Chapter 115 – Harmless

[Signs of Internal Strife in the Purgatory Witches… Clashes Between Witches, Spreading Concerns of Division -Sky Island News-]

[Celestial Pole, Suspicions of ‘Undisclosed Production’ of Class 1 Mana Armor… Owner’s Identity Still Unknown -Arcane Tech-]

Rashid examined the two pieces of news lying on his office desk.

One was the headline of the Sky Island News, and the other was the cover content of a newly published technology magazine.

The contents of both were interesting.

‘It seems the Purgatory Witches have already started acting. For now, I just need to watch them, just like with Kaiser.’

In this way, Veronica was carrying out his instructions well.

And the suspicion of the production of the Class 1 Mana Armor.

The Class 1 Mana Armor that Rashid remembered was the essence of magic engineering, to the point where its numbers were extremely limited until the ending, let alone being manufactured—it was not even discovered.

‘A Class 1 Mana Armor is difficult to manufacture itself, but the users who can wear it must also be extremely limited?’

No matter how much wealth one had, the Sky Island workshop, Celestial Pole, was a place that did not accept commissions.

That they accepted a commission there meant someone with sufficient qualifications had ordered it.

‘Who is it?’

He thought of possible candidates.

‘Most of those who need it should already have it.’

The owners of the Class 1 Mana Armor that immediately came to mind were only the two heroes of the Empire and a few individuals belonging to the Allied Kingdom.

‘Was another one manufactured because of the wartime? That could be, but was there a possible user?’

No matter how much he thought about it, there was none.

‘Maybe it is a new face.’

The future was already highly distorted.

Even if a new owner of the Class 1 Mana Armor appeared, it would not be very strange.

‘Since Zodiac crossed over by tampering with dimensions, there is plenty of possibility that an unexpected enemy might appear.’

A representative example was the villain named Heart of Infection.

That mysterious woman was another otherworldly being who crossed over through the rift created by Zodiac.

However, unlike Zodiac, the origin of that villain was…

‘Earth.’

As far as he remembered.

The Heart of Infection would appear along with a group calling themselves players.

Since Zodiac crossed over from a wuxia-style world, the setting was that players from a modern society with a hunter worldview would cross over together with absolute evil.

‘But I have to watch this further. Because there is no evidence yet that the Heart of Infection has crossed over.’

If she had crossed over.

The players associated with her would reveal themselves.

However, they were not the players originally in this world, but individuals who crossed over from a completely separate world, practically no different from NPCs.

‘They wouldn’t even be NPCs. Since this is reality.’

Knock, knock, knock!

The person knocking was Karl.

“Chief Inquisitor. Regarding what you instructed last time.”

“Did you find the Magic Tower?”

“Well… no matter how much we searched, we could not find any construction site with similar details.”

Rashid was puzzled.

“Are you sure you checked everything?”

“Yes, we dispatched the clerics and checked the same locations three times each. Currently, there are no construction sites in the Imperial Capital that show suspicious signs or are building something similar to a Magic Tower underground.”

“That cannot be.”

Rashid showed a slightly bewildered expression.

‘Even if the location changed every time, it shouldn’t be nonexistent?’

“Understood. Keep searching for now. I will also think about it some more.”

Karl bowed his head.

“Yes, we will search again.”

Rashid sat down.

‘That makes no sense. Not even one?’

Rashid stood up from his seat and examined the map of the Imperial Capital spread across his office desk.

All construction sites were marked with an X.

‘Not even one among these?’

He also assumed the possibility that Karl and the clerics had done their job poorly.

‘They wouldn’t be that incompetent. Or…’

As expected, the fastest way was to check it personally.

Because such a thing could not be hidden even if they tried to hide it.

‘This has become troublesome. To think I have to check each one individually.’

Although it was bitter, it seemed best to step forward personally.

‘Even if we end up not finding it, it won’t be a problem.’

Already, various buildings belonging to Kane, which had already been licensed through Kaiser, were being constructed all over the Empire.

One of them must surely be a part of the plan.

When the time came, all he had to do was blow up all suspected locations.

‘So even if we cannot find it, it is not much of a problem, but…’

Still, it was strange that there was no Magic Tower located in the most important place, the Imperial Capital.

Rashid immediately left his office and began to personally visit the various construction sites located in the Imperial Capital.

It took several days.

Since he traveled around quite a few construction sites.

However.

‘There really is none. Not a single place is suspicious.’

It was the result obtained from suffering for several days.

‘They were all normal construction sites.’

There were no Dharma Mages, and only skilled workers were guarding the construction sites.

Nor were there any structures like a Magic Tower underground.

‘Strange. Since this is the first time such a case has happened.’

After checking the last location.

Rashid stood on the street for a moment and pondered other possibilities.

‘Could it be?’

A single possibility came to mind.

However, it was impossible to go and inspect here.

No, in fact, there was no need to inspect it.

Since it was already built.

‘Does he plan to utilize what already exists?’

Even if they did not build one, a Magic Tower was already built in the Imperial Capital.

Since it was established in the form of a university.

‘How absurd. But if there is nothing specifically being built, that must be it.’

Rashid thought about why he would use the existing university instead of building a Magic Tower.

‘Could it be… he was short on funds?’

Tampering with Kane’s funding source was a first in this playthrough.

It was something that happened because of the greed to buy government bonds cheaply.

‘Indeed, the most crucial structure of the Grand Transmutation Circle is the Magic Tower of the Imperial Capital located at the center.’

Naturally, the construction cost of the Magic Tower built in the Imperial Capital would be the largest.

Thus, it appeared that Kane, whose financial power had become insufficient, decided to utilize the existing Magic Tower.

If he truly intended to use the Magic Tower Academy in his plan, that is.

‘I will have to blow that place up when the time comes. Since I must blow up everything suspicious.’

* * *

The Golden Age Party Central Headquarters located in the Imperial Capital.

Kaiser was having an absolutely miserable time because of someone following him around like a leech.

The party leadership was in an atmosphere of implicitly congratulating him, saying he had got a lover.

But that was an easygoing thought only for those who did not know the reality.

—I feel languid.

His voice echoing in his head was extremely annoying.

Because he felt like he was with a cross-dressing man for some reason.

Zodiac, who had removed his black bamboo hat onto the table, was lying comfortably on a long couch sofa, using Kaiser’s thigh as a pillow.

Very comfortably, as if it were his own home.

—Why are you silent?

Kaiser did not hide his discomfort.

“No, how long do you plan on following me around like this? I am also someone with a lot of work to do.”

—What meaning is there in such trivial matters?

He was a monster in human guise.

It was not just once or twice that he had been frightened out of his wits by the thought that he could die if he made a single mistake.

‘This is driving me crazy. I cannot even kick him out.’

To shake off this monster, he needed a suitable excuse.

Thus, while Kaiser was looking for an excuse, his gaze happened to rest on the long sword he was carrying.

It was an object that looked unusual even at a glance.

The blade was slightly curved, and it looked like an Eastern demonic blade of considerable length.

Since it was carried by Zodiac, it must have a name.

As his gaze lingered in curiosity, the sound transmission was heard.

—Would you like to touch it?

He made the offer, somehow knowing that Kaiser was looking.

“That…?”

It was the same for chefs.

Swordsmen also never carelessly showed or let others touch the swords they handled.

That would be the same even for an otherworldly being.

“Is it really okay to hand over the weapon you handle to others so carelessly? I might not be a swordsman, but I know at least that much.”

—It is fine. Because you are harmless.

Just how harmless did he perceive him to be?

He even showed the complacency of unhesitatingly handing over the weapon he equipped.

“Hahaha…”

Though he laughed awkwardly.

He could not help but feel displeased for no reason.

“Its size is considerable. Won’t I be unable to even lift it?”

Since permission was given, he touched Zodiac’s long sword without hesitation.

The sense of weight was substantial.

“Does this also have a name? It looks like a renowned blade.”

—It is the Black Dragon Blade. It was made by grinding the fang of the Black Dragon King. I bit that guy to death, you see.

He was definitely a monster.

“To make it by grinding an enemy’s tooth… That is very chilling.”

—Would you like to try drawing it? If you draw it, I will give you a reward.

“A reward… It is so heavy that I cannot even lift it. I will just give up.”

—Hahaha! I told you, you are harmless.

Zodiac grabbed the scabbard and flicked it, showing the blade of the Black Dragon Blade.

—I will draw it for you. Inspect it to your heart’s content.

“I am not very interested. Rather than that, could you just leave? I am serious. I also have my own life.”

Zodiac slightly raised the corners of his mouth.

—Didn’t I tell you? It is the first time I have met someone with the talent to tickle me with their three-inch tongue.

—Keep babbling. So that my ears tickle.

What Rashid said was exactly right.

This monster in human guise seemed to be sticking around because he really found him cute.

‘Fine, if that is your wish.’

Kaiser infused the power of his Authority into his words.

“It seems you are not someone of this world. There must a reason why you came here. What is that reason?”

—There is no need for you to know. Yes, tickle me like that.

“Did you cross over without any reason at all?”

—How could that be? There is a reason for everything.

“You have a reason, but… you do not particularly step forward, and all you do is give orders to the Dharma Mage Division that comes to visit.”

This was indeed a question.

With the power he possessed, he could have handled things in an instant.

“If you stepped forward personally, wouldn’t the work you want be finished quickly? At least it seems that way.”

—There is no difference between there and here. When lesser creatures are floundering, why should I bother to intervene?

“It seems you are some Immortal.”

—Do you know of Immortals?

Zodiac raised his body and met Kaiser’s eyes.

The golden eyes were extremely fascinating, yet they also held a terror that froze one’s instincts.

‘Oops. I made a slip of the tongue.’

However, he knew how to fix it.

“There are also things called Immortals here. They are those who advance to the heavens to reach a higher status.”

Zodiac did not know this world.

Since he was an otherworldly being.

Therefore, it was enough to just make something up.

“So I asked, wondering if it was similar.”

Zodiac lowered his body again.

—How interesting. To think there was something similar here as well.

One thing was certain.

Even Zodiac could not be free from his Authority.

He might have kept him by his side because he was amusing and harmless.

But that was a mistake.

“By the way. That person, Professor Kane. Although I have been watching him since a while ago.”

Driving a wedge began.

“His intentions are a bit suspicious. He invited us to a club to help each other, but have you ever thought that he might have a hidden agenda?”

Since he was lying down using Kaiser’s thigh as a pillow.

Kaiser could not see his face, but.

Zodiac was definitely smiling.

—Perhaps so.

“I am a person who extremely loathes being used. How much did you hear from Professor Kane? Have you heard what it is that he wants?”

—I heard that he wants to reach the truth.

Kaiser was not ignorant about Kane either.

Even if he did not know the one lying in front of him now, he had captured Kane himself before.

“The truth… How does he say he will reach that?”