Chapter 249 : Chapter 249

Chapter 249

Looking ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍only at landmass, the eastern frontier was the largest of the four frontiers.

It ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was nearly twice the size of the continent's center and similar in size to the other three frontiers combined.

Numerous ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍eastern kingdoms that wished to expand their territory advanced into the frontier.

Their ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍joy at planting the kingdom's flag lasted only a moment before they realized that, compared to its vast land, it was not an attractive place for humans to live.

That ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍was because nearly a hundred mountain ranges were spread across it.

Though ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the east was connected to the continent, it had the form of an island.

Mountain ranges spread on both sides and ahead, while an endless sea lay behind. If a sea route could be opened, it would lead to the Ocean Current Nation, but the climate made ship travel impossible.

On top of that, they had to endure no small amount of bloodshed to fend off the Waves of monsters pouring from the hundred tangled mountain ranges.

"This is practically monster territory, with nothing to gain."

"It is no place for a kingdom to rule."

"Humans simply cannot live here."

All the kings who had advanced into the eastern frontier said so and withdrew their troops.

Naturally, the eastern frontier became a place sought by those who wanted to hide themselves from the world.

For Eurasia, which had fallen and been chased by the Empire, it was the perfect place.

Leaving only a small number of people in the form of a family, it preserved its name.

When monsters descended, they shed blood to protect the minimum territory needed to sustain their lives.

They gathered the hides and Magic Stones of hunted monsters and traded them for food.

They endured hunger by hunting and raising animals in safe areas.

Those who crossed the mountain ranges called them barbarians, but no one cared. Nothing mattered more to them than survival.

From hunters who hunted beasts to rangers who read the terrain of mountain ranges.

From infantrymen who barely managed to hold off monster attacks to knights who sought out and hunted their lairs.

As time passed, groups that survived in their own ways formed families.

To fight monsters efficiently, the families allied with one another and formed Knight Orders.

As the number of survivors increased, so did the number of Knight Orders.

Kingdoms that belatedly came to covet the land attempted to enter once again, but they had no choice but to retreat before the alliance of families already rooted there.

To the barbarians who had survived by facing monsters for hundreds of years, the continent's knights were merely soft hands who knew nothing of life's harshness.

The eastern frontier had already become a place that could not be controlled merely by dispatching a few Knight Orders and Superhumans.

The kings looked at the land they could no longer possess and mocked the frontier families. They cursed them, saying that since no kingdom could arise there, they would live forever as a barrier against Monster Waves.

They had lived that way until now, and survived.

The dozens of families took the mockery and curses lightly.

When mountain monsters that had finished breeding brought about a Wave, the frontier families shed blood to stop it.

They joined with nearby families and drenched the mountain ranges in monster blood.

Just as the continent's kingdoms appeared and disappeared through wars among humans, frontier families also repeatedly disappeared and emerged through wars against monsters.

If continental Knight Orders earned merit by cutting human flesh, the only difference was that frontier Knight Orders earned merit by cutting monster hides.

Those who wished to walk the path of the sword heard the rumors and came to the eastern frontier.

Some were ordinary people who had been unable to forge Mana Hearts, while others had forged Mana Hearts but tired of mercenary life.

No few had worked as knights on the continent before flowing in here for unavoidable reasons.

Talent gathered under those among the survivors whose names spread especially far.

Enough time passed for several generations to change.

A young knight visited every family on the eastern frontier.

Before long, having become Family Head, he married the daughters of three influential frontier families.

That was how the unparalleled knight Simon Eurasia built his foundation.

Meyer, the political family; Basquia, the martial family; Sepia, the merchant family.

The heads of the three families must have possessed the insight to recognize that Simon Eurasia would fulfill his will and become the ruler of a great kingdom.

—A Great Kingdom, Eurasia, Born on the Eastern Frontier.

—Excerpted from The Eurasia Chronicle, written by Loen Favre, the first Lord of Alchemy Castle and a legendary Alchemist—

***

"Are you going alone again?"

Killian gave a grin as he looked at Serena, who asked with evident displeasure.

"It is the queen's command. I have no choice this time either."

He had told her about the mission. He had also told her that, at the queen's special request, he had to move as inconspicuously as possible.

"......"

"Please take care of the remaining documents for me."

There could not be a noticeable gap merely because the Annihilation Squad Leader was away.

"How could I carry out a mission with peace of mind unless it is the First Sword of our squad?"

Having escaped the documents, Killian wore a broad smile.

Serena still pouted as though displeased, but she obediently gave a knight's salute.

"Please be careful."

With the little luggage he needed, Killian stepped onto the Warp Stone installed in the capital, Brussels.

After passing through Pantera Temple and moving once more, a familiar castle appeared before him.

Eurasia's main estate from when it had been a family.

It was now where the head of Basquia, who had been granted the title of Margrave, resided.

"The Count is waiting for you."

Once he identified himself, the high-ranking knight guarding the castle gate personally guided him.

It seemed the queen had given some word beforehand.

When he entered the Family Head's reception room, an old man in simple clothing was waiting.

His features, which recalled Paian, and his black hair faded white in places, were striking.

"Welcome. I am Rosell Basquia."

"It is an honor to meet Basquia's great Superhuman."

Killian respectfully gave a knight's salute.

"A great Superhuman? It is embarrassing to hear that from an 8-Star knight."

The Superhuman who had stabilized 7-Star responded calmly.

'He has Paian's appearance and Cali Eurasia's personality.'

It matched the information collected by the Annihilation Squad.

"I heard from Queen Emma, but you came sooner than I expected."

It had not even been five hours since Killian spoke with Emma, so it was not strange for Rosel to say that.

"Understanding the situation comes first."

Most locations in the eastern frontier where humans could live had already been identified.

Because Emma Eurasia had blocked the information, even the Annihilation Squad had not heard of Julian's disappearance.

And the Superhuman before him was responsible for the eastern frontier.

'Julian was conducting a mountain subjugation campaign on the eastern frontier.'

The knights under his command alone numbered over a hundred, and there were hundreds when ordinary soldiers for supplying provisions were included.

If such a person had disappeared, it likely meant there was a problem with the knights and soldiers as well.

Sure enough—

"Bodies believed to be from the Blue Knight Order have been found in the Ronan Mountain Range."

Their number approached a hundred.

He told Killian everything reported to him without embellishment.

While Eurasia fought a war against the Empire, Julian had admirably subjugated three mountain ranges.

The Ronan Mountain Range was his fourth subjugation campaign.

"Were they wiped out?"

"It is difficult to be certain, but two 6-Star knights from the family, whom we attached as a precaution, were found with them."

Two 6-Star knights capable of cutting down 6-Star monsters.

To kill them required a monster of at least 7-Star.

'Julian is not foolish enough to provoke a mountain range's ruler...'

Then it meant a Superhuman-class monster was wandering around despite not being the mountain range's ruler.

Or the mountain range's ruler was such a mutant that it had come down below the middle slope.

"The mountain range's ruler is 7-Star. But even that fellow has only been spotted once or twice deep within the mountains."

"That is right. Until recently, there had been no report of a 7-Star monster other than that one."

Killian's and Rosel's eyes met in the air.

A subjugation campaign in which Eurasia unexpectedly spilled much blood.

'It is a situation similar to the Knight Slayer of the Kurt Mountain Range.'

"I am sorry. I have sent out hunters and rangers to search the mountain range, but the situation is grim so far."

"......"

Though he did not say it outright, Killian could tell he was considering Julian's death.

'The situation is worse than I thought.'

The Blue Knight Order was one of the main forces supporting Eurasia.

The destruction of such a Knight Order would lead to a reduction in Eurasia's overall military strength.

'I sent him to gain experience, and he has caused a real disaster.'

He did not think long.

"I will go myself."

"The eastern frontier's paths are so complicated that it is easy to get lost. I will attach a swift horse and an experienced ranger."

"Thank you."

Soon, a middle-aged ranger who had finished preparing came to him.

Together with him, Killian passed through the many strongholds the Basquia Family had established, resting and eating repeatedly.

'It is a pity we could not install Warp Stones. When I return, I should discuss support for the garrisoned troops with Sir Escardo.'

Though it was his first time entering it himself, according to the Annihilation Squad's information he checked before coming here, the Ronan Mountain Range was where Simon had personally led the Red Knight Order and cut down the ruler ten or so years ago.

It was highly likely that a new ruler had arisen there.

After riding for ten straight days, Killian finally reached the entrance of the Ronan Mountain Range.

Three hours into ascending the mountains with the ranger's guidance, he encountered a dozen or so Basquia search party members coming down.

"Where is Commander Julian?"

"We have not found him yet. The survivors appear to have scattered in all directions... The rain broke off the trail."

"I see."

It seemed he needed to change methods.

"We will continue in."

After walking at nearly a run for three days, he crossed the mountain range's middle level with the ranger.

"This should be far enough."

"Pardon...?"

Leaving behind the puzzled ranger, Killian drew Anima.

SHING.

He smoothly drew the sword and drove it into the ground.

"Stay back. This is a somewhat violent method."

"Ah, understood."

SHHHHH.

8-Star mana rising from his body seeped into the sword and quickly spread through the ground.

"Detective Mana."

His target was Julian's mana, or his own mana engraved on the pendant Julian would be wearing.

WHOOOM. WHOOOOM.

Waves of mana rose, and the wind blew several times.

FLUTTER.

Startled birds screamed and took flight.

The howls of monsters could be heard from throughout the mountain range.

Rather than releasing their fighting spirit, they seemed flustered by the sudden presence of an 8-Star knight.

'One more time.'

Unlike the Kurt Mountain Range, it did not matter if this mountain range's ruler noticed this time.

Sure enough, a 7-Star monster was detected deep inside the mountain range.

'This one is the ruler.'

Its fear upon encountering Killian's mana came through vividly.

He poured out mana to search the entire mountain range.

WHOOOM... WHOOOOM.

Just as an even fiercer wave of mana spread—

"......"

He felt something alien within the mana.

'A barrier...?'

It was not far from the middle level where he stood.

SHHHH.

Killian gathered his force and wrapped mana around his entire body.

At full speed, it was about an hour away.

"S-Sir Killian?"

The ranger, stunned after witnessing the 8-Star knight's release of mana, reacted belatedly.

"I will go ahead."

Killian's body darted forward as he powerfully pushed off the ground.

Before long, he could reach his destination.

SHNK.

Killian cut through the barrier blocking his way.

Then—

"......"

A cave revealed itself.