Chapter 28 : A Great Discovery

Chapter 28: A Great Discovery

The city was still in the middle of rooting out the remnants, but I left that to my younger brothers and brought the merchants out first.

“Since you told us to follow, we came for now... but is this really okay?”

“Exactly. I’ve never even heard a rumor about some ruins being discovered, and now suddenly we’re excavating ruins....”

“Still, I feel a bit better being out here. Staying inside the city is just too terrifying....”

“That’s true. That purge... wasn’t that just too much killing?”

“What about the Demonic Beast subjugations then? How are they supposed to handle those if they do this?”

“Exactly! Damn it, why did I even come here in the first place!”

I heard the merchants whispering among themselves.

They thought they had lowered their voices enough to gossip in secret, but to my ears as a Swordmaster, it sounded as clear as if they were speaking right beside me.

‘It must be hard for them.’

Merchants traveled back and forth between cities anyway.

From their standpoint, whether Count Kxias had committed evil deeds or not, they didn’t care.

If anything, they might bear resentment toward me for executing so many warriors.

After all, fewer warriors meant more difficulties for trade.

That was why I was looking forward to this.

‘I wonder what kind of faces they’ll make later.’

Clip-clop.

While riding at the front, I turned my head slightly and glanced back at Kalserik, who followed me with a blank expression.

The renowned leader of the Kalserik Brotherhood from Roberland.

He accompanied me while keeping his emotions thoroughly concealed.

“So, Kalserik? Have you given it some thought?”

“...Are you referring to your words about bringing in all my brothers and pledging ourselves entirely?”

“Yes. As I said, I’ll make sure the conditions are the best possible.”

“...I’m truly sorry. As I mentioned before, I cannot make such a decision on my own. I’ll ask my brothers, but I cannot give you a definite answer.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. However, until we repay our life debt, for the next year, the five of us brothers will devote our lives to serving you.”

“Do that, then. Just don’t regret it later.”

“I apologize...”

Because of the large-scale purge, Kushan City was now facing a severe manpower shortage.

The Kalserik Brotherhood was a massive mercenary group with over thirty Experts in their ranks.

If I could swallow them whole, that would be ideal...

But Kalserik’s intentions were obvious.

‘He must think we aren’t worth entrusting their lives to.’

Kushan City was only mid-to-lower tier compared to the rest of Roberland.

Even on the Golden Trade Route connecting Oldland of the Eastern Continent and Gloryland of the Western Continent, its importance was relatively low.

So naturally, the Kalserik Brotherhood, who considered themselves quite accomplished, wouldn’t find Kushan City satisfactory.

I had demanded a year of service in return for sparing their lives, so their plan was clearly to fulfill that obligation and then leave right after.

‘They might even be thinking this city won’t last long.’

Just like those merchants over there, worrying about what would happen with the Demonic Beasts.

That was why I couldn’t help but wonder again.

What kind of face would Kalserik show later?

I looked up at the sky.

“From here, adjust your course slightly toward one o’clock.”

“Yes, sir!”

Looking up at Mivabar shining in the sky, I adjusted the direction of the march.

After passing through a hilly area covered in grass, the ground gradually grew soggy until at last a swamp covered in moss and trees spread out before us.

“The northern swamp?”

“Is there really a ruin here?”

Dismounting from their horses, I led the whispering merchants onward by foot.

And finally.

“This is it.”

One glance at the sky confirmed it.

Mivabar floated exactly at the same angle I remembered. The other gods were the same as well.

“Is this the place? It certainly is magnificent, but...”

Kalserik asked with a curious expression.

Indeed, just as he said, it was a breathtaking sight.

Large rocks jutted upward, and towering stone pillars stood as if carved straight from the earth, all covered in moss and trees to form a labyrinth.

The ground was wet, and shallow water rippled.

It looked like a garden cultivated by nature itself.

But that was not the true value of this place.

‘It’s been so long. Has it been about ten thousand years?’

To others, it would appear as nothing more than rocks and stone pillars rising chaotically.

But my eyes found familiar distances and silhouettes hidden among them.

Should I call it sorrow? Or delight?

Senior.

So you really lived in a place so distant from me.

I slowly approached and laid my hand upon the rock.

That place—once beautiful and prosperous, but long since vanished—was right here.

“Yes. This is the place.”

Perhaps having heard my reply, the merchants who had followed also turned their heads restlessly.

“The ruins... I don’t see them at all...”

One merchant spoke like that, then quickly covered his mouth.

Of course. Standing before the newly appointed count who had slaughtered hundreds in a single night, he had to mind his words.

I answered with a faint grin.

“Look closely. Everything you see here is the ruins.”

“Well... when I look more carefully, I suppose it does seem that way...”

Watching the merchant put his survival instincts to work, I chuckled and drew my sword.

“Heeek!”

Leaving behind the startled merchant, I stood before a moss-covered rock.

“Keep your eyes wide open.”

Sasasak!

With a swordsman’s precision, more delicate than a barber’s hand, I slashed across the rock covered in moss and trees.

As the moss and wood fell in heaps to the ground...

“A w-wall??!”

A wall with no seams, as though molded from clay and fired in one piece, revealed itself.

“This construction technique... It’s from the Age of Magic...?”

One merchant with a sharp eye pressed against the wall and muttered.

Watching the merchants making a fuss, I gave an order to the soldiers.

“Come on! What are you standing around for! Strip off all the moss and trees!”

“Y-yes, sir!”

A hundred soldiers sprang into motion at my command.

“Over here, too!”

“There’s a wall here as well!”

“Gasp! There’s a door here!”

The ancient buildings, once hidden beneath moss, trees, mud, and ponds, gradually revealed their forms.

“Alright, alright! Whatever you find, drag it out and pile it up before me!”

Saying that, I entered through the entrance of the first building I had cleared.

Inside, the place was full of moss. Tree roots had pierced through the walls and coiled tightly, while water pooled across the floor, sloshing with each step.

But when I raised a torch and brushed aside the mud, I quickly found things that gleamed.

As expected. Fitting for the City of Knights, these kinds of items were discovered right from the start.

I carried a large armful of them outside and dumped them onto the ground.

“T-that’s—!”

The merchants swarmed in like clouds.

Without caring that their expensive clothes were being smeared with mud, they peered at the items I had poured out and gasped.

“To think they’re in this swamp, and yet not a trace of rust?”

“No mistake! This sheen! And this sound when struck! A material that doesn’t rust even in humidity!”

“Ru—Ruceras Steel!”

“Ancient armaments!!”

Just moments ago, the merchants had been lukewarm, but now their eyes were burning red.

Ancient weapons made of Ruceras Steel were precious treasures beloved across every continent.

‘Well, in truth, even knight cadets used to have at least one of these, but in this era, that alone makes it an extraordinary treasure.’

The manufacturing techniques of ancient weaponry couldn’t even be compared to those of today.

Aside from the crude iron swords deliberately made for sword-energy training, everything else was a masterpiece by modern standards.

In other words,

The true discovery was only just beginning.

“O-over here too, we’ve found something!”

“There’s more here!”

Soldiers spread throughout the area, each carrying items and pouring them out before me.

“Another sword? Wait—armor too?”

“How can there be this many swords and armor?! Is this coincidence?”

“Hold on! That’s an ancient gold coin! Collectors will pay an outrageous price for those…!”

The merchants were so overwhelmed by the flood of treasures that they could hardly think straight.

Then suddenly, one shrewd merchant realized something.

“Wait! Wait a moment!”

“What? What is it?”

“If you’re not going to look, move aside! Let me see too! Wow… already three ancient swords!”

“No, wait! Just look around, all of you!”

“Ugh, why!”

That sharp merchant stiffly raised his head, turning like a madman as he looked around.

What entered his eyes was… endless expanses of huge rocks and stone pillars towering like cliffs.

All covered in moss and trees, so their true forms couldn’t be seen… but—

“What I’m saying is! All those rocks and pillars… aren’t they all buildings?!”

“!”

“!!”

Only then did the other merchants begin to grasp the situation.

“W-what? Don’t tell me…”

“Is it true? That all of those are…?”

Their gazes slowly turned toward me.

The trembling dance of quivering pupils.

I nodded.

“Welcome. To the ancient city of Glowingsteel.”

“!!!”

The merchants flinched as though struck by lightning.

One of them muttered.

“It was a city… Not just some ruins, but an entire ancient city has been discovered….”

We had only plundered about ten buildings so far, yet already countless treasures had surfaced.

So then, how many treasures would emerge if we cleared every building here?

“At this rate, it’s basically a mine. A mine of ancient relics….”

They began to realize.

That Kushan City, an insignificant place in the northwest of Roberland, would soon form a new economic sphere centered around ancient relics.

“Ah~ but if the ruins are this vast, that’s a problem too. We’ll need a lot of warriors and explorers to excavate all of this~”

I stretched and spoke loudly, making sure they heard.

This was why I had brought the merchants.

From today, they would spread what they had seen across the continent.

That Kushan City desperately needed many warriors and explorers—and that it would also be overflowing with money.

“Uh…! My lord Count!”

“Count! Please, a word with you!”

The merchants who, on the way here, had only been sneaking glances and whispering, now rushed toward me with eagerness.

Like long-lost family reuniting after ten years, their desperation was palpable.

I suppose they were beginning to see me differently now.

From this point on, it was my turn.

“Ah, the details can wait until we return to the city. Let’s speak tomorrow. Tomorrow.”

At my refusal, they whined like puppies desperate to relieve themselves. It was rather amusing.

Well then, I’d seen enough of the merchants switching their stance.

Slowly, I turned my eyes.

To Kalserik, who stood beside me.

He, who had remained silent and steadfast all this time, now stood slack-jawed.

At some point, he had wandered off, touching the ancient swords and armor, sighing in admiration.

If this kept up, he might even drool.

Then suddenly, our eyes met.

‘How is it?’

I raised my brow to ask, and Kalserik put down the relics before hastily approaching me.

His steps were restless, like a puppy squirming for relief.

Of course. Any warrior who saw ancient weapons made of Ruceras Steel and didn’t lose themselves couldn’t truly be called a warrior.

Glancing cautiously at me, he opened his mouth.

“M-my lord Count Ransen… The thing is….”

I smiled.

“What is it? Do you have something to say, Sir Kalserik—who intends to leave in a year?”

I told you, didn’t I?

Not to regret it later.

*         *         *

A few days later.

A rumor spread rapidly throughout Roberland.

‘There’s a massive fortune to be made in Kushan City!’

‘Ancient weapons and armor are pouring out!’

‘The new Count is in dire need of manpower!’

The rumor made the warriors and explorers overflowing in Roberland restless.

“Hyung! They say there’s money to be made in Kushan City?!”

“Boys! Pack your things!”

The brash gangs who strutted around each city,

“This is an incredible opportunity.”

“Indeed. The ruler of Kushan City will soon grasp tremendous power.”

“Yes. He might rise to be the dominant force of a region—perhaps even just beneath the Five Kings.”

“So if we join now, we’ll be among the founding members?”

“It could be the chance to completely turn our lives around.”

“…Alright. We’re going to Kushan.”

The mercenary companies and warrior bands that had strength but not yet found a nest,

“Ruins on the scale of a city!”

“We have to go! No question about it!”

“If there’s a city, there must be more in the surrounding area! Discover one of those and your life will change forever!”

The explorers who went mad over ancient ruins,

“Friend! Have you heard the news?! A ruin from the Age of Magic has been discovered…!”

“Ha-ha, I’ve already sold my house to hire warriors. Will you come as well?”

“Aha…! Then selling the house is the way! Let’s go together!”

Even the scholars who had devoted their lives to the study of the Age of Magic—all of them rose to their feet.

A relic rush!

Seeking treasure, opportunity, and knowledge, warriors from every corner of Roberland began flocking to Kushan City.

*         *         *

“Kushan City?”

The news spread quickly and even reached the ears of a crouching giant in the northwest of Roberland.

Over 190 centimeters tall, with pale golden hair.

He had been idly lying down, popping grapes into his mouth, but now he suddenly sat up.

“Kxias is dead, and an ancient city has been discovered?”

The man sprang up, unable to contain himself, pacing in circles with a sly smile.

“Heaven is aiding us?”

“Indeed, it is.”

“Prepare the army. Choose only the swift and experienced ones.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You know the key, right? Speed is—”

“Life itself.”

“Good! Today, we drill the cavalry!”

Unable to hide his excitement, the man nearly dashed outside.

The heart of Norberju, ruler of the Ailun Grassland region.

One of Roberland’s Five Kings, who sat among the seats of power.

Haarun, the Storm King.

It was the moment his heart pounded again after so long.

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