Chapter 149

“It’s brighter out here than I expected.”

On the main road leading to the capital of the Rubens Empire, a carriage sat with two people facing each other. Ulan and Noa, who had just left the Arsen Academy.

Noa reached out through the wide-open window, her voice brimming with excitement.

“It feels great to be out after such a long time.”

Her face, bright and cheerful, reminded Ulan why they were heading to the capital.

‘She mentioned she was looking for something.’

Noa then made a request.

She needed Ulan’s help to collect items scattered throughout the capital. And she referred to those items as ‘Hidden Piece.’

That was a term unlike anything Ulan had heard before.

Just as he was trying to figure it out, Noa, who had been looking out the window, suddenly spoke up.

“You look like you have a question.”

“I do.”

“What is it?”

“What exactly is a Hidden Piece?”

Ulan boldly asked the question he had been mulling over.

It was definitely faster and more certain to ask her, the one who had mentioned it first, rather than to guess on his own.

“Oh, that’s what you’re curious about?”

With a casual wave of her hand, Noa brushed off the question.

“A Hidden Piece refers to a special ability or treasure that’s hidden well enough to be hard to find. Usually, you can only get them if you fulfill certain conditions.”

“Certain conditions?”

“Yeah, it’s generally broken down into three types.”

First, there’s the method of obtaining a Hidden Piece through events. A typical example is the enchantment Ulan acquired; Kazan also got his Hidden Piece from an event called ‘Trial of the Hero.’

The second way is through rewards for achieving certain milestones.

The elixir obtained by defeating the Lords of the Abyss falls into this category.

Lastly, the third method is getting a Hidden Piece stored in a particular place using clues.

That’s precisely why Noa was in the capital today.

“The issue is that they’re really hidden in places you wouldn’t think to look, making it tough to find them on your own. That’s why I asked for help.”

“Got it.”

Now it made sense why she reached out for assistance.

“Sure, I’ll help you as promised.”

“Hehe, yay!”

Noa beamed with joy at his confident answer.

Even though they hadn’t reached the capital yet, just knowing that Ulan would help made her feel like she’d already gathered all the Hidden Pieces.

“Oh, and in return for helping me for two days, I’ll treat you to all the meals. So feel free to order whatever you want.”

That was the ultimate reward for Ulan.

However, there was one thing that bothered him.

“Wait, two days?”

“Yeah, is there a problem?”

“Is it really necessary to stay a whole day?”

“Yes! Because the number of Hidden Pieces to find is quite a lot. So I thought two days would be a tight schedule.”

This made sense.

Ulan nodded silently.

Meanwhile, at that moment.

Whee-eek!

The carriage, zipping through the main road, suddenly came to a halt. Soon after, the driver called out that they had arrived at their destination.

“Shall we go?”

“Let’s do it.”

The two of them quickly got out of the carriage.

This was the second time Ulan was visiting the capital since he had come here with Ivella last time. He stepped out into the sunlit street.

3.

A world filled only with darkness.

A desolate space where not even a pinch of light could seep in. All that surrounded it were piles of stones and ashen dust.

But there was one thing that stood out.

A peculiar fragment of crimson hue.

Once, it would have shone bright like a gem but now lay covered in dust, discarded like all the other stones.

In fact, the fragment had been here since ancient times.

Perhaps even long before the other stones scattered around.

But as time passed, it found itself in this forsaken place, likely to remain untouched until the end of the world.

A place where life had long ceased to tread.

Yet, at that moment.

Something strange happened.

GrrrRRRRRR!

A thunderous sound echoed from the sky. Accompanied by a tumultuous vibration, something plunged in.

It was a hand.

A hand so massive it could be mistaken for that of a giant swept through the area in an instant.

Dust that had settled for ages blew away, and stones rolled across the ground. The hand, after wandering through the shadows for a while, finally came to a halt before the fragmented piece.

“Is this it?”

A voice from outside rang out.

The colossal hand grasped the fragment.

In the blink of an eye, the fragment was pulled from the dust-filled darkness, meeting the glowing sunset sky.

Whoooooosh!

In that moment, the wind swept through.

As the last remnants of dust were blown away, the fragment regained its original color.

A deep red, akin to freshly drawn blood.

The owner of the hand, having extracted the fragment from the darkness, also possessed eyes of the same color. Just then, a voice came from closer to the ground.

“Did you find it?”

“Yeah, it was right in the inner area.”

“Let me see.”

A girl with black hair and blue eyes stretched out her hands. Ulan placed the freshly unearthed fragment into her palms.

“Is this what you were looking for?”

“Yes! You found it perfectly.”

Noa beamed with delight.

At present, the two were in the midst of searching for the Hidden Pieces they had spoken about on the carriage ride. Ulan dusted off his hands and asked.

“How many are left now?”

“Hmm, we’ve gathered a total of twenty-two so far, which means we just need to find three more! There’s not much left, so hurry up and let’s go get something to eat.”

Noa said with a cheerful grin.

Ulan frowned slightly.

“That’s quite a lot.”

“Exactly. If I were doing this alone, it would have been impossible to find them all in just two days.”

This wasn’t an exaggeration.

From morning until evening, they had been tirelessly collecting Hidden Pieces all over the capital, yet three remained unaccounted for.

Moreover, some of these Hidden Pieces were hidden in the most outrageous locations.

‘The top of the Clock Tower, the end of the underground waterway, and places like the now-unused old sewer we just visited.’

And it didn’t stop there.

Some Hidden Pieces weren’t just hidden in specific spots but were tucked away within statues, guard posts, and even locked away in prisons.

If Ulan hadn’t reached the level of mastery, he couldn’t have even attempted to access such areas. Thus, Noa sincerely expressed her gratitude.

“I owe my life to your assistance, Ulan. Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. I’m just keeping my promise.”

Ulan responded nonchalantly.

As they moved to find the next Hidden Piece, he suddenly looked thoughtful.

“By the way.”

“Yes?”

“Are these really worth the effort?”

He gave a pat to the backpack slung over his shoulder. Inside it, lay all the Hidden Pieces they had collected since morning.

Noa nodded without hesitation.

“Of course! They’re incredibly rare treasures.”

“Hmm, they didn’t look very valuable, though….”

Ulan trailed off.

And who could blame him? The Hidden Pieces they had gathered thus far were mostly fragments that looked like pieces of glass.

Common items you could find anywhere.

Since they didn’t seem to possess any special power, he couldn’t understand why they were labeled as treasures.

“Sure, they may seem like junk for now, but when you gather them all and combine them, the story changes.”

“What does it change into?”

“They become a special artifact.”

Noa smiled widely.

Then she began explaining.

About the special artifact that would be created when the Hidden Pieces came together into one.

Long, long ago, during the founding days of the empire.

There were those who aided the first emperor in establishing the Rubens Empire. Among them was a fairy who went by the name ‘Einar.’

‘Einar Mel Arpen.’

She later contributed to the founding of the Arpen Duchy and was the last spirit to make an appearance in the continent’s history.

Before Einar departed, she divided a precious orb blessed by the spirits into forty pieces and scattered them throughout the capital for the prosperity of her friends and the empire.

‘And these pieces are the Hidden Pieces you’ve been searching for all day with Ulan.’ The ultimate goal is to gather all forty pieces into one, which completes the orb blessed by the spirit.

『Einar’s Orb』

This orb emits the spirits’ blessings simply by being carried around. The effect of the blessing was extremely simple.

‘It can withstand the power of the Abyss.’

To be precise, even if one were to fall into the Abyss, their life force and magic power wouldn’t deplete. Thus, it was a vital treasure for battling against the Abyss.

And one more thing.

It has an additional ability.

‘It strengthens summoned creatures.’

Golems, spirits, familiars, and others.

Every entity classified as a summoned creature sees a dramatic boost in power just by being close to Einar’s Orb.

‘In the original game, I always found and utilized it while playing as Fertisha.’

This was not just to face the Lords of the Abyss, but also to enhance the powers of the spirits Fertisha commanded.

‘And….’

This would be helpful once again.

Soon, a summoned creature could be born that would warrant being called a summoned creature.

Noa thought of that very name.

‘Shikigami.’

A shikigami refers to a mystical puppet that binds a target’s thoughts into a talisman for control.

It was somewhat reminiscent of a golem.

Although it shares similarities with spirits in that it does not have a clearly defined existence.

‘And I have some good materials as well.’

She recalled the ashen remains she had secured recently.

These were the ashes left behind by the Frost Dragon and the Swamp Ruler after being defeated.

These ashes contained incredibly powerful thoughts, and if she could summon them effectively, she could undoubtedly create the strongest shikigami possible.

As Noa finished explaining about Einar’s Orb, Ulan’s eyes widened in surprise.

“That’s impressive. So this was Einar’s Orb.”

“Oh, I had it in my previous life.”

“Right. Just as the Lords of the Abyss were about to be hunted, I received it through the Fang Brigade.”

Ulan nodded silently.

“So that was your plan after all.”

“Exactly. Einar’s Orb is essential for facing the Lords of the Abyss.”

Noa smiled brightly.

With this answer, Ulan became even more passionate about searching for the Hidden Pieces.

That was expected. Remembering his past life, he understood the importance of the Orb better than anyone else.

How much time had passed?

When the streets began to darken, Ulan revealed himself, covered in dirt.

“This must be the last one.”

“Yes! I checked it.”

Noa, holding the twenty-fifth fragment in her hands, beamed with satisfaction. Ulan brushed off the dirt on his body and asked.

“So now we make the Orb?”

“No. We’re still short.”

“What? Why not?”

“I told you earlier, right? The Orb is scattered into forty pieces. Twenty-five are inside the capital, while the rest are positioned on the outskirts.”

Noa pointed outside the castle walls.

Fifteen remained. But with nightfall, it was hard to find them now.

“So let’s find the rest tomorrow and head back for the night! Since you helped me a lot, I’ll treat you to whatever you want for dinner!”

“That’s very welcome news.”

Ulan happened to be quite hungry.

He smiled.

A little later, the two turned around and headed toward Hotel Parvo, where they’d be spending the night.

4.

Hotel Parvo.

This hotel, located in the heart of the capital, was a luxurious retreat accessible only to those of noble heritage.

And not just any noble could book a room; you had to hold a rank of at least a Count to secure a reservation.

In other words, normally, Ulan and Noa would be kicked out before even stepping through the entrance.

But this time was different.

Because they had the seal personally given to them by Marquis Gorphant. Hence, they could enjoy accommodation and meals without issue.

“I’m stuffed.”

Well, it was only natural to be full after spending three gold coins just for the meal.

As Ulan patted his belly with a satisfied face, Noa asked, still smiling.

“Did the food suit your taste?”

“It was delicious. I’d be happy to eat it again.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Then after we’re done with our business tomorrow, let’s swing by again before heading back to the Academy.”

This unexpected answer shocked Ulan.

“Is it really okay?”

“Of course! Absolutely.”

Noa radiated joy.

The reason for her unusually generous attitude was simple—it was because it wasn’t her money being spent.

Since the room booking and dining costs all utilized the seal provided by Seoric.

“The Marquis has plenty of money.”

With her cheerful smile lingering, Ulan and Noa moved to their guest room.

The room they arrived at was exceedingly spacious.

The bed could easily fit five people, and there was also a large leather sofa.

That wasn’t all.

The walls were adorned with exquisite engravings, and when Noa opened the window behind the bed, the panoramic view of the capital lay before them.

“Wow, expensive rooms really are different.”

Noa’s eyes sparkled as she gazed at the capital’s night view.

She plopped down on the bed. Suddenly, a thought flashed in her mind, making her beam even brighter.

“Oh, speaking of which, it’s been a long time since it was just the two of us.”

“That’s true.”

Ulan nodded in agreement.

For as long as they had been away from the prairie to the Academy, they found themselves sharing a room yet again.

That was because there was only one room available for booking with the Marquis’s seal. Of course, they could have paid out of pocket for additional rooms, but Noa firmly rejected the idea.

‘It was because the lodging fee was way too expensive.’

The hotel charged eight gold coins for a night’s stay.

The moment Noa heard this, she booked the only room without a second thought.

In hindsight, it turned out to be a good choice. After all, there were plenty of places to rest other than a bed.

Meanwhile.

Noa sat on the bed, taking out the Hidden Pieces from her backpack to organize them. Suddenly, her eyes widened as if she had remembered something she had forgotten.

“Ah, right! Ulan.”

“…?”

“Come over here for a second.”

Noa called Ulan over, patting the spot beside her. Surprised by the sudden beckoning, Ulan tilted his head and asked.

“Why?”

“I have something to give you.”

She had a serious expression, as if there was something important to discuss, so Ulan approached the bed without question.

“Here, take this.”

“What is it?”

Noa handed him a small glass vial.

It seemed vaguely familiar. Ulan squinted as he tried to recall where he might have seen it before.

But there was no need to struggle. As if reading his mind, Noa answered right after the question posed.

“It’s the Elixir of Balance.”

With that brief explanation, her eyes were lit up with seriousness.

---