Chapter 509: The Protagonist
Chapter 509: The Protagonist
Stepping through the Museum's grand entrance, the air around them instantly turned cool. Since Egypt had a dry desert climate, areas not directly exposed to the sun were significantly cooler. This sudden change in temperature invigorated Liam and his companions, making them feel more alert.
After entering the main door, a local security guard wearing a red cap approached, seemingly intending to stop them. However, when Hermione lowered her hood and spoke in English, expressing her desire to visit, he stepped back. Given that Egypt was still under British control, the guard returned to his post upon recognizing them as British.
Perhaps due to the scorching midday heat, or simply because there were few enthusiasts of ancient Egyptian civilization, the museum was completely empty. The dimly lit hall was filled with numerous ancient Egyptian statues, wooden coffins, and even mummies. Unlike in later times when mummies were stored in glass cases, these were displayed openly, giving the entire hall the eerie atmosphere of a large cemetery, sending a chill down their spines.
However, as wizards, Liam and his companions were not afraid, though they instinctively drew their wands. Unlike the typical horror movie scenario, no mummies rose from their coffins. They smoothly made their way through the hall, heading toward what appeared to be an office area.
"There's nothing we're looking for in this part of the museum", Hermione said after they passed through the hall. As someone currently learning to master the Death Law, she could clearly sense that the mummies in the hall were ordinary, not the supernatural variety they sought. "But I did find something interesting."
With that, Hermione turned and waved her wand at a colorfully painted wooden coffin containing a mummy. A man's shrill scream echoed from inside the coffin. Fortunately, the sound was drowned out by the loud crash from the office, which likely saved the man from drawing unwanted attention.
"What the hell?" Liam, wand in hand, approached the coffin from which the scream had come. Peering inside, he found a man dressed in a beige suit, looking rather seedy, pinned under the mummy that Hermione had activated with the Aura of Death. The mummy had taken advantage of the man's scream to stuff its entire arm into his mouth, explaining why Liam had only heard one scream.
"Is hiding in a coffin with a mummy a new trend now?" Liam joked, eyeing the scene. "I only knew that mummy powder was sold in London pharmacies back then."
"It's probably not related to that", Hermione replied as she approached. "It looks more like a prank. Let's release him and ask him what's going on." She waved her wand again, and the mummy released the man. Surprisingly, the man did not immediately jump out of the coffin.
"He seems to have fainted from fright", Liam said after checking the man's nose for a pulse. "Let's get him out first."
Using the Levitation Charm, Liam quickly lifted the man out of the coffin. Then, pointing his wand at the man's face, he cast the Wake-Up Charm. A few seconds later, the man groaned and opened his eyes. He was about to scream again, but Hermione swiftly cast a Silencing Charm. The middle-aged man, now unable to make a sound, stared at Liam and Hermione with a look of terror.
"Alright, we're not here to harm you. We have some questions. If you cooperate, just nod and don't make any noise, or else—" Liam glanced at Hermione, who nodded and waved her wand. All the mummies in the hall were instantly activated, performing sit-ups in their coffins under the control of the Death Law.
This spectacle nearly caused the man to faint again, but when he saw Liam and Hermione pointing their wands at him, he immediately snapped to attention and nodded vigorously.
After the spell was lifted, a few questions revealed the man's story. His name was Jonathan, and he had recently acquired a precious artifact. He wanted to show it to his sister Evelyn, an expert in ancient Egyptian culture, hoping to please her.
"So this is the thing?" Hermione held the Octagonal Copper Box, examining it carefully under the dim light of the torch. "It does have a magical reaction, but it’s not a magic item. Instead, it seems to have been contaminated by something with a magical reaction or from a dimension rich in magic."
"But it’s definitely a good find", Liam said, inspecting the box. As someone with extensive knowledge of mechanics, he quickly spotted the trap. He gently flipped a protruding part on the side, and the lid opened like a flower, revealing a small piece of papyrus folded inside.
"Let me see, this looks like a map", Hermione said, leaning in. "Ha... Hamunaptra? The map shows the way to Hamunaptra, but the question is, where is Hamunaptra?"
"Hamunaptra, you mean the City of the Dead? It’s said to be the treasury of the early pharaohs!" A young woman’s voice came from behind them. Jonathan tensed up at the sound and shouted, "Evelyn, run, run now!"
"What?" Evelyn was taken aback, but just as she was about to react and flee, Hermione apparated in front of her, blocking her path. With the help of a full-body bind spell, Liam and the others managed to keep the siblings quiet long enough to explain their situation.
"Wizard and Witch", unlike Jonathan, who was trembling with fear, Evelyn seemed incredibly excited. "So magic, this supernatural power of nature, does exist in this world, right? That means the City of the Dead, Hamunaptra, and the Golden Book of the Sun, which contains all the secrets of ancient Egypt, must also exist, right?"
"Well, we’re not entirely sure", Liam said, looking at the hopeful expression on Evelyn’s face. "But because we’re not sure, we came here to try and find the book mentioned in the legends. And now, we’ve found the most important evidence." Liam handed her the map they had just discovered.
"Let me see, the decorations on the monument are the royal seals of Seti I, and these inscriptions..." Evelyn went on to explain a lot of highly technical archaeological terms. Liam realized he understood less than a tenth of what she was saying. He glanced at Hermione, who also had a blank look on her face, clearly as lost as he was.
"Who is Seti I?" Jonathan asked, breaking the silence.
"The second pharaoh of the Nineteenth Dynasty of Ancient Egypt. During his reign, ancient Egypt defeated neighboring countries and maintained a powerful empire", Evelyn said, looking at her brother with a mix of frustration and disappointment. "You’re such a disappointment to our parents. I can’t believe you haven’t inherited any of their strengths."
"Don’t say that, my dear sister", Jonathan said with a grin. "At least I know there’s a fortune in gold and jewelry inside Hamunaptra."
"We have no interest in the jewelry", Liam said, and it was the truth. Liam might be lacking in other things, but not in worldly wealth. Apart from the countless treasures he had acquired from various adventures in different worlds, his realms in other worlds continuously supplied him with wealth. "But as a wizard, we are very interested in the books that record the ancient Egyptian magic."
"In that case, let’s organize an expedition and set out!" Evelyn said happily.
(End of Chapter)
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