Chapter 88: The Trial of the Holy Relic
Trial That Cannot Be Retried.
Even if I were given more time to think, nothing would change.
Not knowing what I might be faced with inside, the only choice was to just go in and bang my head against whatever awaited me.
If I can’t get it, I’ll just go get something else.
If it weren’t for the Eye of Bluecat, each of these Sacred Relics would have been truly precious.
But failing to get this one doesn’t mean I can’t get another Sacred Relic.
If I fail this time, I can just use the Eye of Bluecat to find another Sacred Relic, so the risk of failure isn’t that great.
Rather, if I gain information from this Sacred Relic,
I’ll be able to acquire the next Divine Power-related Sacred Relic even more easily.
“Let’s see what comes out. I should go check it out.”
I stepped forward and approached the Trial Portal.
Whoosh!
The flames burning around the portal radiated an intense heat. With every breath, scorching heat spread through my whole body.
If not for the fire resistance I had steadily raised until now, my body would have melted from the intensity of it.
It was so hot that most wouldn’t even dare approach.
“Is this some sort of first trial?”
Protecting myself with ice magic, I entered the portal.
Immediately, the burning heat vanished, revealing a space with a pitch-black background.
A space filled with darkness.
Amidst the nothingness, a brilliant comet fell.
A boy and girl gazed at that comet.
Seated on a hill, the boy and girl held hands, gazing up at the comet, their conversation depicted like a fairytale in picture and text.
[The girl wished to see that beautiful comet, flying freely across the sky, once again.]
[The boy made a promise to the girl.]
[“I’ll make sure you see it again.”]
The boy, who was once so small, gradually grew larger and became an adult.
[After a long time striving to create a comet, the boy finally created a necklace that could summon a comet.]
[He set out on a journey to give this gift to the girl……]
As the text disappeared, a gloomy sky came into view. Thick gray clouds, just like the moment before rain falls.
“Ron, get up. It’s time to go.”
A youthful-looking man reached out his hand to me.
Neatly dressed in his formal uniform.
A sword was strapped to his waist.
The memory of who he was came back to me immediately.
A member of the Royal Magic Knight Order. Leriot.
And Ron was also a Mage belonging to the same Magic Knight Order as Leriot.
“Yeah.”
Taking Leriot’s outstretched hand, I stood up. The other Mages, who had been resting some distance away, also stood up.
The Knight Order Captain, leading the group, spoke up.
“We’ll reach our destination within an hour. Since we’re here to catch the dark mage trying to destroy the kingdom, don’t let your guard down and stay prepared.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Let’s move out.”
As the Captain started walking, the Magic Knight Order followed behind.
My position was right next to Leriot.
I matched my pace with his as he moved.
Ugh…
My legs were heavy, and my whole body ached, so I cast a simple recovery spell on myself.
Immediately, my condition improved.
I wondered if it was just me, but looking around, everyone else was also worn out and exhausted.
It seemed like we’d been marching like this for quite some time.
I couldn’t remember this part, so I could only guess.
Leriot, walking beside me, looked at me with a surprised expression.
“You’re walking better than I expected.”
“I feel like I’m going to die.”
“This hardship will be over soon. Once we catch the dark mage, we’ll get credit and be able to attend the party held by the kingdom.”
“IE?”
“The Princess’s wedding, you know. We’re headed to catch the dark mage who plans to ruin the wedding.”
Just hearing the story, the picture formed roughly in my mind.
What was certain was that I’d find out for sure when we met that dark mage.
As we walked, I checked to see what abilities I could use.
Magic and Sacred Relics were usable, but… I couldn’t Summon Guardian.
Still, more options were available than when I used the Usage Ticket to go fetch a Guardian at the tavern.
With this much, I could handle whatever trial was thrown at me.
I focused again on walking as we moved forward.
After a long while, the Knight Order Captain walking in front raised his fist, signaling the procession to stop.
At the same time, the Captain’s voice echoed in my head.
– Squad 1, secure the perimeter. Squad 2, prepare restraint magic. Squad 3, follow me.
I glanced at Leriot to check which Squad I was in.
Seeing him stay put, I figured we were in Squad 3.
The other Mages moved quickly but made no sound. They spread out into the forest to prepare their magic.
The Knight Order Captain beckoned with a finger and walked ahead. The Squad 3 members followed.
There were five in Squad 3 in total.
Pushing through the thick forest with the Captain, we soon saw an old hut.
It looked as if it might collapse at any moment.
Through the window, I could see someone living inside.
The Captain addressed him.
“Bil, come out. We’ve brought a Royal Letter from the Princess. Come out and show some manners.”
The closed door swung open.
The hut’s owner.
The dark mage Bil.
A man with messy hair, as if cut clumsily with scissors, wearing shabby clothes, came running out with a delighted look.
Through his wind-blown hair, his face could be seen.
Fine skin and features as if carved from stone.
It was hard to understand why someone with such looks would live a life like this.
“Serona sent a letter?”
“How dare a mere commoner call the Princess by name!”
“Ah… sorry. Sorry. I was just so happy. Where’s the letter?”
Bil was obsessed with the letter.
Watching him, the Captain reached behind his back, drew a pair of handcuffs from his belt, and tossed them to Bil.
The cuffs floated through the air and clasped around Bil’s wrists, locking them together.
“…What is this? I thought you brought a letter.”
“Dark Mage Bil. You are under arrest for high treason against the royal family.”
“Treason? What are you talking about?”
“We have intelligence that you’re creating a powerful Soul Weapon to attack the royal family. Squad 3, search the hut thoroughly. There should be a red Ruby Necklace. Find it.”
As Squad 3 started moving, I also stepped inside.
Those who went in ahead ransacked the place in search of the necklace.
Pretending to search, I watched the situation outside.
I used the Golden Dragon Eye to assess the state of the two.
Bil really didn’t seem to know anything, while the Captain truly believed the information he had.
At that moment, Leriot found a necklace adorned with a red ruby.
“Captain, I found it!”
“No! Leave that necklace alone!”
Bil, his hands cuffed, tried to approach Leriot, but the Magic Knight Order Captain moved his fingers.
The floor slid out from under Bil, and he crashed to the ground.
“Urgh!”
“Ron, Leriot. You two handle Bil.”
The Captain, now holding the necklace, gave the order.
I followed accordingly.
“You take the left side. I’ll take the right,” Leriot said.
Shrugging, I moved to the left and helped lift Bil up.
“Squad 2, Squad 3. Return immediately.”
The Captain called for Squads 2 and 3 to return, but there was no response.
Time passed, but neither Squad 2 nor 3 appeared.
“What is this…”
As the Captain frowned, I expanded my senses.
Where Squads 2 and 3 should be.
There were people present.
But there were far more people than there should have been.
The Captain couldn’t sense them.
It was because they’d mastered something special to conceal their presence. Even I had to focus to detect them.
A moment later, they revealed themselves.
Clad in black robes and masks, with black swords at their waists.
“…Who are you?”
“No need to know. Guys, just grab the necklace he’s holding and kill everyone else.”
“Yessir!”
As the enemy moved, the Captain began chanting a spell.
Squad 3 prepared their magic as well.
But the enemies approaching were also highly skilled. They closed the distance at frightening speed and swung their swords.
“Barrier.”
Clang!
The translucent shield created by the Captain blocked their attack, and while the enemies were held off, the Mages finished preparing their spells and launched a counterattack.
Boom!
Fire and ice swept over the enemies.
Some were caught in the blast and wiped out.
Seeing their fallen comrades, the one who seemed to be the enemy leader let out a hollow laugh.
“So this is the famed Royal Knight Order?”
“We don’t know who you are, but you won’t get what you want.”
“We already got what we wanted. Drawing you here was our purpose.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
“No need to know. By now, the Destruction of the Wellon Kingdom has already begun.”
As the leader smirked,
The momentarily paused battle resumed.
The enemies who had backed off rushed in, relentlessly targeting the Captain.
Clang!
Clang! Clang!
The barrier split open as multiple swords targeted the Captain.
“Ice Burst.”
At that moment, a magic circle glowed beneath the Captain’s feet and icy spikes exploded upward, sweeping the area.
Thud!
Thud! Thud!
Enemies were impaled and killed by the spikes.
But more waited in reserve, quickly stepping forward to continue the assault.
Squad 3 was just as busy.
The Knight Order members barely managed to hold back the enemies attacking from behind. Leriot also let go of Bil to join the defense.
But it didn’t seem like they’d last long.
“All of you, gather to me!”
The Captain called the Mages and began chanting.
“Blizzard Storm.”
The gray sky darkened, and massive ice rain began to pour from the black clouds.
Rumble!
The furious sky hurled down ice rain, freezing everything it touched.
Crack!
Crack, crack!
The enemies struck by ice froze rapidly. Even if they tried to hide in the forest, the forest itself was frozen solid, leaving nowhere to run.
Everything in the vicinity was frozen.
But the enemy leader effortlessly blocked the magic.
“Is that an Artifact?”
“You think we’d come here unprepared? Go ahead, try more if you want. We still have plenty of people.”
With that, even more enemies appeared.
Twice as many as at first.
Those who’d stayed out of the range of Blizzard Storm now targeted us.
“Damn…”
The Captain had already used his final card. The other Mages couldn’t hold off the enemies.
Just looking at it, it was obvious. We were dancing in their palm.
It seemed the purpose of the trial was to resolve Bil’s regrets.
In that case, the main task must be to save Bil and prevent the Destruction of the Wellon Kingdom.
Well,
It’s just a trial anyway. It doesn’t matter.
My actions wouldn’t affect this world, so I could do whatever I wanted.
“Yong Anaseon Spear: Rain.”
Hundreds of arrows formed and spread in every direction.
Boom!
Boom! Boom!
Boom!
The arrows swept through the enemies, bursting explosively and punching holes through their bodies.
“Aaaaagh!”
“Aaaaagh!”
Screams echoed as the enemies fell.
In an instant, I cleared out a multitude of foes.
The startled enemy leader frowned and drew his sword.
“Who are you?”
“No need to know. If you’ve got anything else prepared, bring it on. I’ll take you all.”