Chapter 66 …
Erenor’s steps came to a stop, and he turned around.
“…The cursed sword?”
“Yes. Since it hadn’t been fully purified, there was no one suitable to take it. So it ended up with me. I imagine it’s just sitting in the basement of my house, gathering dust.”
Step by step, my feet stirred up dust on the stairs, sparkling as it disappeared.
He remained silent as I descended, then lifted the corner of his mouth.
“It seems my training was insufficient. To lift a curse that has lasted several hundred years was too much for me. Perhaps, if I continue to train and grow stronger, even that sword could return to being an ordinary blade.”
I slightly activated the power of purification. The dust floating around glimmered, softly illuminating the area like the light of dawn.
“Oh, was that a boring story? Then let me tell you a more recent one. The marquis who handed me that sword… is dead. So there was truly no one to take it. A pity, really. That sword had a magnificent appearance.”
Erenor took a step forward. The staircase was long.
“Do you want to know why he died?”
I didn’t smile. Since Erenor was looking away, I didn’t need to worry about controlling my expression.
“No… it’s fine. What I really wanted to know was where that legendary sword ended up.”
“I see… Then may I ask why you’re curious about it?”
“Well, I’ve always had a hobby of collecting weapons. That’s why.”
A lie. A hobby for collecting weapons? He just wants that cursed sword, nothing else.
I instinctively tried to smile, then stopped. Instead, I kept my voice cheerful as I continued speaking.
“So that’s why you’re so knowledgeable about weapons.”
“Yeah… I suppose. But more importantly, are you leaving that cursed sword in the basement?”
“Yes. If anyone other than me touches it, they will surely be cursed. Even if the curse has weakened, this sword has fed on blood for hundreds of years. I cannot leave such a cursed blade anywhere.”
“You haven’t considered sealing it?”
“Unfortunately, the Empire forbids research into ‘sealing.’ There are no experts in sealing, nor are there any ancient texts or artifacts on the subject.”
Erenor revealed his true feelings.
“That’s genuinely unfortunate. Hmm… there are many masters of sealing in Senta. I know one personally. Shall I introduce them?”
His manner of negotiating was irresistibly cute, like watching a child run an errand for the first time.
“I’d be happy, but… unfortunately, there’s no way to cross from Senta to the Empire, so it’s hopeless.”
“Then the role of the saint this time is critical. If the truce negotiations go well, trade routes will open, and the friend I introduced could come to the Empire to be of great help.”
I smiled, since he could see my profile as we walked side by side.
“That’s right. I may have many weaknesses, but… I will remain faithful to my duty until the end.”
“Even if it costs you your life?”
“Yes. Even if I die.”
A lie. I wouldn’t risk death over some mission that doesn’t even exist.
Most cult leaders are like class president elections. Until they’re chosen, they make absurd promises like building stores or installing vending machines. Once chosen, they ignore everything.
Step.
My foot hit the ground.
“We’ve arrived. I’ve never been this far, so be careful.”
Erenor’s words sparked a question in my mind. He seemed very familiar with the World Tree. Even I, a veteran player, didn’t know much about it…
‘Is it because he’s an elf?’
I asked casually.
“Have you ever entered inside the World Tree before, Erenor?”
“Yes. There’s a famous legend about treasures inside the World Tree. So, well… I came to check it out. But last time, there was definitely a barrier here.”
He moved a few steps ahead of me. There stood the monument we had seen earlier.
“Is there a way to get inside this?”
…No.
I had never entered the World Tree in-game, and I didn’t even know the first barrier with Kalebrin and Austin Gerard existed.
But I couldn’t turn back now. I couldn’t let this perfect opportunity slip away. I had even staged a self-kidnapping to ensure I wouldn’t be sent back here.
The abundance of barriers was unexpected.
“Do you know what’s written on the monument?”
“Of course. ‘Those from the outside, return. Those who remember what has been forgotten, enter.’ I didn’t think my memory was poor, so it seems there’s some condition to be met to enter.”
Erenor mimed as if there were an invisible wall. He didn’t appear to be one who ‘remembers what has been forgotten.’
‘Remember what has been forgotten… Wait, this is similar to the three riddles in Astropolis.’
I forced my trembling hands to calm down. If I couldn’t enter here, I’d have to remake all my plans.
I quietly reached out. My slender hands, middle and index fingers first, passed through the air.
Yes. I ‘passed through.’ It wasn’t blocked.
“…!”
I felt Erenor’s surprise beside me. I stepped forward, scanning the air. Arm, torso, heel—I entered the barrier.
“This one’s really amusing. When we return, tell me what was forgotten and what treasure was inside.”
“Yes, I will.”
I released the power of purification, casting light, and stepped into the darkness.
I walked for a while. In the pitch-black, I lost all sense of time. It felt like hours had passed.
Then I noticed another light.
A bluish glow flickered ahead—it seemed to be the main area.
I could hear running water, and the scent of trees from a deep forest. Something that wouldn’t exist in a game.
‘If this were a game, walking this long without light would get complaints…’
Soon, I was blocked by hanging leaves and vines. I brushed them aside and ducked to enter.
‘Oh…’
A large chamber appeared. Light streamed through a clear ceiling, angled into the room. Dust floated in the air, sparkling in the light.
Splash. Cold water seeped into my shoes.
‘Yikes.’
The water surface was covered with aquatic plants, like duckweed, so I’d thought it was grass.
‘Gross.’
Who knows what was in the water, maybe holes. But I had no choice but to continue, stepping in with my other foot.
Above, marble slabs were partially destroyed, entangled with vines.
Scattered marble statues were cracked, some missing upper bodies.
‘Was this once a temple?’
Passing the statues, I gauged their size. They were massive—roughly three times my height.
From afar, faces were unclear, but up close, I could only see their chins. I’d need a closer look later.
‘Statues of forgotten gods?’
Counting the damaged ones, there were about ten. Considering Greek and Roman mythology has dozens of gods per generation, ten is modest.
I waded through the water. A glowing area lay ahead, like a deserted island.
‘Places like that always have something. That’s basic game logic.’
Despite this world not being a game, the framework was similar. Even my status screen resembled a game UI.
The water never rose above my thighs—thankfully. Likely a mismanaged underground water system.
Thud. My wet clothes felt heavy, but I didn’t feel heat or cold.
On a raised platform, a clean book lay untouched, unlike the shattered monument nearby.
Opening it, I found an unfamiliar language, similar to the monument. Sadly, I couldn’t read ancient texts.
‘Just reading and writing this much is lucky enough. Elves can barely read this, too. No way I can understand it just by staring.’
I flipped through the short book. Nothing important. Without illustrations, it seemed useless.
‘Kalebrin or Erenor might get something from this.’
I tucked the book under my arm and explored further. Another path extended inward, previously hidden by overgrown vines.
‘That’s definitely where the quest is. The route seems like it leads to a boss room. I should check my equipment and skill tree before heading there.’
I’d take the book later to avoid water damage. I returned it to the platform and moved to another room.
Here, unlike before, the space was neither grand nor mysterious.
‘Snake statue…?’
Earlier, the first statue was white marble, decorated with gold. This one was plain stone.
‘Wait, did something move just now?’
A boss fight? Really a boss fight?
I tensed immediately.
I remembered leaving my sword (codename) at home since Kalebrin, Cardil, Yelena, and Austin Gerard were supposed to be present.
‘It would’ve just been one swing anyway, but I should have brought it…!’
I ran. The water slowed my speed, though.
Boom…
Wait, this is really a boss fight? With no preparation?
‘Soloing a boss as a priest? Have you no shame, cursed game developers…!’
The waves hit my legs hard. The snake statue reacted.
Bright yellow eyes erupted from its cracked body. Cracks spread along its tail, fragments falling into the water.
Boom!
Stones fell like shells. Before the dust settled, a light green form opened its mouth wide, fangs bigger than my forearm.
A tearing wind sounded.
‘…!’
I turned toward the sound—but it was too late.
Its gaping mouth filled my vision.
A massive shadow loomed over me.
