The First Gate (6)
“So you should’ve sent the signal faster so we could respond too—”
“And what the hell were you doing, not even helping the 3rd Legion Assault Unit fight?”
“Ah, Evan!!”
Central Front gate city residential district. Search Unit ward emergency room.
The search unit members who had been noisily chatting while wrapped in bandages all over their bodies sprang upright the moment they saw Lennok.
“Sit.”
Lennok stopped the members awkwardly trying to salute and looked around the room.
“You seem to be holding up fairly well.”
“We broke some bones and got burned, but at least all our limbs are still attached.”
Uluric, the search unit member who had escorted Lennok, laughed as he thumped the bandage wrapped around his shoulder.
“We were lucky enough just to make it back alive after running into lunatics like the Legion.”
“That’s right. Stuff like this heals up fast if we rest for about a week!”
“Haken. You nearly died, so please rest for at least two weeks.”
The search unit members laughed as they smacked each other’s bandaged injuries.
Lennok watched them for a moment, then pulled out two small bottles of ointment from inside his coat.
“It’s medicine effective for pain. It’s valuable, so share it among yourselves.”
“Oh dear, you really didn’t have to…”
“Isn’t it customary to bring only your feelings when visiting patients?”
Even while saying that, the members eagerly accepted and pocketed the ointment Lennok had given them.
They also knew that medicine gifted by a high-ranking mage like Lennok was no ordinary item.
“There was an incident in the middle, but fortunately nobody died.”
After glancing around once, Lennok rose to his feet.
“I’ll be going. If there’s a chance, let’s meet again next time.”
After spending three days with the search unit and being guided to the gate, it felt necessary to at least check whether they were safe.
Fortunately, there did not seem to be any fatalities, but every member who had fought the 3rd Legion Assault Unit would need time to recuperate.
Once he started moving to enter the Conjoining Sorcerer’s operating theater, it would become difficult to spare any time.
Perhaps this very moment was the last bit of leisure he would have in the gate city.
Just as Lennok thought that and tried to leave the emergency room without lingering—
“Evan.”
Uluric, who had been rewrapping his bandages while applying the ointment, suddenly tossed something toward Lennok.
Lennok extended a hand to catch it, but it missed completely and fell to the floor.
“…Huh?”
“What’s this?”
Ignoring Uluric tilting his head in confusion, Lennok picked it up.
A small key that looked like a car key.
Uluric belatedly came to his senses and explained.
“It’s the ignition key for an Armis mechanical warhorse issued to gate search unit members.”
“Mechanical warhorse?”
Was he referring to the mechanical bikes the search unit rode?
“Ever since you came to the Front, you didn’t have anything proper to ride, so you spent all three days riding on the back seat of a bike, didn’t you?”
“It’s made from shape-memory alloy produced in the Central City, and it has Armor Magic built into it, so in emergencies it can even be used as armor to protect the wearer.”
As Lennok fell into thought, Uluric grinned.
“I won’t be going on operations for a while anyway, so I’d like to say I lost it during a mission and give it to you, Evan.”
“Uluric, are you seriously embezzling military supplies right in front of us?”
“If you’ve got a problem with it, return all the ointment you got from Evan.”
Watching the members immediately start bickering, Lennok tucked the key into his coat.
“I’ll return it on my way back. I’ll accept it gratefully.”
“Ah, and this is something I heard from another search battalion patrolling inside the gate.”
Hesitating, Uluric glanced at the ointment Lennok had given him before speaking with difficulty.
“There are rumors that another one of Deadrise’s Legions is currently stationed near the Front.”
“Another Legion?”
“Yes. I don’t know why, but apparently they suddenly moved their camp near the gate within the past few days.”
If another Legion of Deadrise had suddenly moved near the gate, what could the reason be?
At the very least, it could not possibly be unrelated to the whereabouts of Lennok, who had defeated Roberide of the 3rd Legion.
Uluric seemed to feel no further explanation was needed and nodded with a stiff expression.
“Please be careful. If you need help, we’ll come running anytime.”
“Evan. Thank you so much for saving our lives!!”
“Please stay healthy no matter what!!”
“……”
“…Right. Thank you.”
Everyone fighting on the Central Front could end up dying somewhere at any time and be discovered as a corpse without anyone finding it strange.
Saying they should meet again was nothing more than a luxury, yet they still remembered to wish for each other’s safety.
Leaving behind the sight of the search unit members rising from their beds and saluting in unison, Lennok walked out of the emergency room.
The moment he stepped outside, the medical staff waiting beyond the door bowed deeply.
“Thank you for helping the gate search unit, Martinez.”
“May the blessings of God be upon everything the Eyes of the Blue do…”
“If you ever need medicine, please contact this number. There are rare medicinal ingredients found only near the gate.”
With both hands clasped together, they conveyed their earnest wishes to Lennok as though offering a prayer.
There was unmistakable admiration in the expressions and gazes of the ward personnel.
Had they been moved by the fact that Lennok saved the search unit in the battle against the 3rd Legion and even remembered to visit the wounded?
He had not done it with his reputation in mind, but it was not bad for Treadburn’s fame to spread in this direction.
The more the name Evan Martinez spread in a direction opposite to Bolt, the more things Lennok would be able to do using this identity.
As he emerged from the dark emergency room hallway, Bernard, who had been leaning against the wall, tilted his head toward Lennok.
“To think you’d spare time for search unit members you were only with for a few days. You really are as compassionate as the rumors say.”
“……”
“And the way you completely ignore anything unrelated to your interests too. Seems the rumors in the Center aren’t as exaggerated as I thought.”
“Is that all you had to say?”
When Lennok simply shut his mouth and ignored him, Bernard shrugged unconcernedly.
“Well, I don’t care how you spend your final maintenance time, but if you’re ready, shall we go right away?”
As he spoke, Bernard lightly gestured toward Lennok.
“Let’s head straight to the black market. We’ll start by meeting the Watcher there.”
***
“This way.”
Clunk, clunk!!
After passing through a dark corridor without even lamps, a splendid night street sparkling with starlight came into view.
Brilliant lanterns, ear-splitting music, and the pungent scent of strong spices stabbing at the nose.
A bustling night street overflowing with vitality to the point it was dizzying just to stand still.
Was it merely his imagination that the heat of this black market felt exceptionally intense even within the gate city?
“A black market created by remodeling an outer mining excavation site. It’s the place where the most people and money move within this city.”
“What kinds of things are usually traded in the black market?”
“If it’s an item the Center can’t officially display, what else would it be?”
Shrugging as he answered with a question, Bernard pointed toward one corner of the underground cavern.
Looking at the humans packed tightly behind rusty bars, Bernard spoke.
“Humans. Beastfolk hybrids. And all sorts of rare demi-human races. The slave trade.”
“Prisoners defeated in war, or shields to be used in war. Major powers are deeply entangled in it, so even the search unit can’t recklessly interfere.”
Bernard shrugged and gestured toward Lennok.
“According to the information we obtained, the Watcher scheduled for surgery will be visiting the black market tonight.”
Pointing toward a golden tower glowing blue at the end of the black market street, Bernard continued.
“The meeting place is Hwachungryu, located in the central commercial district of the black market. It has many rooms and excellent security, so influential figures who want to avoid surveillance often use it.”
“Hwachungryu…”
“I reserved the room directly next to the top-floor private suite reserved by the Eyes of the Blue Watcher. Once we enter Hwachungryu, we’ll have to watch the timing and make direct contact.”
Bernard turned toward Lennok.
“An organization as closed-off as the Eyes of the Blue wouldn’t even listen unless the other party was a former Watcher too. This is probably the method that minimizes resistance from their side the most.”
The commercial district where high-rise buildings clustered within the black market.
Lennok stared at the conspicuous blue golden tower among them, then immediately began walking.
“I’ll head there first.”
“You sure you don’t want to look around the black market while we still have time left? There are some goods only sold here.”
“As I said, we first need to confirm who this Watcher is before we can prepare countermeasures.”
Passing through the lanterns of the splendid commercial district, Lennok answered.
“Depending on the Watcher, we may need to change our method of persuasion. In the worst case, they may even pick a fight with us.”
“…Looks like leaving the Eyes of the Blue didn’t end very pleasantly.”
“Well…”
Lennok smirked at Bernard’s question.
“I don’t really know what they think on their side.”
There were many high-ranking Watchers of the Eyes of the Blue that Lennok remembered, but their personalities varied wildly.
Among them were those hostile toward Evan, and Watchers loyal only to Lapis.
When meeting a Watcher together with the leaflet after Evan had left the Eyes of the Blue, there was no way of knowing how they would react.
In that case, it was important for their side to first determine the other party’s identity and think of a way to persuade them.
“If that’s how you feel, I’ll guide you straight to Hwachungryu.”
Bernard smiled bitterly and nodded.
“Come this way. We have to take a bit of a detour to get to the room I reserved.”
“I don’t mind walking, but…”
As he spoke, Lennok glanced around the street.
Ever since arriving in the middle of the black market’s night streets earlier, he had been feeling strange gazes sticking to his face.
At first subtle, then gradually becoming more blatant as time passed.
At the same time, whispers directed toward Lennok began rising from all around the street.
“Look over there. It’s Evan Martinez.”
“It really is. That flame-heat mage…”
“He looks exactly the same as when he burned Vulcan. Not a bit changed.”
More than half the superhumans entering and leaving the black market seemed to recognize Lennok immediately.
People whispered from a distance without directly approaching him.
“I heard he left the Eyes of the Blue. Why’s he at the gate?”
“Maybe he’s here to meet with some major power?”
“Did you hear the rumors? The moment he arrived at the Central Front, Lieutenant General Robert Roberide—”
“Quiet. It’s still just a rumor. Do you even know who’s here?”
Curiosity and interest. Admiration and wariness.
Every step he took through the streets drew gazes. The moment he turned his head, they vanished as if washed away.
It was not fear toward Lennok, but curious gazes like people observing a famous celebrity.
Only then did Lennok realize the true nature of those gazes and emotions, and inwardly smile bitterly.
‘To think I’d realize here just how famous the name Treadburn has become on the Central Front.’
He had heard that what happened in Vulcan became incredibly famous, dramatically changing Treadburn’s reputation.
But he never imagined other Central powers and superhumans would show this much curiosity toward Treadburn.
It was treatment entirely different in nature from when he walked around burdened with Bolt’s infamy.
Bernard shrugged and headed toward the entrance of the blue glowing golden tower.
The attendant who received Bernard’s business card slightly covered her mouth in surprise.
“Ah! From the Pioneers…”
After alternating glances between Lennok and Bernard, the attendant quickly returned to a smile and bowed deeply.
“You reserved VIP Room No. 3 for 9 PM. I will guide you.”
They boarded a luxurious elevator located in the center of the golden tower and headed for the top floor.
Leaning against the elevator wall, Angel asked incredulously.
“So this is how you reserved seats at such a high-end restaurant so easily? You used the name of the Pioneers?”
“To be precise, I used Odin’s name.”
“Odin?”
“He means Odin Meyers, the leader of the Pioneers.”
Angel answered instead.
“A Level 7 Ranger and Level 8 Pathfinder. A hero of the Sanctuary known as the Guide. I heard all contact was lost after the Pioneers disbanded…”
“Odin loved the food at this Hwachungryu, so the Pioneers’ name was still left on the reservation priority list.”
Saying that, Bernard stepped into the far end of the top-floor hallway.
“Since nobody uses the name anymore, I figured I should make good use of it so it won’t be forgotten.”
Though he said it casually, Bernard clearly still held attachment toward the explorer organization called the Pioneers.
They passed through hallways decorated in blue and gold silk and entered a spacious room lined with folding screens.
The circular table had already been fully prepared, simply waiting for the food to arrive.
Terraced floors extended beside the hallway, designed so the stage prepared on the top floor could be seen clearly from below.
Judging from the microphones and speakers placed there, perhaps they invited performers for music and songs.
“The room reserved by the Watcher is Room No. 2. The reservation time is the same as ours—9 PM.”
The moment they arrived at VIP Room No. 3 on the top floor, Bernard sharply turned his gaze toward Lennok.
“Local time is 8:55 PM. Considering the elevator ride, they’re definitely somewhere inside this Hwachungryu.”
“……”
“So? Can you detect the Watcher’s location and identity from here?”
“……No.”
Lennok, who had closed his eyes and spread his mana detection, replied.
“I can’t sense the Watcher’s presence anywhere inside this Hwachungryu.”
“What?”
“At the very least, there’s no mana reaction inside this golden tower that could be presumed to belong to the Eyes of the Blue.”
“That means…”
Angel turned a troubled look toward Bernard.
They had never considered the possibility that the Eyes of the Blue Watcher simply hadn’t come to the black market at all.
“So the information was wrong from the beginning?”
“…The possibility is low. I personally obtained and checked the reservation list managed by Hwachungryu’s proprietor.”
Bernard spoke with a contemplative expression.
“There was no customer name listed, but it was certain the Eyes of the Blue reserved Room No. 2 today. But for the Watcher not to come…”
“You said there was an easy method and a difficult method to enter the Conjoining Sorcerer’s operating theater.”
Lennok continued speaking while maintaining his mana detection.
“Tell me about the difficult method too.”
“There’s not much point discussing the difficult method at this stage.”
Bernard shrugged.
“The Conjoining Sorcerer shows great interest in possessors of unique arts and talents. He invites such people and speaks with them personally. And in most cases, he kills them and turns them into subjects for dissection.”
“……”
“It’s not like nobody ever survived after being invited into the operating theater. But most of those who did survive went insane, or became grotesque monsters and died shortly afterward.”
“If your brigade investigated the Conjoining Sorcerer that thoroughly, why hasn’t the leaflet acted yet?”
“Most of the Ability Awakening Brigade’s core forces are currently deployed deep inside the Curtain. To secure the route to the Four Heavenly Demon Realms from the forward base Paradox Red that the brigade secured.”
Bernard explained.
“Separate from the war between the Federation and the Cult, the atmosphere deeper inside the Front is vicious beyond words. If the balance collapses, one faction could get devoured instantly. Especially the True Harmony Lost Paradise spread along the outskirts of the Front… Oops.”
Covering his own mouth as though he had misspoken, Bernard smiled bitterly and nodded.
“From here on, it’s something I can’t talk about directly myself. You understand, right?”
True Harmony Lost Paradise.
Lennok also knew what those words meant, and why they could not be spoken openly.
If the brigade’s forces and operations extended all the way there and became entangled, it was only natural he could not explain the exact circumstances.
As Lennok thought that and tried to say something—
“Someone just arrived in Room No. 2.”
“The Watcher arrived just now?”
“I don’t know exactly who the presence belongs to, but…”
At the very least, it was certain that the being who had entered that room was directly connected to the Eyes of the Blue.
If so, they needed to proceed according to plan and contact them immediately for an explanation.
Without hesitation, Lennok left the room and threw open the door to Room No. 2 beside it.
Bang!!
Behind measured footsteps with hands clasped behind his back, a crimson robe fluttered, faint heatwaves swirling around its edges.
The guest calmly seated in the place of honor inside the room stroked his chin with one hand and extended the other.
Lifting the teapot to pour tea into the cup before him, he finally spoke.
“You barge in without even being granted permission to enter. It seems I must teach you proper etiquette again. Even after I gave ample warning, you made no preparations, so I had no choice but to personally take measures to shut your ears.”
The middle-aged man with blazing red hair brushed it back and leisurely tilted his head toward Lennok.
“Or perhaps you still have questions remaining about the current situation?”
The other party spoke incomprehensible words the moment Lennok entered the room.
But Bernard and Angel’s expressions froze cold the instant they saw the face of the man seated in the place of honor.
A speech pattern so rigid it felt overbearing.
Heat coiling and blazing around his entire body with every breath.
Despite his pale complexion and tired expression, the pressure he exuded could not be hidden.
Because they clearly understood that this was the bearing of a powerhouse capable of converting actual mana into elemental form and scattering it outward.
“No way…!!”
Even Bernard failed to hide his agitation and stepped back, while Lennok instead took a step forward.
“I have mountains of questions.”
Pulling out the chair opposite him and sitting down, Lennok poured tea into his own cup as well.
“But I’m not sure yet whether you’re the one I should be asking.”
Lifting the teacup slowly, Lennok stared at the man with cold eyes.
“Master of the Blaiver Magic Tower. What brings you here, the former administrator of the First Gate?”
The secret meeting at Hwachungryu arranged by a high-ranking Watcher of the Eyes of the Blue.
Yet the one who appeared there was not a Watcher Lennok knew, but an 8th-level flame-heat mage.
The very Master of the Blaiver Magic Tower himself, who had overseen the First Gate before the Conjoining Sorcerer.
“If you are aware of my movements, then this conversation will proceed quickly.”
Yet the Tower Master merely smiled gently without wavering at Lennok’s words.
“Well, a sorcerer like yourself would naturally be capable of that. That is also why I personally came here today.”
“……”
With a smile that almost appeared benevolent, he nodded toward Lennok.
“Sit. As a mage who walks the same flame-heat path, there is advice I wish to give you.”