Chapter 134
Chapter 134
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 134
Chapter Title: Relic Site (2)
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Demian looked down at Dawn with a surprised expression.
Until now, even as he had continuously wielded Dawn, it had never emitted such a dazzling light.
'What in the world is happening to Dawn?'
The light gradually faded. By the time it had completely vanished, Dawn had transformed entirely.
Its outer appearance looked the same, but the amount of holy power emanating from Dawn had greatly increased.
That wasn't all. A miracle had been inscribed within Dawn.
'It grew.'
The decisive difference between a low-grade holy sword and a mid-grade holy sword was the presence of a miracle.
Now, Dawn had grown into a mid-grade holy sword by creating its own miracle.
Ziiiiiing!
Dawn trembled. It was as if it were thrilled by its own change.
"Be careful! It says to be careful!"
In that instant, a skeleton that had closed in right up to his face swung its sword at Demian.
Zing!
Dawn trembled violently. With the vibration came a shockwave that sent the skeleton flying backward.
'The holy sword released holy power on its own will?'
Even in his previous life, he had never seen a holy sword like this. Not even among the special-grade ones.
"Be careful... be careful...!"
The skeleton rose to its feet. The part struck by the shockwave was half-destroyed, bone fragments raining down.
"You have to be careful!"
The skeleton charged at Demian. At that moment, Dawn released holy power once more.
Dawn released holy power again. The holy power turned into a sharp slash that cleaved the skeleton's body in two.
"You have to... be... careful..."
The bisected skeleton collapsed. Soon, its torso shattered into pieces, turning into black smoke and vanishing.
Ziiiiiing!
Dawn trembled. It was as if it were asking for praise.
"You were magnificent."
Demian said it with genuine sincerity. Dawn trembled as if delighted.
"But now it's too eye-catching to carry around."
Zing?
With such powerful holy power, anyone who knew would recognize it immediately.
Moreover, when Demian used black magic, having Dawn nearby would likely interfere.
Zi, zing!
Dawn seemed to say to wait a moment. Suddenly, the light it was emitting sank into the blade.
The holy power that had been felt until just now had cleanly vanished.
'It concealed its holy power?'
Not only had it destroyed the skeleton on its own, but it had even hidden its holy power.
It was so perfectly concealed that even Demian had to concentrate to detect it.
'At this point, it's downright eerie.'
Demian looked at Dawn with disgusted eyes.
Oblivious, Dawn rang out as if asking for praise again.
"V-Victor, sir... w-what was that just now...?"
Tievo, sprawled on the floor, pointed at Dawn and asked.
"It's a magic sword."
He couldn't reveal that Dawn was a holy sword. It might expose Demian's identity.
In any case, non-knights couldn't distinguish between magic swords and holy swords.
"I-It’s a magic sword... J-Just as the rumors said, it's incredible."
As expected, Tievo believed Demian's words without a shred of doubt.
"By the way, what on earth was that? Undead in the relic site...?"
Tievo shuddered as he spoke.
"W-We should report it to the Baek Nation right away."
"That might be difficult."
"Pardon?"
"There's no evidence."
Demian pointed to where the skeleton had vanished. The equipment it had worn had melted into black liquid.
Gasdal had rigged it so that a corrosion curse would activate upon the skeleton's destruction.
"Without evidence, no one will believe us even if we tell them."
Even if there had been evidence, Demian wouldn't have told the Baek Nation. It was more convenient for drawing out Gasdal that way.
"Good heavens... This can't be... I have no idea what's going on..."
Tievo clutched his head as he sat on a nearby chair. Demian examined the chair closely and said,
"Come out for a moment."
"Pardon?"
Though puzzled, Tievo stood up from the chair as Demian instructed.
Demian inspected the surface of the chair. Ancient script was engraved there.
<┣╋┛>
Seeing the ancient script, Demian murmured in surprise.
"A box?"
If it were really a box, it wouldn't have been left here. Explorers would have taken anything portable.
"Could the script be carved wrong?"
Demian tried to pick up the box, but it wouldn't budge easily.
Only after channeling mana could he lift it.
'It's incredibly heavy.'
It was so heavy that everyone had mistaken it for a chair and left it alone.
Demian set the box down again and said to Tievo,
"It's dangerous, so step back."
Demian channeled aura through Dawn and sliced off the top of the box.
Inside the box lay a pair of gauntlets and a ring.
Demian first picked up the gauntlets and tried them on. He felt an unknown power spreading through his body.
'These gauntlets enhance strength.'
Wearing them automatically activated the body's muscles, boosting power.
A normal person wearing them could rightly be called a strongman.
However, for someone like Demian, whose body was already superhumanly trained, the effect was minimal.
Next, Demian slipped on the ring. When he infused it with mana, something appeared above the ring.
"A map?"
Demian's face lit up. The map he had been searching for was here.
"This is a windfall."
The gauntlets were unremarkable, but the ring was different. It was the greatest treasure obtained while exploring the second floor.
"Let's head back now."
* * *
"Huh? What's that?"
As soon as the two emerged outside, people's attention focused on them.
"Ancient armor!"
"Something only found on the first floor... Where did they find it?"
The crowd gawked in shock at the item Tievo was carrying on his back.
"Look at that. It's an APG—Ancient Power Gauntlet!"
"The relic that makes even the weakestling as strong as a bull just by wearing it!"
"I heard mercenaries go mad trying to get their hands on that relic."
Greedy gazes poured from all directions. Anxious at the crowd's reaction, Tievo asked,
"Victor, sir, the way people are looking at us isn't normal."
At that moment, a man blocked their path and shouted,
"Hey! Sell those items to me! I'll give you one gold for the lot!"
The instant the man yelled, another shouted,
"One gold? Trying to cheat people... I'll give five gold! Sell to me!"
"Don't listen to that nonsense! I'll pay eight gold!"
Hagglers sprang up in the blink of an eye.
Soon, over a dozen people surrounded Demian, calling out bids.
Demian, the person in question, had no intention of selling the items right away.
Selling without knowing the market price would be foolish.
'Still, it's insanely popular.'
He hadn't expected this many people clamoring for mere low-grade guard armor. The popularity exceeded Demian's expectations.
'I've almost run out of money lately. Maybe I should make a killing this time.'
The rewards from the duke and king had been spent amid various events.
Demian wasn't particularly attached to money, but he wasn't fool enough to pass up an easy opportunity.
"V-Victor, sir, what do you plan to do?"
"Sell later. Can't let them go without knowing the value, right?"
"As expected, so wise! I was thinking the same, Victor, sir!"
It was while Tievo was flattering him.
"Out of the way!"
"Scram if you don't want a beating!"
Rough voices rang out as three mercenaries shoved through the crowd, clearing a path.
"We heard about the APG!"
"Our employer wants that item!"
"If you don't want to get hurt bad, sell it to our employer..."
The mercenaries who pushed aside the merchants froze upon seeing Demian's face.
Demian, spotting them, grinned brightly.
"No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, right?"
At Demian's words, the three mercenaries stood rigid, sweat pouring down.
A group of people appeared behind the three.
"What's going on? Why'd you all freeze up?"
A man in luxurious leather armor spoke irritably.
Then Nos. 1, 2, and 3 quickly hid behind the noble and said,
"H-Hayden, sir! Th-that guy's the one! He's the madman we told you about!"
At the mercenaries' words, the man called Hayden scowled at Demian.
"That man's the rogue who exploited you all?"
Tievo glanced at the emblem on Hayden's chest and whispered to Demian,
"Victor, sir... That man's Hayden Oldenburg, head of the Oldenburg Viscount Family. He's a well-known powerhouse around here. Middle-class rank."
"Impressive. Didn't know you were this well-informed about the area."
"I did a lot of research before coming. Getting involved blindly would be disastrous."
Tievo scratched his head sheepishly.
"Hey, you rogue. The three you worked like slaves on the way here are the famous Clark Brothers, renowned mercenaries."
Hayden said sharply.
No wonder they could handle aura—they were mercenaries with some reputation.
"So I commissioned the mercenary guild and paid a high price to hire them. I planned to dive deep into the relic site once they joined..."
Hayden clicked his tongue.
"But thanks to you exploiting them, they're in no condition. So my plans got delayed for a while."
"So?"
Demian asked with a clueless look. Hayden let out a hollow laugh at the response.
"Even after I said that much, you don't get it. That's commoners for you. Let me spell it out. You caused a snag in my plans."
Hayden pointed accusingly at Demian.
"I was going to make you pay the moment I saw you..."
Hayden's gaze shifted to Tievo. More precisely, to what Tievo was carrying.
"Achievements like this right after arriving at the site... You seem to have quite the eye. That changes things."
Hayden clapped his hands.
"I'll show you mercy. I'll forget the losses I suffered and even give you a chance to work under me."
"Ho?"
Demian wore an amused expression.
"Of course, if you refuse... I'll take an arm along with the original compensation plus punishment for your insolence."
At those words, Demian looked even more amused and exclaimed in admiration.
"Hooo?"