Chapter 198
GBhm6The corrupted and the First Emperor surprisingly had something in common.Fg62N
RhBNM3They liked building or preparing things underground.REAod
5scoThat’s why, when Fernan heard the word “magic barrier” from Wooden, the first thing that came to his mind was one of the First Emperor’s installations.Lo85W
Z475oU‘But why wasn’t there any mention of it in the book of prophecies?’w1NOpPC
92iwNot all installations had to appear there. The book revealed content sequentially, so it didn’t contain everything.I3AL
R8HkJRegardless, finding one of those installations was big news. The First Emperor’s were always beneficial.1ZEPC1U
y5Spwl8What Fernan deemed most necessary for Aint, he would give him. The rest, he’d keep for himself.8qK5
7XiVdFh‘The problem is Aria…’d8yTN
1IH5m8EIf he had known they’d find something like this, he would’ve done everything possible to leave her behind.6mNREn7
1Zv“What’s that look? Like you see me as a nuisance.”5iWS8
yrI“It’s nothing.”jujL5P
2KJEuJAt least, she was usually reasonable if given her share. It was enough to make her an accomplice.KlfjS
cqgdgcL“The path is really deep. We’ve descended a lot, haven’t we?”UXmIi
aM7J“Over a kilometer.”6Mn7
fgpNWThey were even deeper than the dwarves’ underground cities. The fact that Wooden had detected this made it even more impressive. Fernan patted him on the head, and Wooden smiled proudly.wWS
RjxsE3They kept descending until—6wyj3
WKSwSEChong!Hav
VOFA powerful magical rebound threw Fernan back. He coughed blood.pLiwE8R
EPfdL“What the hell?”unygH
5kU5KDVJust a touch, and that was the reaction.i9W
dHf“Are you okay?”1wishsr
4kvFw“No.”MQZthER
f8sdRBy carefully brushing the earth, something metallic appeared.wo4Z0
CmtzZBit by bit he cleared it, revealing the form of a massive passageway—10 meters wide, 5 meters high—covered in complex magical carvings.tSLJiF
ayIvJ4“…God. Engraving this level of magic on a simple hallway? What is this?”89r3D5G
lDJOpT“I only understand half.”Jix
sKjrEIt was very different from any of the First Emperor’s installations they had seen before.HIw
GwiF“Can we open it?”iGtF
kAJ“No. You?”kTHqnCq
vDkqp“No idea.”0zjQW
xwN“Then there must be an official entrance. Let’s find it.”VOIs8m
01BoKb0Fernan drank several healing and mana potions. They were facing a great prize; retreating was not an option.Ktaj01D
ot4A19u“If it’s this level, perhaps it was made by archmages.”tsDMD
jVoIjU6“At the very least.”y5a
C5V6CThey dug for kilometers until they found the entrance—a cave in the middle of a cliff. Fernan nearly fell, but Aria’s wind spirits caught him.qOy534m
eU6W“…Thanks.”RJrmF
5DqI5“It was nothing. But that emblem—doesn’t it belong to the Cult of the Dragon God?”arDdI
f9jJkxeOn the giant metal door was carved the symbol of a dragon. The upper half was gray and the lower, white.N1p8j9
45pIN“…A hideout of the Cult of the Dragon God?”xnrjG
RpnzIIt was far too huge to be just that. A hidden treasure of the cult? Possible, but strange that it wasn’t in their own territory.g4qYT
aeBFernan examined the engravings—very advanced spells—and an inscription beside the dragon.hvd
sE1【Awaken with the Sacred Flame, or quench the Dragon’s Thirst.】4Pm
zMlayv“Sacred flame? Dragon’s thirst?”mEnm
omY“Literally. The cult has a spell called Holy Light. It’s like a white flame. And the water probably refers to holy water.”YNlv6k
4U1“So it needs holy water?”SWoeP
glAg“Let’s try.”COA3IY
7yWFernan noticed the layer of dust over the dragon. Decades without anyone touching it—not even the Cult seemed to know about this place.rzr1
b9czKwkHe uncorked a bottle of holy water and poured it. Nothing. Two bottles. Three.Nlu
Ejw4qWqDozens.AWVB6k
hQq0Na2“…Are you sure it’s that?”bTJs
xckw“Yes. Or the cult only has holy water.”3JAZ7
5IqpIn the end, the dragon absorbed 99 bottles without effect. But upon pouring the hundredth—FRhjBdL
tmknABoom!CKVo
3iqdADaThe dragon’s eyes glowed white. The holy water began floating and was absorbed into the magical engravings.qxxs0
zcE0u2WThe door slowly opened.P9nR
ckEd6V“…Let’s go.”EQv
idRThe illuminated passage was filled with magical lamps—far more than any imperial installation.up7q
i38T29Bang!GvKaGg
0DbUpon crossing, the door closed by itself.2xCMm6
elZ1“…Is this safe?”3WaIdmg
qCUDAx“I don’t know. All we can do is go forward.”7WsN
l4BU“What if we take too long? What do we tell the others?”kabiR
Hva3qSs“I left instructions with Gismond, just in case.”JU3f21I
IlUThe door wouldn’t budge at all. They had no choice but to move on.Ft3A
bjgFernan collected all the magical lamps at the entrance.z0rWO
XZa“Seriously? What for?”rdA
zBS2s“Left abandoned here, they’d go to waste. Outside, someone can use them.”ljhIYj
1HOC“…It’s not for the money, right?”d0Mej8
60bb“Guides show the way and charge for it.”yeqCAc0
7l62utAria sighed, giving up.92VrBB
gXvBut just as they took the first step—OBmjS
5wcwdCrack!GhutDH
R5pA blue lightning bolt grazed Fernan’s nose.WubS1B
6Ub0Wg“…What the hell?”qqDi
TG2R“I think… I think it triggered a trap.”mD3AiZ
9ftvyThere was a magic circle on the floor that hadn’t been there before. Not just there—everywhere along the passage were complex hidden spells.UlfjW
xFpOn the wall appeared a message.yie6lR
BZJ【Only those who pass through all shall obtain what they desire.】8wIn
UD3G6Fernan frowned.N0Bn
W7xru“…This won’t be easy.”d6WCQr
RgGuZ7H“We should be more worried whether we’ll get out alive. That lightning was too strong for something old.”Gj4
qz4uEkAria’s face turned pale.WybHG
H5E5***kTTx
KJBrbMorning came.oMNY7IT
t2kberGismond, who had stood watch the entire time, let out a long yawn.nGS3n5N
FlFv‘He’s taking longer than I thought…’z0kg
G09AjtEven though the appointed time had passed, Fernan still hadn’t returned. Surely it was just taking longer to find what he was after.kLb8
rqQ“Good morning, senior.”xG0Ujl
q1Xd4sn“Good morning, senior.”bHg5Oz
CjC“Good work.”r6cjPX
14CN5rAs always, Luina, Aint, and Verian got up. After a light wash, they immediately grabbed their swords and began sparring.ypFCHtO
DrgB7‘Will I ever be able to join them?’wYP
NmwzHe wanted to reach that level, but for now he didn’t feel up to it.0cz4PQ
J7WWhile the duels continued, Aria would usually sneak off and watch, and when everything ended, Hyde would already have the meal ready.9Pve0G
m4YaFernan would also usually wake up around that time to do something.aqK9f0u
ejVcxDRThat had been the routine for the past few days. But today was different.DyfTSC
nWtAqMThere was no Hyde, no Fernan, not even Aria.T5DpI
osI“Fernan?”Dl1Rnl
jzc3That Hyde wasn’t there wasn’t strange—he had gone out on an errand.SX2sjhI
5OfecBut that Fernan and Aria were also missing—that was strange.zAKf
czBj9Bn“Senior, have you seen Fernan? His tent is empty.”JaWfg
ZyYjINdLuina, who had gone to check Fernan’s tent, sat in front of Gismond and asked.FNXITO
bguQ“Aria wasn’t there either. Where could the two of them have gone together?”MA8hNvk
HEd“Fernan and Aria? What a strange combination.”q75uR7r
IWhYrFaced with their doubts, Gismond recalled what Fernan had told him before leaving.R3dq
lBH“If I’m late and don’t return at the appointed time, don’t make up weird excuses. Just say this, and everyone will accept it.”g8V2
i1g“Fernan went to look for adamantite. Wooden detected it.”0qs5T
oBJ“Ah, then it makes sense he disappeared suddenly.”cVVNeq
eIzg“That golem can detect minerals too?”nQoaB
VTa“Adamantite?”WW3ZL
tYuSn— What a crazy golem. Can it really detect adamantite?MrSntz
DDpAint agreed with Gardner’s words and asked again.PMlgl
F6HoZdY“And Aria?”29s8w
m6ssiO“It’s not like Fernan took her with him. She followed him on her own…”PA37el
lcIThe group accepted it without issue.tJoMkej
2myXWA“Then there’s nothing to worry about.”PJRS
K4nRkZ“Adamantite, huh. If I had even just one sword made of that, I wouldn’t ask for anything else.”6dUOs9w
lR7“Ask the senior. He usually ends up getting everything done anyway.”kZB
1Suz“…Don’t make me mad. Does he treat you the same way he treats me?”7zlZ
ibvX4vxAint’s pleading face contrasted with Verian’s clenched teeth, and Gismond felt seen in him.Ccik
XQ0K‘Right, this one used to be a corrupted too. And it was Fernan who forced him to switch sides.’saZgFO
cZ84UtfHe felt sorry for him. It was like looking in a mirror.nwnhu
jWwSlK‘Poor guy. He’s not actually weak, just had the misfortune of being next to the protagonist and Luina.’ey2
cZN6a0Clicking his tongue, Gismond threw more fuel on the fire that was dying down.csNn
BKY4“…Senior, what does that look mean?”LKMlN
7hZfL“Better not complain about Fernan. If you’re upset, want to train again?”MBmkuf
EFr9U“No! I’m sure he looked at me with pity…”pZXE
EVFlwRoThough Verian noticed that compassion, luckily things didn’t escalate.eDVL
bF4JIt was a peaceful day.orkoJ
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