"Good call!" Thesaya broke into a bright smile, spun around, and called out, "Mev! Miguel! Bring the crates!"

"Forgive the question, but would it be possible for us to observe the ritual, Agent of the Saint?" Fael asked cautiously as Thesaya passed him.

A ritual, really?

Letting out a chuckle, Ian replied, "As you wish."

"Thank you!" Fael’s eyes lit up as he turned and urgently gestured to the guards.

Meanwhile, Ian glanced at Nasser and tilted his head toward the crates before turning away.

"You stay with the Master. Lily."

He didn’t forget to add that for the girl standing idly nearby.

Soon, the slanted rock cast its shadow over him.

"Alright, wait here. Nasser, once it’s done, hand over the crates immediately," said Thesaya.

"I will, but... why are you the one giving orders, Elder?"

"Because I’m the highest-ranking person here after His Grace. Was that not obvious?"

"Ah, I see."

By then, the others carrying crates had gathered beside the rock. The merchant group had already fallen silent, watching Ian as he stepped forward.

Of course, Ian didn’t spare them a glance. His gaze remained fixed on the shadowed rock.

Unlike in the vision, its moss-covered surface showed no trace of any Mantra circuit or discernible change.

Should be around here.

Recalling what he had seen, Ian stepped forward slowly, unclenching his left hand. The Mantra circuit etched into his palm still shimmered faintly.

Swoosh...

He came to a stop and extended his left hand. The magic pooled in his palm sharpened, and a faint golden shimmer rippled across the moss-covered rock.

It was slightly to the right of where he stood.

Ian casually shifted one step over.

Whoosh—

Centered on the Mantra engraved in his palm, small, indecipherable symbols began to etch themselves into the rock in a widening circle.

"Ah... ahh..."

"Great Platinum Dragon..."

Low gasps rippled through the group. Even Lily, expressionless as ever, couldn’t take her eyes off the forming circuit.

Swoosh....

The pattern only held its full form for a brief moment. Then golden magic surged outward from the central symbol, spreading like liquid paint and engulfing the entire circuit.

It didn’t stop there. The light spread outward, gathering and shaping itself into the form of a door—exactly as Ian had seen in Archeas’ memory.

—You’re pretty skilled at this... Is this what you saw earlier, my friend?

Yog whispered as the tiny symbols along the edges began to glow.

This one’s getting sharper by the minute...

Ian slowly lowered his left hand. The entrance seemed complete.

—Inefficient, perhaps, but stable enough.

Yog added with a chuckle.

It was exactly as Yog said; even after Ian removed his hand, the dragon’s magic forming the doorway continued to ripple like a living veil.

And it called this plain...

Suppressing a laugh, Ian turned back toward the others. They stood there, holding crates, staring at him blankly.

At a slight tilt of his head, Thesaya blinked—and then suddenly rushed forward, as if something were chasing her.

"Calm yourself, Elder," Ian said with a slight frown, but she didn’t respond.

She stepped smoothly beside him, her eyes fixed on the entrance carved into the rock.

"My... It’s beautiful."

A look of pure fascination spread across her face. The golden glow reflected not just in her eyes, but across her expression.

"By Lu Solar..."

"Blessings upon the great Platinum Dragon..."

The others who had come up behind her murmured their awe as well. None of them could take their eyes off the gently undulating curtain of magic.

If the Platinum Dragon saw this, it would probably be mortified.

"If you’re done staring, get moving. One at a time. Slowly," said Ian.

Thesaya, who had been about to dart forward, paused.

Mev turned to Ian and said, "We’ll follow behind. It’s only proper that Your Grace enters first, as this is a gift meant for you."

"That does make sense," added Nasser.

Ian let out a short chuckle and shook his head. "No. What if I go in first and the door closes behind me?"

"Ah..." Only then did Mev let out a quiet realization.

Thesaya awkwardly cleared her throat and stepped forward. "Then I’ll gladly go first."

Adjusting the crate in both hands, she strode toward the golden doorway, chin slightly raised with confidence.

Without the slightest hesitation, she stepped straight into the veil.

"Ah?" She was instantly shoved back with a short cry, stumbling as if about to fall.

Ian’s eyebrow lifted.

The surface of the magic had rippled as though it had rejected her.

—Seems like no one else can get in.

Thesaya’s face twisted.

"That’s ridiculous!" she muttered, then lunged forward again.

However, nothing changed. The barrier rippled even more violently, flinging her back once more. This time, she landed hard on the ground.

"Ugh..."

"Looks like it really won’t let you through," Ian finally said, his expression souring. At this rate, he’d have to move all those treasures below by himself.

"Why?" Thesaya muttered blankly.

Ian clicked his tongue and looked back at the group. "Let’s at least try it. One at a time. And don’t slam into it like that."

"Yes." Mev nodded calmly and stepped forward.

Still holding her crate, she passed by Thesaya, who was still sitting on the ground.

"Ugh."

The result didn’t change. Mev, too, was pushed back, her brow tightening slightly.

The only difference was the faint ripple of magic that flickered across her armor the moment she touched the barrier. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Nasser stepped forward next, only to be pushed back just as easily.

"The repulsion is quite strong. This won’t work."

A faint trace of draconic magic rippled between the gaps of his armor, likely reacting to the dragon’s blood mixed into his elixir.

With each failed attempt, the crease in Ian’s brow deepened.

At this rate... I really am going to have to carry everything alone.

"Well, if none of you can get in, what makes you think I can?" Miguel muttered awkwardly as Ian’s gaze fell on him last. His steps were hesitant, clearly reluctant.

Standing off to the side with Mev, Nasser offered a small smile. "There’s no need to be afraid. As long as you don’t slam into it like the Elder did, it shouldn’t hurt much."

"That’s not very reassuring." Miguel groaned under his breath, then squeezed his eyes shut and stepped forward.

The moment he touched the golden veil, he tipped forward, as if collapsing, and vanished straight through.

"Wha—" A strangled cry escaped him before he disappeared completely.

Mev and Nasser’s eyes widened.

Even Thesaya, still sitting on the ground, froze in place.

Meanwhile, the magical barrier continued to ripple calmly, as if nothing had happened.

"That’s impossible," Thesaya muttered in disbelief, staring blankly at Ian. "Even I couldn’t get in, and neither could the Redhead... but that Prosthetic went through?"

"His prosthetic has an incantation circuit engraved into it. There’s dragon magic stored inside." Ian answered calmly, one corner of his lips curling upward as he watched the barrier.

Just before Miguel vanished, the golden magic had clearly flared from his arm.

"So that’s why I felt magic from my elixir," Nasser said quietly.

Mev nodded. "I felt it too. Thought I was imagining things. I guess not."

"That’s it! The elixir!" Thesaya suddenly sprang to her feet, practically tossing her crate aside as she thrust both hands out. "Give them to me. If one wasn’t enough, maybe two will work!"

"You?" Nasser frowned.

"Right now?" Mev added, equally doubtful.

However, Thesaya didn’t hesitate. "Yes, right now. What, you don’t trust me? I’ll come right back out and return them, so hand them over!"

"Feels like Mev should be the one trying that, not you." Ian cut in flatly.

Thesaya froze, then whipped around, glaring. "What did you say? You’d rather go in with Redhead than—"

"The crates are heavy. A divine apostle like Mev would be more useful." Ian interrupted, frowning.

Right on cue, Nasser said, "I’ll hand it over at once, my lord."

He had already set his crate down and was loosening the clasp of his breastplate.

Thesaya’s expression twisted even further. "You’re so strict with me, and yet...."

Nasser only gave a small shrug as he removed the chain necklace holding the elixir vial.

Mev, who had already set her crate down, received it with both hands and placed it around her neck, slipping the vial inside her breastplate.

—That redhead’s a careful one. I like it.

Yog snickered.

Thesaya pouted. She had already tried to lunge at Mev, only to be stopped by Ian’s Willful Grasp.

"I’ll try again." Mev picked up her crate and stepped forward.

Thesaya watched her closely, then scoffed.

"I mean, I said it, but it probably won’t work. Even so, just one more vial isn’t going to—" her voice trailed off.

Mev passed straight through the golden veil and vanished.

"No way..." Thesaya muttered blankly.

Ian drew the crate she’d dropped toward him with his Willful Grasp and stepped forward. "Well, at least I won’t be alone. I’ll be back."

Nasser tilted his head slightly as he replied, "Yes. I’ll help move the rest of the crates over there and wait."

Fael and the guards, who had been watching nervously ever since Thesaya was repelled, had already resumed quietly moving crates.

Lily trailed closely behind Fael, while Moro paced back and forth in front of them.

"Wait. Hold on, Ian."

Thesaya’s voice rang out suddenly, just as Ian neared the entrance.

"Come to think of it, your body’s full of incantation circuits, right? Maybe you could draw out some of that magic... or I could just—ride on your back—"

She really is desperate to get in.

Suppressing a faint laugh, Ian stepped straight into the golden veil. They’d already wasted enough time.

Swoosh—

As cool, draconic magic swept over him, Thesaya’s hurried voice faded into the distance.

Unlike before, when it had felt like his body was being stretched like taffy, this time it was more like falling.

Of course, it lasted only an instant.

The next moment, he was stepping out on the other side of the door.

Though a slight dizziness washed over him, Ian regained his balance easily.

Behind him, a soft golden glow rippled. And ahead of him stretched a corridor, its floor and walls smooth like finely polished marble.

—Feels familiar...

Yog whispered.

Ian turned his gaze toward the two figures standing at the far end, then paused.

Ssshhhh...

The golden light behind him was fading. The veil of magic melted into the wall, dissolving now that Ian had passed through.

In its place, a smooth wall engraved with a Mantra circuit remained.

Holding the crate in place with his Willful Grasp, Ian glanced at his left hand.

The Mantra circuit in his palm still pulsed faintly with magic.

Looks like getting out won’t be a problem. Though how many times I’d have to make the trip back and forth is another matter.

Clicking his tongue lightly, Ian took hold of the crate again.

"This place... don’t tell me... it really is?"

A hesitant, trembling voice echoed down the corridor.

It was Mev, standing at the far end with her back to him.

Miguel, beside her, murmured, "So it’s not just me thinking that. O Lu Entre..."

"Looks like you’re both pretty shocked," Ian said as he finally started walking toward them. Even without channeling magic, his voice carried, echoing faintly through the space.

Mev stiffened slightly, while Miguel let out a breathy laugh and turned toward him.

"How could we not be? We came in expecting a treasure vault, and this is what greets us instead."

"Now you understand why I couldn’t just tell you outright." Ian shrugged.

Miguel let out a short, speechless breath.

"Then this really is its nest," Mev turned toward Ian, her voice quiet.

"It was. A very long time ago. These days, it calls it a villa."

And a monument to its embarrassing past.

Ian stepped beside her. This was the Platinum Dragon’s first nest—the place Ian thought of as a circular palace.

"A... villa?" Mev repeated blankly.

The view suddenly opened up before them, revealing a vast space like a grand plaza.

However, Ian’s gaze remained fixed straight ahead, on the massive, imposing platform in the distance, reminiscent of a throne.

"Though this is my first time coming this far."