chapter 23: Red haired gildarts

Chapter 23: Red haired gildarts

Rin and Ezra stood overlooking the desolate wasteland, the harsh reality of the Down World sinking deeper into his mind. The diseased, the addicts, the criminals—everywhere he turned, there was suffering. Ezra had just explained the nature of Xink, the mineral that kept everything from completely disintegrating. But despite its stabilizing effects, the Down World was still crumbling.

His thoughts were interrupted when Engine suddenly burst into their conversation from behind, his usual casual grin plastered on his face.

"You guys are looking too serious," Engine said, stretching lazily. "Rin, if you really want to change things, you'll have to understand the laws of this world first. Ezra can show you the ugly truth, but I can show you how some people twist that truth to their advantage."

Ezra shot him a glare, clearly unimpressed by his sudden intrusion. "And what, Engine? You're going to teach him your nonsense?"

Engine chuckled and reached into his pocket, pulling out a simple black pen.

"Mathematics, physics, calculations—these aren't just concepts. Here, they manifest. Deciphering equations leads to answers, but sometimes, those answers aren't just theoretical. They become real. That's why people like me exist. We are called Mathematicians."

Rin frowned. "Mathematicians? You mean people who study numbers?"

Engine twirled the pen between his fingers and smirked. "Study? No, we use them."

With that, he crouched down and began writing on the ground. The pen glowed faintly as it moved, leaving behind markings that were not just numbers but also symbols—ancient characters intertwined with complex equations.

As the final stroke was made, the air around them shifted.

A strange array formed, hovering just above the surface, its intricate patterns resembling the wheel of an engine. Mist began to seep out from it, swirling around their feet. The mist wasn't cold like fog—it had weight, pressing against Rin's skin as if trying to measure him.

Ezra took a step back, watching silently, while Rin stared, captivated.

"This is what happens when mathematics stops being theoretical and becomes real," Engine said, rising to his feet. "What I just wrote was a sequence that manipulates the energy in the air, shaping it into a functional array. And this? This is just the basics."

Rin exhaled slowly. "So formations… arrays… they're just another kind of calculation?"

Engine nodded. "Exactly. Everything in this world follows rules, just like numbers. If you understand those rules, you can bend them."

Ray, Champa, and Charlotte arrived then, drawn by the strange display. Charlotte hesitated before stepping closer. She looked at Rin for a second before bowing slightly, a soft blush on her cheeks.

"Th-Thank you," she murmured, barely loud enough to hear.

Rin raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

Charlotte fidgeted, her face reddening. "For saving me… back then."

Champa burst out laughing. "Oi, oi, Charlotte actually thanked someone? That's a first!"

Rin simply shrugged, unsure how to respond. Engine clapped his hands together.

"Alright, enough flirting. Let's get back to business," he said.

They returned to discussing formations and minerals, but Rin's mind was already focused elsewhere.

He had been thinking about taking on a higher-ranked quest. The fights he had experienced so far were challenging, but they weren't enough. He needed more.

"What about an S-rank quest?" he asked.

The group fell silent. Ezra folded her arms, while Ray leaned against the wall, watching Rin carefully.

"An S-rank quest isn't something you take lightly," Ezra finally said. "They're extremely dangerous, with a high mortality rate. If you're not prepared, you'll die."

Rin wasn't deterred. "And the rank above that?"

Charlotte's eyes widened. "The one above S-rank is a Decade Quest. Only the strongest attempt those."

Champa grinned. "And the Decade Quest currently being undertaken? It's not even a battle mission. It's a meeting."

Rin frowned. "A meeting? How can a meeting be classified as a Decade Quest?"

Engine tapped his temple. "Because of the people attending. The level of power, influence, and danger in one room is enough to shake the balance of the entire world. Just one wrong word, one wrong move, and it could turn into a battlefield."

Rin absorbed that information. A meeting that was so important it was classified as a Decade Quest… who were the people involved?

"And above that?" Rin asked.

Ezra exhaled slowly. "There's only one quest above a Decade Quest. A Century Quest."

"How many people have completed one?" Rin asked.

"Only one person has ever dared take on a Century Quest," Ray said. "A member of our guild too The red-haired squad leader named Gildarts."

Rin's curiosity deepened. A man who has taken on a Century Quest no knees whether he has died or not tho what kind of person was he?

Engine smirked. "Well, before you start worrying about things on that level, let's focus on what's right in front of you."

Rin looked at him questioningly.

Engine stretched and turned to leave. "Get ready. The meeting of the Cubes is tomorrow."

Rin stiffened. "What?"

Engine glanced back. "The Decade Quest meeting? That's the Meeting of the Cubes. And you, my friend, are going to be there."