[Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]

    Chapter 142

    When Kaylen fearlessly entered the inner fortress,

    Ederna, who had been watching him, had inwardly given up.

    ‘Reckless.’

    Despite sensing the dark magic, he still went inside—he lacked caution.

    At this rate, he was bound to die before even reaching the Demon King.

    Thinking that she might as well watch the last desperate struggle of the Hero’s descendant, she observed—

    Only to witness something completely unexpected.

    ‘He dispelled Dragon Tongues?!’

    Dragon Tongues.

    The power of dragons, the rulers of mana.

    With just a single utterance, they could command the world’s mana at will—an absolute decree that superseded all laws.

    Even high-ranking demons struggled to resist this language unless they were among the highest tiers.

    ‘Even though the Dragon Tongues they use aren’t real...’

    The ones used by these impostors were not the true Dragon Tongues of legends, making them weaker in effect.

    Still, considering they had been cast within that black vortex, it should have been nearly impossible for a human to overcome.

    Even as a descendant of the Hero, he should have struggled immensely.

    Yet, he hadn’t even fought it head-on with full force—the magic had simply unraveled on its own?

    Ederna had observed countless phenomena as the Colonial Observatory Chief, but this was a first.

    ‘I have to keep him alive.’

    Initially prepared to abandon Kaylen due to his recklessness, the serpent changed her mind and reached out to him directly.

    —First, get out of there.

    Startled by the sudden voice, Kaylen remained wary as he asked,

    “Who are you?”

    —The Colonial Observatory Chief.

    “If you’re the Colonial Observatory Chief, that means you’re a demon... How can I trust you?”

    —Then stay if you want. You’re about to be devoured.

    Rumble.

    Before her words had even fully left her mouth, the ground trembled violently.

    The spot where the black vortex had been split open, and from within, dark smoke began to rise.

    ‘I need to get out first.’

    Kaylen picked up Theresia and rushed out of the fortress.

    In the blink of an eye, the group had made it outside.

    “This should be far enough.”

    Just as Kaylen set down Theresia, who looked pale—

    The fortress, shrouded in rising black smoke, began tilting to the sides, sinking as if being swallowed by a swamp.

    —Kaaaaah!

    Then, a beastly roar shook the heavens and earth, and the dark smoke began morphing into what looked like fangs, engulfing the fortress and the village within it in utter darkness.

    Squirm. Squirm.

    In the place where the fortress had vanished, darkness spewed forth, vomiting blackened soil.

    The very ground was rapidly transforming into the soil of the Demon Realm.

    At first, only the earth within the fortress had turned black,

    But now, the corrupted land had spread far and wide, even reaching where Kaylen stood.

    “That... What in the world...”

    Theresia was at a loss for words as she watched the darkness swallow the fortress.

    At a glance, it seemed like nothing more than dark magic erupting—

    But instinctively, she knew.

    That thing... is a living creature.

    ‘At that level, it’s comparable to the Demon Realm’s ducal rank I’ve seen before.’

    The Flame Duke of the Demon Realm, who frequently appeared in Theresia’s dreams.

    The power emanating from this creature was on par with that duke—no, perhaps even greater.

    “If I had faced that thing, even I would have struggled.”

    Kaylen admitted his lack of strength as he gazed at the distant creature.

    In his current state, without having perfected the Six Swords, it was a natural disaster he could hardly oppose.

    Had he been there, he would have had no choice but to resist—

    But ultimately, he would have been devoured, unable to overcome the overwhelming difference in power.

    “You called yourself the Colonial Observatory Chief. What is that thing?”

    —A Black Dragon.

    “...That’s a dragon?”

    Kaylen tilted his head as he looked at the mass of black mana sinking back into the ground.

    He had never seen a real dragon before, but according to the legends, dragons were never described as mere lumps of mana.

    If anything, it resembled an enormous drake.

    —Yes. It is Helmeier’s Forbidden Creation.

    —For now, I suggest you return to your castle, Hero.

    "Why?"

    —A direct descendant of Helmeier is coming. If a demon arrives here, they might overhear our conversation.

    A direct descendant of Helmeier.

    Kaylen considered it—maybe he should meet them.

    ‘Until I complete the Six Swords, I should be careful.’

    But recalling the Black Dragon ‘Meier’ he had just seen, he decided to withdraw for now.

    Right now, he lacked the strength.

    To fight against Ducal-level Demon Realm power, completing the Six Swords was essential.

    ‘I need to eat the Fruit of the World Tree as soon as possible.’

    With that thought, Kaylen returned to the capital—

    To the site where Darkhan Castle once stood.

    From the sky, countless Drakes descended.

    Thud. Thud.

    One by one, knights clad in black armor dismounted from the Drakes.

    There were exactly one hundred of them, but except for the one standing at the very front, their bodies were shrouded in black smoke.

    Though their mana levels varied greatly, their appearances closely resembled the dragon that had once engulfed the castle.

    The sole knight among them who retained a physical body looked down at the ground and spoke.

    "This should have been the site where Darkhan Castle once stood."

    "It is said that the Grand Magic Circle was destroyed due to a sudden attack, Commander."

    "The Grand Magic Circle was destroyed in an attack? Was it an invasion from the Demon Realm?"

    "We have not been able to determine that. It all happened so quickly..."

    "Hmm..."

    The knight, referred to as Commander, removed her helmet.

    As it came off, snow-white hair spilled down, and long, brown ears emerged.

    Charred skin.

    White hair.

    Elongated ears.

    Her appearance resembled that of a Dark Elf, a race that had long disappeared from the Middle Realm.

    She was as stunning as the Elves—no, even more beautiful.

    With cold, composed eyes, she gazed at the ground.

    "In the name of the Dragon, I command the spirits—show me what transpired here."

    At her words, an earth spirit erupted from the blackened ground.

    Moisture gathered in the air, coalescing into a murky water spirit.

    The water spirit, resembling a Dark Elf, soon altered its form—transforming into a mirror-like surface.

    Rumble...

    The earth spirit, with its blunt and rugged form, rose to serve as the stand supporting the mirror.

    Then, through the mirror, they replayed the events that had taken place on this land.

    Kaylen entering the castle and confronting the jester-masked magician.

    Even when he used the Six Sword Path, the barrier did not break.

    Yet—

    When the magician countered with Dragon Tongue, Kaylen overcame it.

    The vision did not replay events beyond that point.

    But what they had seen was enough to reveal the cause of Darkhan Castle’s destruction.

    "This man..."

    "Ah. According to the Reaper’s memory, he appears to be the King of the Meier Kingdom."

    As the knights gathered in small groups to discuss Kaylen’s identity—

    The Dark Elf commander, eyes wide open,

    "Replay it. Again."

    "Again."

    "One more time."

    Over and over.

    She replayed the scene of Kaylen using the Six Sword Path.

    The scene of him overcoming Dragon Tongue.

    It had been broad daylight when they arrived.

    Yet she kept watching until the sun had set, and night had fallen.

    She continued to stare at Kaylen.

    "Uh... Commander?"

    "He is undoubtedly Kaylen, the King of Meier."

    "There’s no need to confirm any further..."

    Even as the knights beside her grew impatient, she remained entranced, watching the vision over and over.

    And when night had fully settled—

    She finally spoke, her voice filled with disbelief.

    "...Dad?"

    [Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]