The Stolen Soul Stones
"Uh? You can't go in there!!"
Bam!
Thankfully, the guards in the inner castle weren't all that high-level. With the main forces tied up handling the arena, or maybe because they were focused purely on holding the line, the heavily armored guards couldn't keep up with Vulcan charging at full speed.
It might've also been because Vulcan held a baron's title. They couldn't just lay hands on a noble willy-nilly.
Thanks to that, Vulcan barreled into the inner castle without issue and came face-to-face with Dorian.
"Hm? You're already here? Quick work."
But Dorian, the one greeting him, looked utterly calm. He was worn out from cleaning up the arena mess, sure, but having pulled off a major victory, he shot Vulcan a fairly warm look—even after the guy had basically smashed through the door.
"What the hell have you been up to?"
Vulcan had no choice but to respond sharply. He'd already fiddled with the long-range magic communicator Alter had given him, ready to pour in mana at a moment's notice—just in case. He knew the level gap was huge; if Dorian came at him for real, all he could do was stall for a bit.
"Up to? I just got back from the arena. Been checking my gear."
Dorian looked genuinely puzzled, like we came back together—why ask something like that? He tilted his head in confusion, but Vulcan couldn't relax. He'd definitely sensed demonic energy here.
- Idiot. Not here. Below.
'...Huh?'
That's when Tud finally butted in, fed up. The demonic energy had only flickered for a split second, so of course Vulcan had rushed straight to Dorian's quarters. Wrong spot.
"The Soul Stone. Where's the one holding the lizardmen's souls?"
Below? Not here? Vulcan snapped to attention and pressed Dorian urgently.
"...You. How do you know about that?"
"It's urgent. I'll explain later...!"
"Hm. It's safely stashed somewhere appropriate, so don't worry. This is military secret territory. You've earned big merits, but I can't say more."
Of course he wouldn't spill easily. As he said, it was classified military info. Vulcan might know something, but after centuries of war with the lizardmen, this was their edge—they couldn't leak it lightly.
"Underground?"
"Hm?"
But Vulcan wasn't backing down either. Pinpointing "underground" made Dorian's expression shift oddly. Could be a lucky guess, but Vulcan's face was too certain. And that urgency tugged at his instincts somehow. A bad premonition creased his brow.
"We need to check it now. My detection skill picked up something weird. There might've been trouble down there!"
"...Follow me."
Vulcan's insistence finally swayed Dorian. He still didn't fully trust him, but checking it out was no big deal. Even if Vulcan had ulterior motives, Dorian could handle or subdue him easily. Gear or no gear—even bare-handed, a powerhouse like him could wield a single weapon with devastating effect.
So Dorian just slung his favorite greatsword over his shoulder and led the way. Matching Vulcan's haste, they moved briskly to the underground storeroom.
"This is my private armory. No one enters without my say-so. The lizardmen's Soul Stones are kept here too."
Was it just nerves? The armory looked untouched—no signs of intrusion. Items neatly stored, no mess or rifling through.
"Can I take a look?"
"Hmph. Sure."
But the unease lingered. Vulcan politely asked Dorian to check the stones. Dorian glanced back, then headed to a corner, feeling along the wall.
He'd figured the lizardmen might try to reclaim them, so he'd hidden the stones in a secret spot behind the bricks—the most secure corner of the armory.
"See. Right here...?"
Click. Dorian pulled out a small chest from a brick gap and flung it open. Both their faces twisted in unison.
It was empty. The chest that should've been packed with lizardman soul-sealing Soul Stones was bone-dry. Even though he'd confirmed it full just recently.
"Guards! Anyone out there?!"
"You called, General?!"
"Anyone been in here lately? Get me the access logs! And the image memory orb too!!"
Dorian bellowed in rage. Who the hell dared enter his private armory without permission? Steal the lizardman Soul Stones he'd guarded so tightly to keep from enemy hands, even if they hadn't found a use for them yet?
He launched an immediate search. Secured access logs and ordered the image memory orb—which recorded entrants like CCTV—brought in.
"N-no one. No one's come in since your last visit, General."
"You slacking on duty?!"
"No, sir! We kept eyes peeled, airtight watch. Swear it!"
But predictably, no entries. Even though Vulcan had sensed the demonic energy's owner come here, the guards saw nothing.
"The orb? What about the orb!"
"Th-that... It's gone. Was here a second ago... Weird. Control room still shows footage from here fine..."
The image memory orb was missing too. They'd noticed it and swiped it somehow, but the control room feed was still playing normally.
"Huh? The general's not showing up?"
No—more precisely, it only showed normal times. Despite Dorian and Vulcan standing right where the orb would've seen them, it displayed the guards at their posts.
"...We got played. Summon the mages now. Find traces of tampering—video manipulation, intruder marks, anything!!"
The place had been breached. Dorian, known for his kindness off the battlefield, tore into the soldiers like he wanted to devour them. The lord's castle turned into pandemonium in seconds. The mood was icy, like a time bomb ready to blow—eclipsing their recent big win.
"I have no face to show you. To think there'd be a traitor..."
At least Dorian didn't seem directly involved—a small mercy. He couldn't hide his fury and despair, fully facing that this wasn't just an outside job. They'd targeted only the lizardman stones and pinpointed the hidden spot known to few—that screamed inside help.
So Dorian acted cool and decisive: round up—or arrest—the handful who knew the location. Even mobilizing his elite direct knight order, the Right Wall's finest.
If anyone bolted, they'd be the culprit.
"Let's head up for now. Got questions for you."
"Yes. But first—sorry, but can I call in someone to help uncover the truth here?"
"...Fine. I wasn't planning to cover this up anyway."
While Dorian barked orders, Vulcan wasn't idle. Scanning with Dragon Eye, he spotted clues: spatial transfer traces, fresh from the intruders' visit.
Knowing it was rude—and risky for misunderstandings—he acted anyway. Luckily, Dorian permitted it, refusing to dodge blame for poor command.
"Lord Alter. Can you hear me?"
With permission, Vulcan channeled mana into the communicator—a hotline to Alter. He expected instant response.
"Yeah. Loud and clear."
"Trouble. Can you come here...?"
But the voice sounded off. Crystal clear, like right beside him—then, as Vulcan started explaining, a presence stirred.
"Already here?"
"Yeah. What's up?"
Coordinate tracking on the communicator—he'd arrived before Vulcan could even ask. No illusion; Alter stood right there.
"Lo... Lord Alter?"
Vulcan wasn't the only shocked one. Dorian knew the face, bowed immediately, head low in shame.
"Demonic figures stole something here and fled. Details later—can you check the spatial rifts?"
"Easy."
True to a grand mage. Alter swept his gaze around, flicking his hand. Complex magic formulas bloomed in the air—not just rift-scanning, but multiple detection spells at once.
"Spatial jump leads beyond the wall. They slipped out right after the arena ended."
"As expected..."
Vulcan had figured. The Right Wall was isolated, cleared for lizardman raids—no good hideouts. Fleeing meant over the wall, their only exit.
But hearing it confirmed sapped his energy. They could open gates and pursue, form a chase team—but if the thieves hit lizardman turf, catching them wouldn't be easy.
"Illusion injection plus brainwashing? Is this really the front line?"
Snap. Alter flicked his fingers, and everything normalized.
"Wha? Huh???"
"Someone passed by... ugh. No memory."
The guards' brainwashing shattered; the orb's illusion injection lifted. Grand mage prowess on full display.
Unfortunately, intrusion records were wiped.
"My shame knows no bounds."
Dorian flushed crimson. As Right Wall commander and general, oblivious to enemies scheming under his nose—it burned.
"Yeah. Pursuit looks tough. Not a simple short-range teleport. Chain teleports—linked jumps. I can pinpoint the response arrays, but they're long gone. Let's move. Need the full story."
Alter showed no sympathy for Dorian. Striding ahead like it was his house, he exited the basement.
"Caging lizardman souls? Clever idea. But shallow. Their spirit possession doesn't just pull from buried souls in the stomped earth. It'll just stir pointless resistance."
A grand mage indeed. Grasping the situation from a rough rundown. Sealing lizardman souls was intriguing, but minimally useful—could even backfire.
Yet he wasn't negative about gathering them at all. Dorian stayed mum, no excuses—maybe Alter got the general's loyalty, ready to do anything for kingdom victory.
"Check this too."
Then Vulcan pulled something from inventory. Another Soul Stone, like before—but different soul inside.
"Whose work?"
"Got it hunting lizardmen."
Alter identified it instantly. Human soul inside—his face hardened, ambient mana churning. His rage rippled the air's mana.
'Scary as hell for real.'
Vulcan felt Alter's power anew, but now wasn't for awe. Time to dig deeper, lock into the main scenario quest proper.
"Different souls sealed, but same basic Soul Stone. Lord Dorian, how'd you get these?"
"No idea. Not dodging—really don't remember. I met someone, heard about the stones... but who? What they looked like? Blank. Sorry."
"Figures. Brainwashed. Think I only dispelled on the knights? You had it too. Not simple mind control for a general-level—you've got suggestions layered in. Better vet your people. Suggestions aren't instant like spells; tied to the caster's power."
"I'm ashamed. Whatever punishment, I'll take it gladly."
Dorian's lips were sealed too. Even this 300+ level powerhouse had been ensnared. He'd hidden it post-dispel out of pride for his men, but Alter knew.
"Good. Duped by the enemy, failed to control your subordinates—commander bears responsibility."
He held Dorian accountable. A front-line general toyed with by foes? Massive issue.
"Wait. Can't merits offset punishment? Lizardmen lost their chief anyway. Pushing hard now nets big gains—losing a long-time wall defender hands them time."
Vulcan stepped in. Didn't care much about Dorian or conquering lizardmen lands—but owed a debt now.
'Might snag a pioneer quest later.'
Plus, post-conquest, Dorian could hook him up with untamed land quests.
"Impetuous. When'd I say execution?"
Alter's response surprised. Scolding Vulcan, but with a tsundere edge—stern yet approving his defense of a lifelong kingdom servant.
"I, Count Alter, in His Majesty's stead, pronounce Viscount Dorian's penalty. Serve another 10 years at this Right Wall. Drive out those filthy lizardmen and atone with merits."
"...I accept the command."
'Huh...?'
- That prick's got brains after all. Handles it like this?
No one coveted Right Wall command anyway. Dorian wanted to fight the kingdom's lizardman threat here till retirement—practically lifetime tenure.
Punishment for others; status quo for him.
"I'll investigate this personally. Cooperate fully."
"Of course. All in."
A mere count proxy-judging for the king? Absurd—but Alter? No objections.
Even declaring personal probe indirectly backed Dorian's authority.
"That's it for now. Baron Vulcan stays. Plenty to discuss."
Alter wrapped it neatly, shooing Dorian like the owner again. Probably you've got work—go, but to Vulcan, it rang different.
You have completed the Main Scenario Quest 'Not Chance, But Fate'.
'Reward time.'
Before diving into the main scenario flow, time to claim the pending rewards.