Chapter 102: Malaka Ruins (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 102: Malaka Ruins (2)
Alon and Evan began heading toward the Malaka Ruins alongside Rian’s party.
“Your Lordship… it feels like it’s getting even more humid the deeper we go, doesn’t it?”
“Indeed.”
Alon nodded as he looked at Evan, who was scowling with clear discomfort.
I knew it was humid here, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad. It’s dreadful.
Hiding his own displeasure, Alon absentmindedly adjusted his clothes. He could feel the damp, clammy texture against his fingers.
…I need to handle this business and get out as quickly as possible.
His intense dislike for humidity made a swift resolution feel like a dire necessity.
They continued walking for some time.
“Let’s take a short break.”
They had finally reached the halfway point.
While resting, Alon spoke with Rian and learned the reason why she and her party were heading to the Malaka Ruins.
“…Malaka is a Magic Ruin?”
A Magic Ruin.
The ruins found in Ronobelli took many forms—treasure ruins, heirloom ruins, knowledge ruins, and more.
Among them, Magic Ruins were like holy grails to mages because they contained magical items used during the forgotten Age of Gods.
However…
…I don’t recall any description of this place being that kind of ruin in the game.
Back when he played Psychedelia, he had visited this place over a hundred times to obtain artifacts that could only be found in the jungle, much like his experience with Laxas. The memories of the mini-games he played here were still vivid.
“It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but there’s a high probability,” Rian explained.
“Is there any evidence?”
“Explorers created maps that showed the specific layout of several recently discovered Magic Ruins, and the layout of the Malaka Ruins is remarkably similar.”
This was new information, even to him.
“I knew about the Malaka Ruins, but it’s quite interesting to hear they might be Magic Ruins.”
“Right? If it weren’t for Teon, I probably would have just assumed they were ordinary ruins, as reported to the camp. Teon was the one who discovered this fact.”
At her words, Alon glanced at Teon, who was resting some distance away.
“?”
Their eyes definitely met, but Teon quickly turned his head away as if he hadn’t been looking. Alon felt a brief moment of suspicion.
“…Then, do artifacts from the forgotten era of old sleep within the Malaka Ruins?”
Rian tilted her head at Alon’s follow-up question.
“Hmm, I think that possibility is slim. When explorers and mages first discovered the Malaka Ruins, they said there was nothing there. Even if there is something, it’s likely just academic data.”
Alon nodded at Rian’s explanation, and this time, she was the one to ask a question.
“By the way, Your Lordship, what brings you to the ruins?”
Alon debated how much to reveal before giving a vague answer.
“I was asked by an acquaintance.”
“A request?”
“Yes. They asked me to stop by the Malaka Ruins.”
Rian wore a slightly curious expression, but sensing that Alon had no intention of elaborating, she didn’t press further.
Appreciating her consideration, Alon continued.
“Still, is it alright to share such information so casually? I knew nothing about it.”
“Huh? Ah—”
Rian nodded as if she understood his point.
“It’s fine. Even if there are similarities to Magic Ruins, the probability that Malaka is actually one is significantly low, and the chance of there being artifacts is virtually zero.”
“Besides, even if academic data is found, it’ll be released to the Magic Society anyway, so there’s no point in hiding it,” Rian added.
“I see. So, the reason you’re here is to verify if the Malaka Ruins are indeed Magic Ruins?”
“Exactly. The Red Magic Tower excels at ‘Interpretation,’ and the Green Magic Tower excels at ‘Detection,’ so we decided to collaborate.”
Alon listened as Rian explained the circumstances behind the formation of this magical exploration team.
“Then you’ll be leaving as soon as this exploration is over.”
“Hmm, unless we end up exploring the new unmapped zone to the north, that will likely be the case.”
“…The unmapped zone to the north,” Alon muttered to himself.
He knew exactly what kind of hellscape that northern unmapped zone was.
…In the future, that will surely be the territory of the Hundred Ghosts, one of the Four Major Factions.
The Four Major Factions: The Hundred Ghosts.
They appeared in the mid-to-late stages of Psychedelia.
Specifically, around the time the Five Great Sins were running rampant. Along with the Sins that descended one by one, they were the primary culprits who turned the already-failing train of the United Kingdoms into a high-speed express to ruin.
Whether it was the members or the bosses, every faction presented a difficulty level that made players want to curse out loud.
In particular, the boss of the Hundred Ghosts, the ‘King of Oddities,’ made his blood pressure rise just thinking about it.
“It might be best not to explore the northern unmapped zone if possible.”
“? Why is that?”
“From what I’ve heard from an acquaintance, it’s quite dangerous.”
Like the Outer Gods, these Four Major Factions wouldn’t necessarily act unless the Five Great Sins awakened and descended, according to the lore.
Alon offered the advice out of genuine goodwill.
“Let’s head out again!”
He stood up, leaving a bewildered Rian behind.
…I don’t need to worry, right?
He felt a sudden flash of anxiety as he thought of Deus, but he soon began to walk.
It was a damp morning, filled with a sense of unease…
* * *
How much time had passed?
By the time the sky had grown so overcast that it was difficult to tell the time, the party arrived at the Temple of Malaka.
“Let’s go inside immediately.”
Knowing that the Malaka Ruins were not a high-risk area, the mages didn’t hesitate. They left the mercenaries and guides behind and began heading inside.
“Are we going in too?”
“Yes.”
Alon, who had been observing the ruin’s structure—which resembled an ancient pyramid—began to move with Evan.
As he entered the ruins, where moss grew thick between the stones from years of moisture, Alon suddenly recalled what Cretenia Siyan had said.
…‘You can find the reason there’… huh.
To be honest, Alon still didn’t know what Siyan’s intention was in sending him here. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t even guess at a minor reason.
What could it be?
While he was lost in thought…
“Oh. It’s actually quite cool in here.”
At Evan’s comment, Alon finally took in the interior of the ruins.
“…….”
There was, quite literally, nothing here.
All he could see were moss-covered rocks.
There was a stone platform in the center of the ruins large enough to easily hold a hundred people, but other than that, it was just a vast, empty space.
It was a space that felt incredibly hollow for a ruin.
…What am I supposed to learn here?
In this place that was merely a bit cooler than the outside, Alon once again recalled Siyan’s words and looked around the empty ruins.
Just as Alon’s gaze slowly drifted upward…
“?”
He saw letters there.
They were drawn like a painting, yet Alon’s mind clearly recognized them as ‘letters’ and understood them as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Having had a similar experience seeing a stone tablet in the Dragonkin ruins, Alon felt a sense of wonder.
‘Spirit Dragon’s Egg.’
He could read the words, which were clearly recognized despite being worn away by time.
“—Fixation…?”
As he muttered the Phrase written below it…
Thump—!
Along with a massive sound from the distance, like something slamming shut…
Crunch!
He heard the wet, heavy sound of flesh tearing.
* * *
As I thought, even if the layout is similar, the probability of this being a Magic Ruin is almost zero.
Rian, who had been staring at the empty ruins until a moment ago, turned her head at the sudden sound of tearing flesh.
“!?”
There, one of the Green Magic Tower mages who had entered with her was lying on the ground, his head completely blown apart.
Crunch, munch!
Bzzzzzzzz—!
And bizarrely large insects were feasting on the mage’s corpse.
“Ugh—!”
“W-what is that?!”
“What the hell—”
The moment they saw the sight, one of the mages couldn’t hold back their nausea and vomited. Others let out screams.
However, they soon began preparing spells in unison against the grotesque insects that were gradually revealing themselves within the vast ruins.
Why are jungle mutants here?!
Rian couldn’t understand the situation at all, but regardless, she tried to prepare a spell.
But she soon realized a horrifying fact.
Why isn’t the magic…?!
The magic wouldn’t manifest.
As the insects slowly gathered, Rian tried to use magic with an even more desperate expression, but it still wouldn’t work.
The mana… is scattering?!
The moment she released her mana to form an array, she realized it was slipping out of her control and dissipating into the atmosphere. She was struck with horror.
“Sigh—”
At that moment, someone’s sigh reached her ears.
The gazes of the mages, including Rian, turned toward the source.
“That was a close call.”
There stood Teon, towering among the insects.
“Teon…?”
Rian called his name, unable to comprehend.
Teon flashed a vivid smile in front of the Green Magic Tower mage’s corpse.
“You look like you don’t understand.”
Rian’s face hardened at the expression, which was filled with blatant mockery.
“…Do you even realize what you’re doing?”
“Ah, are you going to lecture me? Sorry, but please spare me. I’ve heard it so much I’m sick of it. And don’t worry, I know exactly what I’m doing. It’s you who seems to be in the dark.”
“What?”
Teon chuckled at Rian’s question.
“Once you realize what I’m about to do, you won’t be able to keep that calm face of yours.”
He then pulled a dark, ink-black staff from his robes and gave it a light swing.
At that moment, a mosquito-like insect that had been feasting on the mage’s corpse plunged its sharp proboscis into the corpse’s chest and ripped out the heart.
Splatter!
The heart was pulled out in a spray of blood.
Teon took it from the insect’s mouth and tossed it into the center of the arena.
Soon, the pulsating heart began to stain the massive stone floor with blood.
Rian tried to use magic once more at the sight, but…
“Ah, you shouldn’t bother. Since the ‘Test’ has already begun, magic cannot be used inside these ruins.”
“A test… you say?”
“That’s right, a test. A qualification test to take the Magic Ruin located here.”
Teon shrugged nonchalantly.
“First, let me say, I have nothing against you all. The only reason I brought you here was because I needed the hearts of ten or more mages.”
“I heard from that person that it’s meaningless unless it’s a mage’s heart,” Teon added, his words pouring out with a cheerful expression as if his previous silence had been a lie.
“But honestly, I was nervous at the end. It didn’t matter if Marquis Palatio followed since he’s a mage, but having that monster, the First Sword of Calliban, tag along was a bit of a burden.”
“…….”
“I was debating how to hold out until the Marquis left. But since you’ve allowed me to take the test on the very first day, I’m incredibly grateful.”
Teon looked at Alon with blatant derision for a moment.
“Well then, let’s say our goodbyes. I’ll put your hearts to good use.”
As he waved his ink-black staff, the mutants spread their wings and began to take flight.
Is this… the end?
Just as Rian’s face was clouded with despair—no matter how much mana she released to manifest magic, it scattered fruitlessly—
Crackle!
At the sound of a sharp spark, Rian’s gaze snapped to one spot.
And there…
“!”
In front of Alon’s hand, extended with his index and middle fingers pressed together, she saw ‘magic’ shining brilliantly.
The mages, who had been lost in despair, stared at that light as if possessed.
“!?”
The smile on Teon’s face shifted from amusement to confusion, and from confusion to pure shock.
“Fixation.”
Alon, who had already realized the only solution to using magic in this space, whispered the Phrase.