Chapter 143: Noble Family

At the center of the picture was what Qiu Nuoya assumed to be this very island.

No, more precisely, it depicted a gigantic sea serpent, the Imoogi, coiled around the island.

"There’s something like a shrine in the center of the island." Igor traced his finger along the mural until it reached a small structure drawn there. Sure enough, there was some kind of building depicted in the center. "And this hole here is this cave. If that’s the case, then the shrine should be a little farther east on the island."

"Hmm... Wait a moment. This symbol..." Viktor’s attention had been drawn to the symbol beneath the shrine. He brought the torch closer and stared intently at the marking. Then, as if he had suddenly realized something, he exclaimed, "Ah! I was wondering where I’d seen this symbol before. It’s the crest of the noble family that originally lived in this dungeon castle."

Ah, come to think of it, Qiu Nuoya had completely forgotten that this dungeon was located beneath the castle at the center of the Oraria. A dungeon had appeared beneath the castle where a powerful noble once lived, so the castle was abandoned. The lord of the region then turned the dungeon into a source of profit.

"Do you know anything about that noble family?"

"I never had any direct dealings with them, but I believe their name was Taylang."

Taylang? Tay... Lang? Wait, could it be...?

"Taylang family is a noble family that has already died out as a household because they had no heir."

"Huh. So that’s the crest of a family that no longer exists." Igor continued shining his torch on the mural with an impressed look on his face, but Qiu Nuoya was more interested in something else.

The name Taylang.... It’s sounds like Tailang in his ears.

This could just be my imagination, but could this Taylang family have had some connection to the Saint Qiu Tailang?

After all, Qiu Tailang was also someone who had come from another world, just like him.

That’s why I can’t shake the feeling that there has to be some connection. But if that’s true, then could the room that was given to me have something to do with Qiu Tailang as well?

"Viktor, was this symbol also on the teleportation magic circle on top of that hill?"

"There were no markings on that magic circle that could provide any clue about its creator. I believe it was probably installed before magic circles were systematized. The evidence for that is the fact that there are no magic stones embedded in it. Once the circle is activated, it cannot be used again until it naturally accumulates enough magical power. In other words, it is incomplete."

It was true. After Qiu Nuoya had used that teleportation magic circle once, it had remained completely inactive no matter how many times he or anyone else touched it.

Viktor had examined it and said that it had simply run out of magical power, but apparently the proper method was to build the magic circle with a magic stone embedded within it.

In other words, that magic circle was currently like a dead battery. It would not function again until it had accumulated enough natural magical power.

Furthermore, the practice of adding markings resembling a creator’s name to magic circles had only begun after magic circles were systematized. That meant it was possible to create a magic circle without such markings before that system was established.

After all, Qiu Tailang had been the one who spread the study of magic throughout this world as an academic discipline. If anyone could have created a magic circle that predated the established system, it would have been someone like him.

"Is there something bothering you?"

"No..." Qiu Nuoya certainly was curious.

His instincts were telling him that perhaps this dungeon had some connection to the Saint Qiu Tailang. But he had no proof.

Qiu Nuoya simply shook his head, pretending that nothing was wrong.

If he mentioned Qiu Tailang’s name here, Viktor would probably become very interested. But somehow, Qiu Nuoya did not like the idea.

Qiu Tailang is someone from the past, no matter how you look at it. There’s no point in remaining trapped in that past forever.

"Anyway, why don’t we go check out that shrine?"

"Yeah. Maybe, surprisingly enough, the path to the next floor has already opened somewhere around there."

Qiu Nuoya looked at the symbol carved into the mural one more time.

A geometric bird was placed at the center, surrounded by a circular pattern resembling vines winding around it.

For some reason, the symbol reminded Qiu Nuoya of his own family’s crest.

They left the cave and headed toward the shrine, which appeared to be located somewhere east of the cave.

"Ugh, this is basically an animal trail. I mean, it’s only natural since nobody ever comes here, but there isn’t even a proper path."

As they followed the direction indicated on the map, Qiu Nuoya continuously used his search magic to guide them. However, there was no clear path anywhere, so they had to push their way through the dense forest and practically make their own trail.

Igor muttered under his breath as they went. "Shall we burn it?"

"Don’t! You’ll start a forest fire!" Viktor calmly held a flame in the palm of his hand, prompting Igor to stop him.

For some reason, I expected Igor to be the one enthusiastically suggesting we burn everything down. It’s actually the other way around.

"Then how about water..."

"Huh?"

This time, Viktor made a ball of water float above his palm.

"Well, I guess that’s fine."

The moment Igor gave his approval, the mass of water swept through the forest, knocking down trees in its path.

It’s like that old saying about the cuckoo. Rather than wandering around searching for a path that might not even exist, why not simply make a path that you can actually walk through?