While Lucy and Ruel were contemplating how to annoy Erginos, Arthur, Joy, and Freya were separated from Lucy and discussing the dungeon.
“It’s strangely bothersome that Freya isn’t here.” “Kent Young Lady’s strength is irreplaceable. It can’t be helped.”
Lucy Alrn had once again made a bet with them. Feiby, who practically worshipped Lucy, naturally accepted her challenge. Joy and Arthur, who had been humiliated by Lucy’s previous bet on the island, also accepted it to get revenge and stepped into the dungeon.
And they were soundly defeated.
“Damn it.”
So far, their record was 3 losses and 3 defeats. If they failed to conquer the dungeon this time, the three of them would have to endure the punishments Lucy would impose for the third time.
“Should we try excluding the monster fights next time?” “Like Lucy does?” “Is that possible? That doesn’t seem like something Young Lady Kent would allow.” “If we’re creative, we might at least imitate it.” “Do you have any strategies?”
Arthur, hearing Joy’s question, subtly shifted his gaze to the side.
To the small child-like figure that had appeared next to him. The little child, yawning leisurely, tilted its head when it caught Arthur’s gaze.
A few days after the attack from the followers of the Void, Arthur had visited the underground again.
Finding the way wasn’t hard. After the miracle ended, the returning spirit guided him.
Though it left a tingling sensation as a remnant of the miracle, the spirit had dutifully guided him, asking him to take good care of the girl named Bishi, before sending him through the broken wall.
And once again, Arthur arrived at the magic circle, facing this fragment.
Grumbling for a while, the fragment shook its head randomly before finally settling down next to Arthur.
After that, the fragment of the first Soladin continued to follow Arthur and kept talking.
Initially, Arthur thought this fragment was reliable after seeing its bold attitude.
The fact that it survived the Age of Myths was an achievement in itself. And even if only some of the heroic tales left behind by the first Soladin were true, it would certainly be helpful.
But that expectation quickly disappeared.
Arthur saw the fragment surprised at his training methods but didn’t learn anything from it.
Whenever Arthur was mocked by others, the fragment would laugh along.
And when his face turned red in front of Lucy, the fragment was pleased, calling it “youth.”
This fragment became nothing more than an annoying presence.
However, things were different when it came to the dungeon.
The experience of fighting against the group that wielded the power of the Evil God proved useful in the current dungeon as well.
The fragment reached the correct answer faster than Arthur and immediately spoke about how to tackle the enemy as soon as it appeared.
Although it had not reached the level of Lucy Alrn, whose behavior was absurdly unconventional, it was still seasoned enough that ordinary people would have trouble talking to it.
So, though it felt a bit underhanded, if Arthur took full advantage of this fragment’s help, it was definitely possible to achieve Lucy Alrn’s conditions.
Though there was a pang of guilt, the fear of the humiliation he would face was even greater, so Arthur bit his lip and decided to sell his conscience.
At that moment, a commotion broke out outside.
“There he is!” “Don’t let him get away!” “Damn! There!”
The tent flaps suddenly opened, and a man emerged. The man, with long black hair that reached his waist, smiled when he saw the three of them seated inside.
“It’s been a while. How have you been?” “...Who are you?” “Who are you?” “Ah, I’ve already been forgotten. Ah, right, I was in the form of a skeleton back then.”
The man leisurely tilted his head, despite their cautious stares, and naturally took a seat at the table.
“Do you recognize this?”
Then, when he released the magic on his face, the skeleton revealed itself.
“Erginos?” “Yes. It’s me.”
Joy, who had faced the skeleton repeatedly during their last visit to the dungeon, immediately exclaimed when she recognized the skeleton. The skeleton tilted its head and cast the magic again.
“I had planned to wait inside the dungeon, but...” “Erginos, he is still a hidden figure.” “Hah. Is that so? Why? I’ll believe your words since you have the god’s favor, but I don’t understand. Why hide such a glorious title?”
“...That’s...”
Seeing Feiby hesitating to speak, Erginos tilted his head and was about to ask again when he noticed Arthur standing next to him and his eyes widened.
“Hah? How did you, with no qualifications, manage to overcome the trial?”
“...What do you mean by qualifications?”
“The qualifications to undergo the trial! The token I gave to the first Soladin! Without that, the trial wouldn’t have allowed you to pass!”
Arthur turned his head again after hearing Erginos' words, but there was nothing there.
Just a moment ago, the fragment that had been lazily resting beside him had vanished.
Hmm. It seems that the trouble the little brat was causing was related to the role Erginos gave him.
If everything were revealed now, it would be an interesting scene, but it would be more advantageous to use it as a threat and keep it a secret for now.
“...That’s...”
After making his judgment, Arthur spoke about the situation, excluding the fragment’s involvement.
“Really, that kid is completely different inside and out.”
With the situation surrounding Lucy Alrn’s bizarre actions, Erginos sighed in resignation and then leaned closer to Arthur.
“Alright. If that child has deemed them qualified, then it’s probably right. It’s not for me, an old existence, to interfere.”
“...Is that so?”
“Then, please let the fragment know as well. No, I suppose it doesn’t matter, since it’s probably listening right now.”
“How could I not notice, since I made it?”
Finally, the fragment appeared again, grumbling, and Erginos let out a light chuckle.
“Don’t mind it. It was an unavoidable situation.”
“Sure.”
“Ah, you mean that.”
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While Erginos and the first Soladin’s fragment were conversing, Joy and Feiby, who couldn’t see the fragment, were bewildered.
Seeing their confusion, Arthur, who was struggling with how to explain it, sighed in relief when Lucy appeared with a slightly irritated expression.
“Hey, you useless virgin wizard. What were you planning to do by barging in like this after seeing the commotion outside? What? Is it hard to talk to men now, not just women?”
“Haha. I thought you’d handle it well.”
“What?”
“You really did manage the chaos well. My judgment was correct.”
“Sigh. With such a lack of social skills, I guess you must have died alone, just like you lived. Truly fitting for you.”
Despite Lucy’s sharp remarks about his character, Erginos showed no sign of anger.
He was acting completely differently from when he had been grumbling about the brat before.
Because of that, the three of them, including Arthur, began to doubt what Lucy had done this time.
Lucy herself was unaware that she had caused such a reaction.
“We’re all here now, so let’s get to the main topic. You remember when I asked you for something when you left last time, right?”
“Yeah. Your whiny voice asking us to stay was so pathetic, I couldn’t forget it. It was disgusting.”
“What I want to ask you is related to the mistakes of me, or more precisely, the hero Erginos who left me behind.”
After saying that, Erginos exhaled deeply and took a flower out of his pocket, placing it on the desk.
Though the flower’s roots had been broken, it still retained its beauty. Anyone who saw it would surely marvel at its awe-inspiring appearance.
“How much do you know about the Fairy Queen’s Forest?”