Ch 168
“Lord of the Tower!”
Their Dark Blue Robes seemed to boast a uniquely outstanding figure.
Many Masters of the Blue Tower were gathered in one place.
They were truly the elders, Masters, and guiding lights of many Wizards.
However.
Not as much here and now.
“…”
Frozen Breath Pallag.
The Tower Lord raised his head from the desk and stared at them.
“What is it?”
The tone and expression, which betrayed undisguised annoyance, were as if he were dealing with immature Youngsters.
Originally, it was a rude attitude that would not have been permitted to a Master of the Magic Tower.
However, the Masters were not at all bothered by such an attitude.
“The research we mentioned before has been completed. We have compiled the research log and brought it with us, would you like to read it?”
“…”
Pallag’s eyes narrowed.
Soon, he clicked his tongue and said.
“I wondered what was going on since you all rushed in so suddenly.”
He averted his gaze from the Masters and spat out.
“Leave it there.”
“…!”
The Masters’ eyes widened at Pallag’s attitude.
An undisguised surprise surfaced on their faces.
The Masters thought.
‘As expected, the Tower Lord had great Expectation for this matter…!’
They felt a great sense of pride in the fact that they had met the Tower Lord’s Expectation.
‘He’s so happy!?’
Just now, that Attitude.
It was extremely rare for the Tower Lord to be so happy.
✦✦✦
“Lisir!”
Pallag shouted, spreading his arms towards Lisir.
“To come back so suddenly and surprise me like this again! Don’t you ever get tired of it!?”
Hahaha!
Pallag let out a cheerful laugh.
“Pallag. You…”
The reunion with his old Friend after a long time was shocking.
Torben stared at Pallag with a very serious Expression.
The deep wrinkles that made their Presence even between his thick eyebrows and beard seemed to be marked to make it easier to make a stern Expression.
It wasn’t something that the one who was called the insomnia maker of the Young Knights when he was in the Knight Order should say-
Torben had never seen anyone who suited the expression grumpy old man as well as Pallag.
A Human who couldn’t guarantee that he would smile even if he had a lovely grandchild in front of him.
That was the Pallag that Torben remembered.
That Pallag was treating a bright-eyed Youngster with a face full of joy.
Even if his daughter-in-law came with his young grandchild on her back, he wouldn’t have a brighter Expression than that.
Is that really.
Was that Pallag, who treated even the average Masters of the Magic Tower as troublesome Youngsters?
“I belatedly heard that Duke Pallag was discussing this Chest with an Acquaintance. Perhaps I have made an unnecessary intrusion?”
At that time, a young Man named Lisir said.
The polite and formal Attitude was more than enough to inspire goodwill in his elders.
But.
Torben knew.
That the concept of formality had no Value in the mind of that eccentric Wizard.
His Interest was only one thing. Magic.
‘Seeing that he opened the Chest, he must be a Swordsman.’
Past Experience. Given Clue.
Torben’s thoughts inferred Pallag’s answer.
-You know it’s an unnecessary intrusion. Yes. Because of you, the problem has left my hands. I will definitely watch the results. What would you know.
It was as if the stern Wizard’s Voice was vividly heard in Torben’s ear.
His Plan based on his Magical Talent was disrupted.
The Friend Torben knew was definitely not the kind of person to accept that cheerfully.
“You know it’s an unnecessary intrusion!”
See that.
“So, you had to make this old man look like a deficient person who borrows hands from you!? Hahaha! Joke, it’s a Joke! Lisir! Come here quickly! Come here and tell me what happened!”
“…Who, who is he…! What kind of guy is he to imitate Pallag!!!”
Torben was so surprised that he almost drew his sword.
✦✦✦
“Are you saying that seriously…?”
Pallag asked back, saying he couldn’t believe it.
It happened while he was hearing the whole story of the Event from Lisir.
‘That’s right!’
Torben inwardly cheered at Pallag’s reaction.
Suddenly raising the level.
Combining Resonance and Blue Breath.
Unleashing Magic and Swordsmanship at the same time.
And what about the Divine Power and Spirit that suddenly popped out?
That wasn’t a Swordsmanship Contest, but a children’s argument.
He was talking about that as a way to win the Swordsmanship Contest-
From Torben’s perspective, who doesn’t know how to compromise when it comes to Swordsmanship and is stubborn, it was torture to listen to.
If it had been normal, he would have rebuked him a long time ago.
The reaction of those around him.
Lisir’s Party, including Dray, were accepting his words as if they were natural.
Even his own Disciple, Gorein!
It felt like he was being ostracized by the World.
In the midst of all this, his Friend and Former Tower Master Pallag showed a normal reaction, so he couldn’t have been more reassured.
Torben thought this was the time to help.
“Pallag. As expected. Am I the only one who felt Doubt in that story?”
“You too…?”
Pallag looked at Torben in surprise.
Then, Torben nodded with complete Understanding.
“Yes. I have the same thought as you.”
“…”
Yes.
As expected, no matter how much I think about it, it doesn’t make sense.
Pallag nodded and muttered.
“Besides Lisir, there is another person with such Ability existing.”
“Yes. Another person with such Ability… no, wait. Another?”
What’s the point?
Before Torben could say anything, Pallag was already talking to Lisir.
“Impossible, Lisir. That Spirit must have deceived you!”
“Yes, that’s what Duke Pallag said. It was a fact that was revealed belatedly with the Spirit’s defeat, but in fact, the Spirit was telling a lie.”
“…Ah! I understand! That’s it! That Spirit thought you were telling a lie and followed suit, and because of that, at the point where you responded in the same way with the Power of Advancement━”
“As expected of Duke Pallag. You understand right away.”
“Wait, Pallag…!”
Torben couldn’t stand it and said a word.
“The Blue Breath and Resonance. That is definitely not a common thing! You know that too.”
“Ah. That Friend can do it.”
Pallag said in a calm tone.
“…Ah, is that so?”
Torben had nothing to say, so he blurted out the words that came to his mind.
✦✦✦
The matter related to that Chest had great significance for Torben.
What if things go wrong and the Item inside goes wrong?
Torben didn’t even want to imagine it.
But.
To leave such a matter to a young man he doesn’t know, leaving the Archmage and Friend Pallag alone?
The stubborn and narrow-minded Old Driver couldn’t stand the itch in his mouth.
But-
“Master! My Friend Lisir is a trustworthy Man!”
“Friend? Wasn’t it the first time you met him?”
“It’s the first time!”
“…No.”
His Disciple’s strong recommendation, which had become strange somewhere.
And-
“Torben. I guarantee it. As far as this matter is concerned, Lisir is more suitable than me. Trust and rely on him.”
“…Does he have a lot of Experience in this kind of thing?”
“Lisir. How is it?”
“Well. I’ve experienced roughly similar Situations several times, but if you’re specifically talking about this Situation━ this is my first time.”
“Excellent. Did you hear that, Torben?”
“…I heard it, but which part of the story should I focus on to say it’s excellent?”
“He said he’s experienced roughly similar Situations several times.”
“…”
His Friend’s almost brainwashing recommendation, which had already gone far away.
Torben said, almost losing his Mind.
“Lisir, was it? As Gorein and Pallag recommended, I’m going to ask you to take care of this Chest… would that be okay?”
“I will do my best within my Ability.”
“Okay… If you take out the Contents in perfect condition, I will give you a generous Precedent, so please take care of it.”
✦✦✦
After that.
Pallag continued the investigation of the Jewel Box that came out of the Chest.
“So this is it. The core of the Barrier.”
His wrinkled hand carefully caressed the Red Jewel embedded in the center of the Jewel Box.
Chanting spells or unleashing specific Magic.
Pallag injected Magical Power into the core in various ways.
Then at some point.
The Jewel resonated, making a ‘buzzing’ sound.
It contained a red light, and then began to spew out that light as it was.
The light periodically expanded and contracted.
Like a heart beating.
The Jewel containing the light looked like a beating heart, and the light flowing from it looked like flowing blood.
The vivid radiance of the scarlet blood gradually encroached on the room.
-Wizard.
At that time, a Voice flowed out from the Jewel.
A familiar Voice.
It was the Spirit of the Chest who had demanded a Swordsmanship Contest.
-You cannot move forward from here.
“Even so, I want to open that Chest.”
-Then, bring a Warrior.
“Warrior?”
-The Beast of blood and iron will only react to the smell of blood and iron. Only a Warrior with a pure and strong Soul will be able to move forward from here.
At the Spirit’s words, their Gazes turn to each other.
A Warrior with a pure and strong Soul.
Who in this place meets that Condition?
The answer came immediately.
The Grey Wolf Torben, who has lived his whole life as a Swordsman.
There would be no one more suitable than Torben for that Condition.
Torben came over and put his hand on the Jewel.
The red radiance emanating from the Jewel seemed to be obscured by his hand-
“Ugh…!”
In an instant, everyone in the place covered their eyes at the same time.
It was truly luminescence.
The red light emanating from the Jewel became so intense that it could not be looked at directly.
“This…!”
Pallag’s voice mixed with Confusion added color to the ominousness created by the light.
“What, what is it!? Is something happening!?”
Gus shouted in Confusion, and Pallag replied.
“This power… It seems to be an Item that exceeds our Expectation. Everyone, prepare for the upcoming Situation!”
The light gradually subsided-
A moment later.
“Here is…”
Lisir muttered, looking around.
They were standing in the middle of a wide Shared Space before they knew it.
“Really. If you’re next to this person, Events never stop-… Hmm?”
Thung.
Pien, who was grumbling, looked down at the Sensation transmitted to her feet.
There, there was a rectangular Chest made of red wood.
Pien and Rona, who was next to her, recognized the use and Contents of the Chest at a glance.
“Lisir? There’s a coffin here?”
“Coffin?”
At Rona’s Voice, everyone’s attention turns to that place.
“Oh, oh no!?”
At that time.
Rona and Pien hurriedly retreated from the coffin.
With a rattling sound, the coffin opened, and a Skeleton’s arm squeezed out between the gaps.
Dalgeurak.
And step.
The Skeleton Soldier stood on the ground with two legs.
In its emaciated hands was a plain Iron Sword.
“…Pallag. This can’t be━”
Pallag nodded at Torben’s words.
“It seems that defeating that Skeleton Soldier is the Condition for destroying this Barrier and opening the Chest at the same time.”
Gorein burst into Chuckle without realizing it.
The Situation where a Skeleton Soldier with a skinny and shabby appearance with nothing but bones was holding a sword and blocking his Master’s path felt quite funny.
“Huh.”
Torben must have thought the same thing, as he looked up at the sky with a look of helplessness and made a deflated sound.
To think that he had gone through all that trouble until now because of something like this.
The ordeal that awaits them at the end of that arduous journey is that shabby Skeleton Swordsman.
Torben felt a sense of futility at that futile ending.
Of course, it wasn’t just futile.
Swish.
Torben drew his sword.
His Expression didn’t look very welcoming.
That’s because.
This was just a matter of swords meeting swords.
Could there be a simpler and clearer task for the Grey Wolf?
Torben could be confident.
The current Situation.
There would be no greater Expert than himself in this place right now.
Therefore.
There was no need to borrow the power of others anymore.
“Everyone, step back.”
Torben said, drawing his sword.
His Gaze was directed at Lisir.
“Fortunately, it seems there’s no need for you to bother.”
“…”
Was it because the Opportunity to put the Grey Wolf in debt had disappeared?
He was staring at the Skeleton Swordsman with a strange Expression, as if he was somewhere out of it.
Moment.
The Skeleton Soldier shuddered and shook its body, then raised the hand holding the sword and looked at it here and there.
As if he was amazed that he was alive and moving.
And, as if he was glad that he was still holding the sword.
“…”
Chills!
Torben felt an indescribable sense of incongruity as he watched that scene.
The hair on his whole body stood on end and his pupils dilated.
It was a very unfamiliar Sensation to the Grey Wolf.
Therefore, he could not accurately interpret the signal sent by the Sensation.
The feeling that the Weak feels when facing the strong.
“Gorein.”
“Yes, Master.”
“We will rush in at the same time and end it with one Strike.”
“Yes! I will follow you!”
The Master and Disciple drew their swords and took a stance.
In that state, they face the Skeleton Soldier and slowly move their feet.
Even as the Master and Disciple occupied the left and right sides, the Skeleton Soldier was only staring straight ahead.
The Master and Disciple didn’t bother to be considerate of the Skeleton Soldier.
Swish.
Gorein took a step forward.
As a signal, the two Swordsmen’s bodies jumped up.
A Strike filled with Presence that seemed too much for a skinny Skeleton body poured in from both sides-
Bones and flesh collided.
Thud!
Slash!
It was the sound created by the collision.
“…!”
“Ugh!”
Gurgle! Gurgle!
Torn skin spits out blood.
The Master and Disciple moved away from the Skeleton Swordsman, each holding one part of their body.
In the Skeleton Swordsman’s opposite hand holding the sword, a bloody Dagger was already held.
Clatter.
The Skeleton looked at them with a crooked stance.
Was it just his imagination?
The Skeleton seemed to be making a very arrogant Expression.
✦✦✦
> : Recreated Nightmare : Murderer’s Wraith （Blue Lotus Klana）
Level : 76
✦✦✦
✦✦✦
Leave a Reply