Chapter 828

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"What? What is that? There's a guardian inside?"

[That's right. It was originally a painting intended to be used as a tomb, so isn't it natural?]

"The existence of subspace inside the painting, along with the presence of guardians inside, and the fact that their combat power is as the painter's will, none of this seems natural at all. How powerful are these guardians?"

[I can't recall the exact extent of their strength. As I mentioned earlier, the painting was damaged, and it affected my memories as well. However, all I remember is that they are incredibly strong.]

"Are you suggesting there are guardians with the power of a Genesis knight?"

[Perhaps that's not the case. It is not likely to happen... Among the people who were part of Temar's clan at that time, no one was stronger than him.]

"What about me?"

[Of course, I know that it's difficult to compare you and Temar. Hah, in that case, I might have depicted your prime.]

"If it were my prime, even if I fought together with the kid, there would be no chance of winning."

"Really? That strong, huh? Didn't you say you came close to your prime too?"

"Close and complete are different, you see. Haha, We are talking about Lord Murakan back in those days. Unless it was a Genesis knight, you couldn't kill me. No matter how many powerful foes came at me, if there was no Genesis knight among them, they couldn't kill me."

"Sounds like boasting."

"Oh, really? Is it that impressive? Then you should become a Genesis knight too. Well, but what do you know, Kid? You'd understand if you experienced being Genesis Knight. Kyakyakya."

Jin almost reached out to punch him.

[...The only relief is that everything I drew exists solely within the painting. Whether there's a prime Murakan inside or something even stronger, they cannot come out into reality.]

If it were possible to bring the painting to reality, Kaytam wouldn't have been treated as a lower-ranked god.

[However, if you enter my painting, during that time, that place becomes your reality. You can get hurt by the attacks of the guardians. Therefore, if you can't defeat them, it means you could die.]

"So, according to what Mr. Kaytam said... The painting contains a history from a thousand years ago, and apart from that, there's no other reward, but there's an immeasurable danger lurking."

Kaytam nodded as if embarrassed, thinking that there was nothing more to say to Jin and Murakan if they refused to enter the painting.

However, Jin had no intention of giving up.

It was a judgment that if they could directly confirm a complete piece of history from a thousand years ago, it would be worth taking the risk.

Moreover, the painting was suddenly contaminated, and Kaytam said that the possibility of history manipulation was slim.

Witch Helluram, or Lokia Ganesto.

Jin had a feeling that this incident might be related to one of them.

'But if one of them is the culprit, then I wonder why they suddenly damaged Kaytam's painting. Is it because I shouldn't know the history depicted in the painting? If that's the case, then there were better times than now. Like when I was too weak to help Mr. Kaytam.'

To find out why the suspects had damaged the painting, they had to enter and investigate.

"Mr. Kaytam, is there any safety mechanism when entering the painting? Like a means to escape immediately?"

[Since I lost control of the painting, there is none at the moment. However, if you deal with the damaged parts inside, I might regain control.]

"Essentially, you're asking for a restoration of the painting?"

[That might be one way to think about it, Murakan. But I sincerely believe that you need to examine the story of that era. After all, if it wasn't for you two, anyone wouldn't even be able to enter. You have to handle the shadow force to enter. The restoration of the artwork is just my wish. Even if you safely investigate the events from a thousand years ago and return, the chances of the painting being restored are high.]

"Oh, are you taking my jokes seriously? But seriously, are you really sorry?"

[Of course.]

"Really?"

[Yes, I am!]

"Then can I understand that you would accept any compensation I ask for?"

[Well, it is true that I feel sorry, and since you've put it that way, I might loosen up a bit. Krururur....]

"Mr. Kaytam suggested we enter for our sake. What more reward do we need, Murakan? We might find crucial clues about the events from a thousand years ago. That's the most significant reward. After all, it's a history that you don't even remember."

"Oh no, no. But still, thanks to us, the painting might be restored. There's something I absolutely have to get from this angry artist."

[Stop annoying me and say it already. What is it?]

"Draw a magazine for me. A magazine drawn by the god of painters. Kyah... It'll be amazing. I'll be able to fix my eyesight that got messed up because of Luet."

"Your requests never cease to amaze me, Murakan. You dare to ask a god for such a thing?"

[Alright, I'll draw it for you. Jin, if you have any requests for a painting, tell me.]

"I'll gratefully accept your offer."

"Hehe, then I'll have the kid's share as well."

"I'll think about it and let you know after we come back. It should be something more valuable than a magazine, at least."

"Anyway, you can't stand seeing myself doing well? Tch. When you were young, you had some cute aspects."

"We will enter the painting right away, Mr. Kaytam."

In reality, Jin didn't feel burdened or afraid despite the lack of safety measures.

'Mr. Kaytam said there wouldn't be any Genesis knight, so there's no enemy that my current self and Murakan can't handle. There might be a variable that involves the existence of a prime Murakan... But in the end, it's just a painting. It can't possess the same combat power as a real Genesis knight.'

No matter how vivid it was, the painting was still a painting, and there had to be limits to it.

If it were possible to depict an existence identical to the real Genesis knight, Kaytam's painting would have become the final resting place for Temar. There was no reason to move his remains when such guardians existed.

[Understood. Ochs, Telpen!]

Ochs and Telpen came closer. Ochs surrounded the painting with a translucent frame, and Telpen took out a pencil from his mouth and handed it to Kaytam. As soon as the pencil touched Kaytam's hand, it grew larger to the point where it looked like a spear.

[I will draw the entrance to enter the painting. You all must stay still as if dead. This is a task that requires utmost concentration. Especially you, Murakan. If you suddenly open the door like before, then I'll go crazy, will I not? It's driving me crazy just thinking about it.]

"Got it..."

[I told you to shut up!]

This time, both Murakan and Jin were somewhat taken aback but remained silent. Kaytam was already swinging the giant pencil above the black canvas. His eyes were filled with madness as they darted back and forth. Murakan was twirling his index finger on his forehead, and Jin shrugged his shoulders.

With every movement of the pencil, a small, white, round circle was forming on the black canvas. After a while, a landscape started to emerge inside the white circle.

'...A forest? No, is it a mountain?'

The circle was too small to properly confirm the landscape, but Jin could tell it was a lush green forest. It felt as if he were looking down at the forest or a mountain from a gap in the clouds. Even at a glance, it was evident that it was a massive scene.

Thud, thud.

Kaytam's sweat drops fell to the floor. He collapsed with a sigh, wiping his forehead.

[Phew, I finally opened it. It was almost impossible.]

"It seems like there are a lot of trees for a tomb. It looks like part of a vast mountain range. Is there a tomb somewhere in there?"

[Maybe. Damn it, I can't even remember what kind of landscape my own artwork is. I don't know how to express this miserable feeling. Go and see for yourselves. If it can be restored, then I'll draw more than a hundred volumes of magazines. Please! Oh, gods! Provide me with an answer!]

"Hey, you're a god, right? By the way, a hundred volumes!?"

Jin naturally expected Murakan to throw a fit while making such a commotion. So he reflexively tried to cover his ears, but Murakan was staring intently inside the circle. His eyes were shaking as if in shock.

"Murakan?"

"There... it's my mountain range..."

"...Your mountain range?"

"Yes, my mountain range, my home. Just by looking at those trees, I can tell... It's the Murakan Mountain Range, I'm sure of it."

Mount Murakan.

The highest mountain existing on the surface world, its name naturally derived from its owner, Murakan.

And now, Murakan was feeling a surge of memories from that time when Mt. Murakan was not just a mountain but a massive mountain range that traversed all of Huphester. At that time, the Murakan Mountain Range was known as the backbone of Huphester, and Murakan was its sole ruler.

"Are you saying that Mt. Murakan was originally a mountain range?"

"Yes... Now, only a portion of it remains as the mountain. Even the storm castle on its summit... Aargh!"

Unexpectedly, Murakan grabbed his forehead and bent forward.

"Murakan, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Damn it, whenever memories from that time come back, I get a headache. How could I have forgotten my mountain range, which was so colossal? It had a Mitel at its core and extended throughout Huphester, from the southernmost to the northernmost regions."

"...Such a colossal mountain range existed in Huphester?"

"Yes. No dragon could pass through that mountain range without my permission."

If a mountain range that huge had existed a thousand years ago, there should have been some records or legends about it.

However, there was not a single line about the Murakan Mountain Range in historical books, nor were there any oral traditions.

There was only one ancient legend remaining in Runcandel.

It said that a thousand years ago, the Black Dragon Murakan was defeated by the first patriarch, Temar Runcandel and fell into deep slumber in the storm castle.

Jin was engulfed by intuition.

'The story from a thousand years ago that Mr. Kaytam depicted in the painting might be about Murakan and Temar. The truth about these two people...'

Murakan took a deep breath and lifted his head.

"Hey, Kaytam. How do we get inside now?"

[If you try to push your head in first, you'll end up falling like you've stepped on thin air. It seems like you've regained some of your old memories.]

"It's not just a bit; I need to get back all of them. Don't forget the hundred volumes of the magazine. Let's go, kid."

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