Chapter 728: Wizards and Magic Towers (5)
“Major General Peshia Grisbern’s communications have been completely cut off.”
“……”
Deimus paused his steps at those words.
His Chief of Staff, not noticing Deimus’s reaction, continued.
“Presumed dead in action. Or a defeat of comparable magnitude. It seems Headquarters has already confirmed it.”
“Is that so?”
Rumble…!!
Beneath the vast deck where Deimus stood, massive treads writhed, moving as if alive.
A steel vessel streaking across steep mountain ranges.
A mobile battleship, armed with hundreds of cannons, ceaselessly moving and traversing the front lines.
Deadrise’s elite legion, the Special Mobile 7th Legion, said to possess the fastest mobility among them.
True to its formidable reputation of never stopping once an operation begins, the Legion Headquarters and Staff Division were integrated with the fleet.
Dozens of battleships, capable of accommodating hundreds of soldiers simultaneously, moved in a V-formation, as if defying the winding mountains in reverse.
Crrruuunch!!!
The mere charge of a dozen battleships shook heaven and earth, crushing everything beneath their treads.
Wildly overgrown trees and rocks were pulverized into dust.
Soldiers or superhumans resisting, hidden throughout the mountain ranges, were likewise crushed into mere flesh and bone before the fleet’s advance.
Deimus stood at the very front of this formation, his expression blank as he gazed at the hellish landscape unfolding beneath the deck.
Deimus, who had been silently watching the battleships pounding through the mountains, asked.
“What happened to Major General Grisbern’s subordinate officers?”
“Lieutenant Colonel Mylo Starkton and Lieutenant Colonel Benje Solcier are also unconfirmed for survival. Considering Lieutenant Colonel Starkton’s personality, he probably…”
“……”
He understood the meaning even without it being fully stated. Deimus smiled bitterly and closed his eyes.
“I thought it would be meaningless advice, but.”
“Excuse me?”
“It’s nothing. Headquarters has already confirmed it?”
“Yes. Orders have already been issued via the confidential line shared with the field staff.”
The Chief of Staff, having been questioned, nodded.
“For the time being, focus on the Central Front. Prioritize the acquisition of the Headro Warlords as planned. Until then, individual actions by generals are prohibited…”
“……”
Major Generals, including Peshia, are granted the authority to make autonomous decisions and movements during operations.
But now that Peshia, who possessed by far the most unique military strength among the Major Generals, has met such a fate.
It’s somewhat natural to prohibit individual operations by high-ranking officers now.
“Collaboration with Blaiver Magic Tower… a single order won’t be enough, will it? How will that be handled?”
“Ah, that…”
The Chief of Staff hesitated for a moment before answering.
“General Song-ha has been entrusted with its handling.”
Deimus frowned, as if he had heard an unexpected answer.
“That can’t be… Did General Song-ha have the leisure to move right now?”
“Judging by Headquarters’ reaction, it seems the Marshal personally designated him.”
“……”
Deimus fell silent.
In this legion, which positioned itself as a private military company, there was only one person who could be referred to as the Marshal.
“I see. In that case, there’s no choice.”
Deimus mumbled.
Although he had one foot in Pandemonium, he didn’t dislike the work of the military company operating under the name of Deadrise.
He was simply curious about a life beyond being a soldier bound by regulations and rules, more so than the endlessly repeating wars.
He commanded the Special Mobile Legion, said to be the freest within the corps, yet precisely because of that, he felt a thirst.
The Marshal had accurately read his desires.
Even how to control the direction of that deviation in a way that would be helpful.
Therefore, Deimus could understand what future the Marshal’s command, issued after a long time, portended.
“It seems that person has become desirous of the First Gateway.”
[Playing 37th message.]
[We wish for your boundless development. The city government’s direct research institute, Bonaparte, wishes to congratulate you on the establishment of Vulcan’s first Magic Tower—]
Beep.
[44th District Artifact Production Workshop. Wishing the Magic Tower smooth material supply and prosperity, we attach samples. If you are interested, please reply—]
Beep.
[It’s Sebastian. I heard you’ve become the new Tower Lord. Congratulations. If you don’t mind, would you be interested in meeting some investors among my guests? Of course, I’m not offering this empty-handed. I’ve sent a gift through Jenny, so please check my sincerity and decide.]
Beep.
[Adamant Thunder. If such a joyous event occurred, you should have contacted me earlier. I’ve sent several set artifacts as a congratulatory gesture. I’ll contact you again soon.]
The moment the Madam’s message ended, Lennok, who had been bending deeply over his workbench, asked.
“How many are left?”
[There are 36 messages recorded in your contacts. 87 official documents received. And 423 other messages from unknown sources remaining.]
“……”
The fact that Lennok was the owner of the first Magic Tower established in Vulcan spread terrifyingly fast.
Almost everyone who knew Adamant Thunder was sending congratulatory messages and gifts.
This likely meant that the establishment of this Magic Tower in the city held significant meaning for others as well.
If those who knew Van’s identity and personality reacted this way, there was no need to mention the city government’s direct research institutes or businesses capable of collaborating with the Magic Tower.
[The seaweed-haired organism is fussing that there’s no more space in the company’s underground vault to stack gifts.]
Davi, who was perched on Lennok’s head, grumbled.
[He says he’s already made a ledger, so please take them quickly and clear them out before they pile up even more?]
“……I think I’ve told you before, but never call her that when sending a reply to Jenny. She seems to be subtly bothered by it.”
Lennok straightened up, leaving Davi, who seemed to be remembering others in increasingly strange ways.
“Alright. The component analysis adjustments are mostly done. Now, I just need to get the result values.”
A monocle, gifted by Mila, rested on Lennok’s left eye as he wearily rubbed his temples.
Immediately after the workbench’s lights went out, the object Lennok had been handling for a long time was revealed.
It had the appearance of an elongated metal adorned with a green gem at its end.
Seemingly unremarkable on the surface, this was the necklace Jordan had handed him, calling it Kaiser’s Memento.
When Jordan first gave him this necklace, he thought it had a different purpose, but if it was Kaiser’s Memento, then it was likely something else.
If it was the only item among Kaiser’s Mementos that Ethan Bajour had wished to possess, there must certainly be a reason for it.
That’s why Lennok had returned to his laboratory and was deeply focused on analyzing the necklace’s components.
[As expected, nothing is coming up from the biological analysis data.]
Davi, who had instantly finished sorting messages, shared the analysis data quickly as she spoke.
Lennok’s newly arranged laboratory. Dozens of research instruments filled the white, spacious area.
Even amidst his busy schedule, he had bought them whenever he had a spare moment, but many pieces of equipment were still unopened and covered in dust.
With Davi’s help, he updated the internal systems of the equipment, connected the power, and checked their status.
Only after thoroughly cleaning the dusty laboratory could Lennok finally analyze the necklace Jordan had given him.
[The metal and quartz comprising the necklace are quite ancient. Considering the concentration of preserved mana, it appears to be at least 500 years old.]
“Is there no way to know the precise age?”
[It’s difficult with the equipment here. If there’s anything else noteworthy, it’s that its heat resistance is exceptionally high?]
Davi tilted her head.
[It seems to have been intentionally designed in that regard. Though I’m not sure of the specific intention.]
“Hmm…”
To accurately measure the preserved mana, observation equipment far larger than what was available in this laboratory was needed.
Strictly speaking, it was more a matter of scale than performance or output.
Even just to discover the origin of the necklace required this much procedure; how many resources would be needed to investigate beyond that?
“I did think it would be difficult to figure something out immediately, but…”
As Lennok thought that, he looked at a massive box writhing and emitting smoke from the deepest part of the laboratory.
Whirr, hiss!!
“……”
A box-shaped object, with only a thick lever, devoid of any decorations or components.
It was Lennok’s greatest acquisition from Machina, a box of chaos whose true nature could not be properly inferred.
A Random Box created by combining the foundations of the Provisional Ascension Gate. An item that, when its lever is pulled, randomly extracts traces of the Old World.
This item even caused the Seer Antares to visit Lennok’s mansion to personally confirm it.
Lennok, who had been staring blankly at the Random Box, then glanced at the necklace he held in his hand.
[Master?]
“You said it was Kaiser’s Memento, right?”
[…Huh?]
Click.
Before Davi could even ask anything, Lennok abruptly pulled the Random Box’s lever.
As the box’s door swung open with a clang, Lennok unceremoniously threw the necklace inside.
Whoosh!!
The necklace’s form vanished in an instant beyond an endless radiance.
Davi was silent, as if dumbfounded, then asked.
[What are you going to tell the Bartender?]
“The Provisional Ascension Gate was something Kaiser touched for the project’s testbed, wasn’t it?”
Lennok said.
“If this necklace is one of Kaiser’s Mementos, it might react to it.”
[Isn’t it too reckless a gamble to expect results based on such a conjecture…?]
“I attached a mana-filament to the end of the necklace. If I act before the door closes, I can retrieve it immediately—”
Thwack!!
Something bounced out from inside the box, streaking past Lennok’s side with incredible speed and vanishing.
Thump, thump!!
His shield was instantly worn down, and the laboratory shook violently from the impact.
Whatever had ricocheted off the laboratory’s walls and ceiling bounced erratically throughout the room, striking everywhere.
If he hadn’t cast protective magic beforehand to guard against equipment damage, the expensive instruments would have instantly turned into scrap metal.
Hiss!!!
The glowing red necklace was embedded in the laboratory’s floor paneling.
Davi, who was watching from atop Lennok’s head, asked.
[Looks like it tried to eat something inedible.]
“……It certainly does.”
Lennok, unable to deny it, picked up the necklace with his mana-filament and placed it on the workbench.
The necklace, shaped as if superheated by intense warmth in a short time.
Even though it was heated so intensely, there was no visible damage to the metal and quartz comprising the necklace.
Although it was an action taken trusting Davi’s words about its excellent heat resistance, it was quite a remarkable result.
Hiss!!
“Hmm…”
Lennok pondered for a moment, then nodded.
“Should I handle other research first?”
“……”
He felt Davi’s tail tapping his head in exasperation, but Lennok paid no mind and cleaned the workbench.
As it was, he had more than a few research projects started and then paused midway.
“Libra of Fate, Five Ultimate Arts and Orokhnier’s Mass Art. Even just delving into these two, I might have to live in the laboratory for several months straight.”
The Five Ultimate Arts, which completely change the nature of mana in a different way, and the Mass Art, which the Ascendant Orokhnier used as his fundamental technique.
Among the magic and techniques Lennok had recently acquired, these two held uniquely superior origins and value.
He had begun researching both quite some time ago, and had achieved some results, but Lennok had paused his research just as he was making significant progress.
Because the more he grasped the direction and mysteries of the techniques and delved into them, the more he realized they would require a considerable amount of time.
To properly master both magical systems would require an immense amount of time and effort.
Even considering Lennok’s talent and learning speed, significant investment and study would be necessary beforehand.
Therefore, Lennok was preparing to forcibly learn these two magical systems using the shortcuts permitted to him.
“By operating Ouroboros, I’ll absorb both magical systems into the Perpetual Motion Engine as they are.”
Lennok said, tapping the workbench.
“Once they’re dissolved into the magical system and I keep running it, something will work itself out.”
[That’s truly the pinnacle of trying to get something for nothing.]
“……”
Davi tapped Lennok’s head with her tail, yawning, then her eyes sparkled as if she’d discovered something on the workbench.
[Oh, something’s left there?]
“Did I not finish cleaning the workbench yet? The cleaning equipment hasn’t been used in a while, so it’s quite rusty—”
As Lennok spoke, he abruptly stopped when he saw the mark Davi had found.
The trace left on the workbench, where it had melted, after the superheated necklace was removed.
The trace remained like elegant script, as if it were hastily scrawled cursive writing.
“……”
[So there was a reason its heat resistance was excessively good. Perhaps it was made from the start to be heated like this for branding?]
“……Indeed. It looks more like text than a drawing.”
[It’s a strange, flowing script. Doesn’t look like a common language.]
Lennok pondered Davi’s words for a moment, then took out his phone from his pocket.
Because it didn’t take long for him to remember where he had seen a similar script.
A message sent from Outer Tribulation City, as a condolence for the former Lighthouse Keeper’s death.
The strange script that Davi had once searched for and shown to Lennok was extremely similar to the characters inscribed here.
Davi likewise recognized it and tilted her head.
[Could it be written by the same person? But the characters used are too different…]
“Almost certainly. Look at this.”
Saying so, Lennok held out the monocle he was wearing to Davi.
Davi took the monocle with her chubby paw, placed it on her snout, and brought her eye close.
Davi looked alternately at the message and the characters through the monocle, letting out a strange exclamation.
[Oho. Oho.]
Mila’s gifted monocle was an item that showed areas beyond the visible light spectrum by refracting mana’s transmittance differently.
By comparing the two scripts through it, one could discern a peculiar magical aura remaining beneath the message from Outer Tribulation City and the characters etched on the workbench.
Clear evidence that although the characters used were different, both messages were written in the same manner.
“Perhaps not the same person, but they used the same writing method. I suspect it might be a technique required when writing grimoires.”
Lennok said, taking a small notebook from his pocket.
After witnessing Kaiser’s demise in the restricted zone, Lennok had once consulted the Madam about Kaiser’s death.
The Madam replied that the vampires had decided to preserve Kaiser’s body and had hidden it somewhere nobody knew.
Through a trade, Lennok had acquired the notebook the Madam kept as a contact.
“Zyble, the Blood-Thought Scribe. Perhaps this item could be of help.”
A notebook that operates by using the user’s blood as ink, and a recording device that possesses its own consciousness and answers questions.
He had used it just before heading to the Machine City Machina, but put it aside because his journey to Machina was urgent.
Now, if there was an entity to consult about this scrawled script, wouldn’t it be this notebook alone?
Davi, perched on his head, grumbled as if displeased.
[Come to think of it, there was this impudent piece of paper, wasn’t there?]
“I once asked about Kaiser’s body. It said it needed to warm up, so I couldn’t talk for long.”
Lennok immediately opened the Blood-Thought Scribe, dipped his finger in his blood, and wrote in the notebook.
“It probably still can’t be used for long. Let’s quickly check only the necessary parts and move on.”
As expected, the Blood-Thought Scribe immediately responded to Lennok’s summons.
[I greet the great Transcendent, the qualified Ascendant.]
The Blood-Thought Scribe was an item that estimated the user’s realm through their blood and adjusted its demeanor accordingly.
Therefore, this notebook mistook Lennok for an Ascendant and was displaying a very submissive attitude.
Although its inability to be used for extended periods was a drawback, it had been confirmed to provide plausible answers when questioned.
All that was needed was for Lennok to accurately choose and write down questions that this notebook could answer.
“The Blood-Thought Scribe is a recording device that organizes and stores themes related to life and blood.”
Lennok, holding a pen tipped with a drop of blood, his eyes gleamed.
“It’s important to build the relevance around that theme. In that case…”
Thinking so, Lennok copied the characters etched on the workbench directly onto the notebook.
Even verifying it by writing a question below the characters with his own blood.
=If there is any record of a bloodline or lifeform that uses these characters, answer.
Characters are the essence of language and culture.
If it’s a script distinct from the common language, it must certainly be a concept derived from a power with a significant scale and history.
If such a question were posed to Zyble, the Blood-Thought Scribe, it would surely catch something in its filtering.
As Lennok thought that, the Blood-Thought Scribe absorbed Lennok’s blood and spat out its answer.
[Great Ascendant. I cannot understand that question.]
“……”
Davi, resting her snout on Lennok’s silent head, cleared her throat as if to say, ‘I told you so.’
[A shabby piece of pulp can’t help it. The trend is cybernetic spirits capable of network searches, you know.]
However, the Blood-Thought Scribe spat out another answer before Lennok could even pose another question.
[However, if you are asking about the owner of this name, there is 1 search result. Would you like to view it?]