Chapter 252: Leaving The Crypt

After saying that, Aelric’s expression remained utterly serene as he added.

"Well, since there’s nothing else for me to do here, I think it’s about time we stopped dallying and started our journey toward the Sanctuary."

He said, speaking with the finality of someone who had already mentally departed the area.

Without hesitation, he stepped away from the sarcophagus and descended the dais. The others watched him go, their faces betraying a mixture of surprise, bewilderment, and incredulity. Aelric had already slipped the Key into his tunic so deftly that none of them had noticed where it had disappeared.

He walked with the nonchalance of a merchant who had finally succeeded in scamming an unsuspecting noble, which was precisely when Vaelorin moved.

"Is that it?" The red-haired Pyromancer stepped directly into Aelric’s path and raised both hands in a firm stop gesture.

Aelric halted and looked at him.

Vaelorin’s voice carried an unmistakable note of disbelief. "I mean, you came here for the Key, and now you’re leaving? Without even looking around properly?"

It was an astonishing reversal. Vaelorin had been among the staunchest opponents of returning to the crypt, yet now he had somehow become the most reluctant to leave. The reason, however, was surprisingly simple.

Aelric’s dismissive departure had made the entire ordeal feel anticlimactic. After everything they had endured, Vaelorin had expected at least some grand revelation, dangerous treasure, or hidden secret worthy of the crypt’s ominous atmosphere.

Instead, Aelric had obtained his prize and was already walking away. This made the red-haired Pyromancer disappointed and he was not alone in that feeling. Because the bewildered expressions surrounding him made it obvious that the others were struggling to understand Aelric’s conduct as well.

Aelric arched a brow. "Uh, yeah. I already told you I’m here for the Key. Since I’ve gotten it, it’s about time I left. What else do you want me to say or do?"

Vaelorin stared at him as though he had just been informed that fire was cold. He opened his mouth, clearly preparing a retort, but Regaleon stepped forward first.

"Aelric, I understand that the Key of the First Oath was the primary reason you followed us here, and that obtaining it leaves you with no obligation to remain. However, simply leaving without further investigation seems almost inappropriate."

He gestured toward the crypt.

"Look at this place. Surely there must be something else of significance worth your attention."

Regaleon was plainly attempting to persuade Aelric to stay so they could continue exploring. The truth was that the entire group had become deeply invested in the crypt, especially after the revelations Aelric had provided.

They had uncovered only a fraction of its history, yet even that fraction had revealed enough to make leaving feel premature. And there was undoubtedly still a wealth of history buried within these ancient walls.

Moreover, from their perspective, the expedition had overwhelmingly benefited Aelric. They had gained some knowledge, certainly, but he alone had obtained something truly substantial and valuable.

That was particularly ironic because they had originally brought him here for their own benefit. During their first visit, they had discovered several artifacts and mysteries they could not decipher.

They had hoped Aelric might explain the six-winged Knight statue, the rosary, the sarcophagi, and perhaps even the identities of those buried within them.

He had, in fairness, provided considerable knowledge; because his explanations had filled several glaring gaps in their understanding of Aetherium’s ancient history, and that was something they were genuinely grateful for.

Yet it was still not enough. After all, most of what they had learned today had not directly benefited them in any practical sense.

Well, almost all of them... With Regaleon being the exception, although he had not yet realized that.

That was precisely why the others were dissatisfied with Aelric’s intention to leave. If they were already standing inside a Forbidden Ruin filled with secrets, why abandon it before extracting every scrap of knowledge they could?

Aelric looked Regaleon up and down as though the Knight had just suggested something completely detached from reality.

He lifted a brow. "Something of significance?"

His tone was so genuinely puzzled that Regaleon almost wondered whether he had somehow misunderstood the question.

"Well, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but the only important thing in this crypt was the Key, and I’ve already gotten it. For that reason, I see no need to stick around unless you want to spend several more hours poking around a place that has already tried to kill you."

Aureleah immediately walked toward another sarcophagus and rested one hand upon its lid.

"We understand everything you’ve said, Aelric, but while you may be satisfied with this expedition, we aren’t."

She tapped the stone lightly.

"Who knows when we’ll return here? It would be better to understand this place as thoroughly as possible. That way, the next time we encounter a ruin, possibly something like this, we won’t be ignorant or unprepared to deal with its mechanisms."

She then turned her silver eyes toward him and asked.

"Furthermore, according to what you’ve said, there is still one Forbidden Ruin whose location remains unknown. So tell me, Aelric: what happens if we eventually stumble upon it when you are not with us? What will we do then?"

Aureleah was employing a contingency argument, and the others had to admit that it was remarkably effective. Her motive was transparent, but the logic behind her words was difficult to dismiss.

Especially the point concerning the final Forbidden Ruin.

The probability of them discovering it was exceedingly small because according to Aelric’s account, most Forbidden Ruins had already been excavated, while the location of the last remained unknown. Nevertheless, possibility and probability were not the same thing.

What if they truly encountered it without Aelric?

If they remained ignorant because he had refused to teach them now, their lack of preparation could prove disastrous.

The chance was minuscule, but even a microscopic possibility of such a situation warranted preparation.

Aureleah had presented the argument brilliantly, yet unfortunately, it still failed to move Aelric.

Throughout her entire explanation, his expression remained utterly nonchalant.

When she finished, he answered with such casualness that her carefully constructed argument seemed almost absurd.

Aureleah’s eyes narrowed slightly. She had expected resistance, but not such effortless dismissal. Aelric was treating their concerns as though they were complaints about an inconvenient meal rather than genuine dangers that could determine whether they survived a future ruin.

Caalestra shook her head while Kaeloris adjusted his glasses and sighed in scholarly frustration. Vaelorin, meanwhile, looked ready to argue again. Yet before any of them could continue, Aelric had already turned his attention toward the crypt’s entrance, apparently regarding the matter as settled.

His indifference was becoming less mysterious and more profoundly irritating to everyone.

"Well, Aureleah, I understand that you want to become more familiar with ruins, but you’ll have plenty of time to figure that out in the Sanctuary."

He shrugged.

"I also didn’t suddenly become adept at ruins either and it was something that took me quite a few attempts before I stopped nearly dying every time I entered one. Now look at me. I seem like a professional."

He smiled faintly.

"So you all have nothing to worry about. Your concerns are nothing more than minor inconveniences that can easily be ironed out in the Sanctuary..."