‘What should I do about my friends here? I can’t confront them out in the open…’
Roland looked at the map overlay that was expanding. This was the first time he was in this city but thanks to this feature, he could see the layout of the area. Spotting an alley nearby, he decided to take a detour through it, hoping to lose his pursuers temporarily. The alley was narrow and winding, with tall buildings on either side casting shadows that provided some cover.
As Roland moved through the alley, he could hear the distant sounds of the bustling city. The irregular layout of the buildings created blind spots, giving him a strategic advantage. He quickened his pace, weaving through the labyrinthine paths of the alley, all while keeping an eye on his mini-map.
The red dots that represented the few pursuers were still following and indicated that he probably wouldn’t be able to lose them in this fashion. More than likely, they had some tracking skills that helped them push through the alleyways.
‘I bet they got my scent while we were on the Airship, we were inside that one cabin for a while, it wouldn’t be hard to do it for one of their tier 2 trackers. How should I handle them?’
Roland contemplated the dilemma, realizing he couldn't simply confront them in the heart of an unfamiliar city. The potential for collateral damage due to his volatile runic magic was large. Moreover, he considered the possibility that they might be egging him into retaliation; after all, they were members of a mercenary group with influential connections. It occurred to him that they might have ties to the local guard captain, who could swiftly mobilize soldiers to apprehend him. Any resistance on his part could escalate the situation further, potentially involving even the local noble.
‘It will be better not to get other people involved, I need to lose this tail for good…’
Roland considered various approaches to address the situation. The risk of them employing tracking skills to tail him was a concern, but he had taken precautions to counter such effects. Having encountered similar situations before, he had extensively researched magical spells to eliminate his scent and hamper tracking skills. With this in mind, he examined the map once more, plotting a course toward one of the alleyways that appeared to be a dead end.
In front of him stood a stone building with brick walls on the side, providing an ideal location to set his trap. Roland's hand touched the ground as he activated one of his latest skills. A series of runes emerged, glowing in a pale blue light. For a brief moment, an illusory image of himself materialized and then swiftly dissipated. It was a temporary replacement, an illusory spell designed to momentarily deceive and divert his pursuers.
This marked just the beginning of his strategy. Soon, additional runes adorned the nearby walls under Roland's continuous touch. His Imbued Rune skill proved invaluable, allowing him to swiftly set traps without the need for pre-prepared scrolls, as he had done in the past. As long as inorganic materials, like the surrounding bricks, were present, Roland could harness some form of runic magic with ease. ‘Now that everything is set… I need to get away from here…’
He gazed upward, finding the way obstructed from three directions by steep walls. Such barriers posed no challenge for someone of his capabilities who was proficient in the use of the levitation spell. Extending his hand, Roland pointed upward, unleashing a peculiar semi-transparent beam of green light from his finger.
It wasn't an offensive spell; instead, it connected with the roof of the building ahead, adhering to it. The substance he generated was both sticky and sturdy and was something that he could grip onto. Swiftly, he invoked the levitation spell, rendering himself as light as a feather. With a single, forceful pull, his body shot upward. Soon he found himself on the roof of the building, gently jumping around as if he was on the surface of the moon.
‘This is still a bit difficult…’
To prevent himself from being propelled uncontrollably into the air, Roland had modified the levitation spell, allowing a fraction of his weight to persist. His struggle with controlling propulsion led him to opt for simpler means of moving forward. One of these means was using a combined spell that brought his mage hand and a binding spell together. Thanks to the added adhesive properties he could pull himself towards flat surfaces.
His form moved swiftly through the buildings while being shrouded in an invisibility spell. His magic had reached the level of greater runic spells, not something regular people would be able to see through. With his weight lessened and sound canceling, no one was the wiser as he jumped through the air.
‘This should do it…’
After a while, Roland found himself in a different alleyway, devoid of any onlookers. He canceled the spells he had previously used and quietly traced his steps toward the distant sounds of chatter. His pursuers remained oblivious to his disappearance and waited for him to leave that alley. He anticipated they would linger for a moment before launching an investigation, providing him with a window of opportunity to lose them for good.
As he moved stealthily through the city, Roland couldn't help but imagine the expressions on their faces when they walked into the trap he left behind. He chuckled to himself as he found the whole encounter rather amusing
“I wish I could see their faces after they walk into that trap. Oh well! I should head to the train station and wait. But first, I need to see this through…”
There were three dots visible on his mapping device. Although his scanning range had increased, he wouldn't be able to keep track of events if he simply left. Another issue was the imbued runes he had left behind; if the group didn't enter, they would dissipate. To prolong their effect, he needed to stay within a certain range. At his current skill level, they would last for around ten minutes autonomously. By remaining closer, he could infuse them with some of his mana to extend the effect to about an hour. However, this skill had its limits - eventually, the rune would corrode to such an extent that even if he stood next to it, it would vanish.
…
“Hey? Should we go in?”
“He is acting strange… Did he figure us out?”
“Shit, did he make a run for it… but I can sense that he is there…”
The three people from the Obsidian Brotherhood stood before a lone alley. Their target had vanished into it and had remained inside for almost ten minutes now. They were quickly getting suspicious but for some reason their tracking skills were telling them that he was in there.
“But I think this one should be blocked… is he talking to someone there?”
“Wait… shit!”
“What is it?”
“That bastard, I think he is gone!”
The most senior tracker in the group sensed that something was off and leaped toward the alleyway where their target was supposedly waiting. The others kept their distance, wary of this unusual behavior that seemed like a trap. However, once their most skilled tracker decided to run in, the rest followed suit.
“There's no one here? Did he climb up the walls?”
“Damn mages! He must have cast some type of illusion. He can't have gone far. We need to find him!”
It was evident to them that the person they were following was aware of their presence. Nonetheless, they were assigned the task of tracking him to uncover his identity. Their mercenary group had a policy of avoiding confrontations with enemies they couldn't handle. Their objective was either to obtain his adventurer card or locate his place of residence. Even if he was a mage, an opportunity for retaliation would likely arise. Their employers were vindictive and wouldn't hesitate to attack such an individual, especially when they were vulnerable, such as while sleeping.
“He was here, he can’t run, we just need to pick up hi…”
As the leader of the group was talking a strange thing transpired. All sound seemed to vanish from this place and he couldn’t even hear his own words leaving his mouth. The group realized that something was off but as they were trying to make a run for it, the magical traps were triggered.
One of them attempted to retreat through the obvious exit they had used to enter by backtracking. However, something held his foot in place. Upon looking down, he discovered a strange glowing green rune that was keeping him rooted. His two friends, attempting to scale the walls, faced a similar predicament - they all became immobilized. Before they could react, the entire area was engulfed in a peculiar purplish haze.
Instinctively, they tried to close their mouths upon realizing it was a type of gaseous attack. However, this proved futile as they soon began to feel dizzy. To exacerbate the situation, numerous vines exploded from the sides, ensnaring and swiftly solidifying around them. Despite their screams for help, they went unheard due to the sound-canceling rune, and one by one, they succumbed to unconsciousness. To add to the unfolding events, the ground started rising to produce a rocky wall concealing them from any potential onlookers.
…
‘Well, that takes care of them for a while, should I get myself another skewer or should I try not to push my luck?’
Roland distanced himself from the range of his trapping runes and made his way back into the city. The blackish hooded robe that once concealed his identity now displayed a different color of pale gray. The material had been alchemically modified by his own gnome worker, reacting to mana and capable of changing color. Recognizing that those searching for him likely had a specific description in mind, he sought to blend in by avoiding the typical appearance of robed figures of his height. Soon he decided to make his way to the magical train station. The Xandar’s Institute of Wizardry was his next destination, and he wanted to familiarize himself with the transportation system once again.
The train station was a bustling hub, with various platforms connecting to different destinations. Roland observed the trains arriving and departing, marveling at the efficiency of the magical transportation network. As he stood on the platform, he couldn't help but feel like an engineer. The large machines were before him and there was no one stopping him from examining them with his eyes. While he could only go through the exterior shells, this would change after he was let inside.
‘They mostly use them for transporting goods and people, but thanks to spatial technology, the trains don’t need to pull that many carts.’
As he examined his surroundings, Roland noticed something peculiar. Contrary to his expectation of uniformity, the train carts and locomotives displayed significant variation. During his previous travels using one of these, there was only one model to examine. However, with a closer look now, he realized that some of the train carts were enchanted, exhibiting magical qualities, while others were simple plain metal with no discernible enhancements. It seemed as if each one had been crafted individually without a common archetype.
‘The dwarves usually just copy runic structures without many alterations, are trains considered different to them?’ These were larger runic machines constructed by the union. Upon closer inspection, Roland also identified various emblems associated with dwarven smithies. It seemed plausible that each group of dwarven craftsmen aimed to distinguish themselves. The locomotives resembled large golem-like creations, suggesting that each famous workshop had its own preferred models to introduce to the market. This approach served as an effective means for the dwarves to showcase their craftsmanship and Roland could envision a sense of pride among them if their particular models gained widespread use.
‘Makes sense, the runic traces seem to follow a unified pattern but the exteriors are highly customized by their creators. Should I copy them and push my spider golems more?’
He had dedicated a considerable amount of time to a specific arachnid model, which had now been transformed into an entirely distinct golemic creation. Roland entertained the idea that his workshop could gain recognition for the Wayland-type arachnid golems if he continued to push the boundaries of innovation. Yet, becoming a kingdom-wide sensation wasn’t one of his goals. He preferred to live his ways more quietly with his wife who was patiently waiting for him back home.
‘I think some would consider me weird for not wanting money and fame.’
As he pondered the notion of being an oddball, he arrived at one of the station booths. While this location served as a train station, it lacked the refinement of those in his original world. For example, there were no schedules posted for him to pursue; instead, individuals had to inquire with one of the station workers. Furthermore, even when the departure times were known, trains were frequently delayed.
After waiting for approximately ten minutes and inquiring, he was provided with the platform number. The station was notably spacious, boasting a total of eight platforms. A distinct division was evident, with only two of the trains designated for common use, while the others demanded additional credentials for access. Nobles and merchants, averse to sharing transport with potentially hazardous adventurers and common folk, were willing to pay considerably higher ticket prices to ensure their exclusivity.
After identifying where he needed to go, Roland made his way to the sixth platform. His train didn’t arrive yet but the one that was close to leaving looked quite exquisite. It was adorned with intricate carvings, golden accents, and plush interiors, clearly catering to a more affluent clientele. None of the locomotives meant for commoners were here, only high-profile merchants and lower nobility could take these. To gain access he needed to show his papers to one of the guards and with that, he could now wait for the merchant to arrive.
As anticipated, a considerable amount of time was spent waiting with little to occupy him. Given the lack of other diversions, he pulled out his notebook and began tracing the runic symbols. Even without access to the interior, his existing knowledge allowed him to extrapolate the workings. Armed with runic batteries capable of producing a superior engine, he focused on analyzing the exterior aspects of the train.
Examining the weight distribution on the train became another point of interest. Perhaps in the future, he could undertake the construction of such a train himself, envisioning potential profits for Albrook. Although establishing railways presented its challenges and substantial costs, creating an entire train would be the most expensive endeavor. It offered Arthur a unique opportunity to distinguish himself from his brothers but would be a hard endeavor. They would need to build rails that went through some of their territories to connect to the railway leading to Isgard.
After half a day had elapsed, the plump merchant, accompanied by his two guards, finally made an appearance. Without exchanging a word with him, they headed straight for the recently arrived train. At last, his journey could progress, and following the next stop, he would be free to embark on his own. With the Professor awaiting his arrival and the invitation letter in hand, there was nothing impeding his progress. He confidently entered the luxury car and selected a seat situated a bit apart from the merchant and his two main guards.
He enjoyed the luxury of some personal space, a privilege reserved for the affluent and noble. In stark contrast, he observed a commoner train on the second platform, overcrowded with people, many of whom stood without a seat. While observing, his eyes caught something familiar - a set of rabbit ears that he recalled from the airship.
‘Is it that porter girl?’
The girl was wearing a large backpack, similar to the one Bernir had used before but with added enchantments. It seemed that the girl was waiting for someone to arrive as she was looking around for someone. The train that she was going to use was slowly being filled up and would probably leave in a few minutes.
‘Is she waiting for her party members? Are they going to miss the train?’
For someone who prided themselves on punctuality, witnessing individuals not arriving at a train station at least twenty minutes early seemed peculiar to Roland. He couldn't help but wonder if the girl's life wasn't ideal, especially if she was working with adventurers who struggled with punctuality. However, his train of thought was interrupted when he noticed her waving enthusiastically towards the side. While he couldn't see clearly, it was evident that someone was approaching her.
His gaze shifted in that direction, guided by the light that illuminated three indistinct shadows. He pondered about the identities of the individuals accompanying the rabbit girl. However, before he could discern their faces, a loud screeching sound assaulted his ears as another train arrived at the station, obstructing his view.
“Oh well…”
He could do nothing but lean back in his seat. His journey continued and he needed to keep to his schedule. As the train departed from the station, Roland observed the landscape passing by outside the window. The city gradually gave way to the outskirts, where sprawling fields and forests replaced the urban scenery. Soon, the first part of the trip would be over and then his true objective would begin, learning.
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