A gentle wind blew over the lush green hills that seemed to stretch all the way to the horizon, where flowers of impossible colors swayed as if they possessed a life of their own. Crystal-clear lakes reflected the sky of the Underworld, creating the illusion of a world reserved for immortals.
In the center of that breathtaking landscape stood the ancient castle of the Häagenti family.
It was a monumental construction in classical European style, with tall and elegant towers, impeccably preserved white stone walls, and details in gold and dark red. The domes gleamed under the light, reflecting it like cut jewels. Hanging gardens, magical fountains that sang soft melodies, and crystal bridges connected the different wings of the palace. All around, lush forests and flowery fields extended as far as the eye could see, forming a scene so magnificent that it seemed to have come from a dream.
Alear stood motionless before the imposing main gate.
"…It's hard to believe this place is still so well preserved. It's probably thanks to the Häagenti family's 'Transmutation,' which managed to keep it practically intact even after decades without anyone even using it…" he murmured, before his expression became more thoughtful. "Actually, the fact that the Belial family never used this castle was also the result of one of my grandfather's schemes. The former Lord Belial was fascinated by alchemy and wanted to acquire these lands precisely to study the knowledge of the Häagenti family stored in the castle's library. My grandfather agreed to the sale but imposed one condition: no one from the Belial family could live here or remain in the castle for any reason other than research. Lord Belial accepted without hesitation… Thinking about it now, he probably regretted that decision later. I doubt he managed to learn much by simply consulting the family library, since the Häagenti family's alchemy is the result of their 'Transmutation' characteristic…"
A faint smile eventually appeared on his lips.
"…With that, it's quite obvious that the Häagenti family was blessed with extraordinary leaders. My grandfather did everything he could to protect my father, including selling the 'Palace of the Great President.' My father sacrificed the rest of his own life to preserve our lineage. And before them, my great-grandfather and all my ancestors also gave their best to ensure the family continued to exist. Each generation carried that burden as far as they could… Now it's my turn. At the very least, I have the responsibility to rebuild everything they lost and return the Häagenti family to the place that has always belonged to it… as the most powerful in the entire Underworld."
"Reclaiming the family's former territories, like this one, was the second step of my plan. The first has already been completed: building a solid network of political allies and consolidating an influence far superior to that of any other family. Now, all that remains is the next stage…" His eyes slowly swept over the castle's imposing presence. "As had been decided earlier, following Serafall's suggestion, sooner or later I will officially present myself to the high society of the Underworld. Before that day comes, I will move into this castle. Then I will hold a grand banquet and invite all the noble families. It will be the perfect opportunity to announce that the Häagenti family has finally reclaimed the place that has always belonged to it…"
With that thought in mind, Alear took a deep breath and began walking along the main path, crossing the impeccably preserved gardens. As he approached the entrance, the castle's enormous doors opened by themselves upon recognizing his lineage, as if the palace itself were welcoming back the heir of the Häagenti family after decades of waiting.
Alear entered.
The interior was even more impressive than he had imagined. Spacious halls supported by imposing marble columns, enchanted chandeliers that floated gently beneath the ceiling, ancient tapestries depicting the most glorious moments in the Häagenti family's history, and corridors that seemed to stretch infinitely composed the grandeur of the old residence. Following the magical map prepared by his subordinates during the palace inspection, he advanced toward the secret vault, descending hidden staircases and crossing successive magical barriers that dissolved automatically upon recognizing his blood.
Finally, he reached the depths of the castle, where a gigantic metal door, covered in intricate magical circles and symbols, stood silently waiting for him.
The 'secret vault.'
Without hesitation, he brought his hand to the wall beside the door, where a small magical authentication circle was carefully hidden among the inscriptions. With the nail of his thumb, he made a small cut on the tip of his finger and let a single drop of blood fall onto the center of the seal.
The instant the blood touched the circle, the entire mechanism reacted. The magical lines spread like luminous roots, illuminating every symbol engraved on the door with an intense pinkish-red glow. A deep metallic sound echoed through the depths of the castle as dozens of ancient mechanisms began moving simultaneously. The countless magical locks were deactivated one after another until, finally, the gigantic door began to open slowly.
An ancient wind escaped from within.
Alear crossed the threshold.
"…"
Even someone accustomed to dealing with wealth on a daily basis like him remained silent for a few moments.
The interior of the vault was colossal.
Its size easily surpassed the equivalent of five football stadiums, forming a true underground city built exclusively to store the fortune accumulated by the Häagenti family over thousands of years. Mountains of gold coins occupied entire sections of the hall, reflecting the light of the magical lamps installed on the ceiling. Hundreds of display cases protected by barriers exhibited various items. In other areas, enormous shelves held complete suits of armor, swords, spears, axes, halberds, bows, crossbows, and countless weapons from different eras, all carefully preserved as if they had been forged the day before.
However, all that treasure simply vanished from Alear's perception the moment his eyes reached the center of the vault. There, upon a wide circular pedestal of black stone, stood a single sword embedded in an enormous block of rock.
The long silver blade displayed a cold metallic shine, but in its center, a crimson groove ran along the entire length of the sword, as if a river of demonic energy flowed continuously through its interior. Fine dark cracks spread across the surface of the metal, resembling veins of blood. Ancient runes were engraved along the blade, emitting a discreet red glow that reinforced its supernatural appearance. The guard had a wide and aggressive shape, composed of black steel and darkened gold, with curved ends that resembled demonic horns. In the center, a demonic head sculpted in metal stared at any observer with ruby eyes encrusted with gems, conveying the unsettling impression of being alive. The hilt was wrapped in dark blue interlaced leather, while golden details ran across the entire grip to the pommel, where another large blood-red jewel radiated intense demonic power.
Beside the pedestal rested its sheath, as luxurious as the sword itself. Covered in deep blue and dark red tones, it was ornamented with golden filigree, ruby gems, and demonic symbols engraved across its entire surface.
A dormant memory immediately surfaced in his mind.
"…Merodach."
The most powerful demonic sword ever created.
In his previous life, when he was still part of Chaldea, he had only one opportunity to contemplate it. It was during a banquet held after the resolution of a Singularity, when Gilgamesh had drunk far too much and, driven by his characteristic pride, began displaying and commenting on the greatest treasures stored in his King's Treasury. On that occasion, [Merodach] had been presented as one of the jewels of his collection, the prototype of all swords destined to choose a king…
He had never imagined that, in this world, [Merodach] would have a completely different origin.
Just as in his previous life, in this world it was also known as the Original Sin. However, it had been forged by the First Häagenti during the Great War, gathering practically all the knowledge of his era to create a weapon worthy of being wielded by Lucifer himself. It was the dark counterpart to this world's [Excalibur], a weapon whose existence directly rivaled the legendary holy sword that, according to history, was eventually destroyed and fragmented into countless pieces. If [Excalibur] symbolized hope, light, and the king chosen by the heavens, [Merodach] represented the power of Hell, the authority of the first Demon King, and the right to rule granted to the sovereign of the underworld. It was not merely a legendary sword… it was the weapon that accompanied Lucifer throughout his life and one of the greatest symbols of the Häagenti family's glory! It was precisely the creation of this sword that elevated the family's prestige to an unprecedented level, being one of the greatest merits that contributed to the Häagenti achieving the title of Archdukes long before many other demonic lineages…
When Lucifer died during the Great War, it was natural that countless demonic families would covet the sword he had wielded. After all, [Merodach] was not just a legendary weapon, but one of the greatest symbols of the first Demon King. However, while still alive, Lucifer had made an agreement with the Häagenti family: if he died, the sword would return to its creators. Thus, [Merodach] was returned to the Häagenti family by someone trusted by the King and was practically considered lost to all the demonic families, remaining sealed in the family's secret vault ever since…
Alear walked slowly toward the central pedestal. He stopped before the sword embedded in the rock and observed it in silence for a few seconds. He extended his hand, grasped the hilt, and with a single firm movement, pulled the sword upward.
Clang!
The stone that imprisoned it offered only brief resistance before fully releasing the blade. A crystalline metallic sound echoed throughout the gigantic vault as a torrent of blackish-red Demonic Power spread through the environment.
Alear casually spun the sword before holding it horizontally in front of his eyes.
The blade reflected his face perfectly.
"…Not bad at all." A small smile appeared on his lips. "The balance is practically perfect… The weight distribution as well. Even when compared to the best Noble Phantasms I saw in my previous life, it loses absolutely nothing. I was also in need of a weapon at this level… Until now, I haven't had the opportunity to use my sword skills…"
Without delay, he picked up the ornate sheath and brought it close to the blade.
Shing.
As soon as [Merodach] was sheathed, the entire oppressive aura disappeared instantly, as if it had never existed.
In the next instant, both the sword and its sheath vanished in a slight spatial distortion, stored directly in his 'inventory.' Without wasting any more time, Alear continued walking through the gigantic vault. Now that he had obtained the main objective of his visit, he began to carefully examine the rest of the legacy left by his ancestors, storing everything that interested him in his 'inventory.'
It was then that his steps stopped in front of a large reinforced crystal display case.
Inside it rested a complete suit of armor.
"…Hoh?"
Alear approached slowly.
Before him lay a full plate armor, forged from a silvery metal with an impeccable shine that resembled pure silver, yet whose resistance far surpassed any common alloy. Its design was elegant and imposing at the same time, without any unnecessary excess. The plates were perfectly fitted to one another, providing total protection without compromising the user's mobility. The breastplate had clean and refined lines, while the broad shoulders were adorned with ornamental reliefs that conveyed the authority of a sovereign. The raised collar partially enveloped the neck, reinforcing the armor's imposing presence. A long white cape attached to the shoulders completed the set, giving it the appearance worthy of a king or a supreme commander on the battlefield.
This had been the ceremonial armor used by successive heads of the Häagenti family and, during the Great War, it was also worn by the First Häagenti in numerous battles alongside Lucifer. Despite its refined appearance, it was one of the most resistant demonic armors ever produced, built to withstand even attacks from a God.
With a simple gesture, Alear dispelled the barrier protecting the display case.
He carefully removed the armor and observed it for a few moments.
"…This isn't bad either."
Shortly afterward, the armor was stored in his Inventory, and he moved on. After about two hours searching the place, he had already gathered everything he considered necessary. Satisfied with the result, he left the secret vault and headed to his next destination…
_______________
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