Chapter 293

Count Iseas approached the display case housing the black tentacle statue and gazed at the documents.

[Black tentacle statue from a southern port city of the Empire. A symbol of a god who was long revered in the area, now a memory of a decayed doctrine no longer served.]

[Estimated to be around 450 years old. It can grant the blessing of water and assist in meditation training, but there’s a high risk of mental contamination if misused. Danger level: 35]

After reading the series of phrases, he chuckled awkwardly.

“Hmm. This hardly seems like something Count Rudi would be interested in. Especially since it doesn’t stand out in my memory.”

Rudi remained lost in thought while keeping his smile.

“If it’s from the southern Empire, it’s likely connected to the Amir Dukedom, which is linked by both land and sea. Smuggling through nomadic tribes and pirates is quite common.”

“It openly mentions the possibility of mental contamination. While mental contamination does not equal corruption, it certainly makes one very vulnerable to it. Plus, there’s no guarantee that mental contamination is the only threat.”

“Is this a scheme by the Infiltrators’ Sect to infiltrate the capital through Count Iseas? Or have Count Iseas and the princess already teamed up? Or could it be just a remarkable artifact that happened to show up by chance?”

Rudi tried to see beyond his smile, but Count Iseas’s squinted eyes offered no openings.

He extended his hand refreshingly.

“How about this instead? A magic tool from the East. Out of what we’ve shown today, it’s the most popular.”

Rudi looked at the magic tool he was pointing to.

It was a mask made of black cloth and leather, designed to cover from under the eyes to the neck.

The mouth area was adorned with red and white dyes, illustrating teeth.

“Not exactly the kind of aesthetic that Lord Valencianus would appreciate.”

Rudi thought as he attempted to shift his interest away, but Iseas raised his voice as if to say, “Listen to one more thing.”

“That magic tool, the ‘Ear Mask,’ has a spirit form function.”

That was certainly an enticing feature.

Just a few days ago, he could have avoided the risk of crossbow fire if he had used spirit form the moment he got off the wagon.

“Well then, I’ll take a look at it.”

Rudi approached the ‘Ear Mask’ and read the description.

[A mask once used by an assassin from the East. Once a source of fear, it now awaits your touch.]

[Estimated to be a recent artifact. Allows the wearer to take on spirit form for a short time, but there’s a risk of vulnerability to the mental waves of the Infiltrators and high-tier lightning magic while in spirit form. Danger level: 15]

There was no guarantee that everything was true, but it was useful information nonetheless.

When he decided to rely on emotions, he could ask whether such properties or dangers actually existed.

Whether it was popular as claimed was indicated by the several numbers already placed.

“If used to quickly maneuver out of or take a position, it would be quite useful. It’s no secret that I’m not just a maid; any noble would know that. It’s a fact that to maintain influence, one needs a magic tool remarkable enough to deceive the eyes of those in the know.”

Rudi briefly estimated the price.

As a spirit-form magic tool, it was undoubtedly an item of higher value than that of Aqvatech.

If it were Valencianus, it would be a worthwhile item to consider, but it wasn’t something she could acquire within her given budget.

Of course, Valencianus wouldn’t be upset for spending a bit of gold coins.

But treating the power of those they serve as their own was the most unbecoming behavior between maids and attendants.

Handling the money of those they serve as if it were their own was not worth considering.

“It’s odd that such a magic tool appears just when it becomes necessary. The world does not turn in my favor.”

Rudi looked at Count Iseas.

He still wore that ambiguous smile, as if asking, “What do you think?”

A last possibility crossed Rudi’s mind.

“The black tentacle statue wasn’t part of the calculation, and there’s a probability that this is the true magic tool of corruption…”

“I’ll bid.”

“An excellent choice.”

“You will separate the guarantee for the magic tool and the certificate from the merchant handling the purchase and transport, correct?”

“Of course.”

“Well then, I’ll bid for that black tentacle statue as well.”

“…Understood.”

* * *

“So, you brought this to me?”

Princess Sererassie said while sipping soup in the communal workshop cafeteria.

Her blue and yellow eyes still glinted with intensity, but her cheeks had become slightly fuller since the last time he saw her.

Rudi nodded, determined to visit the workshop at least once every three days.

Sererassie hummed and pursed her lips.

“Well. If the spirit form feature is indeed true, you got a pretty good deal. You can cover that amount to allow for research on spirit-form magic tools, can’t you?”

“Thank you. I think I was fortunate.”

“Right. I’d say there were quite a few who intentionally refrained from bidding just to make a good impression on you. That mask is just for show, anyway.”

“Hahaha. Just as Your Highness says. They were all familiar faces.”

“Let’s take a look then.”

Rudi pulled out the mask wrapped in cloth and the statue from his bag.

Sererassie picked up the mask and gazed at it intently, smiling brightly like a child.

“You bought well. I’ll cover the remaining payment. You said it was Count Iseas? If he could bring in such items, he’s quite shrewd. Tupio! Where are you, Tupio?”

A red-haired apprentice rushed over from one side of the table.

“I’m coming now!”

He was a former cadet gang member, but according to Sererassie, he was ‘adequate in magic but excellent in managing and expanding workshops and businesses.’

Rudi, seeing that he had just attempted to take a bite of a dish made from ‘curly, fried noodles in spicy soup,’ cast a sympathetic glance.

“Master, did you need something?”

“Send a letter to Count Iseas. Tell him I’ll be visiting often. Also, add that if there’s anything he wishes to have evaluated, to let me know.”

Rudi was momentarily flustered.

“Your Highness, that is—”

If Count Iseas was the link to the Infiltrators, Sererassie, the great mage who developed tools for finding the Infiltrators, would certainly take her belongings and run the moment she arrived.

“I’m currently trying to find suspicious traces among the court nobles per Lady Valencia’s orders. If someone like you descends, I think everyone will scatter.”

Sererassie raised her chin.

“So are you saying to let a wealthy noble who brings in magic tools like this go?”

Her colorful eyes sparkled, and Rudi shivered slightly.

“That’s not what I meant—”

“What. If that’s what you think, then I understand. Tupio, take out the part about wanting to visit, and write to say that he can come if he wishes. Ah, right. Rudi, since you’ll be going often, if something like this comes in, be sure to bring it along. I can manage the calculations.”

She flipped her attitude, perfectly befitting a mage, and Rudi let out a sigh of relief.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

It seemed he would have to continue meeting with Count Iseas for the time being.

“Alright then, let’s see that tentacle statue too. I’m curious about its powers.”

“Ah, yes.”

Sererassie looked at the black tentacle statue, just as she had with the ‘Ear Mask,’ causing a spark of electricity to flow through it, then used her staff to scrape at the jewels attached to it.

After a moment, she lightly bit her lower lip, seemingly offended, and shook her head.

“Rudi, I believe we need to examine this more closely. Let’s go to the sixth-floor lab.”

She downed the remaining soup and called over several of her apprentices.

“It’s the sixth floor!”

Her tone was filled with exuberance.

Rudi watched as the apprentices, upon hearing their names, wore expressions that looked as if the sky was falling, only to finish their meals with a few more bites, grabbing their bread before standing up.

She disliked inconveniencing others, and the realization that she had taken away even their meager rest made her feel a deep sense of guilt.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

“Princess Sererassie, there’s really no need for such thorough examination.”

Sererassie exclaimed excitedly.

“What do you mean by that? This is an item with enough research value. I just discharged a little electricity, and its vibrational coefficient isn’t of this world.”

“What?”

“Yes. This too is a fragment of an old magic tool. Hand over that document. I think I’ll need to see a merchant.”

Rudi followed Sererassie up to the sixth floor, feeling as if he had been struck.

Hearing that it wasn’t of this world made the apprentices swarm behind them, making zombie-like sounds as they followed.

“Princess Sererassie, you should do some stamina training. You’re getting too weak.”

“You’re the sword user, and I’m a mage.”

“Still, you shouldn’t be carried from the third floor onward.”

* * *

Sererassie’s apprentices analyzed the black tentacle statue using every means possible.

“Bring the reagents!”

“Where’s the solution we used last time to dissolve Lord Valencianus’s scales?”

“Light a candle in there since we’ll be removing oxygen.”

Strong acids, bases, divine power, heating, cooling, applying electricity, and comparing with ancient documents…

The lab was bustling for about three hours.

After undergoing the final check from the priest, Sererassie reached a clear conclusion.

“Rudi, this is indeed an ancient magic tool. It seems to have been used by devotees when they prayed.”

Rudi felt a chill run down his spine.

The events from a year ago flashed back in his mind.

“So… did the capital almost fall again?”

Sererassie shook her head as if to ask what he meant.

“No.”

“What? But you said it’s an ancient magic tool!”

Rudi blinked in surprise, and Sererassie, with a serious expression, began to pinch Rudi’s cheeks.

“Amon is ancient, and Eustatia is ancient too. Most of what was written there was accurate. The faith that had persisted in the southern coastal cities until around 400 years ago naturally declined as the God of Radiance’s teachings took root.”

This meant it wasn’t a malicious ancient object or a completely alien artifact that distorted humanity.

Rudi let out a sigh of relief.

“So it really does grant the blessing of water or assist with meditation?”

“Exactly. However, since the number of devotees has decreased so much, I can’t guarantee that it has the same effect as it did during its heyday. No matter how safe it is, it’s ultimately an unknown object, so it’s best not to use it for training, even if it’s a relic. Even in meditation, its effectiveness may fall short when compared to the meditation techniques that Lady Trentia taught.”

“Ah.”

“If you go wrong, you have no idea what kind of face your sibling would make. Be cautious.”

“Yes.”

Sererassie wrapped up her words, and Rudi shifted the topic.

“Is development going well? You were working on the translation magic tool, right?”

Suddenly, all the mages in the lab turned to Rudi.

“Uh, um?”

Sererassie let out a deep sigh.

“There were too many unclear aspects, so I had no choice but to test them all one by one. First, I sketched roughly 17,800 drafts in silver ink, and out of those, I picked 566 that seemed somewhat plausible.”

“What?”

Rudi thought he must have misheard the numbers.

17,800 drafts?

Even if you take away two zeros, that was still a huge amount.

“But because that lotus is such a delicate object, there’s no choice but to try making each of those 566.”

“I think a lot of gold went into this… Are you okay with the budget?”

Sererassie let out a sigh of relief.

“Fortunately, reuse is possible. I even dipped into my personal funds a little. Also, His Majesty has helped quite a bit.”

She led Rudi to the fourth floor and opened a room to show him.

“Oh, haha.”

Rudi genuinely felt relieved that he hadn’t become a mage.

Gold lotus and parchment were piled high on dozens of tables.

At one table, Duke Marcus was using a stylus with his apprentices to engrave circuits and looked quite fatigued.

His one good eye seemed to have lost its focus.

“Count Rudi? How have you been?”

“Oh, hello. Duke Marcus.”

“I was wondering why everyone wasn’t returning, and it was because the count was visiting. I’m not sure if it’s appropriate to have the handicapped work like this.”

Sererassie clapped her hands in a mockingly innocent manner.

Clap clap.

“Now, let’s all happily dedicate ourselves to the advancement of magic.”

The previous prisoners, I mean, apprentices who had finished their meals, gathered once more.

For a moment, Rudi thought that Sererassie seemed rather villainous.

However, that thought evaporated the moment he saw her sitting across from Marcus, wielding a stylus.

‘She’s not a villainous overseer, but rather a prison warden.’

Still, it was a relief to see that things were proceeding diligently.

At that moment, a blonde disciple named Lorraine rushed in.

“Master Sererassie! I’ve discovered 132 additional drafts with potential for manifestation!”

Rudi made up his mind to flee before being dragged in.