Chapter 45. Ark
Verden spoke very simply.
He told them, instead of Mort, he would pay the money, so they should stay still. And when he lightly threatened them with telekinesis, Bedin and Nis shook their heads so hard it looked like they might fall off.
The loan shark problem ended with that.
When he returned to the workshop, Mort was there, cleaning.
"Ah! You have come! Mage! Please, please, come inside."
Mort brought a chair and seated Verden.
He hurriedly boiled tea and brought it over, but the condition of the teaware was so poor that Verden did not touch it. Clearing his throat, Mort opened his mouth.
"Ehem, Condor sent someone. A mage named Asher will be coming, and I was told to treat him with the utmost respect. Haha, you should have told me earlier..."
For Mort, the Con Merchant Guild was an excellent broker.
Thanks to them, he could simply craft what was requested, and money would come in, without the hassle of quarreling with people.
Without them, Mort would not have been able to run a proper business because of his personality, and he would have ended up on the street.
So when they told him to treat Verden with utmost respect, he had no choice but to comply. And the fact that he was a mage also weighed on him.
Watching Mort, who was smiling awkwardly, Verden furrowed his brow.
"Then, are you now taking orders?"
"Of course! Just tell me what kind of magic item you want."
What Verden wanted was a staff and a robe.
The staff had to be sturdy enough to be used as a blunt weapon, and capable of storing more magic power. Within his current budget, no other features would be of much use to Verden.
After all, his skills far surpassed the effects of any magic item.
"A staff that can be used as a weapon, huh. Understood. Then, what about the robe...?"
"Please make it one that maintains body temperature. And if it is durable, all the better."
"Then I will need some magical beast leather. I'll imbue it with some effects as well... good. Then, altogether, how much will that be..."
Mort put on his glasses and tapped on the calculator.
"Material costs, 31.2 million Elk, and labor costs, 13.3 million Elk..."
"Labor costs?"
"That is! But, since you paid my debt for me and prevented me from getting beaten half to death, I'll only charge you the price of the materials."
Mort glanced at him nervously.
The total amount was more or less within the expected range. When Verden nodded, Mort let out a sigh of relief. After paying the balance, Verden left the workshop.
It would take about three weeks, Mort had said, so he would have to wait patiently.
In any case, there was still a mountain of things to do. Verden stopped by a nearby smithy to buy tools, and then headed to the inn.
***
Time passed.
During that time, Verden studied Harkan's magic, while also dismantling and analyzing the compass he had taken from Black Hour.
Every piece of it was complex and abstruse, so it was never easy from the start. Still, by shutting himself in his room and focusing, he was able to grasp a few clues.
Gray magic power resonated, leaving afterimages.
Then, a flash of light burst for a moment, before vanishing without sound.
'Pattern number 871, failure. Then the next...'
The attribute created by Harkan, which Verden had named the starlight attribute, reacted differently depending on the pattern left behind by the afterimages.
He had tried analyzing the patterns based on Harkan's memories, but since their main mana circuits differed, it was of little help.
So he tested patterns at random.
Even the slightest change in position was recognized as an entirely different pattern, so the number of possibilities was close to infinite. Already, he had tried nearly a thousand times, but still had not obtained any meaningful results.
'Still, at least I finished the other one, so that's a relief.'
He had finished analyzing the compass.
The complicated mechanical structure was designed to connect the magic circle and magic stone within it. Among these, what was especially important was the structure of the magic circle.
'To use mana amplification in this way, how ingenious.'
Though the magic power of living beings might look similar, each had an entirely different structure, and inherently tended to return to their rightful owner. The greater the quantity, the stronger the tendency.
After spreading out mana detection, it was effortlessly reabsorbed without further effort, for this very reason.
This compass took advantage of that principle.
By inserting a magic stone and trapping magic inside, the magic circle amplified it. The magic imprisoned inside naturally took on a unique trait, and the needle of the compass, connected to it, pointed in that direction.
At first glance, the principle looked simple, but the construction to achieve it was extremely complex.
At least he had copied the magic circle perfectly, so now it was another task to analyze it.
One homework solved, another added.
'But when am I going to finish reassembling this.'
Hundreds of parts.
He had laid them out in order so he wouldn't forget, but it still felt overwhelming. Still, there was no other choice. With a sigh, he picked up the tools and began reassembling.
Finally, when he inserted a magic stone imbued with his own magic power, it operated correctly.
Looking outside, he suddenly noticed the sun had risen.
It had already been high in the sky when he started, too. Looking in the mirror, he saw the fatigue written clearly on his face.
"...I need to take a break."
He needed fresh air.
Verden left the inn and entered a quiet café, where he cleared his head with tea on the terrace. Soon, his magic items would be completed, and it would be time to leave Briente.
As he was gathering his thoughts, someone spoke to him from the side.
"There you are. I've been looking for you."
Turning his head, Verden saw a black-haired man in a suit standing there.
It was someone he had never seen before. At first he thought it was a mistake, but there was no one else nearby.
"...Who are you?"
"Ah, I should have introduced myself sooner. My name is Listener."
The man smiled.
"I came from the Ark."
***
Ark. The group hostile to Gluttony.
At that name, Verden's fatigue instantly lifted.
On edge, Verden stared at Listener, activating his mana circuits. Mana gleamed in his eyes, and Listener waved his hand.
"There is no need to be so wary, Sir Asher. I did not come to harm you. On the contrary, since you killed Gluttony's Doctor, we can consider ourselves in the same boat. You know what they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend."
"Why did you come to find me?"
"I will explain as we talk. May I join you?"
When Verden remained silent, Listener took it as agreement and sat down across from him.
With a relaxed manner, he even ordered a drink, then looked at Verden.
"Well then, where would be the best place to start?"
"Start with why you approached me."
The mana gathered in Verden's hand sparked.
And Listener knew well, that it was not just for show.
"We have been pursuing the Doctor for years. But, since he was so good at hiding, we could not find him. Even within Gluttony, he was such a radical and arrogant figure, it was nearly impossible to gain information. But not long ago, we suddenly learned that this Doctor had been killed by some unknown mage. And that his research journals had all been burned to ashes."
Verden had, in effect, done the very task Ark had set out to accomplish.
As a small reward, they had thoroughly blocked the information, ensuring that it would be delayed as much as possible, before reaching Gluttony.
Verden narrowed his eyes.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Just as I said. Including Martes and the surrounding cities, we eliminated all those belonging to Gluttony. So that no harm would come to you, Sir Asher. Because of that, Gluttony has hidden itself even deeper, but compared to the death of the Doctor, that is a trivial matter."
After that, the Ark kept Verden under watch from a distance.
They did not monitor him directly, but moved in his tracks from behind. There were too many sudden turns, so at times they lost him, but in the end, they managed to find him like this.
"..."
Hearing those words, Verden's expression twisted.
Having his movements traced without knowing it. In the case of Pale, he had understood, since Pale was an information broker, and was someone useful to him.
But the Ark was different.
Being trailed by an organization whose true identity he did not even know, and Listener's attitude of brazenly boasting about it in front of him, while acting relaxed, Verden found it extremely unpleasant.
Even if it was true that they had blocked Gluttony for his sake.
"Sir Asher...?"
"Quiet."
Whooosh! Mana surged up from Verden's body.
Mana so dense it became tangible, taking on form, and exerting real physical force on the surroundings.
Crack.
The glass of the café cracked, and the ground trembled faintly. The vast mana was focused solely on Listener.
Caught completely off guard, faced with that oppressive mana, the smile vanished from Listener's face for a moment.
Verden's blue eyes gazed coldly at him.
"I don't know how you managed to follow me, but I'll say this once, and only once. From this moment on, it would be best if you stop prying into my steps."
Because it was considerably unpleasant.
Verden's voice dug into his ears.
Listener nodded solemnly.
"...Understood."
Hearing his answer, Verden withdrew his mana.
The crushing pressure of mana disappeared, but the atmosphere remained heavy. Listener eased his stiff expression, and smiled once more.
"If I have offended you first, then I apologize. I promise you, the same thing will not happen again."
Listener bowed his head deeply.
There was no evidence to believe his words, but even if he were to write some memorandum promising not to tail him, it would not have any real effect.
'Still, I can't just fling magic at him out of the blue.'
Since he had given a warning, for now, he would let it pass.
Of course, if they crossed the line later, he would deal with it in his own way.
Listener carefully asked.
"Then... may we continue our conversation?"
"As you please."
"Thank you."
Clap!
Listener clapped his hands to lighten the mood.
"So, to summarize, within the Ark, there are many who look favorably upon you, Sir Asher. Not only because you eliminated the Doctor, but especially because of your path."
Listener continued.
"Sir Asher, you are growing stronger, step by step."
"And what does that have to do with the Ark?"
"Gluttony puts forth the outdated ideology that through consumption, humans can evolve into something greater, but we of the Ark are different. Our ideology is closer to the root."
Humans, are creatures that adapt.
Existences that change according to their environment.
"Humans grow stronger through trials. This is the Ark's unchanging belief. From that perspective, you, Sir Asher, are someone who fits that belief. If possible, we would recommend you join the Ark right away."
"I refuse."
He had not even joined the Adventurer's Guild, so there was no reason to step into a group of unclear nature.
Despite Verden's firm refusal, Listener did not lose his smile.
"So then. The fact that you fit our ideology, that is the reason you came to me?"
"Indeed. I also take part in recruiting candidates within the Ark. If I find a suitable talent, I cannot simply overlook them. In any case, I knew you had no intention of joining the Ark right now. The real reason I came here today, is because I had something to deliver."
Listener pushed aside his empty glass, and took out a small accessory box.
Inside, there was a silver bracelet inlaid with a blue gem.
"It is a high-grade piece from the 'Recovery' series. It accelerates mana regeneration, as well as recovery of stamina and wounds. Though modest, it is our way of thanking you for dealing with the Doctor in our stead."
Verden looked at the bracelet.
A high-grade piece of the Recovery series would cost at least seventy million Elk. Because the means to restore health and wounds through mana consumption were extremely limited, its market value was quite high. Even if its effect was meager compared to divine power.
Instead of simply accepting it, Verden asked Listener.
"This seems excessive. Is being a person who fits your ideology really that important to the Ark?"
"That is part of it, but above all, it is because we wish to maintain a good relationship with you, Sir Asher. You are one of the rare few who have stood against Gluttony. And perhaps, you may do so again in the future."
Listener rose from his seat.
"Then, since I have delivered the item, I will take my leave. However! If, by chance, you ever feel inclined to speak with our Ark, then no later than one month from now, come to the city in the northwest, Lorian."
"Lorian?"
"Yes, Lorian. The city of the Demon's Forest. We will be waiting there, so we would be most grateful if you come. Ah, and if there are any other questions you may have, I will answer them now."
A question, huh.
Verden thought for a moment, then spoke.
"Why do the Ark and Gluttony oppose each other? Is it simply a difference in ideology?"
"Because the goals those ideologies point toward, are different."
Gluttony's purpose was to create a superior new humanity, to erase the old.
But the Ark would never abandon humanity. What they sought was someone who, having overcome countless trials, could become the captain to lead humanity forward.
"That is our ideology."
With those words, Listener departed.
Thus ended Verden's sudden encounter with the Ark.