We made our way through the hidden passage. At the moment, Kuzuden, Lu, Hakuren, Urza, and Gral were with me, along with several of Kuro’s offspring acting as our escort.
The rest of our group was split up. Ya and the Mountain Elves were busy interviewing the Devils and Dream Demons about technical matters, while Tia, Granmaria, Kudel, Corone, and Kierbit were scouting the castle’s interior to see if there were any hidden mechanisms only an Angel could detect. This passage seemed like the most suspicious lead we had so far.
I felt a bit guilty about it, but I’d sent Rusty back to the village for more supplies. After learning about the local diet, I couldn't just leave them to starve. Meanwhile, Daga and Galf were in the courtyard testing the items and magic tools Kuzuden had handed over. Since most of them were weapons, it was better to leave them to the experts, though I hoped they wouldn't accidentally blow anything up while swinging them around.
The passage eventually opened into a sprawling study. Books were lined up on the shelves, though many were scattered across the floor like the aftermath of an earthquake. The ones remaining on the shelves looked pristine, but the volumes on the ground were buried under a thick layer of dust. I wondered if the bookshelves were enchanted.
The titles covered a wide range of topics: The Glory of the God-kin For Victory: Tactical Theory, Volume Three How to Become a Castle Lord Becoming a Likable Boss Art Encyclopedia Paint-making for Beginners An Encyclopedia of Ball Games Animals of the Forest Trendy Fashion Theories on Romance Secrets of the Dragon Race
I was actually quite curious about Secrets of the Dragon Race, but the library was a disaster. I wondered if the previous Castle Lord had just been terrible at organizing. The books on the floor were so brittle they crumbled the moment I touched them. They must have been there for centuries.
Thick dust made it easy to track the footprints of Kuro’s offspring. They had scouted the room thoroughly before heading through a new opening in the wall. An ornament next to the passage had been knocked over—it seemed the wolves had figured out how to operate the mechanism. They were remarkably clever.
We followed after them.
"Urza, Gral, don't play in the dust. You’re going to start coughing."
At the end of the passage, we found another door. It opened easily without any tricks, though I realized once we were through that the mechanism to open it from this side was built into a different ornament. It seemed you could exit freely, even if the way in was hidden.
We stepped into a jail. It was a somber place with small cells lining both sides of the corridor. Dust lay thick everywhere, suggesting it hadn't been used in a very long time. Fortunately, the cells were mostly empty—with one exception.
The cell closest to the exit had been swept clean and showed signs of very recent use. It wasn't that someone was being held prisoner; it was being used as a shelter.
The corridor eventually led us back to a familiar sight: the courtyard. Daga and Galf met us there along with the lead group of wolves.
"There was a jail in a place like this?" Daga asked.
From the courtyard, the entrance looked like an ordinary wall. I noticed the pedestal for an ornament nearby had been smashed, which was probably why the hidden door now opened with a simple push.
I called for the young girl who’d been shielding the monster child when we first arrived. As I suspected, she had been keeping her pet inside the jail cells. The creature was a lizard-type monster, something like a chameleon. She assured me it wouldn't attack once it got used to people, and for now, it just stood protectively in front of her, watching me with wary eyes. I was genuinely impressed by its loyalty. I just hoped it wouldn't lose heart now that Kuro’s offspring were sniffing around.
That seemed to be the end of the hidden path. It went from the castle interior to the study, through the jail, and back outside. Perhaps the study was meant as a panic room, or maybe a secret escape route to use during a rebellion?
Wait, no. That didn't make sense. Why would anyone flee into a study during a crisis?
We headed back to the room, with Daga and Galf joining us. There were two known exits: the one to the castle interior and the one to the jail. I searched for another mechanism, knowing that a secret room usually has its most important layer hidden behind a dummy. If the first mechanism was exposed, a second one would likely be different.
I investigated the ornaments again. Sure enough, one of them rotated.
The entire room lurched with a heavy clunk, and I felt the distinct sensation of descending, much like being in an elevator. The descent was brief, and when it stopped, a new passage appeared.
This had to be it. I expected Kuro’s offspring to rush in, but they didn't move. They just stood there, looking confused.
"Huh?"
It seemed they couldn't even see the opening. I pointed toward it and looked at the others. "The passage is right there, see?"
The only one who nodded in response was Urza.
Was it a human trait? Or perhaps some kind of race-based recognition inhibition? Regardless of why the others couldn't see it, the path was physically there. I walked forward, and Urza followed easily. However, the others were blocked as if by an invisible wall. To them, it still looked like solid stone. Hakuren even tried to punch the "wall," only to be repelled.
"Don't do anything reckless," I told her, stepping back into the study.
I could go back and forth, but the others were stuck. Common sense suggested we shouldn't proceed alone, but I had a feeling the castle's power source was just ahead—the mechanism that kept this whole place afloat. I doubted there would be lethal traps in such a vital area, but it was still the place where we needed to be most careful.
I took Urza’s hand to make sure she didn't run off. She held on obediently, which surprised me; I’d expected her to try and bolt ahead.
"Me too!" Gral chirped, grabbing my other hand.
"Alright, Gral too."
Lu and Hakuren looked a bit miffed at being left out. I considered our options for a moment. "Actually, maybe we should just head back for now."
"Please, wait."
A voice echoed through the room just as I was about to ask Daga to reset the mechanism. It wasn't any of our voices, but an unfamiliar woman's.
"I have deactivated the barrier. The others may pass now."
As she spoke, the passage suddenly became visible to everyone. Kuro’s offspring and Galf immediately moved inside. Seeing no immediate danger, we followed the wolves as they led the way.
The passage opened into the castle’s power center. Strange machinery was attached to a massive crystal stone, but the room felt less like an engine room and more like a temple. Reinforcing that impression was a woman dressed in priestess robes, currently surrounded by the wolves.
"You have arrived about ten years earlier than the Book of Prophecy predicted... but welcome regardless."
She was striking, with long white hair tied back. She gave us a polite bow.
"I am Bell Fougma, the Sun Castle's Chief Assistant to the Lord."
"Chief Assistant to the Lord?" I repeated.
"Think of me as the person responsible for the castle's navigation. Now, let us move quickly. I wish to hand over what must be given, convey what must be told, and finally fulfill the prophecy."
Bell produced a khakkhara staff from nowhere and gave it a light shake. It chimed melodiously, and a sword with a crimson blade materialized before me.
"This is the Sword of the Sun."
She seemed to want me to take it, but my hands were currently occupied by Urza and Gral. Bell didn't seem to mind and kept talking.
"Demon King Galgard has a single weak point: a specific scale on his back. If you pierce that spot with this sword, you will be able to slay him. I wish you the best of luck, Sir Hero."
"Wait, I think you have the wrong person. I'm not a Hero."
"I am aware."
"What?"
"The Book of Prophecy says a Hero will come. Since you are the one who arrived, you are the Hero. Even if you aren't one, you're the Hero for our purposes. Does it really matter?"
"Well, yes... I know the Demon King personally, and I have no intention of killing him."
"Do as you please on that front. My only duty is to give this sword to whoever makes it here and tell them how to kill the Demon King."
"I see..."
"To be honest, having these extra chores forced on me on top of running the castle has been a massive headache. If you accept the sword, my duty is officially over. Please, just take it."
"I'm really not going to kill him. Is that honestly okay?"
"Perfectly fine."
"It’s not cursed or anything?"
"Not at all."
"And I can do whatever I want with it?"
"Whatever you wish."
"Even throw it away?"
"Yes."
"Fair enough."
I let go of Urza and Gral and took the Sword of the Sun. It was surprisingly heavy.
"Thank you. With this, my purpose is fulfilled."
Bell gave me a bright, refreshed smile. She looked almost ethereal, but after our conversation, I could tell she was just incredibly relieved to be done with a job she hated.
"Thank you for your hard work," I said.
I set the Sword of the Sun on the floor and summoned my Universal Farming Tool in its hoe form. Then, I tilled the sword right into the ground. It dissolved instantly, turning into simple soil.
I had no use for a weapon meant to kill a friend.
I half-expected Bell to be angry, but she just gave me a wide grin and a thumbs-up. She really must have loathed that prophecy.