Chapter 58

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Translator: 8uhl

Chapter: 58

Chapter Title: Silver Star is Going to Sleep

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A vast plain atop another plain, rising ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠about ten meters higher than the surrounding land.

Encircling it was a wall as tall as that elevation. A barrier so immense that its ends weren't visible at a glance.

Fred clicked his tongue in amazement.

"With walls that high, if there were an army defending it, it'd be impregnable."

"It's not just the height. The thickness is impressive too. Three carriages could race side by side atop those walls. There's room to build barracks or deploy all sorts of siege weapons."

Erakins stepped forward proudly, and Fred asked,

"Any idea why they built it on such a massive scale?"

"What would a carpenter like me know? We just followed the orders from the master craftsmen and architects sent from Hellite."

"Built by Hellite on Brad territory..."

Fred wasn't the only one curious about the reason.

Everyone tilted their heads.

Among us, I was the smartest—or at least the closest to it—so I explained.

"It's a symbolic line in the sand. A declaration that if anyone ever invades Brad, the Hellite Holy Knights will intervene. And that's not all. Invaders wouldn't just face the Holy Knights. There's a disaster slumbering here, ready to be awakened at any moment. Who wouldn't tremble in fear upon hearing the tales tied to this fortress?"

"I see. That explains why it's been left abandoned like this. No one dares target it."

Fred nodded as if it all made sense now.

Well, abandoned? It was far too pristine for that.

Paths branched off in several directions, as if frequented by people.

Analyzing the traces with Blue Eye revealed horseshoe marks, but no wheel tracks.

Mostly human footprints.

'Quite a few from untrained feet. Means not just Holy Knights have been here.'

Pilgrims, they said. Probably their traces.

The closer we got to the fortress, the stronger the heat haze in the air above.

An aura incomparably fiercer than what had emanated from Edna Murmo.

'No wonder Luke treats it like a single divine ability.'

Still, I believed Luke had overlooked something.

'It doesn't feel like a divine ability.'

This wasn't the spiritual energy of divine power—it was pure force, an aura of raw strength.

How potent must it be to warp the very air?

'Might need to revise the plan if things go south.'

I'd assumed it was a type of divine power that would obey Insight Ability, but now I was doubting that hypothesis.

'I'll give it a shot, but I can't risk it all.'

Until now, I never fought without certainty of victory.

I'd turned tail without a second glance from foes stronger than me.

No intention of throwing my life away now.

We reached the fortress's main gate.

A massive door of gray rock flecked with white patterns barred our way.

You had to crane your neck to see the top. Solid stone.

The thieves milling behind me marveled.

"A door made of rock? How the hell do you even make something like that?"

"Sergei, this is the Holy Kingdom's power. The legacy of divine might handed down through ages."

"Bardin, I don't get half of what you're saying, but yeah, the Holy Kingdom's impressive."

"That's why they stand toe-to-toe with Drauven."

Amazed by the stone door, the thieves shot me looks of awe.

Holy Knights must've seemed even more extraordinary now.

I hadn't contributed a thing to this, though. How embarrassing.

"Hellite's gates must be even sturdier, right?"

"Probably? What do you think, boss?"

I'd never been there myself. Why toss the question my way all of a sudden?

"Rock or iron, it's all just material. What holds the Holy Kingdom together isn't matter—it's spirit. Steel your own spirits as well."

"Whoa..."

I'd just spouted nonsense for lack of anything better, but the thugs were deeply moved.

They really were easy to handle.

I placed my hand on the colossal stone door and closed my eyes.

'I can feel it. Invisible divine power envelops the door, rippling like waves.'

'Similar, yet different. For starters, the divine power here and at the Sanctuary came from different saintesses...'

I couldn't simply compare their power output—their natures differed.

The Sanctuary's stone judged worthiness by the purity and volume of divine power, while this door only checked for its presence.

'Even patrolling Holy Knights could enter.'

'You knew and asked anyway?'

Crazy.

Anyway, that meant I could pass too. I had divine power.

I let words flow from my lips, infusing them with a plea for entry.

"I am the star's divinity, Hellite's Star, master of this fortress."

Woooong—.

A gentle ripple softly stirred the surrounding air.

"Permit me entry within you."

Ah, that was a bit too steamy. Hope it's okay.

Craaaack—!

A vertical line of blue light glowed in the door's seamless center, splitting it lengthwise.

Grrrind—.

The doors began sliding inward.

Rumble rumble rumble—.

The ground shook, but no one staggered or collapsed.

Our grueling journey had toughened us well.

Beyond the open doors loomed a colossal stone.

Rock through and through, yet egg-shaped.

Larger than a fire truck, it gleamed blindingly under the sunlight.

'The disaster slumbers inside that.'

The haze visible only to Blue Eye emanated from it too.

I stepped inside without hesitation.

"Boss..."

Requiya called in a trembling voice.

"What about us...?"

"Follow if you want. No judgment if you stay out."

"Isn't this a Hellite holy site ringed by divine power? Can mere criminals enter?"

"Holy sites need criminals? Without them, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠no Holy Knights, no holy sites, no saintesses, no Holy Kingdom."

"Ooh..."

Admiring murmurs rose from the thieves.

Ha, you gullible thugs...

"Can't turn back now after coming this far. This fortress I built with my own hands has been calling to me."

Led by Erakins, the thieves mustered their courage.

"Not every day you get to see a place like this—even in death!"

"A world full of folks ready to kill us just for being thieves! We were doomed to hang anyway! Better trampled or burned by a disaster like men!"

Don't twist it like that, you idiots!

The egg was enormous yet oddly small by one measure.

Like a chubby stick figure—

'Dragons are supposed to be huge. Did it shrink into an egg?'

Trembling, I took a deep breath.

Huuu—.

I recalled Luke's words.

'...What did he say again?'

Thank goodness for Silver Star, letting me access my memories.

It often spouted nonsense off-topic, but handy in times like these.

'What next?'

'No, what did he say to unseal the disaster?'

'Cut the jokes...'

'That's it? No awakening incantation?'

Aha.

Willpower was key.

When mana was needed, I drew drug potency with delusion and will alone—a Holy Knight who strengthened his body that way was me.

With the right fuel, wielding abilities was simple.

I placed my hand on the egg and probed its state first.

'Familiar emotions.'

'The emotions from that cabin.'

I now understood why Insight Ability had hinted to keep me at the cabin.

'Warning me not to miss a chance to score points with this one.'

'Its guardian, probably. This feels like grief and fury over a protector murdered. Empire soldiers massacred nearby civilians, it sought revenge, and...'

Hold on.

A dragon's guardian was human?

Someone protector enough for a dragon should've been strong. How'd they fall?

And what was the dragon doing while its guardian died?

'Doesn't add up.'

What kind of messed-up context is this?

'Fair enough.'

I drew a deep breath, exhaled, and closed my eyes.

"Wanderer lost in endless darkness..."

I pondered if unsealing it was wise even as I began.

Even Requiya, who trusted me most, kept his distance uncertainly.

Fear spread quickly; the thieves' presences receded.

"I command thee—"

Regardless, I had faith secured by Insight Ability.

Convinced it wouldn't harm me, I pressed on.

"—answer my call."

It was unexpected.

"Yuderg, come here. It might be dangerous."

"A rare chance."

While Requiya and Fred stayed back, only Yuderg guarded my side.

"An extraordinary Holy Knight with an extraordinary knight."

Ah, those guys are flaky as hell.

Ignoring Fred's mutter, I poured my final will into the stone egg.

"Awaken from your long slumber... come to me."

Some whispered it was too simple for awakening a disaster.

But for me, it was no easy ritual.

Thump thump—.

My pounding heart shoved vitality from my body into the egg.

Wasn't planning to.

My hand stuck fast, glued in place.

Eyes sinking, legs buckling—I wanted to collapse.

'Stamina... no stamina. Take something else besides vitality.'

Oh right.

My scant divine power had been sucked dry early in the unsealing.

Silver Star stepped in to coordinate.

Having drained all divine power and half my vitality, the egg now gulped down Toolsep's energy voraciously.

'Isn't Insight Ability enough to unseal it?'

'Why didn't you say so?'

'Aha, I see... You thought I'd say that? I'm gonna die here!'

'Great?'

Gulping breaths, forcing drooping eyes open, I asked.

'That's why my insides are writhing?'

'I kinda got that. Can't really cast magic without mana, after all.'

'Didn't know. And you've mentioned it sometimes.'

What kind of idiot banter is this? Still, having someone to converse with openly was a blessing.

Thanks to Silver Star, I steadied my breath and clung to fading consciousness.

"Is the boss suddenly getting stronger, or unleashing hidden power?"

"He's been holding back all this time, right? No need to use it before."

Fred and Requiya's voices drifted from afar.

They'd just noticed the Toolsep rampaging like mana inside me.

Makes sense.

Toolsep ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠didn't reveal itself like mana.

'Listening.'

Craaaack craaaack—.

Cracks spiderwebbed across the egg in all directions.

Suddenly?

No, not again...