At the center of this gathering crowd stood a man who seemed utterly detached from everything around him. Most of those nearby looked at him with curiosity and respect, and he responded with a smile.
"Hey, Novia."
Hearing that, Novia, who had rushed over early in the morning, slowly shifted his gaze away from the harbor and toward the sweat-drenched Lucius.
"Good morning, Lucius."
The young man's lightly swaying silver hair, illuminated by the morning light spilling across the earth, seemed for an instant to bloom with the brilliance of a golden torch.
"What happened to you? How did you go to Alexandria without saying a word? Were you forced? I told you these people weren't that easy to deal with..."
Novia did not interrupt Lucius's rambling. Only after he had finished did he continue, "I went willingly. But you should be quite happy now, right? So, how does it feel to become governor of Britain Province?"
The night before, after Novia said he would go to Alexandria to resolve the issue, Emperor Claudius had directly brought him back to the palace to rest. He then told Novia that he planned to promote Lucius Longinus, who had traveled with him, to governor of Anatolia Province.
That was certainly an unexpected delight. With Lucius, who shared the same faith, serving as governor, Anatolia Province would essentially become Christian territory. But Novia also understood that this was probably how Claudius I had intended to handle things from the beginning. After all, he had won through a "miracle."
In the end, Novia refused. Thus, amid Claudius I's baffled expression, he requested that Lucius be appointed governor of the newly conquered Britain Province.
Although Claudius I did not understand, since Novia had requested it, he accepted. It would also save him some pointless arguments with the Senate.
After all, although Lucius had once served in the Roman Empire's army, he had only been a centurion. He was not even a tribune, much less a noble.
But as governor of Britain Province, though the Senate would surely debate it for a long time, they would probably ultimately agree to let such an unknown man take the position. Britain had only recently been conquered; one careless mistake could lead to rebellion and death.
"You brat, if I hadn't received the notice early this morning, I wouldn't have known you'd already gotten out and even spent the night in the palace."
Lucius glanced toward Rome. He had still been sleeping on the street that morning when someone suddenly woke him up. Then, for no apparent reason, he became governor of Britain. He had thought he had fallen under some illusion, but after asking around carefully, he learned that Novia had already left the prison. So he had hurried to Ostia at once.
"Hahaha, I was just giving you a little surprise."
"You nearly scared me to death. I'm just a centurion. How am I supposed to manage it...?"
"Have some confidence. Learn as you go. No one is born knowing how to do everything. I believe in you." Novia patted Lucius on the shoulder, then lowered his voice so only the two of them could hear. "There's a settlement on the banks of the Thames called Londinium. When you get to Britain, remember to spend some time digging downward there. Make sure to conceal it with magecraft."
London in Britain was now called Londinium. The remains of the Dragon of Albion beneath it were precisely why Novia had made Lucius governor of Britain Province. The Age of Gods had ended less than fifty years ago, so the remains should not yet have become a labyrinth. Even if they had, it would not be a loss.
But for Novia, intact remains would naturally be best.
"I understand. Don't worry."
Without asking too many questions, Lucius nodded. That did not surprise Novia. In Lucius's eyes, Novia was the sort of person who never acted without profit in sight.
"Thanks. And next time we meet, remember to smile more sincerely. Otherwise, you won't be able to fool those old Druid ladies in Britain."
Lucius had told Novia about this before. His eyes had been cursed blind by a druid priestess. He had deceived her feelings on the battlefield, causing her to be executed. Before her execution, she left him with that cross-shaped scar, and when the enemy army attacked, he suddenly went blind.
Previously, Novia had often teased Lucius, saying he deserved it and that it was all his own fault. Lucius, meanwhile, argued that he had already paid the price.
"...Heh. By the time I was your age, I'd already met several like that. Hmph. Want me to arrange a Druid for you in Britain?"
"Haha, no need for that. Just do your job well."
After bumping fists with Lucius, Novia left with a smile, heading toward the large fleet Claudius had arranged for him.
To the Roman Empire, the Mediterranean was not an impassable barrier but an open route. By ship, one could quickly reach wherever one wished to go.
From the port of Ostia to Alexandria in Egypt, the voyage took roughly a month, depending on the wind direction.
After a while, Lucius turned his gaze toward the distant horizon. He watched the boundless sea and the large fleet Novia had boarded until it vanished from sight. Only then did he turn back toward Rome to prepare for his journey to Britain.
Time passed slowly. The days aboard the ship were dull and tedious, so whenever he had nothing to do, Novia preached on board. Naturally, the results were exceptionally remarkable.
Finally, after almost a month, Novia was about to set foot on Egyptian soil.
"So that's Alexandria."
The sunlight was bright, the sky clear, and the sea's deep blue probably came from reflecting such a radiant sky.
With magecraft-enhanced eyes, Novia spotted the magnificent structure standing in Alexandria at a glance. There was no doubt about it: a building overflowing with Mystery—the Alexandria Library.
The Alexandria Library. This was why Novia had come to Alexandria, and why he believed he could definitely make an exchange with the Atlas Institute. Yet it was not the Alexandria Library on the surface, but—
Another library beneath the sea, distinct from the Alexandria Library above. A replacement jointly built by Ptolemy and a faction of the Atlas Institute, an object that the Atlas Institute had ultimately forgotten.
008: Aether Lines Were Simply Perfect Mind Control)
The blazing sun shone over Alexandria's exposed yellow earth.
Across this vast land that seemed almost capable of crushing all things beneath it, even Alexandria had rolling rocks here and there. A few green plants could be seen poking through nearby, despite the unceasing howl of the strong wind.
And at this very moment, at the very center of Alexandria, amid tens of millions of residents waiting in rapt attention, stood one person.
"People of all nations, hear my words."
"All inhabitants of this world, listen closely. Whether high or low, rich or poor, listen together."
As those few words fell, everyone present felt that the trivial troubles of life, the distress weighing upon their minds, and everything else seemed to be soothed by the silver-haired youth's voice before being cast aside.
To the magi staying in Alexandria, this was a passage they had heard countless times from other religions. Yet coming from the person before them, it held an indescribable power.
"Indeed, no man has the power to redeem himself; the price of his life can never be paid."
One voice resounded in the ears of everyone around him, like a spell. This was the embryonic form of an endless power, a continuation of Mystery that, with time, would become a mighty current no land could isolate itself from.
The Clock Tower of later generations would call it—the greatest foundation of magecraft in humanity.
"Then how long must you wait? Why not end the filthy past at this very moment? Act, act! I came not to call those who consider themselves righteous to repentance, but those who know their own sins."
"Know this: do not indulge in feasting and drunkenness, nor in lust and debauchery, nor in strife and jealousy. Instead, clothe yourselves in Jesus Christ, the Son of God."
As Novia spoke, he inexplicably looked toward the sand flowing across the ground, his thoughts churning. Under the influence of various climates and environments, humanity had created history.
Then what kind of thought had Egypt, with its many varied deserts, produced under the influence of those deserts?
Or rather, what had the gods here once been like?
But no matter what, it was no longer important. With the end of the Age of Gods, this place should also welcome its curtain call.
"Beauty and goodness are inseparable, for both are founded upon form. Thus, people usually praise good things as beautiful—"
"Ah..."
A cry came from ahead of Novia, shattering the solemn silence. At the edge of his vision, a patch of dull grass-colored fabric fluttered past and vanished in the blink of an eye.
It was a boy. Since everyone had turned to look because of his cry, he instinctively clutched his head. It seemed his hat had been blown away.
How could the wind possibly be that strong? It was probably some magus deliberately playing tricks, thinking someone his age would care about appearances.
After considering it, Novia left the center and walked over to the boy, who was on the verge of tears.
"Is this your hat?"
As if performing a magic trick, the silver-haired youth held the boy's lost hat in his slender hand.
"I happened to find it."
Novia smiled. The boy's mother beside him widened her eyes behind her glasses, finding it unbelievable. Perhaps she had never seen someone whose first speech had been interrupted remain so kind.
"Thank you..."
The boy's eyes lit up, and he happily put the straw hat back on his head.
Novia answered the boy with a smile, then stood beside him and continued:
"—Grace does not destroy nature. It merely perfects nature."
Outside the city, enormous waves crashed against Alexandria's stone walls, their spray rising like the cheers of the crowd.
This was Novia's fifteenth day in Alexandria. Though his primary purpose was the Submarine Alexandria Library, he had not forgotten what he promised Claudius I. He had settled it on the first day.
On that day, when sunlight reflected from the sea and the waves glittered brightly, several Roman warships sailed toward Alexandria, singing of the Roman Empire's glory.
"I do not wish to conduct a harsh investigation, though my heart is filled with deep anger toward the provocateurs."
"I hereby inform you all: immediately cease this stubborn, mutually destructive hostility. Otherwise, I will be forced to show you how a merciful man may wield the fist of justice. Therefore, let me remind you once again: your ancestors, the former residents of Alexandria, treated the Jews who settled here with kindness and showed no contempt for the rites of the god they worshiped."
"But on the other hand, I must make it clear to the Jews as well: you are not permitted to exert pressure on Greek athletic games because of your faith, for they are entertainment for all. Furthermore, you are not permitted to bring unlimited new Jewish communities from other parts of Egypt or from Syria. Such actions force me to suspect that Jerusalem is arranging matters behind the scenes."
"Once again, I proclaim this to you all: if you can set aside these disputes and agree to coexist peacefully according to the ways of your ancestors, the great Augustus will bestow eternal attention upon this city. Otherwise, as one would deal with a plague infecting the entire world, every measure shall be taken in the name of justice."
Since Novia had been sent by Emperor Claudius, and several Roman warships were genuinely stationed outside, peace naturally came to the city.
After all, even Pharaoh Cleopatra had died after watching Roman warships arrive.
If Claudius I learned of Novia's words, he would probably be baffled, because they were almost exactly the same as how he had originally intended to handle things...
But if Claudius truly asked Novia about it, he would probably say that God had told him. Claudius would then likely fall into another state of fearful reverence.
From that day onward, Novia spent some time preaching in the city every day. He could not possibly remain underwater all day long. Though the Christian doctrine he had shaped had not yet shown much effect on polytheist believers, its impact on those of Judaism was considerable.
Naturally, some converted because they considered it "advanced," but most still held stubbornly to their views. Novia did not force them. Ordinary people did not matter; given enough time, he would succeed sooner or later. But the group in Jerusalem would need to be handled properly.
"I remember it should be somewhere around here..."
After finishing his preaching and sharing a communal meal with the believers present, Novia came alone before an ancient structure.
This was the Lighthouse of Alexandria, one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, nearly 120 meters tall. As soon as Novia arrived in Alexandria, he declined the local governor's invitation and moved into the Lighthouse of Alexandria on the grounds that, "Though I have not been here long, I still wish to contribute something to the local people."
Of course, the real reason was that Novia remembered that in the plot of Second Great Adventure, the Submarine Alexandria Library was located near the already destroyed lighthouse.
"I've kept at it this long. Could it be farther away? I can only use magecraft now. What a pain."
Novia glanced at the fruit that had been eaten, then walked straight through the main entrance and into a narrow stone corridor with a high ceiling. His loudly echoing footsteps intertwined with the sound of waves battering the walls.
Over the past few days, Novia had found nothing in his search for the Submarine Alexandria Library. He had nearly considered simply telling the Atlas Institute about it. At the very least, that would probably allow him to enter and see Trismegistus Hermes, gaining some intelligence.
But that was far too different from Novia's original goal. He had worked so hard because he wanted to obtain a Contract.
After all, Chaldea's former director had used a Contract to make the Atlas Institute provide the technology to create Chaldeas. Gray's hometown had also used a Contract to make the Atlas Institute provide "Law of Retribution," one of the seven weapons, to extract King Arthur's spirit. And Sion had exchanged the newly issued eighth Contract for one year of virtual time staying in the Lostbelt Sea while Earth was bleached white...
If he found and returned these alchemists' lost treasure, then by all rights, it would make no sense for them not to give him a Contract. Besides, the things those people had done with Contracts were all outrageously excessive. He merely wanted to turn the Dragon of Albion's remains into a controllable large-scale device. For these people, would that not be child's play?
Moreover, the Dragon of Albion's soul had long since gone to the Inner Sea of Stars, so there was nothing to fear. It would be a waste not to use the corpse.
Perhaps because he once again thought of all the benefits awaiting him after success, Novia regained his confidence.
This was a low-risk, high-reward venture. It had only been fourteen days. If all else failed, he could find an excuse to delay for a year. He was so young; one year made little difference.
"But I hope it goes smoothly this time..."
The silver-haired youth walked out the lighthouse's back door and plunged resolutely into the sea.
In the dim seabed, Novia could clearly see everything. Whether it was fish swimming past or the contours of the ocean floor, all were visible. Naturally, this brightness did not come from sunlight but from magecraft.
Novia watched his surroundings without blinking, as though afraid there might be someone else besides himself.
But today, the silver-haired youth once again reached the seabed without incident.
"Where on earth is it? I really can't find it at all."
Novia shook his head helplessly. Then, he casually looked back and said with certainty.
"Finally caught you, guest."
In an instant, faint mist spread across the tranquil seabed. This was a boundary field known only to those familiar with Mystery. It had unfolded the moment Novia spoke, but it was not cast by him.
As the mist dispersed, Novia's body involuntarily turned in the opposite direction. His entire body was bound by thin threads, and nearly all his movements were sealed.
"I mean you no harm. In any case, I am very sorry."
A mechanical voice came from behind Novia. It was as though the magus behind him was filled with inorganic matter, entirely devoid of any human emotional fluctuation, like a humanoid piece of metal.
The silver-haired youth did not look displeased at being restrained. Instead, he asked:
"I'm just curious. Why did you know I was here? Wasn't I hiding quite well?"
"Coincidence. I came to research Pharaoh Cleopatra's ruins and have been here for almost half a year. At first, I thought you were here for the same reason, but after observing you, I realized you were not."
Novia suddenly understood. So it was a coincidence. There was nothing he could do about that. Magical energy fluctuations were already difficult to sense underwater, and to avoid accidentally dying himself, he had no choice. He could only say that he had been terribly unlucky.
"Then, could you help loosen these?"
"No." The mechanical voice continued. "I watched your speeches. They are abnormally appealing to ordinary people, so I wish to study whether this is some kind of supernatural ability."
"Oh? Then what do you intend to do? How will you study me? Would you like to discuss the glory of Christianity? In the beginning, God—"
Novia seemed completely unconcerned for his own safety. Instead, he wore his usual smile.
"Though I am curious about the god you speak of, we do not rely on such things. The only thing we can rely upon is the inside of our own bodies."
As the voice spoke, several micron-thin threads appeared before Novia's eyes.
"These are Aether Lines connected to the brain. All knowledge can be seized from another person. So long as I manipulate the Aether Lines, even the finest mind will reveal all its information before me. Not only the brain—I can also interfere with the soul and read its laws of thought. But you need not feel ashamed of your defeat. My Aether Lines can be considered first-class armaments even within the Atlas Institute. And I will not kill you."
"So you're from the Atlas Institute."
Before you continue