Chapter 73

In the depths of the forest where the King Mantis appeared, within the vast grounds of the Imperial City, the forest was so expansive that it was difficult to manage. The weeds grew thick and the trees extended their branches, competing for space. No one would come to such a place unless they had business.

But today was different. A wide path had been carved through the forest, with the trees crushed and the grass trampled. This was the trail left by the Mantis and their kind. The forest near the party venue was burning fiercely, set ablaze by the Iron Spider's 'Flame Spear,' with smoke billowing and visibility poor.

At the end of the path, a large hole yawned open, rising from the ground to a height of about ten meters.

This was the 'Hidden Temple.' In modern times, no one knew of this temple, which was supposed to be unsealable except by the royal family. However, it was now open.

If anyone knew about this temple, they would wonder why. The temple was kept secret even from the royal family, and its location was only known through the oral tradition of a certain viscount's family.

In the forest, a single tree stood. When the royal family spoke the designated password and infused mana, the temple's door would open.

This temple, hidden by the first emperor for emergencies, was not passed down to his descendants. This was because, once the location was known, it was easy to imagine someone unsealing the temple to obtain the treasure, even if it was unnecessary.

Therefore, the first emperor entrusted the secret to a loyal but low-ranking noble among his close aides, asking them to pass it on when the royal family faced difficulties.

However, as one might expect, over time, the viscount's family declined, and the oral tradition was forgotten, its meaning lost.

Thus, it was impossible for the temple's seal to be broken. But by chance, a certain group of 'Monster Tamers' learned of it. And if that group had not allied with the Duke of Kannagi, and if the Duke had not hired the notorious magician 'Loki,' who could transform into a royal, the seal would never have been broken.

The convergence of chance, necessity, and ambition led to the unsealing of the Hidden Temple. Once unsealed, the temple's interior automatically lit up, revealing its contents. The distance from the hole to the underground was considerable, like a path to hell, and without the light, one would be overwhelmed by fear.

Descending hundreds of meters of stairs, one would reach the temple, which resembled the interior of a pyramid with widened corridors.

Despite being built over 400 years ago, the walls and ceiling of the temple showed no cracks or dust, only a musty, stagnant air.

The interior of the Hidden Temple was simple, with no carvings. Just stone floors, walls, and ceiling. The ceiling, illuminated like midday, revealed the use of magic, but the overall structure was modest, almost unworthy of being called a temple.

It was more like a labyrinth. The corridors were vast, and anyone seeing the endless stone passages would think it was a maze. There was another reason to think so.

The corridors were littered with countless monster corpses, piled up like mountains. Beetles, mantises, cicadas, and butterflies—though they were insects, they were not. Their bodies were at least two meters long, with the largest reaching five meters. They were not mere insects but monstrous creatures.

Each one had the power to battle the Iron Spider, yet they were all defeated. Some were torn apart, others burned by flames, and still others frozen in ice. Alongside them were many shattered magic stones, now turned to gray.

The labyrinth itself was a straight path, extending endlessly, with the sound of intense battle coming from deeper within.

The clashing of metal and the explosions of magic filled the corridors.

'Blazing Breath'

A giant three-headed dog opened its mouth and spewed flames. The intense fire engulfed the insect monsters, turning them into charred corpses.

'Thunder Feather'

A bird made of lightning emitted flashes, striking down the insect monsters that had escaped the flames.

'Rockfall'

'Spike Assault'

'Mighty Arm'

A turtle with a rocky shell created rocks to crush its enemies. A porcupine with golden quills shot them out. A giant gorilla bared its fangs and swung its log-like arms.

Each time, the insect monsters were reduced in number, but they did not just fall. They fought back, tearing apart their enemies with their mandibles, poisoning them, and shattering them with sound waves.

A fierce battle between insect and beast monsters raged within the Hidden Temple.

"Damn it! There are too many enemies! Why are there so many monsters in a temple that houses the royal treasure?"

The one shouting in frustration was an elderly magician. Behind the beast monsters, ten magicians stood, wands in hand, controlling the beasts.

Each was equipped with powerful gear, and anyone who could sense mana would be amazed by the vast amount hidden within. The ten magicians were clad in superlative gear, from ancient robes and accessories to wands, clearly indicating their power.

"Indeed, we are here to retrieve the treasure because our descendants are in trouble, but it's odd that monsters would stand in our way."

"Is this the time for such pretentious talk! At this rate, our magic stones will run out. Join the battle, Loki!"

The old man shouted at the suit-clad man standing idly by, watching the battle. The man in the suit sneered and shrugged.

"My job was just to unseal the temple."

The old man's face twisted in anger at the mocking tone.

"You must have failed to unseal it! Otherwise, I can't imagine why the monsters would attack!"

"I didn't fail. I intentionally made a small mistake in unsealing it. I had to get the King Mantis moving. The Duke of Kannagi needed a massacre. If I had fully unsealed it, the King Mantis would have remained as a statue. You agreed to this plan. You were the ones who successfully lured them out."

"Ugh. According to the collected oral traditions, the temple's guardians were only the King Mantis and its offspring. Indeed, the King Mantis and its eggs were at the entrance. I never expected there to be more monsters after they were eliminated."

"See? Blaming me is misplaced."

The old man, whose face contorted in discomfort, was addressed by the suit-clad man. The old man waved his wand in disgust.

"Your face and your words are irritating."

"Can you stop taking it out on me?"

The suit-clad man, who had been giving a speech on the balcony of the Imperial City, laughed. He was, in fact, the emperor.

With white streaks in his hair but still exuding vigor, his sharp eyes like those of a hawk, he radiated a commanding presence.

"Hmm. I had to transform into the emperor to enter this terrifying temple."

The suit-clad man, touching the sword at his waist with a light, casual tone, was known as 'Loki.'

The 'Jester' who sought chaos, a magician who could transform into any human or monster and even draw out latent abilities unknown to the individual. One day he might crush a drug organization, the next day capture humans and sell them to slave traders. He might become a fallen noble's son and become a hero, or transform into a wealthy daughter and kill orphans. A mercenary magician hired by both good and evil for money.

A notorious but whimsical magician. That was 'Loki,' whose true identity no one knew.

"Well, deeper in, there are the magical artifacts you desire, right? The Duke of Kannagi plans to use the treasure, and I get to watch the chaos unfold in Japan from a front-row seat. It's a win-win situation."

Loki knew the Duke's future strategy, as did the old man. Each acted for their own benefit, but Loki did it for his enjoyment.

"The idea of surpassing the royal family is quite exciting. The country will be in chaos, and amidst it, all sorts of stories will emerge—heroes, uprisings, and more. The future is thrilling."

Loki hugged himself, his face one of ecstasy, which seemed out of place in the emperor's form.

"In that case, we will all be wiped out if we stay. Our magic stones are running out. We need to consider a retreat."

"That's a problem. But are we not close to the end?"

Finally, the insect monsters were defeated, and the magicians' beasts roared in victory. Loki squinted, trying to see deeper into the corridor.

With enhanced vision, he could see a large silver door at the end. The powerful mana it contained suggested it was the final seal.

"Tch. I can see it too. But the monster guarding that door is troublesome."

A five-meter-tall beetle with a golden exoskeleton stood there, standing on two legs and wielding a sword and shield in its multiple front legs. Its three impressive horns gleamed, and its appearance clearly marked it as the final guardian.

"The 'Hercules Knight.' I've never seen one before, but I've read about it in literature."

"Me too. It's a mythical monster, known for its great strength."

The old man swallowed hard, showing signs of tension and fear. Loki gave a thin, mocking smile.

"I'll join the battle. It will be tough, and we can't afford to waste time. The chaos outside is probably a stampede, but we can't be leisurely."

"Hmph. There are 10,000 Scissors Mantises. The chaos won't end today. But you have a point. Let's take it down quickly."

"Understood."

Loki drew his sword, and the old men readied their wands, controlling their beasts.

Thus, before the final guardian, Loki and the others engaged in a fierce battle.