Chapter 152

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Translator: Ryuma

Chapter: 152

Chapter Title: Pearls from the Past

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Karen and Karuna stared at the unidentified sacred relic in Kang Seol's hand, suddenly recalling a long-forgotten memory.

It was from the time they had entered the Montla Treasury, far earlier than now.

"...And that's why it's a field trip."

"Do apprentice knights usually tour the imperial treasury?"

"Good question, Karuna. This is a special opportunity your sister Karen begged for from His Excellency. Get it now?"

"Understood, Lord Lein. Karen's caused trouble again."

"Kahahat... Jin always gives in when I ask nicely..."

"You still shouldn't do it."

"Eung..."

Lein scratched his nose and moved on with the treasury keeper.

"Hey! Where'd you get that?"

"This? Uh... spoils of war... from where again?"

"...Whatever. Spoils of war? Never mind, I don't wanna know."

"Nothing that flows into this empire is ordinary. Aside from a few special ones, I don't know much myself. Were you expecting a friendly explanation, Karen?"

"No! I don't expect kindness from you, Lein!"

"Honest, I like that. Knights need that spirit. Now, what do you ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠say when a senior knight praises you?"

Click!

Karen snapped her boot heels together and replied.

"Sir! Thank you!"

"Drop the 'sir'."

"Thank you!"

"Good, good. I'm telling you this to prepare for when you become a full knight. All for your sake."

"Ugh... old fogey..."

"What was that?"

"Nothing!"

They toured the treasury a bit more.

Little Karen slyly narrowed her eyes at Lein.

"But... what are those special few?"

"Ahem... Don't be curious."

"I am curious? Curious enough to die?"

"Ugh..."

"We're already here? If we leave now, I'll bug Jin again?"

"......"

"Then we'd have to come back? And you'd have to come with us again?"

"Fine, what's the harm in looking. Hey, open the inner vault."

"Well..."

"Hurry. It'll be fine."

"Understood. If it's Lord Lein's order."

Rumble rumble rumble...

Creeeeeak...

To Karen's eyes, the treasury's mechanisms, traps, and countless magics were utterly mysterious.

"Whoaaa..."

"Shiny, huh?"

"Yeah, shiny like your forehead, Lein."

"You brat! It's just a strategic retreat! Still fine!"

"...I thought knights didn't know retreat?"

"...Strategic retreats aren't counted. Anyway, look but don't touch."

Only four people admiring treasures in this vast space overwhelmed young Karuna and Karen with its grandeur.

After a long while, Karuna stopped before an item.

"Um... Lord Lein."

"Time to head back... Hm? Oh, Karuna. What is it?"

"This one here..."

"Wha—! You can't look at that!"

Lein tried to block whatever Karuna pointed at with his bulk.

Naturally, that drew mischievous Karen's attention.

"Whoa! Found something fun!"

"Agh! Get away!"

"What is it! What! Embarrassing? Your nude statue, Lein?"

"Brat! As if!"

"Then show me! Move... sto—"

"Agh! Don't bite! Fine! Fine! I'll show you!"

Only Jin would know the Sun Knight Lein, pinnacle of guardians, suffering such humiliation.

As Lein stepped back, three identical white orbs appeared.

Perfectly same size and shape, wondrously.

"Ooooh... jewels?"

"...No."

"You know what this is, Lein? You mumbled on others."

"Of course. No guardian could not know."

"What? What? Tell us!"

"Karuna, you curious too?"

"...Yes."

"Good! So, from now on..."

Lein explained the item's origins.

After his long tale, Karen and Karuna listened. Karuna questioned.

"So, these are weapons for the imperial guardians?"

"Exactly. Montla's alchemical pinnacle."

"Lein's weapon made from these too?"

"Of course, through the tedious inheritance. All guardians' arms from these 'pearls'."

"These... pearls... jewels after all?"

"Eh? Well... by name, yes. Does it matter?"

"Pretty."

"Ahem... ahem..."

But Karen sensed oddity.

"Safe to pile these in a dusty warehouse?"

"Brat, you're the only one daring call Montla's treasury that. No worry, these fresh spares, recently completed."

"Spares?"

"Treasures for next guardians if inheritance fails."

"...I see."

Montla had eight guardians.

Never changed.

Lein grinned.

"What, want one?"

"Huh? No, why would I, not a guardian."

"Face says otherwise."

"Don't look at my face!"

"Haha... Want it? Work for it. Maybe you'll claim two of these three someday."

Lein's subtle nudge made young Karen glance around.

"...Will that day come?"

"Who knows. But without effort, never."

"Alright! Train when home!"

"Good! Back in horse stance!"

"Suddenly?"

"Giving up already?"

"No! Do it! Raaah!"

"Strive! For tomorrow's you!"

"Sorry! Future me, sorry! Wanna quit!"

"Tch! I peeked beyond time's veil—future you rejects apology! Must strive now!"

Kang Seol blinked.

"These the pearls?"

"Yeah, definitely. Right, Karuna?"

"Seems so."

"How here?"

Karen sternly eyed Chameli.

Chameli rapid-fired back, flustered.

"W-we steadily excavate and recover relics. From Nevenia diocese."

"Source?"

"Too many paths, origin unknown."

"Tch... grave robbers?"

"P-possibly? Many relics recovered that way."

Kang Seol whispered to Karen.

"Valuable?"

"Bet all her relics combined worthless next to this. Pearls sacred even in treasure-mountain Montla."

"Keep it?"

Amid sly whispers, Marcon and Frannan approached.

"Fun talk? Mind sharing?"

"Hm..."

"No worry, not after item—for research help."

Kang Seol hesitated, recalled Frannan's aid here, explained pearl's origins.

"Believe that? Ancient empire relic?"

"You asked, Your Holiness."

"Hrm... know how to handle?"

"Karen, explain."

Karen casually.

"Inheritor takes pearl's trial. Shape and power freely by will, varied."

"Hrm... interesting. Material strength?"

"Strength? Guardians' powers so unique, varied even among them."

"Oh ho... so? Hey, Mareko."

"Marcon."

"Whatever. This branch can analyze divinity?"

"Possible... already did. Nothing readable."

"Kukuku... without me, naturally."

"Expert in this too?"

"Of course. Tried everything for realm elevation."

"Then... fine debate. I'm fired up."

Frannan to Kang Seol.

"Hey, lend your item. Okay?"

Kang Seol palmed up, nonchalant. Frannan smirked, snatched pearl.

"Rest, maintain few days. If as potent as thought... maybe hope for wielding Lament."

"Awaiting."

Kang Seol bowed, left. Chameli hurried after.

"Brother, thanks for help. Solved diocese's tough issue. Pearl enough reward? We sincerely grateful."

"...Yes."

"So... post-job, contact via Jewelry River brothers?"

"Fine."

Chameli beamed.

"Truly grateful! We'll serve comfortably!"

"Ah, yes..."

Kang Seol unused to pure welcome. Believed all actions demand equal price.

'Might burden later... Anyway, simple checkup.'

Creeeak...

Back at branch lodging, Kang Seol heard Karen's full tale.

Midway, he asked.

"So, those pearls became your and Karuna's swords?"

"Yeah."

"Hmmm..."

"Finally remembered. Crimson Lotus and Moonlight Swords from pearls."

Their swords' mysteries solved. Odd powers suspect, but reforged yet retained strength.

'Anyway... amazing relic.'

Like souls reborn anew, Kang Seol eyed his new pearl keenly.

He drew vial, eyed Lament.

How to tame this brat? Answer came sooner.

Exactly three days later, Frannan summoned Kang ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Seol.

"You were right."

"Pardon?"

"Analysis done. Pearl functions as said. Grants inheritor perfect power... unbelievable."

"Kahahat! Montla alchemy sometimes miraculous, huh."

Frannan laughed at Karen; fat Marcon continued.

"Unraveling pearl's power? Years needed. Want that?"

"No."

Frannan nodded.

"Same thought. I'd dissect otherwise, but yours. Must aid you."

"...Yes."

"Four ways to let you wield Lament."

"...That many?"

"Think Holiness idled? But... reward for my aid unmentioned."

"That..."

"State wants cleanest. One headache lately. Help resolve together."

"What?"

"Mage tower matters..."

"I'm outsider. Need me?"

"My call. Deal?"

Kang Seol pondered, nodded.

"Agreed."

"Good. Now, how to cook your monster. Pick pleasing."

Frannan began.

"First! Drop its intelligence."

"...Intelligence?"

"Yes. Cunningly corrupts contractors, claims lives."

Frannan eyed Lament's reaction, continued.

"Dumb brute easy to handle."

"Side effects?"

"Too dumb for full power."

"......"

"Second, bind it, siphon power gradually."

"Issues too."

"Every choice flawed. It's the problem."

"Fair."

"Binding stabilizes supply but risks non-recovery. Consumable eventually."

Gulp...

"Scared?"

"Pardon?"

"Swallowed."

"Not me."

Lament's gulp.

Kang Seol and Frannan ignored.

"Third, melt with pearl's power, pure force."

"Processed, weaker than original."

"So far, partial control only..."

"Yes, last differs. Fourth! Shove directly into pearl."

"...Pardon? Possible?"

"Yes. Most efficient demon spirit purification: sacred power."

"Melt Lament with pearl?"

"No, twist good-evil sense slightly."

"Pardon?"

"Born evil, knows no good path. Confuse direction—occasional good deeds, less evil."

"Theoretically perfect."

Frannan grinned.

"Always theoretically perfect. Fail often. Time to choose?"

"Fine, decided."

"Kukuku... Answer?"

Kang Seol answered.

Frannan smiled meaningfully.

"Hoo..."