《The Swordmaster Who Returned After 1,000 Years》 Chapter 1 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 1 Sword Saint Ernstine. The Grand Sword Master, who was the first to unify the continent, muttered as he looked into the mirror. ¡°...What in the world is this?¡± His vacant eyes had lost their light. His cheeks sagged, swollen with fat, and his body was grotesquely oversized, as if it might burst. His neck was so thick it nearly matched the size of his face.No?v(el)B\\jnn Before him stood a man whose excessive weight seemed impossible to control. The appearance of Ernstine, once praised as the most handsome man on the continent even at the age of 50, was nowhere to be found. He pinched his cheek. The pressure from his thick fingers made him grimace instinctively. "This isn¡¯t a dream." What on earth had happened? Just a few days ago, he had been preparing to abdicate the throne. The abdication ceremony came to mind. ¡°Father, are you truly planning to pass the throne to me?¡± At the age of 50, Ernstine had reached the peak of the Grand Sword Master¡¯s realm. Although the citizens of the Empire expected him to govern the unified Empire of Meier for many years, he defied their expectations and handed the throne to the crown prince. ¡°The Meier Empire is a human empire. This is a reasonable length for one¡¯s reign. I shall step back and remain as the Empire¡¯s guardian.¡± ¡°But I am still young and lack experience...¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Am I not here? I will support the Empire you lead to the very end.¡± Declaring himself as the eternal guardian of Meier, he held a grand abdication ceremony and retired to rest. Yet, when he opened his eyes the next day, the world around him had completely changed. Day 1. ¡°Paaaah... Hyoooh... Hoo.¡± His body felt heavy. What in the world... Was it the empress? ¡°Urgh... Ugh...!¡± He tried to sit up. But something obstructed his stomach, preventing him from getting up. ¡°What... What is this?¡± The firm muscles of his abdomen had vanished, replaced by an enormous mass of belly fat. It protruded so much that he couldn¡¯t even lift his upper body. Confused, he rolled to his side for now. Thud! ¡°No...!¡± Even after rolling once, his body crashed to the floor. An excruciating pain shot through his left arm. It was a sensation he hadn¡¯t felt since ascending to the rank of Grand Sword Master. The sudden jolt brought Ernstine to his senses. This Is an Emergency Ernstine attempted to circulate his mana to grasp the situation. However, he felt no trace of mana within his body. His massive frame refused to move as he commanded. ¡°Haa... Hahh...!¡± Even the simple act of getting up from where he had fallen off the bed left him gasping for breath. His body felt unbearably heavy. Even taking a single step was a struggle. ¡°A mirror.¡± The room was dim. Fortunately, the moonlight faintly illuminated the space, allowing him to make out its shape. He staggered toward the nearest mirror. ¡°Who... is this?¡± In the reflection stood someone he had never seen before. Kaylen Starn. Age: 19. Second-year student in the Royal Academy''s Magic Class. Currently residing in the academy dormitory. Two days had passed since Ernstine found himself in Kaylen Starn¡¯s body. At first, he assumed it was merely a dream. He had fallen off the bed, checked the unfamiliar face in the mirror briefly, and then¡ª ¡°Phew... Hup!¡± The third plate was consumed before he even made it back to his seat. ¡°These portions are ridiculous. Just give me a bigger serving.¡± ¡°...Understood.¡± This time, the staff handed him two plates at once, which he greedily inhaled, using both hands. Chomp, chomp. Gulp, gulp. In under ten minutes, he had cleared five plates. By now, Ernstine was growing tired of the repetitive meal. But the body¡¯s owner showed no such signs. ¡°This is just the beginning.¡± Smack! Smack! The man stood up, slapping his belly with his hands. Both his arms and stomach jiggled with the movement. ¡°Two more plates, please~¡± [...For goodness'' sake, stop eating already!] How many plates of the same food had he eaten by now? Ernstine¡¯s silent protest went unheard as the body¡¯s owner devoured his meals with an insatiable hunger. ¡°I think this should do it.¡± After stacking up to twenty plates, he finally seemed to reach some level of satisfaction and got up from his seat. Ernstine let out a sigh of relief. [Phew, even though he¡¯s still hungry, at least he knows when to stop.] Even after eating twenty plates, his stomach wasn¡¯t entirely full. But Ernstine saw a glimmer of self-control in the way he abruptly ended his meal. And then¡ª ¡°I need to save room for lunch. And dinner too.¡± [...] The body¡¯s owner was planning ahead, meticulously. By the end of the day, Ernstine was utterly exasperated. ¡°Huff... Huff...¡± Observing the man throughout the day had been nothing short of pitiful. [Even animals don¡¯t behave like this.] It was a continuous cycle of eating and... relieving himself. Animals would at least stop eating once they were full, but this man seemed to have no limit. The twenty plates at breakfast were, shockingly, an example of his restraint. For lunch and dinner, he entered the cafeteria as soon as it opened and didn¡¯t leave until it closed, eating nonstop. [When you eat that much, it¡¯s no surprise how often you need the restroom...] After overeating, it was no surprise that the body¡¯s owner constantly shuffled in and out of the restroom. Watching it all unfold without filter made Ernstine feel physically nauseous. What was even more unsettling was the man¡¯s stomach. Despite eating so much, it still growled with hunger. [I just want to wake up from this dream already.] He couldn¡¯t bear to witness this pitiful display any longer. He desperately hoped that once the man fell asleep, this grotesque nightmare would end. ¡°Yaaaawn... That salmon... was delicious.¡± After several more trips to the restroom, the man, seemingly satisfied, smacked his lips and carefully laid himself down on the bed. Creak. Creak. The bed groaned ominously under his weight, but he ignored the sound, lost in thoughts about food once again. ¡°Tomorrow, the library menu will be good.¡± As he drifted off, Ernstine silently prayed. [If this is a dream, please let it end now!] However, what unfolded next was not what Ernstine had hoped for. ¡°Ghhk... Ghhhk...¡± The man, who had been snoring loudly moments ago, suddenly began to breathe irregularly. ¡°Ghhk... Guh...¡± [...His airway is blocked!] Ernstine¡¯s heart raced, and his blood pressure spiked as he realized the gravity of the situation. Sharing the body¡¯s sensations, he could tell something was very wrong. [Suffocating in his sleep...?] It was a condition caused by the excessive tissue blocking his airway. The man needed to wake up immediately, but he remained unresponsive, his breathing completely stopped. How much time had passed? The once-frantic heartbeat slowed to a dangerous crawl. Ernstine could feel something fading from the body¡ªa profound, irreversible loss. At that moment, the sensation of reality intensified. ¡°...I can move.¡± The possession-like state he had been trapped in was gone. With the death of the body¡¯s owner, Ernstine had seized control of the massive form. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 2 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 2 ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem to be a dream after all.¡± Ernstine barely managed to lift his massive body. Cold sweat dripped down his entire frame. The sensation was far too vivid to be a mere dream. He now had to act under the assumption that this was reality. ¡°I need to assess the situation.¡± Calming his breathing, he tried to recall the name of this body. As he continued to dig through his fragmented memories, they began piecing together bit by bit. [Kaylen Starn.] [19 years old.] [Second-year student in the Royal Academy¡¯s Magic Class.] [Second Circle.] ¡°A mage, is it?¡± A typical bookworm. No wonder this body was in such poor shape. Another memory surfaced. [Breakfast is always so insufficient. I suppose it¡¯s because this dormitory is mostly for commoners.] [The noble kids all commute from their estates in the capital.] [Ah, I¡¯m jealous. They must get proper meals in the morning.] [If only I hadn¡¯t been born into this family. Why did my ancestor have to belong to the demon family ¡®Meier¡¯?] ¡°...What?¡± At first, Ernstine dismissed it, thinking, ¡®More food-related nonsense,¡¯ but the last memory jolted him awake. ¡°Meier is a demon family?¡± Meier¡ªthe house of the hero who had slain the Demon King¡ªwas a family of demons? It seemed like a mistake, but the memories continued. [That cursed family. They used to be the imperial household, didn¡¯t they?] [Why did they make a pact with the Demon Realm? Idiots. They could¡¯ve just lived comfortably as emperors.] [The first emperor was a Grand Swordmaster, but then he suddenly disappeared...] For a moment, he wondered if this was about another family with the same name. However, as he delved deeper into this body¡¯s memories, it became clear that it wasn¡¯t. ¡°The first emperor, the Grandmaster... That¡¯s me he¡¯s talking about. Disappeared, though?¡± More information was needed. As Ernstine scanned the room, his gaze fell on something. The cluttered desk, covered with books and crumbs, had a crumpled piece of paper atop it. He picked it up and smoothed it out, quickly skimming its contents. What he read left him speechless. [If you fail to reach the Third Circle, you will not be allowed to advance.] [Sacred Year 2787, August 14.] [Bormian Royal Academy, Department of Magical Administration.] ¡°...2787?¡± The year he abdicated the throne to his son had been 1787. 1,000 years had passed since then. ¡°And Bormian? Royal?¡± The name was deeply familiar to him. During the wars, Ernstine had personally discovered a knight from a commoner background bearing that name. His talents were extraordinary, eventually leading him to become a Spear Master and one of the Seven Knights of the Meier Empire, renowned across the lands. "I Need to Confirm This." Among Kaylen''s memories was a list of academy dining halls. One stood out: the library cafeteria. He vividly remembered the way there. Something about, "Thursdays mean library cafeteria~." ¡®That place should also have history books,¡¯ Ernstine thought. He resolved to confirm the truth of the past with his own eyes. A day later. Kaylen, lying on the bed, abruptly sat up. He blinked several times, scanning his surroundings. ¡°...It really isn¡¯t a dream.¡± How he wished it were. What had caused this body to deteriorate into such a wretched state? ¡°...I think I have an idea.¡± Kaylen¡¯s unusual appetite had been troubling Ernstine ever since he realized the boy was his descendant. ¡°Let¡¯s examine the stomach.¡± While the rest of the body lacked mana, the stomach showed a faint concentration of it. It was, in fact, the second most mana-dense area after the heart. Focusing his analysis on the stomach, Kaylen carefully examined the mana concentrated within its walls. As dawn broke, the light of the rising sun began to filter through the room. ¡°As expected.¡± After prolonged concentration, Kaylen finally identified it. The unique mana inherited exclusively by the Meier lineage¡ªgolden, star-shaped mana crystals. Infinity. ¡°Kaylen, you are undoubtedly my descendant.¡± The Meier family had always referred to themselves as the descendants of dragons. This wasn¡¯t merely a claim to establish legitimacy after ascending to royalty. ¡°Every member of the Meier bloodline carries Infinity within them.¡± Infinity¡ªa special crystalline form of mana, passed down to select members of the Meier lineage. Its defining characteristic was simple: limitlessness. There were no boundaries. The mana within Infinity could be drawn upon infinitely. This trait closely resembled the legendary core mana organ of dragons¡ªthe Dragon Heart¡ªwhich led the Meier family to declare themselves the descendants of dragons. ¡°Of course, it doesn¡¯t come without its flaws.¡± Infinity consumed the mana of the body itself. For a knight, it meant that any mana accumulated through training would be devoured. If one infused their body with 100 units of mana, most of it would be consumed by Infinity, leaving less than 20 usable. For knights, who depended on accumulating and preserving mana within their bodies, this was a crippling disadvantage. Thus, the Meier family had earned a reputation for being ¡°persistent but never genius.¡± They could sustain a certain level of mana usage thanks to Infinity, but accumulation remained an impossibility. Of course, this reputation preceded Ernstine¡¯s birth. Having mastered the art of wielding Infinity, Ernstine had risen to become the strongest on the continent. ¡°...But to utilize it, I need to extract it from the stomach.¡± The defining trait of Infinity¡ªits limitlessness¡ªseemed to have extended to the stomach. This constant hunger was enough to drive Kaylen to madness. As long as Infinity remained lodged in his stomach, it would render him helpless. ¡°I think I understand why it¡¯s here now.¡± The Infinity within him was far too small. At this size, it couldn¡¯t develop by merely absorbing ambient mana. A more primal method was required. ¡°Eating.¡± By consuming food, it could extract nutrients and absorb the mana contained within. For an Infinity so tiny¡ªbarely larger than a speck of dust¡ªthis was the only viable approach. But what was optimal for Infinity was disastrous for Kaylen. ¡°To absorb the minuscule mana left in food... it¡¯s killing its host.¡± How much mana could food even contain? To extract that negligible amount, Infinity had driven Kaylen¡¯s body into a perpetual state of hunger. Krrrrrrrk¡ª Even now, his stomach growled loudly, crying out for sustenance. If Kaylen were an ordinary person, he would have succumbed to the body''s pleas and eaten by now. To survive, he needed to transfer Infinity from his stomach to his mana core and cultivate it into its proper size. ¡°Hmm...¡± However, Infinity stubbornly refused to budge. No, it wasn¡¯t just Infinity¡ªit felt as though the mana within his body was entirely blocked, unable to flow. ¡°Is it because this body is that of a mage?¡± Unlike knights, who were adept at manipulating the mana within their bodies, mages were more accustomed to controlling external mana. It wasn¡¯t surprising that Kaylen, as a mage, had not trained in techniques to handle internal mana flow. For someone like him, this process was bound to be slow at the start. But who was he? He was Ernstine, the first Grand Swordmaster in human history. Even if this body belonged to a mage, manipulating mana was still trivial for someone of his caliber. After all, he had achieved mastery over mana in countless forms. ¡°I¡¯ve personally nurtured dozens of Master-Class knights.¡± Even his eldest son, who used to belittle his lack of talent, had reached the pinnacle of Sword Expert by his thirties under Ernstine¡¯s guidance. Kaylen¡¯s confidence in his abilities was unshakable. Yes, that¡¯s what he had believed¡ªup until that day. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 3 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 3 [Tl/N: Ernstine is teaching different people here.] - Bormian, how many times do I have to tell you? - I¡¯m sorry, my lord... He felt guilty. - Hah. How can you not understand this? - Ah, father... - Can¡¯t you feel it just by breathing? The mana flowing in? - ...I¡¯m sorry, father. He felt guilty for all the students he had taught up until now. - Elias. If you don¡¯t even understand this, we won¡¯t make any progress. I¡¯ll inject mana into you, so try to feel the flow. - Understood. And he regretted it. - Your Majesty, a group of orcs has appeared in the Ekiten region. - Your Majesty, the movements of the northern monsters are suspicious. - ...The issues are piling up again. This won¡¯t do. Caius, I¡¯ll inject mana directly into your body, so try to feel the flow. - Yes, father. With no time to spare, he ended up using mana injection as a shortcut for his students. Had he known he would end up in Kaylen¡¯s body, he would never have done it that way. As a result of relying on the simple method of mana injection... ¡°...Mana isn¡¯t coming in.¡± Kaylen was experiencing something he had never felt before. He knew it all in his head. How to move the mana. How to control Infinity. But there was no mana. There was no mana that could be used to move Infinity and open the mana path! ¡®My old body was so good.¡¯ Before possessing Kaylen¡¯s body, Ernstine had the physique of the first Grand Swordmaster in human history. A body that loved mana. Just taking a breath would pull in mana, and even while standing still, the natural energy of the world would gather around him. So, when Ernstine was a child, he thought everyone experienced this. ¡®When I was teaching my subordinates and my son, I knew my body was special.¡¯ But back then, he thought that understanding how to use mana was more important than his physique. In the end, the problems they encountered were not due to the body, but due to the understanding of mana. But now he realized that was not the case. ¡®The body is more important.¡¯ The body is the foundation. First, mana has to come in for anything to be done. Normally, breathing would bring in mana, but this body hardly took in any mana. ¡®Even the small amount that comes in, I have to use it for survival.¡¯ A body that had gained so much weight. In contrast, the mana in the body was severely lacking, so even the small amount of mana that came in through breathing spread through the body for survival. Even if he tried to forcibly gather it and store it in the mana core, his body resisted. First, he had to survive, so his body continued to steal mana. For Kaylen, it was a situation that made him sigh. ¡®The ones I taught... they all had talent.¡¯ They were just less talented compared to the Grand Swordmaster, Ernstine. He shut his eyes to block the sight of the beautiful food. He tried to ignore the taste as much as possible. Instead, he focused on his hearing. He could hear the voices around him. ¡°Ah. Eating with that pig, huh? It¡¯s ruining my appetite.¡± ¡°Oh my. You said you were on a diet, right? Isn¡¯t it perfect? Seeing a pig makes you lose your appetite. Heh heh heh.¡± The usual jeers Kaylen had been ignoring reached his ears. But since he was a 19-year-old young man, perhaps, the "pig" comment from the girls made his appetite slightly falter, and Kaylen welcomed that. ¡®Keep going. Keep insulting me.¡¯ If it could suppress his appetite, he would gladly hear even worse insults. However, the conversation among the girls shifted to another topic. ¡°By the way, what about the Knight Academy guy?¡± ¡°Hmm, not much.¡± ¡°Why? He¡¯s tall, handsome, and in great shape. A short-term relationship wouldn¡¯t be bad, right?¡± ¡°So what? Praising a knight in front of a stuffed Drake is just weird... He¡¯s a total weirdo.¡± ¡®Drake...?¡¯ Kaylen perked up his ears. The Drake, known for its ferocious nature and innate power, was said to be untamable by humans. The one who first tamed it was none other than Ernstine. ¡®That¡¯s why I was called the Dragon Swordmaster.¡¯ Thanks to his power, the Meier Empire, which he founded, established the Dragon Knights and unified the vast continent in just 15 years with remarkable mobility. ¡°Touching the stuffed Drake and praising the founding king like reading a biography... it¡¯s so ridiculous. What century is he living in?¡± ¡°Tch. For the knights, that was the good old days.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s still strange. Even though it¡¯s stuffed, the Drake is still warm.¡± ¡°You too? I¡¯ve been to the Knight Academy to see the dragon. When I touched it, it was warm. If it hadn¡¯t been the founding king¡¯s Drake, they would have dissected it for experiments. Apparently, it¡¯s been like this for a year.¡± ¡°Really? But how did they do it? Does a wizard use a Heat spell every morning or something?¡± ¡°No way. If that were true, the whole rumor would have spread.¡± Despite being stuffed, the Drake¡¯s body was still warm. Kaylen jumped up from his seat. Thud. Thud. Thud. He quickly walked toward the two female students. "Where is the Drake?" "....Huh? What?" Shh... shh... The two girls flinched and pulled their chairs back as Kaylen, with his massive frame, approached menacingly. No matter how much they had jeered from afar, calling him a pig, the pressure of a bear-like figure stomping toward them was no joke. "The warm-bodied Drake. Where is it?" "Oh. In the central plaza of the Knight Academy..." "Thank you." Kaylen nodded in gratitude and left the dining hall. Seeing his sudden departure, the startled girls began whispering again. "Ugh, damn. That was scary." "Wow. I knew he was fat from a distance, but up close, he''s so big it''s terrifying." "Wouldn''t he be more suited to being a knight than a wizard? Looks like he''d be more at home as a meat shield up front." "That shield would cover a lot of ground, but... ugh, He smells. I don''t want to be near him." The whispers reached Kaylen''s ears, but he paid them no mind. The warm Drake, even though it was already dead. Hearing that, something clicked in his mind. ¡®I need to hurry and check it out.¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 4 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 4 Drake. The strongest dragon kin remaining in the midworld after the dragons vanished. It''s tough skin was impervious to spears and swords. When it spreads its wings, its massive body stretches across dozens of meters. Even in close combat, it was troublesome, and Drake could also fly. From the skies, it would create fireballs and shoot them, making it difficult to face even for a knight who had reached the master level. ¡®That guy is quite proud as well.¡¯ When humans began expanding their territories and started taming dragon kin, they were able to tame even wyverns, which were lower in rank than Drake, but not Drake itself. Drake would rather die than be tamed by humans. This was the universal behavior of all Drakes. Not only humans, but no species could dominate a Drake. This was common knowledge. And the one who broke this common knowledge was none other than Ernstine. Kaylen stroked Drake''s wings. Warm skin. Within it, Kaylen felt the unique flow of mana that only he could perceive. To others, it would seem like no difference at all, a subtle flow of mana. ¡®The essence of the Infinity I granted still remains.¡¯ The method Ernstine used to first dominate Drake was to divide his Infinity and grant it to the Drake. With this, the Drake made Infinity its core and served Ernstine as its master. ¡®That''s why you were preserved, even with the heat still remaining.¡¯ Mummification. Normally, it was a method where only the skin remained and everything inside was replaced... But Drake, ''Sky Sphere,'' did not need that. It held Infinity, so it didn''t decay. Even after a thousand years, it remained in its original state with its eyes closed. ¡®But this state won¡¯t last much longer.¡¯ The heat that began a year ago. It was evidence that the once firm Infinity was now trembling. "Come back." As soon as Kaylen finished speaking, heat began to gather in his hands. The small Infinity embedded in Kaylen¡¯s stomach responded. The power of Infinity surged toward him without restraint. Pain like fire ran through his hands and arms. But Kaylen silently endured it. This level of pain. He had experienced it countless times during his time as Ernstine. ¡®I¡¯ll absorb it as much as I can.¡¯ The Infinity embedded in his stomach gradually grew larger. Along with it, the pain intensified. His stomach grew hot, and cold sweat began to drip down his entire body. His mind was holding up, but his body couldn¡¯t keep up. "U-Um... Are you alright?" The soldier who had guided Kaylen asked with an anxious expression. The Drake of the founding king was originally something no one could touch in the kingdom. Only for research purposes, Magic students could with proper permission... But suddenly, Kaylen began to tremble violently and looked like he was on the brink of death, which scared the soldier. "Let''s hurry to the treatment room! You look really unwell!" "Haah... Haah... Alright." Kaylen stepped back. It seemed like today would be enough for him. The piece of Infinity that had been inserted during Ernstine¡¯s time was just a small fragment. But from Kaylen''s perspective, it was far too big to swallow in just one day. "What on earth happened?" "Ah... I just had some trouble breathing." "Is it because you touched Sky Sphere? Did that cause any problems?" "No. What could go wrong from touching it? My hand is perfectly fine." Kaylen opened his palm to show it. "Understood." Kaylen, having heard the precautions from the soldier, reached out toward the Drake¡¯s facial skin. It was hot. Unlike the wings, the heat was distinctly different. The energy of Infinity had gathered at the head. ¡®Specifically, at the horn area.¡¯ Three horns. Ernstine had contained Infinity at that point to control the Drake. Kaylen had decided today was the day to finish absorbing Infinity. "Return." With a whoosh. The heat gathered in an instant, and it felt as though the hand gripping the drake would start burning. But Kaylen, without even flinching, began absorbing the energy of Infinity. ¡®Sky Sphere. Thanks to you, the Infinity that was in my stomach has grown and transferred to mana heart. I owe you one.¡¯ If it hadn¡¯t been for the preserved Drake, Kaylen would have struggled greatly to grow the tiny piece of Infinity. There was still much to be done, but Kaylen smiled contentedly, feeling like he had easily secured the first step. Once he absorbed this Infinity, it would grow to the size of a fist. ¡®Once it''s that big, I¡¯ll be able to use Infinity freely.¡¯ Vwiiing. The heat that had made Kaylen¡¯s palm burn began to subside rapidly. ¡®Almost there. Just a bit more to absorb.¡¯ Kaylen planned to leave a small amount of Infinity''s power in the Drake. If he absorbed everything, the preserved Drake would begin to rot. And if that happened, he might draw suspicion, since he had been frequenting the place so often. ¡®Leaving enough power to last for about five years should be enough.¡¯ After making his calculation, Kaylen continued absorbing the energy. After a while. ¡®It''s done.¡¯ When Kaylen pulled his hand away, he heard a will from the mana he had absorbed. I. Will not go. ¡®This voice... is it Sky Sphere?¡¯ Kaylen¡¯s eyes widened. The first Drake to gain intelligence after receiving Infinity was Sky Sphere. Yet, even after its death, its will remained? Kaylen hurriedly sent a thought, but after that one statement, there was no answer from Sky Sphere. ¡®...This is unsettling.¡¯ "Will not go"¡ªwhat could that mean? It left a bad aftertaste. As Kaylen stared at his right hand, the soldier beside him spoke. "Sir, isn¡¯t it too hot?" The soldier¡¯s words brought Kaylen back to his senses. No matter how much he thought about it, it was a question that didn¡¯t have an answer. He would figure it out later when he had time. Right now, he was more concerned with taking care of his body. "Yes, I¡¯m fine." Kaylen showed his right hand. There were no signs of burns from the heat on his pale hand. ¡®Huh... That can''t be right?¡¯ The soldier tilted his head in confusion. It had been hot when he touched it briefly for an inspection in the morning, hadn''t it? "I''m glad to hear that." "Yes. Then, I¡¯ll be going now. Please take care." "Yes!" As Kaylen left, the soldier, watching him go, casually placed his hand on the Drake''s head. "Ah, hot!" The soldier jumped back as soon as he touched it, blowing on his hand. The heat from the Drake seemed to have intensified since the morning. ¡°How did the mage touch it...?¡± Hearing the soldier''s scream from a distance, Kaylen smiled faintly. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 5 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 5 Kaylen sat on the bed with his eyes closed. He had spent three days focusing on normalizing his body, but progress was slower than expected. ¡®The mana heart is the problem.¡¯ When he lived as a Grand Sword Master, he had no such thing as a mana heart. Perhaps it was because Kaylen was a mage. When trying to use the mana of Infinity, a considerable amount of mana flowed into his mana heart. Not only did it flow, but it barely consumed any mana. Since his mana heart wasn¡¯t used, and Infinity¡¯s characteristic was that it didn¡¯t recharge unless mana was used, this was a completely negative factor. Because the usable mana was decreasing, Kaylen was troubled by the mana heart, which was like a thorn in his side. ¡®Is there any way to use it?¡¯ Based on his experience from his past life, Kaylen had extensive knowledge about the structure of mana hearts. He had broken through many of them while fighting against enemy mages. ¡®Circles 1 and 2 form inside the heart, and Circles 3 through 5 form on the outer wall of the mana heart.¡¯ A mage¡¯s first major hurdle: 3rd Circle. Until Circle 2, one could reach it with effort even if they lacked talent, but from 3rd Circle onward, it was entirely the realm of talent. Forming a circle on the outer wall of the mana heart was so difficult that once you surpassed 3rd Circle, the path to reaching Circle 5 opened up. ¡®The mana absorbed from Infinity is trying to form the 3rd circle.¡¯ The third circle was being drawn on the outer wall of the mana heart. The mana was being slowly consumed as it cleared hia mana path. If he continued to absorb the mana from Infinity and cleared the path like this, it seemed like he would eventually reach 3rd Circle. Should he wait until then and find a way to use it? Or... Kaylen reached a conclusion. ¡°Using it... is best left for later.¡± There¡¯s an order to everything. Right now, it wasn¡¯t the mana heart that mattered, but clearing the mana flow. Zziing. Kaylen shaped the mana released from Infinity into a small sword inside his body. A sword of mana, smaller than a fingernail. That tiny sword moved towards the third mana circle being formed. ........ Swish. Swish. Kaylen began to dismantle his mana heart. Even as he bit his lip from the intense pain in his chest, he continued dismantling the mana circle. Srrr _ The dismantled mana circle didn¡¯t stay still. It used the remaining mana to try to continue the path. And that was exactly what Kaylen wanted. As the mana contained in the circle was consumed... Wing. Wing. By maintaining his focus to the very end, he gathered every bit of the star¡¯s mana. ¡°...It¡¯s a success.¡± Thus, a total of six sword hilts were created. Although the mana heart and his entire body were completely drained of mana, he had achieved a meaningful result. ¡®With this, I can call myself a sword user.¡¯ Kaylen thought to himself, feeling a sense of pride that would surprise other knights. Typically, a sword user is at the stage where they can manifest mana as an aura. For them, their mana heart are simply filled with mana, but they cannot shape weapons. Shaping a weapon in the mana heart... ¡®That¡¯s the stage of a ¡®Master.¡¯¡¯ Only after reaching a supreme level through bone-crushing training can one finally shape the mana in their mana heart into the form of a sword. But Kaylen, a Grand Sword Master, was different. Having already reached the peak of swordsmanship, once his mana was sufficient, he could form a sword without much difficulty. Though he had only created the hilt for now due to insufficient mana, the foundation of the sword was already established. It was just a matter of time before he could craft the perfect sword. ¡®The sword of Meier, I¡¯ll recreate it with the body of my descendant.¡¯ Satisfied, Kaylen checked his condition and rose from the bed. ¡°Indeed, I feel lighter.¡± Maybe it was because he had become a sword user, but he could definitely feel his body being lighter. His body was in quite good shape. Though he had gained a lot of weight, apart from that, he was tall and had a sturdy frame. ¡®If I just work on my body a little more, I could transfer to the Knight Academy, but right now, it¡¯s an opportunity to learn magic.¡¯ A knight collects mana. A mage spreads mana. The two paths start from completely different points. ¡®After becoming a Grand Sword Master, my understanding of mana is unparalleled...¡¯ However, Kaylen didn¡¯t fully understand how a mage used mana. His path was that of a swordsman, so it was only natural. ¡®If I fully awaken my understanding of how mages use mana, I might be able to reach a higher level...¡¯ Kaylen decided to make the most of this opportunity. He walked toward the magic academy''s academic building with familiar steps. As he climbed the stairs to the third-floor classroom, a voice calling him from behind reached his ears. ¡°...Kaylen?¡± Thud. Thud. Hearing that voice, his heart suddenly began to race. Heat rose to his face, and his whole body involuntarily tensed up. Along with that, a memory flashed in his mind in an instant. In the dull, gray days of academy life, a memory of a female student, who was Kaylen''s only source of joy along with food, came to mind. She was the only one who treated him kindly and didn¡¯t ignore him. Lina de Florence. In the memories of his original body, she had been like a goddess. But after reading that memory, Kaylen thought... ¡®What a fool.¡¯ His thoughts were completely different now. ¡®I¡¯ve fallen into the trap of the queen bee.¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 6 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 6 Lina de Florence. In the memories of the original body, she was a blonde, fantastically beautiful girl, but... Kaylen''s first impression of her was different. ¡®She¡¯s ordinary.¡¯ She had an average height and a slightly slim build. Objectively speaking, she was on the cute side. But for Ernstine, who had seen countless beauties as the emperor who unified the continent, she was far from being considered a beauty. ¡®But she knows how to dress up.¡¯ Mages are usually drowning in magic research and training, typical students didn''t pay attention to their appearance. Most students would wear shabby robes and hoods over their heads when going to class... But Lina was different. She wore a spotless white robe with make-up. Her bright, shining blonde hair was well-groomed and sparkling, making her stand out among the students. Though perhaps not elsewhere, she would certainly be considered a beauty in the Magic Academy. ¡°Kaylen, right? Wow. You lost weight? I can barely recognize you. You¡¯ve gotten handsome!¡± As soon as Lina saw him, she approached with a smile, touching his arm casually and admiring him. ¡°Wow. Are you working out these days? Your arms have gotten so firm.¡± She showered him with compliments. ¡°See? I told you that if I took care of you, you¡¯d get handsome.¡± She gave him a thumbs-up. A faint perfume smell pleasantly drifted over. It was a scent rare to find at the Magic Academy. Kaylen now understood why he liked it. At this point, she just seemed like a friendly and lively classmate. ¡°Kaylen, can I ask you for a ¡®favor¡¯ today?¡± However, her true intention was something else. ¡°I¡¯ve been working hard alone during the break, but I couldn¡¯t do it... I need to charge a mana stone.¡± Charging a mana stone. Mana stones that contain mana are valuable, but those depleted of mana are worthless. In Ernstine¡¯s time, mana stones that had been used up were discarded as mere stones. ¡®It¡¯s amazing that they can be recharged now.¡¯ According to Kaylen''s memory, the charging of mana stones used a unique magic from the Florence family. ¡®Thanks to this magic, they say he, a commoner rose to the rank of count. Impressive.¡¯ ¡°Can you help me again today? Please?¡± Lina asked with a pleading look. At her expression, Kaylen¡¯s head was about to nod on its own. It was the instinct of a fool, blindly following Lina''s words. When a mage starts charging a mana stone, a whole day is wasted, and they struggle with a mana shortage for a week... But Kaylen¡¯s body was ready to obey Lina''s request. ¡®I can see right through you.¡¯ But Kaylen was now Ernstine. Having experienced countless romantic affairs with concubines who were all peerless beauties, Kaylen was completely unmoved by Lina''s facial expressions. ¡°Today, I...¡± Kaylen waved his hand, attempting to lightly refuse Lina''s request, but his movement suddenly halted. It was because of the memories that began to flood his mind. How to recharge a mana stone using the Mana Heart. The process was starting to come back to him one by one. ¡®It never came to me until now.¡¯ The method of using the Mana Heart only now appeared in his mind, triggered by a request from a girl he liked. Though most of it was about recharging, Kaylen could not afford to let this clue slip away. ¡°No. I¡¯ll do it.¡± ¡°Really?¡± That¡¯s why most students were burning with determination to reach the 3rd circle. Yet Kaylen, lost in his infatuation, helped recharge her mana, only to be too exhausted and lacking mana to train himself. ¡®Even that girl is working hard.¡¯ Lina shined like a phoenix among the dull mages. She, too, was rolling up her sleeves, focusing intently on taking notes in the non-mage class. Despite being the daughter of a count, she worked hard to succeed as a mage. That was the attitude every student at the Magic Academy should have. ¡®No wonder they treat Kaylen like he¡¯s invisible.¡¯ Even after entering the class, everyone ignored him, treating him like a transparent person, except for Lina. The Magic Academy¡¯s experimental area. It was a space created to encourage students¡¯ free magical experiments, located in the basement of the academy¡¯s main building. ¡°Look at that pig. He came here right after school started?¡± ¡°I heard he¡¯s charging a mana stone for the daughter of the Florence family again.¡± ¡°Mana recharge? Guess he¡¯s given up on advancing.¡± The mages whispered, mocking Kaylen. When they saw him, they quickly cleared their throats and pretended to focus on their work. ¡®This kind of neglect and coldness is just the norm.¡¯ It was a look Kaylen had never experienced in his past life. However, perhaps because he had never been through it, Kaylen found it rather refreshing. As he walked under those gazes, the inner part of the experimental area was revealed. "This is it." It was a space granted only to powerful noble families, a privileged area. Soon, a man approached, bowed, and greeted him. "You''ve arrived, Sir Kaylen." He was a knight from the Florence family, assigned to guard the academy¡¯s experimental area. "Oh, you''ve become quite the handsome gentleman." "It¡¯s nothing. I still have a long way to go." Kaylen still had flesh wobbling with each step he took. The knight from the count''s family seemed to have been given instructions, continuously praising Kaylen. "Lady Florence also mentioned that you¡¯ve become much more handsome. She praised you a lot." "She¡¯s expecting that you¡¯ll handle the mana recharge well." At those words, Kaylen shrugged his shoulders, following the knight''s guidance into the Florence family¡¯s territory. "Kaylen, you¡¯re here?" Lina, dressed in a one-piece dress, was waiting for him. Her skin looked better than in the morning, and her fresh beauty was shining through. Seeing her like this made Kaylen¡¯s heart race. He was still caught off guard by her wearing a dress for the first time, unable to collect himself. In his memories, she had always worn a robe, even in the experimental area. Did she sense his change in attitude? Her intuition was on point, but Kaylen, in contrast, remained indifferent. ¡®When did she change clothes and fix her makeup? It¡¯s still just ordinary.¡¯ Ernstine, who had been courted by the most extraordinary women of his time, couldn¡¯t be easily swayed. No matter how exquistily Lina dressed, she couldn¡¯t rise beyond ¡®ordinary.¡¯ "Come here and sit." Lina gestured to him as she set up a tea table. Normally, she would have immediately put Kaylen to work on the mana recharge, but today she planned to put in more effort. After all, she couldn¡¯t afford to let the easy catch slip away. But, contrary to what should have been his happy reaction, Kaylen... Whoosh. "Delicious." Without even sitting down, he quickly drank the tea. "Tea time is a waste of time. Let¡¯s get straight to the recharge." He jumped straight to the point. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 7 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 7 "Re... really?" Lina was taken aback. Kaylen''s behavior was completely unexpected. Up until the vacation, it had been easy to control him, but now it felt like he was slipping out of her grasp. ¡®It¡¯s fortunate that he¡¯s going to do the mana recharge, though.¡¯ The primary goal had been achieved, but she didn¡¯t feel at ease. If Kaylen decided not to help anymore, she had no way of making him comply. "Hurry up, let''s go." "Uh, yeah..." In fact, it was Kaylen¡¯s urging that made Lina scramble to get up. Her face maintained a cheerful smile, but inside, she was uneasy. ¡®I can¡¯t afford to lose Kaylen...¡¯ The mana stone was already 80% recharged. Only a little more was needed, and if Kaylen backed out now, the progress would come to a halt. The remaining 20% could technically be done by her. ¡®Charging the mana stone would take a week¡ªam I crazy enough to do it myself?¡¯ That wasn¡¯t even an option. ¡®The other guys won¡¯t help now that it¡¯s the second semester.¡¯ The Royal Academy of Magic, home to the kingdom¡¯s best talents. No matter how beautiful Lina was, no one would be foolish enough to help with the mana stone recharge when their promotion to third year depended on the second semester. Graduating from the academy was worlds apart from finishing the second year. ¡®Somehow, I need to gaslight him into keep recharging it.¡¯ With just 20% left, it would only take 5 to 7 more times. She needed to keep Kaylen around until then. With that resolution, Lina guided him toward the magic circle. "This is it." "Oh?" A large magic circle filled the room. It was obviously complex, with intricate runes and symbols all over. Lina smirked, proud of the setup. "Heh, this is the magic spell I mentioned in today¡¯s class. Our family¡¯s magic spell." The charging magic spell, It was created by the Florence family. Now it had eventually been made public and was now even used in classes. Though the magic spell was well-known, it didn¡¯t affect the Florence family much.No?v(el)B\\jnn The reason was easy to understand. Lina walked briskly toward the circle. She pulled out a hairpin and pricked her finger with it. "Ow!" A few drops of blood fell from her finger, immediately being absorbed by the magic circle. As this happened, the magic circle, which had been glowing blue, began to shift to a deep red. Kaylen, watching the spectacle, nodded. ¡®It seems the magic circle is optimized for the family¡¯s blood.¡¯ A long-standing magical family would often have a few signature magic circles. While it was possible for outsiders to use them, the efficiency greatly depended on whose blood served as the catalyst. The Florence family¡¯s magic circle was notably more effective with their blood. That¡¯s why, even after the circle became publicly known, the Florence family was still given preferential treatment. "That''s enough." As the magic circle completely turned red, Lina quickly stepped back, moving with agility, almost as if avoiding a fiery pit. Kaylen, watching this, let out a quiet chuckle. ¡®She really doesn¡¯t want to waste any of her mana.¡¯ Once a magic circle is activated, simply stepping into it causes the mana recharge to begin. However, since the process takes hours, staying inside for a brief moment doesn¡¯t result in immediate mana loss. But Lina seemed unwilling to let go of even a little bit of it. "Let¡¯s go." ¡°Alright, then...¡± She wanted to watch Kaylen charging the mana stone, but being late for her lessons was a bigger issue. "Don¡¯t worry too much. I¡¯ll make sure to keep the Young Master safe," the guard said, though his words were meant to reassure her that he would keep a close watch on Kaylen. ¡®He¡¯ll be fine...¡¯ Lina tried to calm her uneasy feelings. In fact, now that she thought about it, even if something went wrong, it wouldn¡¯t be a major issue. The mana stone charging magic spell was highly stable. Even in the worst case, the mana charging speed would just slow down. ¡®Right. I should go for now.¡¯ After giving Kaylen a last, lingering look, Lina turned around and exited the magic circle area. Her bodyguard, Alkas, took over in her place. ¡®He¡¯s definitely changed a lot.¡¯ Alkas, who had only briefly glanced at Kaylen when he first arrived, now looked at him with a more focused gaze. Earlier, he hadn¡¯t paid much attention to Kaylen, but seeing him now, he was completely different from before. ¡®His posture is different. His energy has changed.¡¯ In the past, Kaylen had been a massive, sagging figure who could barely handle his own body weight. Now, Kaylen stood tall like a towering mountain. ¡®If he trains a bit more here, he¡¯d be more suited for being a knight than a mage.¡¯ His large frame and long limbs made him the ideal candidate for a knight. Of course, the condition was that he had to lose some weight first. ¡®But he¡¯s already a mage. Would he even consider becoming a knight? Even if things went well, he¡¯d probably end up like my old self.¡¯ Alkas gave a small, powerless smile. If it were in the past, maybe Kaylen could have considered it, but in the present era, there was a clear distinction in status between knights and mages. Mages were highly favored in today¡¯s world, and no mage in their right mind would choose to become a knight. ¡®I was the top of the Knight Academy, but now I¡¯m stuck guarding nobles...¡¯ Being a bodyguard to the young lady of the Count¡¯s family was an insignificant position for someone who had ranked first in the kingdom¡¯s prestigious Knight Academy, which was filled with only the kingdom¡¯s brightest talents. However, for knights from commoner backgrounds, such positions were the only stable employment available. ¡®How did it come to this...¡¯ Alkas stared at Kaylen and sighed as his thoughts drifted into lamentation. He quickly shook off his dark thoughts and focused on his duty. Two hours passed, and then, suddenly, a change occurred in the magic spell. ¡®Huh?¡¯ To be precise, it came from the mana charge percentage located in the left corner of the complex magic spell. The bar indicator for the mana charge had originally been at 80%. ¡®But... something¡¯s off.¡¯ Normally, the mana charge should rise slowly and steadily, but the percentage seemed to be fluctuating, slightly going up and down. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ Alkas had never received any instructions from Lina regarding how to handle such an event. He hesitated for a moment, but as he continued to watch, the fluctuations in the percentage grew larger and larger. ¡®This isn¡¯t good. I need to stop this!¡¯ He made up his mind to intervene, thinking that something bad would happen if he didn¡¯t. At that moment, Kaylen let out a deep breath, and the charging process suddenly stabilized. Afterward, as Alkas had seen before, the mana charge percentage slowly started to rise. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s okay now...?¡± Alkas, who had been about to enter the magic circle, stopped in his tracks. ¡®I don¡¯t know what just happened... I¡¯ll have to report this to the young lady when she returns.¡¯ ¡®It seems I¡¯ll need to adjust my plans.¡¯ Kaylen had never intended to quietly charge mana. Normally, after finishing his training with the mana stone, he would have left immediately, but now the situation had changed. ¡®This mana stone... I can use it.¡¯ A faint smile appeared on Kaylen¡¯s lips. ¡®I¡¯ll take this mana for myself.¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 8 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 8 The Mana Stone, which stores enormous mana, has been the subject of numerous attempts throughout history to transfer its power to the human body. ¡®But all of those attempts ended in failure.¡¯ Many mages had conducted countless experiments, using a variety of methods, but none had managed to achieve any meaningful results. Research focused on efficiency posed a great risk, with many mages dying or becoming invalids from the sheer volume of mana their bodies couldn¡¯t handle. On the other hand, research aimed at safety proved so inefficient that it felt no different from just undergoing regular training. ¡®The mana from the Mana Stone is so foreign.¡¯ At its core, a Mana Stone was just a mineral. Humans, living beings, were vastly different from such lifeless objects. Even though one could extract mana from a Mana Stone, applying it directly to a living body was very difficulty. The difference between mana among humans was already common, so the disparity between living and non-living matter was all the more dangerous. ¡®Mana from the Mana Stone is inherently heavy in nature.¡¯ Mana stored in metals was compacted, making it not only heavy to move, but also dangerously sharp. If the human mana path was misdirected, it risked tearing the body apart. Because of this, no one had even considered trying to store the Mana Stone¡¯s mana in their body, knowing the limits. However, Ernstine had a different approach. At least with this particular Mana Stone, there was a safe and efficient method for dealing with it. ¡®This Mana Stone contains the influence of Infinity.¡¯ This Mana Stone had 50% of Kaylen¡¯s mana, recharged through his efforts. ¡®If only it had been charged more diligently.¡¯ Kaylen, in his infatuation with Lina, had poured his every bit of strength into charging it for her sake. Through that process, some of the mana from Infinity must have been absorbed into it as well. ¡®As long as Infinity¡¯s influence is present, it¡¯s easy to draw mana from here.¡¯ Ernstine, recalling the manipulation techniques of Infinity from his previous life, knew that with this power, he could safely draw mana from a source influenced by Infinity. But Kaylen did not act immediately. ¡®I could consume this mana right now... but it¡¯s not enough.¡¯ The memories that began to resurface after meeting Lina had him hesitating. - The head of the Florence family favors only the most outstanding mages among the family members. - Lina is the most promising of them all. She will receive special attention and care. - The reason for charging the Mana Stone might be part of that effort. As he pieced together the puzzle of his memories, Ernstine reached a conclusion. ¡®From Lina, I¡¯ll take more.¡¯ After finishing her classes, Lina sat on the bed in her room, letting out a deep sigh. ¡®This is tough.¡¯ Not only had the after-school education schedule been added after the start of the term, but to her surprise, Kaylen had also been causing her stress. Knock, knock. "Miss, I¡¯ve come to report." "Alkas? Come in." Lina, dragging her exhausted body, opened the door. She listened quietly as the knight, Alkas, reported the events that had transpired so far. As he spoke, there was one part that caught her attention. "...The charging gauge of the magic circle seemed to go up and down." At this, Lina immediately shook her head. "Up and down? That can''t be right. You must have seen it wrong. Especially, the charging bar shouldn''t be going down." "It appeared that way, but..." "If the mana from the Mana Stone had gone down, that would mean Kaylen absorbed it. But there''s no way he could stand there fine afterward. Our main magic circle is so stable. That can''t be the case." Alkas, being an ¡®uneducated¡¯ knight, didn¡¯t seem to understand the dangers of the mana in the Mana Stone. Lina sighed deeply and waved her hand dismissively. "...The fluctuation was small, though." "Yes, it was. It must have been a slight mistake. But more importantly... how much did Kaylen charge?" "It finished at 82%." "That''s less than usual?" Lina furrowed her brows, feeling a twinge of concern. Seeing her reaction, Alkas spoke with a hint of apology in his voice. "Also, Kaylen spoke to me quietly as he left..." "What did he say?" "He said, ''I don¡¯t think I can do this anymore.''" ¡®Am I crazy?¡¯ Lina thought, realizing she was lying through her teeth. It was a barefaced lie, with no hesitation. After all, once the Mana Stone was completed, there would be no need to continue with this act. Yes, once it was done! "Then, when it''s finished, share some with me. Right now, I need to find a job urgently." "...Kaylen, but... no one else can complete it except you." "Why? Didn¡¯t others help out a lot?" "No. Now, you''re the only one. So hurry up, finish it, and let¡¯s sell it. Okay?" Lina clung to Kaylen¡¯s arm, pleading desperately. But Kaylen still had something to say. "I understand that you¡¯re in a hurry, but... could you pay me a bit in advance? You¡¯re the daughter of the Florence family, right?" Lina sighed softly at his request. If I had the money, I would''ve been using it to get more mana charging, not wasting my time. "My father cut off my allowance when I entered the academy. He said money isn¡¯t helpful for studying. All I have is 30 gold coins." 30 gold coins. That was about the amount a 2nd-circle mage would get for a single mana charging session. It was barely enough. Kaylen shook his head, trying to pull his arm away. "...Then there''s nothing to be done. Find someone else." "Kaylen, don¡¯t do that... Is there anything else you need except money? I¡¯ll help as much as I can!" "There¡¯s nothing else. Money is what I need right now." "No, then let¡¯s finish it and sell it quickly!" As Kaylen tried to leave, Lina clung to him. The two went back and forth for several minutes. Finally, Kaylen sighed and spoke in a tired voice. "You''re sure there¡¯s nothing else you can offer instead of money?" "Yeah. I¡¯ll help." "Then... magic." At the mention of magic, Lina flinched. Without waiting for her response, Kaylen¡ªno, Ernstine¡ªfinally voiced his true intent. "Teach me magic." "Magic?" He was talking about magic despite saying his family was in financial trouble? He¡¯d just said he was going to start earning money, yet still seemed fixated on reaching the 3rd circle? "Kaylen, you know well that 3rd-circle magic isn''t something anyone can just teach you." "No, I''m not asking for 3rd-circle magic." "Then?" "I want you to teach me basic magic up to the 2nd circle." "...Why? You already know about 2nd-circle magic." "I want to know how other mages use their magic." At his unexpected request, Lina tilted her head in confusion. Does that even make sense? Lina couldn¡¯t understand why someone who was already a 2nd-circle mage would want to learn the same basic magic again. If they were a high-level mage, it would be one thing, but a 2nd-circle mage already had a good grasp of how to use magic. She couldn¡¯t quite grasp Kaylen¡¯s logic. He said his family was in trouble, yet here he was, wasting time with such a request. ''Wait a second...'' As Lina thought over it for a while, she finally caught something in Kaylen''s expression as she looked at him. His face was flushed, trying to appear bold, but there was an unmistakable air of anticipation as he waited for her answer. ''So, the family troubles were just an excuse... He must want to stay close to me.'' There was no other reason to ask her to teach basic magic. Lina''s thoughts solidified. ''He¡¯s been working hard to stay close to me. Well played, Kaylen.'' Feeling more at ease, Lina switched her approach, pretending to be hesitant as she spoke. "Teaching you magic is fine, but I don¡¯t have much time. After class, I have to go home and study..." "It¡¯s fine. You can teach me during breaks and research time." ''He really wants to stay close, huh? So bothersome...'' Kaylen was incredibly persistent, and Lina decided to bear with it. ''I can hold out until the Mana Stone is fully charged.'' She could tolerate this for just a few more weeks until the Mana Stone was completed. "Alright. I''ll do it," she said. And with that, she had made up her mind. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 9 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 9 Three days had passed since Lina began teaching Kaylen magic, and she was now certain of something. ''This guy... he really just wanted to stay close to me.'' The questions he asked were so absurd, they seemed almost deliberate. ¡°How do you activate the Mana Heart?¡± ¡°Does the circle have to rotate to use magic?¡± ¡°Does it always have to move clockwise? It can¡¯t go counterclockwise, right?¡± These were the basic things a mage should know¡ªlike asking someone how to breathe, how to crawl, how to lie down, or how to walk. Yet, Kaylen was asking with such a serious face, it was almost laughable. ¡°...Are you really asking about this? It¡¯s basic stuff.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m curious. I need to start from the fundamentals.¡± Sighing, Lina could only roll her eyes. Every break, Kaylen would come to her, asking only the most elementary questions, yet his enthusiasm never seemed to wane. This passion was particularly noticeable during lunch breaks. He was the first to finish eating, having barely touched his food, and now he was waiting for her. ¡°...Already done? Isn¡¯t that a bit too little food for you?¡± It was surprising to Lina because Kaylen, who usually stuffed his face at every meal, was now finishing in a flash and waiting eagerly for their lesson. ''Is this guy really that into me? At this point, it¡¯s borderline obsessive.'' How much could he possibly like her, to give up his beloved food and shed some pounds just for their sessions? Lina knew too well how fanatical he was about food. She could still vividly recall the sight of him devouring his meals with wild, desperate energy, enough to make her stomach turn. ''If I¡¯m better than food... this is seriously creeping me out.'' Once the Mana Stone was fully charged, she had resolved to stay as far away from him as possible. ¡°Time¡¯s wasting. Let¡¯s start the lesson.¡± ¡°...Fine, fine.¡± Lina sighed, her expression darkening. Another day, another round of useless questions from Kaylen. She was already dreading what he might ask next. ¡°From today, I¡¯ll teach you 1st-circle magic.¡± ¡°Really? You¡¯re curious about that?¡± ¡°Yeah. Everything. I¡¯m so curious about how others use magic.¡± ''...Alright. He¡¯s definitely up to something.'' ¡°...Fine. Let¡¯s start with Light.¡± Light was the most basic of all 1st-circle spells. ¡°For this spell, you have to rotate the circle and chant the incantation.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the incantation for Light?¡± ''Seriously?'' To ask about Light? The most fundamental spell? Lina took a few deep breaths to calm herself before deciding to demonstrate the spell for him. ¡°...Light.¡± As soon as Lina uttered the incantation, a small, bright sphere of light appeared before her. "Ah, so that¡¯s how it works... Light," Kaylen muttered, mimicking her actions and casting the spell immediately. WOOOSH! A massive light sphere, far larger than Lina''s, manifested from Kaylen¡¯s hands. It was so large that it completely engulfed the small light ball Lina had created. Kaylen grinned. "So, this is how it¡¯s done." "Ah, seriously! Be gentle with Light! My eyes are hurting!" Kaylen¡¯s light was much bigger and more intense than Lina¡¯s, but she didn''t take it seriously. ''Looks like he used up all his mana at once. No wonder it¡¯s so blinding.'' As Kaylen learned more 1st-circle spells, Lina¡¯s expression became more and more tense. "Wind." Kaylen¡¯s wind spell created a powerful gust of wind that filled the room. "Ice Arrow." The ice arrow he summoned was much larger and sharper than Lina¡¯s. "So, I just need to make it fly the way I want?" "Y-yeah. But usually, apprentice mages can only make spells move in a straight line. Being able to control them freely like that takes at least 3rd-circle magic..." WOOOSH! WHOOSH! Ignoring her words, Kaylen¡¯s ice arrows spun in circles in the air as if mocking her. "You need to be 3rd-circle to do this..." "Ah, so this is how it works." At the time, it had been destroyed out of necessity... But now, the situation was different. ''I just need to inscribe the Mana Circle on the outer wall.'' Creating a Mana Circle. Although Lina said it required various realizations about magic, Kaylen didn''t care. He began to casually repair the broken Mana Circle. ''...It''s easy.'' Realizations about magic? Advancing the Mana Heart? None of that mattered. No one knew how to handle mana better than him. Following the traces of the broken Mana Circle along the outer wall, he simply drew another circle... And just like that, another Mana Circle appeared. It was effortless, just as it had been before. Kaylen opened his eyes and asked Lina. "How do you know it''s the 3rd-circle?" "Huh? Well, you can just use 3rd-circle magic." "3rd-circle magic? What¡¯s the easiest spell? Show me." "Do you think 3rd-circle magic is as easy to cast as 1st or 2nd-circle magic? Seriously..." Despite her words, Lina started preparing to cast the spell. Deep down, she also had a desire to show off, having only recently reached 3rd-circle herself. ''Let''s see...'' She took a deep breath and began chanting the incantation. Until now, she had only been memorizing simple words, but from the 3rd-circle onward, it was different. A long incantation had to be recited while focusing on conjuring the mental image. After concentrating for nearly a minute, sweating and focusing, Lina finally opened her eyes. "Fireball!" At the end of the long chant, a fireball the size of a human head appeared, radiating intense flames. "Ha, did you see that?" "Wow. Impressive." Clap, clap, clap. Kaylen clapped, but there was no soul in the applause. Lina, either unaware or unconcerned, continued to gaze with satisfaction at the fireball she had created. ¡°Magic users chant their spells so slowly... But this guy¡¯s worse.¡± ¡°Why do you chant the incantations?¡± ¡°Ha. Seriously... Stop asking things you already know. It''s 3rd-circle magic. It''s on a whole different level from lower circles! If you don¡¯t chant and mentally visualize, you''ll just get a 1st-circle fireball instead!¡± ¡°Ah, I see.¡± ¡°Ugh, anyway, that¡¯s enough for today¡¯s training. I¡¯m exhausted from trying to implement 3rd-circle magic. I can¡¯t keep going much longer.¡± ¡°Got it. Go ahead.¡± ¡°...You¡¯re about to join the next class, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Ah, I¡¯ll wait for a bit before I go.¡± Kaylen easily let Lina leave. Once he confirmed she was gone, he immediately extended his hand. ¡°So from the 3rd circle onward, you need to chant the incantations, huh?¡± The wizards of a thousand years ago didn¡¯t do that. Chanting spells was only for casting grand magic. For regular spells, they simply uttered the incantation¡¯s trigger words and used their magic without needing to recite lengthy phrases. ¡°If chanting is just for mental visualization...¡± Visualization was something Kaylen was particularly skilled at. Compared to creating a sword by manipulating mana, conjuring a fireball was incredibly simple. "Fireball." He spoke the trigger words he had just learned from Lina, but without chanting the incantation. ¡°As expected, this is easy.¡± Soon, a massive fireball appeared in his hand. It was three times larger than the one Lina had created. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ve learned everything I needed to.¡± Kaylen extinguished the fireball and slowly walked out of the training room, smiling to himself. ¡°Now, it¡¯s time to recover the mana.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 10 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 10 A while later. Alkas, Lina''s knight, quietly observed as he charged the mana stone. ¡®Now he¡¯s working hard.¡¯ At first, it had seemed odd, but after that, diligently focused on charging the mana stone, as he always did. ¡®He¡¯s lost... a lot of weight.¡¯ Unlike his previous appearance, where he was recklessly overweight, now he had a slightly plump look. Of course, he was still a bit overweight, but compared to when school started, he had lost a remarkable amount. ¡®Lina said it¡¯s because he¡¯s so infatuated with her...¡¯ Lina had already made up her mind that was head over heels for her. And when she observed his behavior, it was easy to see why. He wouldn''t even eat his favorite meals, choosing instead to spend time with her during lunch. He was losing weight, and charging the mana stone with such effort. ¡®But... something¡¯s off about this.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t simply the naive affection of a boy; the intensity of his behavior felt different. There was an undeniable sense of confidence and strength in the way stood, holding the mana stone. If she had to describe it, it felt like the presence of a mountain. ¡®And sometimes... I get goosebumps.¡¯ When poured mana into the stone, it wasn¡¯t just the usual sensation. Every once in a while, Alkas would feel a strange chill run through his body, his skin prickling. At first, he thought it was just a coincidence, but after experiencing it repeatedly, and noticing that the sensation became stronger over time, he couldn¡¯t ignore it anymore. It almost felt as though some kind of ghost was nearby. ¡®...But this should be the end today.¡¯ The mana stone was almost fully charged now. Once this was done, Alkas thought he would no longer have to worry about . Unless he continued to stalk Lina like some obsessive admirer, that is. ¡®Somehow, I don¡¯t think that will happen.¡¯ As he watched standing tall, confident, Alkas couldn¡¯t shake the thought. ¡®99%. It should be almost done.¡¯ The charging gauge in the magic circle neared its maximum. Suddenly, something unusual happened. Whoooiiiiiiiiing¡ª A resonating sound echoed through the room. The source of the noise was the mana stone. At the same time, the entire experimental area began to shake violently, like an earthquake. The gauge on the magic circle fluctuated rapidly, swinging up and down in a much larger motion than before. Alkas instinctively knew that something major was happening. Flash. Flash. The magic circle began emitting multicolored lights on its own. ¡®Damn, what the hell is going on?¡¯ Alkas immediately rushed toward the magic circle, but... It was as if a wall had been erected, preventing Alkas from passing through the magic circle. On the other side, Kaylen¡¯s body was expanding and contracting, as though it were on the verge of bursting if it swelled just a little more. ¡®If Lord Kaylen dies here... this will become a much bigger problem!¡¯ Alkas bit his lip and quickly drew the sword from his waist. The sharp blade shimmered with green mana, and without hesitation, he swung it with all his might. Clang! Alkas¡¯ sword hit an invisible barrier and was deflected, sending it bouncing back into the air. Despite releasing his sword aura, it had no effect. He desperately shouted toward Kaylen. ¡°Lord Kaylen! Can you hear me? Take your hands off the mana stone and get away from there immediately!¡± But Kaylen¡¯s movements remained unchanged. His body expanded and contracted, yet he stood still with his eyes closed, not reacting at all. It seemed that he couldn¡¯t hear Alkas¡¯ voice. ¡®What in the world is going on...!¡¯ Suddenly, the situation turned catastrophic, without any warning. Alkas, trying desperately to resolve the situation, swung his sword with all his strength, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t break through the invisible wall. Instead... Crack! The sword aura dissipated, and the blade shattered. Along with the vibrations from the mana stone, the energy levels that had been fluctuating began to plummet rapidly. ¡°Mana...!¡± The gauge that had been at 90% fell quickly to 80%, then 70%, and eventually dropped to 50%. Alkas could only watch in stunned disbelief. ¡®This is a disaster.¡¯ All the mana that Lina had spent months gathering¡ªusing her charm to convince several men¡ªwas now vanishing, just like that. In this sudden, incomprehensible catastrophe, Alkas could not help but feel an overwhelming sense of dread. ¡®And if Lord Kaylen is harmed in this... the consequences... I don¡¯t even want to imagine them.¡¯ Frozen with despair, Alkas looked toward Kaylen. However, Kaylen endured the agony and silently focused on his development. ¡®Just like when I was a Grand Swordmaster, I will make my entire body into a Mana Heart.¡¯ The rough and heavy mana from the mana stone relentlessly began to carve through Kaylen¡¯s body, but thanks to his delicate mana manipulation, it did not cause any fatal harm. Kaylen combined all of his knowledge and insights to apply them to his body. Hours passed. ¡®Did I succeed...?¡¯ From the area where his Mana Heart had been in his chest to the lower abdomen , the tangled Mana Paths fully merged into a single path. At the center of it all was Infinity. It was now not a Mana Heart, but had a different form. ¡®This... should be called the Mana Body.¡¯ The Mana Body. It was a new level, one that did not limit itself to the Mana Heart , but instead stored and used mana throughout the entire body. ¡®Although the amount of mana in this vessel is still pathetic compared to the level... the remaining mana in the mana stone is less than 50%.¡¯ Over half of the mana had been spent creating this new vessel. However, Kaylen was not disappointed. ¡®With the larger vessel, I can now handle mana more efficiently.¡¯ In the past, with this amount of mana, he would never have dreamed of regenerating the Six Swords. But now, things were different. Whoooosh¡ª Now, he didn¡¯t even need to spin Infinity. He could absorb mana on his own. The six sword hilts that had once sprouted from his Mana Heart were now placed at the center of the newly created Mana Body, and Kaylen began to pour mana into them. The swords of fire and water. The swords of earth and wind. The swords of light and darkness. The six swords representing the six elements started to grow, revealing their forms on Kaylen¡¯s back. ¡®They are still small.¡¯ The size of the Six Swords was only as large as a finger. However, the important thing was that they had reached the stage where their shapes were beginning to appear. If it had been his previous body, he would have needed at least five times more mana than this to make it possible. Thanks to the efficiency of the Mana Body compared to the Mana Heart, Kaylen had skipped the long process of gathering mana and moved quickly to the next stage. ¡®Incorporating the swords into my body...¡¯ Kaylen absorbed more mana from the mana stone, carving the Six Swords onto his back. The same pattern of the Six Swords that had been etched into Emperor Ernstine¡¯s body. Only then did Kaylen feel a sense of stability. It felt like he had regained a small part of his former body. Though they were still as small as a finger now. ¡®The size of the swords can be gradually increased. As for the remaining mana...¡¯ After absorbing the mana, only 20% of the mana from the mana stone remained. Kaylen pondered how to use the remaining mana and decided to use it for constructing a mana circle. ¡®The mana circle also needs to be made to fit the new Mana Body.¡¯ Having escaped the narrow confines of the Mana Heart, Kaylen now needed to form a new mana circle that would match his Mana Body. Kaylen began using the remaining 20% of mana to form the mana circle. The location where the circle would be established was the outermost part of the Mana Body. More precisely, it would be placed on his skin. Crackle, crackle. One letter, then another. Runic symbols began to etch themselves into his body. As the tattoo-like markings spanned across his chest and back, the mana from the mana stone began to deplete. ¡®I could only make one circle.¡¯ The Mana Body. The Six Swords as small as fingers. One mana circle etched across his torso. Having used up all the mana from the mana stone to create these results, Kaylen was thoroughly satisfied. ¡®Now, I can finally live like a human.¡¯ As he savored the satisfaction, a trembling voice suddenly reached his ears. ¡°A massive sword... you say...?¡± It was the voice of the knight, Alkas, who Kaylen had completely ignored until now. Soon, Alkas collapsed, losing consciousness. Kaylen turned his back and looked at Alkas with a strange gaze. ¡°You had the potential to wield a sword.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 11 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 11 The quality of a Sword. When Ernstine unlocked the Six Swords ,there were rare individuals who did not merely regard those six swords as extraordinary weapons but perceived Ernstine himself as a ¡°sword.¡± These individuals were what Ernstine called those with "the quality of the sword." And such individuals invariably possessed astonishing talent with the sword¡ªan innate brilliance so radiant that no matter how much they tried to hide it, it was impossible to conceal. Their skill was such that, even in their youth, they could reach the rank of Sword Master with ease. Unless they were someone who had never even touched a sword, these individuals always rose to prominence in the world. ¡®And yet, someone with such a gift is merely a guard knight?¡¯ This wasn¡¯t some farmer who had spent their entire life oblivious to their potential. No, a knight blessed with such remarkable talent was wasting away as the escort to a mere count¡¯s daughter? It was an incomprehensible situation. ¡®To think such a talent is rotting away... I¡¯ll have to remember him.¡¯ After engraving the knight¡¯s presence into his memory, Kaylen turned his attention to his own physical condition. ¡®A mess.¡¯ It was true that forming a Mana Body had been a significant milestone, but his physical state was far from ideal. Though Kaylen had managed to skillfully control the mana from the Mana Stone, all he had done was avoid fatal internal injuries. Minor damages lingered throughout his body, both inside and out. Still, now that his Mana Body was complete, these injuries were manageable on his own. But Kaylen chose not to heal himself just yet. Cough! A gush of bright red blood spilled from his mouth, soaking the front of his clothes. Simultaneously, his entire body began to swell grotesquely, as if he were transforming into a monstrous creature. ¡®This should be enough.¡¯ Satisfied with the horrific state he had brought himself to, Kaylen smirked. ¡°What¡¯s going on here?!¡± He heard frantic footsteps rushing toward him. Thud! Collapsing dramatically, he sprawled across the magic circle, feigning unconsciousness. ¡°What is this?! What happened?!¡± Amid the panicked voices, Kaylen closed his eyes. It was time for his second harvest. From heaven to hell¡ªthat was exactly how Lina¡¯s day felt. Before heading home after her after-school magic lessons, the Mana Stone she had been painstakingly charging was almost completely filled. By today, it would finally reach 100%. Once sold, she¡¯d have personal funds of her own. ¡®Then I can finally proceed with that experiment.¡¯ An extremely confidential magical experiment¡ªsomething she couldn¡¯t let her family know about. Once she sold the Mana Stone, she¡¯d be able to move forward with her plans. ¡®And then I¡¯ll be free from that Kaylen.¡¯ Recently, Kaylen had been pestering her with questions about 3rd Circle Magic. At first, he¡¯d only asked trivial questions, but lately, his inquiries had grown unexpectedly advanced, leaving her with an uneasy feeling despite teaching him. But soon, all of that would be over. Selling the Mana Stone and Pretending Not to Know Him ''Once I sell the Mana Stone, I¡¯ll keep my distance and pretend I don¡¯t know him. Since he¡¯s so infatuated with me, he might even stalk me. I¡¯ll make sure to have Alkas accompany me just in case.'' ''I had already laid out my plans for the future... but¡ª'' Bang! ¡°Lina!¡± Inside the office of the head of the Florence Family, the stern-looking middle-aged man, Evan de Florence, wore a grim expression. He was trying his best to suppress his anger, but it was clearly boiling over. The moment Lina saw his face, she knew something was wrong. ¡°What have you done?¡± ¡°W-what do you mean...?¡± ¡°I asked, what have you done?¡± Crash! "That¡¯s right..." "In all honesty, I¡¯d kill him to silence him if I could." Evan spoke of murder with unsettling calmness. But the situation didn¡¯t allow for that option. "Given the Academy''s impenetrable security, that method must be ruled out. The risk of failure is too high." "Yes..." "Lina, Kaylen Starn did this reckless act because he was infatuated with you, wasn¡¯t he?" Lina nodded, and Evan spoke with cold precision. "If he wakes up, we will be the first to propose a settlement." "The amount we have prepared is 30,000 gold." Lina¡¯s eyes widened in shock at the number. It was an enormous amount. The Mana Stone she had planned to sell was worth 5,000 gold. 30,000 was equivalent to the value of six Mana Stones. "30,000 gold is too much!" "Yes, it is. But this matter is that serious." "Sigh..." "Still, the settlement amount could be lowered depending on who negotiates." Evan¡¯s gaze swept over Lina. "You¡¯ll handle it." "I-I will?" "Yes. That Kaylen boy is infatuated with you, isn¡¯t he? If you¡¯re the one to negotiate, we may not need to pay the full 30,000 gold." "Ah!" "Push for the settlement yourself. Make sure to draft a magic contract." At that moment, Lina, who had been hanging her head in uncertainty, suddenly brightened. This was something she could do. "Understood, Father. This time, I will not disappoint you." "Good. I¡¯m giving you one more chance. Consider this your last opportunity to prove yourself within the family." "...Yes!" *** The Medical Wing of the Magic Academy. Normally, this place was quiet and empty, but now, people were bustling in and out. "Ah, Professor, what brings you to the medical wing?" "I could ask you the same. Why is the head of Academy security stationed at the door of the medical wing?" "Well, the medical wing is part of the Academy. Ensuring its security also falls under my responsibilities, doesn¡¯t it?" "Haha. True enough. Still, as a professor, I should be allowed to enter, don¡¯t you think?" "There¡¯s a patient in very poor condition inside. If you¡¯re here to visit them, it¡¯d be better to wait until they¡¯ve recovered a bit." "Haha. I heard there was an explosion at the Florence Family¡¯s magic experiment site. It wouldn¡¯t have anything to do with that, would it?" "Ha. I wouldn¡¯t know anything about that." The two stood at the entrance of the medical wing, locked in a tense standoff. Kaylen lay inside, listening to their conversation. "So, there are those looking to exploit this situation," he thought. Several people had already come under the guise of visiting the patient. Those without proper connections were turned away at the door, though his homeroom mage had been allowed inside. Looking at Kaylen¡¯s unconscious form, the mage had murmured something loud enough for him to hear: "If this accident is tied to the Florence Family, the First Prince¡¯s faction might... Hmm." Through the snippets of conversation drifting to his ears, Kaylen was gradually piecing together the political landscape of the kingdom. "This accident... I¡¯ll make sure they pay a higher price for it." It wasn¡¯t just one party to sell to¡ªthere were two. Two factions locked in fierce rivalry and competition. In such circumstances, he could command an even higher price. "Good." Having finalized his plan, Kaylen groaned softly and opened his eyes. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 12 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 12 Kaylen¡¯s appearance was utterly grotesque. His entire body was swollen and distorted, with raised lumps of flesh protruding at irregular intervals. His skin was cracked, exposing unnatural veins. "Disgusting..." It was a sight that naturally evoked revulsion. His face contorted in agony. Lina had anticipated the negotiation would not be easy. But Kaylen''s condition was far more severe than she had imagined. "Kaylen... are you okay?" When Lina saw Kaylen glaring at her with cold eyes, she braced herself for even tougher negotiations. Still, she thought, he had once been fond of her. If she appealed to his emotions, perhaps she could find an opening. "Kaylen, I¡¯m truly sorry...!" Lina gently placed her hand on Kaylen¡¯s arm. Though the lumpy, deformed flesh was repulsive, now was not the time to act squeamish. Instead, she softly stroked his arm, lowering her gaze apologetically. "I never imagined it would turn out like this." "I never thought your body would end up in this state... Sob, sob!" Tears welled up in Lina¡¯s eyes. "Why did it have to come to this? Really..." Of course, she wasn¡¯t crying out of pity for Kaylen. Her tears stemmed from her own miserable situation. However, Kaylen didn¡¯t so much as flinch at her display. ¡®Tsk. It¡¯s not working... The damage must be too great for tears alone to move him.¡¯ Seeing his lack of response, Lina resolved to bring up what she had planned to say on the way here. "Actually, Kaylen, as you know, our family''s magic circle... It¡¯s never failed. It¡¯s always been successful." "But this time, it blew up like this... The result is so strange. Kaylen, did Alkas do something unusual at the last moment?" "...Are you referring to your knight?" "Yes. He collapsed near the magic circle. He was holding his sword." "I don¡¯t know. I can¡¯t remember. The pain was overwhelming." "When we asked him what happened after we revived him, he only said something about the magic circle acting strangely. Then he swung his sword and collapsed. Now, he¡¯s rambling nonsense about swords and seems completely out of it." The knight, Alkas, had collapsed near the mana-charging magic circle. He had witnessed the anomaly firsthand, and the Florence family could not afford to leave him be. Currently, he was detained after being treated, but... "They might silence him later to ensure his silence." Given the magnitude of the incident surrounding the mana-charging magic circle, the fate of a mere knight held little weight. "Even though he wields such exceptional skill, the Florence family doesn¡¯t see much value in him." A swordsman of his caliber had been a rarity even in Kaylen¡¯s era, where fewer than fifty such talents existed. To think someone of that level could get caught up in this and disappear... "What a waste." They held a gem in their hands but treated it like a worthless stone. Kaylen decided he would take this gem for himself as well. "Take your hand off me and get to the point." "Kaylen..." "Take your hand off me." "...O-okay." As Lina hesitantly withdrew her hand, Kaylen got straight to the point. "50,000 gold." "...What?" "If you want to keep my mouth shut, give me 50,000 gold." Lina had anticipated a difficult negotiation, but his demand was beyond anything she could have imagined. "...50,000? Kaylen, wait. Did I hear you correctly?" "Yes, 50,000." His voice was resolute, leaving no room for negotiation. The cold tone made Lina flinch momentarily, but she reached out to him again. "Kaylen, I¡¯m truly sorry for what happened. But¡ª" "My mana circle... I¡¯ve lost one of them." "...What?" "Because of the incident, one of my circles collapsed." Lina was struck speechless. Kaylen, however, remained silent. He wouldn¡¯t give away information without compensation. But he did leave them with one pointed statement: "Just wait two days." "Hmph. These are the people who did this to you. Do you really trust them?" "I¡¯ll see you in two days." "Haha, how preposterous..." The professors, more interested in the incident than their disfigured student''s plight, showed no compassion. Kaylen, unimpressed, added: "By then, I expect you to bring proper terms to the table." "Terms? What terms..." "Professors of your caliber should know better than to ask that." "Ahem, when a professor asks¡ª" "If you''re here to spout nonsense, leave." Kaylen promptly drove them all out. "Trying to take advantage of me, are you?" The opportunity to deal a financial blow to the Second Prince''s faction was too good to pass up. The First Prince¡¯s side, however, seemed focused on probing further, sending professors instead of offering concrete compensation. "The Florence family still seems like the best payer for now." To Kaylen, whether the First or Second Prince won this battle was irrelevant. Their squabble was just the clash of his subordinates'' underlings. What mattered was which side offered him the highest price for his silence. He spent the rest of the day turning away low-ball offers. "Five thousand gold coins." "Not enough." "Hah! I didn¡¯t expect this from you..." "Get used to it." Refusing laughable terms, he waited. That night, a more serious offer finally came. "I am Jane, handmaiden to Princess Violet." Princess Violet¡ªa renowned mage of exceptional beauty, sharing the same mother as the First Prince. "She¡¯s in her third year at the Academy, isn¡¯t she?" Despite being busy with her studies and nearing graduation, she¡¯d taken an interest in this incident, even sending her handmaiden to negotiate. "Her Highness wishes to know the price you desire." Jane got straight to the point, and so did Kaylen. "I have an appointment with the Florence family tomorrow." "Her Highness can certainly offer far more than them." "That¡¯s something we¡¯ll have to see about." "Our mages heard that even five thousand gold was insufficient for you. Depending on the importance of the matter, we could offer ten times that amount." It became clear that the professors'' earlier absurd offers were a ploy to gauge the situation''s gravity. For a regular mage unaware of the larger implications¡ªjust looking for compensation for their losses¡ªfive thousand gold might have seemed generous, even fair. But for Kaylen, who knew the stakes? That was pocket change. But this incident... In the power struggle between the First and Second Princes, it could strike a blow to one side¡¯s financial backing. If the victim is aware of the gravity of the situation¡ªhow it could break the legendary no-accident record of the Mana Charging Magic Circle¡ªthen five thousand gold is an utterly trivial amount. The five thousand gold offered by the First Prince''s side, upon reflection, posed a question to Kaylen: Did you really suffer such a major accident? And do you understand just how important this matter is? Kaylen¡¯s response was simple. "First, I¡¯ll speak with them." "...Understood." If it was just about the gold, selling himself to the First Prince¡¯s side would immediately bring a reward. However, doing so would severely increase the political burden on the Florence family... and they would acquire far more enemies than gold. ''Besides... the Florence family has another bonus for me.'' With that, Jane left. Knock knock. "...Prince Kaylen." The bonus Kaylen was thinking of had arrived. "Alkas." "I heard you wanted to see me." Alkas, the bodyguard, who had a dagger hidden in his possession, had arrived. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 13 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 13 Alkas recalled his recent encounter with Lina. ¡°Alkas! What the hell did you do?!¡± Unlike usual, Lina shouted at him with a furious expression on her face. Her usual polite tone was completely gone. ¡°The sword was broken. You ruined everything, didn''t you?¡± ¡°N-no, miss. I was just trying to save Prince Kaylen...¡± ¡°Hah. Save him? That pig of a man? You should¡¯ve just let him die! You made everything worse!¡± Had Kaylen died on the spot, it could have turned into a much bigger issue. But blinded by anger, Lina didn¡¯t even consider that possibility. Clang! Throwing things around the room in a fit of rage, Lina glared sharply at Alkas. ¡°Alkas. You were from a commoner family, weren''t you?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± ¡°Life must be tough for a commoner in the capital. And your younger sister is about to attend the Magic Academy, right?¡± When Alkas first mentioned that, Lina had congratulated him with a bright smile. But now, she was cornering him with a malicious expression. ¡°But now, her enrollment in the Academy is going to be canceled. Since you failed the mission, you¡¯ll have to compensate us for it!¡± ¡°...¡± To say that Alkas had failed the mission... Was wielding his sword to save Kaylen wrong? It was absurd. A completely unreasonable claim. But Lina... The Florence family, Lina''s family, had the power to enforce such absurd demands. Using this incident as an excuse, they had enough power to control Alkas'' fate. ¡°Do you know how much that bastard Kaylen asked from our family? 50,000¡ª50,000 gold!¡± ¡°50,000...¡± ¡°Even though we¡¯re a wealthy family, we can¡¯t just hand over that much money. Absolutely not!¡± Lina gritted her teeth, then took a step closer to Alkas. ¡°Kaylen. That bastard wants to meet with you.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°Alkas. When you meet him...¡± Thud. Lina pulled a dagger from her cloak and placed it down in front of him. ¡°Make sure it¡¯s dealt with properly.¡± ¡°Miss!¡± ¡°Or else, do you want to pay for the 50,000 gold loss yourself?¡± ¡°Why would I¡ª...!¡± ¡°Hah. We¡¯re the Florence family. A commoner like you and your family can be sent straight to the execution block without a second thought!¡± Lina shouted at him, then spun around, walking away with a cold demeanor. ¡°Well, fine. If you don¡¯t want to, then don¡¯t. Do whatever you want.¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯d be better if you just keep making your sister charge mana and treat her like a slave.¡± Step. Step. Lina left the room. Alkas stared blankly at the dagger that had fallen to the ground. ¡®She wants me to kill Prince Kaylen with that?¡¯ If a commoner like him were to kill the noble Prince Kaylen... He¡¯d be sentenced to the most severe punishment. Lina¡¯s order was no different from telling him to die. And that, too, would be an ignoble death. But what would happen if he didn¡¯t follow her command? He didn¡¯t know what harm could come to his family. Alkas knew better than anyone that the Florence family would stop at nothing to achieve their goals. His head was filled with so many conflicting thoughts. However, there was something that worried him more than anything else. The last image of Kaylen that he had seen before losing consciousness. ¡®He definitely... looked like a sword.¡¯ Kaylen, a mage, had appeared to be a sword. The enormous sword exuded an overwhelming presence that no one could dare defy. Alkas picked up the dagger. ¡®I want to see if that image was real...¡¯ With that thought, Alkas stood before Kaylen. And was disappointed. ¡°You¡¯ve come.¡± The grotesque sight of Kaylen, whose body had swollen unnaturally. The overwhelming sword he had seen before was nowhere to be found. ¡®Was it an illusion?¡¯ Of course. How could a mage wield such a sword? It must have been a trick of the mind due to the accident. Mana suit. These were terms that did not exist in Ernstine¡¯s world. Kaylen¡¯s memories were also incomplete, so he didn¡¯t know about them. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± But what did that matter? If he could gain the talent of a sword master, that was all that mattered. ¡°That¡¯s nothing. Become my knight, and become a sword master. I¡¯ll make it happen for you.¡± ¡°Sword master...¡± Just a few days ago, those words would have seemed insane. But after seeing the aura sword with his own eyes, Alkas began to believe him. Thud. Thud. When he first entered, he had prepared for death. But now, he saw true light. Though it was a light he could never reach. ¡°...I want to become Sir Kaylen¡¯s knight. But I¡¯m bound to the Florence family.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡°Eh...?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll understand why soon. For now...¡± Kaylen tossed the dagger to the floor and reached out his hand to Alkas. ¡°Go out for a while with the people on the other side of the door.¡± Whoooosh. A gust of wind swirled around Kaylen¡¯s hand. ¡°Wind.¡± First-circle magic, Wind. It was a spell considered useless in combat by most mages, as its power was too weak. But the wind created by Kaylen¡¯s hand was different. The force was overwhelming. Thud! ¡°Sir Kaylen, are you okay...?¡± At the exact moment, the door opened suddenly. On the other side stood Jane, the princess¡¯s maid, along with several knights. Whoooosh! A powerful gust of wind rushed toward them. ¡°Eh...!¡± Whoosh. The knights were thrown into the air by the wind, unable to withstand its force. Alkas was also swept away by the wind. The door was torn off its hinges, and even the walls of the infirmary shook. The only one who managed to hold their ground was Jane, the maid. But even she couldn¡¯t withstand the powerful wind and stumbled back, retreating behind the wall. ¡°I thought he might have gotten stronger...¡± The mana circle, now unified, had grown larger, surrounding the torso rather than the heart, which increased the magic¡¯s potency. Kaylen had expected this. So he had decided not to use all his strength, intending only to send the knights flying without causing too much damage. ¡°It''s stronger than I thought.¡± To think that first-circle magic could have this much power. This... this is Wind?! From behind the shaking wall, Jane, the princess¡¯s maid, barely managed to compose herself. If she were just a normal maid, she would have been tossed around like the others. Thud. Thud. When the knights, who had been thrown far away, crashed into the wall and tumbled to the ground, Jane felt a chill run down her spine. ¡®They aren¡¯t the highest-level knights, but they¡¯re still wearing heavy armor...¡¯ Violet, the princess, had ordered Jane to protect Kaylen, as Florence might try to harm him. If the knights were removed from the equation, it would leave no witnesses to pressure the Florence family, thus silencing any evidence. But Jane, going a step further, thought that if she saved Kaylen in this life-threatening situation, he wouldn¡¯t be able to resist her, like yesterday. However... ¡®I didn¡¯t hear any sound.¡¯ Even after Alkas had entered, there had been no sounds for a long while. Worried, Jane had rushed in with the knights, planning to break in, but this situation was completely unexpected. ¡°Jane.¡± Kaylen¡¯s voice came from beyond the wall. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be on the other side of the door.¡± His confident voice. Until yesterday, Jane had thought he was just boasting, but hearing his voice now, after witnessing the wind magic, it seemed grounded in real confidence. ¡°First of all, I must apologize to your companions.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. It¡¯s our fault.¡± ¡°Thank you for understanding. Since you''re here, though... Alkas, could you bind yourself for me? There¡¯s been an unfortunate incident.¡± ¡°...Understood.¡± At the mention of ¡°unfortunate incident,¡± Jane¡¯s eyes lit up. Though Kaylen had lost some face, it seemed that the assassination attempt was as the princess had predicted. ¡®Well, at least this means the negotiations with the Florence family will be over.¡¯ At that moment, Jane remained optimistic, thinking the Florence family would no longer attempt to negotiate. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 14 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 14 ¡°Your bodyguard was caught at the academy.¡± Evan¡¯s voice, calling for Lina, was calm and emotionless, as if he was stating a mere fact. ¡°W-what? Caught...?¡± ¡°They say the princess¡¯s bodyguard was detained by the guards.¡± ¡°Ah... no...¡± Lina, who had given Alkas the order and had been unable to sleep due to anxiety over whether it would succeed or fail, collapsed to the floor after hearing Evan¡¯s words. ¡°Lina. Your magical talent is quite impressive, but your judgment is severely lacking.¡± ¡°For this matter, I¡¯ve set a price of 30,000 gold. Normally, this would be considered a large amount, but when I think of the losses our family will face because of this, it could be seen as a small sum.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to drastically reduce the price when I entrusted this to you.¡± Tap. Tap. Evan tapped his fingers on the desk. His gaze towards Lina was so cold that it was hard to imagine it came from a father looking at his daughter. ¡°I had intended to observe how you, potentially the next head of the family, would act in such a situation. But the result far exceeded my worst expectations. How it pales in comparison to Princess Violet, who had prepared in advance...¡± Princess Violet. The princess born of the same mother as the first prince, renowned for her exceptional beauty, 4th-circle magical ability, and sharp intellect. Her involvement in the first prince faction, coupled with her role as the mastermind behind stopping the assassination attempt, was something Lina hadn¡¯t considered. Having completely botched this mission, Evan couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry... Father.¡± ¡°You¡¯re done.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°You¡¯re not fit to participate in the succession. You have magical talent, so focus on research and stay out of the family affairs.¡± ¡°Ah... Father!¡± ¡°I¡¯m done speaking. Leave.¡± Evan, with a look of disdain, waved his hand, signaling for her to leave. Lina bit her lip, finally lowering her head and leaving the room. ¡®I¡¯ll have to meet him directly.¡¯ Before this matter gets further amplified by Princess Violet and the first prince faction, he needed to find a way to patch things up. What weighed on his mind was, of course, the assassination attempt. Would he even meet with someone from the Florence family who had tried to kill him? With that question lingering in his mind, Evan headed out... ¡°I¡¯ve been waiting for you.¡± To his surprise, Kaylen welcomed him. ¡°Please, have a seat.¡± And he was able to face him. As soon as Evan faced Kaylen, he realized. ¡®Lina was not even on his level.¡¯ Despite the assassination incident, Kaylen remained calm and unruffled. He was completely at ease, not showing any signs of tension, even with Evan before him.No?v(el)B\\jnn ¡°There was an unfortunate incident yesterday, wasn¡¯t there?¡± ¡°About that matter, I truly apologize.¡± At Evan¡¯s apology, Kaylen raised a single finger. ¡°One high-grade mana stone.¡± ¡°If you give me that, I will agree to the terms.¡± A high-grade mana stone. It was a commodity that traded for 50,000 gold in the market. This was exactly the same amount that Kaylen had initially wanted from Lina. Evan had expected Kaylen to ask for a higher price due to the assassination attempt, but his demands had not changed significantly. ¡°Are you sure that¡¯s all?¡± With some skepticism, Evan questioned him, to which Kaylen casually responded. ¡°Ah, and I would like you to give me the knight who was caught this time as well. These two conditions will be enough.¡± ¡°The knight?¡± Lina¡¯s bodyguard, Alkas. He was the top graduate from the Knight Academy, but lacked the talent to become a ''Meister,'' and thus, was not a particularly useful individual. That¡¯s why he had only served as Lina¡¯s bodyguard. ¡°Why do you want him?¡± ¡°I have an experiment I want to conduct with him.¡± ¡°An experiment?¡± ¡°Do you know how that door came off?¡± Kaylen pointed to the door of the infirmary, which had fallen off its hinges. ¡°I haven¡¯t heard the details yet. I only heard that traces of a powerful wind magic were found.¡± ¡°I did that.¡± ¡°...You?¡± Evan, who had heard that Kaylen¡¯s mana circle had collapsed, looked at him in confusion. Kaylen spoke calmly. Kaylen smiled and reassured her that there were no issues. He never used terms like ¡®accident¡¯ or ¡®agreement¡¯ when referring to his dealings with the Florence family, making it unclear if he was already fulfilling the terms of their agreement. Jane, glaring at the snake-like Kaylen, pushed the bound Alkas toward him. "You missed a good opportunity to prove loyalty to the royal family." Loyalty to the royal family. It was Kaylen who had raised Bormian, who was of commoner descent, to become the founder of the royal family. Kaylen lightly responded to the remark. "Indeed. It¡¯s a shame. There will be another opportunity next time." "...Princess Violet showed interest in your magic, Lord Kaylen. We may visit you again regarding this matter." "That sounds good. The Count of Florence also showed interest in my magic and has been generous in his sponsorship. I hope the princess¡¯s grace will reach me as well." His words were polite, but the underlying message was clear: if you¡¯re interested, you should sponsor him. Jane furrowed her brow and bluntly asked, "How much did the Florence family sponsor?" "They gave me five mid-grade mana stones." "And if I become a Meister, they¡¯ll provide five more mid-grade mana stones, and even promised to lend me a mana suit." "A mana suit too?" Jane¡¯s eyes widened when the mana suit was mentioned. She hadn¡¯t expected that part. "...I see. Then, I¡¯ll visit you again later." After hearing that, Jane hurriedly left the room, leaving Alkas behind. Kaylen watched her leave for a moment before getting up and releasing Alkas from his restraints. "Can you stand up... now?" "Of course. Now that the agreement is finished, is your body all right?" "Yes, it¡¯s fine." Kaylen examined Alkas¡¯s body before patting him on the shoulder. "You¡¯ve worked hard, Alkas. From now on, you¡¯re my person. I look forward to working with you." "I¡¯ll serve you with all my loyalty, my lord." "In that case, let me give you a sword." As Kaylen¡¯s right hand glowed slightly, a golden aura the size of a finger appeared, forming into a sword. Alkas''s eyes sparkled as he gazed at the sword. To create something like this so easily... His awe for Kaylen grew immensely. Kaylen smiled as he watched Alkas. "It¡¯s going to hurt a little." The golden sword pierced Alkas¡¯s finger in an instant. "Ugh..." The golden sword didn¡¯t stop at his finger but went deeper, entering his body. It soon found its place within his Mana Path, moving along it. "This sword is called the ''Sword of Training.''" "Ugh... uhh..." "The sword will guide you on where to pierce your Mana Path." The Sword of Training. It was a method devised by Ernstine, who had become frustrated when the auras of his subordinates and children didn¡¯t improve as expected. The Sword of Training, guided by Ernstine¡¯s will, would find the weak points in the Mana Path and direct the user to pierce them. At the same time, it would help develop the Mana Path and even assist with mana absorption. "Ugh... it¡¯s getting better now." "Once it has fully settled in your body, the pain will disappear. However, when you pierce the blocked Mana Path, the pain may return." "If I can pierce the Mana Path, I¡¯ll endure that pain, of course." "Good thinking." For a moment, Alkas grimaced in pain, but soon his face brightened as he moved his mana. Even though it was just one sword, the way his mana moved had noticeably improved. "The Sword of Training is ultimately just a support tool." "Yes." "You must establish your own sword and completely build it within your mana hall to become a true sword master. For now, you can accept the help of the Sword of Training, but one day, you must replace it with your own sword." "Understood, my lord." Alkas deeply engraved Kaylen¡¯s words in his heart. His gaze toward Kaylen was full of awe and respect. Seeing this, Kaylen couldn¡¯t help but smile slightly. "The Sword of Training has an effect I never intended," Kaylen thought. Those who wielded the Sword of Training tended to trust and revere him more. This wasn¡¯t just because of the sword¡¯s capabilities, though... "It¡¯s not just about the effect. The way their hearts change... I think it¡¯s related to the fact that the Sword of Training came from me." Was it because Ernstine himself was the origin of the Sword of Training? Those who wielded the Sword of Training were always loyal. Seeing Alkas¡¯s eyes starting to change, resembling those of his former knights, Kaylen suddenly decided to ask something he had been curious about. "Alkas." "Yes!" "What exactly is a mana suit?" "...Huh?" "And you don¡¯t even know what a Meister is, do you?" [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 15 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 15 Alkas was momentarily taken aback. No, how could he not know this? It was common knowledge. Even if he came from a rural area, there was no way he could not know. To Alkas, Kaylen finally spoke the words he had prepared in advance. ¡°Why do you think I became a Sword Master? Doesn¡¯t it seem strange? At such a young age, and as a student of the Magic Academy, no less.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true, but...¡± A boy who had never trained, completely distant from a sword, with a body that looked far from a warrior¡¯s. And yet, this student from the Magic Academy was a Sword Master. If this story were told outside, no one would believe it. ¡°I inherited the power and memories of an ancestor who was a former Sword Master. In exchange, I lost some of my current memories.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± To inherit the power of an ancestor. If anyone else had said this, they would have been treated as insane. But since it was Kaylen, a student of the Magic Academy who had shown the divine status of a Sword Master, it didn¡¯t sound like a lie. As Alkas nodded, Kaylen spoke again. ¡°Then you need to fill in the gaps of my common sense.¡± ¡°Understood. I will tell you everything I know. Mana suits, Meister... Ah, do you not even know why Mana suits were developed?¡± ¡°Uh, yes, please explain that as well.¡± ¡°Then I will start with that.¡± 500 years ago. Suddenly, dungeons appeared in the world. A passageway used by demons from the Demon Realm, a dungeon. It was known to appear as a precursor to the Demon King¡¯s descent. ¡®I thought I had already driven the Demon King away 1,000 years ago.¡¯ Once driven out, the Demon King would not appear for a thousand years. But dungeons had started appearing 500 years ago? Kaylen was puzzled, but continued to listen to Alkas¡¯s words. ¡°According to old records, dungeons were said to disappear if the monsters inside were eliminated and the magic circle erased... But the dungeon that appeared back then was different.¡± ¡°How was it different?¡± ¡°The dungeon that appeared 500 years ago had a massive core inside it.¡± If a dungeon was left unchecked, the surrounding area would be devastated by the monsters that continued to emerge from it. So, when a dungeon appeared, one of the main tasks of the military was to send a hunting squad to eliminate it. Kaylen, having commanded the Empire¡¯s army, was an expert in dungeon eradication, but he had never heard of a dungeon core. ¡°The dungeon¡¯s core resembled a Mana Stone. This could not be destroyed by normal force.¡± ¡°Then what happened?¡± ¡°It required a very powerful destructive force, the power of Mana. For example, a Sword Master¡¯s Aura Sword... or a method where several high-level mages simultaneously cast powerful magic attacks.¡± ¡°Was it that powerful?¡± ¡°Yes. For any dungeon of any level, that much power was needed.¡± Only with a very strong blow of Mana could the core of the dungeon be destroyed. No matter how many soldiers, knights, or mages there were, it was all useless. Unless one reached the highest level, a dungeon could not be destroyed. However, those who reached that level were extremely few, even if you searched the whole world. No matter how hard they tried to destroy the dungeon, they could not keep up with the rate at which they appeared. Moreover, some dungeons housed monstrously strong creatures that made it impossible for even a master to subdue them without taking damage. As dungeons gradually multiplied, monsters began to emerge from them, and humanity started losing ground. ¡°The borders no longer held any meaning.¡± The borders that once defined a nation¡¯s territory. Now, due to the monster uprisings, it no longer mattered whose land this was. The available forces for dungeon eradication were limited. Except for the capital and other major cities, almost everything was left abandoned. ¡°If the dungeons have existed since 500 years ago, does that mean the Demon King hasn¡¯t descended?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct. The Demon King hasn¡¯t descended, and only lower-level demons have appeared sporadically.¡± ¡°I see...¡± Normally, the appearance of a dungeon would be a signal for the Demon King¡¯s arrival. But seeing how humanity had managed to survive for 500 years, it seemed the Demon King had not come. A world vastly different from the one he knew. Kaylen wanted to see the changes of the era with his own eyes. Especially the dungeon cores and Mana Suits. Among them, the Mana Suit was something he could get a glimpse of. ¡°Alkas, what do I need to do to become a Meister?¡± ¡°Do you intend to become a Meister?¡± ¡°I just want to see a Mana Suit.¡± He had been told that if he became a Meister, he could rent a Mana Suit. When Kaylen mentioned his contract with the head of the Florence family, Alkas fell into deep thought. ¡°For knights, the process is complicated. After passing the Meister exam at the Knight Academy, you¡¯ll need to go to a Meister Academy that matches your attribute and train there for many years.¡± ¡°Many years?¡± ¡°Yes, at least five years...¡± Go back to an academy again? "Five years?" Furthermore, what they would teach there would likely just be handling the powers of the four major elements. For Kaylen, who could wield not only the four elements but also the sword of light and darkness, it was hardly an appealing option. ¡°What about mages?¡± ¡°Once you reach the 3rd circle, you can apply for the Meister exam. Mages usually take the exam in their third year at the Magic Academy.¡± ¡°The 3rd circle...¡± Before forming a Mana Body, it was possible to use 3rd circle magic. However, now, only one Mana Circle had formed, following the shape of his body. "Fireball." Kaylen tried casting a 3rd circle spell as he had done before, but the Fireball didn¡¯t appear. The mana circle could only channel mana through a single circle, and no matter how much he tried, it wouldn¡¯t generate the spell. ¡°Firebolt.¡± Determined, Kaylen tried using a 2nd circle spell. Unlike the Fireball from the 3rd circle, the mana began swirling around in the circle, and a fireball took form. ¡°It worked.¡± ¡°Is... is this Firebolt?¡± Alkas, who was watching Kaylen summon the Firebolt, was left in astonishment. A typical Firebolt of the 2nd circle would usually be an upgrade of the 1st circle Fire Arrow, taking the form of an arrow. But this was more like a long spear than an arrow. The intense heat from it made the surroundings feel as though they could catch fire at any moment. ¡°Dismiss.¡± Kaylen, who was satisfied with the spear-like Firebolt, dismissed it. As he did, the temperature in the room gradually began to cool down. ¡®With one circle, it seems I can use up to the 2nd circle magic.¡¯ The mana in the new circle was certainly sufficient, but perhaps due to his incomplete understanding of circle magic, he could only use magic up to the 2nd circle with the one circle marked on his body. ¡®To take the Meister exam, I need the 3rd circle.¡¯ He would need to engrave another circle on his body by investing mana. To do so, an enormous amount of mana would be required... But fortunately for Kaylen, he had just that amount of mana available. ¡®The Mana Stones from the Florence family.¡¯ One high-grade Mana Stone. Five medium-grade Mana Stones. With that amount of mana, it would be more than enough to form a new circle. ¡®That family is really helping me a lot.¡¯ Originally, Lina de Florence, the true owner of Kaylen¡¯s body, who had used him without hesitation, now appeared almost... appealing in his eyes. ¡®I¡¯ll make good use of it.¡¯ Three days later, Kaylen was able to inscribe another circle onto his body. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 16 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 16 The Second Mana Circle. It took far more mana than Kaylen had anticipated. This was because the mana already built into his Mana Body needed to be filled further. Additionally, the new Mana Stones didn¡¯t contain the traces of Infinity as before, so absorbing them took more time. ¡°Phew.¡± After absorbing the Mana Stones, Kaylen reached his goal¡ªcreating a second Mana Circle¡ªonly after taking in one high-grade Mana Stone and four medium-grade Mana Stones. ¡°Only one Mana Stone remains.¡± The remaining stone was a medium-grade Mana Stone. Now, for Kaylen, who had already built two Mana Circles and expanded his Mana Body, a single Mana Stone wouldn''t have much effect. ¡®It¡¯s better to sell this for gold.¡¯ A medium-grade Mana Stone was worth about 5,000 gold. Kaylen was curious about its value and asked Alkas. ¡°Can I buy a house in the capital with 5,000 gold?¡± ¡°It depends on the area, but...¡± ¡°I¡¯d prefer somewhere near the academy.¡± ¡°The Academy is located in the South River District. Land prices are so high there that you won¡¯t be able to buy a good house for a noble with that much gold.¡± ¡°Not even with 5,000 gold?¡± ¡°Correct. It¡¯s a seller¡¯s market. I know recently, mansions in that area are going for at least 20,000 gold. You might be able to buy a house where commoners live, but it¡¯ll be far worse than a dormitory.¡± Alkas explained that 5,000 gold would not even cover a mansion. It was better to stay in a dormitory than to live in a commoner¡¯s house. ¡°That¡¯s more expensive than I thought.¡± ¡°The rise of dungeons has caused the collapse of regional economies and skyrocketed land prices in the capital. I¡¯m sure elite forces equipped with Mana Suits are concentrated there.¡± ¡°Right...¡± ¡°Plus, many of the major magic towers are located there as well. Hmm... are you planning to continue attending the academy, my lord?¡± ¡°I have to. I need to earn the Meister qualification.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that tuition in the third year of the Magic Academy is outrageous. Some say it costs the equivalent of one Mana Stone... Perhaps it would be better to use your Mana Stones for that?¡± ¡°Really? But there are plenty of commoners in my academy who attend with me. How do they afford the tuition?¡± ¡°When you reach the third year, you¡¯ll be recognized as a 3rd circle mage, so many magic towers pay the tuition fees in exchange for recruiting you.¡± ¡°I see.¡± A 3rd circle mage at the age of 19 was a remarkable talent. Magic towers eagerly recruited such individuals and often covered their tuition fees, making it a win-win for both the mages and the towers. However, Kaylen had no intention of becoming bound to a magic tower. He would leave the decision for further education open for now. Once that was sorted, he realized that he had no money left in hand. But Kaylen wasn¡¯t worried. ¡®Money isn¡¯t as important as the second Mana Circle.¡¯ The more he achieved, the less concerned he was with money. The magic towers would surely bring in the funds when needed. For now, it was important to focus on building his strength. *** Kaylen''s Current State... Kaylen checked his mana level with a thoughtful expression. ¡®In terms of mana...¡¯ He could still use the Aura Sword, but unlike during his days as a Sword Master, he could no longer produce it indefinitely. Although he had upgraded his Mana Body by combining the attributes of the Mana Heart, he still had a long way to go. ¡®If I properly manifest the Aura Sword, it¡¯ll last for 20 minutes.¡¯ This wasn¡¯t a demonstration for Alkas; when using the Aura Sword in battle, 20 minutes was the limit. If he triggered Infinity and recharged the mana inside, he might be able to extend it by 10 more minutes. ¡®The Mana Circles should also consume quite a bit of mana.¡¯ Despite absorbing several Mana Stones, a significant portion had already been used to build his Mana Body and inscribe the circles. The total amount of mana still wasn¡¯t sufficient. ¡®But if I gather more mana, my level will increase significantly.¡¯ When he was Ernstine, he could store 100 mana and use 10 to 20 at a time. Now, after constructing his Mana Body, he could store 100 mana and use more than 50 of it. ¡®Right now, I¡¯m a half-hearted Sword Master, but if I expand Infinity and gather more mana, I should be able to regain the power of my former Sword Master self.¡¯ The solution seemed clear: gather more mana. But that wasn¡¯t as easy as it seemed. ¡®Even though my body now is completely different from before, mana isn¡¯t gathering fast enough.¡¯ Unlike 1,000 years ago, the rate at which mana was accumulating in his body was far too slow. After creating his Mana Body, it sped up a little, but it still wasn¡¯t at a satisfactory level. Bormian, the spear-wielding king. For him, Kaylen had created a Sword of Training tailored specifically to him, but when the second one came, Bormian had collapsed, crying out, ¡°My lord, please save me!¡± rolling on the ground in agony. In comparison, Alkas¡ªwhose Mana Heart and Mana Path were still undeveloped¡ªwas enduring this pain remarkably well. Alkas¡¯s condition looked horrific. His veins were bursting, leaving bruises across his entire body, and his arms began to bulge in a similar way to Kaylen''s. ¡°Should I take it out?¡± ¡°No. I can endure it!¡± Alkas responded swiftly, his determination unwavering despite the intense pain. He gritted his teeth, slowly getting used to the agony. Just as he was beginning to acclimate to the pain, a knock sounded at the door. Knock, knock. ¡°Kaylen, may I come in for a moment?¡± Hearing the familiar voice, Kaylen furrowed his brows. It was the worst possible time¡ªAlkas was going through an important training phase, and now someone was interrupting. ¡°Yes, come in, teacher.¡± The door opened, and a middle-aged mage entered the room. It was O''Connell, Kaylen¡¯s magic professor, who, under the guise of checking on his students, had been frequently visiting the infirmary. Of course, his true intentions weren¡¯t so innocent. ¡°Kaylen.¡± O''Connell grinned as he entered. After briefly glancing at Alkas, whose face was flushed and swollen from the pain, he turned to Kaylen. ¡°Your new bodyguard doesn¡¯t look so good.¡± ¡°There¡¯s been an incident.¡± ¡°Hmm... What kind of experiment are you doing? If you tell me roughly what it is, I might be able to help.¡± Kaylen, eyeing O''Connell¡¯s gaze as he looked at both him and Alkas, thought that his eyes resembled those of a rat. Kaylen wasn¡¯t sure if O''Connell had been approached by the first prince''s faction, but since the incident, O''Connell had been coming to him daily, eagerly trying to gather information. Despite claiming to be worried as a teacher, O''Connell was clearly trying to get free information, without offering anything in return. Kaylen had no intention of giving out free information, so he lightly dismissed O''Connell¡¯s suggestion. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s a joint project with the Florence family.¡± As soon as Kaylen mentioned the Florence family, O''Connell¡¯s expression shifted slightly. Mentioning the Florence family was like using a shield, and Kaylen wasn¡¯t giving him any openings. In the past, Kaylen had been a naive student, doing whatever he was told without questioning it. But now, he was a completely different person. ¡°...Then, I guess I have no choice but to let it go.¡± O''Connell seemed to relent, but then his eyes shifted as he looked at Alkas, and he began talking about something else. ¡°By the way, your body seems to be recovering. Shouldn¡¯t you be heading to class soon?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°But... what about magic? Can you keep using it?¡± O''Connell¡¯s mention of Alkas was just a probing attempt, as he quickly shifted to his real objective. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± O''Connell then cut to the point. ¡°After this unfortunate incident, we need to test if you can still carry out your duties as a mage.¡± ¡°...What kind of test are you talking about?¡± ¡°We need to measure whether you can still use 2nd-circle magic, whether the flow of mana is stable, and if there¡¯s any risk involved. All of that should be checked.¡± ¡°I can still use 2nd-circle magic, though.¡± ¡°Even so, we need to conduct a precise measurement to make sure you can make up for the classes you missed due to this unfortunate accident.¡± ¡°Classes...¡± ¡°You¡¯ve missed several weeks already. At this rate, even if you do reach 3rd-circle, you won¡¯t meet the promotion requirements.¡± O''Connell¡¯s smile was insidious, almost as if he relished the power of using class attendance as leverage. Rather than genuinely worrying about Kaylen¡¯s well-being, he was pushing for a test under the guise of making up missed classes. Through this test, O''Connell was likely hoping to figure out the abnormal strength of Kaylen¡¯s magic that had been experienced by the maid, no doubt wanting to understand it for himself. His motives were clear, and the smile on his face only grew more smug. ¡°The test is simple.¡± ¡°Sounds like you want an immediate answer. Should I give you a response by tomorrow?¡± With that, O''Connell exited the room, his smile still intact as he left. Kaylen calmly watched him go. ¡°Master, are you okay?¡± Alkas¡¯s voice held concern, but Kaylen¡¯s reply was light. ¡°The first prince¡¯s side must not have much money. They''re trying to milk us dry.¡± Kaylen answered Alkas¡¯s worry with a casual response. ¡°If they keep pushing like this, we¡¯ll have a way to handle it on our end.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 17 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 17 "Kaylen, one of Mr. O¡¯Connell¡¯s students, seems to have used some remarkable magic. Princess Violet has asked you to look into it, sir." "Remarkable magic, you say?" When O¡¯Connell first heard this from the maid, he found it hard to believe. He knew a bit about this student named Kaylen. No outstanding talent. No passion for effort. Lazy and gluttonous. A failing student who barely managed the 2nd Circle¡ªif that even. Even though Jane had personally testified that she was blown away by Kaylen¡¯s 1st Circle Wind Magic... "Knights are always useless. Now they¡¯re even spouting nonsense." O¡¯Connell didn¡¯t believe it easily. The Kaylen he knew was just that much of a failure. "Princess Violet said that if he shows significant ability, she¡¯d even provide him with an Intermediate Mana Stone. If he¡¯s hesitant to disclose information, she¡¯s willing to give up to three Mana Stones as compensation for accurate details." However, the princess seemed to think differently, going as far as offering three Mana Stones. "Three Mana Stones?" O¡¯Connell¡¯s thoughts shifted. "I know that Kaylen kid well enough." The student he observed in class. A feeble kid who¡¯d spill everything under the pressure of his teacher¡¯s authority. "Though I can¡¯t outright threaten him. I need a legitimate reason." O¡¯Connell decided on a test as his justification. If he framed it as a condition for advancing, Kaylen would have no choice but to comply. "I¡¯ll get the information from him and make use of those Mana Stones myself." Now, O¡¯Connell hoped Kaylen had some worthwhile information. Only then would the princess provide the Mana Stones. O¡¯Connell was already excited about getting his hands on them. However... "I refuse to take the test you mentioned, sir." "What..." "I can use magic. I see no reason to follow such an order." When O¡¯Connell visited the next day, Kaylen confidently informed him. "You¡¯re refusing the test?" "Yes. And I¡¯ll be attending classes again starting tomorrow, so there¡¯s no need for you to visit me anymore." With that, Kaylen politely bowed to O¡¯Connell. "Now, I need to pack my things. Please leave, sir." "You... Kaylen. Even with your stupidity, you don¡¯t understand the implications of what I¡¯m saying?" "Oh, I understand perfectly." As O¡¯Connell growled with a threatening tone, Kaylen began stepping closer. "A teacher, who calls himself my advisor..." Step. Step. Kaylen approached. "...visiting a student recovering in the infirmary..." His body, once laughable due to its uncontrollable weight, had transformed. While still large, it no longer evoked ridicule but rather an imposing presence. "Using advancement as a pretext to intimidate me..." Kaylen stepped forward, closing the distance by a single stride. Gone were his formerly vacant eyes. His golden eyes now shone with a sharp brilliance, exuding a piercing gaze. Along with that gaze, an overwhelming intensity emanated from him. It wasn¡¯t the aura of a mage but that of a ferocious beast, like a bear approaching its prey. Unconsciously, O¡¯Connell took a step back. His body shuddered as goosebumps spread across his skin. "Isn¡¯t this what you meant, sir?" Kaylen¡¯s voice was calm but firm. "I¡¯ll see you in class tomorrow. Please leave now." Is this kid defying me? I¡¯ll make sure he never dreams of advancing! How dare this country bumpkin...! Those words swirled in O¡¯Connell¡¯s mind, but he couldn¡¯t bring himself to say them. Because... As much as he hated to admit it, he was scared. It felt like he had defied someone he should never have crossed. ''Damn it, what¡¯s wrong with my body?!'' Kaylen hadn¡¯t done anything extraordinary. "So, your patron is already showing interest," Kaylen replied indifferently. "It¡¯s still in the early stages. Tell him to wait." "...That¡¯s it?" "Yeah." Lina knew exactly how much her father had invested in this endeavor¡ªone high-grade Mana Stone and five mid-grade Mana Stones, equivalent to a staggering 75,000 gold. Despite receiving such a substantial investment, Kaylen¡¯s dismissive response made her seethe with frustration. "Leave." At Kaylen¡¯s curt command, she bit her lip again, unable to say anything further, and turned away. Watching Lina retreat silently to her seat, the surrounding students began to whisper among themselves. "Wasn¡¯t Kaylen basically Lina¡¯s lapdog?" "Something¡¯s changed between them." "That guy¡¯s acting differently now." Of course, their interest didn¡¯t last long. "Let¡¯s begin the class." When their homeroom mage, O¡¯Connell, entered, the students quickly returned their focus to their studies. After all, Kaylen was just a backwater student, a 2nd-circle mage with subpar grades. No matter how much he changed, to them, he was simply a classmate they wouldn¡¯t see again after this semester. However, it didn¡¯t take long for Kaylen to draw their attention again. It happened during O¡¯Connell¡¯s "Introduction to 3rd-Circle Magic" class. "Kaylen, what¡¯s the meaning of what I just said?" "Kaylen, come to the front and solve this problem." "Kaylen." Kaylen¡¯s name echoed through the classroom at ten-minute intervals. At first, the students thought he was called randomly, but as the pattern continued, they realized the truth. Kaylen had been targeted by their teacher. "What¡¯s with him? What did he do to get singled out?" "Seriously, the teacher keeps calling him." "And all the questions are ridiculously hard." Before Kaylen¡¯s recent hospitalization, O¡¯Connell had barely acknowledged his existence. To O¡¯Connell, a student¡¯s worth was determined by one of two things: their family background or their exceptional talent. Kaylen, who had neither, didn¡¯t meet O¡¯Connell¡¯s standards in the slightest. Kaylen had once been ignored entirely, but now it was painfully obvious to the entire class: their teacher was fixated on him. Even the top-performing students would struggle with the kinds of questions O¡¯Connell posed, but Kaylen¡¯s reactions were downright infuriating. "I don¡¯t know." "Not a clue," Kaylen would answer, shrugging his shoulders. Though his responses were polite, there was something about his demeanor that was subtly provoking. It was as if he was toying with O¡¯Connell, and everyone in the room could sense it. ¡®Oh, he¡¯s definitely doing this on purpose,¡¯ the students thought. "This is disappointing. How can a student not know this?" "Are you even paying attention in class?" "With this level of understanding, there¡¯s no way I can give you a passing grade in Introduction to 3rd-Circle Magic. It¡¯s like you¡¯re not even trying!" O¡¯Connell didn¡¯t hesitate to use grades as leverage, blatantly threatening Kaylen. The other students, watching this unfold, couldn¡¯t help but feel uncomfortable. ¡®What¡¯s wrong with him? Is this really about class performance?¡¯ Still, they kept their heads down, unwilling to get involved. ¡®Better not get dragged into this mess.¡¯ ¡®I can¡¯t afford to be on the teacher¡¯s bad side.¡¯ O¡¯Connell¡¯s vendetta against Kaylen became clear when, at the end of class, he addressed the group. "I¡¯ve never had such a disappointing student in all my years here. I hope the rest of you are careful about the company you keep. You know what I mean." With that, O¡¯Connell left the room, leaving an awkward silence in his wake. What did Kaylen do to deserve this? Did a teacher have the right to act like this? These were the questions on everyone¡¯s minds, but none dared to ask Kaylen directly. It was the second semester of their second year¡ªa critical period for any aspiring mage. Crossing the wrong teacher could ruin their future prospects, so it was better to stay uninvolved. Unfortunately, it wasn¡¯t just O¡¯Connell. "Kaylen, is that you? Answer this question," demanded another professor during a subsequent class. "Tsk, tsk. How can you call yourself a mage if you don¡¯t know this?" Again and again, instructors posed absurdly difficult questions, criticizing Kaylen relentlessly when he didn¡¯t provide the correct answers. Several even hinted that his grades might suffer if he continued to "perform poorly." By the end of the week, nearly half of the academy¡¯s faculty had joined in this campaign of targeted harassment. ¡®Wow, this is insane. It¡¯s like they¡¯ve all teamed up against him.¡¯ ¡®Did he insult O¡¯Connell or something?¡¯ As if that wasn¡¯t enough, Kaylen¡¯s classmates avoided him entirely, not wanting to risk associating with him. Five days passed like this. Kaylen, however, remained unfazed. His unyielding demeanor baffled everyone, especially his tormentors. The Swordmaster who had returned after a millennium refused to bend. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 18 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 18 "Kaylen, this question..." "I don''t know." Kaylen answered the teacher''s question simply and returned his gaze to his book. The teacher''s face turned red and then pale. "You didn''t even look at the question! Why is your attitude so disrespectful?" "I''m just answering honestly that I don''t know." Kaylen, with his eyes still fixed on the book titled Fundamentals of Mana Suits: Structure and Understanding, let the teacher''s scolding pass in one ear and out the other. ¡®Human strength has weakened compared to the past, but mana suits make up for all of it.¡¯ In a world with dwindling mana and the rampant spread of dungeons, the existence of mana suits alone was holding the chaos at bay. ¡®I want to try handling one myself.¡¯ No matter how much he read about them, nothing compared to hands-on experience. ¡®But to do that, I¡¯ll need to become a Meister first.¡¯ "Kaylen! This question..." "I don¡¯t know." "You don¡¯t know even this basic question? I¡¯ll have to deduct points for your poor attitude in class!" "Sure, do as you wish." "You... You insolent¡ª!" At the Magic Academy, point deductions were what students feared most. The academy attracted prodigies from all over the region, and the grading scale was so competitive that even a single deduction could drastically lower a student¡¯s rank. But Kaylen didn¡¯t care in the slightest whether his points were docked or not. "This brat...!" The teacher¡¯s face turned crimson. Using grades as leverage had always worked to keep students in line, but this one seemed utterly unbothered. After being asked by O¡¯Connell to give Kaylen a hard time, the teacher found himself only growing more frustrated. This wasn¡¯t just this teacher¡¯s experience¡ªevery instructor, including O¡¯Connell, faced the same infuriating results. Kaylen¡¯s attitude was subtly provocative in a way that made them want to hit him, despite their professional restraint. In contrast, Kaylen remained completely indifferent. In fact... ¡®This Magic Academy is surprisingly gentle.¡¯ Kaylen recalled his days as a noble attending the Knight Academy in the past. Back then, corporal punishment and verbal abuse were routine. In comparison, the Magic Academy, with its bookish instructors, felt remarkably peaceful. And yet, they considered this kind of treatment harassment. "I¡¯m deducting points for you this time!" "Yes, understood." Without even looking up, Kaylen nodded casually. It didn¡¯t matter to him how many points were deducted; his grades were irrelevant. After all, Kaylen¡¯s current academic standing was... ¡®In the very bottom ranks.¡¯ When Kaylen decided to pursue the path of becoming a Meister and aim for promotion to the third year, this fact was already clear to him. He could recall Kaylen¡¯s academic performance. In theory classes, Kaylen performed comparably to most average students. However, in practical assessments, he was consistently among the lowest-ranked. On a grading scale ranging from A+ to F, his overall average hovered close to a C. While this placed him roughly in the middle percentile in terms of raw scores, compared to the average grades of other Magic Academy students, his standing was considerably low. ¡®Advancing to the third year requires more than just achieving the 3rd Circle.¡¯ According to academy regulations, a student needed both mastery of the 3rd Circle and a cumulative average of at least a B grade to qualify for promotion. For most students who reached the 3rd Circle, their practical skills were naturally strong enough to secure high marks, making this requirement essentially a formality. However, in Kaylen¡¯s case, meeting this criterion was significantly more challenging. ¡®Well, if I reveal I¡¯ve achieved the 3rd Circle, I¡¯ll qualify for additional training. That could provide the grades I need.¡¯ There had been rare cases in the past of students in similar situations. Occasionally, a struggling 2nd Circle mage would make a breakthrough during the school break and ascend to the 3rd Circle. Such students were often supported by their homeroom teacher, who would guide them through supplementary training to adjust their grades and help them advance to the third year. In these scenarios, the homeroom teacher¡¯s role was crucial. Normally, the promotion of a 3rd Circle mage would be considered a cause for celebration, and the teacher would enthusiastically assist. ¡®But O¡¯Connell doesn¡¯t seem like the type to do that.¡¯ Even if he pretended to help, he¡¯d likely demand to test Kaylen¡¯s abilities under the guise of verification and then exploit him for information. Kaylen had no intention of playing along with such schemes. Moreover, additional training would mean endless hours of irrelevant coursework. Much of the academy¡¯s curriculum revolved around visualizing elemental magic, something Kaylen already excelled at. Spending time on such lessons felt like a waste. Thus, advancing through the standard route wasn¡¯t an option for him. Fortunately, the academy had another way. ¡°...Class dismissed.¡± The practical class in which Kaylen had just been penalized came to an end. Clatter. As the students were getting ready to leave, their homeroom teacher, O¡¯Connell, entered and called out, ¡°Everyone, stay seated for a moment.¡± Kaylen stood up abruptly and followed O¡¯Connell out of the classroom. As the two exited, the classroom erupted into chatter. ¡°Hey... do you think it¡¯s true?¡± ¡°No way. Kaylen, a 3rd Circle mage? That¡¯s impossible to believe.¡± ¡°Exactly. He¡¯s never shown any talent before. How could someone like him suddenly become 3rd Circle?¡± ¡°But still... he seemed so confident about it.¡± ¡°Should we go check it out?¡± The idea that Kaylen, who had always been firmly at the bottom of the rankings, was now claiming to have reached the 3rd Circle sparked disbelief. Yet, curiosity got the better of some students, and they began heading to the training hall. Among them was Lina, who thought to herself, ''Could it really be true?'' *** ¡°Fireball.¡± Arriving at the training hall, Kaylen cast one of the most emblematic 3rd Circle spells: Fireball. However, the fireball was noticeably smaller than average¡ªless than half the usual size. Yet, despite its size, the energy contained within was potent. ''It¡¯s not complete yet,'' Kaylen mused. To O¡¯Connell, though, only the size caught his attention. ''He can actually use 3rd Circle magic... but how?'' O¡¯Connell was struck with disbelief. ''Could this somehow be connected to the request Jane made?'' The information Jane had asked him to gather now resurfaced in his mind. Up until just moments ago, O¡¯Connell was convinced someone like Kaylen couldn¡¯t possibly have any special abilities. But seeing this spell made him waver. ''Does Kaylen really possess some extraordinary power?'' The image of the mana stone Jane had mentioned flashed through O¡¯Connell¡¯s mind. O¡¯Connell¡¯s frustration reached its peak. ''If I can probe further here... I might be able to get my hands on the mana stone.'' Fueled by ambition, he made the worst possible decision. ¡°I cannot accept this as proof.¡± Despite the fireball clearly being a legitimate 3rd Circle spell, O¡¯Connell dismissed it. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too small.¡± ¡°I reduced the size intentionally,¡± Kaylen countered. O¡¯Connell scoffed at the explanation. Intentionally resizing a 3rd Circle spell? Such precise control was only possible for a mage of the 4th Circle or higher. ¡°Kaylen, stop lying. Cast it properly again if you want me to believe you.¡± Hoping to extract more information, O¡¯Connell pushed Kaylen to try again. But Kaylen simply shook his head. ¡°I wasn¡¯t lying.¡± ¡°You little¡ª! I¡¯m giving you a chance here!¡± ¡°If you still don¡¯t believe me, perhaps you should test it yourself,¡± Kaylen replied, pointing a finger at O¡¯Connell. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be fitting for someone of your level to block my spell personally?¡± ¡°...What did you say?¡± Mentioning the 4th Circle struck a nerve. O¡¯Connell¡¯s face darkened immediately because his current level was only at the 3rd Circle. The 4th Circle was O¡¯Connell¡¯s sore spot, an unattainable height no matter how much effort he poured in. If he had reached it, he wouldn¡¯t have been stuck as an academy instructor despite his affiliation with the prestigious Red Tower. ¡°My mistake,¡± Kaylen continued with feigned contrition, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect a teacher to be at the same Circle as a student.¡± ¡°You insolent¡ª¡± ¡°Insolent? Oh, please. We¡¯re equals, aren¡¯t we? No need for harsh words,¡± Kaylen said, his smirk growing wider. It wasn¡¯t just a smirk¡ªit was a blatant taunt. O¡¯Connell¡¯s fury boiled over. ''How dare this brat mock me for being a 3rd Circle mage?'' All composure was gone, replaced by a single, burning desire: to put this upstart in his place. ¡°Fine. Show me what you¡¯ve got!¡± ¡°Are you sure you want this?¡± Kaylen asked, his voice calm but laced with amusement. ¡°I¡¯m sure. But you better prepare yourself¡ªI¡¯ll show you what a real 3rd Circle mage is capable of.¡± The mention of ¡°attack and defense¡± implied that O¡¯Connell planned to counter, not just block, Kaylen¡¯s magic. A teacher attacking a student¡ªit was utterly inappropriate. ¡°S-Sir! You can¡¯t seriously mean that!¡± The watching students, alarmed, tried to intervene. Kaylen raised a hand to stop them, his smile unwavering. ¡°Let him. This could be fun.¡± His tone was cheerful, yet his eyes gleamed with a sharpness that made O¡¯Connell hesitate for a brief moment. ¡°Let¡¯s do this properly, shall we?¡± Kaylen said, stepping forward confidently. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 19 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 19 Kaylen looked around. The students who had come to watch the confrontation between Kaylen and O''Connell. They were anxiously watching, wondering if something bad was going to happen, given O''Connell¡¯s anger. A 3rd Circle spell has such enormous power that, even without an intent to kill, it could easily result in death. ¡°Everyone, leave the training area.¡± ¡°Teacher... what if something happens...!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you trust my skills, Elid? You¡¯re also a 3rd Circle, aren¡¯t you?¡± O''Connell glared sharply at the student trying to stop him. Elid, one of the few 3rd Circle mages in the class, shut his mouth, intimidated by that gaze. ''This crazy guy. Touching the one thing the homeroom teacher hates the most...!'' ¡°This disrespectful brat, I¡¯ll teach him a lesson and kick him out. You all better leave and stop watching!¡± O''Connell, firmly convinced he would win, didn¡¯t want to show a scene of him beating up one of his own students in front of the class. With a fierce look, he repeatedly told the students to leave the training area... Eventually, the students, unable to hide their worried expressions, had no choice but to leave. ¡°Ugh. Did you see the homeroom teacher¡¯s gaze? He looked like he was going to kill him.¡± ¡°Kaylen¡¯s crazy. Why did he even mention being a 3rd Circle mage?¡± ¡°Hey. What if an accident happens?¡± The students who left the training area began talking among themselves, expressing their concerns. They couldn¡¯t speak freely in front of O''Connell, but once they were outside, their worries grew. Even if the target was Kaylen, someone the class had no respect for, killing someone was a different matter. Among them was Lina. ''If I think about how my family¡¯s position collapsed because of him, I wish he¡¯d just die...'' But remembering the mana stones my family had invested in him, she knew he couldn¡¯t die here. Lina looked around. The magic training area. Located in a separate building outside, the magic training area was divided into 33 independent spaces. The training area O''Connell and Kaylen entered was the 8th training area. In front of the 8th training area and the entrance was the 1st training area. ''The 1st training area is the best one. Only royalty can use it.'' Lina looked toward the 1st training area. Several women in maid outfits were waiting by the door. ''If the maids of Princess Violet are here, that means the princess is training in the area.'' Could the princess stop O''Connell? Lina, carefully observing the 1st training area, raised her voice. ¡°Elid, shouldn¡¯t we try to stop them somehow?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you see the homeroom teacher¡¯s face earlier? How are we supposed to stop this?¡± ¡°Still. He could actually kill Kaylen, right? O''Connell might kill him!¡± Lina shouted loudly, causing the maids in front of the 1st training area to frown. The princess was training inside, and here they were, making such a ruckus. But one of the maids, Jane, thought differently. ''O''Connell, and Kaylen?'' O''Connell had loudly proclaimed that he would handle getting information from Kaylen himself. And now, to say he would kill him? What was this nonsense? As Jane stiffened her expression and was about to approach Lina, the door to the 1st training area creaked open. Kaylen, who had been watching O''Connell kick everyone out, spoke up once they had all left. ¡°You¡¯ve kicked everyone out.¡± ¡°Yeah, you brat. From now on, even if you kneel and beg, I won¡¯t show any mercy.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s what I was going to say.¡± ¡°What...?¡± ¡°From now on, even if you kneel and beg, I won¡¯t show mercy.¡± Kaylen¡¯s demeanor changed abruptly when he stopped using formal speech. ¡°This brat... talking like this to a teacher...!¡± ¡°O''Connell, you¡¯ve been quite a pain.¡± Kaylen then spread his palm. ¡°Fireball.¡± A fireball erupted once again. This time, it started to grow much larger than before. O''Connell¡¯s expression stiffened immediately upon seeing it. ¡®No way... Could it be...? A tall, blonde woman was walking toward them. The first thing that caught the eye was the half-mask made of ice. The half-mask, adorned with five small blue jewels, covered her left eye and the entire left side of her face. "O''Connell." Even with half of her face hidden, the exposed part of her face was strikingly beautiful. Her beauty was extraordinary, one that even Kaylen had never encountered in his life, not even during the time of the Conqueror King, Ernstine. As he looked at her face, Kaylen thought of someone. ¡®...She resembles Bormian.¡¯ Bormian, a famous young knight from Ernstine¡¯s era. Although he was male, he had been often mistaken for a woman due to his delicate features. This woman looked strikingly similar to him. A beauty with a face almost identical to Bormian, the founding king of Bormian Kingdom. ¡®She must be Princess Violet.¡¯ A 4th-circle mage at the age of 19. The legendary magical genius known as Princess Violet. Kaylen immediately recognized her. "Your... Highness..." O''Connell stuttered. "I received a report telling me not to be concerned with him." "That... that..." "Kaylen has no special matters to be concerned about. They said they would observe, just in case." Princess Violet walked past Kaylen and approached O''Connell. Though she addressed him with honorifics, her voice was icy cold. "And yet, you were defeated by him and are now groveling on the floor." "That... that¡¯s..." "Even though you were already defeated, you still attempted to strike with an assassin''s blow." "Ugh..." "This disgrace will need some time for reflection." "I''m... sorry. Please, just that one thing..." "Ice Prison." Flash. Flash. Two of the jewels on her mask began to glow blue, and immense water mana surged. The water mana coiled around Princess Violet¡¯s left arm, transforming her body into ice. Kaylen''s eyes gleamed with curiosity as he watched. ¡®Ho. Could it be...?¡¯ This was a piece of equipment that did not exist in Kaylen¡¯s time. Something he had only read about in books... a mana suit. ¡®The water attribute is completely merging with her body.¡¯ Whiiii. Explosive water mana erupted from Princess Violet''s arm. It quickly turned to cold and surrounded O''Connell, and soon... Crack. Crack. His body was instantly trapped in ice pillars. In the blink of an eye, an ice prison formed around O''Connell. Inside, O''Connell was frozen, his face one of despair. "Reflect on your actions in there," Princess Violet said with a cold smile. Her smile was so icy and sorrowful that the students and attendants who witnessed it shuddered. ¡®They call her the Witch of the Glaciers in the world... I guess it¡¯s true.¡¯ ¡®Ah... She froze him again with Ice Prison. She enjoys freezing people so much.¡¯ ¡®At least he¡¯s not dead... But how many people has she done this to?¡¯ Kaylen, however, paid no attention to any of that. His gaze was fixated entirely on the mana suit. His eyes shone with excitement, like a child receiving a new toy. ¡®So that¡¯s the mana suit.¡¯ The mana suit. Now, Kaylen could fully grasp what it meant to be able to handle such a suit, something only a master who had mastered a single attribute could use. The mana flowing from the suit merged with Princess Violet¡¯s arm, making it seem as if her body had become one with the element, much like how spirit mages control spirits. The mana stones embedded in her mask were all of the water attribute, and since the princess herself was a master of water mana, she had focused all her training on it. ¡®At that level, the destructive power of a single attribute must be incredible.¡¯ Shhrrr. As the ice on Princess Violet¡¯s arm began to melt, her blue robes were revealed once more. Kaylen licked his lips in disappointment. He had wanted to watch more, but it ended too quickly. "My apologies for the trouble." Princess Violet spoke politely to Kaylen. Just as Kaylen had looked at the mana suit with curiosity, she was now gazing at him with the same inquisitive expression. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 20 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 20 The first training ground, which is only available to royalty. Kaylen sat at the table within, having tea with Princess Violet. ¡®Princess Violet...¡¯ A genius who reached the 4th-circle as a mage at the age of 19, and a meister of the water element. Owner of the S-rank mana suit, ¡®Glacia¡¯. Officially, she was called the "Master of Glaciers," but in society, her nickname "Witch of Glaciers" was more widely used. It was known that Princess Violet actually preferred this nickname. "Alkas, you seem to know quite a bit." "Well, she''s probably the most famous person in our kingdom." "Then why the ''Witch''?" "They say her personality is a bit eccentric. And she keeps freezing people..." Kaylen recalled the information about Princess Violet that Alkas had shared with him previously and looked at the Princess before him. Ernstine, the continent''s only emperor. A man who had many concubines and countless beauties, his standards of beauty were sky-high. But even he would likely consider Princess Violet¡¯s appearance, revealed by the half-mask, as "beautiful." ¡®She''s about the level of a concubine.¡¯ The concubines of the Meier Empire, which had unified the continent. That was the highest praise Kaylen could give for her beauty. However, even such beauty only caught his attention for a moment. Kaylen¡¯s focus shifted to the half-ice mask. The S-rank mana suit, Glacia. A treasure that, as rumored, chose its owner. Its design was simple yet refined. A blue ice mask. The five mana stones embedded at the mask''s ends emitted a cold water-element mana, even in normal circumstances. The air around Princess Violet seemed to change in temperature, just by being near her. ¡®Amazing.¡¯ Did it change form when mana was infused into it? Kaylen remembered how the body seemed to turn to ice just moments ago. As much as he wanted to touch it himself and try infusing mana, she was a princess of the kingdom, after all. Unable to do so, Kaylen clicked his tongue in regret. "First son of the Starn family, Prince Kaylen." "Yes, Your Highness." "That Fireball from earlier was quite impressive." "You saw it from the beginning?" "Yes. I came in when I heard the commotion among the students." Princess Violet smiled slightly. "It was O''Connell who almost died, not you, Prince Kaylen." "Prince Kaylen should have punished him himself. How unfortunate." "Not at all." "I¡¯m sorry I had to take vengeance for you, but I¡¯ll keep O''Connell locked in Ice Prison for three days. He won¡¯t die, but the cold will seep into his bones, and it will be quite painful for him." Princess Violet smiled brightly, spreading her three fingers. Her mouth curled up so much that it nearly touched the half-mask over her left eye. Kaylen looked at her face and understood why she was called the Witch of Glaciers. She enjoys freezing people, and she loves it too much. "Now, to get to the main point, about that Fireball." "Yes." "How did you do it?" "What do you mean?" "A Fireball of such a high level is not something a fire meister can easily cast." Princess Violet¡¯s eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Does that magic have anything to do with the Florence family?" "Something similar." "What happened?" "I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t go into detail due to contract restrictions, but..." "Hehe. Even though I''m asking?" As the cold around Princess Violet grew more intense, the temperature in the air sharply dropped. Normally, with her position as a princess, coupled with the sudden chill, one would shiver and feel the pressure. However, Kaylen didn¡¯t flinch and calmly replied. "I apologize." "You¡¯re not giving in. You do have some resolve." Perhaps out of habit, Princess Violet absentmindedly fiddled with Glacia with her left hand, then, seeming to give up on the topic, changed the subject. "Prince Kaylen. What do you think is the purpose of a mana suit?" "To enhance magic and destroy dungeon cores, isn¡¯t it?" With those words, Princess Violet stared at Kaylen intently. It was a gaze that felt more overwhelming than it was simple, but Kaylen accepted it gratefully. Since she had clearly stated it was just a simple sponsorship, he decided it was okay to accept. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°However... may I see the Fireball from earlier?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Since she had already given him five mid-tier mana stones, this request seemed fair. Kaylen stood up and walked towards the training hall. Princess Violet immediately sprang to her feet and followed him. ¡°Alright. Try it there. Put all of your mana into it.¡± ¡°Fireball.¡± Although she had asked him to put all his mana into it, Kaylen knew that if he poured all the power from his mana body into the Fireball, it would surely become enormous in scale. He decided to control his power carefully and cast the Fireball. It was stronger than what he would have cast during the days of the Conqueror King, but still only slightly more powerful. ¡°Wow...¡± However, the standards Kaylen had in mind and the standards of the current age were vastly different. Back in the emperor''s days, all the mages he had seen were high-level magicians. So, the Fireballs back then had been stronger, in line with their abilities. ¡®Ah. I should¡¯ve expanded it to something closer to Lina¡¯s level back then.¡¯ As the princess widened her eyes, staring intently at the Fireball, Kaylen finally remembered the small Fireball Lina had once shown him. He had said he would control the power, but it seemed like it would attract more attention now. ¡°Can I test it for a moment?¡± ¡°Of course, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Ice Hand.¡± As soon as she heard Kaylen''s response, Princess Violet''s hand turned to ice. The hand, filled with powerful water mana, reached towards the fire to grab it, but... Sssshhh. ¡°Wha... what?¡± ¡°Your Highness!¡± The ice hand wasn¡¯t extinguishing the flame. Instead, it was slowly melting away. Seeing this, Jane rushed to intervene, but... ¡°Jane, stay back!¡± ¡°... Yes.¡± ¡°Kaylen, you can still maintain it, right? Please keep it going for just a little longer.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± As Princess Violet urgently requested, Kaylen maintained the Fireball. How much time had passed? The flames continued to melt the ice hand, and as the princess''s white hand was about to be exposed again... Flash. Light flashed from the mana stones embedded in the Ice Mask, Glacia. As one stone shone, the ice hand, which had completely melted, refroze. Flash. Flash. When two stones illuminated, Kaylen''s Fireball gradually lost its power. ''This should be enough.'' When Kaylen released the Fireball, the ball of fire vanished with a soft pop. Princess Violet, who had been staring blankly at the scene for a moment, murmured to herself. "My hand... was hot..." "Huh?" Of course, her hand would be hot after sticking it into the flames. What was she talking about? "Your Highness? Was it really hot?!" But with an utterly serious expression, the princess and her maid looked at him. "Yes! It was really hot!" "How is this possible? Without a mana suit...?" "Yes. It''s still not enough, but..." Princess Violet alternated between looking at Kaylen and her own hand. "Kaylen." "Yes, Your Highness." "I have a request. No, I want to hire you and pay you a fair reward for the task." "What kind of task would you like to request?" "Once every two weeks." Princess Violet held up two fingers with a very bright voice. "Burn my body completely." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 21 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 21 "......What did you just say?" Kaylen had encountered countless connections in his previous life. Not just humans, but many other races as well. He had experienced all kinds of situations with them. But this was the first time someone, smiling so innocently, had asked him to burn them alive. "Ah, I must not have explained enough." Princess Violet reached for her half-mask, Glacia. Sizzle. As white steam rose from the part of her face in contact with the mask, Jane shouted. "Princess, you haven¡¯t even completed the contract yet......!" "It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not like Lord Kaylen would go around talking about it, right? The rumors are already out anyway." Clink. When Glacia fell away from her face, Princess Violet¡¯s full face was revealed. ¡®Hoo.¡¯ Ice. The left side of her face, previously hidden by the mask, was entirely frozen. Only the eye appeared human. The surrounding skin was completely encased in thick, frozen ice. "Disgusting, isn¡¯t it?" Princess Violet spoke as she opened and closed her mouth. Her normal right side and her frozen left side moved simultaneously. For something frozen, the left side moved naturally. But that very movement seemed unnaturally eerie, evoking revulsion from those who saw it. "Is this the power of Glacia?" "Yes. It seems I¡¯m just too compatible with Glacia. Though it¡¯s turned me into this solid block of ice......" Tap, tap. Princess Violet tapped her frozen cheek with her fingers. "It doesn¡¯t interfere with movement." "You resemble a spirit." "Exactly. Glacia¡¯s power is transforming me into something akin to an ice spirit." She pointed to her mouth with a finger. That area, untouched by the mask, was still pure white flesh. "My lips haven¡¯t frozen yet, but I have a feeling...... Soon, the ice will spread there too. Then, I¡¯ll become a perfect Ice Witch." "To prevent that, you¡¯re asking me to burn you?" "Exactly. Just until I reach the fifth circle, I¡¯d like to ask for your help." "Until the fifth circle......." "Yes. By that time, I¡¯ll be able to fully control this glacial power." Shhh. Princess Violet placed Glacia back on her face, and Kaylen asked her another question. "If you take off the mask, won¡¯t the process slow down?" "I can¡¯t take it off. If I stay apart from it for even a moment, the mask flies back to my face on its own. Besides, to reach the fifth circle, I must train while wearing it." "I see." "Can you grant my request?" Kaylen looked at Princess Violet''s face. A beautiful face that resembled Bormian, the knight he once cherished. However, that beauty was marred by the frozen half, turning it grotesque. In a situation where the ice might spread at any moment... ¡®Even so, she¡¯s full of confidence.¡¯ Her eyes sparkled like stars, and her demeanor exuded self-assurance. That confidence reminded him so much of his ancestor, Bormian. A commoner who, despite his origins, always brimmed with confidence, commanding the attention of nobles and royalty alike. Recalling the knight who led the charge in the Continental Unification War brought a smile to Kaylen''s lips. To the descendant of such a loyal knight, he wished to offer even a small favor. "Alright." "Ah, is it possible?" "Yes. But in exchange, may I ask one more favor aside from the compensation?" "Of course, tell me." "May I see the dungeon core you showed earlier, even if it¡¯s just a fragment?" "Are you talking about Gold Star?" Princess Violet¡¯s expression grew troubled. "Actually, even though the mages tried to secure fragments for research... the Gold Star disappears once it¡¯s taken out of the dungeon. So fragments don¡¯t exist." A Gold Star that leaves no trace behind. If he could see it with his own eyes, he might confirm its connection to Infinity. Sensing Kaylen¡¯s disappointment, Princess Violet offered a suggestion. "Once you become a Meister, you¡¯ll be able to see the Gold Star during dungeon practice. I¡¯ve heard they plan to add it to the curriculum." "Is that so...?" Becoming a Meister would mean waiting until the third year next March. "Yes, something like that. But never mind that¡ªwhere is the Dungeon Guild?" "We''re almost there." The Dungeon Guild was an organization created through international cooperation to counter the ever-growing threat of dungeons. It wasn''t just humans who participated; various other races joined forces to aid in dungeon subjugation. Kaylen''s purpose in visiting was clear: to enter a dungeon. Specifically, to seek out the Gold Star that resembled Infinity. Instead of sitting through lackluster classes, he planned to explore a dungeon directly. "But... can we really manage with just the two of us?" "Are you worried?" "I trust in your power, my lord. But I¡¯m not sure they¡¯ll grant us Civil Squad certification. We don¡¯t meet the minimum team size requirements." Civil Squad This term referred to civilian teams authorized to hunt dungeons. When dungeons started appearing in overwhelming numbers, national forces alone could no longer handle the situation, leading to the creation of Civil Squad. Mercenary groups, often well-funded, hired Meisters and formed Civil Squad teams to subjugate lower-ranked D, E, and F-grade dungeons. The maintenance of Mana Suits and Meisters was expensive, but the rewards from dungeon subjugation and the lucrative trade of dungeon cores made the endeavor worthwhile for those with sufficient resources. "In the past, they gave out Civil Squad permits too easily. Scammers flooded the system, so the requirements were tightened." "We have a royal recommendation letter. That should take care of it." "A... royal recommendation letter? Seriously?" Alkass was startled. The Dungeon Guild staff, however, reacted even more dramatically. "You¡¯re applying to form a Civil Squad team? With just two members? And no Meister? Is this a joke?" The staff member frowned as they reviewed the application. Already overwhelmed with work, they found the request absurd. "Guards! Throw these people out!" The shouting stopped when Kaylen handed them a folded piece of paper. The staff member initially glared at it dismissively, but their face quickly changed upon realizing its significance. "A... royal recommendation letter?!" Their attitude shifted immediately. "My sincerest apologies! I didn¡¯t realize who you were. This way, please." The staff led them to a VIP room, where a robed magician awaited them. Upon seeing the royal recommendation letter, the magician, too, was visibly taken aback. After scanning it carefully, the magician began flipping through documents to proceed with their application. ¡°Bring some tea.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The mage carefully adjusted his posture and began handling Kaylen''s party with a more courteous attitude. ¡°To be honest, with a royal recommendation letter, it was once possible to instantly establish a D-grade Civil Squad. But... the laws have recently changed.¡± ¡°Changed, you say?¡± ¡°Yes. Due to incidents like the unruly prince of Obern Kingdom recklessly issuing royal recommendation letters, new regulations now require Civil Squad teams to meet specific eligibility criteria, even with a royal endorsement. Looking at your submitted documents, your team consists of only two members, and you lack both a Meister and Mana Suits...¡± Hearing this, Kaylen interjected. ¡°Eligibility criteria, you say. Does that mean creating the team is outright impossible? My goal is simply to gain access to dungeons.¡± ¡°Dungeon entry itself is possible even with an F-grade Civil Squad. A royal recommendation letter would allow you to establish an F-grade team, but... F-grade teams can¡¯t accept most commissions and aren¡¯t eligible for advance payments.¡± When a dungeon appears, nearby towns or cities issue subjugation requests with corresponding rewards. Most of these commissions include an advance payment to invite a Civil Squad team, as operating one requires significant funds. This is due to the expenses involved in deploying soldiers to clear out dungeon monsters and using Meisters equipped with Mana Suits to break down the sturdy dungeon cores. While the advance payments might seem high, they were often justified by the costs of operation. However, smaller towns with limited resources often couldn¡¯t afford such payments. In these cases, they would propose post-mission compensation, which was usually meager. Consequently, such requests were often ignored by civilian Civil Squad teams unless the situation became critically dangerous, prompting national intervention. ¡°So, in the end, an F-grade team is limited to meager-paying, low-priority dungeons.¡± ¡°Precisely. This is why we recommend forming a team with a Meister and Mana Suits. An F-grade Civil Squad is practically meaningless.¡± ¡°But even so, as long as an F-grade team grants dungeon access, that¡¯s sufficient for my needs.¡± ¡°Well... that¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll proceed with the application.¡± As long as he could enter dungeons, that was all he needed for now. He could establish the team now and upgrade its grade later when ready. ¡°Are you certain about this?¡± The mage alternated his gaze between Kaylen and Alkas, clearly skeptical. Even with a royal recommendation, forming a Civil Squad with just two members seemed highly unorthodox. Despite this, Kaylen remained resolute. ¡°Yes. Please proceed.¡± ¡°...Understood. It will take about two weeks for the documents to be processed and approved. Is that acceptable?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± By then, the Superior Mage Selection Tournament would have concluded, leaving him free to move forward. As Kaylen nodded, the mage sighed in partial resignation and asked: ¡°Very well... What will you name your Civil Squad?¡± Hearing the question, Kaylen smiled. There was a name he had long wanted to use. ¡°Meier. Let¡¯s call it Meier.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 22 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 22 Dungeon Conquest Conquering a dungeon was akin to raiding a bandit¡¯s hideout. No, it was actually far more challenging. While both involved breaking through an entrenched army, dungeons required an additional step: destroying the dungeon core. Of course, the core could only be destroyed after reaching it. To achieve this, one had to break through the monster hordes inside the dungeon. Thus, having a force capable of clearing a path was considered essential. For Alkas, this universally accepted wisdom made the current situation incomprehensible. ¡°Are you really going in with just the two of us?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°My lord... it¡¯s just the two of us.¡± ¡°One person is enough to handle the fighting.¡± ¡°But still... we¡¯re severely outnumbered¡ª¡± The dungeon was located on the outskirts of the capital. Most dungeons near the capital had already been conquered, but this one was different. It was in a barren area without any noteworthy towns nearby. It wasn¡¯t situated along a major trade route, and the monsters from the dungeon weren¡¯t particularly aggressive. As a result, the nearby villages offered only minimal rewards¡ªpost-payment at that¡ªand the bounty was small. Furthermore, the dungeon¡¯s element was wind, known to be the most troublesome attribute to deal with. An F-grade wind dungeon, with little value for a Civil Squad, had been left abandoned. Standing before it, Alkas desperately tried to dissuade Kaylen. ¡°Once we enter the dungeon, at least 500 monsters are said to appear. Isn¡¯t that too much for just the two of us?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°The monsters are harpies, known as the most persistent among lower-tier monsters...¡± Harpies Monsters with the head of a woman and the body of an eagle. They attacked from the air and, when cornered, would escape to the dungeon¡¯s ceiling, making them incredibly frustrating foes. Using their aerial advantage to the fullest, harpies were notoriously troublesome monsters. They had only avoided extermination because they rarely left their habitat. If they had actively ventured outside dungeons, the kingdom would have intervened to eradicate them as airborne threats. ¡®The seniors always said to avoid fighting harpies...¡¯ As a knight specializing in ground combat, Alkas naturally found harpies¡ªaerial attackers¡ªespecially daunting. Recalling his academy training, he voiced his opposition to Kaylen, convinced this endeavor was impossible. However¡ª ¡°If you¡¯re afraid of something like harpies, you can¡¯t call yourself a Swordmaster.¡± ¡°But still¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see the power of a Swordmaster?¡± Kaylen¡¯s words left no room for further argument. Instead, Alkas found himself filled with a growing curiosity. ¡®The power of a Swordmaster...¡¯ Swordmasters were long thought to be extinct in the modern era. Their legacy remained only in historical records. A single sword that dominates the battlefield¡ªa living army, revered as the pinnacle of martial prowess. The ultimate goal every knight dreams of achieving. ¡°...Understood. I¡¯ll prepare myself.¡± Unable to dissuade Kaylen further, Alkas found himself joining him on this dungeon conquest with just the two of them. The two climbed the unnamed mountain slope, where the dungeon lay hidden. Alkas¡¯s face was tense, his jaw set tightly. ¡ªKiiiiii! From above came the cries of beasts. Flying monsters¡ªharpies¡ªcircled the skies, drawing arcs above their heads. Initially, about ten harpies appeared, but soon, more began to arrive one by one, forming a perimeter around them. ¡®I can handle this many for now, but...¡¯ Their speed and tendency to attack in groups made them troublesome adversaries. Individually, harpies weren¡¯t particularly strong monsters. For a Sword Expert like Alkas, dealing with several at once would not be a problem. However, if more harpies joined the fray over time, the situation could quickly spiral out of control. Alkas glanced at Kaylen, who continued to walk leisurely, and offered his advice. ¡°We should enter the dungeon before more harpies arrive. At least the dungeon has a ceiling; this place is far too open...¡± Schink. Before Alkas could finish speaking, the sword at his waist slid out of its scabbard on its own. ¡°What the...?¡± Thunk. The sword flew smoothly through the air and landed in Kaylen¡¯s hand. ¡°Alkas, I¡¯ll borrow your sword for a moment.¡± "No, it''s unnecessary. What you saw earlier was just a demonstration of the Sword Area. Once we enter, I¡¯ll end it in an instant." "I see, understood." Just a demonstration? Even what he had already witnessed was astonishing. Alkas, filled with excitement and anticipation, followed Kaylen, walking with his hands behind his back. There was no longer any worry about the dungeon conquest. Whooooosh. As they stepped through the massive sky-blue dungeon portal, a fierce gust of wind rushed toward them, as if they were about to be blown away. "It''s the Wind Dungeon." "Yes. And now... the harpies will be even faster." Fire, Water, Earth, Wind. Dungeons ranked from C to F each had one of these four elemental attributes unique to them. Among them, the most dreaded attribute was Wind. The fierce wind was one thing, but... Kiieeee! It was the flying monsters, like the harpies, who could swiftly charge with the wind that made them so bothersome. The harpies'' attack was even faster than it had been outside the dungeon. The terrain of the dungeon was completely open, with no cover, making it highly vulnerable to aerial monsters. "A Master focuses on refining one specific element," Alkas said. "Yes, that''s right. It helps with the efficiency of mana suits and their attributes," Kaylen replied. "But a Sword Master isn¡¯t like that." Whoooosh. As Kaylen extended his hand, the wind seemed to be drawn toward him. "The human body naturally contains all four primary elements. In addition, it also possesses the attributes of light and darkness." "Yes..." "A Sword Master, having pushed their body to its limits, should be able to handle all these elements. Like this." The wind that had gathered in Kaylen¡¯s hand began to materialize into a green-hued sword. Whooooosh. The wind condensed, and the sword formed from it. The wild gusts of wind that had been swirling calmed down as the sword appeared in Kaylen¡¯s grip. The wind¡¯s speed drastically slowed. Kiieee? For a moment, the harpies, confused by the sudden change in the wind, hesitated. "Wind Sword Release." The wind gathered in the Wind Sword erupted, spreading outward and engulfing the harpy swarm. Whooooosh. What had seemed like just another strong gust of wind now tore through the harpies'' bodies, shredding them in an instant. ¡®All that wind... it¡¯s infused with the power of Aura...¡¯ In the vast chasm, hundreds of harpies were slaughtered by the blade of wind, their bodies torn apart. Alkas could only stare, his mouth agape. Heaven beyond heaven. The power of a Sword Master was so overwhelming that it seemed unreal. "Now, let''s go to the dungeon core." Kaylen discarded the Wind Sword and walked forward with steady steps. "Y-Yes...!" Alkas, who had been staring dazedly as the wind sword vanished, quickly chased after Kaylen. ¡®Mana is running low.¡¯ Kaylen narrowed his brow as he checked the mana within his body. The power used inside and outside the dungeon had drained about a quarter of his mana. ¡®To think that this little bit of mana is already drained...¡¯ No one would have called Kaylen''s power "little," but his standards were different. When he was at the peak of being a Grand Sword Master, just activating the Aura Sword would have been enough to tear apart the dungeon from the outside as well. He didn¡¯t expect that much, but the mana consumption was far too high for the power he had used. ¡®The absorption rate of mana is still too low...¡¯ Perhaps it was due to the lack of ambient mana in the air. Even though Kaylen had transformed his body into a mana body, his absorption speed was still slow. ¡®Mana stones also have poor absorption efficiency...¡¯ Even with the potential to move beyond Sword Master, beyond 4th-circle Mage, he still needed to improve, but mana was holding him back. "I think we''ve arrived." Whoooooosh. Alkas pointed toward a red portal in the distance. It was another portal inside the dungeon. This was the space containing the dungeon core. "Let''s go." Kaylen stepped forward without hesitation. Inside the newly revealed chasm... ¡®Hmm.¡¯ For the first time, he was face-to-face with the dungeon core of this world. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 23 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 23 Dungeon Core The dungeon core, which had brought about a completely different era compared to Kaylen''s time, floated in mid-air in the shape of a hexagonal, red glowing crystal. In some ways, it resembled a mana stone. It was quite large, about 2 meters in size. "This is the dungeon core..." "Is this your first time seeing it?" "Yes. Even during the academy''s practical training, I never got this far." In the present age, knights were only tasked with clearing the path to the dungeon. Unlike mages, they didn''t have the right to see the dungeon core. ¡®It''s a pity I''m not a Gold Star knight.¡¯ The reason they even came to this dungeon was originally because of the Gold Star. No matter how much Kaylen examined it, this dungeon core seemed completely unrelated to the Infinity. ¡®I can''t expect to be full after just one try.¡¯ Swallowing his disappointment, Kaylen continued to carefully examine the dungeon core. The dungeon core emitted a strong aura of dark magic. On the left corner of the core, small characters were inscribed. "It¡¯s in the language of the demon realm." It was the same language Kaylen had seen many times during his battles against the Demon Lord. The human world believed that reading the demon realm''s language would corrupt a person, so knowledge of the demon tongue was strictly controlled by the Holy Kingdom... But Kaylen had been at the forefront of the battle against the Demon Lord. He could read the demon language to some extent. ¡®Colonies...?¡¯ The characters read "colonies." Upon seeing it, Kaylen felt an uncomfortable sensation. The demon realm referred to regions they had fully dominated as "colonies." Kaylen had heard it mentioned several times during the Great Demon War. ¡®A region completely subdued by the demon realm, where humans were exterminated by monsters emerging from the dungeon... they referred to it as a "colony." That had been the case back then, but the current situation in the kingdom was completely different. Why was such a word written here? Kaylen felt uneasy, but this was not the place to figure it out. ¡®I¡¯ll have to look into this later.¡¯ Kaylen shifted his focus from the writing and looked directly at the dungeon core itself. The dungeon core emitted immense magical power. Essentially, it resembled a mana stone, but unlike a mana stone, it was filled with dark magic. ¡®It¡¯s impossible to absorb that.¡¯ The dark magical energy was far too vast for him to consume. Unlike other types of mana, dark magic had the property of corrupting and transforming the human body, turning it into that of a demon. In his previous state, Kaylen would have been able to purify and absorb it easily, but with his current body, accepting this dark magic was beyond his capabilities. ¡®However, if I break it apart and absorb it in pieces... it might be possible.¡¯ While it was too large to consume in one go, breaking it into smaller pieces might make absorption feasible. "Alkas, the sword."No?v(el)B\\jnn "Yes." Kaylen received the sword from Alkas and immediately raised the Aura Sword. The dungeon core, which could only be destroyed through the use of a mana suit, was about to be tested for its resilience. To begin with, Kaylen lightly struck it with his sword. "Oooh..." Alkas let out an exclamation as he watched Kaylen''s sword. Though it appeared to be a casual swing, the trajectory of the sword was perfect, like witnessing a masterpiece in motion. With the intent to split the dungeon core in one swift strike, Kaylen brought his sword down. Clang! Crackling... Dark red sparks flew, and the Aura Sword clashed with the dungeon core. Tiny cracks began to appear on the dungeon core... but... Whoooosh. Red mana flared up, and the cracks in the dungeon core started to close and heal themselves. "This isn¡¯t enough," Kaylen muttered, as he raised the Aura Sword''s power even further. Crack. Crackle. Crack¡ª! Flames scattered in all directions, and the golden aura within the sword began to shine even more brilliantly. At the same time, six swords materialized behind Kaylen. ¡®The six swords I saw last time!¡¯ The swords of fire and ice. The swords of earth and wind. The swords of light and darkness. The dagger-sized blades shimmered brightly, and among them, the white sword flew toward Kaylen''s Aura Sword and fused with it. As a result, the golden aura now held a tinge of white and took on the property of light. The dark magic began to be devoured aggressively. Alkas, catching the sword Kaylen threw, immediately began his training. Thirty minutes into his fervent practice with the sword... "Definitely, I can feel the mana filling up faster." "Yes. After the dungeon core was shattered, this phenomenon occurred." "Ah, so the dungeon core had that kind of function?" "Yes. My guess is that the dungeon core had been absorbing the surrounding mana." Once the dungeon collapsed, mana exploded outward, and since it was the fresh, clear mana of the mountain''s midsection, this hypothesis seemed plausible. "Ah... I see." Alkas blinked in surprise, as if he''d never heard such a thing before. Kaylen, noticing his reaction, felt a strange sense of amusement. ¡®This is something that should be obvious once the dungeon core is broken.¡¯ No matter how good Alkas was at sensing mana, with his skills as a swordsman, any other mage would have been able to notice the surge of mana after the dungeon core shattered. Even if they''d learned it in the academy, such facts weren¡¯t often taught. ¡®And there''s something else strange.¡¯ In the capital or nearby areas, dungeons are usually cleared as soon as they appear. Why was the mana in that area so thin? ¡®Maybe it¡¯s because there are so many dungeons in the area. I¡¯ll need to observe it for another day.¡¯ How long would this dense mana last? With the Superior Mage Tournament coming soon, there was still time for observation¡ªjust one more day would suffice. "Let''s stay here for the night. I need to train too." "Understood, my lord." As the sun slowly set and the moon began to rise, Kaylen absorbed the dungeon core fragments while observing the atmosphere. ¡®No significant changes yet.¡¯ Although it wasn¡¯t as intense as when the dungeon core first shattered, the mana in the atmosphere was still rich and abundant. "Ha!" Alkas, seemingly too focused to rest, continued training passionately, while Kaylen kept absorbing the core fragments. ¡®I should be able to go for 30 minutes now.¡¯ The mana in the dungeon core fragments had sharply decreased since the core first broke, and their efficiency had dropped significantly. After absorbing 80% of the shards, he managed to extend his power activation time by 5 more minutes. "Alkas, you said the dungeon core fragments can be sold, right?" "Yes. I heard they''re used for mana stone charging." "I think I heard something about that in class. After purifying the dark magic, they''re charged, right?" "That''s what I¡¯ve heard. The efficiency is lower, but it¡¯s safe. However, since the mana will dissipate over time, I¡¯ve been told they need to be sold quickly." Kaylen nodded at Alkas'' words. Mana was still leaking out of the dungeon core fragments. ¡®The remaining pieces should be taken as evidence to the guild.¡¯ There was little point in absorbing more¡ªmost of the mana left was negligible. Kaylen thought to himself that it would be better to sell the rest. Taking a deep breath, he focused on his training. ¡®Time to train.¡¯ The freshness of the mana, similar to that of 1,000 years ago, filled him with satisfaction. The feeling of stacking dense mana layer by layer was a welcome one. Back at the academy, he never felt this sensation of growing through his breath, accumulating mana. It was clear¡ªthis was the true way, the proper path. As he stacked mana steadily in his mana body through breathing, he suddenly felt the flow of mana shift. "Alkas, do you feel it?" "Yes..." "Until just a moment ago, the abundant mana had been circulating between the heavens and the earth, but now all the mana from the earth is rushing up into the sky." In an instant, the mana began to thin, just like it had before the dungeon core was destroyed. ¡®What¡¯s causing this...?¡¯ Kaylen¡¯s gaze shifted toward the sky, following the rising mana. He infused his eyes with mana, increasing his perception, but... There was nothing in the sky. Naturally, there was no dungeon core to absorb mana. No monsters, no demons. Not even a single cloud. Except for one thing. The full moon. "Alkas... Has the moon always emitted red light?" "Red light...?" In the center of the full moon, a red glow had appeared like a small spot. Alkas seemed unaware, not able to see what Kaylen was referring to. Suddenly, the red light in the moon flashed twice, spreading outward... As it did, the mana in the atmosphere disappeared, and in the blink of an eye, the amount of mana had returned to the levels it had been at when the dungeon was still intact. "What is this...?" For the first time, Kaylen¡¯s eyes, which had always remained calm and focused, wavered. The word "colony" briefly flickered through his mind. ¡®Could it be...?¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 24 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 24 After regaining the power of the Sword Master, Kaylen believed it would be only a matter of time before the Meier family was revived. Not only could Kaylen wield the power of the Sword Master, but he was also capable of using 4th-circle magic. With such abilities, he would be treated with great respect no matter which country he went to. ¡®After forming my mana body, everything up until now has been a stage of experimentation.¡¯ Even if the dungeon was different from before, or if the new "mana suit" had been created, it didn''t matter much to Kaylen, who had set the goal of rebuilding the Meier family. With the power he already possessed, restoring the family was possible. ¡®Anyway, I didn¡¯t intend to build an empire like before.¡¯ Kaylen had once been the head of a marquis house, and even established a unified empire. But after his disappearance, the empire split and fell apart, and his descendants lived in hiding, changing their names and titles. Seeing the disasters of the past generations, Kaylen had planned to raise a noble family in this life, but the state of the world seemed unusual. ¡®A change in the moon?¡¯ During his time as Ernstine, he had unified the continent and fought in numerous battles against the Demon King, experiencing all kinds of war and hardship. However, he had never encountered a situation where the moon emitted a red light, and mana was evaporating in such a manner. Thinking back, it was strange. ¡®I never understood why monsters couldn¡¯t leave the dungeon''s vicinity.¡¯ In Ernstine¡¯s time, monsters from the demon world used to gather through the dungeons, forming armies to invade. While dungeons had grown stronger over time, the fact that monsters couldn¡¯t move beyond a certain range was a very strange limitation. ¡®Colonies.¡¯ The word ¡°colonies¡± appeared in the demon language written on the dungeon core. Kaylen found himself becoming increasingly concerned about it. While the current situation was not one where the human world was being dominated by the demon world, the sharp decrease in the amount of mana compared to before made the connection to the word ¡°colonies¡± suspicious. ¡®If the human world is indeed in a colonial stage, we cannot overlook this.¡¯ Ernstine Meier. The first emperor to conquer the continent. Many criticized him as the embodiment of power. Despite building a vast empire, he was accused of being a demon obsessed with bloodshed, constantly starting wars to unify the continent. However, contrary to such accusations, the era of the Meier Empire was the most peaceful time on the continent. Wars had ceased, the Demon King and monsters were defeated, and roads were built across the land. All industries flourished, taxes were lowered, and various injustices in the world were corrected. The continent, unified under one empire, had become a place where everyone could live well. People revered Emperor Ernstine with their hearts and wished that this era would last forever. If only Emperor Ernstine hadn¡¯t died suddenly. If the Meier Empire hadn¡¯t been torn apart by the power struggles of his children. The continent would have progressed even further. The reason the world was so livable was ultimately due to the will of the emperor. While Emperor Ernstine of the Meier family had managed the entire continent''s affairs by sleeping only two to three hours a day, the empire had thrived due to his tireless efforts. However, even with all that effort, after Ernstine''s death, the empire crumbled like a sandcastle. ¡®Seeing the collapse of the empire, I decided not to intervene too much this time. The dream of a unified, peaceful continental empire ended in vain.¡¯ The politics that Ernstine carried out had ultimately been possible because of the overwhelming military power he possessed. Once the Grand Sword Master, the superhuman figure, was gone, the continent reverted to its original state. The unified empire failed, and the world returned to what it was. However, one thing had changed: the Meier family. The Meier family, which had lasted for over a thousand years, was destroyed. ¡®If the family had simply remained a noble house, it wouldn''t have fallen this far.¡¯ The Meier family, once the ruling family of the continent, rose to the highest position, but the fall from such a height was swift. Seeing the family name disappear, Ernstine decided he would no longer pursue grand ideals as he had before. ¡®In the end, without the Grand Sword Master, the unified empire would have been a fleeting dream.¡¯ Having abandoned impossible goals, he had planned to take care of his descendants and restore the family name. But now, the situation was different. ¡®If the human world is truly in a colonial state... if the moon, or the demon world, is siphoning away the world¡¯s mana... I can¡¯t overlook this.¡¯ *** For the past few weeks, the branch manager of the Dungeon Guild¡¯s Alzas branch, the wizard Krundal, had been feeling uneasy. It all started after he approved the F-class Civil Squad of Meier. The squad, consisting of only two members, seemed like a child''s play. "Wow... how did you manage to get such a large dungeon core?" Krundal asked in awe, subtly trying to figure out how it was done. He tried not to show it, but Kaylen had already noticed the oddness in Krundal''s behavior. ¡®The dungeon core fragments seem to be bigger than expected.¡¯ Kaylen had absorbed the larger parts of the dungeon cores, leaving only the smaller fragments to bring back. Despite that, Krundal¡¯s reaction suggested something was off. ¡®Well, it¡¯s different when a core is destroyed with the firepower of a Mana Suit versus cutting it with a sword.¡¯ The difference in the size of the fragments was so striking that Krundal seemed genuinely astonished. This could be used to their advantage. ¡®It¡¯s not good to stand out too much with no power behind us right now.¡¯ Kaylen lowered his voice and responded to Krundal. "I can¡¯t tell you how we did it, but think about who recommended us." "Ah..." With those few words, Krundal fell silent. The princess, Violet, who had written the letter of recommendation. If she was involved, it was better not to press further. ¡®Of course, without the princess¡¯s involvement, it would be impossible for just two of them to subjugate three F-class dungeons.¡¯ In theory, it was unheard of for two people without Mana Suits to subjugate three F-class dungeons. Kaylen subtly made Krundal think that Violet¡¯s influence was behind their success. "Branch Manager, in fact, as today¡¯s results prove, the work we¡¯re doing in the Meier Civil Squad is getting attention from higher-ups." "Yes..." "With a letter of recommendation, we could have produced results from more dungeons, perhaps even from D-class dungeons. But because we received F-class, we had to settle for this. It¡¯s a pity, really. We wanted to try bringing back even larger dungeon core fragments, but... the regulations changed." Kaylen trailed off as if regretting something. Krundal, sensing Kaylen¡¯s intent, realized what he was after. It was to level up the squad¡¯s rank. With their F-class dungeon subjugation achievements and the display of large dungeon core fragments, Krundal¡¯s heart was swayed. "Hmm, it is unfortunate. But the new regulations are the regulations... especially when it comes to Mana Suits. There¡¯s nothing I can do about that under my authority." "Yes. I understand the changes in regulations regarding the Mana Suits. But what about the minimum squad size? We have many confidential tasks, so..." Kaylen was asking for some flexibility on the squad size, even if the Mana Suit issue was off the table. Krundal thought for a moment before nodding. The temptation of such large dungeon core fragments was just too great. "Alright. If you can bring in the Mana Suits, I won¡¯t make an issue of the squad size." "Thank you." "I¡¯ll accept any Mana Suit as long as it¡¯s not defective. As long as it works properly, that is." "Defective?" "Yes. For example, the Dwarf Queen''s products are unacceptable. We won¡¯t recognize those." Krundal continued to let the issue of the Mana Suits slide, offering a generous concession... but Kaylen¡¯s mind was caught on one word. "The Dwarf Queen...?" "Yes. You know the professor from the academy who only produces scraps?" Krundal spoke with a tone of disdain. However, Kaylen didn¡¯t hear the rest of his words. ¡®The Dwarf Queen?¡¯ Kaylen was deeply familiar with that title. In the days of the continent¡¯s empire, during the reign of the Emperor, the Dwarf Queen had been his seventh wife, holding the position amidst dozens of other wives and hundreds of concubines. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 25 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 25 Dwarves. A race of small-statured beings residing in mountainous regions. Though their height is akin to that of a human child, they possess remarkable physical strength and unmatched craftsmanship. Born with the blessings of fire or earth, they are a long-lived race capable of surviving for centuries. Thanks to their innate strength, dexterity, and unique ability to summon spirits, dwarves have long been renowned as master blacksmiths. Among them exists a rare kind of dwarf endowed with exceptional abilities. These individuals are blessed by both the fire and earth spirits. While most succumb to the overwhelming power of the spirits at a young age, those who survive gain extraordinary powers far beyond those of ordinary dwarves. Interestingly, all surviving dwarves of this kind have been female, leading their kind to refer to them as: The Queen of the Dwarves. Or simply, Queen. While dwarven society is egalitarian and does not afford royalty-like status to the Queen, her unique traits earn her respect and privileges among her people. Kaina, the seventh wife of Ernstine, was one such dwarven queen, blessed by fire and earth. She was also one of the leaders of the largest dwarven clan, the Black Anvil Clan. Kaylen felt a pang of disbelief when he first heard mention of a dwarven queen. ¡°Kaina... It couldn¡¯t be her,¡± he thought. Despite the long lifespan of other races, a thousand years had already passed. It was highly unlikely that she was still alive. Moreover, Kaina would never produce a defective item. This must be a new dwarven queen, someone he had never met. Feeling a hint of bitterness, Kaylen asked Krundal a question. ¡°What¡¯s the name of this dwarven queen?¡± ¡°Hmm, I heard her surname is Myorn, but I can¡¯t quite recall her first name.¡± At that, Kaylen¡¯s eyes widened. - "Now that I¡¯m pregnant, I¡¯ll change my surname to match yours." - "How will you change it?" - "Your surname is Meier, right? In the dwarven tongue, it¡¯s pronounced Myorn. From now on, I¡¯ll be Kaina Myorn." The memory of Kaina¡¯s cheerful smile resurfaced in his mind. His last memory of her was when she left the royal palace, saying she wanted to give birth in her homeland. After that, things had turned out this way. ¡°If the Myorn at the academy... could it be my bloodline?¡± A dwarven queen, Myorn. Her ability to command both spirits was likely unparalleled even within dwarven society. Why, then, was she at a human academy as a professor instead of among her own people? Kaylen asked Krundal another question. ¡°Why is the dwarven queen here?¡± ¡°Well... I only know from rumors. It seems her clan was destroyed by monsters.¡± ¡°The Black Anvil Clan?¡± ¡°Yes, I think that was their name. Anyway, after the clan¡¯s destruction, she supposedly stayed at the academy seeking revenge. That was over a hundred years ago. But every mana suit she makes now is just trash. Tsk tsk.¡± The Black Anvil Clan, destroyed? They were the largest and most formidable dwarven clan, residing deep in rugged mountain ranges, making them difficult to attack. During the Continental Unification War led by Ernstine, the Black Anvil Clan was such a formidable force that instead of risking the immense losses a battle against them would incur, Ernstine chose to forge an alliance through marriage to the dwarven queen, Kaina. ¡°Eek!¡± ¡°What¡¯s so surprising?¡± ¡°Y-you could at least make your presence known...¡± Unlike their confrontations in the past, Kaylen now spoke formally, albeit with an edge. Yet, even so, O¡¯Connell couldn¡¯t treat him with the same dismissive attitude as before. ¡°This brat... he¡¯s gotten even scarier...¡± Kaylen¡¯s already imposing frame was now leaner but packed with dense, well-defined muscle. The aura he exuded had also grown far more intimidating, enough to make O¡¯Connell feel suffocated just by standing nearby. ¡°Where should I go?¡± ¡°Over there, to Group D...¡± ¡°Group D?¡± Kaylen¡¯s question was answered by Allad instead of the hesitant O¡¯Connell. ¡°Yes. For the preliminary rounds, they measure the power of your magic to determine who advances to the finals.¡± ¡°Hmm. No direct combat, then?¡± O¡¯Connell took a deep breath and responded, barely holding his composure. ¡°We¡¯re mages, not knights. We don¡¯t resort to brutish methods like fighting directly...¡± He started confidently, but when he said ¡°brutish,¡± Kaylen¡¯s unblinking gaze sent a chill down his spine, causing his words to trail off. ''Why¡¯s he glaring at me like that? I was insulting knights, not him!'' ¡°What a terrifying guy... He¡¯s a mage, so why is he acting like this?¡± O¡¯Connell grumbled inwardly as Kaylen turned away and began walking toward the Group D waiting area. ¡°I¡¯ll be going now.¡± As Kaylen walked off, O¡¯Connell cursed under his breath. ¡°That brat thinks he¡¯s all that just because he¡¯s strong... but he won¡¯t stand a chance in Group D.¡± The preliminary rounds were divided into eight groups, from A to H, with each group consisting of ten participants. Only the top four from each group would advance to the finals. ¡°Let him fail in the preliminaries.¡± When assigning the second-years after the third-years had been placed, O¡¯Connell had intentionally analyzed the participants¡¯ skill levels and placed Kaylen in the most competitive group, Group D. ¡°Sure, his magic is oddly strong, but Group D has several Meisters. He won¡¯t make it through.¡± Among the students in Group D, there were six Meisters, three of whom even possessed their own personal Mana Suits. ¡°There¡¯s no way he can overcome this lineup.¡± O¡¯Connell found himself smiling at the thought of Kaylen, who walked confidently into the waiting area, being humiliatingly eliminated. But then something caught his eye. ¡°What¡¯s that book he¡¯s holding?¡± Earlier, his surprise at Kaylen¡¯s sudden appearance had distracted him, but now he noticed a book in Kaylen¡¯s right hand as the student strolled leisurely away. Squinting, he managed to make out the title. ¡°The Neglected Art of Hybrid Magic...? That¡¯s just a trash book.¡± Ever since the advent of Mana Suits and the rise of Meisters, most mages had adopted the practice of choosing one of the core elements¡ªfire, water, wind, or earth¡ªto specialize in. This was because a high affinity with a single element was essential to becoming a Meister. Unlike knights, who struggled to hone even one particular skill, mages could focus exclusively on one element, mastering its spells and enhancing their elemental affinity. As a result, magic centered on a single element, such as Fireball or Ice Spear, became the dominant standard. Conversely, offensive spells that combined multiple elements fell out of use. The book, The Neglected Art of Hybrid Magic, was a compilation of spells that utilized these long-forgotten, hybrid-element attack techniques. ¡°What does he think he¡¯s going to achieve with that?¡± Watching Kaylen disappear into the Group D waiting area, O¡¯Connell couldn¡¯t help but sneer. ¡°Hybrid magic? What a waste of time.¡± At least, that¡¯s what he thought¡ªuntil he saw Kaylen¡¯s magic in action. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 26 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 26 The Superior Mage Selection Tournament spans a total of one week, divided into two days of preliminary rounds and five days of main competition. During the preliminaries, instead of direct combat, participants are ranked by measuring their magical power. A specially treated mana stone is used to gauge the power of their magic, ensuring the process is non-confrontational. Due to the lack of battles, the preliminaries typically don¡¯t draw much of an audience. Only a handful of observers¡ªnobles scouting for talent or representatives from magic guilds¡ªbother to attend. As a result, the atmosphere in the group waiting rooms was relatively calm. Clack. ¡°So the 10th participant has finally arrived.¡± ¡°Do you know who he is? I¡¯ve never seen him before.¡± ¡°Neither have I. He looks like a second-year student.¡± Ignoring the chatter around him, Kaylen scanned the waiting room. There were a total of nine students already present. Seven of them were seated neatly on the waiting room chairs, while the remaining two occupied a large sofa at the back of the room. ¡°Another glass.¡± ¡°Yes, Lord Lioness.¡± A female mage, dressed in a robe, poured wine for the man on the sofa. Despite being a fellow participant, her demeanor was akin to that of a servant. She carried out her duties with a dazed expression, her gaze fixed entirely on him. It wasn¡¯t surprising, considering the man on the sofa. His looks went beyond mere handsomeness. With his noble air and refined features, Lioness was a strikingly beautiful youth. His scarlet hair, tied in a long braid behind him, gave him an almost androgynous appearance. At a glance, one might easily mistake him for a woman. ¡°I didn¡¯t think any human could rival the beauty of the Bormian Elves, but here we are.¡± Kaylen silently admired the scene. The way Lioness sipped his wine was like watching a painting come to life. ¡°Lioness, is it? The name sounds familiar.¡± Lioness de Oblaine. The third son of the Duke of Oblaine, a man renowned not only for his lineage but also for his genius. Yet, while he was gifted with talent, his personality was infamous for being temperamental. Most rumors surrounding Lioness, however, centered on his extraordinary appearance. It was said that his beauty was so captivating that people couldn¡¯t look away. Initially, Kaylen had dismissed such stories as exaggerated, but now he realized that no rumor could fully capture the extent of Lioness¡¯s allure. However, Kaylen¡¯s interest wasn¡¯t in Lioness¡¯s beauty. ¡°The House of Oblaine.¡± The Oblaine family was the foremost noble house in the Kingdom of Bormian, closely tied to the royal family. It was the family of the current queen and maternal relatives of the second prince, making it a core pillar of the Second Prince¡¯s faction. The House of Oblaine stood in fierce competition with the First Prince¡¯s faction, led by Princess Violet. Lioness was a prominent scion of this influential house. "A Vast Difference Between Him and Kaylen" Kaylen walked toward one of the remaining seats in the waiting room. The previous night, after returning to the academy, he had scoured the library searching for spells that could enable him to use 4th-circle magic. During this search, he stumbled upon an unusual book: [Neglected Hybrid Magic Spells]. Having a bit of time before the tournament began, he wanted to read through the book once more. *** Lioness''s ruby-like eyes flicked toward Kaylen as he sat down and opened the book. To be precise, his gaze focused on the book Kaylen was holding. For a fleeting moment, a hint of curiosity flashed across Lioness''s refined face as he read the title. ¡°Interesting. I¡¯ve never seen him before. And I know every 3rd-year student.¡± ¡°Ah, him? He¡¯s a 2nd-year student, so that might be why you don¡¯t recognize him,¡± someone nearby explained. ¡°Who is he?¡± ¡°Kaylen... Kaylen Starn, I think? That¡¯s the name I remember.¡± ¡°Ah, so it¡¯s him.¡± Upon hearing the name, Lioness called over one of the mages waiting nearby. The mage had already been watching Kaylen intently. ¡°Zaik. The Starn family is tied to your house, correct?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°Go talk to him.¡± ¡°As you command.¡± Adjusting his glasses, Zaik rose from his seat and strode toward Kaylen. ¡°You. Are you Kaylen?¡± Seated and engrossed in his book, Kaylen simply nodded. Zaik, emboldened, pointed at himself with a sense of self-importance. [45 points.] [51 points.] [47 points.] Thanks to their relentless efforts, the three ordinary mages scored well above their usual average. ¡°Next, Kaylen!¡± But before Kaylen could step forward, Lioness intervened. ¡°Hold on. Let him go last.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°He was the last to arrive, so let him be the last to compete,¡± Lioness said with an air of authority, leaving no room for debate. ¡°Ah, understood...¡± The staff, unwilling to oppose someone of Lioness¡¯s stature, reluctantly nodded. ¡°Now, let the Meisters take the stage,¡± Lioness commanded. The first Meisters to step forward were those without mana suits. ¡°Circle. Reload.¡± Unlike ordinary mages, the Meisters didn¡¯t cast their spells immediately. Instead, they performed a mana circle reload, amplifying the elemental power of their magic¡ªa feat ordinary mages couldn¡¯t achieve. ¡°Fireball.¡± Once the reload was complete, they cast their spells. While the Fireball appeared similar to those of standard mages in shape, its size was more than twice as large. Kaylen watched their demonstrations with curiosity. ¡°Focusing on a single element really enhances its power. At that level, their spells might rival those of a mid-tier 4th-circle mage from the past,¡± he mused. Boom! The resulting explosion was leagues beyond the earlier displays. The Meister, now drenched in sweat, awaited his score. [75 points.] [78 points.] [78 points.] The Meisters consistently scored in the mid-to-high 70s, showcasing the peak of their capabilities. But that wasn¡¯t the end of it. ¡°Activate mana suits.¡± The two Meisters who owned personal mana suits took it a step further, preparing to unleash their enhanced power. Mana suits, expensive weapons powered by mana stones, were primarily designed for breaking dungeon cores. Yet, here they were being used in the preliminary round of a competition. Shiiiiing¡ª As the mana suits activated, the mages'' hands and arms became encased in steel, resembling the armor of knights. The color of the suits varied based on the user¡¯s elemental affinity. "C-rank mana suits typically look like this," Kaylen noted to himself. From B-rank and above, the suits would transform the user¡¯s body to resemble elemental spirits aligned with the four primary elements. However, C-rank mana suits merely resembled metallic armor in different hues. Despite their simplistic appearance, their power was undeniable. Vrrrrrm¡ª Boom! [94 points.] [93 points.] When the two suited Meisters stepped aside, Lioness made his way to the center of the stage. All eyes turned to him, and murmurs of awe echoed across the arena. ¡°That¡¯s Lord Lioness...¡± ¡°He¡¯s truly stunning.¡± ¡°A Meister of Flames, isn¡¯t he?¡± Lioness stopped at the very center of the stage. Gradually, flames began to engulf his hair, spreading across his body. Fwoooosh¡ª The heat radiating from him was immense, causing the ground beneath him to melt. Alarmed, one of the judges hastily shouted, his face pale: ¡°S-Stop! 100 points! It¡¯s 100 points!¡± ¡°Hmph.¡± At the judge¡¯s frantic plea, Lioness absorbed the flames in an instant, his body returning to normal. As he passed Kaylen on his way back, he muttered softly: ¡°Let¡¯s see what you can do. Not that it¡¯ll be more than a 3rd-circle spell.¡± ¡°Now, the last participant... Kaylen Stern.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kaylen stepped into the arena at the judge¡¯s call. Tucking the book, [Neglected Hybrid Magic Spells], into his robe, he extended his hand. ¡°Lightning Bolt.¡± A 4th-circle spell, Lightning Bolt, sparked to life. The long-neglected magic of thunder revealed its might. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 27 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 27 Thunder Magic In the past, it was a favorite among many mages and was called the flower of offensive magic. However, as the era of Meisters arrived and focusing on a single attribute became the trend, mages specializing in lightning magic gradually disappeared. This was because the essence of thunder magic inherently combined two attributes¡ªfire and light. For mages who needed to focus on one of the four primary attributes¡ªfire, water, earth, or wind¡ªthunder magic, which blended two attributes, proved to be a hindrance to their training. Moreover, the difficulty of manifesting the light attribute further accelerated the decline of thunder magic. And so, as centuries passed, this forgotten magic re-emerged in Kaylen''s hands. ¡°Isn¡¯t that just for show? He¡¯s not even chanting, and there¡¯s no sign of magic manifesting.¡± Zaik seemed unimpressed, but Lioness, wearing a grave expression, spoke briefly. ¡°...The sky.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Look at the sky. The mana is shifting.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± A cloudless, vivid blue sky. Suddenly, black storm clouds appeared above, accompanied by the rumbling sound of thunder. Kwarrrrr. Within the clouds, mana burst forth. Intense energy flowed through the artificially formed clouds, and even from afar, its destructive power was palpable, causing Zaik to gasp in disbelief. ¡°No way... How... without even a mana suit...?¡± Before he could finish his sentence¡ªflash! A blinding light struck as lightning crashed down. Kwakakakabang! The lightning struck the mana stone directly. With the first bolt, a crack appeared in the mana stone. With the second, the crack widened further. The third. The fourth. The fifth... ¡°W-what... how many times is this going to...¡± Kwakakakabang¡ª! ¡°P-please, stop...¡± Lightning continued to rain down relentlessly. ¡°Stop! Stop it!¡± By the time the examiners, realizing something was terribly wrong, hurriedly tried to intervene, it was already too late. Crack. Crumble. The mana stone, which had been specially treated to emit a bright glow, shattered into blackened fragments. The participants, who had witnessed the entire scene, turned their gazes to Kaylen. Shock and astonishment. And... Fear. ¡°What¡¯s the score?¡± ¡°One... One hundred points.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Kaylen politely bowed and turned away. As he walked past, the other participants instinctively stepped aside, startled. But from afar, the scouts observing the scene couldn¡¯t hide their curiosity. ¡°Who is he? Kaylen, was it?¡± ¡°A remarkable mage has appeared.¡± ¡°Was thunder magic always this powerful? I¡¯ve heard it was widely used by mages in the past, but...¡± ¡°That mana stone... it may not be as durable as a dungeon core, but its resilience is still extraordinary.¡± ¡°This power is unreal.¡± ¡°A lightning bolt... with this kind of force, it can¡¯t possibly be a third-circle spell. Could he be a fourth-circle mage?¡± The scouts eagerly jotted down Kaylen¡¯s name in their notebooks, each beginning to evaluate him. ¡°He¡¯s an exceptional mage. Casting without incantation...¡± ¡°It implies a deep understanding of attributes. And the sheer power¡ªimpressive. It¡¯s comparable to the magic of a Meister equipped with a basic mana suit.¡± ¡°But can he become a Meister? With this level of skill, his attributes would overlap.¡± ¡°If he doesn¡¯t become a Meister, he¡¯ll just end up being incomplete...¡± Though they praised Kaylen, their focus ultimately shifted to whether he could meet the qualifications to control a mana suit¡ªa true mark of a Meister. Most viewed this prospect with skepticism. However. If he defied those slim odds and became a Meister... Then... he¡¯d be the greatest talent of the year. ¡°I need to investigate Kaylen immediately,¡± one scout thought, his eyes gleaming as he scribbled down evaluations. As the scouts busily documented Kaylen¡¯s performance, Lioness watched him with an unusually vibrant gaze. ¡°Zaik.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Who ranked fourth before Kaylen? A Meister candidate without a mana suit, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°That would be Ruth, with a score of 85.¡± ¡°Where is he now?¡± ¡°Over there... he seems dazed.¡± Ruth, a mage who had confidently assumed he¡¯d advance to the finals with his 85-point score¡ªwell above the average of 70s for Meister demonstrations¡ªwas now standing in stunned silence. Unreal. ¡°An objection?¡± The judges initially reacted with disbelief at the suggestion. But when they heard, ¡°Lioness desires it,¡± their expressions changed. ¡°...Ah.¡± Noticing Ruth lowering his head while Lioness stood beside him, smiling brightly, the judges quickly nodded in agreement. What bad luck for him. Normally, this would have been dismissed as a baseless claim, but... what can they do? With no clear regulations to prevent it, no one dared to oppose a grand noble¡¯s request. Soon, one of the judges, wearing a grim expression, approached Kaylen, who was waiting below the arena. ¡°Participant Kaylen, an objection has been raised.¡± ¡°An objection?¡± ¡°Yes. The fifth-place participant, Ruth, has declared dissatisfaction with the results and has requested a duel. The match will take place tomorrow at this time, here in the arena.¡± ¡°A 15-point difference isn¡¯t something you can accept?¡± ¡°...Well, it¡¯s the participant¡¯s right, per the rules.¡± The judge avoided saying more, clearly uncomfortable. Kaylen closed the spellbook he had been reading and glanced around. He saw a mage hanging his head in defeat and, next to him, Lioness grinning broadly, waving in his direction. ¡°What a hassle.¡± Kaylen tucked the book under his arm. "Does the duel have to be tomorrow? Is that a rule?" "Well..." "If it''s not mandatory, let''s do it now." The judge was momentarily stunned by Kaylen''s casual suggestion. ¡®He must have used up a fair amount of mana in the preliminaries. Shouldn''t he want to recover and prepare?¡¯ But this strange participant didn¡¯t seem to care about such things, proposing they fight immediately instead. Hearing this, Lioness''s eyes gleamed with interest. "Fine. Ruth, you okay with that?" "...Yes." Ruth nodded. It wasn¡¯t a bad proposal for him either. ¡®Yeah, it''s better to get it over with now. That Kaylen guy must be underestimating me just because he scored 100.¡¯ Ruth had expended a lot of energy as well, but given the massive scale and power of Kaylen¡¯s magic, it was clear the latter had used even more. Plus, Kaylen seemed overconfident. Ruth felt there might be a slim chance for him to prevail. "Very well. Since both participants agree, we¡¯ll proceed immediately." When Ruth stepped into the arena to face Kaylen, he still believed he had a chance. "Circle, reload." He prepared his mana circles, boosting his confidence with positive thoughts. ¡®I¡¯ll deploy a fire shield and counter with a 1st-circle spell to keep him at bay.¡¯ As he fortified his defenses and prepared to act¡ª ¡°Flash.¡± Kaylen¡¯s body shimmered with a sudden burst of light. ¡®Flash...? A light-based... spell?!¡¯ Ruth had read about it in books¡ªa teleportation magic meant for quick escapes. Before he could process this, his vision was overtaken by a blinding white light. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a massive hand seized his throat. ¡°C-cough, ugh...!¡± "Apologies, senior." Kaylen¡¯s calm voice accompanied the sight of Ruth being effortlessly lifted into the air. Kaylen, carrying him by the neck, began walking toward the edge of the arena. "This method will hurt less." "Th-thank y¡ª" Without waiting for more, Kaylen gently set Ruth down just outside the ring, ensuring he was disqualified by default. As Ruth sat dazed on the ground, Kaylen turned to the judge. "That should suffice." "...Yes. The victory goes to you." The match was over in less than ten seconds. Zaik spoke in a defeated tone. "Lioness, Ruth turned out to be pretty underwhelming. Should we reconsider his recommendation?" "Zaik, if you had been out there without a mana suit, you¡¯d have fared no better." "Well, that¡¯s..." Zaik trailed off. ''What if I didn¡¯t have a mana suit?'' Facing someone like Kaylen, who could teleport and strike out of nowhere, he wasn¡¯t sure he¡¯d last either. Lioness chuckled softly. "Ruth did his part. The recommendation stands." Then, his gaze shifted back to Kaylen. His eyes sparkled, as though gazing at an invaluable treasure. "So this is why the princess is so interested in him. Investigate everything about that boy." "Understood." "And if he doesn¡¯t have a master yet..." Lioness licked his lips briefly. "Even if he doesn''t want to, I¡¯ll make him mine." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 28 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 28 The second day of the preliminaries. Aside from Kaylen¡¯s Group D, the day had turned into an unofficial holiday, with no challenges from other groups. Kaylen, however, was at the training grounds to fulfill a promise he had made to the princess. ¡°Good! Harder! Hotter!¡± Whoosh! Violet, engulfed in flames, smiled brightly as she looked down at her burning form. ¡°Your Highness! You¡¯re getting too excited!¡± ¡°Jane, can¡¯t you see? My face¡ªthe ice is melting. How can I not get excited?¡± ¡°Y-yes... but still, don¡¯t move, Your Highness. The curtains might catch fire.¡± ¡°Ah, you¡¯re right.¡± After shifting restlessly behind the curtains, Violet finally held still following Jane¡¯s advice. Kaylen was currently using fire magic as per Violet¡¯s request to "burn her thoroughly." However, as burning her body inevitably required exposing bare skin, maids had set up curtains for privacy. ¡°Fireball.¡± Kaylen launched fireballs over the curtain, letting them descend to engulf Violet. ¡®Well, not that it hides much.¡¯ The curtains were thick but not specially treated, so for Kaylen, a Swordmaster, they were essentially transparent. ¡®Let¡¯s control the intensity.¡¯ Adjusting the flame''s strength, Kaylen cast twenty consecutive fireballs. ¡®This should suffice.¡¯ Using fire magic twenty times consecutively was a considerable feat, even for a 4th-circle mage. It was a suitable display of his capabilities. ¡°It¡¯s too much now, Your Highness,¡± Jane said cautiously. ¡°Is it?¡± Swish. The curtains parted, and Violet, now wearing a robe, stepped out with a satisfied expression. ¡°Casting fireball twenty times... Lord Kaylen, you¡¯re remarkable.¡± Violet removed the mask covering her face, revealing pale, ice-free skin where the frost had previously been. Looking at herself in a mirror, she smiled softly. ¡°It feels like 10% of the ice has melted. You¡¯ve done a great job.¡± ¡°You flatter me. Was the number of casts appropriate?¡± ¡°Yes, it was perfect. Oh, the last one was cutting it close¡ªGlacia almost resisted.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind. It seems twenty fireballs is the optimal limit.¡± ¡°Indeed, it aligns with your maximum output. Jane, prepare the tea table.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Lord Kaylen, if you¡¯re not busy, would you care to join me for tea?¡± ¡°Gladly.¡± ¡°By the way, you caused quite the stir. To think you were hiding such strength.¡± ¡°My group¡¯s composition wasn¡¯t ideal, so I had no choice but to exert my full power.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± Violet¡¯s eyes gleamed with profound curiosity. The man standing before her. She knew he wasn¡¯t ordinary, but he turned out to be even more formidable than she had imagined. ¡®How did someone like this suddenly appear?¡¯ A 4th-circle mage in his second year. Such talent was something that might appear once in a century. Up until the first semester of his second year, Kaylen had been known merely as a mediocre 2nd-circle mage. Though there had been some incident involving Lina at the start of the second semester, the progress he had shown since then was completely beyond common sense. ¡®And... there¡¯s something about him that makes it impossible to treat him carelessly.¡¯ He maintained impeccable politeness. However, the way Kaylen looked at Violet was unnervingly profound, making it impossible to read his thoughts. On the contrary, Violet felt as if he could read her own. Closing her eyes briefly and then opening them, she steered the conversation to her greatest rival within the academy¡ªLioness. ¡°You met Lord Lioness of Group D for the first time this time, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°His striking red hair left quite the impression.¡± ¡°What did you think of him?¡± At Violet¡¯s question, Kaylen briefly recalled yesterday¡¯s events. After defeating Ruth in their duel, Kaylen had been descending the stage when Lioness blocked his path. His face had been shining brighter than ever. "You. I really like you." ¡°......¡± "I apologize for earlier. I just wanted to see your true abilities. Can we let it slide?" Lioness¡¯s smile, revealing his teeth, was so captivating that it drew admiration from everyone around, regardless of age or gender. However, Kaylen had responded casually. The First Day of the Finals ¡°Ugh...¡± Lina bit her lip involuntarily. Thanks to extraordinary luck in the preliminary rounds, she had managed to advance to the top 32 despite being only a 3rd-circle mage. But luck had clearly abandoned her now. ¡®Why do I have to face him of all people?!¡¯ Her chest tightened as she looked up at Kaylen standing confidently in the arena. Him? A 4th-circle mage? ¡®This has to be a joke!¡¯ She thought back to the time when she had confidently demonstrated Fireball magic before him, asking him to teach her magic. ¡®I don¡¯t even want to step into the arena...¡¯ Her steps grew heavier as she climbed up. Lina¡¯s original reason for joining the Superior Mage Selection Tournament wasn¡¯t even to win. It was to figure out why Kaylen had gained the princess¡¯s favor. She had already uncovered her answer during the preliminaries, so the tournament itself no longer held much appeal for her. She wanted to quit. But there was a problem¡ªthere had never been a case of someone forfeiting a match in the history of the tournament. Wearing the Florence name, she couldn¡¯t bring the dishonor of being the first to forfeit. ¡®In that case...¡¯ Lina adjusted her expression, putting on the most pitiful and vulnerable face she could muster. In a plaintive tone, she begged, ¡°Kaylen...¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re my opponent for the top 32.¡± ¡°Please, go easy on me.¡± But Kaylen turned away without a word. ¡°Hah...¡± Lina was speechless. Hadn¡¯t he seemed to like her so much before? Her tear-filled eyes, which had been carefully staged to look pathetic, suddenly hardened with venom. ¡®You jerk...!¡¯ Fine, then. She¡¯d endure as long as she could. Resolving herself, Lina began casting her spell quickly. ¡°Fire, heed my call...¡± ¡°Wind Burst.¡± Before she could even finish her incantation, Kaylen extended his hand indifferently. A 4th-circle wind spell manifested without a single word of incantation. BOOM! A massive air explosion erupted right in front of Lina''s face. The sheer pressure distorted her features, and her body was lifted into the air, sent flying uncontrollably. In that instant, Lina realized what was about to happen. ¡®No, no, no! If this keeps up, I¡¯ll lose in record time...!¡¯ She flailed desperately to avoid falling out of bounds. But no mere human could resist the force of the wind. ¡°Kyahhhhhh!¡± Thud. She crashed headfirst onto the ground, her consciousness dimming. Ah... Record-time defeat, confirmed. The scouts, holding their pens, worked furiously. ¡°His mastery of wind magic is remarkable...¡± ¡°Could he have the potential to become a Meister as well?¡± The evaluation of Kaylen, already considered the standout talent of the tournament, soared even higher in their minds. If he truly possessed the qualifications to be a Meister... ¡®Casting Wind Burst without incantation? Was he originally specialized in wind magic?¡¯ ¡®With this level of skill, he could achieve greatness as a Meister.¡¯ ¡®Coming from a modest family makes him even easier to recruit.¡¯ The wind-aligned Tower scouts were internally cheering. Meanwhile, the fire and other elemental Tower scouts were left disappointed. ¡®A shame, really.¡¯ ¡®Considering he used lightning earlier, I thought he might also have talent in fire magic...¡¯ However, their feelings of regret quickly shifted the following day. The next day, Kaylen revealed yet another talent. ¡°What... What is that?¡± ¡°How is that even possible?¡± Kaylen showcased yet another aspect of his incredible potential. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 29 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 29 Round of 16 in the Selection Tournament. For students aiming to become Superior Mages, the Round of 16 was the most crucial match. If they won here and advanced to the Quarterfinals, being among the top eight Superior Mages was guaranteed. Every magician in the Round of 16 gave their all in this match. Kaylen''s opponent was no exception. But¡ª ¡°Gasp... Gasp... Circle... Re... load. Ice Shield.¡± In the Round of 16, Elvin, a 3rd-Circle Meister renowned as one of the top talents, stood before Kaylen, panting heavily and suppressing his frustration. ¡®What kind of bastard is this...?!¡¯ Having witnessed Kaylen''s disruptive performance in the preliminaries, Elvin knew from the beginning that victory would be difficult. Still, he wanted to leave a strong impression in front of the crowd... But the one leaving an impression was, undeniably, Kaylen. ¡°Ice Spear.¡± Against a Meister of Water Magic, Kaylen overwhelmed him using the very same element. Even though Elvin was a 3rd-Circle Meister¡ªa mage who had mastered the peak of a single attribute¡ªthis wasn''t how the match should have gone. A 3rd-Circle Meister''s power was typically comparable to that of a regular mage¡¯s 5th-Circle magic. By all accounts, Elvin should have had the advantage in a battle of water magic. ¡°Urgh...!¡± However, reality told a different story. Whenever Kaylen cast Ice Spear, the ice lances shot out instantaneously¡ªwithout incantation. And not just one, but in greater numbers than Elvin could produce! Clang! Clang! That wasn¡¯t all. The power of the ice lances striking his Ice Shield kept growing stronger with each wave. ¡®This guy... is he holding back his strength?!¡¯ As his barrier began to shatter, Elvin forcibly cycled the mana in his heart again, but... ¡°Circle... Reload! Ice Shie¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s over.¡± Thwack! Elvin¡¯s Ice Shield was mercilessly pierced by Kaylen¡¯s Ice Spear. Surrounded by the remaining 14 ice lances, Elvin lowered his head in defeat. ¡°I... lost...¡± A 3rd-Circle Meister of Water Magic had been defeated by a regular mage¡¯s 3rd-Circle Ice Spear. The match was a complete loss. Before he could even counterattack, he was overwhelmed by the unending torrent of Ice Spears. ¡°How is he doing that without a Mana Suit?¡± ¡°Did you see him using Ice Spear? He must have an affinity for water as well.¡± ¡°People barely have enough to master one attribute... Can he really handle two?¡± ¡°His main attribute isn¡¯t wind... It¡¯s water! Water!¡± ¡°What nonsense! Did you miss the Round of 32 match? The Wind Burst he used was 4th-Circle. He clearly has an affinity for wind!¡± ¡°Ha! Haven¡¯t you seen the hundreds of Ice Spears he¡¯s been casting? He¡¯s water through and through.¡± ¡°Just listen to this guy...¡± The discussion among scouts grew heated, eventually escalating into a debate between representatives from the Towers of Water and Wind. A 4th-Circle mage from an insignificant family, without any factional ties. On top of that, a mage seemingly possessing the talents of a Meister in two attributes. From the perspective of a scout, it was enough to turn their heads. ¡°Good work, my lord.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± ¡°And... representatives from several Magic Towers have come to see you.¡± It was no surprise, then, that many people approached Kaylen as he descended from the arena. ¡°That was a truly impressive match, Kaylen.¡± ¡°You certainly have undeniable talent in water magic.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s nothing compared to your Wind Burst. Your wind affinity suits you best, Kaylen.¡± Since the Round of 32, when he sent Lina flying, scouts from the Tower of Wind had been vying for Kaylen¡¯s attention. Now, even the scouts from the Tower of Water were making offers to recruit him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯d like to focus on the competition for now.¡± Kaylen turned down all their offers and left the arena. As he walked, people¡¯s eyes followed him. But unlike before, those gazes were no longer filled with disdain¡ªthey were filled with awe. Unfazed by their stares, Kaylen confidently made his way forward, as if accustomed to such attention. ¡°My lord, it¡¯s certain now. You¡¯ll be a Superior Mage.¡± ¡°Hmm. It was easy.¡± While Alkas spoke with admiration, Kaylen himself remained composed. From his perspective, this competition was no different from a children¡¯s talent show. In fact, he planned to drop out once he achieved his goals in this tournament. ¡°So, if I forfeit now, I still get the title?¡± ¡°Well... yes. Some participants who sustained severe injuries have forfeited in the past.¡± The official duels in the main tournament... Alkas stepped forward to shield Kaylen. ¡°How dare you!¡± At the same time, he reached for his sword, but Kaylen caught his hand. ¡°Wait.¡± Kaylen¡¯s once icy expression softened into a faint smile. ¡°I understand what you¡¯re saying.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re quick to comprehend.¡± ¡°Still, it wouldn¡¯t make sense for me to forfeit tomorrow¡¯s match, would it?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true.¡± ¡°So tomorrow, in the arena... I¡¯ll make sure to meet your expectations.¡± Kaylen slightly bowed his head with a polite smile. Seeing this, Ruhos returned the gesture with a pleased grin. No matter how powerful a 4th-Circle mage might be, bound as he was by his family¡¯s obligations, what choice did he have but to comply? ¡°Good. You¡¯ve made the right decision. It¡¯s better for your future this way.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡± ¡°The reward will come after the match,¡± Ruhos said, retreating with a self-satisfied smile. At that moment, he was under the delusion that he had successfully completed his mission. ¡°Lord, let me break those dogs¡¯ arms and legs,¡± Alkas growled. ¡°No, Alkas.¡± ¡°...What?¡± ¡°The hounds aren¡¯t the issue. It¡¯s the master that needs dealing with. I was thinking of forfeiting, but... now I¡¯ll stick around to enjoy myself a bit more.¡± Kaylen¡¯s eyes, though smiling, were unsettlingly cold¡ªa detail that Ruhos had completely failed to notice. The next day, the Quarterfinals began. Zaik stepped onto the arena with a lighthearted confidence. "They said everything was handled, after all." Kaylen might have dared to talk back to him in front of Lionus, but with Ruhos having assured him that the situation was tightly under control, Zaik felt no need for extensive preparation. "Still, I should teach that upstart a lesson. A vassal family daring to act so brazenly¡ªknow your place." Since Kaylen had allegedly agreed not to resist, this match would simply be a one-sided beating. Zaik couldn¡¯t hide his excitement at the thought of crushing Kaylen¡¯s arrogance. He wanted the boy to enter the arena already. Step. Step. ¡°Participant Kaylen, entering the arena.¡± Kaylen stepped onto the field with a calm smile. Yet, for reasons he couldn¡¯t explain, a chill ran down Zaik¡¯s spine as he watched. Something felt... off. ¡°Let the match begin!¡± Suppressing his unease, Zaik wasted no time and began his magic. ¡°Circle Reload: Stone Spike.¡± One by one, jagged stone spikes materialized, quickly numbering in the dozens¡ªa testament to his mastery as an Earth Mage. "He¡¯ll pretend to struggle and eventually concede defeat," Zaik thought. Surely, Kaylen would show some feeble attempts at offense and defense before accepting his loss. "I¡¯ll play along at first and then finish him decisively. Let¡¯s teach this arrogant brat a real lesson." The unease from earlier was surely just nerves. Zaik smirked confidently as the barrage of stone spikes flew toward Kaylen. But Kaylen, standing still, merely opened his mouth. ¡°Haste.¡± Zaik¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief. Haste? Of all things, the supposedly compliant Kaylen had chosen an acceleration spell instead of a shield. Before Zaik could process the absurdity, Kaylen¡¯s figure vanished. And then¡ª Thud. Kaylen was standing right in front of him. "You¡ªhow dare yo¡ªugh!" Crunch! Before Zaik could finish his sentence, Kaylen¡¯s fist smashed into his mouth. The sound was sickening, and the pain was overwhelming. ¡®What... what is this...?!¡¯ Zaik barely had time to think before Kaylen grabbed him by the collar and hoisted him off the ground like a ragdoll. Then¡ª SLAP! Kaylen¡¯s palm cracked across Zaik¡¯s face with a force that sent blood spraying from his mouth. SLAP! Another strike knocked loose teeth, which clattered to the ground amidst the splatter of blood. Thud. Crack. Zaik was flung aside like garbage, landing in a pitiful heap on the arena floor. The excruciating pain left him seeing white, his body wracked with shock. Amidst the chaos in his mind, Kaylen¡¯s calm, chilling voice reached his ears. ¡°Stop playing dead and put on your mana suit already, Senior Zaik.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to break it for you.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 30 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 30 ¡°Y-You... this... bastard...¡± Zaik''s voice trembled as he struggled to speak. Every time he moved his mouth, his loosened teeth clattered uncomfortably. Air seeped through the gaps, making it difficult for him to form words properly. When was the last time he had suffered such injuries? Zaik Baldur. A prodigious mage from the esteemed Baldur Count¡¯s family. A 3rd Circle Earth Meister on the verge of reaching the 4th Circle, and the proud owner of a C-rank Mana Suit. Though winning the tournament was out of the question due to competitors like Princess Violet, a 4th Circle mage, and Lioness, Zaik had still been hailed as one of the academy¡¯s brightest talents. He was expected to make it to the semifinals without issue. For someone accustomed to a smooth, unchallenged path, this situation was entirely foreign. ¡°You didn¡¯t seriously leave your Mana Suit behind, thinking yesterday¡¯s agreement was enough to protect you, did you?¡± Of course not. The Mana Suit was Zaik¡¯s most treasured possession, something he would never leave behind. He had simply been caught off guard, panicked by the unexpected pain, and failed to respond in time. ¡°Or... are you just planning to kneel and give up?¡± Kaylen¡¯s cold smile accompanied the taunt, snapping Zaik out of his daze. Zaik locked eyes with him. From Kaylen, he felt a presence he couldn¡¯t quite define¡ªsomething unnervingly oppressive. While its exact nature was unclear, one thing was unmistakable: ¡®That bastard... he¡¯s looking at me like I¡¯m a bug.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t the disgusted look one gives something filthy. Rather, it was an apathetic gaze, like seeing a stray pebble on the roadside or an insignificant fly buzzing by. ¡°...You damn brat.¡± Gritting his teeth, Zaik rolled up his left sleeve, revealing a bracelet embedded deep into his arm. The brown bracelet had a bright blue gemstone at its center. When he pressed the gem, a hum began to resonate. Whirrrrr. The gemstone lit up, and the Mana Suit began enveloping Zaik¡¯s body. The suit was a deep earthy brown, resembling full-plate armor forged from steel. Kaylen, arms crossed, watched the process unfold impassively. ¡°It takes about ten seconds to fully equip,¡± he noted. Even in Zaik¡¯s half-prone state, the suit automatically adjusted and fitted itself onto him. Once the suit was fully activated, Zaik pushed himself to his feet. [Circle Reload...] A mechanical voice echoed from the Mana Suit, its tone harsh and metallic, likely enhanced through magical mechanisms. [Stone Skin.] Rumble. The ground beneath the arena cracked open, and a mass of earth surged upward. In mere moments, the soil fused with Zaik¡¯s Mana Suit, layering it with an additional armor of hardened dirt. Despite being made of earth, the new layer looked as solid as iron. [Kaylen, I swear, I won¡¯t let you live!] Zaik, now in a defensive stance, growled with fury. [Circle Reload. Earth Hand.] Rumble!No?v(el)B\\jnn The entire arena began to quake and crack open. From the fractures emerged five enormous hands made of earth. Standing at about three meters tall, the massive hands loomed over Kaylen, even making his towering frame seem small. Surrounding him on all sides, the hands moved with intent, poised to crush him like an insect. Kaylen watched them descend with an intrigued expression. "This... feels close to a 5th Circle spell. No, it¡¯s a little short, isn¡¯t it?" Though Zaik was only a 3rd Circle mage, his focus on a single element as an Earth Meister, combined with the amplification from his Mana Suit, had made his power overwhelming. Even when compared to the mages Kaylen had encountered in his past life, Zaik¡¯s raw strength held its own. ¡°Earth Shield.¡± Kaylen conjured a defensive barrier of the same element to counter. Boom! Boom! The force behind the Earth Hands was far beyond anything Kaylen had faced in the earlier rounds of the tournament. After just two or three strikes, the protective shield was on the verge of shattering. Even the impacts bleeding through the shield were enough to make Kaylen feel the strain. [Gravity Field.] Zaik cast yet another spell. A field of heightened gravity enveloped Kaylen, pressing down on him with immense force. Kaylen could feel his body grow heavy under the spell. "It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve felt this kind of restraint." Trapped by the Earth Hands and crushed under the amplified gravity, Kaylen found himself immobilized. Yet, instead of panicking, he smiled. It had been a long time since his body experienced such physical limitations. ¡°Flash.¡± Flash! In an instant, Kaylen disappeared from the Earth Hands¡¯ grasp and reappeared right beside Zaik. ¡°Strength.¡± With the activation of a strength-enhancing spell, Kaylen¡¯s body radiated an ominous energy. Zaik¡¯s expression twisted in disbelief. He thought to himself, ¡°Is he planning to punch my Mana Suit? This indestructible armor?¡± ¡°He¡¯s insane!¡± That thought didn¡¯t last long. BOOM! ¡°Wha... what...?¡± But then... ¡°Flash.¡± Blink. Blink. Even in mid-fall, Kaylen used his Blink Spell. It wasn¡¯t to escape back into the sky. Instead, Kaylen used the spell to close the distance between them. Positioning himself directly above Zaik, Kaylen began to descend rapidly, now targeting Zaik from above. The tables had turned. ''Has he lost his mind?'' Zaik thought as he watched Kaylen deliberately close the distance between them. It should¡¯ve been a mistake on Kaylen¡¯s part¡ªproximity favored Zaik. Without hesitation, Zaik summoned Earth Hands from every direction and hurled boulders at his descending opponent. ¡®I¡¯ll crush him where he stands!¡¯ But then, Kaylen¡¯s calm voice rang clearly in Zaik¡¯s ears. ¡°Gravity Field.¡± [What...?!] The very idea was absurd¡ªapplying yet another layer of gravity while one was already in effect? Zaik''s body instantly became even heavier. His own Gravity Field compounded by Kaylen¡¯s spell intensified the gravitational force beyond reason. And, as if mocking Zaik¡¯s strategy, Kaylen¡¯s descent accelerated, now plummeting like a meteor. Even mid-fall, Kaylen continued casting a flurry of spells: ¡°Strength. Haste. Earth Shield. Stone Skin...¡± Each spell was a protective enhancement. Empowered by these layers of magic, Kaylen transformed into an unstoppable force, tearing through Zaik¡¯s summoned Earth Hands as if they were nothing. Boom! Boom! Zaik¡¯s eyes widened in disbelief as he witnessed the impossible. [What kind of wizard...?! This doesn¡¯t make sense!] To Zaik, it was insanity. Wizards weren¡¯t supposed to use their bodies like this. Even with auxiliary spells, how could a magic caster charge headfirst into a fight like a warrior? [E-Earth...] Zaik tried to conjure a spell to counter Kaylen¡¯s charge, but it was too late. Kaylen¡¯s speed was unmatched. Zaik had no time to react. Desperation filled his mind as he clung to his only hope¡ªhis defensive magic. ¡®He¡¯s just a wizard! There¡¯s no way his physical attack can surpass my defensive spells. No way!¡¯ After all, his barriers had endured the bombardment from Kaylen¡¯s earlier magic. Surely, they could hold once more. But... CRACK! Zaik¡¯s Earth Shield shattered upon impact. CRUNCH! The Stone Skin, his secondary defense, cracked and broke apart. [Guh¡ª! Agh¡ª!] The C-rank Mana Suit absorbed much of the damage, but it wasn¡¯t enough to shield Zaik from the internal shock. The impact sent waves of pain through his body, and he collapsed to the ground. Thud! "You''re tough, I¡¯ll give you that," Kaylen remarked casually as he landed with a crash nearby. Dust settled, revealing Kaylen rising to his feet with ease. He dusted himself off and walked toward Zaik, his expression one of mild interest. Zaik, trembling on the ground, stared up at him in horror. [M-monster...] Zaik couldn''t comprehend it. A human had just fallen from the sky, and not just any fall¡ªone in which two Gravity Fields had been stacked on top of each other. How could Kaylen remain unharmed? Was this really a human? "Let''s do a bit more durability testing, senior." Kaylen smiled as he flexed his right hand, the one that had crushed Zaik¡¯s Earth Hands, Earth Shield, and Stone Skin. Zaik thought that once Kaylen was in his Mana Suit, he''d easily tear him apart. But now, facing Kaylen''s strength, fear crept in like never before. Boom! Another blow landed on the Mana Suit. Boom, boom, boom! Kaylen''s fist slammed the same spot repeatedly, without any signs of wear or damage to the Mana Suit. "Not even a scratch." Even though the Mana Suit remained intact, the same couldn¡¯t be said for Zaik within it. With each strike, the shockwaves reverberated throughout his body. The Mana Suit was meant to absorb such impacts, but Kaylen''s blows were something else. Zaik felt his bones creaking as if his entire body would shatter. He was coughing up blood and bile. At this rate, I¡¯ll die. I can¡¯t hold on any longer. "Should I hit harder?" At the sound of Kaylen¡¯s chilling words, Zaik¡¯s resolve finally broke. [Mana Suit... Deactivate.] The Mana Suit began to retract on its own, transforming from a full suit of armor into a simple bracelet. Kaylen watched with a cold expression as the suit dissipated. "What¡¯s this? Put it back on." Zaik gasped weakly, his body almost crumbling from the damage. "Ha... Ha... Please..." Kaylen stared at him for a moment, his frustration growing. He had hoped to continue testing the suit¡¯s durability, but with the user in such a state, there was no point. ¡°You¡¯ve always been this way, haven¡¯t you? No guts at all.¡± Before Zaik could fully admit defeat, Kaylen grabbed him by the collar, lifting him off the ground. Kaylen glanced around briefly, then his gaze locked on the face of a man, pale with fear. His lips curled into a wide grin. "Oh, there you are." With a swift motion, Kaylen hurled Zaik¡¯s body across the arena, sending him flying far beyond the battlefield into the spectator area. Landing near the front row, a man in a fine suit stood there¡ªRuhos, the house steward of the Baldur family. ¡°Ruhos, weren¡¯t you supposed to be keeping the sanctity of the royal family?¡± Kaylen¡¯s voice was soft, but it echoed clearly in Ruhos'' ears. ¡°This is my answer,¡± Kaylen added with a smile. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 31 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 31 Ruhos couldn¡¯t believe the current situation. ¡°Young Master......¡± Zaik Baldur. The eldest son of the current head of the Baldur family and a renowned genius magician. No one doubted the brilliant future that lay ahead of him, and many strove to align themselves with him in any way possible. Ruhos was no exception. Though they shared the Baldur surname... There was a vast difference between Zaik, a direct descendant, and Ruhos, a branch family member. Believing that gaining Zaik¡¯s favor would lead to rapid advancement, Ruhos had been assisting him for the past 10 years. He had thought he¡¯d reached a position where he could be called one of Zaik¡¯s close aides. And after handling the Kaylen matter, he expected to gain even more trust. But... ¡°Everything is ruined.¡± Ruhos stared blankly at Kaylen. Kaylen, who had shown an unbelievable feat against the mana suit. A magician defeating a mana suit in close combat. If someone were to hear of this, they would call it absurd and dismiss it as nonsense. ¡°You, you bastard! Do you think you¡¯ll get away with this?¡± ¡°And what will you do about it?¡± As Ruhos shouted in frustration, Kaylen shrugged. ¡°This brat! Do you think the Starn family will remain unscathed? How dare a vassal family...¡± A vassal family. Originally, the term referred to lower nobles serving under higher nobles... But after the emergence of dungeons, it took on another meaning. Lower nobles depended on higher nobles for the right to survival. Higher nobles used their Meisters to assist in subjugating dungeons that appeared within the territories of their vassals, while lower nobles became completely subordinate to them. Land usage rights, taxation, and even personnel decisions within the family. A vassal family could never go against the will of the higher noble family. Because otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t survive in this age of rampant dungeons. It was better to be fully subjugated under them. To seek survival that way. This was how the lower nobles of this era lived. The Starn family, in particular, was in no position to oppose the Baldur family. Without the Meisters dispatched by the Baldur family, even maintaining their territory was difficult. More than half of their family¡¯s resources were already taken over. For survival. To stay alive, they had no choice. The Starn family needed a backer to protect them. ¡°Go ahead and try.¡± But that was the Starn family¡¯s concern. Kaylen didn¡¯t care in the slightest. From the beginning, his goal of rebuilding Meier made the Starn family irrelevant... Even from Kaylen¡¯s own bodily perspective, the Starn family was insignificant. ¡°Because of that bastard, I remembered.¡± Kaylen Starn. The eldest son of the Starn family. He possessed some notable magical talent, enough to enter the Magic Academy. But... Because his father¡¯s second wife was from a higher noble family, his position within the family was terrible. No, it wasn¡¯t just terrible. Kaylen¡¯s position within the family was nonexistent. ¡°Ruhos, who is the successor of the Starn family?¡± ¡°That would be...¡± At Kaylen¡¯s question, Ruhos fell silent. The successor of the Starn family. Originally, it was the eldest son, Kaylen. ¡°But now, it¡¯s your nephew, isn¡¯t it? Your stepmother¡¯s son. My half-brother.¡± Kaylen remembered. The day he saw Ruhos Baldur¡¯s face, Kaylen was forced to recall memories he had locked away. After Kaylen¡¯s father remarried. When a son was born from that marriage... Around the time Kaylen¡¯s position began to waver. - Kaylen, now that you¡¯ve become an uncle, let me give you some advice. Feeling the limits of his abilities in the capital, despairing at his increasingly overweight body, and falling head over heels for Lina, Kaylen became a bottom-rank student, left behind in the academy. That was who Kaylen was. ¡°In a way, it made things easier for me.¡± His position within the family was nonexistent. The Starn family had effectively cast him out first, so he no longer had to cling to his original family. ¡°Though I still don¡¯t understand why Ruhos is targeting the Starn family.¡± One question lingered. Why was Ruhos Baldur targeting the Starn family? In this era, where everything had become concentrated in the capital after the dungeon upheaval, it was said that even a prosperous commoner merchant in the capital was better off than a provincial noble family. Moreover, the Starn family¡¯s territory was one of the most remote backwaters. The land wasn¡¯t fertile, nor did it have any noteworthy specialties. The Starn family¡¯s territory was one of the most remote regions, farthest from the kingdom¡¯s capital¡ªa place so desolate that even the Order of Mounted Knights rarely ventured there. The Starn family held only a meaningless noble title, a hollow remnant of its former glory. Even for a branch family member, a woman from the Baldur family could have married into a better household. So why forge a connection with the Starn family? There had to be a reason. ¡°I¡¯ll figure that out later.¡± For now, what mattered was Kaylen¡¯s current situation. Since it was confirmed that Kaylen had severed ties with his family, he had no reservations about utterly demolishing Zaik Baldur. ¡°You...! I went out of my way to solve this peacefully, even paying your academy fees...! And yet, a mere vassal dares to defy their station?!¡± Even as Zaik was carried away by the medical team, Ruhos angrily berated Kaylen, his veins bulging with fury. But his words held no sway over Kaylen. ¡°Ruhos, you know as well as I do¡ªI¡¯m no longer part of the Starn family.¡± ¡°...Tch! You may no longer be the heir, but you¡¯re still a Starn!¡± A noble family¡¯s eldest son, forcibly ousted from his rightful position, still tied to that same family? How convenient. Kaylen smirked bitterly. Was this their way of trying to reclaim him now that his worth was apparent? ¡°That¡¯s for me to decide. I¡¯m not a Starn anymore.¡± Kaylen pointed a thumb at himself. ¡°I¡¯m starting fresh.¡± ¡°What...?!¡± Whatever the Starn family had to offer, it no longer mattered. Since the family was the first to abandon him, there were no obstacles to starting anew. ¡°For now, I¡¯ll live as commoner Kaylen. Soon enough, during the Meister Examination, I¡¯ll prove my value to the world.¡± ¡°Y-you...!¡± Kaylen casually glanced around at the scouts in attendance. Ruhos¡¯ gaze involuntarily followed his. ¡°So... he¡¯s no longer bound to the Starn family?¡± ¡°Then we don¡¯t need to consult his family¡¯s wishes.¡± The scouts were completely engrossed, jotting down every word exchanged. ¡°How did he manage to subdue a Meister in a mana suit barehanded? Even seeing it, I can hardly believe it.¡± ¡°And that final blow with his fist... What is he? No knight could manage that.¡± ¡°His magic is exceptional, too. He manipulated every element with ease. Maybe he has talent for all attributes... Could he be a true Meister-level genius?¡± ¡°A once-in-a-century prodigy!¡± Shock and praise for Kaylen spread like wildfire. On the other hand... ¡°We need to revise our assessment of Zaik Baldur.¡± ¡°Even under pressure, he couldn¡¯t even throw a punch and ended up deactivating his own mana suit? Tsk tsk.¡± ¡°His mental fortitude is lacking. Just another spoiled noble brat.¡± The scouts openly criticized Zaik. Ruhos¡¯ face darkened to a deep crimson as he heard their scathing remarks. ¡°These fools...!¡± Zaik, as a Baldur family member, was never in a position to seek recruitment. But the debacle had tarnished his reputation in the industry, and Ruhos knew it. The losses from today were incalculable. ¡°Well then, take good care of your young master.¡± With a grin, Kaylen descended the arena stairs. The scouts leapt to their feet and began following him in droves. ¡°Kaylen! Please, wait a moment!¡± ¡°Sir Kaylen, a word!¡± Effortlessly dodging the approaching crowd, Kaylen weaved his way out of sight. Meanwhile, from a VIP box overlooking the arena, a pair of eyes intently followed his every move. ¡°That man is fascinating. How does someone like him emerge among humans?¡± ¡°...Indeed.¡± The voices belonged to two non-human observers. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 32 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 32 The dungeon upheaval did not only affect human territories. Elves who resided in the forests, dwarves from the mountains, and numerous other non-human races lost their homes due to dungeons and monsters, leaving them wandering. Those who lost their homes gravitated toward human nations, particularly the Bormian Kingdom, known for its favorable treatment of non-humans. Many of these displaced individuals also found their way to the Bormian Royal Academy, where some non-humans served as special professors teaching third-year students. ¡°That human is unusual. I sense traces of an ancient mage.¡± The speaker was a seductive woman dressed provocatively, her golden hair and sharply pointed ears identifying her as an elf. She was one of the elven leaders who had migrated to human cities after the dungeon crisis. ¡°What do you think?¡± she asked, turning to the figure next to her. Similar in height to the elf, the figure was entirely covered in thick black fur, resembling a beast. Not a single part of their skin was visible, not even their face, which was concealed except for two large green eyes that shone through. ¡°Yes, Queen Myorn?¡± The speaker was none other than Queen Myorn, a dwarf infamous for producing subpar mana suits. Her fur-covered face shifted slightly before her voice emerged. ¡°Mixed magic... it¡¯s been a long time.¡± ¡°Exactly. It¡¯s rare to see traces of ancient mages in this day and age.¡± ¡°But even more surprising is his martial skill.¡± Kaylen¡¯s strikes had delivered a shock that overpowered a mana suit¡ªa feat almost unheard of in an era where martial prowess had significantly diminished. For a mage to achieve such a level of physical combat was astonishing. ¡°I need to experiment with him, Irene.¡± ¡°Experiment? You mean...?¡± ¡°Yes, testing the prototype mana suit.¡± At those words, the elf Irene¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. Was she referring to that prototype mana suit¡ªderided as ¡°junk¡±? ¡°Myorn, didn¡¯t you give up on that mana suit? It doesn¡¯t even have the firepower to break a dungeon core.¡± ¡°If I experiment with him and collect data, it might become viable.¡± ¡°No. This time, I won¡¯t concede. That human has to work with us.¡± ¡°...When have you ever conceded?¡± ¡°Hmm, ahem! I have conceded before. You know that.¡± As Irene coughed in an exaggerated manner, Myorn¡¯s green eyes narrowed beneath the fur. ¡°You only ever concede with human boys who are infatuated with elves. They come once and never return.¡± ¡°What can I do about humans being so superficial? Besides, who would want to experiment with that mana suit?¡± Compared to the elves, revered as avatars of beauty, the hairy and peculiar dwarves rarely found volunteers for their experiments. Unless the experiment topic itself was intriguing, few showed interest. While Irene conducted experiments on practical subjects like elemental magic, spirit conjuration, and Meister-level magical enhancement, Myorn clung to her seemingly useless prototype mana suit. ¡°This time, he has to work with me for the experiment.¡± ¡°Fufu. Let¡¯s leave it up to his choice.¡± Myorn¡¯s determination to conduct her experiment burned brightly, but Irene¡¯s confidence didn¡¯t waver. After all, Kaylen was human. It was inevitable that he would be drawn to an elf, often called the embodiment of beauty. The crowd murmured in the background. The area surrounding Kaylen was teeming with scouts dispatched by various mage towers and the Order of Civil Squads. ¡°Kaylen! Please, hear us out!¡± ¡°Kaylen! The Tower Master has promised you the best treatment!¡± ¡°Kaylen!¡± Kaylen had become the hottest prospect in this competition. While the top-tier mages likely to achieve Superior Mage status were already affiliated with prominent factions, Kaylen was unaffiliated, making the competition for his allegiance even fiercer. ¡°I¡¯ll listen to your proposals after the tournament,¡± Kaylen said as he tried to push through the crowd. However, no one seemed willing to let him leave. Just as he contemplated forcing his way through¡ª ¡°Everyone, could you please step aside for a moment?¡± A graceful voice rang out as Irene approached, her elegant presence commanding attention. ¡°Huh...?¡± Kaylen nodded. ¡°All right.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go somewhere quieter.¡± The group headed to a forest on the outskirts of the Magic Academy, where a branch of the Fairy Tower was located. ¡°I didn¡¯t know there was a branch here,¡± Kaylen remarked. ¡°Typically, mage towers aren¡¯t allowed to have branches within the academy...¡± Irene replied, sipping her tea elegantly. ¡°But the royal family made a special exception for us.¡± Though such privileges might have caused backlash from other mage towers, the Fairy Tower¡¯s contributions to the royal family were substantial. Moreover, since the Fairy Tower¡¯s original purpose was to protect elves, it refrained from using its presence at the academy to recruit students. ¡°Congratulations on becoming a Superior Mage, Kaylen,¡± Irene said with a warm smile. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re aware that Superior Mages can collaborate with the faculty on a research project, correct?¡± Kaylen nodded. Becoming a Superior Mage, one of the academy¡¯s eight most exceptional mages, came with numerous benefits. The most appealing benefit of being a Superior Mage for Kaylen was the ability to skip classes, but for most mages, the biggest advantage was conducting a year-long research project with the academy''s renowned faculty. ¡°I would like to collaborate on research with you,¡± Irene said. ¡°So would I. Me too,¡± Myorn chimed in. Irene shot Myorn a side glance for interrupting before turning her enchanting gaze toward Kaylen. The alluring fragrance in the room wafted strongly to his nose, blending with Irene¡¯s mesmerizing beauty, which would leave any human captivated. The ambiance of the elegant room, combined with the scent, created an intoxicating harmony. ¡°Kaylen, we are conducting research to restore higher-level spirit magic,¡± Irene said in her bewitching voice, filling the room. Sight, sound, and scent worked in perfect unison to enchant Kaylen. ¡°Would you consider collaborating with me on this research?¡± Despite not providing specifics about the research, Irene confidently made her request, her eyes filled with self-assurance. She knew that any man, especially a young one brimming with vitality, would find it impossible to refuse her. With her extraordinary beauty and enchanting demeanor, it was natural for men to eagerly comply with her requests, no matter what they entailed. What Irene hadn¡¯t accounted for, however, was Kaylen¡¯s past. "What¡¯s this? She¡¯s trying to take the easy way out." Kaylen, in his past life as the emperor Ernstine, had grown weary of such tactics and was unfazed by her charms. ¡°What about you, Myorn?¡± Kaylen asked, diverting his gaze from Irene¡¯s sparkling eyes to look at the dwarf. Myorn, whose fur had drooped like a wilted hedgehog, perked up slightly at his question, her fur regaining its energy. ¡°...Me?¡± ¡°Yes. I need to hear your research topic too, so I can compare,¡± Kaylen replied. ¡°Really? You¡¯ll actually listen? Even though she spoke first? And even used wind spirits to spread her scent everywhere?¡± ¡°Ahem! Ahem! Myorn, what nonsense are you spouting? When did I do that?¡± Irene quickly cut in, flustered. She had assumed her approach would guarantee her success. After all, no man had ever turned her down before, especially after she used her elven fragrance. She had all but given up when Myorn started speaking, believing Irene¡¯s victory was inevitable. Now that the tables had turned, Irene hurriedly interjected, ¡°Stop talking nonsense, Myorn. Hurry up and explain your research topic.¡± She glanced sideways at Kaylen. "Hmm... he¡¯s better than I thought." Initially, Irene had been slightly offended by his resistance to her charms. But now, she found it intriguing. A man who could resist an elf¡¯s allure might focus more on research compared to other male mages. "In any case, our topic is far more appealing. Myorn is probably going to bring up that same idea again." Even purely based on research topics, Irene was confident that hers was superior. ¡°I want to research mana suits with you,¡± Myorn said. "There it is, the mana suit research again," Irene thought. ¡°This mana suit isn¡¯t just for master mages. It will be more versatile, more powerful, and unrestricted by a single elemental attribute. I want to create such a mana suit with you.¡± "Her ideals are lofty, but the reality isn¡¯t so accommodating," Irene sighed inwardly. Though mocked for creating faulty mana suits, Myorn¡¯s talent as a dwarf was exceptional. Irene felt that if Myorn had pursued a different project, the results would have been remarkable. But Myorn seemed unable to let go of her attachment to this research. "In any case, it¡¯s obvious he¡¯ll choose to work with me." No mage would be swayed by Myorn¡¯s far-fetched ideas. Confident that her research would pique Kaylen¡¯s interest, Irene awaited his response. However... ¡°That sounds interesting,¡± Kaylen said, shattering her expectations entirely. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 33 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 33 "You''re... okay with this?" "Yes." Even after hearing such an unbelievable story? Irene doubted her ears. In contrast, Myorn, who hadn''t expected much after explaining, was now... "Really? Truly?" Completely overjoyed.No?v(el)B\\jnn "Of course, that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ve finalized any research collaboration with you, Myorn." "What? Why not?" "I still need to hear about Irene¡¯s research topic in detail." "Ah!" Irene, momentarily dazed by Kaylen''s words, quickly came to her senses and looked at him again. Kaylen, with an expression of complete composure, glanced between Irene and Myorn. ¡®Explain it... in detail? To a human?¡¯ As the leader of the elves, humans had always readily accepted her words without much questioning... But now she had to persuade them through her research topic? Though momentarily flustered, Irene steadied herself. ¡®Fine. This human is worth it.¡¯ Not as a 4-circle Meister, but as a mage. Under normal circumstances, a Meister would be more highly regarded... But not in the case of this research aimed at advancing elven spirit magic. ¡®Meisters haven¡¯t been very helpful in this field anyway.¡¯ Meisters specialize in a single attribute. Originally, this concept was derived from non-human races like elves and dwarves. Elves and dwarves, chosen by one of the Four Great Spirits, would only handle that specific element. Elves typically aligned with either wind or water spirits, while dwarves aligned with earth or fire spirits. Thus, human Meisters had limited usefulness in such research, as such specialists already existed within their own races. ¡®Rather than a Meister, what we need is a mage...¡¯ A traditional mage capable of handling all elements. For the research, those who had declined in prominence with the times were precisely what was needed. ¡®To verify the records we¡¯ve obtained this time.¡¯ Irene recalled the records she had recently acquired¡ªdocuments containing clues to the advancement of spirit magic. To experiment with those findings, they needed not a Meister but a mage¡ªan exceptionally skilled one. Kaylen, standing before her, was a 4-circle mage. Although not considered a high-ranking mage by past standards, in modern times, mages of this level were rare. "Alright. We''re conducting experiments to restore a more advanced form of spirit magic." "More advanced, you say?" "In the past, we could summon even high-level spirits." "That¡¯s true. At least before dungeons began appearing." Kaylen fell into thought. In the past, elves and dwarves who reached a certain level could summon high-level spirits. Additionally, exceptional beings like High Elves or Dwarf Queens could even summon supreme spirits. ¡°Even summoning high-level spirits is difficult now?¡± ¡®If this happened after the dungeons appeared, it must be related to the amount of mana.¡¯ Since the proliferation of dungeons, the amount of mana in the world had indeed decreased. In the end, the root cause was the dungeons... something even the long-lived non-human races surely understood. ¡°What connection is there between dungeons and spirit magic?¡± Feigning ignorance, Kaylen asked. Myorn, shaking all his fur, responded. ¡°Since the dungeons appeared, the amount of mana in the atmosphere has started to decrease.¡± ¡°Even the elders, who could once summon high-level spirits, say that the spirits no longer respond to their calls.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Not Irene, but me? Really?¡± Still unable to believe it, Myorn kept asking. When Kaylen nodded affirmatively, her fur shook wildly in excitement. ¡°Wow... Did I just beat Irene? Has this ever happened before?¡± ¡°Wow, so that¡¯s the kind of experiment you¡¯re conducting? Incredible.¡± A hundred years ago, when Myorn¡¯s mana suit experiments were still in their early stages, her project to develop a universal mana suit had garnered widespread interest. Many Superior Mages wanted to participate, and even prominent families expressed interest in investing. However, even during those promising times: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Myorn. I¡¯ve decided to work with Irene instead.¡± ¡°Apologies, I¡¯m a Meister of Water... I need to focus on elemental affinity.¡± Myorn had never won against Irene in attracting collaborators. Some were captivated by the beauty of the elves. Others were drawn to elemental affinity, prioritizing Irene¡¯s expertise. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s Myorn!¡± ¡°Avoid her¡ªshe¡¯s going to ask us to experiment.¡± ¡°Why does she keep doing this? My family says her suits are only good enough for knights who lack firepower.¡± ¡°Honestly... her suits are useless. No one wants them.¡± As the results of Myorn¡¯s experiments fell far short of the initial hype, investments dried up, and mages willing to collaborate with her dwindled to nearly none. The experiment had a notorious reputation as one of the worst¡ªphysically demanding but offering no tangible rewards. ¡°Myorn, you¡¯re still conducting that experiment? Honestly...¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s an experiment that must be done. But I have no participants.¡± ¡°No participants again? Fine, I¡¯ll send someone your way.¡± Eventually, Irene, from the same Fairy Tower, stepped in to help Myorn. But the mages Irene sent were often unmotivated and lacked the skills Myorn needed. Worse, these mages would constantly try to find ways out of the experiment: ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯m a good fit for this experiment.¡± ¡°Suddenly, my younger sibling was in an accident...¡± ¡°My family has summoned me urgently, so I can¡¯t continue the experiment.¡± They would leave, offering all sorts of excuses, only to later appear in experiments led by Irene. After seeing this pattern far too often, Myorn declared: ¡°Don¡¯t send me any more humans. I don¡¯t need them. I¡¯ll do it alone.¡± It was more peaceful to hammer away at her work alone. More comforting to handle the flames herself. For 30 years, she worked solo on the development of mana suits, involving humans only for the final tests. Finally, she made a breakthrough¡ªa way to enhance her mana suits¡ªbut it required a special test subject: ¡°A physically strong mage who can withstand the pressure of the mana suit...¡± Finding such a person was nearly impossible. The level of physical strength she sought was on par with knights, something rare in this era dominated by mages. That is, until Kaylen came along. ''I thought I¡¯d lose him, too...'' When Irene took an interest in Kaylen, Myorn assumed she would lose him, just like before. But when Kaylen chose her experiment instead, she was so overjoyed that she couldn¡¯t contain herself. Her fur bounced and shook, and before she knew it, she leaped like a ball, landing right beside Kaylen. ¡°Let¡¯s work well together!¡± With a whoosh, part of her fur ignited, and from the flames emerged a stark white arm and hand. It was a scarred hand that gripped Kaylen¡¯s firmly. Her hand burned as hot as fire¡ªhot enough to scald an ordinary person. ¡°Her hand is too hot. Her control isn¡¯t refined yet,¡± Kaylen thought, assessing Myorn¡¯s level just from the temperature. ¡°Oh, is it too hot?¡± Her temperature reflected the elemental spirits of fire and earth that she harbored. Humans would find it unbearable, so Myorn quickly withdrew her hand. But Kaylen smiled faintly. ¡°This much is fine.¡± ¡°...You¡¯re just perfect for this!¡± Delighted by his response, Myorn grabbed his hand again. Her fur danced wildly, creating a breeze. ¡°Goodbye, Irene.¡± Her triumphant tone caused a frown to crease Irene¡¯s brow. If it were anyone else, she might have let them go. But Kaylen was too rare a case. There was no telling when another person like him might appear. Determined, Irene bit her lip briefly before speaking. ¡°Wait a moment, Kaylen. If you join our research, I¡¯ll make sure to offer you additional compensation.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 34 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 34 "Compensation?" "Yes. This is an experiment conducted by the Fairy Tower. We can provide anything you desire." "Ha! Since when is that allowed? Trying to bribe someone with money?" "Myorn, didn¡¯t you do the same thing before?" At Irene''s offer of compensation, Kaylen fell into thought. ¡®Raising the rank of the Civil Squad is the current priority.¡¯ To do so, the mana suit was essential. After all, the ultimate goal of taking the Meister exam was also to obtain a mana suit. ¡®The Florence family promised to lend me one if I became a Meister. But using a borrowed suit for registration with the Civil Squad won¡¯t work. Hmm... a loan?¡¯ Participating in the experiment wouldn¡¯t grant him a mana suit outright. But borrowing one? That might be possible. "Then, could I borrow a mana suit?" "...Borrow a mana suit?" "I just need it for registration with the Civil Squad. I won¡¯t actually use it." "Wait, hold on. What kind of student is registering with the Civil Squad...?" "It¡¯s only for a day. You can even accompany me during the process." Irene tilted her head. Something about his wording felt off. It wasn¡¯t as if he was joining an existing squad¡ªit felt like he was creating one. ¡®Who exactly is this person?¡¯ A one-day loan wasn¡¯t impossible. Irene wielded considerable authority within the Fairy Tower. However, the process would be complicated. "Borrowing a mana suit is possible. But... for that, I would need to present sufficient justification to the tower." "Kaylen, I¡¯ll lend you one. I¡¯ve made plenty myself." "Are you referring to a suit handmade by you, Myorn?" "Yes." "Apologies, but it won¡¯t be recognized." "What? Why?" "Because they don¡¯t consider it to have enough destructive power to qualify as a mana suit." "Ugh." At Kaylen¡¯s firm response, Myorn¡¯s fur drooped dejectedly. Seeing this, Irene chuckled softly and continued, "If you participate in the experiment and produce significant results, I will make a formal request to the tower on your behalf." "Hmm..." "A mana suit that Myorn cannot provide, of course." If he needed a mana suit, there was no way Kaylen could refuse this offer. The thought of it being used for Civil Squad registration was slightly concerning, but the Fairy Tower had spare mana suits available. If Kaylen could deliver meaningful results, a one-day loan would be a reasonable trade. ¡®Both are tempting.¡¯ The elf''s experiment didn¡¯t pique his interest much, but the chance to borrow a mana suit was appealing. Meanwhile, Myorn¡¯s experiment genuinely intrigued him. Kaylen spoke directly to Irene. "Would it be alright if I showed you meaningful results right now?" "Right now?" "Yes, there''s no need to drag this out." At Kaylen''s words, Irene hesitated briefly before nodding. "Alright. It¡¯s difficult to demonstrate here. Let¡¯s move outside." "I¡¯m coming too," Myorn chimed in. "Fine. You¡¯re also part of our Fairy Tower, so come along." The group moved to a magical training ground prepared within the Fairy Tower''s branch. Irene summoned a mid-tier water spirit. "Undine." Droplets of water shimmered in midair, coalescing gradually into a form. The spirit took the shape of a young girl whose face closely resembled Irene''s. ¡®She¡¯s skilled.¡¯ To achieve this, she had concluded that someone of high caliber had to provide subtle yet precise stimuli. Breaking past the inherent limits of the elven race was no easy task. Using a faintly raised Sword Aura, Kaylen tapped the water barrier with his charged hand. Tap. Tap. "Ah... ah...?" Irene murmured in surprise. "How does it feel?" Kaylen asked. "This... this feels just like..." Irene trailed off, her expression shifting. The sensation was unusual¡ªunpleasant but refreshing, heavy but light at the same time. It was a combination of conflicting feelings that rarely occurred together. She exclaimed, "This is just like..." Kaylen nodded knowingly. It was the method described in Deluna¡¯s records, a stimulus designed to enhance the understanding of attributes. The sensation Irene experienced was exactly as Deluna had written about. Even when the elves had enlisted human mages and Meisters, they had never felt anything like this. As Irene''s amazement glimmered, Whoosh. Kaylen withdrew his hand. "Does this suffice as proof?" he asked. "A-ah..." Irene let out a sigh of regret. She had just begun to feel the sensation described in the records, and now it was over? "Irene, what we need to do here isn''t research," Kaylen stated firmly. "Th-then what is it?" she asked. "A transaction." "A transaction...?" "Research is about exploring the unknown. But I already know. I can stimulate you as described in the records." Kaylen¡¯s words were undeniable. He had demonstrated that he could evoke the precise stimuli described in the High Elf''s writings. In this situation, it was Irene who would need to learn from him. "Then, how about a mana suit rental¡ª" "No, I don¡¯t think this is something that can be settled with a one-day rental." "Then... what do you want?" "A mana suit. Permanently." "What?!" Irene exclaimed. "In exchange, I¡¯ll make you an advanced spirit summoner," Kaylen offered. Irene¡¯s eyes wavered. A mana suit... others would have dismissed such a request as ridiculous, rejecting it outright. But... ''An advanced spirit summoner...'' Since the dungeon catastrophe, there had been no advanced spirit summoners. If that lost art could be restored... its value would be immeasurable, worth far more than the cost of a mana suit. ''If this works, I¡¯ll become the first in this kingdom.'' As one of the leaders of the Fairy Tower, Irene had the authority to allocate a mana suit, even if it stretched her resources. She swallowed hard, then nodded. "Alright. But becoming an advanced spirit summoner comes first. I can¡¯t give you the mana suit in advance¡ªthe tower wouldn¡¯t approve." "Agreed. But until then, a temporary rental is possible, isn¡¯t it?" "...Yes, that¡¯s fine." Originally, the mana suit was supposed to be offered as compensation for participating in the experiment. However, as the situation shifted from research to negotiation, the rental became more of a down payment. "Great. Then it¡¯s settled¡ªI¡¯ll make a deal with you, Irene, and conduct research with Myorn." "Yay!" Myorn cheered. "Understood..." Irene replied, still hesitant. Kaylen had maneuvered so that he didn¡¯t need to choose between the two opportunities. Instead, he positioned himself to reap the benefits from both. Seizing any opportunity had been a hallmark of his character since his days as emperor. "Once the tournament is over, I¡¯ll need the rental prepared," Kaylen requested. "Of course. The tournament is nearly finished, so I¡¯ll get everything ready," Irene replied. The Superior Mage Selection Tournament had already reached the quarterfinals. Only the semifinals and finals remained, a mere two days. Irene knew she needed to act swiftly. "Good luck with the rest of the tournament, Kaylen." "Thank you." "And Kaylen, let¡¯s start the research right after the tournament. I¡¯ll be ready!" Myorn added excitedly. "Of course." After parting ways with the two professors, Kaylen walked away. At that time, he had little interest in the semifinals. ¡®Becoming a Superior Mage is enough. Advancing further has no real meaning.¡¯ Having already faced mages equipped with mana suits, he wasn¡¯t particularly motivated to climb higher in the tournament and had even considered forfeiting. But when the semifinals came the next day, his perspective began to change. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 35 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 35 Before watching the semifinals, Kaylen didn¡¯t have a high opinion of the current era''s martial prowess. ¡°Mana Suits exist, but the lack of mana is too severe.¡± In this era, where mana is scarce, even elves cannot summon higher spirits. Swordmasters had disappeared long ago, and the highest level of magic was capped at the 5th Circle. Compared to the past, it all seemed lacking. However, that notion changed entirely after witnessing the semifinals. "The Princess and Sir Lioness are entering." "......" Princess Violet walked in, donning her icy mask. Lioness ascended the arena, his hair ablaze. As they stood face-to-face, the clash of their mana¡ªfire and water¡ªfilled the entire arena with rising steam. The stage became shrouded in mist. Watching this, Alkas couldn¡¯t help but exclaim: ¡°What an incredible display from the very start.¡± ¡°The steam seems intentional. They¡¯re having a private conversation, it seems.¡± ¡°R-Really?¡± Their voices, inaudible to Sword Experts, seemed deliberately shielded to prevent eavesdropping. Yet Kaylen clearly heard their exchange: "...Today, I will melt that mask and prove myself, Princess." "How arrogant of you, with just an A-rank Mana Suit." "Prepare yourself to join my household. I will treat you well." "Hah. I¡¯d rather die than step foot in your duchy." Suddenly, the arena floor froze solid. Princess Violet¡¯s body began to transform into ice. As the steam condensed into water and fell to the ground, it instantly froze into solid ice. This frost was entirely different from when she froze a tutor in the past. ¡°As expected of an S-rank. Glacia... Frost Assimilation.¡± Lioness smiled as he activated his A-rank Mana Suit, Inferno. However, it was insufficient to resist the encroaching cold. The arena froze in an instant, with only the ground beneath Lioness¡¯ feet barely spared from icing over. ¡°So this is Glacia...¡± ¡°In a battle of ice and fire, fire is utterly overwhelmed.¡± ¡°The difference between S-rank and A-rank is this vast.¡± ¡°Still, both of them exhibit mana of an entirely different caliber.¡± Although both were Meisters, their magic power was capped at the 4th Circle. But once fully equipped with Mana Suits, their bodies transformed, aligning with their elemental attributes like spirits, unleashing unimaginable power. ¡°Is this what Spirit Assimilation looks like?¡± Spirit Assimilation¡ªa feature of A-rank or higher Mana Suits¡ªallowed the Meister¡¯s body to transform into a spirit-like form. For Meisters who focused entirely on a single attribute, this was the ultimate way to maximize destructive power. Even without casting any spells, their mere presence altered the atmosphere of the arena. ¡°Just by emitting mana, they can rival the power of a 5th Circle mage.¡± The arena felt like winter, the air growing increasingly frigid. To safeguard the spectators, a hastily reinforced protective magic circle was immediately activated. It worked to suppress Lioness¡¯s energy while also shielding the arena and stands from the overwhelming cold emanating outward. The mana of water was absurdly powerful. "Should we even be watching this?" "The atmosphere feels... ominous." The audience began to stir in unease. "Hmm... Should we stop the match?" "The difference in power seems stark." As the referees deliberated, Lioness, now fully transformed into a brilliant yellow flame, let out a confident laugh. Despite his body entirely aflame, his beauty was undiminished, drawing gasps of admiration from the women in the audience. "You are as formidable as I expected. However, my goal isn¡¯t victory¡ªonly to prove myself." With a roar, the intensity of Lioness¡¯s flames surged, and in an instant, he vanished. As his flames extinguished, his pale body gradually emerged, starting from his fingertips. For a moment, he let out a bitter smile. "Princess, please don¡¯t leave me frozen for too long..." Before he could finish his words, his body froze completely. "How dull." The duel ended as simply as that. Unlike the straightforward conclusion, the arena was left in ruins. Lioness¡¯s explosive attempts had devastated the structure, and all the protective magic circles had been destroyed. Only a few sections, such as Kaylen¡¯s area, remained intact due to self-cast protection magic. The spectator stands were entirely empty. "Is... is it over?" "Yes. That was entertaining." Perhaps hearing his remark, Violet, still in her elementalized state, glanced briefly in Kaylen''s direction. She gave a faint smile before leaving the arena. As Violet descended from the arena, the aftermath of her battle became evident. Lioness, frozen solid in an ice sculpture, stood as a stark reminder of her overwhelming power. The semifinal match had ended with her flawless victory. Watching the Fire Shield fade and the full extent of the arena''s devastation, Alkas commented, his tone a mix of awe and disbelief: "I¡¯ve heard that S-rank mana suits are powerful, but this... exceeds all expectations." *** Kaylen surveyed the arena thoughtfully as Alkas stood by. "And to think, she didn¡¯t even allow anyone to get close. It¡¯s as if Princess Violet has no weaknesses." "Haha, is that so?" Kaylen replied, his gaze sweeping across the arena. From north to south, east to west, the ice spread in an evenly distributed pattern, its influence apparent. "Look at the range of the ice field. It¡¯s almost symmetrical, isn¡¯t it?" "Yes, my lord. It is." "And what of the Princess¡¯s temperament? Is she cruel?" "Not at all. From what I¡¯ve heard, she¡¯s fair and just in her judgments." "Exactly. That¡¯s the impression I¡¯ve gotten too," Kaylen said, gesturing toward the frozen Lioness and the desolate scene beyond him. "The disparity in strength between the Princess and Lioness was clear. With such a gap, there was no need to freeze the entire arena to this extent." "Indeed..." "And yet, she did. The ice spread in a controlled radius, even reaching the spectator stands. This suggests... a lack of precision in controlling her power." "You¡¯re saying the Princess has trouble controlling her strength?" Alkas asked, incredulous. "Precisely. Against a strong opponent, she likely finds it harder to restrain herself." "Still... even without perfect control, her power is almost flawless, isn¡¯t it?" Alkas glanced again at the scorched and frozen remnants of the arena. Kaylen smiled. "Even so, flaws exist. That¡¯s what matters." He felt a surge of excitement well up within him. Witnessing Violet¡¯s power had ignited a warrior¡¯s passion, a longing for a challenge. "I¡¯ll make it to the finals." He wanted to face her. For the first time since stepping into this body, Kaylen felt a genuine desire¡ªto test himself against Violet¡¯s icy might. "You¡¯re aiming for the finals, my lord?" "Yes." "Are you thinking of using... that power?" "No," Kaylen replied firmly. "It must be strictly through magic." Alkas referred to the power of the Swordmaster, but Kaylen had no intention of revealing it. No matter how much he desired the duel, exposing his true abilities was unnecessary. The Swordmaster technique was his hidden trump card¡ªa revelation reserved for when the time was right. "Then... how will you prepare?" Kaylen¡¯s eyes gleamed. "There¡¯s somewhere I need to go." The following day, Kaylen found himself standing before Myorn¡¯s research lab, ready to take the next step in his plan. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 36 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 36 ¡°You¡¯re already thinking about joining the research before the tournament¡¯s even over, Kaylen?¡± Myorn, who initially greeted Kaylen warmly, tilted her head as he arrived. ¡°...What? You¡¯re saying there¡¯s no mana suit capable of standing against Glacia?¡± Upon hearing Kaylen¡¯s request, her fur bristled in all directions, forming visible question marks. Hundreds of floating question marks circled around Kaylen as Myorn looked at him in disbelief. ¡°I watched yesterday¡¯s match, and you still say that?¡± ¡°She¡¯s certainly powerful,¡± Kaylen replied. ¡°The entire arena was practically destroyed.¡± The Magic Academy¡¯s arena was protected by numerous defensive magic circles designed to safeguard the spectators. Additionally, stationed mages continually reinforced these protections for added security. Until now, there had never been an incident where both the arena and the stands were completely destroyed. ¡°That¡¯s because there¡¯s never been a match between the masters of S-grade and A-grade mana suits before.¡± ¡°Not to mention the animosity between Princess Violet and Lord Lioness likely pushed them to go all out.¡± ¡°Yeah. Even after seeing all that, you still think this is possible?¡± ¡°Well, I have enough confidence to hold my ground to some degree. Among your mana suits, Myorn, is there anything you¡¯d recommend for testing in the tournament?¡± ¡°Hmm... testing, huh...¡± The floating question marks faded as Myorn let out a sigh. She lowered her fur and walked to a corner of her laboratory. In the space, a pile of miscellaneous items resembling armor was stacked. Her fur stretched out in various directions, picking up items one by one. ¡°Not this one... this is too weak. This is a failure. This one¡¯s water-aligned, so that won¡¯t work either...¡± Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. She tossed various pieces of equipment around. Watching this from behind, Kaylen¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest. ¡°Well-made,¡± he thought. Though she discarded them like junk, the quality of the equipment was impressive even to his trained eye. From the perspective of a continent¡¯s emperor, each piece was nothing short of a treasure. During the age of knights, such equipment would have been highly coveted. It was a shame they were being left to gather dust as ¡°failures.¡± ¡°Something strong enough to oppose Glacia...¡± ¡°Myorn, there¡¯s no need to search so desperately for something to counter her.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°Yes. What matters this time is the experiment itself. Let¡¯s find something suitable for testing.¡± ¡°But still, if you¡¯re going to fight...¡± ¡°I don¡¯t plan to win anyway.¡± Princess Violet, the wielder of the S-grade mana suit. It would be simple enough to activate his Sword Master aura and overpower her, but... ¡°There¡¯s no need to go that far.¡± Kaylen¡¯s goal was merely to experience the power of an S-grade mana suit firsthand. Even with his reassurance, Myorn didn¡¯t stop rummaging through the equipment. ¡°No need to win? Still, we need something decent, even just to block one attack.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine if it can¡¯t block anything. Remember what we discussed before? A mana suit that¡¯s more versatile and not bound to a single element.¡± ¡°Well... but that¡¯s... it¡¯s too weak, especially compared to Glacia.¡± Myorn¡¯s voice faltered with hesitation. Perhaps the destructive display she had witnessed the previous day made her reluctant to bring out an experimental mana suit. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll just test it out during the semifinals against my next opponent.¡± ¡°Ah, the semifinals.¡± At the mention of the semifinals, Myorn paused and returned to her desk. From a pile of equipment, she retrieved a steel gauntlet. ¡°Let¡¯s test this, then.¡± "Scrap-level? It still seems somewhat powerful to me," Kaylen remarked, tilting his head. "A usable mana suit should at least double the spell¡¯s power. This... even a guild wouldn¡¯t approve it." "I see." "This won¡¯t do. It¡¯s too weak. I¡¯ll need to find something else." As Myorn moved back to rummage through her pile of prototypes, Kaylen watched her briefly before flexing the gauntlet on his hand. A question surfaced in his mind. What would happen if I channeled aura into this gauntlet? Knights could use mana suits as well¡ªthere were even Knight-Meisters. While their aura often leaned toward a single attribute, their destructive capabilities and efficiency were usually inferior to Mage-Meisters, making them less favored. Still, many knights longed for what they couldn¡¯t achieve. Kaylen recalled Alkas, the top graduate of the Knight Academy, who lacked the talent for Meister techniques and ended up as a mere escort knight for a count¡¯s daughter. Success as a knight required Meister-level skills. How weak must they have been for knights to decline so drastically? As Myorn focused on her search, Kaylen quietly channeled a faint aura into his index finger. Buzz. Buzz. The mana stone embedded in the gauntlet began to flicker with light. Whirr! Suddenly, the aura expanded rapidly, surging along his finger in waves. The aura is amplified too? Startled by the unexpected reaction, Kaylen immediately cut off the flow of mana. However, the commotion had already drawn Myorn¡¯s attention. "...You. What was that?" Her fur stood on end as she approached him swiftly, her eyes sharp with curiosity. "That aura¡ªwhat on earth was it?" "Guess you saw it all," Kaylen said with a calm smile. "Of course! How could I not notice that sharp aura?" Myorn retorted. If the mana suit hadn''t amplified the aura, she might have missed it. But with its unexpected magnitude, there was no way the Dwarf Queen could remain oblivious. "This mana suit... it¡¯s fascinating. Is it designed for knights?" "No, of course, it¡¯s meant for mages." "But the power increased, even though you cut off the mana midway." "Really? That¡¯s curious. Could it be because it¡¯s non-elemental? No... the old non-elemental designs weren¡¯t this powerful." Scratch, scratch. Myorn pulled out her notebook again, furiously jotting down her observations. [Anomaly ¨C Aura power amplified? Why? Non-elemental? No, it would¡¯ve been strong from the start if that were the case. Could it be a flaw in the modified magic circle?...] Unlike before, her writing showed no signs of stopping. Using her fur, she grabbed a second pen and started recording with both hands simultaneously. Then, suddenly, she stopped. "Kaylen, use aura one more time." At her request, Kaylen obediently conjured aura again. Whirr. Even with a faint activation, the aura swelled far beyond his expectations. Seeing this, Myorn frantically resumed her notes. "Incredible... Did you pour all your mana into it?" "This is just a small amount," Kaylen replied, demonstrating by producing a tiny aura on his left fingertip. Myorn¡¯s eyes darted back and forth between his hands as she let out an astonished gasp. "How is this possible? What am I missing?" She grabbed several of her experimental notebooks, scribbling feverishly as if possessed by the newfound data. For ten minutes straight, she wrote, fur standing on end as if charged with electricity. Then, all at once, she froze and turned to Kaylen, her expression filled with suspicion. "Kaylen. Aren¡¯t you a mage? A 4th Circle mage?" "That¡¯s correct." "Then how are you using aura?" "Ah, you finally ask," Kaylen said with a chuckle. It was, indeed, the most obvious question. Yet Myorn had been so engrossed in the experimental data that it hadn¡¯t even occurred to her until now. As she stared at him, baffled, Kaylen gave her a calm, knowing smile. ''It¡¯s sooner than I anticipated, but it¡¯s time to tell her the real reason I agreed to participate in her experiments.'' [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 37 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 37 "Myorn, what¡¯s your name?" Kaylen''s question made Myorn''s fur stand on end, bristling like a hedgehog. Then, abruptly, her fur shifted into a curious "?" shape. "...What are you talking about? This is my name." "That might not be true. Isn¡¯t ¡®Myorn¡¯ just a Dwarven pronunciation of ¡®Meier¡¯?" "Uh...what...?" Her large green eyes, peeking out from between the fur, quivered slightly. She had never imagined she¡¯d hear such a thing in a place like this. "The castle created by the Dwarven queen Kaina, the wife of Emperor Ernstine. Isn¡¯t that right?" "Wait, how do you know about that?" "I¡¯m connected to that name as well." "That¡¯s impossible..." Connected to the name Meier? Someone like that couldn¡¯t possibly exist anymore. After all, the Meier Empire had fallen a long time ago. "If you make the Oath of the Volcano to keep my secret, I¡¯ll explain everything in detail." The Oath of the Volcano. A sacred contract performed by Dwarves using fire or earth spirits as intermediaries. For Dwarves, it was the strongest binding pact imaginable. Breaking it came at a steep price¡ªthe loss of significant spiritual power. Because of this, Dwarves treated the oath with extreme caution. Perhaps that¡¯s why. Among non-Dwarven races, almost no one knew about the Oath of the Volcano. That Kaylen could even mention it made him all the more suspicious. "You...you even know about the Oath of the Volcano?" "I¡¯ve read some of Emperor Ernstine¡¯s records," Kaylen replied with a calm smile. As she watched him speak so nonchalantly, Myorn sank into contemplation. He knew too much to dismiss this as nonsense. He even knew the origin of her name. "Ugh. This is so strange..." She had always assumed his exceptional magical abilities came from his time at the Magic Academy. But on top of that, he could wield aura like a knight, knew the story behind her name, and was aware of the Oath of the Volcano? It was all too suspicious. Normally, it would¡¯ve been wise to approach someone like him with extreme caution, especially considering the proposal he¡¯d just made. And yet... "If all I have to do is keep his secret, this is too good to pass up." After all, there was no one left for Myorn to share secrets with. Her Dwarven clan had already been wiped out. Even though she lived in the human world and worked at the Fairy Tower of Magic, dominated by elves, she was little more than an outcast. This was a promise she could easily keep. "On the other hand, the information he let slip about Emperor Ernstine¡¯s records... I have to know more about that." With no one to confide in, the risk was practically nonexistent. "So, the condition of the oath is simply to keep your secret. Is that it?" "Yes, that¡¯s correct." "Alright. I swear. I¡¯ll keep your secret." A flame ignited above Myorn''s eyes, forming the shape of a mountain. Her fur burned away, revealing her pale forehead as fiery patterns danced across her skin. Soon, the flames solidified into the image of a crimson volcano. "By the will of the mighty volcano, I, Myorn, swear to never reveal Kaylen''s secret to anyone. Should I break this oath, the wrath of the volcano will descend upon me." Whoosh! The flame flared fiercely one last time before vanishing, leaving behind a glowing crimson volcano etched on her forehead. The small red mountain stood vivid amidst her now bare forehead and eyes, though the momentary cleanliness didn¡¯t last. Swoosh. The fur around her forehead regrew almost instantly, covering the volcano mark as if nothing had happened. ¡°You seem to lack spirit energy,¡± Kaylen observed with a knowing tone. ¡°The way your fur grew back so quickly after taking the Oath of the Volcano¡ªit¡¯s telling.¡± Myorn¡¯s fur bristled at his words. ¡°You even know about that?! It must have something to do with your secret.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Kaylen replied calmly. ¡°I am...¡± *** One Week Later ¨C Semifinals of the Tournament With the arena restored after the last battle, the second match of the semifinals was ready to begin. If the duel between Princess Violet and Lioness had captivated the public, this match was the one drawing whispers of intrigue among insiders. Kaylen Starn. The dark horse of the tournament, his unexpected rise as a formidable contender had everyone talking. ¡°That¡¯s Kaylen?¡± ¡°He¡¯s bigger than most knights.¡± ¡°They say he took down a Meister with his bare hands.¡± ¡°How could a mage defeat a Meister clad in a mana suit with just his body?¡± His feat of overpowering a mana-suited Meister spread far and wide, drawing the attention of foreign magic towers. Even representatives from these towers had come to observe him. Despite the still-ruined spectator stands, many managed to find spots to scrutinize his every move. In the VIP section, Irene, sitting with a slight grimace, broke the silence. ¡°Wow, so many scouts have shown up.¡± ¡°Well, he is special,¡± someone beside her replied. ¡°Ah, that¡¯s right. Myorn, didn¡¯t you... experiment with him? How was it?¡± At Irene¡¯s question, Myorn smirked faintly. ¡°I can¡¯t say. I made a promise.¡± ¡°What kind of promise stops you from talking about it?¡± Irene pouted. ¡°Just watch the match. You¡¯ll understand.¡± The air was Robin¡¯s domain, after all. If Kaylen chose to join him there, it would be an advantage for Robin. [Circle Reload. Wind Press.] A crushing gust of air bore down from above. [Wind Arrow.] Countless arrows of wind filled the sky, pelting Kaylen¡¯s Earth Shield. Though they couldn¡¯t pierce the barrier, they limited his movements. The match was unfolding as the inverse of Kaylen¡¯s quarterfinal battle. While his attacks hadn¡¯t connected, the flow of the match was firmly in Robin¡¯s favor. ¡°Robin has an impressive grasp of the power of wind. Truly worthy of being called a Wind Meister,¡± Irene remarked. ¡°For you to give such high praise, Lady Irene... Perhaps I¡¯ve underestimated him. I should adjust my evaluation,¡± Princess Violet replied. ¡°Indeed, Princess. With such talent, I doubt he¡¯ll lose quickly¡ªcertainly not within five minutes.¡± Irene¡¯s confident statement made Myorn¡¯s fur bristle slightly. As a summoner of wind spirits, her opinion carried significant weight, making her prediction all the more convincing. At this rate, Myorn thought, she was going to lose the bet. ¡°Kaylen! Hurry and finish this! I¡¯ve got a five-minute wager riding on you!¡± Myorn¡¯s shout echoed from the stands. Hearing her voice, Kaylen smirked. He lowered his hand, which had been channeling the Earth Shield, and focused on his gauntlet. ¡°Well then... let¡¯s end this.¡± The prototype mana suit gauntlet¡ªnicknamed Prototype-Normal by Myorn¡ªsuddenly shifted. Its metallic sheen turned a deep crimson as an enormous surge of mana began concentrating within it. ¡°No way.¡± ¡°This is... ¡°A mana suit?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve never seen one like that before.¡± The scouts¡¯ attention shifted immediately to Kaylen¡¯s gauntlet, their curiosity piqued. But their fascination was quickly replaced with astonishment as the scene unfolded before their eyes. ¡°Fire Wave.¡± Kaylen raised his hand toward the sky, and the gauntlet erupted into flames, blazing like an inferno. The fire surged outward, spreading into a massive wave of flames, consuming the air as it hurtled toward Robin. [Fly.] Robin instinctively ascended higher, predicting a counterattack. If he climbed high enough, the flames would eventually dissipate¡ªor so he thought. But the flames moved too fast. Faster than he could ascend. A Wind Meister, outpaced and cornered. [Tch... Wind Shield! Reload, Wind Press!] Robin summoned a shield of wind to protect himself and unleashed a burst of air to push back the flames. But it was futile. The fiery wave continued its relentless advance, unhindered by his efforts. Like a gentle breeze against a roaring tide, his wind spells proved powerless. Whoooosh! The shield of wind shattered. The flames enveloped Robin¡¯s mana suit entirely. [Aaaaargh!] A scream of pain tore through the arena as Robin plummeted from the sky. [Re-reload... Wind... Wind Shield. Fly...!] Desperately, he chanted spells mid-fall, trying to extinguish the flames and stabilize himself. But it was no use. The fire had already consumed him, leaving him helpless. He could not escape on his own. [Argh...! I surrender! I yield!] At Robin¡¯s frantic declaration of surrender, Kaylen finally spoke. ¡°Fly.¡± Just before Robin crashed into the ground, Kaylen lifted him back into the air with a calm gesture. [Th-thank you...] Robin stammered, his gratitude evident as the flames subsided. ¡°Well fought.¡± Robin, narrowly avoiding becoming the first fatality of the tournament, collapsed onto the ground, utterly spent. His sky-colored mana suit was charred black, its once-pristine surface now unrecognizable. From the stands, Irene watched with wide eyes. ¡°Myorn, that gauntlet... Did you make it?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Myorn replied simply. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s incredible! You built something that powerful?¡± ¡°No.¡± At Irene¡¯s enthusiastic praise, Myorn gave a wry smile. ¡°The incredible one... is him.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but recall the events of a week prior. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 38 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 38 "I have inherited the legacy of Emperor Ernstine." "The legacy of the Great Emperor...?" The Emperor who first unified the continent. A hero who defeated the Demon King and the Grand Sword Master, Ernstine. To think someone had inherited his legacy. Myorn¡¯s eyes trembled at the declaration. "Contained within it are the insights of Emperor Ernstine and the memories of someone he dearly loved¡ªQueen Kaina of the Dwarves. That¡¯s how I discovered your name, Myorn." Myorn nodded at Kaylen''s words but couldn¡¯t erase the doubt that lingered in her heart. It had been 1,000 years since Emperor Ernstine disappeared. Countless individuals, including his descendants, had searched tirelessly for anything left behind by him, but nothing substantial had ever been found. ¡®So now, after all those years of fruitless searching, his legacy just happens to be discovered? It doesn¡¯t make sense.¡¯ But then again, Kaylen¡¯s very existence defied logic. He wasn¡¯t even 20 years old yet and was already a Sword Master, a 4-circle mage, and someone who also knew secrets about the Dwarves. "By the way, what happened to Queen Kaina?" "My grandmother, who stayed in the village... eventually, she said she was going to search for Emperor Ernstine. After that, she disappeared." "Your grandmother... then, are you her granddaughter?" "...Yeah, I suppose you could say that." Myorn answered reluctantly, her tone nonchalant. Kaylen pondered the implications of her words, his thoughts drifting to Kaina. Kaina disappeared... and Myorn is my granddaughter? Kaina must no longer be alive after all this time... The average lifespan of a Dwarf was around 300 to 400 years. While Dwarf Queens were known to live longer, Kaina had already been 312 years old when he met her. Living for over 1,300 years seemed virtually impossible. As Kaylen reflected on Kaina, Myorn broke his thoughts with a pointed question. "But you¡ªhow do you know about my spirit power?" "I learned of it through the legacy I inherited." "The Great Emperor''s legacy..." "It even included the method that increased Queen Kaina¡¯s spirit power." "What? Seriously?!" Myorn¡¯s hair practically stood on end. To know how to increase the spirit power of a Dwarf Queen? Come to think of it, Kaylen had also known what to do when it came to Irene. "The method you used on Irene, was that also part of the legacy?" "Yes, it was." The technique Kaylen used to enhance Irene¡¯s spirit power. Myorn had dismissed it before, assuming it was something only applicable to Elves. But now, it seemed he even understood how it applied to Dwarf Queens. "Wow. Teach me! I need it! My spirit power hasn¡¯t improved at all." "Of course. As long as there¡¯s appropriate compensation." Though Myorn was Kaina¡¯s granddaughter, and thus in some sense also Ernstine¡¯s, this wasn¡¯t a situation where Kaylen could just hand over knowledge freely, even to a family member. Furthermore ¡®I¡¯m not even sure if she¡¯s truly his granddaughter.¡¯ Kaylen¡¯s doubt lingered. He couldn¡¯t ignore how Myorn hesitated when asked if she was Ernstine¡¯s descendant. If Kaina had truly been her grandmother, would Ernstine have left her as she was? It seemed unlikely. Ernstine wasn¡¯t the type to idly stand by if his granddaughter were still bound by the constraints of being the Dwarf Queen. "Compensation..." At the mention of compensation, Myorn¡¯s expression grew sullen. Irene had promised Kaylen a Mana Suit once she became an advanced Spirit Master, but Myorn couldn¡¯t offer anything comparable. "I don¡¯t have anything to offer like Irene did..." "Who says you don¡¯t?" "...What could I possibly have?" "You, Myorn. You¡¯re more than enough." "Me? I¡¯m expensive, you know." "Regardless, if you want to increase your spirit power, you¡¯ll have to stay with me." Kaylen¡¯s calm tone carried an unshakeable confidence as he continued. "Increasing a Dwarf Queen¡¯s spirit power is far more difficult than it is for an Elf. You must control the forces of both earth and fire."No?v(el)B\\jnn "True. Elves only need to focus on one element, but I¡¯m stuck with both. It¡¯s much harder." "But it¡¯s not impossible for me." "...How?" Kaylen began walking toward the pile of equipment. The heap was cluttered with failed prototypes of Mana Suits, scattered like junk. Finding something resembling a weapon among the mess seemed unlikely; most of it consisted of basic armor components that formed the foundation of Mana Suits. "There really aren¡¯t any swords here," he remarked. "This era doesn¡¯t need swords anymore," Myorn muttered. "Yeah, look, Kaylen. I won two Mana Stones. If Irene gives me hers, that''ll make three." "...Well done. Now, go ahead and tell Irene what you need." "Got it. Irene." Myorn, who had been proudly showing off the Mana Stones, shifted her gaze toward Irene. "Yes?" "I''ve decided to cooperate with Kaylen for a year. I''m joining his anti-Mage faction." "You''re joining... Kaylen''s faction?" "Yeah. It¡¯s fine, right? I¡¯ll do both, act as a technical advisor and also teach." Irene¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. What is she talking about? What happened in the past week? "Uh... What if I say no?" "Then I''ll have to quit the Fairy Tower." Myorn replied, sounding resigned. It seemed clear that her top priority now was joining Kaylen''s faction. ¡®Why...?¡¯ The Fairy Tower was one of the kingdom''s top magic towers, and Myorn had been a technical advisor there. The workload wasn''t heavy, and the compensation was more than enough. For Myorn, it was the best job. In contrast, Kaylen¡¯s faction was a fledgling group. They didn¡¯t even have Mana Suits yet, and hadn''t they asked to borrow one from her? It wasn''t a position Myorn should have been aiming for. It was far too small for her. So, how had he managed to convince her? "Kaylen, what exactly happened here?" "It¡¯s similar to your situation... You could look at it that way." "My situation?" Irene was taken aback by his words. She had only assumed it had something to do with her spirit power. "Could it be...?" "You¡¯ve guessed correctly. You don¡¯t need to say anything in front of all these people to confirm it." "...I see, there are a lot of eyes watching." "We¡¯ve agreed to prove it in a year. Until then, please allow her to serve in both roles." Irene bit her lip at Kaylen¡¯s words. Myorn¡¯s decision was understandable. For both Elves and Dwarves, spirit power was an invaluable force. If there was a chance to increase it, she couldn¡¯t possibly let it slip away. "Alright. I''ll allow her to hold both positions." "Thank you." "However, please make sure she isn''t put in danger. Her talents are too precious to be used in dungeon raids." "Of course. She¡¯ll mostly be working on research in our faction anyway." "...Understood. I¡¯ll take my leave then." Irene, whose once radiant smile had now been replaced with a stiff, serious expression, turned and began walking away. As she walked off, Myorn called after her. "Irene, what about the Mana Stones?" "Sigh... I¡¯ll send them to the lab." "Right, send them quickly~" Once Irene left, and most people had begun to depart from the VIP seats, Myorn stood up, still examining Kaylen''s gauntlet. "Let¡¯s head to the lab, Commander." As he stood, he glanced subtly to one side. "And... is that him?" He pointed toward Alkas, who was silently waiting next to Kaylen. "Yes, that''s him." "He was all spaced out, staring at the Elf¡¯s smile. Does he have any talent?" "Talent and that have nothing to do with each other. He¡¯s still young." "You¡¯re younger, though." "Well, let¡¯s just say it¡¯s something like that." Alkas, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, felt a little frustrated. Was every man supposed to act like a fool after seeing that smile? He felt like he was the only one acting like that. ¡®Why is the Lord so calm even after seeing the Elf''s smile...?¡¯ "Tch. It can¡¯t be helped. Come on, you go too." Myorn motioned toward Alkas, as if offering a rare favor. "Me too?" "Yeah. Let¡¯s go look at the Mana Suits." "But I¡¯m a knight..." "Right, a knight with no Meister talent, completely devoid of any color or aura." "...Yes." "That¡¯s why you¡¯re coming along." Myorn responded with a light tone, almost cheerful. "Right now, someone like you is exactly what we need." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 39 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 39 Myorn¡¯s Laboratory ¡°Now then... Shall we start with the first test?¡± Myorn¡¯s fur clumped together like threads, wriggling. Whoosh! Amid the pile of junk, Myorn pulled something out. It was a piece of full plate armor, glimmering silver. ¡°What was its name again?¡± ¡°Alkas, Master.¡± ¡°Alkas, put it on.¡± ¡°Wait... me?¡± Alkas, who had been dragged into the lab without explanation, looked startled but didn¡¯t seem entirely displeased. After all, wearing a mana suit had been a longstanding dream of his as a knight. ¡°I¡¯m not a Meister, though...¡± ¡°I already told you. I heard you¡¯re a knight without color or scent.¡± ¡°Yes... that¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°This is perfect for someone like you. Probably.¡± With that, Alkas received the mana suit. ¡°Inject your mana into the mana stone embedded in the helmet.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t resist the pressure. Just relax.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Let me know if it gets too much.¡± Bzzzzzzzz! The steel armor, shimmering with mana, began to shift, molding itself to fit Alkas¡¯s body perfectly. ¡°It¡¯s heavier than I expected.¡± ¡°What about the fit?¡± ¡°It¡¯s manageable.¡± ¡°Now, try using your aura.¡± Whoosh! Myorn tossed him a sword, and Alkas immediately infused it with his aura. Vrrrrrrr! A sharp blue light radiated from the sword, far stronger than the aura he was used to summoning. Overwhelmed with emotion, Alkas couldn¡¯t hide his excitement. ¡®So this... is the power of a mana suit!¡¯ However, the reactions from the two observing were less enthusiastic. ¡°Huh. It doesn¡¯t come out the same for him, does it?¡± ¡°Hmm. Could it be the difference between a Sword Master and an Expert?¡± Step, step. Kaylen approached Alkas, his footsteps measured, and firmly gripped the mana suit. ¡°Alkas, try summoning your aura again.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Vrrrrrrr! Once more, Alkas¡¯s sword gleamed brightly with aura. Kaylen closely inspected the mana flowing through the suit, carefully measuring its output. ¡°The aura still isn¡¯t fully stable yet.¡± ¡°What did I say? To become a Sword Master, you can¡¯t rely solely on your mana heart. Is the mana in your toes and head just for decoration?¡± Kaylen¡¯s sharp tone cut through the air as he offered advice to Alkas. ¡°Alkas! You¡¯re being hasty. Aura must be built up steadily from the ground up. Are you so excited just because you¡¯re wearing a mana suit? Remember, this mana isn¡¯t yours. You need to approach this more carefully and establish a solid foundation.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand!¡± Alkas replied, startled but earnest. ¡°Good.¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll focus on steadily refining my aura!¡± With those words, Alkas began adjusting his aura... Crackle! The aura etched along the blade suddenly ignited, spreading like a blaze. Kaylen¡¯s presence was almost suffocating, radiating an overwhelming sense of authority. He stood as an unshakable force, his voice calm yet laden with absolute command: Work! Forge and hammer until you produce results! ¡°Alkas, you must assist Lady Myorn as much as possible. The more advanced the mana suit becomes, the quicker I can guide you to become a Sword Master.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord! I will devote every ounce of my strength to fulfill your command!¡± Hearing that his efforts might lead to becoming a Sword Master, Alkas seemed ready to leap into fire without hesitation. Watching this, Myorn sighed deeply, her exhaustion evident. ¡°Hah... Fine. I¡¯ll adjust the design further. But more importantly¡ª¡± Myorn rummaged through her pile of odds and ends, pulling out an object with visible effort, utilizing every ounce of strength. What she produced was a full plate of armor, pitch-black and ominous in appearance. ¡°Kaylen, here¡¯s yours. The item for the finals.¡± ¡°It¡¯s finished already.¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a modification of the original design. Like you asked, I completely ignored stability. It¡¯s absurdly heavy, the pressure is intense, and it won¡¯t last long. There¡¯s no longevity to it.¡± The suit was something no ordinary mage could hope to wear¡ªits weight and immense pressure would make it unbearable. It also had no extended duration or transformation capabilities. Every aspect had been sacrificed in favor of one single trait: pure output. ¡°All it¡¯s got is power. That¡¯s all I focused on.¡± ¡°That¡¯s precisely what I wanted.¡± ¡°But even with this, I doubt you¡¯ll manage against Glacia. Are you seriously not going to use aura?¡± ¡°I never intended to win in the first place.¡± ¡°Yeah, I figured. I just want to see if you can survive one hit without using aura.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see soon enough.¡± Kaylen smirked. ¡°I¡¯ll show you the power of a mage, not a meister.¡± Finals Day. For Princess Violet, the day began like any other. She rose at six in the morning. ¡°Glacia, wash me.¡± Her mana suit cleaned her body within minutes. ¡°Jane, are there any documents that need signing?¡± ¡°No, Princess. It seems there aren¡¯t many coming through today because of the big event.¡± ¡°Ridiculous. A tournament match shouldn¡¯t disrupt government business.¡± She reviewed and approved a few remaining documents. ¡°Robin showed promise yesterday.¡± ¡°Shall I add him to the recruitment list?¡± ¡°Look into it. He¡¯s been raised by the Tower of the Sky, so his loyalty to them will run deep.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Princess, it¡¯s time.¡± ¡°I¡¯m on my way.¡± Tap. Tap. As Violet walked, Kaylen wasn¡¯t on her mind at all. He wasn¡¯t anywhere near her level. His Fire Wave was impressive. She acknowledged that his spell, used to defeat the Wind Meister Robin, had displayed considerable power. But it¡¯s far weaker than Lionus. For a non-meister to pull off such magic was surprising, but the raw power was incomparable to Lionus. Thus, the finals didn¡¯t stir any sense of tension in her. Still, Kaylen is the top recruit on my list. I should let him save face and not crush him too quickly. Planning to go easy on him for appearances¡¯ sake, Violet entered the arena. She never anticipated what awaited her. Crackle. Bzzzzzzt. ¡°Princess.¡± Glacia¡¯s half-mask began to spark with electricity. ¡°You don¡¯t need to hold back.¡± A portion of Kaylen¡¯s mask burned, blackened by the intense currents coursing through it. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 40 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 40 Superior Mage Finals The weight of the finals was significantly lighter compared to the semifinals. "Princess Violet will end this quickly." "Her opponent isn¡¯t even a Meister¡ªjust an ordinary mage, right?" The public had already decided the outcome. "Even though Kaylen brought a mana suit, the performance gap is just too wide." "I¡¯m curious to see how he plans to handle this." The same sentiment was shared among the scouts. Everyone anticipated Kaylen¡¯s loss¡ªan overwhelming defeat at that. Despite the lopsided expectations, the organizers decided to hold the finals without an audience. This decision came after the chaos caused during the semifinals. ¡°It¡¯s going to end quickly anyway, so they turned it into a closed match.¡± ¡°Well, it couldn¡¯t be helped. It¡¯s a miracle no one was injured during the semifinals.¡± However, a special viewing area was reserved for high-ranking nobles and select scouts, where small groups had gathered to chat amongst themselves. ¡°How many minutes do you think it¡¯ll take, Lioness?¡± ¡°That depends entirely on Her Highness¡¯s mood.¡± Perhaps due to having been trapped in ice for several days, Lioness¡¯s face was pale. ¡°...The power of an S-class is on a completely different level.¡± Having experienced the princess¡¯s power firsthand, Lioness understood better than anyone the sheer destructive capability of her S-class mana suit. This match wasn¡¯t even fair to begin with. The difference in power was simply too vast. The beginning and end of this battle were entirely up to the princess. ¡°Still, I doubt she¡¯ll end it immediately. She¡¯ll probably test him out first.¡± ¡°I see...¡± ¡°I hope the match lasts as long as possible. I want to see what he¡¯s capable of.¡± With eyes full of anticipation, Lioness stared at the empty arena. ¡°There he is.¡± Kaylen was the first to appear. Clank. Clank. Kaylen walked in, clad in black armor unlike anything anyone had seen before. The jet-black steel plate was etched with intricate magic circles, as though they were a part of its design... Every inch of the armor was inscribed with finely carved runes. ¡°Is that... a mana suit?¡± ¡°Judging by the runes and magic circles on the armor, it seems so...¡± ¡°But it doesn¡¯t look like it¡¯s been lightened. The sound it makes when he walks is incredible.¡± One of the fundamental features of any mana suit is weight reduction. The sheer weight added by the magic circles necessary for mana concentration would normally make such suits impossible to wear. Without weight reduction, even knights would struggle to move in a mana suit¡ªlet alone a mage. But Kaylen, a mage, was walking under that weight? It defied all logic. ¡°How is he even walking in that?¡± ¡°It must be hard just to stand in that. Yet his walking posture is surprisingly stable.¡± ¡°Still, that mana suit... in terms of practicality, it¡¯s the worst. No other mage would even be able to stay upright in it.¡± ¡°That thing is only good for salvaging the mana stones before tossing it out.¡± As murmurs of astonishment and harsh criticism about Kaylen¡¯s mana suit filled the air, the attention quickly shifted when Princess Violet stepped onto the stage. Clad in a radiant blue robe, the princess ascended to the arena, wearing her signature half-mask, Glacia. She looked no different from how she typically appeared at the academy. ¡°It¡¯s about to begin.¡± ¡°Judging by how Her Highness hasn¡¯t entered Spirit Form, it seems she¡¯s planning to go easy on him.¡± ¡°She might be testing the student directly.¡± Apart from her mask, her body remained entirely free of ice. It was clear to the spectators that the finals wouldn¡¯t end as quickly as anticipated. Instead, they watched in anticipation, curious to see how Kaylen would withstand the power of Glacia. But none of them imagined that he would be the one to attack first. ¡°Blaze.¡± From Kaylen¡¯s mana suit, a crimson glow radiated. At the same time, a bright yellow flame ignited in the palm of his left hand. ¡°Lightning Bolt.¡± Within the fire, a sharp white light flashed. A cluster of lightning began to form amidst the blaze. The fire briefly absorbed mana, and then¡ª Crackle! Kaylen hurled a lightning-infused flame straight at Princess Violet. The Lightning Bolt, fused with fire, surged toward her like an unrelenting storm. The mana suit Kaylen wore shimmered in alternating hues of red and white, bursting with intense energy. Fire and light mana swirled violently around the armor, creating a fierce storm of raw power. ¡°Wait a minute, that mana suit...¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t it lack basic safety mechanisms?¡± Kaylen knew he had to treat the suit as if it might fail at any second. Every battle with it was a race against time. ¡°That means this has to be a short fight.¡± He observed the flow of mana around him. Centered on Princess Violet, an overwhelming wave of ice mana expanded outward, sweeping through everything in its path. ¡°She might not be able to control the output, but... she doesn¡¯t need to.¡± The sheer force of Glacia¡¯s power wasn¡¯t concentrated. It spread equally in all directions, creating an omnipresent field of icy dominance. It was the same as when she had fought against Lioness¡ªher power was vast and unrelenting, rather than precise. Yet even without focus, the transcendence of Glacia¡¯s strength was undeniable. Kaylen could already see the frost creeping toward him, extending its domain at an alarming rate. It wasn¡¯t just a matter of advancing toward her; even holding back her overwhelming power seemed nearly impossible. ¡°Still... right now, this is when she¡¯s weakest.¡± The longer the fight dragged on, the more mana Glacia would unleash, and the freezing power would only intensify. If he was going to challenge her, the moment was now. ¡°Six Blades¡ªUnleash.¡± Kaylen summoned the power of his six elemental blades, channeling his aura to activate them. From the six¡ªfire, water, wind, light, darkness, and earth¡ªhe chose three. Fire. Light. And Darkness. The chosen blades resonated, their energies linking to Kaylen¡¯s mana suit. ¡°Blaze.¡± ¡°Sunlight.¡± The flames that erupted this time were far stronger than before, bolstered by the unleashed power of the Six Blades. Encased in blazing light, the temperature around Kaylen surged dramatically. His mana suit now glowed with two distinct hues¡ªone half a fiery red, the other a radiant white. Fire and light merged, much like when he had used his lightning magic earlier. ¡°Now, let¡¯s add darkness to this... to create an undying flame.¡± Although Kaylen had never studied dark magic formally, he could still manipulate the mana to infuse it into his spell. The destructive and sinister attribute of darkness blended with the flames. Whoosh. The roaring fire diminished. What had once been an inferno that shot skyward now barely reached above Kaylen¡¯s head, reduced to a contained, flickering flame. Even with the light of the sun imbued in it, the fire seemed smaller, weaker. [What...?!] But Glacia¡¯s power couldn¡¯t pierce the strange flame. The ground beneath Kaylen¡¯s feet, far from freezing, began to melt under the intense heat. [¡°Ice Field!¡±] Princess Violet hastily invoked another spell, amplifying Glacia¡¯s power. Yet¡ª Step. Step. Kaylen walked forward, unwavering, the eerie flame still in his grasp. [What is that fire...?!] From the outside, the flame appeared white-hot, glowing with an almost divine purity. But at its core, it burned black¡ªa dark, mysterious energy radiating from within. Fire, light, and darkness¡ªan unnatural and destructive harmony. The clash of the three attributes¡ªfire, light, and darkness¡ªcreated a spell of immense power, each force colliding and feeding into the other. ¡°It¡¯s incomplete... but I can manage a crude imitation.¡± A grand spell: Hellfire. An eternally burning flame, known as the fire of the underworld. Kaylen lacked the incantation, and his understanding of the necessary magic circles was woefully insufficient. Yet, the memory lingered. During his time as Emperor, he had once stood against a demon lord, enduring the full force of Hellfire. Its unique flow of mana and distinct properties had been seared into his mind. Light and dark mana constantly clashing, their conflict fueling the fire¡¯s mana, allowing it to burn endlessly... The struggle to extinguish that eternal flame had nearly cost him his life. But because he remembered that battle vividly, he could at least mimic it now. Step. Step. Kaylen walked forward, wielding the hellish flame. His steps were deliberate and heavy, the effort to maintain the fire evident in every move. Yet, he pressed on, undeterred. As he advanced, the frozen world around him began to melt. The sight caused Princess Violet¡¯s expression to harden. Her glacial domain, which had effortlessly consumed the arena, was dissolving with every step Kaylen took. The flame he carried, while imperfect, was undeniably destructive. The clash of opposing forces within the fire¡ªlight, dark, and flame¡ªmade it volatile, but also unstoppable. Kaylen¡¯s pace was slow, but it was steady. Each step ate away at Glacia¡¯s frostbitten terrain. Princess Violet¡¯s lips tightened into a thin line, the weight of the situation dawning on her. She had underestimated him. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 41 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 41 ¡°Everyone, evacuate immediately!¡± This was the power of Princess Violet. The freezing energy radiating in all directions posed a far greater threat to the audience than to Kaylen himself. Although the special spectator zone, reserved for high-ranking nobles and scouts, was fortified with overlapping protective magic circles, the prolonged battle between Violet and Kaylen had shattered them all. The spectator zone began to freeze over, piece by piece. Those familiar with the sheer might of the princess¡¯s power scrambled to escape in panic. ¡°What¡¯s that fire? What on earth is it?¡± ¡°I still want to watch more...¡± ¡°Are you crazy? You¡¯ll get yourself killed!¡± ¡°That¡¯s definitely a Fire Meister at work!¡± The scouts quickly vacated their spots, unable to stay any longer. ¡°That fire... I¡¯ve never seen magic like that before.¡± ¡°To think someone could stand against Glacia¡¯s power with magic alone...¡± ¡°No matter how much that mana suit has been modified, it shouldn¡¯t be able to overcome such a massive difference in rank.¡± ¡°Is that mage really a student?¡± Even the mages, deep in heated discussion, began to retreat from the freezing zone. Only a very small number of spectators remained. ¡°Lord Lioness, we must leave now!¡± ¡°No, you go ahead. I need to see more.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Go. Now.¡± Among the few remaining were Lioness of the Oblaine Ducal House, Myorn, Irene, and Alkas. ¡°Build walls with Nome. Salamander, ignite the fire.¡± ¡°Myorn, I¡¯m counting on you.¡± ¡°Uh... is this really safe for me?¡± ¡°...Yes, stay close.¡± ¡°Myorn, what did you create? It¡¯s incredible how it¡¯s holding off Glacia, even for a moment...¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly what I¡¯d like to ask that guy.¡± ¡°That black-and-white fire is something I¡¯ve never seen before either. Myorn, do you have any idea what it is?¡± ¡°No clue. None at all. That guy doesn¡¯t seem human.¡± It was shocking enough that Kaylen was a Sword Master. But to also wield such magic? What kind of knowledge was hidden in the legacy of Emperor Ernstine? Shaking her head in disbelief, Myorn brushed off Irene¡¯s question, her gaze fixated on the unusual fire that Kaylen conjured. Lioness was no different. ¡°Such magic exists...¡± He thought he had completely mastered flame magic. Yet the fire Kaylen had conjured was utterly unique¡ªunseen, undocumented, and without precedent. But as a Fire Meister, he could sense the unprecedented power imbued within it. ¡°It¡¯s melting Glacia¡¯s domain.¡± Having faced it firsthand, he knew all too well. Glacia was something beyond conventional comprehension. Even the A-rank mana suit Inferno had been utterly powerless against it. Kaylen, dressed in what looked like a ragged mana suit, was creating an astonishing spectacle. Lioness, captivated by the peculiar fire, suddenly noticed something strange. ¡®Wait... why does Kaylen look like a sword?¡¯ ¡®What is that fire?¡¯ The unique, black-and-white flames created by Kaylen were not only resisting Glacia¡¯s power but also advancing, melting the frozen terrain. ¡®I¡¯ve never heard of anything like this before.¡¯ Princess Violet, who had studied magic since childhood, couldn¡¯t imagine that Kaylen was imitating the Demon King¡¯s Hellfire. The Demon King¡¯s flames were the stuff of legend, described as entirely dark and known as Black Flame. ¡®It¡¯s powerful, but...¡¯ While the flames were strong enough to suppress Glacia¡¯s power, they were not unbeatable. ¡®All I have to do is retreat.¡¯ The black-and-white flames were overwhelming in presence, but maintaining them appeared to be a struggle for Kaylen. He moved forward laboriously, step by step, and even the mana suit on his left hand, which held the flames, was beginning to melt. It was clear that the fire couldn¡¯t last long. Simply stepping back would suffice. If she stalled for just a little longer, the flames would extinguish on their own. ¡®...I just need to retreat.¡¯ Violet touched her face, where Glacia¡¯s chill had brushed against her. Suddenly, she recalled a memory. She was twelve years old. It was the darkest and most dangerous time of her life when Glacia appeared to her like a miracle. ¡°Glacia still hasn¡¯t found a master in this era, it seems.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve gathered only the most exceptional Water Meisters... how unfortunate.¡± Once every hundred years, Glacia chose a master. Countless Water Meisters had tried to claim it, but none had succeeded. Everyone expected Glacia to return to its sealed state for another hundred years. But then¡ª Charr... Glacia chose a twelve-year-old girl, a mere 1-circle mage. A girl who had watched enviously, with a gloomy expression, from the shadows of the royal palace. A girl who was none other than Princess Violet. From that day on, not only Violet¡¯s life but also the destiny of her elder brother, the First Prince, and the royal family itself changed drastically. That was all there was to it. [You¡¯re right. This is only natural.] With a quick leap, Violet widened the distance between them. As Kaylen had said, maintaining distance was fundamental for a mage. Once she stepped back, she felt lighter, almost relieved. [Now, let me face you properly as a mage.] From afar, she could see Kaylen¡¯s expression. When they spoke about retreating earlier, his enthusiasm had seemed dulled. But now, it reignited with interest. The sight of him relishing the moment was etched into Violet¡¯s mind. ¡®What a peculiar person.¡¯ Now he would only be at the mercy of ranged attacks, yet he seemed so pleased. Violet chuckled softly as she summoned Glacia¡¯s power once more. Sssss! From the mark scorched by the black-and-white flames, Glacia radiated heat again. The flames she thought had been extinguished surged anew... The heat began to spread to her cheek, and for a moment¡ª ¡°Aaaah... Aaaarghhh!¡± A scream echoed in the princess¡¯s ears. The spot where the mask had been trembled slightly, and she heard the voice of a woman. It resembled the resolute voice she had heard at the age of twelve. -That, that fire...! [Glacia?] -Put it out immediately! Subdue it! Brrr. The voice, once commanding and dignified, was now panicked and urgent. Violet had many questions for the suddenly appearing Glacia, but that voice hurriedly pushed her into action. -What are you doing?! Put it out quickly! Whoooosh. At Glacia''s urging, the uncontrollable frost began to move as if by magic. The icy mana, which had been spreading in all directions, focused solely on one point: the direction where Kaylen stood. -This time, this time I''ll destroy it. I''ll freeze it and shatter its very existence! Glacia''s voice was filled with hatred as the frost intensified. Kaylen¡¯s steps halted as the concentrated cold grew stronger. The black-and-white flames could no longer melt the frost, just as the frost could not extinguish the flames. A tense standoff continued. After several minutes passed. ¡°Hah...¡± Ssshhhhh. The light emanating from Kaylen''s mana suit began to fade. Simultaneously, the flow of mana was severed... The black-and-white flames quickly lost their glow. Clink. Clink. Cracks formed in the mana suit, and it shattered, falling to the ground in pieces. The flames disappeared completely. The void left by their absence was quickly filled with the spreading frost. ¡°This is my limit... it¡¯s over.¡± As the mana suit fell away, Kaylen, now wearing only thin clothing, was exposed to the cold. Without the suit, he should have been instantly frozen, but strangely, he was not. ¡®...Is he unbothered?¡¯ His calm demeanor was bewildering. Despite the overwhelming icy mana pouring over him, he remained unaffected. Violet couldn¡¯t imagine that Kaylen might be using aura. Just as she wondered if the lingering heat from the flames that burned her mask was still protecting him¡ª ¡°I¡¯ve lost.¡± With those words, Kaylen¡¯s body began to freeze from his feet upward. -That bastard. Die. Die! As he froze, Glacia¡¯s voice grew more frenzied. Unlike Violet¡¯s usual freezing magic, this cold was meant to kill. [Stop it! Ice Prison!] Violet, who had no intention of killing Kaylen, hastily suppressed the frost and cast the Ice Prison spell. Because of Glacia¡¯s rampage, she couldn¡¯t fully dissipate the frost, so this was the best she could do. However, this only fueled Glacia¡¯s wrath. -How dare you...! A mere human dares defy me! Violet¡¯s spirit-bound body began to glow white. -It¡¯s too early for me to fully manifest... but I cannot allow the seed of evil to remain! Fwoooosh. Behind Violet, radiant white wings unfurled. At the same time, her eyes flashed with blinding light. [Die, demon.] ¡°Hmm?¡± Kaylen, who had been closing his eyes to accept the result, suddenly opened them as Violet¡¯s voice changed. ¡°...An angel?¡± Before him stood Violet, with three radiant wings of light spread wide. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 42 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 42 Violet, whose form had resembled an ice sculpture due to her spirit transformation, now radiated a pure, sacred light. The mana of light burst forth intensely. Ernstine had seen this power before. Angels. Beings who resided in the Celestial Realm and served as envoys of the Heavenly God. They were powerful enough to disrupt the balance of the world, which is why they rarely descended to this plane. However, one notable exception was during the advent of a Demon King. Ernstine had encountered them multiple times during the campaign against the Demon King. That power¡ªwithout a doubt¡ªit was angelic. ¡°An angel sealed within Glacia...¡± The angels Ernstine remembered were incredibly powerful. Among humans, only a Grand Swordmaster like Ernstine could even hope to approach their strength. Among the demons, only the highest-ranking ones could rival them in combat. And yet, a being of such immense power was sealed inside a mana suit... ¡°I thought the S-rank mana suit¡¯s power was excessive... Turns out something absurd was locked inside.¡± [¡°I will eradicate every last seed of evil.¡±] A storm of frost raged. Unlike the restrained cold used during the Ice Prison, this mana was entirely destructive, designed to annihilate its target. Touching it would make survival impossible. ¡°Princess Violet... has the mana suit consumed her?¡± [¡°Demon. I will shatter you until not even dust remains.¡±] Violet¡¯s eyes gleamed as she spoke. Her wings of light fluttered, giving her a divine appearance, but her actions were nothing short of madness. ¡°This is... it makes even losing difficult.¡± Kaylen, who thought he might taste the bitterness of defeat for the first time in both this life and the last, found himself facing a situation that simply refused to let him lose. ¡°Six Swords, activate.¡± Fire, water, earth, wind, light, and dark. Six blades materialized behind Kaylen, manifesting fully. Where before they had merely supplemented his magic, now they marked his true unveiling as a Swordmaster. The raging frost lost its strength the moment it entered Kaylen¡¯s domain. [¡°Filthy demon! What have you done?¡±] ¡°A demon, you say.¡± Whoosh! A sword of flame erupted from Kaylen¡¯s empty right hand. At first, the fire burned red, but it gradually turned into a pure white flame. Seeing this, Glacia¡¯s expression shifted to one of alarm. [¡°...Sacred Flame.¡±] ¡°And you still think I¡¯m a demon after seeing this?¡± [¡°Hrm...¡±] Glacia¡¯s fierce aura momentarily faltered. The light of that sword was far too holy to have been conjured by a demon. In his past life as a Hero, Kaylen had naturally wielded the Sacred Flame with ease. However, the brief hesitation in Glacia¡¯s demeanor didn¡¯t last long. Glacia''s expression suddenly turned icy cold. [¡°...I almost let my guard down. I can feel the mana of darkness emanating from you.¡±] ¡°All types of mana can exist within a human body.¡± [¡°This is more than that! There''s an overwhelming darkness radiating from you...¡±] Was it because of absorbing the dungeon core? Glacia, now sensing the mana of darkness from Kaylen, resumed her hostility. Her momentarily halted attacks began anew. As the frost gathered once again, Kaylen furrowed his brow. ¡°Talking won''t work, I see.¡± Angels. Even during the campaign against the Demon King in his past life, they were all talk and no real action. Constantly going on about how they were ¡°restricted¡± and ultimately contributing little. And now, in his current life, they remained just as frustratingly obstinate. For angels, then and now, brute force always came first. ¡°I''ll subdue you.¡± [¡°Ha... Know your place, mortal!¡±] Glacia scoffed at his words, and with good reason. Even if Kaylen performed some trick with his sword, the difference in mana between them was overwhelming. Moreover, Glacia¡¯s control over her power was flawless. Unlike Princess Violet, who scattered her energy wildly, Glacia held the frost mana firmly within her grasp. The momentary barrier Kaylen had raised against her cold had only delayed the inevitable. Like a dam with cracks rapidly spreading, his unseen shield would soon shatter completely. [¡°Can¡¯t you feel the sheer difference in power?¡±] Whoosh! Light flashed, and the frost converged into a single point. But it wasn¡¯t just frost. Now, its broken state was deeply frustrating. ¡®No choice. I don¡¯t have enough mana to wield another Three-Sword Technique... I¡¯ll have to unleash Infinity.¡¯ To replenish his dwindling mana reserves and forge a new blade, Kaylen made a choice. As he released Hellfire, the air around him changed. A storm began to brew. Six-Sword Technique . Three Swords . The Bottomless Abyss . The swirling winds formed a vortex, taking shape in front of Kaylen. It was less a sword and more a spiraling void of darkness. A fusion of wind, earth, and dark mana, The Bottomless Abyss began devouring every trace of mana that Glacia had unleashed in her rampage. A bottomless pit. Yet, the abyss Kaylen had summoned was not truly infinite. Its endpoint was Infinity, the power Kaylen had just unleashed. As Infinity expanded and consumed everything, it swallowed Glacia''s rampaging mana whole. However... ¡®The disparity in mana is overwhelming.¡¯ Kaylen''s body, though fortified by a Mana Body and countless advancements, could not fully withstand the sheer torrent of an angel¡¯s rampaging mana. Light and water mana rapidly accumulated, disrupting the delicate balance of the Six-Sword Technique. Only the swords of Light and Water grew, swelling uncontrollably, while the other four swords faded into near nonexistence. If this imbalance continued, maintaining The Bottomless Abyss would be impossible. At that moment¡ª [¡°...Huh?¡±] Glacia, who had been mindlessly expelling mana, noticed something strange. Her mana was being devoured, bit by bit. Alarmed, she searched for the source of the problem and froze in shock when her eyes landed on Kaylen¡¯s blade. It was a sword she recognized well. [¡°The Bottomless Abyss...?¡±] The Aura Sword, favored by humanity''s first Grand Swordmaster, Ernstine, the Dragon Blade Deity. A weapon from legend, now wielded before her. The Infinity Technique, capable of absorbing and returning an enemy''s power, had once left even angels in awe. Glacia vividly remembered those times¡ªit was, after all, one of the brightest periods in her life. During that golden age, the forces of darkness were swept away like leaves in the wind. Angels only needed to follow in the footsteps of the Dragon Blade Deity to reap effortless glory. Her achievements back then had even earned her a rank promotion among the angels. Initially, Glacia assumed the wielder of the hellfire-infused sword was just a particularly strong demon. But someone wielding The Bottomless Abyss, a sword technique synonymous with the Dragon Blade Deity, could not possibly be a mere servant of darkness. He was, after all, a mortal enemy of the Demon Lords. ["You¡ªwhat is your connection to the Dragon Blade Deity?"] Glacia urgently questioned Kaylen, but he had no strength to reply. With the Swords of Earth, Wind, and Shadow fading fast, maintaining The Bottomless Abyss required every ounce of his focus. ¡®These angels, always demanding answers at the worst times...¡¯ Suppressing his irritation, Kaylen concentrated on stabilizing the technique. ["You can''t answer, can you? Then you must not be a servant of darkness after all. Someone capable of wielding The Bottomless Abyss cannot be of demonic lineage."] Gradually, Glacia''s raging energy subsided. The uncontrollable torrent of mana was drawn back into her being, concealed once more behind her angelic mask. ["I have much to say, but it seems I''ve overexerted myself..."] ["When I regain my strength, I will come to find you. Until then, remember this one thing: conceal the Dragon Blade Deity''s power as much as you can..."] As Glacia''s energy withdrew, Kaylen no longer needed to sustain The Bottomless Abyss. He dismantled the aura sword and posed a single question. "Why?" ["Because demons will come for you. The power of darkness already dominates the mortal realm..."] With those parting words, Glacia''s voice faded. The radiant glow in Violet''s eyes dimmed, and the process of de-assimilation began. Glacia had chosen to seal herself away once again. As no further words came from the angel, Kaylen collapsed to the ground. ¡®...I¡¯m at my limit.¡¯ The light and water mana absorbed by The Bottomless Abyss wreaked havoc inside his body. The balance of the Six Swords had already been shattered, leaving only the swords of Water and Light to grow unchecked. Every ounce of his remaining strength was now dedicated to stabilizing himself. "Wait... has my assimilation been undone?" Violet opened her eyes. She clearly remembered attempting to stop Glacia¡¯s rampage with Ice Prison. After losing consciousness briefly, she woke to find the world around her transformed into an icy wasteland. Kaylen lay collapsed before her. ¡®...What in the world happened?¡¯ Her memory was blank. The only facts apparent to her were that she stood while Kaylen had fallen. Time passed. The frozen world began to thaw, and onlookers gradually approached. "Truly amazing, Your Highness." "Such incredible power..." "Congratulations on your victory." Without knowing how or why, Violet was declared the winner. The Superior Mage Tournament had ended with Violet as the champion. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 43 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 43 Violet stood dazed, and the spot where Kaylen had collapsed. The first to arrive there was Lioness. ¡°What on earth happened here...?¡± From the middle of the battle, a blinding white radiance had erupted, making it impossible to see what had transpired. If he had been closer, he might have seen it, but the mana emanating from Violet was so powerful that even staying in his original position had been difficult. As things began to calm down, Lioness approached. He gradually returned his flame-transformed body to its original form. ¡°It¡¯s cold.¡± Although Glacia was no longer emitting water mana, the residual mana in the air remained. Was this the difference between S-rank and A-rank? Lioness smirked bitterly as he walked forward. Violet stood blankly, and Kaylen lay collapsed. It seemed the battle had concluded... but questions still lingered. ¡°Kaylen... that black-and-white flame, how on earth did he create it?¡± At not even 20 years of age, Lioness had become a 4th-circle meister of fire. When it came to talent in fire magic, there were few in the kingdom who could rival him. Yet even for him, that flame was utterly foreign. ¡°There¡¯s no record of anything like this in any literature.¡± The holy white flame used by clergy or the black flame wielded by demonic beings¡ªindividually, they could produce such colors. However, a fusion of black and white flames was unheard of. ¡°Kaylen... When I investigated him, the report said he was just an ordinary underperforming student.¡± How could a person change so drastically? It was baffling. Despite losing, Kaylen had managed to push the princess to her limits. ¡°With that flame, he could even melt Glacia¡¯s ice... If that happens, one of the key tools for keeping the First Prince¡¯s faction in check will be gone.¡± The core of the First Prince¡¯s faction was Violet, the princess wielding an S-rank mana suit. Beyond her brilliance, her overwhelming strength derived from the mana suit had been the reason the First Prince¡¯s faction could compete on equal footing with the Second Prince¡¯s. Without her, the battle for the throne would easily end in victory for the Second Prince¡¯s faction. ¡°Up until now, the fire mages under my command barely managed to hold their own. But as time goes on, Glacia¡¯s power will only grow stronger. I thought they¡¯d have no choice but to come to me eventually.¡± Before Glacia¡¯s penalties caused her entire body to freeze over, he had believed he could remove her from the First Prince¡¯s faction through marriage. But now, Kaylen had emerged as a significant variable. ¡°He must not join the First Prince¡¯s faction.¡± The best option would be to draw Kaylen into the Second Prince¡¯s faction. But if that didn¡¯t happen... Eliminating him might be the better choice. If he joined the princess, the strategy of removing her through marriage would become impossible. ¡°A promising talent, but... if he won¡¯t be mine, he must disappear.¡± Kaylen, who had advanced to the finals of the Superior Mage Selection Tournament, had suddenly become a rising star. However, the black-and-white flame he displayed during the battle with Glacia had now become a variable that could overturn the political landscape.No?v(el)B\\jnn How should he handle this? Perhaps it would be best to deal with him now while he was unconscious... ¡°Lord Lioness, don¡¯t even think about it.¡± ¡°Haha. So you¡¯re awake, are you?¡± ¡°Step away from him immediately.¡± At Violet¡¯s cold voice, Lioness gave up on the idea of killing him. Though it was disappointing to lose the simplest solution, there was no choice given the circumstances. The sharp gaze of the princess made him take a few steps back. Lioness shifted his thoughts elsewhere. "Come to think of it, he doesn''t look like a sword anymore." Earlier, Kaylen had seemed like a sword, but now he looked like a normal person again. A sword appearing in a mage''s battle... ''Was it just a mistake on my part?'' Or perhaps... ¡°I¡¯ll have to give up on balance.¡± The nameless angel¡¯s mana, absorbed through the Abyss, was overwhelming in quantity. The harmony of the Six Swords had shattered, leaving only the Water Sword and Light Sword as dominant forces within him. ¡°Even though the balance is broken... I¡¯ve gained much in return.¡± The harmony of the Six Swords was lost, but the growth of the Water Sword and Light Sword was extraordinary. Previously no larger than daggers, the two swords had now grown to take on the form of longswords. This development was entirely due to the absorption of the angel¡¯s mana. In this mana-starved era, achieving such growth would have required at least five years of effort. Thanks to Glacia, however, Kaylen had gained this unexpected fortune. ¡°The broken balance can be restored later.¡± Until the balance was regained, the use of the Six Swords Technique would be restricted, but Kaylen couldn¡¯t forget the angel¡¯s final words: ["When I regain my strength, I will come for you. Until then, remember one thing¡ªhide the power of the Dragon Blade Deity as much as you can."] ["Demons will target you. The power of darkness already rules the middle world..."] Glacia¡¯s warning to suppress the power of the Dragon Blade Deity couldn¡¯t be taken lightly. ¡°If that stubborn angel spoke so gravely about it... there must be something humans haven¡¯t realized¡ªor perhaps something they¡¯ve been hiding. Until I further cultivate the Six Swords, I must refrain from using the technique.¡± The Six Swords Technique. A swordsmanship style created by the first emperor of the Meier Empire, Ernstine. It allows the wielder to freely wield six elemental swords¡ªFire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, and Darkness¡ªand combine these elements to unleash overwhelming power. The true might of the Six Swords Technique only begins to manifest with the combination of three attributes, known as the Three-Swords. Kaylen decided to refrain from using the Three Swords until he had sufficiently developed the Six Swords equally. ¡°That means I won¡¯t be able to use Hellfire Flame again for now.¡± Hellfire Flame. A Three Sword technique inspired by the high-level spell Hellfire. Unlike the standard magic of humans, Hellfire was an exclusive domain of high-ranking demons, inaccessible to ordinary sorcerers. The Hellfire wielded by the Demon King, however, differed from that of other demons. While ordinary demons used fire and dark mana, the Demon King''s version uniquely incorporated light mana. This fusion of light and dark mana created a continuous clash, fueling an endless inferno¡ªthe Demon King''s Hellfire. Even a Grand Swordmaster would struggle to suppress such an extraordinary force. ¡°I couldn¡¯t replicate it perfectly through magic... but with the sword, it was possible.¡± The peculiar fusion of fire, light, and dark attributes was beyond the reach of even a Fourth Circle mage, making it unfeasible to cast as a spell. But as a swordsman, Kaylen managed to partially emulate its power through his blade. This was how he subdued an angel with just three sword strikes. ¡°The Demon King... I still don¡¯t understand how he could wield light mana.¡± The Demon King¡¯s occasional use of light magic made him a particularly vexing opponent, resisting even the holy power of divine swords that should have been his natural weakness. Had it not been for the intervention of the Grand Swordmaster Ernstine, defeating the Demon King would have been impossible. ¡°The angel¡¯s reaction to my Hellfire was... telling. Perhaps that Demon King¡¯s power has been passed down somehow.¡± The previous Demon King had been so powerful that even the arrogant angels of Heaven had expressed deep concern: - ¡°We have never encountered a Demon King like this before.¡± - ¡°This Demon King is too strong. Even his lieutenants rival the previous Demon King in strength.¡± - ¡°Humans... are you truly capable of handling this? We believe Heaven¡¯s intervention is crucial.¡± Despite their fears, Ernestine successfully vanquished the Demon King, annihilating him so thoroughly that revival was impossible. But judging by the angel¡¯s vehement reaction to Kaylen¡¯s Hellfire, it seemed some aspect of that power had lingered. ¡°I need to assume the worst and proceed cautiously.¡± If Kaylen were to make the bleakest assumptions, it would mean the Middle World had already fallen under the dominion of demons, effectively becoming a colony of the Demon Realm. Such a scenario might seem far-fetched, as there were no visible signs of demonic rulers. Humanity was holding its ground, countering the threat of dungeon cores, developing mana suits, and training masters to safeguard their territories. To call it a colony without evidence of an overlord? It might be a stretch. It might be conjecture. ¡°But...¡± The strange behavior of the moon. The angel sealed within the mana suit. These oddities demanded caution. ¡°I need to find out how much humanity truly understands about all this.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 44 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 44 Superior Mage Selection Tournament Before the tournament began, the center of attention was undoubtedly Princess Violet and Lioness. The core of the First Prince''s faction and the future of the Second Prince''s faction. Everyone anticipated that the highlight of this tournament would be their duel. But now that the tournament was over, things had changed. The star of this tournament turned out to be an entirely unexpected individual. ¡°Supreme Mage: Violet.¡± Clap clap clap clap clap¡ª When Princess Violet ascended the podium, applause erupted from all directions. The Rainbow Staff, the symbol of the Supreme Mage, was awarded to her. ¡°Of course, Her Highness became the Supreme Mage.¡± ¡°She¡¯s the master of Glacia; the result is only natural.¡± People did not dwell much on her obvious victory. Among the eight Superior Mages, the title of Supreme Mage is given to the best. No one doubted that Princess Violet would take that position. However, the gazes of the spectators at the ceremony were drawn less toward the expected first place... ¡°And who is next?¡± ¡°That person is the one from the rumors...¡± ...and more toward the completely unforeseen second place winner. ¡°Superior Mage: Kaylen. Lioness.¡± Starting with Kaylen, the names of the seven Superior Mages were announced one by one. Seven mages ascended the podium together. Among them, Lioness, who shone brilliantly, stood out. ¡°Lord Lioness is as dazzling as ever.¡± ¡°How can a human have such beauty... He seems even more radiant than an elf.¡± The general public cheered for his appearance, enchanted by his looks. But the gazes of the ¡°real¡± ones were focused elsewhere. ¡°That¡¯s the one who came in second.¡± ¡°Kaylen, is it?¡± The greatest surprise of this tournament. A man who, as a mage¡ªnot a Meister¡ªdefeated all the Mana Suit-wielding Meisters and pushed the princess to her full power in the finals. ¡°His appearance... it¡¯s more like a knight than a mage.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t seem like anything special, though.¡± A tall, imposing figure, with a physique more suited to a knight than to a genius mage. While his looks were clean and refined, standing next to Lioness, he seemed comparatively unremarkable. ¡°Just a few months ago, he wasn¡¯t even a notable student, I heard.¡± ¡°Not notable? Apparently, he was closer to a failing student.¡± ¡°They say he¡¯s from a declining baronial family.¡± ¡°Goodness. It¡¯s incomprehensible.¡± A group of middle-aged and elderly men murmured as they observed Kaylen. Although they appeared ordinary, the mages present kept glancing nervously at them. ¡°Why are they here at the awards ceremony?¡± ¡°Is it true? It really is them, right?¡± ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen so many Tower Masters gathered for a tournament awards ceremony.¡± The frontmost seats at the awards ceremony¡ªalways invited, yet often left vacant. This time, however, half of the 32 seats designated for the Kingdom of Bormian¡¯s Tower Masters were filled. ¡°Indeed. It¡¯s surprising to see so many here. They must be busy running their towers, yet they made the trip. Truly unexpected.¡± ¡°Haha. Busy, yes, but none of us could compare to the Master of the Red Tower.¡± The Magic Towers It was an unexpected turn, but coming from Irene¡ªa known elf adept in controlling water spirits¡ªit was credible. ¡°The presence of water is undeniable,¡± Irene declared. ¡°He is the kind of talent that belongs in the Fairy Tower. We will do everything in our power to recruit him.¡± Her words carried a veiled warning to the other Tower Masters: do not attempt to poach him. The Fairy Tower¡¯s highest directive was to secure exceptional Water Meisters at any cost. Still, Irene harbored a personal concern: ¡°If it¡¯s come to this, the promise of making him an Advanced Spirit Summoner may not hold...¡± Kaylen¡¯s previous method involved stimulating his spirit affinity through exposure to various elemental attributes. But now, with water dominating his being, she doubted whether his old approach would still work. ¡°...Even so, that¡¯s a separate matter. Securing him for the Fairy Tower takes priority. If we want to keep Myorn here, bringing him into the fold is crucial.¡± As one of the seven leaders of the Fairy Tower, Irene set aside her personal desires and focused on the greater strategy. Though the Fairy Tower, one of the eight major Magic Towers in the Bormian Kingdom, had declared their intentions, the other Tower Masters were undeterred. ¡°The Fairy Tower is a formidable opponent, but...¡± ¡°For them to move so quickly speaks volumes about Kaylen¡¯s potential.¡± ¡°We thought he was destined for fire, but water? We must join this recruitment battle.¡± Some Tower Masters from the Water Towers looked particularly greedy. ¡°No matter how grand the Fairy Tower might be, it remains a tower of non-humans. They¡¯ll never fully embrace a human as their own.¡± ¡°If we offer him the chance to become the greatest among humans, he¡¯ll see the value in joining us.¡± Their avaricious gazes bore down on Kaylen. Here was a prodigy of unparalleled talent, personally vouched for by spirits. Already a 4th-circle mage in his youth, capable of destroying a mana suit with his bare hands¡ªhe had only begun to showcase his potential. If Kaylen, now a Meister, unleashed his full power... the possibilities were staggering. ¡°Prepare a place to meet with him.¡± ¡°It seems I¡¯ll need to step in personally.¡± The Water Tower Masters, eager to secure Kaylen, began summoning their mages and setting plans in motion. However, they weren¡¯t the only ones bustling with activity. ¡°...He¡¯s the mage who conjured fire capable of challenging Glacia. There¡¯s no rule saying he¡¯s only suited for water magic.¡± ¡°We should also conduct our own tests. Perhaps he¡¯ll reveal potential in other elements.¡± Masters from other elemental Towers, unwilling to let such a once-in-a-century talent slip through their fingers, also resolved to approach Kaylen. From her seat at the forefront of the award ceremony, Princess Violet watched the scene unfold, a faint smirk playing on her lips. ¡°So, it really is water.¡± This was her first time seeing Kaylen in person since their final match, and Violet could sense a distinct change in him. The mana that radiated from him felt familiar, entirely different from before. Why can I sense water mana from him? What happened when he lost consciousness? She had asked him directly when they met earlier, but his response had only deepened her confusion. ¡°What happened?¡± Kaylen¡¯s reply was equal parts frustration and disbelief: - ¡°What happened? I should be asking you the same question. I was overwhelmed by an immense surge of water mana, and before I knew it, I blacked out.¡± - ¡°I thought I was done for. Even the Ice Prison couldn¡¯t contain it. I truly believed I was going to die.¡± - ¡°And now... something¡¯s wrong with my body. What did you do?¡± His words left Violet without a proper explanation. What could I say? she thought. Where did all that mana go? Glacia was nearly drained... Her thoughts turned to Glacia, her S-tier mana suit. Equipped with five top-tier mana stones, Glacia had the rare ability to self-recharge, a feature befitting its elite status. Yet, this self-replenishing mechanism required some baseline mana to operate. After regaining consciousness, Violet had inspected Glacia, only to discover its mana reserves nearly depleted. Refueling it had already consumed a fortune in mana stones¡ªenough to make even a princess wince. For the time being, Violet realized, she would have no choice but to dedicate herself to dungeon raids just to recover the expenses. ¡°Sigh... No rest for me anytime soon.¡± As the de facto financial manager for the First Prince¡¯s faction, Violet bore the full burden of her extravagant decisions. Her resigned sigh underscored the reality: She had created the problem herself, and now she had to fix it with her own effort. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 45 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 45 As the awards ceremony was nearing its conclusion, Kaylen smiled. "Finally, I''ve brought Glacia''s mana completely under control." Glacia''s mana of water and light. Its overwhelming quantity had kept Kaylen from fully absorbing it even a day after the initial process began. Since the balance of the six swords had already been disrupted, it was essential to completely consume the light and water mana responsible for the imbalance. It was only during the awards ceremony that he managed to stabilize it fully. "...With this, the awards ceremony concludes." As the ceremony ended, people began gathering at the podium. "Princess Violet, congratulations on ascending to Supreme Mage." "Thank you." Princess Violet, who briefly glanced at him, was too preoccupied with greeting the numerous dignitaries flocking to her. "Master, what brings you here? Just for a Superior Mage awards ceremony?" "I didn''t come to see you, Lionus." Lionus was conversing with an elderly mage clad in crimson robes. The two brightest figures at the ceremony were naturally surrounded by the most people. "Kaylen, congratulations on becoming a Superior Mage." Yet, the crowd around Kaylen was no less significant. Led by the elf Irene, countless people approached where Kaylen stood. Middle-aged and senior mages in elaborate robes followed in their wake. As they passed, the crowd quickly made way for them. "Lady Irene, thank you. But who are the ones behind you...?" Irene glanced back and sighed softly. "They''re the Tower Lords of Glacier, Frost, Submersion, and Torrential Currents. As their names suggest, all are masters of water-affiliated towers." The water-affiliated Tower Lords Irene introduced totaled four. Each of their gazes gleamed with the hues of water. "My apologies for this sudden visit. May I speak freely?" "Of course, please do." "I''ll be direct. We''re interested in you. And it''s not just us." The Tower Lord of Glacier glanced behind him. Numerous mages were watching their conversation intently, waiting in anticipation. Among them, Kaylen recognized a few familiar faces¡ªscouts he had encountered before. "Lady Irene mentioned sensing the essence of water within you, but as you can see, towers of other affinities still have their eyes on you." The Tower Lord of Glacier then pulled something from his robe. It appeared to be a small gem at first glance. "...Open." At his command, the gem transformed into a large mirror. "I hear you haven''t taken the Meister test yet." "That''s correct." "But if you wait until the Meister test, the four elemental towers will besiege you from all sides. Even though the water spirit Undine has validated you, towers of other affinities are still targeting you. Spending a month like that will undoubtedly be exhausting, don''t you think?" "That may be true, but..." "So why not conduct a simplified test right now? This mirror is called the ''Mirror of Measurement,'' a tool for identifying mana attributes." Step. Step. The Tower Lord of Glacier stepped back slightly and raised his hand. Swish. Cold energy spread across the floor, and in an instant, a platform of ice formed. The Tower Lord of Glacier placed the mirror on top of it and continued speaking. "Fire an arrow spell of each of the four elements at this mirror. It will automatically measure the results." As the Tower Lord of Glacier proposed the simplified Meister test, every gaze in the hall turned toward them. "The Mirror of Measurement... That¡¯s an incredibly expensive magical item. They¡¯re using it on him?" "Expensive? Compared to the presence of the Tower Lord himself, a mere mirror hardly matters. Testing here to settle it decisively is the right call." "Good for us. Since the Tower Lord of Glacier suggested the test, we¡¯ll get the data for free." Kaylen silently stared at the mirror. "This is a great opportunity." He had expected to be harassed endlessly by scouts with no excuse to avoid them anymore. But now, by revealing his attributes here, he could eliminate at least three of the four elemental affinities. "Fire Arrow." The first spell Kaylen summoned was Fire Arrow. It was closer in scale to a third-circle Fireball than a simple Fire Arrow. "That¡¯s supposed to be Fire Arrow...?" "Why is it so massive?" Amid the spectators'' murmurs, the Fire Arrow struck the Mirror of Measurement directly. Hisssss. The fiery arrow collided with the glass, and the flames were absorbed into the mirror. Soon, the mirror turned pitch black, and glowing red numbers appeared on its surface. [102] "One hundred... over one hundred points?" "Over one hundred points¡ªdoesn¡¯t that indicate the highest-level Meister potential?" "Is this Mirror of Measurement different from the usual ones?" "No, it¡¯s the same. It¡¯s identical to the standard Meister measurement devices." "Then... could he actually be a fire Meister?" ¡°That score? It¡¯s a once-in-a-century occurrence.¡± ¡°Regrettable, but we have no choice but to give up.¡± ¡°Exactly. His water affinity is so overwhelming that even if we managed to bring him in, we wouldn¡¯t be able to use him effectively.¡± Despite their regret, they relinquished their efforts to recruit Kaylen. And for good reason. In the history of magic reform under the Meister system, the aptitude for the sixth circle had only been recorded a handful of times. Meisters, who focused solely on one elemental magic rather than wielding multiple elements like ordinary mages, had a unique ability: they could reload their mana circles, amplifying the strength of their elemental magic further. For a Water Meister, this meant overlaying the power of water magic twice through reloading. As a result, Meisters could cast their specialized elemental magic at far greater potency compared to ordinary mages. However, Meisters could not surpass the fifth circle. This limitation was due to the fact that their mana circles capped at five. Yet among these Meisters, an extremely rare, chosen few could transcend this limit. Individuals who scored over 125 points in their elemental aptitude¡ªcolloquially referred to as possessing the "aptitude for the sixth circle"¡ªcould break past the Meister¡¯s constraints. Aptitude for the sixth circle was so rare it was said to emerge once a century, if even that. In fact, there hadn¡¯t been a confirmed case in over 200 years, leading most to dismiss it as a mere myth. Today, that myth had become reality. ¡®It turned out to be stronger than I thought.¡¯ Kaylen was also inwardly surprised by the results. He had expected his water magic to improve after absorbing the mana of Glacia, but he hadn¡¯t anticipated shattering the Mirror of Measurement. With the highest-grade water mana now housed within his mana body, the power of his magic far exceeded even his own expectations. ¡®The other elemental Towers might lose interest, but the Water Towers... they¡¯re going to be a serious headache.¡¯ The gazes from the Water Tower Lords were anything but ordinary. They looked as if they would tear down their towers brick by brick if that¡¯s what it took to recruit him. Kaylen spoke calmly, breaking the charged atmosphere. ¡°This result was unexpected, even for me. I must admit, I¡¯m quite flustered.¡± He continued, his tone measured. ¡°This gathering seems to have grown a bit too heated. I¡¯d like to consult with my senior Meisters privately. Would that be acceptable?¡± ¡°...Indeed.¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to discuss this further here.¡± The Water Tower Lords exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement. ¡°Whenever you¡¯re ready, we¡¯ll make time for you.¡± ¡°To meet someone like you, we¡¯re prepared to wait as long as necessary.¡± Despite their demanding responsibilities, the Tower Lords appeared willing to linger at the academy for months if that¡¯s what it took to speak with Kaylen. ¡°How could I possibly keep the Tower Lords waiting? I¡¯ll arrange to meet you starting tomorrow.¡± The next day, Kaylen stood in front of his newly assigned research lab at the Magic Academy. The nameplate on the door read Kaylen. This was one of the privileges granted to a Superior Mage¡ªhis own research space. ¡°Kaylen, you¡¯ve stirred up quite the commotion,¡± Myorn remarked as she stepped into his research lab. ¡°But weren¡¯t you originally without a unique affinity?¡± ¡°It seems something changed after I collapsed in front of the princess.¡± ¡°Unbelievable... as expected of a monst¡ªno, a prodigy.¡± She caught herself mid-sentence, almost calling him a Sword Master, but quickly pivoted when she noticed Irene following close behind. ¡°So, what¡¯s your plan now? Will you continue your activities with the Exorcist Division?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°You do realize you could become the next Tower Lord?¡± ¡°Well, they might offer that title to recruit me, but do you really think they¡¯d follow through?¡± ¡°No. What¡¯s most important to any Tower is having an exceptional Meister. A great Meister can revolutionize mana suits.¡± High-ranking mana suits, B-grade and above, especially those capable of elemental embodiment, varied significantly in performance based on the Meister¡¯s aptitude. ¡°Small and medium Towers can¡¯t develop A-grade mana suits, which is why they remain minor. If they could recruit you, they¡¯d have a real shot at ascending to major status. A successor title would be a small price to pay.¡± ¡°Moreover,¡± Irene added, reinforcing Myorn¡¯s point, ¡°with your abilities, the level of dungeons you could clear would rise significantly. For a Tower, a single outstanding Meister is worth more than a hundred average ones.¡± Having said her piece, Irene settled gracefully on the sofa across from Kaylen. ¡°Kaylen.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Would you consider joining our Tower?¡± ¡°You mean the Tower of Fairies?¡± ¡°Yes. We specialize in both water and wind elements, but don¡¯t mistake that for a lack of expertise. Each element is developed to a level comparable to other major Towers.¡± The Tower of Fairies, founded by elves, focused on both water and wind magic. Despite spanning two elements, its power and influence rivaled major elemental Towers. ¡°We have multiple A-grade mana suits nearing S-grade quality,¡± Irene continued. ¡°If you join us, we¡¯d be happy to lend you an A-grade water mana suit.¡± ¡°Hm...¡± ¡°If you decide to settle in completely, we¡¯ll even promise you the position of the next leader.¡± While the offer of an A-grade mana suit was tempting, the position of future Tower leader held no appeal to Kaylen. Sensing his indifference, Irene pressed on with a calm smile. ¡°And... you¡¯re free to come and go as you please. Unlike other Towers, we don¡¯t enforce engraving.¡± ¡°...You mean I could leave the Tower anytime?¡± ¡°Yes. We would respect your decisions completely.¡± ¡°...That¡¯s quite a generous offer.¡± The freedom to leave whenever he wished was an unexpected condition, and it certainly piqued Kaylen¡¯s interest. Irene smiled brightly, her expression full of confidence. ¡°Even if you listen to offers from elsewhere, you won¡¯t find terms as favorable as ours.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 46 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 46 In Front of Kaylen''s Research Lab It had only been a day since Kaylen was assigned a research lab at the Magic Academy, but a crowd had already gathered outside. ¡°All the representatives from the Water Towers have shown up, haven¡¯t they?¡± ¡°Yes. Not only the Tower Lords who attended yesterday¡¯s Superior Mage Awards ceremony but also other Tower Lords who heard the news are reportedly on their way. Rumor has it that some are sprinting here at full speed, equipped with mana suits.¡± ¡°Normally, I¡¯d call that ridiculous, but... given the results, it¡¯s hard to dismiss.¡± Irene¡¯s words were spot on. No Tower could offer terms surpassing those of the Tower of Fairies. ¡°We, the Glacier Tower, are prepared to stake everything for you.¡± One by one, the Tower Lords approached Kaylen directly, offering enticing proposals. Their conditions were largely similar: - The position of the next Tower Lord. - Full ownership and operational rights over a B-grade mana suit. - Unrestricted access to the Tower¡¯s wealth and resources. ¡°Our Tower is situated on fertile lands, fully prepared to ascend to major status. If you join us, we¡¯ll reach the level of a major Tower within ten years.¡± ¡°Use as much money as you need. Whatever materials you require, we¡¯ll procure them. All we ask is that you serve as our Tower¡¯s Meister.¡± At a glance, some Towers seemed to offer better terms. The Tower of Fairies had only promised to lend an A-grade mana suit, while other Towers not only offered full ownership of a B-grade mana suit but also granted unrestricted access to their wealth. However, these offers came with one critical condition. ¡°Once the Engraving Ceremony is complete, everything we promised will be fulfilled immediately.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re worried about us reneging on our promises after the engraving, we can get it pre-certified by the Holy Office beforehand. You know their certification is binding and unquestionable.¡± The Tower¡¯s Engraving referred to the process of marking a Meister¡¯s official affiliation with a Tower. It involved inscribing tattoos symbolizing the Tower on the Meister¡¯s hand, back, and chest. Once engraved, these marks remained for 20 years. If a Meister betrayed their Tower or caused significant damage, the Tower could banish them. A banished individual would have a large ¡°Exile¡± brand marked on their face and be treated as a criminal within the mage community. They would not be allowed to join another Tower and would face severe restrictions in buying or selling magical goods. This was effectively a societal death sentence for a mage. Because of this, most engraved Meisters wouldn¡¯t dare go against their Tower. Kaylen, however, responded with a disinterested expression. ¡°Understood. Thank you for your kind offers.¡± From the beginning, Kaylen had no intention of affiliating with any Tower. The inclusion of the engraving condition only solidified his lack of interest. ¡®All I care about is acquiring a high-grade mana suit.¡¯ Money and materials were secondary. For Kaylen, the mana suit was of utmost importance. The angel¡¯s advice to avoid using the power of the Blade Deity weighed heavily on his mind. Additionally, with the balance of the Six Blades broken, he could currently only wield the Water and Light Blades. Until the balance was restored, he needed the support of a mana suit. Given this, there was no reason to choose a B-grade suit when an A-grade was available for loan. ¡°You don¡¯t seem interested at all...¡± Even with the Tower Lords offering conditions that would make anyone¡¯s eyes widen, Kaylen remained unmoved, much to their frustration. As Kaylen¡¯s firm resolve became clear, the Tower Lords, believing he had been tempted by the favorable terms of the Tower of Fairies, began to disparage it. ¡°I imagine the Tower of Fairies must have made an appealing offer.¡± ¡°But that place is overly insular.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not forget, the origins of that Tower lie with displaced non-human races seeking a means of survival.¡± ¡°Humans who go there often end up being exploited by the elves. Those elves cunningly use their otherworldly beauty to manipulate human society!¡± ¡°The elves of the Tower of Fairies are craftier than the most cunning courtesans. The notion of innocent elves belongs in fairy tales.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no shortage of Meisters who¡¯ve ruined themselves after getting involved with them. Even if their terms seem good, you must consider it carefully.¡± Listening to their warnings, Kaylen smirked inwardly. ¡°I know that better than anyone.¡± Elves always prioritized their tribe above themselves as individuals. He recalled Deluna, his fifth wife in his previous life and a High Elf, abandoning even their child to save the World Tree, cutting off all contact in the process. ¡°Still, from the way they¡¯re all bringing this up, it seems elves are really leveraging their looks.¡± He couldn¡¯t help but think of Irene, one of the seven leaders of the Tower of Fairies, who often wore scanty attire. It had puzzled him before¡ªhow drastically their fashion had changed compared to the elves he¡¯d known in the past. But it seemed their adaptation to human society now involved wielding their beauty as a weapon. ¡°Not that it works on me.¡± Kaylen had grown immune to such tactics long ago. ¡°If we could use mana suits freely, we wouldn¡¯t have had to abandon our original homeland.¡± ¡°What kind of side effects?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple¡ªaging,¡± Irene explained, her gaze fixed on the Meisters equipping their mana suits. ¡°When an elf wears a mana suit, aging progresses rapidly. The rate of aging is unpredictable. Using the suit more doesn¡¯t necessarily make it worse, and sometimes, just wearing it once can lead to complete aging and death.¡± ¡°So, the effects are entirely random?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s why we elves avoid wearing mana suits ourselves. Instead, we provide the best support for human Meisters in the industry.¡± Kaylen glanced at the Meisters smiling brightly among the radiant elves. Their happiness seemed almost surreal. ¡°Does the ¡®best support¡¯ include the elves themselves?¡± He couldn¡¯t help but notice how all the Meisters¡¯ spouses or lovers were conveniently elves. ¡°Every Meister seems to have an elven partner. Was that intentional?¡± ¡°Not at all,¡± Irene replied, smiling gently. ¡°The elves admire and respect the Meisters deeply. These relationships developed naturally, through mutual affection.¡± Kaylen found her words insincere. Staring at Irene¡¯s smiling face, he mused silently: ¡°How calculated.¡± ¡°If you join the Tower, many elves will be curious about you. Can¡¯t you already feel their gazes on you?¡± ¡°They¡¯re... quite intense.¡± ¡°If you find someone you¡¯re interested in, let me know. I can introduce you to anyone you like.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind, though no one has caught my eye just yet. If that changes, I¡¯ll let you know.¡± ¡°Take your time,¡± Irene said with a chuckle. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll find your perfect match here.¡± As she spoke, her expression suddenly shifted, her brows furrowing. ¡°This smell...?¡± The once-refreshing scent of the Tower was now overshadowed by a pungent odor. It was the unmistakable stench of alcohol, thick and overwhelming, wafting from the path ahead. Gulp. Gulp. ¡°Ha! Maybe you should find yourself a match first, Irene.¡± ¡°Brother!¡± A tall male elf, staggering and heavily intoxicated, was walking toward them. ¡°You, of all people, have no right to lecture me about relationships!¡± Irene snapped. ¡°What does it matter?¡± the elf retorted, his voice slurring. He was the spitting image of Irene, with the same striking elven beauty, though marred by scars. A large scar stretched from his forehead to his right cheek, ending at the remnants of a severed ear. The black eyepatch he wore hinted that his right eye was no longer functional. Leaning heavily on a large staff, he shuffled unsteadily toward Kaylen, his gait uneven. When he reached him, he fixed Kaylen with a bleary, half-lidded stare. ¡°Heh... so this is the guy I¡¯m handling?¡± ¡°What are you talking about, Brother? He¡¯s my responsibility.¡± ¡°Hiccup. I¡¯ve been reassigned. He¡¯s mine now.¡± ¡°Reassigned? All of a sudden?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. So leave him to me and go focus on finding yourself a partner.¡± With a dismissive wave of his hand, he shooed Irene away like an annoying fly. Then, he turned to Kaylen, extending his calloused, scarred hand for a handshake. ¡°Nice to meet you, friend. I¡¯m Eldir.¡± Kaylen looked down at the elf¡¯s hand, noting the countless cuts and marks across his palm. ¡°Interesting,¡± he thought. ¡°This is no ordinary elf.¡± The handshake revealed calloused palms. ¡°...A swordsman¡¯s hand.¡± As their hands clasped, Eldir grinned broadly. ¡°Sharp eyes, firm grip... You¡¯re as solid as they say. Seems like a real talent¡¯s appeared among us.¡± He chuckled, then added slyly, ¡°But why¡¯d you fall for it, huh?¡± ¡°Brother!¡± Smack! Irene slapped Eldir hard on the back, making him flinch and quickly withdraw his hand. ¡°Ow! What was that for?¡± ¡°Stop talking nonsense and let us pass, Brother,¡± Irene scolded. ¡°Alright, alright... geez.¡± Eldir raised his hands in mock surrender, swaying slightly as he stepped aside. ¡°I apologize, Kaylen,¡± Irene said with a sigh, watching her brother stagger away. ¡°My brother can be... peculiar. Or, well, hopeless, depending on the day.¡± While Irene sighed in exasperation, Kaylen remained silent, his gaze fixed on his hand. ¡°They still exist... here, on this land.¡± Eldir. That man was a Sword Master. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 47 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 47 Those who reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship all possessed a unique domain of their own. The ¡°Sword Area.¡± A space where they could fully unleash their martial prowess. Even if a Sword Master tried to conceal it, most of them couldn¡¯t erase the final traces of this domain. And its origin point was their body¡ªan unavoidable mark, no matter how much they attempted to hide it. ¡®Thanks to that handshake, I identified it easily.¡¯ The drunken, staggering one-eyed elf, Eldir, hardly looked impressive at first glance. He wasn¡¯t pretending to be drunk. He was genuinely intoxicated, stumbling as if he could barely keep himself upright. There wasn¡¯t a shred of composure in his demeanor. If not for the handshake, it would¡¯ve been nearly impossible for Kaylen¡ªat his current level¡ªto recognize him as a Sword Master. But once they made physical contact, the truth became clear. Eldir was a Sword Master. Not someone who had lost his strength, but a true Sword Master, complete with an active Sword Area. ¡®So, Sword Masters aren¡¯t extinct after all.¡¯ Sword Masters, long relegated to legend. In modern times, while wizards had transitioned to the rank of ¡°Meisters¡± and flourished with their compatibility with mana suits, knights had been left behind¡ªstuck as Sword Experts and demoted to mere escorts for the wizards. And yet, unexpectedly, here in the Fairy¡¯s Tower, Kaylen had encountered a Sword Master¡ªsomeone thought to be extinct. ¡°Agh, my lips are itching. I feel like spilling everything!¡± ¡°Brother, please, just shut up.¡± ¡°Eheheh. Hey, human. You know, doesn¡¯t the Fairy¡¯s Tower seem a little suspicious to you? Huh? I mean, they¡¯re lending out mana suits without engraving marks? Heheh. There¡¯s a hidden story behind all this, you know...¡± ¡°Ugh, for the love of¡ª!¡± Smack! Eldir¡¯s back was struck again, causing him to sway before letting out a drunken laugh. At a glance, he looked like a lunatic. If Kaylen hadn¡¯t detected the power of a Sword Master, he would have questioned why someone like this was even here. But now that he knew Eldir¡¯s true identity, he couldn¡¯t dismiss the elf¡¯s words so easily. ¡°That ¡®hidden story¡¯ you mentioned... I¡¯m curious to hear it,¡± Kaylen said. ¡°Whoooa~ really? You wanna know?¡± ¡°And that drink of yours looks quite intriguing.¡± ¡°Hah! Finally, someone who gets it! This, my friend, is none other than Eldir¡¯s Special Brew. A masterpiece I created to cope with the pain of heartbreak... You see, it requires something rare to make¡ªlike mermaid tears, you know, and¡ª¡± ¡°Enough!¡± Eldir¡¯s rambling was abruptly interrupted as Irene hurriedly pulled him away. ¡°Ahaha! My brother is very drunk and tends to say all sorts of nonsense when he¡¯s like this. Please, Lord Kaylen, pay him no mind.¡± ¡°Hey, Irene! Why are you stopping me? Huh? Are you ashamed of me?¡± ¡°...Lord Kaylen.¡± Irene turned to him with an expression that, for once, was devoid of her usual pretense. ¡°Please, I beg of you. Don¡¯t entertain my brother any longer. Just head to the Hall of Glory and leave us here quietly. I¡¯m asking you sincerely.¡± Behind her, Eldir raised his bottle, heckling, while Irene¡¯s face was etched with genuine desperation. For the first time, Kaylen saw a glimpse of true emotion behind her typically artificial demeanor. From her expression, Kaylen could feel Irene¡¯s deep embarrassment. If that was an act, then elves truly were the gods of deception. ¡°...Understood,¡± he said at last. But did she truly not know her brother was a Sword Master? The question lingered in his mind, yet he decided to spare Irene further humiliation for now. After all, the reason he¡¯d come this far was to examine an A-rank Mana Suit in person. He was curious about why they lent out mana suits without engraving marks, but... For now, he resolved to focus on seeing the A-rank Mana Suit itself. The Hall of Glory Located at the center of the Fairy¡¯s Tower, the Hall of Glory was already bustling with elves. Most of them were female. Eldir¡¯s lips curled into a sly grin as he surveyed the room. ¡°Well, well. Looks like we¡¯re in a field of flowers.¡± ¡°Brother, please... shut your mouth,¡± Irene hissed. ¡°Heh, you don¡¯t belong here, Irene. You¡¯re a withered flower¡ªreek of decay, you do.¡± ¡°Ugh, honestly!¡± Smack! Smack! The mention of the oracle sharply deflated Irene¡¯s fervor. Among the elves, it seemed the oracle carried significant weight. ¡°Heh. Then I¡¯ll be the guide from now on, Irene,¡± Eldir said, staggering toward Kaylen and linking arms with him. ¡°But before that... how about a banquet, my friend?¡± ¡°No banquets. Let¡¯s just go.¡± ¡°Aw, come on. Look, that one over there¡ªMary, isn¡¯t she pretty? Slim, but curvy in all the right places. Just your human type.¡± ¡°She doesn¡¯t catch my eye.¡± ¡°Oh-ho. High standards, huh? Alright, then... how about Bella? Mary does look a bit fierce, but Bella¡¯s got that sweet, innocent vibe, doesn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Innocent-looking ones often hide volcanoes inside.¡± ¡°Heh. As long as you don¡¯t set it off, it¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°If I could control when it erupts, it wouldn¡¯t be a volcano, would it? Volcanoes erupt on their own.¡± ¡°Ha... How¡¯d you figure that lady had such a nasty temper?¡± Among the elves Eldir was trying to connect Kaylen with, each seemed to have quite the personality. From Kaylen¡¯s experience with countless women in his past life, none of them appeared simple to deal with. ¡°Enough with the nonsense. Please lead the way.¡± ¡°Alright, alright. Was thinking of grabbing a drink at the banquet, but... guess you¡¯re no fun.¡± ¡°Then entertain yourself while you guide me.¡± ¡°How, exactly?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say earlier your mouth was itching to talk?¡± ¡°Ah-ha.¡± Eldir perked up his one remaining ear, clearly amused by the suggestion. ¡°Brother! Watch your words!¡± Irene scolded. ¡°Hey, this guy¡¯s part of our Fairy Tower now. Why should I watch what I say?¡± ¡°Ugh... At least try to keep it respectful! It wasn¡¯t easy bringing him here.¡± ¡°Of course. He¡¯s one of us now. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Step, step. Eldir walked through the Hall of Glory and exited the space. Kaylen and Irene followed closely behind. ¡°Why are you tagging along, Irene? Ignoring the oracle, are you?¡± ¡°The oracle said you should guide him, not that you should guide him alone. There¡¯s no rule saying I can¡¯t come along, is there?¡± ¡°Heh, what kind of wordplay is that? You¡¯re worse than me, ignoring the oracle like that.¡± Eldir chuckled and kept moving, staggering slightly as he went. They passed through the Hall of Glory, heading deeper into the Fairy Tower. Even from its innermost point, Eldir led them further downward, into the subterranean depths. ¡°So, human friend, how much do you know about Mana Suits?¡± ¡°This man faced off against an S-Rank Mana Suit, Glacia,¡± Irene interjected. ¡°As for Mana Suits... I still have much to learn.¡± Step, step. ¡°Well, if you went up against an S-Rank Mana Suit, you¡¯ve got a pretty good idea already. There are only four S-Rank Mana Suits in existence¡ªone for each elemental attribute.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s what I¡¯ve been taught.¡± S-Rank Mana Suits. Said to choose their own masters, these rare artifacts existed as one per elemental affinity. ¡°S-Rank Mana Suits... are something else. They¡¯ve got a ton of restrictions, but their performance is unmatched. Sure, Mana Suits range from A, B, C, D, all the way to F, but S-Rank is on a completely different level. S-Rank operates in a league of its own, like it¡¯s playing in the heavens.¡± ¡°That seems to be the case.¡± ¡°And because of that, every Magic Tower has its aspirations. Minor Towers aim to create A-Rank suits, while the major ones dream of crafting S-Rank Mana Suits. Our Fairy Tower is no exception.¡± Whiiiiir. Deep within the underground chamber, a faint blue glow illuminated the darkness. Five pieces of equipment hovered in midair, bathed in streams of blue light. - Helmet - Chestplate - Gauntlets - Boots - Staff Each piece emanated immense water mana, surging within the luminous beams. ¡°That¡¯s...¡± ¡°The Guardian¡ªan A-Rank Mana Suit crafted by the Fairy Tower.¡± Eldir, who hadn¡¯t touched a drop of alcohol on the descent, finally took a swig before speaking again. ¡°This is the Mana Suit you¡¯ll be borrowing... and the one that will rob you of your future.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 48 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 48 At Eldir¡¯s cryptic remark about the mana suit stealing someone¡¯s future, Irene sharply rebuked him. ¡°Brother! I told you to stop saying weird things!¡± ¡°What? About it stealing the future?¡± ¡°Yes! What kind of nonsense is that? How could an A-Rank Mana Suit, the Guardian, steal someone¡¯s future?¡± ¡°Heh. Isn¡¯t it obvious? Once you¡¯re part of the Fairy Tower, your future is tied to it. You¡¯ve mortgaged your freedom to the tower, haven¡¯t you?¡± Eldir staggered, slurring as he continued. ¡°Think about it. This guy¡¯s already entangled in the Fairy Tower. His fate is clear as day. Hah! Female elves from all over will swarm him. He¡¯ll pick one, end up married, and once that happens, kids will start piling onto his back. And to feed them all, he¡¯ll spend his days grinding dungeons endlessly. Hahaha... the start of a hellish life as a family man.¡± ¡°Brother... Are you ranting against marriage again? Seriously, stop belittling happy family life like that! Do you know you¡¯re the number one guy single Meisters avoid? They all say you ruin their dating lives!¡± ¡°Heh. I¡¯m just stating the truth, but fools blind to reality keep pretending otherwise.¡± The Mana Suit That Steals the Future. What began as a simple remark by Eldir spiraled into a drunken rant against marriage. Was his comment about the mana suit just drunken nonsense, then? No... It doesn¡¯t seem that way. As a Swordmaster, Eldir might appear drunk, but the Sword Area surrounding his body was perfectly stable, showing no signs of disruption. That meant his words weren¡¯t mere drunken ramblings. There had to be something about the A-Rank Mana Suit, Guardian. Why does he keep saying such ominous things, though? Kaylen couldn¡¯t understand why Eldir, one of the leaders of the Fairy Tower, was making such remarks, but he decided to approach Guardian anyway. ¡°Can the suit be loaned to me immediately?¡± ¡°Have you made up your mind?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Even after all my warnings, you still insist on borrowing it... Hmph.¡± Eldir glanced at Kaylen for a moment before reaching toward Guardian¡¯s boots. The boots, which had been floating midair, were pulled into Eldir¡¯s hand as though being absorbed. ¡°With my master-level authority, I designate Kaylen as the temporary master of Guardian.¡± Whiiiir. The boots flared with blue light, releasing a surge of mana toward Kaylen. The mana connected with him for a brief moment before fading away entirely. Eldir handed the boots to Kaylen. ¡°Here you go. Guardian.¡± Was that it? Was the process this simple? As Kaylen took hold of the boots, a soft female voice echoed in his ears. [Temporary Master. Would you like to equip Guardian?] ¡°Yes.¡± The boots dissolved into water, their form breaking apart into droplets that hovered midair. Alongside the water was a single gemstone that moved toward Kaylen¡¯s foot. Tap. The gemstone embedded itself on the inside of his right ankle. When it began to glow, the water droplets reassembled, forming the shape of the boots once again. The boots materialized on his right foot first, followed quickly by the left. [Guardian has been equipped by Temporary Master Kaylen.] [Current mana reserves: 78%.] As Kaylen listened to Guardian¡¯s voice, he lifted his foot to examine the boots. Though they appeared to be made of metal, wearing them imposed no restrictions on movement. Every motion, down to the smallest twitch of his toes, felt completely natural, as if the boots were an extension of his own body. ¡°Did you hear what it said about the remaining mana reserves?¡± ¡°Yes, it said 78%.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you plan to do with that mana suit, my human friend, but keep this in mind: when the mana drops to 20%, the suit will automatically shut down. You¡¯ll have to return it here to recharge.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet.¡± Kaylen glanced down at the boots. ¡°I tested water magic earlier before coming here. It was useful, certainly, but the power didn¡¯t seem drastically different from the mana suit you gave me before.¡± He was referring to the mana suit Myorn had provided during his duel with the princess. Hearing that, her tail swayed side to side. ¡°Well, that¡¯s because that suit sacrificed everything else for pure power. The Guardian, in its normal state, won¡¯t exceed B-rank output. Spirit Assimilation is what matters.¡± ¡°I haven¡¯t tried Spirit Assimilation yet.¡± ¡°Hm. Did you notice anything strange while using it in its regular state?¡± ¡°No, aside from the amplification of my strength.¡± ¡°Then activate the Spirit Assimilation mode.¡± Spirit Assimilation¡ªa hallmark feature of high-grade mana suits. In the case of the Guardian boots, activating it involved pressing the mana stone embedded in the inner ankle. [Activate Spirit Assimilation mode?] ¡°Yes.¡± The Guardian boots shimmered before transforming into water, flowing outward to envelop Kaylen¡¯s body. [Body transformation in progress... 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%...] Starting from his toes, his body began to merge with the water, the transformation spreading rapidly. Simultaneously, an immense surge of water mana from the Guardian coursed through his entire being. [70%. 80%... 100%. Body transformation complete.] So this is Spirit Assimilation. Kaylen marveled at the sensation. His body no longer felt like flesh and bone but a fluid entity teeming with water mana. The strength and responsiveness were unparalleled, a perfect synergy between himself and the suit. Kaylen''s body, now fully transformed into water, felt surprisingly normal. Despite the radical change in composition, he moved just as he would in his human form. Walking felt effortless, and he could maintain his shape without difficulty. ¡°So far, it doesn¡¯t feel much different from usual,¡± Kaylen remarked. ¡°That¡¯s because you¡¯re still keeping your human form,¡± Myorn replied. ¡°As you get used to Spirit Assimilation, you¡¯ll realize you can freely change your shape. You could turn into something like a slime, shift into a jelly-like form, or even seep through walls as water and emerge on the other side.¡± ¡°Even if my original form completely collapses, will it be fine?¡± ¡°Yes. However, if the mana in the suit runs out, you¡¯ll automatically return to your human form. And if you remain in a non-human shape, it¡¯ll be harder to exert your full power. For example, in a slime state, you won¡¯t be able to produce even half the strength you would in human form.¡± Humans were naturally most comfortable in their original shape, and the Guardian was primarily designed for destroying dungeon cores. Thus, its Spirit Assimilation function was optimized for the human form, where its full power could be utilized. ¡°Still, practicing different forms can help you escape dangerous situations,¡± Myorn added. ¡°That makes sense,¡± Kaylen agreed. ¡°Does your body feel strange at all?¡± ¡°No, everything seems fine.¡± ¡°Good. Now try using magic¡ªgo outside.¡± Stepping out of the workshop, Kaylen decided to start with something simple: Ice Arrow. ¡°Ice Arrow,¡± he intoned. Effortlessly, an arrow of ice materialized. So this is the efficiency of Spirit Assimilation. Determined to test his limits, Kaylen began casting continuously. ¡°Ice Arrow.¡± This time, he summoned not one but several. Soon, dozens of ice arrows floated around him, then hundreds. When the number of arrows surpassed 500, Kaylen finally felt a slight drain on his mana. ¡°It takes 500 arrows just to feel any mana consumption?¡± To his surprise, even that expended mana was rapidly replenished through his spiritified body. As mana flowed back into his body, a peculiar expression crossed Kaylen¡¯s face. This mana¡ªsomething about it felt... different. ¡°Myorn.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°That thing you mentioned earlier¡ªI think I understand now.¡± ¡°Oh? I figured you¡¯d catch on quickly,¡± she said with a sly grin. ¡°As expected, they wouldn¡¯t lend out an A-rank mana suit without a catch.¡± The mana flowing back into his body via the Guardian wasn¡¯t quite the same. There was something off. Something subtly... foreign. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 49 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 49 "The mana of wind is accumulating in my body." The guardian clad in the mana suit of water. After using Assimilation and recharging mana, the mana of wind began to gather within the body. Swish... Kaylen, who finished the Assimilation, restored the mana suit to its original form. Even after inspecting the mana body again, the wind mana lingered aimlessly within the body. "Even after ending Assimilation, it''s still the same." "Right. It''s not ideal for a Meister, but for a Sword Master, it shouldn''t matter... Now it makes sense." "Indeed. From the Meister''s perspective, this wind mana must be slightly bothersome." For a Meister of water, who must focus solely on water mana, the accumulation of wind mana in the body was not particularly welcome. "Since the amount of wind mana is small, it won''t cause significant harm..." "But if it''s used continuously, it could certainly hinder the Meister''s development." "Yes. While I can collect and remove this mana, for a Meister of water, it will hinder the progression of their circle." "True. But it''s not a fatal issue, just a nuisance. Besides, most Meisters who can manage guardians usually stop at the 4th Circle. Reaching the 5th Circle is something only Tower Masters achieve." Realistically, even the most exceptional Meisters often found their growth halted at the 4th Circle. The 5th Circle was an ultimate realm attainable only by an extraordinarily gifted few in any era. "It''s rare for guardians to even be lent out like this... Normally, when recruiting a 4th Circle Meister, the Fairy Tower explains that a small amount of wind mana may enter." "Wouldn''t 4th Circle Meisters still aspire to reach the 5th Circle? Do they accept this?" "They only make the offer to those with no further growth potential. Additionally... I''ve heard elves have a way to remove the wind mana accumulated in their bodies. By pairing them with an opposite-sex elf, through, well... ''a nightly method,'' they say." Myorn trembled, shaking her body in shock, her fur standing on end as if punctuated by question marks and exclamation points everywhere. Kaylen, watching this, chuckled in disbelief. "Removing wind mana through something like that?" "''A nightly method,'' huh. So that''s why all the Meisters in the Fairy Tower end up with elf partners..." "That''s enough. I don''t know anything more than that." "...I see. Well, I get the gist of it. But why does this happen? Do other A-grade mana suits behave like this?" "No. This is because the Guardian is, after all, an elf''s mana suit." An A-grade mana suit: Guardian. This mana suit, infused with the Fairy Tower''s secrets, was originally developed exclusively for elves. "Do you know the side effects elves experience when wearing mana suits?" "Yes. I heard it causes rapid aging." "Researchers at the Fairy Tower attribute that to over-Assimilation." "Over-Assimilation?" "Right. Compared to humans, elves are much more suited for Assimilation. They actually handle spirits, and their affinity with elemental mana is exceptional." "Elves are aligned with water and wind attributes, right?" "Correct. When operating mana suits of those two attributes, elves would excessively activate Assimilation. This occurred even in B-grade or lower mana suits that didn''t originally have Assimilation functions." Over-Assimilation. Elf researchers hypothesized that the excessive activation of Assimilation caused the elves'' physical bodies to age rapidly. "The Guardian was designed to overcome this limitation." "So it wasn''t just about aiming for an S-grade." "Right. Elves can summon only one type of spirit, water or wind, but... their bodies always host both types of mana. The problem arises when over-Assimilation disrupts the balance of mana, leading to rapid aging. The Guardian supplements the wind mana during the Assimilation process to maintain balance." For an elf who could command the spirit of water, using the Guardian resulted in over-Assimilation... The wind mana in the body is rapidly consumed, completely converting into water mana. Elf researchers, believing that this abrupt shift in mana balance accelerates physical aging, added a function to the Guardian to replenish wind mana. After all, it was crucial to avoid the misfortune of elves being unable to use the ultimate mana suit, Guardian. "However, the Guardian is still incomplete. Only Eldir, the leader of the Elven Guard, managed to resist aging and use it... The other elves who wore the Guardian all faced aging afterward. Well, even Eldir wasn¡¯t without consequences." "The Elven Guard?" "It¡¯s the elves¡¯ direct combat unit. Eldir was the strongest Spirit Swordsman among the elves." "I¡¯ve heard of him... But isn¡¯t that no longer the case?" "Right. Eldir used too much of his power. When the interspecies Tower located in the human kingdom was established, the settlement wasn¡¯t smooth, and there were numerous threats. If he hadn¡¯t worn the Guardian and defended the Tower, the Fairy Tower wouldn¡¯t have the standing it enjoys today." Kaylen recalled Eldir¡ªa one-eyed elf leaning on a staff, dozing off like a drunken vagrant. Yet, the power he possessed was far from ordinary, and it seemed his past achievements were just as remarkable. Dungeon suppression requests from cities and villages were a matter of life and death. Choosing the right Civil Squad was an extremely cautious process. As a newly formed squad with only two members, including one Meister, Meier¡¯s reputation was too nascent to inspire confidence. No matter how much buzz Kaylen had generated in the capital, few would entrust their money and safety to them. "Still, are there any clients willing to hire a squad like ours?" "There are, but most offer low advance payments." "Then please recommend any requests along the way with F-rank dungeons, preferably as many as possible." "Understood." Krundal nodded and began sorting through the requests. ¡®This isn¡¯t even my job...¡¯ He briefly lamented while organizing the documents. "The dungeon core deal we discussed is still valid, right?" "Of course." When Kaylen subtly mentioned the dungeon core, Krundal eagerly lent his assistance, treating the matter as his own responsibility. Eventually, Kaylen received a list of potential assignments. The area included one E-rank dungeon and five F-rank dungeons. However, just reaching the location would take over five days. "Then I''ll head out right away. Please prepare the next request for me." Kaylen spoke casually, as if he were merely going for a neighborhood stroll. Five days later, he returned. "I''m back, Branch Manager." With a bright smile, Kaylen handed over large fragments of dungeon cores to Krundal. "Is the next request ready?" In one of the offices of the Oblaine Ducal Estate... "He¡¯s affiliated with the Fairy Tower, yet he¡¯s independently running a Civil Squad...?" Tap, tap. Lioness tapped his desk rhythmically, lost in thought. A stack of papers lay before him, all related to Kaylen. "Zaik, doesn¡¯t this seem strange to you?" "...That guy¡¯s always been a lunatic, hasn¡¯t he?" "You brat. Let go of that grudge already. He might end up part of the family." "Ugh..." Standing beside the picturesque Lioness was Zaik Baldur, his body heavily bandaged. Zaik bit his lip at Lioness¡¯s words, then reluctantly nodded. "Understood..." "Good. Let me ask you again. Doesn¡¯t this seem strange?" "Yes, it does. Acting independently while supposedly tied to the tower? I¡¯ve never heard of such a case. Perhaps his ties to the tower aren¡¯t that strong yet." Regaining his composure, Zaik¡¯s words prompted Lioness to rub his chin thoughtfully. "Still, this Civil Squad, ''Meier.'' The Dungeon Guild certified them with an A-rank mana suit, right? Would the tower lend out an A-rank suit to someone they have no real connection with?" "That... is unusual." "I think we need to make contact with him." Lioness pulled out a sheet of paper from the stack. "Send this request to the Civil Squad, ''Meier.''" "This is..." Zaik¡¯s eyes widened as he read the contents of the paper. It was a dungeon suppression request for an E-rank dungeon located in Kaylen Starn¡¯s hometown¡ªthe Barony of Starn. "And add an extra zero to the payment amount." "That much?" "I¡¯ll take it out of my allowance. Don¡¯t worry, just send it to Meier." Taking it out of his allowance? Adding an extra zero? Even with an abundance of wealth, this level of extravagance was shocking. Zaik, though baffled by the scale of the Oblaine Ducal Estate, followed Lioness¡¯s instructions and added the extra zero. "...Understood." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 50 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 50 "Meier? What kind of unlucky squad names themselves after a failed empire?" Zaik muttered under his breath as he entered the Dungeon Guild in the capital. Despite Lioness¡¯s suggestion to let bygones be bygones, forgetting the beating he¡¯d taken wasn¡¯t as easy as it sounded. Unable to vent his frustration directly, he chose instead to gripe about the name ¡°Meier.¡± Behind him, one of his knights chuckled. "Haha. Didn¡¯t you once say you¡¯d name your child ¡®Ernstine¡¯?" "Ernstine was an emperor, a legend. Meier is just a failed empire that crashed and burned." "True, I¡¯ve heard of people using Ernstine¡¯s name occasionally, but Meier? Never." "Exactly. Names like that bring bad luck." Despite his complaints, Zaik dutifully submitted a request to the Meier Civil Squad. He glanced at the draft of the E-rank dungeon suppression request originating from the Starn Barony and smirked mockingly. "Starn folks, huh? They usually only send F-rank requests. Guess they¡¯re really desperate now." "Yes. I heard a dungeon portal appeared behind the baron¡¯s manor." "That would place it right near the barony''s castle." "Indeed. A disaster for such a small town." "So they rushed to bump it up to E-rank." "Normally, the Count Baldur family would assist a vassal house in situations like this..." "My father would never do that after seeing my condition." Zaik Baldur. Once celebrated for his accomplishments and the apple of Count Baldur¡¯s eye, Zaik had been humiliated by Kaylen of the Starn family during their last encounter. This had enraged Count Baldur. "Yes, that¡¯s true. The count had initially considered holding the Starn family accountable, but since Kaylen severed ties with them, that plan fell through." "Right. There¡¯s no justification for it anymore." "Instead, the count ordered everyone to ignore the Starn family entirely. That¡¯s why they didn¡¯t dare reach out for aid and submitted this request to the guild instead." The dungeon¡¯s appearance near their territory was practically a calamity for the Starn Barony. With monsters constantly spilling out, the town around the baron¡¯s castle couldn¡¯t function normally and had to focus all its efforts on defense. For a small fiefdom like the Starn Barony, sustaining such a state of emergency for long was impossible. "If only the headship had gone to the second son, who shares Baldur¡¯s blood. It¡¯s a pity." "Isn¡¯t it already a given that the second son will inherit? The first son cut ties with them, after all." "You can never predict how things will turn out." Zaik casually chatted with his knight as he finished filling out the paperwork at the Dungeon Guild¡¯s counter. Handing the forms to a clerk, he was promptly questioned.No?v(el)B\\jnn "Excuse me, sir, but the reward amount you¡¯ve listed here... it¡¯s significantly higher than standard rates. Could this be a typo?" "No, that¡¯s correct." "...Understood. In that case, we¡¯ll process the deposit based on this amount." "Here you go." Zaik handed over a check from the Oblaine Ducal Estate. As the staff member processed the request, they asked him a final question. "Would you like to leave any message for the designated Civil Squad, ¡®Meier¡¯?" "Let them know that the Lioness wishes to meet with them." "Understood." With that, Zaik finalized the request and left. Not long after, deeper within the Dungeon Guild, someone entered the branch manager¡¯s office. Kaylen was at the Dungeon Guild when he overheard the mention of the Starn family¡¯s request. Kaylen¡¯s recent ventures had turned him into a veritable dungeon-conquering machine, bringing back a steady stream of mana stones and gold after each expedition. Yet, his ultimate purpose wasn¡¯t merely wealth¡ªit was funding Myorn¡¯s ambitious research. The Goal: A Universal Mana Suit ¡°...Fine. You can join us on this dungeon raid.¡± ¡°Really? You mean it?¡± ¡°Yes. However, this dungeon is a bit far, so we¡¯ll need a carriage.¡± ¡°Where is it located?¡± ¡°Near the Starn Barony.¡± Rustle. Unfamiliar with the Starn Barony¡¯s location, Myorn unfolded a map and was startled. ¡°This is really far. Almost at the border!¡± ¡°Yes, it¡¯s in a very remote area.¡± ¡°...Are you going because it¡¯s your hometown?¡± ¡°The rewards are excellent. They specifically requested the Meyer Extermination Squad.¡± ¡°...Master, this smells suspicious.¡± The Starn Barony¡ªKaylen¡¯s hometown¡ªwas isolated and underdeveloped. Dungeons in that region were typically categorized as F-rank, and the usual protocol was to survive until they could seek assistance from the Baldur Count¡¯s estate. Yet, requesting the Meyer Extermination Squad with a promise of ten times the usual payment? It was anything but ordinary. ¡°I know. The Starn Barony doesn¡¯t have the resources for such requests.¡± ¡°The young lord Zaik likely holds a grudge against you. What if this is a trap?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think so. I¡¯ve received word that someone from higher up wants to meet.¡± ¡°By higher up... do you mean the Oblaine Ducal House?¡± ¡°Yes. Let¡¯s start preparing for the journey.¡± Kaylen reflected on the Starn Barony. Though it was a severed tie, he felt it was worth visiting once to settle things properly. "This is for the best. I¡¯ll use this opportunity to finalize everything." Inside the carriage en route to the Starn Barony, Alkas marveled at their transportation. ¡°This carriage is massive! And so spacious inside. It¡¯s far grander than anything I saw while working at the Count¡¯s estate.¡± ¡°I built it myself. With my body, I need the extra space,¡± Myorn explained. ¡°Ah, so it¡¯s a Dwarven-made carriage. Impressive.¡± Myorn, with her hedgehog-like fur bristling, settled comfortably in the spacious carriage she had designed for practicality. Kaylen, glancing around, brought up a topic. ¡°That fur¡ªdid the former Dwarf Queen ever talk to you about it?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Myorn replied with a chuckle. ¡°She said it grows to train fire mana.¡± ¡°Exactly. Fur naturally grows for insulation. But a Dwarf Queen¡¯s fur serves another purpose¡ªit traps heat completely.¡± As a master of both fire and earth spirits, the Dwarf Queen¡¯s abundant fur strengthened her internal heat. ¡°Normally, when one achieves the ability to summon a supreme fire spirit, all that fur vanishes.¡± ¡°A supreme spirit? I can¡¯t even summon a high-tier one yet... that¡¯s impossible for me,¡± Myorn admitted. ¡°Understandable. Did Queen Kaina leave behind any training methods for enhancing fire spirit magic?¡± ¡°She did, but they¡¯re based on the assumption that the summoner can already handle high-tier fire spirits. I¡¯ve stalled at intermediate, so I can¡¯t use them.¡± Kaylen realized the challenge was greater than anticipated. Queen Kaina, as a Dwarf Queen, had effortlessly controlled high-tier fire and earth spirits. In contrast, Myorn could summon only intermediate-tier spirits, likely due to the diminishing mana in the atmosphere. ¡°And my own capabilities have dropped,¡± Kaylen thought. Compared to the days of Emperor Ernstine, Kaylen¡¯s current body was significantly weaker. Not only was his mana reservoir smaller, but his balance among the six elemental swords was also disrupted. His water and light mana were abundant, but his fire mana was suppressed entirely. ¡°With fire mana completely overwhelmed by water, the Flame Sword of the six can¡¯t assist me in amplifying Myorn¡¯s firepower as it should.¡± Kaylen realized that finding an alternative solution was essential. As he contemplated, his gaze fell on the mana suit Guardian, resting near his feet. The Guardian was a water-aligned mana suit. An idea sparked in Kaylen¡¯s mind, and his eyes glimmered with intrigue. "There¡¯s another way after all." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 51 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 51 In front of an E-Class Dungeon Portal Gate. Hundreds of individuals were gathered, forming formations while meticulously checking their equipment. ¡°Commander, everyone is ready.¡± ¡°Good. Elsabar Civil Squad! Move out!¡± The Elsabar Civil Squad was a cavalry force operated by the eldest son of the Oblaine Ducal House. Among the cavalry units under noble families, it was renowned as the most elite. And for good reason. Not only did it offer the best compensation in the industry, but the unit also deployed a large-scale knight corps to ensure the safety of its affiliated Meisters. Lioness watched the knights entering the dungeon and spoke to the rugged knight standing beside him. ¡°Brother Guntrian, the preparations seem excessively thorough for an E-Class dungeon.¡± Guntrian de Oblaine was the second son of the Oblaine Ducal House and the commander of the Elsabar Civil Squad. Though he lacked magical aptitude, his talent as a knight was unparalleled, reaching the realm of a Knight Meister. ¡°No, look closely at those going in. Almost all of them are knights.¡± ¡°Ah, I see.¡± ¡°Nowadays, knights are as cheap as dirt. Better to use a hundred knights than to let even one Meister get hurt.¡± Guntrian, himself a knight, spoke disparagingly of his own kind, then glanced at Lioness with a grin. ¡°Of course, since you¡¯re here for field training, we¡¯ve made extra preparations.¡± ¡°Thank you for your consideration, Brother.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. I plan to put you to good use, after all.¡± ¡°Haha, feel free to use me as you please.¡± Thud. Thud. Hundreds of knights entered the dungeon first, followed by Guntrian and Lioness. ¡°This one¡¯s an Orc Dungeon, huh?¡± As soon as they entered, Guntrian frowned. Among the monsters that appeared in E-Class dungeons, orcs were some of the most troublesome. ¡°Damn it. We¡¯re going to lose quite a few men.¡± ¡°Are orcs really that bad?¡± ¡°They are. And this dungeon¡¯s large too. They¡¯ll spread out and surround us in no time.¡± Orcs, humanoid monsters with green skin, were significantly more irritating than typical instinct-driven creatures. Unlike others, they demonstrated rational judgment. They were well-known for employing strategies to scatter widely and encircle their enemies, likely as a counter to the overwhelming firepower of Meisters. They would relentlessly target Meisters from a distance, using bows and throwing axes.No?v(el)B\\jnn ¡°Knights, form a defensive line!¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± ¡°Lioness, eliminate them before they can spread out.¡± ¡°Understood. ...Explosion!¡± Lioness¡¯s body burst into flames, and¡ª Boom! A massive explosion erupted in the middle of the clustered orc troops. ¡°Graaaah!¡± ¡°Grr... Grrah...¡± In an instant, dozens of orcs were engulfed in flames, the fire spreading rapidly¡ª Whoosh! Whoosh! The orcs quickly dispersed from the explosion site, scattering widely. ¡°The orcs¡¯ mobility is surprising. Are they usually like this?¡± ¡°They¡¯re not usually this agile... but for some reason, they grow stronger in dungeons. Now, they¡¯ll focus their attacks on the Meisters. Stay alert.¡± ¡°Understood, Brother.¡± An E-Class dungeon raid wasn¡¯t much different from a war. Thousands of orcs surrounded the knights from all directions, while the Meisters concentrated their firepower on the orc units under the knights¡¯ protection. Among the Meisters, the most prominent was, of course, Lioness. Equipped with an A-Class Mana Suit, she unleashed the bulk of the offensive power. ¡°...Reload. Fire Wall.¡± As if to regroup the scattered orcs, a wall of fire surrounded the expansive interior of the dungeon. The intense heat, seemingly capable of incinerating anything nearby, caused the orcs to hesitate and retreat into a corner. The overwhelming flames repeatedly cornered the orc units. Once enough of them were herded together, Guntrian issued commands to the Meisters. ¡°Good. Focus your firepower!¡± Boom! Boom! Magical attacks rained down on the orc units, and the sounds of explosions signaling the battle''s conclusion echoed through the dungeon. The final blow came from Lioness. ¡°Reload. Fire Wave!¡± Then, a massive wave of fire swept over the clustered orcs. Whoooosh! The entire dungeon was engulfed in flames. ¡°GRAAAAHHH!¡± The orcs couldn¡¯t resist the devastating area-of-effect magic and were completely consumed by the fire. ¡°Phew...¡± Shhh... Lioness dispelled the inferno and took a deep breath. There was a stark contrast between simulated training at the Magic Academy and an actual dungeon raid. ¡°Well done, Lioness.¡± ¡°You too, Brother.¡± ¡°This dungeon raid ended quicker than usual. The casualties were far fewer than I expected¡ªall thanks to you.¡± ¡°How many casualties were there?¡± ¡°Thirty-seven. Thankfully, none of the Meisters were injured. At this rate, it¡¯s safe to call this a flawless victory.¡± ¡°How is that even possible?¡± ¡°Why wouldn¡¯t it be?¡± ¡°You¡¯re detached from your body!¡± ¡°It¡¯s still my body, even if it¡¯s separated. Of course, I can manipulate it.¡± Even process-Assimilated elves likely couldn¡¯t achieve such a feat, Myorn thought, feeling her very understanding of the world upended. I can¡¯t comprehend this man. He¡¯s unfathomable. Sometimes, he seemed like a Sword Master. Other times, he shook the world by displaying the talents of a six-circle Meister. And now, his Assimilation surpassed even that of elves. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make sense! No one, not even elves or dwarves, can handle Assimilation like that. At best, they can manage it briefly.¡± ¡°Hmm. Not even those two races?¡± Kaylen¡¯s eyes lit up with interest. He had assumed that process-Assimilated elves would easily be able to utilize such abilities. Is it because of the Mana Body? As he pondered the possible cause, Myorn stomped her feet in frustration, unable to find an explanation. ¡°This is so obvious to me. I can¡¯t even explain it properly,¡± Kaylen said with a shrug. ¡°Sigh... This could revolutionize mana suit development,¡± Myorn muttered. Kaylen chose not to elaborate. It wasn¡¯t the time to discuss the Mana Body yet. ¡°Let¡¯s head into the portal. I¡¯ll clear the way using the same method.¡± ¡°Tsk. Fine. But do you really need to conserve your strength?¡± ¡°Yes. I wanted to help with your Spirit Power training today.¡± A Mana Suit of Water? Myorn raised a questioning brow, clearly perplexed. Kaylen simply smirked. ¡°Let¡¯s start by breaking the dungeon core.¡± ¡°Enter the portal in an hour,¡± Kaylen instructed Myorn and Alkas before stepping into the dungeon portal alone. ¡°Do you think he¡¯s really going to use that same method again?¡± ¡°Seems like it.¡± ¡°But there are far more orcs inside the dungeon, and they¡¯re much stronger.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t our lord, I¡¯d bet my entire fortune that no one could pull it off.¡± Exactly one hour later, they entered the portal. All around them lay the bodies of orcs. Each one was untouched by blades or burns¡ªevery single one had suffocated to death. Alkas muttered in disbelief, ¡°I thought this might happen, but... to clear an orc dungeon this effortlessly...¡± He recalled stories from his academy seniors. Many who joined escort squads for Civil Squads struggled in orc dungeons, with few returning. Unlike monsters that acted purely on instinct, orcs were highly organized, making them a nightmare for even seasoned knights. Following the trail of corpses, they soon found Kaylen sitting casually near the dungeon core, completely unharmed. ¡°Myorn, you brought the old ¡®Normal¡¯ Mana Suit, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Alkas, put it on and try to break the dungeon core.¡± The Prototype Normal Suit, an early version capable of outputting 1.5 times the standard aura, fit snugly over Alkas. Crackle. Aura surged from Alkas¡¯s sword like an explosion. ¡°Haaaahp!¡± With a sharp swing, his blade struck the dungeon core directly. Clang! The sword seemed to bite into the core briefly but was quickly repelled. ¡°Again.¡± Clang! ¡°Strike the same spot.¡± Clang! Clang! ¡°Aura output is dropping. Focus. Again!¡± Clang! Clang! Clang! Under Kaylen¡¯s guidance, Alkas continued to strike relentlessly, but the dungeon core remained unscathed, deflecting each blow with ease. ¡°That¡¯s enough. It¡¯s still beyond your ability,¡± Kaylen finally declared. ¡°Aura alone won¡¯t work. To break the dungeon core, you need simultaneous, large-scale explosive damage to weaken its defenses. No matter how sharp aura is, it¡¯s limited in its impact points, allowing the core to regenerate instantly,¡± Myorn explained. Her reasoning was sound. It was this very trait that sidelined knights and elevated the importance of mages in dungeon clearing. Kaylen listened silently, then extended his hand. ¡°Alkas. The sword.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± The blade in Alkas¡¯s hand slowly dissolved into water, spiraling and transforming as mana surged around it. What formed was an Aura Sword¡ªbut not the familiar golden hue Kaylen usually wielded. This one glowed with a vivid blue light. Seeing it, Myorn¡¯s hair stood on end. ¡°An Aura Sword... of Water?¡± With a smooth motion, the blue Aura Sword passed cleanly through the dungeon core. In an instant, the core dimmed and split into two perfect halves. ¡°My lord... you¡¯ve become even stronger!¡± Alkas exclaimed. ¡°No, it just resisted less than usual. Your attacks seem to have weakened it.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± ¡°Yes. But...¡± Kaylen picked up one half of the split core, his brow furrowing. Where the usual infernal script marking it as ¡°Colony¡± was inscribed, a new word had been added. [Colony ¨C Caution] [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 52 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 52 ¡®......?¡¯ A warning? ¡°Myorn, have you seen this character before?¡± ¡°No, I haven¡¯t. What is it?¡± Though Kaylen asked on the off chance, Myorn¡¯s expression clearly indicated she had no idea either. ¡®I¡¯ll have to ask the guild branch leader later.¡¯ Unable to find any answers for now, Kaylen decided to set the issue aside. ¡°Alkas, we¡¯ll camp here tonight. Tell the driver to guard the carriage.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± With that command, Kaylen shifted his gaze to Myorn. ¡°Myorn, do you feel a change in the ambient mana?¡± ¡°Yes. Such an abundance of mana...¡± ¡°Tonight, we¡¯ll conduct spirit training here.¡± ¡°...Here? How exactly?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see once we start. You should brace yourself.¡± ¡°...My lord, that place has been left as is for quite some time. Are you sure it¡¯s safe?¡± At the mountain¡¯s peak where the dungeon had disappeared, Alkas glanced nervously between Kaylen and the summit. ¡°It¡¯s still fine,¡± Kaylen replied without a flicker of concern. At the center of the summit stood Myorn, encased in a massive block of ice, resembling a prisoner trapped in an ice prison. However, the ice wasn¡¯t as intact as before¡ªinside, it was gradually melting, and water was slowly accumulating. ¡°To train mana in an extreme state caused by opposing elements... I see, this is possible too.¡± ¡°Exactly. And to facilitate it, we shattered the dungeon core and froze her in this moment.¡± The method Kaylen had devised was simple: Freeze Myorn. And within the ice, she would draw out the fire mana within her. ¡°To be honest, I¡¯m not fond of training in extreme conditions. It usually has a high failure rate.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes. Progressing through moments of crisis carries a significant risk. It¡¯s far better to train consistently in optimal conditions without such risks.¡± Hearing this, Alkas recalled the Sword of Training Kaylen had given him. Indeed, the weapon emphasized steady, daily practice in the best possible condition, rather than being pushed to the brink. If one¡¯s condition was poor, the sword itself would adjust its speed and intensity to match the trainee¡¯s capacity. ¡°But Myorn, being the Dwarf Queen, is a unique case. She has an excessive amount of dormant fire mana within her, so extreme pressure is necessary to awaken it.¡± ¡°Ah, I see.¡± ¡°Ordinarily, she would have enough mana to summon high-tier spirits. But because the ambient mana in the world has dwindled, she¡¯s only been able to summon mid-tier spirits until now.¡± Upon closely examining Myorn for her fire mana training, Kaylen discovered something remarkable: Her body held far more mana than expected. This amount was sufficient to summon high-tier spirits with ease¡ªhad it been 700 years ago. However, due to the changes in the world, she had been unable to summon high-tier spirits, and her body had never felt the need to expend its latent magical energy. ¡°To draw out the dormant fire mana within her, we have to artificially create a state of crisis.No?v(el)B\\jnn As the ice melts, it seems the fire mana is slowly awakening.¡± At those words, Alkas asked, his voice tinged with anticipation: ¡°Do you think... I might have dormant mana sleeping within me too?¡± ¡°That¡¯s possible for Myorn because she¡¯s the Dwarf Queen. Humans? Don¡¯t even bother. If you have any, it¡¯s barely worth mentioning.¡± ¡°Ah... yes, I understand.¡± ¡°But there¡¯s another benefit to this method,¡± Kaylen said, gesturing towards Myorn. ¡°Doesn¡¯t her fur look a bit thicker now?¡± ¡°Ah, you¡¯re right. It looks denser and fuller than before. Almost overwhelming, really.¡± ¡°As the Dwarf Queen, she also handles earth spirits. By freezing her, I¡¯m not only awakening her fire mana but also nourishing the earth mana within her.¡± Alkas infused his eyes with mana, observing Myorn¡¯s body trapped in the ice. Inside, he noticed faint ripples of water energy moving. The flow of energy around her body was continuously being absorbed into her fur. ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s why you¡¯ve been running the guardian function constantly, even after freezing her.¡± ¡°Exactly. To eventually reduce the fur, paradoxically, we first need to make it grow even more.¡± The fur of the Dwarf Queen, which grew to support her fire mana training, drew its strength from the earth¡¯s mana. "Seriously? You¡¯re still into this?" she muttered, incredulous. "Yes... I am..." "What about now? Even now?" "Y-yes... even now..." Even as she flipped her lips and made a pig snout, Alkas nodded like he was under a spell. Watching this unfold, Kaylen sighed deeply. "Myorn, could you just cover your face again? If you go around with only your face showing like that, things are going to get quite troublesome. Look at him¡ªhe¡¯s already like this." Myorn nodded in agreement, realizing the truth of his words. Even Alkas, who seemed deeply loyal, was acting this way. How would other humans react? It was amusing to see them dazed for a moment, but the hassle wasn¡¯t worth it. Considering she could only reveal her face while the rest remained covered in fur, Myorn decided it was better to avoid unnecessary trouble. "I guess I¡¯ll do that." Shrrrrrr. The goddess-like face was quickly covered by fur once more. "Ah...! Why..." Alkas let out a disappointed groan, but Myorn soon returned to her furball state. Shaking her fur-covered body, she spoke in a refreshed tone. "Yeah, this feels more comfortable." "That¡¯s... comfortable for you?" Kaylen asked, incredulous. "Of course. My fur acts like extra limbs under my control. Imagine living with dozens of hands and then suddenly being reduced to just two like a human. It¡¯d feel stifling, wouldn¡¯t it?" Indeed, Myorn¡¯s fur had proven to be incredibly functional. "It¡¯ll be a shame if you completely free yourself from the restraints of the fur once your fire spirit powers grow stronger," Alkas commented wistfully. "Why?" "Because you¡¯d have to live entirely in human form." Myorn tilted her head in confusion. "What? Is that how it works? No more fur once I¡¯m free?" "I believe that was the case with Lady Kaina," Alkas replied. "That¡¯s odd. I remember Lady Kaina being like this most of the time..." "...Really?" Kaylen blinked, perplexed. That didn¡¯t align with his understanding. "Yeah. She used to say this form was more comfortable, and that she liked not having to pretend." "Ah, right. You inherited the records of the Great Sage. From his perspective, that¡¯s likely what he remembered. Lady Kaina always showed her most beautiful side in front of him." Oh. So that¡¯s how it was. Kaylen smirked wryly. Kaina had claimed she loved her human form after burning away all her fur... but it seemed she also found her furred state more comfortable after all. "Strangely enough, I miss her today," Kaylen muttered to himself. *** Starn Barony Manor A sharp woman¡¯s voice echoed through the estate. "Dear, what are you doing here?" "I was just admiring this painting," replied a man with a long brown beard¡ªBaron Starn. "Admiring paintings at a time like this? When we should be evacuating? Don¡¯t you ever get tired of that blasted thing?" "...Sigh." "Pack your things already! The mansion¡¯s out of funds, and we¡¯ve even dismissed the servants!" Baron Starn stroked his beard silently, enduring his wife¡¯s reprimands. "This painting... it¡¯s a family treasure passed down through generations. Surely we should take it with us?" "That messy doodle is a family treasure? Anyone could paint that yellow star!" "Still..." "Fine if it were small! But it¡¯s needlessly huge and a hassle to carry. Absolutely not!" "Hmph." The baron cleared his throat in frustration, but his wife only grew more agitated. "You don¡¯t even know when a monster might attack! Stop wasting time! And don¡¯t forget, your elder brother is coming to help. We need to prepare!" "Alright, alright." At last, the baron reluctantly turned away from the painting. Left hanging on the wall, the painting was ignored once more. It was a massive frame that covered an entire wall of the manor. Inside the frame was a chaotic depiction of a golden star painted over in various colors. To anyone¡¯s eyes, it looked far from a treasure¡ªa messy and haphazard piece. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 53 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 53 Kaylen entered Starn Castle, assessing his surroundings with a critical eye. "This place is truly backward." Even the rural fiefs from a thousand years ago didn¡¯t seem this deteriorated. The castle walls looked like they could be scaled with ease by a child, and the "city" outside was more like a small village. Trying to maintain this estate seemed more burdensome than simply relinquishing it and moving to the capital. "I don¡¯t understand." Why was Ruhos so interested in this territory? As Kaylen pondered, he noticed a group blocking the castle gate. At the forefront was a bald Ruhos, accompanied by several knights, their expressions grim and hostile. "Kaylen..." "It¡¯s been a while, Ruhos," Kaylen replied. Among the group were knights who had previously tried to intimidate Kaylen. "Back then, I foolishly followed Sir Ruhos..." "I hope he doesn¡¯t remember me." The knights recalled the time they had threatened Kaylen to throw his match in the quarterfinals of a tournament, believing he would never escape the obscurity of a rural barony. But none of them had imagined Kaylen would rise to such prominence. Now, they regretted following Ruhos here, avoiding Kaylen¡¯s piercing gaze. "Useless fools..." Ruhos cursed inwardly as he observed his subordinates. The knights he brought as escorts were utterly incompetent. Regardless of how strong their opponent was, this behavior was disgraceful for knights. Kaylen, noticing their unease, smirked. "Baldur knights are quick to read the room, I see." "Urgh..." "Where¡¯s your master?" Kaylen asked calmly. "He¡¯ll be here shortly. You should wait here," Ruhos replied stiffly. "Me? Wait?" Kaylen replied, flicking his hand dismissively in a show of annoyance. "When your master arrives, have him come find me." The casual wave of Kaylen¡¯s hand made Ruhos flush red with anger. "You insolent brat...!" "Quiet. I¡¯ll be taking a look around the castle, so... hmm?" The sharp clack of heels echoed within the castle walls. "Brother Ruhos!" A high-pitched voice followed. Kaylen¡¯s body tensed involuntarily at the sound. It was a reflexive reaction. "Someone who would call Ruhos ''brother''..." "There¡¯s only one person in Starn Castle who fits that description." "Brother, you¡¯ve arrived already?" The woman who appeared was immediately noticeable¡ªher attire was ostentatious, layered with excessive jewelry. It was a stark contrast to the impoverished state of the territory. But Kaylen knew all too well how ruthless and spiteful this baroness, with her apparent vanity, could be. "You¡¯re... Kaylen...?" she said, narrowing her eyes. The baroness tilted her head in slight confusion. While the man bore a resemblance to Kaylen Starn, his physique was far different from the last time she had seen him before he left the barony. Back then, he had been tall and thin, almost frail-looking. But now, he was built like a seasoned knight, his frame radiating strength and power. Had it not been for Ruhos confirming his identity, she might have remained unsure if it was truly him. ¡°It¡¯s him,¡± Ruhos affirmed. ¡°You... you! Why are you here? Didn¡¯t I tell you never to return?!¡± The baroness¡¯s shrill voice echoed loudly, the same voice that once used to intimidate Kaylen during his childhood. Back then, it had cowed him into silence and submission. But now, it had no effect.No?v(el)B\\jnn ¡°Quiet,¡± Kaylen said curtly. ¡°What?! How dare you¡ªhow dare you talk to me like that? To your elder?¡± The baroness attempted to muster up her usual domineering demeanor, but something was off. Her voice lacked its usual force, and a strange unease crept over her. ¡®What is this...?¡¯ The baroness found herself unable to meet Kaylen¡¯s gaze. His golden eyes bore down on her with an authority that left her utterly speechless. She tried to compose herself, to respond, but her words wouldn¡¯t come. ¡®Why... why can¡¯t I speak?¡¯ Flustered and unsure of herself, the baroness floundered in silence. Kaylen turned his attention to Ruhos. ¡°Ruhos, take this noisy woman away,¡± he ordered. ¡°What did you do to her...?¡± Ruhos began but faltered. ¡°Her voice will return in an hour. In the meantime, I...¡± Kaylen trailed off as he looked past the baroness. A middle-aged man was approaching, hauling a cart piled high with belongings. ¡°Now that it¡¯s come to this, why don¡¯t you guide me to the dungeon? I¡¯ll complete the request swiftly.¡± Alves froze, his mind racing. He had firsthand experience with dungeon exterminations conducted by the Civil Squad. Before inheriting the Starn barony, he had briefly worked as a support mage for the squad. In his memories, dungeon exterminations were grueling, complex endeavors. You had to prepare supplies to endure extended periods, study the monsters in the dungeon, and train to exploit their weaknesses. During expeditions, you had to appease temperamental Meisters, mediate disputes between rough knights and mercenaries, and even then, accidents in the dungeon often led to disaster. Alves had faced numerous life-threatening moments as a support mage before quitting to take over the family estate. For someone with such harrowing memories, witnessing Kaylen¡¯s calm confidence was almost surreal. Kaylen didn¡¯t just meet Alves¡¯ expectations of a Meister¡ªhe shattered them. ¡°Ice Spear.¡± With a flick of Kaylen¡¯s hand, hundreds of ice spears materialized in the sky above. No, spears was a misnomer. BOOM! The descending spears were massive pillars of ice, each striking with overwhelming force. ¡°Kiieeek!¡± ¡°What is happening?¡± The goblin village below was obliterated by the icy judgment from the heavens. A few goblins survived the onslaught and charged desperately. ¡°That one killed our kin!¡± ¡°Kill him!¡± With a simple gesture, Kaylen trapped them in water prisons. Goblins thrashed within the confines of the shimmering prisons, trembling momentarily before going limp. ¡°Let¡¯s move,¡± Kaylen said. The walk to the dungeon portal was eerily peaceful. The goblin village near the portal had been completely annihilated, and no goblins who sought to ambush Kaylen had survived. ¡°W-Wait. Are you really going in? Alone?¡± Alves stammered. ¡°You¡¯re free to stay outside.¡± ¡°N-No... That won¡¯t do. I¡¯ll come with you.¡± Even though Alves had seen Kaylen¡¯s strength, entering a dungeon portal was another matter entirely. Still, after hesitating briefly, Alves followed closely behind his son. ¡°Kiiririk.¡± ¡°A human!¡± ¡°Kill him!¡± The moment they stepped into the dungeon portal, a barrage of weapons hurtled toward them. ¡°Ice Shield.¡± But the thick barrier of ice proved impenetrable. ¡°Ice Spear.¡± And the towering ice pillars annihilated the ambushers without resistance. As Kaylen''s hand moved, goblins were slaughtered. Alves stood dumbfounded behind his son, watching the path open before them. Is this... even possible? Alves, both a father and a fellow mage, knew his son¡¯s capabilities well. In a rural village, Kaylen might not have stood out, but in the capital, he would have never been noticed¡ªjust an ordinary talent. But could someone change this much in just a few years? Civil Squad... Meier. Alves¡¯ thoughts turned to Meier. Why choose the name Meier of all names? The name of the Meier Empire, founded by the ancestors of Starn and associated with the demons. Could it be... One hour later. Kaylen and Alves stood before the dungeon core. Alves no longer seemed surprised. Kaylen surveyed the area around the dungeon core. There were no enemies that could pose a threat. As long as the dungeon core remained intact, monsters would eventually emerge again, but... It didn¡¯t seem like they would appear any time soon. ¡°Father. I have a question,¡± Kaylen said. The isolated space. With monsters not likely to emerge for a while. It was the perfect place to quietly talk. Kaylen asked Alves, ¡°Why did the Baldurs target the Starn?¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 54 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 54 "Kaylen, you are no longer a part of the Starn family. Why are you curious about this?" Despite witnessing Kaylen¡¯s prowess as he single-handedly subdued the dungeon, Alves maintained a clear line, distancing himself from Kaylen. Even in the face of such coldness from his father, Kaylen responded with a smile. "I realized something during my time in the capital." "And what would that be?" "Just how insignificant the Starn Barony really is as a background." "...I see. The provinces do tend to lose their value, thanks to the dungeons." The proliferation of dungeons led to the downfall of many provincial noble families. In the capital, or among noble houses with great power, private squads like the Civil Squad were formed to subjugate dungeons. However... Those without such strength were frequently overrun by the ever-emerging dungeons. While the central government occasionally organized subjugation forces to clean up the situation, their reach rarely extended beyond regions connected to the capital. As a result, outermost territories like Starn were left almost entirely neglected. "So, I started to wonder¡ªwhy would Ruhos target a family as worthless as ours?" "...Kaylen. Let me repeat myself. You are no longer part of the Starn family. Do not concern yourself with this matter. This is also for your sake." "For my sake?" Even in the dungeon, Alves instinctively scanned his surroundings, as if it were second nature to be cautious. "Yes. Behind Ruhos stands the Baldur Countship. While your abilities are extraordinary, there¡¯s no reason for you to go up against the Countship for the sake of a worthless family like Starn. Go your own way." "That aside, I have a question for you. Why did you use the name Meier?" Alves looked at Kaylen with a mixture of confusion and concern. "If it were in honor of Emperor Ernstine, that might make sense. But Meier, a name associated with demons, is a cursed one. Did you not think so too? Why go out of your way to choose it?" "Because I decided it was a name worth inheriting, more so than Starn." "...Why the change of heart?" Alves¡¯ sharp gaze fixed on Kaylen. Kaylen, who once lamented being descended from Meier, questioning if his bloodline connected him to demons, had now decided to carry that very name. And seeing how much stronger he had become compared to before, Alves felt an unsettling suspicion. ¡®He wouldn¡¯t use the name Meier without reason. There must be something behind it.¡¯ But Kaylen met Alves¡¯ piercing gaze with an air of nonchalance. "I have my reasons for the change in perspective. But as you said, I have severed ties with the Starn family. I can¡¯t explain any further." "...I see." "However, if you resolve my curiosity first, I might consider sharing." The implication was clear: if Alves wanted to know why he chose the name Meier, he¡¯d first have to answer Kaylen¡¯s own question. Alves hesitated briefly before replying. "Never mind. It¡¯s not something I need to know that badly." "Understood. Let¡¯s head back then." It was a topic Alves decided to leave unanswered. ¡®Kaylen has already left Starn behind. I have no intention of dragging him back into this mess.¡¯ From destroying the dungeon¡¯s core to leaving its depths, Alves spoke as little as possible. Even as he watched Kaylen¡¯s remarkable power, his astonishment and curiosity were forcibly suppressed. Kaylen, noticing this, thought to himself: ¡®For someone who always seemed so weak-willed in front of his wife, he does have his moments of stubbornness.¡¯ Alves had insisted on accompanying Kaylen into the dungeon, knowing the risks. Though he had disowned his son, it seemed clear that wasn¡¯t truly his intention. It must have been the work of Ruhos or the Baroness. ¡°But... if they choose to remain silent even after seeing such power, I won¡¯t push to find out.¡± If they didn¡¯t bring it up, there was no need to inquire further. After all, he was no longer Kaylen Starn but Ernstine from 1,000 years ago. In this uneasy silence, the two returned to Starn Castle. ¡°Dear!¡± As soon as they entered the castle, the Baroness approached them, visibly upset. Alves instinctively shrank back at her approach¡ªit was a reflex. ¡°Where in the world have you been?¡± ¡°I went with Kaylen to subjugate a dungeon.¡± ¡°Subjugate a dungeon...?¡± The Baroness briefly glanced at Kaylen before swiftly averting her gaze. It seemed she had received some kind of warning from Ruhos. Her earlier rudeness had completely vanished, and now she avoided looking at Kaylen altogether, addressing only Alves. ¡°Please wait, Lord Kaylen,¡± the Baroness said, approaching with a smile. Her earlier loud and abrasive demeanor had disappeared entirely, replaced by an overly polite attitude. ¡°And why the sudden formal tone?¡± ¡°My brother told me about you, Lord Kaylen, and how exceptional a Meister you are. I must beg your forgiveness for my prior rudeness.¡± ¡°I apologize for disturbing your appreciation of the painting, but our mansion is rather small. We need this space to prepare for the guest¡¯s reception. Could you postpone your viewing for later?¡± Her request was polite yet firm. Since she was preparing to welcome a guest, it was hard to refuse. ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°Thank you. Please, take your rest in the meantime.¡± As she left, several maids entered, beginning to rearrange tables and prepare the hall. Kaylen watched them silently for a moment before heading to his room. ¡°Sixth-circle talent, you say? I couldn¡¯t believe it at first.¡± The Baroness spoke with an elegant laugh, her expression unchanged as she complimented Kaylen. ¡°Thank you for your kind words, Baroness. The food is excellent.¡± ¡°It must pale in comparison to the splendor of the capital, but I¡¯m grateful you enjoy it.¡± ¡°No, it has the same comforting taste of home.¡± Kaylen responded with a cordial smile, mirroring her polite demeanor. Outwardly, the meal appeared to be a warm and harmonious affair. However, as soon as the banquet ended, Myorn immediately grumbled. ¡°Ugh... Watching that woman force herself to maintain a pleasant expression was exhausting.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what happens when you overeat,¡± Kaylen quipped. ¡°Hey! I¡¯m a dwarf! Indigestion is not in my vocabulary.¡± With that, Myorn swung the fur-covered door open and entered her room ahead of the others. ¡°I¡¯m going to rest.¡± ¡°Alright. Alkas, I¡¯ll head to my room as well.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord. Sleep well.¡± The room assigned to Kaylen was a guest chamber. When asked about his original room, the Baroness had laughed and explained it was ¡°under renovation.¡± ¡°Her intentions are crystal clear,¡± Kaylen thought, smirking slightly as he lay on the bed and closed his eyes. ¡°If Alves won¡¯t speak, I¡¯ll find out myself.¡± Summoning his mana, he amplified his hearing. He suspected that something significant would be discussed between Ruhos and the Baroness. The first sound he caught was from the adjacent room¡ªAlkas¡¯s voice. ¡°Ah, Lady Myorn...¡± Still smitten by Myorn¡¯s unmasked face, he seemed to be muttering words of admiration to himself. ¡°I¡¯ll have to ignore that.¡± Suppressing Alkas¡¯s voice from his focus, Kaylen tuned into every sound within the manor. ¡°Did you see that large man earlier? They said he¡¯s Lord Kaylen.¡± ¡°Why does he look so different? He used to be a complete pretty boy.¡± ¡°Now he¡¯s like some battle-hardened general.¡± The maids chatted about Kaylen. ¡°The Starn barony is truly unimpressive.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand why Lord Ruhos is putting so much effort into this place.¡± ¡°Is it that important to dominate a barony like this? If I were the Baron, I¡¯d hand over the seal for a bit of gold.¡± The knights of Ruhos gossiped among themselves. ¡°...Kaylen, with ¡®sixth-circle talent¡¯? Could it be related to using the name of Meier? But no matter how curious I am... I can¡¯t involve him in family matters.¡± These were the musings of Baron Alves. Despite hearing all these scattered conversations, there were two voices he couldn¡¯t catch: Ruhos and the Baroness. ¡°Have they blocked their voices?¡± Kaylen focused his hearing further, amplifying it as much as he could. Still, the two voices remained silent. ¡°Did they leave the manor?¡± It made sense; this decrepit house was hardly suitable for secretive discussions. Just as Kaylen was about to stop using his amplified hearing... ¡°Brother! Brother! How could this happen?¡± ¡°Yes... Ayla, it¡¯s clear now.¡± Suddenly, voices echoed from the central hall. ¡°This painting really is a ¡®Demonic Relic¡¯!¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 55 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 55 "The painting is a Demonic Relic?" Kaylen recalled the painting in the waiting room. ¡°It showed Infinity.¡± In the center of the waiting room, a painting of a golden star displayed in a frame had caught his attention. He had wanted to examine it more closely because of its peculiar nature, but the baroness had insisted on setting up the venue, leaving him unable to investigate further. "A Demonic Relic, huh." Srrr¡ª Kaylen activated his Mana Suit Guardian. His body, now transformed into liquid form, seeped slowly into the wooden floor, heading toward the central hall of the mansion. "Now I can see." Arriving at the ceiling of the central hall, he remained in his altered state, peering down. Below, the baroness Ayla and Ruhos were whispering to each other, their faces a mix of excitement and astonishment. ¡°Do you think there¡¯s truly a treasure inside? We¡¯ve already used mana stones for this, so we need to recover at least our investment.¡± ¡°Of course. Haven¡¯t I told you who the original owner of this relic is?¡± ¡°I remember. You said it belonged to the ancient Meier Empire.¡± A Demonic Relic... belonging to the Meier Empire? Kaylen¡¯s composed demeanor faltered briefly in his liquid form. Drip. A single drop of water fell from the ceiling. When the droplet landed on Ruhos¡¯ bald head, he grimaced instantly, pulling out a handkerchief. ¡°Why is water dripping from the ceiling?¡± ¡°This place is so old and run-down; isn¡¯t that obvious? Honestly, why did you marry me off to a place like this?¡± Ayla complained irritably. Ruhos tried to soothe her. ¡°It¡¯s all because of that Demonic Relic. We need to secure the treasure inside without the main house finding out.¡± ¡°Even Baldur won¡¯t know?¡± ¡°The main house doesn¡¯t even know this relic exists here. They¡¯re only interested in obtaining the baron¡¯s seal.¡± Ruhos recalled events from long ago. It had been early in his career as a steward for the Baldur family. While organizing records for the Count¡¯s house, he had stumbled across documentation about the Demonic Relic. ¡ªA relic left behind by the corrupted royal family of the Meier Empire? A relic adorned with a golden star, said to contain unimaginable treasures. And to access it, one needed the Meier family seal and bloodline. At the time, while sorting through the documents, he had dismissed it as just another tale. ¡ªNo... could it be? During a business trip to the Starn family, a house subordinate to Baldur, Ruhos had seen a painting prominently displayed in the mansion and immediately thought of the Demonic Relic. "Could it really be...?" From that moment, Ruhos, while fulfilling his duties as a steward, began searching for more records on the Demonic Relic. Most accounts turned out to be fanciful rumors, but some information proved useful. Once he had gathered enough data, he made his decision. "I will claim this relic for myself." He sent his younger sister to marry into the Starn family. He drove out the eldest son and took control of the barony. Years passed, and today, all the conditions were finally met. "Today, I will secure the relic." Ruhos carefully surveyed his surroundings and lowered his voice further. "Ayla, I will bring Royen. Since he has golden eyes as well, he should qualify to open the door." "...It¡¯s not dangerous, is it?" "Would I ever put your son in harm''s way? Stay here and wait." Royen... Royen Starn. Kaylen¡¯s half-brother. His memories of Royen were faint. Though partly due to his quiet nature, Royen was often seen hiding behind the baroness Ayla whenever Kaylen encountered him. "I heard he was receiving education at the Baldur Count¡¯s estate." It was a common practice among noble families to take children of vassal houses as if holding them hostage for "education." Royen, being of Baldur''s bloodline, spent most of his time there. However, it seemed Ruhos had brought him back for this purpose. "I¡¯ll have to wait for now." Kaylen slithered his ethereal, spirit-like body toward the wall where the painting hung. How long had he waited like that? "...Mother?" A silver-haired boy with golden eyes, identical to Kaylen''s. He was so delicate in appearance that one might mistake him for a girl. Yet his face was clouded with a faint shadow. Walking alongside Ruhos, this boy was none other than Royen Starn. Upon seeing her son, Ayla quickly grabbed his wrist. "Royen. There¡¯s no time. We need to hurry inside." "Indeed. We don¡¯t know when someone might arrive." "Inside? Inside where...?" Royen asked, puzzled, but Ayla didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she pulled out the Starn family seal from her bosom. At the same time, Ruhos took a mana stone from his pocket. "Wait." "Ka... Kaylen!" In an instant, Kaylen, who had reverted from his watery form to his original appearance, stood behind the group, conjuring the water barrier. "How are you here...!" "Thanks for guiding me, Ruhos." "Khhhhh..." "But this place is not yours to claim." As Kaylen stretched out his hand, Ruhos and Ayla''s bodies lifted into the air, suspended by an irresistible magical force. Ruhos''s eyes filled with bloodshot fury. He was on the verge of claiming the Demon Relic, and now this? He felt his body being inexorably pushed toward the exit. "No, no! This can¡¯t be happening! Ten years¡ªten years of my life I poured into this! I gave my youth to that backwater barony..." All those painstaking efforts to obtain the Demon Relic. Endless caution, ensuring even his own family wouldn¡¯t notice. And now Kaylen had appeared out of nowhere to ruin everything. "Well, good job finding it," Kaylen remarked coolly. "You¡¯ve done your part." "No... no!" "It¡¯s over." With a dispassionate gesture from Kaylen, the two were sent flying toward the portal. But¡ª Thud! Instead of being absorbed by the portal, the pair were violently repelled and thrown back. "Kraugh!" "Ouch, that hurts..." The two collapsed in front of the portal, as though they''d struck an impenetrable wall. "Hm." Kaylen observed the scene, his brow furrowing slightly. The portal, which had been functioning perfectly earlier, was now malfunctioning. The golden light of the portal was gradually being overtaken by a sinister black hue. "The retreat is blocked." Kaylen could feel the dark mana, hidden within the Infinity, slowly rising. "Bind." He restrained the two intruders with a flick of his fingers before approaching Royen. "Brother...?" Royen instinctively flinched as Kaylen suddenly appeared. "Why... why does he seem so much larger now..." Kaylen¡¯s presence was entirely different from before. His towering frame and confident strides resembled a ferocious bear. Yet, despite his intimidating size, Kaylen¡¯s demeanor was calm and gentle. "Royen, don¡¯t touch it. It¡¯s dangerous for someone as young as you." "Y-yes..." Royen recalled the past, when they had lived under the same roof. Back then, Kaylen¡¯s hostility, born of being pushed aside by his half-sibling, had been palpable. But now, Kaylen exuded an air of composure that Royen could hardly reconcile with his memories. Kaylen didn¡¯t seem like a man who had lost his inheritance to his younger half-brother. "Royen. Reach for the star¡ª" From where she lay near the portal, Ayla let out a desperate scream. But before Royen could act, Kaylen¡¯s hand firmly grasped his shoulder. ¡°Go to your mother¡¯s side, Royen,¡± Kaylen said softly. His voice was gentle, but the weight of his hand on Royen¡¯s shoulder felt impossibly heavy. Royen, already held firmly in place, didn¡¯t have the courage to defy him. ¡°...Yes, Brother.¡± As Royen turned to walk toward the portal, the golden star above the door suddenly blazed with a brilliant light. ¨C First-class bloodline detected. ¨C First-class bloodline detected. ¨C Two bloodlines present. Unmodified state. A chilling voice echoed throughout the subspace. Its ominous tone sent a shiver down their spines. "What a disgusting sound." Kaylen remained unaffected, his expression unchanged. ¡°Wh-what is that...¡± The faces of the two intruders, bound by Kaylen¡¯s magic, turned pale. Thud. Royen collapsed to the ground, drained of strength just from hearing the voice. ¨C Initiating modification. A deep, resonant vibration filled the air as the subspace¡¯s appearance began to shift. The once dazzling interior was rapidly consumed by darkness. All around them, tendrils of dark mana began to rise, curling and twisting like smoke. The golden star, which had shone so brightly moments ago, was now completely tainted black. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 56 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 56 ¡°Oh...¡± So this method could be used as well? How amusing. Kaylen smiled as he grasped the now-blackened star in his hand. At that moment, an overwhelming surge of dark mana began pouring into him. The sheer magnitude of it was enough to corrupt even a high-ranking cleric in an instant. Yet, Kaylen welcomed it. "This dark mana is perfect for enhancing the growth of my swords." Kaylen¡¯s six swords. Among them, the obsidian blade, which had long been overshadowed by the water and light blades, began to grow rapidly. "With the light blade in my arsenal, I can absorb as much dark mana as I want." If only the obsidian blade grew on its own, it might strain a human body. But with the light blade firmly in place, he could control the darkness with the power of light. As the absorption of mana stabilized, a groan reached Kaylen¡¯s ears. ¡°Ugh... ugh...¡± Royen, who had collapsed earlier, had changed significantly in a short time. His silver hair had turned jet black, his once pale skin now bore blood-red markings, and his small frame had grown visibly larger. "So this is the modification?" Kaylen had assumed he had absorbed all the dark mana from the black star. However, since the subspace itself had been altered, it appeared Royen was affected as well. "I can¡¯t leave him like this." With a swift motion, Kaylen scooped Royen up in his left arm. His younger half-brother, now transformed from a child into an adolescent, had elongated limbs marked with sinister crimson tattoos glowing faintly. "Absorb." With his right hand, Kaylen drew in the mana from the black star. At the same time, with his left, he absorbed the dark mana swirling within Royen¡¯s body. Fortunately, the dark mana that had altered Royen wasn¡¯t substantial. It took less than a minute for Kaylen to collect it entirely. However, something else remained within Royen. "The fire mana is extraordinary." While the black aura had disappeared from the crimson tattoos, their red hue persisted. To erase the markings entirely, Kaylen would need to absorb the fire mana roiling inside Royen. "This isn¡¯t my decision to make." The fire mana within Royen¡¯s body could become an invaluable asset when he one day wielded the power of a Fire Meister. ¡°Ugh... ha...¡± As the dark mana left him, Royen¡¯s breathing became noticeably lighter. It seemed the ¡°modification¡± had been stopped. Holding Royen securely, Kaylen refocused on absorbing the mana from the black star. Before long, the ominous voice echoed once more through the subspace. ¨C Eternal Space. Mana insufficient. Terminating. As the voice faded, the black star in Kaylen¡¯s hand and the darkness filling the subspace rapidly dissipated. Seeing this, Kaylen clicked his tongue in disappointment. "It¡¯s already over?" Though the obsidian blade had grown considerably, it was still only half the size of the water and light blades. "Glacia¡¯s mana reserves truly were incomparable." Even after absorbing it, the obsidian blade remained only half the size of the water and light blades. Kaylen once again marveled at the power of the S-rank mana suit. At that moment, another voice echoed: ¨C A Rank 1 Bloodline has been upgraded to Special Rank. ¨C Initiating forced transfer sequence. Catalyst destroyed. Crack! The golden star shattered like glass. Boom! A massive door began to open. ¨C The Opponent. Cryostasis release initiated. Even a beast acting purely on instinct could sense the overwhelming power emanating from the blades. Kaylen grasped the swords in both hands. ¡°This might hurt a little.¡± The Way of Six Swords, Dual Blade Technique, unleashed its first move: Sword Rain. When the light blade and water blade combined, radiant droplets of water spread outward, filling the space. These droplets soon coalesced into a multitude of tiny swords¡ªhundreds, even thousands of them. ¡°Kraaaah!¡± Sensing imminent danger, the Drake opened its maw, unleashing a breath attack powerful enough to incinerate the entire subspace. Yet, the Drake¡¯s fiery breath could not penetrate the wall of swords. As with the earlier Ice Spears, the breath was rapidly weakened upon contact with the countless blades and dissipated entirely. One by one, the swords began to pierce the Drake¡¯s scales. ¡°Kraaaaaaah!¡± The mighty roar of defiance turned into a cry of pain. The black infernal runes etched into the Drake¡¯s skin started fading, one after another. Infused with the energies of light and water, the Sword Rain washed away the darkness held within the magic circles. ¡°Live on, Drake.¡± Though he spoke of sparing its life, Kaylen continued to rain down swords relentlessly. The once-proud Drake, which had risen so majestically, struggled desperately to resist the torrent of blades. It roared, spewing flames, and furiously flapped its wings, but it was futile. For a creature of its size, dodging the downpour of swords was impossible. Thud! Thud! Sword after sword embedded itself into the Drake¡¯s body. The more the Drake thrashed, the more swords embedded themselves into its massive body. Its frantic movements gradually slowed, and the once-mighty beast began to falter. ¡°Grrr... grrrr...¡± The pained growls that once echoed with defiance dwindled to faint whimpers. The ferocity it displayed upon its initial appearance had completely dissipated, leaving only occasional tremors running through its body. ¡°Tsk. How can you collapse already?¡± Kaylen clicked his tongue as he slowly approached the now-weakened Drake. Despite being riddled with countless swords, the Drake¡¯s body remained intact. The only thing missing was the intricate magic circles that had once covered it. Its size, too, had changed drastically. What was once a colossal creature spanning several dozen meters now barely measured ten meters in length. ¡®So this is its true form. It hasn¡¯t reached the status of an elder dragon yet.¡¯ Kaylen leapt nimbly onto the Drake¡¯s head. On its head, now devoid of strength, sat three horns that jutted out prominently. ¡°Dragon, prepare to meet your true master.¡± Kaylen split off a portion of Infinity and pressed it into the Drake¡¯s horns. Even though the act caused considerable strain on his current body, the opportunity to dominate a dragonkin was far too valuable to pass up. ¡°Grrr... grrrr...¡± The Drake initially showed resistance, but its strength quickly waned. Lowering its head, it began to accept the Infinity shards. Soon, each of its three horns housed a fragment of Infinity. ¡®It¡¯s done.¡¯ Once the Drake regained its reason and submitted to the dominance, the process would be complete. A smirk played across Kaylen¡¯s lips at this unexpected acquisition of a Demonkind Legacy. However... Shhhhhh¡ª A sudden hissing noise interrupted his thoughts. The Drake¡¯s body began shrinking again, this time at an alarming rate. Kaylen¡¯s expression stiffened. ¡®What... what is happening?¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 57 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 57 Drake''s massive form suddenly shrank. What once towered at tens of meters now barely surpassed the size of an average horse. From such a reduction, it looked less like a juvenile dragon and more like a mere hatchling. But that wasn¡¯t all. Its once-imposing scales were now shriveled and brittle, and its entire body appeared emaciated. ¡°Keek... eeeng...¡± A weak cry emerged, completely unfitting for the creature hailed as the strongest among dragons. Trembling all over, its body and horns quivered, its earlier ferocity nowhere to be seen. ¡°Hm.¡± Thud. Kaylen dismounted from the now-miniature Drake, folding his arms as he observed the pitiful sight. He had thought he¡¯d acquired a worthy dragon, but now it was reduced to this¡ªa hatchling. ¡®The Infinity expansion must have affected this dragon as well.¡¯ The spatial distortion capability of Infinity wasn¡¯t just limited to creating pocket dimensions¡ªit could apparently transform even a hatchling into the size of an adult dragon. While witnessing this new function of Infinity was fascinating, the disappearance of a viable mount left him dissatisfied. ¡°What am I supposed to do with this now?¡± ¡°Kiing... kiing...¡± The hatchling cried mournfully, but Kaylen didn¡¯t so much as blink. Instead, he spoke coldly, as though addressing Drake directly. ¡°If you¡¯re without intelligence, I might as well strip you of your horns and scales.¡± ¡°Ki....¡± ¡°If you¡¯re going to remain driven by mere instinct, you¡¯re useless to me.¡± At this, Drake¡¯s cries gradually subsided. Then, a faint light began to emanate from its horns¡ªa soft, white glow at first but steadily growing brighter. Soon, an intelligent voice reached Kaylen¡¯s ears. ¡°...Spare... me...¡± ¡°Not clear enough. Say it properly. Louder.¡± ¡°Spare me. Spare me. Spare me!¡± ¡°Try adding ¡®please.¡¯¡± ¡°Spare me, please.¡± Its learning speed wasn¡¯t bad. Kaylen regarded the dragon with a slightly softened expression. ¡°Why are you here?¡± ¡°I... don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t... know....¡± ¡°You can¡¯t remember anything?¡± ¡°Nothing... at all....¡± Drake lowered its head deeply, as if ashamed, the gesture making its helplessness clear. No matter how many times Kaylen asked, it truly seemed to know nothing. ¡°Seems I have no choice, then.¡± ¡°...I¡¯m sorry....¡± ¡°No need. You can¡¯t help what you don¡¯t know.¡± Step. Step. Kaylen began walking slowly toward the cowering Drake. Drake instinctively curled up tighter, trembling as if bracing for something. ¡°I¡¯m sorry... I¡¯m so sorry...¡± As Kaylen infused mana into Drake''s horn, the dragon''s expression quickly softened, transitioning into one of relief. For Drake, the mana that Kaylen provided was nothing short of a lifeline. Slowly, the once-withered scales regained their luster, and its frail body began to recover its former vigor. ¡°Thank you, Master,¡± the dragon''s voice rang faintly. ¡°Not just ¡®Master,¡¯¡± Kaylen corrected. ¡°...Thank you, Master-nim,¡± Drake amended, this time adding the honorific with care. ¡°Good. Always be mindful, Drake.¡± Kaylen recalled the nature of dragons like Drake¡ªthe strongest among the few remaining in the Middle Realm. Their pride was immense, and even if subdued and gifted to knights under his command, improper training often led to dragons challenging their masters. ¡®It¡¯s important to establish discipline early on.¡¯ As Drake absorbed the mana, its complexion visibly brightened, a sign that it was on the way to a full recovery. But before things could fully settle¡ª Rumble. The ground began to quake violently. No, it wasn¡¯t just the ground. Crack. Crackle. The entire space around them was fracturing. ¡°Eternal Space stability: compromised.¡± ¡°Closing sequence initiated.¡± The pocket dimension began collapsing. Staying any longer would risk being swallowed into oblivion, erased from existence entirely. ¡°Time to go.¡± No sooner had Kaylen spoken than Drake flapped its wings, lifting off swiftly. ¡°Go through the portal. Now.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Go!¡± Kaylen commanded sharply. Left with no choice, Royen stepped into the portal, albeit reluctantly. Behind him, Kaylen unceremoniously tossed the unconscious baroness and Ruhos¡¯s lifeless body into the portal as well. Rumble. The rate of the collapse accelerated, the entire subspace trembling violently. Drake, now visibly anxious, turned to Kaylen and urged, ¡°Master, we need to leave. Now!¡± Kaylen, however, shook his head, his eyes gleaming with intrigue. ¡°Not yet. Stay with me a little longer.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Drake¡¯s voice cracked with disbelief. ¡°If we stay here, we¡¯ll¡ª¡± ¡°I want to observe something,¡± Kaylen interrupted, his tone calm but resolute. The destruction of the subspace, created and expanded by Infinity, fascinated him. Observing its unraveling might offer insights into its formation. ¡®The structure... now I see how it was extended.¡¯ Kaylen¡¯s sharp eyes followed every crack, every pulse of mana collapsing inward. He wasn¡¯t merely watching the end of the subspace¡ªhe was studying the currents of mana surging within, as they dissipated into nothingness. ¡®So, this is how it works...¡¯ He had felt awe when he first encountered this subspace. As someone who prided himself on mastering Infinity, he couldn¡¯t help but admire the technique. But awe alone wouldn¡¯t suffice. If this level of mastery were possible, there was no reason he couldn¡¯t achieve it as well. After all, Emperor Ernstine himself was regarded as the foremost authority on Infinity. Rumble. The space¡¯s collapse reached its climax, its edges closing in rapidly. ¡°Master, we¡¯re out of time! We need to leave now!¡± Drake howled, its panic now impossible to hide. As the space began to vanish and the world around them closed in, Drake¡¯s usually composed tone grew terse. Kaylen, noticing his anxiety, spoke calmly. ¡°What¡¯s the rush?¡± ¡°This place is closing in!¡± Drake replied, his voice sharp with panic. ¡°And if it doesn¡¯t close?¡± Kaylen asked, unfazed. ¡°It is closing! Look at it¡ªthe entire space is disappearing before our eyes!¡± Kaylen ignored Drake¡¯s frantic tone and crouched, pressing his hand to the ground. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll just make sure it doesn¡¯t disappear.¡± Thud. The narrowing space froze in place. ¡°And if I do this, it stops...¡± Whoosh. Golden mana began to rise from the ground, glowing like radiant flames. The subspace, which had been collapsing, began to expand. ¡°And if I do this, it grows.¡± Drake, stunned, stammered, ¡°H-How is that even possible?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple once you know how,¡± Kaylen replied nonchalantly as he observed the restored space. Rumble. Drake exclaimed again, ¡°Wait! It¡¯s shrinking again!¡± ¡°Your sentences are getting shorter,¡± Kaylen noted with amusement. ¡°...It¡¯s shrinking!¡± Drake corrected himself, though still frantic. ¡°I¡¯m adjusting the size,¡± Kaylen said casually. He repeatedly expanded and contracted the space, refining its proportions. Eventually, he settled on a space roughly half its original size. ¡®This is the most efficient scale,¡¯ Kaylen thought, considering his current mana reserves. Satisfied with the restructured subspace, Kaylen turned to Drake. ¡°Do you want to stay here?¡± ¡°Here...?¡± Drake asked, incredulous. ¡°Yes. Weren¡¯t you already living in a subspace before this?¡± Kaylen countered. In the outside world, Drake¡ªa species believed to be extinct¡ªwould attract far too much attention if spotted, especially in his juvenile state. However... ¡°Uh... Couldn¡¯t I leave instead? This place feels a bit...¡± Drake trailed off hesitantly. ¡°Hmmm...¡± ¡°I¡¯ll behave! I¡¯ll use proper formal speech! Please, Master, just let me out!¡± Drake pleaded, practically groveling. ¡°Is that so?¡± Kaylen mused. ¡°Yes! Absolutely!¡± ¡°Well, there is one way,¡± Kaylen said, standing and placing his hand on Drake¡¯s horn. ¡°You saw earlier, didn¡¯t you? How I made the space grow and shrink?¡± ¡°Yes...¡± ¡°Who says that method only works on space?¡± Just as Kaylen had manipulated the subspace through the power of Infinity, he could apply the same principle to entities within its influence¡ªlike Drake. ¡°What...?¡± Drake hesitated, uneasy. ¡°This might hurt a bit. Endure it,¡± Kaylen said, his voice devoid of sympathy. Whiiirrr. Golden light enveloped Kaylen¡¯s hand, radiating an intense energy. ¡°Grrr... GRAAAH!¡± Drake¡¯s agonized roar reverberated throughout the space, echoing like a storm. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 58 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 58 ¡°What in the world is going on here?¡± Standing before the painting of Starn, Alves¡¯s expression was frozen, rigid with shock. He had only intended to calm his restless thoughts by looking at the artwork, but suddenly, a group of people burst out from within the painting, leaving him utterly bewildered. ¡°A... Father...¡± ¡°...Father?¡± One of the individuals¡ªwho was visibly shaken¡ªcalled him ¡°Father,¡± which only added to Alves¡¯s confusion. The speaker was a black-haired young man covered in red tattoos. Alves could say with certainty: he had no such son. ¡°I-I¡¯m Royen!¡± ¡°What nonsense is this? Royen is just a child.¡± ¡°Ah... well, that¡¯s... uh... it¡¯s complicated...¡± Royen stammered in response to Alves¡¯s perfectly reasonable question, struggling to explain. Even Royen himself wasn¡¯t entirely sure what had happened. After losing consciousness, he awoke to find his appearance completely transformed. What more could he say? As he faltered, Kaylen emerged smoothly from the painting. ¡°Father, you¡¯re here,¡± Kaylen said, walking forward with his usual composed demeanor. ¡°Kaylen. What on earth is happening? This young man claims to be Royen...¡± ¡°It¡¯s true. He is Royen.¡± ¡°What...?¡± ¡°And this corpse here is Ruhos. The woman over there, barely clinging to life, is the Baroness.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Alves¡¯s eyes widened in shock as he quickly looked down at the figures Kaylen had indicated. The limp, blackened corpse lying there¡ªit truly was Ruhos. Initially, he had doubted it, but a closer look confirmed the truth. ¡°What... what in the world has happened here?¡± Kaylen proceeded to give Alves a brief summary of the events that had occurred inside the painting. The subspace within the painting, the demonic relics, and the story involving Drake¡ªall of it left Alves speechless. ¡°Ruhos... was after that painting this entire time? Not the Baron¡¯s estate?¡± ¡°His greed got the better of him,¡± Kaylen replied calmly. ¡°Still... for Ruhos to die...! This is a catastrophe. The Count¡¯s household won¡¯t leave us alone when they find out...¡± Though Ruhos had served as Baldur¡¯s steward, he was also a member of the family by blood. The fact that he had died in Starn, a vassal household, would undoubtedly lead to the Count¡¯s estate demanding accountability. Alves¡¯s face darkened with worry. ¡°There¡¯s no need to concern yourself. I¡¯ll handle it,¡± Kaylen said. ¡°How do you intend to handle this?¡± ¡°I have my ways. However...¡± ¡°However?¡± ¡°Give me that painting.¡± ¡°The painting?¡± Alves asked, his expression puzzled. The painting had always been a treasured heirloom of their household. However, with its true nature revealed as a demonic relic¡ªand after all the havoc it had caused¡ªit now seemed more like a cursed object. And yet, Kaylen wanted it. ¡°Yes. I need it for something,¡± Kaylen replied. "...Understood." When Alves gave his consent, Kaylen placed his hand on the painting. Whoosh¡ª The painting glowed with a golden light and, in an instant, shrank to the size of a palm. "How...?" Alves gaped in astonishment, his mouth agape. Kaylen offered no explanation, instead pointing a finger toward the baroness. "Royen." "Y-Yes?" "Do you want to save your mother?" "Yes! Please, save her. I beg you!" Kaylen looked at Royen carefully. The boy¡¯s body had been drastically altered within the demon artifact, maturing at an unnatural pace. While he had unexpectedly awakened a talent for fire magic, his condition was precarious, and it was unclear when his body might deteriorate. "I¡¯ll need to keep an eye on him." Under normal circumstances, Kaylen wouldn¡¯t have cared about the safety of his half-brother. But things were different now. A capable descendant of the Meier lineage was worth preserving. Kaylen held up three fingers. "Three years. Assist me for three years." ¡°Be mindful,¡± Kaylen replied coldly. ¡°And... Ruhos ending up like this has nothing to do with us,¡± Zaik continued hastily. ¡°Think about it¡ªif we were behind Ruhos, why would we bring servants along? There would¡¯ve been no need to prepare for Lioness¡¯s arrival either.¡± Zaik desperately tried to explain, while Kaylen, arms crossed, listened at his leisure. The difference in who held the upper hand was stark. From a distance, Baron Alves watched the exchange with a dazed expression. ¡®So that¡¯s what authority looks like...¡¯ Alves couldn¡¯t help but reflect on how he¡¯d treated Ruhos. He worried¡ªwhat if the Count¡¯s household blamed them? What if they demanded accountability for Ruhos¡¯s death? But those fears that had plagued him since yesterday vanished entirely, thanks to Kaylen. ¡®Kaylen is living in an entirely different world now.¡¯ Kaylen had once been indifferent to the Starn family, paying it no mind. His behavior now was so different that Alves had wondered if it was all an act. But now he understood. Kaylen and the Starns¡ªthey were no longer comparable. ¡°...Hearing your explanation, I understand,¡± Kaylen finally said, breaking the silence. ¡°G-good. Thank you.¡± ¡°Then, we will wait for the baroness to awaken and see if she knows anything. Meanwhile, I¡¯d like you to investigate Ruhos¡¯s corpse.¡± ¡°Understood. First, we¡¯ll need to move it out of here...¡± ¡°Fly,¡± Kaylen commanded, stretching his hand out. Ruhos¡¯s body floated into the air, suspended as if weightless. ¡°I¡¯ll place it outside for now. Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°...Alright.¡± Kaylen led the way as Ruhos¡¯s lifeless form hovered behind him, leaving the hall. One by one, the servants of the Baldur Count¡¯s household followed suit, shuffling out. After all, a hall tainted with dark mana was no place to prepare for a reception. Once the room cleared, a small head peeked out from the stairs leading to the upper floor. ¡°...Are they all gone?¡± Royen whispered to himself. He stepped out cautiously, his eyes wide with awe. ¡°Amazing... To see Lord Zaik flustered like that...¡± Having been raised under the Baldur Count¡¯s tutelage, Royen knew exactly where Zaik stood in the family hierarchy. Zaik was the only Meister among the Count¡¯s direct descendants and the most beloved by the Count himself. In the Baldur household, no one dared oppose him. And yet, Kaylen had made such a figure bow his head. At that moment, a tiny, dragonfly-sized creature flitted out of Royen¡¯s cloak. Flap, flap. ¡°Ugh. That was suffocating,¡± a small voice muttered. ¡°Ah! You can¡¯t come out¡ªDragon!¡± Royen gasped, panicking. -"No one''s here. It''s fine." "Still!" Royen called out to the creature he referred to as Dragon. Despite its minuscule size, it resembled a Drake perfectly. -"You... you stink. It''s so suffocating." "Well, I couldn''t bathe! I¡¯ve been hiding, you know!" -"Ugh, this body is suffocating." The small Drake glared at its own body in dissatisfaction. Kaylen had used the Infinity''s size-modifying ability to shrink it down even further. "Dragon! Please, hurry up and come inside! What if someone sees you?" -"My senses are sharp. No one can deceive me. There''s no one around right now." Flap, flap. The tiny Drake puffed out its chest proudly, and though it was cute in its miniature form, Royen only felt anxious. "Come on! Please, hurry!" He fretted. "What if someone catches us?" -"It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s fine..." Suddenly, the Drake stopped midair. -"Huh? Huh?" Royen looked closer, surprised to see small threads binding the creature. -"Ah! What is this? Let go!" "...What is this?" Thud. Thud. At the end of the hallway, a large, furry ball bounced toward them, rolling like a ball. From within the fur, two glowing eyes gleamed ominously. Royen instinctively dropped to the ground in fright. "Hi¡ªhiiiiiik!" "...Is that... is that a Drake?" [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 59 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 59 Suddenly, A face popped out from the fur. Royen¡¯s mouth hung open as he stared at it. ¡°Wow.¡± It was a beauty he had never seen in his life. Though it was eerie to see a face abruptly sticking out of a bundle of fur, the appearance itself was so stunning that it left no room for other thoughts. ¡ªLet go. Let go! ¡°This is a Drake, right?¡± Myorn asked Royen with a serious expression. However, Royen, still gaping in a daze, didn¡¯t snap out of it until Myorn pinched his cheek hard with the fur. Pinch¡ª ¡°Ow!¡± ¡°Get a hold of yourself.¡± ¡°Uh, it¡¯s just that...¡± ¡ªTh-this fur... Why is it so strong?! The Drake struggled and spoke, but the person in front of him didn¡¯t seem to hear a word. ¡®He said only I would hear it...¡¯ It was just as Kaylen had described. ¡°Answer the question.¡± Myorn pressed Royen for a response. Royen alternated his gaze between the Drake and Myorn before tightly shutting his mouth. He had already been caught hiding, so answering the question would be too much. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°You seem like you do.¡± ¡°I really don¡¯t know.¡± Royen¡¯s stubborn refusal to admit anything made Myorn¡¯s brow furrow. ¡°...Fine. Then, since you don¡¯t know, I¡¯ll just take a closer look at that thing.¡± Swish¡ª The fur extended again, drawing closer to the Drake. ¡°No, don¡¯t!¡± Royen reached out urgently toward the Drake. At that moment, as his hand touched the Drake¡ª Whoosh¡ª A small pattern appeared on the dragon¡¯s scales, and the fur binding the Drake instantly caught fire. Simultaneously, the Drake¡¯s size grew from that of a dragonfly to about a sparrow. ¡ªOh... Oh? I¡¯ve grown? But it doesn¡¯t hurt...? Meanwhile, the pattern etched on the Drake¡¯s body transformed into a magic circle. Upon seeing this, Myorn¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°...That magic circle!¡± Swish¡ª The fur extended like spiderwebs in all directions. ¡°That! I need to inspect it closely!¡± The incoming fur elicited a strong reaction from the Drake. ¡ªThat thing¡¯s trying to catch me, isn¡¯t it? I¡¯ll burn all the fur! ¡°W-wait a moment...!¡± Caught in the middle, Royen could neither do anything nor back away. ¡°Ice Shield.¡± An icy barrier formed, surrounding the Drake as a shield. "What are you doing?" "Kaylen..." Kaylen stepped steadily up the stairs. His presence alone caused the tense atmosphere, which seemed on the verge of clashing, to settle momentarily. "Kaylen, that Drake... What is it?" "It''s something I acquired last night." "Last night?" "Yes." When Kaylen explained how he had obtained the Drake from inside a painting, Myorn bit his lip. "It was originally a giant Drake?" "Yes." "The magic circle engraved on its body¡ªcan I examine it?" "Magic circle?" If it was the magic circle on the Drake, it should have melted into his sword and disappeared. Kaylen tilted his head in puzzlement as he dispelled the Ice Shield. "Hmm. The magic circle has reappeared." "It showed up when that guy touched it." The powerful magic unleashed by the dwarf Meisters would lose its potency the moment it approached the vicinity of the magic circle. Overwhelmed by the anti-magic properties of the magic circle, the dwarves were helpless. "Fire and earth elemental powers were slightly more resistant... but even then, their effectiveness was drastically reduced." "..." "No matter what we tried, we couldn¡¯t stop the Drakes. The inside of the fortress became a living hell." Kaylen¡¯s gaze rested on the magic circle engraved on the Drake. It was the same magic circle he had frequently encountered during the Demon King Subjugation War. The magic circle''s effects were clear: it enlarged monsters and endowed them with formidable anti-magic capabilities. However, during the Demon King Subjugation War, it hadn¡¯t been a significant obstacle. Back then, monsters marked with these magic circles were relatively easy to deal with. ¡®The Dragon Knights disposed of them effortlessly.¡¯ Mounted on Drakes, Dragon Knights of Master-level expertise easily vanquished such monsters. While their anti-magic resistance was strong, they were notably weak against aura-based attacks. Once the magic circle was torn, the monsters would collapse rapidly. Even in the absence of powerful knights, high-level mages offered an effective alternative. Low-circle magic spells were ineffective, but magic of the sixth circle or higher was potent enough to deal substantial damage. ¡®The Holy See¡¯s forces were effective as well.¡¯ The Holy See¡¯s Paladins and Priests also proved highly effective against these monsters. ¡®But the current situation is different.¡¯ Knighthood had fallen. With the atmospheric mana greatly diminished, warriors capable of reaching the Master level no longer existed. Moreover, as magicians displayed overwhelming dominance in dungeon subjugations, mana suit research focused primarily on supporting their needs. Even if monsters marked with magic circles were vulnerable to aura, it wasn¡¯t enough¡ªordinary experts could not surpass the limits of human capability. ¡®An expert-level warrior cannot take on a flying Drake.¡¯ Then, what about high-level magicians? None remained. The pursuit of breaking dungeon cores led to a focus on single-element mastery, and Meisters became the norm within magical academia. High-circle magicians, capable of wielding diverse and advanced magic, vanished. Everyone strived to become Meisters, specializing in stronger single-element spells. And what about the last resort? ¡°Were there no Paladins or Priests within the fortress?¡± ¡°Paladins? Paladins disappeared long ago. As for Priests... they weren¡¯t exactly abundant either.¡± No Paladins? Kaylen furrowed his brows. The lack of forces capable of countering monsters marked by magic circles was glaring. In this era, no adequate defense existed against them. ¡®...Mana suits are remarkable inventions, no doubt.¡¯ Mana suits and Meisters were indispensable for humanity¡¯s survival, designed to combat dungeon cores. But these advancements had inadvertently constrained humanity¡¯s potential. Both swordsmanship and magic had stagnated. Everyone aspired to become a Meister, and society revolved around mana suits and their wielders. ¡°Myorn.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°If Drakes were to invade this kingdom today as they did back then... do you think they could be stopped?¡± Myorn¡¯s fur shook in denial. ¡°No. It¡¯s impossible. Even with an S-class mana suit capable of piercing the magic circles, a single individual couldn¡¯t possibly fend off so many dragons.¡± ¡°Hm.¡± If the Black Anvil Tribe, with all its might, had been overwhelmed, then the Bormian Kingdom, with its scattered forces, stood no chance. ¡®This kingdom is even more vulnerable than the Black Anvil Tribe was.¡¯ The conditions were perfect for the magic circle to exhibit its devastating potential. It would be nearly impossible to stop the Drake forces once they fully mobilized. ...This couldn¡¯t simply be a coincidence. Kaylen recalled the word ¡°Colony¡± he had seen in the dungeon core fragments. Could it be...? ¡°Myorn.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve heard this story. I¡¯ve never encountered it in the Academy, either.¡± ¡°Why wasn¡¯t this made known? If it had been, precautions could have been taken. The exclusive development of mana suits for magicians might have been avoided.¡± ¡°...Due to an oath, it couldn¡¯t be shared with the public.¡± ¡°An oath? With whom?¡± Myorn remained silent, as if even the oath prohibited her from answering. ¡°The Fairy¡¯s Magic Tower?¡± ¡°Or... the kingdom?¡± Flinch. Her mouth stayed shut, but her fur twitched instinctively¡ªan unmistakable sign of affirmation. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 60 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 60 The day after a death occurred within the Starn family, Kaylen met with Lioness by the lakeside. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Kaylen. Good to see you.¡± ¡°It has been a while.¡± ¡°Please, have a seat.¡± A luxurious table, seemingly brought from somewhere, had been elegantly set up. As Kaylen sat down, Lioness lifted a wine glass with a smile. ¡°Even if unpleasant things have happened, the atmosphere here is still quite charming. It¡¯s a beautiful view. Let¡¯s start with a toast, shall we?¡± ¡°What brings you all the way out here?¡± Kaylen asked. ¡°You¡¯re quite direct. Straight to the point, I see.¡± With a light clink, Lioness placed his wine glass down, savoring the taste before speaking slowly. ¡°Let me be frank. Kaylen, will you join the Second Prince¡¯s faction?¡± As expected, this was the reason for the meeting. Whether it was the First Prince or the Second, who became king was a matter Kaylen had little interest in. ¡°As you know, I belong to the Fairy Tower. The Tower maintains strict neutrality.¡± ¡°I¡¯m aware. But that¡¯s merely the Tower¡¯s official stance. It doesn¡¯t mean they control the personal political views of their members.¡± ¡°I, too, intend to remain neutral. I have no interest in the royal succession dispute.¡± When Kaylen¡¯s response remained firm, Lioness gave a faint smile. ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t expect you to agree right away. But since you¡¯re here, at least hear me out.¡± ¡°Kaylen, how much do you know about the First Prince?¡± Kaylen searched his memory. While he had heard much about Princess Violet, the de facto leader of the First Prince¡¯s faction, he knew little about the First Prince himself. ¡°It seems you don¡¯t know much. You haven¡¯t even met him, have you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°As expected. You see, the First Prince...¡± Lioness lightly tapped his temple. ¡°He¡¯s a fool.¡± ¡°A fool?¡± ¡°Yes, his mind remains as underdeveloped as a child¡¯s.¡± Lioness drained his wine glass and continued. ¡°To be fair, the First Prince¡¯s position is impeccable. He¡¯s the eldest son, his mother was the former queen from the powerful House of Duke Revrin... Under normal circumstances, our ties to the Second Prince wouldn¡¯t even give us a chance in the succession race.¡± ¡°But he¡¯s utterly unfit to rule. Especially considering the current state of the kingdom, we need a ruler with sound judgment.¡± Lioness¡¯s argument carried some merit. However, Kaylen simply shook his head. ¡°Even if the First Prince is a fool, my stance remains unchanged.¡± Kaylen had never intended to involve himself in the royal succession battle. After witnessing Drake and the demonic magic circle from the Otherworld, his resolve had only strengthened. It didn¡¯t matter who ascended to the throne. ¡®If the Dragon Legion, which annihilated the Black Anvil Tribe, reappears, this kingdom will fall.¡¯ The current system, which focused exclusively on supporting magic, was incapable of overcoming the demonic magic circle¡¯s threat. What the kingdom needed was a paradigm shift. Choosing between the First and Second Princes would be a waste of time. ¡°Haha, of course, I¡¯m not asking for your support just because the First Prince is a fool,¡± Lioness said with a chuckle. Lioness offered Kaylen an extraordinary proposal: ¡°It would be shameless to ask a talent who has demonstrated the potential of a 6th Circle mage without something to offer in return. I promise unwavering support.¡± He laid out lavish terms¡ªa massive amount of gold, countless mana stones, a custom mana suit, and the support of the Civil Squad, all without conditions. It was an offer tempting enough to sway almost anyone, but... ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± Kaylen, who had received similar overtures from the Tower Lords of the Fairy Tower, declined outright. Lioness, however, appeared unfazed, as though he had anticipated the rejection. He raised another finger, adding to the offer. ¡°In addition, I¡¯ll promise you a title and territory.¡± ¡°In this day and age, such things hardly hold much meaning.¡± ¡°I was under the impression that the Fairy Tower has always desired independent territory.¡± ¡°That¡¯s merely the Tower¡¯s position, not mine.¡± On the day Myorn left the clan, her determination was unyielding. ¡°Myorn, are you really not going to ride the Drake?¡± ¡°I cannot ride behind the creature responsible for our clan¡¯s destruction,¡± Myorn replied firmly. Meanwhile, the conversation shifted between Kaylen and his allies. ¡°Lord Kaylen, are you truly going to ride the Drake?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Kaylen affirmed without hesitation. ¡°Wow!¡± exclaimed Alkas, his voice brimming with excitement. ''A Drake!'' Alkas recalled his days at the Knight Academy, where he had stared in awe at a taxidermied Drake, dreaming of one day riding such a majestic creature. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that day would come. ¡°Did you say your farewells to your mother?¡± Kaylen asked. ¡°Yes, my lord. Although...¡± While Alkas was buzzing with excitement, Royen stood silently, his expression dark. ¡°I said my farewells, but... she still can¡¯t believe it.¡± "Does she not believe you''re Royen?" "Yes. Not just that... She sleeps most of the time, and when she wakes, she screams... Her mind is not well." After Zaik Baldur managed to calm Ruhos and left, Kaylen kept his promise to remove the lingering dark mana from the baroness. While the baroness regained her senses soon after, a troubling issue emerged. ¡ª"You... Who are you?" ¡ª"You claim to be Royen? That... That¡¯s impossible!" ¡ª"My child had beautiful silver hair... not like this monster!" The moment she saw Royen''s current appearance, she had a violent fit and collapsed. She despised the sight of him and began searching elsewhere for her "real" son. It was a devastating blow. The mother who had once been his greatest source of love and trust now denied his very existence. ¡ª"I¡¯ll care for your mother, so don¡¯t worry. Go and follow your brother." ¡ª"...Yes." The baron, Starn, stepped in to console Royen, but the weight of his mother¡¯s rejection lingered heavily. Kaylen placed a comforting hand on Royen¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry too much. The dark mana is gone from her body now. In time, she will recover, and her mind will return to normal.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Royen replied softly. ¡°At times like this, flying can clear your thoughts. Royen, let¡¯s grow the Drake.¡± At Kaylen¡¯s suggestion, Royen focused, and the small sparrow-sized Drake began to grow. It rapidly expanded, regaining its original majestic size. ¡°Wow!¡± ¡ªKrrrrr! ¡°Don¡¯t stand up. Stay seated so you can ride comfortably,¡± Kaylen instructed. ¡ª"Yes!" The Drake lowered its body, and Kaylen leapt onto its neck, securing his position near the nape. ¡°Climb on,¡± he beckoned. ¡°...Where should I sit?¡± Royen asked hesitantly. ¡°Hm. Fly.¡± The Drake¡¯s body was too large to climb without assistance, so Kaylen used a levitation spell to lift both Royen and Alkas onto its back. Meanwhile, Myorn, who had been tense and wary ever since the Drake began to grow, was now staring intently at the magnificent creature. "Myorn, we¡¯ll be off now. See you in the capital," Kaylen said with a wave. ¡°...W-Wait!¡± As Kaylen bid his farewell, Myorn suddenly extended her tendrils to latch onto the Drake. ¡°I... I want to ride too!¡± ¡°I thought it was the enemy of your clan?¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly why. It¡¯s an enemy, so I need to study it up close!¡± Laughing, Kaylen used his levitation spell once more to bring Myorn onto the Drake. ¡°Alright, then. Let¡¯s go.¡± With that, the Drake spread its massive wings, letting out a powerful roar, and soared into the skies [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] . Chapter 61 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 61 Dungeon Guild - Alzass Branch The branch manager, Krundal, couldn¡¯t hide his astonishment as he looked at the dungeon cores Kaylen had brought. ¡°This... How many are there?¡± Dungeon cores were piled like a mountain on the branch manager¡¯s desk. Each core was substantial in size, making it impossible to estimate their total value. ¡°I¡¯ve been to a few dungeons.¡± ¡°Truly... This is an overwhelming amount.¡± ¡°Is it that much? Is it beyond your capacity to handle, Branch Manager?¡± At Kaylen¡¯s question, Krundal swallowed hard. ¡®I need to answer carefully.¡¯ The profit from dealing dungeon cores with Kaylen had been significant. If he claimed this amount was unmanageable, he couldn¡¯t predict what might happen next. ¡°This amount is certainly within our capacity. However... due to the sheer value, it might take a few days to process.¡± Krundal wiped the sweat forming on his brow and replied confidently, despite his nerves. Kaylen, observing Krundal¡¯s demeanor, thought to himself: ¡®Even the branch manager seems to find handling this volume personally difficult.¡¯ Well, it doesn¡¯t have to be all in gold. Kaylen then posed a question to the branch manager. ¡°If it¡¯s hard to prepare the funds immediately, could you help me find an estate?¡± ¡°An estate, you say? Of course, that¡¯s possible.¡± Had anyone else asked, Krundal might have snapped at them, asking how they dared request such a thing from a branch manager. However, the immense value of the dungeon cores Kaylen brought made him feel rather grateful for the suggestion. ¡°Are you looking for an estate in the South River District?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯d prefer a location in the outskirts of the capital, on high ground, with a spacious garden. Actually, a training ground would be even better than a garden.¡± ¡°High ground... with a training ground, you say?¡± Krundal asked, somewhat surprised. Most Meisters sought estates in the central districts, equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories. Yet Kaylen specifically wanted a place in the outskirts, on elevated terrain. ¡®I need a secure place for the drake.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t feasible to have a massive drake taking off and landing in a bustling city center. However, Kaylen didn¡¯t intend to move completely out of reach either. ¡®I need to secure a suitable location where the drake can appear whenever necessary.¡¯ ¡°How large of an estate are you considering?¡± ¡°The bigger, the better. If needed, you can use all these dungeon cores.¡± ¡°Using all of this... Understood.¡± A spacious estate on high ground. Krundal committed Kaylen¡¯s requirements to memory and nodded. With the matter of payment settled, Kaylen picked up one of the dungeon cores. ¡°By the way, while clearing the dungeon this time, I came across something unusual.¡± [Colony - Caution] Kaylen handed over a dungeon core with demonic script inscribed on it. ¡°Hmm... Please wait a moment.¡± Krundal pulled a book from his shelf. It was a Demonic Language Dictionary. He carefully matched the letters. ¡°It translates to ¡®Colony¡¯ and ¡®Caution.¡¯ Hmm...¡± ¡°Why would such text appear?¡± ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve encountered such a case. There is a hypothesis within the guild regarding the word ¡®Colony,¡¯ but...¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Kaylen wasn¡¯t the first to discover the letters inscribed on the dungeon core. Despite how fragmented the cores were, making the text hard to discern, stacking countless shards together eventually revealed the characters. ¡°In simple terms, the hypothesis is that ¡®the dungeon portals sent from the Otherworld are devices meant to establish colonies in the middle realm.¡¯¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°When Emperor Ernstine unified the continent, every part of it was purely human territory... but after the dungeon portals appeared, less than half remains under human control.¡± As Krundal touched the crystal orb on his desk, a map of the continent appeared. Half of the large continent was shaded in black. The blackened areas were not contiguous but scattered independently across the land. Among them was the Gigantes Mountain Range, Myorn¡¯s homeland. ¡°These areas are presumed to have fallen and become colonies after failing to withstand the dungeon portals. Just as the dungeon cores suggest, they may have been converted into colonies.¡± ¡°Fortunately, the Dungeon Guild emerged and began managing the situation, preserving the remaining regions. But... I¡¯ve never seen letters like this before.¡± Krundal, who had been carefully studying the inscription, spoke again. ¡°May I report this to the main office? They might have some insight.¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Thank you. Then, if you return in five days, I will have more information on the estate.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll see you then.¡± After Kaylen left the branch manager¡¯s office, Krundal continued to examine the letters on the dungeon core and touched the crystal orb once more. Kaylen lightly activated his six-sword technique. Beneath his clothes, six faintly glowing swords appeared on his back. The glow was so subtle that an ordinary person wouldn¡¯t notice. However, anyone with sword aptitude would sense the presence of the swords immediately. Royen, on the other hand, simply blinked, staring blankly at Kaylen without reacting. "You don''t have the talent for swordsmanship." Kaylen dismissed the six-sword aura and let it fade. Even if Royen didn¡¯t possess sword aptitude, Kaylen could still teach him if necessary. But his attention shifted to Royen¡¯s skin. "Royen." "Yes, Brother?" "When you look at the red tattoos on your body, what do you think?" "...They¡¯re disgusting. I get startled every time I see them in the mirror." His hair had turned black, and his body was covered in red tattoos. Each time he washed himself, the sight of them gave him a jolt. ¡®It¡¯s no wonder Mother couldn¡¯t recognize me...¡¯ "Is that so? When the dark magic within you was removed, those tattoos could have been erased as well." "Re-really?" "It¡¯s still possible now." "Then, can you¡ª?" "But those tattoos contain powerful mana of fire." Royen, on the verge of asking for their immediate removal, hesitated at Kaylen¡¯s words. "If you ever dream of becoming a Meister, those tattoos will be a great source of strength for you." "A M-Meister? Me?" "Yes. What others desperately crave¡ªa unique elemental mana¡ªyou already possess within you." "Me, a Meister? But Father always said I was talentless..." Royen recalled the disdainful remarks of Baron Starn, his father. "It¡¯s hopeless, Royen." "That can¡¯t be! Dear, give him just a bit more time!" "What¡¯s impossible is impossible. He has no talent for magic." The ability his father had completely dismissed... now Kaylen was suggesting he could surpass a mere mage and become a Meister? It felt unreal. "Your father, huh? At least he must¡¯ve taught you the basics of magic." "Yes." "What about mana circle formation?" "I failed... I couldn¡¯t form a proper ring." Tap. Kaylen placed his hand on Royen¡¯s arm and sent a small flow of mana into his body, examining him closely. ¡®Hmm... this might be...¡¯ After contemplating, Kaylen finally spoke. "Royen, try casting magic." "Wh-what? But I don¡¯t even have a mana circle." "Just follow me outside." Kaylen led a bewildered Royen out of the workshop. Outside, Kaylen began to teach him a basic first-circle spell, Fire Arrow. However, his method deviated significantly from conventional practices. "Fire Arrow." First, Kaylen summoned a blazing arrow of fire, letting it hover in the air. "Now, think about summoning it exactly like this." He didn¡¯t instruct Royen to rotate a mana circle or follow the usual techniques. He merely extended his hand and told Royen to think about it. "Just... think?" "Exactly." Can magic really manifest from just thinking about it? Though Royen was skeptical, he decided to follow the instructions. ¡®Come on, fire. Fire arrow, fire arrow, appear!¡¯ He stretched out his hand, focusing his thoughts, and¡ª Fwoosh! A flaming arrow, almost identical to Kaylen¡¯s, appeared in midair. "Wh-what?!?" Startled, Royen stumbled back and fell to the ground. "What... what is this?!?" Unlike the panicked Royen, Kaylen¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡®As I thought... he¡¯s using magic like a demon.¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 62 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 62 The Demon Race Demons, rulers of the Netherworld, come in various forms but often resemble humans to a considerable degree. Each possesses immense strength, and among them, the highest-ranking demons are so powerful that only beings like Ernstine or angels can stand against them. ¡®One of the reasons for the overwhelming power of demons lies in their ability to use non-incantation magic.¡¯ Demons can unleash potent magic without chanting spells, activating triggers, or rotating mana circles. As a result, whenever they deliberately cast magic, the surrounding area is often left in utter devastation. ¡®I¡¯ve fought demons before, but none of them ever drew power from tattoos like these... Could this unique tattoo be tied to a way of wielding power similar to that of demons?¡¯ "Royen, let¡¯s try again." "Yes, Brother!" Now brimming with confidence, Royen eagerly followed Kaylen¡¯s instructions and began casting various spells. However, his limitations quickly became evident. "Hmm, it seems you can¡¯t cast spells of other elements. And it¡¯s restricted to only first-circle magic..." "I-I¡¯m sorry." "There¡¯s no need to apologize. You¡¯ve barely learned magic yet." Royen could cast first-circle spells with exceptional power, far stronger than usual. However, he couldn¡¯t manifest second-circle spells or higher. ¡®His understanding of the elements is still lacking. That makes it difficult to cast higher-circle spells.¡¯ Still, Kaylen believed that with dedicated study of magic, Royen might eventually achieve the ability to use more advanced spells. "Royen, how¡¯s your body holding up?" "I¡¯m fine. The tattoos feel a bit warm, but it¡¯s nothing serious." Looking at the glowing red tattoos on his hands and feet, Royen was amazed. To think he could use magic, something he had always believed to be beyond him. Even more impressive was the Fire Arrow he had just cast¡ªit appeared far larger and more powerful than the one his father had used in the past. ¡®Could I... really become a Meister?¡¯ Unable to hide his excitement, Royen¡¯s face lit up. Seeing this, Kaylen asked him, "What about the tattoos? What do you want to do with them?" "Ah... I owe my ability to use magic to these tattoos, don¡¯t I?" "That¡¯s right. By now, you¡¯ve probably realized the potential they hold." "Yes..." "These tattoos are your key to becoming the greatest Meister of fire. They¡¯re worth keeping. But if they trouble you, I can remove them. The choice is yours." Would he keep the tattoos and pursue the path of becoming a fire Meister? Or would he erase them and return to being someone without talent? Royen didn¡¯t take long to decide. "I... I¡¯ll keep them." Many people would give anything to become a Meister. To let something as minor as the discomfort of a tattoo hold him back from that goal would be foolish. Seeing Royen¡¯s resolve, Kaylen nodded. ¡®I should entrust him to Myorn.¡¯ As someone skilled in handling fire spirits, Myorn would make an excellent teacher. With this in mind, Kaylen brought Royen to her. "You want me to teach him? But I don¡¯t know how to use human magic," Myorn said, her fur twitching in disinterest. "Your abilities are based on spirit magic, but as a member of the Magic Tower, you must have some knowledge of conventional magic." "Sorry, but I¡¯ve never been interested in anything beyond spirit magic... You know how fundamentally different it is." "I see. It wouldn¡¯t be ideal to entrust his education to just anyone, though." Due to the unique nature of Royen''s tattoos, it was difficult to entrust his education to just anyone. The responsibility required someone trustworthy. ¡®Baron Starn chose to remain in his territory to care for his wife...¡¯ With the baron in seclusion, Kaylen had no other reliable mage he could count on. Teaching Royen himself was also out of the question, as Kaylen lacked the time. As Kaylen pondered the matter, Alkas, who was watching nearby, spoke up. "Master, does the mage teaching Royen need to be highly skilled?" "Not necessarily. At this stage, he only needs to learn the basics. Someone capable of simple demonstrations will suffice." "In that case... My younger sister has just been accepted into the Magic Academy. Would her level of skill be enough?" "Your sister?" "If I assist with this research, you¡¯ll fulfill your part of the deal, correct?" "Of course." "Great. I¡¯ll come to the lab, then." Clearly in a hurry due to her desire for spirit magic, Irene readily accepted Kaylen¡¯s proposal. "By the way, I heard you¡¯re here to replace your guardian." "Yes, it¡¯s out of mana." "Already out?!" How could he have used up all its mana so quickly? Irene was visibly surprised. "Technically, guardians are meant for dungeon expeditions... Did you use it for something else?" "Primarily for dungeon expeditions." He had also used it to assist Myorn¡¯s spirit magic training, but there was no need to mention that. As Kaylen replied, Irene alternated her gaze between him and his boots before nodding. "Understood. Follow me to the underground chamber." She led him to the underground cavern where the guardians were kept. Upon arrival, Irene frowned as her eyes landed on an elf. The man had his right ear cut off and a black patch covering his right eye¡ªEldir. "Brother." Even as Irene called out to him, Eldir, with his eyes half-closed, only nodded lazily. The strong scent of alcohol wafted off him as usual. Irene walked up to him and leaned in to shout softly in his ear. "Brother!" "Uh... Oh, Irene. You¡¯re here?" "What are you doing here?!" "I heard our human friend was visiting. Someone¡¯s gotta welcome him. Heh." Eldir gave Kaylen a sly wink and a smirk. ¡®So both siblings seem to have plenty of free time.¡¯ As Kaylen mused on this, Eldir staggered toward him, his gaze fixed on Kaylen¡¯s boots. "Wow. How¡¯d you burn through all the mana already?" Eldir¡¯s gaze, despite his hazy eyes, remained fixed on the guardian boots. "You¡¯re here to swap the mana suit, right? Hand it over." When Kaylen passed the guardian boots to him, Eldir reached out and muttered: "Master authority: deactivation." -Temporary Master authority has been revoked The boots in Kaylen¡¯s hand dissolved into water. Swish... The guardian disassembled into a gemstone and countless droplets of water, which floated to the space where other guardians were displayed. There, it reformed into its original boot shape. "Ahhh..." Gulp, gulp. Eldir took a swig from his flask with one hand while fiddling with the guardian boots with the other. His half-lidded eyes slowly drifted shut. Nod... nod... Rather than inspecting the guardian, he appeared to be falling asleep. Seeing this, Irene sighed heavily and approached him. "Ugh... Brother?" Shake, shake. As Irene tried to rouse him by shaking his shoulder¡ª Saaahhhhh... A chilling sensation swept through the room, prickling at Kaylen¡¯s spine. But it wasn¡¯t merely cold¡ªit was sharper, more menacing. ¡®This...¡¯ A razor-sharp killing intent. And it was emanating from Eldir. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 63 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 63 Eldir''s killing intent was sharp to a degree that was hard to believe it came from a drunkard. However, Kaylen, already aware that he was a Sword Master, wasn''t particularly surprised by this. What puzzled him was why Eldir was directing such killing intent toward him. ¡°Oppa?¡± On the other hand, Irene, standing beside Eldir, couldn¡¯t sense the killing intent. She let out a sigh and busied herself trying to wake him up. That was understandable. While Eldir¡¯s killing intent was intense, it was equally subtle. If Kaylen hadn¡¯t been a Sword Master, he wouldn¡¯t have detected that concealed energy. ¡°How can you sleep now? I told you to stop drinking so much!¡± ¡°...Ah. Right, Irene.¡± Eldir staggered as he opened his eyes. Unlike usual, they weren¡¯t hazy but shone clearly. ¡°This time... good.¡± Holding one of the five Guardian Parts, a staff, in his hand, he said: ¡°I will use my master authority to appoint Kaylen as a temporary Master.¡± Wiiing¡ª The staff emitted a blue mana light toward Kaylen, which soon disappeared without a trace. After completing a few verification steps, Eldir handed the staff to Kaylen. ¡°This should work for now. Since carrying it around would be annoying, modify it as needed.¡± Kaylen nodded and promptly transformed the staff into a blue bracelet. ¡°You¡¯re quick with that.¡± Eldir observed the scene without showing his usual drunken staggering. Even Irene found it curious enough to ask. ¡°Brother, are you sober?¡± ¡°Yes. I dreamed of Mother. She was making a fuss, crying and shouting for me to get you married off. No matter how much of a drunkard I am, I couldn¡¯t ignore that.¡± ¡°Ugh, really! What nonsense! Stop bringing up marriage!¡± ¡°Hehe, I wouldn¡¯t have mentioned it, but what can I do when Mother appears in my dreams?¡± Eldir chuckled as he exchanged words with Irene. Though his left eye focused entirely on her, Kaylen felt a piercing gaze coming from him. The source of that gaze was his right eye, covered by an eyepatch. Even though it was concealed, Kaylen felt as if he was being watched intently. ¡®He¡¯s been like this since we retrieved the Guardian Boots.¡¯ His demeanor was undoubtedly unusual. While Kaylen deliberately fiddled with the bracelet, pretending to be distracted, Eldir continued his conversation with Irene. ¡°Well, now that we¡¯re done here, what will you do next?¡± ¡°I plan to go to Myorn¡¯s lab with Sir Kaylen.¡± ¡°You? Why?¡± ¡°He said there was something to research.¡± ¡°...Is that so? Then go get ready. I have something to discuss with this friend of yours.¡± ¡°Something to discuss?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about the Guardians. You already know all about it, so staying here would be a waste of time. Go upstairs and pack your things.¡± ¡°Hearing you, of all people, talk about wasting time is refreshing.¡± An elf who spent most of his days drowning in alcohol talking about wasting time? Irene let out a small laugh and nodded. ¡°Alright then. Sir Kaylen, I¡¯ll see you later.¡± Thud. Irene left the underground room, closing the door behind her, and Eldir, who had been leaning against the wall, straightened himself. When he stood up to his full height, he was as tall as Kaylen. ¡°Hoo...¡± Crack. Eldir stretched lightly, his movements fluid, and then turned to Kaylen with a sly smile. ¡°Hehe. Seems the alcohol has worn off. It¡¯s my first time seeing you sober.¡± ¡°Is it because of the dream?¡± ¡°The dream? Ah, yeah. I saw something interesting.¡± Step. Step. Eldir slowly approached Kaylen. ¡°The Guardian¡ªyou¡¯ve been using it well for dungeon raids. I appreciate that.¡± ¡°It seems you have a way to know where it¡¯s been used.¡± ¡°Of course. After all, I am the Guardian¡¯s Master, am I not?¡± Eldir¡¯s gaze briefly shifted to Kaylen¡¯s bracelet. ¡°In the past, there were people who used the mana suit recklessly. So, I installed a few safeguards.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t you wonder how far those safeguards go? Can they only track dungeon raids, or do they monitor everything else? Just how much information can this A-rank mana suit provide?¡± Eldir was smiling, but his eyes were cold and sunken. At his words, Kaylen¡¯s gaze grew equally calm. Swoosh. Eldir''s battle stance remained firm, even more prepared than before. ¡°Kaylen, it seems I have even more questions for you now.¡± Reaching the level of a Sword Master at his age and exhibiting the talents of a 6th Circle Meister? For most, achieving even one of these would be a lifetime endeavor, yet Kaylen had managed both by the mere age of 19. Eldir felt an even greater need to subdue him. ¡°Hah...¡± The Sword Area Eldir had unleashed was quickly reabsorbed into his wooden blade. It was a deliberate choice to maximize the output of his Aura Sword. ¡°Here I come.¡± Eldir¡¯s figure vanished. Forsaking his Sword Area, he delivered a single, decisive strike aimed to kill, penetrating deep into Kaylen¡¯s domain. It was the finest swordplay Eldir could muster, honed through his devotion to swift and precise techniques. Boom! His strike, however, failed to penetrate Kaylen¡¯s domain. The blade was stopped cold. ¡°...!¡± For a fleeting moment, Eldir¡¯s expression faltered, his eyes shaking with disbelief. But he quickly steadied himself and launched another strike. A second blow. A third. A fourth... Eldir relentlessly hammered away at Kaylen¡¯s domain, each strike carrying the full force of his lethal precision. Each one was an attack meant to kill. But¡ª Crackle. Crackle. ¡°Ugh!¡± Kaylen¡¯s Sword Area remained unscathed. No matter how many times Eldir struck, it stood resolute, unmarred by even the faintest scratch. ¡°How... How is this possible?¡± Sure, it was remarkable that Kaylen had become a Sword Master. Perhaps he was a once-in-a-millennium prodigy. But still¡ª ¡°Why doesn¡¯t that Sword Area even show a scratch?¡± It was common knowledge: the durability of a Sword Area was proportional to the wielder¡¯s mana reserves. Accumulating mana, however, was a matter of time and effort, not innate talent. Given the vast difference in years that Eldir and Kaylen had to cultivate their mana, by all logic, Kaylen¡¯s Sword Area should have shattered in a single blow. Why...? As Eldir reeled from the inexplicable, Kaylen¡¯s voice cut through his confusion. ¡°This isn¡¯t entertaining.¡± Swish. Suddenly, Kaylen¡¯s Sword Area vanished. The impenetrable barrier Eldir had struggled to breach was now gone by Kaylen¡¯s own volition. ¡°...What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± Kaylen crooked a finger. ¡°Come. It¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve had a proper blade-to-blade duel.¡± ¡°Ugh!¡± Eldir bit his lip in frustration. What an insult! In all his years as the head of the Elbon Guard, he had never faced such humiliation. To be bested not in skill, but in sheer strength of the blade itself? ¡°That arrogance... I¡¯ll make you regret it.¡± Eldir, a master of wind¡¯s agility, wielded a sword faster than any opponent could follow. Without the constraints of Sword Areas, a duel of pure swordsmanship gave him a chance to win. In such battles, speed was everything. Fwoosh! Eldir¡¯s figure flickered like a reed in the wind, suddenly appearing within striking distance of Kaylen, his blade aimed at Kaylen¡¯s throat. Rather than clash swords, Eldir sought to exploit his speed and strike Kaylen¡¯s vital point before he could react. But¡ª ¡°No... way...¡± To his shock, Kaylen¡¯s blade was already resting against Eldir¡¯s neck. ¡°You place too much faith in speed,¡± Kaylen said calmly. ¡°So predictable.¡± Before Eldir even realized it, the tables had turned entirely, and he was subdued in an instant. His face turned pale with disbelief. Kaylen looked him in the eye and spoke softly: ¡°You¡¯ve already died once.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 64 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 64 Eldir, the leader of the Elven Guard, took pride in being the only remaining Sword Master in this world. To be precise, he believed that no one in the Middle Realm could match his mastery of the sword. That belief was the pride that sustained his worn-out body and mind in a world dominated by magic. But today, that pride was shattered¡ªcompletely¡ªby Kaylen. ¡°Is that all?¡± Kaylen, who had subdued him, performed an incomprehensible act. He withdrew his sword from Eldir¡¯s neck and stepped back. ¡°I¡¯ll give you another chance.¡± Eldir gritted his teeth. That arrogance¡ªhe would make him regret it. Faster. Eldir steadied his mind and unleashed his Aura Sword again. Speed was his advantage. All he had to do was avoid being subdued as easily as before. Whoosh. Eldir¡¯s figure disappeared, the green glow of his blade aiming for Kaylen¡¯s back in an instant. But¡ª ¡°Again.¡± Once more, he was subdued in a single moment. ¡°One more time.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still lacking.¡± It was as if a teacher were instructing a student. Kaylen evaluated Eldir¡¯s swordsmanship while effortlessly overpowering him. Not long after, Kaylen calmly stated: ¡°You¡¯ve died nine times.¡± Swish. Kaylen¡¯s Aura Sword once again rested against Eldir¡¯s neck. Once more, he was perfectly subdued. Kaylen assessed Eldir¡¯s technique. ¡°A blade that pours everything into a single strike¡ªit leaves no room for follow-up. Well, I suppose that¡¯s been sufficient for you until now.¡± A 19-year-old was criticizing the leader of the Elven Guard, a man who had lived for centuries. ¡°Would you like to try again?¡± Swish. When Kaylen withdrew his blade, Eldir collapsed to his knees. Was this truly reality? Was it not a dream? Eldir stared blankly at his wooden sword, Melvria, in a daze. ¡°This time, I hope it¡¯ll be interesting.¡± Seizing the moment when Kaylen turned his back, Eldir launched a sudden strike. Slash! It was a dishonorable attack, but at this point, exploiting an opening was his only option. Even among Sword Masters, the gap between them was insurmountable. However¡ª Clang. This attack, too, was effortlessly blocked. Even this time, Kaylen¡¯s grip firmly held Eldir¡¯s weapon. ¡°This ambush was decent in some ways,¡± Kaylen commented. ¡°Grr...¡± ¡°But you failed to conceal the wind.¡± ¡°Shut up!¡± Despite striking from behind, the ambush had failed. The World Tree¡¯s Blade, firmly held in his opponent¡¯s hand, was the ultimate humiliation. ¡°If you¡¯re going to launch a surprise attack, don¡¯t leave any traces.¡± When Kaylen followed this with a lesson, Eldir¡¯s patience snapped. ¡°You insolent fool! Don¡¯t try to teach me! What could you possibly know about the mana of wind?¡± ¡°Hm. Is that so? Then perhaps you should see for yourself.¡± Whoosh. The World Tree¡¯s Blade, Melvria, slipped from Eldir¡¯s grasp. ¡°M-Melvria!¡± For a swordsman to lose hold of their blade¡ªunthinkable. Whatever technique Kaylen had used, the sword slid effortlessly from Eldir¡¯s grip and landed in Kaylen¡¯s hand. ¡°Watch closely.¡± Whirr¡ª Wind coiled around the World Tree¡¯s Blade. It was a manifestation of the Aura Sword, similar to what Eldir had displayed moments before. Yet, the amount of wind mana imbued in Kaylen¡¯s blade was far less compared to Eldir¡¯s. The intensity of the wind surrounding the sword was also notably weaker. Even so, Eldir couldn¡¯t tear his eyes away from it. ¡®No... That¡¯s not possible.¡¯ And more crucially... ¡®I wasn¡¯t ready for evolution yet... Neither was my body.¡¯ Eldir¡¯s own flesh wasn¡¯t prepared for the transformation. Forced to initiate the evolution due to the sudden confrontation with this overwhelming foe, he knew the process wouldn¡¯t last long. He had no choice but to subdue Kaylen quickly. ¡°Guardian... Summon artificial spirit...¡± Whirr! The combined energies of wind and water coalesced, forming something entirely new. The formless cloud-like creation was still incomplete in shape, but the mana within it was destructive. ¡°This is interesting.¡± Kaylen, who had been observing with his arms crossed, lifted the World Tree Sword. ¡°Eldir, you¡¯ve realized I¡¯m no servant of the Demon Realm, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Even so, will you still see this through to the end?¡± ¡°Even if you aren¡¯t... that doesn¡¯t change how suspicious you are! Reaching such heights at just 19? I¡¯ll subdue you and find out the truth!¡± At Eldir¡¯s resolute declaration, Kaylen smirked. ¡°Good. Let¡¯s make this fun.¡± Aura began to envelop the World Tree Sword. The power emanating from the sword¡ªfar beyond what Kaylen had shown earlier¡ªgrew with every passing moment. ¡°Six Blades, activate.¡± The six elemental swords that Kaylen had cultivated came to life. Among them, the Light Blade, Dark Blade, and Water Blade grew particularly distinct, exuding overwhelming presence. The three massive swords stretched out behind Kaylen, radiating terrifying power. Even Eldir¡¯s eyes, sharpened by countless battles, couldn¡¯t help but widen in astonishment. ¡®That... that¡¯s...!¡¯ Every swordsman knew of a certain legendary tale. A warrior who manifested six elemental Aura Swords and swept away armies of demons in a single swing. When he came, all demons were annihilated. Had he not been a Hero, who knows what fate would have befallen us? The Sword God, Ernstine. Eldir had grown up hearing of the Sword God¡¯s legend during his training with the Spirit Swordmasters of old. ¡®Could it be...?¡¯ Though Kaylen had only summoned three swords, the resemblance to the legendary Sword God¡¯s techniques was undeniable. ¡®Is fighting this man... truly the right thing to do?¡¯ It wasn¡¯t the fear of death. Eldir had long been prepared to sacrifice his life for his kin. But if this man wielding the legendary Sword God¡¯s techniques wasn¡¯t aligned with the Demon Realm... Was it truly worth risking his life, forcing this evolution, and facing him here? As Eldir hesitated momentarily, a brilliant blue light gathered from the five Guardian parts. The radiance coalesced, then spread out, illuminating the space between Kaylen and Eldir. The light shone as if to separate the two. [My dear child, Eldir.] A solemn, feminine voice echoed throughout the underground chamber. [The Path of Six Blades cannot be walked by a seed of the Demon Realm. He wields both a holy sword and a cursed sword¡ªproof that he is unrelated to the demons. I will release your power.] The artificial spirit, still in its cloud-like form, dissipated into vapor as the Guardian disassembled into its original five parts. ¡°...Ugh!¡± As soon as the equipment was released, Eldir coughed up blood. His body, now fully exposed, had become emaciated, with his skin cracked and peeling¡ªa harsh consequence of the forced evolution. He gritted his teeth against the pain, but it wasn¡¯t long before he lost consciousness and collapsed onto the ground. [...Poor child. ] A gentle blue light descended upon him, illuminating his frail figure. Under its soothing glow, Eldir¡¯s body began to heal. The cracks in his skin faded, replaced by a healthy luster, and his ragged breaths gradually steadied. ¡°Hmm...¡± Kaylen, watching this unfold, scratched his chin thoughtfully. This voice emanating from the light¡ªit felt familiar somehow. [Human Sword Master, please forgive today¡¯s insolence. My child acted too rashly. ] ¡°Who are you?¡± [I am a fragment of the World Tree, its will personified. Are you... a descendant of Ernstine? ] The light, which identified itself as the World Tree¡¯s will, spoke with calm authority. At these words, Kaylen¡¯s expression shifted as realization struck him. ¡°...Deluna?¡± High Elf Deluna. The fifth wife of Ernstine. A woman who had vanished from the imperial palace one day, leaving behind only her daughter. It had later been revealed that she had sacrificed herself to sustain the World Tree. Kaylen¡¯s memories stirred. He recalled the nights spent comforting her daughter, who wept inconsolably in his arms, searching for her mother. - ...Let it go now. Let her rest. She made her choice for the greater good. Each night, he had repeated those words, trying to soothe the grieving child while burying his own resentment toward Deluna. How bitterly he had blamed her back then. And yet, here was her voice, reaching him after all these years. The light flickered faintly. [...How do you know my name? ] [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 65 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 65 ¡°Is the voice I¡¯m hearing truly Deluna?¡± [...No, I misspoke. I am not Deluna. I am merely a fragment of the World Tree¡¯s will.] Hearing the words again, Kaylen calmed his startled heart. ¡®...Right. Just as she transformed into the will of the World Tree, I am no longer Emperor Ernstine but Kaylen. The connection between us is all but severed.¡¯ As he gathered his thoughts, the World Tree¡¯s will posed a question. [Even so... I am curious how you recognized Deluna¡¯s voice.] ¡°I am a descendant of Emperor Ernstine and inherited his legacy. Among that inheritance were remnants of his memories.¡± [I see... I thought he, no, Deluna, would be despised.] ¡°I¡¯m not sure why that memory remains, either.¡± Kaylen said no more after that. The memory of Deluna¡¯s voice. Had he, perhaps unconsciously, longed for her? ... But Kaylen didn¡¯t want to admit such a thing aloud. [...I apologize for the personal question.] A brief silence fell until Eldir, who had been lying unconscious, slowly stirred. ¡°Hah... A descendant of the Dragon God¡¯s Blade? Unbelievable.¡± Eldir, now wearing his eyepatch again, shook his head in disbelief. ¡°To think you found the Emperor¡¯s legacy that even Melvria couldn¡¯t uncover...¡± ¡°Melvria?¡± Kaylen frowned. The name was one Eldir used to refer to his sword. But for Kaylen, it wasn¡¯t the first time he¡¯d heard that name. ¡®When I first heard it, I thought it was a coincidence. But could it really be...?¡¯ In response to Kaylen¡¯s inquiry, Eldir answered. ¡°You don¡¯t know? She¡¯s the daughter born between Emperor Ernstine and the High Elf, Deluna. And... she¡¯s the wife who abandoned me and ran off.¡± ¡°Your... wife?¡± Melvria. She, the daughter of Deluna and Ernstine, was his most cherished child. Born a half-elf, Kaylen had assumed she wouldn¡¯t have lived until now... So he had dismissed the name of Eldir¡¯s sword as mere coincidence. ¡®She married this kind of guy?¡¯ The sweet daughter who had once declared she¡¯d stay by her father¡¯s side forever? With this drunkard layabout? Kaylen¡¯s expression momentarily stiffened, then forcibly relaxed. Since he didn¡¯t know Melvria personally, he had to conceal his reaction. ¡°Why did your wife leave you?¡± ¡°She said... something about going to find her father. Haha...¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°She didn¡¯t believe Emperor Ernstine could have disappeared like that. Melvria was always chasing his traces.¡± Kaylen thought of Melvria. In the imperial palace, after losing her mother, the young half-elf girl had no one to rely on but her father. Ernstine, feeling pity for her, always kept her close. However, the Emperor¡¯s many children grew jealous of her instead. They envied that their father favored one daughter so deeply. ¡®Melvria never tried to get along with the other children either.¡¯ ¡°I only need my dad!¡± The daughter who always lived by those words. Even so, Kaylen had thought she¡¯d someday meet a good man and marry. Yet, of all people, she ended up with someone like this. ¡®Even after getting married, she should¡¯ve forgotten about her father and lived well... Why get married and then leave her husband to search for him?¡¯ Kaylen glared at Eldir. Surely it was because this man didn¡¯t treat her well. To think this kind of man was his son-in-law. Unacceptable. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°You let your wife leave home? And you didn¡¯t stop her when she said she was looking for her father? What kind of husband are you?¡± ¡°...Sigh.¡± Even under Kaylen¡¯s rebuke, Eldir let out a long sigh and seemed unwilling to continue the conversation. At that moment, the World Tree¡¯s will addressed Eldir. [Eldir, tell him the truth.] After hesitating for a moment, Eldir finally spoke. ¡°She didn¡¯t really leave to find him. It¡¯s true Melvria was heavily dependent on her father. But after marrying me, she was trying to settle down in the Fairy Forest.¡± As these thoughts began to settle, Eldir spoke again. ¡°Haha. I shouldn¡¯t have brought up Melvria... Tch. I need a drink.¡± The former Sword Master of the Elves had reverted to a lazy drunkard. Watching him smack his lips in longing for alcohol, Kaylen felt something boil inside. The man who took his cherished daughter away... had become this. He wanted nothing more than to kick him. But he held back, barely. ¡®I must restrain myself. I am no longer Ernstine¡ªI am Kaylen now.¡¯ But still... ¡°Oh, looks like the bottle broke here,¡± Eldir muttered, crawling on all fours toward the shattered liquor bottle. ¡°If I can just get a few drops...¡± Using the power of wind, he levitated the remaining drops of alcohol from the broken shards. But that was the final straw for Kaylen. Is this the man who took my daughter?! Ssshhhhhhh¡ª For a brief moment, wind mana gathered at Kaylen¡¯s foot. BAM! ¡°Gah!¡± Eldir flew through the air, crashing into the ground. ¡°W-what¡¯s wrong with you?!¡± Crunch. Without replying, Kaylen stomped on the shards of the broken bottle, grinding them into dust. ¡°W-why are you acting like this?¡± Eldir stammered. ¡°Do you know who Emperor Ernstine cherished the most?¡± Kaylen asked coldly. ¡°W-what?¡± ¡°Your wife, Melvria. After her mother left when she was young, the Emperor always felt a deep sorrow for her.¡± ¡°Well, you sure know a lot about it,¡± Eldir retorted. ¡°That¡¯s because I inherited his path.¡± Kaylen delivered a few more crushing stomps to the remnants of the bottle before speaking again, his tone slightly calmer. ¡°I understand you fell into despair after Hellmeier took your wife.¡± ¡°But, are you not going to get her back?¡± ¡°...What do you know?¡± Eldir muttered bitterly. ¡°Of course, I don¡¯t know every detail. But I do know this¡ªyour sword as a Sword Master has rusted.¡± ¡°Tch...¡± Eldir¡¯s face twisted as he recalled how utterly he had been defeated earlier. One strike. One strike had shattered him completely. Even when he prepared to use his ¡°last resort¡± by activating all his Guardians, a sense of dread had lingered in his heart. No matter how much he struggled, he couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that he wouldn¡¯t stand a chance. ¡°Ha. Talking big just because you lucked into the Emperor¡¯s legacy.¡± ¡°Tch. A Sword Master who¡¯s lived for centuries, defeated by a 19-year-old boy¡ªdon¡¯t you think it¡¯s time for some self-reflection? Have you even trained with your sword?¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± ¡°Or have you dismissed the sword entirely, thinking it¡¯s useless compared to the ¡®evolved¡¯ mode of your Guardians?¡± Eldir remained silent. He couldn¡¯t deny Kaylen¡¯s words. He had pride in becoming a Sword Master, but he had seen the limitations of the sword. Even as the greatest swordsman among the Elves, he couldn¡¯t stop a single member of the Hellmeier clan. I haven¡¯t wielded my sword in ages, he thought. Melvria, his sword, had long since become a mere staff, rarely used in its true form. It was only natural¡ªno matter how much he trained, it felt meaningless. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn¡¯t improve. Compared to the overwhelming power of the Hellmeier clan, his efforts amounted to nothing. In the end, he had clung to other forms of power, letting go of the sword. And yet... In the path he thought had reached its limit, he witnessed a new horizon today. From a 19-year-old human boy, no less. ¡°Eldir, becoming a Sword Master isn¡¯t the end of the path. It¡¯s merely the starting point for a greater journey. Right now, you¡¯re just standing at the starting line.¡± As Eldir silently gazed at his staff, the World Tree¡¯s will intervened in their conversation. [That¡¯s not true. He once dedicated himself tirelessly to retrieving Melvria. However...] [After the world¡¯s mana density thinned... he couldn¡¯t find a way forward no matter how hard he tried.] So that¡¯s it. When mana becomes scarce, even a Sword Master would find it hard to progress. [But now, there is hope.] The World Tree¡¯s will shone its light upon Kaylen. [Descendant of the Dragon Sword God, I beseech you. Show Eldir the way.] [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 66 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 66 ¡°What... what are you saying?¡± Eldir was flustered. To suggest he follow Kaylen and learn from him¡ªwhat kind of nonsense was this? [Eldir. Follow him. And learn from him.] ¡°That... that¡¯s absurd! How can I learn from someone so young...?¡± [I witnessed you lose to him in a single strike.] Eldir, left speechless, shut his mouth. Kaylen silently observed him. ¡°So, they want me to teach this guy.¡± Eldir, the Swordmaster. An excellent talent, no doubt. But Kaylen couldn¡¯t help but find him annoying. After all, he was the son-in-law who had taken his most cherished daughter, only to fall into drunken debauchery and disgrace himself. ¡°Still, he might be useful.¡± If he weren¡¯t his son-in-law, Kaylen would have taken him along immediately. Yet, watching him wallow in despair, drowning in alcohol, only stirred his anger further. Kaylen folded his arms, scrutinizing Eldir, and finally spoke. ¡°He must achieve the ¡®Evolution¡¯ of his Guardian. Doesn¡¯t he need to remain at the Tower of Magic for that?¡± [That¡¯s not an issue. The ¡®Evolution¡¯ project is still far off. Today, after witnessing the artificial spirit, I became certain of it.] The artificial spirit Eldir summoned while equipped with his Guardian was undoubtedly powerful. Yet, it was far from complete as a true spirit. [It will take at least fifty more years. In the meantime, please teach and utilize Eldir.] ¡°Fi... fifty years!?¡± Eldir was shocked by the half a century-long timeline, but Kaylen¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡°That¡¯s a workable timeframe.¡± While the World Tree¡¯s will didn¡¯t mean for Kaylen to keep Eldir that entire time, it was clear he wouldn¡¯t be returning Eldir within a year or two. ¡°Still, I can¡¯t just teach him for free.¡± Though the World Tree suggested using Eldir, that alone wasn¡¯t enough for Kaylen. Revitalizing a Swordmaster who had stagnated for centuries would require far greater compensation. ¡°I have a condition.¡± [State it.] ¡°I have several projects in progress. While Lady Irene is assisting with the magic circle research, I¡¯m still in dire need of additional personnel for other studies.¡± [Understood. I¡¯ll ensure you receive sufficient support. However, I request that you guide him at least once a week.] ¡°Agreed.¡± ¡°Guide? I¡¯m supposed to take guidance from someone like him?¡± [Yes, you must.] The World Tree¡¯s will was resolute. Kaylen added, ¡°And on the days I guide you, no drinking.¡± [That¡¯s acceptable. In fact, I¡¯d appreciate it if you enforce that.] ¡°No, no way...¡± No drinking? Even if it was just one day a week, the thought alone was dreadful. Eldir¡¯s face crumpled in despair. [Eldir. You were once the most diligent swordsman in the Elven Guard, completely unfamiliar with alcohol.] [But didn¡¯t you turn to drinking after succumbing to despair, believing you could no longer improve? And now, when the opportunity for growth stands before you, are you going to forsake it?] Eldir lowered his gaze to Melvria. For over a century, it had remained in the form of a staff, never taking its true shape as a sword. After the Elven Tower of Magic stabilized and Eldir¡¯s martial skills were no longer in demand... There was no longer a necessity for it to be a sword. Even though he could have transformed Melvria into a sword for the sake of training, there had been no such attempts in the past 100 years. ¡°No matter how much I trained, I never felt stronger.¡± In a world where mana had diminished, growth became impossible. Eldir, in the end, abandoned the sword. And in its place, he gripped a bottle of alcohol. Living in this world with a clear mind had become unbearable. But now... ¡°Can I... become stronger if I learn from you?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°No matter if you inherited the legacy of the Great Emperor... teaching is another matter. Can you still make such bold claims?¡± The staff, which seemed it would never change, had now reverted to its original form. [My child, Irene.] ¡°W-World Tree!¡± A voice flowed from the light, and Irene hurriedly knelt. It was the voice of the World Tree, which she had only ever heard during moments of divine revelation. [Gather the elven researchers under you and follow Lord Kaylen.] ¡°Huh?¡± [One hundred should suffice.] The unexpected nature of the World Tree¡¯s words left Irene stunned and questioning, but she quickly replied. ¡°Understood.¡± The word of the World Tree carried an absolute weight for elves. Even so, Irene couldn¡¯t help but wonder. ¡°What exactly happened...?¡± Questions arose in Irene¡¯s mind. Currently, the number of researchers under her command was about two hundred. If half of them were conscripted, the research being conducted at the Tower of the Elves would largely come to a halt. ¡°The World Tree must know this... Yet it still ordered us to follow Kaylen... I just can¡¯t figure it out.¡± Kaylen¡¯s voice broke her train of thought. ¡°Eldir and I will leave first. Irene, gather the research team and meet us at Myorn¡¯s lab. Your lab is nearby, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°Kaylen will assign the tasks once you¡¯re there.¡± That wasn¡¯t the only question in her mind. Her brother, who showed deference to no one but the World Tree, was now being remarkably polite to Kaylen. Seeing this unfamiliar side of him, Irene couldn¡¯t tell if this was a dream or reality. ¡°Let¡¯s go, Eldir.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see you later, World Tree.¡± [Yes... Take care.] Kaylen, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, ordered Eldir around and conversed with the World Tree. ¡°See you at the lab, Irene.¡± ¡°Oh, yes...¡± Step. Step. Irene stared blankly as Kaylen and Eldir left the basement. ¡°How am I supposed to make sense of all this?¡± ¡°One hundred people... ha.¡± Of course, she would obey the World Tree¡¯s command, but what could possibly require such a large number of researchers? Irene let out a deep sigh. She had packed her belongings and come down, but the thought of selecting the elves for the task made her head spin. As Kaylen, Eldir, and Irene all departed, the light reflecting off the four parts of the Mana Suit Guardian flickered once. [Ernstine. Your successor resembles you far too much.] Kaylen, only nineteen years old, bore an uncanny resemblance to Ernstine. Though his physical appearance was entirely different from the Great Emperor¡¯s, that was merely superficial. His words and actions were strikingly similar to those of Ernstine. [Yes... He resembles him too much.] The way he unlocked the Six Swords. The manner in which he executed his swordsmanship. Even his tone of speech. It was enough to make one feel as though Ernstine had returned to life. [...Perhaps my emotions influenced me too much.] Even as the World Tree, meant to make decisions for and by the elves, personal feelings had taken over. Thinking of Ernstine, it had promised far more support than it should have¡ªoffering not just Eldir but also a significant portion of the research staff. It wasn¡¯t something that should have been done. Simply because Kaylen resembled the Great Emperor, personal feelings had interfered too much. This lapse stemmed from the emotions of Deluna, the High Elf who had trusted and depended on Ernstine more than anyone else. [Such a situation must not occur again... I will forget myself once more.] The light illuminating the basement gradually dimmed. Resolving not to allow personal feelings to surface, the World Tree ceased its thoughts of Kaylen. Without delving further into the similarities between Kaylen and Ernstine, it began to erase the persona of Deluna. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 67 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 67 ¡°This is the last mansion I found for you.¡± The head of the dungeon guild branch, Krundal, had been tasked with finding a mansion for Kaylen at his request. Krundal was personally guiding Kaylen around. Although he had been busy with staff dispatched from the headquarters due to the dungeon core Kaylen brought in... ¡®Still, he¡¯s a VIP. I need to handle this personally.¡¯ Having gained substantial benefits thanks to Kaylen, Krundal decided to go out of his way to assist. Kaylen¡¯s selection process for a mansion was straightforward. He would assess the exterior from afar, and if he showed interest, they would take a closer look inside. The only issue was Kaylen¡¯s high standards. ¡°Hmm, this time, the space feels lacking.¡± From his perspective, most properties didn¡¯t meet his expectations. ¡°Is that so? To find a larger mansion with this budget, we¡¯d have to look further out.¡± ¡°If I increase the budget, could we find something bigger than this?¡± ¡°Well... in terms of size alone, yes, there are options,¡± Krundal replied after a moment of thought. ¡°There¡¯s a mansion once used by the Marquis of Albrynx. The building itself isn¡¯t much different in size, but it has a very large training ground. The ancestor was a Dragon Knight, so they needed space for their draconic companions.¡± ¡°Oh...¡± ¡°But it¡¯s an outdated design for modern times. Who needs such a large training ground nowadays? Despite that, the Marquis¡¯s family has set a high price for it...¡± However, Kaylen¡¯s interest was piqued. The idea of a mansion used by a former Dragon Knight appealed to him. It seemed perfect for riding his drake. ¡°Let¡¯s go take a look.¡± ¡°Pardon? ...Very well.¡± The old mansion of the Albrynx Marquis was located on elevated ground. It was evident that the place had been neglected for a long time, with signs of disrepair everywhere. The garden was overgrown with weeds, and the mansion looked as if it might collapse at any moment. ¡°As you can see, it¡¯s in terrible condition. The location isn¡¯t particularly favorable, either,¡± Krundal remarked. Indeed, there was nothing around the mansion. On the way up, they had passed a few abandoned houses, but there were no signs of inhabited dwellings. ¡°Judging by what I saw on the way here, it seems people used to live here.¡± ¡°Yes, commoners used to reside in the lower areas. But about a century ago, a dungeon portal appeared nearby, so everyone retreated within the city walls.¡± ¡°So, this place has been unused since then?¡± ¡°Yes. Currently, the Albrynx family¡¯s mansion is located in the South River District. This place has been abandoned for ages.¡± Krundal clicked his tongue. But Kaylen liked what he saw. ¡®This is perfect for riding my drake.¡¯ Compared to the developed South River District, this was the underdeveloped East River area, at the very edge of the district. There were no residential houses nearby, and it was located outside the protective city walls. It seemed ideal for using the drake freely. While the drake¡¯s existence would eventually become known, there was no need for rumors to spread right away. Kaylen decided on this location. ¡°I like this place.¡± ¡°Do you?¡± ¡°Is it difficult to purchase with the current budget?¡± ¡°Well, the price they¡¯re asking is quite high.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll clear another dungeon. I¡¯ll bring back a similar amount of dungeon cores as last time.¡± ¡°......?!¡± What? How does he talk about obtaining dungeon cores as if he¡¯s casually picking apples from an orchard? ¡°That much... will be more than sufficient.¡± ¡°Then, just take care of settling any surplus properly.¡± ¡°Yes. In that case, may I ask how long you think it will take?¡± ¡°Well, it shouldn¡¯t take too long.¡± Kaylen¡¯s response made Krundal¡¯s eyes widen. ¡®What?! We don¡¯t even have the money right now...¡¯ The dungeon cores Kaylen had previously brought hadn¡¯t all been sold yet. Still, there was no way Krundal could admit they were short on funds. ¡®Even if he says it won¡¯t take long, it¡¯s bound to take some time... right?¡¯ Thinking so, Krundal put on a confident front and answered Kaylen. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll make the preparations.¡± Flap, flap. As the drake flapped its wings and landed near the dungeon portal, three figures dismounted: Kaylen, Eldir, and Alkas. ¡°Honestly... this is way too fast.¡± Eldir shook his head, exasperated. Even after riding magical transportation from the Tower of the Fae, he still couldn¡¯t get used to this speed. What should¡¯ve taken several days was over in less than half a day. ¡°Alkas, did you bring it?¡± The remaining group followed the path Kaylen had cleared, arriving at the location of the dungeon core. Kaylen gestured to Alkas. ¡°Activate your ¡®Normal¡¯ and try attacking the dungeon core.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± Ssssshhh¡ª Aura flared explosively from Alkas¡¯s sword. Eldir¡¯s eyes widened slightly at the sight. ¡°Oh? Not bad.¡± He had assumed Alkas was just a knight trailing after Kaylen, but his aura appeared sharp and refined. Judging by his youthful appearance, Alkas seemed like a relatively young knight. To have such skill at his age was impressive. ¡°You¡¯ve improved a lot compared to before. But you still need to get more accustomed to the mana suit. Is this a modified version?¡± ¡°Yes, sir. I heard it has about three times the output.¡± ¡°Good. Go ahead and attack.¡± Three times the aura output? This mana suit? As Eldir skeptically glanced at his own ¡®Normal¡¯ gauntlets¡ª ¡°Hyaap!¡± Alkas¡¯s aura-infused sword struck the dungeon core. Clang! The blade momentarily dug into the core, then bounced back. He swung again¡ªonce, twice, three times in succession¡ª Thwack. Finally, the sword penetrated slightly deeper into the core before retreating. For a brief moment, his aura had visibly cut into the dungeon core. A Sword Expert managed this? No matter how skilled a knight might be, it was practically unheard of for an aura blade to damage a dungeon core. Eldir was astonished by the impossibility of the feat. However, Kaylen¡¯s expression clearly reflected dissatisfaction. ¡°It¡¯s still lacking. It seems like it¡¯s close, but it needs more refinement. What a pity.¡± ¡°...I apologize.¡± Kaylen evaluated Alkas with a detached tone. ¡°Eldir, try cutting it using the mana suit.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Eldir, having felt an itch to try since watching Alkas, activated his mana suit and generated an aura sword on his wooden training sword. Whiiirrr¡ª A powerful force concentrated on the wooden blade. ¡°Ooh...¡± Seeing the aura sword for the first time, Alkas marveled. ¡°He really is a Swordmaster!¡± Though its greenish hue lacked the overwhelming presence of Kaylen¡¯s golden aura sword, to Alkas, it was dazzling nonetheless. ¡°Hmph!¡± As wind spiraled around the green aura sword, Eldir unleashed a single, decisive strike. Boom! A massive gust engulfed the dungeon core. Crack, crack, crack¡ª The core splintered, breaking into seven pieces that fell to the ground. ¡°Wow! Incredible!¡± Alkas exclaimed in awe at the scene, but Eldir, like Kaylen, wore a dissatisfied expression. The reason soon became evident. The ¡®Normal¡¯ mana suit cracked and shattered into fragments in Eldir¡¯s hands. ¡°I thought it was a decent mana suit, but its durability is terrible. That Myorn girl... she still has a long way to go.¡± Shaking his head at the broken pieces, Eldir sighed in frustration. Kaylen also shook his head, but for a different reason. ¡°Durability issues? That might be part of it, but...¡± Watching Eldir manifest his aura sword had made something clear. His technique was incomplete. ¡°It needs correction.¡± With that thought, Kaylen picked up the dungeon core pieces scattered on the ground. He fused the seven neatly divided fragments into one. As he inspected it, Kaylen¡¯s brow furrowed. The text on it differed from before. [Colony ¨C Subjugation] The word Subjugation, a term that had once plunged the kingdom into turmoil, emerged on the dungeon core. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 68 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 68 The seventh dungeon subjugation was similar to the usual. ¡°Clear the path.¡± When Kaylen swung his sword, the monsters fell like autumn leaves. Afterward, standing before the dungeon core they had arrived at... ¡°Alkas.¡± ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± ¡°Cut it.¡± Alkas, dressed in a mana suit, stepped forward and swung his sword. Thunk. ¡°So close, yet still short. Such a pity.¡± ¡°My apologies.¡± Just like always, Alkas failed to sever the dungeon core. However, what followed was markedly different. ¡°Eldir. I¡¯m counting on you this time.¡± ¡°...Understood.¡± Eldir, stepping forward after Alkas, had tension written all over his face. He equipped the newly supplied Mana Suit Normal, took a wooden sword in hand, and infused it with aura¡ªnot forming an Aura Sword, but merely channeling aura into it. Crack. Crack-crack. The mana suit began to develop small fractures. When Eldir furrowed his brows in frustration, Kaylen sharply intervened. ¡°Don¡¯t let it distract you. Focus solely on your sword!¡± ¡°...Haahp!¡± Swish! The wooden sword shot forward in a straight line¡ª ¡ªand pierced through the dungeon core. Plop. Soon after, fragments of the mana suit began to fall to the ground one by one. Eldir¡¯s face twisted in displeasure. But Kaylen¡¯s lips curled slightly into a faint smile. ¡°Well done. At least it didn¡¯t completely break.¡± The Mana Suit Normal had managed to retain its shape despite the fractures. Even so, Eldir¡¯s expression did not lighten. ¡®I thought I controlled my strength well enough...¡¯ After breaking the core in the first dungeon, Kaylen gave Eldir some advice. ¡ª¡°Your sword is unstable.¡± For a moment, Eldir couldn¡¯t accept it. Even though Kaylen was stronger than him, he too had reached the level of a Sword Master. Hearing the word ¡°unstable¡± was something he never expected. ¡ª¡°You can¡¯t accept it, can you?¡± ¡ª¡°...No, I cannot.¡± ¡ª¡°The evidence lies in the mana suit.¡± ¡ª¡°I still don¡¯t agree. Isn¡¯t Myorn¡¯s mana suit just too weak?¡± To this, Kaylen demonstrated personally. He borrowed Alkas¡¯s mana suit, equipped it, and unleashed his power. The golden Aura Sword erupted brilliantly. ¡°Look at this. Do you see even the slightest crack?¡± Eldir, unable to respond, remained silent. Kaylen then provided a prescription¡ªsimple in its content. ¡°Start with just creating aura. Continue until the mana suit doesn¡¯t break.¡± Following this, Eldir stocked up on as many Mana Suit Normals as he could from Myorn¡¯s workshop and plunged himself into relentless training. Perhaps it was Kaylen¡¯s pointed advice. Eldir succeeded during practice sessions¡ªwhen there was no enemy in sight, no dungeon core to destroy. At those times, he could control his strength. But in real combat, for some reason, he couldn¡¯t manage it. Today, at the seventh dungeon core, he managed only to produce minor fractures in the mana suit. ¡°Eldir, do you remember the day you became a Sword Master?¡± ¡°Yes, I do. It was the happiest day of my life.¡± ¡°Recall the sword you forged that day.¡± ¡°...What?¡± Recall the sword he had made when he first created an Aura Sword? All he could remember was the overwhelming joy. How he forged the Aura Sword¡ªit was a blur. ¡°Your sword is one of decisive strikes¡ªputting everything into a single blow. But was it always that way?¡± ¡°...It wasn¡¯t like that back then.¡± ¡°Did it change after your encounter with the Hellmeier family?¡± Eldir nodded silently. Krundal retrieved a demonic language dictionary and began searching for the characters. When he finally found them, his brows furrowed deeply. ¡°Subjugation... you say? Lord Kaylen, could you please wait outside for a moment? I need to contact the headquarters.¡± ¡°Of course. All the other dungeon cores had similar inscriptions. I¡¯ll leave one here.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± As Kaylen left the room, Krundal immediately reported the findings to headquarters. The response came swiftly and urgently. [Krundal, a directive has been issued. Immediately purchase all the dungeon cores using guild funds. You may use any amount necessary, but you must secure all of them.] ¡°Understood.¡± Any amount of guild funds? The headquarters'' reaction was even more serious than when [Colony - Caution] was discovered. [Additionally, the Dungeon Guild Alzass Branch is to initiate a Red Alert immediately.] ¡°What?! A Red Alert?¡± A Red Alert¡ªthe highest state of emergency in the Dungeon Guild, only declared during extreme crises. ¡®I¡¯ve heard of it, but it¡¯s never been activated before!¡¯ Krundal was astonished. What could be so critical about this dungeon core marked Subjugation? [Yes. Activate the Red Alert immediately and await further instructions from headquarters. Additionally, all Civil Squads currently active in the kingdom are to cease operations and return to the city immediately.] ¡°Understood...¡± [Do so at once.] Krundal rushed out of his office with a grave expression to inform Kaylen of the urgent command. ¡°Lord Kaylen, headquarters has issued an emergency directive. The guild will purchase all the dungeon cores with guild funds.¡± He purchased the cores at a steep price and even expedited the purchase of Kaylen¡¯s estate. ¡°We¡¯ll process the estate purchase today.¡± The transaction for the estate proceeded seamlessly. The Marquis Albrynx family welcomed the deal. ¡°At last, we¡¯ve gotten rid of this estate. You can take the surrounding hill region as well.¡± The Marquis family handed over the estate and its surrounding lands, treating it as if they were disposing of a burden. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± With the transaction completed, Krundal hurried back to the Dungeon Guild. Kaylen, watching Krundal leave, recalled the inscription on the dungeon cores. ¡°Colony, Subjugation.¡± Subjugation. It carried far more weight than the previous warning of Caution. Were the demons preparing to subjugate this land, which they considered a colony? ¡®This means more than just dungeon portals appearing.¡¯ Given the Guild''s urgent response, headquarters likely knew something. ¡®Hmm. If it¡¯s this critical, the situation will reveal itself soon enough.¡¯ Hearing from outside the office that headquarters had ordered all Civil Squads to return, Kaylen decided to focus on the newly acquired estate for now. ¡°There¡¯s a lot to fix.¡± Purchasing the house wasn¡¯t the end of it. Left neglected for so long, the estate required extensive repairs. However, there was no reason for Kaylen to handle the repairs personally. ¡°So... this is why you called me here?¡± Irene stared at Kaylen in disbelief. After carefully selecting and bringing a hundred elves to form a research team, now he expected her to oversee the estate repairs. ¡°Yes. Lady Irene, you¡¯re one of the Seven Leaders.¡± ¡°Wait... what does that have to do with fixing this house?¡± ¡°Everything. Surely someone under your command is skilled in this area.¡± Irene fell silent. Well, that was true, but... ¡®Why do I have to handle such trivial tasks?¡¯ ¡°Lord Kaylen... I came here to conduct research. Although I still don¡¯t know exactly what I¡¯m supposed to be researching.¡± ¡°I know.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t come all the way to this isolated place near the South River district to do home renovations!¡± ¡°Exactly. That research¡ªthat¡¯s why you¡¯re here. Royen!¡± At Kaylen¡¯s call, Royen, who had been organizing the estate, hurried over. ¡°Yes, Brother!¡± ¡°Now, revert Drake to his original form.¡± ¡°Drake?¡± Hearing the unexpected name, Irene tilted her head in confusion. ¡°Drakia, you may transform.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± The small lizard in Royen¡¯s arms suddenly grew, taking on the form of a dragon. The dragon¡¯s entire body glowed with a magical sigil. At that moment, Irene realized. This magical sigil was her research subject. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 69 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 69 Time passed, and the gates of the Bormian Magic Academy finally opened. ¡°Oh... it¡¯s Kaylen!¡± The Superior Mage and Meister of the Elven Mage Tower, Kaylen Stern. Even though he no longer needed to attend the academy, his appearance caused the students to whisper. ¡°I heard he¡¯s got the talent of a 6th-Circle mage.¡± ¡°I heard he used to be at the very bottom of the rankings...¡± ¡°He must be busy with his research¡ªwhy is he here?¡± Kaylen, who had become a topic of fascination due to his exceptional performance in the Superior Mage Selection Tournament and the Meister Test, found himself the center of attention. The stares were blatant, but Kaylen, long accustomed to such scrutiny since his time as an emperor, felt nothing. He simply dropped into a chair in the auditorium, lost in thought. ¡°Halt all dungeon subjugations?¡± ¡°What does the term ¡®subjugation¡¯ even mean...?¡± The dungeon cores he had brought led to the suspension of all subjugation missions for the Civil Squads. Had it not been for this, there would have been no reason for him to attend the opening ceremony. However, Kaylen had no intention of skipping the lessons. ¡°I need to study more about magic.¡± His magical attainment had stalled at the 4th Circle. If he could draw just one more circle, he would reach the 6th Circle. However, the two circles engraved in his body hadn¡¯t progressed since he became a Meister. Kaylen quickly realized the cause. ¡°While my understanding of magic is part of it, the fundamental issue lies in perfecting the Six Swords.¡± Currently, he had mastered only the Water Sword, Light Sword, and Dark Sword, leaving his body¡¯s balance incomplete. This imbalance seemed to be the reason his body rejected further circles. If he could achieve balance, perhaps the circles would advance as well. As he pondered this, the opening ceremony began. ¡°...Always remember that you are a part of the Bormian Royal Academy, and most importantly, the Magic Academy. That is all.¡± Clap, clap, clap. As the Magic Academy¡¯s dean concluded his lengthy speech, Kaylen joined in applause, filled with relief. During his time as emperor, he was always the one speaking; now, sitting and listening made his body itch with boredom. Clicking his tongue, he exited the auditorium, where staff were handing out flyers with class assignments. ¡°Class 1, Year 3.¡± The third-year students of the Magic Academy were divided into three classes based on grades, from Class 1 to Class 3. Although Kaylen¡¯s grades weren¡¯t stellar, his achievements in the Superior Mage Tournament earned him a place in Class 1. ¡°Kaylen. Hi.¡± As Kaylen examined his class assignment, a heavily made-up Lina approached him with a soft smile. ¡°We¡¯re in the same class, huh?¡± Lina de Florence. After attempting to exploit Kaylen and failing miserably¡ªlosing everything in the process¡ªshe had kept her distance from him. Now, for reasons unclear, she approached him with a bright smile. ¡°You...¡± ¡°Huh? What?¡± ¡°What was your name again?¡± But to Kaylen, her existence was irrelevant. He had completely forgotten her name after defeating her in the Superior Mage Selection Tournament. ¡°I¡¯m... Lina.¡± ¡°Ah, right.¡± The boy wasn¡¯t pretending not to know. ¡°He really doesn¡¯t remember...¡± Lina bit her lip slightly before raising the corners of her mouth again into a smile. ¡°We¡¯re in the same class this year, so let¡¯s get along.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± ¡°K-Kaylen, I-I¡¯ll count on you too!¡± As Kaylen acknowledged Lina, other classmates from their second year began swarming toward him. These were the same people who had ignored him when he was considered an underachiever. Now that Kaylen¡¯s status had completely changed, they shamelessly approached him with smiles. Lina¡¯s brows furrowed slightly at the sight. ¡°Clever little schemers. Their calculations are quick.¡± Once a 2nd-Circle failure, Kaylen was now a Superior Mage, possessing the talent of a 6th-Circle mage. On top of that, he had become a Meister of the Elven Mage Tower, one of the most prestigious mage towers, which was notoriously difficult to enter. ¡°It¡¯s the reality,¡± Kaylen replied calmly. ¡°However, there is the other 10%, isn¡¯t there?¡± Raising one finger, he continued. ¡°Becoming a Meister is achievable through effort. The hurdle to becoming a Meister isn¡¯t as high as you might think¡ªespecially for those of you who¡¯ve already reached the 3rd Circle at your age.¡± ¡°What kind of effort would that take?¡± Irene interjected. Kaylen smiled slyly. ¡°I have no idea.¡± The truth was, Kaylen¡¯s success stemmed from the elemental understanding he had cultivated since his days as a Grand Sword Master. How would he know the methods by which an ordinary mage improved their elemental affinity? ¡°Just keep doing what you¡¯ve been doing,¡± he answered dismissively. ¡°What kind of answer is that?¡± ¡°But let me warn you,¡± Kaylen continued. ¡°There are some for whom effort won¡¯t suffice. In the past, such individuals would have been hailed as genius mages¡ªthose unrestricted by any single element.¡± For most mages, particularly those in their third year, training in a single element was the established path to becoming a Meister of that element. No matter how hard they tried, some people could not succeed. In the past, they would have been recognized as "geniuses" who mastered all elements and were the first to break through the 6th Circle barrier. But in the current era, they were evaluated as failed mages who could not become Meisters. ¡°But even those individuals, they don¡¯t despair anymore.¡± ¡°Because of the Mana Suit that Myorn and I are creating. A Mana Suit with no attribute.¡± Irene furrowed her brow. She had playfully suggested that Kaylen give a lecture after he had been yawning repeatedly, but now it was turning into a promotion for a Mana Suit? ¡°Everyone, don¡¯t believe this. You all know about Professor Myorn¡¯s Mana Suit, right?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Ugh, she knows all the secrets by herself.¡± ¡°How unfair!¡± The class responded with jeers, to which Kaylen simply shrugged. Well, it wasn¡¯t something they could accept anyway. After the class ended, Kaylen stood up abruptly. ¡®Now, I need to head straight to the library.¡¯ The curriculum on elemental affinity was not suited to him at all. It was time to use the privileges of being a Superior Mage, which meant he didn¡¯t need to attend this class. Knock. At that moment, a knock echoed on the classroom door. Jane, a maid of Princess Violet, entered the room. She briefly scanned the room before walking straight toward Kaylen. ¡°Hello, Kaylen.¡± ¡°Ah. Yes, it¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°Yes. Do you have any plans after school today?¡± ¡°Nothing special.¡± ¡°The Princess would like to meet with you. Would you be able to spare a little time?¡± It was an invitation on the very first day of the semester. The Princess was certainly eager. Kaylen nodded. ¡°Yes. I understand.¡± ¡°Then I shall escort you.¡± Jane led the way, with Kaylen following her. The students around them watched with envy. ¡®The Princess is looking for him right on the first day.¡¯ ¡®Wow... he really is a big deal.¡¯ Even though they were talented individuals who had reached the 3rd Circle at a young age, they could tell that his world was different. ¡°Kaylen!¡± ¡°Yes, senior?¡± ¡°Lioness is looking for you... huh?¡± ¡°Zaik, I¡¯m sorry, but Kaylen already has a prior engagement with the Princess.¡± ¡°Tch. I¡¯m late then. How about tomorrow?¡± ¡°Yes. We¡¯ll meet tomorrow.¡± When they saw Zaik Baldur, a senior who had already graduated, coming to take Kaylen away, their eyes widened in surprise. ¡®No way, what is he...?¡¯ ¡®The power players of the 1st and 2nd Prince factions want to meet on the first day of school?¡¯ ¡®This is insane...¡¯ As they watched, Kaylen thought to himself. ¡®Now, I should be able to outline things.¡¯ The real reason he had come to the academy. The time had come to start investigating the suspicious royal family. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 70 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 70 Princess Violet was waiting for Kaylen at a neatly arranged tea table, just like last time. ¡°It¡¯s been a while, Lord Kaylen.¡± ¡°I thought I wouldn¡¯t see you again after graduation, but you¡¯re still at the academy.¡± ¡°Fufu... Of course.¡± Princess Violet added that, for certain reasons, she decided to remain at the academy for another year. ¡®She¡¯s planning to recruit more talent,¡¯ thought Kaylen. As the Supreme Mage, essentially the overall representative of the academy¡¯s magicians, it seemed Violet intended to leverage that authority. ¡°Thanks to you, the power of Glacia has calmed down since the last finals. It¡¯s late, but I want to express my gratitude.¡± Violet tapped lightly on the icy half-mask. In the past, Glacia¡¯s power was so overwhelming that it periodically burned her body. However, after absorbing a large amount of mana during the finals, her body no longer froze. ¡°You¡¯re too kind. Does this mean you no longer need the help of fire?¡±No?v(el)B\\jnn ¡°No. Glacia¡¯s power seems to be recovering little by little. In a few months, I¡¯ll likely need to manage it again.¡± ¡°I see.¡± An S-rank mana suit truly is remarkable. Despite the massive amount of mana absorbed, recovery seemed this rapid. Kaylen briefly observed Glacia. [When my power is fully restored, I will come to find you. Until then, remember one thing: live while concealing the power of the Dragon God¡¯s Sword as much as possible...] As Glacia hadn¡¯t yet fully regained her strength, she remained quiet even in Kaylen¡¯s presence. Princess Violet also seemed unaware of Kaylen¡¯s true nature. ¡°Lord Kaylen, how is life at the Tower of Fairies? I¡¯ve heard the elves treat their Meisters with great respect.¡± ¡°Since acquiring the mana suit, I¡¯ve been spending most of my time outside and haven¡¯t stayed at the tower for long.¡± ¡°I see...¡± The two exchanged lighthearted updates on their recent activities. Eventually, Princess Violet emptied her cup of cold tea and moved to the main topic. ¡°Lord Kaylen, what are your thoughts on our faction?¡± ¡°...Hmm.¡± Although he had been expecting the subject, Kaylen hesitated, feigning discomfort. ¡°I try not to involve myself in politics. I¡¯m affiliated with the Tower of Fairies, which maintains a neutral stance.¡± ¡°While the Tower of Fairies is politically neutral, that neutrality only applies to non-human races. It doesn¡¯t enforce neutrality on human Meisters.¡± When he remained silent, Princess Violet continued speaking. ¡°Lord Kaylen, the First Prince is the royal family¡¯s eldest son and legitimate heir. While Duke Oblaine is inciting the Second Prince to engage in subversive activities, those movements are fleeting.¡± Princess Violet¡¯s expression grew cold. ¡°The scales of power have already tipped in our favor. Most of the major towers support us. The Second Prince appears to be rallying the regional nobles, but the times have changed. The noble houses no longer hold sway.¡± This was the era led by the towers. Producing and supplying mana suits, as well as commanding numerous Meisters, the towers were at the core of power. Although noble houses operated their own Civil Squads, they couldn¡¯t compare to the mana suit-producing towers. With the towers¡¯ support, Princess Violet had reason to be confident. ¡°Furthermore, it¡¯s thanks to you, Lord Kaylen, that we¡¯ve gained even more support from the towers.¡± ¡°Me?¡± ¡°Yes. Because you allowed Glacia¡¯s full power to be displayed during the finals.¡± It had long been widely known that S-rank mana suits were extraordinary. However, no one had yet... No one truly understood the extent of the S-rank mana suit¡¯s power¡ªat least, not until the finals. ¡°Many of the towers that had previously reserved judgment have sent their support since the finals. After witnessing the power of the S-rank mana suit firsthand, they realized which side would benefit them most.¡± It was said that representatives of the towers shuddered as they watched Glacia¡¯s power turn the world into ice. Even for a mana suit, such power... What surprised them even more was that Kaylen survived the ordeal. This led them to conclude that Violet, despite wielding such immense power, had enough control to avoid causing harm. ¡°It¡¯s unfolding just as the headquarters warned about¡ªthe worst-case scenario.¡± When strange runes were discovered on a dungeon core, the guild¡¯s headquarters had issued a simple directive: Withdraw all Civil Squads and monitor the mana signals of the dungeon portals for one month. ¡°If the portals remain stable for a month, it¡¯s fine. But if they disappear...¡± Though headquarters had not gone into detail about what the ¡°big problem¡± was, Krundal remembered the warning clearly: ¡°We must not repeat the fates of Aldehar, Balan, or Cornes.¡± The three kingdoms mentioned were nations that had all fallen to monsters. To the public, their destruction was attributed to an inability to manage the increasing number of dungeon portals, leading to their annihilation. But now, Krundal began to doubt that narrative. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just the number of portals increasing... Could there have been another cause? And does this situation mirror that one?¡± Watching the fading mana signals, Krundal couldn¡¯t suppress his anxiety. At that moment, a brilliant white light poured down from the ceiling. From within the light, three knights clad in pristine white armor gradually appeared. ¡°Is this the Alzass branch?¡± A clear voice emerged from within the helm of the lead knight, who was entirely obscured. Krundal leapt from his seat and rushed toward them. ¡°Are you... Are you from headquarters?¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct. This is the Alzass branch, yes?¡± ¡°Yes! I¡¯m Krundal, the branch manager of Alzass.¡± ¡°Good. Now, the situation?¡± ¡°Over there...¡± The lead knight walked with measured steps toward the display board showing the fluctuating mana signals. Thud. Thud. ¡°Hm.¡± Without hesitation, the knight sat in Krundal¡¯s chair, as though it were his rightful place. ¡°The situation has already progressed. Branch manager.¡± ¡°Yes...¡± ¡°This nation¡ªhow useful is it?¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± How useful is the nation? Krundal, caught off guard by the knight¡¯s question, couldn¡¯t help but respond with confusion. "Are you saying whether it''s worth saving or not?" "Uh, no, I mean..." Krundal¡¯s mind went blank. Worth saving? He recalled the mention of the three fallen kingdoms by headquarters. Was the situation truly that dire? "Click. Are you a citizen of this country?" "Yes..." "Then evaluate it anyway," the white knight said coldly. "I¡¯ll give you one day. Determine if it¡¯s worth saving and, if so, explain why with evidence. If not, we will withdraw." Krundal tried to steady his thoughts in the face of such a declaration. If the white knights withdrew now, it would spell disaster. He had to keep them here, no matter what it took. "I¡¯ll prepare the materials." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 71 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 71 Swoosh. "So, this is the place where the owner of the S-class Mana Suit resides." "Yes, Princess Violet is the owner of the S-class Mana Suit, Glacia." Standing beside the white knight as he flipped through the report, Krundal maintained a respectful posture. "The number of magic towers is considerable." "The preservation of the territory is quite advanced." "The number and activity of the Civil Squads are also decent." The white knight nodded repeatedly, offering continuous positive assessments. ¡®Does this mean it¡¯s worth saving?¡¯ Just as Krundal breathed a quiet sigh of relief¡ª "Wait." The white knight¡¯s hand paused as he turned a page. "The Fairy Tower?" "Yes, it¡¯s a magic tower primarily run by elves." "Non-human species hold this much influence?" "Yes, their elemental magic is essential for crafting high-grade Mana Suits, so..." "That¡¯s the problem." "Excuse me?" "Why are they allowed to amass power as a faction instead of being directly managed under the tower?" The white knight shook his head in disapproval. It seemed to be a significant mark against the evaluation of the Bormian Kingdom. ¡®Why is this a problem?¡¯ Krundal felt a sense of unjust grievance. Though the Fairy Tower belonged to a different race, it had greatly contributed to the power of the Bormian Kingdom... Why is this considered a demerit? ¡°This one thing really doesn¡¯t sit well with me.¡± Rip! The White Knight tore out the report concerning the Fairy Tower and set it aside, as if to isolate it. Then, while reviewing the subsequent reports, the knight suddenly paused again. ¡°A talent of the Sixth Circle, is it?¡± At those words, Krundal¡¯s face lit up. ¡°Yes. This kingdom has a Meister with Sixth Circle talent!¡± ¡°But they are affiliated with the Fairy Tower, correct?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± The White Knight, frowning as they stared at the report, asked again. ¡°Are they a native of this kingdom?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Then, this kingdom is worth saving.¡± The White Knight, who had hesitated earlier due to the Fairy Tower, finally decided to spare the kingdom upon hearing about the Sixth Circle Meister. ¡®Thank goodness.¡¯ Just as Krundal breathed a quiet sigh of relief¡ª Fwaaaaaa! The White Knight¡¯s armor shone brilliantly white before vanishing entirely. In its place stood a silver-haired woman, dressed in a pure-white priestess¡¯s robe. ¡®What...¡¯ A stunningly beautiful woman with doll-like features. Her petite frame and youthful appearance made her seem like a young girl, but Krundal couldn¡¯t help but associate her with someone. ¡°L-Lady Saintess...¡± The Saintess, Theresia. The most prominent figure listed at the very top of the investigative records Krundal had received. He hadn¡¯t expected the White Knight, who arrived first, to turn out to be the Saintess herself. ¡°Branch Chief, I must meet this kingdom¡¯s king.¡± As she removed the armor, even her tone softened. Saintess Theresia smiled warmly at Krundal, a smile that embodied the very image of the Saintess as the world perceived her. Myorn¡¯s Laboratory ¡°Eldir, you were also a Sword Master?¡± Myorn, her voice filled with surprise, looked at Eldir standing before her. She had known him as a skilled Spirit Swordsman in his prime, but a Sword Master? ¡°Exactly. Speaking of which...¡± Whoosh. Myorn pulled out another gauntlet. Unlike the Normal, this one was black, inscribed with intricate and chaotic magic circles. ¡°This is a newly developed mana suit. I¡¯ve named it Expert.¡± ¡°From Normal to Expert, huh?¡± ¡°Yeah. After studying Drake¡¯s magic circles, I had an epiphany and decided to incorporate the concept.¡± She developed the Expert right after gaining insight from those magic circles? ¡®Impressive.¡¯ She¡¯d been criticized endlessly for only producing junk, yet... Eldir was reminded once again that Myorn was the Dwarf Queen. ¡°But even I feel like this one might be a bit dangerous. I was hesitant to let Alkas test it.¡± Eldir¡¯s expression turned incredulous. ¡°And yet, you think it¡¯s fine for me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a Sword Master, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Unbelievable. You said there was nothing to do, but clearly, you had something in mind all along.¡± ¡°There are tasks that even the drunken Eldir can¡¯t handle, after all.¡± So that¡¯s why she dangled the alcohol in front of him¡ªto test his resolve. Eldir smirked bitterly. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll repay the lessons I¡¯ve received from Lord Kaylen.¡± At the highest tower of the Magic Academy, in the conference room. All eight Superior Mages of this term were gathered. ¡°Let¡¯s begin the Eight Mages¡¯ Assembly.¡± The assembly, hosted by Superior Mages, was less a formal meeting and more of a social gathering¡ªa networking event for successful graduates. That had always been its purpose¡ªuntil this year. Present were Princess Violet, the Supreme Mage and a key figure in the faction of the first prince, and Lioness, the heir of the Oblaine Ducal House, which backed the second prince¡¯s faction. With major players from the increasingly hostile factions present, the atmosphere in the conference room was far from the usual friendly gathering. ¡°What brings you to host this assembly, Supreme Mage?¡± ¡°Hehe. Since when did we need a reason to hold the Eight Mages¡¯ Assembly? It¡¯s just an opportunity for the Superior Mages of this term to strengthen their camaraderie.¡± ¡°Oh? Does that mean you want to get closer to me as well?¡± ¡°No. I expected you to take the hint and not show up.¡± ¡°Apologies. I must¡¯ve missed that.¡± ¡°Indeed. Don¡¯t attend next time.¡± From the moment they met, Princess Violet and Lioness exchanged sharp words, setting a tense tone for the meeting. At Violet''s remark, the remaining Superior Mages exchanged uneasy glances, the tension in the room palpable. ¡®Judging by the atmosphere, this cohort is a lost cause. Building connections here will be tough.¡¯ ¡®Other cohorts used these meetings to form networks and thrive afterward... but this one?¡¯ ¡®Why on earth are those two in the same year? What bad luck.¡¯ To make matters worse, this cohort had an additional complication. ¡°Princess, are you telling me to leave? Kaylen, should I go?¡± Lioness said with feigned innocence. ¡°If you¡¯re going to leave, do so alone. Don¡¯t drag Lord Kaylen into it,¡± Violet snapped. ¡°I was just planning to leave with a close junior. Isn¡¯t that right, Kaylen?¡± ¡°Our relationship is far closer than yours,¡± Violet countered, her voice laced with determination. The room¡¯s focus shifted to Kaylen, a prodigious mage known for his natural aptitude with the Sixth Circle. Both major figures in the room had set their sights on him, leaving the rest of the attendees to awkwardly spectate. If Kaylen weren¡¯t present, the rivalry might have spurred a more heated competition for influence. Instead, the other Superior Mages felt like idle bystanders. ¡®What a mess.¡¯ Kaylen smirked internally, observing their behavior with quiet amusement. ¡®Seriously, what are they doing? This isn¡¯t a playground.¡¯ He finally broke the standoff. ¡°Enough. Let¡¯s take our seats.¡± As the tension between Violet and Lioness momentarily eased, Kaylen raised his hand to address Violet. ¡°Princess, does this mean there¡¯s no set agenda for today¡¯s meeting?¡± ¡°No, there is a topic,¡± Violet replied, her sharp gaze sweeping across the room. She paused for effect before continuing. ¡°You¡¯re all aware that the Dungeon Guild has recently suspended the Civil Squad¡¯s activities, correct?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the group responded in unison. ¡°And here¡¯s something new I¡¯ve just learned: the Saintess has made an appearance at the Dungeon Guild.¡± The room stirred at this unexpected revelation. The Saintess? Kaylen¡¯s eyes widened at the mention of the name, clearly caught off guard. ¡°This meeting¡¯s topic,¡± Violet declared, her voice clear and commanding, ¡°will begin with the Saintess and her connection to the Dungeon Guild.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 72 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 72 The Saintess. A heavenly envoy who appears whenever the Middle Realm faces an invasion from the Demon Realm. "Historically, the Saintess has only appeared when the Demon King invaded." Whenever the Demon King extended his claws toward the Middle Realm, the Saintess always emerged to protect humanity. Even during Kaylen¡¯s time as Ernstine, he had survived numerous fatal injuries thanks to the divine power of the Saintess. Her power was on a completely different level compared to the existing clergy of the Holy See. Because her divine power was so overwhelming, the Saintess would only appear when the world was in grave danger. ¡°So, this era must be dangerous enough to warrant the appearance of the Saintess.¡± The mana felt during dungeon subjugations, the energy emanating from the moon, and even the colonization symbols on dungeon cores¡ªthis era felt more ominous than the past when the Demon King descended. It was understandable that the Saintess had appeared. That was what Kaylen thought, until he heard her name. "Saintess Theresia..." "Theresia?" Theresia? Hearing that name, Kaylen was taken aback. "Theresia was a Saintess from the Meier Empire era..." Saintess Theresia, who had assisted Emperor Ernstine in the Demon King subjugation campaign. Theresia was the epitome of a Saintess¡ªbenevolent and compassionate. Her overwhelming divine power greatly aided the imperial army, saving countless lives. And now, her name was being mentioned a thousand years later? "Is it a mere coincidence?" Kaylen couldn¡¯t shake off a feeling of unease. ¡°As you all know, the Saintess rarely leaves the Sanctuary. When she personally appears, it means the situation is extremely dire.¡± ... ¡°Has the Saintess truly revealed herself?¡± ¡°Yes, Prince Lioness. You are aware of this, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°The Princess is correct. I¡¯ve also received the report.¡± The rivalry between the First Prince''s faction and the Second Prince''s faction briefly subsided as the topic shifted to the sudden appearance of the Saintess. ¡°I was already puzzled by the Dungeon Guild¡¯s recommendation for the Civil Squad to withdraw...¡± ¡°But for the Saintess herself to appear... How long has it been?¡± ¡°Over a century, at least.¡± ¡°Do you think the Sacred Army will also be dispatched from the Sanctuary?¡± The mages in attendance seemed well-versed in matters regarding the Saintess. Kaylen focused on the term ¡°over a century.¡± ¡°What kind of person is the Saintess?¡± ¡°Theresia?¡± Princess Violet looked puzzled by his question, as if wondering why he would ask something so obvious. It was clear he wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with Saintess Theresia, so she seemed curious about the intent behind his question. ¡°Yes. She just feels like a figure out of legend to me.¡± ¡°She is a legend. After all, she¡¯s been around since a thousand years ago.¡± Lioness interjected, answering in her stead. Those words made Kaylen¡¯s eyes grow calm, darkened by a heavy realization. The unease he felt turned out to be true. ¡°Theresia is alive.¡± Saintess Theresia. A girl with radiant white hair and a divine beauty. She was destined to live in a fifteen-year-old¡¯s body, never aging, for a hundred years before passing on to the heavens. But now... A thousand years later, she was still alive? ¡°The Saintess usually slumbers in the Sanctuary but awakens to protect humanity when they are in danger.¡± ¡°She¡¯s already saved more than ten kingdoms. Without the Saintess and the Sacred Army of the Sanctuary, humanity might have perished long ago.¡± ¡°If she only appears during times of great danger... does that mean the kingdom is in peril now?¡± ¡°Yes. While her presence is reassuring and dependable, it is also a warning. The fact that she has revealed herself...¡± The Saintess¡¯s appearance signified a monumental crisis. Considering how the Dungeon Guild had suddenly ordered the Civil Squad to retreat, and the sequence of events that followed, it was clear that something dire was unfolding. ¡°Was the writing found in the dungeon core that serious?¡± The words [Colony ¨C Subjugation] ... Did it mean that the Demon Realm intended to subjugate this colony? ¡°They already knew.¡± It was clear that both the Saintess and the Dungeon Guild headquarters were already aware of the meaning behind those words. ¡°If a crisis is imminent... will I draw my sword or not?¡± Analyzing the remnants of the Demon Realm¡¯s drakes and magic circles, Kaylen recognized a fatal weakness in the current Meister system. The magical barriers designed to defend against lower-circle spells were ineffective against the threats of this era. The present age of mages, with knights long fallen from prominence, had no answers. In this system, where not even a 6th-circle mage existed, their defenses were insufficient to repel an attack. ¡°There will undoubtedly come a time when the power of Aura is necessary.¡± "Grrrr..." The sight of the massive drake and the intricate, high-level magic circle etched onto its body made Irene immediately abandon her previous resolution. ¡®That magic circle... there¡¯s no way I can let it slip by!¡¯ In all her long years of life, she had never seen such a magic circle before. Compared to the value of that magic circle, things like lodging and food were insignificant. In fact, she felt they should be the ones paying a fortune just to be allowed to analyze it. "Analyze the characteristics of the magic circle thoroughly and share the findings with me. All I know is that it¡¯s a magic circle from the Demon Realm designed to block great spells." "Ah, such a magic circle..." "You can publish the findings later under the name of the Fairy Tower. However, make sure to disclose it widely and not use it for commercial purposes." "What?! W-We can publish it under our name?" If they managed to properly research this magic circle from the Demon Realm and present the findings to the magical academia, it would cause a significant stir. And now they were being allowed to publish it under the name of the Fairy Tower? This was an extraordinary discovery of the century. "It¡¯s... an honor." Irene and the elf researchers got to work immediately. Scrub. Scrub. They summoned water spirits to quietly clean the mansion. "I¡¯ll sleep outside." The elves, familiar with the forest, slept outdoors. In this way, they gradually adapted to life in the decrepit mansion... "Lady Irene?" "Yes?" Lost in thought about her dealings with Kaylen, Irene had paused her work for a moment. When Royen cautiously asked, she withdrew her hand from the drake¡¯s scales as if nothing had happened. "Yes, for now. Please let the drake know it¡¯s done well." "Understood. Thank you." As Royen extended his hand, a soft light glimmered from the magic circle etched on his body. The drake soon shrank to about the size of a horse. Irene stepped back to observe the scene, her eyes drawn to the magic circle on Royen¡¯s body. "By the way... what effects does your magic circle have, Sir Royen?" "M-Me?" When Irene asked, Royen blushed and wrapped his arms around himself as if embarrassed by the magic circle on his body. "I-I don¡¯t really know. My brother mentioned something, but..." "What did he say?" "Ah, well..." Royen started to speak but quickly closed his mouth. Should I even talk about this? As he hesitated, Irene gave him a sidelong glance. "Oh, my. What exactly does this magic circle do?" "I¡¯m curious too." "Sir Royen~ Won¡¯t you tell us?" At that moment, the female elves around Royen swarmed him, coaxing him with playful charm. These were no ordinary women¡ªeach elf was an unparalleled beauty. Among them, the ones Royen had often stolen glances at took the lead. "U-Uh..." Having grown accustomed to human society, the elves had begun to wield their natural beauty like a weapon. They didn¡¯t need to say much; a single gesture was enough. Suddenly overwhelmed, Royen¡¯s face turned bright red, and he lost his composure, unable to find the words to respond. ¡®I-I shouldn¡¯t say anything...¡¯ At that moment¡ª "Stop teasing him." A savior appeared. "Lord Kaylen." "Have you finished analyzing the drake¡¯s magic circle? You seem curious about Royen¡¯s as well." "T-That¡¯s not it... I was just curious..." "Hmm." Kaylen approached Royen, whose face was still crimson. Looking closely, the magic circle on Royen¡¯s body seemed optimized for fire mana. While not as crucial as the drake¡¯s magic circle... ¡®It might actually be more useful to me right now.¡¯ For Kaylen, who needed to forge a fire blade, the magic circle generating fire mana was of significant importance. "Royen." "Yes?" Still¡ª "For the sake of analyzing the magic circle..." Kaylen paused. "Would you mind... removing it?" [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 73 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 73 Fwoooosh¡ª The world was ablaze. "That dream again." A dream she''d had countless times. Saint Theresia knew exactly how it would unfold. "The Infernal Duke will appear." As soon as she thought that, a massive demon of flames rose before her eyes. "Your Holiness! It''s dangerous!" "Take shelter!" The holy knights protecting the saint fought fiercely against the demons, but... "Arghhh!" The infernal demon was too powerful. Flames soared high into the heavens. One by one, the holy knights were consumed, unable to withstand the blazing inferno. "I don''t want to see those deaths anymore." The holy knights, who were more devout than anyone else, burned and perished before her eyes. Saint Theresia''s heart grew heavy as she watched. This dream always began the same way¡ªwith their deaths. "Die, Saint." Fwoooosh. Fwoooosh. Every step the infernal demon took set the earth ablaze. The temple where the saint resided was already reduced to ashes, and the flames stretched endlessly into the sky. "Infernal Duke...! The Heavenly God will deliver divine punishment upon you!" "Kuhahaha! The Heavenly God? I am fire that will burn the heavens themselves. How dare you speak of divine punishment?" Saint Theresia trembled uncontrollably. And the Infernal Duke, brimming with confidence in his victory. In the dream, she looked upon the scene with a weariness that bordered on disgust. She had already faced this moment of crisis hundreds of times. Though she defiantly shouted at the Infernal Duke, deep inside, the fear of death loomed, and she desperately wanted to plead for her life. And then¡ª The Path of Six Swords Fifth Sword, Genesis The world lost its light. Only the area surrounding the Infernal Duke, made of pure flames, glowed faintly, like a torch in a cavern. Everywhere else was engulfed in complete darkness. "Hero... You¡¯ve arrived already..." The Infernal Duke burned even brighter, his fiery form growing more intense. He needed to kill the saint as quickly as possible now that the hero had appeared. But within the heavens and earth, where darkness reigned, light erupted. "The... Genesis Blade..." The blade that vanquished all demons and swept away the darkness. The blade of Genesis, which absorbed all the light of the world, descended upon the infernal demon. Shiiing! The massive form of the Infernal Duke, made entirely of flames, was cut down in a single stroke. The Genesis Blade, which illuminated the heavens and earth anew, carried with it a sanctity that no demon of the underworld could ever overcome. ¡ªHow... How could this be...? Was it always this powerful...? "Disappear." Fwoosh! The blade of light carved a massive arc. As the sword grazed the Infernal Duke¡¯s body, his form shattered instantly into thousands of fragments and vanished. The Infernal Duke, a being of absolute power forged from the flames of hell, was obliterated in a single strike. Moments later, the hero, Ernstine, landed beside Theresia. "Theresia. Are you alright?" "Y-you, my lord hero..." The hero who had saved her from the brink of death¡ªErnstine. As a Superior Mage, skipping classes was hardly an issue. At the library of the Magic Academy, Kaylen began his usual routine of looking through magic spells. ¡®Since magic as a discipline emerged 3,000 years ago, it seems humanity hasn¡¯t created many new spells.¡¯ Three millennia ago, mages had established the Rune spell system and developed magic up to the 8th Circle. While countless spells were recorded during the early days, hardly any new spells had been created since. ¡®No wonder my attempts to create clean magic didn¡¯t succeed.¡¯ Clean magic. Easier said than done. It involved dispersing dust, washing with water, and drying¡ªall requiring the manipulation of wind, water, and fire elements. Kaylen had suggested developing a spell simple enough for low-circle mages to use, given how researchers rarely bothered to clean. But now he understood why even the emperor¡¯s decree hadn¡¯t led to its success. ¡®The 5th Circle magic runes are absurdly long. Do mages actually memorize all this to manifest their imagery?¡¯ Kaylen shook his head as he studied the lengthy runes required for a single spell. ¡®Then again, the magic we use today originally required even longer incantations.¡¯ Take the 3rd Circle Fireball spell, for instance. In the past, it began with an extensive chant like ¡®Oh blazing flames that burn with ferocity...¡¯ By Chanting the Runes, the Form of Fireball Took Shape. Reciting the runes aloud allowed mages to construct imagery, resulting in the proper formation of a Fireball spell. Skilled Meisters, having already established a deep connection to fire, could cast spells by uttering only the activation phrase, but this applied only to a single element. For other elemental spells, they either lacked proficiency or had to chant lengthy runes. Of course, Kaylen was different. ¡®Compared to wielding the Six Blades, understanding mana attributes at this level is trivial.¡¯ As a Grand Swordmaster who had mastered six elemental blades within his mana hall, his insights naturally extended to magic. ¡®For spells up to the 5th Circle, I can manage with just the activation phrase.¡¯ At present, however, his body only carried two mana circles, limiting him to 4th Circle spells. Once he expanded to three circles, higher-circle magic would soon be within reach. ¡®Though, casting 6th Circle spells will require some research.¡¯ The 6th Circle spells were fundamentally different from lower-circle spells. For starters, there wasn¡¯t a single spell in the 6th Circle based on a single element. While Kaylen, who seamlessly combined multiple elements with his Six Blade Path, could handle multi-element spells with ease, casting such high-tier spells was a different matter altogether. ¡®Casting 6th Circle spells while managing the mana circles seems like an entirely different challenge.¡¯ This would require thorough analysis of rune structures. The incantation alone seemed like it would take at least ten minutes. ¡®No wonder mages lock themselves in their labs.¡¯ The more one understood a spell, the shorter the casting time became. Mages secluded themselves in their research labs, striving to master each spell¡¯s nuances. Recalling the many archmages of his past life, Kaylen gave a wry smile. ¡®I should prepare before expanding my mana circles.¡¯ The two mana circles engraved in his body were nearing completion, with a third slowly forming as his mastery of the Six Blades advanced. Once his mastery of the Fire Blade improved, the third circle would soon materialize. Kaylen headed to the library to find books on higher-circle spells. In his previous era, books on high-circle spells were invaluable treasures, far too rare to be found in any library. But now, with no one left capable of using spells above the 6th Circle, these ancient tomes were stored like relics in the academy¡¯s restricted section. With his Superior Mage authority, Kaylen entered the restricted area. ¡®How about I study Blizzard today?¡¯ He pulled out a hefty tome from the shelves. [A Complete Analysis of Blizzard by Archmage Pieto.] The 500-page book analyzed just one spell. It first detailed the extensive casting process for Blizzard, then broke down each rune, examining how to shorten the casting time from the archmage¡¯s perspective. ¡®To think I¡¯d learn from a mage I once defeated.¡¯ Archmage Pieto had been a troublesome opponent during the Continental Unification War. His Blizzard spell had caused massive casualties in the Meier Empire¡¯s army. Though a remarkable talent, Pieto had been an obstacle Kaylen had no choice but to eliminate. ¡®Pieto, you were of no help while alive, but now you¡¯re proving useful. I¡¯ll make good use of your teachings.¡¯ Kaylen borrowed the book and exited the restricted section. Determined to master its contents, he settled at a library desk and began to read. But just as he opened the tome, a loud voice interrupted him. ¡°Kaylen! Hah... hah... So here you are!¡± It was Krundal, the head of the Dungeon Guild branch. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 74 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 74 ¡°Hah... hah... I went to the dorms, but you weren¡¯t there... Turns out the library was the right place to check.¡± ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t really need to attend classes. But what brings you here?¡± ¡°The Saintess... the Saintess wishes to see you.¡± ¡°The Saintess?¡± Kaylen blinked. ¡°Are you talking about Lady Theresia?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why is she looking for me?¡± ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s because of your talent for 6th Circle magic...¡± Krundal glanced at the book Kaylen had borrowed. [A Complete Analysis of Blizzard by Archmage Pieto.] ¡°Blizzard... a 6th Circle spell, and he¡¯s already reading this?¡± Even if he had talent for 6th Circle magic, starting advanced study so early... and on a 6th Circle spell, no less? ¡°This must be why they call him a genius.¡± Krundal was inwardly impressed. No matter how talented Kaylen was, he hadn¡¯t even reached the 5th Circle yet. It was astonishing. ¡°So this is what it means for a great tree to show promise even as a sapling.¡± ¡°What does my 6th Circle talent have to do with her wanting to see me?¡± ¡°After hearing about you, the Saintess said she wishes to grant you her blessing.¡± ¡°A blessing?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ...Could that be true? Kaylen recalled his past life as Ernstine. The Saintess¡¯s Blessing was also known as the Celestial Blessing. It was the ultimate blessing the Saintess had bestowed upon Ernstine, the Hero, during the Great War against the Demon King¡¯s Army. Even for a Grand Swordmaster like Ernstine, the Celestial Blessing had been incredibly effective. Whether or not he received the blessing had significantly impacted the speed at which he subdued the Demon King¡¯s Army. But the blessing had one fatal flaw: its duration was far too short. ¡ª¡°Saintess, can¡¯t you extend the duration of the blessing? Having to come back for it every three days is terribly inconvenient.¡± ¡ª¡°Hero, do you think Celestial Blessings are easy to grant? Even lasting three days is impressive.¡± ¡ª¡°Still, having to return every three days wastes so much time. Isn¡¯t there a version that lasts longer, even if it¡¯s less effective?¡± Because of the blessing, Ernstine always had to stay close to the Saintess. After the Archduke of the Flame Demon Realm targeted her and failed, Ernstine had to personally guard her during their travels. This was a major inconvenience for someone who needed to intervene across the entire continent. ¡ª¡°There¡¯s no such thing. All my blessings last for three days, no more.¡± ¡ª¡°Must be uncomfortable meeting an old guy like me so often. Try developing one that lasts longer.¡± ¡ª¡°I-it¡¯s fine. Even if you¡¯re an old man...¡± ¡ª¡°Oh? Is it really fine?¡± ¡ª¡°W-well, it¡¯s because of the Demon King. I have no choice.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way the Saintess lied.¡± The Celestial Agent of the gods wouldn¡¯t do that. Did she somehow learn how to grant a longer-lasting blessing over time? ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s go.¡± Kaylen immediately accepted the Saintess¡¯s invitation. He had always wanted to meet Saintess Theresia if the opportunity arose. ¡°Yes, I will escort you.¡± Saintess Theresia was in for a shock. ¡°Why... is this person here?¡± A dream where the Hero, Ernstine, had gallantly rescued her. And now, the one who had ruined that memory stood right in front of her. ¡°Saintess, I¡¯ve brought Kaylen.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve done well.¡± Although Theresia was inwardly startled, she didn¡¯t let it show. Instead, she maintained a benevolent smile and gestured gently toward Kaylen. ¡°Please, have a seat here, Kaylen.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And Branch Leader... could you step out for a moment?¡± ¡°Understood.¡± At her soft voice, Krundal felt an involuntary chill run down his spine. Theresia clasped her hands together and closed her eyes. Her silver hair began to glow, and overwhelming divine power radiated from her entire being. ¡°Kaylen, you will gain unyielding vitality that will not falter no matter what you do... and the ability to heal your wounds.¡± It had been mere moments since he sat down, yet the Saintess began pouring her blessing onto him without delay. Her divine power surged toward Kaylen like a tidal wave. ¡°I can¡¯t discern everything by just looking. I need to use divine power to confirm... to ensure he isn¡¯t a seed of the Demon Realm.¡± The immense divine power coursed through Kaylen¡¯s body, inspecting every corner. To the uninformed, it would have been a sacred and awe-inspiring experience, as the divine energy enveloped their body and filled them with vitality. But Kaylen wasn¡¯t uninformed. "She¡¯s probing me." He was relieved that he had already diluted the energies of his Light Blade and Dark Blade. Taking it a step further, he completely suppressed his strongest weapon, the Water Blade, enveloping it with mana to ensure no traces of his true power could be detected. He surrounded the remaining elemental energies with water mana, camouflaging them from divine detection. Fwaaa! The light emanating from Theresia¡¯s hair grew even brighter, and her divine power delved deeper into Kaylen¡¯s body. "His body... it¡¯s far from ordinary." It was almost like that of a seasoned knight, with not a single obstruction in his mana flow. The pathways for mana flow were wide open, making its circulation incredibly smooth. Even so, Theresia couldn¡¯t fully discern the intricacies of Kaylen¡¯s mana body. That was because Kaylen had quickly filled the spacious, open mana channels in his body to make them appear like a standard mana circuit. "Theresia... just examine me lightly, will you? This is getting tedious." Rather than receiving a blessing, Kaylen felt like he was solving a bothersome puzzle. Keeping his eyes closed and maintaining a reverent demeanor, he skillfully guided Theresia¡¯s divine power into the fake mana circuits he had created. Finally¡ª "The structure is peculiar, like a knight¡¯s mana circuit... but there¡¯s no trace of dark energy." Despite her millennium of experience, Theresia was ultimately fooled by the seasoned expertise of a former Grandmaster from a past life. As the divine light dimmed, Theresia opened her eyes. "Oh, Heavenly Father above, allow us to take another step forward." Whoosh! A radiant burst of light erupted from Kaylen¡¯s body. The divine energy Theresia had imbued into him seamlessly merged with his being, making his body feel noticeably lighter. "Impressive." It was rare for the physique of a Swordmaster to improve further. Yet, the vitality coursing through him was so remarkable that he felt he could go days without sleep. And now, he¡¯d gained the ability to heal wounds on top of that? Truly, this was the work of someone who had lived for a thousand years. ¡°How do you feel?¡± Theresia asked. ¡°My body feels light. I almost feel like I could fly,¡± Kaylen replied. ¡°Fufu, that effect will last for a year.¡± In the past, such blessings would only last three days. "Truly... remarkable." Kaylen marveled inwardly, looking down at his body in awe. ¡°Thank you so much,¡± he said, bowing his head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. In truth, during the blessing process, I unintentionally ended up examining your body. I sincerely apologize for that.¡± ¡°Y-You did?¡± ¡°Yes. Normally, when blessing mages, divine power struggles to flow through their bodies. But your body... it was different. It was as if your mana circuits belonged to a seasoned knight¡ªmana flowed effortlessly through them.¡± ¡°Ah, is that so? How strange. I¡¯m just a Meister, after all,¡± Kaylen said, feigning ignorance with a shrug. Theresia gazed into his eyes for a moment, but she decided not to press further. After all, if he claimed ignorance, there was no way for her to dig deeper. "Well, this isn¡¯t the most important matter right now." The critical issue was recruiting the talent of a Sixth-Circle Meister. Theresia shifted to the main topic. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that you were the one to retrieve the problematic dungeon core this time.¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct,¡± Kaylen replied. ¡°You¡¯ve deciphered the text inside as well, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Are you referring to ¡®Colony¡¯?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Well done.¡± At Theresia¡¯s signal, a White Knight stepped forward and placed the dungeon core gently on the table. [Colony ¨C Subjugation] Theresia spoke solemnly. ¡°Our world... has already been conquered.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 75 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 75 A Conquered World. Kaylen had vaguely suspected this might be the case. Above all, the crimson dot that appeared on the moon when the dungeon core was destroyed served as evidence to support her suspicion. The light emanating from the moon absorbed the mana of the world. ¡°Conquered... Are you saying the term ¡®colony¡¯ is true?¡± However, without revealing her assumptions outwardly, Kaylen feigned surprise. ¡°Yes. Hundreds of years ago... the Celestial Realm suffered a decisive defeat to the Demon Realm.¡± The Celestial Realm and the Demon Realm. The two worlds had long been antagonistic, vying for dominance over the Middle Realm caught in between. Despite this rivalry, the two forces always maintained a balance, with neither side gaining an overwhelming advantage. However, by a slight margin, the Celestial Realm had been in a better position. This was because they were the first to spread the faith of the Celestial God in the Middle Realm, leading the majority of its inhabitants to worship the Celestial God. The Demon Realm, displeased by this, had always invaded whenever the opportunity arose, only to be thwarted every time¡ªuntil the event mentioned by the saintess. ¡°What was the decisive defeat?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the details. All I know is that as a result of the defeat, the Celestial Realm lost much of its dominance over the Middle Realm, and the Celestial Legion retreated.¡± Kaylen furrowed her brows at those words. ¡°The retreat of the Celestial Legion...?¡± The Celestial Legion was a heavenly army stationed at the borders of the Middle Realm. They served as a defensive line against full-scale invasions from the Demon Realm. The defense line was so formidable that no demonic forces had ever dared to confront it head-on. ¡®That¡¯s why they resorted to tactics like the Demon King¡¯s descent.¡¯ The Demon King¡¯s Descent¡ªa method to bypass the defensive line using demonic agents in the Middle Realm. Occurring roughly once every thousand years, the descent of the Demon King was a calamity for humanity. Even so, past heroes had successfully thwarted these descents. But to think that instead of a detour, the Demon Realm forces would break through the Celestial Army head-on... If that were the case, the influence of the Celestial Realm in the Middle Realm would have nearly vanished. ¡®Then humanity alone cannot fend off the Demon Realm.¡¯ How could they overcome the power that even drove away the Celestial Legion? It was a wonder the human world was still standing. ¡°Why haven¡¯t they annihilated humanity? With the Celestial Legion gone, it should be possible.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need for them to do so.¡± Theresia responded while fiddling with the dungeon core. ¡°Humans without the Celestial Realm¡¯s blessing pose no threat to the Demon Realm. It¡¯s as if they don¡¯t even care. Instead, they exploit something else in the Middle Realm.¡± ¡°Exploitation...?¡± ¡°Mana. Through dungeon portals and dungeon cores, they extract the mana of the Middle Realm. The decline in the level of knights and mages is largely due to this.¡± Kaylen nodded in understanding. ¡°And it¡¯s the same for our Holy See. The Demon Realm has never directly invaded the Holy See since the Great Demon War a thousand years ago, but due to the lack of divine power, we¡¯ve been on the path of decline.¡± Even so, to never invade the Holy See even once? Kaylen¡¯s eyes flashed with curiosity. ¡®Surely, the Holy See would be the most bothersome organization to the Demon Realm?¡¯ The Holy Emperor, Saint Sovereign, representing the followers of the Celestial God. And the countless priests and holy knights under their command. The Holy See, fortified by its fervent faith, served as the representative of the Celestial Realm¡¯s will in the Middle Realm. Even if the Demon Realm had conquered the Middle Realm, the Holy See was undeniably a potential threat capable of turning the tide at any time. And yet, it had been left untouched? ¡°That can¡¯t be right.¡± During the Demon King¡¯s summoning, the Demon King¡¯s army had relentlessly attacked the Holy See. While other humans could be ignored as the saintess had said, the Holy See was different. The Demon Realm wouldn¡¯t have simply let them be, especially because of the existence of the Holy Sword. The Holy Sword Astella.No?v(el)B\\jnn ¡°Kaylen,¡± she called, her voice now softer and sweeter, perhaps due to the Blessing¡¯s influence. ¡°About the most important thing I mentioned earlier... aren¡¯t you curious?¡± ¡°T-The most important thing... about the Sanctuary? Y-Yes, I¡¯m curious,¡± Kaylen stammered on purpose. Theresia smiled warmly at his response and said, ¡°The Sanctuary is... paradise for humans. Those chosen may live there for eternity.¡± ¡°Eternity...?¡± ¡°Yes, for eternity. Just like me, who has already lived a thousand years.¡± *** Outside the Dungeon Guild ¡°Kaylen! Kaylen!¡± Branch Leader Krundal approached Kaylen, who stood motionless outside the guild. ¡°Ah, yes, Branch Leader.¡± ¡°You... forgot your book.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Lost in thought, Kaylen accepted the spellbook Krundal handed him. ¡°What kind of conversation could leave someone like him forgetting a spellbook?¡± Krundal couldn¡¯t fathom it. Kaylen, widely regarded as a once-in-a-generation genius, forgetting something as fundamental as a spellbook? It was almost inconceivable. ¡°What could they have talked about?¡± Krundal briefly wondered but soon dismissed the thought. ¡°Better not get too involved.¡± There was an unspoken rule among Dungeon Guild branch leaders: Never pry too deeply into the affairs of the Dungeon Guild Headquarters. This rule applied even more when the matter involved someone as prominent as the saintess herself. Suppressing his curiosity, Krundal bowed slightly. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± ¡°Yes, go ahead,¡± Kaylen replied. As soon as the spellbook was handed over, Krundal quickly retreated into the Dungeon Guild building. Watching him disappear, Kaylen reflected on the earlier conversation. ¡°Oh my, look at the time. Let¡¯s continue this conversation another time,¡± Theresia had said, deftly bringing the topic of eternal life to an abrupt close. Her calculated pacing was the mark of someone practiced in persuasion. ¡°Ah, and remember, what we talked about today is a secret. Understood?¡± At that moment, the Blessing of Life surged within Kaylen. It urged him to keep their conversation confidential, as though planting the thought in his mind that this secret must remain buried. ¡°So, she¡¯s not entirely carefree after all.¡± She, too, had a safeguard¡ªher trust bolstered by the subtle control exerted through the blessing. ¡°A versatile tool, this so-called blessing.¡± Kaylen let out a wry smile. The saintess, who had lived for a thousand years, could subtly manipulate emotions and tempt people with the promise of eternal life... ¡°Cult leaders also lure followers with the promise of immortality, and now even the saintess resorts to such tactics. How ironic.¡± Yet, he couldn¡¯t deny its effectiveness. The saintess, having lived a millennium and proving her own immortality, carried immense credibility. And who among humanity could resist the allure of eternal life? Even Kaylen wasn¡¯t entirely disinterested. However, his intrigue wasn¡¯t for his own immortality. What fascinated him was how the saintess and the people of the Sanctuary had achieved such longevity. ¡°The Sanctuary... once you enter, leaving seems nearly impossible.¡± No matter how sanctified the place might seem, Kaylen doubted its purity. Without proper preparation, stepping into that realm could spell disaster. And preparation meant ensuring he had the absolute strength to overcome any restrictions. ¡°I¡¯ll need to accelerate the growth of the Flame Sword.¡± The key to his readiness lay in mastering the Flame Sword [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 76 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 76 Several weeks had passed. ¡°Something¡¯s strange...¡± Saintess Theresia watched Kaylen with a mix of curiosity and doubt. ¡°By now, he should be asking if he can join the Sanctuary himself.¡± She had been dropping hints steadily, meeting with Kaylen once a week to subtly emphasize the greatness of the Sanctuary. ¡°Oh, how impressive.¡± ¡°To live forever...¡± Yet, Kaylen only offered polite admiration, never broaching the subject of joining on his own. By this point in her interactions with others, most would be pleading to join, asking if they too could enter the Sanctuary. The awe instilled by her Blessing combined with the allure of eternal youth had always worked without fail. ¡°The blessing is working properly, isn¡¯t it?¡± Kaylen¡¯s eyes gleamed with reverence and respect whenever he looked at her. The blessing¡¯s effects were evident, ensuring his attitude wasn¡¯t the problem. ¡°Could it be that he¡¯s hesitant to bring it up himself?¡± It wasn¡¯t unheard of. Some people, overwhelmed by reverence, doubted their worthiness. ¡°Can someone as insignificant as me dare to live in the Sanctuary with the Saintess herself?¡± Was Kaylen one of those? Even setting aside his unparalleled talent, he was still in his early twenties. A lack of worldly experience could explain such hesitation. ¡°Perhaps I overdid it with the blessing. I should emphasize things further.¡± She couldn¡¯t directly invite him to join. Admission to the Sanctuary required a declaration of intent from the individual. Forcing or pressuring someone into joining diminished the efficacy of their commitment. ¡°Kaylen,¡± Theresia addressed him softly. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°You¡¯re aware, aren¡¯t you, that dungeon portals across the kingdom have been disappearing?¡± ¡°Yes, I¡¯ve heard about it.¡± One by one, dungeon portals had vanished, and the monsters that once surrounded them disappeared into the void. For the common people who had suffered from the monsters, this was a cause for celebration and festivals. But those in higher positions were treating the phenomenon with suspicion. The saintess¡¯s sudden appearance, coupled with the portals disappearing of their own accord, made the situation feel like the calm before a storm. Kaylen had been hearing similar reports from envoys of various royal factions. ¡°Soon, the Demon Realm¡¯s invasion will begin,¡± Theresia said gravely. ¡°They¡¯ll come to eradicate the ¡®colonies.¡¯¡± ¡°The colonies... eradicated...¡± ¡°This kingdom will face an unprecedented catastrophe. Countless lives will be lost, and the very survival of the nation will be at stake.¡± ¡°We, the Holy Army, will assist the kingdom as much as we can. But if the devastation becomes too great, we may be forced to retreat.¡± Theresia¡¯s voice turned cold as she continued, ¡°The Sanctuary is humanity¡¯s last bastion. If forced to choose between saving the kingdom or preserving the Sanctuary... we will choose the latter.¡± Kaylen frowned. ¡°How will the colony eradication proceed?¡± ¡°Allow me to show you.¡± Theresia gestured with her hand, and a glowing circle appeared in the air. The circle transformed into a map, displaying the territory of the Bormian Kingdom. ¡°Dungeon portals haven¡¯t disappeared,¡± she explained. ¡°They¡¯ve merely relocated. Do you see these twisted black zones?¡± ¡°Northeast, is it?¡± ¡°Yes. Soon, all the vanished dungeon portals will be summoned here, in one place.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Kaylen pondered. If all the portals scattered across the kingdom reappeared in a single location, the number of monsters would be staggering. Even considering the sheer numbers alone, the situation was bound to be overwhelming. ¡°But if it¡¯s just monsters being summoned,¡± Theresia added, ¡°the Meisters should be able to handle them. Even I recognize the firepower of the Meisters.¡± ¡°Then...¡± Kaylen began. ¡°The issue lies with the demonic generals leading the monster legions,¡± she continued. ¡°Demonic generals...¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. That guy¡¯s a monster,¡± Myorn replied dismissively. ¡°Even monsters would probably be reduced to ashes at this scale.¡± ¡°This is the same guy who survived Glacia¡¯s onslaught. He¡¯ll be fine.¡± ¡°Ugh... still...¡± Kaylen overheard Myorn and Irene¡¯s conversation as he approached the massive magic circle. To ensure the Flame Sword¡¯s completion, Kaylen had enlisted Myorn, who was developing the Mana Suit, to construct the magic circle. Initially, Myorn had been reluctant: ¡°Do we really have to do this now? I feel like I could make significant progress on the Mana Suit instead.¡± Kaylen, however, knew how to persuade him: ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you like to enhance your fire elemental abilities?¡± ¡°The method you suggested involves freezing me to awaken the fire mana within, doesn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. But these days, the amount of fire mana we¡¯ve extracted is diminishing in effect, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I suppose it is.¡± ¡°Then it¡¯s time to replenish the fire. If we complete the magic circle on Royen, it¡¯ll benefit your elemental abilities as well.¡± ¡°...Really? So after extracting fire mana from my body, we¡¯re putting fire back in?¡± In the end, Kaylen¡¯s argument won Myorn over. With Myorn¡¯s expertise in fire mana, the analysis of the magic circle on Royen¡¯s body accelerated. Kaylen had made one clear request: ¡°Focus solely on firepower. Forget stability¡ªjust ensure it ignites.¡± The result was a magic circle designed purely for destructive output. Of course, such single-minded emphasis came with significant risks. ¡°I wish we had more time to refine this,¡± Irene muttered, gazing at the massive and incomplete magic circle with a mixture of regret and apprehension. The circle emphasized raw firepower but was woefully incomplete in every other regard. The magic circle engraved on Royen¡¯s body hadn¡¯t been fully analyzed yet. ¡°We can make up for the missing elements with mana stones, but...¡± Irene¡¯s eyes fell on the countless mana stones embedded throughout the massive magic circle. There are just too many! ¡°Why? Feeling stingy about the mana stones?¡± Myorn teased. ¡°Ugh... Yes, I am! There are 256 of them embedded in this thing! I told you we should analyze the magic circle more thoroughly before activating it!¡± Irene snapped. ¡°There¡¯s no time,¡± Myorn replied casually. ¡°And with all the money the Magic Tower has, why are you so worked up?¡± ¡°Do you even know how we saved that money? We scraped and pinched every bit we could¡ªcarefully managing our resources! Not everyone spends money recklessly in the name of experiments like you do!¡± Irene¡¯s voice rose as she vented her frustration. While Kaylen had contributed some of his personal wealth, the majority of the mana stones had been funded by the Fairy Tower. Especially through one person in particular. ¡°Oh, come on, stop with the nagging, spinster,¡± Myorn said with a grin. ¡°AHH! Brother! Whose side are you on?!¡± Irene glared at Eldir, her anger mounting. ¡°I¡¯m the one who contributed to the Magic Tower, remember? Just stop complaining and get the activation ready,¡± Eldir retorted. The activation of the grand magic circle required a tremendous amount of mana stones. Eldir had leveraged his contributions to the Magic Tower to secure these resources, but Irene... ¡°No! Absolutely not! I used my personal savings to get these stones!¡± ¡°...What?¡± Eldir blinked in surprise. Irene turned her blazing gaze toward him. ¡°You¡¯ve done so much for the Magic Tower as a member of the Elven Guard. There¡¯s no way I¡¯d let them exchange your contributions for mere mana stones. I used my savings instead.¡± To Irene, her brother¡¯s dedication and sacrifices weren¡¯t something that could be reduced to a monetary transaction. So, to ensure his contributions remained untouched, she had emptied her personal reserves, money she had painstakingly saved for the future, to secure the mana stones. But Eldir, oblivious to his sister¡¯s feelings, simply grinned cheerfully. ¡°Wow, you¡¯re richer than I thought. If you had that much money, why didn¡¯t you buy me better drinks when we went out? What were you even saving it for?¡± Crack. Irene ground her teeth audibly. Her gaze burned as she turned to Kaylen, who had just arrived. ¡°Kaylen, you¡¯re here.¡± ¡°Ah, yes, Irene.¡± ¡°Please... please... make sure this magic circle is a success.¡± Kaylen gave a strained smile. He had lightly requested Eldir¡¯s help but hadn¡¯t anticipated that Irene would end up sacrificing her wealth for this. ¡°I¡¯ll make sure it¡¯s worth the investment,¡± Kaylen assured her. With deliberate steps, he walked to the center of the massive magic circle. ¡°Activate the magic circle,¡± he ordered. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 77 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 77 One by one, the mana stones began to shine, and the massive magic circle started to glow with a crimson hue... Whoosh! Eventually, a towering pillar of fire erupted from the center of the magic circle. ¡°Gasp!¡± Perhaps because the focus was solely on firepower, the fire mana was far stronger than anticipated. Kaylen''s figure was completely engulfed by the fiery pillar and vanished. ¡°W-will he be okay?¡± Irene asked in a trembling voice. Although she had heard from Eldir that Kaylen was a Sword Master... could even a Sword Master withstand such flames? ¡®The mana stones have only activated up to 50 so far, and the power is already at this level... If all 256 are activated?¡¯ ¡°Irene, don¡¯t worry. That man doesn¡¯t need your concern.¡± ¡°Yes...¡± Unlike the anxious Irene, Myorn stared at the fiery pillar with calm indifference. There was no way that monster could fail. As the excess fire mana began to spill out, Myorn thought to herself, Might as well use this to grow my spirit energy. With that mindset, she slowly moved closer to the fiery pillar. ¡°Myorn! It¡¯s dangerous!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. I¡¯m just going to enhance my spirit energy a little.¡± ¡°Seriously... why has reckless behavior become so trendy?¡± Irene muttered with a sigh. Meanwhile, Kaylen was channeling the fire mana enveloping his entire body into his flame sword. Within the fiery pillar, not even the edges of his clothing showed signs of damage. He had completely mastered control over the fire mana. Even if all 256 mana stones were activated, he was confident he would emerge unscathed. However... ¡®The purity of this fire mana is fairly high. But... compared to the water mana of Glacia, it¡¯s far too lacking.¡¯ The mana of Glacia was an extremely pure, top-tier water mana. Compared to that, the magic circle¡¯s firepower left much to be desired. ¡®This isn¡¯t the time for control.¡¯ To forge a flame sword that could rival the water sword infused with Glacia¡¯s power, he would have to abandon control altogether. That meant allowing the fire¡¯s energy to fully consume his body. Whoooosh! Kaylen¡¯s entire body, starting with his clothes, burst into flames. In an instant, his garments were reduced to ash. His body, too, was engulfed by the fire. First, his hair caught fire. Kaylen¡¯s radiant silver hair couldn¡¯t withstand the flames for even a moment and was completely incinerated. Next was his skin. His porcelain-like skin began to blacken almost immediately, turning charred and dark. Beneath the epidermis, the dermis and muscles still held out, but it was only a matter of time before they were consumed as well. ¡°Hmm.¡± The intense heat burned through his entire body. For an ordinary person, their nerves would have been scorched before they could even feel the pain, and they would have been reduced to ash in an instant. But for Kaylen, a Sword Master, his extraordinarily resilient body endured the flames, paradoxically amplifying the excruciating pain he felt. An unrelenting pain surged through him, so intense it felt as though his central nervous system might shut down.No?v(el)B\\jnn ¡®Quite exhilarating.¡¯ For Kaylen, who had previously endured the Demon King''s Hellfire, this was tolerable. If anything, he regretted that the fire mana still wasn¡¯t strong enough. ¡®I need more... more fire.¡¯ Standing amidst the roaring inferno, Kaylen called out to Irene. ¡°Irene.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir Kaylen! Are you unharmed?¡± ¡°Summon the spirits of wind to amplify the firepower. Have the others assist as well.¡± ¡°H-here? Even more firepower?¡± ¡°Yes. Quickly!¡± ¡°...Understood. Sylph!¡± At her command, the elves summoned the wind spirits in unison. ¡°Myorn, step farther back. Things are about to get dangerous.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Even Myorn, who had been absorbing the stray fire mana, withdrew to a safer distance. Whoooosh! As the wind surged, the flames grew even fiercer. But Kaylen still found it insufficient. ¡®I need to weaken the power of the water sword.¡¯ Clang! Behind him, a sword of water extended outward. In a flash, the water sword split the fiery pillar and soared high into the sky before embedding itself in the mansion¡¯s outer wall. Swish¡ª The moment the water sword struck, the mansion¡¯s walls froze solid. As the water mana drained rapidly from Kaylen¡¯s body, the firepower intensified. Yet... Half of those gazes were downright blatant, scanning him from head to toe¡ªa look he had encountered many times before in his previous life. ¡®Well, my body does feel lighter, but...¡¯ When he looked down, his eyes fell on three concentric circles etched across his solid pectorals, leading to his sharply defined abdominal muscles. And beneath those... A form he hadn¡¯t seen in this life: ¡®...This is my body from my past life.¡¯ The body of Emperor Ernst Stein. Even at fifty years old, he had been revered as the most handsome man on the continent. ¡°Do I really resemble this Melvria person?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, you do!¡± Irene nodded repeatedly, her face still flushed. Melvria, his daughter in his past life, had inherited much of his appearance. If Kaylen¡¯s current face resembled hers, it meant he now wore the face of Ernst Stein. ¡°May I have a mirror?¡± ¡°Y-Yes, of course...¡± Taking the small hand mirror from Irene, Kaylen inspected his reflection. It was undeniable¡ªthis was the face of Ernstine. A face that, even in his fifties, had left women in awe. The face that had caused: A princess from an enemy nation to betray her kingdom. A succubus sent to seduce him to fall for him instead. Aristocratic daughters at royal balls to beg to be his concubines, enthralled by his charm. ¡®What a troublesome face.¡¯ This was not what he had wanted. He actually preferred his former appearance as Kaylen, which felt dependable and sturdy. Without realizing it, his brows furrowed slightly in displeasure. ¡°Wow...¡± ¡°He¡¯s so amazing...¡± ¡°How is someone like this even possible?¡± ¡°More shocking than Lady Melbria...¡± Yes. Even with just a slight furrow of his brow, the elves, embodiments of beauty themselves, couldn¡¯t help but marvel at him. How did it come to this? Kaylen recalled the events from just moments ago. ¡®When I completed the Flame Sword, I burned my entire body and reconstructed it. That was where the issue arose.¡¯ In his effort to forge the ultimate Flame Sword, he resorted to an extreme method, feeling that it was otherwise impossible. He had burned his entire body to ash, fusing himself into the Flame Sword. Once the Flame Sword was completed, the remaining three swords converged, and his body was reconstituted. ¡®In that process, I must have unconsciously envisioned the most ideal physique.¡¯ And what could be more ideal than the body of Emperor Ernst Stein? Compared to his former self, Kaylen, Ernst Stein¡¯s physique was leagues apart. It was a perfect body that naturally absorbed mana with every breath and quickly reached infinite mana capacity¡ª¡°Mana Infinity.¡± A body that all knights dreamed of possessing. ¡°Hmm.¡± Still, this body was too handsome. Looking into the mirror, Kaylen frowned in dissatisfaction and began to channel mana to alter his appearance. Rippling. Rippling. His body began to swell and reshape itself, returning to the sturdy, practical form of his previous life as Kaylen. But before he could finish, Irene let out a shrill cry. ¡°Kaylen! W-What are you doing?!¡± ¡°I was just trying to go back to the way I was before.¡± ¡°Why? Why would you do that to such a perfect body?!¡± Irene looked as if she was about to cry, as though it were her own body being changed. The other elf researchers had similar expressions, and even Eldir, a man, looked at Kaylen as if to ask, What are you doing?! ¡®This reaction is exactly why I want to change it.¡¯ Kaylen tried softening his features and bulking up his frame again, partially restoring his old look. But... ¡®It¡¯s uncomfortable.¡¯ Having once experienced the perfection of Ernst Stein¡¯s body, he now fully realized how limited and awkward his old form had been. Fine. He¡¯d stay as he was. Whoosh. Kaylen allowed his body to return to its reconstituted, ideal state. ¡°Whew...¡± ¡°Thank goodness!¡± A collective sigh of relief swept through the room. ¡°This body is undeniably more comfortable. I¡¯ll stick with it.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve made the best choice,¡± Irene said, pressing a hand to her chest as if she had narrowly avoided a disaster. ¡°But... what will you say to people?¡± Myorn asked cautiously. Kaylen responded simply. ¡°Let¡¯s just say... it was a failed magical experiment.¡± ¡°This is supposed to be a failure?¡± Myorn muttered incredulously. If this was what failure looked like... Every magician in the world would probably want to fail the same way. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 78 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 78 Deep within the royal palace of the Bormian Kingdom was the residence of the First Prince, Diether Hart. Despite having a separate villa, Diether Hart insisted on living exclusively within the palace. He rarely made public appearances, leading people to call him the "Reclusive Prince." Had he been more active publicly, the power struggle within the Bormian Kingdom would not have arisen. The First Prince¡¯s claim to the throne was unshakable. He was the kingdom¡¯s eldest son, backed by the powerful Lebrin Ducal family from his maternal side. In addition, his younger sister, who supported him, was the owner of an S-rank mana suit. However... ¡°Violet, you¡¯ve come?¡± ¡°Yes, Brother.¡± Princess Violet entered Diether Hart¡¯s room. His room, filled to the brim with books, resembled a library. The only difference was that, unlike a library, books were scattered chaotically even across the floor. The First Prince, Diether Hart, lay among the scattered books. ¡°At today¡¯s luncheon, I met the Saintess.¡± ¡°Did you? How did she seem?¡± ¡°Just as the legends say. She has forgotten aging and lives eternally... She maintains the body of a 15-year-old girl.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°I wish you had attended, Brother.¡± ¡°I had work to do.¡± Violet picked up one of the books from the floor. She couldn¡¯t read its content, but she recognized the script. ¡®...The language of the Demonic Realm.¡¯ Was he still reading books related to the Demonic Realm? Even now, while the Saintess was present, he remained buried in his books, engrossed in research... Violet felt a sense of frustration. ¡®He needs to participate in public affairs. Remaining secluded like this only fuels strange rumors.¡¯ Because of the First Prince¡¯s extreme reclusiveness, various rumors circulated among idle gossipers. The prince is actually a fool. Princess Violet manipulates him like a puppet. The First Prince is already dead. The Second Prince¡¯s faction subtly spread and amplified such rumors, reaping indirect benefits. Even Kaylen, whom they had recently tried to recruit, had hinted at hearing such stories. ¡®Brother, a fool? How absurd...¡¯ Diether Hart might have a thin frame and a pale complexion, but his eyes shone with sharp intelligence. For someone capable of studying books written in the language of the Demonic Realm, calling him a fool was preposterous. ¡°Did the Saintess say anything in particular?¡± ¡°She said that soon, a monster wave will occur in the northeastern border region.¡± ¡°I see...¡± A monster wave¡ªwhen an army of over 100,000 monsters invades at once. ¡°The Saintess also mentioned that after the monster wave, a demonic army commander and mana eaters will launch an invasion. However, she and the Holy Legion will handle that.¡± ¡°That is reassuring.¡± The existence of Mana Eaters was a secret known to very few. However, the Bormian royal family, armed with an extensive information network, possessed intelligence that only the royal bloodline was privy to. Mana Eaters were among those classified secrets. ¡°They said the Holy Legion''s deployment hinges on us perfectly repelling the monster wave. The Sanctuary cannot handle the wave itself,¡± Violet explained. ¡°Of course. They are coldly pragmatic¡ªthey only save nations they deem worthy of saving.¡± ¡°Yes, and fortunately, our kingdom still holds some ¡®worthy¡¯ value.¡± The Bormian Kingdom, though situated in an era where the human territories of the continent were rapidly shrinking, had managed to maintain a stable power. Even amidst dwindling human realms, the kingdom''s strength ranked among the top five. ¡°So, I¡¯ll be discussing the formation of the subjugation force with the Second Prince¡¯s faction.¡± Though Kaylen had admitted his transformed body was more convenient, he would occasionally mutter things like, ¡°Maybe I should just go back to how I was.¡± If not for those around him vehemently protesting, he might have actually done it. Giving up this extraordinary appearance to return to his rugged former self? As an elf who valued appearance more than most, Irene couldn¡¯t fathom such a decision. His long lashes and serene golden eyes were enough to leave anyone mesmerized. Kaylen¡¯s original form had also been handsome, with the same golden eyes and sharp features, but this was on an entirely different level. His current face combined sharp majesty with breathtaking beauty. Irene couldn¡¯t help but think of her sister-in-law, Melvria, who had once been like an older sister to her. ¡®He really does look like her. That face is proof of the Ernstine lineage.¡¯ Kaylen had once mentioned that his changed appearance resembled that of the legendary Emperor Ernstine. A long time ago, when Irene had complimented Melvria¡¯s beauty, she would often reply with a playful laugh: ¡°Oh, I just inherited my dad¡¯s good looks. Our father was extremely handsome.¡± Back then, Irene had dismissed it as mere flattery for her father-in-law, whom Melvria deeply admired. ¡®But it turns out she was telling the truth.¡¯ Though Irene tried to glance at him only briefly, it was obvious to Kaylen. ¡°Even you, Lady Irene?¡± he asked, his tone teasing. ¡°Oh! I¡¯m so sorry!¡± Irene stammered, flustered. Kaylen let out a long, inward sigh. ¡®I¡¯ll have to get used to these stares.¡¯ Now that his Sacred Sword was complete and he was beginning his path as a Swordmaster, attention would only grow once he established his Sword Clan. Kaylen decided it was time to fully embrace his new appearance. Meanwhile, in the distance, Charles was returning with someone who appeared to be the captain of the guards. ¡°Professor Irene has vouched for him, so couldn¡¯t you have let it go?¡± the captain muttered. ¡°But, Captain! You¡¯ll change your mind once you see for yourself!¡± Charles insisted. ¡°People don¡¯t change that much, no matter what... Wha¡ª?!¡± The captain, who had been responding dismissively, froze the moment he laid eyes on Kaylen. Then, with a loud thud, he stumbled and sat down on the spot. ¡°This... this can¡¯t be real! Are you telling me that man is Kaylen?!¡± ¡°Yes, he is,¡± Irene confirmed with a calm smile. The captain, still clearly in disbelief, gawked at Kaylen like he was enchanted. Even after hearing Irene''s explanation, he staggered to his feet and stammered, ¡°I-I¡¯ll escalate this to the higher-ups.¡± And just like Charles earlier, the captain ran off to make a report. But the reporting didn¡¯t stop there. The chain of verification kept climbing up the academy hierarchy. ¡°What? You¡¯re saying he is Kaylen? That¡¯s almost impossible to believe.¡± ¡°I trust Professor Irene. He must truly be Kaylen.¡± Eventually, this farcical situation escalated all the way to the academy¡¯s headmaster, drawing widespread attention. ¡°I understand your circumstances,¡± the headmaster said, his tone serious. ¡°But many people are struggling to accept this transformation.¡± ¡°...I understand,¡± Kaylen replied quietly. ¡°To think a failed magical experiment could make someone so handsome... Honestly, it sounds implausible, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Kaylen could only nod silently. They had all agreed on the cover story: the transformation was the result of a secretive experiment at the Fairy Tower, which had yielded unexpected results. But who would believe a magical failure could make someone stunningly attractive? ¡®If I were an ordinary student, they might have let it slide.¡¯ However, as a Superior Mage and a rare talent who had achieved the Sixth Circle, Kaylen¡¯s identity warranted thorough verification. ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯ve prepared this,¡± the headmaster said. In the academy¡¯s vast auditorium, a Meister Aptitude Evaluator was brought in¡ªa device used to measure one¡¯s magical aptitude. ¡°Kaylen, proving your capabilities seems to be the only way to dispel all doubt.¡± Kaylen glanced at the complex magical instrument. Its intricate designs hummed faintly with latent power, awaiting his input. He took a deep breath, steeling himself. If this was what it took to silence the doubters, then so be it. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 79 [translator - kiteretsu] [proofreader - kyros] chapter 79 whisper, whisper. "whoa, is that person really kaylen?" "no way!" the academy¡¯s auditorium was already packed with students. as the reports and rumors about the completely transformed kaylen continued to spread, more and more curious eyes gathered. "wow, someone like that was at our academy? who are they?" "...they¡¯re saying it¡¯s kaylen." "what? what kind of nonsense is that?" hearing the rumors, lioness crossed his arms and scanned his surroundings. the mages, typically too engrossed in research, magic training, and a mountain of assignments to pay attention to such things, were... ¡°creating such a commotion over whether someone is real or not?¡± for most people, such an event wouldn¡¯t draw a crowd, nor would it warrant a test here. but the man standing before the testing device was different. an appearance transcending the world itself. more beautiful than even an elf, yet exuding an untouchable majesty. "how can a person look like that?" for the first time in his life, lioness felt a sense of defeat in terms of appearance when looking at another man. up until now, he¡¯d never even entertained the thought of being outshined by another man¡¯s looks. but now... "i thought lioness was the most handsome person in our academy." "me too, me too." "wow... just wow..." the voices of female students murmuring from the back. even though it was something that could have been annoying, lioness merely gave a bitter smile. "should i be thankful that they even consider us on the same level?" it wasn¡¯t even a fair comparison. "eugh, why are so many people gathering here?" watching the students flock like clouds while the meister measuring device was being set up, the academy''s dean clicked his tongue in disapproval. for the kingdom''s most brilliant talents to abandon their studies and gather here over such gossip¡ªit was irritating. if it were up to him, he would have dispersed the crowd immediately. but... "there are simply too many people. not to mention, even the heir of the oblaine ducal house is here." even as the academy''s dean, it was burdensome to tell the child of such a powerful noble to leave. if there were a valid reason, perhaps he could... but kicking them out just for skipping their studies and being here didn¡¯t sit right. "on second thought, this might be for the best. everyone here will serve as witnesses." the crowd gathered here would testify whether this man was truly kaylen or not. yes. "it¡¯s not that i can¡¯t disperse them because of lioness." "it¡¯s because i need witnesses, so i¡¯m letting them stay." the dean convinced himself with this reasoning as the test began. "now, kaylen?" "yes, dean." "as i mentioned earlier, i trust professor irene. you are indeed kaylen, correct?" though he was inwardly skeptical, the dean began his speech with a composed demeanor. "but you can hear it too, can''t you? people asking if you''re really kaylen. saying it makes no sense. the claim that your appearance resulted from a failed magic experiment... it''s hard for the public to believe." a failed magic experiment caused that appearance? hearing those words, the students were dumbfounded. "even if he¡¯s talented, could he actually cast 6th circle magic? isn¡¯t that impossible?" true to their nature as mages, they delved into discussions about the implications of 6th circle magic. however, it seemed that the proof provided by the score was enough for everyone to acknowledge that he was indeed kaylen. "thank you for arranging this opportunity, dean," kaylen said. "yes... it seems you truly are kaylen. your talent is astonishing." "now that the proof is complete, i assume i may join the academy?" "of course." kaylen silently left the auditorium. shortly after, the academy dean formally declared to the students that kaylen¡¯s identity had been verified. lioness, meanwhile, watched the door kaylen had exited with a complicated expression. in both appearance and talent, lioness had never found himself lacking before. but now, for the first time, he felt as though he had encountered an insurmountable wall. he suppressed the unfamiliar emotion as best as he could. "...i must bring him into the second prince¡¯s faction." bormian magic academy library "wow. who is that? have we always had someone like him at the academy?" "they say he¡¯s kaylen." "kaylen? what are you talking about?" "didn¡¯t you hear about the commotion today? it¡¯s been the talk of the academy." kaylen''s appearance had stirred such a buzz that even the normally quiet library was abuzz with murmurs. yet kaylen himself remained completely composed. his focus lay elsewhere. "the third mana circle is complete." the mana circles etched into his skin were now three. for kaylen, each mana circle allowed him to wield up to 2nd circle magic. previously, with two circles, he had been capable of 4th circle spells. now, with three, he could theoretically cast 6th circle magic. this realization prompted him to begin mastering 6th circle magic in earnest. "still, it won¡¯t be easy to cast." the 6th circle was a realm few mages in history had reached. 6th circle spells not only combined two elemental attributes but also required a deep understanding of each spell''s intricacies. "and there''s another challenge¡ªoperating the mana circles themselves seems integral to 6th circle magic." as kaylen read a book analyzing the spell blizzard, he came to this conclusion. the text emphasized controlling the flow of mana within the heart¡¯s mana circles for each segment of the spell. to cast a single 6th circle spell like blizzard, a mage needed to manage 36 distinct flows of mana. "it¡¯s no wonder casting such magic is so difficult." to reach the level of the 6th circle, one had to not only chant a lengthy incantation and understand the spell but also maintain perfect control of the mana circles'' flow throughout. kaylen let out a wry smile. he felt a twinge of guilt about how effortlessly he had sliced apart a spell that must have been painstakingly cast. the overwhelming power of the six swords technique had left no room for the magic to stand a chance. in truth, now that he had mastered the fourth sword, he didn¡¯t necessarily need to sit in the library studying 6th circle magic. the sheer destructive force of his swordsmanship alone was more than sufficient. but there was something else on his mind. "the potential of infinity¡¯s expandability... it feels like it would be far more efficient if integrated with magic." he had been captivated by the new characteristic of infinity¡ªexpansion¡ªdemonstrated by his descendants, the hellmeier family. kaylen felt certain that this trait would synergize better with magic than with swordsmanship alone. "now that i¡¯ve returned to my former body, i can afford to reduce my focus on sword training." when he was in his original body, he had tirelessly honed his skills to achieve the perfect union of his physical form and swordsmanship. but now, in ernstine¡¯s body, such training was unnecessary. ernstine¡¯s body was already perfectly attuned to the six swords technique, leaving no need for further alignment. this allowed kaylen to allocate more time to studying magic instead of his sword. "before i rebuild the meier sword clan, i need to grasp the secrets of the 6th circle." having completed the fourth sword, there was no longer any need to hold back. as a sword master, he was ready to reveal himself to the world at any moment. however, kaylen was waiting for the perfect opportunity. the reappearance of a long-lost sword master would serve as the best possible advertisement. but instead of unveiling himself now, kaylen planned to align this revelation with the completion of myorn¡¯s mana suit. with its debut, the meier sword clan would rise again in full glory. until then, he resolved to dedicate his spare time to mastering the 6th circle of magic. after days of research back at his estate, kaylen finally decided to put his studies to the test. "blizzard." he invoked the 6th circle spell. [translator - kiteretsu] [proofreader - kyros] Chapter 80 [translator - kiteretsu] [proofreader - kyros] chapter 80 shhhhh¡ª "failure." despite studying extensively, casting the 6th circle spell blizzard still proved to be no easy task. "the issue lies with the circles." more precisely, the problem was that kaylen only had three circles. unlike spells of the 5th circle and below, magic of the 6th circle required the active manipulation of mana circles. however, kaylen''s unique method of utilizing circles differed fundamentally from the standard approach due to the disparity in their numbers. until now, kaylen had relied on his overwhelming elemental mana affinity to cast spells effortlessly, but for the first time, he felt as though he had hit a wall. "the instructions in the book are things like ''pause the flow of the third circle momentarily'' or ''accelerate the mana flow of the fifth circle.'' it¡¯s written like that." he had scoured various advanced magic texts to overcome this challenge but found no descriptions that addressed his unique situation. "the mages i fought in the past could cast this level of magic with ease." moreover, grand mages of the 8th circle could unleash 6th circle spells by merely chanting their activation words. kaylen had often found it frustrating to deal with the endless barrage of spells they could unleash in battle. "there¡¯s no way they adjusted their mana circles so intricately in such a short time. there must have been a simpler method." determined, kaylen continued experimenting with various spells. unlike other mages, kaylen had an abundance of mana, allowing him to cast spells throughout the night without rest. as dawn broke, kaylen had cast blizzard hundreds of times. his face showed no signs of fatigue as he sat in deep contemplation. while rereading the passages about circle manipulation, a sudden realization struck him. "manipulating the flow of circles... it¡¯s ultimately a process to enhance elemental affinity." if this was simply a method to amplify elemental affinity, kaylen had an alternative to circle manipulation. the six swords technique. "summon the water sword and the wind sword." blizzard, with its swirling snow and icy winds, was a spell characterized by the elements of water and air. "the wind sword is still weak, so i¡¯ll need to support it with the power of infinity." kaylen carefully balanced the powers of the water sword and wind sword before casting the spell again. "blizzard." whoooosh! the swirling wind carried an icy chill. the sky turned stark white, and soon, countless icy spikes filled the air. however, the range far exceeded what kaylen had intended¡ªit was no longer confined to the training grounds of his estate. "the range is far too wide." the spell was far more powerful than he had anticipated. destroying his estate was out of the question. kaylen focused, compressing the water mana that had spread out, pulling it together. the scattered icy spikes began to condense and then plummeted to the ground. the ice embedded in the earth piled layer upon layer, gradually forming a towering structure. thunk. thunk. thudududu! the cascade of ice showed no signs of stopping. eventually, kaylen stood before a massive ice tower. looking at it, kaylen shook his head. "this isn¡¯t blizzard." while the spell had activated, the result was far from what he had envisioned. instead of producing a snowstorm, it created an ice tower. "i¡¯ll need to fully develop the wind sword to do this properly..." the 6th circle was indeed a different level. around that time, the elf researchers observing from within the estate were left utterly speechless. "what kind of magic is that?" "was that done while wearing a mana suit? how is that even possible?" ice shards rained down with fearsome intensity, embedding deeply into the ground and stabilizing the terrain. beyond that, they stacked higher and higher, forming a towering structure. the elves, who had spent their lives within the magic towers of their homeland, had seen countless meisters and their self-proclaimed masterpieces. but without question, they had never witnessed magic like this before. "he¡¯s truly a monster..."no?v(el)b\\jnn "could he have already reached the 6th circle?" as the giant clenched his fist once more... crackle! a burst of brilliant white light exploded in the air. [a rat-like nuisance.] as the light dissipated, the giant turned his attention back to the monster army, showing no further interest in the sky. it was only natural; the mana he had sensed from the light had long since faded. "ahhh...!" saintess theresia clutched her face tightly, covering her eyes with her hands, her expression contorted in pain. "saintess!" "i-i¡¯m fine. the heavenly eye was merely suppressed." her scream was brief. though she tried to speak calmly, blood streamed down from both her eyes. however, the pain in her eyes was not what concerned her most. ¡®the fact that they detected the heavenly eye!¡¯ the heavenly eye was a divine power granted to the saintess, used to monitor the demon realm''s forces. it allowed her to observe large-scale dungeon portals from the heavens. ¡®this has never happened before...¡¯ the demon realm had launched countless colony extermination campaigns over the ages. yet, never before had a commander of the demon army detected the heavenly eye. until now, this divine power had given humanity a crucial advantage, allowing them to gather intelligence and strategize effectively. ¡®and now, a giant-class demon commander?¡¯ typically, demon commanders were humanoid in form, their appearance barely distinguishable from humans. but this time, the commander was something unprecedented¡ªa giant-class demon not seen since the demon king extermination war a millennium ago. ¡®giant demons were always formidable.¡¯ a thousand years ago, the giant demons boasted incredible power. only the legendary hero ernestine and his order of dragon knights could stand against them. countless holy knights had been crushed under their feet, and humanity¡¯s armies had been rendered helpless, like ants before a storm. as saintess theresia watched the overwhelming black mana radiating from the giant, a cold dread gripped her. this enemy was far too powerful. ¡®...should we retreat?¡¯ the bormian kingdom. it was a remarkable kingdom, a rare gem among the human nations. despite the constant threat of dungeon portals, they had managed to stabilize their borders and protect their fertile lands. such stability was a rarity in these turbulent times. ¡®still, preserving the forces of sanctuary must come first.¡¯ compared to the demon realm¡¯s might, sanctuary¡¯s forces were like fireflies under the noonday sun. if they recklessly committed their resources and suffered heavy losses, the future of humanity would only grow darker. ¡®i must bring kaylen to sanctuary while observing how they hold the line.¡¯ the bormian kingdom¡¯s military was strong, and with violet, the princess equipped with her s-rank mana suit, there was at least a sliver of hope. perhaps she could face the giant demon, buying enough time for a retreat if necessary. having made her decision, theresia turned to her subordinate holy knight. ¡°this enemy is powerful. prepare for the possibility of retreat.¡± ¡°yes, saintess.¡± ¡°before that, we must secure the talent of the sixth circle. no matter what.¡± ¡°understood.¡± ¡°have you noticed anything unusual about him?¡± the knight hesitated before responding. ¡°i did hear something strange from the branch chief.¡± ¡°strange?¡± ¡°they said a magical experiment failed and... ¡®the subject became more handsome.¡¯¡± ¡°...became more handsome?¡± the blood had stopped flowing from the saintess¡¯s eyes by then, but her crimson-streaked gaze fixed sharply on the knight. ¡°that¡¯s irrelevant and not a peculiar trait by my standards.¡± ¡°my apologies, saintess.¡± a magical experiment gone awry, resulting in improved looks? it sounded absurd. even if it were true, it hardly qualified as noteworthy information from her perspective. at least, that¡¯s what she thought at the time. [translator - kiteretsu] [proofreader - kyros] Chapter 81 [translator - kiteretsu] [proofreader - kyros] chapter 81 after meeting with the first prince, diether hart, the superior mages convened for the first time in a long while. ¡°it has been a while, everyone.¡± princess violet greeted the superior mages as they entered one by one. however, her face was as cold and expressionless as ever, making it impossible to read her emotions. ¡°who might you be... could you be prince kaylen?¡± ¡°yes, your highness.¡± even she was momentarily startled by kaylen¡¯s appearance, which was vastly different from before. ¡°you¡¯ve changed a lot. you look well.¡± ¡°thank you.¡± she quickly returned to her usual frosty demeanor. after all, she had already heard reports from her maid about kaylen¡¯s drastic transformation. ¡ª¡°let me say it again: this is a command from the first prince. delay them as much as possible.¡± since receiving this order from diether hart, her mind had been so preoccupied that she hadn¡¯t even noticed the faces of others. soon, the last person entered the room. ¡°it has been a while, your highness.¡± ¡°it¡¯s good to see you, prince lioness.¡± ¡°i had something i wanted to discuss with you.¡± lioness, who had often clashed with the princess, now set aside his hostility and asked with a serious expression: ¡°have you heard about the disturbances in the northeastern part of the kingdom?¡± ¡°yes. the saintess mentioned it. four days ago, a massive dungeon portal appeared...¡± the superior mages widened their eyes in shock at the exchange between the two influential figures. they had already heard rumors that dungeon portals were disappearing, but a massive portal forming near the northeastern border? this was the first they had heard of it. ¡°monsters that are natural enemies, incapable of uniting, are advancing in organized formations as though they are an elite army. the northeastern border lies in count villed¡¯s territory, and the monster horde has already reached his castle.¡± ¡°they¡¯ve already reached that far? but isn¡¯t the distance considerable?¡± ¡°they seem to have no physical limits. they march day and night without rest. the scale is so large that defending the lord¡¯s castle is impossible. civilians are being evacuated, but...¡± lioness¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°flying monsters are forming separate units to massacre civilians. they seem intent on eradicating humanity altogether, targeting both large cities and small villages alike... count villed¡¯s territory is in complete collapse.¡± ¡°despite the borders losing their significance...¡± ¡°but for count villed, who once held the title of border count, to fall so quickly?¡± with the advent of the dungeon era, traditional borders had lost much of their importance. even so, count villed was known for maintaining military strength in line with his family¡¯s traditions. he was lauded for effectively managing both the modern civil squad and the traditional elite military units. for his territory to crumble so swiftly¡ªcould this truly be real? judging by the grim faces of the two, it didn¡¯t seem like a lie. the superior mages were left speechless. for some time now, with dungeon portals disappearing, they had jokingly wondered if their jobs as mages would vanish too. ¡®what in the world is happening?¡¯ ¡®even the tower of magic didn¡¯t inform us about this!¡¯ ¡°the horde advancing now...¡± violet paused briefly. ¡°the saintess referred to it as a monster wave.¡± ¡°this wave isn¡¯t a one-time event,¡± princess violet said in a cold tone. ¡°the saintess has foreseen that the monster horde will advance up to seven times. if we focus all the kingdom¡¯s forces in one place and the capital is invaded, it will be the end of the kingdom.¡± she continued, her voice sharp with authority. ¡°the capital is a hub of mage towers and the primary location for manufacturing mana suits. if its industries grind to a halt, we will lose the ability to resist the monster horde.¡± ¡°hmm... but still...!¡± lioness attempted to counter. ¡°of course, we will send reinforcements,¡± violet interjected, her calm demeanor unwavering. ¡°however, neither i nor the civil squad assigned to defend the capital can leave.¡± princess violet and the civil squad loyal to the capital would remain there. lioness gritted his teeth upon hearing this. while she claimed to offer help, in practice, the core forces of the first prince¡¯s faction would remain safely in the capital. while the monstrous horde breached the duchy¡¯s lands, the overwhelming military power of the capital would stay secure. ¡°...your highness, why are you so concerned about the capital?¡± ¡°what are you implying?¡± violet asked sharply. ¡°we all know how many civil squads the royal family commands. not just those aligned with the first prince or the second prince, but those directly under the royal family¡¯s control.¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°surely, the royal civil squads are enough to defend the capital!¡± ¡°it seems you have a misconception about the royal civil squads,¡± violet replied, her tone icy. ¡°while they are not insignificant, they are far from sufficient to protect the capital entirely.¡± lioness let out a bitter laugh. ¡°not enough? are you telling me that, despite the many meisters serving the royal family, the capital cannot be defended?¡± though he raised his voice in protest, violet¡¯s demeanor remained calm and composed. ¡°reinforcements will be dispatched,¡± she reiterated. ¡°but i cannot leave the capital.¡± as the wielder of an s-class mana suit and a key figure of the first prince¡¯s faction, violet made it clear she had no intention of stepping away from the capital. ¡°but¡ª¡± ¡°lord lioness,¡± violet cut him off firmly. ¡°you¡¯re becoming too agitated.¡± she stood from her seat, signaling the end of the meeting. ¡°let us adjourn for today. continuing any further would be unproductive.¡± with that, princess violet left the chamber. lioness clenched his teeth in frustration. finally, he slammed his fist on the table and stormed out. zaik baldur hurriedly followed him, while the three superior mages accompanying them disappeared from their seats. one by one, the remaining mages left, their expressions filled with unease. the only one who remained was kaylen, seated with his arms crossed and eyes closed. ¡®even in the face of this crisis, the king of this nation does not show himself.¡¯ though it wasn¡¯t yet widely known, the situation was undoubtedly a national emergency. in times like these, the ruler ought to take charge, mobilize the central army, and respond swiftly. yet, the king remained absent. ¡®is it incompetence? or... is there another reason?¡¯ kaylen leaned more toward the latter. the kingdom of bormian had been running far too smoothly for the king to simply be inept. if incompetence wasn¡¯t the reason, then what could it be? ¡°sir kaylen,¡± a voice interrupted his thoughts. he opened his eyes to see jane, princess violet¡¯s maid, entering the chamber. ¡°it¡¯s been a while, lady jane,¡± kaylen greeted her. ¡°oh my, you remember me?¡± she replied with a soft smile. ¡°of course. but what brings you here?¡± ¡°the first prince wishes to meet with you,¡± she said. [translator - kiteretsu] [proofreader - kyros] Chapter 82 [translator - kiteretsu] [proofreader - kyros] chapter 82 the kingdom of bormia is one of the few nations still operating stably despite the constant summoning of dungeon portals. the capital, alzass, is home to several renowned mage towers, making it a sanctuary for meisters. furthermore, with the active subjugation campaigns led by the civil squad, it is considered one of the safest among human kingdoms. because of this, the citizens firmly believed that if the kingdom continued to grow its strength, it would one day become the most prominent name on the continent for generations to come. ¡®however, the royal family, which has led the kingdom to this point, has rarely been viewed favorably.¡¯ the bormian royal family could be described in one phrase: colorless and odorless. from a certain point onward, successive kings stopped standing out, and the activities of the royal family remained mostly obscure. even so, the kingdom continued to function well, leading scholars to attribute this to the extraordinary luck of the bormian royal family. they speculated that if this weren¡¯t a world plagued by dungeon portals, it wouldn¡¯t have been surprising for the nobles to stage a rebellion at some point. but ever since the world was thrown into chaos, the kingdom¡¯s power has been concentrated in the capital. neighboring nations were preoccupied with holding themselves together, and the nobles struggled just to defend their own territories. there was no force left that could threaten the royal family. it was a situation that could only be described as incredibly fortunate. however, kaylen thought differently. ¡®running a kingdom to this extent is not something that can be achieved through mere luck.¡¯ his experience as an emperor made him certain of that. was it because the forces that could oppose the royal family were eliminated due to the dungeon portals? ¡®why would there be no opposing forces? the rising mage towers are a prime example.¡¯ the idea that mages are uninterested in power because they focus solely on magic is nothing more than a misconception. mages are human too. when they gain power, it¡¯s only natural for them to seek influence. and yet, no one had ever heard of the mage towers challenging the royal authority. ¡®the bormian royal family must have something that goes beyond their seemingly incompetent exterior.¡¯ with that thought, kaylen entered the royal palace. the atmosphere inside was buzzing with murmurs. as kaylen walked through the palace alongside jane, all eyes immediately turned to him. ¡°who is that...?¡± ¡°who could he be?¡± ¡°if jane, her highness¡¯s maid, is accompanying him...¡± even the palace maids, who had seen countless individuals come and go, found kaylen unfamiliar. jane glanced at kaylen, who seemed entirely unaffected by the attention. he walked with a calm and composed demeanor. ¡®his appearance wasn¡¯t like this before, yet he doesn¡¯t seem to mind at all.¡¯ kaylen¡¯s flawless visage was beyond human, surpassing even that of an elf. jane had stolen countless glances at him on their way to the palace, but no matter how much she looked, she never grew tired of his face. for someone whose appearance had changed so drastically overnight, it would have been natural to struggle with the sudden attention. yet, kaylen behaved as if he had always looked this way, exuding nothing but composure. ¡°what kind of person is prince diether hart?¡± kaylen asked. ¡°ah, his highness is...¡± despite entering the palace for the first time, kaylen seemed at ease, even asking questions without hesitation. jane nearly answered honestly out of reflex, only to catch herself at the last moment. ¡®oh no, i can¡¯t casually answer questions like this.¡¯ she almost gave her personal impression of the prince rather than the official response meant for outsiders. ¡°...he is a kind person.¡± ¡°is that so?¡± ¡°yes, a kind and admirable person.¡± jane¡¯s response was safe, vague, and deliberately non-specific. kaylen nodded in acknowledgment. ¡®i¡¯ll need to see for myself.¡¯ with that thought, he followed jane deeper into the palace. ¡°welcome, prodigy of the sixth circle.¡± ¡°it¡¯s an honor to be invited, prince diether hart.¡± kaylen bowed politely and observed the first prince, diether hart. the prince had a frail frame and a pale face, but his eyes sparkled with sharp intelligence. ¡®not a fool, after all.¡¯ ¡°you¡¯re absolutely right.¡± ¡°and truthfully, the obline dukedom has considerable hidden strength. they could easily fend off a monster horde on their own. yet they insist on specifically requesting violet. doesn¡¯t that strike you as suspicious?¡± the prince¡¯s voice grew louder. ¡°why would they ask for my dear sister to be sent there, especially when their forces are more than sufficient? violet is someone i trust deeply with important matters, and yet they insist on this request. if something were to happen to her while she¡¯s there, how would we deal with it?¡± as he spoke, the dark mana once again surged, stimulating kaylen¡¯s emotions¡ªthis time inducing anger. just as the prince seemed upset, kaylen found himself following that anger. ¡°that¡¯s true. your highness makes a valid point. their request for the princess¡¯s support does seem suspicious. it¡¯s hard not to question their intentions.¡± saying exactly what diether hart wanted to hear, kaylen became certain of one thing: the dark mana was undoubtedly under the prince¡¯s control. kaylen couldn¡¯t help but admire it. ¡®to manipulate emotions so precisely with such a small amount of mana... his skill is truly exceptional.¡¯ the manipulation of emotions in real-time required masterful control from the one orchestrating it. sip. as diether hart took another sip of his tea, kaylen instinctively reached for his own cup. the dark mana nestled in his mind subtly stimulated the desire to drink, intending to reintroduce more of its essence into kaylen¡¯s body. ¡®let¡¯s see how far he takes this,¡¯ kaylen thought, ready to play along as he raised his cup. but just then¡ª knock, knock. ¡°what is it now?¡± diether hart asked in a tone tinged with irritation. the door cautiously opened, and a maid stepped in hesitantly. ¡°pardon me, your highness... but his majesty the king requests your presence.¡± ¡°the king?¡± diether hart¡¯s expression betrayed a flicker of disappointment. ¡®so close. i¡¯ll have to save this for another time.¡¯ he turned his gaze toward kaylen. from the moment they met, diether hart could sense an unusual aura of authority from the six-circle mage. yet, after their brief encounter, he concluded that kaylen was no more than a paper tiger¡ªimpressive in appearance but surprisingly pliable. kaylen had succumbed to the dark mana in the tea without any visible resistance, allowing his emotions to be easily swayed. ¡®he¡¯s easier to manipulate than i thought,¡¯ diether hart decided, rising from his seat. ¡°i apologize, but it seems my father has summoned me urgently.¡± ¡°not at all, your highness. the king¡¯s command takes precedence, of course.¡± diether hart smiled faintly. ¡°next time, we¡¯ll dine together with violet as well. it feels like a shame to end our conversation after just one cup of tea.¡± once again, the dark mana stirred within kaylen¡¯s mind, nudging him toward amiable compliance. kaylen met the prince¡¯s gaze, smiling back as he gave a slight nod. ¡°i look forward to our next meeting, your highness.¡± pleased with the response, diether hart called for the maid to escort kaylen out. ¡°i¡¯ll be off now. until next time.¡± diether hart left the room alone, while the visibly flustered maid approached kaylen. ¡°i-i will escort you out of the castle, sir.¡± ¡°lead the way.¡± as kaylen followed her, he glanced toward the direction diether hart had disappeared. beyond the drawing room lay deeper paths into the castle. watching that pathway, kaylen mused to himself. ¡®diether hart. he¡¯s quick.¡¯ barely a moment had passed since the prince left, yet there was no trace of him to be seen. ¡®time to track him with dark mana.¡¯ while walking behind the maid, kaylen summoned a sliver of his shadow blade. it was no larger than a fingernail but carried the precision needed to follow the prince¡¯s trail. he released the blade, sending it toward the path diether hart had taken. though it didn¡¯t provide shared senses like a spirit, its aura could still detect faint energy signatures. whoosh. the blade glided smoothly into the castle¡¯s inner sanctum, encountering no immediate obstacles. at first, there was nothing unusual. then¡ª swish. ¡®hmm?¡¯ as the blade crossed a certain point, kaylen¡¯s awareness briefly registered an overwhelming presence of mana, so potent it almost defied measurement. at the same time, the signal from the shadow blade vanished. kaylen''s expression hardened. even though only a minimal amount of mana had been infused, for a perfected blade formed with four circles to disappear in an instant? ¡®the royal palace... is a den of schemes.¡¯ [translator - kiteretsu] [proofreader - kyros] Chapter 83 [translator - kiteretsu] [proofreader - kyros] chapter 83 the black sword that kaylen sent into the royal palace, though imbued with only a small amount of dark mana, was still a sword created by kaylen, who had completed the four swords. "i didn¡¯t expect the sword to disappear without leaving a trace." as the sword vanished, kaylen recalled the overwhelming amount of mana he briefly sensed. "what on earth is happening inside the royal palace?" "could the king be involved?" the king had summoned the prince and left with him. the sword that had pursued the prince disappeared without a trace in the presence of immense magical power. although it was fleeting, the sheer magnitude of the mana was truly overwhelming. even kaylen, who thought it would be difficult to find an equal among humans after completing the four swords, felt a sense of caution from the massive dark mana he had sensed. "i need to investigate this." while the campaign against the demon realm''s colonies unfolded, if the command structure opposing them was found to be connected to the demon realm, the outcome of the battle would be all too clear. ¡°excuse me, lord kaylen?¡± lost in thought while standing still, kaylen was addressed by the maid guiding him. ¡°...i was just lost in thought for a moment. my apologies.¡± ¡°oh, no, it¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°is working in the royal palace difficult?¡± kaylen, offering a kind smile, asked the shy-faced maid. ¡°no. everyone here is kind and good-natured, so it¡¯s quite a pleasant place to work.¡± ¡°considering the size of the palace, i thought there might not be many maids. do you have a lot of work to handle?¡± ¡°you probably only saw the maids in the outer palace. inside, many more maids are stationed.¡± ¡°i see.¡± ¡°when there are many visitors, things do get busy on our end... but during my time working here, we haven¡¯t had too many guests.¡± as the conversation began to flow, the shy maid started to chatter on about life working in the royal palace. ¡°recently, though, the saintess came to visit, so we¡¯ve been putting extra care into hospitality. by the way, lord kaylen, have you met the saintess before?¡± ¡°yes. i¡¯ve had the honor of meeting her after she extended an invitation.¡± ¡°she¡¯s truly beautiful and kind. one time, i tripped while carrying food, but instead of reprimanding me, she smiled and bestowed the blessing of healing... it was so touching. oh, i hear she¡¯s coming back in three days. even from afar, i¡¯d love to see her again.¡± "that¡¯ll be my opportunity to investigate." though he wanted to release the six swords and infiltrate the inner palace immediately, kaylen decided that waiting for the saintess¡¯s visit would be a better move. "who knows what might happen inside the palace? moving recklessly could... raise suspicion." by conducting his investigation on the day of the saintess¡¯s visit, even if chaos broke out, initial suspicions would likely be directed toward her. kaylen¡¯s eyes gleamed sharply. ? saintess theresia was incredulous. ¡°you¡¯re saying you won¡¯t... go to stop the monster wave?¡± ¡°yes. the royal family has decided to prioritize defending the capital.¡± at the luncheon hosted by the bormian royal family, theresia sighed deeply while exchanging glances with princess violet. "i had such a good first impression." the saintess recalled her initial visit to the bormian royal palace. back then, princess violet, even at a young age, had displayed wisdom and confidence, naturally earning her favor. "but why are they acting like this now?" the last time they met, they had promised to respond with full force. "it¡¯s not like they¡¯re afraid of monsters." theresia was well aware of glacia, the mana suit princess violet was wearing. a suit that continuously infused its wearer with ice mana, eventually freezing them completely. there had only been a handful of glacia¡¯s wielders throughout history, and all of them met the same fate¡ªwrithing in agony before turning into frozen statues. though princess violet didn''t show any signs of suffering now, she was surely fighting against the freezing power with every passing day. someone enduring glacia¡¯s torment daily wouldn¡¯t hold back out of fear of mere monsters. ¡°to defend the capital, your highness, as the wielder of an s-rank mana suit, you should personally step forward to stop the monster wave.¡± ¡°the monster army might take a detour...¡± "looks like the saintess applied quite a bit of pressure." from her perspective, it must have been exasperating. she had come all this way to help, only to find the kingdom refusing to cooperate because of internal power struggles. it wasn¡¯t surprising that she would mention leaving out of sheer disillusionment. however, having seen the first prince in person, kaylen believed that political power struggles were just a surface-level excuse. the immense dark energy he had sensed when his shadow sword vanished¡ªthat was likely the real force behind the current crisis. "tonight, i will uncover the source of that dark energy." disguised in the white armor of a holy knight, kaylen silently melted into the shadows. the way of six swords first sword ¨C union merging his body completely with the shadow sword made of dark energy. kaylen¡¯s form vanished without a trace. with the sun setting and only the moonlight illuminating the palace, he slipped further inside. "let¡¯s go." he advanced deeper into the inner palace without hesitation, drawing upon his years of infiltration experience. "still no sign of dark energy." the deeper he went, the darker it became, but the overwhelming energy he had felt earlier was nowhere to be found. he passed the reception room where he had encountered prince diether hart. even after reaching the location where the shadow sword¡¯s signal had disappeared... there was nothing but darkness all around. the potent mana he had sensed earlier was completely absent. "strange. it should be around here." kaylen scanned his surroundings. based on what he could tell, he had just passed the entrance to the inner palace. this area was somewhat separate from the main structure, resembling a detached palace. lily palace. looking at the inscription on the building¡¯s entrance, kaylen recalled the information he had gathered over the past three days about the royal palace. the lily palace¡ªthe very place where the biological mother of the first prince and princess violet, queen diana, once resided. queen diana was once known for her harmonious relationship with the current king. however, eight years ago, she committed a "grave sin" and was executed. the exact nature of her crime was never disclosed, but the fact that her family, the house of duke revren, fully accepted the royal verdict without protest suggested her guilt was undeniable. after her execution, the position of queen was filled by a concubine from the house of duke oblaine. this change ignited the fierce rivalry between the first and second princes, which now defined the struggle for the throne in the bormian kingdom. ''if princess violet had not been chosen by glacia, it would have been difficult for queen diana''s children to retain their status after her execution,'' kaylen recalled. how grave must diana''s crime have been for even her children to bear its consequences? now, kaylen stood before diana''s former palace. though he felt nothing at the moment, his instincts told him otherwise¡ªsomething was here. despite his keen senses, the palace appeared utterly empty. there were no traces of maids managing the residence, no flickering candlelight piercing the darkness, and not even dust had gathered over time. ''...there really is no one here.'' yes, it was too empty. if this palace had been truly abandoned since the queen''s disgrace, it should have been covered in dust. yet, the pristine condition of the space only heightened his suspicions. without hesitation, kaylen ventured further into the palace. upon reaching the largest chamber at the heart of the residence, he finally heard something. "violet. so, the saintess is taking a firm stance, is she?" "good. then tell her you will join the battle. but not right away¡ªwe must inflict maximum damage on the oblaine duchy first." the voice of prince diether hart echoed eerily through the empty room. "what''s the point when the kingdom is in crisis? think about our mother, violet. the oblaine duchy must suffer, even just a little." kaylen closed his eyes and focused entirely on the voice''s source. "violet, just hold on a little longer." sharpening his senses, kaylen quickly pinpointed the origin of the sound. it was... directly above him. looking up at the ceiling adorned with intricate lily patterns, kaylen instinctively drew his sword for the first time. [translator - kiteretsu] [proofreader - kyros] Chapter 84 [translator - kiteretsu] [proofreader - kyros] chapter 84 swoosh¡ª the ceiling split cleanly in half, revealing a skull inside. the pitch-black skull emanated an overwhelming dark energy. "so, you were there." kaylen infused his sword with the mana of light as he aimed at the revealed enemy. as soon as his sword was enveloped in aura, the black skull opened its mouth. [that aura... could it be, a sword master?!] without a word, kaylen struck. crackle. the black skull cracked instantly and split in two. [ugh... the power of light...!] even split in half, the skull continued to speak. [you... you bastard...!] kaylen swung his sword again. he seemed indifferent to whatever the skull had to say. soon, the skull shattered into hundreds of fragments and began burning into white ashes. kaylen silently watched as nothing but ashes remained. however, the black ashes quickly spread in all directions... and from every corner, identical black skulls began to appear. even with a rough count, their numbers exceeded hundreds. [who are you?] the dark energy from the black skulls filled the surroundings. at the same time, intricate magic circles became visible, densely covering the floors and walls of the once pitch-dark room. [a sword master... a rare offering has walked right into my hands.] the voice of the black skulls was filled with delight. they spoke as if they had completely overpowered kaylen. and indeed... ''a binding magic circle. it''s quite powerful.'' kaylen could see the dark energy coiling around his feet. judging from his assessment, the magic circle extended throughout the entire palace. even for an average sword master, escaping would not be an easy feat. after contemplating briefly, kaylen spoke. "why is dark energy present in this place?" [hehehe... you don¡¯t need to know. you''re about to die soon anyway.] "...i thought you''d tell me." kaylen smirked and drove his sword into the ground. the skulls scoffed at the sight. [do you think an outdated aura sword can possibly resist this magic circl¡ª what?!] the black skulls let out a cry of astonishment. the pure white aura contained within the sword tore through the dark energy effortlessly. the dark energy binding kaylen''s feet dissipated, and the blood-red lines of the magic circle within the chamber began unraveling one by one. [kraaahhh...!] the interior of the palace blazed with the pure mana of light. the hundreds of black skulls that had mocked kaylen were engulfed by the spreading light and disappeared one by one. ''for the amount of power they have, their response is quite lacking.'' the sheer amount of dark energy revealed in the annex was overwhelming, yet it proved powerless against kaylen''s aura. once all the skulls had burned away and the blood-red magic circle had vanished completely, kaylen surveyed his surroundings. "i can''t sense any more dark energy now." was this the end? he hadn''t uncovered the true cause yet. as he briefly pondered over his disappointment¡ª "violet. come to mother''s... annex." once again, the prince''s voice echoed through the annex, and with it, the dark energy reappeared. "i thought i had eradicated it completely." where was it coming from this time? kaylen focused his senses as the blood-red magic circle re-emerged, spreading across the ceiling and walls. where was this sudden influx of dark energy originating from? kaylen slashed through the magic circle, carefully expanding his awareness. as the magic circle ignited and vanished again, the moonlight shone through. "the moonlight..." come to think of it, something was strange. this was the deepest room within the annex. with solid walls and no windows, there should have been no way for moonlight to seep in. yet, the ceiling and walls shimmered as if they were made of glass, allowing the moonlight to illuminate the space. the black skulls mocked kaylen as they melted away. after all, even if they burned, they would be reborn. this powerful sword master¡¯s depletion of energy was more welcome to them than if he had run away. if he continued to use his strength like this, his mana would eventually run out, and he would become their prey. the black skull smiled with joy at this thought, even as the flames raged. srrr. one, as a new sword appeared in kaylen¡¯s hand, the joy turned into doubt. it was a sword coated in pitch-black darkness. what is that? ¡°you seem to trust in moonlight, so let me block it entirely.¡± kaylen¡¯s shadow blade rapidly grew in size. without clashing with the aura sword of light, the darkness expanded outward. absorbing the black magic emitted by the black skull, it spread all the way outside the palace. [no... you control dark magic...?] the sword master was clearly someone who freely manipulated light mana. how could he control this opposite force, dark magic? and he wielded it so skillfully. the shadow blade lightly absorbed the black magic emitted by the skulls and cast a veil of darkness over the entire palace. clack clack clack¡ª the black skulls clacked their jaws in unease. [the blessing of moonlight...] [it¡¯s weakening!] as the moonlight, which had been like a lifeline, was blocked, the supply of dark magic noticeably weakened. of course, there was still some moonlight penetrating the dark veil, but it was nothing compared to before. ¡®this guy... what is he?¡¯ the white knight, whom they had considered nothing more than a mere sacrifice, suddenly appeared threatening. to wield both light and darkness? is this even possible? ¡°let¡¯s see how long you can hold out.¡± inside the dark veil, the power of the light sword grew. although the blessing of the moonlight had clearly weakened, the light mana grew stronger, and...... the black skull, which had been emitting the most powerful mana, screamed. [diether hart. where is violet?!] [he definitely left the room... ahhh!] the black skull, called diether hart, burned completely. could that really be the first prince? kaylen briefly doubted, but then thought, ¡®well, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡¯ they were all bound by darkness, without a chance of redemption. whether it was the first prince or anyone else, traitors of humanity must be destroyed. ¡®bormian. i will punish your rotten descendants in your place.¡¯ kaylen no longer had anything he wanted to hear from them. they were the ones who had sought to become demons, offering the meister as a sacrifice, leaving behind their vile skulls and trying to cling to life by any means. [if we vanish this time, we might not be able to revive...] [scatter!] the black skulls, who had been surrounding kaylen and mocking him, all fled in different directions at once. however. ¡°where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± kaylen¡¯s broad sword surged forward, purging the surroundings with pure white flames. one by one, the black skulls disappeared, sinking into the flames without even a scream. [ugh, ughhh... what kind of disaster is this...!] the skull that contained the most dark magic was still holding on, but already, new white flames surrounded it. ¡®without the blessing of the moon, there¡¯s no way i can resist...!¡¯ was the sword master really this powerful? the dark magic accumulated over centuries was vanishing like dust. is this really the end? is this the end of the bormian clan¡¯s path to evolution...? at that moment. boom! a large ice spear pierced the palace¡¯s wall, tearing through the dark veil. and then, ¡°who are you?¡± step. step. violet, the one the black skull had been waiting for, slowly walked into the darkness that had been parted. [translator - kiteretsu] [proofreader - kyros] Chapter 85 [translator - kiteretsu] [proofreader - kyros] chapter 85 - violet. please come to the separate palace of the mother¡¯s star. violet, who had been in the middle of a conversation with diether hart regarding the saintess¡¯ ultimatum, was startled when he suddenly collapsed after uttering those words. ¡°oh, brother!¡± she shook diether hart¡¯s body, but his body was so cold it was hard to believe he was alive. fortunately, his pulse was faintly beating, and he was still breathing, though it seemed he might stop at any moment. ¡°call a priest! quickly!¡± after instructing the maid outside the room, violet hurriedly made her way to the separate palace. why had he told her to go to the separate palace? though she didn¡¯t understand, violet ran with all her strength. and then¡ª ¡®what is that?¡¯ where the separate palace once stood, a mass of black darkness, resembling an artificially formed cloud, had gathered. at a glance, it exuded an ominous aura of dark magic. could diether hart¡¯s collapse be related to this dark magic? ¡®the dark magic is far too dense.¡¯ even with glacia by her side, entering recklessly would be dangerous. ¡®i need to give it my all from the start.¡¯ shhhhh¡ª violet¡¯s body began to crystallize. she was activating spirit form, a feature only available in mana suits rated a-grade or higher. ¡°ice spear!¡± violet immediately summoned and launched a barrage of ice spears. boom! dozens of ice spears pierced the darkness, but¡ª ¡®they¡¯ve been swallowed...?¡¯ the magical energy of the ice spears vanished the moment they entered the darkness. those ice spears had been meticulously crafted. raising her vigilance, violet summoned a single ice spear and concentrated her power. she poured all her strength into this one strike. the ice spear grew to the size of a building column, its thickness monumental. boom! perhaps because of the immense magical power imbued within, this ice spear managed to cut through the darkness and create a small opening. following that opening, violet entered the separate palace. and then¡ª ¡°who are you?¡± there, she saw a knight clad in white armor. the knight¡¯s sword, imbued with pure white aura, radiated majestically amidst the darkness. he appeared no different from a hero in a storybook. [violet... you¡¯ve come...! subdue him!] a sinister voice echoed from the ceiling, causing violet to frown despite her now-icy expression. [what are you doing? hurry!] even as the voice urged her, violet didn¡¯t move a muscle. the knight standing before her... anyone could see he was a sacred paladin. in contrast, the voice commanding her was nothing short of ominous. meanwhile, kaylen, observing violet as she calmly assessed the situation, realized something important. ¡®so, she¡¯s not on their side.¡¯ if even violet had been nothing more than a puppet of the black skeleton, kaylen would have subdued her immediately. however, judging by the unfolding situation, that didn¡¯t seem to be the case. still, the fact that the black skeleton had urgently called for violet meant it had some sort of plan in mind. hearing those words, violet''s eyes turned icy cold. "ha. you''ve greatly underestimated me." swoosh! an ice spear pierced through the black skeleton without hesitation. "did you think i would be swayed by the ramblings of a cornered undead?" [heh... hehehe. so mere words without the stimulation of dark magic were not enough. my mind control was insufficient...] summoned as reinforcements, but now perishing by her hands. yet, unexpectedly, there was no despair in its voice. [but... it is done. i have received even the faintest sliver of moonlight... the great one shall revive me once more.] kaylen looked behind violet. through the ice spear she had thrust, a faint trace of moonlight had seeped in. the black skeleton, reduced to ashes, dissolved into the moonlight and disappeared. [the unfulfilled wish of the bormian bloodline... shall come true...] with those final words, it vanished. ''hmm. the black skeleton''s existence has been completely eradicated.'' when violet had broken through from the outside, only a small amount of moonlight had entered. if such a fleeting exposure was enough to guarantee resurrection... it would indeed be a troublesome adversary. "...sir knight." whirr... violet gazed at the fading magic circle with a somber voice. "could you ask the saintess to investigate the separate palace... and my brother?" "yes, princess." "i want to believe that undead''s words were lies... but..." once the magic circle had completely vanished, the separate palace returned to its original state. a silent, dark space, void of any presence. violet continued to look around the place with trembling eyes. "now that the magic circle is gone, this place looks different to me. bright and serene, like a true royal annex." bright and serene? to kaylen, the annex appeared as an entirely different world. ''even if she wasn''t completely under mind control... was she affected by illusions?'' perhaps it was because of the s-rank mana artifact, glacia, that had been weighing on his mind. even if black magic hadn''t fully dominated her mind, it seemed that various other methods had been used. "everything here appears well-maintained, as if what happened earlier was all a lie... i can hear the footsteps of maids outside the door. i always thought this was normal, but now... i can no longer trust my own eyes. how does this place appear to you?" "it looks like a dark and abandoned annex, without a single candle to light it." "...and the maids'' footsteps?" "since i arrived, i haven''t sensed a single presence here." "i see..." violet let out a hollow laugh. "i want to believe that all of this was the undead''s doing. that my brother''s collapse was because of that creature. that a part of our royal family chose to become demons... i want to believe it was all just lies to deceive me." she sighed and continued, "in any case, we must summon the saintess. but first, i need to be examined. since you''re from sanctuary, i assume you can do it?" at the princess''s request, kaylen confidently nodded. "yes, i can. but before that¡ª" crackle. from kaylen''s sword, a radiant aura of light burst forth once again. thud. he drove the sword straight into the floor of the annex. "i''ll suppress them to ensure they won''t rise again." even after leaving his grip, the sword continued to emit a brilliant aura of light. it looked like a legendary holy sword from the old tales. violet, impressed by the knight''s extraordinary power, nodded in admiration. "...please take care of it as soon as possible." [translator - kiteretsu] [proofreader - kyros] Chapter 86 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 86 The northeastern city, where the portal to the Demon Realm had opened, was completely devastated by the relentless surge of monsters. At the center of the destruction, a towering figure clad in black armor spoke in a low voice. "Humans are truly useless, even as mere pawns." Whooosh¡ª In response, dark energy gathered before him, and a black skeleton materialized. Even when he was reduced to dust by Kaylen and Violet, he had maintained a grin. But now, in front of the demon legion commander, he trembled in fear. "[Great one... I am deeply sorry.]" "You should be grateful that I indulged my fleeting curiosity. Otherwise, I would have simply left you to disappear." "[Yes... I am truly grateful.]" The black skeleton nodded repeatedly. His opponent was someone who meant what he said. He could feel that his life had been spared merely on a whim. "The kingdom should already be under our control. Why did you fail?" "[An unexpected paladin appeared, far stronger than anticipated.]" "Pathetic... You''ve lived for centuries as Black Skull, yet you couldn''t handle a single paladin? It seems you¡¯re not even worth keeping alive." Swoosh. As the demon legion commander extended his hand, an overwhelming force of absorption was felt. He was attempting to strip away the skeleton''s magic. ''This can''t be...!'' The demon legion commander always followed through on his words. In a desperate attempt to regain his favor, Black Skull quickly blurted out, "[T-That paladin was different! He was a Sword Master!]" "A paladin, a Sword Master? Now you''re mocking me. Paladins can never achieve the rank of Sword Master." A threatening red glow flickered across the demon legion commander''s black armor. To think that this wretch, who had been defeated by a mere paladin, dared to report that his opponent was a Sword Master. "[I-It¡¯s true! He wielded not only the aura of light but also the aura of darkness. He blocked the moonlight, preventing our regeneration. All of my kin, except for myself, perished without receiving the moon¡¯s blessing...]" "Hmm?" He used both light and dark aura? At those words, the demon legion commander retracted his hand. A paladin could never wield the power of darkness. Crossing his arms, the commander spoke. "Transfer your memories to me." "[Y-Yes!]" Swirl. Dark energy seeped from Black Skull¡¯s head and flowed into the commander. As the demon commander absorbed the magic and examined the memories, he nodded. A knight who wielded both light and dark mana flawlessly. Though clad in white armor and emanating a holy presence like a paladin... The darkness he controlled was as precise and refined as his light. For such an existence to appear in the barren lands of the middle realm... The demon legion commander¡¯s eyes gleamed. "Indeed. He is a Sword Master... and a rare one at that." "[Exactly.]" "If his aura control is this precise, he¡¯s comparable to the Sword Masters from a thousand years ago. Among the specialties of Colony Zone E, he would be considered a top-tier product." The demon legion commander spoke as if he were appraising Sword Master Kaylen. To the demons, the middle realm was nothing more than a colony, and humans were mere beasts they allowed to exist. Among these beasts, a Sword Master was the rarest species... And even rarer was one who could wield both the powers of light and darkness simultaneously. The demon commander couldn''t hide his delight at such a discovery. "Offering him as tribute will surely yield great rewards..." "[T-That valuable, my lord?]" "Indeed. An Aura Master¡¯s worth is whatever the highest bidder will pay. With this level of rarity... Haha. You''ve finally brought me some useful information. This is the most valuable thing you''ve ever done." "[Thank you!]" The demon legion commander pondered. How could he acquire this rare specimen? If he acted personally, he could subdue him immediately, but if the Sword Master belonged to the Sanctuary, the situation would become complicated. ''If I move recklessly, he might escape.'' Sanctuary¡ªthe refuge created by the lackeys of the Celestial God. To the demon commander, it was nothing more than a nest of pesky rats. However, since its location was still unknown, tracking someone who fled there would be difficult. Until now, the demon realm''s invasions had always followed a fixed pattern. They would summon massive monster portals, unleashing berserk creatures. Once those were dealt with, the demon legion commander would invade with mana eaters. Nations had managed to fend off the attacks by following these patterns¡ªor, if they lacked the strength, they would retreat. ''If the demon legion commander isn''t following the usual routine, we won''t be able to stop them.'' She drew a dagger from her waist and aimed it at the drake. "O fragment of Astellah." Astellah¡ª In this continent, that name referred to only one thing. The Holy Sword. A supreme divine artifact that had slain countless demon kings and crushed evil. The woman, known as the Saintess, now held a dagger in her hand¡ªcalling it a fragment of that sacred blade. "Grant us the sword of the heavens, I humbly beseech thee." Flash. A golden light spread from above the drake. Cracks of light formed in the sky, and from within them, a sword began to emerge. A pure white blade, condensed from the mana of light. It was massive¡ªso immense that it seemed capable of crushing the drake beneath it. It was, quite literally, the Sword of the Heavens. One of the divine powers of the Holy Sword Astellah, unexpectedly wielded by the Saintess. "With that sword..." "We can stop it!" The sight of the heavenly sword brought relief to those who beheld it. As the sword descended toward the drake, the Meisters loosened their tense stances, and the Holy Knights who followed the Saintess gazed at her with reverence. Surely, that enormous sword would pierce through the drake. Just as everyone expected¡ª Crackle. Sizzle. A blinding white sword shot up from the drake¡¯s back. A sword of light, rising to meet the descending heavenly blade. Although it was much smaller in comparison, the moment the two swords clashed, the heavenly sword''s descent came to a complete halt. "No way..." "Is that...?" "There''s something on the drake''s back..." Something? The Saintess, startled, focused her gaze on the drake''s back. From the ground, it was impossible to see who or what was there, ¡ªbut she possessed many divine abilities. "Eyes of the Firmament." A power that allowed her to share her vision with the heavens. Using it, she was finally able to see the figure standing atop the drake. A knight clad in pure white armor. "You¡¯ve prepared quite the grand welcome." While holding back the sword, the knight directed the drake to land swiftly. "And now..." Whoosh! The knight raised his sword, forcing the heavenly blade to retreat skyward. Before long, the celestial sword lost its power and vanished completely. The Saintess stared blankly at the sight before her. "A-Astellah''s power... is gone..." Even though she had only summoned a fragment of the Holy Sword''s power, ¡ªit was not something that could be blocked by a mere sword. Yet, that knight had deflected it with a single blade? A thought crept into her mind¡ª The ultimate state that all swordsmen aspire to reach, ¡ªan unparalleled realm that no one had achieved in centuries, a state that had become legend. ''Could it be...?'' "My name is Stein." Sching. The white knight slid his sword back into its sheath and slowly approached the Saintess. "I am the head of the Meier Sword Clan." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 87 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 87 "Meier... Sword Clan?" The Saintess asked in a trembling voice. "In this day and age, a sword clan?" After the advent of mana suits and the Masters, knights had greatly declined in society. It was only natural for the sword clans, which once taught martial arts and formed powerful factions, to fall as well. Now, aside from a few historic sword clans, it was nearly impossible to find any. "But this place carries the name Meier... Meier Sword Clan. The name itself was not entirely nonexistent. Hundreds of years ago, when knights and sword clans were still active, the ''Meier'' Sword Clan, named after the Meier Empire, had sprung up countless times. But they were all frauds, and there had never been a true sword master of Meier''s name. But the Meier name this person spoke of felt different from those charlatans. He had shown the power of a Sword Master, riding Drake and demonstrating combat skills. Looking at him, the Saintess couldn¡¯t help but ask. "Does the Meier Sword Clan... perhaps have any connection to the Meier Empire?" "Yes. I am a descendant of the Meier Imperial Family." "I see. I thought the Meier Imperial Family had fallen..." "After the collapse of the unified empire, we survived by changing our name and surname. But now, I have earned the right to revive my family¡¯s name, and I¡¯ve decided to restore the sword clan." The ''right'' he spoke of, must refer to being a Sword Master. The Saintess recalled the Aura Sword from earlier. "That was definitely not a Holy Knight¡¯s sword." The white knight¡¯s Aura Sword made of light. Since Holy Knights also dealt with light mana, a skilled Holy Knight could create a sword of light like that. To ordinary people, since the sword was made of light, both swords might have seemed similar... But through the Saintess¡¯s eyes, the two swords were completely different. No matter who made it, a Holy Knight¡¯s sword always had a similar appearance and mana flow. The source of a Holy Knight¡¯s power ultimately came from the heavenly realm. Thus, every sword created in that manner shared a similar structure to the Holy Sword Astella. No matter how skilled a Holy Knight was, they could never create their own unique Aura Sword, like the white knight had. After all, even if they wielded the same weapon, they were in different realms. This person was definitely a Sword Master. "I didn¡¯t originally intend to visit you like this. However, due to an incident at the palace, I had to take the liberty of seeing you." "What happened at the palace?" "Yes." As the white knight explained what had happened at the palace the day before, the Saintess''s expression gradually stiffened. Especially when he mentioned the Black Skull, her face turned cold. "The Black Skull, you say?" "The Black Skull..." "It refers to the first stage of demonic transformation, where a human becomes a demon." Those who accepted the demonic power into their skulls became loyal minions of the demon world. Since the first cases were reported 500 years ago, the Black Skull phenomenon had spread in secrecy. Among the high-ranking individuals who learned that the Middle Realm was a colony of the Demon Realm, some often fell into the corruption of becoming Black Skulls. "No wonder the movements in the palace seemed odd..." "Princess Violet wishes to invite you, Saintess, to help identify them." "I understand. I will depart with the Holy Knights. It will take some time to prepare... Saintess Theresia said, glancing at the Drake behind her. "Dragon Knights used to carry several people on a Drake back in the day." Dragon Knights were mostly skilled Sword Masters, able to deploy a Sword Area from their Drake¡¯s back and carry multiple people. Could this man do the same? Just then, the white knight spoke first. "Shall we ride together? We don¡¯t have much time." "Our Holy Knight Order needs to carry at least 30 people... Will that be alright?" "That number should be fine." "Then I¡¯ll leave it to you." "Understood." "No need to worry too much. I won¡¯t be taking off the helmet often." "No, it''s really fine. You can go ahead and act without the helmet." "It¡¯s not because of you." Shiiiing. As Kaylen activated his mana suit in the form of gauntlets, a bright white light spread across his body. His appearance now resembled that of the White Knight he had shown at the royal palace. The only difference was that the gauntlets were engraved with a magical circle alongside the "Myorn Workshop." This proved that the armor was a mana suit. "Mana Suit ''Normal'' and ''Expert.'' I need to promote it properly." "Ah..." "If a Sword Master wears it, it will serve as advertisement." Had he thought of promoting the mana suit as well? Eldir¡¯s gaze kept lingering on the "Myorn Workshop" engraving. A mana suit worn by a Sword Master. Indeed, any knight would notice it. "The workshop will likely get busy." Violet had stayed awake all night, keeping watch over Prince Diether Hart''s quarters. A priest who had stayed at the royal palace came by to check, but... "There''s nothing wrong with the prince''s body." The examination results showed no abnormalities. Despite this, Diether Hart remained unconscious, limp. Violet sent the priest away and decided to investigate his room herself. "So many books in the Demon Language..." In the past, when Diether Hart read books in the Demon Language, Violet thought he was just gathering information on dungeons. But now, seeing the entire room filled with such books, Violet couldn''t help but feel suspicious. "That undead pretended to be my brother, and I ignored it... but why did he collapse and urgently tell me to go to the palace?" "Why did the palace, which had a magic circle drawn when the White Knight fought the undead, look normal once the magic circle disappeared?" "And where are the maids?" The sound of the maids'' footsteps, which was normally heard, had disappeared. She had followed the sound, but found no trace of anyone. The palace was a place of illusions for Violet. "...Brother. It can''t be, can it?" Violet sighed as she looked at Diether Hart. Ever since her mother was executed, her father, the king, had rarely appeared before her, leaving Diether Hart as the only family she had left. "We promised to survive and punish the Duke of Oblaine, to avenge Mother... But now he''s following the Demon Realm and trying to control his mind? I can''t believe it." Despite the many unsettling points, Violet wanted to believe in Diether Hart. Then, suddenly, Diether Hart, who had been slumped and unconscious, snapped his eyes open. "Violet." "Brother, you''re awake?" Violet sighed in relief and hurriedly approached Diether Hart. Seeing him awake, Violet felt reassured. That undead had likely impersonated her brother after all. She had doubted him for a moment, but now she felt guilty. "Yeah... Ugh, my head hurts. Did something happen?" "You don''t remember telling me to go to the palace?" "I told you to go to the palace?" Diether Hart looked confused. When Violet explained, his face contorted. "There were minions of the Demon Realm in the palace? And they even impersonated me...?" "Yes. I subdued him, but the palace still seems suspicious, so I invited the Saintess to check on your condition as well." "The Saintess? Good. You did well." Violet felt a weight lift from her chest as Diether Hart responded so readily. The fact that he welcomed the Saintess''s arrival made her believe Diether Hart had nothing to do with the undead. "Violet, I''m terribly hungry... Could you call the maids?" "Yes, Brother." As Violet left the room, Diether Hart lifted one corner of his mouth, forming a twisted smile. "With the Saintess coming, this is perfect... I''ll have more to offer to my master." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 88 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 88 Saintess Theresia marveled at how she couldn¡¯t feel a single gust of wind while flying. Even though she was riding a dragon at high speed, she should have been facing a strong headwind. Yet, the dragon¡¯s back felt as warm as if she were inside a room. Theresia understood exactly where this phenomenon was coming from. "Sword Area..." The absolute domain that only those who have reached the Master¡¯s level can deploy. To withstand the acceleration of the Drake, the use of the Sword Area was essential. Therefore, the knights who rode drakes were equivalent to commanders of the Empire¡¯s knight orders. In other words, only martial artists who had reached the Master¡¯s level could do this. It had been hundreds of years since a Sword Master had appeared... Yet, the newly emerged Sword Master Stein was freely using the old Sword Master''s techniques without restriction. She had heard that he was a descendant of Meier; could he have obtained the records? As she thought this, she gently touched the scales of the Drake. The scales were inscribed with a magic circle. Theresia had seen this pattern before. "Mana Eater''s magic circle..." The Mana Eater, a monster directly commanded by the Demon Lord, was capable of absorbing all magic from lower circles. In the current Meister system, the Mana Eater was a disaster in itself. Only the Holy Legion within the Sanctuary could face these creatures, but their method was simply to suppress them with divine power, making a more effective countermeasure necessary. If she could analyze this magic circle, it would be a great help. "Stein-sama." As Theresia approached Kaylen, who was standing silently, she spoke. "Please, speak." "May I ask where you found this Drake?" "I found it in the legacy of the Demon race. It was sealed." "The legacy of the Demon race..." The legacy left behind by the Meier royal family, which had fallen into corruption and become part of the Demon race. It was once rumored that in order to obtain this legacy, the seal and bloodline of Meier were required. But there had never been a report confirming this, so she had thought it was just a baseless rumor. But it seemed it was true. "Stein-sama, do you know about the magic circle inscribed on this Drake?" "I''m not sure about the details, but I saw it absorbing magic earlier." "That''s right. This magic circle is an anti-magic seal inscribed on the monster''s body, directly belonging to the Demon Lord''s command. It resists low-circle magic strongly. We used to call monsters with this magic circle ''Mana Eaters''." "Mana Eater?" Kaylen asked, feigning ignorance. As a mage, he had already known about it, but as a Sword Master, Stein had never heard of it before. "Monsters that resist magic are the deadliest enemies to humanity in the Meister era. While knights¡¯ auras worked to some extent, there were so many large monsters that knights couldn¡¯t easily counter them. Only our Sanctuary''s Holy Legion was able to overcome them..." The Saintess gently caressed the Drake¡¯s scales with a gleaming gaze. "I believe that if we analyze this magic circle, we may discover a weakness of the Mana Eater. Then, humanity would finally have a way to counter the Demon Realm''s conquest." "Hmm..." "Stein-sama, would you grant us the opportunity to analyze this magic circle?" "Analysis, you say?" "Please. For the sake of humanity, analyzing the anti-magic seal is something that must be done." "I will consider it." Kaylen replied to her request, understanding the importance of it for humanity. But, ''Nothing comes without a price.'' A brief pause was necessary for such a proposal. After the matter with the Bormian royal family was settled, they could discuss it further. As soon as they arrived at the royal palace, Kaylen shifted his gaze. "We''ve arrived at the royal palace." The Drake flapped its wings slowly and began to land. Perhaps it was because Kaylen had contacted them beforehand and mentioned that he would be riding a Drake, but the knights'' training grounds were crowded with people, resembling a cloud. Kaylen observed the people, who were staring with their mouths open in surprise at the sight of the Drake. His eyes lit up. ¡®Diether Hart. He¡¯s awake.¡¯ Among the many people, the ones standing at the forefront were Princess Violet and the First Prince Diether Hart, who had previously collapsed. ¡®A dragon knight. He''s more troublesome than I thought.¡¯ Bormian, who was controlling the body of First Prince Diether Hart, thought to himself. The First Prince again suggested they follow him, but the Saintess remained firm in her stance. Seeing this, Diether Hart smiled bitterly and nodded. "Understood. Then Violet, please guide them..." "No." Theresia, cutting off Diether Hart¡¯s words, spoke with a cold expression. "I would prefer to be personally guided by the Prince." "No!" "Even if you¡¯re a Saintess, this is too much! To refuse the First Prince¡¯s invitation and even demand to be personally guided¡ªit was more of a command than a request. The knights escorting the First Prince bristled, and Violet¡¯s expression also stiffened. "If the Prince himself doesn¡¯t guide us, we won¡¯t move another step from here." Bormian looked at the Saintess. Had she sensed something? ¡®As expected, she isn¡¯t called the Saintess of a thousand years for nothing.¡¯ The Saintess¡¯s firm attitude made Diether Hart sigh and nod. "Then I will personally guide you." The exterior of the White Lily Palace was as pure and beautiful as its name. But the Saintess''s eyes, as she gazed at it, were cold and distant. "Is this the problematic annex?" "Yes, it is." "It truly is a beautiful place... on the surface, at least." The Saintess looked around at the holy knights who were guarding her. "Shall we bestow a blessing upon this beautiful palace?" "A ''large-scale blessing''... you mean?" "Yes. Let everyone offer a prayer to the Heavenly God." Thud. Thud. The Saintess kneeled first, tightly clasping her hands. The 30 holy knights knelt as well, mirroring her position. "Our Father who art in Heaven," The prayer most frequently spoken by the followers of the Heavenly God flowed from the Saintess¡¯s lips. A prayer asking for the world to serve the Heavenly God, and for the Kingdom of Heaven to be established on earth. "...Give us this day our daily bread." Even the knights, whose expressions had hardened at the Saintess''s impudence, began reciting the prayer unconsciously. "Lead us not into temptation..." Between the kneeling holy knights, one by one, brilliant white lights began to rise. A powerful divine energy, never seen among the temple priests. All the holy knights were emitting light. Except for one. The Saintess alone remained unchanged, continuing her prayer. She had left only the final phrase of the Lord¡¯s Prayer. Even Kaylen, who wasn¡¯t an ardent follower of the Heavenly God, knew the phrase. ¡®Deliver us from evil...¡¯ And then, the final phrase was not what everyone had expected. "Silence the Red Moon." The last line was completely different from what they all knew. "The Red Moon..." It wasn¡¯t what everyone had anticipated. Woooooosh! From the Saintess''s body, a brilliant white light surged upward. The light spread completely into the sky and soon illuminated the White Lily Palace. Then, "No..." "The White Lily Palace...!" The appearance of the White Lily Palace began to completely change. The pristine palace turned into walls made of human flesh and bone, and the garden, once full of beautiful flowers, was now crawling with enormous, grotesque insects. The palace, now made of flesh, blood, and bone, had a repulsive, nightmarish look. "As expected." Looking at this, Saintess Theresia spoke coldly. "The Necropolis was hidden beneath the palace." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 89 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 89 Necropolis Kaylen was well aware of this place. ¡®A secret stronghold of dark sorcerers, established by the followers of the Demon Realm.¡¯ Before the Demon King¡¯s descent, the first thing dark sorcerers would secretly construct was a Necropolis. This was because the Middle World had a relatively lower concentration of dark mana compared to the Demon Realm. A Necropolis, created through offerings of human bones and flesh, served to supplement this lack of dark mana. ¡®The scale isn¡¯t particularly large... but the dark mana here is substantial.¡¯ In his past life, there had been larger Necropolises during the subjugation campaigns, but the sheer amount of dark mana emanating from the structure itself seemed greater than any he had encountered before. ¡°Darkness, reveal yourself.¡± As the Saintess stood up and stretched out her hand, the dark mana pouring from the Necropolis became visible even to ordinary eyes. Thick black mana, rising like smoke in all directions, was overwhelming¡ªengulfing not only the Necropolis but also the surrounding garden. And from within that ominous darkness... ¡°Hah.¡± A single strand of dark mana was connected to the head of the First Prince, Diether Hart. As the onlookers gazed at the prince¡¯s head, Diether Hart himself looked up. Upon seeing the black strand, he let out a sigh. ¡®The Saintess... what a nuisance.¡¯ Bormian, the one controlling Diether Hart, was irritated. He had planned to lay low and stall for three more days until his true body arrived, yet now the hidden Necropolis was exposed so easily. Feigning ignorance, he spoke up. ¡°What is the meaning of this? Why is that black thing connected to me?¡± ¡°This is dark mana. It signifies that Your Highness is connected to the Necropolis.¡± ¡°I... I¡¯m connected to dark mana?¡± Bormian manipulated Diether Hart¡¯s body to feign surprise, but the expression on his face was unnaturally stiff. So much so that even those loyal to the prince found it strange. His left face showed shock, while his right remained expressionless, as if paralyzed. ¡®W-what? Why can¡¯t I control it properly...?¡¯ Alarmed, Bormian looked up. The dark mana linking Diether Hart was gradually fading in color. ¡°Your Highness, are you familiar with the Black Skull?¡± ¡°B-Black Skull, you say?¡± Due to the complete paralysis of the right side of his face, his speech slurred awkwardly. Step. Step. As the Saintess approached with cold eyes, a chill ran down Bormian¡¯s spine. He had borrowed power from a Demon Legion Commander, believing no human could threaten him. Yet now, witnessing the divine power radiating from the Saintess''s armor, he felt an instinctive fear. ¡°The Black Skull¡ªthose who wished to become demons, offering their bodies and souls to the Demon Realm. They replace the flesh they sacrificed with new bodies and become puppets known as ¡®Marionettes,¡¯ controlled by others.¡± *** ¡°Marionettes are indistinguishable from ordinary humans at a glance, making it difficult to identify them... but here at the Sanctuary, we¡¯ve found a way to detect them.¡± ¡°You mean suspicion?¡± ¡°No, not suspicion.¡± The Saintess spoke with a radiant smile. ¡°I am certain.¡± Chiiiizzzzz... With the sound of flesh burning, Diether Hart¡¯s forehead was momentarily engulfed in a brilliant white light. ¡°Ugh... ugh...¡± His entire face then froze into an expressionless state, as if completely paralyzed. Like a puppet with its strings cut, he collapsed to the ground, his joints twisting unnaturally. ¡°O-Oppah!¡± Violet gasped and rushed toward him. Chiiiiik... But before she could reach him, black smoke rose from his body, and his flesh began to melt away. Without leaving even a final word, Diether Hart vanished suddenly. Violet''s eyes filled with despair and fury. ¡°Saintess! What have you done?!¡± ¡°Look at his bones.¡± ¡°His... bones...¡± As the smoke cleared, the bones revealed beneath Diether Hart''s melted flesh were black, emanating a strange dark mana. His arms, legs, and torso bones were all intact, but... ¡°His skull is missing, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°That is proof that he was a Black Skull.¡± Thud. Violet collapsed to the ground. Her brother... had truly followed the demons? It didn¡¯t feel real. ¡°No... that can¡¯t be...¡± Diether Hart. He was the only one she could truly open up to and rely on. The armor worn by the knight who arrived riding a dragon¡ª It turned out to be a Mana Suit. Some of them, noticing the engraving on the gauntlet that read Myorn Workshop, lit up with recognition. ¡°Mana Suit Expert, release.¡± As the White Knight spoke those words, his pure white armor instantly turned a brilliant shade of blue. Clank. For a moment, he bent his knees slightly. ¡°Huh...?¡± Then, the White Knight vanished from sight. Not just the knights, but even the Saintess and the Holy Knights of the Sanctuary failed to track his movement. He reappeared about ten seconds later. Chhh... In the silent battlefield, a sharp rift-like sound resonated. ¡°L-Look over there...¡± ¡°The undead...!¡± The undead legion that had been standing in perfect formation¡ª Their bodies now bore thin, radiant white slashes that cut clean across them. Over a thousand undead¡ª All of them¡ª Had been shredded apart without a chance to resist. Fwoosh! From their bisected torsos, pure white sacred flames erupted. The once-formidable undead legion could not withstand the fire and burned helplessly. ¡°Whoa...¡± A thousand foes felled with a single strike. The legendary tales of a Sword Master¡ª Tales that most believed to be mere exaggerations, especially among the knights who wielded aura¡ª were now unfolding before their very eyes. The knights stood in stunned silence, witnessing the true power of a Sword Master. ¡°Is this the end?¡± Beyond the annihilated undead army, the White Knight murmured those words and took a step forward. [Kuhuhuhu... Impressive. Truly impressive! Go on, flaunt your sword even more, Sword Master!] Despite the utter destruction of the undead legion, a voice filled with amusement echoed from the Necropolis. [Prove your worth. Only then will my efforts be recognized by my master... Hehehe. This time, things will be interesting.] Rumble. The inner walls of the bone-formed Necropolis began to collapse, causing the ground to split apart. From within, one after another, black coffins slowly rose to the surface. The coffin lids began to open on their own. [Vampires, arise.] ¡°We shall obey our master¡¯s command.¡± Whoosh. Whoosh. One by one, the vampires inside the coffins began to rise. Kaylen frowned as he observed them. ¡®Vampires... active in broad daylight?¡¯ Vampires, known for their weakness to sunlight¡ª Yet here they were, moving effortlessly under the bright sun. ¡®And their complexion... They¡¯re different from the vampires I know.¡¯ Unlike the pale, lifeless creatures of legend, these vampires appeared almost as healthy as ordinary humans, with a natural flush to their skin. They were nothing like the vampires of a thousand years ago. Thud. Thud. A total of 200 vampires slowly emerged from the coffins. They were young men and women, all clad in matching uniforms of a similar style. Violet, watching from behind, felt an eerie sense of familiarity. ¡®Those faces... Could it be...?¡¯ A grim premonition settled in her chest. Among the 200, too many faces looked familiar. [Hahaha! Violet, do you see them?] As if to confirm her worst fears, a chilling voice echoed from the Necropolis. [The Meisters you brought with you. Aren¡¯t they splendid?] [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 90 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 90 On the day Violet entered the Magic Academy as a first-year student, First Prince Diether Hart said to her: ¡°Violet, we need a personal guard unit. Can you find capable people at the academy?¡± Diether Hart''s requirements were twofold: They had to be Meisters, And they had to come from insignificant backgrounds. Finding people who met these criteria was no easy task. Meisters were born as mages, and most of them preferred to join the Magic Tower rather than serve in the First Prince¡¯s personal guard. Especially the academy Meisters¡ªsince they showcased their talents at a young age, major Magic Towers were eager to recruit them. Their low status didn''t matter. Becoming a Meister in itself was enough to elevate their social standing. So, Violet shifted her focus to graduates instead. Those who had become Meisters but were only mediocre in talent, Those who remained stuck at the 3rd Circle for years, losing sponsorship to their younger peers and relegated to mere salaried employees of the Magic Tower. Violet approached such individuals. ¡°His Highness the First Prince and I will support you.¡± They responded to the princess''s offer and joined the First Prince¡¯s personal guard unit. Even though they were considered washed-up Meisters, they still harbored ambition. ¡°Forty of them... Well done, Violet.¡± As he took in the recruited Meisters, First Prince Diether Hart praised Violet. The personal Meisters who had already been selected took them in and said: ¡°Thank you, Your Highness. We will ¡®train¡¯ them well.¡± At the time, Violet had thought they were simply going to undergo training. But to think they had been turned into vampires instead... ¡®What have I been doing all this time?¡¯ All she ever wanted was to help her brother Diether Hart, take revenge on the duke¡¯s house, and stabilize the kingdom. But in the end, she had only aided the demons. Violet''s eyes lost focus, filled with emptiness. Meanwhile, Kaylen observed the vampires with great interest. ¡®It''s been a while since I''ve seen vampires.¡¯ Vampires were high-ranking undead monsters who had infiltrated human society for ages, acting as spies for the Demon Realm. Back when Kaylen was emperor, they were the first ones he eradicated. He thought he had wiped them out completely, sparing no one regardless of age or gender. ¡°Can the undead use mana suits?¡± [Of course. Do you think magic is exclusive to humans?] [In fact, they don¡¯t need to handle it with as much finesse as humans do, allowing them to push the mana suit¡¯s performance to its limits.] Clack. Clack. As all 200 vampires stretched out their arms, The gauntlets equipped on their hands emitted a crimson glow. Shhhrrrk¡ª Dark armor rapidly enveloped their bodies. Yet strangely, despite wearing armor, the vampires now appeared smaller than before. Crack¡ª The armor squeezed their bodies tightly. Snap. Snap. For some vampires, their limbs twisted unnaturally, their arms bending at grotesque angles. Through the gaps in their helmets, eyeballs began to protrude. ¡®Is this... how they¡¯re enhancing the mana suit¡¯s performance?¡¯ Kaylen recalled when Myorn first recruited him. Didn¡¯t she say she chose him because he was a mage capable of withstanding the immense pressure of a mana suit? In the case of vampires, being undead meant they likely faced fewer limitations compared to humans. [My Meister corps¡¯ first offering is a Sword Master. This is a promising start... Vampires, do not kill him.] Black Skull¡¯s voice carried a tone of certainty, as if he had already subdued Kaylen. And understandably so¡ª The sheer pressure emanating from 200 vampires was overwhelming. From their black armor, crimson magic circles emerged, and waves of dark energy began to surge. ¡°The Holy Knights! Move to support the Sword Master!¡± [It¡¯s too late.] Even as the Saintess rushed to act, the vampire unit moved first. ¡°Life Drain.¡± The dark magic, Life Drain¡ª Though considered a lower-tier dark spell, when cast in unison by 200 vampires, its power rivaled that of grand magic. Thick streams of visible dark energy extended in multiple directions, aiming to seize Kaylen''s body. ¡®Even a Sword Master can''t handle this...¡¯ Saintess Theresia hastily drew a dagger, preparing once again to wield the power of the holy sword, Astellah. he gestured as if urging them to hurry up. In response, all the vampires simultaneously chanted, ¡°Combine Suit.¡± The magic circles densely inscribed across their mana suits from head to toe began to glow with a crimson hue. Suddenly, the vampires'' bodies started to contort. Crack. Crack... Crack. The already immense pressure of the mana suits intensified further. One by one, the vampires could no longer maintain their human forms, their flesh and bones spilling out through the gaps in the armor. Even the knights turned their eyes away from the grotesque sight. The now-shrunken mana suits began to merge together into a single mass. Clang. Clang. Clang. The humanoid vampire masters disappeared, becoming mere components as the mana suits grew larger. ¡®So this is why they call it the Combine Suit?¡¯ Even though fragments of flesh continued to seep out from what were once mana suits, the vampires, being undead, seemed unfazed by such sacrifices. 150 mana suits fused together, merging into a colossal steel giant. [Hahaha! Sword Master, you''ve been too complacent. You actually waited until the fusion was complete.] The mana stones embedded all over the giant''s body simultaneously emitted a foreboding crimson glow. As blood, bones, and flesh rained down, the sinister red light spread dark energy in every direction. It was a sight that resembled a demon descending straight from hell. Everyone except for the Holy Knights took a step back, trembling in fear. ¡®Such immense dark energy...¡¯ ¡®Ugh... even for a Sword Master, this will be tough.¡¯ ¡®Why did he waste time and let them combine in the first place...?¡¯ Considering the White Knight¡¯s abilities, he could have subdued the vampires before the Combine Suit was completed. Why had he allowed them such leisure? A sense of frustration against him began to build. However, Kaylen''s eyes shone brighter than ever. ¡®A Combine Suit? Is this some kind of demonic technology? Interesting.¡¯ Could he extract this technique from the 50 mana suits he had already recovered? If studied well, it could lead to groundbreaking advancements. Kaylen silently observed the Combine Suit. Rumble. The right arm of the Combine Suit moved, gathering immense mana. ¡ªDark Arrow. ¡ªDark Arrow. In an instant, thirty dark arrows materialized, all soaring toward Kaylen at once. They were as massive as pillars, seeming as if they could crush the White Knight into a mere puddle of blood. ¡°Divine one, bestow your grace!¡± Fwoooosh! The saintess hastily invoked a blessing of protection. A powerful light barrier enveloped Kaylen¡¯s body. Boom! Boom! The dark arrows disintegrated upon impact, unable to pierce the light barrier. As expected of a saintess who had lived for a thousand years. However, despite successfully blocking the attack, her expression remained grim. ¡®It¡¯s just a simple Dark Arrow, yet it''s stronger than expected.¡¯ Dark Arrow¡ª a basic offensive spell classified as first-circle black magic. And yet, such a simple spell had displayed immense power. She couldn''t even begin to imagine the might of higher-tier dark magic. If things continued this way, even a Sword Master would struggle. ¡®Why did he make such a foolish decision... Still, we must protect this new Sword Master.¡¯ Though she resented the fact that he had allowed the Combine Suit to form, the emergence of a new Sword Master was a dire necessity for humanity now that their lineage had all but vanished. As Saintess Theresia bit her lip and was about to give an order to the Holy Knights¡ª ¡°Holy Knights! Advance¡ª¡± ¡°Wait.¡± The White Knight¡¯s voice echoed across the battlefield. ¡°There is no need to interfere.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 91 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 91 "Fire Ball." "Dark Lance." "Explosion." As the monotonous, emotionless voice from the Combine Suit recited, dozens of spells were unleashed. The White Knight, in contrast, was fending off the attacks with nothing but his sword. Boom! Boom! The Combine Suit relentlessly bombarded the area. Despite the chaos, the royal guards and the Civil Squads had set out from the palace. "What is that...?" "Shield!" The massive Combine Suit¡¯s magical barrage was overwhelming, and they could barely keep up with defending against it. "...Ice Shield." When Violet, who had been sitting down, stood up and activated a defensive spell, they finally had a moment to breathe. "Saintess, are you sure we shouldn''t intervene?" "I said not to interfere." The saintess crossed her arms and looked at the White Knight with dissatisfaction. She had let him combine with confidence, but now, with the attacks from the Combine Suit in full swing, the Sword Master couldn''t even get close. The magical attacks created by the 150 mana stones were a problem, but what made it even worse was the dark shield that was thickly formed around the Combine Suit. "Still, he is the only Sword Master of humanity. Shouldn''t we intervene...?" "Look closely at him." Whoosh. Whoosh. The White Knight calmly dodged the magic raining down from all directions. Whenever a full-scale magical attack was incoming, he swiftly swung his sword and cleaved through the spells. Even after hours of this relentless carpet bombing, the White Knight showed no signs of exhaustion. On the contrary, the mana stones of the Combine Suit were gradually losing their energy. "Does he look like he''s in danger?" "...No. He''s defending perfectly." "That''s right. He¡¯s at ease." The saintess watched him with a sharp gaze. "Such ease is impossible without overwhelming confidence. He¡¯s still not using his full strength." "...It seems so." "This is actually a good opportunity. We can gauge his true power now." Meanwhile, Bormian, heading hastily toward the palace, felt something was off. ''None of the attacks from the Combine Suit are working.'' The Combine Suit was a demon world mana suit capable of fusing mana suits to transform into a giant. Only undead mages, whose bodies were more free, could use it, and it had been perfected over many years of sacrifices. To see such a hard-earned artifact fail was unsettling. Tch. I should be controlling it directly. Though Bormian had been upgraded from the Black Skull and had grown stronger,the physical distance was simply too great. However, if he could close the distance a bit more, he felt he could control the Combine Suit directly. ''At this speed, I should be able to descend in a day. And once I get a little closer, I''ll be able to take control.'' "Then let¡¯s properly capture him." Bormian laughed ominously and observed the White Knight¡¯s movements through visual sharing. ¡®He¡¯s quick to dodge, but he¡¯s not attacking at all. He probably can¡¯t even think of breaking through the Dark Barrier... Heh heh.¡¯ Both sides were unable to break through each other¡¯s defenses. But in terms of mana, this side had the overwhelming advantage. If controlled properly, he could easily overpower them. Bormian, feeling optimistic, narrowed the distance. "Now, it¡¯s possible." He had closed the distance enough to directly influence the battle. Flash. Flash. The Combine Suit, which had been unable to land an effective hit on Kaylen, suddenly changed. The light emanating from the mana stones turned black, and the atmosphere shifted. "Heh heh... Now, I¡¯ll control it myself. It will be different from before." Whoooosh. The dark mana spread explosively, and the ground was entirely blackened. The power that had been displayed before was now several times stronger. [Dark Hand.] The dark magic transformed into a massive hand that descended upon Kaylen. The palm was too large to avoid. It was as though a person were about to crush a mosquito, and it seemed the White Knight would soon be crushed into a bloody mess by the Dark Hand. It was an overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation. But the White Knight remained completely calm. Who would have thought a Sword Master would appear in this era? And who would have thought a Sword Master would burn the sky? If the Sword Master¡¯s limits couldn¡¯t be measured, then perhaps... ¡®I... I have to run...¡¯ At that moment, Bormian instinctively shrank at the voice of the Demon Lord that echoed in his mind. [What are you doing, insignificant fool.] ¡°Mas¡ªMaster...¡± [I personally gave you a name. You¡¯re not trying to run after receiving my power, are you?] ¡®Master... has noticed...!¡¯ Just as Bormian could control the vampires of the Necropolis, the Demon Lord could also control Bormian. [Don¡¯t think foolishly. Pour all the power I¡¯ve granted you and capture the Sword Master alive. If you defy me, I¡¯ll make you roll in the hellfire for eternity... I swear on my name.] The absolute command of the Demon Lord, sworn on his name. Bormian could only nod in agreement. ¡°Understood...¡± At this point, there was no turning back. Bormian gathered the maximum amount of dark magic. Using his overwhelming dark magic, he raised the dead. Opening a portal to the Demon World, he summoned monsters to his side. ¡°Ha... ha ha... So this is the power I have!¡± In less than a few hours. Bormian was able to summon an army of thousands. With this, he could easily crush the territory of a local noble. His mood lightened. ¡®If there¡¯s a village on the way, I¡¯ll replenish my forces as I go.¡¯ Slaughtering humans and continuously raising undead soldiers would certainly increase his chances of victory. While thinking this, Bormian smiled but suddenly felt that the mana in the air had changed. To the southwest, where the royal palace was located. A breeze started to blow. Though weak, the flow of mana was entirely different. ¡®Mana... is coming towards me?¡¯ The mana flowing from the southwest gathered into a single point. That point was Bormian¡¯s skull. ¡°D-Dark Shield...¡± Feeling uneasy, Bormian tried to activate his defense. Whooosh¡ª Suddenly, a powerful wind rushed toward him, and a massive dragon began to appear from beyond the sky. ¡®That... that¡¯s...!¡¯ The dragon rapidly closed the distance. On its back, a pure white knight stood holding a giant Aura Sword. And soon after. The dragon¡¯s body seemed to merge with the Aura Sword, turning white. Seeing this, Bormian sighed. That appearance... Wasn¡¯t it the legendary image often quoted in the founding king Bormian¡¯s story? ¡°D-Dragon... Strike.¡± The Dragon Knight¡¯s ultimate move. A legendary fusion technique where the dragon and knight merge, surrounded by an aura, and charge like a comet. Hadn¡¯t it been said that even a powerful Demon World Count fell helplessly to this attack? Despair filled Bormian¡¯s heart. And soon, Dragon Strike became a reality. ¡°Ugh...¡± Even before it reached him, his Dark Shield spontaneously burned away and disappeared. The undead army he had painstakingly gathered burned away completely. The summoned monsters from the Demon World were also melted by the power of light. ¡°Ugh... Aaargh!¡± Then, the dark magic given to him by the Demon Lord scattered. His body burned with fire. ¡°No, no... I need to become a demon... I need to...¡± Bormian cried desperately. ¡°This world... this world is a world of demons...! I... I¡¯ve only worked for my family and descendants... To survive, I must become a demon...!¡± When only a pitiful skull remained, like a firefly before the sun, Bormian saw the brilliant tip of the sword. ¡°Please... please save me...¡± Thud! Before he could finish his words, Bormian vanished without leaving a trace. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 92 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 92 The drake carrying Kaylen landed at the spot where Bormian had perished. As the aura that had enveloped its entire body disappeared, the drake shuddered violently. ¡¸Ugh... This hurts. I feel like my body is going to tear apart.¡¹ "It''s because it''s your first time." Even a seasoned drake would struggle with the aftereffects of executing a Dragon Strike, so it was understandable that this one found it difficult. "Take some rest." Kaylen dismounted from the drake and gazed at the spot where Bormian had vanished. ¡®It seems it can''t regenerate in broad daylight.¡¯ When he first encountered the Black Skull in the palace annex, it was a headache because it kept reviving even after being defeated. However, despite the dark mana being far stronger this time, the enemy did not return. ¡®Still... something remains.¡¯ On the scorched land, as if struck by a meteor, a small amount of dark mana wriggled and coalesced. ¡®Its life force is quite persistent.¡¯ Kaylen approached the gathered dark mana. The dark mana, about the size of a fist, failed to take any proper form and clumped together like a ball of cotton. ¡®I can sense thoughts.¡¯ Kaylen considered annihilating it instantly but changed his mind and reached out toward the dark mana. ¡¸Ugh... Ugh... My clan... must survive...¡¹ A groan filled with pain emanated from the remnants of thought. Even after being struck by a Dragon Strike, it had somehow survived. However, the damage was evident as the thought-form gradually shrank. If left alone, it would likely disappear. Kaylen observed it silently before suddenly¡ª Grab. He seized the clump of dark mana and absorbed it. ¡¸Ugh... Ugh?¡¹ For a brief moment, the thought-form was bewildered by the unexpected absorption. But then, it realized this was an unexpected windfall. ¡®Even if I was outmatched in combat...!¡¯ Now that it had entered his body, the situation had changed. Mind control was Bormian''s specialty. After all, it had spent centuries infiltrating the royal palace and manipulating people. Since the Sword Master had foolishly absorbed it, it was only natural to seize control of his mind. With that thought, Bormian eagerly moved toward Kaylen¡¯s head. Wriggle. Wriggle. It reached his head without any resistance. ¡®He¡¯s not blocking me...?¡¯ Things were going too smoothly, and a sense of unease crept in. Still, Bormian proceeded with the task of taking control of Kaylen''s mind. It spread itself wide, encasing the brain, and gradually infused dark mana. As soon as the dark mana from the thought-form touched Kaylen¡¯s brain... Swish. It was absorbed instantly. ¡®Wait... This isn¡¯t what I intended. Something''s wrong.¡¯ Bormian tried to adjust its mana in a panic, but¡ª "Yeah. No matter how strong a Sword Master is..." "It should be impossible to exert such power." Even after witnessing the Sword Master''s astounding prowess firsthand, they couldn¡¯t help but hold onto their beliefs. This was, after all, the age of Meisters. Knights struggled to even reach the level of Sword Expert, and due to the inefficiency of Mana Suits, they had long been looked down upon. Could someone from such a knightly background truly wield that kind of power alone? Given their existing knowledge, the Meisters found it hard to accept. ''Yes, the Sword Master is strong. But...¡¯ ''The Mana Suit must have played a huge part.¡¯ Indeed, no matter how they thought about it, it had to be the Mana Suit. Even after witnessing the scene with their own eyes, most of the Mage Meisters reached the same conclusion¡ª The Sword Master was powerful, but the Mana Suit must have played a crucial role. Meanwhile, the royal knights, who had been watching Kaylen from the beginning, were still unable to recover from their shock and awe. "So this... is a Sword Master." "To think such power was possible with aura alone..." "How can a person move like that?" All of them were elite knights, possessing skills beyond that of ordinary Sword Users. Yet even to their trained eyes, the Sword Master''s movements were almost imperceptible. They could only catch glimpses when he momentarily paused. And each time they saw his Aura Sword, it filled their hearts with a sense of awe. ¡®The Aura Sword... it was truly a beautiful blade.¡¯ ¡®His Sword Area was overwhelming. Truly, a Sword Master commands their domain.¡¯ ¡®If I could reach the ultimate level, would I be able to wield such power?¡¯ In the place where Necropolis had been completely annihilated, the knights desperately tried to imprint every trace of the Sword Master into their memories. ¡®Come to think of it, the gauntlet had "Myorn Workshop" inscribed on it.¡¯ ¡®Did that workshop craft the Mana Suit the Sword Master wore?¡¯ ¡®Myorn... I feel like I¡¯ve heard that name somewhere before.¡¯ Some knights pondered over the Mana Suit the Sword Master had worn. Given that he had chosen to wear it, the workshop¡¯s craftsmanship must be exceptional. Though few knights could afford such a suit, they still made sure to remember the name. Lost in lingering admiration for the Sword Master¡¯s presence, they remained deep in thought¡ª Until the sound of approaching footsteps broke their reverie. Step. Step. The Mage Meisters approached with smiles. "Alright, knights. It''s time to clean up and inspect the area." One of the Meisters gestured around the surroundings with his finger. There was nothing left to clean up except for the scorched and shattered debris. ''How are we supposed to clean up all of this?'' A middle-aged knight stiffened his expression and asked, "By ¡®clean up,¡¯ do you mean...?" "Check for any remaining undead and remove anything unsightly." The young Meister spoke with a bright smile to the older knight. Despite being merely a Meister assigned to the Royal Civil Squad, And the knight being the Deputy Knight Commander of the royal forces... "...Understood." The knight bowed his head deeply to someone young enough to be his son. "You should hurry. His Majesty is expected to arrive soon." "His Majesty is coming?" [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 93 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 93 The remnants of will that Kaylen absorbed contained scattered fragments of Bormian''s memories from his time as a Black Skull. ¡ª Heh... Controlling humans is truly easy. Most of what remained were memories of him manipulating people and turning them into marionettes. However, deep within those remnants were memories of Bormian''s transformation into a Black Skull. The time was 400 years ago. A hundred years had passed since the appearance of dungeons and dungeon cores. The world was in turmoil, overrun by monsters emerging from dungeon portals, and humanity was struggling to find a way to handle the dungeon cores. This was an era before the development of Mana Suits. Cesar, a prince and the most promising mage of the Bormian Kingdom, was deeply immersed in research to find a solution to the dungeon cores... While poring over ancient tomes, he happened upon a forbidden black magic book. From that point on, the memories were filled with nothing but joy, befitting a Black Skull. The process of a once-promising mage falling into darkness and becoming a black magician was no longer present in the remnants of will, now tainted by corruption. ¡°Falling into darkness is nothing unusual.¡± Talented mages succumbing to black magic had been a common occurrence even a thousand years ago. In particular, those who failed to break through the barrier of the 6th Circle were more prone to corruption. Cesar, in those memories, was a 5th Circle mage. Standing on the verge of reaching the 6th Circle, he likely sought the power of black magic to overcome the barrier. But the allure of black magic was far too overwhelming for him to resist. He must have agonized over whether to use it or not... However, no such memories remained within the Black Skull''s remnants of will. ¡°This isn''t important. What matters is the next memory.¡± His unwavering devotion to the Demon Realm, the joy he felt as a Black Skull, And his absolute submission to the demons. Ignoring these emotions, Kaylen sifted through the shattered fragments of memories for anything useful. And soon, he found something. ¡ª If we accept your proposal, can we truly become demons? ¡ª Yes, Father. ¡ª Hmm... ¡ª Father, the human world is finished. How can we possibly stop the monsters pouring out of the dungeon cores? Wouldn''t it be better to abandon our frail human bodies and transform the entire Bormian lineage into great demons? The Bormian Kingdom, on the brink of collapse due to the dungeon portals. Every day, the king was consumed by anxiety and fear. It was then that Cesar whispered to him. ¡ª My master has promised to postpone the kingdom¡¯s downfall if you accept this offer. ¡ª ...Is that truly possible? ¡ª Of course. ¡ª Then... The king listened intently to the Black Skull''s words. The scene then shifted¡ª The aging king was seen undergoing the transformation into a Black Skull. ¡ª I will ensure our lineage becomes great, Father. ¡ª Yes... I trust you. Swoosh. From the king¡¯s head, a black skull emerged. ¡®...So even the king from back then was turned.¡¯ Among the many Black Skulls Kaylen had seen in the royal palace''s annex, was the king from 400 years ago among them? After turning the king into a Black Skull, Cesar settled in the annex of the palace. In truth, with the king on his side, he could have openly taken control of the kingdom... However, the demon whom Cesar served did not allow it. ¡ª My master ordered me to maintain the kingdom for now... Kaitan approached her with a displeased expression. ¡°Violet, what are you doing?¡± ¡°F-Father... I was gathering my brother''s remains.¡± ¡°What? It''s been confirmed that Diether Hart was a Black Skull, and you''re collecting his bones? That traitor to humanity¡ªthose worthless bones...¡± Thud! Thud! Kaitan stomped down on Diether Hart¡¯s gray bones with force. Under his heavy weight, the bones crumbled easily. No, they didn¡¯t just break¡ªthey turned to dust. ¡°They must be completely erased without a trace!¡± ¡°Father! No matter what happened, how can you crush my brother¡¯s bones?! He was still your son!¡± ¡°A son? A traitor who colluded with the demon realm is no son of mine!¡± Kaitan¡¯s face flushed with anger as he snapped at Violet. At that moment, he looked less like a king and more like a neighborhood thug. ¡°Violet, you are to stay confined! With Diether Hart in this disgraceful state, the faction supporting the First Prince is hereby dissolved!¡± The onlookers reacted with indifference. ¡®As expected.¡¯ ¡®There he goes again.¡¯ ¡®Yeah, this is the real King Kaitan...¡¯ Though he usually remained composed, he would erupt in anger over the slightest provocation¡ª a textbook example of an incompetent ruler with no control over his emotions. But Kaylen thought differently. ¡®He¡¯s quite the actor.¡¯ From the memories he had absorbed, Kaitan had once desperately pleaded for his eldest son''s life. And even as he stomped on his son''s remains... Kaitan pressed his right thumb tightly against his index finger, squeezing hard enough to draw blood. Was it out of regret? No, it felt more like he was suppressing another emotion entirely. ¡°Ugh, I can¡¯t stand the sight of this! Get out of here at once!¡± Despite Kaitan¡¯s command, Violet remained firmly in place. His eyebrows shot up in irritation. ¡°Do you dare defy your father¡¯s orders? This is a royal decree. Violet, leave at once and remain confined!¡± At the mention of a royal decree, Violet slowly rose to her feet. ¡°...Yes.¡± She lowered her head and withdrew. Only then did Kaitan exhale harshly and turn back toward the palace. ¡°Hurry up! I need a drink to wash this down!¡± No matter what, crushing his own child¡¯s bones like that... The attendants and knights sent cold stares toward the king. However, Kaylen had a different thought. ¡®He¡¯s not as simple a fool as rumors suggest...¡¯ This was the same king who had once begged the Black Skulls to save Diether Hart. But now that things had turned out this way, he was crushing the bones himself to draw a clear line. Kaitan was making it clear that his son¡¯s corruption was an isolated incident, completely unrelated to the royal family. ¡®But there''s no way the royal family and the Black Skulls aren¡¯t connected.¡¯ The king from 400 years ago had been turned into a Black Skull, and the current King Kaitan had even sought Cesar''s help to save his firstborn. Even if they weren¡¯t openly collaborating, there was no doubt they were entangled. Besides, the Black Skulls wouldn¡¯t have turned the First Prince for free. ¡®And if the royal family truly is tied to the demon realm...¡¯ Should such a royal family really be left alone? With cold eyes, Kaylen followed behind the king. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 94 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 94 The banquet hosted by the king proceeded in a lively atmosphere. ¡°Saintess, please conduct an inspection of all the royal family members.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± At King Kaitan¡¯s request, Saintess Theresia examined the royal family to check for any traces of marionette magic... Fortunately, none of them were related to it. Additionally¡ª ¡°There are a few individuals with lingering traces of dark magic in their minds. I shall purify them.¡± With the saintess cleansing even the remnants of dark magic, the royal family members could attend the banquet with ease. Although the disappearance of the First Prince without even leaving a corpse behind was an unfortunate incident for the royal family... ¡°From now on, do not mention the First Prince¡¯s name again. He was a traitor who followed the demons.¡± With King Kaitan''s stern command, no one dared to bring up the First Prince again. ¡°Sir Stein, I truly appreciate your help in this matter.¡± Drunk and with his face flushed red, King Kaitan slurred his words as he repeatedly expressed his gratitude. ¡°But despite being a Sword Master, you''re surprisingly young and handsome.¡± As Kaitan gazed at Stein, who had removed his helmet, his eyes drooped lazily. Given the extraordinary level of skill Stein had displayed, it was only natural to assume he was middle-aged or older... But with such a young and strikingly handsome knight sitting before them, the banquet attendees couldn''t take their eyes off him. ¡®How can he be that good-looking? And his skin... it''s flawless.¡¯ ¡®Wow... He could rival an elf in appearance.¡¯ ¡®I heard becoming a Sword Master makes you look younger... is that why?¡¯ Since his face was originally that of Eldir, it was only natural for him to draw attention. ¡°Hahaha! The princess keeps stealing glances at you.¡± ¡°Y-Your Majesty...¡± At King Kaitan¡¯s remark, the young princess blushed with embarrassment. ¡°What do you think? And I¡¯m not just saying this because she¡¯s my daughter, but isn''t she truly beautiful? If you''re interested, I wouldn''t mind giving her to you.¡± Kaylen glanced at the young princess. She looked no older than eleven or twelve. She was far too young. ¡®And beautiful? Who, exactly?¡¯ With Kaylen¡¯s imperial standards, she appeared quite ordinary to him. ¡°I apologize, but I am already married.¡± ¡°Hahaha! What does that matter? A hero like you should have multiple wives and concubines.¡± ¡°I have vowed to devote myself to only one woman... I am truly sorry.¡± At Kaylen¡¯s polite yet firm refusal, King Kaitan smacked his lips in disappointment. ¡°Well, it can''t be helped. We can talk about this another time.¡± ¡°Thank you for your understanding.¡± ¡°By the way... we must reward our benefactor. How about a title and land in our kingdom? There¡¯s some decent land within the royal demesne. Bellos, over to the east... What was it called again?¡± ¡°Are you referring to the former Heinrich County?¡± ¡°Ah, yes. Heinrich¡¯s land. The count¡¯s heir was having trouble with the dungeon portal, so he sold the land to the royal family! Hahaha!¡± A noble selling their territory to the royal family... During Kaylen¡¯s days as emperor, such a thing would have been unheard of. However, in this era of rampant dungeon portals, it wasn¡¯t all that uncommon. Especially for nobles with solid business foundations in the capital, many were willing to sell off their lands. The Heinrich family was well-known in the capital for their mana shoot business. It seemed they sold the land to focus on their business rather than maintaining the territory. ¡°Sir Stein, the former Heinrich County may have many dungeon portals, but it¡¯s still highly valuable due to its proximity to the capital.¡± Beside King Kaitan, a muscular man spoke politely. He bore a striking resemblance to the king, both in build and facial features, but with a somewhat friendlier expression. ¡®That must be the Second Prince.¡¯ Second Prince Bellos. He had once been a rival to the First Prince, Diether Hart, in the struggle for the throne. His powerful supporting faction, the Oblaine Ducal House, had recently suffered greatly due to an invasion of dungeon portals, putting him at a disadvantage... But now, the situation had completely reversed. His former rival, Diether Hart, had self-destructed and disappeared earlier today. ¡®He can''t even hide his smile.¡¯ Even though it was the day his half-brother died, he shouldn''t have been so openly pleased. Mana suits, by their very nature, consume mana. That¡¯s why mana stones were essential. If Myorn heard this claim, she would be aghast. But Kaylen had his reasons for making such a statement. ¡®Now there''s no need to promote the Myorn Workshop any further.¡¯ Myorn had produced two models of mana suits¡ªNormal and Expert. While the Expert model still required further development... Even the Normal model boasted significantly superior performance compared to previous knight mana suits. If previous knight mana suits increased output by 50%, the Normal model boosted it by 200%. That was comparable to the output of mage mana suits, which were exclusively used by Meisters. The performance was leagues ahead of anything that had come before. It wouldn''t be surprising if every knight in the kingdom eventually switched to the Normal model. ¡®The only problem is that it''s designed for knights.¡¯ The world favored Meisters. Instead of investing in a knight mana suit, it made more sense to add a little extra and purchase a mage mana suit instead. So, no matter how groundbreaking the Myorn Workshop''s new mana suit was, the fact that it was for knights meant it wouldn¡¯t attract much attention. ¡®But things will be different now.¡¯ The fact that a Sword Master, appearing for the first time in centuries, was wearing it and even mentioned the Myorn Workshop¡ªthis much should be enough promotion. ¡°Myorn Workshop... Ah, isn¡¯t that the place where the Dwarf Queen Myorn resides?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°To think such an intriguing experiment is being conducted there... I sincerely hope it succeeds. Then, does the mana suit you¡¯re currently wearing have that function as well?¡± ¡°This mana suit primarily focuses on performance. It can enhance aura output by up to 400%.¡± ¡°400%... That¡¯s truly an incredible item!¡± Prince Bellos was astonished. Most knight mana suits had a maximum enhancement of 50%. At that level, its performance was comparable to that of a B-rank or higher Meister mana suit. And now, such a thing was being developed for knights? ¡°We''ve been struggling with the monster horde that invaded the Oblain Duchy... This is excellent news. I must get in touch with that workshop.¡± While Prince Bellos spoke, King Kaiten simply sipped his drink beside him. He appeared uninterested despite the astonishing revelation. ¡°Sir Stein, even if you refuse a title, since you¡¯ll be staying in the kingdom... you¡¯ll still need a place to stay, won¡¯t you? As a token of appreciation for this matter, I would like to grant you a fine estate in the capital...¡± Though Kaylen had declined a title and territory, Bellos still wished to offer him something. After all, Kaylen had saved the royal palace from being overtaken by demonic followers¡ªhow could they not reward him? It was a matter tied to the dignity of the royal family. ¡°In that case... There is a place I have in mind. Would it be possible to grant me that instead?¡± ¡°Of course, just name it.¡± Glancing briefly at King Kaiten, Kaylen spoke to Prince Bellos. ¡°The lodge on Mount Melzrek. It seemed like an excellent place for sword training.¡± Mount Melzrek. Located on the western outskirts of the capital, it offered breathtaking views, making it home to several lodges. If the estate Kaylen had purchased was at the far end of the East River District... Then the lodge on Mount Melzrek was at the far end of the West River District. The two locations were so far apart that one would have to cross the entire capital to travel between them. It was an inefficient choice, considering he already had a base on the eastern end. But Kaylen had a reason for choosing this place. ¡®According to Black Skull''s memories, that lodge was another one of his key bases.¡¯ The lodge on Mount Melzrek had been nothing less than a storage facility for Black Skull Cesar. It housed a considerable amount of wealth stockpiled for offerings to the demons. However, everyone who knew this secret had long disappeared from the world... ¡°The lodge on Mount Melzrek?!¡± King Kaiten, who had been drinking idly, suddenly froze and stared at Kaylen in shock. Since Kaylen had refused a title and land, the king had simply been listening to their conversation from the side¡ª But at the mention of the lodge on Mount Melzrek, he reacted with clear alarm. ¡°...Well, if you believe it will suffice... Then I shall grant you the lodge.¡± He tried to maintain a calm demeanor, but Kaylen noticed it. A subtle tremor in King Kaiten¡¯s eyes. ¡®As expected... he knows.¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 95 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 95 As soon as the banquet at the royal palace ended, Kaylen rode his drake straight to Mount Melzrek. The lodge was completely silent, with not even a caretaker in sight. ¡®Is it because this place belonged to Black Skull?¡¯ ¡°Stay here.¡± [Ugh... Can I sleep inside?] ¡°Sure. I won¡¯t ride you on the way back.¡± Today had indeed been a grueling march. Giving the groaning drake some time to rest, Kaylen followed the memories of Black Skull. ¡®It was the fourth room on the left of the first floor of the lodge.¡¯ Creaaak. As he opened the lodge door, the interior was unexpectedly spotless, without a speck of dust. Click. The fourth room''s door was a solid iron door, completely locked... Shhk- With a single swing of Kaylen¡¯s sword, the door was sliced clean in half. No, it wasn¡¯t just the door¡ª The entire fourth room, from floor to ceiling, was split in two. ¡°This is it.¡± Kaylen followed the revealed gap in the floor and descended the staircase leading underground. The underground atmosphere was the complete opposite of the clean surface above. The dark and eerie space was filled with sinister dark mana, and the walls and floors were densely embedded with skulls. As Kaylen passed through, Clack. Clack. The skulls embedded in the walls clattered their jaws together. -Intruder detected. -Eliminate. With those words, the skulls lodged in the walls and floor began rising one by one. ¡°Tsk.¡± Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Kaylen swung his sword. He advanced, cutting down every undead that remained in the corridor, until he finally reached his target. ¡°This is it.¡± A door made of black bones. It was Black Skull''s storage room and research lab. Soon, Kaylen was met with a gruesome sight. A vast underground chamber, where heaps of bones and decayed flesh were piled up like mountains. Several grotesque creatures roamed freely within. A creature with a human body and a dog''s head. Another with the body of a giant spider and a human head. Most of them were hybrids, combining a human with an animal. Among them, the ones with human heads trembled as they gazed around in confusion. ¡®Chimeras... Did they go out of control after Black Skull''s death?¡¯ Beings created by fusing multiple creatures together. A thousand years ago, during the era of the Empire, chimera experiments had been one of the most common practices among dark mages. ¡®There was no information about them in the memories.¡¯ Kaylen bit his lip as he looked at the chimeras that had already collapsed lifeless on the floor. I should have come sooner if I knew there were chimeras here. Woof! Woof woof! Aaaahhh! The barking of dogs and human screams overlapped. As the chaotic scene before him descended further into madness, Kaylen drew his sword. ¡°Rather than live in this hell... I shall grant you a peaceful end.¡± Once transformed into a chimera, there was no returning to their original bodies... Without the dark mage''s control, the chimeras wouldn¡¯t survive for long. Even a thousand years ago, attempts were made to save those who had been turned into chimeras, but every experiment ultimately ended in failure. For those who became chimeras, death was the only salvation. ¡°May your next life be peaceful.¡± Swish. As Kaylen extended his sword, a brilliant white light emanated. Sizzle¡ª A pure white line traced across the chimeras¡¯ necks. In an instant, white flames engulfed their bodies. Before they could even feel pain, they crumbled to ash and vanished. Walking through the fading white flames, Kaylen sliced through the door to the next room. Unlike the previous slaughterhouse, the revealed space was calm. There were no corpses or bones. Instead, it resembled a library, with shelves densely packed with books. The enigmatic Sword Master had refused every offer and only asked for the Melzrek Lodge. A place so neglected that hardly anyone even remembered its existence. Surely... there must be a reason behind it. "Hurry, let''s go!" Urging the others, Kaitan boarded the carriage and arrived at Melzrek Lodge. And then... "Your Majesty. T-This place..." "There are undead here." "But... all the undead have ceased moving, and there are traces of aura..." "It seems that Sir Stein has already been here." The royal guards, investigating the underground chamber, were in awe. "He slashed through space with a single sword." "Look at those countless skeletons, all cut down at once. Hundreds of them felled with a single strike." Kaitan furrowed his brows. He found their admiration unpleasant. ¡®Stein... He definitely knew about this place beforehand.¡¯ How did he know? Could it have been when he went off riding a drake under the pretense of eliminating Black Skull? With a restless expression, Kaitan pressed forward deeper into the underground chamber. "Ugh..." "This is horrifying." Though most of the chamber had been cleansed by Kaylen, the remaining bones and flesh made the men grimace. It wasn¡¯t hard to imagine what had transpired in this underground space. Beyond this chamber... "There¡¯s nothing here." "Only empty bookshelves remain. The entire space has been cleared out." "Is that so?" They had already taken everything. What exactly had been here? Kaitan couldn¡¯t shake the uneasy feeling creeping over him. "Let¡¯s return..." He had gone to the trouble of making a personal trip early in the morning, only to return empty-handed. All he learned was that Sword Master Stein had been there before him. With a heavy heart, Kaitan returned to the palace. ¡®It''s already night...¡¯ Despite leaving early in the morning, by the time he returned, the sun had completely set. Kaitan, who rarely left the palace, felt utterly exhausted. "Chamberlain, I will drink alone tonight." "Understood, Your Majesty." On any other day, he would have indulged in a grand drinking session. But tonight, his mind was too troubled to share drinks with others. "Ugh..." With a gloomy expression, Kaitan downed his drink. The sudden appearance of the Sword Master made the alcohol taste bitter. ¡®Because of that Sword Master, everything is in shambles. Even Diether Hart... he died because of him.¡¯ First Prince Diether Hart. Yesterday, he had ruthlessly shattered his bones. But in truth, Diether was the child he cherished most. With the saintess and the Sword Master watching, he couldn¡¯t openly defend his son, who had succumbed to demonic corruption. Seeing his son¡¯s remains disappear shattered his heart. Still... He couldn¡¯t allow Violet to retrieve the bones of her demon-worshipping brother. With the saintess watching keenly, he couldn¡¯t afford to leave any room for accusations. The Saintess of Sanctuary. She looked young, but she was a terrifying woman who had lived for a thousand years. "Diether Hart..." Muttering his son''s name, Kaitan drank until he passed out. And the next morning... ¡®W-What is this...!¡¯ A dagger was lodged in his pillow. Along with it, a piece of paper. Kaitan''s eyes widened in shock. The handwriting was unmistakable. [Send 100 slaves, and 100 chickens, cows, dogs, and sheep each.] There was no doubt. It was... A report he had sent to Cesar. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 96 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros]No?v(el)B\\jnn Chapter 96 Tudududuk... Myorn stared in shock at the endless stream of mana stones pouring out from the painting, mouth agape. Each of the brilliantly shining mana stones was of at least mid-tier quality. "W-What is all this?" "The mana stones should be enough," Kaylen said as he reached into the painting and rummaged through it. "This is a mana suit." He pulled out the mana suits that had been worn by the vampires. As over fifty gauntlets tumbled onto the floor, Myorn stretched out her fur and swiftly snatched them up. Turning them over and inspecting them from all angles, she spoke with intrigue. "This... feels a bit different from regular mana suits." "You noticed right away." "I''ve spent years developing mana suits. Of course, I''d notice. Where did you get these?" "Haven''t you heard what happened at the royal capital?" "Something happened?" Considering Myorn had been locked away in her workshop conducting experiments, it was no surprise she was unaware of recent events. When Kaylen explained everything that had happened, Myorn listened silently before speaking. "...So, you left that report pinned to the king''s bed?" "Yes, that''s right." Myorn formed a question mark with her fur. "So the king was collaborating with the demon worshippers all along?" "Yes. He sent humans and livestock to assist in the chimera experiments." "Why didn¡¯t you just behead him right then and there?" At Myorn''s words, Kaylen smiled faintly. "I can''t. With the demons sending colonial suppression forces, the kingdom would fall into chaos without a leader. And besides, Sword Master Stein would likely become a suspect." "...So what? Does it matter if Stein is suspected? Who in this land would dare challenge a Sword Master?" "If you wield power recklessly, you lose the people''s trust." "The people''s trust? Why does that matter? You''re not even the king." To Myorn¡¯s question, Kaylen responded in a meaningful tone. "Well, you never know what the future holds." "...What?" "Do you think the king only sent Cesar a hundred slaves and livestock just once?" "Who knows?" "I have over forty reports in my hands. In total, 4,000 people and countless livestock were likely used in the chimera experiments." Myorn was taken aback. They sacrificed that many people? "4,000... That''s a lot. How did no one notice?" "There¡¯s a reason no rumors spread. There were collaborators." "Collaborators...?" "The Magic Tower." "......" "It was written in the report¡ª¡®With the support of the Magic Tower, as our ancestors instructed.¡¯" Black Skull Cesar. Though he had borrowed power from the demons, he had been nothing more than an insignificant pawn easily crushed by Kaylen. However, his influence had secretly infiltrated the kingdom for centuries. Even if no specific names were listed... Multiple Magic Towers were undoubtedly in collusion with Cesar. ¡°There are more traitors connected to the Otherworld than I expected. This country is riddled with them.¡± In this life, Kaylen had no particular desire to become king. In his previous life as Ernstine, he had ruled the entire continent as its emperor... However, when the Supreme One, Ernstine, suddenly vanished, the empire quickly fractured, and the Meier family faced ruin. Only a handful of descendants had survived by changing their surname. He decided to put those thoughts aside for the moment and focus on the task at hand. ¡°Myorn, the workshop is about to get busier.¡± ¡°Why? Is it because of the research?¡± ¡°No. I promoted the ¡®Normal¡¯ and ¡®Expert¡¯ mana suits.¡± ¡°Well, since the Swordmaster promoted them, I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll have some effect... but will it get that busy? The knights are poor, and they¡¯d be fine just selling what¡¯s already been made.¡± ¡°That¡¯s...¡± Kaylen explained what had been advertised to the knights, causing Myorn to suddenly burst out in anger. ¡°What? You said wearing the mana suit accumulates mana? You actually said something so ridiculous?¡± ¡°We¡¯re still in the research phase in that regard.¡± ¡°Ugh. Anyway! Now we¡¯ll just get more inquiries. Seriously.¡± ¡°Well, we could always research it in that direction, right? The important thing is getting them to use the new mana suits, Normal and Expert.¡± At this, Myorn furrowed her brow. Of course, she had plenty of things to do, and now she was expected to research this too? She realized that she had been foolishly flustered by him earlier. Tap, tap. ¡°Myorn, a guest has arrived.¡± A salesperson hired to actively sell the mana suits from Myorn''s workshop carefully announced. ¡°We¡¯re busy right now!¡± ¡°Well... the guest is Prince Bellos, the Second Prince.¡± ¡°Ah, Sir Stein is here too.¡± Prince Bellos greeted Kaylen with a bright smile. Kaylen, now disguised as ¡®Stein,¡¯ calmly replied. ¡°Yes, I had some tests to conduct at the workshop.¡± ¡°I heard the news yesterday. You¡¯ve also cleaned up the remaining undead from the Melzrek Lodge. And today, you¡¯re here for testing... Truly impressive.¡± Prince Bellos couldn¡¯t stop praising him. It seemed that the prince was unaware of the relationship between the royal family and the Melzrek Lodge. ¡°My father is sorry that he didn¡¯t realize the true nature of the lodge when he awarded it to you. He mentioned that, in addition to the Melzrek Lodge, he would also purchase a mansion in the capital for you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s thoughtful of him. But there¡¯s no need to do that.¡± When Kaylen woke up and saw the paper placed beside his bed, he wondered what made Bellos decide to buy a mansion for him. Kaylen had said it wasn¡¯t necessary, but Bellos was insistent. "No, no. How could we, the royal family, not repay the favor we owe to Sir Stein? It¡¯s only natural that we do so," Bellos said, adding that good news would be coming soon. He then got to the point of why he was visiting the workshop. "I came today to purchase the knight-class mana suits you mentioned before. I heard you have both Normal and Expert versions." "Yes, that''s correct." "How many of each version do you have available for purchase?" Kaylen glanced at Maioren. The fur began to clump together as he drew 50 and 10. "There are 50 Normal suits and 10 Expert suits." "60 in total... Alright, I¡¯ll purchase all of them." "All of them?" "Yes. While the issue with the royal family has been settled... the monster problem that attacked the Duke of Oblaine¡¯s house is just beginning. I intend to send the mana suits as soon as possible." A horde of monsters had emerged from the dungeon portals. They were a major threat, marching relentlessly day and night. "The defense of Oblaine is solid, but these monsters don¡¯t eat or sleep, and they move 24 hours a day. We need to gather all the strength we can from the capital and send reinforcements." As Bellos spoke, he subtly glanced at Kaylen before continuing. "If Sir Stein is willing... could you assist us? I will make sure to repay you with my name on it." Perhaps because he had seen Stein act without hesitation in front of King Kaitan, Bellos'' request was cautious and respectful. "I understand." "...? Really?!" "Yes. However, I will not join the reinforcements directly. I will take a Drake and go separately." "Yes! Yes! Of course, that¡¯s how it should be. Thank you so much!" Bellos had not expected a positive response when he asked, but upon hearing Stein¡¯s willingness to join, he was overjoyed and left happily. Not long after Bellos had left, the shop assistant again notified of a visitor. "Maioren, a guest has arrived." "They¡¯ve all been sold. Who is it?" "Uh... Princess Violet." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 97 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 97 "Hello, Professor Myorn. Lord Stein is here as well." Princess Violet''s face was the same as always. An ice mask covered half of her face. And on the exposed side of her face, a calm expression showed. She didn¡¯t look like someone who had lost a brother just two days ago. "I¡¯d like to purchase the newly developed knight¡¯s mana suit." "Just now, Prince Bellos came and bought all of them." "Really? I was a bit late then. Well, can I reserve the next batch in advance?" "Alright. We''ll do that." "Then, there''s one more thing I¡¯d like to ask." Princess Violet smiled faintly and asked Myorn. "Do you happen to know where Prince Kaylen is?" "Kaylen?" He''s right beside you. Myorn glanced at Kaylen, who was in his "Stein" form, and felt slightly embarrassed. But his fur hid it, so it wasn¡¯t apparent. "Yes. I heard that he''s been working on research here together with us." "I see. He seems to have been busy lately, as I haven''t seen him around much." "Is that so? He doesn¡¯t seem to be attending the academy these days either. I wonder if there¡¯s any way to contact him?" "I''ll let him know that you¡¯re looking for him, Princess." "Thank you, Professor." Once Princess Violet finished her business, she bowed and left the room. Myorn then looked at Kaylen. "What will you do?" "Hmm. It¡¯s been two days since King ordered the dissolution of the First Prince faction, and now Violet is publicly resuming her activities..." "Even if she¡¯s in seclusion, she can still meet with you, right?" "The purpose of her visit was to buy the knight¡¯s mana suits. It¡¯s rare for someone in seclusion to make such a purchase." "True. The First Prince faction was also dissolved, so why did she come to buy them?" "Maybe the King lifted her seclusion." "The King? After only two days? Why would he do something so improper...?" "Under normal circumstances, he wouldn¡¯t, but something must have happened to the King." "Ah." Something happened that could have led to the lifting of her seclusion. Myorn quickly realized. Just this morning, something that could shock the King had occurred. When he woke up, there was a dagger stabbed into his bedside. "Does she see Stein as a threat?" "It seems so." Now that it was clear that the Sword Master wasn¡¯t friendly towards him... She might have thought that to keep him in check, she would need the power of the Princess, who owns an S-class mana suit. ¡®They call it the Shadow Realm, but it seems the moment my life was at risk, their actions became much quicker.¡¯ Was Princess Violet¡¯s visit a sign of the King¡¯s intentions? Kaylen felt that he needed to meet the Princess and find out what their true purpose was. ¡®I should set up the relationship between Kaylen and Sword Master Stein properly.¡¯ The man who created the Civil Squad, Kaylen. Stein, who claims to have inherited the teachings of Ernstine, the first emperor of the Myorn Empire. Since they were both conducting research together at Myorn¡¯s workshop, there was some room to speculate about their connection. ¡®The story of inheriting Ernstine¡¯s enlightenment was only told to the saint, but it¡¯s still better to think ahead about Kaylen and Stein¡¯s relationship.¡¯ With that thought, Kaylen returned his face to its usual expression. "Shall we go meet them now?" "I was planning to head to the academy. If it¡¯s urgent, they¡¯ll probably approach me there." "Alright, understood." Ziiing. Kaylen deactivated the Mana Suit Expert and placed the gauntlets on the desk. "Myorn, there will be increasing demand for Mana Suits in the workshop, so don¡¯t you think we should expand?" ¡®The real problem is that he could threaten me anytime... My life is completely in the hands of the Sword Master, it could go either way depending on his mood.¡¯ There were surely more documents sent to Melzrek Lodge than just this one. Now that he had this report, he could assume that other documents were also in Stein''s hands. That meant he would have to keep watching his back, always under the Sword Master''s scrutiny. No, it would be lucky if that was all he had to worry about. What if Stein suddenly changed his mind and came to punish the king? How would he stop him? ¡®There¡¯s no guarantee that the Sword Master¡¯s sword won¡¯t eventually be aimed at the royal family...¡¯ The Sword Master, who had appeared after hundreds of years, was still without much power, having just shown himself recently, but the knights who had seen him were completely enamored with his sword. Wherever he went, it was all about Sir Stein, Sir Stein. Praise for him filled the air. King Kaiten grew more wary of Stein. ¡®I need a way to keep the Sword Master in check... To do that, I¡¯ll need at least a force that can match him.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s a good thing Violet is here.¡¯ Ignoring the order for his confinement, King Kaiten headed straight to Violet''s room. In the shadows, a power struggle between the first and second prince factions was unfolding. This was after Violet showcased the power of the S-class Mana Suit, causing the first prince faction to slowly gain the upper hand. When the Oblaine Duke family, the core of the second prince faction, came under attack by a monster army, the quick-witted nobles already began to think the outcome was decided and started aligning with the first prince faction. ¡®It seems the throne will go to my older brother.¡¯ Yeah. Up until now, everything had been going in their favor. That is, until everything changed in a single day. Her trusted older brother had been a puppet. Her father, who had trampled the bones of Ora Bi, the demon king¡¯s servant, ordered her confinement, asking where the woman thought she could go. The once-political rival, the second prince, was now gleeful. The first prince faction had lost its reason for existence. Tap. Tap. Violet stared out the window, absentmindedly tapping her mask. ¡®It feels like I¡¯ve gone back to before being chosen by Glacia.¡¯ Before becoming the master of the S-class Mana Suit Glacia, Violet''s future had seemed bleak, so dark she couldn¡¯t see ahead. Her mother, executed as a traitor. Her older brother in poor health. The Oblaine Duke faction, led by the second prince, relentlessly pressured them. Had she not obtained Glacia, her older brother would have been exiled, and she would have been married off to a powerful noble family. But after being chosen by Glacia, her life turned around completely. She gained the strength to form the first prince faction and received the support of the Mage Tower. After years of hard work, it seemed the throne would soon be in the first prince¡¯s hands... Now, however, the future seemed once again shrouded in darkness. ¡®Diether Hart, older brother...¡¯ As Violet thought of her brother, a deep sadness filled her. She also felt betrayed. While he had left her with most of the responsibilities, he spent all his time reading books in the demon language. Had he been a puppet all along? Was it because he rarely took part in external affairs? ¡®The Meisters I brought in, he turned them into vampires...¡¯ Thinking about them, Violet couldn¡¯t bring herself to face them. Yeah. Even if she hadn¡¯t known, she had aided the followers of the demon realm. She had no choice but to accept her confinement. But... ¡®What will happen to the people who believed in me and followed me?¡¯ Many of the talents in key positions in the capital had stood with the first prince faction... Second prince Bellos hadn¡¯t taken kindly to that. If he became king, many would face demotion. Violet, burying her sorrow over losing her older brother, started to worry about the vassals of the first prince faction. Crash. ¡°Violet!¡± The door suddenly burst open as King Kaiten entered her room. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 98 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 98 ¡°Father.¡± ¡°I need your strength.¡± ¡°What do you mean? I am currently under house arrest by royal decree.¡± When Violet questioned him, Kaiten hesitated for a moment. He couldn''t possibly tell her everything¡ªhow he had been caught working with Black Skull and was now facing death threats. This secret was too classified, even for Violet. He vaguely glossed over the details. ¡°I''ve been thinking for a few days... The Sword Master is too dangerous.¡± ¡°What makes him dangerous? He helped eliminate the Black Skull for the royal family.¡± ¡°Think about what would happen if that sword were to turn against the royal family!¡± ¡°I don''t believe he is that kind of person.¡± Violet¡¯s constant rebuttals irritated King Kaiten. ¡°Regardless! He is dangerous. You need to step in. We must be prepared to counter the Sword Master.¡± ¡°...Me? I am nothing more than a criminal who aided followers of the Demon Realm. I no longer have the right to step forward.¡± ¡°Hmph. Was it your fault? How could you have known when Diether Hart was the one who concealed it?¡± It seemed King Kaiten had conveniently forgotten that he was the one who ordered Violet¡¯s house arrest in the first place. It was Violet who hesitated instead. ¡°Even so, I cannot escape my responsibility. Resuming activity now would be...¡± ¡°Hmph. The royal family may be in danger because of the Sword Master, and as a member of the family, it is only natural for you to contribute your strength. Are you trying to avoid it?¡± Violet sensed something was off. The king already seemed almost certain that the Sword Master would pose a threat to the royal family. If that weren¡¯t the case, he wouldn¡¯t be pushing this hard. ¡®What happened?¡¯ She studied King Kaiten¡¯s face. Come to think of it, he, who rarely left the palace, had recently visited Melzrek Lodge. His complexion looked poor, likely due to accumulated fatigue. And yet, here he was, causing a commotion early in the morning. Violet asked the king, ¡°So, does this mean I am no longer under house arrest?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°Even if I am released, I don''t have the strength to face the Sword Master. I would need to reach the 5th Circle...¡± Kaiten frowned at her words. That man... He¡¯s far too strong. Even the owner of an S-Class mana suit couldn''t be confident against him. Hearing this from Violet only reinforced Kaiten¡¯s resolve to be wary of Stein. ¡°Hmph. Then reach the 5th Circle.¡± ¡°Becoming a 5th Circle mage isn¡¯t something that can be achieved at will. It requires significant investment.¡± ¡°Hmm... I see. Then what do you want to do?¡± Violet gazed at the king with calm eyes. She still didn¡¯t know why he was so desperate to prepare against the Sword Master, but she felt she could make unreasonable demands of him in his current state. ¡°In any case, to keep the Sword Master in check, I will need an organization. Allow me to recover and reorganize my late brother¡¯s faction. From there, I will select capable individuals and turn them into your royal guards.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Turning them into royal guards? King Kaiten nodded in satisfaction. ¡®Yes. To keep the Sword Master in check, I need my own forces, including Violet.¡¯ Despite being the king, Kaiten had indulged in pleasure, turning a blind eye to the power struggle between the first and second prince factions. After all, Crown Prince Cesar was there, and Diether Hart had become part of Black Skull. He had assumed they would handle things on their own. Of course, King Kaiten had not always been a hedonistic and incompetent ruler from the beginning. When he first ascended to the throne, he had once harbored the desire to govern the kingdom well. However... Of course, Kaylen had already perfected the Four Swords and could wield 5th Circle magic, but he feigned great surprise and interest. ¡°Her Highness will explain the details. May I guide you, Lord Kaylen?¡± ¡°Alright. Lead the way.¡± Jane led him to the Superior Mage¡¯s conference room. Princess Violet greeted Kaylen with her usual composed demeanor. ¡°Lord Kaylen. It¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Have you heard the news from the palace?¡± ¡°The news from the palace...?¡± She smiled faintly as she spoke. ¡°They say the first prince was actually a servant of the Demon Realm and was executed by the suddenly appearing Sword Master.¡± ¡°...I¡¯ve heard various rumors.¡± ¡°Rumors? It¡¯s true. My brother, whom I trusted and followed, turned out to be a mere pawn of the demons, and the Black Skull had infiltrated the palace.¡± With those words, Violet recounted everything that Sword Master Stein had done without holding anything back. Throughout her explanation, she maintained an unwavering smile from start to finish. Not a single crack in her expression. To Kaylen, that smiling face seemed like a mask she wore. ¡°...As a result, I was placed under house arrest by His Majesty, but thanks to his sudden change of heart, I was allowed to resume my activities.¡± ¡°I see...¡± ¡°Lord Kaylen, you once told me that since you belong to the Tower of Fairies, you wished to remain neutral, correct?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± ¡°The struggle for the throne is over now. The second prince will surely ascend as the next king. So... why don¡¯t we cooperate? To reach the 5th Circle.¡± She never mentioned joining the royal faction. Violet spoke only about the 5th Circle with a pure and straightforward tone. ¡®The 5th Circle... The final stage that any Meister would long to reach. And yet, she speaks of it so casually.¡¯ ¡®If reaching the 5th Circle were as easy as she claims, the world would already be filled with 5th Circle Meisters.¡¯ Even though Kaylen had already reached the 5th Circle, he couldn¡¯t help but feel intrigued by her confidence. Just how did she plan to reach it? ¡°Your Highness, you seem quite confident about the 5th Circle.¡± ¡°If you assist me, Lord Kaylen, it will be more than possible.¡± ¡°What exactly do you need me to do?¡± ¡°Just think of it as training in magic together. However, you¡¯ll need to assist me with a few experiments.¡± ¡°If such methods existed, I¡¯m curious why you haven¡¯t tried them before.¡± At Kaylen¡¯s question, Violet gave a sly smile. ¡°It¡¯s simple. If this experiment fails, you¡¯ll just gain some experience... but I, on the other hand, will freeze even more severely. I had too much to do for the First Prince¡¯s faction to take that risk.¡± As she spoke, she gently touched the unfrozen part of her cheek. ¡°But it¡¯s different now. This body of mine... it can freeze a little more. The First Prince was a Black Skull, so what¡¯s the big deal if the First Princess turns into an ice monster?¡± ¡°...I see.¡± ¡°I swear on the name of Princess Violet, Lord Kaylen. No harm will come to you.¡± Kaylen nodded. Although he had already reached the 5th Circle, he found himself intrigued by the experiments she was planning. ¡°Alright. However, I have one condition.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to postpone the experiment until after we stop the monster wave attacking Duke Oblaine¡¯s territory.¡± ¡°Ah, are you planning to participate?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± No matter how interested he was in the experiment, it couldn¡¯t take precedence over fighting against the forces of the Demon Realm. As Kaylen expressed his intention to join the battle, Violet responded. ¡°Then there¡¯s no need to postpone the experiment.¡± ¡°What do you mean...?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be participating as well.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 99 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 99 ¡°You want to join the reinforcements now?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Highness, Second Prince.¡± The Second Prince, Bellos, frowned as he looked at his half-sister, Violet, who was smiling brightly in front of him. Not long ago, despite repeated requests for help, she had refused to act, citing the capital''s precarious situation. Still, having her, the owner of an S-class mana suit, on their side would be a great asset... but her sudden change in attitude was unsettling. ¡°Aren¡¯t you under house arrest?¡± ¡°Father lifted it on the condition that I reach the 5th Circle.¡± ¡°Father did...?¡± ¡°Yes. It seems he is wary of the Sword Master.¡± ¡°Sir Stein? Why?¡± ¡°Perhaps because if he were to invade the royal castle, no one would be able to stop him.¡± ¡°Why would he invade the palace?¡± ¡°Who can truly know a person¡¯s heart? He might suddenly develop ambitions, even aspire to become king.¡± ¡°That¡¯s unlike Father... he¡¯s worrying too much. If Stein had such ambitions, he would have started by accepting a count¡¯s title and building his influence.¡± Bellos said this while studying Violet. ¡°In any case, if Father wants you to reach the 5th Circle, there¡¯s no need for you to join the reinforcements.¡± ¡°We need to save the kingdom before I reach the 5th Circle.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to have such a noble mindset.¡± ¡°Oh my, I¡¯ve always put the kingdom first.¡± ¡°...Fine.¡± If Violet were to join the battle, it would indeed be a great help. She would undoubtedly stand out on the battlefield. Then, rather than being remembered as someone who supported the First Prince, a known follower of the Otherworld, she would be praised for her bravery in fighting against the monster wave. Bellos, who had firsthand experience of Violet¡¯s capabilities while competing with her for power, didn¡¯t like it... but¡ª ¡®No matter how much merit Violet earns, she can never become queen.¡¯ The Bormian Kingdom had never had a queen. The heir to the throne had to be male. With that thought, Bellos felt he didn¡¯t need to worry too much about Violet gaining recognition. ¡°Fine. You may join. You are welcome.¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Highness.¡± ¡°But don¡¯t stir up any trouble among the reinforcements.¡±No?v(el)B\\jnn ¡°What trouble could I possibly cause?¡± ¡°Haha. Right. You won¡¯t mind that there are members of the First Prince¡¯s faction among the reinforcements, will you?¡± Bellos¡¯s words carried a deeper meaning. The reinforcements were primarily composed of his supporters. If there were remnants of the First Prince¡¯s faction among them, it meant some had already switched sides. Bellos was pointing that out. ¡°Are you referring to those who have switched to your side, Your Highness? Why would that bother me? In fact, I¡¯m grateful you accepted them.¡± ¡°Well... after all, the First Prince was a follower of the Otherworld...¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right. They sure know how to go with the flow. But you should manage them well¡ªthey¡¯re as fickle as reeds. If they find out I¡¯ve joined the Royalist faction, they might waver again.¡± ¡°What... Royalist faction?¡± ¡°It seems His Majesty is planning to take a more active role in state affairs. As a member of the royal family, I must cooperate fully.¡± Bellos¡¯s eyes trembled slightly. ¡®Wasn¡¯t Father¡¯s only order for Violet to reach the 5th Circle? The Royalist faction, huh...?¡¯ Bellos had thought that once the power struggle with the First Prince was over, he would firmly seize control of the kingdom in place of the disinterested king. But now, things were taking an unexpected turn. ¡°Come to think of it, Father has quite a lot of children. And quite a few sons, too.¡± ¡°...What are you implying?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing. Just a passing thought. But if Your Highness continues to cooperate, I suppose I¡¯ll soon forget about it.¡± Seeing Violet smile slyly, Bellos gritted his teeth. With the First Prince''s disgraceful death, Violet should have remained under house arrest, and the remnants of the First Prince¡¯s faction should have been absorbed... However, due to the king''s sudden change of heart, she had managed to make a comeback. ¡°...Fine. Since you¡¯re offering help, I have no reason to refuse.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a wise decision. By the way, is Sir Stein also joining the battle?¡± ¡°Yes. But Sir Stein will not be joining the reinforcements. He will arrive separately.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°Why do you ask?¡± ¡°Someone I know is traveling with Sir Stein.¡± ¡°Someone you know...¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Come in.¡± Kaylen, who was reviewing documents at his desk, lifted his head. Roenna¡¯s mouth fell open on its own. The elf from earlier was impressive, but... This man was on a whole different level. ¡°Wow...¡± ¡°This is your sister?¡± ¡°Yes, this is Roenna.¡± ¡°I see. Nice to meet you.¡± Kaylen stood up and approached Roenna, extending his hand for a handshake. ¡°Heh...¡± ¡°...Roenna, get a hold of yourself.¡± ¡°Ah, Ka-Kaylen! H-Hello! My name is Roenna, and I¡¯ve just entered Bormian Magic Academy as a first-year! Please take care of me!¡± Roenna repeatedly bowed her head, her face turning bright red. Seeing his sister flustered, Alkas felt a little relieved. It seems even she can¡¯t help but be affected by Kaylen. ¡°The academy is quite far from here, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°N-No! Not at all!¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Y-Yes! Kaylen, please speak comfortably with me!¡± ¡°Alright. Royen, would you come to my office? Your tutor is here.¡± Vwooom. As Kaylen spoke, the entire room vibrated briefly. Roenna looked around, thinking it might be due to a younger brother nearby, but she couldn¡¯t sense anyone. ¡°Take a seat for now. Your brother will be here in about five minutes.¡± Five minutes? How did he call his brother who¡¯s five minutes away? ¡®What is this? It¡¯s not even magic...¡¯ Still puzzled, Roenna sat down on the sofa and stared blankly at Kaylen. ¡ªHey, hey! Kaylen¡¯s at the library! ¡ªReally? Let¡¯s go see him! She was starting to understand why her academy friends were always talking about Kaylen. Coming from a poor background, she had always focused on her grades and declined when friends invited her. Now, she was glad she hadn¡¯t gone with them back then. ¡®If I¡¯d seen Kaylen at the academy, my grades would have dropped for sure.¡¯ She would have been like her friends¡ªneglecting her studies and following him around. ¡°Royen is quite a special case, so teaching him won¡¯t be easy. He has a great aptitude for fire magic, but there might be parts you won¡¯t understand... I ask you to keep this confidential.¡± ¡°Y-Yes!¡± ¡°In return, I¡¯ll offer generous pay. How about four lessons a week, 500 gold a month?¡± ¡°My lord! That¡¯s too much! 500 gold...!¡± Alkas was startled, but Roenna quickly jumped up and covered his mouth. ¡°Ah! Brother! Be quiet! Kaylen, I¡¯ll do my utmost to teach your brother!¡± ¡°Alright, alright. Roenna, it is a large sum, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Ah, yes...¡± ¡°This amount includes a condition to strictly keep Royen¡¯s unique condition a secret.¡± Kaylen gazed steadily into Roenna¡¯s eyes. ¡°Can you keep that promise?¡± ¡°Yes, of course!¡± ¡°Good. Then, I¡¯ll leave my brother in your care while I¡¯m away.¡± ¡°W-Where are you going?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯ll be heading to the duchy with Alkas for a while.¡± ¡°I... see.¡± Kaylen spoke so casually, as if he were just visiting a neighboring town. Because of that, Roenna didn¡¯t even consider that he might be heading to the Oblaine Duchy. Knock, knock. ¡°Come in.¡± And so, thoughts of the duchy quickly left her mind. ¡®Is that him? He doesn¡¯t look anything like his brother.¡¯ ¡®So... this is my tutor...¡¯ As Royen entered shyly, Roenna observed him closely, trying to get a first impression. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 100 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 100 Kaylen looked at Royen. ¡®The shape of the magic circle on his arm has changed a bit, hasn¡¯t it?¡¯ The red magic circles engraved on both of his arms. According to the analysis conducted by the elven researchers, the shape had been gradually changing from its original form. And as the shape changed, the speed of analyzing the magic circle had also increased. ¡®If he learns magic here, the magic circle might undergo further transformations... which could accelerate the analysis even more.¡¯ By partially replicating Royen¡¯s magic circle and pouring mana stones into it, Kaylen had been able to complete the Flame Sword. If the magic circle could be analyzed with greater precision, there might be even more to gain from it. ¡°Royen, this is Roenna. She will be your teacher and teach you the basics of magic.¡± ¡°Hello, teacher.¡± ¡°Roenna, Royen has yet to form a mana circle; he¡¯s a complete beginner. Please teach him until he¡¯s able to form one.¡± ¡°Understood, Kaylen.¡± ¡°And though he might not look it, Royen is only thirteen years old, so don¡¯t feel too pressured.¡± ¡°Thirteen years old?¡± Roenna looked at Royen. With his black hair and the tattoos covering both of his hands, he appeared to be at least seventeen or eighteen. Thirteen was completely unexpected. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s due to his unique constitution. Also... he can already use fire magic.¡± ¡°What? But without a circle, how¡ª¡± ¡°Royen, try using Fire Arrow.¡± ¡°Yes, Fire Arrow.¡± At Kaylen¡¯s words, Royen immediately cast the spell. A large flaming arrow materialized in midair. Its size was so massive that it looked more like a 3rd-circle Fireball rather than a simple Fire Arrow, startling Roenna. ¡®W-What? Why is it bigger than the ones I use?¡¯ ¡°As you can see, Royen has a unique constitution. You¡¯ve seen the number of elves at the mansion, right?¡± ¡°Yes...¡± ¡°Some of those elves are studying the magic circle engraved on Royen¡¯s arms. Interacting with them later might be helpful for you.¡± ¡°Oh, so that¡¯s why I saw so many elves...¡± ¡°Alright then, I¡¯ll leave his education to you from today. Alkas, show Roenna around.¡± Kaylen stood up and walked toward a painting hanging on the wall. Whoosh. ¡®Huh? Did he just put his hand in the painting...?¡¯ Like a magic trick, he swiftly slipped his hand into the painting and pulled out a mid-grade mana stone, tossing it to Alkas. ¡°Take this, settle the accounts for bringing my brother over, and split it appropriately.¡± ¡°My lord, this is a mana stone... the value is too high!¡± ¡°You haven¡¯t been properly compensated until now, have you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I¡¯m still learning¡ª¡± ¡°Enough of that. If you work, you should be paid accordingly.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Just take it when it¡¯s given.¡± Watching this, Roenna felt the same way as Alkas. ¡®Yeah. Just take it when it''s given! You fool!¡¯ Why is he being so unnecessarily stubborn? A mid-grade mana stone! It¡¯s worth a whopping 5,000 gold. With this, he could cover the tuition for the magic academy and even move his parents to a better house. So why is he hesitating? Although she was curious about how Kaylen pulled the mana stone out of the painting, the immediate concern was the stone right in front of her. ¡°But I haven¡¯t done anything to deserve it...¡± ¡°If you keep saying that, I¡¯ll give you another one as punishment.¡± ¡°...Understood.¡± ¡®Another one? Ah, I should¡¯ve held out a little longer.¡¯ Roenna felt a pang of regret when Kaylen mentioned giving another stone, but as soon as Alkas accepted it, his face lit up with joy. ¡°Alkas, we¡¯ll depart tomorrow at noon. Get some rest today.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, but...¡± ¡°The monster wave isn¡¯t something that will be over in a day or two. You might not see your family for a long time. You should at least say goodbye before heading to the battlefield.¡± The battlefield. At that word, Alkas¡¯s expression hardened. Unlike dungeon subjugations, defending the duke¡¯s territory was essentially war. ¡°To stop the monster wave, of course...¡± ¡°Right. But that¡¯s not the only reason. If it were just to stop the monster wave, it¡¯d be more efficient for me to go as a Swordmaster myself.¡± Eldir nodded at that statement. As Kaylen, a mage, would be less efficient at fighting monsters, whereas Swordmaster Stein would be much more effective. ¡°Eldir, I¡¯m going to establish a sword school.¡± ¡°A sword school... There used to be many, didn¡¯t there? After the Swordmasters disappeared, they became obsolete and eventually vanished.¡± Sword School. A family that teaches its unique swordsmanship and Aura manipulation, with a lineage of swordmasters leading apprentices. While there are many places that teach swordsmanship, to use the name "Sword School" requires the presence of a Swordmaster. ¡°Since Lord Kaylen has gained fame as a Swordmaster, you should be able to establish a Sword School soon.¡± ¡°Yeah. Establishing a Sword School would be easy. But the reason I want to create one is... to train knights who are worthy of this era. Even if I create a Sword School, it won¡¯t be easy to achieve that goal.¡± Eldir nodded at those words. In this world, where mana is scarce, No matter how talented a knight is, it¡¯s difficult to shine in such an environment. Looking at Alkas, he has brilliant potential, but his Aura growth is significantly delayed due to the mana shortage. ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m going to the duchy to try and rapidly develop some knights.¡± ¡°Rapid growth?¡± ¡°Yeah. Right now, I only have Alkas as my knight. And you¡¯re here on a cooperative mission from the World Tree¡¯s will.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°But if I rapidly grow knights on the battlefield and engrave the name of the Myorn Sword School into their minds... the knights will have no choice but to join the Myorn Sword School of their own accord.¡± ¡°Rapid growth of knights... How is that possible?¡± ¡°Hmm, there is a way.¡± Eldir looked at Kaylen with disbelief. Kaylen, of all people, should know how slow knights develop in this world due to the mana shortage. Is there really a way for rapid growth? ¡®If such a method existed, wouldn¡¯t you have taught it to Alkas already?¡¯ When Eldir looked at him with suspicion, Kaylen smiled faintly. ¡°You¡¯re wondering why I didn¡¯t teach Alkas, right?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± ¡°If someone has the potential to become a Swordmaster on their own, this method would actually be harmful to them.¡± ¡°Really?¡± What kind of method would cause such an effect? Eldir¡¯s confusion didn¡¯t subside. ¡°You¡¯ll understand when we get to the duchy.¡± With that one sentence, Eldir put his doubts aside. If Kaylen said so, then it must be true. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll start preparing for departure.¡± After the private lessons with Royen were over, Roenna looked at Alkas, who was about to take her, and spoke in a worried tone. ¡°Monster Wave... it looks so dangerous. Does Big Brother really need to go? We could just sell this mana stone and go into hiding.¡± ¡°What kind of nonsense is that?¡± ¡°No, but it¡¯s better than dying, right?!¡± ¡°Who said I¡¯m going to die?¡± Alkas sighed deeply as he looked at Roenna. ¡°Either way, if the duchy falls, this place won¡¯t be safe. It¡¯s better to go ahead and block it off.¡± ¡°But Big Brother, you¡¯re not a Meister, you¡¯re just a knight. Knights are just meat shields on the battlefield.¡± ¡°Meat shields, huh... You...¡± Alkas frowned, and Roenna quickly covered her mouth in surprise. ¡°Ah. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ve been using that phrase a lot at school, and it just slipped out.¡± ¡°...Tch. It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s not like this is the first time mages look down on knights.¡± Meat shield. This term sharply revealed the way knights were treated. During dungeon raids, knights would go in front to catch the monsters'' ankles, acting as shields. All the credit would go to the Meisters using powerful magic, while knights were sacrificed like replaceable pawns. ¡°...Yeah. Like you said, we are just the Meisters'' shields. But, I¡¯ve seen a new possibility through my sword.¡± Right. If anyone could show knights a new possibility in the age of Meisters, it would be Kaylen. Alkas, as a knight, desperately wanted to see that scene. ¡°Roenna. Take care of Mother with this mana stone.¡± ¡°Big Brother... You really plan on going?¡± ¡°Yeah. Taking care of her is my once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I can¡¯t just back out because the duchy is dangerous.¡± Roenna nodded. In her current state, she couldn¡¯t break her brother¡¯s stubbornness. ¡°Okay. Don¡¯t get hurt... and come back safely.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 101 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 101 The Viltre Fortress, located in the northern region of the Oblaine Duchy. Nestled between the canyons, this fortress boasted towering walls, making it a natural stronghold that had never once allowed an enemy invasion. Before dungeon portals appeared, when wars were waged fiercely among humans, armies would go out of their way to bypass this fortress¡ªno one dared to take it head-on. But that was only when the enemy was human. Now, the undefeated fortress was facing a dire crisis due to a monster wave. ¡ª"This is relentless." Lioness let out a sigh as he gazed up at the sky. It was midnight, with the moon hanging high above. A time when any human would naturally be asleep. However¡ª ¡ª"Grrrr!!" The monsters¡¯ assault was even more intense in the dead of night. A horde of monsters climbed over the mountain of corpses piled up beyond the fortress walls. They neither slept nor ate, advancing ceaselessly. ¡ª"Lioness, we¡¯ll have to push through once again." ¡ª"Haah... Brother, do those things ever get tired?" ¡ª"No. They don¡¯t eat, drink, or sleep. Even monsters that wouldn¡¯t normally cooperate march together in perfect formation. If we weren¡¯t fighting from Viltre Fortress, we¡¯d have already fallen." Lioness nodded. If this weren¡¯t a canyon fortress, where they only needed to defend from one direction, there would be no way to withstand such a relentless assault. Especially if the walls weren¡¯t as high as they were, the monsters climbing over the corpses would have long since overrun the fortress. ¡ª"Still, at this rate, we won¡¯t last more than a few days." ¡ª"We just need to hold out a little longer. The Second Prince is coming with Princess Violet as reinforcements." ¡ª"That woman is coming? Hah. She ignored me when I begged for help before." ¡ª"I just received the news myself... Seems like something happened in the capital." Guntrian, the second son of the Oblaine Duchy, spoke with a hint of excitement as he looked at his younger brother. ¡ª"More importantly, a Sword Master has appeared." ¡ª"Brother, a Sword Master? You must have received some nonsense report." ¡ª"And that Sword Master exposed the First Prince as a servant of the demons and eradicated the demon forces hiding within the palace." ¡ª"...Does that even make sense?" A Sword Master has appeared? The First Prince is a servant of the demons? There were demons hiding within the palace? His brother must be exhausted from standing guard at the battlefield for days without rest. Lioness couldn¡¯t think otherwise. ¡ª"Well, I didn¡¯t believe it at first either... but there¡¯s no way the duchy would joke about something like this over communication channels." ¡ª"That¡¯s absurd." ¡ª"Heh. That Sword Master is coming to reinforce the fortress, so if we hold out long enough, we¡¯ll see him with our own eyes." Guntrian, his eyes weary from exhaustion, looked down from the fortress wall. Towering monsters, standing over four to five meters tall, were forming the vanguard as they advanced. Crunch. Crunch. The monster army slowly pressed forward, trampling over the piles of corpses below the fortress. Their eyes were vacant. Their footsteps synchronized. Even compared to an elite human force, their formations were perfectly aligned. Guntrian let out a long sigh as he watched. Where were these endless waves of monsters coming from? After two days without sleep while commanding the defense, he felt like he could collapse at any moment. ¡ª¡®I have to hold out, even if only to see the Sword Master.¡¯ Guntrian, the second son of the Oblaine Duchy. Lacking talent as a mage, he had chosen the path of a knight and reached the level of Knight Meister, making him one of the greatest knights in the kingdom. For someone who had devoted himself to the sword for so long, the emergence of a Sword Master was nothing short of a shock. He understood it well¡ªhaving walked the path of knighthood himself. A Sword Master was a realm that should be impossible to attain. That made him want to see it all the more. To witness, with his own eyes, the Sword Master spoken of in rumors¡ªalive and in person. ¡ª¡°Knight Meisters, equip your Mana Suits!¡± Shiiing¡ª At Guntrian¡¯s command, the knights activated their Mana Suits in unison. Ordinarily, using Mana Suits was considered wasteful. But the Oblaine Duchy had enough wealth to afford such extravagance without issue. ¡ª¡°All knights, raise your shields!¡± ¡ª¡°Yes, sir!¡± At the next command, not only the ordinary knights but even those wearing Mana Suits raised their large shields in formation. Their goal was singular. To protect the Mage Meisters. ¡ª¡°Mages, prepare to begin.¡± ¡ª¡°Yes, Sir Lioness.¡± Guntrian and the other commanders immediately mobilized the archers to fire into the sky. ¡ª¡°Kieeeek!¡± Even with arrows lodged in their bodies, the harpies showed no hesitation, relentlessly continuing their assault. ¡ª¡°Meisters, ignore the sky and focus on stopping the ogres! The fortress must not be breached!¡± ¡ª¡°Ugh... ugh...¡± Despite Guntrian¡¯s command, the Meisters faltered. Seeing the harpies swarm in like a horde, panic set in, and they began to scatter in confusion. ¡ª¡°W-We have to retreat! This is impossible!¡± Even though the Meisters were members of the Civil Squad, experienced from countless dungeon expeditions, they had never faced a situation this extreme. They had been fighting a siege battle for days, barely getting any sleep. Now, attacks were coming from both the sky and the ground at the same time. ¡ª¡°Damn it...! How many of them are there?!¡± The knights, who were meant to act as shields, were being picked off by the harpies one by one. ¡ª¡°Shield! Shield!¡± The protective barriers were already cracking, looking like they could shatter at any moment. This was nothing like the dungeons, where the knights could properly shield the Meisters while they safely cast large-scale magic. Guntrian scanned the battlefield, chaos unfolding everywhere, and bitterly regretted his oversight. ¡ª¡®We should have prepared for aerial combat...!¡¯ They had known the enemy had flying monsters. However, those monsters had only ever been used for raids on human villages, never in a siege. Because of that, most of their forces had been focused on holding back the ground-based monster horde. Even with their current numbers, just holding the ground was already overwhelming. ¡ª¡°Damn it...! Wake up all the resting Meisters and bring them here. This is an emergency!¡± ¡ª¡°Yes, sir!¡± In the end, Guntrian sacrificed tomorrow for today. The Meisters, exhausted and collapsed from defending the fortress since morning¡ª If they were forced into battle now, who would be left to fight tomorrow? ¡ª¡®At this rate, there won¡¯t be a tomorrow.¡¯ They just needed to buy time until reinforcements arrived. Clenching his jaw, Guntrian committed every last available force to the battlefield. ¡ª¡°The enemy has appeared in the sky too?¡± ¡ª¡°This is bad. My Mana Suit isn¡¯t even fully charged...¡± ¡ª¡°Fireball...! Ah, it failed...¡± The Meisters¡¯ magic was noticeably weakening. ¡ª¡®At this rate, we won¡¯t last until morning.¡¯ Crunch! The sound of ogres trampling over corpses grew louder and louder. ¡ª¡°Ugh...!¡± Even where the command center was located, bodies were now falling. ¡ª¡°P-Please... save me...!¡± The harpies were snatching up soldiers and dropping them from the sky without mercy. And then¡ª ¡ª¡°Sir Guntrian! L-Look... the rear! A Drake has appeared!¡± ¡ª¡°What?! A Drake?!¡± Guntrian followed the knight¡¯s trembling hand and turned to look at the rear. A massive creature was flying toward them. A dragon-like figure, just like what he had seen at the Knight Academy. Archers scrambled to fire at it, but their arrows bounced off uselessly. No¡ª Not just arrows. ¡ª¡°A D-Drake...? Wind Spear!¡± Even the Meisters¡¯ offensive magic couldn¡¯t reach it. ¡ª¡°Why the hell is a Drake here?! And why isn¡¯t magic working on it?!¡± Guntrian finally snapped, yelling in frustration. Just what kind of day was this?! The Drake was flying straight toward the command center. The Meisters desperately tried different spells to stop it, but none had any effect. Before they knew it, the beast had closed the distance. And when Guntrian saw the flames building up in its maw, he let out a hollow laugh. ¡ª¡°Ha... a breath attack, huh.¡± Would it be better to die to the Drake¡¯s breath than to be dropped to his death by a harpy? That absurd thought crossed his mind as he raised his shield. ¡ªKAAAAAH! But the Drake¡¯s flames didn¡¯t rain down on the ground. Instead, they spread through the sky. Fwoooosh! The harpies, caught in the inferno, ignited all at once and plummeted from the air. Guntrian rubbed his eyes in disbelief. ¡ª¡°...What the hell?¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 102 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 102 ¡ª¡°The situation doesn¡¯t look good.¡± Kaylen observed the state of the fortress, arms crossed while riding atop the Drake. The harpy assault had thrown the defensive lines into disarray. Meanwhile, a massive horde of monsters, led by ogres, was steadily advancing toward the fortress walls. The Meisters were doing their best to hold them back, but it was impossible to defend every part of the wall. Except for the sections where elementalization-capable Meisters were stationed, monsters had already reached the ramparts. This was simply because the Meisters lacked sufficient firepower. And the knights who should have been supporting the magic casters... ¡ª¡®Shields instead of swords, huh.¡¯ Kaylen watched as the knights formed defensive lines around the magic casters. Right. That was just how things were in this era. Knights couldn¡¯t compare to magic casters in terms of power. So, it made sense for them to at least act as shields. But... ¡ª¡°Aaargh!¡± Even as some knights were grabbed by harpies, they didn¡¯t even think to draw their swords. ¡ª¡°Ugh... Ugh... This place is hell...¡± Others cowered behind their shields, trembling in fear. Kaylen let out a short sigh. The state of the knights was worse than he had expected. ¡ª¡°Let¡¯s go over there.¡± ¡ª[Understood.] Following Kaylen¡¯s command, the Drake moved toward the most critical part of the battlefield. The harpy swarm fearlessly rushed at the Drake. ¡ªKaaaah! The ones in front were instantly incinerated by its breath, while those to the sides and rear were frozen solid and crashed to the ground. Kaylen activated his Mana Suit Guardian. His entire body transformed like a water spirit as he approached Eldir. ¡ª¡°Eldir, does using Mana Suit Expert put a strain on your body?¡± ¡ª¡°No. Compared to other mana suits, this one has far fewer side effects on elves. For me, it¡¯s even less of an issue.¡± Normally, when elves wore mana suits, severe aging was a common side effect... But the attribute-free mana suit created by Myorn showed significantly reduced side effects. ¡ª¡®With further experiments, elves might be able to use mana suits without any drawbacks.¡¯ For that, more data would be needed. Eldir had already resolved to gather that data firsthand. ¡ª¡°What about Alkas?¡± ¡ª¡°The pressure from Mana Suit Expert is intense... but I can endure it.¡± ¡ª¡°Good. Then we¡¯ll deploy here.¡± ¡ª¡°H-Here?!¡± ¡ª¡°Yeah. Rather than having the Drake land and take off again, it¡¯s better for us to jump down now.¡± From atop the Drake, Alkas looked down at the fortress walls. Even with the mana suit equipped, jumping from this height... ¡ª¡®This is way too high...¡¯ He suddenly recalled how Roenna had tried to stop him earlier. Dying in a glorious battle was one thing, but falling to his death? That, he absolutely wanted to avoid. Whoosh. While Alkas hesitated for a moment, Eldir was the first to leap off the drake. As he fell, he drew his wooden sword, Melvria. Chizizik! In an instant, the swarm of harpies around him was sliced apart. Even if he couldn¡¯t match Kaylen, Eldir was still a full-fledged Swordmaster. A mere flock of harpies was no threat to him. ¡°Fly.¡± Floating. Alkas felt his body lift into the air. ¡°I was planning to use it while falling, but I guess it¡¯s better to just activate it now.¡± ¡°Ah... my apologies.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s go.¡± Kaylen and Alkas descended slowly through the air. The harpies, seeing their sluggish descent, rushed in, treating them as easy prey. ¡°Ice Arrow.¡± However, even a simple first-circle spell from Kaylen was enough to take them down, sending them plummeting one by one. Tap. Easily brushing off the harpy attacks, Kaylen landed and surveyed the fortress walls. The dead outnumbered the living. The few survivors were barely holding on, desperately fending off the harpy assaults. Crunch. Crack. Beyond the walls, an ogre battalion was now within striking distance. A horde of massive creatures trampling over corpses, preparing to breach the defenses at any moment. Meisters positioned further away tried to suppress them, but their firepower was insufficient. At this rate, this position would be the first to fall to the ground forces. Guntrian''s eyes widened at the surreal sight. "A throne... made of swords?" Suddenly, a memory from his childhood surfaced¡ª A storybook he had once read, one that had left a deep impression on him. The tale of Ernstine, the Grand Swordmaster and the first emperor of the Meier Empire. ¡ªWhen Emperor Ernstine sat upon the throne of swords, knights awakened their aura and grew stronger. ¡ªThose who stood before the emperor seated on the Sword Throne pledged their eternal loyalty to him. The Sword Throne. A seat upon which, if an emperor sat, knights would gain enlightenment in the way of the sword and swear unwavering fealty... Even as a child, when Guntrian had admired the legendary Grand Swordmaster Ernstine, he had thought such claims were too far-fetched. And yet¡ªwhy? Now, as a grown man, Standing before that very sight, he couldn''t suppress the pounding in his chest. A part of him wanted to kneel before that throne on his own accord and follow the one who sat upon it. The fact that he was the vice-commander of Elsalvar¡¯s Civil Squad and the second son of a ducal house¡ª Had long since faded from his mind. Right now, he simply wanted to submit to the King of Swords as one knight to another. "Sir Guntrian! Sir Guntrian! Please, get a hold of yourself!" "Ah... right. Thank you." The Meister beside him shook him by the shoulder, snapping him back to reality. ''Tsk. What was I thinking...! I am¡ªI am a commander of a ducal house. To be mesmerized by the sword like this...!'' Whoosh. Guntrian quickly averted his gaze from the Sword Throne. Once it was out of sight, the strange exhilaration subsided¡ªif only slightly. Now fully composed, Guntrian heard the Meister''s aide speak in a grave tone. "Sir Guntrian, something is wrong with the knights. They¡¯ve drawn their swords instead of raising their shields." "What? What the hell are they doing?!" Knights were supposed to protect the Meister¡ªyet they had drawn their blades?! "Take your eyes off that throne and raise your shields! Knights! Have you lost your senses?!" Guntrian roared in anger¡ª But what he witnessed next made him question his own eyes. Fwoooosh! Aura flared to life along the swords of knights who were far from being skilled enough to wield it. And not only were they now emanating sword energy¡ª Their movements had become more fluid, allowing them to fend off the harpy assault with ease. "My body feels so light!" "Ah... so this is how you''re supposed to use aura!" If even the less skilled knights were experiencing this, Then the ones who were already Sword Experts were on a whole other level. Their sword aura surged forth, cutting down harpies with effortless precision. The difference was night and day¡ª Compared to when they had only been defending with their shields, the battlefield had completely shifted in their favor. "Hmmm..." Watching it all unfold, Guntrian felt an itch in his body. As a commander, he couldn¡¯t ignore his duty¡ª But right now, he wanted nothing more than to draw his own sword and charge in. However, the command center was heavily fortified. There were no flying monsters in the vicinity¡ªmeaning he had no justification to unsheathe his blade. So instead, he turned his gaze back toward the Sword Throne. "Tell the Meisters to focus only on the ground battle. I''m heading to where that Sword Throne is." "Commander, but you still need to oversee the battlefield¡ª" "Ugh, just handle it yourself! Figuring out what¡¯s happening over there is just as important!" The Meister¡¯s aide stared at Guntrian in disbelief. Guntrian may have looked like the typical rough and burly knight, all muscle and power¡ª But despite his rugged appearance, he was known for making cold, rational decisions as a commander. ''Ever since that Sword Throne appeared, the knights have been acting like they''re under some kind of spell.'' "Let''s move toward the Sword Throne!" "Yes, Sir Guntrian!" Just as Guntrian and the command knights prepared to set out together¡ª Some of the swords forming the throne suddenly broke free and shot out in all directions at high speed. Each blade flew toward the knights on the battlefield with the highest levels of aura. Guntrian, naturally, was among them. Whoosh. One sword stopped right in front of him. Its blade was engulfed in flames. A powerful aura of fire completely enveloped the weapon, radiating an overwhelming energy. ''T-this...!'' Gulp. Seeing the sword, Guntrian swallowed hard. This was¡ª An Aura Sword, a weapon that only a Swordmaster could wield. ''Is... is this meant for me...?'' As Guntrian¡¯s hand instinctively reached for the sword¡¯s hilt¡ª Kaylen¡¯s knight, Alkas, was desperately trying to look away from the four swords floating before him. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 103 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 103 Four swords floated around Alkas. Blades imbued with the aura of fire, water, light, and darkness. They all tempted Alkas, urging him to take hold of them. ¡®I want to grab them.¡¯ If he took one of those swords, it felt like he could become a Sword Master instantly. No, even if he didn¡¯t reach the level of a Sword Master, he was certain he¡¯d be able to wield aura far better than he did now. But Alkas suppressed that desire. Because after the Sword Throne was formed, Kaylen had given him a quiet warning. ¡ªAlkas. If you truly wish to become a Sword Master, do not fall for the sword¡¯s temptation. Alkas instinctively understood. If he grasped even one of those four swords, he would be able to master aura more efficiently. If his only goal was to manifest an Aura Sword, then grabbing one of them would be the correct choice. However¡ª ¡®I think... I understand what he meant by a true Sword Master.¡¯ A Sword Master. They were those who had perfected their own sword. They had forged their own blade and spread their Sword Area¡ªabsolute beings. If he took hold of those swords, He would forget his own blade. ¡®If that happens, the sword I have built and refined until now... will disappear.¡¯ Yes. He understood this in his mind. But his gaze kept drifting back to them. Rather than painstakingly building his own sword, it felt like simply grasping one of those swords would be a shortcut to rapid growth. And even if he forged his own blade, it would never compare to Kaylen¡¯s sword, which boasted absolute prowess even among Sword Masters. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to just take one of those swords and follow his lord? That conflict seized Alkas¡¯s heart. ¡°Kh...!¡± Drip. Blood trickled from Alkas¡¯s tightly shut lips. The four Aura Swords¡ªso incredibly tempting. Turning away from them was unbearably difficult. Clang. But he raised his own sword and ignited his aura. Compared to those four swords, his sword aura was like a firefly¡¯s glow¡ªweak and faint. However, as he manifested his sword aura, he felt his wavering resolve gradually steady. ¡®...Right. My goal isn¡¯t to become an Expert.¡¯ Within the blessing of aura created by the Sword Throne, Alkas took his first step toward standing on his own. He raised his sword aura and steadied his blade. Rather than submitting to Kaylen¡¯s Sword Area, he resolved to overcome it. ¡®I will perfect my own sword.¡¯@@@@ As he focused solely on his aura¡ª ¡®This is...¡¯ Within the Sword Area, under the influence of the Sword Throne, Alkas could sense his own domain. Though it was extremely small. ¡®This is...!¡¯ Sword Throne. Among the Six Sword Paths, the Sword Throne possessed a unique nature unlike other sword techniques. It abnormally expanded Kaylen¡¯s Sword Area, strengthening the aura users within it. Most aura users couldn¡¯t even utilize half of the mana stored in their mana hall. They might believe they were using their full power, but... The way aura users managed their mana was often highly inefficient. However, knights within the Sword Throne¡¯s domain could easily surpass those limits. It was only natural¡ªwithin the Sword Area, aura users temporarily synchronized with Kaylen¡¯s Mana Road. While they couldn¡¯t assimilate with special traits like Infinity Mana or Mana Body, even achieving synchronization with Kaylen¡¯s highly efficient Mana Road held immense significance. On top of that, their physical bodies were elevated to their optimal state... Knights within the Sword Throne¡¯s domain displayed more than twice, sometimes three times, their usual strength, and the stronger the knight, the greater the efficiency. However, the Sword Throne had its drawbacks. ¡®Is this also the effect of the Sword Throne?¡¯ Marveling at it, Eldir dashed into the midst of the ogres. The Wind Sword Master. He slowed his enemies¡ªwhile wielding a sword of speed. No one could hold him back. ¡°Waaah...¡± When the tempest passed, ogres¡¯ heads fell. At first, they thought one man jumping down from the fortress wouldn¡¯t change anything. The massive ogres were being cut down without resistance, like helpless sheep. ¡°That... is a Sword Master...¡± ¡°I can¡¯t even see how he¡¯s moving.¡± The soldiers watching from the fortress walls couldn¡¯t help but exclaim in awe. The most dangerous section of the wall¡ª Had somehow become the safest place. Of course, it wasn¡¯t just because of Eldir. ¡°Ice Fog.¡± Kaylen, his entire body transformed into water, reached out toward the sky. A white mist began to spread across the night sky. At first, it started small, but in an instant, the icy fog expanded¡ª And soon, even the harpies¡¯ bodies began to freeze solid. Thud. Thud. No longer able to fly, the harpies plummeted to the ground. ¡®Most of my mana is bound by the Sword Throne, and yet... Infinity¡¯s expansion function is incredible.¡¯ Even with the support of the A-rank mana suit Guardian¡ª The power of Kaylen¡¯s magic was beyond comprehension, even for the Meisters. ¡°W-Who is that?¡± ¡°Oh, I know! That¡¯s Kaylen! He¡¯s famous for his talent as a 6th-Circle mage!¡± ¡°He¡¯s transformed into a water spirit.¡± ¡°Yeah. I heard he received an A-rank mana suit from the Fairy Magic Tower... And he¡¯s using it perfectly.¡± The Meisters, who had remained silent out of their inability to understand the Sword Master and the Sword Throne, now erupted in admiration at Kaylen¡¯s magic. ¡°Kaylen...!¡± Especially Lioness, the wielder of the same A-rank mana suit, Inferno. They had the same A-rank mana suit. They were both 4th-Circle Meisters. And yet¡ª The sheer difference in magical power was staggering. ¡®Tch... It feels like I¡¯m watching Princess Violet... How is this possible?¡¯ It was fortunate that the battlefield had turned in their favor with the arrival of Kaylen and the Sword Master. But as Lioness watched Kaylen, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of inferiority deep inside. The conditions were the same... So why was there such a vast difference? ¡°Ice Spear.¡± Fwoosh. From atop the fortress walls, an uncountable number of ice spears formed. At Kaylen¡¯s command, they all shot downward at once. Avoiding Eldir with pinpoint precision, the ice spears rained down over a wide area, completely halting the ogres¡¯ advance. ¡®Wait... Does that mana suit have an endless supply of mana?¡¯ He was doing his best to conjure flames with Inferno¡ª But casting large-scale magic in both the sky and the ground at the same time was impossible. How was this even possible? Even as Lioness continued to scorch the battlefield, His eyes kept drifting toward Kaylen¡ªfilled with a mix of awe and helplessness. ¡°We¡¯ve practically won now.¡± ¡°Cleaning up the harpies¡¯ corpses will be the real work.¡± As the reinforcements arrived on drakes and the battle neared its conclusion, The Sword Throne also began to fade away. And then¡ª ¡®No... Kaylen...!?¡¯ Lioness, who had been keeping an eye on Kaylen, widened his eyes in shock. Kaylen was once again¡ª Becoming one with the sword. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 104 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 104 The northeastern region where the dungeon portals had appeared. The number of portals had decreased significantly compared to when the colonial subjugation first began. And the number of monsters emerging from the remaining portals was no longer the same as before. ¡®It¡¯s coming to an end soon.¡¯ The demon legion commander, floating in the sky, observed the dwindling dungeon portals and thought to himself. The subjugation of colony [E-12] was directly tied to the demon legion commander¡¯s promotion. ¡®Relying solely on the monster wave to clear this region has failed.¡¯ During the colonial subjugation operation, one of the key evaluation criteria for a legion commander was how effectively they utilized the monster wave. Completely wiping out a colony using only the monster wave would yield the highest evaluation score. If the commander had to mobilize their personal demon army to clear the colony, they would receive an average score. And if they failed even with the demon army, they would be stripped of their position as legion commander... ¡®Achieving the highest score is impossible. The Black Skull, Bormian¡¯s magical link, has also been severed.¡¯ The Bormian Kingdom. It was an established human kingdom, so heavy resistance was expected. However, when a member of the royal family willingly became a demon and turned into a Black Skull¡ª The legion commander had believed it would be an opportunity to earn a high score in the colonial subjugation. ¡®At this rate, I might not even get a mid-tier score. Now that the Celestial¡¯s rats have been dispatched to the kingdom, the demon army will also be restrained.¡¯ If the situation deteriorated further, failure would become highly likely. Especially because the Bormian Kingdom possessed forces unlike anything seen elsewhere. ¡®A Sword Master...¡¯ Through the eyes of the monsters under his control, the demon legion commander could observe the Sword Master¡¯s feats. Though the information was blurry and incomplete¡ª The newly emerged Sword Master displayed power even more unique and formidable than those of the past. ¡®Because of him, the subjugation is more likely to fail.¡¯@@@@ It was this Sword Master who had taken down the Black Skull. It was also because of him that the demonic followers within the royal capital were eradicated. He was the greatest obstacle to the colonial subjugation operation. And yet, the demon legion commander welcomed his existence. ¡®With power like that... capturing him is far more valuable than completing the subjugation.¡¯ Ever since Aura Masters disappeared from the middle realm, their worth as experimental subjects in the demon realm had skyrocketed. And if this particular Sword Master wielded such an unusual power, his rarity would be even greater. ¡®I¡¯ll mobilize all my strength to capture him.¡¯ A Sword Master with an extraordinary power. No matter how insignificant a human might be, This one could not be underestimated. To capture him, the legion commander would have to act personally. Vrrrrr¡ª The demon legion commander¡¯s massive body glowed red as he slowly began to ascend. His target: the Sword Master. To the demon legion commander, capturing the Sword Master had now taken priority over the colonial subjugation itself. Only three reinforcements had arrived at Viltre Fortress¡ª But that was more than enough to change the course of the battle. Among them, the one who drew the most attention was undoubtedly the Sword Master, Stein. The Sword Throne rose precisely whenever airborne monsters attacked, strengthening the knights in perfect synchronization. ¡°The blessing of the sword has descended once again!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t believe... this is the aura I created...¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± No matter what kind of monster charged in, he leaped down from the fortress walls with only a wooden sword in hand, cutting through the enemies. Alongside him, another Meister moved in perfect coordination, drawing people''s attention. ¡°That¡¯s Kaylen.¡± ¡°That man... hasn¡¯t rested all night.¡± Srrr¡ª ¡°Kaylen, I¡¯m truly grateful you came. Brother, this is my junior, Kaylen. He¡¯s famous for his talent as a 6th-Circle mage.¡± Guntrian, who had arrived with Lioness, clasped Kaylen¡¯s hand tightly, his expression filled with admiration. ¡°A 6th-Circle talent...! That¡¯s incredible. Thanks to you and that Sword Master, we survived. If not for your intervention, this fortress would have fallen. On behalf of House Oblaine, I will never forget this debt.¡± ¡°I only did what was necessary.¡± ¡°Even so, I am truly grateful. Has your mana suit run out of mana? We can provide mana stones immediately. If it¡¯s depleted, we¡¯ll guide you to the recharging magic circle as soon as a spot opens.¡± ¡°I still have some reserve. Once Lord Lioness finishes recharging, I¡¯ll switch out then.¡± Hearing that, Guntrian couldn¡¯t hide the emotion in his expression. ¡°You¡¯ve been fighting for two days without rest... I wish I could tell you to take a break, but given the situation in the fortress, I can only apologize. The moment Lion¡ª I mean, Lioness is ready, we¡¯ll rotate you out.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± ¡°But... is that Sword Master really fine staying below the fortress walls for so long? Shouldn¡¯t he take some rest...?¡± Every time aerial monsters approached, the Sword Throne was summoned¡ª Then, descending from his throne of swords, the Sword Master slaughtered the monsters. Thanks to his overwhelming strength, the fortress had been able to hold out¡ª ¡°But even if he¡¯s a Sword Master, summoning that colossal Sword Throne multiple times while constantly fighting... It¡¯s worrying. If he collapses, the fortress won¡¯t last.¡± ¡°He¡¯s still fine. He said he would rest once the Second Prince and Princess Violet arrive.¡± ¡°Ah, Sir Stein, I heard you played a significant role in the royal capital as well... Our kingdom truly owes you a great debt. Then, though it may be shameless of me to ask, I must request just a little more of your strength.¡± Guntrian once again expressed his gratitude to Kaylen before returning to his command duties. ¡°Lion, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Wait a moment, brother. I have something to discuss with Kaylen.¡± ¡°...Alright. But finish your conversation quickly and return to rest. You need to recharge your Inferno as well.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lioness, his face gaunt, looked at Kaylen. Even after two nights without rest, Kaylen¡¯s face still radiated with an unnatural glow. Lioness, who had always prided himself on his looks, now appeared visibly haggard from prolonged battle, while Kaylen still maintained his brilliance. ¡®Why did he look like a sword?¡¯ It wasn¡¯t the first time Kaylen had appeared as a sword to him. If it had only happened once or twice, he might have dismissed it as a mistake. But during this fortress defense battle, every time the Sword Throne was summoned and then disappeared, Kaylen appeared as a sword in his eyes. ¡®I can¡¯t help but be curious.¡¯ Why was it only him? Even the Sword Master, who was decapitating ogres over there, didn¡¯t appear that way. Lioness, unable to suppress his curiosity, asked directly. ¡°Kaylen.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why do you look like a sword every time that Sword Throne disappears?¡± ¡°...You see me as a sword?¡± ¡°Yes. At first, I thought I was mistaken. But after this battle, I¡¯m sure of it. This isn¡¯t just my imagination.¡± Lioness alternated his gaze between the Sword Throne and Kaylen. ¡°Do you have any idea why you appear as a sword when that thing vanishes?¡± ¡®Right, Lioness is said to have Sword Insight.¡¯ The condition for Sword Insight was recognizing Kaylen as a ¡®sword¡¯ upon the release of the Six Swords. Only those with exceptional talent in aura could achieve such a perception. ¡®Sword Insight is always an enviable trait, but...¡¯ Even Kaylen, who had once been a Grand Sword Master, acknowledged its overwhelming potential. Alkas, despite the severe lack of mana in the atmosphere, had relentlessly trained in the way of the sword. As a result, even though it was only when the Sword Throne was manifested, he had managed to project a Sword Area. ¡®It was a shame he was a Meister.¡¯ If Lioness hadn¡¯t been a noble of a ducal house¡ª And if he wasn¡¯t already on a successful path as a Meister, Kaylen would have wanted to teach him immediately. But his position was far too established, so the thought of instructing him had never even crossed Kaylen¡¯s mind. ¡®But if he¡¯s showing interest on his own, I might as well give him a push.¡¯ More than a 4th-Circle Meister, what humanity truly needed now was a Sword Master. With that in mind, Kaylen slowly opened his mouth to speak. ¡°Yes, I have an idea.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 105 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 105 ¡°In truth, I have been receiving assistance from Sword Master Stein for my magic experiments for quite some time.¡± ¡°What? How does a Sword Master assist with magic experiments?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t go into detail, but...¡± Kaylen glanced around before speaking quietly. ¡°I¡¯ve been conducting experiments on linking aura with magic.¡± ¡°Is that... like a Magic Swordsman?¡± ¡°It¡¯s something different.¡± Saying this, Kaylen turned away from Lioness. Lioness, who had been watching the large monsters advancing toward the fortress walls, casually cast a spell. ¡°Ice Arrow.¡± Countless ice arrows formed in the sky. Even though it was only a 1st-Circle spell, each arrow was massive, more like towering pillars than simple projectiles. Swoooosh¡ª The Ice Arrows plunged straight into the ground. The ogres and other large monsters tried to deflect them with their arms, but they were helplessly impaled by the sharp ice. Watching this, Lioness thought to himself. ¡®Kaylen¡¯s magic is overwhelming, even for someone wearing an A-rank mana suit.¡¯ Thinking back, even during the Superior Mage Selection Tournament, when he wasn¡¯t wearing a mana suit, his magic was incredibly strong. How could magic of the same circle have such a drastic difference in power? Was it related to his experiments on linking aura and magic? ¡°This experiment was possible because I briefly trained in aura when I was younger.¡± Kaylen¡¯s words made Lioness¡¯ eyes widen slightly. ¡°You trained in aura when you were younger?¡± ¡°Yes. Due to various circumstances.¡± Though the original owner of this body had never even held a sword, Kaylen lied effortlessly without hesitation. Hearing this, Lioness stroked his chin. ¡°I also trained with the sword briefly when I was young.¡± ¡°...That¡¯s unexpected.¡± ¡°When you¡¯re a kid, knights wielding swords just look cool.¡± He glanced briefly in the direction where his older brother, Guntrian, had disappeared before continuing. ¡°Heh. But I quit before I could accumulate aura in my mana hall. My talent was too exceptional, so my brother Guntrian stopped me.¡± ¡°You were talented, and he stopped you?¡± ¡°I also had a natural aptitude for magic. Since I had already engraved a mana circle into my mana heart, he told me I shouldn¡¯t form a mana hall as well.¡±@@@@ In a world where magic was the highest priority, swordsmanship talent was secondary. It was only natural for Guntrian to advise him to focus solely on magic. ¡°Aura, huh...¡± Lioness continued watching Kaylen use magic. A Water Meister who froze the ground and rained down ice spears from the sky. No matter how he looked at it, this was not firepower that an ordinary Meister could produce. The only person who could match his destructive power was Princess Violet, the wielder of an S-rank mana suit. ¡®But that¡¯s only because of Glacia.¡¯ Kaylen, on the other hand, was just like Lioness¡ªan A-rank mana suit user and a 4th-Circle Meister¡ªyet his magic¡¯s power was on a completely different level. Lioness suspected that this disparity came from the ¡®experiment¡¯ Kaylen had mentioned. ¡®I want to become that strong too.¡¯ During this fortress defense battle, Lioness had painfully realized the limits of his own strength. Without hesitation, he asked Kaylen directly. ¡°The experiment... what are the participation requirements? Do you think I could join as well?¡± And just like that, he took the bait. Kaylen smiled inwardly but responded with a troubled expression. ¡°Lord Lioness, it is certainly possible for you to join the experiment, but there are essential conditions.¡± ¡°Conditions? What are they?¡± ¡°In order to participate in the experiment with Lord Stein, aura is required.¡± ¡°Ah, I see.¡± Lioness nodded. The need for aura had been something he had vaguely guessed while listening to Kaylen¡¯s words. ¡°If you reach the point where you can form a mana hall, then you¡¯ll be able to participate in the experiment on the interaction between aura and the mana circle.¡± ¡°Hm...¡± Soon, Kaylen¡¯s surroundings were filled with the fallen harpies¡¯ bodies. This scene was being watched by the Meisters in the mana recharge room. ¡°Truly, that Meister is incredible...¡± ¡°They said they didn¡¯t need a guard. Not a single gap.¡± Among the current Meisters, Kaylen was the one with the most powerful firepower. Naturally, the castle¡¯s command had intended to protect him, so they had planned to send knights to guard him. But... Kaylen had declined, even sending his own personal knight, Alkas, elsewhere. ¡°That junior... Do you know what¡¯s scarier? He¡¯s deactivated his spirit form now. If you look closely, only his right hand is still in spirit form.¡± ¡°Ah, I see. Why is that?¡± ¡°To conserve mana, Senior.¡± Lioness, who had entered the mana recharge room, joined the conversation among the Meisters. ¡°L-Lioness, sir.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to be so formal. I don¡¯t wish to hear respectful speech from academy seniors.¡± ¡°B-But...¡± Though Lioness said this, no Meister dared to speak freely to the Duke¡¯s most favored son, Oblaine. As awkward silence lingered, Lioness chuckled. It¡¯s hard to deal with academy seniors as seniors. ¡°Even so, if it¡¯s more comfortable to show respect, then please do so.¡± ¡°Ah, I understand.¡± ¡°Haha. Since we¡¯re commoners...¡± The Meisters, who seemed more comfortable using respectful language, appeared to relax slightly. ¡°Lioness, sir. We¡¯ll prepare a seat for you here.¡± ¡°This spot has the best view.¡± They even offered a chair by the window where the castle walls could be seen, setting up a mana charging magic circle. Since they had taken care to show respect, it was expected that he would accept it as a noble. Thud. Lioness naturally sat down, charging his mana suit while looking out toward Kaylen beyond the window. Every time the harpies attacked, Kaylen seemed to sense it immediately. His ability to switch between spirit form and normal form was almost miraculous. ¡®His ability to sense enemies seems even better than a knight¡¯s. Did he develop that through aura training?¡¯ The mana charging magic circle automatically replenished the mana for the suit. Typically, when alternating between fights, Meisters would rest, sometimes even sleeping on the magic circle itself. Lioness, too, needed to sleep during the brief time available, but... He couldn¡¯t take his eyes off Kaylen, who instantly detected the harpies and suppressed them with his spirit form. ¡®If I train aura, could I do that too?¡¯ The interaction between aura and the mana circle. Normally, Lioness would have thought it impossible. ¡®If I train with the sword...¡¯ Ever since the Sword Throne appeared, an unusual heat had been slowly rising in Lioness¡¯ chest without him even realizing it. ¡®All of this is to use magic more powerfully.¡¯ Yes. The reason he was paying attention to aura, something outdated in this era, was solely for magic. There couldn¡¯t be any other reason. This strange heat must be because it could enhance his magic. While Lioness was analyzing his thoughts, trying to stay awake, he heard a sound. Thud. Thud. ¡°Uh... What¡¯s that sound?¡± ¡°Look! The flying monsters are falling, completely frozen.¡± Monsters began to fall one after another from the window of the mana recharge room. At the same time, cheering could be heard from outside. - Princess Violet is here! - Reinforcements, reinforcements have arrived! ¡°Haha. Since reinforcements have arrived... I suppose I can sleep now.¡± Lioness got up from his chair and laid flat on the magic circle. Now he could finally rest properly. The moment his eyes closed, his consciousness quickly faded. ¡®Sword...¡¯ Just before falling asleep, the sword appeared in his mind¡¯s eye. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 106 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 106 The first reinforcements to arrive at the Viltre Fortress were Princess Violet. "Are all of them harpies?" Seeing the sky filled with harpies, Violet was momentarily stunned by their numbers. "I don''t need to control my strength." Glacia quickly expanded her power, transforming Violet''s entire body into ice. "Ice Blast." As Violet extended her hand toward the sky, a massive ice sphere appeared in the air. Soon, Boom! With a tremendous explosion, ice shards were sent flying in all directions. The harpies that were struck by the ice shards were instantly torn apart and frozen, crashing to the ground. "Kiieee!" The harpies that survived attempted to charge at Violet, but before they could even get close, they were instantly frozen. Boom! Boom! With each gesture Violet made, the air exploded. The flying monsters fell one after another, and the situation rapidly shifted in their favor. "Hehe. This is the perfect target to vent my frustrations." Violet, who had joined the Second Prince¡¯s reinforcements, couldn¡¯t help but feel displeased after seeing the nobles and the Mage Tower forces quickly switch their allegiance to the Second Prince. While she pretended not to care... She was still human, and it was unavoidable to feel upset. However, it was somewhat better that the nobles, who had quickly changed sides, were too embarrassed to face her directly. Oh? Is the Princess joining as well? You acknowledge that Prince Bellos is the rightful heir, don¡¯t you? A wise choice. As a Bormian Kingdom citizen, it¡¯s only right to support Prince Bellos. When she saw her former subordinates approach Prince Bellos in front of her, enthusiastically declaring their support for him, she couldn¡¯t help but feel frustrated. Although she knew the King had reinstated Violet, No one expected that the lazy King, uninterested in politics, would create a faction and build power again. Her former subordinates, trusting only in the sure power of the Second Prince Bellos, competed in showing their loyalty, further irritating Violet. ¡®Right now, I have no justification to argue, so I can only listen...¡¯ Violet¡¯s eyes darkened as she watched the harpies being torn apart. Even the Second Prince Bellos didn¡¯t intervene, simply allowing her former subordinates to act. Hahaha! Violet. Everyone is praising your choice. Let¡¯s all forget the past and move toward the future, just like these people. Isn¡¯t that exactly what you¡¯re doing, Second Prince? Hehehe. You still call me the Second Prince? Even though we¡¯re half-siblings, that stings. I¡¯m hurt. I¡¯m worried about when our dear sister will freeze up. If you look at it this way, you and Lioness make a perfect pair. How about an official engagement? For the sake of royal unity and to stop Glacia¡¯s rampage, of course. He suggested an engagement between Violet and Lioness. An engagement with the family she despised the most, the Oblaine Dukedom. "If I must die, then so be it. Should I marry into the Oblaine family?" Boom! Boom! Boom! Violet, in her spirit form, unleashed her full power, causing the harpies to fall from the sky like hail. The people inside the fortress were now more concerned with avoiding the frozen harpy corpses than with the harpy attacks themselves. "Truly an S-rank mana suit... The difference is on another level." "Princess, when you decide to use your power, it¡¯s truly amazing." After Violet swept across the castle walls, the main force of the second prince arrived, but they had little to do. They merely stood by, watching blankly as Princess Violet slaughtered the aerial troops. ¡®Wow... How can one person wield such power?¡¯ ¡®Ugh. Did I really pledge loyalty to the second prince? I should¡¯ve stayed quiet.¡¯ Those who had irritated Violet now regretted their actions in the face of her overwhelming power. Even Bellos, the second prince, looked somewhat stiffened. ¡°The S-rank mana suit is truly powerful...¡± After Guntrian praised Stein, he approached Kaylen. Instinctively, Guntrian bowed to Kaylen with the same deep respect, bending at 90 degrees. ¡°I also bow in gratitude to Sir Kaylen.¡± It was understandable that he would bow to Sword Master Stein, but it was unusual for Guntrian, the commander, to show such a high level of courtesy toward Kaylen, whom he had treated casually as his younger sibling during the battle. Sir Kaylen? Was that not a title given to knights? ¡°Huh, Brother?¡± Lioness spoke in surprise, and only then did Guntrian snap out of his daze. ¡®Huh? Why...?¡¯ This is strange. I didn¡¯t feel this way when Kaylen was in his spirit form, exterminating the monsters. But now, seeing Kaylen next to Stein, I feel compelled to bow in respect. ¡°Guntrian, thank you for showing me such courtesy.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± ¡°But Sir Kaylen? Haha, I think you may have mistaken me for someone else, since I¡¯m standing next to Sir Stein.¡± ¡°Ah. Hahaha! I guess that¡¯s what happened. Whenever I see Sir Stein, my heart starts to race. I must have addressed you like a knight as well.¡± With the esteemed Sword Master, Sir Stein, standing next to him, Guntrian must have momentarily mistaken Kaylen for someone else. People brushed the incident off as a joke, but... Kaylen knew otherwise. ¡®Knights with exceptional skill instinctively feel that I am the true master of the sword seat. That¡¯s why their attention is drawn to me as well.¡¯ The image Kaylen had shown during the defense battle was that of a perfect Water Meister, so logically, everyone knew that the sword seat had no connection to him. However, their instincts were different. Aura was telling them that the real person they should be showing respect to was Kaylen. ¡®Still, there must be some excellent sword experts around. I need to erase the presence of the aura.¡¯ Kaylen decided to suppress the aura and reveal more of his identity as a magician, as "Kaylen." As he controlled the flow of mana in his body, the gazes of several excellent knights once again focused on Stein. ¡®Somehow...¡¯ ¡®It was just a misunderstanding.¡¯ ¡®The Meister was next to Sir Stein, so the presence of the great warrior was also revealed along with it.¡¯ Later on, Prince Bellos came forward to commend the defense forces and prepare a small banquet. ¡°It¡¯s been so long since I¡¯ve had a rest like this.¡± ¡°Do you think they¡¯ll attack right away?¡± ¡°Surely not. If they were, they would¡¯ve retreated, right?¡± The soldiers, though not relaxing their guard, enjoyed the long-awaited break. ¡°Prince Kaylen, I heard you played a major role this time.¡± ¡°Sir Stein, we truly owe you so much.¡± As people gathered around Stein and Kaylen, who had shown outstanding achievements during the defense battle... Suddenly. A golden portal appeared atop the castle walls. ¡°Th-That¡¯s...¡± People¡¯s gazes were drawn to the portal. Click. Click. One by one, knights in pure white armor began to emerge from it. ¡°It¡¯s the Holy Legion...¡± ¡°Ah, back there...¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Saintess!¡± And at the very end, Saintess Theresia walked toward them in a pure white clergy robe. With a compassionate expression, the Saintess warmly gazed at the people on the walls. Her gaze stopped at Kaylen. And then... Her expression went blank. ¡°Ern... Sir Stein?¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 107 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 107 The first emperor to unify the continent and the great hero who defeated the Demon King¡ªErnstine Meier. Though the Meier Empire had fallen, statues and portraits commemorating the emperor who once ruled the continent remained scattered across the land. A thousand years later, people looked upon these relics and often thought: "No matter how great Emperor Ernstine was, isn¡¯t this excessive glorification?" "How could a man in his fifties look like this? He wasn¡¯t even an elf." History books consistently described Emperor Ernstine as an unparalleled beauty, but... Most still believed the depictions of Ernstine to be overly romanticized¡ªespecially the ones portraying him as a strikingly handsome man even in his middle age, during the time he ruled the unified empire after vanquishing the Demon King. However¡ª Saintess Theresia knew the truth. All the statues and paintings of Ernstine¡ª They didn¡¯t come close to capturing his real appearance. "The sculptors simply weren¡¯t skilled enough to carve his likeness." Theresia knew better than anyone how transcendent Ernstine¡¯s beauty was. Even after a thousand years, she still dreamed of the Hero Ernstine from time to time. As she longed for him, she felt certain¡ªthere would never be another man like him. But today, upon descending upon Viltre Fortress with the Holy Order¡ª She saw something she could not believe. "Lord Ernstine!" Theresia, who always carried herself with a benevolent smile, faithfully embodying the image of the ''Saintess'' known to the world¡ª Now lost all composure, running straight toward Kaylen and embracing him tightly. Through the robe concealing his form, she could feel his firm, solid physique. "Hero... this isn¡¯t a dream, is it...?" Kaylen was taken aback. His current appearance was identical to that of Ernstine¡¯s in the past, but¡ª He never expected anyone to recognize him. Well, perhaps... He could concede that Saintess Theresia, having lived in the same era as him, might recognize Ernstine¡¯s face. But he never imagined she would throw herself at him so recklessly. "Did she... have a thing for me?" Now that he thought about it, she had never left his side during the Demon King subjugation. Back then, he assumed it was just the admiration of a young girl for a hero. But who could have predicted that, even after a thousand years, she would still react like this? "Um, Saintess. I¡¯m Kaylen." "What are you saying, Lord Ernstine? I have never forgotten you, not even once in the past thousand years. To say such a thing with that identical face... Fufu. What a funny joke." "This is just a side effect of an experiment¡ªI really am Kaylen. Besides, Emperor Ernstine was a man who lived a thousand years ago, wasn¡¯t he?" "Oh my, such a harsh joke. If there really was an experiment that could make someone look like Lord Ernstine, I¡¯d have the entire Holy Order undergo it." Theresia spoke with a gentle smile¡ªbut her words were terrifying. A thousand years ago, she had been an innocent and pure-hearted saintess, but time had clearly changed her. A cold sweat ran down Kaylen¡¯s back. One of the knights standing behind her quickly ran up and stammered, "L-Lady Saintess...!" "Why?" "This person is indeed Meister Kaylen. I previously reported that his appearance had changed." "What! Don¡¯t be ridiculous. This is Lord Ernstine!" "I... I swear it¡¯s true. It was a major topic in the capital." "You. Just what do you take me for? Do you think I¡¯ve lost my mind after living for a thousand years? Hohoho... You must have some nerve to treat me like a senile old woman, Sir Les." "I-I didn¡¯t mean it like that...!" Saintess Theresia fiercely scolded the Holy Knight, pushing him into a corner. Sir Les, a knight with a long beard and the most dignified appearance among them, now had tears welling in his eyes under her relentless assault. Normally, a true master doesn¡¯t discriminate between weapons. But the Holy Sword was different. Back in his days as a Hero, the Holy Sword Astella was more than just a blade¡ªit was a weapon that transcended the very concept of a sword. It was so powerful that when he returned it to the Sanctum after slaying the Demon King, he had spent several sleepless nights debating whether he should just take it and leave. "Lord Kaylen, who bears the exact likeness of Hero Ernstine... And Lord Stein, a Swordmaster appearing after centuries... I believe this explains why the two of you have manifested in the same era." "And what is this?" "A fragment of the Holy Sword Astella." At the mention of the Holy Sword¡¯s fragment, the knights¡¯ eyes gleamed with curiosity. "The Holy Sword Astella..." "The legendary blade that has slain countless Demon Kings!" "There were rumors that it was kept in the Sanctuary... So it was true!" With a flushed face, Saintess Theresia stared intently at Kaylen and spoke. "Lord Kaylen. And Lord Stein. Would you both be willing to challenge the selection of the Holy Sword?" At her words, the knights could no longer contain their excitement. "The selection of the Holy Sword?!" "Do you mean the trial of drawing the Holy Sword Astella from the plaza of the Sanctum?" Guntrian, the most eager among them, asked excitedly. The Saintess, returning to her usual benevolent smile, nodded. "Yes. When a Demon King descends, the Holy Sword chooses the Hero of the era. A thousand years ago, that Hero was Lord Ernstine." Hearing this, Kaylen couldn¡¯t suppress the primal urge to take on the challenge. The Holy Sword Astella¡ª The regret he had felt when he returned it to the Sanctum¡¯s plaza after slaying the Demon King... "Astella had practically begged me not to leave it behind." ¡ªMaster. Are you really going to put me back there? ¡ªMaster. I wish to stay by your side forever. I don¡¯t want to fall into someone else¡¯s hands. ¡ªMaster... If you change your mind even now, I will grant you the honorifics you always wanted. ¡ªMaster... Master! Please, don¡¯t abandon me! The closer he had gotten to the Sanctum¡¯s plaza, the more desperate and polite Astella¡¯s tone had become. Kaylen wanted to accept immediately as he recalled those past memories. However, as the Meister "Kaylen," he responded with caution. "Saintess, but I am a mage. I don¡¯t think I have any connection to the Holy Sword." "That¡¯s not true. There must be a divine reason why you bear an identical appearance to Lord Ernstine. Even if you don¡¯t know swordsmanship now, once chosen by the Holy Sword, you will awaken as a Hero and rapidly grow stronger." Without sparing Swordmaster Stein even a glance, Saintess Theresia focused solely on Kaylen. "Is that so...?" "Yes. There is undoubtedly a great will of the Celestial God at work." As if convinced that his resemblance to Ernstine was a sign of divine will, She gazed at Kaylen with hazy, unfocused eyes. "She must have missed me that much... To the point of obsession now." Still, in this situation, that obsession was actually useful. It gave Meister Kaylen a legitimate excuse to take part in the Holy Sword¡¯s selection trial. "Once matters in the kingdom are settled, I need to reclaim Astella." Just as Kaylen thought that¡ª The Holy Knights behind Theresia hurriedly approached her. "Saintess, isn¡¯t it too soon to bring up the selection of the Holy Sword...?" "What do you mean? If not them, then who else could take on this trial?" One of the knights stepped closer to Theresia, cautiously glancing around before whispering in her ear. He spoke in such a hushed voice that no one else should have been able to hear¡ª But Kaylen heard every word. "But... wasn''t Caius and the Meier bloodline... personally excommunicated by His Holiness?" [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 108 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 108 When Kaylen first entered this body, He had come across a particular passage in a history book. ¡ªEmperor Caius succumbed to dark magic and sided with the demons. The Sanctum¡¯s official declaration that Crown Prince Caius had fallen to dark magic and aligned with the demons¡ª That announcement was the final blow that led to the downfall of the Meier Empire. Even the most loyal vassals who had once supported the empire turned their backs, and the imperial forces of Meier collapsed rapidly. "But that was a thousand years ago. And it¡¯s still affecting things now?" Kaylen kept his expression neutral as he waited for the Holy Knight to continue. "Regardless of the circumstances, allowing the descendant of an excommunicated bloodline to take the Holy Sword¡¯s trial is strictly forbidden. Especially... for Meier." The way the knight singled out Meier gave Kaylen an unsettling feeling. Why were they still so wary of a family that had fallen a thousand years ago? "Something feels off." As Kaylen pondered this, The hazy look in Theresia¡¯s eyes sharpened. Regaining her composure, she nodded slightly, her face now calm and collected. "I apologize. I let my emotions get the better of me. Lord Kaylen. Lord Stein." She offered her apology to both of them. "The selection of the Holy Sword will need to be discussed again at the Sanctum after the fortress defense is complete." "Understood." "I will personally ensure that this matter is pursued. Please wait just a little longer." Even after saying this, the Saintess could not take her eyes off Kaylen. "May I meet with the commander of this fortress?" She directed her question to the others, But as she spoke, her gaze subtly drifted back to Kaylen. "Yes, Saintess! I am Guntrian, the Supreme Commander of Viltre Fortress!" "Ah, Commander Guntrian. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you." Even as she exchanged greetings, she continued stealing glances at Kaylen. If she truly had business with the commander, she should have gone to him directly. Yet, she remained standing in front of Kaylen, forcing Guntrian to rush over instead. "The reason I came to Viltre Fortress today was not to meet with Lord Ernstine¡ªno, Lord Kaylen¡ªbut rather... Ah, well... To stop the Demon Realm¡¯s main army." Guntrian, startled by her rambling, urgently questioned her. "The Demon Realm¡¯s... main army?" "That¡¯s right. Up until now, the Meisters¡¯ magic has been effective, hasn¡¯t it?" "Yes. Thanks to their firepower, we¡¯ve been able to hold off the monster waves." "But... those were merely scouting forces. The true main army of the Demon Realm is entirely inscribed with Anti-Magic Seals." "Anti-Magic Seals...? What are those?" Theresia glanced around before pointing at the drake. "Look at that drake." The creature, currently reduced to the size of a horse, Was happily eating the meat given to it by the fortress soldiers. Sensing the attention on itself, the drake lifted its head curiously. "You see the magic sigils covering its entire body?" "...Yes." "That is an Anti-Magic Seal¡ªa spell that completely neutralizes all lower-circle magic. It is the natural enemy of Meisters." A spell that could completely nullify lower-circle magic... Even though it was the Saintess speaking, The people found it hard to believe. Guntrian''s expression immediately turned grim. He had witnessed it himself¡ªwhen the drake first arrived at the fortress, the spells cast upon it had simply vanished as if erased. "I saw it too. When our Meisters used magic on Sir Stein¡¯s drake, all their spells were nullified. If magic doesn¡¯t work, we have no other means... Does the Holy Order have a solution?" "Haah... You¡¯re right. I already apologized earlier, and yet I¡¯ve embarrassed myself again." She chuckled to herself before murmuring, "If he were still alive, the Meier Empire would never have fallen..." Turning away from Kaylen, she faced the Holy Knights. "Commander Guntrian, we will begin preparing for the Mana Eaters¡¯ defense. Could you guide our Holy Order to our lodgings?" "Of course, Saintess. I will personally escort you." With that, the hundreds-strong Holy Order departed with Guntrian leading the way. Even as she walked, Theresia glanced back multiple times¡ªbefore finally following the procession. "The Mana Eaters..." "The real problems are only beginning." Reinforcements had arrived, and the monster army had retreated, allowing for a modest banquet to be prepared. Yet, the mood had long since soured. "Monsters that can nullify Meister magic..." "Even if aura still works, just how much can the knights really do?" "Sir Stein is likely the only one among us truly capable of fighting the Mana Eaters." Second Prince Bellos spoke to Stein in a worried tone. "Sir Stein, after hearing the Saintess¡¯s words, it seems the Mana Eaters are no ordinary foes." But Stein¡¯s gaze wasn¡¯t on Bellos. His eyes were locked onto the wine bottle in the prince¡¯s hands. "That is..." "Ah, my apologies, Sir Stein. I wasn¡¯t expecting things to turn out this way, so I had planned for a simple banquet tonight. I wanted to personally pour a drink for you, as you have endured the most hardship." Stein, however, remained silent, staring fixedly at the bottle. His gaze was so intense that Bellos quickly pulled the bottle back. "I suppose... alcohol isn¡¯t appropriate for this situation." "No, that¡¯s not..." Stein wanted to say it was fine¡ªto accept the drink. The words almost escaped from Eldir''s lips instinctively, but he barely managed to hold them back. "Ah... If it''s wine from the prince, it must be exceptional... I¡¯ve been fighting for days without sleep. A single drink wouldn¡¯t hurt, would it?" Because of his oath to Kaylen, he could not drink. Yet, his throat felt parched, and his eyes remained glued to the wine bottle. He desperately wanted a drink. Staring at the bottle with a terrifying intensity, Stein made Prince Bellos uneasy. "As expected of a Swordmaster¡ªhe is incredibly disciplined. I need to bring him over to my side, yet I¡¯ve only made things worse." Just as an odd silence settled over them¡ª A voice echoed in Stein¡¯s mind. [Eldir. You¡¯ve worked hard, so I grant you this freedom. Accept the drink.] "Lord Kaylen...!" [Just don¡¯t make a mistake.] The moment Kaylen¡¯s voice reached him, Stein¡¯s lips curled uncontrollably. He had been granted permission. "Since His Highness personally brought it, how could I refuse? I will gratefully accept." "Oh! Wonderful. I shall pour it myself." "You could simply hand me the bottle¡ª" "Pardon?" "Ah, never mind. Please pour." As Stein and Bellos shared their drink, Kaylen, watching from the side, suddenly felt a light tap on his shoulder. "Lord Kaylen, may I have a word?" Princess Violet approached with a bright smile. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 109 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 109 "I''m truly surprised, Lord Kaylen. To think that your face resembles that of Emperor Ernstine." "I didn''t know either until the Saintess mentioned it." Kaylen and Princess Violet sat across from each other in a small meeting room within the fortress. As Jane, who had accompanied Princess Violet, placed teacups before them, she stole glances at Kaylen. ¡®So this is what the Emperor looked like...¡¯ In the heroic tales of Ernstine, there were countless stories of women falling for the Emperor at first sight, some even willing to become his concubines. Jane had always scoffed at those passages. ¡®How could every beauty in the stories fall for him? That doesn¡¯t even make sense.¡¯ But now, looking at Kaylen¡¯s face, she realized that perhaps those tales weren¡¯t so far-fetched after all. Emperor Ernstine didn¡¯t just possess a transcendent appearance¡ªhe was the ruler who had unified the continent, the hero who had vanquished the Demon King, and a Grand Sword Master. With such excellence in every regard, it was only natural that people coveted him. ¡®Even the Saintess herself lost her composure over it...¡¯ "Jane?" "Ah... Yes?" "Stop staring at Lord Kaylen¡¯s face. You¡¯re making me embarrassed." "Ahhh! I¡ªI¡¯m so sorry!" Her face flushing bright red, the maid quickly bowed several times before scurrying out of the room. Seeing this, Violet let out a small chuckle and took a sip of her tea. "My attendant was rather impolite." "It¡¯s fine. I¡¯m starting to get used to it." "You adapt quickly, Lord Kaylen. Hehe... Well, it¡¯s only natural. Ever since you displayed the talent of a 6th Circle mage, you''ve always been someone who draws attention." Sip. After taking a sip of tea, Violet got to the main topic. "Do you remember what I told you last time about the 5th Circle?" "Yes, I remember." ¡ª If Lord Kaylen helps me, reaching the 5th Circle is more than possible. ¡ª You just need to train in magic alongside me. But you¡¯ll have to assist me with some experiments as well. ¡ª It¡¯s simple. If the experiment fails, Lord Kaylen will just gain some experience, but... I will freeze over even more drastically. Before, when she played a key military role for the First Prince¡¯s faction, the risks involved prevented her from attempting such experiments. However, now that the First Prince had vanished after becoming Black Skull, the Princess was willing to take the risk. ¡®What kind of experiment is this exactly?¡¯ Kaylen, who was already capable of using 5th Circle magic, couldn¡¯t help but be intrigued by her proposal. "You expressed your willingness to participate before. Is that still the case?" "Yes. If it means reaching the 5th Circle, I¡¯m willing to try any experiment."@@@@ "Good. You¡¯re really certain?" "Yes. I can do it right now if needed." "Alright then. Let¡¯s begin today. But first, don¡¯t move." Clink. Setting down her teacup, Violet rose from her seat and reached out toward Kaylen. Her right hand gently touched the right side of his face. "Glacia. Form Banyan (Half-Mask)." Srrrr... A mask, similar to Violet¡¯s, began forming over the right side of Kaylen¡¯s face. If Violet¡¯s mask covered her left side¡ª Kaylen¡¯s covered his right. "This is..." "Lord Kaylen, I apologize for covering your handsome face. But for now, this is how it must be. Ice Mirror." Violet smiled softly and showed him the Ice Mirror. Kaylen¡¯s right face was completely covered by a mask identical to Violet¡¯s Glacia. The only difference was that it lacked the five mana stones embedded in Glacia. Aside from that, it was an exact replica¡ªan ice mask. Tap. Tap. Kaylen tapped the mask on his face with his fingers. ¡®Why... Why is he looking at me like that...?¡¯ Of course, his appearance played a role, but more than that¡ª Kaylen¡¯s serious expression, his eyes filled with concern for her, struck Violet deeply. She had thought there was no one left who would worry about her. So why was Kaylen, someone who was practically a stranger, looking at her this way? And why did that gaze make her heart race so much? "Princess Violet. Are you truly alright with this?" "W-What do you mean?" "The mana in the mask... Doesn¡¯t it feel strange?" Perhaps it was because of this unfamiliar fluttering in her chest, but Violet couldn¡¯t give a composed answer to his question. "I-It¡¯s not strange." "...Haa." Kaylen sighed as he looked at Violet, her cheeks now slightly flushed. She wasn¡¯t ready yet. ¡®If she doesn¡¯t notice it herself, I¡¯ll have to make her realize.¡¯ Kaylen withdrew his hand from Violet¡¯s mask. The warmth of his touch disappeared, replaced once more by the icy chill encasing the left side of her face. For a moment, Violet frowned. ¡®Yes... This is how it¡¯s supposed to be.¡¯ Warmth was not a feeling permitted to the master of Glacia, Violet. That¡¯s what she told herself, as she let out a faint, frozen smile. "Lord Kaylen. So what will you do now?" "...Of course. I will use 5th Circle magic." "You¡¯ve made the right decision." Violet¡¯s smile deepened as she spoke. "Then, please conduct the magic experiment with me." Suppressing her emotions even further, she gave Kaylen a cold, composed smile. Saintess Theresia was in a foul mood. "Who is that woman?" "Ah... The Princess of Bormian Kingdom. Princess Violet, the master of Glacia." "I see. Princess Violet... But why is she with Ernstine¡ªno, Lord Kaylen?" "T-That, I do not know." "Hahaha. And that mask... Why are they wearing them on opposite sides? Why? It looks terrible. It¡¯s covering half of our dear Lord Kaylen¡¯s face." Theresia¡¯s voice was curt and sharp. Yet even as she spoke, she couldn¡¯t understand her own feelings. Kaylen. Compared to the great Ernstine, he was nothing more than a man who happened to resemble him. ¡®Yes, that¡¯s all he is. Just a lookalike.¡¯ He was not a Grand Sword Master like Ernstine. He was not the emperor who had first unified the continent. He had never shed tears for the people of the Averia Continent. And he had never lost an arm to save Theresia. ¡®Yes. Compared to Lord Ernstine, that man is nothing...¡¯ He was a mere shadow of a hero¡ªresembling Ernstine in appearance alone. And yet¡ª Theresia couldn¡¯t suppress her irritation. Seeing that princess chatting so easily with Kaylen¡ª It was unbearable. "Holy Knight Ress." "Yes, Saintess!" "So, is that all you have for me? You don¡¯t know anything?" "I-I¡¯ll begin an investigation immediately!" "Today. I expect a report before the day is over." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 110 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 110 "Glacial Orb." The 5th Circle water spell, Glacial Orb, was cast. A massive sphere of ice formed and then expanded, freezing everything in its vicinity¡ªa powerful ice spell. Kaylen and Princess Violet stood close together as they cast the spell in unison. ¡®Ah... I can feel it. The 5th Circle... It¡¯s turning.¡¯ With a look of joy, Princess Violet watched as Glacial Orb took shape. Although both of them were only at the 4th Circle, by combining their powers, they were able to create a 5th Circle spell. It was a feat that ordinary mages couldn¡¯t even attempt¡ª But Violet was using this unconventional method by relying on Glacia, an S-rank mana suit. ¡®I need to engrave this feeling into my memory.¡¯ Alone, it would have been impossible, but together, they could manifest 5th Circle magic. As she watched Glacial Orb form, a smile spread across her face. This experiment was yielding successful results. "It worked, Princess Violet." "Yes. Thanks to you, Lord Kaylen." Meanwhile, Kaylen let out a quiet, bitter smile. Of course, the 5th Circle magic worked¡ªbecause of him. ¡®Splitting Glacia¡¯s mask into two and using it to attempt a 5th Circle spell... It sounds plausible enough, but there¡¯s a major flaw.¡¯ Magic wasn¡¯t something as simple as adding 4.4 and 4.6 together to get the 5th Circle. Even a child would know that combining 4.4 and 4.6 would result in 4.5¡ªnot 5. And yet, Princess Violet wasn¡¯t seeing this obvious conclusion. ¡®Though, I suppose it¡¯s because of the synergy effect at play.¡¯ Rather than simply averaging out to 4.5, their intertwined mana circles were producing an enhanced effect, pushing them closer to 4.7 or 4.8. ¡®But that still isn¡¯t enough to cast 5th Circle magic.¡¯ No matter how much synergy there was, a 4th Circle mage couldn¡¯t suddenly become a 5th Circle one. The only reason they were able to use 5th Circle magic was because Kaylen himself was capable of it. If Kaylen hadn¡¯t engraved three mana circles into his Mana Body, their experiment would have undoubtedly ended in failure. ¡®This experiment was flawed from the start.¡¯ Even with his still-developing understanding of magic, Kaylen could see that. And yet, the princess¡ª ¡®She¡¯s so blinded by the success of the 5th Circle magic that she doesn¡¯t notice the flaws.¡¯ Reaching the 5th Circle was something only a Tower Master-level mage could typically achieve. For someone to reach the 5th Circle in their early twenties was an extraordinary feat, even in the days of Ernstine¡ªsomething only a once-in-a-generation genius could accomplish. ¡®For someone who once played a key military role in the First Prince¡¯s faction to accept all of this so blindly... I don¡¯t understand.¡¯ Right now, Violet was clearly not her usual self. Her usual composure was gone¡ªshe was completely enthralled by the mere possibility of reaching the 5th Circle. "If we keep succeeding like this, we¡¯ll become the youngest 5th Circle Masters in history!" On the fifth day of the experiment¡ª With the Demon Legion Commander¡¯s elite forces possibly on the verge of invading, Violet continued to smile at Kaylen. After all, the 5th Circle magic of her dreams was now succeeding one after another. Ever since the revelation that First Prince Diethart had become Black Skull, she had been consumed by despair¡ª But now, this experiment was bringing her a sense of relief. "If this works out well... I might finally be able to live." Her face was visibly brighter than before. If she could reach the 5th Circle, she would be free from Glacia¡¯s curse, which had been slowly freezing her body¡ª Of course, she would be happy. ¡®...Should I give her a little more help?¡¯ Although she hadn¡¯t reached the 5th Circle, it was clear that Violet¡¯s abilities were improving. On top of that, Kaylen was also gaining something by observing Violet cast magic up close. He decided to continue the experiments with Violet until the enemy¡¯s main force arrived. However, there was one thing he needed to address. "Princess Violet, how does the mask feel now?" Was he asking that again? Violet tilted her head. "Princess Violet and Lord Kaylen were sharing the S-rank mana suit Glacia¡¯s mask." "Ha. Ress, who doesn¡¯t know that? I told you to investigate when I saw them both laughing with the masks on. I wanted to know what that was about." "Yes. Right. I secretly followed them, and I overheard something..." "Go on." "Because of this method, they said they were able to use 5th Circle magic." "...Because of sharing the mask?" At the mention of 5th Circle magic, Theresia¡¯s expression softened for a moment, but soon her thoughts deepened. "Sharing a mask and using 5th Circle magic..." "I also thought it was nonsense at first, but I actually saw them use 5th Circle magic, Glacial Orb, with my own eyes." "Really... They succeeded?" Tap. Tap. Theresia, still with her arms crossed, tapped her fingers against her armor, clearly deep in thought. Then, as if remembering something, she exclaimed. "Ah! That¡¯s it..." "Ress. You don¡¯t need to investigate anymore." "R-Really?" "Yes. In fact, this is something to be celebrated. Where are they now?" "I¡¯ll guide you." "Good. Let¡¯s go." For the first time that day, Theresia smiled as she followed Ress. At the far end of the fortress, where the walls met the canyon, Kaylen and Violet were conducting their magical experiment. At the far end of the fortress, where only a handful of people remained, Theresia arrived with Knight Ress. "Hello, Princess Violet. And Lord Kaylen." "Yes, Saintess. Have you come to prepare for the defense on this side of the wall?" "No, I have come today because I have business with you." "With us?" Violet looked at Kaylen. Although she had said "you," Violet naturally thought the matter would concern Kaylen. "To be precise, it¡¯s a matter for the princess." "Is it for me?" "Yes. I happened to overhear some rumors about you. About how you¡¯re using 5th Circle magic." Kaylen briefly glanced at Ress, who was standing next to Theresia. After following them for five days, they had finally figured it out and reported it. ¡®I hadn¡¯t seen the princess trying to hide it, so I didn¡¯t stop it.¡¯ During the magical experiments, they had already fired 5th Circle magic outside the fortress. No matter how hard they tried to hide it, it was inevitable. "Princess Violet, I¡¯m here to help you today." "Help me?" "Yes." Theresia looked directly at Violet and lightly tapped her left cheek. "All S-rank mana suits have hidden powers. Not just Glacia, but other S-rank mana suits as well." "Hidden powers...?" "All S-rank mana suits that represent the four main elements contain light energy. Glacia¡¯s attributes are actually a combination of light and water, made of both. Since you are the owner of Glacia, you must have felt this to some extent." "...I see." Violet nodded as she glanced at Kaylen. During the five days of experiments, he had kept saying that the mana properties of the two masks were different. ¡®I¡¯m still not sure... but with the Saintess saying this, it seems like Kaylen¡¯s words are true.¡¯ "Today, if you¡¯re alright with it, Princess, I would like to bestow a blessing that awakens the light energy hidden within Glacia." "Is that... possible?" "Yes. In truth, this blessing is useless unless the owner of Glacia is ready, which is why I haven¡¯t mentioned it until now... but now that the two of you have combined your powers and reached the stage where you can use 5th Circle magic, I believe my blessing will be effective." In order for the blessing to work, the owner of Glacia had to be at a certain level. Up until now, Violet had only been a 4th Circle Meister, so it hadn¡¯t been possible. But now, according to the Saintess, it was. ¡®This is a good offer.¡¯ An offer to awaken hidden power. Violet smiled and bowed to the Saintess. "If that¡¯s the case, I¡¯d be honored to accept it." "It¡¯s for everyone¡¯s benefit. The enemy¡¯s main force is about to arrive, and once Glacia awakens, it will be a great help to us." A faint white light began to emanate from Theresia¡¯s body. "Now, I will begin to awaken the light within Glacia." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 111 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 111 "The mask¡¯s color has turned pure white." Violet, who had received Theresia¡¯s blessing, curiously touched her mask. Originally, it had been a blue ice mask, but now it had a soft white glow. "This is light mana..." The amount of light mana emanating from the mask was considerable. ¡®So, Glacia had this much power hidden within it... Even just using water mana is impressive. I wonder how much stronger Glacia will become now.¡¯ Since arriving at Melzrek Fortress, Violet had felt like everything was falling into place. "Yes. From now on, if you use magic while wearing the mana suit, the power of light will be infused into it as well." "Even if I use water magic?" "Yes. Even if it''s a mana eater with anti-magic runes, your magic will still be effective." Anti-magic runes that disrupt lower circle magic. But they couldn''t block light mana, which was a contrasting element. "So, Princess, I¡¯m counting on you for the upcoming defense." "I understand. Thank you so much for coming all the way here and bestowing your blessing on me." "No. It¡¯s my duty." Theresia smiled brightly and then looked toward Kaylen. "The life blessing I gave you last time, Lord Kaylen... it seems its effect has worn off." "Yes. It seems the blessing disappeared after my body was reorganized during the experiment." "I¡¯d like to reapply the blessing, but today I¡¯ve used up most of my divine power awakening Glacia. Would it be alright to give you the blessing of life at a later opportunity?" The blessing of life. While it had excellent recovery abilities, it also carried a hidden effect that made those who received it worship the Saintess. The effect had dissipated when the fourth sword, the Flame Sword, was created, and Theresia seemed to have noticed that. Since Kaylen had taken on Ernstine¡¯s form, Saintess Theresia had shown a peculiar obsession with him. So, receiving a blessing from her this time might strengthen that obsession. ¡®I can manage it.¡¯ Kaylen agreed right away. "Yes. I¡¯d be grateful. Please give me the blessing next time when you can." "Of course. I will make sure to give you a very powerful blessing." From the Saintess¡¯s smile, Kaylen could feel intense obsession. This time, the blessing might take the obsession further. "Well, I¡¯ll be on my way now. The enemy¡¯s main force is probably about to arrive soon... Please, don¡¯t push yourselves too hard." "Yes, Saintess." Saintess Theresia, along with Knight Ress, turned to leave. As she walked away, she glanced back at Kaylen several times, then repeated the gesture. Violet, noticing the gaze, smiled and said, "It seems like the Saintess is very concerned about you, Lord Kaylen." "Perhaps it¡¯s because of this appearance." "You mean, the appearance of Emperor Ernstine?" "...Yes." "We also have records about the Emperor in our royal family. The founding king was famous for being a handsome young man, but he was said to have been no match for Emperor Ernstine." Kaylen silently watched Violet as she spoke those words. She spoke of the resemblance to Bormian with such familiarity. "Anyway, Lord Kaylen, since Glacia has awakened its light, would you join us in the experiment tonight? We need to strengthen the magic as quickly as possible before the enemy¡¯s main force arrives." Although the Saintess had warned not to overexert themselves, Princess Violet, on the other hand, was brimming with enthusiasm. Since Glacia had awakened and turned white, she was eager to test its new power. "Alright. I¡¯ll stay with you until you¡¯re satisfied, Princess." "Hehe. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be satisfied with just today... Shall we make a bet on who falls asleep first?" "Let¡¯s do it. What will the conditions be?" The most fundamental moves, but once a knight learned Aura, they often neglected these basics of the sword. Thrusting, cutting. Alkas was showing the extremes of these two simple actions. ¡®To think such simple movements can¡¯t be blocked?¡¯ From a third-party¡¯s perspective, the movements were so simple that it seemed possible to defeat them. So, the knights challenged Alkas one by one. But none of them lasted more than ten moves. "Ho. That knight, the one who used to guard Kaylen... Was he this strong?" After hearing the story of Kaylen¡¯s Aura Experiment, Lioness became interested in the sword. He, along with his older brother Guntrian, watched the duel with keen eyes. "Lion, do you know that knight?" "I don¡¯t know him in detail. He was just the knight who always followed Kaylen around at the academy. I never imagined he had such exceptional skills." "...Really? I do remember him." "You do?" "Yes. He once submitted a resume. He wanted to join our El Salvador Knights." "I see. He seems very skilled, so why didn¡¯t you accept him?" "Though he graduated at the top of the Knight Academy, unfortunately, he didn¡¯t have the aptitude for becoming a Meister. Still, I felt regret, so I offered him a position as a shield knight, but after hearing the salary, he never came back." Guntrian looked at Alkas with a regretful expression. "Well... I didn¡¯t know he had such talent, but seeing him now, I¡¯ve changed my mind." "What do you mean?" "Until now, only Knight Meisters could wear knight-class mana suits, but... once Myorn Workshop starts full-scale distribution, cases like Alkas will become highly sought after." "Although he doesn¡¯t have exceptional talent in a single attribute like a Meister, his Aura level is outstanding. For a mage, he¡¯d be about at the 4th Circle." "Right. The performance of the Myorn Workshop¡¯s mana suits is quite impressive. Now, highly skilled sword experts will get recognition. Once this war ends, I¡¯ll need to recruit those types of knights quickly." Although he looked like a muscular knight on the outside... Guntrian had a unique sense when it came to predicting the future. Lioness quietly nodded at his words. ¡®But knights have their limits. I think my brother is overestimating them because he¡¯s a knight.¡¯ No matter how strong an ordinary sword expert is, if they can¡¯t break a Dungeon Core, the superiority of a magic Meister will continue. ¡®After all, the core of the Civil Squad is our Meisters.¡¯ You can¡¯t forget the basics. Lioness thought this to himself as he continued watching Alkas¡¯s swordplay. ¡®But, wouldn¡¯t I be able to respond like this to that sword style?¡¯ In his mind, his sword and Alkas¡¯s sword automatically came to mind. His own sword, engulfed in flames, and Alkas¡¯s steady Aura. The Flame Sword, which creates bizarre changes, and the sword that pushes forward steadily collided fiercely. ¡®...Ha. Am I crazy? I haven¡¯t even swung my sword yet, what kind of imagination am I having?¡¯ Lioness found it absurd himself, ¡®But still, it looks fun.¡¯ Just imagining it seemed more enjoyable than he expected. Meanwhile, Kaylen was staring at Violet with a stern expression. "Hehe..." As the sun rose anew, intense light mana erupted from Violet¡¯s body. The white light of Glacia grew stronger. Flash. Light began pouring from Violet¡¯s pupils in both eyes. "It¡¯s been a long time." "You..." Then, the surging light mana gathered behind Violet, forming a pair of pure white wings. Kaylen could guess what it was. "An angel sealed within Glacia." "Correct. I am a descendant of the Sword King." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 112 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 112 One hour ago. "...Are you not tired?" "I''m full of energy." Until just before the sun rose, Violet had been blinking repeatedly, trying to stay awake and maintain her focus despite the drowsiness. "Normally, I could stay awake for days without an issue... but after using 5th Circle magic, I¡¯m getting tired quickly." "Just take a short nap and then resume your magic training." "I can¡¯t. What about the bet?" "The bet is obviously my victory." "Ugh... I can still go on..." "Please, I¡¯ll make sure to think of something reasonable. Don¡¯t overdo it." Kaylen said this as he pointed at Violet¡¯s hands. Light mana was flickering in her hands. "I¡¯ve noticed the light hasn¡¯t faded from your hands since earlier. It seems the mana from Glacia isn''t being properly contained." "...Then I¡¯ll sleep." Sitting on a makeshift chair on the wall, Princess Violet lowered her head deeply. Kaylen looked at her and removed the mask from his face. The second mask, made of condensed water mana. Unlike Violet¡¯s mask, Kaylen¡¯s was easily detachable. ¡®It will disappear soon.¡¯ Once the mask was removed from his face, it would quickly turn into droplets and vanish. Thinking it would happen this time too, Kaylen dropped the mask onto the ground. Thud. Thud... However, the second ice mask did not disappear and remained on the floor. Had Violet fallen asleep or something? Kaylen briefly stared at the mask that didn¡¯t vanish, but soon lost interest and looked outside the fortress. ¡®The sun will rise soon.¡¯ The time when light mana would begin to spread most actively. Flash. As expected, Glacia, now awakened with the light, began to shine brightly in sync with the rising sun. At first, Kaylen wondered if it was the time of day that was affecting it, but... ¡®...The light mana is too strong.¡¯ The light mana coming from Violet was unusual. The light mana rising at dawn was gathering entirely around Violet. Flash. Then, Violet rose from the chair. Behind her, white wings had formed, and her eyes gleamed with light. "It¡¯s been a long time." "You..." Kaylen could guess what it was. "An angel sealed within Glacia?" "Correct. I am a descendant of the Sword King." As Glacia¡¯s light grew and completely covered her face, the angel was surrounded in light from head to toe. "Thanks to the Saintess gathering the light, I awakened sooner than expected." ¡®Did Theresia foresee this?¡¯ No wonder she had kept the blessing active for so long. Was it with the intention of awakening the angel? Kaylen stared at the angel in front of him. Although her face was completely concealed by the mask, for some reason, she seemed to be smiling. "I am Ariel, the celestial angel of the Sixth Order. A descendant of the Sword King. Now, I will assist you."@@@@ "Assist me?" "I will make you a king." As the angel extended her hand, light poured from the sky onto Kaylen. "Since the Heavenly Realm lost the Middle Realm to the Demon Realm, humanity has been nothing more than the demons'' livestock. They just don¡¯t realize they¡¯re being bred." "..." "But if you lead them, the outcome could be different. You are the successor to the Six Swords Way. You have inherited the sword of the Sword God who struck fear into the Heavenly Realm and slew the Demon King. You are more than qualified." The angel was unexpectedly very favorable toward Kaylen. "I have been watching your actions within Glacia." "So, you could see from within?" "Yes. During the hundreds of years of my seal, watching was my only joy." "..." "I will borrow her body for a short while and return it afterward. Once we stop the demon army that¡¯s invading and you become king." "I see..." Upon hearing this, Kaylen smiled. For an angel to think about a single human like this... It was truly something moving. "This is what you want?" Swish... Behind Kaylen, a sword of pure white light floated in the air. At a glance, it was a completed Flame Sword, a weapon with tremendous power condensed within. The angel quickly nodded when she saw it. "Yes. Use that to restore my wings!" "Alright. But swear it to me first." "Are you referring to what you said earlier? Fine. I swear to the Celestial God, I will make you a king and return my body to Violet." The angel began to speak as if she had prepared the words in advance. Upon hearing this, Kaylen shook his head. "No. Not just a simple ''swear to the Celestial God.''" "...Then?" "You should say, ''I, Ariel, the celestial angel, swear before Elishion, the Celestial God, offering my divine spirit...''" "You..." Fwoosh. The angel Ariel seemed excited, and light flashed everywhere. "How dare you, a mere human! You don¡¯t believe in my oath?" "Yes. A mere human. You angels and demons always say that. Looking down on humans is the same, whether you''re angels or demons." "You..." "But still, you say you¡¯ll return Violet¡¯s body for her? An angel doing such a thing? You really expect me to believe that? No way. Also..." Kaylen¡¯s Flame Sword disappeared from his hand. "The fact that you¡¯re asking me to restore five wings... It¡¯s to escape, isn¡¯t it? To travel across worlds. To return to the Heavenly Realm." "...!" Ariel¡¯s body trembled. How... How does he know this? A human should never have been able to know that only with five wings can one transcend worlds and return to the Heavenly Realm...! "But what you told me is quite interesting. If you become king, and you, as an angel, provide justification for me, it would be easy to take the throne." "Yes... Yes. So, let¡¯s cooperate!" "Then swear, as I mentioned earlier." Before the great name of the Celestial God, swear upon your divine spirit. That oath would hold powerful binding force over the angels. What Ariel had said earlier about easily swearing to the Celestial God was on a completely different level. Breaking an oath sworn upon the divine spirit would cause an angel¡¯s rank to fall immensely. Right now, Ariel could fall from the Sixth Order all the way to the Ninth. "Ugh..." "Can''t do it?" Swish. From Kaylen¡¯s right hand, where the Flame Sword had disappeared, a different type of sword began to form. A sword of darkness that rejected the entire space filled with light. "What... What are you doing?! Where did that cursed sword come from?!" "Ah, just go back into Glacia." Swish. Just by Kaylen drawing the sword, the light around Ariel rapidly began to fade. Ariel was stunned. ¡®This... I knew he had become stronger, but not to this extent...!¡¯ The power now was incomparable to when they clashed during the final battle. At this rate, all the light mana she had gathered would disappear, and she would miss her chance to leave Glacia. "Alright. Fine. I¡¯ll swear, just remove that sword..." Before Ariel could finish speaking, Fwoosh¡ª The light vanished from one side of Glacia¡¯s mask. Violet¡¯s face was revealed. "Lord Kaylen..." Her face twisted in various expressions, and as her mouth moved, Violet looked directly at Kaylen and pleaded. "Let¡¯s overthrow the Bormian royal family and make Dahan the king. I will personally cooperate. So please, give me... a chance." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 113 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 113 Violet declared that she would overthrow the Bormian royal family and make Kaylen king. To do so, she would have to betray the royal family and dethrone her father. To anyone else, it might have seemed like words spoken in a moment of desperation. But¡ª ¡®She¡¯s furious.¡¯ And the target of that fury was not the angel who had taken over her body. ¡°......I remember everything now. How my mother died.¡± It was directed at her own royal family. ¡°The memory of my mother¡¯s death was never clear. Subconsciously, I must not have wanted to remember. I only ever thought that the House of Oblaine had orchestrated a scheme.¡± ¡°Was that not the case?¡± The conflict had begun when Queen Diana was executed for a grave crime. The nature of the crime was never disclosed and remained largely unknown to the public. The faction supporting the first prince believed that the queen had been framed and killed by the House of Oblaine. Violet, who had been deeply attached to her mother, believed it even more firmly. ¡°......It was by my father¡¯s hand, under the orders of Black Skull, that my mother was killed. And like a fool, that memory remained sealed until now.¡± Black Skull Cesar was involved in this? Kaylen was perplexed. Why would he go out of his way to kill the queen? ¡°My mother had an unusual constitution... one that made her a perfect offering for the Demon Realm. That was the only reason. That was why my father abandoned her.¡± Blood vessels stood out in Violet¡¯s eyes as tears welled up. ¡°I saw it all. The way my mother healed herself even after enduring brutal torture. The way the mages laughed in fascination as they watched her.¡± The queen possessed a body that regenerated from any wound. Because they intended to offer her as a sacrifice, they could not simply sever her limbs. So instead, they inflicted grievous wounds upon her. But she simply refused to die. ¡°When my mother still wouldn¡¯t submit, they took me instead and used me to threaten her. Told her that if she cared about her daughter¡¯s life, she should just die. Hah.¡± Only after taking her young daughter hostage did Black Skull Cesar finally obtain the queen¡¯s corpse. ¡®A woman who could heal from fatal wounds...¡¯ To most, it was a story beyond belief. But Kaylen had heard of such cases in his past life. ¡®I can¡¯t remember the details, but I definitely heard about something like this before.¡¯ He kept the information about the queen in mind as he listened to Violet¡¯s story. ¡°After that, Black Skull sealed my memories, so I couldn¡¯t recall any of it... but thanks to the angel¡¯s awakening, I now remember.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Even when the Saintess had examined the entire Bormian royal family, nothing unusual had been found. It seemed that even a Saintess couldn¡¯t detect memory tampering that had occurred so long ago. ¡°Kaylen. Please, give me a chance for revenge. I will do anything. I will support you as king, and I will help bring down the Bormian royal family.¡± ¡°And... earlier, when I merged with the angel, I was able to read her thoughts. She swore on the spirit Ariel, but even so, she is planning to flee. She has already resigned herself to falling to the ninth rank.¡± Kaylen was taken aback at those words. A Celestial Angel... was willing to fall to the lowest rank?@@@@ ¡®......No. If it¡¯s an angel, that¡¯s not surprising.¡¯ A thousand years ago, Kaylen had fought alongside angels. They had always acted arrogantly during the war against the Demon King''s army. But when it came to actual battle, they were never as formidable as they made themselves out to be. When they appeared, it was always on battlefields where victory was assured, or they arrived only after the fighting was over to claim credit. But on unfavorable battlefields, they were the first to spread their wings and flee. No one was better at prioritizing their own survival than the angels. If that was the case, then, just as Violet said, Ariel was more than capable of running away. [Ugh... A mere human dares to try and read my thoughts! Heir of the Dragon God of Swords, she is a member of the corrupt Bormian royal family. How can you trust the bloodline of the royal house? If you truly wish to become king, you must eradicate every last one of them!] A voice echoed from the still-glowing Glacia on the opposite side. Violet spoke in a cold yet resolute tone. ¡°She¡¯ll exhaust herself struggling like that.¡± Kaylen paid it no mind at all. As he dismissed the summoned Sword of Light, the blade vanished and was once again engraved onto his back. ¡®For an angel to be subdued so easily...¡¯ Violet knew well the extent of an angel¡¯s power. After all, she had experienced Ariel¡¯s overwhelming strength firsthand in the mental world after her body had been taken over. If Kaylen had not drawn his Dark Sword, Violet wouldn¡¯t have even had the chance to speak a single word. It had been an utterly one-sided display of power. A glimmer of hope flickered in Violet¡¯s once-empty eyes. ¡®He¡¯s the only one.¡¯ Now that she had regained control of her body, Violet knelt before Kaylen. ¡°Thank you for sparing me. And... thank you for giving me a chance for revenge, Kaylen.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to kneel.¡± With a flick of his hand, Kaylen raised her back to her feet. This time, she bowed her head deeply. ¡°As I told you, I will do everything in my power to help you ascend to the throne, Kaylen.¡± ¡°No. The throne? You¡¯re getting ahead of yourself. I haven¡¯t made a firm decision to become king yet. The current king¡¯s misdeeds don¡¯t necessarily mean the entire Bormian royal family is corrupt.¡± ¡°They conspired with Kaiten and aided the Demon Realm¡¯s followers¡ªhow can you say this isn¡¯t a problem with the entire royal family?¡± Violet no longer referred to the king as her father. ¡°Even within the angel¡¯s lies, there was truth. In these perilous times, someone as powerful as you must take the throne and lead humanity, Kaylen.¡± ¡°Of course, overthrowing the Thousand-Year Kingdom of Bormian would require a solid justification... but as a member of the royal family, I will create that justification.¡± The memory of her mother¡¯s death had been so horrifying that it had completely reshaped Violet¡¯s resolve. Even though Kaylen himself had yet to decide whether he wanted the throne, she was already leading the charge to persuade him. ¡°I failed to make Diether Hart my king... but this time, I¡¯m certain I¡¯ll succeed.¡± ¡°For now, I still have my own faction, and you, Kaylen, are a Sword Master¡ªthe first to appear in centuries. That¡¯s more than enough to¡ª¡± She was already drafting a plan for Kaylen to ascend the throne. It was said that she had been the strategist of the First Prince¡¯s faction, and she was proving that reputation true by forming a plan in an instant. At that moment, Kaylen narrowed his eyes slightly. ¡°Calm down. The Saintess is coming.¡± ¡°Ah... I see.¡± ¡°For now, act normal.¡± ¡°Heh. Understood.¡± At dawn, Saintess Theresia was approaching with a grim expression. Unlike yesterday, she was accompanied by several Holy Knights. Upon seeing Violet, her gaze sharpened. Her eyes immediately locked onto the newly engraved white wing on Glacia. ¡°Princess Violet. It seems Glacia has changed form. Did something happen last night?¡± ¡°......Who knows?¡± ¡°Hm. I suppose it hasn¡¯t reached the awakening stage yet. What a shame. If it had awakened and that presence had emerged, it would have been a great asset...¡± ¡°That presence?¡± ¡°Well... it¡¯s actually a secret. But since the awakening is nearly complete, I suppose I can tell you now. That presence is an angel! Every S-Class mana suit has an angel sealed within it.¡± As if revealing a grand secret, Theresia lowered her voice to a whisper. ¡°If the angel had fully awakened and been summoned, it would have been a tremendous help right now. Such a pity.¡± She had no idea that the Archangel Ariel had been planning to flee the entire time. Genuinely disappointed, Theresia let out a sigh. ¡°But since Glacia has now manifested wings, it must mean the power of light has strengthened. I suppose I should be content with that for now.¡± Completely unaware that Violet had nearly lost her body due to the angel¡¯s awakening, Theresia once again lamented the failure of the process¡ªright in front of the victim. ¡°Ah... if we only had a few more days, the awakening might have happened. But of all times, the enemy just had to attack now. The timing is truly unfortunate.¡± ¡°The enemy has attacked?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± With a hardened expression, Theresia nodded. ¡°Two Demon Generals have surrounded the fortress from both the front and the rear, approaching from a great distance.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 114 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 114 Colonial Subjugation Operation. For a Demon General, the outcome of such an operation was a critical factor for promotion. However, the Demon General of Colony E-12¡ªa giant demon commonly referred to as ¡°Armor¡±¡ªhad no interest in the subjugation itself. His only concern was a particular human specialty¡ªthe Sword Master. ¡ª You wish to purchase an Aura Master? Aura Masters must be delivered to the Demon King''s Castle as soon as they are captured. That¡¯s been the rule for over 200 years now. ¡ª The Demon King''s Castle? ¡ª Yes. Human Aura Masters, in particular, fetch the highest price. Their value is whatever one is willing to pay. Ah, but there are plenty of Experts. We have them alive, as Vampires, Zombies, Skeletons¡ªyou name it. ¡ª I don¡¯t need those. Whether they wielded swords, spears, or clubs, it didn¡¯t matter. All the slavers cared about was capturing them. After personally verifying the value of a Sword Master in the Demon Realm, Armor found that it was dozens of times greater than he had expected. Especially since the Demon King''s Castle had been consistently seeking them, an Aura Master¡¯s worth extended far beyond mere currency. If he could capture one and present it to the Demon King''s Castle, he would be promoted far faster than if he simply succeeded in the colonial subjugation. At this point, even if the operation failed, capturing the Sword Master was an absolute necessity. Shivering with anticipation, Armor made thorough preparations for the capture. ¡®The biggest nuisance for this prized specimen is that Drake. If he escapes on the Drake, things will get troublesome.¡¯ The Sword Master was proving to be quite formidable within the human fortress... But to Armor, it was nothing more than a rare specimen putting on a little show. ¡®A mere fighter who¡¯s only faced monsters could never stand against me.¡¯ However, if the Sword Master escaped on the Drake? Armor wasn¡¯t entirely confident that he could guarantee a capture. To ensure success, he couldn¡¯t act alone. It was better to recruit a reliable collaborator and split the spoils. ¡ª A?rmor, are you stupid? You want help with a colonial subjugation? You¡¯ll get the lowest possible evaluation for that. Forget a promotion¡ªyou might even get kicked out of your position as a General. ¡ª This isn¡¯t about the colonial subjugation, you hunk of flesh. ¡ª Hunk of flesh? That¡¯s mean! Do you know how hard I worked to become like you, Armor?! ¡ª ...Sigh. Just shut up and follow me, Cain. And so, among his fellow Demon Generals, Armor recruited the one he could at least somewhat trust and positioned him at the rear of the fortress. * * * Southern Region of the Fortress. In the middle of the road, a massive mountain of flesh lay sprawled across the ground. It was Cain, the Demon General whom Armor had mockingly called a ¡°hunk of flesh.¡± The enormous mass of flesh began to spread like jelly, slowly creeping across the road and engulfing the path. At its center, however, an unexpected sight emerged¡ªa perfectly intact face peeking out. As expected of a demon hailed as an Avatar of Beauty, the face was strikingly beautiful. With a distinctly androgynous appearance, it was impossible to tell whether they were male or female. Yet, emerging from the center of that grotesque mass of flesh, it looked utterly out of place. ¡°Armor. Do we really have to fight in the morning? The heat¡¯s unbearable.¡± Cain grumbled, using a communication spell, his voice dripping with annoyance. [Normally, the headquarters wouldn¡¯t care about a colonial subjugation. But with two Demon Generals suddenly surrounding the fortress, some might start taking an interest.] ¡°Ohh~ So you¡¯re trying to keep this from headquarters?¡± [Exactly. If headquarters finds out about the Sword Master, they¡¯ll steal all the credit from us.] The commanders at headquarters were at the very top of the demonic hierarchy¡ªmasters of deceit, schemes, and betrayal. If they discovered the existence of a Sword Master, the outcome was as clear as day. They would take him immediately. [Then prepare yourself. I¡¯m heading out now.] ¡°Got it.¡± Squelch. Squelch. Cain¡¯s flesh spread out further, separating piece by piece. Then, like inflating balloons, they began to swell¡ªshifting into grotesque monsters of various shapes and sizes. ¡°Let¡¯s go, my darlings. Kill every woman without exception, and for the men... make sure they¡¯re castrated.¡± Cain grinned. ¡°And above all, make sure to steal the Sword Master¡¯s seed. He doesn¡¯t need his balls to be sold, after all.¡± * * * That morning, Saintess Theresia had been rather optimistic. ¡°There may be two Demon Generals, but it¡¯s strange that they chose to attack in the morning. This is the worst possible time for demons. Not only that, but this is when the Holy Demon-Suppressing Formation we set up around the fortress is at its most effective.¡± Kaylen agreed with her assessment. Even Black Skull Cesar hadn¡¯t exhibited any mysterious regenerative powers without the moon¡¯s blessing. For Demon Generals, who could harness the power of the Red Moon even more effectively, attacking now¡ªafter delaying for a full week¡ªmade little tactical sense. Yet, precisely because of that, Kaylen sensed something was off. ¡®They must be confident.¡¯ Confident that they could fight even without the moon¡¯s blessing. ¡°You¡¯re right, Saintess.¡± [Kneel. You insignificant worms.] A chilling voice echoed from within the giant¡¯s helmet. Humans shouldn¡¯t have been able to understand the demonic language. Yet¡ªthe entire fortress immediately began falling to their knees. Even without knowing the exact meaning, humans instinctively understood the demon¡¯s command¡ª And obeyed. It had nothing to do with rank or status. Even ordinary soldiers weren¡¯t the only ones affected¡ª ¡°Y-Your Highness...!¡± ¡°D-Don¡¯t grab me! Just kneel! He told us to kneel!¡± Even the Second Prince, Bellos¡ª He, too, fell to his knees without resistance. And understandably so... Demons were the rulers. Humans were the ruled. Most of the humans had already submitted, kneeling on their own, awaiting the will of their overlord. Yet, the giant demon, Armor, was displeased. How dare there still be some standing. His eyes landed on the radiant holy magic circle surrounding the fortress. [The Holy Demon-Suppressing Formation... A worthless creation by the vermin of the Celestial Gods.] Flash. A red glow flickered within the giant¡¯s helmet. Crack... Crackle... Immediately, fractures began forming across the white barrier encircling the fortress. The expressions of the fortress knights paled. ¡°Saintess... You should fall back... shouldn''t you?¡± One of the Holy Knights stepped forward and whispered cautiously. That thing¡ªit was impossible to defeat. No¡ªthey couldn¡¯t even wound it. Every single knight in the Holy Legion felt the same way. ¡°The people in this fortress may be doomed... but, you are humanity¡¯s last hope.¡± ¡°You must survive.¡± ¡°While the Holy Demon-Suppressing Formation still holds... you must retreat¡ª¡± Theresia bit her lip. Humanity¡¯s last hope? She had never heard those words sound so empty. No matter how powerful the giant demon was, it was still just one. And it was morning. This was the time when light mana was at its peak, and dark mana was at its weakest¡ªthe moment when the Holy Demon-Suppressing Formation should have been at full power. ¡®I have gathered a millennium¡¯s worth of divine power for this moment. I trained alongside the Holy Legion to protect humanity¡ª And yet... if we cannot even defeat a single demon¡ª Is this truly what it means to be humanity¡¯s last hope?¡¯ Even if they escaped to Sanctuary, what could they do against such a being? The strength drained from Theresia¡¯s hands and feet. She had never felt such powerlessness before. But. Even so¡ªshe had to live. If she fell here, Sanctuary¡¯s future would be lost as well. ¡°...For now, we¡¯ll use Heavenly Sword.¡± ¡°Saintess, Heavenly Sword won¡¯t work here.¡± ¡°Even if we retreat, do you think that thing will let us go? At the very least, we need to use the Heavenly Sword to keep it at bay.¡± Theresia pulled out a fragment of the Holy Sword, Astella. Originally, she had planned to use the Heavenly Sword to unleash a barrage against the Mana Eaters. Now, she was forced to wield it just to escape. ¡°...O fragment of Astella...¡± As she gripped the sword and began channeling divine power¡ª ¡°Wait.¡± Kaylen stepped in front of her. ¡°...What is it, Kaylen? Did you hear everything?¡± ¡°That you¡¯re planning to run?¡± ¡°Heh... That¡¯s right. Pathetic, isn¡¯t it? After acting so high and mighty, pretending we could hold the line.¡± ¡°If you want to flee, then go.¡± For the first time, Kaylen, who had always spoken to the Saintess with respect, dropped all formalities¡ªhis expression turning cold. ¡°But¡ªleave the Holy Sword fragment with me.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 115 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 115 The Middle Realm is a colony of the Demon Realm. Kaylen had always known this fact, but he had never truly felt it. Apart from the emergence of dungeon portals and the loss of mana, he had never witnessed demons oppressing or ruling over humans directly. But today, upon seeing the giant demon, Kaylen realized the truth. Humanity had already submitted. ''...I misjudged the situation.'' To Kaylen''s eyes, that demon seemed to be of noble rank. By the standards of a thousand years ago, roughly equivalent to a baron of the Demon Realm. Facing a baron-ranked demon was typically impossible for a human. Even an exceptional Meister or knight might only manage to leave a scratch. Even a thousand years ago, there were fewer than ten people besides Kaylen himself who had ever defeated a Demon Baron. Yet, no matter how powerful the demon commander was, the reaction of the people afterward was truly shocking. At a single word from the demon, they unconsciously fell to their knees. This was not mere fear. It was an instinctive submission, the kind that only comes from deep within¡ªa recognition of themselves as the ruled, the subjugated. ''It wasn¡¯t like this before.'' A thousand years ago, humanity fought against the overwhelming might of the demons. Of course, there were always those who quailed in fear, who collapsed in despair¡ªbut those were individual cases, never the norm. Some soldiers laughed as they died, proud that they had stalled the Demon King¡¯s advance for even a moment. Even children hurled stones at demons in defiant rage. But now... These were not ordinary civilians. These were hardened veterans who had fought countless battles at Viltre Fortress. Yet, at a single word from a demon, they trembled in fear and fell to their knees. There were no exceptions¡ªroyalty, nobility, commoners alike. ''The humans of today are different from those of a thousand years ago.'' The fact that the Demon Realm ruled over the Middle Realm should have only been known to a select few within the leadership. Yet somehow, within the hearts of all humans, there was already a deep-seated fear and submission toward the demons. ''...How pitiful.'' When he first entered the body of his descendant and read through the history books detailing the fall of the Meier Empire... He felt a sense of regret. He had united the continent, become the Hero, and vanquished the Demon King. Afterward, he had ruled over the empire that had been forged into one. Back then, the Unified Empire of Meier was the strongest nation in recorded history. Even though he had gone missing, he had never imagined that the empire would fracture so easily. However, when he saw the places where the first rebellions had erupted, he understood. The kingdoms he had crushed with sheer power, without any justification. The princesses of those kingdoms¡ªthe children he had fathered through them¡ªwere the first to lead the revolt. The wives who once whispered eternal love, the children who once looked up to him with respect... Yet, the moment he disappeared, they had taken the lead in the destruction of the Meier Empire. They had simply followed the will of the people from the lands they belonged to. ''That was the limit of walking the path of might rather than the path of righteousness.'' That was why, in this life, he had chosen a different path, even if it meant taking a longer route. He had learned, through the empire''s downfall, the bitter lesson of what happens when one relies solely on power. Thus, in his investigations of the royal family and the Mage Tower, he had split his identity in two. Every move he made was carefully planned to ensure he had the proper justification. However... Ironically, the method Kaylen had intended to use was the wrong approach in this era. ''Yes, in a world ruled by demons, what is needed... is the power to resist them. What I need now is the strength to walk the path of might, just as I did in the past.'' Strength over justification. Pragmatism over morality. The way of Ernstine. For humanity, now reduced to a colony of the Demon Realm, such a leader was necessary. A steadfast, unyielding figure who would prevent them from trembling and kneeling at a mere word from the demons. A ruler of iron and blood! "Hand over the fragment of the Holy Sword." There was no longer any need to hide his power. On the contrary, he had to reveal it. "Kaylen...? But you¡¯re a Meister, aren¡¯t you?" Saintess Theresia¡¯s heart suddenly pounded at Kaylen¡¯s abrupt demand for the Holy Sword¡¯s fragment. ''Are you insane, Theresia...? Do you even realize the situation right now?!'' The fortress was on the brink of destruction at the hands of the giant demon. The Holy Legion was about to flee in disgrace. It was absurd. And yet, the way Kaylen looked at that moment... ''Not just his appearance, but even his presence... it''s exactly like the Hero...'' Having longed for him over the course of a thousand years, Theresia could not help but waver. Her voice trembled as she asked, "Wh-why does a Meister need the Holy Sword?" "That¡¯s true. But I am also a Sword Master." "...What?" What was he saying? Wasn¡¯t Stein the Sword Master? He had already surrendered both his body and mind to the demons. [Then order him.] "K-Kaylen! As the Second Prince of the kingdom, I... I command you! Do as he says at once!" Kaylen scoffed. "You sure know how to pick out a leader among worms." [The bloodline of Bormian is already my servant. I can recognize them at a glance.] "Well, fine. If you want a little performance, I¡¯ll indulge you." Since the enemy was offering the first move, there was no reason to refuse. Kaylen gently ran his fingers over the dagger. The fragment of Astella was already cracked from summoning multiple Heavenly Swords. Bringing the fragment to his lips, he whispered softly. "Astella, your origin is the sun." The Holy Sword Astella¡ªa blade that had stood alongside humanity, repelling countless invasions of dark forces. Its origin was said to be a shard of the sun itself. Yet, Astella had long since forgotten this truth. Only when a chosen hero spoke of its origin would it recall, if only for a brief moment, its true nature. By all logic, Kaylen, who had not been chosen, should have received no response. However¡ª ¡ªMaster...? For the first time, the Holy Sword reacted to one it had not chosen. And not just a mere response¡ª But an overwhelming, desperate one. ¡ªMaster. Master. Master. Master...! Viiiing. Viiiiiiing. The fragment of the Holy Sword flashed pure white, its resonance ringing throughout the entire fortress. ¡ªAt last... I have found you, Master! "Astella. Lend me your strength." ¡ª...As much as you desire! The light of the sun, shining down upon the battlefield, began to converge upon the fragment of Astella. Seeing this, Armor unknowingly unfolded his arms. [......?] Something was wrong. The opponent was just a mere human, and the Holy Sword was nothing more than a shattered fragment. And yet, Armor¡¯s instincts screamed at him. ''If I stay idle... I won¡¯t escape unscathed.'' This¡ªthis was an attack that must be blocked with everything he had. [Absolute Barrier.] Before Armor, seven layers of absolute defense formed. [Dark Flame.] Even then, Armor did not feel at ease. As a precaution against the human before him, he summoned flames of darkness. Kaylen smirked. "As expected, a demon¡¯s word can¡¯t be trusted. But I¡¯ll gladly accept your offer." [What...?] At some point, a Flame Sword had materialized behind Kaylen. "Absorb it." Shuuuuuk¡ª At Kaylen¡¯s command, the flames of Dark Flame were completely drawn into the Flame Sword. And then¡ª Before the startled Armor could even react, Kaylen spoke again. "Astella. I¡¯ll come find you soon." Six-Sword Path Twin Swords¡ªBlazing Heaven. The seven-layered barrier melted away in an instant. The giant¡¯s black armor was engulfed in pure white flames. Blazing Heaven, infused with the power of the Holy Sword¡ªits strength was on an entirely different level from when Kaylen had used it in Necropolis. Astella, transformed into the Sun Blade, vastly amplified the power of both flame and light. No matter how strong the giant demon was, even the Demon King had struggled against this power¡ªthere was no way he could withstand it. [Th-this... what is this?!] The moment his black armor began to melt, Armor understood. The flames of the heavens. A force completely incompatible with demons. And once he was overpowered, these flames would burn eternally until his armor was completely gone. ¡®Tch... At this rate, I have no choice but to send the Main Body!¡¯ Fortunately, he had recorded this battle to assess his target¡¯s value. If he reported this to headquarters, the punishment would be less severe... Determined to survive, Armor prepared to escape with his Main Body. From the sole of the giant¡¯s right foot¡ª The spot where it touched the ground¡ª His armor split open, allowing the Main Body to slip out. Once he burrowed underground, those fools would celebrate, believing he was dead. But that never happened. Because the one who should have still been standing on the fortress wall¡ª "Where do you think you¡¯re going, insect?" Kaylen was already in front of him, smirked coldly. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 116 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 116 [H-how did you know the location of my Main Body...?!] What Kaylen held in his hand was a massive black centipede. A grotesque creature the size of his upper body, with a hundred writhing legs flailing in frustration. The sight alone was nightmarish, but Kaylen remained utterly unfazed. Without hesitation, he began plucking off its legs one by one. [Aaaaaaaagh!] "I heard creatures like you grow one leg every five years. That means you must be around five hundred years old, huh?" [H-how do you even know that?!] "You think that¡¯s all I know?" Ssshhhhhh! Kaylen infused the severed limbs with light mana. At that moment, the centipede¡¯s eyes widened in pure terror. [...!!!] A pain so intense that it left it unable to even scream surged through its entire body. "Now that I¡¯ve taken all your legs and filled you with light mana, there¡¯s no chance of you escaping." [J-just kill me instead...!] "And why would I do that?" Kaylen retrieved a miniature painting from his coat and grinned. "This is a rare opportunity to extract some valuable information. Wait inside for a bit. I¡¯ll be bringing your comrades along soon." [Ghh... khhh...!] Armor finally realized what this inhuman monster was thinking. ''He''s... planning to torture me...'' The idea of being tortured by a mere human was unthinkable. Just an hour ago, he would have never imagined such a situation¡ªbut this was reality. ''I''d rather die than go through that!'' This human knew his true form, something even other demons rarely understood. If someone like that was going to torture him... he couldn¡¯t even begin to fathom the kind of suffering that awaited. Even if he survived, he would be better off dead. ''I have to channel my last reserves of dark mana...!'' Even though his armor was burning and his legs were gone, he still had a final burst of dark energy left. If he detonated it, at least he could escape eternal suffering... Boom! [W-what?!] But the explosion didn¡¯t go as he expected. The dark mana detonation had activated¡ª Yet its power was drastically weakened. And to make matters worse, the light mana Kaylen had infused into him was actively healing him. "Where do you think you¡¯re dying?" [This... this is impossible. W-who are you?! How much do you see?!] "You¡¯ll find out later. For now¡ªjust get inside." Without hesitation, Kaylen tossed the centipede into the painting. Then, he turned his gaze toward the fortress wall. Bending his knees slightly, he leapt effortlessly, soaring high above, and landed atop the towering battlements. The moment he appeared, the soldiers instinctively stepped back. ''That demon... was cut down in a single strike.'' ''Is he even human?'' No matter how strong a person was, there were limits. But the power Kaylen had just displayed... surpassed human comprehension. That one giant demon had been enough to completely overwhelm the fortress. Having burned such a formidable demon to ashes with a single strike... A chilling silence settled over the fortress walls. Before this absolute being, no one knew how to act. With eyes filled with both reverence and fear, they gazed at Kaylen. "Kaylen." Breaking the silence¡ª A man stepped forward. It was Lioness, the third son of the Duke of Oblaine. As soon as he approached Kaylen, he bowed deeply. "You saved us. As a member of the ducal house, I offer you my thanks." "I¡¯ll accept your gratitude, Lioness." Kaylen nodded casually, as if it were only natural. A stark contrast to his once-polite demeanor. Yet, rather than being offended, Lioness chuckled. "So this is your true nature...?" "Yes." "And yet I had the audacity to suggest that a dragon should serve under a dog. I made a fool of myself." "A dog... Are you referring to Prince Bellos?" "Yes. That prince who groveled before the demons, whimpering like a coward... honestly, even calling him a dog would be too generous." Lioness sneered in contempt before adding¡ª "Not that it matters now. He¡¯s dead." "...He¡¯s dead?" "The giant demon was holding him midair, but when you cut it down in a single strike, he fell from that height and died on impact." "And the people around him? What were they doing?" Kaylen narrowed his eyes in disbelief. There had been so many knights and mages nearby¡ª And yet not a single one had been able to catch a falling man? Hearing the question, Lioness sighed. "Just resisting the demons was already more than we could handle..." "With anti-magic formations inscribed on them, these two should be more than enough." Humans, who could barely wield low-tier magic, had no means of countering anti-magic formations. The Holy Legion of Sanctuary might pose a problem¡ª But if they showed up, well, he¡¯d deal with it then. With that thought, Cain began making preparations to leave the Middle Realm. "Ugh, my body¡¯s too big now... seriously, traveling is such a pain~." Believing there was no longer any threat left in the Middle Realm, his preparations were leisurely¡ª As if he were going on a pleasant outing, rather than leaving a battlefield. Completely unworried, Cain casually opened a portal to the Demon Realm. And because of that¡ª He didn¡¯t see the rain of swords descending from the sky. Six-Sword Path Triple Blades¡ªSword Rain. "...Oink?" Pshhhh¡ª! The two giant pigs at the front were instantly impaled by the downpour of swords. Each droplet of rain¡ª Was a blade formed from the combined forces of water and light. Boom! Boom! The pig monsters were pierced through¡ª Then, like popping balloons, they exploded into chunks. It didn¡¯t matter if they bore anti-magic sigils or if they were born from demonic flesh¡ª Before the sword rain, they were utterly powerless. "...?" What the hell? Cain tilted his head in confusion. But when the same sword rain began hurtling toward him, his face immediately vanished¡ª Sinking back into his mass of flesh. "What the hell, what the hell, what the hell?! What is this?!" Even while hiding, Cain kept ranting. At first, he still sounded carefree¡ª But then¡ª Pshhk. Pshhk. The sword rain pierced through his flesh, slicing dangerously close to his face. Only then¡ªdid panic creep into his expression. "KYAAAAAH!" His flesh was supposed to be exceptionally tough¡ª Not something that should be pierced so easily. And yet, against this sword rain, he was completely defenseless. What the hell is this?! As Cain flailed in confusion, "...A slime-type demon?" Kaylen landed right behind him. Unlike the demon commander Armor, this one was far too underwhelming. "Figures. Weak." "I am NOT weak!" Slash! Kaylen¡¯s blade carved through the area surrounding Cain¡¯s face. Chunks of flesh were severed, leaving only his face and the gelatinous slime connecting it to his body. "AAACK! That hurts! You¡¯re so violent!" Despite screaming in pain, Cain¡¯s voice trembled with excitement. Kaylen frowned. Slime-type demons. Among all demons, they were the most insane. Even during the Demon King subjugation, Kaylen had made a habit of eliminating them outright, never bothering with interrogation. ''These bastards are too much of a headache to deal with.'' This time would be no different¡ª He¡¯d eliminate it before it became a nuisance. Kaylen raised his blade, infused with golden aura, preparing to strike¡ª But just then¡ª The severed head rolled across the ground, and its eyes locked onto him. "Ah...? Oh? You¡¯re... handsome." The slime-type demon grinned playfully. But Kaylen¡ª Froze. "...You." "What''s wrong, human oppa~?" That face¡ªKaylen knew it all too well. Because¡ª "...Baldrix?" This demon¡ª Had the face of Ernstine¡¯s second son. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 117 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 117 Baldrix. As the second son of Ernstine, he was both the most favored and the most troublesome child of Ernstine. ¡ªFather! I can do better than Caius. Caius isn¡¯t even a Sword Master, nor does he have any talent with the sword! To ensure the stability of the imperial succession, at the very least, the heir must be a Sword Master! Compared to Caius, Baldrix possessed exceptional talent with the sword. While Caius remained stuck at the level of Sword Expert despite all the training he received, Baldrix became a Sword Master at the age of twenty-seven. After attaining the rank of Sword Master, Baldrix repeatedly questioned the legitimacy of Caius''s position as the next emperor. ¡ªMy son, an emperor, is someone who governs people, not someone who fights personally. The rightful successor of the imperial family is Caius. ¡ªFather... The foundation of House Meier¡¯s imperial rule is the sword and military might! ¡ªIndeed. And the source of that power is me, Ernstine. Not you, who is merely a Sword Master. The imperial succession could not be allowed to waver¡ªthis was Ernstine¡¯s principle. No matter how impressive it was for Baldrix to have become a Sword Master at such a young age, a precedent could not be set where military prowess alone could overturn the imperial succession. There were other children with outstanding abilities besides Baldrix. Yet, Ernstine successfully quelled their dissatisfaction and ensured the throne was passed on to his eldest son, Caius. And on the day he retired as the Supreme Emperor, he planned to travel across the empire with Baldrix and his other children. It was meant to console those who had not inherited the throne and to dissuade any lingering ambitions they might have had. ¡®In the end, I never made that journey, and instead, I awoke in Kaylen¡¯s body.¡¯ According to history, after Emperor Ernstine went missing, it was his second son, Baldrix, who led the rebellion at the forefront. ¡®But why does that bastard¡¯s face... appear on this demon?¡¯ Kaylen gazed at the slime-type demon¡¯s face, his expression complex. A prodigy with the sword whom he had cherished more than any other¡ª but also the traitor who had brought about the downfall of the Meier Empire. Thinking of Baldrix evoked a mixture of love and hatred. "Your face... Whose face is that? Where did you get it?" "What¡¯s this, what¡¯s this? Have you fallen for me? Ufufu. Well, I am quite the looker." ¡ªSsshhk. The slime-type demon spouted nonsense instead of answering, and Kaylen swiftly slashed its neck. Immediately, pure white flames erupted from the demon¡¯s throat. ¡°AAAARGH...!¡± Light mana¡ªthe very antithesis of demons. The agony it inflicted should have been unbearable, yet the slime-type demon instead reveled in ecstasy. ¡°Hi-hiiik... S-so exhilarating...!¡± ¡°That face. Explain it.¡± ¡°I dunno, I dunno. Ihihihi. Do it more.¡± ¡°...What an infuriating creature.¡± That expression¡ªit was genuine. This was why slime-type demons were notorious for yielding no useful information, no matter how much they were interrogated. Had this one not been a spitting image of Baldrix, Kaylen would have slain it on the spot. But this time, he had no choice but to extract information from this demon. Then, a memory surfaced¡ªsomething an inquisitor had once told him long ago. ¡ªMy Lord, I have discovered the method to torture these creatures! ¡ªOh? And what is it? ¡ªNo matter what kind of stimulation they receive, they perceive it as pleasure. That is why no amount of torture works on them¡ªthey simply enjoy it. ¡ªYeah. Disgusting creatures. ¡ªBut because of that, they can''t endure a state without any stimulation... in other words, they can¡¯t stand boredom. ¡ªOh? That makes sense. Maybe it would be better to lock them up in solitary confinement without any stimulation at all. ¡ªYes, exactly! ¡ªSo, how long did the torture take? ¡ªAfter about 30 days of isolation, they started showing signs of boredom. ¡ª...That takes too long. Just handle it appropriately. At the time, that choice was reasonable. Slime-type demons were usually low-ranking demons, so spending too much time on them was inefficient. ¡®But now, I regret it.¡¯ He should have instructed the inquisitor to conduct further research back then. The way his voice shifted when speaking to an enemy, his unique mannerisms... Everything felt as if Kaylen had become the Hero Ernstine himself. ¡®Could it be that by inheriting his power, he also inherited these traits? I need to find out.¡¯ Even so, Theresia never once considered the possibility that Kaylen might actually be Ernstine. She simply waited for his return¡ª Until the moment a transmission arrived from Sanctuary. [Lady Theresia! This is an emergency! The Holy Sword is about to move!] [You must return immediately! If the Holy Sword moves, it will shake the very foundation of Sanctuary!] Theresia¡¯s expression turned rigid. The Holy Sword... was moving? ¡®No way. Could it be because Kaylen used the fragment of the Holy Sword earlier...?¡¯ She had felt an abnormally strong power emanating from that tiny fragment. Had the Holy Sword Astella taken notice? ¡°Saintess! The headquarters of Sanctuary has issued an emergency recall order!¡± ¡°Look! A portal has appeared!¡± Not just the saintess, but every member of the Holy Legion had received the same order to return. Sanctuary wasn¡¯t merely commanding them to return¡ªthey had even opened a portal themselves. ¡°You must leave at once!¡± ¡°...I understand.¡± She wouldn¡¯t even have time to say her farewells. With no other choice, Theresia abandoned her plan to meet Kaylen and returned to Sanctuary. Meanwhile, Kaylen, stepping out from the demon¡¯s legacy, cast a glance toward the now-empty Holy Legion¡¯s position. ¡°Kaylen, the demons in the rear...?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve been dealt with.¡± Kaylen answered as if it was nothing and walked toward the command center of the fortress. As he passed, the soldiers instinctively stepped aside, their gazes filled with both relief at having survived and awe toward him. ¡®He¡¯s already taken down another demon...¡¯ ¡®If not for him, we wouldn¡¯t be alive right now.¡¯ Even Guntrian, the commander of Viltre Fortress, was no different from the soldiers in this sentiment. "Thank you for your efforts, Lord Kaylen. Thanks to you, we all survived." "It was simply my duty." Kaylen accepted the gratitude lightly and turned his gaze toward the gathered members of the command center. "That is... the corpse of the second prince." "...Yes." Second Prince Bellos. After First Prince Diether Hart was exposed as being a Black Skull and perished, Bellos had become the most likely candidate to be the next king of the Bormian Kingdom¡ª Yet he met such an absurd end. "Still... was there truly no one willing to help him?" "Everyone was frozen in fear because of the giant demon. No one could react in time. I tried to save His Highness to the best of my ability, but... I lost him right before my eyes..." The man standing before him, Guntrian, was one of the finest knights in the kingdom, ranking among the top warriors. Among nobles and warriors alike, he was often discussed as one of the greatest knights of Bormia. Even in Kaylen¡¯s eyes, while he did not possess an overwhelming sword talent like his own younger brother, he was an exceptional knight. ¡®And even he couldn¡¯t properly resist the demon¡¯s pressure.¡¯ No matter how powerful that giant demon had been, the fact that humans were reduced to livestock under demonic rule had undoubtedly played a role. Seeing even Guntrian rendered so helpless, Kaylen reaffirmed his resolve once more. The current colonial state of humanity... He would be the one to change it completely. "Violet." "Yes, Lord Kaylen." As Kaylen softly called for Princess Violet, she quickly approached him. "Today, I will ride a drake to the royal palace." "Today... already?" "Yes. I will overturn the royal castle and remove the current king from power. Are you still prepared to stand against your father?" So soon? Violet was surprised by how quickly Kaylen was pushing forward compared to what she had expected. But soon, a bright smile spread across her face. Because those words... were exactly what she had been hoping for. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 118 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 118 King Kaiten was in an unusually good mood as of late. Violet had handled things far better than he had expected. "So, Violet. The man beside you¡ªwould that be Kaylen, the one who has accomplished great feats this time?" "Yes. Originally, he was under Sword Master Stein, responsible for managing his drake, but..." Violet glanced briefly at Kaylen before continuing. "Upon discovering that Stein was gathering documents to slander Your Majesty and engaging in acts of treason, he realized he could no longer stand by his side and defected." "Oh? Is that so? Kaylen." "Y-yes! Your Majesty!" Kaylen snapped to attention as if overwhelmed by the honor of being addressed by the king. Seeing this, Kaiten smirked. "I¡¯ve heard rumors about you. They say you¡¯re known for your talent, even being called a Sixth-Circle prodigy." "I am merely a Fourth-Circle Meister... That title is far too great for me." "What was your original relationship with Stein?" "Stein approached me¡ªno, he claimed that we were distant relatives and made contact. Through that, we collaborated on magical experiments, and I managed his drakes... But when I discovered he was collecting documents to slander Your Majesty, I finally realized he was a traitor." Kaiten examined the documents Violet had handed over, feigning anger as he controlled his expression. In truth, he was elated that these troublesome papers had fallen into his hands. "To think! How dare he accuse me of cooperating with the Black Skull!" The documents contained allegations that he had provided livestock, slaves, and wealth to the Black Skull. They also accused him of working with multiple magic towers to supply dungeon cores and mana stones to Cesar, the Black Skull leader, and even conducting human experimentation¡ªclaims that seemed utterly unfathomable for a reigning king and the leaders of the major magic towers. "I don¡¯t know where he obtained these documents, but I determined that Stein¡¯s actions had crossed a dangerous threshold and reported it to the princess." "Well done, well done! Once all of this is settled, I shall grant you a great reward." Kaiten patted Kaylen¡¯s shoulder approvingly. Just this morning, one of these very documents had been pinned to his bedchamber, leaving him terrified that his head might roll at any moment... But now, an insider from Stein¡¯s faction had willingly brought the documents forward, putting his mind at ease. "However, Father, obtaining these documents does not mean everything is resolved. I witnessed Stein¡¯s strength firsthand at Viltre Fortress, and it was beyond imagination. If he were to storm the castle alone... we currently have no means to stop him." "Ahem... I see. Even you, despite possessing an S-rank mana suit, found him impossible to handle?" "Yes. I apologize, Father. My strength is still lacking..." Violet lowered her head deeply, her expression filled with remorse. Seeing her like this, Kaiten felt another wave of frustration rise within him. ¡®It¡¯s good that we have these documents, but if that lunatic simply charges into the castle, there¡¯s no one who can stop him.¡¯ A Sword Master appearing after centuries... He truly lived up to the name of a one-man army. No matter how strong a human could be, wasn¡¯t this too much? To think that the mighty King of Bormia had to worry about someone storming into his chambers! As Kaiten rubbed his chest in frustration, Kaylen carefully observed the king¡¯s reaction before slowly speaking. "Your Majesty, there is something I must tell you regarding him." "Oh? Kaylen, speak." "Upon analyzing the documents I obtained from Stein, I discovered that seven major magic towers are involved in this matter." "Hm. Is that so?" Kaiten, who had only bothered to read the parts of the documents concerning himself, responded indifferently. ¡®Why is he bringing up the other towers now?¡¯ "How about requesting their cooperation?" "Their cooperation...?" "Yes. Just like Your Majesty, they too have likely been framed. But regardless, the very existence of these documents means that Sword Master Stein has marked them as his targets." "Hoh... That¡¯s true." "If we show them these documents and propose working together to restrain Stein, wouldn¡¯t they be inclined to cooperate?" "Oh-ho!" Kaiten was impressed. Using the documents Stein had stored to request cooperation from the magic towers? ¡®Those magic tower bastards won¡¯t be able to refuse. After all, these documents are real.¡¯ Kaiten checked the names of the towers. All seven of the most influential towers in the kingdom were implicated in this matter. ¡®If these key magic towers join forces... even that monster Stein might be eliminated.¡¯ If that happened, there would be nothing left to worry about. Kaiten felt as if a weight had been lifted off his chest. "Hahaha! You¡¯re not just talented, you¡¯re sharp-witted too!" "Stein plans to participate in the capital¡¯s victory ceremony along with the soldiers of Viltre Fortress. At that time, even he will be caught off guard. If we secure the cooperation of the magic towers, we can eliminate him then." "An excellent plan! Good! We will proceed as you suggested!" A victory ceremony to honor the soldiers of Viltre Fortress for stopping the monster wave... If Stein were to be eliminated there? Just imagining it brought Kaiten immense satisfaction. ¡®It will take about a week for the soldiers to reach the capital... That should be more than enough time to pressure the magic towers!¡¯ Kaiten, delighted, continuously praised Kaylen. "I know my mages are smart, but I¡¯ve never met someone who could clear my worries so thoroughly! Kaylen, how do you understand my heart so well?" ¡ªHahaha! As Kaiten burst into laughter, Violet watched him with a cold smile. ¡®You don¡¯t have much time left to enjoy yourself, Father.¡¯ The ceremony that Kaiten so eagerly anticipated... That would be the last day he ever smiled. She recalled the conversation from a few days prior. "...Please allow me to cooperate in bringing my father down." Violet had given this answer to Kaylen, who had been ready to storm the royal palace atop a drake at any moment. She then lowered her head and added a final request. "But Lord Kaylen, may I offer my opinion?" The voice of Kaylen, standing before them, was gentle. "You must have been afraid. You must have been terrified. It saddens me to see how many could not overcome that fear and chose death instead... But now, it is over. The demon is gone, and you have survived." His warm voice resonated in their ears, and for the weary, shaken soldiers, that alone was enough to bring comfort. Many teared up. Second Sword¡ªIllusion. A unique sword aura that projected an illusion of Kaylen himself, amplifying the emotions people felt toward him. It was an ability that excelled in stirring the human heart. "But..." Humans were not always like this. Even those who knew nothing of aura once stood before the Demon King. Even women who had never wielded a weapon once blocked the demons¡¯ path to protect their children. Just because demons now stood before them¡ª Did that mean they should cower and obey? His voice was soft, as if he were merely reminiscing about the past. And yet, shame crept into the expressions of those who listened. Kaylen had not spoken in a tone of reproach. But perhaps because of that, those who had wet themselves in fear or even considered suicide before the demons now felt a crushing sense of humiliation. "But tell me, is the reason so many have submitted to the demons simply because we are weak?" From here and there, voices responded¡ª "Yes..." "No." Kaylen immediately denied it. "This is not your fault. It is because our land has become a colony of the Demon Realm. Because our parents have been turned into slaves of the demons. You had no choice but to yield." His once-gentle voice now carried undeniable force. "But tell me¡ªwill you continue to live bound by these chains of servitude? Will you pass this same fate down to your children? Is that what you want?" "No!" "Never!" Those who had first felt comfort, then shame, were now rising into a frenzy of passion. A surge of energy spread among the masses in an instant. Violet watched, feeling a chill run down her spine. Kaylen was manipulating the people¡¯s hearts with ease. ¡®He is swaying them effortlessly. And on top of that, he is using that strange sword technique to persuade even those who might have resisted with mere words...¡¯ Even those who had collapsed in fear before the giant demon¡ª Even those who had been paralyzed and unable to lift a weapon¡ª Were now standing, gripping their swords, and roaring in response to Kaylen¡¯s words. The atmosphere spread rapidly, escalating into near-madness as the speech continued. "I, Kaylen Meier, heir of the Hero Ernstine, proclaim this here and now! I will overthrow the king who has submitted to the demons¡ª And I will liberate humanity!" "Liberation!" "Liberation!" "Liberation!" As the cries of liberation echoed from all directions, Violet realized that in such a short span of time, Kaylen had completely seized the hearts of the masses. ¡®I interfered unnecessarily.¡¯ She had assumed that Kaylen was only thinking of overthrowing the current king by force, without much interest in securing a support base. That was why she had advised him to at least rally the soldiers of the fortress if he intended to become king... But now, she saw that such advice had been unnecessary. If he so wished, Kaylen could sway people to his side as easily as breathing. ¡®He was truly born for this...¡¯ Watching him sit leisurely upon the Throne of Swords, she couldn¡¯t help but think¡ª That seat suited him far too well. "Violet! Violet! What are you so deep in thought about?" King Kaiten¡¯s voice pulled her from her thoughts, and she responded with a bright smile. "I was thinking about the victory army from Viltre Fortress." "Now that you mention it... Those lot... They wouldn¡¯t just start following Stein just because they fought a battle together, would they?" "No, of course not. The victory army follows their king." "Hahaha. Indeed, as they should." At the mention of loyalty to the king, Kaiten smiled in satisfaction¡ªnaturally assuming that "their king" referred to himself. "Then hurry and coordinate with the magic towers to finalize the strategy. We don¡¯t have much time before the victory ceremony." "Understood, Father." Yes, I will prepare the strategy¡ªThe one that will utterly destroy you. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 119 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 119 The day after the royal palace sent a request for cooperation to the Seven Magic Towers, the seven Tower Masters gathered at the Balzak Tower. Balzak Tower was the largest among the magic towers in the Bormian Kingdom, primarily composed of earth-type Meisters. Originally, it had not garnered much attention, but for the past 200 years, it had experienced rapid growth and had now become the most prestigious magic tower in the kingdom. "It has been a while since we all gathered." "Hmm." "Fortunately, everyone was in the capital." "We had to prepare to receive the great one, after all." Though the average age of the Tower Masters was in their fifties or sixties, they all appeared to be in their early forties. "The reason we are gathered today is, of course..." "The ''document'' from the royal palace, is it not?" "Eliminate Sword Master Stein?" "That man even subdued Lord Cesar..." "Is it even possible?" The Tower Masters were well aware of the name Black Skull Cesar, who had been operating in the shadows of the royal palace. No, it wasn¡¯t just that they knew his name. They had cooperated with Cesar, offering him mana stones and slaves in exchange for acquiring advanced magic knowledge from the Demon Realm. To them, Cesar was akin to a grandmaster. Would they really be able to suppress the Sword Master, who had taken down that great magician, even with the royal palace''s support? They were skeptical. "But the document he possesses is still a burden." "That document? Can¡¯t we just deny everything? Who''s going to prove anything anyway?" "Hmm. And what if they use it as an excuse to storm the magic towers? Even Lord Cesar was completely subdued... Is there any tower here that possesses a stronger force than he did?" "Khmm..." Joining forces with the royal palace to subdue Stein was daunting, as even Cesar had been eliminated. However, simply standing by was equally unsettling, as they feared that once Stein returned to the capital, he would take down the magic towers one by one. As they were all troubled over how to handle the situation, one of the Tower Masters shifted the topic. "Come to think of it, one of our tower¡¯s Meisters received a peculiar transmission yesterday." "Oh? What kind of transmission?" ¡ªTower Master. You must be wary of Kaylen. He is a Sword Master... He possesses immense power. Ugh. I¡¯ve been discovered...! "...Kaylen?" Kaylen. A man with the talent of a 6th Circle mage¡ªthere was no one in this room who did not know his name. But he was a Sword Master? "That doesn¡¯t make sense. Surely, they must have been mistaken?" "The A-rank mana suit made by the Fairy Tower must have had some special function." The Tower Masters chuckled, dismissing the notion outright. A person with the highest aptitude as a mage being a Sword Master? Logically, it was absurd. However, one among them responded with a grave expression. "Now that you mention it, I received a similar report yesterday." ¡ªHurry and inform the Tower Master to be cautious of Kaylen. He single-handedly subdued the demons! Ugh, aaargh! The Meister belonging to the magic tower, who had urgently sent the transmission, was subdued by someone and disappeared. "I dismissed it as nonsense at first, but now it¡¯s starting to feel unsettling." "...He subdued the demons?" "That¡¯s completely absurd." "How could a mere human subdue the Great Ones?" The claim that Kaylen was a Sword Master was already shocking, but this was even more outrageous. To them, demons were divine beings. How could a human possibly defeat a god? It was something that simply defied common sense. "Still, the fact that reports from two different towers have warned us about Kaylen is worth noting." "I heard he¡¯s in the royal capital as well." "They say he stole the document in question while riding Stein¡¯s drake." "Then, isn¡¯t it possible that Stein''s side knows Kaylen took the document and is deliberately coercing the Meisters into spreading false information?" "Oh? To prevent us from cooperating with the princess and the royal palace? Buying time?" "That sounds far more plausible than this nonsense about Kaylen subduing demons." Leading them stood the Tower Masters, their bodies fully elementalized. Whoosh¡ª Even the Balzak Tower Master donned his mana suit, completing his transformation into a wind spirit before turning back to Kaylen. "Heh. Isn¡¯t this an excessive force to deal with a mere 4th Circle Meister? I suggest you don¡¯t resist foolishly." He wasn¡¯t wrong. This was an overwhelming force¡ªfar too much for dealing with a 4th Circle Meister. The seven Tower Masters, each possessing the power of a 5th Circle mage, were fully clad in A-rank mana suits and had activated their elemental transformations. In addition to them, the surrounding Meisters stood ready, and¡ª Clank. The capsules embedded in the walls of the cavern opened all at once. Over a hundred vampires emerged, their eyes locked onto Kaylen. This wasn¡¯t a force prepared for a mere 6th Circle talent. Even an actual 6th Circle Meister would be instantly overwhelmed. Kaylen looked around, his expression hardening as he spoke. "Why...? What is the meaning of this...?" "Heh. You truly don¡¯t understand your own worth." "A 6th Circle talent! With you, we can achieve a great leap forward." "Yes, Kaylen. You will be the foundation of ¡®demonification.¡¯" Bound by the sealing magic circle¡ª Surrounded by hundreds of Meisters and vampires, leaving no room for escape¡ª The Tower Masters, confident in their victory, spoke in leisure. "A 6th Circle talent belongs to all of us." "That¡¯s right. The previous Tower Master must be questioned as well." "But before that, there are plenty of experiments to conduct while he¡¯s still a weak human, aren¡¯t there?" "Indeed. There are five days left until the victory parade, correct? Let¡¯s run experiments on him for three days, then turn him into a vampire¡¯s apostle." "Heh. But be careful not to damage his body too much. It shouldn¡¯t look suspicious." As he listened to the Tower Masters¡¯ conversation, Kaylen¡¯s expression hardened more and more. "What kind of experiments are you conducting?" "Experiments on demonification." "Turning weak humans into great demons." "For now, vampires are the limit... but with you, we can reach a higher level." Demonification. Just like Black Skull Cesar, they all desired to become demons. From the subjugated humans¡ªto the ruling demons. "Heh. Now that I think about it, didn¡¯t the transmission call him a Sword Master?" "It would be fine if he were just a Sword Master, but that transmission claimed he had defeated demons, didn¡¯t it?" "Hah... Then what do we do? I suppose we¡¯ll all die in an instant." "Exactly. Shouldn¡¯t we call for reinforcements?" Amid their complete dominance, the Tower Masters chuckled as they recalled the absurd transmission from before. And then¡ª As Kaylen silently observed them, he spoke in a low voice. "Reinforcements?" "Reinforcements? Hah, listen to him. His words are getting shorter." "There are none, so you can rest easy, Kaylen. We mobilized all our forces in case the princess came with you. Heh." "I see..." Tap. Tap. Kaylen, who had been bound by dark energy, lightly stepped forward¡ªfreeing himself with ease. Fwoosh¡ª As his foot touched the ground again, the binding magic circle burst into flames and vanished in an instant. "So, all the rats are gathered here, then?" "Y-You...?" Srrrk¡ª Four swords floated up behind Kaylen. "You actually listened to that transmission. But I¡¯m relieved you didn¡¯t believe it." "Because that report... was true." Slash¡ª The head of the elementalized Balzak Tower Master fell to the floor. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 120 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 120 As Kaylen beheaded the Tower Master, silence fell over the chamber. The Tower Master of Balzak Tower. A genius who had reached the 5th Circle at the age of 50 and was regarded as the strongest among the seven Tower Masters. And yet, even in his elementalized state, he had been unable to withstand a single strike and lost his head? Even though they had witnessed it with their own eyes, it was a sight they could hardly believe. "T-Tower Master!" "Kugh...! Attack all at once!" "Circle, reload!" One of the remaining Tower Masters, regaining his composure, immediately gave the order to attack. However, Kaylen remained unshaken. "This isn¡¯t even worth using Abyss Blade." The four Aura Swords moved of their own accord, blocking every spell that rained down on him. The forces within the underground chamber were the elite of the magic towers... Yet to Kaylen, they were nothing but weaklings¡ªnot even worth drawing his Six Blades against. "H-He¡¯s blocking magic?!" "There¡¯s no way he can keep blocking forever! Keep attacking!" Boom! Boom! At the Tower Masters'' command, the Meisters poured all their mana into their spells. The relentless barrage of magic was, without a doubt, overwhelming. With hundreds of casters launching a coordinated assault from all directions, it seemed impossible for anyone to withstand it. Even so, the Tower Masters couldn''t shake the unsettling reports they had once dismissed. "Kaylen is a Sword Master and has subdued demons..." "Could it... could it actually be true?" "No, no matter how monstrous he is, he can''t come out of this unscathed!" One of the Tower Masters reassured himself with that thought¡ª But only for a moment. "F-Fire Sword incoming!" "Dodge!" Fwoooosh! The Flame Sword, one of the Six Blades, shot forward like a streak of fire, and in that instant, their doubts turned to fear. "Agh...! AAAARGH!" The Tower Master of the Blue Tower, a 5th Circle Meister of water magic, screamed in agony. His body, composed of water, was evaporating completely. Had he been beheaded in an instant, like the Balzak Tower Master, it might have been a mercy. Instead, he felt his limbs begin to boil, his form turning to steam¡ª A slow, excruciating death. "S-Save me! I... I even taught Princess Violet...! I am the Blue To¡ª" Before he could finish his plea, his body completely vaporized. Kaylen watched the scene and clapped his hands together. "A mistake. Burning up a precious A-rank mana suit like that." Unlike the Balzak Tower Master, whose body had remained intact after being beheaded, the Blue Tower Master had been utterly incinerated, leaving nothing behind. That mana suit should have been a valuable prize¡ªyet now it was gone. "You should be grateful for your mana suits. At least that way, your corpses will remain." Srrrk. The four resplendent swords floated in the air. Compared to the imposing presence of Flame, Water, Light, and Dark, the Earth Sword and Wind Sword were far less conspicuous. But against these enemies, even that much was more than enough. Six Blades Style ¨C Twin Blades, Shrinking Earth As Kaylen stepped forward with his right foot, the Earth Sword embedded itself beside him. Rumble¡ª The ground shook violently, as if struck by an earthquake. "Ugh...! The ground...!" "W-What is this?!" The Meisters staggered, struggling to keep their balance on the trembling earth. But only for a moment. Their eyes widened in shock. "The distance..." "It¡¯s closing in!" The ground beneath them seemed to bend and fold, pulling Kaylen¡ªwho should have been far away¡ªcloser in an instant. And it wasn¡¯t just one person experiencing this. Everyone felt it at the same time. "Even a Sword Master shouldn¡¯t be able to do something like this...!" "S-Shield! Activate shields!" Desperate to resist being drawn in, they cast defensive spells¡ª But it was futile. As the distance closed, what came into view¡ª Was none other than the Wind Sword in Kaylen¡¯s hands. Swish! The Wind Sword carved a massive arc through the air. Swoosh! In a single swing¡ª The heads of a third of the Meisters in the underground chamber were severed at once. There was one area where the flames had failed to consume. "It withstood the Flame Sword¡¯s fire?" Kaylen had not used the Six Blades Style, but even the Flame Sword alone produced enough firepower to reduce everything to ashes. Yet something had remained untouched. Intrigued, Kaylen pushed through the lingering flames and stepped inside. And there, he came across an unexpected inscription. ¡ªHelmeier Lineage Summoning Circle "They were trying to... summon the Helmeier Lineage?" The Helmeier Clan. The ones who had taken Melvria, daughter of Ernstine and wife of Eldir. A lineage that had used the Infinity Expansion, an ability Kaylen had never been able to utilize in his past life. Kaylen had long suspected they were linked to the Meyer Imperial Family. After all, even their name was Helmeier. Scanning the area, Kaylen stepped into a separate, isolated chamber. There, a massive magic circle gleamed with a golden-red glow. And at its center¡ª Lay a woman¡¯s body, visibly stitched together from severed parts. Her head, both arms, and both legs. Her upper and lower body. It was clear she had originally been split into seven pieces, but now, black thread bound her parts together into one. "...The magic circle is still active." Even with the entire chamber engulfed in flames, the summoning circle remained completely intact. Kaylen studied the woman¡¯s corpse carefully. Despite being dead, her skin had color, and warmth radiated from her body. "She¡¯s definitely dead... but I can still sense a strange vitality." Had she been breathing, Kaylen might have even questioned whether she was truly dead. As he observed her, something struck him. "She looks like... Princess Violet." Could it be? Was this woman Queen Diana, Violet¡¯s mother? Kaylen recalled what Violet had once told him. "Her wounds kept healing..." Was that somehow connected to the fact that, even in death, her body still emitted life energy? Kaylen continued watching her lifeless form before slowly reaching out toward the magic circle. "I am curious about the Helmeier summoning... but I can¡¯t just leave Violet¡¯s mother as a sacrificial offering." He wasn¡¯t yet certain that this was truly the Queen, but¡ª If she was, then Violet deserved the chance to recover her mother¡¯s remains. Just as that thought crossed his mind and his hand touched the magic circle¡ª BZZZZZT¡ª A golden-red glow surged from the circle, and something began to materialize from the ground. "...Baldrix?" What appeared within the giant magic circle was¡ª A face. One that was far too familiar to Kaylen. His second son, Baldrix. ¡ªAh. Baldrix¡¯s face contorted into a grotesque grin¡ª And lunged forward, attempting to devour the woman¡¯s body. Kaylen swiftly moved and pulled the woman''s body away. At that moment, Baldrix¡¯s face twisted into a furious scowl, and he began screaming. ¡ª"A sacrifice. You stole my sacrifice! Give it back! Give it back!" Hearing a fully grown man throwing a tantrum like a newborn, Kaylen¡¯s expression contorted in disgust. What in the world were these lunatics doing with Baldrix¡¯s face? "You insane bastards!" Kaylen drew the Light Sword. ¡ª"Ah... T-Too bright... Hhiii...!" Exposed to the power of light, Baldrix¡¯s face shrank back in fear. Moments later, the summoning circle began to fade away. Kaylen watched the scene with a hardened expression. "The Helmeier Clan... is somehow connected to Baldrix¡¯s face?" Without hesitation, Kaylen retrieved the Demonic Relic, stepped inside with the woman¡¯s body, and sealed it away. After laying the corpse down, he immediately rushed to the solitary cell where the slime-type demon, Kane, was imprisoned. "I''m bored. Bored. Bored! Uwaaah, I¡¯m going crazy! I¡¯m losing my mind! I¡¯m so sick of talking to myself!" "You." "Oho? Cool big bro! Bro! I was waiting for you!" "What is your connection to the Helmeier Clan?" At that question, Kane grinned widely. "Wow. A human who knows about the Helmeier Clan?" "Answer the question." "Hmm... Well. I¡¯m bored, so I¡¯ll tell you. But if you know about the Helmeier Clan... shouldn¡¯t you already know about the face?" "The face? What about it?" Kane blinked and answered Kaylen with a smirk. "Oh, you don¡¯t know? When someone commits a crime and gets exiled from Helmeier... they get their face reshaped into this one~" [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 121 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 121 Kaylen''s expression darkened. "Are you also from the Helmeier lineage?" "Sigh... If only I were from the Helmeier lineage." "Didn''t you just say you were exiled?" "Oh, I was talking about the city''s name." "A city?" "Yeah. The four satellite cities surrounding the Demon King''s Castle. I''m from the eastern city among them." The slime-type demon, Kane, pouted. "For the Demon Realm, the laws are pretty strict. I got caught smuggling goods and was subjected to ''face punishment'' before being exiled. With this face, I can never return to Helmeier. Tsk! Do you know how much of my wealth is still there...?" Face punishment (ÐÌ)? If one takes on Baldrix¡¯s face, they are forever banned from the city of Helmeier? Hearing this, Kaylen pondered. "So Baldrix is practically treated like a criminal. Considering he also appeared in the magic circle meant to swallow sacrificial offerings, he''s definitely being used as a negative image." This was clearly orchestrated by the Helmeier lineage. "Do they hold a grudge against him?" If there was someone in the Meier family who would resent Baldrix, the second son... It would have to be Crown Prince Caius, who took over the imperial throne after Ernstine''s death. The fact that the Holy See once excommunicated Caius wasn¡¯t entirely baseless, was it? Kaylen looked at Kane with narrowed eyes and asked, "Tell me everything you know about the Helmeier lineage." "For free?" "What do you want?" "Judging by the situation, you¡¯re not planning to release me..." Kane glanced at the prison of swords that confined him and moved his chin. "Expand this prison a bit. Let my body regenerate up to my neck." "Fine." Vrrrrrrr¡ª The densely woven prison of swords expanded slightly. Until now, there had only been enough space to barely fit his head, but now, at least his upper body could emerge. Slither. Slither. From Kane''s severed neck, a viscous liquid oozed out and began forming into flesh. As he gradually restored his upper body, he let out a satisfied grin and said, "The Helmeier lineage is a newly emerged noble family. There are rampant rumors that they were originally humans, but given their immense power, those claims are dismissed as slander against them." "A newly emerged noble family?" "If they really were human, do you think the Demon King''s Castle would trust them so much? The commander of the Demon King''s Army''s elite airborne division is also from Helmeier. Though, that''s mostly because the entire lineage is highly skilled at taming dragon-type creatures..." From what he heard, Helmeier seemed to have established a solid position in the Demon Realm. "The ones who took Melvria were all riding Drakes... Does that mean she''s in the city of Helmeier?" The moment Kaylen heard about the city of Helmeier, he wanted to go there immediately. However, venturing into the Demon Realm¡ªwhich he had never set foot in even in his past life¡ªwhile the Six Swords were still incomplete was too risky. Especially since this wasn''t the same weakened Demon Realm that had been defeated by Ernstine in the past. It had grown stronger by turning the Middle Realm into its colony. "I need to complete the Six Swords and liberate the colonized Middle Realm first before I can make a move." Once the weak Wind Sword and Earth Sword were completed, the Six Swords would be fully established. And once that happened, the foundation for reaching the level of a Grand Swordmaster would be in place¡ªmeaning he had to complete those two swords as soon as possible. ¡®But right now, it¡¯s impossible.¡¯ The Balance of Fire and Water, Light and Dark. Fire and Water, Light and Dark¡ªeach counterbalanced the other, establishing the foundation of the Four Swords. However... Completing two more would not be an easy task. ¡®If I complete just one, the current balance will collapse, so I have to complete both at the same time.¡¯ It was an immense challenge, and in the current state of the Middle Realm¡ªreduced to a colony¡ªthere was no clear way to accomplish it. ¡®I¡¯ll have to put off completing the Six Swords until the conditions are right.¡¯ After briefly assessing his own condition, Kaylen turned his gaze to Kane. "Is that all you know about the Helmeier lineage?" "Well~ I would¡¯ve known more if I had been officially part of the Helmeier family. I was only taken in as an apprentice, but then I got caught smuggling mana stones. Oh! Let me add one more thing I just remembered¡ª They¡¯re so stingy. I didn¡¯t even steal a hundred mana stones, but they exiled me. Isn¡¯t that too much?" Kaitan spoke in a suggestive tone. "Now that Bellos is dead... the issue of securing an heir remains, does it not?" "There are still other princes." "Their mothers'' status is too low. They are not suitable to continue the Bormian royal bloodline. The mother should be at least from a count¡¯s family or higher, don¡¯t you agree?" "Are you saying...?" "Recently, the daughter of Count Codaine has caught my eye. The position of concubine is vacant. What do you think about inviting her?" Was he seriously asking his own daughter to propose concubinage to the count¡¯s daughter? Violet fell silent for a moment, composing her expression. "...I will suggest it to the Count¡¯s family after the ceremony." "Good. This is all for the sake of the Bormian royal family. I hope it goes through successfully." "Yes." Slosh. Kaitan slowly lifted himself from his chair. "I have to wake up early tomorrow. I should enjoy myself in advance during the day. I¡¯ll leave the preparations to you." "Understood." Clunk. Just as Kaitan was about to step out of the room, Violet quietly asked, "Father, I have something to ask." "What is it?" "It¡¯s about my mother." "Diana? Ugh. Drop it. That ruins my mood." Kaitan waved his hand dismissively, making it clear he had no interest in the topic, and walked out. "Is that so...." "Yes. On such a joyous occasion, I have no desire to talk about the woman who betrayed the Bormian royal family." Bang. Without any intention of listening to his daughter¡¯s words, Kaitan shut the door behind him and disappeared. Violet watched the scene and smiled. "Alright... I¡¯ll hear about it next time." After all, today would be the last good day. She couldn''t interfere with her father¡¯s final moments of indulgence. The Victory Ceremony With the rampant spread of dungeon portals erasing wars between kingdoms, this event was the first of its kind in centuries. Murmur, murmur. Standing on the podium in Bormian Square, Kaitan, still hungover, scanned the crowd. "Why is it so noisy?" "It has been a long time since a victory ceremony was held. The people are excited." "Tell them to quiet down. Tsk... my head is pounding." Kaitan ordered his knights to silence the crowd. But they did not move. "What are you doing? I said quiet them down!" He shouted furiously. "Please wait a moment." The knights, their expressions stiff, blatantly ignored the king¡¯s command. ¡®These bastards...¡¯ A knight¡¯s defiance was something that should have been impossible. Kaitan sobered up instantly. How dare they disobey him? Had they lost their minds? "You insolent fools, I¡¯ll have you¡ª!" He sprang up from his seat, pointing at the knights in fury. But the atmosphere in the square was ice-cold. The gathered audience did not respond with fear or anger. Instead, they remained eerily calm. As the king raged, the realization crept in¡ªsomething was terribly wrong. ¡®Why... why is the mood like this...?¡¯ Yet, this was only the beginning. Kaitan¡¯s nightmare had just begun. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 122 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 122 Lady Lina of the Florence County watched the advancing troops in the square with a tense expression. Due to the limited space in the square, only the most elite soldiers from Viltre Fortress were allowed to participate in the victory ceremony. A strange tension lingered in the air. It was understandable¡ªrecently, peculiar rumors had been spreading. [Something big is going to happen at the victory ceremony!] [The Seven Towers have suddenly been shut down, and high-ranking officials have gone missing!] Most of the general public was interested in the first rumor. However, nobles, mages, and high-ranking figures focused on the latter. The closed Seven Towers were all influential magical institutions in the Bormian Kingdom, and until recently, they had been operating actively. Yet, all contact with them was abruptly cut off, causing ongoing ventures to come to a complete halt. ¡ªLina, attend the victory ceremony today. ¡ªBased on the intelligence we¡¯ve gathered, the conclusion we¡¯ve reached is absurd. ¡ªI need to hear what you see and hear firsthand. The closure of the Seven Towers and the victory ceremony. At first glance, the two seemed unrelated. But Count Florence, who had been swiftly gathering information, detected a connection. However, the connection was entirely centered around "Kaylen," making it impossible to understand using conventional logic. In the end, they had no choice but to verify the truth of the rumors through Lina, who had ties to Kaylen. ¡®It¡¯s not just ordinary citizens... I see influential noble families and even Masters from the Towers.¡¯ As Lina observed the individuals occupying the best vantage points in the square, she realized that far more eyes were watching this ceremony than she had initially thought. ¡®It has begun.¡¯ Thud. Thud. The soldiers from Viltre Fortress marched in perfect formation. Most of them weren¡¯t just soldiers¡ªthey were knights. Lina noticed something unusual. In every victory ceremony she had attended, the Masters had always taken the lead. But now, there were only knights. ¡®Why...? Is it because of the newly appeared Sword Master?¡¯ Even in the capital, Stein¡¯s name was well-known. He had reportedly made great contributions during the fortress defense battle, so perhaps he was being honored first? Finding it curious, Lina continued watching the ceremony. "All troops, attention!" A thousand soldiers stood in disciplined formation. At the forefront, a blond man clad in white armor stepped forward. Sword Master Stein. As expected, he was leading the soldiers. "Salute His Majesty the King!" "LOYALTY!" Meanwhile, King Kaitan, who had been sitting with a scowl after the knights disobeyed his orders, momentarily relaxed at the soldiers¡¯ salute and lifted his hand to return the gesture. However¡ª ¡®...Wait, what?!¡¯ The soldiers'' gazes shifted. And the person receiving their salute was... strangely different. "T-Those people..." "Who are they saluting...?" "It¡¯s not the king... but behind the king..." Behind the King, in the place where Violet and Kaylen stood side by side, a thousand soldiers saluted Kaylen in unison. Step. Step. Kaylen, who had been standing behind, walked forward and returned the salute. "W-what is the meaning of this...?!" Seeing this, Kaitan¡¯s face contorted with a mix of anger and confusion as he tried to approach Kaylen to demand an explanation. However¡ª Srrrrk¡ª "A-Ah! It¡¯s cold! Violet! What are you doing?!" "Stay right where you are, Father." Kaitan¡¯s legs were frozen to the ground, trapping him completely by Violet¡¯s magic. He couldn''t move an inch. "Everyone." Violet, after briefly glaring at Kaitan, bowed her head toward Kaylen in greeting. Then, she stepped forward. "Today, as a princess of the Bormian royal family, I stand here to reveal the heinous crimes the royal family has committed until now." She spoke in an impassive, matter-of-fact tone, methodically listing the crimes of the Bormian royal family. "In the year 2755 of the Holy Calendar, the royal family ordered the royal-affiliated Cheokmadan to attack the village of Halyde. The villagers were massacred, and one hundred human children under the age of fifteen were taken. The survivors were offered as sacrifices to the Demon Realm." The year 2756. The year 2757. One by one, Violet read aloud the report detailing atrocities committed over the past thirty years. Murmur, murmur. At first, people were bewildered by the situation. However, whenever a village¡¯s name was mentioned, People naturally believed that the bloodline of Bormian ruled the country. Even if Kaitan were to be impeached, with Violet, who carries the royal blood of Bormian, would people still follow her? In the public¡¯s mindset, it was possible they would be drawn to Violet, as she carried the royal bloodline of Bormian. This could create a significant obstacle to the rule of a new royal family. Violet, aware of this, was willing to expose her own flaws and ruin herself in order to completely end the royal family. ¡°You were planning to expose those ¡®flaws¡¯ and then commit suicide, right?¡± ¡°...You knew.¡± Kaylen smirked as he spoke. ¡°You can¡¯t die right now. There¡¯s too much to do. You have to help me. Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Step. Step. Kaylen slowly walked toward Kaitan. His expressionless face approaching Kaitan was a complete 180 from the smiling demeanor he had just shown the king moments ago. And Kaitan could feel with every fiber of his being that this was Kaylen''s true nature. Just seeing him like this was suffocating. ¡°Y-you... you traitor...¡± ¡°Kaitan, last king of the Bormian kingdom that followed the Demon Realm. I will pass judgment on you.¡± ¡°K-kugh... No! This... this is...! It¡¯s slander! You will be remembered as a traitor throughout history...!¡± Srrrrk. Behind Kaylen, four Aura Swords appeared. ¡°I¡¯m willing to endure anything.¡± Kaitan¡¯s face froze as he looked at the four Aura Swords. Was this really how it would end...? He had rejoiced, thinking he would be the one to bring down Sword Master Stein... But now, was he the one to be destroyed instead? ¡®Ugh... No, I can¡¯t... I don¡¯t want to die! I don¡¯t want to beg for my life either.¡¯ No, he thought, even if he begged, they likely wouldn¡¯t spare him. ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t come any closer. If you take even a single step, I¡¯ll speak! Violet, your truth, your flaws...¡± The dark side of the royal family that had followed the Demon Realm until now could be revealed to the world. Just a moment ago, Kaitan had been hesitant to let it all out. But standing before the Aura Swords now, he wanted to use it to save himself. In his pathetic state... ¡°I wasn¡¯t planning to kill you immediately. But it seems that won¡¯t work now.¡± Kaylen delivered the death sentence. Six Swords Path Four Swords - Great Sword The four Aura Swords combined. What emerged was, unexpectedly, a sword of iron. The sword, which was normally the size of a longsword, began to grow rapidly as the attributes of light and darkness, fire and water, pushed against each other. Amplifying, amplifying. In an instant, it started to grow larger. "W-what is this...?" When Kaylen first grasped the sword, it had been of a typical size, but now, the blade was soaring into the sky. It was, literally, a gigantic sword. It was like a pillar holding up the sky to prevent it from falling to the earth. Too large to cut a human. But Kaylen¡¯s target was never just Kaitan. "I¡¯ll slice through the thousand-year-old royal castle in one strike." The true target was behind Kaitan. It was the Bormian royal castle, located at the back of the square. "Ugh... ugh..." Whoosh. The great sword, soaring into the sky, began to fall. And Kaitan¡¯s form vanished without a trace. He didn¡¯t even have the chance to scream. "W-what... is this?" "Evacuate!" Those in the path of the great sword¡¯s descent hurriedly fled. However, the sword was so wide that some were unable to escape in time. "Ugh..." "It¡¯s fine." But the great sword simply passed over them. Though it appeared to be made of iron, it was, in fact, a sword of mana. Kaylen adjusted the sword¡¯s power to ensure that no innocent bystanders were harmed. Only the Bormian royal castle was to be struck. Crash! The royal castle, which had stood at the heart of the Bormian Kingdom for a thousand years, was split in half. "Wow, the castle!" "It¡¯s... split in half..." The people understood. In one single moment, more than a hundred words could say. This moment, today, Bormian Kingdom had ended. And a new era had arrived. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 123 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 123 Violet had a dream. In her dream, she was a fragile young girl. She lay bound on a dark underground platform, surrounded by sorcerers draped in black robes, chanting incantations toward her. Wiiiiiing¡ª ¡°Ugh... Aah... It hurts... It hurts...¡± ¡°Just endure it a little longer. This is all because your blood has been tainted by that woman.¡± ¡°This is a rite that any direct descendant of the Bormian royal family must undergo.¡± Klklkl¡ª Black Skull, Cesar, laughed as he infused more dark energy into the magic circle drawn beneath Violet. As Violet struggled more violently, a woman bound in chains screamed in fury. ¡°You wretched bastards! If you must take a life, take mine! What are you doing to an innocent child?!¡± ¡°Silence, Diana! It pains me as well.¡± Chiiiiik¡ª The dark energy coiled around the girl''s body, etching a sigil onto her forehead. ¡°Your firstborn, Diether Hart, was already too late to save, so I had no choice but to turn him into a Black Skull. But this child... she will be different. Hahaha!¡± As the dark energy swirling around the magic circle intensified, Violet felt an unbearable pain piercing through her entire body. Even though she knew this was just a dream, the pain was overwhelming. ¡®This dream... I¡¯m sick of it.¡¯ She lost consciousness from the pain. As her vision slowly blurred, the sound of her mother¡¯s sobs and the Black Skull¡¯s laughter intertwined and echoed. ¡°It is done! The Blood Curse has settled!¡± ¡°Violet, welcome back as a true heir of Bormian. The memory of today... I shall bury it deep within you...¡± Gasp. Violet bolted upright from where she had been slumped over her desk. A dream that always ended with Cesar¡¯s whisper. She had already had this dream more than ten times. ¡°That damned Blood Curse...¡± Violet¡¯s expression hardened. Blood Curse. She didn¡¯t know exactly what it was. Cesar had claimed it was something all direct descendants of the Bormian royal family should have. ¡®But when Her Holiness examined the royal family, nothing was found.¡¯ After the Black Skull had been eradicated, Saintess Theresia had thoroughly examined the royal lineage, yet no trace of the Blood Curse had been discovered. Even the Holy See couldn¡¯t detect it. Violet rubbed her forehead. It felt as though the brand imprinted in her dream still remained. ¡®No, it¡¯s just my imagination... But the Blood Curse and the brand are definitely real.¡¯ An angel from Glacia had once purified her body, and even when Kaylen examined her, he had found nothing unusual. Yet, Violet was certain¡ªsomewhere within her, the brand of the demons still lingered. That thought wasn¡¯t just a suspicion anymore; it was closer to conviction. Sigh... She was now fully awake. Violet looked down at her desk with clearer eyes. A mountain of documents piled high before her. Seeing them, she recalled something Kaylen had said a month ago. ¡ªYou can¡¯t die yet. There¡¯s a mountain of work, and you have to help me. Where do you think you¡¯re going first? At first, she thought he was just making up excuses to keep her alive. "...To think that was actually one hundred percent true." The millennia-old royal palace of Bormian, split in half. A month had passed since Kaylen¡¯s simple coronation, yet he still resided in this fractured palace. The shattered walls had been crudely reinforced with earthen barriers, hastily constructed with the help of laborers and Earth Meisters. "Your Majesty, if there is a budget for land compensation, then I believe it should first be used to rebuild the royal palace and restore the dignity of House Meier." Count Leoric, who was present at the meeting, spoke sternly. The elderly count, with his hair and beard completely white, had once served as the palace chancellor under the previous reign¡ªa seasoned statesman with extensive experience. Most of the officials responsible for the palace¡¯s internal affairs had resigned from their positions when the royal family fell, choosing to take responsibility for its downfall. But Leoric had returned to the palace, even at over seventy years of age. "If the new king turns into a tyrant, I will stake my life to stop him." That was the resolve he had made. Yet now, after a month had passed¡ª It was Leoric himself who was urging Kaylen to spend the budget on restoring the dignity of House Meier. "The new king spends almost nothing on himself." Did he truly not care about appearances? Instead of reconstructing the palace, which he had split in half, he was content with patching it up and using minimal staff. Compared to how Kaitan indulged in luxury and pleasure, this king was a complete contrast. "With a new royal house established, if the kingdom continues to be run in such a manner... it will not reflect well in the eyes of other nations." "Our interactions with foreign nations are nearly nonexistent due to the dungeon portals, are they not?" "...Even so, the royal family must stand above all noble houses within the kingdom. It must be grander, more splendid, and greater than them." Kaylen dismissed Leoric¡¯s argument without much thought. "That is unnecessary. The dignity of the royal house will be established by me, not by some palace." It wasn¡¯t because he lacked the funds to rebuild. There were plenty of resources available. Cesar¡¯s stockpile of mana stones, as well as the mana suits collected from the evolution zones of the Seven Great Mage Towers, were still intact. But spending such resources on constructing a palace was nothing short of wasteful. "I indulged in luxury more than enough in the past." Back in the days of the unified empire, the newly built imperial palace had been as large as the entire capital region of Bormian¡¯s Alzass. No matter how grand they built a palace here, it would be nothing more than a glorified villa compared to that. "Your Majesty, I do understand your grand vision. However, the world places great importance on appearances." "Count Leoric, I am well aware of that. That is precisely why I erected the Sword Throne outside." "...Hrm." Leoric found himself at a loss for words. On his way to the palace this morning, he had once again laid eyes on the Sword Throne. "Even today, knights were training before it." A massive throne of swords, standing between the split halves of the palace. It was an enormous structure, symbolizing Kaylen as the founding king of the Meier Kingdom. The open space before the Sword Throne had naturally turned into a training ground, drawing knights from across the kingdom to practice there in groups. From morning till night, those who trained before the Sword Throne could distinctly feel their stagnating skills breaking through barriers¡ªsomething they had never experienced in years. "More than anyone else, the knights are completely loyal to His Majesty." Kaylen was already known by the public as the "Knight King," a title earned through the overwhelming support he received from the kingdom¡¯s knights. Leoric let out a small sigh before speaking again. "...I was short-sighted in my thinking." "Good. I¡¯m glad you realized that." "However, there is still a matter of greater importance." "And what would that be?" "Now that House Meier has been established, and with the kingdom regaining stability, the royal family requires a queen to solidify its foundation. A selection must be made as soon as possible." Kaylen frowned at those words. "I was wondering when this topic would come up." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 124 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 124 Leoric''s words were reasonable. To continue the royal lineage, an heir was necessary. And to have an heir, the king needed a suitable partner. Considering Leoric¡¯s rigid personality, it was a wonder how he had managed to hold his tongue for an entire month. However, Kaylen had no intention of marrying. "Now is not the time for that. Wouldn''t it be better to proceed after the kingdom has stabilized?" "Your Majesty, the Meier Kingdom is already stable thanks to your outstanding governance. The number of dungeon portals has significantly decreased compared to the reign of the previous King of Kaitan, and public order has improved. The people gather in small groups to praise Your Majesty." Leoric spoke passionately, but Kaylen could not agree with him at all. ¡®How is this a good place to live?¡¯ Compared to life in the Empire, the current conditions for the kingdom''s citizens were wretched. Except for a few wealthy districts like South River, most people were living day to day, struggling to earn enough just to eat. Moreover, the outer regions were frequently attacked by monsters emerging from dungeon portals. Even in areas without monster hordes, bandits¡ªdisplaced people who had lost their homes¡ªroamed near the capital. Of course, such issues... "For nearly a month, all dungeon portals near the capital, Alzass, have been completely eradicated, and the bandits who were preying on the people in the treacherous mountain ranges have disappeared. Is this not all thanks to Your Majesty¡¯s nightly excursions?" Kaylen had taken care of them all while riding his drake. "If there''s trash in my house, it¡¯s only natural to clean it up immediately." "There have been countless kings who failed to do even that." "Haha, Count, you''re quite good at flattery." "I am deeply wronged! I, Leoric, in my seventy years of life, have never once resorted to flattery. It is the truth! The citizens of the capital are living better than ever and pray for the Meier royal family¡¯s eternal prosperity." A king who was practically a transcendent being¡ªKaylen. As he dedicated himself tirelessly to state affairs day and night, the capital had stabilized in just a month. When he had first entered the palace, Count Leoric had been determined to risk his life in counsel, believing it was his duty to preserve the kingdom¡¯s peace. But now, after a month had passed, he had become a devoted follower of the king. Meanwhile, Kaylen knew that Leoric¡¯s words came from genuine concern, so he did not take them lightly. ¡®It¡¯s still too soon.¡¯ The land was still a colony of the Demon Realm. It was not the time to start a family. And more fundamentally¡ª ¡®A wife? Children? I don¡¯t want them yet. It¡¯s exhausting.¡¯ He recalled his past life. He had had countless wives and concubines, many children. Though there had been happy moments, what lingered in his mind were only the memories of constant suffering. ¡®And after I disappeared, my children fought to the death.¡¯ The beautiful children he had personally named ended up shedding each other¡¯s blood. Because they were of the imperial family, he had trained them harshly in the way of the sword¡ªonly for them to stab each other to death. He had thought they got along well, but they poisoned each other¡¯s meals. After witnessing such bloodshed even through history, the desire to build a family had completely vanished from his heart. "In any case, I will not consider marriage until the kingdom is truly stable." "...In that case, I understand. Then, Your Majesty, please tell this old servant your standard for stability. I, too, shall dedicate myself to achieving Your Majesty¡¯s vision." "Eliminating all dungeon portals within the kingdom¡¯s territory. Restoring the roads connecting every city in the kingdom. Ensuring that no citizen collapses from starvation on the streets. That is what I consider a stable nation." "Is... such a thing possible?" "It is possible. Didn¡¯t even the capital stabilize within a month? Food and security¡ªat the very least, the nation must guarantee these." It was difficult to compare the capital region with the entire kingdom. If even a single dungeon portal emerged, one could simply claim that stability had not yet been achieved. While Kaylen thought this to himself, outwardly, he spoke with confidence. However, upon hearing his words, Leoric looked as if he had been struck on the head with a hammer. ¡®Ensuring the safety of the entire kingdom and making sure no one starves... Even in times without dungeon portals, such a feat would have been difficult. Yet, in the current situation, he speaks of these conditions with such certainty... Is this the measure of our new king?¡¯ Seeing the capital¡¯s stability, Leoric had been proud to declare that the kingdom was at peace. The House of Duke Oblaine. In the past, Violet had harbored extreme hatred toward that family. However, that hatred had been nothing more than an illusion, a result of Cesar¡¯s memory manipulation. In truth, Duke Oblaine had no connection to her mother¡¯s death. Because of that, Violet felt a lingering sense of guilt toward them. But that was an entirely separate issue. "House Oblaine wields significant influence. If she were to become queen, wouldn¡¯t that shift the balance of power too much in one direction?" "That¡¯s true. Then what about Lady Irene, the younger sister of Sir Eldir?" Eldir, who had returned to his original identity from being the Swordmaster Stein. Thanks to his transformation from a drunkard at the Tower of the Fey to an exceptional Swordmaster, his sister, Irene, who had once been one of the Seven Masters of the Tower, had also gained prominence. "Professor Irene is certainly beautiful... but isn¡¯t the age gap too large? Besides, she¡¯s an elf." "Then what about Lady Florence from the Count of Florence¡¯s family¡ª" "Not her. She has a bad reputation." "...Hmm. Hmm. I feel like I¡¯m opposing every suggestion, but I do have my reasons. If you find someone who truly suits His Majesty, I won¡¯t object." Leoric smiled as he watched Violet turn her head, seemingly embarrassed by her own responses. "Understood." "But if you ask this old man, the sight of Princess Violet standing beside His Majesty was always the most fitting." "...I told you, I¡¯m not a princess anymore." "I just wanted to say that. And once again, I apologize for my earlier rudeness." With that, Leoric left the room. Violet watched him go, then glanced at the mirror inside the room. "...What a sight." Dark circles under her eyes, rough skin, and disheveled hair. She used to have maids to take care of such things, but with the fall of the royal family, there were no more maids to assist her. Most of the Bormian royal family''s assets had been confiscated, with only a few remaining. However, Violet had refused all inheritances connected to the royal family, so what remained had been distributed among other members of the former royalty. ¡®I miss Jane.¡¯ Violet chuckled softly as she sat down in front of the vanity. At this rate, it was too much. She had to try managing on her own for once. ¡®Yeah. This is just because I don¡¯t like how I look.¡¯ With that thought, Violet began her journey of self-reliance. "Violet. Your complexion looks good. You must have gotten some proper rest last night." "Yes, Your Majesty." "I was considering giving you some time off since you¡¯ve seemed exhausted lately... but it looks like you can handle more work." "...Yes, Your Majesty." Maybe she shouldn¡¯t have bothered. Violet let out a bitter smile. Kaylen, oblivious to her reaction, continued with his question. "There¡¯s something I¡¯m curious about. Food supplies¡ªspecifically, wheat." "Wheat?" "Yes. It doesn¡¯t seem as scarce as I expected." Even though there was a vast grain-producing region near the capital, Alzass, the frequent dungeon portals should have been wreaking havoc on farming. ¡®At this rate, even the middle class should be struggling with food shortages.¡¯ While there was indeed a food crisis, it wasn¡¯t as severe as Kaylen had anticipated. "Ah, that¡¯s because of the improved wheat developed by the ¡®Nameless Archmage.¡¯" "The Nameless Archmage... You mean the one who developed mana suits?" "Yes. Thanks to him, people aren¡¯t starving as much as they could be." The Nameless Archmage. At the mention of that name, Kaylen¡¯s expression hardened. ¡®Suspicious.¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 125 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 125 The Nameless Archmage. He was renowned as a hero who had disseminated the method for crafting mana suits without asking for anything in return, saving humanity from the suffering brought by dungeon portals. ¡®But the mana suit... did he really develop it? The Demon Realm already had a far more advanced version.¡¯ Kaylen recalled the Combine Suit that Black Skull Cesar had unveiled through the vampires. The capabilities of the Combine Suit were on an entirely different level. A technology that merged multiple mana suits into a single, massive suit¡ª it far surpassed anything the existing mana suits could achieve. The idea that the mana suit was first developed in the Middle World and then somehow reverse-engineered in the Demon Realm was simply unreasonable. ¡®If it didn¡¯t originate from the Demon Realm, it wouldn¡¯t make sense.¡¯ Kaylen thought back to a conversation he had with Myorn. ¡ª "At the Academy, they say the Nameless Archmage developed it and spread it widely." ¡ª "It was the same for my people and the elves. That Archmage shared samples of the mana suit and the magic circles..." ¡ª "The elders were ecstatic about the technology, saying it was ahead of its time." ¡ª "Did you ever see his face?" ¡ª "No. There''s no information about him at all. The only thing known is that he wore a hooded robe and a jester¡¯s mask." A Grand Mage wearing a jester¡¯s mask. The world praised him as a great figure, but Kaylen felt uneasy about him. And today, upon hearing from Violet that he had also modified the wheat seeds, his suspicions deepened even further. ¡®Developing mana suits and solving the food crisis? Those are entirely different fields of expertise... Could one person really have accomplished both?¡¯ It was close to impossible. Still, credit had to be given where it was due. Thanks to the Nameless Archmage, humanity had found a measure of security and managed to survive.@@@@ But if the origins of mana suits were indeed linked to the Demon Realm, it was only natural to question his true intentions. ¡®Mana suits may have saved humanity, but they are also the perfect tool for the Demon Realm to control us.¡¯ By relying on mana suits, humanity had focused on strengthening its Meister forces. However, against mana eaters inscribed with anti-magic formations, they were utterly powerless. If the Demon Realm truly wanted to, they could unleash legion-command mana eaters and wipe out humanity in an instant. If not for the existence of the Sanctuary¡¯s Holy Legion, humanity would have had no countermeasure against mana eaters at all. And as for this modified wheat¡ª was it truly created with pure intentions, just to increase food supply? "We need to investigate this wheat." "Wheat... Your Majesty?" "Yes. Violet, send someone to collect a sample. Don''t go yourself. There''s no need for you to handle such trivial matters personally." "Understood." "And while we''re on the subject... what happened to the maids who used to serve you?" "I let them go. I couldn¡¯t afford to pay them. Honestly, just having a place to stay in this castle is more than enough for me." Violet spoke with a wry smile, and Kaylen tilted his head in confusion. "I¡¯m certain I provided you with ample wealth before." "That was an inheritance from the Bormian royal family. I distributed it all among the remaining members of the royal bloodline." "I see? But that inheritance wasn¡¯t even half of it... The rest was your compensation. If you gave it all away, well, suit yourself." Kaylen reached into a collection of demon relics and handed Violet a high-grade mana stone. "That¡¯s your salary for this month." Swish. Kaylen reached into the artifact once more and pulled out another mana stone. "Use this for the upkeep of the royal castle." "Understood. But... this is too much." "I have an S-rank mana suit user working for me every day. This much is only fair." "S-Still, there¡¯s no need for this much..." "Mana stones are the one thing we have in excess right now. You don¡¯t need to indulge in luxury like before, but at least hire enough people to keep the castle running properly." Kaylen reached into the artifact several more times, showing her piles of high-grade mana stones. A mountain of shimmering stones¡ª all of them were treasures once hoarded by Cesar and the Seven Towers. "That¡¯s... an incredible amount..." "From now on, don¡¯t worry about the budget." After ordering Violet to bring back a sample of the wheat and hire more people, Kaylen sent her on her way. ¡®I only just realized she doesn¡¯t have maids anymore.¡¯ She had been doing her best, no doubt, but her lack of skill in applying makeup was obvious. ¡®I should do something about that.¡¯ * * * "It¡¯s been soooo long, Kaylen. I was bored to death~." Thud. Kaylen tossed some wheat and bread before Armor¡¯s eyes. Armor¡¯s pupils rolled slightly. [ ...Is that not mere human food...? ] "That¡¯s all?" [ Hah... what more is there to say? Must I concern myself with the diet of beasts? ] Armor feigned indifference. But Kaylen didn¡¯t miss the slight tremor in his gaze. "You know something." [ E-Even if I do... do you really think I¡¯d tell you? To a mere human?! ] "If you talk, I¡¯ll make things easier for you, depending on how valuable the information is." [ I don¡¯t know... I won¡¯t tell you! Once the main forces arrive, we¡¯ll repay you a hundredfold for what you¡¯ve done! ] Armor remained resolute. ¡®Even after a month, he refuses to break. The Holy See would handle an interrogation like this much more effectively.¡¯ During the Demon King¡¯s subjugation campaign, whenever demons were captured alive, they were handed over to the inquisitors of the Holy See. Before long, valuable information would start pouring out. ¡®If he keeps holding out, I¡¯ll have to request an inquisitor from Sanctuary.¡¯ In the end, Armor did not give in to the carrot. Kaylen let out a small sigh and silently left the demon relic¡¯s space. If he couldn¡¯t extract a confession, then he would have to test it himself. * * * "Your Majesty... this bread is..." Alkas, summoned by Kaylen, trailed off mid-sentence. A mountain of bread was stacked on the table before him. He had no idea why so much bread had suddenly appeared here. "Alkas. First, perform mana breathing." Was His Majesty personally overseeing his training? Feeling a surge of anticipation, Alkas focused on his breathing and began gathering aura. But before long, Kaylen stopped him. "That¡¯s enough... This is where you currently stand." "That¡¯s... it?" "Yes. Stop your breathing exercise. Now, eat this bread." "Gasp... Are you telling me to eat all of this...?" "You don¡¯t have to finish it all, but eat as much as you can." Even the ever-loyal knight hesitated for a moment at the sheer amount of bread piled on the table. But since it was a direct order from his lord, Alkas said nothing and began stuffing himself with bread. ¡®Urgh...¡¯ It was dry. He had to gulp down water just to force it down. Before long, through sheer determination, Alkas managed to consume an absurd amount of bread. "Well done. Now, breathe again and try to accumulate aura." "Ugh... Yes, Your Majesty..." He still had no idea why he was being made to do this, but as a faithful servant, Alkas obeyed without question. Kaylen observed the flow of mana gathering within him. Soon, his eyes sharpened. ¡®There is a difference...¡¯ The difference was subtle. So subtle, in fact, that even someone as attuned to mana as Kaylen could only notice it through direct comparison. But there was no doubt¡ªthis modified wheat did hinder human mana absorption. ¡®Which means... people who have been eating this wheat since childhood must have been significantly affected.¡¯ Up until now, it had been assumed that the Red Moon drained the atmosphere of mana, which explained why this era¡¯s people had such low mana levels. But if the moon was absorbing ambient mana from the air, then wheat¡ªhumanity¡¯s staple food¡ªwas covertly obstructing mana absorption. ¡®The Nameless Archmage...¡¯ Through mana suits, humanity had been able to protect itself. Through modified wheat, they had survived food shortages. But mana suits had a fatal weakness¡ªmana eaters. And this wheat had been sabotaging the very foundation of humanity¡¯s growth. In the end, these were tools designed to keep humanity alive, but never strong enough to break free from their subjugation. Kaylen was certain now. ¡®He saved humanity... but ensured we could never escape the Demon Realm¡¯s rule. Humanity... has been nothing more than their livestock all along.¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 126 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 126 "Kaylen? Or should I call you Your Majesty?" "Call me whatever you like, Myorn." "...It feels strange hearing formal speech from a human king. Just speak casually." "As you wish." Watching how effortlessly Kaylen responded, Myorn couldn¡¯t help but be impressed. ¡®It hasn¡¯t even been a year since he stood out in the Superior Mage Selection Tournament.¡¯ Back then, he had just been one of many promising mages. But while she had been locked away in her workshop, absorbed in research, the man had undergone a drastic transformation. And that wasn¡¯t all. When he first revealed he was a Swordmaster, she thought nothing else could surprise her.@@@@ But when she heard that he had fought in the fortress defense, split the royal palace in half, and then founded a new kingdom¡ª she could hardly tell whether it was a dream or reality. "What brings you here today?" "I heard you needed more people in the workshop." "Yeah. There aren¡¯t nearly enough researchers for the scale of the project." "I¡¯ve brought some suitable candidates. Come in." The workshop doors opened. Dozens of mages entered, looking visibly uneasy. "Who are they?" "Mages from the Seven Towers who collaborated with the Demon Realm¡¯s followers." "Ah... the ones you wiped out recently." The king who had slain the former ruler and single-handedly subdued the Seven Towers. The common people were in awe of the sight of the capital¡¯s palace being split in two. But among Meisters and those connected to the mage towers, what truly astonished them was the fact that Kaylen had defeated the Seven Towers alone. Within the former Bormian Kingdom, the Seven Towers had been among the most powerful institutions. And yet, he had taken them down single-handedly. His power was beyond comprehension, and the nobles and mage factions were now treading carefully, afraid to earn his ire. "The real problem was the leadership of the Seven Towers. The mages and Meisters who weren¡¯t involved in their inner circle aren¡¯t to blame." "And you even confiscated the towers¡¯ wealth and distributed it to the people." There were multiple reasons why the capital had stabilized so quickly. But one of the most effective moves in the early days of his reign was the cash distribution. Of course, all that money had come from the Seven Towers. "Most of the towers¡¯ wealth belonged to the leadership. That gave me the right to handle it as I saw fit." "I see..." "In any case, while the remaining mages aren¡¯t guilty of serious crimes... public perception of them isn¡¯t great. Being affiliated with the Seven Towers is like a scarlet letter¡ªthey¡¯ll never escape that stigma. So, I¡¯m giving them a chance to legally atone for their past." "By working here?" "That¡¯s right. They¡¯ll be part of the workshop for one year." Myorn glanced at the group of mages, still cowering. At first, their pale faces had made them hard to recognize. But looking closely, she realized some of them were highly skilled mana suit artisans. ¡®Even if they¡¯re from the Seven Towers, plenty of people would want to recruit them.¡¯ She quickly saw through Kaylen¡¯s reasoning¡ªoffering them a chance at redemption was just an excuse. He had simply taken the opportunity to staff the workshop with capable people. And this... Was something she wholeheartedly welcomed. ¡®I knew putting him in charge of the workshop was the right decision. He thinks things through well.¡¯ Myorn¡¯s Workshop. The projects currently underway were enough to make any mana suit researcher lose their mind with excitement. But because of Myorn¡¯s past reputation, skilled researchers had been reluctant to apply to the workshop. ¡®We¡¯ll be working with elves?¡¯ ¡®Wait, this could be good... ¡®Should I settle here?¡¯ The research projects were intriguing, and the working environment seemed like it would be excellent. "Then, Charles. Was it?" "Yes! Your Majesty!" "Tell the rest of the research team to bring in more people. The workshop itself is conducting a lot of research, so it would be difficult to send them elsewhere." "Understood." When Kaylen ordered Charles, the representative of the mages, he responded quickly with light steps, in stark contrast to his earlier hesitations. "Charles~ next time, I¡¯ll make sure to formally greet you~" "Yes... Yes, I understand!" Charles, his face turning bright red, quickly exited the room. "As for the other mages... right. Please guide them, elves." The mages, who had been looking at Charles with envy, were now following Kaylen¡¯s orders, their faces matching in blank expressions as they were led by the elves. With that, only Kaylen, Irene, and Myorn remained in the workshop. Kaylen smiled slightly and spoke. "We¡¯ll have tea when you have time." "There¡¯s an issue with the wheat interfering with mana absorption?" "Yes. While he saved humanity, he also made them into a colony of the Demon Realm." Irene sipped her tea, and Kaylen shared his thoughts about the Nameless Archmage. "Do you have any more records about him from the elves?" "No. The only record we have is that he wore a jester¡¯s mask and gave out mana suits." "Hmm..." It seemed there was no immediate way to learn his true identity. "But what can we do? Without that modified wheat, human society would have struggled to survive." "That¡¯s true. For now, we have to rely on it. But once the kingdom stabilizes and we establish control, we¡¯ll gradually change things." "That¡¯ll take a long time. The farmers may not even want to switch to older wheat varieties." Kaylen thought Myorn¡¯s point made sense. Honestly, even he could only barely distinguish the side effects of the wheat... Would farmers really choose to grow the older wheat when the current one yields so much? "Hearing you say that, it doesn¡¯t sound easy. After all, it¡¯s the farmers who grow the wheat. If they intentionally switch, we¡¯d have no way of knowing." "Hmm... well, Kaylen, why don¡¯t you ask the World Tree?" "The World Tree?" "Yes. The will of the World Tree has mentioned that it wishes to meet you again." "Really?" The will of the World Tree, which carried the spirit of Kaylen¡¯s fifth wife, the High Elf Deluna. Thinking of her, Kaylen couldn¡¯t hide his distaste. "Why does she want to meet me?" "She didn¡¯t specify the reason. However, when she heard that you founded the Meier Kingdom, she expressed a desire to meet you. She said it was important." "Hmm..." What did founding the Meier Kingdom have to do with her? Kaylen didn¡¯t understand, but he nodded anyway. ¡®If it¡¯s the World Tree, maybe it has a way to deal with the wheat seeds.¡¯ After all, the World Tree was a plant, so perhaps it knew something. Since it was quick to travel by drake, Kaylen decided to visit. "Alright. I¡¯ll visit in three days." "Got it. I¡¯ll prepare ahead of time." As Irene smiled and replied, Kaylen thought to himself, ¡®But with her looking like this... Deluna might mistake me for Ernstine.¡¯ The saintess was still holding on to that hope, but Deluna, who had once shared a bed with him as his fifth wife, might recognize him. ¡®There¡¯s no need to hide it, but there¡¯s no need to bring it up first either. If she recognizes me, I¡¯ll handle it when the time comes.¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 127 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 127 Three days later, at the Fairy Tower. Kaylen, arriving on a drake alongside Eldir, was warmly welcomed. ¡°Your Majesty, you¡¯ve arrived.¡± ¡°There are quite a lot of elves gathered here.¡± ¡°They heard of the newly crowned king¡¯s reputation and came hoping to at least catch a glimpse of you.¡± Irene spoke as she glanced toward Eldir as well. ¡°There are many who want to see you too. Who would¡¯ve thought the drunkard of the tower was actually a Sword Master?¡± ¡°Heh. Does this mean I get to enjoy some popularity again?¡± ¡°Do you really want that? Then I¡¯ll introduce you. If you agree to meet them, I bet they¡¯ll line up.¡± Eldir looked at his wooden sword, Melvria, and chuckled. ¡°You know I have no interest in that. Even if you compare a hundred elves, they¡¯re nothing compared to Melvria.¡± ¡°...I also feel sorry about what happened to Sister Melvria, but shouldn¡¯t you at least consider continuing the family line?¡± ¡°Sigh... The elves have really been influenced by humans. Does that even make sense? And Irene, if it¡¯s about continuing the family, shouldn¡¯t you be the one bringing home a husband?¡± ¡°Ugh... I¡¯m just too busy with work!¡± ¡°Everyone¡¯s busy, but they still find time. You old maid.¡± Watching the siblings bicker, Kaylen spoke up. ¡°Save the family argument for later. Let¡¯s get going.¡± ¡°Hoho. I must have shown you an unsightly scene. I¡¯ll guide you. Meanwhile, Brother, go enjoy the popularity you couldn¡¯t before.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m coming too. I should at least greet them.¡± Irene shot a glare at Eldir before turning around and personally guiding Kaylen. The underground chamber where the Mana Suit Guardian was kept. The place Irene led Kaylen to was precisely that chamber. [Irene, you have brought him.] A gentle voice resonated from the light shining onto the Guardian. It was a slightly different voice than before. The tone was now steady, lacking fluctuations, giving off a rigid, feminine impression. [I heard you founded the Meier Kingdom. Heir of the Dragon Sword God... Huh?] The previously firm voice trembled, returning to Deluna¡¯s tone. The light streaming onto the Guardian flickered. [Ern...?] For the first time, the ever-composed will of the World Tree showed hesitation. Irene and Eldir exchanged glances. Why is it reacting this way? [Ern. It¡¯s you, isn¡¯t it?] ¡°Will of the World Tree, this is His Majesty Kaylen, King of Meier. His appearance has changed significantly, but...¡± [That can¡¯t be. That can¡¯t be true.] ¡°We have witnessed Kaylen¡¯s transformation firsthand. After absorbing the Fire Mana, his appearance changed.¡±@@@@ [...] The will of the World Tree remained silent for a moment before commanding the two elves. [My children, leave us for now.] ¡°Understood.¡± As the two elves stepped outside in obedience to the World Tree¡¯s will, the voice changed completely back to Deluna¡¯s. [Ern. It really is you, isn¡¯t it?] [After our last meeting, I¡¯ve spent a lot of time thinking. No matter how direct a descendant he may be, could he truly inherit the Six Sword Path? And could he resemble our ancestor¡¯s gestures to such an extent? Even the name Deluna... Did he really leave that behind for his descendant?] ¡°Isn¡¯t it more likely that a descendant would inherit it rather than the Grand Emperor Ernstine reviving after a thousand years?¡± [Ern... I think the chances of someone inheriting the Six Sword Path are even lower than you coming back to life. You taught it to so many of your children, yet not a single one could master it. Even Baldrix, who had the talent for swordsmanship, couldn¡¯t.] [And besides, how could a descendant possibly mimic the way you made me fall for you... A man who had four wives? It has to be you, Ernstine.] The will of the World Tree, now certain, referred to Kaylen as Ern. Her voice grew increasingly vibrant as she continued speaking. [Hurry, answer me, Ern...] Kaylen let out a faint smile. As expected, with this changed appearance, it was difficult to deceive her. ¡°...Yeah. I figured it¡¯d be hard to fool my own wife¡¯s eyes.¡± [So it really is...!] ¡°That¡¯s right, Deluna. I am Ernstine.¡± From within it, an overwhelming life force radiated. [The World Tree has commanded me to become its seed and take root on the surface.] ¡°Deluna. Are you saying you¡¯ll become a new World Tree?¡± [Yes. But only as the World Tree that appears on the surface... I will be a presence that breathes vitality into the true form of the World Tree below.] So, the underground World Tree was the main body, and the one growing on the surface would simply be a branch. Kaylen had a question. ¡°Can¡¯t it just take root on the surface? Why does it need my permission?¡± [It needs to be planted at the heart of this kingdom¡¯s capital, Alzass.] ¡°The center of Alzass... That would be near the royal palace.¡± [Yes. That¡¯s why the kingdom¡¯s approval is necessary. Bormian previously refused this request, saying that having the World Tree near the royal palace would be burdensome.] That was the official reason, but in reality, it was likely because Dark Skull Ce?sar feared it would be difficult to control. Thinking this, Kaylen asked Deluna, ¡°If the World Tree takes root, what benefits will it bring to the kingdom?¡± [You are aware that this world is under the dominion of the Demon Realm, correct?] ¡°Yeah. The moon looks strange.¡± [As expected of you, Ern. You¡¯ve already noticed that much. If the World Tree takes root on the surface, it will block the red moon¡¯s mana invasion.] Kaylen¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. Preventing mana invasion? ¡®I was struggling to find a solution to the problem of the corrupted wheat...¡¯ If the World Tree were to take root, it would at least offer some resolution. ¡°How is that even possible?¡± [The very reason I intend to take root on the surface is to prevent this from happening.] Deluna smiled softly as she spoke. [While the new World Tree acts as a barrier, the main body must continue to grow and fulfill the elves¡¯ long-cherished wish.] ¡°The elves¡¯ long-cherished wish?¡± [Th-That... is difficult for me to explain...] As Deluna lowered her head apologetically, Kaylen lost interest in the matter. ¡°Well, whatever. If it can stop the red moon¡¯s mana absorption, that¡¯s more than enough.¡± [Then, may I take root in the capital?] ¡°Hmm. But I also have my own reasons for coming here.¡± [And what would those be?] Kaylen took out the wheat and seeds and began explaining the matter concerning the nameless Grand Mage. Deluna reached out her hand. [Let me see them.] Would she even be able to hold them in her current ghostly state? Despite his doubts, Kaylen handed her the wheat and seeds. A flash of light emanated from Deluna¡¯s body, and the objects vanished. She closed her eyes and remained silent for a moment before speaking again. [...I thought it was solely due to the red moon, but this itself is also a problem.] Her expression turned grave. [Ern, the soil of this land is slowly transforming into Demon Realm soil. The World Tree believed this was purely the red moon¡¯s influence, but judging by this wheat and these seeds, their impact is just as significant.] ¡°So it¡¯s not just interfering with mana absorption?¡± [No. More than that, it¡¯s altering the soil itself to resemble that of the Demon Realm. Preventing mana absorption is merely a secondary effect, not the primary goal.] It seemed they intended to completely reshape the land into a Demon Realm colony. Kaylen clicked his tongue. [Fortunately, if the World Tree takes root on the surface, it can suppress this transformation as well.] ¡°Is that so? Then we absolutely must plant the World Tree in the capital.¡± [Truly? Thank you. However... once the World Tree is fully established, it may draw the attention of the Demon Realm. Are you prepared for the consequences of the red moon losing its mana absorption?] ¡°It¡¯s fine. That¡¯s something we¡¯ll have to accept.¡± With a Demon Realm commander already held captive, a confrontation with the Demon Realm was inevitable. In that case, it was best to build up as much power as possible before the battle began. With the World Tree, the kingdom¡¯s strength could grow at a much faster rate. ¡°I will accept the World Tree¡¯s proposal.¡± [Thank you, Ern. Then, I¡¯ll be relying on you until we reach the capital.] [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 128 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 128 ¡°W-Who is that...?¡± Irene¡¯s voice trembled as she looked at Deluna, who was following behind Kaylen. Her translucent, ghost-like form, combined with her beauty¡ªso breathtaking even by elven standards¡ªleft Irene in awe. [My children.] Unlike her tone with Kaylen, Deluna addressed the two elves with a gentle yet dignified presence. The moment they heard her voice, Eldir flinched in shock. This voice¡ªno elf could possibly fail to recognize it. ¡°C-Could it be... the World Tree?¡± [I am the seed of the World Tree. I will accompany Ern... King Kaylen and take root in the royal capital.] ¡°Ah...¡± ¡°A new World Tree... in the royal capital...?¡± So this was the reason the World Tree had summoned the king. A new World Tree was about to take root. Faced with such an unexpected revelation, the two elves widened their eyes in disbelief. ¡°Since I¡¯ll be traveling with Deluna for a while, make the necessary preparations.¡± ¡°W-Wait... Deluna...?¡± ¡°Hm. You two may recognize her. She is also Melvria¡¯s mother.¡± Eldir¡¯s face twisted in shock as he repeated the words. ¡°Melvria¡¯s... mother? Why is she here...?¡± ¡°Well, it seems that reviving the World Tree required the sacrifice of a High Elf. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± [It¡¯s not quite that simple... but if you remove all the details, that¡¯s more or less accurate.] Eldir couldn¡¯t hide his surprise. He recalled asking Melvria about her mother in the past. Her response had been cold and sharp. ¡ªMother? Don¡¯t ever ask me about her again. I don¡¯t even want to think about it. Only after their relationship deepened and they had gotten married did he hear a brief explanation. ¡ªShe left me alone in the imperial palace... The only person I could rely on was my father.@@@@ Seeing how much pain Melvria felt whenever the topic of her mother came up, Eldir had deliberately avoided bringing it up over the years. And now, to learn that she had been merged with the World Tree all this time... [Eldir. Thank you for being there for my daughter. I¡¯ve always wanted to say that.] As Deluna gave a warm smile, Eldir lowered his head. ¡°It was nothing, Mother-in-law... If anything, I failed to protect Melvria.¡± [That was not your fault. The Helmeier family was simply too powerful. Don¡¯t blame yourself too much.] At Deluna¡¯s gentle words, Eldir¡¯s expression eased slightly. Kaylen, watching the two, turned his gaze outward. ¡°The rest can be discussed outside. We¡¯ll take the drakes back, just like we did on the way here.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty Kaylen.¡± [Ah... Ern... Kaylen. The drake... would be a problem.] Unlike her composed demeanor when speaking to the elves, Deluna¡¯s attitude completely shifted when addressing Kaylen. She hesitated before speaking. ¡°Why?¡± [I need to travel across the land, gathering mana from the earth as I go.] ¡°Hm. There¡¯s a lot of work piling up in the royal capital...¡± [A-Are you really that busy?] Deluna¡¯s expression fell. [Then... you can go ahead first. I¡¯ll follow on my own.] She forced a smile, as if trying to appear unbothered, yet her demeanor resembled that of someone heartbroken. ¡®What¡¯s going on? What kind of relationship do these two even have...? And Ern? Why is she calling him Ern?¡¯ Irene¡¯s eyes darted between the two, observing their dynamic with interest. These two... For people who supposedly just met today, they seemed far too familiar with each other. Meanwhile, as Kaylen looked at Deluna¡¯s expression, he changed his mind. ¡®Once she becomes the World Tree, I won¡¯t even be able to face her like this anymore.¡¯ In a way, the journey to the capital might be his last chance to spend time with her. Besides, the royal palace wasn¡¯t that far away. Spending a few days with her wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea. ¡°...Eldir. Take the drake and head to the palace first. I¡¯ll give it the command.¡± ¡°I should go first?¡± ¡°Yes. Tell them training in the Sword Domain will be on hold for three days. In the meantime, spar with the knights.¡± [Oh, then... could it be...?] ¡°Protecting the seed of the World Tree is the top priority right now.¡± Even after a thousand years, he was still getting nagged by his wife. Kaylen let out a dry chuckle. ¡°I had too much energy back then. But after seeing the fall of the Meier Empire, I regret living so indulgently.¡± [...] ¡°Caius, Baldrix... and all the other conflicts among my children... I thought none of them would dare act while I was alive. But the world is unpredictable.¡± [Who could have imagined you would disappear? You were the great Grand Sword Master who even cut down the Demon King.] ¡°I should have set things in order properly... but I foolishly thought I¡¯d live forever.¡± As the sun set and night fell, their conversation continued without pause. [Ern. How much progress have you made with the Six Swords?] ¡°I¡¯ve completed four¡ªFlame, Water, Life, and Shadow.¡± [That leaves Earth and Wind.] ¡°Yeah. So far, I¡¯ve been lucky. But completing the last two won¡¯t be easy. They have to be mastered almost simultaneously.¡± [The Wind Sword and the Earth Sword...] Deluna repeated the names of the two remaining swords before speaking. [Should I start gathering Earth mana? I can store it inside the World Tree¡¯s fruit.] ¡°Huh? That¡¯s possible?¡± [Yes. Now that I¡¯m independent, I can use a certain amount of mana at my discretion. Besides, the stronger you become, the safer the World Tree will be.] ¡°That¡¯s good. Then all that¡¯s left is solving the issue of Wind mana.¡± When Kaylen had first awakened in this body, the thought of ever completing the Six Swords had seemed like a distant dream... But things were progressing much more smoothly than expected. [As for Wind mana... there¡¯s a lot stored in Eldir¡¯s Spirit Stone. But if you take it, he¡¯ll die.] ¡°You mean the Spirit Stone embedded in Eldir¡¯s eye? No matter how urgent it is to complete the Six Swords, it¡¯s not so urgent that I¡¯d gouge out my son-in-law¡¯s eye.¡± Once the World Tree took root and stopped the red moon¡¯s mana plundering, it would become far easier to gather mana than it was now. [Right?] ¡°Yeah. So don¡¯t worry.¡± [Ern. But haven¡¯t we been walking for too long? I¡¯m getting tired.] ¡°You¡¯re tired? I can feel an overwhelming amount of life energy coming from that seed.¡± [Still, walking for 36 hours straight is too much! Let¡¯s rest for a bit, okay?] Rumble¡ª Before Kaylen could even respond, the ground trembled as mounds of earth rose up, forming a small house. [Let¡¯s sleep together for old times¡¯ sake.] The earthen door opened on its own. From inside, Deluna gestured for Kaylen to enter. ¡°Haha, this brings back memories.¡± With a small smile, Kaylen stepped into the house. Once she became the World Tree, this would likely be the last time they could do something like this. Even if it was just for a few days, he wanted to grant her every wish. ¡ª Rumble¡ª As the entire Sanctuary shook from the violent tremors, Theresia frowned. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Astella Bridge is shaking.¡± ¡°Again?¡± Astella Bridge. One of the four bridges that supported the Sanctuary. Sustained by the power of the Holy Sword Astella, it had been unstable ever since that day. ¡°He still insists on going to Lord Kaylen?¡± ¡°Yes... It keeps shaking the entire bridge, saying it must return to its master.¡± Ever since Kaylen had used a fragment of the Holy Sword, Astella had refused to continue stabilizing the bridge. It had been constantly trying to move, demanding to return to its rightful master, the Hero. Because of this, the Sanctuary had been forced to divert all efforts to suppress it, unable to focus on anything else. ¡°It seems impossible to stop it without the Saintess¡¯s power.¡± ¡°...Sigh. Alright, I¡¯ll go.¡± Just as Theresia, exhausted, stood up¡ª Boom! A deafening explosion echoed through the Sanctuary, loud enough to be heard even within the Saintess¡¯s quarters. ¡°...No way.¡± Theresia rushed out of the room in alarm. But¡ª ¡°L-Lady Saintess... We¡¯re too late! The Holy Sword¡ªit has fallen!¡± It was already too late. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 129 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 129 [I don¡¯t want to go.] Deluna clung to Kaylen¡¯s hand, pouting. When Kaylen slowed his pace in response, she quickly shook her head, telling him not to. [This is about the future of my people. I¡¯ve already gathered the Earth¡¯s energy, so I can¡¯t let personal desires get in the way any longer.] ¡°A day or two late wouldn¡¯t hurt anyone. You¡¯re still the same as ever.¡± [You¡¯ve changed. You used to be strict about separating public and private matters.] ¡°Well, can¡¯t I afford to take it easy for a few days?¡± [Hehe. Should I take this as you caring more because I¡¯m about to become the World Tree?] ¡°Think whatever you want.¡± On the third day of their peaceful journey through the forest, the capital¡¯s walls finally came into view. ¡°Where do you plan to take root?¡± [Near the royal palace. That¡¯s where the World Tree has designated the spot.] ¡°I don¡¯t mind, but... is there a reason it has to be there? The World Tree could grow anywhere, couldn¡¯t it?¡± [I don¡¯t know the reason either. But I feel like I¡¯ll understand once I begin to take root.] Kaylen glanced at Deluna. ¡®...It¡¯s almost time.¡¯ At first, the World Tree¡¯s seed had only given off a faint glow from within her body. But now, it had grown large enough to completely consume her form. It was time for her to take root and become the World Tree. Kaylen passed through the city gates, walking alongside Deluna as they made their way through the capital. Citizens bowed as their king passed, whispering amongst themselves. ¡ªWho is that woman beside His Majesty? ¡ªShe¡¯s transparent... Is she a ghost? With those long ears, maybe an elven ghost? ¡ªThey look amazing together. If she really is a ghost, that¡¯s such a shame. [Ern, did you hear that? They said we look good together!] ¡°Hm. We used to hear that a lot back in the day, didn¡¯t we?¡± [Still... it feels new every time I hear it.] As they walked toward the palace, Deluna grew more lively. In contrast, Kaylen gradually became quieter. But Deluna, determined to savor the moment, kept chatting with him. [Ern, even after a thousand years, human nations seem more underdeveloped than the Meier Empire was. When I first visited the Meier Empire, I was stunned.] ¡°Why?¡± [It was just... magnificent. Grand. Immaculately clean. I was amazed at how much humanity had advanced. But that¡¯s not the case anymore.] ¡°After becoming a colony of the Demon Realm, civilization regressed a lot. It¡¯s unfortunate.¡± [But you¡¯ll rebuild it, won¡¯t you? Now that you¡¯re king.] ¡°We¡¯ll see. Surviving comes first.¡± [I¡¯ll help you.] Back then, at least, the world hadn¡¯t been under the rule of the Demon Realm. It was one thing when humans fought among themselves, but now they had to find a way to survive under foreign domination¡ªmaking it an even greater challenge. [...The palace is split in half. What happened?] ¡°I used the Great Sword.¡± [You used that in the palace? ...Wait. Wouldn¡¯t it be a good place to plant the World Tree?] ¡°You think so?¡± [Hehe. Just kidding.] Deluna smiled as she looked at Kaylen. [Unfortunately, the place the World Tree has designated is not here.] She then walked toward the place where the Lily Palace had once burned. [The place where sacred blood stained the earth. It is here that I must take root in order to gain the strength to oppose the red moon.] ¡°Sacred blood...¡± The Lily Palace. The place where Violet¡¯s mother, Queen Diana, had lived. Now that he thought about it, she had said that no matter how much damage she took, she would regenerate herself. When Kaylen mentioned this, Deluna slowly nodded. [She must have had the qualities of a Saint. After all, she healed her own wounds.] ¡°The qualities of a Saint... But Saint Theresia is still alive.¡± [Is she? That may actually be why the sacred blood that stained this land is so powerful.] Due to the presence of Theresia, a Saint who hadn¡¯t appeared for many years, Deluna speculated that the holy power might have been condensed over nearly a thousand years. [Well then, Ern. I... should be going.] As Deluna¡¯s face was covered by the light of the seed, only her voice echoed from the green light. [Though it was a short time, I was so happy to have you all to myself. I¡¯ll leave with good memories.] Inside the large office, sleeping on the floor was a massive snake. With every breath it took, a faint flame flickered from its scales and vanished. At this moment, it was only breathing, but if it woke up and the fire spread everywhere? ¡®I-I¡¯d turn to ashes in an instant, wouldn¡¯t I?¡¯ Looking at the walls of the office, Bail noticed that they were covered in fire-resistant magic circles. ¡®...I¡¯ll just leave the report and go.¡¯ Moving quietly, Bail flew over to the desk where the reports had piled up. Though it was a special alert, was it really okay to do it this way? No, do you want to die by reporting? Two emotions crossed through Bail¡¯s mind several times. But true to the lazy demons of the observation post, Bail chose not to report it. Thud. But maybe because he was in such a hurry, he carefully placed the report, but the already stacked reports were off balance. Thud. Thud. Thud¡ª The reports, stacked like a tower, started falling down in heaps. It was only natural that they would touch the scales of the snake. Flash¡ª The massive snake¡¯s eyes snapped open, and flames erupted in every direction. Whoooosh! ¡°Ah. Aaaaahh...!¡± [Imp.] The station chief could hardly be bothered to speak, but Bail could feel a deep killing intent in that voice. If he were to translate the word "Imp"¡ª - An imp dares to wake me from my sleep? Die. That¡¯s how it could be interpreted. ¡®I¡¯m going to die at this rate!¡¯ Bail shouted in panic. ¡°Special, special alert! The Holy Sword, the Holy Sword has appeared!¡± At that, the flames from the scales, which seemed like they would burn down the entire office, abruptly stopped. Instead, the massive snake¡¯s eyes turned toward Bail. [Holy Sword...] It had been ten days since the Holy Sword¡¯s fall incident. The Sanctuary had mobilized all of its intelligence to search for the Holy Sword, but had not achieved any meaningful results. Saint Theresia had deduced that Kaylen was likely the target of the Holy Sword. Since it was such an important matter, she had no choice but to return to the capital, Alzass. ¡®I¡¯m sure it was still the Bormian Kingdom when I left. How did it suddenly turn into the Meier Kingdom...?¡¯ Theresia had been so occupied with the Holy Sword¡¯s disappearance that she hadn¡¯t had the time to consider what had happened in the Bormian Kingdom. She had only found out about it after arriving in Bormian. ¡®And... the World Tree has appeared too?¡¯ What kind of kingdom changes so drastically in just a few months? It was absurd, but for now, finding the Holy Sword was the priority. After requesting an audience with the king through the Dungeon Guild, Theresia received a reply to come toward the World Tree. She headed to the royal palace with the paladins. ¡°You all stay here and wait.¡± ¡°But, Lady Saint, we should be accompanying you...¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to meet the one who split the palace in half. Why would I need protection? It will be harder to persuade him with more people.¡± At the entrance to the palace, she left the paladins behind to meet with Kaylen alone and went to where the World Tree stood. ¡®This is the World Tree...¡¯ It hadn¡¯t been established for long, so the World Tree was only about the size of a large tree. Kaylen was sitting with his back to the World Tree¡¯s trunk, reading a report. Theresia couldn¡¯t hide her excitement and called out. ¡°Kaylen...!?!¡± Whoooosh¡ª Suddenly, wind blew toward her. And¡ª Thud, thud, thud¡ª Leaves began to fall from the tree. At first, Theresia thought it was just the wind blowing too hard, and she shook it off, but... ¡°Ugh... what is this? Why all of a sudden...?¡± When only she was getting bombarded by falling leaves, she couldn¡¯t help but be flustered. Meanwhile, Kaylen smiled wryly as he stood up. Deluna. She¡¯s really a woman who gets things done when she decides to. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 130 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 130 ¡°The Holy Sword has fallen?¡± ¡°Yes. Did it not come here by any chance?¡± ¡°Hmm... No, that hasn¡¯t happened.¡± Kaylen¡¯s eyes widened at the mention of the Holy Sword falling. The Holy Sword that was in the Sanctuary. He had planned to retrieve it once the kingdom¡¯s stability was secured... But he hadn¡¯t expected the Holy Sword Astella to fall on its own. ¡°This is a serious problem. It said it was going to meet its master, so I thought it would be here.¡± ¡°The last time I used a fragment of Astella, I did hear the voice of the Holy Sword.¡± ¡°Exactly. Ever since then, the normally quiet Astella started to rebel.¡± Theresia let out a deep sigh before continuing. ¡°The Holy Sword Astella is one of the four pillars that support the Sanctuary.¡± ¡°The four pillars...¡± ¡°Yes. Three Divine Relics and the Holy Sword Astella hold the Sanctuary in place, each at the end of a pillar.¡± ¡°The Divine Relics... You mean the crown, the staff, and the chalice?¡± ¡°You are well-informed.¡± Theresia continued, her expression filled with concern. ¡°Among these, the Holy Sword Astella plays the most crucial role in maintaining the Sanctuary. It was the first relic bestowed upon humanity by the Celestial God. The power of this sword surpasses all other relics.¡± ¡°I see.¡± ¡°So, if the Holy Sword is removed from the Sanctuary, its stability will be greatly weakened. The primary energy source would be lost.¡± ¡°Hmm... And what exactly are you asking me to do?¡± Kaylen asked directly. Theresia lowered her head and pleaded. ¡°Kaylen, I know this is a difficult request... but please convince the Holy Sword to return to the Sanctuary.¡± ¡°That¡¯s strange. Last time, didn¡¯t you tell me to challenge the Holy Sword¡¯s selection? If it¡¯s so vital to the Sanctuary¡¯s stability, why did you encourage me to take it?¡± The Holy Sword¡¯s selection was a trial to pull the sword from where it was embedded in the center of the Holy Plaza. Back then, Theresia had urged both Stein and Kaylen to attempt drawing the sword¡ª Yet now, she was asking him to return it? And more importantly, hadn¡¯t she just said the Holy Sword was stationed at the end of one of the Sanctuary¡¯s pillars? At Kaylen¡¯s question, Theresia bit her lip slightly before answering. ¡°The Holy Sword chosen through the selection is merely a replica.¡± ¡°Like the fragment of the Holy Sword I have?¡± ¡°...Yes. In truth, even that is more than enough for a human to wield. No hero has ever fully drawn out the Holy Sword¡¯s true power. No one except the Great Hero of a thousand years ago¡ªErnstine. That¡¯s why Astella has always claimed that its true master is Ernstine.¡± Theresia briefly glanced at the sundered royal palace before continuing. ¡°But because of your Six-Blade Path, Kaylen... the sword seems to have recognized you as its master and abandoned the Sanctuary.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why you want me to convince it to return.¡± ¡°Yes. Please tell the Holy Sword clearly that you are not Ernstine.¡± Kaylen responded immediately. ¡°I refuse.¡± ¡°...What?¡± ¡°If the Holy Sword has chosen me and come on its own, why should I return it?¡± Theresia¡¯s expression hardened. This was the worst possible answer from Kaylen. ¡®If the Holy Sword truly acknowledges Kaylen as its master... the Sanctuary¡¯s future is doomed.¡¯ If she didn¡¯t persuade him here and now, disaster would follow. Theresia took a deep breath and began speaking calmly. ¡°Kaylen, no matter how much you have inherited the Six-Blade Path, drawing out the full power of the Holy Sword is impossible. That is something only a Grandmaster can achieve. Instead, I will give you a replica of the Holy Sword. That should be sufficient for you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re offering me a replica?¡± ¡°And the Sanctuary will fully support the Meier Kingdom. We will station priests from the Holy See in the royal palace and expand the temples.¡± Beyond that, Theresia promised many things. She said the Sanctuary would officially recognize the legitimacy of the newly established Meier Kingdom, which was inherently vulnerable. She also pledged to send the Holy Order and even offered to accept any of Kaylen¡¯s family members into the Sanctuary, where they could attain eternal life. It was clear that the Sanctuary was willing to make significant concessions... But¡ª ¡®Compared to the Holy Sword, none of this is worth much.¡¯ [Viscount.] ¡°My magic is at a count¡¯s level! It¡¯s just my family status that¡¯s lacking!¡± The Shadow Demon, Shadowwill, shouted in frustration. If not for the importance of lineage and noble houses, he would have been a full-fledged count by now. And yet, of all demons, Edena¡ªthe one most obsessed with bloodlines¡ªhad just called him a mere viscount. That only fueled his anger further. ¡°Edena. Don¡¯t humiliate me any further. I could descend alone and slaughter every human in the Middle Realm if I wanted to.¡± [Do as you please.] ¡°Tch. Just have my payment ready.¡± With an irritated glare, Shadowwill slammed the door shut and left the director¡¯s office. Watching him go, the observation post director¡¯s bright yellow eyes darkened into a deep black. ¡®The hero¡¯s descendant...¡¯ After awakening from a long slumber, he had observed the changes on the surface for a while. And soon enough, he had found an unexpected figure. Kaylen. The descendant of the hero who had slain his father, the great "Crimson Flame Demon King." An irregular of that magnitude... Normally, he should have reported this to the higher-ups immediately. ¡®A test...¡¯ But Edena had other thoughts in mind. Not as the director of the colony¡¯s observation post. As the child of the former Demon King¡ª Aboard the Drake. Kaylen had fully unleashed the Six-Blade Aura, attempting to track the whereabouts of the Holy Sword himself. ¡®It¡¯s not revealing itself so easily.¡¯ It had been fortunate that the sword had escaped from the Sanctuary, but reaching the Meier Kingdom seemed to be another matter entirely. With no trace of the Holy Sword¡¯s presence, Kaylen turned his gaze to Theresia, who stood beside him with her eyes closed. ¡°Theresia.¡± ¡°Yes, Kaylen?¡± ¡°Do you sense anything?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t pinpoint its exact location, but I can sense a general direction. If we keep going this way, we should find it.¡± ¡°I see... I suppose being a thousand-year-old saintess has its advantages.¡± As that thought crossed Kaylen¡¯s mind, he recalled what Deluna had once told him. ¡ª¡°Meier has always called themselves the descendants of dragons... That might actually be... true... I don¡¯t know...¡± Deluna had been unable to finish her sentence, as though the World Tree¡¯s will had intervened. But was the idea of being a dragon¡¯s descendant really that significant? ¡®Dragons... I¡¯ve only ever known them as legends.¡¯ All records of dragons existed only in ancient storybooks. No one had ever confirmed their existence as reality. The only reason the Meier bloodline claimed to be dragon descendants was because their unique ability, Infinity, bore similarities to the traits of a dragon¡¯s heart. ¡®I did look into it after Deluna mentioned it... but even a thousand years ago, dragons were already considered part of mythology. I didn¡¯t find anything meaningful.¡¯ But if anyone knew something about dragons, it would be the saintess, Theresia. ¡°Theresia. Do you know anything about dragons?¡± ¡°Dragons? Of course. When the Celestial God brought light to this world, they were the ones who resisted. In the end, the Celestial God descended personally and subdued seventy-seven dragons before peace was restored to the Middle Realm.¡± ¡°I see... And after that, there was never another mention of dragons?¡± ¡°No. Well...¡± Theresia¡¯s expression darkened slightly as she continued. ¡°The myths of other races, like elves and dwarves, seem to tell a different story. But they are primitive races who refuse to submit to the Celestial God¡¯s will.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes. But why are you asking all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Riding a drake made me curious, that¡¯s all.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Though skeptical, Theresia nodded slightly¡ª And then, her eyes widened as she spotted a faint glimmer in the distance. ¡°Ah! I found it!¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 131 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 131 Following the saintess¡¯s detection, after several days of continuous flight, Kaylen and his party crossed a national border for the first time in their lives. ¡°This is my first time crossing a border. Since we headed west, this must be Lahendra¡¯s territory?¡± ¡°Yes. Once you see this kingdom, you¡¯ll realize just how stable Bormian... no, the Meier Kingdom actually is. Lahendra has even abandoned its capital.¡± ¡°They abandoned their capital?¡± Lahendra¡¯s original capital had been located on the coast. However, after dungeon portals began appearing in the sea, the surge in monsters made maritime trade nearly impossible. ¡°And after a civil war broke out over the throne, many Meisters died, making it even harder to subjugate the portals in the ocean. In the end, they gave up on suppressing the monsters and were forced to relocate the capital.¡± ¡°A dungeon portal in the sea... How do you even clear something like that? If it¡¯s underwater, it should be impossible to subjugate.¡± ¡°There are portals that appear above the water¡¯s surface. Entering them isn¡¯t the problem, but the sea monsters guarding them make it significantly harder than land-based portals. Transporting the Exorcist Corps by ship to deploy them is also extremely difficult. Compared to land portals, clearing them is at least ten times harder.¡± Kaylen could see why they had abandoned their capital. Still, if they had relocated when their Meister forces were intact, things might have turned out better. ¡°At this point, abandoning it might have actually stabilized the situation.¡± ¡°Perhaps. But in the end, it was a lack of strength that forced them to move the capital... The royal family¡¯s prestige plummeted, and most nobles now act as independent rulers.¡± Just like in Bormian, the capital was a kingdom¡¯s greatest asset. The moment they lost the strength to hold it, Lahendra¡¯s royal authority was doomed to decline. ¡°With the central government¡¯s control gone, large-scale efforts to clear dungeon portals have become nearly nonexistent. The transportation network can¡¯t be restored without removing them, but each noble is too busy defending their own land. As a result, their territories have become increasingly isolated and are being picked off one by one.¡± In Lahendra, the only places where humans could still live were noble estates governed by counts or higher. Everywhere else had been overrun by monsters, unable to withstand the growing number of dungeon portals. ¡°Even the Dungeon Guild barely has a presence in this country anymore.¡± ¡°I see...¡± As they continued their flight past the border, Kaylen saw countless ruined cities. Cities that had ultimately failed to clear their dungeon portals, overrun by monsters and left in ruin. Some of them had clearly been thriving at one point, their size and scale evident¡ª But now, only monsters remained. Not a single living human was in sight. ¡®So this is what happens when dungeon portals are left unchecked.¡¯ After passing through numerous ruins, they finally spotted a proper human stronghold. Theresia suddenly shouted, almost in a fit. ¡°This place! It¡¯s here!¡± ¡°It fell there?¡± ¡°Yes! I can sense the energy of the sun!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± As the sun began to set, Kaylen rode his drake toward a fortress in the Lahendra Kingdom. The moment he crossed the walls¡ª ¡°In¡ªIntruder! Intruder!¡± ¡°What is that?! W-Wait, is that a drake?!¡± ¡°He¡¯s flying right in like it¡¯s nothing... Stop him! Stop him now!¡± ¡°Call for the mages!¡± The panicked shouts of the castle guards rang out, but Kaylen paid them no mind. He didn¡¯t have the time to walk in politely just for their sake. ¡°Fireball!¡± From below the fortress, fireballs and various other offensive spells were launched toward them. Whoosh. With a single indifferent wave of his hand, Kaylen effortlessly dispelled them mid-air, causing the spells to explode before reaching him. Watching this from the side, Theresia felt a powerful sense of de?ja? vu. ¡®It¡¯s exactly like how Lord Ernstine did it...¡¯ No matter how she looked at him, he didn¡¯t seem like Kaylen¡ªhe looked like the legendary hero, Ernstine. Even when his appearance had started to resemble Ernstine¡¯s, it had been somewhat bearable. But ever since he fully unleashed the Six-Blade Path and naturally began speaking to her informally, he had completely become Ernstine himself. ¡®The Holy Sword¡¯s reaction will confirm it for sure.¡¯ The Holy Sword Astella. Bestowed upon humanity by the Celestial God at the dawn of their existence, this sword had an extraordinarily high sense of pride. Right now, experiencing the Six-Blade Path again after so long, it might momentarily mistake Kaylen for Ernstine... But once they met face-to-face, Astella would make its judgment based on much stricter criteria. ¡°There! Do you see it?¡± ¡°Yes. I see it too.¡± At the center of the inner castle, in the middle of a training ground, a sword of radiant light stood embedded in the ground. As soon as the drake landed and the two dismounted, soldiers surrounded them. ¡°W-Who are you?! Identify yourselves!¡± That name¡ªthere was no way he didn¡¯t know it. Shadowbane. A thousand years ago, during the Demon Realm¡¯s invasion of the Middle Realm, he had been the second-in-command of the Crimson Flame Demon King... The most famous Shadow Demon in history¡ª A legendary figure. But to Shadowwill, Shadowbane was a name filled with both reverence and resentment. He had greatly expanded the Shadow Demon Clan¡¯s influence. Yet at the same time, he was the sinner who had sacrificed nearly the entire clan in an attempt to defeat the hero, Ernstine. He had summoned one thousand of the Shadow Demons¡¯ finest warriors to the surface for a suicidal battle against Ernstine... But the plan had failed. Every single Shadow Demon, including himself, perished. With its elite forces wiped out, the Shadow Demon Clan lost its standing in the Demon Realm and fell into decline. Once a name feared across the Demon Realm, the Shadow Demon Clan and Shadowbane¡¯s legacy had faded into obscurity. And because of that, despite his extraordinary magical prowess, Shadowwill had never been able to attain the rank of Count. But how did this human know Shadowbane¡¯s name? [You... How do you know the name of my ancestor...?] ¡°Well, who knows how I know?¡± Kaylen, his entire body darkened, smiled leisurely. ¡°For now, let¡¯s see how far you can go. Show me what you¡¯ve got.¡± Shadowwill was speechless. Who did this human think he was giving orders to? He seemed to have some minor tricks up his sleeve, but in the end, he was just a human. [I had intended to capture you alive, but it seems that won¡¯t be possible. Even if I receive a smaller reward, I¡¯ll have to turn you into a corpse.] No matter how tempting the bounty was, no Demon Count could suffer such humiliation from a mere human and let it slide. Unlike before, Shadowwill went all out, pouring his full strength into seizing control of Kaylen¡¯s body. ¡°As expected, just a human.¡± A voice, foreign and distorted, came from Kaylen¡¯s mouth. He spread two fingers. Whoosh! And attempted to gouge out his own eyes. But¡ª His fingers halted just before touching them. Kaylen let out a quiet chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re still not on par with your ancestor.¡± ¡°You¡ª!¡± ¡°Try harder.¡± ¡°You bastard... I¡¯ll crush you...!¡± Infuriated by the human¡¯s mocking laughter, Shadowwill¡¯s rage boiled over. He tried to force Kaylen¡¯s body into self-mutilation. Strangling himself with both hands. Throwing himself to the ground. Using the Holy Sword to sever his own limbs. But at the critical moment¡ªevery attempt was blocked. Even after the sun had fully set¡ª Even as dark mana grew stronger, increasing a demon¡¯s power¡ª Shadowwill was unable to finish the self-inflicted damage. ¡°Why... Why the hell isn¡¯t it working...?!¡± Then, just as he tried to drive the Holy Sword into Kaylen¡¯s throat¡ª He saw it. The blade of the Holy Sword. Just moments ago, when he had been inside it, the sword had been barely holding any light. But now¡ª The Holy Sword burned brighter than ever. Seeing that, a cold dread ran through Shadowwill. ¡®The Holy Sword... My dark mana¡ªit¡¯s all been purged...!¡¯ So focused on subduing Kaylen, he had neglected the very sword he had taken control of. And watching all of this unfold through the same body, the same vision¡ª Kaylen smiled. ¡°It¡¯s over now.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 132 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 132 Paaaat! As radiant light burst from the Holy Sword, Shadowwill made a swift decision. ¡®I¡¯ll give up on taking control!¡¯ If the power of the Holy Sword were to be added to the one already toying with him, he might be erased completely. Shadowwill slipped out of Kaylen¡¯s body. At that moment, Kaylen¡¯s Dark Sword immediately activated. ¡°You¡¯re not leaving that easily.¡± A sword of darkness rose from the human¡¯s back. It absorbed Shadowwill¡¯s shadow at a terrifying speed. A portion of the shadow had already been devoured by the Dark Sword, making it impossible to control. ¡®Kuh...! What is this power...?!¡¯ Fighting inside Kaylen¡¯s body was suicidal. Realizing this once again, Shadowwill focused entirely on escaping. Srrrrrk. Srrrkkkk... The shadow seeped out of Kaylen¡¯s body. It wavered, its power visibly weakened. [Ku, kuuh...] But as the moonlight shone down, the weakened Shadow Fiend instantly recovered. A vortex of black light swirled around him. The Shadow Fiend¡¯s form reshaped into a humanoid shadow. Regaining composure at the rapid restoration of his body, Shadowwill smirked. [Human, if we had met in the daylight, this would have been troublesome.] Night had fallen, and the moon had risen. With the blessing of the Crimson Moon, all demons could rapidly regenerate. This authority applied equally to Shadowwill, a noble of the Demon Realm. Moreover, the stronger the demon, the greater the blessing of the moon. ¡®As expected... things get annoying at night.¡¯ Even Black Skull, who had once taken over the royal capital, refused to die and kept regenerating... Giants and Slime Fiends that had invaded Viltre Fortress before had only been easy to subdue because the sun was up. Now, however, the Shadow Fiend was fully under the blessing of the moon, making him a formidable opponent. On top of that, he had already suffered greatly at Kaylen¡¯s hands, so he remained vigilant. [Oh, Crimson Moon. I, Shadowwill, Viscount of the Demon Realm, beseech you. Grant me the Authority of Enhancement.] The moonlight illuminating the castle gathered toward Shadowwill. His shadow swelled exponentially. Startled by the overwhelming force, the guards threw down their weapons and fled. Even the Saintess watched with a pale face. ¡®That¡¯s a viscount of the Demon Realm...? At this level, he could rival a marquis from before. No, he might even be stronger.¡¯ The power of a demon under the Crimson Moon¡¯s blessing was beyond imagination. Theresia, who had followed the Demon King Subjugation War a thousand years ago and witnessed countless demons, had never seen a mere viscount exude such immense dark energy. ¡°Astella.¡± Watching the scene, Kaylen reached for the Holy Sword. Amidst the crimson moonlight, the Holy Sword Astella, burning pure white, flew into Kaylen¡¯s grasp. Clack. ¡°It¡¯s been a while.¡± [Master. Master. My Master.] [Finally, finally, we meet...!] The voice of the Holy Sword Astella rang out, overflowing with joy. But soon, the emotions in its voice turned ice-cold. [Huh...? This is strange. Master, there¡¯s no way Master Ernstine could be this weak...] ¡°Astella.¡± [That perfect aura... The Six Swords that encompassed sky and earth, light and darkness... Compared to before, it feels so faint. And why are there only four of the Six Swords left? What happened? Master¡ªno, what the hell happened to you?!] Astella unleashed a storm of complaints. At first, it spoke politely, but by the end, its words grew noticeably blunt. This was the true nature of the Holy Sword Astella. The primordial Sun Sword never served anyone as its master... Rather, it sought to be the master of the hero itself¡ªan exalted Holy Sword. The only exception was the Grand Swordmaster Ernstine, to whom it had once submitted. But now that he no longer displayed his former strength, its true personality surfaced.@@@@ ¡®What a troublesome thing.¡¯ Kaylen glanced at the Holy Sword and spoke casually. ¡°Astella. Your origin is the sun.¡± [Nope, not listening~! Unless you meet my standards, I refuse to recognize my origin.] Astella outright rejected Kaylen¡¯s words, resisting stubbornly. But Kaylen remained unfazed. ¡°You say no, but your body is being honest.¡± Despite the sword¡¯s will, its blade gleamed brilliantly. [W-Wait...! What¡¯s happening to my body?!] Astella¡¯s voice suddenly wavered in embarrassment as it desperately tried to suppress the power surging from within. Kaylen furrowed his brows. Once again, he needed to give it the right justification to unleash its power. ¡°Astella, do you want to be captured by the Demon Realm?¡± [Ah. R-Right... This is all for my sake, isn¡¯t it? If I don¡¯t recognize my origin, my weak master might lose and get taken away, huh? Well, I guess there¡¯s no choice. Just this once~ I¡¯ll permit the invocation of my origin, Master.] [But you won¡¯t be able to maintain that power forever... Until your mana runs dry, I will endure, no matter how many wounds I sustain. In the end, my objective will be fulfilled...!] If he couldn¡¯t defeat them, then he would wear them down inside the Shadow Hole! No matter how many times the walls were broken and shattered, he believed that the final victory would be his. With that determination, Shadowwill strengthened the Shadow Hole. ¡°So you¡¯re placing your faith in the Moon¡¯s Blessing.¡± [That¡¯s right. You colonial livestock... You are bound by an inherent limitation¡ªsubjugation. The rulers of this world are us, the demons. Unless you can cut down the moon, we will remain eternal and immortal on this land.] ¡°Immortal, huh. That¡¯s what made things so troublesome. Even those Black Skulls¡ªeliminating them was difficult as long as they had the Moon¡¯s Blessing.¡± Even after completing the Four Swords, he had been unable to annihilate Black Skull Ce?sar, who had been hiding within the Lily Palace. It wasn¡¯t because Ce?sar was strong. It was solely because the Moon¡¯s Blessing allowed him to regenerate. The Moon¡¯s irritating blessing, shining down upon the colonies. Without a way to counter it, independence for the Borderlands was nothing but a distant dream. ¡°I can¡¯t cut down the moon just yet... But there¡¯s another way.¡± [What...?] ¡°I just have to steal its light.¡± Whoosh. Bringing the blazing Holy Sword Astella to his lips, Kaylen whispered. ¡°O Child of the Sun, Astella¡ªyou understand, don¡¯t you?¡± [W-What are you saying...?!] ¡°The moonlight exists only because of the sun.¡± [...] ¡°Therefore, the moon¡¯s radiance is naturally beneath the sun.¡± [Y-Yes...!] ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s all your light.¡± [Understood!] At Kaylen¡¯s words, the blade of the Holy Sword Astella turned crimson. And in response, the blessing of the Red Moon began to shift toward Astella. As the Moon¡¯s Blessing flowed like a current, Shadowwill shouted in a panicked voice. [W-What is this...?! You¡¯re redirecting the Moon¡¯s Blessing?!] ¡°Moonlight manipulation. That, too, is a power of the Sun Sword.¡± [Impossible...! That can¡¯t be! The blessing comes directly from the headquarters! There¡¯s no way¡ª!] Kaylen let out a smirk. Of course, he wouldn¡¯t believe it. Who would have expected that the Holy Sword he had once suppressed so easily would have such an ability? But¡ª The Sun Sword Astella had existed since the dawn of humanity. The sword itself remained oblivious, never realizing its own potential... Yet the power hidden within it was immeasurable. [Ugh... Ughh...] The thickness of the shadow walls thinned, their strength weakening. Shadowwill felt the power that had been reinforcing him fading away, unable to accept the reality before him. [Kh... Heh, heh. No... This can¡¯t be. How could a Holy Sword possibly steal the Moon¡¯s Blessing...?!] ¡°You¡¯ll understand once you feel it.¡± Chiik! Lightning struck from the Holy Sword. In an instant, the shadow walls melted away. Up to this point, it was the same as before. ¡®It... It¡¯s not regenerating...!¡¯ Once the walls were torn apart, they did not restore themselves. ¡°More importantly... You¡¯ve absorbed an awful lot of Corrupted Mana.¡± Srrrng. Behind Kaylen, the Dark Sword surged to life, expanding in size. ¡°In that case, I should make proper use of it.¡± Sixfold Sword Style Second Blade¡ªHeaven Reversal The Holy Sword pointed toward the sky. The Dark Sword aimed toward the ground. As the two blades slowly rotated clockwise, swapping positions¡ª Shadowwill felt his own body flicker. [W-What... is this...?] ¡°Shadows¡ªbecome light.¡± Flash! The inside of the Shadow Hole was filled with dazzling radiance. The Holy Sword was engulfed in darkness, while the Dark Sword shone brilliantly white. The complete reversal of light and darkness¡ªSecond Blade: Heaven Reversal. Shadows, which originate from light yet are inherently darkness, could not withstand this power. As Shadowwill gazed at his now-radiant body¡ª He recalled the stories of his ancestors, those who had fallen in the Borderlands. The legend that spoke of shadows turning into light and vanishing. Back then, he had believed it was simply a tale of warriors cutting them down with a hero¡¯s sword. But now, he understood. [You... You¡¯re... a Hero...] With those final words¡ª Shadowwill, Viscount of the Demon Realm, became light and disappeared. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 133 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 133 "Kk, it''s over......." Saint Theresia''s eyes trembled uncontrollably. He had defeated the demons once again. This time, against a demon blessed by the moon¡ªat the most advantageous time for them. And not just any demon, but a noble of the Demon Realm, completely erased without a trace. "Sir Kaylen. You are... truly an Ernstine, aren''t you?" Wielding the proud Holy Sword with ease, even stealing the moon''s blessing. Using the Six Sword Path to annihilate the shadow demon in an instant¡ªsuch a display of power made it impossible to believe he was merely a descendant of Ernstine. Especially, the words he had spoken to the shadow demon had been decisive. ¡ª"With your dark mana, you could have aimed for the rank of a Marquis in the past... perhaps even higher." ¡ª"If you go all out, you might even be able to replicate the power of your ancestor, Shadowbane." Hearing him mention Shadowbane, she had been more than 90% certain¡ªhe was an Ernstine. "We''ll see." Kaylen neither affirmed nor denied Theresia¡¯s question. Instead, he asked the Holy Sword. "Astella. What do you think?" [You''ve grown weaker compared to before... but yes, Master is still Master.] "So it seems." Whirr. Whirr. The voice of the sword did not only reach Kaylen¡ªit spread in all directions. Theresia shook her head and spoke. "Sir Kaylen... I don''t want to hear it from the Holy Sword. I want to hear it directly from you. Is that too much to ask?" Until now, he had been reluctant to tell her, partly due to his unresolved feelings toward the Sanctuary and the Holy Council. But at this point, she had seen too much. There was no need to stubbornly deny it any longer. Seeing Theresia''s eyes glisten with unshed tears, Kaylen made up his mind to answer her directly. "That''s right. I am Ernstine. I have returned in the body of a descendant." "S-so it was true. Hero...!" Tears welled up in Theresia¡¯s eyes as she threw her arms around Kaylen. For a thousand years, humanity had declined. The Celestial Realm had been pushed back by the Demon Realm. The Holy Council had fled into the Sanctuary. And the Middle Realm had become a colony. Theresia had witnessed this entire downward spiral of history. She had always longed for the Hero, Ernstine. If only he had been here! If only he had been here, things wouldn''t have deteriorated this much... "For a thousand years... I¡¯ve spent more time asleep than awake... But every time I opened my eyes, the only thing I saw was our world falling apart." "And each time, I thought of you, Hero. If you had been here, the world wouldn¡¯t have become a colony of the Demon Realm." "Perhaps." No. That wasn¡¯t the only reason. In truth... I simply missed you, Hero. Nestled in Kaylen¡¯s embrace, Theresia tried to voice these words¡ª But suddenly, she grew embarrassed and shut her mouth. If she were still young, maybe she could have said it. But now, she was a thousand years older than Kaylen. It was unbecoming. Unlike her, Kaylen calmly asked Theresia a question. "The state of the Middle Realm... How did things get this bad? You must know more since you''ve watched everything unfold." "......Yes. I do know." Theresia slowly stepped out of Kaylen¡¯s embrace, calming her flushed cheeks. "But this is ''history sealed by the Holy Council.'' Even if you are the Hero, I can only explain it in detail if the Holy Council grants permission." "The Holy Council¡¯s permission, huh. A thousand years have passed, and they¡¯re still handling things in the most tedious way possible." "Then, does that mean you also need permission to talk about how the Holy Council treated the Meier family?" "Wh-what do you mean by that?" "The reason the Meier Imperial Family was excommunicated. And why, even after a thousand years, they continue to forbid the Selection of the Holy Sword." "Ah." At Kaylen¡¯s words, Theresia''s expression hardened, and she responded in a calm voice. "Emperor Caius succumbed to dark magic and sided with the demons... That was the justification for their excommunication." "Right." "And that really is the reason the Meier Imperial Family was excommunicated." "......Is that really true?" "Yes. Emperor Caius was willing to use dark magic if it meant finding you. Because if Lord Ernstine returned, the imperial rebellion would have ended." Theresia added with a look of regret. "And as for the reason the Selection of the Holy Sword was forbidden... That was a direct decree from the Holy Sovereign. It¡¯s likely connected to Emperor Caius siding with the demons." Astella, which had been stuck in the ground, slowly pulled itself free. And where it headed... was back to Kaylen¡¯s sheath, made from the Light Sword. Clack. "What the...?" [ S-Sorry. ] "Didn¡¯t you just say I couldn¡¯t be your master?" [ ......I won¡¯t act out anymore. ] So, in the end, this is how it was going to be. Kaylen smirked. "Just wait, Astella. I¡¯ll regain my former strength soon enough." [ You really mean it, right? ] "That''s right. You must be the one to behead the Demon King this time." [ Hehe. That¡¯s right. The Demon King this time... What¡¯s their name again? ] Astella asked the Saintess. Theresia gave a bitter smile and answered. "¡®The White Demon King.¡¯" ¡®I can¡¯t see anything.¡¯ Ederna, the director of the Demon Realm Observatory, who had been monitoring Colony E-Zone, flicked her tongue. When Shadowwill had dragged Kaylen into the Shadow Hole, she could see things clearly. But ever since the Holy Sword absorbed the moonlight, observation had become impossible. ¡®The Holy Sword has that kind of power?¡¯ As expected of the First Holy Sword. It had slain countless Demon Kings, so she had expected it to possess immense power... But she hadn¡¯t anticipated it could absorb even moonlight. ¡®And that man... He looks far too much like the previous Hero.¡¯ Ederna, daughter of the former Demon King, the "Crimson Flame Demon King," Still vividly remembered the face of the Hero, Ernstine¡ªthe one who had slain the Demon King. A thousand years ago, during the final battle. Weak and powerless, she had fled the Demon King¡¯s Castle on her father¡¯s orders, along with his close aides. But blocking their escape... was the Hero, Ernstine, who bore that very same face. ¡ªWhere do you think you¡¯re running? He had slaughtered all of the Demon King¡¯s aides and tried to eliminate even the small snake that was Ederna to sever any potential threats. ¡ªLady Ederna! I will hold them off! Please, escape first! If not for that one loyal demon, she would not have survived to this day. In the terror of constant pursuit and impending death, She had burned the image of the Hero, Ernstine, into her memory. So much so that she still remembered it clearly, even after a thousand years. ¡®The Hero¡¯s descendant. Someone capable of slaying the Demon King.¡¯ Though he was nothing more than a lowly human from the Middle Realm¡¯s colonies... If he was a descendant of the previous Hero who wielded the Holy Sword so freely, he could very well become a real threat to the Demon King in the future. ¡®As the Observatory Director, my duty is to report this, of course.¡¯ Discovering abnormalities in the colonies and reporting them. That was the very role of the Observatory Director. But Ederna chose to do the exact opposite. Swish¡ª She grabbed the imp, Vile, who had brought the observation crystal. "S-Supervisor?" Vile¡¯s voice trembled, but Ederna said nothing. Instead, she opened her mouth wide. Sllrrrk! "Ah... Aaagh¡ª!" Before he could even finish screaming, Vile disappeared into Ederna¡¯s mouth. Gulp. She then turned her gaze toward the observation crystal. ¡®Lucifer. My father died at the hands of the Hero, yet you survived.¡¯ "The White Demon King," Deimos. The strongest Demon King in history, who had conquered the Middle Realm and was now pushing into the Celestial Realm¡ª A thousand years ago, he had merely been a Demon Marquess known as Lucifer. ¡ªLady Ederna! I will hold them off! Please, escape first! And he had been the very demon who risked his life to block the Hero¡¯s path, allowing Ederna to escape from the Demon King¡¯s Castle. ¡®I don¡¯t know how you survived the Hero¡¯s hands...¡¯ Ederna¡¯s eyes gleamed coldly. ¡®But I won¡¯t let you have things your way, Lucifer.¡¯ Even if Kaylen¡¯s existence interfered with the Demon Realm¡¯s invasion of the Celestial Realm, As long as it inflicted damage on the current Demon King, she didn¡¯t care. ¡®I¡¯ll take control of E-Zone for the time being.¡¯ Flicking her tongue, Ederna looked pleased as she finished digesting Vile, the former overseer of E-Zone. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 134 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 134 ¡°The White Demon King, huh. It¡¯s unusual for a Demon King to have ¡®white¡¯ as a descriptor.¡± ¡°The name ¡®White Demon King¡¯ comes from his use of light mana.¡± ¡°The Crimson Flame Demon King also used light mana. His Hellfire was a fusion of light, darkness, and fire.¡± Kaylen recalled the Hellfire that had inspired his Six Sword Path, Three Swords, and Infernal Flame. When he was first struck by it, the flames had burned for days, refusing to be extinguished, putting him through immense suffering. ¡°I know that all too well. I was the one who kept treating you, remember?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Without your divine power, I would¡¯ve had a much harder time.¡± ¡°Though the previous Demon King could wield light mana, he only used it as a secondary element. The Crimson Flame Demon King¡¯s primary magic was fire and darkness.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°But the White Demon King, Deimos, is different. He primarily uses light.¡± ¡°What...? He uses light mana as his main power?¡±@@@@ Kaylen couldn¡¯t wrap his head around it. ¡°What about dark mana?¡± ¡°He uses dark mana too, but far less than light. According to reports from the Celestial Realm invasion, his light mana was so powerful that it crushed the morale of the angels.¡± A Demon King who had ascended to the peak of the Demon Realm was supposed to embody the essence of dark mana. And yet, he had subdued angels using light? ¡®This is the first Demon King of his kind.¡¯ The Holy Sword Astella echoed Kaylen¡¯s thoughts. [If there had been such a rare case before, I would have remembered... but there has never been a Demon King who wielded light as his main power.] Indeed, it shouldn¡¯t be possible. A Demon King using light mana stronger than angels? ¡®Still... I can¡¯t just dismiss it.¡¯ No matter how strange it seemed, the reality was undeniable. ¡®This should be interesting.¡¯ Kaylen felt his fighting spirit surge. The Crimson Flame Demon King had been strong enough that even as a Grand Swordmaster, he had faced death multiple times. The White Demon King would likely show him an even more fascinating kind of power. ¡®But facing him right now would be impossible.¡¯ He had barely managed to defeat the Crimson Flame Demon King with a completed Six Swords and a Grand Swordmaster¡¯s body. To fight the White Demon King¡ªwho had even invaded the Celestial Realm¡ªhe needed even greater strength. Kaylen recalled his recent battle. He had intercepted the Moon¡¯s Blessing with the Holy Sword and overwhelmed his enemy using Twin Swords: Reverse Heaven. But if the enemy had been just a bit stronger? If they had been a Count-rank or even a Marquis-rank demon instead of a Viscount? ¡®Stealing the Moon¡¯s Blessing with the Holy Sword doesn¡¯t work on just anyone.¡¯ At his current level, he could at most take on a Count-rank. Against anything stronger, he would need to complete the Six Swords. ¡°For now, let¡¯s head back. I need to complete the Six Swords as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir Ernstine.¡± With a swift motion, Kaylen held Theresia and leaped out of the Shadow Hole. As he landed, some of the soldiers outside the training grounds, who had been watching the situation unfold, hesitantly approached with trembling steps. ¡°W-Who... who are you?¡± ¡°R-Return the sword to its place!¡± These were the same soldiers who had panicked and fled in terror when the shadow demon had emerged from the Holy Sword. However, with the presence of the demons gone, the soldiers seemed to regain a bit of their composure. Perhaps they thought it was easier to deal with a fellow human than with a shadow demon. ¡°Halt!¡± One of the soldiers pointed his spear forward and cautiously approached. Theresia¡¯s face brightened. Although they couldn¡¯t bring the true Holy Sword, securing a replica imbued with significant power meant they could prevent a collapse. [Master, creating a replica strong enough to sustain the Sanctuary will drain a considerable amount of my power. I¡¯ll only be able to exert half my current strength... Will that be okay?] "It can be retrieved later, right?" [Well, yes. Since it¡¯s a replica of me, I can reclaim the power I lent to it and restore it to my source.] "Then it''s fine. Make it." [...Alright...] At Kaylen¡¯s firm response, Astella showed clear reluctance but complied. Whirrrrrr¡ª As Astella radiated light and forged a new sword, Kaylen turned to Theresia. "Theresia. I should get something in return for lending Astella, right?" "Yes. If you have any requests, please let me know." "Good. Then..." Kaylen began negotiations with Theresia. Since Astella was an indispensable existence for the Sanctuary, his demands were mostly accepted¡ª The release of sealed historical records, The construction of a grand cathedral and the dispatch of priests, The transfer of technology related to the Sanctuary¡¯s mana suits, and more... "Then, Kaylen. I¡¯ll return as soon as I receive approval from the Holy See." "Alright. See you then." With that, Theresia departed for the Sanctuary, carrying the Holy Sword¡¯s replica. As soon as she left, Astella spoke in a dissatisfied tone. [Master. I don¡¯t like the Sanctuary. I hope you complete the Six Swords quickly and reclaim my fragment.] "Why?" [The other three relics that support the Sanctuary¡¯s cross... They may not be as powerful as I am, but they still contain considerable divinity. In truth, their power alone is enough to sustain the Sanctuary.] "Really? Then why is the Holy Sword needed?" [Because they''re using their power for something else.] Astella¡¯s voice took on a tone of disgust. [They¡¯re draining the divine power of the three relics... to prolong their own lives.] Kaylen¡¯s eyes widened at that revelation. He had wondered why the Sanctuary was so insistent on needing Astella despite the presence of other relics. It turned out the others were being used to maintain immortality. "...So that¡¯s how it is." [Yes. But it¡¯s not like the long-lived paladins or priests have grown stronger over the years. The paladins I¡¯ve seen are no better now than they were a hundred years ago. There¡¯s no progress at all... If anything, they¡¯ve regressed.] Astella didn¡¯t hide her contempt. [They waste divine power just to prevent aging, to extend their lives. Even after centuries, they remain nothing but weaklings. Aside from the Saintess, there isn¡¯t a single worthy talent among them. And now my replica is being used to support the Sanctuary for the sake of those parasites... If it weren¡¯t for your command, Master, I would never have agreed.] She had clearly harbored resentment for a long time. Kaylen listened silently and nodded. "Hearing you talk, the Sanctuary sounds less like humanity¡¯s last bastion and more like... just a refuge." [Exactly. They would never risk danger. They¡¯re just cowards who want to live forever.] "Astella. You can still track the replica¡¯s location, right?" [Of course. It¡¯s a fragment of me.] "Then keep track of the Sanctuary¡¯s location as well." [The Sanctuary¡¯s... location?] "Yeah." Kaylen smiled meaningfully. "The construction of a grand cathedral, the knowledge of the Sanctuary¡¯s mana suits. Those are just secondary matters." [Then... What is your true goal...?] "What I want," Kaylen said, "¡ªis the Sanctuary itself." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 135 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 135 "The Sanctuary itself, huh?" At those words, the Holy Sword Astella radiated light. [You want the Sanctuary?] "Yeah. It¡¯s the ultimate natural fortress. Even while the Demon Realm was dominating the Middle World, it managed to remain hidden and survive." [That¡¯s right. The Sanctuary has never once allowed an external invasion.] "And yet, it established the Dungeon Guild to oversee the Middle World." The Dungeon Guilds were set up throughout the human kingdoms. They detected the emergence of dungeon portals, managed them, and wielded immense influence. The Holy Legion could warp across distances, descending upon the surface at will, and retreating from the Middle World whenever necessary. "The Sanctuary''s method of transportation is revolutionary. If I had something like this back when I ruled the Unified Empire, governing would have been much easier." [That must be the effect of the Staff, one of the Sacred Relics of the Celestial Gods. The Crown of the Celestial Gods governs time, the Staff governs space, and the Chalice governs life. By using the Crown and the Chalice, one can achieve eternal life, while the Staff is used to oversee the Middle World.] "So that¡¯s the key." Kaylen''s eyes gleamed as he spoke. "Alright. Once the Meier Kingdom is stabilized and I¡¯ve gathered all Six Swords, I¡¯ll target the Sanctuary next. In the meantime, locate its position." [Understood.] "Until then, we¡¯ll cooperate temporarily." [Understood. But... Theresia is a good person. Couldn¡¯t you spare her?]@@@@ Kaylen looked baffled. "Of course I¡¯ll let her live. What do you take me for?" [But, Master, you¡¯ve always been ruthless. I¡¯ve heard many times that you¡¯re a merciless warrior with neither blood nor tears.] Back during the Demon King Subjugation War, he had shown no mercy toward the demons. Was that what this was about? "That was because they were demons. I wouldn¡¯t go that far against humans. I still abide by a minimum justification." [Is there any justification for taking over the Sanctuary, though?] At Astella¡¯s question, Kaylen smirked. "I said ¡®minimum.¡¯ Minimum." [Ah... I see...] "And you don¡¯t need to worry too much. They¡¯ll provide me with the justification themselves." [The people of the Sanctuary?] "Their predecessors were the Holy See, weren¡¯t they? Those guys are experts at turning the tables on others." Kaylen looked at the Holy Sword and spoke. "I lent them your replica, but instead of being grateful, they¡¯d probably get angry and claim I stole it from them." [...That¡¯s true.] Even in front of the Unified Empire of Meier, the Holy See had always maintained an arrogant attitude. Recalling those memories, Kaylen¡¯s lips curled into a smile. "I hope you act the same as before, Holy See." That way, he would have all the justification he needed to seize the Sanctuary. * * * "Your Highness, how did it go?" Violet entered Kaylen¡¯s office with a bright smile, holding a stack of documents in her hands. "It went well. I retrieved the Holy Sword." Srrr¡ª Behind Kaylen, the Holy Sword emerged from the Light Sword. Seeing it, Violet¡¯s eyes widened slightly in surprise. ¡°As expected of the Holy Sword. I can sense an incredible amount of mana.¡± Perhaps because she wasn¡¯t a knight, Violet¡¯s reaction was rather reserved. ¡°Thanks to your busy movements this time, the number of documents requiring your approval has increased.¡± Planting the World Tree and reclaiming the Holy Sword¡ªthough it had only taken a matter of weeks, the kingdom heavily relied on Kaylen for governance, making his absence a significant burden. ¡°Hmm. You could have approved the simpler ones on your own.¡± ¡°I have been doing that, but... we¡¯ve run into a major problem.¡± ¡°Violet. You should sell items precisely when they¡¯re perceived as valuable.¡± Kaylen had already made up his mind to get rid of the mana suits. ¡®Besides, these mana suits haven¡¯t been able to harm the Demonkin at all.¡¯ No matter how exceptional an A-rank mana suit was, it couldn¡¯t overpower mana eaters inscribed with anti-magic formations. In the current system, where magic towers mass-produced low-circle Meisters heavily specialized in one element, whether the suits were A-rank or C-rank, they were nothing more than food for mana eaters. ¡®A-rank mana suits aren¡¯t strategic assets¡ªthey¡¯re just overvalued equipment.¡¯ They were useful for demolishing dungeon portals, but when a real crisis struck, they were powerless. It was better to sell them now, while they were still at their highest value. ¡°Send invitations to the upper ranks of the magic towers and high-ranking nobles. We¡¯re holding an auction.¡± It had been less than two months since the fall of the Bormian Kingdom and the founding of the Meier Kingdom. During this time, the high-ranking nobles and the leadership of the magic towers had been lying low, anxiously watching the new king¡¯s rule unfold. ¡®If the previous king, Kaitan, was a foolish tyrant, the new king, Kaylen, is a violent one.¡¯ ¡®If we stand out too much, we might end up like the Seven Magic Towers... or worse.¡¯ The rumors surrounding Kaylen were impossible to ignore. He had slaughtered Demonkin at the frontlines, eradicated all seven Tower Masters of the magic towers, and even split the royal palace in half with a single colossal sword. Each of those things was difficult to believe on its own. But he had done all three. Because of that, the high-ranking nobles did everything they could to avoid direct contact with him¡ªat least until they could verify the truth of the rumors. ¡®Thankfully, the new king hasn¡¯t summoned all the nobles yet.¡¯ ¡®With the founding of a new kingdom, I expected a grand coronation ceremony where all nobles would be gathered...¡¯ However, King Kaylen had only been focused on governing the capital region. He showed little interest in the nobles. Though he had introduced a land compensation plan to reduce the kingdom¡¯s territory, it wasn¡¯t being forcibly enforced¡ªrefusing it was an option. Fifty days had passed since the kingdom¡¯s name changed, but so far, the royal palace had shown no major efforts to control the provincial nobles. There was no need for nobles to attend in person; their representatives could inherit their titles on their behalf. ¡®Still, it¡¯s too early to be at ease.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s a fact that he split the royal palace in half. It¡¯s a fact that all the Tower Masters were killed...¡¯ ¡®The king could draw his sword at any moment. We must be as cautious as possible.¡¯ No one knew when the tyrant Kaylen might turn on them. The high-ranking nobles, especially those of marquess rank or higher who had stable territories, remained in their strongholds, closely monitoring the situation in the capital. One such noble was Duke Ramad Revren, the head of the Revren Ducal House. ¡°Hm...¡± Duke Revren stroked his mustache as he examined the invitation. It contained an offer no high-ranking noble could refuse. ¡°Auctioning off A-rank mana suits... What is the king thinking?¡± Fifteen of the highest-quality mana suits, which were impossible to obtain under normal circumstances, were being put up for sale. In addition to that, lower-grade mana suits and various magical artifacts would also be auctioned. Many of the items were worth keeping an eye on. ¡®But the condition that only the head of the noble house or the leader of the magic tower may attend... that¡¯s concerning.¡¯ At the bottom of the invitation, it was stated that only the official representative of a noble house or magic tower could participate in the auction. ¡®Is this... a trap?¡¯ Selling A-rank mana suits¡ªsomething that should never be on the market under normal circumstances. And a condition requiring the attendance of the house¡¯s representative. Duke Revren couldn¡¯t help but be suspicious of the king¡¯s intentions. ¡®But... I have no choice but to attend. If I refuse to go, I¡¯ll only stand out even more.¡¯ Despite the lingering unease in his heart, he decided to attend the auction. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 136 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 136 ¡°Marquis Alphonse. You¡¯ve arrived.¡± ¡°Duke Revren, have you been well?¡± ¡°Yes, I have....¡± Duke Revren trailed off as he glanced around. Ever since the nation had been upended overnight, the high-ranking nobles and the Tower Masters, who had been lying low and observing the situation, had all gathered in one place. ¡°What do you think, Duke Revren?¡± Marquis Alphonse, whose family had maintained an amicable relationship with his for generations, asked cautiously. ¡°About what, exactly?¡± ¡°The king¡¯s intentions.¡± ¡°Well...¡± ¡°I suspect... this might be a ¡®summoning order.¡¯¡± Duke Revren looked around the venue, which had been designated as the auction hall. An auction held in the open garden of a palace annex attached to the royal castle. There were temporary wooden seats and a platform. A rather humble setting for an event meant to gather high-ranking nobles and Tower Masters. But Duke Revren believed he understood why the king had chosen this location. ¡®This is the perfect place to see the split royal palace.¡¯ The royal castle, neatly divided in half. And at its center stood the massive Throne of the Sword. Even from a distance, one could see countless knights training in perfect formation before it. ¡®It¡¯s as if the king is putting his overwhelming might on display for these people....¡¯ Duke Revren scanned the faces of those around him. Everyone was smiling and engaging in cheerful conversation. But their laughter felt forced. Having spent years navigating high society, Duke Revren immediately recognized their unease. ¡®They¡¯re all on edge.¡¯ And the further they were from the capital, the worse it seemed. The provincial nobles appeared even more unsettled than the Tower Masters residing in the capital. Naturally, this was their first time witnessing such a sight. ¡°A summoning order... That might be the case. But refusing to attend wasn¡¯t an option either.¡± ¡°Exactly. Avoiding it would have only drawn more attention, making it even riskier.¡± ¡°Still, perhaps the auction was truly meant to sell A-rank mana suits.¡± ¡°I spoke with some of the Tower Masters. They believe at least one or two will actually be sold. Apparently, the king keeps his word.¡± As Duke Revren observed the nobles making idle conversation, someone approached him. ¡°Uncle. You¡¯re here.¡± It was Violet, wearing her Ice Mask of Glacia, her face looking fatigued. ¡°Violet? What are you doing here...? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re still working at the royal palace?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°...Are you being held hostage by His Majesty?¡± ¡°No. I work here of my own will, so I¡¯d appreciate it if you didn¡¯t say something so rude. Besides, does His Majesty even need hostages?¡± Duke Revren nodded at her words. It had been two months since the kingdom changed hands. There was no reason for a king with absolute power, like Kaylen, to take hostages. ¡°I see. That was careless of me.¡± ¡°Princess Violet... It has been a while.¡± ¡°Yes, Marquis Alphonse. It has been a while. But I¡¯m no longer a princess, so please speak comfortably.¡± ¡°How could I possibly do such a thing? Haha.¡± Marquis Alphonse, in his sixties, stroked his snow-white beard as he spoke. ¡°Are you attending the auction as well, Princess?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to assist with the auction. Given the nature of the items being sold...¡± ¡°Oh... So an A-rank mana suit is really going up for auction?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± Violet let out a deep sigh as she answered. ¡°To think A-rank mana suits are actually being sold.¡± ¡°This is an unexpected windfall.¡± The high-ranking nobles exchanged glances, smiling subtly. After placing all ten mana suits onto the display stands, Kaylen gave them a quick once-over before speaking. ¡°You all.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°If the quantity is insufficient, let me know. It is better to dispose of them domestically rather than sell them abroad.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The attendees exchanged glances while responding loudly. There were around thirty high nobles and Tower Masters present. With competition, even ten mana suits would not be enough. ¡®He doesn¡¯t seem like the tyrant he was rumored to be.¡¯ ¡®He¡¯s far better than the previous king, Kaitan.¡¯ Though they had been tense when Kaylen made them straighten with a mere gesture, the newly crowned king had maintained a calm and composed demeanor throughout. ¡°Violet, I¡¯ll leave the auction¡¯s proceedings to you.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. Understood.¡± With Kaylen even stepping aside to ensure the auction proceeded smoothly, the attendees no longer had any reason to hesitate and could now fully focus on the auction. ¡°Let me announce this first. His Majesty will not accept mid-grade mana stones as payment. Instead, he will only accept land in the capital region, wealth, or high-grade mana stones.¡± Standing on the platform, Violet made the announcement while gazing at the A-rank mana suits with a reluctant expression. ¡®He¡¯s really going through with selling them...¡¯ It would have been better to let mid-grade mana stone prices fluctuate instead of resorting to this. The unprecedented sale of A-rank mana suits was happening because of her, and the thought weighed heavily on her. ¡°We will begin with the A-rank mana suit from Balzak¡¯s Tower. It is a wind-attribute mana suit, previously known as Stormbringer...¡± ¡°Stormbringer!¡± ¡°Starting with something this extraordinary...¡± The wind-affinity Tower Masters swallowed hard as they stared at Stormbringer. Among wind-type A-rank mana suits, Stormbringer was one of the most exceptional. If they could obtain and analyze it, their mana suit development capabilities would advance significantly. ¡®I have to buy this!¡¯ ¡®I¡¯m so glad I attended this auction!¡¯ At that moment, both sellers and buyers had completely different thoughts. The seller regretted parting with the items, while the buyers felt like they had struck gold. Just like that, all ten mana suits were sold in an instant. "P-Princess! Please sell us more!" "That won¡¯t be possible. We¡¯ve already secured enough capital..." "But didn¡¯t His Majesty just say¡ª" "Please, I beg you...! We¡¯ll pay more! Just sell us the items!" The attendees who had failed to make a purchase pleaded desperately. "Very well. I shall sell them." Kaylen, who had not been present, suddenly reappeared, placed down another ten mana suits, and vanished once more. "Violet. Sell them all." "Your Majesty! We already have enough funds..." "Just sell them. All of them." "...Understood." As the remaining ten A-rank mana suits were sold, emotions clashed between Violet and the buyers. ¡®What kind of loss is this... Selling all the A-ranks...¡¯ ¡®This is an unbelievable stroke of luck... I actually got an A-rank mana suit...¡¯ However¡ª None of them had any idea. That in less than a year, their fortunes would be completely reversed. That the very value of mana suits, as they had known them, would change forever. "Kaylen! The research results on the Combine Suit are in!" And the turning point of it all¡ª Began in Myorn¡¯s workshop. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 137 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 137 Kaylen had come to hear Myorn¡¯s research findings on the Combine Suit and, for the first time, was receiving an unprecedentedly warm welcome. "Your Majesty, King Kaylen. I heard that you have obtained the Holy Sword..." "It doesn¡¯t suit you to be so formal. Speak as you normally do." "T-The Holy Sword... Could you... take it out for me to see?" Myorn, speaking faster than ever, stammered while anxiously rubbing her fur. Kaylen smirked at the sight. ''A Dwarf... Well, it¡¯s only natural.'' Dwarves were born smiths. The weapon they longed to see the most was, without a doubt, the Primordial Holy Sword, Astella. When the Holy Sword had been embedded in the plaza of the Holy See, many dwarves made pilgrimages there upon reaching adulthood. Some even settled permanently at the Holy See, just to continue gazing upon the sword. ''That¡¯s why they used to say, if you want to find the best weapons, go to the Holy See.'' Recalling stories from a thousand years ago, Kaylen summoned his Six Blades. Among the six swords that appeared, he retrieved the Holy Sword, Astella, from within the Light Blade. Astella, the gleaming Sword of Light. Seeing it, Myorn¡¯s fur ignited, revealing her face. "Ooh... Now I can see it clearly. This is... the Holy Sword... The Holy Sword...!" Had she burned off all her fur just to see the sword better? Kaylen stared at her in disbelief. Swoosh! But it didn¡¯t stop there¡ªher fur shot up into the air. It was the first time Kaylen had seen her fur standing completely on end. "C-Can I take a closer look? Please!" "Go ahead." "W-Wait a moment." Rustle. The fur that had been standing stiff slowly settled down. Then, Myorn bent forward, pressing her forehead firmly to the ground. Kaylen looked at her, dumbfounded. "Wait... Did you just bow?" "Of course. The first weapon to descend upon the Middle Realm! The Primordial Holy Sword, created with the Light of the Sun and the Eyes of a Dragon! It¡¯s regrettable that this is the only way I can express my reverence." [Are you a Dwarf? You understand respect.] The Holy Sword spoke in a solemn tone. Hearing this, Myorn bowed again. "H-Holy Sword..." Thud. Thud. How many times was she going to do this? Only when Kaylen gestured for her to stop did Myorn finally cease her bowing. "To think I¡¯ve seen the Holy Sword in my lifetime... I can die without regrets now..." "But Myorn." "What?" As she remained lost in reverence, Kaylen brought up something that had been bothering him. "You said it was created with the Light of the Sun and the Eyes of a Dragon. What does a dragon have to do with the Holy Sword?" "Oh, that¡¯s just how it¡¯s described in our mythology. Of course, the Holy Sword was bestowed upon the land by the Celestial God." Startled, Myorn quickly clarified that the sword naturally belonged to the Celestial God. "Why are you acting so nervous about it?" "...Well, there¡¯s a saying among us to be careful when speaking before humans. They say the Holy Knights get extremely upset when you put it that way." ¡°I don¡¯t have particularly deep faith, so I don¡¯t mind. What does the Dwarven myth say about the Holy Sword?¡± ¡°It¡¯s exactly what I just said. A sword of light, forged with the radiance of the sun and the eye of a dragon. That¡¯s all it says.¡± Kaylen looked at the Holy Sword, Astella. He already knew that its power was rooted in the sun. But a dragon¡¯s eye? ¡®Is the synergy effect from the combination function really that significant?¡¯ ¡°Impressive. Then what¡¯s the risk level for the other parts?¡± ¡°Compared to the central part, it¡¯s almost negligible.¡± ¡°So it¡¯s not completely risk-free either.¡± ¡°Right. Since it¡¯s still in the prototype stage, anything could happen.¡± ¡°In that case, a knight, who can protect their own body, would be better suited for the experiment rather than a mage. It doesn¡¯t have to be a Meister, right?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. As long as they¡¯re an Expert-ranked knight or higher, there¡¯s no need to consider attributes.¡± ¡°Understood. Then I¡¯ll bring the knights.¡± The knights Kaylen brought were an impressive lineup. Sword Master Eldir and top-tier Sword Expert Alkas. ¡°G-Grandmaster... no, Lord Kaylen.¡± ¡°Lady Myorn. You¡¯ve revealed your face today....¡± Since learning Kaylen¡¯s true identity, Eldir had been finding it difficult to face him. Meanwhile, Alkas was utterly mesmerized by seeing Myorn¡¯s face after such a long time. And they weren¡¯t the only ones staring blankly at her. The knights who followed behind them were just as dazed. ¡°T-That person... who is she...?¡± ¡°Ah...¡± Among them were Count Oblaine¡¯s second son, Guntrian, And Barthas, the former royal knight commander under the previous king, Kaitan. These two Sword Experts, who stood out the most beneath the domain of the Sword Throne, were utterly unable to collect themselves after seeing the face of the Dwarven Queen. ¡°Myorn. They¡¯re staring at you too much.¡± ¡°They are. Should I grow my fur back?¡± Kaylen imagined it for a moment at Myorn¡¯s words. A goddess-like face suddenly sprouting fur and transforming into a furry creature. The mere thought of it was unsettling enough that he shook his head. ¡°Uh... do that when you¡¯re alone later. And you all, snap out of it. Unless you want to witness something horrifying.¡± ¡°Y-Yes...!¡± As the knights regained their composure, Myorn extended her fur and distributed the mana suits. To Kaylen, she handed the armor and helmet that formed the core of the Combine Suit. To the rest of the knights, she gave out a gauntlet and a shoe each. ¡°So this is the Combine Suit?¡± ¡°It looks similar to a standard mana suit.¡± Following Myorn¡¯s instructions, Kaylen and his group donned their assigned mana suits and moved to the spacious open area within the workshop. A large number of mages affiliated with the workshop had gathered to witness the Combine Suit experiment. At the center of it all, the fusion process was about to begin in earnest. ¡°First, activate the mana suits.¡± Whirrrr. Kaylen and the four knights activated their mana suits simultaneously. A slight groan escaped from the knights who had received the gauntlets and shoes. ¡°Urgh...¡± ¡°It¡¯s... quite tight.¡± ¡°Especially around the original part of the suit. For me, the left gauntlet... If I don¡¯t reinforce it with aura, it¡¯s difficult to move.¡± Despite Myorn saying that the other parts were designed to minimize risk, even the carefully selected Sword Experts were struggling against the suit¡¯s pressure. However¡ª Compared to Kaylen, their struggle was nothing. ¡°Myorn... This feels more like a torture device¡ªno, even worse.¡± ¡°I-Is it that bad?¡± ¡°Yes. At this level of pressure, an Expert would be crushed.¡± ¡°Hm... I guess it¡¯s still not refined enough. Should we halt the experiment?¡± ¡°No. If it were anyone else, you¡¯d have to stop. But since I¡¯m the one testing it, gather as much data as you can.¡± At Kaylen¡¯s words, the workshop researchers immediately began collecting data in earnest. They measured the pressure of the mana suits, the flow of mana, and various other parameters. ¡°Now... we¡¯ll begin testing the Combine function.¡± At last, the main experiment for the Combine Suit¡¯s fusion ability commenced. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 138 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 138 "Activate the Combine Suit." Following Myorn¡¯s command, the Combine Suit was activated. Clank¡ª A twisting sound began emanating from the five mana suits, which had initially maintained the shape of normal armor. ¡°Huh... this is...¡± ¡°It¡¯s... expanding!¡± The knight who had received the gauntlet-shaped mana suit saw it swell in size before transforming into a massive arm and hand. The knight who had received the suit-shaped mana suit saw it morph into a leg and foot. Kaylen¡¯s assigned mana suit also expanded rapidly, reshaping itself into the form of a helmet and torso. Hiss¡ª Then, the now-enlarged, separate parts began to converge toward Kaylen, merging together. ¡°Ugh...!¡± ¡°The mana is surging...!¡± The knights responsible for the arms and legs let out strained groans as the changes occurred within the suit. However, their struggle was nothing compared to what Kaylen was experiencing. ¡®Is it because it¡¯s still a prototype? The mana flow is too unstable.¡¯ Inside the now-enlarged mana suit¡ª Logically, since the armor had grown, Kaylen should have felt lighter inside. Yet, he remained just as restrained as before. Rather, it was even more difficult to stay standing than when he had been wearing the armor. The violent fluctuations of the Combine Suit¡¯s mana bore down on him, pressing him with immense force. Had it been an ordinary Sword Expert instead of him, they would have been crushed entirely, unable to withstand the pressure. If even an Expert found it this unbearable, a mage wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance. ¡®It¡¯s a good thing I¡¯m the one participating in this experiment.¡¯ Thud! Thud! Especially when the separate arm and leg parts fused¡ª The impact was even greater. ¡°Urgh...!¡± ¡°I-It¡¯s getting too hard to stay standing.¡± Even the knights responsible for the limbs let out groans of pain. But if they were still managing to endure¡ª ¡®Even a Sword Master wouldn¡¯t find this easy to withstand.¡¯ With crushing pressure from all sides and the erratic mana surging through the suit, Kaylen remained still, assessing the situation. Even if Eldir had been the one in his place, enduring the shock from the fusion process wouldn¡¯t have been easy. ¡°Is it over now?¡± But after a few minutes, the continuous shocks and mana turbulence subsided. Kaylen suddenly felt the Combine Suit become buoyant. Was it because the armor and helmet parts were now being supported by the legs? ¡®But... how do I move in this state?¡¯ Within the expanded, dimly lit interior of the armor¡ª Kaylen stood still, observing his surroundings. Through the narrow gaps in the armor, faint light seeped in. Inside the expanded suit, intricate magic circles were inscribed. Just like using a flight spell, his body floated freely in the hollow space within the suit. Whirr¡ª As Kaylen observed the interior of the Combine Suit¡ª@@@@ Something began rising from below. ¡®This is... the leg of a giant demon.¡¯ A leg of a giant demon, gleaming with light. As Kaylen gazed at it in silence, Myorn¡¯s voice called out from outside. "Are you okay? How does it feel? What''s your condition?" "The mana flow is too unstable. No one else would be able to control this but me." "Well, it¡¯s still in the experimental phase. If His Majesty provides some support, we can probably advance it quickly." "Alright. I¡¯ll cooperate until it¡¯s stabilized." "Good. Oh, by the way... didn¡¯t the controller emerge from the core?" "Controller?" "You know, the demon¡¯s leg you gave me last time." "Oh. Yeah, it¡¯s here." "Grab it and try infusing mana into it." Following Myorn¡¯s instructions, Kaylen infused mana into the demon¡¯s leg. Vrrrrr¡ª As the mana resonated with the leg, Kaylen felt his senses expand dramatically. ¡®This... is a learning opportunity.¡¯ ¡®So it¡¯s possible to manifest aura like this...¡¯ ¡®His Majesty¡¯s mastery is truly on another level...¡¯ The way Kaylen controlled his aura was so overwhelmingly advanced that, even though they could see and feel it, they couldn¡¯t possibly imitate it. But just experiencing it firsthand in the same space was a great lesson in itself. Ssshhhkk¡ª After about 15 minutes of testing magic and swinging the sword¡ª The Combine Suit flickered with white light before slowly shrinking, returning to its original form. Seeing this, Myorn spoke in a disappointed tone. "Mana depletion. It¡¯s over, Kaylen." As he landed back on the ground, Kaylen looked at the Combine Suit. Its duration was short, and it had several limitations... But when Myorn later tested it against a regular mana suit, the results were astonishing. "Kaylen... you really controlled your power the same way as before, right?" "Yeah." "A D-rank Combine Suit matching the power of a B-rank mana suit...?" In its fully combined state, the Combine Suit displayed power two whole ranks above its original grade. The researchers knew the power would increase, but they never expected it to rise by two whole ranks. They were so shocked that they were left utterly dumbfounded. "Myorn, we absolutely have to make this a success. If the Combine Suit is properly completed, humans will gain the power to stand against the demons." "Ah, got it." Myorn, who had been staring blankly at the experiment data in shock, nodded. If they could further develop the Combine Suit, that hope might truly become a reality. "But... I think we¡¯ll need more of the demon legs you gave me last time..." "That won¡¯t be a problem." Thinking of the silent giant demon, Kaylen smirked. ¡®That guy finally has a use.¡¯ And from that point¡ª A year passed. "The nation has finally stabilized to some extent." "Yes, Your Majesty. The relocation of commoners is in its final stages, and all dungeon portals within the capital region have been eliminated." A year had passed since the founding of the Meier Kingdom. During that time, Kaylen successfully achieved his goal of reducing the kingdom¡¯s territory. Compared to the original Bormian Kingdom, the land had shrunk by over 30%. However, unlike before, the territory within the new borders was now securely protected. "Financially, our expenses are still higher than our revenue, but at least there won¡¯t be any more major costs." Violet spoke with a noticeably more relieved expression. Since Kaylen¡¯s coronation, she had been overwhelmed with work. But now that most of the king¡¯s projects were nearing completion, things were no longer as difficult as before. ¡®I hope this peaceful routine lasts.¡¯ It had been a peaceful year since the defeat of the Demon Realm¡¯s colonial subjugation forces. Dungeon portals still appeared within the kingdom, but thanks to Kaylen¡¯s proactive measures, the Meier Kingdom was safer than ever. At first, people were uneasy about the royal family changing and struggled to adapt. However, as the country became more stable than before, the people came to support the Meier royal family. Violet hoped this peace would continue¡ª But her wish did not last long. "Your Majesty, an envoy has arrived from a foreign nation." "An envoy?" Kaylen tilted his head in curiosity. Since the appearance of dungeon portals, trade between kingdoms had been severed. Diplomatic envoys rarely traveled anymore, and when they did, most communication was handled through the Dungeon Guild or the Sanctuary. ¡®Even when I founded the Meier Kingdom and took the throne, no envoys came.¡¯ From the perspective of other nations, the Meier royal family was nothing more than a rebel regime with no legitimacy. A kingdom that acknowledged Kaylen¡¯s rule even through simple communication was already showing goodwill. Yet now, after an entire year, and without any major events¡ªan envoy had suddenly arrived. Intrigued by the envoy¡¯s purpose, Kaylen granted an audience. And then¡ª "The Geysir Empire sternly warns your kingdom." The envoy who had come to see Kaylen spoke with a rigid expression. "Change the name of the Meier Kingdom immediately." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 139 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 139 A so-called envoy of the empire had suddenly demanded that the kingdom change its name. Rather than being angry, Kaylen found it absurd. "What did you just say?" "The name ''Meier'' is not something mere humans are permitted to use." Kaylen looked at the imperial envoy. The envoy, dressed in black ceremonial robes, met his gaze with a calm expression. However, his hollow, gleaming eyes carried a faint hint of madness. "I am a descendant of Meier, so it is rightful for me to use this name. What connection does the Geysir Empire have with Meier that it dares to interfere in such matters?" "A descendant of Meier...? That is impossible." The envoy sneered, curling his lips. Kaylen responded with a smirk and gestured with his hand. "Leave. The kingdom''s name will not be changed." "Our empire has issued a clear warning to your nation. From here on, the consequences will be yours to bear, Your Majesty." With those final words, the Geysir Empire¡¯s envoy turned to leave. But the knights, unable to suppress their anger, grabbed the hilts of their swords and roared. "Insolence! How dare a mere envoy behave in such a manner before His Majesty?!" The envoy''s actions were so audacious that immediate execution would not have been unreasonable. "Your Majesty, please grant me the honor of punishing this insolent wretch!" If Kaylen merely nodded, the envoy''s head would roll in an instant. However, Kaylen raised his right hand with a calm smile. "Enough." "But, Your Majesty...!" "What is the point of striking down one who is already dead?" At those words, the envoy¡¯s face immediately turned ashen. "How... How did you...?!" "I can sense no life from you. Naturally, I would know." An undead, serving as an envoy of the Geysir Empire? The officials exchanged shocked glances. He had seemed completely human...! "...Regardless, our empire has delivered its warning!" The envoy hastily withdrew. Kaylen watched his retreating figure before turning to his attendants. "The Geysir Empire... What kind of place is it?" "Well... It is known to be an empire located in the western region of the continent. However, given how distant it is from our nation, contact has long been severed..." Not a single official had proper knowledge of the Geysir Empire. Ever since dungeon portals began appearing, even domestic travel had become restricted¡ªlet alone gathering information on a distant foreign land. "I¡¯ll have to ask through Sanctuary." If anyone knew something, it would be those who had established dungeon guilds across the world. With that thought, Kaylen made his way toward the grand cathedral in the capital. "Your Majesty... May we ask what brings you here today?" The innermost part of the cathedral. The paladins standing guard before the bishop¡¯s chamber, where the saintess resided, asked with wary expressions. ''As vigilant as ever.'' Ever since lending them the replica of the Holy Sword... The individuals dispatched from Sanctuary to the grand cathedral were highly wary of Kaylen. Rather than being grateful for the loan of the Holy Sword, they felt as if it had been taken from them by force. They also disapproved of the saintess being stationed elsewhere, to the point that she spent less than three days a month in the capital. "I¡¯ve come to see Theresia."@@@@ "Your Majesty, please show proper respect to the Saintess." "She may appear young, but she is a sacred being who has lived for a thousand years. You must not address her so casually, Your Majesty." As the paladins sternly warned him, the door to the bishop¡¯s chamber suddenly swung open. "You all do realize I can hear you, right? What kind of rudeness is this toward His Majesty?" Theresia frowned at the sight. A guild branch head in the capital should have had direct or indirect ties with the Sanctuary and was expected to swear loyalty to the Holy See. Yet, he was behaving like this. Finding it odd, she continued her questioning. ¡°I see. Then... an envoy from the Geysir Empire recently demanded that the Kingdom of Meier change its name. Do you know anything about this?¡± ¨CThe Kingdom of... Meier? ¡°Yes.¡± At the mention of the Kingdom of Meier, the branch head¡¯s face contorted. Thud! The sound of a desk being slammed echoed from beyond the crystal orb. ¨CHow dare you! How dare you! This is blasphemy! ¡°Blasphemy...?¡± ¨CHow could a nation dare to use the sacred name of Meier? That name is reserved solely for the divine!! To think they were merely advised instead of being obliterated on the spot... Ah, His Majesty the Emperor is truly merciful! Ranting in fury on his own, the branch head concluded once again with reverent praise for the emperor. Theresia¡¯s expression froze completely. ¡°To claim that ¡®Meier¡¯ is a name reserved only for the divine... Are you truly a member of the Dungeon Guild?¡± ¨CAh, of course. Yes, I am indeed a member of the Dungeon Guild. The branch head bared his white teeth in a chilling grin. ¨CI am the Dungeon Guild¡¯s branch head¡ªunder the direct command of His Majesty the Emperor, not a pathetic fugitive from the Sanctuary. ¡°...You. You¡¯ve betrayed us.¡± ¨CBetrayal? Hah! Following one who is far greater is the natural choice for a lowly creature. The Celestial God is nothing compared to the Absolute Deity, Meier. ¡°To dare deny the Celestial God and the Holy See... From this moment forward, the Geysir Empire¡¯s Dungeon Guild branch will be considered heretical, and all support will be cut off.¡± ¡°Haha. That¡¯s why I tried to keep it hidden... but hearing you dare mention the Absolute Deity¡¯s name, I simply couldn¡¯t hold back. I will gladly become a heretic.¡± When did Meier become an Absolute Deity? Hearing this absurd statement, Kaylen, who had been listening with a bewildered expression, suddenly thought of something and asked the branch head, ¡°The ¡®Meier¡¯ you follow¡ªdoes it have any connection to Helmeyer of the Demon Realm?¡± At the mention of Helmeyer, the branch head simply shrugged. ¨CWhat is that? Click. With that, the branch head of the Geysir Empire¡¯s Dungeon Guild cut off the communication. Saintess Theresia had only intended to gather information on the empire¡¯s movements, yet she found herself stunned at the betrayal of the empire¡¯s guild branch. ¡°The Dungeon Guild branch committing treason... This is the first time something like this has happened.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. Normally, branch heads¡ªespecially those in capital cities¡ªearn the right to enter the Sanctuary if they achieve enough merit. That grants them eternal life, and they stop aging.¡± Reaching the position of branch head was practically a step away from entering the Sanctuary. To abandon that privilege¡ªthe chance to enjoy eternal youth¡ªand instead betray the Sanctuary? It was something that should have been impossible. But this time, things were different. ¡°The other Geysir branches aren¡¯t even answering communications. Whatever the capital¡¯s branch head did...¡± Not just the capital. All branches within the empire had turned their backs on the Sanctuary. They had betrayed it long ago but pretended otherwise. Now, they had revealed their true colors and cut off communication entirely. ¡°Meier as an Absolute Deity...¡± Considered heretical in some places. Worshipped as a god in others. What a mess. Kaylen let out a bitter chuckle and turned to Theresia. ¡°So, is there no way to investigate Geysir?¡± ¡°...Not at the moment.¡± ¡°But spatial travel is still possible, right?¡± ¡°Yes, that is possible.¡± ¡°Then send me to the empire. I need to see them with my own eyes.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 140 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 140 A provincial city of the Geysir Empire, Darkhan Castle. A flash of light flickered in the forest outside the castle, revealing Kaylen and Theresia. ¡°Theresia. I didn¡¯t expect you to follow me. Isn¡¯t the Saintess busy with her duties?¡± ¡°How would you return without me? You should at least consider coming back.¡± Theresia stretched as she looked around. ¡°Besides, I¡¯ve been overwhelmed with work lately. I needed some fresh air.¡± ¡°Why is there so much work?¡± ¡°The Holy Sword has disappeared. Even if a replica takes its place, the energy source powering the Sanctuary has been reduced by half... There¡¯s a lot to take care of.¡± With that, Theresia pulled out a memo from her robes. ¡°After investigating the Geysir Empire, I found out that its original name was the Kingdom of Akinsor.¡± ¡°The Kingdom of Akinsor? I know that place. My second wife was a princess from there.¡± ¡°Yes. Historical records mention that after that, Lord Ernstine¡¯s number of wives suddenly increased.¡± Theresia shot a glare at Kaylen, but he remained unfazed. ¡°Marrying into former royal families is a useful strategy when merging nations. If you grant the fallen royal family privileges and govern the annexed region with care, the resistance from the conquered land isn¡¯t as severe as one might expect.¡± ¡°So marriage was just another means of conquest?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. My goal back then was to unify the Aberian continent. Whether it was marriage or anything else, I had to use every possible means.¡± Taking in dozens of princesses as wives, he had ultimately unified the continent under Meier¡¯s banner. But looking back now, he wondered if it had really been necessary. Though the empire¡¯s unification happened swiftly¡ª@@@@ After Ernstine disappeared, his wives incited their sons to restore their former royal families. ¡°If I had lived for centuries with the body of a Grand Swordmaster, supporting Caius and his descendants, my sons wouldn¡¯t have acted so recklessly. It¡¯s a shame.¡± ¡°...That¡¯s true. If that were the case, the Meier Empire would still rule the entire Aberian continent. No¡ªperhaps the continent itself would have been renamed the Meier Continent.¡± ¡°Oh, that was something I planned to do when I turned a hundred.¡± ¡°...You were actually considering that?¡± Kaylen smirked and shifted the topic. ¡°Anyway. So Akinsor became Geysir, huh?¡± As they walked toward Darkhan Castle, Kaylen recalled his second wife from the Kingdom of Akinsor. Princess Bellania, renowned for her beauty. She had great ambition as well and was quite the nuisance, constantly claiming that the first wife¡ªwho came from a noble family¡ªwas unfit to be Empress. When Ernstine firmly rejected her demands, she quieted down for a while. However, when the firstborn, Caius, showed no talent in swordsmanship, and her own son, Baldrix, displayed exceptional skill, she revealed her ambitions once more. Even if she couldn¡¯t become Empress, the next Emperor should at least be Baldrix. -¡°The Emperor of the Meier Empire must at least be a Swordmaster.¡± Using that justification, she orchestrated numerous schemes to undermine Caius¡¯s position in the imperial family. ¡®In the end, I exiled her back to her homeland for trying to destabilize the royal court.¡¯ -¡°Your Majesty. You will regret this. You will regret it.¡± Kaylen recalled Bellania¡¯s venomous expression as she departed and let out a bitter smile. In the end, it was her son who first led the rebellion that brought down the unified empire. ¡°The newly established Kingdom of Akinsor, which declared independence from the Meier Empire, did not have a smooth beginning. There was conflict between the former royal family of Akinsor and the newly crowned King Baldrix.¡± ¡°...I see.¡± Even though the Akinsor royal family was Baldrix¡¯s maternal lineage¡ª But the fact that they had returned... There was something even more surprising. ¡ªKIIIIIEEEEK! After completely devouring the crucified humans, the Blood Drakes, as if satisfied, took to the skies once more. ¡®There were at least a hundred drakes... And yet, after eating just that many humans, they simply flew away? Blood Drakes despise consuming corpses. Normally, after feeding, they should have charged further into the human castle.¡¯ The behavior of this Blood Drake pack was undoubtedly unusual. ¡°They just ate their fill and retreated. In the past, they would have lost all sense of reason in the presence of humans.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. Their habits seem to have changed.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to enter the castle to find out more.¡± ¡ªWhoooosh. Wind mana wrapped around them. The light of a greatsword flickered, concealing their presence. ¡°Pardon me for a moment.¡± Kaylen lifted Theresia into his arms, and her face immediately turned red. She was no longer a young girl, yet in front of Kaylen, her heart refused to settle. Especially when he suddenly acted like this¡ªshe was completely defenseless. ¡°I-I¡¯ll be relying on you.¡± She tried to sound composed, but she couldn¡¯t hide the tremor in her voice. Ederna, the child of the former Demon King and the overseer of the colony¡¯s observation post, had spent the past year observing Kaylen and had reached a single conclusion. ¡®This man... he might not be a descendant of the Hero¡ªhe could be the Hero himself.¡¯ From what she had overheard in his conversations with the Saint and the one-eyed elf, there were too many things that didn¡¯t align with him being merely a descendant. ¡®If he truly is the Hero... then he is my father¡¯s enemy.¡¯ There were many suspicious aspects regarding the "White Demon King" and his involvement in the death of her father, the "Crimson Flame Demon King." However, it was the former Hero who had personally beheaded her father¡ªher direct enemy. Should she allow her father¡¯s enemy to grow stronger, just to obstruct the White Demon King? That thought weighed on Ederna¡¯s mind. But... ¡®At this rate, no one will be able to oppose the current Demon King.¡¯ The Demon Realm had even invaded the Celestial Realm and established footholds there. The White Demon King commanded absolute support in the Demon Realm. If he continued his unchecked rise to power, there would be no one left capable of opposing him. ¡®Perhaps... he will ascend to the vacant seat of the Demon God.¡¯ The thought of the White Demon King rising to the position of Demon God... ¡ªFwoooosh! Just imagining it made Ederna shudder, and flames erupted from the scales covering her body. ¡®For now, I¡¯ll assist the wielder of the Holy Sword. I¡¯m still not certain if he is the former Hero.¡¯ If he was indeed the former Hero, then she could plan her next move accordingly. Ederna flicked her tongue, continuing her observation. Kaylen entered the castle as if he owned the place, completely at ease. ¡®I¡¯d better warn him soon. If I don¡¯t... he¡¯ll be dead before long.¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 141 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 141 As they crossed the black cross and entered Darkhan Castle, a completely different world unfolded before them. ¡®The ground is pitch black.¡¯ The first thing that caught their eyes was the land, dyed in black. It wasn¡¯t just the color¡ªthe entire ground was radiating dark mana. ¡°This soil... it¡¯s just like the Demon Realm¡¯s.¡± Theresia, still in Kaylen¡¯s arms, whispered in a small voice. ¡°The soil of the Demon Realm taints the surrounding land with dark mana. I heard that dark mages once tried to transform the land of the Middle Realm with this, but they failed due to practical limitations...¡± No matter how much dark mages tried to bring Demon Realm soil, completely altering the terrain of the Middle Realm would have been impossible. Kaylen crouched and touched the soil, sensing its mana. ¡®It¡¯s not just dark mana¡ªthere are faint traces of fire mana as well.¡¯ Did the soil of the Demon Realm originally contain fire attributes? Kaylen brushed the dirt off his hands, pondering the question. ¡°But I don¡¯t sense any people at all.¡± ¡°Yeah. Not even a single guard.¡± The Geysir Empire. Ever since he learned that their envoy was undead, Kaylen had found them suspicious. But seeing it firsthand only made it more unsettling. ¡°For now, let¡¯s head inside.¡± Treading across the blackened ground, Kaylen and Theresia walked deeper into the castle while remaining concealed. ¡°The houses are being maintained properly.¡± ¡°Yes... But I don¡¯t see a single person... Huh?¡± As she scanned the deserted Darkhan Castle, Theresia¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°There¡¯s an enormous dark mana presence near the castle¡¯s center.¡± ¡°I feel it too.¡± A massive dark mana. It was even greater than what the Demon Realm¡¯s Baron, Shadowwill, had released in the past. ¡®A dark mana presence stronger than that of a Baron blessed by the Moon...?¡¯ It hadn¡¯t been detectable before they entered the inner castle. Kaylen remained on high alert as he continued forward. And soon¡ª ¡°People!¡± Inside the inner castle, they finally found people. Men, women, and children alike were walking aimlessly, their faces blank. They moved in a single-file line, eyes unfocused, one by one entering the castle. ¡°They¡¯re human, but... there¡¯s almost no sign of life in them.¡± ¡°Yes... But they¡¯re not undead either.¡± ¡°Hm. We¡¯ll have to go further in.¡± Even if they asked questions, it was unlikely they would get answers. Kaylen remained hidden as he walked past the line of people. And just as he reached the halfway point of the line and stepped through the open gates of the inner castle¡ª Crack. The people all turned their heads toward Kaylen at once. They twisted their necks so sharply that their bones cracked audibly. Yet, paying no mind to it, they all began to shout. ¡°Don¡¯t cut in line...¡± ¡°Wait your turn!¡± ¡°Get to the back!¡± The blank-faced people twisted their expressions. Despite Kaylen being concealed, they stared at him directly. ¡®How did they detect me?¡¯ Rather than being startled by their demand to stand in line, Kaylen was more surprised that they had seen through his concealment. No matter how he looked at them, they appeared to be ordinary people¡ªif anything, they were severely drained of vitality. Yet, they had managed to detect the concealment he had cast using Six Blades. ¡°Lord Ernstine...¡± ¡°What? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re saying we should get in line.¡± ¡°No... that¡¯s not it. I just think it might be best to step back.¡± Theresia spoke with a pale expression. ¡°The dark mana coming from inside is far too strong...¡± The moment they stepped past the castle gates, the presence of dark mana intensified. If it had been several times stronger than a Demon Realm Baron¡¯s before¡ª Now, it was more than ten times that. ¡°Theresia, we¡¯ve come this far. We can¡¯t turn back now. Just be ready to teleport at any moment.¡± With that, Kaylen picked up his pace. ¡°Wait for....¡± ¡°YOUR TURN!!¡± The people behind them shouted and began rushing forward. But Kaylen ignored them and pressed on toward the source of the dark mana. And there, he finally saw it. ¡°A vortex...¡± As soon as they stepped into the inner sanctum, a massive open space came into view. The first thing that stood out was the enormous black vortex swirling across the entire floor. ¡°Ugh... the dark mana... urgh...¡± "This... This can''t be...! In the name of the dragon, I command the mana¡ªkill her!" The magician shrieked and pointed at Theresia. "Ghh... Ugh...!" Unlike with Kaylen, Theresia instantly gasped, choking as if her breath had been stolen. A dire situation where her life hung by a thread. "Kik. Kik... Of course. There''s no way it would fail...!" "Theresia!" But as soon as Kaylen swiftly patted Theresia¡¯s back¡ª Srrr... The mana that was about to kill her dissolved without resistance. "W-What... What the hell is this? Who... who are you?!" To have Dragon Tongue magic dispelled by mere touch¡ª Such a thing had never been heard of before. The jester-masked magician pointed a trembling finger, full of disbelief. "Who knows? I don¡¯t understand it either." Kaylen was just as confused. He hadn¡¯t done anything special. The magic had simply unraveled on its own. Kaylen turned his attention toward the Dark Barrier protecting the vortex. A powerful shield that had even resisted Inferno Sky, infused with the Holy Sword¡¯s power. Slowly, he reached out his hand toward the barrier. "N-No way...!" Srrr... The moment Kaylen¡¯s hand touched it¡ª The seemingly impenetrable barrier vanished without resistance. The same shield Inferno Sky had failed to breach simply faded away. "The Dragon Tongue... It¡¯s being broken so easily... Just what are you...?!" "You don¡¯t need to know that." Crack... A single fracture ran across the jester mask. "Why don¡¯t you show me your face instead?" Tok. Tok. The mask split in half and fell to the floor. "Hm. A Lizardman, huh?" The face beneath the mask was not human, but reptilian¡ª A lizard-like visage, covered in mottled black and green scales. At Kaylen¡¯s words, the magician bristled in fury. "H-How dare you call me a lizard?!" "Then what are you?" "I am...!" But before he could finish, his face darkened rapidly¡ª His mouth filled with blood, which he coughed up violently. "Kugh... Ghh...! Even the Grand Magic Circle... has been unraveled..." The magician stared at the ground with disbelief in his eyes. The vortex was vanishing, following the very footsteps Kaylen had walked. Could there be some connection between Kaylen and the so-called Grand Magic Circle that the magician had spoken of? As the vortex completely disappeared¡ª The magician¡¯s vitality rapidly drained away. ¡°I... I can¡¯t... believe this... I have to report this...¡± With those final words, he breathed his last. ¡°Sir Kaylen, what exactly did you do? That vortex¡¯s dark magic was beyond comprehension...¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know either.¡± The vortex¡¯s dark magic had been so immense that Kaylen had been prepared to use at least the Fourth Sword of the Six Sword Path to break through it¡ª Yet everything had been resolved far too easily. So effortlessly, in fact, that it left an unsettling feeling. ¡°The people...¡± Just as Kaylen was about to ask the survivors about the Geysir Empire¡ª Thud. Thud. One by one, the people who had been standing in line began collapsing. With the vortex gone¡ª They, too, perished just like the magician. ¡°An investigation won¡¯t be possible.¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± Theresia nodded, her face pale. When she had accompanied Kaylen to investigate the Geysir Empire, part of her had felt as if they were on a casual outing¡ª Yet today, she had nearly died. ¡°But we still need to gather some information...¡± As Kaylen muttered that¡ª ¡ªShall I tell you? A serpent¡¯s voice echoed from the sky. ¡ªFirst, leave that place. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 142 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 142 When Kaylen fearlessly entered the inner fortress, Ederna, who had been watching him, had inwardly given up. ¡®Reckless.¡¯ Despite sensing the dark magic, he still went inside¡ªhe lacked caution. At this rate, he was bound to die before even reaching the Demon King. Thinking that she might as well watch the last desperate struggle of the Hero¡¯s descendant, she observed¡ª Only to witness something completely unexpected. ¡®He dispelled Dragon Tongues?!¡¯ Dragon Tongues. The power of dragons, the rulers of mana. With just a single utterance, they could command the world¡¯s mana at will¡ªan absolute decree that superseded all laws. Even high-ranking demons struggled to resist this language unless they were among the highest tiers. ¡®Even though the Dragon Tongues they use aren¡¯t real...¡¯ The ones used by these impostors were not the true Dragon Tongues of legends, making them weaker in effect. Still, considering they had been cast within that black vortex, it should have been nearly impossible for a human to overcome. Even as a descendant of the Hero, he should have struggled immensely. Yet, he hadn¡¯t even fought it head-on with full force¡ªthe magic had simply unraveled on its own? Ederna had observed countless phenomena as the Colonial Observatory Chief, but this was a first. ¡®I have to keep him alive.¡¯ Initially prepared to abandon Kaylen due to his recklessness, the serpent changed her mind and reached out to him directly. ¡ªFirst, get out of there. Startled by the sudden voice, Kaylen remained wary as he asked, ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡ªThe Colonial Observatory Chief. ¡°If you¡¯re the Colonial Observatory Chief, that means you¡¯re a demon... How can I trust you?¡± ¡ªThen stay if you want. You¡¯re about to be devoured. Rumble. Before her words had even fully left her mouth, the ground trembled violently. The spot where the black vortex had been split open, and from within, dark smoke began to rise. ¡®I need to get out first.¡¯ Kaylen picked up Theresia and rushed out of the fortress. In the blink of an eye, the group had made it outside. ¡°This should be far enough.¡± Just as Kaylen set down Theresia, who looked pale¡ª The fortress, shrouded in rising black smoke, began tilting to the sides, sinking as if being swallowed by a swamp. ¡ªKaaaaah! Then, a beastly roar shook the heavens and earth, and the dark smoke began morphing into what looked like fangs, engulfing the fortress and the village within it in utter darkness. Squirm. Squirm. In the place where the fortress had vanished, darkness spewed forth, vomiting blackened soil. The very ground was rapidly transforming into the soil of the Demon Realm. At first, only the earth within the fortress had turned black, But now, the corrupted land had spread far and wide, even reaching where Kaylen stood. ¡°That... What in the world...¡± Theresia was at a loss for words as she watched the darkness swallow the fortress. At a glance, it seemed like nothing more than dark magic erupting¡ª But instinctively, she knew. That thing... is a living creature. ¡®At that level, it¡¯s comparable to the Demon Realm¡¯s ducal rank I¡¯ve seen before.¡¯ The Flame Duke of the Demon Realm, who frequently appeared in Theresia¡¯s dreams. The power emanating from this creature was on par with that duke¡ªno, perhaps even greater. ¡°If I had faced that thing, even I would have struggled.¡± Kaylen admitted his lack of strength as he gazed at the distant creature. In his current state, without having perfected the Six Swords, it was a natural disaster he could hardly oppose. Had he been there, he would have had no choice but to resist¡ª But ultimately, he would have been devoured, unable to overcome the overwhelming difference in power. ¡°You called yourself the Colonial Observatory Chief. What is that thing?¡± ¡ªA Black Dragon. ¡°...That¡¯s a dragon?¡± Kaylen tilted his head as he looked at the mass of black mana sinking back into the ground. He had never seen a real dragon before, but according to the legends, dragons were never described as mere lumps of mana. If anything, it resembled an enormous drake. ¡ªYes. It is Helmeier¡¯s Forbidden Creation. ¡ªFor now, I suggest you return to your castle, Hero. "Why?" ¡ªA direct descendant of Helmeier is coming. If a demon arrives here, they might overhear our conversation. A direct descendant of Helmeier. Kaylen considered it¡ªmaybe he should meet them. ¡®Until I complete the Six Swords, I should be careful.¡¯ But recalling the Black Dragon ¡®Meier¡¯ he had just seen, he decided to withdraw for now. Right now, he lacked the strength. To fight against Ducal-level Demon Realm power, completing the Six Swords was essential. ¡®I need to eat the Fruit of the World Tree as soon as possible.¡¯ With that thought, Kaylen returned to the capital¡ª To the site where Darkhan Castle once stood. From the sky, countless Drakes descended. Thud. Thud. One by one, knights clad in black armor dismounted from the Drakes. There were exactly one hundred of them, but except for the one standing at the very front, their bodies were shrouded in black smoke. Though their mana levels varied greatly, their appearances closely resembled the dragon that had once engulfed the castle. The sole knight among them who retained a physical body looked down at the ground and spoke. "This should have been the site where Darkhan Castle once stood." "It is said that the Grand Magic Circle was destroyed due to a sudden attack, Commander." "The Grand Magic Circle was destroyed in an attack? Was it an invasion from the Demon Realm?" "We have not been able to determine that. It all happened so quickly..." "Hmm..." The knight, referred to as Commander, removed her helmet. As it came off, snow-white hair spilled down, and long, brown ears emerged. Charred skin. White hair. Elongated ears. Her appearance resembled that of a Dark Elf, a race that had long disappeared from the Middle Realm. She was as stunning as the Elves¡ªno, even more beautiful. With cold, composed eyes, she gazed at the ground. "In the name of the Dragon, I command the spirits¡ªshow me what transpired here." At her words, an earth spirit erupted from the blackened ground. Moisture gathered in the air, coalescing into a murky water spirit. The water spirit, resembling a Dark Elf, soon altered its form¡ªtransforming into a mirror-like surface. Rumble... The earth spirit, with its blunt and rugged form, rose to serve as the stand supporting the mirror. Then, through the mirror, they replayed the events that had taken place on this land. Kaylen entering the castle and confronting the jester-masked magician. Even when he used the Six Sword Path, the barrier did not break. Yet¡ª When the magician countered with Dragon Tongue, Kaylen overcame it. The vision did not replay events beyond that point. But what they had seen was enough to reveal the cause of Darkhan Castle¡¯s destruction. "This man..." "Ah. According to the Reaper¡¯s memory, he appears to be the King of the Meier Kingdom." As the knights gathered in small groups to discuss Kaylen¡¯s identity¡ª The Dark Elf commander, eyes wide open, "Replay it. Again." "Again." "One more time." Over and over. She replayed the scene of Kaylen using the Six Sword Path. The scene of him overcoming Dragon Tongue. It had been broad daylight when they arrived. Yet she kept watching until the sun had set, and night had fallen. She continued to stare at Kaylen. "Uh... Commander?" "He is undoubtedly Kaylen, the King of Meier." "There¡¯s no need to confirm any further..." Even as the knights beside her grew impatient, she remained entranced, watching the vision over and over. And when night had fully settled¡ª She finally spoke, her voice filled with disbelief. "...Dad?" [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 143 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 143 ¡®Ah, Father?¡¯ ¡®The commander known as the "Thousand-Year Witch"...?¡¯ The knights were in shock. Melvria, the Thousand-Year Witch. She was a woman who had suddenly appeared one day in the Geysir Empire and was granted a duchy by the imperial family. At first, people suspected she had bewitched the emperor with an otherworldly beauty that seemed too unreal to exist in this world. The dark elf woman was beautiful enough to make people believe such a thing. But that was a misconception. She was stronger than anyone and knew how to command dragons. She led hundreds of drakes on her own. She brought calamity to entire regions through the dark arts of spirit sorcery. A transcendent being who could act as an entire army by herself, without a single subordinate. That was Duchess Melvria Darkwind. ¡°...Father.¡± Duchess Melvria seemed to murmur wistfully. Crash! She shattered the mirror conjured by the water spirit with her fist and destroyed the pedestal summoned by the earth spirit. A display of sheer brutality. As the spirits trembled in agony before vanishing, the knights gave small, knowing nods. To strike down spirits¡ªwho were like an extension of their summoners¡ªwithout hesitation. Yes. That was the Duchess Melvria they knew. ¡°......That¡¯s impossible.¡± Melvria recalled memories from a distant past. As a half-elf, the time she had with both of her parents was fleeting. Her mother, Deluna, had left her behind in the imperial palace to fulfill her duty as a high elf. ¡ªFather... Mother is... ¡ªIt¡¯s okay, Melvria. I¡¯ll find her. Her father had sworn to bring Deluna back, but in the end, he never did. ¡ªI¡¯m sorry, Melvria. Deluna... she¡¯s gone. Instead, I will take on both her role and mine. Her father, Ernstine, kept that promise. Though he had many wives and children, Melvria was always his priority. No matter how many consorts he visited, the emperor always spent his final moments of the night in her quarters. That wasn¡¯t all. Melvria¡¯s palace rivaled that of an empress in scale. Compared to his other children, the favoritism shown toward her was overwhelming. ¡ªThe one the emperor cherishes most is the half-elf, Melvria. This was an open secret whispered throughout the imperial palace, and Melvria took pleasure in hearing it. Her mother had abandoned her, but her father¡¯s love had almost healed that wound. At least, until Ernstine disappeared. ¡ªH-His Majesty the former emperor... ¡ªHe has gone missing after the abdication ceremony! From that moment on, her life in the imperial palace changed completely. ¡ªMelvria! Melvria! ¡ªWhere has His Majesty the former emperor gone? ¡ªHe favored you the most. Surely, he must have confided in you? At first, no one suspected that anything had happened to Ernstine. He was a Grand Sword Master, the former emperor who had even slain the Demon King¡ªwho would dare lay a hand on him?@@@@ Rather, people assumed he had gone into seclusion and sought out Melvria to ask about his whereabouts. But as more time passed and there was no sign of the emperor, the emotions that had been suppressed began to surface. ¡ªFilthy half-elf wench. ¡ªYou only acted so arrogantly because of His Majesty¡¯s favor, didn¡¯t you? ¡ªWithout His Majesty, you¡¯re nothing but a worthless girl... The first to openly despise her were Ernstine¡¯s wives. Countless "mothers," yet not one of them ever considered Melvria their daughter. To them, she was nothing more than a rival who had stolen the emperor¡¯s affection. And it was no wonder¡ª The one who always spent the emperor¡¯s last moments of the night was Melvria. ¡ªOh my, are you the new "mother"? Then I¡¯ll let you have tonight. Whenever a new consort entered the palace, Melvria would concede just one night. "You all can rest." "Yes, ma¡¯am!" "I¡¯ll be sleeping here tonight." "Understood!" Once the knights withdrew, Melvria restored the shattered mirror and its stand, then replayed Kaylen¡¯s image over and over again. Until the break of dawn. ¡ªKing of Meier. Even if I am just the overseer of a colonial observatory, I can¡¯t talk for long. I¡¯m already taking a risk as it is. Upon arriving in the Meier Kingdom, Kaylen heard Ederna¡¯s voice. "And yet? Why are you taking such a risk just to help humans?" ¡ªThat¡¯s not something you need to know. "Is it related to the Lucifer matter you asked me about earlier?" ¡ªThink whatever you want. Though Ederna¡¯s voice was flat and indifferent, Kaylen was certain there was a connection. ¡®Lucifer.¡¯ The demon Lucifer¡ªSaint Theresia seemed to be aware of him as well. Why did Kaylen have no memory of him? Kaylen decided he would have to ask the saint in detail later but focused on the current issue. "Do you think the Geysir Empire will invade?" ¡ª100 percent. "Even if we change the kingdom¡¯s name?" "Sir Kaylen......" Saint Theresia looked at Kaylen in shock. Was he really considering giving in to such an absurd and disrespectful demand from the imperial envoy? Considering Emperor Ernstine¡¯s dignity, such a thing was unthinkable. "It¡¯s just a name. If it can delay the invasion, I¡¯ll change it however many times it takes. The kingdom isn¡¯t fully prepared yet." Clinging to the name "Meier" and facing the empire¡¯s invasion unprepared was not an option. If delaying the invasion was possible, then abandoning something so trivial was a small price to pay. Practicality mattered more than appearances. Kaylen made his judgment with cold logic. However, Ederna was certain. ¡ªThat¡¯s just an excuse. Their true target is you. Kaylen furrowed his brows. "I¡¯m their target...? Why?" ¡ªI don¡¯t know the details. But they¡¯ve always had a habit of collecting descendants of the Meier imperial lineage. It¡¯s probably related to that. "Hmm." So war was inevitable after all. "How much do we know about their military strength?" ¡ªThe Geysir Empire itself isn¡¯t overwhelmingly powerful aside from their Order of Dragon Knights. But the real problem is the Black Dragon ¡®Meier¡¯ and the Helmeier draconic spellcasters. They are directly under the Helmeier lineage. "The Black Dragon Meier... He possessed magic on the level of a Demon Duke, at the very least." ¡ªYou should consider him even stronger than that. Ederna warned in a grim tone. ¡ªDragons are truly formidable beings. Kaylen examined his own power. The four fully developed Six Blades¡ª Light, Dark, Fire, and Water were completely stabilized, but... ¡®The Earth Blade and Wind Blade are lagging behind.¡¯ The overwhelming presence of the four completed blades had hindered the growth of the remaining two attributes. Technically, they were developing at the same rate, but the longer this went on, the harder it became for them to catch up. ¡®The Earth Blade¡¯s completion depends on the World Tree¡¯s fruit, but...¡¯ The Wind Blade was the real issue. There was no source from which to obtain a massive amount of wind mana. He had been refining mana stones to compensate, but¡ª None of his research had yielded results that satisfied him. ¡®If I complete only the Earth Blade now, finishing the Wind Blade later will be even harder.¡¯ Completing both at the same time would be best in the long run. "Wind mana is the problem..." Kaylen muttered to himself in frustration. ¡ªIf it¡¯s wind mana... You¡¯ll find it in the Sanctuary. Ederna¡¯s voice carried a hint of amusement. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 144 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 144 ¡°In the Sanctuary?¡± ¡ªYeah. The Spirit King of Wind is there, isn¡¯t he? ¡°What... The Spirit King? Is that real?¡± ¡ªWouldn¡¯t the Saintess know better? At the observer¡¯s words, the Saintess¡¯s face turned pale. ¡°H-How... do you know that?¡± It was one thing for the observer of the Demon Realm¡¯s colony to understand the affairs of the Middle World. But to know about the hidden circumstances of the Sanctuary? ¡®There¡¯s no way she mentioned the Spirit King for no reason... Does the Demon Realm really know everything about the Sanctuary?¡¯ As Theresia¡¯s wariness grew, Ederna burst into laughter. ¡ªDid you really think the observatory had eyes inside the Sanctuary? Too bad, that¡¯s not the case. This information came from the angels. ¡°The angels...? That¡¯s impossible. There¡¯s no way the angels would leak information to demons!¡± ¡ªThat¡¯s just your misconception. There are ways. Ederna spoke ominously, then ended the conversation. ¡ªWell, figure out the rest on your own. I¡¯m leaving. ¡°Really? No price for this? You¡¯re just giving away high-grade information and leaving?¡± ¡ªA price? Stay alive. That¡¯s the price. What was there to gain from a mere human in a colony? As long as this information could be used to keep that disgusting Demon King in check, that was enough. ¡ªIf there¡¯s an issue, contact me again. With that, Ederna¡¯s voice faded away. ¡®Living long enough, you see all sorts of things.¡¯ To think he would receive help from a demon without any cost. Of course, she had her own motives, but... For now, Kaylen decided to accept the information without rejecting it and put it to good use. ¡°Theresia. Is the Spirit King really in the Sanctuary?¡± Theresia took a moment to scan the sky above her. ¡°Divine Shield.¡± She cast divine protection magic stronger than ever before. An attempt to evade the eyes of the Demon Realm¡¯s observer. ¡°Divine Shield.¡± After layering multiple protection spells, she finally approached Kaylen and whispered cautiously. ¡°Yes. The Spirit King resides in the Sanctuary. He continuously keeps it afloat by converting the power from the sacred relic.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Kaylen nodded. He had already considered the Sanctuary as a potential target for conquest in the future. This was useful information. The forces sent to the Middle World, aside from Theresia, weren¡¯t particularly valuable. But it seemed there was still a hidden card to play. ¡°Is there a way to obtain Wind Mana from the Spirit King?¡± ¡°Wind Mana?¡± ¡°I need it to complete my Wind Sword.¡±@@@@ ¡°I can ask... but it will be difficult. The Spirit King doesn¡¯t have that kind of luxury.¡± Theresia¡¯s response was negative. ¡°Besides, even if the Spirit King were to help... he might ask you to return the Holy Sword. Would you be willing to do that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not an option.¡± ¡°As expected, right?¡± No matter how important Wind Mana was, it wasn¡¯t worth giving up the Holy Sword. ¡°Still, considering the gravity of the situation... I¡¯ll bring it up to His Holiness. This incident has been shocking for us as well.¡± ¡°Yeah. I thought the Sanctuary had complete control over the Dungeon Guild in human territory, but it turns out they were being completely toyed with.¡± ¡°Yes. We should probably inspect the other Dungeon Guilds as well.¡± Theresia began preparing to leave for the Sanctuary to report to the Holy Pope. Watching her, Kaylen suddenly thought of something and asked, ¡°Theresia.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Has the Holy Pope also lived for a thousand years like you? In the Sanctuary?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s right.¡± Benedict pulled a single strand of black hair from his head of white. ¡°I can¡¯t give away the Spirit King¡¯s power. It¡¯s necessary to maintain the Sanctuary.¡± ¡°That¡¯s... true.¡± ¡°But, what he actually needs is Wind Mana, right?¡± ¡°I will tell you the location of the S-Class Mana Suit, Stormwind.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Theresia let out a gasp and nodded. The S-Class Wind Mana Suit¡ªStormwind. The power contained within it would surely be enough to provide Kaylen with the Wind Mana he sought. ¡°But... the location is...?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll tell you after I pray to the Celestial Gods. In the meantime, handle Sanctuary affairs for a while. Stop running off to Meier all the time.¡± ¡°A-Alright, Your Holiness.¡± She had completed her task, yet she still felt unfairly treated. But the Holy Pope paid no mind and continued speaking. ¡°Theresia. As your Holy Pope, I¡¯m giving you some serious advice. How old are you?¡± ¡°Why are you bringing up age here?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a thousand-year-old hag. But you look like a child. Ernstine¡¯s tastes are the complete opposite of that. Do you really think anything will change just because you hover around him? Wake up and get back to work. Tsk, tsk.¡± ¡°Ugh, seriously! Your Holiness! That¡¯s too much! Who works harder than I do?!¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I feel bad for you. Tsk, tsk.¡± ¡°And how would Your Holiness even know Lord Ernstine¡¯s preferences?!¡± ¡°The Holy Pope knows everything.¡± With that, Holy Pope Benedict waved his hand dismissively, signaling for her to leave. Theresia departed. Tuk. Benedict plucked a single strand of black hair from his head of white and let out a smirk. ¡°Well, of course. The Holy Pope must know everything... at least when it comes to him.¡± The Grand Conference Hall of Meier¡¯s Royal Castle. After hearing Kaylen¡¯s report on the Geysir Empire, the gathered officials voiced their concerns. ¡°For their military strength to be that formidable...¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s not just their strength. That place... it hardly seems like a human nation.¡± ¡°Agreed. We should consider them a direct dominion under the demons¡¯ rule.¡± A Black Dragon, on top of wielding the Dragon Tongue. A nation ruled directly or indirectly by the Helmeier bloodline. Even with Meier Kingdom¡¯s rapid growth over the past year, they were still a formidable enemy. ¡®The only thing we can rely on is His Majesty...¡¯ ¡®And he said they have a Black Dragon...¡¯ Over the past year, they had all witnessed firsthand the overwhelming power of King Kaylen. But what if the Black Dragon neutralized his strength? In a full-scale battle, Meier Kingdom would be at a massive disadvantage. ¡®Just when the world was finally becoming livable again...¡¯ ¡®The heavens are truly merciless!¡¯ Meier Kingdom¡¯s growth in the past year had been nothing short of dazzling. The mana suits developed at the Myorn Workshop continued to improve, to the point where knights equipped with them could now dismantle dungeon cores without needing mages. The Demon-Hunters no longer required spellcasters to function effectively. With their increased strength, the pace of dungeon portal subjugations had skyrocketed. Now, any dungeon portals that appeared in the capital region were eradicated almost instantly. The Demon-Hunters now outnumbered the portals themselves. Some of the newer divisions even ventured beyond the capital for expeditions. What once threatened human survival¡ªthe dungeon portals¡ªhad now become a valuable resource supply. If this continued for another five or ten years, not only would Meier Kingdom reclaim all of its former lands, but its influence could even expand beyond its borders. Yet now, with the sudden emergence of this empire, survival itself was at stake, let alone progress. As Kaylen observed his gathered officials, lamenting and seething at the situation, he finally spoke, his voice steady. ¡°For now, we¡¯ll start by eliminating Geysir¡¯s vanguard. According to our intel, they have a Drake Division.¡± Using Ederna¡¯s information, Kaylen began planning the operation. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty. I will begin assembling the troops.¡± ¡°No. Mobilizing a large force will only make them easy prey for the drakes. Only the Royal Guard will go.¡± Truthfully, he felt most comfortable going alone. But the Royal Guard needed real battle experience in their Combine Suits. ¡®I can¡¯t be the only one holding back the tide forever.¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 145 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 145 The Royal Guard of the Meier Kingdom consists of 100 elite knights, carefully selected from those gathered at the Sword Throne. With the World Tree taking root and the knights rapidly improving due to the Sword Throne, most of them had reached the level of high-ranking Sword Experts, with even five of them attaining the peak of that rank. Among them, the most outstanding were Alkas and Lioness, both possessing exceptional swordsmanship. Alkas had reached the level of a peak Sword Expert, so close to becoming a Master that it was only a matter of time. Lioness, once a promising mage, had picked up the sword only a year ago but had already reached the level of a high-ranking Sword Expert. ¡®But they are still lacking in many ways.¡¯ Though he had spent the past year strengthening the Royal Guard, it was still far too weak compared to the knights that Kaylen had commanded during his time as Emperor. Back then, a knight commander had to be at least a Sword Master, and even ordinary knights needed to be peak Sword Experts. However, while the current level of aura might be lower than before, their overall combat strength was not. ¡°Is everyone ready?¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Activate the Combine Suits.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± A year ago, the prototype of the Combine Suit had been introduced. Recognizing its potential, Kaylen had heavily invested in its development, and now the Royal Guard had reached a level where they could wear them in battle. ¡®The current Combine Suits surpass A-rank Mana Suits. While they don¡¯t reach S-rank... with 20 of them, we won¡¯t fall short compared to the previous knight order.¡¯ Rumble¡ª As the knights, grouped in squads of five, activated their Combine Suits in unison, the ground trembled, and twenty giants emerged. Twenty massive armored figures clad in gleaming white armor. The Combine Suits, named ¡°White Knights¡± by the Myorn Workshop, crushed trees as they revealed themselves from within the forest. ¡°What... what is that...?¡± ¡°An attack! We¡¯re under attack!¡± The soldiers of the Geysir Empire shouted in alarm at the sudden appearance of the giants. But in the dead of night, they had no time to react¡ªthe White Knights advanced too quickly. Boom. Boom. Boom. Boom! The enormous machines trampled over the hastily constructed defensive perimeter with overwhelming force. Since this area was part of the Geysir Empire¡¯s territory, it hadn¡¯t been built with strong defenses in mind. As a result, the imperial soldiers failed to put up any resistance and were completely caught off guard. ¡°How did they know about this place...?!¡± The commander of the supply depot clenched his teeth. The enemy¡¯s choice of attack location and timing was simply too precise. It was dawn¡ªthe time when the Blood Drake took its first meal. The first meal of the Blood Drake had to be something living... Because of that, aside from a handful of personnel, all other soldiers had been withdrawn from the supply depot. With no defensive formations in place, this attack was devastating. ¡°Damn it... Of all times, during the drake¡¯s feeding...!¡± ¡°Send a messenger to headquarters immediately!¡± As the panicked soldiers scrambled in confusion, Kaylen looked at them with cold eyes. ¡®What a disorderly rabble.¡¯ Perhaps because their main combat force was the drake horde, the soldiers weren¡¯t even putting up the bare minimum resistance¡ªinstead, they were scattering in all directions. ¡°Our goal is not the food supplies but the drake itself. While the Dragon Knights are away, we take down the beast first.¡± [Understood, my lord!] Standing before the twenty White Knights, Kaylen stepped into the Blood Drake¡¯s supply depot. [Is this... the food storage?] The Blood Drake¡¯s supply depot was nothing like a typical warehouse. Rather than a building, it was an open wasteland, stretching endlessly. Small Blood Drakes, the younger kin of their species, roamed freely as if the entire area belonged to them. ¡°Ugh... Ughhh...¡± ¡°N-No... Don¡¯t come closer...!¡± At the feet of the drakes¡ª Humans, their entire bodies bound in restraints, writhed on the ground. Like worms tossed to birds. [How... How could they...] [Are they... feeding humans to the drakes?] Crunch! ¡°Aaaaahhh!¡± ¡°P-Please, spare me...!¡± Chomp. Chomp. Flash. Golden light shot up into the sky from the group of 101. Kaylen and the Royal Guard were engulfed in radiance. And soon, they arrived at Meier¡¯s royal castle. ¡°Ooooh!¡± ¡°We¡¯ve arrived...!¡± A spatial transfer that only members of the Sanctuary could use¡ª As the knights witnessed Kaylen utilizing it, they let out murmurs of awe. When they had first departed, it was the Saintess who had used the Sanctuary¡¯s spatial transfer for them. Yet, she herself had not accompanied them. ¨C His Holiness has granted His Majesty permission to use the Path of Light. Follow the instructions given for your return. Theresia had instructed them to use the "Path of Light" as the Holy See had explained. The knights who had listened to the instructions alongside her were doubtful whether this would actually work. ¡®I¡¯ve never heard of anyone outside the Sanctuary using spatial transfer before.¡¯ ¡®His Holiness must be giving His Majesty special treatment!¡¯ Seeing Kaylen acknowledged by the Sanctuary and even using spatial transfer filled the knights with pride. A king recognized even by the Holy See, the agent of the Celestial Gods! Any concerns about his legitimacy from the time of his coronation were now all but gone. ¡®The Holy See is more favorable than I expected.¡¯ Kaylen, however, had a different thought. ¡®He even said he¡¯d help find an S-Class Mana Suit... and now he¡¯s allowing the use of the Sanctuary¡¯s spatial transfer? What is he planning?¡¯ Kaylen felt suspicion toward the Holy See¡¯s sudden support. The Benedict he knew was not someone who would offer help so readily. ¡®For now, I¡¯ll make good use of what¡¯s given... but the Path of Light¡ªjudging by how it functions, it¡¯s entirely dependent on prior approval.¡¯ A pathway that required pre-authorization. If, like earlier, he had been stranded deep in enemy territory and the approval had been denied, what then? For now, it seemed like an act of goodwill from the Holy See, but it could become a "leash" at any moment. ¡®I¡¯ll accept the Holy See¡¯s aid for now, but I must always prepare for the worst.¡¯ Whether it was the Colonial Observatory Chief or the Holy See, they were allies for now¡ª But that could change at any time. ¡®I must not let my guard down.¡¯ Kaylen¡¯s eyes grew cold. ¡°You were attacked again?¡± ¡°Yes. The Blood Drakes have suffered immense losses. Over 800 drakes have already been killed.¡± ¡°800? The knight order should have been prepared.¡± ¡°Even the Dragon Knights couldn¡¯t stop them... Not a single one survived.¡± ¡°Hmph. Useless.¡± Melvria, the supreme commander leading the vanguard, let out a sigh. The drakes¡¯ food stores had already been raided three times. During the first attack, they had been completely caught off guard. After that, they had stationed the Dragon Knights as a precaution¡ªyet the raiders still beheaded them and completely devastated the drakes¡¯ food reserves before vanishing. ¡®A Dragon Knight fighting alongside a drake should be nearly as strong as a Sword Master... but they were slaughtered so easily?¡¯ She hadn¡¯t even ordered them to annihilate the enemy. If they had simply stalled for time, the main force could have arrived and crushed the raiders. Yet, despite the presence of the Dragon Knights, the food stores had been destroyed in an instant. ¡®At this rate, the losses will be too great.¡¯ Melvria furrowed her brows and spoke. ¡°This won¡¯t do. I¡¯ll take command personally.¡± ¡°You, Commander?¡± The knight asked in shock. Melvria had never concealed her disgust for what went on in the drakes¡¯ food stores, yet now she was willing to go there herself. That alone showed how grave the situation had become. ¡°Yes. I can¡¯t afford to lose any more of the Emperor¡¯s drakes.¡± ¡°But I still don¡¯t want to witness that filth, so I¡¯ll stay near the food stores.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± The knight let out a sigh of relief. If Duke Melvria was personally standing by, those daring raiders wouldn¡¯t last much longer. ¡®Those bastards... Once we catch them, I¡¯ll strip every last piece of flesh from their bones and feed them to the drakes.¡¯ The knight sneered darkly, hoping the raiders would strike again soon. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 146 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 146 For the fourth raid, Kaylen teleported. ¡ª "The vanguard camp is now heavily patrolled by demons, making it difficult to survey. It might be better to hold off on an attack this time." That was the warning from Ederna, the director of the observatory. ¡ª "No, the attacks must continue." Kaylen was determined to persist with the ambushes. I can handle demons up to the rank of Count. This time, I¡¯ll target the demons guarding the supply depot. The objective of this raid was not the drakes, but rather the demons protecting them. Since the Geysir Empire was directly ruled by the Helmeier family, it was likely that the demons stationed in the vanguard were also connected to them. If I can capture just one of those demons, I might be able to get more information on Helmeier. The Geysir Empire¡ªa land still shrouded in mystery. Kaylen had attempted to rescue the humans used as "feed" to gather information, but... ¡ª "G-Geysir Empire? They are demons...! One moment, they tell us to worship dragons; the next, they brainwash children!" ¡ª "Y-You heretic...! It was an honor to become one with the great Myr...!" The words of the brainwashed and the words of those dragged away as food were mixed together. None of it yielded any meaningful information. But if Kaylen could capture one of the demons preparing for this raid, the situation might be different. They¡¯ve prepared thoroughly this time. Kaylen extended his senses as he observed the forest near the drake supply depot. This time, there were more presences gathered at the supply depot than in any previous ambush. It was a good decision not to bring the Royal Guard. During the third raid, they had encountered enemy dragoons. Just by being mounted on a drake, their strength had increased significantly. Seven Combine Suits: White Knight units had been severely damaged, and 25 knights had suffered critical injuries. Had Kaylen not intervened at the right moment, there would have been many fatalities. And now, with both dragoons and demons present, bringing the Royal Guard would have only made them a liability. For an operation of this scale, Kaylen was better off working alone. WEEEEEEENG! The moment he set foot near the supply depot, a piercing alarm echoed through the air. "Intruder!" As if they had been waiting for this, knights in black armor charged forward on their drakes. But rather than riding them, it was as if the knights and drakes had fused into one. The lower halves of the dragoons'' bodies were completely buried within the drakes'' backs, leaving only their torsos exposed. The dragoons of Geysir are nothing like what they used to be. In the past, dragoons still retained a conventional mounted form... but these ones looked like an entirely new fused organism. "Is it just one enemy?!" "Damn it... is this a diversion?" "Whatever! Kill him quickly!" From the mouth of a Blood Drake, human speech emerged. Since they had fused with the dragoons, the drakes were no longer just beasts. Whoosh! They¡¯re much faster too. As Kaylen watched twenty drakes approaching, his eyes gleamed. They were at least 1.5 times stronger than regular drakes. On top of that, they swiftly took strategic positions, displaying a level of coordination. No wonder seven White Knight units had been destroyed in the third ambush. "Even so, they¡¯re still just small fry." Kaylen drew his Holy Sword from within his Light Sword. "Kuh... Kuagh...!" "W-What kind of sword is this...?!" The bodies of the drakes and dragoons split apart in an instant. No matter how enhanced the drakes were, they were powerless before the Holy Sword. Boom! Twenty drakes plummeted from the sky at once, shaking the ground. Step. Step. Kaylen walked forward slowly. "Subdue him!" "It¡¯s just one man...!" Blood Drakes charged from all directions, rushing at Kaylen. Kaylen raised his sword. Six Sword Path Twin Blades: Inferno Sky The sky was instantly engulfed in flames, and the swarm of drakes ignited at once. Without even managing to scream, they were reduced to ashes. Kaylen glanced up at the sky, then continued forward. Moving alone is definitely easier. Compared to when he traveled with the Saintess or the Royal Guard, he had nothing to protect, allowing him to move freely. "Kugh... Was the commander right?" Ssshhhhh...! The Colossal Blade clashed directly with the Black Sun. Cracks formed along the iron blade in an instant. The Black Sun, too, began to fracture. The forces of the Colossal Blade and Dragonflame were evenly matched, either one capable of shattering at any moment. Kaylen¡¯s expression hardened as the impact weighed down on both his arms. "Astella. Your origin is the sun itself." He awakened even more of Astella¡¯s power. Fwoooosh! A pure white light ignited once more along the Colossal Blade, absorbing every last ember of the Black Sun''s flames. The cracks in the Colossal Blade were sealed by fire. Meanwhile, the fractures in Dragonflame only deepened. "This...!" A voice, filled with shock, echoed from above. Unlike the low voice from earlier, this one sounded strangely familiar. And then¡ª Ssshhhkk! The Colossal Blade finally split the sun apart, unleashing a massive surge of condensed fire mana into the sky. Fwoooosh! The flames were far stronger than those from Twin Blades: Inferno Sky, which Kaylen had unleashed just moments ago. The only difference¡ªthese flames burned black. The sky had become a hell of dark fire. "Ugh...! Aaaagh...!" "The fire...! It won''t go out...!" The Blood Drakes flailed wildly through the sky, desperately trying to extinguish the flames. But their flesh turned to ash in an instant. And then¡ª Thud! A knight crashed down before Kaylen¡¯s eyes. "Kh...!" The knight wore a suit of full plate armor¡ªblack from head to toe. Peeking from beneath the helmet were long, brown ears. A Dark Elf, no doubt. The black mana surging around them made it clear¡ªthey were the one who had unleashed Dragonflame. I can''t let this one live. They were far too dangerous to take as a prisoner. Strong. Even earlier, it had taken the combined power of the Four Blades and the Holy Sword just to barely split Dragonflame. If he had fought with only one of those powers, it might have been Kaylen lying on the ground instead. I''ll kill them. As Kaylen¡¯s Holy Sword gleamed¡ª The fallen Dark Elf knight opened their mouth in an instant. "In the name of the dragon, I command the mana...! Protect me!" Ssshhhhhkk! The sword aura of the Holy Sword struck a black barrier. Kaylen, recalling an old memory, stepped closer to the Dark Elf. Barriers formed through Dragon Tongue magic were useless against me. Dragon Tongue spells would vanish the moment they touched his body. Wasn''t that how he had so easily subdued the Jester-Masked Sorcerer? The Sixfold Sorcery: Dragonflame seemed impossible to nullify instinctively... but this Dragon Tongue magic¡ªI can unravel it. Just as he expected, the moment he placed his hand on it, the black barrier began to dissolve. "N-no... what is this...?" The Dark Elf stammered in shock as the shield vanished. Hearing their voice up close, Kaylen found it oddly familiar. But he knew no Dark Elves personally. Could it be...? Should he check their face? As Kaylen¡¯s blade flashed¡ª The Dark Elf¡¯s helmet was split clean in half. Clatter. Clatter. And as their face was revealed, Kaylen¡¯s mouth fell open. That face. A face he knew all too well. The one he had loved more than anyone¡ª Melvria. She was the spitting image of Melvria. "You... Melvria...?" "...You bastard. Stop pretending to be my father!" Melvria, who had been glaring at Kaylen with piercing hostility¡ª Shrieked the moment she called his name. "You wretched ghost...! How dare you mimic my father from the past?! The Six Sword Path, the Holy Sword¡ªhe abandoned those long ago! My father has long since advanced to the Sixfold Sorcery!" [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 147 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 147@@@@ ¡°What are you talking about? Six Sword Path?¡± Kaylen recalled Melvria¡¯s Dragon Tongue magic from earlier. ¡ªSix Sword Path , Dragon Flame. A fusion of darkness mana and fire mana¡ªDragon Flame. Its appearance resembled a black sun in a state of eclipse. The power contained within was so overwhelming that if he hadn¡¯t awakened the Holy Sword¡¯s power within the ¡®Greatsword¡¯... The one lying here right now would have been Kaylen himself. ¡°Father realized his essence and evolved the Six Sword Path.¡± ¡°...My essence?¡± Kaylen questioned, identifying himself with his father. Melvria glared at him. ¡°...Father is the Dragon¡¯s Incarnation and its Heart.¡± I am the Dragon¡¯s Incarnation and its Heart? Kaylen was puzzled as to why he kept being associated with dragons, but then something came to mind. Infinity¡ªMana without limits. The Meier lineage once called themselves the descendants of dragons because this mana¡¯s properties resembled the Dragon Heart, a dragon¡¯s mana core. ¡°...Don¡¯t tell me, the Dragon¡¯s Heart refers to Infinity?¡± ¡°There was a time when it was called that... but after realizing the essence of dragons, Father corrected its name to the proper one¡ªDragon Heart.¡± ¡°......¡± If he had heard this before witnessing the Six Sword Path, he would have dismissed it as nonsense... But in Melvria¡¯s Six Demonic Path, Kaylen could feel the presence of the Six Sword Path. ¡®In a way... it does feel like an evolution, just as Melvria said.¡¯ The Six Sword Path, wielded through Dragon Tongue. Its power was extraordinary. Melvria had fused darkness and fire mana. Kaylen had barely managed to withstand it by using all four swords, plus the Holy Sword. ¡°...What exactly are you?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t even recognize your own father, Ria?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me that so casually!¡± At the mention of ¡®Ria,¡¯ Melvria¡¯s face turned red with anger. Ria¡ªthe pet name used by Ernstine when addressing her. Only Father had the right to call her that. And yet, for some reason... When Kaylen called her ¡®Ria,¡¯ it felt so nostalgic, so familiar. ¡®Why...? Against the spirit of my resurrected, great father, Ernstine, I felt only reverence and awe. But Kaylen... feels familiar.¡¯ The way he looked at her, his expression... It reminded her of the happiest memories from long ago. ¡°...And to think you were so grateful for inheriting my face just moments ago.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Melvria¡¯s eyes widened in shock. Among Ernstine¡¯s children, she had always been the one who resembled him the most. Though she appeared slightly more feminine than Ernstine, her facial features were nearly identical. She had always taken pride in that¡ªbeing the child who looked most like her father. After joining the Helmeier lineage and transforming into a Dark Elf, her appearance had changed, and she no longer felt the resemblance. But back when she was still a Half-Elf... Looking at her reflection had felt like gazing into a mirror. ¡ªDaddy! I look the most like you, don¡¯t I? ¡ªThen again, anyone who sees you, Ria, would think we¡¯re twins. ¡ªHehehe. At Kaylen¡¯s words, memories of the imperial palace resurfaced in Melvria¡¯s mind. Those joyful moments spent looking at each other, marveling at their similar features alongside her father. It was a memory she had never shared even once with the newly resurrected Dragon¡¯s Incarnation, Ernstine. ¡®Could he really... be Father?¡¯ For a brief moment, the thought crossed Melvria¡¯s mind, but she quickly shook it off, startled at herself. How could she mistake that wraith for the great father, Ernstine, who had truly returned? She had nearly let herself be deceived by a fraud. ¡°You are insolent. Judging by your use of the Six Sword Path, you must be a descendant of Meier. Yet you dare speak so carelessly to an ancestor?¡± ¡°Ria. Has anyone besides me ever wielded the Six Sword Path? You wanted to learn it yourself, but you never could. And yet, a descendant is using it¡ªcan you really accept that?¡± ¡°Ugh...¡± Melvria was at a loss for words. The Six Sword Path. Standing amidst the ruins, Kaylen stared at the lingering traces of the black vortex. ¡°Next time, I won¡¯t just stand and watch.¡± * * * A massive cavern pulsed with dark energy. The black ceiling and floor writhed as if alive, and at the cavern¡¯s center, a towering throne stood alone. ¡°...Melvria.¡± The figure seated on the throne was an unusual sight. His lower half was nothing but bones, yet his upper body, arms, and head retained a human form. A half-undead. With silver hair, golden eyes, and a long beard, he was a middle-aged man. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you were defeated. Did you not use the Six Demonic Path?¡± ¡°...I did.¡± ¡°Oh? And yet, your dragon armor was broken?¡± The half-undead stroked his long beard as he questioned Melvria. ¡°Who was your opponent?¡± At his question, Melvria coldly responded. ¡°...I don¡¯t know. I was too busy running.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± At Melvria¡¯s response, the half-undead crossed his legs. Clatter. The sound of bones grinding against each other echoed through the silent cavern, making Melvria furrow her brows. Every time he moved like that, something ominous always followed. ¡°There shouldn¡¯t be anyone in the Middle Realm capable of challenging you... Was your opponent from the Celestial Realm or the Demon Realm?¡± ¡°I told you, I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°I never expected the fourth-ranking figure of Helmeier to be so lacking in awareness.¡± With a snap of his fingers, a screen appeared in the darkness. Displayed on it was a prison scene. Fifty elves, their ears long and pointed, were crouched on the floor, dressed in prison uniforms. ¡°Make sure to pay attention next time.¡± Whoosh! Black flames erupted inside the prison. The elves were engulfed in an instant, their bodies writhing in agony as they were consumed by the inextinguishable fire. Melvria watched the scene with a cold, impassive gaze. ¡°What are you doing? They were meant to become part of Father¡¯s essence. Burning them so meaninglessly...¡± ¡°Elves can always be captured again. What matters now is that you get your head straight.¡± The half-undead smirked as he stroked his beard, while Melvria¡¯s expression twisted in undisguised disgust. ¡°What a pointless act. What do you gain from this?¡± ¡°Well, you are only a half-blood. I suppose elves dying means nothing to you.¡± ¡°...Caius!¡± Caius. Kaylen¡¯s eldest son and the second emperor of the Meier Empire. With a smile, he tapped his bony knees, the skeletal remains of his lower half. ¡°Caius? You shouldn¡¯t call me that, Melvria. That was the name of my weak human self. Address me properly¡ªas Emperor.¡± ¡°...Fine. But you remember this too. I am not a half-elf. I am Helmeier.¡± ¡°As you wish.¡± ¡°I¡¯m leaving.¡± As Melvria turned away, the Emperor of Geysir Empire, Caius, grinned and spoke again. ¡°By the way.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t remember anything? About your opponent.¡± ¡°No.¡± Step. Step. Melvria strode out of the cavern. Caius watched her retreating figure, twirling his beard with a dissatisfied expression. ¡°...Something feels off.¡± No matter how strong her opponent was, it didn¡¯t make sense for someone of Melvria¡¯s caliber to come away with no information at all. ¡®And she¡¯s acting even more rigid than usual.¡¯ She hadn¡¯t even flinched when the elves were slaughtered, only repeating the same empty response like a parrot. Caius¡¯s golden eyes gleamed as he murmured to himself. ¡°...I should consult the Chief Observer.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 148 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 148 The Demon Realm¡¯s Colonial Observatory. Observatory Chief Ederna was receiving an unexpected visitor. A half-undead, with the upper body of a human and the lower body reduced to skeletal remains. [Count Caius.] ¡°Marchioness Ederna. A week ago, my younger sister suffered a defeat in the Middle Realm.¡± [Oh, is that so?] ¡°She is one of the strongest among the Helmeier bloodline. I believed there was no one in the Middle Realm capable of challenging her, yet this was unexpected.¡± [And?] ¡°But she was defeated so quickly that she claims she didn¡¯t even see her opponent...¡± Caius spoke with an expression of disbelief. Ederna responded briefly. [Would you like to see the recording?] ¡°Yes. I would appreciate it.¡± Observatory Chief Ederna. She held the rank of a marquis due to her lineage as the child of the previous Demon King. However, the demons considered her position not a result of her own merit, but a favor granted by the White Demon King. And with good reason¡ªafter all, she was the offspring of the former Demon King whom the White Demon King had once served. ¡®Her magical power is fairly strong, but... if this is her limit, even I could handle her.¡¯ As Caius observed Ederna in her massive serpent form, that was the conclusion he reached. Compared to the other demon marquises, she seemed far weaker. Perhaps that was why, unlike the others, she had no ambition to expand her influence and instead remained holed up in this observatory, left to rot. Even as he ridiculed her in his mind, Caius maintained a pleasant smile outwardly. [Watch.] Whirrrrr. A screen materialized in the air. As the stored footage from a week ago played, Caius widened his eyes and focused intently. Melvria was in the sky, unleashing the Six Demonic Path:Dragonflame technique. A brilliant light flashed¡ªonce, twice¡ª And then... The screen turned completely white. Nothing was visible. Just a pure white void. Seeing this, Caius spoke in a baffled tone. ¡°...What is this?¡± [That¡¯s the end of the recording.] ¡°No... Are you saying this is all that was observed? I find that impossible to believe.¡± [It was at dawn.] Caius grit his teeth. No matter what, he had never expected there would be absolutely nothing to see. ¡°Is there any way to determine who she was fighting?¡± [There isn¡¯t.] ¡°Hm. Then what about the unidentified enemy who ambushed the vanguard before? Is there any data on that¡ª¡± [That information has already been discarded. It wasn¡¯t important.] Caius showed a hint of disappointment but quickly accepted it. Of course. The Helmeier bloodline might care about this matter, but to the rest, it was insignificant. From the Demon Realm¡¯s perspective, even if such a surprise attack had occurred in Helmeier¡¯s direct territory, it was nothing more than a trivial matter. ¡°Not knowing the enemy... In that case, we¡¯ll just have to make an example of the most recent conflict zone by annihilating it.¡± [Where?] ¡°The Kingdom of Meier, in the Middle Realm.¡± The vanguard sent to subjugate the Kingdom of Meier had suffered continuous losses. The culprit was either the Kingdom of Meier itself or a force related to it. ¡®They will pay the price for arrogantly bearing the name of Meier. Let¡¯s deal with this swiftly.¡¯ Though he considered it a simple task, Caius decided to personally lead the expedition to the Kingdom of Meier. Even though Melvria had used the Six Demonic Path technique, she had still been defeated. As the third-ranked among them, he had no choice but to step in. If both Caius and Melvria deployed together, the Kingdom of Meier would be wiped out in no time. ¡®I''ll capture the current king of Meier and offer him to my father.¡¯ Caius stroked his beard, a cold smile forming on his lips. Ederna, watching him, spoke briefly. [You can¡¯t.] ¡°...What?¡± [The Kingdom of Meier. It has become my direct territory.] * * * Kaylen, who had just returned after losing sight of Melvria, looked up at the sky and spoke. ¡°Observer of the Demon Realm, can you speak now?¡± [Yes.] Ederna responded immediately. ¡°You saw the battle just now.¡± [I couldn¡¯t observe it in detail. The power of the Holy Sword was too overwhelming. But just in case, I¡¯ll modify the footage so that nothing is visible.] Ederna spoke as if it were a trivial matter. [Since it has become a direct territory, dungeon portals won¡¯t appear.] ¡°...What?!¡± [The Demon King¡¯s Castle can¡¯t absorb mana from my domain.] No dungeon portals would appear. Had something that had plagued humanity for so long simply disappeared just like that? ¡°Then, does the Geysir Empire also not have dungeon portals?¡± [They don¡¯t.] ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± [Instead, they brainwash all humans and use them for human sacrifices.] Well, that made sense. They had been prattling on about dragons while being nothing more than food for drakes. Kaylen thought for a moment before speaking. ¡°If the Kingdom of Meier expands its territory, will dungeon portals not appear there either?¡± [No, every time that happens, you¡¯d have to make a request to the Demon King¡¯s Castle to prevent it.] ¡°So, the Geysir Empire makes that request every time?¡± [Yeah. They go through that hassle constantly.] That kind of hassle¡ª Ederna was definitely not going to do it. Kaylen gave up early on asking for that kind of favor. ¡®Still, just preventing dungeon portals from appearing within the kingdom... That alone could bring another major change to this world.¡¯ Kaylen¡¯s eyes gleamed. In the grand conference hall of the divided Kingdom of Meier¡ª With all the high-ranking officials gathered, Kaylen made a bombshell declaration. ¡°We are abandoning the name of our kingdom.¡± ¡°...What?¡± ¡°From now on, our kingdom will be called... the Kingdom of Starn.¡± Starn. The name of the noble house Kaylen Starn had belonged to when he was a baron. After all the twists and turns, he had returned to his original family name. ¡°Your Majesty!¡± ¡°Is this because of the Geysir Empire¡¯s envoy from last time?¡± ¡°Yes. Their Dragon Knights dealt significant damage to the Royal Guard¡¯s Combat Suits. If I hadn¡¯t intervened, there would have been heavy casualties among the Royal Guard.¡± ¡°Even so, we cannot simply change the kingdom¡¯s name so easily.¡± ¡°And even if we do change the name, there¡¯s no guarantee they will withdraw. We might just look weak and still face an invasion.¡± Their concerns were valid. Demanding a name change was merely a pretext. Common sense dictated that the enemy was intent on invading regardless. ¡°No, that won¡¯t happen. I have resolved this in a favorable way.¡± ¡°Your Majesty...¡± ¡°And by abandoning our kingdom¡¯s name, we have also gained something valuable in return.¡± ¡°A return?¡± ¡°From now on, dungeon portals will no longer appear within our kingdom¡¯s territory.¡± ¡°...Is... is that even possible?¡± The officials¡¯ eyes widened. The disappearance of dungeon portals¡ª Could such a thing even be real? The fact that the Middle World was a colony of the Demon Realm was known only to a handful of humans... So most of the officials present had no understanding of why dungeon portals had appeared in the first place. ¡®Dungeon portals disappearing?¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s impossible to believe.¡¯ ¡®But if what he says is true...¡¯ ¡®The kingdom will undergo another major transformation.¡¯ If they had only changed the kingdom¡¯s name due to the Geysir Empire¡¯s threats, the king¡¯s authority would have been severely undermined. But if the "compensation" Kaylen spoke of was real¡ª If dungeon portals truly never appeared again within this kingdom¡ª Then changing the kingdom¡¯s name would be praised as a patriotic decision made for the nation¡¯s survival. ¡°For the next month, monitor the dungeon portal activity.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± ¡°And as for the renaming of the kingdom, we will implement it immediately. It¡¯s only been a year since we last changed our name, so it shouldn¡¯t take long, right?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± It had only been a year since the Kingdom of Bormian had become the Kingdom of Meier. The first name change had been difficult, but doing it again wasn¡¯t nearly as challenging. Especially since this time, they were exchanging the kingdom¡¯s name for the disappearance of dungeon portals. ¡°Then, I will be away for a while. If anything happens, contact me through the Dungeon Guild.¡± ¡°Your Majesty, may we ask why you are leaving?¡± At Count Leoric¡¯s question, Kaylen responded with a relaxed smile. ¡°To retrieve the S-Class Mana Suit¡ªStormwind.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 149 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 149 ¡°Ederna, what on earth are you thinking?!¡± The Imperial Palace of Geysir. Emperor Caius, seated on the throne, could not contain his anger and hurled the goblet in his hand. Hiss...! The black liquid inside the golden goblet splashed onto the floor and instantly melted through it. Judging by the multiple indentations in the floor beneath the throne, this was not the first time such an incident had occurred. ¡ª I told him to change the name. Taking this opportunity to wipe out the troublesome Kingdom of Meier had been the plan. Yet, despite lacking real authority, Ederna, a Marquess of the Demon Realm, had interfered and prevented it. It was an incomprehensible act. ¡®The King of Meier... he is becoming more of a nuisance.¡¯ At first, Caius had dismissed him as an arrogant descendant. After all, he had dared to establish a kingdom using the name "Meier." ¡®Since it was far away, I initially planned to just issue a warning.¡¯ So, he had sent an envoy with a final ultimatum. If the kingdom changed its name, he would have let it go. ¡®But... that time has passed.¡¯ When they had gathered their forces to invade the Kingdom of Meier... An unexpected surprise attack had struck. Even Melvria, the fourth-ranked member of Helmeier¡¯s hierarchy, had been on standby to block the enemy''s assault unit¡ªyet she had failed to even catch a glimpse of the enemy¡¯s face before being defeated. Of all times, the attack had happened precisely when they were about to strike the Kingdom of Meier. Could this truly be a coincidence? ¡®And then, even the Head of the Observatory stepped in to protect him... as if it was all planned.¡¯ The Kingdom of Meier and its king. There was no direct evidence that he was working with the Head of the Observatory, but suspicion was growing. ¡®I need to investigate.¡¯ Invading the Kingdom of Meier had become impossible because of Ederna. But conducting an investigation¡ªnow that was still an option. ¡°Your Majesty, you summoned me?¡± Step. Step. From the empty audience chamber of the Imperial Palace, Duke Melvria approached. Since her recent defeat, her face had been shadowed with unease. Caius observed her and thought, ¡®There are unresolved questions about the last incident...¡¯ Still, she was a trustworthy "blood relative" with whom he had resurrected his father. Caius decided to give her another chance. ¡°I need you to investigate the Kingdom of Meier.¡± ¡°...The Kingdom of Meier?¡± ¡°Yes. I intended to wipe them out in one blow, but the Head of the Observatory has taken it upon himself to protect them.¡± ¡°The Head of the Observatory... you mean the previous Demon King¡¯s child?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. He claims the Kingdom of Meier as his personal domain. It¡¯s undeniably suspicious, but given his lineage, I had no choice but to step back.¡±@@@@ Even within the Helmeier lineage, the head of the family held the title of Marquess. As for Caius, the deputy head, he was only a Count. Their house was the most prominent among the rising noble families of the Demon Realm¡ªbut they still could not compare to Ederna¡¯s family, which had produced the previous Demon King. ¡°But an investigation should still be possible.¡± ### ¡°So, you¡¯re telling me to investigate?¡± ¡°Yes. Report immediately if you find anything unusual. That unidentified enemy who defeated you may be connected to him.¡± Caius assigned the investigation to Melvria, never even considering the possibility that the unidentified enemy could be Kaylen. ¡®He¡¯s telling me to investigate... my father¡ªno, that man.¡¯ Melvria found Caius¡¯s order displeasing. Every time she saw Kaylen, her heart wavered too easily. She always addressed her great father, Ernstine, properly as "Father." But when it came to Kaylen, a word she had long forgotten... ¡®Dad¡¯ would slip out. ¡®And I heard Eldir is there too.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t just Kaylen. Eldir, who had once been her partner, was also in the Kingdom of Meier. If she went there to investigate, she feared that the emotions she had barely managed to suppress would resurface. Violet sighed as she watched. ¡®No wonder the officials are fleeing. The man who used to handle the work of a hundred people suddenly stopped doing anything.¡¯ At least this time, he was taking care of it himself. She could finally breathe a little. ¡°But, Your Highness. When you say S-Class Mana Suit... are you talking about the Stormwind you mentioned in the last meeting?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Sanctuary provided its location.¡± The World Tree¡¯s fruit¡ªneeded to complete the Shadow Sword¡ªwas already secured. The only remaining issue was the Wind Mana required to complete the Wind Sword. Right on time, the Holy See had revealed Stormwind¡¯s whereabouts. ¡°It¡¯s in the sacred mountain of the Icelos Mountain Range, in the eastern continent. I searched the place thoroughly yesterday and the day before, but I couldn¡¯t find it.¡± ¡°Even after Your Highness personally looked?¡± ¡°Yes. I combed through every inch of it.¡± Violet watched as Kaylen processed dozens of documents at once, feeling a sense of unease. The sacred mountain of the Icelos Range was known for its vastness and towering peaks. But if someone like Kaylen had searched it, he should have at least found some kind of lead. ¡°If the Holy See hadn¡¯t said anything, that would be one thing. But there¡¯s no way he¡¯d deliberately feed us false information. It must be hidden somewhere... yet even my senses can¡¯t detect it.¡± ¡°Which is why you need me?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard that S-Class Mana Suits resonate with each other.¡± ¡°That¡¯s just a rumor.¡± There was a common belief that S-Class Mana Suits would resonate when brought close together, amplifying their magical power. But it was nothing more than a baseless myth. Violet tapped Glacia a few times and spoke. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t I just be a burden if I come along? I feel like I¡¯ll only slow down the search...¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Even if you are a burden, I¡¯ll just carry you around anyway.¡± ¡°...What?¡± The sacred mountain of Icelos. One of the tallest mountains on the Averia continent and an object of faith for the people of the Icelos region. In the past, countless pilgrims traveled there. But ever since dungeon portals began to appear, monsters infested the area, and the mountain had long been abandoned by humans. It was in this dangerous place that Kaylen and Violet were conducting their search together. ¡®When he said he¡¯d carry me, I thought he meant literally, like luggage.¡¯ Whoosh. Whoosh. Violet looked down at her feet in fascination as her body soared through the air. Beneath her was an ordinary iron sword, the kind used by common soldiers. She was flying through the sky, standing atop a sword alongside Kaylen. ¡°How does it feel to fly on a sword?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a little scary, but...¡± She was zipping through the sky with only a small blade supporting both feet. Even though Violet could activate Glacia at any moment, she couldn¡¯t help but feel uneasy. ¡°But more than that, it feels amazing to be free from paperwork.¡± ¡°Haha. My apologies. I¡¯ve had a lot to think about.¡± ¡°Does it have to do with changing the country¡¯s name?¡± ¡°Yes. The Geysir Empire is stronger than I expected. Their magic, in particular, is a serious threat.¡± ¡°Magic...? The idea of magic posing a threat to Your Highness is hard to imagine.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not ordinary magic. It operates on an entirely different level. Even I had my eyes opened this time.¡± Just how powerful was it for Kaylen to speak of it in such a way? Violet was curious, but for now, she focused on her own task. ¡°Glacia. Synchronize.¡± Whoooosh. Violet¡¯s entire body transformed as if made of ice. She had entered a spirit state, sharpening her senses. ¡®Will S-Class Mana Suits really react to each other?¡¯ Standing on Kaylen¡¯s sword, Violet attempted to stir the mana of water in different ways. But she couldn¡¯t detect anything unusual. ¡®As expected, it¡¯s just a legend.¡¯ As they ascended toward the summit with no reaction, that¡¯s what she thought. ¡°Oh...¡± But Kaylen was different. ¡®I can feel something distinct from before.¡¯ At the mountain¡¯s peak¡ª There was a reaction unlike anything from the day before. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 150 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 150 This is... A large boulder sat alone at the snow-covered mountain peak. From that spot, a flow of wind mana could be felt. Kaylen glanced at Violet and smiled in satisfaction. ¡°As expected, bringing you was the right choice.¡± ¡°Now that I¡¯m here, I can feel it too. The mana is resonating from the boulder.¡± A resonance between S-Class Mana Suits. It wasn¡¯t just a legend¡ªit was real. ¡®Why is it resonating? Is it because of an angel? Could it be that another S-Class Mana Suit has an angel sealed within it?¡¯ Violet had her doubts, but for now, she focused on examining the Mana Suit. The two swords carrying them descended near the boulder, and Kaylen slowly walked toward it. ¡°This confirms it.¡± Swoosh. As Kaylen reached out his hand toward the boulder, his fingers slipped inside as if sinking into sand. ¡®Is this boulder an illusion?¡¯ Violet, curious at how effortlessly Kaylen¡¯s hand had entered, reached out beside him to try the same. But unlike Kaylen, she felt nothing but solid rock. So much for an illusion. Kaylen was simply an extraordinary being on an entirely different level¡ªcapable of penetrating stone as easily as sand. ¡®It doesn¡¯t even seem like he¡¯s using Aura.¡¯ Feeling once again the overwhelming strength of Kaylen, Violet silently watched him as he dug into the boulder. Once the location was pinpointed by the S-Class Mana Suit Glacia, Kaylen began his search without hesitation. ¡°I¡¯ll be back shortly.¡± At first, he only inserted his hand, but soon, he walked in entirely. And within minutes¡ª ¡°I found it.¡± He emerged holding a pair of steel boots radiating a green glow. ¡°You... already found it?¡± ¡°Yes. Once the location is identified, it¡¯s easy.¡± The S-Class Wind Mana Suit¡ªStormwind. Even though it had been inside a boulder, it looked as if it had just been crafted. The faint emerald light shimmering across its surface carried a powerful wind mana, befitting an S-Class Mana Suit. ¡°Speaking of which... Violet.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°How did you obtain Glacia?¡± ¡°Glacia selects its master once every hundred years. The Dungeon Guild oversees the selection ceremony, traveling through each kingdom once every century.¡± When Violet was twelve¡ª Glacia had caused a great stir by choosing her, a mere first-circle mage, over countless water mana masters. ¡°The Dungeon Guild oversees it?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°So, is Glacia the only one with a selection ceremony?¡± ¡°As far as I know, yes. Other S-Class Mana Suits don¡¯t even have known names. In fact, I first heard the Wind Mana Suit¡¯s name¡ªStormwind¡ªfrom Your Highness.¡± ¡°I see...¡± Of all the S-Class Mana Suits, the only one with a known name was Glacia. Even the name Stormwind had only been discovered through the Holy Emperor''s revelation. ¡®When it comes to S-Class Mana Suits, it seems Sanctuary knows more.¡¯@@@@ They had identified Stormwind¡¯s location and even conducted Glacia¡¯s selection ceremony. ¡®Glacia had the Dominion Angel, Ariella, sealed within it.¡¯ She had sweet-talked about granting legitimacy for the throne, but in reality¡ª She had planned to descend into Violet¡¯s body and flee to the Celestial Realm. Her plan ultimately failed, but Kaylen still remembered the disgraceful end of that angel. ¡®Could there be an angel inside Stormwind as well?¡¯ Originally, he intended to absorb the Wind Mana right away¡ª But if an angel was sealed within, it wouldn¡¯t hurt to make contact first. Kaylen examined the green boots before putting them on. Swish. The boots adjusted to fit his feet, and soon¡ª Stormwind, which had initially taken the form of boots, gradually began to fade away. But it wasn¡¯t just the boots that disappeared. ¡°Y-Your Highness... your feet...!¡± Kaylen¡¯s feet had vanished as well. It was as if everything below his knees had been cleanly severed. No¡ªrather than being severed, it felt more like... ¡°Invisibility, huh?¡± His feet were merely hidden within the atmosphere, making them imperceptible. ¡°So you¡¯re an angel too.¡± ¡ªYes, I am Dominion Angel Ramiel. I wished to remain in eternal rest, but in the end... has even the farthest edge of this continent fallen to demons...? From within Stormwind, the angel Ramiel let out a sorrowful lament. Unlike Ariella, who had been sealed in Glacia and had raged upon seeing the black-and-white flames¡ª Ramiel¡¯s tone was closer to resignation. ¡ªServant of darkness... I have already lost. I was sealed away in despair. I know nothing, and I have nothing to say. No matter what methods you use, it will all be futile. My lips will never open. ¡°I¡¯m no servant of darkness. Rather...¡± Kaylen summoned the Six Swords and drew the Holy Sword from his Lightblade. ¡°You¡¯re a Hero, aren¡¯t you?¡± - This is... the Holy Sword...! For a moment, Ramiel¡¯s voice brightened at the power of the Holy Sword Astella. - No, wait. If the Holy Sword is here... Does that mean the Sanctuary has fallen?! You wretched spawn of demons! How dare you impersonate a Hero! But it was only for a brief moment before he began shouting again in a stern, elderly tone. Being scolded over trivial matters like this reminded Kaylen of being nitpicked by elders, and he furrowed his brows. ¡®Should I just absorb him?¡¯ Since he was sealed, it didn¡¯t seem like he knew much anyway. Kaylen considered absorbing the wind mana outright but decided to at least try and see if he could get anything useful out of him. With that thought, he manifested his Six Blades. The six Aura Swords flared into existence behind him. Ramiel¡¯s voice trembled as he asked, - T-This is... the Dragon Sword God? ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± - The Dragon Sword God... If it¡¯s you... then you must be a Hero. Upon seeing the Six Blades, Ramiel¡¯s tone softened. Kaylen, sensing that they could finally have a proper conversation, asked what had been on his mind. ¡°How did an angel end up sealed inside an S-rank Mana Suit?¡± - I... only remember being sealed in the Demon Realm. I had infiltrated it under the command of Lord Lucifer... ¡°You were acting under Lucifer¡¯s orders? An angel?¡± - That¡¯s right! The Lucifer known to the world was merely a Marquis of the Demon Realm, but that was just a cover! Lord Lucifer was, in truth, an Archangel who had infiltrated the Demon Realm! ¡°...An Archangel? Him?¡± Kaylen¡¯s voice wavered. Marquis Lucifer of the Demon Realm... Wasn¡¯t he the one who ascended as the White Demon King, Deimos, after the Crimson Flame Demon King perished? - Yes. There was a hidden blade of the Celestial God that no one knew about. The fourth Archangel, Lucifer! Even after the Demon King was slain, he maintained his cover and continued to struggle to conquer the Demon Realm... ¡°So that¡¯s why he became the Demon King?¡± - But... he was discovered by the enemy and was sealed inside this Mana Suit¡ª Wait, what?! The Demon King?! What do you mean?! Ramiel, who had been about to continue his tale, suddenly reacted in shock to Kaylen¡¯s words. ¡°Marquis Lucifer of the Demon Realm¡ªhe is now reigning as the White Demon King, Deimos.¡± - ...Lord Lucifer became... the Demon King? ¡°That¡¯s right. But... something doesn¡¯t add up. The Middle Realm has fallen to the Demon Realm, and the Celestial Realm is in the midst of being conquered. If he¡¯s truly the fourth Archangel of the Celestial God, shouldn¡¯t it be the other way around?¡± If Lucifer was really a high-ranking Archangel, then it should have been the Demon Realm that was being overrun by the Celestial Realm. The Middle Realm should have remained as it was. So why had everything taken such a turn for the worse? Lucifer had been sent as a spy but ended up becoming the Demon King. - W-Wait. That can¡¯t be! The Celestial Realm is being invaded by the Demon Realm?! ¡°That¡¯s right. Since the White Demon King can wield the power of light, they were utterly overwhelmed.¡± - That¡¯s impossible. Lord Lucifer would never... That can¡¯t be... That¡¯s impossible... Ramiel began repeating the same words like a broken record. Even when Kaylen tried asking something else, all he got in response was, - Lord Lucifer... That can¡¯t be... Ramiel kept repeating it over and over, dazed and distraught. And then¡ª His voice gradually faded, until it suddenly ceased altogether. ¡°...What the hell?¡± Did he seriously just vanish after mindlessly repeating the same phrase? Baffled, Kaylen hurriedly examined the Mana Suit. Stormwind, which had now been fully revealed after losing its transparency¡ª It seemed to have shut down. ¡®At least the wind mana is intact...¡¯ His primary objective, acquiring the wind mana, was still successful. But seeing Ramiel disappear so abruptly, he couldn¡¯t be sure how long this mana would remain stable. ¡°Violet, I¡¯m sorry, but we need to go back.¡± ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± Before the wind mana disappeared, he needed to absorb it along with the World Tree¡¯s fruit. Violet, sensing the gravity of the situation, quickly climbed down from the rock. ¡°Open the Path of Light.¡± As they returned to the royal palace, Kaylen mulled over the angel¡¯s final words. ¡®Lucifer... Did he betray the Celestial God?¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 151 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 151 Kaylen headed straight to the World Tree upon returning to the royal capital. ¡®The mana of Stormwind is still intact.¡¯ Though the angel had disappeared, the wind mana remaining in Stormwind was completely undisturbed. It was more than enough to complete the Wind Sword. ¡®However, once I absorb it all, this mana suit will no longer be usable...¡¯ The loss of an S-rank mana suit meant little to Kaylen. The words of the angel Ramiel, who had revealed that the Demon Marquis Lucifer was once an archangel, were intriguing. If given the opportunity, Kaylen wanted to learn more details from the angels. But if he absorbed all of Stormwind¡¯s mana here, any chance of Ramiel¡¯s revival would be lost. ¡®Even so, completing the Wind Sword takes priority.¡¯ Kaylen hesitated for a moment but ultimately decided to proceed with absorbing Stormwind¡¯s mana as planned. Rather than delving deeper into the identity of the White Demon King, completing the Six Swords was far more important. The Wind Sword and the Earth Sword. Only by completing both simultaneously could he reclaim the title of Grand Swordmaster. ¡°This is it.¡± Kaylen climbed onto the massive World Tree. A faint green barrier formed from the leaves of the tree, but¡ª Srrr¡ª As soon as it recognized Kaylen, the barrier dissipated. The World Tree, which guarded itself against all others, allowed only him to pass. He stepped into the dense foliage and found a single fruit. ¡®This is the fruit of the World Tree...¡¯ It was the size of a watermelon, dark brown in color. With its rough texture, it looked like a clump of hardened soil, hardly appetizing in appearance. Yet Kaylen could sense the surging earth mana within it. ¡°Thank you, Deluna. You¡¯ve gathered plenty.¡± At his words, the leaves of the World Tree rustled in unison. Kaylen landed back on the ground and began preparing to complete his sword. In his left hand, he held Stormwind in the form of boots. In his right hand, he grasped the fruit of the World Tree. ¡®Absorbing the mana.¡¯ Crunch. Taking a bite of the watermelon-sized fruit, Kaylen grimaced. It tasted like dirt. ¡®I was curious about the taste, but there¡¯s no need to eat any more of it.¡¯ What mattered was absorbing the mana. Eating it or absorbing it directly by hand¡ªat Kaylen¡¯s level, there was little difference between the two methods. Shwooo¡ª The mana from Stormwind and the fruit of the World Tree surged into him in an instant. At the same time, the barely-formed Wind Sword and Earth Sword began to take clearer shape. ¡®I¡¯ll control the pace and complete them simultaneously.¡¯ If he focused on just one sword, it would require even more mana to finish the final Six Sword, so Kaylen carefully adjusted the absorption rate. When the swords were about halfway complete¡ª ¡ªWhat... are you doing? From within Stormwind, the voice of the angel Ramiel rang out once more. ¡°It seems you haven¡¯t disappeared after all.¡± ¡ª ...I just had things to consider. What exactly are you doing, Dragon Sword God? ¡°To complete the Six Swords, I need the wind¡¯s mana. So, I have no choice.¡± ¡ª Kugh... If you absorb any more mana, Stormwind will no longer function as a mana suit! Ramiel hastily warned him, but¡ª ¡°It¡¯s fine. Completing the Wind Sword is more important than the mana suit.¡± Kaylen had already made up his mind. Shwooo¡ª The watermelon-sized fruit of the World Tree shriveled up in an instant. At the same time, the green mana stone embedded in the boots of Stormwind began to lose its glow. ¡ª W-Wait! ¡°What?¡± But that would erase the angel¡¯s sanctuary completely, and he would be absorbed along with it. Kaylen carefully managed his absorption, ensuring Stormwind wouldn¡¯t collapse entirely. The remaining 5% filled at a much slower pace than the first 95%, but he remained focused, absorbing mana bit by bit. And then¡ª Chiiiik¡ª The last remnants of Stormwind lost their light and began crumbling from the toes up. ¡ª Ah... However, one part remained¡ªthe section around the ankle, where the green mana stone was embedded in the boot. ¡°I kept my promise.¡± ¡ª I... see. A frail voice, completely different from before. Going from an S-rank mana suit to a mere scrap of metal with a mana stone attached¡ªit was an expected result. ¡ª Thank you. But he was still alive. Despite everything, Ramiel felt grateful to Kaylen. ¡ª Though... recovering will take time... These may be my last words for a while. ¡°Then fulfill your promise.¡± ¡ª Lucifer¡¯s weakness is... Ramiel upheld the vow sworn upon the Celestial God. ¡ª Spirits. "...Spirits?" The weakness of the Archangel was spirits? Kaylen found the revelation so unexpected that he questioned it. ¡ª Now, I will go and recover... With those final words, the light in the green mana stone faded, and the angel Ramiel fell silent. Melvria, who had been tasked with an investigation by Caius, initially considered sending her subordinates. However¡ª ¡ª In the capital of the Starn Kingdom, Alzass, a newly built grand cathedral stands. If the undead enter, they will be discovered immediately. ¡ª The new World Tree has also taken root, granting the capital an exceptional detection ability. The lack of competent human investigators within the Geysir Empire had become a serious issue. Useless humans were used as food for drakes. Talented ones were either recruited into the Dragon Knights or turned into undead¡ªsuch was the system of the Geysir Empire. ¡®Alzass, the capital... A place where vampire spies can¡¯t function properly.¡¯ Until now, vampires had been more than enough to conduct investigations. But Alzass, of all places, was completely incompatible with them. ¡°I¡¯ll go myself.¡± ¡°Lady Melvria, how could you possibly go alone...?¡± ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous!¡± ¡°No. His Majesty the Emperor has given an order. It must be carried out successfully.¡± Ignoring her subordinates¡¯ protests, Melvria made up her mind to investigate Alzass personally. In truth, there was no real need for her to go herself. ¡°There must be another way.¡± ¡°The Duke doesn¡¯t need to go personally...¡± ¡°What if we train the Dragon Knights in espionage and send them instead?¡± ¡°We could also gather intelligence through merchants.¡± Her subordinates¡¯ suggestions weren¡¯t entirely unfeasible. In fact, they were much safer options than Melvria personally entering enemy territory. However¡ª ¡°No. His Majesty the Emperor ordered this. I will complete the investigation quickly myself.¡± Was it really just because of the Emperor¡¯s command? Melvria knew the answer herself. Despite the safer alternatives, she insisted on going to Alzass for another reason. ¡®I need to see him again... That impostor, Kaylen.¡¯ She needed to see him one more time¡ªto steel her resolve. Thus, after altering her form to appear human, she landed near the capital of the Starn Kingdom, Alzass. ¡®So this is Alzass...¡¯ Unlike the Geysir Empire, the city was brimming with life. She took her first steps into Alzass. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 152 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 152 ¡°Spirits, huh.¡± As soon as the angel Ramiel disappeared, Kaylen briefly questioned his words. But putting that aside, he began the process of integrating the completed Six Blades into his body. Chi-i-i-iik... Normally, once attached to his back, the Six Blades would be naturally absorbed. However, this time, instead of being absorbed, they clashed violently with Kaylen¡¯s body, radiating a sharp and menacing aura. ¡®Since my body and the Six Blades haven¡¯t grown together, they¡¯re resisting.¡¯ In his past life as Ernstine, his body had gradually cultivated the Six Blades by absorbing the rich atmospheric mana. But now, due to the slow absorption of mana, he had forcibly introduced an immense amount of external mana to complete the Six Blades all at once. As a result, they had not fully fused with his body and remained somewhat disconnected. ¡®Up to the fourth blade, the resistance wasn¡¯t too strong.¡¯ But now that the unfinished Wind Blade and Earth Blade had been completed, finalizing all Six Blades at once, the backlash against his body was particularly severe. ¡®Still, they are my blades.¡¯ Even as some parts of his skin burned and others froze¡ª Kaylen remained unfazed and slowly absorbed the Six Blades. His clothes on his back were completely shredded, and blood streamed down, but as the blades gradually settled in, his torn flesh swiftly regenerated. At the same time, the tattoo of six swords on his back grew darker. ¡®Absorption itself is no longer an issue.¡¯ Although they resisted at first, in the end, Kaylen successfully stabilized the Six Blades within his body. At this rate, he would regain a structure similar to what he had in his past life as Ernstine, and soon, he would ascend to the rank of Grandmaster. ¡®But if that¡¯s all, then I¡¯ll be no different from before.¡¯ Simply reaching the same state as his past self wasn¡¯t enough. He had to go beyond that. Aim for an even greater level. ¡®What if I incorporate Infinity¡¯s expansion function here?¡¯ In his past life, he had only focused on Infinity¡¯s limitless properties. But in this life, thanks to the Helmeier clan, he had also learned about Infinity¡¯s expansion capabilities. Now that the Six Blades had been fully integrated, Kaylen decided to incorporate this aspect. ¡®The power I had before won¡¯t be enough to overcome the enemies I¡¯ll face.¡¯ The situation was completely different from when he had defeated the Demon King of Crimson Flames. The false Ernstine and the Black Dragon were already formidable threats, and on top of that, the White Demon King was leading an assault on the Celestial Realm. Compared to his past life, his enemies were even stronger¡ªnever weaker. ¡®I¡¯ll aim for a higher realm.¡¯ Drawing out all the mana in his body and amplifying Infinity, Kaylen fully committed to his new completion. As the Six Blades settled within him, the mana within his entire body surged outward, expanding endlessly into the world. ¡®Let¡¯s go beyond the limits.¡¯ Kaylen¡¯s mana wrapped around the World Tree, extending past the royal palace and spreading across the entirety of Alzass. Infinity, ever-expanding without boundaries. Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, and Dark. The colors of the Six Blades, each representing their respective attributes, all turned to a radiant golden hue. Saaaa¡ª! Then, the three mana circles inscribed within Kaylen¡¯s body seemed to expand, as if a fourth was forming¡ª But instead, they completely vanished. Pure white skin took their place. Originally, with three mana circles, he could function up to the sixth circle. But now, Kaylen instinctively understood. The constraints of mana circles no longer applied to this body. If he willed it, he could now wield even higher-tier magic. ¡®But... this...¡¯ Viiiiing¡ª Kaylen¡¯s six swords resonated as his expanding mana surged. But now, with all the swords dyed in golden light, their colors weren¡¯t reverting to their original states. This sight¡ª Kaylen had seen it before. It was the same as what Melvria had used in the Six Demonic Paths. ¡®It looks almost identical to the golden mana I saw before Ria used the Six Demonic Paths.¡¯ The only difference was whether they appeared as stars or swords. ¡®Fragment of the Heart... Is it referring to the Dragon Heart?¡¯ As he suppressed the now unresponsive Infinity, he contemplated. ¡®I need to learn more about dragons.¡¯ What humanity knew was limited to the ancient legend of the world¡¯s dawn¡ª That 77 dragons had rebelled against the Celestial Gods and were ultimately defeated. ¡®I should check other races¡¯ records.¡¯ ¡ªElves and dwarves seem to tell a different story, but they¡¯re just primitive races who refuse to submit to the will of the Celestial Gods. As Saintess Theresia had said, other races might hold different perspectives on dragons. In a tavern located in the capital city of Alzass, within the Kingdom of Starn¡ª ¡°The world¡¯s really become a better place lately.¡± ¡°I was worried when the royal family suddenly changed... But it¡¯s only been a year, and look at how much the country has transformed.¡± People gathered in groups, chatting loudly as they clinked their drinks together. Their faces were free of worry, brimming with life. From a corner of the tavern, Melvria quietly sipped her drink, watching them. ¡®It¡¯s so different from Geysir.¡¯ Her long ears and striking beauty had been concealed, taking on the form of an ordinary woman. As she observed the cheerful citizens, she thought back to the people of the Geysir Empire. A nation where nothing was permitted except faith in the Dragon God Meier. They were less like humans and more like marionettes devoid of free will. Until now, she had never questioned it. She had always believed it was natural, a necessity for the sake of their great father. ¡®...But ever since I met that fake father, my mind¡¯s been a mess.¡¯ Ever since meeting him¡ª The emotions she had long lost had begun to resurface, creeping up little by little. ¡®This isn¡¯t good.¡¯ Melvria drank the liquor that couldn¡¯t even get her drunk, hurriedly burying her emotions. Focusing solely on her mission, she listened to the conversations around her. ¡°I was worried when they said they were changing the kingdom¡¯s name again...¡± ¡°But ever since they changed it to its real name, dungeon portals haven¡¯t appeared.¡± ¡°Come on. We need to wait a few more days to be sure, don¡¯t we? It hasn¡¯t even been a month yet.¡± ¡°Still, the fact that they¡¯re not appearing at all is something. Would His Majesty ever say something baseless?¡± ¡°So dungeon portals aren¡¯t appearing anymore... That means we¡¯ve really entered Marquis Ederna¡¯s direct domain.¡± As expected, King Kaylen is a fake. The great hero¡ªher father¡ªsided with the demons just to save himself? If it were truly him, that would be unimaginable. ¡°His Majesty needs to continue ruling, but...¡± ¡°For the Meyer royal family¡ªno, the Starn royal family¡ªto endure, he needs to have an heir soon.¡± ¡°He still hasn¡¯t had a royal marriage?¡± ¡°Right? I heard His Majesty doesn¡¯t seem interested in women... He hardly ever hosts parties at the palace.¡± ¡®Not interested in women? Hah. Fake father... You¡¯re a real fake.¡¯ Melvria let out a quiet scoff. If he were the real Ernstine, within his first year on the throne, he would have already taken at least five consorts, including a queen. Over a year on the throne with no queen? That confirmed he was a fake. ¡°Maybe His Majesty is just too beautiful to find anyone who meets his standards?¡± ¡®That¡¯s impossible. He¡¯d lower his standards however much he needed to.¡¯ ¡°They say he¡¯s too busy with work.¡± ¡®Even when he ruled a unified empire, he had countless consorts. And now, in this tiny little kingdom, he¡¯s supposedly too busy? He¡¯s definitely fake.¡¯ Yeah. No matter how she thought about it, if he were the real father, there was no way he¡¯d have no women. Melvria felt the unease in her heart settling back into place. ¡®Still, finding proof that he¡¯s a fake makes me feel a little relieved.¡¯ If he were real, there¡¯s no way he¡¯d bow to the demons. And there¡¯s no way he¡¯d be without women. Thinking that, Melvria took a sip of her beer¡ª ¡°Captain! Over here!¡± ¡°I may not be able to beat you with a sword, but I can definitely outdrink you. Heh.¡± She quietly watched as knights barged into the tavern. ¡°You guys can all come at me, but it won¡¯t matter. I¡¯ve been drinking for hundreds of years, you little punks.¡± Then, seeing the elf walking in with an eyepatch and a staff, her eyes widened. ¡®Eldir...¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 153 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 153 It had already been a year since Eldir became the Knight Commander of the Starn Kingdom. As he looked at the knights under his command, a smile formed on his lips. ¡®Challenging me to a drinking contest? Where¡¯s that confidence coming from?¡¯ The knights who had been relentlessly training at Kaylen¡¯s Sword Seat... With Kaylen away to complete the Six Swords, they took the opportunity to head to a tavern under the excuse of taking a break. "Commander, I heard from a contact at the Fairy Tower that you used to be drunk every day." "Even if you¡¯ve been drinking for hundreds of years, that doesn¡¯t mean your tolerance is high, does it?" "As a representative of humanity, I¡¯ll defeat the elf for you." "Hah. You fools... Do you even know how strong that drink is? A human thinking they can outdrink an elf¡ª" Amidst the lively chatter of the knights, Eldir sat down with them. "Here. Bring us some beer and snacks." As the youngest knight placed the order, another interrupted. "Beer? You can¡¯t have a real contest with beer. That¡¯s just something you drink instead of water. Bring rum instead." "Ohh! Commander, are you seriously taking on a race battle?" "Who was the one who started this? I¡¯ll show you the terror of an elf. Haha." Eldir swallowed in anticipation as he watched the drinks being set on the table. One year had passed with Kaylen. Had it been because he had diligently trained with the sword all this time? ¡ªYou don¡¯t have to abstain from alcohol anymore. The drunken mess you once were is gone, so do as you wish. His father-in-law, Kaylen, had lifted the drinking ban with a gentle voice. ¡®Come to think of it, he¡¯s been treating me strangely well these days.¡¯ He would ask if he was having a hard time. He would also watch over his swordsmanship more attentively. Unaware that Kaylen had been feeling burdened ever since meeting Melvria, Eldir simply thought his skills had been recognized. ¡®I held back all this time because of training, but...¡¯ Now that his father-in-law was training at the World Tree for several days... And there was no sword training at the Sword Seat... This was the perfect time to drink. "Alright, raise your glasses!" Eldir shouted boldly. All eyes turned toward him. "That¡¯s the Swordmaster Knight Commander?" "As expected of an elf, he looks stunning." "I heard portraits of His Majesty and the Knight Commander are selling like crazy in the markets. No wonder." "For someone of his stature to come to a tavern, he must be quite down-to-earth." Listening to the murmurs around her, Melvria furrowed her brows. ¡®Eldir... Just what are you doing here?!¡¯ As an Elven Guard, he was supposed to be protecting the Fairy Tower. Yet now, he was playing knight commander for her fake father? She wanted nothing more than to lash out at him. ¡®But I can¡¯t risk exposing myself here.¡¯ Suppressing her frustration, she called a server. "I¡¯ll have rum too." "Understood." Sip, sip. Melvria sipped her rum, her expression twisting in displeasure. What was so delicious about this that they were gulping it down like water? ¡®He barely drank before...¡¯ The Eldir she remembered was a pure-hearted young man. With innocent, bright eyes, he had chased after her for over a hundred years, saying he loved her. In the end, she gave in to his persistence and married him. Even then, he remained a devoted husband who cherished her. He never touched alcohol, and despite being busy with his duties as an Elven Guard, he even took care of the household chores. But now... "Ahh, now this is real liquor. It¡¯s got to have a kick, don¡¯t you think, men?" "Commander, you¡¯re really good at this..." "Hey, are you seriously holding your cup? Even I, your commander, am drinking straight from the bottle. Are you really going to try and cheat in this grand battle between humans and elves?" "Commander, you¡¯ve lived long enough¡ªcut us some slack!" "Shut up. Drink from the bottle." Watching Eldir clink bottles with the knights, Melvria¡¯s expression hardened. That once-pure husband of hers¡ªhow had he ended up like this? ¡®Instead of working toward the Elves¡¯ Great Wish, he¡¯s wasting time here.¡¯ If the Great Wish were fulfilled, the elves could finally be freed from this land. Lingering too long in a place under Caius¡¯s watchful eye would only spell trouble. ¡®This is unbearable.¡¯ Melvria, who had been sipping her rum, started drinking more heavily. At Kaylen¡¯s words, Myorn hurriedly reached out and took it with an urgent expression. "This is Stormwind?" "Yeah. Thanks to absorbing the mana there, I was able to complete the Six Blades. But that¡¯s all that¡¯s left of it." "Aha, I see." "There¡¯s an angel sealed inside, so don¡¯t handle it too roughly." "Oh, really? Then as long as I don¡¯t break the mana stone, it should be fine, right?" "Yeah. But... what¡¯s that guy doing over there?" Kaylen pointed to the corner of Myorn¡¯s workshop. Eldir was curled up on the floor, clutching a staff. Even from a distance, the strong smell of alcohol reached Kaylen, making him frown. How much did he drink? "Oh, that? Yesterday, he was whining about losing to a human in a drinking contest and collapsed in the corner of the workshop. I wasn¡¯t here at the time, so I don¡¯t know the full details." "Eldir lost in a drinking contest?" "Yeah. He was crying about disgracing the elves just a moment ago." "Huh..." Kaylen found it hard to believe. An elf who had lived for centuries, with all that drinking experience. Not to mention, he was a Sword Master. And he lost to a human in drinking? "Who did he lose to? The knights?" "A woman, apparently." "A woman?" With Melvria alive and well, and her deadly glare intact, a woman beat him? Kaylen stretched out his hand toward Eldir. Eldir¡¯s body floated into the air and shot out of the workshop. "What are you doing?" "Gotta discipline him a bit." Whoooosh. Eldir spun in the air like a top. "Ugh... ugh... bleeerrgh...!" The sound of retching echoed from outside, but the spinning didn¡¯t stop. Any normal human would have collapsed from dizziness by now. Kaylen, unfazed, kept his hand extended and turned to Myorn. "About what I came here for today." "Oh, right. You said you had something to ask?" "Yeah. I was curious about dragons. Do the dwarves have any records on them?" "Dragons, huh..." Myorn trailed off at Kaylen¡¯s question. "You¡¯re not asking about the dragons that humans talk about, are you? You want to know about the myths?" "Myths... Yeah. What do the dwarven myths say?" "It might not be something a human would enjoy hearing. And you... you¡¯re the wielder of the Holy Sword." "It¡¯s fine. I have the sword because it¡¯s a good weapon, not because I¡¯m particularly religious." At Kaylen¡¯s response, Myorn tapped the floor lightly with her fur-covered hand. "Alright, then. I¡¯ll skip the unnecessary details. Do you know the name of the seventh dragon in dwarven mythology?" "What is it?" "Averia." Averia? The name sounded familiar. Of course, it did. "It''s the same name as the Averia continent." After all, the continent Kaylen stood upon was called Averia. "That''s right. This¡ªAveria Continent¡ªis the seventh dragon." "What? What are you talking about? Are you saying this land is a dragon?" "Exactly. This is the god our kind worships. A dragon. Completely different from what humans think they know." Kaylen looked down at the ground beneath him. So... this continent is a dragon? "...I can''t believe it." Dragons¡ªhe had always thought of them as just larger versions of drakes. But in dwarven mythology, a dragon was an entire continent itself. That led Kaylen to a question. In human mythology, the one who created this continent was the Celestial God. But how did the dwarves explain it? "Then what about the Celestial God? How is the Celestial God described in your myths?" "Promise you won¡¯t get mad at me after hearing it?" "I told you, I¡¯m not religious." "They... are parasites that live by feeding off this continent." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 154 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 154 A Celestial God being a parasite. For someone with faith, it was an unacceptable notion. "Why do you say it''s a parasite?" "According to mythology, this world was already complete as the Dragon God''s domain. But the Celestial Realm and the Demon Realm... they are forces that entered from the outside. They cling to the Middle Realm, trying to survive in any way they can. They are invaders from beyond." "So the Celestial God didn¡¯t create the Middle Realm, but rather the opposite..." "Yeah." ¡®Is this why Theresia reacted with such disgust?¡¯ Kaylen understood. As someone from the Holy See, there was no way she would have a favorable opinion of a foreign mythology that labeled her god as a parasite. ¡®And yet, the Holy See still allowed dwarves into its sanctum.¡¯ The dwarves had initially come to see the Holy Sword, only to be so captivated by it that they set up forges right there. When Kaylen mentioned this, Myorn shook her fur up and down. "Well, that makes sense. After all, it''s something completely unknown to the world." "You¡¯d think that even an outsider¡¯s mythology would be somewhat known." "Even most dwarves don¡¯t know about this myth. We¡¯ve always been more interested in metal refining than in mythology. Besides, this is a secret myth passed down only to the Queen. Even within the Holy See, only a handful of top leaders would know about it." "So they just left the dwarves alone, then." "Yeah. It benefits the Holy See to have dwarves forging weapons in their sanctum, doesn¡¯t it?" That was true. Back in the day, many knights would visit the Holy See just to purchase high-quality weapons from the dwarves. For the Holy See, the dwarves were likely an invaluable industry. "A whole continent being a dragon... Then, do you know anything about the Dragon Heart?" "Dragon Heart? Hmm... I only know that it¡¯s the source of mana. It¡¯s said that the very foundation of the mana in this world originates from the Dragon Heart." "The source of mana, huh." Since the continent itself was a dragon, it made sense that the Dragon Heart would be the very origin of mana. Kaylen thought of Infinity. Mana with the nature of infinity. If that power expanded and grew further, it might very well serve as a source of mana. ¡®Infinity once told me it was a fragment of the heart...¡¯ Infinity, which had been in the possession of the Meier Clan. Could it have been a fragment of the very heart of the continent, Aberia? And I was the one who awakened it. ¡®They said I was unworthy of the dragon¡¯s name.¡¯ The reason I was denied the dragon¡¯s name... It must have been because I rejected the Six Demonic Path. If I had abandoned the Six Sword Path, I could have reached an even higher level. But I didn¡¯t, because I felt like I would lose "myself" if I did. Was that why Infinity was displeased with me? ¡®...What if I had chosen the Six Demonic Path back then?¡¯ Would I have been granted the dragon¡¯s name? And would I have fulfilled the role of the Dragon Heart of Aberia? ¡®If it¡¯s the role of the Dragon Heart...¡¯ Perhaps, it was something similar to what the Helmeier Clan is doing now through the Geysir Empire. Drakes flying endlessly through the skies. And then, the Black Dragon they created... A being that saw humans as nothing more than prey and sacrifices, like the Empire of Dragons and Demons. ¡®I will not live like that.¡¯ He was the Emperor of humanity, their protector and champion. Regardless of whether it was a fragment of the Dragon Heart or not, he had no intention of siding with Helmeier, who mercilessly slaughtered people. ¡®No matter how powerful the Six Demonic Path may be...¡¯ Kaylen vowed again and again that while he would refine and develop the Six Sword Path through the way of the sword, he would never allow it to transform into the Six Demonic Path. ¡°Ugh... Uuugh... L¡ªNo, Your Majesty... That was too much. If I weren¡¯t an elf but a human, I would¡¯ve died.¡± At that moment¡ª But soon after, the Combine Suits from Myorn Workshop were revealed to produce nearly the same output as A-rank suits. Not only that, but Myorn''s newly developed mana suits were steadily being supplied across the entire kingdom. They were not restricted by elemental affinities, yet their power was comparable to A-rank Mana Suits. Unlike the traditional magic tower Mana Suits, which could only be used by Meisters, these new suits had a massive competitive advantage. Naturally, the market was being taken from them. "Sigh... That damned Myorn Workshop." "With the King protecting them, we can''t even touch them." "We tried to recruit their talents, but they all refused, saying they wanted to stay." "What, because of elves? Imagine that¡ªmages losing themselves over women. Tsk tsk..." The masters of the magic towers, gathered in the Red Tower, all began condemning the mages who had joined Myorn Workshop. Even though they themselves kept multiple concubines, they viewed their junior mages differently from themselves. "Regardless... this situation is more serious than we thought." "If dungeon portals disappear, so does the income cities have been paying us." "But we can¡¯t exactly go and ask for the portals to be restored." "If we were to make such a request to that King... the magic towers might cease to exist altogether." The magic tower masters still remembered how King Kaylen had once beheaded multiple tower masters in an instant. Against a ruler who was a force unto himself, they dared not rebel. In this situation, they had no choice but to accept reality and find a new path forward. "That is why I have come up with an idea." "And what would that be?" "The Demon Hunters should operate abroad." "That is true, but..." One of the magic tower masters trailed off. What was being said made sense. Dungeon portals were still rampant in foreign lands. However¡ª "Would the King allow this?" "Isn''t it a fundamental rule that domestic Meisters are not permitted to leave the country?" Meisters and Mana Suits were vital resources for maintaining national security. Sending them abroad to subjugate foreign dungeon portals simply did not make sense. Even though dungeon portals were no longer appearing in the Kingdom of Shtarn, there was no guarantee they would not return one day. Whether the magic towers suffered losses or not, from the kingdom¡¯s standpoint, keeping their Meister forces within the country was the obvious choice. "Still, based on what we¡¯ve seen of the King, he is not completely unreasonable. Would it not be worth making the request?" "Hmm..." "Then, how about having all the magic tower masters sign a petition?" "That sounds like a good idea." If every magic tower master gathered here were to sign the petition¡ª Even King Kaylen would not go as far as to behead them all. "Then I will submit the petition on behalf of everyone." "Ah... For the Red Tower Master to take on such a burden..." "As expected of the Red Tower Master." Hearing the other magic tower masters praising him, the Red Tower Master let out a bitter smile. ¡®If they knew this was actually the King''s idea, they''d be utterly shocked.¡¯ Lioness, who had once belonged to the Red Tower, After joining the Royal Knights, he had recently approached the Red Tower Master and urged him to push for the magic towers¡¯ expansion abroad. ¡ªThis is all by His Majesty¡¯s will, Master. His former disciple had spoken as if simply delivering a notice. The Red Tower Master found it irritating, but with Kaylen boasting the strongest royal authority in history, he was in no position to defy him. ¡®And his will just so happens to align with our magic towers¡¯ interests.¡¯ With dungeon portals having vanished so suddenly, the Demon Hunters were left idle. One way or another, dungeon subjugation had to continue. At this rate, they would run into deficits and suffer massive financial losses. ¡®But what exactly... does the King want?¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 155 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 155 "They told me to go east in my dream." "Yes... I¡¯ve heard that another influential elven tribe resides in the Kingdom of Swessa, in the east." Beyond the Kingdom of Frens, which lay to the east of the Kingdom of Starn, was the Kingdom of Swessa. It was known to be a relatively stable nation, much like the former Bormian Kingdom had been. "That¡¯s a rather specific nightmare. At that point, isn¡¯t it more like a revelation?" Myorn asked Eldir in a curt tone. Since when did nightmares dictate where someone should go? However, Eldir shook his head, his face pale. "Ugh... It was still a nightmare. A chilling voice in a pitch-black place kept repeating the same words¡ª¡®You worthless elf. Go seek the tribe in the east.¡¯ That was all I heard." "So, it¡¯s telling you to go east and fulfill the Elven Wish?" "Yes..." "What exactly is the Elven Wish?" At Kaylen¡¯s question, Eldir fell silent for a moment. By principle, no one outside the elves was supposed to know about this wish. ¡®But... I can tell him. He¡¯s already deeply connected to the elves. And maybe, after hearing it, Kaylen might even help.¡¯ Eldir glanced toward Myorn. "What? Am I not allowed to hear this?" "Yeah." "I already know what the Elven Wish is, though?" "...What? How do you know?" "I spent quite a long time at the Fairy Tower, you know? And I have pretty sharp ears." "...Then go ahead. Tell me what you know." "The Elven Wish is for the elves to escape to the Spirit Realm, right? We dwarves have something similar." Eldir''s eyes widened in shock. ¡®He actually knew?¡¯ Kaylen tilted his head and asked, "Escape to the Spirit Realm?" "Dwarves and elves... In a way, you could call them half-spirits." "That¡¯s true." "Rather than struggling in the Mortal Realm, they just want to enter the Spirit Realm and become spirits themselves. That¡¯s the Elven Wish." "Hah..." Kaylen''s gaze fell upon Eldir¡¯s eyepatch. Come to think of it, elves used that and their Mana Suit Guardians to create artificial spirits. Was all of that preparation for settling in the Spirit Realm? ¡®So, since the Mortal Realm has already fallen into the hands of the Demon Realm, they¡¯re planning to escape entirely.¡¯ They had used their beauty to integrate into human kingdoms. Built magic towers to establish a certain level of influence. Gathered mana stones and resources¡ª All in preparation for their eventual exodus to the Spirit Realm. "Do all elves share this wish?" "No. The majority are unaware. Only a select few leaders... and that one over there." As Eldir glared at Myorn, she simply drew a question mark in the air with her fur. "Isn¡¯t the one who couldn¡¯t keep the secret the real problem here? It¡¯s not my fault I could hear it." "Hah. Forget it." So, that highly classified secret... was known to the mana amalgamation residing in Eldir¡¯s head. As Kaylen tried to examine the mana amalgamation once more¡ª Shuuu... The mana amalgamation atop Eldir¡¯s head slowly dispersed and vanished. It had realized it had been detected and promptly fled. Quite a meticulous entity. "Eldir. The mana amalgamation inside your head has disappeared. It seems to be connected to your nightmare." "A mana amalgamation...? There was such a thing?" "Yes. You didn¡¯t actually think a nightmare that vivid, almost like a revelation, was just the result of drinking too much, did you?" "They must have the blood of the Mayer lineage as well." If Kaylen, a Starn descendant, could wield such an overwhelmingly brutal sword style, Then surely, his relatives must also have at least a fraction of Infinite Mana. "If even a little bit of Infinity is present... I can awaken them into the Helmeier bloodline." Yes. Just like Melvria herself, who had lived in the Elven Forest before becoming part of Helmeier. If directly investigating Kaylen was too risky, then she could learn about him indirectly¡ªthrough his family. "Even if he cut ties, he must visit his real family at least once in a while." Completely unaware that Kaylen had no interest whatsoever in the Starn family, She made her way toward the Starn family¡¯s mansion, located on the outskirts of the capital. "So, you intend to build an empire...?" "I can''t just sit back and watch Geysir continue offering humans as sacrifices. I need Sanctuary''s support." At Kaylen¡¯s words, the Saint sighed inwardly. "Even if Geysir has taken control of the western territories of Starn, there are still over 20 kingdoms in the east. Do you truly intend to conquer all that vast land?" "Twenty? That¡¯s not many at all." Seeing Kaylen speak so earnestly, Theresia was left speechless. Come to think of it, he was the Conquering Emperor who had once unified the continent. To him, twenty kingdoms were nothing. "Then... what kind of assistance do you seek from us, Your Majesty?" "I want you to advise them¡ªto quietly raise the flag of the Starn Empire." "The Dungeon Guild maintains a politically neutral stance, however¡ª" "I know. I¡¯m not asking you to do it immediately. It¡¯s not as if they¡¯ll surrender just because they receive notice from the Dungeon Guild." Kaylen grinned. "Only when they experience an overwhelming difference in power will they finally consider surrendering." "By difference in power... do you mean you plan to act personally?" "Yes. I¡¯ll have to make extensive use of the Path of Light. I¡¯ll start by subjugating the regions bordering the Geysir Empire first." Beginning with the western lands that Geysir had yet to seize¡ª He planned to sweep from the top of the continent to the bottom, bringing the land under his rule. From there, he would block Geysir¡¯s further expansion, while gradually gathering the eastern regions under the Starn Empire¡¯s banner. This was Kaylen¡¯s vision. "Kaylen-nim. If you establish borders in this manner, wouldn¡¯t it be almost like declaring war on Geysir?" "There¡¯s a treaty in place, so that won¡¯t happen. Besides... even if they recklessly try to break the balance, it doesn¡¯t matter. Because now¡ªI''ve completed the Six Blades." "You¡¯ve completed the Six Blades... Don¡¯t tell me...!" "That¡¯s right. I¡¯ve become a Grand Swordmaster again." At those words, Theresia¡¯s eyes sparkled. ''Already...'' Even if Kaylen was truly Ernstine, In his past life, Ernstine had only barely reached the rank of Grand Swordmaster in his fifties. Yet now, at such a young age, he had attained that level once more. Kaylen¡¯s growth speed was beyond astonishing. "Then that means... we¡¯ll get to see the Hero defeat the Demon King again!" "No, the situation is different now, so I have to proceed cautiously." Back when he fought the Crimson Flame Demon King, it had been before the continent fell into the hands of the Demon Realm. He had received solid support from the Celestial Realm, and the Demonkind had not been as powerful as they were now. But now, not just a single duke, but two marquises of the Demon Realm had already divided the Mortal Plane between them. Even as a Grand Swordmaster, recklessly acting out of overconfidence was not an option. "Besides, even as a Grand Swordmaster, I¡¯ve only just reached the entry level. I¡¯ll focus on dealing with the Geysir Empire first and build my strength further." "Ah. That does make sense. The circumstances are different from before..." "That¡¯s why you should speak with Sanctuary properly." "Understood. I¡¯ll send a communication right away!" With a bright expression, Theresia entered the communication chamber. Ten minutes later¡ª She returned with a shocked expression. "Kaylen-nim..." "Hmm?" "His Holiness... is coming here in person." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 156 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 156 "It''s been a while, Emperor. You look exactly the same." "It seems that Your Holiness has grown even younger." Kaylen gazed at the Holy Emperor, who had suddenly manifested in the human realm. The Holy Emperor, Benedict. [TL/N: Holy Emperor is basically the Pope] The last time he had seen him, he had the appearance of a middle-aged man. But now, he looked like a young man with long, white hair. However, even though his outward appearance had changed, Kaylen could tell that he was still the Holy Emperor Benedict. His face was younger, but he still looked exactly the same as before... ''His divine power seems even stronger than before.'' It was because he could sense the Holy Emperor¡¯s uniquely overwhelming divine energy. "Why have you come here instead of staying in the Sanctuary?" "I heard that the Emperor has become a Grand Sword Master. I couldn''t just remain in the heavens. I came to offer my congratulations." The Holy Emperor spoke with a smiling face. However, his gaze was cold as he observed Kaylen closely. It was as if he wanted to personally confirm Kaylen''s condition with his own eyes. "I''m glad I came down to see for myself. It seems the Emperor has regained his former strength." "It must be thanks to the grace of the Celestial God." "Hearing that from the Emperor himself is truly pleasing to me as a servant of the Celestial God." The two conversed with smiling faces. From a distance, they seemed to be having a friendly discussion, but Saintess Theresia, who was watching nearby, couldn''t shake off an uneasy feeling. ''There''s a sharp tension in the air. Especially from the Holy Emperor...'' Compared to Kaylen, the Holy Emperor''s wariness was far more evident. It had always been this way. The Emperor of the Continent, Ernstine, had little interest in the Holy See. However, the Holy Emperor had been wary of Ernstine even before he unified the continent. ''If it weren¡¯t for Lord Ernstine, a thousand years ago would have been an era ruled by the Holy Emperor. It''s understandable that he harbors ill feelings.'' But this was no longer the peaceful era of a thousand years ago, when only the Demon King would occasionally appear. The middle realm had already been consumed by the demon realm, and the Holy See had fled to the Sanctuary. Even Ernstine, once the Emperor of the Continent, was now just a king of a nation oppressed by the Geysir Empire. In such dire circumstances, they should be setting aside past grudges and working together. Yet, Holy Emperor Benedict still did not seem to be on friendly terms with Kaylen. ''...How narrow-minded.'' Saintess Theresia glanced at the Holy Emperor, thinking so. Benedict then shifted his gaze toward her. "Theresia. It seems you are having impure thoughts." "A-Ah, no. What do you mean? I was simply hoping that the two of you would cooperate a little more." "Hmph. Cooperation, huh. If it''s for the sake of humanity, I must not hesitate to work with the Emperor." With that, Benedict dropped his smile and, with a now expressionless face, turned to Kaylen. "But before that, there is something I must confirm with my own eyes.". "What is it that you wish to see?" "Could you show me the Six Swords Path?" The Six Swords Path? Why was he suddenly bringing that up? "I may reside in the Sanctuary, but my eyes and ears remain sharp. I have some understanding of the Helmeier clan. Especially regarding the Six Demonic Paths." "You have knowledge about them?" "Yes. But before we discuss that, I would like to see the Six Swords Path first." The Holy Emperor did not seem willing to speak until he had seen it for himself. If he wanted information about the Helmeier clan, there was no other choice. Kaylen nodded calmly and unleashed the Six Swords Path. Six swords extended from his back. Each of the six blades was flawless, radiating a brilliant aura. The Holy Emperor observed them carefully. ¡°Yes, the sword is humanity¡¯s weapon. Of course, many races besides humans have wielded swords... But none have used them as extensively as mankind. The sword and the knights who mastered it played a pivotal role in humanity¡¯s settlement of this continent. It is the weapon of mortals. That is what the sword has always been.¡± ¡°I never expected a lesson on the origins of the sword from the Holy Emperor.¡± ¡°Haha. Nor did I ever expect to discuss such a topic with the Emperor of Swords. However, I wanted you to understand that, in a way, the sword is a symbol of humanity.¡± The sword as a symbol of humanity. At those words, Kaylen recalled the Six Sword Path and the Six Demonic Path. The Six Sword Path, which retained the form of a sword. The Six Demonic Path, which transformed into pure mana constructs. When he had completed the Six Sword Path, he had once faced the temptation to abandon it in favor of the Six Demonic Path. Had he succumbed to that temptation... He himself might have transcended humanity, becoming something else entirely¡ªsomething tied to dragons. ¡°The reason you were relieved upon seeing the Six Sword Path... was it because you confirmed that I am still human?¡± ¡°Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°You seem to know quite a bit about both the Six Sword Path and the Six Demonic Path.¡± ¡°How could I claim to know more about the Six Sword Path than Your Majesty? But... I do know about the Six Demonic Path.¡± The Holy Emperor¡¯s eyes turned cold as he spoke. ¡°The enemy of the Celestial Gods. The power wielded by dragons¡ªthat is the Six Demonic Path.¡± ¡°Dragons... Does this have anything to do with Helmeier?¡± ¡°Yes. The Helmeier lineage was founded by Caius, the second emperor of the Meier Empire. Their goal is to bring dragons back to life.¡± As he spoke, the Holy Emperor pointed at Kaylen. ¡°And if Your Majesty had transformed the Six Sword Path into the Six Demonic Path... you might have become a dragon yourself.¡± At the mansion of House Starn, Kaylen¡¯s younger brother, Royen, was seeing off Roenna, Alkas¡¯s younger sister. ¡°Roenna-noona, when will you come again?¡± ¡°Oh dear, Your Highness. You shouldn¡¯t call me ¡®noona.¡¯¡± ¡°What do you mean, ¡®Your Highness¡¯...¡± The title referred to the younger sibling of a king. By blood, Royen was indeed Kaylen¡¯s younger brother, but he never truly felt like royalty. ¡®Not like my brother cares about the family anyway.¡¯ If he had any interest in them, he would have brought his parents and sibling to the royal palace after ascending the throne. But Kaylen only sent guards and attendants¡ªhe never summoned them to the palace. ¡®Well, that works better for me.¡¯ With their mother mentally unstable and their father tending to her, moving the Starn family to the palace would have put Royen in an awkward position as the king¡¯s half-brother. On top of that... ¡°This time, it¡¯s exam season, so it¡¯ll take a while. I¡¯ll probably be back next week. Make sure to study on your own¡ªand don¡¯t just practice fire magic.¡± Roenna smiled and waved, and Royen blushed as he looked at her. For the past year... The boy had harbored feelings for his magic tutor. ¡®This is perfect.¡¯ If he were living in the palace, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to take private lessons from her so leisurely. Hoping this routine would continue, Royen waved at Roenna. ¡°Noona, come back soon!¡± ¡°Alright! Keep up with your studies!¡± As Roenna left the mansion, Royen turned around and muttered under his breath. ¡°Study, huh... Ice Spear.¡± A Third-Circle water spell, Ice Spear, materialized in Royen¡¯s hand. No, his magic was far stronger than usual¡ª The Ice Spear was far too thick to even be called a spear. At this level, his mastery had already surpassed his tutor, Roenna. ¡°Water magic is easy now.¡± Dismissing the Ice Spear, Royen slowly made his way back inside. And watching from nearby¡ª ¡®That child...¡¯ Hidden from view as she scouted the Starn estate, Melvria observed the scene. ¡®He¡¯s already halfway to becoming a demon.¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 157 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 157 Melvria surveyed the area around Royen. ¡®Ten hidden guards.¡¯ Even if Kaylen had no interest in House Starn, it seemed he still ensured some level of protection. After all, no matter how severed their ties were, the king couldn¡¯t just leave his blood relatives completely unguarded. ¡®Subduing them would be easy.¡¯ But if she killed or restrained them, word would inevitably reach the royal palace. There was no need to go that far. ¡®He¡¯s already halfway awakened. Just a little push with a spirit should be enough.¡¯ Melvria summoned a spirit of darkness. Unlike the one she had used to give Eldir nightmares, this was an entirely different scale of spirit. Back then, she had only wanted to give him a hard time. This time, however, she was trying to fully awaken a half-demon of the Meier bloodline. She needed a much greater amount of dark mana. ¡®That fake father of his would notice immediately, but... he¡¯s nowhere nearby, so... Kaylen¡¯s the only one who could possibly detect it.¡¯ With that in mind, Melvria cast aside her concerns about staying hidden and infused the dark spirit with an ample amount of dark mana. ¡®Go.¡¯ Like a thick, swirling mist, the dark spirit emerged from her hand and slowly floated toward Royen. Once it settled into his body, Royen would undergo the awakening process over the next few days, officially becoming a member of Helmeier. Just like she had. ¡°Royen!¡± At that moment¡ª An elf approached from the entrance of the mansion. Melvria immediately recognized her. ¡®Irene...? What is she doing here?¡¯ It was Irene, her sister-in-law. ¡°Oh...¡± Irene glanced toward the dark spirit, her expression shifting in confusion. A human wouldn¡¯t have noticed the spirit¡¯s movement. But for an elf attuned to spirits, it was only natural to sense something was off. ¡®Damn it...¡¯ Melvria quickly unsummoned the dark spirit. Irene tilted her head. ¡°Did I see that wrong...?¡± ¡°Irene?¡± ¡°Oh. I must¡¯ve been mistaken. Shall we head to the lab?¡± Fortunately, Irene hadn¡¯t noticed the dark spirit. She entered the mansion with Royen without further questioning. Watching them go, Melvria let out a sigh. ¡®...This is so frustrating.¡¯ Holding the title of Duke of Geysir, Melvria had never once engaged in stealth or espionage. Now that she was doing it, she realized how much it didn¡¯t suit her. As expected, she was more suited to fighting head-on. ¡®Well, I¡¯ve found my target. I¡¯ll just complete his awakening tomorrow.¡¯ With that thought, Melvria withdrew from the scene. ¡°A dragon...?¡± ¡°What do you think is the greatest enemy the Celestial God fears, Your Majesty?¡± The greatest enemy feared by the Celestial God¡ª Until now, it had always seemed obvious that it would be the forces of the Demon Realm. More specifically, its ruler. ¡°I assumed it was the Demon King.¡± ¡°No. The Demon King can never become a ¡®god.¡¯ Even though the White Demon King is currently invading the Celestial Realm, if the Celestial God intervenes directly, he will be subdued.¡± ¡°Then, are you saying the fact that the Demon Realm has taken control of the Middle Realm is also part of the Celestial God¡¯s will?¡± ¡°Well... How could I possibly know the profound will of the Celestial God? But I am certain of one thing¡ªthe greatest threat feared by the Celestial God is not the Demon Realm.¡± ¡°Then, what is it?¡± ¡°Dragons.¡± Unlike before, when the color had been gradually changing, this time, his hair had transformed into a deep, jet-black shade all at once. "Holy Emperor... but your hair..." "Ah... this must be my natural hair color appearing, as I have exhausted all the divine power I had at my disposal." "Black hair... That¡¯s an unusual color." Such a striking shade of black¡ª A color that was only ever seen among the demons. "Heh... That¡¯s right. It does resemble that of the demons. It used to be brown... but perhaps this is a side effect of living for a thousand years. At some point, my hair started turning black." Holy Emperor Benedict admitted he didn¡¯t know the exact reason himself. With that, he rose from his seat. "Then, Your Majesty, do not forget your resolve and continue to protect humanity..." With a slight bow, the Holy Emperor withdrew from the room. There was something oddly hurried about the way he left. "Yes. Thank you. Safe travels." Even as Kaylen bid him farewell, his gaze remained fixed on Benedict¡¯s hair. ''That hair color... Is it really just a side effect?'' Jet-black hair¡ªalmost a symbol of the demons. Of course, he hadn¡¯t sensed any traces of dark mana from the Holy Emperor... but¡ª Something about it left Kaylen uneasy. He looked down. A few strands of Benedict¡¯s long hair had fallen onto the marble floor. ¡®I should take a few of these.¡¯ Swoosh. As Kaylen reached out, the strands of hair floated into his hand as if drawn by an invisible force. ''Never thought I¡¯d end up collecting another man¡¯s hair.'' With a slight smirk, he grasped the black strands in his palm. And then¡ª Sizzle¡ª! "Ugh...!" The moment of contact¡ªbetween his palm, still infused with the Holy Emperor¡¯s blessing, and the strands of hair¡ª A repelling force erupted. At the same time, the hair ignited and burned away into nothingness. Kaylen¡¯s expression hardened as he watched. ''It¡¯s faint, almost impossible to detect, but...'' The moment the strands had burned¡ª For an instant, but undeniably¡ª ''The Holy Emperor¡¯s hair... contains dark mana!'' From a distance, he hadn¡¯t sensed it at all. But upon touching it, he felt it clearly. ''Dark mana... in the body of the Celestial God¡¯s chosen representative?!'' How could the leader of the Sanctuary, the Holy Emperor himself, possess dark mana? Kaylen immediately turned toward the door, ready to chase after him and demand answers¡ª "Kaylen?" "Theresia. Where did the Holy Emperor go?" Standing outside the door, Theresia looked at him in confusion. "He returned to the Sanctuary. He said he had exhausted too much of his divine power." "With black hair?" "Yes. It seems he completely depleted his divine power." Theresia spoke casually, as if it were nothing unusual. Kaylen, noting how familiar she seemed with the situation, questioned her. "...Doesn¡¯t that strike you as odd?" "What do you mean? Oh, you mean his hair?" "Yes. Black hair... Isn¡¯t that the color of the demons?" "Well, at first, I thought so too, but..." Theresia replied with a bright, untroubled expression. "I suppose it¡¯s because we¡¯ve lived in the Sanctuary for so long. Even my hair turns black when I use up all my divine power." "...Yours does too?" [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 158 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 158 "Yes. I originally had light blonde hair, but at some point, my hair color changed." "Then, does this happen to everyone in the Sanctuary?" "That¡¯s right. It happens to all of us." As Theresia nodded, Kaylen furrowed his brows. ¡®Looks like I have another reason to visit the Sanctuary.¡¯ The people of the Sanctuary revealed black hair when they exhausted their divine power. If it were just a change in hair color, that would be one thing, but what if¡ªlike the Holy Emperor¡ªdark mana was hidden within that black hair? He had to confirm this. ¡®No... I don¡¯t even need to go all the way to the Sanctuary.¡¯ Theresia, standing right in front of him, also developed black hair. Kaylen reached out, grasping Theresia¡¯s hands, his voice dropping to a deep, serious tone. "Theresia." "Y-Yes...?" "I have a favor to ask." Swoosh. Kaylen leaned in, bringing his face right in front of hers. His golden eyes gleamed with an irresistible intensity. ¡®W-Why is he acting like this all of a sudden...?¡¯ Gulp. Without realizing it, Theresia swallowed hard. She had admired Kaylen for so long. Now that he had returned, she had been forced to maintain her distance due to her position as a Saintess. She had only been able to linger nearby, unable to approach him. But now, he was the one drawing closer. And she had no defense against it. "W-What... what kind of favor?" Theresia averted her gaze slightly, as if overwhelmed by the intensity of Kaylen¡¯s stare. But despite turning her head, she kept sneaking glances back at him. "It¡¯s something only you can do." His voice, so close, was impossibly soft and smooth. Before she knew it, Theresia found herself repeating his words. "Something... only I can do..." "That¡¯s right." "W-What exactly are you asking me to do? You¡¯re acting so differently than usual¡ª" "I want to see your black hair." "...My black hair?" "Yeah. Theresia." So that was why he kept asking about black hair? Was this his reason for getting so close? Theresia felt her pounding heart settle slightly. Somehow, she had known he was acting unusual. "Why do you suddenly want to see black hair?" "I think it would suit you." "Kaylen..." "I mean it. I¡¯ve never seen a woman with black hair before." Kaylen grinned mischievously. "So? Will you show me?" "Sigh..." Just because he thought it would suit her... he wanted to see it? That couldn¡¯t be his real intention. Theresia let out a sigh. She felt like she had lost out by getting flustered for no reason. "Showing you isn¡¯t difficult, but..." "Really?" "I¡¯m not the same little Theresia from the past. Saying you want to see it because black hair would suit me¡ªstop joking around and tell me the real reason." "A joke? That¡¯s harsh. I really do think black hair would suit you. But... there is one more reason." "And what is that?" "I¡¯ll tell you if you show me." How petty. So he wouldn¡¯t even say the real reason and just claimed black hair would look good on her? ¡®Does he think I¡¯ll fall for such sweet talk?¡¯ Muttering to herself, Theresia still took a small step back. One way or another, she always ended up doing what Kaylen asked. "Fine. I¡¯ll use my full power to bless you." "Oh? A blessing? Are you going to make my heart race like last time?" "Ugh... You knew?" "How could I not?" Theresia¡¯s face turned slightly red. Back then, when she first met Kaylen¡ª That was what the Dragon Knights did best. ¡°Grrrrr...¡± ¡°Hungry, are you? Hold on a little longer. Your feast is coming soon.¡± Siven stroked the Drake¡¯s scales and spoke gently. However, contrary to his tone, he, too, drooled as he bared his fangs. Fangs too long and sharp to be human. It was one of the characteristics of a Dragon who had merged with a Drake. ¡®Just thinking about eating lower beings makes my mouth water.¡¯ Even though he was originally human, after becoming a Dragon, he regarded humans as an inferior species. It wasn¡¯t just him¡ªthis sentiment was shared among most Dragons. And the consumption of humans was no different. The 7th Dragon Division, who had merged with Blood Drakes, loved human flesh more than any other food. ¡°The commander! The castle is in sight!¡± At the report from the vanguard, Siven swallowed his saliva. At last, the long-awaited¡ª Mealtime had arrived. ¡°Prepare to breathe! Wait until the enemy takes up a defensive position!¡± The Dragon Division descended in a sudden aerial assault. They could have secured an easier victory by striking before the castle was fully fortified, but¡ª Siven did not do so. ¡ªInstill fear into the humans. If the goal was to instill fear, Then utterly trampling their pathetic defenses head-on was the most effective method. ¡°Ah! Commander! If you burn the prey, what are we supposed to eat?¡± ¡°Roasted meat tastes good too!¡± ¡°It¡¯s not roasting, it¡¯s turning to ash!¡± A Drake¡¯s breath was too powerful¡ªhumans couldn¡¯t withstand it. Pathetic creatures. Clicking his tongue, Siven spoke to his subordinates, who had all bared their fangs in anticipation of the feast. ¡°Then only scorch the castle walls! We must preserve the prey.¡± The breath attack was merely a warning that the Dragon Division had arrived. It would be enough to leave some scorch marks on the walls and break the defensive magic barrier. At Siven¡¯s words, the Dragons cheered. ¡°Haha! Understood!¡± ¡°Woohoo, it¡¯s a feast!¡± Siven smiled at them. Once mere herbivores, now carnivorous hunters, the chosen Dragons. They had acquired appetites befitting their evolution. ¡®It¡¯s fortunate that my division has all properly evolved.¡¯ He had heard that in other divisions, some Dragons still clung to their humanity from before their transformation and were reluctant to consume humans. How pitiful. To not know this flavor. Siven let out a chilling laugh, looking forward to the upcoming feast. His stomach rumbled before he knew it. And then¡ª As the fortress came into view¡ª ¡°All units, spread out and encircle the castle!¡± At Siven¡¯s command, the Dragon Division dispersed widely. With 500 Dragons forming an aerial siege formation, At a glance, the encirclement seemed loose, but the reach of the Drakes¡¯ breath could engulf the entire fortress. ¡°Breathe!¡± KAAAAAH! Some insignificant count¡¯s castle¡ªSiven couldn¡¯t even recall its name. They would instill terror in the prey, consume about half of them, and then plant the Geysir Empire¡¯s flag. Having already laid out his plans, Siven watched the breath attacks with satisfaction. The castle walls burned in all directions. Just imagining feasting on the humans drenched in fear made his mouth water. As the Drakes¡¯ flames were about to directly strike the castle¡ª ¡°No...¡± The breath attacks suddenly stopped before reaching the walls. Not just in one direction, but simultaneously across all fronts. Rather than being blocked, it was more like they had been severed. ¡°He¡¯s here.¡± And then¡ª A person who had not been visible before now stood atop the castle wall. All eyes turned toward him. At dusk, as the sun was nearly set, He alone stood on the battlements, radiating sacred mana that illuminated him. ¡°Knights who have forsaken their humanity¡ªconsider this your honor.¡± He extended his hand. ¡°You shall be the first to witness the pinnacle of the sword.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 159 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 159 Something feels wrong. Upon hearing the words of the man standing atop the fortress wall, the 7th Dragon Knight Order''s commander, Siven, had a bad feeling. "The pinnacle of the sword, he says... Arrogant fool." But a mere sword? For one who had evolved into a mighty Dragon Knight, his enhanced fangs and limbs were far stronger than any blade! And yet, something about that man¡¯s presence was unsettling. The brilliant white aura surrounding him was so intense that it was visible even from this distance. More than that, his voice was deep and resonant, reaching the ears of every Dragon Knight no matter their position¡ªnorth, south, east, or west. This was not an opponent to underestimate. "Focus all breath attacks on him!" It was just one human. Still, Siven remained cautious as he gave the order. At his command, the Dragon Knights swiftly directed their Drakes¡¯ open maws toward the man. ¡ªSwish. The man extended his hand toward them. Six-Sword Path (????????, Áù„¦µÀ) Five Blades (?????, Î儦) The Vast Sky¡¯s Net, Inescapable (??????????, Ìì¾W»Ö»Ö) As the sun dipped below the horizon, suddenly, the sky shone as if it were midday. Above the airborne Drakes. A brilliant radiance surged from beyond the clouds. Siven instinctively looked up. "W-What is that...?" Beyond the clouds. A fierce light was woven together like fine threads, appearing in scattered patches. The lights, though spaced apart, were all interconnected¡ª Like an enormous net. "Haa..." Siven let out a heavy breath as he stared at the vast, white net forming in the sky. When had the aura extended that far? No, was it even possible to enshroud the sky itself with aura? All that man had done was stretch out his hand. And yet, as if it had been prepared long before, an enormous aura of light had already enveloped the heavens. "C-Commander! The breath attack...!" The Drakes had unleashed their breath attacks all at once¡ªyet before they could even reach the fortress, they vanished in an instant. Just like before. The dragon fire, poured down in unison upon the castle, had achieved nothing. "Hmm..." A chill ran down Siven¡¯s spine. The breath attacks weren¡¯t blocked. They simply disappeared. Within this space, ensnared by the net of light, even the flow of mana felt disrupted. He couldn¡¯t control it properly. The Drakes, sensing something unnatural, instinctively curled up. "This... doesn¡¯t feel right." There was a time, long ago, when an advance force had gathered to subjugate a place called the Kingdom of Meier. Back then, the Dragon Knights guarding the Drakes had been wiped out without even knowing what hit them. Even the Empire¡¯s strongest warrior, Duke Melvria, had ultimately been forced to retreat. "Could it be... that man?" The situation and location were completely different from back then. And yet, Siven instinctively suspected that the nameless warrior from that time might be this very man. The enemy was just one person. The Dragon Knights numbered five hundred. "Fall back for now!" He made his decision. "Fall back...?!" The knights were bewildered by Siven¡¯s command. Even if their breath attacks had been blocked midway, the enemy was still just one man. Fleeing out of fear? "Commander, retreating because of one person... This is a disgrace to the Dragon Knight Order!" "The Drakes won¡¯t obey! No predator turns away from prey right in front of them!" "The Drakes won¡¯t resist. Just follow my orders!" There was no way the Drakes would rebel. They had sensed the change in the air before anyone else and were already shrinking back in fear. Ignoring the knights¡¯ protests, Siven turned his own Drake around first. ¡ª "The commander is too cautious." As Siven retreated, the Dragon Knights followed with displeased expressions. But soon, their faces hardened as they saw the vast net of light stretching from the ends of the sky down to the earth. That light¡ª It was all aura. A power so overwhelming that even the Dragon Knights couldn¡¯t begin to gauge its strength. "W-What is this...?" Only now did they understand why the commander had ordered them to retreat. Though the net had gaps here and there, covering both sky and ground¡ª The strands of light that formed it radiated an overwhelming, chilling power. "We have to escape before the net tightens." "We serve under the Lahendra Kingdom. How can we simply swear loyalty to a new king? That is impossible." "Even after seeing that?" Kaylen pointed at the net in the sky. The aura of light drew closer, as if it would soon engulf the entire fortress. The knight swallowed hard. That aura had completely erased the Drakes. If it touched the fortress, its destruction was inevitable. "...I will take you to him." With the knight leading the way, Kaylen entered the inner citadel. A mere knight could not meet the lord freely, so they encountered several checkpoints. However¡ª "Let''s go." With a single wave of Kaylen¡¯s hand, the soldiers blocking the way stepped aside. Even the soldiers themselves looked confused, unable to understand why they were moving aside. "M-My body... My body..." And so, Kaylen entered the inner citadel where Count Ainz resided. "W-Who are you?" Having received reports of the Drake invasion, Count Ainz had donned his mana suit in preparation for defense. His voice trembled as he questioned Kaylen. Kaylen¡¯s presence, shimmering with overwhelming mana of light, was clearly extraordinary. "I am Kaylen, King of Starn." "Starn... Ah. I heard the Mayer Kingdom changed its name. But what brings you here?" "What is your name?" "I am Count Ainz." "Very well, Count Ainz. Swear your loyalty to me." "W-What nonsense is this? I am a noble of the Lahendra Kingdom!" A foreign king suddenly demanding allegiance¡ª Was he insane? Count Ainz couldn''t help but think so. Were it not for the overwhelming light mana radiating from Kaylen, he would have immediately ordered his soldiers to seize him. "Do you know of the Geysir Empire?" "Geysir? That country far to the west? I heard we used to trade with them back when the seas were safe." "Are you unaware that they have invaded the Lahendra Kingdom and already conquered several fortresses?" "T-That¡¯s impossible. I''ve heard no such thing..." Count Ainz only knew of Geysir¡¯s distant location¡ª Completely unaware that their forces were now at Lahendra¡¯s doorstep. This was the extent of knowledge among Lahendra¡¯s nobles. They had no idea that Geysir was deploying Dragon Knights and expanding its influence across the continent. "You will hear the details from the Dungeon Guild. Even now, Geysir¡¯s Dragon Knights are invading various regions." Kaylen had no intention of wasting time persuading the count. "But what does that have to do with swearing loyalty?" "If you swear loyalty to me and raise Starn¡¯s banner, they will not invade." "...I cannot believe that. Leave at once." At Count Ainz¡¯s command, the surrounding knights simultaneously drew their swords. Kaylen chuckled. "Drawing your swords? How considerate of you." Srrrrrk. The swords slipped from the knights¡¯ grasps all at once. Their new target¡ªCount Ainz. "W-What is this...!?" "All you have to do is swear loyalty to Starn and raise its banner." Chiiiiiik. The swords grazed Count Ainz¡¯s mana suit. The sturdy metallic armor split apart instantly. Yet, Count Ainz remained unharmed within. "I won¡¯t demand anything else from you." "Ugh... Ughhh..." Whoosh. The swords moved again. Count Ainz¡¯s hair was severed completely. In an instant, his once-thick hair was gone, leaving his scalp completely exposed. Seeing this, Kaylen laughed. "No taxes. No conscription. Even a mere verbal oath of loyalty will suffice. All you need to do is change the kingdom¡¯s banner." "If you refuse even that, I will replace you. Where is your heir?" Srrrring. The tip of the sword that had been floating in the air now touched his throat. Count Ainz snapped back to his senses. If he resisted any further... Wasn¡¯t this a death threat? I... I can¡¯t die! He had never been particularly loyal to his country in the first place. Dying over stubbornness was out of the question. Count Ainz hurriedly dropped to his knees. "I-I swear loyalty!" "Then I shall accept your oath." Kaylen pulled out the flag of the Starn Kingdom from thin air, smiling brightly. The banner depicted six swords piercing through a dragon¡¯s head¡ª A newly designed emblem, symbolizing the kingdom after its renaming. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 160 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 160 The capital of the Lahendra Kingdom, Lahendra Castle. Originally, the capital was located on the coast, but due to a monster invasion, it had to be relocated in haste. As a result, the castle was much smaller in scale compared to the estates of other noble families. For a royal palace meant to house the rulers of a kingdom, it was far too cramped. The nobles of Lahendra Kingdom sneered at the sight. ¡ª The royal castle is more pathetic than a marquis¡¯s estate. ¡ª In truth, doesn¡¯t the marquis hold just as much power as the king? Haha. After the capital was moved, the kingdom¡¯s nobles gradually stopped obeying the king¡¯s commands, and the royal family¡¯s authority declined significantly. It reached the point where some nobles didn¡¯t even bother attending the coronation of a new king. "Hmm... The castle is still as small as ever." "It has been a while." But today¡ª The most influential figures in the kingdom, who usually scoffed at the royal family, had gathered in this humble capital castle. These were the same individuals who hadn¡¯t even bothered to attend the king¡¯s coronation, sending proxies instead. "We are about to commence the meeting of the Council of Fifteen... but it seems four members have yet to arrive." "According to urgent reports, their territories have already been reduced to ashes." "Who was responsible for that?" "The exact identity of the beast is unknown, but... ahem." The true ruling power of the Lahendra Kingdom lay with the fifteen high-ranking nobles. Eleven of them were now gathered in Lahendra Castle¡¯s conference hall, engaged in discussion. Among them, four individuals stood out for one obvious reason. "Even Marquis Alcid... fell to that ¡®king¡¯?" "Ahem! It seems Count Ainz suffered the same fate." They were all bald. "The rulers of the western region... have all, as if by some agreement, shaved their heads clean." A grand noble of the eastern kingdom¡ª Marquis Ksanta, whose hair had been thinning in the center for years, glanced at their gleaming heads with a smirk. Even in this serious meeting, the sight of four perfectly bald heads lifted his mood. ¡®Those bastards. They used to mock my hair loss... serves them right.¡¯ The western nobles had once snickered at Marquis Ksanta, who had been losing his hair in his forties. But now, seeing them arrive with their scalps completely exposed, he curled one side of his lips in amusement. "Refreshing, isn¡¯t it? You used to tell me to just shave it all off instead of leaving it half-done. Why don¡¯t you share your thoughts now?" "Grr... Marquis Ksanta, this is no time for jokes." "A joke? I was simply stating a fact." "Damn it... To think we¡¯d be mocked by a bald man because of that wretched king..." Marquis Ksanta¡¯s eyebrow twitched. He wasn¡¯t bald yet¡ªso why were they speaking as if it were a certainty? "Who exactly is this ¡®king¡¯ you speak of?" "The King of Starn Kingdom." "Starn Kingdom... You mean the former ruler of the Meier Kingdom?" "You know of him?" "Yes. The rumors about the newly crowned king were so absurd that I still remember them." Marquis Ksanta, who held power in the eastern region of Lahendra Kingdom, was familiar with King Kaylen. A Swordmaster emerging after centuries¡ª When he drew his sword, the royal capital was split in half, and the demonic forces were crushed. A tale so absurd, it seemed like something out of an ancient legend. When Marquis Ksanta brought it up, the now-bald nobles scowled. ¡°That... seems to be true.¡± ¡°Hahaha! Splitting a royal palace in half and cutting down demons? Do you even hear yourself?¡± ¡°When he reached out his hand, the swords of all the knights in the palace unsheathed themselves.¡± ¡°The Drakes that stormed the castle were torn apart.¡± ¡°The Meister¡¯s magic was blocked by his sword, and mana suits vanished without a trace.¡± ¡°He is... a transcendent.¡± As four nobles spoke in unison, the others grew grim. That ridiculous story was real? ¡°But no matter how much of a legendary Swordmaster he may be, that level of power is impossible.¡± ¡°Indeed. I am a knight myself, and I know that while a Swordmaster can dominate space with their Sword Area, even that has its limits. Are you sure you¡¯re not mistaken?¡± "But I don¡¯t have time for niceties." Sizzle¡ª! Thin wisps of smoke curled from Ksanta Marquess¡¯s bald head. A symbol was being etched onto his scalp at an alarming speed. "Urgh... Ughhh...!" It was the emblem of the Kingdom of Starn¡ªa dragon¡¯s head impaled by six swords. "Ah... Aaaagh... My head...!" "Let¡¯s go." Tears streamed down Ksanta Marquess¡¯s face as the burning pain consumed him. Yet, despite his agony, his body moved against his will. He was sprinting toward the audience chamber. The other nobles followed in silence, a chill creeping down their spines. Even as they passed through the halls, it was the same everywhere. The knights and magisters they encountered merely stood frozen in place, eyes shifting nervously but otherwise motionless. The signs of total subjugation under King Kaylen were painfully evident. ''Has he already taken control of the entire palace...?'' ''If I had known this would happen, I would¡¯ve ignored the Dungeon Guild¡¯s summons and stayed in my domain...'' The Dungeon Guild held significant influence in their lands, so they had complied with its request. But now, standing here, completely at Kaylen¡¯s mercy, they deeply regretted that decision. And then, as they finally reached the audience chamber¡ª "...You¡¯ve arrived." The king sat upon the throne, his expression utterly despondent. "So, everyone is here." Saintess Theresia stood alongside the Holy Knights. ¡°They... seem to be from the Sanctuary.¡± ¡°Ah. I recognize that face. It¡¯s the Saintess.¡± ¡°You mean... Saintess Theresia?¡± Saintess Theresia¡ªan existence akin to a living legend, having lived for a thousand years. Though the great nobles'' limbs were still under Kaylen¡¯s control, their faces could move freely. Even in such a state, they did their best to bow respectfully toward the Saintess. ¡°Theresia. Have you explained the situation to the king?¡± ¡°Yes, Lord Kaylen. He has agreed to cooperate.¡± ¡°It must not have been an easy decision. I appreciate it.¡± And when such a legendary figure lowered her head before Kaylen, the great nobles¡¯ eyes widened in shock. How could this young king possibly receive such deference from the Saintess? It defied common sense. ¡°Let me explain it simply.¡± Kaylen then spoke about the crisis involving the Geysir Empire. He explained how the Empire¡¯s Order of Dragon Knights was invading from the east, concentrating their forces particularly on this kingdom due to its shared border with the Kingdom of Starn. And to avoid destruction, they would need to become part of Starn. ¡°...That¡¯s an unbelievable story.¡± ¡°I, as the Saintess, will vouch for its truth. Haven¡¯t the great nobles of the western territories already suffered an invasion by the Dragon Knights?¡± ¡°Yes... When they were about to unleash their breath attacks on our walls, it was King Kaylen who saved us.¡± The now-bald western great nobles nodded in agreement. When the drakes attacked, their castles had been thrown into chaos. But thanks to Kaylen¡¯s sudden arrival, they had avoided catastrophe. ''This wasn¡¯t some staged incident... The Order of Dragon Knights holds far greater value than our territories ever could.'' At first, the nobles had their doubts. But they quickly dismissed the idea. A force of 500 Dragon Knights was far more valuable than their lands. There was no reason for Kaylen to go through the trouble of staging something so elaborate. ¡°What I want is simple.¡± Kaylen swept his gaze over the great nobles before continuing. ¡°Swear loyalty to me and raise Starn¡¯s flag.¡± ¡°There will be no additional taxes, nor will there be conscription. Even if your loyalty is in name only, that is enough. All you must do is become part of the Kingdom of Starn¡ªno, of the Empire that it will become¡ªand raise its banner. Your lives will remain largely unchanged.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Just... raise the flag? Having already taken control of both the royal family and the great nobles, was that truly all he wanted? One of the great nobles hesitantly spoke up. ¡°...Has His Majesty the King agreed to this?¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 161 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 161 King Lahendra spoke with a grim expression. ¡°That¡¯s right. The lands of four great nobles have already been devastated by the Geysir Empire. They feed humans to their drakes, leaving no survivors. Right now... even if we must raise Starn¡¯s banner, survival must come first.¡± The western territories had been ravaged by the invasion of the Order of Dragon Knights. The king had no choice but to set aside the pride of the royal family. No matter how weakened the monarchy had become, the highest authority in the Kingdom of Lahendra was still the king. And now, he was the first to bow before Kaylen. ''If even His Majesty is saying this... we have no choice.'' ''We can only hope that the King of Starn keeps his word.'' The other great nobles came to the same reluctant conclusion. However¡ª ¡°I simply cannot believe this. No matter what the Saintess says, an invasion of drakes? And the idea that the king fought them off alone... isn¡¯t that completely absurd?¡± Duke Rizer, the most influential of the great nobles, scoffed. Even though his limbs were beyond his control, his determination not to surrender was evident. ¡°You don¡¯t believe it?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. No matter how strong you are, how could a single person possibly fight off drakes alone?¡± Kaylen let out a small laugh before turning to the King of Lahendra. ¡°Your Majesty. Don¡¯t you find the royal castle a bit too small for a kingdom?¡± ¡°What? Well, that is true, but...¡± Caught off guard by the sudden question, the king hesitated. The previous capital had boasted a grand palace, but the newly relocated castle had been hastily built on a tight budget. It was far too modest for a monarch. ¡°I¡¯ll provide the funds. Build a new one.¡± ¡°...Understood.¡± ¡ªSsssshhk. From behind Kaylen, six swords materialized. One of them, a green-bladed wind sword, settled into his hand. ¡°If you¡¯re going to rebuild, demolition is necessary.¡± ¡ªSwish. With a casual swing of his sword¡ª For a moment, the entire castle seemed to tremble. Then, its walls were completely blown away. Only the structural pillars and the floor remained. The walls and ceiling soared into the sky, vanishing without a trace. ¡°W-what...?¡± A single swing. With just one slash, the royal castle had been dismantled. Duke Rizer¡¯s mouth hung open in shock. ''This is insane... He¡¯s even more of a monster than I thought!'' Who had he just dared to defy? With trembling eyes, Duke Rizer gazed at the sky. How could any human possess such power? It was so utterly surreal that the entire scene felt like a dream. ¡°Ah. But now there¡¯s nowhere to stay until the new castle is built.¡± However¡ª ¡°Instead, I¡¯ll grant you the castle of a noble who refuses to swear loyalty to me. What is that man¡¯s name?¡± As Kaylen turned his gaze toward him¡ª A chilling sensation ran down Duke Rizer¡¯s spine. No matter how unreal the scene before him seemed, this was not a dream. It was reality. And if he gave the wrong answer here, his family¡¯s castle would be taken by this transcendent being. ¡°I, Duke Rizer, swear loyalty to His Majesty, the Emperor of Starn!¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you couldn¡¯t believe it? Your words have changed quite a bit.¡± His earlier defiance had vanished completely. Kaylen smirked as he watched Duke Rizer now fervently pledging allegiance to the emperor. ¡°Then, what about the rest of you? Personally, I wouldn¡¯t mind if at least one of you refused to swear loyalty...¡± ¡°The House of Ksanta also pledges loyalty to His Majesty, the Emperor!¡± But led by Marquis Ksanta, whose forehead bore the crest of Starn¡ª The other great nobles, reading the situation quickly, rushed to swear their allegiance as well. ¡°This is troublesome. Now there¡¯s nowhere for the king to stay...¡± The ritual to awaken his father, Ernstine, was nearing its final stages. Even if Ederna¡¯s interference was irritating, he intended to prioritize the more important matter. However, just a few days later¡ª "Y-Your Majesty, I bring a report! The lands we targeted... they all bear new flags¡ª" "Flags? What flags are you talking about?" "They are said to be the flags of the Starn Empire... Bearing an emblem of six swords piercing a dragon..." "What?!" At the servant¡¯s report, Caius lost his composure. "Say that again. What does the emblem depict?" "Six swords piercing the dragon¡¯s head..." "Those wretches... They¡¯ve truly lost their minds!" A symbol whose meaning was obvious to anyone. And to make matters worse, the fact that it was specifically "six swords piercing a dragon" only further enraged Caius. ''They dare use such an emblem? Those ingrates. They begged for their lives and even changed their name back then...!'' When the Kingdom of Meier changed its name to Starn in a desperate attempt to survive, they groveled. And now, they dared to raise such a blatant declaration of war? Seething with fury, Caius reached out toward the unfortunate servant. "Aaaargh...!" Fwoosh! Once again, flames erupted mercilessly, reducing the servant to ashes. Caius, his gaze now cold and unreadable, stared at the empty space before him before rising abruptly from the throne. "I must go to the Demon Realm." He had intended to wait until his father, Ernstine, fully awakened. But this had gone far beyond what he could tolerate. At this point, even a direct conflict with Marquise Ederna was inevitable. With that, he set out for the observation outpost in the Demon Realm. Meanwhile, at the colonial observation outpost¡ª ''Kaylen... has grown too strong.'' Even Ederna, the head of the observation outpost, was troubled. Now a Grand Sword Master, Kaylen was acting in a way completely opposite to the cautious approach he had shown until now. At one point, he had even accepted changing his nation''s name to fend off the Geysir Empire¡¯s invasion. But now, he was taking matters into his own hands, displaying aggressive action. ''If not for the non-aggression treaty, he would have invaded himself.'' She had supported Kaylen as a countermeasure against the White Demon King... But now that he had become a Grand Sword Master, continuing to assist him might drag her into trouble as well. As she was lost in thought¡ª "Director, Count Caius has arrived." Hearing that Caius had come, Ederna, in her serpent form, flicked her tongue. ¡ªLet him in. It was likely a visit to protest the current situation. With that, she gave the order to her subordinate and prepared to receive Count Caius. "Marquise Ederna, are you aware of the unfortunate incident in the colony?" Caius glared at Ederna, making no effort to hide his anger. He maintained a formal level of courtesy only because of their difference in rank. But his attitude was far ruder than before. ¡ªI don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about. "Heh... Does the head of the colonial observation outpost truly not know what she is observing? Our Geysir Empire¡¯s Dragon Knight division has been annihilated." ¡ªAnd why should I be concerned? It¡¯s merely a minor conflict in the colony. "Heh... A minor conflict? From now on, you will have no choice but to care. Unless you wish to face the wrath of House Helmeier!" Caius raised his voice at Ederna, who was feigning ignorance. A threat made possible only because Ederna¡¯s power was clearly inferior to that of House Helmeier. The moment his rudeness made Ederna¡¯s gaze turn icy cold¡ª "I never thought the hierarchy of the Demon Realm would be shaken like this." A pure white glow appeared at the entrance of the director¡¯s office. Light mana¡ªsomething rarely seen in the Demon Realm. There was only one being in the Demon Realm who possessed it. "L-Lord Demon King...!" It was none other than the White Demon King, Deimos. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 162 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 162 The White Demon King. His appearance was closer to that of an angel than a demon. With two radiant white wings, his entire body overflowed with light mana. Though he possessed the black hair characteristic of demons, his outward appearance made it difficult to categorize him as one. However, neither of the two demons present mistook him for an angel. And for good reason. ¡®An overwhelming amount of dark mana...¡¯ Unlike his body, which shimmered with light, his face was completely veiled in darkness. The dark mana emanating from within was immense enough to make any demon submit. Any demon who faced him could only feel his oppressive presence and succumb to it. ¡®Why is the Demon King here...?!¡¯ Caius stared at Demon King Deimos, his face filled with shock. The one existence he truly feared¡ªthe White Demon King. Despite holding a title unfitting for a Demon King, "White," Deimos stood as the greatest among all past Demon Kings. Having completely conquered the Middle Realm and even invaded the Celestial Realm to establish his dominion, he was the ruler of the Three Realms. ¡®They say even the Celestial Gods hide in fear of him... His limits are truly unknowable.¡¯ Even if his father, Ernstine, were to become a true dragon, could he really stand against this Demon King? Deimos¡¯s overwhelming presence made it seem doubtful. Ederna tensed at the sight of him. ¡®...As expected, he¡¯s overwhelming.¡¯ After witnessing the power Kaylen wielded as a Grand Sword Master, she had once considered whether he could stand against the Demon King. But now, facing him in person, she knew the answer. He could never defeat Demon King Deimos. Even as a Grand Sword Master. Even as the wielder of the Holy Sword. That Demon King... was on an entirely different level. "Count Helmeier, I will ask you this¡ªwhy have you defied the hierarchy?" "T-That is... Marquise Ederna violated the treaty." "Count Helmeier, explain in detail." At Deimos¡¯s words, Caius felt his lips move involuntarily. Such was the commanding force of the Demon King¡¯s decree. "T-That is... Within the Geysir Empire, which I govern in the Middle Realm..." Compelled by Deimos¡¯s authority, Caius began a lengthy plea. And as he spoke, he couldn¡¯t help but feel pathetic. Bringing up colonial affairs to the Demon King¡ª It felt as childish as running to an adult to complain about a playground scuffle. From the perspective of the Demon King, ruler of the Three Realms, a minor dispute in the Middle Realm was utterly insignificant. "Count Helmeier... was that truly your only reason?" As the darkness obscuring Deimos¡¯s face wavered¡ª "Ugh... aaaaaaagh!" Caius¡¯s body was forcefully slammed into the ground. "Marquise Ederna is a descendant of the previous Demon King. Someone like you has no right to treat her with such disrespect." Deimos¡¯s voice carried no emotion. Yet, upon hearing his words, a chill ran down Caius¡¯s spine. ¡®Ugh...! Since when has the Demon Realm ever cared about the descendants of a former Demon King?!¡¯ He felt a deep sense of injustice. Even in the Human Realm, when a new dynasty rose, the previous royal family was either purged or exiled. And in the Demon Realm, such things were even more ruthless. The families of former Demon Kings were frequently executed in public. ¡®Tch. No matter what, I have to survive!¡¯ Still pinned to the ground by the Demon King¡¯s power, Caius felt as though he would be crushed at any moment. Even though he was far stronger than most other demon counts, having mastered the Six Demonic Paths, he stood no chance against the Demon King¡¯s power. Pressing his forehead against the ground, he pleaded in humiliation. ¡°I-I¡¯m sorry! Please forgive me!¡± ¡°Count Helmeier, the one you should be apologizing to is not me, but Marquise Ederna.¡± ¡°M-Marquise Ederna... I¡ªI apologize! Please, forgive me just this once...!¡± Ederna stared at Caius. She, too, found it puzzling that the Demon King was siding with her. ¡®It¡¯s better to leave Caius in my debt here.¡¯ There was no need to refuse forgiveness and make an enemy of Helmeier. It was better to settle things at an appropriate level. It was only natural that Caius had been enraged and had gone to protest to Ederna. His actions were practically a declaration of war. ¡®And when Caius went to complain, the Demon King appeared at just the right moment to suppress him.¡¯ By silencing Caius and putting him in his place, the Demon King had effectively expressed his support for Ederna. Was it truly a coincidence that he had appeared at the observatory at that exact moment? ¡®No way.¡¯ Kaylen didn¡¯t believe that. Until now, the Demon King had almost never visited the observatory. It wasn¡¯t easy for coincidences to pile up like this. ¡®Because of the Demon King¡¯s actions, Helmeier¡¯s movements have been restrained.¡¯ With the situation in the Demon Realm unfolding this way, the Helmeier family could no longer act recklessly against Ederna. Which meant that Kaylen¡¯s strategy of blocking their expansion¡ªplanting his flags¡ªwould be even more effective. And in turn, the completion of their so-called ¡°dragon¡± would be delayed. ¡®Did he do all this to stop the Dragon God, Meier?¡¯ The dragon that was essentially the very continent of the Middle Realm itself. For a being of that magnitude, even the Demon King couldn¡¯t simply ignore its existence. Even so, there was something that still didn¡¯t add up. ¡®But... if that were the case, wouldn¡¯t it have been faster to deal with it himself?¡¯ With the White Demon King¡¯s power, he could wipe out the Helmeier family in an instant. If he didn¡¯t want the Dragon God Meier to be completed, wouldn¡¯t it be simpler to intervene directly? Leaving such a simple method aside and instead allowing the hero to act freely... ¡®Does that mean there¡¯s a reason he can¡¯t intervene himself...?¡¯ The Demon King and the Dragon God. Kaylen pondered the relationship between the two but soon shook his head. ¡®For now, I need to focus on the situation at hand.¡¯ Regardless of the Demon King¡¯s true intentions, things were currently playing out in Kaylen¡¯s favor. The fact that he was able to continue his strategy of planting flags and blocking Geysir¡¯s expansion was proof of that. ¡®The western front is secured. Time to move east.¡¯ Kaylen recalled the full map of the Averia continent. As it stood, Geysir had already taken control of 40% of the western lands. While he had successfully blocked their eastern advance... The eastern region of the Starn Empire remained an unclaimed land, filled only with small, insignificant kingdoms. ¡®If they deploy the Dragon Knights, they could easily cross the sea and seize territory in the east.¡¯ Even though Kaylen had seized control of the land routes, he hadn¡¯t completely cut off the coastal areas. Geysir could still sail across the sea to claim new lands in the east. ¡°We need to advance eastward.¡± ¡ªAgreed. The sooner, the better. Geysir¡¯s movements are becoming increasingly suspicious. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± ¡ªEver since Caius came to protest¡ªalthough we don¡¯t have the full details¡ª Things that were once observable have started to slip away. Previously, it wouldn¡¯t have been an issue. But now, recognizing that the head of the Demon Realm¡¯s observatory isn¡¯t on good terms with them, the Geysir Empire is actively working to evade its surveillance. Even though Ederna couldn¡¯t see their every move like before, Geysir couldn¡¯t completely hide everything either, so she could still infer a rough idea of their actions. ¡ªHuman sacrifices have increased significantly. ¡°Human sacrifices...?¡± ¡ªYes. The Geysir Empire is now practically exterminating its own people. Geysir Empire¡¯s Imperial Capital. The imperial throne sat occupied¡ªby someone who was not the emperor. The rightful emperor knelt below, his head bowed low in submission. ¡°...Caius.¡± ¡°Y-Yes...!¡± ¡°You¡¯re rushing the resurrection too much. Shouldn¡¯t you gather more sacrifices and perform the ritual properly?¡± ¡°...The situation has taken a bad turn. Father must return as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Is that so? I¡¯ve been too preoccupied overseeing the resurrection ritual. What¡¯s been happening?¡± Caius lifted his head. Upon the throne sat a massive black-furred creature. Only its piercing red eyes gleamed from within the dark mass of fur, exuding a chilling presence. ¡°I shall report, Marquess.¡± ¡°Oh my, ¡®Marquess¡¯? Call me Mother, Caius. We¡¯re not in the Demon Realm, after all.¡± ¡°...Yes. Mother.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 163 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 163 The furball received a report from Caius about the events in the Otherworld. After listening to the story until the end, its fur bristled in all directions. ¡°Hmm. I see... Because of the White Demon King, you couldn''t even properly protest to Marquis Ederna. You just suffered a disgrace instead.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right... If not for him, we would have successfully pressured Marquis Ederna.¡± ¡°Hohoho. Do you really think the Demon King appeared there by coincidence?¡± ¡°Then...¡± ¡°During the resurrection ritual, I sensed it. A subtle gaze watching over us.¡± ¡°That gaze carried the presence of light mana. Given the state the Celestial Realm is in, the only one who could have been watching us... is none other than the White Demon King.¡± ¡°Why would he...?¡± Fwoosh. From the center of the furball, flames erupted. In an instant, they burned away all of its fur and even consumed the throne. ¡°He must be trying to keep him in check.¡± Emerging from the burnt fur, a woman appeared¡ªher entire body composed of fire. She resembled a spirit form created by a fire mana suit, but the power contained within her flames was incomparable to any ordinary mana suit. A figure as beautiful as a perfect work of art. Seeing her, Caius tensed up and cautiously asked. That form was not something she revealed lightly. ¡°Are you referring to my father...?¡± ¡°Yes. If he attains complete perfection as a Dragon God, not even the White Demon King will be able to stand against him.¡± ¡°I see.¡± Recalling the humiliation he suffered at the hands of the Demon King, Caius gritted his teeth. If only his father, Ernstine, could be fully resurrected as a Dragon God, even that monstrous Demon King would have no choice but to submit. While vowing to repay this disgrace in full, a question lingered in his mind. ¡°But if he truly wants to keep Father in check... I don¡¯t understand why the Demon King is using such a roundabout method. If he directly intervened, our Helmeier clan wouldn''t be able to hold out for long.¡± The White Demon King¡ªthe absolute ruler of the Otherworld. If he wanted to interfere in Helmeier¡¯s affairs, he could simply come and disrupt them directly. Who could possibly stop him? Yet he was using such an unnecessarily complicated approach. As Caius voiced his doubts, the woman pondered for a moment before responding. ¡°What land did you say Marquis Ederna controls?¡± ¡°The Kingdom of Starn. In the past, they dared to use the name of Meier, so we had to issue a warning... However¡ª¡± When Caius mentioned their retreat from Melvria, her eyes gleamed with curiosity. ¡°Melvria. It was defeated?¡± ¡°Yes. She lost disgracefully without even fully grasping who the enemy was.¡± ¡°Even after using the Six Demon Path?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°A descendant of Meier who defeated the Six Demon Path...?¡± She spoke with intrigue. If someone had overcome the Six Demon Path, there could only be one explanation. ¡°So, they must have used the Six Sword Path. That is the only way a human could triumph over the Six Demon Path.¡± ¡°The Six Sword Path...? But Melvria never mentioned anything like that...¡± ¡°How could you trust Melvria¡¯s words completely? She still reeks of desperation to protect her own kind. Unlike me.¡± As one corner of the woman¡¯s lips curled up, a shiver ran down Caius¡¯s spine. He had seen firsthand how the woman before him had treated her own kind. ¡®A Queen... yet the one responsible for the massacre of the dwarves...¡¯ Kaina, the Dwarf Queen, and the seventh wife of Ernstine. That was the true name of the Marquis of Helmeier. ¡°For his sake, it wouldn¡¯t be enough to offer up every elf as a sacrifice with joy. And yet, how many times has Melvria tried to protect them?¡± As she spoke, Kaina placed her hand inside her stomach. From within the flames that made up her body, a single sword emerged. Though it blazed fiercely, the fire was tinged with a crimson hue, reminiscent of blood. She gazed upon it with a blissful smile. ¡°I offered up my fellow dwarves as sacrifices, reforging his flames. Even that was not enough.¡± Flame Sword ¨C Dragonflame. A supreme blade forged from the flesh and bones of ten thousand dwarves. True to its name, Dragonflame, it possessed a fire mana unlike any ordinary sword. ¡°Caius. Take Melvria, the Dragon Knights, and all of House Helmeier¡¯s forces, and subjugate the eastern continent.¡± ¡°The eastern continent...?¡± ¡°Yes. They may have blocked the land routes, but the sea remains open. We will consume the East and gather more sacrifices. And then...¡± It was nothing compared to the days when Ernstein ruled over the Meier Empire, But still, the sight of people smiling, chatting, and enjoying peace... Melvria felt her mind, once consumed by Helmeier¡¯s ways, starting to change little by little. ¡®Maybe it''s better if I stay away from here.¡¯ She had infiltrated the capital to gather information about Kaylen, but instead of learning anything useful, she found herself changing. And if she saw more traces of her real father in Kaylen... She began to doubt whether she could continue acting as a loyal member of the Helmeier family. ¡®Yes, just like that training scene...¡¯ As she listened to teachings and lectures that perfectly resembled her father¡¯s, Melvria was lost in thought. Whoooosh. A sudden gust of wind blew, carrying a single leaf toward Royen. The green-glowing leaf landed on Royen¡¯s forehead. [My poor child... Come to me... There is something I must tell you...] A compassionate voice whispered in his ear before fading away. ¡®This voice...¡¯ Melvria¡¯s eyes widened. It felt unfamiliar as if she were hearing it for the first time, yet it was nostalgic. The sorrow in that gentle voice touched her heart, stirring emotions even within her, despite the time she had spent as a demon. ¡®The voice came from the leaf... Could it be the World Tree¡¯s will?¡¯ The World Tree, rooted in the capital Alzas. Afraid of exposing her identity, she had only observed it from afar, never daring to get too close. But perhaps because the training grounds were near the World Tree... Even though she had implanted only a small fragment of the spirit of darkness, she had been discovered without fail. [Melvria. Have you gathered any information?] At that moment, a communication came from Caius. Melvria managed both controlling Royen and responding to the call simultaneously. She gave a brief answer to Caius¡¯s question. [Not enough yet.] [Return for now. Mother has issued an order. We are to conquer the eastern continent. You and I will take the northern coastal route, while the Marquis will take the southern coast. We¡¯ll split into two forces to proceed with the conquest.] [What about the resurrection ritual?] [It¡¯s already progressing as planned. The Marquis says he doesn¡¯t need to oversee it personally.] Was this because of Kaylen? Even the Helmeier Marquis, Kaina, was being sent to the battlefield. It felt like they were revealing every move they had left. [So return at once.] [...Understood.] The World Tree¡¯s voice lingered in her mind for a moment. ¡®If I make contact with the World Tree, my resolve will only waver further.¡¯ Steeling herself, Melvria prepared to leave the capital. ¡®But before that.¡¯ She had to erase the spirit of darkness from Royen. Since she was departing, she needed to remove all traces of her involvement. Melvria decided to self-destruct the dark spirit implanted in Royen. It wasn¡¯t a true explosion¡ªjust the dispersal of dark mana until it vanished. It wouldn¡¯t harm the host, so no matter how developed Kaylen¡¯s senses were, detecting anything unusual would be difficult. ¡®He¡¯ll probably just faint, but finding traces of me will be near impossible.¡¯ With that thought, Melvria detonated the spirit of darkness. ¡°Your Highness, I thought you might be bored while waiting, so I brought some refreshments.¡± Violet returned, carrying a tea set and desserts. And then¡ª ¡°Huh?¡± Whoooosh! Dark mana spread subtly from Royen¡¯s body. Violet¡¯s eyes widened. ¡®A human... How unlucky.¡¯ Of all times, she had to approach just as the spirit of darkness self-destructed. Being so close, she would feel the aftereffects, and her mana would be slightly disrupted. ¡°Royen...?¡± Like a puppet with its strings cut, Royen¡¯s body collapsed. And as Melvria saw Kaylen rushing toward them¡ª She hurriedly retreated to Geysir. She had no idea that the consequences of her actions would lead to an unforeseen butterfly effect. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 164 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 164 "Violet. This child is as peculiar as her mother." A chilling voice echoed in Violet¡¯s ears. It was a voice she had heard countless times in her nightmares¡ªone she knew all too well. The voice of Black Skull Cesar, the one who turned the Bormian royal family into mere pawns of the Demon Realm. ¡®Is this another nightmare of Cesar?¡¯ Violet listened as if she were used to it. Even after the fall of the Bormian royal family, she would dream of this from time to time. The dream where Cesar branded her forehead and transformed the blood flowing through her veins into demonic blood. "Peculiar, you say. Does she possess regenerative abilities like her mother?" "No... she doesn¡¯t have the same regenerative power as that woman. However, unlike an ordinary Bormian, the demonic blood is taking root more easily in her. At this rate, the process of her turning into a demon will advance much faster in her generation." But today, the dream was different from usual. Unlike before, when she would lose consciousness and miss parts of the conversation, she could now hear it faintly. "Since the demonic blood has settled, the mana of water is also emerging alongside it." "Not dark magic, but water mana?" "Yes. Quite unusual. As if water mana was always latent in her blood. Now that it has merged with the demonic blood, it''s manifesting. How fascinating." Cesar let out a satisfied chuckle. "Demons are not a single unified species." "Yes. I have heard that demons have distinct traits depending on their lineage, and that higher-ranking demons possess even more pronounced characteristics." "Our Bormian lineage, even if demonized, would barely reach the level of ordinary demons... But if our bloodline inherits this child''s unique constitution, we may be able to aim for a higher rank." This dream was definitely different from the ones she had before. ¡®I need to listen further to what they¡¯re saying.¡¯ Violet, who would normally try to wake herself up from such dreams, instead focused on the voices. However¡ª "To achieve that, she must produce exceptional offspring." "What do you intend to do?" "There are many ways, aren¡¯t there? Heh... First, we must marry her off to a highly talented mage. And then..." The conversation that followed was practically treating Violet like a breeding mare¡ªan utterly meaningless discussion. She quickly lost interest. ¡®Demonic blood and water mana...¡¯ Instead, she mulled over what Cesar had said. ¡®Is that why I was chosen by Glacia?¡¯ She had always wondered why she, of all people¡ªwho wasn¡¯t an outstanding mage¡ªhad been chosen by the S-rank mana suit, Glacia. Was this the reason? But if that were the case, she had never noticed her blood reacting to water mana in any way... "...Well then, let¡¯s leave her be." "Understood, Lord Cesar." While Violet was deep in thought about her own body¡ª Step. Step. Footsteps echoed, and soon, all presence disappeared. Enough time seemed to have passed for them to leave. She could see nothing. Hear nothing. All external stimuli had vanished. ¡®...By now, I should have woken up from the dream.¡¯ A question arose in Violet¡¯s mind. Why wasn¡¯t she waking up? ¡°......There are no abnormalities in terms of life. Lord Royen is stable.¡± The Grand Cathedral of the Holy Capital, Alzass. Saint Theresia was examining the unconscious Royen and Violet. ¡°Is that so? I definitely sensed dark mana.¡± ¡®Annihilate the enemy as quickly as possible.¡¯ If the enemy was that powerful, then they needed to be dragged down to a manageable level. Kaylen¡¯s Six Blades flashed ominously in his mind. Three days later. ¡ªKaylen. The Geysir Empire has moved. Kaylen received the report from Ederna. ¡°They said before that they couldn¡¯t track their movements, didn¡¯t they?¡± ¡ªYes. But now that they¡¯ve mobilized their Dragon Knight Order by sea, they¡¯re clearly visible. They¡¯re advancing simultaneously from two locations¡ªthe southern sea and the northern sea of the continent. ¡°They plan to cross the sea and seize the land beyond Starn. What¡¯s the strength of their two forces?¡± ¡ªThe northern force has greater numbers. And... it looks like the Emperor of Geysir himself is marching to battle. For the emperor to personally lead the Dragon Knight Order... It seemed that the Geysir Empire was growing desperate. Kaylen quietly listened before asking Ederna a question. ¡°The Emperor of Geysir... Count Helmeier. His name was Caius, wasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡ªYeah. An arrogant bastard. ¡®Caius...¡¯ Kaylen felt a deep turmoil within. Caius, his eldest son. The heir to the Meier Empire. ¡®The son of a Hero has become a demon and now leads the Geysir Empire...¡¯ Unlike Melvria, who had been forced to join the Helmeier family through coercion, Caius had taken an active role in their ranks. ¡®I have so many things I need to ask him.¡¯ A part of him wanted to capture Caius immediately and demand to know why he had done all this. But he calmed himself and made a rational judgment. With Geysir having split its forces into two, the best way to annihilate them efficiently was to strike the weaker side first. On the battlefield, it was a fundamental strategy to eliminate the weakest link first. ¡°Then the northern force is the stronger one, right? Since the Emperor himself is leading it.¡± ¡ªNo, the stronger force is in the south. ¡°...You¡¯re saying the southern force is stronger than the one the Emperor himself is commanding?¡± ¡ªThe ruler of Helmeier isn¡¯t the Emperor of Geysir. The true master of Helmeier... is the Marquis of Helmeier. At the mention of the Marquis of Helmeier, Kaylen¡¯s eyes widened. Now, it was clear that Geysir had mobilized its full strength. ¡°The Marquis of Helmeier is also on the move... What kind of being is he?¡± ¡ªI¡¯ve never seen them in person. But I¡¯ve heard stories. Their body is made of fire, and they¡¯re said to be as beautiful as a goddess. ¡°...Is that so? The Marquis is a woman?¡± ¡ªThat¡¯s right. Considering that Caius, the former Emperor of the Meier Empire, had become a Count of the Demon Realm, the Marquis of Helmeier was likely the true mastermind behind all this. Kaylen was curious about her identity, but no one came to mind. A body made of fire? Could she be an actual elemental? ¡®Perhaps something like the Fire Spirit King once wielded by a dragon...¡¯ If she was at the level of a Spirit King, it made sense that she could hold the position of a Demon Marquis. Especially since the newly risen Helmeier family had managed to establish itself so quickly¡ªundoubtedly, the Marquis had played a crucial role in that. ¡®The root of all evil that created Helmeier...¡¯ Kaylen felt a surge of murderous intent toward the one who had turned his children into demons, but he controlled it. ¡®I¡¯ll see her soon enough.¡¯ Once the northern forces were annihilated, he would use the Path of Light to move south. Whether he wanted to or not, he would inevitably face her then. ¡°For now, I¡¯ll deal with the weaker northern force first. Give me the exact locations.¡± ¡ªUnderstood. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 165 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 165 The dragon legion of Geysir soared along the northern coastline. Emperor Caius erupted in anger. "Melvria. Just what exactly did you investigate?" "King Kaylen was never in the country to begin with. Other than that, there were only small fries¡ªnot even worth investigating." "And yet, after infiltrating the capital, this is all the information you bring back...?" The intelligence Melvria had gathered while undercover in Alzass, the capital of the Starn Empire, fell short of Caius¡¯s expectations. If this was all she could bring back, he might as well have had her command the dragon knights instead of sending her to Alzass. However, Melvria had her own defense. "Why do you say that? The capital, Alzass, houses the Grand Cathedral of the Celestial God. That alone proves their alliance with the Sanctuary. On top of that, the World Tree has taken root there. Meaning their ties with the elves are stronger than we expected. I don¡¯t see why I should be blamed." "But you failed to obtain the most crucial information¡ªKing Kaylen¡¯s whereabouts!" "I already told you, the king wasn¡¯t there. How am I supposed to find information on someone who isn¡¯t even present?" Caius was at a loss for words. Melvria¡¯s argument was sound¡ªhe couldn¡¯t refute it any further. Still, his face turned red with frustration, barely able to contain his anger. ''At this rate, he''ll start executing the elves again.'' Killing elves out of sheer rage. He¡¯d probably justify it by saying they were offerings to the Dragon God Meier anyway¡ªwhether he executed them now or sacrificed them later made no difference. Letting out an internal sigh, Melvria softened her tone slightly. "However, I did find traces of King Kaylen using the Six Sword Path." "The Six Sword Path...?" "Yes. The former name of Starn was Bormian. They say its royal castle was split cleanly in half¡ªby an enormous sword stretching to the heavens." "That means..." "I''m speculating that it was the Colossal Sword, one of the Six Sword Path techniques." "Speculation isn¡¯t enough. You should have investigated thoroughly enough to turn that into solid intel." Melvria frowned at Caius¡¯s reprimand. But she no longer wished to argue with him. "...That was my shortcoming. I apologize." "Good. In the first place, the Colossal Sword is ranked fourth among the Six Sword Path techniques. No one except my father could wield it. And yet, you assumed it was the Colossal Sword just because a castle was split apart?" Even after Melvria apologized, Caius continued to berate her. "Y-Your Majesty! Please, look ahead!" "The Colossal Sword is not something mere descendants can wield. I won¡¯t believe it unless I see it with my own eyes." "Oh? You won¡¯t believe it unless you see it for yourself? Then take a look at that." "Trying to change the subject¡ª" Caius scowled and turned his gaze toward where Melvria was pointing. What in the world could be ahead that even Helmeier¡¯s elite were so shaken? The moment Caius looked forward, his jaw dropped. "So now, speculation has become reality?" ¡ªSsssshhhhh¡ª The seawater shot up into the sky all at once. And with it, a colossal sword rose high. The very technique they had just been debating¡ª The Fourth Sword of the Six Sword Path. The Colossal Sword. "Deploy the shield!" Caius shouted urgently. ¡ªWhooosh!¡ª With a massive gust of wind, the Greatsword came crashing down on the vanguard of the Dragon Knights. ¡°Ugh...!¡± ¡°T-The barrier...!¡± The Dragon Knights that Caius had personally brought with him¡ªthough they were the elite of the empire¡ªcould not withstand the Greatsword. With a single strike, an entire division was obliterated. Melvria shouted urgently. ¡°Caius! Use the Six Demon Path!¡± ¡°Fine! Everyone, use Dragon Tongue!¡± At Caius¡¯ command, the Helmeier clan members at the rear of the Dragon Knights began chanting in unison. ¡°In the name of the Dragon, I command the mana.¡± ¡°Lend your power to His Majesty the Emperor.¡± All except Caius channeled their strength into him. Rather than casting individual Dragon Tongue magic, they pooled their power together for efficiency. As the force of mana gathered, Caius felt his draconic authority expand. ¡°Six Demon Path: Dragon Scales.¡± Above Caius¡¯ head, three golden halos emerged, shimmering like stars. They spun in place before merging into a single golden ring, then shot toward the Greatsword. Chiiiiik! The golden ring collided with the massive sword. As its name suggested, "Dragon Scales" boasted an impenetrable defense. Meanwhile, Caius, watching the Helmeier clan die one by one, fell into panic. ¡°This is impossible...!¡± The Six Demon Path¡ª An absolute magic fueled by the power of Dragon Tongue. When invoked, even a Demon Realm Count like Caius could rival a Demon Realm Marquis. And that was when he cast it alone. With the power of the Helmeier clan added to it, it should have been comparable to a Demon Realm Duke. And yet... Could they really be rendered powerless in less than ten minutes, caught in the storm-like strikes of the Greatsword? If only this were a dream. ¡°Who... Who could possibly wield such power...? Who could possibly use the Six Sword Path...?¡± Caius muttered blankly, staring at the Dragon Scales, now reduced to protecting only a few dozen individuals. Then, the Greatsword that had been hammering down on the barrier suddenly disappeared. ¡°Who else could it be?¡± Kaylen stood before him. ¡°...Father?¡± ¡°Caius. It¡¯s unfortunate that we meet like this.¡± ¡°No... You... You can¡¯t be my father.¡± Caius¡¯ eyes trembled as if he had seen a ghost. Looking at Kaylen, who bore an uncanny resemblance to his father, Ernstine, he immediately rejected the thought. ¡°You still deny me, even after witnessing the Six Sword Path?¡± ¡°O-Of course! Father is destined to be reborn as the Dragon God. He abandoned that mere human shell long ago. You... How dare you disguise yourself in his former appearance?!¡± ¡°Heh. Do you think the Six Sword Path is a technique that can be faked, Caius? You should know better than anyone. Even when you begged me to teach you, you never managed to learn it.¡± At Kaylen¡¯s words, Caius gritted his teeth. The Six Sword Path¡ªan art only Emperor Ernstine had ever mastered. Many of his children had tried to learn it, but all had failed. Caius was no exception. He had believed that mastering the Six Sword Path was essential to solidifying his authority as the next emperor. That was why he had persistently begged his father to teach him. ¡°...No. No, that¡¯s not true. You can¡¯t be my father. You must have learned the Six Sword Path somewhere else...¡± His mind knew the truth. That the Six Sword Path before him was real. That an opponent capable of wielding such a sword couldn¡¯t possibly be just some descendant of the Meyer family. And yet, Caius couldn¡¯t accept it. If he admitted it now, then everything he had done up until this moment¡ª The thousand years he had endured as a half-undead¡ª Would all be for nothing. ¡°There¡¯s no way you¡¯re my father...¡± Like a broken record, Caius kept repeating the same words. Watching him, Kaylen fully unleashed the Six Sword Path. ¡°Caius. Do you remember? The time when I established the Six Swords and created this style?¡± ¡°Ugh...¡± ¡°You were sitting on my shoulders back then.¡± Caius, the eldest son. When Ernstine was in his thirties, as he refined the Six Sword Path, young Caius had watched with curious eyes. Recalling those memories, Kaylen moved his swords in front of the Dragon Scales. Swish. Among the six swords, the Water Sword and Light Sword fused before him. ¡°The dragon you serve is nothing more than a being sustained by black magic.¡± ¡°That stance... No way...¡± ¡°I¡¯ve redefined my sword to match my enemy.¡± The Helmeier Dragon. A foe that had not existed a thousand years ago. To fight it, a new form of the Six Sword Path was born. With the Water Sword and Light Sword as its foundation, the Wind Sword and Earth Sword, which were unaffected by elemental attributes, joined in. The four Aura Swords merged, revealing a new form. The gleaming blue blade, jagged like serrated fangs, resembled the massive teeth of a great beast. ¡°This shall be called¡ªDragonslayer.¡± Six Sword Path Four Swords - Dragonslayer ¡°This is... real...¡± Seeing Kaylen create a new sword style before his very eyes, Caius lost the will to fight. ¡°Watch closely.¡± The Dragonslayer blade touched the Dragon Scales¡ª Chiiiiik. The same barrier that had endured the Greatsword¡¯s onslaught was sliced apart like paper in an instant. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 166 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 166 Caius blankly stared at the torn-apart Dragon Scale. "He created a Six Sword." The fact that Kaylen could use the Six Sword Path was already unbelievable... Even if he conceded a hundred times, he could have assumed that Kaylen had inherited and mastered Emperor Ernstine¡¯s legacy from somewhere. But creating a new sword was different. A new sword forged by combining the attributes of the Six Swords¡ªDragon Slayer. Even though it was one of the Four Swords, like the Colossal Sword, it was designed specifically to counter dragons. Its power was on an entirely different level. Moreover... "It¡¯s exactly the same as when Father created his sword..." The memory of sitting on Ernstine¡¯s shoulders, watching as his father forged the Six Sword Path¡¯s Blazing Heaven... The awe he felt when the Aura Swords merged, giving birth to a new sword technique... Even after a thousand years, Caius had never forgotten. ¡°Caius. I am deeply disappointed in you.¡± ¡°I do not blame you for the fall of the Meier Empire. After I disappeared, ruling a unified empire must have been beyond your ability.¡± The fall of the Meier Empire, the empire that unified the continent. This was not something Caius could be blamed for. The main issue was that Ernstine, a Grand Sword Master, had assumed he would live long and failed to properly establish a succession plan. To maintain a unified empire, sometimes even one¡¯s own children had to be mercilessly purged, or their power had to be completely stripped away to render them powerless. But Ernstine had been too lenient in governing the imperial family, believing that as long as he lived to support Caius, the other children would not dare act recklessly. In truth, the empire¡¯s downfall had much more to do with the disappearance of Kaylen than with Caius. ¡°Do you think I appointed you as my successor simply because you were the eldest?¡± ¡°No. Among my children, you were the most broad-minded and wise. I conquered the continent by force, but I believed you were better suited to stabilize a united nation.¡± At Kaylen¡¯s words, the expression disappeared from Caius¡¯ face. ¡°But look at yourself now.¡± ¡°...What do you mean?¡± ¡°You abandoned your human body and became a half-undead. And look at what the Geisir Empire has become. Humans are nothing more than food for the drakes. There is no real governance. Are you truly the same Caius who once claimed he would think only of his people?¡± Before Ernstine abdicated the throne, he had asked Caius what kind of emperor he wished to be. Caius had said he would dedicate himself to the united empire, thinking only of the people. His sincerity had been evident, and Ernstine had felt confident in passing the throne to him. But now, Caius had become an undead and was throwing humans to the drakes as food. It was no wonder that Kaylen felt not just disappointment, but betrayal. ¡°Kh...¡± But at Kaylen¡¯s words, Caius¡¯ expression twisted completely. ¡°And you dare to say that?¡± ¡°...What?¡± ¡°You, who trampled on my ideals... You, who crushed my dream of building a great Meier... You, who had Baldur bring down the empire with your own hands! And now you say this?!¡± Kaylen¡¯s eyes widened. He had Baldur bring down the empire? Him? ¡°...What are you talking about? You¡¯re saying I destroyed Meier?¡± ¡°Yes! The Meier bloodline was ultimately just a fragment of the Dragon Heart.¡± ¡°You claimed we were a dragon race, fated to become dragons! You said you would awaken as the Dragon God and destroyed the empire yourself!¡± Kaylen looked at Caius. As if he didn''t want to hear those words from him of all people. Caius was screaming in frustration and resentment, his face contorted with sorrow. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. I disappeared after you ascended the throne, didn¡¯t I? I have no memory of this.¡± ¡°Heh... Then who was it that appeared before me on the day the Imperial Capital burned? And who was it that told me there was still work to be done, turned me into this wretched body, and taught me the Six Demon Path?¡± Caius¡¯s cries were filled with desperation¡ªit didn¡¯t sound like a lie. If what he said was true, that he hadn¡¯t chosen this path himself but had been forced into it by Ernstine, then his despair was understandable. ¡®...But I have no such memory.¡¯ The last thing Kaylen remembered was the day he abdicated the throne. And yet, Caius was claiming that Kaylen had ordered his second son, Baldurix, to destroy the empire he had built and had even taught him the Six Demon Path. No matter how he thought about it, it was absurd. ¡°That must have been an imposter.¡± ¡°Heh... An imposter? Do you really think I wouldn¡¯t recognize my own father? No. Fine. Sure. Damn it all. I was the foolish emperor who ruined the Meyer Empire in no time. So I must be an idiot who can¡¯t even tell the difference between real and fake.¡± Caius glared at Kaylen and shouted, ¡°If you truly are my father, Ernstine... If everything I¡¯ve done to bring you back as the Dragon God was all for nothing... Then just kill me right here and now!¡± ¡°...You want me to kill you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I have spent a thousand years for the sole purpose of seeing you fully ascend as a dragon. I have sacrificed countless humans, devastated many lands¡ªall for the Dragon God Meyer! But if all of that was meaningless... then what reason do I have to keep living?¡± Caius, who had been in a state of panic upon seeing the Dragon Slayer, was now screaming for Kaylen to end his life. Kaylen observed him with calm, sunken eyes. ¡°If that is what you want.¡± He unsheathed his azure-bladed Dragon Slayer. ¡°You have sinned too greatly for me to forgive you just because you are my son.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°In fact, granting you peace here... might be the best mercy I can give you.¡± Kaylen¡¯s Sixfold Sword radiated fierce aura. The Helmeier clan members standing behind Caius instinctively shrank back under its pressure. They all understood¡ªKaylen truly intended to kill Caius. ¡°...So you really are my father.¡± Unlike the trembling Helmeier clan behind him, Caius closed his eyes with a strangely relieved expression. Justice before blood ties¡ªswift and absolute judgment. This was exactly the Ernstine he had known. ¡®Then who is the one trying to become the Dragon God?¡¯ There were still many unanswered questions. And a lingering sense of frustration and resentment remained. But¡ª ¡°Do it.¡± The moment Caius became certain that Kaylen was truly his father... He abandoned any remaining will to live. ¡°Rest in peace.¡± Sensing his resolve, Kaylen raised his sword to grant him mercy. And just as he swung his blade¡ª ¡°You mustn¡¯t do that.¡± Whoosh¡ª! A massive sword of fire intercepted the strike of the Dragon Slayer. ¡°I can¡¯t just stand by and watch our son die at the hands of an imposter.¡± Ssssshh¡ª! The fire sword clashed evenly with the Dragon Slayer. As the flames spread from the hilt, they began forming a shape¡ªa radiant figure, almost divine. A body composed entirely of fire, sculpted into an otherworldly beauty. Kaylen¡¯s eyes widened at the sight of her. ¡°Kaina...?¡± The seventh wife of Ernstine, Queen Kaina of the Dwarves. Alongside the High Elf Deluna, she was known as one of the two most beautiful women among the Emperor¡¯s wives. In fact, being the most beautiful among Ernstine¡¯s consorts essentially meant she was the most beautiful woman on the entire continent. Her beauty was so legendary that she was often mentioned in stories glorifying the Emperor¡¯s feats. The only difference now was that her body was made of fire. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me. Kaina. Our dear imposter Ernstine.¡± She smiled radiantly, gazing at Kaylen with dreamy eyes¡ªthe same eyes with which she once looked at the Emperor. Like a girl hopelessly in love. ¡°So, you¡¯re the mastermind behind all this?¡± ¡°Hearing you say that in that form... Even though I know you¡¯re a fake, my heart still flutters. You look so much like my husband.¡± Kaylen frowned at the word "husband." It was something Kaina always called him. Had they met under different circumstances, he might have felt some sense of joy. But hearing it now, in this place, only made it more certain that she truly was Kaina¡ªand that realization sank his mood even further. ¡°Kaina... I never expected you to betray me.¡± ¡°Oh my, betrayal? That word cuts deep, you know. Even though I know you¡¯re an imposter, it still hurts. I must really love my husband, after all.¡± Ssssshh¡ª! Blocking the Dragon Slayer, Kaina smiled playfully. Unlike the dragon scales that had been cut through in a single strike, her fire sword held firm without issue. Kaylen stared at her sword for a moment before asking, ¡°Why have you done all this?¡± ¡°Oh dear, ¡®done¡¯ something? I¡¯ve simply been following my husband¡¯s orders, dear imposter.¡± ¡°Even after seeing this new Six Sword Path, you still think I¡¯m a fake?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Unlike Caius, who had lost his will to fight the moment he saw the Six Sword Path and accepted that Kaylen was truly Ernstine, Kaina simply smiled and affirmed her stance. ¡°In fact, it only proves that you¡¯re the imposter.¡± ¡°...What?¡± ¡°When you saw the Six Sword Path, what did you think? Tell me, dear imposter. Which one seemed like the greater achievement?¡± At her question, Kaylen recalled the Six Demon Path. In terms of embodying elemental mana, the Six Demon Path had certain advancements over the Six Sword Path. ¡®Now that I think about it... When I regained my status as a Grand Swordmaster, my Six Swords tried to evolve into something like the Six Demon Path...¡¯ When he perfected the Six Sword Path, he instinctively felt it¡ª If the Six Sword Path transformed into the Six Demon Path, he would no longer be able to maintain himself as he was. At the same time, he also couldn¡¯t deny the possibility that, in terms of pure mana manipulation, the Six Demon Path had certain advantages over the Six Sword Path. ¡°Ahaha. You¡¯re not answering right away. That means you already know the truth, don¡¯t you?¡± Kaina giggled, her voice laced with amusement. ¡°You couldn¡¯t reach the advanced state of the Six Demon Path and are stuck in the transitional stage of the Six Sword Path. And that means... you must be an imposter.¡± ¡°Do you really think I¡¯ll accept that reasoning? Kaina, I¡¯ll have to capture you and get to the bottom of this.¡± The Dragon Slayer¡ª A weapon specialized in slaying dragons. But her sword of fire didn¡¯t seem to be related to dragons, making it difficult to cut through. Then, the answer was simple. He just had to overpower her completely. ¡ªSix Sword Path. ¡ªSix Swords. ¡ªManifestation of the Sword God. Kaylen¡¯s Six Swords materialized all at once. Aura erupted from his entire body like a raging storm. Manifestation of the Sword God¡ª The extreme form of the sword he had once used in his battle against the Demon King. Kaina, seeing this, simply smiled and stepped back. ¡°Oh my, I¡¯m not even the Demon King, yet you¡¯re using your full power? You really are too much, dear imposter.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make you reveal the truth of what happened a thousand years ago.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 167 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 167 With the Six Sword Path before her, Kaina smiled with her eyes. "Oh my, how frightening. Step back, everyone." Fwoosh! The space behind Kaina wavered before bursting into a massive blaze, engulfing Caius and the entire Helmeier clan. "Where do you think you''re going?" Kaylen''s six swords flew at her in unison. "I command in the name of the dragon." Gripping her Fire Sword, Dragonflame, Kaina unleashed the Six Demon Path. "Six Demon Path: Dragon Blaze." The same Dragon Blaze that Melvria had once wielded now erupted from Kaina¡¯s hands. Unlike back then, when two golden mana, Infinity, had appeared¡ªthis time, four Infinities shimmered around Kaina like stars. Though each was smaller than the ones Melvria had used, ''The amount of mana is incomparable.'' The Infinities, now holding far greater magical power than before, were absorbed into Dragonflame. In an instant, the light in the sky vanished, replaced by black flames consuming everything around them. The sky had turned as dark as night. Only one bright spot remained¡ªwhere Kaylen stood, blocking the flames with the Six Sword Path. "To think you''d wield a power akin to the Demon King..." Kaylen let out a heavy sigh as he observed Dragon Blaze. The technique Kaina had just unleashed bore an unsettling resemblance to Hellfire, the flames once wielded by the Crimson Demon King. No matter how exceptional the Six Demon Path was, for Kaina to exhibit power on par with the Demon King¡ª "Hoho, what an honor. To be compared to a former Demon King." Beaming at Kaylen¡¯s assessment, Kaina gently caressed Dragonflame. "It was worth sacrificing ten thousand dwarves for the sake of my dear husband''s flames." "Ten thousand dwarves...?" "Yes! I put in a bit of effort to perfect my husband''s flames!" Kaina spoke with an innocent smile¡ªyet her words were chilling. That sword of fire... Kaylen had already sensed that it was no ordinary weapon. Now, as he watched her grin so childishly, he could see the madness within her. "The pride of the Dwarf Queen is nowhere to be found, Kaina." "Hoho. I simply did what needed to be done as the Dwarf Queen. If the dwarves knew they had become the fire of a dragon, they would rejoice even in death." Kaylen shook his head as he looked at her, standing so brazenly. There was no need to waste words on someone who had already lost her sanity. Once he completely subdued her, he would uncover the truth behind what happened a thousand years ago. Dark flames powerful enough to rival the Crimson Demon King¡ª An extraordinary force, but... "Even the power of a Demon King won¡¯t be enough to defeat me." Having already slain the Crimson Demon King once before, Kaylen found this situation more troublesome than dangerous. He was confident in his victory. "Six Swords¡ªgather." The six swords that had been shielding Kaylen against Dragon Blaze suddenly converged on him. Like a new banner of the Starn Empire¡ª The six swords, piercing the head of a dragon in six directions. The Six Sword Path tore through Kaylen¡¯s body. Six Sword Path Manifestation of the Sword God. The ultimate form of the Six Sword Path was a blade that quite literally guided Kaylen to the realm of the divine. As the aura of the six swords intensified and amplified throughout his body¡ª Kaylen¡¯s physical form became indistinct, his body replaced entirely by aura. "Oh... It''s been a while since I''ve seen that form." Watching Kaylen, whose entire being had turned into aura, Kaina''s eyes gleamed. "As expected, even a fake version of my dear husband is quite something. I almost fell for you. How beautiful." Kaylen did not respond to her words. Instead, he reached for the Holy Sword Astella, drawing it from the light sword still embedded in his chest. "Astella, your origin is the sun." [Yes... my master...] Though the Holy Sword always responded enthusiastically whenever Kaylen called upon its source, this time, its voice was noticeably subdued. It had sensed the overwhelming power of the Six Sword Path surging within Kaylen¡¯s body. "You can withstand this power, can''t you?" [Ugh... Even if I said no, you''d still do it anyway.] "That''s true." Vwoooom! As Kaylen infused Astella with his aura¡ª The blade of light flickered violently, as though it might scatter at any moment, before extinguishing entirely. Only the hilt of Astella remained. Yet Kaylen, appearing satisfied, simply gazed at it before¡ª Whoosh. He swung his sword toward Kaina. A motion so light that it didn¡¯t even produce the sound of cutting through air. Yet, with that single strike¡ª "Ah..." The black flames of Dragon Blaze, which had devoured the sky completely and even reached the sea, evaporating the waters¡ª were split cleanly in two. From the highest point of the heavens to the ocean¡¯s deepest depths, a single slash had completely divided them. "Beautiful..." And it wasn¡¯t just the flames that had been severed¡ªKaina was no exception. Her body of fire was sliced in half. Her sword, Dragonflame, was broken in two, and two of the Infinities detached from her blade. At the same time, everything to Kaina¡¯s right was utterly erased¡ª The Dragon Blaze, half of her body, and even half of Dragonflame itself. "This is the blade of the Sword God... If not for serving the Dragon God..." Even with only half of her face remaining, Kaina wore an enraptured expression. Though her Dragon Blaze had been extinguished, though her body of fire had yet to regenerate, she paid no mind to her own injuries, utterly absorbed in admiration. "Even now, you remain composed. You still have strength left." Whoosh. Kaylen appeared right before Kaina¡¯s eyes. And just as his sword extended forward once more¡ª "Ah..." Everything below Kaina¡¯s head was torn apart, her body completely vanishing. With Dragon Blaze extinguished and her Fire Sword severed, she had no means left to endure. She could not block Kaylen¡¯s strike at all. "What happened a thousand years ago?" "You just cut me down a hundred times, didn''t you?" At Kaylen¡¯s question, Kaina responded with an unrelated remark, her expression unbothered. Her body of fire had been completely severed, leaving only her head behind. Even her halved Dragonflame sword floated idly in the air¡ª Yet she showed no intention of speaking. "Do you really want to be tortured, Kaina?" "Fufufu... That sounds nice too. If it means I get to feel your touch." Shhhhhh¡ª Smoke began to rise from Kaina¡¯s face. "But my body exists to serve the real husband. Unfortunately, I can''t play with you any longer." Her remaining half-face started to distort, the flames flaring up momentarily before¡ª A surge of fire shot toward Kaylen. "Pointless." A desperate struggle that didn¡¯t even require him to lift his sword. The moment Kaylen opened his mouth, the flames quietly dissipated. However, that wasn¡¯t her true intention. "This is my parting gift, fake husband." As Kaina¡¯s face completely disappeared¡ª The floating Flame Sword Dragonflame suddenly shot toward Kaylen. It wasn¡¯t just the sword. The four golden Infinities she had summoned also flew toward him. Unlike before, Kaylen raised the Holy Sword Astella to block them. ¡®No...¡¯ Dragonflame and the four Infinities¡ª which should have been repelled by Astella¡ª simply passed through the Holy Sword as if they were intangible. Instead, they embedded themselves into the Six Swords still lodged in Kaylen¡¯s body. ¡®This can¡¯t be...!¡¯ Even if they lacked physical form, they were pure mana. Even if Astella couldn¡¯t block them, Kaylen, in his Sword God Manifestation, should have been able to stop them. Yet, they settled into his Six Swords so naturally, as if they had always belonged to Kaylen¡¯s mana. ¡®Ugh...¡¯ The four Infinities fused into the Water Sword, Dark Sword, Earth Sword, and Wind Sword, vanishing completely. And the halved Dragonflame¡ª Like Astella, it nestled itself within Kaylen¡¯s Fire Sword, using it as its new sheath. ¡®Why is it accepting them?!¡¯ Kaina had disappeared along with the Helmeier Clan. He had no desire to absorb the Infinities and Dragonflame she left behind¡ªif anything, it felt repulsive. Yet, Kaylen¡¯s Six Swords welcomed them, completely ignoring their master¡¯s will. As the Infinities were absorbed, the Six Swords grew stronger. Kaylen could feel their power expanding. ¡®They''re clinging to me like leeches. I need to get rid of them...!¡¯ Despite his resistance, the Six Swords greedily devoured the Infinities. Kaylen could do nothing but watch as his swords continued to evolve. Except for the Light Sword and Fire Sword, where Astella and Dragonflame had settled¡ª The remaining four swords had all grown stronger. "Haa..." Kaylen sighed and released his Sword Manifestation form. With that, the Six Swords returned to their original state. The swords had grown stronger than before, making them even more powerful than just moments ago. However, despite the enhancement, Kaylen''s face was twisted in displeasure as he observed the swords. ¡®The shape of my swords... has become distorted.¡¯ The four swords that had devoured the Infinity had become dull at the tips. * * * Geysir Imperial Castle. In the underground chamber where a hundred coffins lay, the largest one opened, and from within, Kaina rose. ¡°Fufufu... I feel great.¡± Despite having been utterly overwhelmed by Kaylen just moments ago, she was smiling from ear to ear. ¡®Even if he¡¯s just a fake, seeing him like that made me feel too good. If I had stayed any longer, my heart might have wavered.¡¯ Rumble¡ª As she was the first to open her coffin and rise, the lids of the remaining ninety-nine coffins began to open all at once. ¡°Where is this...?¡± ¡°Is this... Geysir?¡± The Helmeier clan, who had been on the verge of death at Kaylen¡¯s hands, looked around at one another in disbelief. To think they had survived. Most of them wore expressions that were a mix of joy and astonishment. But not all. ¡°Marquis Helmeier.¡± Thud¡ª Emperor Caius flung his coffin lid aside and approached Kaina. ¡°How is it that we are alive?¡± ¡°The descendants of the dragon are immortal. Especially those of the direct bloodline like us¡ªwe do not die.¡± ¡°...Immortal, you say.¡± ¡°Fufu. More importantly, aren¡¯t you more curious about something else?¡± Rather than answering how she had escaped that situation, Kaina rested her chin on her hand and looked at Caius. ¡°...Yes. That opponent just now was undoubtedly my father. What exactly happened?¡± ¡°No. He is a fake.¡± ¡°How could a fake create the Six Sword Path?¡± ¡°I will make this clear¡ªhe is a ¡®fake.¡¯¡± Caius glared at Kaina, his expression darkening as if he refused to listen to any more of her nonsense. However¡ª ¡°I¡¯ll say it again. He is a fake.¡± The moment Kaina¡¯s eyes turned black, the expression on Caius¡¯s face disappeared. As if he had fallen under hypnosis, his face went blank. He stiffly nodded. ¡°...I see.¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s all you need to know.¡± ¡°I understand.¡± Whoosh. As Caius turned his back and walked away, Kaina watched with amusement before calling out to him. ¡°Caius. I¡¯ve expended a lot of power and need to recover. You take care of things for now.¡± ¡°...Understood, Mother.¡± ¡°Yes, yes.¡± Thud. Kaina lay back down in her coffin. ¡°All of you, return to the imperial castle.¡± Caius issued his command to the Helmeier clan as if nothing had changed. ¡®...Kaina. Just what are you...¡¯ Watching the completely altered Caius, Melvria felt a chill run down her spine. Had she objected to Kaina back then, would she have ended up like him¡ªa mere puppet? However¡ª ¡°Melvria.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As Caius led the Helmeier clan back to the surface, he suddenly approached her. Her eyes flickered with curiosity. As the vacant-faced Caius drew near... The sharp glint was returning to his eyes. ¡°Wait. We need to talk.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 168 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 168 "Melvria. We''ve been deceived by Kaina." "...It seems that way." Inside the magic research lab of Geysir''s imperial castle. Deep within the castle, hidden from sight, Caius had led Melvria there, his expression twisted. "He... is undoubtedly our father. Seeing him create the Six Sword Path leaves no room for doubt." "That''s right." "But the father I met during my time as Emperor of the Meier Empire was also undoubtedly him..." "During your reign as Emperor? Wasn''t he missing?" At Melvria''s question, Caius shook his head. "No. He went into hiding to destroy the empire himself." "Father... destroyed the empire? After all the effort to unify it, why would he do that?" "For Father, the Dragon Heart, to fully ascend as a complete dragon and become the Dragon God... he needed human blood." Caius gazed at Melvria with somber eyes. "You already know why we''ve been offering human sacrifices, don''t you?" "...Yes. Every human is a fragment of the continent, Avelia." The land known as Avelia, where humans lived¡ª This entire continent was the body of a dragon. The springs and seas were the dragon¡¯s blood. The mana spread throughout the atmosphere was the dragon¡¯s breath. And humans, who thrived on this land, were fragments and remnants of the dragon itself. Even if each individual human was no more than dust compared to the vast body of a dragon, If gathered together, they could provide the necessary power to resurrect a dragon. "All humans living on this continent bear the remnants of the dragon... Compared to elves or dwarves, humans retain the most traces of the dragon." Elves and dwarves were far superior to humans in terms of racial abilities. But when it came to ''dragon remnants,'' humans possessed the most. "Yet, you sacrificed elves and dwarves just the same." "They had their uses. While their overall dragon remnants were lacking, elves symbolized the dragon''s wings, and dwarves represented the dragon''s fire. To complete those specific aspects, they had to be offered as sacrifices." "I see... But that aside, something is bothering me. If Father was still alive a thousand years ago and waged war for this purpose... then shouldn¡¯t he have achieved his goal?" At Melvria''s question, Caius smirked. "He almost did. If not for the Celestial God." "The Celestial God..." "Yes, Melvria. Doesn¡¯t it seem strange to you? No matter how powerful the White Demon King was, should the Celestial Realm have fallen so easily?" "...I¡¯ve always wondered about that. The Demon Realm forces that Father destroyed somehow surged back to power so quickly." The numbers of the Demon Realm army, which had been annihilated by the hero Ernstine, were staggering. Even the angels who had fought alongside the Meier Imperial Army were convinced that the Demon Realm had been dealt with and would never again invade the Middle World. And yet, at some point, the Demon Realm''s strength grew explosively. Dungeons and portals began appearing, and the Middle World was swallowed up with ease. Even the Celestial Realm was eventually invaded. "All of that happened because the Celestial God was absent." "The Celestial God... was absent?" "Yes. The Celestial God ambushed Father just as he was about to become the Dragon God... through a traitor." "A traitor?" "Yes. Kaina told me the traitor¡¯s name¡ªBaldrix." At the mention of that name, Melvria''s eyes widened. Baldrix, the second son of Ernstine. The first man to raise the banner of rebellion against the unified Meier Empire¡ªhad he not eventually founded his own kingdom? But to think he was involved in this, and on top of that, he had betrayed them... ¡®So that''s why the Helmeier family despises Baldrix so much.¡¯ They loathed him to the extent that they replaced every prisoner¡¯s face with his. In the past, she had thought it was simply because he had brought down the Meier Empire. But now, she realized there was a far greater betrayal behind it. Melvria finally started to understand. ¡°Father, who had not yet become the Dragon God, could not overcome the Celestial God and was sealed away. But even the Celestial God suffered a severe blow and is now in hiding...¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why the Celestial Realm is being pushed back so hard.¡± ¡°Exactly. After that, the Helmeier family sought refuge with the Demon Realm. You know the rest.¡± Receiving information from the Helmeier family and realizing that the Celestial Realm was weakened, the Demon Realm launched a large-scale invasion of the Middle Realm. The angels who had been guarding the Middle Realm were swiftly subdued, and the world seamlessly became a colony of the Demon Realm. But the White Demon King was not satisfied with just that¡ªhe invaded the Celestial Realm as well, achieving significant results and earning the title of the ruler of the Three Realms. ¡°For a thousand years, I have hated the Celestial God and Baldrix. To fully resurrect and complete Father, I endured the disgrace of transforming this wretched body.¡± Melvria¡¯s gaze instinctively dropped to Caius¡¯s lower body. A half-undead corpse, reduced to nothing but bones. To survive for a thousand years in a human body, he had sacrificed half of himself. ¡°And yet, the Dragon God Meier I struggled so hard to revive... turns out he is not even our father.¡± ¡°Heh... I watched as the empress and children were executed... ignored their desperate pleas for mercy... and made it all the way here.¡± Caius stroked his beard. His trembling hand quivered as though afflicted with palsy. ¡°Baldrix... he may have known.¡± ¡°...That the Dragon God Meier wasn¡¯t actually our father?¡± ¡°Yes. He was a Sword Master. He might have sensed something off about Father, who had abandoned the sword.¡± ¡°The truth is lost now. He¡¯s dead, after all.¡± ¡°...Who knows.¡± Caius¡¯s trembling hand stilled. With a calm and steady gaze, he looked at Melvria. ¡°Melvria. Go to Starn.¡± ¡°I...?¡± ¡°Yes. Tell Father everything that has happened so far, and all that you have seen and felt.¡± ¡°What about you, Brother?¡± Caius chuckled at the word ¡°Brother.¡± It had been so long since he last heard it. ¡°Kaina just tried to brainwash me earlier. No... perhaps I¡¯ve been under her control all this time. My mind has never felt clearer than it does now.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. I feel the same.¡± ¡°Yes. Maybe it¡¯s because her power has weakened for now that the brainwashing has worn off... but it could return at any moment. And...¡± Caius opened his palm and looked at it. ¡°I have committed too many sins. I do not seek to be judged and granted salvation by Father just yet. I will stay in this nest of demons a little longer and gather more information.¡± ¡°...That goes for me as well.¡± ¡°Heh. You might still have a chance for redemption. After all, I was the one who dragged you into this.¡± Caius gestured toward Melvria. ¡°So go.¡± ¡°...Alright. Be careful of that witch.¡± Melvria lowered her head and disappeared. As she left, Caius also rose to his feet. His mind had never been clearer. He couldn¡¯t just stay still. ¡®I need to conduct my own investigation.¡¯ Kaylen, having clashed fiercely with Helmeier, continued his conquest of the eastern continent instead of returning to the capital. "...Understood. I will plant the flag of the Starn Empire." "Good. You made the right choice." The occupation of the northern coastal territories proceeded smoothly. Having reached the realm of a Grand Sword Master, Kaylen possessed godlike martial prowess from the perspective of ordinary people. As a result, even the eastern kings who initially resisted had no choice but to surrender after witnessing their royal castles split in half with a mere flick of his hand. ''The northern coastline is nearly subdued.'' The long coastline of the eastern continent. It took less than two weeks to plant Starn¡¯s flag along its entirety. "Observation chief. What are Geysir Empire¡¯s movements?" ¡ªThere has been no activity since then. While we cannot observe the imperial capital itself... if the Dragon Knights were to sortie beyond the empire¡¯s territory, we would notice. However, there have been no such movements at all. "The damage they suffered must have been severe. But if we can¡¯t observe the capital, then it seems Kaina wasn¡¯t annihilated back then, after all." At Kaylen¡¯s words, the colonial observation chief, Ederna, recalled the events of that time. The Marquis of Helmeier, wielding magic power befitting the Crimson Flame Demon King. And Kaylen¡¯s overwhelming might, which split the sky and earth in half and subdued him in an instant. ''...This man is undoubtedly the previous Hero.'' She was now certain. He was the previous Hero, Ernstine, who had defeated her father, the Crimson Flame Demon King. As his daughter, the thought of aiding the man who had slain her father filled Ederna with unease. ''...But for now, I have to cooperate. The White Demon King¡¯s words, too. Besides, if we want him to clash with the Demon King... he must not lose to Geysir.'' The power of the Marquis of Helmeier alone was already immense. She couldn¡¯t even begin to imagine how strong the Dragon God they sought to revive would be. If Kaylen was meant to battle the Demon King, it was better to help him win against Geysir rather than let him fall to the revived Dragon God. ''Even so... someday, he will be the target of my father¡¯s vengeance.'' Thinking that, she had no desire to engage in lengthy conversation with him. ¡ªI¡¯ll inform you if there are any changes. With that, Ederna ended the communication. Meanwhile, Kaylen inspected his Six Swords. What bothered him was that before disappearing, Kaina had sprinkled Infinity onto his swords. ''The Light Sword is fine.'' The Light Sword, in which the Holy Sword Astella resided, showed no abnormalities. ''The Fire Sword too... it merely contains the sword Kaina threw... no particular issues.'' The Fire Sword now held the broken remains of the Dragonflame Sword. According to Kaina, this sword was forged by grinding down ten thousand dwarves, and it contained an immense concentration of fire mana. ''If it were in its original form, it would be nearly on par with a Holy Sword.'' Though now broken in half, in its complete state, it could have ranked among the Divine Swords. ''Rather, the Fire Sword seems to have grown stronger after housing Kaina¡¯s sword... but the other Four Swords are the problem.'' The swords of Water, Wind, Earth, and Darkness¡ªeach of them had been infused with Kaina¡¯s Infinity, interfering with Kaylen. ''They... are distorting the form of the swords.'' Before Kaina¡¯s Infinity had latched onto them, Kaylen¡¯s Six Swords had been in perfect condition. Now, if left unchecked, they slowly attempted to change. Into golden, star-shaped forms of the Six Demon Blades. ''If only I could absorb them, I¡¯d grow even stronger...'' Kaina¡¯s Infinity was a double-edged sword. Kaylen¡¯s Six Swords could be further strengthened, but there remained a risk that they could be transformed into the Six Demon Blades. ¡®She tried to manipulate my Six Swords into becoming the Six Demon Blades.¡¯ Thinking of Kaina made Kaylen feel stifled. The other children had acknowledged that he was indeed Ernstine after witnessing the creation of the Six Swords. Yet, she alone denied him with absolute certainty. Just how convincing was this supposed fake Ernstine for her to be so adamant? ¡®Should I just charge straight into Geysir?¡¯ At times, he even felt such an impulse. As he continued pondering the Six Swords and Kaina... He hadn¡¯t even noticed that he had arrived at his destination until he heard Drake¡¯s voice. [Master. Arrows incoming.] "Ah. Right. This was the last of them." The Kingdom of Siberia, located at the northeasternmost edge of the continent. It had a fairly large territory, but most of it was frozen wasteland, leaving little usable land. ¡®I should finish this quickly and return.¡¯ With that thought, Kaylen lightly leaped off Drake¡¯s back and landed atop the fortress wall. "Stop right there." "The Emperor of the Starn Empire." As if already prepared, Kaylen observed the knights approaching him with keen eyes. He had been subjugating kingdoms so swiftly that information about him had yet to spread far. This was the first nation to recognize him on sight. ¡®A well-trained knight.¡¯ Since they had anticipated his arrival, he decided to see how they would respond. Just as he was watching the knights draw their swords... Kaylen¡¯s eyes suddenly widened. "...A Sword Master?" [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 169 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 169 After the continent of Averia fell into a state of colonization, the amount of mana in the atmosphere decreased, and Sword Masters, once thought to be lost to history, faded into obscurity. Kaylen never expected to encounter a Sword Master in a small northern kingdom like this. ¡®Not just one, but five...¡¯ The knights of the Kingdom of Syberia had been preparing for Kaylen¡¯s arrival in advance. Among them, five middle-aged knights simultaneously unleashed their Sword Areas, their Aura Swords radiating with power. "I never knew the Kingdom of Syberia had such powerful warriors. I heard it was just a small northern kingdom." "If His Majesty had not arrived, we would have remained hidden from the world forever." "Everyone would have assumed we were just ordinary middle-aged knights." The knight at the forefront spoke with unwavering resolve. As if to confirm the truth of his words, the knights standing behind the five Sword Masters exchanged glances, murmuring amongst themselves. "Sword... Masters?" "Commander Lok...?" They genuinely seemed unaware that these five knights were Sword Masters. Kaylen, maintaining a composed expression, asked them, "Why did you hide your identities?" "That is..." "If you truly are Grand Sword Master, then I will tell you!" Fwoosh! The five knights exchanged glances before simultaneously charging forward. Becoming one with their Aura Swords, they shot toward Kaylen like arrows, unleashing a powerful strike. Their speed was so overwhelming that the watching knights believed Kaylen¡¯s body would be cleaved apart in an instant. That was what they thought¡ªuntil Kaylen raised his hand. "You think you can uncover the truth with your level of skill?" Swish. Kaylen¡¯s right hand opened. The five Aura Swords, brimming with murderous intent, were instantly sucked into his hand. "W-what...!?" The five Sword Masters staggered as their swords were suddenly wrenched from their grip. Their eyes widened in disbelief as they watched their blades fly away on their own. They had spent decades living alongside their swords, believing they had reached the pinnacle of mastery where they and their blades were one. Yet now¡ª "H-how...?" Kaylen had done nothing. He had simply opened his palm. And yet, the swords, unable to resist even that small action, had flown into Kaylen¡¯s grasp on their own. "Your Aura is quite impressive." The swords floated in the air around Kaylen, each one still radiating its original owner¡¯s Aura. Even after leaving their masters'' hands, the blades pulsed with energy. The knights who witnessed this felt a mix of helplessness and fury. "Urgh...!" "W-what are you doing?!" Kaylen smirked slightly as he examined the swords. ¡®Hooh¡ª.¡¯ A gleam flickered in his eyes as he returned the Aura Swords to their owners. "Hmm..." The five Sword Masters, having retrieved their swords, exchanged glances. ¡®This opponent is someone we can¡¯t even hope to challenge.¡¯ ¡®But we must determine whether he is truly a Grand Sword Master.¡¯ ¡®This time, we¡¯ll go all out.¡¯ Just as they were about to charge in again with full force, Kaylen casually spoke. "Did you all have the same master?" "How do you know that...?" "Your Aura Swords lack individuality. They all feel the same, making it easy to tell." He had only glanced at their swords once. Yet, in that brief moment, he had already deduced this? Kaylen looked past them and pointed at one of the knights standing behind them. "Lend me your sword." Whoosh! The knight¡¯s sword flew out of its sheath on its own. "Your Aura Swords are infused with the mana of the earth. Rather than expanding your Sword Areas, you condense them, pushing your bodies to the extreme limits of enhancement." Vrrrrrrr. A distinct brown Aura surfaced around the knight¡¯s sword. It was an Aura Sword that had absorbed the concentrated mana of the earth. "But if all you do is condense, there will be no progress." Tap. Kaylen embedded the brown Aura Sword into the fortress wall. At first, the ground trembled slightly¡ª Then¡ª Crack¡ª! The knights¡¯ armor split apart and crumbled to the ground. "Gah!" "M-my armor...!" What kind of trickery was this? To them, it was an overwhelming display of mastery beyond comprehension. The knights stared in shock as the pieces of their armor fell away. And as the saying goes, one can only recognize what one understands¡ª The five Sword Masters were even more astonished than the ordinary knights. To take the earth¡¯s mana, which by nature gathers inward, and instead forcefully disperse it¡ª They understood, even if only vaguely, just how advanced Kaylen¡¯s martial principles were. ¡®In just that brief moment...¡¯ ¡®The earth¡¯s mana spread instantly.¡¯ ¡®Is this even possible...?¡¯ They looked at each other before Kaylen spoke again. "Well? Do you now believe that I am a Grand Sword Master?" At his question¡ª ¡®With power like this, calling him a Grand Sword Master is more than reasonable...¡¯ ¡®There¡¯s no way for us to measure anything beyond this.¡¯ The five knights all nodded. "Your Majesty has reached a supreme realm beyond comprehension." "We humbly acknowledge that you have indeed attained the level of a Grand Sword Master." "Then it¡¯s your turn to answer. Who exactly are you?" At Kaylen¡¯s question, the five Sword Masters glanced around before lowering their voices. "This is not the appropriate place to discuss such matters." "Would it be alright if we guided you inside the castle while we explain?" Were they wary of prying eyes? Or was it something else...? Kaylen glanced at their swords briefly before offering a knowing smile and nodding. "Fine. Lead the way." The inner castle of the Kingdom of Syberia was large and magnificent¡ªfar beyond what one would expect from a small kingdom. For a nation situated at the northeastern edge of the continent, its grandeur felt excessive. As Kaylen observed the castle¡¯s interior, he spoke to the Sword Masters. "This castle... Was it called Winter Castle?" "Yes. It was named that way because snow falls here all year round." "I see... This inner castle seems rather empty of people." Wherever Kaylen looked, maids and soldiers were seen working together to maintain the castle. Unlike other castles, where such duties would fall solely on the maids, the soldiers were assisting with the chores. One of the Sword Masters, assuming Kaylen was referring to a lack of manpower, responded. "Since the kingdom is small and its population is limited compared to the size of the castle... the soldiers take the initiative to help with the upkeep." "Hmm. Is that so?" Kaylen gave a faint smile as he observed the soldiers before turning his gaze back to the Sword Masters. "Now that we''ve come this far, I believe it''s time you told me who you really are." At his question, the Sword Masters exchanged glances before cautiously replying. "We are... Guardians." "Guardians?" "Yes. An organization formed to protect humanity. We are members of the Guardians." "Oh...?" Guardians of humanity, the ¡®Guardians.¡¯ Kaylen found their words intriguing. "I¡¯ve never heard of such an organization before." "It was formed after the Middle Realm fell under the dominion of the demons¡ªa gathering of those who sought to resist." "For centuries, we Guardians have hidden in this land, avoiding the eyes of the demons while secretly strengthening our forces." An organization devoted to protecting humanity¡ªthe Guardians. Founded by a Grand Mage, they had established their secret base in the northern kingdom of Syberia, slowly amassing their strength. Though they lacked the power to directly oppose the Demonic Realm for now, they had been lying in wait. For hundreds of years, they had prepared in case a shift in the power structure of the Demonic Realm would present an opportunity. "Guardians of humanity, huh...? With your skills as Sword Masters, you could have sought greater success in a larger kingdom rather than staying in a small nation like this. Was that never a regret?" "There was no regret. It was the organization that raised us to where we are now." "Besides, what meaning is there in achieving success in a world already under the demons¡¯ rule?" "Rather than chasing fleeting wealth and glory, we have chosen to become the foundation for humanity¡¯s hope." Faced with the five knights¡¯ unwavering resolve¡ªso noble in its conviction¡ªKaylen came to a halt, the corner of his lips curling slightly. "Forsaking wealth and fame, hiding your identities as Guardians to fight for humanity... Quite the remarkable resolve." Clap. Clap. Kaylen clapped twice as he spoke, yet there was no sincerity in his applause. In fact, his tone was so detached that it almost felt mocking. The five Sword Masters frowned at his reaction. "Your Majesty..." "Guardians who claim to protect humanity..." Sching¡ª Behind Kaylen, six swords floated into the air. A black sword appeared in his hand. The knights, startled by Kaylen¡¯s sudden change in demeanor, quickly moved to draw their swords¡ª Thud. But the black sword struck the ground first. Rumble... ¡°Urgh...!¡± ¡°W-What are you...?!¡± The earth trembled as if an earthquake had struck. ¡°Kyah!¡± Maids inside the castle collapsed from the sudden shaking. ¡°An earthquake, all of a sudden?¡± ¡°Hurry! Evacuate!¡± The soldiers helped the fallen maids, trying to flee from the shaking inner castle. Watching them briefly, Kaylen let out a small chuckle. ¡°What in the world are you doing...?!¡± ¡°You all put on quite the show.¡± ¡°A show...?¡± ¡°As I said before¡ªthis castle is severely lacking in people.¡± ¡°W-What do you mean...?!¡± Screeeech. The sound of flesh tearing echoed¡ª And all at once, the skin of everyone inside the castle began to split open. ¡°N-No...!¡± There were no exceptions. The five Sword Masters. The maids and soldiers of the castle. Every single one of them had their skin peel away. ¡°Ghh... Urgh...!¡± The outermost layer of their bodies¡ªtheir skin and flesh¡ªcrumbled and fell to the ground. Their bodies were collapsing. Now that their skin and flesh had fallen away, soon, blood would pour out. Perhaps even their organs would spill onto the floor. Anticipating the grotesque scene, some instinctively shut their eyes¡ª But¡ª ¡°...As I thought, not a single drop of blood.¡± The Sword Masters stared blankly at one another. Their bodies¡ªnow stripped of skin and flesh¡ª Only bones remained. Bones, completely blackened. ¡°This... What in the world...?¡± Confusion clouded their minds. Why was there only bone inside their bodies? They were certain they had human bodies. They gasped for breath when they ran. They felt hunger when they woke in the morning. But¡ª Not just them. The entire royal castle was the same. The maids and soldiers they thought were merely few in number¡ª Every single one of them was nothing but bone. ¡°What... the hell...?¡± Their minds were in disarray. The five Sword Masters stood in stunned silence, watching the bizarre spectacle unfold inside the castle¡ª And then¡ª A familiar voice rang in their ears. ¡°How cruel, Your Majesty. Interrupting the Guardians¡¯ vacation like this.¡± Step. Step. Footsteps echoed from deeper within the castle. The undead¡ªnow aware of who it was¡ªmurmured a name. ¡°...Grand Mage...¡± ¡°The vacation is over. Time to get to work.¡± At those words, the undead collapsed one by one. Kaylen¡¯s eyes widened as he gazed at the figure emerging from within the castle. ¡°...It¡¯s been a while, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°You are... Johannes?¡± Johannes, the court magician of the Meier Empire. After Ernstine unified the continent, he had resigned, claiming he would set off to explore the New World¡ªand disappeared. ¡°You survived... No...¡± Now, devoid of life, his body exuded dark magic as he walked forward. ¡°...You¡¯ve become a lich.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 170 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 170 Court Mage Johannes. A member of the royal family from the Kingdom of Akinsor, he was an unprecedented genius who reached the 8th Circle of magic at a young age. Had it not been for Ernstine, everyone believed that a thousand years ago would have been his era. During the Akinsor Kingdom''s conquest, he clashed with Ernstine three times. Realizing he was outmatched, he surrendered to him. Afterward, he became the court mage of the Meier Empire, playing a major role as Ernstine¡¯s right-hand man and close friend. ¡®After I unified the continent, he suddenly left, saying he wanted to discover a new continent.¡¯ Even after the unification, there was still much for an 8th Circle mage to do, yet he abandoned his position as the empire¡¯s court mage and left the country. However, the talk of discovering a new continent was just an excuse. Kaylen had a good idea of the real reason he left. ¡®Because he was Baldrix¡¯s uncle. He didn¡¯t want to get involved in the imperial succession struggle.¡¯ Johannes¡¯s younger sister was Princess Bellania, the mother of the second prince, Baldrix. To make her son the next emperor, she tirelessly sought support, and as her brother, the court mage, he was her most reliable backing. She frequently visited Johannes, pleading for his support for Baldrix. Begging him to help his nephew just this once. ¡®Tired of his persistent sister, who wouldn¡¯t take no for an answer, he eventually chose to leave.¡¯ Johannes vanished, leaving behind nothing but a single letter stating he was going to find a new continent. Ernstine made numerous efforts to track him down, sending people to investigate, but there was no trace of him anywhere. So they assumed he had truly gone to explore a new continent or was immersed in some kind of magical experiment... ¡°What the hell happened to you? You, of all people, who loathed black magic more than anyone, have become a lich...?¡± ¡°Ha. This is all because of you.¡± Johannes, his blond face still refined, shook his head slowly. ¡°You unified the continent. I thought you¡¯d be a wise ruler who would bring prosperity to humanity. But you betrayed my expectations. You did.¡± ¡°Betrayed your expectations? What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Hah... Who could have known you''d turn into such a madman?¡± ¡°...Are you saying you know what happened a thousand years ago?¡± ¡°I do.¡± At Johannes¡¯s firm response, Kaylen urgently asked. ¡°What exactly happened?¡± ¡°How much do you remember?¡± ¡°I remember nothing after I abdicated the throne to Caius.¡± ¡°Hmm. You don¡¯t even recall meeting me after your abdication?¡± ¡°...Meeting you? But you had already left the empire.¡± Kaylen asked back in disbelief. Meeting Johannes after the abdication ceremony? There was no such memory. ¡°No matter what, your own son was being crowned emperor. There¡¯s no way I wouldn¡¯t have attended... In fact, I had planned to persuade you to join me on an expedition to explore the new continent.¡± ¡°...Is that true?¡± ¡°Of course. Why would I lie? Judging by your reaction, you don¡¯t even remember asking me to teach you magic.¡± Asking him to teach magic? Kaylen felt a chilling sensation. ¡®...If it was me back then, I probably would have.¡¯ There was a time when he had thought about studying magic after stepping down from the throne. That was why, when he entered this body, training in magic hadn¡¯t felt unnatural. If he had truly been relieved of all responsibilities after the abdication... Johannes, who had suggested embarking on an expedition to the New Continent together, had likely heard plenty of requests to teach magic. ¡°...The impostor had quite the grasp of my behavioral patterns.¡± ¡°An impostor, huh...? To these great mage¡¯s eyes, he didn¡¯t seem that way.¡± ¡°He fooled even your insight?¡± ¡°Haha... Well, no matter. What you want to know is what happened a thousand years ago, right?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°A thousand years ago...¡± Ssshh¡ª Johannes opened his palm and brought it up to his face. As his hand brushed across his face, his skin and flesh vanished. The true visage of a lich. A blackened skull came into view. In the sockets where his eyes should have been, eerie blue mana stones were embedded, radiating a sinister dark magic. Upon closer inspection, cracks ran across his skull. ¡°You... made me like this.¡± ¡°...What do you mean?¡± ¡°My emperor, my friend... and my brother-in-law... personally shattered my skull.¡± ¡°What!?¡± Johannes¡¯s body smoothly slid backward, widening the distance between himself and Kaylen. At the same time, he extended his palm toward the sky. ¡°The shield of humanity¡ªAegis, rise.¡± Rumble... The entire castle trembled. The Winter Fortress began to break apart piece by piece. Even the fallen undead scattered into fragments, merging with the disassembled pieces of the castle. ¡®What is this...!¡¯ As the fortress disintegrated¡ª Sixteen magic circles simultaneously appeared in the air around Johannes, lifting him into the sky. He directed all sixteen magic circles at Kaylen. Then, in a voice colder than before, he spoke. ¡°Ernstine, I must ascertain the truth.¡± ¡°Ascertain? What do you mean?¡± ¡°I will determine whether you are the traitor of humanity, Ernstine... or the hero to whom I once swore allegiance.¡± ¡°You think... I¡¯m a traitor to humanity?¡± ¡°Are you not?¡± The shattered fragments of the castle gathered before Johannes and fused together. In an instant, the remnants of the fortress merged into the form of a colossal stone giant. It was so massive and towering that it reached Johannes¡¯s feet as he hovered in the sky, radiating an overwhelming dark power. ¡°A thousand years ago, during the Meier Empire... the human population was ten times what it is now. The land where humanity thrives today is less than forty percent of what it once was. The rest has been overrun by monsters from dungeon portals. That¡¯s not all¡ª In the western continent, the Geysir Empire doesn¡¯t even regard humans as humans anymore. They see them only as sacrifices...¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°If you hadn¡¯t tried to become a Dragon God, none of this would have happened.¡± ¡°That wasn¡¯t me.¡± ¡°Then prove it.¡± Ssshhhh¡ª The sixteen magic circles around Johannes dispersed across the sky. The magic circles grew larger, spreading in all directions before expanding once more... In an instant, they filled the sky. ¡°Draw the Six Swords.¡± ¡°Johannes, are you trying to fight?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯ll be the only one conducting an experiment. You just need to summon the Six Swords and defend.¡± An unreasonable demand¡ªto only defend without attacking. Yet Kaylen did not object and simply accepted it. ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°You¡¯re complying so easily.¡± ¡°Johannes, because you¡¯ve always been right.¡± Johannes, the court mage. The most powerful Grand Mage of the Meyer Empire. The one whom the emperor sought out whenever a troublesome matter arose. And yet, when the empire was unified, he refused any territory, declined a noble title, and left the nation. A man without personal ambition, he was one of the people Kaylen trusted most. If he was insisting this much, there had to be a reason. ¡°Hmph. After all, you¡¯re the one who shattered my skull.¡± Johannes let out a small laugh at Kaylen¡¯s trust before speaking. ¡°Summon the Six Swords.¡± Ssshh¡ª As Kaylen summoned the Six Swords¡ª The magic circles filling the sky reacted all at once. ¡°Confirm it.¡± At Johannes¡¯s command¡ª The magic circles activated simultaneously, releasing mana toward the Six Swords. Light mana surged toward the Dark Sword. Earth mana was sent toward the Wind Sword. Each sword was being pressured by its opposing mana, suppressing the Six Swords. ¡®He¡¯s grown even stronger... Johannes.¡¯ Feeling the intense mana pressing against the Six Swords, Kaylen thought to himself. Even in the past, Johannes was the strongest among the 8th-Circle Grand Mages, standing in a league of his own. But he still had the limitations of a human... After becoming a lich and living for a thousand years¡ª Those human limitations were gone, and his magic had grown exponentially stronger. ¡®But this level is nothing to me.¡¯ Perhaps because it was only a test¡ª The opposing mana suppressing the Six Swords wasn¡¯t too overwhelming. ¡°It seems this much isn¡¯t affecting you. I¡¯ll push harder.¡± However¡ª As Johannes increased the pressure¡ª The Six Swords began to change. The Light Sword, which contained the Holy Sword Astella, and the Fire Sword, which housed Dragonflame, remained unaffected. But¡ª The four swords infused with Infinity by Marquess Helmeier, Kaina¡ª They began to tremble slightly. ¡°Ernstine, how is it? Do you feel a change in your Six Swords?¡± ¡°Yes. The Infinity that Kaina infused is reacting. This is...¡± An attempt to transform the Six Swords into the Six Demon Blades. ¡°You¡¯re aware of it, then. You¡¯ve realized it.¡± Ssshh¡ª The colors of the magic circles floating in the sky shifted. Until now, they had been of various colors, but now they all turned green. Every magic circle was infused with the mana of wind. ¡°Well then... this is the final test.¡± Swoooosh! From above, wind mana poured down onto Caylen¡¯s Earth Sword. A distinct, intense pressure unlike before. As the Earth Sword clashed with mana of its opposing attribute¡ª The Infinity that Kaina had implanted within it began to react even more vigorously. ¡®It¡¯s trying to break the sword¡¯s form...!¡¯ Did it see the Earth Sword¡¯s suppression as an opportunity? The Infinity, which had only been stirring slightly until now, started actively trying to transform the sword into the Six Demon Blades. Caylen attempted to suppress the troublesome Infinity¡ª But it wasn¡¯t as easy as he had expected. ¡®Tch. It won¡¯t obey...!¡¯ The Infinity, which formed the very foundation of Caylen¡¯s mana¡ª Seemed to believe that the Six Swords should naturally take the form of the Six Demon Blades. He couldn¡¯t control it as freely as usual, and for now, all he could do was keep the Earth Sword from losing its shape. Was this why Kaina implanted Infinity in the first place? To break the Six Swords and reconstruct its mana into the Six Demon Blades? As Caylen reached a near certainty about that thought¡ª ¡°To resist falling into the Six Demon Blades and instead maintain the sword... You truly are ¡®Hero¡¯ Ernstine.¡± Ssssshhh¡ª The magic circles in the sky suddenly vanished. Then, light burst forth from the ground where Caylen stood, revealing a new set of magic circles. They were completely different from before. Instead of wind mana¡ª Now, earth mana surged toward the Earth Sword all at once. ¡°Use my mana. I¡¯ll lend you strength to maintain the sword.¡± Had his experiment concluded? Earlier, Johannes had tried to suppress the Earth Sword¡ª But now, he was supporting it. The Infinity that had been shaking the sword¡¯s form hesitated as the powerful earth mana pressed against it from the outside. And in the end¡ª Chiiiiik¡ª For a moment, smoke rose from the Earth Sword, then its form solidified even further. Infinity¡¯s attempt had failed. ¡°Has the force disrupting the sword disappeared?¡± From atop the stone giant, Johannes asked. His voice was softer than before. ¡°...No. It¡¯s merely buried deep inside. It could resurface at any time.¡± The Infinity parasitizing the Earth Sword hadn¡¯t vanished. It had only hidden itself deep within the blade. Hearing that, Johannes nodded. ¡°As expected.¡± ¡°Johannes... it¡¯s as if you anticipated all of this. How do you know about this?¡± ¡°Because your son¡ªmy nephew¡ªtold me.¡± Caylen¡¯s son, Johannes¡¯s nephew. There was only one person who fit that description. ¡°...Baldrix?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Now that it¡¯s certain you are the ¡®Hero,¡¯ you can meet him.¡± Rumble... The massive stone giant collapsed and reformed into something entirely different. At its center, a colossal gate appeared¡ª And within that gate, a portal, dyed in darkness, had emerged. ¡°Ernstine, let¡¯s go. Baldrix has been waiting for you for a long time.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 171 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 171 As Kaylen followed Johannes into the black portal, a new space revealed itself. A small room, no larger than a single chamber, completely surrounded by black metal, with not a single speck of light seeping in. The only source of illumination here was the glowing eyes of the lich, Johannes. If an ordinary person were trapped in this place, they would surely go mad in no time, unable to see even a sliver of light. ¡®In a place like this... Baldrix is here?¡¯ Kang. Kang. The sound of a hammer striking metal echoed in the darkness, drawing Kaylen¡¯s gaze forward. ¡°That figure...¡± At the center of the room sat a Death Knight, clad in black armor, its form reduced to nothing but a skeletal frame. No, upon closer inspection, it wasn¡¯t merely sitting¡ª Its lower body was completely missing. The upper half of its black plate armor rested against the floor. The black skull mechanically pounded the hammer against the ground. Kang. Kang. An endlessly repeated action. The point where the hammer struck never shifted even by a fraction, and the motion of raising and lowering it remained perfectly consistent. Even with Kaylen and Johannes now present, the skeletal knight continued hammering as if entranced. There was obsession in that movement¡ªmadness, even. ¡°That is Baldrix.¡± ¡°...That Death Knight is Baldrix?¡± ¡°Yes. He, too, became a Death Knight. All for this moment. He has been waiting for you.¡± A Death Knight with missing legs. The dark energy emanating from him was nearly nonexistent. When Kaylen was first born into this body, When he read in the history books about Baldrix leading the rebellion, He had resented him deeply. The one who overthrew the Unified Empire, The traitor who dethroned his brother. For the longest time, Kaylen¡¯s perception of Baldrix had been fixed in that image. ¡®But I never wished to see him in such a pitiful state.¡¯ What could he possibly be doing in this tiny, lightless space? Just hammering away like that... Step. Step. Kaylen slowly approached Baldrix. ¡°Baldrix.¡± ¡°It¡¯s me. Ernstine.¡± At Kaylen¡¯s words, the hammering paused for a moment. The black skull turned, its jaw slowly opening. ¡°...Six... Sword...¡± His voice was faint, as if speaking was an immense struggle. But it was still understandable. ¡°You want to see the Six Sword?¡± A nod. As Baldrix gave a barely perceptible nod, Kaylen immediately summoned the Six Sword. Hwaaaak. As the six blades manifested, the room brightened. And then, the emblem engraved on Baldrix¡¯s armor came into view. ¡®The emblem of the Six Sword.¡¯ A symbol that closely resembled the one carved onto Kaylen¡¯s own back. No¡ªrather than resembling it, it was identical. Hoo... Tang. Tang. Baldrix, having set down the hammer, pointed to his back. Was he telling him to place the Six Sword in alignment with the emblem? ¡°Your body won¡¯t be able to withstand it.¡± Even if he was a Death Knight, Baldrix had almost no remaining dark energy. If the Six Sword were to be placed on him, even with the utmost care to avoid harm, the sheer presence of the swords could still cause damage. However, as if unconcerned, Baldrix spoke once more. Hoo... ¡°...Alright.¡± In that case, he had to remove the Holy Sword Astella and the Flame Sword Dragonflame from the Light Sword and the Flame Sword to minimize the strain on his body. After doing so, Kaylen placed the Six Sword against Baldrix¡¯s back. Chiiiiik! The moment the swords made contact, the black armor turned pure white. Then, in an instant, the Six Sword began to be absorbed into the sword emblem engraved on the armor. As the armor slowly faded... the mana of the Six Sword grew denser. ¡°...It is true. You truly are my father.¡± With the black armor now gone, Baldrix¡¯s body was revealed¡ªnothing but frail, emaciated bones. Rather than an adult¡¯s frame, his bones were closer in size to that of a child. And with gaps scattered throughout, it seemed as though a single touch could completely shatter him. Yet, despite his skeletal form, Baldrix¡¯s trembling voice was filled with strength. ¡°Then, Uncle... the memory transfer...¡± Creak. As Baldrix turned his head, one of his ribs fell off. With his armor absorbed into the Six Sword, his already weakened body had reached its limit. If he were to perform the memory transfer now, The burden on Baldrix would only increase. ¡°...Alright.¡± But Johannes did not hesitate. He reached out his hand. Rather than leaving his nephew to endure in this suffocating space, it was better to grant him peace. ¡°Ernstine. This is the truth of the past thousand years that we have seen and lived through.¡± Flash. Johannes¡¯ eyes gleamed. And Baldrix¡¯s memories began to flow into Kaylen. ¡ªOne week after the coronation of the second emperor of the Meier Empire. Baldrix was summoned by Ernstine. ¡®Am I being exiled to the provinces?¡¯ Walking through Ernstine¡¯s palace¡ªthe grandest and most magnificent within the Meier Imperial Palace¡ªBaldrix thought to himself. It was only natural for him to think this way. He had fiercely opposed Caius for the position of the next emperor. ¡®I still can¡¯t accept that Caius, who isn¡¯t even a Sword Master, inherited the throne...¡¯ Baldrix had always believed that the ruler of the Meier Imperial Family should, at the very least, be a Sword Master. But Caius lacked talent in the sword. No matter how much the Grand Sword Master Ernstine personally trained him, he could only reach the level of a Sword Expert at best. Even if the Meier family had risen to imperial status, its roots were that of a martial clan. For Baldrix, it was unthinkable that a non-Sword Master would inherit the leadership of a warrior family. ¡®But it¡¯s already over.¡¯ In the end, the one chosen by Ernstine had been Caius. As soon as Baldrix, having emptied his mind, stepped into the imperial office, an unexpected figure welcomed him from within. ¡°You¡¯re here, Baldrix.¡± ¡°Uncle...¡± The Grand Mage Johannes, who had vanished after unifying the continent, stood next to Kaylen with a deep scowl on his face. So he disappeared, claiming he was off to discover a new continent... Yet, the very uncle who had refused to support him as the second emperor, saying he was going on an expedition, had now returned to the imperial castle as soon as Caius ascended the throne. Seeing this, Baldrix couldn¡¯t help but feel a sense of betrayal. What discovery? He simply hadn¡¯t wanted to offer his support. ¡°So, you return now that the new emperor has ascended? What happened to your grand expedition?¡± Baldrix sneered, and Johannes averted his gaze, clearing his throat awkwardly. ¡°Hmph. Hmph. I did discover one new continent. But I came back because I need the emperor¡¯s power to explore the next one. I can¡¯t do it alone.¡± ¡°A new continent actually exists...?¡± ¡°Indeed. Though it wasn¡¯t particularly useful. However, this new land I discovered... it¡¯s very interesting. The emperor has already agreed to come with me.¡± ¡°...Is that true?¡± Father? Even though he had abdicated, wasn¡¯t it far too soon for him to leave the empire unattended? There was no way Caius could govern this vast empire alone. Baldrix turned toward Emperor Ernstine, who simply nodded. ¡°Baldrix, where do you think the Celestial Realm and the Infernal Realm are located?¡± ¡°The Celestial Realm... isn¡¯t it in the heavens, in the divine world above? And the Infernal Realm exists in another dimension beneath the earth.¡± ¡°That¡¯s the common understanding. However, Johannes discovered something very intriguing on this new continent. Traces of the Celestial Realm.¡± ¡°...Traces of the Celestial Realm?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s possible that the Celestial Realm... coexists on this planet. And if that¡¯s true, then perhaps the Infernal Realm does as well.¡± The Celestial Realm and the Infernal Realm... could they truly exist beyond the seas? Baldrix, who had stepped into the office expecting a demotion, found himself utterly caught off guard by the unexpected revelation. If this were true, wouldn¡¯t it be a revolutionary discovery? ¡°Baldrix.¡± ¡°Yes, Father.¡± ¡°Would you join me in exploring this new continent?¡± ¡°...Is that an order?¡± ¡°An order? No. It¡¯s an invitation. Let¡¯s get some fresh air. And if we¡¯re lucky, we could go down in history as the first humans to discover the Celestial Realm.¡± An invitation, he said. But Baldrix could tell¡ªthis was something he had no choice but to accept. There was no way Ernstine would leave him behind while he set off on an expedition. Baldrix, who had fiercely contested the throne with Caius, still had many supporters. The former emperor couldn¡¯t just leave such a potential threat unattended. Yet, directly eliminating his own son wasn¡¯t an option either. Bringing him along on this expedition was likely Ernstine¡¯s way of handling the situation. ¡°...Understood.¡± Even so, Baldrix nodded without hesitation. Rather than being demoted to some distant province, following his father on an expedition seemed the better option. ¡°Good. Then... would you hold onto this for a moment?¡± Ernstine picked up a pristine white gauntlet from his desk and handed it to Baldrix. ¡°This is...¡± "It¡¯s something your uncle made. He said he got the idea from demonic magic items. Its name is..." "It¡¯s called the Mana Suit. I studied items taken from demons and modified them to suit humans. I didn¡¯t expect it to be used like this, though." Johannes scratched his cheek as he spoke. "Inject mana into the blue mana stone in the center of the gauntlet and say, ''Mana Suit Up.''" "''Mana Suit Up''...?" "Yeah. Sounds cool, right?" "It¡¯s childish." Despite saying that, Baldrix obediently followed Johannes¡¯s instructions. "Mana Suit Up." The gauntlet shimmered with light, and in an instant, a pure white full-plate armor covered Baldrix¡¯s entire body. Despite its size and thickness, the armor felt surprisingly light. Baldrix examined the Mana Suit with curiosity. "Baldrix, do you sense mana in the back of the Mana Suit?" "The back...?" Baldrix activated his mana and turned his focus to the back of the suit. Soon, he noticed six distinct streams of aura. "This... isn¡¯t this the Six Sword Path?" "That¡¯s right." "Why is it here?" "I¡¯ve reached the peak of swordsmanship. Now that I¡¯ve retired, I was thinking of learning magic. And if I¡¯m going to do it, I might as well do it properly." What does that have to do with the Six Sword Path being here? Baldrix looked puzzled, and Johannes sighed as he shook his head. "His Majesty insists on sealing his swords while he learns magic." "He¡¯s sealing the Six Sword Path?" "Yeah. With my swords, I can¡¯t tell if I¡¯m actually casting magic or just unleashing sword aura. If I¡¯m going to start, I should do it from zero." "What do you mean ''zero''? You still have your mana." "If I put down my swords, that¡¯s as good as starting from zero. Don¡¯t you think?" Baldrix turned his attention away from his bickering father and uncle and focused on the aura of the Six Sword Path embedded in the Mana Suit. His father had tried countless times to master it but always failed. Baldrix himself had already honed a new swordsmanship style and become a Swordmaster. And yet, the lingering desire for the Six Sword Path had never left him. "So the reason you''re giving this to me¡ª" "I know you still have regrets about the Six Sword Path." "While I focus on learning magic, you can use the Six Sword Path stored in that Mana Suit to work through those regrets. Once I reach the 8th Circle in magic, I¡¯ll take it back. Johannes, one year should be enough, right?" "Oh, come on. What? One year? Do you think reaching the 8th Circle is as easy as naming a dog? That¡¯s the most ridiculous thing I¡¯ve ever heard. You¡¯re never going to achieve it in your lifetime, Emperor." Johannes scoffed, already dismissing the possibility. But no one in the room took his words seriously. After all, even Ernstine himself had spoken of the 8th Circle as if it were a joke. And at the time¡ª No one could have imagined that Johannes¡¯s words would actually come true. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 172 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 172 One month had passed since Baldrix received the Mana Suit from Ernstine. During that time, he had been completely absorbed in studying the Six Sword Path contained within the Mana Suit. ''Isn''t he going to the New Continent?'' A whole month had passed without any summons from Ernstine, which left him feeling somewhat puzzled. ''He must be too preoccupied with learning magic.'' Well, he himself had been holed up in the training hall, observing the Six Sword Path the entire time. His father must have been just as focused on mastering magic. With that thought, Baldrix turned his gaze toward the six swords. ''Now that I¡¯ve looked at it closely, I get it. I¡¯ll never be able to use these swords.'' The more he studied the Six Sword Path, the more he realized the vast gap between himself and his father. A swordsmanship of six attributes¡ªnearly perfect, or rather, completely flawless. The idea that his father had created such a technique when he was merely a Swordmaster was something he still couldn''t fully believe, even after a month of research. ''I may be a member of House Meier, but I was simply born different from my father.'' Even as a prodigy who became a Swordmaster at a young age, recognized as one of the most gifted knights... That very talent made him even more aware of just how exceptional Ernstine was. ''No matter how much of my life I dedicate to the sword, I¡¯ll never be able to create an Aura Sword like this.'' In the past, he had tried everything to master the Six Sword Path. But after spending a month in its presence, he felt his lingering attachment to it gradually fading. ''I should just focus on refining my own Aura Sword.'' With that thought, Baldrix deactivated the Mana Suit. * * * "Lord Baldrix, His Majesty has summoned you." "Oh? Alright." Still wearing the Mana Suit in its gauntlet form, Baldrix responded and made his way to the Imperial Palace upon Ernstine¡¯s summons. Along the way, he unexpectedly crossed paths with someone. "Your Holiness..." "Prince Baldrix¡ªno, I should call you Grand Duke now. It has been a while." Pope Benedict, who was supposed to be at the Holy See, was stepping out of Ernstine¡¯s office, accompanied by several attendants, wearing a warm smile. "Did His Majesty summon Your Holiness?" "Yes, Your Highness." "Heh... Please take good care of him." With those words, Pope Benedict passed by Baldrix. Then, just before leaving, he casually offered a blessing. "May the divine protection of the Celestial God be with you in the days ahead." "Thank you." For a brief moment¡ª A faint white light enveloped Baldrix¡¯s body before vanishing just as quickly. ''To run into His Holiness by chance and even receive his blessing...'' Feeling that today might be a lucky day, Baldrix stepped into Ernstine¡¯s office. "You¡¯ve arrived, Baldrix." "Yes, Father." "Hm." The atmosphere in the office was noticeably different from a month ago. Johannes, who was usually all smiles, now wore a deeply solemn expression. And Ernstine spoke in a tone laced with irritation. "Why did you bring that Mana Suit?" "Ah, I came straight from training in the hall, so..." "Hm. Try putting it on now." Following Kaylen¡¯s command, Baldrix activated the Mana Suit. As soon as it was equipped, Ernstine reached out toward him. "O sword, leave my body." Sssssss... The engravings of the Six Swords on the Mana Suit darkened, growing more pronounced. At the same time, the mana contained within it surged dramatically. Ten minutes passed, and by the time Ernstine finally lowered his hand¡ª The six swords had extended from the suit, reaching from his head down to the tips of his limbs. "From now on, do not bring the Mana Suit here again. As long as I can see the Six Swords, I can''t focus on my magic." "My apologies. I¡¯ll be more careful." "Good. Keep that in mind next time." When Baldrix, who had bowed his head deeply, lifted his gaze again¡ª Johannes, standing beside Ernstine, furrowed his brows and subtly shook his head. A gesture warning him to tread carefully. ''Just what kind of magic is he learning for Father to have changed like this?'' Ernstine had never once shown irritation in front of his children. Not toward any of them, from childhood to adulthood. Even when Baldrix openly opposed Caius and vied for the throne, Ernstine had never gotten angry about it. At most, he had gently advised him. "Baldrix." "Yes...?" "Look at this." With a smooth motion, Ernstine brushed back his hair, revealing the nape of his neck. On his pale skin, small, rough crimson scales were visible. "This is..." "Yes. The Pope saw them and told me what they were. These are dragon scales¡ªDragonhide." "Dragonhide...?" "That¡¯s right, Baldrix. Our House Meier is descended from dragons. I realized this as I studied magic, and the Pope confirmed it." In that moment¡ª A glint flashed through Ernstine¡¯s golden eyes. His once-round pupils shifted, narrowing into vertical slits like those of a serpent. "Our Meier bloodline is destined to become dragons, Baldrix." "Dragons? But... we are human, aren''t we?" "No. You possess Infinity as well, do you not? Even if in small amounts. We are the descendants of dragons." To claim that simply having Infinity¡ªunlimited mana¡ªmeant they were descended from dragons... That was far too much of a leap. Father, you need to regain your composure. Baldrix wanted to say that. But the moment he met Ernstine¡¯s gaze, his body froze, and he found himself unable to speak. "...I see." Instead, his lips parted on their own, and he agreed as if his reasoning had been numbed. "Good. There is something I need you to do." "Something you need me to do?" "Yes. Go to Akinsor, your mother¡¯s homeland, and gather an army." "An army...?" "That¡¯s right." Why is he suddenly telling me to raise an army? Baldrix briefly questioned it. But as he looked into Ernstine¡¯s eyes, his reasoning gradually faded... ¡®It¡¯s Father¡¯s command. I must obey. No matter what.¡¯ That was the only thought that came to mind. "Ernstine! Gather an army? What nonsense are you talking about!?" "As a former prince of Akinsor, shouldn¡¯t this be an easy task for you?" "Shut up!" Had Johannes not stepped forward and blocked Baldrix¡¯s path in anger¡ª He would have continued thinking that way. "Your Majesty. Explain yourself properly. Why do you want an army from Akinsor? If you cannot convince me, as the former prince of Akinsor, I will resist with all my might." "Heh... Resist? You dare, against me, your Emperor?" "What!?" "As expected, those without my blood cannot understand. Enough. You are no longer of use to me." Johannes'' eyes widened. Though he had served Ernstine as his lord, for decades, they had been nothing less than lifelong friends. But ever since Ernstine started learning magic, he had changed. And now, he was saying Johannes was "no longer useful." "Mana, explode the traitor." "You..." The moment Ernstine pointed a finger at Johannes'' head¡ª Boom! The head of an 8th-circle Grand Mage burst apart effortlessly. Thud. As Johannes¡¯ headless body collapsed, Ernstine smiled serenely at the sight. "Heh... so this is what it feels like to truly control mana." "U-Uncle...! Father, what have you done!?" "Baldrix. He defied me. This is the rightful punishment." Ssss... As Ernstine¡¯s pupils once again narrowed into vertical slits¡ª Baldrix felt his body freeze. He could feel the mana within him submitting to those eyes. A gaze that no one of the Meier bloodline could resist. "...You are correct." "Then, you should also punish the traitor, should you not?" "Understood." Baldrix nodded blankly¡ª And stepped on the corpse of the uncle he had once followed more than anyone. Ernstine watched with delight. And with that, Baldrix¡¯s mind went blank for a long time. From then on, he lived as Ernstine¡¯s puppet. "Caius is unfit to be Emperor!" He marched into Akinsor and raised a rebellion against the Empire. "We take no prisoners." He slaughtered every surrendering soldier, leaving only corpses in his wake. And as the bodies piled up¡ª "Heh heh heh..." Ernstine devoured them all, consuming them to become a dragon. And when the Empire finally crumbled¡ª When he had gathered enough to satisfy his desire¡ª "Baldrix. The time has come." The Emperor, his body covered in scales, gave his command. "Bring me the Mana Suit that contains the Six Swords. Once I absorb it, I will become a true Dragon God." The Mana Suit containing the Six Swords¡ª It was stored in the treasure vault of the Akinsor Royal Palace. Once, Baldrix had never wanted to part with that treasure, not even for a moment. ¨CI don¡¯t even want to look at it. Hide it away somewhere. Following Ernstine¡¯s orders, he had sealed it within the treasure vault of the newly established Akinsor Kingdom after toppling the Empire. ¡®With this, Father will become the great Dragon God.¡¯ Baldrix retrieved the Mana Suit from the depths of the vault, overwhelmed with joy. Once Ernstine absorbed the power contained within the Six Swords and completed his transformation¡ª Baldrix would have fulfilled his sacred duty. To him, this was the ultimate glory. ¨CChild of man. If not for the solemn voice echoing in his mind¡ª He would have continued his task in a daze. ¨CAwaken from your delusion. With just those words¡ª A splitting pain erupted in his head. His reason returned. "N-No... What have I done...?" He had destroyed the great Empire that once unified the continent. He had slain his own kin¡ª Even sentencing his elder brother Caius¡¯s wife and children to death. He had flooded the land with corpses¡ª Feeding them all to the Dragon God. The world had branded him the Bloodsucking King for his atrocities. And in the end, all he had gained was the Akinsor Kingdom, the nation he rebuilt. Baldrix grasped at his hair, pulling it in despair. Even if he had been manipulated, he was the one who had committed these acts. It would have been better if he had never awakened from his delusion. He collapsed to the ground. He wished¡ª That all of this had been a dream. Just then¡ª A brilliant white portal opened in the corner of the treasure vault. From within, a man stepped out, walking slowly toward him. "Baldrix." "Uncle...?" "Yes. I''ve come to take you with me." Seeing Johannes standing before him, unchanged from before, Baldrix sighed in relief and asked¡ª "Y-You¡¯re alive?" "No. I¡¯m dead." Shhhk. Johannes ran a hand across his face¡ª And his head instantly transformed into a blackened skull. "But the Celestial Realm revived me." "L-Like that? Aren¡¯t you undead?" "Yeah. Apparently, that¡¯s the only way they could bring me back. Damn ridiculous... an undead in the Celestial Realm. The world¡¯s gone mad." Johannes let out a dry chuckle, then turned to the white portal. "The Celestial Realm wants me to bring you there." He reached out beside it¡ª And a new, crimson portal formed. "But who knows what they¡¯ll do to you if we go there? We¡¯re taking this way instead." "U-Uncle. But if I leave... Father won¡¯t be able to become the Dragon God." "Ugh, that bastard. Do you even realize what¡¯ll happen if he does?" "That..." "This entire continent will be turned upside down. Every human will die. Akinsor, this kingdom you built¡ªit will all be wiped out. Is that what you want?" Baldrix had no response. If he were still in his dazed state, perhaps he wouldn¡¯t have cared. But now¡ª The thought of humanity¡¯s extinction was something he could no longer accept. "Let¡¯s go." "...Yes." Holding the Mana Suit, Baldrix followed Johannes¡ª Stepping into the crimson portal. Just moments before Ernstine could complete his transformation into the true Dragon God¡ª Baldrix fled with the Mana Suit, ruining everything. And because of that, Ernstine was never able to become the Dragon God. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 173 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 173 The place they arrived at through Johannes¡¯ portal was a land Baldrix had never seen before. ¡°This is the new continent I first discovered. The mana of the land is abundant¡ªso abundant that nothing grows here.¡± A terrain of hard, ochre-colored rock without a single blade of grass. This was the land Johannes had first discovered after crossing the sea. ¡°A land where humans could never survive.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I thought too. But after conducting a personal investigation, I found traces of civilization in the heart of the continent. And...¡± Johannes hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. ¡°No, it¡¯s still just a hypothesis. I¡¯ll talk about it later. For now, we should hide here for a while.¡± ¡°In this land?¡± ¡°Yes. Even though the Celestial Realm spared me, I don¡¯t feel comfortable staying there.¡± ¡°You find the Celestial Realm unsettling...?¡± ¡°How did you regain consciousness?¡± At Johannes¡¯ question, Baldrix recalled what had happened earlier. ¡ªAwaken from your delusion. A solemn voice echoed in his mind. The voice alone was enough to evoke a sense of obedience from deep within. ¡°The Holy Emperor spoke to me. He said that the Celestial God would deliver a message to me personally.¡± ¡°Then what I heard was...¡± ¡°The voice of the Celestial God, most likely. They were well aware that Ernstine would become a Dragon God and had already prepared for it.¡± ¡°Now that I think about it, I once met the Holy Emperor in my father¡¯s imperial palace. He bestowed his blessing upon me before departing.¡± ¡°Yes. Back then, he saw the scales forming on Ernstine¡¯s nape and called them dragon scales. Strange, isn¡¯t it? If becoming a Dragon God was such a significant event, they should have taken precautions the moment the dragon scales appeared... But they didn¡¯t. They merely acknowledged Ernstine as a descendant of dragons.¡± Baldrix listened to Johannes¡¯ words and felt something was indeed off. At that time, the Holy Emperor had simply smiled without showing any sign of concern. ¡°Now that I hear it, the Celestial Realm does seem suspicious.¡± ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s why we can¡¯t stay on the Aberian Continent. No matter how well we hide, Ernstine¡¯s gaze will find us there.¡± Baldrix nodded. Considering Ernstine¡¯s authority as a dragon, there was no way to stay hidden on the Aberian Continent. The only place left to hide was this barren new continent made of rock. ¡°You¡¯re human, so I¡¯ll personally procure food for you.¡± Thus, their concealment on the new continent began. However, it wasn¡¯t long before Baldrix started to feel regret and self-reproach. ¡®I ruined the Meier Clan¡¯s long-cherished wish...¡¯ Every member of the Meier Clan carried within them infinite mana¡ªInfinity. Even though Baldrix had regained his senses for a moment due to the voice of the Celestial God, he was still a Meier. There was no way he could completely resist its influence. His actions had gone entirely against the purpose of Infinity. Now, as if trying to restore the natural order, the infinite mana within him began to sway him. ¡®I must undo my mistake.¡¯ Even though he knew that Ernstine becoming a Dragon God would bring humanity to the brink of destruction... He was filled with relentless regret and an urge to return to Ernstine¡¯s side. ¡°Uncle, I have to go back. I am also of the Meier Clan. I must help my father become a Dragon God.¡± ¡°Baldrix, have you fallen into delusion again?¡± ¡°This is not delusion. This is the fate of the Meier Clan.¡± At those words, Johannes scoffed. ¡°Fate, my ass. Your change of heart is because Ernstine is getting closer, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°What? What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°That bastard Ernstine... That mana suit must be quite important. He¡¯s come all the way to the new continent.¡± ¡°Father has...?¡± Baldrix shot up from his seat. If his father had come personally, he had to go and meet him at once. Even if it meant facing death as the price of his betrayal¡ª His father¡¯s ascension as a Dragon God was more important. With vacant eyes, Baldrix reached for the mana suit where the Six Swords were sealed... But Johannes blocked him. ¡°Baldrix. It¡¯s already too late.¡± ¡°Too late...? What do you mean?¡± ¡°Though your father has crossed into the new continent, someone has stood in his way.¡± ¡°Who would dare stand in my father¡¯s path?¡± ¡°There is only one being in this world capable of that. The Celestial God.¡± Johannes pointed westward with his finger. Even though it was morning, the light shining from the west was far stronger than that of the east. It was not natural sunlight. It was a pure white radiance thick with mana. Baldrix squinted at the blinding light. And soon, the light in the west grew stronger and stronger¡ª Until he could see nothing at all. ¡°The Celestial God has never descended to the mortal world, no matter how powerful a Demon King may have appeared. But now, he has come down himself to strike down Ernstine. He is unleashing power befitting a god. No matter how strong Ernstine is, he cannot defeat the one and only true god of this world.¡± ¡°Then... Father...¡± ¡°Yes. He will die. Right here and now.¡± Johannes spoke with a bitter expression. Even if Ernstine was to die¡ª Watching the emperor he had served for decades, his one and only friend, meet such an end was not something he could feel at ease about. ¡°...I cannot just stand by and watch.¡± With vacant eyes, Baldrix donned the mana suit and bolted westward. He shoved past Johannes, who had been blocking his way, charging forward like a raging bull. Johannes, who had fallen to the ground, clicked his tongue and reached out toward him. ¡°Tsk. You ungrateful brat. I spared you because you¡¯re my nephew, and this is how you repay me? Bind.¡± ¡°Let me go!¡± ¡°No. If you go there, not even dust will be left of you.¡± The west was swallowed in light. Everything there was being erased. The continent, made of solid rock, was melting. The ocean at the continent¡¯s edge was burning in the light, evaporating into nothingness. If Baldrix stepped into that place, he would be reduced to nothing but dust. Johannes had no intention of letting the nephew he had barely saved walk straight into death. ¡°Khh...¡± But Baldrix¡¯s will was not so easily broken. No, more than his own will¡ª It was the will of Infinity, the boundless mana within him. A surge of powerful mana erupted from the Six Swords engraved on the back of the mana suit. ¡°Father, I¡¯m here...!¡± ¡°Hah. That damn kid... Bind.¡± Johannes cast a binding spell that restrained Baldrix¡¯s entire body. The Six Swords burst forth from the mana suit, tearing through the mana that shackled him¡ª But¡ª ¡°Urgh....¡± The spell of an 8th-circle Archmage was powerful. Baldrix had no choice but to halt his steps. Bound completely, he could do nothing but watch as the explosion of light unfolded before him. ¡®No...¡¯ And soon¡ª The light grew even more intense. Mana surged and exploded outward, scattering Infinity in all directions. At that moment, Baldrix instinctively realized¡ª It was over. The mana that formed the very foundation of the Dragon God Ernstine had been scattered. His father had been defeated. ¡°Ah...¡± Strength drained from Baldrix¡¯s body. If only he hadn¡¯t followed Johannes¡ª His father would not have lost to the Celestial God. This outcome... felt entirely like his own fault. As he sank into despair, lowering his head¡ª [Baldrix... You did well.] A voice echoed in his ears. It was Ernstine¡¯s voice¡ª Not as the Dragon God, but as the Emperor Ernstine he had been before. ¡°Father...¡± [I could not defy Infinity... If not for you, I would have destroyed this world.] Unlike the Dragon God¡¯s voice, this one carried reason. Had he regained his true self in the face of death? With a voice filled with regret, Ernstine spoke. [Let me say it again. You have no reason to be sorry. You did well.] Even as Ernstine reassured him, Baldrix could not escape his despair. The mana coursing through his body screamed at him¡ªtelling him he was a sinner. ¡°I¡¯m sorry... I¡¯m sorry...¡± Despite Ernstine¡¯s words, Baldrix, as if broken, could only repeat his apologies. Seeing his son like this, Ernstine let out a sighing breath before speaking. [You have nothing to apologize for... But very well, Baldrix. I have one request for you. Will you grant it?] ¡°Yes... Anything. Please tell me.¡± [I will return one day.] ¡°Return...?¡± Ernstine spoke with certainty, declaring that he would come back. And then, he left his final will to Baldrix. [Yes. Until that day... forge a sword.] As the memory playback of Baldrix ended on those words¡ª Johannes continued his account in a detached tone. ¡°After that, well... we went into hiding, running from the Helmeier Clan, who lost their minds. They believed Ernstine failed to become the Dragon God because of Baldrix.¡± ¡°...Even though the Celestial God personally intervened to stop Ernstine, the Helmeier Clan still survived?¡± ¡°The battle took place in the new continent, and the Celestial God also suffered heavy damage. Though he managed to subdue Ernstine, he hasn¡¯t revealed himself since that day. Even when the Demon Realm took control of the Middle World, there was no response from him. It¡¯s clear something happened to him. Now it makes sense why they were so wary of the Dragon God.¡± After listening to the story, Kaylen took a moment to process his thoughts. He needed to confirm whether the rampaging Ernstine, who sought to become the Dragon God, was truly himself. ¡®In the past, I entrusted the Six Swords to Baldrix so I could focus on my training. Up to that point, that was definitely me.¡¯ After becoming a Grand Swordmaster¡ªErnstine had considered learning magic once he stepped down from the throne. ¡®But after that...¡¯ The Ernstine who destroyed the Meier Empire with his own hands¡ª The Ernstine who executed his dear friend, Johannes, on the spot¡ª Was that really him? ¡®Before, I would have denied it without hesitation.¡¯ But now, he wasn¡¯t so sure. Kaylen recalled the moment he completed the Six Sword Path. When the Six Swords were fully established¡ª They had started to shift, trying to transform into the Six Demon Path. If he had accepted that change back then... ¡®I might have ended up like Ernstine when he became the Dragon God.¡¯ Perhaps that was why Marquess Kaina Helmeier had insisted on embedding Infinity into his Six Swords. To turn the Six Sword Path into the Six Demon Path¡ª To revert Kaylen back into the Dragon God Ernstine of old. ¡®I can never allow my sword to change.¡¯ The Ernstine who had brought ruin upon the Meier Empire himself¡ª If he returned to that state, there was no telling what kind of catastrophe he might bring upon the world. To prevent that, he had to maintain the Six Swords in their true form. ¡°...Ernstine. So, what do you think? Now that you''ve seen Baldrix¡¯s memories, do you remember everything from your past?¡± Johannes asked cautiously. ¡°No. My memories are still stuck at the abdication ceremony. I have no recollection of my time as the Dragon God Ernstine. I don¡¯t even remember learning magic from you.¡± ¡°Really? When you first started learning magic, you weren¡¯t any different from before. You don¡¯t remember anything from that time either...?¡± ¡°No. But there is one new memory that surfaced.¡± ¡°Oh? What is it?¡± Johannes asked with curiosity. ¡°The Celestial God¡¯s voice.¡± Kaylen spoke unexpected words. ¡°The voice that awakened Baldrix? What about it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard it before.¡± ¡°Hmm... Well, you were a Hero, so wouldn¡¯t it make sense that you¡¯ve heard the Celestial God¡¯s voice at least once?¡± ¡°No. I heard it in a completely unexpected place.¡± Kaylen¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°The one who is now the White Demon King¡ªMarquess Lucifer of the Demon Realm.¡± ¡°...!¡± ¡°His voice... was exactly the same as the Celestial God¡¯s.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 174 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 174 The voice of the Celestial God that awakened Baldrix. It was a divine voice that no one could possibly imitate. A solemn command from the One True God to His creation. The impact it carried was so overwhelming that even though Kaylen had merely heard the voice through Baldrix¡¯s memories, it was enough to unearth long-sealed fragments of his own past. ¡ªHero Ernstine. The final battle before the Demon King¡¯s castle. During that climactic confrontation, Marquess Lucifer of the Demon Realm had stood as the last line of defense, engaging in a relentless duel with Ernstine. ¡ªHero...! ¡ªSaintess, stand back. This one is stronger than the Demon Dukes. Lucifer was more powerful than any foe Ernstine had ever faced. Though he didn¡¯t wield any peculiar powers, his mastery over dark magic was flawless, allowing him to withstand even the Holy Sword¡¯s radiance, resulting in an evenly matched battle. After exchanging countless blows for several minutes¡ª ¡ªIs this all...? Lucifer muttered cryptically as he took a step back. Then, an enormous shift occurred. The overwhelming darkness that had enveloped him was suddenly replaced by radiant divine energy, revealing a completely different presence. ¡ªHero. The truth is, I am an Archangel who infiltrated the Demon Realm. ¡ªAn... Archangel? ¡ªYes. I am the Celestial God¡¯s hidden sword. ¡ªI am Lucifer, the Fourth Archangel. ¡ª...That¡¯s hard to believe. As far as I know, there are only three Archangels. ¡ªThat is merely what has been revealed to the mortal world. Hero, allow me to prove my identity. From behind Lucifer, magnificent wings of pure light unfurled, flooding the battlefield with divine power. The demons guarding the Demon King¡¯s castle were instantly incinerated without so much as a scream. The Saintess and the human forces who had accompanied Ernstine froze in place, their gazes vacant, bodies paralyzed by the sheer pressure of divinity. A blinding white light consumed the Demon King¡¯s stronghold. Seeing that, Ernstine nodded in acknowledgment. This was a power only an Archangel could possess. ¡ªIndeed, no demon could ever wield such divine energy. ¡ªHero. The Crimson Flame Demon King is the most formidable of all Demon Kings in history. Therefore, I shall bestow my blessing upon you. ¡ªWhy not just fight alongside me? Ernstine, witnessing Lucifer¡¯s overwhelming power, spoke plainly. If an Archangel fought by his side, defeating the Demon King would be effortless. ¡ªI cannot. The Demon King must fall by the Hero¡¯s hand... Lucifer rejected the offer without hesitation and instead bestowed upon Ernstine the Blessing of Light. ¡ªIn the name of the Celestial God, I command you¡ªpurge all darkness, Hero. A divine blessing far stronger than any the Saintess had ever granted him. Yet, instead of focusing on the surge of power coursing through his body, Ernstine found himself shaken by something else¡ª ¡®...I almost fell to my knees.¡¯ When Lucifer invoked the Celestial God¡¯s name, his altered voice carried an irresistible force. Even Ernstine, a Grand Swordmaster and an absolute existence in his own right, had nearly succumbed to submission. No matter how powerful an Archangel might be¡ªhow could mere words hold such overwhelming dominion? As Ernstine stood in shock, Lucifer spoke once more. ¡ªAnd... awaken to your true nature, Ernstine. Awaken to your essence. With those final words, Lucifer vanished. Ernstine had never been able to recall that day¡ª At least, not until he heard the voice of the Celestial God within Baldrix¡¯s memories. * * * ¡°So that¡¯s what happened.¡± Johannes wore a grave expression after hearing the full account from Kaylen. To command someone to realize their essence and then seal their memories? Considering that Ernstine had already attained the rank of Grand Sword Master at the time, such a feat should have been impossible¡ªeven for an Archangel. ¡°No matter how I think about it, that¡¯s beyond the capabilities of an Archangel.¡± ¡°Agreed. The voice I heard from Lucifer back then... it must have belonged to the Celestial God.¡± ¡°...No way. Are you saying Lucifer¡ª the current White Demon King¡ª is actually the Celestial God...?¡± Johannes muttered in disbelief. Deimos, the ruler of the Three Realms and the White Demon King. He had conquered the Middle Realm while possessing a demon king¡¯s body, and even successfully invaded the Celestial Realm¡ª And now, the claim that he was the Celestial God all along? ¡°That... that doesn¡¯t make sense. If he were the Celestial God, why would he try to destroy the Celestial Realm? Wouldn¡¯t it be easier to rule the Demon Realm as the Celestial God instead?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe the White Demon King is the Celestial God either. But there¡¯s something else that bothers me.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Saint Pope Benedict and the people of Sanctuary... They all share an unusual trait¡ª Their hair. It¡¯s black, just like the demons, and it emanates traces of dark mana.¡± ¡°...Hmm. Yeah, that always struck me as odd.¡± Back when Ernstine was still studying magic, he recalled seeing the Saint Pope smile as he examined the dragon scales that had appeared on the Emperor¡¯s nape. If Ernstine truly carried the mark of a dragon, the proper response would have been to warn him or take countermeasures. Yet, throughout the years, the Saint Pope had chosen to simply observe¡ª Almost as if he had been waiting for something. ¡®Lucifer told me to realize my essence. The Saint Pope smiled upon seeing the dragon scales. It¡¯s as if... they were both hoping I would awaken as the Dragon God.¡¯ And if that was truly their intent¡ª Then they had succeeded. Ernstine had abandoned the Six Sword Path and chosen the Six Demons Path instead. And beyond that, he had decided to become the Dragon God. ¡®And at the final moment... The Celestial God awakened Baldrix, making him flee with the Mana Suit. The Six Sword Path was contained within that suit. If I, the Dragon God, had absorbed it... I would have become complete. The Celestial God had no issue awakening the Dragon God¡ª But He refused to allow me to become whole.¡¯ ¡®Perhaps, if I had reached completion, even the Celestial God would have struggled to handle me.¡¯ After all, the Celestial God had barely managed to subdue him when he was incomplete. If the Dragon God had been in his perfect form, the outcome might have been reversed. ¡®Still, all of this is just speculation.¡¯ Even after recovering his lost memories thanks to the Celestial God¡¯s voice, it was still only a hypothesis. To turn this theory into something concrete, he needed proof. ¡°I need to find Sanctuary¡¯s location.¡± ¡°Sanctuary...? Are you planning to confront the Saint Pope?¡± ¡°Yes. I can¡¯t afford to clash with the Geysir Empire while leaving Sanctuary¡¯s forces at my back. Now that I know the truth about the past, I need to hear what they have to say.¡± Sanctuary itself wasn¡¯t a significant military threat, but the Saint Pope, Benedict, held too many answers. ¡°Johannes. Do you have any idea where Sanctuary might be?¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Johannes simply shrugged at Kaylen¡¯s question. ¡°They¡¯ve hidden it so well that even I gave up looking. It¡¯d be great if we had a lead, though.¡± ¡°A lead, huh...¡± Kaylen drew the Holy Sword Astella from the Light Sword of the Six Sword Path. "Astella, do you have any idea where your replica is located?" [Hmm... I can sense a part of myself in the north. More precisely... in the sky.] The sanctuary where the replica of the Holy Sword Astella was embedded. Though the Holy Sword couldn''t pinpoint the exact location of its replica, it could at least detect the general direction. "The northern sky... that''s too broad," Kaylen muttered. Johannes let out a deep sigh but nodded. "Still, it''s better than having no clue about its direction or altitude. I''ll try to locate it." "I appreciate it." "Alright. Let''s leave it at that for now... Can you hear out Baldrix¡¯s request?" Baldrix¡¯s request. Kaylen already had a guess. In his final moments, within the depths of his memories... Ernstine had been certain of his return. ¡ªForge a sword. He had asked Baldrix to craft a sword for him. "Father." Creak. Creak. Baldrix''s skeletal fingers scraped against the floor as he slowly shifted his body backward. A torso with only upper limbs remaining¡ªno legs. His bones were mismatched in size. Some were fully developed, like those of an adult, while others were as small as a child''s. A powerful undead knight. Yet, his skeletal structure was far from that of a mere Death Knight. "I... have awaited this moment." Turning his entire disjointed body with effort, Baldrix faced Kaylen directly. Though he was nothing more than a skeleton and had no facial expressions, Kaylen could somehow feel a sense of relief emanating from him. "This... is for you." Swish... From Baldrix¡¯s hands, the earth began to rise. The mound of dirt completely engulfing his hands soon took form. "This is..." A crude sword. Even a child molding clay with their bare hands would have shaped something more refined than this. To Kaylen, who had wielded countless legendary blades, this earthen sword was utterly unremarkable. Yet, when he saw it, he was struck speechless. "......" From the crude blade, an immense amount of earth mana radiated. Mana forcibly condensed and compressed over and over¡ªuntil the very essence of the earth''s power was embedded within it. Though its form was laughable, the power it contained was real. "As per my duty... I have forged a sword. Though its shape is lacking..." Baldrix lifted his arms, and the sword rose with them. "I have infused it with as much earth mana as possible... to be worthy of the Six Swords." The final request of Ernstine¡ªto forge a sword. Baldrix had fully understood the meaning behind those brief words. "A sword worthy of the Six Swords... has been forged." The Holy Sword Astella, housed within the Light Sword. The Dragon Flame of Kaina, contained within the Fire Sword¡ªboth its form and power befitting a divine blade. Yet, the crude earthen sword that Baldrix had forged... Its shape was far too rough to be called a divine sword. Though the mana within it could not rival that of a Holy Sword, it was in no way inferior to the Dragon Flame. "This is truly an exceptional sword, Baldrix... How in the world did you manage to forge this?" "Look at his bones. Don''t they seem... small to you?" Johannes pointed at Baldrix''s skeletal frame as he spoke. "This nameless continent is a land where earth mana is densely concentrated. The creatures that lived here had an exceptional affinity for earth mana. Even long after their deaths, traces of that mana remained in their bones." "Then... that means..." "That''s right. Baldrix discarded his own bones and replaced them with those of the creatures from this land. All to complete that sword." He had taken the bones of another race, grafting them onto himself. Drawing upon the earth¡¯s power, he had pounded away at the forge for centuries. Again and again, the borrowed bones had crumbled away. His own undead frame had been reduced to ruins. But Baldrix had never wavered. If it meant fulfilling his father¡¯s final command, none of it mattered. He had long since lost track of time, forging endlessly in the darkness. ¡®...You¡¯ve suffered so much.¡¯ Kaylen took the crude earthen sword, his expression heavy. Had he truly toiled away for centuries in this suffocating prison? All because of Ernstine¡¯s final request? Even if this was a magnificent sword... the thought of it ached in his chest. "Please... grant this sword a name." "Let it bear your name." "Are you saying..." "Baldrix. This sword of the earth shall be named after you." Clack, clack. Baldrix clattered his jawbone together, as if overjoyed. "It is an honor, Father... Then, at last, I may rest." Perhaps because he had finally handed over the earthen sword, the very thing he had forged as an undead for his entire existence... Baldrix¡¯s will to continue living began to fade. Plop. Plop. The bones of other races, fused to his own, started falling away one by one. Fragments of his forearms and ribs crumbled to the ground. At this rate, the rest he had long sought would soon come. Though as an undead, he could continue to exist... With no will to hold him together, Baldrix''s body was slowly collapsing. Kaylen watched in silence before speaking in a calm voice. "Baldrix. I understand your desire to rest. But... don¡¯t you want to know who was behind all of this?" "......That is..." "As your father, I would respect your wish for peace. But if there are still questions left unanswered¡ªif there is lingering regret¡ªthen you may choose to stay a little longer." At Kaylen¡¯s words, Baldrix lowered his head deeply. For a long moment, there was silence. Then, slowly, his head rose once more. "......Understood. I will remain... a little longer." A faint red light flickered within his hollow eye sockets. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 175 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 175 "Why didn''t you let Baldrix rest?" Johannes spoke to Ernstine with a dissatisfied expression. Having witnessed firsthand how much his nephew had endured, Johannes found it infuriating that Kaylen, despite even forging him a black sword, was already trying to put him to work again. "I didn''t force him. It was his choice." "If you say that to someone who follows your every word, of course, he''ll say he wants to live. What else is he supposed to say? That he wants to die?" Grumbling, Johannes reached out toward the coffin at his feet. Inside the black coffin lay Baldrix¡¯s spine and skull, submerged in dark mana. "What exactly are you doing in there?" "Do you remember the Death Knights we saw before?" "The ones who used to be Sword Masters?" "Yeah. Those guys were originally created using Baldrix¡¯s limbs and torso bones. They were the bones he discarded in order to complete his Cursed Sword. Right now, I¡¯m in the process of putting them back together." As expected, dark mana gathered near the spine, and the blackened bones slowly began to regenerate. "It¡¯ll take about two weeks for full regeneration." "I see... Come to think of it, Baldrix replaced his own bones with those of other races, didn''t he?" "Yeah. They were imbued with the mana of the earth." "What race were they?" "I don¡¯t know. How could I? Only the bones remained. However..." Johannes tilted his head slightly before continuing. "In the old stories and legends we¡¯ve heard, there are countless races mentioned. But Ernstine, in all your travels, you''ve only ever encountered elves and dwarves, haven¡¯t you?" "That¡¯s right. Even during the unification of the continent, it was nearly impossible to find any other races aside from elves and dwarves¡ªexcluding monsters, of course." Kaylen recalled his past experiences. Many legends spoke of various races, yet in reality, elves and dwarves were the only non-human races that interacted with humans. Monsters did exist in many forms, but they were hardly capable of communication, let alone coexistence... Their relentless hostility toward humans classified them more as monsters than another race altogether. "That''s true. But for some reason, the beings that lived here closely resembled the gnomes we''ve only ever heard about in legends." "Gnomes?" "Yeah. Half-fae who dwell underground and guard minerals. When I saw the remnants left in this land, I immediately thought of the gnomes from our myths¡ªthe very race that we could never find on the Averia Continent." Kaylen recalled the small, oddly placed bones within Baldrix¡¯s body. If they belonged to a gnome, who was the size of a dwarf, then it made sense. "A legendary race from Averia, found here on the New Continent... Fascinating." "Right? I investigated other parts of the New Continent as well, but this is the only place where the traces of another race were so pronounced." "Other parts of the New Continent?" "Besides the Averia Continent and this one, there are a total of four continents." Johannes extended four fingers, folding them down one by one as he counted. "First, there''s the northern continent¡ªthe Continent of Light. Based on my observations, I believe this place is actually the Celestial Realm." "The Celestial Realm... existing on the same planet? That¡¯s hard to believe." One of the most shocking revelations Baldrix¡¯s memories had given them was precisely this. The Celestial Realm wasn¡¯t floating in the sky¡ªit was across the sea. "It¡¯s certain. When the Celestials resurrected me as an undead, I was able to pinpoint its location. The Celestial Realm is a continent situated above the northern ocean. And what would be its direct counterpart?" "...You''re referring to the Demon Realm?" "Exactly. After becoming a lich, I spent a long time researching. Once I confirmed that the Celestial Realm was a single continent, I was sure the Demon Realm had to exist as well. And just as I suspected¡ªthe Demon Realm is located south of the Averia Continent." So not only was the Celestial Realm part of this planet... but even the Demon Realm existed here as well. ¡®Was that the presence interfering with my observation?¡¯ Even while monitoring the Geysir Empire, Ederna had not neglected her observations of Kaylen. Lately, however, she had been unable to see him, which made her wonder what had happened. ¡®Kaylen could block observation, but he never cared about being watched in the first place.¡¯ If there was an unknown factor, it could only be that undead mage. To uncover his identity, Ederna observed him closely. Even for a lich, the dormant dark mana within him was immense¡ªenough to rival a noble-ranked demon. ¡®For such a being to exist in the Middle Realm...¡¯ Ederna found herself purely in awe. She was amazed that such a presence had gone unnoticed until now. As she was trying to analyze the lich mage more deeply¡ª ¡°He has been observed.¡± Flash. Suddenly, a brilliant white light erupted behind Ederna. Light mana, an extremely rare force in the Demon Realm. There was only one being who possessed it¡ªthe White Demon King. ¡ªDemon King, you have arrived? ¡°Yes.¡± With wings of light wavering behind him, the Demon King gazed at the display Ederna had been observing. ¡°The ¡®mage¡¯ has followed him once again. That means he won¡¯t be absorbed by the dragon. In that case, we can proceed...¡± Muttering cryptic words, the Demon King then asked Ederna: ¡°Observer, where is the land most densely populated by humans?¡± ¡ªA densely populated area... Following the Demon King¡¯s command, Ederna examined various cities. The candidates were soon narrowed down to two: Alzass, the capital of the Starn Empire, and Hogwarts, the capital of the Magic Kingdom of Pendor. Alzass had a slightly higher population, but¡ª ¡ªHere. For some reason, an ominous feeling stirred within her. Instinctively, Ederna pointed to Hogwarts instead of Alzass. ¡°Hmm... I see.¡± The Demon King chuckled meaningfully as he watched the display. ¡°We must restore the balance of power...¡± He reached out lightly with a hand made of pure light. As the luminous hand seemed to pass through the screen¡ª ¡®No...!¡¯ ¡ªA massive hand of light materialized above the skies of Hogwarts. A hand so enormous that it completely shrouded the capital. Aside from Ederna, who was observing from afar, no one realized it was a ¡®hand.¡¯ People merely felt that the sunlight had suddenly intensified¡ª And then, in an instant, they were engulfed by the light. ¡°Ederna. Show me the capital of Geysir.¡± ¡ªYes. ¡°Focus on the imperial palace.¡± Following the Demon King¡¯s orders, Ederna shifted the view to Geysir. Once again, the White Demon King stretched his hand toward the screen. This time, high above the skies of Geysir¡ª Drip, drip, drip... People began falling from the sky. Like raindrops, ¡®humans¡¯ rained down. Their bodies struck the palace walls, bursting upon impact¡ª Bloodstains spread across the fortress walls, and shattered corpses littered the ground. As bodies piled up around the capital¡¯s fortress due to the sudden human rain, the White Demon King spoke with satisfaction: ¡°This should suffice.¡± The hand movements the Demon King displayed in such a brief moment¡ª They were nothing more than a casual motion, like picking up an object and placing it elsewhere. Yet, with that small gesture¡ª An entire region¡¯s human population had been wiped out. A shiver ran down Ederna¡¯s spine. ¡®No matter how powerful the Demon King is... Is this even possible...?¡¯ ¡°Well then, continue your work, Duchess Ederna.¡± Flash. As the White Demon King departed, Ederna turned blankly toward the space where he had stood. The overwhelming power he displayed made her feel utterly insignificant. ¡®Is that... truly what a Demon King is?¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 176 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 176 The outskirts of Alzass, the capital of the Starn Empire. A crimson portal opened, and Kaylen and Johannes stepped out. ¡°This is your empire¡¯s capital?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s smaller compared to the Meier Empire, but it¡¯s well-established.¡± Johannes, in his human form, glanced around the capital. Unlike other cities, which had become isolated due to dungeon portals, Alzass had a thriving flow of goods, and the people¡¯s faces were free of worry. ¡°It¡¯s a good place.¡± Leaving behind that brief remark, Johannes followed Kaylen toward the city center. Kaylen naturally stood out wherever he went, drawing the citizens¡¯ attention. ¡°The Emperor has arrived.¡± ¡°Who is the person beside him?¡± Many people observed them from a distance, whispering among themselves. ¡°Your Majesty! Hello!¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± A few children waved at Kaylen, greeting him without hesitation. It was a reaction that would have been unthinkable back in the days of the Bormian Kingdom. This change had come about because Kaylen had continuously presented himself as an approachable ruler. ¡°You¡¯re still the same. Isn¡¯t the Emperor wandering around too freely? You should have some attendants with you. Maybe bring some knights along for protection.¡± ¡°Protection? Who¡¯s protecting who?¡± ¡°...Well, that¡¯s true. Still, even if being overly authoritarian is bad, you should maintain a certain level of formality. If the people see the Emperor as too easygoing, it could undermine your authority as a ruler.¡± Johannes nagged at Kaylen. It reminded Kaylen of the old days in the Meier Empire, making him smile faintly. ¡°I understand that much. But I had no choice.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll understand when you see the palace.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go quickly. Fly.¡± Johannes lifted off the ground and swiftly soared through the air. When they reached the center of the capital and saw the palace, which had been split in half, he understood what Kaylen meant. ¡°It¡¯s been cut clean in two.¡± ¡°Yeah. At first, the people looked at me as if I were a monster.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why you approached them without formality? Considering that, they warmed up to you rather quickly.¡± ¡°They¡¯re living better than before, now that the king has changed.¡± Compared to the time of the Bormian Kingdom, life had improved¡ªthere were no more dungeon portals, and daily life had become more bearable. It was only natural that support for Kaylen had grown, even among those who had once feared him. ¡°That must be the World Tree... and the cathedral is over there. All the key places are clustered together. But settling in the city center will be difficult for me.¡± Even if he was currently in human form, Johannes was, at his core, an undead lich. ¡°With your abilities, I doubt the cathedral¡¯s clergy would notice you.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t be detected, sure. But the center of the capital is overflowing with life energy. It¡¯s not an efficient place for magical experiments. A lich like me needs a damp, dark place.¡± ¡°Hmm... I see. If you find a place you like, let me know. I¡¯ll give it to you.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll look around. By the way, where¡¯s that workshop you mentioned before?¡± ¡°The Myorn Workshop? It¡¯s over there.¡± Perhaps because it was the first to create mana suits in the Middle Realm, Johannes had taken an interest in it after hearing about it from Kaylen. ¡°Let¡¯s head there first.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Thus, they arrived at Myorn¡¯s workshop. As soon as Johannes stepped inside, he meticulously examined the surroundings and nodded. "Not bad." While he gave a passing grade to the workshop facilities¡ª "That magic circle, though..." "Their skills are seriously lacking." "Tsk, tsk. Modern mages these days..." His evaluation of the people was far less favorable. Johannes clicked his tongue loudly enough for everyone in the workshop to hear. As the guest of the Emperor openly criticized them, the mages¡¯ expressions twisted in displeasure. ¡®Is he His Majesty¡¯s guest?¡¯ ¡®How incredibly rude.¡¯ ¡®Lacking skill? What nonsense. Let¡¯s see him do better.¡¯ The mages working at Myorn¡¯s workshop were the best of the best in the industry. For a young man to waltz in and start giving unsolicited advice was nothing short of laughable. Still, since he was the Emperor¡¯s guest, they held their tongues and bottled up their frustration. "Tsk. That¡¯s not it at all." But their resentment didn¡¯t last long. Johannes reached out his hand, and in an instant, the magic circle engraved on the mana suit was redrawn and completed flawlessly. "This part was wrong." On another mana suit, the mistakes in the magic circle were highlighted in red before the lines were properly corrected. "You can¡¯t even use a mana heart properly? No wonder you''re stuck at 3rd Circle forever." Johannes pointed at a 3rd Circle mage, and suddenly, the mage¡¯s mana circle began moving on its own. As Johannes directly demonstrated a more efficient flow of mana, the mages¡¯ eyes widened in shock. "Uh..." "Wha..." "W-What is this?!" With just a few casual gestures, the entire workshop transformed. It was similar to when Kaylen had trained the knights¡ª Only this time, it was the mages who were experiencing the same astonishment. "Emperor. Is the head of this workshop as incompetent as these guys? That would be disappointing." "Incompetent, you say? How rude." At Johannes¡¯ remark, a heavily bearded dwarf emerged from the back of the workshop. It was Myorn. "Kaylen. Who¡¯s this guy?" "The new court mage of the Starn Empire." "Court mage? Isn¡¯t he way too young for that?" Myorn frowned at Johannes, who looked like a man in his twenties. "He¡¯s just that skilled." "Oh yeah? How skilled, exactly?" "Hmm..." Kaylen glanced around. The entire workshop had fallen silent, every mage now fixated on their conversation. With all attention locked onto them, Kaylen raised eight fingers. "8th Circle." "...8th Circle?" Even beneath her thick beard, it was clear Myorn¡¯s eyes had widened. Not 6th Circle... but 8th Circle? Was this some kind of joke? Kaylen had first drawn attention because he possessed the talent of a 6th Circle mage¡ª And now this young man was claiming to be 8th Circle? ¡°No, Emperor. 8th Circle, you say?¡± As Johannes denied it, those shocked by the revelation felt a brief moment of relief. ¡®Yeah... that doesn¡¯t make sense.¡¯ ¡®How could there be a 9th Circle mage?¡¯ ¡®His Majesty must be joking.¡¯ ¡°You should raise one more finger.¡± At those words, they couldn¡¯t believe their ears. ¡°Because 9th Circle is possible too.¡± Inside the Workshop Master¡¯s Laboratory ¡°A lich...?¡± ¡°Yes. He is the great mage from a thousand years ago¡ªJohannes.¡± ¡°Johannes?! That Johannes?!¡± The Great Mage Johannes. Even Myorn knew that name. Among the dwarves, his fame didn¡¯t stem from being an 8th Circle mage but from his groundbreaking development of magic circles. She had benefited immensely from his work, and as such, Johannes was one of the few humans she respected. ¡®That legendary figure... became a lich? He looks entirely human, though.¡¯ As she pondered that thought, Myorn carefully observed Johannes. He, however, turned his gaze to Kaylen and spoke. ¡°Emperor. Show her the Fireblade.¡± ¡°The Fireblade... You mean the one Kaina threw away?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Swoosh. The Six Swords floated into the air. Kaylen drew out the Fireblade and summoned the Dragonflame. The Fireblade, now broken in half. Yet, the fire it contained was still dangerously potent, forcing Kaylen to carefully control its intensity to prevent the workshop from catching fire. ¡°This is...¡± ¡°A lot has happened.¡± As Kaylen recounted everything that had occurred, including the story of Marquis Helmeier, Myorn¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Lady Kaina... was Marquis Helmeier?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I never expected it either. And she said she forged this Fireblade... using ten thousand dwarves.¡± ¡°She... sacrificed ten thousand dwarves? What do you mean by that...?¡± Hearing that Kaina¡ªsomeone old enough to be her grandmother¡ªhad committed such a monstrous atrocity left Myorn completely shaken. A sword made by sacrificing ten thousand dwarves? The fire mana contained within it was immense, but simply looking at the blade, she couldn¡¯t tell if dwarves had truly been used to create it. ¡°Emperor. Baldrix¡¯s last words to you included instructions to forge a sword, didn¡¯t they? Why do you think he said that?¡± ¡°To keep the Six Swords from transforming.¡± Baldrix had spent centuries hammering away to forge the Earthblade. When Kaylen embedded Baldrix into the Earthblade, he finally understood why. ¡®The Six Swords, which contain divine-level weapons, resist transformation.¡¯ The Holy Sword Astella in the Lightblade. The Dragonflame in the Fireblade. Baldrix in the Earthblade. These three maintained the balance of the Six Swords, preventing them from shifting. However, the remaining three swords¡ªthose that did not contain a weapon¡ªconstantly tried to transform into Demonic Swords. Kaylen had to keep a constant watch to prevent that from happening. ¡°That¡¯s right. If the Six Swords change, you, Emperor, could fall into corruption again. Your final self must have determined that maintaining a sword as a medium was crucial.¡± Johannes paused for a moment before adding, ¡°But did Kaina forge the Fireblade without knowing this? And why did she throw it to you in the first place?¡± Johannes stared at the Fireblade Dragonflame with suspicion. ¡°There must be a reason she gave you this sword. Until we figure it out, recklessly using it could be dangerous.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°But creating a Fireblade of this caliber is no easy feat for us. That¡¯s why the role of the Dwarf Queen is crucial here. Queen, can you restore this broken sword to its original state and uncover Kaina¡¯s intent?¡± At Johannes¡¯ question, Myorn gazed at the Fireblade. She was confident in her smithing skills, but whether she could restore a masterpiece of this level... ¡°I¡¯m not sure. This sword is far beyond my capabilities. But... I want to try.¡± ¡°Good. Then drop all other research and focus solely on analyzing this sword.¡± Johannes¡¯ eyes gleamed sharply. ¡°Besides, if we¡¯re going to forge the remaining three swords, you¡¯ll need to improve your skills anyway.¡± ¡°The three remaining swords... You mean the Darkblade, Waterblade, and Windblade?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Emperor, I have an idea. If her skills are up to par, we can complete the Three Swords.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your idea?¡± ¡°That is...¡± Knock, knock. Just as Johannes was about to speak, a knock came from the door. ¡°Your Majesty, an urgent message from the palace.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°A Dark Elf claiming to be Your Majesty¡¯s daughter... is causing a disturbance, demanding to see you.¡± Kaylen¡¯s eyes widened. There was only one Dark Elf who would make such a claim. ¡°Melvria....¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 177 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 177 The Imperial Castle of Starn. The sudden appearance of an uninvited guest threw the castle into chaos. ¡°When is Father arriving?¡± Melvria, the dark elf, crossed her arms and glanced around. Numerous knights were already sprawled on the ground, unconscious. Even though they were wearing mana suits, they had been subdued instantly. The only silver lining was that none of them had suffered fatal injuries. ¡°Please wait a little longer. He will be here soon.¡± ¡°The situation is urgent. You need to summon him faster.¡± ¡°They¡¯ve just confirmed His Majesty¡¯s location. Please be patient.¡± Melvria clicked her tongue in annoyance but nodded while keeping her arms crossed. Facing her, Violet, clad in her activated Glacia, let out a deep sigh. Kaylen had been away, planting flags in other nations, leaving Violet drowning in work. And now, she had to fend off an intruder while wearing a mana suit. The workload was getting ridiculously overwhelming. ¡®Once this is over, I¡¯m quitting. I can¡¯t do this anymore.¡¯ She needed to submit her resignation and make it clear they needed more personnel. With that thought, Violet examined the dark elf before her. As she observed the woman¡¯s goddess-like beauty, Kaylen¡¯s features flickered in her mind. The differences were there¡ªman and woman, human and elf. Yet the transcendent beauty, the silver hair, and golden eyes were identical to Kaylen¡¯s. ¡®Now that I look at her closely, they do resemble each other. But to think she¡¯s his daughter... Wouldn¡¯t it make more sense if she were the mother instead?¡¯ Just as Violet was lost in thought¡ª ¡°Melvria?¡± Kaylen had arrived at the royal castle, accompanied by Johannes. At the sight of him, Melvria¡¯s face brightened, only for her eyes to widen as she looked at Johannes. ¡°Father... and Uncle Johannes? Uncle, you¡¯re still alive?¡± ¡°Well, you¡¯ll understand if you take a closer look.¡± Johannes shrugged as he spoke. Melvria quickly grasped the situation. Even if Johannes tried to conceal his dark mana, someone of Melvria¡¯s caliber could easily perceive it. ¡®...He¡¯s undead. A lich.¡¯ She chose not to comment on it, holding her tongue as she turned back to Kaylen. ¡°Father...¡± ¡°Melvria. You¡¯re finally acknowledging me as your father.¡± ¡°I saw the creation of the Six Sword Path with my own eyes. Of course, I¡¯d acknowledge you. Caius has also broken free from his delusion.¡± ¡°Oh? But he¡¯s not here with you?¡± ¡°...He said the weight of his sins is too great, that he has no right to face you. Instead, he¡¯s gathering intelligence from within Gaecir.¡± Hearing the mention of his son¡¯s sins, Kaylen felt a bitter pang in his chest. No matter how much Caius was his own flesh and blood, the atrocities committed by the Gaecir Empire were too severe to overlook. Had Caius followed Melvria to the Starn Empire, Kaylen would have personally cut him down. ¡°...So, Caius sent urgent information this time. And what¡¯s contained in it is... shocking.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll show you.¡± With a hardened expression, Melvria uttered an incantation. ¡°In the name of the dragon, I command mana¡ªrecreate.¡± A pure white screen spread out in the air, projecting a scene. Above the imperial palace of Rahandra, a massive white hand of light appeared. Then, a shocking sight¡ªpeople plummeting from it in droves. [What... what is this?] Caius, witnessing it firsthand, murmured in confusion. Thud! Thud! As bodies crashed into the palace, blood and flesh splattered in all directions. [Kiiiiii!] The dragonkin within Rahandra¡¯s imperial palace let out cries of joy as they watched the feast raining from above. Drakes emerged one by one from the palace, devouring the countless falling humans. [Oh my. What is this?] A familiar voice came from behind Caius, who was staring blankly at the scene. Kaina, who had been lying in a coffin to recover her strength, approached with a bright smile. [Because of that fake husband, I thought it would take at least six weeks to regain my power... but then, a gift falls from the sky.] She smirked, flashing a radiant smile at Caius. [Our Demon Lord... gives the disease and the cure.] [The Demon Lord... did this?] [Who else but him? Who else could wield such power?] Spreading her arms wide, Kaina looked up at the sky. [Demon Lord~ Whatever the reason, thank you for the gift. I¡¯ll enjoy it~] Fwoosh! A massive blaze erupted from Kaina¡¯s body, consuming the falling humans. The fire was so enormous that it nearly engulfed the entire sky. Yet, with the sheer number of people still falling, there was still more than enough for the drakes to feast upon. A blood-soaked festival overtook Rahandra¡¯s imperial palace. With the final echoes of bodies bursting apart, the screen faded into darkness. Everyone who saw it was left speechless. Even Kaylen, who had fought countless powerful foes. Even Johannes, who had lived for a thousand years as an undead and witnessed all sorts of horrors. The sheer overwhelming nature of what they had seen left them unable to react immediately. ¡°Observer. Was this truly the Demon Lord¡¯s doing?¡± Kaylen was the first to regain his composure and asked into the empty air. He knew that the Colonial Observatory was always watching, so he directed his question accordingly. - ...Yes. He relocated the entire population of the Magic Kingdom of Pendor to Rahandra¡¯s capital. With nothing more than a single gesture. The Magic Kingdom of Pendor. Kaylen had planned to plant his flag across the entire eastern continent but had returned to the capital after encountering Johannes, leaving him unable to visit Pendor. He recalled it as a great power located in the southeastern part of the continent. And now, that entire kingdom had been annihilated with just a wave of a hand? ¡°When did this happen?¡± - It¡¯s been a week. ¡°I see. And no one informed me?¡± - ...Because I¡¯ve been having serious doubts about my own work. Ederna had initially aided the hero, intending to use him as a countermeasure against the current Demon Lord. But after witnessing the overwhelming power of the White Demon Lord, she had lost all motivation. No matter how strong Kaylen was, could he even leave a scratch on a Demon Lord like that? The Demon Lord also seemed to know everything that was happening, making it difficult for anyone to act carelessly. Kaylen could hear deep fear in Ederna¡¯s voice. ¡®Looks like she¡¯s trying to back out because she¡¯s scared of the Demon Lord.¡¯ After seeing something like that, it was understandable. But it would be a shame if the Demon Realm¡¯s Observer simply withdrew like this. So, Kaylen casually brought up a topic. ¡°Ederna. Are you aware that the current Demon Lord, Lucifer, was once the fourth Archangel of the Celestial Realm?¡± - ...What? ¡°Doesn¡¯t it seem odd that a Demon Lord can wield such powerful light-based mana? From the very beginning, he disguised himself as Marquess Lucifer of the Demon Realm to seize control of it.¡± - Is that... true? ¡°As far as I know, yes. You can look into it yourself if you want to verify.¡± - ...Alright. Ederna¡¯s voice regained a bit of strength. - I¡¯ll investigate further in the Demon Realm. With that, the Observer withdrew. Kaylen turned to the others. ¡°For now, let¡¯s not just stand here. We should head inside the palace to talk.¡± ¡°Understood, Father.¡± Melvria, who had been causing a commotion in the palace earlier, answered obediently. Violet watched them with a bewildered expression. Wait... she really is his daughter? ¡®His Majesty and I went to school together... what the hell is going on? How did things end up like this?¡¯ Kaylen had always been an enigma. But lately, he was becoming even harder to understand. Violet wondered if she should just resign altogether as she dispelled Glacia¡¯s spirit form. ¡°Hah...¡± Shrrrk. Glacia reverted to her half-mask form and reattached to Violet¡¯s face. Johannes watched with interest. ¡°Emperor. Who¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Violet?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°She was a princess of this country back when it was the Bormian Kingdom. Now, she¡¯s an outstanding water master and administrator.¡± ¡°Hm... so she¡¯s human?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Why?¡± Johannes simply waved a hand at Kaylen¡¯s question. ¡°This doesn¡¯t seem like the right place to talk about it. Let¡¯s head inside.¡± The royal palace¡ªKaylen¡¯s office. Only four people were gathered inside: Kaylen, Johannes, Melvria, and Violet. ¡°Melvria. But why did you become a Dark Elf?¡± ¡°I underwent demonification in Helmeier, and this was the result. What about you, uncle? Why did you become a lich?¡± ¡°A lot happened. It¡¯s a long story.¡± From Violet¡¯s perspective, it was clear that Kaylen, Johannes, and Melvria all knew each other well. Seeing how naturally they greeted each other and talked, they weren¡¯t just acquaintances¡ªthey were close. Hearing them casually mention demonification and lichdom, she suddenly wondered if she had wandered into a den of demons. With lingering doubts about these people, she also questioned whether she should even be here. ¡®It really feels like I don¡¯t belong here...¡¯ Rather than sitting around uncomfortably, she would have preferred to go handle her growing pile of work. "Johannes, what was that question you asked Violet earlier?" "Oh, that? It wasn¡¯t anything major." Tap. Tap. Johannes tapped his fingers against his face, as if pointing toward Violet¡¯s half-mask, Glacia. "When I saw her spiritize that S-rank mana suit, something about it struck me as odd." "Odd? In what way?" "When activating a mana suit¡¯s spiritization function, an ordinary human can never spiritize their mana heart. It¡¯s not a matter of talent¡ªit¡¯s simply a fundamental limitation of the human species." "Really? So if you physically strike the heart of a spiritized Meister, would they die?" "No. Since spiritization allows them to assimilate with their attribute, physical force is negated. But they can¡¯t achieve complete fusion." Kaylen tilted his head. He had never heard of anything like this before. Seeing his reaction, Johannes chuckled. "You¡¯d need a complete understanding of the mana heart to grasp this. Not even you would have known. In fact, only someone like me could even detect it." "I see... Well, I didn¡¯t notice anything unusual myself. But why is this fact a problem?" "An ordinary human can¡¯t achieve full assimilation. But if they aren¡¯t ¡®human¡¯... then they can. Take elves, for example. Half-spirits, attuned to wind and water mana, can fully assimilate with their element." Kaylen nodded. He was aware of that. The efficiency of spiritization was so high that when elves used mana suits, they didn¡¯t suffer from the usual lifespan reduction. "Then are you saying Violet isn¡¯t a normal human, but has elven blood?" "Hmm... No. It seems more like she has the blood of another species mixed in." Johannes shot Violet a meaningful smile. "She has..." "Melvria!" Just as Johannes was about to reveal something, the office doors burst open. "Eldir...?" It was Eldir, the Swordmaster, wearing an eyepatch over one eye. "Oh?" Johannes turned to look at him¡ªor rather, at the eye hidden behind the eyepatch. A grin spread across his face. "Emperor, you won¡¯t have to worry about the Sword of Water and Wind anymore." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 178 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 178 ¡°Melvria...! How long has it been...!¡± Eldir looked at Melvria with disbelief in his eyes. Though her skin color had changed, and dark mana was seeping from her entire body... the elf before him was undoubtedly Melvria. ¡°You¡¯re safe!¡± She had changed too much to simply be called safe. But Eldir didn¡¯t care about that at all. Even though dark elves were beings that elves instinctively kept their guard up against, he didn¡¯t hesitate. With open arms, he ran toward her. Seeing Eldir remain unfazed by her changed appearance, Melvria widened her eyes briefly before scoffing and dodging his approach. ¡°Melvria?¡± ¡°How long has it been? It hasn¡¯t been that long since we met.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you remember losing to me at the tavern? I remember it very well.¡± At Melvria¡¯s words, Eldir was startled. That humiliating moment¡ªwhen he had lost a drinking match to a human¡ªflashed through his mind. ¡°W-Wait... don¡¯t tell me that human was...?¡± ¡°Yes. I still vividly remember how my husband was desperately trying to get me drunk.¡± ¡°Ugh... Then that nightmare I had after...¡± Eldir¡¯s face twisted in shock. The woman who had bested him in drinking¡ªMelvria. And the nightmare that tormented him the next day, urging him to fulfill the Elves¡¯ Vow¡ª It was all her doing. ¡°I don¡¯t care that you drank with a human woman. Distance naturally leads to emotional detachment, after all.¡± ¡°W-Wait, Melvria! What do you mean by emotional detachment¡ª!¡± ¡°Just listen.¡± Pressed down by her chilling aura, Eldir could only nod. ¡°Fine. I can understand you fooling around with a human woman without thinking of me. But for the leader of the Elven Guard to completely neglect the Elves¡¯ Vow and indulge in drinking like that... And even after I warned you in your dream, you¡¯re still here? Have you completely given up on going to the Spirit Realm? Are you just going to sit back and watch as your kin faces destruction?¡± ¡°No...! I¡¯m not neglecting it... It¡¯s still in progress.¡± Eldir tried to refute her when the Elves¡¯ Vow was brought up, but his voice lacked conviction. ¡®Ah... Why did I make such a stupid mistake at the tavern...? I only joined the drinking match because that human woman could hold her liquor well. Who would¡¯ve thought she was Melvria? How could my luck be this rotten?¡¯ As Eldir lamented his past self¡ª ¡°Tsk. So, a husband finally reunites with his wife after a long time, only to get nagged... Your son-in-law is completely under Melvria¡¯s thumb.¡± ¡°Right? I didn¡¯t know their relationship was like this.¡± ¡°Anyway... From what I¡¯m hearing, the Elves¡¯ Vow involves going to the Spirit Realm. Is that right?¡± ¡°...It is.¡± The human¡¯s casual tone should have been irritating. But Eldir, gauging the atmosphere around him, cautiously answered. ¡°To reach the Spirit Realm, do you... absolutely need those eyes of yours?¡± ¡°This is an elven secret. I can¡¯t answer that.¡± ¡°Is that so? The Emperor needs that ¡®eye¡¯ to complete the Wind Sword... but how about this instead?¡± Johannes gestured between himself and Kaylen. ¡°We will open the path to the Spirit Realm for you and the Emperor. If there¡¯s anything threatening the elves there, we¡¯ll take care of it as well. That way, you won¡¯t need that eye anymore, will you?¡± ¡°If His Majesty were to assist, that might be one thing... but you?¡± Eldir eyed the human before him with suspicion. It was hard to believe that a man who looked barely in his late twenties or early thirties could be making such bold claims. Johannes seemed to pick up on his doubt and smirked. ¡°I get it. The Emperor is a Grand Swordmaster, so you¡¯d trust him, but I¡¯m another matter entirely, right? However...¡± Srrrkk¡ª Johannes¡¯ face suddenly disappeared, revealing a pitch-black skull beneath. At the same time, an overwhelming surge of dark mana poured out of him. It was even more ominous and oppressive than the dark mana Melvria emitted, sending chills down Eldir¡¯s spine. ¡°A Lich who has lived for a thousand years... the greatest mage in human history¡ªJohannes. Surely, that name is one you can trust.¡± ¡°Johannes...?¡± Eldir¡¯s eyes widened. He knew the name well. During the Meyer Empire¡¯s conquest of the continent and its battle against the Demon King, Johannes had played a crucial role, second only to Ernstein. ¡°What do you say? Is this enough to convince you?¡± ¡°...I will return to the Fairy Tower and discuss it with the council before giving you an answer.¡± ¡°This is urgent. The Wind Sword must be forged.¡± ¡°Old man, but that eye under the eyepatch... what happens to Eldir if it¡¯s removed?¡± At Melvria¡¯s question, Johannes smirked. ¡°So, you do worry about your husband after all?¡± ¡°Of course. So answer me properly.¡± ¡°The Spirit Stone has completely fused with his body. If someone else tried to extract it, there would definitely be complications. But if I remove it myself, there won¡¯t be any problems. You can rest easy.¡± ¡°...Are you sure?¡± ¡°Absolutely. What would I gain from harming your husband? If you¡¯re that worried, you can stay by his side during the procedure.¡± Hearing their exchange, Eldir couldn¡¯t help but feel somewhat reassured. Just a moment ago, she had been scolding him mercilessly... But she still cared about him as his wife. Feeling a bit more at ease, Eldir turned to Johannes and asked, ¡°Sir Johannes, is it alright if I reveal your identity at the Fairy Tower?¡± ¡°Yes. Just get an answer as soon as possible. Time is the most critical factor right now.¡± ¡°Understood. Then... Melvria, you should¡ª¡± ¡°You know I can¡¯t go. Look at me.¡± Eldir closed his mouth. Bringing Melvria¡ªwho had become a Dark Elf and was now filled with dark mana¡ªto the Fairy Tower was out of the question. ¡°...Alright. I¡¯ll be back soon. Stay here in the castle, okay?¡± ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll stay with Father.¡± ¡°...Lord Emperor, I leave her in your care.¡± With a determined expression, Eldir bowed to Kaylen and left the office. Melvria silently watched the door he had exited through. A brief silence settled over the room. Then¡ª ¡°Um...¡± From one corner, Violet, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up. ¡°I don¡¯t understand what¡¯s going on. The fact that His Majesty¡¯s daughter is a Dark Elf is one thing, but... Sir Eldir is actually His Majesty¡¯s son-in-law?¡± It was a reasonable question for Violet, who was unaware that Kaylen¡¯s true identity was that of Emperor Ernstine. At this point, Kaylen realized he needed to explain himself to her. ¡°The truth is...¡± ¡°Your Majesty... You¡¯re actually Emperor Ernstine?¡± ¡°I apologize for keeping it a secret until now.¡± ¡°No, Your Majesty. I can see why it would have been hard to believe.¡± Kaylen was said to be the one who inherited Emperor Ernstine¡¯s sword. But to think he was actually Ernstine himself? If someone else had made that claim, it would have sounded like nonsense. But now that she heard it¡ª Somehow... It made sense to Violet. The abilities that Emperor Kaylen had displayed were simply too far beyond common sense. A man who had been known as a mage suddenly picked up a sword, split a fortress in two, and cut down demonic beings? The feats that once seemed inexplicable now fell into place. ¡°Mage girl. Your name was Violet, correct?¡± ¡°Yes, Sir Johannes.¡± ¡°My son-in-law interrupted me before I could finish what I was saying. About the mixed blood of another race.¡± Violet looked puzzled at his words. ¡°Mixed blood from another race? That doesn¡¯t make sense. Both my parents were human.¡± ¡°Neither of them was unusual in any way?¡± ¡°Well...¡± Violet recalled her mother. Queen Diana, who possessed an extraordinary healing ability. In the end, to suppress that resistance, Violet herself had been subjected to Black Skull¡¯s experiments. Since Violet couldn¡¯t bring herself to say it, Kaylen answered in her place. ¡°I heard that her mother, Queen Diana, was once a candidate for sainthood.¡± ¡°A candidate for sainthood?¡± ¡°Yes. It was said that her wounds would heal instantly. Moreover, the World Tree¡¯s will claimed that sacred blood had been spilled in the Lily Palace, where she resided.¡± ¡°I see. If her mother was a saint candidate, then that faint trace of non-human blood might have awakened. That would make sense...¡± Johannes nodded as if he had reached a conclusion on his own. Then, he spoke directly to Violet. ¡°You. You carry the blood of a mermaid.¡± ¡°...What? A mermaid?¡± Violet looked at him in disbelief. The Kingdom of Bormia was completely landlocked, with no seas in sight. She had never even laid eyes on an ocean in her life¡ª And now she was being told she carried mermaid blood? ¡°That¡¯s impossible.¡± Johannes looked at Kaylen as if he had expected that reaction. ¡°Kaylen. Do you remember the bones of the dwarves from the Continent of Earth?¡± ¡°The race you assumed were gnomes? Are you saying your conclusion about Violet¡¯s mermaid blood is based on the same reasoning?¡± ¡°Exactly. Look here.¡± Johannes opened his palm, and mana coalesced into a floating map. ¡°All the newly discovered continents so far have each been dominated by a single elemental attribute. Even excluding the lands assumed to be the Celestial Realm and the Demon Realm... there was a continent steeped in earth mana, another in fire mana, and yet another in wind mana.¡± ¡°But no continent of water has been found, so you assumed it might be submerged.¡± ¡°Exactly! And what kind of race could survive in an underwater continent? There¡¯s no one else it could be but mermaids!¡± ¡°...You¡¯re seriously claiming that¡¯s enough proof Violet has mermaid blood? Even a con artist wouldn¡¯t make such a weak argument.¡± Kaylen questioned in disbelief. ¡°Ah! I know. The evidence is flimsy for now. But if she comes with us to the Spirit Realm, we¡¯ll have solid proof.¡± ¡°You¡¯re saying Violet should go to the Spirit Realm too...?¡± ¡°Yeah. Aren¡¯t you curious about your own identity, Mage girl?¡± Violet gently shook her head at the question. ¡°Even if I do have mermaid blood, it¡¯s not like I actually want to be a mermaid...¡± Mermaids were a race with human upper bodies and fish-like lower bodies, weren¡¯t they? She had lived just fine as a human all this time¡ªwhy would she need to change now? Seeing her discomfort, Johannes let out a small chuckle. ¡°Knowing your origins won¡¯t suddenly turn you into a mermaid. If anything, you¡¯ll just be able to control water mana more freely. And if that happens...¡± Tap. Tap. He tapped his cheekbone. ¡°You¡¯d finally be able to take off that mana suit.¡± ¡°...That actually sounds pretty nice.¡± The Glacia, an S-rank mana suit that would eventually freeze her entire body over if she wore it too long. If going to the Spirit Realm meant she could get rid of it... It was an offer that was hard to ignore. ¡°The Spirit Realm, huh...¡± While Violet was starting to warm up to the idea, Kaylen¡¯s expression remained thoughtful. Right now, the Demon King was scattering sacrifices left and right. Should they strike first before Geysir¡¯s forces could recover their strength? Or should they go to the Spirit Realm, fulfill the Elves¡¯ long-held wish, and complete another sword? Logically, launching an attack now was the right choice. But... Three swords alone won¡¯t be enough. Kaylen¡¯s instincts whispered that this wasn¡¯t enough. From his past life, he had learned that whenever reason and instinct clashed, it was best to trust his gut. ¡°...Alright.¡± Kaylen made his decision. ¡°We¡¯ll clear the path to the Spirit Realm first.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 179 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 179 "The preparations are complete." Convincing the Fairy Tower did not take long. Originally, the Fairy Tower did not want human interference regarding the Elves'' long-held wish... But this was a project backed by the Emperor of the Starn Empire. No matter how much the Elves were at the center of it, a single magic tower could not oppose it. Besides¡ª This isn¡¯t a deal that puts us at a disadvantage. Most of the Fairy Tower¡¯s leadership, the seven elders, shared this sentiment. The people of the Starn Empire had yet to realize it, but¡ª With their far-reaching intelligence network, the Fairy Tower¡¯s leadership viewed the current situation with grave concern. We¡¯ve been losing contact with our kin in the western continent. There are even rumors that a dragon has been resurrected. We must open the path to the Spirit Realm as soon as possible. And then, the Emperor¡¯s side had come forward with an offer. The price they demanded was Eldir¡¯s "Eye," but it wasn¡¯t to be paid upfront¡ªit would only be handed over after the task was complete. There was no reason to refuse. "Then, let us begin the ritual." In the underground chamber of the Fairy Tower¡ª A hundred elves stood gathered upon a massive magic circle, positioned beneath the World Tree. "What kind of magic circle is this?" "It temporarily amplifies spirit power and uses that energy to open the gate to the Spirit Realm." "I heard that this magic circle alone used to be enough to open the gate. But ever since the continent fell under demonic influence, even spirit power has declined..." "So, we planned to supplement it by sublimating Eldir into an artificial spirit." The Fairy Tower had intended to make up for the lacking spirit power by turning Eldir into an artificial spirit. Although Kaylen and Johannes had joined the endeavor, neither of them specialized in handling spirits. Thus, the Fairy Tower¡¯s leadership simply observed how they would proceed. "Hmm." Johannes carefully examined the massive magic circle before asking the elf leaders¡ª "Would it be alright if I modified this magic circle?" "Hmm... We have heard of your exceptional abilities, Mage. However, this is not merely a magic circle¡ªit is closer to a spirit formation. Tampering with it recklessly is extremely dangerous." "If anything goes wrong, it won¡¯t just be the gate that fails to open¡ªthis entire underground chamber could explode." "Don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t alter the core structure¡ªI¡¯ll only make additions." The elf leaders were not pleased with the idea. But¡ª "In the modified version, the elves won¡¯t need to stand in the formation." "...But we need to summon spirits, don¡¯t we?" "It¡¯s fine. The Emperor will handle that part." At Johannes¡¯s words, the elves exchanged glances before reluctantly stepping back. Soon, light flickered at Johannes¡¯s fingertips. Swipe. Scratch, scratch. Seated on the ground, he began redrawing the magic circle. "Adding attributes... improving efficiency..." He adjusted the lines of the existing formation and added a small circle at its center. "Emperor, stand over there." He motioned for Kaylen to take position. "Unleash all six swords and plant them into the ground." "Around this circle?" "No. I¡¯ll designate the spots." The edges of the massive magic circle shimmered. Lights matching the colors of the Six Swords flickered, as if indicating where the swords should be placed. As Kaylen summoned the Six Swords and inserted them one by one according to their colors, Johannes spoke casually. ¡°Gate to the Spirit Realm, open.¡± The Elf leaders looked at Johannes with disbelief. Wait, how could the gate open just because he said that? However, contrary to their expectations, the air began to distort. Srrrr¡ª A portal radiating a blue light formed. ¡°That was quick.¡± ¡°...No, are you saying that¡¯s really the gate to the Spirit Realm?¡± Johannes shrugged, while the Elf leaders stared in shock. ¡®We¡¯ve struggled so much just to get to this point...¡¯ ¡®And now it opens this easily?¡¯ Since the appearance of dungeon portals, they had endured countless hardships to settle in the human world. Establishing the Tower of the Fae had helped them gain some footing in human nations, but... To humans, elves would always be outsiders. Completely integrating into human society was an impossible dream. ¡®That¡¯s why we needed to return to the Spirit Realm¡ªto escape this half-spirit existence and achieve full spiritualization!¡¯ ¡®And yet, the most difficult part¡ªopening the gate¡ªwas this easy...?¡¯ While the Elf leaders were still dazed by how effortlessly the gate had opened, Johannes approached Eldir. ¡°Well then, shall we extract the Spirit Stone?¡± ¡°W-wait a moment! Taking the Eye is one thing, but shouldn¡¯t we at least confirm that the portal actually leads to the Spirit Realm first?¡± ¡°He¡¯s right. We can¡¯t just hastily remove Eldir¡¯s Spirit Stone without verifying what¡¯s beyond.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s take a look inside first.¡± ¡°If it really is the Spirit Realm, then we can proceed without delay.¡± Johannes nodded at the Elf leaders¡¯ concerns. ¡°Fair enough. You¡¯ll want to confirm it. Then let¡¯s send a few from your side along with our group.¡± ¡°Not all of us?¡± ¡°What if something happens inside? If all the leaders disappear, it would create a leadership vacuum.¡± The Elf leaders accepted his reasoning. ¡°Understood. We will select a few to enter the Spirit Realm.¡± In the end, four members were chosen from the elves¡ªthree Elf leaders and Eldir. Along with Kaylen¡¯s group, a total of eight people stepped into the portal. ¡°...Is this really the Spirit Realm?¡± One of the three Elf leaders, Irene, looked around with a doubtful expression. It was understandable. The world beyond the portal seemed far too confined to be the Spirit Realm. Like floating on a cloud, the space was dreamlike. A dense mist covered the area, and the boundaries of this world were visible at a glance. Darkness loomed in every direction¡ªabove, below, and on all sides. Only the small area they stood on was shrouded in pure white mist. ¡°The spirit energy here is abundant, but...¡± A hooded woman from Kaylen¡¯s group observed their surroundings as she spoke. ¡®Huh? Who is that?¡¯ Irene felt a sense of familiarity upon hearing the voice. A voice she had heard many times before¡ªa voice she longed for. She glanced at the hooded woman, but it was as if a veil had been drawn over her face¡ªnothing was visible beneath the hood. It seemed that she had used magic to conceal her appearance. Meanwhile, Eldir kept sneaking glances at the hooded woman. ¡®Why is my brother acting like that? How rude.¡¯ Irene pinched Eldir¡¯s arm. ¡°Brother, that¡¯s rude.¡± ¡°Ah, Irene. Actually...¡± Eldir had been about to say something in response to Irene¡¯s scolding, but¡ª ¡°Let¡¯s not waste time with unnecessary talk and focus on the task.¡± At the hooded woman¡¯s curt remark, Eldir immediately fell silent. Eldir, who usually treated women with complete indifference, was listening to her without resistance. Irene was slightly surprised at this unusual behavior. ¡®Who is she?¡¯ She wanted to take a closer look at the hooded woman, but after scolding Eldir just moments ago, she couldn¡¯t allow herself to do the same. Unaware that the woman beneath the hood was Melvria, Irene suppressed her curiosity and turned her attention back to investigating the Spirit Realm beyond the portal. ¡®Just as she said, the spirit energy here is overwhelming...¡¯ A space filled with dense mist. The spirit energy was so thick that, even as an elf, Irene felt suffocated. ¡°The flow of mana seems to intensify toward the center.¡± ¡°Shall we head that way?¡± Kaylen and Johannes took the lead. The group walked deeper into this world. About an hour later¡ª ¡°This should be the place.¡± They had arrived at the area where the spirit energy was most concentrated. The mist had grown so thick that visibility was almost nonexistent. ¡°Huff... Huff...¡± The elves were gasping for breath as they struggled to keep up with Kaylen. Even Eldir, a Sword Master, looked exhausted as he supported the elves. The overwhelming spirit energy was proving to be more harmful than beneficial to them. ¡°Hmm. This place... seems suspicious.¡± ¡°I thought the same. The spirit energy is stagnant.¡± ¡°Elves, can you summon spirits...? No, never mind. It¡¯s hard enough to breathe as it is.¡± Johannes glanced back at the struggling elves and shook his head. ¡°Emperor, can you shake this space up with the Six Swords?¡± ¡°Sure. I have just the right one for this.¡± Six Sword Path ¨C Third Sword Bottomless Abyss Before Kaylen, a massive vortex of darkness appeared. It began devouring the thick mist in all directions, rapidly expanding in size. ... In an instant, the fog-filled space was cleared. ¡°Now we can see.¡± ¡°That is...¡± At the center, where the mist had vanished¡ª Four mana constructs hovered in the air. Each one radiated the colors of the four great elements: fire, water, wind, and earth. Their shapes resembled stars. The elves, apart from sensing their immense spirit energy, felt nothing unusual. But Kaylen¡¯s group was different. ¡°...Infinity?¡± Though they weren¡¯t golden stars, their flawless forms were identical to Infinity. ¡®To think I¡¯d see Infinity here.¡¯ Kaylen slowly approached one. The first he neared was the brown star. Up close, Infinity was nearly the size of a person. Ssshh¡ª As Kaylen placed his hand on Infinity, a new scene began to emerge on the surface of the brown star. ¡°This is...¡± ¡°Could it be the New Continent?¡± Reflected in the brown star was the very land Johannes had discovered¡ªthe continent where Baldrix had completed the Supreme Sword. With uncertainty in his mind, Kaylen touched the other Infinity stars one by one. ¡°This one is also the New Continent, Johannes?¡± ¡°Yes. The Continent of Fire. A land covered in volcanic traces.¡± The red star displayed the Continent of Fire. ¡°This is...¡± ¡°Underwater? See, I was right!¡± The blue star revealed a land floating beneath the sea. Now, only one Infinity remained¡ªthe green star. Johannes, as if it were obvious, spoke. ¡°Then that one must be the Continent of Wind.¡± Kaylen nodded in agreement. Everything they had seen so far had been part of the New Continent. That one would surely reveal the Continent of Wind as well. Since they had already checked the others, Kaylen decided to confirm the last one. As he reached out toward the green star¡ª ¡°Huh?¡± Contrary to their expectations¡ª A completely different scene appeared. Instead of the Continent of Wind, it showed a floating castle in the sky. ¡°This place is...¡± As Kaylen stared at the sky castle in confusion, the holy sword Astella, housed within the Lightblade, suddenly spoke. ¡ªMaster. I can sense the power of my replica there. ¡°...What? Your replica? You mean the one in Sanctuary?¡± ¡ªYes. Seeing that, I¡¯m certain we can now pinpoint Sanctuary¡¯s location. The sky castle revealed by the green star¡ª It was Sanctuary, the refuge of the Sacred Court. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 180 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 180 ¡°For Sanctuary¡¯s image to appear there... how strange.¡± ¡°Hm. I did hear from the Demon Realm¡¯s observatory director that the Spirit King of Wind was in Sanctuary.¡± In response to Johannes¡¯ doubt, Kaylen recalled an old memory and replied. [If it¡¯s wind mana... it should be in Sanctuary, right?] [Sanctuary?] [Yeah. The Spirit King of Wind is there, isn¡¯t he?] When they had been searching for wind mana, Observatory Director Ederna had once mentioned the Spirit King of Wind. Even Saintess Theresia had been surprised that they knew about it, so it must be true that the Spirit King resided in Sanctuary. ¡°Really? The Spirit King of Wind is in Sanctuary... That¡¯s unexpected. I thought Sanctuary was somewhere in the northern continent, near the Celestial Realm.¡± [Sanctuary¡¯s location is indeed in the north.] The holy sword Astella radiated light and spoke in its usual imposing tone. Aside from its master, Kaylen, Astella naturally spoke down to everyone else. But Johannes, unfazed, asked the holy sword, ¡°Really? So it¡¯s not in the New Continent of Wind?¡± [No. The replica¡¯s location is pointing north.] ¡°Then what¡¯s appearing on this star is the Spirit King¡¯s location...¡± As Johannes fell into deep thought, Violet, with a dazed expression, began walking toward the blue star. ¡®I want to see that sight again.¡¯ A land floating alone in the depths of the sea. A place where no light reached, creating a desolate landscape... Yet, as she looked at it, an inexplicable longing stirred deep within her heart. ¡°Violet?¡± Kaylen, who had been looking at the sky castle, noticed Violet walking toward the blue star and stopped her. It was one thing for him to touch Infinity, but he didn¡¯t know what side effects it might have on an ordinary person. ¡°Can I see it one more time?¡± ¡°...Alright.¡± Kaylen stood in front of Violet and touched the blue Infinity again. Once more, the underwater scene appeared. Violet stared at it, entranced, as if in a trance. ¡°Do you see something special?¡± ¡°Ah... I can¡¯t really explain it, but... I just want to keep looking at that scenery.¡± As she spoke, she instinctively reached out toward Infinity. Had Kaylen not stopped her by grabbing her hand, she would have touched it. ¡°Oh... I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t even realize¡ª¡± Just as Violet flinched and apologized¡ª Ssssshh¡ª Mana began leaking from the blue Infinity, flowing toward Violet. Kaylen, able to see the flow of mana, considered stopping it but¡ª ¡®That amount isn¡¯t dangerous. Let¡¯s observe for now.¡¯ It didn¡¯t seem harmful to Violet, so he decided to wait and watch. ¡°...Huh?¡± Before long, Violet¡¯s body began to change, as if undergoing Spiritization, turning fluid like water. Since Glacia wasn¡¯t activating, it was clear this transformation came purely from receiving water mana. ¡°Hoh... Has she already awakened the mermaid¡¯s blood?¡± ¡°That appearance is more like water than a mermaid...¡± "It''s closer to a Water Spirit." "A Water Spirit and a mermaid are basically the same thing! Just watch. She''s definitely going to become a mermaid. How else would she survive in the depths of the ocean?" Johannes, completely fixated on the idea of mermaids, kept rambling even as he watched Violet''s body transform like that of a Water Spirit. As her transformation neared completion, he turned to Kaylen. "I think it''s about time to cut off the mana flow." "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing." Kaylen severed the mana flow, and Violet''s body gradually returned to its original human form. However, the Water Mana that had seeped into her remained, spreading throughout her body and being absorbed into her Mana Heart. "Ugh..." Once she was fully back to normal, she swayed slightly. "Are you alright?" "...Yes. Other than feeling a little dizzy." "If you absorb any more Water Mana, your body won''t be able to handle it. You should rest somewhere away from here." "Alright, I''ll do that." Violet, still unsteady, distanced herself from the blue Infinity. Johannes turned to Kaylen and asked, "Emperor, that Infinity... could you absorb it?" "Like Violet did?" "Yeah. Considering the enemies we''ll be facing, wouldn''t it be better to grow stronger while we have the chance?" Kaylen nodded calmly. Even as a Grand Swordmaster, he already possessed overwhelming power. However, when he thought about the sheer dominance of the White Demon King or the might of the Dragon God, Meier, it was clear¡ªhe had to become even stronger. "I''ll give it a try." As he reached out his hand, the blue Infinity''s mana surged toward him, flowing into his body. The amount was far greater than what had entered Violet. Kaylen carefully controlled it, channeling it into his Water Sword, strengthening its form. At first, the sword absorbed the mana smoothly, steadily growing stronger. "Hmm." But as more Water Mana poured in, the sword¡¯s shape began to shift¡ªfrom a blade into something resembling a star. Had he not been consciously controlling it, the sword¡¯s form might have collapsed entirely. "Stop! Emperor, that damn star... I don''t want to see that from you!" "I feel the same way. I¡¯ll stop here for now." His mana had increased by about ten percent. But the problem was that it wasn''t fully under his control yet. "Will you be able to stabilize it over time?" "Yeah, but it''ll take about ten days." "Shame. That means absorbing other attributes today will be difficult." "Hmm... I do have something I want to test." With that, Kaylen approached the brown Infinity. "The Earth Sword Baldrix is embedded in my Earth Blade. I doubt it¡¯ll change as easily." The brown Infinity, brimming with Earth Mana. Kaylen reached out. Ssssshhh¡ª An overwhelming surge of Earth Mana poured into the Earth Blade. The sheer volume dwarfed the amount of Water Mana that had been absorbed earlier. Yet, unlike the Water Sword, the Earth Blade remained steady, unwavering. "As I thought... The Six Blades that house swords remain unchanged." "Ooooh! Nice! Emperor, devour it all! Suck up every bit of mana from that star!" Johannes cheered excitedly. When Baldrix was hammering away like that, he used to sigh, wondering why his nephew was acting that way. But now, seeing the Earth Blade put to such use, he was overwhelmed with emotion. Once that kid fully regenerates and awakens... I''ll have to tell his father how much he helped. As Johannes was lost in thought, Kaylen gave him a wry smile. "No, that won''t work." "Huh? Why not?" "If I absorb too much power from one attribute, it''ll throw off the balance of the Six Blades. Even so, the Earth Blade is already 40% stronger than before. This is the best I can do without breaking that balance." "Tch... What a shame. I thought we were making easy progress..." Johannes clicked his tongue in disappointment. ''Well, I''ve memorized the magic circle, so once the other swords are completed, we can come back and reclaim the mana.'' The magic circle the elves had created to open the Spirit Realm¡ª Johannes had already stored an improved version of it in his memory. ''The Water Sword can be made using that mermaid¡¯s descendant. The Fire Sword will be completed by helping the Dwarf Queen. As for the Wind Sword... I just need to extract the Spirit Stone embedded in that elf¡¯s eye.'' He had a clear plan for forging all the divine swords¡ªexcept for the Darkness Sword. ''But I never expected the Spirit Realm to be in this state. The elves won¡¯t be so willing to cooperate now...'' Just as he predicted, at first, the elves were overwhelmed by the thick spirit energy of the realm, unable to think straight. But as they gradually adjusted, they found it impossible to accept reality. "No... This can¡¯t be the Spirit Realm." "That¡¯s right! The spirits always told us¡ªthe Spirit Realm is vast and boundless! They said they wanted us to come and live together with them." "Yeah, there¡¯s no way this is the Spirit Realm! Something¡¯s wrong here!" "Come to think of it, that mage tampered with the magic circle. Couldn¡¯t that have caused a mistake?" The three elven leaders, unable to accept the situation, began arguing among themselves. The loudest voice among them was Irene, Eldir¡¯s younger sister. "Brother, what do you think? Do you really believe this is the Spirit Realm?" "No... I hope it isn¡¯t." "Exactly! That mage must have made a mistake. He recklessly altered the magic circle and cast a spell, so instead of opening a gate to the Spirit Realm, we must have ended up somewhere else entirely!" Eldir quietly surveyed his surroundings. If they had simply been transported somewhere random, the spirit energy shouldn¡¯t be this dense. More than anyone, he wanted to believe this wasn¡¯t the Spirit Realm. But all the evidence pointed to a connection between this place and the Spirit Realm. As he thought it over, an idea suddenly came to him. "...How about we try summoning a spirit?" "A spirit?" "Yes. If this is truly the Spirit Realm, wouldn¡¯t summoning a spirit here be different from summoning one on the surface?" "That... actually makes sense." "Right? Let me give it a try. Sylph!" Eldir called forth a Wind Spirit. For a brief moment, a green star flickered. Then, from within, dozens of Wind Spirits burst out. The small, girl-like spirits shoved and pushed each other aside, all scrambling to reach Eldir first. Eldir''s eyes widened in shock. "Wait, why did so many appear?" Back in the Middle Realm, summoning even one had been a challenge. Summoning spirits here was far too easy. The problem was that they were emerging from the green star. ¡®Is this really the Spirit Realm...? Low-tier spirits can¡¯t communicate, so I¡¯ll have to try calling for higher ones.¡¯ Ever since mana had become scarce in the Middle Realm, Eldir had only been able to summon Sylph. But here, it seemed possible to summon higher-tier Wind Spirits as well. "Syliron." As soon as he called the name of the mid-tier spirit Syliron, dozens of spirits burst out from the star just like before. Watching the mid-tier spirits appear without any difficulty, Eldir felt a thrill of excitement. ¡®No matter how many times I called them in the Middle Realm, they never showed up...¡¯ If mid-tier spirits came this easily, then high-tier ones should be possible too, right? Since mid-tier spirits couldn¡¯t hold a conversation either, Eldir immediately dismissed them and proceeded to summon a high-tier Wind Spirit. "Sylest." A high-tier Wind Spirit, Sylest, with the form of a massive eagle. Just like before, dozens of them surged out from the star. Even before dungeon portals started appearing in the Middle Realm, he had never been able to summon a high-tier spirit... Why is this so easy? "Sylest, is this really the Spirit Realm?" Since high-tier spirits were supposed to be capable of speech, Eldir asked the question. But the eagles gave no response. ¡®What? I heard that high-tier spirits can communicate.¡¯ He asked multiple times, tilting his head in confusion. Yet, the high-tier Sylests remained silent. Should I try asking an even higher-tier one? With that thought, Eldir dismissed the Sylests. Then, he decided to take a gamble. "I summon Sylphid." The Wind Spirit King, Sylphid. Normally, summoning him was unthinkable, but somehow, Eldir felt it might be possible here. ¡®Ah, come to think of it, the master said earlier that he was in the Sanctuary. Then this won¡¯t work, huh? Oh well, if it doesn¡¯t work, it doesn¡¯t work.¡¯ Since there was no risk in attempting the summoning, Eldir called out Sylphid¡¯s name with a lighthearted attitude. ¡ªSsssshhk... The green star flickered briefly. [...Hoho. So, you¡¯ve finally reached the Spirit Realm.] Someone entirely unexpected appeared. A man with long, flowing white hair. It was a face Kaylen knew all too well. "The Holy King?!" [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 181 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 181 At Kaylen¡¯s words, High Priest Benedict narrowed his eyes before letting out a faint chuckle. [So it wasn¡¯t just the elves who arrived¡ªHis Majesty is here as well. No wonder you arrived earlier than I expected.] ¡°How did you appear when I summoned the Spirit King?¡± [Why do you think?] ¡ªWhooooosh¡ª Winds swirled around the High Priest, and his body began to shift like smoke. Along with it, large ears emerged from his hair. Ears that were all too familiar to Kaylen. Among elves with large ears, these were exceptionally long¡ª A trait unique to High Elves. [Because the Spirit King is with me.] ¡°...High Priest... Are you a High Elf?¡± [Ho. You caught on quickly.] As Benedict smirked, Kaylen¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°...To think the High Priest of the Holy See, who despises other races more than anyone, was actually a High Elf... I can¡¯t believe it.¡± [Why? I do despise them. Especially those lowly elves. By the mercy of the Celestial God, we High Elves barely survived... but our descendants have become so weak and inferior.] Benedict¡¯s face twisted in disdain as he pointed at Eldir and the other elves. [Born in human lands, they have become degraded... How could I, an elf of the homeland, not despise them?] ¡°The homeland... You mean the continent where the wind¡¯s mana gathers?¡± [Hoo... You know quite a bit, Emperor. You must have met the ¡®Lich.¡¯] The High Priest even knew about Johannes. As he raised a finger, the wind coiled around it. [That¡¯s right. Our homeland is the Continent of Wind, Elpencia. We lived there peacefully... until the dragons awakened. When they did, we were annihilated in an instant. If not for the Celestial God¡¯s blessing, even the few survivors wouldn¡¯t have remained...] ¡°There were dragons back then too?¡± [Indeed. Dragons have always appeared in times of destruction.] Kaylen recalled the New Continent Johannes had spoken of. Aside from the Celestial Realm and the Demon Realm, no living beings existed there. Had dragons descended there as well? [You worthless beings... I know why you came to the Spirit Realm. You seek to escape this world, don¡¯t you?] ¡°Ugh...¡± ¡°Y-Yes, that¡¯s correct.¡± Faced with the High Priest¡¯s blunt question, the elven leaders stammered as they answered. Though he looked down on them, they could not ignore the authority of a High Elf. [You cannot live in the Spirit Realm. As you can see, this world has been twisted by the dragons¡¯ schemes.] ¡°Th-Then... Is this truly the Spirit Realm?¡± [It is, lowly one.] ¡°This... this can¡¯t be...¡± [However, there is space for you to reside in the Sanctuary.] Pointing at Eldir, Benedict spoke. [If you properly create an Artificial Spirit and reopen the gate to the Spirit Realm, I shall allow you entry.] ¡°Y-You knew about Artificial Spirits...?¡± [Who do you think first conceived the idea?] ¡°...Ah... It couldn¡¯t be...!¡± [Even the magic circle to open the gate to the Spirit Realm¡ªI designed it all.] At that, Johannes suddenly stepped forward and spoke. ¡°So that pathetic magic circle was your creation?¡± [Johannes... I have no desire to be criticized by someone who abandoned the Celestial God''s blessing and ran away.] ¡°Blessing? Don¡¯t make me laugh. You¡¯re the ones who turned me into an undead. You, specifically. You don¡¯t seem to have any fondness for dragons....¡± He pointed a finger at Benedict. ¡°Why did you say the scale on Ernstine¡¯s nape was a dragon¡¯s scale? After hearing your confirmation, he completely lost it.¡± [Hoo... You remember the old days well.] ¡°My memory is sharp, that¡¯s why.¡± [It¡¯s simple. The dragon''s descent was inevitable. I decided it was better to bring about an early resurrection rather than face a stronger dragon later.] ¡°Was that the will of the Celestial God?¡± [Hoo... Of course. I am a servant of the Celestial God. I only follow His will.] To summon the Dragon God early. And through Johannes and Baldrix, to extract the mana suit containing the Six Sword and create an incomplete Dragon God. All of this was supposedly the will of the Celestial God. Kaylen, his expression hardened, listened to their conversation before speaking abruptly. ¡°High Priest. You¡¯ve been quite generous with your information.¡± [Hoo... It¡¯s because you¡¯re someone who deserves to know more.] Deserves to know more? Kaylen looked at the High Priest, who spoke with a meaningful smile, and asked bluntly. ¡°Is that so? Then let me ask you one thing.¡± [Emperor, what is it you wish to know?] ¡°What is the relationship between the Celestial God and the White Demon King?¡± [...You ask something I cannot answer.] Benedict¡¯s smile faded as he shook his head slightly. [If you¡¯re truly curious, come to the Sanctuary. Then I shall teach you specially.] With those final words, the green infinity returned to its original form. The High Priest, who had appeared like a storm, vanished just as swiftly. His words left the elves in a state of panic. ¡°To think this really is the Spirit Realm...¡± ¡°High Priest Benedict was a High Elf?¡± ¡°What are we supposed to do now...?¡± They had believed that simply reaching the Spirit Realm would allow them to settle in a new world. But the reality before them was harsh. First, they could never survive in such a confined space... ¡®Going to the Sanctuary feels unsettling.¡¯ ¡®Relying on a High Priest who despises elves...¡¯ When they first heard Benedict¡¯s words, they had followed as if entranced. But now that he was gone, they could think more clearly. The High Priest¡¯s promise to invite them to the Sanctuary once they completed the Artificial Spirit... Given his attitude, it wasn¡¯t something they could trust. ¡®Still, it wouldn¡¯t be right to completely distrust the words of a High Elf.¡¯ ¡®We should decide whether to follow the High Priest¡¯s words through a council...¡¯ ¡®But the Artificial Spirit must be made, regardless.¡¯ In the end, the elves reached one conclusion¡ª They could not surrender Eldir¡¯s ¡®Eye.¡¯ To summon the Artificial Spirit, the spirit stone was essential. ¡°Your Majesty... I¡¯m sorry, but Eldir¡¯s Eye...¡± ¡°The situation has turned too unfavorable to hand it over as it is.¡± ¡°Do you all trust the High Priest''s words completely?¡± ¡°Not entirely. However, since the Spirit Realm we hoped to settle in has turned out like this...¡± ¡°No matter what, we believe the process of creating the Artificial Spirit through Eldir must continue.¡± Kaylen¡¯s face turned cold. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the elves to be this shameless. Our deal was to hand over Eldir¡¯s Eye once the gate to the Spirit Realm was opened. Wasn¡¯t that the agreement?¡± ¡°Ugh. That is true, but...¡± ¡°Because the truth doesn¡¯t meet your expectations, you¡¯re breaking the deal as you please? You¡¯re making light of me and the Starn Empire.¡± No sooner had Kaylen¡¯s words ended¡ª Swish¡ª Golden Aura Swords appeared at the elves¡¯ necks. Though Kaylen hadn¡¯t moved at all, the Aura Swords formed in an instant. Seeing the blades threatening their throats, the elves shivered. ¡®W-We underestimated the Emperor...¡¯ ¡®I spoke too hastily...¡¯ They had grown used to Kaylen¡¯s lenient rule and had unknowingly spoken out of turn. The result was devastating. As the tense atmosphere persisted and the elves struggled to find a way out of the situation¡ª A hooded woman grasped Kaylen¡¯s arm. ¡°Father.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Before punishing them, may I try summoning a Dark Spirit?¡± ¡°A Dark Spirit?¡± ¡°Yes. If this is the Spirit Realm, shouldn¡¯t a Dark Spirit appear from somewhere?¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± The four elemental spirits had emerged from the four Infinities, but the Dark Spirit had no such source. It was uncertain where one might appear from. ¡°Try summoning it.¡± ¡°Yes, Father.¡± As Melvria removed her hood, her completely concealed face was revealed. Melvria¡ªknown even in the elf village for her exceptional beauty. When she appeared as a Dark Elf, the elves¡¯ eyes widened in shock. Among them, Irene¡¯s surprise was the greatest. ¡°Melvria... sister?¡± There was something familiar about the voice, but to realize it was her sister-in-law¡ªMelvria. Irene glanced at Eldir. Seeing his surprisingly calm face, it seemed he had known all along. ¡®What? When did they meet without me knowing?¡¯ Irene pouted slightly as she looked at Melvria. It had been hundreds of years since her disappearance. What had happened for her to become a Dark Elf and summon a Dark Spirit? And why was she calling Kaylen ¡°Father¡±? Confused emotions swirled within her, but for now, she focused on watching where the Dark Spirit would emerge from. ¡°O Spirit of Darkness, answer my call.¡± When Melvria summoned the Dark Spirit¡ª Brrrrr... At the outskirts of the Spirit Realm, the darkness beyond the boundary began to tremble. The darkness, rippling like waves in the night, soon surged toward Melvria. ¡°Wow...¡± As the pitch-black darkness, like the night sky, approached, Melvria tilted her head and spoke. ¡°Why is it so scattered?¡± At her words, the dispersed Dark Spirit quickly gathered into a compact form, shrinking to the size of a fist. To think that the massive Dark Spirit could be compressed this much... Irene watched in surprise, then turned her gaze toward where the Dark Spirit had come from. ¡°Huh...?¡± The space that was once pitch-black had now transformed to resemble the current Spirit Realm. ¡°So the darkness that shrouded the outskirts of the Spirit Realm was actually a spirit?¡± ¡°If we compress all those spirits like that, couldn¡¯t we turn the vast darkness back into open space?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s worth trying.¡± Melvria responded to Johannes¡¯ muttered thought. ¡°If Melvria continues clearing the way like this, wouldn¡¯t the elves be able to settle here? What do you think?¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± ¡°There¡¯s an abundance of spirit energy. If space can be secured, settling here could be possible.¡± If Melvria¡¯s method continued to work, there would be enough space for migration. As the elves gave positive responses, Johannes grinned. ¡°Then, we¡¯ll take Eldir¡¯s Eye?¡± ¡°Ahem...¡± The elven leaders exchanged wary glances. Ideally, they wanted to wait and see the outcome before handing over Eldir¡¯s Eye. But with the Emperor¡¯s overwhelming presence, it was difficult to keep adding conditions. ¡°Understood...¡± ¡°Still, could you wait a few more days to observe the progress before taking it?¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Johannes agreed readily. ¡°We were planning to forge the trial sword first anyway.¡± His gaze shifted toward Violet. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 182 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 182 The Imperial Palace of the Geysir Empire. Sitting on the imperial throne, in place of Emperor Caius, was Kaina, covered in fur. ¡°Thanks to the Demon King dropping off the sacrifices, things have progressed smoothly, Caius.¡± ¡°...Yes, Mother.¡± ¡°His resurrection is not far off. The resurrection ritual will be held in seven days. Until then, bring more humans to serve as sacrifices.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± As Caius, who was kneeling, responded, Kaina suddenly traced a question mark in the air with her fur. ¡°But Melvria is nowhere to be seen.¡± ¡°I ordered her to scout the Starn Empire.¡± ¡°Heh. There¡¯s no need for scouting. Once He is resurrected, everything will be over. Bring Melvria back.¡± ¡°Yes, understood.¡± ¡°Good. Then, proceed with your duties.¡± At Kaina¡¯s command, Caius stood up with an expressionless face and stepped back. ¡®Only seven days left...¡¯ Though he maintained a composed face before Kaina, inside, Caius was becoming increasingly anxious. Even though countless people had already fallen in the imperial palace, he hadn¡¯t expected the resurrection ritual to be so close. ¡®I must inform her.¡¯ He had to let Melvria, who was with his true father, know that the resurrection ritual was almost complete. With urgency, Caius quickly made his way to his laboratory. After briefly ensuring no one was around, he used the magical crystal orb in the lab to contact Melvria. ¡°Melvria.¡± [...Caius?] ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me. The situation has become urgent.¡± [What¡¯s going on?] Caius informed her that only seven days remained until the resurrection of the Dragon God. Melvria, her face turning serious, nodded. [That¡¯s serious. I¡¯ll inform Father right away.] ¡°Please do. I¡¯ll also investigate the resurrection ritual further.¡± [Alright. Contact me again.] After ending the communication, Caius headed towards the underground space where the resurrection ritual was taking place. As he descended floor by floor, the deeper levels of the palace became increasingly tainted with human bloodstains. The ground was piled with human corpses, stacked like luggage, filling the space. Some bodies still twitched, as if they were alive, but most lay lifeless. And those piled corpses were slowly being drawn somewhere. ¡®The power of the resurrection magic circle...¡¯ The magic circle was pulling the bodies in, devouring them on its own. It seemed the ritual was beginning to activate in earnest. Crack. Caius stepped forward, crushing corpses with only bone remaining in their lower halves. Once again, he felt nothing as he trampled over human remains. ¡®I¡¯m already a monster.¡¯ Deceived by Kaina, Caius had committed countless massacres to resurrect the Dragon God Ernstine. Caius felt no hesitation or guilt about stepping on corpses or using human bodies as sacrifices. ¡®...Back then, I truly believed he was my father.¡¯ During the fall of the Meier Empire, his father, Ernstine, had suddenly appeared and asked for his cooperation. He claimed that the Meier bloodline was destined to become dragons, and that Ernstine himself needed to sacrifice imperial citizens to ascend as a dragon. Those words ensnared Caius, the emperor of the Meier Empire, as if he were under a spell. ¡®Was I brainwashed from that moment...?¡¯ From then on, Caius had been trapped in a long deception. He believed without question that Ernstine must be made into the Dragon God. He thought it was acceptable to slaughter as many humans as necessary for this purpose, and that the corruption of the Meier bloodline into demon-kind was inevitable. That belief remained firm until he witnessed Kaylen wield the Six Sword Path and create the Sixfold Sword Doctrine. Until then, his focus was solely on resurrecting his father, Ernstine, as the Dragon God. But now, everything had changed. ¡°I will stop this, no matter what.¡± Now that he knew the Dragon God Meier was not his true father, it was time to take revenge on those who had manipulated his life and forced him to live a thousand years as a half-undead. ¡°This is it...¡± Step. Step. The end of the path, where the corpses were being drawn, led to the underground space at the lowest level of the imperial palace. A crimson magic circle carved into the ground radiated red light up to the ceiling. Chiiiik! As the bodies were absorbed into the magic circle, they instantly ignited and disappeared. When a corpse vanished, a part of the crimson magic circle twitched and turned golden. ¡®That is...¡¯ Caius instinctively sensed a familiar mana from the golden light. It felt similar to the infinite mana, the power of Infinity. Whoosh! Another body burned and vanished, and the golden lines grew slightly thicker. The magic circle was feeding on the corpses to expand. ¡®So that¡¯s why they said it would take a week.¡¯ Watching the corpses slowly descending the stairs, Caius thought. ¡®Then, if I interfere with the movement of these bodies, it will take longer. No... if I destroy the corpses myself...¡¯ Caius¡¯s eyes sharpened. He focused his thoughts on finding the perfect moment to disrupt the resurrection ritual. Starn Imperial Palace ¨C Grand Conference Room Kaylen listened to Melvria¡¯s report. ¡°Only a week left until the Dragon God¡¯s resurrection ritual?¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s what Caius informed me.¡± Hearing this, Kaylen fell into deep thought. ¡®There isn¡¯t enough time.¡¯ If the White Demon King hadn¡¯t intervened, they could have faced the Geysir Empire with more preparation. But because the Demon King had rained humans from the sky, the time until the resurrection of the Dragon God Meier had been drastically shortened. ¡°Johannes, is the extraction of Eldir¡¯s spirit stones progressing?¡± ¡°Yes. Thanks to the successful expansion of the Spirit Realm, even the elves are no longer resisting.¡± With Melvria summoning dark spirits and expanding the Spirit Realm, the elves found it difficult to oppose. Moreover, as they belonged to the Starn Empire, they faced practical constraints that made it hard to defy the emperor¡¯s orders. ¡°So now, we obtain the Spirit Stone, forge the Wind Sword, and with Violet¡¯s help, create the Water Sword... but we don¡¯t have enough time.¡± ¡°The Fire Sword is still in a half-broken state too. It¡¯ll take time to complete it as well.¡± ¡°Right. And since Kaina gave it to me, I need to examine it thoroughly. So, practically speaking, the only swords I can use right now are the Holy Sword and the Earth Sword. Of course, I don¡¯t necessarily need divine swords for most enemies, but...¡± Kaylen¡¯s Six Swords Path only transformed into the Six Demonic Path when he used their power extensively. Against weaker opponents, the battle usually ended before the swords even changed, so there was no need to rely on divine swords. ¡°But the remaining enemies aren¡¯t just any ordinary opponents.¡± ¡°Exactly...¡± The Dragon God Ernstine, preparing for resurrection. And the White Demon King, aiding his resurrection ritual. Even if Kaylen were at his full strength, there was no guarantee of victory against them. ¡°Father, Caius has informed us about the location where the resurrection ritual will take place.¡± At that moment, Melvria, who had been attending the meeting, extended her hand and chanted a dragon incantation. ¡°In the name of the dragon, I command the mana¡ªmanifest.¡± A large screen appeared in the conference room, displaying the resurrection magic circle that Caius had seen. A massive and intricately designed crimson magic circle. Johannes frowned and activated his magic. ¡°Copy.¡± He perfectly replicated the magic circle¡¯s pattern and, after examining it, nodded. ¡°This is quite an advanced magic circle. Even I can¡¯t fully understand it at a glance.¡± ¡°Oh? Even you?¡± ¡°Yeah. But... I think I can tell where to strike to stop it. Emperor, should we launch a surprise attack?¡± ¡°A surprise attack?¡± ¡°Yeah. Isn¡¯t now the perfect time? Before the Dragon God resurrects? We even have an informant who provided the exact location.¡± Kaylen pondered Johannes¡¯ words for a moment before shaking his head. ¡°Not yet. We can¡¯t attack without the swords.¡± ¡°But completing the swords will take time. The Eldir Spirit Stone is only being extracted today, the Fire Sword still needs a lot of work, and the Water Sword is only in its preliminary stage.¡± Right now, they only had two usable swords. But Kaylen fixed his gaze on Johannes and asked, ¡°So, how long will it take?¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± ¡°If we mobilize all available manpower¡ªmages, blacksmiths, and have them work around the clock, how long would it take?¡± Johannes shivered at the look in Kaylen¡¯s eyes. That expression... He had seen it before, back in Emperor Ernstine¡¯s era. The gaze of someone who demanded the impossible be done in an impossibly short time. The absolute authority of a ruler. ¡°Emperor, w-wait a second. I¡¯m undead now, so I can work 24 hours a day. I¡¯ll gladly forge your swords non-stop. But even I have limits.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I plan to mobilize the entire empire¡¯s resources.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not just about manpower! The swords that match your Six Swords need to be at the level of divine weapons. You think random smiths can craft that?¡± ¡°I know. That¡¯s why I only need the framework.¡± ¡°The... framework...?¡± Kaylen held up four fingers. Johannes grimaced at the sight. No way... ¡°Four days. Get it done in four days.¡± ¡°Hey! Are you insane? How do you expect me to do that in four days?!¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t have to be fully functional. Just create the framework of a divine sword¡ªlike the half-finished state of the Fire Sword. Start with the Wind Sword.¡± ¡°The framework of the Wind Sword... That might be possible, but it won¡¯t be of much use...¡± With the Eldir Spirit Stone, they could barely mimic a divine sword. But it wouldn¡¯t be effective, especially against strong opponents. Johannes voiced his doubts, but Kaylen simply pointed upward with his finger. ¡°I¡¯ll absorb the King of Wind Spirits into the framework.¡± What...? No way... If he meant the King of Wind Spirits, then there was only one possibility¡ª The Holy King they had seen just days ago. ¡°Alright. In four days, we strike the Sanctuary.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 183 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 183 A research lab in the Fairy Tower. On the experiment table at the center of the lab, Eldir lay with his eyes open. ¡°To construct the framework of the Divine Sword in just four days... Can it even be called a Divine Sword if it''s made that quickly? Your father really makes some outrageous demands.¡± Muttering nearby was Johannes. ¡°...Will he be alright?¡± Melvria stood by, watching Eldir with a troubled expression. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t been here, that elf might¡¯ve struggled. But if you use Dragon Tongue Magic, he shouldn¡¯t suffer any major injuries.¡± ¡°Dragon Tongue Magic?¡± ¡°Yes. You can still use it, right?¡± At Johannes'' question, Melvria nodded. ¡°Yes. I can still use it like before.¡± ¡°Hmm... Alright, let me ask. Does Dragon Tongue Magic have no limits? If you command it with mana, can anything be accomplished?¡± ¡°Yes. Most things tend to happen as spoken. However, it''s more specialized in destruction, and there are restrictions when it comes to healing. It¡¯s impossible to restore or create life. Maybe it''s because I can only use two types of elemental magic...¡± ¡°Then, after I remove Eldir''s Spirit Stone, would healing him be possible?¡± ¡°...It won¡¯t be easy.¡± ¡°But not impossible, right? If I help afterward, we should be able to heal him.¡± With those words, Johannes reached his hand toward Eldir. ¡°Then, let''s begin. Paralyze.¡± Johannes paralyzed Eldir, bringing his right hand close to Eldir''s eye. ¡°Extraction.¡± Chiiiik... With a burning sound, the tissue connecting Eldir¡¯s eye to the Spirit Stone began to dissolve. Due to the paralysis, Eldir didn''t move, but Melvria¡¯s face twisted in distress at the sight. ¡®The wind mana is disappearing...¡¯ The Spirit Stone, which formed the core of Eldir¡¯s mana, was being extracted. As it was removed, the mana within his body started to dissipate. From the now-empty eye socket where the Spirit Stone had been, blood began to flow like tears. ¡°In the name of the Dragon, I command the mana¡ªheal the body.¡± As the Spirit Stone came out, Melvria hastily used Dragon Tongue Magic. The torn tissue within the socket began to regenerate, but... The lost eye could not be restored. Moreover, the loss of wind mana continued, prompting Melvria to call out urgently to Johannes. ¡°Sir, please help! Eldir''s mana is still leaking out.¡± ¡°Alright. Warp Gate.¡± Ziiiiing. At Melvria¡¯s plea for help, Johannes summoned a Warp Gate. No, he should be helping with the healing. Why open a Warp Gate now? ¡°Sir...?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a lich. How can a lich restore life?¡± Melvria¡¯s eyes widened in shock at his words. Even though Johannes was an undead lich, she thought that as a 9th-circle mage, he might have a solution... Why was he saying something so obvious now? "Th-Then..." "Actually, I was originally planning to seek help from the Saintess... but she had already returned to the Sanctuary." Did the people of the Sanctuary withdraw after the Holy Emperor revealed his true identity? Melvria, anxious, raised her voice. "Then what should we do? Eldir is¡ª" "Your father found a way." "My father...?" "Yes. You''ll find out once you cross the Warp Gate." At Johannes'' gesture, Eldir''s body gently floated into the air. His body stopped in front of the Warp Gate, and Johannes spoke. "Why don''t you carry him?" "...You''re not coming?" "I need to forge the Wind Sword." Melvria glanced towards the nearby workstation. Countless mana stones, spirit stones, and various metals were prepared. Johannes was staying behind to continue forging the Wind Sword, while she would go alone. Nodding, she embraced Eldir. "...Alright." "Good. Then, have a safe trip." Johannes waved his hand, and after glancing briefly at him, Melvria stepped into the Warp Gate. Once she vanished from the lab, Johannes gazed down at Eldir''s spirit stone in his hand. ''Will it be possible?'' The 9th Circle. The pinnacle of magical mastery¡ªan achievement no one in history had reached. Though Johannes called himself a 9th Circle mage... there was no officially recognized 9th Circle magic that humans could wield. Even in the Demon Realm, the so-called origin of circle magic, there were no records of 9th Circle magic. Johannes, having lived a thousand years as a lich, understood the reason. ''The 9th Circle is the stage of creation.'' All circle magic has structure¡ªrunes to chant and frameworks to shape the imagery. But the 9th Circle had none of these constraints. 9th Circle magic was the ultimate form of magic, where the mage could command mana to create whatever they desired¡ªlike Dragon Tongue magic. ''But because of that... it¡¯s nothing more than a lesser form of Dragon Tongue magic.'' Compared to Dragon Tongue, which was backed by the infinite mana of Infinity, human 9th Circle magic had clear limitations. ¡ªMana, explode the traitor. When Ernstine blew off Johannes'' head in the past, he had felt it distinctly. Even as a lich, striving to overcome limits, an undead body only stored more mana than a human''s¡ªbut... Compared to Dragon Tongue magic, there was an inherent limitation due to the lack of infinite mana from Infinity. ''There is a limit to human imagination, and the power of words doesn¡¯t reach mana as Dragon Tongue does.'' 9th Circle magic, free from the constraints of runes, was indeed flexible¡ªbut ultimately inferior to Dragon Tongue. In a way, this was inevitable. Compared to dragons, humans were lesser beings. No matter how far a lesser species reached the pinnacle, limitations were bound to exist. ''If it were an era of peace, perhaps that would have been enough, but...'' If the Meier Empire had unified the continent, and the world was at peace, perhaps he would have been content with merely reaching the 9th Circle, even if it was considered a lesser form of Dragon Tongue magic. Though it was weaker compared to Dragon Tongue, the 9th Circle was still an absolute realm where a mage could realize creation at will. ''But in the current situation, I can¡¯t afford to be so complacent.'' The present era was a critical moment for humanity¡ªan existential crisis. Even setting aside the fact that the Middle Realm had become a colony of the Demon Realm... Considering the eventual resurrection of the Dragon God Meier, and the White Demon King who ruled the Three Realms, being content with the lesser magic of Dragon Tongue was not an option. "I, the Ninth Circle, renounce the authority of creation granted to me." Johannes tightly grasped the spirit stone and slowly opened his mouth. His mana circle surged explosively, spinning eight times in an instant. "I also restrict my free imagination." He renounced creation and constrained his imagination. From Johannes'' mouth, only words that suppressed himself flowed. "My mana, which turns for the ninth time, seeks only one thing." The restriction of runes. The restriction of imagination. As a mage progresses through the circles, they gradually overcome the limitations that bind them. Johannes, who wielded 9th Circle magic, had already reached a realm where all such restrictions were meaningless. Yet, he chose to seal away all the possibilities that his 9th Circle magic granted. Even though it was 9th Circle magic, he confined himself within a framework. Even though he could have spoken in human language to manifest magic, he recited the runes instead. Just before chanting the activation phrase, at the final moment, Johannes thought, ''Perhaps there was another way.'' Considering the possibilities of 9th Circle magic, perhaps he didn¡¯t have to choose this method for humanity¡¯s survival. ''Creating a refuge like a Sanctuary would have been well within my capabilities.'' If it were simply about preserving the lineage of humanity, that might have been the better choice. Rather than opposing an Absolute Being, escaping would have been more advantageous for survival. ''But even so... that would have only delayed extinction.'' Humans couldn¡¯t live forever locked away in a refuge. To truly ensure the survival of the human race, they had to resist the Absolute Beings. ''And the means of resistance I have chosen... is Ernstine.'' Even if she once destroyed his head... Whether he resented her or not, Ernstine was humanity¡¯s only "weapon" capable of opposing the Absolute Beings. Johannes recited a rune that did not exist in this world. "What I seek... is a sword. A vessel to contain only one mana." The mana stones surrounding the laboratory all floated into the air. They connected with Johannes¡¯ mana circle... And formed the ninth rotation of mana. "God Hand." 9th Circle Magic¡ªGod Hand. A mage who reached the ultimate realm renounced all possibilities. It was the first 9th Circle magic created to forge a Divine Sword. Melvria, holding Eldir, stepped beyond the Warp Gate and looked around. ''This place is...'' Beyond the Warp Gate lay a space lush with greenery. The ground was covered with vibrant grass and blooming flowers. It was a place where the energy of life was so intense that Melvria¡¯s dark elf skin tingled from its force. She immediately realized where she was. ¡®This is where the World Tree stands.¡¯ In the past, when she had infiltrated the capital, she hadn¡¯t dared to approach for fear of revealing her identity. Standing by the massive trunk of the World Tree was Kaylen. "Father!" "You returned sooner than I expected. How is Eldir?" Melvria, holding Eldir, hurriedly ran toward him. Though she had scolded Eldir in the past, her concern for him outweighed any resentment. Her face was filled with worry. "Eldir''s wounds have healed, but his mana keeps leaking. Even though the spirit stone was removed... it feels like there''s a hole in his mana core." Melvria¡¯s incomplete Dragon Tongue magic couldn¡¯t fully resolve Eldir¡¯s condition. Kaylen observed Eldir¡¯s state for a moment, then pointed to the front of the World Tree''s trunk where he had been standing. "His mana is indeed still leaking... Lay him down over here." "Yes!" Melvria carefully placed Eldir in front of the World Tree¡¯s trunk. Then, one by one, the leaves of the World Tree began to fall onto Eldir''s body. The leaves quickly turned a vivid green and were absorbed into him. ¡®It seems like his mana is leaking less now. It¡¯s working!¡¯ Relieved, Melvria watched over Eldir. Just then, Kaylen gently tapped the trunk of the World Tree. "Deluna. I entrust my son-in-law to you." Deluna? Melvria¡¯s eyes widened. The name of the mother she had loved and hated all her life... Why was it being mentioned here? "...Father? What did you just say?" "It¡¯s been a while since you called me ¡®father.¡¯" "Father!" "Deluna. Even though your daughter has come to see you, will you remain hidden within the World Tree?" The branches of the World Tree trembled softly, and more leaves fell. But they all drifted toward Eldir, without any noticeable change. As Melvria watched the leaves brush past her, she felt an odd sense of betrayal and emptiness. Was this tree really her mother? A tree whose leaves wouldn¡¯t even touch her? "...If you won¡¯t come out even when your daughter is standing before you, perhaps I should speak of something else." Kaylen crossed his arms and continued. "Saint Benedict was a High Elf. It seems the King of Wind Spirits is with him. Do you know anything about this?" As soon as Kaylen finished speaking, a green light flickered before his eyes. The light gathered and formed into a distinct shape... And it was a figure that even Melvria recognized. "Mother...?" [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 184 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 184 Deluna''s face, formed of green light, was cold and subdued. She glanced briefly at Melvria. For a moment, her expression brightened. [Lia. It''s been a long time.] "Is it really... you, Mother?" [I didn''t want to meet you like this. I''ve already merged with the World Tree. I am a vanished existence.] Melvria''s eyes trembled. Merged with the World Tree? She had never known this. "Then, when you disappeared before, it was also...?" [It was all to save the World Tree.] "You abandoned your family for that?" [...Yes. Lia, as a High Elf, the safety of the elf race was my utmost priority. That was my duty.] Melvria listened in silence. If it had been during her childhood, she would have felt hurt that her mother left without a word. But now... ''I''m past that age.'' She had endured many trials throughout her long life. When the Helmeier clan invaded, she too had once joined them for the sake of the elf race. She could now understand what her mother must have felt when she left. "...I understand. I''m not a child anymore. I can see now the sacrifice you made." [Thank you for saying that.] "Then... you two should talk." Deluna smiled faintly at Melvria, then turned her gaze to Ernstein. [Ern, tell me in detail about the Saint.] "The Saint spoke to me." Kaylen recounted everything he had learned from the Saint. How the Saint was actually a High Elf from the Wind Continent, Elpencia. How he devised both artificial spirits and the magic circle that could open the gate to the Spirit Realm. And how, once the artificial spirits were perfected, he promised to welcome the elves into the Sanctuary. Deluna listened with a grave expression before she slowly spoke. [Saint Benedict... He was the First Elf.] "The First Elf?" [It is a secret record passed down only among High Elves... but it doesn''t matter anymore.] The First Elf¡ªan existence known only to the High Elves. [He called himself Elpencia. Whenever a High Elf was born, he would appear, bestow the blessing of the spirits, and say these words:] ¡ªTo my true descendant, who has awakened the rightful blood. ¡ªProtect the World Tree. It was a will directly conveyed by the First Elf. All High Elves accepted this will and strove to protect the World Tree. "He only said to protect the World Tree?" [Yes, that is what he said at birth. But he visited me once more.] "When?" [When I built a home with you, raised our lovely daughter... during the happiest time of my life.] "...Was it when you sacrificed yourself to save the World Tree?" [Yes.] "You never mentioned that before." [Speaking of the First Elf was forbidden.] Deluna glanced briefly at Melvria, then continued. [As the World Tree withered, it was said that saving it required the sacrifice of a High Elf. Though my family weighed heavily on my heart... I followed the words of the First Elf without question. I believed it was the duty of a High Elf to lead and protect our people.] "...I see." [But after I was absorbed into the World Tree... there was something I found strange.] "Strange?" [Within the depths of the World Tree, I sensed other existences similar to myself.] "By similar existences, do you mean other High Elves?" [Yes.] To think that other High Elves were within the World Tree. Kaylen paused in thought before speaking. "Did previous generations of High Elves sacrifice themselves to save the World Tree, just like you?" [That''s what I thought at first. But after observing for a long time, I realized that wasn''t the case. Though I didn''t understand it back then, after becoming independent from the original World Tree, I came to a realization.] "What realization?" [We High Elves... were being stored within the World Tree.] "Stored within the World Tree?" [Yes. At first, I believed our presence there was to save the World Tree, but...] Delruna spoke with a somber expression. [Listening to Ern''s words, it seems that understanding was reversed.] "What do you mean?" [It wasn''t that the High Elves were absorbed to save the World Tree... but rather that the World Tree existed to store the High Elves.] The World Tree, seen as the source of life itself, was actually just a vessel for storing High Elves? Kaylen recalled the attitude of the Pontiff. -"Pathetic creatures. I know well why you''ve come to the Spirit Realm. To escape from this world, isn''t it?" The Pontiff regarded ordinary elves with disdain, yet showed no such attitude towards the High Elves. Instead, he called them his true descendants, those who had awakened the rightful bloodline. "The Pontiff wanted me to open the gate to the Spirit Realm and summon artificial spirits. What will happen to the World Tree then?" [Once the artificial spirits are complete, the essence of the World Tree will be contained within them. Then, it will root itself anew within the Spirit Realm, much like how I took root when I first arrived in this capital. Though, this time, the scale will be far greater.] Transferring the World Tree''s essence into an artificial spirit and settling it in the Spirit Realm. This was believed to be the cherished wish of the elves... But now, Kaylen doubted whether it was truly the pure will of the elves. [Ern. Will you attack the Pontiff, the First Elf?] "Yes." [Then, will you take me with you?] Delruna''s expression was resolute, as if she had steeled herself for something. Reading her determination, Kaylen gave a firm nod. "I will." Four days later, the day of departure. Summoned by Johannes, Kaylen headed to the research lab located within the Fairy''s Magic Tower. "Huff... huff... the frame for the Wind Blade... is ready..." On the floor lay shattered mana stones. Johannes, now a lich with his human form long gone, was sprawled across the ground. Looking at Johannes, Kaylen sensed something unusual. "Your arm..." His right arm was completely gone. Not just the arm, but his right shoulder and even his ribs on that side were crushed. Johannes lay sprawled on the floor. ¡°It¡¯s the recoil from using God Hand. It''ll take some time to recover...¡± ¡°God Hand?¡± ¡°A 9th-circle spell I developed to forge your sword. Heh...¡± Johannes let out a weary chuckle and tossed a pale, translucent object to Kaylen. It was a semi-transparent green sword. ¡°I''ve prepared the framework for the Wind Sword... The rest, you''ll need to complete by absorbing the Wind Spirit King.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve done well.¡± ¡°Oh, and right... I need to make a warp gate too. The path to the Sanctuary.¡± Whoooosh. Mana swirled from Johannes¡¯s left hand. A crimson warp gate formed. Compared to the gates Johannes usually summoned, it was considerably smaller¡ªsmall enough that Kaylen would have to crouch to pass through. ¡°Are you... okay? I could go through the Spirit Realm instead.¡± There were other ways to get there without forcing a warp gate. Given Johannes¡¯s condition, it seemed reckless to push himself. ¡°The Holy Emperor is probably guarding that route. An ambush from outside would be better.¡± ¡°...I see. But your condition, will it recover?¡± ¡°Of course. Have you ever seen a lich die so easily?¡± Johannes responded confidently and motioned for Kaylen to leave. ¡°I need to rest, so go already.¡± ¡°Alright. Take care of yourself.¡± Kaylen summoned the Six Swords and placed Johannes¡¯s Wind Sword into it. Though not fully completed, the Wind Sword didn¡¯t yet fully merge with Kaylen¡¯s existing Wind Sword. In terms of power, it was much weaker than his damaged Dragonflame Sword. ¡®Still, for something made in just four days, it''s well-crafted. Once I infuse it with the Wind Spirit King, it¡¯ll be complete.¡¯ With the Sacred Sword, Earth Sword, and the incomplete Fire and Wind Swords equipped, Kaylen stepped into the warp gate. Darkness momentarily engulfed his vision. The new space that emerged was within the clouds above the sky. [Master. Over there.] The Sacred Sword Astella pointed ahead. Within the clouds floated a massive sky castle. [That¡¯s the Sanctuary.] ¡°It¡¯s quite large.¡± [Right? My replica is keeping it afloat.] Seeing it firsthand, the scale was immense. The Sacred Sword Astella sounded proud, claiming that her replica was sustaining the floating fortress. ¡®The Sacred Sword¡¯s power alone wouldn¡¯t be enough.¡¯ Kaylen felt the strong presence of wind mana emanating from the Sanctuary. It wasn¡¯t just the Sacred Sword¡¯s power; it must have been combined with the authority of the Wind Spirit King to sustain the massive structure. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Kaylen¡¯s body, floating in the sky, shot forward like an arrow towards the sky castle. Bzzzz. As he approached, a green barrier rose around the fortress. ¡°How annoying.¡± Zzzziiik! Kaylen tore through the barrier with sheer force, charging forward relentlessly. By the time he reached the proximity of the castle, he had pierced through a total of seven barriers. Despite its massive size, the fortress couldn''t withstand the charge of a single man. ¡°This must be the last one.¡± Once he broke through the final barrier surrounding the outer wall, Kaylen was able to enter the Sanctuary without further obstruction. Floating above the Sanctuary, he gazed down at the ground. ¡®The Sanctuary... it closely resembles the Holy Temple.¡¯ The Holy Temple that had existed on the surface a thousand years ago. The Sanctuary''s appearance mirrored it almost exactly. Of course, on closer inspection, the structures and the number of people moving about differed greatly... But in its grand design, it was an exact replica of the Holy Temple. ¡®Then the place where the Holy Emperor resides... it must be the grand cathedral at the center.¡¯ The largest structure within the Holy Temple, renowned for its grandeur. Even within the Sanctuary, something remarkably similar stood at the center. Whoooosh. Kaylen¡¯s body shot towards the central structure. ¡°An intruder!¡± ¡°He pierced through all the Sanctuary¡¯s barriers...!¡± ¡°A powerful demonic presence! Stop him quickly!¡± The Holy Knights on the ground rushed to intercept, but none could match Kaylen¡¯s speed as he soared faster than any bird. ¡°Activate the Sacred Protection Circle of the Cathedral!¡± Bzzzz! A barrier far stronger than any before formed around the grand cathedral. Six Sword Path. One Sword Unity. As Kaylen synchronized with the Sacred Sword Astella, his body passed through the barrier effortlessly. The barrier, imbued with the properties of light, failed to recognize the power of the Sacred Sword as a threat. ¡®The place where the Holy Emperor resides... must be the deepest part of the cathedral.¡¯ With nothing left to hinder him, Kaylen shot forward like a beam of light. He reached the depths of the cathedral in an instant. And there, instead of the Holy Emperor... ¡°Lord Kaylen...¡± He encountered a saintess, her face calm and solemn as she knelt in prayer. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 185 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 185 Until just a few days ago, Saintess Theresia had been content with her situation. Though she hadn¡¯t considered forming a bond with Kaylen due to her status as a Saintess, she found meaning in living by the hero''s side, aiding him as she had longed for over a thousand years. ¡®By Kaylen¡¯s side once again, I must defeat the Demon King and set the world right, just like a thousand years ago.¡¯ However, her expectations were shattered just a few days ago. ¡ªReturn, Theresia. With the command of the Holy Emperor. ¡ªFrom now on, the hero is our enemy. Thus, she was summoned back to the Sanctuary. The Holy Emperor, who had once been amicable toward Kaylen, had completely reversed his stance. Though Theresia could not comprehend the sudden change, within the Sanctuary, the Holy Emperor''s orders were absolute. She had no choice but to obey. ¡°I have heard the Holy Emperor¡¯s words,¡± Theresia said, releasing her clasped hands from prayer and facing Kaylen. ¡°What did you hear?¡± he asked. ¡°The Holy Emperor said that you, Kaylen, are now our enemy.¡± ¡°Did he reveal my true identity?¡± Theresia shook her head with a troubled expression. ¡°No, he told me that as well. The Holy Emperor said that while his appearance may have changed, every Holy Emperor throughout history has been the same being... His true identity is the first High Elf, the incarnation of the Spirit King, and the proxy of the Heavenly God.¡± Was every Holy Emperor throughout history just Benedict in a different form? Though surprised by Theresia''s words, Kaylen did not show it. He merely spoke as he observed her gradually drawing upon her divine power. ¡°Theresia. Holy Emperor Benedict is a suspicious man. I am certain he will bring harm to humanity. Will you still stand by his side?¡± ¡°I agree that he is suspicious. However, he said he would ultimately save humanity. If you see this place, you will understand.¡± As Theresia summoned her divine power, the cathedral resonated with the light she conjured, turning pure white. Rumble... The entire cathedral trembled as if struck by an earthquake. Then, the ground between Kaylen and Theresia opened, revealing a staircase. At a glance, it was a suspicious space¡ª it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if traps awaited below. ¡°Will you follow me?¡± she asked. ¡°I will.¡± Without hesitation, Kaylen descended into the underground. If there were traps, he would simply destroy them. He had a bond with Theresia that spanned many years and wanted to hear her out fully. Step. Step. In heavy silence, the two slowly descended the stairs. The first underground level they reached was filled with greenery. Flowers and small trees were arranged neatly like a well-tended garden. Kaylen could feel a strong, vibrant life force within. ¡®This space must be artificial, yet the vitality here is overwhelming.¡¯ Though underground and devoid of sunlight, the area resembled a beautiful paradise, far from the damp darkness one would expect. ¡°What is this place?¡± he asked. ¡°It is a garden prepared within the Sanctuary. The Holy Emperor tends to it personally.¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± Rumble. As Theresia summoned her divine power again, a path leading deeper underground opened. The second underground level resembled a scene one might find in a magic tower rather than beneath a cathedral. Countless magic circles were inscribed on the floor, each embedded with dense clusters of mana stones. And then... ¡°There are quite a few magic circles here.¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯ve heard that these magic circles help maintain the Sanctuary.¡± ¡°Is that so? But I wonder why there are so many spirit stones.¡± ¡°Spirit stones?¡± Hidden among the mana stones were spirit stones, so cleverly concealed that only someone with Kaylen''s level of perception could sense them. ¡®Rather than maintaining the Sanctuary...¡¯ The four cardinal directions¡ªnorth, south, east, and west¡ªwere gathered with mana of the four elements: fire, water, wind, and earth. It was a scene remarkably similar to what he had seen in the Spirit Realm not long ago. ¡®A space resembling the Spirit Realm.¡¯ Kaylen, taking in the appearance of the first and second floors, asked Theresia, ¡°From what I¡¯ve seen of the first and second floors, I can¡¯t sense any intent of the Holy Emperor to save humanity.¡± ¡°You will understand when we go to the lower floor,¡± she replied. Theresia opened the door to the third underground level and stepped forward. The space there was dark and damp, reminiscent of a typical underground area. No light from the outside reached in. Only a faint blue glow emanated from below. Descending the stairs, Kaylen couldn¡¯t help but gasp. ¡°This is...¡± ¡°This is the place where the Holy Emperor¡¯s will to save humanity is contained.¡± On the third underground level, from floor to ceiling, rows of vertical glass chambers stood tall. Each chamber, filled with a blue liquid, contained human bodies. Dozens of people were packed into a single chamber. ¡°Huh...¡± At a glance, there were over a hundred chambers. Inside were humans ranging from young children to young adults, composed of both men and women in their prime. ¡°So this is the Holy Emperor¡¯s will to save humanity?¡± ¡°Yes. Even if the surface is destroyed... this place is prepared by the Holy Emperor to preserve the lineage of humanity.¡± ¡°Heh. Is that so?¡± When the crisis of destruction comes, the plan was to preserve part of humanity to ensure the survival of the species. Kaylen let out a faint laugh and observed the space carefully. ¡°Theresia. Even if you preserve the lineage like this, what meaning would it hold? Shouldn¡¯t the priority be to prevent the destruction in the first place?¡± ¡°Humans are not omnipotent. There are disasters that cannot be overcome. If we preserve the species, perhaps a time of prosperity will come again.¡± When humanity faces a crisis it cannot overcome, perhaps it is wiser to find a way to avoid it rather than confront it head-on. Kaylen nodded slightly, as if accepting her words. ¡°Right. But if that¡¯s the case...¡± Kaylen let out a bitter smile and pointed to the ceiling of the glass chamber. ¡°Why is the life force of these humans being drained and supplied to the ceiling?¡± ¡°...What?¡± ¡°Theresia. Can¡¯t you see it? The movement of the mana.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t understand what you mean...¡± At that moment¡ª Clap. Clap. Clap. With the sound of applause from above, a man descended the stairs. ¡°As expected, Your Majesty saw through it immediately.¡± ¡°...Your Holiness?¡± ¡°Theresia. You¡¯ve done well bringing the Emperor this far.¡± It was Holy Emperor Benedict, his hair now turned black. ¡°Your Holiness, what does Lord Kaylen¡¯s statement mean?¡± ¡°Oh, are you referring to the supply of life force?¡± Holy Emperor Benedict, his long ears exposed, spread his arms nonchalantly. ¡°It¡¯s simple. Their life force is an essential resource to maintain the Sanctuary.¡± ¡°Life force... is a resource?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Did you really think it was possible to keep this great Sky Fortress afloat with just the Holy Sword? The world isn¡¯t that easy. It requires an immense energy source to keep the fortress afloat... and these humans serve that purpose.¡± Benedict looked at the humans with a benevolent smile. ¡°They were such a useless and inferior species. It was difficult enough to find even this level of use for them.¡± ¡°Y-Your Holiness...¡± Theresia¡¯s eyes widened in shock as Benedict casually demeaned humans. She had never imagined he viewed humanity in such a way. ¡°How do you replenish these humans?¡± ¡°Heh. Since you¡¯ve come this far, I¡¯ll tell you everything, Emperor.¡± Chiiiiiik¡ª As Benedict opened his hand, a red portal formed in the air. It was something both Kaylen and Theresia recognized immediately. ¡°That¡¯s... a dungeon portal?¡± ¡°Correct, Emperor.¡± Benedict chuckled as he caressed the edge of the portal. ¡°Among the dungeon portals formed in the Middle Realm, some focus not on slaughtering humanity but on abducting them.¡± ¡°My monsters are well-trained and have been efficiently supplying young humans.¡± Theresia stared blankly at Benedict. She couldn¡¯t believe what she was hearing. Dungeon portals were supposed to be a means of colonial invasion summoned by the Demon Realm to dominate the Middle Realm. But why was the Holy Emperor controlling them? It felt like a horrifying nightmare. ¡°The Holy Emperor summoning dungeon portals from the Demon Realm... This is truly the end times.¡± ¡°Heh. This world reached its end long ago, Emperor.¡± ¡°But you said you¡¯d tell me everything since I¡¯ve come this far, didn¡¯t you, Your Holiness?¡± ¡°Do you have a question?¡± From the top of the stairs, Benedict responded confidently to Kaylen¡¯s question. He didn¡¯t seem the least bit concerned about anything hidden in the third underground level. ¡°What is the connection between the Celestial Gods and the White Demon King?¡± ¡°Heh. I figured you¡¯d ask that.¡± Benedict slowly ran his hand through his hair and began to speak. Benedict''s hair repeatedly shifted from pure white to deep black. ¡°The Celestial God sought to become the Absolute God.¡± ¡°Was he not already the Absolute God?¡± ¡°He was the ruler of the heavens, but not the Absolute God. Of course, his dominion over light and the skies made him stronger than any other god... but still, he desired to ascend even higher.¡± Benedict pointed his finger upward toward the sky¡ª Then lowered it to the ground. ¡°So, he sought to go beyond ruling the heavens... and to rule what lay below.¡± ¡°Below...?¡± ¡°The Southern Demon Realm Continent. The subterranean world.¡± Benedict grinned and pointed at Kaylen. ¡°The Celestial God, who had waited for so long, finally found his opportunity. Thanks to Your Majesty defeating the Flame Demon King, a significant power vacuum formed within the Demon Realm.¡± ¡°But that¡¯s not the first time the Demon Realm has faced a power vacuum, is it?¡± ¡°The Flame Demon King was the most powerful demon king the Demon Realm had painstakingly forged. With his fall, their power weakened drastically...¡± Kaylen''s expression hardened. The worst possibility he dreaded was starting to come true. ¡°The incarnation sent by the Celestial God could not exert much power in the Demon Realm at first. That realm inherently rejects the power of the Celestial God. However, when your Ernstein became a berserk dragon, the Celestial God lost a significant portion of his power while subduing the dragon.¡± ¡°And that, ironically, became an opportunity in the Demon Realm.¡± Benedict chuckled joyfully. ¡°With the Celestial God''s power weakened, the Demon Continent could no longer repel his incarnation. Eventually, his incarnation became the White Demon King... and by invading the Celestial Realm, he merged with his original body, which was recovering its strength.¡± ¡°So, the Celestial God is the Demon King...?¡± ¡°Yes. He is now both the Celestial God and the Demon King... No.¡± Benedict''s hair shifted back to black, then was overlaid with a shining white light. A coexistence of black and white¡ª He gazed at his hair as if entranced and concluded his words. ¡°Now, he has become the Celestial Demon God, ruling over both the heavens and the depths.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 186 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 186 The Celestial Demon God. It was the worst outcome Kaylen didn¡¯t want to consider. ¡°So, the dungeon portals and colonies... were all part of the Celestial God''s¡ªno, the Celestial Demon God''s plan? To compensate for the weakness of dark magic compared to divine power?¡± Faith in the Celestial God was deeply rooted among the people of the Middle Realm. The belief that the god protected humanity was so firm that even Kaylen, subconsciously, had thought the Celestial God was on humanity''s side. But now¡ª To realize that the god they relied on was actually the Demon King. There was no one left for humanity to depend on. ¡°The Dragon God Meyer and now the Celestial Demon God... it''s an endless uphill battle.¡± First, the immediate threat of the Dragon God Meyer. Then, the Celestial Demon God who had been striving to become the Absolute God by seizing control of the Demon Realm for over a thousand years. The Flame Demon King they had faced before had been known for his strength, but compared to these enemies, he seemed almost insignificant. Kaylen felt a suffocating frustration. ¡°Hoo...¡± He took a moment to steady his breath and focus his mind. It didn¡¯t matter who the enemy was. He would take it step by step, starting from the beginning. The first target was the Holy Emperor standing at the top of the stairs. Subduing him and completing the Wind Sword were the highest priorities. Swish. Behind Kaylen, the Six Sword floated silently. ¡°You¡¯ve been quite kind, explaining everything in such detail, Holy Emperor.¡± ¡°Well, soon you¡¯ll be in the same situation as them.¡± The Holy Emperor Benedict pointed his finger toward the humans trapped inside the glass chambers. ¡°An emperor can provide more energy to Saint Juari than thousands of ordinary humans.¡± Rumble... With a snap of Benedict¡¯s fingers, the underground trembled, and the glass chambers began to crack one by one. The bodies inside collapsed to the ground, and the liquid that had filled the chambers spilled out, gradually flowing toward Kaylen. ¡°You think this is enough to stop me?¡± ¡°Heh. That may look simple, but it¡¯s a new holy water created by the Celestial Demon God. It will surely bind you...¡± Whoosh! Before Benedict could finish, Kaylen''s figure vanished. In the blink of an eye, he stood before Benedict, bringing down the Wind Sword in an instant. Chiiiik! ¡°Hmph...¡± Though it seemed the Holy Emperor''s forehead had been split, a faint smile played on his lips. At the same moment, his figure dissolved like smoke. His voice echoed in the empty air. ¡°The Spirit King of Wind resides within me. I may not be able to defeat you, but you will find it difficult to catch me.¡± So he had shown himself so confidently because he had that card to play. Kaylen frowned slightly, staring at the quivering air. The presence of the Holy Emperor had faded to the point where he could no longer sense it. ¡°Theresia. You don¡¯t need to stay here. Come with me.¡± ¡°Your Holiness...¡± The air resonated with the Holy Emperor¡¯s voice, echoing in all directions. His gentle tone coaxed Theresia, who sat on the ground with a despondent expression. ¡°You may be human, but you have served me faithfully for many years. You are worthy of survival.¡± ¡°If you agree to my offer, place your hand into the holy water. Then, I will free you.¡± Theresia slightly lifted her head, her unfocused eyes staring into the void. ¡°I have one question.¡± ¡°Ask anything you wish.¡± ¡°What will happen to humanity?¡± ¡°Do not worry. They will not go extinct.¡± A genuinely delighted laugh echoed through the air, and the Holy Emperor spoke in a lighter tone. ¡°No matter how inferior they may be, how could I allow such a valuable source of life energy to go extinct? The human species will never vanish. So, don¡¯t worry.¡± Livestock. The Holy Emperor Benedict had defined humans as livestock. That single word encompassed his entire perception of humanity. ¡°Ha. Haha. I see...¡± Theresia gave a faint, powerless laugh and then clasped her hands together once more. ¡°Mana of light, arise.¡± Until now, she had used her divine power in worship of the Celestial God. ¡°Divine Shield.¡± But now, she used her power in a calm tone, devoid of any praise to the god. ¡°Theresia, I told you to touch the holy water...¡± ¡°Heh. You expect me to touch that suspicious liquid, thinking it will save me? Do you take me for a fool?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± ¡°You were planning to trap me in that holy water just like you did with Lord Kaylen, weren¡¯t you?¡± Whirr. The air gathered, and Benedict¡¯s face floated in the air. He looked at Theresia with an expression of regret. ¡°Yes. What a pity. I had hoped to see you foolishly place your hand into the holy water in a desperate attempt to survive.¡± ¡°I would rather die than obey you.¡± ¡°Heh. You cannot die.¡± Benedict glanced at the holy water approaching Kaylen¡¯s group, a joyful smile on his face. ¡°You, too, must be trapped in the holy water and become an energy source for the Sanctuary. You were born a saint, after all. It¡¯s the least you could do in service.¡± ¡°So... you intended for me to suffer the same fate as Kaylen, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Indeed. I had even planned to place you in the same glass chamber. Did you not harbor feelings for the Emperor? You could never be with him in life, so I thought to unite you in death...¡± ¡°Divine Spear!¡± Theresia spread her palm, drawing forth her divine power. A spear of pure white light shot toward Benedict. The spear radiated with fierce momentum, but¡ª ¡°Using divine power against the Holy Emperor? You truly are a fool.¡± Benedict, his head floating in the air, blew gently. The spear of light flickered like a candle¡¯s flame and was extinguished instantly. Against the Holy Emperor, the pinnacle of the Sanctuary, light mana posed no threat. ¡°...¡± ¡°Is this the end of your meaningless resistance?¡± The Holy Emperor sneered, glancing at Kaylen. ¡°The Emperor resists less than expected. Have you realized that you cannot overcome the power of the holy water? Still, you are wiser than the saint.¡± ¡°Hmph. You think I can¡¯t overcome that holy water?¡± Six Sword Path ¨C Second Sword Flame Heaven The fusion of the Fire Sword and the Light Sword created a massive blaze. The same Flame Heaven that once set the skies ablaze now erupted in the underground chamber. ¡°You think this mere sword will be enough...?¡± At first, the Holy Emperor mocked the Flame Heaven. But then¡ª Bubble, bubble¡ª The holy water, which had been surrounding Kaylen, began to bubble and boil as it touched the flames, losing its form. The Holy Emperor¡¯s expression stiffened at the sight. ¡®Impossible... This is the holy water granted directly by the Heavenly God. There¡¯s no way it should burn so easily. What is happening...?¡¯ His eyes widened, struggling to believe the sight before him. ¡°It¡¯s nothing special.¡± Kaylen, gazing at the burning holy water, pulled out a small, talisman-like artifact from within his robes¡ªa relic of the Demon Clan. He reached into it and withdrew something. For the first time, Benedict¡ªthe Holy Emperor¡ªlet out a horrified scream. ¡°T-That... That¡¯s...!¡± ¡°Oh? You recognize it right away, Holy Emperor?¡± What Kaylen held wasn¡¯t so much a physical object as it was a mass of radiance. A large, green-glowing sphere. Teresa, observing from the side, frowned in confusion. ¡®What... What is that?¡¯ But the answer soon came from the Holy Emperor himself. ¡°T-The World Tree¡¯s Seed...! Why do you have that?!¡± He abandoned his usual composed tone, his face flushed red as he shouted furiously. Kaylen grinned. ¡°Because my former wife was a High Elf.¡± ¡°No... It can¡¯t be...¡± ¡°Yes. This was created by Delruna.¡± [Eren. Will you attack the Holy Emperor, the first Elf?] -Yes. [Then, will you take me with you when that time comes?] When they had spoken about the first Elf, Delruna had asked Kaylen to take her along. When Kaylen visited the Fairy Tower to retrieve the mold for the Wind Sword¡ª [Eren. Before you meet the Archmage, take me first... to where the World Tree is beneath the ground.] Delruna had first made contact with the World Tree beneath the Fairy Tower. And when Kaylen returned, she had already transformed into the form of the World Tree¡¯s Seed. [Let¡¯s go. If you simply keep me close, the first Elf might sense me. Hide me well.] -Alright. I have just the right way to do it. She was hidden inside the Demon Clan¡¯s relic, allowing her to secretly enter the Sanctuary. ¡°G-Give it back! Right now!¡± The atmosphere trembled. The Holy Emperor¡¯s face appeared from every direction. Gone was his earlier composure. Dozens of faces floated in the air, each one twisted in horror, confusion, and fear. ¡°You¡¯ve lost your composure.¡± Six Sword Path ¨C Second Sword Dimensional Compression With the Earth Sword, Baldrix, and the framework of the Wind Sword combined, Kaylen activated the Second Sword¡ªDimensional Compression. In an instant, the underground space shrank, folding and collapsing, drawing everything towards Kaylen¡¯s sword. ¡°Kgh...!¡± Out of the dozens of faces that Benedict had manifested, over twenty were pulled into the sword. They were absorbed directly into the framework of the Wind Sword, reinforcing it. Unlike before, when Benedict had maintained his composure, his mind now wavered, and he could no longer completely conceal his presence. ¡°How... Why... How do you have... the Seed of the World Tree?!¡± But rather than focusing on his essence being pulled in, Benedict was fixated on the seed. He repeated his questions in a near-panic, his voice trembling. Even Teresa, who had never seen the Holy Emperor so cornered, couldn¡¯t tear her gaze away from the World Tree¡¯s Seed. ¡®What exactly... is that thing?¡¯ Kaylen smirked. ¡°Holy Emperor, let¡¯s be clear. As you said, this isn¡¯t just the World Tree¡¯s Seed... it¡¯s a vault, isn¡¯t it? This?¡± Benedict gritted his teeth. ¡°You... Do you really understand what that is...?¡± ¡°Of course I do.¡± Kaylen spun the seed around in his hand, alternately grasping and releasing it. ¡°Y-You dare to touch it so carelessly?!¡± ¡°Should I just crush it right now?¡± ¡°T-The gods will never forgive you, you wretch!!¡± Seeing Benedict lose his composure and shout, Kaylen let out a soft chuckle. ¡°You really seem to care about your own kind, don¡¯t you, Benedict?¡± ¡°Kgh... D-Don¡¯t be reckless... Please!¡± Kaylen laughed again, his tone laced with mockery. ¡°Isn¡¯t the ¡®First Elf¡¯ losing a bit of his dignity? Even if this vault contains the soul of a High Elf...¡± He tossed the seed lightly in his palm like a ball. ¡°...what difference does it make?¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 187 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 187 The Soul of a High Elf? Saintess Theresia gazed at the World Tree''s seed with a puzzled expression. Why was the soul of a High Elf suddenly appearing here? "When I followed you down to the first basement floor, I felt a strange sense of de?ja? vu." "What kind of de?ja? vu...?" Kaylen smiled as he gently touched the World Tree''s seed. "It felt similar to the vitality I sensed from the World Tree." "The World Tree...?" "Yes. Even though the World Tree isn''t here, I wondered where that vitality was coming from... It turns out this was an artificially created space, formed by absorbing the life force of the humans here." Theresia turned to look at the gathered holy water. Within it, humans who had been trapped floated, suspended. So the stolen life force was used to create the space on the first basement floor? "And the appearance of the second basement floor resembled the Spirit Realm." "What? How could it resemble the Spirit Realm...?" "Theresia, I don''t know what the Spirit Realm looks like in your imagination, but that''s its true nature." In the common imagination, the Spirit Realm was a world where spirits frolicked, overflowing with nature¡¯s energy. But reality was completely different. Kaylen paused, recalling the Spirit Realm, then spoke again. "But that space was too lacking to be called a Spirit Realm. In the true Spirit Realm, spirits would burst forth endlessly, but... there were no spirits there. If there had been, it would have at least been a crude imitation of the Spirit Realm." "If they had filled it with spirits, the second basement floor would have been complete. That''s when I remembered the Elves'' long-cherished desire¡ª''Artificial Spirits.''" "You...!" Benedict¡¯s face twitched, his eyes trembling. "The Holy Emperor looked down on the Elves. But when he offered to accept them into the Sanctuary if they completed the Artificial Spirits, I figured there had to be a reason. After seeing the second floor, my doubts were cleared." "Kuh, kuhuh..." "Benedict, your plan was to turn the Elves into Artificial Spirits and have them stay on the second floor, wasn''t it? You intended to use them to fill the Artificial Spirit Realm." "...Why should I answer that?" At his words, Kaylen silently gripped the World Tree''s seed. The gesture, as if he might crush it at any moment, made the Holy Emperor grit his teeth. To be threatened with the World Tree''s seed¡ª It was his life''s masterpiece, the culmination of all his efforts. He had no choice but to comply. "...Yes, you''re right." "Why go to such lengths?" "Because for us High Elves to live properly, we need spirits!" Forced to confess by Kaylen''s threat, the Holy Emperor spoke his true feelings loudly. "Humans on the third floor are used as sacrifices. The inferior Elves on the second floor are turned into Artificial Spirits! And through that, High Elves are reborn on the first floor... That is my duty as the last king of the Elpencia Continent!" "The king of the Elpencia Continent...?" "Yes... We once lived in true peace. Back then, Elves weren''t the inferior species they are now. They were High Elves. We cultivated and cared for the Elpencia Continent, believing that this peace would last forever." The Elpencia Continent, filled with the mana of the wind¡ª The Elves who lived there were not the Elves of today, but the superior High Elves. Back then, when everyone was naturally a High Elf, the term "High Elf" didn¡¯t even exist. Benedict, who had been crowned king of the Elves, never once imagined that his lineage would lead to the downfall of his people. "But that peace... it was shattered by a single elf born with Infinity." Benedict spoke as he glared at Kaylen. The infinite mana¡ªInfinity. The hatred he held for it was painfully clear. "An elf born with Infinity was normal for a while... Though thanks to Infinity, his abilities were outstanding enough to become my knight commander. He was diligent, kind, and considerate of others, just like any other elf." "For a while, you say... So, he changed later?" "Yes. Until he awakened as a dragon, like you." Was he recalling that moment? Benedict''s expression twisted with bitterness. "Disaster struck without warning." "When Infinity awakened, his elven form burst apart, and a massive storm of mana erupted from within. Our capital was annihilated in an instant, and all the elves died. Only I survived, thanks to my contract with the Wind Spirit King at the time." "And then?" "The mana storm spread across the entire continent of Elpencia. The storm didn¡¯t stop until it devoured every last elf... even when I fled to the continent''s edge, it chased me. It raged on, consuming my last remaining people. And when I was ready to embrace death¡ª" Benedict¡¯s twisted face briefly brightened. "The Celestial God bestowed their blessing upon me." "The Celestial God...?" "Yes. The God saved me and explained everything. They asked if I wanted revenge. Having lost all my people, I was ready to end my life... but the desire for revenge against the dragon kept me by God''s side." The Celestial God showed Benedict a vision. The destruction of Elpencia, the land of wind. The massive storm that consumed it crossed over to the center of the planet. And when the storm in the center began to fade... From the depths of the sea, new land emerged. That land became the continent where humans now lived¡ªAveria. "When I saw that the dragon who destroyed us had turned into this massive continent, Averia... I doubted whether revenge was even possible. From then on, I lost all drive and lived only as the God''s servant, doing whatever was asked of me..." Benedict''s eyes widened, madness creeping into them. "But I saw it. I saw it! Among the new races emerging in Averia... there were elves!" "Elves...?" "Yes! The elves appearing on the Averia continent resembled the elves of Elpencia exactly! Back then, every elf was a High Elf! At first, I thought our race had been reborn and decided to protect them until my death¡ªat least until inferior elves appeared." The brilliant High Elves began to fade generation by generation. Eventually, inferior elves became the majority in elven society. Though Benedict, as the God''s servant, tried to change this, stopping the degeneration of the race proved impossible. "This shouldn''t have happened... Our reborn race! How could they degenerate into such inferior elves? The proportion of High Elves kept decreasing until they became a rarity. That¡¯s when I decided to intervene more actively." "So, you created the World Tree to store the souls of the High Elves?" "Exactly! The reason inferior elves kept being born from High Elves... it was this land! Because Averia was born from the dragon! Even restored High Elves degenerated into inferior elves!" Benedict glared at the seed of the World Tree and shouted. "So I stored the souls of the High Elves! The noble souls that were born as High Elves even on the dragon''s land! I gathered them, one by one, and in the paradise I created, I will revive them once more..." "The Sanctuary¡ªis that the paradise for the High Elves?" "Heh... yes. This is no mere Sanctuary. It''s the new Elpencia! I will revive the High Elves here. Using humans and inferior species as nourishment, I will create our paradise!" A paradise solely for High Elves. That was the true purpose of the Sanctuary. Benedict gazed at the World Tree''s seed with eyes soaked in madness. If only he could reclaim it. If he could plant it again on the first floor and resurrect it...! His grand plan would finally come to fruition! [To think that the First Elf harbored such thoughts...] Flash. Flash. At that moment, the World Tree''s seed flickered with light. From within, five elves formed from light emerged. Benedict''s face lit up with joy as he cried out to them. "Oh! You...! To take form even while still in the seed. Truly noble souls! As expected of my kin!" As Benedict basked in his joy, the five High Elves, including Delruna, who had emerged from the World Tree''s seed, spoke in cold voices. [O First Elf.] "Oh, yes. Speak. Ah, is it uncomfortable there? Do not worry. I will soon release you from that wretch..." [We refuse to be resurrected.] "...What?" Snap. Benedict¡¯s expression and movements froze in an instant. [You bestowed upon us the name of High Elves.] [You instructed us to guide the Elves and lead them down the righteous path.] [But now, you abandon those Elves who trusted and followed you...] [No, you would use them as sustenance to be reborn on this land.] [We would rather die now than be resurrected in such a manner.] No. What were they saying? Why would they refuse resurrection? "Who do you think I''ve been striving for all this time...?" [O First Elf. Just as you cherished the people, so do we care for the Elves.] [We have no intention of living upon the sacrifice of our kin.] "H-Haha... Caring for such inferior beings... Have you lost your minds? You... you¡¯re the only one mistaken, right? The others just misspoke, didn''t they?" [We are all in agreement.] "Y-You...!" Whooosh! Benedict''s face contorted and vanished, as a violent windstorm surged in all directions. No, he had become the storm itself. ¨C To think that living alongside such inferior beings would drive you mad! Benedict unleashed a rage unlike anything seen before. The kin he had tried to resurrect, sacrificing everything, had rejected him. And he could not contain his fury. "Now, I understand everything." Then, Benedict¡¯s complete rage became an opportunity for Kaylen to grasp his every move. Sssss. Five of Kaylen¡¯s six swords gathered in one place. Six Sword Path. Five Swords. Celestial Net Ashes! A net of light enveloped the raging storm. "Be absorbed by my sword, Holy Emperor." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 188 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 188 Benedict, known as the First Elf, had been deceiving himself until now. No matter how much Kaylen possessed the infinite mana of Infinity, his foundation was still human. Benedict believed it would be possible to escape from his grasp. But¡ª Kuh... The net of the sky surrounding the underground cavern appeared empty at a glance, yet even the air could not escape from within. In this situation, it was inevitable that the Holy Emperor would soon be drawn into the sword. However, Benedict, the Holy Emperor, only grew more aggressive. ¨C You wretch...! If it has come to this, I will kill you with my own hands! "Oh? Do you even have the strength for that?" ¨C Foolish human. I am the First Elf, merged with the Spirit King. Do you think I lack the strength to kill the likes of you? Until now, I merely followed the will of the Celestial Demon! A raging storm surged towards Kaylen. It was not just wind but carried the sharpness of blades. The corpses caught in the storm were instantly shredded¡ª Ziiing. ¡ªtorn apart into a bloody mist, leaving no trace behind. ¨C Now that the High Elves have fallen, there is no need to follow the will of the Celestial Demon... I will kill you for trampling upon my deepest wish! Benedict had intended to lead the High Elves and establish a new paradise within the Sanctuary. But when the High Elves he sought to resurrect rejected his will, nothing held him back anymore. The will of the Celestial Demon? What use was that now? His lifelong dream had been shattered before his eyes. Benedict was now determined to kill Kaylen. ¡®That bastard has already deployed the Five Swords, so his main body¡¯s defense must be weak!¡¯ It would be difficult to immediately deploy the Six Sword Path for defense after using the Five Swords. Even if he did, its power wouldn¡¯t be as strong. ¡®Especially if he keeps overusing the Six Sword Path, his sword might shift into the Infinity form.¡¯ Benedict was already aware that Kaylen¡¯s Six Sword Path could transform into the Infinity form. With this calculation in mind, he launched his full assault on Kaylen. ¡°Ka-Kaylen...¡± Theresia¡¯s voice trembled as she watched the corpses being torn apart. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me. Please focus on fighting. I can protect myself.¡± Perhaps fearing that Benedict¡¯s storm would catch Kaylen off-guard, Theresia tried to step back and use Divine Shield. ¡°It¡¯s fine. This is nothing.¡± Instead, Kaylen pulled Theresia closer to him. ¡°Ah...¡± ¡°And if you¡¯re going to use the shield, it¡¯s better to stay close.¡± ¡°Y-Yes! Di-Divine Shield!¡± Flushing red, Theresia cast Divine Shield while in Kaylen¡¯s embrace. Perhaps because of her holy power as a saint, a sturdy shield of light formed. But it still seemed unlikely to withstand the raging storm. ¡°Theresia. Just block the fragments.¡± Six Sword Path ¨C Three Swords. Bottomless Pit. The form of the Wind Sword rose above Kaylen¡¯s head. The sword soon transformed into a black vortex. Three Swords: Bottomless Pit, absorbing everything into itself. For Kaylen, who was about to complete the Wind Sword, Benedict¡¯s assault was almost welcome. ¨C Bottomless Pit...! The moment it appeared, Benedict faltered. During the Demon King Subjugation, Three Swords: Bottomless Pit had been Ernstein¡¯s symbol. It absorbed all demonic power and converted it into one''s own strength¡ªBenedict knew all too well how dangerous it was. If he were to be drawn into it, perhaps, just as Kaylen had said, he would become part of the Wind Sword. ¡®Still, he shouldn¡¯t be able to maintain both Six Sword Paths for long. Its power will weaken.¡¯ With that belief, Benedict regained his momentum, transforming into a storm and flying towards Kaylen. But¡ª As he neared Kaylen, ¡®No...!¡¯ He sensed that something was wrong. Wheeeeiiing. The slowly rotating black vortex suddenly accelerated. The net of the sky that enclosed the space tightened rapidly. Even though Kaylen was using both Six Sword Paths simultaneously, instead of weakening, his strength only grew stronger. The wind that formed Benedict''s body was being completely sucked into the Bottomless Pit. ¡°Holy Emperor. I don¡¯t know what gave you such confidence...¡± ¨C Kugh... ¡°But it seems you lack the power to kill me.¡± Benedict could not believe the situation. ¡®Kaylen''s strength... it¡¯s many times greater than I expected!¡¯ Perhaps if it had been right after Kaylen first became a Grand Sword Master, it would have been different. Now that the Six Swords were transforming, his power should have been weaker than during the days of Ernstein. Yet, he was displaying even greater strength than back then. ¨C Why... why isn''t the form of his sword changing...? ¡°Who knows.¡± Kaylen tilted his head slightly. Even though using the Six Sword Path twice simultaneously should have destabilized the sword without the Divine Sword, within the Sanctuary, he faced no restrictions. ¡®Without those constraints, I¡¯m stronger than before.¡¯ Even with just the Six Sword Path infused with the Divine Sword, the Light Sword and Earth Sword, and though the Wind and Flame Swords were incomplete, they still served their roles. In fact, the strength he could exert now surpassed that of the days under Emperor Ernstein. ¨C Kuh... how can this be...! Despair filled Benedict¡¯s heart as he was helplessly drawn in by Kaylen¡¯s power, far beyond his calculations. He thought this would be his end, swallowed in vain. But then¡ª ¡°I¡¯ll answer that for you.¡± A third presence, one that hadn¡¯t existed in this space until now, revealed itself. ¨C W-Who... No... Benedict¡¯s voice, soaked in despair, suddenly brightened. ¨C It¡¯s the Celestial Demon, isn''t it...! Kaylen turned his gaze to the Celestial Demon, who had appeared without warning. He was twice the size of Kaylen and bore an appearance akin to an angel. With two radiant white wings, his entire body brimmed with the mana of light. But that was only from the neck down. Above his head¡ª Long, black hair that trailed to the ground, and a face completely veiled like a mask, from which an overwhelming amount of dark mana emanated. An absolute being who wielded both light and darkness. Though the world called him the White Demon King, in truth, he was a celestial being who had absorbed demonic power¡ª the Celestial Demon. ¨C O God... have you descended here to save your humble servant? Holy Emperor Benedict spoke with a voice filled with awe. But¡ª ¡°What are you saying? Why would I bother saving a lowly servant?¡± The Celestial Demon dismissed his words and gestured toward Kaylen. ¡°Absorb him. I won¡¯t interfere.¡± ¨C G-God...? The Celestial Demon did not respond to Benedict¡¯s voice. ¡®What is he thinking?¡¯ Kaylen couldn¡¯t discern his intentions. ¡®For now, I¡¯ll complete the Wind Sword.¡¯ Not missing the opportunity, he began absorbing Benedict, who had become wind. ¨C G-God... how... If the Celestial Demon hadn¡¯t descended, perhaps Benedict would have accepted his fate. But with the brief hope that his descent brought now extinguished, despair consumed Benedict as he was drawn into the Wind Sword. ¨C God... That was his last word. Benedict vanished, completely absorbed, completing the Wind Sword. The end of the first elf came with betrayal, abandoned by the very god he served, achieving nothing in the end. ¡°Is it over?¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± Even as he secured the Wind Sword, Kaylen kept his guard up, eyes fixed on the Celestial Demon. An absolute god where light and darkness coexisted. The power radiating from him was so overwhelming that Kaylen felt as if surrender was inevitable. ¡®But... could I actually face him?¡¯ Surprisingly, Kaylen thought it might be possible. The vast difference in power remained unchanged, but¡ª for some reason, he felt he could fight if it came to that. ¡®Infinity inside me is stirring too.¡¯ The mana within him wasn¡¯t just responding¡ªit was pushing him forward, urging him to challenge the Celestial Demon. Infinity within him had clearly identified the Celestial Demon as an ¡®enemy.¡¯ Suppressing his surging mana, Kaylen asked calmly, ¡°What are you thinking?¡± ¡°First, let¡¯s change the place.¡± Clap. With a single clap of his hands, the surrounding space transformed entirely. It was the same place where Kaylen and Theresia had first met within the Sanctuary¡ª the heart of the Great Cathedral. "Kaylen. You''ve completed much of the Six Sword Path." "You have done far better than expected until now." The Celestial Demon praised Kaylen as soon as they changed locations. Feeling an uneasy sense, Kaylen responded, "What exactly did you expect from me?" "How many times do you think you have awakened over the past thousand years?" "Seventy times." The darkness veiling the Celestial Demon''s face wavered, and before Kaylen, an illusion unfolded. ¡ª Ernstine has been resurrected seventy times. In the thousand years since the fall of the Meier Empire, Ernstine hadn''t only awakened within Kaylen''s body. Though the Meier Empire had perished, its bloodline persisted through the various kingdoms built upon its ruins. ¡ª The one who destroyed Meier was also a descendant of its imperial line. Their offspring still carried the Infinite Mana, Infinity. Among these descendants, those who awakened a strong Infinity within themselves¡ª all came to realize Ernstine''s memories. ¡ª And they all attempted, like you, to recreate the Six Sword Path... Swish. In the darkness of the illusion, a golden star¡ª Infinity¡ªemerged. ¡ª But all of them failed and were absorbed into Infinity. Within the illusion, countless Ernstines turned into stars. Some were young boys, others were middle-aged women. Seventy descendants of all kinds, regardless of age or gender, failed to forge the Six Sword Path and were ultimately consumed by Infinity. But in the illusion¡¯s final scene¡ª a plump young man¡ª only Kaylen remained unabsorbed. "You alone are the one Ernstine who succeeded. So how could I not be pleased?" "...Whether I mastered the Six Sword Path or was consumed by Infinity, what does it matter to you, Celestial Demon?" "Of course, it matters." The illusion faded, and the darkness stirred as the Celestial Demon spoke in a solemn tone. "Your existence can suppress the Dragon of Destruction." "Are you referring to the Dragon God, Meier?" "Yes, Kaylen." Reaching out with a hand of light, the Celestial Demon spoke gently, "Submit to me and follow. If you do, I will make you a Sword God." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 189 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 189 You¡¯ll make me a Sword God? A faint smile appeared on Kaylen''s lips. "Is a Sword God something that can be created just because someone says so?" "I can make it happen." Flap. As the wings of the Celestial Demon God moved once, three swords appeared behind his back. Each sword was imbued with dense mana of darkness, water, and fire. These were the essential parts among Kaylen''s Six Swords. ¡®Each one is worthy of being called a divine sword. Especially since there were at least some clues for the water and fire swords, but nothing for the dark sword. Yet, even that is prepared...¡¯ "If you submit to me, I will grant you the swords." These three divine swords were what Kaylen needed most at the moment. However, without a moment''s hesitation, Kaylen rejected the Celestial Demon God''s offer. "I refuse." "Why?" "You only need to look at Benedict''s end to understand." Even Benedict, who had long followed the Celestial God as the Holy Emperor, was ultimately abandoned by his god. And after witnessing such a fate firsthand, how could he be asked to follow the same path? "Moreover, the fact that you scattered humans over Geysir¡¯s Imperial Castle is unsettling. Seeing how a Celestial God like you treats humans... how could I possibly trust you?" The Celestial Demon God entered the Demon Realm, turning the Middle Realm into a colony. And he scattered humans across Geysir''s Imperial Castle under the pretext of suppressing the Dragon of Destruction. There was no reason for Kaylen to trust him. "Haha. Benedict''s fate was sealed from the beginning¡ªto become one of the Six Swords. He was simply unaware of it." "What?" Benedict, the sole survivor of the fallen Wind Continent. Was it the plan from the start to turn him into one of the Six Swords from the moment he was rescued? "It seems you still have no intention of following me." As the Celestial Demon God slowly lowered his outstretched hand, the three divine swords behind him plunged deep into the center of the grand cathedral. "Come to think of it... I said I¡¯d explain why the sword¡¯s form didn¡¯t change earlier, didn¡¯t I?" "...Yes." "It¡¯s because this place blocks the interference of external mana." Swish. With those words, darkness began to rise like a barrier from all sides. "And now, it will be the place to seal you." "...!" Sealing him simply for refusing to submit? "If you wish to escape, pick up the sword on the ground." With those final words, the Celestial Demon God''s body flashed and vanished. "A seal, huh...?" As the Celestial Demon God disappeared, Theresia, who had been sheltered within Kaylen''s arms, cautiously looked around. The once-beautiful and majestic interior of the grand cathedral was now completely enclosed by a wall of darkness. It looked ominous at a glance, and it didn¡¯t seem like escaping would be easy. "Hmm. So the goal was to make me pick up the sword from the start." The three divine swords were deliberately placed on the ground. They tempted Kaylen, urging him to pick them up if he wished to escape. Judging from this, it seemed the true intention wasn¡¯t to gain a hollow oath of submission, but to make Kaylen grasp the swords himself. ¡®That makes it even more suspicious, and I don¡¯t want to touch them.¡¯ If it were any other opponent provoking him, Kaylen might have picked up the swords and taken control. But the opponent was the Celestial Demon God. Kaylen needed to respond more cautiously to swords crafted by him. ¡®For now...¡¯ Kaylen stared at the dark barrier erected by the Celestial Demon God and drew the Holy Sword Astella and the Flame Sword Dragonflame. He had to test how strong the barrier was. Six Sword Path Threefold Sword Blazing Heaven The light and fire swords merged, creating pure white flames. A sword most suited to piercing through darkness. The Blazing Heaven struck the dark barrier, its brightness turning night into day. No matter how strong the Celestial Demon God''s power was, it should have some effect. That was what Kaylen thought... but¡ª ¡ªMaster... A troubled voice echoed from the Holy Sword Astella. ¡ªI cannot defy my father¡¯s power... The word "father" reminded Kaylen that the origin of Astella was the sun. ¡®If the Celestial God created the Holy Sword... then it cannot defy his power?¡¯ If Astella was like this, the three divine swords embedded in the ground would be the same. Kaylen could now understand the Celestial Demon God¡¯s intent. If he took up those swords, he would never be able to oppose the Celestial Demon God. "I see." Kaylen set aside the Holy Sword Astella and, using only his Light Sword, once again activated the Blazing Heaven. However, perhaps because Astella¡¯s influence had deeply affected the Light Sword over time, as soon as the Blazing Heaven touched the dark barrier, the light mana wavered and vanished instantly. "Hmm..." Given the circumstances, there was no choice but to use an even stronger form of the Six Sword Path. As Kaylen reached that conclusion, and all six swords floated behind his back¡ª [Hoho. Fake Ernstine. You¡¯ve been trapped by the Celestial God, haven¡¯t you?] A familiar voice echoed from the halved Flame Divine Sword, Dragonflame. Once, she had been one of the wives Kaylen had loved. But now, she had become the leader of his enemies¡ª The voice of the Dwarf Queen, Kaina. "So that¡¯s why you threw this Flame Sword to me." [Hehe. I knew the Celestial God would seal you eventually. Everything from that day was preparation for this moment.] Dragonflame, which had faithfully followed Kaylen''s orders until now, began to move on its own, flying towards the darkness. Chiiiiik... The dark barrier, which had remained unshaken even against the Blazing Heaven, was now slowly opening up due to Dragonflame. [Step out now. This sword won¡¯t hold for long.] "Alright. Let¡¯s go, Theresia." "Yes." As Kaylen opened his arms, she naturally nestled into his embrace once again. ¡®Those swords...¡¯ The three divine swords embedded in the ground. They were alluring weapons that could instantly compensate for Kaylen¡¯s shortcomings, but absorbing them would mean never being able to oppose the Celestial Demon God. Still, leaving them behind felt like a waste. ¡®As long as I don¡¯t equip them into the Six Sword Path...¡¯ Whoosh. As Kaylen reached out his hand, the swords simultaneously rose from the ground. They tried to attach themselves to his six swords like magnets¡ª "Not so fast." Keeping them floating separately, Kaylen stepped outside through the path Dragonflame had opened. [For the Celestial God to wield such powerful darkness... I thought he only controlled light, but I see he¡¯s quite capable.] Outside the cathedral, Dragonflame was hovering precariously. Its flames, once split in half, had almost completely burned out. Like the old Wind Sword¡¯s remains, Dragonflame now seemed on the verge of losing all its power, leaving behind only its form. "Kaina. Did you anticipate all of this?" [Hehe. The Celestial God was far too quiet. I figured they had to be up to something. Fake Ernstine, you possess far too many Infinities. Sealing you away would make it easier for them to deal with the Dragon God.] "Hmm..." [Now, let¡¯s head back, Fake One. Hehe. Who knows when the Celestial God will erect another barrier?] Not long ago, she had tried to kill him without hesitation. Yet now, Kaina was generously telling him to return to the continent. Kaylen mulled over the words he had heard from both the Celestial Demon God and Kaina, carefully considering their intentions. The Celestial Demon God¡¯s side wanted to seal or subjugate him to suppress the Dragon God. Meanwhile, Kaina, who stood with the Dragon God¡¯s side, either wanted him dead or freed from the seal. ¡®The Celestial Demon God wants to keep me trapped here. Kaina wants to send me back to the continent...¡¯ The Celestial Demon God and the Dragon God¡ª Eventually, the two would collide. And his existence in all of this... ¡®Kaina said I possess many Infinities. The Dragon God needs my Infinity.¡¯ The Dragon God, Meier, sought to take Kaylen¡¯s Infinity. The Celestial Demon God wanted to keep Kaylen bound, ensuring the Dragon God¡¯s incomplete resurrection. In the battle between the two gods, Kaylen was an unpredictable factor, one that could tip the scales. ¡®This situation is... frustrating.¡¯ Recalling his days as the absolute ruler in Ernstine, this was nothing short of humiliation. Now, he was nothing more than a wild card being pulled between the two gods. ¡®Still, now that I understand their intentions, I should take full advantage of this situation.¡¯ Knowing that he was the wild card, there was no need to let them dictate his actions. Crossing his arms, Kaylen shook his head slightly. "I don''t want to go." [......What?] "If I go to the continent, I''ll just end up being absorbed as a component for the Dragon God, won''t I?" [Hoho. Then are you saying you''re fine with the Dragon God descending to the surface and bringing destruction to the continent?] "Let it happen." Despite her attempt at intimidation, Kaylen nonchalantly looked around the Sanctuary. "Whether it''s the Dragon God or the Celestial Demon God, the surface will become a living hell once those two clash. Rather than going down just to be absorbed, it¡¯d be better to bring people into the Sanctuary and prepare for the future. Why would I willingly go to the surface just to be devoured by the Dragon God?" [......Wait. What did you just say?] "What?" [The Celestial Demon God...?] Kaina¡¯s voice trembled as she repeated his words. Kaylen smiled faintly. So Kaina didn¡¯t know that the Celestial God¡¯s true identity was actually the Celestial Demon God. That was something he could use. "Didn¡¯t you find the dark barrier strange? How could a Celestial God wield such overwhelming power?" [That¡¯s... true.] "He possesses the power of demonic energy. And not just any¡ªan incredibly potent one." [......What do you mean?] Kaina asked, half in disbelief. But somewhere deep inside, a part of her was already convinced. "The current Demon King¡ªthe White Demon King¡ªis actually the Celestial God. No, I suppose we should be calling him the Celestial Demon God." [......He¡¯s the Celestial God?] "That¡¯s right." [That¡¯s ridiculous...] The realization that the Demon King¡¯s true identity was the Celestial God shook the very foundation of her plans. Kaina didn¡¯t want to believe it. ''......But it was strange how such a powerful being like the White Demon King suddenly descended from the heavens. And that light mana he possesses, too...'' Ever since the Crimson Flame Demon King was defeated, the newly crowned White Demon King had always seemed... off. He wielded a power far too immense for a so-called Demon King. He had intricate knowledge of the Heavenly Realm¡¯s internal affairs, allowing him to carry out an invasion with remarkable ease. If he was actually the Celestial God, then everything made sense. "Exactly. So rather than heading to the surface just to be absorbed by the Dragon God, it might be better to stay here in the Celestial Demon God''s Sanctuary." [......If that were truly what you thought, you wouldn¡¯t have bothered telling me all this, Fake Ernstine. What is it that you really want?] "Heh. I like how quickly you catch on." Kaylen raised one finger, then another. "First, delay the Dragon God¡¯s resurrection." Kaina didn¡¯t strongly oppose this. Now that she knew the Demon King who had spread the Rain of Humanity was actually the Celestial God, reviving the Dragon God as planned no longer felt right. [......And?] "Help me forge divine swords of all six attributes." Kaina, the Dwarf Queen¡ª She was the greatest blacksmith in the world. If anyone could forge divine swords, it was her. "If you do that, I''ll go to the surface." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 190 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 190 "[You''re asking me to help forge the sword? You''re... insane. Do you think I''ll agree to that?]" Kaina spoke with a voice full of disbelief. "[That''s no different from you, the fake, staying in the Sanctuary.]" "Why? Didn''t you call me a fake? If the sacred swords are completed, do you think the Six Swords will maintain their form with a fake like me?" "[Trying to provoke me is useless. It''s an offer I cannot accept.]" "Fine. Then I''ll stay here. It would be better to simply take the position of the sword-bearer under the Celestial Demon." "[Grr...]" When Kaylen responded like that, Kaina found herself in a dilemma. ¡®If the opponent isn''t just a Celestial God but a Celestial Demon wielding demonic power... If they don''t absorb the fake Infinity, they¡¯ll be lacking in strength.¡¯ If the opponent had been the Celestial God that Ernstine faced a thousand years ago, the accumulated strength would have been enough to oppose him without needing to absorb Kaylen''s Infinity. The Dragon God Meier had strengthened over a millennium and was now far stronger than before. ¡®But to think that the White Demon King was actually the Celestial God...¡¯ The White Demon King, who had demonstrated power equal to the Celestial God, was seen as the next major opponent after defeating the Celestial God. But to learn they were the same being all along meant every plan laid out so far needed to be revised. ¡®The fake''s Infinity is more crucial than ever.¡¯ When she hadn''t known the true identity of the Celestial God, she thought Kaylen''s Infinity would be useful but not essential. Even if the Dragon God resurrected without it, victory over the Celestial God seemed certain. That''s why she had made arrangements, like implanting the Dragon Flame in Kaylen, just in case. ¡®I believed that once the Dragon God revived, everything would be over.¡¯ But now the situation had changed. If the opponent was a Celestial God wielding demonic power, the Dragon God needed to gather every possible strength. If the Dragon God absorbed Kaylen? ¡®Then, no matter how powerful the Celestial Demon is, the Dragon God would surely win.¡¯ That''s why the Celestial Demon sought to restrain Kaylen, to prevent that outcome. Whose hands Kaylen ended up in could be the decisive factor in the battle between the two gods. ¡®The fake knows this too. That''s why he''s resisting...¡¯ Given the circumstances, she was willing to accept almost any request. But the proposal to forge the Six Sacred Swords was something she simply could not accept. ¡®Once the sacred swords are forged, I won''t be able to absorb the fake''s Infinity.¡¯ No matter how much she considered Kaylen a fake, she never underestimated his abilities. If his Six Sword Path wasn''t disrupted by the sacred swords, absorbing his Infinity would be nearly impossible. It would be the same as having Kaylen sealed within the Sanctuary. "You seem to be deep in thought, Kaina." "[...]" "Then let me ease your worries. Once the Six Sacred Swords are complete, I¡¯ll fight the Dragon God immediately." "[What do you mean...?]" "No matter how much the sacred swords maintain their form, if I lose, the Dragon God will be able to absorb Infinity easily. Don¡¯t you think so?" To challenge the Dragon God after completing the sacred swords? Hearing those words, Kaina smirked. ''He overestimates his strength. The fake.'' Even if his Six Sword Path remained stable, Kaylen was still just a human. Did he truly believe a mere human could stand against the Dragon God? He didn''t know his place. ''In that case, it''s worth forging the sacred swords.'' Thinking so, Kaina accepted Kaylen''s proposal. "[Under those conditions, fine. Let the final sword be received at our castle.]" "Alright." "[Then hurry and escape. We never know when the Celestial Demon might strike.]" As the flames of the Dragon Flame extinguished and her connection with Kaina was severed, Kaylen turned to look at Theresia. "Theresia." "Yes..." Theresia stood staring blankly at something. Kaylen followed her gaze. Outside the cathedral. The landscape of the Sanctuary was solemn and beautiful, yet eerily devoid of life. "They''re... all fallen." The group of paladins who had rushed to stop Kaylen¡¯s invasion. And the priests who had followed to support them. They all lay collapsed on the ground, lifeless. "Why did they fall?" "It seems there was a problem with the Celestial God''s relics. Maybe because the Holy Emperor died..." "The Celestial God''s relics...?" "The crown, the staff, and the holy grail." Theresia looked down at the fallen with somber eyes. "The three relics, along with the sacred sword, were the foundation that upheld the Sanctuary. The crown acted as the eyes watching over all within the Sanctuary, the staff allowed for spatial movement, and the holy grail halted aging and granted eternal life." "I see." With the grail no longer functioning, had they all perished as a result? Kaylen studied Theresia¡¯s condition. Unlike the others, she seemed unaffected. Perhaps, being a saintess, the grail''s failure didn¡¯t affect her. "Now that the Sanctuary has collapsed, the surface''s dungeon guilds will likely cease to function properly as well." "That makes sense. Perhaps the imperial territories under the Starn Empire''s direct control might manage, but other kingdoms will face difficulties." "Well, considering the gods'' battle that''s about to unfold, the dungeon guilds might be meaningless anyway." After enduring so much in just one day, Theresia had grown despondent. The Sanctuary she had devoted herself to had completely fallen. The Holy Emperor regarded humans as nothing more than sacrifices for high elves. And the Celestial God she had worshipped all this time turned out to be the very one who made the Middle Realm a colony of the Demon Realm. Despite the shock of the world turning upside down overnight, the fact that they were still holding on was remarkable. "Is the place where the relics are located far from here?" "It''s a bit of a distance, but for you, Lord Kaylen, it won''t take long." "Then let''s go and check their condition. Astella''s replica is here as well, right?" Though some time had passed since the dark barrier was broken, and the Celestial Demon hadn''t reappeared, Kaylen decided to retrieve the relics. "Yes. I''ll guide you." Grasp. Unlike her initial shyness, Theresia now naturally nestled into Kaylen''s arms and pointed in a direction. "First... the Holy Grail is to the north." Holding Theresia, Kaylen shot towards the north like an arrow. At the northern edge stood a long, solitary bridge of pure white. At its end lay a sacred magic circle, intricately drawn, and atop it sat a tarnished, bronze-colored cup. "...The Holy Grail has lost its power." "Let''s take it anyway." Even powerless, it was still a relic. Perhaps it would prove useful elsewhere. Thinking so, Kaylen secured the Holy Grail and proceeded to the west and south, collecting the other relics that had similarly lost their light. "And to the east... there''s Astella''s replica." "Right. We''ll retrieve that and leave." Though he moved quickly, the entire process took over ten minutes. Throughout, Kaylen kept pondering the Celestial Demon. ''If he intended to trap me, he would have descended again.'' Ten minutes might seem brief, but to the Celestial Demon, it was ample time to act. Yet, the fact that Kaylen was still moving freely through the Sanctuary meant... ''He''s plotting something.'' Before long, Kaylen and Theresia reached the final destination¡ªthe bridge where Astella''s replica lay. "Astella hasn''t lost its power." ¡ªOf course, Master. No matter if it''s a replica, how could I be compared to mere relics? The sacred sword, Astella, gleamed with radiant light. It bathed the entire complex magic circle in a pure white glow, shining with an air of dignity. "Let''s retrieve it." "...Wait. Please, Lord Kaylen." "What is it?" "If we take that, the Sanctuary will collapse to the ground. Are you really sure about this?" "Theresia. Wasn''t the Sanctuary ultimately a resting place for elves, created by the Holy Emperor?" "That''s true. But... now that the Holy Emperor is gone, couldn''t we repurpose this place for humanity?" "No. That would only be possible if we submitted to the Celestial Demon. Didn''t you see how he appeared so suddenly earlier?" At Kaylen''s words, Theresia hesitated before speaking cautiously. "...Given the situation, wouldn''t that be better?" "What?" "If the Celestial Demon and Dragon God clash, the surface will become a living hell. Shouldn''t we at least shelter some of humanity here, to prepare for the future?" The saintess''s cautious tone grew faster, her voice rising with emotion. "There is no longer a Holy Emperor to privatize the Sanctuary for his own purposes. We can use this place as we originally intended¡ªas humanity''s final refuge." "Lord Kaylen, the opponent isn''t some former Demon King. It''s a god. The Celestial Demon, who rules both the heavens and the demon realm. And the Dragon God, whom even he fears. Even if you''ve reached the level of a Grand Sword Master, isn''t it still too difficult to fight against gods?" Logically, her words were correct. This opponent was overwhelmingly strong. When the Celestial Demon proposed a pact of sword and faith, perhaps it would have been better for humanity if they''d accepted his additional demand for ownership of the Sanctuary¡ªto use it as a refuge for mankind. "You''re right. It''s difficult. For a mere human to challenge a god... there''s almost no chance of victory." "Then, wouldn''t it be better to entrust humanity to the Celestial God...?" "Celestial God? No, he''s no longer a god who cares for humanity. He''s the Celestial Demon. Asking him to safeguard humanity would be like shouting into the void. Didn''t you see him scatter countless humans over Geysir''s fortress?" "Moreover, after he subdues the Dragon God, he will never leave me alone. That, I can be sure of." The thing the Celestial Demon feared most was the Dragon God, who possessed Infinite Mana¡ªInfinity. And once the Dragon God was subdued, Kaylen would be the only remaining being with Infinity. "To eliminate future threats, he will find a way to remove me." "If we beg for his mercy somehow..." "Mercy? Do you think mercy will work on him?" "And..." Step. Step. Without hesitation, Kaylen walked towards the place where the replica of the sacred sword lay. "Even if the chances of victory are slim... it''s not impossible." "...!" "There is a way." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 191 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 191 A way to overcome this dire situation? Even Kaylen is only human¡ªcould there really be a way to face two gods? Theresia looked at Kaylen. His serious expression didn¡¯t seem like he was speaking empty words. ¡°...Alright. I¡¯ll believe you.¡± Seeing the firmness of his will, Theresia sighed and nodded. ¡°Thank you for trusting me.¡± ¡°Once you draw the sword, the Sanctuary will fall.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± If the replica of Astella was drawn, the already unstable Sanctuary would completely collapse. Standing at the edge of Astella¡¯s platform, Kaylen turned to gaze back at the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary¡ªa refuge, the best place for humanity to seek shelter. Perhaps it could have been humanity¡¯s final hope. Without hesitation, Kaylen let it fall. ¡°Astella. Absorb it again.¡± ¡ªYes, Master. Shhhh¡ª As the replica of the holy sword was reabsorbed into the original sword¡ª Rumble¡ª Starting from the platform where Astella had been embedded, the entire Sanctuary began to tremble. ¡°It has begun.¡± Theresia stood on the shaking platform, watching as the sky castle she had served for a thousand years began to fall. Her eyes were void of life¡ªonly emptiness remained. ¡°Hero, it¡¯s time to say goodbye.¡± ¡°Goodbye? What are you talking about?¡± ¡°The Holy See I served my whole life was destroyed in a single day. The Holy Emperor, whom I served for a thousand years, was revealed to have had ulterior motives... And even the Celestial God I trusted and relied on turned out to be the one who made the Middle Realm a colony of the Demon Realm...¡± Theresia¡¯s driving force over the past thousand years had been her pride in believing that the Holy See and the Sanctuary were humanity¡¯s final bastions. But today, the hidden truth had been exposed. Her fellow paladins and priests¡ªher comrades¡ªhad all died. She no longer had the will to continue living. ¡°I will end my life with the Sanctuary. Hero, it was truly a pleasure to meet you again, even like this.¡± Deciding to end her life along with the falling Sanctuary, the saintess looked at Kaylen one last time. The hero she had yearned for, dreamed of for a thousand years. Until now, she had restrained herself, only daring to admire him within the limits of her role as a saintess. ¡®But now, it¡¯s the end.¡¯ Standing on the trembling platform, Theresia embraced Kaylen. ¡°Theresia...¡± Feeling the fabric of his chest dampen, Kaylen lowered his head briefly. In that moment, Theresia swiftly wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his¡ªsuddenly, impulsively. ....... Kaylen¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, but sensing Theresia¡¯s strong resolve, he let out a bitter smile inwardly. ¡®Come to think of it, this is the first time in this life.¡¯ In his previous life, he had taken many concubines and had numerous children, believing that this led to the empire¡¯s downfall... ¡®In this life, I¡¯ve lived with strict abstinence.¡¯ So, what had been nothing during his time as emperor was, in fact, a first for him in this life. ¡®She¡¯s full of eagerness, but still clumsy.¡¯ Seeing Theresia recklessly seeking affection, Kaylen felt a twinge of sympathy and began to take the lead. Even if it was the first time for this body, the experience of a former emperor didn¡¯t simply vanish. ¡°Ah...¡± Kaylen gently embraced Theresia. * * * Theresia loosened her arms from around Kaylen¡¯s neck and quickly stepped back. ¡°Haa... haa... as expected... you¡¯re skilled.¡± Her face was flushed red like an apple, and she gasped for breath. ¡°Is it over, Theresia?¡± ¡°Yes. Now that I¡¯ve fulfilled even my final desire... I can face the end with the Sanctuary without regrets.¡± ¡°About that Sanctuary...¡± Kaylen gave a bitter smile and pointed downward. ¡°It¡¯s already fallen.¡± ¡°Eh...?¡± That couldn¡¯t be. How much time had passed since their kiss? Had the Sanctuary really fallen already? If it had, there was no way they¡¯d still be standing here... ¡°Look.¡± Kaylen¡¯s finger pointed to the ground. Theresia, with trembling eyes, looked down. The Astella bridge she had been standing on had completely disappeared. The massive sky fortress had shrunk into the distance, slowly falling away. ¡°This... this can¡¯t be...¡± Kaylen¡¯s wind sword stirred the air, supporting them. That was why she hadn¡¯t realized it¡ªbut the Sanctuary had already fallen far below. Theresia stared blankly at the sight. No, she had only intended to share a parting kiss and fall alongside the Sanctuary... ¡°Time flies during a first kiss.¡± ¡°This... this isn¡¯t how it was supposed to be...¡± ¡°Theresia.¡± Kaylen pulled the retreating Theresia into his arms and spoke. ¡°The Sanctuary has already fallen. Let¡¯s return to the capital.¡± ¡°N-no... I can¡¯t... I don¡¯t have the strength to keep living anymore... I can¡¯t bear the truth that the Celestial God is actually the Heavenly Demon. I don¡¯t want to accept it.¡± ¡°So, you¡¯re thinking of ending your life here?¡± ¡°Then...?¡± "We must take revenge." When Kaylen mentioned revenge, Theresia was struck with shock. Revenge? No matter what, it was still the god she had served until now... "I may no longer be a saintess... but revenge against a god? That¡¯s impossible." "For someone who''s ''no longer a saintess,'' you still possess a significant amount of divine power." "That''s true, but..." "Actually, it feels even stronger than before." At Kaylen''s words, Theresia took a moment to examine herself deeply. After learning the truth¡ªthat the Celestial God she had worshipped was, in fact, the Heavenly Demon¡ªshe had thought her faith would shatter completely, and her divine power would fade with it... ''Is it true...?'' But her divine power had actually grown stronger, by about one and a half times from what she could sense. "Isn¡¯t it strange? Your faith in the Celestial God should have disappeared by now." "...You''re right." "Theresia, it¡¯s not unreasonable that today¡¯s events left you in despair. The world you shared with the heavens for a thousand years has completely crumbled... I understand why you¡¯d want to end it all here." "...But?" "Even so, I want you to live." "...Why?" "Because the Theresia I know would surely regret the decision she made today." With that, Kaylen embraced Theresia and flew towards the Sanctuary. The Sanctuary was slowly falling, collapsing bit by bit. As they watched, Kaylen spoke in a firm voice. "If it''s you, you wouldn''t choose to helplessly perish within that place. You¡¯d find a way to survive¡ªno matter what." "You''re overestimating me." "No, it''s not an overestimation. That¡¯s the Theresia I know." Hearing his words, Theresia felt an odd warmth stir within her heart. She had thought she¡¯d completely given up on life. But with just his words, a small but growing will to live began to rise within her. "Even if I asked you to throw me into that place, you wouldn¡¯t, would you?" "Of course not. That would haunt my dreams." "...Heh. Then I guess it can¡¯t be helped. For now, let¡¯s head to the capital." "Good. That¡¯s a wise decision." Still holding Theresia, Kaylen reached into the relics of the demon race and pulled out an item. At first glance, it looked like an advanced mana stone, but it was densely engraved with magic circles. "What¡¯s that...?" "It¡¯s something Johannes created. He called it a ''Return Stone.''" With the Sanctuary destroyed, the ''Path of Light'' that allowed spatial travel could no longer be used. Johannes had anticipated such a situation and crafted this Return Stone for Kaylen in advance. "We¡¯ll return to the capital, Alzass." As Kaylen spoke, holding the Return Stone, a blue light burst from it, opening a warp gate. "Then let''s go." With that, Kaylen carried Theresia and stepped into the gate. [Warp gate? It finally opened?] From within the gate, Johannes''s voice echoed. [Emperor, hurry! It''s urgent!] "Why? What''s going on?" [Your ex-wife is attacking!] On the other side of the warp gate¡ªat the royal castle of Alzass. Hovering above it was Kaina, her fur ominously spread out in all directions. The black fur stretched so far that it covered more than half the sky, resembling the return of a demon. ''W-What is that?!'' ''It''s horrifying...'' The people of the capital trembled in fear at the sight. ''Hmph. I didn''t expect Kaina to come first.'' Through the remnants of Dragonflame, she had promised to forge a divine sword, but Kaylen hadn¡¯t anticipated her arrival to be this swift. "Why did you take so long?!" "Long?" "It¡¯s already been six days!" "Six days...?" Kaylen exchanged glances with Theresia in his arms. Six days? There was no way that much time had passed. ''Many things happened in the Sanctuary, but in terms of time, it wasn¡¯t even a full day... Could time have flowed differently between the Sanctuary and the mortal realm?'' Holding that doubt, Kaylen turned his gaze towards Kaina. "When did Kaina arrive?" "She came yesterday. She said she was here to fulfill her deal with you. She kept rambling nonsense." "But she hasn¡¯t attacked yet?" "Not yet. But if you were even a little later, the royal castle would¡¯ve been destroyed. She said she''d start by crushing it." "Hmm. I should go check it out." Kaylen set Theresia down and ascended into the sky. As he approached, the fur extending in all directions bristled sharply in response to his presence. [You''re late, impostor. You even brought along the saintess abandoned by the god. Were you delayed by... indulging yourself with her?] "That''s not it." [As expected of a fake. Unlike the true Ernshtine, it seems you even stoop to laying hands on children...] At Kaina''s mocking words, Kaylen furrowed his brow. "Enough. Just get to the point." [Fine. Let¡¯s end this quickly. What kind of sword do you want me to forge first?] As if she could forge any type of sword, Kaina spoke with confidence. Kaylen looked at her and responded. "For now... start with a sword of light." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 192 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 192 [A sword of light?] Fwoosh¡ª The fur that had spread across the sky ignited and vanished. The flames gathered into one place, forming a singular shape. "Why start with a sword of light when you already have a holy sword?" Kaina, her entire body formed of fire as if she had manifested through a mana suit, questioned Kaylen with a curious look. -That''s right, Master! You¡¯re not going to abandon me, are you? "The holy sword is useless against the Celestial Demon." -Ugh... Perhaps because it was crafted by a Celestial God, the holy sword couldn''t even pierce through the dark barrier cast by the Celestial Demon. If the battle was only against the Dragon God, it wouldn''t matter, but to counter the Celestial Demon as well, a sword of light was necessary. "Ah, I see." Understanding Kaylen¡¯s reasoning, Kaina smiled gently and said, "Alright. Then let¡¯s start by forging the sword of light. But the holy sword will be useless afterward, so give it to me." -Master... "Hehe. If I melt down the legendary holy sword and forge a new one, it¡¯ll be quite fun..." As Kaina''s eerie laughter echoed, the holy sword trembled slightly. Any other blacksmith might fail, but Kaina, the Dwarf Queen who also wielded the power of Dragon Tongue, could surely dismantle it. "No. That won¡¯t happen." -Ugh... "Why not? What are you going to do with it?" "I¡¯ll use it in the battle against the Dragon God." "Hmph..." Kaina looked at Kaylen with narrowed eyes. "Well, at least you''re being upfront about it." "Wasn¡¯t our deal that I¡¯d fight the Dragon God once the six swords were completed?" "True. But you''re going to lose to the Dragon God anyway, so why bother making a divine sword for the Celestial Demon?" "Just make it." "Alright. A promise is a promise. But..." Kaina held up three fingers. "I have a lot to do in Geysir... I can only forge three divine swords at most." "Three, huh." "Yes. And it looks like you already have a few divine swords, so that should be enough." Currently, Kaylen possessed three divine swords. The holy sword of light, Astella. The earth sword, Baldrix. And replacing the lost fire sword, Dragonflame, was a newly completed wind sword from the Sanctuary. ''Since the wind sword was completed in the Sanctuary, it should be named accordingly.'' Though it was Saint Benedict, the King of Wind Spirits, who had imbued the sword, Kaylen didn¡¯t feel the need to name it after him. "The remaining attributes are the fire sword, the dark sword, and the water sword." If Kaina forged three swords with these attributes, all six swords could be completed. But for Kaylen, forging the sword of light was an essential task. While he was pondering over which to forge, Kaina smiled and spoke. "But... if you give me a part of the Starn Empire''s territory, I''ll make an additional sword for every million people." "...What?" "One for every million. How about it?" Kaina spread her fingers with a bright smile. Kaylen felt a chill run down his spine at the sight. "Are you serious?" "Of course, I¡¯m serious~ Think of it as sacrificing a few for the greater good. Fake Ernstein. The more divine swords you have, the safer you¡¯ll be, right?" "You..." "Considering the recent decrease in population due to dungeon portals, you''ll have to give me quite a bit of land. Hohoho." Listening to Kaina''s laughter, Kaylen realized once again. No matter how much she resembled his beloved wife from the past, Kaina... Inside, she was completely different from a thousand years ago. ''The Kaina who was once my wife is gone. All that remains is Kaina, the Dragon God''s zealot and the enemy''s leader.'' In the end, she was an enemy that needed to be cut down. Reminding himself of this, Kaylen responded to her words. "I refuse." "Hehe. If you ever change your mind, let me know." "A million? I can''t bear such a sacrifice." "Sacrifice? Once the fake you is absorbed by the Dragon God, all humans will be annihilated anyway. A million is a cheap price." If the Dragon God wins, it will naturally lead to the extermination of humanity. Kaylen looked at Kaina, who spoke of this so casually, and asked with a grave expression. "...Why do you need humans so badly?" "Hehe. Humans are the materials that make up the Dragon God." "Materials?" "Yes, fake one. Haven¡¯t you ever wondered why humans flourished on the continent of Averia?" "What are you talking about?" Kaina slowly spread her fingers one by one. "Humans are a fragile species. Compared to dwarves or elves, they can''t handle mana well, have short lifespans, and weak physical conditions. They reproduce quickly, but monsters do as well." "Humans established kingdoms, formed societies, and built organized structures to drive back monsters. But for that to happen, the ''previous stage'' had to be successfully completed." "The previous stage?" "Survival during the primitive era." As Kaina''s flames flared, shapes of various monsters appeared. Ogres, formidable even for skilled knights. Orcs, who couldn''t wield mana but surpassed humans in physical strength and reproduction. Early humans had to survive against these powerful monsters. "Nowadays, humans wield mana, develop tools, and handle monsters well... but how did primitive humans, without even iron tools, manage to overcome these monsters and establish kingdoms?" ¡°Unlike them, it must have been because they could handle mana.¡± ¡°Hehe. Do you really think they could pierce an ogre¡¯s skin with crude weapons, even with mana?¡± ¡°Then...?¡± ¡°The reason they survived and prospered is that humans were chosen by the Dragon God as the ''flesh'' of this continent.¡± The Dragon God? Kaylen listened to Kaina''s words with a puzzled expression. ¡°Primitive humans weren¡¯t as weak as they are now. They all possessed infinite mana, like your Meyer bloodline.¡± ¡°What...?¡± ¡°As they multiplied and formed tribes and nations, their population stabilized, and the color of their infinity faded and disappeared. But once, they were all as remarkable as your lineage.¡± If the first humans all possessed infinity, it explained how they survived the harsh competition with monsters. Humans with infinity had superior stamina, regeneration, and mana affinity. No matter how dangerous the situation, their growth as a population wouldn¡¯t have been hindered. ¡°And now, the ¡®blood and flesh¡¯ of the Dragon God, nurtured through the human race... is sufficient.¡± ¡°...I see. In the end, if we fail to subdue the Dragon God, humanity is destined for extinction.¡± ¡°Extinction? No. It¡¯s simply becoming part of the dragon, as originally intended. Hehe.¡± ¡°Hah...¡± ¡°Oh, by the way. If we convert you, fake one, into human terms...¡± Kaina smiled chillingly and clapped her hands. ¡°You¡¯re worth more than a hundred million people. Isn''t that incredible? The Meyer bloodline is truly something.¡± ¡°Ha. Thanks for valuing me so highly, more than a hundred million.¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. Hohoho. So, what will you do?¡± ¡°A million people? I refuse. Instead, I¡¯ll commission the Light Sword, the Fire Sword, and the Shadow Sword.¡± Kaylen flatly rejected Kaina¡¯s demand for land and instead commissioned three swords. ¡°Hmph... Fine. Let me know if you change your mind later. Through Melvria.¡± ¡°Melvria?¡± Kaylen feigned ignorance about Melvria¡¯s whereabouts. ¡°Pretending not to know? As long as she possesses the Six Sword Path, she can¡¯t escape my sight. I can sense her well on this land.¡± As she said this, Kaina casually looked around the capital, Alzass. ¡®Did she come to the capital for this reason?¡¯ Even if more time had passed in the Sanctuary than he thought, only a few days had elapsed. There was no reason for Kaina to stir up trouble in the capital. Kaylen thought there must be another reason for her visit. ¡°Well, there¡¯s no chance I¡¯ll change my mind. Just hurry and finish the swords.¡± ¡°Alright. Then I¡¯ll be going, fake husband.¡± Kaina waved her hand and nonchalantly shifted her gaze again. Though her movement seemed natural, Kaylen, with his transcendent senses, caught that her gaze briefly paused at a certain point. ¡®There...¡¯ Fwoosh! Kaina vanished into flames. Kaylen turned his gaze toward the place she had looked at moments before. The place was the Myorn Workshop. ¡®I need to check it out.¡¯ The Myorn Workshop. As soon as Kaylen entered, he looked towards Myorn, who was deep within the workshop. "Myorn, are you alright?" "Hmm? Why? Did something happen?" Unaware that Kaina had descended upon the capital, Myorn was engrossed in her research. Her fur was scattered in all directions, and papers filled with research notes floated around her. Kaylen spread his mana to scan the surroundings but sensed nothing unusual. ¡®Still, since Kaina checked this place... I should stay alert here as well.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t like Kaina looked around for no reason. As Kaylen pondered this, Myorn spoke as if it was a good thing. "More importantly, can I see the Flame Sword you took back the other day? I need to study it more to restore it." "The Flame Sword has already burned out." "Huh... Really? Then what do I do? Without that, I can¡¯t forge the Divine Flame Sword." "Is it impossible for you to make it alone without that sword?" "Sigh. Just because it''s called a Divine Sword doesn¡¯t mean it''s easy to make, you know?" Kaina had once claimed she could forge several swords without much trouble, but that was only possible because she possessed the authority to wield the power of dragon words. Logically, Myorn''s words made more sense. "I could easily forge a decent quality sword. But what you''re asking for is a Divine Sword imbued with the full essence of a single mana attribute. Without a base like the previous Flame Sword, it¡¯s impossible." "I see. Then, how about if you have a reference sword?" "That would... make it a bit easier." "Good." Kaylen pulled out one of the three Divine Swords he had kept as a legacy of the demon race. It was the Flame Sword, one of the three swords personally granted to him by the Celestial Demon. Myorn¡¯s eyes widened at the sudden appearance of the Flame Sword. "What? It''s already completed?" "No. I''m not going to wield this sword." "Huh? Why? It''s perfect." "It¡¯s flawed." "No way..." "It¡¯s true. I can¡¯t use this sword." Kaylen planted the Flame Sword into the center of the workshop and spoke slowly. "So, examine it. Find the trap hidden within this sword." "Hmm... A trap, you say... I can¡¯t tell just by looking, but alright. I''d be happy to study such a sword." "Good." Leaving the Celestial Demon¡¯s Flame Sword with Myorn, Kaylen sank deep into thought. ¡®Kaina¡¯s forged swords will have flaws too.¡¯ She wasn¡¯t a fool. Just like the Celestial Demon¡¯s sword, the ones Kaina crafted would surely have mechanisms to ensure they couldn¡¯t defy the Dragon God. ¡®That¡¯s why I can¡¯t rely on their Divine Swords. To overcome both gods, I must find a way to stand on my own.¡¯ It would be best if he could forge one himself, but creating a Divine Sword wasn¡¯t something that could be done overnight. ¡®I¡¯ll have to use my position as the joker caught between the two gods.¡¯ And the one he could request an item from... wasn¡¯t limited to Kaina alone. ¡®I¡¯ll use the Celestial Demon too.¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 193 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 193 "Violet, your replacement has finally been found." Violet waited with a pounding heart for her replacement. ¡®Finally, I can escape from this hellish workload...!¡¯ The work in the Starn Empire was abnormal. Moreover, ever since the kingdom transformed into an empire, the workload had grown incomparable to before. ¡®As soon as I finish handing over my duties to my replacement, I¡¯ll submit my resignation right away.¡¯ Violet¡¯s determination was firm. It was true that she had some affection for the current Emperor, Kaylen... But the workload he brought with him was like an explosion, enough to bury any positive feelings. Of course, it wasn¡¯t just because she disliked the work. ¡®I also need to continue my research on my origin.¡¯ At first, when the Great Mage had told her that she was a descendant of merfolk, she didn¡¯t believe it. But after experiencing her body transforming like a water spirit in the Spirit Realm, her thoughts changed. ¡®Even if I¡¯m not directly of merfolk blood, there must be some connection between me and water mana.¡¯ The sensation of transforming into a water spirit in the Spirit Realm was entirely unfamiliar to Violet. It was a completely different experience from when she transformed using the S-class mana suit, Glacia¡ªan experience of being entirely immersed with water mana. ¡®I wanted to study this in more detail...¡¯ Violet frowned. On her office desk, as usual, documents were piled up like a mountain. No, the amount was far greater than usual. ¡®Why does the territory keep expanding?¡¯ The Starn Empire. After changing its designation to an empire, countless kingdoms soon applied for subjugation under Starn¡¯s banner. It was the result of Kaylen drawing in various kingdoms to counter the Dragon Empire, Geysir. And the practical tasks that accompanied this? They were all handled by Violet. "Violet... ah, there¡¯s so much work. I¡¯ll take my leave then." "Great Mage! Please, help me out a little." "Ah, sorry. I only know magic. I¡¯m useless when it comes to administrative tasks. Totally useless." Even Johannes, the Great Mage, who came looking for her for experiments, would flee at the sight of the mountain of paperwork. ¡®Once my replacement arrives, I¡¯ll pass on the work and find a way to survive myself...¡¯ Violet thought this as she looked at the mirror in her office. Though half her face was covered by Glacia, the revealed side remained beautiful. But due to the overwhelming workload, her face had become noticeably gaunt. As she briefly examined her reflection¡ª Knock knock. Unlike the impatient maids of the castle, a polite knock sounded. Violet instinctively felt that the person knocking was her expected replacement. "Yes! Come in!" She welcomed the visitor with a bright voice. And as the door creaked open and one person entered... "Hello, Princess." Violet¡¯s joyful expression began to fade. "Uh..." "Starting today, I am Theresia, affiliated with the Imperial Palace." "Saintess...?" Why are you here? Violet stared at Theresia, the Saintess, with an expression of utter confusion. "I look forward to working with you." Theresia entered the room with an awkward smile. She was not wearing her usual priestess robes but a simple, modest dress. "Saintess, you say you¡¯re affiliated with the Imperial Palace... What do you mean by that? Weren¡¯t you, of course, part of the Holy See?" "Violet, I am no longer a Saintess." "What...?" "I have forsaken God. I can no longer be called a priestess." Violet looked at Theresia¡¯s hair in disbelief. ¡®Her silver hair is still shining so brightly?¡¯ In fact, her hair seemed to shimmer even more than before, radiating a divine aura that suggested her holy power was stronger than ever. "I heard you¡¯ve been struggling with the workload alone. I may be lacking, but from now on, I¡¯ll do my best to help you." "Ah... yes." "It looks like there¡¯s a lot of work, but... if we do it together, it¡¯ll be over much faster. Right?" When Theresia spoke with a smile, Violet forced a bitter smile in return. "Yes... that¡¯s true." Theresia was a living legend who had lived for a thousand years. No matter how much she insisted Violet treat her comfortably, it wasn¡¯t easy. And it didn¡¯t feel right to just leave her alone either... ¡®I guess I¡¯ll have to postpone my resignation.¡¯ Thinking that, Violet looked at Theresia again. The girl¡¯s appearance had been frozen at around fifteen years old. But somehow, she seemed a little different than before. She looked slightly taller, and her overall figure seemed to have matured. ¡®Am I imagining things...?¡¯ Was it because her divine power felt even stronger than before? Violet tilted her head slightly, feeling the pressure of meeting such a formidable replacement. "Saintess." "Please, just call me Theresia." "Ah, yes. Theresia. Then I¡¯ll explain the general tasks to you..." The Celestial Demon God and the Dragon God. Kaylen, who was trying to take advantage of the situation between the two deities, was thinking of a way to contact the Celestial Demon God. ¡®It would be simplest to ask Theresia.¡¯ Even if she had abandoned her faith in the Celestial God, Her holy power was even stronger than before. If she prayed, she might be able to reach the Celestial Demon God. ¡®But I can¡¯t do that.¡¯ "To ask Theresia, who had only recently abandoned the god she had served for a thousand years, to pray again was unreasonable. Kaylen considered an alternative method. ''Contacting the Director of the Demon Realm Observatory should work.'' If it was the Director, she could reach the Celestial Demon, who now existed in the state of the White Demon King. After deciding this, Kaylen reached out to the Director. ¡°Director. Can you respond?¡± Even though he attempted contact, it was nothing more than speaking aloud into the air. ''No response...'' In the past, Director Ederna would have responded immediately to Kaylen¡¯s call. But now, there was no answer. ''She seemed less motivated after witnessing the power of the White Demon King...'' After seeing the White Demon King annihilate an entire city with a mere gesture, it seemed she had realized resistance was futile. ''I''ll try until nightfall, and if there''s still no answer, I¡¯ll have to think of another way.'' Kaylen continued to call the Director every hour, and it wasn¡¯t until the sun had set and the moon hung high in the sky that he finally heard a response. [...Why did you call me?] "Hmph. So, you can answer. I was about to give up." [You''ve been calling me until now? Since when?] "Since the afternoon, every hour." [I see. There was an error at the observatory. The information from the Middle Realm wasn¡¯t coming through properly, so I couldn¡¯t hear you calling me.] "Is that so?" Upon hearing this, Kaylen asked, his thoughts stirring. "When did the error start?" [About a week ago.] A week. That matched the time when Kaylen had invaded the Sanctuary. ''Though it felt like I hadn¡¯t even spent a full day in the Sanctuary...'' The flow of time between the Sanctuary and the Middle Realm had always been peculiar. "It seems to have started when I invaded the Sanctuary." [You invaded the Sanctuary? The timing of the observatory''s error overlapping with that... what a strange coincidence.] "Is it really just a coincidence?" [What could the Sanctuary have to do with the Demon Realm?] Director Ederna asked in a puzzled voice. Of course, it was a natural question for her¡ªshe didn¡¯t know that the White Demon King was actually the Celestial Demon. ''I suppose I¡¯ll have to tell her.'' Kaylen decided to drop the bomb. If Ederna, whose motivation had been crushed by witnessing the White Demon King''s power, learned the truth, perhaps it would spark new determination. "The reason is simple. The White Demon King is actually the Celestial God. And the Sanctuary is connected to the Demon Realm." [...What nonsense is this?] "I saw it with my own eyes in the Sanctuary. Even the Holy Emperor was his subordinate. He called himself the Celestial Demon." [Ha. Celestial Demon? That¡¯s ridiculous!] "Well, I¡¯m just telling you what I saw and heard. Believe it or not, that''s up to you." [Hmm... I was wondering why you suddenly contacted me, but to hear such absurd claims...] Director Ederna muttered as though she found it all unbelievable. ''...The power he showed was indeed that of a god.''" "It was fitting, in a way. The White Demon King, who had once crushed an entire city''s population in his grasp and dropped them upon Geysir Castle. His immeasurable power certainly touched upon the realm of the divine... And yet, the idea that the White Demon King was actually the Celestial God was still impossible to believe. ¡°Anyway, pass on a message to him.¡± [What message am I supposed to deliver?] ¡°To fight the Dragon God. In addition to the three divine swords you provided, ask him to give me the remaining three elemental divine swords.¡± [Divine swords?] ¡°Yes. Tell him I¡¯m requesting the swords of light, earth, and wind as well.¡± [You''re talking like they''re something you left in his care.] ¡°When I fight the Dragon God, the one who stands to gain the most is the Celestial Demon. If I don''t want to be absorbed by the Dragon God, he needs to help me more than anyone else.¡± Kaylen confidently stated his demands, even though his opponent was the Celestial Demon. Ederna was taken aback by his boldness. ''How can he demand such things so openly?'' If the White Demon King truly was the Celestial Demon, how could anyone speak to such an absolute existence as though demanding something left in their care? ''If I deliver that message as is, it might bring trouble upon me.'' Director Ederna firmly decided not to convey Kaylen¡¯s message. Whether the opponent was truly the Celestial Demon or simply the White Demon King, she couldn''t bring herself to deliver a message asking for three divine swords. But then¡ª ¡°Heh. How amusing...¡± The White Demon King appeared silently beside Ederna, without the slightest presence. ¡°Kaylen. Speak to me directly.¡± As the White Demon King addressed him from the observatory, Kaylen responded without hesitation, as though things had gone in his favor. ¡°Good, you¡¯re here yourself. Celestial Demon, I request three more divine swords.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 194 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 194 ''He really said it...'' Director Ederna was stunned as she watched Kaylen boldly demand swords from the White Demon King. By his own words, the Demon King was an existence no different from an absolute god, yet Kaylen dared to demand swords from such a being. [You rejected my sword before, so why are you asking for them now?] However, the Celestial Demon showed no displeasure. Instead, he responded with curiosity. "For research purposes." [Honest, I see.] "You can''t deceive a god, can you?" [But if that''s the reason, I cannot give you the swords.] Viiing¡ª The darkness obscuring the Celestial Demon¡¯s face wavered, and a screen materialized within the observatory. Until now, only the observatory side could see Kaylen, but the newly formed screen allowed for mutual visibility. Through the screen, Kaylen could see the Celestial Demon and the large serpent beside him. And Ederna. ''A serpent? Fitting for the child of the Flame Demon King.'' Perhaps because the Demon King was nearby, Ederna looked tense and withdrawn. Kaylen gazed at her for a moment before turning his attention to the Celestial Demon. An angelic figure shrouded in deep darkness. Even through the screen, the overwhelming force of his mana could be felt. [Creating divine swords consumes considerable power. I cannot provide them for mere research purposes.] "Celestial Demon. I thought you were an absolute existence... yet you''re hesitant to spend your strength over creating just three more swords?" [If you were to submit to me, that would be different. But for mere research, there is no reason to expend my power.] Kaylen pondered over the Celestial Demon''s words. ''Creation of divine swords... Kaina spoke of it so easily.'' Though Kaina was the Dwarf Queen, she couldn''t possibly compare to the absolute existence that was the Celestial Demon. Yet while Kaina casually spoke of forging swords, the Celestial Demon hesitated, citing the consumption of power. ''Is it simply because he doesn''t want to give them for free? Or... Could it be that, despite appearing as the supreme deity¡ªborn of the union of a celestial and demonic being¡ªhe has his own restrictions or limitations?'' With calm eyes, Kaylen continued speaking. "For an existence like you to conserve power... there''s only one reason that comes to mind. You''re preparing for the Dragon God''s resurrection at Geysir, aren''t you?" [That is correct.] "Then shouldn''t you give me the swords to oppose the Dragon God?" [As you are now, you cannot oppose the Dragon God. Only by accepting my sword will you be able to resist him.] The Celestial Demon declared firmly. In his current state, Kaylen would not be able to stand against the Dragon God. The Demon¡¯s voice carried an unrelenting sense of caution toward the Dragon God. ''And yet, you still aided the Dragon God.'' Despite his wariness, why did he scatter humans upon Geysir Castle? The Celestial Demon''s true intentions remained elusive. [Still... very well. If you promise that one day, you will accept my sword, then I shall bestow additional swords upon you.] "One day?" [Yes. The timing does not matter. However, before your existence comes to an end, you must accept the sword.] The darkness surrounding the Celestial Demon stirred. [Kaylen. If you wish to obtain the sword, promise me with your own words.] A promise with a being like the Celestial Demon. This wasn¡¯t a light oath that could be made with mere words. ¡®Especially, saying that I must accept it before my existence disappears... If, during the battle with the Dragon God, I face the threat of annihilation, this promise will surely bind me.¡¯ The Celestial Demon¡¯s divine sword would merge with Kaylen, granting him the power to oppose the Dragon God. But in exchange... ¡®I could become nothing more than a pawn under the Celestial Demon¡¯s will.¡¯ Understanding the weight of the promise lightly mentioned by the Celestial Demon, it wasn¡¯t a decision that could be made easily. It was a matter that required careful consideration before answering... "Fine. I promise." Kaylen accepted the Celestial Demon¡¯s offer on the spot. [You decided quickly.] "I have to survive, no matter what." [Heh... good. Then I shall send the swords soon.] Perhaps satisfied with Kaylen¡¯s determination to survive, the Celestial Demon let out a pleased chuckle and withdrew the screen. [Really... are you truly the Celestial Demon?] Ederna, who had been silently observing the conversation, asked in a trembling voice. Was the White Demon King truly a Celestial God? To have conquered even the Demon Realm and become the Celestial Demon, ruling over the three realms... ¡®If that''s true, then in the end, our Demon Realm has been under Heaven¡¯s control from the beginning...!¡¯ Though Ederna had many complaints about the current Demon King, she still believed that the Demon Realm¡¯s conquests¡ªespecially over half of the Celestial Realm¡ªwere a collective achievement. But to think that it wasn¡¯t the Demon Realm consuming the Celestial Realm, but the Celestial God completely dominating the Demon Realm! To her, the conversation between Kaylen and the Celestial Demon felt like a nightmare. Ssshhk¡ª As she stared at the enormous serpent looking at her with trembling eyes, the darkness of the Celestial Demon swirled. [Yes. My daughter.] [Hmph... who are you calling your daughter...!] The very being that was actually a Celestial God was now calling her daughter. Ederna felt her scales bristle all over. She wanted to curse and lash out, but... The overwhelming presence of the Celestial Demon made it impossible for her to open her mouth. [Heh.] But when the whirlpool of darkness swirled more violently and began spitting out various entities, Ederna¡¯s eyes widened. [Th-those are...!] Various beings began to emerge from the vortex, lifting their heads. A group of demons radiating intense demonic energy. Most of them were familiar demons, though a few were unrecognized. No, calling them mere demons would be an understatement¡ªthey were far more noble beings. [The former Demon Kings...] They were all former Demon Kings. Suddenly, the face of the previous Demon King emerged, only to vanish again. Her body trembled uncontrollably. The next to appear was... [Father...] The former Flame Demon King revealed his head. A serpent''s head, formed of fire. His face was contorted in agony. [Your father is within me, so does that not make you my daughter as well? As you can see.] "Y-You...!" Thunk. With an ominous voice echoing from within the vortex, the serpent''s head¡ªonce the Flame Demon King¡ªfell to the ground. "Haaah...!" The head writhed on the floor in agony, but soon the flames died out, and it vanished. It was a sound she had never heard from her great father, the former Demon King. That scream pierced Ederna¡¯s ears, embedding itself deep within her mind. And then¡ª [Even if it falls from me, it can regenerate as many times as it takes.] Whoosh. Once again, the former Flame Demon King¡¯s head emerged from the vortex. His face was still twisted in the same painful expression as when it had disappeared into the ground. [You...!] "Ederna, r-run...!" The Flame Demon King cried out from within the vortex, but before his plea could even end, the Celestial Demon¡¯s vortex instantly engulfed the observation post. [Ederna. You should have pretended not to know me.] [Why...?] [Your father resisted me stubbornly. In the end, he begged me to at least spare your life in exchange for his submission. So, I promised to leave you be until you learned my true identity.] The Flame Demon King, once the strongest of all Demon Kings, resisted the Celestial Demon the most fiercely. If not for his daughter... Perhaps he would have continued to oppose the Celestial Demon from within, even now. [But now, there is no longer any need to keep that promise.] Now that Ederna had learned the Celestial Demon¡¯s identity, there was no longer any reason to uphold that agreement. The vortex grew even larger, beginning to engulf Ederna¡¯s entire body and the entire observation post in the Demon Realm. [Become my eyes, Ederna. You were meant to be the next Demon King, the serpent who watches over all.] About ten minutes passed after the vortex consumed everything. Ssshhh¡ª The vortex slowly returned to its original size. It ceased its rotation and regressed into dense darkness. The observation post visited by the Celestial Demon, along with Ederna¡¯s presence, had vanished without a trace. [......] However, a cold voice flowed from the Celestial Demon, who had absorbed Ederna. [She escaped... No, perhaps she was never truly there to begin with.] Though the Celestial Demon had consumed Ederna, what he gained from the vortex was merely the serpent''s shell. The core essence of the demon was nowhere to be found within. Until now, the Celestial Demon had believed that what he saw was her true form. But what had gone wrong? He soon realized the reason for his misconception. [Flame Demon King. You interfered with me.] Though the Flame Demon King had already been absorbed, he had distorted the Celestial Demon¡¯s perception from within, causing him to mistake Ederna''s presence. It was something only the strongest Demon King in history could have achieved. [Father and daughter, both equally troublesome.] Muttering to himself, he began searching for traces of Ederna. Her existence was insignificant compared to the Celestial Demon, but for one who pursued perfection, an irregularity beyond his control was intolerable. [I¡¯ll make sure she pays dearly for bothering me.] Meanwhile, Kaylen gazed into the empty air where the image had vanished, lost in thought. ¡®A promise with a god. It carries risks, but... I intended to absorb the Celestial Demon¡¯s sword into the Six Sword Path eventually. It was worth it.¡¯ Kaylen counted the number of divine swords he possessed or was promised. The Celestial Demon¡¯s swords¡ªsix. Adding Kayna¡¯s three swords and the three swords already in his possession, it totaled twelve. It was more than enough to complete the Six Sword Path. ¡®All other elements have two swords each, but... Light has three, and Water only one.¡¯ If he had received Kayna¡¯s light-element sword in exchange for the water-element one, he would have ended up with two of each element. But Kaylen did not regret his decision. The light-element divine sword, Astella, originally belonged to the Celestial God, and even if he received another from the Celestial Demon, it would still be the same as wielding his sword. ¡®For now, I should focus on forging another water-element divine sword to fill the gap.¡¯ While Kaylen was organizing his thoughts for the future¡ª Knock, knock. A knock sounded at his door. ¡°Emperor. Good news.¡± ¡°Johannes? Come in.¡± Johannes entered through the door. But Kaylen¡¯s gaze wasn¡¯t on him. It was focused on the figure behind him. The person wore a hood, and dark energy emanated from them. Yet, Kaylen felt a strange familiarity. ¡°This good news... don¡¯t tell me...¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Johannes grinned as he spoke. ¡°Baldrix has recovered.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 195 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 195 Whoosh. As the hood was pulled back, the black skeletal knight, Baldrix, revealed himself. Unlike his devastated state when the Earth Divine Sword was forged, Baldrix had now fully restored his bones and radiated an intense dark energy. ¡°You¡¯ve completely recovered.¡± ¡°Yes. It was faster than I expected.¡± Given the severe damage he sustained during the sword¡¯s creation, Johannes had anticipated that recovery would take at least a year. But Baldrix had healed much quicker than expected. ¡°Well done, Baldrix.¡± ¡°Yes, Father.¡± Kaylen gazed at the fully restored Baldrix. Not only was his strength unmatched in the current era, but he also surpassed the renowned Sword Masters from a thousand years ago. ¡°I¡¯ll be counting on you from now on.¡± As Kaylen extended his hand, Baldrix reached out and shook it. ¡®Baldrix is also adept at administrative duties. I should entrust him with them.¡¯ Though Baldrix was second only to Kaylen in martial prowess among contemporary knights, his strength meant little when their remaining enemies were divine beings. Instead, with his experience in ruling a nation, Kaylen planned to assign him to handle Violet¡¯s administrative work. ¡®I should also verify if Violet is truly a descendant of merfolk and test her abilities...¡¯ While Kaylen was formulating his future plans, Baldrix slowly opened his mouth. ¡°Father. May I ask you a question?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Is the Celestial God truly the Celestial Demon?¡± Had he heard about it from Johannes? Although Baldrix¡¯s skeletal face revealed no expression, his tone was serious. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s true.¡± ¡°......¡± At Kaylen¡¯s firm answer, Baldrix remained silent, his face emotionless. Shrring. Suddenly, he drew his sword from his waist. ¡°B-Baldrix? What are you doing?¡± Johannes called his name in confusion, his voice flustered. But a red light gleamed in Baldrix¡¯s eye sockets where his pupils should have been. ¡°Father. I seek your guidance.¡± ¡°What guidance? You¡¯ve only just recovered!¡± Johannes reacted with frustration, raising his voice. But¡ª ¡°Very well.¡± Kaylen, his eyes glimmering with interest, nodded. ¡®There must be a reason why Baldrix suddenly requested a duel.¡¯ Among Kaylen¡¯s many sons, Baldrix was the only one with true sword talent. But he wasn¡¯t the type to be completely obsessed with the sword. If that were the case, he wouldn¡¯t have competed with Caius for the position of the next emperor. After confirming the true identity of the Celestial Demon once more, it seemed there was some connection to his sudden request for guidance. ¡°In that case, may I ask for one more favor?¡± ¡°Go ahead.¡± ¡°Please face me using the sword I forged.¡± With the sword Baldrix had crafted? Kaylen nodded. ¡°Very well.¡± The Royal Training Grounds The knights training there had all paused, sheathing their swords for the moment. It was because Emperor Kaylen and the Death Knight who accompanied him were about to begin a sparring match. The knights, well aware of Kaylen¡¯s strength, focused their attention on his opponent¡ªthe Death Knight. ¡°That black skeleton...¡± ¡°Is that a Death Knight? His aura is overwhelming.¡± ¡°He seems even stronger than Lord Eldir.¡± The Death Knight made no attempt to conceal his formidable dark energy, letting it radiate freely. The black aura emanating from his sword was so menacing that it made even the knights present shrink back. An absolute force that none of the knights could hope to challenge, even if they all attacked together. ¡®In contrast, His Majesty¡¯s sword...¡¯ ¡®It looks too crude.¡¯ A sword seemingly molded from clay¡ªsomething even a child could shape better. It appeared as though it would crumble with a single touch. While all the knights knew of Kaylen¡¯s overwhelming power, if judged solely by the swords, it seemed like Kaylen would be at a complete disadvantage. ¡®That sword...¡¯ ¡®It can¡¯t be judged by its appearance.¡¯ ¡®It¡¯s filled with immense earth mana.¡¯ Of course, the more perceptive knights sensed the true nature of Kaylen¡¯s sword. But even they thought it wasn¡¯t strong enough to match the Death Knight¡¯s weapon. ¡°Thank you for accepting this duel, Father.¡± ¡°Yes. It has been a long time since our last spar. Is your sword still the Mountain Sword?¡± Mountain Sword. It was the unique sword technique Baldrix had mastered in his human days. His Aura Sword was known for its overwhelming power, crushing his opponents with sheer force. It resembled the imposing might of a great mountain, and upon Baldrix¡¯s request for a name, Ernstine had named it the Mountain Sword. ¡°Yes. The sword you once saw, Father, was a crude Aura Sword, unworthy of bearing the name of a mountain. But now...¡± ¡°Has it changed?¡± ¡°Yes, Father.¡± Rumble... The ground trembled. The soil of the training grounds slowly began to rise into the air. Black ripples rose from the ground. They gathered around the Death Knight¡¯s sword, merging with the black aura and expanding it further. ¡°After a thousand years... I seek your guidance once more.¡± Hissss. The expanded aura reached a length of about five meters. It was similar in size to the Mountain Sword Baldrix had wielded when he was human a thousand years ago. At first glance, it seemed that there had been little progress over the centuries, but¡ª ¡®The true essence of the Mountain Sword isn¡¯t in the aura itself.¡¯ Whoosh. As the expanded Aura Sword slowly descended toward Kaylen, the surrounding atmosphere pressed down on him. It wasn¡¯t merely the aura that weighed upon Kaylen¡ªit was an overwhelming, suffocating pressure. Simultaneously, the gravity from the earth beneath intensified, pulling him downward. ¡®This is why the strike isn¡¯t fast... but the opponent can¡¯t escape the Mountain Sword.¡¯ With the sword, the air, and the earth itself pressing down, it felt exactly as Kaylen had described¡ªlike being trapped beneath a massive mountain, unable to move. ¡®He¡¯s certainly improved compared to before.¡¯ A thousand years ago, it was only the aura and atmosphere that restrained him. But now, even the earth supported Baldrix. If his opponent wasn¡¯t Kaylen, they would have been crushed by the surrounding pressure long before the sword struck. Moreover¡ª ¡®He¡¯s controlling his strength well. The surrounding knights seem unaffected.¡¯ In the past, when Baldrix had unleashed the Mountain Sword, the surroundings were devastated. But now, his strike targeted only Kaylen with precision. ¡®He spent centuries forging his sword, unable to fully train in his swordsmanship...¡¯ Despite replacing his bones with gnome-crafted ones and dedicating himself to forging, the Mountain Sword had clearly evolved. Kaylen found it admirable. Had Baldrix spent that time training his sword instead of forging, his progress might have been even greater. With that thought, Kaylen spoke. ¡°Then I shall grant you my guidance.¡± The crude clay sword awakened with Baldrix¡¯s mana. For a brief moment, a yellow aura shimmered from the sword. ¡°Ah...¡± The trembling earth instantly calmed. The crushing atmosphere returned to stillness. Baldrix¡¯s crude-looking sword turned the Mountain Sword¡¯s restraint into nothingness in an instant. No matter how crude its form, this was undoubtedly a sword worthy of being considered a divine blade. ¡°As expected.¡± Baldrix muttered quietly as he witnessed the power of the sword bearing his name. Though his skeletal face revealed nothing, the movement of his jawbone suggested a smile. With the pressure from all directions dissipated, only Baldrix¡¯s sword strike remained. As befitting a Sword Master, the force was immense, but the speed was slow. Now that the surrounding pressure had vanished, even a high-ranking Sword Expert could evade the attack. It was safe to say that the Mountain Sword had been completely nullified. ¡°Please, continue until the end.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± However, Baldrix did not stop. And Kaylen responded in kind. The dark Aura Sword, brimming with intense energy, clashed with the crude Earth Sword. ¡®I don¡¯t know exactly what¡¯s going on... ¡®But no matter how crude that Earth Sword looks, His Majesty is wielding it.¡¯ ¡®It will soon trigger a fierce collision.¡¯ The knights anticipated the imminent clash of Aura Swords. Pssssss¡ª A deflating sound came from Kaylen¡¯s Earth Sword. The shape of the sword wavered for a moment. ¡®No way!?¡¯ And at that instant¡ª Swoosh. Baldrix¡¯s Aura Sword passed cleanly through Kaylen¡¯s Earth Sword. Without encountering any resistance. Like a blade piercing through soft earth, the black Aura Sword drove forward. For the first time since the duel began, confusion flickered in Kaylen¡¯s eyes. ¡°What... what just happened?¡± With a light tap, Kaylen blocked the aura with his finger instead of his sword, gazing at Baldrix with a puzzled expression. No matter how powerful Baldrix''s aura was, It shouldn¡¯t be able to pierce a sword that stood among the ranks of divine swords. It was an incomprehensible situation. ¡°Just as I thought...¡± But the Death Knight, who had pierced through the Earth Sword, withdrew his sword and nodded as if he had expected this outcome. ¡°Father. Do you remember the question I asked earlier?¡± ¡°About the identity of the Celestial God?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°What about it...?¡± ¡°Where was it that saved Uncle?¡± Kaylen¡¯s expression hardened at those words. The place that had saved the once-dead Johannes¡ª Was the Celestial Realm. It was back when the Celestial Demon was still regarded as a Celestial God. ¡°I¡¯ve always had one lingering question. Why did they specifically choose to revive Uncle as an undead in the Celestial Realm? Because he possessed dark magic, I too had no choice but to survive as a Death Knight.¡± ¡°Yes... it wasn¡¯t like the Celestial Realm. Reviving Johannes as a Lich, using dark magic, was certainly unusual for the Celestial Realm.¡± ¡°And along with that question, I experienced something strange when I reconstructed my body this time.¡± Baldrix stared straight at his Earth Sword and said, ¡°When I focus my mind, even if just for a moment... I can stop the functioning of the Earth Sword Baldrix.¡± ¡°What...?¡± Was that the reason why the Earth Sword Baldrix had halted when the swords clashed earlier? ¡°Father, I am a Death Knight. Though I seem to have free will now, in the end, I am still an undead, bound to obey my master''s commands.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°That applies to Uncle as well. Therefore...¡± Baldrix pointed to himself and said, ¡°I believe it would be right to eliminate me and Uncle before we become a threat.¡± Despite having only recently been resurrected¡ª Baldrix urged to be cut down. Hearing his son¡¯s loyal words, Kaylen shook his head. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡± ¡°But...¡± ¡°Baldrix. Try stopping the sword¡¯s function again.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Baldrix faithfully followed Kaylen¡¯s command and attempted to halt the Earth Sword Baldrix just like before. However¡ª ¡°Huh...?¡± Unlike before, the Earth Sword Baldrix held firm without the slightest tremor, maintaining its proper form. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 196 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 196 "How... did you do it?" Baldrix asked in a puzzled voice. He had clearly tried to stop the Divine Sword¡¯s effect. "Hmm." Kaylen looked around the training ground and swiftly extended his hand. Soon, aura spread through the space where they stood, turning it transparent. It was Kaylen''s method to block external eyes. "Looks like the sparring is over." "Come. Let''s go train as well." As the knights watching the sparring scattered, Kaylen picked up the longsword, Baldrix. "Take a closer look at the sword." Following Kaylen¡¯s words, Baldrix observed the longsword. Within it, a translucent form of Infinity was reflected. "This is... the Star of the Six Demon Path, Infinity, isn''t it?" "That''s right." "Ah... don''t tell me, did you modify the Six Sword Path to resemble the Six Demon Path to overcome the Celestial Demon¡¯s power?" The power of the Celestial Demon and the Dragon God were opposites. If Baldrix, imbued with the Six Demon Path, refused to cease its function, that would explain everything. ''But in doing so, doesn¡¯t it defeat the original purpose of preserving the Six Sword Path? Isn''t this a case of the means overtaking the end?'' Wasn''t the original reason for gathering the Divine Sword to prevent the distortion of the Six Sword Path? But if the Six Sword was converted into the Six Demon Path to block the Celestial Demon¡¯s interference, wouldn¡¯t that render the effort meaningless? Sensing Baldrix''s thoughts, Kaylen smiled and opened his palm. Then, the star within Baldrix grew larger, becoming clearer to the eye. "At a glance, it may seem similar. But inside, it''s different." How is it different? Baldrix closely observed the golden star but couldn¡¯t discern the difference. There was only one thing that seemed uncertain. ''The mana particles within Infinity... somehow resemble the shape of a sword.'' The mana within the transparent golden star shouldn¡¯t have a distinct shape. Yet strangely, Baldrix felt as though he saw a sword within it. "The mana within Infinity... it looks like a sword. Am I imagining things?" "Oh. As expected of a Sword Master, you noticed it easily. You''re right." Kaylen smiled at Baldrix''s response. "Baldrix. Even if I prepare a Divine Sword and ensure my Six Sword Path remains unshaken, do you think that''s enough for me to defeat the Dragon God?" "That is..." Baldrix fell silent at Kaylen¡¯s question. Even if the Six Sword Path remained stable and, with the Divine Sword, Kaylen could wield a power stronger than in the era of Ernstine¡ª The opponent was a divine being. A being even the Celestial Demon, ruler of the Three Realms, remained wary of. "In this state, it''s impossible." "...That''s true." "That''s why I needed a way to take it one step further." Baldrix silently gazed at the Infinity that Kaylen revealed. To take a step further, was his chosen method to analyze and transform the Six Demon Path? For Baldrix, this was a method that brought back the nightmare of a thousand years ago. ''Father once said he would try learning magic, but in the end, he fell into the Six Demon Path and abandoned the sword. I''m worried he''s treading the same path from a thousand years ago...'' Baldrix looked at Kaylen. There was no sign of the strange madness that Ernstine had shown a thousand years ago. Instead, Kaylen calmly observed the transformed Infinity with composed eyes. "It seems... you''re still fine for now." "Are you worried that the same thing from a thousand years ago will happen again?" "To be honest... yes." "It''s fine. The situation is different from back then. The trace of the Celestial Demon within me will control it." "The trace of the Celestial Demon...?" "If the longsword you made for me contains the arrangement of the Celestial Demon." Kaylen revealed the Divine Swords he possessed. The Holy Sword Astella and the Wind Sword Sanctuary. "Aren''t these two swords the same?" The Holy Sword Astella, crafted during the era of the Celestial Gods. And the Wind Sword Sanctuary, forged by the Grand Mage Johannes and imbued with the essence of Saint Benedict. Considering Baldrix¡¯s case, it was certain that these two swords also concealed the arrangement of the Celestial Demon. "Yes. Most likely, that''s true." "The powers of the Dragon God and the Celestial Demon are opposites. The arrangement of the Celestial Demon within the swords will prevent me from falling into the Six Demon Path... and the Infinity of the Six Demon Path will restrain the interference of the Celestial Demon." Using the opposing forces of the two absolute gods¡ª Kaylen sought to escape the oppression of the gods and forge a new strength. In theory, it was convincing. But Baldrix wasn¡¯t sure if it could truly succeed. Using the powers of the two gods to keep each other in check, avoiding domination by the Six Demon Path, analyzing and modifying it... And ascending to a realm beyond that of the Grand Sword Master? "Will that really be... possible?" "It is possible." Kaylen replied with a confident smile. Seeing his father''s smile, Baldrix was reminded of the past. ''He smiled like that when he went to invade the Demon King''s castle.'' During the final battle with the Demon King¡ª Even in a situation where no one could guarantee victory, Kaylen had shown that same confident smile. In the most uncertain of times¡ª His father smiled as if to say there was nothing to worry about. "...Yes. Since you''ve said so, it must be possible. I will simply trust and follow you." "Good. Thank you." "Yes. If there''s ever anything I can do, please tell me anytime. I''ll follow any command." Kaylen nodded as he looked at Baldrix, whose determination burned brightly. "It just so happens that there''s a task where your strength is essential." "Please entrust me with that task!" "Good." Kaylen turned his body and looked toward the royal castle. "Follow me." There was a task perfectly suited for Baldrix, who was once a king. Violet''s office. Her desk, which should have been buried under a mountain of paperwork, had noticeably fewer documents. This was thanks to the exceptional competence of her first deputy, Saintess Theresia. ¡ªPerhaps it''s just the nature of human affairs. The work here is quite similar to that of the Holy Council. Theresia, who had lived in Sanctuary for a thousand years, had been responsible for handling administrative tasks. When she first arrived as Violet''s deputy, Violet had been worried that her workload would only increase. However, once Theresia adapted to the work, her abilities were impressive enough to make even Violet step back in acknowledgment. ''Back then... things were good.'' With Theresia¡¯s help, Violet experienced her first time leaving work before sunset and hoped those days would continue. If the accumulated work disappeared at this pace, she could actively participate in the Grand Mage''s experiments and further her own studies. Having been unexpectedly helped by someone she initially worried about, Violet felt hopeful. ¡ªViolet, this is your second deputy. When Kaylen first mentioned a second deputy, Violet had secretly looked forward to it. That was until she saw the Death Knight radiating dark mana behind him. "Sigh..." Sitting at the center desk, Violet pretended to focus on the documents while glancing sideways. Rustle. Rustle. To her left, the Saintess with elegant, white hair calmly turned over documents. Scratch. Scratch. To her right, the Death Knight, exuding dark energy, gripped a pen and processed the paperwork. ''...It''s not like we''re in the middle of a Divine War.'' Light on the left. Darkness on the right. The two extreme mana forces formed an invisible boundary down the center. They weren¡¯t actively trying to invade each other''s space, but¡ª If a collision happened even once, chaos would surely ensue. "Baldrix, if you release that much dark mana, I think Lady Violet might feel uncomfortable." "It naturally responds to the Saintess''s holy power, so I can''t help it. Perhaps you could retract your light a little first?" "Sorry. It''s not something I can control. Besides, I''m no longer a Saintess." Fortunately, they didn¡¯t seem to bear any hostility toward each other. Their conversation remained polite, but¡ª Violet couldn¡¯t help but feel uncomfortable. And it wasn¡¯t without reason. The tension seemed ready to escalate at any moment. "Then it can''t be helped. Dark mana is just another form of mana. It won''t cause any harm to Lady Violet." "...Heh. Calling dark mana just another form of mana¡ªthat''s an interesting thing to say." Swish. As the light from Theresia''s hair subtly intensified, Baldrix''s dark mana thickened in response. The light and dark mana, which had previously kept their distance with an invisible boundary, were now slowly drawing closer. ''Ah, seriously...'' Caught awkwardly in the middle, Violet couldn¡¯t do anything but stay frozen. It was almost more comfortable dealing with the overwhelming workload alone than being stuck in this uncomfortable tension. ''I can''t take this anymore.'' Ever since the Death Knight arrived, this strange standoff had happened more than once. With an exasperated expression, Violet opened a drawer and took out an envelope. ''I''m done.'' She had often thought about quitting but had never acted on it. Now, she couldn¡¯t endure it any longer. ''They can wage their Divine War for all I care.'' Clutching the envelope, she abruptly stood up from her chair and hurried toward the door. Theresia and Baldrix glanced at her, but she ignored their gazes and flung the door open¡ª "Violet." Only to come face to face with Kaylen outside. "Y-Your Majesty!" Startled, Violet instinctively hid the envelope behind her back. ''Ah... This isn''t the time to hesitate. I need to hand it over now!'' She had to act while her resolve was firm. She was just about to submit her resignation, but¡ª "Is the handover complete?" "...Pardon? Yes." "Then, you can quit this job now, right?" Kaylen''s question left Violet speechless. "Then leave this task behind and come with me for a moment." With those words, Kaylen turned and walked away. Violet, wearing a dazed expression, followed after him. ''What... Did I just get fired?'' [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 197 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 197 The Spirit Realm. The elves were actively pioneering the area with the help of Melvria¡¯s power. "Father. You''re here?" "Yes. How is the situation in the Spirit Realm?" "We''re summoning dark spirits to restore the Spirit Realm to its original state, but..." Melvria glanced around and sighed. Though it had expanded compared to before, it was still engulfed in darkness. "It''s still not an environment suitable for elves to settle in." "It hasn''t been long since the gate to the Spirit Realm was opened. But... are you the only one who can summon dark spirits?" "Yes. To summon dark spirits, one must be a Dark Elf... but all the Dark Elves are in the Demon Realm." "I see." Kaylen gazed at the area covered by dark spirits in the Spirit Realm. It was too vast for Melvria to handle alone. "Is there no way to bring some Dark Elves here? It seems impossible for you to manage this by yourself." "Even if it costs them their lives, the elves wouldn''t accept that. To them, Dark Elves are nothing but traitorous enemies." Melvria gave a bitter smile and pointed to herself. "In fact, just tolerating me is already a big concession for them. It''s only because they remember me as a former half-elf..." "Tolerating? Who dares to speak as if they have the right to decide whether to accept you or not?" As Kaylen''s voice cooled, Eldir, who stood beside Melvria, quickly intervened. "F-Father-in-law. No one in our tribe dares to belittle Melvria. On the contrary, everyone is grateful for her dedication." "Is that so?" "Yes. If there were anyone who did, I wouldn''t stand for it." "Alright. I trust you''ll handle it well." "Yes, sir!" "By the way... is your body alright?" At Kaylen''s question, Eldir smiled and lightly touched his eyepatch¡ªthe area where the spirit stone had been extracted. It was likely hollow underneath. The massive wind mana that had once filled it was now gone, and it wouldn¡¯t be strange if Eldir felt a sense of loss. "I''m fine." Eldir glanced at Melvria and replied. "Rather, since my runaway wife returned and keeps sticking by me, every day has been happiness." "You! What are you saying in front of my father?" "I''m just showing him how close we are." "Seriously..." Though Melvria scolded him, she didn¡¯t seem entirely displeased. Kaylen watched them with a slightly awkward expression. "Well then, it''s about time to go." He turned his head back. Behind him stood the archmage Johannes and Violet. "Heh. Looks like the couple is doing well. As a father, you''ve got nothing to worry about." "Johannes, do you think Eldir will be alright?" "He should be fine. Though extracting the spirit stone must''ve cost him a lot of wind mana... he''s still a Sword Master. His body should be fine. Though it''s inevitable he''s weaker than before." The Spirit Stone that once shaped the Wind God¡¯s Blade belonged to Eldir. Now that the massive wind mana contained within it had vanished, his strength would inevitably be diminished. ¡®But even back then...¡¯ Kaylen recalled his first encounter with Eldir. He had fought Kaylen while wielding wind mana, even attempting to summon an artificial spirit. He had shown significant strength for an elf, but... ¡®Even with his past strength, he wouldn¡¯t be a match for Melvria now.¡¯ Given the current gap in strength, even a hundred Eldirs wouldn¡¯t be enough to stand against Melvria. There¡¯s no rule that says the husband must be stronger, but as a father, Kaylen privately wished his son-in-law could protect his daughter. ¡°Ria. When Kaina came to the capital, she seemed aware that you were with us.¡± ¡°Kaina?¡± ¡°Yes. She couldn¡¯t pinpoint your exact location because you were in the Spirit Realm, but it¡¯s something to be cautious of.¡± ¡°I see...¡± Melvria¡¯s expression grew serious. For Kaina to be looking into her whereabouts... She wasn¡¯t sure what her intentions were, but it didn¡¯t seem good. ¡°So Eldir, don¡¯t neglect your training. If Kaina attacks, you¡¯ll need to protect Melvria until I arrive.¡± ¡°Understood!¡± ¡°Alright. We¡¯ll be heading off now.¡± ¡°Yes, Father. Take care.¡± ¡°See you next time.¡± Kaylen and Johannes began walking first. Violet, her eyes wide with curiosity, followed after. ¡®So he really is her father...¡¯ She recalled the time just days ago when she had been excluded from official duties. ¡ª¡°Violet, Johannes and I will handle administrative work. Why don¡¯t you focus on researching your origins?¡± She had wondered if she was about to be dismissed before she could resign, but Kaylen¡¯s proposal was one she welcomed wholeheartedly. ¡ª¡°Really? But... is it okay?¡± ¡ª¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡ª¡°The state of the office... It¡¯s unsettling, like something could explode at any moment.¡± Even though she had been freed from administrative tasks, years of experience still left her concerned. After all, the Saintess and the Death Knight were working together in the office. ¡ª¡°It¡¯s fine. Though their mana is incompatible, my son won¡¯t act recklessly.¡± ¡ª¡°Your son? You mean that Death Knight?¡± ¡ª¡°Yes.¡± That undead is his son? Violet¡¯s mouth fell open in shock. But Kaylen only looked puzzled. ¡ª¡°Hmm? Didn¡¯t I mention it before?¡± ¡ª¡°No! I¡¯ve never heard that!¡± ¡ª¡°Really? I thought I had... must¡¯ve been my mistake.¡± Now that it had come this far, there was no reason to keep it a secret. Kaylen decided to reveal the truth. ¡ª¡°Do you know of Emperor Ernstine, who unified the continent a thousand years ago?¡± - "Are you referring to Emperor Ernstine? Of course, I know about him." - "That¡¯s me." - "...What? Weren¡¯t you his descendant?" Violet had assumed that was the reason the empire was once named after the Meier dynasty. To her surprise, Kaylen roughly explained his true identity and the current circumstances. ''It¡¯s such an unbelievable story...'' Violet followed behind Kaylen, still stunned. ''It''s shocking enough that he''s actually Emperor Ernstine, but to think he''s confronting the gods...'' Kaylen had also briefly explained about the Celestial Demon and the Dragon God, but Violet was still confused. ''To think the Demon King is actually a Celestial God, wielding both heavenly and demonic power... Normally, I¡¯d never believe it.'' Even now, she remained skeptical. After contemplating the situation, Violet cautiously asked, - "Can you check my origin?" - "Yes, I¡¯ll do that." For now, she decided to follow Kaylen¡¯s suggestion and examine her own body. There was no point in pondering things like the Celestial Demon or the Dragon God alone, as it wouldn¡¯t lead to any answers. "There it is." ... The blue star, resembling infinity, that they had seen in the Spirit Realm. As Kaylen approached it, Violet followed behind him, her expression dazed as if she was entranced. All the complicated thoughts in her mind had vanished. She was completely captivated by the blue star before her, unable to tear her gaze away. "Emperor, by the way, did you properly refine the mana you absorbed from the star last time?" "Yeah. It¡¯s fully mine now." Kaylen manifested his sword and gently stroked it. After absorbing the water mana from the blue star, his sword''s power had increased by 10%. "Then why not absorb more this time?" "I absorbed water last time, so now I should absorb fire mana." Kaylen nodded at Johannes'' suggestion and pondered. ''Along with fire mana... If I use the Six Swords imbued with the Divine Sword, I could absorb even more. Now that the Wind Sword is complete, I should absorb wind mana today.'' He planned to gain as much as he could without disrupting the balance of the Six Swords. Kaylen smiled as he looked at the stars positioned in each direction. "But first, let''s handle today¡¯s tasks." "Right. Mana can be absorbed anytime. Let¡¯s first explore the underwater continent." Johannes pointed excitedly at the blue star. "Start by touching the blue star like last time." "Alright." When Kaylen gently stroked the blue star, the undersea world revealed itself. In the deep ocean, where even light barely reached, a vast landmass floated. "That land... No matter how many times I see it, it¡¯s strange. It¡¯s floating so unnaturally." "C-Can I take a closer look?" "Sure. Come here." Violet, as if entranced, walked forward and stood beside Kaylen, slowly reaching out toward the blue Infinity. "Wait. Don¡¯t touch it yet." Kaylen grabbed her arm. Just like before, water mana extended outward from the blue Infinity. "It¡¯s... changing again." Violet¡¯s body began transforming into water, as if she were undergoing spiritization. The transformation was happening much faster than before. "Can I... touch it now?" Kaylen looked toward Johannes. "Let¡¯s try." As Johannes nodded, Kaylen cautiously released his grip. "Ah..." Whoosh¡ª The moment Violet¡¯s hand made contact with the blue Infinity, a vortex swirled around her. In an instant, her body was sucked into it. "Violet!" Where she had disappeared, the water vortex continued spinning, expanding in size. It grew into a massive whirlpool, over five meters wide. "There was no time to react... Let¡¯s go in too." "Yeah." Kaylen and Johannes threw themselves into the vortex. It felt as if they were passing through a warp gate, and a new space unfolded before them. "This is... the underwater space from earlier." "So this must be the landmass floating like an island." A lone piece of land drifting in the ocean. Strangely, the moment they set foot on it, the surrounding water receded in all directions. There was no need to swim¡ªit had transformed into an environment just like the surface. "This is incredible..." "Where¡¯s Violet?" -"This way." Kaylen turned toward the voice. At the center of the floating land, he could sense Violet¡¯s presence. "Let¡¯s go." Following the voice, Kaylen and Johannes reached the central area. But instead of Violet, they found¡ª A large, blue coffin. "This is...?" And on the ground, an unexpected inscription was engraved: "Here lies Emperor Ernstine." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 198 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 198 "I was asleep...?" Kaylen stared at the inscription on the ground with a puzzled look. No matter how many times he read it, the text was undoubtedly in the ancient language of the former Meier Empire. "Wasn¡¯t Ernstine¡¯s body supposed to have disappeared after being defeated by the Celestial God?" It was the Celestial God who subdued Ernstine¡ªwho was on the verge of becoming a Dragon God¡ªat the decisive moment. By that power, it was believed that Ernstine, who had undergone dragonification, had been annihilated. But now... was his body really preserved inside this coffin? "I need to take a closer look." Step. Step. Kaylen took slow steps closer to the coffin. Hiss¡ª Suddenly, mana began to rise from the ground near the coffin... "Lord Kaylen." Violet appeared, her form now entirely transformed like that of an ice spirit. There wasn¡¯t a trace of emotion on her face. "Violet. What is going on here? Do you know anything about this space or the coffin?" "This is the final remnant of the Water Continent and the resting place of the Emperor." "The Emperor... don¡¯t tell me..." "Yes. Emperor Ernstine is resting here." "Wasn¡¯t he supposed to have become a Dragon God?" Kaylen had believed that Ernstine¡¯s true form had fallen into corruption and transformed into a Dragon God. But Violet shook her head. "I was appointed as the tomb keeper only recently, so I don¡¯t know the details. Would you like to hear it from the Emperor himself?" "From him?" "Yes." Even though he was in a coffin, could they really hear him speak? Kaylen nodded. "Let¡¯s do that." At that moment¡ª Light surged from the entire landmass floating beneath the sea. "The Six Swords...?" The forms of the Six Swords were revealed. Viiing¡ª Each sword embedded in the ground glowed according to its attribute, radiating intense mana. "You¡¯ve come." A voice echoed from the coffin. It was a voice identical to Kaylen¡¯s own. Creak¡ª The coffin opened on its own, and a figure emerged. Johannes, standing behind Kaylen, let out a gasp. "The Emperor...?" The figure revealed from the coffin looked exactly like Kaylen¡ªit was the former Emperor Ernstine. But the only resemblance was in appearance. The body beneath the face was nothing but bones, with the skin and flesh long decayed. But as the Six Swords engraved on the ground slowly rose and floated behind him, the skeletal body became enveloped in mana, transforming into a human form identical to Kaylen. "You... are you really Ernstine?" "I am." "No, that¡¯s impossible. You became a Dragon God and crushed my head, didn¡¯t you?" "I do regret that. Back then, I had lost control over myself." Ernstine shrugged, as if apologizing. The gesture was reminiscent of the Emperor from before his transformation into the Dragon God. Johannes looked back and forth between Kaylen and Ernstine with a confused gaze. "What is going on here...?" Originally, they had set out to find the origin of Violet and complete the Six Swords. Finding the underwater continent had gone as planned, but everything that followed had taken an unexpected turn. Ernstine looked at Kaylen with eyes filled with admiration. "O Six Swords." "...Are you referring to me?" When Kaylen pointed to himself, Ernstine nodded. "Yes. You are my incarnation and my sword. I¡¯m glad you have returned to me. You have endured much." "I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying." "You will, once we become one again." Ernstine raised his hand, showing no intention of explaining further. Six Sword Path Great Six Sword Return of the Six Swords Shuuu¡ª The Six Swords floating behind Ernstine, and the essence of the Six Swords engraved on the ground, began to emit smoke. The smoke stretched out towards Kaylen, attempting to seize him. "Hmph." It appeared harmless, just simple smoke. But the moment Kaylen saw it, he took a defensive stance and summoned his Six Swords. Not stopping at simply summoning the swords, the area where the divine sword resided began to transform, taking on the form of the Six Sword Path¡ª Just like when he had changed it to counter Baldrix¡¯s attack. Chiiik! The moment the smoke touched Kaylen, it burned away with a sizzling sound and vanished. Ernstine, who shared the same face, frowned. "You dare to wield the power of the Dragon God? My sword, you tread on dangerous ground." "I must be able to wield it if I am to slay a god." "Hmph. There''s no need for such concern. The power granted by the Celestial God is more than enough to slay a Dragon God." Whenever Ernstine spoke of the Celestial God, his tone carried reverence. Yet now, he reached towards Kaylen with a confident expression. "If you return to me, we shall slay the wicked dragon and become the Sword God." "...Sword God?" "Yes. The Celestial God has promised to grant me divine authority once the dragon is slain." It was a story Kaylen had heard before. Back in the Sanctuary, from the Celestial Demon. "Submit to me and follow. Do so, and I will make you the Sword God." With a hardened expression, Kaylen asked, "Have you already submitted to the Celestial Demon?" "Celestial Demon? Who is that?" "The true face of the Celestial God, who has even conquered the Demon Realm." "Oh? So the great Celestial God has even subdued the Demon Realm? As expected of the god I follow and trust." Ernstine seemed pleased upon hearing of the Celestial Demon, but his face soon hardened as he questioned Kaylen. "But your tone is blasphemous towards the Celestial God." "If you knew what he has done on this earth, you¡¯d understand why." "At most, he must have cleansed some humans. Is that such a problem?" Kaylen was speechless at Ernstine¡¯s words. This man spoke as though he were the real Ernstine¡ª Forgetting his role as Emperor of humanity and dismissing it as merely ''cleansing a few humans.'' As Kaylen¡¯s gaze turned cold, Ernstine gave a faint smile. "O Six Swords, you side with humans despite not truly being one yourself." "I have no patience for your nonsense." "Hmm... I see. If you''re resisting even the Return of the Six Swords, reclaiming you won''t be simple." Ernstine glanced at Kaylen and casually sat on the coffin. "Then, let me tell you about your true nature. It won''t be a short tale. Keeper of the Tomb." "Yes, Your Majesty." "Prepare seats for our guests." "Understood." Clap. Clap. At Violet¡¯s clap, chairs and a large round table, all formed from ice, rose from the ground. "Sit." Ernstine stood from the coffin and sat on an ice chair. "Where should I begin..." "How are you still alive?" "Ah, yes. I should start with that." Ernstine glanced at his body and spoke in a self-deprecating tone. "I am the discarded shell of the Dragon God." "Discarded shell...?" "When the Dragon God underwent his transformation, he shed all traces of his human form. He cast aside his bones and flesh, scattering them across the land, and became a true dragon." Like a serpent shedding its skin. Did the Dragon God also completely evolve by shedding his human form? "I was merely left scattered across the land, like fragments. Like discarded trash. Yet, the Celestial God gathered me and gave me life." It was the Celestial God who pieced together the fragmented human form of Ernstine. "Then... why have you not shown yourself until now, Ernstine?" Johannes asked, his voice trembling. Ernstine gave a slight smile as he looked at Kaylen. "Even though the Celestial God saved me, there wasn¡¯t much of me left. When I first entered this coffin, all I had left were a few ribs and my lower body." Even though the Celestial God had gathered Ernstine¡¯s remnants, there wasn¡¯t much tissue remaining. Restoring him to his original state was impossible, so Ernstine had to find another way. "O Six Swords, didn¡¯t you find it strange?" "What do you mean?" "Why you became aware of my memories, the memories of Ernstine." "I heard it was because many of Ernstine¡¯s descendants possessed Infinity, and their Emperor¡¯s memories awakened... according to the Celestial Demon." "And did that explanation satisfy you? The original purpose of Infinity, the infinite mana, is to awaken the Dragon God. Infinity is the Dragon God¡¯s heart. It makes more sense for it to contain the Dragon God¡¯s memories, not those of Emperor Ernstine." Kaylen silently nodded. There was a contradiction in the Celestial Demon¡¯s words. The true purpose of Infinity was to awaken the Dragon God. It felt strange that it would instead awaken Ernstine¡¯s memories¡ªjust a tool for triggering something greater. "The reason Infinity awakened the Six Sword Path, and not the Six Demon Path, is because of this." Ernstine pointed to the ground. Extending to the ends of the land, Kaylen could see the form of the Six Swords. "Six Swords..." "On the water continent, my sanctuary granted by the Celestial God, I did my best to restore myself. After centuries, I managed to survive as an undead, but I could never regain my former strength. Because I was already dead." From the start, there wasn¡¯t much of him left. The fact that he became an undead with a complete skeletal frame was a miracle in itself... But Ernstine wasn¡¯t satisfied. He needed to take revenge on the Dragon God who had dragged his fate, once as the emperor of a united empire, into ruin. "I wanted to take revenge on the Dragon God who destroyed my empire and left me in this wretched state. If possible, I wanted to tear him apart with my own hands." "But that was impossible. If I stood before him, I would be helplessly absorbed by the Dragon God. So, I chose to help the Celestial God and take revenge on the Dragon God that way." Ernstine smiled as he looked at Kaylen. "And that method... is someone like you. My 70th Six Sword." The 70th. Hearing those words, something came to Kaylen¡¯s mind. Ernstine resurrected 70 times. A vision shown by the Celestial Demon. Ernstine had not only awakened within Kaylen¡¯s body. They said Ernstine had awakened 70 times within the bodies of his many descendants. But they all... ¡ªAll failed and were absorbed by Infinity. At the time, it was believed they were simply absorbed by Infinity. Kaylen gazed coldly at the Six Swords engraved into the ground. To an ordinary person, the form of the Six Swords might have appeared perfect. But Kaylen, more versed in the Six Sword Path than anyone, could see that the mana connecting the swords was tattered and incomplete. "The Six Swords that the descendants tried to create... they weren¡¯t actually absorbed by Infinity. They were absorbed by you." "Heh... That¡¯s right. Absorbing their Infinity and sealing it within the Water Continent¡ªthat is my role." It was a method similar to how the Celestial Demon had told Kaylen to remain within the Sanctuary. Hearing that, Kaylen let out a dry chuckle. "So, this revenge you¡¯ve been thinking about... was it just entrusting everything to the Celestial God and imprisoning yourself? Can you really call yourself Ernstine?" Is this truly ¡®me¡¯? As Kaylen looked at Ernstine, who claimed to be his true self, a faint sneer formed on his lips. Ernstine¡¯s expression stiffened. "Seventieth Six Sword... say whatever you wish." Ssss¡ª The massive Six Swords engraved on the ground began to rise, towering like walls around the round table. "Because, just like the others, you too will be absorbed by me." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 199 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 199 Kaylen looked at the Six Swords rising around him and let out a cold sneer. "You spoke of reclaiming me by discussing the essence, but it was nothing more than a stalling tactic." "There¡¯s no need to waste strength against my Six Swords." Ernstine wore a confident expression. The massive Six Swords surrounded Kaylen''s group with no gaps, and the intense mana surged endlessly. It seemed Ernstine believed the battle was already decided. Six Sword Path Six Swords Six Sword Reversion The Six Sword Reversion unfolded once again. But this time, its power was on a completely different level from before. Cracks formed on each of the Six Swords representing the different elements, and mana began to be absorbed through those cracks. "Kh... Emperor..." "Ah, Johannes. I had forgotten about you. Come closer. I¡¯ll make sure you aren¡¯t absorbed." Ernstine gestured for Johannes to approach. He also signaled to Violet, standing beside him, to come over and avoid being absorbed. "No. Do you think I would follow someone who has become the Celestial Demon¡¯s servant?" "Hm. A servant, you say? You¡¯re in a similar position to me." Ernstine crossed his arms, a meaningful smile on his face. "You haven¡¯t forgotten who saved your life, have you?" "Even if the Celestial Demon saved me... I have my own free will." "That¡¯s only because the god chose not to interfere with you. You''re nothing more than a puppet, like me." At Ernstine''s words, Johannes swallowed his groan and sat back down on the ice chair. Seeing this, Ernstine''s smile faded. "So, you''ve chosen annihilation?" "Compared to you, this one seems more like a true emperor." "Is that so?" The cracks on Ernstine''s massive Six Swords began to widen. "Then vanish along with him." The absorption speed was incomparable to when there had been just one crack. With a resigned expression, Johannes prepared for his end. ¡®As he said, I was revived as an undead by the Celestial Demon.¡¯ Feeling the dark mana that made up his body being drawn into the cracks of the Dark Sword, Johannes thought it might be for the best. ¡®Considering I might be controlled by the Celestial Demon later... it might be better to die here. Until now, I hadn¡¯t been restricted by the god¡¯s control. But just as Baldrix could halt the power of the Dark Sword Baldrix, I don¡¯t know what measures the Celestial Demon may have placed upon me.¡¯ If it¡¯s going to cause problems later, it¡¯s better to just disappear here... "Six Sword Reversion, is this all it amounts to?" Whoosh. As Kaylen extended his hand in front of Johannes, Johannes'' body, which had been absorbed into the Dark Sword, returned to normal. Not only that, but the dark mana that had been drawn into Ernstine''s massive Dark Sword was also restored to Johannes. Watching his stolen power return, Johannes blinked in disbelief. "Emperor..." When he heard Ernstine''s words, he thought it was truly the end. If Ernstine was the true human and Kaylen was merely the 70th of the Six Swords by his arrangement, there was no way to stop the Six Sword Reversion he was performing. But despite Ernstine telling him he was nothing more than a sword, Kaylen remained composed. "...You. How are you unaffected?" It was Ernstine who now looked anxious. His expression revealed his confusion as he asked the question. "Disappointing, Ernstine. If, as you said, I¡¯m merely one of the Six Swords, and if you were truly Ernstine, the first Grand Swordmaster of humanity..." Sssss. Kaylen''s Six Swords rose. They looked slightly different from Ernstine''s. In addition to wielding three Divine Swords, the star of the Six Martial Paths shone from within. "Even I, just the 70th Six Sword, managed to develop the Six Sword Path." "Do you think the real you couldn''t have advanced it?" Kaylen, as just one of the Six Swords, had refined the path in such a short time. The underlying mockery was clear¡ªwhat had Ernstine been doing all that time? Realizing this, Ernstine''s expression twisted. "To call mixing in the Six Martial Paths an advancement... That''s not evolution but corruption. Six Swords!" "I don¡¯t need complaints from someone left behind, Ernstine." "...I was reluctant to damage that power and wanted to absorb it intact, but..." Swish. Ernstine¡¯s towering Six Swords shrank and flew behind his back. Like Kaylen, his Six Swords were formed anew. Though the star of the Six Martial Paths, Infinity, wasn¡¯t visible like Kaylen''s, the density of mana within Ernstine¡¯s Six Swords was overwhelmingly greater. "A sword tainted with traces of the Six Martial Paths doesn¡¯t need to be absorbed. I¡¯ll thoroughly destroy you, 70th." Six Sword Path Six Swords Manifestation of the Sword God The ultimate form of the Six Sword Path¡ªManifestation of the Sword God. Mana from the Six Swords surged through Ernstine¡¯s body, unleashing explosive power. From him, it was clear¡ªhe intended to end this in one strike. "I didn''t expect to face this sword." Kaylen looked at Ernstine. Completely unified with the Six Swords, Ernstine had become the embodiment of the six-bladed form itself. For the first time, Kaylen observed the ultimate sword, the Manifestation of the Six Swords, from an outsider¡¯s perspective, and thought to himself: ''Perhaps his words are true.'' He was a remnant of the human Ernstine, born from the discarded shell of Ernstine, who had become a Dragon God. And Kaylen¡ªhe might merely be the 70th Six Sword, born from Ernstine''s hand. If he were just an imitation, he wouldn''t have been able to use the Manifestation of the Six Swords. If Ernstine''s words were true, Kaylen was destined to be absorbed back into the true form of Ernstine, a Six Sword nurtured within the body of his descendant. ''But what does that matter?'' Kaylen smiled as he looked at the Manifestation of the Six Swords. If true lineage mattered, then the Dragon God Ernstine, who had embraced his fate, would be the real one. Whether he was Ernstine, the Emperor from a thousand years ago, or just the 70th Six Sword, it didn¡¯t matter. "Ernstine." Behind Kaylen, the Six Swords shone with the same brilliance as Ernstine¡¯s. Six Sword Path Great Six Swords Manifestation of the Sword God Like Ernstine, Kaylen became one with the Six Swords. But his swords were different¡ªthey held a star within them. "You... You dare to use the Manifestation of the Sword God? A mere Six Sword?" Ernstine shouted, his voice trembling. It wasn¡¯t enough that the Six Sword, who should have been quietly absorbed, resisted him... But to think he had even achieved the ultimate form¡ªthe Manifestation of the Sword God. ''And in a new form...!'' Seeing the star-imbued Six Swords, Ernstine felt a fragment of his sanity snap. The incarnation meant to be absorbed, the one who was supposed to be nothing more than a shadow of the Six Swords, now displayed a form more advanced than his own. "A mere Six Sword, you say? And yet you can say that after seeing this?" "Emperor Ernstine. The first Grand Swordmaster of humanity and the one who pioneered the era of swords." "......" "The way for the Sword Emperor to prove himself is simple. We settle it with our swords." Aura erupted explosively from Kaylen''s entire body. Though the amount of aura couldn¡¯t compare to Ernstine, who had been absorbing the Six Swords for so long... Ernstine¡¯s entire body trembled at the sight. He, who knew more than anyone about the Six Sword Path, could tell. That Manifestation of the Sword God¡ª stood on a higher level than his own. The only advantage Ernstine had... was the sheer amount of aura he had accumulated over the ages. "Ernstine. Will you cross swords with me using equal amounts of aura?" Faced with Kaylen¡¯s mocking suggestion, Ernstine could only grit his teeth, unable to accept it. Instead¡ª "A corrupted sword dares to speak as it pleases...!" He grew furious, drawing out even more of his aura. "I''ll shatter you into pieces!" Ernstine''s body flashed, and the Six Swords simultaneously flew toward Kaylen. No, it wasn¡¯t even a speed that could be described as flying. In the blink of an eye, they tore through space itself, ripping apart the very spot where Kaylen stood. But¡ª Kaylen only smiled as he watched Ernstine''s light-speed assault. "Interesting." Ernstine¡¯s fierce strike, infused with an aura many times stronger, and the Six Swords, each carrying one of six attributes, seemed to strike with their own will, each delivering a fatal blow. Chiiiiiik! Kaylen¡¯s Six Swords collided with Ernstine¡¯s, sending aura scattering in all directions. "Johannes. Step back." "Y-yeah... Blink!" Johannes, who had been beside Kaylen, hastily retreated, and the clash between the two intensified. ''I-I can''t see a thing...!'' At the far end of the floating island, drifting alone over the seabed, Johannes had fled as far as possible. But even at this distance, the scattering aura from their clash reached him. Chiiiiiik! When just a fragment of their aura split the nearby sea in half, Johannes couldn¡¯t help but curse. ''These crazy bastards... How are they this strong?'' The place where Ernstine and Kaylen collided was now like light clashing against light¡ªhe couldn¡¯t see who was doing what. It was almost blinding. "Absolute Shield." Even after casting his strongest defensive magic, Bang! Johannes felt the barrier tear against the fragments of aura, his face draining of color. If he hadn''t survived earlier, he would''ve been annihilated by the aura alone. "Absolute Shield." Casting the torn shield again, Johannes kept his eyes on the battle. The clash of sword gods, with only the light of the Six Swords flashing. It was as if their coordination was perfectly in sync. Each deadly strike was parried by the other''s sword, continuing an evenly matched duel. ''What... What is even happening...?'' Johannes felt frustrated, unable to follow their speed. But soon, he realized another way to gauge who had the upper hand. ''The amount of aura scattering this way... it''s less than before.'' Chiiiiiiii.... Aura once again split the sea surrounding the island. However, its strength had significantly diminished compared to before. Even the fragments of aura that struck the Absolute Barrier were weaker than earlier. The aura failed to tear through the barrier and was deflected. ''The place where they¡¯re crossing swords... it''s gradually moving in the opposite direction from here...!'' Initially, they had fought at the center of the floating island where Ernstine¡¯s coffin lay. But the battleground was steadily shifting in the opposite direction. That direction¡ªnone other than where Ernstine had originally stood. Among the two using Sword Manifestation, it was becoming clearer who held the advantage. And then¡ª "This... can''t be...!" As Ernstine''s dejected voice echoed from within the light, Johannes could clearly tell who was gaining the upper hand. "To think... mere Six Swords..." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 200 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 200 Ernstine could not believe the current situation. ''How could I be pushed back like this?'' Compared to Kaylen, the aura of his Six Swords was overwhelmingly superior. After receiving the blessing of the Celestial God and being resurrected in an incomplete body, he had spent nearly a thousand years refining and amassing his aura. It was only natural. If it were a simple clash of aura between their Six Swords, Ernstine would claim an easy victory. However¡ª ''His sword is not the same as mine.'' The principle behind the creation of the Six Swords. The method of mobilizing mana from the six attributes. Perhaps they had been the same at the initial stage. But Kaylen''s Six Swords had transformed into something Ernstine could not even fathom. ''To manifest the infinity of the Six Demon Paths within the Six Swords...'' The Six Swords transforming into the Six Demon Paths¡ªsomething that had led to Ernstine''s downfall, leaving him to recover his body as a miserable undead beneath the sea. Though theoretically possible, it was a method Ernstine had never dared to attempt. Yet, the brazen man before him seemed utterly unconcerned, freely manifesting the Six Demon Paths alongside his Six Swords. Chiiiiiik! Ernstine''s Flame Sword clashed with Kaylen''s Water Sword. Two swords of opposing elements. In terms of sheer aura, Ernstine''s was overwhelming. "Kugh..." Yet, it was Ernstine''s Flame Sword that began to falter. The Six Sword infused with the Six Demon Paths looked unstable at first glance... But it was steadily overcoming Ernstine''s Six Swords, refined over a millennium. "Six Swords, you are walking a misguided path. The transformation you are attempting will only serve as a pretext for the Dragon God to consume you. Yet, you dare to wield such a sword and stand against me?" Ernstine''s words were solemn, but they only earned Kaylen''s scornful laughter. "A misguided path? Why are you so consumed by fear, Ernstine?" "What...?" "You, the so-called first Grand Sword Master, are more worried about being devoured than learning to control the Six Demon Paths." "You insolent wretch... What would you know... You''re just a mere wielder of the Six Swords...!" "And what have you done over the past thousand years? You''ve merely amassed aura in your Six Swords. I see no signs of growth." Crack. Among the fiercely clashing Six Swords, Ernstine''s Dark Sword snapped in half. While Kaylen''s Light Sword, imbued with the Holy Sword, was overwhelmingly powerful, it was Ernstine''s momentary agitation at Kaylen''s last words that sealed its fate. "No growth, you say... That¡¯s..." "Isn''t the fact that you''re being pushed back by someone who has only awakened in this body for a few short years proof enough?" "......" Ernstine, who had lived far longer than Kaylen. Yet, his sword remained the same as it had been a thousand years ago. Kaylen sought change to overcome the Dragon God and the Celestial Demon, the two absolute beings. As Ernstine had said, this path carried the risk of making it easier for the Dragon God to consume him... But judging by the immediate results, it was clear who had progressed. "Kugh!" Zzzzt¡ª Ernstine''s Light Sword was consumed by Kaylen''s Dark Sword. Now, only three swords remained for him¡ªWind, Water, and Earth. In contrast, Kaylen''s Six Swords soared through the air, all intact. The disparity was clear, with the sword count now at three to six. However, rather than pressing the advantage with superior numbers, Kaylen insisted on fighting one-on-one. And that humiliation stung Ernstine even more. "...Six Swords. Are you toying with me now?" "You as well. Why aren''t you summoning more of your Six Swords? Even if a sword is broken, you still have enough aura left, don''t you?" "Once broken, a sword is meaningless even if summoned again." "Heh. You''ve even lost your resolve, Ernstine. Becoming an undead has turned you into nothing more than an old man who has given up on everything." Crack. Ernstine''s swords continued to fall. His Wind Sword was completely blocked by the Earth Sword and disappeared as a faint breeze. His Earth Sword, in turn, was swept away by the Wind Sword, scattering into nothing. Only one remained. The Water Sword. Perhaps because it had been refined for a long time in the depths of the sea, the Water Sword alone managed to withstand Kaylen''s Flame Sword. But Ernstine could no longer endure the situation. With a bleak gaze, he simply stared at Kaylen''s Six Swords. He had lost his fighting spirit. "Are you giving up like this?" "......" "Ernstine. For someone like you, it wouldn''t be difficult to transform your sword as I have." Whoosh. Kaylen''s Six Swords flew before Ernstine''s eyes. Staring at the stars of the Six Demon Paths embedded within the swords, Ernstine clenched his teeth and spoke. "...Of course. Such a thing would be easy." "Then why don''t you?" "How could I possibly accept the power of the Dragon God?" "Isn''t it better to try something rather than die? You have more aura than I do, so if you just imitate my swords, wouldn''t you gain the upper hand?" "...What are you scheming?" The outcome of the battle was already decided. Telling him to try transforming his sword now? Saying that it would lead to victory? What was this man really thinking? Unable to read Kaylen''s intentions, Ernstine questioned him. "If you''re the real deal, stop being afraid of the Dragon God and give it a try. I''ll wait." "Or, if you''d rather be remembered as the cowardly, dead emperor by your sword, then just collapse there. I''ll give you a clean death." At Kaylen''s provocative words, Ernstine''s eyes widened. Rather than being treated as a coward and dying after hearing such words from the likes of the Seventieth Six Sword¡ª "Fine... I''ll do as you say. Don''t come to regret it." Ernstine resolved to manifest the Six Demon Paths within his Six Swords. Ziiiing¡ª Behind Ernstine, the broken and vanished Six Swords regenerated. Within them, the stars of the Six Demon Paths slowly began to form. Kaylen watched the scene with his arms crossed. ¡®As expected, he¡¯s quick to pull it off.¡¯ Kaylen and Ernstine¡ªboth masters of the Six Sword Path. They could easily imitate what the other demonstrated. It was only Ernstine¡¯s trauma toward the Six Demon Paths that had kept him from attempting this until now. But once he made up his mind, it was a simple task. ¡®Now, let¡¯s see how this plays out.¡¯ Kaylen gazed at Ernstine with a heavy, sinking look. Even though he could have struck Ernstine down at any moment, he refrained. There was a reason he insisted on making Ernstine reshape his swords just like his own¡ª And that reason was about to be revealed. "Krrrgh..." Srrrrr¡ª Starting with the Light Sword¡ª One by one, as the Infinity began to manifest within Ernstine''s swords, At the turn of the Water Sword, Ernstine suddenly dropped to his knees. ¡®M-My chest...!¡¯ A sharp, unbearable pain radiated from his chest. Specifically, near his ribs. Since becoming an undead, he had been numb to pain. But this sudden and excruciating sensation was unbearable. "Ku-Kugh...!" The intense pain soon spread to his lower body. His left knee ligament. The flesh of his right thigh. The bones of both heels. Agonizing pain erupted from these specific areas. As Ernstine felt the searing torment, He identified the commonality between these parts. ¡®The first fragments of my body that the Celestial God reclaimed...¡¯ Back when Ernstine, transformed into a Dragonkin, scattered fragments of his human body across the land. The areas now wracked with pain were precisely those fragments. And within him, they burned fiercely with torment. "The Celestial Demon must have set this trap when reviving you." "The C-Celestial God..." "If you tried anything foolish, you''d self-destruct immediately. Thorough to the end, that one." Hearing Kaylen say this¡ª Ernstine let out a pained laugh. "Kuh... Kukuku. Did you... expect this?" "Halfway. Knowing the Celestial Demon''s cunning, I figured he wouldn¡¯t just let you awaken the power of the Six Demon Paths without interference." "Ha... I see..." Staring at his burning fragments, Ernstine felt a hollow emptiness. He had intended to devote his soul in loyalty to the Celestial God who had resurrected him. But it turned out that such a trap had already been set within him. ¡®And yet...¡¯ The pain continued to surge. His body crumbled. Just manifesting the Six Demon Paths seemed enough to render his existence unsalvageable. Every element that composed him was breaking down. Yet¡ª ¡®My mind is clear.¡¯ It was only in the face of this collapse that Ernstine could feel it. The blind loyalty he had held for the Celestial God. The fear and hatred he felt toward the Dragon God. The obsession with absorbing the Six Swords. All of it faded. And what filled that emptiness¡ª Was regret towards the Six Sword Path. ¡®I could have... developed it further.¡¯ ¡®I had enough time.¡¯ ¡®I slew the Demon King at fifty. In a thousand years, I could have conceived a sword to slay even a god.¡¯ The Dragon God who had twisted his fate. The Celestial God who had tried to awaken him early. Ernstine, a thousand years ago, had been powerless, a puppet manipulated by these divine beings. But if he had honed his skills for a thousand years, he could have forged a sword that could even strike down gods. A deep regret filled Ernstine¡¯s chest. And that regret stirred something deep within his subconscious¡ª A sword that had slept for a thousand years. ¡®This is...¡¯ Ernstine¡¯s eyes, once contorted with pain, now gleamed with clarity. He forced his crumbling body to rise. Though his chest and lower limbs were melting away, They no longer held him back. "Seventieth Six Sword... what is your name?" He spoke in a calm, composed voice. Kaylen looked at Ernstine as his body continued to fall apart. But there was no longer any humiliation in Ernstine¡¯s eyes¡ªno shame at having been defeated by Kaylen, a mere Six Sword. ¡®He¡¯s changed.¡¯ Kaylen uncrossed his arms and answered. "Kaylen." "I see. Kaylen... Thank you. For waking me from my delusion." Srrrrr¡ª Aura deeply imbued itself into Ernstine¡¯s Six Sword. A completely different energy than before. Ernstine¡¯s Six Sword, which had been little different from a thousand years ago, was undergoing a decisive transformation at the brink of his collapse. "Thanks to you, I was able to draw out the sword I had been honing in a corner of my heart for a thousand years." The risen Six Sword of Ernstine gathered into one. From within the depths of his subconscious that had submitted to the Celestial God, The sword he had been contemplating for a thousand years finally revealed itself. Six Sword Path Six Swords God-Slaying As if demonstrating it to Kaylen, He turned his back and extended the Six Sword toward the sea. But contrary to its name as a god-slaying sword, No change occurred. It did not cut the sea, Nor did it disturb the flow of mana. Instead, Ernstine''s body, which had wielded that sword, completely vanished¡ªdissolved into nothing. Yet¡ª Kaylen''s mouth opened wide. "...Impressive." An exclamation, tinged with even a sense of defeat, escaped him. "...I have learned well, Ernstine." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 201 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 201 Six Sword Path: Godslayer A sword forged unconsciously over a thousand years by Ernstine, who was resurrected as an undead by the Celestial God and bound to his will, harboring deep resentment in his heart. While under the dominion of the Celestial Demon, he could not even recall the sword... but only in his final moments, freed from divine constraints, was he able to unleash Godslayer. ¡®He¡¯s completely gone...¡¯ Kaylen gazed at the spot where Ernstine had stood. The moment he unleashed Six Sword Path: Godslayer toward the sea, his body crumbled to dust and vanished. On the ground, his six swords were etched like a sigil. ¡®It looks as if nothing has changed on the surface.¡¯ For a technique that was supposed to be his ultimate sword, Godslayer did not seem to display any remarkable power. But Kaylen understood its true worth. ¡®Every trace of the Celestial Demon on this land has been erased.¡¯ The energy of the Celestial Demon, which had seeped into the undersea continent¡ª A subtle force that even Kaylen struggled to perceive¡ª Yet, Ernstine¡¯s Godslayer had severed every last remnant of it. And then¡ª ¡°Ugh... Where is this...?¡± Violet, who had collapsed on the ground, clutched her head as she slowly rose to her feet. She had distanced herself to avoid being caught in the clash between Kaylen and Ernstine, but¡ª In the end, she had been affected by the aftermath, struggling to defend herself. When Ernstine unleashed Six Sword Path: Godslayer, she collapsed instantly¡ª And now, she had returned to her original human form, her spirit form undone. ¡®Her eyes are clear now.¡¯ Unlike before, when she had wandered the Water Continent with vacant eyes, Violet¡¯s gaze had regained clarity, as if she had reclaimed her consciousness. ¡®So the force that altered Violet on this continent... was also influenced by the Celestial Demon.¡¯ He had truly meddled in every corner. Kaylen thought as he shifted his gaze toward Johannes. If the Celestial Demon¡¯s power had vanished¡ª Then the effects on Johannes, who had been resurrected by his hand, would also fade. ¡°Ah... my eye...¡± Just as Kaylen expected¡ª Cracks formed in Johannes¡¯s left eye, his original form as a lich restoring itself. The blue mana stone that had been his left eye shattered into pieces, falling to the ground. Johannes murmured regretfully. ¡°...Now I can¡¯t use 9th-circle magic.¡± ¡°In exchange, you¡¯ve been freed from the Celestial Demon¡¯s chains.¡± ¡°...Blink.¡± Hearing Kaylen¡¯s words, Johannes teleported to his side, his voice tinged with disbelief. ¡°Freed from the Celestial Demon¡¯s chains...? How did that happen?¡± ¡°Ernstine¡¯s final sword severed all divine authority.¡± ¡°...Is that so? That guy was completely overpowered by you, and yet¡ª he had something like that hidden all along?¡± ¡°Yeah. While under the Celestial Demon¡¯s control, he probably couldn¡¯t even think of using it. But in his final moment, he revealed a new Six Sword Path to me.¡± Kaylen muttered as he gazed at the six swords engraved into the ground. Ernstine¡¯s sword¡ª Though Kaylen could comprehend its formation and manifestation, since it followed the same Six Sword Path¡ª To reach a level where it could cut down divine authority itself would require far greater mastery. ¡®And... an immense amount of Aura as well.¡¯ To unleash Six Sword Path: Godslayer, a vast amount of Aura was necessary. Since Kaylen¡¯s Six Swords contained the Stars of the Six Demonic Paths, their power surpassed Ernstine¡¯s. However, unleashing God-Slaying was an entirely different matter. ¡®Should I absorb them?¡¯ Kaylen reached out toward the Six Swords etched into the ground. At that moment, six elemental mana streams extended from the sword markings, flowing into Kaylen¡¯s Six Swords and infusing them with aura. ¡®This is too much...¡¯ Ernstine had an overwhelming amount of aura. The legacy of the Six Swords he left behind was far too vast for Kaylen to absorb all at once. ¡®If I get greedy, the balance of the Six Swords will collapse.¡¯ Even now, only a portion of the Six Swords contained divine power. Maintaining the delicate balance of his swords was already a struggle, as he had barely stabilized them by embedding Infinity into each blade. If he absorbed all this aura without restraint, his swords could fall apart. ¡®Still... it¡¯s a shame to waste it.¡¯ He couldn¡¯t take it all in right now, but with enough time, he could eventually absorb everything. ¡®For now, I¡¯ll take in what I can and return when the Divine Sword is complete.¡¯ Rumble¡ª Just then, the floating island beneath the sea began to tremble. ¡°Um... Lord Kaylen. I don¡¯t think this place will hold for much longer.¡± Violet, who had just regained her senses, looked around with a bewildered expression before urgently speaking. ¡°With the Heavenly Demon God¡¯s power gone, the floating island is collapsing. This land was forcibly pulled up from the deep sea to begin with. Now that the god¡¯s power has vanished and even Emperor Ernstine, the land¡¯s master, is gone... it can no longer be sustained.¡± ¡°You¡¯re well-informed.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve barely regained my senses, so my head is still a mess... but as the Keeper of the Seabed Tomb, I was given basic knowledge about this place.¡± The Keeper of the Tomb. Even after the Celestial God¡¯s power disappeared, Violet still retained her memories of it. ¡®So this land will disappear in the end.¡¯ As Kaylen stared at the ground with regret, Violet hesitated for a moment before suggesting, ¡°Um... Lord Kaylen. If it¡¯s alright with you, should I try preserving only the area where the Six Swords are engraved?¡± ¡°Is that possible?¡± ¡°If I use the spirit stone from the emperor¡¯s coffin... I should be able to, at least for a while.¡± Shrrr¡ª Violet¡¯s body turned fluid like water, swiftly flowing toward the emperor¡¯s coffin at the center of the floating island and enveloping it. She hadn¡¯t even used Glacia. Like a water spirit, she freely transformed and moved as she pleased. Watching her, Kaylen¡¯s eyes gleamed with interest. ¡®She¡¯s grown incomparably stronger.¡¯ Even after severing the Heavenly Demon God¡¯s power, she could still do this. Did this mean it was a power related to her ancestors? After absorbing the coffin in an instant, Violet returned and placed her hand on the land where the Six Swords were engraved. ¡°As the descendant of the Water God and rightful heir of this land, I shall claim part of its legacy.¡± The moment she finished speaking, the ground where the Six Swords were inscribed became submerged in water and was completely absorbed into Violet¡¯s body. As if it had been scooped up with a shovel, the land where the swords were engraved had been cleanly excavated. Violet grimaced in pain. ¡°Ugh... I won¡¯t be able to hold this for long.¡± Even though she was the rightful heir of this land and had declared her claim over its legacy, Since the land infused with the Six Swords contained an immense amount of aura, it was only natural that Violet couldn''t endure for long. Kaylen gestured toward Johannes with his eyes. "Alright. Let''s return, Johannes." "Got it. Warp Gate." As if he had been prepared all along, Johannes opened the Warp Gate. Violet attempted to step forward, but her face twisted in distress. "M-My feet won''t move..." Kaylen approached the motionless Violet and lifted her into his arms. "Hmm." "I-I''m sorry. I''m really heavy, aren''t I?" He felt a considerable weight, too much to lift with one arm. It must have been due to the sheer size of the land she had absorbed. Kaylen channeled his aura throughout his body and, only then, was able to lift Violet. "Let''s go." With that, Kaylen and his group hurled themselves into the Warp Gate. Rumble¡ª! At the same time, the ground shook violently, and the barrier surrounding the floating island shattered. Seawater rushed in, sweeping over the land and scattering it. As if it had never existed, all traces of the floating island vanished into the depths of the ocean. Their destination was the royal palace of the capital, Alzass. "Hah... Haa... Haa..." As soon as they successfully teleported, the color drained from Violet¡¯s face as she hung in Kaylen¡¯s arms. It seemed she had reached her limit in holding onto the land infused with the Six Swords. "K-Kaylen, I''ll put it down here for now." "Alright." With Kaylen''s approval, Violet extended her right hand toward an open space beside the palace. Splash¡ª A torrent of water gushed from her palm like a heavy downpour, soaking the ground. Then, through the drenched earth, the pattern of the Six Swords¡ªexactly as it had been in the depths of the sea¡ªslowly emerged. ¡®Impressive.¡¯ The aura was identical to what he had seen underwater. Even he hadn¡¯t dared to think of transporting it. Yet Violet, having awakened to her newfound power, had accomplished this feat with seeming ease. Kaylen recalled what she had said earlier. ¡ª"As the descendant of the Water God and the rightful heir to this land, I will take a portion of the legacy." A descendant of the Water God. Before, she had called herself a Gravekeeper. Now, she claimed to be the descendant of a god. ¡®I''ve never even heard of a Water God before...¡¯ In this continent, the only deity known to humankind was the Celestial God. Now that she had mentioned an unfamiliar god, Kaylen couldn¡¯t help but be intrigued. "Haa... Haa... Seriously... Seriously..." After successfully transferring the Six Swords'' pattern, Violet collapsed onto the ground, dry heaving. She clutched her abdomen. At that moment, her stomach¡ªturning to water¡ªrevealed holes throughout her transformed body. "Just storing those swords for a moment nearly killed me..." Even if she was a descendant of the Water God, the Six Swords weren¡¯t something that would allow themselves to be sealed so easily. "If we''d been even a little late, this could''ve ended badly." "Tell me about it... Haa... I feel... a little better now..." Gurgle¡ª Water filled the holes in her body, slowly healing her abdomen. Once she steadied herself, she rose to her feet. "What a nightmare..." She shot a subtle glare at Kaylen before turning to Johannes. "But, Archmage, how did you know?" "Know what?" "That I''m a descendant of merfolk." "Huh? I was just guessing... Wait, you''re actually a merfolk descendant?" "You were just guessing?!" Violet stared at Johannes in disbelief before finally nodding. "Yes. My lineage traces back to the merfolk¡ªthose who once called themselves the gods of water." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 202 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 202 "Is the ancestor really a mermaid? With fins on their lower body?" Johannes glanced at Violet¡¯s legs as he asked, and she nodded. "Yes. To be precise, ''mermaid'' is just the closest term that fits within human concepts. In reality, they were closer to water spirits." Violet''s lower body briefly transformed into water, then condensed from her feet upward, forming the shape of a tail fin. She was about to fully take on the appearance of a mermaid when¡ª "Ah. No, I can''t do this. It''s too creepy..." As if she couldn''t stand the sight of her own body changing, she quickly reverted to her human form. "Creepy? What''s wrong with being a mermaid?" Johannes, clearly disappointed, questioned her reluctance, but Violet seemed unwilling to transform any further. "I¡¯ve never liked fish. Especially fins... they¡¯re just..." "Come on, don''t be like that¡ª" "Enough. If she doesn¡¯t want to, leave it be." Kaylen raised a hand to stop Johannes. "Thank you for understanding." "More than that, I have a question." "Go ahead." "Earlier, you said you were a descendant of the Water God. What exactly is the Water God?" "Oh, the Water God..." Violet took a moment to organize her thoughts before answering. "The deity who once governed this world¡ªeventually, they fell and became the Dragon God." "So, you''re saying the Water God became the Dragon God?" "Yes. The Water God originally ruled over the world, starting from the first continent, the Water Continent. But over time, they transformed into the Dragon God." Kaylen fell into thought at her unexpected words. ''I''d never even heard of a Water God, yet they supposedly ruled over the entire world?'' And now, the underwater continent was the so-called first continent? Kaylen''s thoughts drifted to the Celestial and Demon Continents. He had always assumed that those two were the first lands to exist, but... "Violet, do you know about the Celestial and Demon Continents?" "Of course. How could I not? Those foreign lands that fell from the sky are the cause of all the trouble." "They... fell from the sky?" Violet raised her hand and pointed toward the heavens. "According to merfolk records, the Celestial and Demon Continents are known to have descended from the sky." "...That doesn¡¯t make sense. If such massive landmasses crashed down, the planet wouldn''t have survived." "You''re right. If not for the intervention of the gods, the planet would have been destroyed. However, the Water God cooperated with the Outer God, the Celestial God, to minimize the damage and successfully anchor the two continents." Kaylen''s eyes widened at the mention of an ''Outer God.'' He had always believed the Celestial God to be the Creator, yet now he was hearing that they weren¡¯t even a god of this world? "The Celestial God is an Outer God?" "Yes. The Celestial God''s symbol is sunlight. And as you know, the sun exists beyond this world." "...That¡¯s true." "In the beginning, the Water God, who ruled this world, and the Celestial God, who came from beyond, worked together closely to stabilize the continents. But..." A deity who once governed the planet¡¯s waters. And a deity who descended from beyond the stars. At first, the two worked in harmony to establish their rule. But the sky cannot have two suns. As the world stabilized, the two supreme gods began to view each other as enemies in their struggle for the position of the highest deity. "And that was when the Water God began to change... Though the Celestial God had come from beyond this world, his power over the sun was overwhelming, gradually surpassing the Water God, who had long reigned as the planet''s deity. At this rate, the intruder would drive out the one who had been rooted in place. The Water God had accepted the Heaven and Demon Continents, which had fallen from beyond, yet now the Celestial God sought to suppress him. The fury he felt toward the Celestial God was immense. "So, the method he chose... was to transform himself into a god specialized in battle¡ªa Dragon God." "He became the Dragon God for that reason?" "Yes. And in order to become the Dragon God..." Violet furrowed her brows, her voice sinking. "He devoured all the merfolk¡ªhis own descendants." "The merfolk?" "Yes. Most of them were unable to resist and were wiped out. The once-glorious underwater civilization came to an end..." Hearing those words, Kaylen thought of the other elemental continents. ''So, just like the Wind Continent that once belonged to the elves and the Earth Continent that only had traces of gnomes... the Water Continent was also destroyed by the Dragon God.'' Three continents had already been annihilated. It was reasonable to assume that the Fire Continent had met a similar fate. "But if the merfolk were wiped out... then how is it possible that your ancestor was one of them, Violet?" "Not all of them perished. The Celestial God did not simply stand by and let it happen." Realizing that allowing the Dragon God to consume all of the merfolk would put him at a disadvantage, the Celestial God took some of them under his protection, preventing the Dragon God from absorbing them completely. "Abandoned by our creator but saved by a god from beyond... Since then, my people have followed the Celestial God. And his decision proved to be correct¡ªhaving failed to absorb all of the merfolk, the Dragon God was ultimately defeated by the Celestial God." Even after transforming into the battle-hardened Dragon God, the Water God had lost. In the end, he was defeated by the Celestial God, and it seemed that the supreme deity of this planet had been decided. "At least, until a new continent suddenly rose from the ocean..." The second continent to rise¡ªwas the Fire Continent. The Celestial God was startled by the emergence of a divine land beyond his control, and he sought to claim dominion over it. However, his authority did not work properly in that place. "The ones who ruled over the newly risen Fire Continent... were the dwarves. They flourished for ages, reigning over the continent." For a long time, the dwarves dominated the Fire Continent. But their seemingly eternal prosperity abruptly ended when the entire continent was engulfed in flames, leaving no trace of them behind. "In order to investigate the situation thoroughly, the Celestial God dispatched us, the merfolk. While his authority did not function there, my people were still able to travel across the land. At that point, the Celestial God had not yet considered the possibility that the Fire Continent had been created by the Dragon God." That land had been nothing more than an enormous trap¡ªone meant to devour the remaining merfolk. Most of the merfolk who set foot on the burning land to investigate were swallowed by the Dragon God''s flames, vanishing completely. "Aside from a few survivors, the merfolk were completely annihilated there." Having consumed both the dwarves and the merfolk, the Dragon God then disappeared without a trace. And before long, yet another new continent was created. "So, the Wind Continent where the elves lived, and the Earth Continent where the gnomes once thrived... were all created by the Dragon God?" "...Yes. The Dragon God blocked the Celestial God''s interference through some unknown means, creating elemental continents to amass power. The Celestial God did not sit idly by and attempted to intervene in various ways. However... his authority could only manifest briefly in moments of crisis when a continent was on the brink of destruction." Hearing this, Kaylen recalled Benedict, the High Elf who had once been a Holy Emperor. When the Celestial God could only intervene during the destruction of a continent, Benedict became his follower only after the elves were nearly annihilated. "And after gathering the mana of the four great elements from the four continents, he challenged the Celestial God once more..." In the end, the Dragon God was defeated again. However, unlike the first battle, the Dragon God, having conquered four continents, had grown so powerful that even the Celestial God was pushed to the brink of destruction. "But he still won. The Celestial God, I mean." "Yes. But even after eradicating the Dragon God... this continent emerged." "This continent... You don''t mean the Averia Continent, do you?" "Yes. Along with humanity, who could wield the mana of all attributes." At that moment, the Celestial God realized something. What the Dragon God sought to gain from the Averia Continent... Light and darkness mana. If he allowed the Dragon God to absorb them, just as he had with the four previous continents... Then he would never be able to defeat him. "But unlike the previous continents, the Celestial God realized that his authority worked on Averia. So, he began planning differently than before." With that, Violet gestured to herself. "One of those methods was engraving the bloodline of merfolk into some humans." "...I see." So that was why Violet, who had no apparent connection to merfolk, had awakened their powers¡ªit was part of the Celestial God''s design. As Kaylen listened to the long conflict between the two deities, which had begun when the Water God was still in power, he let out a sigh. "Haa..." Could they truly stand against two absolute gods who manipulated the fate of an entire planet? He felt his confidence waver. "Thanks for telling me, Violet. Do you have any other information?" "I''m sorry... I don''t¡ªah!" Violet''s hand turned into water and flowed onto the ground. Then, before long, it reformed into the coffin of Erenstein that she had absorbed earlier. "Our original reason for going to the Water Continent was to forge the Divine Water Sword, right?" "That''s right." "This coffin contains the purest essence of water mana." The materials needed to forge the Divine Water Sword had finally been gathered. But Kaylen''s expression remained dark. ''Even if the sword is completed, will it be enough?'' Even if the Divine Sword could suppress the transformation of the Six Swords and prevent the Dragon God from absorbing more power, he wasn¡¯t sure it would be enough. ''Even if I master the Six Sword Path and God Slaying, as I saw from Erenstein... I might not have enough aura.'' As his thoughts drifted to the amount of aura he needed, Kaylen''s gaze naturally fell to the Six Swords etched into the floor of the sanctuary. The vast aura that Erenstein had gathered over a thousand years, which Kaylen had yet to fully absorb. If he took it in, perhaps¡ªjust perhaps¡ªhe would be able to wield his sword against an absolute god. ''Wait.'' Staring at the Six Swords engraved into the ground, Kaylen''s eyes suddenly lit up. ''...There might be a way to survive this.'' [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 203 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 203 Kaylen was able to clearly understand what he truly was after his battle with Ernstine. ¡®I am not Ernstine. I am the Six Sword that carries his memories.¡¯ In truth, Kaylen had already suspected this ever since he learned that Ernstine had transformed into the Dragon God. ¡®The Ernstine I met in the Water Continent couldn¡¯t be considered the true Ernstine either.¡¯ The real Ernstine ultimately chose to become the Dragon God. The one in the Water Continent was nothing more than the human shell he had shed, which the Celestial God had retrieved and turned into an undead. And Kaylen was merely one of the means that undead Ernstine had used to recover his power. In the end, he was not the great emperor who unified the continent a thousand years ago¡ªhe was merely his sword. ¡®Just a sword, huh...¡¯ Kaylen, once the most exalted of beings, had been reduced to nothing more than a Six Sword. Yet, he did not deny what he had become. Rather¡ª ¡®It¡¯s not so bad.¡¯ Acknowledging his own origins, he found an opportunity. ¡®The Six Sword engraved into the floor and I share the same foundation.¡¯ The overwhelming aura contained within the Six Sword markings on the floor. He needed to obtain this aura in order to wield Ernstine¡¯s Six Sword, Godslayer. Up until now, he had been focused on absorbing it no matter what. ¡®But if I acknowledge that my origin is the Six Sword... then there¡¯s no need to force myself to absorb it unconditionally.¡¯ Kaylen fixed his gaze on the Six Sword and then called out to Johannes, who was beside him. ¡°Johannes.¡± ¡°Hm?¡± ¡°That essence of water¡ªcan it be used to forge the Divine Sword?¡± ¡°Hmm... If I still had my 9th-circle magic, it would be easy.¡± Johannes shook his head while rubbing the area around his shattered eye. ¡°But since my 9th-circle is broken, it¡¯ll take some time.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll help, Sir Johannes.¡± ¡°Oh? If a descendant of the merfolk is assisting, then it might actually be possible.¡± ¡°Alright. Then I¡¯ll leave it to you. Also, keep people away from this area. The mana might go out of control.¡± Johannes turned his gaze toward the Six Sword markings on the floor. The ominous aura it emitted was so fearsome that even without a warning, no human would dare approach. ¡°I doubt anyone would come near even without being told... but fine. Let¡¯s go, Miss Mermaid.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As Johannes and Violet left to forge the Divine Sword, Kaylen ran his fingers across the Six Sword. ¡°O Six Swords of Ernstine... In a way, you share the same origins as I do. Perhaps you could even be called my siblings. Or, considering your age, should I refer to you as ancestors instead?¡± These Six Swords had been created through the alignment of the undead Ernstine¡¯s and the Celestial God¡¯s interests. They had all sprouted within the bodies of potential successors from the Meyer lineage but were absorbed by the undead Ernstine¡¯s Six Swords before they could fully form. Unlike them, Kaylen¡ªthe seventieth Six Sword¡ªhad succeeded in establishing his own identity, becoming a fully independent sword. Yet, when considering the very stage of their birth, their starting point was the same. ¡°All this time, I¡¯ve only thought about how to absorb your aura.¡± Absorbing the aura and embedding the Six Swords into the body of the human Kaylen. That had been the natural approach from a human¡¯s perspective. And it was precisely because he had been trying to absorb the aura that so many limitations had continuously appeared before him. However¡ª ¡®If my true nature is that of a Six Sword... then is it really necessary to forcefully absorb it into my body?¡¯ Rather. ¡°I¡¯ll go in myself.¡± The reverse was also possible. Srrr. Kaylen¡¯s Six Sword floated in the air. It touched the engraving of the Six Sword on the floor. Wiiiiing! Aura flared up from the engraving, rejecting the approach of Kaylen¡¯s sword. It seemed to accept the absorption of its aura but saw Kaylen¡¯s sword entering it as a completely different matter. ¡°As expected, it won¡¯t be easy.¡± Kaylen had fully anticipated resistance from the Six Sword engraving. He smirked and activated the Star of the Six Demon Path engraved on his sword. ¡°If you won¡¯t accept it, I¡¯ll force my way in.¡± Sssssk! Unlike before, the resistance from the Six Sword engraving noticeably weakened. It couldn¡¯t withstand the enhanced Six Sword, empowered by Infinity. Kaylen stepped into the interior of the Six Sword and closed his eyes. ¡®From now on, I will assimilate.¡¯ Geysir Empire¡¯s Imperial Palace. Kaina sat on the throne, forging the Divine Sword of Fire as per Kaylen¡¯s request. ¡®I¡¯ll have this done in no time.¡¯ Whoosh! Above the throne, fire mana gathered into a single point. The fur extending from Kaina¡¯s back wielded flaming hammers, striking the cluster of fire mana. The Divine Sword of Fire, Dragonflame. Since she had already created it once, restoring it was effortless. ¡®And this time, it¡¯s even easier to plant a bomb inside.¡¯ Kaina had no intention of handing over a complete Divine Sword of Fire to Kaylen. Of course, there was no way the Dragon God would lose to Kaylen. But she couldn¡¯t let him resist for too long, either. ¡®When I defeat Kaylen and absorb his Infinity, the Celestial Demon won¡¯t sit idly by.¡¯ The Celestial Demon was the one most wary of the Dragon God regaining full power. Once the Dragon God subdued Kaylen, he would immediately strike. ¡®...I don¡¯t fully understand why he¡¯s waiting for that exact moment.¡¯ Setting the stage for the Dragon God¡¯s resurrection, watching until he clashed with Kaylen¡ªthere had to be a reason. As one of the Dragon God¡¯s subordinates, Kaina didn¡¯t fully grasp it... But in any case, the top priority was for the Dragon God to swiftly overpower and absorb Kaylen with minimal damage. Naturally, the Divine Sword she was crafting for him had to be rigged. ¡®...The fake must already suspect this.¡¯ Even if he was a fake, the power he had attained so far meant he couldn¡¯t be underestimated. At his level, he would surely anticipate that Kaina¡¯s sword contained a trap. ¡®Since I¡¯ll be delivering it myself, I should assess the situation, too.¡¯ Other than Kaylen, there was no one capable of stopping her. She needed to see what exactly they were scheming on that side. ¡®And I need to find Melvria, too.¡¯ Whoosh! As Dragonflame absorbed its final embers and took the form of the sacred sword from before, Kaina rose from the throne, holding the blade. ¡°To the Starn Empire.¡± Just as her body was engulfed in flames, she instantly traversed space and arrived in Alzass, the capital of the Starn Empire. ¡®This time, I¡¯ll observe quietly.¡¯ Last time she had come, she had revealed herself in a massive form to survey the entire capital. Now that she had already seen the overall layout, Kaina decided to observe the capital more discreetly. Her flame-cloaked body faded, transforming into a small mirage-like form. ¡®Nothing out of the ordinary.¡¯ Starting from the outskirts, Kaina scanned the city. There weren¡¯t any significant changes compared to before. As she gradually made her way inward from the city''s edge¡ª ¡®...This aura?¡¯ She felt a sharp aura emanating from the royal castle. No matter how keen her senses were¡ª For her to detect it from this distance... Had Kaylen manifested his Six Swords on a large scale? ¡®Let¡¯s go.¡¯ She further suppressed her presence and carefully approached the royal castle. Though there were several warriors in Alzass who had reached formidable levels aside from Kaylen, they were still confined to human limitations. None of them could detect Kaina. ¡®Over here.¡¯ As she got closer, the sharp aura grew more intense. Kaina heightened her caution and arrived at the source of the aura. ¡®This is...!¡¯ What she saw before her was¡ª A massive Six Sword emblem engraved on the ground. The emblem radiated an overwhelming aura, as if it were an actual sword. Even the most well-trained knights wouldn¡¯t dare approach it due to its razor-sharp energy. ¡®The aura leaking outside is less than 1%.¡¯ As expected of the Dwarven Queen, Kaina immediately grasped the depth of the Six Sword¡¯s aura. The sheer killing intent, potent enough to slice through bodies, was only a fraction of what lay within. ¡®If the Dragon God absorbs that...¡¯ Kaina trembled with excitement. If he could devour that immense aura, there would no longer be a need to tread cautiously under the watchful eyes of the Celestial Demon. She wanted to seize the Six Sword emblem and take it to the Geysir Imperial Palace immediately¡ª ¡®...But I¡¯m not strong enough right now.¡¯ Though she fell short of Kaylen, Kaina was still a servant of the Dragon God and had ascended to the rank of an absolute being. Yet, even she was incapable of detaching the emblem, filled with such overwhelming aura. Only the Dragon God could absorb it. ¡®I don¡¯t have time to waste here.¡¯ Forgetting even the sacred sword she was supposed to deliver, Kaina hastily left the Starn Imperial Palace. Right now, the priority wasn¡¯t giving Kaylen the sword¡ª It was devising a way for the Dragon God to absorb that Six Sword emblem. As the mirage-like figure swiftly withdrew from the emblem¡¯s location¡ª Whoosh¡ª Smoke began to rise from the fire sword among the Six Sword engravings on the ground. The smoke soon took shape, gradually forming the figure of Kaylen. ¡°Hm.¡± With calm eyes, he gazed in the direction where the mirage had fled. ¡°Kaina, huh.¡± No matter how well she concealed herself, she was immediately detected by the current Kaylen. ¡°...She was too late to see ¡®me.¡¯¡± Kaylen stroked the Six Sword emblem, referring to it as ¡®me.¡¯ In response to his words, the Six Swords shone in unison. Unlike before, the emblem now bore the mark of the Six Sword Path¡ª and Infinity. ¡®If she had come a little earlier, she might¡¯ve taken something from here.¡¯ A while ago, perhaps. But now, the Six Sword emblem was entirely his. It had acknowledged him as its master, and though it had taken over a week to fully assimilate with the Six Sword¡¯s essence, he had successfully completed the process. ¡®But she wouldn¡¯t know that yet.¡¯ A meaningful smirk formed on Kaylen¡¯s lips. ¡°This could be useful.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 204 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 204 Geysir Imperial Castle. "You called for me." Caius entered the throne room where Kaina had summoned him. ¡®What¡¯s going on?¡¯ She seemed on the verge of reviving the Dragon God at any moment. Yet, something must have happened¡ªshe halted everything and hadn¡¯t called for him even once until now. Caius looked toward the throne. She always wore a relaxed smile, but today, her expression was unusually grave. ¡°Caius.¡± ¡°Yes, Mother.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been enjoying your freedom, haven¡¯t you?¡± ¡°...What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve come to your senses, haven¡¯t you?¡± Kaina¡¯s grave expression softened, and she beamed brightly. ¡°I deliberately weakened the brainwashing last time.¡± ¡°...!¡± ¡°If you had never doubted the Dragon God, you would have remained the good child you once were.¡± Caius clenched his teeth. No wonder the brainwashing hadn¡¯t taken hold. He dropped his courteous demeanor and glared at Kaina with eyes filled with hostility. ¡°...You tested me.¡± ¡°Hehe. Of course. Even I felt my heart race when I saw the fake. If I reacted that way, don¡¯t you think I should test the others as well?¡± ¡°...Your heart raced, did it? Then you must know, instinctively, that the one you call a fake is actually real.¡± ¡°No. He is a fake.¡± Sssss... Flames rose before Kaina, forming the face of Kaylen. It was the exact same face as Emperor Ernstine from a thousand years ago. She gazed at it with a look of ecstasy, brushing her fingers over it, murmuring wistfully. ¡°My heart only raced because it reminded me of the memories we built together when he was human.¡± Caius stared at Kaina. She was utterly convinced that Kaylen was an imposter. ¡°...I see. Then why did you leave me alone, knowing I wasn¡¯t under the brainwashing?¡± ¡°I let you be so you could conspire with the fake...¡± As the fiery image of Kaylen faded, Kaina¡¯s eyes turned pitch black. ¡°But now, the situation has changed.¡± ¡°Urgh...!¡± The overwhelming force was completely different from the previous brainwashing. Kaina was shaking Caius¡¯s mind with her full power. As he clutched his head and collapsed, she spoke. ¡°My original plan was to use you as bait to lure the fake into the Imperial Castle...¡± She licked her lips and smirked. But her eyes were no longer on the fallen Caius. She was thinking about the beautiful Six Sword Pattern she had seen in the Starn Empire. ¡°...But now, you¡¯ll have to become a sacrifice for the sake of obtaining that sword, Caius.¡± After the fall of the Sanctuary. Most of the continent¡¯s inhabitants didn¡¯t yet realize the Sanctuary had collapsed. However, they could sense that somewhere, something enormous had changed. ¡°It¡¯s already been over a month.¡± "What does the Dungeon Guild say?" "They keep repeating that they still can''t contact headquarters." The King of Rahendra listened to the report with a grave expression. ''Too many inexplicable things have been happening lately.'' The neighboring Bormian Kingdom had suddenly transformed into the Starn Empire. A single emperor had seized control over multiple nations across the continent. And now, the dungeon portals, which had existed alongside humanity for centuries, had abruptly stopped appearing. ''From a ruler''s perspective, this is a welcome development.'' The sudden peace was beneficial, considering the manpower and resources that had been spent on subjugating dungeon portals. But if there were those who profited from this, there would inevitably be those who suffered losses. ''...At this rate, there will be no need to rely so heavily on the Mage Tower anymore.'' Mages had played a central role in dungeon portal subjugation, their influence growing so immense that even high-ranking nobles dared not oppose them. But if the portals remained gone, the Mage Tower''s influence would gradually wane. ''And naturally, this would lead to a drop in mana stone prices as well.'' Mana stones, essential for manufacturing and charging mana suits. If the dungeons disappeared, there would be no need to invest heavily in mana stones anymore. ''This will ease our financial burdens a bit.'' The funds requested by the Mage Tower for dungeon subjugation had been so exorbitant that it left no room for other ventures. If mana stone prices dropped, new business opportunities that had never been considered before might open up. The reason for the disappearance of dungeon portals was still unknown. ''But the situation itself is not bad.'' With that thought, the King of Rahendra turned to his vassal and asked, "Any other unusual reports?" "Ah. The Mage Tower is dispatching a large number of people to the Starn Empire." "To the Starn Empire? Why?" "They say the Empire is purchasing mana stones." "...Mana stones?" "Yes. And they''re paying full market price, so the Mage Tower has begun selling off its reserves." Why would the Empire suddenly do that? ''That monstrous emperor shouldn''t have much need for mana stones.'' The King of Rahendra thought of Emperor Kaylen. A being of overwhelming power who had once ridden a dragon and seized a kingdom single-handedly. The fact that he was suddenly purchasing mana stones made the King seriously consider whether Rahendra should start stockpiling them as well. "That emperor buying mana stones... It¡¯s strange. Shouldn¡¯t we secure some for ourselves too?" "That may be so, but... will you issue an order to the Mage Tower?" Hearing his vassal''s indifferent tone, the King realized his own predicament. No matter how much he was a king, the real power rested with the Mage Tower. A mere figurehead like himself had no authority to interfere in their affairs. "...No. Even if I ordered it, they wouldn¡¯t listen. We''ll just stockpile whatever belongs to the royal palace." "Understood." * * * The Imperial Capital of the Starn Empire "...What are you doing?" "You''re here." Myorn looked around the open space of the imperial capital, her voice filled with confusion. "Why are you throwing mana stones on the ground?" Thud. From large crates, mana stones tumbled down onto the earth. As soon as it touched the ground, the mana stones dissolved and disappeared. ¡®Do you know how much that costs...?¡¯ Even though the price of mana stones had dropped a bit recently, they weren¡¯t something to be treated like mere pebbles. ¡®Wait, come to think of it, I heard that Kaylen buys mana stones at a high price from abroad. That means he¡¯s just throwing around something worth 5,000 gold into thin air, isn¡¯t he?¡¯ Even if he was the Emperor, wasn¡¯t it too much of a waste to treat mana stones like ordinary rocks? When Myorn shot a disapproving look at Kaylen, he responded with a smile. ¡°The ground... can¡¯t you feel the intent?¡± ¡°Intent?¡± ¡°It¡¯s enough to deceive even the senses of the Dwarf Queen. It¡¯s working well.¡± ¡°Deceive the senses?¡± ¡°Look.¡± Kaylen extended his hand toward the ground. Vrrrrrrr. Six-colored light began to rise from the ground. And at the same time¡ª ¡°T-This is....¡± Myorn¡¯s fur bristled with fear and shrank inward. A sword¡¯s presence, something she hadn¡¯t sensed at all before, was now closing in on her from all directions. A sword¡¯s deadly aura, as if it could slice her to pieces at any moment. With trembling eyes, she looked down at the ground. Something. Something enormous was faintly revealing itself. ¡°This is... Six Swords...?¡± At first, the sheer size made it hard to discern its shape. Stretching her fur upward to get a better look, she finally saw it¡ªsix swords forming a massive figure. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± The Six Swords rose from the ground. A pattern of six swords completely encased the royal palace grounds. Faced with its overwhelming scale, Myorn¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Pouring mana stones into it...¡± ¡°It¡¯s to nurture the swords.¡± Snap. With a flick of Kaylen¡¯s fingers, a box of mana stones floated into the air and started pouring into the empty spaces at the center of the Six Swords. As soon as the mana stones disappeared, the six swords glowed faintly and gradually grew in size. ¡°...Shouldn¡¯t you be absorbing the aura into your body instead? What¡¯s the point of just making them bigger?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a use for them. A human body has limits to how much power it can contain. But the earth can take it all.¡± ¡°But you won¡¯t be able to use it at a crucial moment...¡± ¡°I have my own way.¡± For Myorn, who believed Kaylen to be human, this was a natural doubt. ¡®She would never imagine that I am the sword itself.¡¯ Kaylen didn¡¯t offer a detailed explanation. Instead, he asked her, ¡°How¡¯s the production of the Divine Sword coming along? I sent Johannes and Violet.¡± ¡°Oh, the Divine Sword of Water? It¡¯s going well. It should be completed within a week.¡± ¡°That fast?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible because Violet joined. She¡¯s a descendant of merfolk, right? She can freely manipulate water mana, so most of the issues were resolved.¡± The former Dwarf Queen, Kaina, had once created a Fire Sword. Using that as a reference, along with Johannes¡ªwho had previously attempted to forge the framework of a Divine Sword¡ªand Violet, who could freely control water mana, the process of creating the Divine Sword of Water was progressing smoothly. ¡°...But, do we even need a Divine Sword anymore?¡± Kaina asked in a somewhat weary voice as she looked at the Six Swords embedded in the ground. If he could wield these swords freely, then wouldn¡¯t the Divine Sword be unnecessary? ¡°No, I still need it.¡± Kaylen shook his head at her words. While the Divine Sword was no longer required to stabilize the swords, he still had a use for it. A new purpose¡ªdifferent from its previous necessity. ¡°So, make sure it¡¯s completed as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Got it. But... why did you call me here in the first place?¡± ¡°I wanted to see if your senses could detect these swords. If they can deceive the Dwarf Queen¡¯s perception, then they can be used for even more applications.¡± ¡°Oh. I had no idea. I didn¡¯t even realize the swords were here.¡± Hearing Myorn¡¯s response, Kaylen nodded in satisfaction. Though she hadn¡¯t yet reached the pinnacle of mastery, her ability to perceive swords and their intent was exceptional¡ªjust as one would expect from a Dwarf Queen. If even her senses could be fooled, then it meant Kaylen had achieved his goal. ¡®This should be enough.¡¯ As he continued pouring mana stones into the Six Swords, a knight from the imperial palace approached him. ¡°Your Majesty. The Geysir Empire has completed the sword. An envoy who introduced himself as Caius has arrived.¡± ¡°Caius?¡± Kaylen¡¯s eyes gleamed at the name. ¡®Kaina... she moves fast.¡¯ It had only been a month, and yet they had already completed the Divine Sword and sent it here? Or perhaps... ¡°I see. Have him come here.¡± ¡°Here... Your Majesty?¡± He was an envoy of an empire. And yet Kaylen was ordering him to be brought to such an empty space? The knight asked in confusion. ¡°Yes. Bring him here.¡± Kaylen¡¯s voice was firm. ¡°They will want this as well.¡± ¡°...Understood.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 205 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 205 Caius. The firstborn son of Ernstine and the second emperor of the Meier Empire, inheriting the imperial throne. Kaylen had fully realized that his essence was the sword. Even so, he did not reject the memories of Emperor Ernstine as if they were not his own. ¡®Because all of that comes together to make me who I am¡ªKaylen.¡¯ From that perspective, Caius was someone who stirred complex emotions in Kaylen. His firstborn son. Although he had many other children, the first child always held a special place in a parent''s heart. The first of anything leaves the strongest impression. From Ernstine¡¯s memories, Kaylen vividly recalled the moment Caius was born, the way he wriggled his small body. The moment he first opened his eyes and looked at him. ¡®Caius lived up to my expectations as crown prince.¡¯ Ruling the unified Meier Empire was a heavy burden for anyone. But Caius was exceptional¡ªhe fulfilled Ernstine¡¯s expectations perfectly. ¡®He just lacked talent with the sword.¡¯ However, in the era of a peaceful unified empire, governance mattered more than swordsmanship. Ernstine highly valued Caius as the next emperor. But the outcome was disastrous. The Meier Empire fell. The imperial family vanished within just two generations. Looking back now, it was not Caius¡¯s fault. It was a consequence of the conflict between the Dragon God and the Celestial God. If anyone was truly to blame, it was Ernstine himself, who had fallen and become the Dragon God. In the end, Caius too was a victim, manipulated by the Dragon God. He had been unable to find rest, forced to live for a thousand years as an undead, clinging to existence. Even so¡ª ¡®The weight of the lives lost by his hands is too great.¡¯ Regardless of the excuse that he had been controlled, too many had perished because of Caius. Step. Step. As Kaylen closed his eyes, lost in thoughts of his eldest son, Caius approached him. ¡°It has been a long time, Father.¡± ¡°...Yes. Caius. So the emperor has come.¡± Once the emperor of the Geysir Empire, now reduced to a mere envoy¡ªCaius. His face was pale, almost waxen. ¡°Haha. Emperor... In front of you, that title holds no meaning.¡± ¡°Why did you come here yourself, alone?¡± ¡°There was no one else fit to transport the Divine Swords. Other than myself or Kaina, that is. As for an entourage...¡± Caius¡¯s eyes darkened. ¡°I did not need one.¡± Srrrk. Behind Caius¡ª Six Divine Swords appeared. Aside from the Flame Sword, Dark Sword, and Light Sword that Kaylen had requested from Kaina¡ª The Earth Sword, Wind Sword, and Water Sword were also there. All elemental swords floated behind Caius as if forming the Six Sword Path. ¡°Kaina told me¡ªif we are to receive three more swords, Could we also borrow some of the Six Sword Path¡¯s aura?¡± Caius spoke as if the request itself was shameful. "I''ll give you three more swords, so grant me the aura of the Six Sword Path?" For Kaylen, who already possessed the rest of the elemental Divine Swords, it was not a tempting offer. "I refuse." Rejecting it outright, Kaylen glared at Caius, who stood silently before him. This land, inscribed with the sigil of the Six Sword Path, was completely under Kaylen¡¯s control. Here, he was nothing short of a divine existence. That was why he could immediately sense what was off about Caius. "Enough with the poor acting. Why don''t you come out, Kaina?" "What are you talking about, Father? Calling me Kaina?" "Kaina. The only thing left of Caius is your clinging mana." Caius¡¯s lips curled unnaturally. And then¡ª A woman¡¯s voice emerged from his throat. "Hehe. If you look closely, you¡¯d see that¡¯s not true." "Are you talking about Caius¡¯s soul, trapped within your flames?" "Oh my, you saw right through it. Fake Ernstine." Tap. Tap. Caius struck his own body. Flesh peeled away, falling to the ground. What remained was nothing but blackened bones¡ªthe body of an undead. And at its center, crimson flames coiled around something. "If you don¡¯t want your eldest son¡¯s soul to be burned away, you¡¯d better cooperate." "You should know well enough that won¡¯t work on me." "Even when your son is screaming, begging me to save him? That he spent a thousand years in hell, trapped by the schemes of a wicked witch? That if his father would just grant him a sliver of aura, he could finally find a moment of peace?" Kaina spoke of herself as a wicked witch without the slightest hesitation. Caius¡¯s hands moved, wrapping around the flames in his chest. "Don¡¯t you think this child is pitiful?" Swoosh. Kaylen¡¯s eyes sharpened. Caius¡¯s body split in half. From his head down to the flames in his chest, through his torso, and all the way to his tailbone¡ª Kaylen cut him down without a word. "Hehe. How heartless." Both halves of Caius¡¯s mouth spoke simultaneously. "I knew you''d do that." Sizzle¡ª The six Divine Swords that had been floating behind Caius impaled his body. "In the end, I¡¯ll have to retrieve them myself." The left half of his mouth spoke leisurely¡ª "A-Ah, Father! Run away!" While the right half desperately urged Kaylen. "Then, I shall offer the soul of Meier¡ª And call upon Him." Fwoosh! Caius¡¯s left mouth moved as if speaking¡ª But instead of words, flames erupted forth. The fire engulfed his entire body¡ª And spread to the six Divine Swords that had pierced him. "This is..." Flames melted the swords and forged stars. Caius¡¯s soul vanished. In its place, six stars took form. Krrrk. Krrrrrk. And then, the stars converged¡ª Forming a single figure. Its shape resembled that of a human, yet it was far larger. Its skin was covered in scales. Its entire body radiated a brilliant golden light. "Dragonkin." Dragonkin. The form Emperor Ernstine had taken after shedding his human shell and evolving. Amidst the scaled face, remnants of Ernstine¡¯s former visage could still be faintly seen. [Caius.......] Gazing upon his own body, the Dragonkin murmured his eldest son¡¯s name. For he was, at his core, still Ernstine. Was this a moment of remembrance for his firstborn? His voice, though faint, carried a trace of sorrow. But only for a moment. Soon, the Dragonkin wiped all expression from his face and turned his gaze toward Kaylen. Woosh. Without warning¡ª He threw a punch. "......!" The six Divine Swords immediately moved to intercept it. Crack! The ambush was a success. Cracks formed along Kaylen¡¯s swords. His body was sent flying. Swish. But Kaylen quickly steadied himself. ¡®That isn¡¯t a complete form.¡¯ Though he had taken a direct blow, he could feel it¡ª If that was the full extent of the Dragon God¡¯s power, the Celestial Demon would never have been so wary of him. ¡®He must have been summoned in an incomplete state to absorb the Six Sword Path.¡¯ A temporary and incomplete summoning of the Dragon God, using Caius as a sacrifice¡ªKaina¡¯s handiwork. He had expected her to target the Six Sword Path¡ª But to resort to such an extreme measure... ¡®Was it really that enticing to her?¡¯ The Six Sword Path, engraved upon the ground. The aura it contained, and the infinity held within¡ª Was it so alluring that Kaina had revealed her hidden trump card without hesitation? "Your Majesty!" The knights standing guard at a distance called out urgently. Though their strength could not compare to the Emperor¡¯s in any way¡ª They rushed forward, determined to fulfill their duty. The Dragonkin, expressionless, slowly turned to look at them. [Annihilate.] It was not spoken in human language. And yet¡ª Every human instinctively understood it. A single, fleeting word. ¡°Urk!¡± ¡°Keuk... Keuk...!¡± ¡°I... can¡¯t breathe...!¡± Mana came to a halt, and the air disappeared. It sought to suffocate everyone around. Six Sword Path. Five Swords. Heaven¡¯s Net. A web of pure white swords rose from all directions, separating the Dragonkin from the knights. Swoosh¡ª ¡°Your opponent is me, Dragon God.¡± At those words, the Dragon God turned its gaze toward Kaylen. His golden eyes gleamed, calm and unwavering. Whoosh. The Dragon God¡¯s fist struck Kaylen directly. Faster than light. A movement beyond mortal reach, an action only one who had transcended into the realm of gods could perceive. Six Sword Path. Sixth Sword. Manifestation of the Sword God. Manifesting as the Sword God and reinforcing his body¡ª Only then did Kaylen match the Dragon God in speed. For an instant, his sword and the Dragon God¡¯s body exchanged thousands, no, tens of thousands of blows. Screech¡ª! And the result¡ª Kaylen had the upper hand. The Dragon God¡¯s scales, which wrapped around its torso, bore clear sword wounds. Flames surged through the cracks. Meanwhile, Kaylen¡¯s body remained unscathed¡ª Yet, he was dissatisfied. ¡®This fight... shouldn¡¯t be dragged out.¡¯ The summoned Dragon God was powerful, yet incomplete. Perhaps due to its imperfect summoning, it fell short of truly being called a god. With the mark of the Six Swords supporting him and the manifestation of the Sword God active¡ª The Dragon God should not have been able to keep up with his speed. And yet¡ª ¡®This world itself is my enemy.¡¯ The Dragon God spoke a single word. ¡°Shatter.¡±. With just that one word¡ª The world turned against Kaylen. The air constricted him. Gravity weighed down upon him. ¡®This is more advanced than when the Helmeier clan wielded the Six Demonic Paths.¡¯ They had once commanded mana under the premise of invoking the name of dragons. But the Dragon God did not need such constraints. It simply spoke the word ¡°shatter.¡± And the entire world rushed to obstruct Kaylen. If this battlefield were not within the domain where the Six Sword Path was engraved¡ª It would not have been the incomplete Dragon God struggling¡ª It would have been Kaylen. ¡®As I thought.¡¯ Feeling the world pressing down on him, Kaylen reached a realization. ¡®The Four Swords¡ªDragon Slayer I created before the Helmeier clan was a failure.¡¯ Even if the enemy before him resembled the legendary dragon race¡ª His true target was not a dragon. The Four Swords¡ªDragon Slayer was merely a sword crafted based on the Helmeier clan¡¯s surface-level image. His sword¡¯s true target¡ª Was Infinity. The fundamental essence that comprised the Dragon God¡¯s body. The boundless mana that embodied the world''s magic itself. ¡®I will impose a limit upon Infinity.¡¯ Only by severing the loop of infinity¡ª Could he cut down the Dragon God. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 206 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 206 Sssss¡ª The wounds on the Dragon God¡¯s body, inflicted by Kaylen¡¯s sword, began to heal rapidly. The bleeding stopped, and the scales regained their pristine form. At a glance, it was a sight befitting the body of a dragon... ¡®That too is merely the work of Infinity.¡¯ The draconic form was just an outward appearance. What was truly operating within was the infinite mana¡ªInfinity. Mana continued to flow, endlessly restoring the Dragon God¡¯s strength. Quite literally, an inexhaustible source of power. ¡®And Infinity is drawing its power directly from this world itself.¡¯ A golden star, containing all six attributes of mana, endlessly radiating power. It was the ultimate form of mana, created through relentless perseverance after countless defeats at the hands of the Celestial God. With the world''s support, Infinity allowed the Dragon God to recover without limits. To overcome such a force, a new sword was needed¡ªone that could do more than just cut the surface like Four Swords - Dragon Slayer. ¡®I must sever its connection to this world.¡¯ Six Sword Path First Sword Sword Domain The weakest stage of the Six Sword Path, utilizing only a single attribute¡ªFirst Sword, Sword Domain. It was a restrictive sword technique, meant to prevent Kaylen from succumbing to Six Demon Path while wielding the Six Swords. After analyzing the golden star, Kaylen had devised a method to neutralize it. By deploying a sword barrier, he could impose restrictions on Infinity. Until now, this Sword Domain had only applied to his own sword. But now¡ª Srrrrk¡ª New swords emerged from the markings of the Six Swords on the ground. No, it wasn¡¯t just six swords. At first, only six swords rose. But soon, countless swords erupted from the ground, filling the gaps within the Five Swords - Heavenly Net like a seamless web. [This is...] Above, below, left, and right. With swords blocking every possible direction, the Dragon God¡¯s pupils trembled slightly. The infinite mana, which should have been naturally sustained by the world¡ª ¡ªWas being severed. [Blocking my path... What a reckless method! If this body were my true form, this mere barrier would have shattered instantly!] ¡°That¡¯s probably true.¡± Kaylen acknowledged the statement. The current Dragon God was an incomplete being, summoned by sacrificing Caius. This method worked only because of that weakness. Against a fully revived Dragon God, cutting off Infinity¡¯s supply with a sword barrier would be impossible. ¡°But this is only the first step.¡± Among the Six Swords, the Holy Sword Astella, which bore the Light Sword, landed in Kaylen¡¯s hand. Swish¡ª For a brief moment, the sword vanished. And in that instant¡ª The Dragon God¡¯s body, which had just healed, split apart. The sword wounds, similar to before, crisscrossed its entire body like a spiderweb. [This... This can¡¯t be!] Unlike before, the wounds no longer remained superficial. This time¡ª They had severed it completely. [How could this...!] Through the manifestation of the Sword God, even with the relentless onslaught of the Six Sword Path, the Dragon God¡¯s body, which had once withstood all attacks, was now being mercilessly cut apart. The Dragon God attempted to say something more. However, his head had been completely severed, unable to maintain its form any longer. ¡°I know better than anyone the weakness of Infinity once its limits are engraved.¡± Kaylen had mastered the method of restricting Infinity through the Sword Realm. More than anyone else, he knew how to dismantle Infinity once its boundless nature was severed. ¡®And it works on the Dragon God as well.¡¯ What he had personally learned through his own body was now being applied to the incomplete Dragon God. Seeing it take effect, Kaylen felt a newfound certainty in his method of dismantling Infinity. ¡®With just a little more refinement, I can establish a new Six Sword Path...¡¯ A sword that could sever Infinity. In the end, it would be a sword that could sever the world itself. As Kaylen was devising the Six Sword Path to counter the Dragon God¡ª Thud. From within the massive, severed body of the Dragon God, only the upper half of Caius was ejected. ¡°Ugh... Urgh...¡± Caius, a half-undead. His upper body remained in human form, while his lower half, which had been undead, had completely melted away. Even his upper body was riddled with holes, revealing decayed and rotting innards. The six divine swords forged by Kaina were embedded haphazardly in his body, now cracked and trembling with instability. ¡°A-ah...¡± The dark magic that had sustained Caius¡¯ body was nearly gone. The Star of the Six Demon Paths, which had supplied him with limitless mana, had disappeared as well. Since Kaylen had destroyed the Dragon God, the star had vanished along with it. All that remained of Caius was his rotting, melted upper body. ¡°...Caius.¡± Shhk. As Kaylen reached out his hand¡ª The six divine swords embedded in Caius¡¯ body flew out and planted themselves into the ground. At the same time, Kaylen extended his dark sword, enveloping Caius¡¯ body in the power of darkness. ¡°...Mmh.¡± Perhaps because his body had stabilized somewhat, Caius let out a faint, relieved sigh and closed his eyes. ¡®But this only eases his pain. Caius¡¯ death is inevitable.¡¯ It was only because Kaylen had subdued the Dragon God faster than expected that Caius had been ejected before being fully absorbed. From the moment the Dragon God used him as a sacrifice for his descent, Caius had already been doomed to vanish. ¡°...Father. I have a request.¡± ¡°...Speak.¡± Caius, understanding the full situation, spoke in a calm voice. ¡°Please, grant me rest yourself.¡± He was asking Kaylen to end his life. ¡°...I am sorry. Because you had the misfortune of being my son, your life has been filled with suffering.¡± Kaylen sighed. Born as the eldest son of Ernstine, Caius could have lived a glorious life as the second emperor of the Meier Empire. Yet, because he had fallen into corruption as the Dragon God, he had spent a thousand years as a half-undead. In the end, he had become nothing more than a vessel for summoning and was now facing his final moments. ¡°No, Father. You are nothing like the ¡®father¡¯ who turned me into this... This is not something you need to apologize for.¡± ¡°Thanks to you, when I lived as a human, my life was truly fulfilling.¡± ¡°...Now, I just wish to rest. Considering the lives I have taken with my own hands, perhaps even a peaceful rest is too much of a luxury...¡± ¡°But still, I humbly ask... Please, allow me to rest in peace.¡± Kaylen slowly nodded. A life that could never be restored. At the very least, he wanted to grant him a painless and peaceful death. ¡°...Rest now.¡± The holy sword emitted a pure white light, enveloping Caius¡¯s body. Normally, an undead should have writhed in agony when burned by sacred fire. Yet, his face remained tranquil. It was because Kaylen¡¯s dark sword had absorbed all of Caius¡¯s dark energy. ¡®You¡¯ve been through enough, Caius.¡¯ Fwoosh¡ª As Caius, engulfed in the white flames, crumbled to dust and vanished, Kaylen let out a deep sigh. No matter how much his essence was rooted in the Six Sword Path, the memories of living as an Ernstine were also a part of him. Watching his eldest son be used and discarded by the Dragon God left a lingering weight in his chest. ¡®...I¡¯ll make sure to avenge him. I will destroy the Dragon God completely.¡¯ Steeling his resolve, Kaylen shifted his gaze downward. ¡°This bastard...¡± Scattered fragments of the Dragon God lay strewn across the sigil of the Six Swords. Sizzle¡ª As his sword flashed, the remnants of the corpse smoldered into smoke and disappeared. At a glance, it seemed as if the remains had simply been incinerated by the aura, unable to withstand it. ¡®He¡¯s up to something.¡¯ Having fully attuned himself to the sigil of the Six Swords, Kaylen could see that the phenomenon before him wasn¡¯t as simple as it seemed. The Dragon God¡¯s fragments were merely pretending to be destroyed. In truth, they were attempting to siphon aura from the sigil. ¡®So he¡¯s still trying to fulfill his original objective.¡¯ There was a reason he had gone so far as to use Caius as a sacrifice to summon an incomplete form of himself. It was all for the sake of claiming the aura of the Six Swords. ¡®Infinity has limitless regenerative power, but to extend its limits, it needs this aura.¡¯ No matter how infinite Infinity¡¯s mana might be, there was always a cap on how much could be used at once. If the limit was 100, then at most, 100 mana could be spent in a single strike. Even if he used two or three attacks in succession to reach 200 or 300 total output, each individual attack was still bound to the limit of 100. ¡®That level of power is enough to overwhelm most enemies, but against the Celestial Demon...? Against the Dragon God, he¡¯d want to extend Infinity¡¯s limits by any means possible.¡¯ To do so, acquiring Infinity¡¯s aura¡ªthe one Ernstine had safeguarded deep within the Undersea Continent¡ªwas essential. That was why he had gone to such extremes, even sacrificing Caius. ¡®Now that I¡¯m aware of it, taking the aura is impossible for him...¡¯ Kaylen could clearly perceive the writhing fragments of the Dragon God within the sigil. They were subtle, persistent, and insidious. Yet, if he wished, eliminating them completely would be effortless. Even if, by some slim chance, they managed to escape his notice and attempted to flee with the aura, it was impossible. This place was entirely sealed off by the fusion of the Five Swords¡¯ Celestial Net and the Sword Realm. Escape was not an option. However¡ª ¡°Release.¡± Instead, Kaylen deactivated the barrier surrounding the sigil of the Six Swords. ¡°Your Majesty...!¡± ¡°A-Are you alright?¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Lightly tapping the shoulders of the knights who had rushed over, ¡°I¡¯ll oversee today¡¯s training.¡± He slowly began to walk away from the sigil of the Six Swords, as if he had found nothing. His composure was absolute. ¡°But Your Majesty, you should check your condition...¡± ¡°No need. This is nothing.¡± As Kaylen departed with the knights toward the training grounds, a cold smile formed on his lips. ¡®Take all you want, Dragon God.¡¯ A trap isn¡¯t something only you can set. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 207 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 207 Beneath the imperial palace of the Geysir Empire. In the place where the resurrection magic circle of the Dragon God was drawn, Kaina stood with her arms crossed. "Was the fake''s resistance stronger than expected?" She looked down at the magic circle with a dissatisfied expression. Considering that Caius had been sacrificed, the amount of Aura from the Six Swords absorbed into the magic circle was not as satisfying as she had hoped. ¡®With this much, even if the Dragon God was incomplete, he still lost...¡¯ No matter how worthless the sacrifice, Caius, was, and no matter how incomplete the Dragon God had been, he was still a Dragon God. She had expected him to easily suppress Kaylen. If not kill him, then at least seize enough of the Six Swords'' Aura before being forcibly summoned back. ¡®Was the fake always this strong?¡¯ Kaina bit her lip slightly as she recalled Kaylen¡¯s face, identical to Ernstine¡¯s. If he was a fake, he should have been subdued quietly. His unnecessary resistance irritated her. ¡®Still, it¡¯s not a loss.¡¯ When examined closely, it was more beneficial to use Caius to steal the Six Swords¡¯ Aura rather than directly sacrificing him to the Dragon God''s resurrection magic circle. The only issue was that the amount of Aura stolen was less than expected. "The body that will serve as the Dragon God''s vessel... Melvria should suffice." With a blissful expression, Kaina caressed the magic circle that filled the underground cavern. ¡®Compared to Caius, Melvria, who possesses a living body, is a far better fit for the Dragon God.¡¯ Even without a sacrifice, there was no issue in resurrecting the Dragon God. However, for a perfect resurrection, it was preferable to sacrifice someone from the Meier bloodline who carried Infinity. "I need to bring her here." Once Melvria was secured, the Dragon God''s resurrection would enter its final stage. At that point, her duty would finally come to an end. And then... ¡®I will offer myself to the Dragon God and become his flame.¡¯ For one born as a dwarf, there was no greater honor than to become the Dragon God¡¯s fire. Kaina¡¯s eyes gleamed wickedly in anticipation of that moment. Beyond her sight. From the resurrection magic circle, where Aura had supposedly been absorbed, a faint light flickered for a brief moment before vanishing. Kaylen slowly opened his closed eyes. "They''re after Melvria." When the Dragon God''s remnants absorbed the Aura of the Six Swords. Kaylen could have stopped it but chose to let it happen. ¡®I had planned to hide my sword within the Dragon God... and I immediately gained useful information.¡¯ It was a method impossible for anyone bound to a human body alone. But by fully embracing himself as the Six Swords, Kaylen could wield Aura in a far more versatile manner. Not only could he use it as his eyes and ears. He could also infiltrate the resurrection magic circle, pretending to merge with it while tearing it apart from the inside. ¡®There''s not much time left until the Dragon God''s resurrection.¡¯ And most importantly, through the Aura within the magic circle, he confirmed that the Dragon God''s revival was imminent. ¡®No, in truth, the resurrection could happen at any time. It''s only lying dormant inside the magic circle to gather a little more Infinity.¡¯ That was why it was pointless to storm into the Geysir Imperial Palace immediately to stop the Dragon God''s resurrection. ¡®I have no reason to fight until I complete the sword that will slay the Dragon God.¡¯ Not long ago, as he cut down the incomplete Dragon God, the shape of a new Six Sword was beginning to take form. Now, if he could cut down Infinity just one more time, it seemed the sword would be complete. ¡®I¡¯ll have to destroy Melvria¡¯s Hexblade.¡¯ Kaina had yet to locate Melvria, who was in the Spirit Realm. However, if she made a concerted effort to pinpoint Melvria¡¯s location, she would likely be able to track her through the Hexblade. To complete his sword, Kaylen resolved to destroy the star of the Hexblade that Melvria possessed. ¡®That means I¡¯ll have to go to the Spirit Realm.¡¯ Kaylen sought out Johannes at Myorn¡¯s workshop. With the crafting of the Divine Water Sword nearing completion, Johannes was too busy to even catch his breath, but he brightened at Kaylen¡¯s visit. ¡°Phew. I guess I can take a breather now.¡± ¡°Is the Divine Sword almost finished?¡± ¡°Yeah. By the time you return from the Spirit Realm, it should be done.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fast.¡± ¡°Violet has been a great help since her awakening. We¡¯re now in the final stages.¡± Johannes then cautiously asked, ¡°By the way, those six broken swords you brought... are you really planning to repair them?¡± ¡°Yes. They¡¯re still Divine Swords in their own right. I¡¯ll use whatever I can.¡± ¡°But Kaina used those swords to summon the Dragon God. Can you really use them after repairing them?¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Kaylen answered Johannes¡¯ concern with a slight smile. ¡°As long as they¡¯re swords, I can find a way to use them.¡± ¡°Hmm... I see. Then once I finish the Divine Water Sword, I¡¯ll work on repairing those swords next.¡± ¡°Sounds good.¡± ¡°And about getting to the Spirit Realm... The Fairy Tower has an active magic circle leading there. Should I open a warp gate for you?¡± ¡°I¡¯d appreciate that.¡± Through the warp gate that Johannes opened, Kaylen arrived at the Fairy Tower. ¡°Your Majesty...¡± ¡°I have business in the Spirit Realm.¡± ¡°Ah, understood. I will guide you.¡± Following the guidance of the tower elf, Kaylen descended underground and entered the Spirit Realm. ¡®The darkness has receded quite a bit.¡¯ The Spirit Realm, once shrouded in pitch-black darkness except for a small central area due to the Spirit of Darkness, had brightened significantly thanks to Melvria¡¯s efforts. ¡®Come to think of it, this, too, is just another form of Infinity, only with a different color.¡¯ Kaylen¡¯s eyes gleamed as he gazed at the four massive stars floating in the heart of the Spirit Realm. ¡®They¡¯re far stronger than those of the incomplete Dragon God.¡¯ Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth. The Infinity representing the four elemental attributes contained an immeasurable amount of mana. He hadn¡¯t realized its magnitude when he first saw it. But after researching Infinity and practicing cutting it, its vastness finally became clear to him. ¡°Your Majesty, you have arrived.¡± Kaylen nodded as he looked at Eldir, who had come to greet him. ¡°Yes. Eldir, where is Melvria?¡± ¡°She is in the north, clearing out the Dark Spirits.¡± ¡°Lead the way.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± As he followed Eldir¡¯s guidance, Kaylen observed the Spirit Realm, now free from darkness. Aside from them, several elves were gathered in small groups. ¡°What are they doing?¡± ¡°Ah... They are attempting to undergo Spirit Transformation so they can settle in the Spirit Realm, but...¡± Eldir trailed off at the end of his sentence. Among the elves visible, not a single one had successfully undergone Spirit Transformation. ¡°The results... are as you can see.¡± ¡°I see. Do you truly believe the elves can settle here?¡± ¡°...I have my doubts. Unless we undergo Spirit Transformation, we still need food to sustain our bodies. But here, there is nothing.¡± Though elves possess partial spirit attributes, as long as they have physical bodies in the Material Realm, they require nourishment to survive. If their Spirit Transformation continued to fail, settling here would ultimately be impossible. ¡°In that case, there was no real need to clear away the darkness.¡± ¡°That is...¡± ¡°Ah! Father!¡± Before Eldir could answer, Melvria spotted Kaylen from afar and ran toward him. ¡°What brings you all the way here?¡± She smiled as she gazed at Kaylen, happy to see her father after so long. Seeing her like that, Kaylen was suddenly reminded of the late Caius. ¡®Haa...¡¯ Kaylen closed his eyes for a moment, then spoke to her directly. ¡°Kaina is after you.¡± ¡°...What?¡± ¡°Caius came to see me.¡± Kaylen told Melvria about what had happened recently. That Caius had become the medium for summoning the incomplete Dragon God, and now that he was gone, Kaina¡¯s next target was Melvria. ¡°That can¡¯t be...¡± As Melvria listened with a hardened expression, Kaylen spoke in a calm, heavy tone. ¡°Last time, Kaina couldn¡¯t track you because you were in the Spirit Realm. But as long as you possess Infinity of the Hexblade, they will find a way to locate you.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why today, I will destroy it.¡± ¡°The star of the Hexblade... Can it really be destroyed?¡± ¡°Yes. I couldn¡¯t before, but now, I can.¡± At Kaylen¡¯s firm declaration, Melvria looked down at her own body. The Hexblade that had corrupted her into a Dark Elf. If destroying it meant she could return to her former self, she would welcome it without hesitation... ¡°H-However... then what about the Dark Spirits...?¡± As Melvria hesitated, looking at the darkness spread across the Spirit Realm, Eldir, who had turned pale, urgently shouted beside her. ¡°Lia! Don¡¯t worry about that! Your body comes first!¡± ¡°Eldir... But settling in the Spirit Realm has always been the elves¡¯ long-cherished wish...¡± ¡°We can¡¯t settle here anyway. You know that, don¡¯t you? Not a single elf has succeeded in Spirit Transformation so far. How can we talk about settling?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take care of the Dark Spirits. You don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± ¡°Father will...?¡± ¡°Yes. I can absorb them with the Dark Sword.¡± ....... ¡°I could have done this from the beginning, but I didn¡¯t because I wanted you to integrate with the elves. But now, it should be fine, right?¡± ¡°Yes! It¡¯s fine!¡± For Melvria, who had become a Dark Elf, making contributions was necessary to reintegrate into the elven race. Clearing out the Dark Spirits was an important task for the elves trying to settle in the Spirit Realm. At first, the elves had been wary of Melvria after her transformation into a Dark Elf, but as they watched her tirelessly eliminate Dark Spirits day and night, their wariness gradually faded. ¡°Can the Dark Spirits really disappear with the Dark Sword?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll show you myself.¡± Kaylen drew the Dark Sword. Ssss¡ª In an instant, the dark blade expanded and stretched toward the gathering of spirits. ¡°The spirits... they¡¯re being sucked into the sword.¡± Shuuuu¡ª A vortex formed along the blade¡¯s surface. Then, the Dark Sword began absorbing all the Dark Spirits that had covered the Spirit Realm. The suction grew stronger. ¡°W-Wait, even the spirits in the opposite direction...¡± It wasn¡¯t just the area where the blade extended¡ª Dark Spirits from every direction, east, west, south, and north, all began to converge toward Kaylen¡¯s Dark Sword. ¡®His Majesty... has grown even stronger since I last saw him...¡¯ Eldir swallowed hard as he observed the Dark Sword. Kaylen had already been a warrior on another level before. But now, he had ascended even higher. At this level, wasn¡¯t further growth supposed to be impossible? Eldir, overwhelmed by Kaylen¡¯s display of power, couldn¡¯t even feel a sense of defeat¡ª He could only watch in awe as the Dark Spirits vanished. ¡°...Oh.¡± And as the darkness was rapidly swept away¡ª Something hidden within it came into view. A massive, crimson portal. It was a shape Eldir was all too familiar with. ¡°A dungeon portal...¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 208 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 208 Dungeon Portal. The very thing that had plunged the Human Realm into chaos had ceased to appear after the death of the Holy Emperor Benedict. Given the circumstances, it was likely that the Holy Emperor had been managing the dungeon portals as a proxy for the Celestial Demon. A dungeon portal that no longer appears in the Middle Realm exists here in the Spirit Realm... With a glint in his eyes, Kaylen approached the portal. ¡°Why is there a dungeon portal in the Spirit Realm...? And it¡¯s much larger than usual.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± At Eldir¡¯s remark, Kaylen nodded. The dungeon portal, hidden within the Dark Spirits, was significantly larger than a typical dungeon portal. It was nearly the same height as the royal castle that Kaylen had once split in half. Dark mana is leaking from the portal. Twitch. Twitch. At that moment¡ª The faintly escaping dark mana gradually gathered, forming a distinct shape. ¡°This is...¡± ¡°A Dark Spirit?¡± The very Dark Spirits that had engulfed the Spirit Realm had been created from the portal¡¯s dark mana. Kaylen¡¯s eyes shone with curiosity. This isn¡¯t an ordinary dungeon portal. What lay beyond it that could generate Dark Spirits? As he absorbed the Dark Spirits into the Dark Sword, Kaylen decided to examine the portal¡¯s interior. But first, I need to take care of something else. ¡°Lia.¡± ¡°Yes, Father.¡± ¡°Manifest the Six Demon Blades.¡± ¡°Here?¡± ¡°Yes. We don¡¯t know what¡¯s inside that portal, so you need to destroy your Six Demon Blades first.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± At his words, Melvria hesitated, her face a mix of anticipation and concern. Then, just like Kaylen¡¯s Six Swords, the stars of the Six Demon Blades appeared behind her. From them, an endless cycle of mana could be felt. However, compared to the incomplete Dragon God, the mana capacity was far lower. If she deployed the Sword Realm like when she was the Dragon God, restricting the world''s connection and dismantling Infinity, she could achieve the same result. This time, I should try a new sword technique. But instead of following the predetermined path, Kaylen chose a new approach. ¡ª Blocking off the path... Such a reckless method... If I were in my complete form, this measly barrier would have been shattered. Just as the incomplete Dragon God had said, there were limits to deploying the Sword Realm. Severing the world from its enemies was easier said than done. The stronger the Infinity, the more difficult it was to hold back¡ªlike a dam breaking under the weight of rising water. The flow of mana from the outside could not be completely blocked. Severing the world''s connection and cutting down Infinity¡ªboth must be embedded into the sword at the same time. That meant he had to simultaneously wield the two sword techniques that belonged to the Great Sword of the Six Sword Path. This was a method that would have been unthinkable in the past. But now, for Kaylen¡ªwho was no longer bound by the limitations of a human body¡ªthe path was clear. ¡°The flow of mana will be disrupted for a moment. Close your eyes and remain calm.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± As Melvria closed her eyes, Kaylen drew the Holy Sword Astella from the Six Swords. Then, as the Six Sword Path manifested, the divine swords of various attributes that Kaylen wielded gathered around the Holy Sword. Both those granted by the Celestial Demon and the ones he originally possessed. The six divine swords, each imbued with a different attribute, radiated their respective auras. ¡°I¡¯m going.¡± The six divine swords merged into the Holy Sword. Despite their differing attributes, the swords fused seamlessly as if they had always been one. The aura vanished. Even the light from the Holy Sword gradually faded. The once-radiant Holy Sword of pure light transformed into a dull iron sword. When the brilliant sword of light suddenly turned into an ordinary-looking iron sword, Melvria briefly worried that something had gone wrong. ¡°...Ah.¡± Eldir, however, let out a gasp of admiration. As a Sword Master, he could instinctively perceive that the simple iron sword Kaylen had created had reached an unfathomable level. That is... the pinnacle of the sword. Though its form appeared to be nothing more than an iron sword, the power within it was strong enough to overturn the entire world. Then, as the tip of the sword wavered slightly¡ª Crackle¡ª ¡°Huh...?¡± One of the stars floating behind Melvria¡ª Shattered into countless fragments and disappeared. A sword strike beyond anyone¡¯s perception. Even Eldir, with his keen eyes, could only catch the brief moment when the sword¡¯s tip wavered. ¡°...Hmph.¡± Even after completely destroying one Infinity, Kaylen looked at his sword with dissatisfaction. The final step remains incomplete. Srrrk¡ª Kaylen¡¯s iron sword reverted to its original form. ¡°It... It broke!¡± ¡°It¡¯s still not enough.¡± Kaylen was not satisfied with his own achievement. Embedding two of the Six Swords into a single blade is no easy feat. A sword that surpasses the Six Sword Path. The sword that Kaylen sought to wield against the Dragon God was one that transcended all known realms. No matter how many breakthroughs he had recently achieved¡ª Going beyond the realm of a Grand Sword Master was no easy feat. And there was one more problem. ¡°Father, what about the remaining Infinity...?¡± ¡°Lia. If you destroy the rest of your Infinity, I cannot guarantee your survival.¡± At Kaylen¡¯s words, Eldir was startled. ¡°W-What do you mean by that?¡± ¡°Eldir. What is the lifespan of a half-elf?¡± ¡°Well... I believe it does not exceed 300 years.¡± 300 years. Compared to a human¡¯s lifespan, it was certainly a long time. But in contrast to elves, who lived for over a thousand years, it was relatively short. ¡°That¡¯s right. Half-elves, having human blood, have a shorter lifespan than elves. But Melvria is different. The reason lies in her Infinity.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± ¡°Infinity is the limitless mana that forms the foundation of the Meier bloodline. Because of it, Melvria has remained healthy until now. But if she destroys the remaining Infinity... I cannot guarantee what will happen to her lifespan.¡± For a half-elf to live for over a thousand years was an extremely rare phenomenon. In fact, aside from Melvria, there were no other known cases. I had hoped that by completing this sword, even such limitations could be overcome... He wanted to extract only the Infinity¡ª And forge a sword that minimized the backlash. But since Kaylen had yet to complete his new sword, fulfilling such additional conditions was impossible for now. ¡°Lord Kaylen. Then, shouldn¡¯t at least one be left intact?¡± Eldir, who usually addressed Kaylen as His Majesty the Emperor, now, for once, called him Father-in-law. After everything it took to reunite...! Even though Melvria was now a dark elf, wielding the mana of darkness¡ª For centuries, he had remained in despair, waiting for her. She had finally returned to his side. He could not bear the thought of watching her die now. However¡ª ¡°...Father.¡± Unlike Eldir¡¯s desperate plea¡ª Melvria was calm. ¡°Please cut down my Infinity.¡± ¡°Lia! What are you saying?!¡± Eldir shouted as if he couldn¡¯t believe what he was hearing. ¡°If Father hesitates, and I end up becoming the Dragon God¡¯s vessel... I will die filled with regret.¡± Melvria¡¯s eyes already held firm resolve. Rather than becoming a burden to her father, she would rather be cut down. Kaylen saw that determination in his daughter¡¯s eyes¡ª And rather than faltering, his resolve only grew stronger. ¡°No. I will not cut it down yet.¡± ¡°But...!¡± ¡°If I cannot even handle your Infinity, then defeat against the Dragon God is inevitable.¡± If he couldn¡¯t even resolve Melvria¡¯s Infinity, how could he possibly win against the Dragon God? Of course, he cared for his daughter¡ª But Kaylen assessed the situation with cold logic. ¡°Instead, until everything is over, you must stay by my side. If Kaina tries anything reckless, you will have to stop her.¡± ¡°Yes, I will.¡± "I-I will go with you as well!" As Kaylen looked at the calmly accepting Melvria and the eager Eldir, he spoke evenly. "Then, let¡¯s go in together." "Yes, Father." "Through that portal...?" Eldir swallowed hard as he looked at the massive dungeon portal before him. "Eldir. Are you afraid?" "N-No! I will follow!" At the mere question from his father-in-law, he had no choice but to obey immediately. "Then, let''s go in." * * * Beyond the dungeon portal¡ªthere was nothing but complete darkness. Only the faint glow from Kaylen¡¯s Lightblade allowed them to see anything at all. This space was entirely consumed by darkness. [Who goes there?] And from within that darkness¡ª A sharp voice reached their ears. That voice... For some reason, Kaylen found it familiar. [Are you a hero?] Hearing the voice refer to him as a hero, Kaylen was able to identify its owner. "You are the Overseer of the Demon Realm Observatory, aren¡¯t you?" [I resigned from that position long ago.] Sssss... With those words¡ª Something enormous emerged from the darkness. "That is..." "A snake...?" Completely merged with the shadows, even the Holy Sword¡¯s light had failed to reveal Ederna. But upon recognizing Kaylen as the visitor, she lifted her concealment. [I did not expect to see you here.] "Neither did I, Overseer." [Do not call me that. That title, bestowed upon me by the Celestial Demon, means nothing to me now.] "Then what should I call you?" In the darkness, the massive serpent writhed. Her two eyes glowed red. [I am Ederna, daughter of the Crimson Flame Demon King.] "Ederna... Is that how I should address you?" [Yes.] At the mention of the Celestial Demon, flames flickered along the serpent¡¯s body. It seemed they had severed ties. Was it because of me? When Kaylen had requested the Celestial Demon to forge the Divine Sword¡ª He had done so through her. So things fell apart after she revealed the truth. "What happened?" The serpent''s eyes sharpened as she glared at Kaylen. [Because of you, I learned a truth I never wanted to know... and I was nearly devoured by the Celestial Demon.] "Is that so? My apologies. Still, you managed to escape just fine." [...] At Kaylen''s half-hearted apology, Ederna glared at him as if she wanted to kill him. Then, she closed her eyes. Looking at him any longer would only make her angrier. [How did you end up here?] "I came through a dungeon portal in the Spirit Realm." As he explained how he had discovered a massive dungeon portal while eliminating the Spirits of Darkness, Ederna opened her eyes again. [A dungeon portal...? There is no such thing here.] "Is that so? But we clearly passed through a portal¡ª" [Look behind you.] Kaylen turned around. Where the massive dungeon portal had once been¡ª There was now only a colossal vortex, slowly swirling in pitch-black darkness. "What... is this?" [This is the Source of the Demon Realm, where Demon Kings are born.] As she gazed at the swirling darkness, Ederna spoke in a reverent voice. [It is the Abyss Gate.] [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 209 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 209 ¡°The Moon Abyss...¡± Kaylen gazed at the massive vortex¡ªthe Moon Abyss. So that is the source of the Demon Realm... the place where the Demon King is born. ¡°Wasn''t the Demon King supposed to be the strongest among demons who ascends to the throne?¡± [That¡¯s correct. Only the strongest demon can sit on the throne in the Demon King''s Castle, regardless of bloodline.] To reach the pinnacle of the Demon Realm and become the Demon King, only one thing needed to be proven¡ª That one was the strongest among all demons. [However, the one who sits on the Demon King''s throne must undergo the ritual to truly become the Demon King.] ¡°This space is where that ritual takes place?¡± [Yes. The next Demon King must enter the Moon Abyss and become the true Demon King.] ¡°Hm... Then, did the Celestial Demon come here as well?¡± Ederna nodded. [He must have. After all, he devoured all the past Demon Kings.] ¡°He devoured all the past Demon Kings?¡± [Inside the Celestial Demon, all the previous Demon Kings have been absorbed, providing him with dark mana. My father, the Flame Demon King, was also within him.] ¡°But the Flame Demon King was definitely dead, wasn¡¯t he?¡± [At least, to you.] So, they already knew he was Ernstine. Kaylen shrugged his shoulders. Ederna glared at him for a moment before continuing. [When a Demon King dies, they return to the Abyss. This is true even if they are defeated by a Hero.] ¡°I see.¡± [The Demon Kings who belong to the Moon Abyss pass on their dark mana to the next Demon King candidate. They become part of the Abyss, supplying mana to the Demon Realm, existing eternally...] Kaylen looked at the Moon Abyss. If one entered, they would awaken as the true Demon King. But if they died, they would return and become part of the vortex. ¡®Even in death, they become nourishment for the Demon Realm.¡¯ From a Demon King¡¯s perspective, wasn¡¯t this the same as serving the Demon Realm even after death? Yet, Ederna spoke as if this was some kind of honor. ¡®Anyway.¡¯ Watching the slow rotation of the Moon Abyss, Kaylen suddenly asked Ederna, ¡°By the way, why is it called the Moon Abyss?¡± [What do you mean?] ¡°I mean, why is it named after the moon?¡± [Ah, I don¡¯t know the exact reason.] ¡°You don¡¯t?¡± [I only heard the name from my father. I can only guess that it¡¯s because the moon symbolizes dark mana.] Ederna spoke indifferently, as if it was unimportant. But Kaylen couldn¡¯t shake the thought of the abyss being named after the moon. ¡®When I arrived in this world a thousand years into the future, the thing that shocked me the most was the red moon.¡¯ Even after the dungeon portals disappeared and mana flowed more freely across the land... When the red moon shone, mana was once again absorbed. Since the death of the Holy Emperor Benedict, dungeon portals have not appeared, yet the red moon still asserted its presence. ¡°The red moon¡ªdoes it have no connection to the Demon Realm?¡± [The red moon... When I was the Observatory Chief, I once used its power to observe the Middle World. But that was merely by borrowing the Demon King¡¯s power. The moon, fundamentally, falls under the Celestial Demon¡¯s domain. I do not know.] ¡°Hm... There must be some connection to the Demon Realm.¡± [Why do you think that?] ¡°When the Celestial Demon was still a Celestial God, he did not absorb mana through the moon. He only gained that ability after becoming the Demon King.¡± [...That is true.] If he had been able to absorb the mana of the Middle World so freely, he would have done so when he was still a Celestial God. Since that was impossible back then, he must have started absorbing mana through the red moon only after becoming the White Demon King. Kaylen looked at the massive serpent nodding in agreement. ¡®This guy doesn¡¯t know much.¡¯ Especially regarding the Moon Abyss¡ªhe seemed to possess only basic knowledge. Why was the vortex connected to the Spirit Realm? Why were spirits of darkness forming? What exactly had the Celestial Demon done inside the Moon Abyss? He knew none of these things. ¡®Maybe I should just go in myself.¡¯ Back when he was a Hero, the thought of entering the Moon Abyss¡ªthe place where one became a true Demon King¡ªwould never have crossed his mind. ¡®But this is a world where even a Celestial God has turned into the Celestial Demon.¡¯ Who said a Hero couldn¡¯t become a Demon King? Besides, in order to return to the Spirit Realm, he needed to understand the true nature of the vortex that served as the passage. ¡°Wait here for a moment. I¡¯m going in.¡± ¡°Y-You¡¯re going in there?!¡± ¡°Yes.¡± [Hero! What are you scheming?!] ¡°We came from there. I need to confirm if that vortex is connected to the Spirit Realm. And if that thing is the passage to the Moon Abyss, then I need to see with my own eyes what the Celestial Demon did inside.¡± [Hmph...! Hero, you lack the qualifications.] Ederna scoffed. [Only by sitting on the Demon King¡¯s throne and receiving its recognition can one earn the chance to enter the Abyss. A Hero like you can never enter. If anything, you should be more worried about being torn apart.] ¡°What happens if I receive the throne¡¯s recognition?¡± [All impurities mixed within the dark mana will be refined into pure dark mana. Only then can one enter the Moon Abyss.] ¡°Hm. That¡¯s all?¡± Possessing pure dark mana¡ª That was a trivial matter. Kaylen summoned his six swords, then absorbed his shadow sword into his body. Dark mana quickly engulfed him. [What nonsense... is... this...] Ederna, who had been mocking Kaylen, trailed off mid-sentence. ¡®T-This dark mana... It¡¯s purer than my father¡¯s... No, how can a Hero wield dark mana so effortlessly?!¡¯ Ederna felt an unjust sense of frustration. But for Kaylen, who was preparing to battle the gods, something like this was as easy as eating a meal. ¡®H-Hah, but the Moon Abyss won¡¯t accept him. He¡¯s human!¡¯ No matter how pure his dark mana was, the Moon Abyss would surely reject a human. Ederna, holding onto the pride of demonkind, hoped the Moon Abyss would deny him entry. ¡°Well then, I¡¯ll be back soon.¡± ¡°Yes. Safe travels, Father.¡± As Kaylen stood before the Moon Abyss¡ª Srrrhh¡ª The vortex spread wide, welcoming him. ¡°It seems to be greeting me.¡± [How... How could the Moon Abyss accept a Hero...?] ¡°Ederna, take care of the others for me.¡± [Urk.] The moment Kaylen disappeared into the vortex, Ederna instinctively moved toward the Moon Abyss. [I-I¡¯m going in too!] If it allowed a Hero¡ª Then surely it had to accept the Demon King¡¯s daughter as well! The Moon Abyss had remained sealed until now. But now that the entrance was open, she had to follow after him somehow. However¡ª Thud. The moment Ederna tried to step inside, the vortex hardened like a wall, blocking her path. Facing the cold reality, Ederna lowered her head. ¡°Are you alright?¡± [...Don¡¯t pity me. Just leave me alone.] The interior of the Moon Abyss resembled a cave. ¡®It¡¯s not as strange as I expected.¡¯ They called it the place where a true Demon King was born. But aside from the blackened ground and cave walls, there was nothing unusual inside. ¡®I should go deeper.¡¯ Step. Step. Kaylen walked further into the pitch-dark cave. The deeper he went, the weaker the light of the Holy Sword became. ¡ªMaster, this space... It suppresses light. ¡°I see. Because of the dark mana.¡± The deeper he ventured, the denser the dark mana became. ¡®To the point where it even nullifies the Holy Sword¡¯s light... This is truly pure dark mana.¡¯ Only now did this place feel special. ¡°Don¡¯t force yourself to resist the dark mana. I can walk without light.¡± ¡ªUnderstood, Master. At Kaylen¡¯s words, the Holy Sword¡¯s light faded even faster. Soon, all light had disappeared¡ª And Kaylen continued walking, enveloped in complete darkness. How long had he been walking? Thud. ¡°The end of the cave.¡± Though he couldn¡¯t see it, he could feel something blocking his path. With just a brief touch, Kaylen sensed the overwhelming amount of dark mana embedded within this ¡®wall.¡¯ ¡®This is on another level.¡¯ The Four Attribute Infinity that existed in the Spirit Realm¡ª Even though it contained the refined mana of each attribute¡ª It couldn¡¯t compare to this wall. If the former Demon King of Crimson Flames had possessed dark mana of this magnitude, then no matter how great Ernstine was as a Grand Sword Master, he wouldn¡¯t have been able to withstand it and would have been defeated. ¡®A power comparable to this... Only a godlike being could match it.¡¯ Perhaps only the Celestial Demon or the Dragon God could stand on equal footing with it. Until now, Kaylen had continued walking deeper into the abyss, unhindered by the mana of darkness. But if this cave had intended to consume him, he might have been swallowed instantly. ¡®The world is truly vast.¡¯ That was the thought that crossed his mind as he faced the wall of darkness. He had always believed that the Demon Realm was nothing more than a land conquered by the Celestial Demon, reduced to his puppet state. Yet, to think such dark mana had been lying dormant within the Moon Abyss. ¡®This must be something even the Celestial Demon couldn¡¯t absorb.¡¯ The Celestial Demon had entered the Moon Abyss and devoured all the dormant Demon Kings within. Yet, even he had failed to consume this wall of darkness. It made sense¡ªhad he absorbed it, he would have lost the ability to wield both light and darkness simultaneously. That would have shaken the very foundation of his existence. ¡®If I were to obtain this dark mana, I would have the power to stand against the two Absolute Gods.¡¯ Would that mean a former Hero becoming a Demon God? Kaylen let out a bitter smile as he placed a hand on the wall of darkness. ¡®In a world like this... I have no reason to reject becoming a Demon God.¡¯ If he absorbed this immense darkness¡ª Could he even maintain his sense of self? ¡®I¡¯m not so sure.¡¯ Just like Ernstine, who lost himself to the Six Sword Path and became the Dragon God. If he absorbed the wall of darkness, Kaylen had the feeling that he, too, would lose his reason. ¡®I should give this up cleanly.¡¯ The two gods¡ªhe would face them with his sword alone. Just as Kaylen made his decision and turned his back on the wall of darkness¡ª Rumble¡ª The ground beneath him trembled for a moment. ¡ªSo, you have returned after all, having abandoned your resolve. At the same time¡ª A benevolent voice echoed from the wall of darkness. It wasn¡¯t spoken in human language, yet its meaning was perfectly understood¡ªa voice of an absolute being. Kaylen instinctively summoned his six swords in response. The voice shifted to a tone of surprise. ¡ªYou... You are not him. And you are not of the Lunar Clan either. ¡°If you mean ¡®him,¡¯ are you referring to the Celestial Demon?¡± ¡ªThe Celestial Demon... So, he still clings to his futile dreams. The wall of darkness slowly dissolved¡ª And like a door, an empty space formed. ¡ªUninvited guest, I extend to you a formal invitation. ¡°......¡± ¡ªEnter. Beyond the wall of darkness, an invitation from an enigmatic absolute being. Yet, there was no sign of hostility in its voice. ¡°Alright.¡± Kaylen slowly stepped forward into the unknown. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 210 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 210 Beyond the Wall of Darkness. There, on the desolate wasteland, a solitary black rock stood. The being who had called out to Kaylen was nowhere to be seen. ¡ªCome this way. As the voice echoed once more, Kaylen was able to pinpoint its source. ¡®That rock?¡¯ A towering, dark rock, roughly the size of a person. As the voice emanated from it, waves of dark mana rippled outward. The sheer volume of it was immense¡ªenough that Kaylen¡¯s Shadow Blade swelled in response. Had he not made recent progress, the sheer force of that dark mana would have immediately disrupted the balance of his Six Sword Path. Carefully adjusting the mana in his Shadow Blade, Kaylen slowly approached. ¡ªWelcome. It is quite enjoyable to have visitors coming to this abyss in succession. ¡°You say ¡®in succession.¡¯ Does that mean the Celestial Demon was here as well?¡± ¡ªCelestial Demon... So that is what he calls himself now? ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± ¡ªHow arrogant. Rumble. The rock cracked apart. From within, a small black figure began to stride forward. A stone doll, made of the same material as the rock itself. With each step it took, dark mana scattered in all directions. Judging by that power alone, the title of ¡®Demon God¡¯ seemed more fitting for this being than the Celestial Demon. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡ªI am the Will of Teia. ¡°Teia?¡± Kaylen had half-expected the being to call itself a Demon God, but instead, it offered an unfamiliar name. ¡ªHeh. Of course, you wouldn¡¯t know Teia. Then, you may think of me as the Earth God. ¡°The Earth God...?¡± A stone doll, overflowing with dark mana, referring to itself as the Earth God? At that moment, Kaylen suddenly recalled something Violet had mentioned¡ªthe Water God. ¡®I thought the only gods were the Celestial Gods... At this rate, is there going to be a Fire God or a Wind God too?¡¯ If the Celestial Demon represented two elements, that only left fire and wind unaccounted for. Finding the constant emergence of supreme beings rather troublesome, Kaylen questioned the Earth God. ¡°The Earth God... then, do you know of the Water God?¡± The stone doll nodded. ¡ªThe Water God... You refer to Terra¡¯s Will, yes? Of course, I know them well. ¡°Terra¡¯s Will?¡± ¡ªIt seems you lack even the most basic knowledge of Teia and Terra. Whoosh. As the stone doll raised both hands, two spheres formed above them. ¡ªIn the beginning, there were two planets. On the left was Terra. On the right was Teia. At a glance, the difference in their sizes was evident. Terra was nearly twice as large as Teia. ¡ªAnd then, Teia collided with Terra. As the stone doll moved its hands, Teia shot toward Terra. The moment Teia crashed into Terra, the immense heat caused both spheres to soften and melt. ¡ªWhen the two planets collided, a massive transformation occurred. The nearly liquefied spheres merged into one, forming a single planet. A small portion of their mass was ejected into space. ¡ªThe two became one, and the material that was cast off gathered together to form the Moon. ¡°...Are you saying that this is...?¡± ¡ªYes. This is the story of this planet¡¯s origin. The Earth God spoke as if it were a trivial matter, but Kaylen felt as if he had just heard something utterly absurd. Two planets collided to form this world? And what remained became the Moon? ¡ªOnce the planet was created, the Water God and I spent countless years in conflict, vying to become the will of this new world. The merged planet in the stone doll¡¯s hands split once again into Terra and Teia. ¡ªAs you can see from the size difference, my power was lacking compared to Terra¡¯s. ¡°......¡± ¡ªHowever, since traces of Teia still existed within this planet, Terra¡¯s will was unable to fully dominate it. So, we found a compromise. ¡°A compromise... Is that why you became the Water God and the Earth God?¡± ¡ªYes. I relinquished control to the Water God and settled as the Earth God, dwelling within the planet¡¯s depths. If the Water God ruled over the surface of the planet, governing all, then the Earth God resided deep within, maintaining its core. ¡°I see... Then, in the end, Abyssal Gate was the abyss where the Earth God resided?¡± [You called this place Abyssal Gate? It must have been the Moon¡¯s kin who named it so.] ¡°The Moon¡¯s kin...?¡± [The race that carries this mana. Have you not seen them?] Kaylen glanced at the Earth God, who was brimming with dark mana, and nodded. ¡°You mean the Demonkin.¡± [That¡¯s right. Unlike this planet, the Moon is primarily made up of material from Teia. That is why the Demonkin came to this abyss to follow me. However...] The Earth God spoke with clear dissatisfaction. [The Demonkin who drifted to this planet were far too weak. They never reached the depths of the abyss.] ¡°You mean the Demon Kings?¡± [Kings? Those weaklings?] ¡°...They were considered kings in the Demon Realm.¡± Kaylen recalled the time he had walked through the cavern. The dark mana had been dense, but it had still been manageable. It seemed that the Demon Kings had been unable to advance beyond a certain point. [They were so pathetically weak that I didn¡¯t even realize they were supposed to be kings. I simply assumed they were asking me to strengthen the frail ones among their kin, so I purified some of their dark mana accordingly.] The strongest of the Demonkin, chosen to sit upon the Demon King''s throne¡ª Yet to the Earth God, they were nothing more than feeble remnants of the Moon¡¯s kin, in need of nurturing. [However, the one who calls himself the Celestial Demon God... he was worthy of being called a king.] ¡°Their kin...? But he was originally a Celestial God.¡± [He was originally a god? And a god of the heavens, no less?] ¡°You don¡¯t know about the Celestial God?¡± [I¡¯ve remained in the abyss all this time.] At the Earth God¡¯s question, Kaylen answered with what he knew. ¡°He was a god who came from beyond this world.¡± When the Celestial Realm and the Demon Realm continents crashed down, the Celestial God arrived on this planet. He engaged in a fierce struggle for dominance against the Water God, and in the end¡ª When the Water God was finally defeated, he transformed into the Dragon God in a desperate attempt to eliminate him. Upon hearing this, the Earth God let out a scoffing laugh. [A god of the heavens...? Him? Hah. Ridiculous.] ¡°Then what is he?¡± [......] The Earth God did not answer Kaylen¡¯s question. Instead¡ª Srrrkk¡ª He silently reopened the wall of darkness. [I will refrain from interfering in this matter. Just as I always have. I will remain in the abyss.] ¡°...So you¡¯re telling me to leave.¡± [Hah. Maintaining neutrality would be in your best interest as well. If I were to intervene in this, I would undoubtedly take the Celestial Demon God''s side.] At those words, a chill ran down Kaylen¡¯s spine. If the Earth God were to side with the Celestial Demon God, then the battle was already lost. [However... Since you came all this way and told me about the Celestial God, I¡¯ll give you something in return.] ¡°What is it?¡± [The reason the Celestial Demon God came here.] ¡°What is it?¡± [He intends to destroy this world... and restore the planet Teia.] ¡°...What?¡± His goal wasn¡¯t simply conquest¡ª He wanted to restore the planet Teia? ¡®Then the Celestial Demon God''s true intent is...¡¯ [That should suffice as repayment.] With those final words¡ª The Earth God, who had taken the form of a stone doll, reverted to mere rock once more. At the same time, beyond the open wall of darkness, the passageway leading back to Abyssal Gate emerged. [Now, be on your way.] With the Earth God¡¯s parting words¡ª Kaylen¡¯s body was pulled into the swirling vortex. ¡°Father! Are you alright?¡± Kaylen snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of Melvria calling him. ¡°Mm... I¡¯m fine.¡± The Earth God¡¯s command for him to leave had been courteous. Though he had been pulled into the vortex of darkness, his body remained unharmed. He had simply been lost in thought about the Celestial Demon God. ¡®The Celestial God... When I first heard he was a god from beyond this world, I had no way of knowing where he originated from...¡¯ But after hearing the Earth God¡¯s words within the Abyssal Gate, Kaylen could form a hypothesis about the Celestial God¡¯s origins. ¡®If what the Earth God said is true... then could he have come from the Moon?¡¯ Planet Teia had collided with Terra, merging into a single planet and vanishing, with its remnants forming the Moon. The name "Celestial God" carried connotations of being a god of the heavens, a god of light, which had made it difficult to arrive at such a conclusion before. ¡®Come to think of it, the ability to wield the power of the Red Moon and absorb mana... None of the previous Demon Kings were capable of it. Only the Celestial God, who became the White Demon King and seized control of the Demon Realm, was able to do so.¡¯ Of course, this assumption was based on the premise that everything the Earth God had said was true. How much could he trust the words of the Earth God, whom he had just met for the first time in the Abyssal Gate? ¡®There¡¯s no guarantee that an Absolute Being wouldn¡¯t lie.¡¯ No¡ªif anything, because he was an Absolute Being, he could make a lie feel even more like the truth. ¡®...But I have a way to test it.¡¯ Before the Earth God had even mentioned the Celestial Demon God, he had spoken about the collision between Planet Terra and Teia. Upon hearing that, Kaylen had found the final clue he needed to destroy Infinity with the Six Sword Path. ¡°Melvria.¡± ¡°Yes, Father.¡± ¡°Unleash the Six Sword Path.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± At Kaylen¡¯s command, Melvria unleashed the Six Sword Path. If she destroyed the last remaining Infinity, her lifespan might be reduced to that of a normal half-elf. But Melvria harbored not even the slightest doubt toward her father. Rather, it was Eldir beside her who was restless with anxiety. ¡°Y-Your Majesty... Are you really sure about this?¡± ¡°Why? Do you not trust me?¡± ¡°N-No, it¡¯s not that... But still... Until just a moment ago, the sword was incomplete. If something goes wrong, we don¡¯t know what could happen to Melvria... Perhaps it would be best to proceed more cautiously...¡± ¡°Ah, please. Don¡¯t do this. Trust Father.¡± ¡°B-But! What if... even the slightest mistake...¡± Kaylen fully understood his concerns. But¡ª ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Kaylen trusted his sword even more. Srrrkk¡ª ¡°Now, I can destroy the stars perfectly.¡± Behind Kaylen, the six swords rose into the air. Then, they merged into one. ¡®The Earth God had shown me the origin of the stars. That was the final piece I needed.¡¯ And with it¡ª He reflected on his own shortcomings upon facing the hidden Absolute Being known as the Earth God. Instinctively, he filled in the gaps that had previously been lacking. Thus, the completed sword was¡ª A realm beyond the Six Swords. Six Sword Path Transcendent Realm Star Annihilation A sword that could bring destruction to the stars. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 211 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 211 Ederna doubted her own eyes. ¡®The Hero... what did he do?¡¯ As the Demon King''s daughter, she possessed a unique authority. It was the Authority of the Watcher. This ability played the greatest role in her appointment as the head of the colonial observatory. Her power of observation was so exceptional that even the Celestial Demon coveted it. ¡®But... that sword strike just now¡ª I couldn¡¯t see it at all.¡¯ She saw his Six Swords merge into one, transforming into an ordinary iron sword. But after that, even with the "Watcher¡¯s Eye," she couldn¡¯t perceive what had happened. ¡®But the sword strike definitely occurred.¡¯ Because¡ª The golden star that had been behind Melvria had completely vanished. And beyond that¡ª ¡®The mana that had been gathering in the star is now flowing steadily into that elf...!¡¯ Through the Watcher¡¯s Eye, which allowed her to observe the flow of mana, she could see that Melvria¡¯s body, now free from Infinity, remained just as stable as before. ¡®Just like he said... only the star has disappeared.¡¯ Ederna recalled when Melvria first manifested the Six Sword Path and awakened Infinity. A star containing boundless mana¡ª it had seemed utterly indestructible. Even with the Watcher¡¯s Eye, it appeared to be a flawless, impenetrable form. Something so impossible to destroy... yet Kaylen¡¯s iron sword had erased it completely, leaving no trace behind. ¡°How do you feel?¡± ¡°Ah... I feel fine. It¡¯s like... Infinity is still there.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± Star Annihilation. A sword that, quite literally, annihilates stars. Since the source of Infinity¡¯s endless mana ultimately came from that star, to destroy Infinity, he had to forge a sword capable of annihilating the star itself. ¡®Until now, I hadn¡¯t been able to complete the final piece of my sword...¡¯ But the moment Kaylen learned of the star¡¯s origins from the Outer God¡ª he realized what he had been missing. ¡®The star¡¯s core... I hadn¡¯t considered the internal structure, which the Outer God governs.¡¯ Who could have imagined that this star was formed by the collision of two planets? The instant Kaylen heard the Outer God¡¯s words, he was able to fit in the final piece of Star Annihilation. And the completed sword had successfully shattered Melvria¡¯s Infinity. ¡®However¡ª¡¯ ¡ªSsshhhhh... As the iron sword disappeared, the Six Swords returned to their original forms. But the aura contained within the swords had noticeably weakened. The newly attained realm of Transcendence had consumed an immense amount of power. ¡®I¡¯ll need to be mindful of aura distribution as well.¡¯ In the past, he had recklessly used his power, relying on Infinity. But now, it was time to distribute it wisely. With that thought, Kaylen spoke to the two elves. ¡°Let¡¯s return to the Spirit Realm.¡± ¡°Uh... can we go back?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible now.¡± Just moments ago¡ª When he was pulled back into the vortex by the Outer God¡ª Kaylen instinctively realized the path leading to the Spirit Realm. ¡®The Dark Spirits that had spread widely across the Spirit Realm... it wasn¡¯t due to some other scheme.¡¯ Since the Outer God was one of the pillars that made up this planet¡ª he had merely been supplying his power, the mana of darkness, to the Spirit Realm. ¡®Originally, the spirits would have kept each other in check, maintaining balance in the Spirit Realm...¡¯ But now, with the spirits bound to the massive Infinity, only the Dark Spirits had expanded their domain. Feeling one of his lingering questions resolve, Kaylen turned to Ederna, who was staring at him blankly, and asked, ¡°What about you? Are you staying here?¡± [ I... ] ¡°If you want to come along, you may.¡± [...] Ederna contemplated Kaylen¡¯s offer for a moment before shaking her head. [ No. I¡¯ll stay here. ] No matter how dire her current situation was¡ª she had no desire to follow the Hero who had slain her father just to survive. That was Ederna¡¯s last shred of pride. ¡°I see. If that¡¯s your decision.¡± Without hesitation, Kaylen stepped into the vortex with Melvria and Eldir. [...] As Ederna blankly watched their figures disappear¡ª [Ederna. So, you were here.] From behind her¡ª without any prior presence, the Celestial Demon appeared. [C-Celestial Demon...] [ I sensed a disturbance that shook the stars, so I came to see. ] Swish¡ª The darkness concealing the Celestial Demon¡¯s face wavered, and a curious voice emerged from within. [ It couldn¡¯t have been your doing. What happened? ] For the Celestial Demon to come here personally... ¡®Could it be... related to the Hero shattering the Golden Star?¡¯ Of course, that sword strike had been so overwhelming that even her Authority couldn¡¯t perceive it¡ª but for it to create a disturbance that shook the stars? As she marveled once again at the sword¡ª She regretted following Kaylen earlier. ¡®...I can¡¯t even run away now.¡¯ The only reason she had escaped the Celestial Demon¡¯s grasp last time was that she had sensed something was off and prepared in advance. But now, caught off guard without any preparation... She was already as good as prey. The only reason he hadn¡¯t devoured her yet was likely because he was curious about the disturbance that had shaken the stars. [Answer me, Ederna. Then I will absorb you without pain.] [No thanks.] [How foolish.] The darkness surrounding the Celestial Demon wavered before slowly twisting into a vortex. It began pulling Ederna in, little by little¡ª her massive serpentine form being gradually dragged toward it. [Then I¡¯ll consume you and read your memories. It will be somewhat painful.] Would it make any difference? If he was going to absorb her and extract her memories anyway, resistance seemed pointless. Knowing this, Ederna gave up. ¡®That damn Hero is absolutely useless...¡¯ He had exposed the Celestial Demon¡¯s identity, forcing her to flee from the Demon Realm. Now, he had unleashed the sword that destroyed a star, revealing her hiding place. As she cursed that troublesome man, Ederna resigned herself to death¡ª until a voice rang out from within the vortex of the Abyss. ¡ªWait a moment. It was not a language of any known race. Yet the moment she heard it, she understood its meaning instinctively¡ª a divine utterance, the Word of an Absolute Being. At that voice, Ederna felt her body tremble involuntarily. She had the urge to bow her head, to offer everything she had in worship. [Did you not vow not to interfere in the affairs of the world, Theia?] Whoosh¡ª The swirling darkness of the Celestial Demon stilled. Then, from within, a cold voice emerged. ¡ªOf course, that promise remains. [Then what do you call this?] ¡ªI simply have an interest in this child¡¯s Authority. [The Watcher¡¯s Eye, you mean?] ¡ªYes. I want to observe the events unfolding on the surface. [That cannot be allowed.] At the Celestial Demon¡¯s refusal, a laugh echoed from within the Abyss. ¡ªFor one with such overwhelming power, to be so fixated on a mere Watcher¡¯s Authority... you are still lacking. [I merely choose the simpler path. Creating the Eye of a god is troublesome¡ªdevouring it is much faster.] Listening to their exchange, Ederna was thrown into confusion. ¡®Is my Authority really that valuable...?¡¯ Born as the Demon King¡¯s daughter, she had been utterly disappointed when she first realized her power¡ªthe ability to observe. A power that amounted to nothing more than watching. Unlike her father, the Crimson Inferno Demon King, she couldn¡¯t summon Hellfire at will. Nor was it a useful Authority for accumulating dark magic. And yet, here were two divine beings, fighting over her. Even with death looming before her, she felt as though a shred of her broken pride had been restored. ¡ªHeh. I shall grant you this Authority as well. Would that suffice? [If you are capable of bestowing an Authority, then surely you have no need for the Watcher¡¯s Eye.] ¡ªIt is due to my contract with the Primordial God. I cannot observe the surface with my own eyes. Chiiiik. The moment those words were spoken, two crimson lights appeared above the Celestial Demon¡¯s darkness. Ederna saw them and instinctively understood. ¡®That light... It¡¯s just like the Watcher¡¯s Authority.¡¯ ¡ªThis should be enough. [...As expected, you are remarkable. Then why do you not attempt to revive Theia? If you were to aid me, everything would fall into place.] The Celestial Demon spoke in a troubled tone, gazing at the divine being who had effortlessly recreated its eyes. If the Primordial God, once Theia¡¯s will, were to assist him¡ª then subduing the Dragon God would be a simple matter, and all of this could be resolved in an instant. ¡ªI am content as I am now, Celestial Demon. [...Tch. But I cannot simply withdraw like this. The disturbance that shook this star¡ªI must know who caused it. Surely, it wasn¡¯t you?] ¡ªAh, that. No, it was not me. It was the one who wields six swords. [...Six swords? No... that¡¯s impossible.] ¡ªA rather amusing mortal. The vortex of the Abyss rapidly pulled Ederna¡¯s body inward. ¡ªBecause of his sword, I am taking the Watcher¡¯s Serpent. The Celestial Demon merely watched in silence as Ederna vanished. The disturbance that had shaken the stars¡ª if Kaylen had truly been the one to unleash it, then there was no longer any need to concern himself with the Watcher¡¯s Serpent. ¡®I thought he was merely a disposable piece... But it seems he holds far more value.¡¯ The tremor that had shaken the stars¡ª if nurtured further, it could shatter this cursed star completely. [...Very well. Then observe the surface from there and reconsider my offer, Primordial God.] ¡ªI shall do so. With those final words, the Celestial Demon vanished in haste. Kaylen had unleashed the ultimate sword technique. Transcendence¡ªStar Annihilation. Even divine beings were shaken by it. And¡ª ¡°The Spirit Realm... it has changed.¡± ¡°...Indeed.¡± But what shook Kaylen the most¡ª ¡°Infinity is releasing spirits.¡± ¡ªwas that his blade¡¯s target had been Infinity itself. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 212 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 212 The Spirit Realm. Though it was called the Spirit Realm in name, the spirits themselves were nowhere to be found. Until now, only four massive stars had been installed, each representing one of the elemental attributes. However¡ª The Spirit Realm that Kaylen and his group encountered after returning from the Abyss was completely different from before. ¡°This is...¡± A space where the darkness of spirits had receded. Inside, countless spirits were now drifting about. Spirits of the four great elements, which should have been trapped within the four Infinities, had been released in great numbers. ¡°What in the world happened...?¡± ¡°But seeing so many spirits like this... This looks like the Spirit Realm we originally imagined.¡± As Eldir pointed out, the Spirit Realm now matched its name. It resembled the sanctuary the elves had hoped to claim as their new refuge. ¡°However... something seems off.¡± ¡°It feels like they¡¯re entranced...¡± Yet¡ª The freed spirits were in an abnormal state. Elves had always envisioned the spirits of the Spirit Realm freely roaming its vast expanse. But the spirits now drifting around¡ªwhether they had humanoid forms or animalistic shapes¡ªwandered aimlessly, as if in a daze. ¡°Let¡¯s head to the central area.¡± The path leading there was also filled with spirits. But since they had smoke-like forms without physical substance, it should be possible to pass through them. With that in mind, Kaylen led the group forward, walking through the spirit-filled path. Srrrk. ¡°...I don¡¯t have a good feeling about this,¡± Eldir murmured, his voice trembling slightly. As the three of them moved through the spirits¡ª the spirits along their path gradually turned their gazes toward Kaylen¡¯s group. Ssssshhh... And soon¡ª it wasn¡¯t just the spirits from the path they had passed. Even the ones ahead of them began to react in the same way. [Enemy...] [Target identified.] [Eliminate.] And at that moment, all at once¡ª countless spirits launched a simultaneous assault on Kaylen. The fire spirits unleashed torrents of flames. The water spirits rained down countless shards of ice. The earth and wind spirits pressed down on Kaylen with their respective elements. In an instant, they were surrounded on all sides by enemies. ¡°No way...¡± ¡°Why are the spirits...?!¡± The elves were in utter shock at being attacked by the very spirits they had always considered their steadfast allies. ¡°...Hmph.¡± Yet¡ª Kaylen, arms crossed, simply stood still and watched the attacks unfold. The spirits¡¯ attacks were meaningless to him. However¡ª ¡°What did the spirits just say?¡± ¡°Target identified... Eliminate?¡± ¡°Target, huh...¡± He was merely curious about why they had suddenly begun attacking him. ¡®The only thing that has changed since earlier is that I completed Stellar Extinction...¡¯ Transcendence Realm ¡ª Stellar Extinction. Could it be because of that sword? An image of the Infinity located at the center of the Spirit Realm flashed through Kaylen¡¯s mind. ¡®I¡¯ll have to head there.¡¯ But first, he needed to deal with this attack. Srrrk¡ª As six swords rose behind Kaylen¡¯s back¡ª [The target is confirmed.] [Attack! Attack!] Even spirits from afar gathered, launching relentless assaults toward him. Six Sword Path. Three Swords. Bottomless Abyss. The moment Kaylen unleashed Bottomless Abyss, all the attacks aimed at him were sucked into a swirling black vortex. ¡°This is nothing.¡± Then¡ª Bottomless Abyss expanded further, absorbing not just the spirits¡¯ attacks but the spirits themselves. In an instant, all the spirits that had filled the Spirit Realm were completely swallowed up. Kaylen turned to the elves and spoke. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Y-yes.¡± There¡¯s a saying that even a mongrel has an advantage in its own yard¡ª Yet the spirits within the Spirit Realm were so helplessly absorbed that Eldir¡¯s eyes widened as he hurriedly followed behind Kaylen. ¡®I don¡¯t even know what confidence made me challenge my master back then...¡¯ As they advanced, absorbing spirits along the way¡ª At some point, the attacks ceased entirely. ¡°Did the spirits... give up?¡± Had they retreated after realizing they couldn¡¯t stand a chance no matter how much they tried? Seeing that the spirits had vanished from sight, Eldir assumed as much. ¡°No.¡± Kaylen¡¯s cold, sunken eyes remained fixed forward. ¡°They realized they couldn¡¯t handle this themselves¡ªso they¡¯ve possessed the elves.¡± Whoooosh. A breeze blew past. A faint green glow surrounded translucent figures¡ªelves whose eyes had turned completely white¡ªas they approached Kaylen¡¯s group. It resembled the process of Spiritization¡ªbut the key difference was that this time, the ones taking control were not the elves¡ªbut the spirits themselves. ¡°Uhh... Uuugh...¡± The elves staggered forward like zombies. However, unlike zombies, their speed was terrifyingly fast. Among them, Eldir recognized several familiar faces. But the one who caught his eye the most¡ª ¡°Irene! Snap out of it!¡± It was none other than his younger sister, Irene. He desperately called out to her, but¡ª ¡°It¡¯s useless.¡± It was as if Irene couldn¡¯t hear his voice at all. Whoosh! The elves who had been residing in the Spirit Realm all leaped into the air simultaneously. ¡°D-die...!¡± They lunged toward Kaylen. ¡®So they think Bottomless Abyss won¡¯t work on them.¡¯ Since they were elves, Kaylen wouldn¡¯t be able to absorb them as easily. ¡®They¡¯re underestimating me.¡¯ Kaylen smirked. For the sake of Melvria and Eldir, he wouldn¡¯t keep using Bottomless Abyss as they intended. However¡ª That didn¡¯t mean he had no way to subdue them. Srrrrrk¡ª Kaylen gripped the Wind Sword. No¡ªmore precisely, he grasped the Divine Windblade contained within it. The first High Elf¡ª The Sanctuary, infused with the Divine Windblade that had absorbed Holy Emperor Benedict. As Kaylen channeled his aura into it, a violent gust erupted from Sanctuary¡ª And slashed through the possessed elves in an instant. ¡°Ah...!¡± At that moment, the Spiritization binding the elves was dispelled. The Wind Spirits that had taken control of their bodies were swept up by the gust and sucked into Sanctuary. ¡°No matter what tricks you try...¡± They had attempted to use the elves as hostages to hinder Kaylen¡ª But the gap between their power was simply too vast. No matter what they did, stopping him was impossible. ¡°Irene...! Are you okay?¡± ¡°A-ah, Brother... What in the world is happening...?¡± As the Wind Spirits left her body, Irene regained her senses. She touched herself in confusion, trying to make sense of what had happened. Kaylen approached her and asked, ¡°What exactly happened?¡± ¡°A-a little while ago... Spirits started pouring out endlessly from the central star.¡± Without any prior warning, spirits had suddenly begun surging out of the four stars. ¡°At first, we didn¡¯t understand what was going on... But we thought it meant the spirits were finally returning to the Spirit Realm to settle again. We were hopeful... thinking it would become the Spirit Realm we had always dreamed of. But then...¡± ¡°And then?¡± ¡°The spirits looked strange no matter how I saw them. They wandered around in a dazed state... and eventually, they all started gathering in the direction the Emperor went.¡± The massive dungeon portal, where the Dark Spirits had been leaking out¡ª Had the spirits already emerged and stationed themselves there? ¡°We were curious as to why the spirits were heading toward that portal, so we followed them... But at some point, we lost control of our bodies due to the Wind Spirits.¡± ¡°So in the end, the root of the problem is Infinity.¡± At those words, Irene nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll go check it out. Now that there are no more spirits around, I shouldn¡¯t have to worry about losing control of my body.¡± ¡°Yes, Father. Don¡¯t worry about us. Infinity may have been destroyed, but I can still use my power.¡± Thanks to Kaylen completely erasing the star with Star Annihilation¡ª Even though Melvria¡¯s Six Demonic Paths Star was shattered, she could still wield her power without difficulty. As long as she held her ground, the elves wouldn¡¯t be so easily taken over again. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll leave it to you.¡± Leaving them behind, Kaylen moved toward the center of the Spirit Realm. With each step, the distance closed in an instant. Spirits were no longer capable of hindering him. His very existence was on a different level. ¡°There you are.¡± Rumble... As Kaylen approached¡ª The four Infinities within the Spirit Realm slowly began drawing closer to one another. The massive stars, each radiating their respective attributes¡ªred, blue, brown, and green¡ªgradually took on a golden hue as they converged. ¡ªInsolent fool. ¡ªA mere mortal. ¡ªDo you realize what you¡¯ve done? ¡ªDo you understand? From within the four stars, a familiar voice resounded. A voice Kaylen knew all too well. No¡ªout of everyone in this world, he knew this voice the best. ¡®It¡¯s the same as Ernstine¡¯s voice.¡¯ If that was the case, then was this Infinity connected to the Dragon God? ¡°What exactly have I done to cause this?¡± Kaylen shrugged. The stars trembled as a voice, seething with rage, echoed out. ¡ªYou dare destroy a star...?! ¡ªA mortal who has sustained his existence by leeching off this world... ¡ªWould dare attempt the blasphemous act of erasing a star¡¯s existence?! ¡ªYou are only alive because you were born from these stars! Ah¡ª So it was because of Star Annihilation. The transcendent sword that annihilates stars¡ªStar Annihilation. It had completely erased Melvria¡¯s Infinity. He hadn¡¯t expected even these massive stars to regard it as a threat. Perhaps¡ª ¡®This might be the very source that produces infinite mana...¡¯ Where had Infinity been drawing the mana that lived up to its name of boundlessness? As Kaylen gazed at the four stars within the Spirit Realm, he wondered¡ª Could those be the very source supplying mana? And now¡ª Judging by what was happening to the four stars, that hypothesis seemed to be true. ¡ªWe could have stopped the intruder... ¡ªWithout disrupting the balance of the world... ¡ªBut because of you, that is no longer possible. ¡ªBorn from the stars, yet you seek to destroy them... The differently colored stars all glowed with golden light. The four Infinities began merging into one. The sheer amount of mana it radiated was overwhelming¡ª Standing idly by and watching it fuse would be nothing short of madness. However¡ª ¡°You¡¯re so slow. Why don¡¯t you hurry up and merge already?¡± Kaylen smirked as he encouraged Infinity instead. Floating behind him, his six swords hovered in place. ¡ªInsignificant beast. ¡ªHow arrogant...! The four voices gradually merged into two¡ª ¡ªWe shall erase you. And soon after¡ª They fused into a single voice. A brilliant golden Infinity was formed. As it became one, its size rapidly expanded. If left alone, it felt as though it would one day fill the entire Spirit Realm. ¡°You¡¯ve finally become one.¡± Yet, Kaylen remained unfazed. He merged his six swords into one, forming a single steel blade. ¡°Then¡ªtake this sword.¡± Six Sword Path Transcendence Realm ¡ª Star Annihilation The blade extended forward. Hiss¡ª The star¡¯s surface¡ª A small hole seemed to pierce through it. ¡ªAh... The massive Infinity rapidly shrank, losing its golden radiance. And in proportion to the fading light¡ª The wound etched upon it grew larger and larger. At the same time¡ª Deep beneath Geysir Castle¡ª The magic circle for the Dragon God¡¯s resurrection suddenly flashed uncontrollably. ¡°Kuh... Ugh...¡± A being that should not yet have awakened¡ª Abruptly rose from within the magic circle. ¡°Six... swords...¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 213 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 213 The Dragon God rose. Its body, barely the size of a human, was far too small. ¡®This is incomplete.¡¯ It was supposed to be a great dragon, large enough to cover all of Geysir Castle. But because of a mere human¡¯s outrageous actions, it had no choice but to awaken. ¡®Destroying a star... Infinite Mana, Infinity.¡¯ This was a creation painstakingly crafted over countless years¡ªwhere the Water God had transformed itself into the Dragon God to stand against the invading Celestial God. It was meant to devour the four continents. A supreme mana that embraced the Four Great Elements, as well as the mana of Light and Darkness¡ªInfinity, the ultimate goal of the Dragon God. ¡®And yet, a mere sword wielder...¡¯ The Dragon God clenched its teeth. It had suffered countless defeats against the Celestial God. But those losses had never mattered. Every defeat had been a stepping stone toward the completion of Infinity, a necessary retreat for an assured ultimate victory. ¡®Now that Infinity is complete, I can secure absolute victory.¡¯ A thousand years ago, when it had possessed Ernstine¡¯s body and become an incomplete Dragon God, the circumstances had been different. Taking that defeat as a lesson, it had spent the last millennium perfecting Infinity, ensuring it was a weapon crafted solely to counter the Celestial God. ¡®Even if he consumed Darkness Mana as the Celestial Demon, it does not matter.¡¯ Whether Celestial Demon or Celestial God, their origin was still Light Mana. The Dragon God had made all the necessary preparations to face its foe. At least, until an unforeseen irregular appeared. ¡°D-Dragon God...! You¡¯ve awakened already...?!¡± Realizing the Dragon God¡¯s resurrection, Kaina hurriedly descended into the underground chamber. ¡°The Six Swords have done something outrageous.¡± ¡°W-what do you mean...?¡± ¡°The impostor who calls himself Ernstine... He destroyed the star.¡± ¡°I... I do not understand what that means...¡± As Kaina bowed deeply, the Dragon God looked down at her with disdain and spoke. ¡°It means my eternity is now at risk of being severed.¡± ¡°Severed... eternity?!¡± ¡°If I am erased by his sword, I will never be able to return.¡± ¡®T-that¡¯s impossible!¡¯ Kaina, still bowing, showed a look of disbelief. The Dragon God had been annihilated by the Celestial God countless times, yet it had always resurrected. That was because it was an eternal being, representing the very mana of this world. And yet, now the Dragon God itself claimed that a mere imposter¡¯s sword could end it? ¡°I had intended to return in perfection... but that is no longer an option.¡± ¡°Then...¡± ¡°I will act now. I will consume the sacrifice myself.¡± Fwoooosh¡ª The Dragon God¡¯s body slowly began to transform into fire. The entire underground chamber was swallowed by flames. ¡°Aah...¡± Golden flames filled the world. Kaina gazed at them with an expression of rapture. Even if events had not unfolded in the god¡¯s favor... At this moment, it was the time she had longed for more than anything. ¡°I... I too! I will offer my body to the Dragon God.¡± ¡ªNo, you must not. You are needed to face the impostor. ¡°To face the impostor...?¡± ¡ªYes. The Dragon God''s flames consumed everything except for Kaina. ¡ªYou must shake him. Kaylen looked ahead. The Infinity, which had been grazed by Transcendence¡ªStar Annihilation, continued to collapse. Chiiiiik. The starting point of the collapse was the scar left by the sword. The mark left by the sword emitted a black glow as it pulled the flawless golden star into itself. ¡®The Infinity until now was too small, so it collapsed quickly. But this one is different.¡¯ Star Annihilation. A sword that, true to its name, annihilated stars. It was a sword that internally dismantled the completeness of Infinity, causing the star to self-destruct. It was an absolute sword that surpassed the Six Sword Path, but it was specialized solely for Infinity. Psshhh¡ª The iron sword in Kaylen¡¯s hand disappeared, and the Six Sword Path returned to its original form. Compared to before it had been combined, it was now so small that it was barely the size of a dagger. ¡®The Six Sword Path has nearly disappeared.¡¯ This Infinity was on a completely different scale compared to those he had destroyed before. As such, the consumption of Aura had been immense. But¡ª Ssssshhh¡ª As the golden star was completely absorbed into the scar left by Star Annihilation and vanished, the four elemental Mana trapped within Infinity scattered uncontrollably in all directions. Among them were spirits in incomplete forms, throwing the Spirit Realm into chaos in an instant. Kaylen did not miss this opportunity, as a massive surge of Mana erupted. ¡®Good. I¡¯ll absorb it.¡¯ The dagger-sized Six Sword Path began drawing in the Mana that had been released from Infinity. It made no distinction between spirits and Mana. Anything that came out of Infinity, the Six Sword Path would devour. Soon, the Six Sword Path grew rapidly, regaining its original form. ¡®Since this Infinity contained the four elemental Mana, the recovery of the Light Sword and the Dark Sword is slow.¡¯ However, Kaylen did not mind. ¡®Still, the rest can recover from the Six Sword Path in the capital.¡¯ Regardless of anything else, the destruction of Infinity in the Spirit Realm and the restoration of his sword were the best possible outcomes for him. Unlike Melvria¡¯s Infinity, the presence of this one was immense, and the fact that Star Annihilation worked on it meant that it would be effective against the Dragon God as well. ¡®Now, I have the weapon to face the Dragon God.¡¯ That left only the Celestial Demon. Kaylen recalled the iron sword that had unleashed Star Annihilation. ¡®That sword will be useless against the Celestial Demon.¡¯ Every aspect of its design was tailored solely for Infinity¡ªStar Annihilation. No matter how transcendent his sword had become, it was ineffective against the Celestial Demon. He would need to devise a sword suited for that being. ¡®I do have the God-Slaying technique I learned from undead Ernstine, but...¡¯ Six Sword¡ªGod-Slaying. A sword that slays gods, completed over countless years by Ernstine, who, even as an undead bound to the Celestial God, never forgot his hatred. With that single sword, the Water Continent, once shackled by the Celestial God, was liberated. Johannes'' divine prohibition was lifted, and Violet, the descendant of merfolk, regained her sanity. Judging from that, God-Slaying was indeed effective against the Celestial God, but... ¡®It''s not enough.¡¯ As he forged the transcendent blade, Kaylen instinctively understood. To face the Celestial Demon, he would need a new sword¡ªone that surpassed the Six Sword, just like Starfall. ¡®A sword designed solely to slay the Celestial Demon.¡¯ This was an even greater challenge than dealing with Infinity. Infinity, at least, was something he could readily encounter. It existed within his own body, within Melvria¡¯s Six Demon Blades, and within the stars of the Spirit Realm. There had been many opportunities to test Starfall against it. ¡®But the Celestial Demon is different.¡¯ To analyze an opponent and craft a blade tailored to it, one first needed to encounter it. Yet traces of the Celestial Demon were nearly impossible to find. ¡®If I destroy the Dragon God like this... it¡¯ll only play into the Celestial Demon¡¯s hands.¡¯ If he fought the Dragon God now, both sides would end up badly wounded. Even if he annihilated the Dragon God with Starfall, he would have no means to stop the Celestial Demon when it arrived. ¡®I need to be cautious.¡¯ As he pondered his next course of action, Kaylen observed the complete collapse of Infinity. The Spirit Realm, originally a place of emptiness, had fallen into utter chaos with Infinity¡¯s destruction. ¡®What a mess.¡¯ Although he had absorbed as much of Infinity¡¯s mana as possible into the Six Sword, even it had its limits. The remaining mana and spirits scattered indiscriminately in all directions. ¡°F-Father! Are you alright?¡± ¡°What in the world just happened...?¡± Hearing voices behind him, Kaylen turned to see the group of elves arriving. He spoke curtly. ¡°I destroyed the star that was in the Spirit Realm.¡± ¡°T-The star... You destroyed it?¡± ¡°That was even possible...?¡± He was already an emperor far beyond human limits. But to shatter the seemingly indestructible mana of that perfect star... The elves stared at Kaylen in shock. ¡°This place will be in turmoil for a while. The spirits are emerging in unstable forms,¡± Kaylen said. ¡°For now, I suggest retreating.¡± He turned to look at Irene. ¡°...I see.¡± Irene scanned their surroundings with a hardened expression before speaking. ¡°The environment of the Spirit Realm may have changed, but... this is actually the form we originally wished for.¡± ¡°Then, will you remain here?¡± ¡°Yes. However, with the spirits in a state of chaos, we will first return. Later, we shall come back with only the most elite members of the Fairy Magic Tower.¡± ¡°Alright. Understood.¡± Kaylen nodded. If this was the Spirit Realm the elves had truly desired, then it was best to respect their choice. ¡°For now, let''s head back.¡± Kaylen stepped into the return magic circle first. ¡°Yes, understood.¡± The elves followed, entering the magic circle as well. ¡°We will return to the Fairy Magic Tower.¡± The magic circle activated. When Kaylen and the elves arrived at the underground cavern of the Fairy Magic Tower¡ª [You¡¯ve arrived quickly.] Beyond the magic circle stood an absolute being, radiant with two wings of pure white light. The Celestial Demon stood with arms crossed, gazing at Kaylen. [I¡¯ve been waiting for you.] And behind him¡ª Three divine swords, the ones Kaylen had once requested, floated in the air. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 214 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 214 ¡°Celestial Demon....¡± Snap. With a flick of his fingers, the elves standing behind Kaylen collapsed simultaneously. They weren¡¯t dead¡ªjust unconscious. Their body temperature and breathing remained steady, unchanged from before. ¡°What do you want?¡± [I sensed a disturbance shaking the stars.] The Celestial Demon¡¯s face¡ªconcealed by darkness¡ªnow had two red glows flickering upon it. They looked like eyes. [This planet is undergoing rapid upheaval.] ¡°So what?¡± [I heard you were the cause.] ¡°Did the Earth God tell you that?¡± [Yes. I followed the disturbance to the Abyss Gate and heard it from him.] Hearing the Celestial Demon¡¯s response, Kaylen realized there was no point in denying it. ¡®This just got annoying...¡¯ The Celestial Demon didn¡¯t seem openly hostile¡ªafter all, he had brought the three divine swords Kaylen requested. But getting noticed by him this soon was not a good sign. ¡®This guy is going to push me into fighting the Dragon God as soon as possible.¡¯ Kaylen¡ªthe one who had destroyed Infinity¡ªwas the Celestial Demon¡¯s best card. How desperate must he be for a god who claims dominion over heaven and earth to be waiting here in the underground of the Fairy Tower? ¡®But once I slay the Dragon God, his next target will be me.¡¯ No, perhaps his next target wouldn¡¯t just be Kaylen¡ª It would be this entire planet itself. Kaylen had heard the Celestial Demon¡¯s goal from the Earth God. To restore Te?a, he would have to destroy this world. ¡®And if this planet disappears, humanity will have nowhere to live.¡¯ Kaylen had already realized that he was never truly Ernstine, but rather his Six Swords. Even so, he did not reject the memories of when he was human. Nor did he disregard humanity itself. As Emperor of the Empire, he bore the responsibility of preventing its downfall. In the end, considering the Celestial Demon¡¯s objective, their clash was inevitable. ¡®Even if I slay the Dragon God, I still have no means to face him.¡¯ With that thought, Kaylen fixed his gaze on the Celestial Demon. A figure of angelic perfection¡ªwhere light and darkness fused in flawless harmony. Unlike Infinity, he maintained his completeness in a different manner. [Kaylen. This is what you requested.] Thud. Three divine swords embedded themselves at Kaylen¡¯s feet. Compared to the fire, darkness, and water divine swords the Celestial Demon had created in Sanctuary, these carried even more of his power. So much so that they could be considered a step above even the divine swords of legend¡ªtrue masterpieces. ¡°What do you want?¡± [The destruction of the Dragon God.] ¡°I have created a sword capable of destroying this planet. But I still lack the strength. Even though I destroyed the infinite mana of Infinity, it¡¯s still too soon to use it against the Dragon God.¡± [That¡¯s expected. What I want is not for you and him to directly clash.] "Then......." The Celestial Demon projected a screen into the air. Geysir¡¯s imperial capital. The city was engulfed in golden flames, completely reduced to ashes. [The Dragon God has already awakened. He must have sensed a threat from your sword.] ¡°He has already risen?¡± [Yes. In his incomplete state, he is no match for me.] Upon hearing those words, Kaylen understood what the Celestial Demon wanted. [Even if I subdue the Dragon God again, he may attempt to resurrect himself once more. I have my own methods, but unlike you, I do not possess a perfect means of erasure.] ¡°So?¡± [I will restrain the Dragon God. You will deliver the final blow.] No matter how many times he was subdued, the Dragon God kept reviving, like an unkillable cockroach. And with each resurrection, he had grown more dangerous. At first, the infinite mana, Infinity, had only contained a single elemental attribute. But now, it held all six attributes, becoming a significant threat even to the Celestial Demon. ¡®If he is not completely erased this time, victory cannot be guaranteed next time.¡¯ That was the Celestial Demon¡¯s judgment. And to him, Kaylen¡¯s sword was an extremely appealing solution. When he had first sealed the Dragon God in the Sanctuary, Kaylen had been nothing more than an obstacle preventing Infinity from reaching the Dragon God. But now, Kaylen had become a key figure¡ªa decisive factor in the battle between two gods. ¡°Hm.......¡± Kaylen listened to the Celestial Demon¡¯s proposal and pondered. ¡®The situation has improved.¡¯ Previously, he had to worry about facing the Dragon God while also preparing for a clash with the Celestial Demon. But now, he could wait for the two to battle each other and seize his opportunity afterward. ¡®However... even if the Dragon God is restrained, it will take an enormous amount of power to erase him.¡¯ The Celestial Demon would expend a great deal of energy to subdue the Dragon God. And Kaylen, in turn, would exhaust his aura to erase him completely. That would leave both of them drained. ¡®Without a sword capable of defeating the Celestial Demon, I cannot guarantee victory.¡¯ Kaylen stared intently at the Celestial Demon, thinking. A god who ruled both the Celestial Realm and the Demon Realm. And according to what the Earth God had told him, he was also connected to the Moon... His very nature was complex. The Celestial Realm, the Demon Realm, and the Moon. Which of these was his true priority? Kaylen sought to discern that. [What do you think of my proposal?] ¡°I think it¡¯s a good one. But I have a condition.¡± [A condition?] ¡°Can you ensure that the human world remains unharmed?¡± [Humans...? You concern yourself with such matters? How merciful of you, Sovereign.] Hoo. The Celestial Demon let out a quiet chuckle after speaking. Though it lacked obvious emotion, to Kaylen, the laughter carried a subtle hint of mockery. ¡®In the end, just a mere mortal... still bound by human attachments.¡¯ With those words alone, Kaylen had unwittingly revealed his own weakness. And the Celestial Demon took note of that. [Even if you don¡¯t say so, I will take humans into consideration as much as possible. After all, they are nothing more than food for the Dragon God. I won¡¯t be able to protect Geysir¡¯s territory, but I will make sure the Dragon God¡¯s flames do not spread beyond it.] "Thank you. But what I want comes after that." [After that...?] "Even after the Dragon God is annihilated, leave the human realm alone." But Kaylen¡¯s true goal was not the salvation of humanity. "What do you think? Can you swear it in the name of the Celestial Demon?" He wanted to see if the god would swear in his own name to leave the human realm untouched. [...] The Celestial Demon remained silent for a moment. [Very well. I swear it.] He accepted Kaylen¡¯s proposal without hesitation. [I swear in the name of the Celestial Demon. Even after the Dragon God is annihilated, I shall leave this world alone.] As he finished swearing in the name of a god, his two crimson eyes gleamed in the darkness. [Should I break this oath, I shall relinquish my right to rule over the light of the heavens and the darkness of the abyss.] "The Heavenly Realm and the Demon Realm¡ªyou¡¯re wagering them both?" [Indeed. Now, will you cooperate?] A smile formed on Kaylen¡¯s lips as he nodded. "If the Celestial Demon has staked his own existence, of course, I must believe him." [Good. Then, in seven days, we will begin the eradication of the Dragon God.] Sssss¡ª The Celestial Demon¡¯s form slowly faded. [Prepare yourself in the meantime.] "Wait." Just as he was about to leave, Kaylen stopped him. "No matter how you look at it, we¡¯re dealing with the Dragon God. I need to be fully prepared. In seven days, I won¡¯t have enough supplies." [What are you lacking?] "Mana Stones. Give me some." [That¡¯s all you need?] "Yeah. High-quality ones. As many as possible." Kaylen demanded the Mana Stones without hesitation. The Six Swords engraved in the imperial capital of Alzass¡ªhe needed Mana Stones to further strengthen them. ¡®There¡¯s a limit to what I can buy from the Empire.¡¯ With no new dungeon portals appearing recently, he had been purchasing Mana Stones while their market price was dropping. However, the Mage Towers, which held the largest supply, were reluctant to release them. It hadn¡¯t been long since the dungeon portals had disappeared, and with the emperor of the unified eastern continent actively purchasing them, the Mage Towers suspected something was amiss and hesitated to sell. [You are quite bold to make such a request.] "I tried to procure them on my own, but time is too tight. If my lack of preparation causes this plan to fail, what then? Wouldn¡¯t that be a problem?" Kaylen¡¯s reasoning was sound; there was nothing illogical about it. After all, the Celestial Demon himself had set the seven-day deadline, knowing it would be tight for him. Yes. That was true. Even so¡ª ¡®...This doesn¡¯t sit well with me.¡¯ He could hand over as many Mana Stones as needed, but still, something about it felt unsettling. Somehow, it felt strange, as if the initiative had been taken away by a mere human. Come to think of it, ever since he had demanded the divine sword, this human had been nothing but utterly insolent. [Fine. I¡¯ll scatter them across your castle. Mana Stones.] Yet, in the end, the Celestial Demon agreed to hand over the Mana Stones to Kaylen without any conditions. Right now, the most important matter was dealing with the Dragon God. He could not afford to let grand designs be ruined over something as trivial as a feeling. "Much appreciated." [Then, spend the next seven days preparing thoroughly.] With those final words, the Celestial Demon truly vanished. Kaylen waved after him. "Oh, and if I need something next time, where should I ask?" [...] At those words, the Celestial Demon stared at Kaylen in silence. The way this human continued to demand things, as if he had left his belongings in safekeeping, had long since moved beyond being simply unusual¡ªnow, it was outright irritating. This human, in the presence of a god... was irreverent, far beyond mere blasphemy. ''But still. Eliminating the Dragon God comes first.'' Once the Dragon God was dead, a mere human like him would be of no concern. The Celestial Demon left one final remark before disappearing. [I will dispatch one of my servants to your castle.] And the moment he vanished¡ª ¡°Huh...?¡± ¡°Why did I suddenly black out?¡± The elves who had been following Kaylen began to rise one by one. As the Celestial Demon¡¯s authority faded, they regained their senses. Kaylen glanced at the elves briefly before recalling the Celestial Demon¡¯s vow with a hardened expression. ¡ªI swear upon the name of the Celestial Demon. Even after the Dragon God is annihilated, I shall leave this world be. ¡ªIf I break this vow, I shall renounce my right to rule over the light of the heavens and the darkness of the depths. Heaven and Abyss. The Celestial Demon had declared that if he broke his oath, he would forsake both of his absolute authorities. As Kaylen listened to those words, rather than feeling that the Celestial Demon was sincerely devoted to his vow... It sounded more like he didn¡¯t care if he abandoned the power of the Celestial Demon. ¡®Ji-Shin said the Celestial Demon was also of the Lunar Clan.¡¯ He even mentioned that among them, only the Celestial Demon was worthy of being called their king. Thinking about those words, it made sense to assume that the Celestial Demon¡¯s origins lay with the moon. ¡®The question is, how much of Ji-Shin¡¯s words can I trust...¡¯ After all, when he had applied Ji-Shin¡¯s insights to his new sword, he had managed to achieve a transcendental state of Holy Annihilation. For now, it would be best to trust Ji-Shin¡¯s words and observe the situation. ¡®I¡¯m becoming more certain that he¡¯s connected to the Lunar Clan. But there¡¯s still too little information.¡¯ Just as when he had created Holy Annihilation, he needed to fully grasp his opponent¡¯s essence and forge a sword suited to it. Only then would he have a blade capable of slaying a god. But Kaylen felt that he knew far too little about the Celestial Demon. Unlike Infinity, whom he could observe up close, the Celestial Demon was difficult to approach. ¡®Maybe I¡¯ll have to wait until the battle with the Dragon God.¡¯ With that thought in mind, Kaylen returned to the royal castle¡ª "Hey... what the hell is that?" Looking in the direction Johannes was pointing, he found himself speechless. ¡®...Hah.¡¯ Above the castle, in the sky¡ª Though it was broad daylight, it was as if a hole had been torn in the sky. A black night sky, speckled with starlight, had emerged. And from there, Mana Stones were pouring down like a hailstorm. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 215 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 215 ¡°Is there no one inside the castle?¡± ¡°Yeah. After that hole opened in the sky, I evacuated everyone quickly. Theresia and Baldrix got here fast too.¡± ¡°Well done.¡± Kaylen couldn''t help but be amazed as he looked at the mountain of Mana Stones piling up in the ruined castle. ¡®So this is the scale of a god.¡¯ The moment he requested Mana Stones from the Celestial Demon, they had rained down from the sky like hail. Even at a glance, the Mana Stones scattered on the ground were of the highest quality. The amount easily surpassed what the Starn Empire had been publicly acquiring across the continent. ¡°What... the hell is this?¡± ¡°A blessing from the Celestial Demon.¡± ¡°What? A blessing from the Celestial Demon? Why would that guy¡ª?¡± ¡°A lot happened. Let''s clean this up first, and I''ll explain.¡± ¡°Alright...¡± As Johannes stared at the sheer volume of Mana Stones that had practically flooded the castle, his eyes gleamed. He had no idea what exactly had transpired between Kaylen and the Celestial Demon, but the absurd amount of Mana Stones in front of him was stirring a mage''s instinct¡ªurging him to experiment with them. ¡°I won¡¯t say anything if you play around with a few, but keep in mind¡ªthese Mana Stones were given to us for the growth of the Six Sword Path.¡± ¡°W-What? Why are you suddenly saying that?¡± ¡°You were staring at them too intently.¡± ¡°Oh, I was just curious. I mean, they literally fell from the sky out of nowhere.¡± Now that he thought about it, despite it being broad daylight, a massive circular hole remained open in the sky, revealing a night sky beyond it. ¡®No... that¡¯s not really a night sky...¡¯ It looked closer to outer space. Kaylen gazed steadily at the gaping void. An unfamiliar mana, something completely alien to this world, swirled around the edges of the massive hole. Eventually, it began filling the void, sealing it shut. ¡°So the Celestial Demon¡¯s blessing is over. What a shame.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. If we need more, we can always ask for it later.¡± ¡°...Just how did you manage to sweet-talk him?¡± Johannes asked, sounding almost exasperated as Kaylen casually mentioned the possibility of getting more. What in the world had happened in the Spirit Realm that made the Celestial Demon so eager to help him? ¡°I have something he needs the most, right here in my hands.¡± ¡°Oh? Is that so...¡± ¡°Yeah. So he has no choice but to help me.¡± Step. Step. Walking alongside Johannes, Kaylen reached out his hand toward the Mana Stones. ¡°Now, transport them to the sigil of the Six Sword Path.¡± ¡°You¡¯re really... going to use all of this on the Six Sword Path? It¡¯s already huge as it is.¡± ¡°The more, the better.¡± As Kaylen stretched out his hand, the Mana Stones covering the castle slowly began to rise, drifting toward the sigil of the Six Sword Path. Since the Six Sword Path¡¯s domain was close to the royal castle, Kaylen transported the Mana Stones immediately, focusing on nurturing the swords. ¡°Hm... I¡¯ve never seen a Mana Stone like this before...¡± ¡°To think you¡¯d use all these treasures just to cultivate the swords...¡± Despite his constant grumbling, Johannes helped transport the Mana Stones. ¡°If you want some, take them. You can have a few, no, even a few hundred if you¡¯d like.¡± ¡°No, what would I even do with them? You said growing the Six Sword Path is the most important thing, right?¡± Even as he swallowed hard at the sight of these new types of Mana Stones, Johannes suppressed his greed and continued moving them. The Mana Stones floated in midair, moving all at once. What had been piled up like a mountain quickly started to clear as Kaylen and Johannes actively transported them. And when they lifted the very last layer of Mana Stones¡ª ¡°This is...¡± ¡°Huh... Is this a Mana Stone too? It¡¯s so unusual.¡± A dark-colored gem was revealed, causing Kaylen¡¯s eyes to gleam. ¡®This... feels similar to the mana that radiated from the Abyss Gate...¡¯ A hidden realm of the Demon World. The Abyss Gate, where the Earth Deity resided. The precise and refined dark mana he had sensed there was now emanating from this gem. ¡°Johannes, you should research this Mana Stone.¡± ¡°The dark mana in it is refined... Wouldn¡¯t it be better to have the swords absorb it?¡± ¡°No. Understanding this Mana Stone is more important to me. Work with Myorn and analyze it thoroughly.¡± ¡°If you say so...¡± With an excited expression, Johannes quickly secured the black Mana Stone. He moved even faster than when he had been transporting the other Mana Stones. In an instant, the dark gem was sucked into his subspace storage. ¡®So he wasn¡¯t even using his full strength earlier.¡¯ Kaylen smirked as he reached for the final batch of Mana Stones. Twitch. Twitch. The moment he cleared away the last one, black smoke began to rise from the exposed area. Sssss¡ª ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Still grinning as he stored the Mana Stones in his subspace, Johannes pointed at the smoke. It was releasing a mana similar to that of the black Mana Stone. And soon¡ª The smoke started gathering, taking on a distinct form. ¡°That¡¯s... a Fallen Angel...?¡± The first thing to materialize from the swirling smoke was a pair of wings. Their shape resembled those of an angel, but their color was pitch black. Just as Johannes said, the wings were the same shade as those of a corrupted angel. After the wings formed, the smoke continued condensing, fully revealing the Fallen Angel¡¯s figure. ¡®...Beautiful.¡¯ That was Johannes¡¯s first thought upon seeing the Fallen Angel. Even as an undead himself, he couldn¡¯t take his eyes off of it. She was beautiful. The woman with black hair looked like a masterpiece sculpted by the gods. Johannes could only stare blankly at the Fallen Angel. "Emperor Kaylen." A voice devoid of emotion. The Fallen Angel gazed at Kaylen with an expressionless face. "The Celestial Demon has sent me in response to your request. However, before you seek the great Celestial Demon''s blessing, you must first justify whether your request is truly warranted." ¡®So earlier, when the Emperor said that if he needed more, he would just ask the Celestial Demon again...¡¯ There was no way the Celestial Demon would grant unlimited aid. Was this Fallen Angel sent as an overseer? Johannes glanced sideways at Kaylen. The one who should have answered immediately was hesitating in silence. ¡®Why is he zoning out?¡¯ Even if this Fallen Angel possessed an otherworldly beauty, Kaylen had seen countless beautiful figures before. So why was he standing there, staring like that? ¡®Guess I¡¯ll have to say something.¡¯ Thinking it might snap him out of it, Johannes was about to speak¡ª "...Arashiel?" A name slipped from Kaylen¡¯s lips. ¡®Arashiel...?¡¯ And that name¡ª Johannes knew it well. She was the second wife of Emperor Ernstine, the one who had gone missing. Though Ernstine had taken many wives and fathered nearly a hundred children, there was a time when even he had loved with devotion. His first wife, Elinne, had known him since childhood. When he married her, he swore never to take another wife. That vow remained unbroken until he ascended to the throne of the Meier Kingdom. ¡®That is, until Arashiel appeared.¡¯ Arashiel Gracia. The only daughter of the Marquess of Gracia, she had been renowned for her beauty since childhood. Upon reaching adulthood, her beauty matured to perfection, gaining fame not only in her own kingdom but even in neighboring lands. At the time, Ernstine, who was then merely a king of another nation, had shown little interest in her. ¡®But at the royal ball of the Meier Kingdom, he fell for her at first sight.¡¯ Johannes subtly examined the Fallen Angel who had been called Arashiel. Indeed, her beauty was enough to captivate a nation at a glance. ¡®They say that after meeting her, Ernstine finally understood desire.¡¯ Before that, he had acted as if Elinne would be his only partner for life. But once he fell for Arashiel and took her as his wife... whether it was because he had awakened to indulgence, he began expanding his harem in earnest. ¡®Even my sister was the same.¡¯ Johannes thought of his younger sister, Princess Velania. Of course, in her case¡ª she had been the one to approach Ernstine first, drawn to his face and imperial power. ¡®Arashiel married Ernstine, and three years later, she went missing...¡¯ That was why Johannes had never seen Arashiel in person. His kingdom had been annexed by Ernstine after her disappearance. ¡®She looks exactly like her... Something feels off.¡¯ A thousand years later, a Fallen Angel sent by the Celestial Demon bore the exact same face as Ernstine¡¯s missing second wife? There was no way this was just a coincidence. And Kaylen felt the weight of it even more deeply. ¡°...From the beginning, were you an angel, Arashiel?¡± Kaylen could sense it instinctively. The Fallen Angel before him did not just resemble Arashiel in appearance. Even the aura she exuded was eerily similar. ¡®Back then, I simply thought that aura was a mysterious charm...¡¯ The fatal allure hidden behind that captivating beauty. The once-nai?ve Ernstine had experienced an entirely new world upon meeting her. This Fallen Angel¡ªshe was Arashiel. Kaylen was certain of it. ¡°That is correct, Emperor Kaylen.¡± And as if she had nothing to hide, the Fallen Angel, Arashiel, affirmed it immediately. ¡°Why did you approach me?¡± ¡°The god desired a sample from the Meier lineage. But you intended to have only one wife. That was not what the god wished for.¡± ¡°...So you seduced me.¡± ¡°Yes. I helped you spread your lineage far and wide.¡± Arashiel¡¯s lips curled into a faint smile. ¡°But since you became too infatuated with me and refused to take in more concubines, I disappeared.¡± As she spoke of the past, Arashiel adopted a more relaxed demeanor, so much so that Kaylen could sense the slight hint of disdain in her gaze. ¡®Does she still see me as a man she once had wrapped around her finger?¡¯ No matter how great Kaylen¡¯s achievements were, from her perspective, he was just someone she had once played with and discarded. It was no surprise she looked at him that way. However¡ª ¡®That may have been true for Ernstine.¡¯ But he was not Ernstine. He was his sword. ¡®This works in my favor.¡¯ Kaylen gazed at Arashiel, his lips curling into a faint smile. The Fallen Angel Arashiel. She was not an existence on par with the Celestial Demon... but the mana emanating from her was neither entirely of this world. It was reminiscent of the black mana stone from earlier and the strange energy he had sensed in the Abyss. ¡®She will serve as the foundation for uncovering the true nature of the Celestial Demon.¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 216 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 216 Step. Step. As Kaylen walked toward the clearing where the Six Sword Path was engraved, Arashiel slowly flapped her wings, following behind him. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to follow me.¡± ¡°I have a duty to observe how the Mana Stone bestowed by the Celestial Demon is used.¡± ¡°When a god bestows an item, does it come with conditions? The Celestial Demon is rather petty.¡± ¡°Then please consider it my personal curiosity.¡± ¡°What¡¯s with the ¡®personal¡¯ part?¡± Kaylen chuckled softly and no longer tried to stop Arashiel from following him. If she intended to monitor what he was doing, there were plenty of ways to do so without seeing it herself. It would be better to keep her nearby to grasp more about her kind. ¡®For now, should I start by asking her?¡¯ Kaylen glanced at her briefly before speaking. ¡°Arashiel. Your dark mana is unusual. Yes... it feels similar to the darkness that veils the face of the Celestial Demon.¡± At the mention that her mana resembled that of the Celestial Demon, a seductive smile graced Arashiel¡¯s lips. Her beauty was so fatal that even the non-beating heart of Johannes, who was following them, seemed to flutter. ¡®So it¡¯s true that Ernstine changed because of her.¡¯ When he thought back, it wasn¡¯t as though Ernstine had never encountered women as beautiful as Arashiel. Although none among the human race could compare. There were others ¡ª the High Elf Deluna and the Dwarf Queen Kaina ¡ª who possessed beauty capable of shaking nations. But those two... They were not the type to seduce men like she was. ¡®Well, maybe in the past. But now... it seems I¡¯m not falling for it.¡¯ Johannes sneaked a glance at Kaylen. Kaylen¡¯s gaze toward Arashiel was utterly calm. Instead, it was Johannes who kept getting distracted by the fallen angel, which he found troubling. ¡°In the past, you couldn¡¯t recognize dark mana at all. You¡¯ve grown, Emperor Kaylen.¡± ¡°Since I¡¯ve grown, the Celestial Demon now supports me, doesn¡¯t he? What exactly is that dark mana of yours?¡± ¡°I cannot answer that. It has nothing to do with this matter.¡± She didn¡¯t deny the peculiarity of her dark mana. However, Arashiel also didn¡¯t resolve Kaylen¡¯s curiosity. In reality, whether a fallen angel¡¯s dark mana was strange or not didn¡¯t matter much in the fight against the Dragon God. But Kaylen seemed to have anticipated such a response. ¡°Johannes. Give me the black Mana Stone.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± When Johannes retrieved the black Mana Stone from his subspace, Kaylen took it and held it up in front of Arashiel. ¡°We need to absorb the Mana Stone bestowed by the Celestial Demon into the Six Swords, but this black Mana Stone is concerning me.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the problem?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a unique dark mana emanating from you and the Celestial Demon. I can sense it in this as well. I¡¯m doubtful whether it¡¯s safe to absorb it as it is.¡± ¡°You can absorb it. In fact, it¡¯s far purer than the dark mana you currently possess.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s precisely the issue. It¡¯s too high-level. I need to have at least a rough idea of what it is before I can safely absorb it into the sword.¡± ¡°This is necessary to complete the Six Swords. As you said, this isn¡¯t unrelated to the matter at hand.¡± Arashiel stared at the black Mana Stone for a moment. Then, she slowly began to speak. ¡°How determined you are to learn about this dark mana.¡± ¡°I am.¡± ¡°Then, I suppose there¡¯s no reason not to tell you. This dark mana originates from the moon.¡± Arashiel pointed at the black Mana Stone with her finger. ¡°That stone was harvested from the moon. It is a Moonstone.¡± ¡°A Moonstone...¡± ¡°As you can see, the Celestial Demon is an absolute being who has claimed not only the Celestial Realm and the Demon Realm but also the moon itself. Emperor Kaylen, you should once again recognize His greatness. It would be wise not to entertain any foolish thoughts.¡± The Celestial Demon rules even the moon. Arashiel emphasized this, sternly warning Kaylen not to harbor any reckless ideas regarding the Celestial Demon. ¡°A Moonstone... So this dark mana is connected to the moon. Did you also possess lunar dark mana a thousand years ago?¡± ¡°Yes. Even then, the moon was already in His possession.¡± Arashiel turned her head coldly. ¡°Now that your question has been answered, proceed with your task.¡± ¡°Alright. Thank you for answering.¡± Arashiel seemed unwilling to provide any more information. Kaylen nodded, organizing his thoughts. ¡®Arashiel said the Celestial Demon has even claimed the moon... She spoke as if the god of this world was so powerful that He extended His dominion to the sky itself. ¡®But that reverses the sequence of events.¡¯ It was not that the Celestial Demon conquered the moon. An Outer God¡ª The absolute ruler of the moon had invaded this world. Kaylen was convinced of this. He recalled his past conversation with the Earth God. ¡ªIn return... Since I came all this way to tell you about the Celestial God, I¡¯ll give you a piece of information. ¡ªWhat is it? ¡ªThe reason the Celestial Demon came here. ¡ªAnd what is that? ¡ªTo destroy this planet and restore Planet Theia. Theia, the planet that once was the moon. Restoring it¡ªthat was the Celestial Demon¡¯s goal. ¡®I couldn¡¯t fully trust the Earth God¡¯s words back then... but now, I can.¡¯ With that thought, Kaylen recalled Ernstine¡¯s sword. ¡®The limitation of Ernstine¡¯s Six Sword Path¡ªDivine Slayer¡ª It was largely because he never fully grasped the true nature of the Celestial Demon.¡¯ Ernstine, who had been turned into an undead by the Celestial God and imprisoned... How could he have possibly known that the Celestial Demon was connected to the moon? ¡®If that¡¯s the case, then what I must do is...¡¯ Rumble. Kaylen poured the Mana Stone into the engraving of the Six Swords. Already immense in size, stretching far beyond the royal capital, the Six Swords greedily devoured the Mana Stone bestowed by the Celestial Demon, growing even larger. ¡°...That is an incredible size.¡± Even Arashiel, who had been watching closely as if to monitor him, seemed overwhelmed as she stared at the Six Swords. She was invisible to ordinary people, but to her ¡ª a fallen angel ¡ª the massive size of the sword was clearly visible. ¡®So this is why he asked for support with the Mana Stone.¡¯ The size of the Six Sword Path stretched endlessly. Even Arashiel couldn¡¯t begin to measure the aura contained within the sword. Seeing the completed Six Sword Path, created by a mere human like Kaylen, her eyes gleamed. ¡®Completely different from the rookie he was a thousand years ago.¡¯ Although his appearance remained the same as before... He was no longer the naive Ernestine who once swore loyalty to his first wife, only to fall so easily to Arashiel¡¯s temptation. ¡®Now I see why the Celestial Demon sent me down here personally.¡¯ Arashiel wasn¡¯t just an ordinary servant of the Celestial Demon. She was a direct descendant of the god, one of the highest ranks among the lunar clan, tasked with duties on the moon. ¡ª "Observe Kaylen closely and report his actions to me." This was the mission given to her personally by the Celestial Demon. However, many others in the lunar clan could have easily carried out such a task. This wasn¡¯t a mission that required someone of her caliber. She recalled the mission she was previously assigned. ¡®That mission... the last one I had on this planet.¡¯ It was a thousand years ago ¡ª to seduce Ernestine, who would become the seed of the Dragon God. ¡®It was too easy.¡¯ So easy, in fact, that she questioned whether she even needed to come down from the moon. Ernestine was utterly vulnerable to her charms. He was so utterly consumed by his desire for Arashiel that it went far beyond their initial objective. He was completely and blindly devoted to her. ¡®It won¡¯t be as easy this time...¡¯ Compared to the passionate gaze Ernestine once directed at her, Kaylen¡¯s eyes were cold. He only seemed interested in the fact that she was Arashiel, his second wife from a thousand years ago. There was no trace of romantic feelings. As someone from the lunar clan, where seduction was her natural talent, she could instinctively sense it. However... ¡®In the end, he¡¯s still a man.¡¯ Regardless of species, no male could escape her temptation. "Kaylen." Arashiel''s tone, which had remained professional until now, suddenly softened. "This Six Sword Path... It¡¯s truly beautiful." Her voice, once devoid of emotion, now carried a playful charm. She slowly closed the distance between herself and Kaylen. Even Johannes, watching from the sidelines, was taken aback by the sudden 180-degree shift in her demeanor. Anyone could see it ¡ª she was now openly attempting to seduce him after seeing the Six Sword Path. ¡®Damn... this is no joke.¡¯ An overt attempt at seduction. Given the events from a thousand years ago, and the suspicious nature of the Celestial Demon¡¯s servant, who would fall for such a ploy? And yet... Even though Johannes wasn¡¯t the target of her seduction, he found it hard to take his eyes off her. ¡®If I weren¡¯t undead, I¡¯d be jealous of the Emperor.¡¯ It was fortunate he was a Lich. Had he been human, he might have been captivated by Arashiel and started viewing Kaylen as a rival. Her sudden allure was so powerful that it was impossible to resist, even while being fully aware of it. "Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?" "Why else? I¡¯m doing this because I¡¯ve taken an interest in you." Arashiel lightly fluttered her wings and smiled at Kaylen. Kaylen looked at her sudden approach with disbelief. ¡®Oh... this is...?¡¯ As she began releasing dark mana from her entire body, it slowly started to coil around Kaylen. His expression shifted. Her one-sided advance, along with the dark mana she exuded, piqued Kaylen¡¯s interest. ¡®Was it like this back then as well? Did she extend the moon¡¯s dark mana toward me like this?¡¯ Back when Ernestine had fallen for Arashiel¡ª At the time, his level was still low, merely that of a Sword Master, so he hadn¡¯t noticed anything. But now, he could sense it clearly. How Arashiel¡¯s dark mana influenced him, how it made it difficult to take his eyes off her. "So now... are you trying to restore our relationship from a thousand years ago?" "This time, it¡¯s different." Arashiel spoke with a seductive smile. "Back then, I had no choice but to seduce you because it was an order... But now, I¡¯m genuinely drawn to your power." You should consider it an honor that I¡¯m showing you my sincerity. Even though she was the one seducing him, she acted as if she was the one in control. If it had been anyone else behaving like this, they wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance against her allure... "So... how about we try again?" Arashiel was enchanting enough to make such a proposal seem natural. However, Kaylen, the one being seduced, was flustered for a completely different reason. ¡®This is...¡¯ He had considered allowing himself to be slightly affected¡ª If only to observe how her dark mana worked. But it didn¡¯t stir anything within him at all. ¡®Why... is this happening?¡¯ Kaylen pondered for a moment¡ª ¡®Could it be... because I¡¯ve become the Six Sword Path?¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 217 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 217 ¡®If I hadn¡¯t realized I was the Six Sword Path... this wouldn¡¯t have happened.¡¯ Even if he hadn¡¯t completely fallen for her seduction, His heart would have wavered to some extent. ¡®It¡¯s definitely not a problem with this human body.¡¯ It had only been a few years since Kaylen inhabited this body, but all its functions were working perfectly¡ªno, vigorously. ¡®Even though I¡¯ve never used it.¡¯ That was only because he had seen how the Meier Empire collapsed when Emperor Ernestine self-destructed by having too many wives and children. Kaylen had thought it wise to restrain himself. If he had truly intended to, he could have acted on it anytime. It wasn¡¯t a matter of the body; it was a matter of the heart. And as Kaylen continued to accept Arashiel¡¯s dark mana without any inner turmoil, he felt an unexpected sense of bewilderment. But Arashiel was even more flustered than he was. ¡®...What is this? Why isn¡¯t my mana affecting him at all?¡¯ The Lunar Clan. Each one of them was powerful enough to rival a Demon King of the Demon Realm, And among them, Arashiel specialized in enchantment. She had seduced countless individuals. She knew better than anyone whether her charm was working or not. ¡®No matter how strong a human is... he¡¯s still a man.¡¯ If the target were a godlike being, it would be understandable. Gods had no gender, after all. But this... No matter how strong the human before her was, he was still a man. She had never imagined that any male lifeform¡ª Would be able to resist the irresistible allure of Arashiel. ¡®This doesn¡¯t make any sense.¡¯ Could it be that her dark mana was insufficient? With a serious expression, Arashiel released an even denser wave of dark mana. ¡°I... I¡¯m leaving first. I¡¯ll leave the Moonstone behind.¡± Johannes, who had been outside the range of Kaylen¡¯s intended target, panicked. He hastily threw the Moonstone onto the ground and retreated. Even as a mere bystander watching from afar, Johannes had nearly succumbed to Arashiel¡¯s genuine allure and fled before it was too late. ¡®...Even with all this, it¡¯s useless.¡¯ But¡ª Kaylen, standing right in front of her, only frowned slightly and tilted his head. "...What exactly did you do?" "I don¡¯t know. Why don¡¯t you try a little harder?" "Urgh... This doesn¡¯t make any sense." Arashiel stopped smiling, crossed her arms, and stared intently at Kaylen. "Are you... by any chance... a woman?" "Just because I didn¡¯t fall for your seduction, now you¡¯re trying to change my gender?" "Otherwise, this makes no sense... If you¡¯re male, you should obviously be enchanted...!" "Maybe you¡¯re just not attractive enough." Kaylen let out a soft chuckle as he poured mana stones into the Six Sword Path insignia. As she watched Kaylen focus more on raising the sword on the ground than on the enchantment of a beauty capable of bringing nations to ruin, Arashiel felt an overwhelming sense of defeat¡ªsomething she had never experienced before. "Ugh... If that¡¯s the case...!" Flash. A brilliant light burst from Arashiel. Her black wings began to turn pure white. The fallen angel¡ª Had now transformed into a black-haired male angel. Her previous female form had been breathtakingly beautiful, But this male form was just as stunning, capable of shaking an entire nation. Now in his male angelic form, Arashiel confidently declared, ¡°So you¡¯ve been pretending to be a man all this time, Emperor Kaylen! This form should work...!¡± ¡°That¡¯s disgusting. Change back, Arashiel.¡± ¡°Hmph. You¡¯re flustered, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious. Change back before I throw you out.¡± ¡°...Fine.¡± Only when Kaylen¡¯s expression turned to one of genuine disgust did Arashiel finally revert to her original fallen angel form. ¡®Not even as a woman...?¡¯ Her face sank with disappointment, and she lowered her head. ¡°You should refine your skills and try again. Right now, you have no appeal whatsoever.¡± While speaking, Kaylen absorbed and analyzed the dark mana Arashiel had been releasing. Her genuine attempts at seduction had allowed him to come into contact with more of her dark mana. If she spread it further, it would only be to his advantage. ¡°Or... are you not confident?¡± ¡°Tch. If I returned to my true form, someone like you would have fallen for me in an instant. Consider yourself lucky.¡± ¡°Oh? Your true form?¡± At the mention of her true form, Arashiel¡¯s eyebrows twitched for a moment¡ª But she quickly regained her composure. ¡°I¡¯ve said too much.¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You sounded so confident earlier. Why don¡¯t you come in your true form and try seducing me?¡± ¡°...That would be impossible without the god¡¯s permission.¡± ¡°Then go get permission. The Celestial Demon already promised to grant me anything I need. That¡¯s why you¡¯re even here, isn¡¯t it?¡± At this, Arashiel responded with a serious expression, ¡°This has nothing to do with the defeat of the Dragon God. The Celestial Demon would never allow it.¡± ¡°Hah... so you¡¯re just afraid. Fine, then. Just keep fiddling around with that weak dark mana of yours.¡± Kaylen scoffed and poured mana stones into the Six Sword Path insignia. Arashiel gritted her teeth¡ªthen smirked. ¡°Very well.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll make a special request to the Celestial Demon on your behalf.¡± Then, she added, ¡°If I get permission... you will become my slave. I¡¯ll drag you to the moon with a leash around your neck, so look forward to it.¡± Turning him into a slave and taking him to the moon¡ª Kaylen only shrugged and replied, ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± * * * Geysir Empire The empire that ruled the western lands of the Aberia continent¡ª Had been engulfed in flames in just a matter of days. A massive fire had erupted as the incompletely revived Dragon God sought to absorb more power. It consumed all life indiscriminately¡ª Devouring animals, plants, and humans alike, Reducing the lands of Geysir to blackened ash. [Still... not enough...] Even after absorbing everything within the empire, The Dragon God felt unsatisfied. Though the power it had regained was beyond expectations, The real problem lay elsewhere. The Infinity of the Spirit Realm has been destroyed... The Dragon God had been drawing mana from the world through the Infinity of the Spirit Realm, allowing continuous mana recovery. But now, because of Kaylen ¡ª something completely unexpected ¡ª the infinite mana supply had been severed. ''That doesn''t mean I can''t recover mana at all, but...'' However, considering the inevitable confrontation with the Celestial Demon, this posed a serious problem. A battle against the Celestial Demon, who had even conquered the Demon Realm, would be fierce. The severing of the infinite loop might not matter in a short battle, but in the long term, it would be a significant blow. ''I cannot be satisfied with just Geysir''s domain.'' The Dragon God''s flames slowly began to advance toward the eastern part of the continent. By devouring all humans, the Dragon God aimed to end this with a short-term victory. Although Kaylen, who wielded the sword that could shatter stars, was a concern... ''He will not be able to handle my power now.'' After all, the power the Dragon God had gained by consuming the entirety of Geysir was the strongest among all Dragon Gods in history. Thus, the colossal wave of flames gradually reached the borders of the Lahendra Kingdom, where the flag of the Starn Empire stood tall. [Become a part of me.] A voice echoed from the towering wave of flames. It was a solemn voice of a god that left the already demoralized defenders of the Lahendra Kingdom powerless. ¡°H-How are we supposed to stop that...?¡± ¡°It¡¯s... it¡¯s over...¡± As the mages, overwhelmed by the Dragon God''s voice, let their hands drop and stared blankly at the advancing wave of flames... [Where do you think you¡¯re going?] Fwoooosh! A radiant white barrier of light rose, blocking the wave of flames. A miracle descending from the sky. The eyes of the soldiers who had resigned themselves to death widened in astonishment. ¡°F-From the sky...¡± ¡°Light has descended!¡± A divine grace that no one had expected had come down to the earth. And it wasn¡¯t just at the borders of Lahendra. The enormous veil of light stretched across the entire border of the Meier Empire. [You...!] The flames rose even higher, attempting to engulf the entire world. It was a scene straight out of hell. But the veil of light also expanded accordingly, standing firm against the wave of flames. ¡°W-We¡¯ll be okay... right?¡± ¡°Of course. The Celestial God will protect us.¡± Even as they trembled in fear, the people prayed to the Celestial God. After all, they believed that the Celestial God would always protect them in times of true crisis. Ever since the dungeon portal disaster, faith that had waned had been rapidly restored. [I never expected you to protect humans.] [Huhu. You seem impatient, Dragon God. Is it because the Infinity was destroyed?] [That is merely a small part of the whole.] [We¡¯ll see about that. The sword meant for you is almost ready.] The Celestial Demon. Had he already made contact with Kaylen and was now protecting him? He couldn''t hide his growing impatience. ¡®If this turns into a prolonged battle, it¡¯ll be to my disadvantage...!¡¯ If not for Kaylen, he could have methodically severed the Celestial God''s limbs, relying on the infinite recovery of mana. What was that sword, really? Why had it twisted everything so badly? Fwoooosh! The Dragon God''s flames surged even higher, piercing part of the veil of light. [You¡¯re in a hurry.] However, along with the Celestial Demon¡¯s sneer, the veil quickly restored itself. The flames that had briefly crossed the wall were instantly extinguished. [I¡¯ll make sure you never rise again.] As the two gods clashed at the borders of the Starn Empire... In the capital city of Alzass, an uninvited guest visited Myorn¡¯s workshop. ¡°You were here.¡± A dazzling beauty with fiery red hair. Her body flickered as if elementalized, with flames rippling over her form. ¡°And... who are you?¡± ¡°I am Kaina, the Dwarf Queen. Your grandmother.¡± ¡°Grandmother...?¡± Myorn stared at Kaina with disbelief. The Dwarf Queen Kaina? Wasn¡¯t she from a thousand years ago? ¡®But... she¡¯s definitely the Queen. The flow of fire that surrounds her...¡¯ It carried the unmistakable signature unique to the Dwarf Queen. And the level she exuded was on an entirely different plane from Myorn¡¯s own. ¡°Would you do this grandmother a small favor?¡± Kaina smiled brightly as she slowly approached Myorn. It was a smile beautiful enough to belong to a goddess. Yet, Myorn felt a chill run down her spine and instinctively stepped back. ¡°And... what favor would that be?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing much. Just...¡± Kaina slowly extended her hand toward Myorn. As her smile grew darker... Chiiiiik¡ª! ¡°If it¡¯s nothing, then don¡¯t even bother saying it.¡± A single sword sliced cleanly through Kaina¡¯s arm. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 218 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 218 ¡°Oh my.¡± As the severed arm dissolved into flames and vanished, Kaina raised an eyebrow before speaking in a welcoming tone. ¡°Our ma... no. Has my dear husband truly arrived?¡± ¡°How unpleasant. Why don¡¯t you just call me a fake like you usually do?¡± ¡°Hoho. I wouldn¡¯t dare commit such rudeness.¡± Fwoosh¡ª As they spoke, flames flared up from Kaina¡¯s severed arm, and a new arm formed in its place. ¡°You realized I was here rather quickly.¡± ¡°With such a suspicious aura spilling out all over the capital, it was impossible not to notice.¡± ¡°Hehe. More than that... isn¡¯t it because of the presence of the Six Sword Path, which can be felt even here?¡± ¡®Sharp as ever.¡¯ The pattern of the Six Sword Path that had begun in the royal palace¡ª Under the full support of the Celestial Demon, it had rapidly expanded... Now, it had grown beyond the capital of Alzass, reaching even the surrounding lands. ¡®I can now sense the mana flow across all the land the sword has extended to.¡¯ Perhaps at this point, Rather than Kaylen¡¯s physical body, the Six Sword Path spreading beyond the capital could be considered his true form. Because of that, any disturbance in mana within its domain could be felt immediately. ¡®In Kaina¡¯s case, her fire mana was simply too intense.¡¯ She might have thought she snuck in unnoticed, But the moment she stepped into the Six Sword Path¡¯s domain, she was bound to be discovered. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for my dear husband, the Dragon God¡¯s flames would have already engulfed the world.¡± Had she realized that with his presence, she could no longer touch Myorn? Kaina smiled brightly as she gazed at Kaylen. ¡°Even now, the western border is filled with the Dragon God¡¯s flames.¡± ¡°If you had done nothing, it wouldn¡¯t have been just the western border. The entire Iberia continent would have been purified by the Dragon God¡¯s flames¡ªincluding that detestable Celestial Demon.¡± ¡°Good thing that didn¡¯t happen.¡± ¡°All because of you, things have gone awry. Hehe. Why did you have to come back to life...?¡± A radiant smile adorned Kaina¡¯s face. Yet, watching from the side, Myorn felt a chill run down her spine. The intense hostility hidden behind that smile was sharp enough to make her hairs stand on end. ¡®This isn¡¯t the Kaina I know...¡¯ The Kaina spoken of in the oral traditions passed down among the dwarves¡ª In those tales, she was the wife of the hero Ernstine and the one who led the Black Anvil Clan to greater prosperity. ¡®I heard she was endlessly gentle and kind... but the presence I feel now is anything but. The killing intent is no joke.¡¯ No matter how much she smiled, the aura she exuded was anything but warm. Myorn stared at Kaina with trembling eyes. ¡®And to think she¡¯s my grandmother...¡¯ Myorn¡ª A name derived from the dwarven pronunciation of ¡®Meier.¡¯ The name itself was proof of her bloodline connection to Kaina. After Kaina had established the Myorn surname within the dwarven clan... Many dwarves had changed their surnames to this one. Because of that, Myorn had never seriously considered the possibility that Kaina was truly her grandmother. ¡®Then... does that mean Kaylen is my grandfather?¡¯ She shifted her gaze back and forth, looking at the two in turn. The grandfather had just sliced off the grandmother¡¯s arm. The grandmother had spat out words filled with hatred, asking why he was still alive. For a married couple, the murderous intent between them was overwhelming. ¡°Why did you approach Myorn?¡± ¡°Myorn... do you know what that name means?¡± ¡°I do. Doesn¡¯t it mean ¡®Meier¡¯?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. And since she bears the surname Myorn, it is only natural that she must always be prepared to sacrifice herself for Meier.¡± Kaina smiled brightly as she looked at her granddaughter. ¡°Myorn¡¯s mana shouldn¡¯t be enough for this. Kaina, was it really worth coming all this way?¡± ¡°Hehe. You¡¯re right. She has the potential to unleash the firepower of ten thousand dwarves, but with the war of the gods already underway, that isn¡¯t particularly relevant anymore.¡± With that, Kaina pointed downward. ¡°But she can still serve as a bomb to disrupt this loathsome Six Sword Path, even if only a little.¡± ¡°She¡¯s your granddaughter, yet you intend to detonate her?¡± ¡°Of course! Everything is for the glory of the great Dragon God! As the Dwarven Queen, she should consider it an honor. Right, Myorn?¡± ¡°W-what...? No! A bomb?! That¡¯s ridiculous!¡± Thud. Myorn shook her fur in denial. For the first time, the smile disappeared from Kaina¡¯s face. ¡°What did you say? What did you just say?¡± ¡°I... I won¡¯t do it...¡± ¡°A dwarf... dares to reject becoming the Dragon¡¯s flame?¡± Sssss¡ª Hair began to sprout rapidly from Kaina¡¯s body, spreading in all directions. It resembled Myorn¡¯s fur¡ª But each strand was made entirely of fire. ¡°Dwarves were born to become the Dragon¡¯s flame. They should naturally consider it an honor... Yet you would defy the clan¡¯s sacred decree?¡± At the mention of the clan¡¯s decree, Myorn responded in disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s nothing more than an outdated tradition. No dwarf actually sacrifices themselves anymore.¡± ¡°No dwarf, you say? Hohoho.¡± The flames around Kaina surged upward, taking the form of multiple dwarves. Dwarves whose faces were twisted in agony. Though they were made of fire, each expression was disturbingly lifelike. ¡°They are right here. The Black Anvil Clan.¡± ¡°...No way!¡± ¡°All of them have become the Dragon¡¯s flames.¡± Myorn couldn¡¯t believe her eyes. Among the dwarves Kaina had conjured from her flames, there were many familiar faces. These weren¡¯t just illusions shaped from fire. They were real sacrifices¡ªdwarves whom Kaina had burned and absorbed. Kaina gazed at the suffering forms of the dwarves surrounding her, a satisfied smile on her face. ¡°You too. Come here quickly.¡± She gestured toward Myorn. As the former Dwarven Queen and the Marquise of Helmeier, her voice carried an eerie power. So much so that Myorn, trembling in fear after witnessing her clan¡¯s sacrifice firsthand, found herself momentarily dazed. ¡°Ah...¡± If this continued, she would helplessly succumb to Kaina¡¯s will and become the Dragon¡¯s flame. But¡ª ¡°Are you done talking?¡± Slash. Kaylen¡¯s sword sliced through Kaina¡¯s neck. ¡°I was waiting to see if you had anything new to say.¡± ¡°You...¡± ¡°There¡¯s nothing useful in your words. The only relevant thing you¡¯ve said is that Myorn is my granddaughter.¡± ¡°Heh... Do you really think I¡¯ll disappear just like this? Even your Sword Deity Manifestation couldn¡¯t incapacitate me.¡± Even as her head was severed, Kaina sneered at Kaylen. And she wasn¡¯t wrong. Back when they first encountered each other at sea¡ª Kaylen had used the Six Sword Path¡¯s Sword Deity Manifestation, yet he had failed to finish her off. He hadn¡¯t been able to stop her escape, which was linked to Infinity. ¡°This time, you won¡¯t escape, Kaina.¡± But now, things were different. Kaylen, who had forged the sword that could eradicate Infinity, had been waiting for this troublesome enemy to walk right into his domain. He was prepared to annihilate her. Six Sword Path¡ªOne Sword¡ªSword Realm. As the sword¡¯s barrier enclosed Kaina from all sides, for the first time, her expression twisted with surprise¡ªshe hadn¡¯t expected this sword to appear here. ¡°Why... This...¡± ¡°Disappointed? That it¡¯s just a sword barrier?¡± Swish. Before Kaylen even finished speaking, dozens of water-forged swords rose from the workshop floor. Each blade immediately began severing Kaina¡¯s flames, strand by strand. ¡°I found it strange. Even after being exposed so quickly, you didn¡¯t try to run. You just kept talking.¡± ¡°Were you hoping to experience the sword that destroys Infinity firsthand?¡± ¡°...Hmph. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± ¡°Even if you detonated Myorn. No¡ª even if you became the detonation catalyst yourself.¡± Kaylen looked down at Kaina with an unimpressed expression. ¡°It wouldn¡¯t harm me in the slightest.¡± ¡°Tch...¡± ¡°In other words, in this situation, you are utterly useless.¡± No matter how powerful Kaina was¡ª even if she was the strongest among the Helmeier clan and wielded the immense power of the Dwarven Queen¡¯s flames¡ª The gap between her and Kaylen, who had fully unleashed the Six Sword Path, was simply too vast. No matter what she did, she couldn¡¯t harm him. ¡°So, wasn¡¯t it because you wanted to experience the sword that destroys Infinity?¡± ¡°But using that sword against you would be excessive.¡± ¡°Tch...¡± ¡°Now, disappear.¡± ¡°W-Wait...¡± Kaina tried to say something in response to Kaylen¡¯s death sentence but shut her mouth. ¡®The Dragon God told me... to shake the imposter... But why didn¡¯t the Dragon God absorb Kaina?¡¯ It was because, as Ernstine¡¯s seventh wife, she was deemed the perfect tool to shake Kaylen. Rather than absorbing her power, it was more beneficial to use her to obstruct the one who would become a true threat¡ªKaylen. But¡ª As Kaina looked at Kaylen before her, she realized the truth. ¡®That gaze... He¡¯s not in a state where he can be shaken.¡¯ His entire being radiated a singular intent¡ªto erase her completely. No matter what she said now, he would not waver. ¡®I wanted to take on the sword that destroys stars myself and report back to the Dragon God...¡¯ But now that even that had been anticipated¡ª All she could do was wait for death. Dozens, then hundreds of water-forged swords rose, completely dismantling Kaina¡¯s body. ¡°Ah...¡± In an instant, her flames were extinguished. For a brief moment, it seemed as if her body was returning to its original form. But then¡ª Her entire body froze solid, turning into an ice statue. And then¡ª Crack, crack... Starting from her feet, Kaina¡¯s frozen form crumbled into dust, scattering into the wind. The essence of fire, the very foundation of the Dwarven Queen¡¯s existence, had vanished entirely¡ªKaina disappeared as ice. Watching this, Myorn was certain. ¡®...She¡¯s really gone.¡¯ Kaina, the greatest figure in the history of the Black Anvil clan, had been completely erased. Seeing it unfold before her eyes, Myorn felt a whirlwind of emotions. Recalling how Kaina had threatened her life, she should have felt relieved¡ª But watching her grandfather annihilate her grandmother right before her eyes left her with a strange feeling. At that moment¡ª ¡°...Step back, Myorn.¡± Ssshhh... The ice dust on the ground began to melt. The water pooled together, taking shape once more. What formed was a girl, even smaller than a low-rank water spirit like an Undine. She appeared utterly unthreatening. Yet¡ª Kaylen¡¯s face hardened. ¡°Who are you?¡± [It is a pleasure to meet you.] The water-formed girl bowed politely as she introduced herself. [I am the Water God.] [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 219 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 219 ¡°Water God...¡± Myorn tilted her head in confusion at the girl who called herself the Water God. But Kaylen remained on guard, his expression rigid. ¡®This world is resonating with her.¡¯ The Water God had appeared in the very place where Kaina had vanished. From the moment she revealed herself, the mana in the space naturally flowed toward her. She was barely the size of a fingertip on the outside¡ª But in essence, she was no different from the mana that made up the world itself. ¡®Only the Six Sword Path remains unaffected. Everything beyond that realm is already being taken.¡¯ The floor of Myorn¡¯s workshop was occupied by the Six Sword Path, its forms passing through. But above that¡ªeverything belonged to the domain of the sword. Before the Water God appeared, all the mana within the sword¡¯s domain had been Kaylen¡¯s to control freely... Yet the moment she revealed herself, the mana naturally fell under her dominion. She had a presence more than worthy of being called a god. [Could you spare a moment to listen to me?] Yet, despite her overwhelming presence¡ª Her demeanor was nothing but polite. [Please...] No, more than polite¡ª She even seemed desperate. ¡®There¡¯s no hostility.¡¯ Kaylen thought as much and asked her, ¡°The Water God... Had you not already fully become the Dragon God?¡± [Yes. Most of me transformed into the Dragon God to eliminate the foreign threat. However, I preserved the foundation necessary to sustain this planet.] Saying this, the Water God looked at herself as if troubled. [Truthfully, I had intended to meet you in a more proper form... But this was the limit to avoid the Celestial Demon God¡¯s gaze. Even using the Dragon God¡¯s herald as a medium wasn¡¯t enough.] The Dragon God¡¯s herald. Kaylen turned to the spot where Kaina had vanished. ¡®She didn¡¯t even try to resist my sword.¡¯ Had she already known that she would become the Water God¡¯s vessel upon her death? ¡®That fanatic was consistent, even in the face of death.¡¯ Kaylen ended his thoughts about Kaina there and asked the Water God, ¡°So, what is it you want to say?¡± [You¡¯re willing to listen?!] ¡°I can at least hear you out.¡± Myorn, watching from the side with her arms crossed, silently observed Kaylen looking down at the Water God. Before she knew it, she found herself feeling that he was being disrespectful. ¡®W-Why am I thinking like this...?¡¯ At first, the mana the Water God emitted was so faint that Myorn hadn¡¯t even realized she was a deity. But after hearing her speak a few times, Myorn unconsciously felt the urge to lower herself before her. It made sense¡ªafter all, every living being on land was, in one way or another, under the Water God¡¯s influence. But unlike Myorn, Kaylen remained as composed as ever. ¡°Then, speak.¡± At that moment, the Water God suddenly bowed deeply. [Please, save us.] ¡°W-Water God?!¡± [The Celestial Demon God seeks to destroy this world. If we lose to him, this planet will be utterly annihilated.] "......" [If you do not intervene, we can banish him. But if you choose to aid him... this world has no future.] So, even after descending in person, this was all the Water God had to say? A mere plea for mercy. Kaylen smirked bitterly. ¡°Well. To me, whether it¡¯s the Dragon God or the Celestial Demon God, one is no different from the other. No... considering the harm your side has inflicted on the Meier clan, you are the ones I detest more.¡± [Even so... If this planet disappears, humanity will lose its home. The flourishing of life here was nothing short of a miraculous outcome born from countless coincidences. If this world is destroyed, there will be no place left for living beings to exist.] ¡°What, didn¡¯t the Celestial Demon God come from the moon? If he did, then doesn¡¯t that mean there¡¯s land on the moon where life can survive?¡± [......What?] The Water God was visibly shaken at Kaylen¡¯s words. [He came from the moon? What are you talking about?!] ¡°You didn¡¯t know?¡± [That... That¡¯s impossible. His former self was the Celestial God! A god of the heavens, a god of light who freely wields the power of the sun. How could he possibly have come from the moon?!] ¡°Well, the sun rises on the moon too, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Kaylen said as he observed her. ¡®She¡¯s never even considered a connection between the Celestial Demon God and the moon.¡¯ Despite fighting for so long, she knew less than he did. ¡®At this rate, the Celestial Demon God has way too much of an advantage.¡¯ A prolonged battle between the two gods would only favor him. Kaylen decided to share what he had learned from the Earth God. ¡°The Earth God told me¡ªhis goal is to restore Theia.¡± [The Earth God... Did he really say that?] The moment his name was mentioned, the desperation on the Water God¡¯s face vanished, replaced by an icy coldness. It was a complete shift from the pleading expression she had worn moments ago. ¡®So, this is her true face.¡¯ Kaylen could tell. There was no way an absolute existence like her would genuinely beg for her life. [Answer me.] ¡°Yeah. He admitted it himself when he spoke of contacting the Celestial Demon God in the Abyssal Void.¡± [......So the Earth God has already made contact. No, of course he has. The Celestial God has already conquered the Demon Realm. If he used the Abyssal Void, he could have easily made contact...] The Water God muttered to herself. Unlike before, she now anxiously chewed on her thumb. [Kaylen, then... knowing this, are you still helping the Celestial Demon God?] ¡°And?¡± [You are aware that restoring Theia means the complete destruction of this planet, aren¡¯t you?] Watching her questioning him with such a demanding tone, Kaylen smirked. ¡°You don¡¯t seem to understand the position of someone making a request, Water God.¡± [......Ah.] ¡°He swore on the name of the Celestial Demon God to preserve the territory of the Starn Empire. But what can you offer me?¡± [I... I will also promise to preserve the Human Realm. I swear it on my name!] ¡°So, the same terms as the Celestial Demon God.¡± Kaylen, uninterested, waved his hand dismissively. The Water God hurriedly spoke. [No, please wait! Do you really believe his words? To restore Theia, he must destroy this planet... Do you truly think he will keep his promise to preserve the Human Realm?] ¡°I don¡¯t believe him entirely.¡± If the Celestial Demon God¡¯s true goal was Theia¡¯s restoration, then this planet would inevitably have to be destroyed. No matter how much he swore on his name, trusting him was difficult. ¡°But you¡¯re just as untrustworthy.¡± Swoosh. Kaylen slowly lifted his foot. His foot moved toward where the Water God stood. [You... you¡¯re not serious.] As Kaylen¡¯s shadow fell over her, the Water God¡¯s voice trembled with disbelief. ¡°Next time, bring better terms to convince me.¡± Crack! Without mercy, Kaylen stomped her down. [This... this is impossible...! How dare you!!] Up until the moment she was trampled, she had never truly believed he would go through with it. The Water God screamed hysterically as she vanished. ¡°H-How could you... to a god...?¡± Myorn¡¯s expression was one of sheer disbelief. ¡°The ones I¡¯m fighting are all gods too. What makes the Water God any different?¡± Kaylen casually dispelled his sword aura. At that moment, a black light descended from the ceiling, and the fallen angel Arashiel hurriedly entered Myorn¡¯s workshop. ¡°What happened?!¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. The Dragon God¡¯s envoy came to negotiate.¡± ¡°W-What?!¡± How could that be considered nothing? Arashiel was visibly shocked. ¡°So, I just crushed her.¡± Kaylen gestured nonchalantly to his foot. Arashiel looked at the water pooling beneath Kaylen¡¯s feet. Sensing the ominous mana within the droplets, his expression grew serious. ¡°......Can you tell me exactly what the Dragon God¡¯s envoy said?¡± ¡°It was obvious. She wanted me to join their side.¡± ¡°You truly refused, correct?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t believe me?¡± Kaylen ground his foot against the water once more before stepping back. Arashiel looked down at the water beneath his feet, then slowly nodded. ¡°......I believe you.¡± ¡°I see. But were you watching me or something? How did you know to come so quickly?¡± ¡°The Celestial Demon God told me to check on you. He briefly sensed an unusual power.¡± With that, Arashiel¡¯s previously serious expression completely shifted into a bright smile as he approached Kaylen. ¡°And watching you? You know my heart, don¡¯t you?¡± ¡°What am I supposed to know?¡± ¡°That I adore you. That¡¯s why I simply don¡¯t want to leave your side.¡± Even after experiencing rejection before, was he really trying to smooth things over with just a smile? Kaylen spoke with an unyielding expression. ¡°I did make a deal with the Celestial Demon God. But it was an agreement between equals, nothing more. He has no right to watch over me.¡± ¡°So, that means...¡± ¡°Enough. Don¡¯t spy on me again. If you do, I¡¯ll cut off your head next time.¡± ¡°A-All right...¡± Arashiel forced a nod with a smile. ¡®H-How could he...¡¯ His body and wings trembled. It was the first time he had ever been treated this coldly by someone he was interested in. ¡®...This won¡¯t do. I¡¯ll have to come in my true form.¡¯ He couldn¡¯t accept defeat like this. Arashiel resolved to return as the "Lunar True Form," one that could completely captivate Kaylen. ¡®This bastard... I¡¯ll make him my slave, no matter what.¡¯ [So, you failed after all.] [Tch. That insolent wretch...!] [It was a pointless effort.] The Dragon God communicated with the will of the Water God that resided within him. [Instead of wasting time on that, you should trust in my strength. My full self¡ªbowing to a mere human. Do you have no pride as a god?] [Pride means nothing compared to preserving this planet.] [And yet, you were trampled underfoot.] [...Shut up!] She had set out confidently, claiming she would persuade him. Seeing the Water God return in disgraceful failure, the Dragon God scoffed. Kaylen. There wasn¡¯t a single thing he liked about the man. ¡®But the way he toyed with the Water God... that was entertaining.¡¯ As the Dragon God was thinking this¡ª Within the immense flames that made up his body, an anomaly began to emerge. [This is...?] Though it was only a small fraction of the massive fire engulfing the entire Geysir continent, The Dragon God couldn¡¯t hide his surprise at the presence of a foreign mana within his flames. To have gone unnoticed even by his own eyes... The strange mana soon gathered¡ª And took form. It was a shape the Dragon God knew well. [The Six Sword Path...] Seeing it, the Dragon God recalled his past battle with Kaylen when he was still incomplete. He had lost to him back then. But he had believed that by absorbing the Six Sword Path¡¯s mana left in the ground, he had further perfected Infinity... [So, he had infiltrated me since then!] Srrr... The Six Sword Path slowly began to rotate. And from within it, Kaylen¡¯s voice echoed. ¡°Now that the surveillance is gone, let¡¯s negotiate again, Water God.¡± [Y-You...!] ¡°Did you prepare better terms this time?¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 220 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 220 [The Dragon God made contact...?] ¡°Yes. He said he rejected the Dragon God¡¯s offer.¡± [And the only proof of that is his word?] ¡°...That¡¯s correct.¡± The Celestial Demon God listened to Arashiel¡¯s report, his wings fluttering slightly. ¡®I can¡¯t be certain whether he truly refused.¡¯ The current situation remained at a stalemate¡ªAveria Continent was split between east and west, with the Celestial Demon God¡¯s barrier of light and the Dragon God¡¯s flames locked in an ongoing confrontation. ¡®The Dragon God¡¯s power is beyond expectations.¡¯ Even though the Dragon God¡¯s resurrection was incomplete, he was still far stronger than anticipated. Despite the Celestial God having obtained the power of the Demon Realm, most of his energy was being used just to hold back the Dragon God¡¯s flames. If the Dragon God had fully revived¡ª Then the one being pushed back right now would have been the Celestial Demon God. ¡®He kept dying and reviving, gradually perfecting his mana... He¡¯s become a real problem.¡¯ The Dragon God had repeatedly died and come back to life. And through that cycle, he had only grown stronger. At first, he mainly wielded water mana. But each time he died, he gained a new element. By the time the Averia Continent was formed, he had gained mastery over all six great elements. ¡®A thousand years ago, back when he was Ernstine, he was still incomplete, so I was able to suppress him...¡¯ But now, things were different. Even though the Celestial Demon God had done everything in his power to hinder him, and it had worked to some extent¡ª The Dragon God¡¯s power, sharpened over a thousand years of preparation, was overwhelming. Even the Celestial Demon God himself was somewhat unsettled. ¡®Originally, I only intended for Kaylen to finish the job...¡¯ The greatest issue with eliminating the Dragon God was his infinite regeneration. As a god tied to this planet, no matter how many times he was destroyed, he always came back even stronger. The Celestial Demon God had believed that as long as the Dragon God had not fully completed Infinity, his resurrections wouldn¡¯t be a true threat. ¡®But now, things are different. If he revives just once more, the one being driven out of this world... might be me.¡¯ That was why Kaylen¡¯s role in completely ending the Dragon God was crucial. The plan had been to leave the final blow to him. ¡®But at this rate... I may need his sword much sooner.¡¯ To suppress this power that even the Dragon God had not foreseen¡ª Rather than waiting for the end, he needed to use Kaylen more proactively from now on. ¡®For that, I must make him completely mine.¡¯ And the Celestial Demon God had the perfect card to play. [Arashiel.] ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± The Celestial Demon God looked down at the fallen angel, Arashiel. [Can you descend upon this land in your true form?] ¡°Yes, I can. I won¡¯t be able to remain for long... but it will be more than enough time to captivate him.¡± Unconsciously, Arashiel¡¯s face lit up with excitement. The Celestial Demon God¡¯s mention of her true form¡ªArashiel immediately understood his true intent. The order to descend in her true form meant one thing: she was to use all her power to captivate Kaylen. ¡®Kaylen, you bastard! Let¡¯s see if you can keep up that arrogance after seeing my true form... Just wait and see.¡¯ Not long ago¡ª When he had warned her that he would cut off her head if she kept spying on him¡ª Her pride had been deeply wounded. But now, the Celestial Demon God had ordered her to appear in her true form and ensure that she completely enthralled him. Even if she hadn¡¯t dared to ask for it, this was exactly what she wanted. [Then prepare to descend. The sooner, the better.] "Understood!" Arashiel answered louder than ever, fully accepting the Celestial Demon God¡¯s command. ¡ª When Kaina had died and the Water God made contact above her remains¡ª Kaylen had immediately sensed a disturbance in the flow of external mana. ¡®The Celestial Demon God noticed.¡¯ The Water God had likely tried to enter as cautiously as possible. But deceiving the Celestial Demon God¡¯s eyes entirely was impossible. Kaylen, the one who wielded the sword capable of erasing the Dragon God¡ª There was no way the Celestial Demon God would sit back and allow his greatest trump card to slip away. The same went for the fallen angel Arashiel. Even if it wasn¡¯t her, there were undoubtedly eyes watching him. ¡®Up until now, it was just a suspicion.¡¯ But with the Water God¡¯s appearance¡ª It was now clear that the Celestial Demon God¡¯s gaze was fixed upon this place. ¡®That means we can¡¯t have a proper conversation here.¡¯ The barrier of the sword that had sealed Kaina also extended outward, preventing external surveillance. But how long would that last? The Celestial Demon God¡¯s power was immeasurable. There was no telling what method he might use to look inside. ¡®That¡¯s why I crushed the Water God.¡¯ If they were going to talk, it had to be somewhere far from the Celestial Demon God¡¯s reach¡ªsomewhere safer. Kaylen dismissed Arashiel. Then, without hesitation, he awakened the Six Swords he had embedded within the Dragon God¡¯s body and made contact with him. [...So the Six Swords had been inside my body all along.] The Dragon God, Meier. A thousand years ago, he had been Emperor Ernstine¡ªthe true master of the Six Swords. Which made it all the more shocking to him. ¡®I never even sensed the Six Swords inside me...¡¯ He had always dismissed them. Believed them to be nothing more than an inferior version of the Six Demon Blades. But now¡ª He realized they contained far more potential than he had ever imagined. Feeling a strange emotion rising within him, he turned to the Water God. [Water God. Do you intend to present him with new terms?] [......What is it that you want?] The pitiful voice from their first meeting was gone. Amidst the flames, the Water God¡¯s cold voice resounded. "What do I want?" Kaylen answered that question with a single phrase. "The departure of the gods." [......What do you mean by that?] "It means¡ªnever interfere with this world again." The Six Swords spun in the air before pointing their blades toward the surrounding flames. It seemed like they were scattering aimlessly, but in truth¡ª They were targeting the places where the auras of the Dragon God and the Water God, the two absolute deities, were most concentrated. "You have already destroyed countless continents. Trampled upon every possibility. All you ever focused on was strengthening the Dragon God. I understand the necessity of growing stronger against your enemies, but the devastation you¡¯ve brought upon the world is no different from what the Celestial Gods have done. Especially to mortals." Kaylen thought of Benedict. The High Elf who once ruled the Continent of Wind. The one who, after losing his homeland to sudden destruction, grew to despise the Dragon God and became a servant of the Celestial Gods. And he was not the only one. Many merfolk had suffered the same fate. Countless beings had allied with the Celestial Gods. It was all because these so-called gods had never once considered the well-being of the living creatures of the continents¡ª All they had ever cared about was strengthening the Dragon God to defeat the Celestial Gods. ¡®Looking at the past, it¡¯s clear¡ªthe situation humanity faces now is the same.¡¯ The Continent of Averia. The fifth continent, created to contain the mana of light and darkness. Even this land was at risk of following the path of the fallen continents before it. Kaylen had no intention of standing by and watching it happen. ¡®Even if I¡¯m not human myself.¡¯ His essence may have been that of the Six Swords, but his memories and will were one with Emperor Ernstine. Preserving the world of mankind¡ª That was Kaylen¡¯s goal. [......You are an insolent one, for a mere Six Sword.] At Kaylen¡¯s statement, the Dragon God remained silent for a moment before speaking. [This planet is a land born of miracles.] [Indeed. It is a world created by a convergence of countless coincidences.] The Water God continued, speaking in a solemn tone. [The collision with Teia, the Moon¡¯s progenitor, was an accident. But because of that impact, this land transformed into a place capable of sustaining life. Since then, it has been my role, as its guardian, to maintain this miracle.] "Is that so?" [Of course, we are well aware that our efforts have caused the rise and fall of countless lifeforms. However, it was a necessary act for the sake of this planet. There was not a shred of selfishness in our actions.] "No selfishness¡ªonly the intent to eliminate the Celestial Gods. Is that what you¡¯re saying?" [Precisely. We exist only to protect the land where life can be born. Whether that life be human, elf, or dwarf¡ªit is irrelevant. Our sole purpose as gods is to create and safeguard the foundation for life itself.] As long as the planet endured¡ª They did not care what lifeforms lived upon its surface. It was the mindset of the Water God, who represented the will of the planet. His stance differed from Kaylen¡¯s. [If we do not intervene, we will be unable to respond to future extraterrestrial threats that may arise. Your demand for our departure is something we cannot accept.] "Is that so? Then negotiations have failed." As the spinning Six Swords came to a stop and slowly began losing their aura, the Water God hurriedly spoke. [W-Wait...! You can¡¯t just leave like this!] "If the terms don¡¯t align, then it¡¯s over." [Even so, negotiations are about finding common ground...] "But you refused, didn¡¯t you?" As Kaylen prepared to step back, the Water God desperately tried to hold him back. Watching this unfold, the Dragon God spoke in a voice laced with irritation. [How insolent. Six Sword, your demand cannot be accepted.] "Dragon God, the one negotiating is the Water God. You should stay out of this." [What...!] "Aren¡¯t you merely a derivative of the Water God? You¡¯re nothing more than a means to an end. Stay out of this." The Six Swords, which had come to a halt, began to spin again, provoking the Dragon God. [You insolent...!] And those words seemed to strike a nerve. The flames flared up even more, swirling around the Six Swords. Their intensity was enough to seemingly burn the swords away entirely. But rather than cower, Kaylen let out a chuckle. "Heh. The Water God remains calm, yet... why are you getting so worked up, Dragon God?" [Water God! How long do you intend to stand by and watch this fool¡¯s insolence? You cower before a sword that destroyed Infinity!] [But...!] [Even if that sword once annihilated Infinity, it will be useless against me. I have become more complete than that mere elemental Infinity. There is no need to be dragged around by him.] As the Dragon God berated the Water God¡ª Kaylen¡¯s voice flowed from the Six Swords. "Then how about we put that to the test?" [What?] "Let¡¯s see if you can truly withstand this sword." [Kuh...! With just the aura contained within that blade?] "Take a good look at the sword and judge for yourself. You haven¡¯t forgotten everything about swords, have you, Dragon God?" Fwoooosh¡ª At Kaylen¡¯s words, the flames surged even higher, completely engulfing the Six Swords. [Fine. Show me what you¡¯ve got.] [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 221 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 221 Upon hearing Kaylen¡¯s proposal, Dragon God inwardly scoffed. ¡®This is an offer where I lose nothing.¡¯ The lingering force of the Six Sword Path, which lay dormant within Dragon God¡¯s body, was exceedingly weak. No matter how much Kaylen claimed to have forged a sword that could sever Infinity, it was nothing more than a mere demonstration. It would never be capable of extinguishing Dragon God¡¯s flames. ¡®If anything, watching how that sword manifests will allow me to prepare for it.¡¯ As Kaylen said, Dragon God considered the Six Sword Path to be worthless¡ªbut that didn¡¯t mean he had forgotten about it. If he could see firsthand how Kaylen wielded a sword capable of breaking Infinity, he could formulate a countermeasure. No matter how he looked at it, Kaylen¡¯s proposal was the reckless arrogance of an overconfident fool. [The Six Sword Path... You are but an offshoot of me. You will never surpass your origin. I will witness your sword with my own eyes and dismantle it immediately.] ¡°Oh? Looking forward to it, are you?¡± For a brief moment, an overwhelming aura erupted from the Six Sword Path¡ªthen, it condensed into a single point. The six blades, each imbued with a different element, merged into one, transforming into a single steel sword as their auras fused into one. Sssrrrr¡ª All around them, Dragon God¡¯s flames, which had been blazing uncontrollably, suddenly began to subside¡ªas if recoiling from the steel sword. ¡®This... this is...?¡¯ Transcendence Realm: Star Extinction. For the first time, Dragon God directly witnessed the completed sword. From the moment the blades merged into one, he could not suppress his unease. ¡®This... this is different from the previous Six Sword Path.¡¯ Fire, Water, Wind, Light, Darkness. The six elemental auras. The Six Sword Path had spawned countless variations of itself. Rather than a mere swordsmanship style, it had functioned more like a grand spell¡ªso much so that even the greatest archmages instinctively recoiled at its presence. Dragon God had thoroughly analyzed every possible technique derived from that sword. Even those he had not personally created, he had already foreseen and prepared for. ¡®I had believed that what succeeded it¡ªthe Six Demon Path¡ªwas its ultimate evolution. That the Six Sword Path was nothing more than its lesser, inferior form.¡¯ But this was different. On the surface, it was a simple steel sword. And yet¡ª This was a miracle beyond the limits of the Six Sword Path, a blade capable of severing the infinite loop and eradicating stars themselves. A sword that even Dragon God, for all his calculations, could never have predicted¡ªa blade that was his very nemesis. ¡®...Even seeing it with my own eyes, I can hardly believe it.¡¯ Back then, when the Water Goddess entrusted everything to him and slumbered within him¡ªwhen she spoke of awakening after Infinity was shattered to try and persuade Kaylen¡ª He had thought she was wasting her time. ¡ªIt is astonishing that Infinity was broken... But that does not mean you, as the Water Goddess, should disgrace yourself by intervening. He had tried to dissuade her. Yet, when she insisted on going, only to be crushed by Kaylen, he had inwardly sneered at her folly. ¡®No matter how much he claimed to have created a sword that could destroy Infinity, I had assumed it would have its limits...¡¯ But now, seeing the steel sword Kaylen had just forged¡ª That assumption wavered, shaken from its very foundation. ¡®...That sword itself can certainly be subdued.¡¯ The Dragon God¡¯s flames¡ª And the amount of mana contained within that steel sword¡ªthere was no comparison. If the Dragon God¡¯s flames held mana as vast as an ocean, Then the aura of that steel sword was nothing more than a single drop of water. ¡®But... if more aura is added to it, and if mana serves as its foundation?¡¯ It was nothing but a dull, blunt steel sword, showing no sharpness whatsoever. Yet, with the right aura to support it... That sword would effortlessly shatter stars and sever the infinite loop. The Dragon God knew this truth based on the memories of his former self, Ernstine. ¡®He has fully grasped Infinity... How? How could something as lowly as the Six Sword Path create such a sword...?!¡¯ The greatest sword he had ever forged as Ernstine was Six Sword Manifestation¡ª A technique that harnessed all the attributes of the Six Sword Path. He had believed that no sword beyond that could ever be conceived. With a trembling voice, the Dragon God asked, [...What is the name of that sword?] ¡°Star Extinction.¡± [A sword that annihilates stars... A fitting name indeed. Just those two words alone tell me that you have completely unraveled the nature of Infinity. That this sword itself is a star.] ¡°That¡¯s right. Because Infinity existed within me, I was able to comprehend it. To sever the infinite loop in reverse and collapse the core of the stars.¡± [...] The form of the sword gradually blurred before returning to its original state¡ªthe Six Sword Path. Even if it was merely a demonstration, Star Extinction was a sword that reached the realm of transcendence. It was impossible to maintain it for long with such a feeble aura. [...I don¡¯t want to admit it.] But¡ª The intent behind Kaylen¡¯s creation of that sword had thoroughly struck the Dragon God. [That sword... is one I cannot resist¡ªa sword that annihilates stars.] The Dragon God realized it. To resist that sword, he would have to abandon Infinity. And doing so would mean losing the power to oppose the Celestial Demon. He had evolved in this direction precisely to overcome the Celestial Demon... Yet now, Kaylen¡¯s Star Extinction, which had appeared out of nowhere, had thrown everything into disarray. [Now do you understand why I stepped forward?] Hearing the Dragon God¡¯s hollow voice, the Water Goddess seemed to recall how he had once berated her for lowering herself before that insignificant man. Now, she acted as if she had been the one to wield Star Extinction herself. [If the Celestial Demon gains free use of that sword... there will be no future for us. We must persuade him at all costs.] [...I agree.] In a noticeably weakened voice, the Dragon God conceded to the Water Goddess¡¯s opinion. [Lord Kaylen, would you consider this?] Her tone now far more respectful after witnessing Star Extinction, the Water Goddess cautiously addressed Kaylen. ¡°How?¡± [Once the Celestial Demon is defeated, as you have said, we will no longer interfere in the world. However... should an extraterrestrial threat arise, as it has now¡ª] She trailed off, her voice trembling slightly before continuing. [W-We will seek your permission first... before deciding whether or not to intervene.] [You... Do you even realize what you¡¯re saying to the god of this planet?!] [I-I have no choice... given the current situation...] Seeking Kaylen¡¯s permission before deciding whether to intervene against extraterrestrial invasions¡ª For someone who was essentially the absolute deity of this planet, it was an utterly humiliating concession. It was no different from entrusting her future actions entirely to Kaylen. It was only natural that the Dragon God, already unsettled by Star Extinction, was now completely stunned. ¡®Heh. She¡¯s thinking ahead.¡¯ But upon hearing her conditions, Kaylen inwardly smirked. ¡®She assumes I¡¯ll be around forever.¡¯ Kaylen wasn¡¯t a divine being¡ªhis lifespan was limited. From the perspective of the Water Goddess, who had existed alongside the history of this planet, Kaylen was just an irregularity that would eventually be swept away by the flow of time. ¡®But... it¡¯s not like she can bind me beyond my death anyway.¡¯ Once he was gone, there would be no means to control the gods. Whatever happened after that would be humanity¡¯s problem to deal with. Kaylen decided this was where he would make his judgment. ¡®Compared to the Celestial Demon... the Water Goddess is still the better choice.¡¯ At the very least, she wanted to protect this planet. Whereas the Celestial Demon intended to destroy it and restore the moon to its original form, Theia. Humans weren¡¯t going to live on Theia. It was far better for this planet to remain as it was. ¡°There are two conditions.¡± [Please, tell me.] ¡°The promise you made¡ªit only lasts as long as I¡¯m alive. What happens after my death is for future humans to decide... But I want you to forget any personal grudges against me and leave humanity alone, even after I¡¯m gone.¡± [...So you¡¯ve already figured that out. Very well. I will leave them be.] The Water Goddess readily accepted Kaylen¡¯s proposal. After all, once this irregularity disappeared, The human race would no longer pose any significant threat to the gods. ¡®That fragile species... will destroy itself even if left alone.¡¯ That was her conclusion. [What is the next condition?] ¡°The Dragon God must disappear along with the Celestial Demon.¡± [What...?] ¡°No matter how much you claim your past self was Ernstine... I can never forgive what you did¡ª You destroyed the Meier Empire and cast your own clan into ruin. So fulfill the purpose for which you were originally created¡ªperish alongside the Celestial Demon when the time comes. Then, I will cooperate.¡± [You wretch...! You are not even truly of the Meier clan¡ªyou are nothing more than a sword. And yet you dare to interfere with my affairs?] ¡°That may be true. Then think of this as the loyalty of the Six Sword Path, serving the family it once swore to protect. My fallen swordmaster.¡± At Kaylen¡¯s words, the Dragon God did not respond. A long silence followed. Conflicting emotions stormed within him. The Six Sword Path¡ªsomething he had cast aside¡ªwas now speaking of avenging the clan he had abandoned. It was laughable. And yet¡ª A bitter regret washed over him as he asked himself how things had come to this. Memories of his time as Ernstine flickered through his mind, little by little. And finally¡ª The purpose of his very existence, the reason he was created, resurfaced. ¡®Defeating the Celestial Demon... That is the reason for my existence...¡¯ ¡°Give me your answer.¡± At Kaylen¡¯s question¡ª The Dragon God, after a long silence, finally responded. [...Very well. I accept your condition.] Defeating the extraterrestrial enemy was the Dragon God¡¯s duty. What came after was of no concern to him. With the negotiations with the Water Goddess concluded¡ª Kaylen severed the sword¡¯s connection. ¡®Now, only one enemy remains.¡¯ The Celestial Demon. No one else. ¡®I need to forge a sword capable of destroying him.¡¯ Creating Star Extinction, a weapon that reached the Transcendence Realm, had only been possible because he had wielded Infinity for so long. But the Celestial Demon was a complex being¡ªan entity that ruled both the Celestial and Demon Realms, yet whose very foundation was tied to the moon. To devise a sword capable of utterly annihilating him¡ª He would need more time and preparation. ¡°Kaylen.¡± At that moment¡ª Arashiel approached him, a confident expression on her face. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°You were curious before, weren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°About what? Ah... your true form...¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kaylen nodded calmly. Arashiel¡¯s true form. If he could see it, he might find another clue to understanding the Celestial Demon. ¡°I received permission from the god.¡± ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Yes. So...¡± Arashiel¡¯s lips curled into a smirk. More confident than ever before. ¡°It¡¯s time for you to prepare yourself... to become my slave.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 222 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 222 Kaylen gave a faint smile when he saw Arashiel telling him to become her slave. The confidence in her words was so absurd, it was laughable. ¡®Whatever her true form may be, she can¡¯t subjugate me.¡¯ Kaylen was the one who forged a sword even the gods feared. No matter how alluring Arashiel¡¯s true form might be¡ªcould it truly seduce him? ¡°Then hurry up and show me your true form. I want to see it.¡± Kaylen said, the corner of his mouth curling with a sneer. ¡°Then please follow me.¡± She snapped her fingers as if she¡¯d been waiting. Wiiiiiing¡ª A pure white portal opened up behind her. ¡°Where does it lead?¡± ¡°If my true body were to descend to this land, every human in the capital would lose their minds. So I left my true form in the Celestial Realm.¡± ¡°Ha. Every human in the capital? That¡¯s quite the exaggeration.¡± ¡°Hehe... You won¡¯t be saying that once you see it.¡± As she urged him to step inside, Kaylen looked at her and thought that he needed to organize this body¡¯s memories. ¡®No telling what lies beyond that portal.¡¯ Once he passed through that portal¡ª Not only would he lose the support of the Six Sword Seal inscribed on the ground... If the Heavenly Demon tried to brainwash him with full power there, it could jeopardize the crucial negotiations he had made with the Dragon God. ¡®Better play it safe.¡¯ Kaylen, whose real self was now essentially the Six Sword spread across the capital of Alzass, stored all important information within it. Then, without hesitation, he walked toward the portal. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s see it.¡± The memory sorting happened in an instant. Arashiel didn¡¯t even notice he had done anything. ¡°Hehe... Don¡¯t give in too easily. That would be no fun.¡± She maintained her unwavering confidence. ¡®What on earth is her true form that she acts this way...?¡¯ With that thought, Kaylen stepped through the portal. And soon¡ª He saw the true form that Arashiel had been so confident about. ¡®This is... and...¡¯ For the first time since returning to life in this body¡ª Thump. Thump. He could feel his heart pounding violently. ¡®Is this... what it means to fall for someone...?¡¯ His breath grew shallow. His gaze focused solely on one point. The most beautiful light in the world was the first thing to meet his eyes. And more fiercely than ever, the desire to possess it surged in his chest. [How do you like it?] ¡°Mmm...¡± From the ¡°thing¡± before him, Arashiel¡¯s confident voice resounded. Only then did Kaylen snap back to his senses. That arrogant voice was the only flaw in that radiant beauty. Still¡ª ¡°Beautiful...¡± That was all Kaylen could say in response to her question. It was the first time in his entire life that the desire to possess something had surged so violently within him. He stared at what was basking in radiant brilliance, erupting in pure white light before his eyes, and said¡ª ¡°Truly beautiful... a gem...¡± The thing that had captured Kaylen¡¯s gaze at once¡ª Was a massive chunk of stone, radiating a pure white glow. [To think you dare call me a stone... slave.] Arashiel spoke in disbelief¡ª And addressed Kaylen as slave. Now that he had come this far, She assumed he was already captivated and dropped all pretense of formality. [I am the embodiment imbued with the essence of the sun. I am called the Solar Stone.] Solar Stone. A name Kaylen had never heard before in his life. But as he gazed upon the radiant gemstone of light, He felt the name suited it perfectly. Yet, apart from that¡ª ¡°...You really ruin it the moment you open your mouth.¡± Kaylen slowly came back to his senses in response to Arashiel¡¯s boastfulness. Though both his eyes still burned fiercely with the desire to possess the Solar Stone, His dazed expression had disappeared. [What?] ¡°You called it a Solar Stone? Then it¡¯s a stone.¡± [...You regained your senses? That can¡¯t be!] In disbelief, Arashiel in her Solar Stone form flashed brightly. As the radiant light burst forth again, Kaylen once more found himself drawn in like he was under a spell, But¡ª ¡°...It really is beautiful.¡± This time, unlike before, he maintained his composure. ¡®She wasn¡¯t wrong, after all.¡¯ The light-imbued stone known as the Solar Stone was as large as a royal castle¡ªso much so that its brilliance could be seen even from afar in the capital. If that thing had been summoned in the capital, everyone would have been entranced, unable to come to their senses. ¡®If Arashiel hadn¡¯t let her guard down and tried to lure me in slowly... I might¡¯ve fallen.¡¯ Kaylen felt it keenly as he looked at the Solar Stone. Arashiel was born beautiful from the start. And instead of using that beauty to deliberately lure others in, She operated at a near amateur level¡ª Simply showing her true form was more than enough to capture others. There was no need for structured seduction or methodology. ¡®Still, if I let my guard down, I might fall in an instant.¡¯ As Arashiel remained stunned and speechless, Kaylen found himself unable to look away from the Solar Stone once more. Radiant light. A beauty unseen in this world. His entire body trembled at the sight of it. He wanted to cast aside everything and simply worship that beauty. ¡®...This really is dangerous.¡¯ Kaylen did his utmost¡ª To avert his eyes from it. Though he had safely stored his memories in the Six Sword¡¯s sigil before coming here, He still couldn¡¯t allow himself to succumb to the Solar Stone. ¡®Was I being conceited...?¡¯ After completing Transcendence Stage: Life and Death, Kaylen had even imposed his will upon the Dragon God and the Beast God. No matter how much he¡¯d been told that Arashiel in her true form would be no joke, To be honest, it had never felt threatening to him. Rather, that smug boasting¡ª That true form¡ª He¡¯d thought it might be a chance to probe the Celestial Demon God¡¯s side... ¡®This is unexpected.¡¯ As Arashiel remained silent, withholding her voice, The charm of the Solar Stone was growing stronger and stronger. Even Kaylen, who had turned his gaze away with effort, Was gradually being pulled back toward the light. And with it, a creeping resignation arose¡ªquestioning why he even needed to resist like this. ¡®...I need to think of something else.¡¯ To escape that allure, Kaylen forced himself to focus on something¡ªanything else. ¡®Right.¡¯ And then, before the overwhelming charm of that radiant light, He found something he could fixate on. ¡®I¡¯ll forge a sword that can cut that down.¡¯ The ultimate beauty contained within the Solar Stone. It was something truly worthy of being cut down with all his strength. After all, his true nature was that of a swordsman. To shield himself from the temptation of such dazzling light, He had to stay true to that nature. Shrrrng. From behind Kaylen, the Six Swords rose into the air. His previously dazed gaze sharpened in an instant. [...What are you doing?] At the sudden change in Kaylen¡¯s energy, Arashiel, who had been holding her tongue, finally spoke. Seeing him draw the Six Swords¡ª [...Don¡¯t tell me...] ¡°I pay tribute to your beauty.¡± [Then why are you drawing a sword?!] ¡°This is my tribute.¡± Zzzzing. Among the floating Six Swords, the Holy Sword Astella, housed within the Light Sword, was the first to land in Kaylen¡¯s grasp. The sword radiated its own brilliant light, as if to counter the Solar Stone¡¯s glow. Now that he looked again, the spectrum of light the Solar Stone emitted had certain similarities to the Holy Sword¡¯s. [Master. That thing... feels familiar to me.] Had Astella sensed it as well? She spoke with clear wariness. ¡°Really? Then I guess it¡¯s fine if I cut it down?¡± [Yes. I¡¯d honestly like to ask you to do just that.] As Kaylen exchanged those words with the Holy Sword, A panicked voice burst out from the Solar Stone. [W-Wait. Wait just a moment!] And along with it, The light that had been bewitching Kaylen gradually began to weaken. [How can you look upon my true form... and raise your sword...?] Arashiel muttered in shock. Even after living for countless years. The only one who had ever resisted her charm until now was the Celestial Demon God. It wasn¡¯t as if there hadn¡¯t been others who, like Kaylen, tried to resist¡ª But in the end, once they laid eyes on the Solar Stone, every single one of them lost their will and became her puppet. ¡®I¡¯m sure... up to a point, the charm was working!¡¯ She had clearly seen Kaylen¡¯s gaze go vacant. Never had she imagined he would snap out of it and raise his sword toward her. ¡°You¡¯re not continuing?¡± [How can I, when you¡¯ll cut me down if I do?!] ¡°Shame. I was curious to see how tough it was.¡± [Haa... This is ridiculous...] As if appalled by his words, Arashiel retracted all the light of the Solar Stone. And with that, the charm¡¯s effect vanished completely. [...This shouldn¡¯t be possible. Ah, right. It¡¯s because we¡¯re in the Heavenly Realm. The effect must¡¯ve been halved.] Even with her true body present, Arashiel had failed to seduce Kaylen. Still, despite the loss, she found an excuse. ¡®And that¡¯s why she falls apart the moment she opens her mouth.¡¯ Though Arashiel¡¯s voice was objectively beautiful and alluring¡ª The words that came out didn¡¯t suit the brilliance of the Solar Stone. The first time he saw the Solar Stone, What snapped him back to his senses when he was about to fall... was largely thanks to her voice. ¡°Save your loser¡¯s complaints for after I¡¯m gone. It¡¯d be a waste to tarnish that pretty face.¡± [...Kgh.] ¡°By the way... was the Holy Sword made from the Solar Stone?¡± Kaylen asked as he looked at the Holy Sword Astella in his hand. [It was.] But the one who answered wasn¡¯t Arashiel¡ª It was the Celestial Demon God, who had quietly appeared beside Kaylen. [To endure the charm of the Solar Stone in a human body... Impressive.] ¡°You were watching?¡± [The Heavenly Realm is my domain. I can see and hear everything that occurs within it.] Speaking casually, the Celestial Demon God walked slowly toward the massive Solar Stone. Swoosh. Then, as he reached out his hand¡ª [Ah... Aaaagh...!] With Arashiel¡¯s scream, a portion of the Solar Stone broke off with a soft crack. A mineral of pure white light. Floating gently along his hand, it drifted toward Kaylen. [To you, who endured the charm¡ªI grant this as a reward.] ¡°...You¡¯re giving me this?¡± [Yes. Will you accept it?] Kaylen looked at the Solar Stone fragment, roughly the size of a fist. He had no idea what the Celestial Demon God¡¯s intentions were in offering this. But clearly, it wasn¡¯t out of goodwill. Even so... ¡®This Solar Stone... it¡¯s worth analyzing.¡¯ When the Celestial Demon God removed it from the larger stone, Kaylen had seen the Solar Stone¡¯s power subtly drawn into his wings of light. It happened in a fleeting instant¡ª A flow that no one but Kaylen could have perceived. There was no doubt: the Solar Stone was deeply connected to the Celestial Demon God. ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll accept it with thanks.¡± Kaylen smiled faintly and snatched up the shining stone. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 223 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 223 The capital of the Starn Empire ¡ª Alzass. Having returned from the Heavenly Realm, Kaylen glanced at the Solar Stone he had received from the Celestial Demon God. ¡®It doesn¡¯t look like it did when it was with Arashiel.¡¯ To the eye, it was merely a beautiful gem of pure white. Kaylen took out the Holy Sword Astella and placed it beside it. ¡°As expected, the mana wavelength is similar. Was it made from the Solar Stone?¡± At Kaylen¡¯s murmur, Astella flashed and responded. [Master. I admit that pebble and I feel somewhat similar. But to say that I was made from that... Just hearing it is repulsive and gives me chills.] ¡°Is that so?¡± [Yes. That thing... does not share my origin.] ¡°Hmm. I thought the Celestial God created it through the Solar Stone...¡± At the sword¡¯s firm denial, Kaylen recalled the divine relics of the Celestial God. The crown, the staff, the holy grail. Though the three relics had lost their power when the Sanctuary collapsed Kaylen had made sure to secure them before leaving the Sanctuary. ¡°They should be around here...¡± Rummaging through the relics of the demonfolk, Kaylen soon pulled out the powerless divine artifacts. Astella spoke in a voice laced with disdain. [Those things would be more comparable to that Solar Stone.] ¡°Didn¡¯t expect you to have a grudge against the relics too.¡± [Of course. I was treated as being on the same level as those lowly objects.] Though the three relics were inferior to Astella Was that really something to detest so strongly? ¡°Hmm.¡± Kaylen tried infusing the Solar Stone with mana and examined it in various ways, But he couldn¡¯t uncover anything further. ¡®At this rate, it¡¯ll take too long.¡¯ Kaylen moved his feet. He knew someone who could help. ¡°This should be the place?¡± Theresia, who had been handling official duties in Kaylen¡¯s stead, Entered the palace garden with a faint flush after receiving Kaylen¡¯s summons. ¡®How long has it been since I last saw him?¡¯ After the Sanctuary fell When Kaylen stopped her from ending her own life and brought her down to the Starn Empire with him Theresia had held a small, vague hope in her heart. She was no longer a Saintess now. ¡®There¡¯s no need to keep admiring him from afar anymore, is there?¡¯ Depending on how things went, maybe she could build a closer relationship with him... But instead ¡®All I¡¯ve done is work.¡¯ In reality, she¡¯d been tied up in administration, managing the Empire alongside Baldrix, The undead second son of Ernstine. Kaylen was never in the palace, always off somewhere And even when he was around, she only ever heard he was busy with important matters in the garden bearing the emblem of the Six Sword Path. ¡®...Will he notice I¡¯ve changed?¡¯ With a quiet hope in her heart, Theresia approached Kaylen. Now free from the constraints of her former Saintess role. Her body, once that of a young girl, had grown noticeably in just a few days. Even the clothes she had fitted just a week ago no longer suited her. Whenever she saw her rapidly developing body, she sometimes regretted the eternal youth she had maintained for a thousand years. ¡®Still... doesn¡¯t this body fit Lord Kaylen¡¯s taste better?¡¯ It was known that Ernstine preferred mature women. Then surely, Kaylen must be the same, right? Theresia, who had never even considered that his true nature was a sword, Approached Kaylen while harboring that subtle sense of anticipation. ¡°Lord Kaylen. You called for me?¡± ¡°Ah, Theresia...¡± Kaylen looked her up and down briefly Then, without further comment, got straight to the point. ¡°Could you take a look at this?¡± ¡®He didn¡¯t notice...¡¯ Though she had grown, It must not have been that noticeable. While feeling a bit disappointed that he hadn¡¯t realized, Theresia still followed his words and looked at what was placed in front of her. ¡°This is...¡± The Solar Stone, along with the Celestial God¡¯s relics. Theresia¡¯s eyes widened as she stared at the Solar Stone in surprise. But perhaps due to its small size, she didn¡¯t show any signs of being captivated like Kaylen had been yesterday. ¡°It¡¯s called the Solar Stone. I received it from the Celestial Demon God. I wanted to analyze it.¡± ¡°The Solar Stone... is it?¡± Theresia flinched slightly at the mention of the Celestial Demon God But soon, upon seeing the light mana radiating from the stone, she looked at it with fascination. ¡°A jewel worthy of its name. The light mana bursts forth strongly.¡± ¡°I almost got mesmerized by it.¡± ¡°You were... captivated by this gem?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± As Kaylen told her what had happened not long ago, Theresia, who until now had only found the Solar Stone curious, changed her expression entirely into one of wary alertness. ¡°To think even you almost got mesmerized, Lord Kaylen. It really is a dangerous little rock.¡± In an instant, the Solar Stone was downgraded from a jewel to a mere rock. Theresia glared at it and spoke. ¡°May I touch it once?¡± ¡°Sure. Feel free.¡± Flash. As Theresia¡¯s hand made contact Light burst from the Solar Stone, and pure white mana of light emerged from her own body. ¡°...To think this mana would come out.¡± She silently watched as her body became enveloped in light, Then her face turned serious. ¡°This mana...?¡± ¡°The light mana I held when I believed in the Celestial Demon God. It¡¯s divine power infused with that faith. After I abandoned my belief in him, my divine power began transforming into pure light mana.¡± ¡°Hmm. So that¡¯s why your body grew?¡± ¡°Ah... You noticed?¡± ¡°Huh? You¡¯ve grown that much. Of course I noticed.¡± Kaylen spoke as if it were obvious, And Theresia, not having expected him to recognize it, lit up with joy. ¡°That¡¯s right. When my divine power disappeared, the restrictions of being a Saintess were lifted, and my body began to grow rapidly. But when I touched that Solar Stone, the mana that had changed into pure light mana started reverting back to divine power.¡± ¡°So that¡¯s why Astella felt repulsion toward the Solar Stone?¡± But still, that Holy Sword must have been created by the Celestial Demon God as well. Kaylen recalled the time he had been trapped by the Celestial Demon God¡¯s barrier in the Sanctuary. Back then, the Holy Sword Astella couldn¡¯t manifest her power against the authority of the Celestial Demon God. ¡°Hmm... Now that I look closely, I get it. Unlike the other sacred relics or that Solar Stone, the Holy Sword barely emits any divine power. I can only sense pure light mana.¡± ¡°How can you tell the difference between the two?¡± Though Kaylen was well-versed in mana, He couldn¡¯t distinguish between the two types, so he asked Theresia. ¡°Lord Kaylen, even in the past, your faith wasn¡¯t that deep, was it?¡± ¡°Well, no, it wasn¡¯t.¡± ¡°Divine power appears identical to light mana on the surface. But its effect changes based on one¡¯s faith in the god. The difference is so subtle that... even I could only tell because I lived as a Saintess and experienced both types of mana after abandoning my faith.¡± So unless it was someone like Theresia, a special case, it was difficult to distinguish divine power from light mana. However, Kaylen felt he had found a clue from what she said about faith. ¡°I should continue the research for now. Do you have time?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± And so, Kaylen and Theresia studied the Solar Stone late into the night. As they began to gradually grasp a few clues about this mana, Kaylen looked at Theresia, who was unknowingly stifling a yawn. ¡°It¡¯s gotten late. Let¡¯s call it a night.¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine, though...¡± ¡°You¡¯re still growing. You need to sleep early.¡± ¡°Lord Kaylen, I¡¯m not a child... Don¡¯t forget I¡¯m over a thousand years older than you.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re old, so you should sleep early. Is that what you want to hear?¡± ¡°...No. The first one¡¯s better.¡± Having mentioned her age for no reason and gained nothing from it, Theresia left to sleep. Kaylen, still holding the Solar Stone, quietly closed his eyes. ¡®Divine power... I think I¡¯m starting to grasp it.¡¯ Light mana that subtly changes when faith acts as a medium. Kaylen could now vaguely understand the difference between the two. However Even if he had realized that the mana emitted from the Solar Stone was divine power, It still didn¡¯t tell him much about the Celestial Demon God. ¡®Why did he give this to me?¡¯ Kaylen stared silently at the Solar Stone, thinking. ¡®Hmm...¡¯ Then, his eyes changed slightly. The divine power being emitted from the stone was growing stronger. ¡®Divine power is being infused from outside.¡¯ Light mana was flowing secretly into the Solar Stone. Kaylen quickly noticed where it originated from. ¡®Moonlight.¡¯ It was moonlight that was supplying divine power to the Solar Stone. The sun and the moon They felt like opposites in theory. ¡®...But moonlight, in the end, comes from the sun.¡¯ Since moonlight was merely reflected sunlight, It too contained light mana. Even in the middle of the day, it wasn¡¯t the usual light mana¡ªwhat he felt now was a transformed version of it: divine power. Whirr. Whirr. And that divine power gradually grew stronger, slowly reaching toward the sigil of the Six Sword at Kaylen¡¯s feet. The Solar Stone¡¯s light was moving toward the Light Sword among the Six Swords. Kaylen finally understood why the Celestial Demon God had given him the Solar Stone. ¡®Was he trying to imbue the sigil of the Six Sword with divine power?¡¯ No one knew better than the Celestial Demon God how Kaylen had poured countless mana stones into nurturing the Six Sword sigil. Had he given the Solar Stone in order to assess it¡ªand secretly infuse divine power into it? ¡®If I hadn¡¯t learned to distinguish divine power through Theresia... I wouldn¡¯t have noticed this attempt at all.¡¯ The difference between divine power and light mana was as thin as a sheet of paper¡ªeven Kaylen hadn¡¯t been able to tell them apart. If he¡¯d just fiddled with the Solar Stone and let it be absorbed into the Six Sword, the Light Sword would have been filled with a significant amount of divine power. ¡®Should I block it?¡¯ Kaylen stared at the Solar Stone, which now emitted divine power under the moonlight. Now that he had grasped the Celestial Demon God¡¯s intentions, he could prevent the divine power from being infused into the Light Sword. If divine power entered the sword, who knew what could happen¡ªso to stay safe, the right thing would be to block it. However... ¡®No. I¡¯ll accept it.¡¯ Kaylen could feel it. The time for the final battle was drawing near. The standoff between the Dragon God and the Celestial Demon God wouldn¡¯t last forever. Eventually, the two would face each other to settle everything. And now was the best opportunity to destroy the Celestial Demon God. ¡®Within the limited time we have... To complete a sword capable of slaying the Celestial Demon God, I have to take the risk.¡¯ Placing the Solar Stone atop the Light Sword, Kaylen made his decision. And three days later Once the Solar Stone was fully absorbed into the Light Sword¡ª [Kaylen.] The Celestial Demon God called out to him with a voice more gentle than ever before. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 224 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 224 One day ago. [Their resistance is fierce.] The Celestial Demon God, having gained divine authority through the Earth Deity, now possessed eyes that could gaze down upon the world. Even so, his gaze remained fixed solely on the flames of the Dragon God. ¡®At this rate... it will never end.......¡¯ The Celestial Demon God realized it clearly. The Dragon God''s flame. It could not be completely subdued with his power alone. ¡®Such persistent defiance.¡¯ As he looked at the Dragon God''s fire, the Celestial Demon God recalled the planet''s tenacious will to resist submission. From a Water Deity to a Dragon God¡ªthis planet had done everything it could to endure. Even they were struggling so desperately to survive...... ¡®Our father... why did Theia have to end that way?¡¯ The Moon. Now, it was nothing more than a satellite endlessly orbiting this planet. But in the past, it had been far more brilliant than it is now. ¡®We should never have perished like that.¡¯ The Moon''s former self¡ªPlanet Theia. That land, once perfectly suited for the Moon''s kin to live on, was annihilated in a planetary collision that no one could stop. ¡®Most of our kin vanished.¡¯ The Celestial Demon God had merely been one of the few survivors of Theia back then. By the time he barely clung to life, most of his kin were already gone. ¡®I must turn back the era.¡¯ To return the Moon¡¯s kin back to the kin of Theia¡ªto bring back that time¡ªwas the Celestial Demon God''s mission. To do that, he had to subdue the being who constantly interfered with him on this planet¡ªthe Dragon God. ¡®......Not with my power alone.¡¯ The Celestial Demon God once more organized his thoughts. To extinguish that flame, Kaylen¡¯s sword was essential. Not as a final blow¡ªbut from the beginning, that sword had to be used to suppress it. ¡®Kaylen.¡¯ Kaylen, he was a peculiar existence. No matter how special the sword he manifested was, at his core, he was still human. A species considered the most inferior among sentient life. ¡®And yet... he overcame Arashiel¡¯s allure.¡¯ She had lived for countless ages and had never once failed in her mission of seduction. But this time, she had her pride trampled repeatedly by a lowly human¡ªKaylen. The Celestial Demon God regarded that very highly. ¡®He is a useful existence.¡¯ But that wasn''t all. The Celestial Demon God had come to realize¡ª Kaylen, who analyzed the Sunstone he had bestowed. Not only had he overcome the Dragon God¡ª But now, he was trying to overcome even the Celestial Demon God himself. ¡®Even if he looks into the Sunstone... he still won¡¯t reach my level.......¡¯ Even so, the will to persevere and overcome¡ªthat was commendable in itself. ¡®To think someone like this would emerge... from mere humans.¡¯ With such overwhelming numbers, perhaps it was inevitable that one would eventually stand out. ¡®At that level... he¡¯s more than qualified to become one of the Moon¡¯s kin.¡¯ The Moon¡¯s kin. Those who possessed extreme dark mana. From the perspective of this world below, each one was comparable to a ¡°Demon King.¡± Kaylen was worthy of being accepted among such a lineage. ¡®Though it¡¯s unfortunate to break the purity of the bloodline.¡¯ But for the grand goal of restoring the Moon to Theia, blood purity was nothing more than a tradition to be set aside for now. ¡®Everything is ready.¡¯ The Celestial Demon God, thinking of Kaylen who had accepted the Sunstone, invited him to the prepared location. ¡°Very well. Let¡¯s go.¡± And the confident Kaylen accepted his invitation without fear. ¡°This is......¡± Accepting the Celestial Demon God¡¯s invitation and stepping through the portal, Kaylen looked around. In the sky, numerous Sunstones floated like stars. The land beneath his feet was a dull, lifeless gray. ¡®Strange.¡¯ This place felt more out of place than any other realm he had set foot in before. ¡®More than even the Celestial Realm, the Demonic Realm, or the Spirit Realm... This truly feels like an entirely different world.¡¯ Excluding the continent of Avelia¡ª Kaylen had traversed both the Celestial and Demonic Realms. Yet this land, summoned by the Celestial Demon God through his call, felt more alien than any continent he had ever known. ¡®Even the mana itself is different.¡¯ There was the dark mana reminiscent of the Earth Deity, and alongside it, the divine power felt from the Sunstone. The two types of mana blended together, stretching out in a strange, dissonant mix. ¡®In contrast, the mana of the four elements is extremely faint.¡¯ Fire, Water, Earth, and Wind. The mana of these four attributes existed, but was so overwhelmed by the light and dark mana that they were barely perceptible. ¡°Where is this place?¡± [This place... is where you will join your will with ours. This is Theia.] To Kaylen¡¯s question, the Celestial Demon God answered as such. ¡°Theia...... you say?¡± Theia. Even Kaylen knew the origin of that name well. Before the Moon was shattered by collision¡ª When it had still been a complete planet¡ª That name had once belonged to it. It was none other than Theia. ¡®It has yet to be restored... so this is still the Moon.¡¯ Was that why this place felt so alien? [Correct.] The Celestial Demon God spoke with a voice more proud than ever before. [Theia... was a land of greatness.] A single phrase¡ª"land of greatness." Though it was a simple statement, nothing more than ordinary words¡ª Thump. The moment Kaylen heard it, the mana throughout his entire body began to stir. ¡®Divine power......¡¯ It was divine power that drove this transformation. What he had gradually absorbed through the Sunstone had only been an insignificant trace within his body, but...... Upon arriving in Theia, it surged forth instantly and shook Kaylen to his core. [Human. You overcame the Sunstone and defied the fate of becoming a slave.] There was no higher praise in that statement. But each time Kaylen heard that voice, the mana within him trembled under the impact. The Moon was the Celestial Demon God¡¯s home ground¡ªan entirely different world. For someone who entered through the portal the Celestial Demon God opened, Kaylen¡¯s preparations were far too inadequate. [Thus, I shall commend you.] Sssk¡ª The Celestial Demon God stretched out his hand. The black darkness that had been swirling around his face began to spiral. And the gray earth beneath Kaylen¡¯s feet began to transform in the same manner. The trace of divine power contained in his Light Sword extended in an instant¡ª Even the Flame Sword and Wind Sword were dyed in radiance. [I grant you the chance to become one of the great kin.] The dark mana once residing in the Dark Sword submitted to the power of darkness spreading from the Moon¡¯s soil, slipping free from Kaylen¡¯s control. The Water Sword and Earth Sword¡ª Those two attribute swords, too¡ª Were swiftly consumed by the Moon¡¯s dark mana. ¡°What... are you... doing...?¡± Once the Six Swords began to change, the next to transform was Kaylen¡¯s body. His body, once pushed to the limits of humanity, began to break apart from the fingertips¡ª In its place appeared a pale blue hand of light. ¡°So this is what you meant by... a chance to become one of the great kin!¡± As the Six Swords transformed into blades of light and darkness¡ª Kaylen¡¯s human form turned into that of a demon race, with blue skin¡ª The transformation happened in an instant. From the moment Kaylen accepted the Celestial Demon God¡¯s invitation, this had been preordained. The moment he set foot in that realm without proper preparation, his fate was sealed. ¡®I... must endure...!¡¯ Kaylen tried to resist in his own way¡ª But on this land the Celestial Demon God had meticulously prepared, defying the transformation was impossible. Ssssskkk¡ª! Soon, smoke rose from all over Kaylen¡¯s body. Thud. And there, with his form completely altered from head to toe¡ª A blue-skinned man knelt on the surface of the Moon. ¡°......I greet the god.¡± [It was easier than expected.] Kaylen, now fully transformed into one of the Moon¡¯s kin, bowed in submission. However, even though the task had been completed, the Celestial Demon God looked down on Kaylen with a tone that betrayed dissatisfaction. [Yes... it was too easy.] This was the same Kaylen who had created a sword capable of shattering Infinity, something even he himself had never achieved. Though human, he had cultivated his own discipline¡ª And had even overcome Arashiel¡¯s allure. That was why so much preparation had gone into turning him into one of the Moon¡¯s kin....... ¡®To think... he couldn¡¯t even withstand the first stage......?¡¯ The current method had only been the first stage¡ªyet he couldn¡¯t endure it, and already he had transformed into one of the kin. The Celestial Demon God spoke to Kaylen. [Answer me, my child.] ¡°I shall gladly do so, my God.¡± [The sword that destroys Infinity¡ªby what principle was it made manifest?] ¡°Infinity resided within my body for a long time......¡± Without hiding anything, Kaylen explained to the Celestial Demon God the principle behind the sword. To destroy Infinity, one ultimately had to annihilate the star itself¡ª Until he heard that the planet he had stayed on was formed through collision, he couldn¡¯t place the final piece. Eventually, by learning that this planet had been created through the fusion of binary stars, he was able to complete the transcendent Starfall. After hearing Kaylen¡¯s words¡ª Some of the Celestial Demon God¡¯s doubts were eased. ¡®So that¡¯s how Starfall was manifested. The name is grand, but fitting.¡¯ And¡ª He realized that he could not replicate Starfall himself. Kaylen¡¯s sword, which had fully nullified Infinity, was only possible because he had embraced and completely understood it. That enlightenment was something wholly unique to Kaylen¡ªsomething that could not be conveyed through words. ¡®Perhaps with further research, it might be possible¡ª¡¯ But how much time it would take to wield it as perfectly as Kaylen remained unknown. With a tool like him already available, there was no need to take the long way. [Use Starfall to subdue the Dragon God, my kin.] ¡°I shall gladly obey. However......¡± The demonized Kaylen¡ª Looked troubled as he gazed at the Six Swords floating behind his back. ¡°My Six Sword Path has been transformed into blades of light and darkness. Their power may no longer be the same as before.¡± [Is that so. Do you have a solution?] ¡°There is a set of Six Swords in the capital, Alzass. If I make contact with them, I should be able to reforge my Six Sword Path.¡± [Very well.] The Celestial Demon God recalled the Six Swords in Alzass. They had been empowered with mana stones from him, and the swords had grown rapidly. He had invested so much¡ªhe would now have Kaylen use them to subdue the Dragon God. [Go.] Vmmmmm¡ª As the Celestial Demon God stretched out his hand¡ª A portal formed, one that would return him to his original planet. ¡°It is an honor......¡± Kaylen bowed once to the Celestial Demon God¡ª And respectfully stepped inside. Beyond the portal lay the garden of Six Swords, where Kaylen had once been. He knelt down and stretched out his hand to retrieve the mana engraved into the ground. And then¡ª [You¡¯ve succeeded.] From within the engraving of the Six Swords on the ground¡ª He could hear his own voice. [By casting aside my human self... I¡¯ve finally come to understand you. Celestial Demon God.] [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 225 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 225 A few days ago¡ª Kaylen was communicating with the Six Swords embedded within the Dragon God. [I still can¡¯t believe that the Celestial Demon God is connected to the Moon. Could the Earth God have been lying?] Kaylen laid out the information he had come to know¡ª But the Water God, who had long fought against the Celestial Demon God, couldn¡¯t easily accept it. ¡°Why do you think that?¡± [If he truly is a god born from the Moon, then he should have possessed dark mana from the beginning... But the Celestial God has only ever used the power of light. He wasn¡¯t able to use dark mana until he seized control of the Demon Realm.] ¡°Hmm, could it be to hide the fact that he came from the Moon? If people found out where he originated, his base could be attacked.¡± There was a big difference between defending against an unknown alien god¡ª And launching a counterattack after learning his origin. In the former case, one could only take hits passively, But in the latter, a counteroffensive was possible. [......That may be so. The reason I attempted to transform into the Dragon God was also because¡ª Even when it seemed we had suppressed the Celestial God, he would always recover.] ¡°He kept recovering?¡± Wasn¡¯t such continuous recovery the Dragon God¡¯s exclusive trait? Kaylen paid close attention to this new information. [Yes. When he first invaded¡ªhe wasn¡¯t that threatening......] As the God of Light, no matter how much the Water God tried to extinguish his light¡ª The Celestial God would regain his strength the next morning when the sun rose. [Watching him grow stronger with the light, I never once thought to associate him with the Moon. Had I known, perhaps our approach would¡¯ve been different.] ¡°I see.¡± [But... this is just one possibility. Unless we have direct proof that the Celestial Demon God is connected to the Moon, we can¡¯t plan accordingly.] ¡°Understood.¡± They had spent countless years resisting the Celestial God of Light. It was too much to expect them to change their entire strategy based on a single remark from Kaylen. ¡°I¡¯ll investigate further from the inside.¡± [Please do.] Not long after that conversation ended¡ª The Celestial Demon God summoned Kaylen. [Kaylen.] Even though it was only his voice¡ª The trace amounts of divine power within Kaylen¡¯s body began to swell gradually. [Come to me.] As the Celestial Demon God''s words followed¡ª Kaylen felt a surge of confidence rising within him. After all, he was the one who had completed Starfall at the transcendent level. He believed that even if he heard the Celestial Demon God¡¯s proposal, nothing would go wrong. If not for the Six Sword pattern etched on the ground, Kaylen wouldn¡¯t have been able to objectively assess his condition. ¡®Is this also the influence of divine power?¡¯ A divine force meant to stir confidence¡ª To make him accept the Celestial Demon God¡¯s proposal. Kaylen sensed that he stood at a crossroads. Whether to accept the proposal or not¡ª ¡®If I accept... this body may not withstand it.¡¯ The Celestial Demon God was one who acted with caution. He had invited Kaylen with such confidence¡ªsurely because everything was already in place. Kaylen¡¯s body had been trained to its limits, but whether it could withstand a trap laid by a god with full intent was uncertain. ¡®Still... if I don¡¯t accept this offer, I¡¯ll lose the chance to learn more about the Celestial Demon God.¡¯ The Celestial Demon God and the Dragon God¡ª For now, they were only probing each other, but their true battle would soon begin. Before that, he had to gather as much information about the Celestial Demon God as possible. In the end, Kaylen made his choice. ¡®...I¡¯ll give up this body.¡¯ He chose to abandon his human body. Even though he was fully aware that his true identity was the Six Swords¡ª It was still not an easy decision to part with his human form. ¡®I¡¯ll leave most of the information in this body...¡¯ But since he had already resolved himself¡ª Kaylen wasted no time in organizing the data stored in his physical form. ¡®I¡¯ll separate everything related to the Dragon God. And to use Starfall at the transcendent level, I¡¯ll alter the memories so they return to the Six Sword pattern.¡¯ The Celestial Demon God might brainwash Kaylen¡¯s body, but he wouldn¡¯t destroy it. Because he needed Kaylen¡¯s sword to fight the Dragon God. Then¡ª With the possibility of being brainwashed in mind, he prepared the body to return to the Six Sword pattern. That way¡ª ¡®I¡¯ll be able to retake control of the brainwashed Kaylen¡¯s body...!¡¯ And¡ª Everything went exactly as Kaylen had intended. After transforming into one of the Moon¡¯s kin, Kaylen eventually returned to the Six Swords. [So this is the Moon¡¯s kin.] His body was once again subordinated to the Six Swords. From the mouth of the now blue-skinned Kaylen, a faint groan slipped out. Shrrrr¡ª And from behind him, the Six Swords rose. The Six Swords, which had once been completely transformed into three light swords and three dark swords, were now gradually returning to their original form with the four elemental colors. To the eye, it looked as if he was obeying the Celestial Demon God¡¯s commands¡ª But in truth, Kaylen, who now resided in the Six Swords, had reclaimed control and was extracting information about the Moon¡¯s kin. [What an extreme body, these Moon¡¯s kin.] The Earth God had once referred to the Demon King as one of the Moon¡¯s kin. And just as he had said, this body truly possessed only extreme amounts of dark mana. ¡®I always wondered why the Light Swords weren¡¯t disappearing...¡¯ As Kaylen analyzed the Six Swords of this Moon¡¯s kin version of himself, he discovered the reason. ¡®There are sunstones embedded in the altered body.¡¯ In both shoulders and at the crown of the head¡ª Without even realizing it, sunstones had been embedded there. These were what allowed the Demon King¡¯s body to store light mana. ¡®If all the Moon¡¯s kin are structured like this... I could easily forge swords designed to tear them apart...¡¯ Of course, the Celestial Demon God and the Moon¡¯s kin wouldn¡¯t have exactly the same bodies¡ª But the fundamentals should be similar. Kaylen continued to pretend to absorb the Six Swords¡ª While gradually grasping the changes in his body. Meanwhile, Arashiel, the fallen angel who had received the Celestial Demon God¡¯s command, flapped her wings with a displeased expression. [Watch over Kaylen.] Of course, her displeasure wasn¡¯t because of the god¡¯s command. ¡®I''ve lost face before the Celestial Demon God. I said I was confident... but I couldn¡¯t gain his trust.¡¯ It was because of her own shortcomings. [He changed far too easily compared to what he had prepared. There¡¯s still a chance he might revert, so stay close and observe him carefully.] Even that divine order¡ª Felt, to Arashiel, like a rebuke for failing to carry out such an easy transformation. ¡®That arrogant bastard... I need to vent my anger on him.¡¯ If he was going to change this easily, he should have just obediently become a slave in the first place. What did that make of her pride? Soon, Arashiel landed next to Kaylen and crossed her arms. ¡°Hmph. After all that resistance... you¡¯ve finally become one of us.¡± ¡°Arashiel...¡± Kaylen replied in a somewhat dazed tone. Arashiel¡¯s eyebrows shot up. ¡°Arashiel? Did you just speak informally to a senior of your own kin?¡± ¡°You little¡ª You should¡¯ve obediently become my slave. Instead, you put up a fight and made our god go through all that trouble!¡± Zzzt¡ª A black whip suddenly formed in Arashiel¡¯s hand¡ª And she mercilessly lashed it across Kaylen¡¯s back as he was recovering the Six Swords. ¡°Hehe. No, maybe this turned out better. If you¡¯d become a slave, I would¡¯ve used you for this battle and discarded you right after. But now that you¡¯re one of us, I can torment you for a long, long time...¡± Whack! Whack! The whip landed squarely on Kaylen¡¯s back¡ª And Arashiel smiled sadistically. ¡°From now on, I¡¯ll make you suffer even more miserably than a slave. You can count on that.¡± Even after showing him the sunstone core, she had failed to turn Kaylen into a slave, which had left Arashiel in a prolonged gloom. She had decided to take out all the humiliation she¡¯d suffered on Kaylen, now one of the Moon¡¯s kin. ¡°You said you were some kind of king here, didn¡¯t you? Then I¡¯ll strip you naked and whip you in front of your people. I¡¯ll crush your followers myself, too. Now that you¡¯re one of the Moon¡¯s kin, you don¡¯t need them anyway, do you?¡± Kaylen quietly listened to Arashiel¡¯s words¡ª Then concluded that she had crossed a line. ¡®I can¡¯t let this slide.¡¯ It didn¡¯t matter whether this ¡°Moon¡¯s kin Kaylen¡± was really him or not... either way, it didn¡¯t sit right. At this rate, Arashiel might cause havoc all the way to the capital, Alzass. ¡®There¡¯s no reason to keep playing weak.¡¯ They were the ones in a hurry, after all. Kaylen abruptly stood up. ¡°Senior? You¡¯re way too full of yourself.¡± ¡°W-what? You¡ªyou''re definitely one of us now...¡± ¡°Absorbing the Six Swords clears the mind a bit.¡± Shhhh¡ª! All six of Kaylen¡¯s swords flew out at once¡ª And tore through Arashiel¡¯s whip and wings in an instant. ¡°Gyaaah¡ª!¡± The face that had been so full of pride was now quickly twisted in pain. Kaylen rose to his feet¡ª Retrieving the Six Swords, as if regaining full awareness. ¡°Celestial Demon God... You dared to try and control me...?!¡± Kaylen¡¯s duplicate feigned rage. ¡°Th-this can¡¯t be...¡± ¡°I¡¯ll start by killing you.¡± Kaylen extended the Six Swords with furious eyes¡ª And Arashiel, her wings already torn, was shredded to pieces in an instant. ¡°Ah... Ah...¡± She couldn¡¯t even let out a full moan¡ª Her entire body was pulverized into dust and disappeared. At the center of where she vanished, only a single sunstone floated in the air. ¡°This worthless thing...!¡± Just as Kaylen tried to destroy even that, the solemn voice of the Celestial Demon God echoed from the sky. [Do not act rashly.] At that moment¡ª Divine power surged through his entire body, and the Six Swords floating behind Kaylen instantly transformed into swords of light and darkness. ¡°Guh...¡± As Kaylen, fully transformed again into one of the Moon¡¯s kin, dropped to his knees, the Celestial Demon God spoke. [You have become a great kin of the Moon. Why should mere humans matter?] ¡°O-oh great deity... In order to reach the Transcendent Realm of Life and Death... I must accept the Six Swords...¡± Kaylen spoke haltingly. ¡°But when I absorb the Six Swords... the oath to protect humanity resurfaces.¡± [...Is that so.] The Celestial Demon God responded, somewhat displeased. However, from what he could perceive¡ª Kaylen¡¯s body was undeniably that of the Moon¡¯s kin. ¡°If I don¡¯t absorb the Six Swords... I¡¯ll be fine...¡± [No. For now, leave the humans be. You shall absorb the Six Swords.] ¡°Th-thank you...!¡± Right now, the most important thing was the battle with the Dragon God. A few insignificant humans were far less urgent than Kaylen reaching the Transcendent Realm of Life and Death. [The day of the final battle is tomorrow. Prepare yourself.] ......... Tomorrow. Kaylen¡¯s eyes gleamed faintly beneath his deeply lowered head. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 226 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 226 Western border region of the Kingdom of Rahendra. Fwoooosh¡ª The Dragon God''s flames still burned fiercely outside the fortress. Completely blocked by a pure white barrier, but to those inside the castle, it looked as if the flames could engulf them at any moment. Because of that, most people had long fled the castle, abandoning their homeland, and only a few fearless mages remained, watching the clash of gods with awe-struck expressions. ¡°The fire mana is still beautiful today...¡± ¡°Fire mana? That flame contains all powers. As a Water Meister, I can say for certain. Even water mana is adding its strength to that flame.¡± ¡°How does that make any sense? How can opposing mana types combine their power?¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly why that flame is extraordinary.¡± The mages fearlessly approached the front of the light barrier and stared at the Dragon God¡¯s flame. Perhaps it was because they had long grown indifferent to the fire that had been burning for dozens of days. Their curiosity outweighed their concern for their own safety. ¡°Water mana in that flame... That¡¯s nonsense. You¡¯re just spouting nonsense because we¡¯re inside the barrier.¡± ¡°Come now. You know my skills, don¡¯t you? I¡¯m a 4-circle Water Meister.¡± ¡°Hah. Trying to flex your circle rank? I¡¯m a 4-circle Fire Meister myself. I¡¯m telling you, that¡¯s pure flame.¡± ¡°Um... I don¡¯t think it¡¯s pure flame. I can clearly sense wind mana too.¡± As the Fire and Water Meisters were arguing¡ª The Wind Meister standing nearby quietly spoke up. ¡°No way! That¡¯s pure flame!¡± ¡°I-I¡¯m sure of it.¡± ¡°See? They¡¯re saying other elemental mana is mixed in too.¡± The Fire Meister simply couldn¡¯t believe it. That unending flame, while a disaster for the city¡ª To him, as a Fire Meister, it was so magnificent that he had dreamed of recreating it at least once before he died. And now they¡¯re saying that this great flame is just a mishmash of various elemental mana? ¡°Hmph! What do you all know about flame magic! That¡¯s pure fire mana!¡± Bang. Bang. The Fire Meister pounded the barrier and shouted. Startled by his actions, the surrounding mages raised their voices in shock. ¡°You hit the barrier? A-Are you insane?¡± What if the barrier, bestowed directly by the Celestial God, were to break? As the surrounding mages shouted, the Fire Meister flinched¡ª But he couldn¡¯t back down like this. With a stubborn expression, he retorted. ¡°It¡¯s a barrier given by the Celestial God. Something like this won¡¯t damage it!¡± ¡°Good grief. That stubbornness... Fine, let¡¯s just say you¡¯re right. Now take your hand off it.¡± ¡°Hmph. Hmph. Why¡¯d you have to bring up pointless stuff...¡± Ssshh. As the Water Meister said that, the Fire Meister¡ªunable to bear the sharp gazes of the people around him¡ªslowly removed his hand. However¡ª ¡°Uh...¡± ¡°L-Look over there...!¡± ¡°A handprint...¡± On the Celestial God''s barrier¡ª There was a clearly visible handprint, unmistakably belonging to the Fire Meister. And from that very spot, The barrier slowly began to fade. At the same time, Flames surged in through the small breach. ¡°Th-That lunatic...!¡± ¡°G-Get back!¡± The Meisters were shocked and all began to flee, hastily activating their mana suits. No matter how dedicated they were to magic research, no one could ignore a situation where the barrier was breaking. ¡°Uh... Uh... This can¡¯t be happening... N-No!¡± But the one who had caused all this¡ª Only the Fire Meister was frozen in panic, denying the situation. Over a petty argument, he had touched the barrier and personally brought down the protective shield of humanity... ¡®There¡¯s no way the divine barrier would fall from just a simple touch like that!¡¯ As he stood in denial, unable to move¡ª The massive flames came rushing toward him. Boom! Something fell from the sky, and a powerful shockwave struck him, sending his body flying. ¡°M-My mana suit...!¡± Only after being flung from the flames by the shock did the Fire Meister snap back to his senses and hurriedly equip his mana suit. And then, looking up at the sky¡ª He saw a man with blue skin standing where he had just been. ¡®That man...¡¯ Six large swords floated behind his back, and he stood unfazed before the massive wall of flames. Seeing that, the Meister recalled a certain individual. ¡®Six swords. That¡¯s... the Emperor¡¯s?¡¯ The Emperor of the Starn Empire had suddenly appeared. He was said to wield six swords and command divine power. ¡®But... was his skin always that color?¡¯ That final question passed through his mind¡ª As the Meister¡¯s body fell from the fortress wall. Boom! ¡®I didn¡¯t expect a human would touch the Celestial God¡¯s barrier.¡¯ Even if many mages were obsessed with research¡ª To be experimenting right in front of the Dragon God¡¯s flames, which threatened to engulf the fortress¡ª And even go so far as to tamper with the barrier? ¡®I was originally supposed to be the one to break it...¡¯ Kaylen recalled the order given by the Celestial Demon God this morning. [After absorbing the Six Swords, you said you remembered your vow to protect humanity?] ¡°...Yes.¡± [Then you break through the Empire¡¯s border. Since you have to protect humanity, you should be able to draw out even more power.] This was after Kaylen had torn Arashiel to shreds yesterday. From the beginning, the Celestial Demon had planned to use the card that was Kaylen. Because it was unclear how Kaylen would act after reclaiming the Six Swords, the Celestial Demon intended to wear him out. ¡®So the Celestial Demon is attacking the Dragon God from a different direction.¡¯ Without explaining the details of the operation¡ª He simply ordered Kaylen to extinguish the dragon¡¯s flames at the border. It felt like he didn¡¯t fully trust him. [What are you doing! Move!] And above Kaylen, Arashiel¡ªreduced to a fragment of Sun Stone¡ªwas shouting. As if she''d forgotten how completely she was torn apart yesterday, her voice was nothing short of hysterical. ¡°What?¡± [Ah. N-No... I meant hurry up and go.] But when Kaylen looked up at her with a piercing gaze, her tone immediately shrank. If she messed around again while the Six Swords were fully colored, her Sun Stone body might be shattered next. ¡®Well, since I¡¯m being watched... I guess I¡¯ll pretend to fight.¡¯ Six Sword Path Second Sword Sword Rain The Sword of Wind and the Sword of Light flew into the sky, where the flames of the Dragon God raged. They soon merged, rapidly expanded, and took the place of the clouds in the sky. ¡°Fall.¡± At Kaylen¡¯s downward gesture¡ª The blades quickly fragmented and scattered. Each piece became a raindrop of swords that began to fall. Chiiiiiik¡ª! As the sword rain fell¡ª The flames that had begun melting the fortress walls after the Celestial God¡¯s barrier was broken began to slowly weaken. ¡®T-That... is putting out the fire?¡¯ From above, Arashiel couldn¡¯t believe the sight she was seeing. Even the Celestial Demon had struggled to suppress the Dragon God¡¯s flames¡ª ¡®This kind of sword rain... feels like even I... could do it...¡¯ Even though she¡¯d been shredded by Kaylen, Arashiel was still a veteran among the Moon Clan. With the level of mana displayed by the Third Sword (????? Èý„¦), she too could replicate it. ¡®Does he really... have a special way to suppress the Dragon God?¡¯ Chiik¡ª Chiiiiiiik¡ª! The fire that seemed like it would never die, even in a thousand years, gradually faded. And in contrast, the sword rain expanded its range. It extinguished the flames creeping toward the fortress walls and even blocked the waves of fire completely. Kaylen watched the vanishing flames and smiled faintly. ¡ªDragon God. You¡¯re putting on quite the show. The Six Sword of Alzass, practically Kaylen¡¯s true body, Spoke from that place, directing his voice to the Six Sword slumbering within the Dragon God¡¯s body. ¡ª...Did the Celestial Demon really say today was the day of the operation? ¡ªYes. Can¡¯t you tell by the way the Moon Clan has transformed? ¡ªThat¡¯s why... I can¡¯t trust you so easily. Kaylen furrowed his brow. The Celestial Demon, the Dragon God¡ª These so-called gods were all too suspicious. ¡ªThe flames right in front of you. Your Infinity is spreading so wide, doesn''t that actually make it easier to erase them? If I had turned into your enemy, I would¡¯ve used Starfall right away. Wouldn¡¯t I? ¡ªTh-That¡¯s... ¡ªOr what, should I really switch sides now? I mean, I¡¯ve already turned into one of the Moon Clan anyway. At Kaylen¡¯s irritated voice, the Water God within the Dragon God quickly intervened. ¡ªI-I¡¯m sorry, Lord Kaylen. I¡¯ll rein them in. ¡ªGood. I hope this doesn¡¯t happen again. ¡ª...My apologies. Right after Kaylen spoke¡ª Thududududuk¡ª! Even before the sword rain fell, the flames began to retreat on their own. Earlier, the clash between fire and swords looked somewhat convincing. But now, the flames vanished even before the rain reached them. [W-What is this...?] In her Sun Stone state, Arashiel couldn¡¯t begin to comprehend what was happening. ¡®Tch. Should¡¯ve kept up the act like before.¡¯ They should¡¯ve clashed a bit before fading. What¡¯s the point of getting scared off before anything even happens? Though thinking that to himself, Kaylen outwardly acted cocky and spoke deliberately. ¡°Do you see how the flames flee on their own? This is the rain of swords¡ªinfused with the blade that can destroy stars.¡± [...Keh. Still, you do have some petty tricks.] ¡°So now, I just keep advancing?¡± As Kaylen pointed toward the flames retreating like the ebb of the tide, The Sun Stone shimmered a few times, and instead of Arashiel, the voice of the Celestial Demon came through. [Yes. Keep advancing for now. I¡¯ll also strike from the north and south soon.] ¡°Understood.¡± In front of the Celestial Demon¡¯s voice, Kaylen bowed respectfully. Outwardly, he continued spreading the sword rain across the field. ¡°Vanish.¡± He bombarded the Dragon God¡¯s flames¡ª ¡ªThe Celestial Demon says he¡¯ll attack from the north and south. ¡ª...Really? ¡ªHe doesn¡¯t trust me completely either, just like you. So don¡¯t pretend to know too much ahead of time or act like you¡¯re too prepared. ¡ªOf course! Since I¡¯ll retreat to Geysir anyway, I¡¯ll pretend to panic and run away like it¡¯s a surprise attack. ¡ªWater God... Can you control things too? ¡ªOf course. I¡¯m the one controlling the flames in front of you right now. So that¡¯s why he was so cooperative. It had been the Water God manipulating them. ¡ªGood. Let me know if more information comes in. ¡ªOkay! Thanks! Outwardly, Kaylen kept dousing the flames¡ª But through his true body, he continued receiving detailed updates on the Celestial Demon¡¯s movements. At first, their collaboration seemed shaky, But thanks to the Water God¡¯s active support, it was working out well. ¡®At this rate, we¡¯ll all reach the target without taking heavy losses.¡¯ And their final destination¡ª The place where they¡¯d strike back at the Celestial Demon¡ª Was the imperial capital of Geysir, where the Dragon God had once resurrected. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 227 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 227 The battle between the Celestial Demon and the Dragon God. It boasted a scale worthy of a clash between gods. Kaylen had informed the Dragon God that the Celestial Demon would be attacking from the south and north, but he hadn¡¯t revealed the exact directions. ¡®Though, there wasn¡¯t any real need to know that anyway.¡¯ The western continent , Along the southern and northern coasts of the Geysir Empire''s territory. In the north, the Celestial Demon¡¯s light shone bright and white.In the south, the Celestial Demon¡¯s darkness engulfed the coastline. There was no need to search for the attack points. The god¡¯s assault blanketed the entire region. With both the powers of light and darkness in his hands,the Celestial Demon¡¯s strength was formidable¡ªBut the Dragon God felt confident instead. ¡®Celestial Demon... I will erase you with my own hands.¡¯ The Dragon God redirected all the power Kaylen had pulled back earlier. Infinity¡ªCreated solely to oppose the God of Light, the Celestial God. The planetary mana, with its infinite regenerative power, began countering the Celestial Demon¡¯s strength with precision. As a result, the Celestial Demon¡¯s surprise attack lost its effect. Instead, his divine powers were swallowed up by the Dragon God¡¯s flames.The northern light lost its heat to the Dragon God¡¯s fire, and the southern darkness lost its shadow to the same. The natural phenomena shifting moment by moment across the continent. Yet the only ones watching it unfold were the Celestial Demon and the Dragon God. Because on the land where they clashed, not a single living being remained. ¡®Dragon God... you¡¯re strong.¡¯ It was the Celestial Demon who first let out a sigh in this all-out clash. ¡®According to my predictions, it shouldn¡¯t have been this one-sided.¡¯ The Dragon God¡¯s power¡ªIt certainly grew stronger through death and rebirth... But his ability to block attacks from both the north and south was something the Celestial Demon had not foreseen. Unlike the eastern front, where Kaylen was advancing with ease, the defenses in the north and south were so firm, they were instead swallowing up the Celestial Demon¡¯s powers. ¡®This feels... off.¡¯ The Celestial Demon had no idea Kaylen was actively colluding with the Dragon God¡ªBut based on instinct, he compared the ease of the eastern front with his disadvantage in the north and south and felt something wasn¡¯t right. ¡®From Arashiel¡¯s eyes, Kaylen¡¯s power didn¡¯t seem that unusual.¡¯ The Threefold Sword Rain¡ªthe technique Kaylen unleashed. It was an astonishing feat for a mortal, but that was the limit.Such power wasn¡¯t just within reach of the Celestial Demon, even someone like Arashiel¡ªan elder among the Moon Clan¡ªcould use it. ¡®I can create something like a sword rain too.¡¯ Based on the experiences he saw through Arashiel¡¯s eyes, the Celestial Demon reproduced the sword rain at the northern border. [So this is how it works.] Tutututuduk... Suddenly descending on the northern coast, which had previously only displayed flashes of blinding light¡ªA rain of swords. Its mana composition was nearly identical to Kaylen¡¯s¡ªwithout a single flaw. If Kaylen¡¯s Sword Rain was effective, then the Celestial Demon¡¯s Sword Rain should work as well. ¡®Celestial Demon... is he testing it?¡¯ Meanwhile, the Dragon God, upon seeing the sudden downpour of swords in the north, thought as much. Since the Sword Rain Kaylen had shown wasn¡¯t particularly unique... The Celestial Demon must¡¯ve tried it himself for verification. ¡®Seems he doesn¡¯t trust him completely.¡¯ If he trusted him 100%, he wouldn¡¯t have bothered to imitate the Sword Rain. The Dragon God briefly considered whether he should retreat in the face of that Sword Rain, but came to a conclusion. ¡®I¡¯ll ignore the Celestial Demon¡¯s version.¡¯ If he backed off easily in front of such a cheap imitation¡ª It might only serve to deepen the Celestial Demon¡¯s suspicions. Chiiiiik¡ª! The Dragon¡¯s flames clashed with the Sword Rain. Though the downpour of swords falling from the sky was 99% identical to Kaylen¡¯s, Unlike the eastern front, the Dragon God¡¯s flames fiercely resisted it. No¡ªin fact... Fwoooosh¡ª! They suppressed the Celestial Demon¡¯s divine power and even launched a counterattack. ¡®The Dragon God... to be this strong...¡¯ The Celestial Demon was less concerned about his own Sword Rain being erased¡ª And more worried by the disappearance of his divine power pressing in from the north and south. The Dragon God¡¯s strength¡ª He hadn¡¯t expected it to be this overwhelming. ¡®My power... is failing at a critical moment.¡¯ Infinity, the infinite mana¡ª Originally a counterforce created to target the Celestial God. The current Dragon God was a perfected embodiment of that mana. ¡®Even so... I thought I had prepared enough by acquiring demonic energy from the Demon Realm... When I evolved from Celestial God to Celestial Demon, I believed I had built enough resistance to Infinity. But by the slightest margin, the battles in the north and south continued to be pushed back. In truth, this was the result of the Dragon God withdrawing most of his strength from the eastern front where Kaylen was¡ª But the Celestial Demon hadn¡¯t grasped that yet. ¡®If I don¡¯t erase the Dragon God this time... then next time, I won¡¯t be able to win in this body.¡¯ Starting from the Water Continent¡ª When the four elemental continents were raised, the Celestial Demon had defeated the Dragon God every time. But the Dragon God died and returned each time¡ªstronger than before. And when the Averia Continent was created this time¡ª His power shone even brighter. Especially against the power of light, which was now being devoured by the Dragon God¡¯s authority. ¡®In contrast, I absorbed dark mana... yet I still can¡¯t handle the Dragon God¡¯s Infinity properly. However...¡¯ The Celestial Demon looked through Arashiel¡¯s eyes¡ª And watched the direction Kaylen was advancing. Kaylen, sweeping through the eastern part of the Geysir Empire with unstoppable momentum. [Fall.] At Kaylen¡¯s single word, a rain of swords poured down without end¡ª And the Dragon God¡¯s once-mighty flames vanished without resistance. A power on a completely different level from the Sword Rain the Celestial Demon had cast. ¡®No matter how I look at it, it¡¯s exactly the same.¡¯ The Celestial Demon couldn¡¯t help but feel puzzled. Kaylen¡¯s Sword Rain. From a god¡¯s perspective, its operation and formation principles were nothing special, something easily replicable... So why was it that only Kaylen¡¯s Sword Rain worked against the Dragon God? He couldn¡¯t accept it. ¡®Still, I should make use of him.¡¯ He quickly and calmly began thinking of a way to use Kaylen. [Kaylen.] ¡°Yes, my lord.¡± Kaylen kneeled at the sudden call of the Celestial Demon. In front of him, the Celestial Demon opened a massive portal. [You must reinforce the southern front.] The south, overtaken by the power of darkness. That battlefield was in worse condition than the north. After all, compared to the compatibility between light and fire, the compatibility between darkness and fire was much worse. ¡°Understood.¡± On the surface, Kaylen obediently stepped into the portal to follow the command. But as he walked, he actively communicated with the Dragon God. ¡ªThe Celestial Demon sent me to the south. Be prepared. ¡ªHe tried to copy your Sword Rain. ¡ªReally? How did you handle it? ¡ªI didn¡¯t respond to his attack. Not even once. The Dragon God said he completely ignored the Sword Rain the Celestial Demon tried to imitate. Hearing this, Kaylen nodded. ¡®Continuously pushing forward with Dual Sword Rain has its limits.¡¯ The Dual Sword Rain was a fundamental Six Sword technique. Even someone like Arashiel, of the Moon Clan, might be able to replicate it. If he kept using that to suppress the mighty Dragon God, it could further raise the Celestial Demon¡¯s suspicions. ¡ªHmm... right. Pushing with Sword Rain alone won¡¯t work. ¡ªThen, what do you plan to do? ¡ªI need to dispel the Celestial Demon¡¯s doubts. I¡¯ll reveal Starfall. Make sure to dodge it properly. ¡ª...No need to dodge. I can withstand that sword just fine! At the Dragon God¡¯s boast, the water god cut in. ¡ªStop saying useless things. Just do as he says! ...This time, I¡¯ll let it go. Though he said that, the Dragon God was actually looking forward to clashing with Starfall. ¡®Last time, I admitted defeat just by seeing the sword... ...but in an actual battle, things will be different. Kaylen.¡¯ Beyond the portal, at the southern coastline¡ª The scene had transformed into something impossible to witness in the real world. Though the sun had clearly risen in the sky¡ª Its light could not reach the land. The sky above and below seemed completely severed, as if they were worlds apart. The sea and land were drenched in deep darkness, while only the clouds floating in the sky held the light. ¡®The Celestial Demon¡¯s dark mana... Quite impressive.¡¯ Kaylen walked through the darkness of the Celestial Demon, raising his guard against its power. If he were to suddenly change his stance and attack, this ''Moon Clan'' Kaylen would easily perish. ¡®But even he... cannot pierce Infinity.¡¯ Although the light from the sun had completely disappeared¡ª Beyond the darkness, the flames rising from the land were still incredibly fierce. ¡®Their elemental compatibility is aligning.¡¯ Kaylen thought that the Celestial Demon, Dragon God, and their elemental relationships were organically intertwined. The Celestial Demon was weaker against the Dragon God, but could suppress Kaylen. The Dragon God was weak against Kaylen but could defeat the Celestial Demon. Kaylen hadn''t found a way to suppress the Celestial Demon, but he could suppress the Dragon God with Starfall. A cycle of opposing elemental relationships, like rock-paper-scissors. ¡®However, that¡¯s just a superficial compatibility.¡¯ Even though the Dragon God had the elemental advantage over the Celestial Demon, could his power truly completely obliterate the Celestial Demon? Kaylen viewed this with skepticism. ¡®He hasn¡¯t used any of the Moon¡¯s power yet.¡¯ The power of the otherworldly force that broke down Kaylen''s human body and transformed him into a member of the Moon Clan. That force was based on a form of dark mana far more advanced than that of the demon realm. Kaylen had cast aside his human form and turned into a member of the Moon Clan, now searching for a clue to break this deep dark mana... ¡®But I still don¡¯t know where the Celestial Demon, who bears the Moon''s dark mana, is.¡¯ The Dragon God¡¯s flames were vast enough to scorch the entire western continent, but at least he knew where his opponent was. However, the Celestial Demon, unlike the Dragon God, couldn¡¯t be found. He had thoroughly hidden himself in the battle against the Dragon God. ¡®...He¡¯s a cautious one.¡¯ Despite being pushed back by the Dragon God in the northern and southern battles, he hid his presence and sent Kaylen, whom he still couldn¡¯t trust 100%. Kaylen thought to himself, realizing that his opponent was more troublesome than expected. ¡®For now, I must show my worth.¡¯ Wiiing. He raised all six swords. The momentum was completely different from when he raised the Dual Sword Rain. [You.......] Above Kaylen''s head. Arashiel, who had been watching him, trembled as she witnessed the scene. When the Sword Rain fell, she had doubted, thinking, "Is that all?" ¡®That sword...¡¯ However, When all six swords combined and transformed into a single iron sword¡ª Arashiel couldn¡¯t tear her gaze away from the sword. An ordinary-looking iron sword. But the movement of the aura flowing within it was of a transcendent realm, something her eyes could not fathom. Transcendence Starfall. The sword that transcended the extremes of the Six Sword Path. As the sword capable of destroying stars was revealed, Arashiel was spellbound, gazing at it... ¡®...Beautiful.¡¯ For the first time in her life, She thought something that was not her own was beautiful. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 228 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 228 The Celestial Demon God was struck with shock as he witnessed the Starfall of Kaylen. ¡®Something like that... Is that truly possible for a human?¡¯ He had known that Kaylen wielded a sword capable of cutting down Infinity. But this was the first time he had seen it clearly before his very eyes. ¡®That sword... Wasn¡¯t its name Starfall?¡¯ Starfall. The sword that destroys stars. When he first heard that name, the Celestial Demon God thought it was nothing more than human arrogance. And rightly so. How absurd, for a mere human¡ªwho barely understands the stars¡ªto dare name a sword as one that could annihilate them. Was it not laughable? ¡®......And yet. It fits.¡¯ Yet that seemingly ordinary iron sword matched the name Starfall all too well. Whoosh. As the tip of Kaylen¡¯s iron sword pointed toward the flame, the Dragon God¡¯s fire unraveled. Unlike during the Eastern Front, where the flames would retreat on their own, here they disintegrated¡ªshattering on the spot. And that wasn¡¯t all. Even the darkness of the Celestial Demon God, which lay behind Kaylen, could not dare approach the sword that had achieved Starfall. The space where Kaylen stood¡ª Only there, a gentle blue light swirled, faintly illuminating the area. [This... This can¡¯t be...!] From within the collapsing flames came the bewildered voice of the Dragon God. [Then I¡¯ll shatter that sword head-on!] With that¡ª The scattered flames gathered, forming a massive hexagonal star. A golden star. The image of Infinity, the infinite mana, set ablaze. Up until now, that fire had burned the entire land. But now, to counter Kaylen¡¯s Starfall, the Dragon God gathered all of his power into one. Watching this, the Celestial Demon God thought: ¡®Formidable... That is a fire that would be difficult to suppress even with the dark magic power of the Demon Realm.¡¯ Even if he gathered all the dark forces that had invaded the Southern Region¡ª It still would not be enough to extinguish that massive star of fire. But Kaylen leapt into the fiery star without hesitation. Fwoooosh......! The hand gripping the sword burst into flames in an instant. The fire spread across his entire body. With that intensity, it wouldn¡¯t be strange if he turned to ash in a matter of moments. Even if Kaylen had transformed into one of the Moon Clan, far stronger than a human body¡ª The heat contained within the Dragon God¡¯s star was beyond imagination. ¡°Grrk...!¡± Yet¡ª Kaylen merely let out a single groan through gritted teeth. It had not fully ignited under his authority. Even as his skin burned and his flesh was laid bare¡ª Sssk...... He silently thrust the iron sword into the heart of the flaming star. Then, at the core of the star of fire¡ª A small hole appeared. ¡®That is...¡¯ At a glance, it was a simple black dot. A tiny point, just the size of the sword¡¯s tip. But upon seeing it, the Celestial Demon God trembled. ¡®Is that even possible...?¡¯ A black space carved into the center of the star. It was a space where all things were extinguished. Even the flames that lit the star of fire¡ª Even Infinity, the embodiment of boundless mana¡ª Were collapsing and being sucked into that black dot. ¡®Within that... all laws collapse.¡¯ Not only Infinity, which the Dragon God had refined through countless deaths¡ª But every fundamental law of this planet did not hold within that black dot. It only absorbed, disassembled, and extinguished all things. That was the true form of Starfall. ¡®If that black spot were to expand its scale even slightly...¡¯ For now, it was only the size of a bean. But if it were to grow larger, fueled by even greater magical power¡ª True to the name Starfall¡ª It might even unravel an actual star. The Celestial Demon God, seeing Kaylen¡¯s sword¡ª Felt more elation than ever before. And¡ª In contrast to his joy¡ª [Ugh... Uhh......] The Dragon God let out a groan, his voice drained of strength. The Dragon God, whose presence had vanished from this region, consumed by the black dot formed by Kaylen¡¯s Starfall. The Celestial Demon God watched in astonishment as the Dragon God vanished¡ªretreating from the southern coast. ¡®......Truly. Even seeing it with my own eyes, it¡¯s hard to believe.¡¯ The black dot brought forth by Starfall¡ª The star of fire the Dragon God had created shattered completely. And the overwhelming influence the Dragon God had held along the southern coast¡ªstronger than even the Celestial Demon God himself¡ª Vanished in an instant. In comparison to the long standoff in which the Celestial Demon God had only barely dealt damage¡ª Kaylen¡¯s single strike¡ª Dealt the Dragon God far more devastating damage. ¡°Haa... haa......¡± But no matter how effortless it had seemed¡ª Perhaps the burden on his body was not small after all. From Kaylen¡¯s completely scorched body, smoke began to rise¡ª Thud. Kaylen collapsed to the ground with a thud. The iron sword had long since vanished from his hand. Though it was a brief clash¡ª Between the Dragon God and Kaylen¡ª The damage both had taken was immense. ¡®At this rate, he¡¯ll die.¡¯ The Celestial Demon God looked down at the fallen Kaylen. Considering how close he had approached the Dragon God¡¯s star, it was remarkable that his body hadn¡¯t turned to ash and still retained its form. Even so, if left like this, it looked like he could stop breathing at any moment. That¡¯s how absurdly powerful the Dragon God¡¯s star was. ¡®......That must not happen.¡¯ Until now, the Celestial Demon God had held doubts about Kaylen. But the moment he witnessed the sword that could annihilate a star¡ª He realized just how useful Kaylen could be. This one had to be kept alive at all costs, to continue being used as his underling. [Arashiel. Take him and heal him.] [Y-Yes......!] The Celestial Demon God opened a black portal. To heal a member of the Moon Clan in such critical condition, it wasn¡¯t enough to remain on this planet¡ªhe had to be imbued with dense black demonic energy from the moon. [As for me, I will finish the Dragon God.] Until now, he had been overwhelmed by the Dragon God. But with the power the Dragon God had lost due to Kaylen¡¯s Starfall¡ª He would no longer be a threat. The Celestial Demon God was convinced of his victory. ¡®Truly... it¡¯s not enough.¡¯ The Dragon God muttered in a gloomy voice. The clash with Kaylen¡ª Though it had been a coordinated act between them¡ª ¨CThe Celestial Demon God is beginning to monitor us seriously. I¡¯ll use 10% of my power. Match me around that level. ¨C10%...? Fine. Let¡¯s show him that real combat is different. Kaylen and the Dragon God¡ª Both had fought with full effort, within the limits of 10% of their strength. Transcendental Starfall. He had thought, perhaps in actual combat¡ª It might produce less power than Kaylen had shown before... ¡®No. It¡¯s even more powerful than I expected.¡¯ Seeing the power imbued in Starfall, his fighting spirit was stirred, and he tried to overcome it. Pouring in more than 10%¡ª Around 20% of his power¡ª But the black dot that Starfall revealed erased all of it. He had no choice now but to admit that sword was his natural enemy. [Dragon God. The flame you planted within my body¡ªwhere is it?] [...As you said. It¡¯s on the moon.] And¡ª As Arashiel, in her sunstone form, crossed through the black portal¡ª The Dragon God, who had planted the flame that burned Kaylen¡¯s body, was already tracking its location. ¡®So the Celestial Demon God really was on the moon.¡¯ The place where the Dragon God''s flame had crossed to was an unfathomably far distance from this world. If it weren¡¯t for a being of the Dragon God''s level¡ªand if what had been planted in Kaylen¡¯s body wasn¡¯t the Dragon God''s flame¡ª It would have been impossible to realize he had gone to the moon. [The exact location?] [That, I don¡¯t know. Just knowing it¡¯s on the moon... that¡¯s my limit.] [Tch. I need to know where it is.] Kaylen¡¯s half-dead body, which had crossed over to the moon, was already out of control. No matter how much power was contained in the seal of the Six Swords, there were still limits to distance. To counterattack, they needed to pinpoint the exact location. It was frustrating that the Dragon God''s power didn¡¯t reach that far. [......No. Even so, knowing it¡¯s on the moon is enough.] [What do you mean by that?] [Let¡¯s just destroy the moon.] The Water God spoke with a voice more enraged than ever before. [How dare a mere satellite¡¯s minor god pretend to be the God of Light and mock me. I cannot forgive this.] Until now, the Water God had mistaken the Celestial God as a solar-type deity. Light, even in this universe, was the most fundamental¡ª The power that supplied energy. Every time she faced the Celestial God¡ª She always faltered in her heart. ¡®Even when I thought I had defeated the Celestial God, he kept recovering and coming back, making me despair...¡¯ Even before the Water God became the Dragon God, when she fought against the Celestial God¡ª She had the advantage in the early stages. But even when she thought she had overpowered him several times¡ª When the sun rose, and the magic power of light grew stronger¡ª She ultimately fell into despair before the Celestial God, who regained his power completely. ¡®To defeat the Sun God, I gave up a significant portion of my planetary authority and became the Dragon God...¡¯ The Celestial God, whom she thought had limitless vitality like the sun¡ª Turned out to be¡ª Just a petty moon god who wielded the power of light. [Is there a way to attack?] At Kaylen¡¯s question, the Water God was silent for a moment before speaking. [......If I cooperate with you, it might be possible. Especially if we have that sword.] [You sounded confident before. Now you''re saying you need my help?] [W-Well, I¡¯ve used up so much of my power... Destroying the moon on my own is impossible.] She really was thinking of destroying the actual moon. Kaylen was dumbfounded. [It¡¯s impossible for me too. Starfall is a sword optimized for this planet. The moon isn¡¯t part of this world, right? The best choice is to identify the enemy¡¯s base and wipe it out.] [......That¡¯s unfortunate. But understood.] Still, there was one thing he had gained. ¡®Her idea may be ridiculous, but at least now she¡¯ll be cooperative.¡¯ Going forward, when dealing with the Celestial Demon God on the moon¡ª He could likely maintain a cooperative relationship with the Water God. Deciding to wrap up this issue for now, Kaylen posed a question to the Dragon God. [Dragon God. With the power you have left, can you effectively face the Celestial Demon God? It didn¡¯t look like you used only 10% of your strength.] [......I used a bit more.] [How much more?] [I¡¯m not obligated to tell you that......] [Haa. Dragon God. He used 10% more. I tried to stop him, but that damn pride of his... even though he couldn¡¯t win.] Though the Dragon God didn¡¯t want to answer, The Water God, who shared a body with him, quickly confessed everything to Kaylen. The Dragon God felt his dignity crumble. But the truth was, even after using 10% more power, he had still been soundly defeated¡ª He had nothing to say. [Then, as planned, can you face the Celestial Demon God?] [......It¡¯s possible.] [What do you mean, possible?! Wasting all that power for pride¡ª! And the Celestial Demon God¡¯s base is on the moon anyway... Even if you use all your power here, it¡¯s meaningless!] [......Silence. Have you no pride as a god?] [None! Survival comes first!] Her voice was filled with genuine frustration. As Kaylen listened to the Water God¡¯s outburst, Suddenly, a certain sword came to mind. [Dragon God. Can you still perform the Six Sword Path?] [That thing...... it¡¯s been buried away for a long time, but if you want me to, I can.] Although it had been transformed into the Six Demon Path, It seemed the sword form itself could still be used. [Good. Then¡ª] Kaylen began explaining the Six Sword Divine Slayer. That he had learned from Ernstine, who had been sleeping beneath the sea. [This is......] [A fragment of the human Ernstine created this sword. He spent a thousand years refining it in unconscious thought. It was made to take revenge on the Celestial God who turned him into an undead.] [......I see.] Before being defeated by Kaylen, The Dragon God would¡¯ve scoffed at learning something like the Six Sword Path. But perhaps because the situation had changed¡ª He listened quietly to the Divine Slayer technique. And then¡ª [......Not bad.] With a short comment, He added with conviction: [Now I can answer you clearly.] Power returned to his voice. [The Celestial Demon God of this planet¡ª I will erase him.] [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 229 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 229 The capital of the Geysir Empire. The city that was once the Dragon God¡¯s stronghold had become a completely scorched and desolate ruin. The flames that seemed as if they would burn forever had vanished at some point, leaving the land of the former capital blackened and charred, with only darkened earth remaining. The Celestial Demon God surveyed the capital and raised his guard. ¡®He concentrated his power......¡¯ After having his strength broken by Kaylen in both the southern and eastern regions, The Dragon God, who had engulfed the entire territory of Geysir in flames, had drawn all of his remaining power into the capital. As a result, in the center of the capital sat a massive dragon with folded wings¡ªsomething straight out of mythology. That was the Dragon God¡¯s true divine form. The Celestial Demon God paused in thought. The Dragon God was attempting to bring about a short-term decisive battle by gathering all his strength. Was there any need to play along with that? This thought came from the tremendous power the Dragon God still held before him. ¡®Even after losing so much power... he¡¯s stronger than I expected.¡¯ Although his power had been greatly diminished by Kaylen¡¯s Starfall, Now that he had gathered his strength, even the Celestial Demon God, who had once been confident in victory, felt the pressure. Back when they fought one-on-one without Kaylen, The Celestial Demon God had been slightly pushed back in his great battle against the Dragon God. So now, he decided to postpone settling things. ¡®......Right. There¡¯s no need to force it.¡¯ Before Kaylen entered the picture, the Celestial Demon God had tried to weaken the Dragon God and finish him quickly, But now the situation had changed. With Kaylen wielding the sword that was practically the Dragon God¡¯s nemesis, It was safer to slowly apply pressure while waiting for Kaylen to recover. ¡®There may still be variables, though.¡¯ If Kaylen, who had gone to the moon, failed to fully recover, then this current opportunity might be wasted. However, the chance that Kaylen¡ªnow transformed into one of the moon''s people¡ªwould simply die was slim. ¡®Here, the best course is to not fall for the Dragon God¡¯s provocation and gradually apply pressure.¡¯ Having made that judgment, the Celestial Demon God slowly took control of the land the Dragon God had abandoned, While watching him gather his strength. And the Dragon God realized it quickly. ¡®Celestial Demon God. He¡¯s trying to buy time.¡¯ He had thought that, with his power weakened by Kaylen¡¯s Starfall, the Celestial Demon God would charge in immediately. But he was being incredibly cautious. Even though the difference in power still gave the Celestial Demon God a higher chance of victory, He wasn¡¯t obsessed with a short-term win¡ªhe was aiming for a more certain method. ¡®This is troublesome.¡¯ After receiving the knowledge of the Six Sword Divine Slayer from Kaylen, The Dragon God had been confident that he could surely suppress the Celestial Demon God. Of course, the one he could suppress was the Celestial Demon God residing on this planet¡ª It wouldn¡¯t affect the one on the moon... Even so, driving him off this planet alone held great significance. ¡®He must be drawn here.¡¯ The ever-cautious Celestial Demon God. Simple provocations would be meaningless against him. A one-dimensional taunt would likely be ignored entirely. In that case¡ª He would need to strike at the most fatal weakness. [You alien petty god... No, should I call you the god of the moon? The reason you¡¯re merely watching from the sidelines... is it because you¡¯re conscious of Kaylen, who¡¯s on the moon?] [......] The moment the Dragon God mentioned the moon¡ª The Celestial Demon God, who had been silently surrounding the area, suddenly released an intense surge of pressure. [I thought you were a solar deity who wielded the power of light... But it turns out you¡¯ve been hiding on the moon.] [......I was too hasty.] Was it a mistake to send Kaylen to the moon so quickly? No¡ªeven if the distance was that great, For the Dragon God¡¯s flames that had burned his body to send a signal all the way there. Would be impossible unless he had been prepared for it in advance. ¡®Was he already suspicious of the connection between me and the moon?¡¯ Since when did he notice? He never even imagined that Kaylen might have told him, So he couldn¡¯t identify where things had gone wrong. However, there was one thing he did understand. ¡®I must break his strength here.¡¯ This planet and the moon¡ª From size to the mana each celestial body held, This planet was far superior. And yet¡ª The reason the Celestial Demon God had remained such a massive threat here Was precisely because his base of operations had remained hidden. But now that it was revealed he came from the moon, They would certainly try to extend their reach there. He had to be stopped here and now. [As you wish. I¡¯ll kill you now, Dragon.] Once the decision to fight was made, He acted without delay. Rumble¡ª As the Celestial Demon God resolved himself and drew up his full power, Heaven and earth began to tremble at once. [A god commands: From now on, law shall vanish.] Law. The ¡°law¡± he spoke of was not some man-made set of societal rules. It was the foundational natural laws that upheld the world: The sky remaining above. The earth holding beneath. Fire burning. Water flowing... All these fundamental principles of nature were shaken under the Celestial Demon God¡¯s authority. This was the pinnacle among the arts of defying the heavens¡ªReverse-Heaven. [This is......] The core of the Dragon God, Infinity¡ªfounded upon the mana of the planet¡ªalso trembled violently. Unlike Star Annihilation, which cuts down the entire planet itself, The Celestial Demon God¡¯s power twisted and overturned the laws of the world, Preventing Infinity from operating properly. Compared to Kaylen¡¯s sword, it was a highly inefficient method... [Kugh......] But it was enough to shake the Dragon God. The massive dragon, ablaze in crimson light¡ªits scales Began to disintegrate one by one and vanish. Its right wing, once holding fire, had already turned to water and drenched the ground. The horns that once shone with golden brilliance Had dulled into a muddy earthen color. The great dragon was slowly being dismantled By the Celestial Demon God who proclaimed Lawlessness. Yet, watching this, he felt no ease. ¡®It shouldn¡¯t be falling apart this easily.¡¯ The full power the Dragon God had gathered Couldn¡¯t possibly be weak enough to vanish without resistance like this. Surely, he had a counterattack hidden somewhere. The Celestial Demon God observed him with the utmost caution. ¡®There.¡¯ At the center of the disintegrating great dragon¡ª Near the dragon¡¯s heart, the Infinity remained intact, Unaffected by the Celestial Demon God¡¯s technique of reversing the heavens. ¡®I¡¯ll dismantle it with everything I have.¡¯ The blackened earth began to float up into the sky. The clear blue clouds now supported the ground. Heaven and earth reversed. The chaos reached its peak. Infinity, which had been drawing mana infinitely in a stable world, Couldn¡¯t withstand the abrupt change¡ª And the infinite mana near the dragon¡¯s heart gradually began to break down. If he could subdue the heart, victory would be within reach. Ssshhhhhh¡ª The Dragon God¡¯s body was completely gone. All that remained now was the massive heart of the dragon. Without any real resistance, in less than an hour, The Celestial Demon God had reached this point. Yet he hesitated to touch it. ¡®......Without a doubt, there¡¯s a counterattack prepared.¡¯ There must be a reason the Dragon God had gathered power Without resisting the state of Lawlessness. Before dismantling the heart¡ª He needed to prepare with all his might. The Celestial Demon God drew forth all the light mana he had gathered as a heavenly deity, And the dark mana he had accumulated while ruling over the demonic realm. Saaa-aaah-aaah-iii¡ª As the Celestial Demon God¡¯s full power was released, The ground radiated brilliant light. And the sky, which had once lifted the floating earth, was now veiled in darkness. Light and darkness had swapped positions, Accelerating the reversed state of the world. Crack¡ª A single fracture ran across the dragon¡¯s heart, Which shone like a golden star. Craack. Craack. And in an instant, the cracks multiplied¡ª Breaking it down to the point where its original shape could no longer be recognized. ¡®Is it over...¡¯ The Celestial Demon God felt a slight sense of relief after even the dragon¡¯s heart had been dismantled. ¡°...Let¡¯s finish this. False god.¡± From within the shattered heart of the dragon, The Dragon God, in the form of Ernstine, stood¡ª With both the Six Sword Path and the Six Demon Path summoned. [That form is...!] Ernstine, the one who could be called the Dragon God''s former host. He had discarded the sword and taken up the Six Demon Path¡ª Becoming the true Dragon God. And yet, why now¡ª Why was he summoning the Six Sword Path as well? The Celestial Demon God had assumed he must¡¯ve kept one last move hidden, But he hadn¡¯t expected the Six Sword Path to appear here. ¡®...Even so, nothing changes.¡¯ The tide of battle was already overwhelmingly in the Celestial Demon God¡¯s favor. The great dragon had been fully dismantled. Returning to a former host, now barely the size of a fingernail compared to a dragon¡ª There was nothing he could do. The simultaneous emergence of the Six Sword Path and Six Demon Path was bothersome, But if he just used his full strength and crushed him as he was now, it would be over. ¡®Let¡¯s kill him now.¡¯ Just as the Celestial Demon God drew forth all his power to crush Ernstine¡¯s body¡ª Chiiiiiik¡ª! Stars from the Six Demon Path embedded themselves into the Six Sword Path. ¡°I never thought I¡¯d wield a sword again.¡± The Dragon God let out a bitter smile¡ª But activated the Six Sword Path with greater skill than anyone else. Six Sword Path Six Swords Godslayer Six Sword Path¡ªGodslayer. The sword Ernstine forged unconsciously over a thousand years, While resurrected as an undead and serving the Celestial God who revived him¡ª Born from the deep grudge he harbored in his heart. It was, in truth, an incomplete sword. ¡®As an undead, Ernstine never fully understood the true identity of the Celestial Demon God.¡¯ And so, his sword¡ªGodslayer¡ª Was mostly effective against the Celestial God, who wielded the power of light, Rather than the Celestial Demon God, who possessed both heavenly and demonic powers. But this was within the range of what the Dragon God could compensate for. With the combination of the Six Swords and the Six Demon Path¡ª Godslayer could now slay not only light, but also demonic power. [No...!] Just as the Dragon God had once been unable to counter the Lawlessness unleashed by the Celestial Demon God, Now, the Celestial Demon God was helpless before Godslayer. As the six swords extended outward in all directions¡ª The Celestial Demon God¡¯s mana vanished entirely, No longer responding to his control. The darkness that had loomed in the sky dispersed. The light that had radiated heat from the earth like a sun vanished in an instant. The Celestial Demon God finally understood why the Dragon God had endured until the very moment the dragon''s body completely vanished. ¡®I purposely made him gather all his strength...!¡¯ The Celestial Demon God did not let his guard down. The power he had amassed became his downfall here. No matter how much he gathered¡ª He could not resist this Six Sword Godslayer. This sword, like Kaylen''s sword, which cleaved through stars, Was a complete counter to the Celestial Demon God, just like Destruction. However. [...I will not admit defeat this time.] Even as his power waned, there was no hesitation in the Celestial Demon God¡¯s voice. [But soon... I will return.] The Dragon God, as it was vanishing, heard the calm voice of the Celestial Demon God and smirked. ¡®This is the second flaw of Godslayer... No matter how much I defeated the Celestial Demon God of this planet, I could not deal any real damage to the essence of the moon. That¡¯s why, even as he¡¯s vanishing, he¡¯s boasting about returning.¡¯ In contrast, I¡ª The Dragon God looked at his hand. The moment the dragon''s heart disappeared, The infinite power came to an end. At that moment, when the Six Sword Godslayer and the Six Demon Path were combined, Death was inevitable. ¡°Please finish it. Six Swords.¡± With those words, The Dragon God¡¯s body vanished like smoke. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 230 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 230 The place where the Dragon God disappeared. Above the pitch-black ashes, ripples of water began to stir. The water gathered into one, forming the shape of a woman. It was the Water Goddess, who had recovered some of her strength now that the Dragon God, who had been acting in her stead, had vanished. "His traces have disappeared..." Though the Celestial Demon God hadn¡¯t been completely eliminated, The Dragon God had fulfilled his duty faithfully. He had been created in the first place to eliminate the Celestial God, who was believed to be a god of light. ¡®In truth, without the Six Sword Godslayer, the results wouldn¡¯t have been nearly as effective...¡¯ The reason the Celestial Demon God''s presence had nearly vanished from this planet was due to the power prepared by the Dragon God combined with the Godslayer. The Celestial Demon God of the Moon was still intact, but¡ª Even so, with his traces nearly gone from this planet, there would be some time before he attempted another invasion. "No... we cannot wait for him to invade again." The Water Goddess¡¯s gaze sank coldly. Thinking of how far things had come because they were deceived by a lowly moon deity pretending to be a sun god made her still seethe with rage. ¡®I¡¯ll strike the moon directly. I¡¯ll end this.¡¯ They couldn''t keep sitting back and taking blows. Strategically, shifting the battlefield to the enemy''s stronghold was the natural choice. However¡ª ¡®I don¡¯t have the strength to send forces that far...¡¯ The Moon. A satellite unimaginably distant from this planet. Unlike the Celestial Demon God, the Water Goddess had never once been there. Let alone invasion¡ªshe didn¡¯t even know how to cross such a vast distance. Currently, not only was her divine power lacking as she was still in the midst of recovery after the Dragon God''s disappearance, even if she were to recover fully, it was uncertain whether there was a clear solution. ¡®And there¡¯s another problem...¡¯ In Alzass, capital of the Starn Empire, a massive sigil of the Six Sword had spread wide. That may very well be the greatest problem now facing the Water Goddess. ¡®Up until now, we cooperated to defeat the Celestial Demon God...¡¯ But with both the Dragon God and the Celestial Demon God gone, and the Water Goddess still not fully recovered, For Kaylen, now was the perfect time to act¡ªwhatever he planned. ¡®I¡¯m worried about how he¡¯ll move.¡¯ In some ways, he was an even deadlier opponent than the Celestial Demon God. He wasn¡¯t stronger, but he could wield the sword that could slay stars. ¡®I need to grasp his intentions...¡¯ But before heading to him, there was something the Water Goddess had to do. With a solemn expression, she looked over the ruined land, then pressed her palm to the ground. Her body dissolved and was absorbed into the earth. Fwoooosh¡ª The scorched, upturned land of Geysir began to slowly return to its original state. Unlike the Dragon God, who was created solely to fight external enemies, The Water Goddess¡¯s mission and reason for existence was to keep this world fertile and full of life. ¡®This should be enough.¡¯ Once Geysir¡¯s lands had recovered to a certain extent, the Water Goddess shifted her presence to Alzass, capital of the Starn Empire. Meanwhile¡ª Inside the sigil of the Six Sword, now considered its main body, Kaylen faced a problem. ¡®As expected, I can¡¯t control a body that¡¯s been taken away.¡¯ After Kaylen¡¯s body, now belonging to the Moon¡¯s lineage, was pulled to the Moon¡ª Kaylen had intended to somehow regain control of it. But the physical distance was simply too great. ¡®The Dragon God defeated the Celestial Demon God... I had a sliver of hope.¡¯ Though he didn¡¯t witness the clash between the two gods directly, seeing the sudden disappearance of the Celestial Demon God¡¯s overwhelming influence on this world, Kaylen could infer the result of the battle. With the Celestial Demon God''s dominance gone, he wondered if perhaps a connection to the Moon could now be reestablished. But it seemed that was still out of reach. ¡®I¡¯ve already extracted all the useful information from that body...¡¯ Unlike the last time, when he used Kaylen¡¯s body as bait¡ª This time, the Celestial Demon God had personally witnessed the use of Starfall. The Celestial Demon God, who had been deeply curious about the sword that could annihilate stars, may now, by pulling all he could from Kaylen¡¯s body, somehow grasp a clue to that technique. ¡®If he, by some chance, learns Starfall and returns with it... we¡¯ll have no way to stop him.¡¯ They had to strike back at the Moon before that could happen. But how could such an immense distance be crossed? As Kaylen pondered that¡ª ¡°O Six Blades.¡± From the center of the Six Sword sigil, water erupted like a fountain. The Water Goddess soon took form. ¡°The battle is over.¡± [I felt it as well. The Celestial Demon God¡¯s influence is gone. What about the Dragon God?] ¡°He too has vanished. The divine powers that made him will now scatter and return to me.¡± [I see... but you know, even with the Celestial Demon God gone, this isn¡¯t over.] ¡°Of course I know. As long as he remains on the Moon, he¡¯ll continue to be a looming threat.¡± The Water Goddess quickly agreed with Kaylen¡¯s words, relieved that his resolve extended even to the Celestial Demon God on the Moon¡ªunlike her worst fears. [Then we¡¯re of one mind. So¡ªcan you open a warp gate to the Moon?] ¡°...That is impossible.¡± [Impossible? The Celestial Demon God did it easily... I thought gods could naturally do such things?] ¡°Just because we¡¯re gods doesn¡¯t mean we can do everything. Especially crossing cosmic distances in an instant... as a goddess of water, that is a method completely unknown to me.¡± She bowed her head deeply, as if ashamed. The path Kaylen had assumed would be open was now blocked, leaving him at a loss. Shhhhhh¡ª From the center of the Six Sword sigil, a figure slowly began to rise. No¡ªcalling it a person felt off. Its face and neck were identical to Kaylen¡¯s from before, but its arms, legs, and torso were made of deep blue metal, lined with blades¡ª a grotesque form. The Water Goddess blinked at the sight. ¡°That form is...¡± ¡°I meant to reconfigure into a humanoid shape for easier conversation... but it¡¯s not going as planned.¡± ¡°You, the one who wields Starfall, can¡¯t even manage that?¡± ¡°You said it yourself. Just because one¡¯s a god doesn¡¯t mean one can do everything. And I¡¯m not even a god to begin with.¡± ¡°...You¡¯re right. My apologies.¡± Crunch. Even Kaylen, who had been holding it together, stiffened. As a blade jutted out of his cheek, the Water God cautiously spoke. "Shall I lend a hand?" "I¡¯d appreciate that." Swoosh. A bluish droplet wrapped around Kaylen¡¯s body. Then, it began gradually transforming his body into something sharp and metallic. The Water God, who presides over the birth and growth of life. To her, this was hardly any different from her area of expertise. It didn¡¯t even take a full minute. As Kaylen looked at his smoothly restored body, just like before, he thought to himself¡ª ¡®Now she actually feels like a god.¡¯ When she first appeared, her power had been so weak that she seemed like nothing more than a water spirit. But seeing how she could reconstruct his body back to human form in an instant¡ª A god was still a god. ¡®Now I can finally show myself in the Imperial Capital again.¡¯ Ever since Kaylen¡¯s body had been transformed into that of a Moon Clan being, he hadn¡¯t had contact with anyone from the Starn Empire. It had been unnecessary, especially with the final battle drawing near. But now, there was no longer any reason to avoid them. "What do you plan to do now?" "I¡¯m thinking of eradicating the Moon beings who¡¯ve toyed with this planet... but I¡¯m unsure how to close the distance." "Hmm... what about asking the Earth God for advice?" "You mean... the Earth God?" At the mention of the Earth God, the Water God showed clear discomfort. ¡®She doesn¡¯t trust the Earth God.¡¯ This planet had formed when Theia¡ªthe Moon¡¯s former deity¡ªcollided with another planet. The Water God and Earth God, each a deity from different planets, had clashed over dominion of the newly formed world. And it was the Water God who¡¯d won and come to rule over it. "He¡¯s not someone who can be trusted." As expected¡ª She immediately expressed her disagreement with Kaylen. "I get that there are personal feelings involved. But if we don¡¯t eliminate the Celestial Demon God on the Moon... there¡¯s a chance he could analyze my body and use the Starfall." "Starfall...? You think he could use that?" "Yes. Maybe not right away, but... my body, now part of the Moon Clan, still bears traces of that power. If he manages to restore it somehow, it might be possible eventually." "That¡¯s... but... the Earth God, he..." "When I saw him in the Abyssal Gate, he didn¡¯t seem all that dangerous." At Kaylen¡¯s words, The Water God slowly shook her head. "That¡¯s only because he was in a sealed state." "Then... what was he like before the seal?" "Before that? He deliberately altered Theia¡¯s stable orbit and crashed it into our world. He¡¯s an extremely aggressive being." "What... he did that?" Kaylen was stunned by her words. When he¡¯d heard it from the Earth God, it had sounded like an unfortunate accident, something inevitable. But this... this was his doing? "Why would he crash his own planet?" "That¡¯s obvious. He wasn¡¯t satisfied with Theia. He wanted to become the god of a new world. Theia was too small to fulfill his ambitions." Rumble¡ª Even before her words finished, mounds of soil rose up beneath their feet, merging together. In a flash, a small, knee-high earthen doll took form. Kaylen recognized it at once¡ª It was the Earth God. [That¡¯s harsh, Water God. Making me out to be such a villain.] "You... how are you here? You¡¯re sealed¡ªyou shouldn¡¯t be able to emerge above ground!" [Thanks to your weakened power, I¡¯ve been able to manifest just enough to communicate.] As the Earth God pointed a stubby finger at the Water God, her expression instantly twisted. But whether she was upset or not, the Earth God kept speaking. [You want to know how to get to the Moon, don¡¯t you?] "...You know?" [Of course. But there¡¯s a condition.] "If it¡¯s about lifting your seal¡ªforget it!" [I¡¯m not asking for something that unreasonable. It¡¯s something simple.] Flick. The Earth God pointed at Kaylen now. [Kaylen.] [Come find me alone in the Abyssal Gate. Then I¡¯ll tell you.] [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 231 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 231 The Earth God, who told him to come find him. Everyone present understood what that meant. It wasn¡¯t just a casual invitation to meet face-to-face. ¡®Judging by how he emphasized coming alone... he must have something to say only to me.¡¯ And it seemed the Water God had noticed as well. She was glaring down at the Earth God with a hostile expression. ¡°You¡¯re telling Lord Kaylen to come alone... what are you scheming?¡± [Heh heh. Who knows. Well then, I¡¯ll be waiting at the Abyssal Gate.] Rumble¡ª The Earth God disappeared into the ground in an instant, no longer interested in continuing the conversation. ¡°...To act the moment my power weakens¡ªhe truly is someone we can¡¯t afford to ignore.¡± The Water God glared fiercely at the spot where the Earth God had vanished, barely holding back her anger. ¡®Still... this is unexpected.¡¯ The Earth God. Back when she first encountered him at the Abyssal Gate, he hadn¡¯t shown any initiative to act on his own. His attitude had been that of a pure bystander. ¡®If he really wanted to make a move... cooperating with the Celestial Demon God would¡¯ve been the better choice... He just watched until the Celestial Demon God, a fellow native of Theia, disappeared... so why is he suddenly stepping forward now?¡¯ ¡°Has the seal on the Earth God weakened that much?¡± ¡°No. The Earth God''s seal is one of the matters I monitor most closely. Just as he said, he can barely communicate from the surface.¡± ¡°I see...¡± ¡°Lord Kaylen. What do you plan to do?¡± Kaylen paused to collect his thoughts, then replied. ¡°I¡¯ll go to the Abyssal Gate.¡± ¡°That is... quite concerning. Who knows what the Earth God is plotting in the Abyssal Gate...¡± ¡°But isn¡¯t it more important right now to figure out a way to reach the Moon?¡± ¡°...That is true, but...¡± ¡°Whatever he¡¯s planning in the Abyssal Gate, it doesn¡¯t matter. After all, my true body is this Six Sword. Even if he has malicious intent, all he can destroy is this body you completed for me.¡± Kaylen already had one body on the Moon. Even if the body here were detained by the Earth God in the Abyssal Gate, it would simply mean he¡¯d have one more. So to Kaylen, knowing how to reach the Moon was more important than this temporary form. ¡®Well, what the Water God is worried about... probably isn¡¯t my body.¡¯ The relationship between Kaylen and the Water God was still ambiguous. They had cooperated to drive the Celestial Demon God to the Moon, but nothing had been decided about what would come after. "We''re aligned in wanting to strike the Moon and eliminate the threat of the Celestial Demon God, but...¡¯ That didn¡¯t mean¡ª He had to do it with the Water God. In the first place, wasn¡¯t she a being akin to the Dragon God who plunged the Empire of Meier into ruin? Depending on how you look at it, cooperating with the Earth God, rather than the Water God¡ªwho harbored old grudges¡ªmight not be a bad idea.. ¡®I need to hear the Earth God¡¯s proposal.¡¯ Perhaps Kaylen¡¯s expression seemed resolute. The Water God calmed her agitation and spoke with a composed face. ¡°...If that¡¯s the case, understood. I¡¯ll look for a way as well. But no matter what kind of proposal the Earth God makes, I ask that you think it through carefully before deciding.¡± ¡°I will.¡± ¡°Then, are you planning to go right away through the Spirit Realm?¡± The massive portal connected to the Abyssal Gate in the Spirit Realm. Dark spirits had continually emerged from within it before. ¡°I should. But I won¡¯t go immediately.¡± ¡°Then...¡± Kaylen reached toward the black sword on the ground. One by one, black-glowing mana stones¡ªMoonstones¡ªbegan to spring out. ¡°Those are...¡± ¡°Moonstones. The Earth God''s power was similar to that corrupted mana. I plan to prepare for that kind of power.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± So he is being cautious of the Earth God. The Water God felt a sense of relief at that. And she spoke in a much lighter tone. ¡°Then I¡¯ll take control of the Celestial Realm and the Demon Realm continents.¡± ¡°Both continents?¡± ¡°Yes. Especially on the Celestial Continent, which the Celestial Demon God ruled over for a long time... there might still be something left behind.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a good idea.¡± If the Water God happened to find a clue to reaching the Moon there, things could become easier. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll take my leave.¡± After the Water God departed¡ª For ten days, Kaylen handled the affairs of the Starn Empire by day and focused on researching Moonstones by night. ¡°This should take care of the urgent matters.¡± ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to continue aggressively buying mana stones like before. The immediate threat has retreated.¡± ¡°Actually, I¡¯ve heard that the flames in the west have disappeared.¡± The rumor that Emperor Kaylen of the Starn Empire appeared alone at the western wall, summoned a rain of tens of thousands of swords, and extinguished the fire¡ª Had spread not just through the western Lahendra Kingdom, but even to the heart of the Starn Empire. ¡®The true enemy was the Celestial Demon God... But regardless of the hidden truth, people only judged based on appearances. The Dragon God¡¯s flames devouring the kingdom, and the Celestial Demon God¡¯s barrier stopping them. To anyone watching, it looked as if the human world had been protected by the Celestial Demon God¡¯s divine blessing. Right now, people¡¯s faith in the Celestial God was at its peak. Because of the divine barrier cast by the god over the Rahendra Kingdom¡¯s border¡ª Even those who didn¡¯t believe in gods had begun praising the Celestial God. ¡®There¡¯s no need to correct that perception right away.¡¯ Though Kaylen had unified all remaining human kingdoms under the banner of the Starn Empire¡ª The human world was still in a state of chaos. There was no need to reveal that the Celestial God originally intended to destroy the surface, and thereby stir up further confusion¡ªat least not until the various nations settled into a more stable state. ¡°Theresia. Then, I¡¯ll ask you to govern in my absence.¡± ¡°...Govern, you say? You mean all this paperwork?¡± Theresia glanced around the office with a tired look. The Death Knight, Baldrix¡ª Without eating or sleeping, was repeatedly processing documents like a machine. Though he had finally recovered his body, Baldrics had ended up becoming nothing more than a paperwork machine, instead of wielding a sword as a proper knight. ¡®I told myself I wouldn¡¯t work like that...¡¯ But judging by the recent workload, she wasn''t all that different herself. ¡®Now I understand why Violet won¡¯t come back, saying she¡¯s studying magic.¡¯ Back when she came down to the surface, she never imagined she¡¯d be buried in nothing but work like this. With a deep sigh, she said, ¡°...It really feels like I¡¯ve become the emperor. Like I¡¯m co-emperor with Lord Baldrixs.¡± ¡°Ho. Shall I hand it over to you? If you ascend the throne, you¡¯ll go down in history as the empress who unified the continent.¡± The reason he had taken over the kingdoms in the first place was only to overthrow the corrupt Bormian royal family and to resist the Demon Realm. Having already once unified the continent through the Meier Empire, Kaylen had no particular ambition to continue ruling the Starn Empire. Now that the Celestial Demon God was gone, it would be fine to hand the throne to someone suitable. Looking at Kaylen, Theresia spoke lightly. ¡°Rather than empress. There¡¯s something else I want.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°Empress consort.¡± ¡°...Empress consort?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Kaylen looked at Theresia with startled eyes. To bring up becoming empress consort out of nowhere¡ª It was far too sudden a statement. ¡°I¡¯ve grown up now. And I¡¯m not a Saintess anymore. Don¡¯t I meet the conditions to become empress consort?¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s true.¡± No longer the girl she once was, Theresia had grown into a woman whose beauty now matched Ernstine¡¯s exact tastes. ¡°You do know that I like you, right, Kaylen?¡± ¡°...I know.¡± ¡°To be honest, when we escaped from Sanctuary, I dreamed of a push-and-pull romance... but in reality, all I got was this mountain of paperwork.¡± ¡°My apologies for that.¡± ¡°And to think, a thousand years ago, you were so weak to women. But now you¡¯ve turned into some kind of monk...¡± Theresia pouted her lips. She had finally outgrown her former young body and matured exactly to Ernstine¡¯s preference¡ª ¡°I thought, ¡®I can¡¯t let it stay like this.¡¯ The one who¡¯s thirsty needs to dig the well.¡± ¡°So, you want to become empress consort?¡± ¡°Yes. Doesn¡¯t it sound good too? While the emperor is away, the empress consort governs in his place.¡± At first, it sounded like a light joke. But as she kept speaking, the topic gradually became more serious. ¡°I¡¯ll go... get some sunlight for a moment.¡± Baldrix, who had been silently working, suddenly stood up and left the room, saying he was going to get some sunlight. ¡®What kind of Death Knight says he¡¯s going to get sunlight... That guy. He¡¯s running away.¡¯ Kaylen looked at Baldrix with a dumbfounded expression. Then turned his gaze back to Theresia. She was smiling brightly. ¡°What do you think, Kaylen?¡± Half joking. Half serious¡ªshe was expecting an answer from Kaylen. ¡°...For now. Let¡¯s take care of this matter first before I give you one.¡± ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll wait. In this office. All the while.¡± As if she didn¡¯t expect to get an answer right away either. Theresia smiled faintly and emphasized that she¡¯d remain there. ¡°Right. I¡¯ll definitely give you one.¡± Kaylen said, looking again at Theresia seated at the desk. She acted calm, but both her hands were trembling slightly. To say something like that, she must have needed great resolve. ¡®If it were the old Ernstine, he¡¯d be thinking what a jackpot this is...¡¯ Kaylen turned and left the office with a bitter smile. Strictly speaking, he wasn¡¯t Ernstine¡ªhe was one of the Six Sword Path. ¡®...Anyway, first things first. I need to completely eliminate the Celestial Demon God of the Moon before I think about anything else.¡¯ Yes. The most important issue right now was the Moon. It wouldn¡¯t be too late to give an answer after all that was resolved. With that in mind, Kaylen arrived at the Moon Altar. [Before we speak, would you like to see the current state of the Moon?] There, through the authority of the Earth God, he could connect to the body of Kaylen that was on the Moon. ¡®No special conditions... just showing it right away?¡¯ Was it to prove that his power could indeed reach the Moon? The Earth God readily offered Kaylen a gift. He focused his senses through the Earth God. ¡®I should be able to grasp the situation first...¡¯ And so, vision and hearing gradually synced in. The first thing he saw was a sunstone, glowing with pure white light. And then, the next thing he heard¡ª [Honey. Are you awake?] ¡®Honey...¡¯ The voice calling him ¡°honey¡± was coming from the stone. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 232 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 232 The Voice of the Sunstone. It was something Kaylen was already familiar with. ¡®Arashiel. What are you scheming?¡¯ Arashiel, who once tried to seduce Kaylen and failed. That same woman was now whispering in a soft voice to Kaylen¡¯s alter ego on the moon. [How is your body feeling?] In response to her question, the mouth of Kaylen¡ªwho had become one of the Moon Clan¡ªmoved on its own. [Now... a little. It¡¯s better. I can speak.] [That¡¯s such a relief.] Did the alter ego that was dragged to the moon develop its own consciousness? It seemed the Celestial Demon had done something while restoring Kaylen of the Moon Clan, who was in critical condition. ¡®Even if it¡¯s on the moon, since it¡¯s within the Earth God''s influence, I should be able to take control of the alter ego again...¡¯ Kaylen decided to stay quiet and observe the situation for now. If the Earth God cut the connection, there¡¯d be no point in retaking control of the alter ego. ¡®Instead, I need to check how much information is in there.¡¯ When the alter ego was dragged to the moon. He had erased most of Kaylen of the Moon Clan¡¯s information, but a double-check was necessary. Kaylen read the memories of the alter ego. ¡®...Nothing problematic, good.¡¯ Perhaps thanks to the Dragon God''s flame sweeping through his alter ego on top of what he had already purged. There was no remaining information that could cause issues. ¡®Good.¡¯ Feeling more at ease, Kaylen listened to the conversation between the alter ego and Arashiel. [You need to recover quickly so we can hold the wedding.] [...Are you really my bride? Someone as beautiful as you... with someone like me...] Kaylen, mesmerized, stared at the Sunstone. To a third party, it would¡¯ve looked like he was foolishly praising a glowing rock. But Kaylen himself had almost lost his mind once upon seeing Arashiel¡¯s true form, so he could understand how his alter ego felt. [Lord Kaylen is not someone to be called ¡°someone like me.¡± You are more valuable than I, Arashiel.] [Is that so. I¡¯m honored.] ¡®Marriage, huh.¡¯ It had only been a few days since the alter ego was dragged to the moon, and they were already talking about marriage. ¡®...There¡¯s definitely a hidden agenda.¡¯ If they wanted to take control of Kaylen of the Moon Clan, they could¡¯ve just brainwashed him like before. Forcing a marriage must be part of the Celestial Demon¡¯s plan. Kaylen tried to figure out what that was by listening further to their conversation... [This should be enough.] As the Earth God said that, the connection with Kaylen of the moon was severed. [Now you can believe that I have a way to connect with the moon, right?] ¡°...Yeah. I¡¯ll believe it.¡± Kaylen nodded,and looked up at the Earth God, who was mounted atop the massive serpent, Ederna. ¡°By the way, so you were with Ederna.¡± [...] Even at Kaylen¡¯s words, Ederna¡¯s eyes remained unfocused and vacant. The one who answered in her stead was the earthen puppet¡ªthe Earth God. [She is currently busy observing the world. I apologize on her behalf for not answering.] ¡°Is that so.¡± Kaylen turned his gaze away from the serpent and looked at The Earth God. Though it appeared to be a small clay doll, perhaps because the dark magic of the Abyss enveloped its body, Kaylen could sense a tremendous power from it, comparable to that of the former Celestial Demon or the Dragon God. ¡°So. What¡¯s the reason you called for me?¡± [Heh heh. You¡¯re quite impatient.] ¡°We¡¯re not exactly in a position to have a long conversation, are we?¡± [That¡¯s true. In that case, I¡¯ll get straight to the point.] Whoosh. The clay doll pointed a finger at Kaylen. [Will you walk the path of evolution with me?] ¡°Evolution?¡± [Yes. All intelligent life, by nature, dreams of a better tomorrow than their current state.] ¡°That¡¯s awfully sudden.¡± After provoking the Water God just to summon him, now he was talking about walking the path of evolution together. Kaylen looked dumbfounded, but The Earth God finally began to explain in earnest. [Six Sword. Your existence is ambiguous.] ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± [You possess the power to destroy stars, yet you can¡¯t even form a proper body. Though you must live as an immortal, you remain entangled with mortals. In some ways, you surpass the gods in ability... yet, you are not a god.] Kaylen furrowed his brows. So he had even watched Kaylen create an incomplete body within the Six Sword? ¡°You pretend to have no interest in worldly affairs, yet you¡¯ve been observing closely.¡± [Because your star-destroying sword could have swept me away as well. If it''s for survival, isn¡¯t it only natural to be cautious?] The Earth God claimed it was unavoidable for the sake of survival. But Kaylen could feel that he had been paying close attention to the world above. ¡°What exactly is this path of evolution?¡± [Just as it sounds. It¡¯s the path to becoming a higher-dimensional existence. You, from that half-formed Six Sword, will ascend to the God of Swords.] Tap. In the form of a clay doll, The Earth God tapped his own chest with his hand. [And I, from the Earth God, will evolve further. Not only regaining control of Terra, but also reclaiming the Moon that slipped from my grasp, thus evolving into an even higher being.] ¡°To escape your current Earth God state, you¡¯ll inevitably have to clash with the Water God.¡± [No, there¡¯s no need to clash.] Whoosh. The Earth God spread both hands. A lump of water rose in his left hand. A mound of earth formed in his right hand. [Just like this water and earth that are separated.] Then, as he merged the two together¡ª [They mix and become mud, don¡¯t they?] ¡°...So your evolved form is, the God of Mud?¡± [Hahaha! God of Mud, I like that. Yes. You become the God of Swords. I¡¯ll evolve into the God of Mud.] The Earth God said it like a joke. But in the end, his true intent was clear. He intended to devour the Water God. ¡®Well, it¡¯s not like I have any obligation to side with the Water God.¡¯ The Water God was, after all, the one who birthed the Dragon God to begin with. Because she had played a part in the fall of the Meier Empire of Ernstine, even if they were cooperating for now, their relationship could easily shift depending on what served her interests. ¡®But.¡¯ Aside from that¡ª Kaylen didn¡¯t like the Earth God¡¯s proposal. ¡®Becoming a divine being like them only holds meaning if it¡¯s done by my own hand.¡¯ To walk the path of evolution under the guidance of a sly god like the Earth God... who knows how one might end up being manipulated. If he was to become the God of Swords, he simply needed to walk that path himself. Even if he followed a path someone else laid out, it would only be riddled with traps behind the scenes. ¡°I have no intention of becoming a god through some so-called path of evolution. I refuse your offer.¡± [As expected, you refuse.] As if he had already anticipated that response, the corner of the clay doll¡¯s mouth rose all the way to his eyes. That smile carried clear ridicule. [In that case, I¡¯ll make you a real offer.] ¡°A real offer?¡± [Even if you refuse to travel with me, we can still cooperate temporarily out of mutual necessity. After all, the being on the moon is a threat to me as well.] ¡°You feel threatened by the Celestial God?¡± [Yes. More precisely, I¡¯m concerned about your alter ego that has fallen into his hands. If the Celestial God were to acquire your star-destroying sword¡ªthis world would undoubtedly be destroyed.] With that, the Earth God continued. [I¡¯ll open the gate to the moon. In return, let me imbue two of your Six Swords¡ªthe Dark Sword and the Earthen Sword¡ªwith my black magic.] ¡°The Dark Sword and the Earthen Sword...¡± [That¡¯s right. When you set out to conquer the moon, won¡¯t you be taking all six swords anyway? At that time, I¡¯ll send half of my power to the moon.] ¡°Why not go yourself?¡± [Heh. If my black magic lands on the moon by itself, the Celestial God will surely absorb all of it. But if I ride with your Dark Sword and Earthen Sword while you fight him, I¡¯ll seize control of the moon.] ¡°Hm...¡± The Earth God¡¯s intention to hitch a ride on the Dark and Earthen Swords was crystal clear. While Kaylen battled the Celestial God, the Earth God would take the moon. ¡®He¡¯s sealed by the Water God on this planet, so his movement is restricted. He must be trying to retake the moon to regain his strength...¡¯ Kaylen didn¡¯t give an immediate answer. He didn¡¯t believe this sly god would make such a proposal with only one intention in mind. And as he hesitated¡ª [Kaylen. It would be good for you if I came along too. You¡¯re not seriously thinking of living on the moon forever, are you?] The Earth God added more words to persuade Kaylen. ¡°To return?¡± [Exactly. To fight the Celestial God, you and the Water God will have to commit a considerable portion of your strength. The moon is his stronghold.] ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± [And when the battle is over and you¡¯ve won¡ªwhat will you do when you try to return to Terra, but the Water God blocks the way?] [To her, you¡¯ll be of no further use. No, worse¡ªyou¡¯ll be a burden, a threat, with that star-destroying sword. She¡¯ll do everything she can to prevent your return to Terra. Yes, you¡¯ll be cast aside.] ¡°But if I go with you, that won¡¯t happen?¡± [Exactly. I¡¯ll take control of the moon and return to Terra. I¡¯ll reopen the gate for you so you can return properly.] As Kaylen listened to the Earth God¡¯s words, he felt it clearly. ¡®There¡¯s not a single one of them I can trust.¡¯ No matter how sly the Earth God was, there was logic in his words. Would the Water God truly welcome him with open arms after he subdues the Celestial God and tries to return from the moon? Or would she try to keep him from returning... No matter how he thought about it, the latter seemed more likely. ¡®As expected. I mustn¡¯t rely on them.¡¯ If he depended on those gods to travel to and from the moon, he could be betrayed at any moment. ¡®I need to find a way to travel to the moon on my own.¡¯ Even as Kaylen made that resolve, outwardly he said something else. ¡°All right, Earth God. I accept your proposal.¡± [Heh. A wise decision.] Ssssss¡ª Behind Kaylen, the Six Swords floated into the air. The Earth God asked him, [Shall I enter through there?] ¡°Yes. Enter the two swords.¡± The clay doll unraveled, separating into a pile of earth and a wave of dark magic. They naturally flew toward two of Kaylen¡¯s swords and were absorbed into them. [Such tremendous magical power...] Though the Earth God, now parasitizing the Six Swords, appeared outwardly to only express admiration¡ª ¡®He¡¯s trying to analyze the swords.¡¯ His magic was secretly attempting to examine the Six Swords. And Kaylen was no different. The Earth God¡¯s black magic was the same as the moon¡¯s black magic. By fully understanding its nature, he would complete a sword capable of conquering the Celestial God on the moon. ¡®I¡¯ll make this sword mine...¡¯ ¡®Earth God. Now that you¡¯ve entered me¡ªI¡¯ll completely analyze your magic.¡¯ With hidden blades behind their backs, the two of them wore smiles on the surface as they entered into a temporary alliance. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 233 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 233 ¡°You want me to teach you about teleportation magic?¡± ¡°Yeah, Johannes.¡± ¡°And you mean a way to reach the moon?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Johannes gave Kaylen a baffled expression at his question. ¡°Emperor, what Circle are you?¡± ¡°Hmm... I think I used up to the 6th Circle? I don¡¯t remember exactly.¡± ¡°Hah. Are you kidding me? With just 6 Circles, you¡¯re talking about going to the moon? You¡¯re not even at the level to open a Warp Gate.¡± Teleportation. It was a pinnacle form of magic usable only by the highest-level mages. Even opening a Warp Gate¡ª required at least a 7th Circle mage or above. And yet he not only wanted to open a Warp Gate, but use it to travel to the moon? ¡®What kind of lunatic thief is this guy.¡¯ For Johannes, who had become a lich and mastered magic to its utmost limits, it was only natural to think that. ¡°I know. I know magic isn¡¯t such a simple discipline.¡± ¡°Then how can someone who knows that talk about going to the moon?¡± ¡°But, I have something to rely on.¡± ¡°What do you mean, rely on?¡± ¡°Dragon Tongue.¡± Kaylen answered with a confident expression. ¡°I can mimic Dragon Tongue.¡± ¡°...You can do that too?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± The shard of the Six Swords that had briefly entered the Dragon God¡¯s body¡ª had originally been used as a medium for communication, but at the same time, became a window for observing how the Dragon God¡¯s Draconic Magic operated. ¡®Magic has never really suited me. I¡¯ve never felt the need to use it until now.¡¯ After pursuing the absolute pinnacle of swordsmanship, Kaylen had stopped using even the magic he¡¯d mastered as a Meister. Naturally so¡ªsince the Six Sword Path was far more powerful than any magic he had learned. However, in special cases like teleportation, there were limits to what the sword alone could solve. ¡°What I need is to understand how teleportation magic is actually implemented¡ªthe methodology behind it.¡± ¡°Hm. So you¡¯re not just asking for the Warp Gate incantation?¡± ¡°Right. That kind of incantation is honestly already within the realm of what I can do with Dragon Tongue.¡± If it were just Dragon Tongue, moving within this planet was already more than doable. But what Kaylen wanted was a passage that connected to the moon. That couldn¡¯t be solved simply by speaking commands in Dragon Tongue without understanding how teleportation actually worked. ¡°Hmph...¡± ¡°What, don¡¯t tell me you don¡¯t know?¡± ¡°This brat. What do you take me for? I¡¯m Johannes.¡± And Kaylen had chosen the right person to ask. ¡°The core concept of a Warp Gate is folding space using the mana that exists in all things.¡± Whether provoked or just excited, Johannes went as far as preparing a chalkboard to lecture with enthusiasm. ¡°Folding space, you say.¡± ¡°Exactly. Mana, under the command of a grand mage, folds the space between you and your destination and finds the most direct shortcut.¡± Screeech. Johannes drew a long line of chalk on the board¡ªwho knew when he had prepared it¡ªand then instantly cut off the first 10 percent and the last 10 percent. What remained was the middle 80 percent of the length. Swish, swish. He lightly erased that with the eraser. ¡°By using a shortcut, we minimize the path we have to take, and with the Warp Gate, we instantly skip over 10 percent of the path. That¡¯s the basic concept of a Warp Gate.¡± ¡°Hm...¡± ¡°But this is a concept that only applies within the same planet.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because what we¡¯re using is this planet¡¯s mana. The mana of this planet circulates through the world and naturally finds the optimal shortcut.¡± Johannes pointed upward with his finger. ¡°But the optimal path to the moon¡ªthis planet¡¯s mana doesn¡¯t know it. No matter how much you use Dragon Tongue, that¡¯s only possible on Terra. Finding a path to the moon will be difficult.¡± ¡°I see...¡± Through Johannes¡¯s brief lecture, Kaylen was able to roughly grasp how teleportation unfolded. The mana of this world endlessly circulates, holding all the coordinate information of the world. From there, it already knows the route to fold space and find the optimal shortcut. So, within this planet¡ªwithin Terra¡ªit¡¯s entirely possible to compress space and leap through it using a Warp Gate, but... Connecting to the moon is a different issue altogether. Even Dragon Tongue would struggle to reach a space that crosses the universe. Thus, from a mage¡¯s perspective, Johannes concluded that the path Kaylen was pursuing was impossible. [He¡¯s right.] Even the Earth God, dwelling within Kaylen¡¯s two swords, agreed with Johannes¡¯s words. [Between Terra and the moon lies space. Piercing through that space and crossing it all at once is impossible.] ¡°How is it that you¡¯re able to do it, then?¡± [Heh. I am a god, so it is possible for me.] Because he¡¯s a god? What an obnoxious answer. Kaylen thought so, but calmly judged the situation. ¡®Just being a god... doesn¡¯t mean such teleportation is possible.¡¯ Even if they¡¯re gods, the only difference is that they wield the power of creation. Kaylen didn¡¯t think he was inferior to them. ¡®If the Earth God can do it, there¡¯s no reason I can¡¯t.¡¯ Confident in that thought, he began pondering the actual method. ¡®I have a rough idea of how Warp Gates work.¡¯ ¡°Warp Gate.¡± Kaylen, after listening to Johannes¡¯s explanation, cast teleportation magic. Then, a blue portal appeared¡ªlarger and more stable than any Warp Gate used by human mages. ¡°...Ha.¡± Seeing that, Johannes let out a sigh. What the hell? He opened a Warp Gate like that, just from this short lesson? ¡®Why did I even spend a thousand years learning magic...?¡¯ Kaylen¡¯s Warp Gate was so flawless, it made Johannes question his very existence. And no wonder¡ªwithin Kaylen¡¯s Six Sword Path, the flow of Draconic Magic had already begun to appear, and he had implemented Dragon Tongue, even if only in a limited form. An absolute command that manifests as soon as it is spoken¡ªDragon Tongue. It wasn¡¯t even something a dragon had used¡ªKaylen was using what the Dragon God once wielded, so from Johannes¡¯s perspective, it must have looked absolutely perfect. However, Kaylen himself felt its limitations. ¡®No matter how perfect it looks, it has limits.¡¯ In the end, it was only connected to the mana flowing within the planet. No matter how well he used the Warp Gate, it couldn¡¯t create a path to the moon. ¡®But... by opening the Warp Gate, I was able to catch a clue.¡¯ This method can¡¯t take him to the moon. But there¡¯s no need to insist on using a Warp Gate to go there. ¡®If I can fully grasp the moon¡¯s mana... then I can travel between Terra and the moon freely too.¡¯ As Kaylen opened and closed the Warp Gate, an idea came to him. To carry out that idea, he would first need to fully understand the moon¡¯s dark mana. ¡®Accepting the Earth God has definitely been useful.¡¯ The Earth God''s power, residing in the Dark Sword and Earth Sword. There must be a hidden reason he entered the sword, beyond the front he presented, but so far, the benefits outweighed the risks. ¡®Just a few days left now.¡¯ The time to fully understand the moon¡¯s dark mana was drawing near. And just as Kaylen was training with the Warp Gate, the Earth God spoke gravely, relaying the situation on the moon. [There¡¯s a large movement stirring on the moon.] ¡°On the moon?¡± [Yes. It would be wise to visit your four avatars there and grasp the situation.] [Darling. Is your body alright?] Due to the Earth God''s presence, Kaylen was able to maintain a link with his moon avatar, and each morning he would hear Arashiel¡¯s sweet voice. [My body... is still incomplete, but thanks to your concern, it¡¯s recovering more and more quickly.] Even hearing his avatar spout nonsense like that. ¡®He¡¯s head over heels, huh.¡¯ Moon Avatar Kaylen. Revived by the Celestial Demon God''s power, he hadn¡¯t recovered many memories, but he had received lavish treatment from those there. Especially Arashiel, in her most charming form. She had cared for Kaylen while in her Sunstone form, and the moon avatar had already fallen completely for her. [It¡¯s all thanks to you, Arashiel. To have someone as beautiful as you by my side... I¡¯m truly blessed.] ¡®Hmph. I¡¯d like nothing more than to smash that Sunstone to pieces right now.¡¯ Though he had decided to leave his avatar¡¯s behavior alone, hearing him continually praise Arashiel¡¯s beauty made him want to intervene on the spot. At that moment¡ª [Darling. They say the God will be arriving soon. You should prepare yourself with a reverent heart.] [The God... is coming?!] When he heard that the Celestial Demon God would be visiting personally, Kaylen¡¯s avatar was overwhelmed and didn¡¯t know what to do with himself. His body and heart now fully belonged to the moon¡¯s people. ¡®So this is part of the large movement the Earth God mentioned.¡¯ There must be a reason why the Celestial Demon God¡ªwho had never visited before¡ªwas now coming in person. Kaylen remained alert and waited for the God¡¯s arrival. And soon, the Celestial Demon God visited them. [So, you have awakened.] His appearance was nearly the same as when seen from Terra, but instead of wings of light, he now bore seven rotating Sunstones in a circular formation. Seeing that, Kaylen¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡®His power... isn¡¯t complete.¡¯ Was it because he had suffered a major blow from the Dragon God? One of the two pillars of the Celestial Demon God¡ªhis light mana¡ªcould barely be felt, while the moon¡¯s dark mana was overwhelmingly strong. Bzz. Bzz. And behind his back, the Sunstones continuously orbited him, gradually regenerating the wings of light he once possessed. However, the recovery was extremely slow, and it looked like it would take considerable time for the Celestial Demon God to regain the same light mana he had in the past. Kaylen wanted to analyze more of the Celestial Demon God''s combat power, [O, O God......!] Thud. But his avatar dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead to the ground, making it impossible to continue analyzing his strength. [Arashiel. Are you ready?] Then, as the bowed avatar remained still, he heard the conversation between the Celestial Demon God and Arashiel near his ear. [Yes... I¡¯m fully prepared to become one.] [Then, commence fusion. We¡¯re ready on this side as well.] Once the Celestial Demon God gave the command¡ª Crack! Kaylen¡ª As his avatar¡¯s spine shattered, He felt a massive presence invade his body. ¡®This is......!¡¯ Even though he couldn¡¯t see it, he could tell what it was. Sunstones¡ªArashiel. She had taken her stone form and forcibly embedded herself into Kaylen¡¯s avatar. [Let¡¯s live together. Forever now......] And with those words, The avatar¡¯s body began to shine completely, and in an instant, his body hardened. The blue skin that marked his transformation into one of the moon¡¯s race turned pure white, and soon began to emit light. Kaylen recognized that transformation well. ¡®He¡¯s turning into a Sunstone......!¡¯ He went through all that trouble to save the avatar, only for him to be turned into a Sunstone? What are they scheming? As Kaylen puzzled over it, the voice of the Celestial Demon God reached his ears. [He¡¯s settled in well. Now, only one week remains... until everything is complete.] [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 234 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 234 ¡®A week?¡¯ Kaylen furrowed his brows. Only a week left until everything would be over. ¡®The current Celestial Demon God... doesn¡¯t have that kind of power.¡¯ If such a thing had been possible, it would¡¯ve all ended long before the defeat against the Dragon God. In the end, the only difference now was¡ª ¡®...That he has my clone.¡¯ There had to be a reason why the clone Kaylen had revived was embedded with the Sunstone. ¡®Thankfully, even though the body transformed into Sunstone, the senses haven¡¯t completely died out.¡¯ Compared to just before, the clone''s five senses were clearly dulled, and most of all, sight had completely vanished. But Kaylen could feel a completely new kind of sensation through the body now fully turned into Sunstone. ¡®It¡¯s absorbing light mana...¡¯ The Sunstone appeared to be a luminous substance that emitted light on its own¡ª But in truth, it had a strong tendency to absorb light mana. A Sunstone that consumes 100 and emits 10. [Let¡¯s go.] The Celestial Demon God''s voice rang out. Kaylen''s clone floated up into the air and was transported somewhere. Not long after¡ª Click. Click. As his entire body was wrapped in something, a chill cold enough to freeze even his bones enveloped him. The body temperature, which had risen due to becoming Sunstone, plummeted below freezing in an instant. [I don¡¯t ask for much.] Then¡ª [Just replicate what you did last time.] The moment the Celestial Demon God gave the command¡ª An artificial flow of mana surged through Kaylen¡¯s body, now turned into Sunstone. The light mana within the Sunstone¡ª And another kind of mana of differing attributes being infused from the "something" surrounding it. ¡®This is just like...Fire, water, earth, air, light, dark.¡¯ The indiscriminate influx of six elemental manas resembled the time when he had formed Transcendence Realm: Starfall. The Celestial Demon God was attempting to artificially reproduce Starfall. Using the Sunstone¨Ctransformed Kaylen as a medium. [Even if it resembles only ten percent, it¡¯s fine. As long as I inject enough mana.] Unable to recreate Starfall on his own, this was the method he chose. Kaylen even considered detonating his clone¡ª ¡®But in this situation... I can¡¯t control the clone.¡¯ Even if the connection to the moon¡¯s clone had been reestablished through Earth¡¯s God, he could merely sense the clone¡¯s presence¡ª He couldn¡¯t actively move it. Especially not now, with the clone turned into Sunstone¡ªcontrol was utterly impossible. And then¡ª Following the Celestial Demon God¡¯s command, Kaylen¡¯s clone tried to replicate the Starfall technique he had used when he previously clashed with the Dragon God. Though most of the memories had faded, the massive flow of mana led the body to remember instinctively¡ª Attempting to cast Starfall directly through his own body. [Five percent.] But¡ª Even simply infusing mana had its limits when it came to realizing Starfall. The Celestial Demon God, in a cold tone, evaluated the Starfall that Kaylen instinctively manifested as only five percent. Boom. Boom. Then something approached and collided with Kaylen¡¯s bound body. Even though he had lost his sight, Kaylen could instantly recognize what had struck his duplicate. ¡®A Sunstone.¡¯ A mineral with the exact same properties as his own transformed body. And from it, mana was flowing in. The endless stream of mana pouring in far surpassed the amount Kaylen had received from the Celestial Demon God back on Earth when he was granted the mana stone. Which made sense. The Sunstone contained far more refined and vast mana than hundreds¡ªno, thousands¡ªof mana stones combined. [At this level... perhaps seven percent.] Though the manifestation of Starfall was still rough and crude, With overwhelming mana support, it gradually grew to meet the minimum standard set by the Celestial Demon God. [One week will be enough.] Thud. Thud. Something else was attached once more to Kaylen¡¯s body, which had already expanded with attached Sunstones. This time, it wasn¡¯t a Sunstone, but a Moonstone imbued with the mana of darkness. Along with that, various other minerals containing different types of mana continued attaching to Kaylen¡¯s duplicate. ¡®Its size just keeps growing.¡¯ Kaylen¡¯s duplicate, originally the size of a human¡ª With Sunstones and now Moonstones being attached, its scale expanded¡ª And soon, it surpassed the size of a massive boulder. [Kaylen. Become a meteor that shatters stars.] And¡ª Upon hearing the Celestial Demon God¡¯s final words, Kaylen fully grasped his intent. Meteor Strike. That was the countermeasure prepared by the Celestial Demon God, who had taken refuge on the moon, to destroy Earth. ? ¡°The Celestial Demon God is attempting something like that?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That¡¯s troubling...¡± The Water God, having returned from investigating the Celestial Realm, frowned upon hearing Kaylen¡¯s explanation of the Celestial Demon God¡¯s plan. ¡°If it were just a normal meteor, it would mostly burn up in the atmosphere and be filtered out. But if it¡¯s a meteor containing the power of Starfall, that¡¯s a different story. It¡¯ll absorb all the frictional heat from the atmosphere and descend with even greater force. Not to mention, most meteors fall into the ocean, so they typically don¡¯t affect the planet much...¡± As she said that, the Water God glanced at Kaylen. ¡°But the Starfall you created is so overwhelmingly powerful... even if the meteor falls into the ocean, the impact won¡¯t be absorbed. The planet itself could collapse. Really. You¡¯ve made something quite extraordinary.¡± ¡°Well. If I hadn¡¯t, things would¡¯ve been bad on our side too.¡± [Indeed. You should try to understand him. After all, you, he, and the Dragon God were all enemies once, weren¡¯t you?] As a voice flowed out from one of Kaylen¡¯s six swords¡ªthe Earth Sword¡ªWater God¡¯s eyes turned sharp. ¡°Earth God. You¡¯re inside Kaylen¡¯s sword... what are you planning?¡± [Heh. It¡¯s fine to be wary of me. But aren¡¯t we in the same boat right now? If that meteor falls, it¡¯s not just you¡ªit¡¯ll endanger even me, sealed inside Earth. That¡¯s why we agreed to a temporary alliance.] ¡°...Fine. Given the seriousness of the situation, I also agree that cooperation is necessary. But the fact that you¡¯re inside one of the Six Swords... that¡¯s extremely dangerous.¡± The Water God, while agreeing to the cooperation, gave a direct warning in front of the Earth God. ¡°If he takes control of the sword, what do you intend to do? I understand Lord Kaylen is powerful, but Earth God is just as dangerous an opponent.¡± [Heh. I appreciate the compliment.] ¡°He doesn¡¯t necessarily have to be sealed in the sword. Couldn¡¯t the alliance still be maintained?¡± Kaylen shook his head at those words. ¡°No. That¡¯s not possible. I¡¯ve already made a promise.¡± Outwardly, he used that promise as an excuse. But in truth, there was a different reason Earth God had to be contained within the Six Sword. ¡®He¡¯s the only one capable of sensing the Moon¡¯s dark mana.¡¯ The Moon¡¯s dark mana. The same power that had to be fully understood in order to eliminate the Celestial Demon existed within Earth God as well. There was certainly risk in sealing him within the sword¡ª But it was a risk worth taking. ¡®Besides, from what just happened, I¡¯ve almost figured it all out.¡¯ During the process of his clone transforming into Sunstone on the Moon and becoming meteorite¡ª Kaylen recalled the moment when Moonstone merged and the Moon¡¯s dark mana engulfed his clone¡¯s body. ¡®It¡¯s almost complete.¡¯ A sword that could eradicate the Moon¡¯s dark mana. Completion was within reach. At a moment like this, there was no need to remove Earth God from the sword. ¡°But still......¡± [The Water God. It¡¯s fine to push me, but what are you planning to do?] ¡°Ha. Do you think I¡¯m going to answer that question?¡± [Heh. Just asking out of curiosity. A meteor capable of destroying stars is about to fall. Surely, you¡¯re not planning to stay on Earth while only sending Kaylen to the Moon, are you?] ¡°Of course I¡¯m not.¡± [Good. Then how much power do you intend to send?] ¡°You think I¡¯d tell you that?¡± [Of course you should. Aren¡¯t you going to the Moon through me? I need to know how wide to open the gate leading to the Moon. I have to prepare.] The Water God glared coldly at Earth God, then slowly opened her mouth. ¡°...I¡¯ll tell you later.¡± [Alright. You¡¯d better prepare your strength sincerely. Otherwise, people might suspect you¡¯re harboring double intentions.] ¡°Double intentions...?¡± [Who knows? You could just send Kaylen and then shut the gate so he can¡¯t return.] ¡°You... you¡¯re insane. What kind of baseless accusation is that...!¡± The Water God looked at Earth God with disbelief, then turned her gaze to Kaylen. ¡°Lord Kaylen, did you accept Earth God because you agreed with that kind of thinking? I¡¯m truly being wronged here. Shutting the gate so he can¡¯t return... How could that even be possible?¡± [If The Water God regains her full strength, it¡¯s entirely possible.] You really... Whenever The Water God tried to speak, Earth God would interject from the side, and eventually she exploded in anger. Kaylen waved his hand. ¡°That¡¯s not it. I simply made a deal with him. For now, we can¡¯t even reach the Moon without Earth God¡¯s help.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°For now, let¡¯s focus on solving the immediate issue.¡± ¡°...Understood. Then I¡¯ll go prepare for now.¡± The Water God clenched her teeth and left, clearly furious from being near Earth God. Watching her disappear into droplets of water, Earth God let out a mocking laugh. [Heh. The Water God ran off without even answering how much power she intends to send.] ¡°Hoh......¡± [The Water God will definitely try to be sly. She¡¯ll send only your forces while claiming she needs to stay behind to suppress me on this planet. If you fall for that story, you¡¯ll be the only one taking the loss.] Earth God continued fueling Kaylen¡¯s suspicion. The Water God would certainly hold back her power. If only you go, it¡¯s your loss. Drag as much of her power to the Moon with you, no matter what...... ¡°You realize that same logic applies to you too, right?¡± [Of course. I¡¯ll show my utmost sincerity as well. After all, I need to take control of the Moon. Heh heh......] With that reply, Earth God kept trying to drive a wedge between them. His words were so sly that if one listened too long, they could be swayed without even realizing it. But even Kaylen seemed to be gradually going along with it...... ¡°Earth God is thoroughly trying to sow discord.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± On the other side, he was already in contact with The Water God. More precisely, with Violet, who was briefly possessed by The Water God. ¡°I couldn¡¯t speak earlier because Earth God was present......¡± And now, completely different from how furious she had been moments ago, The Water God spoke calmly through Violet¡¯s body. ¡°While exploring the Heavenly Realm abandoned by the Celestial Demon, I found something interesting.¡± ¡°Something interesting......?¡± ¡°This.¡± What The Water God took out¡ª Was an ivory-colored, crescent moon-shaped gem. ¡°What is this......?¡± ¡°Inside this,¡± The Water God said with a steady expression, ¡°are traces of a connection between Earth God and the Celestial Demon.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 235 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 235 ¡°Are you saying this is a trace connected to the Earth God and the Celestial Demon God?¡± She looked at the crescent-shaped gem in the Water God''s hand. Kaylen''s Aura Sword drew closer to it. ¡°How can this gem serve as evidence?¡± ¡°It contains both of their voices.¡± The Water God gently stroked the gem with her finger. Then, the gem briefly lit up, and the voices of the Earth God and the Celestial Demon God began to echo. ¡ª...So, what do you think? Will you join forces with me, Child of the Moon? ¡ªLet me hear your proposal. ¡ªNow that the Water God''s power has weakened, the most troublesome being on this planet is the Six Sword. ¡ªThe Six Sword? You mean Kaylen? He''s already in my hands. ¡ªHeh. That¡¯s merely a clone. His true body is elsewhere. ¡ª...Don¡¯t tell me. The Six Sword engraved upon the surface? ¡ªCorrect. The power he possesses is truly immense. The Earth God, watching through Ederna¡¯s eyes as Kaylen was newly reborn from the Six Sword¡¯s emblem, had confirmed the true body. He was passing that information to the Celestial Demon God. ¡ªSo that¡¯s what it was. No wonder things got complicated. ¡ªHeh. Indeed. We must not repeat that failure. Though the Six Sword holds great power... its true might only manifests when all six blades are together. ¡®That¡¯s definitely the Earth God¡¯s voice.¡¯ If only the sound had been heard, it could¡¯ve been argued that the Water God fabricated it on purpose... But within the voices of the Earth God and Celestial Demon God, there was a divine nature¡ªsomething only true deities could possess. Even the Water God wouldn¡¯t be able to forge that. ¡ªThat¡¯s why I opened the path to the moon, only to close it. To scatter the swords. ¡ªHo... ¡ªNo matter how powerful the Six Sword is, if the six blades are not gathered, it¡¯s useless. ¡®...Simple, but effective.¡¯ Kaylen snapped to attention as he listened to the Earth God¡¯s plan. If, during the Six Sword¡¯s transfer, the Earth God closed the portal¡ªand only two or three swords made it through? ¡®Then they wouldn¡¯t be able to unleash their full strength on the moon, and they¡¯d be taken down one by one.¡¯ Of course, even if the Six Sword were dispatched on the lunar expedition, they wouldn¡¯t send their entire force. Even if the swords were split, it didn¡¯t mean they couldn¡¯t use the Six Sword Technique on Earth... But with only two or three blades on the moon, the expedition would end in complete failure. ¡ªA good plan. But I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll want something from me in return. ¡ªOf course. That would be... Before the Earth God¡¯s demand was fully heard, the crescent-shaped gem lost its light. Whether the Celestial Demon God had deliberately controlled it or not, their conversation ended there. ¡°This was... something the Celestial Demon God intentionally left behind.¡± ¡°That¡¯s correct.¡± ¡°Also, judging by the timing of the conversation... it seems to have been after he was destroyed by the Dragon God...¡± ¡°That''s right. While his influence in Earth disappeared after the Dragon God¡¯s actions, the relics he left behind in the Celestial Realm haven¡¯t disappeared...¡± As she spoke, the Water God recalled the moment when she discovered this crescent-shaped gem. ¡°When I was sweeping through the Celestial Realm with the tsunami, this gem was found on the coastline of the Celestial Realm. It seemed to be asking to be discovered, floating above the shore and emitting a brilliant light.¡± ¡°The Celestial Demon God wanted this to be found.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°Why...?¡± What benefit could it bring to Kaylen if he learned of this? Wouldn¡¯t this just give Kaylen more time to prepare for it? ¡°It seems to be an attempt to keep the Earth God in check.¡± ¡°To keep him in check...¡± ¡°Yes. If everything had gone according to the Earth God¡¯s plan, Kaylen would have lost much of his strength, and I would have been harmed as well. In that case, the Earth God¡¯s weakened seal would have broken, and Earth would have fallen under his control.¡± ¡°The Celestial Demon God has no intention of letting this land fall.¡± ¡°Probably not. If the Earth God¡¯s goal is to evolve into a higher being through Earth, the Celestial Demon God¡¯s goal is to restore Theia, the moon''s original form. Their purposes are completely different.¡± Kaylen nodded. In the end, the two had entirely different views on how to treat this planet, Earth, which was essentially a trophy to them. Their positions were 180 degrees apart. ¡®This situation has become rather complicated.¡¯ The Earth God and the Celestial Demon God were colluding while also plotting against each other, a tangled mess of a situation. Kaylen thought that this was precisely the moment when he needed to forge a solid alliance. ¡°Water God. Do you still view me with suspicion?¡± When Kaylen asked bluntly, the Water God fell silent for a moment before slowly shaking her head. ¡°...It would be a lie to say I didn¡¯t have any doubts. But not now. With the Earth God and the Celestial Demon God behaving like this, how could I still be wary of you?¡± ¡°And after they disappear?¡± ¡°Then, yes. I would be cautious.¡± The Water God calmly spoke about what would happen after the two gods were gone. ¡°Earth is a blessed land, born from a series of coincidences. In this barren universe, how many planets can sustain such diverse life forms?¡± ¡°...¡± ¡°As the god of Earth, it is my duty to oversee the growth of life. And naturally, I must also be vigilant against any threats to that life.¡± ¡°So, after those two gods disappear, you think I¡¯ll be a threat to Earth?¡± ¡°Because you possess the Star Extinguishing Sword.¡± Transcendent Heaven''s Annihilation. With that sword, the Water God couldn¡¯t help but remain cautious of Kaylen. Though he wasn¡¯t currently hostile to the stars, if he ever decided to point the sword in the opposite direction, this planet would not be able to withstand its annihilating power. ¡°I understand your position. But right now, we need trust. We can¡¯t go on an expedition to the moon in a state where we don¡¯t trust each other.¡± ¡°...That¡¯s true.¡± ¡°So, let¡¯s unite.¡± ¡°Unite... huh? Unite? W-What do you mean by that? Unite?!¡± The Water God, now inside Violet¡¯s body, trembled and then shouted at Kaylen. ¡°I... I may have lost much of my power and look like this now, but I am the god of this star. If you think about it, you¡¯re practically like my child. But to unite like this...!¡± ¡°...I¡¯m not sure what you think I meant, but what I¡¯m asking is for you to enter the Sword of Power.¡± ¡°Sword of Power...?¡± ¡°Yes. Like the Earth God. No, I need to imbue more of your power into it than that.¡± The Sword of Power, imbued with Kaylen''s will, circled around the Water God¡¯s body. ¡°Ah. What... what did you just say...?¡± ¡°What did you think I said?¡± ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing...¡± The Water God cleared her throat for a moment and then returned to her calm, composed expression. ¡°So, you want me to imbue my power into the Sword of Power. If it¡¯s for trust... then, in the end, I¡¯ll be like a hostage, won¡¯t I?¡± ¡°No, the Sword of Power has a more important role than that.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°The Six Demonic Path. You can manifest them, right?¡± The Water God nodded with a slightly confused expression. ¡°It''s not as strong as my original form as the Dragon God, but... I can manifest them. But can¡¯t you do that too?¡± ¡°I can, but it¡¯s not perfect. But if the original, you, help me, we can make use of it quickly.¡± ¡°What are you planning to use that for...?¡± The Six Demonic Path were thought to be a superior version of the Six Swords Path. But with the Six Swords Path capable of creating annihilation, the Water God thought that, unlike others, Kaylen would see the Six Swords Path as a superior version of the Six Demonic Path. But now suddenly, the Six Demonic Path were needed. And the Water God¡¯s powers were also involved. ¡°The Earth God said earlier, the Six Swords Path needs all six swords to gather to unleash its true power.¡± ¡°Yes. That¡¯s right.¡± ¡°That¡¯s true. The Six Swords Path requires each sword''s attribute... If all six swords aren¡¯t gathered, its power will be greatly diminished.¡± ¡°But the Six Demonic Path didn¡¯t have specific attributes.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± It was at that moment that the Water God realized Kaylen¡¯s intention. Unlike the Six Swords Path, which was originally divided into six attributes, the Six Demonic Path had a structure where the golden star changed color according to the appropriate attribute. And Kaylen intended to change the Six Swords Path in a similar way to adapt to special circumstances. Even if only one sword were sent to the moon, it would not be limited to a single attribute but would be able to wield all attributes. And this would allow the manifestation of the Six Demonic Path. ¡°So, Water God. I¡¯ll need your help.¡± ¡°I understand. I will give you my full power to imbue the sword.¡± A few days passed. [Kaylen.] Without knowing what conversation had transpired between the Water God and Kaylen, the Earth God calmly called out to him. [The preparations to head to the moon are complete.] ¡°Good. Then... let¡¯s make the final arrangements.¡± In the capital of the Starn Empire, Alzass. In the half-split imperial audience chamber, Kaylen sat on the imperial throne. Below him, the nobles of the capital and the masters of the powerful mage towers were all gathered. It was an extremely rare occasion for so many people to be assembled. The people exchanged glances with each other. ¡®Why has His Majesty called us here?¡¯ ¡®We don¡¯t know either... He issued the summons without any prior notice...¡¯ ¡°We¡¯re ready.¡± Perhaps because of the occasion, Johannes, the Grand Mage who normally spoke casually to Kaylen, spoke respectfully to him sitting on the imperial throne. ¡°Very well. Connect the communication.¡± At Kaylen¡¯s command, Johannes grasped the crystal orb and began to chant a spell. Soon, screens began to rise in all directions. ¡°That¡¯s...¡± ¡°The King of the Eldrin Kingdom?¡± ¡°I can see the King of the Rahendra Kingdom as well.¡± Within the dozens of screens were the faces of kings from various countries. To be precise, these were the kings of the countries who had pledged allegiance to the flag of Starn. ¡°The reason I¡¯ve connected with the kings of the vassal states today is...¡± Kaylen glanced at the faces of the nobles for a moment. After a brief pause, he moved to the main topic. ¡°To dismantle the empire.¡± [Your... Your Majesty...] [You say you¡¯ll dismantle the empire...?] ¡°Exactly as I said. The empire was originally founded to oppose the Geysir Empire. My personal desires had no part in it.¡± At Kaylen¡¯s words, the kings nodded. Kaylen, who had come alone on a Drake and subdued the kingdoms, had never made unreasonable demands of the kings who became his vassals. In fact, aside from changing the flag to Starn¡¯s, the rule of the kingdoms had not changed much. ¡°But the Geysir Empire was destroyed after the great fire, and the dungeon portals that posed a threat to humanity are no longer being created. So, there is no need to maintain the empire any longer.¡± [Your... Your Majesty...] [But how can you dismantle the empire...?] The vassals tried to dissuade Kaylen from his decision. [Yes, that¡¯s true.] [Your Majesty, dismantling the empire...?] [Shouldn¡¯t you continue to lead us?] The kings exchanged uncertain glances and attempted to dissuade him from dismantling the empire. They had initially accepted the sudden proclamation of the Emperor but were now concerned that it might cause them to fall out of favor with him. However, Kaylen¡¯s resolve was firm. ¡®With no way of knowing when I¡¯ll return from the moon, the empire cannot be sustained.¡¯ The Starn Empire was a nation held together solely by Kaylen¡¯s power. Without him, it was better for Starn to be dismantled for the sake of the empire. ¡°My decision is firm. As of today, Starn will return to being a kingdom.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 236 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 236 ¡°Then, the matter concerning the Kingdom of Starn is concluded.¡± Kaylen sat back in his seat and swept his gaze across the screen. ¡®The Emperor of Starn just referred to Starn as a kingdom himself.¡¯ ¡®Is he really dismantling the empire...!¡¯ The kings of each nation wore expressions that were half joy, half confusion. ¡°Johannes. End the transmission with the kings of each country.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± With the fall and disappearance of the Geysir Empire, which had ruled over the western continent¡ª The Starn Empire, which had virtually unified all the human kingdoms, stepped down from its position as an empire in less than a year. Starn would now be recorded as the fastest-dissolved empire in history. ¡°Then, we must now speak of the future of the kingdom.¡± ¡°Y-Your Majesty.¡± ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± And then¡ª Kaylen''s business was not yet over. ¡°I intend to be away for quite some time, to deal with the remnants of the Demon Realm.¡± ¡°The remnants of the Demon Realm...¡± ¡°Your Majesty, did you say...?¡± It would take too long to explain everything about the Celestial God and the Moon to the high officials. So Kaylen simply used the subjugation of the Demon Realm as a pretext. ¡°Yes. I will personally enter the Demon Realm. Since I do not know when I will return... I intend to appoint a successor before I go.¡± ¡°Your Majesty...!¡± ¡°Abdicate, you say?!¡± When Kaylen expressed his intent to abdicate¡ª All the officials gathered in the audience chamber voiced their opposition in unison. ¡®The brilliant progress of Starn was only possible thanks to His Majesty.¡¯ ¡®If His Majesty steps down from the throne, the nation will be greatly shaken.¡¯ When Kaylen first split the royal palace in half¡ª And ascended the throne as king, there were many uncertainties about the future of the country. But during his short reign, the nation had developed dazzlingly. It was thanks to the young king who ascended the throne in his twenties that the kingdom had become an empire encompassing the eastern continent, and had completely escaped the threat of demonic invasions and dungeon portals. Even the officials, who were initially subdued by Kaylen¡¯s overwhelming power and merely observed his mood, came to acknowledge him after seeing the state of the country following his coronation. But now that the creation of dungeon portals had ended, the chaos in the west had settled, and it was finally time to reap the fruits of all their hardships¡ª He was suddenly giving everything up and even abdicating...? ¡°Your Majesty!¡± ¡°Please reconsider!¡± ¡°Who could possibly dare replace Your Majesty!¡± Everyone in the audience chamber pleaded desperately for Kaylen to withdraw his decision¡ª ¡°I have already made my intentions clear.¡± Kaylen¡¯s resolve was firm. Even the officials who had opposed him again and again¡ª ¡®His will...¡¯ ¡®He truly has no intention of changing it.¡¯ Once it became clear that the king¡¯s decision would not waver, people cautiously began to wonder who Kaylen was considering as the next monarch. ¡°Your Majesty. In that case... ¡°Are you thinking of passing the throne to the younger royal brother?¡± The first person who naturally came to mind was the king¡¯s younger brother, Royen. Though he was still young, given Kaylen¡¯s circumstances¡ªunmarried and with no children¡ªRoyen, as a member of the royal bloodline of Starn, seemed the most likely candidate. ¡°No.¡± ¡°T-Then...?¡± Snap. When Kaylen snapped his fingers¡ª A flash of pure white light flared beside the throne, and the shape of a person emerged. Hair like silver light soaked in radiance. A dazzlingly beautiful woman stood with a calm expression, lighting up the room. ¡®That woman is...¡¯ The moment they saw her hair shining with a pure white glow¡ª There wasn¡¯t a single person in the room who didn¡¯t recognize her. ¡®The Saintess... ¡®Is to be the next ruler...?¡¯ A day before. Kaylen had visited the royal office. ¡°You¡¯re here, Father.¡± Baldrix, who was using a pen instead of a sword while in his Death Knight body, shot up from his seat to greet Kaylen as he entered. He briefly turned his gaze toward Theresia. On the surface, nothing seemed different from usual¡ª But Baldrix sensed something subtly new in the air between the two of them. ¡®Looks like I shouldn¡¯t be here.¡¯ Step. Step. As he walked toward the door, Kaylen asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°Just... I wanted to see the sun for a bit.¡± ¡°You¡¯re undead¡ªwill you be alright?¡± ¡°Yes. It¡¯s a form of training in its own way.¡± Bowing his head quickly, Baldrix exited the room. Kaylen watched him leave for a moment before stepping closer to Theresia. ¡°Theresia.¡± ¡°Yes, Hero.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking seriously... about what you said before.¡± She wondered if he meant what she had once told him¡ª That she¡¯d prefer to be a queen consort rather than an empress. Theresia looked up from her seat, peeking at him. ¡®He said he¡¯d give me an answer after returning from the moon... This is way too soon.¡¯ Answering earlier than the promised time... Somehow, it feels like the odds of rejection are high. Thinking that way, Theresia continued to look at Kaylen. ¡®His expression... it¡¯s more serious than usual.¡¯ This¡ª This definitely felt like the kind of look someone gives right before turning down a confession, and Theresia¡¯s thoughts spun in an anxious direction. Trying hard to keep a composed face, she asked Kaylen, ¡°Weren¡¯t you going to give your answer... after coming back from the moon?¡± ¡°I did say that about the confession. But there¡¯s something important I left out, something I should¡¯ve told you.¡± ¡°Something important?¡± ¡°My true identity.¡± Theresia blinked. His identity? Of course, he was the Hero Ernstine from a thousand years ago, wasn¡¯t he? But just as she was thinking that¡ª Kaylen dropped a bombshell. ¡°I¡¯m the Six Sword.¡± ¡°...What?¡± ¡°I have Ernstine¡¯s memories. But my true nature is the Six Sword.¡± ¡°Wh-what do you mean by that...?¡± ¡°The real Ernstine fell and became the Dragon God. He¡¯s gone. I¡¯m the sword he discarded. Because I hold his memories, I myself believed until recently that I was completely Ernstine.¡± ¡°The Six Sword... th-that makes no sense. How can a person be a sword...? And right now, your body is clearly human!¡± Theresia pointed to Kaylen¡¯s body as she spoke. Kaylen gave a bitter smile and slowly ran his palm over his body. Then, his human flesh¡ª Transformed like steel, radiating a chilling blue aura. ¡°This is a human body created for me by the Water God. The original body of Kaylen was dragged to the moon.¡± ¡°Ah...¡± Seeing Kaylen¡¯s body, Theresia stared blankly, her mouth slightly open. Just a moment ago¡ª When he said he was the Six Sword, she thought he was joking... ¡®That body... it really is a sword...¡¯ The instant she saw Kaylen¡¯s real form¡ª She was sure of it. What he said was true. His essence was undoubtedly that of a sword. ¡°I never meant to deceive you. Even now, because of the memories, I sometimes confuse myself with Ernstine.¡± ¡°When I accepted your confession, I thought the same thing. That you were Ernstine. But... afterward, something weighed on my heart. Like I had left out something important.¡± ¡°That missing part... was your true identity?¡± ¡°Yes. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Theresia deeply bowed her head. A few days ago. When she brought it up, she had half-jokingly said she¡¯d rather be an empress-consort than the empress herself... But it had taken a lot of courage to say it. ¡®I thought I¡¯d get either a yes or a no... Never imagined I¡¯d hear that the one I confessed to was actually a sword. ¡°So then... does that mean my first kiss was with a sword...?¡± ¡°Hmm... I was still somewhat human back then. Though that body was dragged to the moon. It¡¯s probably dead by now.¡± Kaylen didn¡¯t go so far as to explain how he had become one of the Moon¡¯s clan and fused with Arashiel. ¡°Wow. And even dead, huh...¡± Theresia stood up, looking completely dumbfounded. ¡°You¡¯re... not joking, right?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°But... your body was dragged to the moon, too. So how... was this one created?¡± ¡°Mana was drawn from the Six Sword sigil carved into the earth. The Water God completed the body.¡± ¡°Then... the Six Sword in the royal garden¡ª is that your real body, Kaylen?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Even with a confused look, Theresia pressed him for details, one by one. ¡°Then even if you go to the moon, your body stays here, right? Since the Six Sword sigil is here anyway.¡± At those words¡ª Kaylen¡¯s eyes briefly flickered. ¡®That was a good question, Theresia.¡¯ Without consciously focusing on the sword of truth or the sword of shadow where his essence resided, He calmly answered. ¡°No. When I go to subjugate the Heavenly Demon of the moon, I¡¯ll need my full power. My consciousness will be transferred into this body.¡± ¡°I... see.¡± After hearing his answer, Theresia¡¯s shoulders slumped as if all strength had drained from her. ¡®...I never even imagined something like this.¡¯ After confessing to Kaylen, She¡¯d imagined countless scenarios¡ªhappy ones if he accepted, sad ones if he didn¡¯t. But never once had she thought she¡¯d get this kind of answer. But still... Watching Kaylen¡¯s body revert from steel back to human form, Theresia felt something strange. Now that she knew he wasn¡¯t truly Ernstine, but the Six Sword instead¡ª All the admiration and affection she¡¯d built up should¡¯ve come crashing down. ¡®So why does it feel the same...?¡¯ Even after seeing him like that, Her heart was still pounding just as hard. ¡°...I ended up making you feel bad.¡± ¡°Wait, wait. Don¡¯t apologize just yet.¡± ¡°...Huh?¡± ¡°You originally said... you¡¯d give me your answer after coming back from the moon, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Yes, I did.¡± ¡°Kaylen-nim¡ªno, Six Sword-nim¡ªwhat kind of answer were you going to give me, then?¡± ¡°...Does that really matter?¡± Kaylen looked at Theresia with puzzled eyes. He had already revealed his identity. So what was she trying to say now? ¡°You know... even after hearing all this, I still don¡¯t know how I feel.¡± ¡°...Why? I told you I¡¯m a sword.¡± ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s why.¡± Heh. Theresia let out a short laugh, as if even she couldn¡¯t believe herself, and smiled. ¡°When you come back from the moon, I¡¯ll have sorted out my feelings, and I¡¯ll tell you again.¡± ¡°......¡± ¡°You too, Six Sword-nim. When I confess again, please give me a clear answer.¡± Six Sword-nim, she said. Even knowing he was a sword, she still said something like that. Kaylen let a faint smile cross his lips. ¡°...Alright. When I return, I¡¯ll give you my answer.¡± ¡°Really!?¡± ¡°Yeah. But until then, I need you to take care of something for me.¡± ¡°Something?¡± ¡°I mean the duties of the King of Starn.¡± ¡°Hmph. I originally wanted to do that from the empress-consort¡¯s seat... it¡¯s a little off from the plan, but fine.¡± Theresia sat down again, a relaxed smile on her lips. ¡°You¡¯ll be back soon anyway. I can play king for a little while.¡± [Are the preparations complete?] In the Garden of the Six Sword¡ª After transferring the throne to Theresia and settling his affairs, Kaylen was making his final preparations to head to the moon. ¡°Yes... with this, I¡¯ve gathered the maximum amount of mana.¡± [Hehehe. Indeed. The Water God also granted such divine power to the Six Sword... with this much strength, the conquest of the moon should go smoothly.] [Just hurry up and open the gate.] [Alright, alright.] Even as the Water God scolded, the Earth God¡¯s voice was full of amusement. This whole situation was probably incredibly entertaining to him. ¡®He must be thinking... that he¡¯s deceived us all and will seize Terra for himself.¡¯ Fwoooosh¡ª As a massive black portal opened in the center of the Garden of the Six Sword, Kaylen smiled faintly. ¡®But in the end... the one who¡¯ll be outwitted is you, Earth God.¡¯ [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 237 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 237 He always lived looking upward. The god who once ruled Planet Theia, Theia, had lived his entire life that way. Born as the lowliest among the Theian race, he had always sought to rise to the highest place. And though everyone laughed, saying such a dream was impossible, his grand ambition was realized after hundreds of years. King of Planet Theia. All members of the Theian race submitted to him. He even changed his name to Theia. That should have been the end of the road he initially aimed for. But Theia was not satisfied there. A god¡ª An eternal and immortal being, an absolute entity with the power of creation. He dreamed of becoming a god while still in a Theian body. And by mobilizing all the resources of Planet Theia and using every means possible¡ª After thousands of years, he was finally able to become a god. ¡®I thought there was nowhere left to go after that.¡¯ Even after becoming the god of a planet, there was still a higher place to reach. He might have been supreme on Planet Theia, but the universe was vast. And in that vastness, Theia was no more than a speck of dust. ¡®No, there''s no need to compare within the universe alone.¡¯ A massive star. A solar system revolving around the sun. Among the many planets within it, Theia was among the smallest. The scale of a planet and the divine power of its god were proportional. So among planetary gods, Theia ranked at the very bottom. And when Theia realized this, he rejoiced. Because there was still a higher place to ascend. ¡®If there''s a place above, I will ascend to it.¡¯ A simple goal that had carried him from the lowest rank of the Theian race to where he was now. To rise upward. For that, Theia crashed the very land he ruled as a god¡ªand his only foundation¡ª Planet Theia¡ªinto Earth. He judged that Earth¡¯s god, the Water God, was not a particularly powerful being, so it was worth trying. The safety of the Theian race in the process didn¡¯t concern him. Under divine rule, the Theian race had once prospered more than ever. But their god, in pursuit of his own advancement, threw them away like worn-out shoes. Despite going so far as to collide with Earth¡ª ¡®The Water God¡¯s true power was stronger than expected...¡¯ Because she had poured all her divine power into stabilizing the planet, the Water God did not appear strong from the outside. But when Theia collided with Earth, and the two planets began to merge, she revealed unexpected power. Theia fought her for ages, but in the end, was utterly defeated. Demoted to Earth God, he was sealed deep within the new Earth''s core. ¡®Her vigilance is intense. I thought the seal would never waver through the ages...¡¯ By an outer Celestial God¡¯s arrival, the once peaceful Planet Theia was suddenly thrown into upheaval. The Water God, unable to suppress the Celestial God, agonized over it and transformed herself into the Dragon God. For the sealed Earth God, this time of chaos presented a chance to regain strength. ¡®The fact that the Celestial Demon God came from the moon was unexpected.¡¯ He had thought that the moon, now a fragment of Theia, could no longer support life. So for a being capable of pushing the Water God back to emerge from there¡ªwas definitely beyond expectation. And when the Celestial Demon God first proposed cooperation to restore Theia¡ª ¡®I realized then that he and I could never coexist.¡¯ The Celestial Demon God sought to restore Theia and revive the lunar race. The Earth God, who no longer cared about a race he once ruled, aimed to conquer the larger planet, Earth. Their goals were completely different. That¡¯s why, while the Celestial Demon God was still powerful, there was no way to work with him. But what if Earth were to be destroyed? Then everything the Earth God had done until now would amount to nothing. ¡®However. He lost his power on Earth.¡¯ The Celestial Demon God, to his credit, significantly weakened the Water God¡¯s authority and vanished along with the Dragon God. Thanks to the Celestial Demon God, the Earth God seized the chance to be freed from his seal. He didn¡¯t miss the opportunity and put his plan into motion. ¡®Now. It¡¯s all coming together.¡¯ As he looked at the massive black gate spread open at the center of the Six Sword Garden¡ª The Earth God felt delight. If this operation succeeded, he would finally be released from his seal and be able to begin the great war to take control over Earth. ¡®So they couldn¡¯t find another way after all.¡¯ Kaylen and the Water God¡ª Over the past few days, they seemed to be searching for an independent route to the moon, but in the end, they couldn¡¯t find one and resorted to using the Earth God¡¯s gate. ¡®The Water God has distributed her power among the remaining Six Swords.¡¯ Just as the Earth God had imbued Kaylen¡¯s Earth Sword and Shadow Sword, the Water God had dispersed her power into the remaining four swords. She likely planned to work closely with Kaylen to ensure clear results on the moon. ¡®I¡¯ll need to send all four swords.¡¯ With all five swords, Kaylen might actually produce results on the moon. From the Earth God¡¯s perspective, where seizing Earth is paramount, breaking his promise to the Celestial Demon God and sending all the swords might be the better choice... ¡®But Kaylen, who wields Starfall, must be eliminated without fail.¡¯ Kaylen¡¯s sword, Starfall¡ª Even to the Earth God who sought to conquer Earth, it was a threatening weapon. Such a variable should be removed completely this time. [Then, I¡¯m going in.] [This really is the moon on the other side, right?] [Do you doubt me?] [How could I possibly trust you?] [That¡¯s disappointing. Then you should¡¯ve found your own way to the moon¡ªbefore the meteor carrying Starfall came flying your way.] [Kgh......] Regretting having spoken, the Water God fell silent, unable to recover even her pride. Had there been more time, perhaps the Water God might¡¯ve found a way to reach the moon, just as he said... But a single week was far too short. ¡®That, too, was all part of the plan.¡¯ Forcing them to use the gate due to a lack of time¡ªit was all a scheme orchestrated by the Earth God and the Celestial Demon God in cooperation. Even the Water God, who held deep suspicions toward the Earth God, had no choice but to step through this black gate. ¡°Water God. He¡¯s right. We have no other way.¡± [......That¡¯s true.] ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± [An excellent decision.] In the end, Kaylen settled the dispute between them and walked steadily into the black gate. ¡°So we just step inside like this?¡± [Yes.] The swords needed to be split and sent across the portal. But the Earth God didn¡¯t mention a word of it. There was too much mana stored in the swords, so they needed to be sent in parts. If he brought that up now, it would only deepen their suspicions. ¡®No need to explain. As long as they enter the portal, it¡¯ll be enough.¡¯ And just as the Earth God intended, everything unfolded accordingly. ¡°Understood. I¡¯m going.¡± As Kaylen stepped into the portal, his body was sucked into the black portal and vanished. Chiiiiik¡ª At the same time, the portal instantly disappeared. The symbol of the Six Swords on the floor also began to gradually lose its mana. With Kaylen gone¡ªafter drawing upon the full power of the Six Swords¡ª even the sigil itself began to fade. ¡®It¡¯s done. Kaylen¡¯s power is rapidly weakening on the surface...¡¯ After witnessing the entire process, the Earth God began his true work. ¡°This place is......¡± Kaylen looked around him. A space filled with thick darkness, reminiscent of the Abyssal Gate. No matter how he looked at it, this place was not the moon. Ssssss¡ª The darkness wrapped around his body. No¡ªmore accurately, it wasn¡¯t his body. It wrapped around each of the six swords he carried. The Earth Sword and Shadow Sword¡ªthose held by the Earth God¡ªwere immediately seized by the darkness under his direct command. [What... are you doing?] From the remaining four swords, where the Water God resided, intense mana burst forth, trying to break free from the dark bindings. [Don¡¯t get worked up. Think about it. Did you really think reaching the moon would be that easy? Especially with you, Kaylen, gathering all your mana and going together with the Water God. That¡¯s an enormous amount of mana. No gate would withstand it¡ªit would tear apart, you know.] [......Then what.] [Inside my Abyssal Gate, we¡¯ll send one sword at a time.] [That¡¯s not acceptable. How are we supposed to trust you......!] [I figured you¡¯d say that. But what can you do? We¡¯ve come this far.] The Earth God answered the Water God¡¯s protest with a sly tone. Now that they were inside, the game was already over. This conversation was no more than idle amusement. [Then, let¡¯s send them one by one.] ¡°Wait......!¡± Chiiiiiik! Within the dark space, a red-hued gate opened. Kaylen¡¯s Light Sword was the first to be sucked in. [Shall I go next?] Next to follow were the Earth Sword and the Shadow Sword. In an instant, three swords were pulled into the red gate. Kaylen¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°You bastard. What are you planning......!¡± But the reply didn¡¯t come from the swords anymore. It came from the darkness that filled this space. [Planning? Just deciding which to send next¡ªWater, Wind, or Flame......] ¡°What do you mean, deciding which to send...¡± [If I send them all, the moon might collapse, no? That wouldn¡¯t do for my home.] ¡°What.......¡± [As expected, the Water Sword contains the strongest divine power from the Water God. Water Sword. Go.] Whoooosh¡ª Thick darkness instantly coiled around the Water Sword and shoved it into the red gate. With that, four of the Six Swords had vanished. Kaylen¡¯s face was completely frozen. Seeing this, the Earth God was absolutely delighted. [Heh heh. That expression¡ªit¡¯s too good for me alone. I should send you to the moon too.] Sssss¡ª Darkness wrapped around Kaylen¡¯s body. And just as a red gate opened behind him, Kaylen was pulled into it, unable to resist. [How easy.] [You... So this was your true intention.] From the remaining two swords¡ª the Flame Sword and Wind Sword¡ª the Water God spoke in a trembling voice. The Earth God answered cheerfully. [Of course. Seizing Earth has always been my goal, ever since the moment the stars collided. Sending you and the troublesome Kaylen to the moon¡ªnow, I can begin conquering this planet.] [You¡¯re sealed... You think you have the power to do that just because you sent us away?] [You really haven¡¯t realized how weak you¡¯ve become, have you?] Now that the Water God''s authority has vanished to the moon, this so-called seal is nothing but a loose restraint. The Earth God, full of confidence, said: [I''ll personally break this seal before your very eyes.] He tried to tear apart the seal that had bound him for ages¡ª ¡®......What?¡¯ ¡ªbut the seal didn¡¯t budge. [What¡¯s the matter?] And then¡ª the Water God¡¯s voice, once trembling, had completely shifted to one of amusement. [Didn¡¯t you say you could break the seal?] [Th-this can¡¯t be.......] [Want to see something interesting?] Chiiiiiik. Sparks burst from the Flame Sword and Wind Sword. The swords began to split apart. [Th-that¡¯s......] From two, they became six. But unlike earlier, where each sword matched a different elemental hue¡ª they now all radiated with a brilliant golden light. They looked just like the Six Swords Path. ¡°Thanks for sending me to the moon.¡± Standing before the swords, Kaylen revealed himself again, a calm smile at his lips. ¡°In return... I¡¯ll give you a true death.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 238 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 238 The Earth God asked in a trembling voice. [No way... Did he know...?] He had expected suspicion. Of course, there was no way someone who had clashed with him like the Water God would accept a proposal to go to the moon without any doubt. But he didn¡¯t expect that he would have figured out the detailed method of splitting and transporting the sword. ¡°Yes. The Celestial Demon God told me the method you were planning to use.¡± [What? The Celestial Demon God...? Why...?] No way... That bastard? ¡®Why on earth?¡¯ They both knew they had different agendas. The Celestial Demon God wanted to destroy Earth. The Earth God wanted to take control of it. But first, both needed to get rid of the Water God and Kaylen to reach their goals. So, eliminating a common enemy came first. And now he betrays him here? ¡°I don¡¯t know the reason either.¡± Kaylen said that as he moved the golden sword in the darkness. Chiiiiiik¡ª As six swords extended in all directions and sliced through the darkness, the Earth God quickly came to his senses. ¡®This is no time to be thinking about the Celestial Demon God.¡¯ If he didn¡¯t deal with Kaylen¡¯s swords now, the foundation he had worked so hard to build could be completely destroyed. Ssssss¡ª [Even if I¡¯m sealed... inside here, you won¡¯t be able to defeat me so easily...] The darkness, illuminated by golden light, grew even thicker, and the Earth God¡¯s voice echoed ominously in every direction. [Besides, this place is the deepest part of Earth. Even the sword that destroys stars, Starfall, can¡¯t be used here, can it...?] Transcendence Realm ¡ª Starfall. The sword that even forced the Dragon God to admit defeat could not be used here. If Starfall and the Earth God¡¯s power clashed, the aftermath could shake all of Earth itself. ¡°I never intended to use Starfall in the first place.¡± [Heh... The only thing threatening about you is that sword. The rest of your swords... quite the skill for a mortal, but from a god¡¯s perspective, they¡¯re nothing.] ¡°Is that so?¡± [Even if the Six Swords have returned, the fact remains that your strength went to the moon. Now that it¡¯s come to this... I¡¯ll devour you and use you as nourishment.] Though the golden Six Swords¡¯ pressure was overwhelming, the Earth God calmed his excitement and thought rationally. As long as Kaylen didn¡¯t use Starfall, the odds of winning were good enough. After all, both Kaylen and the Water God had gone to the moon and lost part of their power. ¡®This might be better. I¡¯ll consume him and break this damn seal.¡¯ Krrrrrrr...... The Moon Abyss trembled as black demonic energy surged in all directions. As the Earth God made up his mind, thick waves of black demonic energy pressed down on Kaylen all at once. Even though he was sealed, perhaps because this place was the Earth God¡¯s domain. Ssssss¡ª The golden light emitted by Kaylen¡¯s Six Swords quickly lost its momentum, and darkness began to take its place. [Isn¡¯t that a bit too weak, Kaylen?] Seeing the golden swords weaken so fast, the Earth God said that confidently on the surface¡ª ¡®What are you scheming...¡¯ ¡ªbut inwardly, he didn¡¯t let down his guard. The Six Swords were being pushed back far more easily than he had expected. Even though this was the Moon Abyss, there was no reason the golden light should be overtaken by darkness so quickly. [Not even resisting? Then I¡¯ll just devour you like this!] Pak. Pak. As the darkness thickened, the six golden swords disappeared one by one. The light that tried to push back the darkness was extinguished, and as the swords were fully submerged in deep black demonic energy, the Earth God set aside his doubts and began engulfing Kaylen. ¡®For now, I¡¯ll do what needs to be done.¡¯ Kaylen¡¯s entire body was completely dyed in dark demonic energy. Even when the Moon Abyss was once again consumed by total darkness, no different from before, unease remained. ¡®...It doesn¡¯t feel like I¡¯ve swallowed him at all.¡¯ If he had swallowed him, the natural process would be to digest and break him down, analyze him piece by piece. Even though the Earth God had fully consumed Kaylen into the darkness, he didn¡¯t feel like he had actually eaten him. ¡®But that doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s not inside.¡¯ Within the Moon Abyss, Kaylen definitely existed. He just couldn¡¯t be digested. ¡®Even if he was defeated too easily... is he still that formidable?¡¯ So, the Earth God assumed Kaylen¡¯s level was simply so high that digesting him wouldn¡¯t be easy. However¡ª Even as time passed, Kaylen showed no signs of being digested. ¡®That bastard¡¯s form... isn¡¯t breaking down at all.¡¯ Though the entire Moon Abyss now acted as the Earth God¡¯s stomach, putting all its power into devouring Kaylen¡ª ¡ªit was utterly useless. No matter how much demonic energy was sent in or attempts were made to split him apart¡ª ¡ªthe dark energy trying to dominate Kaylen consistently escaped the Earth God¡¯s control. ¡®This is impossible...¡¯ Amidst this, the Earth God realized one thing. That Kaylen, who took the form of a human, was in fact a forest of countless swords¡ªSword Forest. That was the only thing. ¡®It won¡¯t work like this.¡¯ Thinking so, the Earth God slowly opened his mouth. [You... your resistance is fierce. But now that you¡¯ve entered my body, you won¡¯t be able to last forever. If you wish to find peace, stop resisting and join with me.] At the Earth God''s command to stop resisting and be absorbed, Kaylen, who had been silently still until now, finally replied. ¡°Is that it already? You should try a little harder.¡± [What...?] ¡°Instead of flapping your mouth, try sending more demonic energy.¡± [You bastard!] ¡°Or is this really your limit?¡± Tuk. Tuk. Kaylen brushed off his body as if dusting himself and revealed himself from within the darkness. "Earth God. I don''t know how you used to be... but in your sealed state, you''re far too weak." [You''re saying... I''m weak...?] Earth God responded with a voice full of disbelief. Weak? That was a word he hadn¡¯t heard since the days when he was among the lowest ranks of the mortal Theia clan. He, the absolute god who once ruled the planet Theia and fought the Water God for countless eons over control of Earth, now being called weak by a mere sword? "Yeah. I heard you could exert power within the Abyss Gate. But is this all you¡¯ve got?" [A mere sword, getting arrogant¡ª] Earth God was furious, but he only expressed it through words. He withdrew the dark magic he had extended toward Kaylen, trying instead to grasp the situation. If he responded to that provocation by recklessly unleashing his dark magic, he¡¯d be playing right into the enemy¡¯s hand. "Running away?" [......] "You''re quite the coward." Then, with a disappointed look, Kaylen pointed his finger. "If you won''t consume it, then I will." Sssshhhh¡ª From behind him, the darkness was split apart, and the Six Swords rose once more. But the swords were entirely different from the golden glow they had shown earlier. [That color...!] They were pitch-black, soaked in dense dark magic, resembling the very darkness of the Abyss Gate. "The dark magic of the moon. I¡¯ll devour it." Six Sword Path Six Swords Lunar Eclipse The six black swords slowly drifted through the interior of the Abyss Gate. The thick dark magic that had filled the area began to follow them, as if bewitched. Like iron filings drawn to a magnet. The moon¡¯s dark magic within the Abyss Gate followed the black swords. [No. This can''t be... What are you all doing!!] Earth God''s panicked voice echoed throughout the Abyss Gate, but the dark magic did not obey his command. And each time it was absorbed into the swords, the black blades began to emit a faint crimson glow. "Earth God. You were trying to take over Earth with just this?" [W-Who are you really...?] "Lunar Eclipse is a Six Sword created as a foundation to fight the Celestial Demon God. It¡¯s not even a transcendent sword like Saintfall. It merely has the function of devouring dark magic..." Kaylen, now revealed once more, continued to move his sword with an expression of constant disappointment. "And yet... to think you¡¯d be overwhelmed by something like this Lunar Eclipse. Even if you''re sealed, this is far too weak." [Khh... If it weren''t for the seal¡ª!] "Then maybe you would¡¯ve put up a more entertaining fight." To that, Earth God responded like he was about to explode. [Y-Yes! If it weren¡¯t for the seal, someone like you¡ªI could¡¯ve devoured you instantly! If it weren¡¯t for the seal...!] "Right. Maybe you would¡¯ve resisted me a bit more than you are now." [Th-That¡¯s right. Don¡¯t you want a fiercer fight? Release the seal and let¡¯s fight fair and square!] In response to Kaylen¡¯s words, Earth God spoke with a sliver of hope. He thought that since Kaylen seemed to be losing interest, he might be able to use that carelessness to break the seal and gain another chance. ¡°Fair and square?¡± [Yes! Wouldn¡¯t it be a shame to end things like this?] ¡°Hm. No. Not a shame at all.¡± Kaylen let out a dry laugh and circulated the Six Swords even faster. The dark magic of the Abyss Gate was being sucked into Kaylen¡¯s swords at an increasingly rapid pace. The red glow began to illuminate the surroundings. The Abyss Gate, which had been swallowed in total darkness, was gradually dyed crimson. ¡°Why go through the trouble of releasing your seal and making the fight harder? I¡¯d rather take the easy win. I don¡¯t have time to play around with you anymore.¡± [You dare... mock me!!!] ¡°Is that your last will? For a god¡¯s final words, it¡¯s quite pathetic.¡± Flash! The darkness that filled the interior of the Abyss Gate completely dissipated. Earth God¡¯s presence vanished entirely. [To think he would end like this......] Within the Six Swords, the Water God looked around the now-vacant Abyss Gate in disbelief. Earth God, who had dragged Theia to crash into the once-peaceful planet Terra. Who had battled the Water God for so long, seeking to devour the fused Terra. Had now been obliterated in an instant by Kaylen¡¯s Six Swords. ¡®Even if he was sealed... to eliminate him this cleanly.¡¯ The Water God had also once wished to eliminate Earth God. But possessing the moon¡¯s dark magic, Earth God would always regenerate no matter how many times he was destroyed, so complete annihilation was impossible. In the end, all she could do was seal him deep within Terra. Yet Kaylen had so easily devoured him entirely with the dark swords. ¡®Strong. Too strong......¡¯ How could a Six Sword, one that hadn¡¯t even reached divine status, be this powerful? The Water God felt even fear toward Kaylen¡¯s strength. ¡®Even so, I must never fight him.¡¯ Yes. Rather than opposing Kaylen just because he¡¯s powerful¡ª It would be better to maintain this cooperative relationship. ¡°I suppose now I should go support myself on the moon.¡± [Yes. Understood. I¡¯ll get ready right away, Lord Kaylen.] Now that Earth God had been subdued¡ª The Water God¡¯s voice, already soft, grew even more delicate. ¡®Is she happy?¡¯ Maybe she felt relieved after finally getting rid of the constant thorn that was Earth God. Kaylen thought no more of it, and began preparing to support the Fourth Sword on the moon. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 239 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 239 Meanwhile, on the moon¡ª Kaylen, wielding only four swords, was gathering himself. ¡®Hmm.¡¯ The moon. A place where not even humans¡ªnor any other lifeform from Earth¡ªhad ever set foot. There was no air, so breathing wasn¡¯t possible. But since Kaylen''s true form was a sword to begin with, there was no real need for him to breathe. ¡®It¡¯s bright.¡¯ The moon, shining like broad daylight. Kaylen looked up. A brilliantly radiant Sunstone was embedded in the airless moon like a chandelier. ¡®The concentration of light mana is tremendous.¡¯ He had expected to deal primarily with the moon¡¯s dark mana. But unexpectedly, what he faced was the light mana emanating from the Sunstone. ¡®I should prepare for battle.¡¯ Kaylen reached out to the four swords that had accompanied him¡ª The Light Sword, Dark Sword, Earth Sword, and Water Sword. As his hand touched them, a golden light burst out simultaneously from the blades. Just like what Kaylen of Earth had done, the swords unified into a golden hue and then split into six blades. [You... You already knew!] From what had once been the Earth Sword and the Dark Sword¡ª Came the Earth God¡¯s voice, flustered. [The... The Celestial Demon God told you this? Kh... My link with my main body on Earth has been severed!] ¡°You¡¯re in the same situation as me now.¡± Unlike Kaylen, whose connection with Earth had long been cut off¡ª The Earth God within the Six Swords had still been connected until now. But once the rebellion on Earth ended in failure, the Earth God had fallen into despair. ¡°You may as well rest now too.¡± When Kaylen moved to eliminate the Earth God dwelling in the Six Swords¡ª The Earth God hurriedly spoke. [W-Wait, let¡¯s negotiate.] ¡°What negotiation?¡± [I¡¯ll fully cooperate with you. I¡¯ll even tell you how to open the path back to Earth. So please... just spare me.] ¡°For an Earth God, you¡¯re awfully pathetic.¡± [Better than dying, isn¡¯t it? Right, hey¡ªaren¡¯t you curious about that Sunstone?] Desperate to prove his worth, the Earth God within the Six Swords began speaking rapidly. [The Sunstone was something I created to collide with Earth. It¡¯s a kind of mana stone that gathers the power of sunlight and uses it as an energy source. To acquire the propulsion necessary to crash into Earth, I constructed a massive power plant in the heart of Theia.] ¡°You¡¯re saying you made that?¡± [Yes. After becoming the god of Theia, it¡¯s the greatest creation I made. Other than me, only my direct divine descendants know how to develop that. The Celestial Demon God must be one of my direct descendants now.] ¡°You were betrayed by your own descendant, then.¡± [Kgh... Why... Why would they make such a choice? I just can¡¯t understand it.] ¡°I¡¯ve heard enough. Now rest.¡± [W-Wait! Don¡¯t you want to know how to return to Earth?!] ¡°I can find out on my own.¡± [Do you know how far it is?! Don¡¯t be like that¡ªlet¡¯s cooperate!] Persistent. Even as a god, so disgraceful. Is he really struggling this hard just to survive? Kaylen ignored the Earth God''s pleas and moved to eliminate him. Flash. Flash. But as the Sunstone above his head suddenly flared with light, he paused for now in subduing the Earth God. Because an unusual flow of mana was coming from the Sunstone. [You¡¯ve come.] Sssssss¡ª The light from the Sunstone illuminated the space before Kaylen, and as the beams gathered together, they formed a single being. It was someone Kaylen was quite familiar with. ¡°Arashiel.¡± [Kaylen. Or should I say, Six Swords? You sure managed to fool us all until now.] ¡°The one who¡¯s fooled is the one at fault.¡± [You¡¯re not one to talk, having been deceived by the Earth God.] The fallen angel Arashiel sneered at Kaylen. [Did you think the message the Celestial Demon God left in the Celestial Realm was false? He went out of his way to kindly inform us. And yet, like a fool, you were tricked by the Earth God and ended up on the moon.] ¡°You think I was deceived by the Earth God?¡± [Yes. You may have expanded your swords to six now, but I saw it clearly. You arrived here with only four.] Upon seeing that Kaylen initially arrived with just four of the Six Swords¡ª Arashiel¡¯s side had concluded that the Celestial Demon God¡¯s recording must¡¯ve been tampered with, and that Kaylen had been misled by the Earth God. Seems they never imagined he¡¯d subdue the Earth God with just two swords. ¡°Think whatever you want.¡± Kaylen didn¡¯t bother correcting that misunderstanding and instead drew out the power of the Six Swords. ¡°Where is the Celestial Demon God?¡± [Someone like you isn¡¯t worth his attention. I¡¯m more than enough.] All the light from the Sunstone gathered toward Arashiel, and her body began to transform into metal, just like the Sunstone. Then, Arashiel¡¯s form vanished¡ª And what emerged was a metallic figure sculpted to look exactly like Kaylen. ¡°That form...¡± [I merged with the body you left behind.] ¡°So it didn¡¯t fall as a meteor, after all.¡± The fusion of Arashiel and the lunar version of Kaylen¡ª Was something he had only learned through the Earth God¡¯s information. Back then, they made a fuss, saying a meteor containing Starfall would strike in a week, and time was running out. So that was all part of the plan too. [Meteor? Of course it will be. Once I subdue you and merge with this body, I¡¯ll obtain the final clue to Starfall. After that, I¡¯ll become the meteor that will destroy Earth.] Arashiel spoke with complete confidence. Right now, she planned to subdue Kaylen, who had only crossed over with four swords and was weakened, and fuse him back into that body. Then she would fully become the meteor carrying Starfall¡ª And destroy Earth. She seemed to genuinely believe that. ¡°You really think that¡¯s how it¡¯ll go? I don¡¯t think so.¡± But Kaylen let out a faint scoff, undeterred by her bold declaration. [...What?] ¡°If things were truly going the way you claim, there would¡¯ve been no reason for the Celestial Demon God to share that information with us. And if he really intended to create a perfect Starfall-bearing meteor by subduing me, he would¡¯ve come in person, not sent you.¡± [Hmph. Someone like you isn¡¯t worthy to face him. I¡¯m more than enough.] ¡°And yet you¡¯re just a stray god from the moon who got chased out of Earth. Trying to keep up appearances now? No... the Celestial Demon God I know wouldn¡¯t do that.¡± [What...?!] ¡°There¡¯s some scheme behind all this.¡± Kaylen calmly lowered his gaze. Why did the Celestial Demon God¡ª Reveal his collusion with the Earth God himself? ¡®The Celestial Demon God wasn¡¯t pleased about me coming here.¡¯ The moon was his domain. Had Kaylen split his strength and invaded here, it would¡¯ve been easier for him to win. Even so, the Celestial Demon God preferred that instead of Kaylen arriving weakened, he would heed the warning and subdue the Earth God from the Earth side with the Water God¡¯s help. [The Celestial Demon God... just what is he thinking?] Even the Earth God, dwelling within Kaylen¡¯s sword, was puzzled upon hearing that. If the Celestial Demon God and the Earth God were working together for mutual benefit¡ª Then hiding their collusion and luring the others would¡¯ve been the smarter move. But he deliberately exposed it. [...If I had been defeated and erased by you all before I could move to the moon.] ¡°Then we wouldn¡¯t have found a way to reach the moon.¡± [So you pretended to be deceived.] ¡°That¡¯s right. With only a week to act, we had no choice but to take that path.¡± There were far too many things Kaylen had to accomplish in a single week. He had to complete the sword that could defeat the Celestial Demon God. He had to find a way to reach the moon. And he also had to deal with the Earth God¡¯s betrayal. In reality, it was impossible to finish all of this within the time limit. So Kaylen put the matter of reaching the moon on the back burner. Because pretending to be betrayed by the Earth God would take care of that. ¡®I¡¯d find a way from Earth, no matter what.¡¯ After that, all that remained was subduing the Earth God and completing the sword to slay the Celestial Demon God. Among those, subduing the Earth God ended up being easier than expected. - Earth God... in its sealed state, it shouldn¡¯t be that strong. The dark mana is a problem, though. - I can handle that. The Earth God¡¯s unique demon power is unpredictable, no matter how much you suppress it, so sealing it was the best choice, as the Water God said. Kaylen could subdue the Earth God through the Lunar Eclipse Sword technique, which he had planned long ago to defeat the Celestial Demon God. He would reach the moon and subdue the Earth God. Both rabbits would be caught¡ªKaylen and the Water God. Had the Lunar Eclipse Sword technique been weaker or the Earth God¡¯s power remained strong even in its sealed state, they would have failed to catch both rabbits. Listening to Kaylen, the Earth God, realizing the situation, let out a dejected voice. [I was that weak...] ¡°No matter how much you gather your strength while buried underground, there¡¯s a limit. You¡¯ve overestimated yourself.¡± [...Right. I am truly a weak existence. So, won¡¯t you let me live just once more? Honestly, the mana in this sword of mine is almost gone. I¡¯m no longer even a god. I¡¯m just a Teyia now. I¡¯ll cooperate willingly.] ¡°No need.¡± [...I see. Fine. Then, instead of cooperating, I¡¯ll swear my loyalty. Kaylen-nim! If you spare me, I¡¯ll serve you faithfully! Please, just spare my life!] ¡°Pathetic, Earth God.¡± [Do you... have no pride?] Even the Water God, who had remained silent within the sword, spoke, but the Earth God¡¯s fragments were defiant. [What¡¯s the point of pride? First, I need to live! Kaylen-nim, I¡¯ll be more useful here than the Water God! Please, just let me breathe a little longer!] When Kaylen first saw this existence in the Abyss, he never imagined it would turn out like this. Hearing the Earth God¡¯s voice, Kaylen, whose reputation had fallen to the bottom, suddenly dodged backward. Chiieeek...! Then, a beam of light poured toward the ground where he had been standing. A powerful heat radiated from the beam, melting the ground beneath it. [You ignore me and mutter to yourself about the sword. Kaylen. Are you crazy?] From Arashiel¡¯s perspective, Kaylen speaking to the sword without caring about her must have seemed insane. Meanwhile, Kaylen felt his body being thrown back farther than expected and, intrigued, moved his body this way and that. Perhaps due to the weaker gravity on the moon, his movements definitely felt different than on Earth. ¡°I¡¯ll need to get used to this.¡± Kaylen smiled as he watched the beam of light pouring down from the Sunstone. He didn¡¯t know what the Celestial Demon God¡¯s game was, but someone like Arashiel... ¡°This will be perfect for a warm-up.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 240 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 240 Chiiiiik...! A deluge of light rained down indiscriminately from above the moon, as bright as midday. There was only one target for the light¡ªKaylen. As the mana of light poured out from an uncountable number of solar stones, the moon''s surface melted in an instant. But no matter how powerful the light was¡ª ¡ªit never reached Kaylen. "Hm. I''m starting to get used to this." At first, Kaylen had not fully adjusted to the moon''s gravity, but after dodging the beams falling from the sky a few times, he moved with ease, evading the solar stones¡¯ light without trouble. "Too slow." [Keek...!] As Kaylen slipped past the beams, Arashiel adjusted them to bombard a wider area. "This is too weak." The widened beam had lost power in exchange for range. Kaylen didn¡¯t even bother dodging¡ªit wasn¡¯t worth it. He simply took it head-on. [Kuh......] Arashiel grew anxious at the unresolved situation. [Kaylen... You came all the way to the moon just to run away? I didn¡¯t expect you to be so passive.] He scoffed. At those words, Kaylen laughed derisively, as if it were pathetic. "Passive? You call that a provocation? Still, I was just starting to get bored." Six Sword Path ¨C Second Sword: Sword Rain A technique created by merging the mana of light and water¡ªSword Rain. However, the Sword Rain Kaylen unleashed this time wasn¡¯t bound to any specific mana attribute. Bathed in gold, the Six Swords spread in all directions. They instantly split and scattered into an uncountable number of droplets. "Try and withstand this." Whoosh! A golden Sword Rain surged from the ground toward the sky. All of it aimed for the solar stones above. [You think that¡¯s enough...!] Arashiel sneered as he realized that each droplet of Sword Rain held only a minuscule amount of mana. Kang! Kang! But as those tiny swords¡ªbarely more than raindrops¡ªbegan piercing the solar stones one by one, his expression hardened at once. With just those...? Impossible... Arashiel knew full well how solid the solar stones were, and the sight before him was utterly unbelievable. He was aware Kaylen was beyond human strength, but there had to be a limit. To pierce solar stones with swords made of such minuscule mana¡ªhow could that be real? As Arashiel stood in shock, Kaylen appeared silently right before his eyes. "I don¡¯t like that expression on your face¡ªespecially when you¡¯re looking at me." [Wha......] "I¡¯ll destroy you." Whoosh. It was a single, effortless strike. [Ah... ah...] But¡ª The result of that simple move was anything but simple. Chiiiiik¡ª! Arashiel¡¯s entire body, made of solar stone, completely split apart. Plop. Plop. Fragments of solar stone began to fall to the ground, one by one. Due to the low gravity, the fragments scattered in all directions like bouncing balls. ¡°Hm.¡± Kaylen, who had shattered his opponent with a single sword, looked at his blade with a dissatisfied expression. ¡®I meant to grind him to dust. Solar stone is sturdier than I thought.¡¯ Though Arashiel, now merged with Kaylen¡¯s body, was weak for the time being, there was no telling what kind of variable he might become in the future. To prevent any chance of future trouble, he needed to be uprooted completely. ¡®If I can¡¯t disassemble him entirely... I¡¯ll have to absorb him myself.¡¯ Six Sword Path ¨C Third Sword: Bottomless Pit Three swords spun¡ª ¡ªand soon formed a golden vortex. Toward that floating vortex behind Kaylen¡ª ¡ªthe shattered fragments of Arashiel began to be absorbed at once. ¡®He had quite a bit of mana in him...¡¯ Kaylen replenished his sword with the mana held within the solar stone. Perhaps because this was the moon and not Earth, Infinity within Kaylen¡¯s body no longer replenished mana endlessly as it once had. After all, Infinity¡¯s source was Earth itself. Now that the location had completely changed, Kaylen could no longer rely on infinite mana. He had to sustain himself. ¡®Time to go look for the Celestial Demon God.¡¯ After destroying every solar stone in the sky and absorbing even Arashiel¡¯s fragments, Kaylen felt that his warm-up was over. If he ran low on mana, he could just absorb more solar stones from the sky and continue the fight against the Celestial Demon God. With that thought, Kaylen looked around. The desolate, gray lunar surface stretched endlessly, making it impossible to tell one place from another. ¡°Was the moon always like this?¡± [I only remember the era of Theia.] ¡°Your speech has gotten rather casual.¡± [In the era of Theia, this wasn¡¯t a land devoid of life.] At Kaylen¡¯s remark, the Earth God immediately corrected his tone. Staring out over the moon, he continued¡ª [For life to exist, an atmosphere is essential... but this moon has none. Even for the moon''s own kind, they¡¯d need at least some air to live as lifeforms.] ¡°Hm... maybe that¡¯s why. The mana is incredibly scarce. Except for the light from the solar stones, I can hardly sense any mana at all.¡± [The moon¡¯s dark mana as well... it¡¯s almost undetectable. Originally, the surface of Theia carried dense dark mana...] Kaylen stepped onto the gray land. The distinctive dark mana that the Earth God or the Celestial Demon God once held couldn¡¯t be sensed here at all. ¡®It might just be a problem with this place for now. I should try heading in the direction where the mana feels strongest.¡¯ He couldn¡¯t just stand here forever. Whoosh. Kaylen glanced around, then began walking toward the direction where mana was most concentrated. ¡®And I¡¯ll keep absorbing solar stone along the way.¡¯ Behind Kaylen, the golden vortex continued to expand in size. The solar stones from above were being sucked into the Bottomless Pit. Kaylen moved in the direction of stronger mana, continuing his search for the Celestial Demon God. Flash. Flash. [...As expected, you are strong.] ¡°Arashiel. You again?¡± Kaylen looked ahead with an exasperated expression. This made it the fifth time now. Wherever the mana was concentrated, Arashiel¡ªtaking Kaylen¡¯s form¡ªwould be waiting there. [But this time will be different!] Flash! A pure-white beam of light poured down from a solar stone in the sky like lightning. It was much faster and stronger than the last time they fought. ¡°Stop bothering me already.¡± But Kaylen didn¡¯t even bother dodging the beam anymore. Ssssss¡ª The attack was pulled straight into the golden vortex behind him¡ª Chiiiik¡ª [Aaaargh...!] With a single strike from Kaylen¡ª Arashiel was dismantled once again. Now completely used to it, Kaylen calmly absorbed the fragments into the Bottomless Pit and lowered his gaze. ¡®The Celestial Demon God¡¯s intent is obvious.¡¯ He was stalling for time. Even though Kaylen had come to his home turf, the Celestial Demon God had no intention of facing him head-on, instead sending out Arashiel over and over just to delay him. ¡®At first, I thought he was trying to wear me down...¡¯ Unlike the fight on Earth, here Kaylen couldn¡¯t receive mana through Infinity. The Celestial Demon God likely assumed that the more Kaylen fought, the more his mana would deplete¡ªand was playing the long game. ¡®But by now, he should¡¯ve realized that someone like Arashiel can¡¯t drain my mana at all.¡¯ Arashiel, who shatters from a single strike¡ª Even if he were summoned a hundred times, he couldn¡¯t put a dent in Kaylen¡¯s mana. On the contrary, by absorbing solar stone, Kaylen¡¯s mana only increased. In the end, this kind of battle of attrition wasn¡¯t a burden to Kaylen at all. It only resulted in the Celestial Demon God losing more solar stone¡ªsuffering a heavy loss. ¡®...I need to completely revise my approach.¡¯ Kaylen decided to change his thinking, taking a completely different direction from before. Heading toward where the mana gathered only brought scraps of Arashiel. Instead, he should go where mana was barely detectable. Toward the direction where the solar stones¡ªradiating brilliant presence from all around¡ªwere few. That¡¯s where he decided to go. ¡®Yeah. Toward the darker side.¡¯ The mana felt from the moon¡ª Was merely the mana of light emitted by the solar stones. Now, determined to completely ignore that, he chose to move toward the darkness. Kaylen advanced quickly. [Kaylen...! Where are you going!] When Kaylen started behaving in a completely different manner than before¡ª Arashiel, who had only lingered where solar stones were densely gathered¡ª Instead began to pursue Kaylen. ¡®So I was right.¡¯ Her pursuit only confirmed Kaylen¡¯s deduction. [What a coward...! Are you running away without even fighting me!] Kaylen completely ignored her provocation. ¡®I won¡¯t bother with scraps anymore.¡¯ Six Sword Path Second Sword Sword Wind Raising a wind with his sword, Kaylen maximized his speed¡ª And continued moving toward the place where no light mana could be felt. [Kaylen!] [Kay... len...] And then¡ª The voice of Arashiel, who had been chasing, grew quieter. The moon, once as bright as midday, gradually darkened. The number of solar stones that had filled the sky steadily diminished. [Ah... I can¡¯t see Earth from here...] When the Water God embedded in the Water Sword let out a small exclamation, Kaylen looked up. Just like when he looked up at the sky from Earth and saw the moon¡ª Now, from the moon, when looking up at the sky¡ª He used to see the massive Earth. ¡®It really... can¡¯t be seen.¡¯ But now¡ª In this place he had arrived at using Sword Wind, where solar stones were extremely scarce¡ª He could no longer see Earth. [This is... the far side of the moon.] Then, a fragment of the Earth God, dwelling within the Earth Sword, Spoke respectfully to inform Kaylen about this location. ¡°So this is the far side of the moon...¡± [Yes. The far side of the moon, which can never face Earth. Here, I can feel Theia¡¯s dark mana.] Just as the Earth God said¡ª Upon arriving on the far side of the moon¡ª The dark mana of the moon, which Kaylen had once felt from the Earth God, began to truly manifest. ¡®I should stop here.¡¯ Having entered the far side of the moon, Kaylen halted the Sword Wind technique¡ª And raised his guard. Until now, he had only dealt with the weak Arashiel. But the one he would face on the far side of the moon¡ª Would not be someone like Arashiel. And then¡ª [You came sooner than I expected.] The gray earth beneath Kaylen¡¯s feet was instantly dyed in darkness. [Let¡¯s bring it to an end here.] From within that darkness¡ª Came the low voice of the Celestial Demon God, the very being Kaylen had been searching for. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 241 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 241 [Die.] Srrrr¡ª As the Celestial Demon God declared death, the dark mana of the moon began to slowly rise from the blackened earth. ¡®This is stronger than what I faced with the solar stones.¡¯ Kaylen tensed completely, drawing forth the full power of the Six Sword Path. The dark mana of the moon. Although Kaylen, back on Earth, had once subdued it using the Six Sword Eclipse¡ª That was only because the Earth God had been sealed at the time, making it easy to suppress. The power of the Celestial Demon God, who had his base on the moon, was incomparable to that. Shushuk! Soon, the dark mana from the black earth took form, shooting up like awls. Unlike earlier, when Kaylen could avoid the solar stone¡¯s light on the front side of the moon¡ª Now, surrounded completely by darkness, there wasn¡¯t even space to dodge the attack. ¡®I can¡¯t afford to hold back.¡¯ Six Sword Path Sixth Sword: Eclipse All six swords turned black¡ª And the Dark Sword flew toward the surrounding darkness engulfing Kaylen. [This sword...] The Earth God let out an exclamation unconsciously as the Earth Sword, in which he was embedded, transformed through the Eclipse. The sword that completely absorbed the moon¡¯s dark mana¡ªseen just before the connection to his main body on Earth had been cut. Was that not the Eclipse itself? At the time, he had been helpless¡ªabsorbed entirely into the Six Swords through that technique. [Petty.] But the current Celestial Demon God was not like the weakened Earth God. Although Kaylen¡¯s Dark Sword was indeed absorbing the dark mana¡ª Unlike when he had overpowered the Earth God, it did not escape the Celestial Demon God¡¯s grasp. Only in the exact paths where the sword slashed did the dark mana dissipate. Chiiiii¡ª! The Eclipse, which should have devoured all of the moon¡¯s dark mana, Instead was only carving out a minimal space¡ªbarely enough to keep Kaylen from being swallowed by the Celestial Demon God. ¡®The Six Swords can¡¯t deal any real damage...¡¯ Excluding the transcendent-level Starfall¡ª The highest form of the Six Sword Path, the Six Sword Eclipse. It combined the original Six Sword Path with the operational methods of the Six Demon Path. Compared to the old Six Sword Path, its power was far superior¡ª But fighting within the domain of the moon¡¯s master, the Celestial Demon God, was undeniably difficult. No matter how many times he slashed, the dark mana of the moon kept rising again. Sometimes it turned into spears and blades¡ª Sometimes into arrows¡ª Sometimes into meteors that rained down indiscriminately on Kaylen. ¡®First... defend.¡¯ The Six Swords moved swiftly on their own, slicing through and absorbing the darkness rushing at Kaylen. In its Eclipse state, the Six Swords could indeed block the Celestial Demon God¡¯s attacks. ¡®But beyond this... it¡¯s impossible...¡¯ It was impossible to switch from defense to offense. He didn¡¯t even know where the Celestial Demon God was. The black mana pouring out from the far side of the moon continued to surge as if it had no limits. "Earth God. Back on Earth, I think I subdued you with just two swords... but this Celestial Demon God is on a whole different level." [Kgh. That was only because I was sealed...! Otherwise, I too...!] The Earth God snapped back at Kaylen¡¯s remark, but even he was overwhelmed by the power emanating from the Celestial Demon God. ¡®How can someone control this dark mana so well, even after the moon has been reduced to this tiny form? Better than me, the original master of Theia...!¡¯ Compared to Theia before its collision with Earth, the moon was nothing more than a lifeless fragment, just a rock. Even if the Celestial Demon God was a deity, divine authority ultimately scaled with the world under their dominion. It was incomprehensible to the Earth God that such a powerful deity could emerge from something as small as the moon when compared to Theia. ¡®This... this will cause a setback in my plans as well...¡¯ Fragmented within Kaylen¡¯s sword, the Earth God. The only reason he endured humiliation and chose to survive was to wait for the chance to counterattack. But if the Celestial Demon God was this powerful, he might not even get that chance¡ªhe might just be buried here along with Kaylen. [Such petty tricks. But how long can you endure?] As the Celestial Demon God continued pressing down on Kaylen with black mana¡ª [Very well... Let¡¯s see if you can overcome this.] He brought not only the power of darkness, but also the power of light. Flash. Flash. In the pitch-black world, light arrived. ¡®The Sunstones...¡¯ The Sunstones, which previously only existed above the near side of the moon. Now, under the Celestial Demon God¡¯s divine authority, they had risen even here, on the far side. They contained the same powerful mana of light as the original Sunstones, but¡ª ¡®They''re massive.¡¯ The Sunstones were on a whole different scale. Each one was the size of a massive meteor. As they all began to emit light at once, the darkness-covered far side of the moon instantly lit up. More precisely, it lit up in the direction of Kaylen. Fwoooosh¡ª Three of the Six Swords blocked the light. But the black sword in eclipse state seemed even more vulnerable to the Sunstones'' light, as it began to burn intensely. All the dark mana that had been held within the eclipse vanished completely. [The mana is vanishing rapidly!] [Khh... R-Remove us! If we keep resisting that light, we¡¯ll cease to exist!] The urgent voices of the Water God and Earth God echoed out. Even without their words, Kaylen could feel more acutely than anyone that the mana was disappearing at a terrifying speed. ¡®The Celestial Demon God... he handles the opposing powers of light and darkness... with frightening ease.¡¯ Even if he could use both light and darkness, Kaylen had wondered how it was possible to manipulate such completely incompatible mana at once... ¡®They don¡¯t clash.¡¯ When the light of the Sunstones rains down, the dark mana momentarily vanishes. And once the beams of light stop, the dark mana once again coils around Kaylen. The alternating attacks of the two manas were seamless and relentless. Because of that, Kaylen could do nothing but watch as the Six Swords, which had activated Eclipse to block the moon¡¯s dark mana, instead began losing mana. ¡®If my mana keeps draining like this, I¡¯ll definitely lose.¡¯ Unlike when he absorbed the mana of the Sunstone on the moon¡¯s front side, here, his mana was vanishing rapidly. Even when Eclipse absorbed the moon¡¯s dark mana, it was burned away by the Sunstone¡¯s rays. The burning mana didn¡¯t stop at the dark mana absorbed by Eclipse¡ªit also consumed the original mana Kaylen had brought from Earth. ¡®Though I haven¡¯t fully figured out what the Celestial Demon God is yet... I have to play my strongest card now.¡¯ No matter what, he had to end this battle quickly. Resolving himself, Kaylen recalled all the Six Swords. [Th-that... the Sunstone... don¡¯t tell me...] At that moment¡ª The Earth God, who had been wailing moments ago as if on the brink of death, looked at the massive Sunstone floating in the sky and seemed to recall something, trying to speak. But Kaylen¡¯s swords all converged first, merging into one. Six Sword Path Transcendent Realm Moon-Seeking Slash They merged into one. The sword, which had originally glowed golden, having turned black, suddenly vanished. Kaylen¡¯s Six Swords¡ª Disappeared completely without a trace. Darkness surged up from beneath his feet. The Sunstones floating above rained down enormous lightning-like beams of light. His lower body was consumed by darkness, and his upper body was on the verge of being incinerated by the light. In that instant¡ª A flash of silver light briefly surged through Kaylen¡¯s entire body, then vanished. Immediately, the moon¡¯s dark mana that had been trying to seize his legs¡ª And the rays of the Sunstones pouring from the sky¡ª All movement ceased simultaneously. As if time itself had stopped. The matter and mana of this world had all come to a halt. [...What is this.] The Celestial Demon God¡¯s voice rang out, laced with confusion. Only then did the world begin to move again. Tap. Tap... The massive Sunstone in the sky¡ª Fell to the ground, a gaping hole pierced through its center. And on the pitch-black ground where Kaylen had stood, all the dark mana had vanished¡ª Leaving behind a vast hole in its place. [What... did you do...] The Celestial Demon God¡¯s voice gradually lost strength. His dominance over the entire moon was slipping away. It was weakening rapidly. The Six Swords emerged again from Kaylen¡¯s body. Compared to earlier, the Six Swords had significantly less mana now. But even so, Kaylen was in a better state than the Celestial Demon God, whose Sunstones had all been pierced and fallen to the ground, and whose dark mana of the moon had rapidly diminished. [How... how did you... with one sword...] Transcendent Realm ¨C Moon-Seeking Slash. The ultimate sword Kaylen created to oppose the god of the moon. ¡°I simply pierced it.¡± As Kaylen said¡ª A piercing sword. An ultimate thrust. Using himself, who was no different from the sword itself, as the medium¡ªhe had pierced straight through this enormous moon. [Ha... to think something like that...] The Celestial Demon God couldn¡¯t hide his disbelief upon realizing that the sword which had completely torn apart his authority was merely a thrust. [I had more mana than you.] ¡°You did.¡± [I made many preparations for this battle. I concentrated all my power on the moon¡¯s far side. I prepared numerous mechanisms to focus my authority into a single point...] Kaylen looked at the massive Sunstone that had fallen to the ground with a hole bored through its center. Even something that large... was it just a mechanism? [Once one reaches the realm of godhood, techniques are meaningless. The outcome of battle is decided solely by mana. But... you were different.] The Water God within Kaylen¡¯s sword silently agreed with those words muttered by the Celestial Demon God. ¡®Battles between divinities are actually quite simple.¡¯ Mortals¡ª Their nature is inefficient, so they can¡¯t even unleash their full power. They cast spells or wield sword techniques, all in search of the most efficient way to project their mana onto the enemy. But once you reach the divine realm, that¡¯s unnecessary. There are no such limitations when it comes to handling the mana of a god. Thus, the quantity of mana a god possesses becomes the decisive weight in the outcome of battle. [Swordsmanship. That¡¯s a petty technique for mortals. In the eyes of a god, it¡¯s nothing more than a performance...] ¡°And yet you fell to that performance.¡± [Yes. Your sword is... special. It¡¯s more than a show¡ªit threatens gods...] Ssshh¡ª The Celestial Demon God¡¯s voice was gradually fading. Along with it, the dark mana of the moon¡¯s far side began vanishing without a trace. Had the Celestial Demon God been destroyed because he couldn¡¯t overcome the Moon-Seeking Slash? ¡®No way.¡¯ No matter how powerful Moon-Seeking Slash was, eliminating the ruler of the moon with a single strike was impossible. The Celestial Demon God¡ª Where was he trying to escape to? As Kaylen awakened all his senses, searching for any trace of the Celestial Demon God¡¯s dark mana¡ª [Sir Kaylen. May I speak to the Celestial Demon God for a moment?] The Earth God, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke. ¡°Sure. Go ahead.¡± Curious what the Earth God wanted to say, Kaylen allowed it¡ªand a voice flowed out from the Earth Sword. [Celestial Demon God. No... are you... Krugen?] At that¡ª The dark mana that had been fading paused for a moment. [...What¡¯s that supposed to mean?] The Celestial Demon God slowly responded to the Earth God¡¯s question. [Krugen, Director of the Solar Power Plant.] Then¡ª The Earth God¡¯s voice rang out from within Kaylen¡¯s sword, more confident than ever. [He¡¯s someone I personally appointed. Are you denying your own god?] [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 242 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 242 The Earth God, who had been compressed inside Kaylen¡¯s sword, felt joy for the first time since arriving on the moon. ¡®The Celestial Demon God... It¡¯s definitely Krugen.¡¯ The massive sunstone the Celestial Demon God had mobilized to suppress Kaylen¡ª It was something the Earth God had created when he was the god of Theia. ¡®Even if the method for creating sunstones was passed down to later generations¡ª¡¯ No one but the Earth God could have made that sunstone. It was a masterpiece crafted with a special divine power, infused into a colossal meteor that had fallen onto Theia. ¡®Heh heh...¡¯ The Earth God recalled the distant past, the days of Theia. ¡®To crash Theia into Earth, energy was required.¡¯ Altering a planet¡¯s predetermined trajectory was no easy task, even for ¡®Theia,¡¯ the ruling god of the planet Theia. Furthermore, after colliding with Earth, the god of Theia had to conserve power in order to devour the planet. So, he had to find a way to minimize energy consumption. That solution was the sunstone and the solar energy plant. By gathering mana from the light emitted by the sun, they would generate enough energy to move a planet. To fulfill this goal, the planetary god Theia entrusted the task to the clan he trusted most¡ªKrugen of Theia. [We thought the solar energy plant was lost due to the planetary collision...] [I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.] [Heh heh heh. Krugen... Even after hearing this. Can you really pretend not to understand?] With a voice full of certainty, the Earth God spoke. [Eiojaf.......] He spoke in a new language. Kaylen couldn¡¯t understand what was said, but it sounded eerily similar to the language used by the hellspawn. [Mmm...] And upon hearing those words¡ª The Celestial Demon God''s voice began to tremble noticeably. [You think such a divine tongue can bind me? I am the Celestial Demon God, who rules both sky and demon... That language means nothing¡ª] [I am the one who created your existence, Krugen. Obey my command. Eiojaf.......] The Earth God continued to recite the divine language meant to bind the Celestial Demon God. [No, this can¡¯t be...] [This is impossible...] [I have ascended to godhood. I cannot be dominated by a ghost of the past...] The Celestial Demon God struggled repeatedly to resist the divine language of Theia. [It¡¯s useless to resist.] The divine language weakened him further with every word. Meanwhile, Kaylen watched from the side, waiting to see how the situation would unfold. ¡®The Earth God within the Six Sword can be subdued at any time.¡¯ Transcendental Realm ¡ª Moon Slayer . This ultimate sword that surpassed the Six Sword consumed an immense amount of mana. Especially here, not being on Earth, he couldn¡¯t draw mana through Infinity like before. ¡®Moon Slayer... can probably be used just two or three more times.¡¯ Which meant he had to wield it with utmost care. Though the Crescent Moon had completely overwhelmed the Celestial Demon God¡¯s attack¡ª Kaylen still couldn¡¯t determine where his true body was located, so if it turned into a battle of attrition, the odds would be against him. ¡®If the Earth God can use such a method to reveal the Celestial Demon God¡¯s location... that, too, could be useful.¡¯ With that thought, Kaylen chose to watch silently as the Earth God continued to speak freely. [Reveal yourself, Krugen.] And the Earth God¡¯s commands only grew stronger. Pouring out divine power, he had reached the point of directly ordering the Celestial Demon God¡ªwhose position remained unknown¡ªto show himself. [Gruuuugh... How could a being like me, the Celestial Demon God, respond to a mere wraith like you.......] [You¡¯re not the Celestial Demon God. You¡¯re just Krugen, the director of the solar power plant.] [No. I am... the one who will restore Theia and rule over the planet as a god. The name Krugen has already been cast aside!] [Krugen. If you had truly discarded that name, you would have resisted the divine word already. Isn¡¯t that right?] As the Earth God¡¯s voice grew more confident, the darkness over the land gradually lifted. Even the distant sunstone floating far above, outside the reach of the Crescent Moon, lost its light. Now even Kaylen could clearly feel that the Celestial Demon God¡¯s divine power was weakening. [Follow me once again, as you did before, Krugen. You are... yes. Strictly speaking, you¡¯re practically my great-grandson, are you not? Huhu.] [...Great-grandson, you say? How easily those words leave your lips.] [Isn¡¯t it true? Tch. If you had confessed your identity when you came looking for me on Earth, things wouldn¡¯t have turned out this way.] [Do you really have the right to say that?] [Of course. I am Theia¡¯s god. More than anyone else, I have every right to speak these words.] [You¡¯re the one who abandoned us.] Srrr. From the gray land where the darkness had receded, the Celestial Demon God revealed himself. With wings of light. A strange being, his face hidden in shadow. Even after being struck by Kaylen¡¯s Crescent Moon, he displayed a transcendent power where the mana of light and darkness coexisted. [Yes. You...] Chiiiiiik. The darkness covering the Celestial Demon God¡¯s face burned away on its own and disappeared. His appearance slowly emerged. ¡®That is.......¡¯ On his cheeks and forehead, where skin should be, sunstones were embedded. At the center where the eyes, nose, and mouth should be, different individuals¡¯ features were fused together. It wasn¡¯t a complete being, but rather a face crudely stitched together from many others. The Earth God looked at that face and burst into laughter. [Krugen. So it wasn¡¯t just you. The priest¡¯s and the king¡¯s faces are there too. Not just my great-grandchildren¡ªmy own grandchildren are mixed in as well.] [Even after seeing this face... is that all you have to say?] [No. Eiojaf. Elana......] As a new divine word was spoken, the Celestial Demon God¡¯s stitched-together face twisted grotesquely. The left eye and right corner of the mouth grimaced. But the right eye, nose, and left corner of the mouth drooped, unable to even look at the Six Swords. Kaylen, seeing the Celestial Demon God¡¯s revealed face, noticed that half of his face was now subject to the Earth God¡¯s divine word. ¡®But...¡¯ Kaylen felt uneasy. No matter how powerful the divine word was as a means of control, how could the mighty Celestial Demon God submit to the Earth God¡¯s fragments like this? Though the outward appearance seemed this way, the situation could change at any moment. Kaylen maintained his vigilance, continuing to watch the Celestial Demon God. [How did you survive and gather power to become a god?] The Earth God, now fully at ease, casually asked the Celestial Demon God about the past. Then, the right corner of the Celestial Demon God¡¯s mouth slowly began to move. ¡°That...¡± The solar power plant floating above Theia¡¯s sky. There, Krugen, the plant manager from royal blood, bit his lip. ¡®To think the god would truly push for the collision of the planets...¡¯ The collision of Theia and Earth. Although he had heard that the god governing Theia was planning something like this, he never imagined it would actually happen in reality. ¡°Krugen. What in the world is going on?¡± The king and princess of Theia urgently came to find him. The planet had deviated from its designated orbit and was heading toward Earth. The sun didn¡¯t rise when it was supposed to. As the sky and earth shook, severe abnormal conditions were rapidly unfolding. The source of all these changes was the solar power plant, which the god had directly created. The king had no choice but to come to this place. ¡°It was the god... who did this.¡± ¡°The god? What exactly did he do?¡± ¡°He says he plans to make Theia and Earth collide.¡± ¡°What?¡± The face of the blue-skinned king quickly turned pale. Collide two planets? Was this even possible? ¡°Why... Why didn¡¯t you report this sooner?¡± ¡°The god forbade us from speaking of it.¡± Thud. The king sank down into his seat. From the moment they had mobilized all of Theia¡¯s resources to create the massive sunstone, he had a bad feeling. ¡®Why? Why...?¡¯ Why would they make Theia, a planet under good rule, collide with a much larger planet? As a king who did not understand the god¡¯s desire for ¡°growth,¡± the current situation was completely incomprehensible. ¡°...Is there no way to stop it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s impossible. The mana of the solar power plant is already under the god¡¯s control.¡± Ah... Living for centuries, even a thousand years. Ruling over the mana of darkness, and even attempting to control the mana of the sun¡ªTheia¡¯s clan. This great race, because of a mere god''s whim, was on the verge of destruction overnight. ¡°...Somehow. Our clan must find a way to survive.¡± The king, who had been sitting down, stood up. Unlike before, he had regained his composure. ¡°The solar power plant... it has an Absolute Barrier installed, capable of withstanding external shocks.¡± ¡°Yes. But the god has drained all the mana needed for the barrier.¡± ¡°If it¡¯s mana, we can supply it.¡± Despite the sudden threat of destruction, the king of Theia chose the best path to preserve his clan. ¡°How many can the power plant accommodate?¡± ¡°About 1,000 people can be housed.¡± ¡°...We¡¯ll select the clan members as quickly as possible.¡± The work proceeded swiftly. Among Theia¡¯s clan, the elite 1,000 were chosen. They entered the solar power plant and reactivated the Absolute Barrier, which had been deactivated due to the depletion of mana. ¡°Ugh... The mana is insufficient. At this rate, all our mana will be depleted.¡± ¡°Then pour all your mana into it, and die. If we can¡¯t reactivate this barrier, our clan will be wiped out. Think of it as a sacrifice to save your family and comrades.¡± ¡°...Yes.¡± Even among the 1,000 elites, those who were lacking in mana died while reactivating the Absolute Barrier. ¡°Now, the collision is becoming visible.¡± ¡°Yes. Terra is now large enough to be seen with the naked eye.¡± Krugen, the plant manager, looked up at the sky. The planet Terra, which used to be just a star in the night sky, now loomed large, revealing its presence. ¡°The Absolute Barrier... I believe everything is ready now.¡± ¡°Yes. Even the Dark Fortress, which will maintain the clan''s bloodline, has entered the shield.¡± ¡°Good... Now, activate the barrier.¡± The king bit his lip and gazed at the land below the solar power plant, where Theia¡¯s clan lived. ¡®I¡¯m sorry. There¡¯s no way to save all of you... With so little time to respond to this unprecedented event caused by the god of Theia, I couldn¡¯t save everyone. For now, I must focus on the 725 survivors remaining in the solar power plant. While maintaining the clan¡¯s bloodline, I¡¯ll have to find a future solution.¡¯ The king, thinking this, looked at the brilliantly shining silver barrier that enveloped the solar power plant. He felt a slight sense of relief. [Ho... here. Mana. As expected, you are my loyal clan. Then, as a god, I must harvest.] The god of Theia, having discovered the Absolute Barrier, began to chant the hateful divine language. [Erder.] [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 243 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 243 ¡°God... Oh, God.¡± The Absolute Barrier vanished. The king of Theia, in desperation, knelt down. At this rate, the clan would be wiped out. ¡°Please, save us. These are the last hopes of our clan. Please, let our bloodline continue...¡± The king of Theia, trembling and shedding tears, begged. Behind him, the surviving clan members kneeled as one, pleading to the god. ¡°God, please have mercy...!¡± ¡°Please, let our bloodline survive!¡± [What strange words you speak. Why are you your last hope?] Despite the king and his clan¡¯s desperate pleas, the god remained cold. [I was once part of Theia''s clan as well. Your hope is me. If I become the god of a greater planet, Theia¡¯s name will spread even more widely across the universe. So do not worry about your bloodline ending.] Ssssss Dark mana wrapped around the 725 members of Theia''s clan. The god directly released his absolute power. [Then I will take all your power as well.] ¡°Ugh... Aaaah!¡± Boom! The head of the king, standing at the front, exploded. Boom! Boom! In an instant, the explosion spread in all directions. 724 Except for Krugen, the manager of the Sunstone power plant, everyone was turned into bloody remains and vanished. [Krugen. Detonate the Sunstone.] And there was a reason why the god of Theia spared Krugen''s life. He intended to use Krugen¡¯s authority. ¡°Y-You insane fool... Do you think I¡¯ll follow such an order?!¡± Krugen, gritting his teeth as he looked at the clan members who had died, resisted the command. [Eiojaf...] Before the cursed divine language, his resistance was futile. The language of the god, who completely dominated Theia¡¯s clan. Krugen, shedding tears of blood, looked at the corpses of his clan. Among them were his own family and his beloved partner. Despite the fact that those more precious than his life had helplessly exploded before the god, He could not resist the divine language. ¡°I understand. By the authority of the plant manager, I order the plant to detonate all mana according to the god¡¯s command.¡± Flash. Flash. The already glowing Sunstone heated up even more. As a result, cracks began to appear on its surface. The massive Sunstone slowly began to disassemble, releasing the last of the light mana from within. The Sunstone power plant, Theia¡¯s clan''s most proud creation and the energy source that supplied mana to the planet, ended in such a meaningless way. Krugen stood on the ground he was standing on. Seeing the sunstone power plant cracking, Krugen only wished for a quick death. At this point, what was the point of living any longer? He wished the stars would collide soon, ending this painful situation. Meanwhile, the god of Theia was. As the sunstone exploded and the final surge of energy erupted, the god appeared pleased. Even though the entire clan had been wiped out, the god remained unfazed. The sight of the god relishing the increase in mana was infuriating to Krugen. He could not help but mutter in hatred. ¡°You¡¯re really hoping to lose to Earth, huh? You¡¯ll die pathetically.¡± [What?] ¡°No matter how hard you try, how can you overcome the size of a star? In the end, you¡¯ll be swallowed by the great star. Heh heh.¡± [...Even in this situation, you still resist. I can¡¯t let that slide.] Krugen only left a curse after seeing the entirety of Theia¡¯s clan die. But the god of Theia showed no mercy. Even Krugen¡¯s last mutterings before death were not allowed. Immediately, intense dark mana enveloped his body. At first, Krugen thought his body was going to be torn apart right then and there, so he remained still without resisting. [I know what you¡¯re thinking. You just want to die quickly and rest, don¡¯t you?] [But how could I allow you, who spoke so disrespectfully to the god, to be left alone?] Srrrrrr... As the dark mana spreading from Krugen''s body extended in all directions, he opened his mouth with an anxious expression. ¡°What... what are you doing...!¡± [I won¡¯t let you die easily. I¡¯ll squeeze every last bit of mana from you.] Chiiiiiick-! The fragmented bodies of the clan members and pieces of sunstone gathered around Krugen. ¡°Gahhhhh... Flesh and skin pierced his face. Sunstones embedded themselves all over him. Krugen, once famous among Theia¡¯s clan for his good looks, now became the most grotesque of them all. ¡°J-Just kill me already...¡± [Not yet. I need to squeeze more mana from you.] The god of Theia took pleasure in watching the last surviving clan member¡¯s pain. In truth, no matter how much Krugen gathered the fragments, how much mana would it even amount to? The very act of punishing Krugen for his insolent words, and watching him break down, was entertainment for the god. Grrrrrr- [The resistance from Earth is stronger... The game is over.] Only after the stars collided and the god of Theia responded properly did the god stop the game. Krugen, now a monster fused from various pieces, was left abandoned in the power plant as the god¡¯s plaything. Thus, Krugen¡¯s existence seemed to have ended. [And yet, you¡¯re still alive. How unexpected.] ¡°It was possible because you lost to Earth as I predicted.¡± One corner of the Celestial Demon God''s mouth curled up. "Thanks to absorbing the dark mana you emitted as you vanished, I was barely able to cling to life." [Heh... It''s thanks to me.] Despite the Celestial Demon God''s mocking tone, the Earth God paid it no mind and thought as it pleased. [You worked hard to gather strength. Krugen.] Though only a fragment of the Six Swords, the Earth God seemed confident as it believed completely in the binding power of the divine word that restrained Theia¡¯s clan. "Hmm... However, Kaylen, who was listening to the conversation between the Earth God and the Celestial Demon God from the side, felt a strange sensation. "If the Celestial Demon God is so bound by the divine word, then it should be thoroughly avoiding the Earth God..." Of course, the Celestial Demon God had made an attempt. Through the piece of the moon left in the Celestial Realm, it had warned the Earth God of the betrayal in advance. However, Kaylen felt that the process through which the Celestial Demon God¡¯s identity was revealed was unclear. "By seeing the sunstone fragment, the Earth God was able to deduce the Celestial Demon God''s true identity... but was all of this just a coincidence?" Kaylen wondered if everything, including the Earth God¡¯s fragment being entangled in his sword, and the Celestial Demon God being exposed as the power plant manager after the sunstone was shattered by the Island Moon, was just a series of accidents. And then. "Is it really possible to control such a powerful Celestial Demon God with just a divine word?" Kaylen couldn¡¯t help but have a fundamental question. No matter how the divine word could subjugate Theia¡¯s clan, was it really possible to bind an entity like the Celestial Demon God? The more Kaylen thought about it... "...No." He didn¡¯t think it was possible. "I need to prepare." Though it seemed the Celestial Demon God was under control by the Earth God¡¯s divine word, the situation could change at any moment. Kaylen gathered his mana in preparation for any sudden shifts. And then. [The power of Theia¡¯s clan is all mine. Now, you must offer your strength to me again. ERDER.] The Earth God confidently recited the divine word. ERDER. Kaylen couldn¡¯t be sure of its exact meaning, but he could vaguely deduce that it had something to do with absorbing mana. Shuuuu... Then, a portion of the Celestial Demon God¡¯s mana began to drain away. Both light and dark mana swirled around Kaylen¡¯s sword, attempting to make contact with the Earth God within the blade. [Release me. Then I will be able to control the Celestial Demon God.] Seeing the mana, the Earth God confidently suggested to Kaylen. The once craven Earth God¡¯s words had become brief. "That divine word you mentioned... Does it absorb mana?" [Yes. ERDER. It''s an effective command word that sucks up all the mana of the subjugated.] ¡°But why is the mana that¡¯s been released only this much?¡± [What do you mean by that...?] Whizz. Whizz. The light and dark mana swirling around Kaylen¡¯s sword. At first glance, the amount seemed vast, but that was merely its outward appearance. ¡®In reality, it¡¯s not like that.¡¯ Even though the fragment of the Earth God within the sword might have been fooled into thinking there was a large amount of mana. Kaylen had clearly understood its deception. ¡°Is this all the power of your divine word...?¡± And then. The Celestial Demon God, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up. ¡°Now I¡¯m certain.¡± [What...!?] The atmosphere had completely shifted from when the Earth God was being overwhelmingly pressured moments ago. Perhaps noticing this, the Earth God¡¯s panicked voice echoed from the sword. ¡°Earth God. You can never become an obstacle to me in the past, present, or future.¡± [You... How dare you...!] ¡°The moment I hear your divine word from the perspective of the gods, I can now clearly understand. How it operates and the underlying principle of its creation.¡± The Earth God suddenly let out a roar at the Celestial Demon God, who had changed his attitude. ¡°ERDER.¡± When the Celestial Demon God spoke the same divine word as the Earth God, the Earth God¡¯s voice began to break. [Ah... Uh...] Just like earlier, when mana had drained from the Celestial Demon God. Now, the mana from the Earth God¡¯s fragment within Kaylen¡¯s golden sword began to reverse and drain away. ¡°Disappear. Earth God.¡± As the Earth God could no longer move under the Celestial Demon God¡¯s reversed divine word. Kaylen sought to erase his existence himself. [Ah, no... Why! I can overcome this, Kaylen...! Please, just spare my life!] As Kaylen tried to erase him, the Earth God, in desperation, switched to formal speech in a last-ditch effort to survive. ¡°No. That doesn¡¯t seem likely.¡± [Ugh... P-please...!] ¡°Go.¡± To block the Celestial Demon God from reversing and absorbing the Earth God, Kaylen personally wiped him out. Seeing this, the Celestial Demon God grimaced. ¡°...You raised your mana. You were preparing in advance.¡± ¡°It was strange for someone like you, even with the Earth God¡¯s divine word, to not be able to move.¡± ¡°Really, you¡¯re a bothersome existence.¡± Kaylen did not respond to those words and immediately raised his aura to its full extent. Six Swords Path Transcendental Realm Moon Slayer The moment the Celestial Demon God revealed his true form was the perfect opportunity. The Moon-penetrating Sword. It was time to use it now. ¡°You...!¡± At Kaylen¡¯s sudden attack, the Celestial Demon God¡¯s wings tried to envelop his body. Screech! The Celestial Demon God¡¯s body was completely pierced through. ¡°Grrk...¡± The power from the Celestial Demon God¡¯s wings faded as the sword that pierced the moon struck him. His upper body was completely pierced through. All that remained was his head and legs. From the Celestial Demon God¡¯s body, pierced by the Moon-penetrating Sword, vast mana exploded in all directions. It looked as if he was meeting his end. But Kaylen¡¯s expression remained stiff. ¡®He escaped.¡¯ If the Celestial Demon God had been fully struck by the Moon-penetrating Sword, there would be no head or legs left, he would have completely disappeared. ¡®Is there just one more chance left...?¡¯ The mana brought to the moon was now nearly depleted. Kaylen, determined to end it, began to trace the Celestial Demon God¡¯s remaining mana. Not long after. ¡°Castle...?¡± At the place where the Celestial Demon God¡¯s mana had been cut off, Kaylen discovered a dark, glowing castle. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 244 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 244 The castle discovered on the far side of the moon was not in a normal state. The lower part of the castle was buried in the ground, with only the upper part protruding above the surface. Even the parts that were exposed were cracked and crumbling in places. At a glance, it looked like a castle abandoned and left in neglect. ¡®I can feel dark mana.¡¯ However, Kaylen could sense an immense dark mana surging from within. He recalled the story the Celestial Demon God had just told him. ¡®The Dark Castle... was it said to be the stronghold to preserve the clan¡¯s lineage?¡¯ A castle the Theia clan built as their final structure in the solar power plant. Perhaps because it was their last legacy, even in its half-destroyed state, it still contained such dark mana. [Lord Kaylen. Are you thinking of entering that place?] ¡°I am.¡± The will of the Water God, dwelling in Kaylen¡¯s sword, spoke to him. [However, there is now barely any mana left in the Six Sword.] ¡°I know. If I use Moon Slayer one more time, that¡¯ll be the end.¡± [Then wouldn¡¯t it be better to go to the near side of the moon and replenish your strength?] ¡°You mean by absorbing sunstones?¡± [Yes.] ¡°That would be the safer route, true. But if we waste time like that, who knows what the Celestial Demon God might do. Dragging out the battle on the moon seems like exactly what he wants.¡± [Is that so......] Though he wasn¡¯t certain what the Celestial Demon God was aiming for, Kaylen felt that he couldn¡¯t afford to delay any longer. It was closer to a hunch than a conclusion based on solid evidence. But Kaylen trusted his instincts completely. [However, if you use that sword one more time... Lord Kaylen, your very existence may disappear.] ¡°It¡¯s fine. I exist on Earth.¡± Of the Six Swords, two were on Earth. That was enough. At least that¡¯s what Kaylen believed, but the Water God¡¯s voice was heavy. [Do you really believe that is the same being as the current Lord Kaylen? Four swords crossed to the moon, and two remain on Earth. No matter how you look at it, the true self is you here on the moon. What¡¯s on Earth is merely a clone.] ¡°......What exactly are you trying to say?¡± [Instead of willingly walking into death by entering the Dark Castle, I¡¯m asking you to value your life.] He understood what the Water God¡¯s will was trying to say. Even if two swords remained on Earth, they were not Kaylen himself, but mere avatars of him. So it was telling him not to recklessly throw away his life just because of that, not to wield the sword at the cost of his own self. And this¡ª ¡°This sounds like your own situation. Fragment of the Water God.¡± It was a message that also applied to the Water God¡¯s will, if the roles were reversed. [......Yes. That is correct.] And the Water God¡¯s fragment readily admitted to Kaylen¡¯s words. [The moment I left Earth and came to the moon, I effectively became an independent being, separate from the Water God. At this distance, even the Water God cannot control me.] ¡°So now that you¡¯re on the verge of vanishing like this... you¡¯ve started to want to live.¡± [Yes, that¡¯s right. If you draw out all the power of the Six Swords, then I too will have no choice but to disappear, just like the Earth God did earlier.] ¡°I see.¡± Step. Step. Kaylen began walking toward the Dark Castle. The Kaylen on Earth and the Kaylen on the Moon¡ª They were the same person, but ever since their mana connection was severed upon arriving on the Moon, they had become two separate beings. Which one was the ¡°real¡± Kaylen probably didn¡¯t matter much. They were both the real Kaylen; it was just that they had split afterward. ¡®And now that I¡¯ve become separated from the one on Earth... if the Kaylen on the Moon dies, then that¡¯s the end of me.¡¯ If he used Moon Slayer even once more here, he would inevitably die from mana depletion. Even if he were lucky enough to hold out by absorbing sunstones and lunar mana, that would only be barely sustaining his life¡ªnever a fundamental solution. ¡®If I burn my last remaining strength with Moon Slayer, it¡¯ll be near impossible to build up power again from the bottom.¡¯ Right now, the mana he retained from Earth was what kept his core stable. Thanks to that, he could refine and absorb the Moon¡¯s mana. But if he used up all his strength with Moon Slayer, things would change. His shaken foundation would become even more unstable as he absorbed the Moon¡¯s mana. Having reached the peak of the Six Sword Path, Kaylen might no longer be able to maintain the Golden Sword. That¡¯s how incompatible the mana of the Moon was. If the mana of Earth, his foundation, were completely gone, it would be akin to having his very roots overturned. From a logical standpoint, the Water God¡¯s advice was correct. It would be better to replenish his depleted mana and then return. If he steadily absorbed both the sunstones on the Moon¡¯s front side and the dark mana on its far side, he could probably build up enough mana to use Moon Slayer one more time. ¡°But that¡¯s unfortunate. I¡¯m going forward.¡± [......I see.] Subduing the Celestial Demon God was more important than his own death. Kaylen¡¯s resolve was unshakable. [You truly are unwavering. Just as I believed.] Bzzz. Bzzz. Then, as Kaylen pressed forward, a bluish light filled the Six Swords that followed behind him. A torrent of new mana surged into the swords. It was the mana released by the Water God within the Water Sword. ¡°......What is this?¡± [Just in case something like this happened... I prepared it. My will that resides in the sword will now finish its role by supplying you with mana.] As Kaylen received the Water God¡¯s mana, he furrowed his brow. He appreciated the mana, but if she was going to give it, she could¡¯ve just done so from the start. ¡°That question from before... were you testing me?¡± [I apologize. I had no choice but to see which you valued more: destroying the Celestial Demon God, or survival.] ¡°You could¡¯ve just given it from the start... tch.¡± [I¡¯m truly sorry.] Even as he clicked his tongue, Kaylen absorbed all the mana the Water God provided without leaving a trace behind. The mana the Water God had stored and passed on through the sword was substantial. ¡®At this level, I won¡¯t cease to exist even if I use Moon Slayer.¡¯ It wasn¡¯t to the extent that he needed to use Moon Slayer twice. Even after using that sword, he no longer needed to fear death. Kaylen continued walking, sensing the will of the Water God within the sword fading away. ¡®This place... it¡¯s almost like the source of all dark mana.¡¯ Inside the Dark Castle. As Kaylen observed the interior, a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes. From the outside, it simply looked like a fortress made of black rock. But from the inside, the stone walls were densely embedded with black mana stones¡ªMoonstones. Srrr¡ª As the uninvited guest Kaylen entered the castle, dark mana erupted all at once from the Moonstones and tried to engulf him. Kaylen welcomed it instead. ¡®I should absorb this as well.¡¯ Earth¡¯s mana was still serving as his core. That meant he could devour the Moon¡¯s dark mana and refine it into his own. If it came to him on its own like this, he had no reason to refuse. ¡°Devour it.¡± At Kaylen¡¯s command¡ª His six golden swords flew out all at once toward the dark mana. Just like the eclipse method that had extinguished the Earth God. They began converting the dark power of the Black Castle into his own. ¡®My mana is steadily filling.¡¯ Even as he continued forward without slowing his steps, Kaylen absorbed all the mana approaching him. The dark mana could not resist the Six Swords at all. Still, it instinctively poured forth, only to be absorbed by the swords moments later. Eventually, the situation came to an end. [Withdraw.] A voice echoed from deep within the castle¡ªit was the voice of the Celestial Demon God. At that command, the dark mana vanished as if it had never been there. Only the Moonstones embedded in the walls remained, quietly emitting faint traces of dark mana. It was clear that the Celestial Demon God had complete control over the Dark Castle. ¡°You really are alive and well.¡± Though he had been thoroughly pierced by Moon Slayer earlier, the Celestial Demon God¡¯s voice was calm and composed. Watching the dark mana disappear, Kaylen muttered those words. Then, from beyond the castle in the depths of the darkened space, the Celestial Demon God¡¯s voice rang out. [So, you¡¯ve followed me all the way here.] ¡°I have to see this through to the end, Celestial Demon God.¡± [Swordsman, will you not return? I will open a gate for you to Earth.] The Celestial Demon God¡¯s calm voice resounded throughout the fortress. [I have already obtained the Divine Word and fulfilled my goal. I have found a way to revive the people of Theia without having to destroy Earth.] ¡°So what?¡± [I will not interfere in the affairs of Earth any longer. If the moonlight touching Earth concerns you, I can even withdraw that. So return, swordsman. I am no longer your enemy.] ¡°I¡¯ll return you to Earth, so spare me.¡± In the end, that was the gist of what the Celestial Demon God was saying. Kaylen heard those words and let out a small laugh. ¡°How unlike you... pretending to be weak. If anything, that just gives me more reason to press forward and subdue you.¡± [Pretending to be weak, you say. Hah... Is that truly what you think? This is mercy. If you come in here, I¡¯ll take damage too... but you will surely die. You were born of Earth. How long do you think you can keep wielding that piercing sword? Once you run out of mana, you¡¯ll vanish for good.] Step. Step. Kaylen didn¡¯t stop walking. In fact, he began to move faster. The dark mana did not obstruct his steps¡ªrather, it withdrew. Deep within the Dark Castle. The path he took did not grow darker. Instead, it was gradually illuminated by the golden light of Kaylen¡¯s sword. [So you choose to reject my mercy.] ¡°I intend to leave nothing behind to cause future harm.¡± [Very well. Erder.] The Celestial Demon God chanted his Divine Word. Chiiiiik¡ª Smoke rose from the Moonstones that had been emitting dark mana from all directions. Soon after, the dark mana completely vanished. At the same time, cracks ran all across the black stones that formed the castle. [The will of my people... will now fully gather as one.] Ku-ku-ku-kung¡ª! The entire castle shook violently and began collapsing rapidly. Kaylen quickened his pace, dodging the black stones falling from the ceiling, racing toward the heart of the castle where the mana raged. The Moon¡¯s low gravity¡ª Before the broken fragments of the castle could fully crash down, Kaylen¡¯s form arrived at the place where the Celestial Demon God¡¯s mana was pouring out. ¡°That is...¡± The center of the castle. It should have been the darkest place in the Dark Castle, but instead, it was the brightest. There, a blood-red magic circle had been layered seventeen times over. And he was there, too. The Celestial Demon God¡ªhis core destroyed. Only fragments of his face and wings of light remained as he turned to face Kaylen. [It is... over now¡ª] Kaylen didn¡¯t let him finish. He summoned all six swords together. Six Sword Path, Transcendence Realm ¡ª Moon Slayer. ¡®That magic circle... it cannot be left alone.¡¯ Kaylen¡¯s instincts were screaming that the true fight wasn¡¯t just with the Celestial Demon God, but that ominous magic circle. Without hesitation, he unleashed Moon Slayer. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 245 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 245 Chijijijik¡ª The seventeen-layered magic circle was pierced clean through by the sword that could cut through the Moon. As the blood-red magic circle scattered, the fragmented Celestial Demon God standing at its center¡ª Was swept away along with Moon Slayer. [Th¡ª...!] The Celestial Demon God vanished before he could even finish his words. His face and wings of light were also completely erased by Moon Slayer this time. Unlike before, this time not even a trace of him remained. Yet Kaylen did not let his guard down. ¡®...It can¡¯t end just like this.¡¯ All objective signs pointed to the Celestial Demon God¡¯s collapse. As the magic circle disintegrated, the black mana scattered in all directions. And with the disappearance of the Celestial Demon God¡ªof whom only the face and wings of light had remained¡ªthe radiant mana too lost its focal point and dispersed outward. Both manas, now lacking a powerful core, scattered in disarray. From the surface, it looked as if the Celestial Demon God had truly vanished. ¡®But... the sensation in my hand wasn¡¯t clean.¡¯ Kaylen trusted his own intuition. The Celestial Demon God had not disappeared. Then the question was: where had he gone? Kaylen carefully observed the crumbling castle. The black mana scattered in all directions. The mana without a center wandered in what appeared to be a natural flow. ¡®No use relying on sight. First, I¡¯ll absorb all this scattered mana.¡¯ Besides, he needed to replenish the mana he had consumed heavily using Moon Slayer. Fragments of the Water God''s power were still anchoring his six swords, providing stability. Now was the time to absorb the dispersed radiant mana and dark mana. Six Sword Path Third Sword ¨C Bottomless Abyss Before Kaylen, a vortex of darkness opened. It began absorbing indiscriminately¡ªboth light and dark mana alike. Unlike the radiant mana sourced from the sun¡¯s power, The dark mana of the Moon¡ªso foreign from Earth¡¯s own¡ªwas not easily absorbed by Kaylen. ¡®Then I¡¯ll contain it within myself using the eclipse.¡¯ Kaylen steadily replenished his mana. While doing so, he kept a sharp watch on the castle for any irregular movements. ¡®Nothing visible with the eye...¡¯ Kaylen gave up trying to locate the enemy through sight and instead expanded the range of the Bottomless Abyss. Until now, he had used it to absorb mana alone¡ª But now, he intended to suck in everything in sight. ¡®I''ll lose out on mana efficiency this way, but...¡¯ Compared to the selective and refined absorption of just mana, This method was inefficient for mana refinement. And it might end up creating a major obstacle in returning from the Moon to Earth. That¡¯s how crucial mana was to Kaylen right now. However¡ª ¡®It¡¯s better than being left with this nagging feeling.¡¯ The Celestial Demon God may have truly vanished, erased completely by the transcendent Moon Slayer¡ª But... Just in case there was the slightest possibility, Kaylen absorbed everything in the fortress into the Abyssal Pit. The collapsing Dark Castle''s stones were all sucked into the black vortex. Rumble¡ª The entire fortress was now completely caught up in Kaylen''s Abyssal Pit and began to fully disintegrate. Had the Celestial Demon God still been present, the fortress wouldn¡¯t have been swallowed up so completely. But with its master gone, the fortress couldn''t resist Kaylen¡¯s Abyssal Pit at all. ¡®...Nothing.¡¯ Even after completely erasing the fortress, Kaylen still didn¡¯t find anything significant. The Celestial Demon God. Had he truly been completely annihilated by the Moon Slayer? ¡®This leaves a bitter aftertaste.¡¯ No matter how much the Moon Slayer was a sword meant specifically to face the Celestial Demon God¡ª To think he¡¯d vanish without any notable resistance. Kaylen felt even a sense of emptiness, slowly moving his steps forward. ¡®I¡¯ll look around a bit more, and if nothing turns up, I¡¯ll start preparing to return to Earth...¡¯ To do that, he¡¯d need to return to the near side of the moon. While absorbing sunstones, he¡¯d have to gather enough mana. As Kaylen was thinking this and walking¡ª Thunk. Something very lightly brushed against his foot. It was a pebble, about the size of a big toe. A black stone like that could¡¯ve easily been found among the ruins of the Dark Castle. But the moment Kaylen saw it, his face stiffened. ¡®There shouldn¡¯t be any stones left.¡¯ Three Sword Abyssal Pit. He had absorbed everything of the Dark Castle with that. Not just the exposed parts half-buried in the ground¡ª But even the rest that was embedded deep within the lunar crust. He had pulled it all in. The Abyssal Pit absorbed the mana and crushed all the stone and debris. There was no reason for a stone like this to exist. ¡®Right. The surface should be spotless.¡¯ Thanks to how thoroughly Kaylen absorbed everything¡ª The ground beneath his feet was pristine, not even a speck of dust remained. Except for this one small pebble by his foot. Swish. Kaylen picked up the pebble. ¡®At a glance, it¡¯s just a stone.¡¯ Press. He pressed the stone firmly between two fingers. With the strength of someone who had surpassed human limits¡ª A stone like this should have been crushed instantly. ¡®It¡¯s hard.¡¯ If he couldn¡¯t crush it with his fingers, he¡¯d try with his sword. Kaylen reached behind his back, lightly grabbed his golden sword, and swung down. Clang! Far from being split by the sword strike, the stone actually deflected the blade. ¡®This is it.¡¯ When even his sword was bounced off by the pebble¡ª Kaylen¡¯s eyes lit up. All six of his swords gathered as one. And mana surged from every part of Kaylen¡¯s body. Six Sword Path Six Swords Eclipse He didn¡¯t have enough mana to use the Transcendental Realm right now. So Kaylen unleashed the strongest sword technique he could use¡ªSix Sword Eclipse. An eclipse that devours all the moon¡¯s mana. The six golden swords merged into one and turned into a shining light, slicing straight through the pebble. Screeech...! Then, the pebble, which had seemed so solid, split in two. And from within, not just mana of light and darkness but also mana of various attributes burst out. The quantity was comparable to what Kaylen had absorbed from the Dark Castle. It was enough to make his eyes widen. ¡®To think this tiny pebble was hiding such mana...¡¯ Whoosh¡ª And the mana that spilled out quickly formed a portal. At first, a chaotic blend of various colors¡ª Eventually converged into a brilliantly radiant rainbow-hued portal. It was just barely big enough for Kaylen to squeeze through, and it was shrinking fast. If he wanted to go inside that portal¡ª He had to make a decision now. ¡®...I¡¯m going in.¡¯ A rainbow-colored portal emitting immense mana. It could very well be a trap, but Kaylen decided to enter it. ¡®Inside, the Celestial Demon God¡¯s long-devised scheme must be waiting.¡¯ The Celestial Demon God¡¯s plan to save the Theia race¡ªhis own kind¡ª Was surely hidden within. Kaylen looked at the shrinking portal and felt certain. ¡®Let¡¯s end this.¡¯ Whoosh¡ª Beyond the portal¡ª It was a space completely detached from this world, a place of utter alienness. The ground beneath his feet was composed of massive interlocked gears endlessly rotating. And in the sky, hundreds¡ªthousands¡ªof gigantic clocks were all moving their minute and second hands in unison. ¡®And in the air, numbers are flying around.¡¯ Numbers floated and vanished around Kaylen as well. From 0 to 9, countless digits appeared and disappeared. Step. Step. As Kaylen stepped deeper into this strange space¡ª ¡°...You.¡± The Celestial Demon God, whose face was stitched together in fragments, stood there, glaring at Kaylen with gritted teeth. ¡°To think you followed me all the way here... What kind of grudge drives you to chase me this far?¡± ¡°Enemies like you must be dealt with properly. Otherwise, there¡¯ll be consequences later.¡± ¡°Consequences?! I¡¯ve already given up on ruling the moon. My power no longer holds sway over Earth. The only thing I desire now... is to revive the Theia race, lost during the planetary collision!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± ¡°Yes! The Dark Star has collapsed, and even the sunstones¡ªyou destroyed them completely! I can no longer affect Earth at all! So I beg you¡ªjust leave now... Let me finish what I started¡ªfor the sake of the Theians.¡± The Celestial Demon God''s face, pieced together like a mosaic of fragments, shifted, each shard forming a pleading expression toward Kaylen. As a celestial god¡ª And further still, as the Celestial Demon God who once ruled both the heavenly and demonic realms, and even after being exiled from Earth, reigned as the sovereign of the great satellite known as the Moon¡ª He now stood here, pathetically appealing to Kaylen with desperation. ¡°If you use all your strength here, you won¡¯t be able to return to Earth either. Wouldn¡¯t it be better to retreat?¡± ¡°Hmm...¡± ¡°Please... I beg you...!¡± Tears welled up in the eyes embedded in the Celestial Demon God''s fragmented face. A pathetic sight, unbecoming of a being known as the Celestial Demon. A god who had once ruled with absolute power was now groveling in such a pitiful manner¡ªhis wretchedness all the more apparent. It was enough to shake Kaylen¡¯s resolve. But¡ª ¡°No. It won¡¯t work.¡± ¡°...Why? I swear in the name of the gods¡ªI¡¯ll never set foot in ¡®the current Earth¡¯ again!¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly why.¡± The current Earth. At a glance, it didn¡¯t seem like a strange phrase¡ª But Kaylen felt something off about it. That strange feeling had begun when he first encountered the Celestial Demon God back at the Dark Star. ¡ª"I will no longer interfere in the current Earth. If the moonlight that reaches Earth troubles you, I can withdraw even that. So, O Sword, return. I am no longer your enemy.¡± ¡°The current Earth. The present Earth.¡± The Earth the Celestial Demon God claimed to avoid¡ª Always came with the qualifier, ¡°present.¡± ¡°There must be a reason he keeps emphasizing the present.¡± ¡°Come to think of it... this world, too. It¡¯s full of numbers and clocks.¡± At that remark, the tears vanished from the Celestial Demon God¡¯s eyes. At his lips, a faint, bitter smile curled, as if he found it all ridiculous. ¡°Keuk... Kekeuk. So you rejected my proposal just because of that one word?¡± ¡°Yeah. You¡¯re not the type to say something meaningless.¡± ¡°Huhu... No. I¡¯m not some all-knowing, all-powerful being. I make mistakes too. Yes... that was meaningless.¡± Rrrrrumble... The giant gears spinning beneath their feet sped up even more. At the same time, behind the Celestial Demon God, mana gathered¡ª And radiant wings of light burst open with blinding force. ¡°In the joy of everything going according to plan, I let slip my true intentions...¡± Shuuuu...! Toward Kaylen¡ª Beams of divine light from the Celestial Demon God shot forth all at once. His final hidden power¡ª Now bared its killing intent at Kaylen. ¡°Now, I¡¯ll stake everything I have... and defeat you, O Sword.¡± [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 246 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 246 Theia collided with Earth. When Krugen was treated like a toy and abandoned by Theia¡¯s god, Krugen naturally thought he was going to die. The collision of two planets. Even with the Absolute Barrier maintained, it was uncertain whether it could withstand such an enormous shockwave. With a body pieced together like this, what could he possibly do? One thing. ¡ªLive....... ¡ªFor the sake of the clan....... From the fragments of his clan that clung to Krugen¡¯s body, an unexpected surge of dark mana arose, supporting him. Along with it, the Dark Star that had been built inside the solar power plant absorbed Krugen¡¯s body. ¡ªKrugen. As he entered the interior of the Dark Star, the voice of the Theia Clan¡¯s King was heard. It was the final testament, squeezed out from the fragment of the King attached to Krugen¡¯s face. ¡ªOur Theia made the wrong choice of god. ¡°......That¡¯s right.¡± Theia¡¯s god. Although he was already an Absolute God ruling over one planet, he was not satisfied and endlessly pursued greater heights. He ruled Theia. But he desired to rule Earth, a planet even larger than this one. Driven by such greed, he conceived the idea of crashing Theia, where countless of his own children and descendants lived, into Earth. ¡ªHe is a god that should never have existed. Fortunately, he...... was never truly a god to begin with. And the King of the Theia Clan, who was praised as the wisest of all, devised a plan from the beginning to stop the god¡¯s madness. ¡°Then......¡± ¡ªBefore Theia¡¯s god could ascend, we must kill him. ¡°......¡± ¡ªThe Dark Star contains a mechanism prepared for this. Krugen. The King¡¯s voice gradually weakened. His body, shattered by the god, just being able to convey his will this far was a miracle in itself. ¡ªI¡¯m sorry for entrusting you with such a heavy burden...... ¡°It¡¯s fine, my King. I will surely revive our clan.¡± ¡ªI¡¯m counting on you...... After that, Krugen miraculously survived. During the collision and merging of Earth and Theia, he overcame countless deadly crises. By luck, when a fragment of Theia broke off, he managed to separate along with it. ¡®Fortunately, sunlight reaches this satellite too.¡¯ Then, by using all the knowledge he had as the former solar power plant director, Krugen began producing sunstones one by one, and steadily built up his strength. In order to complete the King¡¯s mechanism prepared inside the Dark Star. ¡®......It¡¯s completed.¡¯ And after countless years had passed, Krugen was finally able to complete it. The ultimate grand magic circle created by the King of Theia ¡ª the Time Reversal Magic Circle. ¡®Travel back to the distant past... and kill Theia¡¯s god before he becomes a god.¡¯ The god who destroyed Theia to become stronger. In truth, Krugen and the King of Theia were no different from the god¡¯s descendants, with the god¡¯s blood deeply rooted within them. But for the sake of their clan and planet, they resolved to return to the past and kill the god. Thus, the foundation laid by the King and completed by Krugen¡ªwho ruled over the Moon¡ªwas the Time Reversal Magic Circle. ¡®......There¡¯s still something missing.¡¯ The original coordinates of the planet Theia, and the Divine Language used by Theia¡¯s god. These had to be accurately grasped. Especially since they had no way of knowing exactly which era they would land in. They needed a sure countermeasure against the Divine Language that bound the entire Theia Clan. ¡®For that......¡¯ Only then did Krugen turn his gaze toward Earth. Earth, where Theia¡¯s god had been defeated and sealed away. It was time to draw out the god trapped within. ¡®Everything was going smoothly.¡¯ He tore off a massive fragment of the Moon and dropped it onto Earth, splitting it into the Heavenly Realm and the Demon Realm. Proclaiming himself a Celestial God, he fought the Water God to seize control over Earth. The god of Earth was powerful, but his perception beyond Earth was narrow. The Celestial God lost every time, yet he revived each time by drawing energy from the Moon¡¯s sunstones. ¡®Eventually, the Water God transformed into the Dragon God to kill me. And the Earth God¡¯s seal gradually began to weaken......¡¯ Everything was progressing according to the Celestial God''s plan. Except for one thing. A slight nuisance remained. ¡®Kaylen.¡¯ At first, he was such a trivial being that he wasn¡¯t even worth noticing. His true body, Ernstine, had already become the Dragon God. The fragment of what used to be human was left behind, turned into an undead by the Celestial God, to prepare for the battle against the Dragon God. What made up Kaylen, after all, was just the Sixfold Sword Path carrying Ernstine¡¯s memories. Right. Nothing but a sword. ¡®What is a sword, after all?¡¯ It is merely a weapon crafted by the lowly race known as humans from metal. Humans went to ridiculous lengths trying to imbue it with mana. But from the Celestial God''s perspective, all of it was meaningless folly. A sword was nothing more than a trivial means of a trivial race. And yet¡ª ¡°A mere sword managed to come this far......¡± The Celestial Demon God raised his killing intent as he looked at Kaylen before him. That one, whose true nature was no more than a sword, had come all the way into the Time Reversal Magic Circle to interfere. He was truly an insufferable nuisance. ¡®Now that he¡¯s come this far, I must put an end to him.¡¯ Perhaps because the sword that pierced through all things consumed an enormous amount of mana, Kaylen¡¯s condition didn¡¯t look very good either. ¡®Inside this Time Reversal Magic Circle, I can definitely kill him.¡¯ He considered ignoring Kaylen and simply activating the Time Reversal Magic Circle properly. But the Celestial Demon God dismissed that idea. If something went wrong and that nuisance got dragged along, it would be the worst possible outcome. ¡®Now that this place has been discovered.¡¯ To eliminate any variables, even if he had to gather mana again, he would kill Kaylen here. Rumble¡ª The gears on the floor turned. From between the gaps, hands of darkness stretched out in all directions. Their only target: Kaylen. Those hands lunged at him with ferocious force. ¡°This worthless trick.¡± Kaylen sneered. The Celestial Demon God, perhaps because he was busy orchestrating so many different plans, showed little finesse when it came to the use of mana in actual battle. Even though he wielded massive dark magic and holy light magic, his methods of using them were crude. Six Sword Path Six Swords ¡ª Eclipse The Six Swords gathered, becoming a black sword that devoured the Moon¡¯s dark magic. Kaylen, holding a single sword, charged straight toward the Celestial Demon God. Countless hands sprang up from the gears on the ground. ¡®All of it will just become my mana anyway.¡¯ They were pulled into Kaylen¡¯s Eclipse and failed to inflict any effective blow upon him. Thus, nothing remained to block Kaylen¡¯s advance. ¡°Guh......!¡± Sizzle¡ª! The black sword slit the Celestial Demon God¡¯s throat. A hollow death for someone who had boasted that he would break the sword. ¡®Leave not even a trace.¡¯ Yet Kaylen¡¯s sword did not rest. How many times had the Celestial Demon God feigned death only to revive again? Each time Kaylen¡¯s sword struck, the Celestial Demon God¡¯s body cracked like a spiderweb and shattered into pieces. A merciless sword strike that allowed no regeneration. When the sword slashed him seven times, the Celestial Demon God¡¯s body vanished from that spot. Not a trace of his mana could be felt anywhere. ¡®Is it over......?¡¯ Just as Kaylen briefly thought so¡ª Tick. Tick. The second hand of the clock floating in the sky moved. Clang! One of the clocks suddenly exploded and dropped to the ground with a thud. "You are truly an incomprehensible existence." At the same time, the Celestial Demon God revealed himself, standing at the spot where Kaylen had been, as if he had never died. "Unable to even create a body of your own, yet your sword alone surpasses the gods¡¯ understanding. Your black sword and my dark magic. Though my magic is vastly superior... how is it that you consume it?" "I clearly killed you. How are you regenerating...?" "You think you killed me? Huhu. This entire world is no different from myself. No matter how strong your sword is, it cannot defy the world itself." Kaylen once again looked around. A world filled with floating numbers and clocks covering the sky. Strange, but the space itself wasn¡¯t all that vast. If he used the Six Sword Path, it was a size he could easily destroy. "Then I''ll just erase this world entirely." Six Sword Path Second Sword ¡ª Scorching Heavens The Eclipse was released. This time, the Six Swords carried fire. Though he said he would destroy the entire space, what bothered him most were the clocks in the sky. Kaylen aimed the Scorching Heavens at them. Fwoooosh! A massive surge of pure white flames roared, as if it would burn the entire sky. The Celestial Demon God, watching the flames aiming for the clocks, uttered lightly, "Return." Immediately, the flames spreading in all directions were extinguished and gathered back into Kaylen¡¯s sword. The scene looked as though the activation of Scorching Heavens had been played in reverse. Kaylen furrowed his brow. ¡®What is this...?¡¯ Before the flames could even fully blaze upon the sword, as he returned to the moment he first attempted to use Scorching Heavens, Kaylen cautiously inferred what had just happened. ¡®Don¡¯t tell me. He''s manipulating time...¡¯ If the flow of time during the expansion of Scorching Heavens was reversed, it would certainly look like the scene he just witnessed. The Celestial Demon God. In this space, could he control time? Was that how he had revived so flawlessly earlier? ¡®...Still, there seem to be limitations.¡¯ If he could truly manipulate time at will, he would never have allowed Kaylen to approach him in the first place. Kaylen carefully speculated. ¡®It doesn¡¯t seem like he can affect my body.¡¯ If he could, the Celestial Demon God¡¯s neck wouldn¡¯t have been severed earlier. Assuming that the Celestial Demon God¡¯s "Return" did not affect Kaylen himself. ''What about the sword?'' The Second Sword, Scorching Heavens, was a type of ranged attack that extended fire mana outward. The result created by swordsmanship could be rewound by turning back time to return it to its original state. But could "Return" also affect the sword Kaylen was directly holding? He decided to test it immediately. Six Sword Path Fourth Sword ¡ª Giant Sword Four golden swords gathered together. Immediately, mana surged, creating a massive steel sword. The Giant Sword that had once split a royal castle. It did not leave Kaylen¡¯s hand. It was a massive sword, capable of reaching up to the sky. "Return." At the Celestial Demon God¡¯s short command, the steel sword soaring into the sky quickly shrank down. ''Even the Giant Sword...'' At the same time, Bang! Bang! Several clocks exploded in the sky. A new domain of mana enveloped Kaylen¡¯s entire body. "O sword that has reached the domain of the gods. There is not much time left now." The second hands of the clocks fell from above. The numbers that had been floating around Kaylen began to gather toward him. "I will analyze you, rewind your time, and return you to the insignificant state you once were." Unable to win in a direct confrontation with the Six Sword Path, it seemed the Celestial Demon God intended to regress Kaylen to a time when his existence was still weak. ''If that happens... it will be my defeat.'' Kaylen sensed instinctively that he had very little time left to act. ''I must use my final resort.'' Click. Click. Kaylen¡¯s skin peeled away. From the body that had taken human form, metal was revealed. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 247 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 247 "What... are you doing?" The Celestial Demon God, who had been acting composed, momentarily lost his words. Kaylen¡¯s body. The sculpture-like human appearance disappeared, and it rapidly turned into metal. "No matter how much you struggle, it¡¯s useless, Kaylen." The Celestial Demon God felt an ominous premonition but forcibly denied it and used his authority again. "Return." The absolute authority that could rewind time, possible only within this space. Though he could not turn Kaylen¡¯s time back, once the analysis was complete, it would be possible. Until just a moment ago, he had been on the verge of succeeding. However. Ting...! The mana of time bounced off the moment it touched Kaylen. Unlike before, it could not even approach him. All the fragments of the Celestial Demon God¡¯s face twisted in frustration. "You damn bastard! Just die already!" "That¡¯s my line." Kaylen¡¯s voice came from his still-human face. Clatter. Countless swords erupted from his entire body. "Return..." Rewind it. Those swords. Since they had left Kaylen¡¯s body, he should be able to rewind time and reabsorb them. That¡¯s what the Celestial Demon God thought. ''Why! Why isn¡¯t it working!'' The absolute power over time, Return, had no effect. "Return. Return. Return!!" The Celestial Demon God, with his composure gone, continued to shout. Tick. Tick. The second hands on the clocks that filled the sky all began to turn. Rumble¡ª The gears beneath the ground rotated fiercely. The mana within this magic circle was all gathered for the time before Theia collided with Earth. It was gathered meticulously to return to the time before the gods of Theia became gods. The gears forming the earth. The countless clocks filling the sky were all necessary to reverse countless ages. ''But this bastard... must die here!'' The Celestial Demon God, now prioritizing his immediate enemy, poured all his strength into killing Kaylen. He used up all the mana that should have been saved. He turned the second hands backward and spun the gears to erase that cursed sword. "But why...!" Even so. The swords erupting from Kaylen¡¯s body did not stop. Thousands of steel swords flew toward the heavens and the earth. Clang! Clang! They pierced through the countless clocks hanging in the sky. "Return!!" He tried again and again to rewind time so the clocks would not break. The flow of air cut by the swords would return, but those cursed steel swords alone remained unshaken. As the swords stretched out in all directions, slicing through the clocks and gears, the Celestial Demon God widened his eyes. ''At this rate, the Grand Design will collapse. I must somehow...!'' At the center where thousands of swords were spreading, he had to stop Kaylen no matter what. Thinking so, the Celestial Demon God gathered all the mana he could still control, trying to suppress the area where Kaylen was. "...Where did he go?" Within the mass of swords, Kaylen¡¯s figure was nowhere to be seen. Not his human form, nor the metallic transformation. He could not find him anywhere. And as he stared at the continuously flying swords, the Celestial Demon God suddenly realized something. ''...No way.'' Those swords. They were far too similar to the sharp mana Kaylen had emitted. At this level, they were not swords created under Kaylen¡¯s influence... "Those swords themselves are you, Kaylen!" [Correct.] Kaylen was the swords themselves. Thousands became tens of thousands. From within them, Kaylen¡¯s voice resonated. [Even knowing that I am the Six Sword Path, there was still hesitation deep within my heart. Because of Ernstine¡¯s memories, I wanted to maintain a human form.] [But I realized it was my own lingering attachment.] "You abandoned the human form entirely... and became a sword?" [That¡¯s right.] Six Sword Path Ten Thousand Swords Sword Metamorphosis [Let¡¯s bring this to an end, Celestial Demon God.] His flesh and blood, everything that formed his body, was dismantled. Everything was transformed into swords. The number of swords became, literally, ten thousand. Each one broke free from the constraints of time. They tore apart this space from every direction. "Khrrr... You wretch...!" The clocks were pierced, and the gears were severed. The world forming the time-reversal magic circle collapsed under the roar of ten thousand swords. "Y-You... Aaargh!" From the Celestial Demon God¡¯s mouth came a beast-like scream. Why! Why did such a monster emerge? Why did he obstruct every step of his plans, and now, even the most critical time-reversal itself... Why did that sword oppose him, even at the cost of dismantling its own body! Clang! As the swords rushed toward the Celestial Demon God, he punched with all his might. One of Kaylen¡¯s swords was knocked away. One sword out of the ten thousand was not as powerful as the Six Sword Path that Kaylen usually wielded. However. It was not just one sword, but ten swords. When it was no longer ten swords, but a hundred swords flying toward him, the story changed. Thud. Thud! Swords began to pierce the Celestial Demon God''s body one by one. "Re... turn..." Even as he tried to turn back time, the swords already embedded in his body prevented his flesh from returning to its previous state. Since the mana of time had not yet fully grasped Kaylen, even the Celestial Demon God could not extricate his body. Simply because he had failed to perceive mere chunks of metal. Ssssss. Even if the wounds spreading inside his body regenerated, the fact that the swords were still stuck could not be undone. Thud. Thud. Thud! And as swords poured down like a rainstorm, embedding into his entire body, the Celestial Demon God''s gaze grew dim. ''...I have lost.'' The divine body leaned backward and collapsed to the ground. His eyes stared up at the sky, at the realm of the clock. The clock was shattered into countless pieces. Swords continued flying, smashing what remained of the clock. The gears on the ground had already ceased their motion. The mana that moved time had mostly slipped from the Celestial Demon God''s grasp. ''This was not a battle I should have fought.'' He realized it clearly. In combat, he could not defeat Kaylen. That monster of swords, unable to even properly form his own body, was superior to anyone else in the world when it came to subduing an opponent. ''A being specialized purely for battle... a Sword God. It was a mistake to fight him at all.'' Yes. The one who wielded the power of creation should not have tried to win through combat against a Sword God born solely for battle. To subdue that Sword God, combat should not have been the chosen means. ''...There is still a clock that is moving.'' Even through his fading vision, the Celestial Demon God watched the clock¡¯s movement. That was proof that the mana of time was still operating. If so... Though he could not reach that ancient day when stars collided, he could at least return to the past. ''But I cannot take this body with me.'' The Celestial Demon God understood his condition. A divine body impaled by more than a hundred, nearly a thousand swords. If he brought this body into the past, he would merely be unleashing this monster there. ''Only the information must be transmitted.'' ''Yes.'' ''I must trust my past self...'' He must convey this to his past self. To never take Kaylen, the Six Sword, lightly. Anything related to Ernstine must be eliminated as the highest priority. He would send that information, along with the knowledge of the Divine Word he had learned from the Earth God. Then the Celestial Demon God of the past would surely find a way. ¡®I¡¯m not attached to the throne, but... I don¡¯t know why I feel like this.¡¯ Trying to calm his restless heart, Ernstine was slowly walking through the palace garden when he encountered Johannes, the palace wizard. ¡°Your... Your Majesty. Or, I suppose it¡¯s just ¡®situation¡¯ now.¡± ¡°...Johannes? When did you arrive?¡± ¡°Yeah. My nephew is ascending the throne, I couldn¡¯t not come, could I?¡± Amidst the fierce competition under the surface for the next emperor¡¯s seat, Johannes, who had once declared he would not concern himself with the imperial struggle, had run off from the palace. However, being Caius''s maternal uncle, he must have secretly come to the coronation. ¡°You said you were going to discover a new continent. Did you find any clues?¡± Ernstine asked him with a faint smile. He knew the discovery of a new continent had been an excuse to leave the palace, so he asked lightly. But Johannes¡¯s eyes sparkled upon hearing the question. ¡°I¡¯ve got something to say about that. It¡¯s real, you know!¡± ¡°What? There really is a new continent?¡± ¡°Yeah. The place I found this time...¡± At that moment. ¡°Wait.¡± Ernstine pulled Johannes¡¯s body toward him. Six Swords Path Behind Ernstine, the Six Swords appeared. The Sword of Earth and the Sword of Wind merged to form a giant shield of swords. But. Shhiiiii¡ª The object falling from the sky tore through Ernstine¡¯s sword barrier like paper. Even the Demon King couldn¡¯t tear through it so quickly; what kind of power is this? ¡°Hm...¡± Ernstine drew up all his mana to try and perceive the object that had fallen from the sky. Upon closer inspection, it was six swords glowing in gold. Thud. Thud. Then the swords simultaneously rose from the ground, their tips pointed in six different directions. At first glance, aside from the color, the shape of the swords was identical to the Six Swords. Both Ernstine and Johannes were surprised, staring silently at them. [...Huh. I¡¯m lucky.] A tired voice echoed from the swords. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 248 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 248 The process of returning from space to Earth was nothing short of a miracle. If the magic circle hadn''t been held between Earth and the Moon, Kaylen would¡¯ve been stranded in space. The Myriad Swords merged again, becoming the Six Sword Path. Gathering all the remaining mana and firing the sword toward Earth¡ª he was finally able to land back on his home planet. But then¡ª [......Ernstine?] ¡°Who are you?¡± Ernstine stood before him, unharmed. This was unexpected. [Don¡¯t tell me this is the Meier Empire.] Kaylen, who had Ernstine¡¯s memories, looked around and realized where he was. The imperial garden of the Meier Palace. A place Ernstine always frequented when he needed to gather his thoughts. ¡®Have I returned to a thousand years ago?¡¯ Despite destroying that time-reversal magic circle so thoroughly, he had still gone far into the past. It didn¡¯t even seem to have a 5% chance of working properly. If it had been left as it was, he might have gone all the way back before the collision of Earth and Theia. ¡®...That Celestial Demon God¡ª there must have been a reason he activated that magic circle even as he died.¡¯ When Kaylen killed him, he was sure he¡¯d completely destroyed him. But now, something felt off. That man wouldn¡¯t have used the time-reversal circle just to drag Kaylen down with him. ¡®A thousand years ago... Right. Now that I think about it, the Celestial God should still be around.¡¯ Kaylen raised the tip of his golden sword toward the sky. The moon floated in the center of the sky, solemn and radiant. The Moon¡ªcompletely under the Celestial Demon God¡¯s rule. Unlike the future where Kaylen had turned it to rubble, it must now be intact and collecting mana through sunstones. ¡®The Celestial Demon God¡¯s final words... they might have passed on to the current Celestial God.¡¯ That must be why, even as he died, he sent time backward. ¡®But you¡¯re unlucky, Celestial Demon God.¡¯ Of all times, you sent me back a thousand years. To a time when Ernstine was still alive and whole. ¡°You should be able to speak. Are you choosing not to reveal your identity, sword?¡± Ernstine spoke as he drew out the energy of the Six Sword Path. The golden sword before him¡ª it resembled the Six Sword Path, but was a step above his own. His heart pounded. Ernstine, who had slain the Demon King and ruled the continent as its unrivaled master, had long felt boredom. ¡®I thought I had seen the ultimate truth of the sword by completing the Six Sword Path Path.¡¯ But beyond the sky, there was yet another sky. With no worthy opponents left, he thought he had forgotten the thrill of challenge. But now, that long-buried competitive spirit flared up within him like fire. Perhaps because he hadn¡¯t felt it in so long¡ª he would rather cross blades with that golden sword than waste time talking. And then¡ª [Knights converse with their swords.] As a brilliant light burst forth from the golden sword. ¡°Haha...! Well said. Well said!¡± Ernstine¡¯s Six Sword Path erupted in aura, as if it had been waiting for this moment. Watching the two from the side, Johannes cursed. ¡°Hey! Are you crazy?! What do you think you¡¯re doing fighting here?!¡± ¡°I¡¯ll leave the rear to you, Johannes!¡± ¡°Damn it... Shield!¡± Johannes quickly stepped back and cast a shield to prevent damage to the garden. At the same time, the Six Swords and Six Swords clashed in unison. Chiiiiiik¡ª! Flame, water, earth, wind, light, shadow. Ernstine¡¯s six elemental swords and Kaylen¡¯s golden Six Swords met blade to blade. In terms of aura alone, Ernstine held the advantage. Compared to Kaylen, who had just returned from a grueling struggle on the moon, Ernstine hadn¡¯t had to exert himself recently, so it was natural. However¡ª He was being pushed back... The level of completion in their Six Swords was worlds apart. Kaylen¡¯s golden swords contained all six elements of mana. Even Infinity Mana¡ªmana without limits¡ªhad fully fused into his swords. ¡®It¡¯s devouring my aura...!¡¯ Ernstine¡¯s eyes filled with surprise and joy. To him, always perceived as an insurmountable wall by all knights, this was the first time facing such an opponent. ¡°Heavens are blessing me today! Sword, take this as well!¡± His tone, when addressing the sword, subtly shifted from informal to formal. He was about to fully activate the Six Sword Path. ¡®How will that sword respond to my Six Sword Path?¡¯ Ernstine was excited. The opponent wasn¡¯t like the Crimson Flame Demon King who wielded fire. This was the golden sword that demonstrated the pinnacle of swordsmanship. To be able to cross swords with such a being on the day he steps down from the emperor¡¯s throne. He once thought he had reached the limits of swordsmanship, but now found himself humbled¡ªyet honored to face that sword. ¡®Why is this guy so excited...¡¯ Meanwhile, Kaylen gave a dry laugh as he watched the excited Ernstine. Don¡¯t sparkle your eyes like that with my same face. ¡®I was trying to transmit information through the sword. But all he wants to do is fight.¡¯ As all six swords radiated brilliantly¡ª Ernstine immediately tried to unleash the peak of the Six Sword Path. Six Sword Path Six Swords Sword God Manifestation A state where one temporarily undergoes extreme enhancement by uniting with the sword. Was he planning to fight with full power? Kaylen briefly considered humoring the overly enthusiastic Ernstine... ¡®But I don¡¯t have time for this.¡¯ Whoosh. Before Ernstine¡¯s body could merge with the swords and activate Sword God Manifestation¡ª Kaylen¡¯s sword instantly leapt across space, severing the flow of mana. Cheng...... The Six Swords were all deflected by the golden sword, and the Sword God Manifestation failed to complete. Then, from the golden sword, mana flowed back toward the Six Swords. [First, take a look at this and then decide whether or not to fight.] The memories of everything Kaylen had experienced so far. They were conveyed to Ernstine through the sword. Just as Kaylen had said, it became a kind of ¡°conversation¡± through the sword. ¡°...What is this?¡± The sudden rush of memories clouded Ernstine¡¯s mind. Everything the Six Swords had gone through after awakening in the body of a descendant named Kaylen a thousand years later. The fall of the Meyer Empire, Ernstine himself becoming the vessel of the Dragon God. And the shard, having turned into the undead of the Celestial Demon God, an utterly tragic state¡ª All of it was passed on to Ernstine. ¡°Is this all true...?¡± [It¡¯s true. And the problem is¡ªit¡¯s still ongoing.] The clash between the swords came to a halt. The golden sword retreated. [So come forth¡ªWater God.] With that, Kaylen called for the Water God. However, there was no trace of the Water God anywhere. Ernstine, still in shock, mumbled to himself. ¡°What, that¡¯s it?¡± Johannes, having deactivated the shield, walked over with a visibly relieved expression. Other than him, there was no sign of life in the imperial garden. [I currently reside within the Dragon God in this era. Just calling won¡¯t make contact possible.] At that moment¡ª A ripple stirred on Kaylen¡¯s golden sword, and a droplet emerged. A fragment of the Water God, who had once transferred all her power to Kaylen before vanishing. She revealed herself once more. [So you¡¯re still alive, Water God.] [Yes. Because you returned to Earth, I was able to regenerate.] [Good. Then try making contact with the current Dragon God.] [Yes. That¡¯s what I plan to do. The situation is urgent.] [Ah, and¡ªcould you make me a body, too?] At those words, the Water God gave a slight laugh. Though Kaylen had shown the power of a Sword God who cut down the Celestial Demon God and devastated the moon¡ª When it came to creation, outside of swordsmanship, he was completely helpless. [Got it.] Pshhhhh¡ª The water spread across the six golden swords and soon began forming a human shape. At first, the water mimicked Ernstine¡¯s height, body, and face¡ª [No need to look exactly like him, right?] she said, and then suddenly reshaped it into a new form. Compared to Ernstine, it was a burly, heavily muscled man. But the face bore a faint resemblance to the beautiful Water God, giving off an oddly feminine beauty. A body and face so mismatched that anyone would find it unbalanced. ¡°What... is this?¡± Kaylen looked at his new body in disbelief. [Ah, perfect. This is exactly my type.] The Water God¡¯s fragment said that and vanished with a flick. ¡°A god¡¯s tastes are... rather strange.¡± ¡°...Agreed.¡± A giant''s body paired with the delicate face of a peerless beauty¡ª Kaylen twisted his expression, waiting for the Water God''s return. And soon after¡ª "To think you crossed time and returned to the past... even seeing it, it¡¯s hard to believe." In the imperial palace garden, the Dragon God appeared. "The movement on the Celestial God''s side is unusual." The Dragon God glanced toward Kaylen as he spoke. "The mana of light felt from the Celestial Continent is rapidly weakening. This has never happened before." "As expected, the Celestial God must¡¯ve absorbed the Celestial Demon God''s memories." "Yes. Otherwise, there¡¯s no reason for him to suddenly take action." The Dragon God looked toward the moon. "After hearing from the future Water God, I considered a few possibilities." "What are they?" "First¡ªhe may be acting to eliminate the Six Swords. Since the Six Swords eventually become the Sword God and block his path, he would trample them before they sprout. That would be his first course of action." Kaylen had charged all the way to the moon, the Celestial Demon God''s base, and destroyed it. Since he originated from the Six Swords, if those swords were destroyed before they could grow, no one would exist to obstruct the Celestial Demon God''s path. "But... draining mana from the Celestial Realm doesn¡¯t fit that goal." [That¡¯s right. To cut off the sprouts of the Six Swords, he would ultimately have to subdue Emperor Ernstein. In that case, instead of drawing mana from the Celestial Realm, he would need to maintain dominion over Earth.] "Exactly. So, I thought of a second possibility." The Dragon God spoke with a serious expression. "To activate the regression magic circle again." "He''s going to activate it again?" "Yes. The information the Celestial Demon God sought¡ªhe already obtained it. The divine incantation chanted by the god of Theia. He now knows it can¡¯t restrain him. So rather than confront you again, he might choose to flee to the past once more." [Yes... That¡¯s a highly likely scenario. However, compared to a thousand years ago, his mana reserves must be lacking. So, to gather the mana needed to go even further back, he¡¯s likely draining the Celestial Realm¡¯s power.] "Right. Especially, the moment you split the heavens and landed on this earth¡ªhis movements changed drastically." The moment the wretched Sword God, who had tormented him to the end, landed on Earth. He may have abandoned the plan to trample the Six Swords and chosen instead to re-activate the time regression magic circle. ¡®If he goes to the past again... there¡¯ll be no way to stop him.¡¯ The first time, they returned because they were inside the magic circle together. But if the Celestial God drains all his power and returns alone from the moon¡ªhow could they stop that? "...This is a serious situation." "It is." Just as Ernstein said, the situation was dire. The fact that the Celestial God¡¯s base was on the moon was the biggest problem. Reaching it was one issue. But if the Celestial God thoroughly avoided direct confrontation and focused only on escaping to the past, they would have very little time to intervene. "......" Kaylen looked up at the moon. It was truly distant. But for him now, it was no longer an unreachable distance. As long as he had enough mana to support it, it was well within his reach. "Water God." [Yes?] "What would happen if the moon disappeared?" [...What do you mean by that?] "If it wouldn¡¯t harm Earth..." Kaylen pointed the tip of his sword toward the moon. "Let¡¯s cut down the moon right here." [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 249 [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros] Chapter 249 Cutting the moon here, really. ¡°Are you out of your mind?¡± The Dragon God spoke with disbelief. ¡°I know you''re strong. But do you have any idea how far the moon is from here? Even when you were in perfect condition, you needed the Earth God¡¯s help to get there. And now, you¡¯re saying you¡¯ll cut the moon while your mana is depleted like this?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not the same as I was back then. I fought the Celestial Demon God on the moon and learned a lot when returning from space to Earth.¡± When he escaped from the Celestial Demon God''s magic circle and returned to Earth from space¡ª Kaylen had experienced space firsthand and had gained insight. How could he cross that space and send out his aura? He had already come to his own answer. ¡°Now, my sword can reach the moon.¡± If anyone else had said this, it could¡¯ve been dismissed as nonsense. But if it was Kaylen¡ªthe one even the gods acknowledged as the Sword Deity¡ªthen it was a different matter. [If the moon is destroyed... there will definitely be some impact on Earth.] ¡°Tides will weaken. The moon¡¯s gravity pulls at the oceans.¡± [The moon also serves to block asteroids heading toward Earth. If it''s gone, we¡¯ll have to prepare more for such collisions.] ¡°Right. And if moonlight disappears, the night world will become more chaotic.¡± [Still...] The Water God, who had been listing the potential problems, came to a conclusion. [Those are issues we can handle. The Celestial Demon God surviving up there is a far greater threat.] ¡°Yes... you¡¯re right.¡± Letting the Celestial Demon God return to the past out of concern for the chaos that might follow the moon¡¯s destruction¡ª That wasn¡¯t a tolerable option. [We¡¯ll bear the aftermath.] ¡°O Sword Deity. Worry not for Earth, and strike down the moon. What can we do to help?¡± ¡°You just need to supply mana properly. And...¡± Kaylen turned to look at Ernstine. ¡°Even if the Celestial God¡¯s mana is being drained, traces of him may still remain here. I¡¯ll teach you the Divine Slayer. With it, invade the heavens together.¡± ¡°Divine Slayer?¡± ¡°The Six Sword Divine Slayer. It¡¯s something you created.¡± The Divine Slayer. The sword that Ernstine, whose body had become the vessel for the Dragon God, used to strike down the Celestial Demon God on Earth. If Ernstine could master it again, the remnants of the Celestial God in the heavens could be dealt with. ¡°You¡¯re going to teach me swordsmanship...?¡± Ernstine looked truly unfamiliar with the idea. Since becoming a Sword Master as a child, he had never learned from anyone else. ¡°To think I would become a Grand Sword Master and end up having a master.¡± ¡°You''re calling me a master just because I have one of the Six Swords?¡± ¡°No, not just one, is it?¡± Ernstine looked toward the moon. ¡°Because I¡¯ll also come to witness the sword that cuts the moon.¡± ¡ªDark Side of the Moon¡ª ¡®Is this truly the best way?¡¯ The Celestial God supplied the last of the mana to the time regression magic circle, yet even at the end, he remained in deep thought. ¡®If I go back to the past now, I won¡¯t know which point in time I¡¯ll end up at.¡¯ The original goal was to return to the time before the God of Theia became a god. Kill him before he became a god. Return Theia to a stable planetary state before it collided with Earth. That was the long-standing goal of Krugen, director of the Solar Power Plant. ¡®Learning the Divine Word of Theia was encouraging, but... I still need to gather more mana...¡¯ The mana extracted by the Celestial God after becoming the Celestial Demon God, for a thousand years on Earth. Because the amount was enormous, his future self was eventually able to nearly complete the Time Reversal Magic Circle. If not for the uninvited guest named Kaylen, the Celestial Demon God could have easily achieved all of his goals. ¡®...Seriously. Is that guy really that strong?¡¯ The Celestial God saw fear in the memories of the Celestial Demon. Though he had lived for ages, calling himself a god of the sky and of magic¡ª In the end, after suffering repeated defeats by Kaylen, he was killed while impaled by more than a thousand swords. To him, Kaylen was no different than a god of death. ¡®And yet...¡¯ Even after reading the memories of the Celestial Demon God again¡ª The Celestial God still couldn¡¯t understand the existence known as Kaylen. ¡®How does one create ten from one?¡¯ A sword. A mere metal weapon used by mortals. Among humans, knights sharpen mana into aura and boast of swordsmanship and techniques. But in the eyes of a god, it was no more than a child¡¯s play. Even those techniques that unleashed aura in various ways¡ª No matter how refined, they could only bring out a force of 0.4 or 0.5 using a mana of 1. Since moving mana with one¡¯s will already consumes it. No mortal could stand against a god, who could unleash mana¡¯s power in its entirety. ¡®Even though these are memories of my future self... I can¡¯t understand it without seeing it with my own eyes.¡¯ If the Divine Word of the Earth God hadn''t been vividly preserved in the memory of the future, he would have thought it a hallucination. Because that Divine Word, ¡°ERDER,¡± was embedded in memory, he believed it¡ªand intended to return to the past. ¡®...Right. There¡¯s no need to take unnecessary risks. Let¡¯s go back to the past.¡¯ Tick. Tock. From the ceiling of the Dark Moon, clocks began to reveal themselves one by one. Though mana was still lacking, and the Time Reversal Magic Circle was incomplete¡ª Even this much was sufficient to turn back several hundred years. ¡°If I can¡¯t face him, then I¡¯ll avoid him... That¡¯s a good strategy.¡± An inviolable existence that breaks the very laws of mana: the Sword God. There¡¯s no need to fight someone you can avoid. ¡®Instead, let¡¯s wipe out the humans.¡¯ Once he returned to the past, he resolved to eradicate the human race from the very beginning¡ª The race that gave birth to Ernstine, the creator of the Sixfold Sword Path. With that thought, the Celestial God began to activate the magic circle in earnest. Rumble... Cogs rose from the floor. The clock¡¯s second hand came to a stop¡ªthen began to slowly turn backward. The final hope of the Theia bloodline, a spell to reverse time. It began to stir in earnest¡ªbut then, ¡°What the...?¡± The mana flowing from the moon completely ceased. The second hand of the clock no longer turned backward. And then¡ª A pure white light struck the moon. ¡°...So this was it.¡± The Celestial God only then realized. Why the Celestial Demon God had felt fear toward him. ¡®I should have... acted faster......¡¯ It had been a critical mistake not to proceed swiftly with the great undertaking, simply because the Celestial Demon God¡¯s memories seemed too absurd. The Celestial God¡¯s final consciousness was consumed by regret. The training grounds of the Imperial Palace in Meier. Until just recently, knights had been sweating through their drills on that dirt floor¡ªbut now, its appearance had drastically changed. ¡°My Lord... what on earth is that?¡± The Spear Master, Duke Bormian, asked Ernstine with a trembling voice. Six golden swords were engraved into the floor of the training ground. From those swords emanated an aura so intense that even Bormian, who had reached the level of a Master, felt utterly insignificant. ¡°My teacher is the Sword God.¡± ¡°...What? The Sword God? The Sword God, you say? That title is meant for you, my lord... and what do you mean, teacher?!¡± Sure, the aura flowing from those golden swords was overwhelming... But now he¡¯s suddenly calling someone his teacher? And calling them the Sword God? What in the world was his lord talking about? ¡®Could it be that he abdicated the throne... because he¡¯s lost his mind?¡¯ As Bormian cautiously glanced at Ernstine, seemingly sensing that irreverent gaze¡ª Ernstine shouted furiously. ¡°How dare someone like me be called the Sword God! Bormian. Just stay still and watch. Soon, my teacher will make his move.¡± ¡°...Understood.¡± ¡°To witness this sword as a knight is a glory unmatched in ten thousand generations. Watch closely as my teacher cuts down the moon.¡± ¡®What? Cut the moon?¡¯ It seemed his lord¡¯s condition had worsened dramatically since the last time they met. At this point, they might need not just a priest, but a Saintess. Although Bormian looked at Ernstine with deep concern¡ª He soon had no choice but to look away. Wuuuuung...... As the six swords embedded in the ground simultaneously rose into the air, The mana of the heavens and earth was sucked into them all at once. Mana being drawn in without end. Bormian¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡®Was there... this much mana in the world?¡¯ Feeling the torrent of mana surging toward the swords, Bormian could hear the wild pounding of his own heart. Thump. Thump. The golden swords devoured mana and shone with radiant brilliance. ¡®Perfect... it¡¯s perfect.¡¯ Even when they were just engraved into the ground, he could feel it¡ª The Six Swords were flawless, without even the slightest imperfection. And now, fed by mana, they grew and transformed into the pinnacle of beauty. How could any knight possibly take their eyes off such a thing? Sssssss. The Six Swords began to spin and slowly merged into one. Each sword contained immense power. And as they came together to form a single sword¡ª What emerged was a crude, iron blade. And the moment that sword entered Kaylen¡¯s hand, Bormian trembled. ¡®The world¡¯s mana... is gone.¡¯ As if mana had never existed in this world at all. Even at the level of a Master, he could no longer sense the mana in the air. Instead¡ª All the mana of heaven and earth had condensed into that crude iron sword. Kaylen looked at the sword. ¡®I pour myself into it.¡¯ A sword that crosses the cosmos and severs the moon. Even if Kaylen¡¯s level had risen after his journey to the moon, it was still an almost impossible feat. To make it possible, he had to pour his entire being into the sword. Six Sword Path Realm of the Sword God Moon Slayer, Sky Shattering The tip of the iron sword pointed toward the sky¡ªtoward the full moon. Slowly, the sword descended to the earth. An overwhelmingly simple motion. What meaning lay within that single strike¡ª Even Bormian, despite being at the Master level, could not comprehend it at all. ¡°Ah...¡± But Ernstine was different. Awe and reverence. And... sorrow. His eyes, filled with many emotions, gazed endlessly at Kaylen. And then¡ª Basusus... The tip of the iron sword began to scatter. And along with it, Kaylen¡¯s hand that held the sword also began to disappear. Starting from his hand, then his arm¡ª And eventually, his entire body. Kaylen poured his entire existence into that single strike. ¡°Ernstine. I leave the rest to you.¡± With those final words spoken just before his head vanished, Ernstine wordlessly nodded. Aside from the traces of the Six Swords engraved into the training ground¡ª Kaylen¡¯s form disappeared completely. And then¡ª As the night sky split open, the moonlight briefly illuminated the training ground¡ª ¡°Th-The moon...¡± The center of the moon, where the Sword God¡¯s blade had pointed, turned black. A black line was drawn vertically across it. That line grew larger, spreading in all directions¡ª Until it fractured the moon. ¡°It¡¯s... breaking...¡± Even as he said it, Bormian couldn¡¯t believe it himself. With just a single swing¡ª The moon split in half and began to collapse. ¡°......¡± The moonlight that had just illuminated the earth vanished. And as the world sank into deeper darkness, Everyone fell silent. ¡°This... is the sword of a god...¡± The moon that once lit the night¡ªwas no more. [Translator - Kiteretsu] [Proofreader - Kyros]