The Holy Sanctuary of El Nergavil
“Urshus’s temple?”
Elena tilted her head. It was what she had expected. Even though she was a half-elf, she was hardly old enough to remember the era when Urshus’s temples were built. My eyes turned toward Granbipra.
“Do you know anything about Alsh Unak or Urshus’s temple?”
“Alsh Unak, the first blood of Urshus?”
Granbipra paused, then shook his head.
“I have never heard that name. Nor the title ‘first blood of Urshus.’”
So it wasn’t just missing from my memory. That name or title had never existed in the old records either.
“However, I did hear of Urshus’s temple a very long time ago. Some of Urshus’s followers once entered the Ancient Forest to form contracts with Niyerchun and the other guardians. I was told it lay near the Albatross Mountains.”
“The Albatross Mountains…?”
When I looked confused at the unfamiliar name, Elena explained in my place.
“It is the old name for the Leguluk Mountains.”
The Leguluk Mountains. I knew where they were. Though called a mountain range, they were not particularly large, and the cities and kingdoms around them used airships and rocs to fly over them constantly. Merchant caravans also passed through frequently, so if a temple had existed there, it would have been discovered long ago.
“It must have been one of the temples that were destroyed long ago.”
“They called it a holy sanctuary.”
I stopped speaking. That changed everything.
The Holy Sanctuary of El Nergavil. The name, meaning “the great flame that burns in the underworld,” appeared often in historical records and texts. It was the largest temple of Urshus ever built on the surface. While the first Dark Priest’s original temple had served as a symbol that gathered worshippers and other Dark Priests under his command, El Nergavil was the true holy land of the Dark Priests.
According to the records, in that sanctuary—built by summoning beings from the demon realm—the will of Urshus could be felt directly without any ritual, and only a chosen few among the most outstanding Dark Priests were ever permitted entry.
Yet after the fall of the Dark Priests, no one had been able to locate it, and no one claimed to have visited it. Some scholars even argued that it had never existed at all and was merely a fabrication used by the leader to control the others.
If El Nergavil truly existed, there should have been at least some record of its discovery or destruction. If the Dark Priests had not been lying, then perhaps it really was hidden somewhere in the Leguluk Mountains.
“……”
Even so, we could not simply march to the Leguluk Mountains. Even if it was there, why had it remained undiscovered until now? Granbipra’s presence offered no guarantee we could find it. Moreover, there was no certainty that the place they spoke of was the same as El Nergavil.
It was entirely possible the Dark Priests had failed to find it themselves and had simply chosen a new location.
“Then let’s head to the Leguluk Mountains right away! If we request mages from the surrounding nations and villages and conduct a thorough search…!”
Geil’s words were not wrong. Even without calling in other mages, if we asked Medrup, finding it would likely be only a matter of time. However, setting aside the threat of Ryban and the Beast Legion for now, there was still no confirmation that El Nergavil was the same place as the temple they mentioned.
If we waited here, Alsh Unak would come to us. But if we left based on uncertain information and found nothing—or found El Nergavil empty—it would mean nothing.
What was the best course of action? The safest option was to wait here. But that meant staying for several more days, and no one knew what would happen to Kainaxnus during that time.
‘Even if we go right now, can we actually get inside in time?’
I did not doubt Medrup’s abilities. If anyone could find El Nergavil, no matter what spell concealed it, it would be him. But finding it and entering it were two different problems.
If no one had found it until now, and considering its name—“the great flame that burns in the underworld”—the temple was probably buried deep underground. And if the enemy moved only through portals, there might not even be an entrance on the surface.
In that case, even Medrup could not teleport or open a portal to a place he had never seen. Even if we located the exact coordinates and used a transfer array, any interference spell from the other side would block us.
Directly digging our way in was not impossible—Medrup could obliterate an entire mountain if he wished—but the enemy would immediately notice the intrusion.
I did not know Alsh Unak’s exact strength or how many Dark Priests were inside, but at the very least the Yellow Sage would be there, and likely Rowell and Bagloros as well. The enemy would never be foolish enough to confront them head-on.
They would flee, and during that escape, we would have no way of knowing what would happen to Kainaxnus.
I looked at Geil, Elena, and Granbipra in turn. My head felt slightly dizzy. I had always been weak against sudden crises, and making such an important decision alone was something I was never accustomed to.
I was the Second-Best Strategist. I was good at filling in the small gaps and shortcomings once a direction had already been decided, but decisiveness had never been my strong suit.
‘Orcan would have charged straight in.’
The best approach was to split the team. I would wait here while the others went to Medrup. Then Medrup would head to the Leguluk Mountains.
‘What about the Beast Legion?’
To deal with the Beast Legion and Ryban, Rowell, Aegina, and Bagloros needed to remain at the front. Orcan might be able to join them as well. Other mages from the Sage’s Tower could handle teleportation and transfer arrays.
But what if Ryban’s clones had some hidden power we did not know about? What if they possessed some secret card that could threaten Rowell?
If Rowell and Medrup were together, I could guarantee there would be nothing to worry about. Even if the Demon King Thanatos were revived, they could escape without a single scratch.
But if it was only Rowell and the others, especially without Lauti, I could not feel that reassured.
‘Here we go again.’
I already knew the possibility was low. There was no need for me to worry so much about Rowell or the others. Was I really weighing the options now because of that slim chance?
I was not like Medrup. No matter how often I was called the Second-Best Strategist, I was not truly thinking objectively and coolly. Just as Aegina had said, I had already decided on a direction and was now attaching reasons to justify it.
I was hesitating, clinging to doubts, all to avoid exposing Rowell to even the smallest risk.
‘No, it is not only for Rowell’s sake. It is also because of my pride.’
I had told John that we would handle things ourselves. Reversing that decision felt unpleasant, whether consciously or unconsciously.
‘How foolish.’
I bit my lower lip. Looking at one’s own limits was never pleasant, especially in a situation like this. I looked at Elena and Geil and spoke.
“Both of you should go to the Mage Guild immediately and inform Medrup of this. We do not know whether Alsh Unak or Kainaxnus are in the Leguluk Mountains, but it is better than simply waiting.”
“What about you, Anak?”
“Granbipra and I will wait here for Alsh Unak. If there is nothing in the Leguluk Mountains or if the rescue fails, this is the only connection we have left to Kainaxnus.”
This was the best I could do. And it was not a bad plan. At least if one side failed, there would still be another option.
“Understood. And please be careful.”
She said this, then flew off with Geil. Even if the totem blocked them, summoning their familiars might alert the enemy.
“Then I should simply wait here?”
“Yes. It may be a little boring, but please bear with it.”
“If it is repayment for my savior, this is nothing. However, if possible, could I wait in the space where Rofena resides? I would like to show her my hatched form.”
His eyes looked just like a child eager to show off a new toy. Considering how Rofena had treated him before his hatching and the conversations between them, I could understand the feeling.
“I am sorry, but if you do that, we may not be able to receive your help when we truly need it.”
If he went into the study, I would have to fetch him again when necessary.
“Understood.”
He looked slightly disappointed, but still followed my wishes without complaint. After all, his interest in Rofena was only a passing amusement, not something he truly desired.
“More importantly, do you know anything about this totem?”
I turned and pointed at the totem. Something had been bothering me ever since I learned it was called a totem.
“It is meant to confuse the enemy’s five senses by drawing on the surrounding energies.”
“Is it old, or was it erected recently?”
“It was erected recently. The tree has not been dead for long.”
“Dead?”
The head of the totem was carved into a grotesque shape, but sprouts and green leaves grew from other parts, and the bark still looked alive. It hardly seemed dead.
“It absorbed energy and regained its vitality. This pillar was once dead.”
He could even tell that much.
“Why do you ask? These are relatively common, are they not?”
“Yes. Druids and shamans often use them.”
But summoners—especially Dark Priests—did not.
“A druid’s totem in a Dark Priest’s location…”
Of course, some summoners possessed druidic or shamanic abilities. The Sage of the Forest, Neiku, was the most famous example. But this level of skill… Even if magic systems differed, if it was beyond what I could gauge, then the one who created this totem was clearly an extraordinary expert.
“……”
I looked up toward the house that was no longer visible. Was there a druid or shaman of this caliber among them? Or had they forcibly taken over a druid’s home hidden in the forest?
“Then I will go inside for now. If possible, please search the surrounding area. If you find any more totems or similar objects, let me know when I come out at night.”
“Understood. But if you change your mind, please tell me anytime. Suppressing them would be far too easy.”
I nodded and raised my hand. Many thoughts crossed my mind, but for now, I placed my hand on the totem. Honestly, I had no particular desire to enter that house, but no matter what, gathering even a little more information was better. Of course, having a conversation with that madman or being stuck in a cramped room with other men was far from appealing.