A tall, sharply pointed spire.
If you keep walking endlessly inside the vast fortress walls, a magnificent castle finally reveals itself.
The passing soldiers are disciplined, and not a single unnecessary movement can be seen in the knights’ actions.
This was the stronghold of the Eastern King—
Yohn Torno’s castle.
“Thank goodness you are unharmed. Please forgive my negligence for not coming to greet you in person.”
Reddish-brown hair.
A towering figure, similar in size to Teordo.
Yohn Torno was a man reminiscent of solid rock.
“It’s all right, uncle. Thank you for your hospitality.”
Sylvia wore the mask of a princess once again.
The noble, elegant imperial princess.
“You must be tired from your long journey. We have prepared a place where you can rest well.”
“Today is the first time I’ve properly seen the renowned Torno Castle.”
“I fear it might overwhelm Your Majesty’s discerning eye.”
After exchanging brief greetings with Sylvia, Yohn Torno’s gaze swept around the vicinity.
The first person he noticed was the knight who looked particularly stern—Teordo.
“This is Teordo Ricart, the knight who serves Her Imperial Highness.”
Yohn Torno nodded at the succinct introduction from Teordo.
“Sir Ricart, I have heard much about you. The East welcomes strong knights like yourself.”
“I still fall short of serving Your Majesty properly.”
“I know your rank well enough. No need for such humility.”
With that, he turned his attention to Hio.
A brief silence followed.
It was probably the flashy attire of the mage that caught his eye first.
“…And you are?”
“Hio Pavlenko.”
“Pavlenko… I’m not familiar with that family. Where are you from?”
“We are not a noble family, but a family of mages. Actually, I was adopted—something like that.”
“I see. Very well.”
The conversation ended there.
Yohn Torno’s face remained expressionless, but Hio, hardened by years as a mage, knew better.
This was the last time Yohn Torno would call on him.
“Uncle.”
Sylvia sat across from the Count of the Eastern March, Yohn Torno.
***
Yohn Torno’s expressionless face was unwavering.
It was impossible to read what he was thinking.
For that reason, Sylvia spoke plainly.
“We need your strength, uncle.”
For Sylvia, Yohn Torno’s power was desperately needed.
For now, the two princes were too distracted by their own concerns to pay her any mind—but how long would that last?
Neither would tolerate the variable that was Sylvia if they gained the throne.
Her future would darken swiftly.
“I’m not asking you to help blindly. There’s a spy among the princes. I can’t reveal their identity yet, but it is someone you would know. That person is causing chaos on the battlefield…”
“Your Highness.”
Yohn Torno cut her off, having listened silently.
Such explanations held no meaning.
“I cannot raise troops immediately.”
“…Why not?”
“It’s spring, isn’t it? The time when monsters run rampant.”
The Count of the Eastern March’s real enemy was not foreign soldiers.
It was the Gran Dina Mountains.
From that vast mountain range came countless monsters that could invade at any moment.
The Count was the shield protecting the Empire from these threats.
“And shouldn’t we also consider the opinions of the Eastern Alliance?”
The force that tightly united the East.
The reason the Gran Dina Mountains remained unbreached was because of the Eastern Nobles’ Union.
Still, Sylvia calmly continued despite Yohn Torno’s words.
“The Eastern Alliance truly follows you, uncle. One word from you would be enough to mobilize them.”
But the response was firm.
“Certainly that could happen, but it must not, Your Highness.”
Having kept the East secure for so long, Yohn Torno understood this well.
Rule without respect cannot last.
Sylvia’s expression fell slightly at his resolute reply.
“The nobles of the alliance… will not agree to raise arms.”
Why would they risk such a disadvantageous gamble?
At this point, many would disobey even an order from the princess.
Everyone knew Sylvia’s situation.
After a brief silence, Yohn Torno spoke gravely to her.
“…Your Highness.”
‘Did he want to say this?’
The only daughter of his only sister. His only blood relative.
“I sincerely apologize for saying this, but…”
Because it must be said.
“That is a matter you must handle yourself.”
He did not expect her to command awe enough to convince the nobles.
She had to persuade them herself.
If she could not even sway the Eastern Alliance, how could she possibly govern an entire Empire?
“It is not your fault. Who could persuade the alliance in this situation? But if you want to win, it must be you who succeeds.”
Otherwise, it would be meaningless.
Yohn Torno—the victor of the East.
The countless forces he commanded.
The tens of thousands of soldiers under his control.
The loyal knights and enlightened mages who followed him.
With a single word from him, they would gladly take up swords and spears and march to battle.
But what meaning would that have?
A throne seized without one’s own strength would not last long.
If that’s the case, it’s better not to start at all.
“If you want to run away, you may do so at any time. This was an unreasonable fight from the start. No one will blame you.”
Those words stung deeply, and Sylvia closed her eyes in defeat.
She just wanted to survive.
Two half-brothers, broken in mind from birth.
Growing up between them, Sylvia realized one thing—
If she continued like this, she would surely die.
That was why she had clung to the great power of Yohn Torno, struggling desperately in silence.
But this was the limit.
Nothing the princess had could solve this.
‘How could she possibly persuade the Eastern Alliance?’
No one would listen to the princess.
It was the season of the monster wave.
No one would leave their territory to raise an army in such a situation.
This was not Sylvia’s fault.
A fate set from birth.
The tide of the times, unchangeable.
Yohn Torno said to Sylvia, “Rest. Whenever you say the word, I will have preparations ready for departure.”
He was simply telling her to run away.
***
Hio climbed the castle wall and gazed blankly at the view outside.
“…What a sight.”
The towering mountain piercing the clouds.
The mountain range stretching on both sides like a fortress wall.
The Gran Dina Mountains.
They were quite impressive even in the game, but seeing them with his own eyes was on another level.
As Hio zoned out, passing soldiers glanced at him.
“What’s that? Did someone call a jester?”
“Shh, be careful. He just came out from the guest quarters for VIPs.”
“Huh? A jester, really?”
“Hey, hey! They’ll hear you.”
Hio took the familiar ridicule as background music and admired the grandeur of nature while rotating his Circle.
‘Shout.’
The third second-circle spell he had learned bit by bit on the way to the East.
A simple magic that amplifies the voice, acting like a microphone.
‘Not sure how useful it’ll be, though.’
Compared to Shield or Vampiric Touch, the pattern and distribution of the glyphs were simpler, so he chose it third and learned it quickly.
He had registered it as a skill but hadn’t checked the effect yet.
‘Wasn’t there too many eyes watching?’
A skill that amplifies voice effects in a flashy way…
He couldn’t predict how awkward or embarrassing it might look.
‘Well, I’ll check that next time. For now…’
There was too much to think about.
He couldn’t stop thinking.
He had to predict the future and move accordingly.
Hio had already joined Sir Sylbert’s gamble, thinking it was worth it, and the road ahead was nothing but perilous.
‘Can Sylvia persuade Yohn Torno?’
After considering various angles, the conclusion was negative.
The possibility was too slim, and Hio furrowed his brows deeply.
“Annoying.”
The small, frustrated mutter echoed abnormally loudly thanks to the magic still active from Shout.
“Ah!”
The startled soldier quickly backed away.
‘The effect is definitely real.’
Ignoring two nervous soldiers twitching as if something stung them, Hio subdued the Circle’s magic and fell into thought again.
He expected Sylvia to fail in persuading Yohn Torno.
‘Then why?’
‘The monster wave is the problem.’
An event experienced only in the East.
A yearly spring tradition.
That itself wouldn’t be an issue.
The monsters that surged like waves had never once breached Torno Castle.
‘It’s the timing that’s the problem. This monster wave isn’t a joke.’
This was reality, not a game.
There were many considerations to take into account.
Fight a monster war, then immediately march to the capital?
That was absurd.
“Sigh… If this goes well, it could be a huge opportunity.”
Ventail didn’t give special rewards for killing monsters.
Then why was the Torno Castle monster wave so popular among players?
No doubt, it was because of the fame and achievements.
Actually, the achievements mattered more than the fame.
An event rewarding how much you contributed to the castle’s defense.
Monsters in this world weren’t particularly strong.
If you ventured deep into Gran Dina, that would change, but most were just brutish numbers.
The difficulty wasn’t too high, so the rewards were useful for beginners to intermediates.
Still, if played well, using skills, the achievement rewards could be substantial…
“Damn this non-violence.”
The cursed Innate Trait: No Violence! always blocked Hio’s path.
‘Maybe it’s worth rebuilding my patience.’
He even considered breaking his own rule and committing violence.
Losing nearly 400 patience points would sting badly, but if he could quickly and cleanly fend off the monster wave, wouldn’t that help Sylvia persuade Yohn Torno?
“No matter what, it’s such a waste…!!”
From experience, 400 patience was no small amount.
The pain endured while building it was one thing, but opportunities to accumulate patience were rare.
‘That’s a problem, but what else can Sylvia do?’
Patience, monster waves, persuading Yohn Torno—all of it was enough to give him a headache, but the most important issue lay elsewhere.
Deathly Energy coursing through Sylvia’s body.
Finding a way to remove or consume it and save her was the most urgent matter.
Even if Sylvia won Yohn Torno’s persuasion and the throne succession war, what use would it be if she died?
“Is there no way?”
The whispered question was directed at Furnel.
But strangely, Furnel was unusually quiet.
This loquacious ghost rarely kept silent.
He always popped up when Hio was deep in thought to toss a comment or two, but now he was unusually still.
“Furnel?”
Hio called several times but received no answer.
‘Was something wrong with the mage tower’s main body?’
Just as he began to worry, Furnel’s voice echoed in his mind.
“Rejoice.”
That voice, tinged with ecstasy, resounded inside Hio’s head—
A clue had been found.
Hio sprang to his feet.