[Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]

    Chapter 50

    "Meier? What kind of unlucky squad names themselves after a failed empire?"

    Zaik muttered under his breath as he entered the Dungeon Guild in the capital.

    Despite Lioness’s suggestion to let bygones be bygones, forgetting the beating he’d taken wasn’t as easy as it sounded. Unable to vent his frustration directly, he chose instead to gripe about the name “Meier.”

    Behind him, one of his knights chuckled.

    "Haha. Didn’t you once say you’d name your child ‘Ernstine’?"

    "Ernstine was an emperor, a legend. Meier is just a failed empire that crashed and burned."

    "True, I’ve heard of people using Ernstine’s name occasionally, but Meier? Never."

    "Exactly. Names like that bring bad luck."

    Despite his complaints, Zaik dutifully submitted a request to the Meier Civil Squad.

    He glanced at the draft of the E-rank dungeon suppression request originating from the Starn Barony and smirked mockingly.

    "Starn folks, huh? They usually only send F-rank requests. Guess they’re really desperate now."

    "Yes. I heard a dungeon portal appeared behind the baron’s manor."

    "That would place it right near the barony''s castle."

    "Indeed. A disaster for such a small town."

    "So they rushed to bump it up to E-rank."

    "Normally, the Count Baldur family would assist a vassal house in situations like this..."

    "My father would never do that after seeing my condition."

    Zaik Baldur. Once celebrated for his accomplishments and the apple of Count Baldur’s eye, Zaik had been humiliated by Kaylen of the Starn family during their last encounter.

    This had enraged Count Baldur.

    "Yes, that’s true. The count had initially considered holding the Starn family accountable, but since Kaylen severed ties with them, that plan fell through."

    "Right. There’s no justification for it anymore."

    "Instead, the count ordered everyone to ignore the Starn family entirely. That’s why they didn’t dare reach out for aid and submitted this request to the guild instead."

    The dungeon’s appearance near their territory was practically a calamity for the Starn Barony.

    With monsters constantly spilling out, the town around the baron’s castle couldn’t function normally and had to focus all its efforts on defense.

    For a small fiefdom like the Starn Barony, sustaining such a state of emergency for long was impossible.

    "If only the headship had gone to the second son, who shares Baldur’s blood. It’s a pity."

    "Isn’t it already a given that the second son will inherit? The first son cut ties with them, after all."

    "You can never predict how things will turn out."

    Zaik casually chatted with his knight as he finished filling out the paperwork at the Dungeon Guild’s counter. Handing the forms to a clerk, he was promptly questioned.No?v(el)B\\jnn

    "Excuse me, sir, but the reward amount you’ve listed here... it’s significantly higher than standard rates. Could this be a typo?"

    "No, that’s correct."

    "...Understood. In that case, we’ll process the deposit based on this amount."

    "Here you go."

    Zaik handed over a check from the Oblaine Ducal Estate. As the staff member processed the request, they asked him a final question.

    "Would you like to leave any message for the designated Civil Squad, ‘Meier’?"

    "Let them know that the Lioness wishes to meet with them."

    "Understood."

    With that, Zaik finalized the request and left.

    Not long after, deeper within the Dungeon Guild, someone entered the branch manager’s office.

    Kaylen was at the Dungeon Guild when he overheard the mention of the Starn family’s request.

    Kaylen’s recent ventures had turned him into a veritable dungeon-conquering machine, bringing back a steady stream of mana stones and gold after each expedition. Yet, his ultimate purpose wasn’t merely wealth—it was funding Myorn’s ambitious research.

    The Goal: A Universal Mana Suit

    “...Fine. You can join us on this dungeon raid.”

    “Really? You mean it?”

    “Yes. However, this dungeon is a bit far, so we’ll need a carriage.”

    “Where is it located?”

    “Near the Starn Barony.”

    Rustle.

    Unfamiliar with the Starn Barony’s location, Myorn unfolded a map and was startled.

    “This is really far. Almost at the border!”

    “Yes, it’s in a very remote area.”

    “...Are you going because it’s your hometown?”

    “The rewards are excellent. They specifically requested the Meyer Extermination Squad.”

    “...Master, this smells suspicious.”

    The Starn Barony—Kaylen’s hometown—was isolated and underdeveloped. Dungeons in that region were typically categorized as F-rank, and the usual protocol was to survive until they could seek assistance from the Baldur Count’s estate.

    Yet, requesting the Meyer Extermination Squad with a promise of ten times the usual payment? It was anything but ordinary.

    “I know. The Starn Barony doesn’t have the resources for such requests.”

    “The young lord Zaik likely holds a grudge against you. What if this is a trap?”

    “I don’t think so. I’ve received word that someone from higher up wants to meet.”

    “By higher up... do you mean the Oblaine Ducal House?”

    “Yes. Let’s start preparing for the journey.”

    Kaylen reflected on the Starn Barony. Though it was a severed tie, he felt it was worth visiting once to settle things properly.

    "This is for the best. I’ll use this opportunity to finalize everything."

    Inside the carriage en route to the Starn Barony, Alkas marveled at their transportation.

    “This carriage is massive! And so spacious inside. It’s far grander than anything I saw while working at the Count’s estate.”

    “I built it myself. With my body, I need the extra space,” Myorn explained.

    “Ah, so it’s a Dwarven-made carriage. Impressive.”

    Myorn, with her hedgehog-like fur bristling, settled comfortably in the spacious carriage she had designed for practicality. Kaylen, glancing around, brought up a topic.

    “That fur—did the former Dwarf Queen ever talk to you about it?”

    “Yes,” Myorn replied with a chuckle. “She said it grows to train fire mana.”

    “Exactly. Fur naturally grows for insulation. But a Dwarf Queen’s fur serves another purpose—it traps heat completely.”

    As a master of both fire and earth spirits, the Dwarf Queen’s abundant fur strengthened her internal heat.

    “Normally, when one achieves the ability to summon a supreme fire spirit, all that fur vanishes.”

    “A supreme spirit? I can’t even summon a high-tier one yet... that’s impossible for me,” Myorn admitted.

    “Understandable. Did Queen Kaina leave behind any training methods for enhancing fire spirit magic?”

    “She did, but they’re based on the assumption that the summoner can already handle high-tier fire spirits. I’ve stalled at intermediate, so I can’t use them.”

    Kaylen realized the challenge was greater than anticipated.

    Queen Kaina, as a Dwarf Queen, had effortlessly controlled high-tier fire and earth spirits. In contrast, Myorn could summon only intermediate-tier spirits, likely due to the diminishing mana in the atmosphere.

    “And my own capabilities have dropped,” Kaylen thought.

    Compared to the days of Emperor Ernstine, Kaylen’s current body was significantly weaker. Not only was his mana reservoir smaller, but his balance among the six elemental swords was also disrupted. His water and light mana were abundant, but his fire mana was suppressed entirely.

    “With fire mana completely overwhelmed by water, the Flame Sword of the six can’t assist me in amplifying Myorn’s firepower as it should.”

    Kaylen realized that finding an alternative solution was essential.

    As he contemplated, his gaze fell on the mana suit Guardian, resting near his feet.

    The Guardian was a water-aligned mana suit.

    An idea sparked in Kaylen’s mind, and his eyes glimmered with intrigue.

    "There’s another way after all."

    [Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]