For You This World I'll Destroy
Mystery of the disappearance of a Pathfinder (2)
—5—
I took a long breath. My hopes soared as the Prince held my face and whispered those sweet words. But, how could I forget that work is number one in my boss's mind.
However, the Prince's office was very simple. No expensive paintings or useless aesthetic sculptures, just tall shelves full of documents and little fairies flying through the room. On one of the walls is a row of photos of the previous head of the Noctis family. They all have the same name. Arthur Arpeggio Noctis if male and Ellen Lunaris Noctis if female.
Why is that so? A strange family tradition.
“Prince called me here, must be about Pathfinder Nadja?” shoot me.
Arthur who sat elegantly on the sofa in front of me smiled, “If you know, our conversation will be short,” said the Prince handed me a document with a gold stamp.
I was stunned to see it. The golden stamp signifies the highest level of mission known only to the Prince and his appointees. Oddly enough, this mission will be troublesome. Hmm, what is it.
“So Nadja-senpai was completely lost after her mission in Junon two weeks ago,” I said that I closed the letter and breathed my breath in, deep,
“You want me to save Nadja-senpai? Not the Seekers, magicians specialists save lost witches on missions?”
“You misunderstood Chrysant. It's not a mission to save Nadja, but to hunt her down. The job you are so good at, right? Ruin Hunter?” said the Prince who stood up and approached his desk. There he turned the globe there and continued,
”Two weeks ago, researchers managed to solve ancient documents on National Treasures in the ruins of the city of Junon. An expedition team was sent there under the leadership of Pathfinder Nadja.”
“What treasure do you mean?”
The prince stopped the globe and replied, “Quartz Month.”
Quartz Moon? I read it once in a magic academy. The Moon Quartz is the heart core of the First Malice born 6 centuries ago. That magicite possessed extremely extraordinary magic energy, even surpassing that of the core of the world. With that much power, a Witch was capable of anything. It even wiped out all Malice on the face of the world.
For 4 centuries, the Moon Quartz was kept in the magic vault of the Noctis Family in Junon. But ten years ago, ever since The Reaper dropped the Junon Space Fortress to the surface, the Moon's Quartz disappeared.
“Chrysant, Space Fortress can only float in the sky thanks to Magicite obtained from the hunt for Malice. When we can get the Moon Quartz, its power is able to maintain this Magic Fortress forever,” explained Prince Arthur.
The prince gave me an autopsy document.
“Know it, Nadja immediately track Quartz Moon. But after 2 weeks, no news came back from him. With the exception of. a corpse,” he said.
I read the autopsy report, looking at the horrific photos of the victims. The cut made his face unrecognizable. All over his body were deep scratches, burning and scorched by the high heat. Former Lionmaw attack, a magic weapon that can only be used by Nadja-senpai.
One document shows the identity of the corpse as a researcher who participated in Nadja's expedition. And with him a final letter was found in his hand, as the Seekers found his body.
White Order created Malice Type S.
“There is no evidence that says Nadja betrayed, so why am I down?” I said I was trying to avoid that difficult job.
The injuries from my previous expedition have not healed completely. Besides, I've only been home for a week, when I was told to go again? Achieve tofu.
“I think hearing the name White Order will interest you in this mission. Because, aren't you also one of the evil organization's guinea pigs, Chrysant?” asked the Prince who folded his hands and leaned against the table,
“To be honest, the Malice S type that the letter referred to was not the main issue. But, imagining what the White Order would do with the Moon Quartz.
I want you to steal the Moon Quartz from their hands, Chrysant,”.
I respectfully put the golden letter on the table. It was obvious this mission was too troublesome. I'd better go home and enjoy my expeditions.
“Honor to the Sun Black Company, but for Chrysant, this mission is too heavy for me. It is better that the Prince asks the more senior Pathfinder from Chrysant,” I said politely declining the request.
But when I almost opened the door, the Prince said,
“Even if the gift I offer is Ignition from a Pathfinder?”
My heart was beating hard hearing it. Immediately I turned around and cornered the Prince on his desk and asked,
“Liam, are you serious? This isn't your trap or your political maneuvering, is it? You will keep your word, right?”
The Prince nodded, “A-Ah, i-iya, you can hold my word. But, Chrysant. Ahem, please, keep your distance. And also, my name is now Arthur, not William anymore!” said.
I looked at Liam very closely, making sure my childhood friend wasn't lying. But there was no bad intention I could feel. The man will really keep his word.
Despite the fear, I clenched my hands tightly and replied Liam,
“I... will do it.”
Jumping from one tile to another, I crossed the crowded city streets with ease. Although many mothers screamed at her every time I almost dropped a flower pot in the boarding complex, but this was the fastest way and fun sport for me.
"Ah, that's it, AutoGirl Workshop!" my mutter that swung my body at the lamp post, before turning down and landing smoothly in front of the workshop's iron trellis door. The artisans and machinists in the workshop area were used to my noisy arrival.
"Cock hasn't opened yet? Is it eight?" I checked the clock again.
"Neng Chrysant in Dagger? Belom came home to him," said the man who was repairing a big motorbike. He's Van, the owner of the workshop next door to Dagger's Autogirl Workshop, my best friend.
"Well, Om, where's the dagger?" ask me while observing Om Van's work. The engine was gallant, with its large serrated wheels, and a rogue body that could make Malice afraid. Like a fierce black horse, ready to conquer any terrain.
The big motor is an Automachina, relics from past civilizations that have been successfully imitated by humans today. Powered by the heart core of Malice or called Magicite, the magic machines become powerful pumps that drive human life as advanced as it is today. In fact, my bow dagger is also an Automachina designed Dagger as my sweet seventeen gift. Twin Princess, her name.
"Have you ever been wet, but Neng Chrysant forgot Dagger maniac Automachina?" cananda Om Van, who was the foster father of the orphaned Dagger, "The boy had just found an old town full of ancient relics, of course, did not want him to spit back home. Hence, Om is now busy, order bejibun!" he continued while emptying the big motor oil.
“Duh, he's again down the expedition? Aaah, whereas I want my gun maintenance,” my question.
"Emang Neng Chrysant has no real acquaintance other than Dagger, what?" shoot Om Van that makes me blush.
Smiling myself remembering that past, ”Friends? What about O-om. T-There's dong. Many even! Kan, Chrysant the Youngest Pathfinder of all time.”
“Hah, time anyway? You've always loved the guy, Chrysant. If there's a lot of friends, why keep dancing in the Dagger?" shoot Om Van again.
"S-S-Soal magic weapon is better than the maker, Om!”
Om Van immediately laughed. Oh, my God, this Om must know the truth. But then, Om Van stood up and lifted one of the used wheels in front of Sera's Workshop, taking the key there. He threw the key at me and said,
"Put in noh. Sometimes, there are documents that show where the child goes. Yaaa, just in case Neng Chrysant misses Dik Dagger and kebelet wants to meet him.”
Ugh...! I can only nod and thank you. Not wanting to be more embarrassed, I also opened the door to the AutoGirl workshop trellis and entered it.
Different from the workshop page whose soil has been blackened by oil, a stretch of clean white porcelain welcomes me. Scrambled engine parts and various types of oil are neatly displayed on the side of the store. As I looked up, I could see the ceiling had been replaced by a wind and magic pump machine frame, connected by complicated cables and pipes.
“But her room, really girl,” my murmur that goosebumps after going deeper and see the Dagger room full of pink elements.
A variety of adorable padded dolls welcomed Chrysant over the Dagger bed. The smell of sweet Stoberi perfume that is his best friend's favorite, smelled in every corner of the room. My God, it's so different from my messy room and stale pizza! Especially when Sera did not come clean at home!
A photo frame is on display at the Dagger study table. The photo of Dagger and myself standing in front of the primary school gate, smiling with toothless teeth and holding hands tightly. Full of bandages and bruises, but the eyes of the two boys belonged to the victors.
The day before the photo was taken, Dagger protected me from the group of children who were running against me. Although he was weak and frightened, with a trembling body Dagger looked at the brats with his eyes full of fire and shouted,
"Don't hurt my friend again!”
It was then that Dagger's heart of courage waged a fire within my heart to rebel. Chrysant stood next to Dagger. Together, despite our tears we also teach all the naughty children and rise to the rank of Queen of the street children.
Laughing at me remember it, and there was just a childhood. Now I've become Pathfinder and Dagger was recently inducted into Ruinminer.
My eyes were drawn to a book on the Dagger table, "U-Unravelling D-Demon Lord Credo: The F-Future of Unlimited Energy?" I have trouble reading the title.
Duh, the name of the book is like a fairy tale of the past. Carefully, I opened page after page of the book. But the book is so frail, that a single rough touch can destroy a single page.
“Duh spicy my eyes,” muttered I saw complicated words on each page of the book
Suddenly my eyes saw a white paper sticking out of the pile of fragile yellow pages. I very carefully removed the white paper. Hah, fortunately it was different from the other pages, the white paper had been spiked with maintenance magic diagrams, so it was still white and resistant to touch.
A photo apparently, but very sharp and clear. Curious Chrysant, how did people in the civilization then capture such a good photo? Another Relic of the past that has not yet been solved how to make it.
"... Year 2022, hmmm, 2 century ago?” muttered.
There were seven people in the photo, all with their golden hair and white lab clothes, standing behind a giant machine that resembles a tube with a lot of pipes connecting it with very advanced computer screens. Inside the tube, a small black Malice child floated in a red liquid. Khusyuk in Malice's prayer, with cables connecting his entire body to the computer screen outside.
Researchers from the past perhaps? It's not wrong, it read, "Artificial Chalice of Impurity Mark VII... S-Subject number 187, New Achlysa.”
One of those researchers was so familiar in Chrysant's eyes. His eyes were staring blankly, almost covered by his hair that was so pale that it almost resembled silver. The smile she showed was as if knocking on the door of my memory.
But no matter how much I tried to remember, nothing showed up.
I also saw Dagger's neat hand on the back of the photo, "... Quartz Moon, X003-Y256-Z196.”
… Wait a minute, Dagger was involved in the expedition to Junon?!
