TL: Okay. Yeah, I skimmed through 200 + chapters before I gave up and used ctrl f to search for keywords. I think I found what I was looking for, 3 plot points. I’ll go into detail in chapter 205.
I actually needed a rest from TL because I just spammed read a crazy amount of words and an explosion of bitterness in my mouth from learning the ‘truth’.
Finally, for those of you who read until the end with machine reading, or know the spoilers, you might have spotted what I’m planning by editing these 3 chapters, and how it relates to the ultimate reveal (which will be edited) some 800 chapters later. I ask that you not spoil the spoilers in the comments.
Chapter 203 – Underground fog
The Dimension Space had over five hundred sets of armor from the Holy Cathedral of Fire. These were meant for their soldiers and were all low-class magic equipment, but there was also equipment meant for paladins.
The exceptional suits of armor were carved with Magic Formations and were imbued with physical and magic resistance. Longswords and broadswords were placed opposite of the armor’s location, and they were easily identified as there was a fire symbol on every blade.
[These are definitely stolen equipment meant to spply the Unifying Guild, and their rarity is on par with the Thorn of Light. Hah. Now they are my victory spoils and can be used to equip my White Lion Army…… Though some modifications to their appearances are required.]
There was a messy stack of random equipment floating in the air. However, he discovered that they were not high-grade. Amman probably looted them from his enemies and did not bother to arrange them.
[Hmm? Wait. That’s interesting.]
Brendel discovered an accessory with a black gemstone in the center near the floating equipment. He was sensitive to great loot and found the accessory’s shape familiar, and he could not help but grab it to inspect it in detail.
The center of the black gemstone had silver runes in them that seemed like it was made by nature.
[Tear of the Witch Demon? It’s even rarer than Halran Gaia!]
– Tear of the Witch Demon (300 OZ)
– Adds Stoneskin trait to the user
– 300 HP, +1 Defense, Curse Spell Level +1
– Rune Activation: Instantly cast an Eighth Circle spell and below.
– Remaining Charges: 0/30
“I see, so it’s this thing that allows Amman to cast his defensive spells so quickly. This thing is really a cheat item. As a Warrior profession, I have one of the higher HP count out there, and it’s at 411. Wearing this is clost to doubling my HP. No wonder Amman is like an undying cockroach. He probably has the hp of a level 80 warrior.”
Brendel grumbled to himself. There were many types of fantastic equipment in the game, and it was a bad thing to judge someone with common sense. There was a lot of truth in the sentence ‘Never underestimate your enemies or your head is forfeit’ in the game.
“An equipment with 300 OZ, hmm. Even Halran Gaia has just over 100 OZ. Technically speaking my level is too low to wear this accessory now. If I insist on wearing it a few weeks ago, I will have to strip myself naked just to use it. But now I have insane Will stats, and my OZ limit is at 300 + 1240 OZ. Hahahaha.”
The youth immediately wore it. The Charges could be restored over time like the Ring Of the Empress’s Wind Bullet, though he did not know how long it would take since it had such a large capacity.
He heard footsteps just as he was done admiring the pendant.
It had only been a couple of minutes.
“Scarlett…..? No, it’s not her.” Brendel’s ears focused on the footsteps, but they were heavy and stable, while Scarlett’s footsteps were light and guarded.
The youth hurriedly dropped off the fragments of Mavekart’s Grimoire and dashed out of the Dimension Space. He then poured his immense Will into it and closed the sphere-shaped hole into a silver line and tethered it to his mind. As long as he lived, no one else would be able to access it.
This silver line was a weakness in this world that led to a different plane of a different time and space. By tying it up with one’s Will, they would be able to carry it around. A Bag of Holding was a physical entity created by wizards that did the same thing, but the difference was that the Bag of Holding ‘s durability was no different from a normal bag.
In order to prevent these bags from being torn apart, some of the players in the game actually stuffed them in their underwear. There was never any limit to being shameless. Brendel chuckled at this random thought before he looked up at the approaching person. He squinted his eyes to look past the layer of dust and discovered a tall figure.
The person was just as he had expected, Mephisto.
“You should come right now to take a look at what we found,” the Sword Saint of Ashes stood at the edge of the crater and said.
His gaze was composed and serene. It was if the massive bloodlust that he had when he chased Brendel was like an illusion.
[How the heck did this bloody airhead get raised as a kid? Not even an apology for chasing me all over the place. It’s like he believes he has the right to do anything he wants.]
Brendel wondered how to describe his personality. Arrogance? Smug? Excessive pride? How would one describe a person who dared to challenge the Empire alone?
“What did you discover?”
“There is something below the ruins.”
[Something below this courtyard? No matter how I look at it, it’s just a simple market. What did they find instead of going to the World Tree?]
Brendel nodded to Mephisto and climbed out of the pit.
“Are you sure you don’t want to be on your guard around this man?”
“Don’t worry. I know him better than Veronica.” Brendel answered.
Mephisto detested attacking someone sneakily. Honestly, it was rare for him to take an interest in anyone if it did not concern his revenge for the Empire. Furthermore, their interests were currently aligned and he would never disrupt it with his own hands.
Brendel leisurely walked ahead with Mephisto looking behind his back without moving a muscle. But a flash of surprise streaked across the latter’s eyes. Either the youth was a fool or a genius at reading someone. Since Amman was furious enough to throw his life away to kill Brendel, then the youth had to be a genius.
The thoughts in Mephisto’s mind never stopped after he made a deal with Veronica. He naturally thought about the possibility of Brendel failing to light up the Fire Seed, or that the deal would somehow be reneged. Thinking that the deal would really succeed was actually placed all the way back in his mind.
However, after observing the youth and considering his earlier performance against Amman, there was a sudden shift in his mentality. As long as Brendel gave him a third of this land, he would definitely be able to restore his House. Perhaps working with this youth was not a bad thing, and it was a pleasant thing to be allied with someone intelligent. The youth was merely twenty years old, and he already had a brilliant achievement. It might even be possible that Brendel would be the one who could offer protection to him in the future.
[I have never thought myself to be someone invincible or one who could continue to fight against the Empire. Those fools from the other factions seemed to think that they are the center of the world and I would be interested in joining their worthless crusades. It’s a question whether House Sutherland is able to continue after my death even if I restore it here. I’m not even sure whether I can find a successor.]
“Ser Mephisto. are you coming? I don’t know where I’m supposed to go.” Brendel turned around and asked when he realized Mephisto was not moving.
The Sword Saint of Ashes’s mind was spinning its cogs rapidly, and there was a sudden change in his tone: “It’s over there, I’ll bring you over.”
Brendel’s head shifted to the right and looked puzzledly at him.
But Mephisto walked off with large strides.
“Is it really wise to leave Andesha alone with Veronica?” Brendel suddenly asked.
“Don’t worry, Veronica and I discussed with each other and we decided to explore the courtyard first, and only make our way to the World Tree when you rejoin us. But there is something of interest that I discovered and want you to look at.” Mephisto said.
Brendel and the girls followed Mephisto, who led them to the courtyard’s corner. The earlier battle with Andesha made the ground collapse and revealed an empty space. The black vegetation that Brendel grew with his blood had extended downwards into the empty space as though it had been doing so for centuries. It was because of the strange growth that Mephisto discovered the artificially created passage.
When they finally made their way to the end of the passage, Brendel immediately rubbed his chin in contemplation. There was a Magic Formation, comprised of thinly crafted crystals a few meters wide and two thumbs high, jutting out from the ground. A thin line of crystals that extended out from the Magic Formation led deeper into the passage.
[Crystal Circuits? These are built to transfer an incredible amount of energy. And if it’s secretly built under the courtyard…… The conspicuous buildings in the World Tree, and the ordinary courtyard that has something so intricate beneath it. Therefore the World Tree is a distraction, while the true identity of this courtyard is—]
Brendel could only think of one possibility.
The Fire Seed.
“Ser Mephisto, I think you have discovered what we have been looking for,” Brendel said in a grave tone.
The Crystal Circuits repeated themselves in one direction. As long as they followed it, they would reach their final target.