I was flung through the air in an undignified manner, colliding with the wall with a loud thud before collapsing to the ground. Almost immediately, I heard the sound of traps activating, as if they’d been lying in wait for me.
“Damn it.”
I tried to get up in a hurry, but the sheer impact from the collision made my body refuse to cooperate. It felt like being hit by a charging bull—my whole body was heavy and unresponsive from the accumulated shock. Ugh, this is it. Here lies Kairas, age 20. Rest in peace!
Shing!
“Gah!”
Something cold grazed my face. I froze for a moment, then exhaled in relief. That was close—too close. A massive blade had swung right over my face, cutting through the air so smoothly it was almost elegant. Should I be happy to be alive or mourn my misfortune? Either way, once the initial shock wore off, I managed to stand.
As for the Blood Worms chasing me—they triggered the traps in the corridor themselves, succumbing to the mechanisms one by one.
“Oh? It’s over?”
I muttered to myself, nodding. Predictable low-tier annelids. No way creatures like them could grasp the concept of advanced mechanical traps. I smirked. But… how do I get out of here?
“Hahaha… ha…”
I laughed dryly, cold sweat dripping down my face. Unfortunately, the very advanced traps that had saved me from the worms were now my next obstacle.
April 13, 1548, Palma Calendar
“Big brother, it’s time for your medicine.”
“….”
I lay in bed, staring at the golden wooden beams of the ceiling. Somewhere, I’d read a poem about trees capturing sunlight, and this seemed like the perfect example. The warm glow from the beams gave off a cozy, serene vibe. Despite the faint smell of strange medicines lingering in the air, the scratchy bedsheets and the soft blanket covering me felt oddly comforting.
“Home really is the best.”
I sighed in contentment, though I couldn’t say I was thrilled about my current condition. My injuries from exploring the tomb of the Rogue Master, Heidelroc Windwalker, and retrieving the treasure hidden there had landed me in this situation.
The girl currently unwrapping the bandages on my hands was Sena, the daughter of my master, Strider Bane. She was an irritable and clumsy healer, but at least the treatment was free. Small mercies. Unfortunately, every session felt like my sanity was being ground down like an ungreased wagon wheel.
With a mischievous grin on her face, Sena tore off the bandages with lightning speed.
Rip!
I flinched at the sting of scabs being pulled off. The term “lightning-fast hands” has rarely felt this unpleasant.
“Hohoho! How do you feel?”
“Ugh… Fantastic. Absolutely fantastic!”
I gritted my teeth, glaring at the ceiling as golden spots danced in my vision. Was it just me, or did the yellow ceiling seem even more golden today?
“Honestly, big brother, you’d be doomed without me. Aren’t you grateful?”
Sure, grateful. Grateful I survived the tomb with only a few injuries. The Rogue Master Heidelroc Windwalker turned out to be ridiculously thorough and meticulous, and it was only because the traps were so old that their activation was delayed. I’d thought I was dodging them with my agility, but apparently, I had the passage of time to thank for that small grace.
“Nothing lasts forever, not even oaths carved in stone,” I mumbled to myself, recalling an old verse.
Still, the traps would have been deadly for anyone else. After making it through, I discovered the tomb’s exit was a nondescript monument in the forest behind my village—a war memorial I’d always ignored. Who would’ve thought it was hiding a secret passage?
By the time I returned to the village, the mountain bandits had already been wiped out by others.
“Big brother, seriously? A Velkysus Ranger slipping on a hillside? If you’re going to lie, at least make it believable. And what’s with these injuries?”
That’s right. I told everyone I’d simply slipped on a slope. Not because I didn’t trust them… okay, I didn’t. There are limits to what you can trust fools with. But Sena? She wasn’t one to be deceived.
“Just don’t tell anyone else, okay? It’s a hassle I’d rather avoid.”
If I’d asked her to keep it a secret in a dramatic way, she’d have gotten even more curious and pried until she found out. The trick was to make it seem like no big deal. Sure enough, Sena didn’t seem all that interested but still wanted to hold it over me.
“Hmm. That depends on your attitude.”
She began applying ointment to my wounds, followed by a dusting of powdered medicine. A sharp, tingling sensation spread through my hand. Was this supposed to feel refreshing? Invigorating? It was impossible to describe.
I winced and asked through gritted teeth, “What kind of attitude are you talking about? Did I do something to bother you?”
“No, but can’t you show a little more appreciation?”
“Appreciation for what?”
“The fact you’re even asking proves you don’t get it. Shouldn’t you be thinking, What can I do to make Sena happy? How can I make her smile?”
“I should?”
So, are you saying you’re constantly thinking about how to make me happy?
“….”
“Yes?”
Yet your actions are as thoughtless as ever, aren’t they?
“….”
Thud!
Why did I act that way when I knew it would end like this? Sena eventually stormed off in anger. Once I confirmed she had left, I slowly reached under my pillow and pulled out the adventure log.
“Hmm…”
Heh heh heh heh. Just looking at it made me smile.
Ha! Becoming the legendary adventurer I had dreamed of since my youth—such a path was now beckoning to me.
How could I not be thrilled? As the world knows, there are seven magical treasures known as the Seven Legendary Relics of the Rogue Master. These aren’t fanciful tales created by enthusiasts; they’re actual magical treasures confidently claimed by the Rogue Master himself.
Let’s list them:
- Blasting Edge, Sword Blaster
- Inner Fiend, Shadow Armor
- Magic Device, Infinity Rope
- Magic Device, Air-Jet Boots
- Magic Device, Infinity Backpack
- Magic Device, Note of Adventure
- Artifact, Symbol of the Ancient
Among these, I already possessed two: the Note of Adventure and the Symbol of the Ancient. What’s more, I had a rough idea of where the remaining treasures were located.
The Rogue Master had hidden his relics in dungeons crafted like traps, designed either to aid or kill future generations. These dungeons required not only skill but also comprehensive knowledge and wit to navigate. For example, the puzzle I recently solved here went like this:
“At the meeting point of two times and three scripts, those with pride shall gaze skyward and proceed on the permitted path.”
It sounds vague, doesn’t it?
“The meeting point of two times and three scripts.”
The two times referred to the difference in time systems: while the Holy Palma Empire and our Kingdom of Lionia use the 24-hour system, the Yan Empire uses a 12-hour system based on the zodiac. Unlike us, who count hours from 1 to 24, Yan divides the day using the twelve earthly branches. This clue pointed to the border between Lionia and Yan. As for the three scripts, they naturally referred to the distinct languages of the three nations. Therefore, the location was the Velkysus Mountain Range, where the three borders converge.
The phrase “those with pride” likely referred to the Third Campaign Monument. The Third Campaign took place around the year 1230, when the Third Infantry Corps of the Holy Palma Empire invaded. Crossing the treacherous Velkysus Mountain Range with such a massive army seemed impossible, yet the Imperial general famously declared:
“Impossible does not exist in my dictionary!”
Sending innocent soldiers into such perilous terrain—was it blind ambition for military glory, or had he lacked common sense from the start? Either way, the general led his troops into the Velkysus Mountain Range. At that time, Lionia was in complete disarray and incapable of stopping such a massive invasion.
Even a single infantry corps from the Holy Palma Empire exceeds ten thousand soldiers. While the Yan Empire once fielded an army of 200,000, Lionia, with its emphasis on chivalry, could never amass such numbers due to the high cost of knightly armor. Despite the overwhelming odds, Lionia managed to endure—after all, if it hadn’t, we wouldn’t call ourselves Lionians today.
How did Lionia withstand the Third Infantry Corps of the Holy Palma Empire despite such a disparity in numbers? The answer was simple: the Velkysus Rangers. They held the Third Infantry Corps at bay within the Velkysus Mountain Range. For context, the total number of Velkysus Rangers today is 200. Even at their peak, their numbers never exceeded 300. In other words, it was a battle of 300 against 10,000.
It sounds unbelievable, but the fault lay entirely with the Imperial general. By that time, we already had repeating crossbows, as evidenced in the recent fight against bandits. Even centuries later, repeating crossbows remain masterpieces beyond the reach of human technology. The only reason they’re still operational is due to regular maintenance and replacement parts crafted by dwarves.
Additionally, the mountain terrain itself served as a natural fortress for the Rangers. Fighting in these mountains was akin to shooting arrows from within a castle at foes outside. In a castle, enemies could at least avoid arrows by staying away from the walls, but here, there was no such refuge—everywhere was within arrow range.
Large armies are also notoriously inefficient in mountainous terrain. There isn’t enough space for encampments, so soldiers end up sleeping wherever they can, like bandits. Mountains are freezing, making rest difficult, and supplying food is a logistical nightmare. A few guerrilla strikes decimated the enemy ranks, and countless soldiers deserted. The unlucky general, shouldering the blame for his defeat, returned home to meet his end on the guillotine.
This was the Third Campaign of the Velkysus Mountain Range. Only the Rangers could take pride in such a victory. Thus, the Third Campaign Monument fit perfectly as the key landmark.
As for the phrase “gaze skyward”, it obviously referred to looking north. In the northern hemisphere, where Lionia is located, the North Star has long been considered the central guidepost in the sky. Although it isn’t the celestial center, the phrase “look to the heavens” has historically been synonymous with heading north.
