Chapter 64: Denian Kingdom (1)

The storm, earthquake, and tidal wave that had ravaged the surroundings had completely subsided. What remained was merely the aftermath of destruction. The Tower Master deactivated his magical barrier, letting out a bitter chuckle.

𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

The power of Myst varied depending on how deeply one had delved into their understanding. Naturally, the mastery of magic followed the same principle—certain spells were inaccessible to anyone who hadn’t reached a specific level of expertise.

What Adamant used was called the Restricted Dominion of Nature—a spell belonging to the School of Polychromatic Orb, a branch of dominion magic permitted only to Transcendent mages.

This potent magic combined control over Myst with nature to conjure singular phenomena. In terms of raw destructive power, it was one of the most formidable spells among dominion magic.

There was only one way to break such a spell: destroying the core of Myst at the phenomenon’s center. Once the core was obliterated, the phenomenon would lose its anchor and dissipate naturally, like the earthquake and tidal wave. Despite its immense power, the magic had a clear weakness.

Yet Ketal had no intention of exploiting that weakness. Instead, he subdued the phenomena purely through brute force.

A pure display of physical prowess,

the Tower Master thought.

Ketal’s face radiated satisfaction. “Not bad.”

Adamant was nowhere to be seen. The body that had collided with Ketal’s shoulder had been reduced to fragments, leaving not even a trace behind. However, Adamant reappeared shortly thereafter.

“You barbaric lunatic! How dare you disrupt my magic!” Adamant’s face was twisted in fury. The omnipotent sensation of controlling nature itself had engulfed his entire being, yet the barbarian before him had extinguished it by sheer force. With a snarl, he raised his staff.

Crunch.

In an instant, Adamant’s chest was pierced. Ketal shook the blood off his hand. “If that was the best magic you could muster, then there is no reason to continue this fight.”

“You bastard!” Adamant came back in his original form, clutching his staff once more.

Ketal swiftly decapitated him, but before the severed head could even fall to the ground, Adamant came back.

So, the real problem is this,

Ketal thought.

Adamant could not die. Dealing with him was an irritating ordeal. Ketal briefly considered knocking him unconscious, but a mage as versatile as Adamant likely had a countermeasure for that as well.

“Hm,” Ketal pondered for a moment.

The Ship of Theseus, a vessel whose deck, sails, and every other component was gradually replaced over time, embodied a paradox of identity. Ketal pondered the same enigma when it came to Adamant. Every part of him, from his physical body to his garments, seemed to regenerate and replace itself endlessly. He wondered what truly defined the essence of these constantly shifting components.

Ketal glanced at his own hand. The blood that had stained it was already gone. A myriad of thoughts flashed through his mind, and soon, a possibility took shape.

Ketal charged at his opponent. Adamant didn’t bother to dodge. There was no need, as dying only meant he would return again. However, this time, things went differently.

When Ketal appeared right in front of Adamant, he took a piece of black fabric—the neck portion of Adamant’s robe. He had lunged forward to tear it off mid-air.

Calmly folding the piece of robe, Ketal tucked it into his hand. His deliberate demeanor left Adamant visibly flustered.

After folding the robe into a compact square and enclosing it within his fist, Ketal squeezed tightly.

“Hmph!” Ketal exclaimed. A ripple spread outward, much like sound and shockwave radiated when hands clapped. The pressure from his clenched fist caused the surrounding air to momentarily compress.

A short while later, Ketal opened his hand, his eyes gleaming with intrigue. “Interesting.”

Inside his palm were tiny, iridescent particles—the compressed remnants of the robe. Although peculiar, this wasn’t inherently extraordinary. Crushing the piece of robe to dust with such force was impressive, but in the end, it was just a piece of fabric.

However, Adamant’s expression had changed dramatically. “You... you bastard!”

His face twisted into something uncanny—a blend of rage, fear, and bewilderment. It was as if dozens of expressions overlapped at once, spilling emotions through his entire body.

“So, this is your essence—or perhaps the essence of all of you.” Ketal smiled as he pierced Adamant’s chest once more.

The body resurrected yet again, but something was different this time. The neck portion of Adamant’s robe, torn off earlier, didn’t return.

“From here on out, you will have to wager your very existence. Do you still wish to continue?” Ketal asked.

Adamant fell silent as he gritted his teeth, hesitation flickering across his face. After a brief deliberation, he reached a decision. “I will retreat...”

“What?” Elene’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Retreat? But he is an immortal monster!

However, Adamant had already begun brandishing his staff, preparing a spell for spatial leap. Before vanishing, he cast one final glance at Elene.

“You’re a stubborn princess. Do as you please. There will be no more interlopers standing in your way. Go ahead and pursue whatever you wish,” Adamant said. As the spell completed, he spoke as if foretelling her fate. “But in the end, you will return. You will see for yourself—we’re the only allies you have left.”

With those words, Adamant disappeared, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.

***

As Adamant had said, there were no more obstacles. The group pressed forward, with Elene and Aron remaining silent.

Before long, they reached a point where the border came into view. It was then that Patrick spoke up. “This is where I will part ways. It’s another kingdom, after all... Entering it feels a bit too much for me.”

“Ah, I see. My apologies for dragging you along this far,” Ketal replied. In truth, it had practically been Ketal forcing him to come.

Patrick shook his head. “No need to apologize. I was prepared for it from the start. Traveling together was more than enough. I have experienced all sorts of things thanks to you.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Are you planning to head back to your estate?”

“Yes, I think that’s what I will do.”

“Then take this food with you. It should be enough for the journey.”

“Thank you.” Patrick packed the provisions and began to take his leave.

Ketal saw him off. “I hope we meet again.”

“We probably will in the near future.” Patrick’s tone carried a strange nuance.

After he departed, the group resumed their march. The border that had been a distant sight now drew steadily closer.

At last, they reached the front of the border. The soldiers guarding it tensed, gripping their spears and leveling them with wary expressions. “Hey, barbarian! This is the border of the Denian Kingdom! Step back!”

“I am a mercenary. I can verify my identity if needed,” Ketal replied.

“Don’t spout nonsense! Leave! If you do not back off, we will attack!”

“As expected,” Ketal said while scratching his cheek. No kingdom would readily welcome an unidentified outsider crossing its border. If he had been alone, it would have likely required a series of procedures, just like in the Barcan Estate.

However, this time, he wasn’t alone. Ketal stepped aside and looked at Elene. “Hey, it’s your turn, Elene.”

“Alright...” Elene stepped forward slowly. The sudden appearance of a young woman startled the soldiers, who instinctively took a step back.

“Who are you?” one of the soldiers asked.

“I am Elene Mavroch, First Princess of the Lutein Kingdom.” Her voice carried a solemn weight as she continued. “I have come to meet King Barbosa Denian of the Denian Kingdom.”

***

The soldiers did not believe Elene’s words. Ketal didn’t blame them as no one would believe someone claiming to be a princess, arriving in tattered, dust-covered robes without escorts from her own kingdom, and accompanied by a barbarian.

However, she had proof. Elene produced a jeweled necklace bearing the royal insignia, a symbol granted exclusively to the royal family to Lutein.

Moreover, among the border officials summoned to confirm her identity, a few recognized her face. After a series of verifications and procedures, her claim as Elene Mavroch, the First Princess of the Lutein Kingdom, was confirmed.

Considering the difficulties she had faced in her journey to the border, the process was astonishingly swift. Before long, they were escorted to the royal palace of the Denian Kingdom.

“Not bad,” Ketal muttered as he lay on the guest room’s luxurious bed. The sight reminded him of a famous museum he had visited back on Earth. There, he had seen a bed once used by the French royalty of old. He had longed to try lying on it, but access was, of course, forbidden. With no other choice, he had swallowed his disappointment.

Now, however, the bed beneath him felt strikingly similar to the one in that museum. And this time, it was his to enjoy. He was staying in the royal palace.

“I’ve really made it,” Ketal murmured with satisfaction.

Sharing the same building as the king of a nation—it was enough to make him content. Rolling lazily on the bed, he marveled at how soft and plush it felt, as if he were floating on a cloud. Even compared to modern beds, its comfort was unmatched.

Reaching over, he plucked a grape from the nearby tray and popped it into his mouth. It was sweet. Not as sugary as the genetically modified fruits of the modern age, but it was still rich and juicy.

And I’ve finished the Quest,

Ketal thought.

[Quest 785 completed.]

[A reward will be provided.]

As always, Ketal found himself curious about the nature of the reward. Ever since the White Snowfield, it had been a lingering question. He had never received anything tangible as a reward, yet after completing Quests, events and situations often seemed to flow in his favor.

Whatever the case, nothing harmful had ever come from it. He wondered if the situation itself had always been the reward. With that thought, he buried his face into a pillow, enjoying the room to its fullest.

Just then, a knock sounded at the door, followed shortly by the entrance of a woman.

“Are you comfortable?” Elene asked hesitantly.

“Very much so. Would you like to sit?” Ketal gestured toward the chair at the table.

Elene nodded cautiously and took a seat across from him.

Ketal studied her for a moment before speaking in admiration. “You look different.”

She was no longer wearing the worn and dirty robe. Instead, she was dressed in a pristine gown, her face washed clean, and her hair neatly arranged. She looked truly stunning, rivaling even the elf queen in grace and beauty.

Her face flushed slightly at his praise. “Th-thank you.”

“I should be the one thanking you. Thanks to you, I get to indulge in such luxury,” Ketal said, grinning widely.

Under normal circumstances, Ketal would never have been allowed inside the royal palace. It was inconceivable for a barbarian to be brought to the king’s residence. Even with his C-Rank mercenary badge, no sane official would take such a risk. However, Elene’s insistence had granted him access. Although guards were stationed to keep an eye on him, he didn’t consider it a problem.

“No, it was just my stubbornness. I should be thanking you for accepting it,” Elene replied, shaking her head.

From her perspective, Ketal was nothing short of her savior. He had gone as far as to make an enemy of the Lutein Kingdom for her sake, all for the paltry sum of a single gold coin. Like Prince Charming from a fairy tale, he had rescued her.

For a moment, her expression softened in a daze, but that warmth quickly faded, replaced by a melancholic gloom. She lowered her head with a heavy sigh.

Ketal broke the silence. “How did it go?”

“It’s been decided. Tomorrow, I will have an audience with King Barbosa. Everything will be resolved then.”

“Maybe, or maybe it won’t,” Ketal said.

“That’s possible too,” she admitted. Elene looked directly at Ketal. “You’re aware of what happened to my kingdom, aren’t you?”

“I’ve got some ideas,” Ketal replied calmly.

“Could you tell me? What has my kingdom... and what have I become?” Her voice trembled slightly.

Ketal nodded solemnly.