A Legion Grows From My Smartphone

Chapter 72

"However, Reina! It's late!"

"I'll just hear more of the story and come back. Does it make sense not to investigate at all?!"

The sound of yelling echoed through the late night.

The city of Rihelem, located on the outskirts of the continent, was once a major city established by numerous people who gathered to explore the Ancient Labyrinth.

Although now, the exploration of the labyrinth had ceased and the focus of continental dominance had shifted to the center of the continent, causing the city's prominence to drop sharply and reducing it to a quiet frontier town.

"You said you've already been marked by the Vice President of the Academy Club. What are you going to do if you stand out even more and end up being expelled?"

"...Even so, it doesn't matter. Before the Vice President leaves, I will at least hear the full details."

She gritted her teeth. As a mage of this world, rising to the Central Magic Association, which holds and wields the power of the world, was naturally a dream everyone aspired to.

However, at times, some people could prioritize other things over that ambition.

"I'm sorry, Deputy Director. For now..."

"Cr, it's an emergency!"

But before she could leave the office, the communication sphere buzzing on the Deputy Director's desk displayed the urgent face of someone.

Faced with successive issues, the Deputy Director rubbed his already aching head vigorously.

"Alright. What is it now, Bob? If you're making a fuss over trivial issues like unpaid wages for laborers again, I won't let it slide."

"From the management office, the mages working in the Labyrinth Surveillance Team have lost contact on a large scale!"

"...What?"

But this time, the news was far from trivial.

The Deputy Director's widened eyes met Reina's equally shocked gaze.

"Right now, he should be at the manor with the Director. They'll be leaving early tomorrow."

"I, I'll hear the story. Deputy Director, contact the Mayor and quickly send out an investigation team."

"Th-that's right."

Realizing the gravity of the situation, the Deputy Director adjusted his stance.

Reina quickly found out the Vice President's whereabouts, grabbed her outerwear, and stormed out of the office.

'This was far from a light issue...'

Crossing the night streets, she bit her lip as a growing unease crept over her.

Although the labyrinth had been dormant for a long time, the Moonlight Fairies, who had been restoring their faction there, sent an urgent rescue message, even involving a child.

The Vice President's overly nonchalant attitude in handling the matter was, by all accounts, illogical.

Of course, this thought stemmed from Reina's ignorance of the fact that the Vice President was utterly absorbed in something beyond her imagination.

"Wa-wait! This is the residence of Orne, the Head of the Research Lab of Blakel Academy..."

"I'm Reina, a Research Mage of the Academy! I must see the Director, no, the Vice President immediately!"

Panting as she arrived, she shouted at the guard blocking her path.

Startled by her determination, the guard hesitantly moved aside.

Without hesitation, she crossed through the manor. Since it seemed the situation had already escalated, there was no need to hesitate.

"What is the meaning of this?!"

When the startled Director appeared, shouting in anger, she stood her ground and glared directly at him.

"Ha... Did you not receive the communication? There's been an incident."

"An incident?"

Director Orne, who was confronting her in the hallway, raised an eyebrow.

Almost simultaneously, an old butler hurriedly ran over holding something, but he stopped when he noticed the tense atmosphere. In his hand was a communication sphere with someone shouting on the other end.

"Alright, Deputy Director. What's the matter?"

Clicking his tongue, the Director took the crystal sphere and listened to the report from the Deputy Director displayed on the screen.

Reina listened quietly. After all, just by listening, she could see the Director's expression stiffening.

"It-it might not be a big deal."

The Director, breaking out in a cold sweat, desperately tried to deny reality.

The news he received while basking in anticipation of his ascent to the center was too much of a shock.

"Director. The mages' safety is at risk. And this morning, there's testimony from a Moonlight Fairy rescued from the labyrinth about an incident!"

"So what?"

"At least let me meet that fairy child. Show some proper action at the very least. This is no trivial matter!"

Frustrated by his inaction, Reina raised her voice at him. However, the Director's condition grew increasingly strange.

His eyes trembled violently, and cold sweat poured down relentlessly. It was a stark contrast to his usual authoritative and overbearing demeanor towards his subordinates.

"Th-th-that is... That..."

"Calm yourselves. Both of you."

At that moment, the Vice President appeared. With his neatly groomed beard and sharp eyes, his commanding presence silenced the tense atmosphere with a solemn voice.

"It seems the matter is indeed serious. Director, accompany her to the laboratory."

"E-excuse me? But!"

"Are you defying my orders now?"

The Vice President's eyes glinted as he pressured the now-pale Director.

Reina wondered why the Director was reacting this way, but she soon dismissed the thought. It wasn't important right now.

"This way."

The Vice President led the Director and Reina to the Underground Laboratory located beneath the manor.

Reina was silently impressed. Despite being a personal facility, the laboratory was well-equipped with proper installations.

"Ah...?"

"It's truly fascinating. The marks engraved on their bodies from a young age continuously evolve under the influence of mana as they grow, developing into a unique organ, the Magic Vein."

But Reina was left speechless at the sight before her.

"H-how could this..."

No, it wasn't just speechlessness; she was so shocked that she momentarily lost her senses.

Inside the test tube, a boy's severed head floated, detached from his body, with lifeless eyes.

"See? This is what happens when you meddle excessively."

-Non-lethal mode-

While she was reeling from the shock, he pulled something from his pocket and aimed it at her chest.

There wasn't even time to cast an incantation in response. The needles fired in an instant, piercing through her clothes and embedding into her body, delivering a powerful electric shock that knocked her unconscious.

"A-a-amazing. What exactly is that artifact..."

"Just something to protect myself in case of unforeseen circumstances. Don't concern yourself with it. Orne, focus on cleaning up."

"Is she... dead?"

"No."

He kicked the fallen Reina lightly and grinned at the Director's question.

"We also need a suitable experiment subject to apply the data collected from dissecting this local Fairy Tribe. Preferably one with mana."

"Surely not..."

"Make sure she's securely confined for later use. For now, let's deal with whatever this problem might be. As if any real issue would arise just because some stray mages who never even made it into the guild ran into trouble."

Ignoring the aghast Director, he tucked the gun back into his pocket.

He was meticulous. The gun was something he had obtained from his temporary alliance partner.

It was a weapon meant to counter any potential threats from this world's units or Players.

'No matter how much those foolish mages try to resist, there won't be a problem once my magic and these weapons combine. The only remaining concern is the Assassination Authority.'

Grinning slyly, he ordered the Director to handle the external issues and sent him off.

[Do not let your guard down. This is fundamental advice, Rozes. Never, ever let your guard down.]

"I know! That's why I'm being so extremely cautious! No examiner or mage will ever lay a hand on me!"

Left alone, he growled in frustration at the voice whispering in his head.

"Search quickly!"

"What about the Tracking Magic?!"

"It's almost ready!"

In the already late dawn, a significant number of people left the city and entered the forest.

This forest, left undeveloped for agricultural use due to the presence of the labyrinth and designated as a restricted area, was not an ideal terrain for the movement of such a large group.

"Deputy Director, isn't it too much to bring this many people..."

"It's under the Director's orders, so there's no choice."

The Deputy Director gave a bitter smile at the Defense Captain's remark.

Although the Director's initial reaction to the report was lukewarm, he suddenly called and urged for the matter to be resolved quickly.

'Reina, what kind of trouble did she stir up again? Should I have waited for her after all?'

With a restless mind, he glanced around.

The dark and gloomy forest was unsettling, though the presence of over a hundred people provided some comfort in what would otherwise have been an oppressive space.

It seemed like there were too many people, but given that this area had now achieved complete stabilization, the idea of a group of unaffiliated mages encountering personal safety issues was not something to be taken lightly.

"Search Magic!"

"It's ready now!"

"Good. Everyone, halt! Stop all movements!"

He ordered everyone to stop moving in order to cast the Search Magic.

Several wizards moved to the center, unfolded a Paper Inscribed with a Complex Magic Circle, and stood in a triangular formation.

"Oh, that is..."

"This is the magic confidently showcased by the Yucalleria Academy. It can detect anything above a certain size that moves."

He shrugged slightly as he explained the magic to the Defense Captain, who expressed amazement.

Before long, the magic was completed. Following the intentions of the mages, a faint Magical Current spread in all directions with the wind.

"Now, the things detected will appear on the Magic Circle. Quickly, cover it with the map. The scale matches the map exactly."

As per his command, a prepared Map was placed over the Magic Circle.

As expected, reactions began to appear immediately.

"Oh! Are these Glowing Dots...?"

The Defense Captain, delighted, pointed to a specific spot where the Glowing Dots appeared.

However, the excited Defense Captain soon lost his words.

"Th-this is..."

It wasn't just him. The Deputy Director’s face also turned pale in an instant, rendering him speechless.

Murmurs spread among the crowd as they confirmed the results. The Glowing Dots on the map increased one by one, then by the dozens, and then by the hundreds, appearing without stopping.

The dots clustered together, almost forming a solid surface.

"...This is bad."

At that moment, the Deputy Director, who had just turned his gaze away from the Magic Circle, saw something.

In the dark forest, hidden within the shadows of the gloom, there were Black Waves.