Chapter 408
Harriet wanted to distance herself from Reinhardt.
However, she knew that the best way to sort out her complicated feelings was to immerse herself in something.
When she memorized complex magical formulas or faced difficult problems, her distracting thoughts would disappear. Harriet often cleared her mind through study and research.
So Harriet devoted herself to her research.
Even the research, the warp gate study leading to another world that Reinhardt had suggested, was miserable. But it was the only thing Harriet could cling to.
When her duties at the temple were finished, Harriet headed to the royal palace.
Studying the warp gate system in the archives of the Royal Magic Department was originally Reinhardt's idea, but Harriet had also become interested in it.
The magical system, built up over a long time.
Understanding the vast system that countless archmages had worked on was an eye-opening experience in itself.
Warp gate research required a basic understanding of dimensional magic. So Harriet had raised her understanding to a level where she could potentially develop a small-scale gate system herself.
Due to recent events, the atmosphere around the temple had changed significantly.
"The hero is…"
"It would be great if he came out of the temple…"
There were quite a few more people milling around the temple.
The reason was none other than to see Reinhardt and Ellen.
Just as Reinhardt and Ellen gained fame inside the temple and people followed them around, there were people stationed outside the temple as well.
Most people didn't even know what Reinhardt and Ellen looked like, so even if the two came out of the temple, they wouldn't be recognized. The temple guards kept an eye on the crowd, just in case they caused a commotion.
"The reincarnation of Artorious…"
There were people who made incomprehensible remarks. Harriet had heard of the strange cult that believed in the reincarnation of Ragan Artorious.
Could those people be gathered here? Did they believe the strange rumors that Reinhardt was the reincarnation of Artorious?
Harriet could not understand the oddity of these people.
But there was a result.
The hope of humanity.
Reinhardt and Ellen, and Olivia, who had somehow become such existences.
She felt small and insignificant.
There was no reason to feel insignificant, but when faced with something so immense, it was natural to lose confidence.
So Harriet decided to give up.
She walked past the crowd and headed towards the royal palace.
—---
Upon arriving at the Royal Magic Department, Harriet noticed an unusual atmosphere and tilted her head.
In front of the research materials reading room, numerous magicians were huddled together, watching a pile of books.
"Ah… This method…"
"Amazing…"
"Where did this come from…?"
A considerable amount of magical books. The magicians examining the materials in front of them appeared to be high-ranking officials of the Magic Department, not just low-level staff.
Harriet frequented the magical library, but she wasn't particularly close to the royal magicians. Seeing that they were in the middle of an important conversation, Harriet headed straight for the reading room she usually visited.
Harriet had almost no acquaintances among the magicians in the library. Everyone knew that she, the princess, had royal permission to conduct important research, so no one approached her to strike up a conversation.
Her only acquaintances were the entrance manager controlling the front desk and the librarian in charge of the eighth reading room.
The young magician before her had helped Harriet with advice on understanding dimensional magic or finding the necessary materials.
He served as a research assistant and advisor, explaining things like imaginary dimensions.
Of course, he didn't initiate conversation unless Harriet needed help.
Although they didn't know each other very well, Harriet knew this magician was quite friendly. He would provide detailed but concise explanations about areas Harriet was unfamiliar with, never making her ask a question twice.
She had only learned his name recently.
Roswin, Harriet recalled.
However, the usually friendly librarian, who greeted her warmly, seemed to be completely unaware of Harriet's arrival and just sat there, staring blankly.
Seeing no reason to pretend to know him, Harriet cautiously sat down at a distance, and he flinched, apparently having heard her.
"Ah, Your Highness, have you arrived?"
"Ah... just now."
It seemed he had been preoccupied with something, not even hearing Harriet's entrance. Finally regaining his senses, he returned to his usual slightly smiling expression.
"It's been a while since your last visit."
"I've been dealing with some matters."
It was more about emotional difficulties than actual problems, but Harriet didn't bother to explain.
"By the way, it's noisier outside than usual."
Remembering Reinhardt's face as she spoke, Harriet forcibly changed the subject.
Upon seeing Harriet's curiosity, the young magician softly smiled and glanced at the entrance of the reading room.
"Ah, are you referring to that? It seems a large number of rare magical books have been acquired from somewhere. It's not common to discover such a quantity of rare grimoires."
"Grimoires, you say..."
"Yes. The source is confidential for now, but there's a possibility that they were brought from a newly discovered labyrinth in Darkland."
A labyrinth in Darkland.
Harriet tilted her head, as this was the first time she had heard such a story.
"A labyrinth?"
"Yes, it hasn't been fully explored yet... There appear to be a few adventurers who have returned with these rare magical books. It's presumed to be the tomb of a lich, and although we don't know which lich, it's expected to be a very powerful one. Of course, with that many grimoires discovered, the tomb exploration might already be over. But still, it's quite rare..."
Roswin's demeanor seemed a bit enigmatic as he concluded his speech.
He had always been thought of as simply diligent and intelligent, but now, there was clearly something mysterious about him.
"I don't know if it'll be my turn, but I'd like to take a look if I can. Although, I doubt it'll happen…"
It was hard to describe, but there was a strange feeling about him.
Although the nature of the spark in his eyes was unknown, there was something in them that seemed to captivate people's hearts.
However, for a mage, such a look wasn't all that unusual.
It was only natural for a mage to be interested in rare magical tomes.
But the Tomb of the Lich.
A large number of scrolls, believed to have been discovered within.
There was no way of knowing for sure, but it was highly likely that it contained extremely powerful magic, as yet unknown to the world.
A dangerous power.
But also, a powerful one.
After a moment of contemplation, Harriet suddenly realized.
If one possessed excessively dangerous knowledge, they would merely become an excessively dangerous mage.
Harriet repeated in her mind the words the Grand Duke of Saint Owan often said as a habit.
"I'm curious. Just where did they find such precious magic…?"
Harriet couldn't shake the feeling that the mage's eyes, as he spoke of the magical tome, were a bit… off.
Where on earth did they get it from?... Where…
A barely audible murmur sent a chill down Harriet's spine.
—---
White Palace, Arunaria.
"Your Highness, the documents you requested last time have arrived from the Association."
"Hmm… I see."
The Grand Duke of Saint Owan took out the report brought by the messenger in his palace office. As he read through the report, he commented in passing.
"Is it difficult to get the original?"
"Yes, they said it's not classified as top-secret, but it's considered the Association's property."
"How ridiculous. Claiming ownership over magic they didn't even develop themselves."
The report the Grand Duke was reading contained a list of books and a brief description of their contents.
A theory on the simplification of magic formulas for increased efficiency in fire magic composition.
Methods for improving and increasing mana density.
Optimization of mana utilization within the body.
Although the titles of the books did not exactly reflect these theories, the contents revealed that analyzing the recorded magic had led to the discovery of such theories.
Whether these theories would actually be effective or not was unknown, and the Grand Duke, who had not seen the magical tome himself, could not tell if they were truly valid.
"A labyrinth believed to be the Tomb of the Lich… And from the magical tomes that adventurers have roughly picked up and brought out, they can extract this much magical theory…"
There were countless unexplored regions in Darkland, and numerous dungeons that had not yet been properly explored. It was impossible to know about all these dungeons, unexplored regions, and hazardous areas.
The recently discovered Tomb of the Lich was one such unexplored region. Ordinarily, it wouldn't have been an issue significant enough to be reported to the Grand Duke.
The important factor was the handful of magical tomes brought out by the adventurers who had barely managed to escape after wandering through the tomb.
Magic books are divided into two categories: theory books and spellbooks.
Four types of spellbooks.
Although it wouldn't completely overturn all the magic theories used so far, it was enough to derive significant improvements.
However, it was a tremendous discovery to have a more efficient method written in the magic books than the methods used so far, not to mention the inherent value of the magic books themselves and their magical worth.
The Tomb of the Lich.
It wasn't entirely unraveled, but a few magic books, nearly by-products, contained such content.
The last line of the report read as follows:
-The association considers the possibility that an Archlich may exist in the dungeon.
The Archlich.
A legendary being, as universally nonexistent as dragons, a creature of fantasy.
The association had to make such an irrational judgment because no one knew what was truly dormant within the Tomb of the Lich discovered this time.
How long had it studied magic to possess such spells?
Then what could be contained in the real vision of that Lich?
However, it was difficult to identify the labyrinth's true nature within the Lich's dungeon, and both the association and guilds were not yet directly involved due to the potential danger.
Mages were generally cautious, and so were the archdukes.
Adventurers were akin to rainwater seeping in for money.
If they risked their lives to retrieve the magic books, the association, guilds, or even archdukes could simply buy them. There was no reason to take the risk themselves.
However.
If the magic books were acquired by the guild or association, the archduke would only hear about the discoveries made. Mages were so closed-off that even those in the guilds or associations were reluctant to share their visions with one another.
It was fortunate that they even informed mages outside their group of their accomplishments, however superficially.
"Hmm…"
It was best to claim it before it was taken away.
However, the association, guild, and perhaps even the royal family might be interested in this as well.
If not adventurers, but the Magic Association, the Mage Guild, or the royal family formed a group for dungeon exploration, it would be unraveled, even if it was the Archlich's tomb.
What truly lies in this tomb?
Dangerous knowledge creates only dangerous mages.
And.
The labyrinth, undoubtedly containing numerous dangerous spells, would give birth to countless dangerous mages.
The true nature of the labyrinth must be discovered.
To prevent dangerous magic from being unleashed upon the world, if nothing else.
"Tell the mage squad to prepare."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The archduke was planning to go out after a long time.
