episode_0091

At the sudden outburst of the Tower Master, everyone couldn’t believe it and rubbed their eyes.

And then again.

The Tower Master erased the scowling expression that was spewing anger, as if it had never been there. He returned to his normal appearance.

Of course, most people would be puzzled seeing the Tower Master like this.

The Tower Master, Master, whom I’ve seen since becoming an official disciple, is even more emotional and passionate than expected.

Of course, due to his age, the frequency is low.

Just seeing this, one can guess that he was a fiery person in his prime.

Perhaps it’s because he’s that kind of person that he rose to a position like Tower Master.

Anyway.

The Tower Master, who had returned to his dignified appearance, slowly began to explain.

“This magic is one that was created over a very long time with great effort. The method for releasing it is very easy. It’s possible by eliminating all the catalysts in Zone 11. The problem is that the quantity is considerable and it’s being added in real-time, making it sturdy.”

It was despairing news.

To release this, all the normal cursed dolls that act as catalysts for the magic must be completely removed.

Because cursed dolls have been secretly scattered throughout the entire Zone 11 for a long time, and summoned black mages are continuously adding more cursed dolls in real-time.

The Crown Prince ran his hands through his throbbing head a few times, then looked at the Tower Master once again and said.

“Is there really no other way? Like reverse-analyzing the structure to release it or something.”

“Magic of this scale is intertwined with so many different magics, so releasing it is impossible. We are looking for other methods for now, but….”

In the end, it’s a race against time.

Either completely eliminate the cursed dolls, or analyze the magic that isolated Zone 11.

If there’s one fortunate point. It’s that the situation has stabilized to some extent.

Because when the evil god’s eye was floating in the sky, there wasn’t this kind of hopeful atmosphere.

“It seems the black mages have also taken a short break!”

“The air raid that was attacking the barrier has also stopped!!”

“Of course, monsters are continuously pushing in. But the black mages are not visible at all.”

Approximately 12 hours since the air raid began.

No matter how inhuman black mages are, it seems they also get tired.

“Then let’s also take a short rest!”

Agreeing with the Tower Master’s opinion, everyone went into a break.

I also headed to where the clan members were.

Currently, the moderate buildings around the Tower are full of people.

In one building that was originally used as a restaurant, all the tables were removed and bedding was laid out to accommodate refugees.

Most people living in the Labyrinth City find it easy to access cards, and many have entered the labyrinth out of curiosity, so they possess a certain level of combat ability.

Thanks to that, it is said that more people from Zone 11 succeeded in entering the barrier near the Tower than expected.

Of course, there must have been efforts by explorers to rescue them.

As I roughly heard earlier, about half of the citizens succeeded in evacuating.

That’s why the streets around the Tower are now completely filled with people.

Since so many people gathered in about one-tenth of Zone 11, space is bound to be limited.

The Blue Sun Clan entered the inn where Grace originally lived.

Because we weren’t allowed much space, the clan members had to somehow fit into 4 rooms. But this is something. If it were the labyrinth, it would have been camping.

“I’ll go to the Tower later to sleep.”

Since I can just inconvenience the Tower Master in his room, there’s no need for me to sleep here.

I came to check if the clan members were alright.

“No one got injured, right?”

“There are some injured. No one died.”

“Then that’s fine.”

“More than that, it’s strange.”

“What is?”

“Right now, there are too few Ariel Church people in Zone 11.”

“Anyway, the cursed dolls were discovered at the Ariel Church, weren’t they?”

“Precisely, rumors are spreading now. Asking if the Ariel Church really did it. Was there a reason for them to come out so openly like this?”

“If there are no witnesses, it won’t be a problem at all.”

“…….”

“Perhaps the objective of the Ariel Church and the black mages is to kill everyone here and stay completely silent about it. They’ll probably pour all their strength into it.”

“I think so. It’s a bit of a lull right now.”

“So get plenty of rest. In the worst case, it might be difficult to sleep from tomorrow.”

“Yes!”

I immediately left the clan members and returned to the Tower.

And only upon reaching there could Noah also breathe in the cool air.

“Master?”

But the Tower Master wasn’t in the room. Did he leave somewhere for a moment? Given the situation, he might be working somewhere.

“I’m resting!”

Noah familiarly lay down on the sofa in the room.

And then, a few seconds after covering himself with the blanket taken from the subspace.

Koororong.

Noah, who fell asleep with a small sound.

Surely, having clashed with the black mages with all his strength, it’s understandable that he would be tired.

Maybe it was because I was running around and moving all day, I was tired too.

Just like that, I spread out my bedding in front of the heating magic tool and fell asleep.

How long did I sleep like that?

I fell asleep so deeply that I didn’t even dream.

At some point, my body was being shaken.

“…Wake up!”

My eyes snapped open at Noah’s voice.

Noah’s face looking down at me was mixed with bewilderment and fatigue.

“What’s wrong?”

“Outside now…!”

Quickly regaining my senses, I headed towards the window.

The panoramic view of Zone 11 seen from the top of the Tower.

The beautiful scenery was gone, completely surrounded by a dark barrier, so no sunlight could enter, forcing movement by the light of torches or faint lights.

Of course, the barrier installed by the Tower emits a faint light, making it noticeable.

Anyway. In this situation, a noticeable change occurred.

A crack.

A huge crack had formed in the barrier, as if glass had broken.

Through it, a strange fog was seeping in.

*

“Master!!”

Several mages from the Tower, including the Tower Master, were casting a new barrier near the cracked barrier to block the purple fog.

Fortunately, there were only a few casualties, but conversely, it means there were indeed fatalities.

Because bodies being recovered were visible near here.

“Everyone who touched that unknown fog melted away.”

“I see.”

Furthermore, setting aside the fact that the barrier cracked, the outside was covered in a strange fog.

Of course, being exposed doesn’t mean immediate death. But if not washed off immediately with water or purified with divine power, one will slowly be poisoned, apparently.

The fatalities were caught while sleeping, so they died without having a chance to react, apparently.

“So now we can’t even sleep properly?”

“Pl-please resolve this quickly!!”

Anxiety is spreading. The fear that had been forgotten for a moment began to eat away at people’s hearts.

This situation is not very good.

[I think we need to resolve it quickly.]

“Right.”

Still, fortunately, there’s a clue.

Strange fog.

I remember where I saw that.

As if having the same thought, Gamel also came to find me.

“Isn’t that that? The one I saw in Gehrart’s painting….”

“That’s right.”

If I had touched that strange fog back then too, would I have melted like that?

Of course, the exact truth is unknown.

Because that place was a kind of memory device created by the main god.

And that memory will be helpful to us.

“Then, do you remember that fog remover magic tool from back then?”

“…Yes. Fortunately, I had drawn up blueprints while disassembling most of the magic tools that were there.”

“Follow me.”

I immediately took Gamel and headed towards Master.

“Can we talk among ourselves for a moment?”

“…Alright.”

Master, who glanced at me and Gamel, delegated his work to the Head of the White Faction for a moment, and then.

We entered a moderately empty barracks.

As he moved his fingers smoothly, sound was cut off from the outside.

Immediately, Master stroked his beard and spoke.

“Do you have a method?”

“…Yes.”

“How on earth? This is a magic I’ve never seen before. My knowledge is only increasing from yesterday to today.”

“A revelation from the Main God…. or should I say.”

“…Speak.”

“Gamel.”

I immediately asked Gamel for an explanation.

Unfortunately, as someone who uses magic intuitively, Gamel will be much better at this kind of scientific explanation.

“You are from the White Faction.”

“I am Gamel.”

“Alright. Explain.”

Gamel began his explanation quickly and concisely.

Like a mage of the Tower, he was also excellent at conveying information to someone.

Even I was nodding my head while listening to the story.

“Ivan.”

“Yes.”

“Take this person and go to the magic tool workshop.”

The Tower Master’s permission was granted.

*

Magic Tool Workshop.

It’s a place where the Tower directly recruits blacksmiths and technicians from workshops to create magic tools.

It’s located about 100m away from the Tower.

Normally, it’s a place ordinary people can never enter.

Now, to evacuate people, the open space has been opened.

Of course, not just anyone can enter the inside, and there was even someone guarding the entrance.

There were some people who were dissatisfied with that sometimes.

But there were also people who expressed gratitude for just opening the open space.

Gamel and I walked across the barracks in the open space towards the workshop.

While doing so.

Someone grabbed my sleeve.

“M-Mage!!”

“What is it?”

“W-We can return alive, right?”

His eyes were full of fear.

It’s natural.

How many people could maintain composure in a situation like this?

Before long, everyone inside and outside the barracks was looking at me.

Among them, there were people trembling nervously.

“Of course. Please wait here. Because there’s a way.”

“Please! Master Tower Mage’s disciple!”

“…Yes.”

It turns out, it seemed they already knew who I was.

In a way, it’s a natural thing.

Because I am the sole disciple of the Tower Master, at the top of the Tower that almost governs Zone 11.

I immediately entered the workshop.

The guard who saw me gave me a free pass.

Status really seems to be good for this reason.

“With this level of equipment, I think it can be made.”

“Please.”

After leaving Gamel at the workshop.

I returned to where Master was again.

Before long, the Crown Prince also arrived and was looking with a serious expression.

“…Ivan.”

“Yes.”

“Did you say you knew a way to remove the fog?”

“Right now, we are indeed manufacturing a magic tool.”

“That’s fortunate.”

At that moment, Master, who had been casting the barrier for a while, approached.

And then, as he pointed to the barracks, the Crown Prince and I followed behind him.

Inside the barracks, a large number of high-ranking people were gathered.

“It seems that if this situation continues, there will be no advantage for us, sir.”

The Lionheart Clan leader, who commanded many high-floor explorers, began.

Everyone nodded their heads.

Because the situation had changed rapidly in just one day, if they dealt with it passively, they would instead be consumed.

“However, going outside the barrier is impossible due to that strange fog. Moreover, we know how many black mages there are.”

A knight tapped the table, showing his impatience.

At that moment, the Tower Master revealed a new fact.

“My disciple Ivan has figured out a way to eliminate the fog and is currently preparing it. So, let’s continue the discussion under the premise that the fog can be broken through.”

Everyone’s gaze suddenly turned towards me.

And then, a sigh of relief.

“You have a capable disciple.”

“That’s fortunate. I was worried we might not be able to break through that and simply die buried in the fog. I’d rather die fighting than tolerate such a thing.”

Leaving the favorable gazes behind, the meeting continued.

But after numerous discussions, rebuttals, and debates, the result boiled down to one conclusion.

“So, I think contacting the outside is the only method. Even if just a few deep-level explorers come to support, or even if just the Guild Master comes, there’s a sign that the situation might be resolved.”

Fighting with the people currently inside is impossible.

Asking for help from the outside is the only method.