The Sword of The Past: 10

Chapter 10

Entrance to the second floor

We waited for two hours already, but there was no sight of Gold rank huntress. It was expected, after all, she was probably busy with the exploration of the ruins. As we waited, I took out a book and started to read. I didn’t like wasting time.

“What are you reading?” Markus asked, getting bored.

“A book.”

“Funny,” He faked a laugh and then took a closer look at the cover of my book. “History Records of the Clear Sky Empire. Ha, I wouldn’t take the content of the book as facts if I were you.”

“Why so?” I asked with my curiosity piqued.

“It was written by Royal house accordance. Every history book has the Empire’s best interest in them. It is common knowledge. All you need to know is that the Empire has conquered the West continent over its thousand years of history.”

“Not all the West,” I replied to him. “The Endless forest is still untouched.”

“You could say that the Endless forest is another continent by itself. Nobody knows how big it is, and with beasts and monsters residing in there, nobody dares to set foot in there.”

“The book says the same, so why I shouldn’t take it as a fact?”

“Because it will tell how the Empire did a favor by conquering all the West. It will tell that the Empire banished barbaric rulers in the name of securing the West from the Elves of the East continent. But the truth is that the Empire lacked the resources when it grew and just took from other Kingdoms by force.”

“I didn’t know you knew so much of history, Markus,” A woman with dirty golden hair said as she walked to us. “What are you doing in our camp?”

“Eva, it was a long time.” Markus greeted her.

“Yes, it was a long time since I paid the debt, if you could call that, to you. I asked you why are you here?”

“I want to meet with Elisa.” I let Markus talk and kept silent.

“There no way I let a bastard like you see my leader. Now begone before I kick you out by force.”

“We will wait until your leader shows up,” I spoke this time.

“Who are you? Another lacky of that scum?” She asked.

“That the most insulting thing I heard. If you call me that again, I will kill you,” I replied, feeling disgusted. “We will wait for your leader, no matter what you think or want.”

“Tsk, you think I care if you….” She didn’t finish her sentence when another woman with a group of people around her walked closer.

“Eva, I let you go ahead so you would prepare for our arrival. What is this?” The woman spoke. As her red hair fluttered and gold eyes looked at us.

“Leader, these guys want to talk with you.”

After Eva said that, she stepped to the side. The woman, who I presumed to be Elisa, looked at us. Then passed us and entered her tent with her hand waving for us to follow. I did so and entered the tent after her.

Once I entered the tent, I saw Elisa lying down on the chair in the middle of the tent. Her companions, too, got behind her and sat. There were two men and three women, including Eva.

“So, who are you? What do you want to talk with me about?” Elisa asked.

“I am Markus, Silver rank.” Markus introduced himself. “I find out why no one has advanced further into the basement of this palace and would ask you to work with me dispelling the illusion magic.”

“I see, so you found about it.”

“You knew about it?” Markus asked, surprised.

“Of course, that why I didn’t explore the lower floors. I am the only one who could dispel the illusion, so I can explore it after I get everything of worth in the upper floors.”

“The only one?” I asked.

“Yes, there is no one in the Iron town that would be interested in the ruins and be able to dispel it too.”

Elisa didn’t even look at me as she answered. It was true. Neither the association’s nor the court magicians showed any interest in the ruins. Those two were the only ones who had the capabilities to dispel the illusion.

“Is that so?” I asked again.

“A bronze rank should know his place. Why did you even bring a weak subordinate with you, Markus? At least you could do is leave him behind when talking with someone like me.”

“I am not his subordinate,” I corrected her and continued before she could respond. “And you aren’t the only one who can dispel the illusion.”

“it’s that so? Then why don’t you go to seek help from that another magician?” Elisa looked at me this time. Her facial expression was close to disgust. “I don’t have time to speak with some Bronze rank. If you are done, you can leave.”

She waved her hand, and the two men stood up. They were Silver rank and had great equipment. One had a massive hammer on his back, another had a slender curved sword on his hip.

“What about the dark magician Lucius?” I asked, not bothered with the two men who looked intensely at me.

“Lucius? How do you know that name?” Elisa asked.

“Why shouldn’t I? Isn’t he famous?”

“Infamous more likely, what about him, anyway?”

“Oh, have you not heard? He was noticed near Iron town.” I answered her.

“It was some time ago, and the Silver moon twins chased him out.”

“Did they? Do you think it is a coincidence that someone of that profile would even come to Iron town, and then soon enough ruins were discovered?”

I could see her eyes becoming sharper as she looked at me. The two men who were close to me backed off too. I knew I got her attention with this. She closed her eyes for a moment, contemplating.

“I see. It seems I don’t have the leisure to postpone the exploration of the lower floors.”

“So you will work with us?” Markus asked.

“Why should I? If you join my party, I will accept you as my subordinate. If not, I don’t have any use for you.” Elisa answered him.

It wasn’t surprising. There was no profit in working together with the Bronze and Silver rank. Especially if they are not going to follow your orders.

Looking at Markus, I knew that he wouldn’t accept the offer. He was too proud and arrogant to follow someone. Once he shook his head, he turned and left without a word.

“I have no need for a Bronze rank,” Elisa told me once Markus left and stayed.

“You mistaken. I wouldn’t join your party even if you begged me.”

“You dare to insult mistress, you damn rat,” The man with a massive hammer stepped in front of me.

“I will inform you now, so you wouldn’t misunderstand later,” I ignored the man and looked at Elisa’s eyes. “Once you dispel the illusion, I will follow behind you.”

After finishing what I wanted to say, I left too. I knew it might infuriate Elisa and her companions that I would be following their path. Still, they wouldn’t do anything about it. It’s not like they can afford to put a guard and deny access to other hunters.

…

The next day the news spread that Gold rank huntress Elisa abandoned the upper floors and entered the basement of the ruins. Once we heard of it, we went to the basement too.

As we walked the dark halls and climbed down below, I started to think of what kind of treasure I will find. Gems, gold, ancient knowledge, or artifacts. Any of these things would be nice to have.

“Don’t let your guard down,” Markus told me as we closed to the first floor.

I didn’t respond to him and just walked forward. From there on, it would be uncharted territory. No one knew what kind of monsters and treasures were hidden there. Not speaking of the traps that would kill you if you are not careful enough.

‘Don’t worry too much, boy. I don’t feel anything out of the ordinary. Keep going.’

If it was the Saint who said it, I would have listened. I wouldn’t trust the words of the Heavenly Demon even if it was the last thing I could do. He didn’t seem keen on killing me, but I found that he enjoyed tormenting me.

“Is this even the same room?”

I was brought out of my thoughts by Markus’ question. The room on the first floor changed from yesterday. It was bigger, with massive doors on one of the walls. Once we saw the doors, without any hesitation, we entered them.

“It’s different.”

I had to agree with Markus. The hall behind the doors was wide and lit. Every corner had a light on it. There was no shadow in there. It felt like the walls themselves shone.

‘It is a light element infused into the walls that bring illumination.’ The Saint explained to me.

“What this?”

As we walked to the end of the hallway, Markus asked, shocked. I didn’t blame him as I saw what he did. Elisa and her companions were there. They looked tired, to say at least. Their armor and clothes were tattered and even burned.

“Oh, it is you guys.”

Eva looked at us and proclaimed. I didn’t reply and looked at the state of them. Being surprised that even Elisa, Gold rank huntress, was breathing heavily. The guy with a hammer was missing his hammer. Behind them was a door.

“I wouldn’t bother,” Elisa told us. “There is an armored boar. Nothing worked on it. The Axel’s hammer broke upon the contact. My magic didn’t leave any sights on it either. There was no place to dodge it either. The hallway behind this door is too narrow.”

I listened to her explanation. From her words, I could imagine that the boar took all the hall and would charge at you the moment you entered it.

“So we are stuck again, aren’t we?” Markus commented.

Nobody said anything about it, but I could see from their faces that they thought so too. I, on the other hand, didn’t accept it. If to kill that boar, you need an indestructible weapon, I had one. I believed in my strength too.

Stepping forward and then past everyone else, I reached the door. Seeing me do so, Elisa’s companions tried to stop, but Guts growled at them in a warning.

“Oh, what a cutie,” The woman with short brown hair, which name I didn’t know, said something unexpected. “Leader, leader, look at his little backpack. It is so cute, right?”

“Vivi, be quiet,” Elisa ordered the woman. “What you think you are doing, Bronze rank?”

“Going forward.”

That was all I said and opened the door. Behind it, I was greeted by a narrow hallway. At most, two people could fit side by side in there. Taking the stone sword from my back, I pointed it in front of me.

Just taking a few steps forward, I heard hooves hitting the ground. Metal scratching against walls and a low squeal. Controlling my origin energy, I strengthened my legs and arms to their limit.

Taking a deep breath, I lifted the stone sword and waited. When I heard the hooves getting closer, I put one leg in front of me and lovered my body. Just when I saw the boar running to me, I clutched the stone sword with all my strength and waited.

The board was nothing but steel armor. It covered all of it, from the boar’s hoof to its snout and even tail. Its squealing was metallic too. Still, I prepared the stone sword to collide with it. Aiming the stone sword between its eyes.

The sword collided with the rushing boar’s head, and I could feel my hands straining. I held the sword with my all strength. My legs wanted to give in, but I didn’t let it happen. I pushed the stone sword at the boar’s head with a shout.

At first, it only created a small dent. But the force from the boar running at it and me pushing it with all I got, the sword broke the steel armor and drove inside its head. Once inside, the boar broke and fell apart, leaving only the steel armor part lying on the ground.

“You defeated it?” Elisa asked after looking around. “That sword, is it an artifact?”

I ignored her and walked forward, past the armor pieces to the end of the hallway. It was long and dark, not like the previous hallway. In the end, there was a simple wooden door. Beyond it was a staircase leading to the second floor of the basement.