The Runesmith

Chapter 675: Back In Albrook.

“Five silver tha’ they’ll get stuck deep in a mountain!”

“Hah! Five more tha’ they’ll pop right up above the volcano, spittin’ fire like a dragon!”

“Bah! Ye all ain’t thinkin’ with yer heads nor yer beards! They’re headin’ straight fer the sea, mark me words, swallowed whole by a great sea serpent! Hahaha!”

“What in the great forge are ye dolts doin’ now?!”

An angry Hasim shouted at three other runesmiths who were busy making strange bets. The gate before them was activating, and all they could think about was it malfunctioning. Roland stood nearby, focused on clearing the interference while adjusting the runic program.

“Master Hasim, take care. Next time we meet, let it be in Albrook.”

“Aye, but first ye get there safely yerself, lad, an’ don’t ye dare ferget our deal.”

For a moment, Hasim glanced over at Bernir, who was also present. The half-dwarf tried to blend into the surroundings, but the old man spotted him anyway.

“Don’t worry, I won’t.”

Roland nodded as the teleportation gate activated before them. Its oval shape was wide enough for three people to squeeze through side by side. Once it shimmered to life, the other runesmiths quieted down, all of them staring at the blue glow with interest.

“It does seem to be connectin’ ta another gate… it actually looks steady?”

Hasim scratched his beard as he examined Roland’s portal. To a master runesmith, it was easy to tell whether a gate was stable. The flow of mana did not stutter, and the outer frame showed no signs of strain. Instead, the energy circulated in a controlled loop, indicating a proper connection had formed with another gate. It was proof that it was safe to pass through.

“Aye, it’s holdin’.”

One of the dwarves muttered, his earlier confidence fading. Hasim stepped closer, his sharp eyes tracking the runic pathways pulsing faintly beneath the surface. Roland remained at the center of it all, one hand raised as faint lines of light extended from his fingers into the gate’s structure.

“As I told you, it would be fine. Now then, let’s go, shall we?”

Roland had no desire to listen to the dwarves any longer and instead glanced at Millie and her family. Both her parents were there, and all their luggage was stored inside one of his spatial runes. After showing his new apprentice what he was capable of, she had asked him to take some furniture as well, which he agreed to. Now it was finally time to leave. Still, he wondered whether, once back home, he would need to have a serious conversation and come clean about a few lies he had told.

“Ohhh… how is it so shiny? Are you seeing this, Papa?”

“Y-yes, it’s a fine gate.”

Millie jumped around next to her father as she pointed at the shimmering blue gate that lit up the chamber they were in. This was clearly the first time she had seen a working gate, and perhaps in the future she would be able to assemble one herself.

“That’s nice, dear, but Master Wayland said we should go through, so perhaps we should listen?”

Lysa urged the two to step forward. The knights who were with them had already begun moving ahead to secure the other side. Roland gave a small nod as the first two knights stepped through the shimmering surface. Their armored forms distorted for a brief moment before vanishing entirely. The gate rippled, but the structure held firm, its glow steady and controlled. 𝐫ΆℕỖꞖЁ𝐒

“As you can see, everything is fine. Step through the portal, everyone.”

Roland motioned for the family of three to move. Without a tower spirit present, he needed to remain behind to monitor any changes to the dungeon and watch for potential problems. Any device could malfunction, and if it did during a teleportation jump, the consequences could be devastating.

“Papa, Mama, let’s go!”

Millie did not seem afraid of going through, though her father needed a few encouraging shoves from his daughter. Eventually, the family stepped through, followed by the rest of the knights, with Wischard remaining behind alongside Roland.

“Master Hasim, as agreed, I will send the artificial spirit device later. Wait for its arrival, and then we will be able to use this gate without limits.”

“Aye, I’ll be waitin’.”

Both Master Runesmiths nodded to each other, and finally, Roland stepped through the portal. Wischard, the leader of the runic prosthetic knights, had remained until the end to ensure his safety. Soon, Roland’s vision blurred as the world twisted around him. For a fraction of a moment, there was nothing but light, and then the scenery returned.

“Urp…”

“Papa, are you okay?”

“I… I’m fine…”

Millie patted her father’s back as he turned pale. Some people’s stomachs did not handle portaling well, as space itself was bent to create fast travel. Surprisingly, Lysa and Millie were unaffected and helped steady Ermes. The knights were already used to it, and as soon as Roland appeared, to his surprise, he heard cheers.

“Is that the High Knight Commander?”

“The armor is different, but that must be him!”

“High Knight Commander, look over here!”

“… ”

The area they arrived in was not the gate within his workshop. Although he could have linked it there, he did not want civilians like Ermes seeing inside, nor did he want the knights there. While they worked for him, there was no guarantee they would never be captured or betray him in the future. Instead, he chose to connect to the main portal near the city center, which drew considerable attention from the residents.

The portal was on display behind a special material that looked like glass but was as hard as steel. Through it, people could watch those who arrived. It had been constructed to showcase the city’s new capabilities and to give visitors a glimpse of its technological advancements.

The arrival point was set on a slightly elevated platform. The portal stood between several large white columns connected by arches. It looked grand and served as one of the current symbols of Albrook’s wealth. Normally, most people could not even afford to see a portal gate up close. While it was not open to the public, the city’s forces used it for travel to a limited number of locations, and Arthur did as well. Displaying wealth and power was important for nobility, but it also drew attention to Roland, who was far less fond of the spotlight than his noble friend.

Below, a gathered crowd waved while the area remained secured by city guards. It was clear they had been waiting for his arrival, and to Millie and her parents, this came as quite a shock.

“W-who did we just become involved with…”

“I knew my Master was a big shot, but not as big as this… wow. Does that mean we’re rich now?”

Millie’s eyes sparkled as she leaned over the railing, completely ignoring her father’s still pale face. The crowd below continued to cheer, some even bowing when they saw Roland step forward from the gate.

“No, it does not mean that. My apprentice.”

Roland replied in a calm, even tone.

“Eh?”

“It means my expectations of you will be higher.”

Millie blinked at him, her excitement dimming slightly as she processed his words. Her mother, Lysa, seemed to understand immediately. She placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“Mind your manners, dear. We are guests here.”

“Guests?”

Roland shook his head.

“You are residents now. For