“Youthful days, I could fly across the entire continent and still have energy to spare. Time’s power is truly fearsome.”
Over seventy years old, the Golden Hand Niruin decided to take a long rest here due to the fatigue from his long journey. Besides, the Unicorn constellation could only be seen in winter, so Yuric thought it would be best to head to Stormy Ridge, where the decisive clue for the treasure was located, during that season. As summer had just ended and autumn was beginning, there was still plenty of time.
“This time and again, I receive help but have nothing to offer in return… Who would think I am the Golden Hand Niruin?”
The Golden Hand Niruin genuinely wanted to repay Yuric this time as well. He had never encountered someone who despised wealth and fame like Yuric did.
Indeed, an extraordinary person. Not only talented, but also of great character… If he were younger, he might not have done work for Yuric. Of course, it wasn’t just about money; after growing older, he realized the importance of having comrades with whom one could share their hearts.
Even if Niruin lost everything, Yuric would not leave his side. He would greet him warmly with a smile and willingly give up what he had.
What could be precious to such a person?
“Do you need anything? I really want to give it to you, my friend.”
Nero, his personal mage, was still unfamiliar with his master’s compassionate side despite serving the Golden Hand all his life.
Yuric felt embarrassed to continually refuse the Golden Hand Nari’s enthusiastic request, so he pondered it deeply. Finally, he cautiously spoke up.
“Could you possibly support the laboratory?”
“Support? Great. Let’s do it right away.”
The Golden Hand, known for never wasting money on unprofitable ventures, generously supported the sacred-mage order’s laboratory with a single sentence from Yuric.
Not just popular fields like circuitry, but unpopular ones like curse studies or astrology as well!
While it was common to concentrate funding on promising areas, supporting unpopular fields was virtually unheard of. As a result, the laboratories of unpopular fields screamed in joy for the first time in their lives. With funding several times their budget, they could finally breathe!
Moreover, he distributed funds to civilian students dedicated to studying magic. For students who were always busy studying and earning a living, this was like rain in a drought.
In return, the Golden Hand Niruin received an overwhelming number of thank-you letters from the students. The Golden Hand read each one with a contented expression.
Then, the Golden Hand donated a considerable amount to the cathedral in the city with one condition.
“To take in homeless children in the city.”
The bishop gladly accepted the condition. The cathedral already operated an orphanage but lacked funds to accept more children. Raising more orphans as devout believers would certainly benefit the church.
News of the Golden Hand’s donation to the cathedral spread quickly throughout the city. Naturally, those who knew him found it hard to believe. It was unimaginable for the Golden Hand, who avoided unprofitable ventures, to donate to a cathedral. However, they couldn’t dismiss the cathedral’s statements outright; the evidence was clear…
The Golden Hand now enjoyed the confusion his actions caused.
As autumn deepened, Yuric slowly began to wrap up his work.
Yuric thanked Elder Anton for the profound teachings he had received, which led him to learn much about curse studies.
“Rather, I should be grateful. Thanks to you, our curse studies advanced a hundred years ahead. Thank you.”
Yuric’s improvements to the seal and barrier spells’ circuit diagrams were unprecedented progress in curse studies. From Anton or Gerbus’s perspective, Yuric was already a figure who had made significant strides in the field.
Of course, Yuric didn’t forget to remind Lucius.
“Lucius, always strive forward. Pride can sometimes come. But don’t forget what you aim for. Understand?”
“Yes, Brother Yuric.”
Lucius was a new hope and dream for the laboratory. This made Yuric feel at ease.
Lucius, who had learned painting by following Yuric, gave him a painting as a gift. It depicted Anton, Gerbus, and Yuric sitting and conversing in the curse studies laboratory. Yuric could sense the calm and secure heart of Lucius looking at the scene in the painting.
“I really like it. Thank you, Lucius.”
As autumn approached, Yuric felt it was time to leave.
He bade farewell to Anton and Gerbus, who had treated him so well.
“Thanks to you, I’ve made many memories here. Truly grateful.”
“We feel the same. Thanks to you, we got generous funding and made good connections.”
Gerbus chuckled, tapping Lucius’s head.
“Thank you, Yuric.”
Before leaving for good, Yuric shared a final dinner with his laboratory family. Despite the eerie laboratory filled with eyes and fingers in jars and various curse symbols, it was filled with warm laughter. The spirit of the wardrobe stood beside the smiling Lucius, smiling contentedly.
“Goodbye, Yuric.”
“Take care.”
“Definitely see you again, brother!”
After enjoying tea time, Yuric waved vigorously at them and left the laboratory.
Outside, it was a beautiful autumn night with twinkling stars. Yuric bid farewell to the ancient tree’s spirit in the garden.
“Now I’m leaving. Please continue to watch over this place.”
Yuric prayed with both hands clasped.
At that moment, the spirit spread its wings and flapped several times before a feather drifted down gracefully towards him.
“To the one blessed by spirits, may your path be blessed.”
Yuric gratefully accepted the feather, carefully storing it in his bag.
Leaving the sacred-mage order’s grounds, he headed toward the Golden Hand’s mansion. The Golden Hand, who had been waiting for Yuric in the reception room, greeted him with tea.
“Finally, tomorrow.”
“I worry a bit about meeting Your Grace’s expectations.”
The Golden Hand smiled calmly.
“Don’t worry. Even if there’s no treasure, it’s fine. I’ve enjoyed the process immensely. I remember my youthful days flying across the continent… Of course, I’d be disappointed without the treasure, but every challenge has the potential for failure. I haven’t always profited; I’ve taken losses too. But all of it has become part of me, unforgettable memories.”
Niruin took a sip of his tea.
“This is another challenge for us. But I believe you won’t fail. Oddly enough, I have this belief. Don’t think of it as an old man’s stubbornness. Surprisingly, I have a knack for these intuitions.”
“Yes, then I’ll believe too.”
“That’s how you should be.”
The Golden Hand finished his tea and stood up.
“I’ll go to bed now. Get some rest too.”
“Goodnight, Your Grace.”
Thus, the two men retired to their respective rooms for the night.
The next morning, four carriages departed energetically from the Golden Hand’s mansion.
Yuric watched Eulmasch slowly fade into the distance for a while.
Until we meet again, may everyone fare well.
The autumn in the West was truly beautiful.
Under the clear sky, the mountain range stood majestically in various colors. Yuric strived to capture this colorful autumn scenery with pigments. Although he had experienced many seasons, each time felt new. In front of the countless years of nature, Yuric once again felt the finiteness of human life.
While drawing and studying, Yuric didn’t neglect researching the clues to the treasure.
“A triangle and half-closed eyes…”
It was common knowledge among history scholars that the triangle represented the trinity of the order, and the half-closed eyes signified sunrise or sunset.
However, the exact meaning of the combined symbol and why it appeared on the treasure map remained elusive despite his contemplation.
“…Perhaps it’s not the symbol itself but the message Dural intended to convey.”
Yuric believed that going to Stormy Ridge was necessary to interpret the clue correctly.
Twenty days after leaving Eulmasch, the Golden Hand’s group finally arrived at 【Chiazhand】.
One of the two massive underground fortresses created by ancient mages.
A famous resort city, often called an underground paradise rather than a terrestrial one.
Ah.
Yuric set foot in the underground city for the first time, as he had only heard about it.
