Chapter 211: The Warrior and the Ancient City [Part 1]
Squinting in the glare, I surveyed the scene.
Ahead of me was a long stone passageway and, in the distance, a city glittering in the sunlight. Two unknown moons floated in the blue sky, and water cascaded from countless islands floating in the sky.
We were very puzzled, we did not understand what was happening here.
We approached from the ends where we stood, and saw a beautiful waterfall that was almost within reach of my hand, and if I extended my vision further, just below us, a large lush forest stretched to the horizon.
As soon as I finished checking where I was, I saw a spherical building floating with no pillars to support it.
This is the first time I have ever seen anything like this in my life. This is all new to me.
āIāve never been here, but I feel nostalgic.
āYeah! Frau too! Iām so homesick I want to cry.
āI agree. The smell that comes to me through the air is very much like grandma.
The three of us continued on our way as we had a conversation about how this place was affecting our emotions.
We were very surprised at how the ancient city continued to exist without being deteriorated at all.
Each building had a design that was repeated after another, but so characteristic that you would not see it anywhere else, with beautiful waters flowing through the canals and fountains.
But there was no trace of any living thing.
The dreadful silence covered the whole city and gave you the impression that time had stopped.
As soon as I looked inside one of the buildings, I saw things that suggested that someone had inhabited the place, but no one was to be found.
Where did all these people go?
I would like to know why the Dragon People disappeared in the first place.
Tamamoās grandmother told me that there was once a great war. But there must have been survivors. If not, thereās no way to explain why Iām here.
I decided to summon Rosuke, Chupibi and Kuratan. I instructed them to find signs of life throughout the city, and quickly the three of them scattered in different directions.
āIf you think about it, this place is full of treasures. You can get all kinds of artifacts here.
Frau clings to the glass of a store.
There were lots of scrolls and tools that I had never seen before.
No doubt, this place is a treasure trove.
But I didnāt feel like getting my hands on it. It was too beautiful to be called a ruin, and I felt like I was stealing.
āMaster, how about taking a break in this house?
āYāYesā¦
Before I knew it, Kaede had rummaged through a nearby house and was peeking her face through the front door, calling out to me as if she were my wife welcoming meā¦
This is no time to think about such things, and I am starving.
I apologize to the owner of this home, but Iāll borrow it for the day.
āItās more normal than I imagined.
The homes of the ancient race were not so different from the ones I knew.
On the contrary, you even get the feeling that they led a more uncomfortable life than today. Still, I could see the heyday of technology everywhere.
āThis pot is very light and tough.
Kaede is amazed to find a pot in the kitchen.
The pot was as light as a feather, and not even we who were level 10,000 could destroy it.
It seems that the technological capabilities of the ancient species have continued to progress and they have finally created cooking utensils that are difficult to destroy. Whatās more, whatās scary is that they are owned by ordinary people.
āMasterā¦ I want this.
Fascinated by the pot, Kaede asks permission to take it home. Her big eyes sparkled and her tail swayed more than usual.
Under other circumstances I would refuse. However, I cannot refuse my beautiful slaveās request.
I wish I could find someone and ask her what is going on.
āMumnyamunyaā¦ Panda, youāre back home looking delicious.
Frau, who was completely asleep, seemed to be dreaming of Panda.
Kaede is also fast asleep, sighing in her sleep.
I got up slowly and walked over to the window.
Although it is midnight, the city is dark and only silence reigns.
Is this the place where my mother was born and raised? There is no proof yet. But there is no doubt that there is something in this ancient city.
I looked up at the sky and saw two moons shining.
It doesnāt seem to be a place identical to the Heavenly Beast Realm. Although I am a simple idiot, and no matter how much I think, I wouldnāt understand it.
āā¦?!
Suddenly I felt a glance and turned my attention to the roof of the building across the street.
But there was no human shadow.
Was it my imagination?
I thought nothing of it and went back to bed. Itās a bit chilly, so I took one of Kaedeās tails and curled up in it.
Itās warm. It feels so good to the touch.
Itās soooo good.
Today we were going to have lunch on the roof.
I was waiting for the return of the three beasts with a sandwich that Kaede prepared for me.
Itās been more than a day since I sent them out to investigate. And although the ancient capital is ridiculously large, it was not a pretext for it.
Anxiety gradually increases.
āHey, doesnāt that look like a castle?
In the direction Frau pointed, there was a large temple-like building.
If we go there, we could surely get some clues.
Also Pione is waiting for our return. And we also donāt know when Sain will show up, so I want to get back as soon as possible.
After a quick lunch, we headed down the main street to the building in question.
āLook, thereās someone there!
We find a person at the entrance of the building.
The person seems to be aware of our presence and does not move from the site, as if he is willing to establish contact with us.
The closer I got, the clearer her appearance became.
She appears to be a woman, and a human one at that (I dare say so here, as it is difficult to distinguish between a dragon-race and a human).
What is striking is her appearance. She wears tattered, ragged clothes over her beautiful, false-looking face. It is as if a woman who moments ago was a princess has been reduced to the status of a slave.
In addition, she wore an ugly wooden necklace around her neck.
āThank you for coming from far away. I am M2KK-00742, a machine created by the ancient race. But you can call me āNezeā.
She bows reverently.
No way, sheās a golem?
Until now I thought there was only one that could perfectly imitate a human.
However, at that moment I felt a slight sense of discomfort, but the girl in front of me did not denote anything of the sort. Whichever way you look at it, she is a person.
She kept smiling, as if she expected something from me.
āAre you waiting for me to introduce myself?
āYes.
Unconsciously, my eyes were captivated by the beauty of the girl in front of me.
I looked back as an act of reflex, and saw Kaede puffing out her cheeks in frustration.
I continue to not understand the reason for her anger.
āI am Toru Eiban. And sheās Kaede and Frau.
āSo, you must be Toru-sama. I have registered you in my memory. Follow me please.
The girl urged us to enter the temple in question.
Upon entering, one realizes instantly that this is a special place.
Numerous lines of light ran like veins along the walls and the floor was pure white and polished.
Also, at the entrance was a glass cylinder that pierced the ceiling, inside of which was an emerald-colored tree that looked like a smaller version of the World Tree.
Outside it looked like another world, but inside the building it was another world as well.
We were speechless at the sight that transcended common sense.
āIf you donāt mind, may I ask you a question or two?
āSure.
āHow did you hear about this place? I thought the town had already been forgotten.
āI came here looking for my motherās home.
Hearing my answer, the girl nodded with satisfaction, as if that was what she expected to hear.