Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Excavation #7
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&
‘Hmph, I am ready. Now, praise me, Master.’
“Sorry, let’s put that off a little longer.”
The moment I answered, I imagined Green Wind’s jaw dropping in dismay, but it couldn’t be helped. It seemed she was quite disappointed in reality, not just in my imagination, but this wasn't the right situation to have a leisurely chat.
Ingong first checked the mini-map. Just as in the battle at the small temple, the monsters that had lost their purple aura were rampaging chaotically. None were charging at us for the moment because of the wall of fire Felicia had conjured, but in a way…
that was all it was. The encirclement itself had weakened, but there were still hundreds of monsters in the vicinity.
Ingong squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them. Leveling up had restored his health, but not his depleted mental energy. He had used Under the King's Flag twice, acquired the White Eagle, and expended an immense amount of concentration to evade Balkarova's attacks.
He felt like he could crawl under the covers and sleep for twelve hours straight.
Ingong thought. *What now? Can we muster our forces and break through the monsters?*
The wall of fire Felicia had created was weakening. The only reason the flames had persisted this long on a prairie with little to burn was thanks to the power of spirits, and with Felicia, who sustained them, so utterly exhausted, the spirits' power was also fading.
Ingong made a decision.
“Karma! Carry Daphne! Karak, you can stand, right?!”
At his swift command, Karma lifted the unconscious Daphne onto her back, and Karak, while grumbling under his breath, got to his feet. Ingong then turned to Fierce Eye and Felicia.
“Fierce Eye, we have to run. We’re going back to the watchtower.”
“Understood.”
Fierce Eye, suffering from internal injuries, gave a short reply and pushed himself up. Felicia, who had been casting healing magic on him despite being covered in wounds herself, tilted her head for a moment but quickly understood Ingong’s meaning.
Breaking through the encirclement with their current, exhausted forces was, by any measure, reckless. Even if they somehow managed to escape, the casualties would surely be heavy.
In that case, it was better to go to the watchtower. They could rest in that easily defensible location and then cross the plains.
Only nine of the elite Centaur warriors remained. Fierce Eye ran with them toward the watchtower, while Ingong and Delia, who were still able to fight, secured the rear to ensure the group’s safety.
Fortunately, the leaderless monsters showed no inclination to cross the wall of flames to attack Ingong’s party. They were more wary of the other monsters around them than of Ingong’s group.
Though the watchtower was half-collapsed, its multiple floors meant at least one level had its walls and ceiling intact. Ingong’s group settled on the floor just above the entrance, blocking the entryway with whatever debris they could find.
Karak, who was helping Ingong block the entrance, looked out a small, cracked window and said.
“Doesn’t look like they’ll attack us here. They seem too busy fighting each other.”
At Karak’s words, Felicia let out a sigh of relief. Delia, who still had some energy left, whispered something to Felicia before approaching Ingong.
“Your Highness, 9th Prince, I will go up and keep watch to the north.”
When they had first spotted Balkarova, he had been accompanied by over a hundred monsters shrouded in a purple aura. The towering stone mountain had prevented them from following Balkarova to attack the party, but there might be another path. Keeping an eye on the north was the right call.
“Alright, I’m counting on you.”
“Please take care of Her Highness the Princess.”
With a slight smile and a bow, Delia headed upstairs. Ingong slumped to the floor and looked around at everyone.
The Centaurs were sprawled about in disarray. Some among them were quite seriously injured.
Fierce Eye maintained a relatively upright posture, but his complexion was poor, a sign of severe internal damage.
Karma had laid Daphne down, using her own thigh as a pillow, and was catching her breath. Unlike Ingong, who had ridden the Draconian, she had made this entire forced march on her own two feet; it was no wonder she was exhausted, no matter her stamina.
And Felicia, instead of sitting or lying down, was on her feet, moving among the Centaurs. She was casting healing magic.
“You should get some rest too, sis.”
Felicia was a mess. The revealing nature of the traditional Dark Elf attire made the bruises all over her body clearly visible.
But Felicia shook her head and replied in a playful voice.
“I’ll finish the treatments first. I am a princess, after all.”
She even gave a little wink at the end, but she was clearly pushing herself. Cold sweat trickled down her forehead, and her voice was strained with false cheer.
*I guess that’s just like Felicia.*
The proud and dignified princess.
The reason she was prioritizing the Centaurs’ healing over her own was likely because she had almost no mana left.
Ingong respected Felicia’s will, so instead of trying to stop her, he made himself more comfortable. Karak, positioned by the window, kept watch outside and spoke.
“You get some shut-eye too, Prince. I’ll keep watch to the south.”
“Wake me up when it’s time, I’ll take over.”
Karak was exhausted too. Hadn’t he coughed up blood several times?
But Karak just grinned and gestured with his chin toward the Centaurs.
“There are plenty of others here to take my place, so don’t you worry and get some sleep. We all made it out alive thanks to you, Prince. We ought to let you enjoy this much luxury, shouldn't we?”
It was, in a way, a cheap luxury, but in their current situation, it was the highest form of treatment. Being stubborn here would only be a nuisance, so Ingong decided to rest without another word. At that moment, Green Wind appeared beside him.
‘Rest well, Master.’
It must have been a vision only he could see, as no one else reacted. Green Wind stroked Ingong’s forehead, and he naturally closed his eyes. He fell into a deep sleep.
&
“So, you’re saying that’s the White Eagle?”
Deep in the night.
Everyone was gathered around a small campfire. In a corner lay the leftover meat, bones, and hide of the Cassius they had eaten. The Centaurs had retrieved them from the battlefield while Ingong was asleep.
Ingong lightly patted his stomach as he answered Felicia’s question.
“Yeah, it’s one of the reasons Green Wind told me to go north.”
Everyone’s gaze naturally shifted to the White Eagle resting beside Ingong. With the metal plates that formed the gauntlet and wings all retracted, it currently looked like an ordinary kite shield.
But everyone here had seen the White Eagle’s true form that afternoon. Fierce Eye let out a low gasp of admiration.
“To think the legend of the White Eagle was true.”
The tale of the brave warrior who fought monsters along the Northern Limit Line a thousand years ago.
To Ingong, it was just a history lesson he’d heard from Green Wind, but for the Centaurs, it was different. To them, it was more than history; it was one of the many legends they had grown up with.
The Centaurs’ eyes began to sparkle just like Karma’s. Felicia let out a small laugh at their blatant expressions.
“The guardian spirit of the Enger Plains must really like you. I’d like to meet her sometime, too.”
Ingong hadn’t found the White Eagle. The White Eagle itself had flown to him.
From Felicia’s perspective, unaware of the exact cause and effect, she could only think of it as a blessing from the guardian spirit, Green Wind.
Daphne also added her thoughts.
“I can feel a powerful life force from the White Eagle. Moreover… if my feeling is correct, it seems this form is not its fully revealed state.”
Ingong immediately understood. It was the same with the Earthquaker. He had the feeling that both were limiting their power to match his own.
*I just need to get stronger.*
After all, the Earthquaker had revealed a higher level of power the moment he became a Draconian.
Felicia let her shoulders slump and spoke with a warm smile.
“In any case, that’s yours, Shutora. I won’t report it to the Demon King’s Palace if you want. Even if I did, since it’s just the one item, it would become yours anyway.”
The Demon King’s Palace didn’t just confiscate every achievement of the Demon King’s children. Relics for large armies, like the Thunder-Forging Anvil, were a different story, but personal weapons like the White Eagle were usually recognized as the property of the finder.
Fierce Eye also turned to Ingong and said.
“Lady Green Wind has chosen you as the master of the White Eagle. We Centaurs of the Enger Plains recognize the 9th Prince as the successor to the Great Warrior, White Eagle. When you call, we will stand with you.”
He was not only the proxy of the guardian spirit, Green Wind, but also the successor to the great warrior who had led the Centaur clan a thousand years ago. To the Centaurs, Ingong was no longer like the other children of the Demon King. He was a much more special existence.
Felicia shot a brief glare at Fierce Eye, but it seemed playful. Ingong gave Fierce Eye a respectful nod and then spoke to Felicia.
“Would it be alright if I visit the White Eagle’s tomb for a moment? It’s a bit late to pay my respects, but I feel like I should go once.”
Now that he had inherited the White Eagle, it seemed like the natural thing to do. Felicia blinked and asked.
“By yourself?”
“No, I’ll take Karak with me. It’s not good to stay here for too long, so I want to go while we have a little time.”
They had to leave the watchtower tomorrow morning and head south. Although it was the middle of the night, the mini-map worked regardless of the time of day, and he was confident he could slip away with just Karak.
Felicia sighed and nodded.
“I’d like to go with you, but I can’t. Be careful.”
Having prioritized others’ healing, Felicia had come down with a severe case of exhaustion. She could manage a conversation while sitting listlessly like this, but walking or running like usual was impossible.
Ingong smiled brightly and turned to Fierce Eye.
“Fierce Eye, I’m leaving everyone and my sister in your care.”
“You can count on me.”
Fierce Eye replied gravely. Without further delay, Ingong rose to his feet.
“Let’s go, Karak.”
“Got it.”
Ingong mounted the Draconian.
&
The tomb of the White Eagle was not far.
Therefore, instead of rushing, Ingong monitored their surroundings with the mini-map and adjusted their speed.
*I got a pretty decent amount of skill points.*
It was only natural, as he had gained two levels at once. Moreover, in Knight Saga, you gained more skill points as your level increased.
*Come to think of it, I’m leveling up at lightning speed.*
In a typical RPG, you usually leveled up by grinding on so-called mobs, but Ingong couldn’t recall the last time he had leveled up by killing mobs.
In fact, it was inevitable, as the intervals between boss fights were too short.
Right after obtaining the Thunder-Forging Anvil and leveling up, he went to the Demon King’s Palace, where there were obviously no battles to be had.
After arriving on the Enger Plains, he’d only killed two Cassiuses before leveling up thanks to a fragment of Ainkel.
Immediately after that, he fought Mustafa and leveled up again, so he’d had practically no opportunity to level up by killing mobs.
*I killed about a dozen at the small temple, and maybe five, including the geists, when I fought in the north?*
If his level had been in the single digits, that would have been more than enough to level up, but he was now in his late teens. Twenty monsters were just shy of what he needed to level up.
And then came the fierce battle with Balkarova.
The short intervals between boss fights meant he leveled up quickly, but it also meant that each battle was incredibly intense.
“Prince, looks like that’s it over there.”
Karak’s voice broke his train of thought. He turned his head in the direction Karak was pointing and saw a pile of stones that resembled a dolmen.
“It’s completely wrecked.”
Up close, its condition was terrible. It seemed the White Eagle had knocked over all the pillar-like stones when it emerged.
Green Wind whispered to Ingong.
‘Do not worry, Master. The brave warrior will not be angered. He would rather want you to have his armaments. A warrior’s gear only shows its true worth when facing enemies on the battlefield.’
“Right.”
If that was the case, there was no reason to refuse. Feeling like an RPG hero breaking into a villager's house, Ingong said to Karak.
“Let’s grab it all.”
The reason they had come all this way was not just to pay respects, but also to collect the other armaments left in the tomb.
The White Eagle was the only piece imbued with Ainkel’s power, but there were several other magic items remaining. They were all armaments used by the brave warrior during his lifetime.
*It seems the power of the White Eagle preserved the other armaments as well.*
Otherwise, even magic items would have had a hard time enduring a thousand years.
Ingong offered a moment of silence, then began to clear away the stones. Karak, who was helping him, asked.
“Is what we find this time a secret, too?”
“It’s a secret. Ah, an axe. This one’s for you, Karak.”
The first thing they found was a large battle-axe. Accepting the axe, which emanated a faint magical power, Karak grinned and said.
“Some secrets in this world are meant to be kept.”
From the tomb, they also found a spear, a sword, and a bow. There was also armor that was presumed to have been worn by the brave warrior, but since it wasn't a magic item, it was in such poor condition that it looked like it could crumble at any moment.
Like the axe, the spear, sword, and bow were also enchanted, each with a different kind of magic.
*The axe is a simple strength enhancement, and the spear has a once-a-day retrieval function… did he use it for throwing?*
The sword was enchanted with Sharpness, which enhanced its cutting edge, and the bow had Eagle Eye, which improved the wielder’s vision. The Centaurs already had excellent eyesight; with this bow, they’d have vision that could rival a telescope.
And all four weapons were of exceptionally high quality in their basic performance. He didn’t know what they were made of, but the materials themselves seemed special.
*I’m sure they’ll all be useful someday.*
Even if he didn't use them, it was his duty to take what he could when he could. Ingong had even diligently picked up the massive sword Balkarova had used.
After finishing his excavation, Ingong once again offered a moment of silence before the tomb and began to restack the stones as best he could. It was the least he could do to show respect for the brave warrior.
*Now, is it time for the last task?*
Ingong looked at the White Eagle where Green Wind resided, and as if on cue, a cluster of green light was emitted from it.
“Ahem.”
Having gained power from the White Eagle, Green Wind had even managed to materialize. Karak’s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden appearance of Green Wind on the shield, and Ingong chuckled at her attempt to look nonchalant.
“Good job. You did a great job. The best.”
Ingong said, stroking the head of Green Wind, who was perched on the White Eagle. At his completely child-like treatment, Green Wind blinked.
“This feels somehow demeaning, yet good. Please continue, Master.”
Ingong struggled to hold back his laughter as he praised Green Wind, and the expression on Karak’s face as he watched them grew increasingly bizarre.
After receiving a full ten minutes of praise, Green Wind disappeared with a satisfied look. It seemed she had decided to make the White Eagle her new home instead of the wooden carving at Ingong’s waist.
Having stored all of the brave warrior’s armaments in his inventory, Ingong looked once more toward the Northern Limit Line.
The purple aura that controlled the monsters of the north.
Was it all over with this? Was Balkarova the source of the purple aura?
A few questions still remained. Why did Balkarova attack the south? How did he know the secret of the small temple?
What lay beyond the Northern Limit Line. The events unfolding beyond it.
“Prince, that’s enough. Haven’t I told you time and again?”
Karak said suddenly, and Ingong grinned and nodded.
“Right. Words have power.”
Ingong turned away without any lingering attachment. His mission was complete with the defeat of Balkarova. The matters beyond the Northern Limit Line could be left to the Demon King’s Palace.
“Let’s go, Maybach.”
Ingong spoke, and the intelligent Draconian began to run toward the watchtower.
The moon was so bright it was refreshing.
&
The night was black and deep.
The great Enkidu raised his head and looked up at the sky.
Born in lava to become the Elder Dragon of the earth, he preferred to look down upon the ground rather than up at the sky. But today, he faced the light of the moon and stars in the black and blue night sky. A call came to him from a distant place.
*Enkidu.*
“Ainkel.”
One of the six pillars that supported this world. The first Elder Dragon, who was murdered.
Her death was an event of the past, more than a thousand years ago. But fragments of her will still remained in this world.
A whisper, carried like the wind, lingered in Enkidu’s ear.
Enkidu did not reply. He merely let out a low growl, his gaze shifting from the sky he had been watching to a distant point.
Conquest, War, Famine, Death.
The Four Knights of the Apocalypse.
The time was drawing near.
End of Chapter 8 - Excavation. To be continued in Chapter 9 - A Bold Move.