Chapter 256 Open World (5)

Chapter 256 Open World (5)

Open World (5)

The Ruin Scholar's signature fire magic was as vicious as his notoriety.

Even with countless people gathered from all over the city, it was all they could do to prevent the flames from spreading further.

In the end, the fire was only extinguished after seven school masters joined forces and cast a spell.

Swaaaaaaaaa!

Rain poured down as if the sky had opened up.

“Waaaaaaaaaa!”

Some cheered as they saw the flames dying down, some sighed in relief, and some just collapsed to the ground as if they didn't even have the energy to shout.

For reference, I was the last case.

“...Damn it.”

It’s finally over.

My heated body cooled down quickly, and my tension also dissipated.

I collapsed to the ground and lay down.

And I immediately regretted it.

“Ha.”

The lukewarm ground.

The ashes that had been flying all night were mixed with rainwater, making it sticky.

It was an environment that would make anyone feel uncomfortable.

But I was too tired to get up again.

After some time...

“Oh my god! I thought you were hurt!”

...I opened my eyes, and Raven was looking down at me.

“...But you’re not really hurt, right?”

“I’m just resting because I’m tired, so leave me alone.”

“If you’re going to rest, you should go back and wash up proper—”

“Later.”

“Okay. You worked hard...”

I got up after lying down for a few more minutes.

Because the water had reached my ears.

The drainage here wasn’t very good.

“...You also look like a mess.”

“You’re one to talk.”

We walked towards the undamaged part of the city, covered in black soot.

We saw people everywhere.

Some were desperately searching for someone they had lost, and some were rummaging through the debris, hoping to find survivors.

They all looked like us.

“By the way, what time is it?”

“It’s almost noon.”

Noon on June 2nd...

It was a bit funny.

Until now, only explorers would be in this state at this time.

“The rain has stopped.”

The dark clouds that had filled the sky dispersed, and warm sunlight started to shine through, as if the mages had deactivated their magic.

And at the same time...

“Bjorn!!”

...I saw Misha in the distance.

Ainar and Erwen were also next to her.

So they had also come after hearing the news last night.

Judging by their appearance, which was no different from ours, they must have also struggled to put out the fire all night.

“...Are you hurt anywhere?”

Although I was worried she might nag me, Misha didn’t say anything.

It was because of the people around us.

“Mr, Mr. Viscount Yandel...!”

The few survivors I had rescued last night.

Well, she couldn’t ask me why I did that in front of them.

“Why are you still here? Shouldn’t you be resting?”

The survivors hesitated and expressed their gratitude as I spoke as if I didn’t understand.

And then they left.

What, they waited all this time just to say that?

‘Then they shouldn’t have been so afraid of me just because I’m a noble.’

I chuckled and continued walking.

The undamaged eastern district soon appeared.

We first found a place to stay nearby.

We couldn’t take a carriage home in this state.

And in the first place, it would take several hours to get home, and I wanted to rest now.

‘I wonder how much it costs per night in Karnon...’

It was expected to be much more expensive than the commercial district, Commelby, since it was the Imperial City, but I couldn’t find out the price today.

Because it was free.

“The manager ordered us not to charge anyone today.”

All the accommodations nearby were offering rooms for free to the citizens and explorers who had come to help put out the fire.

“Please fill out this form before you go up... Viscount Bjorn Yandel?!”

“Yes.”

“I’ve heard a lot about you. They said you worked the hardest today... On behalf of the city, thank you.”

I don’t know if it was because of my noble title or my fame.

But the employee at the counter gave me the largest room they had left.

The others were sharing a room with fourteen people?

It had a living room, three bedrooms, and even two bathrooms, so it was more than enough for the five of us.

“You use one of the bathrooms, Bjorn. We’ll take turns using the other one.”

“Thank you.”

I entered the bathroom and washed up, not refusing my companions’ consideration. It took about an hour, even though I tried to wash up quickly.

‘I’ll wash the borrowed equipment and return it later...’

To somehow survive and fight another day.

But did that catch his eye?

[So this is the face of the leader of the rebels. I’m surprised you look so normal.]

A knight soon arrived in front of him.

The dazzling Aura emanating from his sword told him who he was.

[The Knight of Light...!]

Jerome Saintred, the captain of the 1st Royal Knight Order.

A powerful figure who held great significance in this kingdom, even having the title of ‘Protector of the Royal Family’.

[Don’t worry. You won’t die here. I’ll just cut off your limbs and take you alive, just in case.]

The Knight of Light swung his sword.

The Lord, who had only explored up to the 5th floor for a few years in his twenties, couldn’t even see it.

Whoosh!

A flash of light blinded him, following the trajectory of the sword.

But...

Flash!

...when the fleeting flash faded and he opened his eyes...

“...?”

...he was fine.

His arms moved, and his legs were still attached to his body.

What the hell happened?

That’s when, as he was wondering...

[You still have a role to fulfill.]

...the old man appeared, dozens of meters above ground.

The battle around them had stopped.

It wasn’t voluntary.

Just like how the Knight of Light was trembling, his sword pointed at the Lord’s neck, no one here could move to harm another.

As if it were a rule of this space.

[Well, now that everyone’s here, let’s go.]

A giant magic circle started glowing on the city floor as the old man gestured.

It was an overwhelming magical energy he had never felt before.

[Fortunately, this is still working.]

His vision blurred at the old man’s mutter.

And...

Flash!

...when he came to his senses, the Lord was in a dark underground passage.

And it wasn’t just him.

Everyone from Noark was there...

[Wh, what did you do?!]

[Mass Teleportation? No, there’s no way you can transport this many people...]

...and there were even a few knights who were dragged along.

[There seems to be a slight error since I transported so many people at once. Ah, I didn’t bring them on purpose, so just kill them.]

The Lord, as if possessed, followed the old man’s instructions and had his men kill the knights. And he followed the old man, who started walking with a meaningful smile, as he asked where they were.

After some time...

“Have you figured out who he is?”

...the Lord snapped out of his thoughts at a man’s voice.

Surprisingly, the captain of Orculus was speaking to the old man with respect.

“Well, there’s no answer if there’s no question.”

“So you’re saying to figure it out myself. Okay.”

The captain, who had been at odds with the Lord in many aspects, dividing Noark’s power, obediently bowed and stepped back.

Although it was a strange sight...

...the Lord’s curiosity about the old man grew even further.

‘Just who is he?’

He thought about asking the captain.

After all, he was the one who told his members to stay put and not act rashly as soon as they were teleported.

He must have known something.

But...

‘He wouldn’t tell me.’

Instead of asking the captain, the Lord approached the old man. And he actively tried to have a conversation that he couldn’t before because of a strange sense of unease.

Unexpectedly, the old man was very friendly.

“Ah, you’re talking about the teleportation? I just borrowed the power of the ancient magic circle in the city, so don’t think too much of it. It’s the same for being able to temporarily stop the battle. Noark is a well-designed city.”

“I didn’t even know something like that existed...”

“Kekeke, it’s strange that you would know. Don’t be discouraged. So is that all you’re curious about?”

The Lord asked the old man various questions, and the old man answered most of them, except for the question about their destination.

After some time...

“Well, we’re here.”

The narrow passage widened, and a sloped path appeared.

And...

“What is this place...?”

...they came out to the surface after climbing the hill.

The Lord could confidently say that it was a sight he had never seen before.

Sunlight, a forest, a flowing stream, chirping birds, and a worm wriggling on the damp ground.

And most importantly...

“There are no walls...?”

No matter where he looked, there were no walls.

In other words, it meant that they weren’t in Lafdonia, the last bastion.

“Wh, where is this...?”

The Lord muttered blankly and turned towards the old man. He could see the old man smiling beneath his hood.

“Congratulations. You’ll be recorded as the first people to leave the city in thousands of years.”

June 2nd, 154th year of the Change Era.

The era of being trapped behind walls had finally come to an end, and a new world had opened up.