hotmtlnovel Chapter 69
Chapter 69
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[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]
Chapter 69: Ancient Dungeon (5)
The room where they had killed the assassins in black robes.
This room, like the previous ones, had a closed door.
And once again, there was a riddle written in runes beside the massive stone door.
[I am the companion of one who chases that which can never be caught.]
[But I am also the teacher of one who lets it go.]
[Who am I?]
"I have no idea... Do you know what it is?"
"No."
Hamel shook his head at Daniel's question.
He glanced at the others, but they all avoided his gaze.
"Lena. You're a mage, aren't you?"
At Daniel's call, Lena replied confidently,
"It's prejudice to think that all mages like such nonsense."
"...My apologies."
Daniel apologized with a hesitant voice.
For a while, the group stood in a circle in front of the stone door, lost in thought.
Clap
Hamel clapped his hands briefly to get their attention.
"Let's take a break for now."
It was late at night.
The outside of the dungeon must be bathed in the dark blue light of dawn.
Everyone was exhausted from traversing the dungeon without sleep.
Of course, this level of fatigue was nothing compared to the hardships Hamel and the others had endured on their journey together, but it was still better to rest when they could.
Everyone nodded at Hamel's words.
Then they went to the wall of the room and settled down.
They lit a small candle, creating a cozy atmosphere.
Daniel took off his helmet and wiped away his sweat, and Ono grumbled as he massaged his tired legs.
Lena fell asleep as soon as her head hit the ground.
Was she thick-skinned? Or just fearless?
Anyway...
'I envy that ability.'
Hamel wasn't picky about where he slept, but he wasn't like Lena.
Such a trivial thing could be a great help in a wandering life.
As Hamel looked at his companions, his eyes fell on Rupert.
He was sitting quietly with a gloomy expression.
Hamel approached him, sat down next to him, and asked,
"Are you alright?"
"Ah, Lord Hamel. You're here."
Rupert finally seemed to notice Hamel's presence and nodded.
"My body is fine. But..."
Rupert trailed off, hesitant to speak.
"My heart feels heavy."
Regrets and worries that he had never spoken of, buried deep within his heart for a long time.
For some reason, he felt like he could confide in Hamel.
Sensing this, Hamel silently listened to Rupert.
"I had a younger brother."
"...I see."
As far as Hamel knew, the Swordmaster of the North, Ricard, had no second child.
This could only mean one thing.
Seeing Hamel's hesitant reaction, Rupert smiled bitterly and began to speak.
"My brother was a brilliant child."
Swordsmanship.
Scholarship.
He was superior to Rupert in every way.
Even though he was two years younger than Rupert, he received all the expectations of their family.
The one who would inherit the Swordmaster's legacy.
The noble bloodline worthy of being the Guardian of the North.
All the praise that should have been directed at Rupert was instead directed at his younger brother.
Although it was natural for them to be at odds due to the issue of succession, Rupert didn't feel any rivalry towards his brother.
His brother was simply too brilliant.
Rupert wanted his brother, not himself, to succeed the family.
He truly felt that way.
***
It was a large, jet-black hunting dog.
He didn't know why it was there.
The forest near their home that he often visited with his brother.
There, Rupert encountered a hunting dog with its eyes rolled back and drool dripping from its mouth.
Thump
It didn't bark.
Instead, it just slowly closed the distance between itself and Rupert and his brother.
Rupert had a feeling.
That it would attack them.
His body trembled.
His younger brother then drew his training sword.
Turning his head, the boy forced a faint smile and said,
"It'll be alright if we're together, right, brother?"
"..."
"...Brother?"
What had he done?
Rupert had no memory after that conversation.
Truly.
It was as if that part of his memory had been cut out, he couldn't recall anything.
All he remembered were fragments of the incident.
The guards running.
The hunting dog, dead with a sword impaled in it.
And...
Ono replied with a scoff,
"Do you really think holy power can break these chains?"
"You never know."
Hamel shrugged, and Ono clicked his tongue and stepped forward.
He placed his hand on the chains and grumbled.
"This isn't a holy artifact, there's no way it would react to holy power..."
Click
"...Hmm?"
Ono tilted his head.
Simultaneously, the thick chains that bound the book unfastened and fell away.
"...It's unlocked."
"...Indeed."
As Ono and Hamel awkwardly looked at each other...
Flip
Suddenly, the book floated into the air and began to flip through its pages on its own.
"...What, what's this?"
Ono stepped back in surprise.
As everyone watched the book warily...
A buzzing noise filled their minds.
[In the eternal cycle of existence, birth and death continue endlessly.]
[All things change, but change itself remains unchanged.]
[I am the observer who records all things.]
[Who will be the chronicler to join me?]
The next moment, a blinding flash of light erupted like lightning.
Even Hamel lost his balance and stumbled from the intense light.
Then...
"..."
The book suddenly disappeared.
And Ono lay collapsed on the floor.
"Sir Ono."
Hamel rushed to Ono and checked his condition.
Fortunately, he was only unconscious and his breathing was fine.
However...
"What's this?"
There was a mark on the back of his hand that hadn't been there before.
It was in the shape of a golden tree.
Tree-like scars, resembling circuits, were left on his entire arm.
And at that moment...
Flash
Ono's eyes shot open.
And a bright light emanated from them.
"Stop! Stop showing me! I don't want to see anymore!"
"Sir Ono!"
Hamel hurriedly grabbed Ono's shoulders, but it was no use.
Ono writhed, gasping for breath.
"My eyes... my eyes are burning."
"Sir Ono, get a hold of yourself!"
Hamel could do nothing but call out his name.
After struggling for a while, Ono lost consciousness again, collapsing like a puppet with its strings cut.
Everyone watched over him with concern.
"That idiot... he said holy power wouldn't work, no matter what."
Despite his words, Daniel couldn't stay still, pacing anxiously.
After a long time of hovering nearby, he went to the entrance, saying he would stand guard, and spent the night there.
Half a day passed.
And...
"Damn... I feel like I have a hangover."
Ono, cursing as usual, sat up.
"Sir Ono!"
Hamel called out to him urgently, and Ono, frowning deeply, replied,
"Don't shout. My head feels like it's splitting."
"...I apologize."
Hamel lowered his voice and apologized, but a faint smile played on his lips.
Ono turned away in disgust.
"Did we all eat something bad?"
Startled by everyone's gazes on him, Ono quickly got up.
Daniel, acting as if he hadn't been worried at all, asked casually,
"So, what was that?"
"...That."
Ono furrowed his brow and pondered for a moment.
Then, with difficulty, he spoke.
"I don't know for sure, but it was a being close to divinity... probably. It seems to have taken root in my mind."
"What?"
Daniel exclaimed in shock.
Anyone would be terrified to hear that something unknown had entered their mind.
Despite this, Ono continued his explanation with an air of annoyance.
"Surprisingly, there's no particular sense of rejection. Nothing has changed. But..."
To summarize Ono's words:
What had occupied his mind was a record from the Age of Gods.
He said it contained knowledge that was difficult for humans to comprehend.
That's why, even with only fragmented memories and knowledge, Ono's mind was in a state of turmoil.
"It's still hazy, like a fog, but I think I'll be able to use it somewhere soon."
"Please don't overdo it."
When Hamel expressed his concern, Ono recoiled in disgust.
"Hey...! I'll handle it myself, so stop it. You're creeping me out."
"...Pfft."
"Ahaha! Hahaha!"
Lena, Daniel, and even Rupert couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Ono flew into a rage and shouted, and thus their dungeon exploration came to an end.
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[Translator - Peptobismal]
[Proofreader - Max]