The Book Eating Magician Chapter 189:
Chapter 189 – Uninvited Guests (2)
Clink .
There was a sound as the locks were engaged . The invaders from Austen had surrendered, so Para had brought out these locks . They were the so-called arm holders which restrained a person from the wrist to elbows . The material looked strange, showing that it wasn’t an ordinary restraint .
“Is this perhaps adamantium?”
“Ri-ght . ”
Para confirmed in an eerie voice that the metal, which resembled opaque ice, was just as Theodore guessed . It seemed to be something she’d made . “I created it in order to catch a master, but there was no time to use them on the battlefield . So, I left them in the warehouse, but now they can finally see the light . ”
“…Well, I’m glad that it is useful . ”
“Right? These things are also part of my role . ”
Paragranum might describe it as useless, but it was a ridiculous tool which could even control masters .
Normally sword masters could tear apart steel handcuffs with their superhuman physical abilities and aura . So, strong magic handcuffs would be ruined if they continued to inject aura . Even mithril would warp if a sword master used their power properly .
It was only possible when used with pure adamantium . Adamantium was difficult to handle, so it was rarely used . However, Paragranum had completed the restraints through some unknown manner .
Mujak’s relaxed expression stiffened as he experienced the binding .
“Theodore!”
“Ah, yes . ”
At that time, a white tower magician approached him and issued an edict, “His Majesty wants to meet the intruders . ”
“I understand . Is there anything else?”
“No . You can take this transport to the royal palace . ”
“I will . ” Theodore nodded without hesitation . Even if Mujak was bound, he was still a sword master who had crossed the boundaries of the transcendent realm . So, Theodore couldn’t feel relieved unless another tower master took over .
Theodore pulled on the chains a little rougher than usual .
Rattle .
Was it due to the shock…? A few drops of blood emerged from Mujak’s mouth .
“Well, it is rough . ”
“……”
Theodore just spoke coldly without letting the chains go slack . For whatever reason, they were trespassers who had tried to enter Ellenoa’s dwelling . It meant that Theodore couldn’t welcome them kindly . No, it wasn’t just that . Theodore soon realized that his emotions were boiling inside him .
“What brings you here?”
“Hrmm?”
“If you are from Austen, you should remember what you did in Bergen . ”
Vince had told Theodore the identities of [Shackler], the ones disguising themselves as elf slave traders in Bergen . Thus, it was also possible for Theodore to know about the truth behind the Bergen incident .
Mujak closed his eyes with a bitter smile . “I don’t have anything to say . I won’t make excuses . ”
“Your responsibility for the past won’t disappear . And I don’t want you to apologize to me . ”
“That’s right . Treat me as you like . ”
Theodore would’ve become angrier if the other person spoke empty words, but he couldn’t do anything against this attitude . Theodore dragged the chain and started to move forward roughly . After reading the unusual atmosphere between the two of them, the rest of the group followed .
Rattle, rattle .
In the end, the uninvited guests from Austen couldn’t even see the high elf’s face as they were dragged away .
* * *
“You went through a lot of trouble, Quattro’s Captain . ” Kurt III, whose eyes had dark circles from the night before, watched Theodore’s group from the throne . He stared at the faces of Mujak and the Janissaries, who were the cause of the emergency gathering .
Kurt III spoke in a mocking manner, “You were the ones who caught the four uninvited guests?”
“Yes, Your Majesty . ”
“This doesn’t look good . They’ve arrived here, so loosen the restraints . ”
“Huh? That…”
Theodore was surprised by Kurt’s instructions, but other people protested before he could reply . This place might be filled with senior magicians, but Mujak was a sword master who was strongest in a melee .
“Your Majesty, you can’t!”
“You can’t set those criminals free from their restraints!”
“At least tie up their legs!”
Kurt waved his hand at the crowd . “Stop . ”
Simultaneously, somebody landed beside Theodore .
Kung .
Her red robes fluttered from the landing as Veronica emanated a terrifying presence . Her strength exploded from her . The Janissaries fell down foaming as they received the full impact of Dragon Fear . Only Theodore and Mujak could stand in this area .
“If it is like this, are there any objections?”
Who would be able to go against Veronica? Nobody dared refute Kurt’s words, and they fell silent . They couldn’t say anything because none of them would dare to fight Veronica . Kurt received their implicit agreement and looked at Theodore again, who sighed and pulled out the key .
Clink .
Once the restraints were released, Veronica spoke, “Old Man, if you move without permission, I will kill you . ”
“… Hu, how scary . ”
“Keep looking forward . I will kill you if you speak nonsense . So, look forward . ”
‘She’s serious . ’ Theodore was nearby and noticed Veronica’s serious tone . Veronica would kill him if he took even one step . She would kill him if he spoke nonsense . The evidence that her threats weren’t empty was her red hair which blazed like fire .
‘This is the Tower Master’s battle readiness . ’
At the time of the fight against Superbia, his consciousness had been fading, so he hadn’t been able to see properly . However, Theodore now had a clear view of her eight circles revolving, and the pressure seemed to increase the gravity in this area .
That said, Kurt was still in control as he opened his mouth, “Then I shall listen to the excuses of an uninvited person . Your head will depend on whether you can persuade me . ”
Despite literally having a knife at his neck, Mujak wasn’t shaken at all . “First of all, thank you for listening to my excuses, Your Majesty . ”
“Get to the point . ”
“I understand . Then I will tell you what is going on . ”
The guardian of Austen, one of the Sultan’s most trusted swordsman, faced Kurt III with confidence . Behind Mujak was a dying country . Supply had fallen and people were starving, so he had come here to save them . Thus, something like madness shone in his determined eyes .
“Austen is currently dying from an unprecedented drought . Meltor’s monarch, please have mercy on us, and give me rice and water for the suffering people . ”
“Is that all?”
“No . I know you don’t have to, but if it is possible, I would like to meet the Elvenheim guests who are staying in your country . ”
“Huh, you truly have no shame . ” Kurt smiled and stared down at Mujak, whose head was bowed . Mujak’s requests would only be given if Meltor was truly generous . However, as to the issue of them crossing the border without permission and breaking into the capital…?
It was clear that Mujak had other thoughts . Dozens of eyes filled with suspicion cut into Mujak . Then Kurt III raised the question that they were all wondering, “Why didn’t you just send a delegation?”
Mujak’s green eyes looked down, and he replied in a low voice, “I couldn’t do that . ”
“Why?”
“I do not know why, but Andras’ shadows are present at the border of Austen and the Meuse Desert . Above all, I didn’t think you would accept our requests . ”
“…How honest . Although you are still being impertinent . ”
Andras’ shadows…
At Kurt’s cold words, the atmosphere started to change . After all, it was Austen who was behind the kidnapping incident in Bergen . It would be uncomfortable in many ways for Elvenheim’s ambassadors to face them .
That was why Mujak slyly had attracted their attention with his words about the Andras Empire .
“Is this bait? Let’s see what you have prepared for us . ”
“Think of it as a bargaining material . ”
“Speak quickly, Austen’s fox . ”
After being urged to cut to the chase, Mujak pulled something out . Veronica became tense at his action, but Mujak didn’t pull out a weapon or poison .
It was a leather scroll . In Austen, leather was used instead of paper due to the scarce amount of wood . It seemed that this leather scroll was the material Mujak had prepared for the negotiations . He didn’t give an explanation as he opened the scroll .
‘…This?’ Theodore watched Mujak from right beside him . It meant he could see the contents of the scroll before anyone else . There were twisted lines and a mixture of symbols and shapes with unknown meaning . Shortly afterward, Theodore realized what it meant as his eyebrows twitched .
‘Is this a map of the Meuse Desert?’
This was a terrain which only existed in the desert . The terrain of large canyons and sandy hills helped guide the nomadic people over a long period of time . Still, it was difficult to draw a map of the desert, so Meuse Desert’s map was a special item . A sophisticated map like this would sell for at least 100 gold . Perhaps it had been produced personally by the Austen royal family .
However, right now, the matter of importance wasn’t the map . Mujak pointed to a red dot in a corner of the map and brought up a topic which meant Meltor couldn’t sit idly .
“For some reason, the Andras Empire is controlling this desert area . ”
“What is there?”
“Well, I couldn’t get close . But the empire is showing a big interest and is digging in this area . It is a ruin which contains relics from a previous era . According to something I heard, it was probably built during the Age of Mythology . ”
‘A ruin from the Age of Mythology!’ Kurt’s expression hardened after hearing that . Most ruins of the Age of Mythology had been destroyed during the dark period which followed it, but the Andras Empire had found most of the ones which remained .
They didn’t care about the knowledge of a culture from a previous era . Rather, they just wanted the powerful relics and destroyed numerous ruins in the process . It was a hostile kingdom which had been at war with Meltor for at least 500 years .
“…You’ve brought something quite annoying . I appreciate the good faith report, but I know that isn’t the case . ”
“Of course . ”
At Mujak’s sly expression, Kurt couldn’t help gripping the armrests of his throne tightly . If he wanted, he could give Veronica an order to kill, and she would burn Mujak to ashes right away . However, an unexpected person interrupted the conversation right then .
“Your Majesty . ”
“Huh? Quattro’s Captain?”
“Can I look at this map for a moment?”
“Of course . Tell me if you get any ideas . ”
Having gotten Kurt’s permission, Theodore received the map from Mujak . It was because he felt a strong feeling of deja vu from the desert map . In particular, the feeling came from the area where the red dot was located .
“Ah . ”
It was connected . Theodore realized why he got a feeling of deja vu when looking at that section of the map . He had seen a map of the Meuse Desert two times now, so he remembered it clearly . The second time was now, while the first time had been in the Yellow Tower . This was the location of the laboratory which Paragranum had boasted about with an expressionless face .
‘To think that they found it…!’
The ruins that the Andras Empire was trying to dig out…
It was Paracelsus’ laboratory .