The atmosphere on the boat was sinking rapidly.
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Meanwhile, Derek stroked his chin while looking at the flagpole.
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‘Is there really no way?’
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His colleagues describe Derek as cautious.
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As a top explorer and a top graduate from the Academy of Archeology, he racked his brains to find a solution.
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‘Going deeper is not an option. No, we can’t even go inside in the first place. The only option is to scrape something from near that flagpole. If we can find out what that castle is for, things will get much easier...’
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Leaving aside the rest, simply examining the architectural style of this structure could provide valuable information.
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With that alone, it would be possible to determine the time period in which it was built.
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‘I have memorized all the architectural styles in the Age of Gods. If the fortress was built in the early age or in primitive times before that, the architectural style itself will be a clue.’
✦ ✦ ✦
He found a way to verify it without actually entering inside it.
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Derek did not hesitate.
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He moved quickly and began putting on the wetsuit stored in a corner of the boat.
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“Huh? Derek, what are you doing...?”
✦ ✦ ✦
“I found a way.”
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Having put on the wetsuit, Derek looked back at the two and spoke.
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“We just need to know the architectural style. Please take me near that flagpole. I’ll just take a quick look at the exterior wall of the building beneath it.”
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He spoke in a confident tone.
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Garrick’s eyes sparkled.
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“Ah, that’s right! I just remembered, but you were an educated man!”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Huh?”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Did you forget already? Derek is from Tellon Academy! He even graduated top of his class in the Archeology Department!”
✦ ✦ ✦
Upon hearing Garrick’s words, Minnie’s expression brightened.
✦ ✦ ✦
Derek chuckled as the two started to regain their color and continued speaking.
✦ ✦ ✦
“It’s old news. I ran away from the academy because the life of an academic slave was too scary. Well, it does come in handy now.”
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“You...! I love you!!!”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Me too! I love you too! We’re going to be together forever!!!”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Wait, hold on...! I’m getting dizzy! The boat is shaking!”
✦ ✦ ✦
Minnie and Garrick hugged Derek and started jumping around, causing the boat to sway heavily.
✦ ✦ ✦
Derek was flustered, then he gave up on calming them, closed his eyes tightly, and hurled himself into the lake.
✦ ✦ ✦
“A-agh!”
✦ ✦ ✦
“That surprised me!”
✦ ✦ ✦
The two managed to cling to the boat while Derek started diving into the lake.
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Beneath the surface of the lake, Derek held his breath and looked at the view that unfolded before him.
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‘It’s this big?’
✦ ✦ ✦
The castle was huge.
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No, it wasn’t just huge.
✦ ✦ ✦
‘This is...’
✦ ✦ ✦
It was even larger than the Imperial Palace.
✦ ✦ ✦
Had there ever been a building of this size among the structures on the continent?
✦ ✦ ✦
Derek was filled with amazement and awe as he gazed at the castle’s exterior.
✦ ✦ ✦
Then, he quickly snapped out of his daze and looked at the castle again.
✦ ✦ ✦
‘...Now is not the time.’
✦ ✦ ✦
Derek began to swim.
✦ ✦ ✦
He headed for the base of the flagpole, which was a fairly short distance away.
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As expected, it was a spire.
✦ ✦ ✦
Derek planted his feet on top of the spire with a small window.
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He touched the exterior and examined the seams between the stones for a moment.
✦ ✦ ✦
‘...What is this?’
✦ ✦ ✦
Derek froze.
✦ ✦ ✦
His eyes widened as much as they possibly could.
✦ ✦ ✦
‘It doesn’t exist. I’ve never known of any architecture like this.’
✦ ✦ ✦
Something was strange.
✦ ✦ ✦
His knowledge of history was second to none.
✦ ✦ ✦
He could match anyone in the academy, especially when it came to the history and life during the Age of Gods.
✦ ✦ ✦
Yet, even he could not understand this.
✦ ✦ ✦
Derek’s expression turned serious.
✦ ✦ ✦
His eyes stared intently at the seams.
✦ ✦ ✦
As the oxygen in his wetsuit slowly dwindled, Derek realized something.
✦ ✦ ✦
‘...This is not architecture.’
✦ ✦ ✦
This wasn’t an architectural structure.
✦ ✦ ✦
No, to be precise, it wasn’t a building.
✦ ✦ ✦
The seams that appeared, the constantly flowing material, could never be characterized as architecture.
✦ ✦ ✦
It was an almost certain assumption.
✦ ✦ ✦
When Derek realized that, a single question arose in his mind.
✦ ✦ ✦
His head slowly turned.
✦ ✦ ✦
At the far end was a small window.
✦ ✦ ✦
That was the same window that had been too dark to see through just a moment ago.
✦ ✦ ✦
‘...If this is not a building...’
✦ ✦ ✦
What the hell is inside it?
✦ ✦ ✦
Just as that question came to mind,
✦ ✦ ✦
— Hehe...
✦ ✦ ✦
Derek heard laughter.