Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Chapter 27: The Third Core
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“Ancient Bear? If that’s what you’re after, it’d be faster to ask the elves. Our relations with them are a bit strained.”
“I know that much. The dwarves’ base is in the Dark Mountains too, so their habitats overlap… No, my apologies. I’ve heard their living environments overlap, so they don’t get along.”
Habitats, huh. Gives me a rough idea of how these elves usually think of dwarves. And they’re allies, no less.
“On the other hand, our Eternal Forest elves get along just fine with them. We occasionally send over harvested honey in exchange for dried fish.”
“Good for you. Then come with a few people.”
“Pardon? What do you…?”
“We’re heading to the Dark Mountains right now. A honey wagon bound for them is already on its way, detouring around the dwarf outpost.”
“Honey wagon? What’s that?”
“A cart loaded with honey. But we’re way short of schedule. The trade ship hasn’t arrived yet.”
“……?”
Of course, explaining it like this won’t make any sense to them.
“We need to win over the Ancient Bear, but we’re short on honey to give them. So if some elves we’re on good terms with come along to smooth things over, that’d be great. Crashing in cold like that would sour the mood, right?”
“Why do we need to win over the Ancient Bear…? No, never mind.”
The elder shook his head vigorously, his expression complicated.
“You must have your reasons. Understood. I’ll select some elves who are acquainted with the Ancient Bear right away.”
“Elder.”
An elf who had been attending the elder from behind stepped forward.
“I went to the Dark Mountains about ten years ago. I remember the beasts asking if we could bring more honey.”
“You, Lanir? Perfect. Your Highness, this is Lanir. He’s an aspiring guard for the lord’s castle.”
The introduced elf was a boy who looked about fifteen at most. Of course, being an elf, he was probably several times that age in reality.
But what’s with the bruise under his eye? Did he get in a fight?
“I’m Lanir. If I may, I heard something from the beasts when I was there. May I tell you now?”
“Hm? What is it?”
“They say there’s a legend passed down among the beasts. Long ago, their chieftain asked the elf lord—our late Dejar—for a favor.”
Dejar? They sure don’t hold back calling their own lord by name.
“What favor?”
“The chieftain asked for a sword he could wield. They made the sword and brought it, but the chieftain who requested it had already died, so they took it back.”
A sword?
How would a bear wield a sword? Structurally, their paws can’t grip one, right?
“Interesting story. But what about it?”
“That tale has been passed down through generations of chieftains, and the current one regrets not receiving the sword back then. If we bring it now, wouldn’t that win them over?”
“Really?”
Music to my ears. Any gift that works on the Ancient Bear, I’ll take it all.
“But where’s the sword?”
“It should be somewhere in the lord’s castle. Dejar’s room seems likely.”
“Dejar’s room? I didn’t see anything like that when I was there before…”
I shrugged, recalling the scene from back then.
“Whatever. Let’s go check again.”
“Your Highness!”
Just then, a familiar voice rang out from the sanctuary entrance.
“You’re already here. The forest was treacherous, so I arrived a bit late.”
Davi had arrived with several White Knight Order knights. I felt the knights’ anger-filled glares at the elves as I whispered to Davi.
“Why’d you bring the White Knight Order here, of all people?”
“Didn’t Your Highness say to bring some tough knights who can hold their own even unarmed? The White Knight Order survivors are perfect. Especially if you plan to show off strength to the elves.”
“The show of strength isn’t for the elves—it’s for the bear cubs later.”
“…Pardon?”
“We’re not here for elf village business. Keep them from getting riled up and charging. We’re leaving soon.”
My fault for not explaining properly with time short. Davi quickly grasped the situation and nodded.
“Understood.”
He rushed back to the knights to give them instructions. I turned to the waiting elf boy with a smile.
Alright, shall we go look for that sword now?
* * *
The lord’s castle I revisited had become little more than ruins in those few days.
Probably because the wood spirit’s protection was gone. No patrolling guards or elves doing odd jobs like before.
“This place got hit the worst…”
Dejar’s room was especially eerie, with the log walls and floor completely torn up. I stared at the still bloodstained floor and asked.
“What’d you do with the body?”
“We cremated the lord’s body and disposed of it. No, calling that monster ‘lord’ is too generous.”
Lanir shuddered as he answered. Makes sense—over a thousand elf warriors were slaughtered because of him. The few survivors seem traumatized too.
“You ever see Dejar yourself?”
“I glimpsed his face once before. I admired him greatly long ago, but not anymore.”
“Right. Anyway…”
Dejar’s vast room was mostly empty. It even looked cleaned.
In the midst of it, as I glanced at the mirror he used to gaze into, I spotted a round object on the opposite wall.
It was a doorknob.
A doorknob where there’s no door? Hoping for the best, I rushed over, grabbed it, and pulled sideways.
Drurrr…
A hidden wall panel slid open immediately.
“Oh.”
Cool.
The wall closet held over twenty swords at first glance, all looking incredibly impressive. Lanir nodded in amazement as he examined them.
“As expected… Dejar stored the swords he made himself here.”
“He made all these himself?”
“Dejar was the finest swordsmith among elves. He hadn’t touched anything in recent centuries, but before that, he often visited the forge to craft them.”
“That guy had that kind of skill too… Davi!”
I raised my voice slightly, and with a bang, Davi leaped through the window into the third-floor room.
“Yes, Your Highness. You called?”
“This is the third floor…”
The elf boy flinched in surprise. I gestured toward Davi, pointing at Dejar’s armory.
“Looks like these are the swords the elf lord made over the years.”
“Elves are famous for fine blades, that’s true. But the lord himself?”
“Yeah. What do you think?”
“I’ll take a look.”
Davi’s eyes sharpened seriously as he inspected the swords.
He drew them one by one, checked the blades, swung some lightly, then nodded gravely.
“Amazing. The best swords I’ve ever seen.”
“That good?”
“Compared to what the Imperial Knight Order issues, it’s night and day. Of course, a knight’s true strength lies in skill and power, not the sword… but…”
Davi spun, slashing twice at the side wall.
Slash! Slash!
An X-shaped crack formed, revealing a vent beyond. Davi stroked near the blade with his finger, clicking his tongue in awe.
“At least up to Knight Expert level, equal skill means the one with this sword wins for sure.”
“Great. Let’s take them all. But for the bear cubs… it’s kinda…”
Small, isn’t it?
Fine for humans, sure.
But Ancient Bears are much bigger than normal ones. Would this even register in their paws?
“According to the beasts’ legend, the sword Dejar brought was bigger than he was.”
“Bigger than Dejar himself?”
Lanir nodded. Dejar was about 180cm tall, right? So the sword for the bear cub would be at least 2m?
“Probably displayed here.”
Davi traced an empty spot at the back of the display.
“Dust shows something was here until recently. But that size…”
“Why?”
“…The Horror Lord I fought during the eclipse battle was Phiren.”
Phiren out of nowhere?
“Yeah, you told me. So?”
“Unlike other Horror Lords, he wielded a massive sword. Over 2 meters… Maybe that’s it.”
For real?
So after the sponsor stopped here, he took the sword and gave it to Phiren?
“It was exquisitely crafted for its size. I especially remember the hilt.”
“What about it?”
“It had a normal grip, but holes around it for inserting something. Phiren used tentacles, but… maybe designed for an Ancient Bear’s fingers or claws.”
No need to verify further. Recalling the corpse-strewn eclipse battlefield, I asked Davi.
“Still lying on the battlefield?”
“I claimed it as spoils during cleanup.”
“You didn’t take it to the mansion, did you?”
“No. Stored it in the magic tower holding supplies midway. Forgot about it till now.”
“Magic tower? Tolari Magic Tower?”
Phew, lucky. Not far from here.
“Yes. I’ll dash over and fetch it.”
“No. I’ll go.”
Things were falling into place clearly now.
If the bear cub wanted a weapon to grip, surely he’d want fitting armor too?
“I’ll fly to the magic tower. You go to the dwarf outpost, grab the armor there.”
“What armor?”
“Enormously huge one. Tell them the sponsor asked the dwarf lord for it—they’ll know. Take it and head to the Dark Mountains first.”
* * *
It took a full 15 days from departure for the dozen-plus honey-loaded wagons to reach the Dark Mountains.
Whew.
In a situation where every day is precious, half a month is an eternity. We need to track down the remaining human traitors as fast as possible.
But the preparations—flying around nonstop—paid off.
First, we sent elves to ease the Ancient Bears’ wariness. Then I personally delivered Phiren’s sword.
—This is the sword from the legend, made by the elf lord! Thank you! Truly! This clears the grudge passed down generations!
The Ancient Bear chieftain’s mouth split in a massive grin.
When I added the colossal magic armor Davi brought…
—Armor fitted to my body! I never dreamed it possible—didn’t even dare ask! I’m so happy! Happy enough to dance!
Finally, when the honey wagons arrived, the whole tribe rushed out, tossing me in the air one after another.
—Hooray! Hooray for the human kid!
—From now on, we’re eternal companions!
—Honey! We can eat honey again!
And now, as night falls, over a hundred massive bear cubs are gathered at the mountain base, dancing in festival.
Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud thud!
The mountain’s shaking.
No joke or exaggeration—the ground quakes, vision blurring.
“Dancing’s the best when you’re happy.”
The standing Ancient Bear chieftain towered about 5 meters. Intimidating up close. His name was Babdol, right?
“Uh… You dance well, Chieftain Babdol.”
“Not Babdol—Babdal. Thanks for the praise. Dancing’s a chieftain’s duty. Wanna join?”
“I’m good. Really.”
I’d just barely survived an hour of precarious steps amid those giant bodies, nearly crushed countless times.
Babdal nodded and began wriggling.
“Got it. Then, before I forget, your request. Oo… Urk!”
He vomited a milky porcelain orb onto the ground.
“Phew. This is the Ancient Bear core. We’re friends now—you’re worthy to absorb it. Eat it. Now.”
“Right now? Sure.”
I picked up the orb without hesitation and popped it in my mouth. Not my first rodeo.
“Wait!”
Babdal’s head shot forward in alarm.
“You can’t just swallow it whole!”
“Mmph. I know. Not my first time.”
“Urgh?”