C168 - Risky Transaction (5)
"Ah….”
Upon hearing Shirone's words, Amy also realized it. Why hadn't she thought of it? Harvest was a magical creature that had inherited all of Arcane's memories.
Viltor Arcane, the archmage who once commanded the world.
That person that might have known secrets about the Kerugo Ruins that others did not know.
Shirone and Amy looked at Canis with eyes full of certainty. However, Canis's attitude was still ambiguous.
"Hmm, if I were to share my thoughts, half is right, and half is wrong."
"Half and half? What does that mean?"
Canis was sparing with his words. The timing wasn't right yet. The secret tied to the Kerugo Ruins was a much more serious issue than Shirone had thought.
Amy said, pushing her face towards him.
"Are you going to keep being like this? If you have to tell us eventually, why not now?"
"I don't understand. Why should I? Surely you're not starting to talk about owing you a meal, are you?"
"Of course, that's part of it. But you may have no choice but to confess for other reasons as well. Because you need us. Otherwise, there would be no need to even try to negotiate like this, right?”
Canis closed his mouth and let out a long breath. Of course, he was expecting this to happen. However, timing was important.
"Alright. Honestly, I have something I want from you too. In that respect, we each have something the other needs."
"What do you want from us? Are you talking about a pass?"
“That can be resolved at any time. With mental magic, just handing over a piece of paper would do. Arin's psychic ability can dominate even the realm of language."
“Oh, there was a way like that too.”
Shirone realized why the two of them could enter the altar without even a translator.
"Still, the reason we didn't choose that route is because someone must pass the test of the gates. But as you know, we failed, which is why we're seeking your help. In that sense, I'd like to negotiate with you."
Amy analyzed Canis' words. Then her thoughts suddenly veered off in a different direction.
"But what score did you get?"
Canis blinked at the unexpected question. Then he quietly shifted his gaze away and avoided answering.
"I don't want to say."
"Oh my, why? How much was it? Huh?"
"Why should I tell you? If you're so curious, you start."
"No, you first. Then I'll tell you."
"No, you go first."
Shirone, giving up on listening, interrupted. If they kept going, they'd repeat the same conversation all night.
“That’s it. Let's just continue with what we were discussing."
Realizing the situation was at a stalemate, Amy and Canis quickly shut their mouths.
As things settled down, Canis continued with a more exhausted look in his eyes.
"Anyway, what I want to propose is this. The test's route. That is, if you pass the Room of Achievement and Sacrifice, then let's talk again."
Amy frowned and said.
"That's a bit strange, isn't it?"
"What's strange about it?"
“Are you doing this because you also didn’t pass? If Shirone passes, there's no need to bring you along. For a deal to be made, you have to have something to offer us."
"Right now, that might be the case. But trust me. It won't be a bad deal for you."
“Then prove it. Even if you don't reveal the key points, you can at least prove it. Otherwise, this deal is off. We can't be used by you without knowing the purpose."
Canis looked back at Arin with conflicted eyes. It was a decision he couldn't make alone.
When Arin finally agreed, Canis reluctantly began to speak.
"Alright. Let me put it this way. You said you were going to the autonomous district to learn about Miro, right? Do you have to go there by any means necessary?"
"Yes. We want to know more about Miro.”
"Then... perhaps the information I have might save your lives."
Shirone's heart pounded as he felt the silence. Saving their life? It was something he couldn't understand. What could possibly be in the autonomous district to warrant such a statement?
"Let me be clear. If you approach Miro of Time and Space without my information, there's almost a 100% chance that you'll die. But if you join hands with me, you might survive. In other words, we're making a deal with your lives as collateral."
"That...!"
Amy leapt to her feet and shouted.
"Do you think such a threat will work? This isn't proof. All it does is scaring us. The Freeman Organization also frequented that place. No matter how dangerous, it's not a matter of life and death."
"That's what I said. There's no particular danger in the autonomous district. The problem is if you enter through the test's route. And Shirone."
Canis looked back at Shirone.
“I already know what you are trying to do in the Room of Sacrifice and Achievement. Are you planning to unlock the Immortal Function in Miro of Time and Space?”
Attention was focused on Shirone. Shirone, who had been silent while receiving everyone's attention, only revealed his words after a while.
"That's right. When I first saw the Room of Achievement and Sacrifice, the structure itself was unique. I didn't think it was necessary to rotate the Miro Of Time and Space in eight directions to test the warrior's power. The atmosphere there was too serious to be just decoration. So, I wondered. Maybe what the Eye of the Angel is watching is not just about power." (“맞아. 성취와 희생의 방을 처음 보았을 때 구조 자체가 독특했어. 전사의 위력을 시험하기 위해서라면 굳이 여덟 방향으로 미로의 시공을 돌릴 필요가 없다고 생각했거든. 단지 장식이라고 하기에 그곳의 분위기는 너무 진지했으니까. 그래서 혹시나 한 거야. 천사의 눈이 주시하고 있는 것은 무력 같은 게 아닐지도 모른다고 생각했으니까.”)
Canis nodded as if agreeing with Shirone's judgment.
"For now, we can only hope that approach is correct."
"Huh? You don’t sure?"
"I told you, it's half and half. But I do suspect it has something to do with the Immortal Function. Of course, I could be wrong."
"Then Canis, what is it that you want?"
"Let's talk about that after passing the test's gates. The reason I've revealed so much is because you are an Unlocker. I've provided quite a bit of information, trusting in the slightest possibility."
"Hmm, what should we do?"
Amy, making eye contact with Shirone, nodded. Anyway, since they had decided to challenge the test's gates even before meeting Canis, there was no harm in making the deal.
Amy gave instructions as if organizing the situation.
"Alright. Then Shirone, you go to the room of Achievement and Sacrifice. We'll use the pass to go to the autonomous district first. There's no problem up to this point, right?"
Amy asked for confirmation once more. It was proof of how compelling Canis' offer was.
"No problem. Anyway, the smuggling route is just an easier way to go. Only one person needs to pass the test in Miro of Time and Space."
Amy felt dizzy. It seemed like a rough picture was being drawn, but because there was so little information, everything was blurry.
"Phew, I can't figure out what's what. Anyway, we'll know once Shirone passes. Then, let's start moving. If we walk now, we should make it on time."
The group that left the bar was divided into two groups. Amy's group joined Canis' group, and Shirone was to head to the altar alone.
"Then Shirone, do well. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
Amy was worried. Hadn't Shirone once dangerously unlocked the Immortal Function and nearly departed to a place of no return?
"Yeah. I won't overdo it. If it doesn't work, I'll just give up. Be careful, Amy. Unexpected things might happen."
Now that there was talk about life and death, they couldn't help but to worry. Amy turned her head and checked the spectrum of the group. There was Rian with strong physical strength, the agile Tess, and Canis specialized in defense and Arin in mental magic had joined.
Though they were mages she had despised as enemies, in a crisis, they could very well do their part. This thought also brought a sense of reassurance.
"As for us... I don’t think there’s anything to worry about.”
"Haha! That's true. It's good that our forces are bolstered."
Amy couldn't help but laugh. Shirone also seemed to sense that what lay ahead might be much more dangerous than expected.
As Shirone left for the altar, Amy led her friends westward.
"Arin, let's go too."
As Amy's group moved away, Canis turned to Arin. But she seemed fascinated by something, unable to take her eyes off Shirone.
"Arin? What's wrong?"
"Hey, Canis... Is Shirone blonde?"
Arin's mechanism of perceiving things was different from ordinary humans. Because she was unable to associate the shape and name of a particular object, she couldn't even distinguish what their real forms were.
Therefore, recognizing Shirone as blonde was indeed a peculiar situation.
"Shirone? Yes, he's blonde. Why? How does he appear to you?"
Arin blinked and then turned around.
"No, it's nothing unusual. Let's go."
Cnis shrugged and ran after Amy. Arin also silently reflected on her thoughts as she walked. Then, at one point, she suddenly looked behind her as if she realized something.
‘Ah, that's right. That child is...’
Arin couldn't take her eyes off Shirone for a long time.
* * *
Shirone arrived at the western altar. Then he approached the native, who was glaring with menacing eyes, and spoke the password.
"Kertian, Ro Hoima. Akrasia, Withmia Benzen."
The native nodded, operated a mechanism, and opened the door. As Shirone entered the dark entrance, a spiral staircase lit by torches appeared.
Shirone descended the stairs slowly. He had been to this place before, but the atmosphere was completely different, perhaps because he was alone.
Upon descending, the usual passage appeared. The natives said something and guided Shirone.
He couldn't understand what was being said, but he could guess the content. It was probably just a ritual rule, so there was no need for further communication.
As he crossed the iron gate installed at the end of the passage, he saw a familiar sight. Eight spheres floating octagonally on a wide altar. Miro of Time and Space, known as the Eyes of the Angel, awaited Shirone.
The gatekeeper had changed, but the man with the white facial tattoos was the same as before. No, maybe not. Shirone still couldn't accurately distinguish the faces of the Kerugians.
"Can I take the test?"
"This is the Room of Achievement and Sacrifice. The eight eyes of the angel will judge you. To enter Kerugo, you must pass through Miro of Time and Space."
After waiting for the man to finish his explanation, Shirone stepped onto the altar. Before trying the Immortal Function, he intended to strike Miro of Time and Space with a laser.
Shirone decided to let loose and focused Laser in front of him. Emitting a sinister red light, even the stoic man with white tattoos looked surprised.
Shirone fired Laser with all his might. The time it took for numbers to appear in Miro of Time and Space was slower than usual. It seemed like it was because of the continuous impacts.
Finally, numbers appeared in Miro of Time and Space. The first number Shirone saw was a mere 200. Then the number changed every second, eventually increasing.
From 400 to 782. From 1,311 to 2,643. It even surged past 4,874 to 6,822.
Discovering hope, Shirone clenched his fist. But at that moment, the numbers reset, starting again from 72.
It seemed there was a time limit set on Miro of Time and Space itself. After the counting cycle went through two cycle, the final and maximum score of 6,822 appeared.
Miro of Time and Space emitted a red glow, indicating Shirone's disqualification throughout the room.
"Phew."
Shirone exhaled in frustration. Laser was certainly effective. However, it was clear that Miro had anticipated the trick of accumulating energy and had placed restrictions.
What was most frustrating was that despite recording his personal best score, Shirone still failed to pass.
Shirone suddenly remembered Canis' words that he might lose his life. Just how far had the principal anticipated when he allowed exploration of the ruins?
Lost in these thoughts, the man with the white tattoos spoke in a solemn voice.
"Will you leave, or will you stay? If you wish to prove your skill, pass through Miro of Time and Space."
Shirone shook his head as if to shake off his fear. He couldn't give up after coming this far. His friends had already entered the autonomous district, hadn't they?
"I'll try one more time."
The man waited silently with his arms crossed. Thinking he had been granted permission, Shirone took his place in the center of the altar.
Immortal Function.
If this method doesn't work, then it's no use trying any further. Shirone was ready to give up cleanly, regardless of what Canis might know.
"Phew."
Shirone calmed his mind and entered the Spirit Zone. The defensive zone expanded, engulfing the eight spheres of Miro of Time and Space floating in all directions.
After checking the edges of the Spirit Zone one last time, Shirone narrowed his eyes and unlocked the Immortal Function.
"Haah!"
At that moment, something unbelievable happened.
His mental energy flowed in uncontrollably and was being sucked entirely into Miro of Time and Space.
'No, this can't be...!'
The speed of mental energy absorption was tremendous. Normally, his zone would have shrunk instantly. However, as much energy was being absorbed, power from the realm of infinity was rushing in, causing the balance to be maintained in a precarious manner.
Shirone was terrified by the uncontrollable situation. It felt as if his own value had completely disappeared, and he had become merely a door connecting this side to that side.
'No! I must come to my senses!'
In this state, just like before, his consciousness would disintegrate. There would be no second chance of being reassembled by the will of Miro.
"Ughhhhh!"
Shirone restructured the defensive frame to its maximum and forcefully pulled his Spirit Zone together. There was a tense feeling of support, but the mental outflow was so strong that the form remained the same.
He then entered the state of Indestructible Diamond and desperately held on.
He couldn't think of anything. He just hoped it would end quickly and prayed not to disperse into nothingness.
At that moment, the eight spheres of Miro of Time and Space shone brilliantly. Eight rays of light shot towards Shirone, and around him, a white sphere of light expanded, completely covering the altar.
"Huuuuuk!"
Shirone shuddered with a strong sense of deprivation. It was a feeling similar to when he first unlocked the Immortal Function.
“O- Oooooh!”
The natives, watching Shirone enveloped in light, screamed in surprise.
Shirone's body was floating up to the ceiling.
His eyelids did not blink as if a fantasy was unfolding, and his pupils shook with shock at what he was seeing.
Miro of Time and Space, having absorbed an immense amount of mental energy, was now using that energy to convey information to Shirone.
There was no doubt that it was something that could only be shown if the power of the eight spheres was pushed to its limit.
The natives shouted at the top of their lungs.
"Ra! Anke! Ra!"
At that moment, a blinding brilliance exploded and completely filled the room where the altar was located.
The natives turned their heads and tightly closed their eyes.
When the light disappeared, Shirone was standing on the altar, gasping for breath.
"Heok! Heook!"
Shirone was still unable to come to his senses. He couldn't even tell where he was.
What had he seen? Was it real? What was Miro thinking when she created such a mechanism and waited for an Unlocker?
'Was it an illusion? Or reality? I can't understand anything. What does this have to do with the Immortal Function?'
Shirone suddenly came out of his thoughts and turned his head. All the natives who had rushed to the altar were kneeling on one knee, bowing their heads.
"Why, why are you doing this?"
Shirone asked in a baffled voice. However, the natives did not make a sound, maintaining only a posture of submission.
The man with white tattoo looked up at Shirone and said.
"Please convey the will of Ra, messenger of the gods."
Tags:
Infinite Mage (Novel)