Gaudi.
As the name suggests, it is taken from Gaudí, and Gaudi in this
Also known as the Father of Bert.
Funnily enough, Gaudi's hometown is the Kingdom of Peon, where the Magic Tower is located.
The reason he, a foreigner, received the title of Father of Bert—there is a hint in that name.
Gaudí and Gaudi.
If Gaudí built most of the architecture in Barcelona, Gaudi built Bert in its entirety.
Holy Empire Bert, although called a Holy 'Empire', has a territory size of only about a single city, which made such an achievement possible.
Thus, Gaudi became the most respected foreigner in the history of the Holy Empire and the only foreigner to leave his name in Bert's history.
So, this eyepiece means it is that Gaudi's eyepiece.
The appearance was an ordinary eyepiece.
However, seeing that the size of the lens was ridiculously small, it didn't seem to be for wearing.
'So you're saying this is the item I need most right now?'
I tried bringing it to my eye just in case something might be visible.
But the scenery reflected through the clear glass was everything.
If it were for that purpose in the first place, I would rather use
This eyepiece wasn't that kind of artifact.
Ting- Tak!
Tiiing-!
Tak.
Flicking the eyepiece with my hand, I thought about its use.
It clearly said 'item most needed currently'.
What I need most right now is finding Heinz's whereabouts.
So this eyepiece will definitely help in finding Heinz's whereabouts.
'But I don't know how to use it.'
I lay down on the bed just like that.
Fiddling with the eyepiece, I pondered continuously on how to use it, but no answer came.
Frustration rises up to my throat.
Remembering that I am detained in Bert after all, anxiety is also slowly trying to increase.
At that moment—
[A new notification has arrived.]
[Nastya has donated 500G.]
[k2929 has donated 100G.]
[Seonim has donated 100G.]
[wngpals4 has donated 500G.]
[Igua has donated 300G.]
[DeolleongDeolleong has donated 1,000G.]
[Nyaongi has donated 100G.] x 12
[PepsiZen has donated 500G.]
[MintGuardians has donated 1,000G.]
[MintGuardians has donated 3,000G.]
[MintGuardians has donated 1,000G.]
Donations pouring in as if telling me I am not alone.
'Right. Don't think of giving up easily. This will surely bring the answer... huh?'
It was a very accidental discovery.
When I was scolded by my parents as a child, I used to listen with one ear and let it out the other, drawing pictures following the patterns of the floor.
Just like that, a subtle shape was being drawn where the notification window seen through the eyepiece and the ceiling overlapped.
Originally, not only the ceiling but this building itself was covered with geometric patterns, but as a part was covered by the notification window, the shapes hidden within it rather began to emerge.
To be exact, the expression that I discovered what was originally there might be correct.
I cleared the notification window and began to draw the picture in earnest.
I got stuck in between, but somehow I could draw it out.
This is—
'It's a portrait?'
It was someone's portrait.
***
"The completion of 'Atan Tower' is not far off now."
"Indeed. Congratulations. Cardinal Yuren."
Looking at the massive tower visible at a glance through the window, Yuren wore a subtle smile.
Atan Tower is his long-standing destiny.
A Holy Prison to confine demons.
However, no one knows the 'truth' hidden behind it.
'The moment that is completed. My long-cherished desire will finally be fulfilled.'
As known, it doesn't stop at simply imprisoning demons.
Atan Tower's true use is a massive energy extraction tool.
"Hmm... I wonder if the completion of that tower is still necessary."
"Cardinal Simoa, are you still saying such things! The continent is groaning because of demons."
"Even so, is the thought of sacrificing our Saintess even plausible? I am still questionable!"
"Isn't it a sacrifice for the greater good. It is a matter the Saintess has already accepted too."
"A matter the Saintess accepted? Look here, you all know. That the Saintess had no choice. Isn't all of this the Conclave's decision!"
"Are you saying we should just watch demons run wild then, Cardinal Simoa?"
"Cardinal Milena, my words don't mean that!"
"The behavior you are showing right now—"
Voices were about to rise among the Cardinals.
Yuren watched all of this and just sneered.
'Foolish things, whether you approve or oppose is not important. Everything is going according to my plan.'
The cause of their main fight was something that didn't hold up from the start.
The Saintess's sacrifice that completes the existence of Atan Tower.
Because in truth, such a thing is not needed.
Eliminating the Saintess is as far as his plan goes.
Those idiots are playing in Yuren's hands, just fighting over whether they are right or not.
The truth is, Atan Tower is not a detention center to confine demons in the first place.
A device that absorbs and stores the energy possessed by all living creatures inside.
A fragment of super-ancient civilization, not something like a Holy Relic.
That is a device that will make Yuren a god.
Laughing at the Cardinals to his heart's content inwardly, he opened his mouth.
"The Holy Relic called Atan Tower is a grace God sent to humans. I wish to sacrifice myself instead of the Saintess, but I am not qualified. The only one qualified for God's will is the Saintess. I also decided on this matter enduring pain that feels like stabbing my heart. Everyone, please do not fight. The Saintess's sacrifice becomes pointless."
"Mmm!"
At Yuren's restraint, the Cardinals only let out awkward coughs.
They themselves cannot be certain which is right and which is wrong.
Just—the Saintess's sacrifice and humanity's safety.
They were only weighing those two.
"Everything according to God's will."
"According to God's will."
Of course, the god Yuren spoke of was none other than himself.
***
"Oops!"
The old man stumbled—and fell.
Thanks to that, the stone material he was moving cracked, and the pattern carved on it split.
From far away, a supervisor ran over.
"Old man, what happened!"
"I am sorry. I missed my step and just..."
"This, stupid old man—!"
He raised a whip and struck toward the old man.
Once—twice—eventually countless times, enough to make counting meaningless.
"How are you going to take responsibility! Huh?"
He was excited to the point his eyes rolled back.
Perhaps thinking it would be big trouble at this rate, a subordinate ran from far away and desperately stopped him.
"Supervisor, please stop. At this rate, that old man will die."
"I'm swinging for him to die."
"That old man is not that demon who killed his wife. Nor did he communicate with that demon. Only that old man has memorized all the patterns. Without that old man, the work will be delayed."
"Phew..."
At the subordinate's desperate dissuasion, the supervisor threw down the whip.
"Make it again even if you have to stay up all night tonight. Understand?"
But the old man was not in a state to answer.
"Those sharing the same room with this old man, hurry and take the old man to the room."
At his words, a group of people ran over quickly, carefully held the old man, and headed to the accommodation.
They made a spot as soft as possible and laid the old man down carefully.
"Are you alright, sir? Aigo, why did you make a mistake you don't usually make..."
"I, I am fine. Is it because I aged, there is no strength in my hands. I am sorry, everyone because of me."
"Do not say such words. First, please recover your body a little."
"Thank you."
They wanted to care for the old man by his side if they could, but if they didn't return hurriedly, it is clear they too would suffer harsh beating like the old man.
They returned to the work site hurriedly.
A space where everyone disappeared and only silence remained.
The old man quietly opened his eyes.
'Its completion is not far off. Now there is really no time. Enduring with my body has limits too. Please, please someone come. At this rate, humanity's hope will disappear.'
The old man realized all the secrets hidden in this Atan Tower.
Seeing the patterns they demanded, he had no choice but to notice.
This is a fragment of super-ancient civilization.
Seeing that they are making it claiming to confine demons, the purpose was obvious.
Collection of Demonic Energy.
Furthermore, from stories heard in passing, they say the Saintess puts the finishing touch on this tower's completion.
If that power, where Divine Power and Demonic Energy are mingled together, enters someone's hands, if they intend to abuse that power—
'This world's problem won't be demons. The worst crisis in history will cover the entire dimension.'
The birth of an Evil God.
The cause that destroyed the super-ancient civilization will advent once again.
***
After completing it, there was exactly one missing part.
A pattern dented in the pupil part.
It was a part I thought was just an ordinary pattern, but after completing it, I could know for sure.
This is empty.
For what?
My gaze went to Gaudi's Eyepiece held in my hand.
Naturally, I reached out and tried putting it into the empty space.
Click.
'...It fits perfectly.'
The empty space and the size of this eyepiece fit perfectly to the point of goosebumps.
As if it was made for this.
Ziiing-!
Blue light emitted from the eyepiece fitted into the gap.
A massive 3D model is visible inside it.
This thing, packed with familiar structures, was the 3D complete map of the Holy Empire Bert.
Detailed implementation not only of structures but even models of people walking on the streets...
'No, this... is real.'
I thought it was a model, but looking closely, it moves.
I didn't think it was real just based on that.
Decisively, that building over there, revealing its majesty in the north of Bert.
Because that is a structure that didn't exist in Gaudi's time, 'Atan Tower'.
So this device was showing everything in Bert in real-time.
It could zoom in, and I could view only a specific part.
This is not a Holy Relic.
The foundation of this technology is—
'Magic Engineering.'
Technology that does not exist, no, should not exist in Bert.
Gaudi had left such a device behind without the Holy Empire knowing.
'For what?'
No need to even think.
'Is it for escape?'
If there is something unchanged about the Holy Empire then or now, it's just that it is a group of fanatics.
Gaudi settled in the Holy Empire after designing Bert.
To be precise, he was 'confined'.
History did not record his death.
It is strange that there isn't a single grave for the one praised as the 'Father of Bert' in the Holy Empire.
He escaped from this place by some method.
And using this 'Bert Complete Map' at that.
Just like the explanation of the Special Gacha Ticket, 'Currently, a random item most needed for oneself is provided', I drew the item I need most right now.
Where in the Holy Empire is Heinz.
The most suspicious place is, naturally, the construction site of Atan Tower.
Zooming in there, busily moving models are visible.
'Found him.'
The name
I found Heinz's whereabouts.
Now, I have to go save him.
First.
'Tomorrow's trial is the problem...'
First, I have to safely clear the suspicion placed on me in tomorrow's trial.
'That is easy.'
There is a way.
A very simple way.