Chapter 36 - Arcadia, The Land of Magic [5]
“Just what the hell is that weapon…” Camila looked at me as if I were some sort of strange creature.
Daytime, a few days before we went on the expedition.
Before we set out into the unknown that is Arcadia, I decided to test my weapon while Camila happily... munched on canned goods.
It’s fine; I probably brought enough food to last us for a few weeks, though I was concerned by how much she could eat, given her slender frame.
“Things would have turned out differently if that gun had been mass-produced,” she said, hastily eating while admiring the canned goods rather than the weapon's firepower.
“Sorry to interrupt, but it does have a lot of drawbacks,” I replied, casually glancing at the large crater that was three meters wide.
Because there’s barely anything to do here, I spent most of my days trying to improve how quickly I could form Libera, and experimenting with the other abilities of Ichor: Conjure and Copy.
First things first, I managed to reduce Ichor’s forming speed to 17 seconds, which is 30% faster than usual.
However, that still isn’t fast enough; in a real battle against tens of thousands of Eldians, I need to aim for under 5 seconds. This time doesn’t include the 5 seconds required for reloading.
As for my other abilities, besides <Form>, which is <Conjure> and <Copy>, I regret to say that the ability to conjure artifacts has completely vanished.
Fortunately, I can still actually use <Copy>, although it consumes a tremendous amount of mana, which is probably why I wasn't aware I had it in the first place.
I’ve been consistently infusing magazines with mana-infused bullets every day. This repetitive process has significantly improved my mana capacity, allowing me to use <Copy> more efficiently now.
For reference, I attempted to copy Camila’s motorcycle, and to my surprise, it worked.
I just had to stay an extra two days in bed, regretting how I used all my mana and fainting right there.
While this sounds useful, the problem is that we don’t have gas. It would be wiser to use Camila’s motorcycle if things go awry, since I’ll have to rely on <Copy> to use it continuously.
I could potentially use a technique like the one Noah uses to infuse mana into the Ichor. However, he's a unique case for possessing such a large amount of mana in the first place.
When the time comes, I’ll utilize this <Copy> when I genuinely need it.
In conclusion, I’ve grown significantly stronger after my intense battle against the Eldians. However, I've also identified my greatest weakness that could jeopardize all my plans: my physical abilities.
...I need to improve my physical capabilities to use mana strengthening more effectively in the future.
—Thonk!
After finishing her meal, Camila set her food aside and took a sip of water.
“Hmm… I can understand why that's the case,” she said, nodding in agreement. She probably realized that everything came with a cost.
“…Actually, do you want to try it out?” I asked as I approached her, offering her the chance to shoot Libera.
Surprisingly, she shook her head and didn't take the offer.
“N-No, thanks… My arms would probably fall off if I even tried shooting it,” Camila replied, crossing her arms to reject my offer.
“Really? What a shame,” I shrugged. “But I guess you now understand how strong Libera is, right?”
Camila nodded her head without hesitating one bit.
“Good. I want you to keep that in mind before we eventually have to rely on this weapon.” I began dismantling Libera, unravelling it back into threads.
“Hmm? Why...?” Camila asked and tilted her head.
Libera is a weapon that truly embodies extremity. I created this weapon to combat Eldians, beings that are beyond human comprehension.
“If things go wrong, expect me to lose control,” I replied, nodding. The only thing I can commend myself for is that my solutions often end up being so good it's suicidal—if that can be considered a compliment.
“Uh… okay…? I guess?” She tilted her head but agreed anyway, not wanting to think too much about it.
“You suicidal maniac.” Camila scowled after drinking from a bottle of water she took from her bag.
“What? You’re the one who agreed to it back then,” I replied, also drinking to stay hydrated.
“Ugh… you’re right, but…! Okay, fine.” She downed the rest of the water in her bottle in just a couple of seconds and tossed it on the ground.
The next moment, she stepped closer to me—so close, in fact, that I had to take a step back.
“W-What?” I stammered, still recalling what she had done to me when we were trapped inside the ball of Ichor.
“I don’t care what methods you’re using… but don’t overdo yourself, okay?” Camila's gaze shifted to my left leg and arm, reminding me of the time I fought all six Eldians alone.
I may have done everything that led to this point for shits and giggles, but Camila's eyes were filled with genuine worry, as if she was truly concerned.
"...Okay.” I nodded in response, deciding not to retaliate against what she had said.
“Hehe... then that's good,” she replied, nodding her head in satisfaction as she patted me on the head.
"...Hmph." I looked away, a little flustered from this.
I feel a little uncomfortable when someone pats my head, but I decided to let her go for now.
Speaking of being patted on the head, it's been some time since I've turned into a girl.
Have I gotten used to it? Hopefully not.
Do I want to turn back? If I could reunite with my long-lost brother, then yes.
The fact that all my actions, which I perceived as masculine, were being translated into feminine behaviours in real time was starting to scare me.
“Still… I can’t believe we managed to survive that.” She brushed the dirt off her pants and looked up to see the sky shattering like glass.
“Your gun is so powerful that it even broke through that dimensional barrier. Are you sure you’re not some well-known figure I don’t know?” She tilted her head, skeptical of who I really was.
“You just answered your own question,” I replied.
“Wait, so you are?!” She exclaimed, then quickly covered her mouth to avoid making too much noise.
“No, that’s… actually, you’re kind of right.” I nodded, realizing it perfectly matched my situation back then.
“Oh.” She stood still, giving me a blank stare.
Even if she figures out who I really am, I am literally the most untraceable person because of my strange circumstances.
A disowned, adopted child of the Historia family. The only male heir who lived in a shabby apartment and played games all day. Then one day turned into a girl.
That's me.
Unless someone perceives into my very soul, no one could ever figure out who I am.
After taking a short break, we stood up, packed our bags, and walked toward the massive door on the top floor of the main building where we had managed to land.
Although everything around us lay in ruins, this zone remained intact. The only major damage inflicted came from us, wrapped in Ichor, as we broke through the wall like a wrecking ball.
‘The Archalv... I can't wait to see what lies inside." I clasped my hands around and opened the giant doors.
As I mentioned before, my objective was to gather information about what had happened during my six-year absence.
Beyond this door lies all sorts of knowledge—about the past, the present, and perhaps even the future.
Everything is in here; it is the most confidential place in Demiurge, strictly reserved for the greatest minds and magicians.
“Hey, I need your help opening this door. Something is blocking it from the other side,” I said to Camila. Well, it figures—not even the room of enlightenment is immune to destruction.
“Ah, okay,” she replied in a daze, moving to the other side of the door frame and beginning to push.
“Still, the Archalv, huh? It was my dream to come here one day.”
"..."
"Don't look at me like that."
"I didn't even say anything."
—Creak…!
Together, we slowly opened the door. It took much more effort than it should have because countless books littered the floor, blocking our way.
“Ugh…!” Despite the struggle, we finally managed to open it (I barely contributed due to my noodle-like arms), revealing what lay dormant in the Archalv.
—Thud!
“Whoa…” Camila exclaimed in awe.
Before us was a giant library filled with so many books that some were even on the ceiling, spanning multiple floors seemingly without end.
The shelves contained grimoires, diaries of renowned magicians, and highly confidential records accessible only to top students.
Since it was reserved for students of the highest honour and trust, access was limited to important individuals—mostly geniuses or nobles.
Of course, because a certain someone was the main character of the story, Noah managed to enter through sheer talent.
While Camila admired the room, I made my way to the center and focused on the structure in front of me, the very reason why this place is called the Archalv in the first place.
—Voom… Vooom…
The giant object floating in front of me was glowing blue, as if tempting me to touch it.
Before me was what’s known as the Knowledge Cube, an enormous cube similar in complexity to the one that allowed Arcadia to harness construction magic.
I’m surprised that it remained unscathed from how everything else in Arcadia was destroyed. The countless complex defence mechanisms surrounding the tower must have protected it to this day.
While it looks like some sort of… giant Rubik's Cube, which, in a way, it is—it's actually one of the most advanced pieces of technology in the world.
The creation of the Knowledge Cube was a collaborative effort involving nearly every country, and world leaders decided to keep it sealed away, accessible only to trusted individuals.
The Knowledge Cube activates when a person gradually injects their mana into it, allowing the cube to take over the body and connect to its network. Once this transfer occurs, they become part of the cube's network.
In modern terms, this was a quantum supercomputer that used magic rather than electricity. The most significant difference was that YOU are the quantum supercomputer.
While this may sound incredible, it's not recommended to absorb all the information stored inside at once.
Many incidents occurred during its development, including researchers suffering severe consequences and their heads exploding...
“Gulp.” Suddenly, I felt nervous about attempting this.
To prevent incidents like these from happening, a limit was imposed on the cube, allowing users to access only the knowledge they desired, and even then, only once a year.
This is the main reason people strive to gain access to the Archalv: choosing the proper knowledge can lead to a successful career in any field imaginable.
“Alright… Here we go, all I need to do is dip my hands inside and focus on the information I need to know…” I said, filled with confidence.
However, I sensed that something was off, as if this wasn’t the first time I had tried to touch something foreign.
“Aria~! Check out this grimoire I found… wait, what are you doing?!” She stood up after stacking the books she had found appealing, alarmed by what I was about to do.
“If you touch that, you’ll—!” she exclaimed as she rushed toward me to pull me away from it.
But it’s fine; I think I know what I’m doing… wait, hold on… doesn’t this situation feel familiar?
So familiar that it reminded me of the time I shot myself with a low-level spell to cleanse my mana circuits.
Or that one time when I grabbed the Ichor with a reckless mindset and unexpectedly found myself transported to an unknown place.
But why am I recalling this now, out of all times?
Ah... I see now, of course.
How foolish of me.
“Oh no—”
—And with that, my vision blurred, and the world went white.
...
...
...
“Again? Seriously?” I questioned myself for my stupidity in repeatedly acting without considering the consequences.
“I really should think before grabbing something.”
Looking around, all I could see was white—something I likely had encountered before.
The only difference now was that I could talk, move around, and hear my own voice.
However, my left hand's tattoo emitted a yellow glow that outshone the surrounding white space.
"...Deja vu, I guess,” I said with a laugh, covering my face in embarrassment over my blunder.
