Chapter 191: Gyeonghui Palace

It was the kind of scorching season when even the dawn dew barely had a chance to appear.

The blazing summer sun made its oppressive heat felt the moment it rose in the east.

And yet...

Despite the brilliant light and overwhelming warmth that seemed capable of piercing everything, the land beyond remained shrouded in darkness, as though sunlight could never reach it.

They said it had been even darker when Godwin was still alive.

It was hard to imagine.

Why had Godwin wanted to create a place like that?

Why had he wished to return everything to nothingness?

"The Land of Mystery..."

That was the name given to it because it wielded a form of magic that modern magical theory could not comprehend.

Most miraculous elixirs originated from the East, yet it was a land with almost no records—suspiciously few.

Even Ferda had deliberately excluded it while pursuing the Ninth Circle, so it was only natural that he had shown no interest in it until declaring his conquest.

"Must you really go there?"

It was Luri, standing a step behind him, who asked.

"I must. Only then can the happiness that she desires become reality."

"Do you know what Lady Valdrova truly wishes for?"

"I do."

Her dream had always been a modest, peaceful life.

"And yet you're risking your life."

From Luri's perspective, it seemed like such a personal matter.

But for Ferda, there was no other choice.

He knew that a terrifying monster still lurked within him.

One day, without fail, that monster would try to devour Valdrova again.

That was why he needed the magic of the East.

The power that fueled the elves' magic was emotion, a system similar to humanity's Red Circle.

The people of the East had learned how to utilize the Red Circle from the elves, spending generations researching control, amplification, and efficiency.

Amplification could be achieved at any time.

What he truly needed... was control.

Ferda silently gazed toward the east before asking,

"Her Highness Valdrova..."

"She still doesn't wish to see you."

"...I see."

This was a journey that risked his life.

The veteran adventurers accompanying him were risking theirs as well.

The mere possibility that tomorrow might never come tightened his chest.

He wanted something—anything—to ease that tension.

Eleanor...

Ferda had given her the name Eleanor.

But after that day, he had never been able to call her by it again.

Even within his own heart, the name had gradually become unfamiliar.

"Perhaps that's for the best."

Luri spoke softly.

"If you don't return alive... then you won't be able to see Master."

"...You're right."

So that was his reason.

Not to see her one last time—

But to return alive and see her again.

Thinking of it that way, he felt the tension slowly transform into courage.

"Thank you."

Ferda reached out toward Luri's head.

She flinched at the sight of his hand, but said nothing.

"Lord Regent Ferda!"

Just as he was about to pat her head, an energetic voice called out to him.

It was Rizera.

The embarrassment had yet to leave his face.

"It took you quite a while to get ready."

"I'm sorry! The spirits kept begging me not to go..."

"The spirits tried to stop you?"

"Yes... They said the demonic energy is so dense they can't even enter..."

Those most vulnerable to corruption by demonic energy were beings highly sensitive to mana—

The spirits.

Cute as they were, if those three joined forces they became unimaginably ferocious.

If they were corrupted by demonic energy...

They would undoubtedly become a catastrophe.

"They kept saying I'd die if I went, so they grabbed onto me and refused to let go..."

"And because of that?"

Rizera hesitated before silently turning around.

The back of his clothes had been torn apart, exposing his pale skin and the graceful curve of his back.

"We should ask the Guild if they have any spare clothes."

"Y-Yes..."

Rizera nodded with a flushed face.

Ferda still occasionally forgot that he was actually a man.

***

The expedition had agreed to gather at the eastern gate of Hestia Village.

A place that was usually nearly deserted was now packed with Guild members and curious onlookers.

After pushing through the crowd, they found several scholars and engineers gathered around a massive object.

Rizera's eyes sparkled.

"Wow... So that's the Mana-powered Automobile?"

"Yes."

"At first glance it looks like a carriage. But there's something sticking out where the horses should be..."

It looked remarkably similar to the prototype Ferda had seen in the future that no longer existed.

However, this one had to carry twelve passengers, making it considerably larger.

Even so, it wasn't exactly the same.

Its design was noticeably more refined.

It reflected every ounce of Headmaster Escolleia's lifelong dream.

He really poured his heart into making something that would put traditional carriage makers out of business.

Knowing the full story, Ferda found it rather childish.

But he couldn't call it useless.

After all, it had greatly boosted the morale of the adventurers and Guild members.

A flagpole stood atop the vehicle.

Upon the flag was an emblem and the words:

—Flint Expedition.

Flint.

While most expedition names tried to sound majestic—Golden Wings, Eagles, and the like—

This one was simply Flint.

Since it began in Hestia... it must symbolize the resolve to kindle humanity's very first flame.

Seen that way...

It wasn't a bad name at all.

"You came early."

Erika greeted him.

She slowly looked him up and down.

"You're fully equipped. I can't find anything to criticize."

"This mission is too important to become a burden."

"It would've been nice if you'd said that last time."

"I did."

"The way you said it sounded more like, 'Worry about yourselves instead'."

"That meaning was included."

"Oh, look at the noble lord acting all dignified. As for Mr. Rizera..."

She glanced at Rizera's torn back.

"...Looks like you'll need a new outfit."

"Y-Yes..."

"I'll check the storage. Come with me."

Erika left with Rizera to look for suitable clothes.

Like everyone else, Ferda quietly inspected his own equipment.

Then...

He felt someone's gaze fixed upon him.

Turning around, he saw an Armored Knight standing there.

Though he couldn't see inside the helmet, he knew those eyes were directed at him.

"..."

"Do you need something from me?"

The knight slightly tilted its head upward.

Then it gently swayed its head, as though deep in thought.

Nod.

The Armored Knight handed Ferda a sheet of paper.

On it were six simple words.

—I look forward to working with you.

"..."

Why had it taken so much effort to write just six words?

Was there some hidden meaning?

Ferda examined the paper carefully.

The handwriting is remarkably elegant.

That was all he could conclude.

Had someone written it on the knight's behalf?

Or had it painstakingly practiced its handwriting?

Had it really gone through all that effort just to offer a greeting?

Surely it hadn't come here hoping someone would praise its penmanship like a child.

"Very well. I look forward to working with you too."

Ferda returned the greeting while handing the paper back.

The knight seemed slightly dissatisfied somehow...

Yet it didn't press the matter further.

Soon afterward, Erika returned and began speaking with the scholars and engineers.

"We're departing shortly! Everyone, to your positions!"

"To your positions!"

At her booming command, the adventurers who had been resting climbed into the rear seats.

Ferda also moved toward the back.

"Just a moment."

Erika stopped him.

"Lord Regent, would you sit beside me?"

She patted the seat next to hers.

Ferda instinctively frowned.

"May I decline?"

"Someone as important as you deserves the best seat."

"Calling the coachman's seat the best seat seems questionable."

"I know, right? Isn't it strange that the Guild Branch Chief is sitting in the driver's seat? Imagine if the Master of the Blue Eye Magic Tower were sitting here."

Who cared?

People would probably assume the Magic Tower had gone bankrupt and its master had become a coachman.

Still, chatting idly in the back wasn't in his nature.

So he quietly sat beside Erika.

"Let's see... First pull this lever... then hold down this button..."

After a series of complicated operations...

A sound began resonating from the front.

Vrrrrrr...!

It echoed like the hum of a vacuum tube.

The engine had started.

After several more adjustments, the wheels began to turn.

Smoothly.

"It's moving!"

"It's actually moving!"

The scholars and engineers cheered as the wheels rolled forward.

Watching it gradually drive away...

Some of them even burst into tears of joy.

Ferda tilted his head.

"I don't understand why they're so happy."

"Neither do I."

"Just two days ago they were saying it couldn't even carry all twelve passengers. Apparently they hadn't accounted for armor or extra supplies."

"And then?"

"I gave them twenty-four hours."

"I assume you gave them more than just time."

"Of course."

Ferda couldn't deny that Erika's straightforward solution was effective.

Leaving the village behind, they entered the Land of Demons.

They crossed the unmistakable boundary between life and death.

"We're entering! Everyone, prepare yourselves!"

At Erika's signal, everyone checked the talismans hanging around their necks once more.

The moment they crossed the boundary...

They felt it.

"Hmm..."

"Ugh!"

Those exposed to demonic energy for the first time reacted almost immediately.

The Mages, being especially sensitive to mana, suffered the most.

The others merely felt an oppressive pressure squeezing their bodies.

Ferda was no exception.

If there weren't a reason to be here... I'd have turned back immediately.

He slowly rotated his Circle, calming his breathing.

He repeatedly reminded himself that his body was a sanctuary into which demonic energy could never intrude.

-This reminds me of the old days.

Erika spoke through telepathy.

-Back then, we barely forced our way through thanks to the blessings of every dragon and every god.

'Is that so?'

-Even now we've somehow gathered twelve people. Just like back then. I was the one recruiting the expedition members who would go defeat the Demon King.

'I see.'

-Sorry for talking about something you're probably not interested in. But... please listen. Honestly, I don't have anyone else I can speak to about this.

Ferda briefly considered blocking the telepathic link.

But doing so might leave a gap for the demonic energy to seep in.

So he simply let her continue.

Lost in memories, Erika spoke on.

-Back then, nobody believed it was possible. Not even me, despite being the one recruiting them.

-Destroy the entire mysterious eastern land... push through the demonic energy... and kill the Demon King? It sounded absurd.

'Indeed.'

-So everyone believed we should coexist with Godwin and simply meet his demands.

'But one person refused.'

'Valdrova?'

-Yes.

-She believed in humanity's potential. To be honest... back then she really…

'Seemed like a fool?'

-I was going to say she sounded irrational and emotional... but hearing you put it that way...Didn't I tell you?

'Just keep talking.'

-Anyway... none of us expected much from humanity. We believed humans were too busy fighting one another to avoid extinction.

'Yet the result proved otherwise.'

-Yes. In the end, humanity saved the Cerdes Continent. And human civilization continues to grow stronger. Ultimately... she was right.

'Did she know all along?'

-She did. But there was nothing she could do. The final incident overturned everything.

Godwin died.

Silverwind died.

Countless warriors perished upon the battlefield.

Among them were many Dragon Spawn.

A Dragon Spawn shared its master's death.

After witnessing Valdrova's condition through that connection...

It had become impossible for them not to resent her.

Even now, Silverwind still longed to wage war against Valdrova.

-Since she never explained herself, we thought she was simply an arrogant dragon with no shame.

'She simply couldn't speak.'

-No one ever considered that possibility. What dragon in the world would be like that? Our kind punishes anyone who dares talk back.

Having admitted that themselves...

There was nothing left to say.

-So we've decided.

'Decided what?'

-When Lady Iorga can finally stand proudly once again...We'll formally apologize for the disrespect we committed.

An apology.

It felt strange hearing that from a dragon other than Valdrova.

Concealing his true thoughts, Ferda replied,

'As the Master of the Magic Tower, I can only express my gratitude for your sentiments.'

The telepathic conversation came to an end.

Erika casually spoke aloud.

"This thing is more comfortable than I expected. You just keep pressing the pedal and it moves on its own."

"Is that so?"

"Flying carriages and mana-powered carriages are a real hassle. If you don't consider how exhausted you'll be on the return trip, they sometimes just fall out of the sky."

"That's true."

"Traveling comfortably for an hour is nice... but if only there were a way to keep demonic energy completely blocked while continuously supplying additional Mana Stones..."

"If we applied Magitech Engineering to create transportation with demonic-energy shielding, efficiency would increase tremendously..."

The two enthusiastically exchanged one engineering idea after another.

Sitting in the very back...

Valdrova silently stared at them.

She had been eavesdropping on their conversation.

'I don't understand a single word they're saying.'

The two were discussing things far beyond her comprehension.

To Valdrova...

Ferda almost seemed to be shining.

***

After two hours of travel, the Mana-powered Automobile's engine gradually weakened.

The wheels slowly lost their strength before finally coming to a complete stop.

The energy within the Mana Stones had been completely exhausted.

At the same time, it demonstrated just how accurate Erika's calculations had been.

Before them stood the ancient foundation stones where a great gate had once stood.

They had arrived at...

Gyeonghui Palace.

Erika climbed down from the driver's seat and shouted,

"This is where it begins! Everyone, stay sharp!"

"Whew... Here we go!"

Everyone present had more than five years of adventuring experience.

But being a veteran didn't guarantee survival.

Every one of them understood that.

Erika, captain of the Flint Expedition, began issuing orders.

"Formation A. We're moving in."

As they entered the palace gates...

A vast front courtyard welcomed them.

Despite having been abandoned for ages, its structure remained astonishingly intact.

A sharp-eyed archer suddenly called out.

"Enemy sighted!"

The enemies weren't hiding.

They slowly emerged before the fresh prey that had wandered into their territory.

They resembled monsters imitating the shape of humans.

More specifically...

They looked much like ghouls.

Unlike the beast-type monsters commonly seen, these creatures had slender, agile bodies and moved on all fours.

Kieeeek!

Kieeeek!

They shrieked, signaling their kin.

As though awakening from a long slumber...

They began to move.

"Fifty enemies!"

It seemed manageable.

"No... One hundred...!"

Still possible.

"No... Two hundred!"

This might become difficult.

"Three hundred!"

No one bothered counting anymore.

Ghoul-like monsters completely filled the courtyard before the palace.

Their purple skin and glowing green eyes made it obvious they were no ordinary creatures.

"Looks like making easy money isn't going to happen."

"When has anything in life ever been easy?"

Even faced with the possibility of death...

They smiled.

Because that was the best an adventurer could do.