[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 (刑)?

    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—

    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—which he had never set foot in even in his past life—while 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—meaning 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—each 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—reduced to a colony—there 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—

    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—!"

    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—something 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]