Chapter 68 – Baldur’s Nightmare (2)

There are seven celestial bodies in the sky that are absolutely unchanging regardless of seasonal changes.
Each magic tower named after the stars is a monumental tower that gathers the entirety of human knowledge and is also a sculpture symbolizing Penheim’s national power.

Magic, and only magic. Those who desire knowledge always come to the gigantic pillar, which moves with only one purpose, and put their ears to the outer wall to hear the sound.
Each beat that the tower emits is the essence of magic created by wizards who support knowledge.

Dube, Merak, Pekda, Megrez, Alios, Mizar, and Alkaid.
Elements, Buddhist realm, imagery, summoning, divinity, alchemy, and magic.

The top of the Magic Tower was the place where some of the knowledge of the numerous schools aligned under the White and Black Wizards, as well as some factions derived from the original Magic School, hung.
Wizards from all over the continent came to the tower in order to overcome the three classes divided into lower, middle, and upper strata and rise to the position of tower owner, and to obtain the fruit of knowledge.

The second-year students at the academy who have just started walking and are receiving magic training are only allowed to be in the lower class. However, even though they had only just unpacked their bags after arriving at Pekda Matap a few days ago, the students’ faces were full of smiles.

“Liv, look at this! It’s ‘Portrait of Albreter,’ and there was only a copy of it in the library! It is said to be a work that hides the principles and techniques of the ‘Rain of Destruction’ magic, which was the pride of Count Albreter… “It was owned by the Pekda Magic Tower.”

Karen’s eyes were half-gazed by the national treasure-level artifacts and magic books whose academic value was difficult to calculate that were scattered everywhere around her.
The Batudis region did not have a very high economic level due to its unique environment, but the inside of the Magic Tower was an exception.

Magic Tower is an academic institution that does not actively participate in any national conflicts, including small wars. The only exception was during the Great War, when the entire human race was on the verge of annihilation, but even at that time, only a few tower owners and the archdukes among them participated, and the Magic Tower itself did not contribute to the war.

We have a duty to preserve humanity.

A word containing a rather profound philosophy: that humanity is magic. As a result, the papers on treasures and magic that the Magic Tower had accumulated so far were truly the best on the continent.
At best, it cannot be compared to the Parencia Academy, which copied the materials stored in the Royal Library.
If you think about where the professors who teach academy students are sent from in the first place, the answer is simple.

The second-year students studied to their hearts’ content, asking questions about magic to the wizards belonging to the magic tower or the vice tower owner in charge of this training, regardless of meal times or personal maintenance time.
This was because everyone knew how great the value of the lower layers of the Magic Tower was.

The only exception was Liv. Even after entering the Magic Tower and listening to a lecture on imagery magic, she did not show the slightest enthusiasm.

All I could think about was Luis and Adela.
By now, the two of them will definitely be in the canteen together again in Parencia. I felt like my heart was sinking, like a lump of metal being crushed by deep water pressure.

Kuuk.

“Live? Are you sick?”
“Huh?”
“Why are you covering your stomach? “Is it that day?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Are you okay…”

***

Third day. Before starting the lecture in earnest, Dominic called the students together and explained about ‘Baldur’s Nightmare,’ which is the defense system of the Pekda Tower and a characteristic of the Vatudis region.

“When you come here, you may have seen several illusions that should not exist in reality. Sharp-witted students may have confirmed that the monster hit by the chariot was not from the Batudis region.”

Several students nodded. As I got closer to the Magic Tower following Dominic’s guidance, I saw the weather change and buildings and people that had never been there before appear.

“It’s a phenomenon called Baldur’s Nightmare in this area. “It is usually an illusion without substance, and a part of the past remains like an afterimage, deceiving our five senses.”
“Really… “Is it insubstantial?”

One student raised his hand and asked a question. The reason was clear to her.
Fantasy murder. Disappearance and murder cases occurring in the Batudis region. If Baldur’s nightmare is really just an illusion, there is no way a physical event will occur.

“Even if it does not affect reality, if you fall into an illusion with a strong concentration of magic energy, you are often unable to escape on your own. This is also what I want to urge you.”

Dominic stretched out the upper part of his severed arm to the side. Then, as if it were a lie, the cup on the table next to it began to float in the air.
He spoke calmly, bringing the cup floating in the air to his lips.

“Pecda’s research fields are 〈 and 〉. Magic that makes something that does not exist seem to exist. The same goes for Baldur’s Nightmare. “The interpretation of unique magic is very difficult, but the phenomenon contains the essence of imagery magic.”

And when the liquid in the cup was sprinkled into the air, a three-dimensional map of the Batudis region centered on the Pecda Tower was projected into the air.
Dominic’s severed arm pointed to a particularly protruding cliff extending to the west of the Magic Tower.

“That is why, apart from the lectures we take at the Magic Tower, starting today, we will form groups and head to the ‘Storm Shrine’ one by one. “It is the best place to observe Baldur’s nightmare and a kind of nucleus.”
“Isn’t it dangerous?”
“If the nightmare gets worse, alarms will sound at observation posts installed throughout the area, so it’s okay. Did you hear the siren on the way? “Once the evacuation order is given, we won’t leave.”

Dominic looked intently at Liv, who was looking out the window.

“This is a long story. The last thing I want to say to you is not to get too caught up in fantasy. “As beautiful as the magic is, it also carries risks.”

Liv, who made eye contact with him, hurriedly turned her head away with an inexplicable goosebump.

***

As soon as he got off the carriage, the humid air hit his nose. I could see the Magic Tower in the distance, but first I put on my raincoat and walked around.
For me, who did not officially have permission to enter the Pekda Tower, visiting the Tower was the last step. Here, visiting meant something a little rougher than knocking on the door and leaving behind a newspaper.
Because investigating while being chased by wizards is dangerous. First, I planned to visit a village in the Batudis region where a demon statue was discovered.

Slurp, slosh. Low-lying fog and damp ground. It is truly an environment perfect for ghosts to appear.
After walking for a while, an old wooden building suddenly appeared before my eyes. It was a building in the middle of nowhere. Under the eaves, it had ‘Glutti Inn’ written on it.

“Welcome, customer!”
“Excuse me.”

As I opened the door and entered, the owner and wife of an ordinary inn greeted me. However, the attire was quite unfamiliar.
First, I sat in the restaurant on the first floor and ordered drinks and food. After a while, the beer came out along with the really warm turkey.

“Hmm, it tastes good.”

There was no smell or rotten food. In fact, I felt full.

But when it came time to receive the money, the couple looked troubled. In particular, her husband, who had bulging forearms, frowned when he saw the gold I held out.

“Hey, bro. Are you kidding me? “You want to pay in this currency?”
“What is the problem?”
“Huh, really. “I heard that there has been an increase in the number of fearless adventurers in the islands these days.”
“Honey, don’t do that.”
“Stay upstairs, Maria! You are good to go. “Follow me!”

‘It’s a system…’

At least, it’s not a word to use these days. Because there is no emperor on the continent anymore.
Well then, there are one, no, two things to test.
Holding a glass of beer in one hand, I grabbed the innkeeper’s neck as he reached out to grab his forearm.

“Big, big…” … ! What power… !”

〈 Unique Magic: The End of Magic ⌜Magic·End⌟〉

I could hear her wife screaming and her neck twisting, but other than that, there were no other changes. As expected, it appears that the illusion itself is not the source of the magic.

“Aaaaahhh——!! “Someone, please help me!”

I left the inn, leaving behind my wife who called for the guards of an empire that no longer exists.
As soon as I stepped out of the doorway, the beer glass I was holding in my hand shattered. The liquid that was supposed to flow on the floor also mixed with the fog and disappeared.

There was a growling sound in my stomach.

“It’s Baldur’s nightmare…”

Wow, that’s an interesting phenomenon.

***

After walking for another half a day, I saw a small village.
After encountering the illusion for the first time, I encountered knights with lifeless expressions or women with bodies on fire almost once an hour, so I suspected that this time too it was a fake.
However, those concerns were dispelled as soon as we made eye contact with those who appeared to be vigilantes guarding the front of the village.
When they saw me, they aimed their crude crossbows and asked several questions.

“Give your name and affiliation!”
“Louis. Parencia Academy.”
“Parencia? “What is the purpose of coming here?”
“Hmm… Travel. For now.”
“It looks like there is no guide. Have you received a pass to the Magic Tower?”
“There is no such thing, but instead there is this.”

Before coming here, I took out the insurance policy I had prepared in Parencia, just in case.
This is the Four Leaf Medal that Lehel cherished. Although he didn’t bring himself, he did bring a medal that was useful in many ways.

— Why, why are you taking it from me! You gave me a wind ball!! You said you don’t gamble, haha!!

The image of her crying and clinging to her pant legs came to mind and made me laugh.

Of course, it will be revealed to the recipients of medals and nobles who hold titles that it is not mine. Even if you show this, you won’t be able to enter the Magic Tower.
However, to the commoners who knew nothing, the authority of the royal family was absolute. In fact, the vigilante’s hands began to tremble when he saw the medal I held out.

“Excuse me, sir.”
“Okay, just open the door.”
“Yep!!”

As I entered the village, I was a little surprised to see the residents living a better life than I expected. They seemed to have somewhat adapted to this crazy welcome.

“Welcome to Cantata Village.”
“Do you guys make coffee too?”
“Yes?”
“No. Rather, there is something I am looking for…”

I showed him the picture of the demon statue written in Mareil’s note. However, the villager who guided me tilted his head and said he had never seen anything like it.

“I have never seen such an ominous object. If it were the other way around…”
“The opposite?”
“Yes. It is also the main source of income for our village these days. Would you like to take a look?”

He took me to a small warehouse on the outskirts of town. When I opened the warehouse door, there were statues of the Goddess of Light piled up inside the box, sparkling at first glance and radiating divine energy.

“What is all this?”
“As I said, it is a source of income for our village.”
“Is there a temple nearby? “How do you make money with something like this?”
“That’s it…”

The man’s story was surprisingly quite interesting.

“Therefore… “If I enter the illusion with this, I can retrieve the items inside it one by one?”
“You’re right. Instead, we leave this behind in the area where Baldur’s nightmare occurred. That way, you can get not only food and weapons, but also a small amount of old currency.”
“Aren’t you going to stop me at the Magic Tower?”
“Tsk, do you wizards care about commoners like us? If you want to survive in this land where the sun doesn’t shine, you have to take something with you. “We also discovered it by chance.”

Residents here are already somewhat familiar with this strange phenomenon. Moreover, even if you get caught up in a nightmare, you will be rewarded as long as you come out alive.
It’s the mindset of an adventurer who goes into a dungeon and collects by-products.
However, it is not a good thing for residents who need to work on their daily lives to take risks and go to such places.

“Let’s see… Huh?”

Crispy!

But when I picked up the statue, there was a slight crack on the outside, and I heard the sound of the magic being broken.
The angel’s wings fell off, and ugly horns sprouted on top of his head.
The toga worn on the body had been transformed into leather with many holes made from human skin.

〈 Unique Magic: The End of Magic ⌜Magic·End⌟〉

Fuck. That’s right, it’s a demon statue.

“… Hey.”

Looking at the expressions of the villagers who were even more embarrassed than me, I realized that they had been kind enough to scatter the demon statues all over Batudis.

“Who is this bastard who gave you this?”