Chapter 84

#084

Rumble...

The shaking subsided.

The cave that had fully revealed itself was as massive as any gateway.

Unlike the ceiling, which was adorned with stalactites, a staircase stretched out below.

Each step was exceptionally wide and shallow.

It curved inward, making it impossible to see what lay at the bottom.

"...So there was a hidden space underground. The forest must have been a filter to keep intruders out."

Charlotte muttered as she dismounted.

Ian gazed steadily into the darkness beyond the cave.

Suddenly, a vibration spread from his waist.

While he was looking down at the Sword of Judgment.

"This is getting more ominous. Endless forests, and now a cave leading underground."

"You're really scared for a demon."

"Only a beast like you wouldn't be concerned. A magician capable of such magic must be incredibly powerful."

"The strongest magician I know is Ian."

"Well, that's... true, but—"

Tesia and Charlotte entered the cave first.

The horse, whose reins were held by Charlotte, followed her obediently, snorting.

"You're getting in without an invitation."

Ian said as he dismounted.

Tesia blinked.

"Yeah. It didn't feel like we couldn't enter. It seems this place is unhallowed ground, free from any restrictions."

That's a convincing argument.

Just then, the sword at his waist hummed again.

Ian furrowed his brow and finally drew the Sword of Judgment.

A faint holy power shimmered on the blade. As if Ian's action was a signal, the light on the blade grew stronger.

"......?"

The brilliant blue light that had been shining brightly gradually faded, as if seeping into the blade.

He could feel the blade filled with holy power.

When he lightly swung the sword, the blue light drew a blurry trajectory and shattered.

Yeah, it's like it's learning.

A wry smile appeared on Ian's lips.

It seemed Tira En had been watching this scene.

She might have noticed the weakening connection with her prospective holy relic and paid attention.

In any case, the stern goddess seemed to be concerned that her influence wouldn't reach them once they entered the underground.

Otherwise, there would be no reason to imbue them with holy power in advance.

With this much holy power, he could probably use the Sword of Judgment's ultimate strike once.

"Well, I'm grateful."

Ian sheathed the sword.

The light was completely hidden by the scabbard, and the holy power was no longer felt.

He didn't plan to draw it except when necessary, as it would continuously leak holy power while carried.

"Ian! Hurry up! There's something written here too!"

At that moment, Tesia, who had descended a few steps, called out.

Ian, holding the reins, also entered the underground passage.

The passage was taller and wider than it appeared from the outside. It was also cold, as if his lungs would freeze with each breath.

Ian descended the wide, shallow steps and stood beside the others.

"Hmm…."

A low exclamation escaped his lips.

As Tesia had said, ancient northern script was carved into the tall walls.

Ian's expression changed strangely as he gazed at the letters.

"What is it? Don't keep it to yourself, let us know too."

Tesia's red eyes gleamed. Ian scratched his chin and said,

"I still can't read the dragon's name. Below it, it says that this underground palace, which was once my nest, is being gifted to the queen, the only pact-maker and former mate. So this is... a letter enclosed with the gift."

"A letter...?"

Ian didn't respond, but took in the letters on the wall.

The fragmented information in his mind was finally piecing together.

The ancient dragon whose name he couldn't identify.

The queen of the ancient giant kingdom who studied the power of the void.

The wraith that called her a usurper.

"This is the palace where the queen studied the power of the void."

Ian muttered.

Tesia and Charlotte looked at him.

"The location wasn't known because it was hidden underground in the dragon's territory. Perhaps... "

Ian's gaze turned to the darkness beyond the stairs.

"The queen might be here."

"The queen...? You mean the giant queen?"

"Her final fate is unclear. But what I don't understand is—"

Rumble—

Before Ian could finish, the entire cave began to shake again.

The group staggered and lowered their stances as the dimly lit area suddenly grew darker.

"......!"

The cave entrance was sinking back into the ground.

Ian's eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness.

Fortunately, no soil or debris entered the cave.

Instead, a dark blue stone wall, similar to the cave's material, completely blocked the entrance. The shaking subsided, and the faint light emanating from deep underground barely illuminated the stairs.

Fortunately, only the two horses in the group couldn't see in this darkness.

Tesia, who had been staring at the stone wall, finally spoke.

"Are we... trapped?"

"Seems that way."

Ian replied calmly.

In the darkness, his orange and red eyes gleamed as they turned to him.

"It doesn't change anything. I never intended to leave empty-handed."

Ian lit a torch and secured it to the saddle, then took the lead.

The stairs continued for a long time.

The deeper they went underground, the more their senses felt strangely distorted.

It was evidence that this was a space imbued with ancient magic.

As if to prove that this was once a dragon's nest, the ceiling grew higher.

The pattern on his palm began to hum again.

'Stop whining. We're coming.'

While scolding it, he wondered why it called him a usurper.

Ian, clucking his tongue, continued through the dim blue darkness without stopping.

***

The stairs finally ended when they had no idea where they were.

"An underground palace... It wasn't just a figure of speech."

Ian sighed at the scene before him.

Whatever kind of dragon gifted this underground palace to the queen, it was clear that it was a great lover.

It looked like an entire castle had been moved here.

The high ceiling, a long square that seemed to be a grand hall stretching far into the distance, and tall gates leading to other rooms on either side.

Straight columns and corridors.

By its size, it would have been grand even to the eyes of the giants.

At least, it was much larger and more magnificent than the ruins of the giant army he had seen in the game.

A faint blue light spread along the outer edges of the floor, which was the source of the light that had illuminated the stairs.

It wasn't bright, but it was enough for them to see the overall layout of the underground palace.

"An impressive ruin."

Even Charlotte sighed.

Ian's gaze turned to the grand avenue that crossed the center of the grand hall.

The gate was wide open, and a bluish magical aura spread from beyond it.

-Come to me, pact-maker.

A whisper pierced his ear.

This time, it wasn't an hallucination.

"Do you see those? They're incredibly detailed."

Tesia, who was looking around the palace, gestured.

On either side of the avenue, large and small ice statues lined up.

The large ones were giant soldiers, and the small ones were human and dwarf soldiers.

Each one meticulously recreated the attire and armor of the ancient giant kingdom.

"They haven't melted. They look like they could come to life at any moment."

"...Yeah. It really does seem that way."

Ian, who had spoken, mounted his horse.

Tesia, who had tilted her head, turned to him belatedly.

"You're not joking, right?"

"No. So you should get on too."

Ian, who had spoken, pointed to the gate far ahead.

"We're going beyond that."

"You mean we have to pass through here...?"

"Amazing."

Charlotte mounted her horse, and Tesia, frowning, followed behind her.

Ian lightly flicked the reins.

The horse slowly advanced down the grand avenue in the center of the grand hall.

It was a space where time and air seemed to have frozen.

The only thing that moved was the bluish magical aura beyond the gate.

-Hurry, pact-maker. Immortality is near.

The whisper became clearer.

It was a voice that only he could hear. Neither Charlotte nor Tesia mentioned the whisper.

Ian took in the intricate ice statues lining the hall on either side as he advanced.

They were undoubtedly once living beings. How they were created was beyond his imagination.

'...In any case, it doesn't seem like we'll pass through without incident.'

Even as he thought this, Ian didn't lash the reins to charge forward.

He feared it might shatter the precarious peace.

"There's... something beyond there."

Tesia whispered.

Tension and anticipation flickered in Charlotte's eyes.

"Even if not as powerful as a dragon, it's exciting. A battle with ancient beings. I hope they're stronger than the giants from before."

"Perhaps that's certain... "

Ian, who had been muttering, fell silent.

His gaze turned to the distant gate.

An urgent whisper pierced his ear.

-The queen has awakened, pact-maker. Hurry...

The whisper, as if trying to say more, was abruptly cut off.

Instead, a different presence was felt.

-So you've finally set foot in my palace, usurper...

It was a completely different voice.

Unlike the previous whisper, which sounded like a girl and an old woman, this was a clear, icy voice filled with anger.

-The power of immortality is mine...! Your ambition will end in a mere dream. The throne, I will not allow it...!

What the hell is this?

Ian's brow furrowed.

But he had no time to think deeply.

Crack, crack, thud...

The statues around them began to move like wind-up dolls.

The sound of cracks forming in the ice.

The guardian soldiers of the ancient giant kingdom were awakening from their slumber.

"Charge!"

Ian shouted and lashed the reins.

The horse galloped as if it had been waiting, and Charlotte's horse followed behind.

Rumble...

In the distance, a cloud of dirt and ice fragments rose from the gates on either side.

The gates, which had been wide open, began to close.

The size and thickness of the gates were ominous even from a distance. Like the space itself, the gates were surely inscribed with magic.

If they closed completely, it would be nearly impossible to open them physically.

'So there's a time limit. What a pain.'

In games, when such a situation arose, failing to meet the time limit usually meant losing the means to resolve the situation. You would have to give up the quest or reload a save to try again.

Neither was an option now.

-Hurry, pact-maker...!

An urgent whisper echoed.

-The extent of my power is to hold the queen so she cannot cast spells... I cannot prevent her from giving orders, so you must break through with your own abilities...!

You're making a long story out of telling me to come.

Ian smiled wryly at that moment.

Rumble...

A giant guardian soldier climbed onto the avenue.

Its movements were much more sluggish compared to the gate guardians he had seen before.

But its size was similar, and it was enough to block the path.

Ian, who was about to draw the Sword of Judgment, stopped and reached into the subspace.

What he pulled out was Kail's scale sword.

'It's a waste to use holy power just like that.'

As he thought this, he lifted his foot from the stirrup.

"Ian! Don't slow down!"

Charlotte's shout came from behind.

At the same time, a gust of wind swept from behind, and Charlotte, enveloped in wind, soared over his head at incredible speed.

"Hey! What am I supposed to do alone?!"

Tesia, who had suddenly grabbed the reins, shouted.

Of course, Charlotte was in no position to respond.

Gripping her twin swords, she shot forward like a wild beast and slammed into the center of the giant guardian's body.

Puff!

A gust of wind swept a moment earlier.

It wasn't enough to damage the guardian, but the wind pressure was enough to knock it off balance.

As the statue fell with a dull thud, Charlotte, who had hovered in mid-air for a moment, spun and kicked off again.

The magic stones embedded in her magical equipment glowed, and with a bestial roar, Charlotte fell toward the guardian.

Crack!

Her crossed twin swords struck the giant's massive head.

Cracks formed on the guardian's head.

But it didn't shatter.

Charlotte, who had crouched to land, immediately raised her arms again.

The twin swords, with their tips protruding, fell in quick succession.

Crack! Crack!

Ice fragments flew in all directions.

Meanwhile, Ian galloped over the fallen guardian's arm.

'This is close.'

Ian's gaze swept the avenue on either side.

The awakened guardians were moving their sluggish steps toward the avenue.

There were dozens visible, and easily over a hundred if you counted those following behind.

It wasn't an impossible number to face, but the problem was that the gates were still closing.

If there was a way to bypass them, it would be fortunate, but if they were completely isolated inside...

"Ian, keep going!"

Charlotte's shout continued.

Looking back, he saw Charlotte standing on the horse Tesia was riding.

Tesia was only holding the reins, but the horse was galloping at full speed on its own.

Charlotte's balance was completely unaffected by the rough ride.

Ian, exchanging a glance with Charlotte, realized she was thinking the same thing.

"What is it?! Don't keep it to yourselves, tell me too!"

As Ian and Charlotte nodded, Tesia shouted.

Click, she placed her foot on Charlotte's shoulder and said,

"Get ready to fight."

"Then... what?!"

Tesia's body bent suddenly. Charlotte, who had used her shoulder as a launchpad, shot forward in a parabolic arc.

"Almost fell! You beast!"

As Tesia, who had become a launchpad in an instant, shouted, Charlotte fell like a projectile toward the human and dwarf guardians climbing onto the avenue.

Crash!

Her crossed twin swords, which had shielded her face, sent the guardians flying in all directions. Ice fragments scattered, and Charlotte, rolling on the ground, safely landed and continued her charge.

Without a word, she matched the speed of the horse.

'...Should I be glad she's enjoying this?'

Ian, seeing the smile on Charlotte's lips, smacked his lips. It was a reckless and reckless act, but now wasn't the time to stop her.

Rumble...

The gates were already more than half closed.

The magical barrier beyond them shimmered silently.

Ian's eyes glowed gray.

A gust of wind enveloped him and his horse. Since he and Charlotte were on the same wavelength, there was no need to consider the group.

Ian didn't stop and charged forward. Charlotte, using her entire body, blocked whatever stood in their way. The guardians' movements were becoming more natural as time passed.

Despite the advice to conserve her power, Charlotte was using all the abilities of her magical equipment.

-Your resistance is futile, usurper...! You will pay the price for succumbing to the devil's temptation...!

The queen's voice continued.

Ian's brow furrowed.

'From the way she acts, they seem to be one. Did the queen capture a devil? Is the devil calling me?'

Heretics have always done crazy things, whether in ancient times or now.

Boom!

Ian raised his head.

A giant guardian, which had approached unnoticed, was bringing down a massive greatsword.

Charlotte was fighting human guardians on the opposite side. The guardians had already closed in to a point where she couldn't handle them alone.

Just as Ian was about to lash the reins,

Crack!

The greatsword tore through the swirling wind barrier and grazed the back of his head before falling.

The horse, which had been cut in half, was thrown up, spewing blood and entrails from the cut.

Ian, gritting his teeth and rolling on the ground, saw magic power surge toward him.

Whoosh! Boom!

Bursting fireballs flew in succession and exploded on the guardian.

As Ian was about to regain his composure,

Puff!

Charlotte, breaking through the purple mist, grabbed the back of Ian's armor and ran.

"I'll avenge your horse."

She said, and threw him with all her might.