Chapter 133 - Winter Queen 4 (1/2)

Chapter 133 - Winter Queen (4)

[I never expected a group capable of passing the last trial to make an appearance.]

“Trial?I bet you are planning on saying this is another test.Am I right?”

Artpe heard a female-like voice.It was as if the voice had been planted directly in his brain.He replied in an apathetic manner as he sat down.

He looked defenseless, but an extremely thin Mana String was surrounding his body.He would be able to react to any attacks that came his way.

[Nope.I have nothing else for you.]

“That means you have something more for the other party members?”

The female sculpture nodded her head in assent.Artpe had been absentmindedly watching the sculpture.He suddenly choked.

“You are alive!?”

[It is an Artifact containing all my Record.It is apt to think of me as a type of Golem.…..do you mind if I continue my speech?]

She had shown him insolence in this ruin.Artpe wondered if he should shut her up.He also wondered if he should listen to her.He mulled over it, and his heart was slightly leaning towards the latter option.

“All right.Do whatever you want.”

[First, I want to talk about you.You easily ignored all my plans, and you were successful in reaching this place.You blocked all my attacks, and in the process, you passed all the trials using brute force.This is why I decided that any further tests would be meaningless.On the other hand, this isn’t the case for your party members.]

“Are you saying they were able to reach this place, because they relied on my power?”

[I inevitably came to that judgement, so I decided to give them another opportunity.It’s a chance where they’ll be able to prove their worth.Do not worry.They did received your help, but they did reach me.I will not put their lives at risk.]

“It just means you can’t muster up an attack that can kill them.You have created five pocket dimensions.Your power and will have been split.Will you be able to kill my party members, who are over level 300, with 1/5th of your power?”

At Artpe’s astute observation, the female sculpture didn’t give a rebuttal.She had lost this move, because she had underestimated Artpe’s assessment ability.

[······yes.You are once again correct.However, it is also true that I have no intentions of killing any of you.]

“······.”

Artpe didn’t deny that point.In his past life, Artpe couldn’t reach the ruin’s owner through his own power.It had been the same for the hero’s party.The female sculpture had given them suitable trials, and only through her will did they receive a reward.In the end, she had given a part of herself to them.

She could only mimic life, but she wasn’t alive.That was why she was able to make such sacrifices.Maybe, this was the design of this ruin in the first place.

“Basically, you don’t want me to interfere with the test.”

[That’s exactly it.]

Artpe knew that this being had the ability to rip apart this pocket dimension.This was also true for the pocket dimensions containing his other party members.

If he wanted to exit this ruin while gaining all the rewards, it would be best to go along with her tests.Instead of killing this being to acquire the loot, it would be better to gain the cooperation and blessing of this being.He would deal directly with her.This was the obvious path.

Artpe remained seated as he nodded his head.He let out a sigh.

“I know my party is enduring hardship right now, so it isn’t sitting well with me…...”

[You really love your friends. Last time, you also came here for someone else.I guess it is the same this time around.You haven’t searched out this place just for sake of the hero’s party.There is another reason, right?]

Artpe’s movement suddenly ticked to a stop.

“It’s a good thing you brought that up.You.”

[Mmmm?]

For a short time, he had forgotten that he was separated from the others in this pocket dimension.However, that wasn’t the biggest reason why he sounded annoyed right now.The voice had spoken as if she knew everything.The owner of the voice had a secret, and this secret was like a fishbone stuck in his throat.It kept aggravating him.

Fortunately, he was separated from his party members.He decided it was the best time to resolve the question he had.

“How much do you know?”

[I just remember the flow.]

However, it seemed the female sculpture knew that this question was coming, so she answered in a comfortable tone of voice.

[I know that you searched this place out as a Demon, and you’ve come to this place once again as the hero of humans.I also know about the children, who used to be on the other side of you in your previous life.They have accompanied you to this place.The time-frame of events have been hastened this time around, but that holds no importance to me.You possess an unheard of power to flip history, but my Record is too deep to be damaged by it.]

Artpe was a bit shocked, so he became silent.

It wasn’t as if he had believed that he was the only one to remember one’s past life.He had been aware of the possibility.This was why he had made numerous preparations before he moved.He prepared for the unexpected.

However, when he was faced with someone that acknowledged knowing about this past life, he was at a loss.It lasted for a brief moment.

“Your Record…...”

[You probably have a vague idea about it?I was once a queen that had ruled over winter.I’ve existed as a human and a Dragon.In the end, I continued to live on as a concept.I died, yet I wasn’t fully dead.My Record remained within the depths of Glacia.Do you realize how vast my Record had to be for that to happen?I’m sure I don’t have to explain any further.]

“So there are other beings besides you…..?”

[I don’t know how many there are, but I’m probably not the only one.Do you mind me asking you a question this time?]

The thoughts within Artpe’s head was starting to get complicated, so he weakly nodded his head.

[How were you able to reach me?I was barely able to discern the fact that the power and Record of the Wind Spirit King was infused into your boots.However, that doesn’t fully explain why you and your party was able to get so close to me.The wind would just carry you, but the one in charge of setting the destination would have been your responsibility.]

The question asked by the voice was also something he had expected.Since she knew about the past lives of Artpe and the hero’s party, their conversation would go smoothly.He didn’t hesitate as he gave her an answer.

“Until I reached this place, I had dreams about it.Somehow, I was able to see you face off against my party members.”

[I see.You used that information alongside the boots, which contains the Record of the Wind Spirit King.You are sharing Records with your comrades through dreams.]