Chapter 251 : Chapter 251

Chapter 251

The ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍man Killian had rescued was named Teruba.

“As ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍I said, I am a scholar attached to the Aquares Royal Family.”

“This ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍does not look like a mountain range a biologist would climb alone.”

Moreover, ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍a scholar attached to the royal family would hold a position equal to that of an ordinary knight, if not higher.

“Were ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍you separated from the people who came with you?”

Teruba ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍nodded with a stiff expression.

“We did not expect an entity on the level of the mountain range’s ruler to appear. Had I known this would happen, I would have brought someone of vice-commander rank with us...”

It was the rambling of a survivor who had encountered an unforeseen situation.

It was a sight Killian had grown familiar with over the course of his path of the sword.

“Were they wiped out?”

“...”

“Either way.”

Maintaining Carpe Illusion consumed no small amount of mana, so their exchange was swift.

In that short time, Killian was able to grasp the rough outline of his situation.

They were in the Gadot Mountain Range of the Ocean Current Nation, and Teruba had been exploring an unfamiliar route on the Crown Prince’s orders when they had met with this disaster.

‘An order from the royal family would be confidential, so there is no point asking about it... And if the connected dungeon led all the way here, Yulian must be somewhere nearby as well.’

Killian had seen Teruba’s face stiffen when he heard Killian’s name a moment ago.

But that had only lasted for a moment. Now, he was acting as though nothing had happened.

Judging from their conversation so far, even though Killian had saved his life, this man was not someone who would readily open his mouth to a foreigner.

‘To make him talk, I need a better grasp of the current situation.’

Teruba appeared to be thinking the same thing.

“You saved my life, so the royal family will give Sir Killian a fitting reward.”

In other words, he would reward him generously, so Killian should come with him to the kingdom.

“You are a biologist?”

“That is correct. I study biology and pharmacology, and I also teach philosophy and history to the royal children.”

“You are talented in many fields.”

“That knowledge did not help prevent this tragedy.”

Teruba looked bitterly at the monster Killian had cut down.

“Was that thing the ruler of the mountain range?”

“The ruler is someone else. Grizzledraks are normally classified as 6-star creatures, but... it killed the 6-star knight who was with us without any difficulty, so it seems to be a variant.”

“If you intend to retrieve your companions’ belongings, I will take you there.”

Killian walked with Teruba for a little over ten minutes after Teruba expressed his gratitude.

The bodies of their slaughtered companions lay scattered there. Their clothing differed somewhat from that of the Continent, but it was clear that they had included knights, mages, rangers, and porters.

There were around thirty of them in total. That was a sufficient number for an exploration rather than a subjugation operation.

With a solemn expression, Teruba paid his respects before searching their clothes. He filled the pack on his back with their belongings.

“This should be enough. Would you come with me to the royal palace? His Highness the Crown Prince will reward you handsomely.”

It was not a bad offer for Killian, who had been left at a loss in a foreign land.

But there was something he needed to settle first.

“Teruba, have you heard the name Yulian?”

“That is an abrupt question.”

“Have you heard it?”

“You are the first person from Eurasia I have met, Sir...”

“I never said I was from Eurasia.”

“...”

“And you did not ask why a Eurasian knight was in a mountain range in the Ocean Current Nation.”

“...”

An uncomfortable air hung between them for a moment.

Teruba let out a sigh.

“There is no point hiding it now.”

“If you are going to lie, you would do better to keep your mouth shut.”

They said Eurasian knights spoke with their swords.

Killian gave the warning in a low voice.

“I have no intention of doing that now.”

Teruba spoke in the Continental language.

And he spoke it so fluently that Killian might have mistaken him for a native of the Continent.

“You were hiding the fact that you could speak the Continental language.”

“...”

Killian dispelled Carpe Illusion, which had been serving as their interpreter.

“I know nothing about swords, but I do not have the courage to provoke a Superhuman.”

He continued as though resigned.

“A foreigner was arrested not long ago.”

Killian tipped his chin, signaling him to continue.

“He said that there was a dungeon deep within the mountain range, and that he had drifted here from the Continent through it.”

“So you formed an expedition?”

“Yes... We thought five 6-star knights would be enough, but... it seems we were gravely mistaken.”

Teruba nodded after noticing the two dragons engraved on Killian’s armor.

“You found him sooner than I expected.”

Killian looked at him with calm eyes.

“Lead me to where Yulian is.”

***

It took three days to descend from the mountain range.

They could not move quickly because Killian had to match Teruba’s pace.

Once they were down from the mountains, everything proceeded smoothly.

When Teruba proved his identity in a nearby village, the lord came out to meet him, and they were able to take a carriage he had prepared to the capital.

After another four days of travel, they arrived at Aquares’s capital.

The Ocean Current Nation’s architectural technology was more developed than Killian had expected.

“It is strangely aesthetic, yet practical.”

Killian muttered as he looked at the city walls coming into view through the carriage window.

The walls were made of a special material resistant to sea winds and salt, with blue metal set throughout them to create a distinctive beauty.

Above the tall walls, sharp spear-like ornaments encircled the ramparts, discouraging any attempt to climb over them.

‘They say the Superhumans of the Ocean Current Nation practice swordsmanship using Mind’s Eye.’

For some unknown reason, the Ocean Current Nation was a place where the Temple’s Warp Gates and the Magic Towers’ Warp Stones did not function.

To interact with the Ocean Current Nation, one had to sail from the Continent for at least several years, and even then safety could not be guaranteed because of the dangerous climate. As a result, few countries had relations with it.

Yet he had suddenly entered the Ocean Current Nation through a dungeon that seemed to belong to the Monster Lord.

‘I am already worried about how we will get back.’

While he was thinking that, the carriage carrying the two of them passed through the town and entered the castle completely.

After Killian got out of the carriage and walked down a corridor, a knight took Anima away from him before he entered the reception room.

“Please wait a moment. I will bring His Highness the Crown Prince as soon as I have finished making my report.”

Teruba hurried out of the reception room, leaving Killian alone.

Five knights wearing armor engraved with the sea serpent and wave emblems of the Ocean Current Nation watched Killian from around the room.

Four 5-star knights and one 6-star knight.

‘That is not a bad standard for a royal guard.’

They were opponents he could escape from even without his sword.

‘The problem is the escape route.’

If things went badly, he might have to draw his sword against an entire nation.

Several hours passed.

Bang.

The door of the reception room opened, and a man entered with escort knights.

He had neatly swept-back blue-green hair reminiscent of seaweed, a firm jawline, and sharp features.

The familiar emblems were intricately engraved upon his light armor, where deep blue and silver-white blended together.

Killian recognized at a glance that he was a Superhuman.

“I heard you saved Teruba’s life.”

The man spoke flowing Continental in a deep, clear voice.

“I am Marcelo Aquares.”

Killian rose from his seat and placed a fist over his chest.

“I am Killian Eurasia.”

Thud.

Marcelo dropped roughly into his seat, then gestured with his chin for Killian to sit as well.

He looked accustomed to giving orders.

“I have heard the general account. You are a prince of Eurasia?”

“That is correct.”

“I hear that the foreigner we are holding is also Eurasia’s Third Prince.”

“It seems so.”

Teruba had explained that Yulian had emerged from the dungeon, wandered through the mountains, and descended to a village, where knights had arrested him because of his suspicious appearance and were now holding him in the capital.

He also said that Marcelo had sent an expedition to investigate the dungeon Yulian had described.

“That is fortunate. Had you not saved Teruba, Prince Yulian would have been executed before long.”

“Teruba told me that Your Highness would reward me for saving his life.”

“Tell me what you want.”

“I would like to accept the life of my elder brother Yulian, whom you are holding, as payment.”

“Oh?”

Marcelo looked surprised.

“It is not easy to place me in your debt, yet you would use that opportunity to free your brother from detention... It seems the Eurasian royal family has rather close ties.”

“He is also a knight who leads a Knight Order. I serve as his swordsmanship instructor.”

“I see. So that is your relationship.”

Grin.

Marcelo smiled and rose from his seat.

“Teruba is a teacher precious to me. You are asking for payment for saving such a man’s life, so it would be rude to waste time with any negotiation.”

Contrary to Killian’s expectation that he would set out a drawn-out bargaining table, Marcelo had a forthright temperament.

“Follow me.”

Things were resolved more easily than Killian had expected.

Killian followed Crown Prince Marcelo, whose gait was as bold as his manner.

***

Killian followed Marcelo down the underground stairs of the capital’s castle.

“Salutations to Aquares’s great knight!”

The guards and knights saluted, awaiting Marcelo’s orders.

“I have come to release Julian Eurasia. Lead the way.”

“Yes, sir.”

Surrounded by two guides in front and ten knights following behind, they passed cells extending along either side.

Each cell was so dark that a single candle could illuminate it, and only the lamps hanging in the passage gave off a faint light.

‘Security is thorough.’

Elite soldiers were stationed everywhere along the route from the prison entrance to the cells, while five knights of at least 5-star rank patrolled the cell corridor.

Every cell was even secured with reinforced metal bars, while the floors and walls appeared to be made of special stone resistant to mana.

It was a structure thoroughly cut off from the outside, with ancient magic circles carved into its walls and ceiling to suppress the use of special abilities such as magic within the prison.

The cell holding Yulian was located deeper inside than the ordinary cells.

“An unidentified foreigner is classified as a dangerous individual under the kingdom’s laws.”

“I see.”

Killian calmly acknowledged this and continued walking.

Then.

“Here it is.”

Yulian came into view where the guards stopped in crisp unison. Shackles fixed to the center of the room bound Yulian’s wrists and ankles tightly.

Inside the cell was an old wooden table bearing a bottle of water and a piece of hard bread.

“K-Killian...!!”

Yulian thrust forward his face, his expression filling with emotion when he saw Killian.

“Is that him?”

Marcelo looked at Killian.

“He looks a mess, but that is indeed my elder brother.”

Killian confirmed his identity.

“Release him.”

At Marcelo’s command, the guard removed the shackles.

“Julian Eurasia. The misunderstanding concerning you has been resolved.”

For a moment, Yulian stared blankly at Crown Prince Marcelo.

“Killian!!”

Whoosh.

With tears welling up in his eyes, Yulian threw his arms around Killian.

“Where... where in the world is this...?”

It seemed they had not told Yulian where he was while interrogating him.

They really had been thorough.

“The Ocean Current Nation.”

“...!!”

“Aquares of the Ocean Current Nation. It is a place that cannot be reached without sailing for years. It is exactly where you think it is, Brother.”

“What...?”

Yulian looked unable to believe that he was in the Ocean Current Nation, a land beyond the sea.

“Th-then... h-how are we supposed to return to Eurasia...?”

“I feel the same way, Brother. The question is how we find a way back from here.”

Killian had used the debt Marcelo owed him to free Yulian.

And the man before him was not so incompetent that he would fail to take advantage of the favorable hand he had been dealt.

“Killian Eurasia, and Julian Eurasia.”

“W-what is it...?”

Yulian answered in a trembling voice as Marcelo spoke Continental and looked over his disheveled state.

“Before I conquer the Continent, it seems we have much to discuss.”

Crown Prince Marcelo revealed the ambition he had kept hidden.