Island of Wisdom (5)
“Honestly, you’re unbelievable. Go ahead and set up the device to counter the dark magic.”
With the student corps capable of subduing the terrorists now present, it was time to enter the central tower and rescue the alchemists likely held hostage.
“Are you putting me to work the moment I arrive?”
Bolton huffed but obeyed Kurán’s command, opening the lid of a large wooden box lying on the floor.
Inside were numerous intricate components whose purpose wasn’t immediately clear.
Lukena craned her neck to look inside as Bolton began explaining each part he pulled out.
“These are high-grade mana stones, glass flasks etched with magic circles, elixirs that amplify magical power, pistons for adjusting elixir capacity, and here’s a mana stone grinder…”
As Bolton set down the items with a clatter, Kurán, who had been sipping his tea, briefly set the cup aside and lightly struck the top of Bolton’s head with his staff.
“You blockhead! I told you to handle these tools carefully—they can break!”
Kurán scolded him, calling him a blockhead.
“Ah, seriously! Please don’t call me that, Master! Someone’s listening, and it’s so embarrassing!”
Bolton muttered while sneaking a glance at Lukena, only to meet her narrowed eyes.
“So that’s why you always call me a blockhead…”
“Hey! That’s different with you. I’m the twenty-fourth disciple of the Grand Sage, whereas you’re a true blockhead.”
Bolton tried to assert his own abilities, justifying why the Grand Sage had entrusted him with installing this complex machinery.
Kurán’s staff lightly tapped the self-satisfied disciple’s head once more.
“You still haven’t corrected that arrogant habit, have you, blockhead?”
“But it’s true! I’ve invented several elixirs myself!”
“You’re big, just like a blockhead, yet you talk so much.”
Alchemists usually considered haggard faces, hunched backs, pale complexions, dark circles, and thin bodies as virtues, having devoted themselves entirely to research.
Bolton’s robust and healthy physique was a stark contrast to this ideal.
“They say only big alchemists are dumb. Outside, if a man is weak, women won’t like him. Men like me or Martian are far more popular.”
Bolton subtly linked himself with Martian to boast.
“That can’t be. I’ve never seen you date anyone.”
“That’s because my standards are high.”
“Then deceive as you will.”
Kurán gestured toward Lukena and Martian.
The women stationed at the central tower’s perimeter swarmed around the skinny Lukena, exclaiming at how perfect a groom candidate he was.
“Such a graceful neck! Where are you from? Want to live by the waters with me?”
Lukena fiddled with her neck, straightening her spine. Clearly, she carried the modern ailments even while inhabiting this body.
“What kind of mermaid is your type? Fish? Cephalopods? Crustaceans?”
“Th-that’s a bit scary as a question… haha.”
Even amidst this tense situation, Lukena quietly answered, “I like people.”
Her pale, terrified complexion only added to her charm, sending the mermaids into squeals, like fans discovering their ultimate idol.
Martian, nearby, received a less warm but still positive evaluation: broad shoulders and unnaturally straight posture aside, his face was acceptable.
Yet, despite all this attention, Martian stood like a pillar, showing almost no reaction.
His eyes only moved when Lukena screamed, “Aaah!”
‘This is a mess.’
The mermaids were groping Lukena’s shoulders and arms. Someone had even torn off a button from Lukena’s uniform, revealing her pale skin and straight collarbones.
Martian’s gaze lingered for a moment before he quickly regained his composure and shooed the mermaids away.
“Please give her space, ladies. Cadets of the Officer Academy refrain from contact with women to maintain a disciplined mindset during training.”
If Ched were here, he would have laughed, but Martian calmly and politely enforced the rule.
The women hesitated and returned to their positions.
“You’re distracting me the moment we arrive,” Martian muttered to Lukena.
He took a medal from his jacket lapel and pinned it over the spot where her button had been, neatly fastening her shirt front.
“Th… thank you.”
Lukena swallowed nervously and nodded in gratitude. Every time his neatly manicured fingers touched her neck, it made her slightly tense, forcing her to lift her head a little.
“Listen carefully, Lukena.”
Martian quietly began explaining the plan.
“When the spatial distortion magic is lifted, I’ll enter the tower with the cadets.”
“So I’m coming too?”
“No. You’ll stay with Ched.”
“Why?”
“It’s suspicious why the terrorists are holding out inside the tower. Their goal might be to contaminate the water’s ether, but I suspect there’s another hidden reason.”
Lukena scanned the area.
All the alchemists and cadets with weapons were focused on surrounding the tower, meaning the other areas were empty.
“Are… they trying to draw attention?”
“You guessed it.”
Martian looked down at Lukena, raising one corner of his lips. He thought she wasn’t slow-witted, and perhaps they could be good comrades. He continued.
“If I and the other cadets don’t enter the tower, the terrorists will find it odd. That’s why you, who is unknown to them, must act. Once we enter the tower, quietly head to Ched.”
“Feels like I’m getting a more dangerous mission than you.”
“Maybe. But whatever happens, your current abilities will let you handle it.”
At that moment, Martian’s medal perfectly fastened the gap in Lukena’s shirt.
Bolton, almost done assembling the device, glanced at Martian and Lukena and tilted his head in surprise.
‘Martian just fixed someone else’s missing button?’
As far as Bolton knew, Martian had never done such a thing before.
“Stop daydreaming, you fool!”
Only after a tap from Grand Sage Kurán’s staff did he finally focus.
“Ah, seriously! It’s done already!”
The completed machine resembled a glass hourglass, just over a meter tall, with a complex network of glass tubes and gears inside.
Bolton inserted five bottles of elixir, in measured quantities, into a straw-like glass tube at the top.
The multicolored elixirs flowed through the twisted glass tubes, turning the delicate gears, and mixed perfectly at the bottom, scattering a sparkling glow.
Though it seemed like a simple task, Bolton’s forehead was dotted with sweat as he continuously adjusted the elixir volumes.
Soon, the elixirs at the bottom transformed into golden sand.
The floating machine then flipped, and the golden sand poured downward.
At the same time, the ominous dark magic surrounding the tower became visible to the naked eye.
The black smoke, coiling around the tower like a serpent, was sucked into the hourglass.
The dark energy mixed with the golden sand, turning it gray. Once all the dark magic was absorbed, the spatial distortion spell naturally dissipated.
‘Incredible.’
But there was no time to admire it.
While the others prepared to advance into the tower, Lukena quietly slipped away.
On her way to the inn where Ched was, Lukena paused briefly.
She happened to pass by Fritz’s laboratory. Fortunately, no one was around.
‘Perfect for delivering Gale-sensei’s package.’
She carefully knocked on the lab door, but there was no response inside.
Finally, she glanced at the sign outside. As she muttered “Uh-oh?” the tightly closed door swung wide open.
“Who made that noise?!”
An angry Fritz looked around and spotted Lukena. “You again?”
“Sorry. I had to deliver this. It’s from Gale-sensei.”
Lukena handed over the worn leather package.
Fritz immediately recognized it and hurriedly checked inside.
“I’d heard Gale became a teacher, but it’s true. How old are you, by the way?”
“Eighteen.”
Fritz examined Lukena intently.
“You look like a solid 30-point candidate.”
Suddenly, Fritz struck her, then pulled out a fist-sized crystal from his pocket and silently cheered.
‘That’s the same crystal that was on Gale-sensei’s staff… identical to the Philosopher’s Stone Kurán possesses.’
As Lukena speculated why Gale had the Philosopher’s Stone, Fritz, still on edge, hid the crystal and carefully unfolded the letter.
‘Her husband must be watching closely. Is someone in the lab?’
When Lukena tried to peek over his shoulder, Fritz quickly blocked her view with a “Shh!”
But his expression had turned grave.
Just moments ago, he had been happy; now, the more he read the letter, the darker his face became.
“This is outrageous.”
His hands trembled as he nervously began tearing the letter.
The torn scraps revealed words like divorce and alimony.
‘Gale-sensei must have offered the Philosopher’s Stone as part of her divorce settlement.’
Fritz dropped a lit match onto the scraps, burning the letter completely.
With no more time to waste, Lukena silently nodded and continued toward the inn where Ched was waiting.
Sharp curses rang from behind, but she didn’t look back.
