Chapter 51: The Lost Grand Castle

Emperor Alexander, the greatest emperor of the mage kingdom and the last emperor to have ever existed. During his reign, humans were at the peak of their power. Mages thrived, asserting their dominance over other races and constantly challenging the boundaries of their abilities.

As the ruler of the strongest mage kingdom in human civilization, Emperor Alexander was said to possess incalculable wealth. Gold, mana stones, artifacts, rare herbs—you name it, he owned it. His grand castle, constructed entirely of artifacts, was considered the most valuable possession of Emperor Alexander.

Built entirely with artifacts, Emperor Alexander's grand castle transcended mere architecture. It possessed extraordinary abilities, one of which was the ability to float in the sky perpetually. Even with current technology, constructing a building of such magnitude, capable of housing countless people and remaining airborne, would be an immense challenge. The strain on resources and maintenance alone would be overwhelming.

Yet, Emperor Alexander's castle had defied all odds. It had always floated since its creation. Even in times of turmoil when the kingdom faced destruction, the castle remained intact, only to vanish with the end of Emperor Alexander's reign.

Since then, through the passage of thousands of years, the legend of Emperor Alexander's grand castle continued to persist. Some believed it still floated in the sky, while others claimed it hid in a separate realm, awaiting discovery. There were even extreme views suggesting that Emperor Alexander himself remained alive, concealed within his castle, evading his enemies. Amidst a sea of rumors and fantastical tales, historians proposed the most plausible theory—that the castle had long been destroyed and the story of its disappearance was a fabrication to glorify the once prestigious kingdom.

Personally, I inclined to trust the historians' opinions, as they were experts in the subject matter. However, I never imagined that one of these rumors would turn out to be true.

And now, I stood within what was known as Emperor Alexander's grand castle, realizing that it was indeed real.

Taking a moment to survey my surroundings, I turned my gaze toward Sarah.

"To be able to find the lost Emperor Alexander's grand castle, I must say, I'm in awe of you," I said, unable to contain my excitement.

Sarah, however, shook her head. "I appreciate your admiration, but don't raise your hopes too high. Although this is a part of Emperor Alexander's grand castle, it is merely a fraction of the whole."

"Still, that doesn't change the fact that it is part of the legendary grand castle. Based on the stories, I'm certain this place holds many treasures. Perhaps not as numerous as Emperor Alexander's collection, but I believe it's enough for all of us, right?" I replied, enthusiasm evident in my voice.

Once again, Sarah shook her head. "I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed. Yes, this place did hold treasures in the past, but they are no longer here."

"What do you mean?" I asked, confusion etching my face.

"Because someone else has already been here," Sarah replied.

Her statement startled me. If someone had already emptied this place, then did that mean Sarah had come here for nothing?

"I understand your concerns, but it's true. A hundred years ago, this place was discovered by someone, and they, along with others, entered. At first, they were clueless about this place and called for others to investigate it together. When they realized its true nature, a fierce battle erupted. Eventually, the few survivors decided to divide the treasures among themselves and go their separate ways. But when the last person stepped outside, this place suddenly shook and disappeared. It wasn't until a hundred years later that we found it again," Sarah explained.

I nodded, absorbing her words. However, one nagging question remained at the forefront of my mind. After contemplating for a moment, I unexpectedly reached a conclusion.

Recognizing my realization, Sarah nodded in agreement. "Yes, one of the individuals who claimed the treasures is my ancestor. The key you saw me retrieve is also something I inherited specifically for this test."

Sarah's story astonished me, but she still hadn't answered my question adequately. If she knew this place was empty, why was she so desperate to come here?

I yearned to ask her about it, but before I could do so, Anna approached, interrupting our conversation. Not long after, the others also gathered around Sarah and me.

"Miss, what are your next orders?" Captain Garz's demeanor remained calm, but a hint of excitement shimmered behind his composed facade.

In this unfamiliar place, only Sarah, guided by her ancestor, knew how to proceed.

Sarah nodded gently and said, "Okay, then follow me."