Chapter 143 - EPISODE 143 – CHIMERA (1) (1/2)

Archwizard Arkeman.

He was a character who had lived hundreds of years ago but only existed as a background setting in Legend of Heroes 2, and was a person whose name frequently appeared when one played the main story.

‘A genius creator of magic tools.’

He was a great wizard and an excellent blacksmith at the same time, and one of the top three artifact craftsmen in history.

So the more one proceeded to the second half of the game, the more they would see his name because the player would be equipping high-ranking equipment at that time.

‘It was called the Arkeman series.’

<<This Arkeman’s Sword was a masterpiece he made in his youth>> or <<This Arkeman’s Ring was the best item he made in the middle of his life when his skill was at its peak>> – such were the descriptions of the items he made.

Usually, the items he made in his youth were just plain (?) A-rank ones, but those he made in his middle and old age were at least S-rank items that guaranteed a really terrifying average performance, so it became an unwritten rule in Legend of Heroes to obtain one of the Arkeman series when it became available for the player.

‘Of course, that was the standard for ordinary players.’

It wasn’t such an attractive series for rotten waters.

Because there were many more powerful items than that series.

‘But even so.’

Items that were at least S-rank were not something weak.

For the current Jude and Cordelia, the Arkeman series were dream items.

‘Add to that are the ranks of the Arkeman series.’

The items were not at most S-rank items. They were at least S-rank items.

Even some rotten waters drooled and struggled to possess items from the Arkeman series.

‘They were called Arkeman’s 7 Treasures.’

Jude raised his head as he snapped out of his thoughts.

He continued his words to Princess Darianne who had sparkling eyes and to Sir Cornwell who was showing interest one way or another even though he had a slightly displeased look.

“Princess Darianne.”

“Yes, Jude-orabeoni.”

“Did you know that we met the Fairy Queen?”

“Yes, I heard of that story too. But is it true? Did you really participate in the fairies’ banquet?”

Princess Darianne’s eyes were filled with a light of excitement.

It was uncommon to meet fairies in reality.

First of all, there weren’t that many fairies, and most of them lived in hiding deep in the mountains.

Moreover, their preference for beautiful things or people was a problem.

Because even if someone found their habitat, they wouldn’t meet anyone who didn’t had a certain level of beauty.

“Orabeoni, orabeoni. Then is it true? That the fairies first showed up because of Cordelia’s beauty.”

“Of course, it’s true. Everyone went crazy and said that she was as pretty as a goddess.”

“Wow…”

Princess Darianne’s gaze naturally turned to Cordelia, and so did Sir Cornwell and the other knights.

“Ah… Uh…”

As for Cordelia.

Her face was red as ever, and she didn’t know what to do so she bowed her head.

No, she reached under the table and slapped Jude’s thigh.

‘Do something! No! Hurry up and change the topic! Change it!’

She couldn’t even exchange glances with him because she had bowed her head, but her thought was clearly conveyed because of her desperation.

And Jude thought.

‘Shouldn’t you be used to it by now?’

But being embarrassed like this every time was part of Cordelia’s charm.

‘Hurry up!’

She slapped it again.

Jude nodded his head and changed the topic for Cordelia.

“Anyway, Your Highness, Cordelia and I met not only the fairies but also the Fairy Queen, who is the queen of the fairies. But are you aware of it? The fact that the Fairy Queen is not just one?”

“Yes, I heard it from Daphne-unnie. Fairies also have dominions, so there are many queens.”

“Yes, it is as you said. The Fairy Queen is not one but many. And Cordelia and I met another Fairy Queen across the border…in the wild lands.”

“Really?”

“Yes, it’s true.”

“How? Did the fairies come to meet you first again?”

Jude nodded his head when asked by Princess Darianne who was so excited.

“That’s right. The fairies fell in love with Cordelia’s beauty again…”

Slap! Slap!

Cordelia hurriedly slapped Jude’s thigh, but she was too late.

Princess Darianne, Sir Cornwell, the knights, and Hans at the counter looked at Cordelia in unison.

‘Juuuude!’

The voice of her thoughts were heard once again.

Jude pretended not to know her thoughts and quickly spoke again.

“The Fairy Queen who lives in the wild lands is very beautiful, wise, and friendly.”

Wild Fairy Queen Eonelle.

Among the Fairy Queens whom they had met so far, she was the easiest to dupe- no, she was the most benevolent and kind woman.

At Jude’s sincere words, Princess Darianne suddenly closed her eyes. She was probably imagining the Fairy Queen in her mind.

Jude had a small smile at the childlike appearance of Princess Darianne, and he continued to talk.

“I heard from the Fairy Queen about Arkeman’s Dungeon. She had told us of a story when she first met Arkeman a long time ago.”

“Wow… Then the dungeon that Fairy Queen said is…”

“Yes, it’s a hidden dungeon here. I heard from the Fairy Queen about the Seven-Colored Herb and that a fearsome and powerful chimera guarded the Seven-Colored Herb.”

It was obviously a lie.

The Fairy Queen never said anything like that.

But what mattered was that it was a plausible story.

An archwizard and a Fairy Queen.

Two beings that somehow fit together.

‘It’s impossible for them to verify it.’

It wasn’t possible for them to meet the Fairy Queen here or the Fairy Queen in the wild lands.

And in fact, verifying it was already unnecessary.

Because Jude had created an atmosphere where everyone believed in his words.

Even the doubtful Sir Cornwell was interested in something else rather than the truthfulness of Jude’s story.

“Did you say chimera?”

The dungeon boss who protected the Seven-Colored Herb.

‘Although it’s not the Seven-Colored Herb that it is guarding.’

The Seven-Colored Herb was just a wild grass that grew in the dungeon, but it was true anyway that the Seven-Colored Herb was in the room the chimera was guarding.

So if he slightly changed the story, he could be say that the chimera was also guarding the Seven-Colored Herb.

‘Hey, Mr. Jude. Isn’t this called a scam?’

Rather than flinching at Cordelia’s gaze, Jude shrugged and made a serious look as he then answered Sir Cornwell’s question.

“Yes, I heard that it’s a very powerful chimera. It’s almost like a dragon when inside the dungeon because it is supported by the numerous magic circles that Arkeman had set up.”

“D-dragon?!”

A surprised voice came among the knights.

It was Hunt, but no one including Sir Cornwell, reprimanded him.

Because everyone was equally surprised.

“But Jude-orabeoni. Is there any other way? Otherwise, orabeoni and unnie wouldn’t have come here.”

When Princess Darianne asked with her sparkling eyes as if she found it interesting, the knights including Sir Cornwell were also interested.

Because what she said was true.

If there was no secret to dealing with the chimera which is comparable to a dragon, it would have been useless to come here.

Princess Darianne stared at Jude with a smile that seemed to goad him a bit, and Jude nodded his head.

“Yes, wise princess. It is as the princess said. There is a secret to dealing with the chimera.”

“What is it? Please tell us.”

Princess Darianne urged him to talk, and Jude immediately came up with the answer instead of dragging it on.

“Arkeman’s chimera comes out of the dungeon twice a month to absorb the power of the sun. It’s not for a long time, but the dungeon will clearly be empty at that time.”

“We’ll aim for that gap then?”

“Yes, but the problem is that the gap is not very long. So when the chimera comes out of the dungeon, that is, at a place where it can no longer receive the dungeon’s support, someone has to defeat it or draw its attention.”

At Jude’s explanation, Princess Darianne clapped her hands in admiration, but Sir Cornwell’s expression did not brighten.