Chapter 71 - Golden Intellect (2)

The city was vast.

I properly felt those words again after a long time.

A massive circular city with a 12km diameter.

In modern terms, its area was slightly smaller than Seoul's three Gangnam districts.

Looking at pre-modern times, it was far larger than Chang'an, the world's largest city of its era.

Comparing circular cities, there was Baghdad, but to compare Res Limen to Baghdad, one would need to compare it to Baghdad's entire metropolitan area.

While Baghdad's inner circular city was only 2km in diameter, its entire metropolitan area consisted of two massive semicircles 19km in diameter.

Anyway, simply put, Res Limen was ridiculously huge.

Naturally, the places I had been were just a tiny fraction of the city.

In that sense, my first step into Golden Intellect wasn't exactly an ordinary occurrence.

"Get it?"

"Hmm... so Roman was such a nobody he couldn't even come to Golden Intellect."

"...Let me explain again. The city is big. Golden Intellect is far away on the opposite side from where I lived. I had no particular reason to come. Is that hard to understand?"

"Still, don't all somewhat capable people visit Golden Intellect at least once?"

The reason Rei was being so annoyingly smug was simple.

She'd been there while I hadn't.

"Hey hey, Roman. You know what? Golden Intellect only accepts blondes. Because intellect is in the head? Like golden intellect mixing into their hair?"

"Bullshit."

She'd only been there once following Viola during training.

Then what about Viola's violet hair—is that a sign of dead intellect?

"Oh! Correct!"

What nonsense.

I'll make sure to tell Viola of this later.

"Ahaha... but Golden Intellect really does prefer blondes."

"Huh? Really?"

I'd heard of racial discrimination before, but this was my first time hearing about discrimination based on being blonde or not.

"Golden Intellect's founder, Cordelia Wollstonecraft, was blonde. So they seem to feel some kind of legitimacy in blonde hair."

"That makes more sense. See Rei, that's how you explain things, got it?"

Exchanging such banter, we arrived at Golden Intellect.

Golden Intellect was, truly, another castle.

A separate castle within the metropolis of Res Limen.

The massive tower with protrusions like tree branches made one wonder how such a design maintained balance.

Tower of Intellect.

Golden Branch.

The reason for these simultaneous names was immediately apparent.

"It's huge."

The single largest building I'd seen until now was the Explorer Union, but that just changed.

"Kind of intimidating."

If it were just an imposing massive structure, that'd be one thing.

But Golden Intellect, as if showing off its overflowing wealth, was plastered with magic alloy and gold.

The reason this seemingly haphazardly expanded design with no apparent balance stood firm was probably because those exterior materials were ridiculously sturdy.

Big and magnificent.

How to put it… it reminds me of my first department store visit with mom as a child.

Back then, I felt pressured and just held my mom's hand tightly.

"Want me to hold your hand?"

Rei grinned, extending her hand.

Don't taint my memories, you brat.

"I'm fine."

Still, it felt wrong to reject it outright.

Rei was trying to be considerate in her own way.

Gently pushing Rei's hand away, I asked Leaf, "Where do we go now?"

"You'll see once we're inside."

Leaf led the way with quick steps, seeming familiar with Golden Intellect.

Her steps seemed slightly excited.

She must be quite close with the people here.

Well, that was probably why she could ask for training.

Rei and I followed Leaf into Golden Intellect.

Inside was another world entirely.

The high domed ceiling was studded with various colored gems forming a celestial map.

Below hung crystal chandeliers, while various magic circles were drawn on the floor.

These weren't mere decorations.

The humid outside air vanished, replaced by fresh, clear air that seemed to wash over one’s skin.

Temperature control.

Light control.

Air purification.

Sound dispersion.

Among countless other magical measures, I couldn't begin to comprehend constructing this space.

Along paths designed for traffic flow, booths were set up where alchemist-looking people conducted business.

They were most likely selling things they made.

"This is where apprentices sell. The grade increases as you go deeper."

"For reference, I went to the third floor."

Rei shrugged with a “how about that” expression, looking just like a child seeking praise.

How wonderfully pure.

"Third floor is custom orders."

"So if the first floor is normal, the second is rare, and third is unique?"

"...I'm not sure, but it’s probably similar!"

Leaf immediately agreed.

"Where are we going?"

"Ah, we're going to the seventh floor."

"S-seventh floor?" Rei stammered with a shocked face.

As if overwhelmed that we were going more than twice as high as the third floor she'd reached.

"You idiot. This is a mixed-use building. If the third floor is custom orders, sales areas end at the third floor, and above that are probably Golden Intellect's research labs and living quarters. Going to the third floor means you went as far as possible."

"R-right? Mmhmm. Yeah. Even Viola's a Pioneer after all."

Thinking about it now, Rei seemed somewhat psychologically intimidated by Golden Intellect's environment.

Usually, even when acting slightly stupid, she showed an occasional sharp insight, but now her judgment seems almost paralyzed.

Come to think of it, Rei's from the countryside too.

Beast-folk territories were naturally somewhat distant from civilization.

Anyway, Rei and I followed close behind Leaf like ducklings following their mother, glancing around furtively.

"Hey, Roman. Doesn't that look pretty good?"

"That?"

Rei pointed at a gauntlet.

Isn't this an alchemist building?

Why are they selling weapons?

"Maybe alchemy includes metallurgy too?"

"...Makes sense."

Rei had fought bare-handed until now.

I'd thought it was just her preference, but seeing her interest now, I belatedly wondered if it was because she couldn't afford equipment.

Should I have bought her something?

I have plenty of money.

But Rei probably wouldn't want that.

She must have known I had money since leaving the training center.

And she could have gotten support from Frontier Guild during training.

She probably didn't want to be in debt, wanting to save and buy it herself.

Finding it somewhat admirable, I patted Rei's head.

"Let's look around when we leave."

"...Okay. But get your hand off my head?"

Seeing Rei's grumpy response, I playfully messed up her hair.

Rei shouted protests from behind but quickly had to suppress her voice at the gathering stares, though she still threw punches.

"...My back hurts."

"Hmph."

"Ahaha, both of you calm down, we're here."

"Oh!"

At Leaf's announcement, Rei rushed forward and stood with hands on her hips.

"Hey, Roman! Bet you've never seen this, huh? This is..."

"An elevator?"

"Yeah! An ele… vator... you know it?" Rei asked in a somewhat dumbfounded tone.

Ah, she was probably going to explain, “This is called an ‘elevator’, it moves people up and down”—but unfortunately picked the wrong target.

I'm not some otherworld nomadic Elf who doesn't even know the word "delicious”.

"Rei, not that one, this one!"

Rei even picked the wrong elevator.

Where Rei stood was the guest elevator that only went to the third floor, while where Leaf stood was the visitor elevator going up to the tenth floor.

"A-ahem."

As Rei approached, sheepishly hiding her embarrassment, we got on the elevator Leaf had called.

Wonder how long it's been since I rode an elevator.

I felt quite nostalgic today.

But this wasn't in my memories.

A woman in a neat uniform was visible upon entering the elevator.

No, a female golem.

The elevator girl had been replaced with an elevator golem.

"Please present your visitor permit."

"Ah, here."

At the golem's monotone voice, Leaf thrust forward her staff.

That's a visitor permit...?

But the elevator golem outputed a "Verified" voice as if that was correct.

Clunk—whirr—

"Ooh."

The floor must be preset in the permit, as the elevator started moving without any floor input.

That peculiar floating sensation of going up.

The elevator's distinctive vibration, felt after so long, stirred my heart.

"Pfft, Roman, is this your first time?"

To Rei, it must have looked like my first elevator ride.

Just as I was about to say something, the golem announced our arrival.

"Here."

And at the door stood a woman wearing glasses.

Nothing strange about that.

The golem might have signaled that visitors with permits had arrived.

But what was surprising was.

"Welcome."

The things on her head and back.

They were horns and wings.

As I thought of Seir and Lerajie at the familiar form.

The two Great Archdevils whispered.

[Pact-bearer, she is different from Devils. Look carefully.]

At Seir's words, I looked again and noticed she lacked that tar-like sticky mana feeling I got from the two Great Archdevils.

Lerajie, sharing my senses, confirmed I'd noticed the difference and revealed the answer.

[A dragonkin.]