Reincarnated as a Genius Prodigy of a Prestigious Family - Chapter 192

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Reincarnated as a Legendary Talent Genius of a Noble Family Episode 192

 

129. Mountain Range Ruins (2)

 

As we entered the ruins, there was definitely a smell.

 

Should I call it a distinctive body odor, or perhaps a beast-like smell? Mixed with the musty smell of old ruins, it created a strange sense of disgust.

 

“There are traces of passage.”

 

And naturally, there were traces of passage. Footprints tangled messily but leading straight ahead.

 

“At least seven? Eight?”

 

Ernest tried to estimate the number, while Delward glanced around at the ceiling and surrounding walls.

 

“These are definitely ruins. Full of artificial traces. And this… it’s dwarf craftsmanship.”

 

Dwarves.

 

Come to think of it, Bulbark had said his kinfolk lived in the mountains.

 

So this might be related to that?

 

Well, that’s something to figure out later.

 

“Blow.”

 

I activated a 3-chain air flow control magic.

 

This would reverse the wind that was blowing from the entrance behind us.

 

We couldn’t let our scent travel down the passage to them.

 

Our opponents were lycanthropes.

 

Those guys had incredible senses.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

Now it was time to move.

 

Whether fortunately or unfortunately, the path ahead was both comfortable and horrific.

 

Comfortable because those who went ahead had triggered and dismantled all the traps, leaving us nothing to do.

 

Horrific because…

 

“Did they use them as shields?”

 

We had already seen three lycanthrope corpses.

 

Each one had died horribly to traps.

 

Either they couldn’t dismantle them in time, didn’t anticipate them, or had no choice.

 

“Is there something worth going this far and sacrificing this much for?”

 

I shook my head at Delward’s muttering.

 

That was for them to decide.

 

Rather, it made me even more curious.

 

Sacrificing this much – what exactly were they trying to do?

 

“What lycanthropes want most is… to be integrated into imperial society.”

 

The sorrow of a minority race.

 

While the dwarves went into hiding after imperial oppression and declared complete isolation, lycanthropes still wanted it.

 

Because all lycanthropes were made, not born.

 

Since they originally lived well in the empire, they hoped to escape lycanthropy and return to ‘normal.’

 

That’s what a soldier from a lycanthrope unit had told me during a brief conversation in my previous life.

 

“Then they must be desperate. Even more so if they’re willing to advance while sacrificing this much.”

 

Delward added:

 

“This will be a difficult fight.”

 

But we were desperate too.

 

More precisely, we were earnest.

 

That’s why I wouldn’t let anyone die.

 

I was sick of losing my people now.

 

How my heart had torn each time I buried countless subordinates who trusted and followed me in my previous life on nameless battlefields.

 

That wouldn’t happen again.

 

“We should… collect the bodies on our way back.”

 

Priscilla couldn’t just leave them, so she and Dorian laid the corpse to one side.

 

Then we set off again, and soon discovered several more traps.

 

From their condition, these were newly installed traps.

 

It seemed they were set up in case someone followed.

 

Click, click.

 

“Done.”

 

Of course, I could dismantle them easily.

 

While not exactly beginner level, they weren’t traps I couldn’t handle.

 

“Want to try this one, Ernest?”

 

“Yeah!”

 

Ernest handled it quite well too.

 

“Dane, you know trap disarmament too?”

 

“Ah, yes. I learned it.”

 

“…Count Sogress really is amazing.”

 

I couldn’t very well mention our mother, who had been a legendary assassin (former).

 

Anyway, several more traps appeared after that, and I dismantled them without difficulty.

 

If the enemy had been a bit more thorough, they probably would have scattered more difficult traps than these.

 

“Another corpse.”

 

Then we discovered another lycanthrope body.

 

Those who couldn’t return to being human even in death.

 

I remembered how they used to burn them all instead of burying them, claiming the disease could spread.

 

I suppose this was trauma too.

 

“There’s one more.”

 

Now it was the fifth corpse.

 

Our pace quickened accordingly.

 

And I could feel it.

 

Not far away.

 

The sensing ability of several people.

 

“We should get ready.”

 

As everyone drew their weapons, I also pulled out my arcanium sword.

 

Though I drew it with the sheath due to the light.

 

Meanwhile-

 

“It’s wind.”

 

Wind was blowing from straight ahead.

 

More precisely, from the front, from the open entrance visible to us, wind was blowing this way.

 

“There’s something inside.”

 

We approached that direction, and soon could hear the voices of two engaged in a heated argument.

 

“You damn bastard! You deceived us! One more has to be sacrificed? That’s insane!”

 

“But a sacrifice is needed to activate the existence of this ruins.”

 

“Screw that! Five have already died, five!”

 

“Then, will you return like this? After killing over ten rangers, at this point?”

 

“That was you who…”

 

“Whatever the situation, whoever ordered it, if you return you’ll immediately become fugitives. Don’t you know? The rangers’ thirst for revenge.”

 

The fellow speaking calmly.

 

And one man questioning him.

 

I roughly understood.

 

“Sacrifice? Ridiculous! You just… planned to use me and our people!”

 

“Then, what will you do now? I made a promise. I said if you lycanthropes just help with my work, I’d lift the curse. Didn’t you see it with your own eyes?”

 

So the mastermind behind everything we’d witnessed was there.

 

Three lycanthropes.

 

And one unconscious dwarf.

 

And the man in the black robe.

 

What the hell is that guy doing?

 

I’ve seen that outfit somewhere before.

 

“Secret society?”

 

Then Leila, who was beside me, suddenly muttered.

 

“Isn’t that their outfit?”

 

“You’re right.”

 

Now that I think about it, it is.

 

A completely black robe.

 

There’s only one group we know that wears such black robes.

 

“No way. Didn’t we finish them off back then?”

 

At Ernest’s question, I shook my head.

 

“There’s still Professor Denabo and a few others.”

 

The Empire probably started eliminating them, but they couldn’t have removed them all completely.

 

A secret society, literally.

 

I don’t know how much Professor Denabo, who’s probably sniffling on the cold floor by now, spilled, but one or two could have escaped.

 

“We can’t do any more. Our already few remaining brethren… Even if you showed us a ‘miracle’!”

 

“So, are you really going back? This is a chance to return to your families’ embrace.”

 

A miracle.

 

Did that guy really restore the lycanthropes to their original state?

 

As far as I know, there’s no way to restore lycanthropes to their original state. Whether you treat it as a disease or a curse.

 

“You know, don’t you? If I were alone, everyone would be impossible, but with the ‘Tears of Roxinna,’ I can restore everyone.”

 

“Then we’ll kill you and take it ourselves!”

 

“Can you really do that? If you kill me, do you think you can obtain it here? When you don’t even know the method.”

 

“Th-this…”

 

Now, what should I do?

 

Should I watch their argument and quickly step in depending on the situation, then subdue them both…

 

Or should I jump out when everything’s about to end and steal it in the middle?

 

I examined the scene inside more carefully.

 

A large altar in the center of the spacious area.

 

And a magic circle drawn in front of it.

 

If you offer a sacrifice on the altar, that magic circle reacts?

 

“Sacrifice yourself. Otherwise, your curse won’t be lifted.”

 

Should I call this fortunate?

 

If we had come here first, we would have had no choice but to turn back when we needed one sacrifice.

 

Sacrificing someone to save someone else is an impossible choice for me.

 

But now the story is different.

 

He said so.

 

That a sacrifice is needed to summon the being of the ruins.

 

And those lycanthropes are now being forced to sacrifice.

 

“I’ll do it.”

 

“No, we can’t lose any more!”

 

“Gagon! We can’t stop after coming this far! If I just sacrifice myself, everything ends, doesn’t it? All the remaining brethren… can return to their families’ embrace!”

 

Amid the argument, I came to a conclusion.

 

Anyway, one sacrifice is needed.

 

Only then can we summon that being of the ruins and obtain the ‘Tears of Roxinna.’

 

Then this should work.

 

I briefly explained the plan to my friends.

 

“Will it work? Well… it’s a plan Dane made.”

 

“Will you be okay? We don’t even know how strong that guy is.”

 

“Hmm, but surely… that seems to be the only way?”

 

Well, it’s not really much of a plan.

 

We can’t retreat from here anyway, and we can’t just wait and hand over the Tears of Roxinna.

 

So, now it’s time to step forward.

 

Shing.

 

I drew my Arcanium sword—

 

“Let’s go.”

 

I entered with my friends.

 

“Who’s there!”

 

A shout came as soon as we entered.

 

“Damn, surveillance…”

 

“Don’t tell me those guys are your companions?”

 

Three lycanthropes including Gagon growled and looked toward us.

 

Meanwhile, the man in the black robe just stared at us quietly.

 

So I pointed my sword at that man.

 

“I’ve been watching the whole time.”

 

Then I curled up the corner of my mouth with a grin.

 

“It seems like everyone would be happy if you got on that altar?”

 

* * *

 

Though he hid his expression under his hood, Tullio, the secret society survivor, was as flustered as Gagon.

 

‘How did they get here so quickly?’

 

He had killed the rangers and cut off all communications, and set traps on the way here.

 

At the very least, it should take a day to be discovered—

 

It’s too fast, way too fast.

 

What kind of guys are they…

 

“Right? It seems like it would work if you got on that altar.”

 

The guy who stepped forward first, the one holding that peculiar green-glowing sword, said that.

 

“That seems like the path where everyone becomes happy, don’t you think?”

 

Tullio snickered.

 

“Nonsense. Without me, these guys have to live like this for the rest of their lives. In a cursed state.”

 

At those words, Gagon flared up.

 

“You bastard…”

 

But regardless, Tullio raised his hand and pointed at Dane’s group that had suddenly appeared.

 

“Right, how about one of you guys? It’s perfect timing. These guys don’t want to sacrifice anymore, and it won’t do if I sacrifice myself.”

 

Tullio looked at Gagon.

 

“How about it? If you don’t want to sacrifice, how about capturing one of them?”

 

“You’re telling us to fight now…”

 

“So, won’t you do it?”

 

“…”

 

Gagon let out a groan.

 

Do we really have to go this far?

 

A new group that suddenly appeared.

 

What should we do?

 

“…”

 

Gagon looked at his brethren.

 

As if already prepared, they nodded.

 

Gagon looked toward Dane.

 

“Sorry about this, boy. I don’t want to attack a child, but… we can’t retreat from here.”

 

A voice barely squeezed out, as if he had no choice.

 

But Dane just snickered.

 

“That’s your problem.”

 

“What?”

 

“You attacked and killed innocent Rangers, and then you say something like that? That’s too much.”

 

“You don’t know how much oppression we Lycanthropes have been suffering under….”

 

“I know. But the guys I saw didn’t kill innocent people like you do.”

 

“….”

 

As his words were cut short, Dane swung his sword once through the air.

 

Green afterimages scattered along the trajectory.

 

“Stop making excuses to ease your guilt, and let’s get started already.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————