Chapter 118
'So, they were sent by Duke Graham.'
Sieg remembered passing on information about the ancient sorcerer who cursed Angelina to Duke Graham.
However, upon listening to the story, Sieg realized a problem—the ancient sorcerer was not in the dungeon he had informed them about.
The timing had not matched up since Sieg had captured him. To apprehend the ancient sorcerer, Duke Graham had mobilized not only his knights but also experienced adventurers well-versed in dungeon explorations.
Rick continued the conversation.
"We've heard that there's a sinister dark mage nearby and wanted to verify if it's the sorcerer Duke Graham is searching for."
Upon hearing this, Richmond, who had been quite subtle and focused on his research in his dungeon filled with monster bones, felt insulted. He was offended at being mistaken for a malevolent sorcerer casting evil curses.
'Master! I am by no means some lowly sorcerer who dabbles in such vile sorcery!'
Richmond protested, ensuring only Sieg could hear him.
'Yes, I know, so stay calm.'
Sieg reassured him, then addressed Rick, "Unfortunately, there is no such sorcerer here. Richmond thoroughly examined every inch but found no traces."
Disappointment spread across the faces of Rick and his group.
"Is that so? We've scoured countless dungeons searching, but we can't ascertain his whereabouts."
Sieg pondered over their words.
'Hmm, they seem like skillful adventurers. If used correctly, they might be quite beneficial.'
"Rick, coincidentally, I have some information regarding a sinister sorcerer. I'm unsure if it's the one you're seeking, but there might be a connection."
Sieg proceeded to share information capable of aiding in their pursuit, information he had obtained in his past life before hunting down the ancient sorcerer.
Jason, the mage, diligently noted Sieg's words.
After listening, jason nodded.
"Ah, it might not be in the Barbarian territory but could possibly be up north."
"Sorcerers are different from dark mages and are said to usually seek traces of forgotten ancient gods or malevolent spirits to find the eldritch remnants left there."
Rick acknowledged Sieg's insights with a nod.
"Makes sense. We'll go to the place you mentioned and search for the sorcerer's traces."
"If you do find signs of the sorcerer, do not confront him—reach out to Duke Graham immediately. You risk falling under an ancient, malevolent curse if you aren't cautious,"
Sieg warned sternly. Rick and his entourage nodded in agreement.
After spending a night at the campsite, they set off early at sunrise down the mountain range.
"Thank you for your help, Sieg. Next time we meet, we will undoubtedly repay your kindness."
"I hope you succeed in finding the sorcerer's traces."
As Rick's group descended the mountain, Sieg, looking on briefly, accompanied Richmond back up towards the Barbarian territory.
While climbing, Sieg inquired as if something dawned on him, "Richmond, have you ever heard of something called 'Abyss'?"
Richmond shook his head, "No, master. What is that?"
"Never mind, I just wondered. Then, you don't know what the 'Book of the Dead' is either, right?"
"Ah, that I know."
His response surprised Sieg.
"Really? You actually know?"
Richmond found Sieg's reaction bewildering, "Yes, I do... Is it forbidden knowledge?"
"No, there's no reason it should be. Tell me what you know about the Book of the Dead."
Richmond, pleased to have Sieg's attention, began explaining with a confident smile, "Most ordinary folks wouldn't be aware of it."
"Skip the small talk, give me a concise breakdown."
"Yes, Sir. The Book of the Dead is, in one word, a tome left behind by the Demon King for humanity."
"A book written by the Demon King? Tell me more."
Richmond, noting the contradiction in being asked for both brevity and details, grumbled internally.
"I can hear you grumbling."
"Gasp! My apologies, master."
Richmond composed himself before continuing the explanation.
"You've heard of the legend of Hero King Kaiser, haven't you?"
Not only had Sieg heard of him, but he was also a person who had been directly trained in swordsmanship by Kaiser himself. He nodded without showing it.
Richmond quickly continued, "Do you know the story of how King Kaiser sealed the Demon King?"
"I haven't heard of that."
While training under the spiritual tutelage of Kaiser, various tales were shared but nothing about the Demon King was mentioned.
Richmond nodded and explained further, "It's not a widely known story. To be precise, the achievements were more of 'Sage', who could be considered Kaiser's father."
"The Sage?"
"Yes, you likely know that Kaiser was of mixed blood, being half-human and half-fairy from the Sage and the Fairy King's unions."
"Yes, although I wasn't fond of it."
Noting Sieg's indifference, Richmond continued, "Kaiser was created by the Fairy King and the Sage specifically to thwart the Demon King."
"Wait, are you saying they didn't have Kaiser out of love but created him?"
"The fairies are not worldly beings, so how could they share love with a human? The Fairy King used the Sage's power to infuse their strength into a being. The Sage entrusted Kaiser, imbued with their powers, to the Fire-breathing Wolf King to raise him as a hero."
"The storybooks I read stated he was abandoned as a baby due to an evil mage and raised by wolves."
"Huh? Do you really think the Sage would carelessly lose someone as precious as a hero?"
Thinking about it, Sieg realized Richmond's explanation made more sense.
Due to its complexity, he never dared ask Kaiser directly about his family history, which was why such details were absent even in the recorded chronicles that Kaiser left behind.
The chronicles primarily contained stories of how Kaiser established the Kingdom of Kronos, and how he gathered his allies.
"So when the Demon King led the demons to invade realms when the kingdom of humans was established under Kaiser's rule, they were stopped?"
"Hold on, demons? I thought they're nothing but make-believe to scare children."
Richmond looked at Sieg in disbelief.
"Demons, just a figment? Then how do you think dark mages learn dark magic?"
"By exploiting corrupted souls and forbidden arts, I assume."
"And that method was taught by the demons."
"What?"
Sieg, astonished by this newfound information, was even more incredulous than Richmond.
"The one who created all methods of manipulating corrupted souls, including dark magic I just mentioned, is the Demon King. The demons served as his minions, seducing humans to spread such dark magic throughout the material world."
"Why target humans specifically?"
"Well, humans are probably the easiest to tempt?"
"Makes sense."
"The promise of easy strength by offering their souls to demons led to a surge in dark mages. Ultimately, they even performed rituals to summon demons into this world."
"Crazy bastards."
"The demons, brought into this world by dark mages, created chaos by spawning demonic beasts. By the time Kaiser sought to stop it, it was already too late. The Demon King descended here eventually."
"Why wasn't this widely passed down in later generations?"
"Uh, well, back when I was in the material world, it wasn't a secret...,"
Richmond hesitated, unsure.
"Regardless of the secrecy back then, how did it end?"
"The Demon King was too powerful to enter this reality just like that. He needed a strong physical body. Only one such living being could bear the Demon King's power."
"And that is?"
"The dragon."
"What?"
"Only the fallen body of a dragon can withstand the Demon King's power."
Richmond elaborated further, "Even with a dragon's body, totally harnessing the Demon King's power was challenging. Thus, he created a book to contain it—known as the Book of the Dead, or its actual name, the 'Necronomicon'."
"And this book exists?"
"Considering it's from the era of the hero King Kaiser, some details might be exaggerated. While it's a legendary tale, perhaps parts may hold truth?"
"Hmm..."
As someone personally taught swordsmanship by the legendary King Kaiser, Sieg knew not every legend was mere fiction.
Sieg asked Richmond, "Has anyone ever sought out this Necronomicon?"
"While it's an intriguing legend, no one truly believed the book existed. Even if they did, it would be beyond their control. Alongside the tales of the King in Yellow, it remains a secretive legend among dark mages..."
"Enough, so you're saying the Sage managed to seal the Demon King eventually?"
"Yes, the Sage, Kaiser, and the Clock Tower's knights united to seal the Demon King. In doing so, the Sage sacrificed his own soul."
"Where was the Demon King sealed?"
"Where else would it be? Inside the Necronomicon. It's said the souls of both the Sage and the Demon King are bound within."
Thanks to Richmond, Sieg uncovered an unanticipated lead about the Book of the Dead.
'Is the Abyss planning to locate that book for unsealing the Demon King's imprisonment?'
The very notion of the Demon King's seal felt too much like an ancient myth, rendering it abstract to him.
Even if it was within the realms of reality, Sieg questioned its purpose, 'Wouldn't releasing the Demon King serve no real purpose today?'
'Releasing the Demon King could be just a legend unlike the hero King.'
Not all legends are based on actual events, so it was possible fame gave rise to exaggerations.
'I need to capture those Abyss operatives to get a clearer understanding.'
Anyway, with a thread to pull at, it served as a solid lead to pursue.
While immersed in discussions and contemplation with Richmond, Sieg was heading steadfastly toward the Barbarian territory.
Given the number of monsters Sieg had dealt with the previous day, Richmond's spells did nothing to attract them.
Sieg clicked his tongue, lamenting the loss of potential points.
Richmond cautiously asked, "Master, have the monsters wronged you in some past life? Why so eager to face them..."
Suddenly, Sieg's senses detected something amiss.
'This energy... demonic beasts?'
Leaving Richmond behind, he dashed towards the presence of demonic energy.
Swoosh!
Watching Sieg gracefully leap from branch to branch, Richmond was wide-eyed in shock. "W-wait for me, master!"
* * *
Rawr!
Huge demonic beasts charged toward the Barbarians.
"Roarrrr!"
In response, the Barbarians let out war cries louder than the beasts themselves and charged wielding massive hammers.
Boom!
The hammers dealt heavy blows onto the demonic beasts.
Crash!
Despite being hit and sent flying into rocks, demonic beasts didn't shatter as other monsters would under such impact.
Crick-crack—
Their splintered bodies reassembled, jaws agape, revealing razor-sharp teeth.
A particularly large and burly Barbarian stepped forward.
"King Fist!"
The warrior King Fist of the Boulder tribe made his appearance, standing before the demonic beasts with a fist the size of an average Barbarian's head.
"Die!"
He pummeled the demonic beasts with his fists.
Pow-pow-pow!
The demonic beasts, further damaged than when struck by the hammers, oozed black fluid as they fell.
Though slowly, their recovery was progressing but at a lesser pace than before.
King Fist turned to his fellow Barbarian warriors, "Too many beasts. Need to retreat."
A few warriors got riled up in protest.
"Scaredy-cat?"
King Fist gritted his teeth, glaring at another Barbarian warrior.
"Want to die?"
As the Barbarians squabbled, the demonic beasts arose rejuvenated.
With battle cries, King Fist and the Barbarians once again surged forward.
While tangled in combat, a powerful beam of light suddenly descended from above.
Boom, boom, boom, boom!
The blow of light was Sieg's Hammer of Light directly striking the demonic beasts.
Skreeee!
As the demonic beasts stepped back in confusion, recoiling from the dispersed demonic energy, Sieg swung his Aura Blade at them.
Swoosh!
Observing the mysterious figure decimating the demonic beasts, the Barbarians looked at Sieg in bewilderment.
Suddenly, King Fist, who had been assessing the situation, raised his fist and shouted, "Sieg!"
Recognizing the raised fist of King Fist, Sieg turned around.
"King Fist?"
With arms outstretched in joy, King Fist rushed toward Sieg as the latter attempted to decapitate yet another demonic beast.
"Forgot? I'm older, so it's big bro."
"Ah."