Chapter 63: Emperor’s Legacy [2]
"You believe what I’m saying?"
"Why wouldn’t I? Isn’t the Armian family humanity’s hope, having fought at the forefront against demons? You must be the most knowledgeable about demons."
<They’re saying the demons used them as a source of funds to carry out their operations?>
<That’s plausible.>
’Do you believe him?’
<There’s nothing particularly wrong with it.>
<The absolute worst case would be if this guy is already an evil one and made up this whole situation to approach you.>
There were certainly suspicious elements.
Coincidentally, when Aint first entered the yacht club, an unprecedented event of a sea monster attack occurred.
The owner of the ship was Goldenheim, and evil ones disguised as Golden Turtle Company employees attacked Aint.
And coincidentally, Gerhard appeared and resolved the situation.
Could all of this be mere coincidence? Was Gerhard truly innocent?
’But Senior Luina and Senior Bella...’
<They might have accompanied him, feigning coincidence to avoid your suspicion.>
<Honestly, if it were others, I’d just believe them, but I’m suspicious of these upstarts.>
<How much trouble did we have because of them selling supplies to demons...!>
Both Gerhard’s words and Gardner’s worst assumptions were plausible, making it impossible to determine which was correct.
But what mattered now wasn’t that.
Surviving the two sea serpents that were getting closer and closer.
That was the most important thing for now.
<It’s around here.>
<The legacy left by the first emperor.>
<If you get the legacy and join forces with them, you can surely face two sea serpents.>
Though called the tyrant of the sea, the sea serpent’s nature, which is just called a snake king when not in the sea, also played a role.
<But it’s ambiguous. It’s not good to inform others about the legacy in an uncertain situation.>
Just then, Gerhard stopped walking.
"This seems appropriate. There’s nowhere left to run anyway."
"How many minutes?"
"Ten minutes."
"Understood."
"Wait, Luina. What’s going on?"
Luina turned without explanation. Then, leading the bewildered Bella, she rushed toward the sea serpents.
"...What’s this?"
"They’re buying time. While I prepare to face the sea serpents."
"Preparation?"
"What preparation does a merchant have? Hitting with money."
With a thud, Gerhard pulled out a heavy box from his spatial storage. When he opened it, it was filled with various reagents.
Seeing this, Aint and Gardner realized what Gerhard was planning to do.
<This is a good opportunity, Aint!>
And that an opportunity had arrived.
<Tell him you’ll help buy time and go find the legacy. Fortunately, it’s not too far from here!>
"I’ll go help Senior Luina and Senior Bella too."
"Do as you please if your injuries are fine. Though it’s funny to consider injuries when life is at stake."
Fortunately, Gerhard didn’t stop him, and Aint, pretending to charge at the sea serpents, changed direction and headed to where Gardner directed.
***
Trees that couldn’t withstand the pressure broke with a thunderous sound.
The ground, frozen by pure cold, crumbled, and traces of destruction remained in the wake of the massive bodies.
When the two sea snakes roared, the knights swung their swords at them.
The knights’ aura was sharp enough to pierce the scales of the giant snakes.
But being sharp didn’t necessarily mean victory. The knights’ swords were insufficient to inflict fatal wounds on the giant snakes.
If they grew more, or if the situation changed due to the first emperor’s legacy...
’For now, that’s their limit.’
A precarious resistance.
Gerhard observed the sign of the end of this painful struggle.
A soft stream of light seeping from not too far away.
It was the process of Aint reconstructing his body after obtaining the first emperor’s legacy.
[It was the most prominent large tree between the two peaks.
<This is what’s called a fairy tree. It’s harder than most metals and full of forest energy, a tree that elves are crazy about.>
A tree that’s hard and has such strong vitality that it doesn’t die easily.
<Its rich energy made it perfectly suitable for hiding the legacy.>
"So what exactly is this legacy? If I consume it, I can win, right?"
<That depends on you, but at least it provides a possibility.>
<Place the sword against it.>
Aint thrust the sword into it. The fairy tree, responding to the sword, split itself.
And a small pill hidden inside revealed itself.
It was translucent, emitting a soft light, resembling a spirit.
<This is a spirit medicine made by the first emperor himself. But it’s different from ordinary spirit medicines. It doesn’t increase mana but reconstructs the body.>
"...Reconstruction of the body?"
<Human talents are passed down through bloodlines. But it’s not perfect. The first emperor worried about that. What if the one who obtained his legacy had no aptitude for light?>
The Armian family’s secret sword technique was based on light.
That’s why it was uncommon, why it was at odds with demons, and why the first emperor could drive them away.
<That pill can be considered as light itself. It’s of such high purity that it can give someone an elemental attribute even if they originally had none.>
<It reconstructs the body itself to be suitable for the light attribute.>
"Is that possible?"
Forcibly granting an attribute one doesn’t have.
It was undoubtedly a treasure that spirit users would sell their country for.
<Of course, not just anyone can....>
Gardner’s words stopped at the rapidly approaching thunder.
<Hurry and consume it!>
"Yes!"
Aint swallowed the pill. A pure white light enveloped his entire body.]
Gerhard smiled, holding his throbbing head, a side effect of recalling the future.
"...Yes, that’s it."
The legacy that Aint would obtain, the one he must obtain.
Since it would be meaningless without Aint, there was no particular attachment to it.
The light disappeared instantly, but soon after, he could be seen rushing toward the sea serpents.
Everything went according to plan.
Now Aint would help Luina and Bella deal with the sea serpents and clearly recognize the threat of evil ones and demons.
"As a bonus, the academy will establish a naval combat course."
And his wallet would also become heavier.
"Let’s go then."
Gerhard put the reagent box he had taken out back into his spatial storage.
He never had any intention of wasting money by creating a trap.
With a deep smile on his lips, he whistled.