Chapter 62 : Quite a Lot

Chapter 62: Quite a Lot

‘It’s about time.’

This time travel was also nearing its end.

There had been plenty of gains. The Subspace Necklace had become sturdier, too.

But the most important item of all, I still hadn’t obtained.

‘Magical Armor.’

How could something like this even exist?

It was an artifact unheard of, unseen before, and its performance was simply beyond words.

Those so-called legendary armors, the ones considered national treasures in our era… honestly, compared to Magical Armor, they were nothing more than common antiques.

The Magical Armor I was using now was classified as the highest grade among them—A+.

If possible, I wanted to prepare one for each of my younger siblings and retainers. Even if not A+, at least something C+ grade or higher.

With this, there’d be hardly any chance of death.

Even if I sent my siblings into battle, I could feel some relief.

That was why I had prowled around Lorraine’s laboratory’s prototype storage and testing room.

To seize the chance and snatch some of the Magical Armors kept inside.

“Greetings, Lord Ransen Banroa?”

But every time, the Royal Chamberlain… no, the senior researcher, Master Eodran, would appear like a ghost.

“May I perhaps be of assistance?”

His lips smiled, but his eyes did not. His dark pupils examined me thoroughly, brimming with caution.

‘…Strong. This man.’

Since he was a magician, not a swordsman, it was difficult for me to guess his exact level.

But the charisma in those eyes and that attitude—such a presence could only come from someone powerful.

“No, I was merely out for a stroll.”

Feigning nonchalance, I shrugged my shoulders and walked past him.

“Lord Ransen Banroa?”

Master Eodran called after me, still radiating the air of a predator crouched low.

“I must apologize, but I have investigated your background.”

“And?”

“There was nothing to be found.”

Of course there wasn’t. I wasn’t a person of this era, after all.

“The Director trusts people too easily. That is why I must support her well.”

So, even if the Director trusted me, Master Eodran clearly did not.

This… was troublesome.

Day or night, no matter when I prowled near, Master Eodran appeared. He must have spread detection spells everywhere. And I hadn’t even realized it.

‘There’s no way to take the Magical Armor without getting caught.’

Then what? Should I just cut him down with force and take it?

The temptation flickered for a moment, but…

‘That doesn’t feel right…’

A little—no, very much—it felt uncomfortable.

No matter if they were people of the past, no matter if they had already long since died by my era…

If I did that, how would I be any different from Kxias?

I had grown somewhat attached to the people here, so the thought struck me—that would be something inhumane to do.

Besides, the mages in this place looked subtly strong, so I wasn’t confident I could even win.

‘Should I give up….’

Magical Armor… I craved it madly, but I decided not to push myself recklessly.

If I continued traveling through the past, surely another chance would come.

In the end, I only scratched my head.

“I understand what you mean. I’ll be careful from now on.”

“Thank you for your understanding.”

“But…”

I looked at Master Eodran’s face.

His once-glossy white hair had grown dry and brittle, and the wrinkles on his face had doubled.

Honestly, he was a likable person, so I couldn’t help but worry.

“Are you even sleeping these days?”

You look like a walking corpse right now.

His answer was ridiculous.

“Mm… It’s been about five days since I last slept. Still, if I alternate between special medicines and awakening magic, it’s bearable.”

…No. From where I stood, that didn’t look bearable at all.

“Haha. But if I work just a little harder, won’t that make things easier for our Director?”

Looking at the old man who smiled as he said that, I truly grew curious.

Cask, and Eodran as well—why were they all so deeply devoted to that smiling, exploitative employer?

“Ah, yes. I see.”

For the time being, I just excused myself and walked away.

I thought that would be the end of it.

Since I had no plans to loiter near the storage or testing rooms again… I assumed I wouldn’t cross paths with Eodran anymore.

We were both busy men, after all.

But that very night, I came face-to-face with Eodran once more.

Ah, to be precise, I came face-to-face with Eodran and Lorraine. I was simply caught between the two.

“Director? Why on earth have you come here?”

“Ah, ah… Master Eodran. Well, the thing is—”

“I told you quite clearly that it wasn’t allowed.”

“No, I—”

See?

This man really was strong.

It didn’t even seem like he was trying, but mana rippled around him with cold fury.

The scale of it was enormous—enough to make the fine hairs on my skin bristle.

Seeing Eodran grow that enraged, I knew. It was over. Completely over.

Clicking my tongue in regret, I etched into my eyes the ‘Dragon’s Magical Armor’ displayed in the secret storage.

That was the true culprit behind this entire mess.

The so-called—

Master Eodran’s “Dream of a Lifetime.”

Honestly, I had planned to sleep early tonight. Tomorrow was the final exploration, after all.

But then Lorraine suddenly came knocking at midnight.

“Do you have a moment? Just a minute. Come outside.”

At that moment, she was quietly excited.

The woman who always strode about like a king now stood stiff, like a cat in an unfamiliar neighborhood, wary of her surroundings.

“I have a request.”

She said.

“This is my dream of a lifetime. Perhaps the greatest masterpiece I could ever leave behind.”

“All of a sudden?”

“It’s Magical Armor. Magical Armor created using some components from the Mythic Era.”

What?

“I told you before, didn’t I? Magical Armor was inspired by the armors of the Mythic Era.”

“You did.”

“But we still hardly understood the armors of the Mythic Era. Perhaps we managed to analyze about one percent… and even with just that, today’s Magical Armor was born.”

How should I put it… the artifacts of the Mythic Era were so overwhelming that hearing about them now barely felt real.

It was like listening to an actual myth?

Ah, right. Back then, gods split mountains and shattered stars, didn’t they? Oh—so that’s how it was.

Exactly that kind of feeling.

“This is an experimental model, combining those Mythic Era components according to my theory. If this functions properly… our interpretation of Mythic Era Magical Armor could rise to three percent, maybe even five percent!”

Mm, up to this point I just listened, responding with casual “yes-yes.”

But the next words caught even my interest.

“And at the same time, the strongest Magical Armor in history will be born!”

The strongest Magical Armor in history?!

Thrilling!

The very sound of it sent a chill of excitement down my spine.

I wanted it instantly!

But I kept up an indifferent attitude.

A negotiator of Roberland never showed his hand first.

“So?”

As expected, it was Lorraine who grew impatient.

“…Tomorrow is the final exploration, and our contract ends too. So if I’m to test it, tonight is my only chance. Master Eodran will be busy tonight as well.”

At last, she bit her lip hard and stated her condition.

“One hundred Mana Hearts! Or artifacts of equivalent value mixed in! So, what do you say?”

Mana Hearts.

Honestly, they had lost importance to me now.

My plan to secretly steal Magical Armor had failed—so why would I need so many Mana Hearts?

But still,

‘Well, I could take artifacts instead. Or maybe in the next time travel, I’d have another chance to secure Magical Armor…’

I decided to accept.

After all, I also wanted to see this so-called strongest Magical Armor.

Only,

“But this is the one, isn’t it? The one where the body might just go boom! and die?”

That was the one Master Eodran had desperately stopped her from trying before, wasn’t it?

I prodded her like that.

Because only by pressing your opponent could you draw more out of them.

Lorraine flinched and rolled her eyes in panic.

She stammered, her voice trembling with urgency.

“Th-that only happens to ordinary people. There’s absolutely no way it would happen to you, Ransen! I extracted your physical data, didn’t I? It’s more than enough. One hundred percent! Even if the Magical Armor runs wild, you’ll overcome it. I swear this with everything I have.”

Well, if that was the case, it was reassuring…

But still,

“I don’t like it. You’re basically asking me to trust my life entirely to your word, Director.”

“Ugh….”

Grinding her teeth, Lorraine finally trembled as she shouted.

“Two hundred…! Two hundred Mana Hearts! Or artifacts of equal value! That’s really the limit! I can’t give more than that. Even if I wanted to, I can’t!”

See? If you press, more always comes out.

At last, I gave a big nod and followed after her.

We made it all the way to the secret storage, and just as I was struck dumb in awe at the sight of the so-called ‘Strongest Magical Armor’…

Master Eodran suddenly appeared.

“Director?”

“Eek?! H-how?! I even cast concealment magic—”

“I am greatly disappointed in you, Director.”

And so the current situation had come to pass.

“Argh! Argh! Let me go for a second, Eodran! Put me down, won’t you?!”

He really was strong. Carrying the 176cm-tall Lorraine effortlessly on his shoulder, Eodran marched out.

Lorraine, having forgotten her usual polite speech, shrieked in fury, but her protests meant nothing.

“I’m telling you it’s fine! Really! One hundred percent safe! I checked it myself!”

“Indeed, if it were Lord Ransen’s body, it might withstand it. He is special, after all.”

“See! I told you! That’s why—”

“But did you test his mind as well?”

“W-what?”

“That thing isn’t powered by Mana Hearts, is it? Isn’t it driven by a Dragon Heart? One brimming with the dragon’s lingering will.”

“Uh… that is….”

“Can you say his mind will remain safe? Of course not. Magic hasn’t yet advanced to the point of handling the soul.”

“B-but if it’s Ransen—”

“Silence.”

Eodran’s sharp command cut her off, and Lorraine shrank, lowering her head.

“Lord Ransen. Please forget this incident and step out. I must apologize.”

“…Very well.”

I followed Eodran out of the secret storage.

But I couldn’t help turning back in deep regret.

It was as black as night.

Yet it wasn’t plain.

A dazzling work of art of Magical Armor, adorned with every shade of black—matte black, glossy black, coarse black, soft black.

But what truly seized the eye was—

‘That… it's exuding Aura.’

Didn’t she say it was powered by a dragon’s heart?

Even though it hadn’t yet been activated, the Aura it radiated rivaled that of Grandmaster Cain Manus, and I couldn’t tear my gaze away.

What a waste.

Two hundred Mana Hearts were a waste, sure—

But that, I truly wanted to have.

‘Dragon’s Magical Armor.’

That was the name of Lorraine’s dream of a lifetime.

*         *         *

I had to be honest with myself.

I didn’t want to see someone die.

It wasn’t as if I hadn’t seen death before—countless times, in fact. And I had killed more times than I could count.

Even so.

Back then, was his name Milo?

The boy with light green hair.

Halfway transformed into a wolf monster, he killed himself, saying he wanted to die as a human.

Even now, thinking about him left me uneasy.

Maybe that was why.

Why I gave up on sweeping away all those Magical Armors, no matter how badly I craved them.

Honestly,

I hadn’t exactly lived an honorable life.

I’d done more than a few dirty jobs under Kxias.

I’d tried, in my own way, to follow what conscience I could, but in the end, a warrior of Roberland could never live purely righteous.

Still… I didn’t want to live like that again if I could help it.

To steal those Magical Armors, I would have to kill Eodran, if not Lorraine. That old man had such presence about him.

And I truly didn’t want to do that.

And also—

The mercenaries of the Exploration Team I had spent the last twenty days with.

Somehow, they had crept into my heart as well, and I didn’t want to see them die either.

So I felt conflicted.

“Uweeeh!”

“Eek! Stay away! Don’t come any closer!”

“Get a grip!”

Because the final day’s exploration was nothing short of hell.

‘What on earth happened in just a single day?’

What could be lurking so deep down there?

The nightmare-like madness had swelled, as if alive, growing far larger than before.

Before we could even uncover the ruins’ secrets, we found ourselves on the brink of annihilation.

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