Chapter 149 (1/2)

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Eye of the Storm

Since the earth sank after the paG.o.da's collapse, there was uproar when Hikaru and the girls climbed back up from the valley. Even Katy rushed down from the radio tower. After all, tall ruins like that were extremely weak against quakes.

Hikaru told everyone about the hidden cave and the three-storied paG.o.da. Count Buck said he'd call for a.s.sistance so they could start excavating right away. Apparently, the discovery of another ruin would be big news.

The next day, the Count called Hikaru to the Catford's lord's mansion to explain what happened at the paG.o.da. He thought it c.u.mbersome, but thought if he told them exactly what transpired, he wouldn't have to do anything else. I'll just do what I have to do, Hikaru thought.

「So you're… Hikaru.」

He was greeted by the local lord, a pale, timid man. Hikaru started explaining.

The three-storied paG.o.da was the residence of the man who drove the construction of the radio tower. He was studying holy mana, and that the energy was given by a drakon.

Hikaru tried explaining about radio, but they didn't seem to get it. When he told them it was a magic item used to transmit someone's voice far away, they seemed satisfied. Although they did ask with a straight face how it was built out of mere “amus.e.m.e.nt”.

He already filled Katy and Selica in about all this yesterday. He told Selica that there was a mummified man in the paG.o.da named Ota Masaki. He left the part out about the Heaven's Messenger, though, since there was a chance she'd tell Sophie. As of the moment, Hikaru didn't know what Sophie or the church was planning. Until he found out, he decided not to tell her.

「If we can study more of this holy mana, we might be able to create something different besides magic items.」

「Yes. Perhaps some of the relics found used holy mana as a source of power. But with no supply, we can't do anything.」

「That is true…」

The Count and the lord were discussing things. In any case, the scrolls had to be safely recovered first before study on the holy mana could be done. Hikaru also omitted the part about Roux Vineyard since it was only his conjecture—although it was most likely the truth anyway. After all, humans tend to get out of control when they get their hands on advanced military weapons.

「So, Count Buck. When are you going to show me to the other ruins near the tower?」Hikaru asked.

「I don't know what you're talking about.」the Count answered, feigning ignorance.

「There's no other ruins nearby.」Katy said.

「I told you. A man lived in that paG.o.da. Records also indicated there was a village nearby. Besides, they wouldn't build a tower in the middle of nowhere. The man needed people to help build it. So there should've been a settlement nearby.」

「You got me. Well, I didn't really think we could hide it forever. Indeed, there are ruins inside the forest.」

「What?! The official report didn't mention anything like that! They said the tower was built by a solitary Sorcerer—」

「Most of the magic items were actually discovered in the settlement. Everything should've been collected, but there was a chance we missed something. If we released the info to the public, robbers might ransack the place. Plus designating the tower, and nothing else, as an archeological site means we can cut down on security.」the Count said, ashamed.

The lord wiped his sweat with a handkerchief.

「I figured it was something like that.」Hikaru said.「I just didn't like how you were asking me for information, yet hiding things from me.」

「I apologize for that. We were just being cautious. Please forgive me.」

「Is there anything else you're hiding?」

「None. If needed, we'll show you the catalog of the artifacts. The complete version that only Zuburans can browse.」

「Catalog! Complete version!」Katy jumped to her feet and looked at Hikaru with expectant eyes.

「I'm good. Please show it to Professor Katy instead.」

「Really?!」Katy exclaimed.

「Yeah. So have I helped you enough in your research?」

「This is more than enough! Wonderful! I'll give you full credit for my cla.s.ses for free!」

Hey, at least give me an exam or something. She a.n.a.lyzed the revolver for me quickly and even created prototype bullets. I might ask for help with equipment in the future.

「Are you sure you don't want to see it?」the Count asked.

「You're probably going to bring records you can't decipher to me anyway, right?」

The Count laughed.「True. We might just do that.」

「I won't guarantee I'll give the right translation. You did hide information from me, after all.」

「Uh… L-Like I said, I apologize for that. I'll even add in a little gift if you want.」

「I'm just kidding.」

「It sure didn't sound like it.」

Hikaru left Katy and Mille in the lord's mansion, the latter saying she couldn't leave Katy alone. Mille being worried about Katy, and not the other way around, was something new.

「So… What do we do today?」Hikaru and the girls were strolling around the town of Catford.

「Cats.」Lavia obviously desired cats.

「Yes, cats sound great!」Paula also desired cats.

「Don't I get a vote?!」Selica asked.

「Is there some place you want to go to?」

「None!」

「Really… All right, let's head to the guild.」

There were fewer people in the guild than yesterday. The three girls immediately rushed to the cats lazing around on the warm floor. Hikaru took a vacant seat and had tea.

Oh, right… I wanted to check what my other job cla.s.ses do.

Hikaru already tried setting Stealth, Throwing, and Wide Area Detection along with Lesser Angel. He planned to switching out Throwing, a cla.s.s he might not need right away, with something he hadn't used before.

He hadn't actually told Lavia and Paula about this. He would do so once things settled down.

Yeah, it's gotta be this.

He selected Common Chaos G.o.d: Eye of the Storm3. If there was a cla.s.s with “Common” in its name, there would always be one without it. In this case, there should be a superior cla.s.s called “Chaos G.o.d”. How the “Common” part was removed, Hikaru didn't know. He had no idea how he obtained the cla.s.s in the first place.

Let's see its effects… Hikaru thought as he raised his cup of tea.

「M-Master! Is the guildmaster here?!」

An adventurer barged into the guild, sweating profusely, small wounds all over his body.

「What's wrong?」

「What happened?」

「Hey, isn't that one of the guys who tagged along to kill the Giant Rock Viper?」

There was a stir among the adventurers. The Giant Rock Viper, a kill target only recommended to adventurers rank C and higher. As such no one had taken the request here at the Catford Adventurers Guild.

The rest of the Four Stars of the East—Selyse, Sophie, and Sarah—set out to kill it. Quite a number of adventurers went with them so they could watch rank B adventurers fight.

Not a moment too soon, the guildmaster appeared.「What's the matter?」

The adventurer rushed to the counter.「There was a ma.s.s outbreak of Giant Rock Vipers! Even unique ones like a Giant Rock Lizard, and a Double-Necked Viper!」

「What?! What happened to the Four Stars?」

「They retreated to a village and barricaded themselves. That place barely has any means to defend itself! Please, Master! Send for reinforcements!」

Hikaru was shocked as he listened. The Four Stars appeared to have everything under control. Were the monsters really that powerful?

「Hahaha! After all that showing off and this is what happens? This is why you can't trust female adventurers! I bet they only got their ranks by offering their bodies to some guildmaster.」