Chapter 278 |
TL: TangSanFan
ED/PR: Tanthus
『Side Story』 Pursuing the Butterfly (5)
It is a memory from my childhood.
There was a time when Lucy, playing with magic alone, accidentally knocked over a container next to the fireplace.
It was a bin for collecting the ashes from the stove. Because of that, Glast’s cabin was quickly engulfed in rising ashes.
Glast, who had been reading a book by the stove, and Lucy, who had been waving magic from the wooden bed, were both completely covered in ash.
Startled, Lucy began vigorously shaking her body to get the ashes off, while Glast, coughing, swiftly raised a wind spell to blow away the ashes.
Even Lucy, usually indifferent and with little mood swings, felt sorry at this point.
He dusted off his clothes here and there, but the ash stuck on various parts of his body showed no signs of completely disappearing.
– “Thanks to that, I’ve certainly snapped to attention. However, I made it clear that one must be careful when practicing magic inside the cabin….”
– “……”
Intent on scolding her at first, Glast softened at Lucy’s expression.
It was that Lucy, who had always lived in her own world, fidgeting with her fingertips and watching Glast’s reactions. Seeing that she showed signs of enough reflection, Glast decided not to press further and patted her shoulder gently.
– “Mistakes happen to everyone.”
Although meant as a consolation, Lucy remained downcast, eyes lowered.
Sometimes it was necessary to scold her sternly, but he couldn’t push a child already so dejected.
Considering how to cheer up the disheartened Lucy, Glast lightened his tone once more and said,
– “We should look for something to properly dust off that ash.”
Saying this, Glast went down into the cellar under the cabin, a space that doubled as a storage area and his personal laboratory.
Left alone, Lucy dusted off her clothes and observed the mess in the cabin. At this point, she felt she should apologize, wondering how to broach the subject.
As she waited in silence, Glast came back up from the cellar and approached Lucy again.
– Thump.
He placed something on Lucy’s head.
Resting gently on her ash-filled hair was a witch’s hat, the brim almost as wide as Lucy’s upper body.
– “It’s a gift.”
– “……”
Lucy looked up at Glast, holding the brim of the hat with a blank stare.
– “It seems the right time to give it to you.”
– “This is…”
– “Take good care of it. One day, this hat will become your most treasured possession.”
– “Why… would it…”
– “… Well, I suppose that’s something you’ll find out eventually.”
* * *
“That hat I received back then is this one.”
Inside the gently rocking carriage.
Leaving Acken Island, only four people sat in this carriage heading to the lawless lands of Kehelton.
Zellan the Cutter, her assistant Wilhelm.
And Lucy and I, Ed Rothtaylor.
“So… that hat is also one of Glast’s relics…”
“Yes.”
At Zellan’s remark, Lucy nodded silently.
She had thought it might be so. Lucy had carried that strange witch’s hat everywhere, always.
She must have layered it with various protective and preservation magics… even amidst chaos, the hat seldom suffered damage.
For Lucy, it was one of the last reminders of Glast, something she treasured deeply.
In addition to the hat, Lucy kept other relics of Glast hidden in a cave along the western coast of Acken Island, near Glast’s grave.
Most of them were simply relics, without any magical properties. The most valuable among them, ‘Introduction to Celestial Doctrine,’ was with me.
“If there’s anything else, it’s likely to be in the cellar.”
Lucy, as usual, sat on my knees, swinging her feet back and forth.
“When grandfather left, my mind was in such a whirl, I didn’t examine the cabin closely before leaving.”
Her memories of Glast’s death would not be pleasant. However, Lucy spoke of them with unexpected calm.
“He said he had lost most of his interest in scholarship as he approached the end of his life, though from time to time when I was out, he would enter the cellar to research something. I didn’t pay it much mind…”
There was something Archmage Glast had been researching, something he even kept secret from his disciple, Lucy Mayrill.
Even though Lucy wasn’t particularly curious about what it was, Zellan and Wilhelm seemed intrigued.
“We definitely want to check it out.”
Wilhelm, Zellan’s assistant, looked at us eagerly.
“It might have been research of considerable value, academically. Professor Ed, you work in academia as well, aren’t you interested?”
I noncommittally nodded and observed Lucy. She seemed indifferent.
Perhaps, excited to have an adventure just the two of us, she looked out at the scenery outside the carriage, unusually lively.
Well, it was hard to tell from her appearance whether she was excited, but from my perspective, it was clear enough.
“Once we’re done with our agreed investigation of the Ramelern Mountains, I’ll need you to process the artifact I have, as promised.”
I got straight to the point.
Zellan was one of the world’s leading artifact processors.
I had committed long years to the study of Magitech myself, but some artifacts were still too complex to handle.
“That’s right. There isn’t an artifact I can’t handle. But you’re quite the expert on magics as well, young man. What kind of artifact is it that you can’t process yourself?”
Seeing is believing.
From within my cloak, I took out the remains of Tir Kalax. It was in the form of a small bead, but Zellan would recognize its value instantly.
Zellan narrowed his eyes and let out a forced chuckle.
“You have quite the unusual item there.”
“……”
“What do you plan to do with it?”
The intended use of the artifact is important. For it to be processed properly by Zellan.
I decided to be forthright.
“I’ve made a contract with an elemental, a high-ranking wind spirit named Merilda.”
“A high-ranking spirit… You’re also well-versed in spiritology.”
“I’m getting quite comfortable harnessing its power, so…”
Zellan looked incredulous at the words I continued with.
“I plan to elevate the spirit to a supreme ranking. Right now, the seat of supreme wind spirits happens to be vacant.”
It made sense for him to react that way.
I essentially declared that I was going to freely control a supreme spirit.
I was aware of how absurd the statement sounded.
“You’re an interesting fellow, young man.”
There was no retort like ‘How could you possibly think of doing such impossible things?’
It seemed Zellan too was far from an ordinary man.
* * *
The time that followed was monotonous.
We listened to Zellan’s tall tales of roaming the lawless lands of Kehelton with Wilhelm, and took breaks from the carriage to stretch and get some air.
We stopped at villages to stay overnight.
The uneventful carriage ride toward the Ramelern Mountains continued for quite a while.
Even Phulanshan and Oldec were distant places, but the Ramelern Mountains were on the complete opposite side of the empire from Acken Island.
The tale of Lucy carrying Glast’s body by flight alone to Acken Island seemed unbelievably outrageous, but now it felt real.
Even in a fast carriage, the journey took days. Considering that she had flown such a distance without even a moment’s break from magic, one had to admire her mental resilience.
Lucy probably never returned to the Ramelern Mountains after that.
I couldn’t even be sure that the cabin would still be standing, unchanged.
After getting comfortable with each other during the ride, we finally approached the Ramelern Mountains after much time had passed. Our journey was far from over.
In a small village at the foothills, we bought all the supplies needed for mountain trekking and began our ascent.
The Ramelern Mountains were a massive range crossing the northern continent. Climbing such high altitudes required thorough preparation. Of course, we were not aiming for the summit but a cabin midpoint on the mountainside.
Lucy, ascending the mountain range she had played in during her youth, gleefully harnessed magic to perch on the very tops of conifer trees to scout the surroundings.
The trek progressed without a hitch.
Zellan and Lucy’s smaller frames didn’t deter their efficient use of mana, allowing them to conserve energy during the hike.
Wilhelm and I had enough stamina to handle long treks, and we could always resort to a little magic if needed.
Occasionally, we summoned spirits for transport, camped at mid-mountain, and continued our two-day trek.
Our strength was no easy match for wild animals, and with ample provisions, the trek felt more like a scenic tour than an ordeal.
The Ramelern Mountains were as beautiful as rumored.
The image of young Lucy bounding through the evergreen forests was easy to imagine.
“……”
But the mountains were vast, too vast.
Even larger than rumored. It’s no wonder why explorers couldn’t muster the courage to search for that cabin despite hearsay of Glast’s treasure.
Alps-level ranges stretched endlessly. If the goal had been the summit, we would need to prepare for snowdrifts in early autumn. The permanent ice caps seen at the top of the mountains appeared incredibly thick from below.
“We’re nearly there.”
Finally, Lucy broke the long silence with good news.
After traveling for about a week in a fast carriage, we were almost at our destination.
After a hike that lasted for a day, we finally reached the place. Why Gluckt, the archmage, had secluded himself in such a remote area was beyond our comprehension.
Nonetheless, the ever-stretching coniferous forest… abruptly came to an end.
Then, a sunlit clearing emerged. It wasn’t very wide. Truly, it was like a tiny dot within the vastness of the mountain range.
And there, in the middle… stood a dilapidated cabin.
“Oh, at last…! Is that…. the place where the archmage Gluckt… retired and secluded himself….”
Any professor specializing in magical history would drool over such a find. After all, the last residence of such a distinguished figure stood right before us.
* * *
“It seems when this cabin was constructed, various magical enchantments were put into place. Well, it makes sense. An old man alone couldn’t possibly build a cabin from scratch… It must have required the aid of magic.”
Despite years of neglect at this high mountain elevation, Gluckt’s cabin was surprisingly intact.
It was all thanks to the shape-maintenance spell that had been cast during its construction and was still in effect. Considering it was the archmage himself who had cast it, the result was expected.
Zellan carefully proceeded and turned the rickety door handle.
With a pull, the door creaked open naturally.
Inside the cabin… it was dusty, yet not overly disordered.
It was as if Lucy had left just the day before.
“…….”
An unexpected weight settled on my wrist, and looking down, I found Lucy gripping it tightly.
Pushing her head slowly into the cabin, it seemed that memories began to flood back to her.
“…Are you alright, Lucy?”
“I’m fine.”
Even amidst concern, Lucy responded bravely.
“You’re here.”
As she clutched my forearm tightly, Lucy seemed to shake off her loneliness.
What was lost, was lost. The emptiness and nihilism had long been bid farewell.
That’s why Lucy could enter the shack with a nonchalant expression.
Gluckt’s cabin, revisited after several years.
Yet, as if only a night had passed, she sat in the rocking chair near the fireplace, curled up and let out a deep sigh.
That was all there was to it.
* * *
Our first action upon entering Gluckt’s cabin was to use Wilhelm’s magic to blow away the indoor dust.
With practiced motions, Wilhelm tidied the interior, buried the spoiled food items from the long-neglected kitchen in the backyard, and then began preparing a simple meal with the groceries we brought.
As soon as the interior cleaning was done, Zellan headed to the basement that Lucy mentioned to search for traces of Gluckt.
Lucy and I… we just sat together in the rocking chair by the fireplace.
There was no obligation to join Zellan in her fervent relic hunting. It was her affair to deal with from here on out.
We warmed at the fireplace for some time.
The sun had long set, and as the chilling breeze of early autumn began to bite, Zellan came up from the basement.
“I found Gluckt’s relics. However… they’re not quite as I imagined.”
“Really?”
“Care to come down for a look?”
Using a flame spell as a light source, we descended into the basement to find a storeroom brimming with various items.
Venturing deeper and rounding a corner, Gluckt’s personal study appeared.
“The archmage Gluckt I knew despised breaking taboos. He was a mage who always revered magic, respecting the providence and fate of the world.”
Silently, Lucy nodded to Zellan’s words.
Continuing deeper into the basement, Zellan spoke again.
“Lucy Mayrill. It might be a shock from your perspective, but… it appears that the archmage Gluckt researched taboos… especially towards the end of his life.”
The pursuit of eternal life, resurrection of the dead, time travel.
Three realms deemed taboo by mages across the world.
Was it possible that the archmage Gluckt, who had upheld these taboos all his life, had actually ventured into forbidden knowledge?
“…That’s hard to accept….”
Lucy shook her head in denial.
In her memory, Gluckt was a mage who accepted fate and respected the laws of the world.
Even with the power to command celestial magic, he lived his given life faithfully.
A mage who lived a full life without regrets and then departed.
Therefore, Professor Glast’s resurrection magic wasn’t used to bring Gluckt back.
It would have been an insult to rouse such a proud mage through forbidden acts.
However, Zellan spoke in a low voice.
“I’m also questioning this. The Gluckt I know would never have dared to touch such taboos. But… in this underground facility….”
As Zellan pumped more magic into the flame spell, the light source expanded.
Gluckt’s study came fully into view.
To the past Lucy Mayrill, who was indifferent and negligent, this room had been of no consequence.
It was filled to the brim with countless relics and forbiddden magical apparatuses.
“Among the three great taboos, ‘time travel’ seems to have been tampered with. Look at that large crystal ball in the center. It’s a device to focus celestial powers. By examining the surrounding magical equipment, its purpose becomes clear.”
Lucy furrowed her brow.
Gluckt was not a mage to defy taboos, he took pride in upholding them.
It was inconceivable for him to have crafted such things.
Yet to Lucy, with her keen magical knowledge, the structure of the magical devices was unmistakable no matter how many times she inspected them.
A device designed to concentrate celestial power and cross the threads of time.
Whether in the future or the past, Gluckt had once crossed time.
“According to the evidence, it seems Gluckt Eldervain adjusted the thread of time at least once during his life. That is, he broke the taboo and attempted time travel.”
“…….”
“Look at the power circuitry. They show significant use. Although not replenished, they indicate that the device was used precisely once.”
Had Gluckt crossed time, did he visit somewhere? And he’d done so without Lucy’s knowledge.
Was it to the past or to the future?
No direction could be discerned, nor could one guess what compelled him to break his lifelong beliefs for that single journey.
This truth remained shrouded in mystery.
The only one who knew, Gluckt Eldervain, was no longer of this world.
* * *
“I have good news and bad news. If you asked which you’d like to hear first, you’d likely say the bad news, right? Well, let me just tell it all at once.”
Zellan moved the story along by himself, her intentions unclear.
Chewing on the salad placed on the kitchen table, she addressed us.
“After spending the night exploring the basement relics, it seems we have sufficient equipment to observe other possibilities of the world, as I had hoped. However, they are quite worn and in need of some repair.”
“…….”
“That archmage designed some clever and remarkable devices. It will be no easy task to study and repair each one. Thankfully, we have two individuals here adept in magic engineering.”
Wilhelm and myself, Ed Rothtaylor.
We both had our respective expertise in magic engineering.
“Since these are devices for controlling celestial magic, its exact operations and outcomes are quite unpredictable. It could be a very dangerous task. However, if you help out properly….”
Zellan set down her fork, leaned towards me and said with certainty.
“I’ll ensure you become the master of a supreme-ranking spirit. Your plan to control a supreme-ranking spirit intrigues me so much, I can hardly wait. Let’s go for a win-win situation.”
“What’s the risk you mentioned?”
“Celestial magic is notoriously unpredictable. Therefore, we need your ability to handle it at least to some extent.”
Zellan leaned back confidently, a satisfied smirk on her face.
“I like you a lot, young man.”
I couldn’t help but think her tone sounded old-fashioned. But in reality, inside that diminutive girl’s form was an old soul battle-scarred by a lifetime of experiences.
“So… let’s put in some effort together. There’s a lot I can do for a young chap like yourself. Now that things have come to this, I’ve grown quite curious.”
“…….”
“What could have compelled the proud archmage Gluckt to forsake his convictions and transgress a taboo in his final days? I’ve become intrigued to uncover this truth as well. Wouldn’t you agree, my discerning feline lady?”
Lucy looked silently at Zellan.
It’d be a lie to say she wasn’t curious…
But there are truths in the world one is perhaps better off not knowing.
Lucy had emotionally let go of Gluckt.
He lived a turbulent life as a mage and departed with a smile, without regrets. To Lucy, his story had concluded.
Is it really necessary to stir it up again…?
“Sure.”
Lucy replied curtly.
What thoughts she harbored within were anyone’s guess.
Zellan only responded with a satisfied smile.
“When dawn breaks tomorrow… let’s get right to repairing and examining the relics.”
The outcome of this journey born of curiosity… was something none of us could predict at that moment.
We just sat quietly, listening to the wind rushing outside the cabin.
In the secluded shack on the Rameln Mountain, far from civilization, beyond the reach of anyone’s contact.
Zellan lay upon the wooden bed, Wilhelm had unrolled an emergency sleeping bag on the dining table.
I reclined in the rocking chair by the fireplace, holding Lucy in my arms.
Inside the cabin… that’s how the four of us found our places and fell asleep.
What would happen the next day… none of us could even begin to imagine.