——————
HEL SCANS
[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
——————
Chapter 171
The destination of the Hero was the laboratory of Depikio Lugo, located on the outskirts of The Great Forest.
Therefore, he instructed his colleagues to finish their respective tasks and meet in the vicinity.
He was currently heading towards the agreed meeting place.
While walking briskly, the Hero focused on recalling the contents of his diary.
According to the informant, the magical and mechanical devices protecting the laboratory were highly sophisticated and strict.
Creating magical life forms like Homunculus was not an easy task.
The value of the relevant data and materials was immeasurable.
It would be strange if the security wasn’t thorough.
After the transfer of the data was complete, the Church thoroughly concealed the laboratory.
On one page, the traitor had meticulously recorded the coordinates of the laboratory.
It was located within a few hours’ walk from the entrance of The Great Forest.
If Noubelmag had the “token,” he could easily find it.
The Hero recalled the contents of his diary once again.
All the information obtained from Depikio’s laboratory had become nourishment for the Church.
This was also why the Church could make significant advances in areas such as demon taming or indoctrination recently.
However, I suddenly had one question.
If they had taken all the relevant data, why did they just conceal the laboratory instead of destroying it? The reason was obvious.
The Church didn’t acquire everything in the laboratory.
Perhaps the countless security measures were the reason.
They left something behind due to the incompetence of the excavators.
If there was even a little time to confirm this, it would be good.
Questions were swirling in the Hero’s mind as he confirmed the contents.
‘But how on earth did the Demonic Church know about the existence of the laboratory in The Great Forest?’
If there were any relevant clues, Larze wouldn’t have missed them.
It was suspicious that they found the laboratory before anyone else, and it was also unclear how they managed to take that data outside.
‘No, it’s strange from the beginning that they could enter and leave.’
Even if it’s the outskirts, The Great Forest is under the jurisdiction of the Faerie Tribe.
The Demonic Church couldn’t have freely roamed around without their permission.
Perhaps there were “collaborators” within the Faerie Tribe who conspired with demons.
The thought made the Hero’s chest tighten.
‘…Once I get to the laboratory, there will probably be additional clues.’
That was one of the reasons for bringing Pia and Noubelmag along.
He could also get help from them in unfamiliar fields.
▼
Dig out the roots.
▲
He recalled the meaningful comment that came to mind in Iris of Laplace.
Then he soon stopped in his tracks.
It was the agreed meeting place.
“Professor!”
There was a looming shadow among the dense trees.
‘Zombie?’
The Hero almost drew his sword in an instant. …If he had, it would have been a big wound to Pia.
“Haha… Why are you so startled?”
A graduate student who seemed out of place in the lively forest weakly smiled.
Then Kasim, carrying a large bundle of herbs, appeared.
“…Kasim?”
The handsome appearance that had once been popular among Rosenstark’s female students was nowhere to be found.
His glossy hair was disheveled, and his face was covered with scruffy stubble.
His bloodshot eyes hinted at how exhausted he was.
“Oh… Professor. It’s nice to see you here… ”
The Hero couldn’t bear this question.
“Why do you all look so out of place?”
Resentful looks poured in from both sides at his words.
“Haha, I wonder who’s to blame.”
The schedule was originally generous.
Pia planned to leisurely collect and analyze herbs.
Since it might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, she was also considering sightseeing if there was spare time.
It wasn’t for nothing that her bag was bulging.
‘I wanted to see the beautiful and handsome Faerie Tribe…’
However, once the Hero joined, there was no room for leisure.
It was as if the supervisor had come to inspect the summer vacation spot for work.
Kasim also had his share of grievances.
He ended up with a much tighter sparring schedule than planned.
‘The problem was that there was only a week to face all those people.’
Morning sparring, then another one after lunch. Another one after dinner.
One last one before bed.
It greatly helped improve his skills, but honestly, Kasim was in a state where he wasn’t sure if he was awake or asleep right now.
They looked at the warrior with pitiful eyes, saying that they had suffered such hardships, and the warrior nodded his head indifferently.
“Thank you for your hard work. Just a little more hardship today.”
“…..”
“But what about Nyhill and Noubelmag?”
“It’s still difficult to lead people, leader.”
It was then, from behind, that a deep voice was heard.
Noubelmag was approaching like a blacksmith carrying his hammer.
He seemed quite exhausted as well.
A black-haired girl peeked out from behind him.
It seemed that sticking with Noubelmag was the right choice, as her expression was much better than when she left the academy.
“Have you had a safe journey, Professor?”
She approached the Hero with an almost expressionless face.
The Hero could easily detect the fingers fidgeting with delight… and the ornate accessory resembling a crown on her small head.
“Why did you all come separately?”
“We had a few tasks left. We sent the World Tree branch with the kids first.”
Noubelmag looked where the Hero’s gaze was directed and added,
“A tiara made from the first leaf that fell on New Year’s Day.”
“Why give that to Nyhill…?”
Noubelmag’s thick hand tapped Nyhill’s back.
It was a gesture to let her speak.
Nyhill awkwardly touched the tiara and then spoke up.
“It’s said to increase the resonance and affinity with spirits. I wore it as a means to awaken the spirit of the dagger.”
…It must have been quite a valuable treasure. Noubelmag added,
“It’s a gift from Mother. Anyway, if she uses that well, it won’t be long before the spirit awakens.”
“It’s good news to hear.”
“And we’ve also obtained several spirit stones, so as soon as we return, we can start making armaments for the head disciples.”
The Hero was impressed by the remarkable achievements.
However, Noubelmag shrugged indifferently, as if it were nothing.
“Anyway, we’ve roughly seen everything we needed to see. Now it’s time to hear your business. Why did you walk all the way to this distant The Great Forest?”
“…”
The momentary silence was to figure out how much should be said.
The Hero spoke up.
.
.
.
The Hero told quite a lot of things truthfully.
——————
HEL SCANS
[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
——————
“Depikio Lugo…”
The companions realized that the name was mentioned at Yussi’s investment briefing.
An unknown disciple of Zero.
Noubelmag nodded with a serious expression.
“There was indeed a time when the Demonic Church aggressively proselytized. It may be because they unearthed the legacy of the First Era.”
“According to the clues I obtained, it seems that they didn’t take everything. The remaining legacy may be stored beyond the unopened locks.”
Kasim, who seemed excited about something, chimed in.
“Do we need to delay any longer? We have an expert here. Let’s go and come back quickly.”
He seemed very pleased to be involved in the Hero’s adventure.
The Hero nodded.
He also wanted to go without delay.
But there was one thing to solve before that.
His gaze fell on the girl quietly checking the combat equipment with her reddish eyes. “Nyhill.”
“Yes.”
“You should go back now. I’ve arranged for a ship heading west to ‘Lindell’, so you can just join them.”
Nyhill’s eyes shook uncommonly.
Before she could misunderstand, the Hero added,
“You won’t be too late if you leave now.”
A resort trip.
A rare opportunity to make memories with friends.
He didn’t want to leave her out while everyone else went on the trip.
Nyhill seemed to want to say something, but soon she bowed her head and disappeared into the forest.
* * *
To make a long story short, entering the laboratory was very smooth.
When they reached the location recorded in the diary, Iris of Laplace detected magic.
Although high-level disguise magic was cast, it was useless against Zero’s Robe.
There was a happening with Noubelmag’s surprised look.
However, an excuse had already been prepared.
“…Looks like an extraordinary artifact has appeared.”
“Received it from Larze.”
Anyway, after dispelling the disguise magic, it was Noubelmag’s turn, an expert in mechanical devices, to take charge.
“The Demonic Church has laid their traps where there used to be traps.”
“Will it take long?”
“I doubt it.”
He meticulously but swiftly dismantled various traps set up by the Demonic Church.
Thanks to him, the group could enter the interior without a scratch.
Pia’s cry of surprise erupted just then.
“Eek! This is…”
The passage leading underground was filled with traces of a battle long ago.
Scattered bone fragments and fragments of celestial artifacts.
Noubelmag muttered quietly.
“These are devices that even decent knights would have trouble passing… Yet the scoundrels of the Demonic Church managed to pass through.”
As the Hero examined the traces, he realized that there had been a strong intervention from someone.
‘A high-ranking member of the Demonic Church? No, much stronger. Did the Church leader move directly?’
In any case, all the defense mechanisms were neutralized by those who passed through here about a decade or so ago.
The group safely reached the end of the passage without any threats.
That’s how they arrived at Depikio Lugo’s laboratory in the depths sooner than expected.
Noubelmag expressed his first impressions.
“It doesn’t look like it’s been left for centuries.”
The Hero nodded in agreement as he looked around.
Perhaps preservation magic had been cast, but it seemed to have been undone when the Demonic Church invaded.
‘Traces left behind for about a decade.’
The interior, plundered by the Demonic Church, was in a mess.
Glass shards buried among piles of dust.
Broken table legs and torn wallpaper strewn around.
The tall and wide bookshelves that filled two walls were all empty.
The legs of the sturdy table and the shattered pieces of wallpaper.
The two walls, entirely filled with tall and wide bookshelves, were all empty.
As Kasim, who had been looking around here and there as customary, cautiously spoke up.
“Um, Professor? It doesn’t seem like there’s anything left?”
His words were true.
It seemed like all the valuable items such as books and experimental tools were taken by the members of the Demonic Church.
The space felt desolate.
‘…There might be a hidden chamber.’
The Hero carefully looked around, extending his senses.
However, he felt nothing.
Suddenly, Pia, who had been quiet all this time, dashed forward.
Everyone was startled and looked at her.
However, Pia’s mouse-gray eyes, filled with unknown excitement, were fixed on a corner of the laboratory.
“Pia?”
Her hand groped the wall.
“So, this is…”
When she saw something on her palm, her expression brightened.
“I was right!”
She said to the puzzled group waiting for an explanation.
“This is a rare potion that changes color when water is added. It’s transparent when dry but has a sparkling characteristic when moistened. It’s completely different from natural sparkle, so I was able to recognize it.”
Upon hearing this, Kasim promptly handed her a water bottle from his waist.
Splash!
Water streamed down the wall, revealing gradually emerging letters.
Before the anointed one…
Meanwhile, the Hero was trembling after realizing something.
…To see this phrase, one must be proficient in magic.
They had to unlock the spell.
They also needed a good understanding of alchemy and mechanical devices.
They had to unlock the locks.
They needed to be skilled in martial arts as well.
They had to fight in the passage.
They also needed to be adept in alchemy.
They had to recognize the secret markings.
As far as the Hero knew, such a being was extremely rare.
They just happened to have the right party composition to uncover the secret.
But…
‘Would a typical alchemist, wizard, blacksmith, and martial artist form a party to come here?’
If so, could Depikio Lugo be none other than… someone who could do all of this, a “Doppelganger”, hoping to come here?
It seemed like an absurd speculation, but the Hero couldn’t stop thinking about it.
.
.
.
Woooooo-
…Until a portal appeared in front of them.
——————
HEL SCANS
[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
——————
