If it was Niflheim Empire, it was a great empire that existed a dozen years ago in the Northern part of the continent, where Morata was part of, and Weed was her current Lord!
The castle and villages went up in flames due to the monsters around and Bone Dragon who descended from the Forest of Darkness. The emperor tried to seal them using the Serbian Beads, but it only resulted in lamentable freezing of the entire Northern area. Under the attack of the cold, the monsters, and division of the people, the empire collapsed.
If the Niflheim Empire were to be reconstructed right now, the North would stabilized on its foundation.
It was a little unexpected that a quest such as this would become available from a sculpture, and then linked to the Resurrection Church. But it wasn’t very surprising. The Resurrection Church and the Matallost faith were churches that had originated in the North.
If he solved mercenary Smith’s question, then he would also solve the quest relating to the reconstruction of Niflheim Empire.
‘I’ll be able to sell off Morata for a more expensive price.’
Weed nodded his head as he tore into a chicken leg as an appetizer.
“I will do my best to solve the mystery.”
– You have accepted the quest.
* * *
The Savoid County was made into an enormous hunting ground. Sur Kingdom was infested with level 150 to 200 monsters, so a considerable number of parties were out hunting.
“Recruiting people to hunt inside the mansion. Preferring People with experience or courage.”
Count Savoid’s Mansion was a region-class dungeon. The max level of the monsters was 282.
The astral Knights, Soldiers, and even astral maids spawns there.
Weed entered the mansion with the drunkard mercenary, Smith.
“Arghh. My insides are gonna die of heartburn.”
Smith complained as he followed.
“Won’t you give me just one bottle of booze?”
“I don’t have any.”
Weed firmly refused. There was, of course, a lot of liquor in his rucksack. All because he made brandy or whisky whenever he saw edible fruit or wheat, etc. There were a few cooking items that sold well, and easy to store like liquor. With its astounding taste, disinfectant properties, and since it even raised Health recovery speed, liquor received the most limelight among preferences.
Since well-distilled liquor could be priced expensively, it was no different from cash.
Although he distilled liquors in his spare time by plying his cooking skill, he was frugal with it to the utmost, to the point where if it wasn’t SwordNoob or the other elder brothers, no one would even ask Weed for it.
“Ahem, my mouth is dry.”
Smith grumbled as he followed.
In the old mansion, dust was piled thickly and pieces of furniture were scattered around. The mural was damaged to the point of unrecognition, and the chandelier had fallen to the ground, shattered.
“Fire Ball!”
“Cold Strike!”
He saw many other parties, but they were hunting ghost monsters.
Weed looked around the mansion a little before giving up. It was a colossal site, so it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it a castle.
Weed had wandered through many castles of Vampires when he was in Todeum, but this was different from those castles, even the estimate of the number of rooms in the powerful Count’s mansion was immense.
Weed asked, “Where is the basement?”
Smith just shook his head from side to side.
“It happened a long time ago, so I don’t remember. Though, I might remember if I drink a bottle of booze…”
Weed frowned.
‘Good-for-nothing alcoholic, drunkard!’
Other hunting parties were hunting all over the place in Count Savoid’s Mansion. If it was a basement they didn’t discover, it was either meticulously hidden or had to be an extraordinary place.
‘Even if it was discovered, it might not have been made public.’
They wouldn’t have been able to enter the basement even if they found it if they didn’t have the key. It was human nature to not want to do something that was good for someone else. Even if the basement’s entrance was discovered, it was possible it hasn’t been made public.
If so, Weed figured he had to cooperate with Smith to find it.
Weed opened his rucksack and pulled out a bottle of beer.
“Come to think of it, I do have liquor.”
“Harumph. Give it to me!”
“The basement…”
“… I do remember. It’s probably down by the staircase.”
The place Smith had pointed out was the bottom of the stairs, leading to two additional floors.
Weed tried going behind the wooden staircase. There was nothing there, except thickly piled up dust. However, when he probed around with his hands, he could feel an imperceptible crack.
‘So it’s here.’
Weed cleared the dust and found a small key hole. Then, he placed the key he received from Smith and turned.
Creeaaaak!
He had to push forcefully to barely open the old door.
Weed entered the basement together with Smith and closed the door. He didn’t forget to pull out the key, either.
Because it might be discovered by another party hunting in the mansion!
Weed was absolutely not one who would fall flat on his face when the prize is in sight.