Acting as a Slit-Eye Chapter 220

Chapter 220. Distortion (2)

I left the capital, heading west.

It didn't take too long to arrive at my destination, lake Tarnan.

The lake was as beautiful as its reputation suggested, being one of the Empire's most scenic sights.

The blue waters were so clear and pristine that they drew admiration from anyone who beheld them.

Depending on the direction of the setting sun, the light shimred more deeply and beautifully.

Around the lake, charming pines and oaks were densely packed, and delicate flowers scattered over the green hills.

It was a perfect place to rest with the beauty of nature and a tranquil atmosphere.

As a result, people who ca to enjoy the scenery were occasionally spotted here.

However, I didn't co here to leave a comntary on the scenery.

"It's in here."

I was here to find the secret place where 'Milena' had discreetly stored her research.

I aid to gather any hints I could about the 'vessel' to restore Angelica to her previous state.

After all, it was none other than Milena who had made Yulian a vessel. No matter what her intentions were, that was the truth of the matter.

If I knew how, I could possibly explain the phenonon related to it.

"Hmm."

Before entering, I took a mont to take in the landscape of Lake Tarnan. It's beautiful, but it seems to be missing sothing. Perhaps a subtle touch of pink would look nice.

"Am I crazy?"

I nearly chanted 'pink' without thinking. What a crazy thought.

***

As I continued through the brush, I pulled out the 'Snow Rabbit's Ring' that I had received from Oben. Traces of 'sorcery'. Following these traces led

to a space that could be called a clearing.

'Here it is.'

At a glance, it was the kind of place that scread, 'There's sothing here!'

However, I couldn't quite perceive what was actually there.

If only I had mana, I might have been able to find it sohow. But with all my mana depleted, that approach was impossible.

'Where does the sorcery activate?'

As I held a box and moved step-by-step into the clearing, a strange energy began to swirl.

Grrrrrrrr──!

When the 'Angelica' in the scabbard vibrated, warning

to be cautious, a loud noise started to echo from the ground beneath .

'It's opening.'

Even without mana, my Trait remained intact. 〈Remarkable Intuition〉 began to sound an alert about the occurrences beneath .

To prepare for any potential situation, I stepped back. The ground began to crack and reveal a staircase.

It was like the entrance to what could be called a 'dungeon'.

'...... Milena.'

Once again, I sensed where Yulian's strange instincts originated.

'Did she really have to make it like this?'

If efficiency had been a priority, the designs and ornants at the entrance wouldn't be so ornate.

'Well, it wasn't far from Cryphart's villa.'

Even so, traveling back and forth to such a place was peculiar.

'Hmm?'

As I descended the stairs with the 'Snow Rabbit's Ring', the patterns around

began to glow faintly, responding.

It seed that the structure was designed so that the 'power' would activate when the person with the 'ring' entered.

'It feels like quite so ti has passed.'

I hadn't yet confird everything completely, but the interior atmosphere seed distant from current styles.

It felt like it was built quite a while ago—long before 'Milena' and 'Oben' t.

With these brief impressions in mind, I continued down the stairs to find yet another large clearing ca into view.

The difference here was that beyond it lay a stone door.

'...... A guardian.'

A guardian awaited by the door.

'I ca to resolve issues related to the 'vessel' and 'Angelica', but it feels overly 'formal', raising questions instead.'

What had been done here, and how did Milena co to acquire such a place?

'I guess those answers will co as I proceed.'

The imdiate problem was the guardian visible in front of .

'A golem.'

Of course, 〈Ji·Ma·Juk〉 included golems.

In general, any offensive system that could be constructed using 'mana' was referred to as a 'golem'.

Nonetheless, what stood before

was a golem.

'A golem designed to counter opponents.'

A golem intended for counter-enemies. It rests until an intruder appears, then absorbs their mana and powers up.

'Unless the golem moves, the stone door won't open.'

Once inside, the golem can serve as a sentinel in case of outside intruders.

In other words, for intruders, this golem is a 'wall' to break through, while for the proprietors, it is part of the 'door' they use to enter.

'...... Damn it.'

Understanding the chanism, I cursed internally.

As I ca here with the 'key', I wasn't an 'intruder' who needed to fight the golem.

But I still couldn't proceed beyond the door.

'It needs mana.'

The stone door would only open if the golem was powered, but I lacked mana.

Of course, even without mana, Yulian could likely force the 'stone door' open. The consequences of such an action, however, were unpredictable.

'Yet a direct approach still seems the best choice.'

While not everything can be solved by brute force, 'most issues' can be.

Clatter──!

As if echoing my intent, 'Angelica' shook again within the scabbard.

'Wait.'

Upon closer inspection, it was a warning from 'Angelica'.

Soone was approaching.

'Is there soone nearby?'

It couldn't be just a casual visitor. Which ans.

'Pursuers.'

Since leaving the capital, they had been tailing .

'Tsk.'

I clicked my tongue inwardly. If I had mana, I would've easily detected the pursuers following .

They were skilled enough to pursue

knowing I was 'Yulian'. Even if I had mana, the ensuing battle would likely have been arduous.

'If I climb back up the stairs now, I'll almost certainly run into them......'

I wonder if there's even a place to hide.

As I scanned the surroundings with that thought, I noticed a sunken area overgrown with branches and vines.

'I should be able to hide there.'

Firmly deciding, I imdiately pushed aside the branches and vines, and slipped inside. Fortunately, the space was ample enough to completely conceal a person.

'They've arrived.'

Once I managed to completely hide myself, I began to hear footsteps descending the stairs.

***

"This is...?"

Having reached Lake Tarnan, Heml continued to pursue Yulian's trail.

In his view, there appeared stairs resembling dungeon entrances and a clearing cluttered with scattered rocks.

"Where has Yulian gone?"

Heml was concerned not with the 'location', but with the 'person'. The sudden disappearance of Yulian, whom he had been tracking, was making the pursuit difficult.

Asking a disciple nearby, who had their face mostly covered with a cloth, a man opened his mouth to speak.

"Yulian's trace vanished here... Urk!"

Thud──!

Heml struck the speaking disciple with his staff.

"Number 4, you are incompetent. I always advised you to keep track of Yulian's mana, even if he vanished from the world."

"I apologize......"

Blood stained the cloth that covered the disciple's face, but Heml, undisturbed, scanned the clearing.

And there it was, the 'golem', catching his eye.

'Sorcery.'

A form of 'magic' utilized by Northern barbarians.

Although one would expect it to be disorienting given how distinct it was from the continent's 'standard' abilities, Heml understood the 'sorcery' structure at once.

'If it employs mana, it all boils down to the sa principle.'

After looking around a bit more, Heml ca to a conclusion.

'It is designed to absorb the mana of anyone approaching the door, activating the guardian.'

Having grasped that much, Heml turned his eyes to the disciples trailing him.

"Number 3."

"Yes, master."

"Did I teach you that the water elent magic you learned was for neural interference and perception reduction?"

"That's correct."

In response to the so-called Number 3 disciple, Heml briefly stroked his chin.

'Those abilities have no use here.'

Calculating in his head, Heml gestured at the stone door with his staff.

"Proceed, open that door."

"... What?"

"Go."

Appearing sowhat fearful, number 3 was intimidated by Heml's commanding tone.

The disciples, showing signs of reluctance as they approached, began to exhibit nervousness as gentle light seeped around them while nearing the stone door.

"Ahh, aahhhhhgh!"

As Heml expected, when Number 3 approached the stone door, the 'golem' began absorbing the intruder's mana.

Rumble──!

At the sa ti, scattered rock shards gathered together, morphing into a form resembling a human structure.

"Can the barbarian's magic rival the history of our noble Empire?"

The golem rumbled amid Heml's gestures with his staff. Silvery rcury oozed from the tip of Heml's waving staff, enveloping the golem.

Ssssss──!

The golem shuddered amid boiling sounds. Using his magic, Heml wrested control of the 'golem', coercing it to open the stone door.

With an unpleasant sound, the firmly sealed stone door parted open. Without stopping, Heml's magic dismantled the golem.

"Shoddy thing."

"Number 3!"

"Are you okay, number 3!?"

Despite the path being clear, the disciples hesitated. Scowling, Heml examined them closely.

"Just an empty shell without mana."

"B-but Master, at this rate, it really might..."

"Lead the way. I won't repeat myself."

Lack of mana made the disciple a re burden. Though he didn't say it, the disciples, apprehending Heml's thoughts, reluctantly nodded.

'Yulian knowing this secret location suggests he entered first.'

Unlike them, Yulian wasn't an 'intruder'.

'Half-blood fool, why co to such a place?'

Suspicions remained as Heml advanced forward.

***

Having heard their footsteps fade away, I erged from the underbrush, internally clicking my tongue at the recent scene.

Three Colors' Heml Degrind.

A mage specializing in water elents, a 6th ranking mage, was pursuing .

And it didn't appear like he intended a simple conversation.

'... Ornn, that old man?'

It was most likely him. As a mber of the Council of Nobles, the only person with ties to 'Heml' and a palpable dislike for

was him.

'Still, Heml, despite being an eccentric, should have sound judgent.'

Could soone else have offered sothing enticing?

'This is troubleso.'

Now, the issue is dealing with Heml who went ahead, rather than worrying over a backer.

'With no mana, dealing with a mage of Heml's caliber is impossible.'

'On top of that, he brought his disciples.'

For a character like 'Heml Degrind', disciples aren't seen as true 'apprentices' like Flugel and ier.

To him, 'disciples' are.

'Expendable slaves,' or.

'Mana-replenishing batteries', and further still.

'Disposable scrolls' he could utilize without worry.

It ant, bringing such disciples.

'Indicates they intend to kill .'

The situation was becoming tireso. Either I should wait for Heml to leave, or for my mana to recover.

'Heml's actions inside remain unforeseeable.'

A figure like the 6th ranking mage, libra, could potentially access 'Milena's' research lab without much difficulty.

'Damn.'

What to do.

'Huh?'

As indecisiveness started to take hold, I spotted one of Heml's 'disciples' lying flat on the ground.