Chapter 126
"Is it changing shape?"
The color of Hersion imbued with Theia's authority changed from gray to a black hue similar to that of Bahamut. Furthermore, the armor that resembled a regular full-plate perfectly conformed to Sieg's body, enhancing his range of movement.
『Form transformation is complete.』
『15 out of 28 grand magic arrays have been activated.』
『The inherited special ability 'Shield' from the original Meteoric Iron set is registered in the ??? armor.』
『16 out of 29 grand magic arrays have been activated.』
『An authentication code is necessary to activate all functions of the armor.』
『Proceed to the designated area to activate the authentication code.』
Simultaneously, a quest window appeared.
―Achievement Quest (Advanced Mission)―
『Locate the Temple of the Moon Goddess Theia and acquire the authentication code. (No time limit)』
『Quest Mission Reward: Title, Blessing of Theia』
"Blessing of Theia, huh."
Having gained the unique class of Immortal from the Blessing of the Ancient Dragon, Sieg was intrigued by the allure of a title bestowed by a Goddess.
Sieg checked the coordinates marked for activating the authentication code on the map.
He frowned at what he saw.
"This is... isn't it right in the middle of the capital of the Rom Empire?"
The capital, Rom, was ruled by the Mad Emperor. Although the continental war hadn't erupted yet, making entry into Rom feasible, the Draker family's relationship with the Rom Empire was strained due to the exile of Carus.
"Still, it's probably best to go to Rom before the continental war breaks out."
Sieg decided to use a mission as an excuse to plan a trip to Rom later. Golyn noticed Sieg's examination of his new armor and commented.
"Oh, the armor changes by itself? Fascinating. Could it be due to the properties of the meteoric iron, absorbing energy?"
Golyn inspected the Hersion, looking over Sieg and nodded in satisfaction.
"It doesn't seem to have any problems. How is it moving?"
Sieg tested Hersion, moving in various directions. Unlike the previous Meteoric Iron armor, which occasionally caused slight discomfort due to its segmented plates moving with him, it now fit seamlessly.
When Sieg deactivated Hersion, it reverted to its original armored form.
Golyn wore a pleased expression.
"How about it! My skills are something else!"
Though rather eccentric, he was undoubtedly an exceptional craftsman. If Gelion, the disciple, embodied a silent artisan, Golyn, the master, exuded the aura of a genius artist.
Sieg extended his hand for a handshake.
"Thank you, Golyn."
Golyn vigorously shook Sieg's hand.
"Thanks to you, I've been inspired! Go quickly! I have to start my next creation!"
Rather than bidding a proper farewell, Golyn urged Sieg to leave his workshop in his haste to start a new project. Seeing this, Sieg shook his head slightly.
"A true eccentric."
He headed towards the village to find King Fist.
"King Fist, I must go now."
"Huh? Big brother Sieg, leaving already?"
"I'm busy."
King Fist wore the expression of someone reluctant to part. However, staying there indefinitely was not an option.
Despite his disappointment, King Fist understood Sieg's circumstances and escorted him to the Barbarian territory's boundary.
"Big brother Sieg! Make sure to visit again!"
Sieg chuckled at King Fist's continued waving even as he disappeared from view. In his past life, he never thought such fearsome Barbarians could have such straightforward personalities.
When King Fist was finally out of sight, Sieg turned to see Richmond trailing behind him.
"Richmond, what's that on your back?"
Richmond was staggering under the weight of an enormous sack.
"Ugh, these are valuable monster materials! They're things I struggled to hunt for, but around here, they were just lying around, so I picked them all up!"
Sieg clicked his tongue at Richmond's antics.
"Can you carry that all the way to Atlas?"
"Where is Atlas?"
Sieg was reminded Richmond was a Lich from 500 years ago.
'He's a dark mage; is it alright to keep him in Atlas?'
Sieg pondered. While simple summons like Gurav could be hidden in shadows, Richmond had a human-like form that allowed him to live an everyday life.
After deliberating, he decided to leave Richmond with the Syndicate for now.
'I'll summon him whenever necessary.'
He intended to use Richmond similarly to Nahuel, who stayed in a designated domain until summoned when needed. Sieg stored the monster materials Richmond carried into his inventory and headed to Richmond's former laboratory.
"Gather what you need."
Richmond piled up the research materials he had dedicated himself to for 500 years into a vast mound. Fortunately, the inventory space had expanded, allowing Sieg to comfortably store everything.
Richmond was astonished at Sieg's inventory's capacity to accommodate such a massive haul.
"I have never seen a space magic like this."
"Is there anything else?"
"No, no. That's all, master."
Sieg believed Richmond's monster research would prove beneficial against demonic beasts. Feeling a sense of pride, he guided Richmond out of the cave down into the mountain range.
At that moment, a suspicious presence caught his attention.
"Who are they?"
The Empire's Imperial hounds had appeared.
Sieg activated Hersion and summoned Bahamut, readying it for transformation.
"Richmond, display your skills now."
Sieg first transformed Richmond into a Demi-Lich and sent him outside.
Kaaaaaah!
Richmond let out an eerie cry that marked him as a high-ranking undead to any observer. As soon as he emerged, the Imperial hounds panicked.
"A m-monster!"
Richmond felt hurt by their unapologetic labeling.
"Kaaaaaah!"
In response, he intensified his magic.
Kaboom!
Black lightning unleashed by Richmond decimated the area where the Imperial hounds were stationed.
"Damn it! That's a Demi-Lich! We must retreat!"
A high-ranking undead like a Demi-Lich required a Blue Knight at minimum to challenge. As the Imperial hounds retreated, an ecstatic Richmond hurled waves of black fire at them.
Kaboom!
Far more powerful than standard fireballs, they had a devastating impact.
"Aaaah!"
The Imperial hounds were engulfed in flame, their screams echoing as they fell. Sieg conveyed a command to Richmond.
"Don't kill them all; chase the rest and find their base."
Following Sieg's instructions, Richmond turned invisible and began to shadow the fleeing Imperial hounds.
Deep in the mountain range, it seemed they had set up a series of camps. Viewing the camp through Richmond's sight, Sieg decided to infiltrate the interior to test the capabilities of his new Hersion.
"Summon monsters, Richmond."
Using magic, Richmond called forth nearby monsters toward the camp.
Rumble!
Monsters responded to Richmond's magic and began converging on the camp site.
Roar!
Minotaurs, cyclops, and other high-ranking monsters besieged the camp. Richmond's transformation into a Demi-Lich had increased his ability to control more formidable monsters.
The sudden onslaught sent the Imperial hound camp into disarray.
"Monsters are advancing!"
Even reserve troops emerged to help repel the horde.
Fighting high-tier monsters proved challenging for even the most skilled knights. Using the distraction Richmond created, Sieg stealthily infiltrated deeper into the camp.
Unlike the chaotic front held at bay by the monsters, the inner camp was quiet and unsuspecting.
Sieg moved invisibly towards the interior. He searched for traces of the 'Herald of Blood and Madness' that had provoked the Hydra.
Then he spotted something unusual.
"Is that...?"
It was a knight clad entirely in black armor—similar to the ones he saw at the Avian Race's temple. Fiend knights patrolled vigorously, blocking the path.
"What's within?"
Sieg called for Richmond to maneuver past the knights and explore the interior.
"What? If those knights attack, I'll be a goner."
"Why does a Lich worry about dying? Just do it."
Richmond couldn't defy his master's orders. Reluctantly, he edged toward the fiend knights.
Yet unexpectedly, they showed no reaction towards him.
"Huh?"
Having purified the essence of the 'Herald of Blood and Madness', Richmond apparently wasn't seen as a foe by the fiends.
Sieg took advantage of this, directing Richmond deeper into the camp, and peering through his gaze.
Unlike other temporary setups, this area revealed sturdy structures as though much effort had gone into its creation.
Before long, Sieg picked up a strange sensation at the end of a hallway.
"Richmond, check out that black door at the end of the corridor."
Richmond turned incorporeal and slipped past it into the black room.
Through Richmond's sight, Sieg was taken aback by the view inside.
"Is that...?"
Surprisingly, the room contained several artifacts emitting a similar aura to the staff holding the essence of the 'Herald of Blood and Madness'.
"Richmond, search the room."
As Richmond scanned the chamber, he discovered a map pinned to a wall.
"There's a map here, master."
The map detailed the Giant Mountains with marked points of interest. Sieg made a note of the coordinate markers on his map as well.
He discerned that the most prominently marked site was the cave where the Hydra previously resided.
"So all these marks indicate locations of power of devils-artifacts."
Sieg realized why monsters ran rampant through the Giant Mountains and why the guardian towers in Barbarian territory faced disturbances.
The spread of power of devils from these artifacts had disrupted the mountain region. Recalling the Agamemnon Fortress engulfed in demonic magic, he noted the peril.
"This place could have suffered the same fate."
Fortunately, Sieg had managed to purify the obstructed regions with divine cleansing, rendering the artifacts powerless.
He finally comprehended that the Imperial hound's presence aimed to retrieve those now-defunct artifacts.
"Richmond, can you procure those artifacts on the desk?"
Richmond shook his head.
"If I pick them up, I won't be able to pass through walls."
Deciding that the retrieval of those artifacts warranted any potential commotion, Sieg prepared himself.
"Richmond, when I break this structure, grab the artifacts and head straight out."
"Understood!"
Abruptly, Sieg shed his invisibility and charged the fiend knights.
Snap!
The fiend knights exuded demonic energy at Sieg's sudden advance.
Woom!
A purifying blade emerged from Sieg's sword.
Slash―
The purifying blade slashed through the demonic energy and the fiend knights in one swift motion.
At that moment, an alarm blared throughout the camp.
In no time, the Imperial knights would converge, spreading their confinement lattice wide.
Sieg brandished his sword towards the black door.
Woom!
Imbuing his weapon with Soul Resonance - Will of Break(破), he swung it forward.
Boom!
The sword strike charged with Will of Break obliterated the black door and walls around it.
Ensuring Richmond secured the artifacts, Sieg launched another strike imbued with Will of Break.
Boom!
Creating an escape opening, he swiftly conveyed instructions to Richmond.
"Richmond! Transform into a demonic beast!"
At his command, Richmond shifted into a dragon type monster.
Kiaaaaack!
Transforming into a Draco Lich, Richmond spread his wings and took flight.
Sieg leaped onto Richmond's back.
Kiaaaaack!
Emulating a monster, Richmond emitted a horrendous cry.
Imperial hounds aimed arrows at Sieg, who rode Richmond, while knights hurled spears.
Snap!
However, both the arrows and spears rebounded off the shield embedded within Sieg's armor.
In midair, Sieg aimed his sword at the camp.
During his work with Golyn, he had mastered the art of harnessing 'Pure Flame,' which he now showered unto the camp below.
Whirr!
As pure flames—embodying the essence of fire—rained down, the Imperial hounds and knights within the camp scurried to escape.
Yet the encroaching monsters hemmed them in, hampering any exit.
Sieg infused his will into the flames, directing them so they only encircled the camp's perimeter.
"Now, no one will know who attacked them."
He stored the artifacts Richmond collected into his inventory and swiftly exited the Giant Mountains.
The camp, enveloped in fire and monster attacks, was soon filled with the despairing cries of the Empire forces.
* * *
A few days later, Sieg arrived at the gates of the four-season castle, covered in dust.