Chapter 72: Invasion and Erosion (1)
“But Reina! It’s getting late!”
“I’ll just listen to a bit more of the story. Is it reasonable not to investigate at all?!”
Late at night, a loud voice echoed.
The city of Rihelrm, located in the outskirts of the continent, was a relatively large city established by countless people who had gathered to explore the ancient labyrinths of the past.
Though the exploration of the labyrinth had ceased long ago, and the power balance of the continent had shifted towards the center, causing a significant drop in interest, it had lost its former glory and had become a quiet, remote city.
“You’ve already been marked by the vice president! What will you do if you draw more attention and get expelled?!”
“…I still don’t care. I will at least hear the detailed story before the vice president leaves.”
She gritted her teeth. As a Mage in this world, rising to the mage academy’s central power, which currently held power over the world, was naturally something anyone would desire.
However, sometimes, some people might value different things more highly.
“I apologize, Vice Director. For now…”
“We have a big problem!”
Just before she could even leave the office, a frantic face appeared in the communication device sitting on the vice director’s desk.
Faced with the succession of problems, the vice director rubbed his already thinning hair in frustration.
“Alright. What’s wrong now, Bob? If this fuss is about something trivial like laborers missing their pay, I won’t take it lying down.”
“Mages assigned to the labyrinth monitoring team have gone missing in large numbers!”
“…What?”
However, the news this time was far from trivial.
He and Reina exchanged wide-eyed glances.
“They’re probably with the director at the mansion right now. He’ll leave early tomorrow.”
“I—I will go and hear the story! Vice Director, contact the Mayor and send an investigation team right away!”
“O-okay.”
Realizing the gravity of the situation, the vice director quickly changed his demeanor.
Determined, she hurriedly gathered her outer garments and burst out of the office.
‘This isn’t a light matter at all…’
As she crossed the night streets, she bit her lip, feeling a growing sense of anxiety.
Though the labyrinth had been quiet for a long time, the Moonlight Fairies that had been regaining their power there had sent urgent rescue messages, even involving young children.
Thus, the calm demeanor of the vice president in the face of such matters was simply inexplicable.
Of course, this thought was one that Reina could have only because she didn’t know the vice president’s mind was occupied elsewhere—far beyond her imagination.
“Wait! This area is the property of Clawclaw Academy’s Research Director, Orne…”
“Mage Reina! We need to see the Director, no, the Vice President, right now!”
She shouted at the guard who blocked her way as she ran up, breathless.
Startled by her urgency, the guard inadvertently stepped aside.
Without hesitation, she dashed through the mansion. Since it seemed something had indeed gone wrong, there was no need to hesitate.
“What is the meaning of this?!”
When the visibly flustered Director finally emerged to yell at her, she met his gaze head-on, unwavering.
“H-have you not received communications? There’s a situation unfolding right now!”
“A situation unfolding?”
The Director, Orne, standing at the corridor, raised an eyebrow.
Almost simultaneously, the butler appeared, flustered and holding something that caused the atmosphere to grow tense. In his hand was a communication device where someone was shouting.
“Yes, Vice Director. What on earth is going on?”
The Director clicked his tongue and received the report from the face that appeared on the screen.
Reina remained quietly listening. Just being there quietly was enough to see the Director’s expression harden in real time.
“It might not be that serious after all.”
The Director, sweating profusely, was trying his best to deny reality.
The news he received while thinking he was going to be on his way up to the central authority was far too shocking.
“Director! There’s a problem concerning the safety of the Mages. Furthermore, this morning, there were testimonies from fairies rescued from the labyrinth!”
“And so?”
“First, please let us meet that fairy child. You must demonstrate suitable action. This is absolutely not a light matter!”
Frustrated at his inaction, Reina raised her voice at him. However, the Director’s condition began to appear increasingly strange.
His eyes shook more violently, and the cold sweat poured down more heavily. It was a sight that didn’t match his usual authoritative and oppressive demeanor with his subordinates.
“T-that is… that is…”
“Calm down. Both of you.”
It was then the Vice President appeared. With his neatly groomed beard and sharp gaze, usually exuding weight, he commanded the situation in a solemn voice.
“It seems the issue is indeed serious. Director, accompany her to the laboratory.”
“Y-yes?! But!”
“Are you intending to defy my orders?”
The Vice President glared at the Director, whose face had turned pale.
Reina wondered why the Director was reacting this way but quickly set that concern aside. What was important now was something else.
“This way.”
He led the Director and Reina down to the basement laboratory of the mansion.
Inside, Reina felt an inner admiration. For a personal research facility located underground, it was surprisingly well-equipped.
“Ah…?”
“Interesting, isn’t it? The patterns they inscribe on their bodies from a young age continue to be influenced by magic as they grow, developing into a special organ. It’s a very good material for researching magical blood.”
But Reina was left speechless at the sight spread out before her.
“W-what is this…?”
No, it wasn’t just speechless; the shock was so great that she almost lost consciousness.
A severed head floating in a test tube, its eyes void of vitality.
“Indeed, one should act appropriately.”
-Non-Lethal Mode-
While she was still reeling from shock, he pulled something out from his possession and aimed it at her chest before firing.
There was no time to cast a spell in response. The needles that were fired pierced through her clothes and dug into her body, knocking her out with a strong electrical shock.
“Impressive. Just what the heck is that item…”
“Just something to protect my body in unforeseen situations. Forget about that; Orne, focus on the aftermath.”
“Is she—dead?”
“No.”
He kicked the fallen Reina, chuckling at the Director’s words.
“This time, I need to find a subject to apply the data obtained from dissecting this native fairy tribe. Preferably one that possesses magic.”
“Don’t tell me…”
“I’ll keep it locked up and use it later. For now, let’s deal with whatever this unidentified problem is. What could possibly happen to those worthless grunts who can’t even enter the academy?”
He placed the firearm back in his arm, ignoring the shocked Director.
He was somewhat meticulous. This gun was something he had obtained temporarily from his current ally.
It was meant to take down any Units or Players that may threaten his life in this world.
‘Those foolish Mages, no matter how much they charge at me, if my magic and these weapons combine, there will be no issue. The remaining problem is the Execution Authority, huh?’
With a smirk, he urged the Director to deal with the external problems and sent him on his way.
[Don’t let your guard down. This is a fundamental principle, Roses. Absolutely, do not let your guard down.]
“I know that! That’s why I’m being extremely cautious! Not even the slightest mage can touch my body!”
Left alone, he expressed his annoyance at the voice whispering in his mind.
*
“Search quickly!”
“What about the detection magic?!”
“We’re just about ready now!”
Already too late, quite a number of people had left the city and entered the forest in the early dawn.
The forest, which had been left undeveloped as farmland, was designated as a no-entry region due to the existence of the labyrinth, making it an unsuitable terrain for large-scale movement.
“Vice Director, are you sure we haven’t brought too many people?”
“I had no choice; it was the Director’s orders.”
The Vice Director made a bitter smile in response to the words of the city guard captain who had accompanied them.
When it was reported, the Director had shown no significant reaction, but suddenly called for urgent action, demanding they hurry up.
‘What did that Reina girl do this time? Should I have waited?’
With his restless heart, he carelessly looked around.
The dark and eerie forest. It would have felt uncomfortable if it weren’t for the fact that he was with almost a hundred people.
While it seemed like too many people, there shouldn’t be any problems concerning safety in this region, which had been completely stabilized, even if the independent Mages weren’t recognized.
“Detection magic!”
“We’re ready now!”
“Good. Everyone stop! Freeze!”
He commanded everyone to halt as he prepared to cast the detection magic.
A few Mages stepped forward, holding out papers covered in complex magical symbols, standing in a triangle.
“Oh, is that…?”
“That’s the magic that the Yukaleria Academy proudly showcased, capable of sensing anything moving above a certain size.”
He shrugged in response to the amazed reaction from the guard captain, explaining the magic with a bit of pride.
Before long, the magic execution came to an end. According to the Mages’ intentions, a faint magical breeze spread out with the wind in all directions.
“Now, whatever gets caught will appear above the magic circle, so hurry and cover the map. The scale will match that of the map.”
Following his command, the prepared map was laid over the magic circle.
Sure enough, responses began surfacing almost immediately.
“Oh! Could those shining dots be…?”
The guard captain, excited, pointed to a specific location where shining dots appeared.
However, soon the once enthusiastic guard captain lost his words.
“W-what is…”
The director, whose face had also gone pale, was similarly speechless.
A murmur spread among those present as the dots on the map began to multiply, one by one, then tens, then dozens, up to hundreds, all swirling and appearing without pause.
The dots began to cluster, as if they were forming a surface.
“…This is.”
Only then did the Vice Director notice something with an intense gaze fixed on the magic circle.
Dark figures hidden in the shadows of the dim forest.
