Chapter- 20 The Delphic Necklace

Edward, confirming his choice of the all-consuming sword of Azphel, extended his arm decisively and took hold of the weapon's deep red hilt.

A sword that devours; it reminds me of my own blade, Durandal. However, while Durandal consumes not mana, but rather the very essence of emotion.

'Devouring Sword Azphel, you shall be my new companion' Edward thought prompting a thin smile. 

Gripping the swords in his hands, Edward sensed an enigmatic connection form with the Sword Asphel. This connection allowed him to experience the sword's emotions—it felt deprived, yearning, and ravenous for energy. The Sword's current power was exceedingly low, but that was merely a result of Azphel being deprived of mana for the past three centuries. This neglect was likely because none of the descendants of the Lionheart clan had been able to wield such a formidable weapon. But, I already have experience with such dangerous weapons…

As I approached the entrance to the Vaults, I infused a hint of my Flame frost's essence into the sword you know to test its compatibility. Fortunately, it yielded a positive response … but the sword, sensing my mana, began to greedily draw it in. Edward, feeling the forceful extraction of his mana from his pathways, drew back his magical energy to his arm.

After losing most of his magical energy in an instant, Edward was breathing roughly 

While leaning against the vault door to stabilize him because of his lightheadedness 

With his vision Scattered Edward noticed Eugene walking towards the vaults Exit 

Correcting his posture Edward asked, "You chose a necklace of all things?"

"I did," Eugene said 

Accepting the inevitable of this event, Edward nodded his head before knocking on vaults layered interior. 

As if on cue the entrance opened allowing the two to exit

Handing my chosen Item to the Patriarch. He stared at me and the sword I held dumbfounded.

"Are you sure you want this sword?"

"I do"

"Please take note, Edward, that this sword has solely been wielded by our founder, the Hero Vermonth. Its mastery is notoriously challenging with none being able to properly use it."

"That's fine, I'll take it"

Looking towards his eldest son Gilead sighed and accepted the decision. He already knew how stubborn Edward was, so rather than wasting breath on a trivial situation Gilead just handed the sword back after registering its exit from the Vault.

Gilead now shifting his gaze toward Eugene got even more baffled by what he saw. 

'???'

-Eugene-

From a very...very long time ago, this necklace was the keepsake that had been left to Hamel after his parents were killed by monsters. 

Now that he had been reincarnated. Eugene didn't feel any lingering sadness for this tragedy of his previous life. All the sadness from that event had long since been converted into hate, after all, and Hamel had eventually taken revenge for their deaths with his own hands. 

Nevertheless. Hamel had continued to wear it around his neck until the day he died. It wasn't like there was any discomfort to be had from walking around with the necklace on and there had never been any particular reason for him to take it off. He had expected that this necklace had been buried with him. 

Or at least that was how it should have been, 

Eugene stood there, holding up the necklace for quite some time. His state of paralyzation was because he just couldn't understand what the necklace was doing here. 

Could Vermouth have retrieved my body from Helmuth? 

But none of the weapons that Hamel had wielded were stored in this treasure vault. The only thing in here that was in any way connected to Hamel was this worn-out necklace 

Eugene snorted as his hand wrapped around the necklace 

...It looks like they didn't just forget about me." 

For some reason, he had a bitter taste in his mouth. 

To someday kill all five of the Demon Kings, that was the promise that everyone had vowed to each other. But despite this... Vermouth, Molon, Sienna, and Anise, those four had made an oath of peace with the Demon Kings. Even though three hundred years had passed since then, 

Helmuth and its two Demon Kings were still alive and well 

Just what exactly did they swear in that oath? Even though you retrieved my belongings and laid them to rest here, all of you...especially you, Vermouth...just what were you thinking?" 

Eugene couldn't put down the necklace

****

".... this is what?" spoke Gilead confused. 

His surprise germinated due to his various guesses for what Eugene would have chosen, but not once did he anticipate that Eugene would actually return from the Lionheart vault with a completely ordinary necklace. 

"..it called to me" Eugene spoke awkwardly"

"Did it speak to you, or did it entice you" Edward questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"The ladder,.. Looking at the necklace I felt compelled to take it.." 

"Sounds reasonable to me" Edward shrugged, before looking at his father, who was observing the necklace quizzically. 

Gilead blinked his surprise as he alternated between looking at Eugene and the necklace. 

"...Are you sure about this?" Gilead asked. 

"Yes," Eugene confirmed. 

"But there should be many other more amazing treasures...." 

"As I'm too inexperienced, I felt that I wouldn't be able to handle them," Eugene recited his prepared excuse. However, even he found it hard to believe. 

'What type of fib is that?' Edward thought as he observed the interesting consultation 

Gilead felt increasingly confused as he thought about it. Of course, a child wouldn't be able to fully assess the values of the treasures within, but weren't there many weapons that appeared extraordinary just from their appearances? Could Eugene really have declined such treasures to pick a necklace like this? Even the stubborn 'Edward' notorious for unneeded rebuttal chose a desirable weapon...

...And what exactly is it?' 

What made Gilead even more bewildered was that he did not recognize the necklace Eugene had carried out with him. Did the Treasure Vault really have a necklace like that? 

And of course, there were a lot of other accessories inside the vault that were all so expensive that just one could be exchanged for a whole castle.

 Gilead would have accepted and understood Eugene's excuse if he had chosen such a trinket. Since there was nothing that had caught Eugene's eye right at that moment, he could have chosen to take something that seemed expensive and valuable so that he could somehow put the funds from selling it to later use

"...Do you mind if I take a look at it for a moment?" Gilead requested. 

"Please, go ahead," Eugene handed the necklace over with a nod of his head. 

As soon as Gilead received the necklace, he scanned it all over. But it was just a crudely made and worn-out... necklace. No jewels were embedded, nor was the workmanship extraordinary. Even when he inserted his mana, there was no reaction in response. 

This was simply an ordinary and cheap necklace.

"Why was there such a necklace inside the treasure vault?" 

The more he looked at it, the more Gilead failed to understand. He hesitated for a moment and then looked at Eugene. 

"Please wait here for a moment," Gilead ordered 

"Yes, sir," Eugene replied with an unbothered expression. 

He understood why Gilead would feel so confused. Even in the privacy of his own thoughts, Eugene felt that choosing such a necklace was a very foolish decision, However, it couldn't be helped. Since he couldn't just leave it there, he had to bring it out with him. 

Hm..." While letting out a curious hum, Gilead took the necklace and held it up to the treasure vault's door. 

Everything inside the vault, the honor and glory that the clan had accumulated over three hundred years, had been recorded by the magic of the treasure vault. 

This is quite...a mystery." After holding the necklace up to the lion on the doorknob, Gilead shook his head. 

"This necklace isn't an item that has been registered by the treasure vault." 

"What does that mean?" Eugene asked. 

"Exactly what I said. This isn't a treasure of the Lionhearts. This is an item that shouldn't have been in there." 

"But then why was it in there?" 

"That is why I said that is quite a mystery. I... do not recall ever leaving this necklace inside there. Where did you find this?" 

"In the inside corner of a shelf."

"Could this item have been left behind by the previous Patriarch...? But if that was the case, then it should have been registered by the treasure vault's magic...." 

"Father, It's possible that the previous Patriarch may have just lost it inside there. Edward offered an explanation. 

"Haha," Gilead involuntarily burst into laughter. "Your grandfather, the previous Patriarch, wasn't such a sloppy person. Nor was he the type of person who would play such a strange prank...." 

Eugene was about to ask why Gilead didn't just ask the previous Patriarch personally, but then he remembered and stopped himself. Gilead's father, the former Patriarch, had already passed away long ago. 

"In any case, do you still want to keep this necklace?" 

"Yes, I do" 

"Why?" 

"No real reason." 

"This necklace doesn't seem to be valuable. It doesn't have any enchantments either. So even if you sold it, you wouldn't even be able to buy a cheap longsword." 

'That's exactly right. Eugene thought in agreement as he nodded his head. 

"But I would still like to keep it," is what Eugene ended up saying. 

"You really are quite special," Gilead commented. 

"I've heard that a lot from my father ever since I was young."

"If you really want to keep this necklace... then it can't be helped. However, I'll let you have it right away. Since the origins of this item are unknown, I'll have to ask Lovellian to examine it." 

"Father, you may not be aware, but I have a knack for magic. Please, allow me to examine the a closer look at the necklace."

Gilead listened to Edward, ready to decline, but then recalled that Edward had successfully cast a 5th circle spell, even while being at the 4th circle himself.

'I'm curious to see if he's truly capable of uncovering anything,' Gilead mused.

"Very well," he said. "Please determine if there are any remnants of magic or special properties that might explain why it was stored in the vault."

Nodding to show my understanding, I gently took the necklace from my father's hand and began to channel my magical energy to provoke a reaction… only to realize I had little to no magical power at my disposal.

Realizing that Edward would need some time, Gilead shifted his gaze toward Eugene.

"While Edward checks for any enchantments…. Eugene, strictly speaking, the item you brought back with you is not a treasure of the Lionheart Clan," 

A moment more, Gilead hesitated. Will this be allowed?

There shouldn't be any problems with this, Gilead thought as he patted Eugene's shoulder with a wry smile.

"As this is the case, go back inside and only come out after you've picked something else."

Hearing this Eugene barely managed to restrain the exclamation of seer surprise and jubilation, so much so that he almost blurted out unconsciously and instead asked, "... can I really" 

"It's fine. After all, I promised you that if you were the first to defeat the minotaur, you could go into the treasure vault and come out with whichever piece of treasure you desired. 

But Eugene, you didn't come out with a piece of a treasure, so go back in and return with whatever you like." 

"Thank you so much!" Eugene shouted in gratitude, even as he thought to himself, I really can't believe that Gilead is Vermouth's descendant,' 

Eugene bowed his head deeply towards Gilead, even as he held back a laugh. He had never imagined that Gilead would show such flexibility by giving him another chance to pick up a piece of treasure.

As this incident occurred Edward's experience contrasted it by a 180. 

Staring misty-eyed towards the necklace Edward who spoke a large game just stood. 

'I do pray I could elude to why I can't do anything. 

In stark contrast to the incident, Edward's experience took a complete turn. 

Staring misty-eyed fixed on the necklace, Edward, who spoke a large game, was at a loss for words. 

'I do pray I could elude to why I can't do anything right now'

_________________

The cat said hog the wolf said meow the dog said….. Psst where's the dog

I don't know

"..."