Chapter 170: Life and Death

Ka...

As the white light dissipated, Karyl’s blurry vision slowly returned.

“Karyl!!”

Miliana’s voice jolted him back to reality. He turned to face her.

“You idiot! Are you out of your mind? Someone like you should be more cautious about triggering traps!”

She sounded like she was on the verge of tears.

“Hah, and here I thought you’d be pointing your sword at me and check whether I’ve been consumed by necromancy.”

“You’re so stupid...”

Milliana pouted at Karyl’s joke.

“Are you okay? You passed out the moment you grabbed the gauntlets inside the box. Everyone was really worried.”

“Aaah... really? How long was I out?”

Hearing Aidan’s words, Karyl got up. They had entered the dungeon before sunset, but now it was pitch dark.

“You’ve been out for at least ten hours.”

“We were really worried you might not come back,” Miliana continued after Aidan.

“I’m touched. It’s nice to know the Queen of Digon cares about me so much,” Karyl joked as he patted her on the head.

“Wh-What...?”

“Save the flirting for later, preferably out of sight... Are you okay?”

Karyl nodded at Gordon.

“Yeah, no major issues.”

“We had planned to head back to Digon, but... Sir Gordon insisted we stay and keep watch over you for a while.”

Aidan looked at Gordon.

“I knew you weren’t the type to die from some trap. Seeing how the gauntlets kept reacting, I figured you were engaged in some sort of communication.”

Gordon pointed at Kalduan’s gauntlets lying beside him.

“So, what’s in them? Are those gauntlets an Ego Weapon?”

Everyone looked at Karyl expectantly.

“It’s not that. The gauntlets themselves don’t seem to be imbued with a will. And even if they were, trying to communicate with it would be frustrating.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Karyl chuckled, recalling the massive blue turtle he had encountered. Despite all the conversations with Quenite, all he had heard from Kalduan was a growl.

I spent only a short time in the interdimensional space, and yet so much time has passed here. I never considered that time might flow differently in the Spirit Realm. I need to be careful.

He felt lethargic, as if he had returned from a long journey.

Even if I can open the door to the Spirit Realm by activating the Soul Spring, I need to choose the right moment. It’d be disastrous if I went there at a crucial time and years passed in an instant.

Karyl laughed at himself for worrying about this even before gaining spiritual power.

“The gauntlets contain the power of the divine beast Kalduan. It’s one of Blader’s Five Great Artifacts.”

“...!!”

“...!!”

Everyone looked at the gauntlets again in surprise.

“Kalduan?! Are you talking about the Blue Turtle, one of the legendary pillars?” Aidan exclaimed.

“Do you folks in the Eastern Lands also know the legend of the divine beasts?”

“Of course. The Eastern Lands has something similar to the three pillars. We worship the snake.”

“Always believing in things that resemble themselves.”

Milliana shook her head at Aidan’s words.

“Well, anyway, I’m glad you’re back safe and sound. As long as you’re not consumed by the weapon, it doesn’t matter whether it’s a snake or a turtle. Was there anything else?”

“No, but... the Blue Turtle seems to dislike me. It doesn’t seem to accept me as the owner of the gauntlets.”

Karyl didn’t mention Quenite to Gordon either. He wasn’t sure why she had left her memories in the gauntlets.

“Hmm. Well, the Blue Turtle is a spirit beast of the earth element. It doesn’t quite match with you.”

“You think so too, Gordon?” Karyl shrugged, disappointed at the same evaluation as Quenite’s.

“But you don’t seem interested in Kalduan’s gauntlets,” Karyl went on. “I thought you’d be the best one to use them.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Among the four, Gordon was the only one with earth-element magic, making him a perfect fit for the gauntlets.

Thud—!

In response, Gordon set his Martyr down beside him. Although he placed it gently, it landed with a heavy thud, as if he had dropped it forcefully.

“I’m fine with this. My magic is focused on defensive arts like Automata. Wearing another piece of armor would only increase my magic consumption.”

“Even if it’s one of Blader’s weapons?”

Gordon shook his head at Karyl’s insistence.

“Yeah. I’ve gotten what I came for. I saved my life, so I shouldn’t be greedy for more. Consider it your reward.”

“You’re not saying that because I mentioned I can’t use it, are you?”

“That’s part of it.”

Karyl chuckled.

“Since you mention it, Gordon, have you taken your medicine?”

“...What? Do you just take it like this? Really?” Gordon stammered, uncharacteristically flustered for a mountain of a man.

“Of course. Haven’t you taken it yet? We came here to cure your illness.”

“Well...”

Miliana and Aidan looked at Gordon, baffled.

“Are you serious...?”

No one had imagined that the great Gordon Fabian could be suffering from an illness.

To be that strong despite being sick?

He’s more agile than healthy people. Sword Masters really are monsters...

Contrary to Gordon’s worries, the others were surprised for a different reason.

“Aidan.”

“Yes?”

“Who do you think should get these gauntlets?”

Gordon subtly looked at him, slightly hopeful for an answer.

“Hmm... It’s definitely him. The one who hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Right?”

Karyl chuckled at Aidan’s slightly hesitant answer.

“He’ll like them,” he continued with a faint smile, appearing to understand Aidan’s thoughts.

“What? You’ve already decided who will use them? Well, it doesn’t matter. Are we done here? It’s going to take us a long time to get back.”

Gordon scratched his head, slightly embarrassed.

“Don’t worry. They should be coming to meet us by now.”

“...Who?”

Karyl said, gripping the gauntlets.

“The one who’ll receive these.”

***

Swoosh...

As if waiting for them, the Mana Battleship unfurled its sails and sped through the waves, spurred on by the wind.

Karyl waved his hand toward it.

“Huh...”

Its speed was incredible for a mere ship.

Everyone else was surprised, but Gordon seemed downright astonished, his eyes sparkling.

“That’s...”

As if reading his mind, Karyl crossed his arms and said proudly. “Yes, it’s from the Magical Era. It’s built similarly to the airship of the Guidance Mercenary Gang, though it can’t fly.”

“Where did you find something like that?”

“I got lucky. It was in Tatur.”

“Incredible. You have something even the empire doesn’t. Is that the activation stone you proposed to me?” Gordon pointed to the speeding sailboat.

“Yes, it’s a prototype. It’s a synthesized hexagon stone, not an octagon stone, but it’s good enough for the propulsion of ships.”

Karyl observed Gordon’s expectant face with amusement.

“And soon enough you’ll see it used in airships as well. You’ll still be around three years from now.”

Gordon chuckled at his words.

“Who made that?”

“Do you know Baron Beryl of the Three Kingdoms of Istria?”

“That old man?” Gordon scoffed incredulously. “They say even a rotting fish is still good for something. He was once hailed as a genius, but isn’t he just a washed-up sorcerer now?”

At that, Karyl smirked.

“That’s right. Even a fallen genius can still be extraordinary. His mana may be low, but his mind is sharp. Also, he’s assisted by Thompson, the guild master of the Ulkas Guild. If we’re lucky, the development could take less than three years.”

Despite Karyl’s confidence, Gordon still looked skeptical.

“What’s that? Ulkas? I’ve never heard of that guild. Where is it based? I think I know all the noteworthy guilds on the continent.”

“Of course. It’s never been notable.”

“...”

Gordon was left speechless by Karyl’s unwavering confidence.

“But you should remember it from now on. You know that the lord of Azor is an advanced 6th Class sorcerer, right?”

“Of course.”

“Soon, the guild master of Ulkas will be on par with him.”

“Huh... An advanced sorcerer in some random guild?”

Gordon looked at Karyl with an incredulous expression.

“Is that your doing too?”

Karyl chuckled at his question.

“You really leave me speechless,” Gordon continued. “Isn’t it enough that you’re manipulating the prince?”

“Not in the slightest.”

“What’s your goal? Are you planning to conquer the continent?”

Though Gordon’s journey to the south had started because of the empire, he couldn’t deny that he was more interested in Karyl now. The prospect of breaking the long-standing power balance between the empire, the principality, and the Three Kingdoms of Istria was deeply intriguing.

Five Sword Masters, four Great Sorcerers, and one Eastern Occultist—despite the existence of these ten extraordinary individuals, the strongest out there, the three powers of the continent had endured for over two hundred years and were expected to last even longer.

Until I met him.

Gordon Fabian drank the foul-smelling liquid in one gulp.

“Ugh...”

He grimaced at the bitter sensation as it went down his throat.

Karyl, what do you truly want to achieve? No way you’ll be satisfied just with this.

Despite its repugnance, Gordon drank every last drop of the foul sap.

“I’ll keep watching you a little longer.”

A faint smile crept up on Karyl’s face. It seemed that Gordon had found a reason to stay alive.

***

“Aaa...Achoo!!"

Kromen quickly covered his sneeze with his hand. He didn’t want to ruin the pleasant meal under the sunny window. Already on edge, he disliked having everyone’s attention on him, so he scratched his head awkwardly and smiled.

“Haha... I’m sorry.”

It was a peculiar sight, the Third Prince of the empire bowing awkwardly.

Ugh, I don’t want to ruin the mood.

Since returning to the south, he had been plagued by minor illnesses, but today he felt unusually well and was able to join everyone for a meal outside the palace.

“K-Kromen..."

However, the empress’ eyes were twitching as she looked at him.

“Yes?”

Kromen then realized his mouth was wet.

“Oh!”

He figured he had gotten some soup on his face while trying to stifle the sneeze.

Swoosh—

“I apologize, Mother. I’m making a fool of myself...”

He quickly wiped his mouth with the napkin on the table.

“...Huh?”

But for some reason, the napkin was red. With a puzzled expression, Kromen looked at the empress.

Drip...

At that moment, blood started flowing from the prince’s nose.

“Wh-What’s happening?”

Clearly panicking, Kromen wiped his blood-stained hand on his clothes and reached for the napkins around him.

Clang... Crash...!

But just as he was about to grip the napkins, his hand suddenly lost strength, causing him to knock over the plates and bowls

Crack! Clang!

“A... Ah...”

With tears in his eyes, Kromen looked around.

Thud...!

As a crushing headache took hold, his vision blurred, and he fell to the floor over the shattered dishes.

“Why... is this...”

Kromen struggled to get up, but as his hand slipped from the table, the red blood smeared on his palm dripped down and traced a vivid line.

“Cough, cough...”

Blood started coming out of his mouth and ears as well.

Everyone was too stunned to say anything; they merely stared in disbelief.

“K-Kromeeen!!!”

At that moment, Olivurn embraced the collapsing prince. His anguished cry echoed through the hall, piercing through the heavy silence.