N/T: Translation made by our friend 'Irving'. A big round of applause for him :)
Chapter 630
The back of the first head of Zieghart emerged above the remains of the melting golden fire.
The surroundings were blurry, like looking into a deep well, but the figure of the ancestor was as clear as if outlined.
I’ve seen him so often that his back now feels familiar.
The ancestor wasn’t fighting anyone. He didn’t even hold a sword but was conversing with people who appeared to be his comrades, smiling.
This is different from usual.
In the memories of the first head, he was always fighting someone, his expression severely hardened.
But now, the ancestor, with a faint smile, was examining the hole beneath the zelkova tree that had transported me to this world. This was vastly different from the memories I had seen before.
The forest is very bright too.
The first floor, during the ancestor’s time, looked different.
The terrain of the forest was the same, but it was as bright as midday, and there were no monsters in sight.
The ancestor stood up after creating a rectangular hole. As he walked through the forest giving instructions, mages and shamans began drawing spells and shamanistic circles on the yellow earth.
Among the robed mages was a small-framed female mage I had seen in the cave where I obtained the Sea Spirit Flower.
After instructing everyone, the ancestor stood in the center of the forest and began drawing something on the ground with his sword.
Is he carving an array (barrier) with his sword?
Given that Zieghart had Sword Field Creation, it seemed plausible that he could carve an array (barrier) using mana, just like a mage or shaman.
A faint smile appeared on the faces of the ancestor and his comrades, as if they were expecting something.
Woong!
As I quietly watched the ancestor’s sword array, my heart suddenly pounded loudly.
The eight rings of fire naturally resonated, engraving the array drawn by the ancestor into my mind.
The flaming sword array from the ancestor’s sword conveyed a searing heat, not only to the earth but also to my mental world.
As soon as the ancestor completed the array and lifted his sword from the ground, golden fire once again flared before my eyes. It signaled that it was time to return.
Seeing the storm of fire devouring my vision, I frowned.
This ending is different too.
In the previous memories, the ancestor always looked at me at the end, but now he was turning his back and returning to his comrades.
This meant, as I initially suspected, that this memory was different from the others.
I closed my eyes, recalling the sword array the ancestor had drawn in my mind.
* * *
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Raon opened his eyes calmly. The white hole beneath him no longer emitted fire.
Where did you go again?
Wrath furrowed his brow, wondering where he had been.
Why do you keep wandering off, leaving your body behind?
‘I went to meet the ancestor.’
Ancestor? Is that ancestor a tourist? Why do you keep running into him everywhere?
‘Maybe he has a wandering spirit.’
Raon lightly waved his hand and glanced into the white hole.
‘If the memory of the fire is accurate, this place was created by the first head of Zieghart and his comrades.’
I wasn’t sure if the Saber Sword Sovereign had turned this place into his tomb, but the land was originally created by the first head of Zieghart.
The warrior that Risrin mentioned, whom the Saber Sword Sovereign respected, seemed to have been Zieghart’s ancestor.
‘However…’
Their times shouldn’t overlap.
it was not known exactly when the first head of Zieghart died, but the Saber Sword Sovereign was a figure who was born much later. He had no idea how they were connected.
"What are you doing just standing there?"
Burren approached from behind, tilting his head curiously.
“We need to go back.”
“Huh? After coming all this way?”
Krein widened his eyes as if questioning his sanity.
“There’s something I need to check.”
Raon dusted off his dirt-covered hands and headed to the spot where the ancestor had carved the array in his memory.
The forest was still dark, but the memory was so vivid that finding the spot wasn’t difficult.
‘The array isn’t visible.’
Even with a torch, the array the ancestor had carved was completely gone. Well, it would be strange if it were still there after all this time.
Raon placed his hand on the ground and activated the Ring of Fire and the Ten Thousand Flames Cultivation.
He drew pure fire, tracing the pattern of the array exactly as the ancestor had done.
Woong!
His heart resonated. Just as when he had seen the ancestor’s array, his heart pounded. The ancestor’s sword array still lived within this land.
‘However…’
It has changed.
The flow of the ancestor’s array had altered since the first time he carved it.
While it was possible that the array could deteriorate or its mana flow could be disrupted over time, this felt different.
A completely different energy had permeated the ancestor’s array.
‘Could it be the Saber Sword Sovereign…?’
No.
This can’t be the Saber Sword Sovereign’s energy.
It was a sinister energy only someone who lived in shadows could recognize. I knew this insidious mana better than anyone else.
Raon lifted his hand from the blackened ground, biting his lip.
‘You again?’
Derus Robert.
* * *
A space shrouded in gray mist.
A middle-aged man holding a gold-laced teacup picked up a book with his left hand.
As he cautiously opened the book, a warrior in black nightwear emerged from the shadows.
“Sir Delphiros.”
The warrior in nightwear bowed his head urgently.
“There is a problem.”
“Calm down.”
The man called Delphiros lightly waved his hand.
“Please, speak calmly, Demon Rain division leader.”
“Y-yes.”
The Demon Rain division leader nodded and straightened his posture.
“What’s the problem?”
“Most of the key figures have arrived on the second floor as planned. However, there is something unusual about one group’s movements.”
“One group?”
Delphiros lowered the book slightly. He looked over the text, gazing down at the Demon Rain division leader with a piercing stare.
“Y-yes, it’s Zieghart’s Light Wind division.”
The Demon Rain division leader couldn’t meet Delphiros’s eyes and swallowed nervously.
“The Void Sword division has also descended to the second floor, but the Light Wind division remains on the first floor.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. And...”
He bit his lip before continuing.
“None of them are injured.”
“Not just Raon Zieghart, but all of them?”
“Yes…”
“How is that possible?”
Delphiros lowered the book completely and lifted his gaze.
The first floor of the tomb was designed to drain physical strength and aura while causing minor injuries.
It was filled with countless monsters and traps. The idea that there were no injuries was hard to believe.
"I'm serious, sir."
The Demon Rain division leader shook his head, his eyes trembling.
“To be precise, they did sustain injuries but treated them immediately, rendering them insignificant.”
“There should have been poisons, like Bella’s flower or Remphan’s poison. How did they...?”
“They had antidotes for those poisons.”
“Are you saying they had Pellen and Roseren leaves?”
"And there were quite a few that they shared with other injured individuals..."
“Ridiculous!”
“I-I don’t want to believe it either, but it’s true.”
He bit his lip and bowed his head.
“Phew...”
Delphiros reached out and gripped the teacup. It shook violently as if it might shatter.
“Even so, fighting monsters in the dark and avoiding traps should have exhausted their stamina and aura. Their mental fatigue must be significant, so if we push them a bit more on the second floor...”
“That’s...”
The Demon Rain division leader hesitated, licking his lips before lifting his gaze.
“They don’t seem to be fatigued at all.”
“What do you mean...?”
“The Light Wind swordsmen didn’t just fend off approaching monsters, they actively sought them out to fight. Some of them were even smiling while fighting...”
He sighed, as if recalling the sight of mad dogs reveling in combat.
"There are many stronger forces than them, but I’ve never seen such madness...”
“Actively sought out fights? Are they really mad dogs?”
Delphiros ran a hand through his hair, furrowing his brow.
Darkness, enhanced monsters, traps, and poisons—all these elements were designed to wear down human stamina and body.
Even the highest-ranking masters of the continent would feel the strain, yet these people were apparently enjoying the fight.
On top of that, while aiming for the Saber Sword Sovereign’s tomb, they sought out monsters to fight. It was incomprehensible. It was as if they had rabies.
“What should we do?”
The Demon Rain division leader clicked his tongue, showing that even he couldn’t handle this.
“Send them to the ‘Red Area’ on the second floor.”
“The Red Area? Raon Zieghart has a strong resistance to fire...”
“It’s fine.”
Delphiros lifted the teacup again, a sly smile spreading across his face.
“No matter how strong his resistance to fire is, it won’t help him there.”
* * *
Glenn stood at the entrance of North Grave mountain, looking up at the calmly drifting sky.
“My lord.”
Chad approached from behind and bowed.
“We’ve detected the Light Wind division’s movements.”
“Hmm, what are the children doing?”
Glenn turned around slowly. He tried to maintain a composed expression, but his eyes betrayed a slight tremor.
“After saving a village that was being attacked by warriors searching for the tomb, they headed to the Saber Sword Sovereign’s tomb.”
Chad met Glenn’s gaze and nodded slightly.
“They saved a village?”
“Yes. We thought they’d go straight for the Saber Sword Sovereign’s tomb map held by the Ghost Demon Swordmaster, but they saved people first. They even helped villages outside Zieghart’s territory.”
He smiled faintly, as if proud of Raon’s actions.
“As a result, the Light Wind division’s name is being praised in the surrounding villages.”
“I was wrong. When Raon took on that mission, I assumed he was targeting the Saber Sword Sovereign’s tomb.”
Sheryl widened her eyes, looking at Chad.
“Young master Raon is likely aiming for the tomb. However...”
Roenn shook his head gently.
“He was tasked with scouting Zieghart territory. He simply saved people first, as his mission dictated.”
He chuckled, seeming pleased with Raon’s actions.
"Even I get a little greedy when I hear about the Saber Sword Sovereign's tomb, but prioritizing lives first... that's quite something."
Sheryl also looked impressed, a small smile curling her lips. As they conversed, they kept an eye on Glenn.
“Ahem!”
Glenn cleared his throat and half-turned his body. His lips stretched in a rubbery smile as he shook his head.
“He was on a mission, so he should do that much. It’s not a big deal.”
Despite his words, Glenn’s face was flushed with excitement and satisfaction.
“Haha.”
"Huhu."
Sheryl and Roenn couldn’t hide their amusement at Glenn’s reaction.
“By the way...”
Chad slowly raised his hand.
“The strength of the individuals entering the Saber Sword Sovereign’s tomb far exceeds normal levels. Even after Sir Raon and the Light Wind swordsmen entered, high-ranking individuals have been pouring in. I’m worried.”
He frowned, clearly concerned not just for Raon and the Light Wind division but also for the Void Sword division.
"I'm sure there are a few guys I've heard of."
Sheryl nodded in agreement with Chad’s words.
“Should I go check it out?”
“There’s no need.”
Glenn shook his head firmly.
“But…”
“It will be dangerous. Whether it’s a trap or the Saber Sword Sovereign’s tomb, it’s more strange if there isn’t any danger. But Raon went there knowing the risks.”
Raon had faced many dangerous situations so far, but most of them had been sudden occurrences.
This time, he went knowing it was a dangerous place, so it was right for him to overcome the danger on his own.
“We can’t always help him. This time, we will watch and wait.”
Glenn crossed his arms, indicating he had no intention of sending anyone. However, his shoulders trembled with worry.
“Understood.”
Roenn and Sheryl nodded quietly, acknowledging his decision.
Meanwhile, Chad clenched his fists tightly inside his sleeves.
‘This is my chance.’
A chance to score points with my future lord!
* * *
Raon placed his hand on his left chest, where the Ring of Fire rotated. The heart, pulsing with fire, was filled with both anticipation and anger.
‘As expected, it’s a trap.’
It was now clear. This wasn’t the Saber Sword Sovereign’s tomb.
It might have originally been a space created by Zieghart’s ancestor, but it had been transformed into something with an unknown purpose by Derus Robert.
‘Purpose…’
What is Derus after?
Given how insane he was, Raon could make several guesses, but none of them were certain.
‘Whatever it is…’
It won’t go as you plan.
If he had known nothing, it would be one thing. But if this tomb itself was part of Derus’ plan, Raon couldn’t leave it alone.
Whether it had the Saber Sword Sovereign’s relics or not, he would destroy Derus’ plan no matter what it took.
“Let’s go back.”
Raon gestured to the Light Wind swordsmen standing behind him.
"Something seems to have changed."
Rimmer approached with a faint smile.
“You seem more excited than when we first arrived.”
“Yes, I’m a bit excited. But…”
Raon nodded and looked at Rimmer.
“Why have you been so quiet lately?”
“Quiet?”
“You haven’t interfered at all, just watching from behind.”
“You’re the leader.”
Rimmer shrugged his shoulders.
“I’m just following the leader’s orders as the vice leader.”
He laughed, saying he was just doing his job.
“Yeah, right!”
Martha shook her head.
“You’re just being lazy and staying in the back!”
“Oh, did you figure me out?”
Rimmer chuckled, scratching the back of his head.
Raon narrowed his eyes at Rimmer.
‘He’s different from usual.’
Rimmer didn’t have his usual playful look, instead, he had a serious gaze.
Contrary to Martha’s words, it seemed he genuinely trusted Raon as the leader.
‘It’s a bit overwhelming.’
Not only the Light Wind swordsmen but also Rimmer showing such unilateral trust made the heart that burned with vengeance start to feel a warm sensation.
His trust didn’t feel like a burden but rather as genuine belief.
‘Yes. Now is not the time to get excited.’
Raon calmed his mind and turned around. Pointing to the second-floor entrance under the zelkova tree, he shook his head.
“We don’t know what’s below.”
He created a thick sound barrier to ensure his voice would not leak out.
“From now on, don’t think of this as the Saber Sword Sovereign’s tomb but as enemy territory. Be on guard against everything that approaches.”
Thanks to Rimmer, he found the courage to lead everyone properly. He expressed what he had been thinking.
“What do you mean…?”
Burren frowned, unable to understand.
“Understood.”
“Yes.”
Martha and Runaan didn’t question it. They nodded simultaneously, ready to follow any orders.
“It’s complicated to explain. Just know that this place isn’t a tomb but a contaminated area manipulated by external forces. It’s best to think of it as a hostile dungeon.”
Raon briefly explained and then turned back.
“Remember my words and follow me.”
He took a deep breath and then threw himself into the white hole.
Wooong!
Just like when they first entered the tomb, the weight on his body disappeared, and he fell into an endless space.
The only difference this time was that it wasn’t dark but bright around him.
After some time, he felt his feet touch the ground. Unlike the first floor, it was solid. It felt like stepping on a large rock or metal.
When he opened his eyes, the first sight was the surging waves of bubbling lava.
The crimson wind, filled with sparks, and the scorching heatwaves filled the air.
A lava field (zone). It was a scorching hot land of extreme heat.
“What the…!”
Burren frowned, looking around.
“From a dark forest to lava now?”
He shook his head in disbelief.
“Hah, at least it’s bright.”
Martha gritted her teeth, wiping the sweat from her forehead despite saying it was better.
“Ugh…”
Runaan stuck out her tongue, her face showing sudden fatigue.
"I hate the heat…."
She created ice with her cold energy and rubbed it against her cheeks, but the round ice quickly melted into lukewarm water.
"L-lava?"
"Why is there a volcano underground?"
"None of this makes sense."
"I'm already exhausted. What kind of person was the Saber Sword Sovereign anyway?!"
The warriors who had entered before the Light Wind division and those who followed them were all stunned by the lava field, unable to close their mouths in disbelief.
"First, let's assess the terrain and move. Rather than trying to find a way down, we need to find a safe route through here…."
Raon was about to explain their objective to the Light Wind division when it happened.
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!
The vast lava pit, like a lake, rippled as if struck by an earthquake, then erupted in a massive explosion.
BOOOOOM!
Wings as magnificent as if they had ripped off one side of the World Tree rose above the surging lava.
In the center of the endless wings, a blue light gleamed, and a golden beak, burning with flames, let out a majestic roar that seemed to tighten around their chests.
A phoenix. An immortal creature said to live forever in flames, an ancient being, emerged from the lava waves, revealing its colossal presence.
"Aah…."
Everyone present was struck with astonishment at the sight of the phoenix's flames, which could even melt the lava.
"A p-phoenix!"
"And not an ordinary one…."
"That's on the level of a dragon!"
"R-run!"
The warriors who had arrived first and those who arrived later all recoiled in fear.
"Oh…."
"That's a phoenix? Not a red dragon?"
"This is insane…."
"How can we fight that…."
Even the swordsmen of the Light Wind trembled with pale lips in shock.
Only one person.
Raon looked at the phoenix, which spewed crimson flames in anger, and lifted the corners of his mouth.
'After searching so hard, here it is.'
My hot meal.
As he licked his lips, Wrath leapt with excitement.
Phoenix roast! You've finally come to appreciate the taste, haven't you!
'......'
