Chapter 272 – Gray Infiltration

000

Back in time a bit, while Cleon and Quon were in El Cairo.

Gray noticed Setos Tromeia’s suspicious movements and was following him.

Going to the northern region is probably something related to his son his, Alban.

Since it was a bit colder, he prepared and wore warm clothes, and also equipped his partner Hermes, a mechanical golem in the form of a rat, with outer parts to prepare for freezing.

“It’s my first time going to the northern region.”

[Actually, it’s not like that, but it’s like that for you]

Chasing after the wagon with your bare body is, in fact, an unreasonable story.

The method Gray chose to pursue Lord Setos’ chariot was a magical floating vehicle that could run smoothly even on snowy fields.

It is a single-person vehicle made using a magic stone as a core. Because it moves slightly off the ground, it is hardly affected by the terrain and makes no sound.

Also, instead of a tired horse due to its limited stamina, it was an object that could easily move for a day if enough magic stone was supplied.

Of course, not everyone could have such a thing easily.

For crafting, not only extensive knowledge of state-of-the-art magic tools is required, but also various rare materials are required.

Even at the academy, only the design concept was still held, and the model actually produced was only a prototype.

For some reason, Gray had an item that was already completed and had a much better performance than the one from the academy.

“The locator attached by Hermes. It’s working properly.”

Gray talks while looking at the screen attached to the floating vehicle running on the snowy field.

Thanks to Hermes, who was watching Lord Setos, made and attached an improved version of the ‘Ring of Convenience’ to the carriage in advance, he was able to follow the other person’s location in real time.

Looking at their course, it seemed that they were heading towards the labor facility in the north where Albain was confined.

[The north is full of followers of Lord Setos. If you act in vain, you will be immediately suspected and it can lead to a big problem.]

Hermes spoke as if he was worried about Gray, who had left the royal road in pursuit of Setos.

[Even if there is a ‘backup’]

“It’s okay. I know that much too. I’m a detective!”

However, as if Gray thought that Hermes’ worries were over, he turned the lever on the steering wheel of the injured car in his hand to speed it up.

“Even Hermes, no matter how much he wears the outer shell, if he stays in a place like this for a long time, his insides will be ruined. It’s a sword that gets to the northern village as soon as possible and warms up in a warm place.”

[Thank you for your concern, but there is no need for that. As you know, my body is golden titanium. The preparations for freezing are perfectly finished.]

Hermes, who answered like that, looked towards Lord Setos’ carriage in the distance, eyes shining on Gray’s shoulder.

For some reason, there was an indelible anxiety in the eyes of those brass and machines.

001

Northern lands. Frozen ground.

Due to the construction of a huge heating facility, it became a bit of a place to live, but it was still a very barren place for the weak.

In the early days, all the animals and plants brought to migrate from the capital were frozen to death, and one of the reasons was that food could not be maintained unless it was procured locally.

Also, in a place where the surroundings are all white like this, people rarely come and go and there are few changes.

Thanks to the lack of stimulation, the migrants were living a stressful life without knowing it every day.

For them, if it were a few stimuli.

Occasionally thrown stones at the wagons of prisoners being evacuated.

Or, on the contrary, it was just an event to warmly welcome nobles and royal retainers riding in splendid carriages.

And today, among other things, the latter happened.

What got off the carriage was a royal courtier wearing a robe with the royal family crest on it.

Setos Tromeia.

Along with his older brother his Percy, he was a prestigious nobleman who was responsible for the defense and safety of the kingdom.

“Setos-sama! How could you come to a place like this… !”

When the official in charge of the city came out and greeted him, Setos smiled and talked.

“This is the kingdom’s land, and you are also the kingdom’s citizens. And, I’m the one who works to keep the kingdom’s citizens safe. If that’s the case, I’ll go and see if there’s anything I can do to help .”

Setos gave a friendly smile and patted the official’s shoulder as he bowed his head.

However, the sentence that came out of his mouth soon after was not so gentle.

Setos immediately changed his expression to a slightly more serious expression and spoke to the official.

“First of all, I heard there’s a prisoner who recently escaped… A drug addict and a murderer…”

“That, that’s…”

The official suddenly turned pale and looked up at Setos with a terrified expression.

Three toss was to go to the side of such an official and, as if with his close friend his, put his shoulder strap on and talk.

“Of course, you can’t say you’re the only one responsible. Still, isn’t it because you’re in that position to take responsibility?”

“No, that’s right.”

Even though the official was intimidated by the somewhat light yet definite sense of intimidation mixed in Setos’ voice his, he acknowledged his words his.

“First of all, since you’ve come from a little further away and I’m a little tired, let’s go somewhere where we can sit down and talk.”

“…I understand. Setos-sama.”

And as Setos and his attendants walked to the town hall with the official, the villagers greeted them with cheers.

Watching the scene from a distance, Gray carefully got off the horse and hid it in a place out of sight – in a pile of scrap materials on the outskirts of town.

[The conversation between the official and Lord Setos from earlier. Is the escaped convict the thief of Horseshoe Mountain?]

“It seems to be right. Mr. Cleon has already eliminated it, but Lord Setos will not know about it.”

[With that being said, we can’t just let the official who escaped the prisoner stand still. Considering that Astarothe is involved, the official is a bit pitiful.]

At Hermes’ words, Gray nodded as he went to the village.

To cover his face his, as long as he was riding in his injured car, he had n’t taken off his helmet and goggles, and he was wearing a furry cape behind him.

Thanks to her tall stature her, she was like a little elf from a northern legend.

“First of all, we have to go to the town hall where Lord Setos is. It’s still difficult to attach wiretaps, but…”

[You can guess what they are going to say. For the official, the issue of the escaped prisoner, which can be said to be a weakness… They must be trying to take over the new recruit of ‘Alvein’ by making a deal for them.]

At Hermes’ words, Gray exclaimed and nodded his head.

“Ohhh… Certainly, I think that’s the most plausible idea. Then… Can we raid Lord Setos in the middle and punish him so that he doesn’t release Alvein?”

[Why does that happen… All we had to do was investigate the progress of the matter and inform Lyla Flamewatch. In the first place, I am not armed enough to defeat Lord Setos.]

Hermes took Gray’s words seriously and only shook his head in response.

Then, Gray also poured out his mouth and answered.

“I was joking. I have already heard that Lord Sethos is as much a master of martial arts as Sir Percys.”

[Was it a joke… I’m sorry, I don’t have enough magic resources to understand jokes.]

The personality of the artificial spirit inside the brass mouse changes its calculation ability and the perfection of its ego depending on the magic power given to it.

There was a limit to the amount of magical energy that could be injected into a small vessel.

With Hermes’ current body, he probably doesn’t have enough understanding to accept Gray’s ‘high joke’ as a joke.

“Then… Go to the prison where the prisoners are in advance and prepare a little in advance.”

Saying that, just as I was about to walk out of town, I felt a sense of life behind me.

When Gray hurriedly turned his body back, there was nothing there, only the scenery of the village.

“…Just about…”

[There was a strange flow of magical power. …Could it be that he noticed what he was tracking?]

Both Hermes and Gray looked at each other and nodded, probably thinking that what just happened was not a coincidence or an illusion.

Even so, the two do not turn back and head for the hidden wagon.

Rather, it was moving towards the prison at an even faster pace.

[You know, Grey.]

“…Yes. I’ve already made up my mind.”

Hermes said so, while riding on Gray’s shoulder, he gazed in all directions.

To survive as long as possible from something that is targeting them.

002

And arrived, the prison of the northern labor district.

Thanks to the large number of vicious prisoners locked up, the security system was strict, and the facilities were much better than the prisons in the capital.

“It might be a little difficult to get in here…”

Gray muttered as he gazed at the prison from a little distance.

It seemed difficult to break through the door between the two sturdy guards standing at the entrance, and on top of the wall guarding the prison, there was a weak but invisible barrier made of magic, so I couldn’t even jump over it.

[Not like that. You’ve been here before, so you can use it.]

“Ohh… It’s a great sword, too. Hermes.”

Hearing those words, Gray carefully put Hermes on the ground, and Hermes began to run hard in a certain direction.

If you follow the mechanical rat, which moves nimbly because it is small, you will see a hole leading to the sewer to dispose of the sewage from the prison.

“Ugh… I can smell it just by looking at it.”

[Be patient with that part. Because it can’t be helped…]

To dampen the smell a bit, Gray pulled the muffler from around his neck up to where his nose his touched.

And, when you open the lid covering the hole and go inside, the rotten smell vibrates like a prison sewer.

“Ooh…”

[Toxic is… It’s hard to say that it doesn’t exist, but it’s not to the extent that it causes abnormalities to the body. I’ll continue guiding you, so let’s move on. It would be better for you to move quickly.]

Gray nods his head with difficulty and moves forward, holding his breath as much as he can.

Moving forward, I don’t think the prison beyond it will have such good hygiene either.

Beyond the sewerage, at the corner of the road, something glowing red walks out with a thud, a thud.

“Wow…!?”

Gray was startedled by this and unknowingly raised his voice his, but Hermes also reacted as if he was a little taken aback.

[A machine like that… It wasn’t there when I came before. Is it an automatic doll for sewage treatment?]

“Well, I don’t know what it is…”

The next moment, the whole body was exposed, and it moved freely on its long legs in the sewage, and its red crystal eyes were shining brightly to secure its sight.

Its entire body seemed to be made of steel, but it had several large tongs attached to it, perhaps to take out the garbage that was under the sewage system, and it repeatedly opened and closed with a clicking sound.

And then, that guy who clearly looked menacing met Gray’s eyes and…

“Large organism found in the sewer. Presumed to be a magical mutant. Remove it.”

Then, he took out a weapon such as a drill or chainsaw that was hidden inside the torso and showed the full picture.

In order to move quickly through the narrow sewer, legs were attached to various parts of the wall.

It was rushing towards Gray.

“Wow!?”

[Be careful, Gray…! This guy could be even more dangerous than the guy who radiated that magic pressure earlier…!]

At Hermes’ warning, Gray ran out into the sewer in the opposite direction with a terrified face.

“I, it’s wrong to enter the place where there is!”

However, she has already fallen into a panic to the extent that she can’t properly judge the situation, and nothing like an ex will arise.

[…I can’t help it…!]

Hermes jumped off his shoulder as if he couldn’t help it, and pressed the pendant Gray wore around his neck like a button.

Then- if you think that the magic that spread out from the pendant wrapped around Gray’s body his.

In the next moment, Gray’s body transforms into that of the slender girl she saw when she was being chased by Verastol.

And when Gray opened his eyes, one of his eyes had turned a brass color.

“Hey, Hermes…?”

[It’s a split accident. Gray. You drag the time by moving your body. In the meantime, I’ll figure out what to do with him.]

Hermes’ original body his, the brass-colored rat, had become immobile and like scrap metal.

It is unknown how such a thing could happen to Gray, but the personality of Hermes had entered her body her.

Coexistence of two personalities in one body was originally a kind of disease.

For her, she also had the advantage of being able to separate her body and her mind her and allow them to operate separately.

Furthermore, by accepting her magical personality her from Hermes, Gray’s body her was also strengthened, and she gained enough speed to run away from the cleaning machine.

“…I get it! Detective Gray, until I know the truth, I can’t collapse like this!”

[Okay. Please.]

An unknown chase in the sewers began.