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Episode 36
Their circumstances (5)
Riley, who had been listening to me silently, finally answered after much thought.
‘I can learn it.’
[huh?]
‘I want to learn ancient magic.’
[… … .]
no.
What on earth did he hear me say?
[What are you saying? Since the war is over, ancient magic is no longer useful?]
‘it’s okay.’
Riley said in a flat voice.
‘If we hold out and hold out until war breaks out again, one day even ancient magic will see the light of day… ‘
[Stop talking nonsense.]
‘yes.’
I wasn’t in the mood for a lame joke.
‘Still, it’s a bit of a shame.’
[what.]
‘It would be cool if I could part the sea with just one magic spell.’
[… … .]
Yeah, well.
It must be cool.
[But wake up from the dream.]
‘why.’
[In the first place, ancient magic isn’t something that you can use all at once just by learning it.]
It takes a lot of effort to learn ancient magic.
In order to effectively “chant”, you must study the ancient runes, as well as memorize several prayers.
Even the magical circuits engraved within the body must be transformed… … .
This meant that everything Riley had built up so far would have to be reset and start anew.
‘… … I have to reset everything and start over?’
[huh.]
Naturally, Riley can no longer use the magic she has learned so far.
Pathfinding, Magic Missile, and Dispel, all of it.
[I’m going to completely turn your greatest strength, mana affinity, back to nothing. Is that okay with you?]
‘Ugh… … .’
Riley shook her head, her lips licking her lips.
‘I don’t like that. I guess I’ll just have to learn ancient magic in my next life.’
[… … I’ll cheer you on.]
If there is a next life, that is.
* * *
Maybe we moved for another 2 hours or so from there?
Finally, we were able to encounter the Golden Golem for the first time.
‘… … There are other people too.’
Riley, hiding behind a pillar, pointed straight ahead without saying a word.
As she said, we saw passengers who had arrived long before us.
“… … .”
“… … .”
Three wizards sat in a circle around the fallen golem, keeping watch in all directions.
Judging by the obvious signs of exhaustion, it seems that the operation to capture the golden golem was extremely difficult.
“Those guys… …. They just subdued the golem and didn’t take out the core?”
Becky whispered quietly to Riley.
After hearing her words, we looked at the golden golem again with great concentration.
[… … It’s true.]
As Becky said, the test takers did not extract the golden golem’s core.
Instead, he simply tied the golem up using a net entangled with magical powers.
“Crrrrrrr!”
Buzz─, buzz─!
A golem struggling and resisting. One of the wizards, unable to stand it any longer, used lightning magic to stun the creature.
“Keeek… … .”
“… … .”
Riley, who had been silently watching the situation, asked in a puzzled voice.
‘Why did you go through the trouble of capturing a golem? You could have just killed it and taken out its core.’
[Well.]
I was curious about the reason too.
Is there any special reason why I shouldn’t kill that golden golem?
[……uh?]
Right then.
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Something came into my sight.
The lining visible between the golem’s torn legs.
What a familiar scaly skin you can see underneath.
[ah.]
I could tell immediately what the leather was.
[It’s dragon skin.]
‘yes?’
[Dragon skin. See those scales? On the wound on the golem’s leg?]
‘ah.’
Riley, who was examining the golem as I said, glared at it. She also seemed to have noticed the scales protruding from the wound on its leg.
‘If it’s dragon skin… … it’s a top-tier artifact that ignores even the most common “magic detection”.’
[huh.]
‘There was a reason why the core’s magic was faintly felt even though the golden golem was so close.’
Riley nodded, as if she finally understood, and continued speaking.
‘Then, if they take out the golem’s core… … .’
[The core that was hidden under the dragon’s skin until now will reveal its presence.]
Riley’s expression contorted.
‘Then, the test takers who sensed that magic will rush in and a fight will unfold like before.’
[huh.]
‘So you deliberately captured the golem instead of killing it. You wanted to hold out until the end of the test and take out the core at the last moment.’
[That’s correct.]
Perhaps because he is a former Letemis cadet, he is quick to understand what is being said.
[Anyway, these five great magic towers are really cunning.]
Although it may seem like there is an element of luck involved in the selection test, when you actually look at the contents, that is not the case at all.
Think about it.
What would have happened if the underpowered team had gotten lucky and captured the Golden Golem?
You must have extracted the core without knowing anything and thought it was good.
Then, other test takers who sensed the core’s magical power would rush in, and the team that first discovered the golden golem would have been beaten to death.
‘No matter how lucky you are to find the golden golem, teams without the skills would have been eliminated.’
[huh.]
And if you think about it the other way around… … .
[You have to watch out for them, Riley.]
“… … .”
I continued speaking, looking at the candidates who had captured the golden golem.
[These guys didn’t fall into the trap set by the five magic towers. That means they are also magicians with quite excellent skills.]
Riley took a deep breath after hearing what I said and nodded slowly.
‘Okay. I’ll be careful.’
After finishing her answer, she turned her head towards her companions.
Then he started explaining to them, one by one, what he had talked about with me.
“Hmm… … .”
Becky, who had been listening to Riley’s explanation in silence, smiled meaningfully.
She said, glancing at the other person.
“In short, aren’t you saying that we should be careful when fighting them because they are strong?”
“uh…….”
Riley, swallowing her sigh, nodded reluctantly.
“Well… … . It feels like a lot of the content was omitted, but yes. That’s the gist of it.”
“Then it’s nothing.”
Becky looked confident.
“Fighting strong guys is something we’ve always done.”
As soon as she finished speaking, she jumped out from the pillar she had been hiding under.
“What, what… … !”
Becky’s sudden intrusion.
The person who sensed the presence jumped up from his seat in surprise.
“Okay, let’s go!”
Becky started to use her magic powers, whether or not she did.
A strong magical power came from her palm.
Woof─!
“Hahahaha!”
At that moment, Becky burst into laughter and ran towards her opponent.
“surrender!”
“……huh?”
A sudden sound was heard.
“Surrender! I surrender!”
As soon as he finished speaking, a middle-aged wizard who appeared to be the team leader fell to the floor.
“… … Huh?”
“……uh?”
[……huh?]
Panicked voices echoed everywhere.
“What, what are you talking about? Are you kidding me? Come on, you little shits!”
“… … .”
Becky stopped walking and shouted in a panicked voice.
Her pupils began to shake wildly as she was so embarrassed.
But she wasn’t the only one who was surprised.
“Huh, Master? What are you doing…?”
“Everyone, everyone, shut up and get down right now! If you don’t, we’ll all die!”
“… … ?”
The wizard who appeared to be the leader cried with a trembling voice.
His teammates began to take notice, one by one. When one of them belatedly fell to the ground, the other teammates reluctantly followed suit.
Thud─.
“… … .”
“… … .”
The battle was over in an instant.
[what.]
I muttered in a dumb voice, staring at my opponent who was lying face down on the floor without any resistance.
[… … What the heck?]
No, what is it?
Why are they surrendering without even fighting us?
“Riley.”
It was then that Becky, with a trembling expression, cautiously opened her mouth.
“They’re supposed to be strong guys. But they surrender without even putting up a fight with us?”
“uh…….”
“Are these guys really that strong?”
After pondering Becky’s question for a moment, Riley came up with a new guess.
“Could it be because of Ms. Becky?”
“Is it because of me?”
“Yes. Becky’s notoriety is well-known even in the magical world. That’s why I surrendered as soon as I saw Becky’s face.”
It was a plausible guess.
Surely, it would be terrifying if a person known as a notorious serial killer appeared before your eyes.
It wouldn’t be strange if the will to fight was lost naturally.
Prejudice was that scary.
Sometimes it can be a more powerful weapon than anything else.
“Please!”
As if to prove my words, the leader banged his head hard against the ground of the ruins and pleaded… … .
“Oh, Olivia!”
[……huh?]
But it wasn’t Becky he was seeking mercy from.
“Please, don’t use torture magic!”
“… … .”
“Wow, I’ll just hand over the Golden Golem’s core. Please… … . Please, not the torture magic… … .”
[… … ?]
Swish─.
After hearing his words, our eyes all turned to one place.
“Uh, uh, that, that, that, that is… … .”
Olivia just fiddled with her fingers and stuttered as usual.
She muttered with an awkward smile.
“That person, that person, that person is that person.”
“… … .”
“Thank you for helping me pass the first test… … .”
When Riley and I heard that, we both sighed at the same time.
“ah.”
[ah.]
oh my god.
What a coincidence.
* * *
“Gurrung… … .”
“Shh. Stay still.”
Riley sat the golden golem on her lap and gently stroked its back.
Warm hands.
Even the golem that had been resisting occasionally soon completely let down its guard.
Eventually, the guy started acting cute and making pleasant noises.
‘It’s like a dog.’
[what?]
‘No, I mean, like a puppy.’
[… … .]
Although the feel was a little strange.
Yeah, well.
As Riley said, the golden golem had a lot in common with a puppy.
It looks exactly like a sphinx, a feline.
‘I’m going to name him Toby.’
[… … ?]
Or so you say.
“Choose.”
“Hey, let me pet it too. It looks really cute… … .”
“Crunch!”
“Ahhh, sh*t! Hey! That little shit bit me! Aahhh! Blood! I’m bleeding!”
Becky started to freak out even though it wasn’t a big wound.
Riley looked at the sight and asked with a pitiful expression.
“are you okay?”
“Not okay! Ugh, chew! It stings so bad!”
[… … .]
It’s noisy.
It’s really noisy.
‘Anyway, this is a really crazy team.’
Riley sighed and ignored Becky. She had been with him all day, so she must have gotten used to things like that.
“Gurrung… … .”
“… … .”
Riley, who was stroking the golden golem’s back, changed the subject in a quiet voice.
‘I’m glad I got the golden golem without any fighting.’
[I know.]
As Riley said, it was really fortunate that the opponent readily handed over the golden golem.
As I always say, it’s best to avoid unnecessary engagements.
Because within a historic site, any minor variables must be reduced to a minimum.
Of course, Becky, who loved fighting, seemed dissatisfied with that fact… … .
Well, that’s none of our business.
“Hey, you idiot.”
Becky, who had just finished stopping the bleeding, called out to Olivia in a grumbling voice.
“You must have a secret talent for torture magic, don’t you? Seeing how the leader of that side fell over and tucked his tail between his legs as soon as he saw you?”
“Heh, heh heh… … .”
Olivia answered with an awkward smile.
“That’s the only ancient magic I know how to use, but I trained hard for it.”
“This one is really scary. Do you really like learning magic to torture others?”
“Anyway, that’s also a type of ancient magic.”
Olivia continued speaking in a bright voice, her expression full of pride.
“I love all things ancient magic.”
“Anyway, I’m telling you, this guy is a real idiot.”
I don’t know who is calling whom.
If there are ranks in Torai, then Becky is no slouch. She’s one of the few I’ve ever seen in my life.
“By the way, you idiot. Are you from the South?”
“……yes yes?”
Becky’s somewhat unexpected questions continued.
But Olivia looked surprised when she heard that.
“Oh, how did you know?”
“How do you know? You can tell just by looking at it.”
Becky continued.
“Whenever you speak normally, you have a subtle southern accent mixed in.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Especially when he’s in a state of panic, he keeps mumbling something in a dialect. Didn’t you know?”
“That, that is… … .”
I was quietly listening to their conversation when I interrupted.
[Well, even to me, Olivia looks like a southerner.]
‘why?’
[There are a lot of crazy people living in the South. If you look closely, those who are particularly crazy are all from the Southern region.]
Riley made a reluctant expression.
‘Isn’t that a regionalist remark?’
[… … .]
no.
This was the data I had accumulated over tens of thousands of years of living.
The southern part of the empire was home to a particularly large number of mentally ill people.
There were several reasons for this, but if I had to point out one, it would be that the geographical environment of the southern part of the empire played a large part.
The phenomenon of white nights that occurred along with the vast plains was enough to make people’s minds strange…
‘That’s regional discrimination.’
[No, really? You’ll realize it as you get older. There are so many crazy guys from the South.]
‘I’m disappointed. You say such morally wrong things so casually.’
I answered in an absurd voice.
[Since when have you been concerned about morality?]
I’m speechless because of this ridiculousness.
It was just then.
“Oh, that’s funny. I’m from the South too.”
“yes?”
“I’m from the South, just like you.”
“Ah! Really? Nice to meet you! You’re from my hometown!”
As soon as Becky revealed that she was from the South, Riley’s expression slowly began to decay.
‘Your Majesty.’
[why.]
‘Did you know that there are a lot of Torai in the southern region? I just found out today.’
[You crazy bastard.]
That’s what I just told you.
[And just a moment ago, you were saying not to discriminate based on region. Why are you suddenly sitting there doing that?]
‘When did I tell you not to discriminate based on regionalism?’
[and.]
anyhow.
You’re so shameless and dirty.
[… … Is this the evil of children’s fairy tales of the thieves’ guild?]
Anyway, I don’t know why that Uncle Robert wrote such a crappy fairy tale and ruined the child.
I bet Riley would be impressed by fairy tales like “Pinocchio’s Long Nose and Happiness.”
If not, then Riley’s personality of spouting jokes without any reason could not be explained.
‘How did you know? One of my favorite children’s books was ‘Pinocchio’s Happiness Because His Nose Was Long.’
[what.]
Was there really such a crappy book?
‘Of course not. I was just saying.’
[… … .]
‘I’m sorry. I think I’ve become mentally unstable after being locked in the ruins all day.’
[……huh.]
It occurred to me that perhaps the Thieves’ Guild had picked Riley up in the southern part of the Empire.
* * *
It’s already been 20 hours since we entered the ruins.
4 hours until the exam ends.
After securing the golden golem, we hid in a corner of the ruins and waited for the test to end.
“Cool… … .”
“Koooo… … .”
Becky and Olivia were lying down, exhausted and asleep.
They looked very peaceful sleeping together, each using their shoulders as pillows.
Riley was unfolding “Pathfinding” while looking at them.
It was to detect the approach of other applicants like radar, just in case.
“Haam… … .”
Yawning with a tired expression, Riley slowly stroked the golden golem sleeping on her lap, and soon opened her mouth.
‘It’s been a really long day.’
[huh.]
It was so fucking long.
It was such a tough day.
[But, what, just hold on a little longer?]
4 hours.
Just have to hold out for four more hours.
Then this damn test will be over.
Recalling that fact, I sighed in relief again.
[Phew… … .]
okay.
It seemed that I would pass this second screening test without any problems.
As long as other applicants don’t attack in the meantime… … .
Kwakwakwakwakwa─! Dismissed─!
‘… … It’s an attack.’
[… … .]
I should have just kept quiet.
