Chapter 446: The Grey Desert(4)
Chapter 446: The Grey Desert(4)
As expected, the expedition through the Grey Desert was a grueling ordeal.
Crossing a vast desert with hundreds of people was difficult enough, but vicious monsters constantly lunged from beneath the sands, and mirages appeared at every turn to lead the expedition astray.
Fortunately, the supply lines were functioning perfectly, so there was no risk of dehydration or starvation. Moreover, even when the monsters proved formidable, the combined forces of the Elves and Demons, supported by the priests, allowed them to push through without much trouble.
Though the expedition had set out in haste following the news of the oracle, they had prepared thoroughly, and thus suffered no major casualties. Even if someone was rendered unable to fight, they were immediately evacuated via teleportation, ensuring that they never lacked manpower.
The real challenge was the navigation. It was maddeningly difficult. Without a compass and the makeshift maps they had drafted, the journey likely would have taken over a month.
"Skeletons!"
"Damn it! Why are there so many skeletons in the middle of nowhere?"
"They’re probably citizens who died while fleeing during the Demon War!"
Even after reaching the ruins of the Kingdom of Gerios, the work didn't get any easier. As a reminder, Gerios was the first kingdom where the demons had appeared. Despite three thousand years having passed, corpses that had turned into skeletons without weathering away remained buried in the sand, their sheer numbers enough to make the expedition members' skin crawl.
Demon corpses were mixed in as well, and their numbers were simply overwhelming. Furthermore, these skeletons were the restless dead; unless they were exorcised with Divine Power after being struck down, they would simply rise again. Without Divine Power, the only option was to incinerate them.
In the end, to minimize casualties, they had no choice but to advance slowly toward the city center.
"What was this place? It looks quite different from the others."
"It looks like an administrative office for managing occupied territories... Oh, look! There are records here!"
"Where? Where?"
Regardless of the danger, the Kingdom of Gerios was a dream come true for the scholars. Everything from the visible architectural structures to the simplest script was a magnificent treasure. Although most of the buildings where the demons prowled had collapsed or weathered away under the weight of time, some records remained.
Even a diary written by a commoner held immense value to the scholars, offering a rare glimpse into a neglected era of history. Above all, the Kingdom of Gerios was famous for being a global hegemon before the Demon War broke out. Because of the war, the details of how they became a superpower had been lost to time, but this expedition provided a chance to finally uncover the truth.
"According to these records, it seems they practiced large-scale farming."
"What? This is a desert. How could they farm here?"
"Who knows? Maybe the demons drained all the life force from the land?"
"That seems highly likely."
The information gathered while exploring the ruins revealed that the Kingdom of Gerios had not originally been a desert. Records indicated that the land was once exceptionally fertile, yielding bumper crops every year. This agricultural output allowed the people to live in abundance, and as their livelihoods became comfortable, their quality of life naturally improved. As the saying goes, an army marches on its stomach; with such a surplus of food, they were naturally able to expand through conquest.
"Look at this. This is truly..."
"A parent's love for their child is the same no matter where you go."
At times, the mood turned somber as they unearthed remains—an adult skeleton tightly embracing a child, or a soldier whose ribs were completely shattered yet who still gripped a sword in his hand. These relics vividly illustrated the desperate situations of the past.
Perhaps because of their noble spirits, these remains did not rise as skeletons. The scholars and priests carefully recorded these findings before performing proper funeral rites.
As they continued to unearth the history of Gerios and move toward the city center, an unexpected incident occurred.
"Let go of me! I was just doing it for research...!"
"Shut up! You think we didn't see you pocketing those coins? And you're not even a scholar!"
"Bind him and search the others! There are grave robbers hiding among us!"
Blinded by greed, one of the expedition members had attempted to loot artifacts. He had only tried to hide a few coins, but he was caught red-handed. One might think it was just a few coins, but they were currently excavating the Kingdom of Gerios.
While their primary goal was to find the truth Xenon had revealed, this was an ancient kingdom buried for over three thousand years; the value of its artifacts was astronomical. To put it bluntly, a single coin could allow a person to live in luxury for the rest of their life.
"From now on, excavation will only be permitted in areas authorized by the Holy Theocracy! We cannot allow such incidents to happen again!"
To prevent further trouble, the Holy Theocracy 'Savior' issued a stern warning. Naturally, many members of the expedition protested the decree. However, their complaints were ignored. The justification of preventing looting was far too powerful. Consequently, the atmosphere surrounding the suspected grave robbers turned hostile, and the culprit eventually vanished without a trace.
"In exchange, we will head straight for the city center—specifically, the site we believe to be the royal palace! Our true goal is to find the truth Xenon spoke of! Once the truth is revealed, you may do as you wish!"
"Ah, well, that's fine then."
"Actually, that's even better."
It was a classic case of 'three in the morning, four in the evening.' The scholars were immediately appeased upon hearing that the expedition would head straight for the palace without delay. They had been itching to rush there anyway, and this decision scratched that itch perfectly.
The expedition then moved toward the city center, leaving behind a rear support and supply base. The path behind them had been cleared, so no major issues were expected from the rear. However, because the Kingdom of Gerios had possessed such vast territory, even the road to the city was grueling.
Furthermore, perhaps due to the lingering influence of the demons, the local monsters grew stronger, and the number of skeletons increased exponentially. They were forced to establish temporary bases as they advanced, and eventually, most of the Demons and scholars had to stay behind for safety and excavation purposes.
The loss of the Demons' strength was particularly painful. Each Demon was a formidable combatant, and there were concerns that the expedition might be in danger, but...
CRASH! CRUNCH! SNAP!
"...Who is that Elf?"
"I heard he's the husband of that Elven scholar over there."
Such concerns were meaningless in the face of Iker, who had been a legendary figure during the Second Race War. To say he could have handled the expedition's security alone would only be a slight exaggeration. The skeletons, despite their numbers, were swept away like fallen leaves with every swing of his sword, and even the strongest monsters stood no chance.
As if proving that Albenheim hadn't been unable to explore the Grey Desert but had simply chosen not to, Iker showcased a breathtaking breakthrough. Thanks to him, the vanguard finally reached the capital after crossing the vast territory. The name of the capital of the Kingdom of Gerios was Weisto.
They had finally arrived at the place known in the ancient tongue as the "Western Edge."
"This place is..."
"There is almost nothing left."
As Deimos, the head of the expedition, muttered in disbelief, his adjutant finished the thought. As he said, perhaps because it was the epicenter of the Demon War, the capital—which must have once been magnificent—was now a desolate wasteland of ruins.
True to its name, the "Western Edge," a vast sea stretched out behind the city, and the wind carried the salty tang of the ocean. One couldn't help but wonder if anything could possibly remain here, but there was one structure that immediately caught their eyes.
"Strangely enough, the royal palace is intact."
Just as Deimos noted, while the surrounding buildings were all destroyed, the structure presumed to be the palace stood tall in the center. It was a palace that had survived the inferno of the Demon War three thousand years ago.
It wasn't a towering spire like modern palaces; instead, it resembled a temple. Since the Kingdom of Gerios had expanded its power through 'sorcery,' it wasn't unusual for the palace to take the form of a temple.
"That place was likely the true starting point of the Demon War. Whatever was happening there was likely a state-level project, so they couldn't allow the palace to fall. According to records, it was a nation that built powerful military strength through sorcery."
Elena pushed up her glasses and offered a highly plausible hypothesis. In fact, Elodia, the political heart of Albenheim, also bore a resemblance to a temple. It contained chapels for Luminous and Mora, and the World Tree towered behind it.
Again, it was not strange for a palace to serve as a temple. Sorcery, in particular, often required the king's direct involvement due to its inherent uncertainty. Normally, there would have been a large 'altar' near the palace, but it seemed to have been lost in the aftermath of the war.
"Then the truth must be buried there."
"It's highly likely."
"Hmm..."
Deimos narrowed his eyes beneath his thick, caterpillar-like brows and glanced sideways. There were exactly four scholars who had followed them this far, including Elena and Cindy. The rest were waiting at the rear. Two of these four were from Savior, brought along specifically to fulfill the 'oracle.'
In other words, he needed to separate Elena and Cindy from the palace to carry out the oracle properly.
‘I don't know why Lord Luminous gave such an oracle, but...’
Deimos sank into thought, hiding his small eyes behind his brows again. While the expedition preparations were in full swing, Luminous had delivered this oracle:
[Uncover the truth. But the truth trapped in a place as deep and dark as the abyss must be cast into its proper place. Otherwise, a great chaos will descend.]
Oracles were usually vague, but this one was different. It was beyond vague; it was blunt. As soon as the oracle was delivered, the Holy Theocracy of Savior was thrown into an uproar—specifically, the Pope and the Cardinals. The oracle had been given while the Pope was leading a prayer. Naturally, no one else knew the contents of the oracle.
The leadership had only raised suspicions by moving the expedition's departure date forward. Only the high-ranking officials knew the actual words.
‘A record trapped in a place as deep and dark as the abyss...’
Did it refer to the truth Isaac revealed—that the origin of demons was human? Or was it something buried even deeper? Furthermore, the instruction to "cast it into its proper place" likely meant throwing it into the sea.
He couldn't know what it was yet, but he would find out once they entered the palace. To do that, he had to get rid of Elena somehow. Deimos cleared his throat to draw everyone's attention. Elena and Cindy turned their gaze toward him.
"First, myself, Benphis, and Delphine will investigate the palace. Elena and Cindy, could you investigate the surrounding area?"
"By whose authority? We're coming with you."
Was his intention too obvious? Elena shot back as if the suggestion was absurd. While the ruins around the palace were worth investigating, they couldn't compare to the palace itself. Moreover, as she thought, it was a transparent ploy.
There were already many suspicious aspects due to the early departure. And now he wanted to separate her and Cindy? There was no telling what they might do inside the palace. Elena found the idea unacceptable.
"I understand what you're thinking. However, this is related to an oracle, so I have no choice."
"That damn oracle again... Is there something Lord Luminous wants to hide?"
Elena frowned, making a rather dangerous remark—and right in front of a Cardinal, no less.
"How dare you doubt Lord Luminous!"
"Even as an Elf, you won't get away with such a statement easily!"
The Paladins, incensed by her words, drew their swords to intimidate her. Deimos, on the other hand, remained calm, perhaps having no rebuttal. Elena didn't even blink at the swords pointed at her; she simply snorted. Treating her like this would only breed more hostility.
Besides, she had a reliable protector. Iker, who had been watching the situation silently, stepped forward. The Paladins tensed as the man who had displayed such overwhelming martial prowess approached, but to their surprise, he spoke in a polite tone.
"My apologies. It seems my wife has misspoken in front of you all. We will investigate separately, as the Cardinal suggested."
"Honey!"
When Iker agreed so easily, Elena shouted in protest. Iker simply gave her a subtle smile. Seeing something in that smile, Elena fell silent, though the dissatisfaction remained etched on her face.
Relieved that Iker had stepped back politely, even if it felt a bit unsettling, Deimos spoke quietly.
"Thank you for understanding. I will say it again: our goal is not looting, but uncovering the truth. I hope you can at least recognize that."
"If that's the case, we could just go together..."
Cindy grumbled from behind, but her voice was too low for anyone to hear.
Thus, as some people began setting up a temporary base for coordinates and supplies, Deimos headed toward the palace, accompanied by several Paladins and scholars. Elena watched their retreating figures with envy before turning away.
Iker watched Deimos's group with an unreadable smile.
"What are you thinking? Are you going to follow them with invisibility magic? They're not fools; they'll have prepared for that."
As Elena said, Deimos was currently suspicious of Iker's intentions. He had backed down so easily when a fight seemed imminent. Furthermore, he was a man who had shown terrifying power during the journey. Expecting a potential clash, they were taking as many precautions as possible.
Invisibility magic wasn't foolproof either. It might fool an ordinary priest, but it would be instantly detected within the Divine Barrier maintained by a Cardinal. They couldn't sneak in, and using force would bring consequences they couldn't afford.
"Don't worry. I'm not the one going. Someone else is."
"Someone else? Who?"
In response to Elena's question, Iker gave a gentle smile.
"I wasn't the only person the Queen sent."
"...?"
Elena tilted her head, even more puzzled by the answer. She had no idea what he was talking about.
Shhh—
At that moment, the space behind her, which had been slightly 'refracted,' returned to its original state.
*
While the expedition was excavating the Kingdom of Gerios...
The Xenon Biography Side Story that Isaac released following the "funeral that wasn't a funeral" sparked another storm. Not only did the story—which was so sweet it could cause cavities—bring peace to the Jin-Lily shippers, but the songs featured in the middle and at the end struck a chord with the readers.
Both songs had nearly identical titles, but their lyrics were vastly different. One featured lyrics that seemed to comfort Jin and Lily, while the other was practically a tribute to the persecuted Demons.
The two songs, both abstract and poignant, led readers to try their best to sing them properly.
[A song fit for Jin and Lily. And a song fit for the Demons moving toward the light. This proves that the true protagonist is Jin, not Xenon.]
[A side story that shows love transcends not only borders but races. It melted people's hearts with its sweetness...]
[Minstrels are arguing over which melody is correct. I wonder whose side Xenon is on...]
[Also, minstrels are preparing their own versions of the songs to perform at the next Xenon Festival...]
Isaac hadn't done anything, but somehow he had ended up triggering an audition. It was less of an audition and more of a stage where singers gathered to belt out their hearts. He was glad to see a new cultural trend emerging, but Isaac currently had no time to pay attention to that.
"This song was definitely written for a persecuted people, wasn't it? It's such a hopeful song."
Because as soon as Cecile read the side story, she had rushed to him with all sorts of questions. She had even abandoned their game of Baduk because the songs were so impressive.
"Uh..."
Isaac could only give a wry smile. As everyone knew, those songs were from a children's cartoon. They were just exceptionally abstract and high-quality for songs meant for kids.
Seeing Isaac's strange reaction, Cecile asked with a puzzled expression, realizing her guess might be wrong.
"No? Then who was it for?"
"It wasn't really for anyone in particular... It was a song from a piece of media that children watch."
When he told her that, Cecile looked shocked...
"...Isaac, was your world a place where it was that hard for children to live?"
"..."
It had given birth to another misunderstanding.
"No, wait. Isaac's country was..."
"What about my country?"
"...Never mind. We'll treat you well."
What now?