## Chapter 1060 – Ancient Beings

When I got home, all that was there were Risha, Ari, and Hilde.

Apparently, everyone else had gone out.

Liztina went to the martial artist guild, and Karin followed her. Cloudi and Winia said they would go to the magic tower on this side for the first time in a while to find out something. Actually, it felt more like Cloudi was following Winia.

“Unfortunately, I couldn’t find out anything from the device.”
“It can’t be helped.”

Risha examined the device in more detail, but in the end, she couldn’t figure anything out. Of course, those meticulous bastards. I actually thought it would be like that from the moment it exploded.

They had enough brains to do something like that.

“However, it is speculated that a craftsman with considerable skill would have been needed to create something like this. Frankly, it’s a bit of a stretch to say that a Lich would have such engineering skills.”

Certainly, even if that kid was a ridiculously strong Lich, it would be absurd if he had such skills.

“The parts were quite elaborate.”

After a quick check, the parts were more elaborate than I had imagined when I thought they were made by hand. Of course, there are many historical artifacts on Earth that are incredibly elaborate and beautiful. There are many things as elaborate as parts made in a factory.

But those things are ultimately made by artisans.

“Does that mean there’s a craftsman under the Lich? This is crazy, a mad magician, a technician, and even heretics. This is insane.”

If even nuclear weapons appeared now, I might believe that the Lich was Kim Il-sung who came to this world. Anyway, it’s really frustrating not knowing the scale of the enemies.

“But are there any humans who can make something like this?”

At that time, Ari came up to me and said.

Of course, they can make it.
Even though the parts are elaborate, there are artisans in every world.

“Of course, it’s possible. Remember the mana car I rode around in the capital last time? They make things like that, so this is nothing.”
“It’s a device that absorbs the power of a powerful Great Demon. I think it would be more difficult than a mana car. I think it’s a matter of technology, not the precision of the parts.”

Is that so?

The technology to handle the soul would be a bit of a problem rather than making elaborate parts. But I think the Lich would do something about that. He can even make Death Knights.

“Isn’t it the dwarves who are good at technology, Khatt-nim!!!”

At that time, Hilde said as if shouting.

“Dwarves?”
“Yes!!! Dwarves!!!”
“There is such an image.”

They were said to be a race that made things well.

The dwarves’ kingdom is located far away, completely unrelated to the Karga Kingdom. I heard that you have to cross the Elven Forest and go beyond the kingdoms built to the west to get there, but there are dwarves in the kingdom.

There is some exchange.

In the first place, I remember that there were dwarves among the Adventurer Guild staff. They are a race that is as difficult to see as elves, but they definitely exist.

Did the heretics kidnap such a dwarf?

“If a dwarf is cooperating with the heretical Lich to make machines… no. Instead, were they just kidnapped and threatened or brainwashed? I think there’s a possibility.”
“That’s right, that’s right! It’s worth considering!!!”
“Okay. I’ll consider it.”
“Kyaa!”

I stroked the back of Hilde’s neck, who was screaming.

But dwarves.

That time a long time ago when Elise, Commander Barkerel, and I were messing around in the Misty Plains. At that time, we eventually found the heretics’ research facility.

It was an overwhelmingly huge underground structure, and inside were a number of heretics and abominations. And there was an ominous machine that was used to create it.

Kadia said that after sending an investigation team there, there was a possibility that the dwarves had built the facility.

So, they were going to send the dwarf they hired to investigate the architecture back to their kingdom to confirm whether it was true. It’s been a while since that happened… Will I be able to find out when I return to the capital this time?

Originally, such a journey takes a very long time, so I can’t be sure.

“Anyway, I think I can find out if I send this to the capital. If it’s a great temple, they can hire a dwarf expert to find out.”
“I think it would be good to do that.”
“But can this be assembled?”
“I have recorded everything, so there is no problem.”

Then that’s good.

* * *

The next day.

I didn’t have anything to do, so I put on some clothes and went outside. Anyway, the Great Demon is dead, and all that’s left are the remnants of the petty demons. That will be resolved in a few days, so I don’t need to worry about it.

“Ugh.”

First of all, the place I’m going today is Isvant’s underground waterway.

ㅡUnderground waterway.

The heretics had infiltrated that way in the past. They were plotting something there. At that time, Cloudi, Kopson, and… Meria and I killed them all. Oh, shit, but Meria? Is Meria doing well?

I suddenly thought about Meria.

She’s good at handling shields, so I think she’s doing well.

Anyway, today I’m going to take a look at that waterway.

As a result of the investigation at the time, it was concluded that they had entered the underground waterway from somewhere outside, and there were no remaining clues, but I’m just going to take a look this time. I have a feeling there might be something.

Anyway, it’s a place I should check out sometime. Shouldn’t I do it when I have time like now?

I’m Kim Khatt, the leisurely Leisurely Heavenly Demon.

But now that I think about it, I want to take some time to go to that kobold dungeon or the ossuary… It’s quick to run there and back, so should I go? No, I might as well run to Krassheim while I’m in Isvant.

It would be nice to see Elise too.

ㅡSquish.

As I was walking while thinking about that, I arrived in front of the entrance to the underground waterway.

It was definitely Mr. Merman.
That person was managing this place.
I don’t know what it’s like now.

“…”

I didn’t need permission to enter.

Who would stop me?

The locked doors that come out in the middle can all be broken with force.

ㅡWhoosh!

I looked around and immediately jumped inside as soon as I spotted a gap where there was no one. It was dark, but I have an artifact. As soon as I poured power into it, light began to pour out of the necklace.

ㅡChwaaaa.

With this much light, reconnaissance is no problem.

In that state, I ran at full speed and looked through the entire underground waterway.

ㅡPapat!

Almost everything was fine.

There are no traces of undead or gargoyles invading like last time. All there is is a swarm of black slimes.

“These crazy fucking bastards.”

Those are everywhere.

I was able to check everything quickly as I was running like that. As expected, there was nothing there. I went down to the 4th underground floor and looked around every corner, but there was nothing there either.

“Hmm.”

All there is is this huge maze-like underground waterway.

ㅡGurgle gurgle.

Water flowing in from here and there is falling into a huge cavity.

“Wow.”

But damn.

What’s with the scale here?

I felt it back then too, but it’s really bigger than I imagined. It’s very surprising that there is such a large underground structure under Isvant. I don’t think this is normal. Of course, Isvant is the largest and most developed city in the border area, but it’s strange that there is such a vast underground structure.

Is this normal?

I don’t think so.

I felt a suspicious aura overflowing so much that my nose was blocked from the beginning. I’m not lying, this underground waterway is too big. It was too deep.

Maybe this is a legacy of the past. Otherwise, it is impossible to build something this big with manpower… It also feels like some kind of dungeon.

Anyway.

I went deep into the place I hadn’t been to last time with Vugal in my hand. I couldn’t tell how many underground floors the huge underground waterway had.

ㅡGurgle gurgle.

The sound of water coming from all directions.

Looking at this, it seems like there is really a lot of water.

“…”

How far did I go down?

After breaking and breaking locks, I reached the 10th underground floor.

I had no idea what the space was for, and there was a lock on the door in front of me.

Like the locks I had been breaking, it didn’t seem that old. Looking at the rusty lock and chain that were thrown away next to it, I guess the church replaced it with a new one while investigating at that time.

It seemed like they had come all the way down here to check… Well, since the church checked so well, there probably isn’t anything left.

ㅡSqueeze.

I have to see it with my own eyes.

ㅡKwang!!!

I simply tore off the iron lock with my hand and continued to go down. Relying on the light coming from the artifact, I constantly went down and looked around the dungeon-like underground waterway.

ㅡPapapapap!

I run through the many paths that spread out like a maze and check the walls, floors, and ceilings. Frankly, when Kim Khatt looks at it now, this waterway is not normal. No matter what, the waterway doesn’t need to be this big.

I had a rough idea in the past, but I didn’t take action to scout or anything. The reason I’m doing this now is purely because I’ve become someone who can do something like this without any problems.

“Shit.”

But damn, I felt it while coming all the way down here.

Did the heretics need to hide here? There’s nothing here? If they were planning to install a bomb or something to destroy the city, I would have nodded even if it was strange.

These bastards were definitely making an altar and performing a ritual here at that time. Is there a reason to do it here? There’s nothing here? I can roughly guess that the heretics are targeting Isvant, but that’s it.

ㅡKwang!

It was when I reached the 11th underground floor without finding anything special. I don’t know what kind of mentally ill fucking bastard made this place so deep in this way, but I’m going to see the end of it today and go up.

The technician who designed this place must be an abnormal bastard. The only ones who can make something like this are those who have simply transferred their true serial killer-like senses to architecture. I’m talking about those who are cursed or have no mom and dad.

“Kuh… Kueh…”

ㅡHalt.

Suddenly, that sound echoed in the quiet space.

My senses, which had reached the level of a superhuman, immediately judged where the sound was coming from.

“Vugal?”

The sound was coming from Vugal.

Vugal.
ㅡAndromalius.

Awakened from hibernation.

“Ah, shit.”

I have to shut this bastard up… This guy is definitely going to make a fuss asking me to tell him something.

Even though it looks like this, I reduced the sound of my footsteps as much as possible while coming here, and only made a moderate sound when breaking the lock. There’s no one, but I thought there might be something.

But how dare this mere Andromalius try to ruin it?

What should I do? Should I squeeze the blade first?

“This energy! This strange energy… What is the identity of this energy…! Tell me! Where is this place! Where is Andromalius going!!!”

As expected, he started making a fuss asking me to tell him something… Hmm?

What?

What did this bastard just say?

“What? What? Hey, you bastard. Tell me in detail. What energy?”
“A voice…! I hear a voice! Is this a hallucination created by my mind! I don’t care if it’s a hallucination…! Tell me the identity of this strange energy!”

He definitely said strange energy.

“…”
“Answer! Are you my hallucination!!!”

Andromalius, who had his intelligence deteriorated because he was attacked to the point of death and trapped in Vugal in a soul state, shouted in a fearful tone.

“…Yeah.”

So I answered.

“I am the voice created by your inner self, Andro.”
“My name is Andromalius.”
“Ah, shit. Just say yes. You Andro bastard.”

It’s a good name because it sounds like you’re good at making clothes.

“Anyway, so. You feel a strange energy?”
“Strange energy…! That’s right! I feel a strange energy! It’s definitely not ordinary energy! If I had a body, I would have explored it immediately! I would have asked everyone around me!”
“Before that, let’s review your own knowledge. Where do you feel the energy?”
“I can feel it clearly… Ugh…!”

Is there really something here?

“Then I will find it for you. Guide me. That way.”
“I don’t have a body… I don’t have a body…! I can’t move or set a direction because I don’t have a body…!”

It was a voice full of despair.
Should I just talk shit?

“That’s right. You don’t have a body and I’m just a hallucination. But this is just going to find knowledge in your mind. So, try to set a direction as you please. Sometimes you can find the answer in your own mind.”

ㅡ…

Suddenly, Andro was silent.

ㅡWoo woong…

Then, he shook the tip of the sword and set the direction.

“I’m screwed, shit. Let’s go.”

That fucking Andromalius might be useful if you know him. I knew it would be like this. There seems to be something.

So I headed into the darkness.