------------------
HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
------------------
Chapter 174
Step, step.
A man moves forward, relying on a single torch in a forest where even an inch ahead is barely visible.
At any moment, a monster or a wild beast, wandering in search of prey, could suddenly appear.
He could trip over an exposed tree root or a rock that he failed to notice.
It would be natural for his senses to be heightened in anticipation of any potential threats, yet the man remains indifferent.
Rather than scanning his surroundings in unease, he appears to have complete confidence in his own safety.
Swish—
A dozen or so monsters approach the man.
The light of a lone torch in the darkness is far more visible than one might expect, drawing them toward it.
Perhaps assured by their numbers, they make no effort to conceal themselves.
Branches and leaves crunch under their feet as they shuffle closer, yet they do not stop. The man, too, continues walking as if nothing is amiss.
Grrrr?
The monsters exchange glances, puzzled by the man's composed stride as if he were merely a part of nature itself. But before long, they dismiss their doubts and lunge at him, eager to take even a single bite.
Krraaagh!
With a beast-like roar, the monsters charge forward. The man casually tilts his head to look at them, and at the same moment, the sword at his waist draws itself.
Srring!
Though the man remains motionless, his sword trembles in the air, leaving behind streaks of blue light.
Slash!
One by one, the monsters’ limbs are severed.
The blade is so sharp that their thick hides and bones offer no resistance.
Without the slightest pause or obstruction, the sword slices through them as easily as if chopping vegetables.
Siiing!
Movements distinct from conventional swordsmanship unfold. In an instant, the surroundings are filled with the corpses of monsters.
The man glances down at a grotesque head that has rolled to his feet. His expression remains unreadable, devoid of any emotion.
As the sword, having finished its task, returns to him, he grabs it and sheathes it before continuing on his way.
“……”
Any ordinary mercenary would have taken at least one magic stone, yet the man shows no interest in such trivial things.
After walking for some time, he climbs a hill and spots a light in the distance. Approaching it, he sees a group of mercenaries gathered around a campfire.
As the man draws near, the mercenaries, who had been staring at him, quickly rise to their feet. However, they do not draw their weapons. Instead, they lower their heads, showing deference as if greeting a superior.
“You’ve returned early today, Brother.”
“I told you, I’m your commander.”
“Ah, it still doesn’t come naturally.”
The man chuckles softly. He understands—if he lets his guard down, he, too, might slip and call them Brother.
Though dressed as mercenaries, there is something undeniably awkward about them. From the perspective of a seasoned mercenary, they feel out of place.
The roughness and bluntness typical of mercenaries are absent in them. But that hardly matters.
Unless someone deliberately gets close and engages them in conversation, it’s unlikely they will notice anything suspicious.
They have done their best to blend in, ensuring that even if they are noticed, no one will find them odd. But their time here is drawing to an end.
“You seem to be in good spirits. Did you bring good news?”
“We have confirmed Ian Berger’s exact location.”
“Is that true!?”
"I wasn’t trying to find out, but… rumors were spreading. They say a labyrinth was discovered at the ruins the Berger family is excavating, and they put out a notice looking for guides. But that notice was taken down right away. Apparently, it’s already closed."
"Ian Berger, they must have hired him."
The man nodded but soon asked again as if he found it odd.
"But is he really the one you were talking about, Morning Star? Black hair, red eyes, a swordsman who wields fire and is rude. There must be a few others who fit those conditions."
One thing was certain—he was a member of the Berger family. But it was impossible to confirm his identity.
It was nothing more than vague speculation. The man who was asked the question smiled as if it was an obvious answer.
"Would it be a problem even if he isn’t, Brother?"
"It wouldn’t. We’ll just kill them all until we confirm it’s him."
"That’s right. This is a holy war. The Morning Star of the Night Sky is watching over us, Brother. Do not doubt the path we must take."
"My faith remains unchanged."
"Then what is there to worry about? This is a holy war, Brother. The Morning Star has personally given all of us a revelation, and we need only follow it. If we gather and call upon their name, the stars shall descend."
"My faith remains unchanged."
"Then what concerns you?"
"It’s just a shame that many will die in this matter. They were meant to become our brothers in the future."
At those words, the man dressed as a mercenary grinned.
"It is unfortunate, but it is a noble sacrifice. They simply weren’t chosen. But… who knows? The Morning Star may show mercy and accept them on the spot."
"We won’t know until the moment comes."
"That’s right. For now, let’s inform the other brothers as soon as dawn breaks. If we are to eradicate the heretic the Morning Star spoke of, we must all gather."
* * *
The carriage, which had been moving at a steady pace, gradually came to a stop. They had arrived at their destination.
Ian, who had been dozing off, opened his eyes at the sound of the door opening. Standing outside was Marie, clad in the armor of a Red Spear Knight.
"Young Master, we’re here. Get out."
Stretching once, Ian stepped out of the carriage and looked around.
"Huh, looks like they were pretty serious about this excavation."
The atmosphere of the dig site was far more intriguing than he had expected.
It was unclear whose tomb it was, but at a glance, it was evident that this was no ordinary burial mound.
The scale was massive. Deep excavation marks formed a circular pattern around the center, with tents set up above them.
The remnants of what had once been grand pillars lay scattered in disarray.
Ian headed inside to take a look around the excavation site.
Mael and Marie, both Red Spear Knights, followed closely to guard him.
"Whose tomb do you think it is?"
"A noble or a royal, maybe?"
"That much is obvious, little brother. Look at the scale of this place. What commoner could have a tomb like this?"
"Maybe it belonged to a wealthy tycoon."
"That tycoon would have been a noble or a royal."
"Then a mercenary or an adventurer?"
"That’s possible. If so, there might be even more useful artifacts buried here. What era do you think it’s from? Teramin?"
"Rogolrod, I’d say. Doesn’t it have a rough feel to it?"
"Then could it be Eyar? Or is that too ancient?"
The twins exchanged their opinions, but with so little information available, they seemed uncertain.
As the two continued debating, unable to reach the correct answer, Ian glanced back at them. A question immediately followed.
“What do you think, Young Master?”
“Is this a ruin from Rogolrod or Eyar?”
They were clearly hoping for a definitive answer. Ian answered indifferently.
“Neither. This is built in the style of the Xail Empire.”
At a glance, it was far from the rough craftsmanship of the Rogolrod era. It certainly wasn’t from the Teramin period, either. And the Eyarians never used foundation stones.
“See those foundation stones? They’re circular. That means it’s from the Xail Empire. Octagonal stones belong to Teramin, square ones to Rogolrod. Eyarians didn’t use any at all.”
“Hm.”
“Huh.”
Ian smirked at the twins’ reactions.
Since it was a field he was well-versed in, he was willing to explain in detail if they wanted. But it seemed they were only curious about the era.
They didn’t look particularly eager to learn more.
If they showed interest, he wouldn’t mind elaborating, but talking unnecessarily would only make things awkward. So, he naturally fell silent and took in his surroundings.
“Hey, don’t forget to pack everything properly!”
“Those are valuable! They’re imbued with magic, so be careful and thorough!”
The archaeologists were tidying up their tools—shovels, pickaxes, and brushes—as if they were about to leave. The site was bustling with activity.
As Ian walked by, people who noticed the Berger emblem on his chest nodded their heads in greeting. He returned their gestures with a familiar nod and continued forward.
“But, Young Master, is it really okay for us to wander around like this?”
“Why wouldn’t it be? This is my family’s excavation site.”
Ian replied casually.
Though he was the youngest with no real authority, the fact that he was a direct descendant meant no one could recklessly interfere.
Not only the workers but even the Red Spear Knights on guard duty acknowledged Ian with a slight bow as soon as their eyes met.
His presence here indicated that he wasn’t an outsider but someone directly involved.
As he walked, Ian observed the remnants of the excavation. Scattered among the debris were broken artifacts, once part of everyday life in the distant past.
There were ornate swords, scabbards, and lavish ornaments, yet none seemed to hold any magical energy.
They were merely relics of historical value.
However, the Red Spear Knights remained on guard because among the unearthed artifacts, there could be items imbued with extraordinary power.
“Oh.”
Ian turned his attention to the center of the site. Two Red Spear Knights stood guard at the entrance of a staircase leading downward.
They recognized Ian and immediately stepped aside to let him through, but there was no real need to go down.
From where he stood, everything was clearly visible. Deep within the pit, a partially unearthed structure was emerging from the reddish soil.
Intricate patterns, buried beneath the dirt for centuries, were etched into the exposed walls. Beyond them, an arched doorway stood.
It was just wide enough for a large person to barely squeeze through.
Ian chuckled as he looked at it.
“For something put together in a hurry, it’s well made.”
------------------
HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
------------------
