Episode 135
—It should be here.
I wasn't sure where the king's tomb was, but it was generally believed that his remains were enshrined in the capital.
After all, this was the resting place of the Naless King, the most renowned and revered ruler in history.
It wasn't impossible that he could have been buried in his hotown instead of the capital, but his true na and origins remained a mystery. Historical records showed that, during tis of war, he had appeared suddenly, as though he had dropped from the sky.
Still, the descriptions of the Seven Sins Sword, his most iconic weapon, and the Red King's Armor, both of which were widely known, confird that he was a human.
Most striking was the aura he radiated, which burned as fiercely as a sunset, almost as if he were afla.
—If that's the case, then there must be a fragnt of Dubhe sowhere here, ssenger.
"A fragnt of Dubhe..."
—One of the seven pieces needed to restore the Seven Sins Sword.
I fell silent. Co to think of it, the Seven Sins Sword was already in a half-broken state.It still functioned well enough, so I had forgotten about its condition.
—This is good timing, ssenger. Since you've co all this way, you can retrieve it.
"Do I have to? I don't see how restoring the Seven Sins Sword benefits ."
—ssenger, I know you don't depend on weapons. But collecting a fragnt of Dubhe doesn't just strengthen the sword.
"What do you an?"
—Restoring the Seven Sins Sword ans restoring . As I told you before, I can only share limited information in my current form. But with each fragnt you collect, that limit weakens.
"Then will you be able to tell about my master?"
The Martial God seed to smile bitterly as he spoke.
—That's still a long way off. However, if you gather the fragnts, you will eventually learn the truth.
"Understood."
In fact, there were many sources of information available to . The Iron-Blooded Lord and Lise were both options. Yet, I couldn't shake the feeling that the one who knew the most about the Forgotten Era was the forgotten Martial God himself. After all, he had lived through it.
The tomb of the Naless King...
There was sothing I wanted to ask.
I got up, opened the partition door, and walked over to Hector.
Only Hector and Seren occupied the large partition. A very funny scene was taking place inside.What I saw inside was oddly amusing: the two of them sat at opposite ends, acting like strangers. Seren was staring out the window, her forehead pressed against the glass, clearly bored. Hector, on the other hand, appeared to be reading.
"You'll get motion sickness reading in the carriage," I remarked.
"It's fine. I'm strong against motion sickness." Hector closed the book and looked at . "Do you need sothing?"
"I have a question," I said, quickly explaining the situation.
Hector listened, then pondered deeply. After a mont, he spoke. "You want access to the Naless King's tomb... Not impossible, but incredibly difficult."
"Why?"
"People usually think of Xinus the First as the founding king of the empire. But so believe the Naless King is the true founder. It was his achievent that united the seven races and established the empire. As a result, the Naless King rests deep within the Imperial Tomb," he explained.
"You an..."
"Basically, no one apart from the imperial family is allowed to enter."
My suspicion was correct.
I paused for a mont before asking, "You said basically. Does that an there are exceptions?"
"That's right," he replied. "You can enter if you accompany a mber of the imperial family."
To the common folk, the imperial family was as distant as the moon.
Fortunately, my Badniker status ca in handy now. The Badnikers were one of the most powerful families in the empire, and even the imperial family didn't dare suppress us.
"Is there any way?" I pressed.
"I didn't know you were so interested in the Naless King," Hector said, a little surprised.
"It's not impossible, but it's difficult right now. The only mber of the imperial family I know personally is Lantus, but he's not in the capital at the mont," he added with a troubled expression.
Lantus was the Fourth Prince, the one who had participated in the Badnikers' blessing ceremony.
"Hmm..." As I considered my options, Hector spoke again. "That doesn't an there's no way. After all, our destination is the academy."
"What's your point?"
"Two mbers of the imperial family are currently enrolled at the academy."
"Oh? Who are they?"
"The Third Prince and the Fourth Princess. If you make friends with them, you can gain access to the Naless King's tomb." Hector added, slightly embarrassed, "Of course, considering the nature of the academy, your status as a transfer student, and the three-month ti limit, befriending either of them won't be easy."
I nodded.
"If I had to recomnd one, I'd say go for Glenn, the Third Prince. I've heard that the Fourth Princess, Perist, doesn't enjoy socializing," Hector said.
"Got it. Thanks."
"Sure." Hector glanced at , then cleared his throat. "M-my youngest brother asked to do this, so as an older brother—"
At that mont, the coachman peered through the door. "Young Master Hector? A mont of your ti?"
"What is it?"
"We're almost at the academy. They're requesting the Badnikers' seal for entry."
"Understood." Hector stepped out first with a sullen expression.
With nothing else to do, I prepared to leave as well.
"You." Suddenly, Seren grabbed .
"What is it?"
"What are you going to do at the Tomb of the Naless King?"
I stared into Seren's glassy eyes and replied, "I was always a bit interested in the Naless King. It was my dream to visit his tomb when I ca to the capital."
"You didn't even know where his tomb was," she pointed out.
Sharp as ever.
I didn't answer. I had nothing I could say.
Seren hesitated, then warned, "Stay away from the imperial family."
"Why?"
"Just don't." With that, she closed her eyes and said nothing more.
If anyone else had warned like that, I'd have taken it as the usual cautionary talk not to act rashly around the imperial family. But coming from Seren, it felt significant.
Is there sothing going on with the imperial family?
I didn't have ti to dwell on it further.
At that mont, the carriage rolled to a stop, and the coachman called out, "We've arrived at Cartel Academy!"
***
Among the many tributaries of the Twilight River that wound through the capital, the widest spanned nearly five kiloters.
Cartel Academy stood on an island at the center of that vast waterway.
The island was large enough to host the academy now, but it hadn't started out that way. According to rumor, its current size had been achieved through years of expansion. Since the river's flow couldn't be stopped, the island had been extended lengthwise.
After crossing the only bridge linking the island to the mainland, we finally reached the academy's entrance.
"Wow!"
"Insane."
As Cartel Academy ca into view, another round of gasps echoed around .
Even I didn't know how to describe what stood before us. It looked like a castle, a tower, and a temple all at once. Normally, when such an eclectic structure stirred so many emotions, it could co across as chaotic, but that wasn't the case here.
I knew little about architecture, but I couldn't help feeling a deep admiration.
"Our esteed guests have arrived." A soft voice echoed, and an elderly man appeared.
Handso wrinkles, a beard that reached his belly, thin glasses, and a kind smile—if he'd worn a wide-brimd hat and carried a wooden staff, he would've looked exactly like the mage I'd always imagined.
I'm getting emotional.
A sting pricked the tip of my nose. Since my regression, every mage I'd t had been twisted or cruel. Seeing soone who actually looked like a proper mage was unexpectedly comforting.
Hector and Barter bowed respectfully.
"Hello, Dean Alderson. I am Hector Badniker."
"I am Barter Goodspring."
"Haha. I can't believe I am seeing the future of the empire. It is an honor."
The elderly man was Alderson Marbour, the dean of Cartel Academy, and the seventh-ranked Purple Archmage.
Alderson looked at Hector and asked, "How is Assad?"
"He is still in good health."
"That's good to hear."
Assad, the hermit and guardian of the Badnikers, was a Seven-Colored Archmage, ranking fourth among the Green Archmages. Naturally, he had so interactions with Alderson, a fellow Seven-Colored Archmage.
"By the way, it seems there are more of you than I anticipated," Alderson noted. "I hadn't accounted for so many from the Goodsprings, so this is a bit unexpected."
He was right. The group from the certification ceremony numbered over twenty. With our ten, the total was about thirty. And thirty was far too many to admit at once.
Alderson chuckled, stroking his beard. His voice took on a thoughtful tone. "Well, I'll make it work. Follow ."
We trailed behind him along smooth stone paths lit by elegant streetlamps until we reached a towering building.
"Where are we...?"
"This is Cartel Academy's pride, the Tower of Training," Alderson replied.
It was dizzyingly tall.
It must be around 200 ters, I speculated.
At that height, it could easily pass for a magic tower.
"As I said, we'll need to narrow the group," Alderson explained, smiling. "Consider this a transfer exam. Only the top fifteen who reach the highest point will be admitted."
"Excuse , but what happens to those who don't make the cut?" soone asked.
"Regretfully, they'll have to return ho. I can't offer them entry," Alderson answered.
At this, the Goodsprings; party imdiately erupted with protests.
"T-that can't be right."
"This isn't fair!"
"We ca all this way..."
anwhile, our group remained calm. We were accustod to these elimination-style selections back at the Badnikers' training camp.
I glanced up at the tower again. It was tall, but climbing it didn't seem too difficult.
Still, sothing about the na,"Tower of Training," feels a little off, I thought.
Hector seed to notice it too and asked, "So, it's not speed but height that determines our ranking?"
"Exactly." Alderson looked around and said, "The tower stands 217.1 ters tall and has five floors. There are stairs, so the climb won't be too difficult."
Around 200 ters. This is certainly high, but everyone here should be capable of handling it. Which ans...
"Is there sothing inside?" I asked.
Alderson grinned. "Wouldn't it spoil the fun if I explained everything? No need to rush. You will understand everything once you are inside the tower."
I humd in response.
"The ti limit is today." He then added, "One more thing. Anything you find inside is yours to keep."
"Such as?" soone blurted out.
"Everything. From simple gold coins to precious tals, books, and magic tools I've created myself. A wide variety of rewards awaits," Alderson answered.
A buzz of excitent spread among the hero disciples.
Alderson laughed heartily. "Think of it as a ride and enjoy it to your heart's content. Hahaha."
At his words, the hero disciples rushed toward the tower.
I was slightly impressed.
It seems that not all mages are terrible bastards.
Chiding myself for my own bias, I followed after them.
***
Shortly after the hero disciples departed, a young man approached Alderson. It was Morland, a professor from Cartel Academy.
"You are too mischievous, Dean Alderson."
"How so?"
"Half of them won't even make it past the first floor."
Upon hearing that, Alderson let out his signature laugh. "You can't be sure of that. Professor Morland, don't underestimate the potential of young people."
Morland sighed. "I've never looked down on them."
At first glance, Alderson appeared to have high hopes for the hero disciples, but that wasn't the case.
Any student at Cartel Academy knew better. They all understood the true nature of the so-called Tower of Training. Each of the five floors was filled with puzzles, traps, and challenges Alderson had carefully crafted. Of course, none of it was deadly, but it was enough to frustrate and traumatize the young trainees.
"In the first place, there is nothing wrong with this, right? I find motivation in watching these energetic young people, and they have the chance to earn rewards befitting their efforts. I've always believed in fairness."
Alderson's words held so truth.
There really were treasures hidden in the tower. In addition to the magic tools made by Alderson, a Seven-Colored Archmage, there were various collectibles that he'd spent a fortune acquiring. One of them was even his most cherished item.
If you care so much about fairness, why did you put all the rewards on the fourth and fifth floors? Morland complained inwardly.
He knew that no matter how gifted a hero disciple was, none would make it past the third floor.
It was simply too difficult. Even most professors at the academy had given up before reaching the fourth floor.
"Now, now! No ti to dawdle. Let's get to the control room. I want to enjoy Professor Betty's black tea. There are also so cookies left from the Etique Teahouse.Watching is always better with snacks," Alderson said excitedly,
Morland sighed again. I feel sorry for them, but it can't be helped.
Morland followed Alderson, hoping the number of frustrated hero disciples would be small.
***
A sign greeted us as we entered the tower:
Welco to the Rainbow Floor!
※First rule※
Conversations are prohibited on this floor.
There will be a penalty for the violation.
A strange sense of deja vu washed over .
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