Walking in the Question and Answer System of Heroic Spirits

[Graf: "Hey, hey, hey, don't take that seriously. It was just me joking around when I was drunk. If you wanted to commit suicide, there are many better ways than that."]

Fiore: "Judging from his expression, he really does have a way."

Lion Jie Li: "But as I said, it's a one-way street. You can go down, but you can't come up."

Kenneth: "Indeed, it's suicidal."

The Second Lord stepped forward and said, "...Tomorrow, the Grand Order Decision will be held in the Ancient Heart."

【"ha?"】

Graf paused for a moment, then said, "Those classes that can't reach the root of the problem and mistakenly believe they've uncovered the secrets of this mysterious entity—let them be. Let them be as depraved and disruptive as they want; it's none of my business."

"I'm telling you, the reason I'm willing to spend the rest of my life in Albion is because I'm utterly fed up with that incredibly boring struggle."

"Then, you'll be content with this!"

[Luviadya tossed the other man a necklace inlaid with high-quality gemstones. The old man picked it up, examined it for a moment, and then put it back.]

"Okay...you think I'd answer like that! This stuff is completely useless underground, you can't get any money from it! Even if you use it as a magic catalyst, it's tainted with too many Edelfelt characteristics!"

Luvia curled her lip: "Tsk..."

Rin Tohsaka: "Haha, it seems money doesn't work here."

For some reason, seeing Luvia get the short end of the stick made her feel a sense of satisfaction.

"I said, old man..."

[Fruga was about to offer further advice, but the Second King interrupted him, bowing deeply to Graf.]

[Grav: "...I said, what is this?"]

The Second Prince bowed his head and said sincerely, "I have nothing to repay you with. It is indeed a bit arrogant of me to suddenly come to your door and make such a request. But this is all I can do."

Graf said with a strange expression, "I say, hasn't anyone else told you that a monarch must not easily bow his head?"

[Second Generation: "Indeed, I've been told this countless times, and I have countless memories of being harshly criticized. I've also been warned by people I respect that I would tarnish history."]

"You're absolutely right. I'm utterly unworthy of a monarch's position. Even now, I'm a fool who could only come up with this one solution."

[Grav: "...Instead of wasting time in a place like this, bowing down and begging an old geezer, even if it's suicidal, wouldn't it be better to rush into the maze? Don't you think so?"]

"Because Mr. Furuka brought me here."

The Second King said solemnly, “Although my connection with him is short, it is deep enough. Since he has determined that he needs your help to cross the maze, I will respect that decision.”

Kenneth: "For a monarch to bow to a mere magician... Velvet!"

Weber: "Ahem, teacher, this has nothing to do with me... Besides, given the situation in the video, that was the only thing that could be done."

Feng Xi: "Alright, it's just a bow, why such a big reaction?"

Feng Xi: "After all, you can't offer any compensation, so you're just making people work for free."

Kenneth: "Gulp..."

Graf paused for a moment, then said helplessly, "...You have good judgment, you young monarch truly have good judgment. As the monarch of the Clock Tower, you actually bow down to me..."

"Hey, disciple."

[Fruika: "What, old man?"]

[Grav: "If it's just about continuously delving deeper into the Grand Magic Circuit, there are indeed ways to do it. But I never said... that it could be done while still alive. Are you prepared for that?"]

Furuka seemed unsurprised, shrugging and saying, "That's just how the request is; there's nothing we can do about it."

[Grav: "A commission...haha, a commission, huh? My disciple really sold his life for nothing."]

Rin Tohsaka: "What did he mean by that?"

Tokiomi Tohsaka: "I'm afraid so. That passage is not safe, and there's a good chance something might happen."

Lion's Robbery Jie Li: "After all, it's Albion. There's no such thing as an absolutely safe place."

[Grav: "So, have you prepared all the equipment for everyone's exploration? Let me check. Since you came here, you should have brought it, you foolish disciple."]

[Fruika: "Yes, yes, I brought the tools I used when I was exploring dungeons before."]

"Bring it here."

Graf glanced at the contents of the bag Furuga handed him, rolled his eyes, and said, "Are you an idiot? These are all old, unused items that have been sitting around for ages. Do you want to die?"

"Alright, you'll wait here for thirty minutes."

[Qingxuan: "Thirty minutes! Didn't Mr. Furuka say we only have less than twenty-two hours left?!"]

"Just wait thirty minutes, and I can save you half a day. Go ahead and wet the ground with tears of gratitude."

Graf glanced at him, then slowly stood up and walked out.

Although Qingxuan and Luvia were unhappy, they could only suppress their feelings seeing that everyone else was choosing to wait.

Koles: "This Fuluga is unreliable too."

Knowing full well that they were coming to a dangerous place like Albion, they brought a bunch of old stuff.

Fiore: "No, he probably meant to get the teacher to make new purchases."

When Graf returned, it was exactly thirty minutes later. Could that old man have timed his return perfectly?

[Glav: "Oh, so you didn't run away, you all stayed."]

[Qingxuan: "Hey! You!"]

Graf ignored Qingxuan, adjusted the woven basket on his back, and said, "Alright, come with me."

Having said this, the old man turned and left, and the crowd immediately got up and chased after him.

Graf also applied an "enhancement" while walking, making him almost as fast as if he were riding the wind, and soon arrived at the foot of the low hills outside the town.

This was a desolate area, almost devoid of vegetation, not far from the mountain where the Second Prince and his party had disembarked.

Grey discovered that the cracked ground of the hills looked like dragon scales.

[It feels like this is where the tail of the deceased dragon truly begins.]

"We'll probably enter from the usual route; this area is suitable."

Graf unloaded his woven basket and called out, "Hey, you cultivator over there, how many steps would it take you to leap to the top of that hill?"

【"ah?"】

Qingxuan was taken aback at first, then looked at the hill the old man was pointing to and said, "Two steps."

Having said that, he spread his single arm and took flight, like the wings of a giant raven covered in feathers.

He said it required two steps because you needed to land and push off again while crossing the hill.

Even so, it easily leaped to the top of the hill in less than a second.

[Grav: "That's right, this is the Tengu Flying Slash technique, isn't it?"]

[Qingxuan: "That's right. This is the only move that even my dad has praised me for."]

[Graf: "Very convenient. When exploring Albion, try to occupy the highest points possible."]

Rin Tohsaka: "Father, what is the Tengu Flying Slash technique?"

Tokiomi Tohsaka: "It is a technique that imitates the tengu, and it is a type of native Japanese magic."

Rin Tohsaka: "A tengu, huh? No wonder black wings appeared earlier."

Tokiomi Tohsaka: "If he hadn't lost an arm, he probably could have flown into the sky instead of gliding on his feet."

[Grav: "Did you sacrifice your arm to magic? It looks like it was recently broken."]

Qingxuan glanced at Gray and said helplessly, "There's nothing we can do about it. Calculating what's already lost is pointless; I've given up on that kind of thing."

[Grav: "This isn't convenient...it's exposed."]

[Qingxuan: "Huh?"]

[Graf: "Stop talking, roll up your sleeves and show that arm over there."]

Qingxuan reluctantly pulled up his drooping sleeve, unsure of what the other person wanted to do.

Graf stared at the gruesome severed arm for a moment, then gripped it tightly.

[Qingxuan: "Ouch—what are you doing, old man!"]

[Graf: "It'll hurt more later, just bear with it."]

Graf flipped his arm and pressed his palm firmly against the severed arm.

"Aa ...

[Amidst Qingxuan's piercing scream, branches emitting a faint green light suddenly and forcefully extended from his severed arm.]

"That's... the elven root!"

The Second Prince exclaimed in surprise, "There's such a use...?"

The branches stretched out from the severed arm in one breath, sprouting lush leaves, only to wither and fall away in the blink of an eye, leaving only the trunk and branches shaped like arms.

[Qingxuan pressed down on the arm formed from the tree branch with his other hand, awkwardly opening and closing his fingers.]

Chapter 352: A Carefree Old Man, A Cruel Past