Chapter 250 : Chapter 250

Chapter 250

"......"

It ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍was a suspicious cave at a glance.

He ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍reinforced his eyes with mana and spread mana around the cave. The lingering mana he had inscribed into the magical tool led inside the cave.

"I ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍came to the right place."

Finding ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the right place was good, but—

"It ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is not an ordinary cave."

The cave's interior was thick with Death Energy. No matter how lacking Julian was, he could not be foolish enough to walk into this place himself.

'To begin with, how did someone with Julian's level make it through?'

It was a higher-level barrier than the one the Arch Lich had deployed before.

The barrier's surface carried a density that could not be cut by anyone short of an 8-Star knight, and whose abnormality would be difficult to sense unless one was at least the rank of a Night Walker.

'Kidnapping.'

Or—

'Someone in the cave deliberately drew Julian into their territory.'

Having reached his answer, Killian poured mana into Anima.

"Light is best for illuminating darkness, but—"

FWOOSH.

Blue mana flared along the sword blade.

"This is not bad, either."

The sight was no different from the Blue Flame, which used a sword as a medium.

It would take the ranger following him at least half a day to arrive here.

He intended to settle this before then.

FWOOSHHHH.

The moment he entered the cave, the Blue Flame blazed as though resisting the Death Energy encroaching upon him.

SHNK.

At his casual swing, the Death Energy filling the space split apart.

"Tsk."

Clicking his tongue, Killian shook his head.

"It really is a dungeon."

The mana he had spread out to search did not return even after a long time.

A space inscribed with an expansion formula vast enough that even an 8-Star knight could not know its end.

He had to assume an existence at least on the level of an Arch Lich stood behind it.

"Julian. He truly has a talent for seeking out misfortune."

There was no guarantee he would escape the dungeon if he wandered around blindly like this.

'If I break the dungeon, whatever it is hiding will reveal itself.'

Fortunately, Killian had encountered a sword that could break dungeons.

'Should I try it?'

The various colors of mana he had become able to use more freely after reaching 8-Star.

Among them was that of the Red Knight Order and the commander who had tempered them.

SHHHH.

The color of the Blue Flame clinging to his sword turned red.

FWOOSH.

The Red Flame, having accepted red mana, dyed the surroundings, and Killian lowered his stance.

Eurasia Style, Wave.

SPLASH.

Mana swept through the area like a wave.

Eurasia Style, Thunderbolt.

CRACKLE.

Lightning with altered properties flowed over the surging mana.

Eurasia Style, Storm.

WOOOOOSH.

Wind filled the space untouched by water and lightning.

Using three Eurasia Styles with three different attributes, he completely took control of the surrounding space.

And—

Schtenberg Style.

"Carpe Illusion."

He manifested a domain optimized for cutting through the space he had taken control of.

"Severatio."

RRRRUMBLE.

Haki fused with red mana and shook the space.

"Hyang."

SHWISH.

As though he were a Walker, Killian's eyes turned red.

The space dyed in lines of mana was vividly reflected in his eyes.

'There is only one thing to cut.'

With a single swing, the sword wrapped in Haki cut through space.

SHNK.

He had imitated Escardo's technique.

'Well, it is lacking compared to the original.'

Seeing through the essence of those who wielded mana and Divine Power.

That was the characteristic Killian Eurasia had awakened upon reaching 8-Star.

It was a lethal ability against users of mana and Divine Power alike.

Before long, the severed space began to crack like a spider's web. Normally, the core forming the dungeon should have appeared.

But—

SHHHHH.

The cut space slowly repaired itself as though a wound were healing.

At the unexpected situation, Killian let out a hollow laugh.

'Even Sir Escardo's sword only goes this far?'

When he walked through the opened space, a long stretch of mountain range came into view.

"This is..."

It was not the Ronan Mountain Range where he had been moments ago.

And another cave stood before him.

A dungeon that no one short of an 8-Star Superhuman could even detect, and which repaired itself even when cut.

"......"

It was not made of mana but a spatial transfer formula used by monsters.

Even after breaking the space made by an Arch Lich, the formula still operated. That meant the rank of the one who created the dungeon was higher even than that.

In the past, he had encountered an existence that commanded a dungeon like this.

An existence that moved among hundreds of mountain ranges as it pleased and was worshipped by the mountain rulers.

"Monster Lord."

Killian realized that he had entered the domain of a being long forgotten.

***

The Monster Lord was the master of all mountain ranges and a being that had reached the peak of monsters. Compared to humans, it was likely a being equal in rank to a 9-Star knight or mage.

A Monster Lord was born perhaps once every several hundred years. It was not merely its innate martial strength that was tremendous.

The monsters at the time of a Lord's birth possessed extraordinary growth potential, enabling them to form a massive army.

Thousands of years had passed since he was sealed in Adamas.

Five Monster Lords had been born, and each time, humanity had no choice but to fight a war that staked the fate of the species.

Five great wars like calamities.

Of them, the most troublesome was the one from Edan's time.

It was a hybrid so mixed that one could not tell how many species had been combined, and its ability to travel freely among hundreds of mountain ranges was on a level comparable to an Authority.

It was a being equal in rank to Edan, who had mastered 9-Star.

It was likely the first among monsters to have transcendence before its eyes.

To hold it down as it traveled among mountain ranges, Eurasia's knights had to shed much blood.

Adamas, which had been a Magic Sword, had even expended several Authorities to interfere with its escape.

After the deaths of countless Superhumans.

The Monster Lord, sovereign of hundreds of mountain ranges, fell to Edan's sword.

'It has not even been a thousand years since that fellow died.'

At most, only several hundred years.

It was too early for a new sovereign of the mountain ranges to be born.

He looked at the dungeon disguised as a cave.

"Is it a remnant it left behind?"

For that to be the case, the Death Energy was far too strong.

As though its original master were still alive.

Soon, Killian shook his head.

'It is dead.'

It was something he had personally confirmed.

If a new one had been born, the eastern frontier would have become a world of monsters by now.

'That only shows how powerful it was.'

Had Agnil not lived for a long time while sealed away as well?

He focused again on the dungeon before him.

The problem was that the dungeon made by the Monster Lord was still operating, and Julian's trail ended here.

'Escardo's sword cuts the essence of space.'

Even if he entered the dungeon before him and cut space again, there was no knowing what result it would bring. In addition, there might still be several connected dungeons.

'Julian could not have cut through a dungeon...'

Though he did not even know where this place was, he had to enter the cave again, not knowing where it would lead.

"I should pray he is alive."

With practiced ease, Killian cut the barrier and entered the dungeon once more.

The sight inside was not much different from before.

He drank a Recovery Potion and replenished the mana he had spent.

He searched for Julian's mana and his own mana that would be in the magical tool.

Hoping that if Julian was alive, it would surely be connected, he raised his sword.

"Severatio."

SHNK.

"Severatio."

SHNK.

"Severatio."

SHNK.

He cut through nine more spaces, arriving at a different mountain range each time.

When he broke the dungeon of the tenth mountain range—

For the first time, a change came.

Killian's gaze slowly scanned the man beyond the barrier.

"......"

His clothes looked similar to those of Eurasia's rangers, but on closer inspection, they were entirely different.

His deep blue leather armor bore graceful patterns reminiscent of waves, and processed metal ornaments were embedded throughout it.

Beneath neatly cropped black hair, fear filled the man's eyes. The faint beard below his chin suggested he was in his late thirties or early forties.

'A foreigner?'

An unusual set of weapons hanging at the man's waist caught his eye.

A curved dagger like a long sickle hung on one side, while several small throwing spears were bound together on the other.

The weapons' edges did not shine.

On his back was a large bag with a distinctive pattern, the sort an apothecary might carry.

'He does not look like a knight.'

He neither had the air particular to someone who had forged a Mana Heart, nor the body of someone trained like a knight or ranger.

Yet such a man was shouting as he faced a monster.

The hand holding his sword was trembling.

Killian examined the monster surrounding the man.

It was a species he had never seen in the continent's mountain ranges, like an ogre fused with a bear.

'It looks like it would take a 7-Star knight to face it. Is it the mountain range's ruler?'

Thinking about why a monster of this level was targeting an untrained human could wait.

At this rate, the man's body would be torn apart in less than three seconds.

[Grrr.]

The moment the monster swung the weapon in its grip with a growl—

SHNK.

Anima cut the cave's barrier.

[......!!]

The creature belatedly tried to react to the sudden appearance, but—

Killian was one step faster.

SHNK.

Following Anima's second swing, the creature's body was split in two.

THUD.

[Grrh...]

The monster's body, split apart along with its Magic Stone, hit the ground.

Only then did the man notice Killian's presence.

The man crawled over and bowed his head.

Then—

"-----!"

"......"

At the man's voice, Killian silently looked at him.

He was clearly speaking a human language, but—

"-----!!"

"......"

Killian could not understand the meaning at all.

"Do you not speak the Continental tongue?"

"-----?"

The man spoke several other languages, but Killian could not understand those, either.

'It cannot be helped.'

SHHHH.

"Carpe Illusion."

The Violet Magic Tower rose.

The Violet Magic Tower was itself a formula no different from a treasury of magic.

Because he had been marked as the Magic Tower's guardian in Sharle's Mind Image, the manifestation of his Carpe Illusion had grown all the more vivid.

It would not have been strange to call it a summoning now rather than a manifestation.

"Violet. There must be at least one formula for interpretation, right?"

DING.

[The 'Violet Magic Tower' responds to the 'Guardian's' request.]

Violet mana billowed and wrapped around Killian and the man.

A formula for interpretation had unfolded.

"My name is Teruba!"

The effect was immediate.

The unknown language that had come from the man's mouth became clearly understandable.

"Teruba...?"

At the unfamiliar name, Killian asked back.

Thinking Killian understood his words, the man's face brightened.

"That is correct! I am Teruba, a biologist belonging to the Aquares royal family!"

The man raised his voice.

He repeatedly thanked Killian for saving his life.

That was not what mattered now.

'Aquares.'

It was the true name of the island kingdom beyond the sea that the continent's people called the Ocean Current Nation.

'Could this... be the Ocean Current Nation?'

To trade with the Ocean Current Nation required a voyage of several years, centered on large vessels.

Though temples existed, Warp Gates did not work between the continent and the Ocean Current Nation for some reason.

"Thank you again for saving my life."

The man before him was from the Ocean Current Nation, and—

'This is troublesome.'

Killian realized he was in the Ocean Current Nation's territory.

"If it would not be rude, may I ask your name...?"

It was Killian's first time setting foot in the Ocean Current Nation as well.

"I am Killian Eurasia, Fourth Prince of Eurasia."

He spoke in a somewhat indifferent tone.

"......"

Teruba's face stiffened. Only moments ago, he had been making a fuss about repaying Killian's kindness.