10 Retry

"Is there anything useful here?"

His son's action flabbergasted José Oliva and made him wonder if his child knew every secret he had.

Ernesto pressed the passcode to the door and barged into the secret room. "Don't worry, I also cast a barrier so no one can enter your office without us knowing."

They filled the secret room with the highest graded weapons, potions, books, and other rare items that were stolen from Toré, churches, dungeons, the royal palace, and other important places inside and outside the kingdom.

Ever since, even without the title of Marquis, the Oliva family has already become a hideous one. They did all the unusual things that they ended up gathering these rare items.

The secret room was protected by magic, so no one could infiltrate it, but Ernesto figured out how to access it with his knowledge from the future, which is why the magic inside doesn't react.

"Are the magic items broken? How can you barge in here?"

Marquis Oliva was thinking of re-hiring a new mage to strengthen the security of the secret room, but it would take time because he needs someone who is good at keeping secrets.

"It's easy. Based on my self-assessment, my current rank would be the same as Flares Magician's. It'll get higher after I stabilize my body. But that's not important now. Help me search for information regarding that statue in the garden."

José wanted to ask more about how his child became well versed in magic, but the thought of his other child's state worries him relentlessly.

José's forehead was drenched in sweat as he asked, "Is this the only way to save Ndulou? Where is he?"

"Father, don't delay me. I need information."

José breathed in and out before following Ernesto's request.

"The statue is the goddess of love."

"Love? Romance?"

"Yes. Goddess Iyyah is well known as the pining goddess, weeping for her husband."

"What? That lively lady weeping for her husband?" Ernesto thought to himself that the lady he was talking to didn't seem to be weeping at all.

"Who?"

"Nothing. Is there anything else?"

"Some believe that the soul of the person who died in war goes to her. That's the only thing I know." José walked past the weapons and picked up a book at the center. He flipped through the book like he already knew which page he needed.

"This hero is said to be blessed by her." José showed the book to his child.

Ernesto took the book from his father's hand. "Rafael Cornelio? the first Duke Cornelio?" he asked.

There was only one paragraph stated regarding the Duke:

Rafael Cornelio, the hero, was a true warrior. He let no one under him fall into despair. He was a protector who was blessed by the goddess Iyyah—the pining goddess. He saved the kingdom by clearing the mountain of Mayon of evil and discovering multiple gold mines. From then on, the kingdom became well known for having abundant gold reserves. In gratitude, King Kylech Gobsleh II granted him the title of duke and large land around the Mayon.

Ernesto mumbled, "Why did Goddess Iyyah bless this warrior?" as he thought to himself, "Why did the gods choose to bless someone? To help in conquering? To safeguard? Or for a mission? What are the blessings? Also, why did the goddess want to bless me too? I understand if it is Ndulou, since he has a huge sense of justice and is a very kindhearted man. Why me? I cannot match Ndulou's future accomplishments. If it is for a mission, is it like making things in order?"

His mind flooded with what-ifs and he became even more frustrated at not having an answer. He turned to his father again and asked,

"Father, do you know something about dukedom?"

"Mmm."

Marquis Oliva looked around and reached for a shield that was slanted between the pile of other weird looking shields.

The shield that the marquis picked up has a deep emerald color with tiny marks of reptilian scales. Jose held the shield against his body, and Ernesto could see the handle embedded with magic circles.

"This shield was from the dukedom. I guess the third marquis stole it from the duke to mock him."

Ernesto glanced at his father, telling him to speed up his explanation.

"Ahem! They make this shield from the dragon's scales residing on Mt. Mayon. The son of the Duke mentioned that the dragon itself gifted this shield, but no one believed him because, at that time, the dragon did not allow anyone else to enter the mountain and killed whoever tried to infiltrate. The Dukedom started to lose face, and the royal family blamed the late duke for the wasted opportunity to mine the mountain. They stated that having beasts and dark creatures on the mountain is much preferable to having a single dragon who was too powerful for them to handle. At least with the beasts, the higher level adventurers and hunters can still infiltrate the mountain."

"Why did the dragon choose the mountain?"

"Because of the gold mines? They say dragons love gold. Well, who doesn't?"

"When did the dragon show up? Is this during the first duke's reign?"

"No, child. I told you to study." 

Ernesto frowned at his father's side comment. The Marquis let out a short grunt and continued to share information.

"The dragon appeared at the time of the second duke, when the first duke died of old age."

"Is it just a coincidence that after the First Duke passed away, the dragon appeared?"

'Or is it that the dragon has already been there? If he knew the first duke, I could ask the dragon about the goddess. I need to check and hurry!'

Ernesto took the shield from his father, opened his spatial magic, and stored the shield inside it.

"Father, I'll be going; I'll be back once I find the solution. First, deal with the Baron. He is in the castle. I just met him a while ago."

The Marquis could not answer back because Ernesto had already cast his teleportation spell and disappeared without warning.

...

....

Once Ernesto's eyes recover from the sudden change of vision caused by teleportation, he can then peacefully see the green scenery.

"Sir, Dragon."

Ernesto is now facing the mountain dragon, who is ready to shoot him with his fire breath.