Chapter 166

Meanwhile, at that moment.

On the opposite side of the Arpen Duchy.

It seemed like everyone was asleep, as the capital of the Empire was cloaked in darkness. Not even a single soul roamed around Count Dermore’s mansion.

Except for the guards on duty, of course. Suddenly, a presence could be heard from inside the mansion.

Shuffling!

The sound of footsteps echoed down the corridor.

The footsteps traced a path from the office, down the stairs, through the first floor, and all the way to the basement.

A while later—

Whoosh!

A fire flared up in the air.

Pure white flames created by magic.

The flames devoured the surrounding darkness in an instant, lighting the area brightly. Along with that, the identity of the person visiting the basement was revealed.

“……”

Neatly styled golden hair.

Brown eyes reminiscent of earth.

It was the owner of the mansion, Count D’muehl Ron Dermore. He walked to the end of the basement and bowed his head toward the wall.

“My Lord.”

A voice filled with reverence.

The Count spoke calmly.

“We have received a report regarding the Abyss Worshippers heading towards the Arpen Duchy.”

Abyss Worshippers.

As soon as he finished speaking, the center of the wall warped. Moments later, countless eyeballs emerged, pushing through the wall and darkness.

【What’s the content?】

Rakus Clanman Duratus.

The Eye of the Howling Abyss.

He had escaped out into the world while avoiding the eyes of the seven heroes, and now he stared intently at the Count.

【Looks like I messed up.】

The Count’s hesitance to respond immediately led Rakus to grasp the situation at once.

The Count silently nodded.

“That’s right. According to the Watcher’s report, an Outsider has intervened.”

At the mention of the Outsider, the eyeballs writhed.

All the eyeballs exhibited unmistakable signs of displeasure. Rakus muttered with a growl.

【The eighth star.】

【I didn’t expect him to have that much power already.】

【Indeed, he’s a bothersome presence.】

However, the time for lamentation was short.

The dice had already been cast, and the outcome was now apparent. Rakus brushed aside the past and brought forth the situation of another die.

【We cannot afford to fail in the Eastern Jungle.】

【Not until all the stars gather in one place.】

【One must be dropped.】

【No matter what, we must.】

“Yes, I understand. I will convey your orders to the Abyss Worshippers.”

The Count bowed his head politely.

But Rakus was not satisfied. Having already experienced failure in the Arpen Duchy.

【No, that alone is not enough.】

【D’muehl, my apostle.】

【You too shall have your tasks.】

Just as the short response ended—

All the eyeballs turned south. In the direction of the Arsen Academy.

【Head to the Source of Magic.】

With a sticky voice echoing in his ears, his true purpose was unveiled.

【Now that the seven stars are absent—】

【I shall open the Abyssal Rift once more.】

Sven Isaac. To ensure the Guardian of the Abyss falls for certain.

Rakus’s eyes glinted ominously.

7.

The chamber filled with heavy silence.

Ulan stood alongside the Mountain Knights surrounding him, staring at the sudden uninvited guest.

A middle-aged man with a strong build.

With shining platinum hair and golden eyes. Just standing there exuded a powerful presence.

Ulan knew who he was.

‘Brings back old memories.’

The lord of Arpen.

Erhent Rune Mond Arpen.

He was someone Ulan had encountered several times in his past life. A warrior with wisdom and strength, a hero who fought against the Abyss.

‘And……’

The only Master of the Arpen Duchy.

Based on his past life, he was among the top five strongest figures across the continent.

In fact, he was even one rank above Count Deorg or Marquis Gorphant, whom he had recently fought.

‘Dahlia didn’t have a good relationship with him.’

Erhent was Dahlia’s biological father.

However, even though they were related by blood, Dahlia hated him to a terrifying extent. She was so averse that even speaking to him face-to-face was a challenge.

‘In my past life, I never found out why she hated him so much……’

This time, she heard it clearly.

When Dahlia was young and her half-brother Rudine Arpen had become a cripple, Erhent had said:

‘I have no resources to deal with a defect.’

That remark was more than enough to deeply wound Dahlia, and from that day on, she had locked her heart away tightly.

As Ulan was finishing this recollection, there was another pair of eyes gazing at Erhent apart from him. Blue eyes sparkling like stars.

It was Noah Darshen.

‘……Mountain Lord, Erhent.’

A Named Character from the original story.

Although he could not be played like Ulan, he was still a pretty well-known figure.

Unfortunately, it was in a very unfavorable light.

‘His conduct isn’t that terrible.’

On the contrary, he was quite excellent as a lord.

A king respected and praised by his people. But as a parent, Erhent was the worst.

There was only one reason.

It was the belief he held.

“Since you were born as royalty, sacrificing for the development of the Duchy is an obvious duty.”

That was a famous line representing Erhent.

Just as those words indicated, he emphasized his responsibilities as royalty and served the state and the people.

However, there was a deadly flaw.

‘The problem is that he imposes the burden not only on himself but on others as well.’

There was no exception to the belief he held.

Dahlia and Rudine Arpen had been pressured with responsibilities as royalty since they learned to walk.

‘And this is one of the reasons why Rudine became a cripple.’

After Dahlia began to show her aptitude as a Mage, he pressured the other children to learn magic immediately.

Later on, after this fact was revealed, Erhent and Dahlia’s relationship deteriorated drastically, despite being family. As Ulan was reminiscing about the character backstory of the original work—

“What, did you just say…….”

A familiar voice rang out.

It was Dahlia’s voice. She looked at Erhent with trembling eyes, as if she couldn’t comprehend the words she just heard.

“I won’t say it twice.”

What returned was a firm tone.

Erhent dismissed the words he just uttered with a cold glare.

“Leave the Academy.”

“……!”

“Now that your goal has been achieved, returning to the Academy is nothing but a waste of time.”

It was a unilateral notification.

Dahlia trembled in her body.

She felt her bewilderment transform into anger, shaking her head vigorously.

“……No.”

“What did you say?”

“I can’t, I can’t quit the Academy.”

Erhent’s eyes grew colder.

But Dahlia didn’t avert her gaze; she fired back, and this attitude made him even more uncomfortable.

“I’m pretty sure I said I wouldn’t allow it?”

“I don’t need your permission.”

A tense standoff.

At Erhent’s recurring defiance, he frowned. After a brief sigh, he called her name in a harsh voice.

“Dahlia Arpen.”

With eyes that sparkled fiercely.

Erhent’s words continued.

“You were born as royalty and grew up receiving numerous privileges. Think about what the Duchy invested in you and the damage you’ve caused to it.”

“That’s……”

“That’s not all.”

Cutting off Dahlia’s words, he continued.

“Currently, countless soldiers are dying while facing monsters at the front lines. And you want to return to the Academy at such a time?”

Bringing up the situation at the front lines in front of the knights was Erhent’s tactic. It was a decisive blow to provoke Dahlia’s guilt.

This really struck home.

“……”

The moment her words failed her was the proof.

Seeing this as an opportunity, Erhent pushed the conversation further.

“The only choice given to you is to repay the Duchy for its grace. So, quit the Academy and fulfill the responsibilities of royalty.”

With the pressure weighing heavily on her shoulders, the chamber was once again enveloped in silence.

Dahlia was cornered.

When Noah, realizing the situation was turning unfavorably, carefully began surveying the reactions,

a voice pierced through the silence.

“No, you’re wrong.”

“……What?”

“What you’re saying is nothing but coercion.”

A young man suddenly interrupted the conversation.

Staring at the barbarian with flowing red hair, Dahlia’s eyes widened.

“U-Ulan……?”

“Dahlia. The choice is yours.”

Her eyes grew wide.

Faced with a shocked expression, Ulan continued in a calm tone.

“Don’t be swept away by coercion and circumstance—tell me what you truly want to do.”

“I……”

“No matter what choice it is, I will respect your decision as a friend.”

Dahlia’s gaze wavered.

The words she wanted to hear the most.

At that moment, Dahlia broke free from the web of Erhent’s scheming. She slapped her cheeks sharply and began to move her lips.

“……Thank you.”

Thanks to him, she regained her senses.

Moreover, she realized that Erhent was trying to pressure her through guilt and obligation.

After taking a moment to catch her breath,

she looked back at Erhent.

“My, thoughts, won’t, change.”

“You……”

“I’m, going, back, to, the Academy.”

Once again, the conversation returned to square one.

Erhent’s face twisted in frustration.

“Are you really going to abandon your responsibilities as royalty?”

“That has nothing to do with the Academy.”

Dahlia’s words made sense.

Returning to the Academy did not necessarily mean she would abandon her responsibilities as royalty.

“And, being the, princess of Arpen, I have no intention of giving up my duties as royalty either.”

This answer was likewise sincere.

Aside from Erhent’s coercion, Dahlia had pride in her role as royalty. Thus, she continued to speak confidently.

“But, not yet.”

“What do you mean by that…….”

“Right now, there’s, an important, reason, to, stay at, the Academy.”

After experiencing the Trial of the Hero,

she realized something.

Her mission as the Hero given to her and what she must do moving forward.

“I must, stop the, Abyss.”

“What? The Abyss?”

Erhent stared back in disbelief.

Dahlia nodded.

Then, she recounted the series of events that had taken place in the Valley of the Falling Stars.

From the attack of the Abyss Worshippers to inheriting the knowledge and mission from the founding king of Arpen, Artina.

However, it was all in vain.

Erhent’s reaction did not change at all.

“Looks like you’re seeing things.”

“I’m serious!”

Having an expression filled with doubt.

Dahlia shook her head and refuted.

“At the Source of Magic, I, have directly, witnessed the, Abyssal Monsters. If they, burst out, it would be catastrophic……!”

“It’s of no use.”

Cutting off Dahlia’s words again,

Erhent replied coldly.

“Even if everything you say is true, my decision will not change.”

“W-why……!”

“Because I am the lord of Arpen.”

The mission of the founding king Artina?

The Abyssal Monsters? Such phantoms are far less important than the duties of royalty.

His stubbornness was unyielding.

As she bit her lips in frustration, Erhent took a bold step forward.

“What I say will be my last.”

The oppressive presence emanated directly from him.

Dahlia flinched under his weight. The heavy pressure bore down on her. So, just as she was going to step back out of reflex—

“Don’t worry.”

A large hand gripped her shoulder.

The reassuring voice soon followed.

“I’m right beside you.”

Ulan’s presence was palpable.

As a result, the tension that had gripped her body melted away like magic. Just as a faint smile blossomed on her pale face, Erhent opened his mouth.

“If you’re not going to bend your thoughts, I’ll force you to listen.”

“I won’t, go along, easily.”

Recognizing the threat immediately,

Dahlia quickly drew on her magic. Just in case something happened.

But it was all in vain.

From the moment Erhent made his first move, the chamber became his domain.

Domain.

Here, the passage of time froze.

Even a High Mage could not defeat the master of a domain that had already been established, and only another master could share the same timeline.

Closing the distance in an instant,

Erhent’s emotionless gaze locked onto Dahlia’s neck. The aim was to cut off her magic flow and knock her out in one move.

Just as he was about to reach out—

Suddenly!

His arm was caught.

“……?”

The first thought that crossed his mind was confusion.

Of course. Only the same master could move within the domain.

The moment he realized this obvious truth.

“……!”

A sense of horror blossomed.

But it was already too late.

While he was still grasping reality, a massive hand had gripped his face clumsily.

“What…….”

He could not finish his words.

The world flipped over like a flash.

Then a thunderous roar resounded.

Bang—!

It was the sound of Erhent crashing backwards.

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