“Are you sure about that?”Evelyn asked, her expression awkward.
“I don’t know much about spell formulas, but building a new magic system is something only grand masters who have already reached level 8 or are challenging ascension can do.”
“It won’t be easy. But…” Lenok knew that it was precisely because it was such a difficult task that he had to take on the challenge at this point.
To fill Lenok’s vessel to the brim and make it overflow. He understood that he had to walk a path different from others in both method and speed.
The knowledge of barrier magic that Lenok inherited from his conversation with Jintun only added to that conviction. The knowledge of barrier magic, which systematizes the truth of spell formulas within a barrier, is undoubtedly the most suitable tool for completing a new magic system.
His creation magic, which he had only used to directly implement the necessary magic. Until now, he had simply put together the bare minimum and used it as needed, but now it was different.
The common magic that had existed within Lenok from the beginning. The countless unique magics he had acquired while living in this city. The alchemy of the old world he had taken from the drug lord and the barrier magic of the ascender [a being who has transcended normal limitations]. He would gather all those rules and orders, which he had only borrowed the forms and principles of, and arrange them into laws most suitable for Lenok.
To throw away the magic system that exists in the existing hierarchy and build a completely new order within himself. He realized that this was the way he could reach level 8 with his talent.
Evelyn, who had been looking up at Lenok for a long time, nodded.
“…I see.”
“If it goes well, I might be able to teach you magic then.”
“Ahaha, to me? That’s really something to be grateful for.” Evelyn burst into laughter at Lenok’s absurd remark. Lenok smiled slightly at her reaction and shrugged.
“It’s not an impossible thing to say. If I complete a new magic system, it means I can perfectly understand it and pass it on… Of course, whether you have the magical aptitude for it is another matter.”
“Well, I haven’t really thought about needing magic now…” Evelyn, who had been pondering, clapped her hands and smiled brightly.
“If you make a magic that keeps vegetables from rotting forever, I might consider becoming your disciple.”
“……” It was pointless to say it now, but she was definitely a consistent person in many ways.
The two then got off at the terminal near the megacity and packed their things. A crowded train station. A terminal that was incomparably larger and more bustling than the small city they had just boarded the train from.
Lenok nodded as he confirmed that his cell phone, which had been out of service for almost a month, was picking up signals, and unread messages and call logs were coming in. Hundreds of texts and calls from Jenny. Even a few from Jordan. There were also calls from the cartel, the citadel, and other brokers.
He glanced at Evelyn and saw that she didn’t look too good either, as if she was experiencing something similar. Evelyn also met Lenok’s eyes and sighed softly.
“It seems like we don’t have much time to rest.”
“You too?” She gave a wry smile, took a light breath, and then forced a smile.
“I’d love to have a glass of that broker’s whiskey with you, but… I think we should part ways here.”
“…Okay.” Lenok nodded and then stared at Evelyn, who was about to turn away. Her shimmering black hair swayed as if it would disappear into the crowd at any moment.
Lenok, who had been staring blankly at her back, opened his mouth without realizing it and spoke to Evelyn again.
“I appreciate what you did this time.”
“Huh?” Lenok slowly said, staring straight into Evelyn’s green eyes as she turned around.
“I know that the reason you decided to become a Watcher for the Azure Eye isn’t just one thing.”
“……”
“I thought we had helped each other several times while getting to know each other, but this time I owe you. I don’t know how I should repay you…” Lenok’s words trailed off. Evelyn had already approached him and was looking up at him silently.
After staring at Lenok silently for a long time, Evelyn slowly raised her hand. Thump. Her hand pressed down on Lenok’s head. Lenok lowered his head without a word.
Evelyn said with a smile. “That’s enough, the thanks.”
“……” What was Evelyn thinking as she reached out to Lenok in the train station where people were coming and going? Evelyn, who had been gently stroking Lenok’s head, lowered her hand and shook her head with a bright smile.
“I’m busy, so I think I should go first. See you next time.” She turned around without waiting for an answer. She disappeared like smoke into the crowd, holding her cell phone to her ear in the distance.
Lenok stared at her back as she quickly disappeared into the crowd for a long time. [Tsk, tsk, tsk…] Until a sound like a tongue-click came from inside his coat.
The corners of Lenok’s mouth twitched as he opened the collar of his coat.
“…Dabi?” [To be so caught up in meaningless human affairs that you forget about a smart spirit like me. What’s going on?] The fox cub, who had only put out its front paws from the inside pocket of the coat, turned its head away from Lenok.
[I thought Master was a rational being unlike other humans, but I think I was wrong about you.]
“I’m sorry about that. No, more than that, how did you… without me summoning you?” [Well, maybe it’s because Master was desperately calling for me unconsciously?]
“…Did you connect to the network and load data as we got closer to the city? Now you can just summon and reverse summon at will.” Lenok clicked his tongue as he realized how Dabi had appeared next to him without his consent.
After installing backup data in the Balkan City government network in advance, Dabi summoned himself using that data information as a trigger. It was possible because Lenok and Dabi had spent a long time in this city and had become familiar with the network, but It was now difficult to gauge the extent of the authority granted to this cyber spirit, who was growing along with Lenok’s achievements.
[Dabi doesn’t know anything.] Lenok chuckled at Dabi’s attempt to avoid his gaze.
“Let me tell you, I wasn’t forgetting about you. I was just putting it off because I thought it would be difficult to check the accumulated messages if I fed you more cell phone batteries.”
[Then, shall we quickly return to the nostalgic toad… no, our home?] Dabi’s answer revealed his blatant intentions. But Lenok smiled and slowly shook his head.
“That might not be up to us.” [What do you mean?]
“What I mean is…” Instead of answering, Lenok slowly started walking out of the terminal. The sunlight poured through the glass ceiling. The warm air that he felt as soon as he opened the door and stepped outside.
But apart from that, the scenery of the street in front of the terminal was truly desolate. It wasn’t because the development near the terminal wasn’t finished yet. The downtown area and the city center, which should have been completed a long time ago, were all smashed and collapsed by someone’s power.
The intense clash of magical power that he felt as soon as he came out of the terminal. KWA-AAANG!! At the same time, a long pillar of water rose into the sky thousands of meters away and then disappeared. Lenok sighed lightly as he looked up at it.
“It means I might have to go see Jenny right away.” The megacity, a month after the lifting of the Law of Restraint. The chaos that was happening in Balkan seemed to be spreading much bigger and louder than Lenok had expected.
* * *
As soon as he entered District 49, he could hear voices from everywhere. “Look, it’s Ban.” “The Iron Fortress has returned…” “It’s true. To show up at this time…” “So the rumors were true? Then he really intends to participate in the war…” Lenok naturally frowned at the unusual gazes.
“…This doesn’t feel good.” It had been a long time since he had returned with Ban’s face or heard the name Iron Fortress, but he noticed that there was something different mixed in the gazes directed at him. Rather than being wary or afraid, it was strong curiosity. Rather, they seemed curious about his reaction or attitude.
It was nothing to be drawn to attention with Ban’s face now, but it seemed like he needed to figure out the situation properly. With that thought, Lenok immediately headed to Jenny’s bar in District 49. As he opened the door and went downstairs, all eyes were immediately focused on Lenok.
Jenny, who had been glaring at the shaker with her hands on her hips, jumped up with a startled expression. “Ban…!!” “It’s been a while.” As Lenok nodded with a faint smile, Jenny quickly approached Lenok and whispered.
“What the hell happened in the Northern Continent…! Do you know it took you almost a month?” “It’s a long story to explain.” Lenok answered as he pulled a chair nearby and sat down, then picked up the whiskey that Jordan poured for him.
“I’m glad you’re back safe. Jenny was very worried.” “Is that so?” While Jordan was taking the necklace, Jenny, who had sat down next to Lenok, said in a quick tone.
“Ban, do you know that one ascender has died recently?” “I know.” “The Sahasra Labyrinth of the Ideological War has collapsed, and not many people know what happened inside. It’s a big topic of conversation even in this chaotic city.”
“……” “Perhaps, do you know about it or are you related to it…” “Wait a minute.” Before answering, Lenok glanced around. As if the gazes that had been focused on him as soon as he entered the bar had been a lie, the customers were chatting among themselves.
But it was obvious that most of them were straining their ears to eavesdrop on the conversation going on at this table. Jenny had probably taken measures to prevent the conversation at this table from leaking out, but even considering that, this was not a story to be told in this place. Lenok raised his glass of whiskey and naturally changed the subject.
“More than that, I’d like to hear about what happened in the megacity.” “Ban?” “I left right after the Law of Restraint was lifted due to the Defense Force’s rebellion, so I don’t know much. I’d like you to explain it to me.” Lenok lowered his voice as he looked around casually.
“Judging by the reactions around us, it’s clear that something is going on, but District 49 is strangely quiet. It feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve seen a street this intact.” It wasn’t for nothing that Lenok felt a strong sense of incongruity when he entered District 49.
District 49 was originally one of the lawless areas where fights, explosions, terrorism, and crimes occurred every day, and there was no place where either the buildings or the streets were not in ruins. But now, the restored buildings on this street were all intact, and despite the grim atmosphere, there were not many fights.
Lenok’s magic detection, which had returned to normal after leaving the Snowfield of the Ascender, accurately grasped the overly quiet situation in District 49. “What’s going on in this city right now?” “I think I can explain that part.” The one who answered Lenok’s words was not Jordan or Jenny, but a man who was sitting next to them, drinking alone.
The way he was drinking alone. His tie was loosened, and his briefcase was thrown on the floor. His hair was somewhat disheveled, and his face was flushed with alcohol. “This is the first time I’ve seen the Iron Fortress of District 49 in person. It’s very different from what I expected.”
The man turned to Lenok with a slight hiccup and smiled faintly. “Even though there aren’t any good pictures of you, I’ve been imagining your face based on the eyewitness accounts.” “What do you mean by explaining?” Lenok chuckled and turned to the man and asked.
“Are you saying you’re one of the people involved in this?” “Hmm, I’m this kind of person.” The man smiled somewhat awkwardly and took out a business card from his pocket and handed it to Lenok. Jenny, who had snatched it in the middle, glared at the man and turned her gaze away.
“The City Government’s Confidential Management Bureau… a place famous as an extraterritorial organization that even the Central Council doesn’t dare to touch. What brings an agency that even city councilors are wary of to our bar?” Jenny said with a bright smile as she tapped the shaker.
“I heard that you’re one of the very few departments that survived the failure of the Black Consumer Project.” “That’s exactly why I came to find the Iron Fortress.” The man smiled with a weak face.
“In this city where the Law of Restraint has been lifted, a new project is about to begin for the first time in decades.”