Chapter 173 – We Arrived at the Great Temple!?
"Amazing! Isn't it more shiny and golden than the Sheorl underground?"
Fule looked down from the Cave Spider and let out an astonished cry.
We were currently within the cluster of ancient temples within this country called Arancia.
Though, it felt more like being in a city.
The roads were wide enough for six carriages to pass through at the same time, and there were high buildings that must be ten stories tall. All of this suggested a high level of technical ability.
The scale of the Sheorl undergrounds were impressive as well, but since Orichalcum was used here in the buildings and streets, they looked more luxurious.
I couldn't see a single scratch on the roads though, which suggested no one had been able to cut it out. Even the buildings showed no signs of having been taken apart.
On the other hand, there was not a single thing left that looked like it could be picked up and carried. Not even a flower pot. This was likely because the royals and thieves had picked the city clean.
"But with this much Orichalcum…"
I could dig it out, and Mappa could use it.
And then the people of Arancia would be able to make powerful weapons.
However, this was a temple.
Even though it was now considered to be a pagan place, there were likely still people who saw it as a place of worship. And so it was a difficult dilemma.
Regardless, it was more important to get Mappa out safely…
"…Oh, the magic energy started moving all at once."
Perhaps it had noticed us, or perhaps it was Mappa they noticed. But the spots of magic energy I sensed all over the city began to move.
Haines's nose rose into the air as he said,
"The smell of bones is in the air. And there are so many…"
Judging by what Haines said, they were likely a great host of skeletons.
"Brother, let's go on ahead and crush them."
"Aye. Mappa has likely been surrounded and will have to slow down. It's our chance to catch up with him. Lord Heal, your permission."
Ashton said as he turned to face me.
While Taran and the Cave Spiders were not slow, they still did not match the Kobolds.
And unlike the field we were in earlier, it was easier to get ambushed here. Besides, Mappa might be attacked by the skeletons. So it would be best to leave it to these two.
"Very well. But I want you to stay just within sight. That way, I'll be able to cast Shield on you as we advance."
"Lord Heal…understood. Let's go!"
Ashton and Haines accelerated all at once.
They had already been going quite fast, and looked tired. But it seemed like they were running at full speed now for Mappa.
And so I cast Shield on them as we continued.
However, we were also in danger.
"Woah!? Arrows are coming down!?"
Fule quickly cast Shield on herself as arrows started falling from the sky above.
Apparently, they were targeting us from the roofs of the buildings. And not just the roofs. Arrows and stones were flying from the windows as well.
Ashton and Haines were subjected to the same attacks. And then a wall of armed skeletons appeared in front of them as if to block their path.
But Ashton and Haines unsheathed their scimitars, and without losing any speed, they cut down the skeletons.
Perhaps they were able to move so boldly because I was casting Shield on them. But even so, their prowess in battle was very impressive.
However, there was nothing that they could do about the enemy inside of the buildings.
"So-so many of them are attacking! It was not like this before!"
Guardian Ogus blocked the attacks from all sides with his shield as he advanced. On the other hand, Vanessa was using magic to fight back.
As Fule and I were concentrating on casting Shield, it was difficult for us to launch counter attacks.
And so it was necessary for us to get out of this situation as soon as possible.
"That Mappa…wait a minute…"
Mappa and his metal horse had not slowed down at all. Not only that, but the metal horse was unleashing some kind of beam of light, which seemed to be attacking enemies above and in front of him.
Fule's eyes widened.
"I-is that magic?"
"It must be, since I can sense magic energy. Perhaps it uses a magic stone…"
But it was still no magic that I had ever heard of.
As I thought this, the enemy attacks seemed to decrease.
Apparently, we had broken through the district that was the most thick with enemies.
After that, I could sense Mappa's energy stopping.
He seemed to have gotten off of his metal horse.
"Alright! Now! Wait for us, Brother Mappa!'
Haines's voice echoed. And they ran even faster towards Mappa.
However, Mappa was fast when he wanted to be as well.
And he rushed inside a dome-shaped building that was larger than any other inside of the city.
"What is that…"
It was a giant building in the exact center of the city.
There were pillars and arches in the decorated walls, and statues of people with heavy builds, much like dwarves. And all of them, without exception, wore something like a crown.
There was no doubt that this was a palace or some place related to dwarven royalty.
Ogus looked at them and muttered.
"The great temple… The greatest in all of Zenranbara."
However, Ogus continued.
"There is nothing in there but a golden throne-like seat in the center. Why would this Mappa person want to go in there?"
I couldn't sense any magic.
There were likely no skeletons either.
But Mappa had gone straight towards it.
There must be something there then.
We then arrived at the entrance to the temple, and then went inside in order to follow Mappa and Ashton and Haines, who had already entered.
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Chapter 174 – An Outcast!?
After climbing the steps of the temple-like building, we rushed inside.
"MAPPA!"
My voice echoed throughout the vast, golden hall.
Two rows of golden pillars stretched out from the entrance and went all of the way to the far back.
…And at the end of the room, was a man, leaning on his elbow as he sat on a chair with a shameless expression.
"Mappa! What do you think you're doing coming to a place like this!?"
Haines, who had reached Mappa first, shouted.
However, Mappa just looked at him and grinned.
"Hey, old man! Don't you know how worried we were for you! What are you doing!?"
Fule joined in the shouting. It was rare to see Fule looking this angry.
But we had all been so worried, and so it could not be helped that emotions were on the rise.
And so I walked up to Mappa and said to him,
"Mappa… I suppose this place is related to you?"
Mappa closed his eyes and nodded solemnly.
"I knew it…"
In other words, it was Mappa's homeland…
This was no surprise, given the amount of dwarf statues, and the height of the buildings. This was probably the city that Mappa had been raised in.
And seeing him sit on this throne now…was Mappa part of the royal family?
While it was hard to not feel a little annoyed at his proud manner as he sat deep in his seat, I had to admit that it seemed fitting, somehow.
And there was one more thing that I noticed.
Suddenly, I detected magic energy coming from the walls on both sides.
"Mappa… Surely, you aren't going to…"
He wouldn't kill us.
However, it was possible that he was trying to capture us.
What if he was holding a grudge against us for calling him 'Mappa' all of this time… No, it couldn't be that.
"…Hey, Mappa. What are you going to show us? I suppose it must be very amazing?"
I asked. Mappa smiled mischievously. He then pressed a button that was near his elbow.
Just then, the walls to the left and right suddenly opened up.
"Wh-what are they!?"
The figures who appeared from the walls were big and heavyset, much like dwarves.
And they were covered completely with golden armor, and held battleaxes. They were warriors.
However, they were at least three times larger than the average human.
There were about ten of them. Were they guardians of this place?
But I doubted that they were living creatures. They were likely Golems.
Mappa raised one hand and signaled to them.
And then the Golems came closer to Mappa.
The Golems lined up obediently in front of him. Mappa looked delighted by this.
"Old Mappa. This is what you wanted to show us…?"
Fule muttered in an exasperated voice.
So he just wanted to show off some soldiers that moved at his command… No!?
I quickly cast Shield on Mappa.
One of the Golems had suddenly raised its axe.
The blade of the weapon bounced off of Shield, and a dull ring echoed throughout the hall.
As for Mappa, he looked quite frantic.
He was furiously pressing the square button on his throne, as if in a desperate attempt to fix things.
So he had assumed that he would be able to control the Golems.
Red lights began to flash on the heads of the Golems, and then a loud voice rang in the air.
<>
I didn't understand what they were saying.
However, that's what we had heard. It must be some kind of magic.
But we couldn't just stand here. We had to help Mappa.
Before I had even given out any orders, Ashton and Haines had unsheathed their scimitars.
"Tsk. Mappa really is still just a child!"
"And we still have to wipe his arse!"
They kicked the floor and launched themselves into the air, severing the heads of the Golems around them.
At the same time, Fule used fire magic to attack them.
"Taran! Get Mappa!"
Fule shouted. Taran jumped to the ceiling and then shot her webs towards Mappa's head. Once Mappa had been wrapped up and tied, she raised him up into the air.
But the Golems were tough.
Fule's magic was not effective. And the Golems that had lost their heads continued to attack Ashton as if nothing had happened.
"Are they immune to attacks?"
The attacks from the scimitars were one thing, but Fule's fire magic should be able to melt their armor, which was made of Orichalcum.
Were they using magic to cast Shield as well? However, it didn't look like they were using magic stones.
In the past, we had faced Golems in Sheorl's underground who were also immune to magic attacks.
But they had done it with Magic Defense Stones and Magic Absorption Crystals.
We had eventually defeated them with pickaxes…
Right now, I was the only one who had a pickaxe. But I didn't even know if it would work until I tried hitting them.
Besides, while Fule and the others could defend themselves, it would be difficult to fight while having to protect the guardians. Ogus was able to fight, but his attacks were also ineffective.
In the meantime, Taran succeeded in bringing Mappa back to our side.
"Tsk… We'll have to retreat for now! Taran! We're retreating to the roof!"
I shouted. And Taran nodded.
And then she ran outside with the other Cave Spiders.
"The rest of you, go outside!"
"Lord Heal, we'll take up the rear!"
Ashton said. And then he and Haines started to run around the Golems.
"Thank you, you two!"
And so I cast Shield on them and then ran outside.
We then grabbed the spider's webs that dangled just outside of the entrance, and the Cave Spiders pulled us up.
The guardians followed us, and then Ashton and Haines, who had distracted the Golems, were pulled up onto the roof as well. Here, we breathed a sigh of relief.
And while the Golems were still ringing their warning bells, they seemed to be unaware that we were on the roof, and so they scattered in every direction in the city.
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