Chapter 1025 – Old Man’s Experience

ㅇ000

The person who walked into her room with Riomes was a woman wearing a black blanket with her long dark blue hair tied in a ponytail.

A gentle atmosphere, sunken eyes, and a black sword sheath hanging on his waist.

What’s surprising is that you can’t hear the sound of your footsteps at all, which should naturally be heard every time you walk.

The unusual spirit felt in her body, posture, and atmosphere was enough to make the swordsman Cleon nervous.

She looks around the room with slightly open eyes.

However, although Cleon felt that he had seen her face somewhere, her name did not pop out.

Who is it? With that thought in mind, he looks at the faces of the two people around him.

Aside from Artis, even the person who had called her, Ilmi Flame, looked somewhat surprised.

Looking at him like that, I wondered ‘why’, but I wasn’t in the mood to open my mouth and ask that.

“You call an old man who just woke up from a sick bed like that. Your Majesty is also harsh on people.”

At that time, she opened her mouth first.

Those eyes, a calm voice that perfectly matches that mood.

It didn’t sound like an old woman’s voice, as it seemed, but what came out of those words was an age that couldn’t be easily erased.

In any case, her appearance showed immeasurable traces of time.

After hearing her voice, Cleon will realize her identity.

“Mr. Quartz…?”

When Cleon says her name, she nods her head.

“I am indebted to you and your children in many ways, Lord Cleon. As you said, I am Quartz.”

Upon arriving in this eastern country, the first person I encountered was an old man with a kind yet somewhat stern atmosphere who could be considered a resident of the eastern country.

In addition to being a doctor, he is also the person who trained the ‘half-ghosts’ to deal with nobles, and a companion of the warrior who flew in the sky to save the world in the past.

She was captured by the Exiled Church, had her body remodeled, and her mind bound to be used as a soldier to defend the fortress.

As a result, she had crossed her sword with her own disciple in her previous battle.

“Brainwashing…”

“I solved it. Thanks to the kids staying up all night trying various methods for several days.”

As she said that, she folded her fingers one by one and listed her words…

“Medicine, fire, water, rope, cliff…”

“…”

No matter where or how they heard the list of words that were not gentle, both Artis and Miyeomgong had no choice but to close their mouths and break into a cold sweat.

“So, you can assume that I will not suddenly betray you during the expedition and cut you from behind.”

Quartz will speak like that to those who are silent.

Of course, Prince Miyeom and Cleon also nodded as if they believed that.

“Lord Cleon and Lord Artis. As she said, I asked Lord Quartz to participate in the expedition to the Four Dragon Mountains.”

It seemed that Gyeomgong had unwavering trust in Quartz, but Artis adjusted her glasses and answered with a slightly nervous expression, as it was an exploration that risked everything in her life.

“Out of so many people, why did you choose Mr. Quartz, Mr. Flame? If you needed a swordsman with her high skills, it seemed okay even if it wasn’t her.”

“Hehe. Artis is saying that you don’t trust my skills.”

In response to Artis’ words, Quartz speaks gently but clearly.

Artis then reacted a little embarrassed to Quartz’s words.

“Well, that’s not it… Just like Mr. Quartz said, he’s someone who just woke up from an illness, right? It’s hard to understand that someone like that would be forced and painstakingly to join an obvious expedition team…”

“Hmm. That’s true too. Actually, I also haven’t heard why Lord Miyeom wants to include me in Attis’ expedition.”

After hearing Artis’ excuse, Quartz nodded and answered as if she was curious about it herself.

“… And yet you accepted it?”

“I wasn’t told the reason for the request, but there was no reason to refuse. You can think of it that way. Although I don’t belong to a public office, I have received a lot of benefit from this eastern country.”

And to Cleon’s subsequent questions, Quartz simply answered in a relaxed manner.

Then, the eyes of the three people turn to Miyeomgong at once.

“Hmm. I would appreciate it if you thought so, Lord Quartz. The reason I wanted you to join the expedition was because I heard that you had explored the Four Dragon Mountains in the past.”

“…”

Hearing those words, Artis changed his eyes and looked at the quartz.

Did he look like he had never heard of such a story, or did he just see Quartz again?

Either way, it seemed like there was interest.

“That was more than ten years ago.”

Quartz continued her words quietly for a moment as if she was recalling her past.

“At that time, there was a scholar who left for the Sarong Mountains, bringing with him tools and like-minded comrades. It was not a fact that many people knew, but even at that time, information that was not available to the public was flowing to me.”

“…!”

At those words, Artis’ expression changed once again.

“The Four Dragon Mountains are considered to be one of the most dangerous places in the Eastern countries. I was waiting for news, thinking that whether they would be able to return safely depended on God’s will…”

“I couldn’t come back… Right?”

Artis listened to Quartz trail off and answered in a slightly cold voice.

And Quartz will also nod his head.

“We also searched for missing people in the Eastern Bureau. I also participated at that time… Because I was used to traveling around mountains in my career, I was only able to go a little deeper into the mountains than others. … As a result, I was able to find missing people. Although I failed to find them all.”

At her words, Artis closed her mouth and opened her mouth again, and it seemed like she wanted to say something.

Soon, she shook her head.

I understood that what Quartz was talking about was related to the disappearance of ‘her own father’, and as a result, she also understood that she had not been able to find them.

It is not the fault of Quartz or those who explored her at the time.

The expedition team at that time entered the mountain without sufficient research or preparation.

And it is probably the fault of the returnee who supposedly harmed them.

Attis closed her eyes and calmed her agitated mind.

“But did you call me because of that experience? … Miyeom-gong, you really overestimate people. That happened more than 10 years ago.”

As Quartz said that, she questioned Miyeomgong in a skeptical manner, but Miyeomgong answered while stroking his beard.

“It’s hard to believe that the quartz ball lost its way to the mountain in just 10 years.”

“… That’s what I need to remember. Maybe it’s because my body has become younger, but my memory has also improved.”

She answers Mi Yeom-gong’s words like that, as if she has no choice.

“This is why I called her to join the expedition. She has experience exploring the Serpent Mountains herself, something that Lord Cleon and Lord Attis do not have. Of course, apart from that, her outstanding ability is a good enough reason. .”

Master Miyeom will make eye contact with Atis while saying that.

Then, Artis seemed to think about something with his mouth closed for a moment, but then he had no choice but to nod his head.

“In the first place, if you want to go to the Four Dragon Mountains, you have to get His Majesty’s permission, and you can’t refuse His Majesty’s decision. I understand.”

In the end, Artis also accepted Quartz’s participation, ending the story about the main members of the expedition.

However, after scratching her head, there was still something a little unclear.

He took a lollipop out of her pocket and put it in her mouth as if it were a cigarette.

Meanwhile, Quartz appeared to be sitting in front of the table where the group was sitting.

And – Artis will speak as if she was able to organize her thoughts a little.

“Okay. Now that everyone has gathered, let’s decide how to organize this expedition and what its purpose will be. Let’s explain it properly and decide.”

001

It was after the sun had set and night had fallen that Cleon was able to return to the mansion where the group was waiting.

Cleon, who had never sat in a conference room for this long and talked to people before, looked even more exhausted than when he went outside for his usual requests, and sat down on the sofa in the living room.

And after confirming that Cleon had returned, other members of the mansion also gathered in the living room.

“You had a hard time, Cleon. Did you eat dinner?”

First of all, Kuon asks that question.

Since it was well past dinner time, the table had been cleared.

However, if Cleon said he was not ready, it seemed like he was going to make something right away.

But Cleon would nod his head to Kuon’s question.

“Ah. Although it was in the conference room of the royal palace. The meeting got longer, so we had lunch and dinner there.”

“There is so much to talk about.”

Lila muttered as if she couldn’t understand, but Cleon turned to her and spoke.

“There are a lot of things to check and decide. The subject is Attis and her disciples, but as long as permission and support from the fine dye craftsman is required, it can be considered a national industry of an eastern country.”

“Deciding the affairs of a country requires extensive discussion for hours, days, or even months. Otherwise, it is always the people who suffer.”

Amelia agrees with Cleon.

“At the end, Artis’ stamina was depleted, and he almost turned into a zombie. Well, it looks like he stayed up all night, so it’s natural.”

“… Is that okay?”

Sasha expresses her concern when she hears that Artis is not in good condition.

Does that mean that Artis is okay, or does it mean that the work that Artis is doing in that state is okay?

Cleon held off answering her question for a moment, then shrugged her shoulders.

“Well, she’ll be okay. She’s not alone either.”

Is it best to reassure them that way?

In response to Cleon’s answer, Sasha nodded with a slightly awkward smile.

“So? When will we depart, how many people will there be? Have you decided on all that? Please tell me quickly.”

Lila urges Sasha by her side.

It seemed inevitable that she, too, would become interested in her exploration of the Four Dragon Mountains.

She couldn’t help but sigh, hoping that Cleon would follow the example of the gentle Sasha.

“Departure is in three days.”

“3 days?!”

“Well. Seeing how Artis was in a hurry, I thought it wouldn’t take a week. I guess so.”

When Lila nodded her head as if it was within the expected range, the other party members looked surprised.

“No matter what… Isn’t it too fast? The Four Dragon Mountains are a dangerous place, so you’ll need to prepare properly…”

“Since preparations had already been made behind the scenes, I don’t think it would take that long. Fleur said that coming to Asteris wasn’t just for the Five Elements Festival.”

Cleon was surprised when he first heard about the schedule in the conference room, but after Artis explained the list he had prepared step by step, he could only nod that he understood.

“The people are our party and Melusine who is a guest. And, Schrödinger.”

“Huh!? Me!?”

When Cleon called his name for the first time in a long time, Schrödinger, who had been yawning and listening to the story with disinterest, reacted in surprise.

“Yes. I’ll explain why a little later. You, too, get ready to leave.”

“… What about Lillim?”

And Amelia carefully asks Cleon a question.

Cleon lifted her head and turned her gaze toward the room she was in.

After being injured in her previous fight, she still wasn’t able to properly walk out of the room.

It is said that it was not so much a wound to her body as a severe loss of her magical power.

Her physical condition was special in many ways, so a diagnosis could not be made based on general symptoms.

“I can’t help it, but I guess I have no choice but to wait here. Arnia can protect me while I’m here.”

“I see…”

Amelia nodded her head as if she understood what he said.

“Fleur and Kshat are also said to be accompanying us. Considering her purpose, isn’t it natural… And although we haven’t met face-to-face yet, there is one newspaper reporter named Noctis.”

“They’re also taking a newspaper reporter? … It’s quite serious.”

Cuon looked a little nervous at Cleon’s words.

“You have to be careful with your words and actions. Okay, Laila?”

“Why me!? There are two kids younger than me!”

“… Okay, Lila?”

“Okay! Don’t say it twice as if you’re driving a wedge in!”

Letting out Laila’s voice, Cleon next spoke about the final goal of the expedition.

“As you all know, the purpose of this expedition is to excavate relics from the primordial world that are expected to be buried under the Sarong Mountains. Or, to explore ruins. Through research, Attis discovered that the entrance is located in the middle of the 6th mountain of the Sarong Mountains. I predicted it would be in a cave.”

“Then, that’s where we should aim first.”

When Melusine nodded her head in understanding, Cleon spoke with a slightly tense expression.

“The problem is… We are not the only ones in those mountains. Of course, there are monsters, but there are also ‘returners’ in those mountains.”

When Cleon said that, Schrödinger frowned.

It is an organization that her creator belonged to, but at the same time, it is an organization that is now her enemy.

And after hearing Cleon’s words, Schrödinger nodded as if she understood why she was participating in the expedition.

“… So that’s it!? I’m following you.”

“Yes. It seems that Lord Miyeom wants to use this opportunity to root out the returnee.”

“Well, if you explore the mountain range, you might have a chance to meet someone…”

Sasha spoke again as if she was a little worried, and Schrödinger put his finger to his temple and showed a distressed expression.

“Are you really planning on attacking the base yourself?”

“If I get the chance.”

Schrödinger must have looked surprised by Cleon’s bold answer.

“That’s the surest way. You can’t just wait for the enemy to attack. It worked last time, right?”

When Cleon spoke, as if referring to her story about the Battle of Vajra, Lila also agreed.

“Okay, okay. If I find out the location, I’ll blow it up.”

“Well, wouldn’t it be dangerous since it’s a bit… Mountain?”

Kuon expresses his concern at Laila’s confident remarks.

“… Anyway. The two biggest goals of this exploration. Excavating artifacts and subjugating returnees… If we succeed in both, we can finally get closer to Adam.”

Cleon said that, and the group nodded.

“Three days… No, it’s two days now. Let’s prepare well for the remaining time. Take care of your condition.”

“Well, if you think so, please bear with me when I come back from a night out~”

“Ugh… I said I was sorry.”

Cleon couldn’t help but flinch at Lila’s teasing words.

“Okay… This is what we decided on at the meeting. For a long talk, the content is simple, but… Do you have any more questions?”

Cleon seems to be trying to finish the story.

Then, Kuon, Sasha, Lila, and Amelia looked at each other for a moment and then turned their heads towards Cleon.

“Cleon. We also have something to tell Cleon.”

“Huh? What’s going on? You look so serious.”

Cleon asked a question with a curious expression, and Cuon told him to wait a moment, then left the living room and walked to his room.

And after a while, she came back with something in her hand.

It was inside a special case, and for some reason, it was in front of the group’s eyes in a slightly floating form in the exact center of the case.

“… That.”

“Yes. It is the ‘Fruit of Life’ that I received as compensation for the request given by Shinmok.”