Vortex Hill (8)

What appeared before them was a grotesquely shaped scorpion. However, it was not an ordinary scorpion. This scorpion had also absorbed a great deal of impure mana, transforming it into a monster.

And that impure mana was also the reason Gregory thought the path with the legendary sword would be the central one.

"It seems we'll have to give it our all again this time. Everyone, draw your swords."

***

Bang!

Gregory and his companions only managed to subdue the scorpion monster after quite a struggle. Because of that, all of them were breathing heavily, showing clear signs of exhaustion.

However, even though the scorpion had fallen, Gregory continued to sense the impure mana.

Its source lay ahead. Gregory stared intently into the unseen darkness. Originally, there had been torches hanging on the walls so they could see quite a distance.

But for some reason, there wasn't even a torch placed behind the fallen monster.

He spoke in a calm tone.

"I'm getting a foreboding feeling from ahead. Everyone, stay back."

Gregory had two thoughts.

The first was that the legendary sword might be up ahead. What other energy could be felt even after overpowering the monster's powerful mana?

If impure mana was still emanating from deeper within even though the monster was dead, it was highly likely that was the source of the monsters, and superstitious people of the distant past might have thrust the legendary sword into that place.

The second was that the path ahead would be filled with traps. If this was the corridor leading to the legendary sword, then, no matter how many monsters they had encountered, the passage so far had been rather too smooth.

Gregory approached the wall, picked up the torch set into the wall, and threw it forward. As a result—

Shiiik—!

With a strange sound, something came flying toward Gregory.

Clang—

Reacting quickly, Gregory slashed the flying object with his sword. The mysterious object that fell to the floor in two pieces was an arrow.

'Just as I thought.'

Based on his past experiences, Gregory always sharply analyzed his surroundings, considering everything once more.

Alessandro was startled, watching the whole scene.

"G-Gregory, is it really okay to keep going like this?"

Gregory grinned, as if he had been waiting for that remark. Disabling traps was as easy as eating porridge for him—though admittedly, it was a bit tedious.

"Are you thinking of turning back now? I'll handle everything, so just follow me."

Gregory confidently stepped forward. And he wasn't bluffing; he proceeded to neutralize the traps one by one. Stepping on certain invisible platforms triggered sharp spikes, while crossing certain patches of ground dislodged pounding stones from above.

Like testing a stone bridge before crossing, he carefully neutralized the traps. After all, as someone who had been a swordmaster in a previous life, such a task was second nature to him.

Even as he did so, Gregory thought of his companions. He wondered what would happen if he always took care of the traps for them, and then someday they got trapped in a place full of traps and could do nothing.

Of course, such an incident was extremely unlikely to happen. Gregory moved slowly, hoping his companions would put their experiences now to use someday. If, as he expected, the legendary sword was indeed just ahead, they could afford to act more leisurely.

***

Had about two hours passed? Gregory silently inspired trust in his companions as he disarmed every trap. Although Brea grumbled and tried to dampen everyone's spirits now and then.

Yet as if they'd all agreed beforehand, the companions simply ignored her. Maybe that was somewhat effective since she gradually complained less and less.

Alessandro gazed at Gregory with sparkling eyes.

"So... all the traps are out now? Gregory, you're really amazing...."

Ernest watched Gregory's actions and was filled with doubt. The composure and skill Gregory showed did not match his age. Ernest couldn't help but wonder how he could disarm the traps so easily.

Moreover, when something looks easy to others, it's usually a sign that the person is remarkably skilled, making Ernest even more curious.

"Hm, Gregory... how are you disarming these traps so easily?"

Gregory hadn't expected Ernest to be suspicious. However, Ernest couldn't help noticing.

Since Gregory had been bedridden, suffering day and night from Verk's curse, showing this sort of ability in actual combat must have seemed suspicious.

Gregory mumbled and tried to gloss over Ernest's question.

"H-hm? I guess I just got lucky."

To his companions, it seemed as if Gregory could do anything, but they weren't completely convinced. No one was fooled by his stiff, awkward acting.

Ernest's doubt only deepened. He asked Gregory again.

"That's not it; I mean, how do you know how to disarm traps?"

Gregory pondered the question again. No matter how much Ernest seemed like the group's elder brother or how sharp his questions seemed—

This was a question that could be answered right away. Still, he tried to look as troubled as possible. That way he could persuade them to move on quickly.

"Ah... that's simple. When I was under the curse, I barely survived by reading books all the time... I suppose I picked up a lot of miscellaneous knowledge."

This excuse seemed to satisfy Ernest a bit, and the others, judging it as a family matter, whistled and looked away.

Ernest hesitated for a moment at Gregory's words, then dropped his gaze. He felt bad for doubting someone he should trust as a fellow member of the knight order.

"I see... That makes sense."

As Gregory pondered Ernest's reaction, Brea interrupted with an annoyed tone to change the subject.

"Anyway, that's not really important, is it? I just want to get out of this cramped place fast."

Normally, Gregory would have ignored her, but in that moment, he was actually grateful for Brea's interruption. She took all the negative attention onto herself while shifting the subject away. It felt almost too easy.

Gregory pointed ahead with his finger at Brea's annoyance. All his companions looked there.

"Hm... We should be able to get out soon."

Adrian strode ahead. Elisabeth, believing in Gregory, followed him without a word.

"What's that?"

Alessandro watched the scene, tensed.

"W-wait. Be careful. There might still be traps."

He didn't say it because he distrusted Gregory, but rather because of his naturally cautious personality.

Adrian answered breezily.

"Haven't you seen what Gregory's done so far? If something feels really off, we can just pull back."

Gregory ruffled Alessandro's hair.

"Was I that untrustworthy?"

Alessandro smiled sheepishly.

"No, it's not that. I'll go too, then."

Everyone headed to where Gregory had pointed. It was a tightly closed stone door, just like before. This time, however, there were no letters inscribed above the door or stones bearing numbers nearby.

So Alessandro asked,

"W-what is this? No matter how you look at it, doesn't it seem like we took a wrong turn? Isn't this a dead end? Should we go back?"

Ernest raised his hand to stop Alessandro from turning back.

"No, take another look at that."

The wall was smooth no matter how you looked, but in a corner, there were traces as if something had been carved out.

"Maybe you're supposed to insert a sword here?"

Adrian voiced his question.

"What sword? The legendary sword, maybe? But we don't have the legendary sword."

Gregory quietly approached and placed his hand on the door. Beyond the cold stone, he felt a strange vibration.

"Hm... This isn't just a dead end. The legendary sword must be ahead, so inserting it here wouldn't make sense. And the marks don't seem like they're for an ordinary sword, either."

He muttered as he tapped the center of the door with his finger. Then Gregory stuck his hand into the sunken hollow.

Alessandro exclaimed in alarm.

"G-Gregory, is it really okay to stick your hand in?"

But before long, a faint red glow spread from the edges of the door, which then began to turn. Gregory walked forward as if nothing was amiss.

"B-be careful for traps, Gregory."

Gregory understood why the door was designed that way. It was simply to block the monsters from coming in. So he was sure there wouldn't be any traps inside.

"So this is the legendary sword."

Then a wide chamber appeared before him. Unlike the corridor they'd seen so far, the torches in here glowed blue with mana. In the middle of the room was the legendary sword, thrust into the ground.

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