NOVEL WEB Ch. 8.8
It apparently had the common name "Spiral Castle." Whether enemy forces that attacked called it that, or an ancient castle lord named it, the name lacked creativity and simply described its appearance. If likened to a coiled great serpent, it would have dignity and stature, but in reality it looked like a crushed conch shell.
"I'd like to go around and around the outer passages."
When she entered the castle, Safi expressed this hope, but it was rejected. Part of it was under construction and impassable, they said. To be precise, it was under expansion work. This Spiral Castle had apparently been undergoing drawn-out expansion work for hundreds of years. The cause was a stubborn designer, and tracing back further, it led to a dream he had seen.
"It's like a fairy tale, and we don't even know if the person who designed it actually existed."
The young priest who became her guide inside the castle murmured this. Though the designer's identity was unknown, he said detailed blueprints remained. Some generations of castle lords had ridiculed it as superstition and halted the expansion. The real reason seemed to be cost reduction, but unfortunately, disasters followed. Conflicts, drought, and plague. From then on, successive castle lords feared calamity and pushed forward with expansion.
Even if it was based on a dream, Safi didn't think it was pointless work. With expansion upon expansion, the castle interior had become like a maze. Like a large marketplace, the corridors intersected complexly, had level differences, and great halls suddenly appeared. There was no coherence.
That girl might have been a genuine phantom thief...
Safi reflected on their encounter in the shirne and felt this way. According to the young priest, their destination was the place where the secret treasure had been enshrined. It would be absolutely impossible to charge blindly and accidentally reach the jewel chamber. There were no visible mechanisms to stop intruders, but many areas were narrow, and if surrounded by security forces, one would be helpless.
"Ahead is the Hall of Lamentation."
It wasn't a shrine or detached palace, but meant a chamber of grief, he said. One could imagine the sorrowful anecdotes behind it, but no active priest knew the origin of the name—they simply followed tradition.
"Elder Master, we've kept you waiting."
The small, white-robed old man called out. The elderly priest he had explained about at the inn was apparently the Elder Master. Befitting one of the highest ranks, he wore golden ornaments different from the other white-robed people. He didn't look particularly dignified. The Elder Master was fast asleep.
"Wh-what's the matter..."
Tapped on the shoulder, the Elder Master woke once but immediately fell asleep again. Had he been under house arrest in this room since the incident occurred? He sat in a chair without moving. He appeared exhausted.
"The Rainbow Granite has been found. And the magician in question is here too."
An attendant took a glass vial from his pocket and put it to the Elder Master's lips. A vivid blue liquid. Safi had seen an apothecary handling it before. Whether it was some kind of stimulant, after drinking it all, the Elder Master instantly awakened.
"Oh, well done, everyone! If we couldn't get that back, it would be the end of everything—I mean, seriously, I'd definitely have to resign and there'd be succession disputes and family troubles and all sorts of complications..."
The Elder Master spoke rapidly, inappropriate for his age, and his articulation was smooth. Whether he was in an excited state from the blue liquid being too effective or this was his normal mode was unclear, but he still lacked dignity. When his aide handed him the glowing stone in question, he became even more agitated and seemed completely unmanageable.
"Well now... wait, is this the rainbow stone? It can't possibly glow red... no, even without looking closely, it's genuine. How strange. I sense the breath of new life. Strong too, a powerful force that feels like it could tear you apart. Hmm, so who are you?"
Only now did he notice Safi's existence.
"I am a black magician, my name is Safi, and I have come from the distant eastern lands..."
She was enthusiastic about delivering the long self-introduction she had carefully prepared, but the Elder Master was quite hard of hearing, and apparently his aide had to put his mouth close to his ear and interpret everything. Not stylish at all.
"Oh, I see, you're the magician who spectacularly destroyed that bridge. To think it was such a young girl—what a surprise. As I imagined, a black magician. Hmm, hmm. Young lady, so can you also shoot flames and lightning?"
The answer was yes. Safi had mastered and could skillfully use fire and lightning magic, albeit weakly. Black magicians were utility players of attack magic to begin with.
❁❁❁ From the Author 🔮 ❁❁❁
The blue liquid is the familiar potion from Final Fantasy.
I thought it was a product exclusive to other worlds, but a few years ago, it was being sold normally in vending machines in Akihabara. The price was about 200 yen. The taste was... well, blue-ish.