Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: The Lanister Family
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Thud.
Arthur landed on the ground and rushed to the woman collapsed in front of the vine wall.
Her body was covered in wounds.
"Hey."
Arthur quickly checked her condition.
Her pulse was extremely faint.
"Damn it!"
As Arthur glanced toward the cliff, Millerph was descending from the sky.
"Heal her, quick!"
Millerph cast Heal from midair.
The woman's wounds glowed brightly upon receiving the healing.
After a few seconds, she regained consciousness.
"Ugh..."
"Are you okay?"
"W-Who are you!"
Spotting Arthur, she startled and propped herself up.
"Huh?"
Seeing her injuries cleanly healed, she glanced at Millerph.
Arthur spoke in a calm voice.
"We found you collapsed here."
"Where?"
"Well..."
Telling her he'd jumped off the cliff—would she even believe that? It'd probably just make her suspicious, so he hesitated.
"Who are you people?"
"Hmm."
Arthur was reluctant to reveal his identity outright.
Especially since they'd met in the forbidden zone, he needed to be cautious.
In this awkward situation, he looked to Millerph.
As if reading Arthur's mind, Millerph stepped toward her and said,
"I'm Millerph. The one who healed you."
"You're a mage?"
Her eyes lit up.
Millerph nodded with a kindly smile.
"Can you tell us what happened?"
"Please help. My brother is surrounded by 'Owl Bears' and in danger."
"Owl Bears?"
Millerph's face hardened.
Arthur asked her with a puzzled expression.
"What's an Owl Bear?"
"A monster with an owl's face but a bear's build."
"Oh..."
He'd encountered them while scouting the area with Khan.
They traveled in packs of four or five, exuding a ferocious aura toward Khan.
Rather than confront them with his usual murderous intent like with other beasts, Khan had simply ignored them, suggesting even he wanted to avoid a fight.
They were at least on par with Khan, if not stronger.
No pushovers.
First things first: rescue her brother.
"Where?"
"Not far from here. I'll lead the way."
She sprang up and headed into the vine thicket.
Arthur watched her briefly before turning to Millerph.
"Wait here."
"I'm coming too."
"I move better alone."
"I've had a breakthrough, so this is a good chance to test it. I won't be a burden."
"You're fully recovered, right?"
"Of course."
Millerph smiled with his eyes.
"Follow me."
Arthur drew his dagger from his waist and swiftly followed her.
They passed through the vine thicket into a dense jungle-like undergrowth.
Arthur, trailing the woman, was inwardly surprised by her agile movements.
'How does she move like that...'
She too was shocked, maintaining a steady distance as Arthur followed effortlessly.
'Who is this guy? He's keeping up without breaking a sweat.'
They ran like this for a while, both amazed at each other.
Suddenly, she stopped and crouched low.
Arthur followed suit, crouching and moving to her side.
"Over there?"
"H-How..."
Her eyes widened.
She remembered the spot since she'd fled from there.
But the area was so overgrown with trees and foliage that nothing was visible.
Her curiosity about him grew.
Millerph, who had followed them, approached and cast Hawkeye to survey ahead.
"Hmm..."
A man and a Giant Wolf were surrounded and threatened by Owl Bears.
The man was utterly exhausted, on the verge of collapse.
"We need to hurry."
"Take care of her."
"Be careful."
Millerph replied and immediately cast Fire, ready for action.
Flames flickered in his hands.
Arthur darted forward nimbly.
Ahead, he saw Owl Bears about three meters tall.
Distance: roughly twenty meters.
Perfect for a surprise attack.
He'd never fought them before, but he'd grown strong enough to handle a young ogre solo.
He decided to take them on with just his dagger.
'Alright, finish them in one go.'
Arthur surged with mana and charged like an arrow.
Grrr.
The Owl Bear facing off against the man with murderous intent suddenly whipped around, eyes flashing.
At the same instant, Arthur kicked off the ground, leaped, and smashed his dagger into its head.
Splat!
The head split in two, blood spraying everywhere.
Raaargh!
Raaargh!
The others charged at Arthur, radiating killing intent.
Fists flew at him sharply from all sides.
Arthur twisted and dodged, swinging his dagger.
Arms severed, blood spurted.
Arthur shouted toward the man.
"Run forward!"
"...?"
The man was baffled by the sudden turn.
"Brother!"
"Linda?"
His eyes sharpened as he looked toward the voice.
Linda was waving from beside the robed man.
Seeing the one he'd sent for help safe eased his mind.
He didn't know what was happening, but it was time to retreat.
"Ron, let's go."
As the man and Giant Wolf started toward Linda,
An Owl Bear lunged, swinging a massive, rock-like fist.
"Damn!"
Caught mid-turn, he couldn't move.
Ron the Giant Wolf barreled in fiercely, biting the beast's arm.
Grrrrr-!
Raaargh!
The Owl Bear swung its arm wildly, sending Ron flying limply.
Yelp! Yelp!
Grrr!
As the Owl Bear turned back toward the man with killing intent, fist raised,
Splat!
A fireball slammed into its face.
Raaargh!
As it thrashed its head wildly, Arthur shot forward and plunged his dagger into its heart.
Gurk!
The Owl Bear stiffened like stone and toppled backward.
Thud!
Having dispatched all three in an instant, he told the man,
"Run!"
The man bolted toward Linda, yelling at Ron.
"Get up!"
Ron struggled to his feet and followed.
Arthur scanned for more monsters.
Fortunately, no auras were felt.
Millerph kept vigilant until they were a safe distance away.
Once their presence faded, Arthur quickly withdrew.
When Arthur emerged from the vine thicket, they were waiting.
"Are you alright?"
Millerph approached, checking his condition.
An Owl Bear's attack power matched ten Orc Warriors.
Yet he'd faced three alone without a scratch.
"Impressive."
Millerph gazed at Arthur with awe.
"Good work."
Arthur walked toward Linda and the man.
The man approached Arthur and bowed his head.
"Thank you for the help."
Arthur examined his state and said to Millerph,
"Heal him, please."
"Yes."
Millerph cast Heal, mending his wounds.
"Truly, thank you."
Gratitude shone on the man's face.
Arthur looked at Linda and asked,
"Now, tell us what happened."
Linda met Arthur's eyes, pondering carefully, then her gaze sharpened.
"Huh?"
"What's wrong?"
"Could I see your necklace?"
"...?"
Caught off-guard by the sudden request, Arthur hesitated.
But suspecting it involved the necklace again, he nodded.
He pulled it out for clear view.
The moment Linda saw the dragon emblem on the pendant, her eyes bulged.
"Br-Brother..."
The man stared at the dragon emblem, then at Arthur.
Black hair, golden eyes.
"What's your relation to the Julius Count Family?"
"Why do you ask?"
"It's very important to me."
Desperation etched the man's face, making Arthur sense a connection to the Julius family.
He decided to reveal himself.
"Arthur Julius."
"Of the Julius family..."
The man's hands trembled.
Arthur, noting the reaction, confirmed,
"I'm also the head of the Julius Count Family."
"...!"
The man's eyes widened as he clenched his fists, then knelt on one knee, bowing his head.
"Drakan Lanister, greeting the family head."
"Lanister?"
Arthur looked puzzled.
Millerph's jaw dropped.
"N-No way..."
Something monumental had occurred.
The Julius Count Family had a sworn vassal house.
The Lanister Barony.
They held the west of Grada Territory but vanished without a trace one day.
Now, after over twenty years, Lanister blood had appeared in the forbidden zone.
What on earth had happened?
"You're really Drakan?"
"Do you know me?"
"Of course. I blessed you at your birth."
"Then you knew my father too."
"Naturally. Your uncle was like a brother to me."
"Oh..."
Drakan's face brightened.
"Where are your father and mother now?"
"They've passed."
"Oh no."
Millerph's face darkened.
Drakan turned to Arthur and said,
"I have something to show you."
Arthur nodded, and Drakan quickly stood, telling Linda,
"Go inform them."
"Okay."
Linda dashed off with Ron in the opposite direction from the vine thicket.
Drakan glanced between Arthur and Millerph.
"Follow me."
He led them down the path Linda had taken.
Arthur and Millerph followed Drakan to a dead-end wall.
'What's there?'
After twenty meters along the wall, a vine thicket appeared.
Drakan entered where a large hole gaped in the vines.
"Huh? A path here?"
Arthur followed in surprise.
The path woven through the vines led to a vast plaza.
"What?"
Arthur's eyes widened.
Millerph looked flustered at the unexpected plaza.
It seemed carved into the cliff interior.
Impossible by human hands.
'Likely made by Lord Lumacas.'
Drakan stood at the plaza's center and let out a wolf-like howl.
"Awooooo-!"
The cry echoed.
Moments later,
People emerged from everywhere.
All men radiating powerful auras held black spears, flanked by Giant Wolves exuding ferocity.
Among them, a white-haired elder approached Drakan, supported by Linda.
"The Julius family head is here?"
"This is he."
Drakan respectfully indicated Arthur, and the elder asked gravely,
"May I see the family head's seal?"
Arthur silently showed the ring on his finger.
The elder stared at the ring, eyes trembling, then at Arthur.
Black hair and golden eyes symbolizing the Julius Count Family.
Above all, Arthur's face identical to Malcolm Julius brought tears streaming down unbidden.
"You've finally come."
The elder knelt on one knee, head bowed.
Everyone in the plaza knelt toward Arthur in reverence.
"What is this..."
Dumbfounded by their reaction, Arthur glanced at Millerph.
Millerph approached with flushed cheeks, voice trembling as he asked the elder,
"S-Sir Ralph...?"
"...!"
The elder's eyes widened as he looked up.
Seeing Millerph in white robes, a deep smile formed.
"Long time no see."
Millerph smiled back and told Arthur,
"These are the Lanister family, vassals of the Julius house."
"A vassal family?"
"I'll explain."
Millerph detailed their role in the Julius family and why they'd been forgotten.
No one moved throughout the long explanation.
These were the descendants of the Phoenix Knight Order that had rampaged battlefields with Tehren.
"I see."
Arthur extended a hand to Ralph.
"Please stand."
"Yes."
Ralph grasped his trembling hand and rose. Drakan turned and shouted with all his might.
"For the golden glory!"
All slammed their spears into the ground in unison, roaring.
Empire's Spear!
The earth quaked, the plaza resounding.
Arthur felt a thrill at their spirit.
'Amazing.'
Ralph asked,
"Were you the one who felled the ogre a few days ago, family head?"
Arthur nodded, and Ralph's face darkened.
"I see."
"What's wrong?"
As Millerph looked puzzled, Ralph alternated glances between them.
"The order here is disrupted."
"Order?"
"With the ruling ogre gone, the hidden ones have emerged. A hierarchy battle will ensue, and once settled..."
Ralph swallowed hard.
"They'll advance on Grada Territory."
"Oh no!"
Millerph's face twisted.
That explained the enlarged dragon emblem on the cliff.
Arthur eyed Ralph gravely.
"More importantly, I need to know why the Lanister family abandoned everything to come here."