Chapter 634 - Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

The Mage Federation does not have a capital city. The Floating Citadel serves a similar function, but it is rather vexing to designate a fortress drifting thirty thousand meters above the ground as the capital. The biggest issue is accessibility. One must be a 'chosen' who can utilize anti-gravity magic, observe the Floating Citadel's trajectory, and conjure precise spells to ascend to it. There are at least three dimensional gates, and making a single mistake could make you a wanderer of the world. Above and below the clouds. A vast distance that only feels like severance. A celestial fortress that, rather than governing responsibly, merely looks down loftily from the sky. Even so, the Mage Federation cannot abandon the Floating Citadel. In fact, they must labor not to be abandoned by it. The Tower of the Demon King, Babylon, and its five subordinate towers. One must enjoy the knowledge and magic that emerge from there. "The Descent is complete! All the chosen of the Floating Citadel can visit the descent site with very simple procedures! This time, the Descent is to the Celsius Domain, where the rules of the domain are above freezing and boiling points! Please refer to the rule book for details and check the temperature before drinking water!" The 'Descent' was complete. There was no commotion. Although the Floating Citadel altered its orbit and descended closer to the surface, those who resided within it only realized this after an announcement played. After showing a token interest, they returned to their affairs. Even with a Descent occurring once a year, there is no particular reason for the chosen of the Floating Citadel to depart. The Citadel, enveloped in its shell, neither suffers from harsh winds nor blazing sunlight. There is no threat of disease or wild animals, and even falling is not a concern. The environment where the Demon King and five tower lords reside within the Floating Citadel surpasses that of the Celsius Domain, which is home to merely a single prestigious magical family. This sentiment also held true for those outside the Floating Citadel. "Wowwwww!" A deafening cheer that nearly bursts one's eardrums. The moment one steps outside the Floating Citadel, cheers resound. Below, the ordinary citizens of the Mage Federation hailed the descending Floating Citadel. Gazes filled with admiration. Cheers to leave an impression, even briefly. A resolve to ascend to that point one day. All these fervent cries, motivated purely by autonomy. Even an emperor or king would receive less of a welcome than this. Even when authority commands a cheer, the emotion contained isn't pure joy. Yet there was a profound admiration for the Floating Citadel of the Mage Federation. People gazed with longing upon the magical citadel, trespassing not of this world, descending from the distant heavens. In the massive tower at the heart of the Floating Citadel, Babylon, a Descent Festival was underway. The Demon King and the five tower lords emerged, extending bridges from the five towers towards the ground. The towers gradually grew until they neared the ground, stopping just short of touching. Rather than being anchored into the earth, they maintained a fixed altitude, flying parallel to the ground's rotation. It was, in all respects, an acrobatic maneuver. The supreme Floating Citadel had laid a bridge to the lowly earthly realms, and people flocked to it. The mages from the prestigious magical families who came to pay respects to the Demon King prepared a grand event to welcome the Floating Citadel. Light and mist, crafted by magic, rose beneath the shadow of the Citadel. Self-playing instruments sounded their fanfares. The Descent Festival. A celebration held in joy by the domain selected by the Floating Citadel for the year. And yet, at a slight distance from there, I—a person exiled from the Floating Citadel—was preparing to descend when I encountered an unexpected piece of information. "What? Shei, what did you just say?" "I'm staying here." After being out of sight for a while, she's decided to stay here? What does that mean? When I asked again, Shei showed me the insignia with the five-pointed star on it and answered. "I've become one of the chosen." "What?" "In gratitude for your trust, I've decided to do my best too. I sold information obtained before regression to qualify as a chosen one and made contact with the Demon God's Temple. There's a lot of information I need to gather, so I'll be interacting with them for a while." "What?" "You can climb the Gateway, right? I'll be waiting!" While I was studying to pass through the Gateway, it seems Shei was working on something else. It was decided that I alone would fall to the terrestrial realm. Tch. Just you wait. I'll return to the Floating Citadel with triumph during the Gateway. Although Avant-Garde intended to greet me at the ground, the members of the Crystal Tower were occupied with responsibilities due to the Descent Festival. Receiving only a communication crystal, I descended alone to the surface. There’s a saying, "You come empty-handed, you leave empty-handed." While I was treated like royalty within, when it was time to leave, no one came to see me off. Will it be alright? Can an outsider like me survive in this harsh world? Will loneliness drive me to despair? While ascending the tower's elevator, brooding over such concerns, I opened the door and stepped out, feeling rather forlorn. "A chosen one from the Floating Citadel!" "The chosen have descended from the Citadel!" "Excuse me! Excuse me, please stop…! Could you impart your teachings to us?" An immense crowd was there to greet me. No one saw me off, but look at all these people here to welcome me. My spirits were lifted a bit. *** Neither Avant-Garde nor the Blue Tower Lord worried about whether I could climb the Gateway, but they weren’t particularly concerned about how I'd fare among the common folk when I descended. In all honesty, I felt a bit neglected. My mentor didn’t even slip me any travel money, just a pile of spellbooks I couldn't eat. What were they planning to do if I starved in this unfamiliar setting? "Master! Are you finding everything comfortable?" Apparently, it was all needless worry. The Floating Citadel is an object of admiration, and a mage descending from it is akin to a celestial being or a chosen one from the heavens. Just because I came from the Floating Citadel, I was received with utmost reverence. What? Aren't I just a commoner and a Gateway candidate? What difference does it make? They don’t know that. "The floors are warm, the room is spacious. I’m quite satisfied. Is this an empty building? It seems well-maintained." "The facilities are decent, right? This is a school for the children of the domain. Since magic classes are also conducted, the district residents pooled resources to set it up. It’s not the best, but it’s more than sufficient for teaching children." "A school, you say? And the person who used to teach here?" “Oh, the headmaster is on a little vacation. With a chosen one from the Floating Citadel visiting, what’s a mere local headmaster in comparison?” The neatly dressed middle-aged woman answered pleasantly. Of course, with me here, what would a local headmaster compare to... Wait, what? “What? Why dismiss a well-performing headmaster?” Are they expecting me to take over the headmaster's duties? I'm already busy just looking after my own future! When I asked, the woman waved her hands emphatically. “Oh, don’t misunderstand! We didn’t bring you here to teach a class. We’re just hoping the children might benefit from the positive energy of being near a chosen one. It’s said that just by having a chosen one from the Floating Citadel nearby, one receives magical energy!” “It’s true that research shows those frequently exposed to magical energy become more sensitive to it. But isn’t it possible to achieve that without a mage? I see you have many magical tools here; those should suffice, right?” “More the merrier, and better safe than sorry, right? After all, can magical tools really compare to a chosen one from the Floating Citadel?” 'Just keep them nearby! This is when you get in the queue! This one might seem oblivious to the ways of the world despite living in the Citadel, and if we treat them well enough, they might even gift us some spellbooks out of goodwill!' So that’s their plan. The Mage Federation is a society where class is determined by magic. Receiving superior education is the shortcut to career advancement. Simply having resided in the Floating Citadel is an impressive credential, so it’s no wonder the woman running the academy thought she should seize the opportunity to have me around. Swaying me with sweet talk to get teachings. What do they take me for... “Aren’t you hungry? Oh dear, where’s my head at? I should’ve offered a meal to someone who’s traveled so far first.” Clapping her hands, the woman summoned a feast that seemed like it would make the table legs buckle under the weight. The delicious aroma wafted up, and I couldn't help but feel my mouth water. “Ah, I didn’t hope for this. Should I pay something?” “Oh, no need to mention it! We expect nothing in return, so just enjoy your meal!” “In that case, I won't hold back.” In the Floating Citadel, I was too busy studying to eat properly. Faced with a meal that seemed like the first real food I’d had in a while, I eagerly picked up a spoon. I roughly cut a large piece of meat with the spoon and put it in my mouth. Just as I was about to chew, savoring the steam it breathed out, the slightly crispy texture and exploding umami filled my mouth. Instinctively swallowing the meat, I couldn’t help but express my admiration. “This is delicious…!” “Isn’t it? The Celsius Domain is known for its cuisine. We’ve prepared plenty, so help yourself.” “How was this made? This texture is different from any meat I’m familiar with.” How could the meat be so tender in such a short time? Was it fried? But there’s no greasy feel to it. Curious, I asked, and the woman responded with a broad smile. “Nothing special. We just seasoned it a bit, rubbed it with oil, and let it simmer. You see, in the Celsius Domain, meat cooks faster and tastier.” “There must be a secret, then.” “It’s not really a secret; it’s because of the Celsius Domain’s rules. In the Celsius Domain, the boiling and freezing points are elevated.” “Rules…?” Come to think of it, the announcement did mention knowing the domain’s rules, didn’t it? Something about above boiling and freezing points. I had brushed it off at the time, like you do with notices. Could it be? “Does that mean ice forms easily but boils with difficulty here?” “Exactly. Meat cooks better than by frying in oil! Not just meat, stews and broths come together quickly, too. Even ice sculptures don’t melt easily!” Fascinating. While not as astounding as the gravitational anomalies of the Floating Citadel, even this seemingly ordinary land defies the principles of nature. Is that the case throughout the Mage Federation? “What are the rules of other domains like?” “Let me see. In the neighboring Pascal Domain, the wind only blows in one direction, and in the Decibel Domain, sound carries further... It’s complicated magic, so I’m not too versed. Wouldn’t you, teacher, know more?” Maybe I probed too much. The woman was eyeing me suspiciously. Playing ignorant, I replied while taking another bite. “Do I need to know? I plan on returning to the Floating Citadel anyway.” Lowering myself in posture would only draw suspicion here. With my head held high as if indifferent, I continued to eat, finally prompting the woman to relax her expression. “Yes, of course, you must return! Still, you won’t find any domain as delightful as Celsius. The ground is warm, and there’s plenty to see and eat! It’s perfect for a restful pause! Rest as much as you like!” “Well, it does seem good for a rest. I’ll grant you that.” I nodded and quietly enjoyed the meal. My demeanor suggested a lack of words, leading the woman to awkwardly smile before taking her leave. With the door sliding shut, I could hear her whispering beyond the threshold. ‘How about it? Does he plan to stay?’ ‘He seems inclined to stay, considering how much he’s enjoying the food.’ ‘Did you get a firm answer?’ ‘Not yet. But surely he wouldn't finish the meal and just leave quietly if he has any decency.’ ‘You really don’t know! Mages are creatures without shame. If it doesn’t come from his own lips, it’s not a promise!’ ‘What should we do then?’ ‘We need to make him talk! Whether it’s money or sending someone, get the academy folks in here!’ Though just a commoner in the Floating Citadel, here I was a revered chosen one. I never agreed with the saying "better to be the tail of a dragon than the head of a snake," but feeling that power is relative, perhaps this isn’t so bad after all.