Ch.228Chapter 228 – Rubrum (1)

Chris was following Dvel.

“Excuse me, Sir Dvel?”

[Ah, just call me Dvel. Dvel.]

Dvel said, waving his gauntlet.

“Um, there’s something I’d like to ask.”

[What is it? Oh, about our destination?]

‘That’s not it.’

Chris quietly denied Dvel’s words in her mind.

More than their destination, she was curious about Dvel’s condition.

But of course, Dvel had no way of knowing what was on Chris’s mind.

[It’s simple to explain… hmm, shall we talk while walking?]

“Um…”

‘I was the one who asked the question.’

Once again, Chris spoke quietly in her mind.

No, this time it almost came out of her mouth.

However, Dvel seemed to care little about Chris’s reactions.

[Let me ask you. Why do you think this lair appeared here?]

“Is it because this place is suitable for Rubrum to live?”

Chris’s answer made Dvel’s helmet shake vigorously.

Apparently, that’s what it looked like when he laughed heartily.

[Well, you’re not wrong. But ‘suitable for living’ isn’t quite the right answer.]

“Why not?”

[Dragons live in the gaps between boundaries. If that’s their habitat, doesn’t that mean it’s the most suitable place for them to live?]

Dvel added that there were exceptions and unavoidable circumstances.

[To put it simply, he built his lair here because he made a contract.]

“Because of a contract?”

[After I became like this… well, that’s not quite right. Anyway, I learned relatively recently that Rubrum is a dragon who always acts according to contracts.]

Dvel paused briefly as if catching his breath, then continued.

[In other words, all his strange behaviors stem from his contracts and his eccentric personality. I found out by chance when I overheard him scolding his avatars. Ah, of course, he doesn’t make contracts with just anyone.]

“Are there conditions?”

[Well… first, one must be acknowledged by Rubrum. Whether it’s strength, guts, or whatever else.]

Dvel tapped his head as if he wasn’t quite sure about this part.

[The conclusion is that he built his lair here because this is where he needed to build it to fulfill his contract.]

“What kind of contract could it have been?”

[Only he knows exactly. But if you knew the contractor… you might be able to guess? Conveniently, there’s evidence right there.]

After saying this, Dvel suddenly stopped, then pointed at the wall.

Looking at the nearly erased drawing on the wall, Chris tilted her head in confusion for a moment.

Then, recognizing what the drawing was, her eyes widened.

“…Why is that here.”

The drawing on the wall.

It was something Chris had learned about when studying the history of the Order.

It was the ancient symbol of Evgenia.

“Could it be that Rubrum built his lair here…”

[To guard the seal,] Dvel said firmly.

“Perhaps you too, Sir Dvel?”

[Should I say you’re perceptive? But you’re slightly off. My role is to guide suitable candidates to that seal.]

“Suitable candidates?”

Dvel didn’t answer for a moment.

As Chris tensed up, feeling strangely anxious, Dvel quietly said:

[Don’t worry. It’s not the kind that would harm a young lady like you.]

“Is that so?”

[Yes… for now, at least.]

Waving his hand as if he had no intention of discussing it further, Dvel said:

[Well, anyway, we’ve arrived now.]

“What?”

[See that hole ahead?]

Looking where Dvel pointed, Chris indeed saw a hole in the ground.

“…Don’t tell me.”

It seemed they needed to enter through that hole.

“…How deep is it?”

[I’ve never fallen in, so I don’t know.]

“Is there perhaps another way around?”

[That would take too long, so I wouldn’t recommend it.]

“…Do we really have to go that way?”

In response to Chris’s question, Dvel shrugged and said:

[Your laundry will be a big problem.]

It seemed there was no way to avoid it.

Making a mental note to ask Sera to make a good cleaning solution, Chris gripped her stone tablet tightly and threw herself into the hole.

+

The escape had originally been scheduled for early this morning.

Since that schedule was set, everyone had prepared their belongings in advance so they could depart immediately, so there was almost no delay in setting out.

While Beatrice quickly stuffed everyone’s prepared luggage into her witch’s hat, Lara took Sera’s medicine and soon began moving her nose.

“The scent remains.”

Lara said, looking in the direction where Chris had been dragged away.

And as if she caught another scent, she frowned.

“And… Rorona’s scent is mixed in too.”

“So he’s the perpetrator.”

Lara nodded at my words.

Then suddenly, her body was lifted into the air.

“Um, excuse me…”

“We don’t have time. Direct me from up there.”

After saying this, Mask turned to the rest of us and said:

“Those with stamina and speed should carry the slower ones.”

Everyone nodded as Mask finished speaking.

Soon, Asam was carried by Beatrice, and Eina carried Peri.

Then Ive and Sera approached me.

“…How should we do this?”

“It’s fine. I’ll carry both of you.”

I immediately hoisted both Sera and Ive onto my back.

Of course, my back was too narrow for both of them to sit on, so they would have to hang on, but we didn’t have time to waste.

“Let’s go.”

“This way.”

We ran in the direction Lara pointed, as she sniffed the air like a puppy.

“We’ll run at full speed. Ready?”

“Shouldn’t be a problem.”

Mask nodded.

And then, he accelerated as if exploding forward.

‘Fast.’

Seeing Mask’s impressive leg strength, I looked at Ive and Sera hanging on my shoulders and said:

“Hold on tight so you don’t fall!”

“Yes!”

Soon I focused all my attention on my legs, and with a slight red spark emanating from them, I kicked off the ground and started running.

The surrounding scenery immediately began to blur with speed.

“Don’t lose sight of me and keep up!”

Mask shouted before continuing to rapidly traverse the lair.

Whether it was due to the effectiveness of Sera’s medicine or not, Lara seemed to have no trouble tracking the scent.

Thanks to this, Lara’s directions didn’t falter, and Mask occasionally shouted loudly to guide us on the right path.

“…It seems there’s no danger.”

“That’s unlikely.”

As Sera said, it would be nice if there were no dangers, but things couldn’t be that easy.

“Ahead, a trap!”

Ive, who was hanging onto me, suddenly shouted.

Hearing this, Mask, who was running at the front, could be seen drawing a different sword than his greatsword.

And suddenly, he deflected all the magical arrows that were fired by swinging his sword.

“That was close. Anyone hurt?”

“No. Keep going straight ahead!”

While expressing gratitude for Mask’s words, Lara immediately gave directions.

And then, stone spikes suddenly protruded from the wall beside us, only to be blocked by ice spikes that appeared just as quickly.

It seemed that Asam, who was being carried by Beatrice, had used magic.

“Got it!”

“Run faster! This place is full of traps!”

At Beatrice’s cry, everyone continued running without stopping.

From then on, traps continued to activate as if determined not to let us pass, but Ive would shout warnings, or Mask and Asam would neutralize the traps.

‘This is maddening.’

I hadn’t expected to retrieve Chris easily, but as the barrage of traps continued, my head felt like it was about to burst.

Already feeling tired after rushing out immediately after training, fatigue was starting to set in.

“…This isn’t normally allowed, but… Mr. Kay, here.”

Sera, still hanging onto me, put something in my mouth.

Soon, a slightly sweet liquid went down my throat.

The fatigue I had been feeling disappeared.

“Thanks, Sera.”

“This much is… fine.”

Sera said with a smile.

And immediately after, Ive shouted:

“Everyone, stop and scatter!”

No one questioned Ive’s instruction.

Quickly bringing my legs to a sudden stop, I jumped sideways.

In the process, I caught Ive and Sera as they bounced off my back, holding them in my arms as I landed on the ground, while the others either rolled or jumped back.

And right where we had just been.

A ball of fire came down and exploded.

-BOOM!!

With the explosion came a flash of light, and I instinctively let go of Ive and Sera, while slightly covering my eyes.

And something rushed at me through the flash and smoke.

-THUD!

It was a much lighter blow than before.

As I swung my arm immediately, I saw the shadow that had struck me step on my arm and jump backward.

“Rorona.”

“Pleased to meet you all.”

Rorona said with a smile.

“Where might you be going?”

Despite already knowing our purpose, Rorona smiled and asked.

Sera handed me a halberd, which I grabbed and pointed as I said:

“Move aside.”

When Rorona gave no answer, I spoke again:

“Before I force my way through.”

Pointing directly at Rorona, I spoke clearly.

“By my master’s orders, I cannot let you pass easily.”

Rorona said with a slightly dark expression.

And as she snapped her fingers, three others who resembled her also revealed themselves.

“Come. This time, I’ve been instructed to stop you with full force.”

“Let’s see how impressive you are.”

As I entered a combat stance, Beatrice, Ive, and Eina also stepped forward in agreement.

Looking at us, Rorona smiled and said:

“You’re quite spirited.”

“But unfortunately, we’re not planning to face you.”

Lirina finished Rorona’s sentence.

And with that.

The sound of something flying at high speed could be heard.

“Kay!”

Quickly turning my body toward the sound, Beatrice threw a chain at me.

Then Beatrice threw me, and while flying, I quickly extended my arm.

And the high-speed object collided with me.

-BOOM!!

I bent my extended arm to wrap around and grab the creature.

Then I spoke to the being that had flown at high speed:

“So you’ve come here too.”

[…]

Rubrum gave no answer and threw me instead.

Just as I regained my posture, Rubrum instantly reached me.

I used the shaft of the halberd to block the punch that Rubrum threw.

[You blocked it without armor.]

“This much is easy…!”

After quietly speaking, Rubrum moved away from me.

Then, making a sound like gnashing teeth, he laughed and said:

[It was only ten days.]

“Are you disappointed?”

[No, the opposite.]

Rubrum said, taking a combat stance.

[Perhaps now you’ve finally become worthy as an opponent.]

After laughing with that teeth-gnashing sound for a moment, Rubrum.

Soon took his stance and quietly said:

[Come, youngster.]

I quietly gripped the halberd tightly, preparing for battle.

+

After falling for quite some time, Chris was finally able to emerge from the tunnel.

And a minor problem arose.

“Ow ow ow… my bottom…”

Having slightly failed her landing, Chris had landed right on her backside.

As she tried to ease the pain by rubbing it, Dvel emerged from the hole and said:

[Hmm… the young lady needs to put on a bit more weight. Then that skinny body would look a bit more…]

“Are you trying to make me angry?”

Dvel immediately looked at Chris’s face.

Then he quietly bowed his head and said:

[That was out of line. Beautiful young lady.]

Chris puffed her cheeks slightly at the transparent apology.

Still, deciding not to press the issue, she pretended not to notice and asked:

“Where are we anyway?”

[Someone like you should be able to answer that immediately.]

At Dvel’s words, Chris quietly looked around.

And soon, she could recognize one fact.

‘It’s holy power.’

Not just any holy power.

‘It’s Lady Evgenia’s holy power.’

If that was the case, she could easily identify this place.

Turning her gaze to find the source of the holy power, Chris discovered a familiar-looking door.

“So it was here.”

Chris quietly murmured as she looked at Evgenia’s third seal.