Damn System

Episode 55

Chapter 13 Main Scenario (4)

“Looking at you talking nonsense, it seems that you are not interested in mana exchange?”

“hehehe, can I just keep my mouth shut?”

“Please, please, because I like quiet. Please keep your distance.”

“all right!”

As if saluting, Ahel raised her hand to the side of her head and her voice was clear.

At that time, the party gathered around Ahel.

“Aheh.”

As I was looking for something, Raoul and the others put their hands on Ahel’s shoulders.

Before Rashar said anything, I did my best to follow them.

“Kay, Ahel… … .”

Then, Rashar nodded his head with a slurred expression.

At the same time, my vision turned white and I felt a distant feeling of falling.

It seemed to be sucked in somewhere, or it seemed to flow down.

It was similar to the feeling of falling I sometimes feel when falling in a dream, but a little more intense.

That strange sensation suddenly cut off without any warning.

“omg.”

When the floating body stood on the solid ground again, it was impossible to balance.

You have to strengthen your legs to be able to stand, but it would have to be seen as a missed timing.

Raul helped me when I couldn’t stand properly and nearly fell down.

My ears were deafened by the sound of the wind blowing left and right.

“Are you okay?”

Rashar’s voice came through the gap.

I replied shaking my head.

“… … so so.”

“At first, everyone has a hard time adjusting.”

I knew without even asking that the phenomenon I had just experienced was space-shifting magic.

The sight he could see right away was different.

The rocks and trees that were suitable for hiding were no longer visible.

The clear blue sky and clear clouds, and even the wind blowing hard enough to deafen your ears.

We were standing on a pretty high cliff.

In the distance, I could see winding rivers and vast plains.

It was a sight that seemed to pierce the stomach.

With the help of Raoul, I couldn’t take my eyes off the scene for a while.

But I had to look back as Rashar grabbed my shoulder.

She met my eyes and nodded her head backwards.

When I turned my gaze to follow the movement, I slowly lifted my head up.

A cliff that looked several times higher than the cliff we were standing on stood firmly behind us.

Even though it was quite far away, it was so high that you had to look up to see the end, and even a steep slope.

Even though I have lived my whole life in a forest of buildings, I was speechless in front of the scene created by nature.

It was such an overwhelming sight.

“Welcome, Kay.”

Rashar said, extending a finger downward.

I obediently followed the direction she pointed and lowered my head.

“That place is Harbon, the frontline garrison of the Ferrell Resistance.”

At the beginning of the steep cliff, I saw something as small as a grain.

* * *

-First of all, we have to see the division commander. He is the general manager of the 2nd Division stationed in Harbon.

Since an unidentified outsider enters the place where the military is staying, it would be natural to ask for permission from the person in charge there.

I nodded my head obediently at Rashar’s explanation.

No, in fact, even if I had heard something that wasn’t obvious, I wouldn’t have reacted.

Because I couldn’t be bothered to listen to what she had to say.

The majesty of the castle facing me after going down the narrow stairs next to the cliff was worth it.

‘I guess this is what they call a fortress.’

The castle called Harbon was nestled in a deep canyon.

There was already a feeling of impregnability from the location, but the surrounding topography was also formidable.

The cliffs stretched out on both sides wrapped around the castle like the wings of a bird.

To get to the castle from the ground, you had to pass through a narrow alley that was only 6 or 7 meters wide.

If not, go over cliffs close to right angles.

The castle with its back on a cliff so high as to reach the sky was literally a fortress blessed by nature.

When did I, who lived in a forest of buildings, see a scene like this?

By the time I arrived at the gate, I was busy watching the sights beyond the walls with my mouth open and my head held high.

‘Even if I can’t do it, it looks like it’s tens of meters.’

Buildings stacked like stairs over the huge wall filled my eyes.

At first, I thought it was just an ordinary stone building.

However, it was different from the building I saw while running around the construction site.

‘There is no seam.’

There were no traces of the bricks being laid while the cement was being applied, and the walls were smooth.

It means that all the buildings there were cut down, not stacked.

All the buildings of Harbon Castle were a piece of art made by cutting the cliffs standing here.

“crazy… … .”

I was genuinely amazed.

Carving a whole cliff to make a castle.

I don’t know what kind of madman came up with it, but it was really great.

I hope to be looking at the castle like a country boy for a while.

Thinking it would take longer than expected, I cast my gaze toward the castle gate, and Rashar spoke to me.

“K.”

“hmm?”

“If you want to bring in Meseo, you will need to bring an escort. This is to prepare for any unexpected situation, so please don’t misunderstand.”

It was not difficult to read the hidden meaning behind the words.

‘It’s a surveillance force disguised as an escort.’

I waved my hand as if I understood.

Going left or right, I just need to get to the temple.

‘I have to check if it is really possible to talk to the system.’

Are the things I’ve deduced from the information I’ve gathered so far true or just a vain delusion?

Depending on the answer, my choice will also change.

While I was thinking about what had happened since arriving at the temple, a small door by the large wall opened.

Entering the walls through that place, I felt a stiff atmosphere.

“gentile… … .”

“trust… … .”

“also… … .”

Without adding a single lie, all eyes of those within sight were focused on me.

‘It’s a bit burdensome.’

People I’ve never seen before are watching me with eyes filled with complex emotions.

It was hard to stay calm in that situation.

As soon as I clicked my tongue briefly inside, Ahel, who was behind me, called me in a small voice.

“K.”

His mouth moved silently as he reflexively turned his head.

– Palao.

Palao? A God of Charity?

‘Suddenly why is that name?’

Before I could ask the question back, Rashar grabbed my shoulder and said.

“Kay, let’s go.”

In that moment, those wearing iron armor were approaching.

They surrounded me and Rashar in a circle.

When I glanced behind me, Ahel was waving his hand.

Others, including Raoul, only remained in front of the castle gate, but did not seem to have any intention of following.

After looking at them for a while, I moved on with Lashar before long.

Moving with those in iron armor, the eyes around them continued to gather.

To put it to shame that he had thought that he could only go to the temple, his impression gradually hardened.

‘I’ll have to finish it quickly.’

Thinking so, I was afraid to let out a sigh when I discovered something unexpected among the crowd.

It was a person with vertically slanted eyes and a slightly protruding muzzle like an animal.

An inverted triangular pink nose and pricked ears on top of her head.

It was thanks to Rashar and Ahel that they were surprised to see him who didn’t look like a human no matter where he looked.

‘A sub-species.’

Since the two of them often used the word sub-species, they vaguely guessed it.

That there may be intelligences other than humans.

Thanks to that, I was a little surprised, but it wasn’t to the extent that I struggled in shock.

After exchanging glances with the unusual cat eyes for a few seconds, I looked straight ahead again.

Interacting with that strange intelligence is not an important issue right now.

“Lashar.”

At my call, Rashar immediately looked at me.

“I want to ask you something about the division commander.”

For now, let’s meet the person in charge of this place and solve the problem by going to the temple.

* * *

Harbon Castle, which was once called a fortress blessed by nature in the Ferel Kingdom, was currently used as a garrison for the 2nd Division of the Ferel Resistance Army.

The general manager and tem there

Greg Tembon, the head of the Bone family and also an apostle of Temoria, the god of patience.

He was doing administrative work in his office, as always.

square square.

A gentle noise filled the room as the fountain pen moved.

The seemingly peaceful scene began at sunrise and was undisturbed for several hours.

If someone unfamiliar with it saw it, they would have mistaken it for a painting.

It was around noon, when the sun rose high in the sky, that the silence, which had been so quiet that even a small noise was felt loud, was broken.

“Commander.”

Without knocking, he glanced lightly at the open door.

Standing there was an adjutant with a flushed face.

He’s a person who doesn’t change his expression to the point of being frustrated, but seeing him shaken like that, it seems like he’s got quite a bit of surprising news.

Greg, having prepared himself in advance, asked in a calm voice.

“What is going on?”

“Sir Bennet has returned.”

Greg blinked calmly at the immediate reply.

The news the adjutant had just delivered meant that the person in charge of the rescue operation, Rashar Bennett, was safe.

It was four days ago that Rashar and some personnel, who had evacuated civilians and company members first, fell out after being discovered by the enemy during the retreat.

Command set up a rescue team, but the farm was empty.

However, among the fallen people was Ahel Belletia, who could use movement magic without a magic circle.

So I was waiting for news, hoping for a return.

Today, their fate has finally been confirmed.

It was surely good news that one of the few remaining apostles of Palao was alive.

Because their eyes were the key to finding hope.

However, it was difficult to say that it was ‘surprising’ news that made the adjutant so agitated.

Palao’s apostles are often born with genius talent.

So, the odds of survival were high.

‘Even if all the company members died, Bennett would have returned alive.’

Greg blinked again, wondering why his lieutenant was so surprised.

And in the words that followed, I understood everything.

“By the way, at the city gates he claimed to have brought a stranger.”

Before the adjutant could finish his words, Greg’s movements stopped.

Ink leaked from the stopped fountain pen, making a round stain on the paper.

Indeed, it was news that the adjutant, whose expression had not changed enough to look desolate because he was usually calm, would come running.

Greg paused for a moment before answering, letting out a breath he had been holding involuntarily and putting aside his fountain pen and damaged papers.

“You have an honored guest.”

If the person that Rashar brought was really a stranger who appeared in the oracle, it would not be enough to say that he was precious.

“Where did you lead me?”

“Currently, the main gate troops are bringing them here.”

“Then I’ll see you soon.”

Greg straightened up and sat down, controlling his agitated emotions.

‘I’m a stranger… … .’

After the apostle of Mepheroseta prophesied and died, there were quite a few people who claimed to be strangers.

However, all of them turned out to be scammers to extort profits from the church.

Not a few of them looked at the oracle with distrust.

Those who lacked patience after turning on waste for more than a year began to reveal the bottom.

Recently, there are even those who denounce Meferoseta’s apostles as pawns of their enemies.

They are playing with people’s livelihood with false prophecies.

After the death of the previous apostle, the power of the Mepheroseta Church, which soared to the sky, was shaken.

Of course, most of the Ain species are still pinning their hopes on the oracle.

At such a time, someone presumed to be a stranger appeared again.

Will today’s meeting bring forth the hope spoken of in the prophecy?

‘Maybe it will incite further discord.’

I couldn’t find out the result. That’s why you need to be more mindful.

I had no intention of throwing a distrustful eye at him, but I also had no intention of looking at him with unconditional hope.

“Commander.”

While I was reading my mind like that, I heard a knocking sound from beyond the office.

“Sir Lachar Bennett… … A guest has arrived.”

Greg, who rose from his seat with a gentle movement, answered.

“Come in.”

As I adjusted my uniform, the door to the office opened.