Turning

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Chapter 430

If there were anyone worthy of being the owner of this laboratory, it would likely be the first Duke Tain.

According to what Pruelle and Kishiar had shared earlier, the first Duke Tain was a disciple of Archmage Luma, just like his brothers. Luma often visited him in Tainu, and even though he might not have recognized his disciple's talent, he had acknowledged his research abilities.

There were also speculations about his research content, which was now unknown. Even though its nature was not clear, it was presumed dangerous, so it was thought to have been hidden.

However, even after the existence of the fourth floor was revealed, no such space was found inside.

Since saving those trapped there and capturing Baron Willhem had been the priority, Yuder had postponed thoughts about this particular matter.

Had the time finally come to verify the answer?

As Yuder's gaze surreptitiously shifted toward Kishiar, Kishiar, too, looked back at him with a significant expression. From a small nod, it was felt that they were thinking the same thing.

They finally entered the opened laboratory.

And they encountered an unexpected sight.

'...Just discarded bags? Where is anything that would suggest a laboratory?'

The place was not very spacious. The walls inside, carved out like a dark cave, were filled with various patterns, but that was all. On the otherwise empty floor, old worn-out cloth bags were scattered about.

What, then, had made him decide this was a mage's laboratory?

Crouched down and casually picking up one of the bags, Kanna opened her mouth as if she had realized something.

"This is... recent garbage. Originally, something was inside, and it was brought here and discarded."

"Did you use your ability just now?" Baron Koelt asked in astonishment.

"Yes. Reading this kind of information is my power."

"Remarkable. I would like to hear more if it weren't for the current situation... Anyway, there's no need to worry about these. They are presumed to be the trash that Baron Willhem left behind. What's important is over here."

With a scholar's curiosity, Baron Koelt quickly refocused and pointed to the full wall of patterns.

"Would you like to figure out what it is?"

"Symbols for tactical game cards," Kishiar answered quietly as soon as he entered, having been staring at the wall.

"Correct. These are symbols representing each card. In the very old days, the cards were not made in standardized forms as they are now. Any material marked with those symbols became that card. According to stories passed down in my family, the first Duke Tain enjoyed this very much."

Only then did the patterns on the wall become familiar to Yuder. Although adorned with many decorative elements, they were indeed in almost the same form as the symbols carved on the underside of the tactical game cards.

After scanning all of them, Yuder noticed something strange.

'The game uses a total of 24 cards. The symbols drawn here are also 24, the same. But why are the numbers of types slightly different?'

Tactical games used 24 cards of 8 types. The most numerous common cards, 'Yung,' were 10, followed by five different cards with 2 to 3 each, and two cards controlling the game representing the ruler.

However, the symbols on the wall diverged slightly from these established rules. Some types were represented by four cards, while others had just one.

"Baron Willhem likely discovered this place but probably didn't think much of these symbols, using it merely as a secret storage. Those who might have known about this place before also seemed not to have delved deeply into this particular aspect."

However, Baron Koelt, who had a deep interest in history and had been conducting research, recognized it as an old military cipher at a glance.

"It's a code used a long time ago. If you decipher it, it means, 'Return the king in his entirety,'" he said.

"Here, there's only one piece of the king's card 'Imum.' But when only one piece of the priest's card 'Shen' remains, it can temporarily become Imum."

"That's right. And here, there are only two of the priest's cards drawn instead of the original three. So when one of them was covered like this..."

Baron Koelt agreed with Kishiar's words and covered one of the symbols with his hand. At that moment, the symbols, filled with the blood from a wound on his hand, emitted light, and the inside, which had appeared empty like a storeroom, suddenly vibrated without a sound.

Yuder reflexively kept an eye on the surroundings, worrying that Kishiar or others might be in danger.

Moments later, facilities that had not existed just before appeared before their eyes.

Piles of paper that had been written on and drawn on countless times, a title-less book, a dried-up pen, and various other tools were revealed. Kanna let out a soft voice, saying,

"My goodness. It's a real mage's laboratory."

"You wouldn't believe how surprised I was when I saw it briefly earlier," Ever murmured, just before Kishiar, who had stepped forward, picked up the closest book.

"Is this a diary? It's written in a jumble of Gore script." (a constructed language)

"Yes, it's clear that a mage wrote this. The original owner might have been the first Duke of Tain, although I can't confirm it as we haven't read it all."

Baron Koelt was aware that the first Duke of Tain had been a mage. Being fluent in Gore, he easily interpreted the text.

"Most of it is about research. I also discovered that studies on monsters were conducted here."

"Monsters?"

"The majority of these piled papers contain drawings that describe observed monsters. It seems like captured monsters were likely kept and studied in this dungeon."

"Interesting."

Glancing at the heap of rolled-up papers, Kishiar nodded. The dungeon's secret was finally being uncovered.

'Studying monsters is still a controversial topic, so it makes sense that such research would be hidden during that time.'

Enon had mentioned that the Archmage Luma had been secretly researching ways to manipulate time. If the one who conducted research on monsters here was the first Duke of Tain, it seemed unlikely that there was any connection between the two.

It was slightly disappointing, as Yuder had hoped to learn more about Luma's research.

'For now, I'll have to inform Enon…'

"What was the purpose of this research, according to the text?"

Kishiar, who had been flipping through the diary, then asked.

"If someone went to the lengths of keeping it a secret, they must have had a particular goal in mind."

"Well, there was a section that could be speculated upon, but it seemed rather absurd to me, so…"

Baron Koelt didn't continue, thinking that he might have misinterpreted the text. At that, Kishiar requested to see the specific page. The Baron handed the book to Kishiar, who opened it to the designated page.

"This is the section I'm referring to."

Although the hastily written words mixed with Gore rendered the page unreadable for Yuder, Kishiar scanned through it with a calm and swift gaze.

"'If we can discover the origins of these accursed beings, time that does not flow backward may also become an ally. Do you not harbor the same question and wish? When I asked this, my spiritual father gave no reply.' Is this the section you mean?"

"Yes, that's about as much as I could interpret as the objective of the research."

Baron Koelt, unable to suppress his admiration, responded to Kishiar's smooth reading of the Gore text.

"It certainly is somewhat absurd, as you say. What do you think, my assistant... Yuder?"

Turning his head as usual to inquire about his assistant's opinion, Kishiar called out the name with a strange look in his eyes. Until that moment, no one had paid any attention to the dark-haired man standing behind Kishiar, but now all eyes were fixed on him.

"…Yes?"

Yuder finally snapped back to reality and responded. At a glance, his face seemed unchanged, but Kishiar alone discerned a slight tremor in his gaze.

"How does this discussion appear to you, assistant?"

"…I don't know much about magic, so it's difficult for me to comment."

"I see, very well."

Kishiar closed the journal he was holding.

"Kanna, what kind of information have you been able to gather here?"

"So far, I haven't found anything noteworthy. This place was hidden by magic for so long, that's probably why."

Kanna shook her head, clearly disappointed.

"I see. Then, Baron Koelt, we will be busy going forward, but you're the only one I can entrust with keeping an eye on this place. Would it be all right if I take this journal first for further examination? I find it personally intriguing."

"Of course. I'd be honored. As a scholar, it's something I've wanted to ask for myself. If I find any new information from the objects here, I'll let you know."

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