Chapter 76: The Shield of the Dead (2)

“No Ash of War…”

“It’s just a regular shield that’s slightly sturdier than usual.”

Ethan sounded disappointed.

Meanwhile, the elder—and most of the spectators—were still staring at him in shock.

“Ethan Heart… I thought your Blessing only worked on monsters.”

“Who told you that?” Ethan replied indifferently.

“My Blessing works on all souls.”

“In other words… every living creature.”

The elder looked visibly displeased.

“But turning the soul of one of your own clansmen into a weapon…”

He couldn’t finish the sentence.

Ethan clearly didn’t share his sentiment.

“And what of it?” Ethan replied coldly.

“It’s far better for the clan if he becomes a weapon that can still be used… rather than dying without any value.”

Turning his back on the elder and the rest of the spectators, he continued:

“He’s dead. He’s gone from this world.”

“We are the ones who remain.”

“We’re the ones who will keep fighting from now on—not him.”

After giving the elder and the assembled hunters a final salute,

Ethan finally left the arena.

Behind him, nothing remained except a pool of blood and the scattered remains of his opponent.

As he departed, the old man Asterion watched him.

A faint smile appeared on his face.

“The duel took a direction I never expected…”

“But in the end, it certainly didn’t fail to impress me.”

The Uncrowned Emperor rose to his feet as well.

“I may have found myself a disciple—perhaps the strangest one in the history of this clan.”

“But he suits me perfectly.”

He left under the watchful eyes of Kevin Heart, who had overheard his words.

Kevin watched him go…

then turned his gaze toward the arena, where the blood was still scattered across the ground.

“I have a bad feeling about him.”

“But I am not the kind of man who would suppress a promising hunter merely because of a feeling.”

Kevin slowly closed his eyes, accepting how things had turned out.

“I pray that you become a good hunter.”

“One who protects his comrades and his clan until the very end.”

It was a sincere prayer from Kevin’s heart.

He cared deeply for the clan—so much so that he even felt regret over the death of James Heart.

Even though dying in Maria’s reckoning was something entirely normal.

Whether that prayer would come true…

depended entirely on Ethan.

Was he a hunter who fought for the sake of others?

Or someone who moved only for his own benefit?

Only the future could answer that question.

—

Later that night, far from the echoes of the duel Ethan had won,

the hunters had already finished clearing the Legacy Dungeon and eliminating the remaining monsters inside.

Only a few people remained now—searching for hidden treasures and other secrets.

After all,

a Legacy Dungeon could hide countless things.

Earlier, most of the powerful squads had been sent in to clear it.

Such as the Third Squad—Ethan’s comrades.

And the First Squad, which had also participated.

The numbering didn’t represent random labels.

It represented strength rankings.

Ethan’s Third Squad, led by Moon Heart, ranked third in overall power among the hunters.

The First Squad—the strongest—had joined the operation as well.

The Second Squad, however, had been unable to participate.

They were still away on a campaign.

Not to mention the members of the Heart clan who had been taken by the royal family of Ardyn to participate in wars against other kingdoms.

These hunters were currently the strongest within the Heart clan, which was why the hunt had ended so quickly.

“And that leaves… just us,” said a thin, frail young man.

He had narrow eyes and light red hair, and looked no older than eighteen.

Standing across from him was a girl with long brown hair. She wore a black robe and a pointed witch’s hat resting atop her head.

She was a mage.

She let out a light sigh in response.

“Why are we always the ones assigned to treasure hunting?!”

The girl complained loudly, her voice echoing through the vast hall where the two of them stood.

It was the royal chamber—the same place where Ethan had slain the boss Mathius.

Now that the dungeon had been cleared, the area had become safe. Ladders had been installed from above to allow easy access inside.

The young man and woman standing there were members of the Twelfth Hunting Squad.

In truth, they were little more than extra hands—usually tasked with transporting equipment or searching for treasure, rather than fighting.

Which explained their low level.

Neither of them met the requirements for the Advanced Rank.

The mage girl clearly resented that fact.

“We’re not allowed to fight, so our levels never increase!”

“And even if we find treasure, the clan takes everything!”

“We’re basically working for free!”

She shouted loudly, forcing the young man in front of her to cover his ears with both hands.

“Complaining to me won’t change anything,” he said flatly.

He walked past her toward the throne.

“I know! But I can’t stay silent forever or I’ll explode!”

“Then explode somewhere else,” he replied lazily.

“Our squad has other members besides me.”

“They’re all wandering through the dungeon looking for treasure right now,” she shot back.

“So you’re the only one here.”

The young man frowned.

“Spare me your nonsense.”

He stepped forward until he stood before the throne.

That alone made her blink in confusion.

“What are you doing?”

He turned toward her with a wide grin.

Then he casually sat down on the throne, crossing one leg over the other.

“My name is Virtz Heart!” he declared dramatically.

“From this day forward, I am the king here!”

The girl burst into laughter, covering her mouth with her hand.

“Stop it! That doesn’t suit you at all!”

“You look more like a gate guard than a king!”

She mocked him as she climbed the steps toward the throne.

Virtz frowned immediately.

“If I’m a gate guard, then you’re nothing more than a servant!”

“A servant so ugly you wouldn’t even qualify as a maid!”

“What did you say?!”

The girl snapped.

Soon the two of them were arguing loudly inside the vast royal hall—

as if they were the only two people left in the entire world.

They kept fooling around like that for quite some time.

After all, no one was watching them.

Their antics continued…

until Virtz suddenly stopped.

Something strange had caught his attention.

“Wait, Alexa… step back for a second,” he said as he jumped down from the throne.

“What is it?” she asked, following him.

“Are you trying to act mysterious now?”

But Virtz didn’t answer.

His focus was entirely elsewhere.

He stared beneath the throne, frowning slightly.

A strange chill brushed against his senses.

“There’s… a cold draft coming from under the throne,” he said seriously.

Alexa tilted her head.

“And what does that mean?”

“Don’t be stupid,” he replied.

His words forced her to think for a moment.

“If there’s airflow coming from beneath the throne, then there’s a good chance there’s a hidden passage or secret chamber under it!”

Her eyes immediately lit up.

“If you’re right… what should we do now?”

“Should we call the other hunters?”

Virtz shook his head firmly.

“Come help me move it.”

Whatever was down there—

he intended to find it himself.

After a moment of hesitation, Alexa stepped forward to help him.

Together, they pushed against the throne with all their strength.

For a few seconds, nothing happened.

Then—

the throne finally shifted.

With a heavy scrape, it slid aside.

Revealing a dark staircase hidden beneath it.

Virtz’s grin widened instantly.

“I knew it! There really is a hidden passage!”

He looked genuinely excited.

Alexa, however, grew visibly tense as she stared at the pitch-black stairs.

“Are you sure this leads to a treasure room?”

“Of course it does,” he replied confidently.

“What do you think would be hidden behind a boss chamber?”

Then he stepped down the stairs without hesitation.

“Treasure, obviously.”

He was completely fearless.

Unlike Alexa.

When the moment of truth arrived, her courage faltered.

“Shouldn’t we wait for the others?” she asked nervously.

Virtz frowned when he saw her hesitation.

“Weren’t you the one complaining that we never get to do anything?”

“Well, this is our chance.”

His voice grew firm.

“Either we accomplish something ourselves…”

“or we spend the rest of our lives as nobodies.”

“The choice is yours.”

Alexa was the type who talked a lot but rarely acted.

The moment things became real, she usually lost her nerve.

But Virtz’s words stirred something inside her.

After a long hesitation, she finally stepped forward—

descending the stairs beside him.

Virtz smiled as he took her hand.

Together, the two of them walked deeper into the darkness,

dreaming of discovering some magnificent treasure.

Only a few seconds later…

the throne slid back into its original position.

The passage sealed itself shut once again.

And the two of them were left trapped…

inside the darkness.

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