[Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]

    Chapter 67

    “This is the last mansion I found for you.”

    The head of the dungeon guild branch, Krundal, had been tasked with finding a mansion for Kaylen at his request. Krundal was personally guiding Kaylen around.

    Although he had been busy with staff dispatched from the headquarters due to the dungeon core Kaylen brought in...

    ‘Still, he’s a VIP. I need to handle this personally.’

    Having gained substantial benefits thanks to Kaylen, Krundal decided to go out of his way to assist.

    Kaylen’s selection process for a mansion was straightforward. He would assess the exterior from afar, and if he showed interest, they would take a closer look inside.

    The only issue was Kaylen’s high standards.

    “Hmm, this time, the space feels lacking.”

    From his perspective, most properties didn’t meet his expectations.

    “Is that so? To find a larger mansion with this budget, we’d have to look further out.”

    “If I increase the budget, could we find something bigger than this?”

    “Well... in terms of size alone, yes, there are options,” Krundal replied after a moment of thought.

    “There’s a mansion once used by the Marquis of Albrynx. The building itself isn’t much different in size, but it has a very large training ground. The ancestor was a Dragon Knight, so they needed space for their draconic companions.”

    “Oh...”

    “But it’s an outdated design for modern times. Who needs such a large training ground nowadays? Despite that, the Marquis’s family has set a high price for it...”

    However, Kaylen’s interest was piqued. The idea of a mansion used by a former Dragon Knight appealed to him. It seemed perfect for riding his drake.

    “Let’s go take a look.”

    “Pardon? ...Very well.”

    The old mansion of the Albrynx Marquis was located on elevated ground.

    It was evident that the place had been neglected for a long time, with signs of disrepair everywhere. The garden was overgrown with weeds, and the mansion looked as if it might collapse at any moment.

    “As you can see, it’s in terrible condition. The location isn’t particularly favorable, either,” Krundal remarked.

    Indeed, there was nothing around the mansion. On the way up, they had passed a few abandoned houses, but there were no signs of inhabited dwellings.

    “Judging by what I saw on the way here, it seems people used to live here.”

    “Yes, commoners used to reside in the lower areas. But about a century ago, a dungeon portal appeared nearby, so everyone retreated within the city walls.”

    “So, this place has been unused since then?”

    “Yes. Currently, the Albrynx family’s mansion is located in the South River District. This place has been abandoned for ages.”

    Krundal clicked his tongue.

    But Kaylen liked what he saw.

    ‘This is perfect for riding my drake.’

    Compared to the developed South River District, this was the underdeveloped East River area, at the very edge of the district. There were no residential houses nearby, and it was located outside the protective city walls. It seemed ideal for using the drake freely.

    While the drake’s existence would eventually become known, there was no need for rumors to spread right away.

    Kaylen decided on this location.

    “I like this place.”

    “Do you?”

    “Is it difficult to purchase with the current budget?”

    “Well, the price they’re asking is quite high.”

    “I’ll clear another dungeon. I’ll bring back a similar amount of dungeon cores as last time.”

    “......?!”

    What? How does he talk about obtaining dungeon cores as if he’s casually picking apples from an orchard?

    “That much... will be more than sufficient.”

    “Then, just take care of settling any surplus properly.”

    “Yes. In that case, may I ask how long you think it will take?”

    “Well, it shouldn’t take too long.”

    Kaylen’s response made Krundal’s eyes widen.

    ‘What?! We don’t even have the money right now...’

    The dungeon cores Kaylen had previously brought hadn’t all been sold yet. Still, there was no way Krundal could admit they were short on funds.

    ‘Even if he says it won’t take long, it’s bound to take some time... right?’

    Thinking so, Krundal put on a confident front and answered Kaylen.

    “Understood. I’ll make the preparations.”

    Flap, flap.

    As the drake flapped its wings and landed near the dungeon portal, three figures dismounted: Kaylen, Eldir, and Alkas.

    “Honestly... this is way too fast.”

    Eldir shook his head, exasperated.

    Even after riding magical transportation from the Tower of the Fae, he still couldn’t get used to this speed. What should’ve taken several days was over in less than half a day.

    “Alkas, did you bring it?”

    The remaining group followed the path Kaylen had cleared, arriving at the location of the dungeon core.

    Kaylen gestured to Alkas.

    “Activate your ‘Normal’ and try attacking the dungeon core.”

    “Yes, sir!”

    Ssssshhh—

    Aura flared explosively from Alkas’s sword.

    Eldir’s eyes widened slightly at the sight.

    “Oh? Not bad.”

    He had assumed Alkas was just a knight trailing after Kaylen, but his aura appeared sharp and refined.

    Judging by his youthful appearance, Alkas seemed like a relatively young knight. To have such skill at his age was impressive.

    “You’ve improved a lot compared to before. But you still need to get more accustomed to the mana suit. Is this a modified version?”

    “Yes, sir. I heard it has about three times the output.”

    “Good. Go ahead and attack.”

    Three times the aura output? This mana suit?

    As Eldir skeptically glanced at his own ‘Normal’ gauntlets—

    “Hyaap!”

    Alkas’s aura-infused sword struck the dungeon core.

    Clang!

    The blade momentarily dug into the core, then bounced back. He swung again—once, twice, three times in succession—

    Thwack.

    Finally, the sword penetrated slightly deeper into the core before retreating. For a brief moment, his aura had visibly cut into the dungeon core.

    A Sword Expert managed this?

    No matter how skilled a knight might be, it was practically unheard of for an aura blade to damage a dungeon core. Eldir was astonished by the impossibility of the feat.

    However, Kaylen’s expression clearly reflected dissatisfaction.

    “It’s still lacking. It seems like it’s close, but it needs more refinement. What a pity.”

    “...I apologize.”

    Kaylen evaluated Alkas with a detached tone.

    “Eldir, try cutting it using the mana suit.”

    “Alright.”

    Eldir, having felt an itch to try since watching Alkas, activated his mana suit and generated an aura sword on his wooden training sword.

    Whiiirrr—

    A powerful force concentrated on the wooden blade.

    “Ooh...”

    Seeing the aura sword for the first time, Alkas marveled.

    “He really is a Swordmaster!”

    Though its greenish hue lacked the overwhelming presence of Kaylen’s golden aura sword, to Alkas, it was dazzling nonetheless.

    “Hmph!”

    As wind spiraled around the green aura sword, Eldir unleashed a single, decisive strike.

    Boom!

    A massive gust engulfed the dungeon core.

    Crack, crack, crack—

    The core splintered, breaking into seven pieces that fell to the ground.

    “Wow! Incredible!”

    Alkas exclaimed in awe at the scene, but Eldir, like Kaylen, wore a dissatisfied expression.

    The reason soon became evident.

    The ‘Normal’ mana suit cracked and shattered into fragments in Eldir’s hands.

    “I thought it was a decent mana suit, but its durability is terrible. That Myorn girl... she still has a long way to go.”

    Shaking his head at the broken pieces, Eldir sighed in frustration.

    Kaylen also shook his head, but for a different reason.

    “Durability issues? That might be part of it, but...”

    Watching Eldir manifest his aura sword had made something clear. His technique was incomplete.

    “It needs correction.”

    With that thought, Kaylen picked up the dungeon core pieces scattered on the ground.

    He fused the seven neatly divided fragments into one.

    As he inspected it, Kaylen’s brow furrowed. The text on it differed from before.

    [Colony – Subjugation]

    The word Subjugation, a term that had once plunged the kingdom into turmoil, emerged on the dungeon core.

    [Translator - Kiteretsu]

    [Proofreader - Kyros]