The Corpse Exhibition, Part 1

"Are you serious...?"

Sikan Bauer asked in disbelief.

"You're heading out to conquer a dungeon? Right now?"

Gaon nodded calmly.

Seeing this, Sikan Bauer had no choice but to shut his mouth.

It had only been a few minutes since Gaon single-handedly turned the Eastern Union of Vertas upside down, and yet he couldn't even wait a moment before starting something else.

What on earth was this man, Gaon, thinking?

"I have received a revelation from the Elder."

Gaon stated the reason in a dry, flat voice.

Hearing this, Sikan Bauer's eyes widened.

Adelia also jumped up from her seat, her eyes sparkling.

"I will accompany you, Sir Gaon."

Seeing Adelia so excited, Sikan Bauer let out a sigh and massaged his temples.

The aftermath of bringing down the Brickwood family hadn't even settled yet. Instead of quietly waiting for Midtemple's investigation team, which was scheduled to arrive in a fortnight, he was escalating things again?

Naturally, Sikan Bauer had no choice but to be cautious.

"Please reconsider. Suddenly heading out to conquer a dungeon when we should be quietly waiting for the investigators is..."

"That is exactly why I need your help."

Gaon cut him off firmly.

"Sikan Bauer, as long as you keep your mouth shut, no one will know."

Sikan stared at Gaon in disbelief before trying to persuade him once more.

"The investigation team will arrive in fifteen days. Wouldn't it be better to clear up everything then and set out for the dungeon afterward?"

"I am doing this because I do not know how much longer that fortnight will stretch."

Sikan Bauer fell silent.

He couldn't refute a single word.

Although Midtemple's investigation team would arrive in fifteen days, that wouldn't be the end of it. What if they had to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠travel back to Midtemple, go through the council's approval process, and undergo various trials?

Just as Gaon said, it could take months... or in the worst-case scenario, years.

"I will return here within fifteen days, before the investigation team arrives."

"I swear it on my name."

Sikan Bauer pondered for a long moment ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠before speaking.

"...And if I try to stop you, what will you do?"

Gaon replied without a moment's hesitation, looking as if he were being asked something incredibly obvious.

"There is no reason to show mercy to someone who defies the will of the great Elder."

Sikan Bauer flinched at the flat, emotionless tone.

The sharp gaze that had been fixed on Edmon Brickwood just minutes ago was now directed at him.

"Is that a threat...?"

"It is a warning."

Sikan Bauer bit the inside of his lip.

Even as he stood facing Gaon, he couldn't sense a single trace of energy from him.

If they had crossed paths on the street, he would have dismissed him as an ordinary person. But after hearing about Gaon from Adelia, he could no longer think that way.

Although Gaon had not yet been officially recognized as a Sword Master, he was undoubtedly a formidable powerhouse on par with one.

A powerhouse so immense that Sikan, at his current level, couldn't even fathom his depth.

"...Understood."

In the end, Sikan Bauer had no choice but to nod reluctantly.

It was impossible for him to stop Gaon with his strength anyway.

If that's the case...

He decided it would be better to accompany him, monitor him, and figure out his true identity.

"In exchange, I will accompany you on this dungeon raid."

"By all means."

On the other hand, Sikan felt a spark of curiosity.

If they conquered a dungeon together, wouldn't he get to see Gaon's true strength?

It wouldn't be a bad opportunity to see for himself if this man truly deserved to be a seeker of the sword.

Of course...

You're moving exactly as expected, Sikan Bauer.

...all of this was going exactly according to Gaon's plan.

A cabin situated on a high mountain peak.

In front of the entrance to the villa, which was surrounded by a beautiful flower garden, a musician clad in a black robe was playing the violin. The sorrowful melody produced by the bow and strings echoed far and wide across the endless mountain range.

About thirty minutes passed.

When the tune finally came to an end, the musician slowly lowered the violin and bow, as if savoring the lingering resonance. The hem of his robe, which had fluttered wildly with his passionate movements, settled along with the wind.

Raising his head slightly, the musician smiled brightly at his sole audience member, who had listened to his performance until the very end.

"Thank you for listening until the end, my audience!"

"...Audience, my foot."

The sole audience member, the half-dragon Fire Dragon Sword Master, Pokryong, clicked his tongue.

He had been lying askew in the flower garden, but now he stood up with an irritated expression.

The musician clung to Pokryong's side and began to chatter.

"How was it? Tell me what you thought of my performance! Huh? This piece was rather lingering and sorrowful, wasn't it?"

"It was terrible."

"Oh, come on, you're lying! Seeing how you listened to the very end, you must have secretly liked it—"

"I only waited because I knew you'd throw a fit like last time if I cut you off. Now shut up. You're noisy."

The chattering musician asked a question.

"Fine, fine. So, what brings you here today?"

"...Just give me back my sword."

"I knew you came for that! I've kept it safe for you!"

The musician rummaged inside his robe.

A hideous greatsword soon revealed itself from within his breast.

The Pokyeomdo.

It was a weapon that had traversed battlefields with Pokryong for hundreds of years.

"How distracted must you have been to leave a sword that's basically your other half at my place!"

Pokryong clicked his tongue and took the sword from him. Even then, the other party showed no signs of stopping his chatter.

"Oh, right! Did you meet that guy? How was he? Did he satisfy you?"

Pokryong let out a weary sigh and scratched the back of his head with the hilt of his sword.

With a look that seemed to recall the past, he gave a brief reply.

"For starters... he was a guy whose identity I couldn't fathom at all."

"Huh?"

"He lightly blocked a punch I threw with all my might. And at a speed so fast that even I couldn't read his movements."

"...?"

"But what's even more surprising is that I couldn't feel a single trace of energy from him, even in that moment."

It was an incomprehensible phenomenon.

Normally, to display superhuman movements, one had to utilize Aura. The stronger the power used, the more energy would overflow from the body, leaving a lingering scent that could never be hidden.

Yet, not even a speck of energy could be felt from that bastard. It was as silent as the bottom of the deep sea.

In other words, it meant he had blocked the attack without using any Aura at all.

"Oh...?"

An intrigued expression crossed the musician's face upon hearing this bizarre tale.

"Just hearing about it is exciting! So, who won the fight?"

Pokryong clenched and unclenched his fist.

The knuckles that had clashed with the sword were still throbbing.

"We postponed the duel."

"Huh? What do you mean? You postponed a duel? You, of all people, the Fire Dragon?"

"...We agreed to fight later. I left my sword behind in my haste, and that bastard wasn't in any condition to fight anyway."

"Ohhh!"

The musician shouted excitedly.

"Then call me when you fight again! I'll be the referee!"

"Piss off. I don't need you."

Pokryong waved his hand dismissively.

"Hmm?"

Then, frowning slightly, he asked a question.

"By the way, why are you geared up to go out?"

"Ah."

The musician pulled back his hood.

A skull-shaped helmet and armor decorated entirely with bones. Blood-red patterns peeked through the gaps, and the skulls hanging all over the armor rattled as if they were alive.

From inside the black helmet radiating the energy of the dead, the Death Knight holding the violin spoke in a cheerful voice.

"Midtemple summoned me."

"...?"

"I don't know the details. They suddenly said they needed someone to help with a 'trial'."

Everything is going according to plan.

A smirk spread across my face.

Sikan Bauer, the investigation leader of Midtemple, had joined the dungeon raid.

With this, I had secured a three-person party, which was the minimum ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠entry requirement for the dungeon I needed to conquer.

At first, I thought about persuading him to raid the dungeon with us...

But I realized there was no need to do that.

I was going to take Adelia and head to the dungeon anyway. What was he going to do about it?

In the end, the only thing Sikan Bauer could do was quietly follow me under the guise of surveillance.

Thanks to that, I was able to bring along an extra bus driver who was stronger than Adelia, all without paying a single cent.

Anyway.

I only had fifteen days.

I had confidently assured Sikan Bauer that it was plenty of time, but honestly, the schedule was a bit tight.

Especially considering the unique characteristics of the dungeon we were about to conquer.

Since arriving at our destination early was for the best, I didn't hesitate to use Dangno's cart.

Having given him advance notice, he was waiting at a nearby inn's stable.

"We've arrived."

After traveling for about a day after leaving Vertas, our group finally reached our destination.

Adelia, who was riding in Dangno's cart, looked around with a curious expression.

"This place is..."

"It is the city of Merirose," Sikan Bauer replied.

"It was once the most prosperous of Vertas's satellite cities. A place filled with art and pleasure."

His voice trailed off, tinged with melancholy.

"Of course, now..."

Streets paved with white bricks.

Magnificent marble buildings, elegant theaters, and ornate fountains stood here and there.

However, none of its past glory remained. Left unmaintained for a long time, the city was practically a ruin.

A half-collapsed clock tower, rusted streetlamps, and shattered windows bore witness to the complete downfall of Merirose.

"...But it has been completely ruined since the barrier's influence faded."

Right on cue, the donkey came to a halt.

I told Dangno to wait in a safe place for a few days, and then I began to walk.

I think it was around here...

I slowly looked around the city, which was shrouded in thick dust and fog.

Since I had only experienced this place through a monitor, I might have gotten confused, but unlike the underground arena, I was able to find my destination easily this time.

And for good reason—that 'dungeon' was bound to stand out.

"Oh?"

Adelia let out a sound of confusion.

A massive building stood tall in the center of the city.

Unlike the other structures, it was completely undamaged and maintained a perfect condition.

Its exterior was clean, as if time had stopped.

Seeing this, Adelia tilted her head in puzzlement.

"Why is only that building intact...?"

"No one knows," Sikan Bauer answered once again.

"Originally, there was no such building in Merirose. It appeared overnight, the day after the barrier vanished."

"...?"

"Midtemple dispatched investigation teams several times, but no one could enter. They tried every possible method, but in the end, they failed—"

While Sikan was speaking, I walked toward the exhibition hall.

Seeing this, he hurriedly called out to stop me.

"W-Wait a moment. What are you doing?"

"I am going inside."

"...?"

Sikan, with a question mark practically floating over his face, let out a sigh.

"Did you not hear what I just said? It is a waste of effort. The investigation teams tried everything for years, but they failed to enter."

"..."

"I assure you, it is a place that cannot be entered by any means. Do not waste your time and let us turn back..."

"I wonder about that."

I ignored his words and kept walking.

From behind, I could hear Sikan Bauer muttering quietly.

"...I told you, it's a waste of time."

About ten minutes later.

Rumble!

The ground around the exhibition hall began to vibrate as if an earthquake had struck.

The tightly shut main gates of the exhibition hall slowly creaked open.

Seeing this, Sikan Bauer muttered in disbelief.

"H-How did you do it this way...?"

His wide eyes stared blankly at the entrance of the exhibition hall.

The lips that had sneered just minutes ago, calling it a waste of time, were now half-open and trembling.

"H-How on earth did you do this? How did you do in ten minutes what the investigation teams gave up on after trying for years...?"

"It is a revelation, Lord Bauer."

Adelia interrupted him in a reverent voice.

Once again, her face was filled with deep emotion and awe.

"The great Elder has shown Sir Gaon how to undo the seal of this place."

"Ah."

Sikan Bauer was speechless for a long moment.

He slowly turned his gaze toward me.

For some reason, his eyes had become remarkably favorable.

Honestly.

I chuckled inwardly.

People associated with the Holy Families are really easy to handle.