Chapter 47: Treasures(4)

Luke and his group headed towards the forest near the capital. It is called the Forest of Death because of all the poison and monsters residing there. It is located in Paliath and connects to the Viscellete territory of the Reece kingdom in the southeast. This is also where Finesse and Viana lived and also where Noah and Finesse met.

It is one of the ten forbidden places in the world. They could only defend against the monsters by erecting a large wall and patrolling the area frequently. Luke looked up at the tall wall. He then used [Herculean Strength] to add force to his legs and shot up and landed on top of the wall. Spencer and the others followed behind him. They then all looked at the foggy surroundings that were carrying poison. Selena frowned.

"Hey, why do we need to get here? It is dangerous for the children!"

"I know."

"Then why-!"

Luke pulled something out of his coat's pocket and threw it to his group. They then all looked at the item in their hands. Lina then spoke in shock.

"H-how? These masks are expensive! Hella expensive!"

Spencer asked in confusion.

"Just how rich are you?"

Luke smirked. What they are holding are masks that are famous for making you able to breathe underwater, smoke, poison, and also protecting your body. It is basically a full-body shield. And each one costs a fortune. Buying one will make a normal family in a city go broke.

'Aahh! Spending money is so great! I have never felt that kind of feeling before, until now! As expected, transmigration is the best!'

Luke grinned and donned his mask. He then turned his head and saw the rest of his group anxiously wearing the masks. He then took out another mask and placed it on Nash, who was sitting on his shoulder. Nash turned visible and wore the mask that he gave. Luke confirmed that they were all wearing the masks and jumped down from the top of the wall.

Crunch, crunch.

As Luke walks, the dried leaves on the ground are crushed under his feet. When he saw the monsters waiting for them in the distance, he came to a halt. He then looked at Liam and Liam nodded. Liam then activated his aura.

'Come to think of it, this will be my first time seeing Liam's aura in person.'

Liam's sword was engulfed in a dark red aura that shone brightly like fire. He then slashed it towards the monsters on the way. After a minute had passed, a clear path opened up in front of them. Luke then heard Lina's shocked voice.

"H-holy. He's a swordmaster too?"

Michael, Jessa, Lily, Julius, and Josh clapped with admiration.

"As expected of brother!"

"Brother Liam is so cool!"

"My brother is incredibly strong!"

"He defeated the monsters within a minute!"

"I love the color of his aura! It's like fire!"

Liam scratched the back of his head, shyly accepting the children's praise. Then he noticed Luke walking past him.

"Good job."

Liam looked at Luke's back and formed a determined face. Luke didn't notice this and walked forward. He then noticed terrified monsters staring at him, specifically Nash, who was sitting on his shoulder.

With the power of a powerful swordmaster and a legendary beast, they managed to pass by the monsters peacefully. They then kept walking forward without any worries.

The location that Luke aims to go to is not really that far so Luke soon arrived at his destination. He looked at the hole below him. It's big enough to fit a single grown man. Luke then looked back at his group. He then spoke.

"I'll go first, and you'll all trail behind me."

The group nodded and Luke immediately jumped. He then felt his butt hit something and continued to fall childishly.

"Weeee! This is so fun! We are sliding!"

Luke then saw himself riding on a slide. Even though he was surprised at first, he just then let it be and let the slide carry him where he was destined to go. He felt like he had turned into a kid again with this childish slide he was riding on. He then thought.

'Do archmages usually have bad tastes? A slide? Really?'

Luke thought this was childish and then soon saw the end of the slide. He then landed on something soft. He then looked down and saw a fluffy mana cloud supporting him. He then slowly stood up and looked around. He then frowned in confusion.

'Just what the hell?'

This place is not what Luke was expecting. He then heard his group falling into the cloud behind him.

"Ugh!"

"Oof!"

They all stood up after landing on the soft clouds. They then stood beside Luke and asked in confusion.

"What in the world is going on-?"

Selena didn't finish speaking while looking at the small dirt cave they were currently inside of. Luke frowned. Even though this place wasn't particularly revealed in the novel, there was no mention of the underground being a small dirt cave.

'Did I just got scammed... By the novel?'

Luke was thinking about that annoying thought when he heard Julius speak.

"W-what is that?"

Julius slowly pointed to the front and the group saw a portal glowing in front of them. Luke looked at the portal and slowly approached it. He then heard Liam's worried voice.

"Wait! It might be dangerous!"

Luke didn't hear him and slowly entered the portal. He then squinted his eyes. His eyes met a very bright light. He then slowly regained his vision and his mouth opened wide. The sight in front of him made him speechless. Nash then spoke in a shocked voice.

"Sky... We are on top of the sky!"

Luke looked around. As Nash said, they are currently in the sky. They were now on top of a floating island. Luke looked around and saw some golden baby statues and a golden fountain. There is also a colorful garden and a training area. His eyes then stopped roaming around and focused on one place. His eyes trembled while his lips were sealed shut.

'Castle... A white castle.'

Luke looked at the tall white castle that was shining under the sun. He didn't know how to feel. Many emotions are jumbled within him.

Happiness, excitement, and sorrow.

Luke was speechless. He then looked up at the white castle.

'When I was in my world... I always dreamt of having my own castle. I thought it was just a stupid dream, but I sometimes find myself holding on to that stupid dream as I grow older... And now, I have one in front of my very own eyes.'

"Woah!"

"Oh my god!"

"Holy..."

"...Shit."

"Is that a castle?"

"Are we in the sky?"

"Woah! Look at the view!"

Luke heard his group's voices and turned around to face them. They all then flinched when they saw tears rolling from Luke's eyes. Selena panicked.

"H-hey, what is wrong?! Are you hurt?"

Luke tilted his head and asked.

"...Hurt?"

He then heard Liam's worried voice.

"Why are you crying?"

"Me? Crying?"

Luke then wiped his cheeks and flinched when his hand felt wet. He then immediately rubbed his eyes and turned back to normal.

"This is nothing. The sun must have irritated my eyes.

Lina then nodded in agreement.

"It's true, though. "I feel like crying when I look at the sun directly in the eyes."

Luke ignored her and spoke with a smile.

"Why don't we walk around my castle?"

Spencer then snorted at him.

"You already thought of this as your castle."

"Of course. After all, "finders keepers."

Spencer just shrugged his shoulders and they all entered the room. A spacious hall greeted them. Luke and the others looked around with amazement. They then all visited each room. They passed by the library and the research room. They then finally visited all the rooms and then heard Luke speaking.

"Select your own room... My room takes up the entire top floor."

They then all nodded and picked their rooms. The children and Julius looked extremely excited. Luke just looked at them for a while before going outside the castle. He then walked towards the edge of the floating island and saw the vast ocean below. He then spoke with Nash, who was pleased with the view.

"Nash, can you find out the coordinates of this place so that we can just teleport here in the future?"

"Of course! Leave it to me!"

Noah then activated flight magic and started to roam around the island. Luke just waited for him and, after five minutes, Nash came back.

"I got it! Now we can come here whenever we want!"

Luke smiled and entered back into the castle. He then saw his whole group waiting for him. He then looked at them and straightly said.

"As you may know, we will soon be going to war."

They had already heard about the bits and pieces of the war from Klein before, but someone saying this straight into their faces was different.

The group's faces turned serious. Luke continued.

"That is why I tried to find this place. Not only will this place be our resting place, but it will also be a backup whenever things go wrong."

The group all looked towards Luke. Luke then added.

"I am not good at pep talks, so let me get this straight."

Luke then looked at his group with a straight face.

"If you are all having a hard time, remember to come to this place. This will be the place for our relaxation. You could say that this will be our headquarters."

The group looked at Luke with a blank stare.

'It's true that he's not good at motivational speaking. But he is basically saying to come here if you have problems or if there is something you want to run away from... This location will keep us safe.'

This place is now their home...

Selena smiled and smacked Luke's back and Luke's body shot forward with shock. Selena just laughed.

"Haha! You are right! You are really not good at speeches and stuff!"

Spencer then added.

"It is so clumsy."

Luke frowned and heard Nash's voice.

"It is not the best, but we get your message!"

Luke then saw the children, Liam, Lina, and Julius, start to play around the island. Luke just sighed and asked Spencer, who was standing beside him.

"Hey, want to do magic research?"

"What?"

Luke smiled at Spencer. He knew that Spencer would become a powerful archmage in the future, so he planned to help him and pile up his debts.

'Call it an investment of sorts.'

"We saw a laboratory and a library inside the castle, right? Why don't you try it?"

"...I will try it even if you don't tell me to."

"That's fantastic; you could also teach your siblings new magical spells and things. They really are talented, so it is a waste to not teach them."

"I know already."

Luke smirked and pulled out the pouch containing magic tools from his pocket and gave it to Spencer, Spencer looked at it with a baffled expression. Luke just smirked at him and patted his shoulders and then went upstairs, leaving the speechless Spencer alone.

He felt Nash jump from his shoulders as he walked. Luke came to a halt and looked at Nash, who was also looking at him, as he then spoke up excitedly to him.

"You go first! I'll pick some books in the library for me to read!"

Luke nodded and went to his room in the castle. He opened the door and saw a luxurious room filled with gold and marble. His bed also looked like a bed that was fitting for a king or royalty. Luke smiled and dived into the bed.

'Ahh! Peace! That is fantastic!'

Luke smiled and slowly let sleepiness take over him.