#614
As he approached without stopping, Archeas took Ian in his gaze.
“He looks like a mercenary and very cool.”
“So you’re saying you still don’t like it?”
At Ian’s mumbling, Archeas shrugged.
“It’s fortunate that your head is covered well. If you were going to do it, why don’t you choose one that covers your face completely?”
“This alone is frustrating. The performance is also excellent.”
“Yeah… I bet you prepared well. Here. Take it.”
Archeas extended his left hand, which had been hidden by his sleeve.
Ian’s steps quickened as he checked the long glass bottle in his hand. It was clearly the elixir of life.
“Did you make a new one?”
“Yes. I prepared it just in case, so when the time comes, drink it without holding back.”
“I will use it gratefully.”
Ian, with the corners of his lips curled up, grabbed the glass bottle. Without letting go of the hand holding the bottle, Archeas added.
“Even if you don’t use it right away, this time, don’t give it to anyone else. Do you understand?”
“I don’t intend to do that twice either.”
As Ian answered with a big smile, Archeas finally handed over the bottle.
…I never thought I’d get this again.
Ian looked at the elixir shining brightly in the glass bottle, then pushed it into the subspace. Fortunately, there was enough space left to fit one glass bottle.
“Okay. Then let’s go.”
In the meantime, Archeas, who had approached, passed Ian and added:
Ian turned around, tilting his head, and followed him.
“Right here, weren’t you supposed to use that teleportation spell?”
“There is a separate entrance to the tomb. It’s more convenient and uses less magic power.”
Archeas answered, walking alongside Ian.
Under the helmet that covered the bridge of his nose, Ian’s eyes naturally narrowed.
“…You made a passage leading from your house to the tomb?”
“It’s a kind of tradition. It’s meant to remind us that death is always with us. Of course…”
Archeas answered calmly and looked back at Ian with a strange look.
“In truth, it’s just a plausible excuse to preserve the dignity and face of the clan.”
“So you’re saying there’s another real reason?”
“Of course. As you know, dragon corpses are very useful.”
At Archeas’s subtle addition, a faint smile finally crossed Ian’s lips.
“I understand. It was to protect the dignity of the deceased.”
“Yes. So when death comes, we go to the grave ourselves.”
He added, shrugging his shoulders.
“If that is not possible, another dragon must collect the body and place it in the tomb. It is one of the clan’s duties.”
“Just as you did to Tahumrit?”
“Yes. Thanks to you, he can finally rest in peace. I would like to express my gratitude once again.”
“You should be grateful….”
As Ian muttered absentmindedly, Archeas’ smile became meaningful.
“The exact location of the tomb and its entrance is said to be shared only with the tombkeeper and his descendants. That’s why I’m surprised you know its location.”
“… I see.”
Without avoiding Archeas’ gaze, Ian answered softly.
It was right after that that Archeas’ eyes slightly widened.
“Don’t worry. I don’t plan on biting you. By the way…”
His gaze slowly lowered.
“This guy seems to be the fragment of the ancient god you were talking about.”
Only then did Ian look down at his left shoulder. There was Yog coiled on his shoulder blade. His purple eyes were shining as he stared intently at Archeas.
“That’s right. You just came to your senses.”
“That went well… .”
At Ian’s answer, Archeas’ smile grew a little deeper. Then Yog’s whisper followed.
-The way you look at me seems unusual. Am I imagining it…?
… I don’t think so.
Ian laughed silently.
Because even to him, Archeas’ eyes were glowing ominously.
“Would you please hand that guy over here?”
Archeas held out his hand.
“I’d like to take a look for a moment. There are things I want to do, too.”
-Can you refuse? I don’t feel so good.
Yog slowly unwound and whispered. Ian opened his mouth without pretending to hear.
“It’s not like it can’t be done, but shouldn’t we know what you’re trying to do?”
“It’s not that great.”
Archeas continued speaking coolly, without erasing his ominous smile.
“I will engrave the gold. If you try to betray me, your soul will be crushed.”
“I knew it,” Yog whispered, dashing through the gap in the armor. Of course, Ian didn’t care and spat it out.
“I like that suggestion very much. However, I think the timing of the ban will be important.”
If he gives the order, the guy will have no choice but to crawl out again, Ian added, glancing down at his forearm.
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“Is this the moment when this guy decided to betray? Or when he actually put it into action?”
“It is engraved on your soul, so it will read your will. If you truly intend to betray me, then it will begin to work.”
“then….”
Ian shrugged, taking a quick bite.
“I’m afraid that won’t happen. This guy seems to be thinking about betraying me quite often.”
A whisper immediately entered Ian’s mind.
-That’s too bad. I don’t do that often. Most people don’t want you to die.
Anyway, I do it sometimes.
While Ian was muttering to himself, Archeas nodded coolly.
“If that’s what you want, then I’ll bear with it. But as I said before-”
“Don’t trust too much, I’ll always be careful. Don’t worry.”
“…Looking at your expression and tone of voice, I feel like an old man nagging, Ian.”
“Then, you thought it wasn’t true…?”
When Ian asked back with a hollow laugh, Archeas blinked and burst into laughter.
“I can’t deny it. Understand. As I said before, as you get older, your fears and worries increase. Oh, I think it’s almost here.”
Archeas turned his gaze and finished speaking. Ian also turned his head to follow him.
“They all look the same to me….”
They continued on through the passageway, forming a large circle.
Unlike the left wall, which only had carved pillars, the right wall had passageways here and there. Of course, there was no writing on where they led.
“… It seems there is a separate way to tell the difference.”
“You know it by feeling.”
Archeas, who answered nonchalantly, suddenly looked back at him.
“Rather than that, let’s talk again about what we were going to talk about before.”
“… … ?”
“I told you I had something to say about wizards.”
One of Ian’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“Why, at this point in time?”
“I can do it. I can relieve some tension. Besides, what if… I end up dying fighting that guy?”
“… Well, that could be the case.”
Ian stared at Archeas’s eyes, which were swaying meaningfully, for a moment, and then said expressionlessly.
“If that’s the case, then let me out first.”
“huh…?”
Archeas blinked blankly, then burst into laughter.
“I tried to tease you, but I ended up getting teased instead. Yes. Remember…!”
As Ian finally raised the corners of his mouth, Archeas passed him with a laugh and headed towards the passage on the right. Beyond it, a staircase led down in a gentle curve.
“So, what was it you wanted to ask?”
Archeas added, leisurely stepping up the stairs. Following him, Ian opened his mouth coolly.
“I was going to ask if you knew anything about the White Mage.”
“White wizard…?”
Archeas blinked and asked again. It was clear that the question was completely unexpected.
Ian shrugged, slowing his pace as he followed him.
“You’ve been here a long time, so I thought you might know.”
“When he was alive, I was very young. At that time, I wasn’t as easy-going or sociable as I am now.”
“… It seems like you are talking too long about not knowing.”
Archeas shrugged.
“I wasn’t directly acquainted with him, but I heard a lot of stories. There were many dragons who liked him.”
“There are rumors that he is a descendant of a dragon or that he learned spells from a dragon….”
“It’s probably only half true. I heard he was a human and an orphan. They say he learned the spells of the fairy wizard he served as his master by stealing them over his shoulder. He was born with talent. Of course, that wasn’t all.”
Archeas continued, smiling softly.
“Not only did he possess the distribution to make a bet with a dragon, but he was also lucky enough to win the bet and learn the spell. He had the passion to spend half his life wandering the continent, studying all kinds of spells… .”
As he continued speaking, he found himself staring into space with a hazy look in his eyes, as if reminiscing about the distant past.
“… and he was a peerless genius who had the tenacity to finally compile his knowledge and establish a theory of spells suitable for humans.”
He was a gentleman who lived a more eventful life than I thought.
While Ian was mumbling to himself, Archeas added with a smile on his face.
“He is the one who once again proved to the dragons that humans are a species with infinite potential. That is why I often regret not meeting him.”
“Do you know anything about his later years?”
“To some extent… but.”
Archeas, who had been slowly walking down the stairs, finally turned his head back towards Ian.
“Why are you curious about him?”
“This body seems to be that author’s descendant.”
Ian answered nonchalantly.
“what…?!”
Of course, it was enough to make Archeas’ eyes widen. Looking into the glowing yellow eyes, Ian added blandly.
“I’ve never studied magic systematically. I just used it because I could.”
“…Are you saying that the spells were already engraved on your soul?”
Archeas asked back, his eyes wide open. Ian shrugged.
“I don’t know if it’s engraved in the soul or blood. Maybe.”
It was just a pun, but it wasn’t a lie. That must be why Archeas’ eyes grew even wider.
“Oh my god… You were keeping such a secret from me… .”
Doesn’t he have the ability to see through lies in an instant? Judging by his reaction, it was clear that he had concluded that Ian was telling the truth.
“But yes… Now so many questions are being answered… Wait… Then… Is that mysterious thing that surrounds your soul also his legacy?”
“Well, I don’t know about that.”
Ian shook his head. Of course, this wasn’t a lie either. He wasn’t even sure if what was wrapped around his soul was really a status window.
“I guess so… but… I guess my guess is probably right.”
As expected, Archeas nodded again. Unable to hide his shock, he continued speaking as if talking to himself.
“After he had compiled the theory of spells, he distributed the results to his disciples and then went into hiding in the dragon’s lair. There, he is said to have deeply explored the mind and soul. Perhaps he wanted eternal life. No matter how great the archmage was, he could not escape death.”
“… … .”
“If you achieve divinity and ascend, then it would be different. It is said that it is taboo for mortals to seek immortality. Perhaps persuasion would not have worked. I have never heard a detailed explanation, but it is likely that this is why you were driven out of the nest.”
Ian nodded silently, listening to his words.
It wasn’t surprising at all that this was a slightly different story from what I had heard from Lucia and Diana. Of course, there were probably parts of Archeas’ story that were different from reality as well.
“I heard that after that, he went into hiding in a corner of the fairy forest. The dragons found out that he was conducting research related to dimensions there only after everything had already happened.”
Archeas, who had been speaking softly, suddenly looked back at Ian.
As the surroundings gradually grew darker, his eyes seemed to shine brighter.
“Of course, I have no idea what kind of research was done exactly.”
“All of your research materials were lost?”
To Ian’s question, Archeas nodded immediately.
“Yes. Of course, he was killed, and the whole area was turned into a wasteland. The chaos was so great that even dragons couldn’t do anything about it. That must have been how they found out what he was doing.”
“… So it really was a white wizard who polluted that forest.”
Ian muttered with a sigh. There were some parts of Diana’s story that were true.
Archeas’ voice continued.
“Yes. Not only that, it carved a huge crack into this world.”
“crack…?”
“I wouldn’t say that the first crack he created was the first. Even then, chaos and madness did not flow into this land.”
Archeas’ voice became cold and soothing.
“But it is clear that it caused a crack of an irreparable scale that did not exist until then.”
“therefore….”
Ian stared into the yellow-glowing eyes for a moment, then frowned slightly and spat out.
“Are you saying that the culprit who made the world like this is the White Wizard?”
fantasy,
