Chapter 248 : Chapter 248

Chapter 248

Eurasia, ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍once the heart of the Kingdom Alliance, hid in the rugged eastern frontier under the Empire's offensive.

Rather ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍than completely annihilate those who could no longer maintain the form of a kingdom and had fallen into a family, the Empire distorted history through gossipers' mouths and scholars' writings.

Fewer ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍and fewer people knew about Edan Eurasia, the first knight in human history to reach 9-Star, and Eurasia was reduced to just another country.

As ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍time passed, the Empire prospered, while the Kingdom Alliance that had opposed it sought survival in their own ways.

During ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍that time, Eurasia devoted itself to training knights in order to continue life on the harsh eastern frontier.

And ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍through three marriages, Family Head Simon Eurasia formed alliances of blood with three families.

First, the political Meyer Family, whose connections were said to extend across the continent.

With the support of the First Matriarch, Lucy Eurasia, the harmony among numerous families remained unbroken.

Then Basquia, one of the foremost martial families on the eastern frontier.

With the support of the Second Matriarch, Cali Eurasia, their rabble of mercenaries was forged into the sharp sword known as knights.

Finally, Sepia, the Merchant Guild that opened a route into the eastern continent.

With the support of the Third Matriarch, Emma Eurasia, Eurasia secured funds and arms for training knights.

Some mocked their close alliance, saying it would soon collapse.

They were mistaken.

As time passed, Eurasia's power swelled quickly.

The eastern frontier, once constantly assailed by Monster Waves, found stability around them.

The Knight Orders regularly subjugated the mountain ranges, while the Sepia Merchant Guild distributed needed supplies.

Apprentices and apothecaries gathered after hearing the rumors.

To check Eurasia, which had become the ruler of the eastern frontier, the Empire dispatched Superhumans.

It judged that a small number of people would be effective because of the rugged mountain ranges. It also calculated that if a single Superhuman went on a rampage in earnest, even a Knight Order could easily be captured.

But Eurasia created an organization called the Annihilation Squad and hunted the Empire's agents who had infiltrated the frontier.

Then Simon Eurasia reached 8-Star and declared that Eurasia had become a kingdom.

The gap that had grown over hundreds of years could not be closed by merely a few Superhumans, but Eurasia was still a thorn in the Empire's side.

So the Empire moved its vassal states and princes, starting several wars.

As a result—

Simon Eurasia made his name as the strongest knight on the eastern frontier, and Eurasia became a kingdom that survived after assassinating an Imperial prince.

It also allowed another kingdom, Cornelia, to gain independence, and lost many Superhumans, including an 8-Star mage.

The Empire's once-solid prestige fell.

"There was a knight named Edan Eurasia."

Those who remembered proper history rather than distorted history began to speak.

"A country called the Kingdom of Knights that produced countless Masters."

They tried to stop it, but once the gossipers' mouths had opened, they could not easily be shut.

"The strongest knight, who wielded a Magic Sword."

The Prohibition engraved across the continent was gradually fading.

***

Whether in the days when Eurasia was a family or now that it was a kingdom, the Annihilation Squad Leader was a busy position.

After being buried in documents for a long time, Killian stretched.

To his left lay a huge pile of completed documents, while to his right was a pile that looked about twice as high.

'At this rate, I will be buried under documents and die.'

He had worked on them with complete concentration for ten hours, yet this much still remained.

"Should I rest a little before continuing?"

"You must finish them by today."

Serena, who was reviewing documents beside him, spoke in a chilly voice.

Unlike her voice, both eyes were bloodshot.

"Serena, a knight must know when to advance and when to retreat."

"Now is the time to advance."

"Do something about those bloodshot eyes before you speak."

"They must be finished by today."

Lately, Serena had become strangely cold.

'Could it be because I avoided sparring with her last time?'

Having swung a sword until he was sick of it in Sharle's Mind Image World, he had not accepted several of her sparring requests.

Explaining it would take too long, so he had vaguely brushed it off. Thinking about it now, the time Serena had grown cold was strangely close to the time he returned from Cornelia and evaded the truth.

"Serena."

"There are also matters the queens need to review one more time, so please hurry."

"......"

WHEW.

With no choice, he circulated mana to clear his head, then turned back to the documents.

So many had come up from all over, including the eastern frontier.

'There are all kinds of them, too.'

Information Crimson Wolf and Orchid Owl, having returned to their guild, wanted him to verify personally.

Miller's report on the movements of the Lion's Mane Mercenary Corps.

Babato's strategic letter saying that, in exchange for monster subjugation, he was to receive a vast amount of gold from the Empire as a commission fee.

A report from Hoka de Murus that a Saintess had visited the Temple of Barrier.

Elvenheim, the Arden Mountains, Cornelia, and the Papal Office also sent every sort of document for their own reasons and awaited his answer.

'I cannot remain buried in documents forever. Should I find someone to replace me soon?'

The expectation that Eurasia would rise back to a kingdom, and that it would make a new era with the eastern frontier—long abandoned—as its center.

Eurasia became a kingdom in answer to the expectations of countless families.

The families of the eastern frontier that had supported Eurasia became founding contributors and had their long years of dedication recognized.

When a family rose to a kingdom, it required talent appropriate to its scale.

The Annihilation Squad Leader was a position that belonged in the field rather than with documents.

'Haman has become little more than the Head Apothecary's man...'

He thought of the three queens who were otherwise exerting themselves.

There was the competition for the throne, an extension of the contest to become Family Head, but the three queens backed the Eurasia men so they could focus on waging war, each with her family behind her.

'No. Getting involved with them would only amount to lending strength to one side.'

For the time being, he would have to handle things with Serena as he had been doing.

He worked another five hours that way.

"Get some rest."

"You worked hard."

Serena gave a small bow and left the office.

Just as he thought he would finally have some time alone—

"Prince Killian!"

An unwelcome visitor arrived.

It was Emma Eurasia in splendid attire.

"What brings you here?"

Killian asked halfheartedly, his rest interrupted.

"What am I to do!"

She covered her face with both hands and sank down.

"Julian..."

"......"

"Julian has gone missing!!"

"I see."

At his calm reaction, Emma Eurasia sprang to her feet.

"'I see'? Julian cherishes you like a true brother—"

"Enough."

Killian raised his hand and stopped her.

"If I think you are wasting my time with needless words from this point on, I will have you removed immediately."

"......"

"I will give you five minutes. That should be enough to explain why you came."

"That is..."

"It appears five minutes was too much. I will give you three."

"......!!"

Emma Eurasia hurriedly opened her mouth.

Three minutes passed that way.

As he looked indifferently at her catching her breath with a red face, Killian organized what he had heard.

"In summary, Brother Julian went missing while subjugating monsters on the eastern frontier. And you cannot dispatch an investigation party because you do not want the rumors to spread."

If Eurasia officially dispatched an investigation party, it would damage Julian's standing.

"Please, move the Annihilation Squad and find Julian. I promise enormous compensation."

"......"

She already provided the Annihilation Squad with a great deal of funding.

"To be honest, Brother Julian is not fit to be king."

"If he were alone, perhaps. But if you help him, it is not impossible, is it?"

"I have no reason to do so."

What Eurasia needed was an outstanding king.

This was the time to stabilize and develop the country, and plan for a long war with the Empire.

Demian or Paian, perhaps.

But not Julian.

'I am beyond a stage where I can be moved by money.'

Just as he was about to tell her to offer something more enticing if she wanted to hire him—

"Once, you asked me for a sword."

"...?"

"Adamas."

Emma Eurasia continued with firm eyes.

"I obtained that sword."

"......"

Silence followed.

"If you are trying to move me with a lie, the price will not be small."

"It is not a lie. I originally intended to make a deal with His Majesty, but..."

For her, Julian's survival and his throne came first.

'If the Fourth Prince receives the sword and stands on Julian's side, it is not a losing deal at all.'

'Adamas should be between the Boundary and the Barrier.'

Their eyes met in the air.

There was not the slightest tremor in Emma Eurasia's eyes.

'It does not seem to be a lie. I should verify it once.'

"I stake my honor on the item. Just save Julian."

Killian pretended to be taken in and accepted the offer.

"I will do so."

Emma Eurasia left the room with visibly relieved eyes.

"Why do accidents never stop with this brother?"

He had sent him to the mountain ranges to earn merit instead of going to war, yet he had gone missing.

Shaking his head, Killian began to pack.

***

'Damn it. How did this happen...?'

Julian staggered onward.

The monster subjugation had been successful.

Though he had not earned merit in the war, subjugating mountain ranges on the eastern frontier was also important work.

The rulers of mountain ranges were generally 7-Star.

But considering the casualties, subjugating ruler-class monsters was not done unless a kingdom deployed a Superhuman.

By their nature, even if a mountain range's ruler was hunted, another ruler would be born again at some point.

There was no need to voluntarily make sacrifices and take a loss.

The tenacious vitality of the monster species was still an unresolved mystery.

If they did not carry out subjugations like this, Waves would occur and sweep across the continent.

Therefore, the work he was doing was a noble act for humanity.

Julian led part of the Blue Knight Order along with eastern frontier families in subjugating monsters in three mountain ranges, including the Kurt Mountain Range.

During that time, Julian reached 5-Star.

For someone who had been a 2-Star knight, it was a dreamlike realm.

Perhaps the praise around him had made him somewhat arrogant. Or perhaps it was impatience to earn more definite merit after Eurasia's great victory in the war.

The Ronan Mountain Range was the fourth subjugation campaign he had led.

And—

He made the mistake of provoking the mountain range's ruler.

There was a point that was somewhat unfair.

The ruler of a mountain range normally did not come down below the mountain's middle slope.

The moment they encountered the 7-Star monster, the hundred Blue Knights suffered catastrophic casualties.

Now they had scattered in every direction, and he did not even know how many were alive.

'Why is there such a monster-like creature...?'

Come to think of it, it was his first time facing a mountain range's ruler directly.

He had seen Demian, Paian, and Killian all fight them, and he had been greatly shocked each time.

Julian gripped his necklace.

It was a magical tool Killian had handed him before he left for the subjugation, saying it would help track his location.

'Even if I return to the kingdom like this, I will not be able to escape responsibility.'

Simon Eurasia.

The indifferent gaze of the man called the strongest knight on the eastern continent came to mind.

'How did I earn his trust?'

SHHHHHH—

Rain began to fall.

"Damn it! Even the weather..."

He hurriedly moved to escape the rain.

How long had he walked that way?

Suddenly, a black cave appeared before him.

"Why is there one in a place like this...?"

It had not been on the map identified by the rangers.

He felt suspicious, but the rain was growing heavier. At this rate, he would die of hypothermia.

"Damn it, either way..."

After letting out another curse, he entered the cave.

And not long after—

"Oh, Mother..."

THUD.

Despair appeared on his face as he fell to his knees on the ground.