Fallen Scholar's signature flame magic was as inexorable as his notoriety. Even with countless helpers arriving from all over the city, all they could do was prevent the flames from spreading further. In the end, the fire was extinguished only after teachers from seven different schools worked together to cast a spell.
¡Shaaaaa!
The rain fell as if a hole had appeared in the sky.
«Woahhhhhhh!» Some cheered as they saw the fire lose its power, others felt silently relieved, and some even collapsed to the ground as if they had no energy to even scream. For reference, I was in this last group.
«...Maldite sea.»
It was finally over. My heated body quickly cooled and the tension was released at the same time. I collapsed on the spot, lay down on the ground and immediately regretted it.
«And».
The ground was warm. The ash that had been flying all night mixed with the rainwater and became sticky. It was an environment where it was difficult for a human not to feel uncomfortable. However, I couldn't bother getting up again. How long was I like this with my eyes closed?
«Oh, what the hell! I thought you had hurt yourself». When I opened my eyes, I saw Raven above me. «...But you're not really hurt, are you?».
«I'm just resting from exhaustion, so don't talk to me».
«If you are going to rest, you should go home and wash prop-»
«Later.»
«Okay. Since you've worked hard...»
After lying down for a few more minutes, I got up. The water reached my ears. The drainage was not very good here.
«...You look like a mess.»
«I don't think that's something I should say, Mr. Yandel.»
We headed towards the untouched district of the city with dark bleach dripping from us. I could see people here and there. There were those who desperately searched for the people they had lost, and those who searched through the rubble in search of a survivor. They were all in a similar state to ours.
«What time is it, by the way?»
«It's almost noon.»
Noon on June 2nd, huh? Was curious. Normally the only people who looked like this at this time were the explorers.
«The rain stopped.»
The wizards seemed to have released the spell as the dark clouds filling the sky dissipated and warm rays of light began to shine.
«Bjorn!» I managed to see Missha from afar. Ainar and Erwen were at his side. It seemed like they had come after hearing the news in the middle of the night. Seeing that they were in a similar state to ours, it seemed that these guys also worked hard to put out the fire all night. «...You're not hurt, are you?»
I was worried to hear some complaints but Missha surprisingly didn't say anything. It was because of the people around her.
«B-Baronet Yandel...!» These were the few survivors I rescued last night. Right, I was sure she couldn't ask why I did that in front of these people.
«Why are you still here? You should all be resting».
When I asked in confusion, the survivors hesitantly thanked me and left. Did they really wait to say those few words?
So at least don't be afraid of me, being a nobleman.
I chuckled and continued walking. Soon, the eastern district appeared that had not been swallowed by the fire. First, I got accommodation nearby. We couldn't bring a carriage home looking like this, could we? It would take us at least a few hours to get home, but for now I just wanted to rest.
I wonder how much it costs to spend a night in Karnon...
As it was the royal capital I expected it to be much more expensive than the Kommelby shopping district, but today I couldn't find out the price because it was free.
«Our manager has instructed us not to accept money from anyone today». All nearby accommodations offered rooms free of charge for city people and explorers who had come to put out the fire. «Before uploading, I need you to sign the registration... Baronet Bjorn Yandel...?!»
«¿Sí?»
«I've heard a lot about you. That you worked the hardest of all today... I want to thank you on behalf of the city.»
I didn't know if it was because of my title or my reputation, but the counter staff assigned me the largest room that was entirely left for me. Apparently, the room on the other side was shared by fifteen people. Since there was a living room, three bedrooms and two bathrooms, it was not uncomfortable to share it with five.
«Bjorn, you should use one of the bathrooms first. We'll take turns using the other one».
«Thank you». I did not reject the consideration of my team and went to the bathroom to clean myself. Although I showered as quickly as I could, it took about an hour.
I will wash the borrowed equipment and return it later...
I gathered the equipment he had taken from me in a corner of the room, lay down on the bed and closed my eyes. The bed was soft, as befits a hotel in the royal capital of Karnon. Tiredness immediately came over me.
Anyway, I wonder how it went in the maze. Did the army win? I'm also curious about that side...
Well, I was sure I could look into that starting tomorrow. Sleep came to me with that as my last thought and when I opened my eyes the next day, the royal army that had descended underground had returned.
«It's the army!»
Thanks to that, my mind was scrambled.
What had happened down there?
Looking at the army moving along the path towards the palace from the window, no traces of battle could be found.
***
In the dark underground, where no light penetrated, thousands of people walked in a row, leaning on torches. They were all inhabitants of Noark.
«Over here.» An unknown old man led the march on the front line and the city's ruler, the lord of the castle, followed right behind him.
«My Lord, we do not know who that man is. We have to head somewhere else now while c...»
«Watch your words. Right now, the only one we can trust is that man».
«But how can he know a shortcut that not even we know about? It's too suspicious. It could be the palace playing tricks...»
«Enough.» The lord of the castle severely cut off the vassal's words. It was understandable that they suspected the old man, in addition to expressing strong anxiety, but a palace trick? That was too adventurous. If it weren't for that old man, everyone present would have disappeared along with the city of Noark. «We have no choice. Trust him», murmured the lord of the castle in a weak voice, remembering the events from before.
It was just after midnight when the troops attacked, just as all the troops in the city entered the labyrinth. The royal army destroyed the barrier that had been protecting the city all this time and began to advance.
«My Lord, the royal army has invaded!»
«Take all civilians to the shelter».
Stunned for a moment, the lord of the castle led everyone left in the city and they hid in the shelter under the fortress. It was a shelter built by a royal in the distant past that could house thousands of people. At that time, Noark's fortress functioned as a royal castle, around the time the witch's curse brought destruction to the world. Humanity gathered from all corners of the continent, established an underground city and, expanding the protective barrier, kept life there for a long time, until they came to the surface. This was also the reason for the existence of the labyrinth portal.
It may or may not have been lucky, but the palace did not show much interest in its refuge. It was for a very understandable reason: Once the portal was opened, explorers would emerge. For the palace, the priority was to defeat the explorers. Afterwards there would be no problem destroying the shelter.
«Yes, they have camped in the square and are not making any movement. It seems that they are waiting for the portal to open».
«Sends communication to the surface».
In the end the lord of the castle asked for support from above. Then the Fallen Scholar burned the royal capital to attract attention.
Tertiary bastards.
The troops did not retreat to the city. Even the last hope, Fallen Scholar, lost contact at some point. Time continued to pass like this, until there were about twenty minutes left before the portal opened and the troops sent to spend their time in the labyrinth returned.
The lord of the castle commanded the remaining troops with the feeling of a person led to a dead end. It was the best thing I could do at that moment. I had no idea how many people would die, but it was the only way for at least a few more people to survive.
«Open the door!»
Just before the hour hand signaled twelve, the castle lord led the troops out of the shelter. Making their way through the soldiers waiting in front of them, they headed towards the square. The spectacle was even more desperate in person. Thousands of knights, even more soldiers, and magicians and priests were stationed everywhere, but it was too late to retreat. Soon, a blue light gathered in the center of the square and a portal opened, spilling explorers.
«The portal is opening!»
«¡Prepared!»
«W-what the hell!?»
«Army! It's the royal army!»
«Damn! No wonder there was no one inside!»
The scouts were bewildered by the soldiers who greeted them as soon as they returned to the city, but the incongruity they felt inside the labyrinth led them to quickly accept the situation.
«What are you doing? Are you going to die like this?»
«Hurry up and take out your knife, you bastard!»
The scouts immediately drew their weapons and prepared to respond, and the castle lord led his troops and turned his attention to the outskirts as far as possible. In doing so, he only gave one order.
«Run! Above ground!»
The best plan of action he could do was to save his own skin, save as many people as possible to plan for the future. But did that catch your eyes?
Soon, a gentleman arrived in front of him. The dazzling aura of the knight's sword attested to his identity.
«So the head of the insolent insurgents looked like this. I'm surprised. You seem more normal than I thought».
«Knight of Light...!»
This was the Commander of the First Royal Guard, Jerome Saintred. Possessing the nickname guardian of the palace, he was a talented knight who had great significance to Rafdonia.
«Don't worry. You're not going to die here. Just in case, I'll cut off your limbs and take you alive with us».
The Knight of Light brandished his sword. The lord of the castle, who had only spent a few years as an explorer at twenty and reached the fifth floor, could only watch.
¡Wooooom!
A flash of light followed the sword's path and dyed its sight white. But when the momentary flash went out and he opened his eyes, nothing had happened to the lord of the castle. His arms moved and both of his legs were still intact and standing. How had it happened?
Just when the question occurred to him, the old man appeared several meters tall.
«You still have work to do».
The battle around him had stopped at some point, and not voluntarily. Just as the Knight of Light pointed his sword at the castle lord's neck with trembling hands, no one here could do anything to harm another, as if that became the rule of this space.
«So, since everyone is here, on the go. Fortunately, this still works well».
When the old man waved his hand, a large magic circle began to emit a light on the city floor. It was the first manna he had ever felt in his life. With the old man's murmurs, the lord of the castle felt himself faint.
¡Flash!
When he came to, he was in a dark underground passage, and not only was the lord of the castle there. Everyone on Noark's side who was in that place was also in the passage.
«W-What have you done!?»
«Multiteleportation? It is impossible to move so many people at once...»
Although very few, there were some knights who came with them.
«It seems that there has been a mistake in transferring so many at the same time. Oh, I didn't bring them on purpose so don't listen to me and kill them».
Like a man possessed, the lord of the castle ordered what the old man said and massacred the knights. He began to follow the old man, who smiled mysteriously at his question about where that place was. Time passed like this.
«Are you the person I think you are?» The lord of the castle woke up from his thoughts when he heard a man's voice. Surprisingly, the leader of Orcules was speaking to the man with honorifics.
«Well, if there are no questions, there are no answers».
«So I must think for myself. Okay.»
The leader who had divided Noark's forces and confronted them in many areas, meekly bowed his head and retreated. While that was a strange sight, on the other hand, the castle lord further increased his doubts about the old man.
Who is this man?
There was even debate about asking the leader of Orcules. The leader was also the one who ordered his members to stay still and not act hastily as soon as they were teleported. It had to be because I knew something.
But there's no way that man can tell me that easily.
Instead of asking the leader for his identity, the castle lord approached the old man and actively attempted a conversation that he was previously unable to have due to an unknown concern. Surprisingly, the old man was very friendly.
«Oh, you mean that teleportation? I just borrowed the power of an ancient city magic circle, so don't think so badly of me. The same goes for being able to stop the battle temporarily. That's how well designed Noark is as a city».
«I had no idea something like that existed...»
«Haha, it would be strange if that were the case, so don't be too discouraged. So are those all your questions?»
The lord of the castle asked the old man this and that and the old man answered all of them except the question of where he was going. After a long time had passed like this, the narrow passage gradually widened and a sloping path appeared.
«We have already arrived».
«Where are we...?»
Climbing a hill, the outside world appeared. The lord of the castle could say with certainty that he had never seen this spectacle before, the bright sunlight, the forest, the flowing stream, the chirping of birds and worms writhing on the wet ground. And on top of that...
«No walls...?»
The castle walls that should be visible from anywhere were not there. Simply put, it meant that they were not inside Rafdonia, which they referred to as the last fortress.
«W-where is this place...?», the castle lord murmured blankly and turned to the old man.
Through the bare chin under the hood, he could see the old man smiling. «Congratulations. You will now be recorded as the first people to leave the city in thousands of years».
New World 154, June 2 The era of life trapped within the castle walls had finally come to an end, and a new world had opened.