The West Wind's Destination - Chapter 52
Disappointed, they looked at each other before speaking again.
“Um, then, if we modify this formula like this, could it accommodate a larger capacity?”
“Could you look at mine too? The runes seem correct, but I’m not sure if it can be implemented…”
Bea stared intently at the formulas they offered, silently doing mental calculations.
“It can be implemented, but doing so would disrupt the balance and weaken the durability.”
Bea briefly explained while drawing a small circle on the stone floor with chalk.
“Rather than a rune there, adding a joint of this size should compensate.”
“Ah.”
“Oh…”
The alchemists marveled at the precise size, far from a rough estimate.
Even without further responses from Bea, a good atmosphere continued.
The warm silence was broken by another figure.
“Bea, do you have a moment?”
Everyone inside the tent promptly stood up and saluted. They looked at Bea with astonishment for not paying any attention to Archduke Vilkanos and were even more shocked by her response.
“What?”
“There’s something I need to discuss with you.”
Only then did Bea stand up, and the others were left speechless. They were surprised that the Archduke treated her with such respect and that Bea even looked down on him.
After Bea followed Aseph out, those left inside looked at each other restlessly before finally getting up.
❖
The continuous rescue operations over several days left everyone exhausted. Among them, Bea and Aseph hadn’t slept for a moment. Even Aseph, who had significantly greater stamina than an average person thanks to the sacred protection of the divine beast, visibly showed signs of fatigue.
Bea, with considerably less stamina than Aseph, looked almost half-dead from exhaustion. During the day, she searched for survivors’ locations by digging through the soil with her hands, and at night, she either made magic tools or directed others in making them.
Even so, no matter how beneficial the rescue conditions were compared to a typical disaster, the situation worsened the longer the operation dragged on.
Although the locations of survivors were roughly identified, the whereabouts of the artifact-carrying Ruslan remained unknown.
The rain continued to fall at regular intervals and in consistent amounts. The possibility of additional landslides was just a matter of time, which would render all efforts futile. Despite the measures taken with magic tools, the rain itself delayed the entire process.
“We should indeed disperse the magic in the area.”
“…”
Once they were alone, Aseph spoke quietly with Bea.
Seeing his thoughtful look despite his tiredness, Bea knew.
He would try to persuade her in any way.
“If it were Ruslan.”
Aseph sighed and brushed his forehead.
“If he had regained consciousness, he would have assessed the situation and stopped the magic tool himself. I’ve known him long enough to say I understand him better.”
Aseph wasn’t lying, nor was he speaking comfortably or freely.
“A few mages have fainted. They used too much magic, and the fatigue compounded because of the rain.”
There was a time limit for the rescue. Everyone was trying their best to progress the work quickly, but hope was fading as time passed.
“Even if this place has served its purpose as a mine and the people here lose their jobs, what could be more important than survival?”
The chances of survival were already slim from the start, and many had already died in the accident. However, hope emerged once the location of survivors was discovered. If the situation worsened from here, the blame would inevitably fall on Bea.
Bea, being an alchemist, was always easily blamed in any situation, especially by those who had lost their sanity from losing family members.
“You too… You need to rest a bit.”
It seemed Aseph had already finished discussing with the other officials without Bea.
If it was already decided, it could just proceed. But Aseph, being the decision-maker, came to seek her permission.
“If it’s the magic stones you need for your alchemy, it can be obtained elsewhere.”
“…”
Materials. Indeed, they were important.
Even if it took a bit longer, she thought Aseph could procure them. She had come here to quickly secure magic stones in the first place, and as long as she could get her hands on it, the time it took didn’t really matter.
If only she could complete her research to revive her master, the process itself was inconsequential.
Yet, Bea had forgotten all about it until now.
Caught in a difficult situation and having to make an unwelcome choice while looking into his concerned eyes, Bea realized she had been acting irrationally all this time.
What had she been doing here until now?
It didn’t matter to her if the person named Ruslan simply died.
—He fought alongside me in the war as my advisor. He was also a friend who attended my father’s funeral with me. He’s one of the few people left in my life after the war.”
—The accident… Ruslan was the first to go missing. I approved the use of the magical device, so it’s my responsibility.
“…”
Bea was silent for quite a while.
She had arrived a while ago but was only now belatedly recognizing a strange emotion.
Deciphering complex magic circles and magic tool structures would have been easier. Dwelling on such issues could make her brain tie itself in knots.
One thing was clear: she didn’t feel inclined to change her initial decision.
“…You.”
Perhaps it was better to think of another solution.
“How far does your anti-magic power extend?”
