Chapter 62
Chapter 62
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 62
Chapter Title: The Stars Move by Divine Providence
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The movement of the stars is within God's providence...
The movement of the stars is within God's providence...
The movement of the stars is within God's providence.
The priest sat on a cold rock at the mountain's peak, muttering it over and over.
He gazed up at the night sky alongside his followers.
They all tried to act calm, but a faint tension hung in the air.
According to the astronomical records compiled by the "Lamp Leader," a meteor shower was due to fall at random moments over the next three days.
'No way it'll actually happen...'
Isaac Uphills had predicted the exact time: 10:20 p.m.
How could a mere human predict God's capricious movements down to the minute?
This was blasphemy, the arrogance of fools.
But.
Thump. Thump-thump.
As the hour drew near, the priest's heart began to race anxiously.
He had heard of Isaac Uphills's accomplishments.
God is distant, magic is near.
Doubt grew in the priest's heart.
"..."
He stared intently at the area near the Lyra constellation.
Time passed, and the fateful moment arrived.
10:20 p.m.
Thankfully, nothing happened in the sky.
"As expected... it was a lie."
The priest let out a sigh of relief and started to rise—just then.
Flicker.
"Wha...? What!"
A soft exclamation escaped someone, and a single streak of light slashed across the night sky.
With that, rain began to fall from the heavens.
"..."
The priest gaped blankly at the sky.
It was beautiful.
Unjustly so.
This was his second time seeing a meteor shower with the naked eye.
The first had been over a dozen years ago, during his baptism ceremony.
He still proudly remembered the moment he witnessed the Perseid meteor shower after staying up nights.
He had earned it through reverent effort to behold God's miracle.
But this meteor shower held neither human effort nor divine miracle.
The mage's arrogance shone through in tonight's celestial display.
"Ah... Ahh..."
Followers slumped powerlessly here and there.
"It's an illusion! Sorcery! This can't be!"
Someone screamed in a daze.
"Quiet down...!"
The priest shouted urgently, but it was too late.
Whoosh-!
A dagger flew from the darkness.
Thud!
It embedded precisely in the arm of a follower holding a crossbow.
"Arrrgh!"
With the sentry's scream, black shadows burst from behind trees and rocks.
They swiftly began subduing the followers.
"Capital guards...? Everyone, run!"
The priest instinctively bolted in the opposite direction from the guards.
But enemies were already there.
"Where are you running off to in such a hurry?"
A smug voice came from the bushes ahead.
The mercenary Hans blocked his path, sword in hand.
Swish-!
Thwack!
The mercenary struck the priest with the flat of his blade.
Roll. Thud.
The priest tumbled helplessly across the rocky ground.
Moments later, a cold blade pressed against his throat.
Meteors reflected off the sharp edge.
The priest murmured.
"God... have You abandoned me...?"
He stared vacantly at the sky.
The stars still rained down.
"Make it stop..."
"Hm?"
"Make the meteor shower stop, O God!"
"No use. Master's calculations say it'll last a few more hours."
"Lies, you devil!"
Drip.
The agitated priest's throat nicked against the blade, blood trickling.
Yet he didn't stop.
"The movement of the heavens is all God's will!"
Hans smirked at the priest's words.
"Then our master must be a god."
"Okay. Meteor shower clear."
One of the three predictions had successfully come true.
The next day, I grinned as I peered out the research lab window at the meteor shower.
The remaining two were perfect on paper too.
Satisfying.
Soon after, Laura entered and began her report on the "Lamp Leader" incident.
"Interrogation confirms they were preparing a second attack."
"A second attack?"
"Yes. They'd taken villagers in a mountain valley hostage and forced them to make bombs. All freed now."
"Hmm..."
A weight settled in my chest.
In the end, those villagers had suffered because of me.
"Can the foundation cover property damage and repairs?"
"Yes. Understood."
At my order, Laura's lips twitched faintly upward, then down.
"Did you just smile?"
"You must be mistaken."
"..."
"Ahem."
Laura cleared her throat and continued the report.
"Their base is likely beyond the northern beast frontlines."
"Dangerous spot."
"No better place to evade imperial pursuit."
I nodded.
'Too far for me to go personally.'
The solution was simple.
Ask Archmage Valerius.
Exterminating imperial enemies was one of his main duties; he'd handle it fine.
But at the countermeasures meeting the next day, I heard something unexpected.
Valerius said,
"I'd like Dolloren's disciple to join this pursuit team."
All eyes turned to him at Archmage Valerius's words.
I was stunned too.
'Why drag me along?'
Did he need a graduate student slave to assist him like a knight's squire?
Valerius wasn't that crude.
He continued explaining.
"Everyone saw it. Isaac's performance at the master's thesis defense. He can't create an isolation barrier himself, but he can 'erode' someone else's. Which means..."
The dean sitting before me picked up.
"When your mana runs low, Isaac can take over maintaining your barrier. Right?"
"Exactly. It'd be like deploying two archmages."
It made sense now.
I'd almost suspected Valerius.
His plan would dramatically boost operational efficiency.
But then the princess spoke up.
"That won't do."
Clear opposition.
She continued,
"I plan to make Uphills the empire's face. I can't send such a precious talent to the perilous north."
She gestured to her guards.
"Request the imperial elite knights instead. I'll provide maximum support."
"Your Highness, this operation requires utmost secrecy. If the palace moves openly, they'll scatter like rats."
"..."
"I've hunted heretics enough to know."
The veteran persuaded, and the princess pondered.
Then Dolloren, who'd been listening quietly, shot up her hand.
"Shouldn't we hear from the person involved?"
"...You're right. Forgot the important part."
All eyes turned to me.
Overwhelming pressure.
'What do I even say?'
Normally, no hesitation.
I'd hide behind the princess's guards.
Research comfortably in the capital.
But was that truly best?
Anna's face flashed in my mind.
-'I'm just... angry. Because of that guy... my uncles almost died.'
This terror wasn't aimed only at me.
Uphills Workshop, foundation sites too.
Everything around me could be targeted.
I could protect the workshop and foundation somehow, but not everyone I'd met at the tower.
Valerius addressed me.
"Join the pursuit team. Dolloren's disciple."
Decision made.
No negotiating with terrorists.
"Fuck it, let's do this."
Snicker. Valerius chuckled.
The princess seemed surprised briefly but yielded.
"If that's your will... I'll support you."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
"But I won't forgive you dying. If it gets dangerous, run."
I glanced at Archmage Valerius.
He nodded silently.
I replied to the princess.
"Yes, Your Highness. I'll keep that in mind."
"And with you away, we'll need a stand-in."
She pulled a small magic tool from her bosom and handed it to me.
"Oh."
An imperial disguise magic tool.
The anti-aliasing one.
"Use this to disguise someone."
"Thank you, Your Highness."
I accepted it.
Now all preparations were complete.
And so my northern journey was set.
'By the time I return, the foundation should be nearing completion, right?'
After the last terror attack, the princess had provided extra support, speeding up construction.
Details from Laura later, but for now, leave it.
She'd handle it well.
More exciting were post-return research plans.
After hunting cultists up north, test if gravity magic works with classical mechanics alone.
First joint research with Anna.
I gathered stand-in candidates in the lab for my northern trip.
Varied reactions to the disguise tool.
"Whoa... transform into you, Isaac? Insane."
Callen covered his mouth in awe. He said,
"Can I... stroll the city while transformed? With escorts, of course!"
"Sure, of course."
Gedrick followed up.
"So, could the disguise make 'major decisions' as you?"
Gedrick's monocle trembled.
Eye twitch? Magnesium deficiency?
"What kind of major decision?"
"Like taking over an ownerless school."
"...Please spare me that, Acting School Head."
"Tch. So close."
Gedrick genuinely regretted it.
Liam, meanwhile, looked worried.
"All good, but... do you know northern roads or living conditions? Lots to prepare."
I answered honestly.
"No clue. Doesn't Archmage Valerius know?"
I glanced at Valerius standing nearby.
"Why look at me? I don't know either."
"..."
"North's mostly ruins, not even proper underworld. Rarely been."
Liam's concern deepened.
He said,
"Then we need an expert. Guide or local knowledgeable."
"Don't your parents supply wood to the army? They know the north, right?"
"Bringing my dad? There are far better experts."
Liam's gaze shifted to a corner.
Gwendolyn was there.
She muttered obliviously despite the stares.
"Transform into Uphills...? Me...? For real...?"
Then I remembered.
"Come to think of it, Gwendolyn. Your father was former northern legion commander, right?"
Startle.
Gwendolyn flinched.
She said moments later,
"Yes... he was."
"Have you been to the north yourself?"
"Yes. Lived there a few years as a kid following him."
"Know people there?"
"The uncles I owe favors to... I mean, officers. We exchange letters."
Talent spot.
I approached her seriously.
"Gwendolyn. Want to join the trip with me?"
Her eyes widened.
"Pardon?"
"I can ask the dean for official leave or paid vacation."
"..."
"Of course, you'd miss trying the imperial disguise tool yourself..."
"—I'll go!"
"Pardon?"
Gwendolyn already seemed resolved.
"Please take me, Uphills."
"..."
What?
Graduate life that rough?