Chapter 93

Legacy of the Living

“...What are you?”

Karal’s voice trembled. Not just his voice—his eyes shook as well. With a bewildered expression, as if unable to comprehend what he was seeing, a mixture of emotions crossed his face as he looked up at Ulrich.

Ulrich did not answer. He simply kept his mouth shut, showing not a trace of emotion, and looked down at him—as if silently telling him to continue.

At that, Karal raised his eyebrows.

“What kind of magic did you use? How did you use this?”

He touched the bracelet on his right wrist, then clenched his fist tightly.

From the glass sitting on the table two steps away, water rose into the air.

It was exactly the same sight Ulrich had shown earlier. It must be the bracelet’s ability. A flow of mana could be felt from that object. When Roberta had examined the bracelet before, she hadn’t sensed anything at all—but now the flow was clearly perceptible.

When she had first received the bracelet, she had been certain something was there, judging by the circumstances, yet she couldn’t perceive even the slightest trace of mana, let alone any ability. Not just her—Fritz hadn’t sensed anything either.

Ulrich had said it himself: the bracelet was an artifact, and artifacts could only be used by those who were qualified. It was only natural that the two of them, lacking qualification, felt nothing and could do nothing.

And yet Karal had used the bracelet as if it were second nature.

What he demonstrated wasn’t particularly impressive. Even without the bracelet, Fritz or Roberta could easily move the water in a glass. But the fact that he had used the bracelet—that was the issue.

“This isn’t something just anyone can use. It’s a creation of Parios. Only those with the right qualifications can use it, and I know who those people are. But you’re not among them. You used an artifact, yet you’re someone I don’t know. Who... are you?”

“I believe I’ve given you enough clues.”

Ulrich took out a ring from his coat.

A crude silver ring—Yusuf’s second ring.

Karal stared at the ring, but seemed unable to recognize anything from its outward appearance, and simply waited in silence.

“Who did you receive that bracelet from?”

“My mother. And she received it from my grandfather.”

“It’s been passed down through generations?”

Karal nodded.

“My ancestor didn’t receive it directly from Yusuf. It’s just been handed down continuously since some point in the past.”

At that answer, Ulrich handed the ring he had been holding to Karal.

Examining it with curiosity, Karal looked at the inside—and his eyes widened.

It was a familiar reaction. Harald, the fence, had shown the same response. Not because the ring was simply a valuable artifact, but because he had recognized the meaning contained within it.

Roberta watched Karal closely. The fence had possessed stories passed down through generations. Based on Ulrich’s appearance and the ring, he had realized that Ulrich was someone deeply connected to his ancestors.

What about this man?

Someone who could use an artifact passed down through generations, combined with someone holding Gamil’s ring—what kind of conclusion would that produce in him?

“If you know that, then there’s no need to say more.”

With the hand holding the ring trembling, Karal muttered, “I thought it was just a rumor,” and then lifted his head to look at Ulrich. His expression was full of disbelief.

“Your name?”

“...Karal.”

“Very well, Karal. Now, will you answer my question?”

The reply came after a long pause.

“If it’s something I know.”

Hearing his softened voice, Ulrich pulled over a chair and sat down.

“Why did you use people to target grave robbers?”

“As I said earlier. To assess the situation of the ruins investigation.”

“You were also after Yusuf’s treasure?”

“Well… there’s a reason, but yes, you could say that.”

Karal let out a short breath.

“We were trying to secure the artifacts first, so they wouldn’t be used in the wrong way. Ah—and as I just said ‘we,’ I’m not the only one who thinks this way. There are quite a few people like me who possess Yusuf’s artifacts. We’re trying to protect them in our own way.”

Some kind of secret society?

His gaze briefly shifted to Roberta.

“It’s not anything that grand.”

It seemed she had spoken her thoughts out loud without realizing.

“We’re not some great organization like the Holy Grail Knights. We do have a name—the Dawn Society… but it’s really just a gathering of people who possess Yusuf’s artifacts.”

“For a mere gathering, you seem quite active.”

“Well, we do have some history.”

At Roberta’s remark, Karal shrugged.

It had originally been more of a social salon, a group for fellowship—but at some point, it seemed to have adopted a slogan like “We must protect Yusuf’s artifacts.”

It wasn’t hard to understand. Groups formed around a single theme could easily be consumed by it and drift toward extremes.

Those who possessed Yusuf’s artifacts naturally took interest in his other artifacts—and that interest could easily lead to action.

“Then you must have quite a lot of artifacts.”

“Individually, they’re not as impressive as the ones in the Pantheon, but we have a lot. Aside from those owned by individuals or families like mine, there are also quite a few artifacts under shared ownership.”

“Can you give a rough number?”

Karal scratched his eyebrow and hesitated.

“Maybe half?”

Half?

Half of the artifacts Yusuf had gathered in his lifetime?

“As I said, it’s mostly quantity. Most of them have unknown functions—so it’s basically like piling up antiques. That’s why no one’s made a fuss about it so far… though a few can still be used, like this one.”

He tapped the bracelet on his right wrist.

Roberta stared at the bracelet for a moment, then turned her gaze to Ulrich.

“Is this what the Archbishop is after?”

“...The Archbishop is after this?”

Ignoring Karal’s question, Ulrich placed a hand on his chin.

“For now, that seems likely. If I remember correctly, if the artifact Yusuf held until the very end remains unchanged, there would be no reason for the Archbishop to search for his grave. However, among the other artifacts—those Yusuf did not possess, that are not in the Pantheon, and whose whereabouts are unknown—there are some of great value.”

If among the artifacts Yusuf collected in his lifetime there was one the Archbishop needed? And if that artifact’s whereabouts were unknown?
Naturally, he would have to search for it—but where would he even begin?

It would be like being cast alone into a vast ocean. But if he knew about Karal’s group, the situation changed. A group that possessed a significant portion of Yusuf’s artifacts. What if the artifact the Archbishop sought was among those they held?

Then the Archbishop would try to make contact with them. And to reach a group that hid in the shadows and never revealed themselves, he cast bait—Yusuf’s tomb—so they would come to him of their own accord.

“So the one who spread that information… must have been that nameless fairy.”

“Mm. When there are many mouths, at least one is bound to open.”

Ulrich clasped his hands and rested them on his stomach.

“And this Dawn Society has come before as well.”

He was referring to the time when rumors about Yusuf’s tomb had previously spread.

Just as Ulrich had come to the Bishopric of Langen after hearing those rumors, if Karal’s predecessors had also come, there would be no reason for them not to come again.

“It makes sense… but why now?” Karal said. “Everyone knows the Pantheon and the Emperor are in conflict. Why search for artifacts at a time like this? Or… is that the reason? To seize our treasures and expand their power?”

“Hard to say. It’s obvious they intend to obtain artifacts and use them for something, and it’s true they lured you in with Yusuf’s tomb for that purpose. But what artifact they are seeking, and what they intend to do with it, is still unclear.”

Karal frowned deeply and clenched his teeth.

“Forget it. We can figure out the reason later. Whatever it is, they targeted us.”

He hurriedly tried to stand.

“I have to inform them immediately.”

But the moment he put weight on his left leg, he groaned as it gave out.

He had been crushed beneath a falling horse, and even healing magic hadn’t restored him enough to walk properly yet.

Ulrich stood and supported Karal.

“How do you intend to inform them?”

“I’ll go myself. I need to meet the lord first and tell him.”

Balancing on his right foot, Karal hopped forward, twisting his lips into a crooked grin.

“There’s another knight lord besides me.”

Though he spoke respectfully, his tone was laced with sarcasm.

“Did he come with you?”

“He’s the one who brought me along in the first place. I’m just here to pass on information I got from chasing grave robbers. He’s the one leading this investigation. I don’t like him, but given the situation, I have no choice.”

Roberta quickly stood and helped support Karal.

“We should hurry. Unlike us, the Archbishop had a clear objective from the beginning. And he’s had plenty of time. Just as we found Brother Karal, he may already have made contact with that knight.”

It was even possible the Archbishop hadn’t approached Karal because he had already reached the knight, who could be considered his superior.

“Brother, when was the last time you contacted him?”

“Last month… about twenty days ago. We agreed to meet periodically at a fixed location, like I do with mercenaries.”

As they left the inn, the sun was descending in the sky. Ulrich sent a letter to Beatrice in Oberlangen, then mounted his horse and followed Karal’s guidance.

***

They rode southwest for several days. The day had just begun to fade when they left the previous town—and by the time they reached their destination, the sun was once again sinking low.

Karal pointed toward a village visible in the distance.

“That’s the place. I’ve been here before, so I’m sure.”

He stopped his horse at a distance where the village was barely visible.

“You go ahead. There’s only one inn—wait for me there.”

Leaving him behind, the three entered the village. A simple fence surrounded it, and a single young man stood guard.

Leaning his spear lazily against his shoulder, the guard waved them in with a lifeless expression. Though small, the village seemed to have frequent travelers, as he showed no suspicion despite three outsiders entering at once.

“Excuse me, where’s the inn?”

“The inn? Uh… just head toward that chimney with smoke.”

Among the single-story buildings, one two-story structure stood out, smoke rising steadily from its chimney. It was an inn with a wooden sign bearing a tree instead of a name.

Inside, it was crowded. With evening approaching, most people were eating, and only a few seats remained.

Were they villagers?

No—it seemed unlikely. Nearly everyone carried a weapon at their waist.

The moment the three entered, conversation ceased, and sharp gazes fell upon them.

“Don’t just stand there—come in.”

At the innkeeper’s blunt remark, Roberta ignored the stares and took a seat.

“Is it always this crowded?”

She asked casually while ordering food.

“It’s been like this for a few days. They say they’re monster hunters.”

“Have monsters appeared nearby?”

“As if.”

The innkeeper replied that they were simply passing through after a hunt.

“Hello there.”

That was when Karal entered.

As he stood at the doorway, the same silence and stares fell over him—but not quite the same as before.

This time, the silence lingered longer. Some even instinctively placed their hands on their weapons.

Roberta didn’t miss the subtle glances exchanged among the so-called hunters—or the slight nods they gave each other.

‘Monster hunters?’

The act was far too clumsy.

Suppressing a scoff, she quietly observed the fake hunters.