Chapter 116
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Guardian and Underground Tomb (4)
I'd finish reading both grimoires in a single day.
I could confidently tell Randolph that because neither grimoire's demands were all that tough.
'Time to get ready and read these grimoires.'
The first thing I did upon returning to my lodging was pull the two grimoires out of their bundle.
I had to meet their demands first, then check if the pages would turn.
《Destroy the armor with your own hands. And realize this: there is no armor in this world that cannot be broken.》
The first grimoire was the Armor Breaker Grimoire.
I'd encountered its name before.
Last time, it had demanded I destroy a weapon instead of armor.
The magic I'd learned from that was Firm Weapon.
The spell to reinforce a designated weapon, making it tougher.
'Does that mean this time I'll learn a spell to make armor tougher? Nice.'
A spell to toughen armor?
If I applied it to my party's gear, it would drastically cut down on equipment costs.
《Hit a moving target with magic. But from so far away that the target looks like a dot.》
The second was the Marksman Grimoire.
Like the Armor Breaker, it contained long-range magic.
'Did they give me ones Randolph and Matilda can't read?'
Randolph and Matilda were mages under Count Dustin.
So they probably handed me grimoires those two couldn't read as a considerate reward.
Whatever. It didn't matter to me.
I'd never encountered a grimoire I couldn't read.
'Let's start with the Armor Breaker Grimoire.'
The reason was simple.
To fulfill the Marksman Grimoire's demand, I'd have to go outside.
The Armor Breaker's could be done indoors.
'Gilbert, hold it steady.'
Gilbert awaited my command, clutching a ragged quilted armor.
I'd picked the worst-looking piece from our spoils as a sacrificial offering for learning the spell.
Clank.
I borrowed Gilbert's sword and gripped it with both hands.
One slash, and it would be done.
But cutting through with a blade was trickier than expected.
The damn thing was too tough.
"How about scoring it first?"
Bear watched me struggle with the armor and offered his input.
I did as he suggested, slashing a groove, then hammering at it.
Soon enough, with a rip!, the armor tore open.
《Remember this. There is no armor in this world that cannot be destroyed. So always keep an eye on your gear's condition.》
Once the quilted armor ripped...
The Armor Breaker Grimoire's voice rang out.
And its pages flipped open on their own.
Flip!
The pages flew by rapidly.
Soon, the back cover appeared.
'My hunch was right.'
The spell it contained was called Firm Armor.
As the straightforward name implied, it reinforced a designated suit of armor, making it tougher.
'Just the Marksman Grimoire left.'
I handed the sword back to Gilbert and prepared to head out.
The plains outside Forefront.
I headed there to fulfill the Marksman Grimoire's demand.
《Hit a moving target with magic.》
The Marksman Grimoire's demand was the same as before.
A simple request: hit a target with magic.
The catch was the distance.
《Now put some distance between you—so far that the target looks like a dot!》
Hit a moving target from extreme range?
Not easy, obviously.
But I had a way.
'Gilbert.'
I sent Gilbert far away first.
I'd use him—or rather, the shield he held—as my moving target.
Soon, he shrank to a dot.
And he started moving.
'Hard to track with the naked eye.'
Gilbert darted left and right rapidly.
In a real fight, if he were an enemy...
Hitting him with magic would be near impossible.
But...
'What if the target runs into the magic itself?'
I cast Rock Throw.
I didn't have many spells with that kind of range, so I picked a suitable one.
Whoosh.
A rock appeared before my eyes.
Normally, I'd fire it straight ahead.
Not this time.
I adjusted the launch angle for a parabolic arc to reach the distance.
Once ready...
The rock soared into the sky.
Whoom!
The rock plummeted toward Gilbert.
But it fell a bit short.
It would hit bare ground at this rate.
So I commanded him.
'Gilbert, throw your shield at the rock.'
Gilbert, weaving side to side, hurled his shield at the falling rock on my order.
Thud!
The shield shattered against the rock.
I watched, then glanced at the Marksman Grimoire I'd set aside.
Wondering if it'd accept this loophole.
《Ah, this is kinda... You didn't hit the target with magic. You hit the magic with the target?》
The Marksman Grimoire let out a sigh.
I thought it'd fail.
But luckily, it was lenient.
《Eh, I'll pass you. Clever thinking.》
Right after it spoke, the cover opened.
The pages began turning on their own.
'Glad it worked.'
I watched the pages flip.
No need for drastic measures.
Had the loophole failed, I'd have used a wide-area spell like Flame Burst to nail the target.
Snap!
Then the Marksman Grimoire closed.
And crumbled to dust.
'Let's see.'
New spell info flooded my mind.
The technique I'd just learned was called Sure-Hit Arrow.
A simple spell that fired mana arrows at a designated target.
It seemed basic, but I couldn't underestimate it.
True to its name, it always hit.
'Test it out?'
I approached Gilbert.
Too far, and I couldn't gauge the effect properly.
Once close enough, I targeted his chest and cast Sure-Hit Arrow.
Swish.
Light particles gathered before my eyes.
They swiftly formed an arrow, then shot toward Gilbert.
But the arrow was odd.
Bigger and thicker than normal.
Probably boosted by my higher rank and magic staff.
'Dodge the arrow and run.'
Gilbert bolted to avoid it.
The straight-flying arrow twisted, tracking his every move.
'Ah, so that's how it works.'
It always hits the target.
Now I understood the description.
The arrow would pursue until its mana dispersed.
'He'll be caught soon.'
Gilbert was fast, but not faster than the arrow.
The gap closed quickly.
I didn't want him hurt, so I issued a new order.
'Gilbert, block it with your sword.'
I watched as he drew his blade and swatted the incoming arrow.
Thud!
The sword connected.
The Sure-Hit Arrow vanished on impact.
From that, I realized something else.
If an obstacle blocked the path to the target, the arrow wouldn't dodge—it crashed straight in.
And that wasn't the only downside.
'High mana cost.'
Sure-Hit Arrow drained 60 mana.
A ton for a single arrow.
Even with my mana efficiency spell reducing costs, it was this much.
Without it, it'd be worse.
'Because it tracks the target?'
Made sense.
A plain mana arrow wouldn't cost this much.
'Still, definitely useful.'
Against a speedy foe like Gilbert, I could pin them down with this.
Worth learning for that alone.
If it forced a pause even briefly, I could follow up with another spell.
The next day.
We gathered at the underground tomb's entrance.
This time, the whole unit was joining the mission.
Everyone had volunteered.
Truth be told, I'd have preferred just the knight-grade elites.
But that might look suspicious.
'If the rest lounge outside and Count Dustin sees, he might think we didn't give it our all.'
So the full team it was.
'Creepy.'
I peered into the tomb entrance.
It was crudely barricaded with planks and broken furniture.
Four knights guarded it.
Bone fragments littered the area—undead attacks must be frequent.
"Heros! You beat us here."
As I inspected the entrance, Randolph called out, descending the stairs.
Matilda was with him.
These two were our mission overseers.
"Finished the grimoires?"
"Of course."
Randolph narrowed his eyes skeptically at my answer.
If you don't believe me, why ask?
I stared back.
He cleared his throat and spoke.
"All set, then?"
"Yes."
"Let's head in."
On his word, I ordered the undead knights to clear the barricade.
The guarding knights drew swords, wary of undead assault.
Fortunately, nothing happened until the entrance was fully exposed.
"We're going in."
I sent Giant first.
He strode in torch in hand, with Gilbert and the undead knights following.
Once the familiars were inside...
I entered.
'Ugh, the stench.'
A musty odor assaulted my nose the moment I stepped in.
As I grimaced, Randolph followed, his face grave.
"We haven't pinpointed the grimoire yet. Better to prioritize safety and search cautiously than rush and wrap it up quick..."
"Hold on."
I cut him off.
I needed to focus.
'Tons of magic items.'
I was maxing out my mana sense to locate the necromancy grimoire.
But it was harder than expected.
Mana signatures everywhere.
Meaning loads of magic relics inside.
Probably grave goods.
'But you can't hide from my senses.'
After a minute of focus...
I spotted the suspect: a grimoire radiating eerie mana.
Definitely necromancy.
"Found it."
"Found what?"
Randolph shot back.
I explained.
"The necromancy grimoire. Lucky it was in my mana sense range. I picked up its signature and pinpointed it."
"Wait. You're saying you found the necromancy grimoire without even properly scouting the tomb?"
"Yes."
"How... is that possible?"
"It just worked."
Randolph stared at me.
I bowed briefly and moved ahead.
Had to catch up to the familiars.
The tomb's darkness welcomed me, but with company, I felt no fear.