Alea revealed their destination that night.
"Our destination is the dungeon of the Archmage Lampione."
Archmage Lampione. Helmut had heard the name mentioned briefly in a lesson.
Lampione was a renowned archmage from over a century ago, famous for not having taken on any apprentices despite his legendary status.
He was known to be immensely learned, contributing significantly to the advancement of academia and magic.
'A dungeon, though.'
A dungeon refers to a space containing a mage's laboratory and living quarters, particularly those with a defensive or aggressive nature. It's equipped not only with protective magic but also means to annihilate intruders.
'I see why it's considered dangerous.'
This was uncharted territory for Helmut.
He was a swordsman, having only fought with swordsmen and demonic beasts. He had never set foot in a mage's prepared space. However, that made it all the more intriguing.
"Lampione died without an apprentice, leaving all his magical achievements and research in his dungeon. Before he vanished, he left a will stating that only a worthy mage could inherit all his possessions. The location of the dungeon was never disclosed, and many mages have attempted to find it but to no avail."
The inheritance of Archmage Lampione would be a treasure trove for any mage. If one could inherit it, there would be no need to be bound by Hecate any longer.
Alea had been tracking the dungeon since learning about Lampione.
It was no easy feat, given the difficulty in following the trail of a great archmage.
However, what the Mage's Association and others failed to achieve, Alea had accomplished.
"I'm after his grimoire. I've been searching for Lampione's dungeon for years. I was fortunate to find its location, but I realized it would be difficult to tackle alone. Lampione wouldn't just let anyone take his legacy without a challenge."
A dungeon, meticulously crafted with the essence of magic, is naturally more formidable than a mere mage casting spells.
Alea had attempted entry but was thwarted, realizing there would be more challenging obstacles ahead.
He didn't hesitate to turn back. It wasn't wise to risk danger unprepared.
"Did you avoid hiring mercenaries because of the need for secrecy?"
With Alea's wealth, hiring top-tier mercenaries was a possibility.
"That's one reason. If it became known that Lampione's dungeon had been discovered, it would attract unwanted attention. I'd prefer to avoid that."
Helmut knew of a more ruthless method: hire skilled mercenaries for the task, then silence them.
But competent mercenaries aren't easily handled, and it would be problematic if they managed to escape.
'And it could leave traces at the mercenary guild.'
Better to bring a trustworthy and competent swordsman.
Alea, apart from his feelings, recognized Helmut for his skill and reticence.
"I would have postponed attempting the dungeon until I became stronger, but with you here, I've become more ambitious."
This ambition had been growing since the first semester. Alea believed that fate had brought Helmut to him, for the conquest of Lampione's dungeon.
"Since I've discovered the dungeon, others might too. I'd prefer to tackle it this time."
Staying idle at the academy made him anxious and uneasy.
Alea was lucky to find the dungeon. If another, more skilled mage were to discover it and claim Lampione's legacy, it would be snatched away from him.
Alea couldn't ignore the possibility.
'That can't happen.'
It felt like the legacy was meant for him. Found as if by destiny, and now, with a companion seemingly predestined to join.
If he missed this chance, coping with the disappointment would be difficult.
Alea declared, as if making a vow.
"It won't be easy. Even if we fail, we can try again. Let's proceed safely."
Desiring strength doesn't mean risking life needlessly. Preparedness was key, but acknowledging limitations and filling gaps later was also important. And above all.
'I can't endanger Helmut unnecessarily.'
It was supposed to be a simple task, not a life-threatening venture.
Managing his anxiety would allow him to stop at the right moment.
However, Alea's solemn attitude conveyed a sense of desperation to Helmut.
'He's that eager to obtain Lampione's grimoire.'
Magic differs from swordsmanship; it's more about research than training. The achievements of others can significantly aid one's own research, perhaps even more than Rutus Cicero's desire to become Darien's apprentice.
"Well, an archmage's dungeon sounds intriguing."
It promised a more comfortable adventure than trekking through deserts. Especially with a competent mage by his side, conveniences were assured. The novelty of the experience made him look forward to what the next day would bring.
"Let's depart at dawn, unnoticed."
"Alright."
Helmut nodded.
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It was dawn the next day. Helmut and Alea met outside their room, fully prepared.
Helmut's belongings were minimal, just clothing, while Alea had prepared food and other necessities. Seeing Alea in his mage robe, Helmut felt a twinge of regret.
'So we're going as is.'
Outside the academy, there was no need for disguises.
However, Alea was unaware that Helmut knew. And Helmut wasn't sure how long he should pretend ignorance.
'Until graduation?'
That seemed too far away, and there was no guarantee he would still be at the academy by then.
Pretending not to know was somewhat bothersome, though Helmut's reticence made a slip-up unlikely.
'The right moment will come.'
Helmut decided to take it easy.
"Let's go."
Alea, smiling at him, seemed particularly vibrant today, more eager than ever.
As they stepped out of the dormitory, Alea placed his hand on Helmut's shoulder.
They used teleportation magic to leave Baden immediately. Their feet lightly touched the ground.
They were at a site managed by the Mage's Association, with guiding magic circles. Ideal teleportation involves a slight elevation from the ground, and it was just so.
Helmut, not fond of the sensation of magic enveloping him, frowned.
But his frown soon eased. Alea was standing close, emitting a cool and refreshing scent.
Helmut found himself staring. Alea was the first to look away.
"…You mentioned a group called Black Hawk was targeting you?"
"Ah, that's been resolved."
"Anyway, we won't be going to populated areas, so there's no worry of being tracked. By anyone."
To avoid being tracked, Helmut intentionally left his communication crystal at the dormitory.
The Black Hawk might guess that he was Hydra, and he didn't want to give them any more information.
"Won't we need horses?"
"We'll continue using teleportation magic to our destination. No need for horses."
"That's convenient. Would be nice if it was more common."
Helmut admired the idea. Using this method for trips to Basor would have been great, but strangely, teleportation magic wasn't used commercially.
Thus, horses remained the primary mode of transportation in the human world.
"That's unlikely. Teleportation magic can easily be used to assassinate someone. It's generally not used without a mage present. It's also quite a high-level spell. Adding even one more person increases instability and doubles the mana consumption."
While teleportation is relatively stable, it's not entirely trustworthy. A small mistake could be fatal.
Alea flexed his fingers, assessing his remaining mana. Traveling alone versus with someone required different calculations.
Traveling distances unachievable by horse, they had to leap through space multiple times using teleportation magic.
'It should be manageable. Though tiring.'
Alea warned in advance.
"Once we arrive, I'll need to rest a bit. I'll have to use quite a bit of mana."
There were no guiding magic circles there. It was purely about setting coordinates and moving.
Alea took a deep breath and closed his eyes. When he reopened them, a distinct light shone in his violet irises.
After six teleportations, they reached the vicinity of their destination that day.
The teleportations didn't take long, but with brief rests in between, it was afternoon by the time they arrived.
Helmut looked up at the sky. The cloudless sky was blindingly blue.
The atmosphere felt heavy, the air prickly and humid, with a faint salty scent.
The environment, the sky, everything was markedly different from Baden. It felt as if they had been thrown into another world in less than a day.
Creaking bird calls and splashing sounds resonated in his ears.
"That's…"
Alea spoke in a weary voice.
"Seeing it for the first time? That's the sea. Something those living inland might never see in their lifetime."
Helmut had spent almost his entire life surrounded by dense forests.
The desert had been a novelty, but the expanse of blue water was a different experience altogether. Near the shore, the water was green.
Stepping forward, he felt a crunch underfoot. Sand. Different from desert sand, it was beach sand, and tiny creatures scurried away at his approach.
He nearly drew his sword to chase them. Chasing fleeing creatures was a predator's instinct.
As they approached the sea, Alea staggered and nearly collapsed. Helmut quickly supported him.
Alea was not one to feign weakness. His complexion was pale. This was the first time Helmut had seen Alea in such a state.
"…I've used a lot of mana. I need to rest. Want to look around?"
"Yeah, okay."
Leaving Alea, who had sprawled on a mat, Helmut explored the beach.
'The sea…'
The salty taste lingered on his fingertips after dipping them in the waves. The serene, blue coast, unlikely to harbor monsters or enemies, felt like a peaceful world.
After exploring, Helmut returned with a few brightly colored fish. Seeing them flail, hunting seemed natural. It was instinct.
"Can these be eaten?"
"…We brought food, so let those go."
Alea, perhaps interpreting it as hunger, handed him a sandwich and fruit juice.
After resting for a few hours, Alea felt somewhat revived. They sat side by side, eating as if on a picnic.
Skipping meals due to teleportation had left them hungry. Food revived their spirits.
Something occurred to Alea. He pulled out a note and handed it to Helmut.
"This is Lampione's will. Read it."
Helmut took the note and frowned.