Chapter 866: Influx (1)
The ability to revive the Ghost Busters.
No, beyond that, the chance to become the ruler of that space.
‘This might be quite tempting.’
In truth, I didn't care much about the latter.
Just the thought that the community could be revived made my heart race without me knowing.
It was only natural.
How disappointed had I been after Auril Gavis unilaterally shut down the server?
There was a kind of stress that could only be relieved by having modern conversations periodically, and not being able to do that was truly frustrating.
It felt like being forced to quit smoking.
Sven Parab, an Evil Spirit, was in my acquaintances category, but revealing my own otherworldly origins for such a reason would be ridiculous.
‘But to think it could be revived…?’
I had to do this, no matter what.
It was more than just stress relief.
The moment I restored it, I could communicate with my companions on the Underground First Floor through Sven Parab.
Thump—!
The thought made my heart pound, but I suppressed my excitement as much as possible and kept my expression neutral.
After all, a poker face was basic for negotiations.
"… If you have no particular use for it, perhaps I could take it and do some research." (Urben Havelion)
"Hold it right there." (Bjorn Yandel)
?
Hey, you think you can just get something like this for free?
No matter how much you try to act like it's nothing, your eyes are already full of desperation.
Without further ado, I listed my conditions.
"Join the Anabada Clan. Promise to enter the Underground First Floor. Grant me full authority over the spiritual space and share all research findings." (Bjorn Yandel)
"… Excuse me?" (Urben Havelion)
Join Discord
"If you agree to these conditions, I'll hand it over." (Bjorn Yandel)
"Ah…" (Urben Havelion)
"I'll tell you now, there are no other options." (Bjorn Yandel)
I took a firm, non-negotiable stance, and the rest was up to the GM.
"… I will do it." (Urben Havelion)
I had succeeded in recruiting a puppet boss and a Mage.
—
After the recruitment was settled, I moved on to the next matter.
In truth, I was just as curious about this as I was about the gem.
"So, what exactly was that alarm?" (Bjorn Yandel)
The very alarm that had blared not long after I took this gem.
Was it really just a coincidence?
"Ah, right, there was that." (Urben Havelion)
As if he had completely forgotten, the GM exclaimed softly and began to explain yesterday's alarm.
"To give you the conclusion first… it seems the alarm did go off because we st… no, because we discovered this item." (Urben Havelion)
"…'Seems'?" (Bjorn Yandel)
"Then that's not a conclusion, but a guess, isn't it?" (Bjorn Yandel)
I tilted my head and pointed it out, but he, now used to this, continued without any particular reaction.
"When I arrived at the Mage Tower, there were only a few schoolmasters there. Ah, and there was one member of the Rose Knights." (Urben Havelion)
"Only a few?" (Bjorn Yandel)
"Yes. By the time I arrived, it was already late. The forces that had gathered early had already departed, and we were told to monitor the situation from here and decide whether or not to provide support." (Urben Havelion)
From what I heard, the masters gathered at the time were all confused about what was happening, and the remaining Rose Knights member provided no explanation.
"So they said they waited for a few more hours, completely in the dark…" (Urben Havelion)
"Just as dawn was breaking, the Mage Tower Lord and the Rose Knights returned. From their tense expressions and the way they were watching the Royal Family, it was clear something had gone wrong." (Urben Havelion)
"And then?" (Bjorn Yandel)
"The assembly order was soon lifted. Afterwards, I cautiously asked one of the masters from the vanguard whom I was friendly with about the situation, and he said they had been to the underground sewers." (Urben Havelion)
"What? The sewers?" (Bjorn Yandel)
At this point, it was safe to say it wasn't a guess but a fact.
There was no way that many coincidences could align.
"But why did you use that phrasing?" (Bjorn Yandel)
"Let's just say… it's a habit." (Urben Havelion)
"Fix it quickly. That kind of attitude isn't good for getting by in life." (Bjorn Yandel)
It was sincere advice, but he showed no reaction this time either, and so the conversation moved on to the next topic.
"But… where on earth did you get those coordinates? It really looks like the Mage Tower and the Royal Family collaborated to hide it away…" (Urben Havelion)
…
How much of this should I tell him…
After a moment of thought, I quickly made a decision.
'We're in the same boat now, aren't we…?'
So I revealed most of what had happened in the Labyrinth.
Honestly, I also wanted to tell someone and ask for their opinion.
"[Go to the spatial coordinates I'm about to give you. I will hide something there that will be of help.]" (Arta)
And that something really did exist.
That's what made it all the more confusing.
Was the Arta I met not an NPC?
Maybe that was really the case.
Because no hidden piece in the Labyrinth could affect the outside world, only the Labyrinth itself.
"Uh… so, to summarize…" (Urben Havelion)
The GM's reaction after hearing my whole story was subtle.
"You're saying that a person named 'Arta' whom you met in the Labyrinth gave you those coordinates? Saying he would hide something helpful for you, Viscount? (Urben Havelion)
"That's right. And for your information, as I said before, he claimed he was from the past." (Bjorn Yandel)
"Hah…" (Urben Havelion)
The GM seemed to be pondering whether I was being serious or not.
It wasn't that I didn't understand.
It was just that unbelievable of a story.
But perhaps he sensed I wasn't joking?
"If what you say is true, Viscount, then it must be one of two possibilities." (Urben Havelion)
After thinking for a short while, the GM finally spoke.
"Two possibilities?" (Bjorn Yandel)
"Yes. The first is that Arta truly used an ancient magi-tech device to enter the Labyrinth dimension from a past timeline." (Urben Havelion)
Hmm, I'd already thought of that, so I'll pass.
When there are even Evil Spirits who have crossed over from other dimensions, it wouldn't be impossible for a being to enter the Labyrinth directly.
Although, for some reason, I felt that possibility was low.
"What's the second?" (Urben Havelion)
"It could be a phenomenon caused by the nature of the Labyrinth." (Urben Havelion)
"Explain it simply." (Bjorn Yandel)
"You've been outside the fortress walls, Viscount, so you must know. The world beyond the walls is very similar to the Labyrinth, a world filled with monsters." (Urben Havelion)
Ah, now I see what he's getting at.
"The Labyrinth was clearly created in imitation of reality. The same could be true for the 'Arta' you met, Viscount." (Urben Havelion)
Arta had been talking about the 'original version'.
"It might be difficult to understand, so let me elaborate. In actual history, Arta succeeded in time travel and met 'A' from the future. For him, Arta buried a treasure deep underground even before the Mage Tower was built. However, for some reason, 'A' was unable to find that treasure." (Urben Havelion)
…
"The Labyrinth recreated that event based on history, and you, Viscount, experienced that recreated event from the position of 'A'." (Urben Havelion)
I was grateful for the detailed explanation, but it wasn't the novel idea I had been hoping for.
After all, I had thought of that possibility myself.
No, in fact, I believed this was the most likely possibility.
The Labyrinth's hidden pieces always had an original that served as their motif.
But if there was one thing that bothered me…
"Then what about the Royal Family or the Mage Tower? Didn't they already know this was buried here?" (Bjorn Yandel)
"Uh… I'm not sure about that. But isn't it possible there's some conspiracy or secret history we don't know about? Perhaps they didn't know the exact location…" (Urben Havelion)
What nonsense.
Just a moment ago, he was making a fuss about how it could be a treasure hidden by the Mage Tower or the Royal Family.
Despite opening up and asking for advice, I hadn't gained much.
"Tsk." (Bjorn Yandel)
It seems I have no choice but to find out myself.
—
I had expected it, but reviving the community using the gem took quite some time.
Even though I gave him the gem to research as he pleased, there had been no significant progress yet.
However, it wasn't a total loss.
"From now on, I intend to call this gem the 'Fragment of Origin'." (Urben Havelion)
He had given the gem a name.
And a meaningful one at that: 'Fragment of Origin'.
"… Is it related to the Power of Origin?" (Bjorn Yandel)
Having explored Arta's Secret Base, it was hard for me to think he had just chosen a cool-sounding name.
So, I persistently questioned him about the reason for giving it such a name, and after a moment's hesitation, he honestly revealed the truth.
"Someone I know once gave a similar name to an object like this." (Urben Havelion)
"Who is this person…?" (Bjorn Yandel)
"His name is Auril Gavis. He is an incredible Mage, not well-known to the public." (Urben Havelion)
Right, that old man.
After all, the original owner of the community was that very same old man.
The GM had received authority from that old man to manage it, and for some reason, the old man had unilaterally shut down the community's server.
'Fragment of Origin, you say…?'
In any case, hearing this gave me a lot to think about.
First, the fact that it's called a 'fragment' suggests it's not in a complete state…
Well, if I gather all these fragments, will I gain the Power of Origin and be able to create a new Labyrinth or something?
I don't know yet.
But if I keep researching, I might be able to figure something out.
Anyway, I'll set this issue aside for now.
Swish.
I slowly tilt my head back and look up.
No, to be precise, I look at the black spire that soars endlessly into the sky.
"Oh…! It's really tilted!" (Misha Karlstein)
"Even seeing it up close, if it's this much… isn't that pretty serious, meow?" (Misha Karlstein)
The Mage Tower, which had always stood tall in the same spot, was now slightly tilted, like a certain tower in Europe.
It was probably the effect of the collapsed tunnel below.
Of course, people were completely unaware of that fact, so the case of the tilting Mage Tower became quite a hot topic.
Thanks to that, the number of tourists increased, revitalizing the surrounding commercial district…
"Wow, there are so many people… Can't you get a little bigger, meow? So I can sit on your shoulder." (Misha Karlstein)
"You think I can?" (Bjorn Yandel)
I chuckled and ruffled Misha's hair.
The Mage Tower plaza was currently packed with a huge crowd.
However, they weren't just here to see the tilted Mage Tower.
There was another event today.
"Oh, they're coming…!" (Misha Karlstein)
Amidst the murmurs of the crowd, a long procession approached from the distance.
A procession like that of criminals bound by ropes.
"It's those Noark curs!" (Citizen)
"Damn them…!" (Citizen)
"Die! Die!" (Citizen)
The crowd hurled curses, while the Noark citizens, protected by soldiers, walked down the main road as if being escorted to prison.
This was the method of 'influx' that the Rafdonia Royal Family and Noark had finally agreed upon.
"Because of you, I lost my home and my family!" (Citizen)
"Die!" (Citizen)
Officially, Noark had been defeated.
They had surrendered completely, and now they were on their way to the Imperial Capital to be judged.
And…
'They will be sentenced to serve the nation in the form of labor.'
The citizens were ecstatic watching them being dragged away like criminals, but I knew this was all a well-written script.
Was that why?
"Diiiiie!!" (Man)
A man from the crowd rushing into the procession didn't seem like a coincidence at all.
Shunk!
A dagger plunged into the stomach of a Noark man whose arms were bound.
But was this perhaps his first time stabbing someone with a knife?
"Huh, huh huh…" (Man)
The one who was stabbed stood still, while the one who did the stabbing looked dazed, letting go of the dagger and stumbling backward.
An expression that seemed to say, "What have I done?"
The Noark man with the knife in him trudged toward the other man.
"Huh…!" (Man)
"Kyaaah…!" (Onlooker)
As the large-framed Noark man, who looked like he could kill several grown men in an instant even with his hands cuffed, approached the man, the onlookers cried out in alarm.
Ah, but of course, what they expected didn't happen.
Thud.
The fierce-looking Noark man did not get angry at the man who stabbed him.
He didn't complain about being unfairly treated, asking what they had done wrong.
He just knelt and shed tears endlessly.
"Sorry… I'm so sorry…" (Noark Man)
…
"I did it because I wanted to live, too… Because I was born in that underground den… Because they told me I had to fight…" (Noark Man)
The Noark man cried and begged like a child, and the dazed man, stunned once more, blankly asked his age.
"Seventeen… I'm seventeen…" (Noark Man)
"Seventeen, with that build?" (Man)
It was hard to believe, but looking closely, I could see youthful features here and there.
"You're… the same age as my son." (Man)
"S-sorry…" (Noark Man)
"Why, at such a young age…" (Man)
Seeing the numerous scars carved into the large body, the man was once again at a loss for words.
In Rafdonia, it was an age where one couldn't even enter the Labyrinth.
But in Noark, that was the norm.
In a city where strength was everything, beyond the reach of society's systems and rules, would anyone care about age?
"I'm sorry… I wanted to live… For causing trouble…" (Noark Man)
The Noark man pressed his forehead to the dirty ground and wept in apology, and the other man could do nothing more.
Soon enough, the soldiers who had been observing restrained the man holding the knife by grabbing both his arms.
And…
Click, click!
The reporters captured that moment with their magical tools.
