Chapter 66
Dmitri scolded the struggling knights as he helped them smash the mirrors.
Elia and Zirc didn’t have anything to do, so they only watched.
When the last mirror shattered, Alexis appeared.
He too was fighting against a fake that looked exactly like him.
The fake’s skill was formidable.
It copied Alexis’s stance, techniques, even his habits.
Unaware that Elia was watching, Alexis stayed focused. Elia didn’t bother to make her presence known either; she thought that breaking his concentration might cause him to get hurt.
Everyone held their breath as they watched Alexis fight.
His face was glowing with joy—he seemed to enjoy facing such a worthy rival after a long time.
The duel lasted for quite a while.
“Truly, it moves exactly like me.”
The grip on the sword, even the way it manifested an aura blade, was identical.
They say there is nothing harder than fighting yourself, but Alexis wasn’t struggling. In fact, he was enjoying himself.
After all, when would he ever encounter such an opponent again?
Still, he decided he couldn’t drag things out any longer—because he had noticed Elia watching him through the mirror.
“Let’s end this now.”
Alexis shifted his stance.
Instead of his usual ready posture, he let his sword hang loosely.
The fake awkwardly copied him.
“Let’s see if you can imitate even the ultimate secrets of the sword.”
Alexis vanished from in front of his opponent.
Clang!
He reappeared above the fake’s head.
The fake barely managed to raise its sword in time to block.
But Alexis didn’t stop there.
Like connecting dots to form lines, his thrusts and slashes flowed seamlessly together, catching his opponent off guard.
Strength hidden within fluidity—his sword rippled like waves. The waves swelled into a tide, sweeping the fake away.
Shhhhhh—
Engulfed by the sword’s waves, the fake crumbled to dust.
Alexis’s swordsmanship was so breathtaking that applause broke out instinctively.
It was Elia’s first time witnessing his technique with her own eyes.
“Elly, you’re not hurt, are you?”
Retrieving his sword, Alexis’s first concern was Elia.
“What’s wrong with your neck?”
“Oh, this… I ran into a fake too.”
“That fake did this to you?”
Elia gave a sheepish grin and held up Austin’s broken pendant.
“I defeated it with the pendant the Tower Master gave me. The choking was just too sudden to react to.”
“That must have hurt a lot.”
“Zirc healed me, so only a faint mark remains. It doesn’t hurt.”
“That’s a relief. Thank you, Sir Zirc.”
“It’s nothing. Of course I had to heal her.”
“Uh, the mirror’s breaking.”
The mirror that had reflected Alexis was disappearing.
From the empty space, a new door emerged.
“Let’s hurry inside.”
Alexis nodded and entered with Elia.
The moment they stepped in, dazzling light flooded their vision.
When the light faded, a massive dragon’s apparition appeared before them.
[So, humans have reached this far at last. Congratulations, challenger. You have proven yourselves worthy to claim my lair. You are granted entry.]
The dragon’s phantom vanished, and a huge golden gate appeared.
It opened wide for them.
Elia and the group stepped inside.
“Wow.”
She couldn’t help but exclaim.
“What is all this?”
Everything gleamed with gold.
Mountains of gold coins, countless weapons, artifacts, spellbooks, jewels, and magic stones filled the chamber.
Then, something stood out.
At the very center of the treasure, floating above a pedestal, was a single ring.
Almost without thinking, Elia picked it up.
The ring slipped onto her finger, shrinking to fit perfectly.
Instantly, all the treasure in the chamber was sucked into the ring. It happened in a flash.
“What the…?”
[To think such a brat would be the one to claim my ring.]
A voice came from the ring.
[Congratulations, little one. You are now the master of the lair.]
Elia’s lips curved awkwardly.
‘Me, the master?’
[Indeed. My voice in this ring will soon fade.]
‘Wait! You need to tell me how to use the lair.’
If everything just vanished into the ring, how was she supposed to take it back out?
[It’s simple. Just think about wanting to enter the lair.]
‘And to bring things out?’
[Use the pouch inside the lair to store what you want to carry out.]
‘That’s it? Nothing else?’
[That’s it. Live well, little one.]
And with that, the voice was gone.
No matter how much she called, it didn’t return.
Elia turned awkwardly—everyone, Alexis, Zirc, Dmitri, and the Iron Eagle knights, were staring at her expectantly.
Elia explained everything to Alexis.
“So you’re saying, you became the master of the lair?”
“Yes. I can take out the treasure inside anytime I want. So there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Well done, Elia.”
“Really?”
“Of course. It’s only right that you are its master.”
Elia looked at the others.
“You were the one who wanted to find the lair. Naturally, the right belongs to you.”
Zirc added.
“Honestly, we only came here for your sake, not for treasure.”
Dmitri scratched his head.
The Iron Eagle knights nodded in agreement.
Elia stared blankly at them.
Usually, in situations like this, greed and bloodshed weren’t unusual. But here everyone was smiling so brightly.
“Our lady’s safety is more precious than treasure.”
The knights spoke as one, and Alexis added:
“Of course. My treasure—and our true treasure—is Elly herself.”
“She is everyone’s treasure.”
Dmitri agreed with Alexis, and Elia’s heart swelled.
‘How could I ever have killed people like these…?’
Her eyes grew moist, and she said with a shy smile:
“Of course. I’m already everyone’s treasure, after all. Hehe.”
She couldn’t remember the last time she had laughed so innocently.
Smiling gently, Alexis lifted Elia into his arms.
“The adventure is over. Shall we go home now, princess?”
“Yes! Let’s go home.”
Elia shouted joyfully, and the group burst into laughter. All that was left was to return in triumph.
As they left the cave, the heavenly scenery crumbled into dust—White Dragon’s magic had vanished completely.
Elia looked at the ring on her finger.
It was silver, engraved with a dragon’s face. Hard to believe such a vast lair was sealed inside this little ring.
The group watched the mirage-like cavern disappear, then descended the mountain. The descent was easier—the traps the White Dragon had set were gone.
Nearby monsters were quickly dispatched, and within a day they reached the entrance where Zirc had magically hidden their horses.
They even rested and had meals along the way.
Elia and Alexis mounted a horse together and set off for the ducal estate.
By the time the sun touched the horizon, Elia and her companions reached a ridge overlooking the duke’s castle.
“There it is.”
Alexis, mindful that Elia must be tired from riding all day, suggested a break.
“Let’s get down and rest a bit, Elly.”
“Yes, my butt hurts.”
Sitting in the saddle so long had left her sore.
The party dismounted to catch their breath.
Their horses too deserved a rest.
