Chapter 1069 – Strange Companions

000

As if yesterday’s rain was a lie, today’s morning was bright and clear, not a single cloud in the sky.

It was difficult to notice because it was evening when I entered this mountain, but unlike the mountain just before, the sky on this mountain was not stained ‘grey’.

I don’t know if the reason why each mountain colors the sky is a different color is because of the magic power that fills this land, or if there is another cause.

At least, the current sky was much more calming to Cleon’s mind than the gloomy sky.

‘Wasn’t all of one’s magic restored by just sleeping for one night?…’

Cleon thought as he walked along the path in the forest, following Laplace, who was flying in front of him.

Last night, it was the forest where he wandered around the entrance looking for branches for Nemeia.

Even if you look around, all you see are trees with featureless leaves hanging down, and bushes that block the view under your feet.

Even as they move their rustling steps, they can’t see anything moving except themselves.

As Laplace said, did the guardian clean up everything?

Thinking back on my meeting with her last night, I couldn’t think of any reason why she would go to such lengths to get rid of her animals.

Even if the value of ‘unknown’ does not exist for animals.

“How far should I go?”

At that time, Uni opened her mouth to interrupt Cleon’s thoughts, and at the same time, Laplace stopped fluttering above his head.

Laplace would turn his head and talk while hanging on a relatively wet branch.

“Now we just have to go a little further.”

“You wouldn’t say the mansion is hidden underground, right?”

“Of course. It’s not that there is no ‘underground’ in the mansion, but the mansion itself is above ground. However… It’s just that you can’t get there unless you follow a designated means of transportation or route.”

Were there any preparations for that?

“… I see. Nemeia, you have no problem walking, right?”

[Ah. … You don’t have to worry that much. I am not a lion cub.]

Nemeia answers Yuni’s concerns like that.

It’s understandable that she’s worried… But Cleon was able to understand that she was having the same reaction through her facial expressions and actions.

To be honest, if there weren’t any problems with Nemeia, she thought cutting down Laplace’s body the moment she figured out the approximate location of the mansion would be an option.

However, after considering this and that, she decided that it was still a good idea for her to cooperate with him.

Nevertheless, there was a good reason why Cleon’s hand did not leave the handle of her sword.

Will she betray him ‘first’, or will he betray her ‘first’?

This was because it was necessary to estimate when the blades hidden inside each other would reflect light and come out.

Laplace’s body is probably a body he is using temporarily. Or a disposable bowl that can be substituted.

Throwing it away and switching to another body wouldn’t be difficult at all for him.

‘Do you take out the blade or not…’

Of course, Laplace also had the same thought, so there was no more talking between the two than was necessary.

That probably happens the closer you get to the location of the mansion.

The fact that the person who contributes most to the peace between these two people is Nemeia, who needs treatment with Darwin’s medicine.

I feel sorry for Uni, but in a way, it could also be said to be a blessing.

And just as Laplace said.

The group’s steps stopped after walking for about 20 minutes.

This is because we arrived at a place like the border where the forest suddenly ends.

And beyond.

Beyond, where there are clearly traces of a road made by human hands, is the mansion of the returnee guided by Laplace-

“—Nothing. Nothing.”

“…”

When the result appeared, which was no different from betraying everyone’s expectations, Cleon could not bear it and muttered that.

That must be true, too, because Laplace just a moment ago was sitting on a tree at the edge of the forest and looking meaningfully back at the group.

‘Look, this is a treasure trove of wisdom where we explored science with vision. Be in awe.’

─, Because Cleon felt what was being said with his eyes.

Such confidence was in vain, as Cleon said, there was no such thing as a ‘mansion’ there.

There was just a large open space with strange patterns left on the ground, like concentric circles created by throwing stones into the water of the forest.

That pattern was not visible as a magic circle.

Handwriting? Or, a picture?

Looking at something that may not have any meaning, Laplace was silent for a while and then-

“I guess. It looks like it moved.”

“Ha?”

To such foolish words, Cleon once again couldn’t bear it and had no choice but to react that way.

Come to think of it – I did say something like that.

The coffin of the returner is said to be moving through each mountain of the mountain range.

I didn’t think that method would be common, but could it be that it was moved from ‘Gwiryong Mountain’?

“—No, the guardian said yesterday that returnees were on this mountain.”

“Wow. The guardian said that. That’s fortunate. I guess that’s true too. Moving the mansion requires a large amount of magical energy and preparations.”

He mumbles something while saying that.

“As far as I know, the most recent time the mansion was moved was within a month. It is impossible to move the location across the mountain boundary, including the underground part, within a month… Then.”

Then he turns his head towards Cleon and speaks.

“Just as you said, the mansion is still on Mt. Guirong.”

“Okay. I understand. Don’t weigh it and just tell me where it went. It doesn’t mean you don’t know, right?”

He drew a meaningful conclusion, but Cleon just responded as if he was tired of him.

He frowned a little at Cleon’s reaction, but couldn’t refute it right away.

Because, as Cleon said, right now, he doesn’t know where the mansion has gone.

If you ask me if I have ever moved a mansion in this way, that is not the case, but it was a method that was not used if possible.

‘Phase transition technology is, so to speak, a double-edged sword. If you move it to a place other than the designated location, you never know what might happen. If it gets caught in a gap in space, or if you make a mistake, it could collapse along with the mansion and various technologies stored within it.’

“Darwin… I guess he was quite anxious.”

She lost two executives, and the exiled church in the Eastern Country, which could be said to be her ally, collapsed.

In that situation, Cleon and his party came with an expedition team—and even Artis, who clearly had a grudge against him.

Darwin, who had suffered many times and was cornered, took the risk and moved his mansion.

However, since it was not possible to travel further with the accumulated energy, it must have moved somewhere on Mt. Guirong.

Even as Laplace comes to that conclusion, he ponders what to do.

Aside from finding the mansion, as he himself said-

In order to enter the Returner’s Mansion, you must follow a somewhat set route, or you will not be able to get there.

Thinking that this had become a bit annoying, Laplace was about to take off.

[Oh. It’s finally here. It was faster than expected.]

That voice came from somewhere.

The voice, which felt old, had a bit of noise mixed in, so I could tell it was coming from beyond the machine.

“Huh, where does that sound come from?”

“… Hey, explain.”

Uni’s embarrassment, and Cleon’s demands.

At the same time, if you think that Nemeia lowered her body and looked to either side.

A rustling sound is heard from beyond.

There is something.

Even if no one pointed it out, he would have thought so and taken a fighting stance.

“Wait a minute.”

And the one who stopped the group was Laplace, whose voice was in his memory.

If Laplace had not stopped him, Cleon would have swung his sword straight at the small machine that had walked out of the bush.

Kklik, Kklik.

It was a small mechanical doll that was turning the spring on its back with its own hands, making a loud sound of rotating gears.

Is the size a little smaller than Cleon’s hand?

If you didn’t look carefully, it would blend in with the gray of the ground, and you wouldn’t even be able to see it.

First, the guy with the facial features looks up at Cleon and his companions and waves his hand.

[Hey, young man over there. Are you the ‘demon swordsman’? This is my first time meeting you in person.]

“… Who is it?”

Naturally, Cleon did not remember this voice, and there were too many people who spoke to him in this tone, so he was unable to narrow down the candidates and expressed doubt.

“Descartes… It was you, after all.”

[Chuck. Well, if you let the young people notice it on their own, what will happen?]

When Laplace spoke of the identity of the ‘mechanical doll’ beside Cleon, Cleon looked at it with a surprised expression for a moment.

Descartes.

Same last name as Fleur.

Then, in other words, this mechanical doll is-

‘Fleur’s grandfather… Descartes the Returner…!’

[Anyway. As I was just introduced, I am ‘Descartes’. One of the executives of the returnee you are hostile to.]

Even though he said the word ‘hostile’, he casually gave a gentlemanly greeting and bowed to the waist.

Well, even if it wasn’t because he was a small robot to begin with, Cleon couldn’t look at him unless he lowered his head considerably.

“As far as I know, I heard you were ‘quietly’ in the mansion.”

[It was originally like that. But Mrs. Darwin, who knew that you would lead an expedition to find us, needed me. Even though the woman I love is only my wife, she is another family member, so to refuse a request from her… Wouldn’t it be deviating from the virtue of a gentleman?]

It is the virtue of a gentleman.

What kind of gentleman is he aiming for, having become a nobleman through the status he has built up by providing large amounts of funds to the returnees?

Cleon didn’t reply because he felt a little funny somewhere.

“Where did the mansion go?”

[Of course, I was waiting here to explain that. Now we have moved the mansion to the bottom of a valley a little away from here. The basement is a place that is difficult for you intruders to find, without invading the ruins. Of course, the moment I guide you like this, such movement has no meaning.]

He spoke as if he was somehow cheerful, raising his small arm and pointing to one side.

“Wait… Why are you telling me?”

When Cleon asked him a question, Laplace and Descartes looked at each other for a moment, then turned their heads toward Cleon once again.

[That’s right, because we have a ‘collaborative relationship.’]

“Ah. He is also a comrade who wants to break the returners out of the structure dominated by ‘Adam’.”

Oh my god.

As soon as Cleon heard the story, he kept his mouth shut and muttered to himself.

In other words, two of the four returning executives had already betrayed Darwin – no, Adam.

… The intention is by no means pure, and it may be moving towards another evil.

The internal division of the enemy is a welcome story here too-

[So, isn’t it natural to help you, Darwin’s enemy? Haha.]

Why is there so much disbelief? These people called regressors.

Since he was basically a scholar, his brain was quick and his common sense was different from that of ordinary humans. It was difficult for Cleon to predict all of their plans.

Therefore, when Cleon is unable to remove his suspicions for a moment, Descartes nods his head several times, exhaling ‘Hmm, hmm’ as if he understands.

[He is indeed a cautious man, as I heard. Well, it is therefore suitable as a partner for cooperation.]

“Demon Swordsman. If we don’t follow his instructions now, we will have no means of reaching the mansion on our own. You understand that, right?”

And at the words of the two, Cleon kept quiet for a moment, then turned to look at Yuni and Nemeia.

Yuni still seemed somewhat anxious, but Nemeia seemed calm in comparison.

So much so that I forgot that poison was flowing through her body.

‘The poison still remains. I don’t know when her body will reach its limits. … Then.’

As expected, Cleon concludes that her safety and treatment come first.

“Okay. I’ll try to trust you for now.”

[Ah, that’s great. A strong and wise young man like you is with us. I feel like I’m going to dance because I’m so excited.]

To those words that sounded somewhat excited, Cleon responded with disgust.

“Stop being mistaken. I’m not on the same side as you.”

[Hoo. But Laplace and I are hostile to Adam. Even so?]

“Even if you say you will be hostile to Adam right now, it does not mean that the looting, conspiracies, and clearly insane experiments and evil deeds you committed as returnees will disappear. You who value the ‘past’ do not want to throw away the ‘past’. You won’t do it, right?”

At Cleon’s words, Laplace burst out laughing, and Descartes fell silent for a moment.

“…?”

When no answer came back, Cleon felt doubtful, but soon the old man answered.

[Oh, of course. Indeed. I guess so.]

His shocked reaction was, shall I say, a feeling like ‘I got hit with a punch’.

It was a reaction he didn’t expect.

[That correctness is a bit dazzling to me.]

“What are you saying now…”

The moment when Cleon tried to say something to the man who was speaking incomprehensibly.

[Okay then, let’s move on! A dazzlingly correct magic swordsman! Our journey begins here!]

The mechanical doll leaps up, grabs Cleon’s clothes, climbs up, and sits on his shoulder.

“Hey, come down! What are you doing!”

Haha. My legs are too short to give directions!]

Cleon tried to shake him off with his hand as if he were trying to shake off a bug, but Descartes avoided Cleon’s hand by clinging to his clothes while saying that.

Cleon was taken aback by the movement, which was faster than expected, but he couldn’t help but sigh.

“Ugh… Okay, stop moving! I feel bad when it rustles on my shoulder…”

Cleon muttered like that and took a step toward the direction he had pointed.

Then, a voice flows into Cleon’s head.

It was Galatea’s voice.

[For some reason, it seems like he strangely likes it?]

[… No way. It’s better not to expect proper emotions from these guys.]

[So you didn’t like it?]

[What is that…]

A moment of silence.

[Are you saying I’m not normal?]

[Puhuhuh… Not necessarily.]

Due to Galatea’s teasing, Cleon had no choice but to drop his shoulders.

[Oh my! I almost fell!]

“I wonder if I know.”

[You must respect your elders, young man!]

Cleon could only wish that he would shut up as his voice was loud in his ear.