Chapter 32

“What exactly is a gun?”

“Fuck!”

Cielo flinched, almost toppling over his bed if not for the person steadying him at the waist. When he looked up, he found Newcastle grinning at him with his usual smirk.

“Newcastle…”

He was startled to see the man, whom he hadn’t seen in almost three weeks, suddenly appear in his bedroom.

Newcastle took a moment to help him steady himself before speaking.

“Did you miss me?”

“I guess…”

Considering the significant time he had spent with the man, it was only natural to feel a sense of absence, even with his unpleasant attitude.

Newcastle seemed taken aback by this admission before breaking into laughter.

“Anyway, where have you been recently?”

Cielo leaned back on his bed, reviewing the list he was set to present to the prince.

“I was called back home, as is frequently the case. It’s nothing to worry about.”

“I thought you had cut ties with them?”

He asked, still not looking at the man as he added two more items to the list.

Newcastle settled into a chair, watching the Traveler concentrate on his list. The contents were unreadable to him, written in the Traveler’s language, and he wasn’t wearing his translation glasses.

Even then, he wouldn’t be able to read it even if he wanted to, since Cielo has now been officially designated as one of the Imperial Prince’s aides, which puts them in the same position within the palace hierarchy. As a result, he can no longer involve himself in Cielo’s matters.

“Not in an official capacity, as His Imperial Highness asked me to keep a close watch on my family.”

Cielo paused for a moment. This was the first time Newcastle had shared something about himself without being asked.

“I heard you come from a noble background… Is that the reason?”

As an Imperial Prince, Konstantinos must keep a close eye on the actions of the nobility. He views Newcastle’s family as deserving of special attention.

‘It seems likely that Newcastle harbors significant resentment towards them.’

In fact, Cielo suspects that it was Newcastle who first suggested the notion of seeking the prince’s protection by offering to keep an eye on his family. It’s conceivable that he put forth this proposal in an effort to win Konstantinos’s favor.

“Partly, yes.”

Cielo nodded thoughtfully as he resumed his work.

A silence fell between them, which was unusual for Newcastle. He usually only falls silent during teaching moments, but that isn’t the case now.

“What is it?”

He asked, noting Newcastle’s unwavering gaze fixed on him.

“You seem to have become more comfortable. Did something happen while I was away? I felt the First Emperor’s mana radiating from your shirt.”

“Yes, the prince gave it to me. Weren’t you informed? I now have the ability to use magic, though it’s quite distinct.”

The man looked surprised. It was clear he hadn’t received this information and had likely come to find him first instead of informing the prince on his return from the journey.

“Don’t misunderstand, I still can’t see mana. However, in areas rich in mana, I can recreate objects or foods from my previous world, and that’s the limit of my abilities. I can’t perform any types of magic here, like teleportation or luminance.”

Luminance refers to the orb that Alistair used while they were in the garden. This small sphere radiates light, dispelling the darkness of the night.

“That’s unfortunate, but it also brings hope. Additionally, since the prince gifted you a brooch to signify your official position as his aide, it shows his acknowledgment of this as well.”

“He appeared to be in a rather good mood when he received the news.”

“Is that so?”

Newcastle fell silent again, a change that began to make him uneasy.

Cielo put his notes aside and raised an eyebrow at his former mentor.

“Do you feel any resentment towards your family?”

“Not really? Still, I’d rather not talk about them.”

“Alright then… But since you seem reluctant to engage in conversation, could I ask you for a favor?”

Newcastle raised an eyebrow, his attention shifting to the drone on the bed next to him. The man leaned back in his chair as he continued.

“Let me guess, you want me to teach you about inscriptions? Didn’t I tell you that inscriptions can be quite difficult?”

While inscriptions are meant to be visible, which means casting should not pose any difficulties, they also require the skill of manipulating and attracting mana. Nature’s Will usually resists inscriptions because of their permanence, often pushing back against those who impose them, which is what makes inscriptions both intricate and dangerous.

Mana takes pleasure in being useful and offering contributions, but they prefer not to be involved for long durations. They appreciate short interactions and hope for matters to be resolved quickly.

Cielo fidgeted nervously with his fingers.

“That’s not the case.”

Even though he was eager to study the inscriptions, there was something else he wanted to focus on now that he had more freedom.

“Oh?”

Newcastle seemed intrigued and gestured for him to go on.

“The situation is… Alistair has informed me that I am allowed to visit the places this brooch grants access to.”

While Alistair didn’t explicitly say he could leave the Haunted Palace, he also didn’t forbid him. As a result, Cielo was excited to take advantage of this chance to explore a place he had yearned to see since waking from his coma.

With steadfast resolve, he looks into the deep-set eyes of Newcastle.

“That’s why, I’m hoping you could take me to the place where I landed when I arrived in this world.”

Back then, he was under strict watch, that’s why even if he requested this they wouldn’t allow him. However, right now, that isn’t the case anymore.

He was lucky to find out that there were two forests situated within the Empire’s borders, and the place where the prince found him was probably one of them.

His assumption is likely the one located to the east, as it is situated adjacent to the Imperial Grounds. If this is accurate, it suggests that this could be one of the areas he is permitted to access.

Newcastle hummed as he closed his eyes to ponder.

Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

‘I bet Tree neither clearly stated that he could go out nor offered any explanation.’

The brooch, or more precisely, the gemstone, serves as a key that unlocks various restricted areas within the Imperial Grounds, suggesting that the Traveler’s understanding of the prince’s words as permission to access any location allowed by the brooch is not without merit.

‘It’s a loophole he has uncovered.’

The prince would certainly be furious, and Alistair would scold him if he went along with this, yet Newcastle found the whole situation amusing.

“Very well. I will take you to that place.”

“Really…?”

Cielo felt skeptical about how easy it is to convince Newcastle.

“Now for the payment—”

“I was asking for a favor though…”

“So you don’t want to go?”

Newcastle looked at him, challenging.

As much as he hates this, Newcastle is one of the most proficient when it comes to magic, especially teleportation. After all, teleportation requires a calculation to go to the exact location and not just about ordering mana to take them to the place. The calculation was more accurate and he learned this while reading a book.

“What is the payment?”

He asked, his teeth gritted in anxiety.

“Now, now. No need to be so on edge. The payment won’t be anything too demanding. For example, a kiss.”

Newcastle responded cheekily.

Cielo winced, which elicited a chuckle from Newcastle.

“It’s just an example. I promise it’s as straightforward as a kiss.”

“…Alright.”

He finally agreed, hoping he wasn’t making a serious mistake.

Suddenly, Newcastle stood up. At first, he thought Newcastle wanted to talk to Konstantinos, but instead, he gestured for him to get up too.

“Shall we proceed?”

“Right now!?”

He was only wearing his white pajamas!

“When else would you propose? I should point out that my schedule is quite packed.”

Before he could respond, Newcastle wrapped his arms around him, and they vanished silently. When he came to, he found himself at the edge of a forest.

“What is this place?”

He asked carefully, feeling the chill radiating from the forest. This forest seems to be unlike any typical one, as the mana here is remarkably dense, probably three times more plentiful than what is found in the One Exit Room.

Newcastle watches his reaction before shifting his gaze toward the forest.

“This area is known as Faye’s Garden. Deep within it lies the spot where you arrived.”

“Garden…?”

It seems more like an entire forest! Or perhaps it’s just an illusion.

“It is indeed a real forest, but it’s called a garden because Empress Faye, the only child of the First Emperor, called it that."

Newcastle shrugged as he looked up at the night sky.

“Additionally, having a brooch does not ensure access to this location. The barrier, created by the First Emperor and his daughter, Empress Faye, dictates who is allowed to enter. This is why I chose not to teleport inside, as the powerful barrier would have obliterated anyone without an invitation.”

Cielo shuddered at the vivid depiction of what their fate could have involved.

His former mentor offered a comforting pat on the back, chuckling as if he found the situation entertaining.

“Why do you look so scared? You’ve been inside and come out alive. I was talking about myself.”

“Are you not permitted?”

“Not in the slightest.”

If Newcastle is not allowed entry, this only means that he must set out on a solitary expedition into the expansive forest, cloaked in darkness, wearing only his white pajamas and no shoes.

Noticing the complicated expression on his face, Newcastle gently nudged him.

“There is no need for worry. This site is one of the safest within the Imperial Grounds, thanks to its strong offensive and defensive measures.”

It’s probably for this reason that Newcastle felt assured in bringing him here now that he has received the necessary authorization.

“Apart from yourself, the only person permitted in this garden I’m aware of is His Imperial Highness the 14th prince and even those allowed from the Imperial Family are rare.”

Newcastle revealed.

He already knew that Konstantinos had permission to enter, having been inside before to fetch his unconscious body, so he was not surprised by this revelation at all.

“Alistair is not allowed access here either.”

Newcastle felt the need to include that part.

“Is that true?”

Cielo asked in surprise.

“It’s true.”

Cielo had always thought that Alistair would certainly have the right to enter this space whenever he wished. This brings up questions about the exact criteria for entry.

“There are no monsters, right?”

“What…?”

Newcastle stared at him in shock before bursting into laughter, almost falling over.

Cielo watched as the man laughed, tapping his chin thoughtfully.

“So, monsters really don’t exist…?”

“Definitely not! Why would there be monsters in a place that was never intended to have magic to begin with?”

Newcastle declared, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes.

‘Honestly, I kind of expected this.’

He was just looking for confirmation.

Cielo often visited the library, navigating between the one in the main palace and the West Wing, but he had never encountered a book about monsters. This absence alone was enough to spark concern in his mind.

At first, he thought this subject was outside the scope of his studies since he wouldn’t be leaving the Imperial Grounds anytime soon, however, he later came to understand that the concept of monsters was merely a myth.

“That explains your fear of entering the forest during the raid.”

Newcastle commented after regaining his composure.

“Yes, I was unsure at that moment.”

“That was quite funny, but you should really move on. I’ll stay here and wait for you.”

“Could you provide me with at least shoes?”

Newcastle glanced down at his feet, and suddenly, a pair of shoes appeared next to him. They were surprisingly comfortable.

After a final hesitant glance, Cielo stepped into the forest, which intriguingly was called a garden. He felt as though he was crossing multiple thresholds, sending chills down his spine.

He held his breath until he was fully inside the forest, the towering trees closing in around him like ancient sentinels.

“That was quite unsettling.”

He exhaled deeply, trying to steady his racing heart.

The barriers seemed to examine his very being, delving into the depths of his soul while menacingly threatening him with a knife at his throat.

As he lifted his eyes, he realized he couldn’t see anything in the thick darkness.

“I need a flashlight.”

With the abundant mana in the air, he quickly produced a flashlight, some insect repellent, and a long black jacket.

Once sufficiently prepared, if that term can even be considered appropriate… Cielo took a cautious step forward, the soft crunch of leaves beneath his shoes echoing in the stillness. He felt the air shift around him, a whisper of something ancient and powerful.

“Hello, I believe we are already familiar with each other.”

Even though the area was empty, he could feel the mana around him responding to his call. It surrounded him quietly, as if ready to follow his commands.

“Could you lead me to the spot where I fell three years ago? At that time, I was known as a green meteorite.”

He instantly sensed the mana guiding him along a particular path, and he followed its direction with quiet resolve.

With no worries about losing his way, Cielo took the chance to observe the forest. However, there wasn’t much of interest to see. It seemed like an ordinary forest. Perhaps the trees were just a bit larger and sturdier than usual.

After an hour of walking, they finally stopped at a particular spot. Though it was still a bit far away, he could already see the profound effects of the meteor’s impact on the landscape, despite the thick grass that had begun to overgrow. It had certainly been a while since he last set foot in this world.

“Thank you.”

He murmured softly.

The mana in the area joyfully wrapped around him as he made his way toward the crash site.

As he looked around, he noticed nothing especially noteworthy.

Cielo started to wander around, scrutinizing his surroundings for any clues that might shed light on why he found himself in this world after his death.

After spending the next ten minutes searching, he unfortunately found nothing of importance.

“I didn’t let myself get my hopes up too high, but this result is still disappointing.”

With a sigh, he headed toward the crater, deciding it would be his last place to explore.

Kneeling at the edge, he peered into its depths. The soil looked dark and rich, a stark contrast to the lush green grass that surrounded it.

‘Is it safe?’

Cielo considered the possibility of jumping down while carefully examining his surroundings. In this moment of introspection, he caught sight of something shimmering at the edge of the crater next to him.

When he picked it up, Cielo found it to be a circular gold badge featuring an intricate symbol at its center. The design resembled a grid of overlapping circles arranged in a repeating geometric pattern. Its dirty appearance suggested it had been there for quite a while.

‘It looks familiar…’

Where had he seen this symbol before? It lingered in his thoughts, yet he found it difficult to bring it into focus.