Chapter 216: The Wandering Merchant’s Quest (5)

The next morning arrived, crisp and cool, as the group continued their steady climb up the mountainside.

The boy’s gaze kept drifting toward Ketal. There was a restless energy in the way the boy watched Ketal, something between curiosity and anxiety, as if he was trying to unravel a puzzle only he could see.

Noticing this, Seraphina asked the boy with gentle concern, “Is something bothering you? Are you interested in spirits, perhaps?”

Startled, the boy shook his head with a hastily muttered, “N-no, not at all...”

However, his denial was half-hearted. Even as he looked away, his attention soon slipped back to Ketal, almost against his will. The others in the party glanced at the boy’s repeated stares, but Ketal himself appeared unconcerned, smiling quietly as he observed the others fight monsters. Ketal had the look of someone watching a lively play unfold before him, content to be an audience rather than a participant.

The boy’s frown deepened as he kept staring at Ketal..

At last, their journey brought them to a stop. Ahead of them, nestled near the peak of the mountain, was a cave, one whose gaping entrance was wide enough to swallow an entire castle. It was so massive that anyone with eyes could see its purpose, and only a fool would fail to grasp it immediately. This was unmistakably a dragon’s lair, a place built for a creature of impossible scale.

Yet the cave’s size was not the only thing that drew their attention.

“There’s a guardian,” Bloodedge muttered.

“Looks like it,” Spellweaver agreed.

Standing sentinel at the entrance to the lair was a massive golem, its body the color of rich earth, radiating the weight and presence of solid stone. The golem’s form was vaguely humanoid, but there was nothing human in the blank intensity of its gaze. It stood so still it could have been mistaken for a statue, but every instinct screamed that it was dangerous.

They all understood at a glance: this golem was no ordinary sentry. Each member of the party realized that if they faced it one-on-one, they could not guarantee victory. The air crackled with tension as they considered their options.

“We’ll have to work together for this one,” Bloodedge declared, his voice brooking no argument.

“I agree,” Spellweaver replied.

They gathered for a quick strategy meeting, each member weighing their strengths and roles.

Bloodedge, voice calm, outlined the plan. “The spirit and Seraphina will hold the front line and take the brunt of the guardian’s attacks. Spellweaver will support us from behind. I will wait for an opening and strike when the time is right. Remember, we’ll have to conserve our strength for the dragon that awaits us inside. If anyone has any suggestions, speak up.”

“I have none,” Spellweaver said.

“Sounds good to me,” Seraphina agreed.

Ketal gave a brief nod. “I’m fine with that plan.”

Fiego was so taken aback that it almost forgot to respond. “Wait, you’re agreeing to this, Master?”

Ketal shrugged. “It seems like a sound approach. There’s nothing wrong with it.”

“No, but...” Fiego faltered, at a loss for words. From its perspective, the solution was obvious. Ketal could simply walk in and destroy the guardian on his own. There was no reason to make things needlessly complicated, no logic in choosing to stand back when victory could be secured in an instant.

The spirit stared at Ketal’s face and, in that instant, understood. Ketal’s expression was bright with genuine amusement, his eyes alight with anticipation.

A party assault by four highest-level Transcendents was a rare and entertaining spectacle. Ketal had no intention of letting such a show pass him by. For him, the fight itself was its own reward. He wanted to watch his companions in action and see how their strategies played out.

It dawned on Fiego that the others were here to slay the dragon and claim their share of the spoils, and Ketal wanted the reward as well. However, for him, there was more to it than just the outcome. What mattered was the moment and the process itself. He was savoring the entire experience—forming a party, working together, fighting monsters, drawing up plans. He found joy in living the adventure.

It was as if he were some immortal who saw the world as a playground. A chill ran down Fiego’s spine.

“Alright, Fiego, are you ready?” Ketal asked

“It makes no difference to me.” Realizing it could not change Ketal’s mind, especially with a contract bound by a spirit god, Fiego resigned itself to go along with the plan.

“Then I’ll go first,” Seraphina said, closing her eyes for a brief prayer. “O Sun God, grant your blessing to your servant.”

As her words faded, a radiant shield and mace materialized in her hands, shining with divine power. The guardian’s eyes glowed in response, sensing the arrival of a formidable foe.

With a sharp intake of breath, Seraphina raised her shield and charged forward. Her small, slender form met the golem’s colossal bulk with a thunderous crash that echoed across the entire mountainside.

“Intruders detected,” the golem intoned, its voice a grinding, mechanical rumble.

The guardian’s sole purpose was to eliminate trespassers from the dragon’s lair. It carried out its duty with unwavering determination, raising its massive arms to batter Seraphina.

The impact of its blows was immense, the very earth shuddering beneath the onslaught. Every strike from the guardian pressed Seraphina back, the ground cratering beneath her feet as she gritted her teeth and held the line.

However, just as the golem reared back for another devastating strike, a flash of crimson fire swept across the battlefield. Fiego, lowering its horns, barreled into the fray. The golem shifted its stance, turning one arm to shield its body as a magical barrier shimmered into being.

There was a tremendous boom as Fiego’s horns crashed against the barrier. The force of the blow knocked the spirit backward, even with its overwhelming strength. But it had achieved its aim: cracks appeared in the magical shield.

Seizing the opportunity, Bloodedge slipped around to the guardian’s flank, moving so swiftly that not even a whisper betrayed his presence. His blade shimmered with blue aura as he raised it high and struck at the golem’s back.

With a shattering sound, the sword cleaved a chunk from the guardian’s rocky form. However, for all his power, he had only managed to chip off a fragment. The golem’s body was astoundingly tough.

The guardian swung its arm in a wide arc, forcing Bloodedge to leap back with a scowl.

“This thing’s too damn sturdy,” Bloodedge muttered.

“It must be the type with a core,” Spellweaver speculated. “If we don’t destroy the core, it’ll keep getting back up.”

“So where’s the core?” Bloodedge demanded.

“It’s well hidden for now,” Spellweaver replied, his voice tense. “We need to keep fighting and wait for a gap in its defenses. I’ll use my detection magic to try to pinpoint its location.”

“Understood,” Bloodedge said, preparing himself for another round.

Seraphina surged forward, shield raised high. The guardian countered, slamming her back, but Fiego darted in from the side, aiming another thrust of its horns. Whenever the golem blocked, Bloodedge struck with his sword, chipping away at the guardian’s defenses.

Spellweaver watched closely, using every opening to probe the guardian with his magic, seeking the location of the core.

“Impressive,” Ketal murmured, unable to keep the admiration from his voice. He’d seen plenty of parties in action before, but never one as well-coordinated as this. It was a far cry from the clumsy teamwork he’d witnessed back in the Denian Kingdom. These people worked together like clockwork, each movement perfectly timed and executed.

Though they’d climbed the mountain and fought several battles along the way, this was their first true fight as a team. That they could work together so seamlessly was proof of their extraordinary skill.

Ketal watched, thoroughly enjoying himself. The boy at his side finally spoke up, voice soft and uncertain.

“Are you really just going to stand here and watch?” the boy asked him

“I wouldn’t say I’m doing nothing,” Ketal replied with a small smile. “My spirit is over there, fighting hard for me.”

After all, Ketal was a spirit contractor. There was no need for him to step in personally unless the situation truly called for it. The others seemed to accept this; no one questioned Ketal’s decision to stay back. They’d seen enough of his power to know that he could handle himself.

However, the boy narrowed his eyes, unconvinced. “Still, you seem strong. Wouldn’t it be faster if you stepped in?”

“There’s no need for that,” Ketal replied calmly. “If things look dangerous, I’ll intervene. But so far, there’s no sign of trouble.”

The cracks in the guardian’s body were spreading rapidly. At this rate, it was only a matter of time before the fight ended.

The boy regarded Ketal with a complicated expression—puzzlement mixed with something like kinship, as if he recognized a fellow outsider.

“You’ve asked me a question,” Ketal said, tilting his head. “May I ask one in return?”

“Go ahead,” the boy replied.

Ketal studied him with mild curiosity. “Why are you disguised as a boy?”

The question landed like a thunderclap. The boy stiffened in surprise.

“W-what? But I am a boy,” the boy stammered.

“I know,” Ketal replied, not missing a beat. “Biologically speaking, anyone would take you for a boy. But your mannerisms and your frame... they’re closer to a girl’s.”

“Huh...?”

𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

“If I’m wrong, then never mind. There are all kinds of people in this world,” Ketal said, offering a light laugh.

The boy stared back, eyes narrowed to slits.

Is he playing dumb?

the boy wondered. There was a spark of annoyance in his gaze.

While they spoke, the battle drew to its climax. Spellweaver’s eyes suddenly widened as he shouted, “Right knee! The core is in the right knee joint!”

“That sure is an odd place for a core!” Bloodedge exclaimed.

The instant the core’s location was revealed, all four fighters concentrated their attacks on the guardian’s right leg. In a heartbeat, the stone crumbled, and the core, a gleaming, crystalline orb, was exposed.

With a cry, Fiego charged forward. Its horns pierced the core, and the guardian’s movements halted instantly. The light in its eyes flickered out, and silence descended on the mountain.

Seraphina let out a slow breath. “That was tough.”

Even with the four highest-level Transcendents working together, the battle had taken its toll. They had held back, careful not to overexert themselves, but the guardian’s strength was still overwhelming. Had any one of them faced it alone, the outcome would have been uncertain.

“And that’s just the sentry for the lair,” Spellweaver said, shaking his head. “The dragon must be something else entirely.”

They took a few minutes to recover and gather their strength, making final preparations before facing the true challenge ahead.

Several minutes later, the party assembled at the mouth of the cave. Seraphina turned to the boy.

“Ian, you should stay out here,” she said, her tone firm but kind. “Even I can’t protect you once we’re inside.”

“Alright,” Ian replied, bowing his head. There was resignation in his voice, but also gratitude.

Seraphina handed him a necklace. “There don’t seem to be any monsters this close to the dragon’s lair, but just in case, hold onto this and pray to the Sun God if anything approaches. As long as you wear it, the monsters shouldn’t be able to see you.”

“Thank you,” the boy said, clutching the necklace to his chest.

With Ian safely outside, the party turned and entered the dragon’s lair.

Ian watched them disappear into the darkness, his expression unreadable. When they had vanished from sight, his face changed entirely.

“What’s with that barbarian?” Ian muttered, frowning in irritation. The nervous, innocent look was gone, replaced by the cold calculation of someone far more experienced. There was a sharp, world-weary edge to him now, as if he were wearing a mask for the benefit of others.

He tapped his chin, deep in thought. “I can sense something strange, but I can’t figure out what it is. Is he really someone I don’t know? Is it possible for such a person to exist in this world?”

He paused, then reconsidered, his interest piqued. “Or maybe... he’s not from this world at all?”

Ian’s lips curled into a wry smile. “I meant to play a little trick while handling business, but now something unusual has caught my attention. I guess I’ll just have to watch and see how things play out.”

With that, Ian’s body shimmered and vanished, leaving no trace behind.

***

At the very same moment that Ian disappeared, Ketal, just steps inside the dragon’s lair, came to an abrupt halt. Seraphina, catching the sudden change, looked at him with concern.

“Is something wrong?” she asked him.

“Did you notice anything?” Ketal replied.

The others shook their heads, puzzled.

“Did you sense something?” Bloodedge asked Ketal.

However, their faces showed only confusion. They looked as if they hadn’t perceived any change at all, hadn’t sensed even a hint of disturbance.

Ketal smiled faintly at their reactions. “No, it’s nothing. Let’s keep moving.”

“Alright... if you say so,” Seraphina replied, though she sounded unconvinced.

They proceeded deeper into the dragon’s lair, their footsteps echoing through the vast tunnels. No traps or obstacles barred their way; they walked without hindrance, the silence broken only by the sound of their breathing and the distant drip of water.

At last, they emerged into an immense chamber, one so vast that a castle could have fit within its bounds with room to spare. The air shimmered with light.

The walls themselves were made of jewels, sparkling in every color of the rainbow. Radiance filled the room, reflecting off the countless gemstones and casting brilliant patterns on the floor. Any one of those stones could have bought a kingdom, and there were enough to beggar the imagination.

The party was momentarily stunned by the display, dazzled by the overwhelming splendor. Yet even the glitter of so many jewels paled in comparison to what lay at the chamber’s heart.

At the very center, sprawled across the floor, was a dragon—a creature of impossible size, its body taking up nearly a third of the entire chamber. Its scales were a deep, rich crimson, and even in sleep, it radiated an aura of raw, ancient power.

The Spellweaver could only gasp in awe, while Ketal’s eyes shone with an excitement he rarely displayed.

There, before them, lay the dragon.