CHAPTER 205

Southern region of the Schucheron Kingdom, Vanessa's hometown. The village that was burned down by the fire dragon's attack.

It had become a wasteland that couldn't be revived.

Across the vast land, Vanessa's house stood alone.

"You haven't surprised me this much in a long time, milord. You sent me a letter last week, and this time, you're visiting without notice."

Vanessa opened the door to her house. Inside the small room, Cyron sat alone. She shrugged and sat down in front of him.

"As if you haven't done the same."

A kettle of hot tea sat on the table. Cyron filled a teacup for her.

"Khan must've done a lot. I can tell he brewed this and left hastily. How about you do something yourself for once?"

"Well, that fellow does everything exceptionally."

The two admired the tea for a moment.

'Is he not a father who just wants to boast about his child?'

Over the fifty years that passed since she became his knight, it was her first time seeing him like this.

"So, how was it?"

"Very impressive. It also seems he found a wonderful crew."

"That's not what I asked."

Vanessa knew that he wanted to hear about the battle, yet she tried to evade the topic.

"Fufu, it seems you've aged as well. So impatient."

"It seems to be that way."

"Jin Runcandel… He performed well enough. It definitely seems like he can keep his word."

The corners of Cyron's mouth twitched.

"So I gave him the map."

"I would've never expected that to happen."

"So you've become more lenient? I thought you already knew the outcome."

Cyron only chuckled instead of giving an answer. 

"If you still had fondness for Luna, he would've never received the map."

Vanessa smiled bitterly. The map had been designed to land in the hands of Luna.

As Cyron drew out the map of the Black Sea and saw 'that' creature, he kept it away and had wanted to pass it on to Luna ever since.

"It was a time we had placed all of our hopes and dreams on that child. Had you given her some more attention, she wouldn't have given up. She would have been ruling the Runcandel Clan by now, and we could have finally been able to do our own things."

"Do you blame me for it, Vanessa?"

"No, I blame myself and my unit. At the time, the Dark Knights could do anything but keep an eye on Luna."

"How is that your fault? It's Rosa's and mine."

"Hence, we must prevent Jin from straying from his path. I might keep an eye on him for a bit. As for Joshua… He's a troublemaker. He's been preparing things for Jin to face."

Cyron shook his head.

"I would've never batted an eye if he needed guardianship. Do not interfere with him. If he can't take over the clan by himself, he can't take on the world."

"…And what if he turns out like Luna? Once Jin returns to the clan, will he be able to take on Joshua? There's still the question of whether or not he will come back alive."

"Yet you still gave him the map?"

Vanessa laughed at Cyron asking her not to interfere with Jin's ventures. 

"I, of course, know not to do such things. Since you're here, let us have a drink. Tuven is around the area, so I'll let him know."

"Tuven… I haven't seen him in years."

* * * 

Jin and his companions stared blankly at the map.

"…It is indeed possible to create a map of the Black Sea. I heard that monsters spawned like water and that toxic gasses contaminated the air."

As Kashimir said, no other clan, empire, or kingdom could create a map of the Black Sea. Not even the Zipfels dared to encroach it.

Or, at least, that was what the world thought. Each person who scanned this map had their jaws dropped. Everyone thought it to be impossible, but the Runcandels had already succeeded. 

Traversing the Black Sea without the map was possible. There were faint paths from the entrance, but that was because Cyron bulldozed his way through. 

If they could defeat the monsters along the way, anyone could visit the center. 

"It's probably a project that contains the blood, sweat, and tears of the previous generation of the Dark Knights. It's also probably confidential. To my knowledge, no one else has sent out troops to the Black Sea."

"That's correct, Gilly. Only Father, Mother, the previous generation of the Dark Knights, and some elders knew of this. The flag-bearers aren't even allowed this knowledge."

"Hm… So that's why this kid's father always goes there. It's because of Helluram's monsters."

The wife of Beast King Orgal and the master of dark magic, the Witch.

Dark magic had become forbidden, but there were records of her doings in historical books. Many historians referred to her as an apocalypse, with every single one of her records consisting of destruction and massacre.

Whenever her name was mentioned, a terrible tragedy ensued. 

Fifteen hundred years ago, a then-unidentified plague called 'Lunacy' threw the entire western region into crisis. Three hundred years later, the Demon God descended. Two hundred years after that, the northern region explosions occurred, and three hundred years later, there was the stillbirth crisis.

She wasn't behind just one or two tragedies. No human could intentionally incur such events.

Five hundred years ago, during the War of the Holy Kingdom, Helluram summoned an army of monsters, which didn't really surprise anyone. 

Instead, it sparked a new debate of whether 'Helluram' truly was just one person or a group of magicians.

Many magicians supported the latter claim. It was impossible for someone to be active for over fifteen hundred years.

"I don't think bothering her is a good idea. Doesn't feel too good…"

Quikantel commented on the map, and the entire group looked surprised. They would've never thought that Quikantel would be afraid of a magician.

She also spoke as if Helluram were an individual.

"So are you implying Helluram is a person, not a group?"

Quikantel nodded to Enya's question.

"She's one person, alright. She's half-demon. Looks like a human, but has the lifespan of a demon."

Jin knew of this already. His master, Valeria, claimed that she'd met Helluram and passed on some information to him.

"In fact, her existence is a curse. All kinds of gods praised her and didn't seek other contractors. When Beast King Orgal shared her curse, dragons went to congratulate her."

Enya gasped.

"My goodness. Then are all of the historical calamities true?"

"Yeah, they're pretty damn true. Dragons know it for sure. So, about that one monster that Helluram raised… You got any ideas, Quikantel?"

"Are you sending Jin there? He might come across her."

"HAHAHA! The kid and I are immune to curses, so it won't matter. And according to that Antes Terror or whatever, the monster is under the Runcandels' control. But still, not searching for it means that it might be dead."

"It may have been three hundred years since its last activity, but I don't think it's dead."

Quikantel constantly made claims to stop Murakan.

However, Jin and Murakan had the same opinion. Vanessa said it was another mission, so they couldn't just turn it down.

"It's my Father's reward. I don't know what he'll take from me if I refuse."

"I agree. The Lord's orders are final."

Kashimir, Alisa, and Jet nodded. Quikantel could no longer stop them.

"I guess it can't be helped. Instead, Murakan and I will accompany you until we reach the entrance. Any further than that and the toxins will be too much. I'll be relieved if I take you there, at the very least."

"Let's take the runt too. We need someone to take care of the food."

"…Might I remind everyone that I was a prince in the past."

"You can't cook?"

"No."

"Then we'll take Jet instead."

"I can definitely cook!"

"Taking that weakling to the Black Sea? I don't think so. Just take Kashimir. Or maybe Lathry? He can cook."

"The cookie shop has been busy, and I'd prefer not to leave Euria's side… I can still pack a ton, though."

Thud!

Kashimir slammed the table with his fist.

"My goodness. Are you crazy?"

"I am a warrior deemed the Ghostblade and the leader of the best intelligence agency! My pride does not accept being treated as a mere peasant!"

"Honey, just let them go. Lathry is a dragon and runs a cookie shop."

"You too? I'm Kashimir 'Ghostblade' Alfleon!"

Jin was about to say that he could cook for himself, but Murakan shook his head.

"Then we'll take Jet and the runt. Jet with the food, and the runt will fight."

"I can work with those conditions."

Jin was at a loss for words.

He, Murakan, Quikantel, Kashimir, and Jet were about to head for the Black Sea.

Jin felt a little sorry for Kashimir, but he looked too satisfied to be pitied.