Chương 51: The End of Night begins With Treasures

The deep night above us felt alive with fury and ancient power. A vast, endless black sky stretched over the land, dotted with cold, indifferent stars that watched silently as the chaos below finally came to an end. The once peaceful turquoise grass, which had glowed softly under moonlight, was now scorched and burned from the fires of the heated battle. News of the battle's end spread like wildfire across the region. Over 400, 000 soldiers poured in from the capital and surrounding cities.

They found the Herzog and his daughter in terrible condition and immediately escorted the royal family back to the palace to recuperate. The soldiers also discovered me lying among the branches, arms still burning with unbearable pain. One of them gently took my sword-axe, then lifted me onto his back and carried me to the emergency medical tents. My vision kept blurring. I refused to lose consciousness. I forced my mind to stay awake through the long wait.

One hour and twenty-two minutes later, I finally reached a doctor. He examined my now lukewarm hands, covered in small holes where blood had once poured out. The bleeding had finally stopped, but the damage was severe. He muttered something about cellulitis, a serious skin infection. When I explained how the overload had caused my own blood to burn me from the inside, he scratched his head, then suddenly remembered something.

"Ah, yes… Lucky for you, I still have one." He brought out a rare Blue Lotus Flower (Nymphaea caerulea). The beautiful bloom, usually 10 to 15 centimeters wide, was famous for its powerful healing properties. He crushed it with red chili flakes in a mortar, working quickly and smoothly. The refreshing scent immediately relaxed everyone nearby. He warned me honestly: "When applied to open wounds, the Blue Lotus does not bring gentle relief. It feels like hundreds of white-hot needles stabbing deep into your flesh.

The alkaloids force your cells to regenerate at an unnatural speed. The pain is so intense it can send the body into shock… but the end result is skin stronger and smoother than before." Because of the dire situation and my service to the nation, he skipped the usual waiver. He called in several soldiers to hold me down. As he applied the crushed lotus paste to my ruined arms, the pain was beyond description. I screamed. I thrashed. I tried to rip my arms free, but they held me tighter.

It felt like hours of pure agony. In reality, it lasted 34 minutes. Finally, the doctor took a small hammer and knocked me unconscious. While I was out, he wrapped my arms in a cast-like support made of quicklime mixed with egg whites and plant gums.

The Next Day I woke up in the barracks to the sound of cheering soldiers celebrating my survival. Still dazed and overwhelmed, I tried to push myself up using my hands... only to feel sharp, horrible pain. I looked down and saw the hardened casts covering both arms. For a moment, visible anger flashed across my face. But deep inside… I knew I should be thankful. I had survived. We had won. And yet, as I lay there staring at the ceiling, a quiet unease settled in my chest.

Thats when Galer approached from behind and placed a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"I'm thankful for what you did," he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. A second later, he lightly punched my forehead.

"But we should have thought it through more. We rushed in like fools. We weren't prepared at all for that kind of fight." I lowered my head.

"You're right… I'm sorry." The surrounding soldiers grew agitated and began glaring at Galer. I quickly raised my voice.

"Enough!" I shouted.

"He's right. It could have ended very badly if not for the Princess and the Herzog." At that moment, a royal escort arrived at the barracks and called my name. Galer and I were gently but firmly escorted out and brought toward the palace. My arms burned constantly with pain. I could barely think about the Herzog or the Princess, all I could focus on was how to dull the agony even a little. As we walked, thirst and hunger hit me hard. Galer noticed me eyeing a well on the left.

He pulled out a water satchel from his clothes, squeezed it, and poured the cool liquid straight into my mouth until it overflowed. Some spilled down my chin. He laughed softly, but his eyes showed deep gratitude.

"Mutual," he said simply. I smiled weakly through the pain. Having a true friend beside me made everything a little more bearable. When we reached the grand palace hall, the atmosphere was heavy. The Herzog sat on his throne, visibly weakened but still radiating quiet authority. To his left stood his wife, the one who had saved us all, she barely glanced at us, her expression distant. The Princess stood atop a tall pillar with her eyes closed, recovering.

On another throne sat a young man in his early twenties, dressed similarly to the Herzog. He looked very much like his father. The young man spoke first, bowing respectfully: "Thank you, Guests of Aegyptus. I am the heir to the throne and City Governor of Caira, Isopathome." The Herzog raised his hand.

"Enough with the formalities, my son. These two are no longer mere guests." He looked at us with tired but sincere eyes.

"They are welcome pillars of our nation. If you wish, I can grant you residency here immediately, along with a personal treasure as I promised. I still await full confirmation of your backgrounds, but I already know you have spoken the truth." Galer bowed deeply (I could only sit cross-legged on the floor due to my condition) and replied with respect: "Your Highness, we are truly grateful for your kindness and high regard. But we are still young and on an adventure. We wish to see more of the Orbis Terrarum.

When our journey is complete… we would be honored to return to Aegus, if you will still have us." The Herzog's face tightened with clear disappointment at first, but after a moment of silence, his expression softened. He accepted the refusal with grace. He stood up slowly.

"Very well. A man, no matter his stature, must uphold his promises, or he is no man at all. Only you two, follow me to the Treasure Hall." As we left the main hall and entered a deep, guarded tunnel, the Princess finally opened her eyes and watched me closely. The Prince stared at Galer with a sharp, sizing-up gaze. While walking deeper into the long tunnel protected by two extremely powerful guardians the Herzog spoke:"Our progenitor made it tradition.

Every twenty years, only the strongest warriors who pass a certain trial earn the right to protect these sacred halls. It is the birthright of Isaahrup, the Nation Builder of Aegyptus." The massive gate opened with a deep, resonant groan as the weakened Herzog placed his palm upon it. What lay beyond took my breath away.

An enormous hall stretched before us, overflowing with riches beyond imagination with mountains of gold coins, glittering diamonds, rare ironcoal ingots, ancient artifacts, and countless precious items scattered in glorious disarray. My eyes widened in disbelief. Galer spoke in a low tone: "Only Dacram can equal this hoard of riches." We walked further, passing into another section. A second, smaller hall stood closed.

The Herzog turned to us with a warm chuckle, noticing how we were still staring at the first chamber in awe.

"I just remembered you mentioning Dacram," he said, amused.

"But this… this is not even close to what you see here." He waved dismissively at the vast wealth.

"These are mere trinkets. What you two did for us, especially against Blood-attribute users aka the Bloodifiers, deserves far more than mere gold." He opened the inner hall. Soft light from above illuminated a gallery of carefully displayed artifacts, each one encased in glass like sacred relics. The Herzog stepped aside." Each of you may choose only one item from this hall. I will wait here." Galer and I stepped inside, eyes wide with wonder.

After twelve minutes of careful browsing, Galer chose a breathtaking necklace, a radiant sunburst pendant made of pure crystal that seemed to hold captured starlight within it. It looked like something out of legend. I, on the other hand, was drawn to a simple-looking ring made of plain white stone with strange inscriptions carved inside. Its only label read:"Ring of Pressure". We returned to the Herzog with our choices. He smiled warmly at Galer's selection first.

"Ahaha… The Catapepracta. I used to wear this in my younger days. Good times…" He explained that the necklace greatly increased the wearer's durability against physical strikes and kicks, up to a certain Animo level. A perfect tool for intense training. Then he looked at my ring. His expression changed instantly. Shock. Confusion. Concern.

"This item…" he muttered, turning it over in his hands.

"I didn't even know it was still here. This is a Nibelungen Artifact - Zwing-Uring. It is a cursed item." His voice grew heavy.

"Take something else. I cannot give you this. It brought me great pain long ago. I thought I had thrown it into the river to be forgotten…" I looked at him steadily.

"What happened between you and this ring?" The Herzog Isopetalom closed his fist around the ring for a moment, then sighed deeply.

"It is a rather sad story… but since you truly want it, you have the right to hear it." He paused, eyes distant.

"Thirty-four years ago, my father took my brother and me on a journey to deal with monster sightings near our border. He wanted to pull us out of our lazy, rebellious lifestyles and turn us into proper heroes for this Nation. Neither my brother nor I wanted any part of it. We only cared about enjoying the lavish life our family had built. But Father… he was different. He believed in duty. He believed in strength and work with the common folk together not against."

The Herzog's voice grew quieter, filled with old regret. Under his father's forceful insistence, we joined the expedition. We fought the monsters half-heartedly, annoyed and reluctant. In the end, it was Father who saved us from our own foolishness. We wandered deeper into the mountain until we became separated. My brother and I… we never saw eye to eye. We bickered like idiots and lost track of him. Forty minutes later, we found Father deep in the cave, surrounded by a blinding light.

The moment we reached him, the light vanished, and so did whatever had been there. At the time we didn't understand. But now I know… it was a Nibelungen. Not a gift-giver. A cursed monster to bring ruin to your desires. Father was holding this very ring the Zwing-Uring. He put it on immediately. It changed him. The once cold but earnest man became a fool... lovey-dovey, overly affectionate, and strangely powerful. His strength grew rapidly, approaching that of our progenitor. But his judgment… it collapsed with it.

Every decision he made for the nation was disastrous. His foolishness nearly dragged us into civil war. In the end, he even killed his own son. I had no choice but to kill my father to save our people. It took me twelve brutal years of war to undo the damage he caused and restore Aegyptus to proper past glory. The Herzog looked at the ring with deep pain, then threw it back to me.

"I cannot stand seeing this cursed thing in my nation any longer. Perhaps it is time for it to leave again… hopefully forever." Galer's eyes widened in shock.

"The Nibelungen are real?!" The Herzog nodded gravely.

"I saw the light that day. They can twist a man in moments. I warn you again... they are not benevolent. If you truly wish to seek the truth… Jeruem is not far from here. I can open the water gate and send you by boat." Galer thought for a moment, then respectfully declined.

"Thank you, Your Highness, but we wish to travel by land." I barely heard their conversation. My eyes were fixed on the ring. It called to me with a strange, magnetic pull. After the conversation, we returned to the main hall where a grand feast awaited us. Galer politely declined most of it, asking instead for coins and a sturdy carriage so we could continue eastward. The Herzog looked disappointed but eventually smiled with understanding.

"I see… the hearts of the young long for adventure. I hope you enjoyed your stay in Aegus." I bowed my head as best I could.

"It was the most beautiful place I have ever laid my eyes upon… especially the food." The Herzog and his escort personally accompanied us to the center of town. Joyous crowds cheered all around us. While we were distracted by the citizens, the Herzog quietly replaced the carriage driver with one of his trusted shadows, Iskatot.

"Follow them to Jeruem," he whispered.

"Then bring them back. Do not let these jewels slip from our reach."

"Yes, my liege. I will follow your will to the bone for Aegus prosperity." We were given provisions for months, enough dried meat and supplies to make any traveler happy. With cheerful farewells ringing in our ears, we rode through the grand exit gate. Suddenly, the Princess leaped down from the wall and landed on our carriage, clearly wanting to join us. Iskatot moved like a shadow. In an instant he was beside her, gently but firmly urging her to return to the palace.

She had responsibilities the incoming guests, the citizens, and tying up the remaining Blood User threats. She looked at us with clear reluctance… especially at me, as I lay on the floor of the carriage trying to rest. Suddenly, a swift kick to my head jolted me upright. Before I could even react, the Princess grabbed my face with both hands, pulled me close, and kissed me. It was soft, warm, and surprisingly gentle like a sweet summer breeze carrying unspoken feelings.

Her lips pressed against mine in a brief but deep moment that sent a rush of warmth through my exhausted body, chasing away some of the pain for just a heartbeat. She pulled back, cheeks slightly flushed, and jumped off the moving carriage. As she landed gracefully, she turned and waved with a bright, almost playful smile.

"Goodbye… for now." I sat there stunned, blinking in confusion. My face burned as I muttered to myself, "What the hell…? If she wanted to wake me up, she could've just kept kicking me. Why did she have to do… mouth-to-mouth activity?" From the front of the carriage came two simultaneous facepalms. Galer and Iskatot (the royal shadow now acting as our driver) both shook their heads in disbelief at my dense reaction.

We continued onward, riding in a sturdy carriage pulled by two majestic Cavamello, powerful beasts with striking white coats and black spotted patterns marking them as different sub-species. Their strong legs carried us smoothly toward Isama, the easternmost city, with Jeruem as our newest ultimate destination.