The temporary base in the Doktoria Kingdom.
With Gallia having returned to the castle with her subordinates, we began the full-scale verification of the transfer gate. Shutra was assigned as my assistant. She graduated from the Academy City Lumiest as the youngest valedictorian. I don’t expect things to proceed effortlessly, but I can’t help but have quiet expectations. I wonder what the combined powers of the Golden Wise Woman and the Silver Saint are like! Though I still don’t quite grasp what this Academy City is!
“Well then, shall we inspect the transfer gate?”
“Shutra, I’ll take the cloth off. Here we go…”
“It’s too big for Shutra. Let Grandpa take it. Hya!”
With a spirited shout, Gerard tore off the large cloth covering one of the transfer gates. What appeared from beneath was the same as the transfer gates we had seen before. If I had to say something different, the pedestal for reading the user’s information and the gate that deploys it were lying horizontally on the ground. The cross-section that should have been in contact with the ground was incorporated with complex crests. It’s as if different types of magic circles were layered upon each other. Each of them probably has some meaning, but I have no idea.
“Thinking about it, this is the first time we’ve investigated an existing transfer gate. The reason why research on transfer gates never progressed was that no country dared to damage them, leading them to only investigate the surface.”
“Older Brother, can I take it apart? I don’t think we’ll get a chance like this again!”
Shutra, please don’t beg with such an excited face. Even Gerard couldn’t refuse.
“Sera. Is that okay?”
“Isn’t it? We have two of them.”
“Really!? Colette-chan, permission has been granted!”
“As expected of Kelvin-sama, your foresight is wonderful. This is going to be a grand experiment of the century…!”
Hmm? Am I imagining things? It seems like we’ve gone from analyzing the transfer gate to experimenting with it?
“First, let’s verify what we can see. These symbols layered on top of each other here have five types of powers inscribed. Fixation and dispersion, progression and displacement…”
“And they’re also combined with conjunction and shortening systems. And Colette-chan, you’ve missed the concealment drawn discreetly in the corner.”
“How could I… As expected, I can’t compare to you, Shutra-chan.”
The two have already departed into a world I don’t understand. Pointing at the complex superimposed magic circles, they seem to grasp the meaning of the symbols. What is that, deciphering a code?
“Oh, could that be heraldry? How nostalgic.”
“You know it too, Sera Big Sister?”
“I learned it when I was little. The crests drawn by my teacher, Reinhard, were so beautiful that I was obsessed with them for a while. I’m not bad at memorizing, but it’s difficult to draw them precisely without a model. Ah, speaking of that crest, it also means magic power and mutation, not just dispersion. Though it might only be applicable to the Underworld.”
“…”
Shutra and Colette are astonished, but I am even more surprised. Why is Sera naturally joining a conversation between geniuses? Weren’t you the type who lived in the moment with all your talent, a “come what may” kind of person?
“Oh, Big Sister, what about this one?”
“At first glance, it looks like three rings, but only this line is a different width.”
“I see. If that’s the case, then the possibility of combining this with this to create a different kind of mark is–”
Right, I remember. I tend to forget because it’s overshadowed by her extraordinary intuition and sense, but Sera herself possesses a genius intellect. When she assists me in my hobby of golem making, she often gives me advice with avant-garde ideas, and when Efil keeps the household accounts, her mental arithmetic is faster than anyone else’s. Gustav’s gifted education is not to be underestimated. If I had to describe this situation in one word, it would be this.
–Sera has joined the research team as an ally!
However, looking at the members again like this is truly impressive. Colette, the Saint who receives secret arts from God; Shutra, likely possessing the highest intellect in humanity; and Sera, the mind among demons, who has now donned a white coat and glasses. Could this be our chance?
“Yes, yes… If it’s like this… Kelvin-sama!”
“Yes!?”
Don’t suddenly bring me into the conversation, you’ll startle me. Being uneducated, I can’t keep up with the discussion.
“Three days, just three days! Then, we will surely unravel the mechanism of the transfer gate!”
“Please, Older Brother! We’ll do our best!”
“Kelvin, wait for us!”
“Oh, uh, good luck.”
I ended up giving my permission, pushed by the momentum of the three. No, that’s wrong. If they intend to make a groundbreaking discovery in a few days, this is an opportunity they should be given. If we succeed in installing and activating the transfer gate, what should I do? Should I install it in the basement of the mansion?
“Master. If it’s three days, it’s a bit much to have you working outside like this…”
“That’s right, maybe we should make a proper room? Wait here, I’ll renovate part of this temporary base. Kuroto, put the transfer gate in storage for now, and then bring it out again in the newly created laboratory.”
“Ah! Kuroto, wait a minute! I’m at a good part right now!”
“Kuroto, heel! Stay!”
The large, black-tinged slime-like mouth halted just as it was about to envelop the transfer gate. Kuroto, who shouldn’t be able to show emotion, seemed to turn his gaze to me with a troubled expression. Ah, I don’t know what to do either.
～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～
The border of the Doktoria Kingdom.
Now, while the research team proceeds with their analysis, I find myself with idle hands, but I have no intention of wasting time like this. More than that, I’m dying of boredom. If it were Melfina or Mudoph, they would probably go on a tour of the demon country, eating as they went while complaining about how bad it tasted, but I’d be committing suicide to go with them. My stomach isn’t made of iron, the universe, or another dimension.
“Kelvin-kun, over here, over here!”
“We have plenty of time, so don’t rush. You’re already faster than me, even with the Wind God’s Leg attached…”
Ange responded with a smile from behind as I moved forward with considerable effort, enveloped in the power of wind. Not even a bead of sweat on her brow, she dodged obstacles with ease, as if she had eyes in the back of her head. Ever since we left Doktoria, it’s been like this – a strange situation where we’re running but talking face to face. And seriously, she’s fast. Even though she’s clearly holding back with her running style, the gap isn’t closing.
Our destination is the Grellverelka Empire, our immediate objective, and its capital, their last remaining territory. Since we have time, we decided to do some reconnaissance, and I’m currently scouting with Ange. If we had too many people, we’d stand out, and this number is justified by the fact that we have summoning magic if necessary.
“Because, aren’t we acting alone together after a long time? I’m so looking forward to it. This is like a date, right?”
Spy activity? Oh, so that’s how you could interpret it…! Ah, no, I was a little conscious of it too.
“…It’s spy activity!”
“Right?”
With a look of admiration on her face, Ange expertly severed the neck of a monster that attacked from behind. Poor monster. Unfortunately, that spot isn’t a blind spot. For her, it’s a kill zone.
It seems that a reprint of the book version of “The Black Summoner” has been decided.
More details can be found in the activity report.
