Ch.368Chapter 368 – The Laboratory (1)

Right after hearing the story from the village chief.

The villagers escorted us to where Diana was located.

Of course, we couldn’t stay here too long, so we temporarily split our group in half to form an escort team.

Fortunately, since we had helped them, the villagers moved to Diana’s location without much complaint, and soon those who had escorted them returned.

“Helmet, I finished the job.”

“Thanks.”

It was Beatrice, who had briefly left to escort the villagers.

“What did Lady Diana say?”

“She said she’d do it when I asked for Kris’s sake. Though she grumbled about having too much work piled on.”

“…I feel bad for imposing on her so much.”

Of course, many things required Diana’s permission to proceed, so it couldn’t be helped.

Beatrice smiled and replied to my comment.

“No need to feel sorry. She came here to help with such matters. Besides, this isn’t exactly a small issue.”

Beatrice spoke quietly.

I directed a question toward her.

“What do you think about it?”

“You mean the declaration to use people as soldiers?”

When I nodded, Beatrice briefly tapped her forehead with her finger.

Then she immediately spoke.

“I think almost the same as you. Given the Holy Kingdom’s current situation, they’re not under attack, yet they’re gathering soldiers and manipulating people to turn them into Black Knights. I can only think they’re planning to attack somewhere.”

Indicating the seriousness of the matter, Beatrice continued.

“Other countries wouldn’t just sit idle, so they must have discovered these suspicious movements through spies or various other methods.”

“Are you saying the villagers’ testimonies aren’t valuable then?”

“Of course not.”

Beatrice looked at me and said.

“Whatever the case, the more evidence supporting the information, the better. It gives us more ways to convince others. And what the villagers testify could resonate with the citizens of that country. That’s also why Lady Diana will do it despite complaining about the increased workload.”

Since Diana essentially works under Princess Liriel.

Beatrice explained that she wouldn’t take this lightly, as it could become a major crisis for the Kingdom of Mikea.

“And Princess Liriel will surely turn even seemingly useless stories into political weapons. I think she could at least secure support for the villagers to settle properly as compensation.”

“Right.”

So now we just need to focus on taking them back to the Kingdom of Mikea.

Beatrice removed her hat, dusted it off, and looked at me.

“So, did you find a ship?”

“Over there. Sera and Captain Kurs are guarding it now.”

Beatrice nodded at my answer.

This was why we had divided our group in two.

One team escorted the villagers and explained the situation to Diana, while the other team stayed behind to find a ship.

We could have used the ship we came on, but the problem was that only I knew the exact route to our destination.

However, since I didn’t have knowledge about navigation, I couldn’t precisely explain the location.

“Well, there are many islands in this area, so even a slight error in directions could waste time on the wrong island. We can’t afford to waste much time anyway.”

Beatrice looked at me and asked.

“So, Helmet. Can you find the way?”

“When I got on the boat and grabbed the oars, I realized I could.”

Perhaps because the modifications they made to my body still remained, the route naturally came to mind when I held the oars.

Of course, it made me feel somewhat uncomfortable, but this was a situation where I had to endure it.

Beatrice nodded and spoke again.

“I’ll cast a spell on the boats just in case.”

“I’d appreciate that. Better safe than sorry.”

Beatrice nodded at my words.

Then she silently raised her finger and pointed in one direction.

Looking where she pointed, I could see our companions gathered in the distance, waiting for Beatrice and me.

Beatrice grinned.

“Shall we depart right away?”

“Yes.”

Soon, Beatrice and I approached our companions.

And shortly after, two small boats quietly began to leave the dock at Gema Port.

+

We reached the island without much difficulty.

As I had told Beatrice earlier, I could immediately sense the direction once I got on the boat and grabbed the oars.

Fortunately, the sea was calm, so we were able to travel without major risks.

“W-we’ve arrived…”

Kris stood up from the boat, trembling slightly.

Since the boats were much smaller than those we had obtained in Florence or the kingdom, Kris seemed to have been quite anxious.

Looking closely, Sera also appeared slightly frightened, but everyone else maintained composed expressions.

‘…I never thought I’d come back here.’

Though the need to investigate this place had been suggested occasionally, I never really thought the day would come when I’d return.

Looking around, I checked if anything had changed from before.

And I could easily spot the difference right away.

Unlike before, weeds had grown abundantly.

‘It seems it hasn’t been maintained for a long time.’

When I escaped, this place had been frequented by personnel, so it had received at least minimal maintenance.

It was a place that needed supplies from the outside, and people also lived here.

“There’s no sign of anyone.”

“They must have withdrawn from here long ago.”

As I answered Sia, I approached some abandoned boxes.

Seeing boxes marked with familiar symbols, Captain Kurs who had followed us muttered.

“…Was there really a cult facility here?”

“Did you doubt it?”

“It’s not that I didn’t believe you all. I simply hadn’t heard about it.”

Kurs said quietly.

And one of the knights who came with him spoke softly.

“Come to think of it, I heard about a knight who went missing near Gema Port. Was it related to this place?”

‘Sharp one.’

That knight would now be eternally resting beneath the sea of this dock.

I felt a slight ache on half of my face.

“Mr. Kay, is your old burn scar hurting?”

“Sh-should I cast a healing spell on you?”

Sera and Kris immediately responded with concern.

I raised my hand to reassure them that I was fine.

“Besides, we didn’t come here to look at the dock. Shouldn’t we head inside now?”

“You know the way, right, Kay?”

In response to Kara’s words, Eve looked at me and asked.

Of course, I remembered the way.

“This way.”

I moved in the direction my body remembered.

Being cautious of any potential hidden dangers, I headed toward where the laboratory used to be.

The path was more uncomfortable than before due to the overgrown weeds, but we managed to reach the building housing the laboratory without major issues.

Standing in front of the building, which was beginning to be covered with vines since no one was guarding it anymore, I looked at my companions and asked.

“…The laboratory is underground. Should I guide you there first?”

“Let’s do that. I don’t think it matters much where we search first.”

After saying this, Beatrice narrowed her eyes and added.

“…If something is hidden, the underground would be more suspicious, and suspicious places are more dangerous.”

“It would be better to see dangerous places while we still have more strength.”

Sia also agreed with Beatrice.

There were no objections from the others, so it was decided to go underground.

Before entering the building, Kris looked around and said.

“It would be really creepy if we came at night.”

“…Well, yes.”

Since it’s now practically a ruin.

“Don’t worry too much, Kris. I’ll protect you if anything happens.”

“…Thank you, Mr. Kay.”

Kris blushed slightly and then smiled in response.

Looking at that face, I remembered something.

“Oh, Kris. Keep this with you.”

“What’s this?”

I handed Kris an item I had received from Diana before disembarking at Gema Port.

It was a pendant containing a picture of Platina, the previous Holy Maiden of the Emiris Order.

“It’s a pretty pendant.”

“Lady Diana lent it to us. She said it has defensive magic enchanted on it.”

“Oh, is that okay?”

Kris looked slightly surprised and tried to hand the pendant back to me.

Pushing it back, I said again.

“It’s fine. She said to borrow it so you could feel safe.”

“But…”

“No buts, Kris. It’s Diana’s goodwill, so just accept it.”

Kara approached Kris and lifted the pendant.

Then, she forcibly put it around Kris’s neck.

“…But it looks expensive…”

“She said it’s fine.”

Kara said, consoling Kris.

Just like a mother comforting her daughter.

Then, as if suddenly remembering, Kara looked at Beatrice and asked.

“By the way, is this real? Is it really enchanted with magic?”

“It is. Did they place a special order at the magic tower? It does have powerful defensive magic.”

“It’s one-time use though,” Beatrice added.

“In principle, it’s the type that takes the damage in your place. If it’s within the pendant’s capacity, it can withstand multiple hits, and even if it’s beyond that, it will definitely block one attack.”

“Really?”

When I asked, Beatrice nodded.

“Yes. The nun is already wearing the cloak that Roxanna supposedly used, so no joke, even if someone uses magic powerful enough to destroy a fortress in a surprise attack, the nun won’t die in one hit.”

“That’s impressive.”

“Is mass production possible?” Sera asked, looking closely at the pendant.

Meanwhile, Kara seemed concerned about something else.

“…A magically enchanted pendant. Strange.”

“What’s strange about it?”

Kurs asked Kara.

Kara nodded.

“As you know, Diana’s daughter is the previous Holy Maiden, Lady Platina. She’s certainly not in a position where she couldn’t obtain such a magically enchanted pendant…”

“…Are you suspicious about why she specifically prepared a magically enchanted pendant?”

Kara nodded at Eve’s words.

“Simply put, I can’t find a reason why she would prepare such a thing separately. A Holy Maiden of her caliber could create an item with similar effects using holy power. …Though I think it would last for a shorter period than magic.”

Kara tilted her head slightly.

So, from Kara’s perspective, she found it odd that someone who could use holy power would specifically prepare a magically enchanted item instead.

“If magical enchantments last longer than holy power infusions, it might simply be due to concern for her mother, Diana.”

“…That’s simple. But is there nothing else to consider?”

Kara responded like that, but she seemed to continue pondering if there was a hidden reason.

“Helmet.”

“Got it.”

At Beatrice’s call, I stepped forward.

“There aren’t any complicated paths, but follow me closely.”

I led the group forward.

Those who could bear weapons did so, proceeding cautiously while keeping watch on our surroundings.

Entering the empty building, we passed through the entrance hall where guards and test subjects had once clashed, and reached the passage leading underground.

I went down first, cautious of potential traps, through the passage now adorned with dust and cobwebs.

After descending the long staircase, we reached the underground corridor.

“Where’s the research wing?”

“Probably this way.”

I turned in that direction.

Toward the place where priest researchers had once mockingly guided me, calling me a lab rat.

Toward the place where I had moved most desperately to escape.

‘…It feels awful.’

Perhaps it was because of the memories resurfacing.

Unconsciously, thoughts of not wanting to go further and wanting to destroy everything arose simultaneously.

The anger that had accumulated here, which I had forgotten after escaping, seemed to resurface.

‘Focus.’

Unfortunately, I had to endure it since we had a different purpose now.

Thinking this, I walked while carefully suppressing my emotions to avoid detection.

And the moment we reached our destination.

I couldn’t help but mutter at the sight before me.

“…What is this?”

Some things were broken, excluding what I had destroyed to escape, but everything else remained the same.

The cylindrical pillars where I had once been confined stood in their places.

A greenish liquid filled them.

And inside that liquid, women with light blonde hair…

“…Kris, no, Kara?”

Sera murmured blankly as she identified the faces of the women.