Third Outer World Story Series: Pumpkin Sorcerer - Chapter 99

Translator: MadHatter Editor: MadHatter

“Hmm… It is an unusual architectural style after all…”

On the subsequent day, Gorky was in a team with one of the scholars that were accompanied by several other adventurers when they arrived near the building.

Anks was in a different party heading in the opposite way to explore the building’s exterior while Crave was waiting at the base.

They were split up into two groups for two reasons: first, without defenders, the base would be destroyed by forest animals; second, given the number of people and the time needed, separating into two groups would facilitate the investigation go more efficiently.

“Can you find out that much by simply observing the external appearance of the place?”

“I mean, just the sight of the trees and such are already extraordinary…”

A square box-shaped building with tree branches and leaves poking out from all places of it stood before the group, and the scholars who encountered it let out a roar, while the other adventurers who had not had a first-hand observation of the building were dazed and awestruck aside from Gorky.

“I can’t go into detail, but the exterior of a building is very distinctive from one period to the next.”

“Hmm.”

“I see.”

The scholar’s words elicited a nod of approval from Gorky.

Truthfully, this was a subject that escaped Gorky’s comprehension, but considering that each one of them had a different race, equipment, and abilities, perhaps even the buildings themselves were equally unique.

“Moreover, since the trees are growing in tandem with the building, it is possible to determine how long the building has been abandoned by assessing how well the trees have developed. However, in this case, the concentration of magic power in the surrounding area is too high for this approach to be of any use.”

The scholar then appeared subtly uneasy, as though recalling that he had suffered Magic Intoxication yesterday after arriving near the structure.

“Don’t worry about what happened yesterday.”

“Is that so…? For my part, I feel that I have inconvenienced you adventurers a tremendous deal…”

“No, depending on how you look at it, it can also be viewed as an opportunity to set up a solid base of operations.”

“Right. Even several of the base team members said that things will go more smoothly starting today.”

“Yeah, yeah. Even we were able to recover from the fatigue of the journey.”

“We also got some good drawings.”

“Bunbububu.”

“Look, Gorky’s buddy said something like that, too.”

“Yeah.”

“Sorry… no, thank you all. Then I shall firmly carry out my responsibility.”

But there they all encouraged the scholars.

In fact, as other adventurers have said, there was nothing particularly problematic about the scholars collapsing in that place.

All that mattered was how to conduct the investigation efficiently and safely, and since they were able to build a better-than-expected base of operations while the scholars were adjusting to the density of magic power, from an overall viewpoint, it was a positive outcome.

Or rather, Gorky always made sure that one of the members of the party who actually conducted the investigation would have a Spalpkin in their party to confirm the density of magic power. This was out of concern for the fact that severe Magic Intoxication could really endanger their lives, including Gorky, necessitating that the strictest precaution be taken regarding their physical condition.

“Now that the scholars have been mentioned, I was wondering, what’s the concentration of magic power like in this area? Being a Human, I don’t feel anything in particular, but the Spalpkin’s eyes can see the magic power, right?”

And here one of the guys from the party came up to Gorky and asked about it.

“The concentration of it in this area is about the same as in our base. But…”

“But?”

“The concentration over there is very high.”

Saying this, Gorky pointed towards the center of the building.

In the direction to which he pointed, the concentrated magic power was remarkably denser than the place where they were now, and those who could see magic like Spalpkin could see it rising and shimmering like a heat haze.

Unless their perceptive skill was exceptionally low, anybody could recognize the presence of magic power when it was so dense, even if they weren’t a Spalpkin.

“Oh, I knew it. No wonder I thought there was a strange presence.”

“There’s definitely an intimidating or obnoxious atmosphere there. At any rate, that makes me feel like I can’t get anywhere near it.”

The other members of the team likewise perceived the magic power, and they all expressed that they were feeling some kind of presence.

“The center… wait a minute. Let me use my far-sighted magic.”

“Ah, that thing. That’s a useful magic, isn’t it?”

One of the adventurers then produced a small wand and an object resembling a lens from his bag and mumbled something incomprehensible like an incantation.

“‘Longsight’… Ah, it’s futile. I can’t see anything, probably because the concentration of magic power in the atmosphere is too strong.”

But the outcome seemed to be unsatisfactory, and he was starting to feel a little down.

“What do you mean?”

“I’ll spare you the detailed theory, but it seems that the concentration of magic power in the place where I attempted to observe was too high compared to the magic power concentration expected by this magic, and some strange interference is taking place. Even we might get Magic Intoxication if we approach it thoughtlessly.”

“Woah… what the hell is that…”

“Just how much is the magic power over there…”

The adventurer who used the magic of far-sightedness caused all of them to show a dull look.

As adventurers, the amount of magic power in their bodies was higher than that of ordinary people owing to the practice of traveling to places with a high concentration of magic power, partaking of foods containing dense magic power, and undergoing training, but even people like themselves had no clue how much danger could be awaiting them in a place with a concentration of magic power that could induce Magic Intoxication.

“I mean, if someone like me went there, wouldn’t I die?”

“No one’s life can be guaranteed, that much is certain.”

Furthermore, if a person with average magic power were brought to a site with such intensity of magic power, there was a great likelihood that they would experience acute Magic Intoxication.

In any case, there was no room for a scholar to be introduced to such a perilous place, therefore, it was suggested later that they should be exempted from the investigation this time.

After that, having spent several days investigating the perimeter and exterior of the building, along with some materials, it was settled that they would return to Samsara Egg Village before winter set in.