Episode 141
EPISODE.71
“What did you just say…”
The words didn’t come out until the end.
The king’s words were just as shocking. Unknowingly, my fingertips trembled at the completely unexpected story.
Even in the midst of that, the king’s voice continued.
“It would be right to return the territory that had no reason to be returned to the national treasury and push you out of the territory.”
It was a distinctly different feeling from when I met the enemy of life and death.
“It was so cleverly manipulated, and it was too late to figure it out because the detailed report didn’t come up to my line. I’m really sorry.”
Concluding his words, the king bowed his head deeply.
“I don’t think an apology like this can make up for all the years you’ve gone through. However, this is clearly Jim’s mistake. I should apologize to you and the Raymond family.”
Endymion is the only country in the entire continent that can compete with the Empire.
The story of a country that is counted among two fingers among the great powers. The king of such a country bowed his head.
That head will never be light.
Taking a deep breath and calming the turmoil, Russell asked.
“Are you saying that all of that was done by the Grand Duke?”
“Nine out of ten likely.”
What does the phrase nine out of ten mean? It was Daria who answered the puzzled Russell.
Putting down the cookie she was holding, Daria, who was sitting next to him, quietly wrapped her arms around Russell’s shoulder.
He continued to speak in a calm tone as if to soothe him.
“There are quite a few clues pointing to the Archduke, but none of them are clear. Not a little time has passed and there are too many records that have been expunged and erased to confirm that fact now.”
sad voice.
It’s not just because a long time has passed.
Because it was not a royal document that would be managed so poorly.
That is to say.
‘I got on someone’s hand.’
I can only think like that.
For some reason, the back of my neck was sore.
My head feels dizzy as if I was hit with a hammer.
“I tried to find the person in charge at the time, but most of them died from illness or accidents.”
Meanwhile, in Russell’s head, several pieces of the puzzle start to fit together in pairs.
‘What McRae Hughes said.’
Why do you think the beast that killed your father is only in the empire?
It’s not exactly the same, but that’s what it meant. Maybe that doesn’t mean the current situation.
“Are you okay? son-in-law?”
Thinking so, Russell took a slow, deep breath. I asked while looking at the King and Daria alternately to confirm the facts.
“Can I ask you one question?”
The king and Daria, who were worried about Russell’s condition at his question, nodded slowly.
“Could it be that the Archduke was also involved in the death of my father… the former Earl Raymond?”
“At the death of the former Earl Raymond?”
The king tilted his head. It was after checking the records related to the Raymond family and also confirming how Russell’s father passed away.
“I know that the former Earl Raymond suffered misfortune on the battlefield, but was there any reason for thinking that way?”
At Daria’s question, Russell shook his head and opened his mouth.
I gave a brief account of the conversation I had with McRae Hughes the day before.
“Actually…”
After the brief explanation, both the King and Daria looked serious.
He was already dead, but McRae Hughes was an enemy anyway.
The two were not easy enough to trust every word the enemy left behind. But wasn’t there a situation where the royal family’s documents had already been tampered with?
It would not be surprising if the battle reports at the time were fabricated.
“Sir Daria.”
“All right. your majesty.”
Even though the King had not ordered otherwise, Daria spoke eloquently of what she had to do.
“As well as reviewing the records of the time once again, let’s gather information by moving the informants in the Tower of Flames.”
“Please.”
Russell also added.
“Please. Master.”
If this worked out, it was certain that he would know the enemy of his father, whom he had been searching for so long.
However, I never thought that I would be able to find that monster in the kingdom.
As if understanding Russell’s feelings, Daria moved her arm.
tapped him on the shoulder.
“It may take a while, but I will try even this master. I am the youngest.”
“And…”
The King, sighing, took out a piece of paper and placed it in front of Russell.
“Please accept this.”
A piece of paper with the dedication of the royal family clearly stamped on it. It was a piece of paper that could be felt from the fact that it had a royal offering printed on it, to the unusual but strange flow of magical power.
“This?”
What is this paper really about? Daria asked at the puzzled Russell.
“Did you know that the Royal Museum of Lubrium has six floors underground?”
“Are you talking about the 6th basement level?”
As far as Russell knew, the Lubrium Museum was only on the 5th basement floor. However, mentioning the 6th basement level…
“It’s a hidden layer that only a few people know about.”
Daria reached out and held up the paper with the dedication stamp on it.
“This document is a kind of permit to find the door to it.”
According to Daria’s explanation, the magic books left by successive Mage Tower owners belonging to the Kingdom of Endymion are kept there.
The mage master was a term referring to mages with at least 6th circle skills.
‘If it’s the magic they left…’
Daria twitched her chin, as if Russell’s guess was correct.
“In the existing magic book, each tower owner’s opinions and notes are included, as well as a large amount of originality magic left by them.”
It was the wizards who were willing to risk any knowledge of the mysteries and magic of the world.
For such magicians, the 6th floor of the basement of the Royal Museum of Lubrium could only be called a treasure trove.
“I never think that this can make up for the time of hardship and suffering my son-in-law has gone through. Nevertheless, this is a crime committed by the royal family, and I, as the king, have the responsibility to apologize and compensate for this crime.”
speaking
“So please accept it.”
The king bowed his head once more.
* * *
Archduke and Blaine.
and until his father’s death. Was it because there were too many worries going around? For some reason, my mind was confused.
‘Nevertheless, there is nothing that can be affirmed yet.’
When I raised my head while complaining, I saw that the sunset was spreading thickly to the west of Wangdo.
It was obviously the morning when I entered the palace, but after attending the meeting and having a conversation with the king, the time became like this before I knew it.
‘after.’
With a deep sigh, Russell shook his head slightly.
‘For now, let’s not jump to conclusions.’
If nothing can be said for sure, then you have to make a decision just yet.
There is nothing more dangerous than drawing conclusions from incomplete information.
Besides, I feel like I’m missing something important.
It was then.
“I am the youngest.”
Daria, who was walking alongside Russell, asked a question.
“Which one would you like to visit first, the royal palace or the sixth basement level of the museum?”
It didn’t matter which one visited first, but the question was asked because she was in charge of managing and supervising it.
“hmm.”
Russell, who was silent for a while, made a decision and opened his mouth.
“I will do the latter.”
He meant to visit the 6th basement floor of the museum first. The reason for such a conclusion was simple.
‘Although the items and artifacts in Vigo are also coveted enough…’
The thing that attracted me more right away was the magic books on the 6th floor of the basement.
The princess, of course.
If given the choice of a necklace around Hecate’s neck, Russell would have chosen the former without hesitation.
Unfortunately, however, the necklace was Hecate’s personal treasure, not the royal treasure.
‘It would be impossible to get it this time.’
Daria said while staring at the sunset at Russell’s choice.
“Then it’s late today… see you tomorrow at noon in front of the Lubrium Museum.”
.
.
noon the next day.
As promised, Daria, whom we met at the main entrance of the Lubrium Museum, went down to the 5th basement floor and explained the entry rules for the 6th basement floor.
“Remember, youngest. Even though you have a permit, the number of times you can enter with that permit is limited to one.”
If you leave midway, you cannot go back in.
“Also, the time you can spend inside is only two days. It is limited to 48 hours.”
In other words, all physiological phenomena, including eating for 48 hours, must also be resolved from the inside.
Of course, it wasn’t even a problem for Russell, who could use subspace.
“There is also only one book you can bring along, so please choose carefully.”
So, following Daria’s advice, the two of them reached the 5th basement floor, known as the last floor of the museum.
Tboob-.
Right after entering the 5th basement floor, Daria looked around.
“It’s invisible to me, but your eyes with the permit will see the passage downstairs.”
Just like that.
Faint lines of light were etched along part of the museum walls.
The lines come together to draw the shape of a certain door.
Russell reached for the door.
The bright light that poured in immediately engulfed Russell’s entire body.
Whoaaah-!
.
.
‘Ugh.’
A sensation that I’m not used to no matter how many times I’ve experienced it.
Russell frowned slightly, feeling all five senses shaken and nausea welling up inside him.
‘Space movement magic.’
It was named the 6th basement floor, but it seems that the door was actually a kind of warp gate that transferred to another space.
Woo woo-.
Russell, who had gotten rid of motion sickness by spinning mana, raised his head.
coo gg gg gg gg gg gg gg gg gg gg gg gg gg gg gg gg -.
Then, dozens of bookshelves moved and rearranged at strange angles.
As if it had never happened before, it began to transform from a random arrangement into a well-refined library.
coo gg gg gg gg-.
Maybe it’s because people haven’t come in for a long time?
Every time the bookshelf moves, the dust that stings my throat continues to rise.
thud.
Finally, the sorting of the bookshelves is over.
As if to welcome oneself, bookshelves lined up on both sides and stretched endlessly.
‘This means that all of these magic books were created through the hands of past tower owners…’
Looking at the scene, Russell laughed involuntarily.
‘Looking at this, I’m sure I’m a wizard too.’
Despite facing hundreds of thousands of thick books, I felt my heart beating rather than feeling stuffy inside.
Russell walked away, feeling his heart pulsate pleasantly at the smell of old books.
With my fingertips, I lightly scanned the magic books on the bookshelf.
dragon-swallowed wizard
