I gathered all of my lieutenants and shared the information with them.
I also introduced Glenda to everyone. Of course, this also meant she was now under surveillance. In Eterna, trust was earned, not given. Glenda would have to carve her own path with her own merit.
I introduced her to Kaijin and Kurobee as well, and let them inspect Glenda's pistol. Now, with their combined craftsmanship, they could likely supply ammunition for her.
Perhaps we could mass-produce pistols one day…
Truthfully, I wanted guns. They were stylish, efficient, and practical.
But I had no intention of letting weapons like that circulate freely.
If firearms existed in Eterna, only licensed individuals chosen by me would wield them.
They looked cool, and yes—fine, I wanted one.
While I was indulging these thoughts, time slipped by swiftly.
The day to explore the ancient ruin had arrived. Preparations were complete.
I checked my appearance—an explorer outfit tailored to perfection.
Even better, I had a prototype pistol holstered at my hip. Kaijin had taken interest and crafted the model in the small gaps of free time between his research. Dold engraved the weapon and modified the mechanism to cause controlled mana explosions.
Since gunpowder wasn't used, there was no need to discharge a shell casing. You simply inserted the oval-shaped bullets. The caliber was roughly nine millimeters, with a capacity of sixteen rounds. The blowback system not only reduced recoil but also chambered the next bullet.
It looked like a toy, but its power rivaled that of a .44 magnum.
Magisteel, with its superior durability, allowed the frame to endure extreme force. The engravings that guided the mana explosion were tuned for maximum output, giving the weapon devastating impact.
Different bullets carried different power levels.
Normal lead bullets for general use.
Mithril bullets infused with mana for monsters—the more mana infused, the stronger the shot.
A rare-grade weapon with the firepower of a unique-grade relic.
Kaijin and the others had been surprised themselves.
We considered making it standard issue for new recruits, but as always, I weighed practicality carefully. It was more novelty than necessity—fascinating, yes, but not overwhelmingly essential.
I hesitated to make it an official sidearm.
Better to lend it under special circumstances.
Like this time.
Gear wasn't just protection.
It was expression—style—identity.
Pursuing the fantastical was part of humanity's nature.
"This thing looks amazing! The recoil feels so satisfying!" Gobta shouted with sparkles in his eyes.
Mm-hmm. Gobta and I shared the same tastes.
I made these to lend out… but sure, Gobta can keep one.
"You understand weapons well, Gobta-kun. But listen: don't point this at people."
"Of course! I'll protect it with my life!"
He bounced with joy. Meanwhile, Ranga eyed him with envy.
Ranga, you can't exactly use a gun… which is why I gave you that stylish scarf. Forgive me, partner.
"Hehe! I've got 'Hercules Ex,' and the clothes Atem-sama chose for me," Shion said proudly.
"Shion, not during an exploration. You must consider safety."
She had been eager to wear her new outfit—one I tailored for her personally. But it wasn't suited for exploration.
"What a shame…"
Disappointed, Shion changed back to her usual combat suit—still bizarre, but undeniably functional.
"Atem, how do I look?" Milim asked, practically glowing with excitement.
"This suits you perfectly. The preparation was worth it," I replied with a rare smile.
She had switched into a new explorer outfit as well.
"Hmm! It feels comfortable and light! And it has so many pockets! So cool!"
She wore short sleeves and shorts—not ideal, but…
It fit her aesthetic, and Milim was Milim.
"That's thanks to Shuna!" I added.
"Whoo!"
"Yeah!"
Morale was high.
And so, we departed in great spirits.
Our destination: the Freedom Association headquarters in the capital of the Kingdom of Ingracia. From there, we would head to the Puppet Nation Jistav.
I didn't need to approach the HQ door—Kagali was already waiting outside.
"Long time no see. Thank you for hosting us today."
"Nice to meet you! I'm Milim!"
"It's an honor. I am Kagali. Pleased to meet you both."
Exchanging polite greetings, she guided us to another location.
"Milim?" I murmured.
"Uh… nothing's wrong. But…"
"…?"
Kagali blinked in confusion.
She was Yuuki's subordinate—so we had listed her as a possible suspect.
Milim used her Dragon Eye to confirm whether Kagali hid anything unusual.
Milim sensed something off, but nothing significant.
Even so, I remained cautious.
"My team has gathered. Allow me to introduce them," Kagali said.
At the open square near the HQ, a formation of individuals stood at attention. Kagali had trained and chosen these elite members specifically for the exploration.
Despite the risk of ambush, these people came without hesitation—fearless.
Ten or so, mixed backgrounds, each seasoned.
Passersby stared, but the team stood unwavering.
Their gear was… excessive.
Heavily armored, bulky backpacks, canes, shovels, crowbars—packed like they were marching into a disaster zone.
"Then, Atem-sama, I shall have someone carry your luggage. Where is it?"
We had no luggage—just our outfits.
"We didn't prepare anything. This is enough."
"What? Surely you must be joking."
No. Really. We packed nothing.
"It's dangerous to expose skin! Bug bites could harm you!"
Their clothing was extremely protective—thick layers covering every inch of their bodies.
"But I'm protected by youki. I'll be fine," Milim protested.
"Kagali-san is upset!" Gobta whispered.
"You two! Your gear is far too light! You're underestimating exploration!"
They scolded us with impressive energy.
What mistakes did we commit?
"Please calm down," I said. "Despite appearances, I'm an experienced adventurer."
Honestly, we weren't camping. Light clothing was fine. I'd simply demonstrate when necessary.
"If you say so… but if trouble occurs, notify me at once," she insisted.
We likely wouldn't encounter trouble.
This was a simple hike—though I maintained my guard.
I had warned Gobta, Ranga, and Shion to be alert as well.
Now then. Time to begin the journey.
"Let's prepare the horse carriages—"
"Eh? Do we really need them?" I asked.
Kagali froze.
Carriages would take two months to reach Jistav.
Why would we do that?
"What do you mean?" Kagali asked slowly.
I gestured for her group to follow us to the city outskirts.
Once we reached a quiet area, I used Spatial Domination, forming a shimmering gate.
A direct Portal to Jistav.
Mastery of the technique now allowed me to open portals to previously visited locations almost instantly.
"Please proceed. This portal will remain stable for a while, so move through at your own pace."
Silence.
Then—
"You're kidding…"
"How far away is that location…?"
"Demon Lord… Atem-sama is overwhelming…"
"All our preparations… for nothing…"
Their voices trembled between awe and despair.
I felt a little bad.
And a little proud.
And so we arrived at the Puppet Nation, Jistav.
Dark elf tribesmen came out to greet us, forming ranks at the castle entrance and bowing deeply. Their discipline and reverence were immediate and unmistakable.
"Welcome to Jistav. You must be tired from such a long journey," the chief said as she stepped forward to receive us. She wore the title with calm composure—young in appearance, perhaps in her twenties, with sun-darkened skin and pale hair. Her presence was composed and efficient.
"It's not that bad. Have the rooms been prepared?" I asked.
"Of course. Everyone has their own room. If necessary, we prepared larger chambers as well," she replied.
I had notified them of our visit in advance; they'd prepared accordingly.
"Let's put the luggage in the big room first," I said. "Then show us around the castle."
"Understood. Please follow me."
She led us to a grand hall where our teammates deposited their baggage with a sort of automatic obedience. They obeyed like soldiers receiving orders—no fuss, purely disciplined.
"Eh? Hasn't it been no time at all? How did we get here so quickly?" someone muttered.
"This must be a trap!"
"One-room-per-person? Are we being housed like honored guests in a real castle?"
They were stunned, caught between disbelief and delight. Their minds spun as the morning's expectation collapsed and the reality of comfortable lodgings took over.
"Atem-sama ordered that we care for everyone. If you experience any inconvenience, tell us without restraint," the chief said with a soft but sincere smile.
That line settled them. They accepted the situation—and their confusion dissolved into surprised gratitude. I allowed a small smile to escape. It was a pleasant scene.
Afterwards we toured the castle with the chief as our guide.
As one might expect from Clayman's former base, the place was lavishly maintained. The dark elves kept it immaculate—no dust, no clutter. They ran the place with regimented care.
"Milim, when the expedition finishes, you'll be responsible for this place. The locals asked to remain here, though."
"I understand. I'll arrange for regular food and supplies deliveries," Milim replied, already seeing the task as her duty.
"Thank you, Demon Lord Milim-sama," the chief said.
"You're welcome. You're my citizens now too; it's my role to protect you," Milim answered, already settled into her part.
I noted her ease. Milim was growing into a capable steward—Frey's influence and the burden of leadership had changed her.
I peppered the chief with practical questions. There were no castle towns; the underground spaces served the dark elves and had housing for majins, though many now answered to Geld's authority. The dark elves maintained those living quarters for them when they returned.
"This is the ruins' entrance. There are three levels; the lowest seems like a tomb. We've only fully used the upper floor. For the middle level and below, only Clayman knew what was sealed there," the chief reported.
Hakurou confirmed that the ruins' entrance was indeed inside the castle grounds.
"Have you mapped the upper floor?" I asked.
"Yes. The treasure from the upper floor was collected and the rooms repurposed into living quarters. There are many empty chambers—easily space for over a thousand people," she replied.
We opened the door and stepped in. Though underground, the upper level glowed with a gentle, steady light.
"What is that light?" someone asked.
"This is the constant effect of sustained magic—linked to the sun's path. It dims at night," the chief explained.
"Ancient magic still functioning," I said. The discovery deserved a measured reaction. This was not only useful but significant.
"This alone is a major find. Even though it's been used naturally here, it must be studied properly," Hakurou added.
"Is similar magic present on lower floors?" I asked.
"Yes. When Clayman left, I secretly viewed it—the middle floor was bright as well," she answered.
The exploration team's excitement was contagious. They brimmed with a practical eagerness that made the entire party buzz.
"Gobta, don't be a troublemaker now," I warned.
"Understood! I'm a bit nervous though," Gobta admitted, jittery and delighted at once.
We began moving through the first-floor passages, which showed signs of active habitation. The dark elves had adapted the space into comfortable daily quarters.
"Won't monsters appear if you live underground? The word 'tomb' makes me think of ghosts," Gobta fretted.
The chief smiled wryly. "No. There's only one entrance to the underground, and only Clayman could open it."
"Then why not break it if we can't open it?" one of the team blurted.
"Leave it to me—I'll slash it open at once!" Shion cried.
"No, we must investigate carefully, not just destroy things," Hinata said sharply, and I intervened before bloodthirsty impulses could spoil the mission.
"Stay careful, Shion," I told her. "We solve things with precision, not brute force."
We continued on, deeper into the cavernous ruins. Passing the dark elves' residential zone, we came upon a massive gate—similar in scale to the first, but this one bore an enchantment across its face.
"This appears to be sealed by an ancient defensive mechanism," Kagali warned. "If accidentally triggered, the city's defensive systems could activate."
"Are those systems still active?" someone asked.
"Yes. Be extremely careful. Triggering them could make further investigation impossible," Kagali said, stern.
My attention sharpened—the question was how Clayman had opened this gate.
"Does Clayman have a connection to these ruins?" I inquired.
"He rose to power recently. It's unlikely he forged this structure," the chief said. "Perhaps he learned the unlocking procedure or decoded the sorcery."
That sounded plausible. Ancient mechanisms, once understood, could be manipulated by someone with the right insight.
I remembered Clayman's Unique Skill.
«Correct. Clayman possessed the Unique Skill 'Manipulator': the ability to encode and decode transmitted information.»
That matched. A skill that analyzed encoded information could likely decode magical scripts and procedures.
Had I acquired such capability too?
«Answer. You absorbed an inferior variant of that skill — it decomposed into energy and integrated into your own systems. As a result, 'Ley Line Manipulation' was incorporated into your Law Manipulation suite.»
Enough said. It was not reported as a separate boon because it had been subsumed into capabilities already at my command. Solarys and I would handle the deeper decoding tasks, even if Solarys provided much of the detailed analysis.
"Figuring this out could take time," Hakurou admitted.
"We face a tough challenge, but our situation is better now than before. Let's analyze carefully," a member of the team said, determined.
I placed my hand on the gate and felt the flow: ley lines braided into the stone, threads of magic woven into a defensive code. The pattern was dense, layered—old, still functional after a millennium.
"If we force the door, the whole level's lights will collapse. The energy would convert to defense and reconstruct to repel intruders. This isn't inert; it's an active defense system—an advanced product of a magic civilization," I explained.
Thanks to Solarys' guidance, the pattern unraveled in my mind like a complex puzzle. What to do: decompose the end expressions, find the active triggers, then stop them in sequence. It was procedural, methodical—like solving layered equations.
"We need to identify the most recent spell layers, remove their activation nodes, and work backward until we reach the root pattern. That reveals the mechanism rather than tripping the branches," I taught. The team listened intently, their training evident in the instant comprehension.
"Traps often hide as complete systems—branches and leaves that distract from the trunk. We prune carefully, preserving the central system while eliminating triggers," I continued.
They took to the method immediately. It was a clean, efficient approach, and their eagerness to participate turned the work into a shared challenge.
Of course, not everyone could resist getting hands-on. Milim, lively as ever, practically threw herself at the gate in playful impatience. A few teammates stumbled forward in enthusiasm, trying the methods we'd discussed. A couple managed to deduce partial keys and the gate reaction softened.
Then the chief called us over.
"We have prepared meals. You must be tired—shall we rest for the day?"
I glanced at the sky; evening had already fallen.
She was right. We could begin the formal exploration tomorrow. For now the gate remained closed, our analysis paused.
"Let us call it a day," Kagali agreed. "We will commence the investigation tomorrow."
With that plan settled, the team withdrew to the quarters, buzzing with anticipation and the quiet discipline of those who know duty well. The ruins would wait until dawn. We would enter with purpose—and with every precaution taken.