Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: For the Golden Glory
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***
“What is this?”
As Arthur entered the chamber housing the underground tombs, it was bright as day.
He looked around to find the reason.
Intense light was leaking from ahead.
Approaching the light, he saw it emanating from Teheran Julius’s golden crown.
The light shot upward, and upon closer inspection, there was a bell at the top.
That was why the bell had been glowing.
“It’s like it’s calling me.”
Arthur stepped onto the dais and stood before the golden crown. He took a long, deep breath, then placed his palm in the center of the crown.
At that moment, golden light shone from his hand, and the eyes of the dragon-shaped carvings at the crown’s edges flashed, emitting pure white light.
The beams illuminated the palm on the crown’s center, and a fist-sized dragon appeared like a hologram on the back of his hand.
The dragon roared at Arthur as if bestowing a blessing.
Rather than being startled, Arthur watched silently, and then Teheran’s voice echoed in his mind.
—Heir who has inherited my bloodline, listen carefully to what I say now. I have one secret…
After hearing Teheran’s words, Arthur’s face hardened.
He had learned an unexpected truth.
The surging power that felt like mana rampage was a side effect of the mana cultivation method.
As Arthur grew stronger, the mana rampage would intensify accordingly.
If it reached a point where he could no longer control it, he would become a berserker.
That would bring another Demon King into the world.
‘Damn it.’
—Do not worry. According to Kanmurasas, reaching 9th Star will stop the mana rampage. At your current growth rate, it should be possible.
‘9th Star…’
The path ahead seemed endless.
But to protect the Julius Count family, he had to grow stronger.
As always, giving up was not an option.
‘I’ll do my best.’
—I believe in you. Now, I shall give you what was promised.
Clunk.
The lid of the golden crown vanished, revealing its interior.
Inside lay bones that seemed to be Teheran’s and a golden helmet.
It was the helmet from his armor, buried with him at death.
—This helmet is now yours.
‘Didn’t you say it grants absolute power?’
—Put on the helmet and speak your desire.
‘My desire?’
—What you need to grow stronger. I shall grant it.
‘What I need…’
Arthur’s expression grew serious as he pondered, then one thing came to mind.
A gun!
Ban had made him a Cheytac, but he needed a perfect gun beyond that.
It didn’t exist in this world, but with magic, it might be possible.
—Once you’ve decided, put the helmet on your head.
Arthur nodded and lifted the helmet from the crown.
It was surprisingly light, shaped like a dragon—the symbol of the Julius Count family—with its maw open wide.
The design left a powerful impression.
Imagining fighting while wearing it, he could picture the terror it instilled in enemies.
Arthur donned the helmet with the mindset of first wearing a combat helmet.
It fit perfectly, like it was made for him.
He expected it to feel stuffy like a helmet, but it didn’t, and instead, his fighting spirit ignited.
‘Not bad.’
As Arthur smiled in satisfaction,
—We meet here again.
‘Huh? That voice…’
It was Kanmurasas.
He must have left some arrangement in the helmet too.
—Now, speak your desire.
‘What I desire is…’
Arthur recalled all the guns he had used.
From the M16 he first touched at Nonsan Training Center to the K2 rifle.
Even the Cheytac that had become like his other self.
Dozens of guns unfolded like a panorama.
‘I miss them.’
—I understand.
‘What do you understand?’
As Arthur looked puzzled, the golden crown melted like ice.
“What the—!”
Arthur shouted involuntarily.
He tried to leap off the dais quickly, but his feet wouldn’t leave the floor.
“What’s going on now?”
In his panic, the crown fully melted into golden liquid.
It slithered toward his feet like a living thing, climbing up his legs.
“W-what is this?!”
Arthur’s eyes widened.
The golden liquid reached his chest, then spread to both arms. When it touched his ten fingertips, tremendous energy exploded from his palms.
“What’s happening?!”
Arthur was utterly flustered by the sudden event.
The atmosphere suggested another fateful encounter, so he tensed up.
Those always came with excruciating pain.
But this time, only immense energy poured out, with no other anomalies.
Gradually, the energy weakened, and the golden liquid seemed absorbed into his body, vanishing.
As Arthur tilted his head in confusion, Kanmurasas’s voice spoke.
—Heir of Teheran.
‘What just happened?’
—I have given you what you desired. Please defeat the Demon King.
‘Wait, I didn’t receive anything—what did you give me, Kanmurasas?’
Once again, it had said its piece and left.
Teheran’s voice fell silent too.
“What did you give me?”
Arthur examined his hands, moving them around, but found no changes.
His feet, stuck to the floor before, now moved freely.
As he turned to step down from the dais, the sight before him left his jaw dropping.
“What is this?”
The family heads’ tombs were shining brilliantly.
—Heir.
Teheran’s voice returned.
‘What did you give me?’
—How you use that power is entirely up to you.
‘Up to me?’
—We have done all we can. Now go meet Rumakas.
‘Rumakas? Who’s that?’
—The guardian deity of the Julius Count family.
‘Guardian deity?’
—I await the day you seize the golden glory.
Sensing Teheran was about to vanish too, Arthur quickly spoke.
‘Wait! Explain!’
As expected.
Like Kanmurasas, he was gone.
“Damn it!”
Arthur scowled and looked around.
The tombs’ glow was unusual too.
Tensing for another unforeseen event, he descended the dais.
As he passed the tombs lining both sides of the passage, each flashed brightly, their light sucked into the helmet.
With each absorption, the tomb owners’ messages echoed in his mind.
—For the golden glory.
—For the golden glory.
—For the golden glory.
The same message repeated.
Unknowingly, Arthur stopped before the very last tomb.
It was Malcolm Julius Count’s.
It shone more brilliantly than the others.
A warm warmth emanated from the light, conveying special affection for his son.
Sure enough.
—My son…
Arthur paused in thought, then replied.
‘Yes.’
—I’m sorry. I’ve burdened you with a heavy load…
‘I can handle it.’
—Thank you for growing into such a fine man.
‘Rest in peace without worry.’
—Yes, I believe in you. For the golden glory.
Flash!
The tomb’s light was sucked into the helmet.
With that, all the tombs’ lights were absorbed.
The helmet’s dragon emblem glowed intensely, and Arthur’s eyes blazed in tandem.
For a moment.
The light vanished completely.
Arthur’s eyes were now far deeper, exuding noble dignity and an extraordinary presence.
His aura had completely transformed.
“Hmm.”
Arthur sensed it vaguely.
Beyond that, one thing was certain: the wildly surging mana had calmed, and he could wield it at will whenever needed.
But the ‘absolute power’ was not yet felt.
Since using it was up to him, he’d find a way.
First, something to check.
Arthur curled his lips.
“I wonder how much stronger I’ve become.”
***
“Young Master! Where have you been?”
Skevin’s face, appearing at the training ground, was full of worry.
When Arthur and Aild had returned to the ramparts, he’d vanished, so the knights had searched the castle everywhere.
Then Andrew relayed that Arthur was looking for him at the training ground, so he’d rushed over.
Having left the helmet on the dais, Arthur nodded calmly.
“Had something to check.”
“Are you alright?”
“I’m better now.”
“Still, you should see Young Master Aild…!”
Skevin met Arthur’s eyes and his own widened.
The deepened gaze’s overwhelming presence pressed down on him.
Come to think of it, his aura had changed.
It evoked noble dignity reminiscent of Malcolm Count before.
Yet the presence was heavy and sharp, enough to make ordinary folk bow involuntarily.
‘What happened in that time…?’
Seeing Skevin’s shaken gaze, Arthur asked.
“What’s wrong?”
“Your aura seems greatly changed, Young Master…”
“Something came up.”
Arthur brushed it off vaguely and stepped back. He beckoned with his right hand.
“What are you doing?”
Skevin looked puzzled at the sudden gesture.
“Attack me first. That’ll clear up your doubts.”
“A sudden spar…”
“Focus!”
Arthur kicked off the ground and charged.
Skevin’s eyes bulged at the abruptness.
But more shocking—he missed Arthur’s movement, and a fist was suddenly before his nose.
Even for a surprise attack, this was impossible.
“Y-Young Master…”
Arthur withdrew his fist and stepped back again.
“I need to check something, so go all out.”
“I understand.”
Skevin examined Arthur seriously, then nodded.
“May I use my sword?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
As Arthur beckoned again, Skevin’s expression hardened.
“Be careful.”
Skevin unleashed his mana the instant he spoke, releasing his power.
Intense presence erupted from him.
Arthur had grown too strong to hold back as before.
Instinct told him to go all out.
Skevin charged as their eyes met, thrusting a fist.
The fearsome, energy-laden punch flew like lightning.
Just as it neared Arthur’s face.
He vanished, and the fist sliced empty air.
“T-this!”
As Skevin reeled in shock, Arthur’s voice came from behind.
“How about drawing your sword?”
“Very well.”
Skevin spun, drawing his sword without hesitation.
He thrust at Arthur’s heart like lightning.
Deep blue aura coiled around the blade.
Despite its immense power, Arthur deflected it with his fist without blinking.
“Gasp!”
Skevin gasped in astonishment.
In that moment, Arthur closed in on his chest and murmured.
“I know how much stronger I’ve become. Rest for a bit.”
Arthur drove his fist into Skevin’s abdomen.
Thud!
“Guh!”
Skevin crumpled to his knees, pitching forward.
Arthur glanced toward the western mountains, donned his helmet, and left the training ground.
Moments later.
Wearing the helmet, Arthur stood before the cliff.
Facing Skevin had reminded him of the dragon emblem he’d spotted below the cliff.
Perhaps qualification to enter that space meant 4th Star.
And the voice from there might be ‘Rumakas.’
“I’ll find out by checking.”
Arthur leaped down without hesitation.