Episode 118: Treasure (2)
Demian walked through the streets alongside Gwangmyeong.
Recognizing Gwangmyeong, the clergy quickly bowed their heads in respect. She responded to each of them with a bright smile.
In moments like these, she truly seemed like one of the revered Five Saints of the Order.
Yet, Demian remained vigilant.
Gwangmyeong was not someone to be underestimated. Throughout their walk, he kept his senses sharp, trying to discern her intentions.
But…
‘Why isn’t she saying anything?’
Gwangmyeong walked in silence, even humming a tune to herself.
Demian cast a bewildered glance her way.
“I heard you were bestowed with a Young-grade Holy Sword?” Gwangmyeong suddenly spoke up.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Congratulations. Not many receive such an honor. I’m sure the other paladins are envious.”
Gwangmyeong turned to look at Demian, her smile still in place.
“But be careful at first. A Young-grade Holy Sword is quite fragile until it matures.”
Demian had already been briefed by Malta.
Holy Swords were categorized into five grades.
The highest among them, the Special-grade Holy Swords, were so rare that only a few had been crafted throughout the Order’s long history.
They were ultimate weapons, created by mobilizing all the Order’s resources in times of dire need.
Malta had emphasized the need for caution until Dawn fully matured.
“And as it grows, it’s best to return to the main temple for reforging. Just like a snake sheds its skin to grow.”
“You seem well-versed in Young-grade Holy Swords.”
“Of course. I was granted one too. Though in my case, it’s a hammer, not a sword.”
Gwangmyeong stopped walking, and Demian halted beside her.
“Oh, we’re here already. I was so engrossed in our conversation, I didn’t notice the time.”
Gwangmyeong pointed ahead.
“That’s the entrance to the Vault.”
A massive statue sat on a stone chair where she pointed.
Beneath the statue was a stone door, likely the entrance to the Vault.
Demian examined the statue. It depicted a fierce-looking man holding a scripture in one hand and a mace in the other.
He noticed a ring on the hand holding the mace.
‘That ring…’
It was strikingly similar to the one left behind by the mummy.
The shape and the emblem engraved in the center were identical.
“Who is this statue of?” Demian asked.
“Oh, I’m glad you asked.”
Gwangmyeong’s face flushed with excitement.
“This is the first human to awaken divine power and the founder of the Holy Order…”
She continued with a tone of reverence.
“The first Holy Emperor, Bartoleo.”
Bartoleo.
Demian had heard the name often since childhood.
The founder of the Holy Order, the first scribe of its doctrines, the Great Judge.
Considering the Holy Order’s influence across the continent, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say everyone knew of Bartoleo.
‘Was the mummy I faced Bartoleo?’
The mummy Demian encountered had been a formidable master in life.
Bartoleo, too, was a master in his time. Tales of him shattering a dragon’s skull with a single mace blow were still told.
‘But why would someone as significant as Bartoleo end up in such a pitiful state?’
Demian recalled what he had learned about Bartoleo’s end.
‘He was said to have been fatally wounded in battle with dark sorcerers and vanished in a burst of light.’
Demian had never given much thought to Bartoleo’s demise.
But after encountering the mummy, his perspective changed.
Vanishing in a burst of light implied no body was left behind.
‘If that mummy was the first Holy Emperor… why was it embedded with a shard of Erebus?’
Erebus was a mysterious cursed sword with no known origin.
Investigating the first Holy Emperor might reveal more about Erebus.
Suddenly, Demian pointed to the ring on the statue and asked, “Is that ring significant? It’s so intricately detailed.”
“Oh, that ring. It’s incredibly important. It’s the symbol of the Salvation Order.”
The Salvation Order.
It was the group Bartoleo was part of in his youth.
A thousand years ago, during Bartoleo’s time, the continent was in chaos.
Monsters far more dangerous than those today roamed freely, demons from hell prowled the land, and disasters struck frequently.
Humans were nomadic, constantly fleeing danger, unable to even consider forming nations.
That’s when the Salvation Order emerged.
The Salvation Order was a group of superhumans who banded together to change humanity’s fate.
They eradicated every monster deemed a threat to humanity and banished all demons back to hell.
They reshaped the continent to make it habitable for humans.
Among the Salvation Order’s most famous members, besides Bartoleo, was the first Emperor of the Empire.
“Have all your questions been answered? Shall we go inside now?”
Gwangmyeong led the way, and Demian followed her into the Vault.
Inside the statue, there was nothing.
Instead, a small room protruded, large enough for three or four people.
“We’ll use that to go down.”
Gwangmyeong pointed to the small room.
“It’s an elevator made by dwarves. A fascinating device that moves up and down. It only works when infused with divine power.”
As Gwangmyeong chattered on, the door to the Vault closed behind them.
In the spacious area, only Demian, Gwangmyeong, and the elevator remained.
“Oh my.”
Gwangmyeong smiled.
“Finally, just the two of us.”
Immediately, Gwangmyeong’s demeanor changed.
The air felt different against the skin, like sandpaper rubbing against it.
Demian sensed it.
A faint hostility emanated from Gwangmyeong, creating an overwhelming pressure.
“I’ve been so curious,” Gwangmyeong said, fixing her gaze on Demian.
“I wondered what the person who killed my disciple looked like. What kind of personality the one who thwarted our sect’s plans had. I thought of you constantly.”
The plan Gwangmyeong referred to was for the sect ‘Dazzling Pain’ to seize control of the Holy Order.
From the perspective of ‘Dazzling Pain,’ the current Order had grown too weak.
In the past, the Order was a fanatical group that would burn entire villages to root out dark sorcerers.
‘Dazzling Pain’ aimed to restore the Order to that state.
It was a goal befitting a sect of zealots like ‘Dazzling Pain.’
“Did you know? Because of your interference, our sect suffered greatly.”
“You seem quite free for someone who claims that.”
“We had to work hard to pin it on Sanus’s personal deviation.”
Sanus was Gwangmyeong’s disciple.
During the raid on the Dungeon of Corpse Play, Sanus attempted to kill all the paladins of other sects for the sake of her sect’s cause.
Sanus’s betrayal was thwarted by Demian, and she was executed on the spot.
To think they managed to dismiss such a major incident as an individual’s deviation.
Given ‘Dazzling Pain’s influence, it was unsurprising, yet still astonishing.
“Is it wise to tell me all this?”
“You already know everything, don’t you? That’s why I’m speaking freely.”
Gwangmyeong replied with a bright smile.
“Still, our sect’s prestige has taken a hit. Both I and the sect’s clergy have to lay low for a while.”
It seemed they weren’t entirely unscathed.
Even someone as powerful as one of the Five Saints had to exercise restraint.
“I had so much to say to you, but… there were too many eyes watching, so I had to hold back.”
“Are you planning revenge?”
Demian’s question was met with Gwangmyeong’s laughter.
“I understand why you’d think that. Sanus was my disciple, after all. Oh, she wasn’t just any disciple. She was like a daughter to me, raised by my own hand since childhood.”
A fleeting sadness crossed Gwangmyeong’s eyes.
“But Sanus died practicing our sect’s teachings. She died following the will of the divine, so it’s something to be celebrated, not mourned. I’m sure she didn’t blame you either. Isn’t that right?”
Gwangmyeong was correct. Sanus hadn’t blamed Demian, even in her final moments.
“So I have no thoughts of revenge. Sanus’s death is not a tragedy but a cause for celebration.”
As she spoke, Gwangmyeong’s eyes were chillingly clear.
It was the unmistakable truth.
“Besides, if I were to harm you here… Elder Cheongyeom and His Holiness wouldn’t let me off easily.”
Though her tone was lively, Gwangmyeong’s aura remained unchanged.
It was still unsettling, exuding a chilling intent to kill.
“But remember this. I’ll overlook your interference this once. If you try to thwart our sect’s plans again…”
The smile vanished from Gwangmyeong’s face.
“I won’t let you off so easily next time.”
Gwangmyeong’s murderous intent grew even more intense, as if the very air had turned into needles.
With each breath, it felt like a bundle of needles was being forced down his throat.
“Thanks for the advice.”
In the midst of it all, Demian smiled. It wasn’t a forced smile, but one that came naturally.
Demian had fought countless masters in his past life. He was all too familiar with their killing intent.
So, this level of hostility had no effect on him.
”…You.”
Even Gwangmyeong was taken aback by Demian’s calm demeanor.
“Let me give you a piece of advice too. You can’t restrict my actions with this.”
Demian spoke sincerely to Gwangmyeong.
“So if you plan to take me down, you’d better act fast. If you hesitate, I’ll rise to a place you can’t reach.”
The two locked eyes for a moment.
“Pfft.”
Gwangmyeong let out a small laugh and withdrew his killing intent. The world returned to its usual calm.
“Thanks for the advice. Shall we head to the vault?”
As Gwangmyeong placed a hand on the elevator, the doors slid open.
The elevator carrying the two descended underground.
“The place you’re allowed to access is only the first basement level.”
Naturally, the more valuable items were stored on the lower floors.
“Don’t take it the wrong way. Even getting access to the first floor is quite a feat.”
The elevator stopped at the first floor.
“You can only take one item. Hiding anything is pointless; the miracles embedded in the vault will detect it immediately.”
The elevator doors opened, and Gwangmyeong waved.
“Off you go, then.”
Demian stepped out of the elevator.
His first impression was that of a warehouse.
High ceilings and towering shelves lined the space, filled with countless items.
Rare monster byproducts, various potions, magical tools, and relics were all present.
“No weapons or armor, huh.”
It made sense; most weapons were stored in the armory.
Anything valuable enough to be stored in the vault would be kept in the deeper levels.
“Should I take an elixir?”
There were plenty of elixirs in the vault, but they were only on par with the one he received from the King of Apple, which was a bit disappointing.
“Elixirs are nice, but something more valuable… huh?”
Suddenly, Demian noticed a sealed box.
The seams were sealed with wax, but the lid was glass, allowing him to see inside.
Inside were five bracelets.
Crafted by the Five Saints.
Bracelets with embedded protective miracles.
Uses stored divine power to block external attacks.
Divine power cannot be recharged.
Drawn to it, Demian approached the box as if in a trance.
Items imbued with magic were called magical tools, while those with miracles were known as relics.
If these were relics crafted by the Five Saints, they must contain incredible miracles.
The only downside was that the divine power couldn’t be recharged. They were essentially consumables, which explained why there were five in a set.
Demian picked up the box.
In truth, he didn’t particularly need such relics. He had plenty of ways to defend against enemy attacks.
Yet, there was one reason he chose these relics.
Family.
He intended to give them to his parents, his sister, Abel, and Abel’s wife, Olivia.
Wearing these bracelets would protect them from external shocks, not just in battle but also from unforeseen accidents.
“I should go and give them out.”
With a rare sense of joy, Demian returned to the elevator.
“Back already? What did you choose… Oh my, that’s a relic I made.”
Demian’s excitement plummeted at Gwangmyeong’s words.
”…You made this?”
“Yes, I crafted it in my younger days to protect the holy knights of my sect.”
Gwangmyeong looked at the bracelets with a nostalgic expression.
“I don’t mean to brag, but those bracelets can even block high-class attacks. Though it does use up all the divine power.”
Gwangmyeong added with a smile.
“If you ever use up all the divine power, come see me. I’ll make you another.”
Demian thought to himself that he would never need to return for more.
With that, he stepped into the elevator.
Demian and Gwangmyeong ascended back to the first floor.
“Finally, you’re back.”
Outside, Cheongyeom was waiting for them.
“Oh my, Elder. How long have you been waiting?”
“Don’t play dumb. You filed a false report to get me moving, and in the meantime, you approached Sir Demian?”
Demian shot a glare at Gwangmyeong.
He had wondered why Gwangmyeong had come instead of Cheongyeom, but now he understood.
“I just wanted to have a date with Sir Demian.”
Even under Cheongyeom’s fierce gaze, Gwangmyeong remained unfazed.
“You’d better be prepared for the consequences.”
“Yes, I will.”
“Come with me. His Holiness is summoning us both.”
“Oh my, is something the matter?”
Gwangmyeong asked, covering her mouth with her hand.
Cheongyeom replied with a grave expression.
“The branches of the sect in the Mandarin Kingdom have been attacked by dark wizards.”
Gwangmyeong’s eyes turned sharp at those words.
“They say the attackers are a duo. A dark knight and a dark wizard.”
A dark knight.
A term for a knight who wielded dark magic instead of regular magic.
“A duo? A dark knight?”
The moment he heard those words, Demian’s memories came flooding back.
At this time, there were those who specifically targeted and attacked the sect’s branches.
The Hanger couple.
In the distant future, they were known for doing all sorts of dirty work as errand runners for Dorco.
The husband was a high-class fighter, and the wife was a top-tier dark wizard.
They were a formidable force, causing significant trouble for the human resistance.
But that wasn’t the reason Demian remembered them.
Lord Dorco! I’ve investigated! I searched the entire Apple Kingdom for someone named Demian Haxen!
He has a family! There’s a small noble family called the Haxen Viscounty!
Both parents are alive, and he has an older sister and a younger brother!
The Hanger couple were the ones who had dug up everything about his family and reported it to Dorco.