The Kingdom of Delos was located at the northern tip of the continent.
In terms of land mass alone, it was large enough to rival an empire. Looking at a map of the continent, one could see just how vast its territory was, making it hard to believe it was considered a peripheral nation.
However, less than half of the territory belonging to Delos was actually usable. People called the other half of the land the Land of Death. The bitter cold and the endless snow in that region caused not only crops but even people to freeze to death.
Therefore, on a map of the continent, it was best to act as if more than half of the territory of Delos did not exist. Because it was a land where humans could not live, even the kingdom had given up on developing it.
Dien was staring intently at the kingdom map hanging in his office.
He had grown curious about the far north, often called the grave of many adventurers and the Land of Death.
‘What if Delos could develop that land…?’
It was something anyone could think of, but no one had ever attempted. Recently, however, Dien had been pondering various ways to reclaim this land.
The climate was too harsh for farming and was filled with the threat of numerous monsters. But looking at it another way, didn’t that mean everything except farming was possible? Just as it was currently a place where spoils could be obtained from battling various monsters.
After deep contemplation for a long while, Carrick, who was sitting beside him, tapped Dien on the shoulder.
“Young Lord, what are you thinking about so deeply?”
“I’m curious about what that northern land is like.”
“The north? The wind is so strong you can’t even open your eyes, and the cold is enough to make your bones ache. You know this well yourself, Lord Dien.”
“Hmm… I know that. Advisor, have there been any reports of mineral resources being discovered in that land?”
“Oh, Lord Dien. Even if they were discovered, what would it matter? Who would go to such a freezing place to mine them… They probably wouldn’t even be able to build the basic facilities to mine minerals because they couldn’t withstand the cold.”
Dien nodded at Carrick’s valid point. Even if there were minerals, it was meaningless if people could not live there.
“Young Lord, why don’t you head home early today? The bridge construction has entered a stable phase, after all.”
“Hmm… should I?”
The bridge construction had begun under the leadership of the Ramo Merchant Group. For a while, Dien had been incredibly busy trying to obtain the many components requested by the Ramo technicians. Fortunately, every industrial facility in Delos was moving with the bridge construction as their top priority. Thanks to that, the project was able to reach a stable stage easily.
“By the way, about that Ramo Merchant Group that recently settled in our kingdom.”
“Eh?”
“They took on the Curse River bridge construction when no one else would, and their technological prowess is incredibly outstanding. Don’t you think there’s something strange about them, Lord Dien?”
“Hahaha, not at all. Advisor, I’ll head home first.”
The Ramo Merchant Group. It was the name of the new merchant group Ras and Mos had created when they settled in Delos. Since only a few people in the kingdom knew the inner details, Dien stood up with an awkward smile.
“Yes, get home safely!”
Dien left the Royal Castle with Carrick seeing him off. For a while, Dien had practically lived at the castle. In this life, he had wanted to live without overtime, but he never imagined it would be this difficult.
‘Once the bridge construction is over, I should stay quiet for a while.’
Fortunately, even in his busy daily life, he had consistently practiced the breathing technique he learned from Shilona. He wanted to continue progressing in his swordsmanship, but he also felt that his fatigue lessened whenever he performed the breathing technique.
It was late at night. Dien was walking alone through the quiet streets.
*Skree!*
Far off in the direction he was walking, a familiar, grotesque sound reached his ears.
‘That was definitely…’
It was a very faint noise, but because it was such an alien sound, he could sense it immediately.
If they weren’t after him, his best bet was to avoid them. Dien stopped in his tracks and began walking in a different direction from where the noise had come.
‘Those are Elder Enopoy’s subordinates.’
They exuded an unpleasant energy, and they were the last people he wanted to encounter. Just as Dien was about to quicken his pace—
*Zzzzzzt!*
The grotesque noise began to ring out from everywhere.
No way.
Soon, the noises started coming from the front, back, left, and right.
‘It’s me they’re after!’
Dien soon realized that Enopoy’s subordinates had business with him.
‘This is a problem. Of all times, I don’t even have my sword.’
As they approached, he could feel their killing intent. The noises grew louder, and the surroundings became even darker.
Although they hadn’t revealed themselves yet, Dien could feel them spread out within a radius of 100 meters.
‘They’re dangerous…’
He thought he knew what their purpose was. It was the threat Elder Enopoy had made last time. Their goal was likely to intimidate him with force or get rid of him entirely.
Dien quickened his pace, trying his best to act as if nothing was wrong.
However, to prepare for a potential situation, Dien picked up a stone every time he saw one on the ground and put it in his pocket.
“90 meters.”
“80 meters.”
They were closing the distance. Dien began walking toward a place with as many people as possible, and each time he did, they closed the distance even faster.
“40 meters.”
Their presence began to emerge from between the black shadows. Dien started to gauge their numbers through the sounds he heard.
‘Sending assassins. How typical of them.’
Soon, the killing intent directed at him thickened. They would reveal themselves shortly. Dien suddenly began running toward the area where the noise was the quietest and accurately threw a stone into the darkness.
*Thud.*
*Thump.*
Struck by the sudden stone, a masked man fell helplessly from a tree. The man never imagined that Dien would know his exact location and be able to throw a stone so accurately.
Dien snatched the sword from the fallen man. To see the faces he had been curious about, he pulled back the man’s hood.
“What in the world!”
A nauseating stench stung his nose. Red eyes with no whites. But what was stranger than that was the long, stiff hair growing around the face.
“They aren’t human!”
Dien’s body froze at the shocking appearance of the man. Then, he looked up at the approaching screeching noises.
“Quite a lot of you have gathered.”
The hooded men. He could now guess what their hidden faces looked like. Enopoy’s seeds all revealed themselves from the darkness, now openly showing their hostility.
“Did the elders send you?”
“By any chance, did you guys destroy the bridge?”
They did not answer Dien’s questions.
“Fine. What use would words be? This is actually for the best. Your heads will be the perfect New Year’s gift to send to the elders.”
Dien pointed the sword forward. It was the signal for the start of the battle. With his five senses heightened, Dien quickly scanned them, and they also thrust their swords toward him.
“Disgusting bastards.”
As their red eyes glowed brightly, the long hair on their faces became visible. When their red energy touched Dien’s body, intense streaks of light began to burst forth from Dien’s hands.
‘Strangely… I don’t feel like I’ll lose.’
Dien looked at the light emanating from his hands. Even though there were more than ten enemies in front of him, he wasn’t afraid. Previously, whenever light poured from his hands, he would forget his fear. It seemed his confidence stemmed from this light’s power being stronger than theirs.
*Whoosh!*
Thinking was short; action was fast. Dien instantly dove into the midst of Enopoy’s subordinates.
***
“Lady Shilona! The Young Lord says he’ll be late again today.”
“Is that so? I suppose life as an administrative official is no easy feat.”
It was late evening. Shilona and Nue were returning to the House of Portran after shopping together.
“Lady Shilona! Do you know why the Central Plaza of Delos is so lively even in the evening?”
“No, I’ve always found it strange. Why is that?”
“It’s because of our Young Lord. Hehe!”
“Because of Young Lord Dien? That’s impossible.”
Shilona shook her head as if she couldn’t believe Nue’s words.
“It’s true! The plazas became this active even at night after Young Lord Dien started his street performances.”
“Really?”
Nue spoke with a great deal of pride, her shoulders squared. Shilona looked around the plaza, which was filled with lights.
The lights of the plaza, cutting through the dark night, were incredibly romantic.
“I suppose Young Lord Dien was quite famous when he was doing street performances.”
Shilona had no interest in music.
Therefore, she only vaguely knew from the family servants that Dien had gained fame as a street musician; she had never thought it was a big deal.
“But lately, the rumors about Lord Dien aren’t about him being a street musician at all.”
A smile deepened on Nue’s face as she spoke.
“What do you mean?”
Nue hesitated for a moment before answering Shilona’s question in an excited tone.
“Lord Dien is becoming more famous as Young Lord Dien of the Chancellor’s Office.”
“Pardon? Young Lord Dien is that famous as an administrative official as well?”
“Hehe, of course!”
The family servants were always proud of Dien. No matter where they went, they heard good rumors about him. Shilona hadn’t thought much of it, but serving Dien seemed to be a point of pride among the maids.
Shilona watched Nue’s bright smile and thought to herself.
‘Indeed… It isn’t easy for an administrative official’s name to be on the commoners’ lips.’
If someone who wasn’t a Sword Master or a Mage was being talked about by the commoners, they were likely no ordinary person.
Because of this, Shilona felt that Dien, her swordsmanship disciple, was somewhat impressive. Of course, he was also excellent as a disciple.
Shilona and Nue returned to the manor, each lost in their own thoughts.
“Thank you, Lady Shilona.”
“It was nothing.”
Nue bowed to Shilona, who had carried a heavier load than her.
“I’ll head upstairs now.”
“Yes.”
Today was the day of a meeting with the Holy Knights. She planned to go up to her room, grab her sword, and head right back out.
*Creak—*
She opened her door.
*Ring, ring ring—*
She heard the sound of a bell ringing so loudly it seemed to fill the room.
“…The window was left open.”
For a moment, her heart raced. She knew well what the sound of the Francesca Bell meant.
Shilona assumed the bell had rung because it was shaken by the wind.
*Thud!*
Shilona closed the window firmly. She stared at the Francesca Bell for a moment.
The Francesca Bell detected dense divine power. There was only one reason why this bell would ring on its own.
“Right, I must be mistaken…”
As expected, no sound came from it. Just as Shilona was about to leave the room…
*Ding, dong!*
The Francesca Bell began to ring even louder than before.
“A Messenger… a Messenger of God…”
On a day without a breath of wind, the bell rang fiercely.
The sound sent goosebumps across Shilona’s entire body. She grabbed the bell and instantly leaped out of the manor through the window.
“Faster… faster!”
Shilona began to run, leaping across the rooftops of the long rows of buildings. She headed toward the place where the sound of the bell was pointing.
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