Chapter 14 - The Water Source of the Northern Forest
On the journey from the mountain hut, I was simply focused on climbing the mountain path.
Giving up on fox hunting, we soaked a hemp sack in wolf urine and dragged it along. And then, we reached our intended destination.
There was a waterfall cascading into a large pond.
I had only ever seen waterfalls in pictures. From the edge of a gray cliff surrounded by forest, a ribbon of water flowed down majestically, continuing to roar amidst the constant spray of water.
I couldn't help but stare in fascination.
Going to the shore, there were several square-enclosed areas, which seemed to be the start of the water pipes. The fact that water can be used abundantly in Nakanohara Town is thanks to this facility. This facility has continued to provide fresh water to the town for over sixty years since the construction of the current Nakanohara.
There was a brick building nearby, which was the target Water Supply Management Office.
When we went inside, there was one man. He was the chief engineer, Paul-san. To my surprise, he apparently commutes on foot every day.
When we greeted him, he said, "I've heard the story from the Mayor," and showed us into a room that looked like a reception room. He offered us chairs and served us well-chilled cider. He said it was cooled with water from the waterfall basin.
He asked if any foxes appeared, so I gave a brief account of the events on the way.
"You made a good decision. Pushing yourself when you don't know the ropes is the root of failure."
He praised us. To be honest, I already felt like I had lost, so I was relieved.
On Paul-san's right hand, a ring with a black stone was shining.
I wonder what it is; I feel like I've seen it somewhere before.
As I was trying to remember while looking at the ring, he seemed to notice my gaze.
"Are you curious about this ring?"
He asked me. No matter how I thought about it, this was rude of me.
"Ah, no, it's not like that. I just thought a black stone was rare..."
I became incoherent, but Paul-san didn't seem to mind.
"It's a [Magic-Sealing Ring]. I once fell into darkness."
Suddenly, shocking words came back.
Paul-san's family is a lineage of water and sewage engineers that has lasted for three generations since his grandfather came from the Royal Capital. The water and sewage system of Nakanohara was apparently built with Paul-san's grandfather as the chief engineer.
It's not just about building; maintenance and renovation are also necessary. Since the pipes are underground, it's customary for someone who can use high-level magic in both the earth attribute for digging and filling holes, and the water attribute for the water supply, to become the chief engineer.
Paul-san's father was also a user of high-level magic in both attributes and apparently demonstrated that ability to the fullest. The magic Paul-san was best at was wind attribute magic, but apparently, such things happen often. Paul-san himself and his family didn't seem to mind at all, and they intended to take on a new apprentice to have them succeed the family business.
The cause of the change in situation was the war. When there's a war, thousands of people move. Water aside, sewage is not easy. If left around, it can cause diseases to spread. The staff of the Water Supply Management Office are deployed as rear unit personnel during wartime.
Normally, such engineers do not fight directly on the battlefield. However, unfortunately, they were caught in an encounter in thick fog, and his father and the apprentice were killed in action. While the other remaining staff were being newly deployed, his grandfather, who had retired, reluctantly took over the management of the town's water and sewage. However, perhaps due to overexertion, he fell ill.
Paul-san had been serving as a scout, but since he could use mid-level magic for both earth and wind, he ended up taking over.
"But, as expected, I didn't know the ropes. When I actually tried it, the results were somehow different from my father's or grandfather's. I just couldn't accept it."
He decided to try his specialty, wind magic. As he progressed with his research into wind magic, he apparently became unstable because he used high-level wind magic excessively.
"Anyway, I seemed to be obsessed with the idea that I had to use magic, and I was single-mindedly using the wind magic I had set my sights on. It felt less like I was using magic and more like I was being used by magic."
He must have been exhausted from using too much magic. He was found collapsed alone at the sewage treatment plant and carried to a clinic. I hear that if you continue to use high-level magic while your spirit is drained, your mind can be destroyed, and you can become a shell of a person. Paul-san might have been lucky. The one who put the [Magic-Sealing Ring] on him to prevent a recurrence was apparently a young priest from the church.
According to Paul-san, [Magic-Sealing] magic is high-level holy magic. A ring imbued with that power activates the effect of [Magic-Sealing] magic on the wearer. In Paul-san's case, it apparently makes him unable to use high-level magic.
"I can use up to mid-level magic, so I was able to continue this job. There don't seem to be any records of falling into darkness with mid-level magic."
Saying that, Paul-san laughed brightly. It didn't seem like he had once fallen into darkness.
"It means you shouldn't push yourself too far in anything."
"You have to be careful."
Beatrix bowed her head, saying thank you for telling us.
For her, a mage, falling into darkness is not someone else's problem. Paul-san answering Beatrix's potentially rude question so politely might have been a piece of advice as a senior mage. Incidentally, regarding the matter of that small room, he didn't seem to know the detailed process.
When the conversation reached a break, I tried asking something that had been on my mind since we arrived here.
"What's above the waterfall?"
"Above here, a river continues for a bit, and if you go up that river, there's a lake."
"By any chance, can we go see it?"
I had heard before that there was a lake. I wanted to see a lake. After all, I've never been far from Nakanohara Town. This patrol will be my record for the longest distance traveled.
"Do you want to see it? I can guide you."
I nodded with all my might at Paul-san, who was grinning as if he saw right through me.
A lake following a waterfall. It was worth the effort of climbing up. I feel like the purpose has changed slightly, but it can't be helped. I felt like Beowulf let out a sigh, but I decided not to mind.
I was prepared for a difficult journey if we were to climb to the top of the waterfall, but Paul-san said we could go quite easily.
Leaving the office and walking along the edge of the pond toward the waterfall, we came upon a cliff with a gray rock face. He opened a double door installed in that cliff and we went inside. The floor was polished clean, and water was flowing from the back. One large sled was placed there.
Apparently, we're going on the sled. And for some reason, the order of riding was decided. Beatrix and I were at the front, followed by Beowulf, and Paul-san was at the very back.
"I'm going to set up this pole, can you help me?"
Paul-san inserted a log-like pole into a round hole behind where Beowulf was sitting. When he pulled a rope, a cloth came down and...
"Hold on tight."
Beowulf said to us.
Wait, wait, I have nothing but a bad feeling about this.
"Here we go! Hyahhaaaaa!"
Paul-san let out a war cry. It was like he had become a different person.
"[Favorable Wind]!"
The cloth that came down from the pole was the sled's sail. It swelled as it caught the wind generated by Paul-san's magic. Once the sled started moving forward, it suddenly changed its angle upward and began to accelerate diagonally toward the light visible at the end of the hole, as if... as if... it were... f-f-flying...
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Stop ittttttttttt! I'm gonna dieeeeeeeeee! Let me off, let me offfffffffffffffff!"
And then, when I realized it, the surroundings had become bright. Apparently, we reached the top.
"How was it? It was fun, wasn't it?"
I had already exhausted the energy to even answer. Why are there so many old men in this town who are bad for the heart...
A mystical sight spread out before us where we had flown up. The lake surrounded by forest glittered with the occasional wind, and the sound of the waterfall felt as if it were coming from another world far away. The peaks of the far northern mountains shone white in the sunlight.
"Beautiful, isn't it? I realized after recovering from falling into darkness and seeing this scenery. Magic isn't omnipotent."
"You mean this scenery can't be made with magic?"
The clever Beatrix seemed to immediately understand the meaning of Paul-san's words.
"That's right. There are many things it can't do. Rather, there are mostly things it can't do."
Paul-san continued.
"Since the result of doing your best at that time is the best result for you, there was no need to obsess over superiority or inferiority compared to others."
"Even if you fail?"
"You just have to reflect on failure calmly. It can't be helped if you make a mistake, and there's no need to worry. You just have to aim for the next thing. Even if you succeed at something, the best at that time won't necessarily be the best in the future, right? If you're always aiming ahead, every result will have something lacking. Doing what you can seems easy but is difficult. And sometimes, rest is also necessary."
"By seeing this scenery and changing your mood?"
"It rests the mind, doesn't it?"
"It does rest the mind."
The two of them laughed aloud together.
Hmm, I wonder why mages' talk is always so difficult?
"Can you see that fog?"
Paul-san pointed to the middle of the lake. Was it fog? Something white was covering it, and the other side couldn't be seen.
"That is the island within the lake within the island within the lake."
"Wait a minute, wait a minute, a lake within an island within a lake?"
"No, one is missing."
"I don't get it, I don't get it, what do you mean?"
Even the usually sharp Beatrix was confused.
Actually, what is he saying... wait? By any chance, have I heard of this?
"Could it be [the Primal Ruins]?"
"Ho, you knew. As expected of a priestess."
[The Primal Ruins] is said to be the place where our ancestors first encountered the Goddess. Originally, it was just an island in a lake, but as a result of the prayer to protect the place where they met the Goddess from monsters being heard, a mysterious terrain protected by a double barrier of water and earth was created within the island. That is the island within the lake within the island within the lake.
There is a legend that a temple was built on the small island in the middle, but it is covered by a barrier of water and wind that rejects everything—namely, fog—and now no one can approach it. It's said that the boats of those who enter the fog find themselves facing the opposite direction before they know it, heading out of the fog.
To think it was here.
"Is it the real thing?"
It's always mages who say such sacrilegious things at times like this.
"Who knows. It might be one of several fakes."
It's always mages who say such sacrilegious things at times like—wait, what!
"Are there fakes of [the Primal Ruins]?"
"That's right," Paul-san replied simply. It was a surprise.
"From what I've heard, there are four locations in total. Since they're called [the Primal Ruins], there's probably only one real one."
How should I put it? Why are there fakes?
"I don't know if it's true or false, though. There's a rumor that those ruins and the church in Nakanohara are connected by an underground passage."
"If that's true, it's definitely a fake, isn't it?"
It's just as Beatrix says. Digging an underground passage to enter a temple protected by a barrier created by the Goddess... it's not like we're grave robbers...
"Well, it's just a rumor. Now then, shall we head down soon?"
For the descent, I was told to sit in the back. I thought it would be better since I wasn't in the front, but we slid down backward. It goes without saying that all three of us screamed.