Ian looked around.
This place is quite far from the capital.
Rather, a place close to the land occupied by the rebels.
“Commander. There is nothing here!”
“Then let’s go further down.”
Rough terrain and lush grass.
Originally, the eastern part of the empire was rough, but this place is so rugged that people do not even think it is habitable.
Therefore, it was the best place to make a hideout.
“Where are you going… … .”
“Uh huh… … My back is all wet.”
The soldiers grumbled as they searched around.
It is dangerous because even the slightest mistake can cause you to fall off a cliff.
There is also grass there, so it is difficult to determine where the cliff is.
It was understandable that the soldiers grumbled as they continued to clear the grass.
Ian watched the soldiers all the time and opened his mouth.
“Let’s take a break and do it. Stay vigilant even during breaks.”
“Five! finally… … !”
“thank you!”
The soldiers were happy with Ian’s words.
It was a honey-like rest for the soldiers who had gone through the rough terrain.
While the soldiers were resting, Ian looked around and fell into trouble.
‘Is this really right? … .’
Originally, the place where magic engineering was researched was built in a place with good traffic.
It was due to the fact that making it through magic engineering was different from making ordinary magic tools.
Whereas research on ordinary magic tools is based on deep research on magic, magic engineering focuses on mass production and efficiency.
That is why, in an ordinary magic engineering laboratory, there was a factory, and transportation was an essential part of distributing goods.
Of all Astina’s predictions, this is the most likely candidate.
Of course, it was predicted that he was in the territory occupied by the rebels, but Ian could not enter the territory occupied by the rebels, so he had no choice but to pray that it was actually here.
soft-
Then I heard the rustling of grass behind Ian.
Ian did not miss the sound and quickly turned his head and stretched out his hand.
I thought it was an enemy and immediately tried to use magic, but I stopped when I saw the person’s face.
“… … Rudy Astria?”
“… … yes?”
Rudy also tried to use magic, but realized it was Ian and stopped casting.
“… … Why are you here?”
“Why are you here?”
The two looked at each other blankly and sighed.
The two of them, who were originally supposed to be in the capital, were here for the same reason.
“Is it Mana Stone?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Did Astina tell you?”
“No, this is the information I got from Rie.”
“What was the basis for finding out about Mana Stones?”
“Because of the last incident and the bridge of Aryandor.”
“Leg?”
“Aryandor’s bridge, isn’t it something made with magic engineering? therefore… … .”
“… … not. You don’t have to say any more.”
Ian doubted that Astina had told Rudy, but it seemed like a meaningless doubt.
Isn’t everyone’s point of view the same?
There was no reason not to think that what he thought was Rudy.
Whatever the method of finding out there, if you found out information about mana stones, this place would have come out.
It’s not that hard to find out here.
This was near the place where the rebels first broke up.
If it was a place where the rebels could build up their strength and hide, it was difficult to think of anything other than this place.
Rudy saw the soldier resting behind Ian.
“Are you here with the Imperial Army?”
“Yeah, I’m searching around with the soldiers. Would you like to go too?”
Ian was going to use Rudy.
There were a certain number of soldiers, so a thorough search was possible, but there were times when soldiers became a burden.
You can’t send soldiers to cliffs or dangerous places, so Ian had to go alone to search those places.
If Rudy was there, it was rather efficient because it was possible to search with two people instead of alone.
Of course, you may have to share your achievements.
Even if we found the rebels, we found them together, but Ian didn’t find them alone.
Even so, the reason they are trying to find it together is because Rudy thought about the possibility that he would find it alone.
If he couldn’t find it and found Rudy alone, that would be the worst situation.
“Yes. That will be fine.”
However, it was not a bad proposal from Rudy’s point of view.
It’s much better to find a group than to find it alone.
Rudy joined the Imperial Army and started searching around.
“Rudy Astria. Did you find something?”
“Would it be that easy to find? But, why do you keep coming near me?”
Ian stayed near Rudy and searched the area.
I also thought about the possibility that Rudy could find it and hide it… … .
“Rudy Astria. Just ask me.”
“What?”
“What do you think of the Duchess of Astria?”
“Is it a peacock… … ?”
Rudy rubbed her chin and thought.
After a short deliberation, he answered lightly.
“It is a tool. A tool to get the results I want.”
“It’s a tool… … .”
It was somewhat of an expected answer.
Still, hearing it from his mouth felt strange.
The position, which is life itself to him, is just a tool to him.
is this correct
Ian was filled with anger as his life became colorless.
“Commander.”
Before Ian could say anything, a soldier looked for Ian.
“What’s going on?”
“The search in the vicinity is over. but.”
“but?”
“I thought we couldn’t go any further on the cliff side, so we found the commander.”
“Can’t you go? Did you find a way back?”
“I could go to the bottom, but I didn’t know what was on that wall.”
“i get it. don’t let me go Let’s take a look around the side we’ve been exploring. and.”
Ian looked at Rudy.
I looked to suggest going with him, but Rudy’s feet were already moving.
“Let’s go.”
“okay.”
Ian and Rudy followed the soldier.
“Here it is.”
When I looked at the place the soldier had guided me, I saw a distant cliff.
“Go down.”
“… … What do you mean?”
“How do I get down the cliff?”
Ian stretched his legs under the cliff.
Step on the protruding part of the cliff and descend to the body.
“What kind of cliff… … .”
Rudy narrowed her brow.
“Is there any other way?”
There was no other way for Rudina or Ian.
Because there was no telekinetic magic like Astina, and she couldn’t use spirits like Rie did.
Although there is space magic, it cannot be used immediately in a state where it is difficult to know where the cliff is.
Also, there may have been a hole in the middle of the cliff to make a base, so I had to figure this out too.
“All right.”
Rudy was very pleased and stretched her legs below.
“If you fall, go to space magic.”
After strengthening their bodies with magic, Ian and Rudy started going down the cliff.
It was the first time for both of them to climb a cliff, but it wasn’t too difficult.
All you have to do is break the cliffs little by little with magic to make a jaw, and put your foot on the jaw.
Of course it was terrifying.
I was afraid to set foot where I couldn’t see below.
You won’t die or get hurt by using space magic or by strengthening your body, but what you fear is fear.
Nevertheless, the two of them stepped forward in stride.
“Are you going to rest now?”
“Are you scared?”
“Aren’t you scared at all? I said it because it slowed down the descent.”
“If you are afraid, you can rest.”
“Then let’s go.”
They were both scared, but never said those words.
Each other’s pride never tolerated saying it was scary.
We could rest if we retreated a bit, but the two continued to descend.
That’s how it went down.
“uh?”
“Are you thinking of taking a break?”
“I think I can rest.”
Rudy pointed down.
A large jaw on the wall of the cliff.
No, it was too big to be called a chin, and it felt almost like new land.
“Looks like you found it.”
Rudy and Ian ran towards the ground.
When they landed on the land, green grass greeted them.
“Is the grass like this?”
Also, this is not a natural form.
If there really was a land like this, there should be a lush green forest waiting for it, there was no way it was like grass.
“there.”
And I saw a house in front of me.
“How did you build a house like this?”
“Whatever way. First.”
Rudy chuckled.
“I think I found it.”
***
The capital of the empire, the residence of the Duke of Ophilus.
squeak- squeak-
A rocking chair creaking is heard.
Above it was Jason Ophilus, sitting and reading a book.
Ophilus, who was quietly reading the book, closed the book and set it down on the small table next to him.
Then he opened his mouth.
“What did you come here for?”
Then the door opened to the room where Ophilus was.
A man in a hood was seen in front of the door.
“There was no reply to the letter, so I came.”
The man took off his hood and said.
A man with black hair.
It was Aryandor.
“I didn’t reply because it wasn’t worth replying, but you don’t know what that means.”
“I came here because it seems that Master doesn’t know what I mean.”
Aryandor smiled.