[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

Chapter 264: Null City (1)

The city of Moritz, located in the northwest of the continent.

A place shrouded in fog all year round, carrying its own uniquely bleak atmosphere.

What really sealed that dreariness was the black tower standing right in the city center.

Like an obelisk, the high floors of the tower were usually hidden by fog. Read full story at noⅴelfire.net

Fwaaah!

At the outskirts of Moritz, a portal opened, and four men and women walked out.

Killian looked at the closing portal with an intrigued expression.

“So this is the portal?”

“That’s right. Come to think of it, it’s your first time using one, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Fascinating. Convenient, too.”

Fran also glanced at the spot where the portal had vanished and asked,

“If only you could install these in every city, you’d make a fortune.”

“True, but that’s not realistic.”

They couldn’t even manage to set up a single subspace training chamber—how could such a high-level facility be feasible?

Besides, if it were possible, Master Ado would have made one during his lifetime.

Once the idle chatter ended, Veronica asked

“Are we going straight to the Black Tower?”

“No. There must be a reason Kiri Gloria didn’t officially request help. Rather than barging into the Black Tower, it’s better to quietly let her know we’re here.”

“I agree with that. Then, where should we wait…?”

“Me! I know a good place!”

Fran raised her hand with an excited voice.

“In the city center of Moritz, there’s this famous restaurant called Le Cabinet. It’s a bit pricey, but they have private rooms, so it’s perfect. I’ve always wanted to try it.”

“Oh, that sounds good.”

In a place like that, no one would find it strange if outside mages showed up.

There were plenty of knights and mages who traveled just to indulge in good food.

When they arrived, they found a building resembling a miniature noble’s mansion.

“They must’ve spent quite a sum on this.”

“Apparently, they tore down the original building and hired a famous architect to build it.”

“…How much is a meal in here?”

“Steak is about 200 bel a plate.”

“Two—Two hundred bel!?”

Veronica’s pupils shook violently in shock.

Then, in a shrinking voice, she muttered,

“…Just so you know, I’m broke.”

“Same here,”

Killian chimed in confidently.

Oscar looked at the two of them and gave a wry laugh.

“This’ll be covered as part of our Special Ops expenses, so don’t worry.”

Inside, a neatly dressed waiter welcomed them.

“Welcome. How many?”

“Four.”

“Right this way to a private room.”

The room they were led to had red wallpaper and a neat musk fragrance, like a noble’s study.

Fran took care of the ordering, and Veronica asked.

“How are you planning to call Kiri?”

“I already did, on the way here.”

He had sent a message spell using Kiri Gloria’s magic code.

If she was in the city, she’d come before long.

Oscar sipped the fine water in his glass and asked,

“By the way, why are you two broke? You’re not gambling or anything, right?”

“…”

That question clearly offended Veronica, who frowned.

“Seriously? When would I have had time to earn money? These past months I’ve been either on missions with you or training.”

“Same here.”

Oscar tilted his head.

“But that makes it stranger. You get paid Special Ops expenses. And I remember it being quite a decent sum.”

“…Special Ops expenses? That was a thing?”

“First I’ve heard of it.”

Oscar’s face went pale.

“Wait. Don’t tell me you two never received them? They’re supposed to be sent monthly.”

“Hm? No, I’ve been getting them regularly.”

Fran frowned.

“You didn’t get the letters at the start of every month? With the crisp checks inside?”

“Oh…”

At that, Veronica’s eyes trembled.

“You mean those checks labeled something about Special Ops with thousands of bel inside?”

“That’s the one! What did you do with them?”

“T-The amount was so huge I thought it was the entire unit’s budget. I never touched a single coin…”

“…”

Oscar didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

He turned to Killian.

“What about you? Did you not know and just stash them away too?”

“No, I simply never checked my mailbox. I’ll look when I get back.”

A very Killian-like reason.

Oscar sighed and rubbed his forehead.

“My bad. I should’ve explained it, but I assumed you’d know.”

“…To be treated the same as this guy…”

“I believe I’m better off than you.”

“Don’t make me laugh! At least I’m civilized—ugh, forget it.”

Veronica let out a sigh, then nervously asked,

“A-Anyway, so that money really is mine?”

“Yes. It’s your payment for doing Special Ops work.”

“…They’re not going to suddenly claim it was a mistake and take it back, are they?”

“…”

Oscar’s face softened with sympathy, which made Veronica blush and snap.

“Yeah! I grew up poor and don’t know a thing! You think that’s funny?”

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]

“I’m not laughing. I just feel bad, that’s all.”

“…Forget it. Let’s just eat. Why’s the food taking so long?”

Almost as if on cue, their food began arriving.

It was luxurious and delicious, befitting the restaurant’s reputation.

Just as they were finishing, a faint tapping came from the window—tiny stones hitting the glass.

“Looks like she’s here.”

Oscar glanced out.

On the street, a hooded figure in a black robe gestured toward an alley and disappeared.

Wiping his mouth with a napkin, Oscar said.

“Let’s move.”

* * *

“Thanks. I didn’t think you’d really come.”

Kiri Gloria.

A 5th-level mage of the Black Tower, she greeted them with gratitude the moment they met. Then, looking over the group, she added,

“And I didn’t expect four of you.”

“Would it have been better if I came alone?”

“Not at all. I’m relieved it’s four.”

“What’s going on that you sent such an urgent request?”

“…It could change the Black Tower’s future.”

She bit her lip and said,

“Let’s change locations. Easier if I show you first. I’ll call a cab.”

“A cab? That far?”

“It’s about two hours by car…”

“Just tell me the location.”

Oscar opened a portal after receiving it from her.

Kiri looked stunned.

“W-What is this?”

“A portal. Surely you’ve heard I can use spatial magic?”

“I never thought something like this was possible…”

Stepping through, she looked drained.

“…Why is someone like you in the White Tower? You’re impossible to keep up with.”

“Because the White Tower is the best. Anyway, where are we?”

They found themselves in a spotless city.

But it felt lifeless—like a ghost town.

“This is Null City. One of the Black Tower’s projects.”

“Null City? What does that mean?”

“To explain that… did you see our presentation at the White Night Festival?”

Everyone but Killian nodded.

“It was the golems with AI, right? Called Prometheus?”

“Exactly. That technology is the symbol of progress, comparable to magitech itself.”

She smirked proudly.

“Your White Tower’s airships were impressive, but I guarantee that someday life without Prometheus will be unimaginable.”

“For example?”

“This city is the example.”

Walking through the pristine streets, she explained,

“The name ‘Null City’ comes from terminology used in creating artificial intelligence—it means ‘nonexistent.’ It represents a city without human labor, without worries.”

“That’s even possible?”

“Yes. Prometheus AI isn’t limited to golems. It’s compatible with all magitech, even entire buildings. This city is fully integrated with it.”

By a streetlamp, Kiri clapped her hands and infused mana.

“Prometheus, lights on.”

A mechanical voice answered:

-Identifying user authority…

-Administrator rights confirmed: User KIRI.

-Illuminating city streets.

Pop, pop, pop!

Starting with the lamp beside her, the entire street lit up in an instant.

Oscar couldn’t help but admire it.

“Amazing.”

A city where humans didn’t need to lift a finger.

Living here, one might easily turn into a lazy pig.

“What’s artificial intelligence?”

Killian asked.

Kiri hesitated.

“Hm… Do you know what a homunculus is?”

The four shuddered at the word.

They’d nearly died fighting deranged homunculi on an artificial island.

Veronica swallowed nervously.

“We know. Wait… are you saying AI is like that?”

“Not at all. Homunculi were extremely dangerous. Too many variables, too hard to control.”

“What’s different?”

“Homunculi are artificial life forms created with souls, blood, and life force. They once had life, so inevitably they longed for it again. But AI is different. It’s built on magitech. It only functions when programmed. No emotions, no hunger for life.”

That made sense.

“Surprising. I thought, being the Black Tower, you’d use necromancy and involve souls.”

“Unfortunately, modern black mages all work with mechanical golems. With pieces of our own souls already embedded, we can’t manage others as well.”

She suddenly stopped walking and looked up at a towering, ornate building.

“This is the Zenith Tower, a multiplex equipped with all of the Black Tower’s latest technology. It’s meant to be the heart of Null City.”

It was enormous, dominating the city center—clearly an extravagant investment.

“But there’s one problem.”

“What problem?”

“People who enter this building have been disappearing.”

Turning back toward them, Kiri said,

“Please. Go into Zenith Tower and search for the missing people.”

[Translator - Night]

[Proofreader - Gun]