Chapter 57: 57 To the Capital Again.

The path on the way back was much calmer and quieter. Their only concern was how dim the place was. But thanks to Marina, they safely ascended to the first floor and arrived at the surface world.

A clear and refreshing air filled their lungs, rejuvenating their mind, especially the kids.

Even though Jin was superior in every aspect, his stats still hovered between strong and weak.

Most of it was C, except for the Mind.

He didn’t know what limit his other stats could grow, but it sure takes its time. The only growth spurt he experienced was when he awoke from the coma days ago.

Jin looked ahead and saw the barrier still standing. It had withstood everything that could cause disturbance inside or outside the Dungeon area.

He stood before the thin barrier layer, thick enough to hold a strong monster attack.

With a flick of his fingers, the barrier shatters into myriad pieces, glittering across the atmosphere before disappearing and returning to its place.

From behind, Marina, Silvia, and Ryan watch Jin undo the spell with his head shaking sideways, exasperated by his amazing control. Their lips are frozen stiff, preventing a word from escaping from their mouths.

In front of them stretched a lush forest that swayed as a cold winter breeze passed, leaves snuggling together, creating a soft melody that pleased the listener’s ears.

The group stormed off into the forest. Its tranquil atmosphere, with golden light cascaded through the gap of the canopy towering above, soothed their hearts, creating a memorable detail.

***

Leaving the forest, an armoured figure lined up through the border of the village and the forest, welcoming them with bloated eyes. Their silver armour stood up, glittering upon reflection, and they all flinched at the sight of Jin’s group.

“Viscount Midnight and his family had returned safely, along with Lady Silvia.” One of the knights roared his command, garnering the attention of the people who settled near the village.

Jin and his members are being led toward the village as he sees several people approaching him. ’Is that The Duke and Guild Master?’.

“Father,” Silvia bolted off from the group. She jumped into Sullivan’s chest, wrapping her hands tight around his back.

“Silvia, are you okay?”. The Duke’s face turned white as a sheet. His eyes darted away before meeting Jin’s and Ryan’s eyes, who saw them nod.

The Duke’s trembling hands gently wrapped around his daughter’s back and exhaled all the tension and anxiety that gnawed at his heart. Ryan and Jin, who had keen sight, saw a bag under the Duke’s eyes, hidden beneath light makeup.

Randy approached Ryan, his gaze blazed over the group before settling on him. His lips spread into a broad grin, and he reached his hand forward.

“We didn’t get to greet each other that time. It’s been a while, Ryan. Or should I say, Viscount?”.

“Stop it, Randy”. Ryan firmly grasped Randy’s hand and smiled slightly, “It’s been a while. How have you been?”.

“Never better; how are you, Crimson Witch?”.

Marina’s brows furrowed as a vein popped out of her temple, “I’m fine. Please don’t call me by that name”.

Randy turned toward Jin, who gazed at their interaction in silence. He stood before the boy and raised his hand forward, hoping to get to know him better.

“My name is Randy. Pleased to meet you, boy”.

“No, the pleasure is mine. My name is Jin Midnight”. Jin took the man’s palm, and his face knitted, feeling the squeezing force that forced him to withdraw.

’As I thought, he was not just an ordinary boy’. Within that slight touch, Randy could guess just how much effort the boy had to face until he reached that level at that age.

Sure enough, even though his parents are Dragon Slayers, that doesn’t change the fact that a kid born from their genes would be superior; it all depends on the kid’s character and effort.

He could feel it; the boy before him excelled in both his bloodline and character, forging his way to stand where he is now.

Randy’s lips broke into a pleasant grin, and he patted the boy’s shoulder, “Well, thanks, Jin, for finding the Dungeon ahead of time.”

“No, It was some kind of a coincidence”. Jin scratched his cheek, humbling over his achievement.

“Even so, I thank you.” Randy touched the boy’s head and ruffled his smooth hair. “Not only did you find it, but you properly consulted with us adults and did not act recklessly in trying to challenge it alone.”

The man’s gaze shifted toward the forest, which seemed lost and empty. He saw enough suffering caused by reckless behaviour or greed that it was incompatible with Human nature.

When a group of adventurers finds a Newborn Dungeon, they tend to get blinded by greed and try to monopolize the resource even for a while, without knowing what danger lay inside.

As many Adventurers know, a Dungeon not only provides a stable resource of mana stone, but if luck followed, the Dungeon would provide a rare gift in the form of a treasure box.

Contained inside are glittering treasures such as jewels, gold and silver or enhanced Items that could be sold for thousands of gold.

Where a huge fortune is waiting inside, there is also a lurking disaster that would swallow everything and destroy the surrounding Dungeon area.

“Is that so?”.

“Yeah, you are done well enough. Not only as an Adventurer but also as a human being.” Randy’s face broke into a warm smile as he watched the boy hesitantly take all the credit he threw at him.

“Leave the rest to me, you go rest. Ryan and Marina, you have one hell of a son”.

“Yeah, I’m proud of him”.

“Of course, he is my sweetheart”.

Ryan and Marina placed their hands on each of the boy’s shoulders.

“Well, I will take my leave here and hear the report later. Rest for now”. Randy bid his farewell, watching his figures fade into the crowd.

Jin followed his figure and noticed many materials, such as wood, bricks, and sand, were present. The villagers, knights, and construction people worked together to build the Adventure branch. ’They work fast!’

“Jin?”. A melodic voice rang out; it prompted him to turn to the source.

He saw Silvia with Duke Sullivan approaching his side. Several knights behind them followed them.

“Lord Midnight, the matter about going to the capital?”.

Once the Duke brought up the matter, Ryan and Marina’s faces crumpled and turned pale.

Both exchanged glances before Ryan turned to the Duke and said, “Should we hurry up? We might barely make it to the celebration.”

“Indeed, I already dealt with all the matters in my territory and left everything to my capable subordinates. So, how about it?”. The Duke paused for a second before he pointed toward a line of carriages standing in the main village street, “Should we board the carriage and go to the capital today?”.

At first, Sullivan had no intention of departing for the capital, for the matter seemed heavy enough to be neglected. He prepared the carriages in case he needed to get his daughter home and properly rest her weary mind when the time came for the group to resurface.

However, after hearing the news from his daughter, Sullivan’s mouth agape, his mind twisted into swirling chaos of blankness. He thought the party he sent to investigate the Dungeon would take time.

He assumed that it might take days for them to finish. But to think they would leave the place in just half a day.

“Pardon me?”. Ryan scratched his cheek and turned his head, staring at the lining carriages as a black-haired maid approached their side.

“My lord, we are ready to depart at any time.” The maid slightly bowed her head, and when her gaze landed on Silvia, her lips loosened into a nasty grin, and her breath turned laboured.

“Huff, Lady Silvia in the flesh, Lady Silvia in the flesh, Uuu!?”. Red lines trailed down her nose, and her face turned red like ripped tomatoes.

Ryan’s brows knitted together. He glanced at his side, and the Duke’s face stiffened. “Is she alright?”

The Duke rubbed his back head and softly exhaled while averting his gaze sideways: “She will be fine, Silvia. Let me introduce you to Julia. She will be your caretaker from now on.”

Silvia’s face tightened; she turned to her father, then to the woman who was kneeling and pinching her bleeding nose. She gulped her saliva and walked toward the woman.

“Are you alright?”.

Silence hung between them as the maid lifted her face and stared at Silvia’s ethereal figure, bathed by the sunlight above her. The woman’s eyes gleamed in purity. Clasping her hands together, she started to pray.

“Oh, Goddess”.

“G-Goddess!?”. Blood rushed into Silvia’s face, turning her into a boiled octopus.

When the adults were talking amongst themselves, Jin’s eyes shrank as he witnessed a fleeting black aura coming from the woman. It was thin, but it soon disappeared after she started to chant a prayer and worship Silvia. ’Is it my imagination?’

’No, it can’t be.’ He shook his head and stared right toward the woman’s eyes. Her black eyes swirled like stormy madness, exuding an eerie devotion and joy. A thick layer of pink aura leaked through all of her body. ’Is this the effect of idolization or…’

“Then how about the report of the investigation?”. Ryan turned to the Duke and said with knitted brows.

“I will do it”. Jin’s voice broke through the atmosphere, and all eyes were turned to him.

He flashed his white teeth. His shoulders felt light, away from unnecessary burdens such as long-distance travel inside the carriage. “It will probably take a while. I’m sad about being left behind, but don’t worry. I can manage by myself, so don’t mind me and have fun.”

Jin turned around and moved his legs away from the group, but faster than him. His mother’s talon gripped his shoulders with force, forcing the boy to halt, and his face crumpled.

“Not so fast, sweetheart”. Marina’s lips loosened into a broad smile, but her expression darkened.

Slowly, he turned to the back like a crooked machine. His breath stopped, and his heart thumped so wild that it would burst from his chest, “M-Mother… I was just joking…”.

Cold sweat drenched the boy’s back, sending a tingling sensation that tickled his consciousness.

“You come to the capital with us. No excuse”.

“Understood, Mother”.

After the chilling atmosphere pierced his mind, Jin and Marina reported the detailed investigation to Randy, who seemed busy helping with the Building’s construction.

They soon bid farewell to each other and board the carriages that will lead them to the capital. Inside the rocking space, Jin’s empty eyes gaze toward the horizon as he can only swallow his complaint, ’Man, what a busy day’.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep