Reasonable Suspicion
The treasure hunter, mercenary, and bald man known as Cotton doubted his own eyes.
"...You think that makes any sense?"
Even if it had just been a locked door forced open with brute strength, he would've called bullshit. But this barbarian had ripped open a door sealed not with a lock, but with magic, using his bare hands. A chill crept up Cotton's spine. Memories resurfaced of that barbarian grabbing his head earlier. Lowering his voice to a whisper, he said,
"Hey, mister, you really human? I've heard all the scary stories about Torgard barbarians, but that seems a bit much."
"......"
But Fran was just as speechless, watching the same scene. She tried her best to stay composed, though her voice trembled slightly despite herself.
"O-Of course I knew. With strength to shatter steel swords barehanded and crumple helmets with a fist, breaking some ancient ruin's magic barrier is child's play."
"Wait, even your helmet—the paladin's—that guy smashed?"
Cotton sighed under his breath. Now he knew why the paladin's visor was dented. This barbarian was way more unhinged than he'd thought. Glancing at Neb tottering along behind the barbarian, he turned back to Fran.
"...So, what's that guy's deal? Can't talk to the barbarian either, but damn, I've never seen anyone that pretty in my life."
"Hm."
Fran didn't call him out for speaking casually to her—technically weird, but whatever. She just watched the pair walking ahead.
...I thought they were worshippers of an evil dark god.
But after days traveling together, Fran's observations said otherwise. At least to her eyes. No sneaky nighttime ambushes. No reluctance to help villagers. A bit annoyed, sure, but still.
I don't get why they reek of dark god energy, but...
That was why they were heading to her order—for answers. Though it started as a mission to punish dark god cultists, Fran couldn't deny she'd grown fond of their odd ways these past few days.
"Let's follow for now."
"Yeah, obvious, right."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Maybe because of the nearby waterfall, the smooth cave interior dripped with moisture. Water droplets plinked steadily from somewhere.
Cotton shuddered, scanning around.
"Brr, creepy as hell."
A natural-born motormouth, he kept yapping even among a paladin, barbarian, and noble-looking lady without losing steam.
"We gotta be careful from here, yeah? Traps or monsters pop out, what then? Shit, should've brought the kids from the village."
Damn, loudmouth.
Eden debated grabbing that octopus head again but answered,
"It's fine."
A max-level barbarian's senses dwarfed any normal human's. It might look like casual strolling, but Eden was scanning everything around them.
Cotton nodded to himself, witnessing the barbarian's confidence. Brain's all muscle too, huh. Needs a poisoned arrow to the face to snap out of it.
Then Neb, stuck close behind Eden, answered for him.
"Probably no monsters."
"...Uh, y-yeah, miss...?"
Cotton, who'd never chatted with someone that gorgeous, stuttered like his underlings would mock him for.
"Didn't you see the entrance? Untouched for centuries at least. A live monster inside would be weird."
"......Ah."
"Though other things might be around."
That only scared Cotton more. He'd take a live monster over that. Watching the fearless pair, he whispered to the reliable paladin,
"...That lady could pass for royalty. Never heard speech like that in my life."
Treasonous talk for any other knight, but Fran wasn't the type to nitpick. Cotton hadn't expected a reply anyway—he fretted over arrows from the smooth walls as he followed.
"Ugh!"
Suddenly, the halted barbarian's back met his face.
"Fuck, what? Trap? See! Told ya! Following this psycho barbarian's gonna get us all kille—"
"This is the end."
Eden's heavy voice snapped Cotton alert. He looked around. Deep in the cave, but surprisingly tidy. Spotting 'something' on the walls, he recoiled in shock.
"Wh-what the hell is that."
Statues half Cotton's height lined the walls. He clutched his chest, checking his heartbeat. The pressure was no joke. Stairs led up at the passage's end, topped by a skeleton in ragged clothes on a throne. Not what he'd expected. With all those entrance gems, he'd imagined treasure piles.
Then he spotted the glowing gem embedded in a statue's chest. Huge. Detach that alone, and he'd be set. Cotton eyed Eden slyly.
"I-I'm the one who told ya the ruin's location. I get a cut, right?"
Eden smirked at the voice. Honest bastard. Better than two-faced types.
"If the owner allows."
Missing the point, Cotton pitched himself fast.
"That's why I'm asking you, great warrior. I'm useful despite looks. Later in the city, full cour—"
He noticed Eden staring at the 'skeleton' on the throne.
"Pfft, this ain't some fairy-tale ruin. Never heard of corpses rising in my life. And the lady said no live things here."
Oblivious to local walking-dead rumors, Cotton boasted. But Eden had seen it entering the chamber: flames igniting in the skeleton's empty sockets.
You have the qualities of a hero. I like it.
"...Eh, huh?"
Cotton whipped toward the voice. Nothing but skull.
"Wha-the fuck is this."
As the skeleton spoke, reactions varied. Cotton backed off quick. Fran raised her warhammer, battle-ready. Only Neb and Eden stayed calm, listening.
Ignoring them, the ancient-clothed skull rattled on.
But time is never equal to anyone.
Flames in empty sockets turned on them.
Be it beggarly thugs of any era, paladins who believe in mere monsters, beauties to make emperors swoon, or northern warriors.
"Beggarly— that about me?!"
So what remains forever? I pondered. I wanted to live long, endure long.
"You lived plenty long already."
"Shut it."
Eden silenced Cotton. Surprisingly, the skull replied.
This isn't living. Just remnants. Waiting eternally for one great enough for history.
"...Us? Nah."
Ignoring Cotton, Eden asked the skull,
"So what now?"
Prove you're exceptional enough for history. No time for talk after.
Cotton exhaled in relief.
"Phew, thought crazy skull'd go 'I take your body!' like entrance puzzles. Wait, we didn't solve those...
A very simple method.
The chamber boomed.
BOOM!!
Wall statues stirred. Spears, swords, hammers—weapons varied as heavy bodies rose.
"...Nope. I'm out."
But the entrance passage shimmered, sealed by transparent something.
"Fuck?!"
Fran questioned the skull amid Cotton's panic.
"What 'simple' method? And what lasts forever is faith in the Sun God, not—"
Haha, paladins always dumb.
Kindly explaining,
History's written by the strong. My minimum condition.
The skull chuckled like at a joke, watching. Conversation over.
Eden wasn't fazed. Game ruins and dungeons were designed this way: something appears, smash it, done.
Stepping forward, he told Fran,
"Handle the others."
"...Got it."
No big expectations for the paladin—dented visor said it all. Just buy time to solve this.
The barbarian faced front.
Over 3 meters easy.
Not his first giant, but not routine. He'd farmed warzones for fast XP. Still, no fear. Pounding heart fueled excitement.
Crunch. His gripped axe haft groaned. These twin axes, unbroken since isekai drop, endured his power alone.
Battle Cry
[......!!]
A statue rushed Eden, swinging a thick sword. Side-eye: steel, brass, bronze—mixed metals.
Eden parried upward with axe. Weight against him, yet the statue's blade snapped. Thicker than any two-hander, cleaved in half. Wrists ached more than expected.
Solid steel? Scrap value alone worth hauling. If he could transport it.
Swinging axe shattered the giant's knee joint. Non-living, so no head/heart aim. One-handed, yet it knelt.
Other axe crashed down, caving the head. CLANG! Skull dented, but massive hand still grabbed.
Not head.
Wrist, elbow, shoulder, chest—Eden chopped systematically. More statues closed, but he focused weak points.
Chest gem.
He'd found it.
"Th-that pricey thing!"
Cotton's distant wail ignored, Eden swung. No need to drag.
Another statue's axe swept his waist horizontally. Eden stepped back, dodging, then smashed empty flank. Like felling timber.
Stepping on the toppled statue, he met the next.
Time passed; fallen statues mounted. Watching, the skull realized even doubled numbers couldn't fell this warrior. Not meant solo, yet no backup needed.
Jaw agape, it yelled,
...Stop!
Eden heard but short-gripped axe for a punch-swing.
CRASH! CLANG!!
Steel shards flew; statue neck snapped.
Heavy silence filled the chamber. Fran and Cotton gaped like the skull, staring.
Only Neb stayed serene.
The skull eyed Eden, asking laboriously,
...You.
Your parents human?
"......"
The out-of-nowhere parent jab soured Eden's mood.