Chapter 44.1

As Oswald moved away, he inadvertently toppled a large stone that was standing beside it, blocking the hole where the large army was. At that very moment, the massive door sealed shut against the high stone and slowly descended, eliminating any potential dangers outside.

In the glow of the calcium carbide fire, the two individuals were solely focused on the relentless assault of the sand ghost.

Kevin swiftly descended into the hole and arose immediately, taking a knee. He deftly retrieved three arrows from the quiver behind him, placed them on his bow, and pulled the string tautly.

Most of the gigantic gate collapsed, leaving a gap just below the height of a calf. The whirling sand and gravel pounded against the colossal door, producing a rumble resembling rolling thunder.

As Kevin released his fingers, three arrows were simultaneously launched, striking the sand ghost that had protruded its head through the crack of the door, forcing it out.

The sand ghost let out a wild roar, attempting to charge forward again, but at that precise moment, the giant gate crashed to the ground.

The swiftest sand ghost was split in two by the massive gate, with one part trapped inside the gate and the other part outside. The sharp, resounding noise reverberated both inside and outside, creating an unsettling sight.

Without hesitating, Kevin consecutively secured the portion of the sand ghost caught in the door to the ground with three arrows. Oswald thrust his long sword, bringing the dying sand ghost to a complete halt, causing it to disintegrate into lifeless loose sand, scattered on the ground near the door.

For the time being, everything had reached its conclusion, allowing for a moment of respite.

Kevin removed the arrow from his bow, twirling it on his finger, and delicately slid it along the curve of his shoulder back into the quiver on his back.

"Where is Sinia, the one you were carrying?" Kevin glanced at Oswald.

"I handed her off to someone earlier, and we entered the next door together," Oswald replied, his expression not quite at ease. "She will be taken care of."

"So this is..." Kevin stood up and surveyed the cave, which appeared pitch-black with no end in sight. At intervals along the cave's stone walls were embedded pieces of fluorite, faintly illuminating the uneven pathway. At a glance, they resembled dots of stars, evoking the image of a night sky.

"Theodore... Oh, I mean the secret passage mentioned by the Sand Ghost, the legendary Golden Lion Country Secret Road," Oswald responded, before asking with a hint of confusion, "You don't know? Haven't you lived a long life? Isn't Your Eminence quite knowledgeable? How could you not know?"

"What a metaphor?! Just because I don't feel like beating you up right now?" Kevin retorted. "Living a long time doesn't mean I've been lingering in the legion; it's too easy for people to notice something amiss. Besides, I've been buried multiple times, and slept for many years."

Oswald slowly made his way to the door, pulling out the long sword that was lodged in the loose sand and tossing the arrow to Kevin. "This secret passage was constructed long ago, reportedly taking over two hundred years and four emperors to complete. The last emperor was Besseman. I thought you would know something about it."

Kevin shrugged. "It's normal that I wouldn't know. I only emerged into the world during Emperor Besseman's reign."

Oswald snorted, using his sword for support as he leaned against the stone wall and sat down. "There's one thing I haven't figured out."

"Why did you sit down?" Kevin stood in front of him and lightly tapped his foot. "Do you only have one mouth and one leg? You can talk while walking."

Resting his hands on his bent knees, Oswald waved dismissively. "Just wait a moment, I can't see right now."

Kevin furrowed his brow and simply squatted in front of him, raising his hand to Oswald's eyelids and observing closely. "Why is it always black? You're hopeless."

Oswald replied, "...nonsense."

Although he allowed Kevin to fumble around his eyes, upon hearing this remark, his annoyance resurfaced, and he angrily swatted Kevin's hand away. "Stop talking nonsense, I'm asking you a serious question, my dear lord."

"I just looked into your eyes, I didn't seal your mouth. If there's something you can't figure out, just ask," Kevin said, unsure whether to laugh or sigh.

"Haven't you lived a long time? Why did you appear to be seventeen or eighteen years old when you arrived at Pach Manor?" Oswald questioned, his eyes still closed. "Is it possible for you to age backward?"

"Did I not warn you that a pierced heart would lead to death?" Kevin retorted in a formal tone.

Oswald replied with a nonchalant attitude, "What of it?"

"The truth is, you are not so different from me. When I died on the battlefield, my physical appearance remained frozen until I was revived. I age normally after that and if I die naturally, I would revive as a child and grow up again. Except for my rapid healing abilities, I am just an ordinary person," Kevin explained.

Oswald remained silent for a while before leaning his head against the stone wall. He opened his eyes halfway and inquired in a lazy tone, "Doesn't that mean you have lived through multiple lifetimes?"