Chapter 1485 — The Spring

Fairies are a remarkably persistent breed, though you would never guess it to look at them.

In truth, this small-statured race—which every people of Loren regards as rather mysterious, and which dwells only in the Mingcen Peak region—possesses a great many traits that outsiders would never anticipate. Every one of them is a soldier; they are fierce and skilled in battle; they excel at building heavy machinery; when the whim takes them they will gouge a great hole in a sacred mountain; and they have a stubbornness that leaves onlookers speechless—when they discovered the sacred mountain was too hard, they were willing to run strategic-weapon-class giant golems into scrap metal rather than give up on boring a hole into it.

And upon discovering that the hole was not much use, they immediately decided to use it for pickling spicy cabbage.

But they are good fairies—diligent, sincere, and rational and clever besides. Of that there can be no doubt.

"We had originally planned to put this cavern to another use—after all, such a fine natural deep cellar, and one we had such a hard time digging out, seemed a waste to leave sitting empty. But not long after, we learned about the 'resonance focal point,' so we changed our plans on the spot," Stella said, hovering beside Milmina's head, chattering away while gesturing at the various installations within the cavern. "We can't dig any deeper, but the magic here runs straight through the mountain body, and by monitoring the flow of magic we can get a rough picture of what is happening at greater depths. Directly below this cavern lies an extraordinarily active energy field, occupying nearly a third of all Mingcen Peak. It is like a burning 'core,' maintained in some astonishing yet balanced state...

"These fissures all around were already here—natural seepage channels of the magic focal point. We have not carried out any... modifications. You are certainly more expert in this than we are; it will be for you to decide how these things are to be used.

"The pillars at the cavern's edge are not merely structural supports—in fact, since this cavern is exceptionally solid, it hardly needs any additional support of its own. These pillars, together with the great steel beams overhead, form a single whole; their function is to conduct magic and link it to the magic-net hub tower above. In this way we can monitor the cavern's condition, and when the time comes you will also be able to use them to communicate with the outside..."

"Oh, that is a good approach. Then I will not need to construct additional magic channels," Milmina said with a nod, a smile at the corners of her eyes. "After all, once I begin my 'work,' this place will be completely sealed off, and I will need some stable channels to the outside. But... I understand everything else. What is the matter with that chair in the very center?"

As she spoke, the gaze of the Mistress of All Magic could not help but fall upon the center of the cavern—where, conspicuous and enormous, a great seat had been installed. It appeared to be made entirely of gold, its surface further fitted with intricate pipes and cable structures; the seat was fixed upon a large base covered in runes, and from above it a great many pipes extended to connect with the cavern ceiling. It was as eye-catching as could be—and its style was not merely a little different from the surrounding thaumaturgical apparatus.

She had wanted to ask the moment she stepped out of the lift, and only now had she finally given in and spoken.

"Oh, that was prepared for you," Stella said at once with a nod. "You did not say you needed any 'furniture,' but we prepared it for you all the same. Incidentally, this was something His Majesty Gaoyang Cecil took the initiative to arrange—he even designed the seat himself..."

"...Why does this thing look so odd..." Milmina's eye twitched despite herself. She had meant to say she had no need of such things at all, but hearing that it was a "kind gesture" prepared by Gaoyang, she swallowed her refusal. Her expression, however, could not help but turn rather strange. "Why so lavish? This does not look at all like..."

Stella waved her hands rapidly at this: "No, no, no, it is not lavish at all! The outer layer is only copper plating—His Majesty Gaoyang said it was mainly for appearances."

Milmina: "...Then what are the pipes on the seat and the cables running out around the base for?"

Stella: "Oh, those are decoration. His Majesty Gaoyang did not say what they were for either. I suppose he was referencing the 'Throne of Dominion' in that Radiant Vault of the Silver Elves..."

Milmina thought it over and simply could not think of how to continue the conversation. She could only shake her head and walk to that exaggerated, eye-catching golden throne, hesitating a moment before slowly sitting down. "...Well, the size is quite right, and the comfort and the view are both quite good..."

Before she had finished speaking, the technical director, who had stood silent at the side all this while, suddenly broke in: "But somehow I keep feeling it is a bit unlucky for you to be sitting up there... The scene looks as though you will not be getting up again the next second..."

Milmina waved a hand: "What do you mean, unlucky? Do not believe in such idealist talk. As a researcher you must be guided by magic and logic. I think sitting here is quite comfortable."

Technical director: "..."

"Very well, I have a general understanding of the environment, and we have said enough idle talk. I believe we do not have much time to waste," Milmina said with a wave of her hand. She sat upright upon that magnificent seat prepared specially for her, slowly surveying the surging magical radiance at the cavern's edge that flowed like ripples of light, and her tone grew solemn. "Unrelated personnel, withdraw from this place."

"You are beginning already?" Stella's eyes widened slightly. "We had actually prepared a little welcome for you..."

"The gods of the Noy have trekked among the stars for a hundred and twenty-six years, only to turn into a clear radiance in the cosmos at the very last step. We have already dawdled on this planet for tens of thousands of years, and now only a year and a half remains on the final countdown," Milmina said quietly, gazing at the fairy queen before her. "Begin. Unrelated personnel, withdraw. Seal the shaft, shut down the platform. Let us save all our celebrations for the day this cavern opens again."

Meeting this lady's calm yet unquestionable gaze, Stella drifted back a little in the air, and only then did she lower her head: "...I understand. Then we begin the withdrawal and sealing procedure now. In ten minutes, all systems will be handed over to you."

"I look forward to celebrating with you in a year and a half," Milmina said with a faint smile and a slight nod. "I hope that by then we may feast together beneath the blue sky."

A short while later, the withdrawal procedure began according to plan.

The technicians working in the cavern boarded the lifts and returned to the surface together with the fairy queen and the technical director, while the various teams working and standing by around the platform received word at the same moment and began to leave in batches, in orderly fashion, by vehicle.

Stella and the technical director remained to the last. They stood beside the final vehicle preparing to leave the platform area, quietly watching that shaft illuminated by the lights. Two minutes later, the sound of machinery came from deep within the platform, and the floor structure of the shaft began slowly to descend, while heavy clunking sounds rose again and again from the shaft, seeming to come from far off and draw near.

It was a series of alloy gates closing one by one.