The Legendary Sword (1)
Roin returned to the palace after learning about the state of the common folk inside and outside the kingdom through her train tour. The country, which had been chaotic due to the long-standing conflict between the princes, was now stabilizing overall. Rok had navigated the crisis smoothly without the usual confusion that comes with a new king's ascension.
Land prices rose and fell in various places with the change in ruler, but they managed to get through it thanks to Diablo.
"Heh heh! Re.vive."
Whenever holy power flashed from Diablo's hand, everything on the brink of death sprang back to life. Dying alley markets were revived by his touch as well. It was thanks to his miraculous hands that could heal anything.
"......You can heal that too?"
Roin was a bit baffled, but since healing with holy power was fantasy in the first place, there wasn't much point in nitpicking. Saving a patient with a single prayer or reviving a withered market—same difference, really.
Anyway. Roin's popularity among the people was skyrocketing day by day. The country grew more stable with time. Princes 1 and 2 were deeply impressed by this and supported her both materially and morally.
1st Prince Estial led the Red Bulls, now the 2nd Knight Order, and completely repelled the monsters on the western front.
"I don't know why, but lately, the giant spiders, orcs, and lizardmen—our strongest foes—haven't shown their faces at all."
With those three types of monsters nowhere in sight, Estial defended the western front with ease.
2nd Prince Int helped Roin overhaul all the systems inside and outside the country, along with social infrastructure and taxes. In the process, all the illicitly siphoned funds returned to their proper places, and countless corrupt officials ended up in prison.
"I'll root out the trash like those mountain assassins first."
To clear the past, Int eradicated the assassin guilds he had once hired. The worst offenders were executed or imprisoned, while those with lighter crimes were partially pardoned in exchange for becoming informants.
Rumors also swirled that 3rd Prince Jal had gone abroad for a political marriage, and the Gold Lion Knights—the only ones who knew the truth—vowed to take the secret to their graves. Instead, they were showing considerable interest in Cliche lately.
Meanwhile, having successfully solidified Roin as queen, Cliche began moving in earnest toward his true goal for coming to this country.
"Sniff sniff!"
A faint dragon scent lingered on Roin. As he entered the palace interior, the smell grew stronger. There was definitely a trace of dragon somewhere in this palace.
"......Where the hell is it?"
The Pink Dragon Knights led by Cliche were now thoroughly searching the interior of Rok's palace. Unicef was the only one absent, citing sick leave.
This massive palace, carved from what was once a rocky mountain, had countless secret places even its insiders didn't know about. Even Roin didn't know the exact number of warehouses inside the palace.
Thus, Cliche was relying on the faint dragon scent wafting from somewhere to find his way.
Familiar. The smell hits his nose and sticks. But don't worry. The nose is faster than the eyes.
Cliche navigates the labyrinthine palace corridors with ease.
"Beep! Something's this way."
AlphaGo, holding her dowsing machine, assisted Cliche with her signature expressionless face.
"Sniff... sniff... What... is... this... smell... making... such... a fuss~~?"
"Heh heh! If you're nitpicking, isn't the Black Flame Dragon sealed in my left arm a real dragon too?"
Hotse and Diablo bantered as they followed behind. Soon enough.
Cliche and AlphaGo's footsteps halted simultaneously at one spot. It was the most remote alley in the palace corridors—a dead end that no one in the palace would bother approaching.
"The smell's coming from here."
"Beep! Ley lines flow here."
With Cliche and AlphaGo saying similar things at the same time, Roin, following behind, felt her curiosity piqued.
"But what do you sense? This is a dead end......"
Roin didn't even finish her sentence. Hotse stepped forward, swung her kukri, and...
Boom!
With a massive roar, the wall crumbled. And then.
"Oh?"
Roin's eyes widened. Beyond what she thought was a dead-end corridor lay a hidden underground passage.
* * *
The underground passage looked centuries old. Or maybe even millennia. Cobwebs hung in tatters from decayed threads, dust piled thick below. At the bottom of the spiral stairs lay only sticky darkness. A hazy mist clung somewhere. The interior was quite humid and hot.
Wooo... A gloomy sound rumbled from the cave depths. Just hearing it made one's mood sink.
"Here. The dragon smell's coming from here."
Cliche plunged in without hesitation.
"C-Cliche! What if there are traps or dangerous monsters inside?!"
Mimics disguised as treasure chests waiting for adventurers, gargoyles lurking as statues before ambushing from above. Dungeons always teemed with perilous monsters.
Roin quickly ordered a servant to call for reinforcements.
"This is right up my big bro's alley. Call Estial oppa, please."
At Roin's words, the servants bowed and hurried off to request support. Soon.
The symbol of valor, Great General Estial, and Red Bulls Knight Order Leader Caffeine Colonel appeared.
"Sister Your Majesty! Have you been well?"
Estial laughed heartily and shook Roin's hand. Upon hearing her explanation, his eyes gleamed as he eyed the underground dungeon.
"A secret dungeon inside the palace. This could be fun. We'll take care of conquering it."
Soon, a raid team was dispatched from the Red Bulls Knight Order. The Hotsix assault team, wielding red spears and hoplon shields, took the vanguard. They were warriors who could advance for days without sleep. Utterly reliable.
"Alright! Let's go!"
Estial shouted boldly. The joint investigation by the Pink Dragon Knights and Red Bulls Knight Order began. They descended the underground cave discovered at the end of the palace corridor in groups.
"Beep! Indoor temperature 45 degrees. Humidity 80%. Discomfort index rising."
"Whew... the heat... feels... intense~~?"
"Heh heh! Feels super dark and ominous."
The Pink Dragon Knights led the way down. At that moment.
Thud!
The cave walls began to move.
"Here they come!"
Estial's eyes lit up. Caffeine Colonel beside him drew his sword.
"The guardians protecting the treasure have appeared."
As they said. Grooooaaar! Emerging from the cave's darkness were golems and gargoyles of considerable size.
"You can gauge a treasure's value by how strong the dungeon guardians are."
Estial scanned ahead with a serious expression. The golems and gargoyles before them were all enormous. Clearly powerhouse monsters at a glance.
Grraaaawr! Towering over 6 meters, these underground guardians—made of solid stone—seemed to have guarded this place for eons. Cobwebs and withered vines wrapped their fists, red light poured from their eyes. Their bodies dripped with wet mud, but beneath gleamed the famed durable bluestone surface. No ordinary mage had crafted these.
"Hmm, not sure if we can handle this alone. Should we call Int's Black Yack and Jal's Gold Lion for backup...?"
But Estial didn't finish. "What a pain, all these obstacles?" Cliche stepped forward.
Swish swish— Cliche irritably tore away the dangling dust clumps and cobwebs. And while at it, the golems' and gargoyles' heads too.
Crunch— crunch— thud— thud— Dust, cobwebs, golem heads, gargoyle limbs scattered wildly into the air. Soon, the underground stairs were cleared. It took mere seconds.
"Alright, let's hurry."
Cliche dashed downward. The Red Bulls Knight Order stared in stunned silence.
'......I drew my sword against that guy?'
Only Caffeine Colonel quietly broke into a cold sweat.
* * *
Finally, at the underground's deepest bottom, they discovered something. Not treasure or a monster—something rather unexpected.
At the cave's end. Nothing but a single large rock. Or rather.
One thing: a sword embedded in the rock! A handle of red fish scales, no crossguard. A famed blade with a sharply honed transparent single edge. An immense aura emanated from it at a glance.
Beep! Cliche has discovered the 'Sword of Unknown Origin'!
Cliche rushed to the rock, sniffing vigorously. "Here. The dragon smell's strongest here." Definitely a thick scent. Kin's smell. Even a scorching heat.
"Ho? That's a sword? Looks like a legendary blade at first sight."
Great General Estial's eyes gleamed at the sword in the rock. Caffeine Colonel seemed intrigued too. To a warrior, a fine sword was a must-have collector's item that stirred desire.
Meanwhile, Hotse and Diablo showed little interest.
"I,,already,,,have,,,a sword,,,I found,,on the road,,,so no thanks~~ Give it to someone,,responsible,,and diligent~~"
"Heh heh. Give it to me. I'll walk it, bathe it, and clean up its poop properly."
"It's not a stray cat, okay? And since it's treasure found in the palace, as queen, I have priority."
Roin lightly rebuked Hotse and Diablo, then turned to Cliche beside her.
"Cliche found it, so the sword's his. I, the queen, fully guarantee it."
"Thanks, Roin."
As Cliche nodded, Estial and Caffeine Colonel nodded too.
"A famed sword belongs in a famed commander's hand."
"Wise judgment, Your Majesty. Your word is law."
But Estial seemed inwardly regretful and sidled up to Cliche with a sly request.
"Hey, 1st Knight Order Leader. Mind if I at least touch it? Nah, it just looks so damn cool. I'd love the honor of pulling it first...... Is that too shameless?"
"I beg you too, just once."
Even Caffeine Colonel bowed his head in request. Not claiming it, just pulling it out—Cliche nodded without much thought.
"Thanks, thanks. Really, thank you. I'll just hold it gently...... No, I'll pull it."
Estial grabbed Cliche's hands repeatedly thanking him, then hopped onto the rock.
"Well then......"
Estial reached for the sword's handle. Gave it his all to yank it free. But?
"Hup!?"
Thick veins bulged on Estial's forehead. Astonishingly, despite his superhuman strength, the sword didn't budge from the rock. Not even a twitch.
"Urraaaaaah!"
Estial threw his whole body into it, but the sword remained utterly still.
"General. Let me try."
Fueled by rivalry, Caffeine Colonel stepped up. Quite rude, but they were old friends before commander-subordinate. Estial raised a palm to the advancing colonel.
"N-No. It's not that it's too much for my strength. The handle's just slippery."
"Pardon? No, you just yelled with full power? 'Urraah' or whatever?"
"No. Sweat on my hands."
"Sweat's pouring more from your forehead."
"Quit talking back."
Estial fetched a dry towel, wiped his hands, and wrapped it around the handle.
"Nngiiiiih!"
Estial pulled with everything. But still, no movement.
"General. Don't push yourself. Let me."
Caffeine Colonel smirked and advanced.
"......Tch."
Estial reluctantly stepped aside. He eyed Caffeine Colonel anxiously.
"If you pull it, remember—I almost had it out. Keep that in mind."
"Y-Yes, sure, General."
Caffeine Colonel gripped the handle and pulled. "Graaaaaah!" But no use. The sword didn't twitch.
"Heh heh. Sweaty hands too?"
"......How'd you know, General? I have severe hyperhidrosis."
"Damn. Then let's both pull."
"Wise."
Soon, Estial and Caffeine tugged together. Two men gripped the long thing hotly and yanked.
"Pull-the-sword oooout!"
Still futile. The sword stayed embedded.
"Looks like opening a stubborn jar lid."
Roin giggled, and Estial and Caffeine awkwardly averted their eyes.
"Whew... move... aside~~"
Hotse, who'd been watching, stepped up.
"Yes! Hotse can do it!"
Roin cheered brightly, knowing Hotse's immense strength. Estial and Caffeine grumbled softly.
"......We almost had it, right? If not for the slippery handle......"
"Yes, General. And my sweaty hands...... If it comes out, our credit's like 70%......"
But their chat didn't last.
"Grr~~~ngh... urp... "
Hotse failed too. Her lush golden hair flushed red. Even a bloody elf's power couldn't budge it.
"Heavens, even Hotse failed! If Unicef were here, we'd try once more."
Roin covered her mouth in shock. Hotse, top 1-2 in Pink Dragon Knights' combat power, couldn't pull it. Unicef probably same. Unless they teamed up.
"Hey! Buff... me... once,,,properly,,give! While we're struggling,,,you kid... stand there... gawking~gawking~!!"
Hotse bullied idle Diablo for a buff. But.
Hope wasn't lost yet.
"......"
All eyes turned to one place. Cliche.