"Master Lloyd, do you plan on going inside the cave?"
"Of course," Lloyd answered as he looked up at the sky.
There wasn't a cloud in the sky. Therefore, the sun should have been scorching everything under it. However, the place was completely absent of sunlight and they were instead besieged by dreary shadows. What a foreboding place this is. Lloyd unwittingly shrugged.
The Plogia Gorge turned out to be narrower and deeper than what he had pictured in mind.
So it was extremely difficult for the sun to reach the bottom of the gorge. It looks like this place was out of the sun for tens of thousands of years. Damp moss and unknown mushrooms carpeted the rocks, and not a single blade of grass grew in between the cracks.
It was especially so at the dungeon entrance Lloyd was looking at.
"But it is still dangerous. Like I have told you countless times over the past few days."
Javier's distinct cold and dry voice pierced into Lloyd's ears.
"Master Lloyd, it is not too late to go back. Again, we are dealing with a sorcerer."
"It would be better to gear up in the fiefdom first and come back here afterward."
"Master Lloyd?" Javier called again.
"Yes."
"Are you listening to me?" Javier inquired.
"No. You're talking to a wall."
Lloyd, still looking at the entrance, spoke. "By chance, are you a parrot? You've been hitting me over the head with the same warning ever since we left the village."
"When did I…"
"What do you mean, when? You've been harping on me nonstop. Master Lloyd, it's dangerous. Master Lloyd, it's reckless. Master Lloyd, it cannot be done. Master Lloyd, you hide. I will count. No, not the last one. Anyway…"
Lloyd wrinkled his nose.
"Your opinion. I don't like it."
"How so?"
Javier shot back with a question right away.
Lloyd immediately answered him.
"Because you're trying hard to hide the uncomfortable truth."
"Excuse me?"
"You won't be able to deny what I'm about to say."
Lloyd turned around and faced Javier. Javier's eyes trembled for a second as Lloyd's gaze bore into him.
"Javier. No, Sir Asrahan. Let me ask you a question. Let's say I do what you say, and we return here after properly gearing up at the fiefdom."
"Yes."
"What do you think will happen to the soldiers in there? They'll all die, right?"
"That's…"
"Right?"
"Yes…It is likely that they will." Javier nodded reluctantly.
The corners of Lloyd's lips rose. But it looked bitter.
"Yes, that will happen. That's the uncomfortable truth you and I both know. But you made a judgment in your head. The successor of the fiefdom must not be put in danger to save some soldiers. Am I right?"
"Master Lloyd, I…"
"You don't have to explain yourself. I accept that your judgment is reasonable. But it's a different story when we know how to bypass the magic circles in the dungeon."
"Excuse me?"
What now? Javier's eyes narrowed.
"Do you already have a plan for getting through them?"
"Yeah. I think we can use the Asrahan Core Technique," announced Lloyd.
"That technique, Young Master?"
"Yes." Lloyd nodded.
Lloyd recalled The Knight of Blood and Iron in his head. Javier, you used the technique in the dungeon a few years after you became the sword master. The Javier in the story was much more seasoned than the current knight. With all the experience he had accumulated, he efficiently passed through the defensive magic circles and conquered the dungeon.
He did so by using the mana absorption skill in the Asrahan Core Technique. Thinking of the very method future Javier employed in the story, Lloyd said, "Hey, have you ever chomped the mana in the air using the Asrahan Core Technique?"
"Chomped the mana?"
"Absorbed them."
"Yes, of course," Javier answered. "I do it regularly every day."
"You bet you are. It's the same for me, too. It's a great training exercise because it can be done anywhere at any time," Lloyd replied.
It was true, and for that reason, Lloyd used the Asrahan Core Technique every time he had the chance. He absorbed the natural mana spread in the air and amplified it just by a hair's breadth, so no one would notice. This method proved to be an excellent training exercise.
"How do you feel when you absorb the mana in the air?"
"Well…"
Javier thought for a second and answered,
"I feel at peace."
"Peace? How so?"
"I presume it is because there is always an equal amount of mana in the air."
"I know, right?"
"Yes."
"That was true as well as the mana dispersed in the air was always uniform. It was rare for the mana to be clotted together or non-existent in one area so Lloyd and Javier absorbed an equal amount of mana into their circles.
"Exactly. It's always uniform, just like when we breathe in air. But think about it. How would it feel if you used the same technique and absorbed the mana around the hidden magic circles?"
"Eh? Of course, that would…Oh." Javier's expression changed.
He gazed at Lloyd in realization.
"Javier, No. Sir Asrahan. Let me ask you a question. Let's say I do what you say, and we return here after properly gearing up at the fiefdom."
"Yes."
"What do you think will happen to the soldiers in there? They'll all die, right?"
"That's…"
"Right?"
"Yes…It is likely that they will." Javier nodded reluctantly.
The corners of Lloyd's lips rose. But it looked bitter.
"Yes, that will happen. That's the uncomfortable truth you and I both know. But you made a judgment in your head. The successor of the fiefdom must not be put in danger to save some soldiers. Am I right?"
"Master Lloyd, I…"
"You don't have to explain yourself. I accept that your judgment is reasonable. But it's a different story when we know how to bypass the magic circles in the dungeon."
"Excuse me?"
What now? Javier's eyes narrowed.
"Do you already have a plan for getting through them?"
"Yeah. I think we can use the Asrahan Core Technique," announced Lloyd.
"That technique, Young Master?"
"Yes." Lloyd nodded.
Lloyd recalled The Knight of Blood and Iron in his head. Javier, you used the technique in the dungeon a few years after you became the sword master. The Javier in the story was much more seasoned than the current knight. With all the experience he had accumulated, he efficiently passed through the defensive magic circles and conquered the dungeon.
He did so by using the mana absorption skill in the Asrahan Core Technique. Thinking of the very method future Javier employed in the story, Lloyd said, "Hey, have you ever chomped the mana in the air using the Asrahan Core Technique?"
"Chomped the mana?"
"Absorbed them."
"Yes, of course," Javier answered. "I do it regularly every day."
"You bet you are. It's the same for me, too. It's a great training exercise because it can be done anywhere at any time," Lloyd replied.
It was true, and for that reason, Lloyd used the Asrahan Core Technique every time he had the chance. He absorbed the natural mana spread in the air and amplified it just by a hair's breadth, so no one would notice. This method proved to be an excellent training exercise.
"How do you feel when you absorb the mana in the air?"
"Well…"
Javier thought for a second and answered,
"I feel at peace."
"Peace? How so?"
"I presume it is because there is always an equal amount of mana in the air."
"I know, right?"
"Yes."
That was true as well as the mana dispersed in the air was always uniform. It was rare for the mana to be clotted together or non-existent in one area so Lloyd and Javier absorbed an equal amount of mana into their circles.
"Exactly. It's always uniform, just like when we breathe in air. But think about it. How would it feel if you used the same technique and absorbed the mana around the hidden magic circles?"
"Eh? Of course, that would…Oh." Javier's expression changed.
He gazed at Lloyd in realization.
"The mana that's abnormally clumped together around the magic circles would flood into my own."
"That's right. I suppose this clarifies my message, right?"
"Yes."
Lloyd brightly smiled. Javier was impressed, but he didn't show it. The method was quite simple but the first of its kind. Master Lloyd is right. Magic circles are devices that artificially absorb the mana in nature and arrange the energy to cause a magical reaction. So it's obvious that there would be an abnormal cluster of mana around where there is a magic circle. Therefore, finding the magic circle was simple: Use the Asrahan Core Technique and absorb the mana nearby. Keep absorbing and amble around. Then, watch out for the areas where a large amount of mana is absorbed. That's where the traps are set.
Afterward, I can estimate the direction and distance of the mana clump. This means that I'll be able to locate it just by my senses alone without having to see anything directly.
Javier's gaze moved to Lloyd.
"Master Lloyd."
"Hmmm?"
"This sounds plausible."
"I know, right?"
"Yes." Javier nodded.
Lloyd brightly smiled. "So, what now? Feel like charging into the dungeon now?"
"Yes. So please wait out here. I will make the trip alone."
"That's not happening."
"Why not? It's dangerous inside as well."
"Yeah, I know," Lloyd spoke and glanced to the side.
"Hey, tell me, will you really feel relieved if you leave me behind here and go in alone?"
"Excuse me?"
"What guarantee do you have that it's safe out here?"
"That's…"
"You don't, right?"
Javier didn't answer. Come to think of it, Lloyd wasn't the only dangerous entity in this gorge. If he left Lloyd alone out here and something happened… He wouldn't be able to protect him. Javier sighed shortly. "I understand. Let us go in together. But on one condition."
"Condition? Tell me."
"Promise me that you will run away as soon as the situation turns dangerous."
"When the situation turns dangerous?"
"Yes. I understand your desire to save the soldiers trapped inside, but your safety is the most important priority. So…"
Javier's eyes and expression looked determined.
"Run away if the situation gets dangerous. Even if it means that you have to abandon me."
"Huh? What gave you the idea that I won't? Doesn't it go without saying?"
Javier gaped at Lloyd.
"Of course, I will leave you behind and run away in a life-threatening situation. Please, that's so obvious."
"Hey, did I upset you? Are you pouting right now?"
"No."
"No, my foot. Do you know what you look like right now?"
"I do not know. I do not wish to know."
"Hey, hey, look at that. You're upset."
There was a slight wiggle in one of Javier's eyebrows. Amused, Lloyd picked up his shovel.
The two then neared the dungeon entrance, and they naturally tensed and sharpened their senses as they entered.
Javier took a step forward and said, "I will take the front from here."
"Yes, go, robot vacuum."
"What is…a robot vacuum?"
"There's something like that. It's used to describe someone pretty."
"But I am not pretty."
"You know yourself very well. Focus now, Javier. This isn't the time to fool around."
"You started to fool around first…Whew, never mind."
Javier's expression became cool. It looked like he was getting focused. His gait became slow and measured. He slowly moved forward, one step at a time. The sight resembled a robot vacuum cleaning up the floor. Javier began to sense his surroundings as he minutely absorbed the mana around him.
Swoosh, swoosh. The dungeon entrance, located at the far bottom of the gorge, was completely windless. The only sound that rang in this area was Javier's faint footsteps.
Sometime later…Javier stopped in his tracks.
"Here. Three steps ahead of me."
"Hey, be more specific. That's too vague. You've seen a pocket watch, haven't you?"
"Yes."
"Use the time in the watch to point to directions. Twelve o'clock for the front. Six for the rear. Just like that."
This was how they needed to communicate. Using vague descriptions to point to directions could bring about disastrous consequences. For example, they could step on a magic circle if they pointed in the wrong direction by only a couple of centimeters. Javier must have realized what Lloyd meant. He corrected himself right away.
"Three steps, one o'clock," Javier said.
"Okay."
Swoosh, swoosh. Both of them moved. Javier continued feeling the mana in the air.
"Two o'clock. Two steps."
"What about eleven?"
"Nothing is there."
"Then let's take two steps in the eleven o'clock direction."
"Yes."
"Found anything?"
"This is the nine o'clock direction. It's clear ahead."
"Okay. Let's get moving again."
Even after that, they continued to move and explore. There were, of course, some moments of danger. It turned out that the magic circles weren't the only traps inside.
Clack! Swish! There was a faint noise under their feet. At the same time, arrows shot out from both of their sides. The arrows were smudged in green. They were poisonous.
"Ha!"
Clang! Lloyd raised his shovel to block the arrow flying right into Javier's chest.
"Whew, thank you."
"Don't be. Let's go. Keep moving. You watch out for the magic circles, and I'll block the physical traps. Okay?"
"I understand. However…"
"However?"
"Don't push yourself too much."
"Aha. Do you mean that I shouldn't put myself in harm's way trying to protect you from things like arrows?"
"Exactly. If you find yourself in imminent danger, you may use me as your shield."
"Actually, that was my plan from the beginning," Lloyd said.
"You keep saying the obvious. Come on, man."
Lloyd didn't respond.
"Don't tell me you're upset again. Let's move."
They kept moving and Javier kept a watch on the magic circles while Lloyd protected both of them from any physical traps. Can't believe Javier did this all by himself in the novel.
Of course, he managed to do so because he was a sword master. Now, he was just a high-level sword expert.
Thus, it was impossible for him to do both jobs at the same time. This mana-absorbing task was a wretchedly delicate job. I said a large amount would be absorbed, but actually, it's like picking out a tiny piece of spring onion after drinking a liter of ramen soup. No, it's gotta be more delicate than that. In short, the job required meticulous attentiveness. Lloyd had to help Javier laser-focus on his job.
"Okay, okay, let's go. Slowly. Don't rush."
Both of them walked forward slowly. It was getting dark already. The light from the outside streamed into the cave no more. The only source of light they could rely on was the torch but they continued to move. The two continued to watch for magic circles and avoid traps for thirty minutes, an hour, and before they knew it, two hours later.
Meanwhile, Lloyd kept going back to the story in the novel over and over again in his head. At the end of the long trap zone that's where the trap that no one could ever avoid emerged.
It's about here based on the descriptions in the novel. Just then, the path in front of them swerved to the far right and became wide. The widened path ended with a vast, expansive space ahead of them. They finally arrived at the deepest part of the dungeon, the laboratory of the dark sorcerer.
Found it. They saw that the sorcerer was dressed in a black robe and sitting at the center table. The villain jolted out of his seat when he spotted them. He made a hand gesture at Lloyd and Javier. Just then, an inescapable trap was activated and it fell from the ceiling.
Creak. Clack. Crash! A thick metal wall dropped from the ceiling, completely blocking off the path ahead of them. The same thing happened behind them and another metal wall dropped. Crash! Thus, they found themselves trapped in between the gigantic metal walls.
There was more as a spraying noise came from the ceiling, emitting a sweet, aromatic gas into the closed space.
It was a powerful aromatic gas that induced sleep. However, Lloyd and Javier remained utterly calm. Not a single brow was raised. They were so calm that not even a cell in their organs flinched at their predicament.
"Hey, this situation feels quite familiar, don't you agree?"
"Well, it does now that you mention it."
The dark path, closed space, and isolation reminded Lloyd of the ant cave. The two of them chuckled under their breath at this familiar predicament. The two of them responded to the situation so casually that sometime later…The dark sorcerer realized that he had gotten ahead of himself.
Translator: https://bettertranslation9.wordpress.com