Chapter 423 - Adults Working Together
An unfamiliar magic circle released a mysterious spell, and before we could determine its effects, strange occurrences began. Immediately, I noticed the sensation under my feet. The gritty sand beneath me seemed to sink slightly, as if the solid ground underneath was gradually turning to sand and sinking deeper.
Not only that, but sand started falling from above. 'The rock layers are... turning into sand?' The falling sand was irksome, and this was clearly a very bad situation.
We were deep underground, and it was hard to fathom just how far down we were. Gulgandi must have used his last spell with his life on the line, and it was inconceivable that it would only turn a little bit of rock into sand. If the ceiling turned to sand, a terrifying amount would pour down, burying us alive.
'It’s not powerful enough to take us with it, though,' I thought. While the hard layers of rock were gradually turning to sand, the process was remarkably slow, and the spell’s range seemed limited. It was impossible for everything to turn to sand indefinitely, and it was likely confined to the initial wave of magic. Therefore, retreating fifty meters down a corridor would easily let us escape being buried alive.
There was no need to rush. The spell’s scale and speed allowed for a calm and orderly retreat. Yet, I found it curious. For a last-ditch effort that risked a life, it seemed disappointingly weak. Was this all it took?
When I looked at the Gulgandi troops, they were all already dead. For such skilled individuals, their final move being this weak spell seemed implausible. Something was off.
As sand rained down, our members, perplexed, continued to destroy the undead, even securing Dromarius. With Valeria using Combat Body Transformation Magic and a top-tier wind mage, it was a straightforward task. Afterward, they gathered near me, and we briefly discussed retreating.
The goal was achieved; the enemy was defeated. Retreating posed no issues.
However, Anastasia Union members were suddenly channeling magic. 'What are they planning to do?'
Many of them were struggling to infuse magic into the walls and floor, likely attempting to nullify the spell with magical interference. However, the spell had already taken effect, and they lacked the power to overwrite it. The spell, cast by nearly a dozen powerful mages at the cost of their lives, was fueled by an immense amount of magic. Even if I were in perfect condition and used Combat Body Transformation Magic, overwriting it would be a formidable task. Our entire team, including Valeria, would likely still fail to stop this gradual rock-to-sand transformation.
'They seem to be trying to nullify the spell instead of escaping... but it’s probably futile,' I observed.
'Something about them feels determined, even if it’s a lost cause,' another added.
'They must have a reason. They might know Gulgandi’s real intention,' I hypothesized.
Fortunately, we still had time. Before retreating, I wanted to understand Anastasia Union’s plan. They seemed pressed for time, so perhaps feigning help would get them to talk.
'I’ll ask,' Roberta said casually, heading over to the Anastasia Union group. As she did, I observed their movements, and one of them began ascending from the underground space, seemingly using a rope hanging from above.
'Might it lead to the surface?' I wondered, squinting through the sand-dimmed space. The rope appeared to provide a way out.
'How did the Young Masters get down here?' I mused. They must have used this path instead of the long underground corridor. If we could use it to escape, it would be much easier.
I was pondering this when a voice rang out. '—Just hurry up and do something!'
The Young Master, now conscious, was yelling at his companions. Roberta seemed hesitant to approach.
Despite the urgency, I found their desperation troubling. Rather than observe from a distance, I decided we should all move closer.
The Anastasia Union members noticed our approach but focused on their magic, seemingly oblivious to our presence.
'What are they up to? They should just run,' I thought.
'Kikyo Society! If you have any spare energy, help us!' the Young Master shouted, still kneeling. His caretakers were surprised but welcomed us with less hostility.
'They must have a reason to ask for our help. This could create a debt for us to call in later,' I thought.
I was incredibly tired, but I could manage a little longer. I approached the Young Master, who seemed unusually agitated, and asked sternly, 'Alright. What do you need help with?'
Despite my intimidating tone, the Young Master, usually one to argue, maintained a serious expression. 'We have to stop the collapse of the underground. If you don’t know what’s above us, I’ll tell you. The Royal Palace is right above.'
'Well, well, that is quite a revelation. So the underground tunnel led to such a place. Gulgandi’s aim was the Royal Palace. If they succeed in bringing it down, it would be a devastating act of terror.'
It all made sense now. Their exhausted state was due to the strenuous digging of the underground space and tunnels. The group that dispersed on the surface was likely a diversion to cover the final preparations underground. Thanks to our swift action, the ongoing magical disturbances were noticed, leading to the Young Masters’ presence here.
The exact reason for the Young Masters’ presence was irrelevant at the moment.
I turned to my team and gave them instructions. 'Gather sand and build a mountain that reaches the ceiling. If you run out, get more from the corridor. Valeria, you can do this quickly, right?'
'Onee-sama, if you need it, I can provide enough sand to fill this place,' Violante offered.
'Hmm, we don’t have that much time, but gather as much as you can, quickly. Everyone else, focus on consolidating the sand. I’ll cast the final spell once everything is ready.'
Without further ado, they sprang into action. Valeria used her Collapse Magic to reduce solid rock into vast amounts of dust, which another team member sent over with a general wind spell. Yet another member used magic to forcefully blow the sand and dust toward the center of the underground space, creating what appeared to be a chaotic mess.
In reality, Violate’s wind magic was expertly gathering everything, including the falling sand, into a central pile. It was a magnificent display of coordinated magical prowess.
The mountain of sand and dust grew rapidly, and other team members worked to solidify and shape it. It was an awkwardly thick, cylindrical structure that filled about half of the underground space. Despite its crude appearance, it was a marvel of brute-force magic.
Once the initial shape was formed, the construction speed accelerated. The mountain grew taller and more imposing, rising two meters, then three.
The Anastasia Union members, seeing no success in their efforts to stop the spell, joined in to help gather and solidify the sand.
'Hey, Kikyo Society. That’s impressive, but can it really support the Royal Palace?' the Young Master, slightly recovered, asked, dragging himself closer.
It was a reasonable doubt. Common sense suggested that a sand pillar couldn’t support the weight of a grand palace. It would crumble instantly, and the palace would follow into the underground.
Without knowing the necessary load-bearing capacity or the center of gravity, even if the pillar held, a slight tilt in the palace would render the operation a failure. A perfect solution would be if, from the surface, it appeared that nothing had happened.
'Not much to lose. There’s no other way to try,' I replied.
'...Damn, we’re good at fighting, but not at this. We’ll do our best,' he conceded.
'This is a big favor you owe us. Remember that. Including the matter with Sigurdnaught, you’re accumulating debts. Pay up when the time comes,' I warned.
'Grr... I’ll pay my debts. Don’t act so high and mighty,' he growled.
He’ll never be able to look me in the eye again. It’s a good thing he’s so straightforward. In the underworld, debts are not to be taken lightly. If he understands that, it’s all well.
'Alright, that’s enough talk. I’ll show you something special,' I said.
The ceiling, already high, had become even higher due to the transformation into sand, likely reaching over thirty meters. The magic turning the rock into sand hadn’t reached the palace’s underground structure, only thinning the rock layer and aiming for collapse. With proper timing, we could prevent the collapse by supporting the ceiling with the pillar.
The underground rock was still turning to sand, but it would likely stop soon. Everyone was using magic to increase the density of the sand and strengthen the column.
Creating something from nothing is more burdensome than using existing materials. With the sand and dust already gathered and shaped, the task was much lighter.
I examined the pillar, which was now as thick as a wall, and touched it to check its stability. '...Good, this is more than sufficient,' I said.
Structural reinforcement magic was second nature to me, an easy task I could handle with one hand.
Seeing me attach to the pillar, the others stopped their spells, and the Anastasia Union members stepped back. That was perfect.
I infused the pillar with magic, quickly taking full control. While I could convert it into metal if I wanted, it was unnecessary and beyond the service I owed.
Using the original rock as a reference, I transformed it into a solid rock pillar, reinforcing the base and ceiling with rock spikes for added stability.
I carefully extended the rock pillar to fill the gaps near the ceiling, where the transformation was still ongoing. It was the most strenuous part, but the end was near.
—And then.
'Alright, it’s done,' I announced.
The quiet underground space resonated with the volume of my voice.
I suppressed a slight nausea from the intense focus, maintaining a composed demeanor despite wanting to sit and rest.
Nearby, Valeria quietly supported me, allowing me to recover subtly.
'Did you... really do it?' one of them asked.
'Yes, the spell turning rock to sand has stopped. No collapse has occurred,' I confirmed.
'Amazing, you did it!' another shouted.
'Well done, indeed!' another added.
Anastasia Union’s younger members were excitedly cheering. Their help wasn’t necessary, but acknowledging our joint effort was good for their morale. They did assist, and without their interference, the palace might have fallen before we arrived.
Additionally, without the information about the palace being underground, we would have retreated. Thus, the Young Masters’ contribution was significant.
'Joint effort in a successful operation. I’ll make sure to report it favorably to the Intelligence Department,' I said.
Enough of this. I didn’t want to stay in this grim, corpse-strewn place any longer.
'Let’s clean up, and we’ll collect Gulgandi’s equipment. It’s a tedious task, but we need to search the bodies,' I instructed.
'Yes, let’s get it done quickly,' one replied.
I wanted to investigate Gulgandi, especially if they truly had an Undead Control Magic Item, which we must secure.
While Anastasia Union members celebrated, we gathered the bodies and stripped them of any useful items.