Northerners Don't Hold Back
Securing the cooperation of the Edenberg count's household proved easier than expected. "The Edenberg summoner needs help?" "He's done plenty for us, so why not lend a hand?" It was a request from an adventurer who'd built a decent reputation and taken down several large monsters. Our relationship with the count's family had always been cordial, and having completed the regent Veil Edenberg's designated commission likely helped as well. The Edenberg ancestor's ruins were cleared out in no time.
Stepping into the empty ruins made my heart race. Perhaps it was the thrill of unearthing hidden secrets. With light steps, I entered the ruins, accompanied by Veil Edenberg and Luna on either side.
"Secrets of the past, huh. Come to think of it, I never asked the ancestor about that."
"If what Argo says is true, then some force is exerting influence on a global scale."
The two who had joined to record information from the past and glimpse the world's secrets waited quietly once inside the ruins. There was no need to call for Edenberg or search the interior. This ruin was his domain, and no living creature could escape his detection.
As expected, it didn't take long for the founder of the Edenberg family to appear in the air.
[What's this combination?]
The ancestor scratched his head as he examined our group with a puzzled expression.
[The weird kid I saw before, a black mage, two monsters, my descendant, and even a shaman?]
From an outsider's perspective, it really was an odd assortment. I had no idea how we'd ended up like this, but the founder probably found it baffling too.
Looking over our faces, Edenberg summoned a stone chair and spoke.
[Did you come here thinking there's something to eat? Sorry, but there aren't any hidden rewards lying around.]
"That's not why we're here."
[Then?]
"We came because we have questions about what happened a thousand years ago."
As I sat in the chair he'd prepared and mentioned my curiosity about ancient information, Edenberg—who had been picking at his ear with a disinterested look—showed signs of interest.
[Curious about the past? What exactly?]
"Did an ancient civilization exist a thousand years ago?"
[Ancient civilization? What ancient civilization?]
Ah, right. From the ancestor's perspective, it wouldn't be considered ancient. Asking someone from a thousand years ago about an ancient civilization would just make them think of their own era a thousand years prior. I rephrased.
Pulling out the medallion I'd kept in my pocket, I showed it to him.
"During the era when you lived, was there a kingdom or empire associated with this sun medallion?"
[This emblem is....]
I swallowed dryly as I watched Edenberg fall into thought. Traces of a civilization found in northern ruins had also appeared in the west. That meant a massive power had spanned the North, Central, and West. It was strange that no information about this civilization had surfaced until now.
Since we'd come to uncover secrets, whatever information the ancestor—who carried memories of the past—might share could reveal something enormous. With that expectation, I looked at him.
Edenberg, who had been deep in thought with a serious expression, finally opened his mouth.
[For free?]
".....What?"
[You want me to tell you this for free?]
I stared at him blankly, caught off guard by the unexpected question. But when I saw the mischief on his face, a memory from the past surfaced. 'He was so obsessed with trends that he hid most of his inheritance and left a will telling his children to find it.'
Veil's words about how a third of the diaries left by the ancestors who had struggled to excavate the ruins were curses directed at the founder came to mind. Even as a spiritual entity, Edenberg had faithfully recreated the original's personality—the malicious aura was already creeping across his face.
As cold sweat ran down my back at the ominous atmosphere, Edenberg chuckled and shook his head.
[Just kidding. I don't know much about the ancient civilization either.]
"You don't know either, Lord Edenberg?"
[To be precise, I should say my original didn't leave me detailed information.]
Disappointment welled up at his words that he had nothing to tell us—only for a moment. Wait. "Didn't leave detailed information"?
My mind raced as I studied every nuance of his expression. Then, with a serious gaze—as if his previous playful demeanor had been an act—he spoke.
[I don't know much about that civilization. For some reason, my original erased all but the faintest traces of those memories.]
Everyone present looked shocked at Edenberg's words. What he was saying, in a roundabout way, confirmed that the ancient civilization had truly existed back then. Dopamine surged at the founder's statement, which could serve as definitive proof of the civilization's existence—something we'd only had circumstantial evidence for until now.
Seeing my expression, Edenberg smirked and pointed upward with his finger.
[Look at the ceiling.]
"The ceiling?"
Following his words, I looked up to see a stone ceiling covered in messy markings. For a moment, I wondered why he'd told me to look at a place with nothing but irregular traces. Then, recognizing something familiar, I narrowed my eyes.
"This is a map."
"A map made in the ancient style. Does it depict the northern terrain?"
Luna and Veil, who had noticed first, wore intrigued expressions. At their words, I examined the ceiling more closely. It really did show the topography of the entire North.
"Whoa, it really is."
Good thing I'd learned how to draw and read maps during my ranger training as a kid. As I stared at the ceiling in wonder, Edenberg—who had been lounging in his chair—grinned mischievously again.
[Had enough?]
"Yes."
[Then I'll give you a trial.]
Suddenly declaring a trial, Edenberg pointed at the ceiling.
[If you bring me the location of a specific monster, I'll show you how to reveal the hidden places.]
"What kind of monster?"
[You should know it well. It's the star of all the hot gossip in the city these days.]
"Don't tell me—the new species monster?"
[Correct. From what I've overheard from people chattering even in the ruins, it matches the monster I know.]
So it was a monster that had existed in the past too. I didn't know how it had hidden for a thousand years only to reappear, but it was fortunate that a monster capable of revealing the ruin's map had shown up at just the right time.
Edenberg's eyes sparkled like a child who'd found a gift.
[Isn't it fascinating? Secrets that had been hidden until now are being revealed, almost as if they were waiting for this moment.]
Others from different regions might have been terrified by such an enormous flow of fate. But for northerners, this was always welcome. Tearing apart fate that blocked our path. Overcoming great trials. Claiming honor and glory.
What awaited me now wasn't some bizarre vortex of destiny, but the honor of slaying the new species monster and the glory of uncovering the secrets of the ancient civilization.
The founder of the Edenberg family seemed to have read my thoughts, for he wore the brightest smile yet.
[Destiny awaits you. Seize honor and glory within it.]
"Might as well give it a shot."
[Bwahaha! That's the spirit! That's what makes you a northerner! Want me to tell you its weaknesses?]
"No thanks. Where's the romance in beating it after hearing the strategy?"
[I like the sound of that!]
Leaving behind the boisterously laughing Edenberg, we exited the ruins. While Veil dismissed the security forces guarding the entrance, Luna looked at our gathered group and spoke. Though she'd retired from active adventuring, her face was oddly flushed—perhaps from experiencing something thrilling after so long.
"It seems we've been swept into quite the vortex of fate."
"You're telling me. I never thought I'd get caught up in something straight out of a fairy tale."
"Want me to help?"
"Come on, even if you're our senior, we should separate work from personal matters. If you took down the new species monster, the adventurers who are probably scouring the forest right now would look at you with sad puppy eyes."
High-ranking adventurers hunting weaker monsters wasn't a problem in itself. But there were times when they needed to show restraint depending on the situation—namely, when they should yield opportunities for less experienced adventurers to achieve great feats.
The estimated danger level of the monster discovered in the forest was Silver-class. A Gold-class adventurer had been dispatched just in case, but the unspoken protagonists of this subjugation were the Bronze and Silver-class adventurers. If Luna suddenly took down the new species monster in the middle of that?
While it wouldn't be legally wrong—given it was an implicit courtesy from senior adventurers—the junior adventurers would have to endure their sad gazes for a while.
'Luna, you said you'd yield...'
'We worked so hard preparing to catch the new species monster...'
'I-I mean, honestly, a new species monster is worth the recognition.'
'Even as a senior, I can't hold back against a new species monster.'
Imagining the adventurers' gazes—half sorrow, half understanding—Luna cleanly gave up on the idea. She wasn't heartless enough to tear apart her juniors' fragile hearts as their senior.
"Hmm, I guess I should give up after all. I'll leave the monster hunting to you guys."
"Don't worry. We'll catch the new species monster."
"Even if the subjugation fails, we can just purchase the byproducts."
As Neon said, even failure was acceptable as long as we obtained the byproducts, so we decided to face the new species monster with as much composure as possible. There would be plenty of opportunities to achieve great feats anyway. If we rushed in recklessly and got taken down by the new species monster instead, that would be truly unfair. Even if the subjugation failed, there were many trials waiting for me, so maintaining my composure was—
Whoosh!
"Huh?"
Suddenly, the area around the ruins grew noisy as the security forces pointed in one direction with startled faces.
"Uh, uhh?"
"That's a monster I've never seen before?"
"It's the new species monster!"
At their words, I whipped my head around. There really was a monster I'd never seen before. Though it passed by too quickly for a proper look, the sight of the white-furred beast moving on all fours snapped the thread of reason in my mind.
Summoning Ikelos from the summoning circle, I immediately fused with it and ignited the thrusters.
"After it! The prey came right to us!"
"New genetic material!"
"That's a species I've never seen either! I can't let it get away!"
As we charged through the forest with wild eyes, Neon—who hadn't processed the sudden change—let out a sigh.
"The guy who was just saying we'd move calmly loses it the moment he sees the new species monster. What am I supposed to do with that...."
"That's what makes us northerners."
"Neon, you need to adapt to the North too."
Luna and Veil chuckled softly at Neon's attitude. Though he seemed unaware, I'd noticed the black mana rippling at his fingertips the moment someone mentioned the new species monster. Luna, wearing a pleased expression at the sight of the black mage who'd adapted so well to the North, pulled a talisman from her pocket and stuck it on Neon's forehead.
"There, you should follow your companions too, right? I'll send you to them."
"What is this—Gyaaaaaaaah?!"
As Neon's body flew toward me as if pulled by something while he puzzled over the talisman, Veil clicked his tongue as he watched from the side. If he didn't have so much work piled up, he would've joined too. Swallowing his regret, Veil led the others back to the city.