Ch.326108. Isn’t That Right, Master?

# The Seven Peaks Mountain Range

This absolute forbidden zone, said to be home to the Demon King, had seen a sharp decline in the number of monsters at some point, becoming increasingly quiet.

However, it remained a dangerous area, and venturing in and out was tantamount to risking one’s life.

“Wow. It took us ages just to get here, and now we’re told this is only the beginning.”

The small girl stood with her hands on her hips, her posture surprisingly confident for someone with such a cute appearance and young age. She held her chest out proudly.

For the sake of travel convenience—and apparently unwilling to neglect her appearance—she wore tight-fitting pants with a dress over them, topped with a functional vest. The outfit was truly bizarre.

With various items hanging all over her body, the girl resembled a tree laden with fruit.

Her hair was a pale white, lighter than ash.

She had blue eyes and a high, straight nose.

With her hollow cheeks giving her a smooth appearance, the girl reached into the air, and a long staff was drawn into her grasp as if by magic.

Tap!

The girl planted it on the ground and then turned around.

“What do you think, Rio? This magnificent view! Though it’s too grand for humble humans like us to face, doesn’t it make your heart race at the thought of conquering it? You know what I mean!”

“…Due to my shallow knowledge, I apologize.”

Snow-white hair.

However, his hair color was distinctly different from the girl’s—it looked more like it had been drained of color, dried out and bleached.

They say he once had a different hair color, but after experiencing a great shock, it had remained in this condition.

I’d heard stories about hair turning white from shock, but I never expected to see it in person.

Rio, a young man who had just turned sixteen, wore light leather armor.

At his waist hung a one-handed sword with a relatively wide blade.

On his back was a round shield.

Made of wood covered with leather, it had a shallow metal circle in the center—truly a minimal piece of defensive equipment.

Additionally, on his right hip hung a book with dried leather covers, just the right size to fit in one hand.

Anyone would recognize his attire as that of an adventurer or explorer.

“Princess Misrena, I find it difficult to support you sticking your head out like that when we don’t know what might be out there.”

And then.

As if to assist the princess, a woman in metal light armor stood behind her, trying to verbally restrain her.

The tall woman with dark brown hair and blue eyes was a head taller than Rio, though her frame was relatively slender.

“Dena, a ruler must have great ambition!”

“But Princess, even though you’re royalty and an heir, you’re not the first in line.”

“We must always be prepared! Only a prepared ruler can bring peace to all people!”

“……”

Perhaps the scene was truly comical.

But except for them, this place was filled only with frost and blizzards, so there was nothing to stop them.

“Since Father said the answer lies here, no danger can block our path!

Even if that so-called Demon King or Monster King or whatever appears!”

“Nothing can stop us!”

That was her grand declaration just five days ago.

“This isn’t because I’m weak, but because nature’s greatness is forcing humility and restraint upon us!”

*Sniff!*

She sucked back her running nose, her words surprisingly dignified despite her condition.

“……”

Nevertheless, Rio remained silent.

*Crackle, crackle!*

Dena was warming her metal-gloved hands over the small campfire, constantly fighting the urge to remove her armor.

‘Even the leather lining has frozen.’

The sweat from her body had frozen both her clothes and the inner leather.

If she didn’t warm herself like this and remove her armor to dry it, the inside would freeze solid within hours. She felt like throwing away this expensive item somewhere.

…The Empire’s knights must be suffering even more than I am.

“They’d probably spend the money to wrap their armor in all sorts of preservation magic. Heat for cold! Cold for heat?”

“I believe our Kingdom of Dabas urgently needs to adopt such measures.”

“The cost is astronomical, Dena. Such things are only possible in the Empire!”

“Why are you boasting about that?”

“How rude! I kindly explain and you still complain?”

“…Didn’t you say that dissatisfaction is the foundation for growth, Princess? Everything I say, I learned from you.”

“Ah! Enough!”

The two chatted excitedly while chewing on dried jerky and fruit.

Then they soothed their stomachs with herbal water made by melting snow and ice and adding herbs…

“Rio, aren’t you curious? Why we’ve come all this way?”

“…Didn’t we come because it was necessary?”

“Of course we came because it was necessary!”

Princess Misrena’s bold declaration.

She always spoke with such confidence that it was hard to tell whether she was speaking truth or merely boasting.

“Father concluded that the tragic incident you experienced wasn’t simply the work of thieves and bandits. It’s likely connected to the cults operating throughout the continent.”

“……”

“Then, among the few clues, we discovered it was linked to one of those cults—the Devil Cult. Do you remember this far?”

“Yes, I remember.”

Rio unconsciously gripped the book in his hand more tightly.

“So we petitioned the Irenis Order, and they dispatched investigators…”

At that point, a miracle occurred.

And to intercept or eliminate that miracle… they discovered that one of their leaders had passed through.

“She was once even the Empress of the Empire, but now she’s the witch of witches.”

“……”

“Now that our enemy is clear, we must wage war against her and the organization she belongs to. That’s why… we’ve come here.”

“Wouldn’t it have been more appropriate to ask the Irenis Order for help?”

Rio squeezed out what little knowledge he had to ask this.

To this, Princess Misrena replied:

“They’re already overwhelmed. Since the Holy Mother died and the subsequent saints faced persecution or tragic deaths… the Order hasn’t been able to produce proper candidates for saints.”

Some say that the Knight of Radiance might return to destroy all evil.

The Knight of Radiance who disappeared shortly after the Holy Mother’s death.

Although they say the current Emperor of the Empire is the descendant and successor of that Knight of Radiance…

…this is clearly different.

Tales of the Knight of Radiance had spread throughout the continent, including the Empire.

In his lifetime, he always stood against evil and injustice, and consistently showed reverence for the weak.

He protected not only the Empire but the entire continent from numerous threats and dangers. Although he focused more on the Empire after starting a family, his contributions couldn’t be erased.

“They say even as he aged considerably, his appearance remained the same as in his youth.”

“……”

“I was very surprised when Father said his sworn brother was that person’s child. I was even more surprised when Lyurik, the Third War General, confirmed it was true.”

And the place we’re heading to is:

“The Sword Gate he established.”

“Sword Gate?”

“It’s called the Sword Gate because Faceran’s One-Armed Swordsman was his disciple, and all five Sword Masters leading Faceran were his disciples.”

And it was the One-Armed Swordsman who eliminated the Devil Cult when they infiltrated Faceran.

Apparently, he was once the heir to a great noble family in Faceran, but now that family has fallen, and even their name has been forgotten in history…

“The cults and devil worshippers were particularly ineffective against them.”

“So, are we going to ask for their help?”

“Father said he had an agreement with his sworn brother who established the Sword Gate. Well, not with Father directly, but during the reign of Father’s father, my grandfather the Cold King—”

The story continued to unfold.

The three of them wandered for several more days, facing various monsters and encountering several crises, but…

“Ahhh—”

Four days later.

They were able to directly witness the Demon King they had mentioned on the first day.

[Primitive and foolish creatures. How dare you trespass here?]

They didn’t know it, but this area was beyond the entrance of the Seven Peaks Mountain Range, in the middle section.

This was the domain of the Demon King and the monsters loyal to them—a kind of sovereign territory—though the three were unaware of this at the time.

However:

[…Kariel?]

At the mention of that name, the giant snake that was about to swallow them whole disappeared, telling them to find their own way.

After that, the number of monsters attacking them decreased exponentially.

“Kariel! It’s a magical word!”

Princess Misrena joyfully sang “Kariel, Kariel” over and over.

“……”

“Sigh.”

Rio remained silent.

Dena heaved a deep sigh.

After communicating with several monsters capable of conversation…

They were finally able to reach their destination.

After climbing halfway up a mountain, they found a vast plain so wide it was hard to believe they were still on a mountainside.

More accurately, it was a plateau, but there were even fields and various buildings erected there.

And then:

“Have you arrived?”

As if he had been expecting them, a young man greeted the three with a calm face.

Following his guidance, they reached a place with a vast, seemingly empty interior.

Despite the enormous space, there was a simple altar set up.

There, burning incense, was a man.

With peculiar black and white hair alternating evenly.

The man with braided hair greeted them in an unfamiliar white outfit.

“Welcome.”

He greeted them in a leisurely tone.

“We’ve been waiting for you.”

Adrian.

That’s how he introduced himself.

“I am the second Master of this place, succeeding the first Master, Kariel.”

Then Misrena’s group introduced themselves one by one.

“Hmm…”

Suddenly, Adrian stared at Rio for a moment before slightly shaking his head.

“One must pay the price either way. Cause and effect cannot be easily discarded.”

“??”

A tiny mutter to himself.

Nevertheless, Rio felt an inexplicable anxiety from those words.

“I heard that my master promised to bestow favor upon Dabas three times. As long as they do not abandon righteousness or intend to commit evil.”

After briefly hearing their situation, Adrian showed a receptive attitude toward Misrena’s request, as if he had foreseen it.

“Is anyone outside?”

At Adrian’s call, a female disciple passing by the large entrance responded.

“Did you call for me?”

“Eva. Summon Freak.”

Soon after, two people dressed in black responded to the call.

“Did you call for us?”

“Freak. How is your training progressing?”

“I-I’m working hard as usual…”

“Eva. And you?”

“I am faithfully following Master’s orders.”

Although Master Adrian was everyone’s teacher, these two were not his immediate disciples.

Adrian’s immediate disciple had not yet appeared.

Perhaps they would appear soon, but even that wasn’t certain.

“These two will guide you.”

“Pardon?”

“…?”

Did they hear wrong?

Eva and Freak showed their surprise or doubt as if hearing this for the first time.

“This is the cause and effect, the task you must accomplish.”

While this was a natural progression for Adrian, the two disciples who felt everything happening suddenly couldn’t help but be bewildered.

“…Should I report to my master?”

Adrian told Eva to do so.

“Th-then I should also…”

“Be careful.”

Freak flinched.

“……”

Although Freak gave a slight look of resentment, as if thinking “Why didn’t you tell them directly?”…

“I’ll go report.”

He couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Eva probably judged that since Delica was her master, there would be no issue with her rationality and reason.

…But Freak’s master was Beldes.

A legendary battle maniac, combat fanatic, and hunting enthusiast who constantly threatened to kill his disciples by throwing them to monsters!

One of the reasons for the decreased monster population in the Seven Peaks Mountain Range was due to Beldes and his disciples.

By now, this had continued for so long that even many monsters and beasts of the Seven Peaks coexisted with them.

Those that refused coexistence, caused disturbances, or acted on their own still swarmed around, trying desperately to kill their natural predators, but…

…to no avail.

“Until the problem is resolved, these two will follow you.”

“Thank you for your help.”

Princess Misrena bowed her head firmly.

She hadn’t expected such resolute assistance.

Although one of the male disciples didn’t look particularly reliable, it was unclear how much help he would be…

“If you’re not in a hurry, I’d like you to rest for a few days before setting out.”

“Thank you again for your consideration.”

Thus, the three were finally able to put down their tired bodies, eat their fill, and rest their backs in warmth.

“……”

Nevertheless.

Rio was still lying awake through the night.

Unless he collapsed from exhaustion, he couldn’t easily lie down.

Therefore.

Standing at the edge of the plateau where the cold wind blew, he began to swing his sword again.

More than training, it was an outburst to release emotions and try to forget.

Yet there was no wasted movement, making it hard to believe he had been learning the sword for barely a year.

“……”

However.

An old man standing at a distance, holding a staff with his remaining hand.

Raymond, observing the scene intently, immediately recognized it.

That kid. He must have picked up the sword recently.

Raymond, now in his old age, let out a sigh like a snort.

“His talent and nature… can’t keep up with his aptitude. No, perhaps it’s the opposite.”

How strange.

Truly strange.

It was as if a sword master who had lost his memory and obtained a new body was clumsily swinging a sword—everything was awkward yet without waste.

What a terrible contradiction.

‘The world is indeed vast.’

Master.

He couldn’t help but recall his old master, who had now vanished, in those movements.

Now, Adrian, his senior and senior brother, was close to being his master and teacher.

Still, his brief journey with him had left a significant mark on his life.

And Raymond had left significant marks on the lives and trajectories of his successors.

He had done all he could.

Now he was simply sitting down, diligently cultivating his later years and waiting for his inevitable end, but…

“Still.”

I have work left to do.

Isn’t that right, Master?