Hokka 2

Far too much time had passed since the sun had set.

No one was around—only the sound of spinning wheels.

When we reached near the castle, Kenny was waiting for me.

Following Kenny's guidance, we arrived at a place resembling a warehouse.

Kenny led me inside the warehouse.

Inside, there was a hidden door built into the ground. Kenny lifted it effortlessly and gestured for me to go in.

Inside, there was a corridor leading toward the castle. We proceeded forward.

Eventually, we came upon a staircase. Ascending it, we reached the interior of the castle.

Was there really a need to fortify this place so heavily?

No, not really. At least not for us—or for Alex. We were both operating under orders from the Empire, infiltrating deep into the kingdom. From the kingdom's perspective, we were clearly enemy soldiers.

As we moved through the castle's interior, we emerged into a grand hall.

Several people were waiting for us there.

A woman of mature age, resembling Clara. Beside her, a middle-aged man with a sturdy build, older in years but equally firm in stance.

Several young men and women, along with soldiers and maids, stood nearby, waiting.

Clara wasn't among them.

"Attend to those who are injured."

At the command of the man at the center, only the maids moved, turning to tend to the wounded who had followed us from behind.

For now, there seemed to be no hostility.

After confirming the scene, I turned back to the man in front.

"Alex, and you too, Linna—could you come with me?"

Were the two of them acquainted?

The man said nothing more, then turned and walked away.

I guess the man with the staff was referring to me. Well, he didn’t introduce himself, so it makes sense.

"Tanaka. Lewis Adkins, at your service."

The man called Lewis Adkins only cast a glance over his shoulder.

"Seems you've grown bold while I wasn't looking."

"I thought it'd be difficult to have an important conversation without knowing the name of the person I'm speaking with."

"Hmph, fine then."

Lewis led him into an opulent room.

Lewis and two other young men took their seats. Their faces bore a striking resemblance—probably his sons.

I sat down as Alex, and Lina took her seat as well.

"Now then, you must be the mage Taro."

"You knew all along, didn't you? Did Clara tell you? Where is she now?"

"That idiot got a little burn from me—then just decided to sulk in the dungeon cell all by himself."

What is he even doing...

"The real issue is the lot of you he brought here."

"Clara isn't at fault. It was I who took advantage of her kindness."

Lina answered without hesitation to Lewis's words.

"It's not about whether that stubborn girl is good or bad. Lina-san, I'm talking about your existence."

I see. No wonder they call you wise. You're calmly separating the issues and clearly know the situation well. This is where it truly begins...

"Mr. Lewis. What do you know about Lina? What position do you hold in relation to the kingdom?"

"I don't know everything, and even if the other party is the world's only mage, there's no obligation to explain my position."

The pressure from the opponent intensified in response to my question.

"Have you seen this?"

I showed them a piece of a special gemstone recovered from the kingdom's soldiers.

!

Lewis didn't change expression, but the two beside him tensed up. Their expressions remained unchanged, yet their magical essence surged violently.

"Just looks like an unprocessed gemstone, doesn't it?"

Lewis feigned confusion with exaggerated clarity.

"You seem to know, don't you? The magical essence in your bodies is reacting. The two beside you."

For a brief moment, Lewis glanced at the two who looked genuinely surprised.

Sighing lightly, he took the magic stone I had produced.

"A dull blue, awkwardly shaped magic stone. Yet its magical density clearly indicates a high output—undoubtedly a newly developed stone created by the kingdom."

Yes, it's what we recovered from the enemy kingdom's soldiers. What exactly is this gemstone?

They ask clearly, but they don't know the details. In fact, they're still investigating. A fusion of human bodies and magical stones, based on individuals. At first, one might think a magical stone could be created for each person, but it's not that simple. The theory is complete, yet they still can't produce them correctly.

There's no doubt that humans are being used as materials...

"The output of the magic stones is powerful, but impossible to control—like water spilling over from a cup, natural phenomena overflow uncontrollably at the site. It affects friend and foe alike... It's far from something you could call a tool."

"I've witnessed situations where people used magic stones, and everyone was completely overwhelmed by them. Only one man, Neumann, seemed to master it."

"What!? You're saying Neumann? Is it really Neumann?"

Why are you so worked up about that?

"That's what he said, indeed."

"Neumann is a top-tier researcher of the kingdom and a high-level mage. He doesn't hesitate to use any means necessary for his goals. I never thought someone like him would be away from the scene."

I turned to Alex, seeking an explanation.

To my surprise, he understood and explained.

"Typically, high-ranking individuals don't go out to the field. If they do, it's only during moments of national importance."

I see, so that's what it meant all along...

Louis spoke clearly to Rina.

I’d heard as much from Clara in advance. Unfortunately, we can’t hide you in this town. You’re worth enough to mobilize an entire nation. This town is strong, but it doesn’t have the strength to withstand the nation’s arrival. I’m sorry to say, but that’s the truth.

Rina slowly lowered her gaze.