Chapter 53

53

"Kai, I'm fine."

I said clearly once again.

Only then did Kai slowly release me from his tight embrace.

With a stern expression, Kai drew his wooden sword and looked around.

"Where are we?"

"Um, Mora."

Shaking my head and looking around, I let out a deep sigh.

‘Where are we now?’

We had to move again anyway.

I circled around, searching for the place where I could feel the magical energy.

‘Ah, found it.’

Judging by the distance, it seemed we only needed to teleport once more.

"Kai."

"Uh-huh?"

"Hand."

When I extended my hand, Kai readily took it. He gripped it firmly and drew his wooden sword, looking resolute.

I cast the spell again to teleport.

"Ahhh!"

Kai tackled me to the ground once more.

Oh, come on. At this point, shouldn't he realize it's me?

I patted Kai's shoulder and wriggled out of his embrace.

The ruins were right in front of us.

Kai's eyes widened as he noticed them.

"What is this?"

"A ruin."

"Ruin?"

"Yep."

Kai's tense body relaxed slightly at my words.

He must have been thinking of Sharent Clow.

It's amazing how much he can relax just by the word 'family.'

"Is this where Father is?"

"Yep."

So relax, nothing bad will happen.

Kai stood up first and extended his hand to me. For a moment, I saw Melaine in his actions.

Whenever he stumbled and fell, he would smile and extend his hand to me.

I reached out and grabbed Kai's hand, and the boy firmly pulled me up.

"Is that the way to go?"

"Yep."

"Shelina uses some amazing power, huh? Impressive. Did Shelina also want to see her father?"

"No."

What nonsense. There's no way I would want to see Sharent Clow.

When I shook my head firmly, Kai asked if I didn't like his father, looking dejected.

Unable to bear his chattering, I shut my mouth, and he soon fell silent.

We soon arrived at the ruins.

People were gathered, ready to enter. The entrance to the ruins was crowded.

Priests, paladins, Clow family soldiers, royal knights, and nobles were visible. And wyverns were facing them.

Sharent Clow was wielding a spear, fighting the wyverns.

I pulled Kai back, who was about to run towards Sharent Clow without understanding the situation.

Kai looked at me with a puzzled expression but stood resolutely by my side.

Grrr-.

Whoosh-.

Flames flickered between the wyvern's clenched teeth, threatening to be unleashed at any moment.

However, its torn wings and bleeding wounds showed that this was its last desperate act.

"Even a fire-breathing lizard has a long death rattle."

Sharent Clow muttered as if annoyed and threw his spear. At the same time, the wyvern's mouth opened, and flames shot out.

Swoosh-!

The spear cut through the flames and embedded itself in the wyvern's open palate.

Scream-!

Boom.

A final scream echoed as the massive body fell to the ground.

Several knights around Sharent Clow adjusted their positions. It was clear that he had taken the lead.

As the wyvern's corpse was quickly removed, some knights began to dismember it.

The wyvern's skin, claws, and bones were often used to make weapons or high-quality furniture.

"The time has been delayed. Let's go in quickly."

The emperor scanned the area indifferently and gave the order.

Bang-!

One of the knights tried to enter the ruins first but was repelled. It seemed he didn't meet the conditions.

Throughout the process, only a few knights and nobles managed to enter the ruins.

Out of a hundred, only five made it.

Two from the royal knight squad, two from the Clow family's Simula knights, and one unknown noble.

‘Oh, that’s Lanian’s paladin.’

He was here too.

With his usual stern expression, he approached the ruins and extended his hand.

While others were repelled by an electric current, the paladin passed through smoothly.

From the temple side, only one priest besides Lanian's paladin managed to enter, almost a total failure.

Out of nearly thirty, only two succeeded, barely saving face.

‘Tough. What kind of conditions are there?’

I sneaked closer.

I squeezed through the gaps between people. Fortunately, my small size went unnoticed. The text was in ancient language.

〈The Weight of the Crown〉

〈Those who wear the crown must bear the weight.〉

The condition seems to be ‘those who wear the crown.’

The name of the ruins is ‘The Weight of the Crown.’

I wondered who created these ruins.

‘Always such a corny name.’

It's hard to believe that a massive amount of magic could hide these ruins underground for so long.

What kind of power would be required to do that?

‘Considering the paladins and knights who entered…’

The condition is not just ‘king’ but more precisely a ruler.

So, those who can control and govern others, those who can walk the path of a ruler.

That's why there are many leaders and high-level experts.

‘Exploring ruins with such conditions is never easy.’

I turned my head slightly. Only Sharent Clow and the emperor were left.

"Two from Simula, two from my knight squad, one noble, Muirel, and two from the temple. Only seven in total."

"Including us, that makes nine."

The conversation between the emperor and Sharent Clow reached me.

It's a decent number for an exploration team.

‘Well, given the scale of the assault.’

If no one had made it out of the hundred or so people, it would have been a problem.

"No one from Silophia passed."

The familiar name made my shoulders tremble.

I saw Silophia gathered to one side, and Melaine among them. He was clenching his fists and tightly pursing his lips, clearly frustrated.

From his expression, it was clear that Melaine couldn't enter.

Why?

I shook my head at the rising question.

Of course, it's not my place to sympathize or worry.

One of the reasons exploring ruins is difficult is that you can't bring just anyone. Those rejected by the ruins can't enter.

‘I wonder what's inside…’

I don't have the ability to enter the ruins yet. It looks quite dangerous, so it's better to curb my curiosity.

‘Maybe I'll take a walk around and then leave.’

I'll take Kai with me…

"I'll go in first."

"Go ahead."

Sharent Clow and the emperor didn't seem to think they would be rejected by the ruins.

They are true rulers and leaders. Now it was their turn, and Sharent Clow was about to enter…

"Father!"

…just as he was about to move, Kai called out to him.

‘Oh no.’

Only then did I realize Kai was still a seven-year-old child.

He thinks he can't live without his father!

‘Damn, should I run before I'm caught?’

"…Kai?"

Sharent Clow's usually calm voice sounded shocked.

"How did you get here?"

His voice, usually warm like the sun in spring, turned cold.

He seemed quite angry.

In the icy atmosphere, I took a deep breath and rolled my eyes.

Kai, surprised, was silent.

With his mouth tightly shut and eyes rolling, he didn't seem to blame me at all.

Having no choice, I lingered near the sign at the entrance to the ruins and revealed myself.