Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Jewel Extraction Operation - 1
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The so-called clay soul that Bion had become couldn't communicate with us directly.
That left us with no choice but to use Adwin as a sort of interpreter.
"So... you just wanted an apology from Neril, is that it?"
"Yes. He admits his descendants were in the wrong. But blood is blood—he couldn't help feeling attached to them."
"No. Then what was with that menacing aura?"
"He says it was just a bluff. Come to think of it, the history books describe Bion as the type who wouldn't harm so much as an ant. Though he did grind up monsters for drinks."
Hm. Definitely not like Iori.
I turned to Neril.
"What do you think? Gonna apologize?"
"Sigh. If it's for this, sure."
"Then do it quick."
"Sorry."
The clay soul writhed at her half-hearted apology.
"Is that supposed to be an apology?"
"Ha. What do you want me to do, get on my knees?"
"Hang on. It's too noisy... Hm. Ah, he says he'll accept it as an apology if you bring him 'that item.'"
That item?
I glanced back and forth between Neril and the soul.
Her face darkened.
"You're talking about that thing Dame was holding over you as leverage, right?"
Neril hesitated, then nodded.
"Probably."
"Why would that count as proof of an apology?"
"Because that item is the Enerica family's heirloom."
"...But you wiped out the Enerica family, didn't you? So why is your weakness their heirloom?"
"Don't ask. It's complicated."
I scratched my head.
Adwin spoke up again.
"Oh, and one more thing... Eh, I'll lend him my body again. He seems settled now, so it should be fine."
He drew Bion's soul back into himself.
To handle a soul so freely and naturally.
Adwin really is a genius.
Soon, Bion's voice emerged.
"Ahem. I showed some unseemly behavior."
"No, no. Unseemly? You were hanging by a thread, but we let it slide."
"..."
"More importantly, do we really need that heirloom? Wouldn't a verbal apology suffice?"
"That's not why. We need it to extract the Corrupted Jewel."
We tilted our heads in confusion.
But Neril seemed to get it and clapped lightly.
"I see. Makes sense—it's the culmination of all the Enerica family's know-how."
"You're dropping the formalities for good now, are you?"
"That's the plan."
"...In any case, the fact that the jewel we disposed of has reappeared is most unpleasant. Bring me the heirloom, and I'll take responsibility for extracting it."
The tangled mess was complicated, but the solution was simple.
Jenia let out a deep sigh.
"That's impossible. The heirloom's in the imperial palace underground."
"What?"
"My father told me. He didn't actually keep it as leverage. The moment he got it, he handed it straight to His Majesty, and the emperor stashed it in the underground vaults."
Bion furrowed his brow.
"So the emperor seized our family's heirloom, knowing full well what it was?"
"As sorry as I am to say it, no one in this era could claim ownership of that item."
"Hmph. Better in the hands of the Witch of Atrocities than the emperor's."
Neril's eyes lit up at his words.
Does this old man like Neril or hate her?
That's when Offens spoke up.
"No helping it, then. We'll infiltrate the imperial underground."
"Your voice sounds way too excited about this."
"Not hiding it. You know what my wish is anyway, right?"
Offens wanted to use the ultra-wide-area search magic circle in the underground to find his parents.
It was still his wish, even after regression.
"Hmm. But it's the imperial underground. You don't seriously think it's just a few guards and locks, do you?"
"Of course not."
He shook his head as if it were absurd.
No wonder the legendary assassin Offens hadn't moved himself and had borrowed Kaild's fame instead.
We kept calling it "underground," but it wasn't a physical space.
A separate dimension.
There was a small door beneath the imperial palace.
Only two kinds of people could pass through it.
Imperial family members.
And those granted permission by the imperial family.
Beyond that door lay a separate world storing humanity's greatest treasures from history.
Some place created by something neither magic, shamanism, nor sorcery.
'Now that I think about it, what the hell is that?'
[Isn't it in the history books?]
'All they say is it existed before the empire was founded.'
...
Come to think of it, Emperor Grade I had mentioned it.
There was definitely an era before the gods of heaven appeared.
Maybe that separate world was made in that forgotten history.
Offens said,
"They say unauthorized entrants get torn to shreds. Of course, no cases on record, so who knows if it's true."
"Hm. Too risky."
"What if Adwin summons Grade's soul for you? Permission from the first emperor might work."
"I hear imperial family members lose access rights upon death. Only living ones have them."
Offens smacked his lips in disappointment.
Neril frowned.
"Don't ask Maide for weird favors. What if he gets torn apart?"
"It's fine. The pheasant lady can stitch him back together."
Jenia spoke in a baffled tone.
"I'm a healer, not a resurrector."
This time Neril jumped in.
"No, I believe in you, Jenia."
"It's not about belief or..."
"But just in case, let's test it on Offens's body first."
"Ah, right. Might build up some tolerance."
Offens shrugged.
"It was a joke—don't say scary stuff like that."
"We're dead serious."
"Guess I can't joke about Maide around you all."
I calmed everyone down and asked Bion,
"You've been there before, right, Lord Bion?"
He showed interest.
"You know quite a bit."
"I'm knowledgeable in many ways."
"Heh. True. I entered the separate world with the emperor's permission back then. I inscribed the ultra-wide-area search magic circle there."
Offens bounced in his seat.
"Speaking of which, with you here in person, do we really need to go there? If you just activate the magic yourself..."
"No idea why you'd need it, but no. Inscribing that circle alone took half a year. Another half for preparations."
"..."
"Think this summoner can hold a hero-grade soul that long?"
Offens sighed deeply.
I pondered for a moment before asking,
"Why did the emperor request such a bothersome task back then?"
"My search magic had endless applications. A circle that reveals who's doing what where like the palm of your hand—if that got out, he probably thought the system would collapse."
Neril chimed in.
"Even though the emperor and his family couldn't operate it themselves."
"Better no one has it than letting it fall into others' hands."
"Hmm."
"So, what'll it be? Giving up here?"
He asked me as if testing.
I thought it over carefully.
"Should I go straight to the emperor and ask him to let me in? I'm a hero of sorts—he might agree."
Offens shot back immediately.
"No. The emperor clearly sees Kaild as the real hero. Most capital folk don't even know your name."
"..."
"He won't open the underground even for Kaild. Neither of you have the fame for it, as you put it."
True. Even before regression, they only opened it after we beat the demon king.
That left only one option.
I looked at Jenia.
She flinched.
"Why?"
"Now that I think about it, I never properly greeted you. You're the father of a precious party member—I was careless."
"No, what are you... Wait, no way?"
"Yeah."
I grinned.
"Introduce me to Dame."
Jenia hesitated a bit but soon agreed.
Of course, not officially as the hero of the north—that might make Patrick wary.
The meeting happened late at night at Dame's house.
Which was also Jenia's.
Neril gazed admiringly at the white, pristine home.
"Nice place."
"Thanks. Though honestly, I spent more time in the Knights of Light barracks."
"How old were you when you joined?"
"Fifteen. Right after Mother passed."
The sudden heavy topic silenced us.
Jenia shrugged it off nonchalantly.
"No need to get all somber. It was tough, but Ophelia got me through it."
"..."
"Ah. Made it heavier. Sorry."
She smiled softly and opened the door.
As we followed, Adwin whispered,
"I get how Jenia feels. I grew up without a dad too."
"Hm."
"Oh yeah, what were your parents like, bro?"
I gazed into the distance for a moment.
Luckily, I didn't have to answer.
"We're here."
Jenia opened the parlor door.
There sat Dame, exuding an aura of utter gravity.
Neril glanced around and spoke.
"Room's too dark. Going for dramatic effect?"
"Witch of Atrocities. Long time no see."
"Don't call me by that title."
"Why not? Having second thoughts about the infamy now?"
"Yeah. Our contract's off. My notoriety could rub off on him."
She jerked her chin toward me.
Dame's expression shifted.
"You must be the hero of the north, Maide Mohan."
"Pleasure to meet you, Captain Dame Side."
"My daughter gave me the gist. You have a favor to ask?"
"Yes."
"Let's hear it."
I sat across from him.
I clasped my hands and spoke earnestly.
"I need you to go to the imperial underground."
"..."
"And bring back that 'leverage' item you lied about having—the one on Neril."
"Heh."
Dame burst into hearty laughter.
"You know what it is?"
"I know it's the Enerica family heirloom. Not sure of the exact form."
"It's a book."
Neril's brow twitched.
"Why tell him?"
"Was it a secret? If I actually bring it out, they'll find out anyway."
"..."
"I reported it to the emperor. Ownership clearly belongs to His Majesty now. Sneaking in and out of the underground is near impossible... and taking something out? Even more so."
I leaned back in my chair.
"Sorry, but that's for you to figure out."
"What?"
"You just said ownership is with the emperor? Wrong. It belongs to Neril."
"You know about her connection to the Enerica family?"
"That she's somewhat responsible for their downfall."
"Somewhat? She's fully responsible."
Neril scowled but stayed quiet.
I shrugged and continued.
"Point is, Neril originally had the book, and you took it from her."
"..."
"And setting all that aside, it's better for you too. Roll up your pants and see for yourself."
Dame's face hardened.
The others stared at me, confused.
I'd only told them the Corrupted Jewel got him—not how or where.
"Come on."
Dame hesitated, then looked at Jenia.
She spoke without a shred of doubt.
"Father. Do you trust me?"
"Of course."
"I trust Maide."
"...?"
"So you should trust Maide too."
Wow.
Such airtight logic.