Frontier Village
The frontier village was more desolate than I had imagined. The rugged terrain was dominated by towering mountains, with only narrow paths barely worthy of being called trails. The guildmaster led the way with several of his subordinates, while I followed, clutching the Infinite Book to my chest. A cold wind lashed against us, stinging my skin. An eerie silence hung over the sky, not a single bird's chirp to be heard.
After walking for several hours, something resembling a village finally came into view. However, it was a village that seemed to have fallen into ruin. Crumbling houses, rotting fences, and weeds growing thickly everywhere. Only a small shrine-like building in the center of the village remained in relatively good condition.
"... So this is the legendary village..." The Guildmaster murmured. A hint of unease was visible on his face.
At the shrine's entrance stood a decaying wooden door. The Guildmaster cautiously opened it. Inside, the air was dim and thick with dust. In the center of the shrine stood a stone altar, upon which lay an ancient scroll.
“This...” The guildmaster picked up the scroll and slowly unrolled it. “...appears to be a record concerning the blood of the sages, written by the village elders...”
The scroll contained descriptions written in ancient script, partially damaged yet still legible in places. I began deciphering the characters, relying on the knowledge recorded in the Infinite Book. Slowly, yet surely, the scroll's contents became clear.
It was not about the blood of the Sage, but rather about the rituals of a clan deeply connected to the Sage, and the secrets that clan had guarded. It stated that the blood of the Sage was a blood with special properties possessed only by those who inherited the clan's bloodline, and that its power could be drawn out through a ritual. It also noted that performing this ritual required this shrine, the clan's sacred site, and the heart of a specific monster.
“...I see. So the blood of the Sage wasn't just ordinary blood...” The Guildmaster wore an expression of surprise. “The clan's bloodline and the ritual... and the heart of a monster...”
Having finished reading the scroll, I carefully examined the area around the altar, searching for any other clues. Then, in a recessed part of the altar, I discovered a small box. It was made of aged wood and locked with multiple keys. However, engraved on its surface was a familiar pattern. It was the emblem of the Atlantis civilization.
“...This... Could it be...” I began searching the Infinite Book for descriptions of the Atlantis civilization. I found a description of a key bearing an identical pattern. It was a special key possessed only by the royal family of Atlantis. With that key, I might be able to open this box.
Relying on the knowledge recorded in the Infinite Book, I began crafting that key. It was a complex process, but with my immortal power and vast knowledge, I made steady progress. Meanwhile, the Guildmaster kept watch around the shrine, preparing for monster attacks.
In the silence, I completed the key of the Atlantis civilization.
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