The Ultimate Sage Who Faked Incompetence and Was Disinherited Just Wants to Enjoy His New Life! - Episode 66: The Scholars’ Opinions

Episode 66: The Scholars’ Opinions

The next day. After the busy morning hours had passed, we showed up at the Adventurers’ Guild. As usual, the Adventurers’ Guild in the royal capital was full of life. Right in front of us, some adventurers were gathered in front of a table. They were having a strategy meeting before heading out on a request.

“I’m Ardan, a Platinum Rank adventurer. I’d like to speak with the Guild Master about a request. Can you relay the message?”

“Understood. Please wait a moment.”

The receptionist seemed to know nothing about the matter. She tilted her head a little and went to the back. Soon after, we were guided into a room in the back.

“Looks like it’s being kept secret even among the guild staff.”

“Seems like it. That must mean this is a real pain to deal with. But still, the guild is just as lively as ever.”

“Would it cause a panic if people found out? Even the color of the sky looks normal, as always.”

Jill seemed to be doubting if anything was actually going on. I felt the same. It just felt like a regular day in the royal capital.

Once we arrived in the back room and sat on the sofa, the Guild Master Raffaello soon came in. He also seemed like his usual self.

“Guild Master, we’ve come about the request from yesterday.”

“Then—may I take it as your acceptance?”

Ardan turned to us. We all gave a solemn nod. Seeing that, Ardan also nodded.

“That’s our intention.”

“Understood. Then, I’ll explain the request.”

The scholars were reportedly just as surprised as Lilia when they saw the magic stone from the Big Fire Turtle we brought back. They said they had never seen such a phenomenon in all of recorded history. Many scholars have been running various experiments trying to uncover the mystery behind this strange occurrence.

Because if one could freely change the size of magic stones, then there would be no need to risk one’s life to retrieve them. You could just grow the magic stone until it reached the desired size.

They tried pouring excessive amounts of magic into a magic stone, or compressing small magic stones into one.

However, none of these methods have succeeded so far. Then, one of the scholars started investigating whether there had been similar cases in the past.

They knew it hadn’t been seen in the current age. So then—how about in the time before recorded history?

That scholar discovered that a similar phenomenon had occurred in the time of ancient civilizations. Upon further investigation, they found out that the cause of the phenomenon was the existence of a “Fire Spirit”.

“So, what’s the reason this ‘Fire Spirit’ is doing such a thing?”

Ardan asked. Everyone likely wanted to know the same. All attention turned to Raffaello-san. He dropped his gaze to the table.

“It’s still not very clear. But the scholars seem to think it’s seeking a ‘body’.”

“A body?”

“Yes. Spirits don’t have bodies—they’re basically masses of magical power. To appear in this world and act, they probably need a physical body. It’s thought that they are searching for one.”

That may be possible. The Big Fire Turtle we fought seemed to be heading toward Mount Magna, the sacred mountain where spirits dwell. And if the one defeated by the other Platinum Rank adventurer was also heading there, then the possibility becomes even more likely.

“Your request is to stop that from happening.”

“Raffaello-san, what does the Fire Spirit intend to do once it gets a body?”

“….…According to ancient records, it tried to destroy the world.”

“To destroy the world…”

Elise, who asked the question, held her breath at those words.

Maybe that’s the reason the ancient people perished. Surface buildings were destroyed, and only the underground structures still remain today as ruins. That seems plausible.

But if that’s true, then it should have been impossible for life to survive on the surface again. I wonder how that part fits in?

“What happened to the Fire Spirit after that?”

Raffaello-san quietly shook his head from side to side. Maybe it disappeared after rampaging enough, or maybe someone defeated it. That part is likely still under research by the scholars.

“Lilia-san, do you know anything about this?”

In response to Raffaello-san’s question, Lilia lightly shook her head from side to side. 

If even Lilia doesn’t know, then we’re at a dead end.

“So, what exactly do we need to do? Do we just keep taking down the Big Fire Turtles as they come?”

“In the end, it may come to that. But first, I’d like you to go to the crater of Mount Magna, where the Fire Spirit is said to be sleeping.”

The crater of Mount Magna. 

If I recall correctly, there’s a sea of lava spread out there. And within that lava, there’s said to be an island where the Fire Spirit resides. 

Crossing a sea of lava isn’t easy—unless you fly through the air.

“We’re going to use the airship that was excavated from the ruins, right?”

“Just as you said, Fel-san. Using the airship you all discovered, we’d like you to go to the island where the Fire Spirit lives. It might end up being a wasted trip, but there’s a chance you’ll discover something.”

So we’re using that airship after all. 

That’s fine, but… was there even a passageway to get the airship out of that place? 

Well, I guess if it couldn’t be taken out, they wouldn’t have left the airship there in the first place. 

That place definitely felt more like a port than a display area.

“Yeah, we might be the best ones for this. And if the world really might be in danger, then it’s not like we can ignore it.”

“That’s right. We can’t just sit back and watch the world get destroyed.”

“Well… yeah, guess that’s how it is.”

The three from the Hero Village seem to have made up their minds. 

Like Ardan said, our party—who can use magic that protects against heat—is probably the best suited for the job.

Raffaello-san also knows that we managed to defeat the Big Fire Turtle without any serious injuries. 

He must believe we have some kind of trump card up our sleeve.

“Traveling through the sky on an airship, huh. That’s exciting. We might never get another chance like this.”

“We can fly freely anytime even without an airship, though. Fel, you really do love magical tools, huh? Well, to be precise, this one’s not a magical tool—it’s a machine.”

Lilia laughed as she leaned close to me. 

…Honestly, maybe Lilia doesn’t really want to go. 

I kind of feel like I can sense her heart wavering. 

She probably knows something. 

But I don’t plan on forcing her to talk.

Everyone has one or two things they don’t want to talk about, right? 

More importantly, I need to build the kind of relationship where she *wants* to talk to me about those important things. 

Maybe, to Lilia, I’m still not someone she can rely on.

“Well then, everyone—this will likely be a difficult request, but will you accept it?”

The five of us nodded. 

Seeing that, Raffaello-san gave a big nod of his own. 

He now had a look in his eyes that showed he had also made up his mind.

It seems like this request doesn’t just involve us—it’s something the Adventurers’ Guild is also taking seriously. 

Of course, the true client—the country—will be involved as well.

“Then, I leave it to you. We, the Adventurers’ Guild, won’t hesitate to support you. Please consult us about anything. Also, please don’t tell anyone else about this. If word spreads, it could cause a huge uproar.”

Mount Magna isn’t that far from the Kingdom of Fortune. 

The country will probably start moving in a hurry to prepare for the worst. 

The same will go for the Elf Kingdom too.

As for us—we need to do everything we possibly can.