Chapter 121 – Abel
It was Leticia who first came to her senses. She followed Reynard, who had disappeared behind the door, and jumped into the sanctuary. Inside, there was only a small altar and a few candlesticks to light the way.
“Letty! Where’s Reynard?”
As she looked inside, Wynn and the others arrived as well. Leticia pointed to the floor silently. The tip of her finger pointed toward a wildly rolled mattress. It must have been used for sitting on when praying at the altar. However, it seemed that the mattress had another function, to hide a trapdoor. The trapdoor in the basement was made of wood.
“It looks like he went down from here.”
“Down there?”
A cool, damp breeze caressed Wynn’s face as he peered down and saw that a gently curving staircase seemed to lead down.
“Does it lead to the sea?”
He could also hear the sound of the waves, which seemed to be caged in the room below.
“Liara, do you have any idea what’s going on here?”
“No. It seems that after we defeated Sarah, the knights of this country tried to investigate, but the barrier prevented them from entering the sanctuary.” Liara’s mind seemed to be on the shrine and not on the stairs leading to the basement. She examined the statue of the god on the altar, which had been abandoned for a long time and was now completely covered with dust.
“Didn’t you have Tiara check it before putting up the barriers?”
“It wasn’t possible, as the magical barriers that were placed here were put up by Sarah using the power of the God of Destruction. A deity on the level of Anastasia-sama. And with Sarah Ferrule as its summoner, it was very difficult to lift it.” said Liara, and offered a simple prayer to the statue of the god that had been wiped clean of dust. “It seems that this place was built in a very… very ancient time. When I visited this place, I heard the ancient legends about this shrine. It is said that this shrine has been protected as a lighthouse since the time when the royal city of Lyon was still a small fishing village. At the time, I thought the god worshipped at this shrine was the god of the sea, but… Apparently, this place is dedicated to Noale, the God of Destruction. He must have been worshipped here for a long time…”
“So, Sarah lived here because she knew about it?”
“In the Great Temple of Emerdia, belief in the God of Destruction is considered pagan, as the correct knowledge about him has been lost, and the only new believers are those who see the full value of the God of Destruction only in the destruction he causes. However, it seems that the person who built this shrine still knew well the essence of the God of Destruction: rebirth from destruction. But, as I said before, it seems to have been a long time ago. Perhaps even older than the time of the ancient Kingdom of Rentheim.
The Kingdom of Rentheim was the name of a superpower that ruled the entire continent of Alfana and died out five hundred years ago. That kingdom, which still retained ruins in various parts of the world, was said to have created a variety of powerful magical tools and forged a long history spanning over a thousand years. If it predated the ancient kingdom of Rentheim, it meant that this shrine was a valuable relic built thousands of years ago. There was no record of how things were before the birth of the Kingdom of Rentheim. This was said to be because the Kingdom of Rentheim destroyed all other civilizations in the process of unifying the continent. Not just the books, but the buildings and everything else. So, for those living today, anything older than the time of the Kingdom of Rentheim was equivalent to something from the mythological era.
“Indeed, and this staircase also looks very old.” When Mito hit the stone of the staircase with the tip of his halberd and said, Leticia, who was touching the stone wall next to him, nodded.
“Conrad’s legacy completed by Sarah. And the remains of a time older than Rentheim. I don’t know what’s in there, but it certainly doesn’t look like something that should be in the hands of this Reynard.
“I have a feeling we’d better hurry.” Liara said in response to Leticia’s words. The God of Destruction is the counterpart of Anastasia, the Goddess of Creation. His power is not comparable to that of the Demon King. If the God of Destruction were to descend… it would be too much for human power. Even for Letty…
“Let’s get some light.”
At Liara’s words of growing impatience, Wynn peered into the depths of the staircase and spoke.
“I can feel some breeze, so there’s no sign of stale air building up. It should be safe to light a fire.”
“There’s a good candlestick here. The wax still seems to be working. We’ll have to use that.” Mito handed one of the candlesticks to Wynn. Apparently, they had left the wax they used in a corner of the altar. The wax, wrapped in what looked like oil paper, must have been used by Sarah. It looked like it was still good enough to use.
“Magic lights are fine, but it’s best to be cautious.”
If a candlestick was lit, the flame was likely to go out if the air in the place wasn’t flowing properly. Wynn intoned a small incantation and lit the wax. Although Wynn had far less magical power than a normal person, he could at least use it to light a small flame with his fingertips. Next, Leticia and Liara each lit a magical “Light” on a candlestick.
“Um… what should I do?” As Wynn and the others prepared to enter the basement, Seri, who peeked out from the entrance of the sanctuary, asked hesitantly.
“Seri-san, this place is dangerous, so you’d better go back…”
“No, rather, I have a favor to ask you, Seri-san.” Liara, who had interrupted Wynn, spoke to Seri. “I thought about it when I saw the dragon before. We don’t know what that mage will do now. The dragon’s breath could be seen not only by those in the temple, but also at the town at the foot of the mountain and in Lyon. I would like you to explain to the people in the temple what is going on, and then evacuate the townspeople to Lyon with you.
There was also the Light Ball that Leticia released. Surely there would be a great commotion in the town at the foot of the mountain and in Lyon, where they were unaware of the current situation in the temporary temple.
“I hope she can tell Raul about this…” Leticia said thoughtfully.
However, Raul and Seri did not know each other. In fact, it was difficult for Seri to know Crown Prince Raul.
“There is also an official in the town at the foot of the mountain. If you tell him that the people in the temple have a message from me and Letty, he will surely pass it on to Raul.”
‘Then I will go with Seri.’ With that, Liesbert raised the sword in its sheath at his waist. ‘If that mage is the summoner of the demon that destroyed our village, to me he is an enemy of us all, but from the dragon’s final words, it seems there is still a mastermind behind this. And there may be survivors from the group he was with.’
Wynn nodded at Liesbert’s words. He knew how to use magic and had plenty of experience in actual combat, so he felt safe to leave Seri with him.
“I-I…” The only person left, Abel, looked alternately at Wynn and the others, Seri and Liesbert. “I… I… I honestly don’t know what’s going on right now.” Abel said, feeling overwhelmed as everyone stared at him. “As an adventurer, I’m also interested in the ruins of the old days. But I was hired to keep an eye on Seri-san and Liesbert-san. I know it’s my duty to protect them, but…”
In Wynn’s eyes, Abel seemed unsure whether he should say something or not.
“Abel. If you have any opinions, feel free to tell me. I don’t know what kind of adventures you’ve been on since then, but I know you’re an adventurer who overcame the tragedy that occurred in Torque Village.”
The Torque Village tragedy was an abominable incident in which Seri lost her parents and everyone close to her, and Wynn and Leticia knew that Riggs, a benefactor who had taught them many things in the past, also lost his life. The knights of the Kingdom of Petersia disguised themselves as bandits and attacked the Torque Village, Seri’s hometown.
Thinking it was a simple bandit gang, a group of adventurers led by Riggs set out to eliminate them, but were wiped out. Abel was able to survive because Riggs tasked him with sending a message to the imperial city of Simurgh. At that point, Riggs and his men decided to intercept the Petersian Knights at Torque village, and risked their own lives to buy enough time for the people of the village to escape.
It was hard to ignore the opinion of Abel, who saw the determination of Riggs and his team up close and experienced the worst-case scenario of total destruction. This is what Wynn thought. Despite Wynn’s attempt to encourage him with his words from earlier, Abel opened his mouth, looking unsure.
“I know I usually look well-behaved. My father, mother, and brother have told me that many times. So, this may be selfish, but I also want to explore these ruins. There’s something big going on here, and I don’t want to be left out. I also have a feeling of rivalry with Wynn, who is getting further and further ahead of me. Those selfish motives may not be the best thing. But… I thought it would be better for me to see what that mage was up to and how it all played out.” Abel said, and looked at the faces of the group. “I’m not sure what that mage is up to, but given that Liara-sama and Wynn, who became an Imperial knight, are involved, I’m sure there’s some big deal going on. I also have a feeling that this is not the end of the story. Me, Liesbert-san, and Seri-san. We are going to see Tiara-sama in Elnasa. At that time, I was planning to talk to someone who could actually see and tell me what’s going on. That’s what I thought… but…” The last part of his voice sounded like it was about to disappear. As Abel himself had said, it was probably a mixture of his desire to be a hero and his rivalry with Wynn. He himself understood it very well, and he wasn’t sure if his feelings were right. “I saw Letty’s power. And though it pains me to say it, even Wynn’s sword skills are far superior to mine. And so is Mito-san. I know I’ll slow you down, but what I mean is, let me help you chase after him too.”
Wynn looked at Leticia and Liara.
“I see… It’s true that we might also need someone who can explain the situation to Tiara in detail, but….”
“What do you think, Onii-chan?”
The mission of Wynn and his team was a highly classified one that only a few knew about. Conrad Heisenberg’s legacy was very dangerous. He wondered if it was right to involve Abel, a simple adventurer, in it. However, as Liara admitted, it would certainly be useful to have someone who could deliver accurate information to Tiara in case they needed the Great Sage’s help.
“Abel. The case we are involved in is classified top secret by the Empire and the Kingdom of Lyon. Also, have you seen the dragon from a moment ago? Our actual foe is capable of summoning something like that. In the imperial city of Simurgh, it was a dangerous opponent that killed many people, including knights.”
Dangers awaited them with which they could not be sure if they would return alive. If Abel was really prepared for this, Wynn would allow him to accompany them. That’s what he thought when he spoke, but….
“Wynn. Do you think I’m stupid?” Abel said angrily to Wynn. “I am an adventurer, and as such, I would not reveal information I have learned in the course of my work. And I know I am risking my life. I don’t want to die, and I know that you and Letty could be in danger too. I don’t want to be the one who runs away forever.”
“All right. So, Abel. I need your help too. We’re going after him now. I don’t know what that man is going to do with Conrad’s legacy, but I want you to tell Tiara-sama exactly what you saw.”
“Yes, I’m on it.”
“It looks like we’ve decided how to proceed.”
When Abel nodded vigorously at Wynn’s words, Mito handed Abel a candlestick with a magical “Light” lit as well.
“This is for you.”
“Y-yes.” Abel grasped the candlestick tightly. He looked solemn, as if the candlestick he had received was a precious treasure or something.
When the Torque village was attacked, Abel was assigned by their leader, Riggs, to send a message to the imperial capital Simurgh. There were heavily armed knights, trained for combat. Moreover, the difference in forces was several times greater. The adventurers, who were trying to buy time for the villagers to escape, had no chance. What awaited them was absolute death. Abel’s task as a messenger was to help the young and inexperienced adventurer escape. At this point, Abel didn’t want to run away, so he challenged Riggs to a fight. He said he would stay in the village and fight. Riggs saw in Abel’s statement nothing more than a hero’s wish born out of childhood and immaturity, and rebuked him, not allowing Abel to fight. But this time it was different. Abel had found his own reason to fight, and Wynn and the others had accepted it. He didn’t like to admit it, but Wynn, even as a child, had been well liked by the adult adventurers around him. It would be a lie if he said he didn’t dislike it. But more than that, Abel was happy to have been recognized as an adventurer by Wynn.
Chapter 121 – Abel
It was Leticia who first came to her senses. She followed Reynard, who had disappeared behind the door, and jumped into the sanctuary. Inside, there was only a small altar and a few candlesticks to light the way.
“Letty! Where’s Reynard?”
As she looked inside, Wynn and the others arrived as well. Leticia pointed to the floor silently. The tip of her finger pointed toward a wildly rolled mattress. It must have been used for sitting on when praying at the altar. However, it seemed that the mattress had another function, to hide a trapdoor. The trapdoor in the basement was made of wood.
“It looks like he went down from here.”
“Down there?”
A cool, damp breeze caressed Wynn’s face as he peered down and saw that a gently curving staircase seemed to lead down.
“Does it lead to the sea?”
He could also hear the sound of the waves, which seemed to be caged in the room below.
“Liara, do you have any idea what’s going on here?”
“No. It seems that after we defeated Sarah, the knights of this country tried to investigate, but the barrier prevented them from entering the sanctuary.” Liara’s mind seemed to be on the shrine and not on the stairs leading to the basement. She examined the statue of the god on the altar, which had been abandoned for a long time and was now completely covered with dust.
“Didn’t you have Tiara check it before putting up the barriers?”
“It wasn’t possible, as the magical barriers that were placed here were put up by Sarah using the power of the God of Destruction. A deity on the level of Anastasia-sama. And with Sarah Ferrule as its summoner, it was very difficult to lift it.” said Liara, and offered a simple prayer to the statue of the god that had been wiped clean of dust. “It seems that this place was built in a very… very ancient time. When I visited this place, I heard the ancient legends about this shrine. It is said that this shrine has been protected as a lighthouse since the time when the royal city of Lyon was still a small fishing village. At the time, I thought the god worshipped at this shrine was the god of the sea, but… Apparently, this place is dedicated to Noale, the God of Destruction. He must have been worshipped here for a long time…”
“So, Sarah lived here because she knew about it?”
“In the Great Temple of Emerdia, belief in the God of Destruction is considered pagan, as the correct knowledge about him has been lost, and the only new believers are those who see the full value of the God of Destruction only in the destruction he causes. However, it seems that the person who built this shrine still knew well the essence of the God of Destruction: rebirth from destruction. But, as I said before, it seems to have been a long time ago. Perhaps even older than the time of the ancient Kingdom of Rentheim.
The Kingdom of Rentheim was the name of a superpower that ruled the entire continent of Alfana and died out five hundred years ago. That kingdom, which still retained ruins in various parts of the world, was said to have created a variety of powerful magical tools and forged a long history spanning over a thousand years. If it predated the ancient kingdom of Rentheim, it meant that this shrine was a valuable relic built thousands of years ago. There was no record of how things were before the birth of the Kingdom of Rentheim. This was said to be because the Kingdom of Rentheim destroyed all other civilizations in the process of unifying the continent. Not just the books, but the buildings and everything else. So, for those living today, anything older than the time of the Kingdom of Rentheim was equivalent to something from the mythological era.
“Indeed, and this staircase also looks very old.” When Mito hit the stone of the staircase with the tip of his halberd and said, Leticia, who was touching the stone wall next to him, nodded.
“Conrad’s legacy completed by Sarah. And the remains of a time older than Rentheim. I don’t know what’s in there, but it certainly doesn’t look like something that should be in the hands of this Reynard.
“I have a feeling we’d better hurry.” Liara said in response to Leticia’s words. The God of Destruction is the counterpart of Anastasia, the Goddess of Creation. His power is not comparable to that of the Demon King. If the God of Destruction were to descend… it would be too much for human power. Even for Letty…
“Let’s get some light.”
At Liara’s words of growing impatience, Wynn peered into the depths of the staircase and spoke.
“I can feel some breeze, so there’s no sign of stale air building up. It should be safe to light a fire.”
“There’s a good candlestick here. The wax still seems to be working. We’ll have to use that.” Mito handed one of the candlesticks to Wynn. Apparently, they had left the wax they used in a corner of the altar. The wax, wrapped in what looked like oil paper, must have been used by Sarah. It looked like it was still good enough to use.
“Magic lights are fine, but it’s best to be cautious.”
If a candlestick was lit, the flame was likely to go out if the air in the place wasn’t flowing properly. Wynn intoned a small incantation and lit the wax. Although Wynn had far less magical power than a normal person, he could at least use it to light a small flame with his fingertips. Next, Leticia and Liara each lit a magical “Light” on a candlestick.
“Um… what should I do?” As Wynn and the others prepared to enter the basement, Seri, who peeked out from the entrance of the sanctuary, asked hesitantly.
“Seri-san, this place is dangerous, so you’d better go back…”
“No, rather, I have a favor to ask you, Seri-san.” Liara, who had interrupted Wynn, spoke to Seri. “I thought about it when I saw the dragon before. We don’t know what that mage will do now. The dragon’s breath could be seen not only by those in the temple, but also at the town at the foot of the mountain and in Lyon. I would like you to explain to the people in the temple what is going on, and then evacuate the townspeople to Lyon with you.
There was also the Light Ball that Leticia released. Surely there would be a great commotion in the town at the foot of the mountain and in Lyon, where they were unaware of the current situation in the temporary temple.
“I hope she can tell Raul about this…” Leticia said thoughtfully.
However, Raul and Seri did not know each other. In fact, it was difficult for Seri to know Crown Prince Raul.
“There is also an official in the town at the foot of the mountain. If you tell him that the people in the temple have a message from me and Letty, he will surely pass it on to Raul.”
‘Then I will go with Seri.’ With that, Liesbert raised the sword in its sheath at his waist. ‘If that mage is the summoner of the demon that destroyed our village, to me he is an enemy of us all, but from the dragon’s final words, it seems there is still a mastermind behind this. And there may be survivors from the group he was with.’
Wynn nodded at Liesbert’s words. He knew how to use magic and had plenty of experience in actual combat, so he felt safe to leave Seri with him.
“I-I…” The only person left, Abel, looked alternately at Wynn and the others, Seri and Liesbert. “I… I… I honestly don’t know what’s going on right now.” Abel said, feeling overwhelmed as everyone stared at him. “As an adventurer, I’m also interested in the ruins of the old days. But I was hired to keep an eye on Seri-san and Liesbert-san. I know it’s my duty to protect them, but…”
In Wynn’s eyes, Abel seemed unsure whether he should say something or not.
“Abel. If you have any opinions, feel free to tell me. I don’t know what kind of adventures you’ve been on since then, but I know you’re an adventurer who overcame the tragedy that occurred in Torque Village.”
The Torque Village tragedy was an abominable incident in which Seri lost her parents and everyone close to her, and Wynn and Leticia knew that Riggs, a benefactor who had taught them many things in the past, also lost his life. The knights of the Kingdom of Petersia disguised themselves as bandits and attacked the Torque Village, Seri’s hometown.
Thinking it was a simple bandit gang, a group of adventurers led by Riggs set out to eliminate them, but were wiped out. Abel was able to survive because Riggs tasked him with sending a message to the imperial city of Simurgh. At that point, Riggs and his men decided to intercept the Petersian Knights at Torque village, and risked their own lives to buy enough time for the people of the village to escape.
It was hard to ignore the opinion of Abel, who saw the determination of Riggs and his team up close and experienced the worst-case scenario of total destruction. This is what Wynn thought. Despite Wynn’s attempt to encourage him with his words from earlier, Abel opened his mouth, looking unsure.
“I know I usually look well-behaved. My father, mother, and brother have told me that many times. So, this may be selfish, but I also want to explore these ruins. There’s something big going on here, and I don’t want to be left out. I also have a feeling of rivalry with Wynn, who is getting further and further ahead of me. Those selfish motives may not be the best thing. But… I thought it would be better for me to see what that mage was up to and how it all played out.” Abel said, and looked at the faces of the group. “I’m not sure what that mage is up to, but given that Liara-sama and Wynn, who became an Imperial knight, are involved, I’m sure there’s some big deal going on. I also have a feeling that this is not the end of the story. Me, Liesbert-san, and Seri-san. We are going to see Tiara-sama in Elnasa. At that time, I was planning to talk to someone who could actually see and tell me what’s going on. That’s what I thought… but…” The last part of his voice sounded like it was about to disappear. As Abel himself had said, it was probably a mixture of his desire to be a hero and his rivalry with Wynn. He himself understood it very well, and he wasn’t sure if his feelings were right. “I saw Letty’s power. And though it pains me to say it, even Wynn’s sword skills are far superior to mine. And so is Mito-san. I know I’ll slow you down, but what I mean is, let me help you chase after him too.”
Wynn looked at Leticia and Liara.
“I see… It’s true that we might also need someone who can explain the situation to Tiara in detail, but….”
“What do you think, Onii-chan?”
The mission of Wynn and his team was a highly classified one that only a few knew about. Conrad Heisenberg’s legacy was very dangerous. He wondered if it was right to involve Abel, a simple adventurer, in it. However, as Liara admitted, it would certainly be useful to have someone who could deliver accurate information to Tiara in case they needed the Great Sage’s help.
“Abel. The case we are involved in is classified top secret by the Empire and the Kingdom of Lyon. Also, have you seen the dragon from a moment ago? Our actual foe is capable of summoning something like that. In the imperial city of Simurgh, it was a dangerous opponent that killed many people, including knights.”
Dangers awaited them with which they could not be sure if they would return alive. If Abel was really prepared for this, Wynn would allow him to accompany them. That’s what he thought when he spoke, but….
“Wynn. Do you think I’m stupid?” Abel said angrily to Wynn. “I am an adventurer, and as such, I would not reveal information I have learned in the course of my work. And I know I am risking my life. I don’t want to die, and I know that you and Letty could be in danger too. I don’t want to be the one who runs away forever.”
“All right. So, Abel. I need your help too. We’re going after him now. I don’t know what that man is going to do with Conrad’s legacy, but I want you to tell Tiara-sama exactly what you saw.”
“Yes, I’m on it.”
“It looks like we’ve decided how to proceed.”
When Abel nodded vigorously at Wynn’s words, Mito handed Abel a candlestick with a magical “Light” lit as well.
“This is for you.”
“Y-yes.” Abel grasped the candlestick tightly. He looked solemn, as if the candlestick he had received was a precious treasure or something.
When the Torque village was attacked, Abel was assigned by their leader, Riggs, to send a message to the imperial capital Simurgh. There were heavily armed knights, trained for combat. Moreover, the difference in forces was several times greater. The adventurers, who were trying to buy time for the villagers to escape, had no chance. What awaited them was absolute death. Abel’s task as a messenger was to help the young and inexperienced adventurer escape. At this point, Abel didn’t want to run away, so he challenged Riggs to a fight. He said he would stay in the village and fight. Riggs saw in Abel’s statement nothing more than a hero’s wish born out of childhood and immaturity, and rebuked him, not allowing Abel to fight. But this time it was different. Abel had found his own reason to fight, and Wynn and the others had accepted it. He didn’t like to admit it, but Wynn, even as a child, had been well liked by the adult adventurers around him. It would be a lie if he said he didn’t dislike it. But more than that, Abel was happy to have been recognized as an adventurer by Wynn.
