Chapter 49 – Relic (2)

“Although I called it a blueprint to sound grand, in reality, it should be viewed as a spell scroll. It is magic that far exceeds my level. It hurts my pride, but I am merely assisting this. So…”

Realizing that the spell scroll Kara brought was only one sheet and that she was looking back and forth between Adel and himself, Belloc opened his mouth.

“Does that mean it can only be engraved on a single set of armor?”

“…Right. So you two decide. Who will become the owner of the magic armor that appears in legends.”

Kara’s mouth opened a beat late, and Belloc furrowed his brow.

“A choice between two options from beginning to end. Let me think for a moment…”

Even before he could finish speaking, Adel approached Belloc from behind and began to strip off his armor.

Because of her highly familiar touch, Belloc was stripped bare before he knew it. Leaving behind the clanging metallic sound, Belloc sighed slowly and asked.

“Will you be fine with this?”

“Where in the world is there a squire who covets their master’s things?”

“You are no longer a squire. Are you not a paladin of Helena?”

From behind, the sensation of hair brushing past and a voice mixed with laughter came.

“By now, shouldn’t you already know what my answer will be?”

Belloc also smirked. ‘Her speaking has improved.’

“The Goddess will be sad if she knows.”

“It is a power I received by force anyway. I did nothing wrong.”

Adel’s loyalty and Belloc’s consideration. The bond between the two derived from that was certainly pleasant to see. However, none of that entered Kara’s eyes right now.

She merely wanted to satisfy her curiosity as quickly as possible. The mage beckoned.

“It seems decided. Leave the armor over there, and you two step out for a moment. It will take about a day.”

Along with Kara’s order to leave, the stone door closed with a rumble. Adel wanted to say something about her rude behavior, but she held back. After all, engraving magic on an item was no ordinary task. Moreover, was it not for Lord Belloc?

‘Right, as a knight, I should understand. What a prickly spellcaster.’ While Adel grumbled inwardly, Isabel, who was in the hollow, greeted them.

“What is the matter? Did something not go well?”

A much lighter voice, and a face and hair covered in blood. ‘It seems she relieved her stress in a big way.’

“No, it went well. Knights are not needed for a mage’s experiment.”

Shaking his head, Belloc walked to the backpack he had tossed in the corner. Soon, he took out a canteen and a cloth, then tossed them to the elf who had completed her revenge.

Isabel stared at Belloc with a strange expression, then soon wetted the cloth in her hand with water and rubbed her face hard. Her skin color revealed its original appearance.

‘Now she looks decent.’ Turning his head, Belloc rummaged through the bag a bit more.

Perhaps because it was right after the battle. He felt hungry. If so, he had to satisfy this hunger, since he needed to preserve his fighting power.

It was not for nothing that eating well and resting well was one of a knight’s virtues. Noticing this, Adel took out flint and firewood from the bag.

“I will light a fire.”

“Certainly, that would be better.”

Belloc nodded with a piece of bread in his mouth. The forest where sunlight did not reach, and the stone chamber illuminated by magic lamps. Every place they passed through was a space that shattered the concept of time.

By now, the day had probably set outside. Even for the sake of the next day, the group had to eat and rest.

‘Kara… well, she will be fine.’

Belloc glanced at the closed stone door for a moment, but soon shook his head.

To a human who was absorbed in something, no words would be heard no matter what was said. In a corner of his heart, there was also a worry that the experiment might fail if he happened to intervene.

At that moment, the flint made a clicking sound and sparks flew. As Adel blew her breath, the campfire flared up, and the camp inside the stone chamber began.

The two knights and the elf moved busily. The pot containing stew bubbled and boiled, and the jerky skewered on spits was singed by the flames.

The stew was salty and thick, and the jerky smelled gamey. However, even this was a luxury in the field.

Since simply lighting a fire and eating warmed food was enough to relieve the body’s fatigue. The three people, who were experienced warriors and skilled killers, naturally knew this fact. Therefore, they ate with expressionless faces.

“Does it suit your palate?”

“It is fine.”

Belloc’s fastidious palate had also gradually grown duller as he went through life here, so it was reasonably fine. The adaptability of humans was truly amazing.

Sitting on their backpacks, the three slouched and ate only stew in silence for a while. That quietness was broken when Isabel took out a bottle of liquor from her backpack. Shaking the liquor bottle, she spoke.

“It is elven liquor. It is something treated as quite precious among humans. A sip?”

“Sure.”

Belloc did not refuse. If she spoke to that extent, it was clear that it would be much better than flat flat beer or cheap wine.

It was the same for Adel, who knew drinking as one of a knight’s virtues. The old pewter cup was filled to the brim with clear liquor. Isabel added an explanation.

“Humans also call this liquor Elven Tears. It is probably because of the color. However, I can guarantee that if you know how this liquor is made, you won’t be able to say such words.”

“So ignorance is bliss.”

Smirking, Belloc held out his cup. ‘As long as it tastes good, that’s all that matters.’

The three cups clinked together, and the liquor slid down their throats. How many times did they drink, using hard bread as a snack?

At a sudden thought, Belloc stood up from his seat. The elf was drinking liquor repeatedly with a gloomy face, and Adel, whose face had turned slightly red, raised her head.

“Lord Belloc?”

“There is something I need to check for a moment.”

Moving his steps, Belloc rummaged through the remains of the dead scattered throughout the hollow. ‘Where did this guy go?’ After stirring a few times, finally, Belloc was able to find the guy he was targeting.

The Dullahan’s head, which was not honorable to be seen as a former knight and was more suitable to be called a thief. However, the guy’s wide-open eyes had sunk deeply, and even the flesh was rotting away.

“He is dead.”

‘No wonder my experience points went up. Did he die together when that woman died? If so, why on earth did he ask to be spared? Did he think I would die by that woman’s hands? Or did he not know this fact because he was merely a creation? In this case, did I keep my promise? Or did I fail?’

Belloc pondered for a moment, but there was no way a deceased entity would give him an answer. Shaking his head, Belloc moved his steps.

In any case, one evil monster existing in the world had simply disappeared. Returning to the campsite, Belloc sat down again.

Whether the two had exchanged cups in that short interval, Adel was dozing with her head down, and Isabel’s face had grown even redder.

Laying Adel down comfortably by gently reaching out his hand, Isabel offered a cup to Belloc with a slurred voice.

“Another drink?”

Belloc did not refuse. When he took a sip of the liquor, a thick stream of curses was heard from in front of him.

“Damn it. Like a dog-like witch… Loen, Karl, Chris. All of them… they were guys who could have accomplished something if they were only alive. They were not friends to die so vainly.”

‘Well, this world is a bit harsh to live in with only passion or drive.’

Belloc did not bother to bring up his thoughts and spoil the mood. He did not mourn the dead either.

Instead, he examined the spoils of the witch he had killed earlier. He laid down the ring and staff that emitted a strange light on the floor, in case there might be a curse. Belloc opened the blood-stained notebook.

The contents were nothing special.

Flora, who had shown prominence in magic since childhood, became a mage skilled enough to enter the Magic Tower. However, she soon touched forbidden spells and was excommunicated from the Magic Tower.

Eventually becoming a necromancer and wandering the continent, Flora soon entered the witches’ coven, Scola.

There, contracting with the archdemon and receiving orders from him, she entered this place, the hidden ruins of the ancient elves—the dwelling of the Great Mage Anax…

Belloc closed the notebook. Because the contents behind were of no significance. Instead, he asked Isabel, who was blinking eyes.

“Isabel. Are you alright?”

“…Of cooourse.”

Isabel shouted loudly. ‘It doesn’t seem like it. Did it turn out better instead?’ Belloc spoke.

“Do you know of Anax?”

Isabel’s green eyes sparkled.

“Anax! There won’t be a single elf in the whole wide world who does not know that name. She, or rather that person, is an existence that is only passed down as a legend among elves. The Great Archmage Anax. One who ascended to the heavens by her own power.”

“Heavens? The place where the gods live?”

“There are times when heroes who accumulated great achievements suddenly disappear. Not from illness or death, but literally evaporating. We refer to this as leaving after receiving the gods’ call. Doesn’t that sound plausible? Since no one has returned yet, we cannot know what the truth is, but at least we elves believe so.”

‘A warrior called by the gods. Is it Norse mythology or something like that?’ Belloc stroked his chin.

The lit campfire crackled, leaving dark soot in the stone chamber. Perhaps due to the stone floor and the cold rising from the underground, the tail of the flames was gradually weakening.

Belloc threw in a few more pieces of firewood. At that, the thing, having chewed and swallowed its prey, flared up fiercely.

The clues were unraveled. The anti-magic barrier and the magic tome Galdrabok were relics of the great elven archmage. However, that was all. Set apart from learning the origin of the items, his goal remained intact.

The archdemon Astaroth. Judging by the movements of the pursuers, it was certain that the guy was inside the kingdom. However, the kingdom was also vast.

Where on earth was he supposed to find the guy? No, even if he found him, could he kill him? The guy was a monster who had crossed hundreds, perhaps thousands of years of time. Even if the great archmage’s relic was powerful and no matter how robust his body was… The knight’s thoughts stopped there.

This was because the elven woman and the paladin of Helena were snoring. Unlike their appearances, it was a foul and rough sound. Smirking, Belloc added one more piece of firewood to the campfire.

A spark popped out, and a vortex-like draft of flames caught his eyes. It was as if it would suck him in. Belloc stared at the flames as if possessed for a long time.

#

“It is finished! Now. Try it on.”

Belloc put on the armor again with Adel’s assistance. His armor was originally an item mixed with black and white. However, once the anti-magic barrier was engraved, it turned into armor with strange patterns embossed on steel plates on a black background.

Adel clapped her hands with an excited face.

“It suits you truly well. It is indeed an item matching your dignity, Lord Belloc.”

Belloc was already a man of larger build than average people. In such a state, when he even wore the mysterious-looking armor, he exuded an overwhelming sense of intimidation.

“Beautiful. It is like looking at a work of art.”

Isabel also gaped in admiration, and Kara, whose under-eyes were dark, shrugged her shoulders.

“Once the scroll was engraved, not only the spell warding but also the defensive power of the armor itself went up. Perhaps… it would be fine to view it as the best among existing armor. It is by no means inferior even compared to some royal treasury.”

Belloc lightly moved his arms and legs. It was still as comfortable as his previous armor. It felt as if only drawing had been painted on it. ‘Is this really such an amazing armor?’

‘It doesn’t feel real. I wish I could test it once.’ Hiding his inner thoughts, Belloc nodded.

“Good job.”

“Don’t mention it… Just researching the materials inside was of great help. I also gathered some spell scrolls, and the seal on that book was released…”

Kara, who was speaking excitedly, noticed Isabel and slightly shut her mouth. Whether she did not hear it or pretended not to hear it, Isabel merely held her head and gagged.

“Since it seems our business here is all finished, let us set out.”

Carrying her now bulging luggage, Kara and the rest of the group also packed their bags and left the ruins.

Perhaps because the caster died, the forest was quiet. Not a single zombie, which they had seen so often when entering, was visible. Thanks to that, the way out was easy. The gates of Karven soon came into view. At that moment, Isabel spoke.

“We must part ways here.”

“Are you planning to leave right away?”

“Yes. First, I need to meet other kin to inform them of the current situation. I owe you a great debt.”

Consider it paid with the liquor we drank yesterday.

Smirking, Isabel rummaged through her bosom and handed over a necklace. It was a necklace elaborately crafted with a crescent moon pattern. Belloc showed a puzzled look.

“This is?”

“If you happen to have friction with elves, show them that. They won’t treat you poorly at all.”

‘Is it like a recommendation letter from the Church?’ While Belloc was thinking this, Isabel bowed her head and bounded off.

Leaving behind the departing elf, the three crossed the gates of Karven and went straight to the inn. It was to retrieve the horses they had left at the stable. On the way, Kara spoke.

“I think I can find out the archdemon’s whereabouts.”

“How?”

“Did I tell you? That I released the seal on this book. It actually released itself while conducting the experiment, but it is lined with truly amazing spells. Among them, there was also a tracking spell.”

Belloc took out the black ring he had put in his bosom. It was the relic of the woman who was said to have contracted with the archdemon.

“Does that mean we can find out his whereabouts using this?”

Kara nodded.

“Yes. Since it is a dangerous item. First, Adel, who is a paladin, will hold the ring, and I will track its power…”

“Stop!”

Even before Kara could finish speaking, soldiers rushing out of the alley surrounded the group.