Chapter 136 - EPISODE 136 – TEMPLE OF LIFE (3) (1/2)
Terms used in this chapter:
CAD – abbreviation for computer-aided design. It is the use of computer software to design and document a product or project’s design process. Engineers and architects are some of the people who use CAD for their projects. Those who studied it usually get a certificate for it.
Most of the playable characters in Legend of Heroes 1 were young people at the peak of their youth.
But like what the word ‘most’ meant, there was one old man who was above the average age, and that was Necromancer Velkian.
‘Everyone was in their 20s, but he alone was in the 70s…’
He was a skinny and temperamental old man with gray hair.
So there were a lot of theories that the reason he did not appear in Legend of Heroes 2 was because he naturally died from old age.
The second episode took place 10 years after the first episode, so he would have been an old man in his 80s who was nearing 90.
But Jude didn’t believe in that theory.
Because Velkian in his 70s boasted a strength that was comparable to Kamael who was in his 20s.
He was an old man who perfectly fit the words ‘hale and hearty.’
‘Because he is a necromancer.’
The necromancers of Pleiades had a deep connection with the power of life.
The Death magic they used was developed from Life magic, so one could say that they were also life attribute wizards.
‘A scholar who absolutely did not want to die.’
Even in the first episode, he was a scholar who loudly grumbled about extending his life, so he must have lived his life looking for ways to prolong it.
‘He was a man who would even be willing to become a Lich if it was possible.’
Velkian was unlike a necromancer- no, perhaps it was because he was a necromancer that he had such a strong obsession with life.
“So you think that it was Velkian who entered the Temple of Life within those four months?”
“Yes, probably. It’s very highly likely that it was him.”
Jude laid out the reasons on why he thought so, and Cordelia nodded her head several times.
“Hmm, I see. Anyway, if Velkian wanted the Tiara of Life, did that mean he also knew what was inside the Temple of Life?”
Cordelia’s words made Jude’s eyes open wide.
“Wow, my princess is smart!”
“Do you have a death wish?”
Cordelia immediately cussed, but he could see from her face that she looked happy.
In any case, Cordelia said as she crossed her arms.
“Hmm… So you want Velkian to come to us? Velkian wants the Tiara of Life.”
“Yes, and maybe because of that-”
“We can save Velkian’s life?”
“Bingo.”
They did not yet know how Velkian died, but it might be possible to avoid the event that caused his death if they completely changed where he went in the future.
“The problem is how to tell Velkian that we have the Tiara of Life.”
“Huh? That’s easy.”
“It’s easy?”
“I mean, we can just write a letter and put it in the box, right? If we write something like: Oh, we beat you to it? Neener neener, aww…are you mad? – wouldn’t Velkian come to us right away because of his personality?”
It was Cordelia’s knee-jerk idea, but Jude reacted to something else.
“B-beat you to it…”
Neener neener, aww…are you mad?
Cordelia was embarrassed at Jude’s stare and cleared her throat, but she continued to be brazen.
“It can’t be helped because we need him to get angry.”
“Yes, yes, if you insist.”
“Hey, moving on, we can solve the problem if we write a letter, right?”
“Yes…perhaps it’s better than spreading rumors that we have the Tiara of Life.”
The Tiara of Life was a treasure coveted by even those who did not use life attribute magic.
There was also a possibility that treasure hoarders would gather besides Velkian.
“But for now, let’s hide your real name and write down an alias. Something like: Come to the capital and find Phantom Thief Pink Bomb.”
“Wait, Pink Bomb?”
“Yes, Pink Bomb.”
Jude flashed a smile, and Cordelia also smiled, though she gathered mana in both her hands.
“Anyway, I’ll write the letter. You set up some traps.”
“So that others won’t get it?”
“Yes, because someone other than Velkian might come here.”
Because there was also the possibility that contrary to Jude’s expectations, Velkian had nothing to do with the Tiara of Life in the first place.
‘That’s why we’ll use an alias.’
Bringing Velkian to the capital was the important part.
Jude began writing words in an ancient language on a scroll that he had taken out from his pocket.
“You’re even using some secret code?”
“Because I want Velkian to be the only one to recognize it as much as possible.”
And it would be impossible for Cordelia to understand what he wrote.
“Are you doing something suspicious?”
“Hey, that’s not true.”
Jude strongly wrote the alias ‘Phantom Thief Pink Bomb’ in the ancient language before he turned to Cordelia.
“How’s the trap?”
“Oh, I’m almost done.”
Cordelia was infusing divine power into the box while in her angel form, but somehow, she unconsciously had a wide- no, a suspicious smile.
‘Why?’
Jude felt uneasy, but he didn’t try to make eye contact with Cordelia.
Because she might figure out what he wrote in the letter.
“Okay, let’s put it inside.”
“Ahem, ahem, I’ll put it in then.”
When Jude put in the letter he wrote, Cordelia sealed the box and placed it on the altar.
“Okay, problem solved.”
“The only thing left is to hope that Velkian finds it as soon as possible…”
From now up to 4 months in the future.
The events in the royal capital would fully take place a month and a half in the future, so it would be fortunate for them if they got Velkian’s help during the incident in the royal capital.
“It’ll be fine.”
Cordelia said with a wide smile, and Jude unknowingly nodded his head.
She had no basis for that, but Jude thought that it would really be fine when Cordelia said it.
“Then, let’s get back to our goal. The Sphere of Life is on the 3rd floor, right?”
“Yes, probably. And if my guess is correct…”
Jude’s words suddenly trailed off in the end as he began drawing something on the temple floor.
“Is that a map of the temple?”
“Yes, according to my calculations, the Sphere of Life is around here…so it must be right below.”
At Jude’s words, Cordelia looked at him in amazement.
She was no longer surprised that he memorized the map, but it was a different story that he could determine the location by connecting the maps and then visualizing them in three dimensions.
“Does your mind have a CAD?”
“Oh, you know about CAD?”
“Yes, I have a certificate.”
When Cordelia spoke with a smile, it was Jude who widely opened his eyes this time.
“What, are you a woman from a vocational high school? Or an engineering college?”
“Hey, why are you trying to probe on a woman’s secret?”
Cordelia shrugged and grinned, and Jude stroked his chin while having a surprised face.
Perhaps she likes explosions because she’s from a vocational high school or an engineering college?
If vocational high school and engineering students from all over the country heard his thoughts, they would have called it nonsense. But in any case, Jude was happy that he learned something new about Cordelia, and Cordelia was pleased with the fact that she surprised Jude.
“Anyway, let’s dig a hole.”
“Okay.”
Cordelia took out the detonating cord from her waist and began to arrange it on the floor.
Naturally, it was in the shape of a star again.
“Star Explosion…”
“That’s not its name, okay?”
But Cordelia didn’t give it a different name. She then snapped her fingers and an explosion followed.
Detonating cords were originally used for construction, so it was possible to destroy the floor in their desired shape by controlling the direction of the explosion.
“Good, I’ll finish this.”
Although it was broken to some extent, the floor was not completely destroyed. So when Jude used the Black Dragon’s Ascent to open the floor, a round hole opened with a boom.
“As I thought, clearing a dungeon without making any effort is the best.”
Jude strongly agreed with Cordelia before he opened his arms.
“Why?”
“We need to jump, so let me carry you, Princess.”
“You can go alone, Milord.”
Cordelia coldly spoke and used <Fly> magic on herself before jumping down the hole, and the disappointed Jude followed her as he jumped into the hole.
Thud.
Jude gently landed even though the ceiling reached a dozen meters high, and he looked up and saw Cordelia who was coming down with <Fly> magic.
“Come this way.”
“Just get out of my way before I step on you.”
Cordelia safely landed next to Jude who had his arms wide open, and she looked around.
A half-destroyed temple and a broken statue of the goddess.
Just like what they saw in the game.
“It’s the Sphere of Life.”
Jude nodded at Cordelia’s words as he began to walk.
There was an altar in the center of the room like that in the 2nd floor, and a stone statue of a beautiful goddess stood there while holding the Sphere of Life.
“I don’t think there are any active guardians here just like in the game.”
They saw broken Guardian Golems scattered all over the temple.
‘As expected, it’s the signs of a battle.’
A battle had occurred against the demons on the 3rd floor of the Temple of Life.
There were signs of destruction on the walls and floor, and the bones of saints who lost their lives while fighting against the demons lied around the floor. The entrance was blocked by a pillar that collapsed.