Arc | Chapter. 153: Arthoris and the Empire (Patreon)

Chapter. 153: Arthoris and the Empire

The man had left to go seek the Guildmaster, Lily was⁠ doing her own thing on the forest outside the city this time around. We found a cave in the early morning and I told her to rest there, at first she was against it but after pushing it towards it she acquiesced with a smile. And so, I was alone here in the Adventurer’s Guild.

The city I was in was… odd. That said the gate guards had immediately let me in as soon as they saw my adventurer badge ⁠— that was nice. The city itself was medieval like any other, pretty architecture, but the amount of soldiers was quite the sight. At some point I was even stopped for questioning but after thinking I was crazy they left me alone.

After that, I came to become an adventurer yet again. I had revealed my identity to the receptionist I was speaking to, which perhaps had been a bad idea⁠— what if that made me get an S Tier badge instead of an A Tier one? That would suck.

A sigh left me and a minute quickly passed, some of the people present had been talking about me the entire time, and finally someone decided to approach me. I prepared myself for a lecture or something annoying, but instead the man spoke simply.

“Do you want to join our adventuring team, miss heroine?”

I turned and looked at him, he seemed to be rather… average. “Not really, no.”

“Huh, a shame. You know, heroes are forbidden in the Empire of Naz, given our emperor is a hero he doesn’t want others around.”

“Is that so?” I tilted my head. “So a control freak? Interesting.”

The man shrugged. “Your choice.”

I shrugged in response and turned around. It’s not like I was going to spend a while here. The man grunted but I suddenly thought about it.

“What’s his element?” I asked.

“Glass.”

“I see.”

The conversation ended and I was left to ponder about the strength of the Hero of Glass. To be honest it’d be a bit annoying if he came for me, I wasn’t in the mood to kill a hero ⁠— I didn’t want to see Mr. Hero of Arlas after all ⁠— but it was nice to know.

I shook my head and soon the Guildmaster was racing down the steps, he immediately tensed as he saw me. He was an old man of great stature and burly body, balding and only white hair at the sides of his head. With utmost seriousness he approached me and handed me back the letter, and also⁠—

“Wait, don’t you need to run a test or something?” I raised my inspecting the adventurer’s tag he showed me.

Name: Arc. Registered in: Arthosin Branch. Tier: A

The man shook his head. “The letter was enough to convince me, Miss Arc.” He let out a breath. “Stella spoke very highly of you.”

“Huh, right.”

He gestured to give it to me, but just as he was about to do it. He let out a breath.

“That said, I have a favor to ask of you, if you truly are that powerful.”

I raised my brow. “What is it?”

There was a pause as he met my gaze before he sighed.

“There is a dungeon that is a threat to the city, but the guards refuse to act and the emperor will only act once the monsters attempt to besiege the city.” He closed his eyes. “I’d like you to deal with the problem, I’m unfortunately not strong enough to… do so.”

He gripped his hands in anger and I raised my brow.

“Sure I guess, can you treat me to the most expensive restaurant in the city after?”

He paused but ultimately nodded.

“Very well, let me prepare.”

◇ ◇ ◇

The man left before I could tell him to just tell me the location of the place. Though at least he returned like five minutes later, clad in armor. After that, he insisted on coming, so an hour later I found myself standing in front of a tunnel. Having learned all about the dungeon in the meantime.

“This is the place.”

“Huh, I see.” I tilted my head. “So you said it’s a tunnel that goes completely straight and doesn’t veer off whatsoever?”

“Right… I did.” The Guildmaster nodded.

For a moment I thought about using World Ender on the crevice but decided that causing mass hysteria on the city was a bad idea. There was no need to do that if it could be avoided, though still… I didn’t quite have a skill that fit what I wanted to do, did I?

I pondered for a moment standing before the cave.

“Well, it’s not like it makes a difference being fully connected to the System or not.” I sighed. “Magic does feel similar enough.”

The Guildmaster next to me paid no mind to my dialogue.

“Well, I’ll just do it I guess.”

I took a step forward and I thought about what I could possibly do, and I remembered a scene from a long time ago. My first real attack since coming to this world. That seemed fun enough. I raised my hand, palm facing the sky and blue trails of wind started to come together. The air dropped several degrees as mana gathered at a single point, a small bead of ice came together and a second later it was done.

It dropped at the palm of my hand, it was a crystalline bead with a slight tinge of blue. It shone in the sunlight and the Guildmaster was looking at it with curiosity.

“Well this should be it.” I placed it on top of my thumb. “Go or whatever.” And I flicked.

The crystalline bead flew through the air and into the cave, hitting the ground with a very light thud.

Everlasting Glaciation.

And the crystal exploded⁠— the wave of ice towards us was stopped by my mana but the other blasted through the cave. In a single moment the crevice in front of us turned into a frozen wasteland. A wave of wind swept towards us as the man blinked.

“Did you…?”

“Well I’d be surprised if anything in there is alive.” I shrugged. “Anyway, let’s go inside to see if it’s done.”

With those words I began to walk forward.

“Right…” The Guildmaster hesitated but followed after me a moment later.

* * * * *

Adrien in all his years as a Guildmaster had never seen anything like this. He had seen the world, and yet this level of power wasn’t something he had ever actually witnessed. Stella had sung praises about Arc, she truly had, even claiming Arc was already in the fabled SS Tier, the Tier of heroes.

At first he didn't believe it, but now…

He looked around in the crystallized cave, light refracted from the blue flame on the woman’s hand. Everything⁠— all of it was frozen. Monsters in the middle of fighting with each other, sleeping, or even eating⁠— all of them had been turned into unmoving statues of blue. The place had been a dungeon minutes ago, but now it felt like it was the tunnel to the afterlife.

It was cold, it was lonely, and more than anything, it was unfeeling.

Adrien looked around as they ventured deep into the cave, before they ended up in a large room where a gigantic wolf monster was frozen. The monster seemed to be attacking, its large looming claw hovering over a cowering fluffy figure⁠— it too was frozen. However, after a cursory glance at the room he looked back at the wolf monster.

It was massive. Easily over two stories tall, and yet it too had died.

“Well, it seems it got the job done.” The woman shrugged.

Her words were enough for Adrien to shiver. Such power. He turned back to the monster. For a brief moment he thought it was a Fenrir of the Cold, an SS Tier monster that appeared only in books but…

There was no way the woman had defeated it just like that even if she was in that Tier herself. He shook his head and looked at her departing figure. Still… she’s a true monster…

He had never seen that kind of power⁠— though he was sure heroes were on another realm altogether⁠— maybe. It didn’t make sense that the woman was stronger than a hero, but somehow, the possibility didn’t leave his mind.

“Oh, right. Given Stella only wrote one recommendation letter, could you write me another one for the next capital on the way to Draliz?” she asked casually.

“Right… I could get fired for…” She looked at him, raising her brow. “Nevermind, just keep it a secret…”

She nodded and Adrien sighed following after her in silence. Minutes passed as they backtracked through the frozen dungeon of death. They were near the exit now.

On one hand I’m happy she dealt with this… Adrien looked at her. On the other hand, I'm glad she’s probably going to leave for the other guild relatively soon…

Her strength… terrified him.

He shook his head and Arc stopped, looking at the entrance where a figure stood. Adrien looked up and completely froze.

“Oh, what brings you here?” Arc asked casually.

It was…

“Mr. Hero of Glass?”

* * * * *

A man in ornate white armor was standing before me. The armor had no curves whatsoever and yet it could be considered a beautiful piece of art. It reflected light with the colors of the rainbow all over the cave, and the man was looking straight at me. Of course, the [Appraisal] result was there.

[Hero of Glass. Tier: SS].

He stared at me for what felt like ages before he shook his head. “Why are you here, Heroine of Frost?”

“I’m on my way back to Draliz,” I replied simply. “I was there but then the Hero of Arlas showed up, and I was sent to the Forgotten Places, after I exited I found myself on that other continent.” I tilted my head. “Whose name I forgot.”

“You expect me to believe that?” he huffed.

“Well, I got a dagger from the Forgotten Places,” I said, grabbing it and showing it to him. “That should mean something.”

“It just looks like a dagger.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Based on what I heard from my guards, you told them essentially the same thing and also said you were here to become an adventurer a third time, which…” The Hero of Glass looked at the Guildmaster. “Does seem to be the truth.”

“Yeah,” I agreed.

“I heard you killed the Hero of Flames?” he asked.

“I beat him to death yeah, fist fought him,” I explained. “Then he warned me of the keeper of order but alas, I didn’t listen.”

“I see.”

There was silence after that. The Guildmaster was shaking on unsteady feet, looking in horror at the both of us. Until finally he managed to back off from me, muttering the words, ‘hero’ and ‘of frost’. Finally, after a few seconds of silence the Hero of Glass spoke, frustration evident in his voice.

“You know, I’m known for killing any hero that steps into my empire. The last one was fifty years ago.” He shook his head. “And yet, in spite of that reputation, here you are.”

“I only found out this morning,” I replied, not particularly reacting to what he was saying. “I came to this world… not too long ago.”

“I see, and in spite of that you’re strong enough to murder the Hero of Flames, most interesting.” He placed his hand on his chin before turning to me. “Give me a reason not to fight you.”

His voice rang cold.

“Well I don’t really feel like killing you and making the Hero of Arlas show up, so…” I thought before shrugging. “Maybe don’t fight me if you regard your life and revival skill?”

And he just stared at me. A second turned into multiple and then, he began to laugh as the Guildmaster squeaked behind us. I watched as the Hero of Glass laughed at what I had just said.

“Alright, I see. Not a threat I assume.”

“Not really no.”

He looked at the ground, crossing his arms again. He began to tap with his shoe, seemingly brooding in thought.

“I have a reputation, you know? One that I have to maintain.” He shook his head. “But at the same time I get the feeling that you may be stronger than me. What level are you?”

“Level 180 and my race is Draconic Ascended Human or something, it has a bit of corruption.”

“Right, so we are the same level.” He faced down. “What is your name?”

“Arc.” I pondered. “You know, I can just leave the country right now, I’ll just go pick up Lily if that’s alright.”

“I do want you out today, the longer you stay the more annoying it’ll be.” He sighed. “Alright, how about you use your strongest attack on me?”

I paused, staring at him.

“If it doesn’t hurt me enough I’ll take your head for being too weak. A challenge worthy of a hero.” He made a fist. “I think that is only fair.”

“You either are serious or think you’ll easily kill me.” I sighed. “How about we solve it in a simple manner? If I beat you in arm wrestling I get to leave.”

He placed his hand on his chin. “A mage wanting to compete with me?”

The Hero of Glass looked at the ceiling before laughing. “Interesting, alright, Arc. if you beat me you can have my friendship!”

“Not what I was asking for but, sure.”

I could almost feel him smile through the visor, but I paid it no mind as he stomped and a beautiful pair of ornate chairs and a table were made. I stared at them for a few moments before taking a seat.

“Do you do sculpting? Your glass is quite pretty,” I complimented, placing my hand on the table.

“Here and there.” He sat in front of me and quickly locked arms with me. “But you don’t get to know about any of that unless you win this, Arc.”

His words brought a smile to my face.

Well now I certainly wanted to win.

“Ready?” I felt his hand locked with mine as he gripped.

I met his gaze through the visor, his eyes were golden.

“I’m ready.” I smiled.

“Alright, on the count of three,” his voice was as serious as it could get. “Three…”

His hand tightened around mine.

“Two…”

I could feel the muscles behind his armor tense with strength, and I readied myself, deciding to be serious about this.

“Three⁠—”

And we both used our strength, in a single moment my hand overpowered his and slammed past the table⁠— glass shattered everywhere as a horrendous crack resounded along with a grunt. The Hero of Glass went flying across the room as he hit a cave wall, shattering the ice and beyond as I blinked. The room was full of blood now⁠…

The Guildmaster screamed and went to run before a booming voice called⁠—

“Wait!”

The smoke on the side cleared and I watched the Hero of Glass kneeling, blood littering his surroundings, his long blonde hair was tied back and his voice was closer to androgyny than anything.

“You…” he chuckled, “really are quite something, you know?”

He lifted himself as I saw his face and it was⁠— attractive for lack of a better word, golden eyes stared at me with and his expression held nothing but a smile. Yet he was all bloodied and his armor had shattered.

“How about you marry me?”

“No.”

And he sighed. “Are you into women then?”

“Even if you were a woman I wouldn’t marry you,” I sighed.

“A shame.”

Finally he stood up, and turned to the Guildmaster who was quivering in fear.

“You, go to the Ministry and say that I have granted the nobility title of Grand Duke to Arc, the Heroine of Frost!” he demanded. “If anyone opposes, I'll see that they are dealt with.”

Adrien quivered. “I can’t do⁠—”

And a tablet shaped crystal was tossed in his direction, he barely caught it as the Hero of Glass spat.

“Now go.”

The man nodded and ran off. I stared at his departing figure as I spoke.

“You know, I needed him for that letter…”

“You’ll get your letter. I just wanted alone time with you.” He shook his head.

I raised my brow. “Alone time to seduce me?”

“No, I actually wanted to say…”

He smiled.

“That I’m a huge fan of your work.”

I blinked, and he continued with admiration in his eyes.

“I have one of your ice sculptures, it’s wonderful! You have to be one of the best sculptors in the entire world!”