Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: The Golden Armor's Awakening
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"No! I can't understand why you're volunteering for such a dangerous task."
"I'm doing it because I'm the owner of this ring."
"What do you...?"
Medlin's expression went blank for a moment.
"I'm prepared to do anything I can for the Julius Count Family and Grada Territory."
"Arthur..."
Medlin's eyes reddened.
In that moment, he embodied the ideal family head.
She knew it was the right thing to do, but using his life as bait was incredibly risky.
If other territory lords faced this situation, how many would think like Arthur?
Not a single one, without a doubt.
They all saw their own lives as the most precious thing in the world.
Medlin felt proud that Arthur, once called Grada's Prodigal, had grown into such an admirable man.
"I'm proud of you."
"Thank you."
Arthur bowed his head politely.
Medlin took a small box from her desk drawer and placed it in front of Arthur.
"Open it."
"What's this?"
"It's an heirloom from Lord Teheran Julius."
"......!"
Arthur's eyes widened in an instant.
"I heard from Millerph that you've inherited Lord Teheran's legacy."
"Yes."
"Think of it as another treasure of the Julius Count Family. It's said to have special effects only for those who inherit his legacy."
"Really?"
Curiosity lit up Arthur's face.
Inside the box was a pendant shaped like a dragon, symbolizing the Julius Count Family.
He took it out and hung it around his neck.
He waited expectantly for some effect, but nothing happened.
When Arthur tilted his head in puzzlement, Medlin asked,
"What's wrong?"
"No reaction."
"No reaction?"
Medlin stared at the necklace, suddenly recalling what Count Helmut—Malcolm Count's father—had said when he passed it to her.
"He said it might be sealed because no owner has appeared for so long."
"Sealed..."
Arthur looked slightly disappointed.
Given the current situation, he had hoped for even a little help.
But it was too early to be disappointed.
Millerph might be able to unseal it, or at least know how.
"I'll take care of it."
"And your father's armor is in the study."
"I won't let the honor of the Julius Count Family be tarnished."
"That's not important to me. I just want you to come back safe."
"Then I'll be going."
Arthur stood, bowed politely, and left.
Medlin stared at the door after him, clasping her hands tightly.
"You have to come back safe."
***
"Here it is."
Arriving at Malcolm Count's study, Arthur entered calmly.
Unlike a long-vacant room, it was spotless, surrounded by books on all sides.
Beside an elegant desk hung the golden armor, a treasured heirloom of the Julius Count Family.
Passed down through generations, it exuded an indescribably majestic and intense aura.
But there was one flaw.
No helmet.
Rumors said it was destroyed fighting the Demon King, but no one knew the truth.
"Can I even move properly in this?"
As Arthur approached with a dubious expression, the pendant around his neck faintly glowed then faded.
But Arthur didn't notice.
Standing before the armor, he cautiously touched it.
Each time his fingertips met the metal, he felt a faint, buzzing vibration.
"What is it?"
It was as if the armor was whispering in his ear, waiting for its owner all this time.
Arthur spoke to the armor as if addressing a person.
"I'll be counting on you."
The armor then glowed softly.
"Wh-what?"
Arthur's eyes went wide as the pendant glowed faintly again, illuminating the armor.
The armor resonated, shining intensely and emanating an indescribable aura.
"This can't be..."
The armor felt like a towering mountain, and a voice echoed.
-Was it you who awakened me?
"The armor's speaking..."
Arthur's eyes shook violently.
-Declare your identity.
"Hmm..."
He recalled the incident at Teheran Julius's tomb.
Calming his racing heart, Arthur replied.
"I'm Arthur Julius."
-Teheran's descendant. It's taken a long time.
"Who are you?"
-I am Kanmurasas. I sealed my soul into his armor at Teheran's behest.
"What?"
Arthur's eyes bulged.
Kanmurasas explained the story of sealing his soul into the armor.
Arthur listened silently before speaking.
"So you prepared countermeasures against the Demon King's revival?"
-Indeed.
"This is something."
Arthur's face grew serious.
Kanmurasas was Teheran Julius's comrade, a 9th Class grand archmage.
After unifying the Oscar Empire, they led monster subjugations.
They invaded 'Kanura Continent,' known as a monster habitat.
While purging monsters, they learned of the Demon King behind them and confronted him.
The fortnight-long battle ended when the Demon King fell from Death Hill.
But the Demon King vowed revenge upon his return.
Thus, Teheran and Kanmurasas prepared countermeasures before their deaths.
-Teheran's heir, prepare yourself. I'm transmitting my memories now.
"Memories?"
-To face the Demon King, you need the information Teheran and I gathered.
"Should I summarize my situation first?"
-The pendant's reaction proves the Demon King has returned. You've inherited Teheran's legacy, but your skill can't handle even his familiars, let alone him.
"What!"
Arthur was startled.
-He will seek revenge. Find and eliminate him before he fully awakens. For that, you must gain power first.
"How do you know he's back? Isn't the pendant's reaction alone insufficient?"
-The pendant is enchanted to react only to the Demon King's aura.
"His aura wouldn't be that easy to detect, right?"
-It reacts to his familiars too. Their auras mean he's returned.
"Who are they? Not goblins or orcs."
-Cadrajan.
"......!"
Arthur's eyes shook.
'Those things!'
Tensing, he asked,
"You mean the horned ogres?"
-How do you know? They're far from attacking the empire yet.
"Damn it!"
Arthur's face twisted.
That was the name he gave them on Earth. Why the same here?
His mind grew chaotic.
Receiving the memories might explain it.
"How do I receive them?"
-Clear your mind, relax, and circulate mana. It'll be painful with so much information flooding in.
"Got it. Begin."
Arthur took a deep breath and circulated his mana.
After a few seconds,
The armor glowed brightly upon sensing the mana.
Simultaneously, a torrent of information surged into his mind.
His head throbbed like it would explode.
He gritted his teeth, but the wave of pain overwhelmed him. Clutching his head, he collapsed.
"Ugh..."
He tried to endure, but failed.
Unable to bear it, he screamed and rolled on the floor.
"Arghhh!"
After several minutes, the screams stopped.
Arthur stared blankly at the ceiling, eyes bloodshot.
In his mind, Kanmurasas's memories intertwined with his own like a panorama.
The being called Demon King matched the one he killed on his final mission.
The alien creatures that invaded Earth were identical to this world's monsters.
Especially Cardrajan and Ultrazan, the strongest under him, known here as the Demon King's familiars.
From all this, one hypothesis formed.
When the Demon King fell from Death Hill, he cast dimensional transfer magic on death's doorstep.
That sent him to Earth, and even as Arthur shattered his head, he transferred back here.
But he had confirmed the head exploding.
How he survived was impossible.
As doubts piled up,
-Teheran's heir, my task is done. Please save the world from the Demon King.
"Wait!"
Arthur jumped up.
But the armor's glow had vanished.
"I still have questions!"
Now facing Yarve Count was tough enough, yet the Demon King targeted the Julius Count Family.
It was absurd.
He'd handle the immediate fire first, then the Demon King.
Arthur stripped off his clothes and donned the armor.
The more he understood his plight, the angrier he grew.
"Why is this happening to me?"
***
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Entering the forge, Arthur heard hammering.
He pushed through the steamy haze toward the sound.
Soon,
The steam cleared, revealing Ban.
Sweating profusely, he stretched his back.
Arthur eyed the chain dagger and kukri on the table.
"All done?"
"The kukri's finished. Still working on what you requested."
Ban grabbed a basket from the floor and set it on the table.
It brimmed with daggers—over twenty, easily.
"This is plenty."
"Y-Young Master... that armor..."
Ban gaped at the golden armor Arthur wore.
"My father's armor."
"May I inspect it?"
"Go ahead."
"Sure."
Ban circled behind Arthur, then his eyes lit up as if discovering something.
"As expected."
"What?"
"Dwarves made it."
"Dwarves?"
"It bears their mark. And it seems enchanted with special magic."
Arthur nodded.
"Yeah, it resized to fit me perfectly and feels light."
"But where's the helmet?"
"Gone."
"I see. May I examine it later? If I learn the principles, I could make some for the Devil Squad. And one for you too."
"Sure."
Arthur admired the weapons contentedly when a familiar item caught his eye beside the table.
"Did Rusanna stop by?"
"Ah, she just left. Brought something you requested."
"She nailed it again."
Arthur had asked her for a belt to hold daggers.
He slung the long strap diagonally over his shoulder and buckled the other around his waist.
Then he slotted daggers from the basket into the belt.
Watching, Ban asked,
"For throwing?"
"Yeah."
"I made some optimized for throwing. Take a look."
Ban fetched another basket.
It overflowed with throwing weapon variants.
"Distribute to Darkran and Perry."
As Arthur filled his belt,
Bwoooong-! Bwoooong-! Bwoooong-!
Unlike usual, the horn blared three times.
"Damn it!"
Arthur grimaced, grabbing the chain dagger and kukri before bolting outside.
Ban asked gravely,
"What signal is that?"
"Them."
Arthur dashed out with his weapons.