Yuric went with Violetta to an inn called “The Night Whispering by Stars” on the fourth basement floor. Perhaps due to its relatively high-class status, the atmosphere in the hall was quite calm.
The hall had three corridors connected to it, and from the second corridor, they headed towards two of them. When they entered the room where she was staying, Shilson, who was tidying up, jumped up and ran towards Yuric.
“This brat!”
Senior Shilson embraced Yuric and repeatedly patted his back while shouting ‘this brat’ several times. Yuric greeted him with a broad smile, asking if he had been doing well.
“I’ve been doing very well. Who am I? The beloved disciple of the Great Mage Violetta!”
Violetta left them to have their reunion and sat alone at a table. Fellow apprentices, after a brief conversation with her, soon gathered around the table to join her.
“How have you been?”
In response to Violetta’s question, Yuric took a moment to gather his thoughts before slowly recounting his story.
After parting ways with Bemberg, he went to Noblevento Fortress.
There, he worked as a tutor and deeply interacted with many people.
He accepted a dragon-slaying request alongside the Golden Dragon Mercenary Corps and met the Earth Dragon Alaldur.
He encountered the massive wall of the southern front.
He underwent initiation at the Watchtower.
He formed a deep bond with the Golden Hand Niruin.
He met the Former Mage Tower Master at the Mage Tower.
He treated a dying old tree at Marquis Shriner’s estate.
He overcame the curse of eating minerals.
Over the past three years, Yuric had experienced incredible things. Even as he recounted his stories, he realized anew how much he had gone through.
Nodding occasionally, Violetta listened calmly to Yuric’s narrative until it ended, then faintly smiled.
“Well done. You’ve been through a lot. You must have learned a great deal.”
“Yes, Master. Of course, there’s still much to learn… How about you, Master? How have you been?”
Violetta spoke about her travels across the continent to prepare for the upcoming appearance of the Codex from Hell.
“But why not destroy the sealed Codex instead of keeping it?”
“Even if burned, it will only return to Hell. Eventually, it will rise again. Curses like the one that forces one to eat minerals can be handled easily enough if they reappear, but not the Codex. No one knows what disaster it might bring. So, it’s better to seal and store it, which is the consensus among mages.”
“I see.”
Violetta took out a notebook she had written and handed it to Yuric, which contained information about the Codex of Hell.
“These are things I’ve made over time. Read it.”
“Thank you.”
Yuric gratefully received Violetta’s notebook. He immediately recognized its value.
Shilson then continued the story. Their journey wasn’t as colorful as Yuric’s, but it still had its share of events and incidents.
After listening to their interesting stories, Shilson asked Yuric,
“By the way, are you living with that Golden Hand person? Was it because of Duran’s treasure map?”
“Yes, we’re searching for treasures together.”
“That man is famous for loving treasures. Finding Duran’s treasure won’t be easy… Well, I hope you find it.”
After their short conversation, Violetta told Yuric,
“We’re going back to Ronadium. We plan to leave in two days.”
Yuric felt sad about having to part with his master and senior so soon after meeting them. Shilson, understanding his feelings, chuckled.
“What’s there to be sad about? We’ll meet again soon. Next time, I’ll really put you to work!”
“Yes, I’ll do my best!”
Their long conversation came to an end. It was surely dark outside. Violetta yawned and said it was time to go to bed.
Yuric bowed deeply to both of them and left the room. Shilson escorted him all the way out of the inn.
Under the moonlight, the quiet night street.
The senior and junior stood facing each other.
“Don’t worry about me. Your master is taking good care of me. Focus on your own work, okay?”
“Yes, understood.”
“…You’ve grown a lot.”
Shilson affectionately tapped Yuric’s arm with his hand. Then he brought up something he hadn’t mentioned earlier.
“I often heard news about you. You even freely shared the cure for Mana Blockage Disease. Damn, it’s just like you, always thinking of others… Good job. Thanks to you, many lives were saved. Your master may not express it, but he was truly proud.”
Yuric smiled faintly, recalling his master’s less expressive nature.
“You’re always a proud junior to me. You’re doing well. Keep it up.”
“Yes, I understand. Thank you, senior.”
“There’s no need to thank me! I’ll rely on you in the future too!”
“Yes, I’ll take responsibility.”
“Just saying! …Well, I should get going now.”
“Get some rest, senior. I’ll visit tomorrow.”
“Alright.”
After parting ways with Shilson, Yuric walked down the deserted night street, lost in deep thought.
As planned, Violetta and Shilson left Chiachand early the next morning.
Yuric watched them leave with a sense of sadness.
*
Winter’s first snow fell.
Adults shoveled the snow into piles, while children played by rolling snowballs.
Yuric looked at the snow-covered underground city and sensed it was time to head to the Stormy Dune. They might need to camp, so he prepared thoroughly.
“Are you sure you’re alright? It’s going to be very cold.”
Yuric worried about whether the Golden Hand, Sir, would suffer from the cold. In fact, if it was just him, he wouldn’t mind going alone.
“It’s fine. When else would I get such an experience with you!”
The Golden Hand Niruin waved his hand, assuring him not to worry.
“Do you know what my dream was when I was young?”
“What was it?”
“To be an explorer, to explore unknown worlds… Well, life took me far from that dream, but that feeling still lives in my heart.”
Niruin tapped his chest with his palm.
“Duran’s treasure is what I most wanted to find. At least, I hope to see the end of this journey with you.”
Yuric stared intently at the Golden Hand’s determined gaze.
“…I understand. But you must take care of your health?”
“I’m still in good shape. Don’t worry.”
Thus, after several days of preparation, the Golden Hand group set off in a carriage on a clear morning.
Although much of the snow had melted, it still lightly covered the fields. Yuric sketched a picture with a solitary tree standing against the white backdrop.
After traveling all day, they arrived at a small village of about fifty households. The former knight turned village chief warmly welcomed the strangers who had arrived on a cold winter day. Despite not being wealthy, the villagers were kind-hearted and warm.
The Golden Hand thanked the village chief.
“Thank you. I wish to repay your kindness. Is there anything I can help with in the village?”
The village chief, looking about ten years older than the Golden Hand, smiled warmly and waved his hand.
“Not at all. That’s what living together is all about, isn’t it?”
Yuric searched his bag and gave the village chief two potions instead of money as a gift of gratitude.
“If any injured people come later, please use these.”
“Thank you.”
The Golden Hand group spent a warm night at the village chief’s house and prepared to leave early the next morning.
Fortunately, the village was not far from the Stormy Dune, Britante. After about half a day of travel, they finally reached their destination.
However, shortly after arriving, the sky darkened, and heavy snow began to fall. They quickly set up tents to protect themselves from the snow and cold. The horses pulling the carriages also had their own tents, and fortunately, they were hardy breeds capable of enduring the cold.
Yuric and Nero installed a magic circle inside the tent to generate heat. Although it would require a lot of mana to maintain the temperature in such cold weather, they had ample magical power reserves. Additionally, the Golden Hand provided everyone with high-quality woolen sleeping bags. Though not warm, the slightly warm air inside the tent, combined with thick blankets and sleeping bags, made it bearable.
The snow stopped falling late at night, but the biting wind continued to blow fiercely throughout the day. This place was indeed called the Stormy Dune for a reason.
The next morning, the group ate a hearty breakfast and left the tents. The surroundings were completely covered in white snow.
They slowly climbed the steep hill, careful not to slip. Standing atop the hill, they looked down at the surroundings.
In this world turned entirely white, there was one thing that retained its color.
It was a single giant tree.
Ah.
The legendary tree where Hero Zadrot planted his spear to celebrate victory.
Yuric felt he might have found the clue to the treasure.
