Chapter 110
Chapter 110
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 110
Chapter Title: The Alchemists' Bracelet
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Crack―――!!!!
The human golem's waist snapped, and its body crumbled into dust in an instant.
Amid the bone dust of the golem, Woojin spotted something small like a gemstone.
It was a Rune.
'A Rune dropping in the field... this is the first time, right?'
Woojin felt a fresh sense of just how far he'd come.
"You alright?"
"Ah, yes. Don't worry."
"Good thing. An explosion out of nowhere... What the hell were these guys making here?"
Aswell checked Woojin over from head to toe before letting out a relieved sigh.
"...Hm?"
In that moment, he seemed to spot something in the golem's dust and reached in.
Inside was not just the Rune, but also a large orb-like object.
"A magic stone."
At his words, Woojin felt his shoulders twitch involuntarily.
He was reminded of the magic mine he'd blown up in Yorka Village not long ago.
"I've seen magic stones a few times but don't know much about them. This one's perfectly refined, though—first I've seen like this."
Aswell showed Woojin the round orb.
📛 Name:Purified Black Magic Stone
🏷️ Grade:B
📜 Description: A high-purity magic stone completed after 100 refinements. Appears to use a new refinement method, not the extraction technique of the known sage Sig Elric.
'Hmm... a new refinement method.'
The final boss of the dungeon [Alchemist's Lab], Sage Sig Elric, had once been a brilliant alchemist worthy of the title of sage.
Though now branded a madman, many of his alchemical techniques were still in use today.
And this wasn't his method.
'Then who...?'
An alchemist on par with Sig Elric would have to be Rahad, head of the Alchemists' Association.
But Woojin soon shook his head.
'Rahad's methods are public. If it was his, it'd say so in the description.'
It seemed most likely the work of the alchemists behind this place.
"We should've taken a prisoner... My mistake. Killed them too quick."
"No, even if any survived, they wouldn't have withstood that attack earlier."
Woojin said that as he checked the remaining alchemists' corpses.
Unfortunately, nothing particularly noteworthy turned up in their pockets.
"Hmm..."
However, they all wore thin silver bracelets on their wrists.
Woojin pulled one off.
📛 Name:Alchemist's Bracelet
🏷️ Grade:D
📜 Description: Bracelet worn by alchemists researching human golems. No special functions apparent, but since they all wore it, likely a mark of affiliation.
"Mark of affiliation..."
As Woojin examined the bracelet.
"...Huh?"
He discovered something inscribed on the inside.
[Rag Ka Müenne]
"...What does this mean?"
Woojin looked to Aswell, but he shook his head, apparently clueless.
-To the east.
Surprisingly, Setsuna knew what was engraved on the bracelet.
"How do you know that?"
-Nothing special. I saw it in a book from the Balan family warehouse.
Aswell gave an awkward smile, as if wondering if such a thing existed.
-Hold on.
A golden-glowing book appeared in Setsuna's hand.
-Here it is!
She flipped through the pages and pointed with her finger, looking at Woojin.
-Rag Ka Müenne. Means 'to the east.' Also refers to the direction of the paradise passed down since ancient times, Golden Fragrance.
'Golden Fragrance...?'
Woojin had a quest to find that place too.
The unexpected name made him reexamine the bracelet.
"Why would alchemists inscribe something about Golden Fragrance...?"
Uncovering their identity seemed crucial.
"Looks like these guys definitely attacked the border guards."
Woojin snapped out of his thoughts at Aswell's words and looked up.
"Urk...!!"
The moment he glanced where Aswell pointed, he covered his mouth.
Below the pit where the monster had been moments ago lay a pile of mutilated corpses.
"...Fed them as fodder, huh."
"Probably."
Aswell clicked his tongue.
"What now?"
"Heading to Esten Kingdom. Only five alchemists here. More must remain in the kingdom."
Woojin nodded at his words.
"Need to confirm if this ties to Esten Kingdom or just the alchemists acting alone."
"And if it's the former?"
"War's inevitable."
Even if the latter, war might still come.
'If Tekan grabs this as an excuse for allowing alchemists to stay in the Great Forest, it won't blow over quietly.'
Whatever Esten thought, the alchemists had made war unavoidable.
'Came to the central continent to challenge the Labyrinth Tower... but no sign of the tower, just dragged into incidents.'
Woojin thought as he followed Aswell.
"Send the soldiers back from here. Better if just you and I go to Esten. What do you think?"
Ding―
[Esten War → Esten's Alchemists]
The alert rang out.
Woojin nodded to Aswell as he accepted.
"Got it. Us going alone should cause fewer issues than bringing troops."
Aswell ordered the soldiers to return and report.
Having seen the horrific monster, they obeyed and headed back to the kingdom.
'Never thought I'd cross the Great Forest like this.'
Woojin thought as he traversed the forest.
According to the Fairy Queen, spirits lived in the Great Forest.
'Would've been nice with Luen.'
But stopping training midway would lose all the experience gained so far.
By the time he detoured to Esten and returned, her training would be done, so he'd visit the Great Forest then.
'No way something happens to the forest in the meantime.'
He glanced at the dense trees before picking up speed to follow Aswell.
"Who goes there?! State your affiliation!"
After two days of forced march, they exited the Great Forest and reached Esten Kingdom's border.
Hundreds of soldiers atop the walls nocked arrows and shouted.
"Aswell Balan of Tekan Kingdom."
Murmurs― murmurs―.
The walls buzzed at his single statement.
"A-Aswell? You mean that Sword Emperor...?"
"No way. Why's the Sword Emperor here?"
"C-Captain... what do we do? Open the gates?"
"You idiot! You think we just open border gates for that?!"
The Esten border captain smacked his subordinate's head and bellowed.
"Ahem...!! What brings the Sword Emperor to our border?"
The captain cleared his throat and shouted.
He tried to hide it, but his voice trembled fiercely.
"There was a battle at Tekan's border recently. Hundreds of border guards died on the spot."
"...?!"
The captain stared in confusion.
"No idea what you're talking about. No Esten troops moved separately. As captain, I'd know best."
"Then it was the alchemists in the Great Forest acting alone. I'm coming from their lab."
Aswell showed them the alchemist corpse he'd brought.
"They were making monsters. Fed them Tekan border guards' bodies."
"Fed them people...?"
"Nonsense!!"
"No way we'd miss something that horrific!!"
'Their reactions... they really seem clueless.'
Aswell narrowed his eyes.
"Then I must enter the kingdom all the more. Need to know why Esten allowed alchemists in the Great Forest."
"...You mean to see His Highness."
"Yes."
The captain's face hardened.
'Letting him into the palace is too risky. If he turns...'
Who was the Sword Emperor?
Even with dozens of royal knights, the king's safety wasn't guaranteed.
"...Please wait. I'll report."
"Can't wait long."
The captain hurriedly descended the wall.
"Will Esten's king meet us?"
"Probably refuse."
"Then what'll you do?"
Woojin asked nervously, half-expecting him to smash the gates.
"Likely tell me to send you in my stead."
"...Me?"
"If the captain brought someone with appraisal skills, nine out of ten he'd think that."
"What then?"
"Once in the capital, investigate the alchemists."
"Tell the king?"
"Do, but don't expect much. High chance he lies."
"Permission granted from above! His Highness says one person's enough to question about the incident!! So, not you—the one beside you passes through!!"
The captain's voice rang out.
As Aswell predicted, an unfamiliar man stood beside the captain.
'Used appraisal on me...'
At level 57, Woojin wasn't much threat to them.
"Just think of it as getting permission to operate in the kingdom."
Woojin nodded.
"Even with permission, they might surveil you. If anything happens, use this."
Aswell handed him a small rod.
📛 Name:Engineering Signal Flare
🏷️ Grade:D
📜 Description: Signal flare improved via magitech engineering. Never extinguishes and ignores magic effects.
▶ Uses:1/1
"Don't worry too much. If the signal goes up, I'll come to the kingdom myself."
"Yourself?"
"Yes."
"With border guards blocking?"
"Who? Them? Block me?"
Aswell chuckled dryly at Woojin's question.
"They're not blocking me."
He shook his head, as if it was a silly question.
"I'm just not going in."
"Ah, right."
Not wrong.