162 – Byzantine (1)
As the days passed, the day to leave for Byzantine approached. But she was reluctant to leave right away.
As you have to use a horse-drawn carriage, various preparations are required, and you may also have to sleep on the street.
Furthermore, even though the road is well paved, monsters or beasts may pop out.
Because the railroad has not yet opened, we have no choice but to take this trouble.
“Let’s see. A sleeping bag, matches, and food. Is this enough?”
“There are villages at each stopover, so there’s no need to take too much with you, right? What do you think, President?”
“It’s enough to go bare-body.”
As the departure date approached, we gathered in the president’s office to discuss.
For reference, I asked for advice from Rod, who has overwhelmingly more travel experience than others.
No. The decision was made to go beyond advice and leave together. Thanks to this, I was able to skip the unnecessary stuff.
“By the way, is it okay for the president to leave his seat?”
Luna, who was choosing items, asked a question. Certainly, it is difficult for the Academy to have Rod leave his position.
Just because it’s vacation doesn’t mean you can relax. Instructors are also returning or taking leave, causing a loss of power.
In such a situation, it is difficult to respond to an emergency situation if you are away from the road. This is a concern.
“Don’t worry. Even if something happens, you can come back within 10 minutes.”
“How?”
“There is a way. Only I can do it.”
“……”
Luna did not ask any more questions. She answered confidently, even though she was a swordsman.
There must be a way. That’s not bravado, that’s confidence.
“Besides, I also have something to visit at the Temple of Life.”
“The president too?”
“Yes. I’m planning to resolve all my conditions there. It’s getting better, but the cough is still there.”
Rod’s addiction symptoms are gradually improving. It’s because I found the right herbs.
I left the herbs to Ellie in case there were any rumors. You’re probably feeling pretty good by now.
However, in order to completely decompose accumulated toxins, a visit to the temple is essential. It was the same in Soul World.
‘I’ll be able to get my power back after my visit.’
One of the biggest concerns has been resolved. What remains is the devil’s magic circle.
One is located at the stock exchange, and the other is located in a slightly more crowded area.
This is a controversial issue among users, so we plan to handle it last.
We will have to deal with the aftermath. There is still half a year left.
“I’m going with you, so three days will be enough to get back. If you want, you can come back sooner.”
“Huh? Not 15 days, but three days? That fast?”
“There is a way for everything. Besides, Rize would have told you in advance, so there won’t be any need for complicated procedures.”
You don’t need any special preparations, just go with your body and you’re done. I wonder if this is right.
But since Rod said there is a way, you can believe it. We must first decide what to do in Byzantine.
“Sister, are you going to go to Gulag’s temple first?”
“That’s right. Luna, what are you going to do first when you’re done with your work?”
“I want to visit all the temples… Is that not possible?”
Luna asked, looking at Rod. Since he was an experienced rod, he would know the method.
At this Rod nodded his head and replied as if telling him not to worry.
“Everyone can enter the temple. All you have to do is not be rude there.”
“What is rudeness?”
“Umm…”
Rod seemed to think for a moment and then turned his head. Exactly towards me.
It seemed like they were worried that I might do something strange at the temple.
I would like to answer that I will stay still. But I kept my mouth shut because I had committed a lot so far.
“Just be polite. All you have to do is be polite as a civilized person.”
“For some reason, I think I had Sivar in mind…”
“It’s an illusion.”
“I’m not stupid.”
Still, I have to express my dissatisfaction. Rod laughed weakly at my mockery.
Seeing that he was laughing, it seemed like it was close to a joke.
“Anyway, there’s a lot to see in Byzantine, so she can take her time. She won’t ostracize me just because she’s a foreigner.”
“I hope so. My father says it’s a country with almost no discrimination.”
Kara said with a bit of concern in her voice.
Compared to other people, she stands out from the start due to her skin color. Plus, her dark red hair.
It is an appearance that clearly shows that it is of Tatar ethnicity. A people who were despised as barbarians until a few years ago.
“Well, I think it’s going to be an interesting situation.”
“Interesting situation?”
“You’ll find out when you go.”
It is an expression that it is no fun if you tell it. It doesn’t matter because I’ll be there soon anyway.
It was just as we decided what to do and were about to leave.
Knock knock knock-
I heard a knock on the door. To be more precise, it is a window, not a door.
When I turned my head, Porori was standing outside the window.
Drurruk-
Porori knocks very politely and then opens the window. It was still as big as a large dog.
The acorn stuck in my armpit was still there. Where on earth did you get that big acorn?
Wasak-
“You’re telling an interesting story. You said the gulag is the sky where I pray, right?”
Porori asked us while chewing an acorn like an apple.
I felt like I had just roughly heard that story.
“That’s right. You also make offerings at the altar up there every weekend?”
“That’s me. Then can I go too?”
It looks like he wants to go to the temple that worships the sky, that is, the gulag.
He must have been curious because he gave power directly to Porori.
But unfortunately, Porori will not be able to leave the academy.
“No. You can’t go.”
“Who are you to decide my affairs?”
“Ellie is not going.”
“Ah.”
The guy who was acting nervous said, “Ah,” And understood what I said.
If nothing else, Porori needs to protect Ellie.
Have you not blocked people who give Ellie dirty hands in advance?
Especially during her freshman banquet, she almost caused something unpleasant to happen to Ellie. After blocking it myself, I realized the importance of Porori.
“Oh, there’s nothing I can do if she doesn’t go. I’m worried about leaving her alone.”
“Or should I call Ellie too?”
“No. You can’t be a bother because of me.”
How can they be so human? If you only listen to conversations, you are a perfect escort driver.
The actual job I do is closer to that of an escort driver, so this may be half true.
“Then I guess I’ll have no choice but to go later. Is it far from here?”
“A week by carriage.”
“What is a carriage?”
“There is such a thing.”
I skipped the explanation because it was too cumbersome. Porori is not something to ride anyway.
“By the way, Ratatosk, what are you going to do during vacation?”
“Vacation? What is that again? Are you eating?”
“Hey. Would you even ask such a question to an animal?”
“…Is that so?”
Luna’s unique boldness was displayed. She scratched her head as if she was embarrassed.
People are on vacation, so Porori will continue his life as usual. They will also mark the territory.
“Oh, by the way, is the area expansion going well?”
It was Rod’s question. He said a report would come to him too, but it would be better to ask him directly.
Porori listened to Rod’s question and nodded his head. He then stuck out his chest and spoke confidently.
“This area of the body is perfect. What you’re worried about, old man, won’t explode.”
“That’s good. What do I need to pay attention to?”
“Nothing in particular. Those who go inside will never come out.”
You can never get inside the Forest of Chaos unless you have a specially made compass.
Even though the magic power is abundant, it is so abundant that the space itself is slightly distorted.
To give a further explanation, I wonder if the direction got twisted at some point.
It seems to be heading north, but the direction turns and heads south.
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“Good. Please continue to work hard. Is there anything you want?”
“There is nothing in particular.”
Afterwards, Porori said he would leave if he had nothing to say and went out the window.
The situation seems to have been roughly resolved, the only thing left is to head to Byzantine.
To head to Byzantine, you have to catch a carriage first.
“First, let’s start with the carriage…”
“No. There’s no need to do that.”
Just as Kara was about to continue her sentence, Rod cut her off. At those words, people, including me, looked at him with puzzled expressions.
When the Lord’s eyes were focused, he showed a subtle smile and took out his sword without saying a word. It’s a really ordinary sword.
“First of all, is there anything you can take care of before we leave?”
“……”
I opened my hands without saying a word. When I opened my hand, Ragnarok, which had been neatly placed on the wall, was held in my hand.
You may ask why you go with Ragnarok, but there is no particular reason.
Because while I was on my way, I had to spar with Rize and check something.
‘I need to figure out if this is really a magic conch.’
I wonder if there is a distinction between believers in chaos like a magic conch shell.
There must be many believers of chaos there. So, take it with you.
Pajik!
“Ah! Come on! W-what are you doing?!”
“Confirm.”
First, you have to check with Luna. When Ragnarok was placed on Luna’s arm, blue sparks flew out.
Of course she jumped up and was startled. The dumbfounded face is a bonus.
‘Why didn’t I choose Luna?’
If you only look at what he does, he is definitely a believer in chaos. The snout is especially impressive.
If you look at the fact that you didn’t choose it, there must be a reason. You’ll find out why when you get to Byzantine.
There was a brief commotion, but all preparations were completed. Rod looked around at us and then took out his sword.
‘Why black?’
Not only me but everyone watching must have felt that way.
But soon I realized the reason.
Good!
Rod lightly lowered his sword. At the same time, very slight incontinence developed.
Good! Wow!
It did not end here, but was cut horizontally once up and down. Finally, cut vertically once more.
The completed shape was a rectangle with a longer length. Even the faint gold became clearer.
Soon, Rod put his sword back into its sheath. Looks like it’s over now.
“We can leave now.”
When everyone was expressing doubts, Rod said that. Then he stretched out his hand toward the empty space he had cut.
Tuk-
As soon as I held out my hand, the space fell as if a piece of paper had fallen. This is the spot where Rod cut down earlier.
Behind that, unlike the inside of the room, an unfamiliar scenery unfolded, and it was difficult to identify the place with the naked eye.
“What are you procrastinating on? Don’t go in quickly.”
“······Could it be there?”
“It’s near the Byzantine checkpoint. It will take about 10 minutes to get to the checkpoint.”
As expected, he has the skills of a swordsman to perform magic with a sword. Honestly, even a wizard would have a hard time doing that.
It was only for a moment that I felt Rod’s skills again, and we walked into the space that Rod had cut down.
It was almost as big as the door, so there was no need to lower my head. Rod entered first and I entered last.
Soon, as I entered the cut out space, I could see that it was a forest. It appears to be a forest near the checkpoint.
“As far as I remember, it would be in this direction…”
“When was the last time you visited Byzantine?”
“It was about 3 years ago.”
If that’s the case, I guess it’s trustworthy. I stopped for a moment to follow Rod.
The space he cut down has still not been restored. Suddenly I got curious.
‘What happens if you put your hand in there and stay still?’
I haven’t seen this in Soul World either.
The ability to manipulate space freely is rare, and what can be done is limited due to the limitations of the game.
I pretended to follow the group and then slipped away. Then I put my hand into the space that was starting to recover little by little.
I put it in just enough to pass through my wrist. It feels a bit strange because the temperature over there is different from where I am.
“Oh, Sivar. What am I doing with your weapon?!!”
When the space was almost closed, the Lord’s angry voice rang in my ears.
I was startled by an unexpected voice, and my hand was still in the space over there.
Next, just when Rod was about to take urgent action, the space was completely closed by a narrow margin.
Sigh!
“Huh?”
And my hand flew off cleanly. Again, the hand is missing near the wrist.
My wrist was cut so cleanly that the bones were visible. At the same time, there was a feeling of dead silence.
Kara and Luna opened their mouths in shock, and even Rod stiffened. It was a completely unexpected accident.
“Road, load…”
I called Rod in a slightly trembling voice. He showed his wrist with his hand blown off cleanly.
There were many cases of amputation even in the Forest of Chaos. First, if you connect the cut parts, you can restore them through regeneration.
This is possible because playback is active, not passive. Instead, it has never been used without a joint in a cut situation.
So, I looked at Rod pitifully and asked for a favor. There is only one person here who can find my hand.
“Can you give me my hand again?”
“Oh my… Really…!”
It was unusual from the beginning.
Curiosity can kill a shivar not a cat