A Genius Gamer Reincarnated into a Hero’s Family Chapter 281

Genius Gamer, Reincarnated into a Heroic Family Chapter 281

Ancient ruins (4)

… … The second day of exploring the ancient ruins of Kaladan, evening.

While other expeditions were scattered throughout the shattered space, searching for an escape route, Count Delite’s expedition, which Harang was a part of, was able to proceed quite comfortably.

Knock! Knock!

There are several Delite barracks scattered around a few campfires. All regular explorers use ten-person barracks, but those who come in as outside mercenaries like Harang also use their own barracks.

On the first evening, when Taniya and Harang were told that they were sharing the same barracks, the expedition team members whistled and sexually harassed them as if they were jealous, but there was nothing like that on the second day.

The expedition team felt a strange sense of distance from Taniya and Harang.

The wondrous abilities they displayed allowed them to easily pass through this peculiar space within the ruins, but those who possessed mysterious abilities were bound to be feared by people.

Having explored all over the world and gained a lot of experience, they know very well how extraordinary and absurd Taniya’s abilities are.

“Ha, it’s just something that only works in this special space.”

Taniya sighed and poked the campfire with the kindling stick.

“Well, I don’t mind because I’ve had this experience since I was young. People are afraid of ghosts.”

“… … .”

There are undead in this world, too. However, they are merely dead corpses that have been artificially moved by injecting magic into them, and it is rare to see actual ghosts.

So, just like modern Earth, people fear the existence of ghosts. Since Taniya was a sorcerer who ruled over ghosts, people were afraid of her and kept their distance from her since she was young.

“Dealing with ghosts must be a pretty lonely thing.”

Taniya chuckled as Harang spoke comfortingly.

“Actually, I can’t handle ghosts. If you’ve learned sorcery, you know that. It’s not about handling them, it’s about asking for favors.”

“… … .”

Yes. That is why sorcery, although it had better abilities than expected, has been completely forgotten in modern times compared to magic.

Sorcery is difficult to develop and has limitations in terms of skill development. It is only possible to use it by asking ghosts for mystical abilities.

In contrast, magic can grow if it wants to, and is constantly developed through academic study.

‘Still… …I’m glad I brought you.’

Thanks to Taniya, I was able to move comfortably through this strange space inside the ruins.

-Hmm, something seems strange, doesn’t it?

Even Celine, who had become quite quiet since being sealed in the lower chamber, became more talkative once she entered this space.

“What’s so strange?”

-You must have noticed, kid, that this ruins aren’t like that.

“That’s true. Perhaps the descendants built these relics to hide the sacred relics.”

-But this, does it still exist in this day and age? This crazy magic that tears space apart into pieces.

“… … No. If there had been a wizard capable of something like this, magical technology would have probably advanced by a century.”

-Right? It didn’t happen in our time either.

“… … !”

Harang looked surprised at those words, but Taniya, who didn’t understand, sneered.

“Isn’t that obvious? If such advanced technology doesn’t exist now, it wouldn’t have existed in the past either.”

-Oh my, tsk tsk. How pathetic. Technology doesn’t just develop like that.

“… … Well, I know that technology declines during the Dark Ages, right? But this is a little different.”

– It’s not just a decline. It’s not just some advanced future technology. It’s just a technology that’s out of date.

“… … ?”

When Taniya made a face of not understanding, Celine got irritated and started to feel frustrated. Harang calmed Celine down and said.

“Chelain is right. This technology is not necessarily a future technology or anything like that. You know how easy it is to travel these days thanks to flying machine technology?”

“Of course.”

“The funny thing is, warp hole technology is an old technology that was developed hundreds of years ago. It was developed much later than flying machines.”

“Uh… really?”

“It’s only been less than 100 years since it became widely available, but our ancestors have been able to use warp holes for a long time. That’s what magic is. It’s not like it’s some kind of exceptionally advanced technology. It’s just that one day, a genius suddenly gains an epiphany and releases transcendent technology and magic into the world.”

The development of magic has mostly been like that so far.

Long, long ago, in a time when only chosen beings could use magic.

Even in ancient times, when people said that it was great to just light a fire on one’s fingers, there were already magicians who could call down thunder and lightning and turn mountains and seas upside down.

A genius out of touch with his time.

It is different from Earth. On Earth, technology develops sequentially and in a complex manner.

If the Earth lacks one technology, another technology cannot be born.

But magic is different. Just one unique genius appears, and he instantly discovers a technology that would be a thousand years away and releases it into the world.

“So, for our generation, warp holes are old technology and flying machines are state-of-the-art.”

“Uh… … That means… … .”

“That’s right. In the last 500 years, there hasn’t been any magic that shatters space into pieces and isolates dead space.”

Harang is a 7-star wizard and is knowledgeable about the history of magic. If he doesn’t know, then it means that magic doesn’t really exist in the world.

“Then what happened? How did the relic of the warrior Kaladan, who disappeared 500 years ago, get sealed with lost magic?”

“There are two possible explanations. Either there was an original site like this, and Kaladan’s relics were hidden there.”

“… … The second one?”

“A wizard who has lived for a very long time and has not revealed his identity to the world has sealed the hero’s relic.”

Taniya’s shoulders shook.

“The second one… … I don’t think it would be a very good case.”

“Yes. If there is a wizard hiding somewhere who has not revealed his name to the world and can even cut and sculpt space like paper, it would be extremely dangerous.”

– Phew, that idiot finally understands? It’s a good thing she’s not a wizard. Even a first-star wizard would have a hard time with that stupid head.

“I, I’m not that bad?”

-What do you mean, no? You idiot.

“I said no, really!”

While Taniya and Celine bickered, Harang folded her arms and thought quietly.

‘It’s strange when you think about it. Why would a wizard who had kept his identity a secret keep Estelle in such a thorough manner? It’s questionable whether it was magic in the first place… ‘

Magic? Well, Harang didn’t think this was magic. It was closer to sorcery, but it wasn’t sorcery. If it was sorcery, it would have caught Kadalem’s eye long ago. He has the world under his eyes, to the point where he can predict the weather on the other side of the continent just by looking at a single cloud floating in the sky.

“… …the power of the Guardian.”

-Oh, right. I was just thinking about that.

“But I heard that among the Guardians, the only one who can manipulate space is ‘Arahon.’”

Arahon is also the guardian who empowered Harang’s favorite subspace bracelet. According to the system description, it was playfully written that he was threatened by Kalantatis.

I’ve never actually seen it, but I’ve heard that Arahon is friendly to Kaladan.

Also… … it is even recorded in history that he was sealed during a war with the demon army over 500 years ago.

“Before it was sealed, a space like this was created… … .”

-No. There’s one thing you don’t know. Arahon isn’t the only being that knows how to manipulate space.

“… …Is that so?”

-Yes. It is possible if it is the demon nobleman, Count Brechakin.

“… … !”

I’ve heard of it. Brechakin is one of the great demons, and it’s said that he once invaded the continent of Astera, but was defeated by the warrior’s companions and retreated.

– That was when Kaladan left to deal with other demons. I led the battle as the leader. He was a troublesome guy who manipulated space as he pleased. Well, we won in the end… … but it was an awkward victory. We had a hard time even though we had far more people on our side.

“Are you that strong?”

– It’s not strong. Rather, the strength itself is nothing special. It was just that I had a hard time because I could turn space around at will. I scattered my comrades and tried to absorb their strength by hunting them in order of their weaknesses.

“… … That guy must have been unlucky.”

-Ahaha! You got it. That’s right. That guy was unlucky. He thought I, a priest, was the weakest, so he sent his colleagues away to other places and came to me, but I was the strongest!

After fatally wounding Brechakin, she joined forces with her comrades to corner him so he could not escape through space, and then took him down.

-But I didn’t kill him completely. I expected that he would be recovering his strength somewhere… … .

As Harang’s expression hardened, Chelain said as if she was happy.

-Yeah~! That’s right. This ruins site may actually have been built by that guy.

If it were just that, it wouldn’t matter.

The worst was yet to come.

-There’s a very high chance that he’s still here. Do you think this level of delicate spatial manipulation is possible with just a remote barrier? Absolutely, absolutely impossible. He’s definitely somewhere inside this ruins. Most likely, he’s with Estelle, right?

“… … .”

A demon noble who even gave trouble to the warrior’s companions. He was even one of the ‘Seven Great Demons’ who threatened the Earth the most.

I once faced a great demon through Estelle and defeated it, but that was only possible because it was in the world of imagination.

Can you really subdue the Great Demon with your actual skills?

‘The Great Demon’s ability is at least 10 stars… … It’s like a disaster. Even if a truckload of 9-star knights and wizards came rushing in, it would be difficult to deal with.’

As Harang closed her eyes and thought about it, Chelain smiled and said.

-But wouldn’t it be better to worry about it later?

“You should think about it when you have free time.”

-Well. He probably hasn’t fully recovered his strength yet, right? If he had, he wouldn’t have been so cowardly clinging to Estelle and building an iron wall to keep you from approaching him.

“… … !”

If you think about it, that’s true. If the great demon that fought so well against the warrior’s comrades had regained its power, then instead of blocking the exploration party’s approach with a barrier, it would have just descended directly and cut off all their heads.

The expedition involved nearly 20 teams, but there were almost no 9-star players. At best, there were only a few 8-star players.

To this extent, even if the Great Demon only reveals a little of its true power, it can be annihilated.

Even so, the fact that they insist on hiding tightly and protecting Estelle means that there is no chance of victory if they take on the entire expedition team at once!

‘Conversely, if you spread out the expedition, they might feel like they can deal with it.’

That is, it would not have been strange if the Great Demon Brechakin had been attacking another expedition team by now.

If that’s the case, then now, while we’re resting, is the right time to figure out a way to deal with him…

“oh!”

Taniya suddenly raised her head, her hair standing on end. Harang also felt something suspicious and jumped up from her seat.

-Haha, you’re dull? I felt it a long time ago even though I don’t have a physical body.

“What, what is it?!”

When Taniya made a puzzled expression, Harang quickly packed up the barracks and went outside. It was quiet, as if no one had noticed anything strange yet.

“What is it, Your Majesty the Bodyguard?”

The expedition members who were on guard duty looked at him as he hurriedly came out and asked him calmly.

“… … Can’t you feel this?”

“What do you mean you can’t feel anything? The magic barrier doesn’t catch anything.”

“An ominous, ominous feeling… … .”

“You said you were the sorcerer’s bodyguard, but you’re saying strange things.”

“Hey, wait. But that person is the sorcerer’s bodyguard.”

Unlike the man who blatantly ignored Harang, the other night watchman seemed to sense something fishy after hearing his story.

I guess it’s because the abilities Taniya has shown so far have been extraordinary.

“Why is that happening?”

“… … I don’t know for sure, but we need to wake people up. It feels like something dangerous is about to happen.”

“Ha, really. Are you the shaman’s escort? You’re talking nonsense… … .”

“You just keep quiet. For now, do as he says.”

“What? What if I do that and get scolded by the captain?”

“Then you can hold that guard responsible. We are innocent.”

“Oh, right… … .”

Finally, while the night watchmen were waking people up with their noises, Harang looked around and looked up at the sky.

Dark night sky.

Over there, the mountains were tall.

This place must have been a field.

Why do I suddenly see a tall mountain in this space where time does not change?

‘… … It’s not a mountain.’

Harang became lost in thought.

That thing that towered over me wasn’t a mountain, it was a field. It was just vertically rising and folding!

Just before Harang opened her mouth to say something, Taniya shouted as she watched the huge space itself slowly collapse towards them.

“Everyone, run away!!!”

All the explorers who were still sleeping were awakened by that eerie, haunted scream that echoed like an echo.

With him.

Kuuuung… … !

The fields that had risen like mountains began to pour down toward this place.