Poor Noble Nord’s Adventure

40.2. Return Visit

“The Empress Spider, Arachne… I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere before.”

“Oh, isn’t that probably a type of fabric?”

“Ah, that’s it—Arachne silk. I think it’s imported from the Eastern Continent.”

“They call it ‘silk’ over there, don’t they?”

Nord felt a vague familiarity with the term “Arachne.”

As he racked his brain to recall where he’d heard it, Elisio provided the answer.

“That’s it!” Nord exclaimed, smacking his knee instinctively.

The Arachne silk Nord had heard about was a glossy thread, white or yellowish, with a noble and bewitching sheen.

Its luxurious texture made it highly sought after for evening gowns that adorn women at social events, as well as for smooth undergarments worn close to the skin.

Transported via massive trading caravans from the Eastern Continent across the sea, Arachne silk was already expensive due to shipping costs.

The competition among high-ranking nobles and wealthy merchants drove its price even higher.

There was even a time, during a great storm when most trading ships failed to arrive, when people claimed, “Arachne silk is worth its weight in silver coins.”

Though a coveted treasure for women, Nord’s mother, Maria, and his sister, Hannah, unfortunately, did not own any Arachne silk dresses.

“The name ‘Arachne silk’ comes from a noble long ago who, upon seeing raw silk for the first time, remarked, ‘It’s like Arachne’s thread,’ likening it to the legendary Empress Spider’s silk.”

“Huh, I didn’t know that.”

“It’s a story from ancient times, back when legendary adventurers of the Saintly Treasure rank were still active.”

Hearing the phrase from Elisio made Nord chuckle.

The Saintly Treasure rank referred to adventurers who had ascended beyond the ninth tier, the Holy Gold rank of Orichalcum, to the tenth and final rank, the apex of adventurers.

Known as the Origin and the Pinnacle, these Saintly Gem adventurers were said to hail from the ancient empire that once unified the continent of Ilva.

At that time, as the ancient empire crumbled, Ilva fell into chaos.

Tiny nations sprouted across the land, each claiming to be the empire’s heir, waging war to dominate the continent.

The people were displaced by war, their homes burned, and they fell prey to monsters that grew rampant.

The imperial army, once tasked with defeating such monsters, no longer existed and instead brought harm to the people.

Thus, the continent of Ilva plunged into a dark age.

During this time, the “first adventurers” joined forces, journeying across Ilva to slay monsters.

In time, others followed their example.

Those inspired by their deeds, those saved by them, or those who decided to hunt monsters simply to survive.

Rising from the people, they too called themselves “adventurers,” forming gathering places to aid each other.

By the time kingdoms like Hamil solidified their territories, thanks in part to the adventurers, Ilva had achieved a semblance of stability.

The adventurers’ gathering places evolved, giving birth to the adventurers’ guild.

The rank system still used today was established in those times.

The term “Saintly Treasure” was inspired by the legend that the first adventurers all wore gemstone ornaments.

However, in the history of the adventurers’ guild, no one had reached the tenth rank since those legendary pioneers.

It had been hundreds of years.

“You think I’m lying, don’t you?”

“I know you’re not joking, Elisio, but it’s a bit far-fetched.”

“Still, this was written in an old document stored in the depths of the Academy’s archive. It seems credible to me.”

“Why were you looking at something like that?”

Elisio explained that he found the document while working a part-time job organizing the archive.

“And,” he continued after a brief pause, “the document said the Empress Spider existed back then.”

“Really? What do you mean?”

“The document was pretty deteriorated, so I could only decipher parts of it, but it described the Empress Spider’s features, appearance, and the Arachne silk made from it. This is a copy of that section.”

“Hmm…”

Elisio retrieved a booklet from the shelf alongside the copy.

It detailed the Empress Spider’s traits.

Comparing it with the Legends of Monsters book, Nord noted the similarities.

“So, what are you saying? Creatures like this used to roam Ilva?”

“Well, who knows? There haven’t been sightings for centuries, which is why they’re considered legends. Maybe the first adventurers wiped them out.”

“I hope so.”

Nord turned the page.

The entry on the Empress Spider stated in archaic phrasing, “The Empress is born of fierce wars.”

The Hamil Kingdom fought wars a decade ago and even earlier, major battles both times.

Yet Nord had never heard of an Empress Spider appearing.

Perhaps, as Elisio said, the first adventurers truly eradicated them.

“Oh, we’ve been talking too long. I almost forgot why we’re here.”

“Ah! Right, sorry, I got carried away.”

“No, it was interesting. Anyway, I met with an adventurer named Genius yesterday and ironed out some details…”

“I see… Got it. So…”

Nord shifted the topic back to last night’s meeting with Genius.

By the time their discussion ended, the tea Elisio had brewed had gone completely cold.