Chapter 457 – 131. Spirit of the Frozen Cave (1)
My maternal grandfather and I were climbing a mountain outside Ostel.
Ostel has already been completely restored by the Essenmund Army.
So, the Demonic Beast Army that was occupying the area also retreated further north.
Kyaaaaa
However, this place is already near permafrost. It wasn’t a safe place.
‘This place is also full of magical spirits.’
As a result of that influence, monsters separate from the monster army were summoned and covered the mountain.
Woo woo woo woo-
Huge golem-type monsters came like a landslide. The demonic spirit power he felt was undoubtedly more than a type 1 monster.
Seeing the golem, the maternal grandfather exclaimed.
“Yulian! Hide behind me and…”
Shashasak-
But before the maternal grandfather’s words were finished. Siertia has already drawn a half moon.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-
The polar night of Sunoh unfolds immediately.
That polar night penetrated the cores of about 20 monsters at once. Seeing this, the maternal grandfather involuntarily opened his mouth.
“It’s my grandson…But really incredible swordsmanship.”
Even so, my maternal grandfather tried to overprotect me like before.
It’s time for my maternal grandfather to stop thinking of me as a child.
It seems that I myself can’t help but admit it.
When I glanced at my maternal grandfather, he cleared his throat in embarrassment.
“Hmm. Yes. Got it, Julian. I should also acknowledge your skills now. No, I already knew from sparring with you that you were an excellent swordsman. But that’s what a grandfather’s heart is like.”
“I know. However, you really don’t have to worry anymore. I am no longer an immature child.”
“You are right. Julian You proved your qualifications as an heir through this recapture battle. Above all, to all the elite troops of Essenmund.”
Saying that, the maternal grandfather put on a very proud expression.
Like the mother-in-law said.
In the battle to recapture Oustel. I took on the role of my maternal grandfather, who was absent from dealing with Greiel.
“You completely took over my role.”
I directly charged into the camp of the highest-ranked Witchbeasts and created a big gap.
A completely different role from the Essenmund Army, which moves under the direction of Captain Michael.
So, the Demon Beasts couldn’t predict my movements at all. The existence of me constantly created chaos in the camp of the Demonic Beast Army.
‘That method was a double tactic that my maternal grandfather often used.’
To seize victory with thorough tactical movements. That is the way of the elite army of Essenmund.
In order to respond to it, the Demonic Beasts must form a proper camp and face each other instead of rampaging randomly.
However, the Essenmund army added a variable to that tactic.
It’s called Lion Grand Duke. An absolute variable equal to several legions alone.
‘That tactic…’
The grand master maternal grandfather stirs up the battlefield to his heart’s content, independent of the tactics of the Essenmund army.
The moment the gaze was taken away by the grand duke.
The well-forged tusks of the elite Essenmund army bite the neck of the demon beast army in an instant.
In fact, in the same way. If others go on a rampage alone like their maternal grandfather.
It’s common sense to become a big target and die first.
The first person in the Empire is an existence that goes beyond common sense.
So, the special double tactic of the Essenmund Army was the greatest weapon against the Demon Beast Army.
“However, after Greiel’s resurrection… I couldn’t use that tactic for a while because I was directly dealing with the fallen angel. But because you took part in this recapture and took on my role. You were able to completely recapture Oustel!”
The proud expression on his maternal grandfather’s face did not disappear.
In fact, I played the tactical role of my maternal grandfather.
Now, no one could deny that I was the one who would take over the position of my maternal grandfather.
[Hmm. When I was young, I was a really scary person. You can make that kind of expression for your grandson. Grandson love is great.]
Then, a voice came from Siertia, which was held in my hand. It was Erti.
Erti couldn’t bring his ego out as an ego sword for a while.
Since the Battle of Harsen, the battle has continued uninterrupted. He had used up all his power as a holy sword and had no time to chat with me.
But where the two are headed now.
As he approached the sanctuary of the Reinhard family, Erti’s ego resurfaced. It seemed that his energy had returned.
As usual, if you talk nonsense, you will mute your voice.
Erti’s role was important this time. I was letting her talk to her heart’s content.
“Now we are almost at our destination. We don’t have enough time, so let’s hurry up.”
“All right.”
And the bodies of the two people ran out of the seat very quickly.
An hour later. The two finally arrived at the Reinhard family’s sanctuary, the frozen cave.
***
It is still August.
Even in the barren northern land of Essenmund, summer exists.
This cave in the canyon was a different story.
‘It looks like it came in the middle of a heavy snowfall in midwinter.’
It wasn’t my mood. In fact, the breath he exhaled was freezing.
On the ceiling and walls of the cave the two are walking through. Huge cryolite crystals were shining.
“Finally we have arrived at the entrance of Bingjeongdong.”
Another hour of rushing from the cryolite cave. The two stood before another fork in the road that led into the cave.
No, at first glance, the place could not be called a road.
“The path to the cave is completely blocked by a huge cryolite.”
At my words, the maternal grandfather nodded.
“The sanctuary that exists at the end of that road is Bingjeongdong (氷精洞). It is the destination of you and me Julian.”
And on the huge rock in front of the new cave. Something was engraved in unfamiliar letters.
“That letter…”
“It is a tribal language used by the ancients of Essenmund. I can’t read it either, because it’s gone now. That content has been handed down through the predecessor Reinhardt.”
My maternal grandfather told me about it.
[Those who are not permitted cannot go beyond this place.]
Grandfather continued to speak.
“If someone who is not permitted tries to force their way through here. The frozen cave itself starts attacking the intruder. This cave is a huge cryolite vein. That special mineral is the spirit itself that came to have a will after a long time.”
If it’s according to my grandfather’s words. It was as if we were already in the mouth of a beast.
“The will of that ice crystal is a dangerous existence far beyond a type 1 monster.”
Woo woo woo woo woo-
At the same time as the grandfather’s words, a storm-like airflow began to form inside the cave.
The cryolite fragments formed blades like daggers in the air. Hundreds, no, thousands of blades aimed at the two at once.
No, to be precise, the will to attack was directed at me.
“When I was young, I had already completed training in Bingjeong-dong. So it seems that those wills want to test you, the new Reinhardt.”
My grandfather’s gaze turned to me.
“It is said that this place is a sacred place for the family, but just because it is Reinhardt’s blood relative, it is not always permitted to enter.”
“Are there any special conditions?”
“Yes. Julian. At the same time with Reinhardt’s blood. The one who carries the weight of great fate. Only those who have the qualifications can enter the Ice Crystal Cave.”
From the words of my maternal grandfather. I repeated one thing in my mind.
‘The weight of fate…’
I’m not sure how much it should weigh.
At least the best in the empire. And he was sure that he should have the weight of his maternal grandfather, a hero to be recorded in the history books.
But I didn’t hesitate.
“Then let’s try it.”
I entered the entrance of the cave.
Huge cryolite crystals tightly blocked the entrance. All of them emitted a silver light.
As if testing me, the sharp aura stabbed my whole body.
“Julian…”
Although my maternal grandfather looked at me with a worried voice. I was silent and watched what I was about to do.
I knew instinctively what I had to do. I shouted at the cave beyond.
“The weight in my blood… Let’s check that qualification for ourselves.”
I shouted and put the tip of my index finger to Siertia’s blade.
Rumbling-
He raised his index finger, which soon began to bleed, and swung it toward the cryolite crystal in the cave.
Oh oh oh oh oh-
At the same time, the cryolite crystals that absorbed my blood began to resonate in unison.
“The cave has started to open…!! Bingjeong-dong’s will has allowed you, Julian!”
The grandfather shouted in a surprised voice. I said calmly.
“Then we move. To Bingjeong-dong.”
Grandfather, who came to his senses later, hurriedly nodded his head.
***
The two finally arrived at Bingjeong-dong.
It was a vast underground cavern with transparent cryolites growing everywhere.
‘Each cryolite has its core…’
The cryolite, which was so pure that it produced the core, could not be valued with money.
The cryolite that was presented to the former emperor was of inferior quality compared to the cryolite found here.
Even such cryolites were tightly filling this underground cavern, which could have accommodated three gigantic playgrounds.
The two stood in the center of Bingjeongdong.
Then, a rough ice storm began to form around the two.
I tried to pick up Siertia again, but My maternal grandfather stopped me.
“It is not intended to attack us. The will that resides in this Ice Crypt… The eye spirit is about to reveal itself.”
My grandfather was right.
A silhouette of a man began to emerge from the center of the storm.
‘Female…?’
It was also a young woman who looked to be in her early twenties.
Long white hair that goes down to her legs. And the hem of the clothes he was wearing fluttered in the heavy snow.
I felt like traditional costumes with an exotic feel.
Instinctively, I could tell that the young woman was the spirit of this ice cave.
‘Is it at least an existence with the power of a spirit king?’
I haven’t trained in spirit magic since I signed a contract with the 4 spirits.
As a demon dragon, he could sense the spirit’s will sensitively.
The long blue eyelashes of the spirit trembled slightly.
Soon she opened her eyes, and she met her gaze with those of her blue eyes.
It was a pale expression. She had a face so beautiful that one could be inadvertently bewitched.
– Those with lion’s blood entered here.
My grandfather recognized the spirit and bowed lightly.
“I met him when I was training here. Our ancestors called him Rumi.”
And I felt intuition that the spirit called Rumi was this ice crystal-dong itself.
Although I can’t read emotions because I don’t have facial expressions. I didn’t feel any hostility.
Her will echoed in my head.
– I will allow you to use this place. You can feel the weight of fate right from you.
And the heavy snow and Rumi completely disappeared.
Soon, the two of them stood alone in the open space of Bingjeong-dong.
“Looks like Rumi recognized you, Julian.”
“It seems so.”
“We don’t have much time. Hurry up…”
But that was the time.
The two felt the presence of another person at the same time.
“Who are you!”
Also, my grandfather reacted immediately. He took out his greatsword and immediately pointed it at the place where he felt the presence of people.
And at the end of it stood another young woman.
Just like Rumi from before, a young woman with very long white hair.
Only if Rumi’s gray hair is close to her silver hair. The woman in front of her had faded gray hair.
I recognized the woman immediately.
“Er…”
[Do not speak!!!!]
And Erti’s will rang in my head.
‘What are you trying to do?’
However, if the opponent was Erti, there was no need to worry.
Although it was an Ego Sword that was half insane. Erti was the holy sword Siertia itself.
Ertiga said to her maternal grandfather, who was exhaling harsh eyes that made the cave vibrate at this rate.
“Reinhardt’s child. Let me get that sword I am not your enemy.”
It was said to my maternal grandfather, so I almost burst into laughter at the moment. Curious about Erti’s intentions, I watched.
“Who are you if not an enemy! Reveal your identity!”
The maternal grandfather saw Erti and withdrew his sword. He seemed to immediately notice that there was no hostility.
That was the moment.
Erti, who had heard her grandfather’s words, put on a serious expression that she had never seen before.
She exclaimed, raising her head arrogantly.
“I am Atlin von Reinhardt! He is the ancestor of the Reinhardt family, whom you call the swordsman!”
At that moment, I desperately suppressed laughter when I saw the sudden change in my grandfather’s expression.
