Silent Magus

“Where is that place?”

“It’s quite famous in Rezhen. Once this work finishes, I’ll tell you how to enter too.”

When Pernok nodded, Ruin smiled and opened the altar’s door.

Though shattered remains scattered everywhere, the altar alone revealed lofty dignity.

“Stand in the left circle and recite the incantation with me.”

The two people stood facing each other in different circles and began chorus.

When language vibrated inside the ruin, the altar split and a blue gem floated up.

Tears of the Sky.

Called nature’s treasure that doesn’t break even containing mighty mana.

Now unobtainable, it’s also called a fantastic divine object existing only in records.

Tears of the Sky naturally scatters when exposed outside long-term.

Only after processing can it be freely used.

Ruin who could only gaze at Tears of the Sky in youth put it in the storage box.

Bringing it to the castle in this state, processing into core form then inserting it, power for Lionic that won’t easily break even from huge impacts was secured.

“You’ve worked hard.”

Ruin fiddling with the storage box seemed deeply moved.

Having accomplished over half of Lionic development now, recalling memories with Baudelaire wasn’t unreasonable.

The two people exited the ruin.

Having brought even main contents, there was no need to bother collapsing the ruin or locking it.

Ruin passed the storage box to Pernok and said.

“Wait, I have somewhere to stop by. Please wait at the castle.”

“Does it take long?”

“I’ll return before core processing work begins.”

“If you have business, take your time resolving it.”

“It’s not something that goes as I wish.”

With puzzling words, Ruin wore a bitter smile.

As Pernok pocketed the storage box and headed to the castle, Ruin entered the forest’s depths.

* * *

Inside the forest, a cabin was built in a well-lit spot.

Ruin opened the warm house’s door.

An old man lying on the bed only turned his head to greet Ruin.

“It’s been a while, Ruin.”

“Your wrinkles increased, Falco.”

“Hehehe, which era are you talking about. Days we adventured together? Or the time you holed up in that mountain and cut off from outside?”

“The day we ended our adventure.”

“Ah, I remember. Your appearance crying out after losing Baudelaire…”

Falco was Ruin’s sole remaining mercenary companion.

However, Falco couldn’t withstand time’s weight and faced death before his eyes like other companions.

Ruin occasionally visited to clean the house, but didn’t directly see Falco’s face.

Because each time seeing him, youthful memories and romance revived, overlapping with deceased Baudelaire’s image.

“…Did you shake it off now?”

“I still live immersed in her memories. And recently I even met a benefactor who inherited her will.”

“Oh, someone who inherited alchemy… Same lineage as Baudelaire? Or another alchemist?”

“Neither. It’s long to explain in words.”

“Explanation’s unnecessary. If you directly faced me this much, it means a very grateful and good person.”

“Enough to release your nasty tricks without a word.”

“You went to the ruin too?”

Ruin sat beside the bed.

“The lock, you placed it?”

“I thought someone might possibly steal our treasure. Fortunately you retrieved the treasure. Since you opened the lock, you’re resolved now?”

“…I don’t know well.”

“Hehehehe, you foolish friend. Look at my current state.”

Falco tried rolling his body but even raising his upper body was difficult. However, he didn’t lose his smile amidst hardship.

“I spend days lying down except eating and using the bathroom. But you’re incomparable to me. You can stand tall in places wider and greater than that era.”

“However…”

Falco grasped Ruin’s hand placed on the bed.

“Don’t keep being held back by the past. Baudelaire, we, don’t want to see the leader’s gloomy appearance.”

“…”

“Still hesitating? Then you still have things left to protect. This time move before losing them. Don’t do regrettable things ever again.”

Ruin’s eyes shook.

Hoping his longtime friend’s pain would no longer continue, Falco grinned.

“I miss them. Adventures with you.”

Falco closed his eyes and lay down as if collapsing on the bed.

“Fortunate I came not late this time.”

The warmth gripping Ruin’s hand weakened.

Falco’s breathing changed evenly.

Sitting there until day faded, Ruin watched Falco’s appearance.

Like his youth, not losing his smile, Falco quietly breathed his last.

Now no one remained who remembered Ruin’s past.

What remained was only one existence to accumulate memories together going forward.

“Right, nothing to lose. I already achieved everything.”

Falco had wanted to naturally disappear together with this house.

“Accumulating the remaining life anew wouldn’t be bad.”

Pernok smiled at peacefully sleeping Falco and cast magic on the cabin.

So nobody would discover it and it could naturally flow in light and wind.

And Ruin who shook off all past headed to the castle.

* * *

When Pernok entered Tears of the Sky processing work, Ruin came with an appearance somehow relieved.

He felt like much burden was unloaded.

“Would you like a drink?”

“There was alcohol?”

“There was stored wine.”

Ruin brought old wine and sat straddling the castle wall.

Looking at the fading sunset with Pernok, he offered brilliant wine.

“Do you know why I clung to this castle so much?”

“Wasn’t it the reason of wanting to create a foundation for alchemists to live hidden?”

“That was Baudelaire’s wish. I merely joined here hoping Baudelaire would smile.”

A journey begun from trivial reasons continued for long years.

“Baudelaire had difficulty walking. As if the world cursed so she couldn’t walk. So I rather participated in the unrealistic work of floating the castle hoping she’d look down and mock this world.”

“Like Baudelaire said, you had no solution in youth. You thought just floating the castle was enough?”

“I had one modest dream.”

Ruin who’d been fiddling with his glass laughed.

“I wanted to settle the castle on distant seas nobody would find, and live happily with people alienated from the world. And tried to continue alchemy’s lineage together with them.”

“You tried establishing an alchemy nation.”

“Like you.”

Pernok sipped wine and asked calmly.

“Do I look like someone who’d establish a nation in wilderness?”

“I don’t think it’ll end at the line of killing the 1st Prince.”

“Why?”

“Ultimately, if you purge all royalty, the throne will naturally pass to the sole remaining Pernok.”

“So?”

“The 1st Prince has ties with Rakis Empire called the world’s strongest. Other royalty also cooperate with various nations. Striking them means virtually declaring war with all nations backing them.”

Even at Ruin’s dangerous remarks, Pernok merely smiled composedly.

“You investigated well.”

“If alchemy appears here too, you’ll face even the mage association.”

“If I feared those petty bastards, I wouldn’t have come here from the start.”

“What will you do increasing enemies.”

“Now I’m thinking to increase allies like you too.”

“Are you confident?”

Pernok laughed.

“Nobody knows who’ll become enemies or allies. If we worry and fear things not immediately upon us, we can’t do anything. Like if you didn’t tell me about this castle because you couldn’t trust me, Lionic would have been permanently shelved.”

“Not wrong.”

“How about testing this far and definitely deciding direction. Do I still look untrustworthy?”

Pernok consistently expressed desire to bring Ruin along.

Ruin also knew well and finished resolving.

“No. Rather, I think you possess a king’s qualities, Pernok. But two hearts exist—wanting to help you and trying to prevent walking a path where danger is expected.”

Ruin’s heart toward Pernok was all filled with goodwill.

He hopes Pernok who fulfilled the couple’s wish won’t die.

The opponent is a kingdom entangled with all kinds of interests.

Moreover, among targets Pernok must kill is the 1st Prince.

Against Rakis Empire, Ruin might not even become a shield.

Will he jump into dangerous paths together overcoming adversity.

Or avoid predicted danger until sufficiently prepared.

Because the heart to help Pernok is strong, the heart wanting to avoid worst situations is also desperate.

“You’re saying stay here longer and continue training?”

“Though I’d like to hold you back that way, it won’t be easy.”

“As soon as Lionic completes, I’ll leave here.”

“So I’ll make one proposal.”

“Proposal?”

“You know operating Double Core requires materials matching Tears of the Sky.”

Originally, if planning to use only one core following Baudelaire’s method, Tears of the Sky alone was sufficient.

But Pernok’s Double Core needed another mana core to handle external output.

“There’s a substitute. Do you know the Hollow Eye?”

A name heard for the first time.

“The special place managing demon beasts I mentioned at the ruin. The so-called demon beast mountain range. The demon beast’s master possessing the Hollow Eye lives at that summit.”

“I should retrieve the Hollow Eye from that bastard?”

“Correct. But it won’t be easy. Even Rezhen Kingdom issued subjugation orders but failed.”

“Is it stronger than you?”

Ruin shook his head.

“In youth, I as a mage joined the subjugation force but descended without even clashing with it. The mountain range’s mana concentration differs according to altitude, and especially at the summit stands a vast barrier easily interfering with mages’ mana. Unable to breach that, I didn’t even meet the master.”

“Then Rezhen only observed?”

“Demon beasts killed in the mountain concentrated with demonic energy revive. The kingdom had no intention of abandoning infinite demon beast resources. So, the mountain range began being managed like breeding grounds. A kind of demon beast industry.”

“Since you said Rezhen Kingdom made it breeding grounds, there was state intervention. The system must have become more solid now—can we penetrate that gap?”

“There’s no other option besides the Hollow Eye.”

Ruin placed a fist-sized disc beside the gem box.

“This is a barrier mana interference device Baudelaire made. It helps punch holes in barriers momentarily to deploy inside.”

“Using that, you and I subjugate the mountain range master without Rezhen Kingdom knowing?”

“That work must be done alone by you, Pernok.”

Pernok realized what ‘proposal’ Ruin mentioned and burst into hollow laughter.

“If I kill the demon beast mountain range summit’s master and bring the Hollow Eye, you’ll accompany me?”

“Correct. Magi are beings exploring possibilities. If you resolve this near-impossible task without my help, I’ll pledge loyalty to you.”

“If I refuse?”

“I’ll still accompany you. However, you’ll have to keep training beside me until I think you’re safe.”

“You don’t want to see Lionic’s completion?”

“There’s much time. But life is only one. And I need conviction to never lose precious things again.”

“…”

“The grace I received from you, Pernok. Since you fulfilled the dream Baudelaire couldn’t achieve, I too want to fulfill your dream. But mere verbal goals are nothing but bravado.”

Ruin directly faced Pernok’s eyes.

“I’ll give two years. If you succeed, I’ll offer loyalty without price to you.”

His goodwill becomes firm.

“Even if all nations become enemies.”

Pernok grasped the disc without hesitation.

‘Interesting.’

He wanted to know how much this growth rate would work in the world.

If Ruin would follow as compensation, there’s no better deal.

“I’m curious about one thing.”

“Please tell me.”

“How strong was the mountain range master then?”

“Even then the master was Magus-level. Decades passed since, so it grew stronger.”

“Meaning at least Magus-level forces are needed.”

“At minimum one S1 is needed. But most troublesome is the Hollow Eye.”

“Does it have particularly noteworthy characteristics?”

Ruin nodded.

“The Hollow Eye is a special gem containing all kinds of worldly powers.”

“Didn’t you say eye?”

“It’s named because absorbed power’s rotating appearance resembles eyes. Actually a semi-transparent gem embedded in its forehead.”

Ruin recalled that time.

“The Hollow Eye was truly special. Together with mana, it drew something else. It was what should I say… like you experienced, a feeling of my soul being extracted from body and sucked in.”

“Soul being sucked in?”

“And it controlled corpses collapsed outside the barrier.”

That’s typical work forcibly possessing souls into corpses.

‘Whether demon beast or whatever, it can’t do that with its own power. Special tools like the Hollow Eye are necessary to make it possible.’

A Hollow Eye that sucks in souls and possesses them into corpses again.

‘Meaning souls can be retrieved again…’

Souls must rise to the Netherworld.

There’s only one method to break that rule.

When vessels exist that can scatter and retrieve souls.

‘…The Hollow Eye contains mana and souls…’

If contained for very long time, that spiritual power would also be considerable.

“Hahahahaha!”

Pernok burst into ecstatic laughter.

Souls were precisely Pernok’s specialty.

Work like extracting what’s contained was far too easy.

“Ruin, you know.”

At puzzled Ruin, Pernok grinned.

“You really have no talent for betting.”