Otaku Translation: The Amber Sword V3C122

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Chapter 122: From the Lairs – Part 1

The blood of the five-headed basilisk filled several containers, and by the time this was done, word came back from the scouting parties that had been dispatched to locate the lair of the monstrous creature.

The young adventurers had split into six groups, combing through the dense forest in search of their quarry. It was Karglis’s team that struck gold—or rather, scales. About a kilometer away, nestled in a secluded valley, they discovered the lair hidden behind a moss-covered cliff face.

The lair itself lay within a narrow crevice beneath an enormous slanted rock, over a hundred meters long. The explorers descended into the valley, pushing aside thick vines as thick as a man’s arm that hung like curtains from the top of the rock. Beyond them, they uncovered the foul-smelling den of the five-headed basilisk.

Following Brandon’s orders, the scouts refrained from entering the lair immediately and instead sent a messenger back to report their findings. Upon hearing the news, Brandon abandoned his alchemical tools without hesitation and led the rest of the group toward the valley at once.

The journey took them through the heart of the Black Forest, where the seasons seemed to lose their grip the deeper they ventured. Though Tonygel was locked in the dead of winter, with barren trees and biting frost blanketing the land, the air grew warmer as they pressed southward into the forest. By the time they reached the valley, it felt like midsummer. A waterfall cascaded down the far side of the valley, its mist catching the sunlight to form a shimmering white veil that danced in the breeze.

Brandon surveyed the terrain from above before leading the group downward. As the messenger had described, the massive boulder appeared to have broken free from the towering cliffside ages ago. Now, only patches of bare white stone remained visible amidst the thick carpet of green moss and vegetation.

At the base of the valley, near a crystal-clear pool fed by the waterfall, Brandon found Karglis and his team resting. Among them sat Meria, her ankle injured during their descent into the valley. She leaned against a rock beside the water, tended to by a few companions.

Brandon glanced at her briefly—he already knew of this novice cleric—but something caught his eye unintentionally. Her exposed calf was smooth and pale, almost glowing in the dappled light, though her ankle bore a faint red swelling. For a moment, he froze, unable to look away.

He pulled Karglis aside discreetly, tapping the knight’s shoulder plate. “Are you sure she’s… a man?” he whispered under his breath.

Karglis shook his head. “My lord, as stated in the Sacred Texts of Flame, the children of the gods are beyond gender. Once they don the holy robes, what lies beneath matters little.” He smirked, gesturing crudely with his hands—a vulgar habit picked up in the barracks.

Brandon cleared his throat and asked, “So, what you’re saying is… she’s a woman?”

Karglis shrugged. “I never said that. Ever since I met Meria, she’s either worn the sacred robes or dressed as a man. Unless you ask her father or perhaps her wet nurse, no one truly knows the truth.”

“Her father always wanted her to serve the divine path,” Karglis added cryptically.

“That’s not such a bad thing, is it?” Brandon asked, raising an eyebrow.

Karglis offered a sly smile. “Perhaps, my lord. But let us focus on the task at hand. Shall we proceed?”

Brandon nodded, casting one last glance at Meria before signaling for the others to follow him into the valley. Deep within the crevice, concealed in the shadows, lay the lair of the five-headed basilisk.

Though referred to as a crevice, the gap was vast relative to the towering rock above. As Brandon led the way, brushing aside vibrant green vines teeming with life, small lizards scattered in every direction, startled by their approach. Looking up, he marveled at the sheer height of the rock—easily sixteen or seventeen meters tall—and realized the top disappeared into the canopy above. The waterfall spilled over the edge, forming a glittering curtain of water that cast a faint rainbow into the gloom.

“It’s beautiful,” murmured Antietta, whose hand rested lightly in Brandon’s. She gazed at the ethereal colors, feeling a strange sense of calm.

“Beautiful, yes,” Karglis agreed dryly, waving a gauntleted hand in front of his nose. “But it stinks to high heaven.”

A nauseating stench wafted from the depths of the crevice. Peering ahead, the group could see that the fissure stretched deep into the earth, its interior pitch-black and impenetrable.

Brandon drew The Sword of the Earth, its blade gleaming ominously in the dim light. One by one, the others followed suit, the metallic ring of unsheathed weapons echoing around them. Only Kulan lit a torch, its flickering light revealing jagged stones and uneven ground. Shadows stretched long and sinister, like dark threads leading into the unknown.

“There’s a cave down there,” Kulan pointed out, his voice low. “Strange place, isn’t it? Who would’ve thought the five-headed basilisk could find such a spot to nest?”

Brandon spotted it too—a cavernous opening at the deepest part of the fissure, where the ground dipped sharply inward. He imagined the crack must have existed long before the boulder fell, carved by the relentless flow of the mountain stream eroding weaker layers of rock. Over centuries, the water had hollowed out a massive chamber, until the boulder’s fall partially sealed it, leaving only a narrow passage intact.

The geography was indeed peculiar.

With a wave of his hand, Brandon signaled for the group to advance. The stench grew stronger as they neared the entrance. On the rocks above, faded traces of green marked where water once flowed underground. Now, the moss was brittle and lifeless.

The entrance itself was surprisingly large, easily wide enough for the five-headed basilisk to pass through. It didn’t take much imagination to picture how the creatures might have used this space.

Kulan held the torch closer to the opening, but even its light failed to pierce the darkness within. Cinnabar stooped silently, picked up a stone, and tossed it inside.

Thud.

Several seconds passed before the sound of impact echoed back from below.

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, unsure who should descend first.

Finally, Brandon stepped forward, rapping The Sword of the Earth against the rocky frame of the entrance. Turning to Antietta, he said simply, “I’ll go down and check. Wait here.”

“My lord,” Karglis interjected, stepping in front of him. “Let us go first.”

Brandon brushed him aside with a grin. “Don’t be ridiculous. When it comes to grunt work, I’ll gladly send you lot ahead. But when it comes to navigating places like this, you’re still wet behind the ears.”

Then, turning to Fleur, he added, “Fleur, come with me.”

The elder sister of the wild elf twins blinked in surprise, pressing a hand to her chest. “Me?”

She frowned. “I’m an elementalist, my lord.”

“That doesn’t matter,” Brandon replied smoothly. “Or have you forgotten? Cleaning up after battles is your job. Don’t worry—I’ll protect you.”

“…”

---

It seemed Red-Handed Softie’s luck was holding true. The sloping tunnel plunged nearly a hundred meters into the earth, but as soon as Brandon landed at the bottom, his eyes fell upon something extraordinary.

The cavern below was vast and open, clearly serving as the basilisks’ lair. Piles of rotting flesh and bones towered in the darkness, while in another corner, dried branches were stacked neatly. Beneath them, Brandon spied fragments of armor and shattered weapons scattered among the debris.

But none of these mundane treasures held his interest. What truly caught his attention was a metal gauntlet encrusted with fiery red rubies, gleaming faintly in the dim light.

Brandon’s heart quickened. Could it really be…?

As if summoned by his thoughts, Fleur descended gracefully beside him, her massive azure wings fluttering softly before folding away. She scanned the area, her sharp eyes immediately landing on the radiant gauntlet. Yet she said nothing, trusting that Brandon would explain if he wished.

Brandon approached the artifact and lifted it carefully. Instantly, green lines of text scrolled across his vision:

Crimson Blessing, Bahamut’s Grasp

Gauntlet

- Armor +2 Defense

- Fire Shield +5 Defense

- Attacks deal +10% flame damage

Advanced Alchemical Array

Brandon couldn’t suppress a mental cheer. Praise be to Marsha! This was indeed the legendary alchemical gauntlet spoken of in tales.

Though classified merely as a Phantasmal-grade item, it was known in Amber Sword as a “Phantasmal divine artifact”—a clever play on words. It was both a godlike relic among Phantasmal equipment and so rare that it transcended even true divine artifacts, existing only in myth.

To wealthy players, any Phantasmal divine artifact might just be a price tag. Yet, the astronomical sum of thirty thousand yuan it once fetched on trading sites was enough to make ordinary players like Brandon regard it as unattainable.

And yet, here it was—in his hands, no less. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect to stumble upon such a treasure during his very first expedition into the Black Forest. Compared to the five-headed basilisk he’d slain earlier, this felt like finding gold in a pile of dung.

Eager to try it on, Brandon hesitated only when Fleur murmured softly behind him, “Look over there, my lord.”

Turning, his gaze followed hers—and froze.

Nestled atop the circular arrangement of layered branches lay objects that made his breath hitch. They were spherical, snow-white, and roughly the size of coconuts. Dozens of them sat quietly in neat rows, glowing faintly in the darkness.

“Sweet heavens,” Brandon muttered under his breath. “We’ve hit the jackpot.”

Basilisk eggs.

Hundreds of them.

Their value alone could purchase the entirety of Tonygel.

Brandon’s pulse raced. To him, those pristine orbs weren’t just eggs—they were golden treasures waiting to be claimed. Snapping out of his daze, he waved urgently to Fleur.

“Quick! Call the others down here. We need to get these eggs out!”

TLN: The entire third volume has been completely translated. You can read all of it through the links below.

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