Volume 5 Chapter 33 'Guide' Ginji
The Chaos Stone Dragonstone Kingdom has four major dungeons.
Excluding the 'Great Mine of Gold World (Kinsekai),' 'Myriad Legion Army Base,' 'Wrath of the Heavens,' and 'Ferl, the Jeweled Ice Sea Domain,' clearing these dungeons grants you three fragments.
If you gather these fragments and head to the depths of the great ore vein, you can meet the 'God of Sealing Shildress.'
At the 'Myriad Legion Army Base,' the boss is 'Clim Fourclover Apollyon,' the empress of 'The Military Nation of Apollyon' from 2,200 years ago.
In the second dungeon, 'Wrath of the Heavens,' the boss is 'Astral Dragon Gai Gigant,' one of the 'Four Source Maidens' Keystone Dragons.
The third dungeon, 'Ferl, the Jeweled Ice Sea Domain,' is occupied by 'Laris Glasha,' a man said to be the strongest member of the Order of the Sealed Dragon a thousand years ago.
It seems these bosses were acknowledged rather than defeated. In any case, their opponents were figures from history.
The God of Sealing Shildress is known as the 'Guardian of History.' When you face him, history itself unfolds before your eyes.
Horace studies history in this world, so he has some understanding.
However, he doesn't fully grasp how these historical events connect to the present.
In other words, Horace's studies are more like 'old tales' than true history.
He doesn't understand how the past relates to the present or what lessons should be learned from it.
This lack of 'self-awareness' prevented Horace from even touching Laris.
From Laris's perspective, it was probably a fight, but there was a clear difference in skill.
Horace was merely trying to formulate tactics and find openings.
By collecting the three fragments, Horace can still challenge the Seal God.
There's a chance he could win.
If there were no chance at all, Clim, Gai, and Laris wouldn't have given Horace the fragments.
They met Shildress, understood his strength, and judged Horace worthy of the challenge.
That's why they handed him the 'right to challenge the Seal God.'
However, even if Horace were to defeat Shildress now, he would still be 'insufficient'—in knowledge, resolve, and self-awareness.
That's why Horace must go where he needs to go now.
"Shall I guide you?"
"Are you... Ginji?"
Horace, who was performing a golem curse in his room, turned at the voice of the man peeking through the window.
Horace remembered him.
"...If I recall, when you came from the Diamante Kingdom, I saw you with a broken cart. We came to this town together, right?"
"You remember that well."
Ginji sighed.
"Guide...? So you're from the Order of the Sealed Dragon?"
"Yeah. Zethar told me. Ratis had his magic sword stolen, and Laris filled me in on the details."
"...So, you're saying I should go to the Order of the Sealed Dragon's headquarters?"
"Yeah, you have the key, right? It's at the headquarters—the only one. The treasure vault that no one can open without it."
"Treasure vault... Laris called it a 'storage.' Is there a difference in how they view its importance?"
"I don't know. But my boss is a Glasha family supremacist. It's not the first time Laris's leftovers are treated as treasures."
"There really are people like that."
"Horace, you're correct."
After Ginji's words, Horace thought for a moment, then seemed to come up with an idea.
"...The suspicious one is the woman who transferred in when I was a teacher. Was her name Artia? It seemed Nousa was unconsciously attached to her. That's what it was about."
"Is she that suspicious?"
"Such a monster-like mental stability accessory can't be obtained easily. It's literally because it handles the concept of 'sealing,' unique to the Order of the Sealed Dragon."
"Indeed."
"Also, she suggested using Terra Disas's power to send magic from inside the dungeon outside. Naturally, few people can accurately grasp Terra Disas's power."
"Hahaha! You're quick-witted."
It's a responsive reaction. That's about it.
Normally, there's just a rough indication, like 'I've met them before,' without anything to relate to.
However, Horace's brain structure is slightly different from an ordinary person's.
Since he's been somewhat golem-ified, his processing and memory abilities also differ.
Of course, he manipulates his body as a Golem Master, so there are strengths and weaknesses, as well as possible and impossible things.
"Well, if you'll guide me, I rely on you."
"Got it. I'll prepare a little."
"Yeah..."
Ginji turned his back on Horace.
"And..."
"Hmm?"
"The fact that the one who appeared before me at that time wasn't a coincidence."
"Yes. The Glasha family is important even within the Order of the Sealed Dragon. If things go as they should, Horace, you will become the head. I can't afford to mess up."
"However, the people from the Order I've interacted with so far didn't know about me. In other words, Ginji, you're in a special position within the Order."
"Yes. That's right."
Acknowledge what needs to be acknowledged. Horace nod where he should.
But... the Glasha family is the 'founder clan of the Order of the Sealed Dragon.'
Ginji knows this, but he only remarks that "the Glasha family is important within the Order."
Can't you say it? Is it just consideration?
It can also be said that... it's because Horace lacks 'self-awareness.'
"...Well, information requires qualifications to obtain. What you're going to obtain. What you'll learn. You'll understand if you go. But..."
Ginji stopped speaking. After a moment of hesitation, he muttered:
"You might understand what's expected of you after that. Meeting those expectations might be necessary and right. But I'm not welcome. That's all I can say."
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