Chapter 73

The tremors in the ruins grew more intense.

What kind of spell was it that I shattered?

This feels more like something else rather than a collapse...

"Hey, Abel! Quickly, get on my back, come on!"

Maisen called out while crouching.

...I was the one who suggested it first, but it feels even more embarrassing when someone else actively suggests it.

It might have been better that the investigation team was put to sleep.

"Ah... just wait a moment. That beast-type golem, if I repair it a bit, it should be able to move. If I deactivate it once, remove the seal, and then restart it, we can use it as a means of transportation."

"It's fine to be embarrassed now. I know, well... it’s not a very cool situation."

N-no, it’s not about being embarrassed or not, I just thought this way would be faster...

I used wind magic to knock down the beast-type golem that was stuck to the wall.

I removed the part that was leaking magic due to the impact and simplified the control mechanism that was damaged.

This way, it can only perform simple movements, but it should be enough for me to control it.

Using alchemy, I created high-density Hidim Magi Metal and applied it to reinforce and repair the damaged parts.

The Hidim Magi Metal will disperse back into spirits and air in about ten minutes, making the golem unusable, but it should be enough to achieve our goal this time.

Since we don’t have much time, I finished it in about three minutes, so it’s quite rough and there’s plenty of room for improvement, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

"Mechanism Activation"

"Gooooh"

In response to my incantation, the beast-type golem started moving.

"Is it already fixed? In just a moment..."

"Well, basically I just cut it and reconnected it to other parts. It’s quite simplified, and it’s not fully repaired. The power has increased, but the finer details have deteriorated, and it will break again soon because I’m just using magic to cover it up."

"I don’t really understand, but it works, right?"

"I would have preferred to properly repair the control mechanism rather than simplify it. Also, this golem’s magic efficiency wasn’t very good to begin with. Maybe it’s due to the era or the Elven nature... the consumption rate in the magic circulation."

"Ask later! I’ll ask as much as I want later, but for now, just make it move!"

"Right, that’s true."

The cracks in the ruins had spread from the area where I had damaged it with the metal sphere.

The vibrations were getting stronger.

Maisen and I climbed onto the beast-type golem.

I waved my staff, and the golem started running.

"Abel, it might get stuck at the entrance..."

I waved my staff and floated three magic circles.

I don’t need to worry about damaging the ruins anymore, so I can use magic freely.

"Wind Blade"

I fired three blades of wind and destroyed the wall at the exit.

The exit widened, and the beast-type golem leaped through it.

"Phew... Since it can only perform simple movements, it’s a bit troublesome with obstacles. Maisen, did you say something earlier?"

"…N-no, nothing. Hey, if you can break walls so easily, couldn’t you have just bypassed the seal?"

"Huh? Oh, I think I could have done it with brute force. But Eberheid didn’t seem to like it."

"That was just a joke, wasn’t it..."

I don’t think so...

But it did feel like it was brushed off lightly.

"921... 922... 923..."

When we returned to the corridor, Meara was standing there, muttering numbers to herself.

Her expression was dark. She looked scary.

"Ah! F-finally back! Are you okay, Abel? Meara was so worried..."

Meara looked up, apparently noticing the sound of the beast-type golem running.

While explaining the situation to Meara, I activated the other golems one by one.

I had the golems carry the investigation team and had Meara ride the beast-type golem.

During the move, I fired magic to destroy obstacles and narrow passages, choosing the fastest route.

The entire ruins were shaking more violently as we did this.

I led the way out of the ruins, followed by ten golems.

I could see a group of three goblins, who had apparently been hiding, running into the forest.

After getting outside, we took enough distance to avoid being caught in the collapse.

I stopped the golems and had the investigation team members line up.

"We made it... I thought we were going to die..."

Maisen sighed in relief while looking at the ruins.

In the end, what was the God’s Arrow?

A staff... or perhaps a magic-infused arrow as the name suggests.

It must have been dangerous, but I would have liked to see it.

"Abel, what’s that?"

Meara pointed at something in my hand.

"Oh, it’s a piece of the wall."

I caught it when it flew out during the destruction, using magic to reduce its impact.

Still, it’s an unusual mineral.

Eberheid said it was something the elves created through alchemy.

When I experimented by flowing magic into it on my palm, it became slightly lighter.

Does it become less affected by gravity when magic that matches its wavelength flows through it?

No, it’s more accurate to say that it generates buoyancy.

It might be useful for something if applied correctly.

"Huh? Buoyancy?"

It had been nagging at me since I heard the story.

Eberheid said that the elves who fell to the earth two thousand years ago built a fortress to reclaim the Sky Kingdom.

But if that’s the case, what was the point of building a fortress so far from the Sky Kingdom?

I interpreted it as building the fortress to gather the magic stones needed to fire the God’s Arrow, and called it a step to reclaim the Sky Kingdom, but it still didn’t quite make sense.

I turned back to the ruins, thinking it couldn’t be.

The spell patterns carved into the walls of the ruins began to glow, and the doors that were sealed opened on their own.

Then, with a loud explosion, the Zeshum ruins floated high into the sky.