Chapter: 489
Arthur felt a strange sense of déjà vu as he looked at the corridor revealed behind the collapsed wall.
Had I seen something like this before?
Ah, right. The basement of the palace. The place I visited during my older brother’s coming-of-age ceremony.
The scenery visible beyond the wall was uncannily similar to that place.
It was Lucy who answered the question of why. She said the things prepared beyond the wall were by the Great Wizard Erginius.
Thinking about how Erginius was involved with the founding of the palace, it made sense that they’d be similar.
As Arthur followed Lucy and stepped beyond the wall, he realized that this was not a normal passage.
Just like before in the desert, did Erginius create a shortcut in a bizarre way that even he wouldn’t have thought of?
If Lord Erginius saw this, he would probably freak out.
…After everything is finished, I should ask him about it.
Maybe this is a facility the kingdom highly regards.
Arthur raised an eyebrow at the relatively clean appearance of the long corridor, then lifted his head upon hearing Lucy Allen’s words.
And he faced it with his own eyes.
The shape of the magic circle situated beyond the door.
Having just received teachings from Erginius, Arthur vaguely understood the meaning contained within that magic circle.
Purification and transformation of energy. And connection.
He wasn’t quite sure how exactly it operated, but it seemed like a magic circle for purifying some evil force and transferring it elsewhere.
Now, he understood why Lucy Allen brought him here.
By cutting this connection, it was supposed to stop the barrier itself.
“If that’s the case, I should bring Joy along too.”
He had received lessons alongside her, but unlike Joy, Arthur hadn’t fully internalized them.
Even now, after receiving additional explanations from Joy several times.
So to control this perfectly, he had to bring Joy…
Huh? Why isn’t there a response?
By now, he should have received some snappy retort, right?
Feeling puzzled, Arthur looked up, surprised by the scenery around him, which was completely different from before.
Did I fall into the Evil God’s schemes again? Lucy Allen, if you’re going to give me a blessing, at least make it a proper one.
Using something shoddy leads to results like this, doesn’t it?
…
Damn it. When I wake up again, I’ll have to listen to snarky comments for quite some time.
As Arthur grumbled and surveyed his surroundings, he suddenly felt that the current scenery was different from what the Evil God had shown him.
What should I say? The place the Evil God showed me was a hellish landscape devoid of life, while this place feels perfectly fine.
“Don’t confuse me with the Evil God.”
Startled by the voice that came from behind, Arthur turned around to see a little kid floating in the air, looking at him with a frown.
The kid, who didn’t look older than ten, inspected Arthur’s face before raising an eyebrow.
“What’s up? You don’t look like someone qualified to be here.”
“Actually, I want to ask you the same thing. Who are you?”
“Are you saying you really came here without knowing anything? How?”
The kid, seemingly unable to comprehend the situation, crossed his arms.
There’s no way such maturity could stem from that exterior. Is this child all looks?
“I wouldn’t know how to answer even if you asked. I just followed my friend’s guidance.”
“Is that friend one of Soladin’s blood?”
“What nonsense. This child has nothing to do with the royal family.”
“Hmm? Uhhm?”
Hmm. Is there any reason to continue this conversation?
Perhaps this could also be a trap set by the Evil God. It’s a bit unsettling, but for now, I’ll just end my life to wake up from this dream.
“Wait! What are you trying to do?!”
“I need to wake up from this dream.”
“This isn’t a dream! This is a trial location!”
“Ahh. That’s true. The nightmare set by the Evil God could indeed be called a trial.”
“I told you just now! I have nothing to do with the Evil God! Don’t connect me with those pathetic beings who don’t even know what they are doing! No matter how old I am, I am not related to those trash!”
As Arthur asked if it was the Evil God’s schemes, the little kid raised his voice in a fit of rage.
Given the excessive insults, could he not be a follower of the Evil God? They claim they can’t speak ill of their god.
“Then who are you?”
“I am a fragment left behind by the progenitor of Soladin! I am the existence that carries his legacy upon this land! A descendant of Soladin! Bow down!”
Though the kid puffed up his chest and shouted, Arthur’s demeanor remained unchanged.
“Your appearance definitely resembles the legends.”
“You brat!”
“Looking for respect? Then you’d better provide some clear proof. The situation doesn’t favor blind trust right now.”
If this brat is the reason Lucy Allen brought me here, she must have hinted something.
But she hasn’t said a word to me. This brat’s existence lies beyond Lucy Allen’s knowledge.
To think that he uses a method even Erginius didn’t anticipate. Why should I believe that?
“…The situation doesn’t favor blind trust? What do you mean?”
“The piece of trash you just mentioned has taken control of the barrier.”
Arthur intentionally used an aggressive tone, but the kid’s expression was filled not with anger, but astonishment.
“I’m going crazy. What on Earth is happening?”
“If you really have the spirit left behind by the progenitor, then let me go. I still have a lot of things to do.”
“Wait a bit! Let me think.”
“Or I can just leave myself.”
Just as Arthur drew his sword to press it against his neck, the kid snapped his fingers.
Thud!
As the sound echoed, the sword Arthur was holding vanished like a mirage.
“What you have to do is related to this magic circle, right?”
“…Yes, but…”
“Sigh. It can’t be helped. Normally, such things shouldn’t be given to those without authority, but circumstances are circumstances.”
As soon as the words finished, the kid snapped his fingers again, and the scenery around them changed once more.
This time, the landscape resembled Erginius’s dwelling, which was located beneath the desert not long ago.
“Descendant of Soladin! If you wish to involve yourself with magic, prove your qualifications. If you have qualifications, then magic will naturally comply with your will!”
Listening to his solemn tone as if he were bestowing trials from the heavens, Arthur chose not to respond and instead constructed magic upon his finger.
“Did you go deaf or something?!”
Hmm. I was going to end my life through magic, but did he sense that? I thought I was being discreet.
“If you want to interfere with the magic circle, then earn your qualifications! Not end your life!”
“Why must I earn qualifications?”
“Because only then will the Great Wizard Erginius’s magic grant you permission!”
“I can interfere with that magic circle without any qualifications!”
“What? No. Um. What?”
“Purification. Transformation. Transmission. That’s the role of the magic inscribed in that magic circle. Am I wrong?”
“How would you know that?”
“The Great Wizard Erginius taught me directly.”
“…What?! He’s still alive?!”
For the first time, a glimmer of hope appeared on the kid’s face, which had constantly wore a frown.
*
[Don’t worry. It seems you haven’t fallen victim to the Evil God’s schemes.]
At the moment Arthur suddenly lost consciousness, Grandpa bit his lips and reassured me.
‘Then what the heck is going on?’
[It must be something left behind by Erginius. It’s likely a mechanism that draws in the spirit in response to particular conditions.]
Hearing Grandpa’s words, I recalled the knowledge buried deep within my distant memory.
There was something mentioned in the story about Erginius conducting tests… right?
Was there?
Damn it. It’s been so long since I skipped through the story that I barely remember passing details!
[Considering that fellow’s eccentric personality, it’s probably something for a trial.]
Thank goodness. My memory doesn’t seem to be wrong.
‘So we have to wait until the trial is over?’
[Probably.]
While it had been a brief moment in the game, the reality was different. Arthur was staring blankly into space even after several minutes had passed.
“Hey, stupid swordsman. What do you plan to do with that sword?”
Seeing Frey, who lifted her sword with its sheath, I hurriedly raised my voice, causing Frey to tilt her head.
“Beat him until he wakes up. Is that not okay?”
“If the intention is to wake him up, then it’s probably okay, but it would seem more like a plan to put him to sleep forever.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
After saving Arthur from eternal slumber, I crossed my arms with a sigh of relief.
This is a variable. I had planned to wait for the followers of the Evil God to cause trouble after preparing beforehand.
What if Arthur doesn’t wake up until the critical moment!?
Feeling anxious, I began tapping my arms when a translucent Adri emerged from the wall.
“Granny, did you come to excitedly tell me that the preparation is complete?”
– That’s part of it, but an intruder is trying to come in from the entrance.
An intruder? Is that Luca making his grand entrance?
It must be. This is a place only those who possess a stele or have previously visited can come.
Looks like the commotion caused by the Dragon’s Breath caught his attention.
Well, that was incredibly loud. Ignoring it would be the strange part.
– I thought you’d panic, but you seem quite calm.
“They’re just sloppy beings who can’t even crawl on the ground. Why should I panic?”
I had expected Luca to chase after me with the followers of the Void.
Naturally, I had thought of countermeasures for that too.
But now, the situation has improved far beyond my expectations.
Thanks to Adri decorating this place with her magic, I now have many more options.
Recalling what I had just asked Adri, I smirked.
Hmm. Since it’ll probably take a while for Arthur to wake up, should I have a little fun in the meantime?
If I can trigger a lot of screams from the followers of the Void, it should delay their plans!
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