Chapter 53: The Viscount’s Audience and a Hidden Dimension

Rushing along the sesame-white bricks, Logue pulled Aric towards the heart of the city’s defenses.

A moment later, they arrived before a building that resembled a grand fountain pool.

Beside the building, three men stood like sentinels, donned in black robes and pointed magic hats.

One of them, a Youth with a slightly youthful face, immediately stepped forward upon seeing their arrival.

The other two, observing the Youth take the lead, continued to scan their surroundings, diligently performing their duty to guard against any ill-intentioned individuals.

“Old sir, how may I help you?”

A faint smile touched the Youth’s lips as he bowed slightly.

Those who moved through the city, especially with a specific purpose in this area, were invariably people of noble status. Maintaining proper etiquette was essential, serving also to prevent any censure from his superiors.

“Activate the teleportation array. My apprentice and I are going to the Imperial Capital to seek an audience with His Majesty!” Logue declared his purpose, his expression unwavering, as if he had done this countless times before.

Hearing Logue’s words, the Youth’s expression revealed his expectation, yet he still requested identification as per the usual custom.

“Old sir, what you say is no problem, but according to the rules, I must conduct a routine inspection.”

“I understand, of course. This is what a subject of Candirak should do.” Nodding with a smile, Logue handed over the emblem he held.

Taking the emblem, the Youth glanced at it casually, not bothering to verify its authenticity, before handing it back.

“Esteemed Viscount, please follow me!” Stepping aside, the Youth extended a hand in invitation.

Logue responded with a calm nod and proceeded forward.

Aric, trailing behind, was utterly bewildered by the entire exchange. This seemed far too practiced.

However, realizing Logue had already walked several meters ahead, Aric quickly hastened to catch up.

“How was it?”

The Old Man, seeing the Youth approach with Logue and Aric, asked routinely.

“Teacher, the Esteemed Viscount wishes to travel to the Imperial Capital to seek an audience with His Majesty.”

Bowing respectfully to the Old Man, the Youth emphasized the phrase ‘seek an audience’.

“Oh? Haha, I see. Milord, please step on. We shall activate the array immediately.” The Old Man’s eyes lit up, and a brilliant smile, like a blooming chrysanthemum, spread across his face.

“Indeed, thank you for your trouble!” Returning a faint smile, Logue stepped into the center of the fountain pool, while Aric merely followed silently.

Seeing Logue and Aric ready, the three guards exchanged nods and positioned themselves in a triangle around the fountain pool.

Faint red magical energy particles glowed from their hands, channeling their power into the fountain pool.

Beneath the fountain pool, the sound of gears turning began, and phantom-like spring water surged from the intricately carved nozzles, swiftly spreading across the entire basin.

For Aric, using a teleportation array for the first time in his life, his eyes sparkled with an undeniable light of novelty.

If Aric had an ahoge on his head, it would surely be swaying gently right now.

Suddenly, the nozzles stopped gushing water, and a faint, pure white light began to glow on the water’s surface.

Points of light flew up, forming a semicircle that enveloped the two figures.

“Teleport!”

The three outside the pool uttered in low, resonant voices.

No sooner had the words fallen than a pillar of light, more than ten meters in diameter, shot skyward from the fountain pool.

As the light dissipated, Aric and Logue vanished without a trace. The spring water in the pool, as if evaporated, transformed into a dense mist that drifted towards the horizon.

****

In the Imperial Capital, at an intersection crisscrossed by roads and marked with a seven-pointed star array, a beam of light burst forth.

Pedestrians near the intersection immediately scattered upon seeing the light beam, fearing they might encounter ‘misfortune’.

As the light dissipated, Aric fell to his knees, retching onto the ground.

“I’m never using a teleportation array again!”

It took Aric a good while to recover, and he voiced his regret. He truly had not expected using a teleportation array would leave him so dizzy and nauseous.

Bystanders glanced at Aric before losing interest. They were already accustomed to such sights, as every time someone used the teleportation array, someone would inevitably be found vomiting nearby.

Ever since a few years ago, when too many people had been unfortunate enough to be vomited on by these teleportation-sick individuals, they had developed a conditioned reflex: the moment someone appeared from elsewhere, they would immediately retreat.

Logue, having moved slightly away from Aric, chuckled. “First time, isn’t it? It’s always like this the first time. You’ll get used to it.”

Aric coughed a few times, then spread his hands. “Then I might never get used to it.”

Shrugging his shoulders, Logue, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes, gave a helpless smile. “I said the same thing once, but I still adapted. Alright, have you recovered?”

“Yes, almost.”

At Logue’s inquiry, Aric pinched his brow.

Hearing Aric’s words, Logue nodded and headed down a less crowded path.

“Hey, wait for me.”

Enduring the slight dizziness in his head, Aric quickly followed.

****

Following closely behind Logue, Aric arrived at a crossroads.

“What are you doing? Why are you so cautious?”

Standing behind Logue, watching him cautiously observe his surroundings, Aric grumbled.

“Hey, keep watch for me.” Logue replied, then crouched down on the ground like a grasshopper.

Hearing Logue’s words, Aric, though somewhat perplexed, prepared to scan his surroundings. However, upon seeing Logue’s backside sticking up as he lay prone on the ground, a look of utter exasperation crossed Aric’s face.

“No, what are you doing?” Though still confused, Aric’s lips twitched slightly, utterly baffled by the sight.

Peering left and knocking right, Logue, with his ear pressed to the ground, replied to Aric. “What else could it be? Of course, I’m looking for a different dimension.”

Aric was speechless. He had no intention of saying anything further, and instead diligently kept watch.

Touching a seemingly insignificant protrusion, Logue laughed aloud. “Aha, found it!”

Aric, who had been nonchalantly keeping watch, immediately turned his head upon hearing Logue’s laughter.

He saw Logue rise from the ground, lift his foot, and stomp it heavily onto a spot on the pavement.

A crisp, muffled thud echoed.

Beneath Logue’s foot, faint points of light suddenly glowed, converging to form a peculiar pattern of two overlapping, intersecting triangles.

“Come quickly!” Logue waved to Aric.

Seeing this, Aric stepped into the glowing pattern.

Blinding light began to flash around them.

As the light dissipated, Logue and Aric vanished from the crossroads.

****

“Haha, welcome to my pocket dimension!”

Upon hearing this, Aric’s mouth fell open as he surveyed the dramatically transformed world around him.

‘Is this truly not another world? It’s even larger than the Firefly Forest where my clan and I reside.’

Observing Aric, who was too stunned to speak, Logue subtly lifted his chin, unable to suppress the smile that tugged at his lips.

“Tell me, who exactly are you? How are you capable of creating such an enormous pocket dimension?” Closing his agape mouth, Aric finally voiced the question that had been pressing on his mind.

Aric’s words reached Logue’s ears, causing his smile to recede.

Logue gazed at Aric with a wistful expression, his once upright posture slouching, making him appear like an old man on the verge of death.

“?? No, what’s wrong with you?” Aric frowned.

“…Ah, it’s nothing.” Logue sighed slowly, his hands clasped behind his back.