“That being said, be careful. You never know what might happen in such places. Especially since you have your own secrets to keep.”
“…I understand.”
Owen, knowing my circumstances, ends with a teasing warning, to which I respond with a sigh while scratching my head.
As a side note, it was later revealed that Leia the priestess of the Flame Dragon would be part of the exploration team. When I tried to decline, Gareth and Lily stopped me with all their might.
Luna’s ruins are hidden within the Judecca Forest, which spans across the western part of the Romus Kingdom. To enter Luna’s ruins, one must first go to the Judecca Forest. However, the surrounding area lacks proper transportation infrastructure, so reaching the ruins requires classic means such as horse-drawn carriages or walking.
That said, this only applies to ordinary people. Spirit users have another option.
“As expected of the Valhart family’s spirit, it’s fast and comfortable!”
“I’m honored by your praise, Senior Celia.”
Carrying Leia and Celia on its back, flapping its large red wings, was Salamander, Leia’s contracted spirit.
Behind it, an even larger wind spirit named Sigrum, resembling a hawk, was soaring through the sky with me, Gareth, and Lily on its back.
I had formed a simple contract to control one of the high-ranking spirits that Owen had previously sealed in a spirit stone for this occasion.
“It’s a nice ride.”
“Comfortable.”
“Well, of course. This spirit would normally be sleeping quietly in a vessel, not out here like this.”
I respond to Gareth and Lily’s comments about the pleasant breeze while looking at the emerald-colored stone, the spirit stone containing Sigrum, in my hand.
Spirit stones are commonly used as vessels for spirits, but they’re not made to contain such high-ranking spirits. Normally, it would break free and rampage, but it’s behaving because Owen tamed it beforehand.
In fact, with a high-ranking spirit of this level, a simple contract shouldn’t even be possible.
Even if it were possible, it should be impossible to fully control it, but the fact that it is possible shows just how advanced Owen’s taming techniques are.
“Rourke, you always bring high-ranking spirits on missions like this… Who exactly is this master of yours who lends you spirits?”
“Sorry, but that’s a secret.”
“Keeping secrets isn’t good.”
“My master made secrecy a condition for borrowing them. It can’t be helped.”
“Hmph.”
As Gareth sighs disappointedly at my words, Lily pouts and starts poking my back. Stop it, you’ll make me fall.
“Hey there~ It’s fine to flirt, but we’re about to arrive, so get ready to land!”
As I’m fending off Lily’s attacks by holding her head, Celia calls out loudly from Salamander’s back as it slows down to fly alongside us. It seems we’ve arrived near the ruins while chatting.
I order Sigrum to follow Salamander as it begins its descent, and Sigrum responds by flapping its wings wide and lowering its altitude.
As we land on the ground, we dismiss the spirits and gaze at the tower before us, which rises high into the sky in a distorted spiral shape.
“We’ve finally arrived.”
“So this is… Luna’s ruins.”
“What a distorted shape.”
“I’ve seen it in photos, but this is my first time seeing it up close.”
While everyone expresses their thoughts as they look up at Luna’s ruins, I remain silent.
“…”
What an eerie-looking building.
Owen said the purpose of this building was to be used as an altar for prayer, but it doesn’t look like a place for such sacred acts.
“Alright! Let’s go!”
Under the command of Celia, the leader of this team, we begin walking towards the entrance of Luna’s ruins.
To be honest, I feel hesitant about entering the ruins, which give off a more ominous atmosphere than I expected, but it’s too late to say I want to go back now.
For now, I summon a minor spirit I had sealed in a scroll-shaped vessel and form a simple contract with it, just in case we need to counterattack quickly.
“You’re quick to prepare.”
“Just in case.”
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I say this to Gareth as I heighten my vigilance.
Apparently, weak spirits like minor spirits don’t approach the area around Luna’s ruins.
This means my combat options are limited to the spirits I’ve brought sealed in vessels. I need to be careful not to make any careless moves that could get the spirits hurt, or I’ll become completely useless…
“Alright, I’m going to open it. Are you ready?”
As we reach the entrance of Luna’s ruins, Celia makes a final check.
I’ve already completed the simple contract and am ready to move quickly if anything happens.
The other members also seem fully prepared.
After we nod, Celia takes out a key engraved with the dispelling formula for the spiritual seal placed to prevent illegal entry and inserts it into the door. As soon as we hear the sound of the seal being dispelled, we all enter.
“It’s dark.”
“I can’t see anything…”
“Come forth, flame.”
Since it was pitch black inside with no sunlight or lighting, I channeled spiritual power into a nearby floating fire spirit to illuminate our surroundings. A mural depicting a crescent moon and a woman gazing up at it came into view.
“This is…”
“Probably the moon goddess Luna.”
Leia murmured while using fire magic to light up the wall and examine the mural.
“It’s beautifully painted.”
“It must have been done by a renowned artist.”
Celia admires the mural with interest, and Gareth agrees.
I don’t know much about art, but even as an amateur, I think it’s a beautiful painting that well expresses the mystical nature of the goddess, with her hair and eyes shining golden in the moonlight.
While we were carelessly admiring the mural, I completely forgot that there was one person we shouldn’t have taken our eyes off, quietly exploring the surroundings.
As a result—
“Ah.”
Along with Lily’s voice, which sounded either flustered or calm (I couldn’t tell which), a sound like something sinking echoed. She’s done it again, this one.
Before we could even panic, the temple interior, which had been shrouded in darkness until now, became as bright as day, and we could clearly see countless geometric magic circles drawn on the floor and ceiling.
I had an unpleasant premonition.
“Lily, what did you press?!”
“I don’t really know, but when I touched the wall, it suddenly sank in.”
“It’s not just the lights coming on… is it?”
As if to confirm Celia’s concern, several magic circles drawn on the ground began to glow with spiritual power. No matter how you look at it, these are summoning circles. Well done.
“There are many. How should we fight?”
“No, let’s escape. It’s not a good idea to keep fighting against this number. Let’s go up the stairs in the back.”
“Understood. Then I’ll take the rear guard.”
Celia immediately decides to retreat in response to Gareth’s question. As I agree with that decision and offer to take the rear, a voice interrupts.
“Wait, please. If it’s the rear guard, I should be the one as I’m….”
“Your Salamander can’t go all out in this enclosed space, right? Besides, we can’t carelessly damage this building. I’m the most suitable.”
Salamander is a powerful spirit, but it’s also difficult to use.
As is often the case with high-ranking spirits, even when holding back, its power is still too high, making it unsuitable for combat inside valuable structures like these ruins.
If we accidentally turn the murals to charcoal, who knows what kind of backlash we’d face.
“I’ll stay behind too. Beowulf should be able to fight well here.”
“…Alright, I’m counting on you.”
I hesitated for a moment at Gareth’s offer, but indeed, his contracted spirit should be able to perform well in this space without problems. Additionally, since he knows about my circumstances, I can fight without worrying too much.
“I’ll stay too—“
“You go with Celia and the others.”
When the troublemaker tried to stay behind as well, I immediately rejected the idea. Looking dissatisfied, she was pulled back by Celia. While this exchange was happening, guardians resembling knights in black armor with surprisingly plump figures began to appear one after another from the magic circles. Moreover, they all seem to have black wings on their backs. Could these possibly be angels?
“Rourke, this is…”
“A man doesn’t go back on his word. Let’s do this.”
While breaking out in a cold sweat at the sight of this defense system that seems more intent on destroying the ruins than protecting them, I summon a sword spirit from my vessel.
“Come, Beowulf.”
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