“Our ancestor’s name was Godo, the leader of the ten who first came to this world and founded the Holy Light Forest.”
Guni spoke these words with reverence, and Ye Chui and the others froze, momentarily unable to grasp the meaning of her words. When they realised what she meant, Ye Chui could almost hear a chorus of shocked exclamations in their expressions: Bloody hell, bloody hell, bloody hell…
This adventure to the relic world “Buried Sword Land” had started with thirty-five people, but upon arriving, they discovered ten had inexplicably vanished, including the fat guard Godo and the plump maid Linda. Cass had speculated that a teleportation error sent them into the endless void, never to return.
But now, it seemed that wasn’t the case.
They had met Guni, a native of this relic world, who had told them her people were originally adventurers from the outside world, trapped here for some reason. Now they learned that those adventurers numbered exactly ten, and their leader was Godo. From the armour and physique, there was no doubt this ancestor was Godo!
In other words, “The ten who disappeared during this adventure arrived here centuries earlier, established the Holy Light Forest, and that fat bloke became their leader. The Ancestor’s Remains we’re looking for are that fat bloke!?” Debbie succinctly summed up the situation, her eyes wide as she stared at the armoured corpse standing before the cave. “That fat bloke couldn’t even beat Green’s brick. He was that impressive!?”
Guni didn’t understand what they were talking about but caught Debbie calling her ancestor a “fat bloke”. She instantly bristled like a cat with its tail stepped on, baring her teeth at Debbie, ready to pounce.
Ye Chui quickly stepped between them, saying to Guni, “Don’t be angry. Your ancestor might be our friend…”
Well, in Windrock City, that fat bloke had caused them trouble multiple times, but since they were all swept into this place together, they could loosely be considered friends. It was clear that hot-blooded fatso wasn’t a bad person.
Windsor, piecing things together, pointed at Guni’s pendant, “Guni, was this pendant also left by your ancestor?”
Guni gently cupped the pendant at her chest, explaining, “This was left by Linda, one of the original ten. It was kept beneath the Holy Stone Sword, absorbing its holy light, allowing it to emit light in this mist to protect warriors who come to worship the Ancestor’s Remains.”
Clearly, this was the pendant Lord Kevin, Windsor’s father, had given her, which she later passed to Linda. After arriving here, the ordinary pendant, likely placed under the Holy Stone Sword Guni mentioned, gained its current special properties.
Windsor had been worried about Linda’s safety. Now, learning her loyal maid’s fate, she didn’t know whether to feel relieved or emotional. Tears welled up as she asked Guni, “Linda, was she… was she alright?”
“The elders say Linda passed away around the time her fifth-generation descendant was born. She lived happily in the Holy Light Forest, teaching everyone to grow grains and vegetables, and how to cook. She was the most indispensable of the original ten,” Guni said, looking at Windsor curiously.
Ye Chui and the others thought of the gluttonous maid. Her appetite wasn’t entirely useless after all…
Guni’s next words shocked them again.
“I am a descendant of Ancestor Godo and Linda, their thirteenth-generation descendant,” she said.
The group, once again: “Bloody hell, bloody hell, bloody hell…”
“Godo and Linda got together?” Windsor exclaimed. “And thirteen generations… Guni, how many years have you been living here?”
“Years? What’s that?” Guni asked, puzzled.
This world lacked day-night cycles, rendering time concepts like years, months, or days meaningless.
“Thirteen generations, assuming each generation is about eighteen years, that’s… over two hundred and thirty years,” Cass mused. Eighteen was the typical age for starting a family in their world. As Godo and Linda’s thirteenth-generation descendant, the original ten must have arrived here at least two centuries ago!
“But how could this happen? We all came here together,” Green asked, confused.
“Jiji…” The Valkyrie Jiji suddenly spoke up. Since arriving, she had been standing by Guni, fixated on the pendant, making Guni wary that this glowing woman coveted her treasure. As the others looked at Jiji, she said, “It’s the power of the Goddess, affecting time, jiji.”
“Affecting time?” The group was stunned. Such a power existed?
Jiji, a Valkyrie tasked with guarding the divine realm, was most familiar with the Wealth Goddess. Pointing at Guni’s pendant, she continued, “I can feel the Goddess’s presence in it. The Goddess controls wealth and also has the power of [Eternity], which can affect time… Jiji, it must be the [Eternity] power that caused a time discrepancy for us here.”
“The Wealth Goddess, who shares my name, is that powerful!?” Debbie said, eyes wide. She seemed to recall something, “I remember now. The Wealth Goddess’s full title is actually ‘Goddess of Wealth and Eternity’, but most just call her the Wealth Goddess. Eternity, that’s why!”
Ye Chui glanced at the game interface on his iPad. The truth about the Ancestor’s Remains was clear, so he should have completed the mission, right?
But no completion prompt appeared.
Frowning, Ye Chui approached the armoured corpse at the cave entrance, examining it.
Guni immediately grew wary, gripping her stone sword. The ancestor held a sacred place in the Holy Light Forest’s people, untouchable!
Leisha and Debbie quickly reassured Guni not to act rashly, convincing her that they were companions of her thirteenth-generation ancestor. Meanwhile, Ye Chui reached the Ancestor’s Remains.
Facing away from the dark cave, he felt a chilling aura emanating from it, with faint screams and roars echoing within.
Guni said the ancestor guarded against a demon here, but what was this demon? Ye Chui was more surprised that Godo, who could be knocked down by Jirga with one kick, became the leader of the original ten.
Could that fatso really stop this demon?
Looking at the skeletal face under the armour, with its thick, white beard, Ye Chui imagined Godo guarding here for years. The image of that idiot fatso faded, replaced by respect for this guardian. Regardless of his past, Ancestor Godo was awe-inspiring.
“Hm?” Ye Chui noticed something in Godo’s chest plate. He carefully reached for it, Guni glaring at him like a bristling cat. Fortunately, he didn’t damage the remains and retrieved the item.
It was a piece of beast hide, riddled with holes and fragile but not yet dust.
Warriors from the Holy Light Forest only worshipped Godo’s body, never checking it, so they missed this hide.
Godo had guarded here for two centuries. His armour and body should have decayed, but some force preserved them. Unfolding the hide, Ye Chui saw scrawled text in the common Castro Continent script, written in segments, some neat, some messy, accumulated over years.
“This is from Godo!”
—
**Godo’s Diary**
I don’t know how many years I’ve been trapped here. There’s no day or night, no seasons. This morning, I noticed white hair on my head. I suppose we’ll never leave this place.
Though dangers abound, the Holy Light Forest is safe under the Holy Stone Sword’s protection. We could have lived peacefully, but with my and Linda’s fourth child about to be born, some things must be done.
I’m the leader of the Holy Light Forest, though I only recently realised they chose me because no one wanted this burden. In this dangerous place, the leader takes the blame for any peril. They picked me for that reason, and only Linda took me seriously.
But over the years, my position as leader has grown stable.
I’ve learned what a leader must do.
This world is full of dangers and seals a terrifying demon. When we first found it, I forbade anyone from approaching, marking it a forbidden zone. But Lier secretly contacted the demon, succumbing to its temptation and becoming a monstrous demon. Fortunately, he couldn’t withstand the Holy Stone Sword’s light and fled. But more ferocious beasts have appeared, and food grows scarce. I know it’s Lier’s doing.
As the leader, I must stop him.
I’m Godo Zilt, captain of Windrock City’s third guard team, leader of the Holy Light Forest. For my children, for the forest, I must fight Lier!
I know this is a fight to the death, so I bid farewell to Linda, my children, and my companions in the forest. I set out without regrets.
Holy Stone Sword, grant me strength to slay the demon and save this world!
If adventurers from the Castro Continent read this, remember my name, Godo Zilt.
Prove I existed in this world!
—
I never thought I’d write again. Lier has fully become a terrifying demon. I found him at the Liangshui River’s end, fighting him several times. I thought I’d die, but I survived.
I’m not sure how much longer I can hold on…
—
I’ve held on. In those endless battles, I seem to have grasped some power. Is this beyond a senior swordsman?
Am I now a swordmaster?
—
Recently, I cornered Lier in a cave beneath the Holy Mountain, giving me time to rest and write.
I’ve noticed more white hair and a long beard. The demon’s evil aura has worsened the environment, and food is harder to find, but I must persist.
Have my children grown? Are they healthy?
I likely won’t see them again.
—
I’ve grown stronger, but so has Lier.
—
Today, blocking Lier’s escape from the cave, I was injured. I might die soon.
Gods, if I die, who will guard this place?
—
It’s a miracle. I survived.
And I seem to have become a great swordmaster.
On the Castro Continent, I’d be among the top. I never imagined this, knowing my talent was poor. Becoming a senior swordsman was a stretch, but I’ve come this far, and I want to go further.
For Linda, for my children.
What lies at the end of a swordsman’s path?
In ancient times, people broke the limits of sword aura, grasping the world’s rules, called “Sword Saints”. No one on the Castro Continent has reached that in five thousand years; it’s a myth.
But… I feel I’m touching that threshold.
—
That threshold grows clearer.
But why, if someone like me can reach Sword Saint, has no one on the Castro Continent done so in five thousand years? Is there a seal blocking the world’s rules?
Is it the Church’s doing?
Fortunately, this relic world bypasses that seal.
—
By outside time, I’ve guarded here for about fifty years, haven’t I?
My hair and beard are white, my body aging. Time passes so quickly.
I’m glad today I met a kid from the Holy Light Forest, my grandson. The forest’s people, Linda, and my children are safe. Nothing could be better.
They call me Ancestor.
I’ll continue guarding here. I can’t kill Lier, so I must forever ensure his evil stays contained.
I’ve been thinking of Windrock City, the guard team, and that mischievous Ye Chui. Without him, I wouldn’t be here, but I’m grateful for this chance to be a hero, something I always dreamed of.
If he reads this, please accept my sincerest thanks.
—
Lier has grown stronger, but I no longer fear him.
Today, we fought, and I was injured. We’ve both improved, but I’ve surpassed him. Sadly, my life is nearing its end, while he, a fallen demon, will live on in this pitiful state.
In today’s battle, I fully stepped into the Sword Saint realm.
At that moment, I realised I could break the endless void, return to the Castro Continent, and even gain a longer life. That’s the Sword Saint’s realm.
But… what about the Holy Light Forest’s people?
A warrior who visited recently told me Linda passed away peacefully in her sleep. But my descendants and those of my companions remain.
So, at the last moment, I chose to stay.
I traded my chance at Sword Saint status. From today, my soul will forever guard here. I swear an oath.
Until Lier is vanquished, my soul will stand watch.
Lier, old friend, it’s getting restless again, howling.
It’s time to set down my pen, likely for the last time.
My final battle awaits.
