Chapter 238: Sylvia (1) Part 1

The Red Garnet Adventure Team walked through the Hadecaine mansion together, taking in the surroundings. From the main gate to the front entrance, from the entrance into the halls, and from the halls out into the central garden that spread out in exquisite beauty—beyond that garden, another door led them into another corridor.

“... My, Hadecaine feels even larger than before. It just keeps growing more and more each time I visit,” Ganesha said, marveling at its size, comparable to a university campus.

Ria, Leo, and Carlos felt much the same.

“Because it is

the

Hadecaine,” Ria replied.

"Hey, Leo. Seriously, stop touching me," Carlos said.

Squeak, squeak— Squeak, squeak—

At the faint sound of squeaking complaints, Ria glanced over and barely held back her laughter.

"

Hmm

? Why, Carlos?" Leo asked.

"Ria, stop trying to sneak a touch. I already told you—no touching."

At the moment, Carlos had taken the form of a tiny hamster, sitting quietly in disguise on Leo’s palm—a technique of stealth and concealment he had perfected himself.

"

Oops

—sorry, Carlos. You’re just too squishy—I couldn’t help myself."

"Touch me one more time, and I’ll bite."

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

“Okay, okay. I’m sorry.”

In any case, the Red Garnet Adventure Team was making their way through the Hadecaine Castle, heading to take part in the test.

“Dude—what the actual fuck!”

At that moment, someone let out a loud curse—and no one needed to look back to know exactly who it was.

“Dude, seriously—are we freakin’ walking to another continent?! Like, is Deculein even showing up or what?!” Jackal griped, thumping the flat of his long sword against the hall floor with every step.

Without a word, the elderly butler gestured to the area around them.

“... What the hell’s that even mean?” Jackal said, his face twisting like he’d tasted spoiled wine.

“Might I suggest you consider the numbers,” replied the elderly butler, seeming unmoved by the man’s savage glare.

“... Numbers?”

Then, not only Jackal but also Ria and Ganesha looked around—and sure enough, the crowd had clearly thinned. When they had arrived, there had been close to a thousand adventurers.

“... That’s three thirty-seven,” Jackal muttered, reading every single trace of mana in the corridor.

"The test has long since begun. As for those adventurers unfit to proceed, I imagine they are lost somewhere within the mansion's halls."

“... Wait—Deculein’s actually here? Like, he’s the one runnin’ the test right now?”

"The master is observing," replied the elderly butler, shaking his head at Jackal's remark.

“From where—”

“Here.”

At that moment, a voice came—Deculein's—and every adventurer flinched, their eyes snapping to the source. Through every window in the corridor, he could be seen, seated in each one.

"I have no need to walk the world. Mirrors serve me—they open the way, and through them, every step you take is mine to witness," Deculein said.

Leo quickly slipped the hamster out of sight, and Ria and Ganesha positioned themselves in front of Leo, blocking Deculein's view.

“The test has now served its purpose. Let us begin,” Deculein added, his eyes sweeping across them like a blade before offering the slightest of nods.

"Yes, Master," replied the elderly butler, his fingers pressing a hidden switch in the wall.

Vrrrrrrrr...

A set of stairs had now appeared in the middle of the hallway.

“If you would, this way downstairs.”

The adventurers said nothing as they walked down the stairs. At the bottom, they found a long hallway lined with private rooms on either side.

"As a rule, each room is reserved for one person. Inside, you will find a helmet, a seat, and a biosignal transmitter. Once equipped, you may proceed with the test."

"But then the hamster can't join," Leo whispered into Ria’s ear, leaning close to her.

"Excuse me! What about pets?" Ria asked, springing up with her hand in the air.

At that moment, all eyes landed on her, and many couldn’t help but sneer.

"I cannot speak to the type of pet in question, but I daresay the helmet would not fit," replied the elderly butler, giving the matter a moment's consideration before shaking his head.

“

Mmm...

it’s fine. I guess that’s just how it is,” Ria replied, letting the thought go and already moving on.

"Are you sure it's okay?" Leo asked, whispering so only she could hear.

"

Mhm

. Carlos already left."

“...

Oh

?” Leo murmured, staring down at his open palm.

Carlos, as a hamster, was already gone.

“Carlos just slipped into that room a moment ago. Don’t worry—he won’t get caught. Jackal helped,” Ganesha said with a bright smile.

“... Jackal did?” Leo asked, tilting his head.

“Mhm. Jackal probably doesn’t even realize he did, but Jackal wasn’t counting people—he was sensing mana. So, without meaning to, he counted Carlos as well, just by being with us. And since Jackal counted him, he went to room three thirty-seven,” Ganesha replied quietly.

“...

Oh

.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, the test will now begin. You may each step into your assigned rooms,” said the elderly butler.

"Okay~" Ria replied brightly, already heading for room number one.

In the next rooms, the order was Ganesha, followed by Leo, then Jackal.

***

Meanwhile, after finishing the adventurer selection through the mirror, I met Rohakan in the vineyard.

"The Voice... There’s a way. There’s always a way," Rohakan said. "God? You mean the one from the Altar, the one trying to play god?

Hmm

~ If I’d had ten more years in me, I would’ve handled him myself.

“But you’ve got no reason to be afraid. If he were a real god, he’d have come for me while I was breathing. But no, he didn’t show his face until I was gone. Now he creeps in with his head low, acting bold, meaning he was scared of me—that’s all it is."

Though Rohakan went on about all sorts of things, none of it offered anything I could use.

"Epherene’s regression? It’s not even finished yet. A little soon to be breathing easy, don’t you think? That’s enough talk. Pour the grapes, boy."

I remained silent.

“You ask more questions than a squirrel’s got acorns.”

“... If you truly have the ability of Precognition, could you not share it in full?” I asked, brushing the dirt from a cluster of ripe grapes before placing them in the basket.

Today's lesson with Rohakan involved picking grapes, which meant the sun had already left me drenched in sweat. No

Telekinesis

, no magic—this had to be done by hand.

“

Hahaha...

That too is restrained by deterrence, as you well know. To speak of the future takes more than foresight alone. It depends not only on the one who sees, but also on the mana of the one who listens. And as you are now, you are far too lacking.”

I remained silent.

"Besides, I am already long gone. Merely maintaining this magical space is all I can manage now. I cannot give you the answer you seek. And even if I could, what joy is there in a life lived step by step from a page of answers?"

I pushed myself up and brushed the dust from my clothes. All this strength, with my

Iron Man

's body, I've wasted on picking thirty thousand Snow Grapes.

"Thanks to you, I’ve ended up caked in dirt like a stray off the roadside,” I said.

"That’s the soul of honest labor, boy. Not the stray from the roadside, but the robes of a hard worker. See that you keep them on until you leave. And from this moment forward, no magic in my vineyard."

“As you wish.”

Only thirty thousand Snow Grapes for today. How disappointing,

I thought.

I walked on, shaking my head.

“

Hahaha

. Say, boy—why don’t you go to the Voice looking like that as well? You look more alive now than in all the years I’ve known you,” Rohakan said with a laugh from behind.

But at that exact moment, a thought struck like lightning through my mind, and a sudden chill of fire burned down my spine, making me stop in my tracks.

“... I have a solution.”

“

Hmm

? And what sort of solution might that be about?”

“A way to reach the Voice,” I muttered, standing at the center of the vineyard, feet rooted in the vineyard’s soil.

At that moment, the Island of the Voice was being swept by a magical disaster, and any ship that approached ended up caught in the currents of the Voice, left circling in place, trapped in its pulse. In other words, no ship could reach it. No—only

ships

couldn't.

“And what would that be?” Rohakan asked.

I stared at my hands, stained with dirt, felt the sweat soaking through me, then turned my eyes to Rohakan.

“Swimming.”

Only now did I breathe in the scent of grapes that filled the space—fragrant and perfectly balanced. The thirty thousand Snow Grapes I had gathered by hand felt beautiful to me for the first time.

“

Hahahaha

! Swimming, is it? A fine thing, that,” Rohakan said with a chuckle, his smile deepening as he looked at me with what seemed like understated satisfaction. “You wouldn’t know this, but long ago—back in the desert where I was born—there was an old saying...”