Extra's Descent

"So, yer not gonna let me touch that device of yers?"

"What's in it for me?"

"Stingy, eh? I've seen my fair share of lads like ye."

Brandon leaned back confidently.

A trick to negotiation was to never willingly show your cards.

But if he had to be honest, he didn't want anything from Ironaxe.

He was just curious.

Seeing dwarves from his memories, and seeing them up–close was a different experience.

And in the first place, it wasn't his memories.

Brandon looked at Ironaxe. He seemed to be retrieving something from a chest box.

It was Ironaxe who wanted something from him. And so, he planned on using that to his advantage

For his curiosity about his sunglasses. Or rather, the Mirage Mask, Brandon found it peculiar.

Did he find out the Mirage Mask's secrets?

Truth be told, Brandon only knew the history of the mask. But he had no idea where it actually emerged from.

And seeing that this great technician was so curious about it, the Mirage Mask must've been peculiar to him.

"If ye let me peek into that device of yers, I'll let ye hold onto this."

He tossed something and Brandon caught it. Unclenching his hand to reveal the item, it was a ring.

"What's this?"

"Yer a swordartist, aren't ye?"

Swordartist?

Ironaxe's gaze was on the sword on his waist. It wasn't Brandon's sword.

No.

It was Lumian's sword. The same sword he had used to cut down his arm, before he pushed back his memories.

'I'll take whatever's free.'

It was a good sword. Brandon had come to realize that when he saw how it withstood Lumian's soulflames.

"Nah, I'm not."

Brandon shook his head.

Ironaxed sported a frown.

"Aye?"

"Not yet. I'm a mage trying to learn swordsmanship."

"A mage, eh?"

"But now you've got me curious."

Brandon raised the ring for Ironaxe to see.

"What's this ring for?"

"If ye wear it, and inject mana into it, ye'll feel yer muscles relaxed."

"Oh?"

Interesting.

"Test it out, boy."

At Ironaxe's instructions, Brandon put on the ring. Injecting mana into, the ring began to glow, runic marks suddenly revealed themselves.

Runes….

Just like the mask.

Brandon could now tell where this was going.

Suddenly, just like what Ironaxe had told him, he felt the tension ease off his shoulders.

"Pretty good, aye?"

"Hmm…"

"Try it out, boy."

"Here?"

"Just a light swing."

Brandon nodded his head.

SHIIING—

Unsheathing the blade, he pressed his foot forward and got into a stance, sword up front.

Suddenly, Ironaxe's voice reached his ear.

"I can see now why ye ain't a swordsman."

Brandon turned his head and looked at Ironaxe.

"Really?"

"Aye. Your posture's all wrong. Eh, not my problem."

"...."

However, despite his remark, Brandon actually felt light on his feet. He knew he had never formally learned swordsmanship.

He was a mage after all. And the original Brandon Locke was never even a fighter.

Then, he recalled a certain memory again.

—Don't forget, you're no swordsman. Focus on your curse abilities.

"Nah."

Brandon smirked.

'I will not let anyone drag me around anymore.'

Why should he listen to the advice of a failure?

Because they became wiser through their mistakes?

That could be the case.

However, what set it apart from the typical philosophy, was the fact that the other Brandon had never found success.

'If I were to follow all of your advice, wouldn't that just lead me to the same ending as you?'

Gripping the handle tightly, Brandon took a deep breath.

"Hoo…"

Then…

Slash—!

One quick slash. The speed had actually left him stunned. It wasn't as fast as when he still had the lightning affinity. But it was still fast for his standards.

The ring….

"How much is this?"

"Not fer sale."

"Huh? Why?"

"I've abandoned this project."

"I'll buy it off you."

Brandon had come to realize the benefits that the ring entailed. It would help him progress much faster when it came to physical training.

And amazingly, it didn't consume too much mana.

So why did he abandon it?

The gadget was perfect.

"No can do. It may be effective now. But the more ye prolong it's effects, sooner or later, that head of yers will get fried."

"As in…?"

"Gah! It'll fuck up that small human brain of yers."

Human, huh?

How hasn't anyone exposed this guy yet?

Though the thought of his brain frying.

A smile pulled up his lips.

Wasn't he used to his brain getting fried with information by now?

"Doesn't concern me. Name your price."

"Are ye crazy? Or just a fucking idiot?"

"If you let me buy it off you. I'll let you in on a little secret."

"....?"

"It's about these sunglasses. You're curious, right? You must've seen it. The runes and all."

"....Yer right."

Ironaxe seemed to be thinking about his offer.

Shortly after, he opened his mouth.

"Haaa… 20,000,000 credits."

"...."

In other words, 80 gold coins.

"Any discount?"

"No."

He had a trump card up his sleeve. One that would grab the favor of this midget in front of him.

"If you give me fifty percent off, I'll hide your little secret."

"...."

"What's it going to be?"

"Don't know what yer talking about."

"Suit yourself, dwarf."

As soon as those words left Brandon's mouth, Ironaxe scruffed his collar and pulled him close.

With widened eyes, Ironaxe whispered barely audibly.

"How the fuck do ye know that?"

"It's pretty obvious, you know?"

"Aye? I've been here for ten months. Not once have they ever figured out what I am."

"But sooner or later, they will. Now tell me, how did you even make it all the way here."

Ironaxe didn't respond and shook his head.

"Get out."

He seemed rather adamant this time. His face was serious.

"You sure? This will be the last time you'll ever see this mask. I'm the only one in the world who has it."

"Fuck!"

Ironaxed scruffed his hair, then pulled down on his beard. A vein seemed to pop on his forehead.

"Ye little shit. Show me first. Then I'll tell ye."

"Alright."

He could do that at least.

"Close the doors first. Close all the windows as well."

"Aye?"

"Do it."

And Ironaxe did just that. Hurriedly running towards the door and slammed it shut. The curtains all pulled. The light from the sun drained. The only light present were from the furnaces.

Then, Brandon removed his glasses.

"Ugly lad, ain't ya?"

"...."

Brandon gathered mana into the sunglasses. Blue runic marks started to glow, blue light shimmered on their faces.

Then, the glasses distorted, revealing its true form.

The Mirage Mask.

The familiar sight of the white mask with blue runic symbols registered in Brandon's sight.

Raising his head slightly, Ironaxe's eyes shot wide open. His mouth hung agape, and it seemed like the sight had left him breathless.

Shortly after, he spoke.

"This…. This is lost dwarven technology…."