Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Farewells and Departure
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The road back to the city was smooth.
The only notable events were a large magic beast appearing, which Arsen hunted solo to test the Black Lion, and Reno groaning daily from growing pains.
Reno was starting to shoot up in height, so it seemed like it was time to get him a new suit of armor soon.
Upon returning, Arsen's first stop was Rasur.
"You've had a rough time of it. Here, have a cup."
"Thank you."
As Rasur tilted the teapot, tea poured out with a trickle, steam rising alongside it.
"So, how did the ruins conquest go?"
"Yes. It's done."
Arsen explained the conquest of the ruins.
He skipped the part about the 'Republic,' mentioning only the giants that attacked on the third floor.
Rasur was deeply impressed after hearing about the number and types of giants, and the battle's outcome.
"You beat that combination? Without a single casualty?"
"Yes. We got lucky."
To be precise, a few had gotten injured, but with no permanent damage, it was fair to call it zero casualties.
What surprised Rasur most was that Arsen had taken down two enhanced giants.
"Even Kren couldn't take down two that quickly. He could hold them off, sure."
Of course, that didn't mean Arsen's skill surpassed Kren's.
He'd used a one-time relic to create a one-on-one situation briefly and succeeded through a desperate gamble that risked his life.
Kren couldn't use such methods because he had many more floors to climb and couldn't afford to burn consumables recklessly.
In reality, Arsen wouldn't have lasted against two enhanced giants without that gamble.
"Anyway... the three great forbidden zones are a thing of the past now. Nothing left worth going for, so our excavation team's goal is finished."
Rasur shook his head with a bitter expression, then asked as if something had occurred to him.
"Come to think of it, you found that too, right?"
"What do you mean?"
"The Black Lion."
"Ah..."
Of course. Rasur had been the guide who conquered the Wigon ruins with them, so he knew about the Black Lion's existence.
Due to its distinctive appearance, which might cause unnecessary trouble, Arsen had stowed it in his magic bag and hidden it before arriving.
"It's doing well?"
"Yes."
"I see."
Chuckling softly, Rasur spoke with a note of self-deprecation.
"I was really tempted, but as a guide, it was too valuable to expect as payment. The guys conquering the ruins all had decent mechanical beasts anyway."
"Did they all have mechanical beasts better than the Black Lion?"
"Not quite."
Shaking his head, Rasur explained.
"I rode it briefly myself, but it guzzles mana, doesn't it? They figured it wasn't suited for long journeys. In fact, two of their knights had mechanical beasts on par with the Black Lion."
It was hard to imagine what kind of thing could be rated comparable to the Black Lion, but Rasur spoke regretfully.
"Honestly, I half-hoped they might give it to me since it was hard to take along, but they thought leaving it behind was best. Well, even if I'd taken it, someone probably would've snatched it and killed me."
After silently offering a prayer of thanks to the former Starburmi leader who had left this magnificent mechanical beast for future generations, Arsen asked again.
"So, what are your plans now?"
"Back to ordinary ruins excavation teams, I suppose. We're the odd ones charging into confirmed unconquered ruins whose locations are known. Most excavation teams wander searching for undiscovered ones."
As he said, even in this ruins city, fully mapped ruins were exceedingly rare.
Common sense dictated that unless the difficulty was nearly impossible, any ruin whose location was exposed would have been looted clean.
Ordinary ruins were found after digging earth, breaking rocks, and pushing through forests amid all sorts of trials and tribulations, then monopolized in secret by the discoverer without telling a soul.
And Arsen's successor talent was utterly useless for finding ruins.
There were maybe six ruins whose locations were known but proving difficult to excavate—not at the level of the three great forbidden zones.
Excavating them one by one would take too much time, and the rewards weren't guaranteed.
"Asking that means you're planning to leave soon."
"Yes. I wanted to ask if you'd consider joining us."
He'd already declined once before, but Rasur was too valuable a talent to let go easily.
Rich in experience and knowledge, possessing many wondrous and powerful relics, and no slouch as a knight either.
By Arsen's estimate, even unarmed, he was around Anon's level or slightly stronger; fully armed, he'd be someone even Arsen would need to take seriously.
And if he could bring along his friend Kren, the strongest knight Arsen had ever seen?
"I've got too many people I have to take responsibility for. I regret it too, but I've got a wife and kids, you see."
"You're married?"
Arsen was a bit flustered; he hadn't expected someone staying at an inn on the city outskirts to have a family.
Reading his surprise, Rasur grinned.
"My boy's just six. Too young to leave behind for long. Gotta visit now and then so he doesn't forget his old man's face. Besides, there might be something useful for my original goal among the new ruins we excavate here."
"In that case, I understand."
And with that, the conversation ended.
If he were persuadable, he wouldn't have refused in the first place.
Arsen gave up cleanly on recruiting him, bowing in farewell.
Rasur smiled faintly and bid him goodbye.
* * *
The next task was disposing of the relics from the ruins—mostly large weapons.
He went to the Winter Eye Merchant Company affiliated with the Black Lion, which had given good prices for weapons last time. The merchant recognized Arsen's face and welcomed him warmly.
"Welcome."
He made a fuss, saying it was the first time someone had excavated and sold from multiple ruins in such a short time.
Indeed, Arsen's group had an insanely fast cycle compared to other excavation teams: conquer nearly weekly, then sell.
"If you give us good prices, we'll come back. We've still got plenty of ruins to conquer."
"Of course, no question. The prices we offered last time were already groundbreaking in this business. We're confident we can always give Sir Arsen the best deal."
They were leaving the city soon, but no need to say so and weaken his position, so Arsen bantered a bit to drive the price up.
While the higher-ups exchanged veiled words like poised nobles with hidden blades, Reno—as last time—haggled over each item's quality with the underlings.
The merchant's lackey seemed a bit thrown that Reno, who had been a mere commoner last time, was now a knight.
"So, these scratches actually prove how great a battle this weapon endured—its history! Scratches lowering value is just thinking of it as art. A true weapon is..."
"Ah, but..."
Persuasion, browbeating, pleading—a fierce tug-of-war.
By the end, glancing over, Arsen saw Reno grinning triumphantly.
It looked like a decisive victory for their side.
After discussing the price the underlings had agreed on, Arsen left the shop—with Reno carrying a chest brimming with gold coins beside him.
Naturally, the money from selling the ruins' haul all went to Marun—or more precisely, Starburmi.
Seeing Marun and the mages waiting outside, Arsen beckoned Reno to hand over the money.
"Here you are, Sir Marun."
"Good heavens, this much?"
Marun marveled at the pile of over a hundred gold coins.
"Yes. They paid top dollar for weapons, it seems. Times like these, with the mood being what it is."
Lately, rumors had trickled in that the inner city's atmosphere was off.
Just tavern gossip, but truth often came from such places.
And where chaos, danger, and conflict loomed, weapons always fetched higher prices.
"We're leaving tomorrow, so if you want to spend any, I recommend doing it today."
No point lingering when there was nothing more to gain, risking some needless incident; better to head straight to the next destination.
Plus, most civilized societies didn't give full value for gold from other regions, so spending it here was advantageous.
Nodding at Arsen's words, Marun suddenly made an odd proposal.
"Then could Sir Arsen buy things on our behalf?"
"Pardon?"
"I'd like items helpful for the journey. I trust the master smith Sir Arsen's judgment..."
"Is it alright to let that money be spent so freely?"
This was leagues beyond gifting Reno a single weapon from the ruins last time.
The sum from selling dozens of relic weapons could buy nearly anything short of priceless relics.
To entrust such a fortune to Arsen just for journey aids.
"The elders approved! Our top priority is successfully completing this journey."
"Is that so?"
Perhaps the effect of agreeing to Lattice's request last time was already showing.
After a moment's thought, Arsen led the group to several other merchants and bought various relics.
These were things they hadn't been able to afford last time.
First up wasn't an item, but a spell.
Specifically, recharging the protective enchantment on Arsen's relic armor.
By hiring a charging mage.
"Damn expensive."
As Bazkal grumbled, mages who could recharge armor protections charged exorbitant fees.
From past inquiries, those capable formed a cartel, colluding on prices.
Rumors even swirled they assassinated any mage who didn't comply.
"No helping it."
Looking at his armor glowing faintly once more, Arsen smiled with satisfaction.
The annoyance of not wasting protection on trivial attacks was minor; he'd experienced firsthand how outstanding the armor's safeguard was.
The second purchase was for Marun and Starburmi: relics for mages.
White masks that covered the face, an upgraded version of the 'black robe' that reduced the typical aversion to mages.
Excavated from some ruins two months ago; three cost dozens of gold coins.
"Ruin relics are truly mysterious. Who'd have thought this would turn up?"
Marun said, amazed, donning and doffing the mask.
Not a miracle item letting commoners treat mages like normals, but it made mages far easier to face while wearing it.
For Arsen, who couldn't relate at all, Bazkal helpfully analogized.
"Someone once compared them to shit-smeared cockroaches; now it's just regular cockroach level."
Still creepy, but much better. Saying so, Bazkal and Anon stared Marun squarely in the eyes.
Previously, they always averted their gaze around him.
"I'd love to buy dozens."
Marun said wistfully.
With these, bringing a few mages along when needed would be easier.
Though to those unaccustomed to mages, masked ones still looked plenty eerie.
Finally, they bought relic armors for Anon and Reno.
For Reno especially, whose final height was unknown, they got one with size-adjustment functions.
Overwhelmed, Reno tearfully swore eternal loyalty—to Arsen's grandchildren's grandchildren.
* * *
After shopping, Arsen sought out others he'd met in the ruins city for farewells.
Yohun of Tiger Claw, who'd introduced merchants, shared sealed jars of honey wine from his hometown.
He mentioned that with Dawn Excavation reverting to ordinary digs, they too planned to return home.
"Wanted one last big score, but no luck. Ah well..."
After seeing off the regretful man, next was Dawn Excavation's leader, Kren.
Hearing they were leaving, Kren insisted on one more spar before parting, nagging Arsen.
Naturally, it didn't end at one.
"Huff, haa..."
"You've improved a lot since last time. Real talent."
That was Kren's remark after over four bouts.
Thanks to digesting much of what he'd learned from the previous spar, Arsen lasted far longer this time.
Ironically, it was the last sight Arsen had of Kren.
Because Kren never returned after leaving those words.
His subordinate said Kren had fled, claiming formal goodbyes were too embarrassing.
Truly an eccentric in every way, Arsen thought as he left Kren's inn.
The next day, packed and ready, they gathered in the inn's lobby.
"Thought you'd stay months at least. Conquering ruins that fast..."
The innkeeper grumbled wistfully, refunding the deposit.
Watching, Bazkal chuckled.
"No more door-kickers, so no yelling needed."
"As if! World's full of your types."
Too awkward to ask what "your type" meant, Bazkal just grinned sheepishly without replying.
Preparations complete, they exited the inn and headed for the east gate.
A familiar path many times over, but knowing it was final departure brought fresh emotions.
Just a month here, yet Arsen felt like a native settler.
This city, teeming with countless people, evoked the civilization he'd once dreamed of.
Primitive compared to his 21st-century memories, perhaps.
Arsen realized anew he had grown attached to the city—and civilization—missing the ruins city.
At some point, he'd regretted having to leave.
Even its poison-laced outer districts offered safe, clean lodgings, fine food, and ice-cold drinks anytime.
Truth was, Arsen wasn't the only one feeling that.
What awaited them now was a journey bedding on earth, blanketed by starlit skies.
Right on cue, Marun grumbled beside him.
"Ah, I want some leaf tea."
With that final complaint, they set off westward.
The blazing sun escorted them.