“What on earth is this…?” asked Gerald curiously.

“…First off, this place is called Fishgut Cave, and sealed within this stone pillar, is an ancient longsword known as the Fishgut Sword,” explained Old Hughes as he looked at Gerald.

“…The… Fishgut Sword?” asked Gerald, puzzled to hear such an odd name for a longsword.

Following that, Old Hughes retrieved a rolled-up parchment from under his coat. Unrolling it before Gerald, the first image the youth saw was of a handsome, strong man as well as an elderly-looking one standing together in a place that looked strikingly similar to where they currently were… Needless to say, it was depicting both of them in Fishgut Cave!

“…That’s… us?” asked Gerald, fully confused now.

Slowly revealing a wry smile, Hughes then replied “Bingo. It shows both of us standing at this exact spot… You know, when I first found this parchment here and saw its contents, I knew I was destined to lead someone here… And here you are, at long last!”

Naturall