◈ Episode 295 World Tree Expert (1)
After the meeting, each person was given time to reorganize.
Rudger exited the barracks and headed to the dark side of a simple warehouse where relief supplies were distributed.
“Hans.”
“Are you here?”
Hans, who was waiting there, saw Rudger and got up from the wooden box he was sitting on.
His complexion looked quite haggard, probably because he had suffered quite a bit in the sewer.
“I received the information delivered safely. Good work.”
“To be honest, I was surprised. No, since when did you know the Imperial Royal Guard? It’s Pasius. That human sword master.”
“It wasn’t long before I found out. Because I also met someone after entering the imperial castle.”
“By the way, was it okay for you to blindly introduce me and Bellaluna like this?”
“Don’t worry. Because you’re someone you can trust To be precise, it’s a subordinate of someone you can trust.”
To be honest, I didn’t fully trust the first princess, but it didn’t matter because we were on a boat named Alliance now.
“Then what….”
Hans didn’t say anything more.
Just as Pasius recognized Hans’ peculiarity, Hans also saw through Pasius’s darkness.
Even though he is a royal guard, he has a somewhat dark aura unlike the other knights.
Hans, whose sense of smell has become very sensitive lately, smelled a stinky smell that he couldn’t hide from Pasius.
It was the smell of blood that could only be smelled in the afterlife.
“Well, having an outstanding power that can be trusted isn’t such a bad thing.”
“Skip that part and get to the main point first. What exactly did you see under Hans?”
I listened to the information I received from Pasius together, but I did not know the details.
“That’s what I mean… ….”
Hans told Ludgar what he had seen and what he had been through underground.
Dead World Tree and Chimeras.
And even huge underground facilities that exist under the aqueduct.
“To be honest, I couldn’t go deeper because it was too dangerous. No matter how much Bellaluna shows unexpected power, there are many dangerous guys out there. So I had to step back without even thinking about touching the world tree.”
“It’s because of the officers of the Liberation Army and the black magicians.”
“exactly. Besides, if you look at the perfection of the chimera, the one in the basement is absolutely no ordinary warlock. not even one They are the ones who work as a team at least.”
“team? Is there anyone who can guess?”
“As you know, brother-in-law, warlocks usually go around privately, don’t they?”
“It’s mostly individualism.”
“That’s because it draws too much attention when criminals gather around. Even warlocks like that often get along well with each other. That’s why there are people who work in large numbers.”
Rudgar remembered the bug brothers.
Although they were warlocks who dealt with insects, the two of them always moved together, befitting their names as brothers.
Of course, both died at the hands of Ludger.
With that in mind, it made sense that warlocks weren’t always alone.
“Even among warlocks there is a school. Actually, I don’t know if it’s a real school, but they say that and go around, so I’m assuming that.”
“School. I get it roughly. So, does that mean that one of the schools joined this time?”
“exactly. They are bioengineers.”
“These are the ones I’ve heard of.”
“This is a place to create and research artificial life chimeras and to extend human lifespan. They were once magicians, but they were branded as criminals because of human experimentation. I still don’t know how these guys got along with the Liberation Army.”
The bioengineering school was famous among black magicians as those who devoted themselves to research in the corner of a room.
I can’t help but understand that such people are working together with the Liberation Army to overthrow the empire.
Rudger knew the answer.
“It’s most likely the work of the Black Dawn.”
“You mean the Black Dawn?”
“okay. The Black Dawn has some kind of connection with the warlocks. Even if you go to a secret facility where they secretly research, there will always be one black magician.”
Even in the abandoned factory where he met Victor Dreadful, one of the First Orders, there was a warlock.
The guy who remodeled his body and killed a wizard-like knight with his bare hands.
If you think he’s also related to biotechnology, it’s easy to know who the First Order is involved here.
“In the end, it is said that the Black Dawn is involved in some kind of relationship between the Liberation Army and the warlocks.”
“I can only see it that way.”
“Write. If so, there are many more things you need to know. It will probably take a little longer to get the right information.”
“I heard that spying is difficult because rats cannot enter the basement.”
“I thought so too….”
“Looking at the reaction, I found a way.”
“exactly. Not on my own, but with the help of that elf girl.”
“Bella Luna?”
“Even though that elf looks like that, isn’t he serious about pharmaceuticals and alchemy? And the herbs and all that she studies are related to biology in a way.”
“yes.”
It’s the same when you see Hans on a regular basis, and he tries to somehow get a sample and use it as a test subject.
Maybe if it hadn’t been for Rudgar, or if they weren’t both from Owens.
Hans must have already been tied up as Bellaluna’s test subject.
While Ludger was thinking that, Hans explained his encounter with the Chimera underground.
“By the way, the young lady dissected the chimera, and what did she just recognize?”
“What did you find out?”
“I don’t know the details. I don’t know what he did, but he injected something into the captive Chimera.”
“Inject.”
“The strange thing is next. The injected chimera suddenly becomes innocent. And um… …I can handle him.”
Ho?
Rudger was the first to respond with interest.
“Have you strengthened your authority?”
“Exactly the opposite. I made the chimera, who couldn’t eat my words, eat my words. According to Belaluna herself, it touched a part of the brain and made the recognition of the command object different, but I, a non-expert, did not know the details, so I just skipped it. Anyway, that’s how I planted a few Chimeras behind enemy lines.”
The passage that had been blocked because the rats couldn’t go underground was reopened through the Chimera.
I didn’t put Bellaluna on it for this reason, but Rudger felt lucky because it seemed to have a better synergy than I thought.
“So how long will it take?”
“I don’t know. The basement must be so deep and complex like a maze.”
“But if we had time, we would know more.”
“exactly. Perhaps if we wait a little longer, we will be able to find out the location of the Chimera’s incubation facility and the warlocks involved.”
“And even the existence of the World Tree.”
“Ah, there was something that Bellaluna wanted to convey to my older brother about that part.”
“Bella Luna?”
Hans pondered whether or not to say this, but opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.
“He asked if he could take him to the underground facility one more time.”
* * *
People moved busily.
The police led the evacuation, reassuring citizens, and the Capital Defense Forces guarded the streets.
Every broken street left traces of scars.
Citizens were saddened and tormented by the destruction of their livelihoods.
But I couldn’t stay immersed in grief forever.
The chimeras retreated, but the situation was not over.
You never know when the enemies will come again.
To prevent that, the underground penetration team moved quickly.
“….”
“….”
Rudgar Chelsea and Chris Benimore.
The two faced each other in front of a wide open manhole cover.
Neither of them knew that they would move together like this.
But it didn’t growl and fight like before.
It’s Rudd. He didn’t pay much attention to Chris from the beginning, but Chris also has a particularly calm atmosphere.
“There is something I want to ask you.”
Chris was the first to speak.
He did not respect Rudger even though he was promoted to the head of the planning department.
Rudger also didn’t expect much, so he didn’t take it too seriously.
“What are you curious about?”
“Where are the experts who say they are going with us?”
Chris heard one news from Rudger beforehand.
There’s going to be one more person besides these two in this operation.
And that person is a person with considerable specialized knowledge about the World Tree.
“I will be back soon.”
As soon as Ludger finished speaking, he saw someone urgently running from afar.
The crimson-haired elf, Bellaluna, hurriedly ran out of breath.
Chris, who saw her, widened his eyes through his glasses as if he was surprised.
That’s right.
Because he didn’t say that the expert Ludger was talking about was an elf.
“Elf? Right. That’s why I called you as an expert on checking the world tree.”
“Are your doubts resolved?”
“Not yet. Can I trust that elf?”
Chris was thorough in this area, just as he is famous for his strict personality in Seorn.
I was quite worried as this elf, who did not know his name or major, was an expert and put him in an empty seat.
‘Is it a natural question?’
Ludgar knew that no amount of words he could say could quell any suspicions in Chris.
However, the answer for this situation was already prepared.
“First Princess Aileen guaranteed it.”
“….”
When the first princess’ name came up, Chris only wrinkled his eyes and didn’t directly argue.
It was because Rudger’s attitude was too confident to ask if it was real.
Of course, in reality, Princess Eileen did not recommend Bellaluna and did not guarantee it.
In fact, Rudger had just borrowed her name at will.
‘But what is that?’
I thought it didn’t matter because we knew everything about each other anyway.
Chances are, Chris could ask 1st Princess directly if Bellaluna was sent after all of this.
A wise Eileen would have noticed the situation and instead said that she had sent it.
Of course, on the inside, he would be annoyed at Rudger for selling his name on his own.
‘It’s enough to say that it’s revenge for trying to fool me at the meeting.’
Chris thought for a moment, then finally nodded.
Just in time, Bellaluna came right in front of me.
She looked at Chris and opened her eyes wide and bowed her head.
“Hehehe. hello. This is Bellaluna Petana. Please take good care of me.”
“…This is Chris Benimore.”
After a brief self-introduction, the three immediately stood in front of the manhole.
Other rushers will enter through different sewer entrances.
“Are you ready?”
To Ludger’s question, Chris and Bellaluna nodded in response.
“great. then.”
Rudgar immediately jumped down toward the underground water canal. Chris Bellaluna followed.
* * *
Around the same time, another subterranean infiltrator besides Rudger headed into the canal.
Most of the introductory groups consisted of two-person groups.
Entering the culvert, Casey Selmore looked around.
A complex and wide underground waterway like a maze.
If you go further down than that, there will be a secret hideout where the liberation army and warlocks are hiding.
“Casey.”
Terrina, the knight who had been attached to Casey, called her by name.
“I never thought we would meet again like this.”
“I know. I thought we would meet in something better.”
Casey shared a good meeting with an old friend with a bitter smile on his lips.
Of course, the fact that the place was a musty and dark underground waterway didn’t really liven up the atmosphere.
“It’s a little to say now, but how have you been?”
“See?”
“No at all.”
Terrina chuckled at Casey’s answer.
“You are still there. no it’s not the same Casey, you seem to have changed a lot in your own way.”
“I?”
“okay. The old you was a bit more… …What should I say?”
Seeing Terrina hesitating on what to say, Casey said playfully.
“Just tell me. I won’t be angry.”
“Then tell me without hesitation. You used to be a little more confident. But on the other hand, it was reckless. Like a fledgling who hasn’t matured yet.”
“I think that would be a little infuriating.”
“But that is a long time ago. He seems to have grown a lot more mature now.”
Be brave.
Casey had a strange feeling that words can’t describe.
Terrina says she has changed, but she has no awareness that she has changed.
But seeing my friend say that, it must have changed.
“I was relieved that the old look was still there. Especially when you confidently argue with the princess during a meeting. Looking at it, I really wanted to be like you.”
“Oh what….”
“It was a bit strange, though.”
“what?”
“The things you were so emotionally arguing about.”
At the word emotional, Casey involuntarily shook her shoulders.
“Casey. Were you acquainted with teacher Ludgar Celish by any chance?”
“I?”
“For asking the man a question, it seemed strangely like that. Should I say it’s not like you?”
Terina’s senses were keen.
There was that, but more than anything else, Terina’s acquaintance with Casey was a big factor.
“Or what happened in the past with that man?”
“What are you doing?”
“That’s it, I don’t know. In the first place, it is also possible to make arbitrary assumptions based on such a situation. However, if you think of it in the most general way… ….”
“If you think?”
“It looked like a love affair between a man and a woman.”
At that, Casey’s blue hair stood up like a cat’s hair.
“What?! It’s not like that!”
“haha. Of course it’s a joke. But you seem to react quite sensitively to jokes like this. I wouldn’t have done that in the past, but is there any part that gets stuck? Then it’s something to celebrate.”
“Because it is not!”
“Then let’s do it like that.”
“If not, then not! just…!”
Casey’s afterwords sat down grimly, as if representing her feelings.
I tried not to be conscious of it, but when the story of Ludger came out, it came back to me.
memories of that day.
“…Hey Terina. What do you think it would be like if someone were accused of being evil when they did nothing wrong?”
It was an out of the blue question.
However, Terrina was serious about it because she knew that Casey was a talker.
“I didn’t do anything wrong, but I was criticized….”
“But you didn’t know that, and you thought that person was bad. I continued to hate him and get angry with him. for several years.”
“is it.”
Terrina realized what was going on when she saw her friend’s uncharacteristically depressed expression.
It was at that moment when I was about to open my mouth while contemplating what to answer.
Terrina’s gaze suddenly turned into a sharp blade, staring out into the water beyond.
“…You are coming.”
The mood changed at that remark, and so did Casey.
“Anyway, I think we should talk about it once this is over.”
“…That’s right. I must have been sentimental for no reason.”
Naturally, Terrina stood in front and Casey took her place as if guarding the back.
Chimeras, noticing the invasion of enemies from afar, were coming like waves.
