Chapter 31: Valolet (2)

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Since scholars can enter directly, there is no need for free accommodation. Link wanted to go to the library first, and as for the meeting with Orlando, seeing that Finn was having a good time chatting with him, he asked Finn to go to the tavern to meet the half-elves.

From a distance, the library, which looked like a warehouse, was built in all directions, with only one entrance and exit, and it was filled with rows and rows of bookshelves, each row of which was crammed to the brim, and Link was thrilled to see. This is the ultimate dream of every book lover, there are so many books that you can't finish reading!

As soon as his feet stepped onto the black and white lattice floor tiles, a fist-sized ball of light floated out of the white lattice and floated behind Link, the light was soft and moderate, dispelling the darkness around him.

The world of magic is convenient......

Putting aside the dislike for mages in his mind, Link walked slowly.

The sound of flipping books and the slight breathing spread through all corners of the library, and unlike the desertion outside, there were quite a lot of people here.

History, geography, humanities, flora and fauna, each long row of bookshelves with light labels, they are placed in the four corners of the library, and the central position gives way to magic and theology, although the number of books is not as large as the other four, but the importance is highlighted, and the vast majority of the people in the library are concentrated in this area.

A figure with his back noticed that someone was approaching, he looked up casually, and now it was a new face that he had never seen before, and the middle-aged man walked towards Link and talked to Link very enthusiastically.

"You must be a new scholar. He said in the affirmative.

Link replied vaguely, and the middle-aged man claimed to be a magic apprentice. First he praised the paradise of Valolet, and then pointed up mysteriously and asked Link if he was coming for the semi-annual teleportation?

"Semi-annually?" Link hadn't heard the half-elves mention this.

"The portal in Hohenheim is only activated once every six months, and the mages who pass the guΓ² examination are allowed to enter the land of searching, and I heard that the middle level is even more prosperous than here. Accommodation and meals are free of charge. The apprentice looked at Link unmoved, with a yearning look on his face, "Aren't you interested at all?"

"What does that have to do with me, I'm not a mage. Link noticed that more and more people were paying attention to him, pretending to be reading, but listening to his conversation with his apprentice with his ears pricked up. All gray robes. All of them are mage apprentices? There is not a single scholar.

The middle-aged man told SΓΉ Link that he had been a scholar and had been living in the southern countryside, and that when he heard that Hohenheim was recruiting scholars, he came with the idea of giving it a try. After entering the Valolet, you are struck by the stability and prosperity of the place, and if you want to have a higher quality of life, you must enter the higher floors, but that is a privilege that only mages have, and the privileges of scholars are limited to free accommodation and general books.

"So you became a mage?" Up close, Link didn't feel the elements in him, but he had extremely weak divine power.

"It's not just me. Many people have made the same choice. "The middle-aged man made a less embarrassing excuse for his transfer, if he didn't become a mage, he couldn't stay in Vaolet at all, the food here was three times more expensive than outside, and most of the scholars couldn't do physical work, besides, Vaolet didn't have a shortage of people to work, and there were still young people waiting in the woods outside the city waiting to come in.

Robbing believers is so blatant. No wonder Bray was upset with Lorelei.

Link deliberately appeared to be interested in spells, and the former scholars, who were bent on enlisting more people to join, enthusiastically explained the tricks of spellcasting. Praying to the goddess in your heart is using the power of the elements.

Where is this magic, it's magic at all...... These fools, who can't even tell the difference between magic and magic, are they really well-read scholars? Couldn't they be pseudo-believers like Finn who were improvised by Bray?

Even the layman's own ability to distinguish between magic and magic is light, and Link doesn't believe that these apprentices can't tell the difference. Unless...... From the very beginning, they embraced the idea of using magic as magic. It has been more than 40 years since the invasion of the undead, and according to the average life expectancy of ancient people, it is almost a generation, and the cultural penetration rate in the Middle Ages is very low, and there are not a few people who can read and write out of a hundred. It is also reasonable to be deceived in this situation.

Lorelei was so shady that she lured scholars to the three satellite cities of Hohenheim on the offer of free accommodation. After these people entered, they took a multi-pronged approach from the material aspect to poach the believers who belonged to Bray, so it is no wonder that Bray had the idea of replacing them.

Not interested in hearing the apprentice boast about the benefits of becoming a mage, Link used the excuse of consulting with his companions to inquire about the location of the Golden Rose Tavern before leaving.

"In the center of the city, there is a big halo that you can see as soon as you go out. The apprentice still did not give up lobbying the newcomer to become a mage, and he told SΓΉ Link that non-teachers could not enter the forbidden area where special books were kept, and that it was almost impossible for ordinary people to be self-taught without the guidance of a mage.

Link paused, "The non-division can't enter?"

"yes. The apprentice gestured with his hand, "The middle piece is all forbidden areas, with special barriers. ”

The reason why Link agreed to come to Hohenheim was entirely because the Mage Council made it a condition to open all the books and spell scrolls, and now when he heard that the non-matrons could not enter, his first thought was that he had been deceived, but then he denied this possibility. Both the Mage Council and the Goddess of Magic are counting on him to get the untainted source of magic out there, and they shouldn't be able to do anything about it.

Compared to the value of the source of magic, the conditions for opening the collection are simply weak. How stupid it must be to manipulate such conditions.

After further questioning by Link, the apprentice gave the answer - the forbidden area has an enchantment, and only those who can sense the elements can enter.

Elemental......

Link raised his foot and walked towards the so-called 'forbidden area'.

"Hey~ Wait, there is an enchantment, you enter ...... No...... Go ......" The apprentice's eyes widened as Link walked unimpeded into a restricted area where only mages were allowed to enter.

The elements are the power of the mage, and they are the foundation of the children of nature, and this kind of little trick can only stop ordinary people.

The apprentice excitedly asks Link if he is self-taught or if he has learned spells before. Considering that the other party also gave him useful information, he said what he had learned before and left in a hurry.

After walking around the library and getting a rough idea of the layout of the area, Link returned to the cabin, and it was nearly evening. Finn hasn't come back yet.

Got stuck in the chat?

Hungry, Link decides to go to the tavern to find the two and settle dinner by the way.

Compared to the deserted library area, the other areas of Vaolet are much more lively. The streets were littered with apprentices dressed in gray robes, and the occasional richly dressed nobleman could be seen in the crowd, always accompanied by heavily armed guards. Even the craftsmen and civilians were smiling, and they looked like a peaceful scene of singing and dancing. Thinking of the darkness hidden behind the glamour, Link couldn't see the glitzy city with pure appreciation.

The magically created holographic projection and the location in the center of the city make it possible to see the rose blooming above the building no matter where you are in the city. In contrast to the simplicity of the exterior structure, the interior is so luxurious that it is more of a nobleman's residence than a tavern.

There was no smoke and noise in the usual taverns, and people talked in small voices. The almost full hall is more like a salon with celebrities. With a glance, Link found the half-elf at the bar, he was talking to the person next to him, and immediately beckoned when he saw Link.

"I thought you were going to break your appointment. ”

Taking advantage of Orlando's words, Link quickly glanced at a few people near the bar, Orlando was a thin middle-aged man on his left, bowing his head and drinking sullen wine, only Link had already poured a few glasses at the moment when he came over. The person who had been speaking to Orlando until then sat to his right. He has a sturdy physique and wears shiny silver chain mail. Looks like a mercenary.

"Where's Finn?" looked left and right, but didn't see the noisy boy.

"Isn't that imp with you?"

Orlando's answer gave Link a bad premonition, and he had been calculating the time for an hour or two, and he didn't know if the city was safe.

"You shouldn't leave a little imp with little self-protection ability to act alone, this place is more dangerous than the mountains and wasteland. ”

From Link's words and expressions, Orlando could guess what had happened. He patted the burly man beside him on the shoulder, whispered a few words, and the man stood up and left.

From the air that briskly walked by, Link smelled a strong smell of blood, as good as the soldiers at the Watchfort who were fighting on the front lines.

"I was careless. I thought that the security in the city was good, but I thought that he was carrying the mark of wisdom, and there should be nothing wrong with him. Pinching his eyebrows, Link admitted that he had been negligent, and that the clean and tidy environment had made him lower his guard.

"Elsie is the leader of the mercenaries here, and with him in his appearance, he should be able to find out the whereabouts of the imp. As he spoke, the burly man Orlando called Elsie returned, bringing back the not-so-good news that someone had seen a Otherworldly Man who looked very similar to Finn being taken away by the Guards

"Count Senior's immediate bodyguard? Orlando's expression became solemn, although he liked the little ghost, it didn't mean that he wanted to get involved in the troubles of the nobles. It's up to Link if he's going to save that little ghost......

Of course, Link will not die without help, he still owes Finn a favor, thanks to Finn and Ronno's take-in, he can live to awaken the power of the children of nature. What's more, Finn is Bray's medium of communication with himself.

Although the plan was to stay in the lower city for a while first, and secretly investigate whether the city lord was colluding with the undead, but now it seems that it is not necessary, just by looking at what Lorelei has done, you can guess that the nobles here must also be hopelessly corrupt.

Link asks Orlando to point the way to the City Lord's Mansion.

"Are you really going to save the little ghost?" Orlando secretly wondered, the friendship between these two people was probably not as simple as the followers of the Children of Nature and Bray, and the oracle only let me come, not saying what to do after finding the target. Should I meddle in his rescue? If I don't, I'll be thrown out again......

Elsie, who listened to the conversation between the two, also muttered in his heart.

The city lord's mansion has elite soldiers, and the ** division is in charge, not to mention saving people from the inside, even if you want to get in, it is difficult. Just one scholar...... Even if he knew some magic, he couldn't have rescued people from Count Senior, and Orlando was going to wade into troubled waters?

After a brief silence, Orlando decides to go with Link to save someone.

"Are you crazy?" Elsie defined his actions as follows: Orlando is knowledgeable, but miscellaneous. The truly specialized bard is only an auxiliary profession, and he has a hunch that he will be dragged into the water.

"Count me in. The emaciated man who had been drinking suddenly spoke.

"Dodd, are you going crazy with you?" "The more Elsie felt that he couldn't escape, he shouldn't have come for a drink today, and he wouldn't meet Orlando, who had returned to Vaolet after many years.

"No, it's enough for me to go myself. "It's not that Link is so confident. It's that he doesn't want to involve other people in the mix. This is not an ordinary rescue, and if you have a relationship with the children of nature, the fate of these people will definitely be rewritten in the future.

Orlando was about to say something, but Link took out the invitation and raised it at him.

"Don't worry, I won't mess around. ”

It wasn't until Link's figure disappeared from the tavern that Elsie grabbed Orlando's shoulders and lowered his voice to ask Link what was the reason for the invitation with the seal of the Mage Council.

"If he can't get people out safely, I'll tell you again......" squinted at the mercenary he had known for many years. Orlando replied.

"Hmm~ Why does it sound weird, you can't save people safely, doesn't that mean you've failed?"

Orlando ordered another glass of ale from the bartender, thinking to himself, when things get bigger, I can tell you who he is.

The Lord's Mansion is located in the northern district of Vaolet, which is the highest terrain, and the number of guards patrolling the area is far more than in other areas. Link didn't even have to think about how to sneak into the City Lord's mansion before a team of heavily armed guards took Link away on the grounds that the Otherworlders had to register.

In the huge compound. There were several otherworldly people who were captured for the same reason, but in fact, there were only two real earthlings, and more of them were Altyns who were easily confused with Asians. After the invasion of the undead, the clan was banished from Mount Horacio by the deranged druids to make a mistake, or rather to catch the wrong one rather than let one go. The Guards brought all the people who matched the characteristics.

Servis glanced around the crowd and looked at Centurion Ferne, "Is that all?"

"Yes, my lord, everyone who is eligible is here. ”

The count paced back and forth, without a portrait. The news from the Watch Fort was only that of a wheat-colored man with flat facial features.

He raised his hand and pointed at Finn, who didn't match anyone but the boy.

Fern waved at the guards, and the rest of the non-conforming people were taken away.

At Servis's motion, the centurion walked over to Finn.

"What's your name, where are you from?"

Finn, who only reached Fern's chest, was a little overwhelmed by the centurion's might: "My name is Finn, and I live in the old town of the river valley......"

"Old Town of the River Valley? How did I hear that there was no one there. Fern stepped forward, "Lying will cost you the opportunity you won't get." ”

"I did live there for ten years and then ...... He went with his father to the Watch Fort. Vaguely aware that these people might be looking for Link, Finn swallowed nervously. I heard that the mage has a spell that can search memories, and if he uses that, wouldn't it expose the fact that Link is a child of nature, and he has repeatedly explained that he can't reveal his identity.

While frightened, Finn couldn't help but think wildly.

Would Link have come to my rescue if he had known I had been caught? I did save him once, what do you say...... Let's repay this life-saving grace too.

The word Watchcastle brought Servis to a halt as he paced, and Fern looked at Vaolet's master.

Staring at the restless teenager for a long time, Servis shook his head.

He's not. The Children of Nature who fought against two Legendary Lichs would never be intimidated by the might of a centurion.

Fern asked with a look in his eyes, did he dispose of it like the people before him?

No...... Catching a glimpse of the shallow mark on the boy's forehead, Servis shook his head, "Send him back to the library." ”

Finn breathed a long sigh of relief, and as soon as he turned around, he saw Link follow the two guards into the courtyard.

Is he here to save me?

Thinking that Link's temperament had changed greatly after the battle of the fortress, he might not really be willing to save a person who didn't matter to him, and with his ability, he would never be caught by the two guards, Finn's excitement was indescribable, and he vowed not to doubt Link's personality in the future.

The moment he saw Link, a thought suddenly flashed through Sevis's heart.

That's him!

"The man you are looking for is me, let him go. ”

Servis took a deep breath, "You're ......"

Link showed the invitation, and Sevis's expression didn't change significantly, but his mind spun around.

The invitation to the Mage Council, even if you are a lord, may not be eligible for it, and the flaunting neutrality Hohenheim has secretly thrown an olive branch to the Children of Nature, does this mean that the mage wants to break his usual position?

Servis was thrilled to be the first to learn of a game-changing event, and praised Malik, you know everything, you are omnipresent.

"It's just routine questioning, and we're about to release him. Servis took off the bowler hat he wore on his head, placed one hand on his chest and the other behind his back, leaned his upper body slightly forward, and greeted Link with the standard aristocratic courtesy: "I am Lord of Valolet, Servis Dan Cooper, and I sincerely invite Your Excellency to a dinner. ”

Everyone in the courtyard, including Finn, was shocked by the city lord's invitation. Even Fern, the centurion who had followed the Earl for many years, widened his eyes, except for the Duke of Esson, he had never heard the Earl use the word Your Excellency to anyone, and even the ** master sent by Hohenheim did not have this kind of courtesy. (To be continued!)