"I want to see that box."
Elijah got up, and neither Damian nor Henrik moved to stop him. The two simply made sure that Elijah was completely fine before letting him go to the room they were referring to earlier.
"Hm... quite extraordinary, indeed."
In the large room that only had two paths, an entrance, and an exit, Quirin was talking to himself while touching the giant box floating in the place. Quirin seemed so lost in his thoughts that he was unaware that Elijah had entered the same room as him.
On the other hand, Elijah saw how Quirin was staring at and touching the box and began to sense something strange about the way Quirin was treating the box. Quirin's touch on the box seemed so careful as if the sturdy box would shatter if Quirin mistreated it in the slightest. Meanwhile, his gaze was filled with happiness as if Quirin had finally found what he had been looking for all this time.
Quirin's demeanor clearly showed that he knew something about the box. It was only at times like this that Elijah regretted that he hadn't chosen to purchase the Rune skill first.
With the Rune skill, any rune writing would look like normal writing in Elijah's eyes. However, regretting something that has happened is also useless. If Elijah hadn't bought the Curse skill and Critical hit with his level when fighting the giant knight, all of them might not be alive today.
Elijah deliberately watched him silently before the teenager finally decided that he had seen enough and announced his presence to Quirin, who was immersed in his own world.
"What did you find out about the box?"
Only when Quirin heard Elijah's voice did the happy look that had filled his face disappear without leaving a trace. Quirin looked at Elijah, who was already standing not far from him. The man's gaze cooled for a moment before he immediately covered it with a small smile as usual.
"You're awake, Elijah," he said to Elijah.
Unfortunately, Elijah was not easily distracted at the moment. Elijah stared at Quirin with a frown on his forehead, indicating that he was not happy with the way Quirin was avoiding his question.
"That's not the answer I wanted to hear to my question, Quirin."
This time, Quirin smiled even wider after hearing Elijah's words. Quirin stared at the giant box in front of her, then looked back at Elijah, who was letting out a look of disbelief at everything he had done.
"I'm not sure what this box is, Elijah. There are too many complicated runes, so it will be a long time before we know what kind of box we just found."
Elijah wanted to force Quirin to tell him everything. But with his nature, Elijah was not sure Quirin would do what he wanted. Elijah stopped asking Quirin after that. However, what Elijah did not expect was that Quirin would use the opportunity to question him back.
"Elijah, why haven't you ever told me that you're actually that strong? Whether it's an ability that looks like curse magic or an ability that can make your sword pierce through the enemy's hard armor, I think both are good skills. Though I've never heard of such an ability in this world."
Elijah looked at Quirin. And from his expression alone, Elijah could tell that Quirin had another meaning to what he had just said.
"Perhaps, you can access skills that ordinary people cannot obtain?"
"Quirin!"
Just as Quirin finished asking Elijah, several people led by a red-haired female mage entered from the exit in the room. The red-haired woman stared in surprise at the giant levitating box in the room. But upon seeing Quirin, the woman immediately remembered her mission again and approached Quirin, who was talking to Elijah.
"Quirin, we have received a report from Gazel, a first-year magic special class student who is also part of your team. Good job on completing the exploration of the Latham Ruins. From here on, the academy will take over the research for this unknown object."
Apparently, Gazel had managed to arrive safely at the academy and reported what had happened during the exploration mission at the Latham Ruins. Quirin nodded in obedience to the academy's orders. "In that case, I will take my team members back to the academy," he informed her.
When Elijah saw Quirin obediently willing to relinquish responsibility for the mysterious object they had found, Elijah could not help but feel suspicious deep in his heart. Elijah was certain that Quirin had a special interest in the mysterious object. To just let it go like that ... that didn't seem like the Quirin he knew.
"Elijah? What are you contemplating like that? The Academy has asked us to return. Our mission has been completed for now."
Elijah listened to Quirin's words and decided to let the matter go for now. Elijah was following Quirin to look for Damian and Henrik, who were staying in the previous room when the system notified him of the progress of a mission.
DING!
[Side mission: The Lost Legends
1. Enter the Latham Ruins and discover the secrets within. (COMPLETED)
2. Reach the final room in the Latham Ruins. (COMPLETED)
3. Defeated the final boss, the Arkana Knight. (COMPLETED)
4. Secured the mysterious box guarded by the Arkana Knight. (COMPLETED)]
Apparently, letting the academy take over the box can also be considered securing it for the system. The absence of new missions meant that Elijah's mission at the Latham Ruins ended there. Elijah let out a long breath. Although he should have been in the ruins for no more than a day, it felt like days had passed since he first entered the place.
"We're going home?!"
It seemed that the same happiness was felt by Damian as well as Henrik. They were completely relieved when Quirin told them that the mission had been completed and they would be escorted back to the academy right now.
"Oh my. I never thought I would miss class in this way."
Damian said, and Henrik muttered in agreement. Elijah looked at the two people, who were so eager to return, and felt that occasionally taking a break didn't seem bad either.
After going through a real life and death situation while fighting the giant knight, Elijah thought he needed some time off to replenish his energy.