Tick,tock, tick,tock...
The second hand of the clock made a complete turn, marking the beginning of the next minute, but I was still not called to the spirit world. After checking the date and time again, I even waited until dawn just in case my watch was broken, but nothing changed. How is it possible? I discussed the possibilities with Amelia all night and narrowed the list down to three explanations.
The first, that this incident was a singular and random error, completely accidental and not the result of someone's hand. There was a non-zero probability that this would be the case. Whether a device was electronic or magical, it had ultimately been created by a person. Although rare, there were times when even subspace rings malfunctioned and objects could not be removed from inside. However, the chance of that happening remained minimal.
The next one made more sense: Auril Gavis had forbidden me entry into the spirit world. This was a more likely hypothesis than number one. If you just watched how the old man treated me, anyone would say he had no reason to banish me, but then again, you could never read someone's mind. He couldn't rule out the possibility that it was some kind of trick on his part.
Finally, something out of his control could have happened to Auril Gavis. It was also a very plausible theory. In fact, I decided it was the most likely of the three. Although he couldn't even imagine what would have had to happen for that inhuman old man to get into trouble, after all this was a world full of monsters. Even he could have people he considered a threat, and the best example of this was the palace.
It doesn't matter, let's go to sleep.
Since I had no way of figuring out the answer, there was no point in spending more time worrying about it. So I decided to wait until the 15th of the following month to deal with this, and as the days passed, I entered the labyrinth once more.
«Hahaha! It's gone well again! If we continue like this, soon we will all be rich».
Nothing notable had happened in the labyrinth. All I did was spend my time looting the looters until the maze closed like last time.
When midnight on the 15th arrived again, things remained the same as last time.
«Didn't you go this time either?»
«...Sí.»
My mind remained in my body again even though it was time.
Ha, this is so frustrating...
What the hell was going on? As the walls continued to close in on us more and more, time continued its relentless march forward.
***
Wow, time flies.
I wiped the bitter smile off my face and folded the calendar in my hand before putting it in my pocket. Six months had already passed since the day I arrived in the past.
Diapositive.
When I got up and picked up my coat, Amelia asked without even looking in my direction: «Are you leaving today too?».
«Anyway, there's nothing to do here. And you?»
«I stay here».
After that arid conversation with Amelia, I left the inn. Most of our conversations were like this lately: short, superficial and always on an invisible edge.
How uncomfortable.
At first it was bearable, but now that there were just a few days left until D-Day, it had gotten much worse. That was because we hadn't found a good solution yet. The community had not opened even once since it closed so many months ago.
...Had he really banned me?
Now I was starting to think that was the case, which made me want to check it out. The chief of Orcules was in this underground city. If I asked him directly, I could find out if I was the only one they kicked out or if the community server wasn't working.
What am I thinking about? Not that that's going to change anything.
I sighed and walked through the streets of the underground city. I had become quite familiar with this place. Apart from the eastern district, where the oculi lived, I had memorized the main streets.
«Oh, Captain! You're here!» When I arrived at the clan base, located within the castle walls, Dumbo greeted me. After having delved into the maze with me for a few months, he was no longer as afraid of me as before. Rather, he behaved just like a henchman. «Come, come, sit here! Do you want to drink something?»
«Oh, Captain! You're here!» When I arrived at the clan base located within the castle walls, Dumbo greeted me. After having gone to the maze with me for a few months, he was no longer as afraid of me as before. Rather, he behaved just like a henchman. «Come, come, sit here! Do you want to drink something?»
«Something light.»
«Haha, wait a minute! I'll bring it right away!»
As I sat in the empty seat, acting arrogant, Dumbo quickly brought me a drink and sat next to me. Like a jukebox, a one-sided conversation began. Most of the talk was about rumors and recent events in the city, and his way of speaking was entertaining enough not to be boring.
«Oh, sure, captain. Have you heard that news about barbarian hearts?».
Suddenly, a topic came up that I couldn't ignore. «Hearts? What about them? Tell me».
«Oh, I guess you haven't heard? Well, they say that word has already spread in the Outer World that the hearts of barbarians are being sold at a high price because they can be used as magical ingredients.»
"...¿Which?"
The Magic Tower's announcement that barbarian hearts were a precious magical ingredient was supposed to be made in about ten years, long after the war between the elf and barbarian races. But was that story already circulating?
Did the future change because of me? No, that cannot be possible...
I asked Dumbo the details because I couldn't believe it, and he quickly clarified.
«Ah, it wasn't the Magic Tower that announced it. In reality it was just a false rumor».
«False rumor?»
«Apparently, a few months ago our commander asked the Melter trading company to spread that rumor throughout the world.»
That? But what...
Without further explanation, everything fell into place. It was natural. There was only one reason for clan leader Felic Barker to make that request to Noark's only merchant company and surface connection.
«I guess the commander thought spreading those rumors would make looters more susceptible to our tactics. Ah, but I don't think I expected the rumors to spread that far».
Dumbo seemed to think I didn't understand it because he gave me details I didn't even ask for. Apparently, in addition to spreading around the world, the rumor was also circulating in Noark.
When I heard that, a curse came from my lips. «Damn».
«...Sorry?»
«Silence.»
Dumbo fell silent at a single word from me and I calmly organized my thoughts, which were all mixed up. It would probably soon be revealed that it was a rumor.
But maybe this was the beginning...
This thought did not leave me. Perhaps it was because of these rumors that Felic Barker spread that some magicians began researching the topic, which then led to a price being put on barbarian hearts ten years in the future.
So does that mean I could be the cause of all that madness...?
It was still just a thought, but the problem was that it didn't seem like a logical leap at all.
«Dumbo, me voy.»
«Excuse me? Alright.
I wasn't in the mood to be socializing in the clan house, but when I left, I found that there was nowhere for me to go. I was walking inside the castle when an old man passing by suddenly stopped and started talking to me.
«You must be Iron Mask».
It was hard to ignore. Since this world was especially cruel to the elderly, a person had to have a certain level of ability to survive to that age.
«And who are you?» I asked cautiously.
The old man laughed and took out a mana stone from his pocket. «This is the kind of person I am». As soon as he opened his mouth, the manna stone shone and turned into bread. He was an alchemist, a transmuting mage who had the ability to turn mana stones into bread or iron.
I never thought I'd meet someone like that in the hallway.
In a way, an alchemist was a bigger fish than the lord of the castle or the chief of Orcules. At least, that's how it was in Noark. As far as I knew, there were only two alchemists here. The city would not immediately fall into ruin if the position of castle lord was not filled for a time, but if the position of alchemist became vacant, the city would collapse. This was not an exaggeration, but reality.
«Haha, judging by your surprise, I guess this is the first time you've seen alchemy».
First time seeing alchemy or not, I couldn't understand it. Who would have imagined that he would meet someone in a hallway who could be considered the very foundation of this city?
Wait, even if this is the castle, the alchemist wouldn't be foolish enough to wander around alone...
When I carefully looked around in disbelief, I perceived glances towards me from all sides. Since they were difficult to see with the naked eye, it seemed that all of them had an essence of concealment.
«You are more insightful than I thought. Don't worry too much. They are just this old man's guards».
Perception aside, they were the ones who let me feel their presence as if they had no intention of hiding it to begin with, almost as a kind of warning so that I wouldn't even think of doing anything stupid.
«Oh, anyway, I haven't told you my name yet. My name is Marfa Ipaello. You can call me whatever you prefer, but if I had to choose, I would prefer that you call me by my last name».
«...Iron Mask».
«I am aware. It is destiny that we have found ourselves like this. Why don't we talk for a moment?».
«Okay.» I accepted his offer without much hesitation. He could have been another alchemist famous for his short temper, but he knew this old man's name through Amelia.
This is the person who created the Blessing of Lethe.
For that alone it was worth talking to him.
«Hmm, you're as strong as they say. Come, let's go.»
As they say, huh? So this meeting was no coincidence, then. He came to see me.
Ipaello started walking down the hallway first, and I followed behind him. Although we were heading to the third floor, where access was restricted, no one stopped me because this man was next to me. That's how we arrived at the alchemist's workshop.
«We're fine from here, so everyone can get out».
It's something similar to a magician's laboratory, but something different.
I started scanning the surroundings as soon as I entered, and the old man kicked out the guards who were hiding before offering me a seat. «Sit down. If you want something to drink, tell me».
«I'm fine». Normally this was the time when I stubbornly demanded meat and asserted my dominance in the conversation, but this time I skipped it. If they caught me being rude, I'm sure Amelia would tell me off. This old man was the savior who welcomed Amelia at a young age. Even without considering his position, he couldn't treat him badly. Well, he couldn't use honorifics either, since he had to keep up appearances like a barbarian. «So why did you call me here?»
«I was wondering what kind of person you were. It's the first time I've heard those kids have so much fun talking about the maze».
«Those kids?» I asked, feigning ignorance.
«I mean Laura and Amelia. Sweet girls. Sometimes, when I feel alone, I call them to my workshop, give them a snack and ask them to chat with me for a while.»
«...Ya veo».
«I was quite worried, but now that I have met you, my worries have disappeared. They are unfortunate children. I hope you take good care of them».
«I will», I said nodding my head. Then, after thinking about it for a moment, I asked carefully: «But if you're going to ask me for a favor like that, wouldn't it be better if you took them in?».
«Haha, that's not easy for me right now». He spoke vaguely and omitted details, but I knew his situation to some extent.
At first, he could only provide them with snacks, but after the other alchemist's death, he removed Amelia from the team completely and raised her himself.
Previous attempts to eliminate them had probably failed because there were currently two alchemists in the city. As long as there was someone who could replace him, he could not enjoy absolute power.
«How are those girls these days?»
«Are well. I'm trying to prevent them from doing dangerous jobs as much as possible.»
«...Ya veo.»
After that, the natural topic of conversation was the Rainwales sisters. The alchemist Ipaello asked how the children were doing and I answered him honestly. Then, waiting for the right moment, I started talking. «But can you hear our conversation over there?».
«If you mean the guards, you can talk without hesitation. They won't hear it. Is there anything you want to ask?»
«Is there a way to eliminate the effects of an essence through alchemy?».
«Effects? If you mean poison, it is possible...». The old man answered my question without much thought before interrupting her. «...Are you talking about the Unhealthy Contract?».
«Could be». I shrugged. Was that enough of an answer?
«...That is beyond the realm of alchemy».
«Ya veo.»
«Yes, unfortunately». Ipaello smiled bitterly. I was disappointed too, but I didn't let it show. Yes, it made sense that something that didn't exist in the game didn't exist in the past either. «Is there anything else you're curious about?».
Ipaello seemed to like him very much considering how nice he was being, so I asked him about the pill called Lethe's Blessing. But his reaction to my question was a little strange.
«Blessing Lethe? What is that?»
«The... medicine that erases memories».
«Ah, that! But that medicine still has no name...»
Uh, I didn't expect that...
«But Lethe, huh? Doesn't sound bad. It is also very romantic to compare oblivion with a blessing».
I let out a silent sigh of relief at that. No wonder his name was Lethe.
«Okay, I was wondering what name to give it, so I guess I can go with that one».
I never thought this would be the backstory.