Wizard: I Add Points and Hunt Monsters

"We began inspecting this Rune Array as soon as we received the notice from the Council," Lin Qiaoya explained, gesturing. "You may begin as well."

Lisi patted Alicia’s shoulder. "Let’s begin."

"Mm." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Alicia carefully stepped onto the high platform, inching her way toward the core of the Array. She held an oversized magnifying glass, using it to inspect the runes.

Meanwhile, Lisi led Wei’en and the others to look around. They began questioning the scholars at work, hoping to glean some useful information from them.

"Professor Lin Qiaoya, has anything unusual happened here recently?" Seeing the others get to work, Yegor didn’t remain idle and asked casually.

"What are you referring to?"

"For instance, has anyone been contaminated? Have any scholars who’ve worked here for a long time suddenly vanished, or undergone a major change in personality? Or have any newcomers just joined?"

Lin Qiaoya glared at him. "Are you implying that you suspect one of us?"

"Of course... not,"

Yegor remained respectful, but on professional matters, he refused to back down. "But surely you’re aware of what happened yesterday?"

"You mean the parasites?"

"Yes. And I was hoping you could tell us why the Rune Array didn’t detect any anomalies."

"I..."

Lin Qiaoya was left speechless. No matter how infuriated he was at being suspected, the results were clear: the Rune Array had failed to detect the parasites’ presence.

Even now, it still hadn’t found anything...

"So, about my earlier questions... perhaps you’ll reconsider?" Yegor didn’t press the matter, having made his point.

"Recently... two scholars have taken extended leave."

Lin Qiaoya mulled it over for a moment before replying, "But one of them went to Klande for a conference on the latest runology research, and the other went to the Andrea City-State to procure some teaching materials."

"Anyone else besides them?"

"My student, Mikus, just passed his interview and joined the team maintaining the Rune Array."

"Oh? And when was that?"

"Ten days ago," Lin Qiaoya said, looking at him with displeasure. "Are you suggesting my student is the most suspicious one?"

"My apologies," Yegor said, shaking his head. "It doesn’t matter whose student he is. Anyone who has entered this facility recently must be screened. Anyone else?"

"No, that’s everyone. Just those three... wait, there is one more."

Lin Qiaoya seemed to recall something. He hesitated, then said, "Just the day before yesterday, one of the scholars’ wives was... contaminated by the Red Moon."

"Oh? And what about that scholar?"

"He was on duty yesterday. He just went home to rest today."

Yegor nodded. "Later, we’ll need you to provide us with information on these individuals, Professor. We will be conducting a routine follow-up investigation."

"...Alright."

Meanwhile, the scholar Wei’en approached had no useful information to offer.

He only learned that the Rune Array had been operating normally and was locating aberrations with great precision...

After jotting down a few notes, Wei’en looked over at Kali Laisi and the others still chatting with the scholars. After a moment’s thought, he began to survey the Rune Array himself.

Compared to the elegant simplicity of a Mechanical Puppet, the core nodes and patterns of the City-State Array were dozens, even hundreds of times more complex. With his current knowledge of runology, it was virtually impossible for him to comprehend its structure or the effects of its runes.

But that didn’t stop him from using the runic knowledge he did have to cross-reference and verify what he saw.

’I may not know how to build a Rune Array, but surely I can still recognize the patterns, right?’

’Where are the runes that detect Abyssal Creatures...’

Wei’en slowly searched for that section of rune nodes. Since the array hadn’t detected the parasites, if there truly was an issue, it was most likely with this part of the runes.

’Not the attack runes... this must be an Elemental Rune, right?’

’The patterns and nodes look like those for the Fireball Technique, but they’re clearly more complex.’

’Defense Rune, Spirit Shield, Adamant Heart, Elemental Protection Shield...’

’Detection runes... Found them!’

Wei’en’s heart leaped. He’d finally found them. In a fan-shaped area, right next to the high platform.

’Sensing runes... So many nodes?’

’One, two, three... fifty-four.’

’Fifty-four nodes just for monitoring the city-state... Incredible.’

"You can read these runes, too?" Alicia, busy on the high platform, noticed him approach and asked in a low voice.

"Not a clue," Wei’en replied, shaking his head decisively. "How about you? Any discoveries?"

"Nothing," Alicia said, also shaking her head. "These rune nodes are far more complex than I imagined. If only my teacher were here."

"We’re counting on you now. You’ve got this."

Wei’en offered her a word of encouragement, then glanced at the Core Runes on the high platform before turning his attention back to the detection runes.

The patterns between the fifty-four rune nodes were intricately interwoven. Figuring out their exact functions would likely take a significant amount of time.

Just then, a mechanical voice rang out. "Level-one catastrophe fluctuation detected. Location: 75 Ruer District."

’Hm?’

Hearing this, Wei’en’s focus sharpened. He carefully observed the rune nodes on the floor. A moment ago, four of them had flashed...

He looked at those runes, cross-referenced them, and confirmed his suspicion. He’d found the nodes for detecting aberrations.

’Once I’ve confirmed one type of detection rune, it’ll be easier to sort out the others.’

A minute later, Wei’en located the rune nodes that detected large-scale attack fluctuations.

Next were the monitoring runes for disruptions to the external Array nodes...

After mentally filtering out all the other detection runes, only twelve nodes remained.

’It only detects twelve types of Abyssal Creatures?’

Wei’en crouched down, carefully observing the nodes. They detected the Abyssal Demon Worm, the Flame Demon, the Plague Knight, the Shadow Demon...

’There’s no node for detecting the Bone-Eating Worm?’

Wei’en checked again, then rose to his feet with a frown. He was certain: these rune nodes were not capable of detecting the Bone-Eating Worm.

’How is that possible?’

Just then, Alicia exclaimed joyfully, "I found it!"

Wei’en turned to look at her. At the same time, Yegor and the others, who had been speaking with the scholars, gathered around.

"Hm? You found something?" Lin Qiaoya asked, stepping onto the high platform. "And what is the problem?"

"Here!"

Alicia pointed to a single rune within the Core Rune Array—an array comprised of twenty-four nodes. "I found one that has no patterns connecting to it," she said.

The group followed her finger and saw a rune flickering with a faint, white light.

"Let me see."

Lin Qiaoya took out his magnifying glass and carefully observed the rune, muttering, "Number 13... designed with twelve connecting patterns... effect is to activate the attack runes..."

"Well? It’s not activated, is it?" Alicia asked, a hint of pride in her expression.

"...It is, indeed, not activated."

Lin Qiaoya hesitated for a moment before nodding. "The patterns connecting to it have been tampered with."

"Professor, does that affect its ability to detect the Bone-Eating Worm?" Wei’en asked.

He had already examined the Core Rune nodes and determined that none of them were for detecting the Bone-Eating Worm, which was why he’d asked.

"No. Its function is to activate the Rune Array’s offensive Magic."

"Hm?" Yegor asked, confused. "Then what about detection?"

"I’m not sure... But the mere fact that this rune was tampered with proves your suspicions were correct. Please, report this to your superiors accurately."

"You don’t have to tell us that. We will, of course, report the results of today’s investigation."

Lisi spoke up. "I’m also wondering if the function for detecting the Bone-Eating Worm has been tampered with. That is the main focus of our investigation."

"...Probably," Professor Lin Qiaoya said. He had lost his initial confidence. The turn of events had far exceeded his expectations, catching him completely off guard.

"Alicia, check again. See if you can find that rune."

"I can, but the time it would take..."

Yegor didn’t hesitate. "I’ll go file a report for an extension right now. Since we’ve confirmed there’s a problem here, I’m sure our superiors will approve a more in-depth investigation."

"Alright, I understand," Alicia said with a nod. "I’ll continue my inspection."

"We’re counting on you."

After Yegor left, Professor Lin Qiaoya finished speaking with the other scholars and also departed in a hurry. He said he was going to inform the outside guards of their findings and have them heighten security.

Wei’en didn’t stay on the high platform either, instead choosing to wander around the room.

’In any case, he had already confirmed that the rune for detecting the Bone-Eating Worm was missing. Now, all that was left was for Alicia to confirm it.’

[Your Origin has exceeded 30. You have successfully resisted the corrosion of the Power of the Origin of Desire. Evaluation: The same old Origin, the same old flavor... Special Reward: Survival Points +5, Spirit Level +1, Resilience Level +1.]

’Huh?’

In the spot farthest from the exit, Wei’en saw this prompt appear on his panel.

’This place... is actually being affected by the Desire Origin??’