I'll also work hard to conquer the dungeon today.

Chapter 741, Sections 2.7 and 26: La Somésmia: The Crown

The heavy stone door was slowly pushed open, and the rumbling sound was the only music at that moment.

Noyce stood before the stone door and looked into the stone chamber. An ancient sword was stuck in the stone, emitting a golden light, which was also the only source of light in the dark stone chamber.

He involuntarily took two steps forward, his thin lips moving slightly but he didn't say anything.

He started frantically rummaging through his pockets, turning them left and right, and finally found the map in his pants pocket.

After comparing them repeatedly, Noyce finally confirmed that this was the sword he was looking for, the legendary sword of the hero.

At this moment, all he had to do was step forward and draw his sword.

“Mingxi, I’ve found it,” Noyce said softly.

After searching for so long, he finally found it.

But why does it feel a little unreal?

Mingxi, no, it should be Mingjin. He walked to Noyce's side, looked at the glowing sword in the stone, and raised an eyebrow slightly.

Simplicity to the extreme is classic. Apart from the fact that it glows, Ming Jin really couldn't associate this sword with the legendary sword of the hero.

This is an extremely ordinary-looking sword that, if it doesn't glow, would be left lying on the ground and no one would pick it up.

In other words, if you randomly throw it among a bunch of swords, you wouldn't even be able to find it if it didn't glow; it's extremely simple.

Compared to the appearance of this sword, Ling Tong's sword is truly magnificent and beautiful.

I wonder which sword is more powerful, this one or Ling Tong's.

Although it doesn't have the title of "Sword of the Warrior," Ling Tong's sword was ridiculously expensive to make, and the materials were extremely rare. To this day, no one has been able to replicate it.

"I think I prefer Ling Tong's." Ming Jin blurted out her true feelings without realizing it.

Noyce looked at Mingjin with a complicated expression. He seemed to want to say something, but in the end, he said nothing.

My excitement was instantly ruined by his words, and the atmosphere vanished completely.

“I’m going to draw my sword,” Noyce said, then walked toward the sword.

He stood before the sword of the hero, took a deep breath, then reached out and grasped the hilt, feeling the texture in his hand, and slowly pulled it out.

The flickering light illuminated Noyce's handsome face, making his beautiful dark purple eyes seem to truly glow.

“I’m very happy, I feel a sense of joy that I’ve finally achieved my goal,” Noyce said.

Ming Jin snorted and said cryptically, "Is that so?"

Noyce turned to look at Mingjin, who was backlit, and asked, "Setting a goal, going through many hardships, and finally achieving it—isn't that a feeling of joy and happiness?"

Ming Jin sighed deeply, then suddenly spoke up, "Noyce, have I ever told you that you're annoying?"

“No.” Noyce shook her head, her dark purple eyes filled with a hint of doubt.

"Now you've heard it."

"what?"

“I mean, I’ve hated you from the first time I saw you.” Ming Jin said slowly, her lake-blue eyes fixed on Noyce.

“That’s a bit of a surprise,” Noyce said. “I thought we got along pretty well.”

Ming Jin paused for a moment, "Your understanding is not wrong. After all, we have never been enemies, but we are only at the very least. Peaceful coexistence is just a matter of not having any conflict of interest. Moreover, teamwork is also very important this time."

He just felt it was a pity.

"I hate you because of who you are, at least you're completely different from me." It's rare for him to encounter such a bright and pure person one day. He didn't believe it when Daolin first told him this, but now he does.

Because of his purity, he is completely different from someone like him who is good at scheming and plotting. Compared to him, he seems particularly sinister.

That's why he disliked Noyce, and it wasn't just that. "Why are you so fixated on this sword? Your title is Hero; does that mean you're not a hero without this sword?"

Ming Jin didn't understand the point of Noyce's actions. If it was just about becoming powerful, there were other weapons that could rival it. At least Ling Tong's sword was forged.

“Noyce, what do you really want?” Mingjin asked again.

Noyce pursed his thin lips and remained silent for a long time.

He seemed to be thinking or daydreaming. Just when Ming Jin thought that Noyce would not answer him and was about to turn around and leave, she heard Noyce's slightly disappointed voice slowly coming over.

"Because I am an unworthy hero, the title is nothing but an illusion. Without this sword, I am nothing, just a failed ordinary person. Just like you said, you hate me, and I hate myself too. I am very insecure, and even though I have feelings for her, I dare not show them at all. I am a coward."

"I'm not so much obsessed with it as I'm obsessed with power, obsessed with a false recognition from the outside world. It makes me think that I at least deserve the title of hero. After all... even the Sword of Heroes has acknowledged me, so no one will say that I'm not a hero anymore."

He tried to force a smile, but ultimately gave up because he simply didn't feel like laughing.

Noyce lowered her head, her grip on the Hero's Sword tightening slightly. "Only now, with this sword in my hand, do I truly feel needed, for my failed past..."

"I'm so envious... so envious that you can openly express your feelings." He murmured softly, his tone filled with undisguised envy and disappointment.

“There’s no need to envy me.” Ming Jin twitched the corner of his mouth. He turned around, his back to Noyce, and stood facing the light, while his back was shrouded in darkness.

"I am a person with no future."

For him, simply surviving was nothing but a luxury.

There's no need to envy someone like him. He's the one who should be envying others.

I envy them for being alive.

"It's almost time," Mingjin reminded him.

"I understand." Noyce nodded and walked towards the cave entrance.

As he reached the cave entrance, he suddenly paused. The light faintly illuminated his handsome face, but his body remained in darkness.

“Mingxi…no! It should be…Mingjin. Can you see my future?” Noyce looked at Mingjin beside her and asked softly.

"I saw it." Ming Jin paused for a moment, then nodded at him.

His dark purple eyes narrowed slightly, and his voice was so soft it seemed it would dissipate with a gust of wind, "Have I been remembered?"

“I’ve been remembered.” Ming Jin looked back at Noyce earnestly and said.

"That's good...that's good...this is enough." Noyce murmured softly, as if something had been put down in her heart.

He slowly raised his head, chuckled softly in the light.

"Mingjin, I'm setting off."

Mingjin watched as Noyce walked toward the light, while he remained standing at the cave entrance, with unfathomable darkness behind him.

"Go, hero," he said softly.

Go save the world.

"I should... finish what I need to do..."

Sorry for the wait, I've updated.

This chapter was added at the last minute, so it's a bit slow.

I originally planned to write the story of Shui Qi's theft of the beams and pillars directly, but I added it at the last minute to make Noyce's character more vivid.

This is a very important chapter for the later plot of this dungeon; it can also be seen as foreshadowing and metaphor.

(End of this chapter)