Chapter 119
Translator: Wjin
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Guardian and Underground Tomb (7)
After the meeting with Count Dustin concluded, the castle servants began clearing the table from the hall.
Once that was done, they brought out the pre-prepared dishes and arranged them artfully on top.
In the meantime, as the banquet was being set up, I chatted with Randolph.
"How about sticking around a little longer before heading out?"
"I'd love to. But if I linger, those northern black mages are bound to kick up more trouble."
Randolph was trying to convince me to stay.
I turned down his offer.
At that, Randolph asked,
"So, what about the armor?"
Count Dustin had promised to commission armor from the basilisk byproducts we'd brought, handing them over to his artisans.
That process would take a month.
But even that was the optimistic estimate—if things dragged on, we could be stuck here for over two months.
So I'd decided to pass on the armor.
It was a bold call.
"I'll collect it later. Once I've achieved my goals up north, I plan to swing back by Dustin Castle. The armor for my companions should be ready by then."
"Can't send you off bare, though. I'll have them check for some quality off-the-shelf pieces your group can use."
"I appreciate the thoughtfulness. And if it's not imposing too much, I have one more favor to ask. Could we stable the horses my knights and I rode here at Dustin Castle?"
The Barbarian lands.
To reach them, we had to cross the mountain right in front of Dustin Castle.
The Savage Mountains, was it?
Barbarians used it to slip into the empire, hence the name.
That tidbit came from Count Dustin.
Either way, traversing mountains on horseback was no picnic, so I figured I'd leave the beasts here to enjoy a cozy, well-fed winter.
"That's the least we can do. No worries—Dustin Castle's horse breeders are the best around."
One less thing to stress over with the horses.
Just as that thought crossed my mind, the banquet finally kicked off.
Count Dustin, his retainers, my companions, and I all dug into the feast with gusto.
Gilbert and the undead knights gnawed on meat too.
In a setting like this, skipping food altogether would've raised eyebrows, so they had no choice.
Of course, since they couldn't digest it, I'd have them puke it up later.
'A proper feast after ages.'
Just getting to savor delicious grub made the night worthwhile.
But it wasn't all upsides.
"Heros, got a moment to talk?"
"How much to hire you on?"
"I've got a proposal you'll be thrilled with."
A swarm of folks showing interest in me.
City bigwigs, Dustin retainers, even nobles who'd fled here for safety.
All after the same thing: cozying up or poaching me.
My mouth spent more time fielding questions than chewing.
And I wasn't the only one in the hot seat.
'Plenty eyeing the crew too.'
The burly trio, six undead knights, Pergal, and the regular members drew their share of attention.
Someone even struck up a chat with Giant.
'Same deal at Chester Castle.'
It'd played out just like this at the Chester Castle banquet.
So nothing shocking here.
Just annoying.
'Man, wanna head back to the inn already.'
I grumbled inwardly while chomping through my meat.
No fretting that the trio or anyone else might jump ship for recruitment pitches.
We'd built solid trust on the road together.
Once the banquet wrapped, I returned to the inn with the group.
As expected, not a single soul bit on the elite offers.
A stellar outcome.
"Ughhh... the floor's spinning."
"Think I'm gonna hurl."
"Ahh, everything's whirling."
The crew groaning through their hangovers.
I shoved them into spare rooms, leaving just Bear and Conall by my side.
They'd pounded drinks like champs, but aside from a faint flush, looked no worse for wear.
"You too, Sir Bear, Sir Conall—get some rest."
Bear glanced my way and asked,
"Master Heros isn't turning in?"
"Still got work to do."
The two grimoires Count Dustin had given me.
Time to crack them open.
Checked their requests on the way back—thankfully, neither was a hassle.
"Then we'll stand watch."
Conall piped up chipperly.
I just nodded.
Their presence wouldn't cramp my magic studies.
'You lot patrol the inn perimeter.'
I sent Gilbert and the six undead knights outside.
The room instantly felt more spacious.
Then I unwrapped the pair of grimoires.
One was, naturally, the Underground Noblewoman Grimoire.
The other bore the quirky name Strict Earth Grimoire.
For the record, the Strict Earth Grimoire held earth magic.
'No wonder I was floored at first.'
I'd landed an earth magic grimoire as recompense for handling the Underground Noblewoman one.
Randolph, the earth mage, might've figured an outsider snatched his due.
So I cleared the air, and he admitted he'd pushed to hand me the Strict Earth Grimoire right there.
Said he couldn't read it anyway.
That wiped away any lingering unease.
《Hey, you with the golem! You qualify to read this grimoire. I permit it.》
The Strict Earth Grimoire's voice rang in my ears.
As its words implied, reading it required a golem as your familiar.
That must be why Randolph passed it my way.
He wasn't a golem handler.
'Just what I needed.'
I'd been racking my brain over boosting Giant's performance—this could be the key.
Shurarak!
The moment I resolved to read the Strict Earth Grimoire, its cover sprang open on its own.
Pages flipped through in a blur.
A scene I'd witnessed dozens of times by now.
I gazed down at it impassively.
'Oh?'
The Strict Earth Grimoire had flipped past the first third.
About two-thirds of the content left.
Meaning it held a total of three spells.
Lightweight (Passive)
Reduces golem weight for enhanced mobility. Mana cost: 24
《Golems can handle any task based on their master's desires. That makes the mage's mindset when commanding familiars all the more vital. Don't forget it!》
The Strict Earth Grimoire's first spell was Lightweight.
A golem-boosting passive that, true to its name, made the construct's body lighter than before.
'Any difference?'
The instant I acquired Lightweight, I eyed Giant.
No change in appearance.
'Take a stroll?'
I ordered Giant to pace the room.
It moved noticeably quicker than before.
Footfalls much softer too.
Mana drain at just 24—plenty satisfying for sure.
'Solid. What's next?'
Wondering what the second spell might bring, I listened for the Strict Earth Grimoire's next demand.
《Nothing beats living with your golem to truly understand it. Spend thirty days coexisting with it and learning its ways.》
Wait thirty days for the next spell?
Easy enough.
I'd once waited a hundred days fulfilling the Underground Manager Grimoire's request.
Thirty would zip by.
With that in mind, I turned to the Underground Noblewoman Grimoire.
Couldn't progress the Strict Earth one yet, so time for the next book.
《Any proper noble needs at least five loyal retainers, wouldn't you agree?》
The Underground Noblewoman Grimoire's voice dripped with allure.
True to its name, it carried an air of refined leisure.
At least five loyal ones, huh?
Referring to the number of minions under her command?
As I pondered that, it continued.
《Heros, you've got eight devoted servants already? Splendid! Truly splendid. That's the bare minimum to earn the noble title.》
Seemed like the "loyal ones" meant my familiars.
Hence its approval.
Gilbert, six undead knights, and Giant.
Eight familiars in total.
I'd cleared the requirement the moment it spoke.
'Alright, what's the spell?'
I peered down at the Underground Noblewoman Grimoire.
Its cover parted, pages whirring to the one-third mark.
Like the Strict Earth, it packed three spells total.
Perfect.
Six spells from two books.
'Eh?'
Grinning, I checked its first spell.
And promptly froze.
It was beyond anything I'd anticipated.
'High-Class Talent Cultivation?'
High-Class Talent Cultivation (Passive)
Revives mage corpses as undead mages! Retains full spellcasting. Mana: 80 constant + mana share.
High-Class Talent Cultivation—a spell with an oddly specific name.
Its effect? Reviving mages as undead!
'Jackpot.'
Death Deferral could reanimate corpses.
Even mages, technically.
But the undead couldn't cast spells.
I'd scrapped undead mage plans ages ago.
Now this spell revived that dream.
《Nobles must avoid hiring just anyone as servants. Only those befitting your station preserve your dignity.》
Even as the Underground Noblewoman Grimoire droned on, I zeroed in on the spell details.
And spotted the catch soon enough.
'Mana hog.'
High-Class Talent Cultivation guzzled 80 mana.
Like Death Deferral, it ran passive—constant 80 drain.
To revive the mage corpse and sustain the undead summon.
But the real kicker came next.
'Gotta shunt part of my mana pool to the undead mage...'
Total mana at 100? Fork over 20 to the undead mage.
Extra mana locked beyond the initial 80.
Unavoidable, though.
Only way for the undead mage to cast using that mana.
'Still a win overall.'
Undead mages wielded my full spell repertoire, massively padding my forces.
That wrapped the spell rundown.
Now to tally the mana gains from these books.
'Let's see...'
Current total mana: 1,825.
Available mana: 973.
Total up 75, available up 51.
Solid gains.
And that wasn't all.
Spell count now at 45.
Just five more, and I could fulfill the Craving Grimoire's request.
Unlocking a mana boost reward.
'Growth's cruising.'
Content, I tuned into the Underground Noblewoman Grimoire's next demand.
《A noble's prestige hinges on the size of their retinue. Bolster your servants beyond the current number. Ten ought to suffice.》
The Underground Noblewoman Grimoire's second ask: bump familiars from five to ten.
Straightforward.
'Man, hope Eremus or the Silent Submission Society jumps me—anyone.'
Free loyal knights and mages for the taking.
The thought lit a fire under me.
Nicholas, Eremus's northern branch chief.
One more reason to track him down.