Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Subspace Treasures
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“Pretend you didn’t see that for now.”
“Hah, but that’s too...”
Skevin kept watching in bewilderment as weapons materialized in Arthur’s hand one after another.
Arthur pulled out weapons one by one for the search party members and planted them into the ground.
About ten minutes passed like that.
Arthur was now surrounded by a ring of various weapons.
“Haa...”
Skevin stared at Arthur in a daze, like a man who had lost his wits.
Arthur spoke with a satisfied expression.
“This should be enough, right?”
“Y-Young Master, what kind of magic was that?”
“It’s from subspace.”
“Subspace?”
Skevin’s eyes widened.
He had once heard about subspace in a conversation with Millerph.
Dragons carried their necessities or truly precious items with them while wandering the world for amusement.
That was when they used subspace, like a bag.
Millerph had never seen one himself and had only heard about it from his master.
It was astonishing that Arthur possessed such a rare treasure.
Moreover, every weapon pulled from it radiated an extraordinary aura.
Above all, subspace was the exclusive domain of dragons.
In other words, these were likely weapons collected by a dragon.
“Where on earth did you get these? Did you really visit a dragon’s lair...!”
Skevin trailed off as a sudden thought struck him.
The place on the western cliffs where they had found Arthur. Thinking back now, there were suspicious aspects.
What were the odds that someone who fell off a cliff landed right there?
Something had definitely happened at that spot.
“Won’t you really tell me?”
“I’ll tell you when the time comes, so wait.”
“...Understood.”
“I’m going to see Millerph, so watch over this place.”
Arthur left the training grounds and headed straight to Aild’s workshop.
Entering the workshop, he found Millerph and Aild in conversation.
The two were startled by the sight of Arthur in full armor.
A swell of emotion surged in their chests, reddening their eyes.
It had been so long since Malcolm the Count—they were seeing that forgotten sight again through Arthur.
The armor suited him perfectly, reminding them of the count family’s former glory and pride.
Millerph’s gaze wavered at the sight of Arthur donning the helmet.
‘N-No way...’
Aild wiped the tears from his eyes and greeted him warmly.
“You’re here?”
“Young Master...”
As Millerph tried to rise from the bed, Arthur extended a hand and said,
“Just stay seated.”
“Ah, yes.”
Arthur approached Millerph, checked his condition, and asked,
“How are you feeling?”
“I think I’ll be able to move by tomorrow.”
“That’s a relief.”
“I heard from the second young master. You obtained an elixir...”
“I got lucky.”
“Did you happen to meet Tehren?”
“...!”
He seemed to know something.
Millerph waited intently for Arthur’s answer with a serious face.
Aild, watching the two, tilted his head in confusion, oblivious.
“What’s going on? Tell me too.”
“I was planning to tell you while handing this over anyway.”
No sooner had Arthur spoken than magic books appeared in his hand.
Aild and Millerph gasped at the sight.
“Th-This is...”
“Subspace pocket!”
“Calm down, everyone, and take what I’m giving you first.”
Arthur handed over about ten magic books to Aild first, then gave one to Millerph.
Unlike those given to Aild, the one for Millerph looked exceptionally special.
Its cover wasn’t worn paper but gleamed like gold wrapping, dense with unknown script, exuding an extraordinary aura.
The moment Millerph saw the script on the magic book, his eyes widened as if they might tear.
“Dragon Tongue!”
“What?”
Aild’s eyes bulged at the words “Dragon Tongue.”
Millerph’s hands trembled as he clutched the magic book.
“At last...”
This was the path to reaching 7th Class.
He had been stuck at 6th Class because from 7th Class onward, spells involved Dragon Tongue.
Such magic books could only be found in dragon lairs, so he hadn’t even dreamed of it.
But now that he had it, he could start research immediately tomorrow.
Seeing this confirmed it.
“Did you meet Lord Rumakas?”
Arthur nodded, and curiosity lit up Millerph’s face.
“What was he like? My master said he was quite the eccentric.”
“I’m not sure about eccentric.”
Arthur tilted his head and asked back,
“But you knew about Rumakas?”
“Yes.”
“Was there a reason you didn’t mention him?”
“To meet him, one needs certain qualifications. That qualification is achieving four stars, which I didn’t expect you to reach so quickly.”
“I see.”
Arthur understood fully.
“What did he say? I’m dying to know.”
“No time for details, so I’ll keep it brief.”
Arthur summarized only the key points of his encounter with Rumakas there.
He omitted anything related to himself.
“As expected, he foresaw the Demon King’s return and made preparations.”
“He knew it wouldn’t be an easy foe to kill.”
“Did he say nothing about Tehren’s mana cultivation method?”
“You mean the side effects?”
“Huh? How did you... Did the lady tell you?”
“No, Rumakas did.”
“Is there a solution?”
Arthur shook his head.
“He said from the start, it’s impossible for a human to wield a dragon’s power.”
“A dragon’s power? So Tehren learned a dragon’s cultivation method?”
“Since he shared his power, probably. To make that power truly yours, there’s only one way.”
“The nine stars...”
Arthur nodded silently.
“As you know, Young Master, that’s impossible...”
Millerph’s face darkened.
Tehren, hailed as the empire’s hero, had peaked at eight stars with power nearing the divine.
To achieve nine stars was to become a god.
Was that even possible?
With a hardened expression, Millerph asked,
“What did he say? No, what will you do now?”
“No choice. And he said to face the Demon King only after reaching nine stars.”
“That makes sense. Even Tehren at eight stars couldn’t defeat the Demon King.”
“I’ll do my utmost. So help me by my side.”
“Of course I...!”
Millerph paused mid-sentence and stared at Arthur.
Arthur nodded and said,
“Now you’ve more than earned your keep, so you can join me.”
“Y-Young Master...”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Millerph rose from the bed, knelt on one knee before Arthur, and bowed his head.
“I, Millerph, pledge to serve Arthur Julius as my lord until the day I die.”
Arthur placed a hand on Millerph’s shoulder.
“Looking forward to it.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Arthur turned to Aild with a faint smile.
Aild beamed happily and said,
“I’m proud of you.”
“I need a favor from you too, brother.”
“What?”
Aild’s eyes widened, stammering.
“Wh-What did you just call me...?”
“What? Calling you like old times?”
“N-No, it’s just... suddenly ‘brother’...”
“You’ve become more brotherly, so I’m calling you brother. If you want to keep hearing it, keep doing well.”
“Of course.”
Aild’s lips curved upward.
Arthur glanced between the magic books on the table and Aild, then said,
“I want potions for the knight order.”
“If it’s potions, I can make as many as you want.”
“You can make those now. I want potions that give effects like a mage’s buffs when drunk.”
“What?”
Aild was stunned.
He had never even considered potions that mimicked a mage’s buffs.
Millerph’s eyes sparkled at Arthur’s words, nodding vigorously.
“No successes so far, but that magic book might hold the answer.”
“Since it’s from a dragon lair, it probably has special contents.”
“I’ll research alongside you.”
“Please do.”
“But where are you going?”
“Researches the western mountains again.”
“Because of the monsters?”
“Monsters keep appearing, so I feel like we’re missing something.”
“No way!”
Millerph looked at Arthur with a grave expression.
“I know you’re far stronger now, but promise me one thing.”
“Say it.”
“Are you thinking of searching below the cliffs?”
“As expected, you know something.”
Arthur’s gaze sharpened.
“That area has been forbidden for ages.”
“Why?”
“I heard nothing that enters survives.”
“Who said? Your master Mardoro?”
“How do you know my master!”
Millerph was shocked.
Aside from Malcolm the Count, he had told no one that his master was Mardoro.
Arthur grinned and revealed that he had met Kanmurasas through the helmet’s arrangements.
Millerph was even more astonished, finally realizing clearly what he must do.
Become Arthur’s strength.
“I’ll serve you with all I have.”
“Let’s end here for today. We’ll talk when I return.”
“Understood. Just know one thing: you’re not alone anymore, Young Master.”
“I know. I have no intention of betraying your expectations.”
Arthur answered firmly and left.
Millerph smiled faintly, muttering to himself.
“As expected of the Young Master.”
***
Before heading to the training grounds from Aild’s room, Arthur decided to meet one more person.
Entering the forge, he heard constant hammering and hissing steam.
Pushing through the thick steam inside, he saw unfamiliar faces.
They were sweating profusely, busily crafting something.
Ban, reviewing blueprints, looked up at the presence.
“Y-Young Master...!”
Ban’s eyes went wide.
He quickly set down the blueprints and approached Arthur, examining the helmet closely.
“Where did this come from?”
“Someone had it stored away.”
“Can I take a look?”
Arthur shook his head.
“No time. I’ll let you later, so take this.”
A book suddenly appeared in Arthur’s hand.
Ban’s eyes lit up at the sight.
“Ah, subspace...”
“It’s a book on alchemy.”
“Alchemy?”
Ban snatched the book and flipped through it.
“Oh! This is...”
He dashed somewhere, returned with another book, and compared it to the one from Arthur.
It was the lower volume of his own book.
“Finally!”
Now he could solve the mysteries unsolved without the lower volume.
Ban looked at Arthur with sparkling eyes.
“I heard you’re heading to the western mountains for search. You must tell me everything when you return.”
“Got it. Lots of work ahead, so prepare thoroughly.”
“No worries there. I’ve bolstered the crew with skilled hands, so just say the word.”
Confidence shone on Ban’s face.
“I’m counting on you.”
Arthur grinned, left the forge, and headed to the training grounds.
Entering, he found the knights assembled and waiting.
Spotting Arthur, Skevin bellowed,
“Attention!”
The knights snapped to attention, facing forward.
“...!”
Seeing Arthur, their eyes widened.
‘Golden helmet!’
‘Th-That appearance...’
‘What armor shines like that?’
Amid the shock, they tensed under his intense presence.
Even glancing again, Skevin’s heart raced, captivated by his intensity.
Serving such a lord was the greatest honor.
With crisp precision, he saluted with his sword and shouted,
“Sirrah-!”