[The Effect Reversal Card has been used.]

[All of Badon Pilameter’s buffs will be converted into debuffs.]

[For a limited time, all of Badon Pilameter’s defense will be reduced threefold.]

[For a limited time, all of Badon Pilameter’s resistance will be reduced twofold.]

Every buff became a debuff. The impenetrable Frost Armor was now a crippling poison. With the skill’s usage limit reached, he couldn’t cast it again. This was the perfect moment to turn the tables.

“A special item? This is absurd!” Badon roared.

“Don’t panic. I still have plenty of buff items left,” Taehyun retorted, activating a series of items to empower his troops.

Their flagging morale surged. Their defenses were bolstered. Their stats rose across the board. The second round of the battle had officially begun.

[A-rank Named Mercenary, Dark Mage Raimond, has cast Blind.]

[Badon Pilameter’s vision will be blocked for a limited time.]

First, his sight was stolen. Even shrouded in magical darkness, Badon used his mana sense to parry the incoming attacks.

“You had a grand time toying with us, didn’t you?” Kadum snarled. “Let’s go, soldiers!”

“Everyone, follow my father and me!” Larkan commanded.

“To think I have to fight alongside these skull-heads. Just my luck,” Chedor grumbled.

The undead legion charged once more. This time, Kadum joined the fray, his Wild Instincts fully activated. Empowered by the buffs, the Doom Skeletons fought with terrifying efficiency. When Big Dream, finally freed from maintaining the black mist, took command of the undead, the battlefield achieved a perfect, deadly harmony.

[A-rank Named Mercenary, Crybaby Eclat, has cast the special ability ‘Melody of Harmony’.]

[All soldiers’ accuracy is temporarily increased.]

[All soldiers’ health recovery rate is temporarily increased.]

[All soldiers’ evasion is temporarily increased.]

With the Melody of Harmony weaving through them, the soldiers became twice as formidable as before.

“Sieghardt, Grai, Mederia! Create an opening for Grizzle and Granzle to break through!” Taehyun commanded.

“Understood, my lord!”

“I will obey!”

“I will succeed, even if it costs me my life!”

As his three champions plunged back into the fight, the tide of battle turned in an instant.

—

After hours of relentless combat, the battle was finally over. Badon Pilameter was the strongest Guardian Taehyun had ever faced, but even he had fallen before the might of Balak. The pandemonium unleashed by Grizzle and Granzle must have been the decisive blow. With his mana depleted, the monster who fought like an S-rank powerhouse had finally been defeated.

“You lose,” Taehyun said, standing over him. “With you gone, the Frost Queen’s forces are finished. Any last words?”

“…Do you truly believe this is the end? If so, then I will laugh at your foolishness. My fall does not mean the end of the Queen’s army. The day she is freed from her seal… that will be the day this continent meets its doom.”

“Tsk. Still running your mouth at death’s door. Grai, finish him.”

The explosive sword Gravolta flashed.

[Frost Queen Forces Commander Badon Pilameter has been slain.]

[You have cleared the 10th floor of the Ice Palace.]

[The intense traces of frost are being absorbed by the Frozen Jade.]

[The true seal of the Frozen Jade has been released.]

[A gate to the Ice Cave, where the witch Yuslan is sealed, has opened.]

With Badon’s death, the Frozen Jade opened a gate. It seemed the commander was the final challenge.

‘So the traces from my inventory and the ones Badon dropped were all absorbed? An Ice Cave, huh. First, the items.’ Taehyun had long since formed the habit of checking his loot the moment a battle concluded.

[S-rank Mana Stone × 52]

[A-rank Mana Stone × 189]

[A-rank Spirit Stone Fragment × 231]

[Badon’s Mithril Armor]

[Badon’s Mithril Gauntlet]

[Ingwe Royal Family’s Necklace]

The final boss of the Ice Palace had dropped a substantial haul. The sheer number of S-rank and A-rank mana stones was staggering. Combined with the mithril equipment, it was an undeniable jackpot.

‘It’s a shame Antelos lost a key part of its defense, but Songyi will just summon another guardian. She has mercenaries, too, so it should be fine.’ He hadn’t seen Antelos’s mercenaries yet, but he was sure they could handle any Raiders. Taehyun began examining the equipment.

[Badon’s Mithril Armor]

[Rank: S]

[Restriction: Level 70+, All Classes]

[Description: A relic-class item, Badon’s Mithril Armor was handcrafted by dwarves. It increases both physical and magical defense when worn.]

An S-rank relic. It was best to save it for a future rank-up.

[Badon’s Mithril Gauntlet]

[Rank: S]

[Restriction: Level 70+, All Classes]

[Description: A relic-class item, Badon’s Mithril Gauntlet was handcrafted by dwarves. It increases both critical hit chance and critical damage when worn.]

Another S-rank piece. It seemed Badon had been wearing equipment far below his actual power level.

‘I can’t use these now, so I’ll store them. Or I could have the dwarves melt them down.’ Once Balak reached S-rank, he could summon additional Guardians and Keepers. Between the other dungeons in his territory and his Evolution ability, putting S-rank equipment to use wouldn’t be a problem.

His communication device buzzed.

<Riel> “Master Taehyun, I’m still not receiving the vision share. Is everything alright?”

“Ah, shoot. I forgot to disable the information manipulation. One moment.” Taehyun quickly used True Identity to revert their status. They were once again affiliated with Balak.

<Riel> “My goodness. Wasn’t that guardian from Antelos? If Ms. Songyi finds out, won’t there be a huge problem?”

“That’s exactly why I changed our status. This way, Songyi will never know who killed Badon. I’m sending the main forces back to you now, so please inform the other supporters.”

<Riel> “Alright.”

With the loose ends tied up, Taehyun sent his main forces back through Rabiz and stepped through the gate.

[You have entered the hidden Ice Cave.]

[You have achieved the Dungeon Master achievement: ‘Found the Hidden Sealed Land of the North!’]

‘So it was in the north after all.’ A place designed to seal the Frost Queen would naturally be deep underground. Taehyun ventured deeper, observing the frost crystals lining the cavern walls. The passage soon opened into a vast chamber, at the center of which stood a massive, jagged crystal.

[Frost Queen Yuslan]

[Rank: SS (Hero)]

[Level: ?]

[Class: Witch]

[Title: Queen of the Frost Forces]

[Affiliation: Frost Forces]

‘…Yuslan.’

Trapped within the crystal was a woman of timeless beauty, her youth preserved by her Witch class. Taehyun approached cautiously. As he drew near, her closed eyes snapped open.

<Yuslan> “A demon?”

“Whoa, you scared me! Why’d you suddenly open your eyes like that?”

<Yuslan> “No. Not a demon. A traveler from another dimension? Yet you don’t seem like a traveler, either.”

“I was summoned by chance. Anyway, you can talk even while sealed?”

<Yuslan> “Though I am trapped in this frost, I am not completely sealed.”

“Tsk. Doesn’t matter if you still can’t get out.” With her mana completely suppressed, escaping the crystal on her own was impossible. Yuslan seemed to know this, for she offered him a radiant smile.

<Yuslan> “Child. Won’t you free me? Breaking the seal is simple. Just place your hand on the altar over there.”

“Even after I killed your entire army?”

<Yuslan> “That is of no consequence. Armies can be rebuilt. The loss of my former minions means nothing to me.” Her tone shifted, becoming sweet and seductive. Taehyun considered her for a moment before walking to the altar.

“You mean this one? The one with the active magic circle?”

<Yuslan> “Yes, that’s it! Hurry, place your hand on the altar!”

“Hmm. To place, or not to place. That is the question.”

<Yuslan> “Do not hesitate. You and I will rule this continent together. Come, child. Hurry!”

As his hand drew closer, Yuslan’s excitement grew palpable. Taehyun simply smiled and turned his back.

<Yuslan> “Wh-Where are you going?! Come back this instant! Release me!”

“Not interested in ruling the continent,” he called over his shoulder. “See ya.”

<Yuslan> “Noooooo—!”

Her shriek echoed behind him, but he never broke his stride.

—

The royal capital, quiet until King Leopard’s final days, had erupted into chaos. King Leon had begun his full-scale purge of rival factions. His first move was to establish an intelligence agency, the Yuda Raid Party at its core, which he named the Golden Fish. Using information extracted from Pol Navian, they began raiding information guilds across the kingdom.

“We will start by tearing them out by the roots,” Leon had declared. “Our first task is to restore the crown’s diminished authority.”

Within ten days, twenty-four information guilds were crushed under his command.

“Viscount Crowley,” Leon ordered, “you will oversee the interrogations. Your mind magic should prove sufficient, will it not?”

“Of course, Your Majesty. I will undertake any task for your sake.”

From that day forward, captured guild members were subjected to the Viscount’s mental torture. Feeling the pressure, some nobles of the aristocratic faction scrambled to pledge loyalty to the royalists. In response, Count Dinen’s faction fiercely resisted, gathering private armies for war.

Iron and war materials flowed to their respective territories. The continent’s merchant guilds, ever opportunistic, spread the news like wildfire.

“It’s war. No, a rebellion.”

“Count Dinen has finally drawn his sword. Raiders from the Association headquarters are all flocking to the west.”

“The price of iron ore is about to explode. Prepare yourselves. And buy up every Raider item that spawns!”

“Word is, they’re mining medium-grade iron ore in Balak. Who cares if they’re demons? Get in there and secure a contract now!”

The price of iron skyrocketed as the supply of Raider items vanished overnight. The other kingdoms sensed that the civil war in Ernes would reshape the entire western region. Some nobles quietly watched for an opening, while the Peyton Dukedom began making preparations to advance.

—

“What’s this?”

“I killed Badon. He was carrying this. It’s yours, right?”

Larkan, summoned to the Master Room, took the necklace from Taehyun. The design was painfully familiar. It was, without a doubt, the necklace his mother, Rubiella, had always worn.

“…Thank you. This will help ease my mother’s spirit. I am truly grateful, Taehyun Yoo.”

“Why is a grown man tearing up? Now hurry up and finish the castle walls.”

“Heh. I was gravely mistaken about you. You truly are a demon.” Larkan chuckled and left the room. The incident would likely repair their strained relationship.

Taehyun turned his attention to Eclat, who was still at the table. “What are you looking at?”

“No! Nothing at all!” she squeaked, quickly bowing her head and devouring the rest of her cake. Several slices had already vanished.

Beside her, Vera puffed out her cheeks. “Angel sister, you’re mean.”

“I-I’m sorry, Vera. I couldn’t help myself.”

“You’re a pig, sister! A pig! You’re going to get so fat!”

“Waaah?!”

As Eclat began to wail, Vera turned away with a huff. Their moods instantly brightened, however, when Calisia arrived with more cake.

“Taehyun, here is the report from Baron Momonte,” Riel said, handing him a document.

Taehyun read the contents, a low groan escaping his lips. ‘So he’s starting by cleaning house.’

—

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep