How a Reincarnated Warlock Lives – Chapter 130

Chapter 130: The Underground and the Tower (1)

The hallway was dark.

Here and there, small flames flickered dimly, hanging from oil-soaked linen, but since they weren’t magically created, they weren’t enough to illuminate the entire long, wide corridor.

“Be careful, magic is restricted from here on.”

The words of Director Rushikella of the Cravassia Empire’s Counterintelligence Agency.

I closed my eyes and quietly read the flow of the surroundings.

Her words were closer to meaning that magic shouldn’t be used, rather than couldn’t be used. Perhaps there were barriers or traps installed that would be triggered by the use of magic.

This kind of sorcery wasn’t unfamiliar to me. It was a branch of ancient magic cast using artifacts.

“Do you remember what I said before?”

Director Rushikella, who was walking peacefully ahead, seemingly unconcerned by the darkness, suddenly looked back at me.

A strange light flickered in her eyes, which held a half-burned cigar.

A strange fire burning in the darkness. It was a sight that would make anyone unfamiliar with her flinch, but I calmly met Director Rushikella’s gaze and answered.

“Yes.”

The Imperial Secret Area. You said that it concealed things that others couldn’t even imagine.

It wasn’t difficult to guess that this deep underground, reached through dark stairs and corridors, was that place.

A massive facility located deep underground. But the lack of any detectable presence and the extremely rare type of defensive sorcery……

Clank

Director Rushikella, turning her head forward again, touched something ahead, and the hidden wall moved, revealing a wide space.

“……”

I shifted my gaze forward. There was nothing special. In a way, it looked similar to a reception room.

Perhaps it was the last space before entering the secret area.

“Ah.”

And there, a man was waiting for us.

“The guest has arrived.”

I had never seen him before, but I could immediately tell which family he belonged to.

Blonde hair that looked as if it were made by melting pure gold, and uncommon blue eyes. They were characteristics passed down only through the Imperial bloodline.

His youthful appearance in addition to those features allowed me to guess his name as well.

The Crown Prince of the Empire, Caely Von Cravassia.

Looking at Director Rushikella and me as we slowly walked in, he said with a bright smile,

“Inquisitor Luciel Lumineger. I’ve heard much about your reputation and achievements.”

He extended his hand to me in a refreshingly straightforward manner, with an attitude overflowing with the confidence and spirit befitting the Crown Prince of the Empire, and said with a slightly curious tone,

“You look even younger than I’d heard. The unbelievable level of achievements you’ve accomplished seem more fitting for someone old and wise.”

He didn’t seem particularly hostile. No, rather, the Crown Prince’s gaze, which seemed to be looking at me with interest, was closer to favor.

Perhaps he wanted the war with the Sultan to end quickly.

Looking into the Crown Prince’s turquoise eyes, I lightly grasped the hand he extended. He was not very authoritative for the second most powerful person in the vast Empire.

“Let’s go.”

The Crown Prince, nodding his head in satisfaction, spoke to Director Rushikella.

She, who had somehow put away the cigar she always had in her mouth, walked ahead at the Crown Prince’s words.

“……”

It wasn’t long after we started walking. I instinctively realized that the destination wasn’t far.

This was because the ancient defensive sorcery, which I had felt faintly before, now felt as clear as if I could touch it with my hand.

I looked with interest at the waves that filled the surroundings, hindering a sorcerer’s magic.

‘I don’t think it’s impossible to use magic at all.’

I felt a slight urge to test it out, but I refrained.

“Hmm.”

The Crown Prince, who seemed to have sensed something, looked at me observing the surroundings and spoke in a surprised tone,

“I’d heard you used high-level magic, but I didn’t know you were this well-versed in ancient sorcery.”

“You could say it’s one of the qualifications of an Inquisitor.”

The Crown Prince chuckled lightly at my answer and resumed walking forward.

Using the Knot Unraveling, it didn’t seem like it would be difficult to create a gap in the barrier. But I didn’t bother trying.

In a situation where I was invited as a valuable guest, it wouldn’t be wise to act rudely by forcefully breaking through the barrier and entering.

After passing through the secret passage, we soon arrived at our destination.

In front of a huge, strangely shaped door made of steel.

Director Rushikella, stepping forward, placed her hand on a small crystal ball. Crackle

Then, with a smooth movement that didn’t match its size, the giant door began to open.

“While the Church and the Catacombs beyond the mountains continue their meaningless war of attrition, chipping away at each other’s power, the Empire has achieved dazzling development.”

The words of Crown Prince Caely Von Cravassia were uttered softly. At the same time, the interior slowly came into view.

I turned my gaze from him to the sight of the vast space revealed along with the acrid smoke.

The enormous cavity, stretching endlessly, was filled with something made of steel.

The sight of steel armors lined up in a long line like an army in formation. It didn’t seem like there were soldiers inside.

“You are well aware that three of the five Magic Towers are located within the vast territory of the Empire.”

I knew that. I don’t hold the eccentrics of the Magic Towers, who create all sorts of outlandish and useless inventions, in high regard.

But I also knew the fact that sometimes useful things come out of such reckless attempts.

“And we have been developing technology in an even better realm.”

The Crown Prince continued.

I looked at the vast underground space that seemed to stretch endlessly.

Everywhere was filled with the results of experiments that combined steel and magic, steam and gunpowder. It was a technology unknown to the outside world, so it was difficult to guess its name.

Of course, since familiar forms of magic circles were abundant everywhere, it wasn’t difficult to grasp the general principles of its implementation.

At the Crown Prince’s gesture, Director Rushikella lightly moved her hand, and a small magic circle engraved on the armor at the very front flashed red.

“And we call this technology this.”

The smell of sulfur that spewed out along with the steam. The armor, devoid of any sign of life, creaked and began to move.

The Crown Prince, looking at the sight with eyes full of a strange glint, said with a deep smile,

“Magic Engineering.”

I smiled slightly as I saw what was hidden in the Imperial Secret Area.

Not bad.

🔹🔹🔹

The Crown Prince’s words were a simple truth.

While the Church and the Catacombs, which could be said to have divided all the power in the world, were fiercely targeting each other and eroding their strength, Cravassia, which had been just another weak nation, became an empire occupying the vast territory beyond the mountains.

Of course, as seen in the war with the Sultan of the desert, it couldn’t be said that the Empire’s power was so overwhelming that it was unstoppable.

To be precise, it could be said that the gap of the past had almost been closed.

Anyway.

I turned to the Crown Prince and Director Rushikella and said,

“May I ask why you’re showing me this?”

At my question, the Crown Prince, as if he had been asked a natural question, raised both arms and said,

“Reinforcements.”

He continued, his face filled with a strange anticipation,

“I need to see what kind of reinforcements will be sent in advance to have faith in them, wouldn’t you agree?”

Well, he had a point. He didn’t believe that they would be sent properly without his…… supervision.

“And another thing.”

He shrugged and said,

“I happened to be looking for a stage for them to gain some practical experience. Ah.”

The Crown Prince gave a slightly bitter smile.

“Except for the desert. That hellish sea of sand filled with those damn Sand Mages is the worst possible environment for them to operate in.”

“Hmm.”

I nodded.

They would have finished a certain level of performance testing. Judging by the magic circles engraved on the armor and their movements, they were by no means a negligible force.

Due to their heavy weight, they would have difficulty demonstrating their full power on the desert sand where their feet would sink, but they would be able to exert tremendous power in battles beyond the mountains, where they would mainly face monsters, black magic, and citizens possessed by evil.

“What do you think? Do you like the Empire’s gift?”

They would be a considerable force. In addition, it would be a great help in learning their new technology.

I answered the Crown Prince’s question with a light smile,

“It’s more than I expected.”

🔹🔹🔹

Halfway up the steep mountain. Clouds and fog mingled, creating a beautiful landscape.

The Grand Temple of Mount Calimphus. In this luxurious place, built on a vast site carved out of a section of the mountain, countless people were coming and going as usual.

“Hmm.”

And among the countless crowd, an old man with an ordinary appearance that could be seen anywhere straightened his hunched back and looked at the surrounding scenery.

The path up to the Grand Temple of Mount Calimphus was part of the pilgrimage route that circled half the continent. It was a mountain climb that would be challenging even for a young man who didn’t train consistently.

However, the old man looking at the surrounding scenery looked perfectly fine, despite his advanced age, evident in his wrinkles and age spots.

“Haha, you’re quite something, old timer!”

A middle-aged man nearby, seeing this, laughed in admiration. The surrounding merchants and knight candidates, wiping their sweat and catching their breath, seemed to share the same thought, nodding their heads and looking at the old man with curious expressions.

“Haha. Thank you for the compliment.”

The old man, leaning on a cane with a strange sheen, replied to their words with a smile.

A benevolent smile of someone who had aged gracefully. But the old man’s eyes, as he looked at the Grand Temple, were dyed a burning red.

“Welcome.”

A short while later. At the entrance of the Grand Temple.

A priest greeted the old man, who had waited in the long line like any other ordinary person because he had no special connections.

Polite at first glance, but an utterly cold and emotionless greeting.

The priest’s eyes, looking at those who weren’t among the wealthy who could skip the line with large donations, held a hint of annoyance.

“Hmm.”

The old man, seeing the priest, stroked his wrinkled chin with an amused expression.

“Due to the large number of applicants, you will have to wait longer to enter the temple. Of course, if you make a donation that would please God, you can shorten that time……”

The priest trailed off, his gaze scrutinizing the old man.

An ordinary and shabby appearance. He didn’t look like someone capable of making a huge donation, no matter how you looked at him.

“Well, if not, please receive a number ticket here and wait.”

An unfriendly answer after a long wait. But the old man didn’t seem offended in the slightest.

“Ah, is that so?”

The towering Grand Temple and the shining towers.

The old man, glancing at the tall buildings built against the backdrop of Mount Calimphus’ s breathtaking scenery, began to rummage through the pockets of his old, hole-ridden clothes.

“……”

The priest, who had been frowning and watching, soon gaped at the sight of the gold coins that emerged in the old man’s wrinkled hand.

The amount of gold coins was far too much to have been contained in those small pockets.

“Here.”

The old man, with a benevolent yet somehow ominous smile, like that of a devil, looked at the priest serving God and said,

“Is this enough?”

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