Seven kingdoms existed in the West. While empires held sway in other regions, development in the West had been slow, which naturally delayed settlement by the peoples of the continent. As a result, the kingdoms had established treaties through royal marriages and other exchanges and tended to avoid rashly starting wars. This tendency to avoid war was a common trait across the continent, and the West was no exception.

The Raider’s Association, founded thousands of years ago, was an organization spread throughout the Astral Continent, but recently, it had become centered around the West. This was because of Count Dinen. He was the only real power who could influence the Association President, Anderno. As he was developing the lands of the West through raiders, it was only natural that it would become the main hub.

The Aneis Kingdom, to which Count Dinen belonged, had come to represent the West. He had firmly secured his position in the political world by seizing control of both the royalist and aristocratic factions, and it was no exaggeration to say the kingdom revolved around him. The few nobles who had remained loyal to the royal family were now in a situation where they could barely manage their own territories due to the slave emancipation decree. Furthermore, the nobles who had maintained neutrality were gradually turning to Count Dinen. Although his influence had slightly waned due to the bus raid party, he was still known as the hegemon of the West.

Now, he was even using the royal family to carry out his schemes. Under this offensive, even the Noah family, which had consolidated royal power for over a hundred years, could not help but be shaken. King Leopard bin Noah’s power had weakened to the point where his title had become meaningless.

Of course, it wasn’t like this before Dinen Pradio took over the Haben territory. On the contrary, the king had forged a powerful alliance with Marquis Dietrich, Duke Centrix, and Viscount Crowell so that no one would dare challenge the royal authority. However, with Duke Centrix and Viscount Crowell dispatched to the southernmost front, a stage was set for Count Dinen. When he captured the Haben territory—a feat thought impossible—the royal authority was naturally weakened. Now, King Leopard was little more than an empty shell. When even the king who ruled the country was treated like a puppet, other nobles were no different. The Noah family of today was a shadow of its former, undisputed glory.

“…Hear my final words. Please, guide Leon onto the right path. And tell that child as well… that I was sorry for not always being there for him…”

Then, he passed away, his long illness having taken a sudden turn for the worse. Death came to him while he was already suffering from a long sickness and receiving treatment from a priest. The people of Aneis were steeped in sorrow, and the king’s passing was announced far and wide. And so, while the nobles smiled and the loyal retainers wept, Leopard’s funeral ceremony continued for a full thirty days.

—

‘Boom! KABOOM! Boom!’

Dozens of active volcanoes began to erupt, spewing lava that had long been dormant. This monthly cycle of eruptions had become a tiresome sight for those watching from the walls of Demecore Fortress. A man who had been observing the lava for a while was the first to turn away.

“It’s been ten years since we came here on that damn oracle’s command,” he grumbled. “Still no sign of them advancing onto the continent. I’m not even sure why we’re here anymore.”

The oracle of the Ain Kart Holy Kingdom. Through a divine message that sensed a crisis on the continent, they were dispatched here to the Demecore Fortress. A full fourteen superhumans. Excluding Duke Peyton of the Derk Empire, it was no exaggeration to say that all the powerhouses of the continent were gathered here.

“Haaah. It’s the same for me. They call it an SS-rank dungeon, but there’s no tension at all. We hardly ever see any soldiers, just that giant monster.”

The man who had been sitting down pointed to the monster roaming near the volcano. It was a creature of unknown identity that had grown in size by absorbing lava for ten years—the Guardian of the SS-rank dungeon, Dios. The superhumans around him could only nod in agreement. That guardian was all they ever saw. Moreover, contrary to the oracle’s warning, Dios showed no intention of advancing onto the continent.

The Land of Despair, at the southern tip of the continent, was a volcanic region where lava seethed every day. They had succeeded in identifying the dungeon hidden within the volcanoes through the oracle, but there had been no significant progress. In the first place, the superhumans’ objective was to prevent Dios’s advance. With no soldiers in sight, there was no reason to invade themselves.

Finally, a man who could bear it no longer was about to enter the fortress when a soldier hurriedly ran up the stairs.

“U-urgent news!”

“Hmm. How did you find your way here? Demecore Fortress is supposed to forbid access to outsiders.”

“Please accept this. P-please, this…”

The soldier handing over the scroll in his hand melted away, likely due to the magical power emanating from Dungeon Dios. Even the superhumans, who had trained their bodies to the limit, had to constantly manage their own magical energy to withstand it. There was no way an ordinary soldier could endure it.

Tsk. “This is why we forbid access. What kind of news is so important that he’d throw away his life to deliver it?”

“Hmm. What is it?” another man asked, approaching.

“You’ve come at a good time. It seems some urgent news has been delivered to us.”

“…That is certainly our names. I thought we had been all but forgotten.”

Their two names were written on the outside of the scroll. The man who had first spotted the soldier slowly unfurled it. The content was only two lines, but the expressions of the two men slowly hardened. They, who thought they had been forgotten over the past ten years, were being summoned to attend a funeral.

The man—no, Duke Centrix—suppressed his anger and looked up at the sky, stained black by Dios’s magic. It was clearly not the sky he used to see. He put the scroll in his breast pocket and asked Viscount Crowell, who was beside him.

“Was the sky we looked up at in the kingdom like this?”

“Not back then. But it might be different now. It is surely grieving with us over His Majesty’s passing.”

“…I see. I feel sorry for our friends here, but it seems it’s time for us to return.”

“In reality, the oracle’s power already ended after ten years. We have only been guarding this place out of duty and responsibility.”

The period set to bind the superhumans of the continent was ten years. It wasn’t enough for them to abandon their existing wealth, honor, and positions, but since it was an oracle spread throughout the continent, they couldn’t refuse. Duke Peyton was simply not among the ranks of superhumans at the moment the oracle was given, which is why he was excluded. It was no exaggeration to say he was lucky. Those gathered at Demecore Fortress often envied him.

The reason they were still guarding the fortress even after ten years was not only because they had grown accustomed to the heavy responsibility, but also because they had been forgotten by the continent. Among the people of the continent, the names of the superhumans were slowly fading. Their families, hometowns, kingdom positions, and territories had all been scattered over the ten-year period. In the end, the superhumans who had lost their places to return to were stuck at the fortress even after the oracle had ended.

And yet, King Leopard had sought them out, a moment of both joy and sadness. His will was so strong that he sent a soldier to deliver the news of his passing even on his deathbed. He must have realized his death was approaching and sent the urgent message to the fortress. And so, the two bid farewell to the comrades they had spent ten years with and began their journey back to the Aneis Kingdom.

—

The Yuda Raid Party was the elite of the elite, possessing more than ten top-tier A-rank raiders. With a total of 250 members, it was no exaggeration to say that only the most skilled were gathered, so much so that even its B-rank raiders were top-tier combatants aiming for an A-rank promotion.

The only dungeon this raid party ever targeted was Velvet. Given Yuda’s personality of never letting go of prey once he had spotted it, Velvet, which had never once been conquered, was a place he could never give up on. That was precisely why he remained in the North. Velvet’s Dungeon Master was different from others and participated directly in combat. For Yuda, it was as if he had met his strongest rival.

As such, on that day, he was planning the raid schedule for the Moria Temple when Benshi, a druid raider from the North, entered the room with a soldier. They had been comrades for several years now.

“What is it, Benshi? I told you not to let anyone in when I’m planning the raid schedule.”

“He just wouldn’t listen. You deal with him. I’m leaving.”

“Haaah. Always does whatever she wants,” Yuda muttered, clicking his tongue as he turned his gaze to the soldier. “So, what is it? Judging by the crest on your armor, you’re from the Aneis Kingdom. I’m sure I told you not to come find me.”

“…My apologies. But this is news that absolutely must be delivered.”

“What in the world is going on? Give it to me.”

Yuda snatched the scroll from the hesitating soldier’s hand and unfurled it. The contents were just two lines—an urgent dispatch written concisely with only the most important facts.

‘Thud.’

The soldier fell to his knees, tears already dripping from beneath his lowered head.

After staring at the message for a long moment, Yuda looked at the soldier with a dumbfounded expression.

“Ack… Prince Arthur,” the soldier choked out, “it is the final royal command of His Majesty, King Leopard. He orders your immediate return to the capital. Please, I implore you… Go and assist His Highness, Prince Leon, who now protects the royal family all alone!”

The soldier was too stunned to speak.

“Count Dinen is already leading the nobles in an attempt to oust His Highness Leon. The royal family has been shaken for some time, and the crown’s authority has hit rock bottom. Please!”

A heavy thud shook the floor. The soldier slammed his forehead against the boards again and again, pleading desperately. He was likely one of the few remaining royal guards who had protected the royal family.

Yuda bit his lip and pulled the soldier to his feet. His eyes grew steadily colder as a torrent of emotions washed over him, and a palpable, murderous aura erupted from him.

“I am Arthur van Noah, the bastard son. Make sure you deliver this message clearly, including the family name my father bestowed upon me. Tell them I am on my way to the Oneis Kingdom now.”

It was the family name his father had passed down, braving the opposition of the noble factions. Such a thing had been possible then, under the crown’s firm authority, but now it would hardly be recognized. However, it would be a different story when accompanied by the status of a top-tier A-rank Raider. The soldier, trembling in the face of the murderous aura that filled the room, could only nod.

And so, the Yuda Raid Party, abandoning even their hunt for the Velvet Dungeon, set a course for the Oneis Kingdom.

—

Silence reigned in the desolate room. From the pitch-black darkness, cries of sorrow drifted in. The funeral rites, which had continued for several days, had deeply shaken the people. Sorrow, screams, anger… and even the smiles that blossomed amidst it all.

It was all utterly pathetic.

So Leon thought. No, to be precise, he was certain of it.

‘Creeak.’

The door opened. The light seeping through the crack made him instinctively narrow his eyes. Leon slowly observed the man who entered—a stern demeanor, a rigid bearing, and a slightly irritating beard. He was probably one of the retainers who had served Leopard.

The man let out a deep sigh and spoke in a placating tone. “Your Highness Leon, you have been cooped up in your room for five days now. You haven’t shown your face even once during the funeral rites for His Majesty Leopard. It is only natural for the people to feel anxious.”

Leon remained silent.

“I am fully aware of the shock you are in, but you must pull yourself together. You are destined to inherit the throne. After the coronation, you will be the one to lead the Oneis Kingdom. With Count Dinen and the various noble factions encroaching upon the royal family, you are our only hope.”

‘Destined to inherit the throne. Count Dinen. The only hope.’ And a single, unspoken message gleaming in those vacant eyes. Leon couldn’t help but tilt his head. He stared blankly up at the retainer and opened his mouth.

“Why are you lying?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep