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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Chaos
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“Finally arrived, huh.”
A sense of relief spread among the group at the appearance of the seventh entrance.
Thanks to the bands of light painted on the stairway walls, the visibility was fairly good, but no matter what, endlessly descending downward in a repeatedly identical scene was mentally taxing.
If they hadn’t noticed that the position of the jewels on each door kept changing, they might have even thought they were looping through the same place over and over.
Opening the door and stepping inside, they saw a corridor made of stone.
Stopping Regret, who was about to naturally take the lead, Chrom said, “Chase, would you mind checking for traps?”
“Sure. Gotta earn my keep.”
Chase nodded.
He wanted to justify his pay, but he also didn’t want to see his companions trigger a trap and get caught in the crossfire.
Chase examined the floor and walls.
“…Too clean for a place that’s been abandoned for hundreds of years.”
The lack of moss, typical in underground environments, could be attributed to careful environmental control, but the complete absence of even a speck of dust was odd.
He sprinkled some hemostatic powder he carried on the floor as a test.
The effect was dramatic.
A faint breeze, seemingly coming from nowhere, swept the powder towards a small groove between the wall and the floor, where it vanished.
Akasha, watching, looked bewildered.
“Wait, is that an inscription? Covering this entire area?”
Chrom’s eyes widened, but for a different reason.
“Wow, that’s a convenient cleaning system. I wonder if I can get that installed in my new mansion. What do you think, Regret?”
“I’ve never built a mansion, but I’m pretty sure the contractors would try to strangle you.”
Chase’s expression turned serious.
He pulled out some dried leaves from his bag and handed them to the others.
“These are antidote leaves. Chew on them if something happens. They’re not a cure-all, but they’re better than nothing.”
“Why?”
“Don’t you get it? If they have such fine control over the air circulation, they could easily fill this entire area with poison gas. I’ll be careful, but it’s best to be prepared.”
Hmm…
Chrom thought as he accepted the leaf.
‘There was a dungeon in the game where the boss could fill the entire place with poison gas with a wave of his hand. I always wondered how it spread so fast. So, this is how.’
According to his knowledge, this particular dungeon didn’t have such a nasty trap, but it was good to know.
After all, this dungeon was a prototype for one that would claim countless lives in a future large-scale scenario.
Under Chase’s guidance, the group cautiously continued their exploration.
They reached the end of the long corridor and stood before a large door.
The group exchanged cautious glances as Chase grasped the doorknob.
He pushed the door open, and the sight that greeted them – even Chrom, who had anticipated it – made their eyes widen.
There, before them, was the night sky.
A vast, dome-shaped cavern, its walls and ceiling painted in inky black.
And scattered across that canvas, illuminating the darkness, were countless stars.
The sight of the stars, seemingly close enough to touch, held them speechless.
“…Incredible.”
Even Chrom, who knew about this from the game, couldn’t help but tremble at the majestic sight.
It was as if a piece of the universe had been cut out and displayed before them.
“I thought I’d seen enough stars in the mountains, but I never expected to see something like this underground.”
“An illusion inscription…perhaps? I’d love to show this to the priests at the temple. The more sensitive ones might cry.”
The hunter from the remote region and the paladin who worshipped the stars expressed their awe.
Regret spoke.
“Some of those stars are…noticeably brighter than the others.”
She was right.
Among the countless stars, seven stood out, larger and more vibrant than the rest.
And in this world, seven distinct stars could only mean one thing.
People worshipped the stars, their faith not based on blind hope, but on tangible power.
The stars bestowed upon their chosen ones robust bodies, resistance to disease and poison, the ability to perceive the imperceptible and glimpse the future, and even the blessing of eternal youth.
The Blessing of the Stars.
Special powers granted by the celestial bodies to their chosen.
A miracle rivaling the supernatural power of mana.
The stars were not just distant, abstract entities, but an integral part of life, wielding immense influence over the world.
And among them, seven were particularly powerful and well-known.
The Martial Star, the Magic Jewel, the Clear Mirror, the Illusory Premonition, the Eternal Flow, the Alluring Charm, and the Heavenly Governance.
These seven stars, known as the Seven Stars, were revered above all others.
The group gazed at the Seven Stars illuminating the artificial night sky, and they noticed that their light converged on a specific spot on the floor.
Chrom stepped into one of the pools of light, and the ground before him slid open, revealing something rising from below.
Clink.
Bathed in the starlight, a treasure chest, gleaming gold, emerged from the darkness.
“W-wait! It could be a trap!”
Chase shouted.
“Then let’s check the others first.”
Chrom replied.
‘I can’t rely solely on my knowledge from the game. I need to listen to the expert.’
Regret stepped into another pool of light, and an assortment of weapons and shields rose from the ground.
Seeing the gleam in Regret’s eyes, Chase panicked.
“Don’t touch anything! Absolutely not!”
“…Just one?”
“No means no!”
Akasha laughed heartily.
“Hahaha! This is a treasure trove! Let’s see what I get!”
Books appeared before Akasha.
She examined the covers, her eyes widening.
“Wow. These are all written in Asteros script!”
“Well, duh. This is an Asteros dungeon.”
Regret said, unimpressed.
Akasha shook her head.
“No, no, the important thing is that we have so many ancient texts, perfectly preserved. The Imperial Academy would go crazy for these.”
“So, they’re valuable?”
“Well, it depends on the content, but they’re definitely worth more than your average used books.”
“…Is that really important right now?”
Chase, exasperated by their casual conversation, couldn’t help but stare at the assortment of medicinal herbs and ingredients that appeared before him.
‘…I can tell just by the scent. These are top-quality ingredients, potent enough to be used in potions even without magical processing.’
He was starting to feel uneasy.
What kind of place was this?
What was its purpose?
Why were so many treasures hidden here?
They continued to check the remaining pools of light, revealing:
-A chest filled with gold bars, coins, and jewels.
-A set of high-quality weapons and armor, enough to fully equip ten people.
-Numerous books written in Asteros script.
-A vast collection of rare medicinal herbs and ingredients.
-A single, sealed glass vial, emitting a faintly sweet aroma.
-A pile of Cubes, sorted by color.
And finally—
“Another book?”
“Just one this time.”
All eyes turned to Chase, who was still examining the room.
He frowned.
“…Alright, I haven’t found any traps so far. You can touch it.”
With his permission granted, they immediately focused on the last book.
Amidst the dazzling display of treasures, the single, unassuming book seemed to hold a special significance.
Akasha, the only one who could read Asteros script, picked it up.
“Hmm, let’s see…it seems to be a diary.”
And she began to read aloud.
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