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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 153
“Come now, what are you all waiting for? Come on in!”
Estevan gestured with a broad smile.
The table was overflowing with exquisite dishes, each more luxurious than the last. The aroma alone was enough to make one’s mouth water, filling the entire room.
In the corner, a small orchestra played a soft melody, further enhancing the atmosphere.
By all appearances, they were being treated as honored guests.
Ian stepped inside as if it were only natural, but the others hesitated.
They glanced around uneasily before finally pulling out their chairs and sitting down, looking somewhat bewildered.
“The artifact we retrieved must be far more valuable than we thought.”
Ian turned to Audrey, who had spoken from beside him.
Was she seriously asking? She wasn’t entirely oblivious to the ways of the world.
But he could understand her confusion. She was still young.
Having spent her life safely researching golems, she couldn’t be expected to have the keen eye of a seasoned mercenary.
He answered in a calm voice.
“It’s worth far more.”
“Huh?”
“I said, it’s worth far more than that. You saw what happened when I held the Holy Spear, didn’t you?”
She couldn’t have missed it. It had been nothing short of a miracle.
“That means it can protect allies from the mental corruption of the outside world. With that spear, even if you explore a labyrinth or ruin consumed by the Otherworld, you won’t go insane. And since holding it grants superhuman physical abilities, it doesn’t even matter if the weakest member of a group carries it—they’d still be able to handle it.”
“…Oh. Then wouldn’t it have been better for us to keep it?”
Estevan’s cheerful expression froze instantly. His eyes screamed, Please don’t say that. But Audrey paid him no mind.
Ignoring his reaction entirely, she muttered regretfully.
Ian chuckled wryly.
“Perhaps. If there were no promised reward or if I were acting alone, I wouldn’t have handed it over to the Foundation so easily.”
“Could you not say things like that when I’m right here?”
Estevan cut in, exasperated. Gawain chuckled.
“He was saying it for his comrades to hear.”
“…Sigh. Fine, fine. Everyone, you don’t need to press me so hard. The artifact you recovered aligns perfectly with our goals—far beyond our expectations, in fact. So, we’ve prepared something even better than what was originally promised. We’re just waiting for the Foundation’s approval, so I’d ask for a little patience.”
That was more than reasonable. There was no immediate need for a relic at this moment anyway.
“Now then, please, eat as much as you like! If you need more, just say the word, anytime! Tonight, you can have anything you desire!”
Estevan was remarkably skilled at lifting the mood.
Ian’s eyes landed on a bottle of alcohol before him. The label read Solarwhale in bold letters.
“Well, then. Let’s eat.”
At the repeated invitation, Ian picked up his utensils.
When he sliced into the steak, the knife glided through effortlessly.
He took a bite, letting the sauce coat his tongue. The meat melted in his mouth, leaving behind a rich, lingering flavor.
‘This is incredible.’
If the rest of the dishes were on this level, there wouldn’t be a single disappointment. And the drinks were beyond comparison. Every bite was deeply satisfying.
As he hungrily devoured his meal, three pairs of eyes stared at him in shock.
“You really eat like a beast. They say knights treat meals like a battle, but…”
“Diem, if you ate like that, I wouldn’t be able to handle it.”
“…Maybe if I were Level 6, but right now, there’s no way I could eat like that.”
Ian and Gawain, as if competing, reached for more with their forks and knives.
The plates were emptied quickly, but as if someone was watching over them, each time an empty plate appeared, it was immediately replaced with a new dish.
As they continued their enjoyable meal, a server approached Estevan and whispered something in his ear.
The voice was so hushed that, despite pausing their eating to listen, no one could make out the words.
Estevan gave a small nod, drained his glass, and pushed back his chair as he stood.
“Everyone.”
Clap, clap—
He lightly clapped his hands to gather attention, though, in truth, everyone was already looking at him.
“The moment you’ve been waiting for has arrived. Since you successfully retrieved the Holy Spear, Rease—what we call the Angel’s Key—approval has been granted to provide you with artifacts of a higher tier.”
The doors swung open, and trays covered in deep purple cloth were carried in one after another.
Though their contents were hidden, faint traces of magical energy leaked through, hinting at the artifacts’ extraordinary nature.
“Who should go first?”
Rease raised her hand.
“Him.”
She pointed straight at Diem, who sat beside her. Caught off guard, Diem blinked in surprise.
“Very well. Let’s start with the only archer in our party, Diem.”
Estevan moved to his side. His footsteps echoed in a steady rhythm as he approached the tray and swiftly pulled away the purple cloth.
Beneath it lay a bundle of fine, shimmering threads, glistening beautifully under the dim light.
Wearing a pair of black gloves that had appeared at some point, Estevan carefully lifted the threads.
“It has no name. Its origin is unknown. We don’t even know what it’s made of.”
“…So what do you know about it?”
“The ability it possesses. This is a bowstring. When attached to a bow and drawn, it reveals its true power—it creates arrows of pure mana. Normally, such enchantments are placed on the bow itself, but this one is bound to the string. Additionally, when fired, the arrows can split mid-flight and track enemies based on distance. And it’s nearly impossible to break.”
“What happens if I use it with regular arrows?”
“The arrows will fly faster and farther. You’ll get a feel for it after a few uses. It wouldn’t be classified as an artifact otherwise. However, you’ll need a sturdy bow. If not, you might want to carry spares. The bowstring’s durability is exceptional, but it tends to put quite a strain on the bow itself.”
Estevan then moved to the next tray.
“Now, let’s see what’s next. For you, Rease, we have the Pen of Bastiela.”
“Wait, Saint Bastiela?”
“Yes, you know of her? This was the very pen she used. But it’s more than just a writing tool—it serves as a conduit for divine power. Perhaps storing faith would be a more accurate description. When in need, you can press the pen’s tip into your skin to draw upon the holy energy stored within. Use it well—it’s quite precious.”
“T-Thank you…! I can’t believe I’m receiving something so valuable!”
Rease beamed as she accepted the pen Estevan handed her.
“For Gawain, the Octagonal Crystal Necklace. Since you’re a member of the Blueflower Knights, we chose this for you. It enhances your affinity with ice magic and, when infused with mana, temporarily boosts its power. There are some lingering side effects, but in dire situations, it will be invaluable.”
“For Audrey, Dail’s Command Gauntlet. An artifact of an 8th Level, Celestial Rank knight—Dail, the One-Man Legion of the El-Karda Empire. This was one of the gauntlets he used to control dozens of golems simultaneously. It will be extremely useful when commanding multiple constructs. And, of course, it’s a significant historical artifact, so treat it with care.”
Both Gawain and Audrey received their relics. The last remaining artifact was Ian’s.
“Now then, let’s unveil the final one.”
Without hesitation, Estevan removed the purple cloth.
Lying within was a hexagonal red gemstone, glowing as though a flame were about to burst from within.
“This is the Ruby of Levate, said to have emerged from beyond the defensive lines long ago. Its entire body was wreathed in flames, leaving only ashes in its wake. They say even meeting its gaze could sear flesh. That lingering power remains within this gem—when wielding fire-based abilities, it amplifies the damage inflicted upon enemies.
Its downside, however, is the risk of mental corruption due to its origin as a byproduct of a magical beast.”
Estevan shrugged.
“But I doubt that would be a problem for the heir of the Berger family, known for wielding Annihilation.”
Ian rolled the ruby in his palm, satisfied with its luster.
As a test, he conjured a small flame while holding it—and the output was noticeably stronger.
Where before the flame would have sparked with a soft fwoosh, now it roared to life with a whoosh.
It seemed to synergize well with Frey, the ring he had inherited from his father, Granod Berger.
“With that, you’ve all received your rewards. To be frank, these artifacts aren’t quite equal in value to the Angel’s Key, the Holy Spear Rease.
Because of this, the Inoria Foundation has decided to grant you access to the Demium Workshop’s Relic Shop.”
“For real?”
Audrey was the most visibly shocked.
“Yes, for real. Do you think I’d joke about this? You’ll be given an exclusive access code, and as long as you have the funds, you can purchase relics at any time. Additionally, we accept trade-ins, so if you recover artifacts during future expeditions—or acquire any through other means—we hope you’ll consider selling them to us.
And… I have one more personal request.”
Estevan trailed off, glancing around at the group.
“You must have found some items belonging to the Foundation’s expedition team at the ruins.”
“……”
“I’m not asking you to return them for free. They’re not artifacts, but many of them are still enchanted and quite useful. We’d like to reclaim them, and we’re prepared to pay for them. Would you be willing to hand them over?”
Ian didn’t hesitate for long. He retrieved a bracelet from his wrist, along with a few other items.
Estevan nodded slightly in appreciation as he accepted them.
“Thank you, valued customer.”
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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