Chapter 148
However, the one who actually entered through the entrance was Artson alone.
Daphne, Shio, and elf Teiti stood some distance away, watching Artson.
“What? You want me to go in first and check whether there are any traps? Because you guys can’t afford to get hurt? Then what about me? If I get hurt, I won’t die or something? You only care about your own bodies. Seriously, how pathetic.”
Grumbling, Artson turned around to look at Daphne’s group.
Daphne, smiling contentedly as she looked down at him, was so irritating that he wanted to punch her.
But he couldn’t punch her… no, it was more that he wasn’t capable of punching her….
“Being weak really is a crime.”
Letting out a sigh, Artson approached the entrance.
Recalling the last time he had come here, he carefully pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The moment he entered, a freezing gust rushed toward him.
Feeling the violent wind, Artson quickly pressed his back against the wall.
The instant he did, dozens of arrows concealed within the wind shot toward the spot where he had been standing.
“Whoa.”
Feeling a chill run down his spine, Artson swallowed nervously.
At that moment, a voice echoed through the air.
[…Lord Artson?]
Artson knew the owner of that voice very well.
Yan, the leader of the Wraiths.
It was his voice.
Artson hurriedly nodded.
“Y-Yeah. It’s me. I’m here.”
A sigh came from the empty air.
It sounded as though Yan was contemplating something while looking at Artson.
[What brings you here? Unless you state your purpose, you will not be granted entry.]
Artson’s eyes instantly sharpened.
“Do I need your permission to come here now? Since when did you become so arrogant?”
As he drew upon his power, the cave’s walls and floor visibly trembled.
[Lord Artson.]
Yan’s voice continued.
[We are aware that you have been staying at the Grand Duke of Akion’s estate.]
“Ah, that’s!”
Artson immediately withdrew his power and shouted.
“I was captured. I escaped now. I couldn’t return to my lair, so I came here for the time being!”
He hurriedly added,
“Lani! What about Lani? Have you been in contact with her?”
Daphne had told him that if anyone became suspicious after he entered, he should say exactly this.
Tell them you escaped from the Grand Duke’s estate, then shift the topic toward Lani.
That way, instead of focusing on the fact that you escaped, they’ll become more interested in Lani and won’t be overly suspicious.
“I’m in this mess because of Lani! Have you contacted her? If you have, tell me right now! I’m going to kill her!”
So Artson shouted even more furiously, and another sigh echoed through the air.
[Even we have been unable to contact Lady Lani. Therefore, you should leave.]
“Leave? What do you mean leave?!”
Artson stomped his foot.
“If I leave now, I’ll freeze to death! Do you have any idea how cold it is outside?”
[…Why would a dragon freeze to death?]
“I will! I could die!”
Artson stubbornly insisted.
“If you leave me here to die, do you think Lani will let you get away with it? No? Then do you think the other dragons will? They’ll wipe every last one of you out!”
Yan’s voice fell silent.
Wondering if he was thinking it over, Artson was about to draw upon his power again.
But before he could, the ground beneath his feet began to tremble.
A low humming sound echoed through the cave.
Then a black light shot toward Artson.
It was not an offensive spell.
It was a detection spell.
Feeling the magical energy thoroughly examining his body, Artson shrugged.
“You sure are suspicious.”
In truth, Artson was startled inside, but he did not show it.
Daphne had already warned him about this as well.
Those suspicious dark mages will definitely scan you.
So before going in, deactivate the artifact, then reactivate it after you’ve entered.
‘Just what is she?’
How could she know everything while simply sitting there?
‘Or am I just the one who doesn’t know anything?’
He wanted to keep thinking, but there was no time.
Once the detection spell ended, the cave wall that had blocked the way completely opened.
As Artson stepped into the newly opened passage, he simultaneously infused power into the artifact and casually dropped them onto the ground one after another.
Tap. Tap.
The fallen artifacts glowed with black light, then slowly crawled across the ground and attached themselves to the walls.
☆☆☆
Whoooosh!
A freezing wind sharp enough to cut through flesh blew across the area.
A snow-covered mountain filled with darkness and silence.
The massive temple-like structure clinging to the icy cliff here was connected to the cave above.
Guided inside the building, Artson sniffed and pulled his collar tighter before crossing his arms.
“Man, it’s freezing.”
“No matter how many times I come here, it’s always cold.”
Muttering to himself, Artson walked toward the person sitting before the blazing fireplace.
“How’ve you been?”
Yan, who had been warming himself by the fire, slowly turned his head.
He had not changed.
His body was still wrapped in black bandages, with only his golden eyes gleaming.
“Well, I can’t exactly tell whether you’ve been doing well when I can’t even see your face. Anyway, you look the same.”
As Artson examined him, his eyes narrowed slightly.
“Actually… you seem stronger. Am I right?”
Yan did not answer, but Artson immediately realized that he had become far stronger than he had been eight years ago.
It seemed all the humans he had killed had paid off.
Artson let out a dry laugh.
“No matter how strong you get, you’re still just a human.”
Leaving Artson’s muttering behind, Yan slowly rose to his feet.
“There is only one reason we allowed Lord Artson to enter.”
Then he stood face-to-face with Artson.
His golden eyes slowly swept from Artson’s head to his feet.
The sensation was like a snake crawling across his body, causing Artson to frown slightly.
“What did you see at the Grand Duke of Akion’s estate?”
“At the Grand Duke’s estate?”
“Yes.”
Yan continued,
“Tell us the young lady’s weakness.”
“…Huh?”
Artson laughed again.
“You let me in here just to ask something like that? If it hadn’t been for that, you would’ve thrown me out?”
“Lord Artson.”
Yan clenched his fist tightly.
“If you claim not to know, then I doubt you will be leaving here alive. So think carefully before answering.”
Sensing dozens of presences surrounding him, Artson pressed the inside of his cheek with his tongue.
There were roughly fifty people targeting him.
It could only mean they had prepared this the moment Artson appeared.
In other words, they had never trusted him from the beginning.
He laughed again.
“Yan.”
“Yes, Lord Artson.”
“Don’t do something you’ll regret.”
Yan narrowed his eyes.
“We already have many regrets.”
Shaking his head, he spoke again.
“So tell us. The young lady’s weakness.”
Tilting his head to one side, Artson stared at Yan.
That guy…
Just by looking at his eyes, it was obvious he wasn’t in his right mind anymore.
“Hmmm. Daphne’s weakness.”
Smiling brightly, Artson said,
“I’d love to tell you. Really. I don’t like her either. I’d love for you guys to somehow deal with her.”
“…”
“She doesn’t have one.”
“Lord Artson.”
“Well, if she has one, it’d probably be her family. But as you know, her family is strong. So you might as well say she has no weakness. None. Give it up.”
“…I see.”
Yan let out a short sigh and raised his right hand.
Immediately, the presences surrounding Artson became even sharper.
Every single one of them was aiming at him.
“What? You’re going to kill me?”
“Yes.”
“Hah. Did you really think I’d be scared just because all of you came at me together?”
Artson bared his teeth as though he were about to charge forward.
Yes.
Yan had already expected that Artson would turn against them.
The damage would be considerable, but if they could eliminate Artson and obtain his core…
Yan swung his raised hand downward.
The moment he did, every dark mage who had been waiting rushed toward Artson.
“Man, that’s terrifying.”
Clicking his tongue, Artson spread both arms wide.
“It’s so scary that I can’t stay here alone. Right?”
“…What?”
Boom!
Before Artson had even finished speaking, an enormous explosion engulfed them.
The impact was so violent it felt as though an earthquake had struck.
Yan was stunned.
The dark mages following him were no different.
Taking advantage of the confusion, the ceiling of the building collapsed with a tremendous crash.
And then,
“Ugh, it’s so cold!”
A young girl appeared.
The child with her blonde hair tied high needed no introduction.
Everyone immediately knew who she was.
“D-Daph…”
“So you’re the leader of the Wraiths?”
The moment Daphne saw Yan, she clenched her fist and charged at him.
“H-Huh…?”
“You keep hiding away in a cold, dark place like this every single day, so of course your mind’s gone rotten! It has!”
…Did she just punch me?
Wasn’t she… a Magic Swordsman?
As Yan was sent flying through the air, he could only gape at the unbelievable reality before him.
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