Chapter: 532
While Lucy and Ruel were pondering ways to mess with Erginius, Arthur, Joy, and Frey were off discussing the dungeon, far away from Lucy.
“Not having Frey around is kinda annoying,”
“Kent Young Lady’s power is irreplaceable, you know. There’s no helping it.”
Lucy Allen had once again issued a challenge to them. Naturally, Phoebe, who practically worshipped her, accepted immediately, and Joy and Arthur, who had suffered disgrace from the last bet on the island, also took up Lucy’s wager and set foot into the dungeon.
Then they got utterly wrecked.
“Damn it.”
Their current record stood at 0-3. If they failed to conquer the dungeon after this, they would have to endure Lucy’s punishment three times.
“How about we completely avoid fighting monsters next time?”
“Like Lucy does?”
“Is that even possible? It seems like it would be tough without Young Lady’s knowledge.”
“Well, if you really push it, you can at least mimic it.”
“Got any secret plans?”
Upon hearing Joy’s question, Arthur subtly shifted his gaze to the side.
To the small child’s figure floating beside him. The tiny kid, a fragment of the first Soladin, was yawning lazily while tilting his head at Arthur.
– What’s up?
Just a few days ago, after the assault of the Followers of the Void passed, Arthur had visited the underground again.
Finding his way wasn’t difficult. A spirit, returned after the miracle, was guiding him.
Though the aftereffects of the miracle still left a tingling sensation, the spirit took care to tell him to treat Visi, a little girl, nicely before sending him through the broken wall.
Thus, Arthur reached the magic circle and faced this fragment.
– This is troublesome. It was an unavoidable situation, but to grant qualification to someone who wasn’t allowed…
‘What the heck does that mean?’
– The fact that you’re completely clueless is the trouble. I can’t explain due to restrictions. Aagh! Seriously! That brat!
After whining for a bit, the fragment wildly shook its head and eventually settled down next to Arthur.
– Ultimately, if you just make them grant you permission, everything gets sorted out! Then my mistakes disappear too!
‘…Was the first Soladin this stubborn?’
– Isn’t it obvious? No sane person would think to establish a country in that chaotic era.
‘That’s a truth I wish I didn’t know.’
After that, the fragment continued to follow Arthur around, constantly chatting.
– Why should I help you? Ha! Despite how I look, I’m a fragment of someone who survived the Age of Myth. A level you can’t even compare to, little brat.
– You use both sword and magic? Why do such insane things? I don’t get it, but just swing away for now.
– …Indeed. It’s a shame to abandon both. You have a solid foundation in both. If you can properly merge them…
Arthur initially thought the fragment was reliable given its boast about surviving the Age of Myth. The very fact of its survival was an achievement, and he figured that even a fraction of the legendary tales of the first Soladin would be helpful.
– Ah. There was a suitable magic for you!
– Um. Ugggh. Damn.
– For now, just keep up with your training. I’ll let you know when I remember later.
However, that expectation vanished in an instant.
While watching Arthur train, it just remarked how there are different methods, showing surprise at his progress.
But it didn’t actually teach him anything.
When Arthur was mocked by others, it joined in the laughter.
And when his face turned red in front of Lucy, it smugly remarked about youth, becoming nothing but an irritating presence.
Yet when it came to dungeons, it was different.
– Right side is fine.
– Ah, familiar face. Target the legs first. Once the balance breaks, it’s nothing.
– See? Didn’t I tell you?
The fragment’s experience, having fought when the forces of the Evil God once wreaked havoc, proved to be meaningful in the current dungeon.
It reached the right answer faster than Arthur could judge and spoke out the strategy as soon as it saw the enemy.
While it hadn’t reached the absurd level of Lucy Allen, this brat still possessed a level of expertise that would stump even seasoned fighters.
Thus, though it felt a bit underhanded, if he maximized the brat’s help, achieving the conditions Lucy set would surely be possible.
Though guilt nagged at him, the fear of the disgrace he’d face was even greater, prompting Arthur to bite his lip and decide to sell his conscience.
And then, a commotion erupted outside.
“There it is!”
“Don’t let it get away!”
“Damn it! It’s over there!”
The tent’s door swung open abruptly as a man appeared. With long black hair that reached his waist, he spotted the three inside and broke into a gentle smile.
“Long time no see, everyone. How have you been?”
“…Who are you?”
“Who are you?”
“Forgot already? Ah, right. Back then, I was in the form of a skeleton.”
The man, unfazed by their wariness, casually nodded his head and took a seat.
“Does this ring a bell?”
And as he unwrapped the magic that covered his face, the skeleton revealed itself.
“Lord Erginius?”
“Yep. That’s me.”
Joy, who had been utterly sick of facing the skeleton during their last visit to the dungeon, immediately shouted, causing the skeleton to nod again and recast the spell.
“I originally planned to wait inside the dungeon, but due to the Lord’s…”
“Lord Erginius, that’s still a hidden fact.”
“Ha. Really? Why? If it’s your word, blessed by the Lord, I’d trust it, but it doesn’t quite make sense to me. What reason is there to hide such a glorious title?”
“…That’s.”
Seeing Phoebe struggle to reply, Erginius tilted his head and was about to question further when he suddenly spotted Arthur and his eyes widened.
“Whoa?! Wait. How did you, someone without any qualification, overcome the trial?”
“…What exactly is this qualification?”
“The qualification to undergo the trial! The token I gave you from the first Soladin! Without it, the trial wouldn’t permit you!”
Listening to Erginius, Arthur turned his head again, but there was nothing there.
The fragment that had been lazily hovering next to him had vanished in an instant.
Hmm. It seems that the brat’s fuss is somehow related to the role assigned by Lord Erginius.
If everything were told as is right now, things would get interesting, but it might be more beneficial to keep it as a threat.
“…That’s.”
After making a decision, Arthur shared the situation, excluding anything about the fragment.
“Wow, that kid is so different inside and out.”
Erginius let out a sigh at the circumstances summarized by Lucy Allen, then leaned closer to Arthur.
“Very well. If that kid deemed you worthy, then that’s surely right. It’s not something that an old bloke like me should question.”
“Is that so?”
“Then please let the fragment know that I won’t say anything. No, it’s not like it matters since he’s probably listening right now.”
– Oh. Were you aware?
“How could I not notice something I created?”
Finally, as the brat squirmed back into view, Erginius chuckled lightly.
“Don’t sweat it. It was an unavoidable situation.”
– Thank you so much!
“Yeah.”
– Oh, and I want to ask one thing. Remember back when you formed a sword itself through magic?
“Ah, you mean that?”
While Erginius and the fragment discussed, Joy and Phoebe, unable to see the fragment, stood dumbfounded.
Seeing the confusion on their faces, Arthur sighed with exasperation when Lucy suddenly appeared.
“Hey. You smelly sympathy brat wizard. What were you thinking, just barging in when there’s chaos outside? I mean, is it hard to talk to guys now too?”
“Haha. I thought you’d handle it well.”
“What?”
“You actually did manage the ruckus pretty well. I was right.”
“Haaa. With such a lacking social sense, you must have just died alone until now. So typical of you.”
“I’ve often heard that I lack sensitivity since way back. Guess it never changed.”
Despite Lucy’s insults degrading his character, Erginius showed no sign of irritation.
His demeanor was entirely different from when he grumbled about that reckless brat before.
Thanks to that, the three, including Arthur, began to harbor doubts about what on earth Lucy had done without their knowledge.
Even Lucy herself was entirely oblivious to the fact that she was astonished by Erginius’ strange behavior.
“Since everyone’s gathered, let’s get to the main topic. You all remember that I mentioned wanting to ask something when you were leaving last time, right?”
“Sure. Your pathetic, whiny voice trying to hold onto people is hard to forget. So disgusting.”
“What I wish to discuss with you is me, or more precisely, the mistakes of the hero Erginius who left me behind.”
With that, Erginius took a long breath and retrieved a flower from within his robe, placing it on the table.
Whatever magical treatment it had received, despite its roots being broken, the flower maintained its beauty and was spectacular enough to prompt gasps of admiration from anyone who saw it.
“How much do you know about the Fairy Forest?”
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