Chapter 448: Chapter 447 - The Ancient Site!

The atmosphere surrounding the group gradually shifted as Adrian took the lead and guided everyone deeper through the uneven terrain beyond the cliffs. The excitement that had filled the Hero Research Club earlier slowly settled into focused anticipation while the members followed carefully behind him, their footsteps crunching softly against gravel and dry earth beneath the bright afternoon sky.

The region itself felt strangely isolated.

Jagged stone formations stretched across the landscape while patches of dense forest surrounded the rocky terrain in irregular patterns. Occasionally, the wind swept through the cliffs with a low echoing sound, carrying dust and the scent of old stone through the air as the group continued forward.

Luca walked near the middle of the formation beside Sylthara and Eric, his crimson eyes quietly observing the surroundings while the senior year students kept talking with Adrian , there not much seen club president.

At first glance—

Nothing about the place appeared extraordinary.

And yet—

The further they walked, the more Luca began noticing subtle irregularities in the terrain itself.

Ancient cracks within certain stones.

Artificially cut edges hidden beneath moss.

Fragments of faded markings barely visible across weathered rock surfaces.

Very old.

Old enough that ordinary people would easily overlook them.

Which only increased his curiosity.

Meanwhile, ahead of the group, Adrian suddenly slowed his pace slightly before glancing sideways toward Luca.

Golden eyes examined him briefly.

Then a faint smile appeared on the senior’s face.

"So," Adrian began casually, "this is the junior I’ve been hearing so much about lately."

The moment those words were spoken—

Several club members immediately looked toward Luca with interest while Eric folded his arms proudly like he personally owned Luca’s achievements.

Luca blinked once.

"...I’m slightly concerned about what exactly you’ve been hearing."

Adrian laughed lightly at that.

"Mostly good things," he replied calmly. "A first-year who already reached Core Compression, possesses dual sabers, contracts with a Kunpeng, constantly causes trouble, and somehow ends up involved in unusual incidents every few weeks."

Luca’s expression became completely deadpan.

"...That description became worrying halfway through."

"It became accurate halfway through," Eric corrected immediately.

Even Sylthara quietly nodded in agreement.

Luca sighed.

Adrian chuckled softly before extending a hand toward him casually while continuing to walk.

"Adrian Estrel," he introduced properly. "Though I guess you already know that."

Luca shook his hand politely.

"Luca Valentine."

"Mm."

Adrian observed him briefly before speaking again.

"I’ve also heard your practical combat evaluations are absurd for a first-year."

"That’s exaggerated," Luca answered immediately.

Eric looked offended.

"No it isn’t."

Lilliane nodded quietly.

"Not at all."

Sylthara added calmly—

"You defeated a corrupted wyvern while half-dead."

Luca looked betrayed.

"...Why are all of you against me today?"

The atmosphere around the group lightened slightly after that as several members laughed quietly while continuing through the terrain.

Eventually the conversation drifted naturally toward ordinary academy life.

Adrian asked casually about recent first-year lectures while Eric complained dramatically about how Seraphina’s reinforcement theory classes were becoming more difficult recently.

"That’s because you sleep during half of them," one senior pointed out.

"That is unrelated."

Luca quietly looked away.

Adrian noticed immediately.

"...You sleep during lectures too?"

Before Luca could answer—

Eric pointed at him instantly.

"He used to treat classrooms like dormitories."

"That sounds historically accurate," Adrian admitted thoughtfully.

Luca sighed in defeat while the others laughed lightly around him.

Even Sylthara seemed visibly more relaxed now compared to earlier, occasionally contributing small observations while Lilliane listened quietly beside her.

The atmosphere gradually became easier.

Natural.

Like a group of travelers rather than merely club members.

Eventually, however—

John’s patience finally snapped beneath his own excitement.

"Adrian-senpai!" he exclaimed dramatically while nearly tripping over a rock in his enthusiasm. "Please stop talking about lectures and explain the site already!"

Several members immediately agreed.

"Yes!"

"What exactly did you find?"

"How did you even discover this place?"

Adrian glanced back at the increasingly impatient club members before laughing softly.

"Alright," he said calmly. "I suppose I owe everyone a proper explanation."

The group naturally quieted after that while continuing to follow him deeper into the rocky terrain.

Adrian’s expression grew slightly more serious now.

"A few weeks ago," he began, "I was assigned to assist an academy reconnaissance mission near this region."

Luca listened carefully.

"The mission itself had nothing to do with heroes," Adrian explained. "We were investigating abnormal mana fluctuations reported by nearby settlements."

As he spoke, his golden eyes shifted briefly toward the surrounding cliffs.

"At first," he continued, "everything seemed ordinary. The fluctuations were weak, unstable, and difficult to trace properly."

"But then..."

His voice lowered slightly.

"I noticed something strange."

The atmosphere around the group gradually became more focused.

"Several of the mana signatures here felt... artificial," Adrian explained carefully. "Not modern artificial."

His fingers brushed lightly against one of the rocky walls as they walked.

"Ancient."

Luca’s eyes narrowed faintly.

Adrian continued calmly.

"At first I assumed it was merely leftover ruins from some forgotten civilization. But the deeper I investigated..."

A faint pause followed.

"...the more unusual the traces became."

"What kind of traces?" Sylthara asked quietly.

Adrian looked toward her briefly before answering.

"Heroic inscriptions."

The words immediately changed the atmosphere again.

"Not complete ones," Adrian clarified. "Most are fragmented beyond recognition. However, several symbols and mana structures resemble records preserved from the Hero Era."

Even John became unusually quiet now.

Adrian’s expression remained calm, though clear excitement still lingered beneath it.

"The biggest clue," he continued, "was finding remnants of spatial sealing formations hidden beneath the cliffs ahead."

Luca’s eyes sharpened slightly at that.

Spatial seals.

That was not something ordinary ancient civilizations used casually.

"Those formations," Adrian said, "are extremely similar to protective barriers historically associated with hero-era sanctuaries."

A faint smile appeared on his face afterward.

"And that," he finished calmly, "is why I believe this place is connected to the Heroes of the Past."

The moment Adrian finished explaining his reasoning, the atmosphere among the Hero Research Club changed completely.

What had originally been simple excitement now deepened into genuine anticipation, every member visibly processing the implications of what they had just heard while continuing to follow Adrian through the rocky terrain.

Ancient mana signatures.

Hero-era inscriptions.

Spatial sealing formations.

None of those were ordinary discoveries.

Even the wind sweeping through the cliffs now seemed quieter somehow, as though the entire area carried an invisible weight hidden beneath the surface.

Several senior members immediately began discussing theories among themselves.

"If the seals are still partially active after all this time..."

"...then the place must have been incredibly important."

"But why would it remain hidden for centuries?"

"Maybe the barrier itself concealed it..."

Lilliane listened intently beside Sylthara, her pink eyes filled with fascination while her fingers unconsciously tightened around the strap of her travelling bag.

Meanwhile—

Luca had grown unusually thoughtful.

His crimson eyes carefully scanned the surrounding cliffs once again while his mind rapidly analyzed everything Adrian had mentioned.

Spatial sealing formations...

That alone narrowed possibilities significantly.

Hero-era locations involving spatial barriers were never random ruins.

They usually protected either something important—

Or something dangerous.

But why don’t I remember this place at all...?

That part bothered him most.

Even if the location itself had not appeared directly within the game storyline, traces of something this significant should have existed somewhere within the lore.

Unless—

The site had never been discovered properly in the original timeline.

Or perhaps—

Something had changed.

Again.

Luca’s gaze shifted briefly toward Sylthara walking beside him.

"...Do you know anything about places like this?" he asked quietly.

Sylthara thought for a moment before slowly shaking her head.

"Not yet," she admitted honestly.

Her golden eyes moved thoughtfully across the surrounding terrain.

"Our clans were isolated for centuries," she explained softly. "Because of that, some historical knowledge was preserved better than in human kingdoms..."

A faint pause followed.

"But even then," she continued, "...most records regarding the Hero Era are fragmented."

Luca nodded slightly.

That made sense.

The Hero Era itself existed so far back in history that even major kingdoms possessed incomplete records. Most surviving information came through legends, scattered ruins, ancient relics, or oral traditions preserved by older races.

Sylthara glanced ahead toward the cliffs.

"I may recognize something once we see the actual site," she added quietly. "Especially if there are preserved symbols or inscriptions."

Beside them, several senior members continued discussing increasingly absurd possibilities.

"What if we find a hidden weapon left behind by one of the heroes?"

"What if it’s a secret sanctuary?"

"What if there’s an ancient guardian beast protecting it?"

"What if we all die?"

"That escalated too quickly."

Meanwhile—

John had already completely lost control of himself again.

The vice president stood near Adrian with trembling shoulders, his eyes practically glowing beneath the afternoon sunlight while his entire body radiated overwhelming excitement.

"Heroic inscriptions..." he muttered dramatically. "Ancient seals... hidden sanctuaries..."

His breathing quickened.

"This..."

He slowly raised both hands toward the sky.

"THIS IS EXACTLY WHY THE HERO RESEARCH CLUB EXISTS!"

Several nearby birds immediately flew away in fear.

John suddenly spun toward Adrian with the energy of a man seconds away from spiritual ascension.

"WHERE IS IT?!" he demanded dramatically. "WHERE IS THE SACRED LAND OF THE HEROES?!"

The entire group instinctively looked toward Adrian after that.

And Adrian—

Simply smiled.

A calm, almost amused smile.

Then he stopped walking.

The sudden halt caused everyone else to pause as well.

The wind swept quietly through the rocky terrain around them while Adrian slowly turned back toward the group, golden eyes reflecting faint amusement beneath the afternoon light.

Then—

He spoke.

"...It’s right in front of you."