Chapter 70: The Bell Tower’s Secret

Evan and Darwen moved stealthily around Valles, their figures hidden beneath robes.

Right now, throughout Valles, knights, priests, and Sacred Knights were working together to control the crowds and manage the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.

There were many who might recognize them.

To move discreetly, they had no choice but to conceal themselves with robes.

No one knew where the Nervan Cultists might be lurking.

At times like this, it was all the more important to stay hidden and move cautiously.

‘First, the four temples on the outskirts—the east, west, south, and north.’

Though Evan and Darwen hurried to each location, the impact of the terror attacks had completely erased any traces.

As if they had been deliberately targeted.

“You’re right. After the attacks began, it seems they targeted these places first.”

Evan nodded in agreement.

“This is a problem in itself. It’s highly likely they’ve already reached their destination.”

“Exactly. What on earth are they planning…”

Darwen clicked his tongue in frustration.

Evan watched him for a moment before hastening toward the heart of Valles.

The place where the Great Altar of the Nervan Goddess stood.

As they approached the center of Valles, a massive bell tower came into view.

It, too, was under lockdown; the bustling crowds that usually gathered there had disappeared.

Evan and Darwen cautiously circled around and approached the bell tower.

“This bell tower… it’s enormous.”

Standing right before it, Evan couldn’t help but express his awe.

He’d seen it from afar before, but this was his first time standing so close.

He lifted his head to look up at the towering structure.

The tall, imposing tower.

Its walls were cracked, bearing the marks of time, and ornate patterns and decorations surrounded it.

It was a relic of considerable artistic value.

Of course, no one knew its origins.

The ruins had existed long before the Kerthen Family ancestors were granted this territory.

From what Evan had heard, the continent’s history was so dark and chaotic that it was common for such relics with unknown origins to be left unattended.

Sometimes, if they held tourist value, they were preserved, but more often than not, they were simply abandoned.

This bell tower had now become a protected cultural heritage symbolizing Valles.

Located at the center of Valles, a large plaza was built around it.

Many travelers visiting Valles made a point to stop at this plaza at least once—it had become a famous landmark.

Darwen stroked his beard, voicing his suspicion.

“Master Evan, doesn’t this strike you as odd? If something suspicious were here, the Count’s household would have noticed immediately.”

“No, precisely because it’s here, it wouldn’t arouse suspicion. And there must be something only the Nervan Cult knows—like the four temples being the key to unsealing this bell tower…”

Evan speculated, recalling ancient sealing methods from his previous world.

Sure enough, as they neared the bell tower, a barrier blocked their way.

It was clear someone had arrived here before them.

Darwen frowned.

“A crude barrier. It’s just an illusion.”

He raised his hand and touched the barrier.

Mana waves radiated outward from Darwen.

The barrier vanished effortlessly, as if it was fragile.

Seeing this, one couldn’t help but acknowledge Darwen’s formidable magic skills.

Evan and Darwen quickly opened the bell tower’s door and stepped inside.

Inside was a wide space.

Every wall was densely covered with runes.

All the runes were glowing, fully activated.

They also spotted an entrance leading downward.

“This… all these are runes…”

Darwen stared at the runes, unable to say more, while Evan pointed toward the underground entrance.

“There’s no time. Let’s move.”

***

Evan and Darwen walked along the underground corridor.

The passage was lined with pairs of statues.

All of them were perfectly symmetrical twin statues.

They were exact duplicates without the slightest difference.

The precision and craftsmanship left them in awe.

“To think such a place exists within the Countdom.”

For Darwen, a mage and archaeology researcher, such ancient ruins were an invaluable treasure.

“These ruins seem from the Age of Darkness, but are even older. Discovering this is an incredible find!”

Evan focused on Darwen’s words.

‘Come to think of it, if it’s history, I don’t have to look far.’

Darwen’s prowess as a researcher was already renowned.

It would be good to take him to visit other ruins later.

If they could learn about the history through murals or artifacts, it would be a great help.

‘I should ask him about the history sometime.’

Just as Evan thought this, Darwen, who was leading, suddenly stopped.

A massive door blocked their path.

Two human statues stood before it.

Again, twin statues identical in every way.

Evan placed his hand on the door, behind the statues, and tried to push it open with force, but it wouldn’t budge.

“Wait a moment. Let me see.”

Darwen examined the twin statues and then the hieroglyphics carved into the door.

***

After a moment, he began to read aloud.

“Though alike, they differ. Two identical worlds. The truth is always the one that never fades. Existence itself can be the truth.”

“What does that mean…?”

“Just a moment. If my interpretation is correct…”

Darwen approached the twin statues again, scanning them briefly before suddenly casting magic.

Flare!

A small fireball formed in his palm.

He hurled it at one of the statues.

Bang!

As one statue shattered, its fragments were drawn into the other statue.

Simultaneously, the closed door began to open.

Rrrr!

“Hmph, a bothersome mechanism.”

But Darwen eyed the statues with dissatisfaction.

“What’s wrong?”

Evan asked.

Darwen nodded and explained.

“These twin statues represent the real and the fake. The one I just destroyed was the real one. The real statue’s fragments were absorbed into the fake one, merging them into one. Do you understand what this means?”

Listening to him, Evan’s mood soured.

“It’s like the fake replaced the real by eliminating it.”

“Exactly. The fake overreaching the real.”

Darwen clicked his tongue and stepped through the door, with Evan following behind.

The corridor stretched on again.

Ahead, another set of twin statues and a huge door blocked their way.

But this time, the statues weren’t human.

They were statues of a goddess with wings on her back.

Despite being statues, their graceful posture drew admiration from anyone who saw them.

Evan gazed at the goddess statues and asked Darwen, “Could this be the Nervan Goddess?”

“I’m not sure, but if I were to imagine a goddess’s form, it might look something like this.”

It sparked curiosity whether anyone had actually seen the goddess in person.

And the identity of the goddess remained a mystery.

Flare!

Once again, a fireball appeared in Darwen’s palm.

“Are we breaking this one too, like before?”

“Yes. Destroy the real, then the fake…”

Kaboom!

Just like before, one statue was destroyed, unlocking the door’s mechanism.

Clatter!

The massive door swung open, revealing a new scene beyond.

But the sight made Evan flustered, and Darwen’s eyes widened in shock.

“W-what on earth is this?!”

It was something incompatible with the underground setting—or rather, something utterly impossible.

***

Boom!

With an explosion, the center of Valles descended into chaos.

In the plaza where the bell tower stood, knights and robed figures faced off.

The Nervan Cultists kept rising no matter how many times they were killed.

It was reminiscent of the undead, but far beyond that.

“Attack them!”

The leaders of each knight order shouted from the front lines.

The knights charged with a battle cry, but soon, dark mana spread over the plaza like mist.

It became impossible to approach.

“Ugh! Fall back!”

The knights halted and formed a perimeter on the outskirts.

To overcome this mana, one needed to be at least a Sword Expert of the highest rank—

Reaching the level of Aura Mastery capable of wielding sword energy.

Without that, rushing in was tantamount to suicide.

The Sacred Knights and priests with Holy Power were able to endure the mana.

But their numbers were woefully insufficient.

The Sacred Knights defended the entrance to Valles, repelling the Nervan Cult’s invasion.

Most priests were occupied treating the wounded.

In other words, they were trapped.

“Commander, it’s difficult to advance.”

Clyd slowly drew his sword.

A powerful energy that had been dormant deep within him began to rise.

“Only the captains of each knight order will charge with me.”

Sword energy gathered around his blade, and his strength as a Swordmaster radiated outward.

Just then, a voice called from behind.

“No, my lord! Please wait a moment.”

Clyd turned his head.

Delian and Jena arrived, leading the Sacred Knights of the order.

But their numbers barely reached twenty.

Clyd seemed to dismiss their arrival as insufficient and turned back to face forward.

“My lord, please leave this to me.”

A large Sacred Knight stepped forward from among them.

A high-ranking Paladin clad in brightly shining armor.

“You are…”

Clyd looked at him in surprise.

The Paladin bowed formally and introduced himself.

“I am Kairon, servant of the Venus Goddess. Jena, the priestess, urgently sought me out.”

“Thank you for coming all this way. The Venus Order will receive sufficient offerings.”

“No, this is my duty. It is my mission to deal with heretics. I have come to serve as the Goddess’s servant.”

Though it sounded like a noble statement, the true meaning was that they didn’t want offerings but something else.

Clyd frowned.

“Come see me separately sometime.”

Kairon responded with a smile.

His cloak fluttered as he slowly stepped forward.

Jena, still tense, followed him.

Watching their retreating backs, Clyd sheathed his sword and spoke to Delian.

“Listen well. No matter what happens, do not get deeply involved with them.”

Delian, who had only trained in swordsmanship, didn’t understand his father’s meaning.

“Father, I don’t understand what you mean.”

“The kingdom is not a Holy Kingdom. If our family accepts the Order, you know what will happen to Ruphes…”

But that was just the most basic reason.

Honestly, for Clyd, that alone wasn’t why he was wary of the Order.

The real reason was simple.

“From where I stand, heretics and them both look equally dangerous.”

Kairon took slow steps toward the Nervan Cultists and slammed his sword into the ground.

From where his sword struck, cracks of light spread out in all directions.

Fwahhh!

A brilliant light covered the Valles plaza.