Chapter 119
Chapter 119
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Sun, Moon, and Stars - 4
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"Anyway, we found the core..."
Cecil's goals were not only to check the records of the Sun, Moon, and Stars but also to destroy the ruin's core in hopes of advancing to Archmage.
With that in mind, she gripped the core with both hands and began channeling her power into it.
"Will Master be okay with this?"
"She'll handle it herself. Alright, we've seen everything we came for, so shall we head out first?"
"Huh? How about we leave together? I still need to seal this place, but it won't take long."
There was no reason to refuse Karin's suggestion. I nodded, and shortly after, a low vibration hummed from the ruin's core in Cecil's hands.
-Hummm... Hummm... Hummm...
-Clank! Clank! Clank!
The core screeched like it was screaming in agony. A moment later...
-Crack!
A crack split the core, and its outer surface shattered away.
Inside was a small gem emitting a soft glow. Cecil pocketed it and gave Karin her instructions.
"Handle the barrier of fire and water, please."
"Yes."
As soon as they finished up and stepped outside, Karin extended her hand toward the descending staircase.
In a clear voice, she chanted her spell, and flames and water droplets materialized on the stairs leading down.
"Watch closely. To become an Archmage, you need to freely wield at least three elements."
"Three? Wow..."
"You're good with fire, right?"
"Yeah, but..."
She must not be confident with the others. Lucille hesitated and looked up at me.
"You'll keep guiding me, right, Master?"
I smiled at her expectant gaze.
"Nope."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Because someone else is better at it than me. I'm a Sage, not an Archmage."
I hadn't even mastered the ultimate spells myself.
"I'll introduce you to the best mage I know. It'll be more efficient to learn from her."
"But... I prefer you as my Master..."
"Haha. Doesn't matter."
As I flicked Lucille's forehead while she pouted, Karin finished the seal and approached, speaking curtly.
"I have to attend to Her Highness, so I can't teach the Princess."
"Huh? Not you?"
"..."
"..."
I smirked at the embarrassed Karin.
"Whoa, hold on. I said the person who 'uses magic the best' to teach Lucille, okay?"
"..."
"Wait... Do you think you're the best mage...? Wow. Did you leave your conscience back in the Duchy or something?"
"Urk. Ah, no. It's not like that."
Sure it is.
Karin's face flushed with shame.
"The best mage I know is Karin... Sage, is there someone else?"
Cecil looked puzzled, and I laughed.
Of course there is.
"There's a magic-obsessed lunatic who has mastered every top-tier spell in existence and can handle all elements with ease."
I thought of the mad witch Wheelrot living in the southern caves.
I'll have to meet her soon anyway to progress the DLC Main Story...
Once out of the ruin, Cecil signaled to those waiting outside that the exploration was complete.
She showed them the gem as proof of the core's destruction. Some grumbled at her resentfully, but most just shrugged and left without a care.
That's how these things go.
Finders keepers.
With Cecil claiming the rewards for exploring and destroying the ruin, there was nothing left for them here, so they all went back to their own business.
"Tch. Guess I should head out too."
Chin clicked his tongue, perhaps disappointed that the lucrative side gig was over, and turned to leave. I grabbed him.
"Hey, Chin."
"What?"
"Didn't some guy babbling about turning back time come to you?"
"What are you talking about? I'd kill any bastard like that if he showed up."
"Hmm... Chin, sir."
"Just call me Chin. Your Highness."
"Then, Chin. Do you have no regrets in life?"
"Huh? Of course I do. Life itself is one big regret."
Chin chuckled, spinning his dagger leisurely as he spoke.
"But you shouldn't change the past that's already happened."
His playful tone vanished. With a serious expression, he stared straight at Lucille and continued.
"People live based on the past they've lived through. No matter how brilliant that life is, there's always shadow behind the light. Everyone regrets their choices, suffers, and despairs."
"Then..."
"But that's life too. Denying it is like denying myself and everyone I've lived with."
"...But what if you could change it?"
"Human greed knows no bounds. You think you wouldn't regret it even after changing it?"
Chin snorted and sheathed his dagger at his waist.
"In the end, you'd regret it anyway. Then what would you do?"
"Uh..."
"Do it over. Again, and again, and again."
He grinned fiercely, baring his sharp teeth like a growl.
"It'd just be endless hell."
"Ah..."
"Anyway, I'm not interested in that nonsense. And even if it's possible, I'd stop it. I won't let someone else's selfishness turn back time and invalidate the efforts I've built in my life. My life is mine alone."
"Haha... I see."
Lucille fell silent, then smiled faintly. Chin smiled back at her and turned away.
"Alright, Your Highness. Call me anytime if you need something stolen. Oh, and I'm a righteous thief, so I don't steal from the innocent. Remember that."
"Hahaha. Then I hope we never meet in the palace without an appointment."
"Work hard not to become a target of this righteous thief~!"
With a cheerful shout, he departed. Lucille stood there a moment, shaking her head with a wry smile.
"Regrets are part of one's own life too..."
"Your shut-in loner days are part of who you are."
"Yeah..."
Lucille gripped the hem of my robe tightly.
"That life is what let me meet you, Master. It's regrettable and painful, but I can accept it."
If Lucille had grown up normally, her mentor position wouldn't have opened up, and I wouldn't have been hired.
Realizing that, Lucille smiled softly, agreeing with Chin.
"But... not everyone is like that, right?"
Probably not.
Even in the game, there were those who coveted Chronos's power.
So, with the DLC about to start, my job now is to keep the kids from falling for useless temptations.
"Oho~ You got back quicker than expected."
When we arrived at the Mage Guild capital branch, the Turtleman greeted us with a grin. Lucille handed him the Diamond Golem's heart, and after inspecting it, he nodded.
"Alright, Your Highness. We'll process the Diamond Golem's core. Until then, take this medicine and meditate in the palace for three days. No food during that time—only the medicine. And during meditation, clear your desires and hold only earnest longing..."
"Huh? Is that all? Did Master do the same?"
"She couldn't master the ultimate spells. So no need for any of that. But yeah, this method works."
The Turtleman stated it flatly, and I shrugged with a nod.
We'd tried all sorts of methods together, wondering if she really couldn't, but no dice.
"It's strange. She can use every technique, but just not the ultimates."
The Turtleman smacked his lips and lit a cigarette.
"Any other questions?"
"Master's here, so..."
"I'll be off handling some business while you meditate. Ask now if you have anything."
"Other business? Oh, that..."
"That?"
The info about the ruin hadn't spread yet, it seemed.
Since it'd get out anyway, I told him about the Sun, Moon, and Stars records, and his eyes lit up.
"That's wild! A power to turn back time..."
"Yeah, right. Total scam. Scam."
"Tch. Still, I'd love to try it once... If there's moonlight, it's possible, huh."
He pondered briefly, then his eyes gleamed.
"Be careful. Can't say no one will come after it."
I smiled at his advice.
I've had plenty gunning for me since way back. This doesn't change much.
"If I really try to run, no one can catch me."
If anyone, maybe Gultelak, apostle of Cosmo, but we won't fight, and once DLC Main Story starts, he'll be my most reliable ally.
Cosmo and Chronos are sworn enemies, after all.
"Fair enough. See you in three days, then."
The Turtleman sent us off. With nothing else to do, I escorted Lucille back to the palace and summoned the Lily Knight Order to guard her.
"Understood. And you, Sage...?"
"I've got some battlefield business. Anything to pass on?"
"Yes. Just my regards to General Leoden."
"Got it. See you in three days..."
"Master."
The door opened. Lucille, in casual clothes, looked up at me hesitantly.
"Be careful..."
"..."
"Come back safe."
"Come back safe," huh.
Her hand trembled as it clutched my robe. Grown or not, she's still not there yet.
I patted her head.
"See you next time."
Using teleportation, I arrived at the northern battlefield.
Still a brutal place.
Wounded or exhausted soldiers lay groaning around the tents.
They were providing support, but recovery aid was still tough, it seemed.
-Hummm...
I pulled out the Divine Mark. A sanctuary formed instantly.
As the soldiers inside it began recovering from injuries and fatigue, they spotted me and cheered in shock.
"Sage?!"
"Is that the Sage?!"
"When did you get here?!"
The soldiers swarmed. Some to get healed in the sanctuary, others just happy to see me.
This what it's like being a celebrity?
"Where's Claire?"
"Not General Leoden?"
"Yeah."
"Uh... the Hero left a few days ago. A powerful beast appeared on the battlefield."
"Powerful beast?"
"Yes. Lady Leventia and Lady Evangeline are tied up in constant battles elsewhere... Claire's the only powerhouse here."
I groaned at the soldier's explanation. Long story short, a powerful, unknown beast suddenly appeared, attacking and abducting not just soldiers and knights, but even passing merchants and their escorts.
Claire had chased after it alone to rescue them.
"Abducted?"
"Yes. Abductions."
Beasts abduct people for two reasons.
To offer as sacrifices to something.
Or.
To lure something in.
So, which is it here?
Didn't take long to figure out.
"No contact? How long since she left?"
"About two days. We're tracking too, but... strangely, no word. Should've found something by now... She wouldn't forget to leave tracking marks."
"Sage, the Hero isn't in danger, right?"
"Who knows."
Claire can escape danger with portals, even if not instant teleport.
But she's gone radio silent?
That doesn't add up.
...
Oh.
It does.
"Sage?"
"When Claire gets back, tell her to stay put in the tent, kneel, hands up, until I return."
"Yes? Uh, yes. Got it. But... where did the Hero go? Do you know?"
I smiled and told the soldier.
"Probably caught by a beast disguised as a ruin. Fell for the lure."
"Huh? Something like that? We've seen tons of beasts, but never one that mimics ruins... And not even human-shaped..."
"It exists."
Not until now, anyway.
I recalled a boss-tier beast from the DLC pre-order pack.
Can Claire take it down alone?
Let's see...
Nope.
No way she can solo it in her current state.
"Alright, I'll be off. Keep up the good work."
Time to grab some new achievements and snag an offering for Cosmo.
I left the battlefield at a leisurely pace, like heading to the tavern.
Pre-order pack or not, it's a boss beast.
No excitement heading to fight it.
...Though I was thrilled and pumped playing the game.
Author's Note (Afterword)
If you enjoyed it, please drop a recommendation or two ㅎ
Have a good night! See you tomorrow! Bye~!!