Although it was called a bonfire, there was no firewood to start the flame. In this endless snow field, not a single tree branch exists. However, the carrying capacity was limited, and it was not possible to carry firewood separately, so I was struggling to overcome the cold with Hal’s magic fire.
“Hold on. “We have to keep the fire going all night, so we can’t waste our magic power already.”
“okay.”
They were a ruins exploration team from the Kingdom of Grime led by the wizard Hal.
Hal, an old wizard who turned 57 this year, was a famous ruin explorer. His magic skills can be said to be average for his age, at the late 6th circle, but Hal’s ability to decipher ancient languages and interpret information was outstanding.
Having already developed a reputation for exploring three ruins, the place he attempted this time was Salcana, a dungeon located in the remote area of Freezeland.
After half a year of preparations, Hal led an exploration team to this frozen land. And after experiencing countless hardships for two months, he was finally returning from exploring the Salcana ruins.
The swordsman Aaron, the commander of the exploration team, who was warming himself by the fire, suddenly looked around the campground. Three or four people are clinging to each of the three small bonfires Hal has lit, shivering. Everyone had a lot of white frost on their heads and beards, clearly showing how cold it was.
Aaron lamented and muttered.
“There were over 30 people when we arrived, but there are only 10 survivors… … .”
Aaron shuddered as he recalled his past journey.
Most of the ruins of the Yin Dynasty are located in extremely rugged and remote areas. But Freezeland was a place of a different class.
A cold so fierce that even the blood seemed to freeze.
A snowstorm blowing non-stop.
An endless snowy plain that breaks even the strongest will.
Freezeland’s terrible natural environment was itself the worst monster. I had to lose three companions just to pass through here and reach Salcana Dungeon. If Hal’s exploration party had not been a veteran of veterans who had already experienced three dungeons, he would never have arrived at Sal Cana.
And the dungeon Salcana that we barely arrived at was also of a different level from the ruins we had encountered so far.
Hal’s expedition team had to experience hell in the face of formidable magic traps and powerful monsters they had never encountered before. Although I barely made it to the middle of the dungeon, I lost many of my companions, including powerful wizards and clerics, in return. In that situation, you could call it luck that you were able to escape the dungeon again without being wiped out.
“The damage is too great.”
Aaron sighed, thinking of his lost colleagues. Everyone looks solemn at those words. Hal smiled weakly and spoke as if to encourage everyone.
“Still, didn’t we really gain a lot from this expedition?”
Then, even in the midst of difficult times, smiles appeared on everyone’s faces.
The Salcana Dungeon was such a huge place that it suffered a lot of damage and only about half of the exploration could be completed. And the price was just as great.
The exploration team members who were warming themselves by the fire looked inside the tent with happy expressions. There were more than ten infinite bags filled with all kinds of Silver Age relics.
When Aaron saw the loot, his voice became brighter, as if he felt a little energized.
“Well, I’ve got a lot more stuff this time than all the relics I’ve gotten so far combined.”
Perhaps because it is a remote place, Salcana Dungeon contains many mysterious artifacts that have never been discovered before. The precious Infinite Pouch was often seen, and a lot of weapons such as powerful magic swords and armor were obtained. Each and every one of them was of the highest quality among the relics of the Silver Age, and if these were put on the market, they would become a truly enormous fortune. It was enough money for all of the survivors to retire and live off the rest of their lives.
But what was important to Wizard Hal now was not the price of the artifact.
Hal suddenly touched the inside of his arms. Even though he was shivering from the cold, the old man looked filled with joy.
“Hehehe, if this is presented at an academic conference, it will have a huge impact.”
What he was handling was one of the books discovered in the Salcana ruins. Hal and his party also found several stone tablets and faded books in Salcana. The other members of the crew paid no attention to the seemingly worthless relics, but to Hal, they were worth more than a thousand gold pieces.
‘The level of the ancient language was so high that I couldn’t decipher it properly, but I was able to guess the content just by skimming it.’
This book was a record of the secretive Silver Age and the mysterious ancient people!
A distant ancient era, the Silver Age, thousands or even tens of thousands of years ago.
Most of the relics from that era have weathered and faded away over time, so not much remains. The only ones that can be found are relics that are particularly durable. Military weapons require more attention to durability, so most of the artifacts found in dungeons have combat capabilities.
But the Saluka Dungeon was different. The harsh environment called Freezeland was the worst for life to survive, but it was the best environment for the preservation of artifacts. Historical materials from the Silver Age, which would not have left even traces originally, remained intact.
‘I have to focus on deciphering these materials as soon as I can. The Silver Age will inevitably lift the veil on those ancient people. If that happens… … Hehehe.’
Despite being an old man, Hal’s heart was beating as furiously as a young man’s. He couldn’t help but be excited. He had no idea how much honor it would bring to Hal if he announced this fact. As a scholar, you may gain immortal honor in human history!
“Let’s go back to the Kingdom of Grime. “I want to present the results of this exploration to the academic society as soon as possible.”
Everyone expressed their agreement as they looked at Hal who was scolding him.
“of course.”
It may not be that of a scholar, but others were just as excited about the rosy future ahead. It was a time when the members of the exploration team were happy, tapping each other on the shoulders, dreaming of being rejected by selling the relics.
“hmm?”
One of the exploration team members tilted his head as he looked across the valley. The fierce north wind blew, and the shadow of a person was vaguely reflected in the thick snowstorm.
Everyone stood up in surprise.
“W-what is it?”
The person’s shadow increased. The number was four, and everyone had shocked expressions.
Even monsters cannot survive in this harsh environment of Freezeland. There is no way any other life form other than them could be here. But someone came right up to their camp!
Everyone looked confused, wondering if they were seeing something in vain. Aaron drew her sword and screamed at her.
“Who are you?”
☆ ☆ ☆
A shadow appeared. He was a young man of amazing beauty, with black hair and black eyes.
The moment Hal saw the young man’s clothes, he couldn’t believe his eyes. The young man was wearing plain leather armor, a cape, and a long sword at his waist. The costume itself is something commonly seen in the city, but this is permafrost, Freezeland.
‘How can you be so calm in this cold dressed like that!?’
Afterwards, the shapes of other shadows became clearer. There was a red-blonde woman wearing a maroon robe, a young man in his twenties wearing pitch-black full-body armor, and a blonde knight in full armor gleaming golden from head to toe.
No one was dressed in clothes that could withstand this cold weather. At least he doesn’t wear a fur coat. Yet, no one shows signs of being cold.
Everyone just blinked in bewilderment. Aaron asked, barely coming to his senses.
“Well, who are you? And how on earth did you get here?”
The young man stared at Aaron. Suddenly, a pale yellow light filled Aaron’s eyes.
“ah?”
Aaron’s eyes opened wide. At the same time, a red line slowly appeared on his neck. A little blood flows between the red lines, and his head slips and falls down.
Boom!
Aaron’s head rolls around on the frozen ground. Because of the extreme cold, the blood starts to flow a little, but then cools down and freezes.
A moment later, Hal screamed.
“Ugh, ugh!”
Aaron is dead! Only then did the other exploration team members come to their senses and frantically take out their weapons.
“Brother Aaron!”
“It’s the enemy!”
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
“They are thieves targeting relics!”
Only then did the members of the exploration team understand the situation and began running toward the young man in anger. The young man looked back at the group standing behind him and scolded them coldly.
“Kill them all.”
The young man in black armor and the golden knight answered simultaneously.
“yes!”
“As the name suggests!”
The two knights drew their swords and charged at the exploration team members. The black blade danced and the golden longsword sprayed blood. Screams erupt one after another, and dark red blood and bright red internal organs pour out from all over.
“Ahh!”
“Wow!”
In an instant, the members of the exploration team collapse, bleeding. Hal panicked and prepared his magic.
“Cha, thunderbolt in the sky, thunderbolt arrow!”
A 3-circle lightning spell, Thunder Bolt Arrow, discharged electricity into Hal’s wrinkled grasp. Just as he was casting his spell, the robed woman let out her sonorous voice and made her hand sign.
“The power of destruction, let it flow as it should! Lord of Evasion!”
A gray magic rod was created in front of the woman, and all the lightning arrows were sucked into the rod. Hal’s complexion turned pale. The magic that the woman used was a 3-circle magic absorption spell. She was a wizard of a similar level to Hal at such a young age.
“Oh, this can’t be right!”
Meanwhile, the exploration team members were dying. These people also became familiar with battles through dungeon exploration, but none of them were a match for those two swordsmen. Everyone just turned into cold corpses with their eyes wide open in frustration.
In the end, within just a few minutes, all members of the exploration team except Hal were killed. Hal shouted in horror as he looked at the young man.
“If you want the relics, take them all! “I’ll give you everything!”
The young man approached Hal with a wry smile. Hal touched the book in his arms and took a step back.
‘Oh, no… … .’
The relics were not a waste of money. However, he could not die without being able to publicize this great truth and historical material he had discovered. Hal said as if pleading.
“Please spare my life. “Wouldn’t it be of no benefit to you to kill an old man like me?”
At that time, the young man opened his mouth.
“I’m sorry, wizard.”
The young man raised a long sword. A cold voice pierced Hal’s ears.
“The reason we came is actually because of you.”
The cold blade stabbed Hal deeply into his abdomen. An excruciating pain struck Hal’s brain. Her scream came out.
“Ugh!”
☆ ☆ ☆
The cold north wind blows cold air through the valley full of corpses. Philena, the robed woman who was looking at the terrible scene, turned to her dark-haired young man and called his name.
“Tesron… … .”
Filena approached Tethron with a sullen expression. she asked, sounding like she was whining.
“Did it have to be like this?”
“This is the order of the Silver Sage.”
Tethron responded in a stern voice and approached Hal’s body.
“They opened a door that shouldn’t have been opened.”
Ignoring Filena’s depressed expression, the young man, Tethron, searched for the corpse. He took out a faded book and put it in his arms and continued speaking.
“This is history that should not be known, everything is for the protection of humanity.”
Filena looked like she didn’t understand.
“Of course, I heard that the Silver Sage is the guardian of humanity, but… … Still, those who are innocent… … .”
“It’s just a small sacrifice for all of humanity.”
Tethron cut off Filena’s words with a cold voice. At that time, a knight wearing black armor approached Thesron. Tethron looked at him and asked.
“What do you think, Stephen? “Is Berserker Armor worth using?”
The black knight smiled and responded.
“I couldn’t ask for more, Lord Thethron.”
The identity of the Black Knight was Stephen von Lepanto Altion, the second son of Marquis Altion and the title of Viscount Lepanto.
While searching for his ancestor’s demon sword, Altion, Stevan encountered the hidden King of Fist, Repenhardt. Afterwards, he suffered from a lack of qualifications and became addicted to shamanism. After seeing an Auror user who had already reached the level at a similar age, all my training seemed in vain.
This promising knight, who was once called the Knight of Resolute in Vasily’s Kingdom, fell into disrepair and was forgotten, and he only soothed his worries with alcohol and harbored a vague hatred for Reppenhardt.
The one who approached Stephen was the silver sage, Tethron.
Tethron promised. If you follow him, he will give you great power that can rival even that of an Auror. He said he would use that power to defeat Reppenhardt.
And what I received was this pitch black full body armor.
Berserker armor, a premium artifact equivalent to barding Eldrad.
Unlike Eldrad, which allowed him to use various types of magic, Berserker Armor had only one feature.
Something that makes you endlessly fast, strong, sturdy, and tireless.
Stevan was completely fascinated by the power of this armor, which allowed him to fight like the fabled berserker while maintaining clear sense of reason. As soon as hope arose, I gave up all hunting. I invested all my time in handling the Berserker Armor.
