injecting the incantation, the chamber slowly descended.
How far down did they go? Soon, a small jolt signaled arrival, and the iron doors at the chamber's end slid open left and right.
"Your Majesty... we've arrived where the Royal Heart rests."
Baron Legacy spoke in a voice tinged with excitement. It was only natural—he was moments away from awakening the massive airship that had dominated the ancient Philius Empire.
"Lead on, Baron Legacy."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
At Raymond's words, Baron Legacy hurried forward again. Soon, a vast space enclosed by gleaming golden walls came into view.
At the center stood a colossal rectangular 'box' fit for a giant.
It felt as if the 'Royal Heart' slumbered inside.
"As you just guessed, the 'Royal Heart' sleeps within that 'box.'"
Baron Legacy explained. It was as expected, so Raymond grinned and nodded.
"Begin the unsealing at once."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
At Raymond's command, Baron Legacy swiftly set up the magitech equipment and began the unsealing process.
Several scrolls inscribed with magic circles were unrolled. As Baron Legacy infused them with mana, he simultaneously drew unsealing magic circles in the air.
Refined mana from the circles seeped into the sealing incantations engraved on the 'box.'
"How long will it take?"
"Hard to say for certain, but at least three hours."
Baron Legacy estimated three hours, but unsealing the 'box' took exactly two.
Once all work was done and he infused mana once more, the 'box' opened, exhaling frigid air.
The Royal Guards stepped forward, their shields protecting the Emperor from the cold. As the chill dissipated, the interior was revealed.
"This is... the 'Royal Heart'...?"
One Royal Guard muttered in awe. It was awe-inspiring.
The 'Royal Heart' slumbering inside was majestic and grand.
Its massive hull gleamed golden—just as described in the [Empire of the Dead] settings, crafted from special gold produced via magitech.
"So this is the Royal Heart..."
Even Raymond felt a surge of emotion beholding in person what he'd only seen in the setting materials.
He approached Baron Legacy and spoke calmly.
"Can we board right now?"
"A thorough inspection is needed, but boarding and takeoff should be possible."
"Good. We'll depart aboard the Royal Heart."
Raymond spoke with a hint of excitement. As Baron Legacy manipulated the incantations, legs extended from the Royal Heart.
Raymond, Baron Legacy, and the entourage including the Royal Guards boarded.
"I'll guide you to the bridge."
Baron Legacy said calmly. Having participated in the Royal Heart's design as a magitech scholar, he knew the interior well.
True to an airship for the Emperor's personal command, the bridge was opulent. Once everyone boarded, the ceiling above parted.
Through the opened ceiling, the dark night sky appeared. Then, the 'Royal Heart' lifted off.
The night was deep, the sky ruled by darkness, but that only made the golden Royal Heart shine more brilliantly.
That night, deliberately floating the Royal Heart over the Jeyst Magitech Kingdom's capital central city was purely for show.
To proclaim to the entire Western Continent that the Philius Empire was reclaiming its past glory. And it proved more effective than expected.
Even nobles in the Jeyst Magitech Kingdom who had opposed becoming a Philius vassal state quieted down, and armed skirmishes in occupied territories—despite the Church of the Emperor's efforts—noticeably subsided.
"Baron Legacy. How far along is the Royal Heart's repair work?"
Raymond summoned the mad magitech scholar, Baron Legacy, and asked.
The 'Royal Heart' had also gone unmaintained for ages, requiring some repairs.
"Thanks to the dwarf engineering corps' support, repairs are progressing swiftly. All work should finish within a week."
Baron Legacy reported. Raymond nodded slowly before speaking.
"What about the magitech cannons? Can they be used?"
It was a crucial matter. One of the main reasons for awakening the Royal Heart was the ancient ultimate weapon it housed: the magitech cannons.
Without usable magitech cannons, the Royal Heart was merely a larger, higher-performance airship.
"All are operational. You can trust my personal confirmation."
Though his personality had issues, Baron Legacy's skills were impeccable per the settings. With his assurance, there was no need to worry.
"Can we mass-produce magitech cannons with our current technology?"
"Mass production is hard to promise. Compared to my era, modern magitech civilization has fallen far. Persistent research might yield results, but even that's uncertain."
"So it's not impossible?"
"Of course. But it won't be easy."
Baron Legacy replied gravely. Recreating ancient weaponry was no simple task.
Hadn't even the most advanced magitech civilization, the Jeyst Magitech Kingdom, failed?
"Baron Legacy. I grant you and Unit 142 full authority over the magitech cannon recreation plan. From now on, you have access to all material and human resources of the Jeyst Magitech Kingdom."
This should accelerate the recreation. The kingdom was rich in magic resources.
"I'll do my utmost, Your Majesty."
Baron Legacy bowed his head slowly in response.