The reception hall of the Edillen family estate on the island of Famiran.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The head of the family, Raghvar von Edillen, descended the stairs, leaning on his cane.
Moonlight seeped through the reception hall window, illuminating one corner.
There, the corpses of Raghvar's loyal retainers lay scattered.
"Hmm."
He furrowed his brow and let out a low hum.
Then, slowly turning his head, he looked toward the bottom of the stairs.
Gulp!
The gathered crowd swallowed dryly.
They couldn't help but be tense.
Before them stood a former renowned Tower Climber who, since his return, had ruled Famiran like a king.
And they had just betrayed him.
"Marundo."
A voice heavy with authority echoed through the reception hall.
But his son, Marundo, did not answer.
He simply stood in the center of the group, glaring at Raghvar.
"I've always known you were an incompetent, utterly useless piece of trash."
Grit!
"Watch your mouth, you old bastard! You'll be dead soon!"
Raghvar continued, unfazed.
"While I was climbing the Tower, you didn't develop Famiran even a speck of dust. Do you know why I didn't kill you?"
Tap.
"Because you're a coward who can't even talk back after being insulted like this. I thought you'd be perfect as a parrot to deliver my words. But I was wrong. You're an even more hopeless worm."
"That's why you're going to die today, by the hands of your own bloodline!"
"My own bloodline? What bloodline? I just gave you the treatment you deserved. And bloodline?"
Raghvar let out a hollow laugh.
"Don't delude yourself, you worm. I have never once considered an incompetent wretch like you my son."
Marundo, who was about to shout in anger, closed his mouth.
Then he steadied his breathing, calming his excitement.
Judging by Raghvar's current state, the poison hadn't spread fully yet.
He needed to wait a little longer.
Just as he was about to speak to buy time.
"You foolish brat. I don't know where you got that poison, but I guarantee you. You'll die faster."
He had noticed something was wrong with his body the moment he saw the corpses of his fallen subordinates.
Otherwise, it made no sense that he hadn't woken up until this commotion started.
Kwaaaaaaah!!
As Raghvar erupted with power, Marundo's eyes widened.
This damned old man had already caught on.
"Kill him!!"
The mercenaries gathered from all over kicked off the stairs.
They weren't affiliated with any famous families or guilds, but their skills were solid.
Proof of that was how they had slaughtered the Famiran Guild, Raghvar's right hand, in just one hour.
"Amateurs."
Clicking his tongue, Raghvar set down his cane.
Then he thrust his fist at the knight charging at the front.
Kwaang!!!
At first glance, it looked like a simple jab.
But the result was anything but.
The knight was sent flying, his helmet crushed.
The same fate befell those who followed.
Raghvar moved like flowing water, deflecting attacks pouring in from all directions.
"Get out of the way!! I'll flatten you!!"
A massive warrior swung a hammer the size of a person.
At the same time, Marundo used a magical tool to restrict Raghvar's movements.
But it was meaningless.
Kuuuuung!!
The hammer fell on Raghvar, just as the warrior intended.
But it was the warrior's face that was filled with shock.
'W-What kind of strength...!'
He had put all his power into the hammer.
Yet, the hammer wouldn't go down any further.
It was blocked.
By a force far more overwhelming than the one currently applied to the hammer.
Crack!
The steel hammer crumpled like paper.
"T-This monster..."
The warrior tried to retreat, but Raghvar was a step faster.
Crunch!
Following the hammer, the warrior's jaw shattered.
At this overwhelming sight, the mercenaries hesitantly stepped back.
This was an old man well past seventy.
They had thought that no matter how sharp he had been in the past, his edge would have dulled by now.
It was a huge miscalculation.
His edge was still sharp.
Perhaps dulled compared to his prime, but more than enough to crush them.
"What's wrong? You still have the numerical advantage, don't you? Come at me...! Cough!"
Blood gushed from Raghvar's mouth.
'Damn.'
He had been suppressing it as much as possible, but he couldn't completely contain it.
'Am I getting old?'
At this point, he had to admit it.
The fact that he had become complacent after returning to Famiran.
"Ha!"
Marundo, who had been tense, burst into laughter.
It was a deadly poison that could kill even monsters several meters tall in an instant.
No matter how much of a monster Raghvar was, it was impossible for him to be immune.
"Raghvar is faltering!"
"His center is off!"
From this moment on, the dying embers of hope began to rekindle.
The mercenaries stopped hesitating and readjusted their stances.
"Now! Kill him!"
"Don't let up!"
As the offensive began anew, Raghvar took a breath.
"If you had turned back now, you might have lived. But you still don't know your place."
As the poisoning worsened, his physical functions had clearly deteriorated.
But it wasn't lacking. No, it was more than enough.
To wipe out the insects before him.
Swoosh!
Raghvar's form, kicking off the ground, cut through the air.
Kwaaaaang!!
A heavy roar erupted throughout the entire estate.
* * *
In front of the largest mansion on the island of Famiran.
Knock, knock.
I knocked politely on the door.
As expected, there was no answer.
"Carmella."
Carmella nodded and reached out her hand.
The moment she touched it, cracks spread across my entire field of vision.
It was a barrier someone had set up to prevent the noise inside from leaking out.
Kwaaaa...!
As soon as the barrier collapsed, a thick scent of blood rushed in.
What kind of day is this?
It was even worse than the guild I visited earlier.
Crunch!
I tore the firmly shut door off its hinges.
"Ugh."
The scene before my eyes was just as gruesome as the concentration of blood.
The mansion was damaged to the point where it wouldn't be strange if it collapsed at any moment, and corpses were scattered everywhere my eyes could see.
What kind of creature had to rampage to cause this?
"G-Gurk... S-Save me..."
I turned my head toward the sound.
A middle-aged man was caught in the old man's grip.
His face and body were already battered beyond recognition, having been hit several times.
Crunch!
With a grotesque sound, the man's body went limp.
The old man tossed the corpse aside and turned his eyes toward me.
"Is it you? The outsider who entered Famiran."
"Hello. You're Raghvar von Edillen, right?"
The corner of Raghvar's mouth twitched.
He had a youthful face that looked like he had just passed his early twenties.
Yet.
How could he face this sight without even blinking?
Normally, Raghvar never bothered to ask for someone's name.
Because it was annoying.
Remembering names that weren't particularly special.
"What's your name?"
But now, he had no choice but to ask.
That's how much interest the brat before him had piqued.
"Yoo Jin-hyuk. And this is my friend, Carmella."
Carmella tilted her head for a moment, then lowered her voice.
"Master. We have a problem."
"Huh? What problem?"
Carmella held out the Soul Veritas ring on her finger.
"It says the target is not usable."
"What?"
I looked at Raghvar, standing at the top of the stairs.
I knew his aura felt unusual.
It seemed a Unique-grade ring with a level cap of 100 couldn't do anything about him.
Raghvar, wiping the blood from his hair, spoke.
"So, what's the matter? It seems a bit late to just be asking after someone's health."
"I have a question. Originally, I was going to ask at the guild, but they were all dead."
"Tch. You're meticulous in the useless areas. And diligent."
Raghvar glared at the fallen Marundo.
It seemed he had wiped out the guild before coming here.
"I don't know what you're curious about, but right now... Cough!"
Another considerable amount of blood poured from Raghvar's mouth.
Just then, Elia materialized beside Jin-hyuk.
She had been working on deciphering something at the ruins, so it seemed she had found something.
"Master."
Elia pointed her finger at Raghvar.
"You need to save that old man?"
Sensing there wasn't much time, Elia quickly explained.
The ruins in the bedrock area, where the truth of the incident on Famiran Island was inscribed.
At the end of it, it was written that the only one who knew how to reverse the island's condition was Raghvar von Edillen, the one who had made it this way.
"...!!"
Raghvar's eyes widened.
He couldn't believe his ears.
That information should have disappeared from Famiran forever. How?
"Excuse me. Sir Raghvar?"
I cautiously raised my hand.
Raghvar, unable to answer as he was spitting blood, only moved his eyes.
"This friend of mine is an excellent pharmacist. She wants to find out what poison you've been poisoned with and treat you. What do you think?"
Raghvar stared at me for a moment, then burst into laughter.
Then, wiping away the blood, he spoke.
"Forget it. You'll regret it."
"Me?"
Raghvar pointed his chin at Elia.
"I don't know how you found out, but what your friend just said is a truth I went to great lengths to erase, using precious magical tools. That means..."
Raghvar's eyes, trailing off, glinted dangerously.
"I have no intention of letting you live. Anyone who knows that truth. So leave while you have the chance."
"And here I thought you were going to say something else. I'm saving you because I have something to ask, so don't worry about it."
For a moment, Raghvar's pupils shook.
He was flustered for the first time in a long while.
That's how far beyond his expectations and common sense the answer was.
Meanwhile, Jin-hyuk, who had come right up to him, collected the blood Raghvar had spilled into a small flask.
"Elia! I'm throwing it!"
"Ooh! Ready!"
I tossed the flask.
As expected, my control, honed through catchball with the Kanmo Duo, was perfect.
It landed precisely in Elia's palm.
"Just wait a bit!"
Elia disappeared into the Star Workshop with a *swoosh*.
Raghvar, who had been watching the whole process, spoke to me.
"Brat. What are you thinking? Aren't you afraid of death?"
"I am. I don't want to die yet."
"But?"
"I have something I need to hear, but I also have personal business."
Raghvar narrowed his eyes.
Personal business?
"When I entered Famiran last night, my friend told me there was something formidable on this island. I guess she was talking about you, Sir Raghvar. Plus, the islanders all said the same thing. That you were once a renowned figure in the Tower. So, after you've recovered."
I turned my head and met Raghvar's eyes.
"Let's have a duel."
Raghvar's pupils shook violently once more.
What was this brat saying now?
"..."
Is he insane?
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T/N:
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