Episode 21
It was a unique-looking pattern.
If I had to express it, it would be like an inverted triangle? There was a strange-looking pattern surrounding it in the shape of a circle.
It’s difficult to explain any further than that with my aesthetic sense.
This pattern was located quite close to the Sapphire Snake.
To be more precise, towards the cave we entered.
“… “What is that?”
“It is a tower built upside down. “It’s an ancient building hidden all over the world.”
I think it was a tower, not a triangle.
But why?
“Altar of the Forgotten God. “If I say this, you will understand, right?”
“ah.”
I was convinced by the word “forgotten god.”
There is a god whose name is widely known in this world.
72 gods believed in by the empire.
The 13 Dragon Kings are the guardian gods of all kinds of monsters and beasts.
Lastly, the nine spirit gods and five kings.
There are some who add to this the evil beliefs that the dark church believes in, but in general, the god of this world means the 99th rank.
On the other hand, forgotten gods are beings who have lost their godhood because there are no longer those who remember them.
Of course, they have only lost their status, but their power and influence are still said to be worthy of divine status.
That is why the altar of the forgotten god is important.
If you offer a worthy sacrifice to them and are recognized by the forgotten god, you can become their first believer.
A forgotten God does not forget grace.
Almost unconditionally accepting the wishes of the first believer who pulled him out of the swamp of oblivion.
Simply put, determining whether the Forgotten God is good or evil depends on the alignment of the first believer.
“… “If the deity of a forgotten god is handed over to the religious order.”
“The number of demon lords may increase by one more. “It may be the worst case scenario.”
Now it’s finally true.
That’s why these assassins took shelter in the cave.
It’s scary that it escalates into a battle and then the forgotten god looks on you, or the altar gets damaged.
Compared to that, subjugating jewels is an extremely trivial matter.
“So, for the cultists, subjugating jeweled prisoners was a side issue.”
“that’s right. So they were waiting quietly. “When the Sapphire Snake wakes up from hibernation and leaves this cave.”
“Shouldn’t we stop it?”
Calzac shook his head.
“how? We couldn’t figure out the military strength of those guys in the mountains. The priest alone is a troublesome force, but considering their purpose, it wouldn’t be surprising if there were several others as strong as him. “Securing the Forgotten God’s Altar is one of the altar’s top goals.”
“Then what should I do?”
“… There are only two entrances to this cave. The jewels are blocking one of them, so there is only one for now. “The church will wait there until you come out.”
Calzac said, smoothing his beard.
“So we have to kill the jeweler.”
“You’re saying we should escape through that doorway.”
“okay. Afterwards, they quickly leave the mountain range and report this news to Badniker. “Then it’s best to form a punitive force and attack them.”
After Kalzak finished speaking, he looked at me and Arjan and said.
“Of course, this is just my opinion, and if you two have a better opinion, I’ll listen.”
“… … .”
I thought for a moment, but I knew before I even thought about it.
Considering many things, Calzac’s decision was the best decision.
Of course, that’s true compared to the rest of the methods, and that method itself isn’t a huge trick.
Normally, in a battle with a Jewel Beast, no matter how many lives you have, it won’t be enough.
“I understand that you both follow what I say? “Don’t say anything else later.”
“Can we catch the jewel with just three?”
“of course. He was the one I was trying to catch in the first place. “He’s got two more, so there’s no reason he can’t be caught.”
Calzac said casually.
“Power check… what. Shall we do it next time? Take a break today. “They both look like they’re tired and their faces are the color of shit.”
“All right.”
Not to mention Arjan, I was also quite tired from the continuous battle.
I spread the blanket in a suitable place and lay down.
The hardness of the ground did not completely disappear, but I quickly fell asleep.
* * *
I woke up feeling sore as if my whole body had been hit.
‘Ugh… … .’
It was the price of sleeping on a hard floor.
I’m glad my mouth didn’t turn.
Just as I was about to get up, I heard a conversation.
“… “So what do you know about yourself now?”
“Only the head of the family, the council of elders, and the master.”
“Right. Got it. “It must have been difficult.”
Calzak and Arjan were having a conversation.
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I reflexively pretended to sleep.
“What about him?”
“He didn’t say anything, but somehow it seemed like he had something to say.”
“He certainly seemed quick-witted. He also has a lot of guts. Interesting. “Why didn’t I hear that guy’s name out of Delak’s mouth?”
It felt like the important conversation was already over, but I wasn’t particularly disappointed.
On the contrary, since I had promised something to Arjan, I would have felt bad if I had unintentionally overheard it here.
I got out of my seat, deliberately tossing and turning and making a fuss.
“Master, are you awake?”
“… okay. good morning. “I don’t know if it’s morning.”
I took out my watch and checked, it was 9 PM.
I said while looking at Calzac.
“Aren’t you asleep?”
“Normally, as you get older, you lose sleep. really. “I enjoyed the beef jerky.”
“Beef jerky?”
There was an empty beef jerky bag lying around where Calzac was chinking.
It looks like he took something out of his backpack and ate it.
“It’s been a long time since I oiled the boat. “The salty one was delicious.”
“… Well, I’m glad you enjoyed it.”
A bag of beef jerky is cheap in exchange for your life.
“Then let’s talk about something constructive now. “How are we going to get rid of that snake bastard?”
“Come to think of it, you must know a lot since you fought that guy yourself.”
Then Calzac narrowed his eyes and glanced at me in an attitude that I didn’t like.
“why.”
“I don’t like hearing it because you keep saying it’s over there.”
“Then what do you call it?”
“You can just be the instructor.”
“I’m not even a student, so that’s a bit much.”
“Then, brother.”
“Let’s just be senior.”
“Why are you a senior?”
“You’ve been practicing martial arts longer than me.”
“hmm… “Call it whatever you feel comfortable with.”
Calzac responded with a disapproving look, then continued speaking while stroking his beard.
“Anyway, there are a lot of things that need to be prepared to catch a jeweler. “I don’t feel like it, but I will teach you two starting today.”
“Isn’t teaching too much of a good thing? “I don’t even have time.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. Who am I? I am Badniker’s renowned ambassador. “The basics will be ingrained in your head in a month or two.”
A month or two?
“Senior, how long are you planning to hunt for jewels?
“well. “I think I will have to look at your level to know the details, but I think it will take at least three months.”
At this moment, I came to my senses as if I had been hit with cold water.
I wondered how things would turn out well.
“Three months?”
“uh.”
“It’s too long.”
“Is it long? “Then you thought about it to some extent.”
After defeating the Jewel Beast, I considered the schedule for returning to my home before opening my mouth.
“Three days, enough?”
“what? ha ha ha… … .”
Calzak burst into laughter.
But I didn’t laugh.
In times like this, I can convey my sincerity just by maintaining a blank expression.
As I stayed still without any reaction, Calzac’s laughter gradually stopped.
Eventually, complete silence fell, and that alone made the atmosphere feel cold and frozen.
“Sweetheart. “Aren’t you looking at Jewels too easily?”
The voice that eventually came out felt like the growl of an animal.
“Does it seem funny that Delak cut off the heads of three jewelers? “Do I look like an asshole who has been blaming me for years to catch that snake bastard?”
“That can’t be right.”
“you… ha.”
Calzac slapped his forehead and spoke in a slightly softened voice.
“… After Delac, there were countless people who came to these mountains hoping for fame. Among them, not a single one succeeded in subduing the Gem Beast. “The ones who came back alive?”
Calzac extended his only index finger.
“Will it be 10%? The funny thing is that less than half of them have actually seen the jeweler. “The other half ran away without even seeing the jeweler’s shadow.”
“… … .”
“Young blood is good, but if you want to live a long life, you need to know your subject. “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear what you just said.”
“I know the topic well.”
I felt like I needed to make something clear, so I interrupted Calzac who was trying to finish the story.
“Of course, I understand the capabilities of a jeweler, although not as much as my senior, to a certain extent.”
“What kind of confidence do you have when you say you only saw the sleeping Jewel Tree from afar?”
If you say that, I have nothing to say.
I said with a sigh.
“I told you my situation, right? You must go to your hometown before the end of this year. It’s not a matter of whether it’s possible or not, it’s because it’s the head of the family’s order.”
“… … .”
“I heard that you had a close relationship with the head of the family even before you became a master. So you probably know better than me. “How is a child who fails to keep His words treated in the family?”
Calzac closed his mouth and changed his eyes, and I felt pity and pity in his eyes.
“Just because he is Delak’s son doesn’t mean he has to live the life of a Badniker. Even if you don’t meet Delak’s expectations, your life doesn’t end. “You are still young.”
I just blinked in confusion.
I had no idea that there was someone with these thoughts in that stuffy, conservative home.
At the same time, I had another thought.
If my past self had met Calzac even once and received this advice… I think I could have lived a better life.
“I know very well.”
I said with a smile.
“But I’m not tied to the Badniker name. “For me now, the family name is not a shackle, but a means.”
“The means?”
“Badniker’s name is worth using. “You have to use what you can.”
Calzak glared at me.
His eyes were searching to see if this guy was bluffing or if he was trying to figure out the truth.
I faced him without avoiding eye contact.
“… That’s not a lie. good. In that case, I have no choice but to prove it myself.”
Are we really going to fight?
When I thought about Keian, I thought it was a boring repertoire.
Calzac passed me by.
Then he picked something up from the stone desk and showed it to me.
“Do you know what this is?”
It looks exactly like a mirror.
It’s about the size of my palm and has a mysterious blue sheen.
Does something look familiar?
“Take it.”
Calzak threw it to me.
When I held it in my hand, I could feel the weight.
Hard but slippery texture.
At that moment I realized what this was.
“Are these the scales of a sapphire snake?”
“okay. “I picked up a few when I was fighting that guy a long time ago.”
Calzac said while leaning against the wall.
“Any method can be used. Try damaging it.”
fantasy,
