Treatise Of A Failed Knight

Chapter 343: Temporal Tunnel (Part 1)

During the one-week tour, we learned a lot of things.

From the general history to the many accomplishments that Dustinville has achieved over the recent years.

Then, Davina told us about the pride and joy of the Kingdom.

—The Grand University of Dustinville!

Situated in the Academy City of Bawwal, this is an establishment that boasts many things that the universities of most other Kingdoms simply cannot compete with.

I asked a lot of questions during this particular tour, learning a lot in the process.

However, none of them fully satisfied me.

There’s no need to be anxious or distraught about it, though.

After all, with the tour finally over, we can finally leave this frontier city and meet up with Regulus in Bawwal.

Might as well...

Since it’s a new year, this place has gotten quite crowded.

It’s oozing with visitors from different walks of life, and while this is amazing to see in its own way, I personally find the environment restrictive as a result.

Still, I am excited.

On this Sunday, 6th of January, 2031, everyone is prepared to leave Kamala.

Once we finish dressing up and packing our luggage, we head outside and call on our two hired carriages. Normally, one would be good enough to transport six of us. However, since we are travelers with a fair bit of possessions, it becomes imperative to rent two carriages.

We actually hired them for a week, ever since Monday began.

Their services expire in a few hours.

Considering the distance, however, it should be sufficient to lead us to our destination.

Six of us enter a single carriage, leaving our possessions in the second carriage. Then, we tell the riders of our destination.

Naturally, it is the Temporal Tunnel.

’I haven’t seen one before. Even during the tour, we only saw the entrance to the building where the Tunnel exists. Only by paying the appropriate fee for traveling will one be allowed to enter the designated building and use the Temporal Tunnel...’ I remember the words of our tour guide clearly, fueling my curiosity even further.

Although I haven’t seen this marvel of a structure before, I know quite a bit about it.

And so, as the four horses pulling our carriage begin their march through the designated tracks, I sink into deep thought.

What precisely are these Temporal Tunnels?

Based on academic consensus, they are considered connections through space-time.

They also exist throughout this world.

These tunnels are spatial and temporal links throughout the world that connect one point to another, usually two different physical locations. There have been theories that these tunnels could also connect two different time periods, sending a person into the future or past, depending on the Tunnel.

However, these haven’t been sufficiently substantiated in the academic realm.

’Temporal Tunnels capable of time travel... Could that be the cause of my regression?’

I shake my head at the possibility.

If that were the case, then I would have returned to the past in my old form.

Instead, I woke up in my old body.

This cannot be the cause of Temporal Tunnels, even if time travel were to be proven possible through their mysterious powers.

Disregarding the claim of time travel, the Tunnels themselves serve as a major transportation resource that allows people to travel to other parts of the world despite how absurdly large the Eariel Continent is.

In fact, there should surely exist Temporal Tunnels that lead to other continents.

I don’t know anything about the other continents other than the fact that they exist and often trade with Eariel. This is why, although the Potion system is native to Eariel, there also exist Pills and Balms. The latter two come from overseas.

However, one can imagine just how difficult traveling from one continent to another would be through conventional means such as ships.

Even Magivore travel would take an extremely long period.

This is why Temporal Tunnels are so amazing.

Entire nations, particularly large-sized ones or important mid-sized ones, use this entirely natural phenomenon. They harness its power to make trade, travel, and interactions between one another far more convenient.

They can exchange very large goods, facilitating import and export almost instantaneously through these Tunnels, allowing for quick deliveries and fast-paced commerce.

It’s quite unfortunate that not all Kingdoms have these Temporal Tunnels.

It is a valuable natural resource that makes life immensely easier and moves the economy of whichever location it is discovered in. This makes many nations covet it, with some even going to war over Temporal Tunnels that lead to convenient locations.

’But... hehe, these tunnels could end up being as much a curse as they are a blessing...’

My lips curl up as I stare into the passing street.

An interesting idea has just emerged in my mind. ’Some Temporal Tunnels lead to enemy territory, which could spell doom for an unsuspecting kingdom.’

Now that I think about it, this should be why Temporal Tunnels are so well-guarded and restricted to outsiders. A spatial rift like that would often be guarded by these nations in order to curb the emergence of an unforeseen crisis.

’There could also be Temporal Tunnels that lead to dangerous parts of the world, like natural disaster zones... or forests filled with dangerous Magivores. Those ones have to be sealed through one means or the other to prevent horrible creatures from crossing over.’ I sigh deeply, realizing just how problematic such blessings could end up being.

These are naturally occurring phenomena in the end.

Humans have very limited control over Temporal Tunnels, including where they spawn or what could be on the other side.

’Maybe there exist artificial tunnels...?’

I have not heard of such a thing, but if that were the case, it would revolutionize the travel industry.

’For now, no such things have emerged. Having a Temporal Tunnel is a dice roll. Some Temporal Tunnels could actually lead to uninhabited resource-dense regions, which can be exploited by the nation, securing major benefits for themselves through this means.’ This makes me wonder if Dustinville actually has other hidden Special Resource Points, and the only way to access them is through a Temporal Tunnel.

That way, this deposit wouldn’t actually be within the borders of the Kingdom, but in a distant place simply linked to Dustinville through the rift.

With this in mind, I can be certain that Leviathan organizations would also have this resource.

Even if they don’t, they would covet such a resource.

’Some kingdoms will hide their Temporal Tunnels, while others will only reveal a limited number of them. This is common sense...’ I nod silently.

Since Temporal Tunnels are so valuable, they have been studied very seriously.

Many professional fields center around this phenomenon.

In the past, people believed Temporal Tunnels simply appeared spontaneously, and that they would also vanish after some time.

They were considered irregular, with patterns that couldn’t be fully predicted by common sense.

Now, things are quite different.

Humanity is no longer in the dark regarding the basic mechanisms of Temporal Tunnels.

Experts have determined that the size and sheer spatial flux of a Temporal Tunnel can be used to estimate how long it has existed and how long it will remain active before it closes. There are even spatial signs that will emerge before a Temporal Tunnel is fully formed, allowing various steps to be taken before it fully emerges.

Also, the more Temporal Tunnels are used, the quicker they approach expiration.

No one knows why this is the case, though.

’The leading expert apparently believes that Temporal Tunnels are errors in the world which occur when space-time twists into itself while in constant flux. This causes two separate spatial positions to intersect and become connected. However, the more travel is done, the more this wears down the twisted knot, giving space more time to correct itself...’

Whether this is true or not isn’t something I can investigate.

This is beyond my area of expertise.

The takeaway from all this is simply the fact that Temporal Tunnels are finite resources.

Naturally, such a reality would make their value skyrocket, causing them to be equally costly to utilize. As such, even though Temporal Tunnels have existed for a long period of time and are extremely convenient, they aren’t the most widespread means of transportation.

’Well, the destinations are fixed, so this also contributes....’ A loud sigh leaves my lips, causing a few of my friends to stare at me, but I ignore their gaze. ’Somehow, I have a feeling that this place was built as a frontier city because the land is connected to Bawwal. After all, it would be too convenient if this city had already existed and just happened to connect to the Academy City.’

.....

Time flies rather quickly when one is in deep thought.

Although hours passed on the journey, it genuinely felt like minutes in my eyes.

Regardless, even a few hours would be considered a brief travel when considering just how vast Kamala really is. The inn we rented for the week was actually situated close to the Temporal Tunnel, which is why it didn’t take us that long to arrive.

Upon alighting from the carriage, we feast our gaze on a beautiful and massive building.

Its walls seem to be made of glass, reflecting all kinds of beautiful lights as it majestically stands before us.

I refuse to gawk at its magnificence, but I catch a glimpse of Leon and Seth.

Both of them appear too dazed to close their mouths.

’Hehe... country bumpkins!’

Well, I am the same as well, but at least my demeanor does not reflect that.

At least, I don’t think so.

Not long after we alight, a few valets offer to help us with our luggage.

By the way, the cost of transportation for each of us was about 1.20 Ecliptics per hour, so for the full journey, the six of us spent less than 30 Clips.

Horse-drawn carriages are really cheap...

Well, if I am being honest, that price was a little bloated.

It was a shared carriage, after all.

In many Kingdoms, such a trip wouldn’t even cost up to 1 Ecliptic.

In the Randalorion Kingdom, the same trip would have only been about 0.50 Clips.

I’m serious!

However, I can’t be too surprised by this.

Kamala is a famous city, and with so many people running around, there is no lack of customers willing to pay such a premium.

It’s also the new year, so there is an even higher demand for such transportation.

The sharp increase in price is only natural.

That aside...

We accept the offer of the valets, and they assist us with our luggage.

Once we’re inside the checking station, they leave... but not before I tip them 10 Ecliptics each for their service.

Naturally, they’re very grateful for my generosity.

Even in a kingdom like Dustinville, 10 Clips go a long way.

A single meal in a high-end restaurant would cost less.

The monthly rent for a two-room dwelling with a kitchen can range from 8.00–15.00, which means 10 Clips could theoretically cover such a bill.

I wouldn’t be surprised if these valets live in such houses.

After all, they are usually occupied by skilled tradespeople, minor merchants, and guild members.

Since these valets work at such a fine establishment, they must have some high standing in society. I reckon they must also receive an attractive salary.

Even then, my ’small’ tip would go a long way to people like them.

Like I said before, a quality meal in a respectable inn should cost far less—only about 1.00–2.00 Clips. These meals feature multiple courses, good wine or mead, fresh produce, and dessert.

Even a noble banquet plate will only range from 5.00–15.00 Clips per person, and those feature a full multi-course feast, imported delicacies, fine wine, and entertainment.

’Hmm...’

The more I think about it, the more I realize just how much of a spendthrift I have become.

’Is it because I have so much money...?’

After the officials are done verifying our documents and processing our travel tickets, we are led by a beautiful lady to a well-decorated hallway.

Here, a small crowd of people is already waiting.

’It appears we have the same travel appointment...’ I exchange a brief friendly greeting with them, and they respond with the same vigor.

It’s early January, and the University officially resumes in March.

As such, while our destination is the Academy City, I can’t be very certain that any of them are students. Naturally, some students will already be on their way to Bawwal, but the frequency will be low during this period.

The number of people who would choose to use a Temporal Tunnel would be even lower.

As such, I believe it would be too much of a coincidence if they were students.

"Those appointed at 1:00 PM, Sunday, 6th January, 2031, please step forward and approach the gate." A voice that comes from seemingly thin air echoes this in an autonomous manner.

I smile wryly as I watch about a dozen people rise from their feet to approach the gate up ahead.

’Looks like I was wrong. Our appointed time is 1:30 PM...’

It seems the Temporal Tunnel is used every thirty minutes, featuring a small group of people each time. This makes me wonder just what kind of Tunnel exists in the city.

I suspect it’s a considerably small one.

Temporal Tunnels actually have a maximum capacity of passengers that can be allowed at a time.

Anything more, and the event horizon will become destabilized.

This could lead to space-time collapsing in on itself, swallowing everything within it and all that surrounds it.

That sounds extremely dangerous and terrifying.

It also explains why there are many protocols involved in using Temporal Tunnels, and why the security is abundant in this building.

Of course, seeing so many officials doing their job only puts me at ease.

I won’t have to worry about any problems arising.

’Hehe... I’m sure my attitude is shared by many people. After all, despite the many inherent dangers of Temporal Tunnels, they are still widely sought after and present immense opportunities to nations.’

Even if a Temporal Tunnel is purely used for commercial travel and not for the transportation of goods or resources, it is still extremely lucrative.

Despite also being finite, Temporal Tunnels can last for centuries, or even a millennium.

Even the smallest Temporal Tunnels can accommodate a few dozen people at once and can last for about a decade.

This is still useful in many ways.

As for the largest kinds of Temporal Tunnels, I hear they can accommodate a million people at once. Such a tunnel even allows large structures to pass through, and it can easily last for over a thousand years with no problems at all.

Simply fascinating...