Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Chapter 16 - Valkein Ruins #2
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[Master, it might be best to discuss this with the others first.]
Luther snapped out of it at Integra's words and looked around.
Arma Valentine was glaring at the seal array with her lips pressed tightly shut, while Karen and Max, who knew little about magic, stared at Luther and Arma in bewilderment.
Now the question was what to do from here.
Luther came to a simple conclusion.
"For now, let's head back."
"What?"
Arma Valentine reacted immediately to Luther's words.
Unlike Luther, who already knew what would emerge from this land and when the seal would break, Arma had only just grasped the problem.
But Luther continued.
"There's a limit to what we can confirm here. We've established that the seal exists and won't hold much longer, so it makes sense to return and devise countermeasures."
It was sound reasoning.
Karen and Max nodded in agreement as well.
But Arma furrowed her brow and turned back to the seal array.
"It's not wrong. But we need to investigate the seal array a bit more."
The seal array etched atop the pyramid was incredibly intricate, making even sketching it a daunting task.
As Arma said, it made sense to conduct a little more investigation right here.
[Max is nodding again.]
[The man has no backbone.]
Why are you so obsessed with picking on Max?
And truthfully, Luther could understand Max's position.
Setting aside that both he and Arma were making valid points, Max was a complete novice in matters like this.
If Luther were in Max's shoes, he'd probably be nodding too.
'Anyway.'
As always, Max wasn't the priority.
Luther flashed a smile at Arma, who insisted on more investigation, and raised his right arm.
"Integra?"
[Understood.]
No specific instructions were needed; Luther and Integra moved as one.
Integra cheerily projected a massive hologram into the air.
"The seal array?"
"Oh my god. It's exactly the same?"
Karen and Max blinked in shock at the duplicate seal array hovering overhead.
Arma, too, widened her eyes in surprise and turned to Luther.
"How is this possible? Did you record the seal array and project it as an image? In this short time? Without any setup?"
Her words came a bit faster than usual, a clear sign of her astonishment—especially for someone like Arma.
[This is the power of science.]
[It doesn't lose to fantasy or magic, right?]
As Integra preened smugly, Luther pointed to his eyes.
"I did the work. I saw it."
He didn't just remember what he saw.
Through Integra, Luther could recreate anything he had seen or heard in reality at any time.
"To think the Heavenly Armor had such power... No, perhaps it's the angels' power."
Arma muttered softly, let out a hollow chuckle, then looked back at Luther.
"I get what you're saying. But I still think we need to investigate. There might be more information to uncover from the ruins beyond the seal array."
It was a perfectly reasonable stance from Arma's perspective.
"So go back first. I'll investigate a bit more and then return."
As she finished, Arma glanced at the massive suit of armor standing before the pyramid. Karen, Max, and even Luther nodded.
"Understood. We'll head out first."
"Right. See you back at the Gleston earldom."
With that, Arma began examining the seal array in earnest.
[Adjusting the route to Venus City.]
[Considering Karen and Max, if we're prepared for a grueling march, we can make it back before the gates close.]
The distance from Venus City to here was considerable.
But given the urgency, and the risk of camping outside the gates if they paced themselves poorly, Luther nodded.
And that night, at the Gleston earldom.
Even the well-trained Max and Karen were on the verge of complaining after the brutal forced march, but who should greet them at the Gleston earldom if not Arma Valentine herself.
"You're later than I expected."
[Master, Karen is clenching her fist.]
[Max's eyes are red-rimmed.]
[His lips are moving—it looks like cursing.]
Truth be told, Luther was a little annoyed too—no, more than a little.
They had pushed themselves to the limit walking, only for Arma, who had flown in on her armor, to arrive much earlier.
And while they were exhausted, Arma looked utterly serene.
'Might need to grow that drone for real.'
Big enough to ride on.
No need for something enormous—just motorcycle-sized would do.
[Master, if you truly want flight, there are easier ways than enlarging the drone.]
'Oh, really?'
[Yes. But right now, we need to discuss the seal array with Count Gleston, so flight options can wait.]
Her giggling felt like she was deliberately postponing, but it wasn't wrong, so Luther approached Arma instead of pressing.
"When did you arrive?"
"About an hour ago. I've already given Count Gleston a rough rundown."
[Not bad.]
[With the preamble done, things should move quickly.]
Luther agreed.
He told Karen and Max to rest, then headed straight to see Count Gleston with Arma.
"This is the seal array in question."
Light beamed from the drone, filling Count Gleston's study.
The count's eyes widened in genuine surprise at the seal array materializing on the floor, while Lilia stared at it intently, her eyes bulging.
True to her genius in enchantments, she seemed to intuit the situation the moment she saw it.
Meanwhile, Anne Rose, standing beside Arma, kept glancing at the drone generating the image, more interested in it than the seal.
[Master and disciple are alike.]
[Arma is looking over here too.]
Luther knew.
Beyond this incident, he needed friendly ties with Anne Rose and Arma—and he had an idea how to win their favor.
[Favor, it's favor.]
[Not flirting.]
As Integra muttered under her breath, Luther addressed Count Gleston, who was glancing confusedly between the seal array, Arma, and himself.
"Arma Valentine has likely explained, but time is short before the seal breaks. Given the distance to Valkein Ruins from Venus City, we need a proper plan."
It was eminently reasonable, yet Count Gleston's face filled with distress.
Devising countermeasures when they didn't even know what would emerge from the seal was nearly impossible.
'Should I reveal it's the demon beast lord after all?'
But that wouldn't be easy.
Without a credible source, even disclosing his 'angel' identity wouldn't convince Count Gleston.
And right then—
"From the circumstances, it'll be the demon beast lord Balakia."
It was Arma Valentine who spoke.
She pointed to the pyramid floor recreated alongside the seal array and continued.
"I stayed behind to investigate the pyramid and found a few inscriptions. Based on those, I cross-referenced Valkein Ruins and ancient lizardmen texts to identify the name."
Those present were puppets controlled by Arma Valentine, not her true self.
Meaning her real body was somewhere equipped for research—like the imperial library or her own facilities—allowing her to reach this conclusion.
"Demon beast lord Bala...kia? Do you know what kind of monster it is?"
At Count Gleston's question, Arma slightly furrowed her brow.
"A powerful demon beast that raided an ancient lizardmen city... That's all the info left. They had writing but revered oral tradition more. The fact they recorded it at all means it was that dangerous."
[Master, what now?]
Integra whispered after Arma's explanation, asking if he'd reveal more or let Arma take the lead.
"I know about the demon beast lord Balakia. Or rather, I think I do."
All eyes except Lilia's—who was still fixated on the seal—turned to Luther.
Arma asked again.
"You think you know?"
"Yes. The Heavenly Armor holds heavenly records, and securing its fragment gave me new ones. Among them is info on demon beast lord Balakia."
[Oh, that sounds plausible.]
Buoyed by Integra's approval, Luther closed his eyes and shook his head as if rapidly scanning something.
"Demon beast lord Balakia."
"The beasts' overlord."
"A mighty undead demon beast."
"Born when a sacred beast raised in a lizardmen temple city merged with the demon beast lord summoned by forbidden magic."
Panting as if exhausted, Luther opened his eyes.
"Whew, that's what I have for now. But there might be more if I check further."
Count Gleston, Arma, and Anne Rose all nodded gravely, taking Luther at his word.
[A bit overacted, but excellent performance.]
[Awarding Master 1 shop point.]
Even Integra's shop point.
He didn't know the prize for collecting them, but she'd called it 'something really good,' so it must be worthwhile.
Grinning now would ruin the atmosphere, though, so Luther turned back to Count Gleston with a serious face.
The count, his distress replaced by deep worry, spoke lowly.
"If it's recorded even in heaven... it must be truly dangerous."
Fear tinged his voice.
[He might suggest abandoning the city and fleeing.]
[He needs some encouragement.]
Thinking the same, Luther glanced at Arma.
One of the world's top ten superhumans was with them—that should reassure him.
But right then—
"Got it."
Lilia spoke softly.
In the hushed room, everyone heard her clearly.
Got it.
Figured it out.
"The spirit jewel."
Lilia looked up sharply and stared straight at Luther.
This wasn't the usual fluffy, somewhat dim Lilia.
Her blue eyes seemed to glow.
"I think I know what the spirit jewel was meant for."
She moved to the seal array's center, pointing to the interlocking, shifting geometric patterns, and continued.
"The seal array is on the verge of breaking. But it won't just shatter. It's designed to cause a magical explosion upon destruction—to deal some damage to the sealed demon beast. The spirit jewel was clearly a catalyst to redirect that explosion—or rather, its power—straight to the demon beast."
Luther couldn't follow Lilia's ensuing explanation.
So he asked Integra.
'Basically, the spirit jewel was meant to empower the demon beast lord?'
[Seems so.]
[The seal's collapse was meant to be smoother, converting the self-destruct energy into unholy power to restore the weakened demon beast lord after eons of sealing.]
[The spirit jewel served as the catalyst for that energy conversion.]
'I see.'
Now Luther understood why the Hecatoncheires sought the spirit jewel—and what they did with it in the original story.
"Then, Lilia, could the spirit jewel amplify the explosion instead?"
Lilia's eyes widened briefly before she nodded.
"Yes. Its role is power conversion from the start. Rather than boosting the explosion, converting its power into vital energy and injecting it into the demon beast would be more effective."
Pouring life force into an undead.
Music to his ears.
"Can you do it?"
"I can. No, I will."
Lilia's confident declaration made her more reliable than ever.
Her usual airheadedness hid it, but she was undeniably a genius remembered even a century later.
"But we'll need more countermeasures besides that."
Luther agreed with Arma.
To fully stop the demon beast lord, much preparation remained.
"Count Gleston, I have an idea."
A defense plan he'd mulled over on the way back.
It required significant manpower and funds, but the current Count Gleston—with his hellish, desperate expression—would surely approve.
"My plan is as follows."
Fantasies he'd entertained while gaming.
If only he could do this.
This would really stick it to the Hecatoncheires.
[Master, that smile is wicked.]
[But that's why I like it, you know?]
Integra chuckled, gazing at Luther with a mix of mischief and affection, as he caressed the drone on his arm and continued his explanation.
* * *
Demon sorcerer Jenadu tilted her head involuntarily at her subordinate's report.
"What did you say?"
"Humans... humans are swarming into Valkein Ruins."
Marion, the low-rank dragonkin hastily summoned to replace Balboa and Astra, bowed as he spoke.
It still sounded absurd.
Valkein Ruins hid the seal of demon beast lord Balakia.
But it was so well-hidden that even after repeated studies and excavations, the seal had remained undiscovered.
Yet humans were flocking there?
'Balboa? Or Astra?'
Had one leaked info during battle?
Possible.
Their loyalty to the Hecatoncheires was genuine, but information could slip without intent.
A slip of the tongue or enemy inducement.
Jenadu refocused on the current event.
'Humans are gathering.'
They'd sniffed out something hidden in Valkein Ruins.
'But so what.'
The seal on demon beast lord Balakia was destined to break.
The array itself was too degraded; there was no way to stop it.
Failing to restore it with the spirit jewel was regrettable, but not essential.
The demon beast lord would awaken, and its power would trigger the 'phenomenon' the Hecatoncheires desired.
That would suffice.
Regaining her composure, Jenadu eyed the dragonkin Marion calmly.
Unlike the bulky, muscular Balboa and Astra, Marion was a pale, skinny youth.
Jenadu asked again.
"How many humans are gathering?"
"Hundreds, at least. And..."
Marion trailed off, lips twitching, before finally speaking.
Was it Arma Valentine's presence?
As Jenadu urged him with her gaze, Marion swallowed dryly and continued.
What the humans were doing at Valkein Ruins.
No—their atrocities.
Bewilderment flickered in Jenadu's green eyes once more.