Chapter 279 Intrusion
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
We’re heading straight to our target, led by Estesia-san.
”By the way, Melgis-san and the others, how did you plan to sneak into the place where Golarf-san is hiding?”
”We intended to use a modified version of Amaris’s wedge. We’d drive it into the boundary of the other space, and that would destroy the other space.”
”Such a thing exists? But… magic of the other space is supposed to be lost magic, isn’t it? How do you have something like that?”
”I heard about what kind of magic the other space is when I was young, from that person.”
I see. If Golarf-san can use the magic of the other space, then it’s not strange for Melgis-san, who was raised by Golarf-san, to know about it.
But to think there’s a way to destroy the other space… I thought it was safe so long as you weren’t dealing with an expert in the magic of the other space. Turns out, it might be more fragile than I thought… Well, considering Origin is an exceptional existence that’s outside the norm, even the most perfect-looking thing might have holes. Maybe there’s no such thing as something truly perfect in this world.
”I’d also like to ask about that ‘Origin’ power. Neil-sama, where did you come to know of it? I’ve never heard of such a power from that person.”
”There was a time I was invited to the Elf village, and there I heard it from the Spirit Tree. That the power inside me is called ‘Origin,’ and among it, there’s a being called Crimson.”
”Regarding the Spirit Tree, I’ve heard about it from that person too. That it’s a puppet of the god who created and governs this world. I was surprised to hear the elves who protect the Spirit Tree freely talk about that, but… Neil-sama, who actually conversed with the Spirit Tree, what do you think about it?”
”Golarf-san’s words are a bit strong, but I mostly agree. The Spirit Tree itself claimed to be just a tool, after all.”
”I see… That’s a relief. I hadn’t paid much attention to it at the time, but looking back, that person already seemed strange from way back then. Maybe it was just the ravings of a madman, I wonder.”
So, it’s supposed to be a tool used by the gods who created the world.
The scale of that story was just too big, y’know?
But I actually met a god once and heard it straight from the Divine Tree, so I believed it.
But even if they’re like my foster parents, I can’t just suddenly believe something like that, right?
”Sorry to interrupt, but I’m here.”
That’s what Estesia-san said as she stopped in her tracks.
The place looked pretty ordinary compared to the surrounding scenery.
”Is it here?”
”Yeah, right on the edge of the alternate space. If you’re gonna open the entrance, come stand next to me.”
”Melgis-san, is that okay with you?”
”Yes, if we can enter the interior, the method does not matter.”
”Alright then”
I stood next to Estesia-san, took a deep breath, and then held up a wooden plaque inscribed with the formula for spatial magic in front of the space before me, pouring in the Origin.
”Ack!?”
The moment the entrance opened, I couldn’t help but let out a groan.
The dense presence of Origin, which had been blocked by the alternate space and couldn’t be sensed, felt like the air was thick with lead, pressing down on my whole body.
”This is…!”
”Beyond imagination…”
Lewya and Melgis-san both withered at the overflowing presence of Origin from the entrance.
This is bad, I couldn’t have imagined it’d be this──
──Thud!
”Estesia!?”
I turned my gaze to the side at the sound of something falling and Lewya’s voice, and there was Estesia-san lying on the ground.
I let go of the entrance to the alternate space and helped Estesia-san up.
”Are you okay!?”
”Haha… turns out, just having guts isn’t enough to handle this kind of problem.”
Even we ended up withering, so there’s no way Estesia-san, with her extraordinary magical perception far surpassing a normal person, could stay calm after sensing that.
Looking at her pale face and the sweat on her forehead, I judged that it’s impossible to take Estesia-san with us.
”Thank you for coming this far. Please go back to the mansion and leave the rest to us.”
”You’re really going… even though I’m not as good as her, I could sense that threat.”
”It’s not like we decided for sure it’s gonna be a fight, alright? And more than anything, if something happens that we gotta deal with, I’m the *only* one who can stand up to Blue.”
Honestly, it’s because Blue’s threat just got stronger, so I can’t just stay behind, gotta go myself.
”…Damn it, I really wanted to see this through with my own eyes… and yet, all I can do is just watch… Thanks for supporting me, really.
Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. I’m gonna open a different space──just go ahead and invade it, no problem.”
Estesia-san stands up, heads toward the frontier settlement alone, then stops and looks back at us.
”Lewya, when you get back, ya better tell me everything, ya hear?”
”Yeah, I’ll bring back a story you’d like, just for you.”
”Heh… Anyway, be careful out there.”
After opening the entrance so it doesn’t become a burden, I wait a little while until Estesia-san’s figure disappears from sight.
”Neil-sama, could you open the entrance for me, please?”
”Y-yeah, got it──eh?”
”What’s wrong?”
”It’s kinda late, but… why’s the entrance closed?”
”Isn’t that because Neil let go of it?”
”Nah, with the magic I’m using, as long as I don’t *try* to close it, the entrance stays open.”
”So, someone other than Neil closed the gate to the other space, huh?”
Everyone falls silent at Lewya’s words.
That must mean they’ve already figured out we’re trying to invade the other space.
”Doesn’t bother me. We came here to talk, after all.”
Even if they’ve already noticed us, I reopen the entrance, knowing full well they’re aware.
”While I keep the entrance open…”
”Alright, let’s move first.”
Lewya, Momoka, and Melgis-san go inside the other space first.
I follow after them.
The place beyond the gateway looks like a cleared-out field made from cutting through a forest.
Judging by the kind of trees around, it’s different from the forest near the frontier settlement.
There’s a small wooden hut here, and…
”So this is the source of this heavy, oppressive atmosphere…”
I mutter as I look up at the massive square-shaped lump that’s impossible to ignore.
This building, made of Gioniium, was as tall as a 3-story structure.
From our perspective, its left side was completely dyed in blue, while the right side gradually changed to the Gioniium’s original black color.
”How the heck did they make such a huge Gioniium…?”
”Wait, this doesn’t seem to be just one piece.”
As Lewya spoke, I took a closer look at the building and noticed regular lines running across its surface.
It seems like it’s made of multiple blocks of Gioniium, stacked like bricks.
”Is Golarf in that cabin?”
”I don’t know. When the Origin’s presence is this strong, even magic can’t detect a person’s existence.”
”Then, I shall go and confirm directly.”
”Ah, Melgis-san!”
Before I could say we should all go, Melgis-san had already dashed towards the cabin.
I wanted to chase after him right away, but I couldn’t shake off the curiosity about this structure in front of me.
If the goal was just to preserve the Origin, there was no need to arrange the Gioniium like this, and it’s not easy to extract it without breaking it.
Maybe Golarf-san established a different method to preserve and extract the Origin… but I can’t shake this weird feeling in my gut.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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