Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Banpellyon's Secret Vault
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Winter had arrived before they knew it.
Havel was heading somewhere with Dante before climbing the Tower.
Strangely enough, he held a staff in his hand.
His legs weren't bothering him, so why the staff?
Dante found it puzzling as well.
"Is that reward really enough for you?"
That staff was none other than the reward from Glasis.
An apology for Dratein's misdeeds.
Dante couldn't help but question settling for just a staff.
Well, it was only natural.
It looked a bit fancy, but there was nothing special about it otherwise.
Which was why Glasis had handed it over without hesitation.
They had their suspicions, but they had no idea what it was for.
"Banpellyon was originally a fairly wealthy family."
Among countless houses, Banpellyon stood at the pinnacle.
Naturally, the revenues pouring in from the territory matched the investments.
"To deploy assets as situations demanded, we spread our wealth across various locations."
Reserves set aside in case of disasters striking the territory.
Only successive family heads knew of them.
It was to keep private greed at bay.
Though now, even that territory was gone.
With Havel's disappearance, knowledge of those assets had vanished from the world as well.
"This staff is the key to one such vault."
"The staff?"
"Yeah. They made it look like this on purpose."
Havel stopped in his tracks as he spoke.
He had arrived at the mountain that once belonged to Banpellyon territory.
Animals bustling with winter preparations dotted the forest.
They watched Havel and Dante with curious eyes.
Havel gazed up at a massive tree.
The towering ancient seemed impossibly old.
He swept away the fallen leaves at its base with the staff.
"There it is."
Beneath the leaves.
Havel had found a small stone guardian statue perched there.
"Look closely."
Havel thrust the staff firmly into the ground before it.
Light began seeping out from where it stuck.
"This is..."
"Magic. Set by Banpellyon's exclusive magic engineer."
Havel reminisced for a moment.
This man who could have made a greater name as a magic engineer but stayed with Banpellyon.
And fought at his side in the Demonic Palace.
Banpellyon Magic Institute, Millerio.
His magic still guarded Banpellyon to this day.
'I owe you a great debt.'
The man who smiled radiantly until the very end was unforgettable to Havel.
While Havel was lost in thought.
The light faded, and stairs appeared beneath the tree.
Havel left the staff behind and began descending.
Dante followed, finding wooden steps stretching downward.
Blue lanterns flickered to life one by one along the earthen walls.
Proof the magic still functioned.
"An incredible mage's legacy."
"He was incredible."
He had staved off total annihilation in the Demonic Palace at the cost of his life.
At last, the stairs ended.
A single door stood at the bottom.
Havel gripped the knob and shoved it open.
Kiiiieek—.
The rusty hinges groaned as it swung inward.
Blue lanterns ignited in sequence, banishing the darkness, and Dante let out a gasp.
"Th-this is..."
Several chests brimmed with gold and jewels.
A sum meant for disasters.
Not a trifling amount, by any means.
Havel approached and roughly tallied the value.
'Enough for a mansion.'
Nothing as grand as Glasis's estate.
But the basics were essential.
Only then would others pledge themselves to Banpellyon in greater numbers.
"Dante, can you fit them in your sub-space?"
"Yes, all of it should be fine."
"Good."
Havel left the chests and walked on.
"Dante, over here."
He called out to Dante.
Dante, who had been inspecting the chests, hurried over.
Swords mounted on the wall gleamed in his eyes.
Blades that held their form even after a century.
Dante couldn't suppress his admiration.
Each one was a masterwork.
"Pick one."
"R-really?"
"That sword of yours won't take you higher."
Dante's blade had been provided by Banpellyon.
But it was merely sturdy steel at best.
A masterwork was different.
The sword's inherent power could shift the tide.
As a swordsman, Dante's heart pounded.
"Aren't you taking one, Havel?"
Shouldn't Havel choose first, with blades like these?
Dante hesitated slightly before asking.
Havel cocked his head, then burst into laughter. "Puha-hat!"
"Any sword in my hand becomes a masterwork."
The instant any blade met Havel's grip, it transformed into the finest in the world.
What need had such a man for sword lust?
"Sounds arrogant?"
Dante shook his head.
He agreed with Havel's words.
Havel had long transcended fixation on tools.
He himself was the world's greatest masterwork.
A mere stick would be a masterwork in his hands.
But Dante was not there yet.
He hadn't achieved unity with the blade.
"Take your time. They're all Banpellyon's anyway."
Even if Arthur were here, he'd have gifted one to Dante.
No issue picking from these.
"...Thank you."
Dante bowed to Havel and began examining the swords carefully.
Meanwhile, Havel surveyed the rest of the chamber.
Wondering if anything might prove useful.
Unfortunately, his realm was far too elevated.
'I outgrew reliance on objects long ago. All this is just clutter to me.'
No item could surpass his own flesh.
And it grew ever stronger.
Honestly, could he even get hurt anymore?
Then a photograph caught his eye.
Lifting it, Havel let out a hollow chuckle.
'They kept this too.'
It showed his younger self.
Beside him stood a girl much younger still.
She hid shyly, arm looped around his waist.
Yet her silver hair peeking out marked her as Banpellyon.
Havel traced the photo gently with his fingers.
'Aria.'
His little sister had always adored him.
Perhaps that's why he treated his much younger sibling like a daughter.
'Did you miss me until the end?'
Gazing at it stirred regret.
He lamented never returning while she lived.
"Dante."
He called to Dante, who was still choosing.
"Yes, Havel?"
"Do you know where the tombs of past Banpellyon heads are?"
Dante nodded.
"Yes, not far from the mansion."
"Good."
Havel slipped the photo from its frame and tucked it safely away.
'You took good care of things while I was gone.'
Once he conquered the Tower and restored Banpellyon's glory.
Then he'd visit and share their stories.
"Havel, I'll take this one."
Dante had made his choice.
"Vallisador."
"That's its name?"
"Yeah. It cuts through objects themselves."
Dante's eyes widened.
He'd known it was a masterwork, but not of its power.
It meant it pierced any defense.
"Of course, only when the user's aura overwhelms the opponent's."
"Not omnipotent, then."
"No masterwork is. True omnipotence comes only from the swordsman."
Their prowess varied wildly by wielder.
That defined a masterwork.
"Become the knight it deserves."
"Yes."
Dante strapped Vallisador preciously to his waist.
With that, Havel headed out.
He retrieved the staff and handed it to Dante.
"Take this to Arthur along with the chests."
"You're not doing it yourself?"
"I'm a mercenary. If it's Glasis's apology, Arthur will understand."
Dante accepted the staff.
No further protest.
"I'll head to Beltella Merchant Group. Meet at the Tower after."
"Got it. I'll inform Arthur and go straight there."
Havel nodded and departed.
Dante admired the sword at his side with pride as he made for the mansion.
Arthur would be quite shocked, he thought.
Afterward, Dante went straight to the Banpellyons.
When he revealed the gold and jewels before Arthur, the man was predictably stunned.
But as Havel had said, upon hearing it was Glasis's recompense, Arthur understood at once.
A house like Glasis could spare such a sum for the sake of honor.
Thus, the wealth reached Banpellyon intact.
Mission complete, Dante promptly left the mansion.
'The talk dragged on longer than expected.'
Friendly match discussions spiraled into endless topics.
Havel was surely waiting.
Dante hurried toward Babel.
Havel had said he'd wait at the Tower.
'Then he must be in the 4th hierarchy safe zone.'
Just as Dante moved to enter the Tower.
Whoosh!
A sharp crackle of flame from somewhere.
The instant he heard it, Dante leaped back.
A fireball streaked past him.
"Uwak, what the—!?"
"Who threw fire!?"
Chaos erupted at the Tower's entrance.
Dante's face hardened as his hand went to his sword.
He now faced the fire's caster.
"Who are you?"
"Heh heh, nice to meet you. You're Dante, right? Been waiting for you to show at the Tower."
A short boy in a hood pulled low over his face.
He juggled fireballs like playthings.
'Red mage.'
Recognizing the magic, Dante gripped his hilt tight.
Freely wielding fire marked a mage of considerable skill.
Mages defied the laws of nature.
Dante's experience against them was limited, so he tensed.
"No need to tense up. Just gauging your level!"
The boy shouted, and fireballs hurtled forth.
Dante dodged frantically.
Even for him, those searing orbs were deadly.
"Nice dodge!"
The boy cackled, conjuring more.
Keeping distance was futile.
Dante drew his sword.
Pure white light of dawn gathered along the blade.
'Pushing in.'
He stomped the ground and surged forward.
His leg power, honed by Havel's training, was tremendous.
In an instant, the gap closed.
Face-to-face with the boy, Dante swung.
Swish!
The clean stroke connected.
Yet the boy's form blurred.
Dante's eyes bulged.
"That's a fake, dummy."
Behind the dissipating smoke-boy.
The real one grinned, fireball at the ready.
And he unleashed it...
BAM!
"Urk!"
The boy tumbled flat to the ground.
Dante stared wide-eyed ahead.
There stood Havel, fist raised.
"Wondered why you were late. Messing around with this punk?"
Havel had swatted away Dante's adversary like a fly.