Chapter 94: Geumje: The Shackle Broken

At the mention of Geumje, Adman momentarily lost his composure and reacted strongly.

“Geumje? Did you, Young Master, happen to hear about it from the Marquis?”

“I learned about it recently in connection with the heir issue.”

“Heh, even so, the timing should be premature. Ahem!”

Adman openly showed signs of discomfort.

The topic of Geumje was a sensitive matter.

The four families bound by Geumje treated it with great caution.

Since it shackled them, they tried their best to avoid mentioning it.

An unspoken rule had been established: only reveal it once the next head of the family was officially appointed.

Because if it was known before inheriting the family headship, who knows what could happen.

This was by no means an easy position.

When someone was formally chosen as family head, the Geumje would be passed down to the next generation through a ceremony.

This method was an excellent way to maintain peace during the predecessors’ time, but now, amid the current turmoil and chaos, it had become a shackle.

“This is disappointing. The Marquis acted recklessly. To be discussing Geumje already.”

Evan chuckled softly in response.

“Don’t worry. I came to resolve this issue for you. There is a way to lift the Geumje.”

Adman replied coldly.

“That’s enough. You should be going now.”

“No, you must help us. Otherwise, all of us face ruin. There are no exceptions.”

Adman vaguely sensed this himself.

Looking at the current king, the kingdom’s fate was obvious.

Still, he did not want to act recklessly.

‘The risk is too high.’

Moreover, with the Geumje in place, no one knew how the king’s orders would fall.

It was unclear which factions were aligned with the king at present.

They had no information on the enemies, just a rookie from the Count Kerthen Household asking for trust and cooperation.

It made no strategic sense.

‘But if the Geumje can really be lifted, then things could change.’

The value of freeing the Geumje was beyond anything else.

He would give half his fortune just to have it undone.

‘Enough. I’m entertaining foolish hopes. I should just tell that rookie the harsh truth and send him away.’

Just as he was about to speak again, Evan cut in first.

“Please give me a chance. I am the first family head, Illudan’s successor, and I have brought his legacy.”

A crimson aura began gathering around Evan’s hand.

“Hm?”

Startled by this foreign energy, Adman’s eyes widened in surprise.

Moments later, the form of a sword slowly materialized above Evan’s hand.

“Wh-What!”

Adman stared in shock at Evan.

Summoning a sword was something that rarely happened unless under special circumstances.

Either the sword itself was extraordinary, or it was summoned by magic.

“What on earth is that?”

“This…”

Evan slashed his own wrist with the sword.

Startled by the sudden act, Adman shouted, “What are you doing?”

“It’s alright.”

Evan lifted his arm to show the cut.

There was no sign of injury from the blade.

Adman looked back and forth between Evan’s arm and the sword and asked, “H-How is this possible?”

“This sword was not made to kill. It is a secret trump card left for the future. If you think of it as the key to unlocking the shackles placed on the four families, it will be easier to understand.”

Before using the sword, Evan opened an information window to confirm its abilities once more.

[Level: 1]

[Category: Two-handed sword]

[Effect: When wielded, it can detect curses and has the ability to lift them. The more curses it lifts, the higher the sword’s level rises, and its curse-lifting power increases proportionally with the level.]

[???]

[Other: A sacred sword that has existed since ancient times. Its origin and creator are unknown.]

‘Currently, Ascalon’s level is 1, but it can lift the Geumje.’

From the moment Evan grasped Ascalon, chains began wrapping around Adman’s entire body.

Those were the Geumje shackles placed on the family heads.

“This sword, left by the first family head, Illudan, was made to resolve the Geumje for future generations.”

Evan swung Ascalon experimentally, severing one of the chains.

Shing!

One chain broke, though only Evan could confirm it.

However, Adman’s pupils trembled as if from an earthquake.

The Geumje that had bound his body had weakened, albeit slightly.

“Y-Young Master!”

His attitude shifted instantly.

If this was true, it was a golden opportunity to break free from this yoke.

“Yes. But next, you will need to sign a contract.”

Evan pointed at the contract Scroll on the table.

Adman nodded vigorously.

“Understood! If this is true, it would be enough to unite the four families. A kingdom must exist for the families to exist.”

Adman unfolded the contract Scroll on the table.

After reviewing the contents, he showed a satisfied expression and immediately signed.

“This means we are now united.”

Evan said, and Adman smiled heartily, nodding.

“Then I will lift the Geumje completely.”

Grasping Ascalon with both hands, Evan cut through the chains binding Adman.

[You have lifted the curse of the lord-vassal relationship.]

[Ascalon’s level has increased.]

Just by lifting Adman’s Geumje, Ascalon’s level rose.

Gaining Adman as an ally was one gain, but the sword’s growth was another significant benefit.

‘Things are progressing smoothly.’

Evan looked at Adman with satisfaction.

“Did you really convince that coward?”

Rolten was incredulous when he heard Evan’s words.

They had actually obtained the signed contract from the Andor Marquisate.

“Only two left now.”

“No matter how you did it, I think you really can change the kingdom.”

“Of course we have to. If the kingdom falls, we are all finished.”

Evan joked lightly, but Rolten felt the weight behind his words.

“The fall of the kingdom…”

“Let’s move on. We’ve delayed longer than I thought.”

Evan lifted his head to gaze at the sky for a moment.

He sensed a faint but thickening evil aura.

‘Even now, they must be moving. I need to gather information quickly. Isn’t there a Verna Merchant Association somewhere here?’

Evan pondered as they walked through the streets.

It seemed they would have to rely on the Verna Merchant Association after a long time.

‘They should have good intel.’

At the moment, clues were too scarce.

The only problem was that the Verna Merchant Association was hidden and hard to find.

‘They said it was so vast it seemed to exist everywhere. It should be here somewhere.’

As Evan surveyed the surroundings, he noticed a crowd up ahead.

“What’s going on?”

In front of a building that looked like the Merchant Guild, the bulletin board was swarmed with people.

“Let’s check it out. If something’s happened, we need to react first and fastest.”

Rolten suddenly approached, pushing through the crowd.

Evan followed, squeezing his way through the people.

Finally emerging from the throng, Evan was amazed by the huge bulletin board before him.

‘It looked like an ordinary board from afar.’

Approaching the board, he saw a screen resembling a massive hologram.

Guild names appeared, and above them, illustrations of towers.

“What is this?”

“Nothing special.”

Rolten’s voice came from beside him.

Evan turned his head.

“You don’t know this?”

“There’s nothing like this in the Marquisate.”

“No, there is. It’s called guild currency—money used commonly between guilds across the continent.”

“Currency?”

“It’s nothing special. Just money that can only be used within guilds. Not really necessary outside.”

Evan tilted his head, puzzled.

‘Did people gather this much over money usable only within guilds?’

“Then why are so many people gathered here?”

“Oh, these must be people who bought the guild currency.”

Rolten pointed to the tower images on the screen.

“See the towers above the guild names? Guilds stack these towers in magically formed spaces. The higher the tower, the higher the value of that guild’s currency.”

Only then did Evan understand.

“The taller the tower, the higher the price they can sell for. So that’s why everyone is desperate?”

Yet Evan could not shake off a sense of unease.

For some reason, there were many tower-related things in this world.

‘Now that I think about it, even in the ruins, people talked about stacking towers high.’

And the Tower of Wishes built by the Lamakria people to gain the power of the chosen ones.

And here, the towers deciding the guild currency.

‘I feel like these are various forms of the same thing.’

Whether it was coincidence or something more, he felt unsettled.

“Evan, let’s move. There’s nothing for us here.”

“Yes.”

But as Rolten moved on, Evan put his thoughts aside for the moment.

***

Deep within the forest stood an ancient temple.

Its size was vast enough to encompass an entire village.

At the very center, a brown-skinned man with gray eyes knelt, reporting to someone.

“All communication has been cut off.”

A beautiful silver-haired girl, her hair falling past her shoulders, looked at him with a detached expression.

“Yes, I know. We expected this when we sent them. The resistance lasted longer than anticipated. The enemy’s level is really low. It’s enough to drain the strength we prepared.”

She gestured lightly.

Countless Lamakria people gathered around her.

“The time has come. We have endured long enough. Now, it’s time they feel the price of their sacrifices.”

She awakened their thirst for revenge and stirred their anger.

A deadly light gleamed in their eyes.

“Make sure to finish everything today. If it’s not done before the next order comes, you know what that means? He will abandon us. Don’t disappoint him.”

As she finished speaking, their bodies began to be covered in black armor.

Pitch-black, yet alive like a living entity, the full-body armor drew out their rage and hatred, maximizing their killing power.

Soon, red glows flashed in the visors of the Dark Knights’ helmets.

The girl sneered as she gave them orders.

“Everyone, rampage as you please. Repay them in kind for everything they’ve done to you. Only then will they realize your sorrow.”

The Dark Knights bowed respectfully to her before setting off.

After they disappeared, the girl slowly opened her power.

Her black attire turned dazzlingly white.

“Goddess. Now, by your will, I am able to reenact that moment once more. Please deliver judgment to the foolish and ignorant.”

She knelt and began to pray.

A continuous sneer escaped her lips.