Chapter 68
Kiriel and the members of the Yudia Ducal Family, including Ludbrid Yudia and Klein Yudia, rode without rest for an entire day and arrived at the entrance to a dungeon that exuded an eerie chill.
“Ooh! If it isn’t everyone. It’s been so long. Ahahaha!”
And the moment they set foot into the dungeon, a voice suddenly rang out from thin air, followed by a man bursting into cheerful laughter as he revealed himself.
The man, who had appeared abruptly floating in midair, was a mischievous-looking fellow with prominently protruding fangs that immediately caught the eye.
“Wow, how long has it been? A few years? I thought I’d never see the Yudias again after the inauguration ceremony, so you can’t imagine how surprised I was when you contacted me.”
The man’s green hair fluttered this way and that as he spun round and round in the air.
A strikingly white streak stood out amid the green strands.
Mischievously curved eyes.
A lighthearted tone of speech.
And deep orange eyes that sparkled like they held the sun within them.
He was Jedrian, the tower lord of the magic nation ‘Alphatria,’ known to anyone who knew him.
“Wow, wow~! Who’s this~~? The young master of the Yudia Ducal Family! Ooooh! Have you finally given up on being cooped up in the temple, bored out of your mind with all that praying? Shaken off the dead hero bit?”
Ahahaha!!!
His nonstop laughter, grinning ear to ear with whatever amused him so much, echoed loudly through the cave-like dungeon entrance.
Spin—
Floating in midair, he rotated 180 degrees to hang upside down like a bat, then thrust his face right in front of Kiriel with a mischievous grin.
“Wow, but seeing you after so long does make me happy. I’m thrilled to escape my boring office for once!!! Ahahaha! You get how I feel, right? That endless cycle of being trapped in the office every single day, nothing but work! I hate it!!!”
“Shut up and get lost…….”
Kiriel replied flatly, not even blinking.
At that, the man darted over and clung to Kiriel Yudia’s back like a koala, immediately opening his mouth.
“Eek, that’s too much. My baby young master~ I’m so lonely~~ Huh? I’m bored. Talk to me more. Don’t you feel sorry for me? Huh?”
“I told you to get lost.”
“I heard you had a daughter—why won’t you show her to me? Ah, so pitiful. Is she fun? Don’t you think I’m your benefactor who saved your life? I kept suppressing and dispersing that Demonic Qi for you right up until you grew into a fine adult. How amazing is that! So great!”
At the man’s words, Kiriel furrowed his brow and grabbed the man by the collar, hurling him straight to the ground.
Whoosh—
Instead of a heavy thud on impact, a gust of wind blew in all directions.
Rather than hitting the ground, the man floated lightly back into the air and let out a deep sigh.
“What… Anyway, I came because you said you found something interesting.”
He replied with drooping shoulders, looking somewhat offended by being thrown, which only made him seem all the more infuriating.
“How long do you plan to prattle on like an idiot, you tower lord of the magic nation?”
Unable to bear it any longer, Ludbrid scowled and snapped harshly. In response, the man—Jedrian—pouted his lips in dissatisfaction.
Shrugging his shoulders with a sulky, childlike expression, he landed lightly on the ground with a soft thump.
“Ugh, what’s the old geezer’s problem? Fine, fine!”
The moment Jedrian stuck out his lip and extended his hand toward the entrance leading down the darkest stairs at the deepest part of the dungeon.
Jedrian suddenly tilted his head to the side.
Crunch, thud!
At the same instant, a sharp spear flew in, narrowly grazing Jedrian’s cheek before slamming into the taut barrier and shattering into fragments that scattered everywhere.
“…….”
Rumble—
With murderous intent, demonic beasts began popping into view one by one.
Jedrian’s face, which had been beaming innocently, hardened in an instant.
A dry barrenness settled into his once-vibrant eyes, and his lightless pupils slowly shifted to fix on the beasts.
“Who…….”
Crackle, crackle.
Sparks flew widely around Jedrian.
Snap!
And the moment he flicked his fingers……
Rumble, rumble—dark thunderclouds formed inside the dungeon, flashing brightly.
Jedrian cackled wickedly, clenched his fist tight, and swung it downward in a striking motion.
Rumble—
Boom!!!
Crash! Bang!
The dim dungeon interior flashed blindingly white as lightning poured down relentlessly.
At the same time, the demonic beasts began charring black and collapsing one after another without mercy.
Pfft!
“Ahahaha! That’s why you shouldn’t pick fights you can’t win. Pathetic little vermin not even worth my claws! Ah, should I have left one alive for experiments?”
Jedrian tilted his head innocently and lightly licked his lower lip.
“Hm? Aren’t we short on test subjects?”
“We still have a few usable demonkin and demonic beasts remaining.”
One of the black-robed mages who had been hiding quietly in the back bowed and replied politely.
“Ah, right? Good, good. There’s an ancient elf in here, right? I’ve been dying to experiment on one of those……. If it was in a dungeon crawling with demonic beasts, it must be corrupted, yeah? Then just give me one!”
“Tch, you’re so damn noisy I could drop dead. Hey, quit yapping and dismantle that barrier already.”
“Huh? What’s that? Are you complaining to me? Should I not help? Huh? Holy Knight Commander? Huh?? Should I really not help?? After I rushed all the way here?? The nerve! Treating me like this!!!”
Jedrian shouted, then grinned and spun a full circle in the air.
“Thrilling!!!”
“Tower Lord Jedrian…….”
“Ahahaha!!! Just kidding, kidding. Alright, alright, I’ll do it.”
Jedrian shoved his left hand into his pocket, then thrust his right hand forward.
“Oh ho, ancient magic?”
As Jedrian cast the dispelling spell, crackle, crackle! Sparks erupted nonstop, and incomprehensible magic circles flickered into existence one after another.
His pupils dilated with excitement as he let out a giggle, muttering something softly under his breath. Judging by the unintelligible language, he was clearly chanting a spell.
“What, what, what!!! I heard ancient elves were at the pinnacle of magic, and it’s true!!!”
Jedrian burst into childlike giggles, laughing loudly.
Rumble—!
Crackle, crackle!
Sparks flew endlessly. His arm began charring black against the powerful shield.
Flash—!
Clang!
After much effort, Jedrian finally managed to dispel the barrier over the entrance leading down the stairs.
A small sound like shattering glass rang out, and the faint, glass-like protective film slid away smoothly.
“Ahahaha, this is fun, so fun. Whoa, the stench is brutal. I’m going in first!!!”
Jedrian stepped lightly toward the stairs.
Two mages who had accompanied him as attendants followed behind, and Ludbrid, Klein Yudia, and Kiriel entered last.
Whoosh.
The moment his foot touched the stairs, a noxious surge of Demonic Qi made Kiriel’s brow furrow.
