★95
THIRD POV
Getting up would attract attention, so I created a clone and sent it off while I moved deeper into the cave. Maintaining my human form, I pressed further inside.
The cave had been completely cleared, which surprised me. After hours of roaming aimlessly, I eventually spotted a hidden ore emitting faint magicules.
"Looks like they missed this one."
I walked over, broke it free, and claimed it within my pocket dimension.
After absorbing the faint magicules from the ore, I focused my senses and explored further, using its signature as a guide to search for more.
I soon located a hidden garden of herbs that had been left untouched, and the same signature from the ore was present. I stored them, of course, drawing in their magical energy. Suddenly, a sense of familiarity washed over me.
"That's..."
With no reason to keep using a clone, I immediately swapped places with my clone and rushed towards the energy signature. I ran for minutes—perhaps even an hour—before arriving at the hollow end of the cave.
The signature there was stagnant. I studied the opening carefully before proceeding further. From its shape, it appeared that a dome had once been embedded there, fitting perfectly along the curved walls. But it had been removed.
'By who?'
I wondered.
Standing at the centre, I noticed a broken crystal still faintly glowing. It was the source of the signature. It carried the same energy as the ore and the plants, along with something else entirely. That second, unfamiliar signature kept me alert, so I refrained from adding it to my collection.
The sense of familiarity only intensified as I compared it to every magicule I had encountered before. I retraced my steps and matched it against the others, but none were identical—until I remembered the moment before we approached the gate.
I returned to confirm the signature that had vanished from the cave, and there it was. It matched.
The signature that had suddenly faded, the magicules from the ore, and those from the herbs were identical. I could even detect similar traces lingering within the crystal.
"The dragon?"
Dawn was approaching, so I decided to abandon manual investigation and rely on magic instead. I placed eight rods around the cave and activated Temporal Twist: Reverse Barrier.
A translucent octagonal field shimmered into existence, enclosing the space in a pale glow.
From outside the barrier, I watched as time within began to reverse. The crystal pulsed faintly, then cracked. Light spilled outward as the dragon that had once been sealed inside was slowly drawn out in reverse. The crystal had never been merely a source of magic—it had been the prison.
But I did not stop there. The reversal continued, peeling back deeper layers of the past.
The dragon, now fully restored, hovered within the barrier and began to speak, though his words were directed at someone unseen, a shadow obscured by the temporal haze. I rewound time further, isolating the moment the conversation truly began, then paused the reversal.
With a flick of my hand, I switched to Acceleration Flow. Time surged forward once more, the past racing to meet the present. I watched everything unfold before my eyes.
I could not match the other voice, but I saved it for later reference. The individual appeared to be a reincarnate from a place called Earth.
Skipping forward, I heard the dragon—Veldora—address the reincarnate as 'Rimuru'. They later formed a family name, 'Tempest'. Their conversation soon drifted into irrelevant matters, so I skipped ahead again.
Veldora then explained how he had been sealed by a Hero from the past. The Hero had used a Unique Skill, Infinity Prison, to seal him away.
Said prison entombed its target within an infinitely vast imaginary space for eternity, preventing any interaction between the inside and the outside. It did not weaken over time and could not be damaged through standard physical means.
Moreover, the target's skills were sealed alongside them, rendering them unusable for the most part, though certain low-energy abilities could be exercised to a limited extent if the target was exceptionally strong.
"This is undoubtedly a powerful skill. If the master is able to enhance and merge it to create something new, he will gain a truly unique asset."
I stood still, watching as the scene faded out—until Veldora—no, the prison itself—was absorbed.
"H-heh? Absorbed—the Infinity Prison?"
Finding it difficult to accept, I rewound time for two reasons: to confirm whether it had truly been absorbed, and if so, by whom—and how.
I adjusted the temporal flow and observed carefully. A light-blue, fluid-like substance gradually consumed the barrier in its entirety, starting from the top. I found myself frozen at the sight.
"H-heh? A… a sli—"
"They're awake."
My clone's voice reached me, and we immediately swapped places, leaving it behind to clean up my mess as I departed.
Eren yawned and stretched.
"M–morning, Yami-chi. Slept like never before."
She giggled, then froze as she realised her bed face. Embarrassed, she hurried to tidy herself up, and I gave them space.
After breakfast, we delved deeper into the cave under my guidance. I wanted us to clear it today, if possible.
"HAA!"
Eren shouted in surprise. I already knew what it was, so I played dumb.
That section of the cave gleamed with a golden light. The source was a mountain of gold coins, cups, and assorted treasures. Gems of various sizes and colours were scattered throughout.
I glanced at Eren from the corner of my eye and couldn't help but smile at the joy written all over her face. Her dream lay right in front of her.
"Looks like not losing hope pays,"
I said, approaching the sea of gold. I scooped up a handful and walked over to the frozen Eren.
"Here, see for yourself. It's pure and real. Looks like the myth is true."
She took the coins and examined them carefully. That line gave away the manipulation but I'll never be suspected.
"We're rich!"
"Hell yeah we are!"
Her two companions cheered, but Eren's expression didn't change. I knew why.
"With my magic, I can wipe this place clean without leaving a single coin,"
I boasted, waiting for the answer I had already predicted.
"N… no. I won't be taking anything."
"Heh!?"
As expected.
"Lady Eren, are you simply going to turn a blind eye to such riches?"
"No. Taking this would be like stealing someone else's property."
"It's not—"
"Even if it's abandoned, taking it is still wrong. At least to me."
She walked over and poured the coins back.
"If you're done packing, we're leaving."
She turned and walked away. The two companions looked at me, as if checking whose side I was on. I simply shrugged.
"I'm not after riches. Serving the master is more than enough."
I followed after Eren.
"You're a rare one, that's for sure,"
I muttered as I sat beside her.
"Rare?"
"Yes. A normal human or demi-human would have spent hours gathering that gold, yet your way of thinking is different."
"It just doesn't feel right. If I want to be rich, I want to work for it. Getting rich overnight isn't my thing."
"Magic works the same way. Take two individuals, A and B. A earned his power through hard work, years of study, and real training. B used shortcuts—an artefact, for example—to reach a similar level."
"So they're equal?"
"Only on the surface. A understands his abilities, their strengths and weaknesses, and how to adapt them, but B doesn't. He can use the power, but he doesn't truly understand it. That makes all the difference."
"Can you give an example?"
"Let's say A is a water mage. He's trained for years under different mentors and mastered the element. He knows how it interacts with others, how to counter enemies, and how to adjust his flow in battle. B owns an artefact that mimics water magic. He can cast powerful spells, but he lacks control, insight, and flexibility."
"If they fought, who would win?"
"In a pure water duel, A wins easily. His mastery outclasses B's borrowed power. But in a broader fight, where tactics, instincts, and experience matter, B might win."
"That's fair, I guess."
"They say effort doesn't matter—only the results you produce."
"As a star, a being from another world, which side would you choose?"
"I'm not a Star. I'm just a clone of one. Personally, I'd choose C."
"C? You never mentioned him."
"C learned water magic overnight, then went on to deepen his understanding and mastery of it. That's who I'd want to be."
Just then, Kaval and the others returned.
"Done packing?"
Eren asked.
"I didn't take anything. I have my reasons."
"I took some, and I have mine."
Not disappointed by their choices, Eren smiled and jumped down.
"Good. Stick to your decisions. Let's get out of here."
We left the cave by noon and headed for the nearest town to rest properly and prepare for the next day.
To be continued...