Chapter 100

Water in test tubes, water in bottles, water in basins, water in bathtubs, water in tanks, water in pools deep as swimming pools… everywhere one looked in that laboratory, there was nothing but water.

Pan-Dalus appeared there with a tense face.

“How is it?”

The lead researcher approached and answered.

“The anomalies we saw yesterday are occurring between 1 and 50 percent per minute. It’s decreased from yesterday, but it’s still unstable and fluctuating.”

Deep wrinkles formed between Pan-Dalus’s brows.

“The cause?”

“…We can’t determine it at all. We’ve only observed slight reactions from the mana coins when the anomalies occur. It seems to be some kind of natural magic.”

“Could it be a calamity?”

“We can’t confirm yet since none of the protective wards have shown any reaction.”

Whoosh!

Just then, water shot upward from a test tube placed beside Pan-Dalus. With rattling sounds, water in all sorts of containers began to swirl. The lead researcher, who had been observing this, continued in a somewhat unnerved voice.

“Livestock that drank the anomalous water showed symptoms of diarrhea but no signs of poisoning. However, starting yesterday and continuing today, we’ve received reports of many civilians experiencing dizziness and seizures. If this phenomenon continues to be observed, it might be classified as a new form of ‘water calamity.'”

The lead researcher spoke with a concerned voice. Pan-Dalus mulled over those words.

“A water calamity… I hope that’s all it is…”

“Pardon?”

“Nothing. In any case, continue your research. I have a bad feeling about this.”

“Yes. I’ll do my best.”

The lead researcher bowed deeply and withdrew. Principal Ruttle, who had been standing back, approached. He studied Pan-Dalus’s rigid expression.

“Is something troubling you?”

“Indeed. Very troubling.”

“…But new calamities are born quite often, aren’t they?”

Pan-Dalus didn’t look toward Principal Ruttle. Instead, he watched the water shooting upward and then settling back down as he spoke.

“Calamity? Is that really what this is? The same phenomenon has been reported from the upper floors of the tower down to the lower floors… even outside the tower. Have you ever seen records of natural magic affecting the entire world like this?”

“…Nothing comes to mind.”

“I have seen it. Most mages who study ancient civilizations have.”

“What records are those?”

“Actually, they’re not proper records. They’re traces from extremely ancient records. Among them, records about this phenomenon are particularly poorly preserved and sparse. Just some fragments from wall paintings or ceiling murals in deteriorated relic sites, a few scribbled lines in ancient books. But do you know why these vague and ambiguous records are important?”

“…I’m not sure.”

“Because they were the final records.”

“Pardon?”

“For any civilization that existed in ancient times, those were their final records! Records hinting at worldwide natural magic are always among the last records left by a civilization. Every civilization perished after leaving them!”

“Are you saying… this phenomenon is a harbinger of extinction?”

Ruttle’s eyes narrowed. Pan-Dalus saw his expression and smiled bitterly.

“Yes. Of course, it’s merely a hypothesis. Many researchers of ancient civilizations disagree. But… what’s important is that I believe in this hypothesis, Principal Ruttle.”

“Yes.”

“We must begin moving in earnest. Time is running out. We need to secure passages up to at least the 20th floor, preferably the 30th. Within the next five years.”

Principal Ruttle wore an awkward expression.

“But… no one will willingly give up their stairs. Even within the Academy…”

In his mind, a complex map of the Tower of Covenant took shape.

Currently, humanity had advanced to the 89th floor of the Tower of Covenant. However, the path to the 89th floor was incredibly complicated.

Between floors stretched the ‘event horizon,’ meaning one could only pass to the next floor through narrow passages called ‘stairs.’ On the lower floors, there were many large and small stairs leading to the next level, making movement relatively free. But beyond the 10th floor, the number of stairs decreased significantly, and conflicts frequently arose due to the six major mage organizations—seven if you counted the Knight Order—and independent mages trying to control these crucial points.

Higher floors in the Tower of Covenant meant greater opportunities and geographical advantages, so everyone was desperate to dominate the upper floor stairs. As a result, no single group had managed to control a continuous path from the 1st floor to the 89th. Even the Society, currently the most powerful faction, had to pass through territories controlled by allied groups, breakthrough neutral zones without owners, or traverse jointly guarded areas to reach the 89th floor. The path was often so convoluted that one might climb up to the 50th floor, then descend back to the 25th, weaving up and down for a considerable distance.

‘Secure stairs up to at least the 20th floor? Even with the Academy’s backing, that would be difficult… for the Mage of Domestication who’s been exiled here?’

Principal Ruttle had to carefully consider how to respond to this seemingly absurd statement. But Pan-Dalus’s next words far exceeded Ruttle’s expectations.

“This is no time to be choosy about methods. It’s risky, but… with five years… we might be able to protect it.”

“Excuse me?”

Principal Ruttle was startled. ‘Protect it’? Was he planning to wage war? Without the Academy’s permission?

Pan-Dalus placed a hand on Principal Ruttle’s shoulder.

“Nothing’s decided yet. I want to avoid extreme measures too, and we should hear from the field researchers and others soon. But that’s my thinking… five years might already be too late.”

Then he muttered.

“I’d like to hear the Divine Mage’s thoughts on this matter. He should return soon…”

Pan-Dalus let out a heavy sigh, withdrew his hand from Principal Ruttle’s shoulder, and shuffled out of the laboratory.

Principal Ruttle silently watched him leave.

Rumble!

Just then, the cold water bubbled up violently. An anomalous phenomenon with unknown cause. Principal Ruttle observed it without interest before frowning sharply.

“…What’s the big deal about this?”

Principal Ruttle kicked away a nearby water container and left the laboratory.

+ – + – +

“…The great cataclysm?”

Ann Jack snorted.

“Ha! Both the one who spouts such nonsense and my brother who believes it…”

She looked down at Lanciel City. Many people were moving about in flying carts, cleaning up the collapsed parts of the city.

In the city, magical devices were used not just for transportation and movement but even for heating food. Of course, this was only possible in cities. Without the ‘magical field’ flowing from ancient relics, there wouldn’t be enough mana to power all those magical devices.

“What? Mana is the essence of things? The ink that records the world? With thoughts like that, no wonder he makes such absurd claims… He says he came from another world? Doesn’t he know what mana is?”

Ann pulled out a 1-Morning mana coin from her pocket and flicked it into the air with a ping! The mana she knew was this world’s currency and the energy that allowed non-mages to use magical devices. With such obvious facts, she couldn’t understand what that white-haired boy was talking about.

“Ugh! I can’t get over it! What? The great cataclysm is approaching? Errors have appeared in the upper-level mana patterns? What does that have to do with water shooting upward? We might have to abandon the city? What nonsense is that?!”

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Telling a descendant of the Jack family, who had protected Lanciel City for generations, to abandon the city? Even more outrageous was that her brother hadn’t objected to these words. He had even said that after resolving this situation, she should follow him to Ganda’s Stairs on the 3rd floor. Ann had retorted:

“You’re joking, right, brother? If both of us leave, who will protect the city?”

To which Fel had replied:

“Ann. Forget everything you’ve taken for granted… You must forget. Not just you and me, but our citizens too must do the same.”

‘Why is he being so extreme?’

Ann wondered. Why were people who talked about ‘greater purpose’ so extreme? Her father had been the same, and now her brother too. Did they not see the ordinary people going about their daily lives?

Even now, citizens were sweating to rebuild the city. Despite everything, countless mana technicians were crafting necessary magical devices, and merchants were preparing to travel to the Tower of Covenant for trade. These seemingly mundane everyday activities were what allowed humanity to persist. Without the magical devices and equipment produced and distributed by cities, the wilderness dwellers couldn’t survive. Even the barriers protecting them were all produced in cities. Conversely, the magical materials and food collected from the wilderness were supplied to the Tower of Covenant through cities.

The lives of city dwellers might seem comfortable and complacent, but… they were actually saving the world. That’s what Ann believed.

But…

“Why… why does father’s gift respond to that boy? The ancient relic that the Jack family has treasured for generations, whose origins we can’t even guess, why does it respond to him? At this rate…”

Ann wrapped her arms around her shoulders.

“At this rate… it really seems like everything he says might be true. It really feels like… extinction could strike at any moment…”

She recalled “Lanciel’s Cube,” the family heirloom that her father, Earn Jack, had prepared as a gift for the Divine Mage.

Originally, she hadn’t wanted to give it away. It had only symbolic meaning with no practical use. She didn’t know why her father had wanted to gift it, but… it was just a square object treasured by the Jack family that had no use to others.

However, thinking it was her deceased father’s wish, she couldn’t refuse to give it.

But “Lanciel’s Cube”… once placed in Baek Jun-woo’s hands, had begun to speak. And it spoke something like an ominous prophecy…

+ – + – +

-What are those things in the sky?

Lanciel’s Cube asked. It was an item that Fel’s father had prepared, knowing that I had a great interest in ancient relics. Ann Jack had handed it to me hesitantly on the day we hurriedly left Lanciel City.

It was a connection formed that way.

“They’re called stars. They’re pieces of land that broke off from the world.”

-Has the world shattered? I cannot… share information with the main network. I cannot sense the main network. Have all the administrators truly perished?

“Yes. As far as I know.”

-…I recommend promptly constructing a detector. The materials required are… Error. Discrepancy detected between input information and observational data.

“Easy now, don’t be hasty. For now, we need to go to Ganda’s Stairs to meet Pan-Dalus.”

-…I cannot determine what has happened since I fell asleep, or how much time has passed. Too much of my memory has been lost; everything is confusing. I must find another administrator or the main network’s server.

“Right. We’ll look for them gradually.”

-I am… the… ego of the mobile forge. Through me, you can enter the workshop that exists in the subdimension at any time. I currently store information related to crafting recorded in the Akashic Record… Error. Input records do not match observational results. Error. Most input records have been lost. Administrator, please find another administrator or the main network’s server…

“Alright. Pull yourself together, man.”

An ego that had existed since mythical times. A being that remembered the mythical era. It was certainly a valuable connection, but… unfortunately, it wasn’t in its right mind.