Reincarnated as a Genius Prodigy of a Prestigious Family - Chapter 307

—————
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 307

197. Guardians of Del Orno (3)

Benatio watched Dane’s group while constantly pondering.

What should he do to ‘find out’ what Dane Sogress likes?

He had changed the direction of his thoughts.

‘I need to dig a little deeper with a direct approach.’

Simply watching and observing has its limits.

That’s because ‘things one likes’ are extremely personal and intimate territory.

To approach such things, one ultimately needs to become personally close.

“I have no choice but to win his favor.”

There are various methods.

He had already become close to many people while carrying out numerous missions with the intelligence unit.

But Dane is different.

He can’t think of it simply.

‘How about helping with this expedition?’

Benatio had been following Dane’s group from the beginning and observing all the situations up to now.

From what he could see, it wasn’t only Dane’s group looking for the ‘secret’ of these ruins.

“That fellow is Count Arkent…”

Count Arkent caught his eye in the midst of this.

There’s nothing particularly special about him other than being the head of a count family that’s somewhat famous in the capital.

More precisely, that’s how it is from the imperial palace’s perspective. He pays his taxes diligently and doesn’t do anything that would irritate the imperial family.

He had heard that ruin excavation and collecting magical relics was his hobby, so it wouldn’t be strange for him to come to the ruins now.

However-

“There’s something fishy about those fellows.”

The men he brought along are somewhat concerning.

What’s needed for excavation are archaeologists.

More precisely, archaeologists who have learned magic to some degree.

Should I say they’re mages who focus a bit more on archaeological achievements?

Such archaeologists don’t act so ‘secretively’ like that.

‘What are they doing?’

And now, the robed men scattered and installed something at four different points.

Benatio confirmed that the men installed something and withdrew, then carefully approached that area.

“Alarm magic.”

Magic that immediately alerts the caster when someone approaches the area.

“Hmm.”

While it’s necessary to observe the situation for now, gaining Dane’s favor is also important.

From what he could see, Dane seemed quite serious about this kind of expedition.

In that case, helping would be a good method too.

“They’re moving.”

In the midst of this, Dane’s group began to move.

The way they scattered and hid themselves was extraordinary.

Benatio took out several daggers from his chest.

“Four points in total.”

Benatio moved swiftly.

As if melting into the darkness.

Though not as much as Dane, his movements were smooth and fluid, befitting the intelligence unit.

Tick, tick.

Then Benatio secretly dismantled all the alarm magic at the four points.

He used a mana sealing tool that was only issued to the intelligence unit.

“Done.”

And Benatio hid himself again and made a satisfied expression.

This should be enough help.

But wait a moment.

‘Oh no, they won’t know that I did it.’

Beyond that, with this much, wouldn’t they not even know that such magic was installed in the first place?

‘Damn it. I was too hasty. That was a mistake unlike me.’

He should have waited at least until Dane recognized this alarm magic.

Originally, he planned to make them aware of this ‘mysterious help’ and then appear later to reveal it.

It got twisted from the start.

‘Damn, I’ll wait for the next opportunity.’

But all of that was unnecessary worry.

“What is that?”

Benatio’s eyes widened.

Not far away.

Dozens of magic arrows appeared in the air where Dane was positioned…

Thud, thud thud thud!

They instantly flew out and mercilessly struck down the five robed men.

“…!”

“…! …!”

And they collapsed without even being able to scream, trembling.

They were subdued in an instant, all at once.

Dane Sogress.

By magic cast once by a single person.

“Is that… even possible?”

Magic arrow is low chain-level magic.

But even so, handling dozens of them is a completely different story.

He knew his talent was outstanding, but…

To that extent.

Even the mages seemed to have quite a level, but to Dane they appeared to be nothing at all.

‘What the hell did I even do?’

Come to think of it, wouldn’t the alarm magic disabling have been completely unnecessary?

He had done something pointless.

“What? He finished it in one go again?”

“I thought he might shoot some arrows this time.”

“No, why did I even learn magic?”

“Hey, Dorian. But didn’t you say those guys were some amazing fellows from way back?”

“Well, Teacher Dane’s skill level is quite outstanding, isn’t it? They just got unlucky.”

“That’s true.”

Amid the admiration and laments of the other party members, Dane’s group confidently entered the ruins.

And after digging up the ground at a specific point, they quickly found the entrance.

Creeeeak.

Then the fellows entered one by one.

Suddenly, Benatio made eye contact with Dane.

‘What?’

Meanwhile, the door closed with a thud…

“Huh?”

Benatio felt something strange.

Whooooosh.

The desolate wind blowing.

Five unconscious fellows lying beneath it.

Dane had….

As if to show off, he had left those unconscious fellows there without dealing with them.

To be precise, except for one.

With only one of the unconscious fellows slung over someone’s shoulder.

“…No way.”

Then what I saw earlier….

Did it mean to ‘clean up’ these guys?

“Ha.”

No, it’s just a coincidence.

Benatio gritted his teeth and denied it.

But before he knew it, Benatio was walking toward the nearest of the unconscious fellows.

As if following orders.

Deep inside the ruins.

We lit the way with lanterns fitted with mana lighting we had each brought.

Dark and damp.

It was natural if you think about it.

“It smells really musty.”

“This is really my first time in ruins like this.”

Everyone was saying things like that, but when I expanded my sensing ability, I could hear their hearts pounding with excitement.

They were all looking forward to this.

In the midst of this, Leila asked from behind me.

“But Dane, I’m sure you have your reasons, but is it okay to just leave those black mage fellows outside?”

“Yeah. It’s fine. We brought one of them with us.”

I glanced at the black mage that Dorian had easily carried over.

He was completely limp, and didn’t look like he’d wake up anytime soon.

“No, I mean the rest of those guys. Did you at least cast a barrier spell to keep them away?”

“Not that. There’s someone who’ll handle them.”

“Ah. Are you talking about that former assassin called ‘Tuva’ you mentioned before?”

I shrugged my shoulders instead of answering and thought of Benatio who had followed us from the Academy.

I gave him a rough signal, so he should handle it on his own.

Might as well put him to work while I’m at it.

Well, if he does well, he might even hide the entrance for us.

“Let’s keep going down.”

For now, we pressed forward.

We had plenty of lanterns.

Plus, Ernest and I were scanning the terrain, so no threatening situations arose.

To be precise, I eliminated them before those situations could approach.

“Dane, that looks like a trap over there.”

“Where. It does look like one. What type is it?”

“Hmm… The appearance is a bit unfamiliar, but looking at the floor, it’s the type that caves in.”

“Good.”

Clank, crack.

Ernest would detect traps and I would destroy them like this.

If they could be dismantled, I’d dismantle them and put them intact into subspace, and if that wasn’t feasible, I’d just smash them.

“There’ll be a lot to research when we get back.”

Ernest was grinning happily at the traps with unfamiliar structures, while contrasting reactions could be heard from behind.

“These stairs are really long.”

“I know. It’s getting a bit boring.”

“This ruin doesn’t seem to have much for now?”

“Who knows? Maybe when we go down below, some really terrifying scene will unfold?”

Everyone’s living the good life.

Well, with a skilled person like Ernest along and every single trap being collected and destroyed, it’s understandable.

But fortunately, the stairs didn’t last long.

“I think we’ve come down quite a bit.”

“Yeah. About 50 meters?”

“That’s considerable. Did they have that level of technology in this era?”

“The dwarves were alive back then too.”

At my answer, Ernest went “Ah!” and clapped his hands.

Anyway, what appeared after the stairs ended was a narrow corridor.

“There are traps here too.”

Traps on the stairs, and traps after the stairs ended.

It was as if they were warning people not to enter at all.

Let’s think about this for a moment.

Why did they set it up like this?

“To tell people not to approach?”

“Because unknown creatures live inside?”

“Um… Isn’t it because there are treasures inside?”

At this point, Teacher Ernest’s knowledge sharing began.

“Traps inside ruins usually have two purposes. To protect, or to obstruct. Occasionally they’re installed for malicious fun, but that’s rare.”

“Either way, they’re all designed to prevent people from reaching their destination.”

“That’s right. But the problem is whether the reason is ‘because it’s too dangerous’ or ‘because it’s too precious.'”

The question of whether what’s inside is ultimately dangerous or precious.

“Then should we see what’s inside?”

“That’s about right. Checking directly is the fastest way.”

I immediately continued speaking.

“Still, one thing that bothers me is those black mage fellows. Why were they trying to get inside, and what do they want?”

None of us could provide an answer to this question.

Naturally.

So now it’s time for interrogation.

“Dorian. Let’s put that guy down.”

“Yes, Teacher Dane.”

I immediately rearranged my mana and-

Splash!

“Ugh, bleh!”

I soaked the guy’s face with water creation magic using the surrounding moisture.

“Gasp, cough. Hack, hack.”

Unfortunately, it seemed to have gone up his nose.

“Sob, cough! Hack, hack! What, what is this!”

And the fellow who barely managed to sit up looked at us surrounding him and seemed to lose his words for a moment.

“…What, what is this?”

He seemed so flustered that he was asking everything with that one phrase.

I said simply.

“Listen carefully. If you don’t answer the questions I’m about to ask, I’ll bury you in this ruin, seal the entrance, and leave.”

“Good, goodness.”

The fellow seemed shocked by my words.

But it was for a different reason.

“Is, is this place perhaps inside the ruins…?”

The fellow suddenly raised both arms and cheered.

“As expected! I was able to enter this ruin! I’m saved! We’re saved now!”

“….”

Everyone, including me, looked at the fellow speechlessly.

“Now… we can go back out to the world! Yes! Of course!”

Does he not understand what situation we’re in right now?

Or is he just so happy that he’s acting like this regardless of the situation?

Whatever it was, I asked the fellow.

“Really? I’m curious why you had to enter this ruin.”

“Well, obviously….”

The fellow who was answering with a happy expression suddenly tilted his head.

“Wait, why am I here? I was definitely… looking for the ruin entrance? D-don’t tell me you people!”

He catches on quickly.

I sighed.

“Dane, should I use necromancy to make him talk freely?”

A murderous suggestion came in the midst of all this.

I shook my head.

“No. It’s fine.”

I asked directly.

“You guys are black mages, right? The ones who disappeared long ago. I don’t know how you’ve appeared again now, but tell me your purpose.”

“P-purpose?”

“Your purpose for trying to enter the ruin.”

And Priscilla chimed in from the side.

“If you don’t answer properly, I’ll annihilate you right here.”

A sphere of light appeared in Priscilla’s grasp.

The black mage fellow frowned at that light.

But that was all.

“What are you going to do with that light?”

“…You’ll be annihilated if this hits you. You know that?”

“It doesn’t look very threatening… does it?”

This time Priscilla furrowed her brow.

“Not threatening? To a black mage?”

The fellow answered that with action.

He covered the sphere of light with his hand.

“…!”

Surprised, Priscilla pulled her hand back.

The situation where it had already touched his hand.

However, nothing happened.

The fellow’s hand was perfectly fine.

“It is warm though.”

“…So you’re not a black mage?”

Priscilla looked at me with bewildered eyes.

This is a bit strange.

That’s when it happened.

“Black mage, that’s right. People call us that.”

The fellow’s voice became very low.

“For many long years, we have been called that. But… it’s a little different from what’s known.”

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