All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 64

32. Let’s Be Quiet – 2

As Kirke said, he couldn’t immediately dominate them because the models [referring to the Guardians’ design and programming] were different.

However, that didn’t mean destroying the Guardians would take a long time.

Moreover, the Guardians here seemed designed for capture, so their equipment consisted mostly of chains or nets.

Therefore, smashing the Guardians was even easier and safer.

As Ian absorbed the magic from the last Guardian, stopping its movements, Grajin retrieved his staff and admired him.

“You really seem born to be an adventurer. Seriously, think about it.”

He’d been able to confirm this while exploring the Curtid Ruins.

Excellent observation and amazing senses.

And that powerful strength.

All of Ian’s strengths are perfect for an adventurer exploring ruins.

“Anyway, that monster from before and the Guardians… this is an amazing discovery. See this? This is the mark of the Botar Kingdom.”

A snake-shaped pattern was engraved on the Guardian’s armor.

After confirming that, Grajin pointed to the direction the Guardian had come from.

“Shall we check out what’s over there?”

“Let’s.”

Passing through the passage, they found a room.

It was similar in shape to the room where they had caught the Sphinx earlier.

There were only traces on the floor, indicating where the Guardian had been stationed.

Unlike the previous room, there were no corpses.

“Is there another entrance on this side?”

When they left that room, they found a staircase leading up.

“Let’s check the other places.”

As Kirke had confirmed, there were a total of six identical locations.

Four places housed Guardians.

The place where the Sphinx was, and the room where Ian and Grajin initially entered.

Only one last room remained empty.

Ian stopped as he was about to leave after inspecting the empty room.

“This is……”

He had picked up a silver thread.

Grajin was puzzled when he saw the mysteriously long and beautiful, hair-like thin thread.

“Huh? What is that?”

Ian knew what it was.

It was from one of the most vicious monsters on the Mu Continent.

Some scornfully called it a tiger.

Some antagonistically called it a mountain tiger.

And some respectfully called it the King of the Mountains—it was fur from the monster tiger.

“Is this fur from *that* tiger?”

Ian nodded at Grajin’s guess.

“But why isn’t the tiger here?”

“Well? If it’s not here, it must have escaped.”

“Hmm… I see. Since the weakest Moon Necklace [a type of magical artifact] went in, the seal must have been broken because of that……”

Ian gave Grajin the tiger’s fur as he pondered.

Grajin took it and looked around.

It seemed they had checked everything that needed to be checked for the moment.

“The corpses in the place where that monster was must have been caught by the Guardians, right?”

“Probably. You saw it too, right?”

Unlike the Guardians of the Forgotten City, the Guardians here moved with the purpose of capturing.

So it wasn’t incomprehensible that those who entered this place were caught and held in the room where the Sphinx was.

“We’ll have to investigate further why they went there… but at this point, not only the Archaeological Society but also the Magic Tower will be quite interested, right?”

“Because of the Guardian production?”

“Yeah. And that unidentified monster too. There are still many things to investigate, but at this point, the Magic Tower will definitely get involved.”

Until now, Guardians had only been found in the Forgotten City.

Therefore, it was thought they could only be produced in the Magic Kingdom, but now a clue to a new manufacturing method had emerged.

So the Magic Tower would definitely try to participate in the investigation of the ruins related to the Botar Kingdom.

Through that process, the Archaeological Society would gain a lot from the Magic Tower.

Grajin smiled and patted Ian on the back.

“Congratulations. You’re becoming a famous person.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Because you’re the first conqueror of the Curtid Ruins and you’ve achieved such great results. The Archaeological Society will be watching you from now on.”

* * *

They investigated other parts of the ruins, but all they found were a few more artifacts from the Botar Kingdom, so they decided to leave.

“Then I’ll report to the Archaeological Society.”

“Then I’ll have to go to the Temple of the Moon. See you later.”

After Grajin entered the Archaeological Society, scholars and adventurers began to gather.

Ian, seeing them enter the ruins, headed straight to the Temple of the Moon.

Before, it seemed like people rarely came.

But now people were there.

Ian quickly headed there, wondering if something had happened.

When he arrived at the Temple of the Moon, instead of Paul, there were several soldiers guarding the temple.

Looking at their attire, they appeared to be guards from Baradis County.

“What? Why are you guys here?”

“Who are you?”

The soldiers got up, wary, and grabbed their weapons.

At their reaction, Ian took out his Academy badge.

“I am Ian Brandon from Fredon Academy.”

Fredon Academy students are treated like nobles almost everywhere they go.

So the soldiers checked the badge and immediately bowed their heads and greeted him.

“We are the Baradis County Guard.”

“Where is Priest Paul?”

“The priest has gone to the territory. Miss Leila……”

As he was about to speak, the soldier next to him nudged him.

It was a sign not to say unnecessary things to outsiders.

“I know that Leila was an Academy student before and took a leave of absence for treatment.”

“Ah… Ah. Is that so? Then it will be faster to explain. Priest Paul went to the territory for her treatment and some other things.”

“Ah ha. Then when will he return?”

“I think he will come back tomorrow. So we are guarding here in the meantime.”

He could go to the County, but there was no guarantee that Paul had the relic.

And he was probably busy with Leila’s treatment, so it would be hard to ask for it.

Thinking that he had time, Ian told the soldier.

“Will you let me know when Priest Paul comes back? I’ll be at the Archaeological Society.”

A gold coin from his pocket went into the soldier’s hand.

Seeing that, the soldier smiled brightly and put the gold coin in his arms.

“Of course! I’ll go and let you know right away!”

As they rejoiced at the gold coin, Ian headed back to the Curtid Ruins.

Was it because the hidden 3rd basement floor had been discovered in the Curtid Ruins?

There were even more people bustling around the entrance to the ruins.

“Myaa~ Mya mya~.”

Myaene meowed softly as if she was hungry.

Come to think of it, he had only eaten a few pieces of bread since entering the ruins.

Ian also needed to eat, so he headed to a nearby food stall.

“Welcome~.”

The employee inside the crowded food stall greeted him in a bright tone.

Guided by her, Ian found an empty seat and sat down.

“Give me meat soup and a piece of bread.”

“Okay~.”

Not long after Ian sat down, a group of scholars and adventurers came in.

After them, customers continued to come in, and the food stall was instantly full.

“Here’s your food!”

A soup with a large chunk of meat and wheat bread was served.

Ian cut the meat and gave some to Myaene, then started chewing the wheat bread himself.

The noisy food stall suddenly became quiet.

It was because of a man with dark black hair and a bleak expression.

Looking around to find an empty seat, he headed to the empty seat left in front of Ian.

One of the adventurers who was staring blankly at him dropped the bread he was eating and muttered.

“……Red Beard Baba?!”

Everyone was silent, but only for a moment.

Those who saw the man with only a red beard got up from their seats in fear.

“Hiiiik! Run away!”

“R, Red Beard! It’s Red Beard!!”

Everyone in the food stall ran away.

Except for one.

Ian.

Seeing that, Baba approached Ian in the disorganized mess.

And he pointed to the clean front seat where no one was sitting and said.

“Is it okay to join you?”

Ian nodded.

When Ian, who was drinking the soup, nodded, Baba sat down roughly and raised his hand.

“Give me one of what this young friend is eating.”

The girl who was afraid quickly brought the food.

“Oh. This looks delicious.”

He blew on the soup and took a sip, chewed the wheat bread, and took another sip of the soup.

He took a big bite of the meat and chewed it.

Ian and Myaene also just ate without any special reaction.

So they quietly continued their meal in the messy food stall.

But that peace didn’t last long.

“B, Red! Red…… Red Beard!!”

Soldiers and knights came into the food stall.

The hand of the knight at the head was trembling, looking quite scared.

“D, Drop your we…… weapons right now!”

He didn’t answer.

He was just eating quietly.

In the meantime, Ian, who had finished eating, got up from his seat.

“Here’s the bill.”

“Oh? Ah. Yes. Th, Thank you.”

As he was about to pay and leave, he met the eyes of one of the knights.

The stiff face was familiar.

“Ah. That time.”

It was the knight he met when he came out of the gate with Grajin.

When he found Ian, he didn’t know what to do and pointed to Red Beard.

“Ah, if you’re an Academy student, please help…… Can’t you?”

Ian looked at Baba.

He was still eating without paying any attention to what was happening.

Ian, who was watching Baba, was about to open his mouth when screams were heard from outside.

“Kyaaaaaaak!!”

“Ihihihi!!”

Following the screams, a terrible laughter rang out.

The soldiers and knights were embarrassed when they heard that.

“Wh, What?!”

“Damn it!! Kerion!! Go out!! I’ll take care of this side!”

Baba alone was a difficult problem, but another one had broken out.

The knight shouted at the soldiers who followed him.

As they went out, Baba, who had finished eating, also got up from his seat.

“If I add up what those who ran away from me would have paid, this should be enough.”

He handed over several 10 gold coins.

When the girl who received it bowed her head, Baba approached the stiff knight.

“Are you going to fight?”

“……I, I have to fight.”

“I don’t like fighting the weak. But if that friend over there participates, I’ll fight.”

“Huh? What does that……”

“Haha. That’s why you’re an amateur.”

He could tell.

Ian may look thin and weak on the outside, but he is strong enough to easily trample ordinary knights.

“I came here to chase after Kaheldok, not to fight unnecessarily. And it seems like that guy is here too.”

Carnivorous Kaheldok [a monster’s name].

If he catches that guy and the guys who led him here, he won’t have anything else to do.

“Isn’t it better to catch that guy first than me? At least I can talk.”

But the carnivorous Kaheldok is different.

He is a monster driven mad by murderous intent.

A monster that can talk and a monster that can’t.

Anyone could tell which one was more dangerous.

“Ihihihihihi!!”

Again, a terrible laughter was heard from the street.

The knight’s face turned pale at the screams that followed the sound.

“Damn it!!”

He looked at Baba, then turned and ran towards where the laughter was heard.

As those who were blocking him all disappeared, Baba asked Ian.

“Are you going to stop it?”

“Why bother?”

When Ian, who reacted indifferently, was about to leave, Baba asked with a smile.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to meditate, but I don’t want unnecessary noise.”

“Ah. Speak comfortably. You seem qualified enough to do so.”

“I will. Anyway, I’m going to get rid of that guy. I’ll let you pass since you seem quiet.”

“Hey! Young friend! That guy is mine!”

As he walked, Baba immediately followed him.

The place they were heading to was a place where laughter and screams coexisted.