Chapter 112

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“Are they dealing with issues that they think are currently important then move according to the outcome of the meeting?”

“Yes.” (Randell)

“It’s the way the Blue Stone Island exerts their influence. The agenda for this conference is also interesting.” (Jack)

“How did you find out?”

“I hid among the men sending the carts and went in, remember? That’s when I changed my clothes.”

“Clothes?”

Jack nodded and replied to Nina’s question.

“People have a good sense of familiarity with us, but that’s because they look at our appearance to recognize our identity. I was dressed like a commoner carrying a cart, and they treated me like a commoner who they knew.”

“So you changed into robes?”

“Yes, they thought I was a sage because I dressed like a sage, so I asked a few questions.”

“Jack······. That’s amazing.”

“Praise is always welcome. You can do more.”

Nina praised him, saying, “Great, genius. How could you think like that, you are an expert!” and Randell made an inquisitive face.

“Does it mean it’s considered different depending on how you dress?”

“Yes, they don’t recognize me anyway.”

“Considering the influence of dress from a social point of view······.”

“Randell, leave that to later. Wouldn’t security be tighter on the day of the Grand Conference?”

“The castle itself is empty because everyone gathers in the conference hall.” (Jack)

“Don’t expect an absolute attendance. There are people who are blind to their research and stay in their labs.” (Randell)

“Even if that’s taken into account, it’s still the best day.” (Jack)

“Then, it’s finally time to sneak in,” Nina said with a contented smile.

I’m sick and tired of this island life.

No, she doesn’t know if it’s the same for big islands, but it doesn’t take half a day to go around the entire perimeter of this one.

“I’ll take care of the magical barriers.”

“No wonder the sages blindly believe in magic, there are no physical traps or alarms.”

They don’t like it because it’s primitive.

“It’s because of that stupid arrogance.”

“Then let’s rest from now on and move when it’s dark.”

Nina nodded her head.

The group spent time checking various tools and talking about how to infiltrate. By sunset, the three of them wore dark clothes to camouflage in the night and went out on the road.

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There was no need to worry about how to get over the wall. They came out to the garden through a secret passage Jack had found. Nina admired the desolate garden.

“Is this a garden?”

“The sages are not interested in cultivating castles like nobles. The only plant that grows well here is the Tree of Origin.” (Randell)

“The Tree of Origin?”

“I heard it’s a tree from Yara. It’s growing behind the castle.”

“Then it’s a very old tree.”

“That’s right.”

“This garden is in ruins, I’d rather call it ‘the Garden of Desolation’.”

Thanks to this, the vines were growing freely, keeping their passage out of sight. From the start, it might be a plant that was here for that purpose.

“It’s a very sloppy secret passage.”

Nina whispered. It looked more like a sewer hole than a secret passage.

“They seem to do the bare minimum to prepare for outside intrusion.” (Nina)

“Who would think of robbing the Blue Stone Island?” (Randell)

“We.”

Nina grinned.

Using North Wind, they made sure there were no people around, so the three moved inside, in the darkness. The fortress consisted of three buildings, and Randell’s teacher reportedly worked in the second building.

“Now it’s a matter of going up there······.”

Jack held out a rope with a hook to Nina. She grabbed the rope and twirled it a few times before throwing it. The hook, which was thrown with enormous force and had received help from North Wind, was caught on the railing on the fifth floor.

Tak, tak.

After a few pulls, Nina who was light in weight began climbing the building and after a while, a tightly fastened rope came down and the two also climbed to the fifth floor.

“Wait a minute.”

Randell pulled out his Tarok. When the small cloth as small as a cherry sparkled, blue waves spread around the window and disappeared.

“You can open it now.”

Like three mice that sneak into the kitchen to get cheese, the three went inside tailing one after the other.

“And where’s his workshop?”

“This way.”

Nina first swept the corridor with North Wind to check for signs of people, and the three went out to the hallway. Walking along with Randell’s guidance, they often stopped when Nina said, “Shh, someone is coming,” and Jack repeatedly opened the next door to hide.

The door to Randell’s teacher’s studio was locked, but the lock quickly opened when Jack poked it with wire a few times. Randell lifted the spell in it again and the three went inside.

“Everything’s the same.”

“Why didn’t they clean it up?”

Nina shook her head as she toured the lab, which could only be described as a mess.

“Usually, the person who takes over the research inherits the lab. So, in this case, ······.”

Randell shrugged his shoulders. Nina said.

“Even if you don’t inherit the lab, let’s inherit the research.”

She rolled up her sleeves. Jack muttered.

“If I sneak in with you two, there’s no place I can’t go in the world.”

Who else can throw a hook and hang it on the fifth floor?

Nina, who was rummaging through the bookshelf, groaned.

“What language is this written in?”

“Yara.”

“Gee. I can’t read this. If I can’t read it, how can I find something here, right? Even if it’s plain letters······.”

Yara? Seriously?

“What? Can Jack read it?”

“A little bit.”

“Oh, my God. I’m the most ignorant here. I’m a knight, so I’m strong and ignorant.”

“You said it was wisdom to know one’s ignorance.”

“Yes, but it doesn’t seem to help······.”

Nina sighed and said, rummaging through piles of books or parchment.

“I’ll find something I can read.”

“Nina.”

“Huh?”

“Thank you for coming with me.”

Nina smiled unconsciously because it was a rare and honest “thank you” from a Randell who took off his glasses.

“Don’t mention it.”

As she searched for the files that she could read between the two searching for the research data, she felt North Wind whispering.

‘Hmm?’

She looked up and glanced around slowly. At that time, frost formed a white layer on the candlestick that came into view. Nina approached the candlestick and pulled it without much thought.

Rumble. 

There was a sound and the floor shook. Jack shouted in surprise.

“What did you do?”

“Huh? I just pulled the candlestick.”

“Can’t you tell me before you pull stuff like that?”

“No, I didn’t think I was going to pull it.”

“Then why did you pull it!”

“Calm down, both of you. I don’t think we are falling into a trap or anything like that.”

Randell calmed them both down and pointed to the bottom.

“I think it opened something here.”

“Hold on.”

Jack approached, patted the floor, looked at it, and removed the carpet. Then a downward passage was revealed.

“This is the fifth floor, isn’t it?”

Nina frowned. Jack rubbed his chin and said,

“There must be a wide gap between the rooms on the fourth floor and fifth. It’s not a very large area. How did you find it?”

“The spirit told me.”

“I’ll be damned.”

Jack sighed and said to Randell.

“Would you like to go down? It seems narrow for the two of us to go together.”

Randell nodded his head with a stiff face and descended below the narrow ladder.

He let out a sight.

“Everything important is here.”

“That’s a relief. Let’s get it.”

He carefully placed the research material in the backpack Jack had sent him down. Then something poked Nina’s behind and she reflexively swung her dagger and turned around.

“What?”

Surprised Jack also took a defensive stance.

“No, something poked my butt······?”

Tuk. Then she heard the sound of something falling, and when she looked on the floor, she saw an old notebook the size of half the palm of her hand. Nina wrinkled her eyes and looked at her wrist.

North Wind shone faintly in the Winter crest.

‘Isn’t this a bit harsh?’

Nina said as she picked up a notebook that must have been stabbed in her buttocks and opened it up.

“I guess I just got stabbed while this was being moved by the wind.”

“You’re already losing your touch.”

“Yeah······. well······.”

The notebook had contents that she did not know whether it was graffiti or miscellaneous rumors.

However, it was written by date.

“Ah.”

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Nina waved her hand and put the notebook inside her pocket.

Randell came up with a heavy backpack. After covering the secret room again, pressing down the candlestick to close it, the three returned to their hideout.

“It’s very easy to steal.”

“I know.”

When Randell took the materials out of his backpack, Nina pulled the hem off his clothes.

“Randell.”

“What?”

“Come here for a second. I have something to show you.”

She dragged him out of the house and took out the notebook.

“Here. I found it earlier.”

“What is it?”

“Diary? It also says the day he brought you.”