[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—her 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—how 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—he 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—just 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]