Chapter 132: External Field Trip (5)

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“It seems best to secure an overall view first.”

“Shall we set up the lights?”

“Let’s fire signal flares first.”

Carl pulled a long signal flare out of his backpack.

Like fireworks, it shot into the air and lit up the surroundings for a certain time.

Lacis also pulled out a flare but hesitated slightly as she looked at Carl.

“It feels like something might be inside, so if we recklessly fire a flare, it’ll be like advertising that we’re here.”

“That’s the intention. It would be better if they reacted to us first.”

“Why is that?”

“Facing them head-on is cleaner than being ambushed for no reason.”

If Carl had come here alone, it might have been different, but with Lacis accompanying him, the situation changed.

Unpredictable threats were a greater danger to her.

Carl would protect her as much as he could, but he wasn’t omnipotent.

‘Of course, there’s no need to say that out loud.’

What mattered to Carl was both the excavation of the ruins and building ties with Lacis.

If she realized on her own that she was a burden and withdrew, his plans would fall apart.

Wouldn’t it look far better for them to overcome hardships and obstacles together?

“And if something was sleeping inside, it would have sensed us the moment we opened the door.”

“…You sensed something.”

“It’s a faint feeling that’s hard to explain, but it’s certain that some unknown presence is here.”

Nodding, Carl immediately fired the flare.

Lacis followed with her own, and the interior was soon dyed in bright light.

“Oh? It’s not a temple?”

“More like a castle than a temple.”

Carl looked around.

He had assumed it would naturally serve as a temple since it was an ancient ruin.

Most of the excavated sites so far had overwhelmingly been temples.

But this place clearly had the form of a castle.

“Hmm, then what we’ve seen so far must have been the outer walls.”

“That’s right. The Gargoyle Spire must have been used as an outpost to monitor the outside. Looking back at the path, it was spiral-shaped. The wall encircling this castle is buried underground intact.”

“Let’s go check it out.”

Thanks to the flares, they roughly grasped the structure.

To know more, they had to go inside, so Carl and Lacis headed toward the castle.

“……”

When the flares died out, pitch-black darkness once again descended.

They relied on a lantern and a lightstone, but visibility naturally shortened.

Because of that, Lacis stuck close behind Carl, stepping carefully.

“Lacis.”

“Yes.”

“Would you like to try this?”

Carl took out something the size of a pea from a glass vial and placed it in her hand.

“What is this?”

“It’s a refined pill made by mixing several herbs and potions. Eating it will temporarily improve your night vision.”

“Are there any side effects?”

“I heard there aren’t. Oh, but since it’s highly nutritious, eating more than three a day might affect your weight.”

“Hmm…”

Affecting her weight.

For Lacis, that was a huge side effect.

“Two are fine, right?”

“I eat them often myself.”

When Carl nodded, Lacis understood and popped it straight into her mouth.

A bitter taste, like chewing grass, spread on her tongue.

After a moment, a spreading sensation rose to her head, and the dark surroundings shifted to a green hue, with outlines of objects becoming clear.

“Oh? I really can see.”

“Though there’s some variation depending on the person, you should be able to distinguish things to a degree. Each pill lasts for about two hours, so keep the rest with you.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Lacis nodded energetically.

Now she could freely check her surroundings, though she still clung close to Carl as they examined the castle’s form.

“It’s just an ordinary castle.”

“It must have stood for a long time, yet the building itself shows little trace of age. Protected by magic or some kind of mechanism.”

“…Now that you mention it.”

At his words, Lacis suddenly looked down at the ground.

“There’s grass and weeds. They’re not lush, but still alive. Rather than a buried space, it feels like time itself has stopped.”

“Time has stopped.”

Carl narrowed his eyes.

From what they had seen so far, describing it as a frozen castle in time was most accurate.

It wouldn’t be strange if at any moment a door opened and soldiers or servants appeared.

‘There’s no sign of the guardian of the castle. Instead…’

Carl turned his gaze aside.

Inside the castle stretched a long corridor.

Every few steps stood statues of armed soldiers firmly in place, their numbers far too many to be mere decorations.

“Be careful of the statues.”

“You mean they’ll move in an emergency.”

“That seems likely. It’s the most straightforward form, after all.”

Breaking them didn’t look very difficult.

Which meant they were likely used just to slow intruders or trip them up.

The true guardian had to be elsewhere.

The two walked the entire corridor inside the castle.

Just as they were about to enter through the central door—

Tak.

Carl’s hand was stopped midair.

It felt like a solid wall was there, though nothing was visible.

“What’s wrong?”

“There’s a wall ahead. Invisible to the eye.”

“Oh, you’re right.”

Lacis reached out and brushed the unseen barrier.

“Should we break it? Or is there another path?”

“Even if we found another path, it would be blocked. This feels like a barrier surrounding the entire interior.”

“Then breaking it is our only option.”

Lacis drew her sword, eager.

The existence of a barrier meant something was inside.

“……”

Carl tapped on the barrier again.

The rebound was strangely peculiar.

The thought crept into Carl’s mind that it would be difficult to cut through with physical attacks.

After pondering for a moment, Carl turned his head and asked Lacis.

“Lacis.”

“Yes.”

“Do you happen to need money?”

“…Money?”

At Carl’s sudden question, Lacis widened her eyes.

But Carl looked at her and asked again.

“Which do you prefer, money or honor?”

“……”

It was still a question without clear meaning.

Lacis tilted her head for a moment, then quickly understood what he meant.

“…You don’t intend to make this ruin public.”

“Yes.”

Carl nodded without resistance.

An undiscovered ruin, even if not related to a hero, discovering something of this scale would surely bring great honor.

The academic world would stir again, and the names of Carl and Lacis would be repeatedly mentioned, building their prestige.

‘On the other hand, if we keep it secret.’

Instead of gaining honor, they could seize the jewels and treasures piled up here.

Though it would be difficult to process everything legally, they would still handle a considerable sum.

“To break this barrier, we’ll inevitably have to damage the ruin. So if we intend to report it to academia, it’s better to turn back now. The treasures we found outside are significant, so we would receive a decent reward.”

“But Carl, you’re curious about what’s inside, aren’t you?”

“That’s right. That’s why I’m asking for your opinion, Lacis.”

“…Even if you hadn’t asked, I would have followed whatever you decided.”

Carl gave a faint smile.

It was his way of showing how much he respected Lacis.

“Excavating undiscovered ruins requires a report. Back when we were in the club, the Bayern authorities were notified in advance. Of course, if no report was made, simple excavation would be allowed, but if the ruin was damaged in the process…”

“The punishment is severe.”

“Hiding this ruin isn’t difficult. We could restore the gargoyle statues or block the passage itself. As for the jewels piled outside, I can handle their disposal. You need money too, don’t you, Lacis?”

At those words, Lacis flinched her shoulders.

Did Carl also know the circumstances only her closest friend Yuria was aware of?

“…You know about my situation?”

“I don’t know the details. I just heard stories since you’re from the Kingdom of Alforam and guessed. I do have a sharp mind, don’t I?”

When Carl tapped his temple with a finger, Lacis gave a small laugh.

But it was a lie.

Carl had investigated Lacis’s circumstances in detail from the moment he resolved to recruit her.

‘It was rather complicated.’

Multiple queens, countless bloodlines, powerful nobles rising in influence, and an incompetent king who was little more than a puppet.

As the daughter of the official queen, Lacis inherited legitimate blood and succession rights.

But her father, the king, was incompetent, and her greedy mother sought to make another child king, joining hands with powerful figures in a fierce struggle.

To the queen and the royal family, Lacis was nothing more than a royal bloodline of high political value.

There was a strong chance she would be used as a pawn to strengthen ties with the Empire or sustain her faction.

‘Marriage talks have already gone to some major houses.’

Even within Bayern, negotiations had been linked with Nerian of Hopenheim and Louis of the Wolfsburg family.

Both Nerian and Louis had refused political marriage, but discussions with other siblings were still ongoing.

‘As a bride, none could offer better conditions than her.’

The Kingdom of Alforam as her background, the title of son-in-law to the royal family, Lacis herself being outstanding, and her beauty on top of it.

Any greedy noble would gladly pursue a political marriage to use her.

“I know that you’re preparing to seek asylum in the Empire, Lacis.”

“……”

Generally, there were two ways for a foreign royal to become a citizen of the Empire.

By marrying into the Empire’s nobility, or by earning a title.

She would surely avoid the former, so she aimed for achievements that could grant her nobility.

Joining the club, discovering a hero’s ruins, and making her name prominent in academia were all steps toward that goal.

“I…”

Thus Carl gave Lacis the choice directly.

If word spread of their discovery of such a large ruin, it would greatly aid her plan.

“I’ll follow your decision, Carl.”

“My decision?”

“Yes. You want to investigate inside, don’t you? Honor is something I can earn with my own hands later. I’ve already received too much from you to insist on my gain alone.”

“…Haha.”

Carl let out a small laugh.

It wasn’t 100% the answer he wanted, but Lacis’s sincerity was more than enough.

So he clenched his fist and gave her a smile.

“Step back.”

“Yes.”

When Lacis nodded and quickly retreated—

Jjeoeeong─!

Carl’s iron fist slammed hard against the barrier blocking their way.

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