Episode 104
EPISODE.52
“This is true again. What an amazing coincidence.”
mess.
Russell hesitated at the sound of Daria dipping the marshmallow.
This time, the place Russell chose as the study site for outing was the ‘Red Mountains Gorge’ located in the southwest of the continent.
The reddish-brown bedrock stretches like a mountain range, hence the name Canyon. But is it a staggering coincidence?
Daria giggled and opened her drawer.
He took out another overseas travel application and put it down in front of Russell.
“Coincidentally, one of your brother-in-law applied for an overseas study in the same place as you.”
“The death penalty?”
Towards Russell, who tilted her head, Daria pointed at the words written under the study book on foreign travel with her fingertips.
[Vermilion Wolsen]
“Um…”
Get out of the magic tower.
Russell, who was drinking coffee at a nearby cafe, tapped the table with his fingertips.
Maybe it was because he recalled a conversation he had with his teacher a moment ago. The conversation that ensued after that came to mind one after another.
‘If you’re thinking of visiting the Under World located inside the canyon, White… White Pagoda. go see the child If I tell you that I sent you, I will let you in.’
‘Because the Underworld is a land inhabited by dwarves, it is not easy to enter. Still, if he’s a half-blood fairy, he might know how.’
Dwarves were not a bad idea for fairies.
As long as they have a longer lifespan than humans, there might be someone who remembers the rumors about dragons.
So far, the general conversation related to this study abroad. The problem was the conversation that followed.
‘Rather than that, how are you with Her Highness these days?’
‘yes?’
Daria giggled at Russell, who was clearly embarrassed.
‘Hasn’t it already been over a year? I’m sure it would have been solid even if there was some progress…’
‘That… can’t be. Not yet.’
Russell sighed.
It was because he remembered the image of himself escaping from the tower room, evasive enough.
Of course, it wasn’t that there was no progress between Russell and Princess Hecate.
Even after that, the princess would often invite Russell to the palace.
For example, playing simple chess…
‘To be honest… I was a little surprised when the princess suddenly took out a basic magic theory book and said she would study magic.’
When I heard that it was to create a consensus in a conversation with myself, my heart raced.
Unfortunately, however, his relationship with the princess only ended there.
I can’t deny the fact that I’m more likeable than before, but I didn’t have enough time to go further.
It was then.
“…?”
A murmur spread among the people around the cafe.
Soon after, a man with tiger-like eyebrows appears among the crowd.
Compared to a normal adult man, his head is about a couple of heads bigger, so it looks like only his head is floating among the sea of people.
It was Vermillion.
‘The buzz is probably due to the size of that giant.’
“execution-!”
Russell greeted him, and Vermillion waved a large hand like a cast iron pan.
“Oh priest!?”
Then he strode over and sat down in the seat across from Russell.
“Have you been waiting long?”
Kiek-.
Did the weight of the muscles increase in the meantime? As soon as he sat down, the chair beneath him screamed.
My legs bent as if they were about to break, as if I was screaming for death.
“Tsk.”
Vermilion also moved her hand as if she knew that. Cast a strengthening spell to make the chair stand up.
Just by sitting down, he had enough muscles to use strengthening magic.
“no.”
As if he had seen something he couldn’t see, Russell replied in a timid tone.
“Good thing. I put on one more set than usual, and the iron ended a little late. Oh, give me some cold coffee. The one with the largest size.”
After answering Russell and ordering the clerk who approached him at once, he fanned with his hand.
“Rather than that, the priest also applied for research abroad in the Red Canyon this time, right?”
The Red Canyon was an abbreviation for the Red Mountains Canyon.
The latter is the official name, the former is the name more often used among people.
“yes. However, Master also applied for the death penalty, so I contacted you like this.”
“Then you must have been told to visit the Lord of the White Pagoda.”
“yes. Have you been to the death penalty?”
“I am still there. If it’s okay, how about we go together in a little while?”
When Russell readily agreed, he grinned, showing white teeth.
“By the way, did the priest have a reason for applying to travel there?”
“Um…”
After a moment of salivation, Russell gave the answer he had prepared.
“I’m just curious about a different world that I haven’t seen before.”
“I guess it takes experience to break down walls.”
“Then what about the death penalty?”
“me? I…”
He gulped down the cold coffee placed in front of him.
Beep beep-.
One third of the coffee disappears in one sip, making one wonder if it is a drain that sucks in water. ‘However
,
that one is the largest size…’
The remaining ice made a noise in the cup, and Vermilion concluded her words.
“I’m going to learn the skills of the dwarves.”
“Technology… what if?”
Dwarves’ excellent metallurgy has been famous since ancient times.
I wonder if rumors spread that everything they made, from a single ring to a large piece of armor, was not a luxury product.
It may be that he visits the Underworld to learn that skill.
However, his words that followed shattered Russell’s guess.
“Dwarves are special people who can lift more weight than humans even with the same muscles. I’m going to learn them how to lift weights.”
“…?”
How should I respond to this? He gave a blank expression, as if he was at a loss for words, and he chuckled.
“If I ever learn how to do it, I will definitely let you know. then-.”
After he finished speaking, he poured the remaining ice into his mouth at once.
wow wow wow.
“Shall we go see the Lord Baektap soon?”
* * *
Emilia Merwin.
It wasn’t too difficult to meet her, the owner of the white pagoda.
As soon as the two arrived on the first floor of the White Pagoda, the guide escorted them to the main room.
“It seems that Master passed on the message in the meantime.”
“Well, Master and Baektap Lord are close friends.”
Vermilion shrugged as if it deserved it.
Woo woo ding!
When the floating stone of the same type as the one in the salt tower reached the top, a voice was heard from inside the main room.
“Come in…”
A drowsy voice, as if he had been sleeping soundly just before.
profit.
When I opened the door, I saw a girl embracing a large stuffed rabbit, burying herself on a sofa that was bigger than herself.
All sorts of dolls piled up around her.
‘Is it going to be a doll museum?’
I thought so for a moment, but then Russell shook his head.
It was because he could feel the presence of magic from the dolls scattered around him.
I didn’t know the type of magic, but each one was an unusual flow.
‘It’s probably related to the White Pagoda Lord’s magic.’
Then she raised the body she was leaning on. He forced his eyelids to close and opened his mouth.
“hi. Vermillion. And… bye. Was it Russell Raymond?”
I rubbed my eyes with one hand and greeted him with the other. Seeing that, Vermilion raised her eyes as if a little surprised.
“I would never have thought that the Lord of the White Pagoda remembered the name of the priest. It took me years to even remember my name.”
I wondered if it was such a big deal to remember the name, but it was worth it if it was Amelia Merwin.
The number of wizards remembered by name in her mind was less than a hundred.
Considering that even Alan Page remembers him as a disciple of inspiration, not a name…
“Eh. I can’t help it. It’s the first time in my life to see such unusual magical powers.”
Could it be that she has more pure magic than me, a half-blood fairy?
As she muttered, she lightly waved her fingertips.
Hwaaak-.
Then the wind starts to blow and her body starts to float upward.
To be precise, the head of the white pagoda was just riding on top of it. What came to mind was the stuffed rabbit she was holding in her arms.
“Rather than that, I heard from your sister that you’re looking for a way to enter the Underworld?”
He yawned with his mouth wide open as he spoke as if he was still awake.
“…The way to the Underworld is simple. You just need to find the underground portal that leads to it.”
“An underground portal?”
“Yeah.”
As I moved my fingertips, the flowing magic formed the shape of a huge canyon.
A canyon with caves everywhere.
“There are many caves in the Red Gorge, and most of these caves were dug by the Dwarves themselves.”
“Are these caves related to underground portals?”
“Isn’t it natural? Some of these caves are connected to portals to the Underworld.”
“That means there are also unconnected caves.”
“huh. It is unknown which cave is connected to the portal. it changes periodically So, to find a proper portal, either hold a map with the cycle written on it, or an artifact that finds the portal… Huh?”
She suddenly opened her eyes for a while as her voice continued to make even the listeners sleepy.
“Mmm.”
Moving the stuffed rabbit she was riding on, she came close to Russell and sniffed.
“Lord of the White Pagoda…?”
Russell was taken aback by the sudden action, and so was Vermilion.
sniff sniff sniff.
Regardless of that, Emilia Merwin, who had been sniffing for a while, muttered with a slightly surprised expression.
“Oh my God, are you making a contract with a spirit?”
He said he was of mixed blood.
“Can you tell me that?”
Russell asked back, meekly admitting.
It was a fact Vermillion already knew.
There was no reason to hide that he was a contractor of the spirits until now.
“huh. It’s not as accurate as the elves or pure-blooded fairies. But if you’re this close and the spirit you contracted is intermediate or higher, you’ll be able to spot it. Can you show me?”
Seeing her demand in a bold voice, Russell nodded.
I didn’t know why he suddenly asked to see the spirit.
‘Considering the flow of the story, it seems that it has nothing to do with finding the Underworld.’
Magical power began to swirl along Russell’s body, and a ring of flame instantly formed above his head.
Roaring-!
Kyaa?
The moment Pepper grabs the ring and sticks out her long neck.
“Kyaa!”
The head of the white pagoda rushed at once.
“cute! Omg, an intermediate spirit! It’s a mutant, too!”
He grabbed Pepper by the neck and hung on the spot.
He couldn’t believe that he was a person who had been drowsy just before.
Kyaruk Kyaruk-?
Pepper’s bewildered feelings were conveyed to Russell.
With a puzzled expression, he scratched his head.
Somehow, there were dolls of different types all over the tower.
Following the muscle sweets -.
‘Is it cute this time?’
Pepper, with the white pagoda wine hanging around his neck, struggled with his front legs and wings as if he was uncomfortable.
Curry-?!
dragon-swallowed wizard
