Magic Maker - How to make magic in another world - - Chapter 198 (Upto Raws)

Chapter 198   Empty Hope

Two months had passed since the start of the operation.

They had already reached the hall where the fairy village once stood.

However, Shion was nowhere to be seen, and the debris extended further downward.

Marie and the others concluded that the ground might have collapsed and Shion had fallen below, so they continued clearing the rubble, deeper and deeper.

Having already removed a significant amount of debris, a long, vertical crater had formed.

The removal process was dangerous, requiring them to work while secured with ropes.

Work was divided between underground and surface teams: those underground loaded debris onto transport gondolas, while those on the surface hauled them up.

It was highly inefficient, but there was no other way.

Noticing Marie, Gawain approached her.

“If Shion has indeed fallen underground, it could be to quite a depth.
We’ll run out of food if we don’t find him soon.
Is there no reaction from this ‘magic sense’ of yours?”

“No… not at all, so far.
But the fairies gave us some useful information.
Apparently, they can’t sense Abyss magic in the rubble around here.
That likely means the rock walls forming the Abyss have already been cleared away.
Because of that, the fairies think they might be able to pass through to the lower levels.
They’re going to give it a try shortly.”

“The fairies, unlike normal creatures, can pass through solid matter, or so I’ve heard.
It’s a strange thing, but invaluable for finding Shion.”

Marie recalled a conversation between Count Goltba and Shion.

To trap a fairy, one must use a special mineral called fairy stone.
Ordinary cages couldn’t hold them—they would simply slip through.

This meant that fairies could pass through matter.

If so, the fairies should be able to slip through the rubble and find Shion.

Marie held onto that hope.

Neither she nor Gawain had given up yet.

• • 〇●〇

Five months had passed since the operation began.

The debris removal was progressing, but Shion still hadn’t been found.

The fairies had investigated thoroughly, yet there was no trace of Shion’s magic.

Most of the surface rubble had already been cleared, and the fairy forest had regained its former appearance.

However, in the central area where the Abyss once existed, a massive hole gaped open.

This hole had been created in the effort to rescue Shion.

The Abyss Hall had collapsed into the earth.

It was likely that there had originally been a hollow space beneath the Abyss.

The surrounding rock walls and debris from the Abyss seemed to have filled that void.

As a result, countless rocks blocked the path to the place where Shion was presumed to have fallen.

The number of workers had dropped to less than half.

The financial support from the king had already run out, and Dominic and the knights had other duties to attend to.

It was said that Dominic had been recognized for his achievements and granted royal succession rights.

Marie hadn’t heard the details.

They helped on their days off, but they had their own lives to lead.

They couldn’t dedicate themselves solely to the rescue operation.

Marie couldn’t forget the look of frustration on Dominic’s face.

The same was true for the others.

Cole, Brigit, Glast.

Isaac, Eris, Sofia, Mice.

Freya, her subordinates, and Egon.

They, too, had returned to their respective homelands some time ago.

In truth, it was remarkable that they had stayed for as long as they did.

They had spent months away from home, working almost without pay.

Now, only Marie, Gawain, Emma, Winona, Goltba, Karla, and about a dozen paid workers remained.

It couldn’t be helped.

Rescue operations were incredibly expensive.

Gawain and Emma had contributed as much as they could to the rescue funds.

However, the Ornstein family were lords.

Considering the welfare of their village, their funds were limited.

Despite living frugally, their savings had run out quickly.

As a last resort, they had been forced to use Shion’s savings for the rescue effort.

It was painful, but there was no other choice.

It seemed Shion had made arrangements so that his family could withdraw money from the bank in case of an emergency.

Thanks to that, the work was still ongoing.

Marie refused to give up.

Not until she saved Shion.

“Marie! Marie! It’s terrible!”

Melfi came flying in, clearly panicked.

Over the past six months, Marie had learned a bit of the fairy language.

Her body had matured, and she now looked no different from an adult.

She had developed a figure similar to her mother, Emma—particularly in terms of her well-endowed chest.

Marie herself found it inconvenient for physical activity.

It seemed she wasn’t particularly concerned with her own physical growth.

“What’s wrong, Melfi?”

“There’s another hollow space further down!”

“Really!? Is Shion there!?”

“I-I don’t know. I can’t go in. There’s demonic magic.”

Demonic magic?

That’s strange.

They had long since passed the location of the hall.

There shouldn’t be any demonic magic this deep underground.

If it was there, then…

“…Could the demon have survived?”

If so, Shion was in grave danger.

When the hall collapsed, the demon might have survived as well.

If they had continued fighting even after the collapse…

But Marie still couldn’t sense Shion’s magical presence.

She turned her gaze to Gawain.

With a stern expression, Gawain gave her a firm nod.

“There’s a hollow space below us! Shion might be down there!

We’re so close, please—just a little more effort!”

The exhausted workers, who had been moving sluggishly, suddenly had a glimmer of light in their eyes.

They had been working together for quite some time now.

They might not know Shion personally, but the desire to save someone was universal.

They were being paid, yes, but very few people could fully separate their emotions from their work.

Especially when the goal was to save a life.

The workers’ movements quickened.

Marie and Gawain resumed their work as well.

• • 〇●〇

Six months had passed since the start of the operation.

By now, even Marie’s magic sense could detect the demonic energy.

Just as Melfi had said, the demonic magic was thick and spread throughout a large space.

That must have been why Melfi mentioned a hollow area.

Just a little more. Just a little further.

Shion must be there.

Why there was demonic magic remained unclear.

Shion had once called it Crimson Magic. That red magical aura was nearby, unmistakably present.

It felt similar to the Abyss.

As they removed another piece of rubble, an open space stretched out before them.

They had found it.

The rubble had apparently filled part of an underground hollow.

A narrow hole extended deep into the earth, packed tightly with debris.

Its narrowness had allowed the rubble to wedge itself neatly, preventing any visible signs of a collapse on the surface.

The rubble from the Abyss had slid into the hole, sealing it almost perfectly.

That was why there hadn’t been a visible depression above ground.

If the hollow had been completely filled with debris, Shion wouldn’t have survived.

But fortunately, a deeper space still existed nearby.

This meant there was now a high chance that Shion was still alive.

“There’s a hollow! Let’s focus our digging here!”

At Marie’s command, several workers began moving swiftly.

They were well-practiced in clearing debris by now.

As everyone worked together to shift the rubble, the hollow space gradually came into view.

Marie and the others stood atop a mountain of debris.

Any movement risked triggering a rockfall—it was incredibly dangerous.

Safety ropes were essential.

Marie and Gawain carefully descended into the hollow.

Dense Crimson Magic saturated the air.

Parts of the rock walls were unnaturally smooth, carved into perfect spherical shapes, as if polished by some giant tool.

When Marie touched one of these walls, it felt slightly rough but astonishingly smooth, as though sanded down meticulously.

Only about half of the hollow exhibited this polished appearance; the other half had jagged, natural cave walls.

It was as if something spherical had carved away half of the space.

Marie, Gawain, and the workers illuminated their surroundings with lightning lamps, searching every corner.

They moved with determination, believing Shion was still alive.

“Marie!”

Gawain had found something.

Marie rushed over to him.

In Gawain’s hand was a torn piece of Shion’s clothing.

Marie was certain now.

Shion had been here.

Nearby, broken lightning lamps, an iron thunder sword, and a bag were neatly gathered together.

Someone had been living here.

Even if a demon had survived, would they have organized belongings like this?

Given the personality and mindset of that demon, it was highly unlikely.

No, this had to be Shion’s doing.

“Shion was here! He was alive!”

“Yeah, I’m sure of it. He must have been.”

Marie and Gawain exchanged a firm nod.

Certain that Shion had survived, the two began searching the area alongside the workers.

He had been alive.

But whether he was still alive now was uncertain.

After all, despite their loud voices echoing through the hollow, there was no response.

An unsettling fear crept into their hearts, but they continued their search nonetheless.

Yet, no matter where they looked, Shion was nowhere to be found.

Worse still, there wasn’t even a body.

The same went for Rapunzen.

There was no path for anyone to escape.

No tunnels.

No remains.

No one.

“W-What’s going on here?

Shion! Are you here!? Shion!”

But there was no reply.

Marie and Gawain were bewildered.

Shion had undoubtedly been here, yet now he was gone.

All that remained was the lingering demonic magic, scattered belongings, and those unnaturally smooth, polished rock walls.