Chapter 245
"Master Hermit?"
As he stood up and looked around, he realized he was back at the hermit’s dwelling nestled in the bamboo grove.
Apparently, he had dozed off on the couch.
The hermit tapped his back a few times and lay down on the bamboo bed.
"Ugh, I’m dying here... just dying."
"What’s wrong?"
The hermit groaned in a voice barely alive.
"Don’t even get me started. Out of nowhere, a swarm of demonic beasts appeared, so I got summoned for emergency duty. Just got back from a whole mess of chaos."
"A swarm of demonic beasts? Where did this happen?"
At that, the hermit turned his head sharply and replied,
"To tell you that, you’d have to become a Highlander too. Want to swear the oath?"
Zeke immediately stepped back.
"You don’t need to tell me, then."
He had no intention of undergoing the reincarnation process again.
At Zeke’s firm stance, the hermit grumbled and rolled around on the bamboo bed.
"Aaah, home is the best. I’m not going anywhere for a while... just gonna lay here and stretch out..."
"I found the Holy Relic."
At Zeke’s words, the hermit shot upright in surprise.
"What? Seriously?"
"Yes. Just as you said, Tyr had it. But why are you so surprised? I only found it thanks to your advice."
The hermit scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Well... I said it was likely. I didn’t know for sure it was the actual Holy Relic... Still, lucky guess, huh? Hahaha!"
Zeke clicked his tongue at the hermit's awkward laugh.
The hermit perked up and asked Zeke,
"So, what’s the second Holy Relic? Is it a shield like I said?"
"It’s not a shield, but it’s something similar."
Zeke took out Golin’s Scabbard from his inventory and showed it to the hermit. The hermit examined the scabbard, then blinked in astonishment.
"Whoa, what is this? Magic? No... not quite. Closer to a charm or an enchantment?"
"I’ve been wondering—what’s the difference between magic and sorcery?"
The hermit pondered the question for a moment, then shook his head.
"That’s a tough one. I don’t think I can explain it properly—I’m not a mage or a sorcerer."
"I thought you were a mage?"
"Huh? Nah, I’m a scholar."
"A scholar? Can a scholar become part of the High Table?"
"If you’re at my level, sure. I’m no ordinary scholar."
Zeke tilted his head, confused.
"What exactly is an ‘extraordinary scholar’?"
"Hard to explain... maybe a scholar who’s reached enlightenment and touched upon truth?"
"That doesn’t help me understand at all."
"Anyway, it’s something like this: magic tries to interpret the truths of the world using formulas. Sorcery tries to understand and internalize those truths using a personal language. You could say magic is deductive, while sorcery is inductive."
"What does that mean?"
"Didn’t I tell you? I probably can’t explain it well."
The hermit of stories, in typical fashion, wasn’t being all that helpful.
Zeke cut to the point, brushing aside the detour.
"The spirit of the Hero Tyr told me what the third Holy Relic is."
"What? Seriously? Where is it?"
"Well... I already found it."
"What?"
Zeke took Agamemnon’s Mask out of his inventory.
The hermit tilted his head as he examined it.
"This is a Holy Relic? I don’t feel any power coming from it."
"I thought the same. But according to Tyr, its true power won’t awaken until the seal is broken at the Lake of the Fairy."
"Hah... the Lake of the Fairy, huh. That’s going to be a headache."
Hearing the hermit sigh suddenly, Zeke asked,
"What’s the matter?"
"Hmmm... the Lake of the Fairy... wait a minute."
The hermit waved his hand, and dozens of books materialized in midair.
Pages fluttered open in a rush as he scanned their contents rapidly.
Then he grabbed one book and enlarged it so Zeke could also read it.
The hermit pointed to a specific passage.
"Look here."
Zeke read the line he pointed to and was startled.
"The Lake of the Fairy disappeared?"
The hermit nodded.
"Yeah. According to the legends, after the Hero King departed for the land of the fae, the Fairy King cut off contact with the material world and sealed off the lake."
"Sealed the lake...? Then why would Tyr tell me to go there?"
"Must’ve still been open during his time."
If the Lake of the Fairy was truly sealed, the final Holy Relic couldn’t be activated.
Zeke, after some hesitation, took out the Absolute Compass.
The hermit eyed the compass with curiosity.
"What’s that? I can feel an incredible amount of karma coming off it."
"It’s another artifact I obtained from that place. Supposedly, it points in the direction of what you seek. When I asked about the Lake of the Fairy, it kept pointing in a single direction."
At Zeke’s explanation, the Storyteller Hermit’s eyes widened in surprise.
"A compass that points to what you want?"
He quickly summoned more books into the air and began scanning them for related information.
Then, the hermit let out a gasp.
"Good heavens... this is an incredible item!"
"What do you mean?"
"That compass seems to hold the authority of a Constellation. There are only a handful of such items in the material world."
"It holds a Constellation’s authority?"
"Yes. The Constellation that created it is known by the title ‘The Noble Stride That Never Loses Its Way.’ Not the most powerful god, but according to myth, that Constellation often served as a guide and helper to heroes in legends and sagas."
"That kind of Constellation actually exists?"
"In the past, Constellations could intervene in the material world. Even so, directly granting their authority was nearly impossible—but it seems this one found a way to imbue their power into that item."
Zeke was slightly stunned that something as ordinary-looking as the compass contained the authority of a Constellation.
The hermit continued reading, clearly impressed.
"Back in the day, when Reyes the Fisher Knight went in search of the Golden Fleece, he lost his way and nearly died. That compass is what saved him."
Zeke knew the name Reyes.
‘That guy… yeah, getting lost sounds like him.’
There were many other documented cases as well.
After reviewing everything, the hermit came to a conclusion.
"If that compass is functioning, then there’s a way to find the Lake of the Fairy."
"Then all we have to do is follow the direction it points?"
"It might not be that simple. It doesn’t just point to a location—it could point to a person who knows the way to the lake. It calculates causalities and guides you accordingly, so you need to understand the context."
Zeke recalled how the compass kept pointing toward Yellin.
‘So following Yellin really might lead me to the Lake of the Fairy.’
The hermit dismissed the books and added,
"Just make sure to watch where the compass points. I’ll also ask the other members if they know anything more about the lake."
"Understood. But Master Hermit, isn’t there an easier way to contact you?"
"Tsk, you annoying brat. Hold on."
Grumbling, the hermit rummaged through a drawer and pulled something out. He handed Zeke a small hand mirror.
"If it’s urgent, use this to contact me."
"How does it work?"
"Just look into the mirror and call for me. I’ll appear in it."
"You had something like this? Why didn’t you give it to me sooner?"
"Everything I give out, even the tiniest item, consumes karma. I was only able to spare this one because I took down a lot of demonic beasts recently. Be grateful."
Zeke nodded and accepted the mirror.
At that moment, he woke up.
Back in the mansion where he had been resting, Zeke noticed the mirror was still in his hand.
‘I don’t know how this works, but it’s fascinating.’
Shaking off the last remnants of sleep, he looked outside to see the sun had already risen.
"Alright. If I stick with Yellin, I’ll eventually figure out something about the Lake of the Fairy."
He packed his things and headed toward the hotel where Yellin and her team were staying.
***
Zeke and Yellin’s group headed straight to Mycenae, arriving at the newly constructed terminal.
Inside the terminal, a private portal area had been set up—one that Zeke had arranged personally.
When they reached the lounge, the portal technician approached Zeke.
"Sir Zeke, I’ve calibrated the portal to the coordinates you specified."
"Good. How long to activate it?"
"It’s ready now."
"Then open it immediately."
The technician nodded and returned to the control room.
Zeke and the others stepped onto the magic circle at the center of the lounge.
Vmmm...
A low hum resonated as the portal activated on the circle.
"Let’s go."
Zeke and Yellin’s team entered the portal together.
Whooom!
The portal vanished—and the scenery changed.
Zeke could smell the dry scent of sand in the air.
Before him stood the main palace of Ishtar, just as he remembered it.
Boom!
At that moment, Yellin and the Ravens fell to their knees.
Turning around, Zeke saw Jamila Ishtar appear—flanked by hundreds of Ishtar clan mystics.
Dressed in the traditional robes of the Ishtar family, she glared at Zeke and said,
"Sir Zeke, it has been a while."
"It’s an honor to see you again, Clan Matriarch," Zeke responded respectfully.
Jamila looked at him coldly.
"I trusted you and allowed you to travel freely to the Central Continent. And now I hear nothing but disgraceful lies in return. I can hardly believe it."
She trembled with fury as she spoke.
"Do you know what happened when I asked that bastard Arthur about the marriage pact? He blocked all my communications outright! The humiliation—unforgivable!"
Zeke had no response. Knowing Arthur Draker, that did sound exactly like something he would do.
Jamila took a deep breath, trying to suppress her rage, and fixed her gaze on Zeke.
"When I think about it, tearing you limb from limb and sending your remains to Arthur in a box would be too merciful..."
Her eyes suddenly sharpened.
"I heard you possess the Emblem of the Black River."
At that, Zeke nodded solemnly.
"Yes. That’s correct."
Jamila ground her teeth.
"Show it to me. If it’s not genuine, you won’t be walking out of here alive."
Her murderous intent was intense—hard to believe for someone said to descend from the noble High Elves.
Zeke slowly reached into his cloak and pulled out Annexie’s Dagger.
Jamila drew in a sharp breath when she saw it.
"...Where on earth did you find that?"
"I’m afraid I cannot tell you."
At that reply, a chilling aura erupted once more from Jamila.
She, too, had likely reached the level of a Black Knight, and the intangible pressure she emitted pierced every inch of Zeke’s body.
Barely containing her fury, Jamila spoke through clenched teeth.
"Hand over the dagger. Do that, and I’ll spare your life."
But Zeke shook his head.
"I cannot do that, Clan Matriarch."
"What? Then I’ll just kill you and take it myself!"
At that declaration, Yellin—who had been kneeling—sprang to her feet.
"Absolutely not!"
Hearing her daughter’s voice for the first time in years, Jamila turned and stared at her.
"You were the one who brought that man into the main palace, Yellin. You’re also the one who refused the oath-bound marriage. According to the law, even as heir, you are not exempt from punishment."
Jamila was the kind of Clan Head who held even her own daughter to the strictest standards.
Zeke then stepped forward and addressed her directly.
"I have something to say to you, Clan Matriarch."
As soon as he did, Jamila, in a rage, released her pressure toward him.
Vmmmm—!
Zeke took the brunt of her force head-on. As a fellow Black Knight, he could have countered it entirely—but revealing his full power in hostile territory was unwise.
Jamila’s expression shifted when she saw Zeke standing firm against her pressure.
"You insolent—"
Zeke spoke clearly.
"I will personally descend into the Labyrinth and sever the pact with the dragon."
That statement caused not only Jamila, but also the elders and warriors of Ishtar standing behind her, to murmur in astonishment.
Jamila clenched her jaw and glared at Yellin.
"So you went and blabbed the clan’s secrets to that Draker wretch?"
Yellin stood her ground.
"Sir Zeke is the one who holds the Emblem of the Black River. If the prophecy is true, then he is the savior who will break the curse that binds our bloodline."
More murmurs erupted among the elders and warriors.
Jamila stomped the ground.
BOOM!
The shockwave shook the entire palace.
"Silence, all of you! Yellin—do you even understand what you’re saying?"
"Of course I do. We’re talking about resolving the Ishtar Clan’s thousand-year-old legacy. Why wouldn’t I want that too?"
Jamila stared hard at Yellin, struggling to suppress her rage, then turned her gaze back to Zeke.
Looking him over, she finally said,
"You said it yourself. You’ll enter the Labyrinth and break the chain of the ancient pact with the dragon. That’s your vow?"
"Yes, I did."
At that, Jamila let out a cold, dry laugh.
"You say such things because you clearly have no idea what kind of being the Hermit of the Black River truly is."
At Jamila's words, Zeke glanced subtly toward Yellin.
‘So... it wasn’t just an ordinary dragon after all.’
Jamila spoke again, her voice slow and deliberate.
"He is the first dragon to have slain another of his kind—a being imprisoned here by an Elder Dragon."