Chapter 94 : Let's Find Out the Identity of the Fragment
Let's Find Out the Identity of the Fragment
"Brother!"
When I came out after finishing my conversation with the old woman, Barkal and Serena welcomed me.
"Was there any trouble?"
"No, there wasn't."
Apparently, Serena had been worried too. Well, considering we'd never had any good experiences when it came to getting mixed up with the "Disguiser," it was only natural to be on guard.
Miriam seemed to sense the tense atmosphere as well, and followed me out, looking around cautiously.
"I don't trust that rat."
Barkal frowned and slowly spoke toward Miriam.
"Ah! Are you sure the conversation is over, brother!?"
When Barkal asked, I nodded.
"Then I suppose it's fine to deal with the rat!"
He then loosened his fists and began to approach Miriam slowly.
"Wa-wait! Let's talk this out! How about having a conversation?"
"We've done enough talking! What's left is to deal with you!"
"Cl-cleric! Please, can't you do something about him?"
"O lost lamb."
Serena gently clasped Miriam's hands as if in prayer and spoke in a compassionate voice.
"My god, Liberas, loves you."
"R-right? So perhaps you could..."
"Perhaps he loves you so much, he wishes to keep you close to him?"
"What?"
Serena gave her a holy maiden-like smile.
"I respect the will of the divine. For I am his follower!"
"Kahahahaha!"
"Kyaaaaaaah!"
Barkal, gripping his axe, approached, and Miriam flinched and screamed in terror.
For the time being, I stopped Barkal. Is it too psychopathic to think this way? I didn't really care if she died.
But if there was anything I could gain, then I should get it.
"The Second Finger was a headache for you guys. Am I right?"
Miriam nodded fiercely. It felt like she was conveying, "I'll do anything if you just save me."
"Barkal took care of him."
"He was a weakling!"
Anyway.
"Since we helped you, shouldn't there be some kind of reward?"
"... I may call myself the First Finger now, but I don't have that much money saved up."
Really?
When I looked at Barkal and gestured, he grinned. Knowing what it meant, miriam flinched in shock.
"Now that I think about it, silas! I know the location of that guy's warehouse!"
Warehouse?
"Since you already took down the Second Finger, I suppose you could use it now..."
"Is it close by?"
Miriam nodded.
"I'll show you."
* * *
When we pushed open the old iron door and entered, a chill washed over us.
It was a place where you couldn't see an inch ahead, but as we stepped in, a soft light spread from inside, slowly revealing the outline of the interior.
It seemed that magic lamps reacting to people entering were installed here.
"Is this an armory?"
As the sight inside became clearer, the first thing that caught my eye were the weapons displayed on the racks.
More weapons.
And more weapons.
"You called this a warehouse, but why are there only weapons?"
At my question, miriam let out an awkward laugh.
"Well, um, I suppose so? It's actually my first time coming in here myself..."
Then what's the point of bringing us?
"Hm."
A sigh escaped from my disappointment. Right now, the weapon I had was the "Blood-Colored Awl".
There didn't seem to be anything here that could replace it.
Since it was about time to let go of my connection with Thrag, it might not be a bad idea to practice with other weapons.
* 〈Thrag has noticed your insolent thoughts.〉
Okay, fine.
I'm only thinking about it, only thinking.
"Ooh..."
Unlike me, Barkal seemed satisfied as he scanned the armory with a satisfied exclamation, glancing around.
He then started testing out the massive weapons displayed on the racks, one by one.
"Wow... There are so many amazing weapons here."
Serena also seemed interested in the display. Still, she didn't look like she planned on actually taking anything—only touching them once in a while.
It seemed she wanted to keep her fists pure, blessed by Liberas' grace.
Maybe I should look around too. I might stumble upon something good.
Iron Thorn Club
Grade: Rare
[Strike] 3
[Crush] 2
[Threaten] 2
[Weight] 1
I looked through the equipment I picked up, but nothing really caught my interest.
Ah.
Come to think of it, now wasn't the time to be checking out weapons.
I took out the bundle I had received from the old woman and stashed in my bosom. A pure white piece of metal once again greeted me.
What in the world was this?
Even when I tapped it with the "Rune of the Abyss"-marked left hand, there was no reaction.
What was it made of?
It felt hard on the outside, but when I squeezed it, it felt oddly soft beneath my fingers.
It was simple metal, but also seemed like horn... I couldn't make sense of it.
Was this really supposed to let me hurt the "dark knight"?
"Hm?"
Wait.
I noticed a faint light leaking from between the fragments, so I poked it with my finger.
Shard of Vespers
Grade: Inviolable
* Cannot be destroyed.
* Materializes beings of the Abyss.
A text floated up.
The first thing that stood out was the word "Inviolable."
What was this?
I'd never seen a grade like this before.
It was a grade that hadn't appeared even once in 《Dungeon God》 so far.
Wasn't "divine" the highest grade?
Well, that wasn't important right now. The part that stood out in the text was "materializes beings of the Abyss."
Reading that made me feel relieved all of a sudden.
Thanks to that function, it seemed I'd be able to harm beings like the "dark knight."
But the word "materialize" was curious. Did that mean those in the Abyss were like ghosts?
"Oh, ooh...!"
While I was focusing on the "Shard of Vespers," a strange groan began to echo from the armory.
Of course, it was Barkal. He was slowly approaching a massive axe hanging at the back of the warehouse, as if entranced.
"This is it!"
He began to caress the axe.
Even I could tell it was no ordinary axe. The weapon hanging on the wall exuded an overwhelming aura.
An axe that looked like an Eastern painting of a sheer cliff. The moment I saw it, I thought—this wasn't a weapon, but a work of art.
Curious, I drew closer to the axe.
World's Precipice
Grade: Unique
[Sturdiness] 5
[Cutting Power] 5
[Fracture Expansion] 1
[Artistry] 2
[World Severing] 1
[Half of Fate] 1
What the hell.
This was a unique-grade item?
Without realizing it, I cursed inwardly.
It even had the trait "Half of Fate," which suggested that somewhere in the world, there was a matching piece to form a set.
"Erindal...!"
Barkal muttered as he gazed at "World's Precipice."
Erindal—wasn't the axe you were already carrying on your back also "Erindal"?
I wanted to say something, but he had given me this advice before.
He'd told me that things are just things.
"I—I want to take this with me!"
Barkal.
Clearly, he wanted that axe so badly it was almost pitiful.
"Take it."
You already beat the "Second Finger," so everything here should be yours.
"Oh, ooh...! Thank you, sage!"
Barkal sincerely thanked me as he approached "World's Precipice."
He then took the axe off the wall and began to touch its handle.
"A-amazing... I only met you today, yet what is this feeling in my hands!"
He seemed truly moved.
"You are my partner now, Erindal!"
He said, and slung "World's Precipice" on his back alongside his old "Dark Maple War Axe."
Ditch one of them, man. At this rate, about 70 percent of your load's weight is just you and your axes. The wagon and Krunga are having a hard time, you know.
"Kahahahahaha!"
Barkal burst into hearty laughter, as if he knew what I wanted to say.
"Congratulations, brother Barkal!"
"Thank you, Serena!"
"Wow... seriously, congratulations! I'm glad something good came out of this for you!"
Barkal rejoiced as Serena congratulated him. When Miriam tried to chime in by clapping, their expressions instantly hardened.
"I'll give you Erindal's first, miriam."
"W-whaaaah!"
Clutching "World's Precipice,"
Barkal approached, and Miriam screamed and ran to my side.
Hey, knock it off.
Just as I was about to say so, a question popped into my mind.
"Miriam."
"Yes?"
"There's something I want to ask."
"A-absolutely, please ask!"
When I spoke up, Barkal put away the axe and Miriam sighed in relief.
"Not long ago, wasn't there a 'Disguiser' who came to us?"
Miriam nodded emphatically.
"If the Disguiser came, that means someone put out a request targeting us. Am I right?"
Miriam nodded again.
"I want to know who made that request. Can you tell me?"
"Ah, I looked into that as well."
She moved quicker than I'd expected.
"I believe it was a request commissioned to Silas... Just a moment."
As if struggling to recall, miriam fished a notebook from within her clothes.
Miriam flipped it open and checked its contents. Before long, she spoke up.
"Here it is!"
Who was it?
"Rugar of the Red Wolf Tribe! He's the one who commissioned your assassination."
New Names, locations, skills, techniques (