Kingdom Foundations (6)

It was a busy time but Givens' report could not be ignored.

A mana formation existed in the place where the iron vein is?

Come to think of it, it was a mysterious area that appeared at the end of the game, unless you already knew where it was.

"Givens, are you sure you're alright? You can go rest in Aquitania if you want."

"Not so fast. We need someone to take us to where the mountain people are."

"Well, that's true. You'll have to be patient."

"I don't mind riding this much."

I immediately left with Givens.

Only Yuri was with us, as Zeff had other duties to attend to.

"That's the lord's castle!"

As soon as we arrived in Berthaquin, we moved to the lord's castle.

I was hoping that Yusen might be there, but there was no sign of him.

"He said he'd look into it, but he's still in the mountains."

Givens said, scratching the back of his head with a worried look on his face.

Then there is nothing else to do at the lord's castle.

"We're going in the mountains."

"Yes!"

With Givens guidance, we moved to the area where the mountain people were said to be.

"I think it was this way..."

However, Givens began to lose his way halfway there.

"That's what...is for. I was in a very tense situation at the time!"

A forest here.

A forest there.

It's no wonder it's hard to tell them apart since the whole area is green.

"Let's just keep moving forward. Sooner or later, those weird guys with their faces painted green will show up!"

At that very moment, something fell from the top of the tree, to my surprise, it was a person.

"There it is! That's exactly how it happened!"

Seeing this, Givens backed away and fell over, and Yuri quickly drew her sword.

However, his face was quite familiar.

"Yusen!"

"Sir, you're here!"

Then, Givens, who had fallen over in astonishment, stood up angrily.

"Captain! What the hell? Why in the world are you dressed like them? Did you become a mountain person while I was gone?"

"Shut up. You're the one who didn't notice me and got surprised as if you've seen a ghost."

Yusen said as he kicked Givens butt.

"Sir! This way, you will assimilate with the surrounding scenery and not stand out. That's probably why the mountain people paint their faces green."

Learning from the enemy, his knowledge of ambush tactics will greatly increase.

"Well, it's true that the captain's face is indistinguishable from theirs...."

Givens added another commentary and rolled on the floor as Yusen punished him.

Anyway, they are good friends.

"So, what have you got?"

"I've been through their area. Here's a map!"

Yusen handed me a hand-drawn map, written on a scrawl of parchment.

"In the meantime, is there any way we can get to where you say the mana formation is without being detected?"

"They won't go outside the area. It seems to be an absolute taboo. So it's easy to get there if you detour this way...."

"What's there?"

"It's like a holy place for them, so if you go in there, they'll definitely notice you. That's the problem."

That's probably true but we have to face it because that mana formation is the reason why I came here.

"I can't decide what to do about the mountain people without seeing that mana formation. Take me there."

"Yes, sir."

Following Yusen's lead, we took a large detour down the road.

Unlike Givens, Yusen knew the way very well.

"There it is, sir!"

A huge cliff and a mana formation drawn beneath it, it was a very familiar sight.

"I knew it. Doesn't it look like that place from back then?"

"I thought so, too. Look at this!"

Yurasia held out her hand, there was a blue glow emanating from her ring.

This was exactly the same as that time.

In other words, this mana formation was created by the Ancient Empire.

If there is iron in this area, could it be the iron ore used by the Ancient Empire?

Was it something that disappeared after the fall of the Ancient Empire?

"Ukaka-kaka-kaka!"

As I was thinking about this, those beings finally revealed themselves.

I knew at a glance that they were mountain people.

They were dressed similarly to Yusen.

Hundreds of them appeared from above and behind the cliffs and surrounded us.

Their faces showed hostility.

"a faist dei enmorndin dei ittor gvindae."

upon my say so both my party and the natives stared at me in shock.

"You... Who are you?

"Are you the leader? I am Julius, the new lord of Berthaquin! Last surviving heir of the Roman Empire. Julius Ceasar!"

The one opened his mouth.

He was the broad-shouldered man in the group.

But upon hearing what I had to say, his eyes wandered until they landed on the faintly glowing ring on Yuri's finger before he dropped to his knee performing a full bow.

In an instant all his men behind him followed suit.

"Greetings Lord Emperor, we the Praet's have long awaited your return."

He didn't seem to care about the position of lord at all.

Focusing solely on my claim to the imperial throne.

The tribe's attire reminded me of the natives of Africa.

The only unusual thing about them was their small stature and broad shoulders.

They have a good physique.

But this is honestly what one would expect from the remnants of the Praetorian Guards, otherwise known as the Emperors Personal Guards, aka his elite fighting force.

He'd yet to identify but he's most probably the leader.

And he was pretty strong.

I couldnt't beat him without the use of my perks/skills.

______________________________________

[Leman Bertha]

[Age: 28]

[Power Level: 80]

[Intelligence: 50]

[Command: 78]

______________________________________

As soon as I heard Yusen's story, I checked his ability values.

They were indeed tempting ability values.

Leaving the leader and his men prostrating upon the ground i ushed for Yuri to approach the Mana formation with her ring, as the one i acquired from Bridget didn't seem to react here.

"Yuri, if you don't mind, i'd like to see what my ancestors have left for us behind this get?"

"Yeah."

Yurasia nodded and ran to the mana formation.

We then positioned ourselves behind Yurasia.

The tribe meanwhile had circled round to watch us while remaining in a kneeling state.

The ground began to shake as the mana formation glowed the same blue color as the light emitted from Yuri's ring.

It was like an earthquake.

"Ukaka-kaka?"

The mountain tribe was startled by the shaking.

At the same time, the wall on which the mana formation was painted was cut in two, the door opened and the shaking stopped.

Even now, Yuri's ring and the mana formation were resonating and emitting a powerful blue light.

Then she walked inside and I followed after her.

The mountain tribe's actions were completely stalled.

As everyone's eyes were bulging out, staring at their long awaited wish coming true.

"Look at this. How could this be here?"

In front of the door she pointed to there was an earth-colored sword.

______________________________________

[Unnamed sword]

[Power Level +2]

______________________________________

The effects of the items were exactly the same.

Don't tell me that all the treasures in the Ancient Empire are the same?

No, even if there is some secret hidden, there can't be twelve earth-coloured swords, right?

"Sir! Look at them, look at them!"

At Givens' cry, I turned and looked at the mountain tribe.

"Ukaka-kaka-kaka!"

Before we knew it, all the mountain tribes people had gotten up from their kneeling state and in jubilation were hugging and crying.

The man who seemed to be the leader of the tribe opened his mouth while prostrating himself to us.

"Oh, Emperor!"

It was as if they were worshipping a god.

"It has been a long time coming, but the resurrection is at hand!"