Conqueror Of The Dark Soul

Chapter 10 - Clue

The auction proceeds smoothly, and to Alden's surprise, the Obsidian Stone he auctions fetches an even more fantastic price than he anticipated: 150 Liontins!

With black and white evidence, Alden successfully claims his earnings without any issues.

Leaving the auction promptly after receiving his money, Alden contemplates the considerable sum. He wonders if the item is genuinely worth such an amount.

On the other side, Black Orb responds casually, "Obsidian of that quality is indeed quite rare, even in the Dark Dimension. No wonder many Guardians desire it."

"Speaking of which, I believe I already told you about the first floor of the Dark Dimension," Black Orb asks.

Alden raises his eyebrows and nods slightly, "Yes."

"Let me repeat to ensure you don't forget." With an intentionally coughed throat-clearing, Black Orb continues, "The first floor of the Dark Dimension is called the Smithing World."

"That's where the best items in the universe are crafted. Do you see my current form?" As Black Orb asks, He, in the form of a black orb, rotates himself.

"..." Alden remains silent with a poker face.

"This is a device containing my soul, also crafted by a great blacksmith on the first floor."

"Moreover, the cage that imprisoned your mother was also made on the first floor." There's a drop in Black Orb's tone as if an emotional surge of sadness passes through.

Shortly after, his voice returns to normal, "That is your current goal now. It's said that fifty percent of a person's strength lies in their equipment."

Alden agrees with a nod. He's heard this several times from Black Orb, even though he hasn't entered that place himself.

"The sooner, the better. So, you should start looking for the Key." Black Orb continues.

Alden thinks for a moment, then furrows his brow, holding his chin. He speaks with a hint of hesitation, "Is there a possibility that Dorm The Savage holds the key?"

"No." Black Orb answers briefly and clearly.

"The Key was already in this city in the past, and at that time, Dorm The Savage was still on the seventh floor of the Dark Dimension."

"Besides, only a blacksmith with the ancestral blood of the leader of the first floor, Gudrid, can possess the Key of the first floor."

Hearing this, Alden asks again, "Does that mean you know the Key's holder?"

"Once."

"Now, it might have been passed down to her descendants."

"Don't worry, there's one undeniable fact: the Key will never be far from a Guardian."

Alden sighs, "Okay."

…

As Alden walks around the city, he stops to buy supplies such as food and others. Although he might not go far, he likes to prepare something before he needs it. After all, the staple food in this continent is bread, which is known for its long shelf life.

After paying, he walks away from the bakery when a woman's voice startles him.

"Ha! You're the young man from that time!"

Alden turns around to see a young silver-haired woman in loose clothing with a slightly small figure. The woman's blue eyes gleam as if she's just hit the jackpot.

Alden is taken aback and immediately feels a chill. Surely, it's just a suggestion; there's no actual change happening right now.

"You're the one who messed up the old man's bar! I know. I saw you coming out of the bar that time." The girl points at Alden with her small hand.

"..." Alden doesn't know how to react.

On the other side, Black Orb is also confused. "Her Emperor's aura is shrinking. I can barely sense it."

"Whatever it is, you should stay away!" Black Orb gives a warning.

Alden looks away while nervously replying, "What are you talking about?"

"That's right. I can't be wrong." The young woman frowns, holding her chin seriously as she thinks. "Hmm, am I mistaking someone else?"

"No. I clearly remember you. You're the one. The one who will help me regain my memory!!" As she lifts her face again and points forward, Alden has vanished without a trace.

"Geh..." She scrunches her face.

"He disappeared!?"

"Isn't he the prince who will restore my memory?"

"No. I saw him in my dream, an adult man with the same gaze, face shape, and hairstyle; it's undoubtedly the same person..."

"Wait, the person in the dream seems older." Tilting her head, she tries to think. People around her are watching the young woman with puzzled faces. Clearly, her appearance has attracted attention.

"Al… al… oh, that's right, his name is Allen!" She smiles proudly, having remembered some fragments of her dream.

…

Alden is now back in the middle of the city. The shield-shaped fountain marks his position again.

"Okay. I'm really leaving this city. Going directly to the second floor without equipment is a better choice than facing the Emperor," Alden mutters, visibly shivering.

"Why didn't you tell me if she's near me!" Alden raises his voice.

"... Something's strange," Black Orb murmurs.

"Her Emperor's aura, I can hardly feel it," Black Orb continues.

"What does that mean?" Alden asks.

"I think you should meet that woman again, just to make sure," Black Orb suggests.

"No, thank you." Alden now continues walking past several buildings.

He doesn't choose the main street. There's no specific reason; Alden has just grown accustomed to taking less crowded routes.

Certainly, he takes the opposite path from where he met the girl.

As Alden keeps walking, Black Orb continues to chatter. "You don't need to meet her directly; you can follow her quietly. I just want to know why her Emperor's aura isn't as strong as the first time I sensed it."

"What do you want to confirm?" Alden starts getting annoyed with the unsolicited advice from Black Orb.

"...There's a possibility that I was wrong about sensing her Emperor's aura. Perhaps she was not an emperor from the beginning." Black Orb speaks.

Alden sighs, "Can you not hear what she said? She mentioned seeing me in the bar; that clearly proves she's the same woman from the bar that time."

"And even after leaving the bar, she recognizes me?"

Black Orb falls silent but appears to nod, "It makes sense. It means she is indeed a Dark Soul... but it doesn't confirm that she is an emperor, right?"

"Okay, let me clarify. From the beginning, you were the one who said she is an Emperor." Alden now stops to grab the hovering black ball by his side.

He clenches it, shaking it in his hand.

"Okay. I admit it, but can you stop squeezing me?"

Alden pulls his hand away from Black Orb. "First, I have to find the Key," he says.

"Considering the Gate will open a week from now, I think that's a good choice."

However, there's a problem. The only clue Alden has is that the key holder is a blacksmith. Other than that, there are no details.

Visiting every blacksmith in the city is clearly not the right option. Moreover, the Key must be cautious about outsiders. At least, they know the Key has the protection of the Guardians, so there's no chance Dorm The Savage has it.

First, he returns to the place where he first arrived. It's an area near the grassy field, underneath which is the drainage tunnel where he found the Dark Soul Seed inside the red candle.

Before that, he enters the bar to fulfill his daily needs. If not, it will worsen his mental condition.

Alden is quite surprised by what he finds when entering the same bar as before. Apparently, some Guardians have gathered there. Most of them wear all-white attire, the distinctive feature of one of the churches, the Church of Saturn.

It's not strange, but their conversation catches Alden's attention.

"Gen, a scout from Frinley's party came out of the Dark Dimension this morning. That means Frinley's party will follow soon."

"That's right. I thought they had died in there. It's been two years since they entered the Dark Dimension."

Alden deliberately takes a seat close to the group of Guardians to hear more.