On the other hand, at the same time.
In a corner of the 65th floor of the Green Tunnel, the sound of a child sobbing could be heard echoing.
Deep within the maze of caverns lay a cell carved directly from the bedrock and fitted with iron bars. Within it lay several children, clad only in simple clothing. They sat on the ground, their knees hugged, their faces filled with anxiety and sorrow, their mouths emitting bursts of sobs.
Among them, there was a teenager who seemed to be about to cry, but she showed a strong expression and refused to shed tears - it was Ruth.
Just as Oscar imagined, Ruth and her group were attacked on their way home and abducted to this place. Upon arrival, they were immediately forced to undergo some kind of magic-related examination, and only Ruth was quickly taken away from Dilan and the others.
How are your brothers and sisters doing now?
Why am I the only one being torn apart?
What will happen to them next?
Ruth was terrified and didn't know what to do.
but……
Ruth looked at the children crying around her. They were about the same age as her, but seeing their fearful cries, Ruth naturally thought of her younger brothers and sisters in the orphanage.
——It’s the older brother’s responsibility to protect his younger siblings.
The words of that man who had betrayed her dreams and was now the one she hated the most flashed through Ruth's mind.
"I'm not like that guy who only knows how to giggle!"
Ruth's anger grew even stronger, and he made up his mind and walked closer to the iron railing.
As the children watched, Ruth made sure no one was watching. Then she picked up small stones from the cell floor and drew a picture on the ground near the railing.
Ruth drew the simplest magic circle that "that guy" had taught him.
——Ruth and I both have the talent of an alchemist.
The past words echoed in her mind without permission. "That guy" smiled happily and carefully taught Ruth the basics of alchemy magic.
Ruth thought he was a wonderful man.
He has a gentle personality, is talented, and works tirelessly. He creates all kinds of things with his hands. The head of a famous workshop came to recruit him personally...
Ruth adored him.
He is the brother that Lu Sigong is proud of.
Ruth's dream is that one day she can stand shoulder to shoulder with him and become a world-renowned alchemist.
"I won't give up! I won't become a 'loser' like you! I will definitely become a great alchemist! — 'Alchemy'!"
Despite the bleeding fingers, the alchemy circle carved into the ground still activated according to Ruth's instructions. A faint orange magic light illuminated the dim prison.
The children gasped, for they knew Ruth was trying to escape. Their eyes were filled with anticipation, as if praying, as they watched Ruth's transformation.
however……
“Why is this happening…why!?”
Ruth's transmutation magic had indeed activated, but the railing and the surrounding ground showed no reaction. Ruth chanted again, desperately pouring in his magic. Sweat broke out on his forehead, his body trembled, and his magic power was almost exhausted.
But reality is cruel...
"Why!"
Ruth's magic light dissipated, he felt dizzy, fell down, and hit his forehead on the railing.
The struggle he put up with what little courage he had was not even able to cause a scratch on the railing.
"Can't we go home?"
"A girl asked. Her hope faded before her eyes, and she seemed even more desperate. Seeing that they couldn't escape, the other children also began to give up hope.
——No problem, I’m here.
If it were the old days, Ruth would have believed him. If it were not the brother who could only smile and look embarrassed no matter what others said, but the brother from the past, Ruth would have believed him. She would have believed him and shared hope with other children.
Now… he couldn't do it. Because he'd willingly become the "loser" brother, his image had overshadowed his former brother, Ruth was speechless, almost swallowed by despair.
Just at this time.
"Hey, what did you just do?"
A voice questioned him, and although it wasn't an angry tone, Ruth and the others were still trembling with fear.
Apparently, the guards a little further away noticed something was amiss and came to investigate. A knight emerged, adorned in regal full-body armor and medals, hardly someone who would have appeared in the underground tunnels.
Although the children couldn't see it at first, everyone in the town knew that it was equipment only worn by knights directly under the Church of Holy Light.
Even though he wasn't wearing a helmet, the sight of a massive man in full armor approaching was enough to scare the children. Furthermore, given the current situation, the children didn't even dare to speak.
Of course, Ruth was the same. He couldn't help but leave the railing and sit down on the ground.
Because Ruth had the biggest reaction, the Temple Knights naturally looked at him.
Then, he discovered the alchemy magic circle engraved at Ruth's feet.
"You...want to escape, huh?"
"babble!"
The Temple Knight's tone grew even deeper, and the murderous aura he exuded made Ruth tremble with fear.
"You're just unqualified after all. You've been blessed with the opportunity to become God's servants, yet you can't understand your own good fortune... Your superiors have instructed us not to let you die because you're still useful, but it seems some divine punishment is necessary."
The Temple Knight stretched out his hand, and the magic circle inside the gauntlet glowed faintly.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see that it was the magic circle of "Fireball".
The Temple Knight's eyes flickered back and forth between Ruth's hands and feet, and it was clear what he was thinking.
However, Ruth had no means of resistance. Not only that, his body was even unable to move due to fear. All he could do was close his eyes tightly.
The children could imagine what would happen next, and they held their heads and let out soft cries.
"Let me help you engrave God's greatness into your bones!"
"No, we're sorry to decline."
Suddenly, a light-hearted voice was heard, and the Temple Knight, who was about to chant "Fireball", groaned.
Because the situation was different from what she had imagined, Ruth opened her eyes with trepidation.
What he saw was... the Knight Templar lying on the ground, and Oscar stabbing him with a black umbrella from behind.
"Eh? Onii-sama?"
"It's been ages since you called me that. I'm here to pick you up, Ruth."
Oscar gave a gentle smile that didn't suit the situation.
But Ruth couldn't immediately tell that the person in front of her was Oscar.
This was no surprise, as he wore high-end clothes and shoes, a black coat, and held a black umbrella. He gave off none of his usual timidity, instead exuding a gentle yet sharp aura. With his handsome features and the sharp gaze beneath his intellectual glasses, no one would doubt he was a young aristocrat.
Just as Ruth was looking at Oscar in disbelief, Oscar's eyes moved to the iron railing and he slowly stretched out his hand.
"Ah, the refining won't work on that railing..."
"Yes, because the ore used in the railings has that function, but to be more precise..."
The magic of the sun radiated everywhere, although there was no magic circle to be seen and no Oscar singing.
But the result is——
"That ore is called a seal stone. It has the property of dissipating magic power and is often used to bind items. However, it still has its limits. If you use special processing magic to allow it to absorb more magic power than it can tolerate, it will eventually be unable to withstand it."
The iron railings that Ruth had tried her best to forge were easily transformed into ordinary iron bars and fell to the ground.
Ruth was stunned, and Oscar knelt on one knee in front of him, looked into his eyes and said:
"Ruth, you did a great job. Thanks to your alchemy magic, I was able to find this place."
"Brother...I..."
When her brother put his hand on her head, Ruth was so moved that she cried because she felt that her struggle was not in vain.
In fact, Ruth really helped Oscar a lot. When Oscar first arrived at the 65th floor, he found Ruth and her friends' clothes and the coin that served as a transmitter in a place similar to a safe deposit box.
It was clear that Ruth and the others had all been stripped of their clothing. Oscar, unsure of what to do, investigated the floor and discovered a Templar patrol. This further intensified Oscar's suspicions. As he explored, he suddenly sensed the presence of alchemy magic. He then saw a Templar walking in the direction of the aura, and Oscar gave chase.
If Ruth hadn't used magic, Oscar might still be searching this intricate floor.
"I haven't seen Dilan and the others. Do you know where they are?"
Ruth wiped away tears of relief and shook her head.
"I don't know. When we were kidnapped here, we were taken to a huge building. Inside, there were several people dressed in white. They forced us to stand on a strange magic circle."
Oscar narrowed his eyes slightly. Inside the tunnel were buildings, a group of people in uniform, and patrolling Templar Knights... It was truly suspicious.
"Then, for some reason, they said I had no aptitude. Dilan and the others were taken to the building, and I was the only one brought here..."
"I see... I see. Thank you, Ruth. Anyway, I'm glad you're okay. I have to get you out of trouble first. Okay, everyone, follow me. We're going home."
Oscar spoke gently to the children who were standing behind Ruth, stunned. Perhaps it was Oscar's gentle appearance that dispelled the children's nervousness, and they began to move one after another.
"Can you go home?"
"Where are Dad and Mom?"
The children looked at Oscar for help.
"It's all right now. You can go home now. Your parents will surely be waiting for you at home. Come on, follow me quietly so as not to be discovered by those terrifying knights."
Hearing Oscar's words, Ruth looked back at the fallen Temple Knight. Although it was a complete sneak attack, the opponent was a Temple Knight, said to be a powerful warrior who could defeat five soldiers alone. Normally, an ordinary craftsman could not defeat a Temple Knight.
"..."
Whether it was the nonchalant refining technique he had just displayed, or the aura he exuded, was this man before me truly that 'loser'...
"What's wrong, Ruth? There's no time. Come on, let's go."
“I-I got it!”
Being called while she was thinking, Ruth couldn't help but yelled.
Oscar himself just smiled and had no complaints.
He was always like this. No matter how much others scolded him, he would just smile foolishly, not refute, and let them talk...
But the smile on his face now seemed different from the annoying smile he had in the past.
Ruth turned the idea over and over in her mind, but could not come to a conclusion.
Led by Oscar, the children advanced in the cave, with Ruth walking at the back, his eyes fixed on his brother's back.
Ruth's mood was wavering. She felt a little bit of anticipation in her heart, but she didn't want to be disappointed, so she told herself not to expect anything.
Oscar felt Ruth's strong gaze while avoiding the patrolling Temple Knights and successfully brought the child to the destination.
The group arrived at the vault where Ruth and the others' clothes had been found. However, it wasn't a place with a door or lock; it was simply a hollowed-out rock wall with a fence. Furthermore, work clothes and the simple clothing Ruth and the others were currently wearing were also stored there, so it was likely a temporary storage area for non-essential items.
Oscar entered the vault and touched the wall inside.
Then, a powerful sunlight shone with magical power. The light was not blinding, but a beautiful, warm glow.
"Wow, so beautiful!"
"Amazing!"
The children all started to praise or were fascinated by the show.
For some reason, it was not Oscar who was being praised who felt embarrassed, but Ruth. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she kept stealing glances at Oscar, but then turned her head away immediately.
After a few seconds.
After the sunlight disappeared, there was no wall in front of me, but a staircase leading upwards.
"Everyone, listen carefully. Besides you, there are other children waiting to be rescued, and I must go save them. Just go up this staircase and you'll reach the first floor... Should everyone be able to do it?"
Was there originally this passage? Just as Ruth was puzzled, the other children looked at each other anxiously. The older brother who came to their rescue said that he couldn't accompany them any further, and that it was normal for the children to feel uneasy.
"It's all right. This Ruth is my brother. He's a very good and brave man. He will lead everyone safely out of the tunnel."
When Ruth was called out, she let out a strange "Huh!?" sound, and the children all looked at her.
Perhaps remembering how he had just tried to use magic to escape alone, the children felt a little relieved.
Although Oscar was unable to protect them to a safe place, he instead cast alchemy magic on a random wall and immediately created several thin disc-shaped stone slabs in one breath, and there were tiny indentations engraved on the discs.
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