Chapter 81

Chapter 81 - Entry

Marbas stroked the surface of the castle with a mesmerized face.

"It is a relief that you seem satisfied."

"Satisfied? Such an expression is not enough."

He sniffed and smelled, put his ear to it to hear sounds, and even tasted it by licking.

Eugene recalled the words he had said in the past.

- Since I became a summoner, I have continuously felt the Moving Castle's existence. It felt like it was constantly sending letters to me.

Marbas could not shake off his desire for exploration even while trembling at the energy exuding from the castle, the aura of hell he had tried to distance himself from his entire life.

Occasionally, he would fall back in surprise as if he felt something. But soon, he stuck to the castle as if drawn by a magnet.

"Anyway, magicians are..."

At that sight where madness could be felt, passing knights frowned.

The escort soldiers also sympathized inwardly. They had just forgotten because they were accustomed to the elegant Valda, but magicians are originally half-insane people.

"Sir Marbas."

"What is it?"

"I am saying this just in case it might help with your peace of mind, but."

In Eugene's eyes, Marbas looked as if both his arms were caught between fear and curiosity. He was pulled taut like a tug-of-war rope to the point it was pitiful.

"If something goes wrong during your exploration, please call me anytime. I will run over immediately and wash it away for you. Whether it's heat or chill."

"... Hahaha."

Marbas, who momentarily halted, laughed.

"That's reassuring to hear. Thank you. It seems I was too excited."

Did he gain even a little composure from Eugene's single sentence?

The summoner, who exuded a somewhat scary atmosphere, had returned to his usual benevolent face.

* * *

Valda's return took a few more hours.

Perhaps she had used grand magic, as she showed a somewhat tired complexion. The mercenary escorting her held empty reagent bottles and a scroll that had lost its power.

"What magic did you use?"

"Among forest magic, there is one that penetrates objects to detect heat. It is used to find pests hiding under trees or crops."

'Does it detect infrared rays?'

Being able to even penetrate objects, magic was indeed amazing.

"Isn't scanning a castle of that size asking too much?"

"Because I thought it was the most urgent information."

"That is true."

Duke Ismar and the vassal nobles wanted to know the situation inside the castle.

Right now it is sealed on all sides, so it is just a mysterious artifact. However, what lurks inside is unknown.

Assuming the worst situation, at some point the castle gate might open and monsters could pour out in droves.

"How were the results?"

"The entire castle reminded me of one giant fish. The outer wall is a shell facing cold seawater, and the inside is filled with flesh as if warm blood is circulating."

Eugene recalled the dream he had at the House of Knights. The warmth of the stone wall he felt on his hands and feet.

Since it is a castle that even speaks to him, it wouldn't be strange even if it was alive.

"So we wouldn't know what is inside."

"I am sorry for not being of help."

"Shh... It makes me sad if you say such things."

Eugene reached out his arms and caught Valda dismounting from the horse.

- I am one who runs through the forest. Moving my body and sweating are familiar to me. I can do it myself, so there is no need to try serving me like a superior.

In the early days of their journey, Valda would hop on and off like a ballet dancer whether mounting or dismounting.

But nowadays, she obediently gathered her two legs and waited for Eugene's escort. Because they both wanted that from each other.

* * *

A few days later, Eugene also joined the investigation.

Though he might be somewhat lacking as he is not an orthodox magician, he has a special item. The key he received from Decimus, the guardian of the ancient ruins.

What was sent by express delivery from Northfork, which received the carrier pigeon, finally arrived.

Bzzzzzt.

The thing held in Eugene's hand resonated as he got closely to the Moving Castle. Valda's golden eyes sparkled with interest.

"I can feel the mystery flowing from the key and the castle interlocking as one. The summoner would also want to see this."

"I feel sorry to wake him up."

Marbas was in a deep sleep in a nearby barracks.

"Because he investigated the castle until late at night. Saying there are mysteries that can only be seen when the sun sets."

The mystery connected to the key led the party to a certain spot on the Moving Castle.

Vooom.

The more they followed that flow, the stronger the vibration of the key became.

"It's here."

They finally reached the target spot. It was a place on the outer wall with nothing particularly different.

"I don't see anything that can specifically be called a door."

"Shall we look for a place to insert the key?"

As Eugene nodded, the escort soldiers scattered.

Flash!

At that moment, the key emitted an intense light. As if the bothersome foreign substances had finally all fallen off.

"Huh?"

"S-Sir Knight?"

By the time the mercenaries who had scattered and searched the outer wall turned around in shock, it was already too late.

Not to mention Eugene, even Valda and Homi who were beside him vanished without a trace. Leaving only the warhorses they had been riding left alone.

Pururuk-?

Heehing!

The horses snorted, shocked by the sudden disappearance of their owners' weight.

Clip-clop.

They looked around at each other's stirrups and scanned their surroundings, but to no avail of their admirable behavior, they could find nothing.

* * *

Naturally, the one more surprised was Eugene. Because in an instant, not only the scenery but everything down to the temperature and smell had changed.

The sunny spring outdoors completely disappeared, and a wide corridor blocked on all sides unfolded before his eyes.

It is exactly identical to the corridor in his dream. The interior of a spacious yet luxurious stone building.

One difference is that unlike then, he was equipped with clothes and gear, and he wasn't alone.

"That key..."

Valda pointed above Eugene's palm.

The key that lost its luster was scattering into pieces like ash.

"It seems it was for single use."

"It wasn't meant for inserting and turning, but rather it itself was a single teleporter."

While the two magicians were calmly analyzing the mystery they just experienced, Homi was frozen stiff.

She possessed the body and intellect of a human, but her senses were extremely close to that of a beast.

Familiar smells didn't exude at all, and warning signals of danger she encountered for the first time were constantly stimulating all her senses.

"Homi?"

The fur on her tail standing straight diagonally all stood up.

Eugene had seen such an appearance only once. When the young Homi lost her way alone in the mountains at night and was crying.

Eugene firmly held Homi's hand.

"Hut!"

"Calm down. Because as long as I am here, nothing can harm you."

Squeeze.

Her other hand was held by Valda.

The body temperatures of the two people she trusted most in the world. As the emotions of affection entered through interlaced hands, her heart also calmed down.

"It is magical lighting. It's a truly precious commodity, yet they hung so many."

Even though it's a sealed corridor, the transparent glass tubes installed above emitted light and drove away the darkness.

"Daylight color lighting is really a long time."

"Daylight color?"

"I mean, not yellow and reddish colors like campfires or torches, but a clean white color."

"It's a light that can only be obtained through the sun and magic in the dark. It's a luxury even a king would find hard to enjoy."

"Here it's plastered with such luxury."

Eugene scanned the glass tubes illuminating the entire long corridor.

"Seeing one thing reveals ten, so how much wealth must have gone into this castle..."

"Because civil war even broke out while building this."

By then Homi let go of the hands from the two people.

"Are you okay now?"

Nod nod.

In an emergency situation, a squire cannot become a burden to the knight.

Homi took the air deeply into her lungs and focused her attention on grasping the surroundings.

Since he is a liege with nothing to fear in the world regarding martial prowess, it would be enough for her to become his eyes and nose.

"The air seems clear."

Despite being a sealed-off place, the air was fresh without a speck of dust. As if the circulation and purification of the atmosphere were taking place.

At the sight of the knight looking around with interest, Valda smiled.

"I knew you had nerves of steel, but I didn't know you wouldn't even blink an eye."

"Because it is a place I've been to before. Although it's actually the first time."

"That dream at the House of Knights?"

"Yes."

Eugene clenched his fists and tapped his breastplate and sword handle once each.

"At that time I was naked with bare fists, but what is there to fear now?"

A creature known as a knight is one whose courage endlessly surges if only a usable weapon is held in their hand without any plan.

Pazuzut!

At that moment, the lighting in the corridor flickered.

A group of undead soldiers appeared from the corner of the corridor and were approaching Eugene's party.

"They're quick on their feet. To think they already noticed intruders."

They exuded an evil aura, but they were different from Wights. The soldiers in ancient kingdom attire didn't even have bones, let alone flesh. Only the black haze undulating inside the armor was everything.

However, they were revealing clear hostility with weapons aimed.

"They are Living Armors. Beings created when a magician's magic or vengeful spirits reside in equipment."

"This time it must be the latter."

"Yes. Here is a fortress and at the same time like a spiritual prison. Flowing magic power is being gathered without waste. It is not strange that souls couldn't escape either."

"Because this place is like a spiritual prison..."

It meant that if Eugene's party died here, they too would end up in a similar situation to those Living Armors.

Pazut.

The magical lightings flickered according to the movements of the Living Armors approaching in formation.

"They seem to absorb surrounding magic power to maintain their existence. That must be why the lightings are becoming unstable."

"This level of brightness is enough. Homi, please take care of Lady Valda."

Eugene drew Final Autumn and stepped in front of the two people. The silver blade looked exceptionally radiant.

"Why does it feel different than usual?"

"Because this is a place with extremely dense magic power. The aetherium blade also seems to be influenced by it."

Eugene aimed his sword at the Living Armors.

Clatter.

Was it because of the energy of evil-banishing that had become even stronger? The bastards convulsed for a moment. As if already feeling the magic constituting them scattering.

* * *

Rex, who finished his report at the tribal meeting, was enraged as soon as he arrived in Rostock.

"How the hell did you do your guarding?!"

"We are sorry."

The tribal warriors didn't dare to raise their heads.

- The only salvation lies in the cradle. Find the greatest knight. The custom of hospitality shall be upheld by him.

Defeat numerous strong enemies to prove oneself, equip the key connected to the castle, and even have a dream of being invited to the castle. And finally, the appearance of the Moving Castle.

An accident had occurred when all the puzzles of the prophecy were set. Considering the circumstances, it seemed Eugene was dragged inside the castle whether voluntarily or involuntarily.

No matter how powerful a knight he is, entering that giant unknown place without an army was too dangerous.

"How much were the supplies you had with you?"

"There were none other than individual armaments."

"Damn it."

Eugene traveled around with the Dark Elves and became accustomed to their nomadic culture.

In preparation for emergencies, emergency rations and canteens were always filled, but they were tied to the saddles of the horses.

It was ten million times fortunate that he was wearing armor and holding an aetherium sword. Since whether monster or ghost, he could equally slash them.

"It's not bad that the magician and squire are with him, but having no supplies is."

Rex bit his lip.

The two women are definitely excellent combat forces, but without food and water, they could rather become burdens.

"What about opening the castle gate?"

"We tried, but it's a failure."

Already other investigation teams and magicians had tried to enter using various methods.

- It's a work of the ancients. It cannot be opened no matter what means are used from the outside.

Just as the Dwarf noble who came to watch said, the firmly closed castle gate didn't budge an inch.

Not to mention battering rams, it would be difficult to even scratch it no matter how many rocks were pounded into it by catapults.

"Set up a camp encircling the vicinity. Monitor all the places corresponding to the balconies and windows on top of the castle. For perhaps something might send a signal from the inside."

Eugene's subordinate mercenaries and Marbas also joined in.

"I will speak to Duke Ismar and the guards controlling the area."

"I ask of you, Sir Summoner."

* * *

Thud!

Eugene checked the blade while watching the last Living Armor fall.

"Are you alright?"

"No problem. The blade didn't get damaged even using it more roughly."

"Not the sword, I mean you."

"Do not worry, as I didn't get hit even once."

Eugene, who single-handedly defeated dozens of Living Armors, didn't even have his breathing disturbed.

Because the corridor was wide, a few bastards leaked through the middle, but they were all thoroughly knocked out by Homi's kicks.

"They were easy opponents once I got the hang of it."

At first, he slashed and cleaved them up ignorantly, but realized there was no need to do that.

Even by just penetrating the pitch-black haze, the aetherium blade purified the resentment dwelling in the armor.

-!!!

Afterward, Eugene held the sword with both hands and used only rapid thrusts while hitting and running.

Thwack!

Piercing a hole in the armor.

Swish!

Or cleanly digging smoothly into the gaps between the armors entirely.

Either way, a Living Armor that lost its spiritual energy became a simple piece of iron and poured onto the floor.

"We need to slowly find a place to stay. Knowing the feeling, it seems it's night now."

As long as Eugene is human, he needs rest. They needed a safe zone since they couldn't sleep in an open corridor like this.

But he couldn't even get a feel for which direction to go from the crossroad corridor they were at right now.

Pazuzut.

The magical lightings lined up on one side of the corridor flickered violently, then began to turn off from afar.

Clatter!

Thud! Thud!

There are new beings approaching from the dark beyond. They were completely different from the Living Armor soldiers from earlier from the sound and presence.

"Damn it."

The moment Eugene spat out a curse, a whisper was heard in the ears of the party.

[Follow my guidance.]

"...!"

Valda and Homi were surprised and looked around in panic.

On the other hand, Eugene was calm. Because it was a voice he had heard once before.

It was the voice asking him to sit on the throne and pleading him not to stray.

A strand of magical energy was created on the corridor floor and tried to guide Eugene like a signpost.

"It might possibly be a trap of an evil spirit. Since this is a place where all kinds of things can appear."

"Probably not."

Eugene remembered the desperation pleading him not to leave in his dream. At the very least, he believed it didn't want him to die here.

"If we have to move when surrounded by rough terrain on all sides, I will go to the side I somewhat know."

"As you wish."

At the knight's voice filled with power, Valda and Homi obediently followed. Because their leader was Eugene.

Even while following the magical signpost flowing on the floor, Eugene heightened his senses as much as possible to prepare for ambushes.

However, the magical energy cut off in front of a certain wall. Eugene, who expected something like a sturdy door, was momentarily flustered.

'Was it a spirit's prank as Lady Valda said?'

Rumble rumble.

Fortunately, as if reassuring him, the wall began to move on its own.

"To think it's a disguised stone door. Well, it wouldn't be strange even if there was something like this."

Valda, who had seen various castles, nodded. It is only natural for any decent castle to have a few secret passages known only to the owner.

Let alone thinking of the chaotic end of the ancient kingdom, it wouldn't be strange even if these places were everywhere.

As the stone door opened, freshness wafted out strongly.

Thud!

When the three people entered inside, the stone door closed again.

[This place is safe.]

A second whisper was heard. Unlike in the dream, cautiousness was imbued in it.

The smell of grass and the sound of flowing water are heard. A small and beautiful artificial garden unfolded before the eyes of the party.

Unlike the corridor where silent but faint hostility could be felt from all directions, this place was only full of pleasant noise and peace.