Krishan Samakal
Unlike Karin, Krishan Samakal had long hair as white as ice, and her light blue dress adorned with partial armor made her look utterly enchanting. She truly embodied the queen of the North Sea.
Not only that, but a thin sword hung from her waist, just like Karin's or Daran's, its ornate silver decorations hinting even to the untrained eye that it was no ordinary blade.
The secret plan to escape had failed, leaving Adel no choice but to return to the Ice Palace.
This is the first time a plan seems to have failed... But failure turns out to be more profitable. No way this was part of your scheme too, right?
Who knows. Adel gave a cryptic smile at Kalderet's words.
"I am grateful for the palace lord's generosity. But I have already received much."
He politely expressed his refusal first, before she could even broach the subject.
"However, your companions have received nothing. They too have earned the right through their merits, so opening the treasury to them is only natural."
"They already possess fine equipment."
"There's no such thing as too many in this world. Even if not arms, there must be something they need. The palace was built on artifacts from countless North Sea ruins."
She continued.
"It can't compare to mere pirate warehouses. Moreover, thanks to you slaying the Archipelago King, the North Sea's glaciers have begun to melt."
Adel nodded.
"The entrances to dungeons that were sealed until now have opened."
"Do you plan to raid the depths?"
"Indeed. The depths hold even higher-grade relics, but frozen glaciers blocked the entrances. Now that's possible, so we owe you for that as well."
"You overpraise us."
"Separate from the crystal, take what you desire."
Refreshing attitude. Let's go, Adel. No need to refuse what's offered.
Kalderet took the lead.
"Mother, the palace treasury is vast and labyrinthine. May I accompany them?"
Karin asked.
"You're planning to take him to that place. Do as you like. Not everyone who wants it can have it. If it finds an owner now, that might be for the best."
The palace lord nodded with a knowing expression, as if grasping her intent.
"......?"
"Follow me."
With permission granted, Karin seized Adel's hand as if she'd been waiting and led him into the treasury.
"......Why grab his hand?"
"Come on, let's go."
Haron gave a wry smile and patted Kasla's shoulder as she glared at Karin's retreating back with a mutter.
* * *
"As expected... of the North Sea, with the continent's most ruins and dungeons."
After navigating the winding, maze-like paths under Karin's guidance, they entered a chamber densely packed with arms and treasures.
Looks like quite a few dungeons were raided before entrances sealed. Plenty of interesting stuff.
Adel scanned the stored items as Kalderet agreed, speaking as he eyed them.
See that dry branch? That's the Fairy King's branch. Plant it, and the World Tree grows.
"Fairy?"
Yes. They once held great power in ancient times, but vanished when the Arunasar burned the World Tree. Plant that, and fairies will gather.
"Then it's incredibly valuable, right?"
Haron looked at Karin after his words.
"As much as I'd hate to say it, the North Sea lacks a place to grow a World Tree. Plus, it requires fairy blood or blessing to cultivate."
She shrugged.
"If such people exist, we might yield it. But finding them..."
"Lucky for you. I know two."
"......isn't easy... Huh?"
She stared at him blankly at Adel's response.
Not just Sennew the elf with fairy blood, but Muel unknowingly bears a fairy's blessing.
Yura and Yohan, now saintess and knight of the Nell Church, were also Razell tribesfolk with elven blood.
"Easy..."
Karin scratched her head awkwardly.
"You three, take what you need here. Adel, follow me."
"I didn't do much... Not sure if I should accept this."
"Yeah."
Fortune doesn't wait. Grab it while you can.
The three nodded at Kalderet's words.
"Wh-what about me?"
"Just being allowed to look is luck enough for a lifetime."
"......I'll remember that."
Makullan, who'd asked with faint hope, drooped his head at her cold reply.
Adel lightly patted his shoulder and gave a subtle glance. Understanding, Makullan hurriedly followed the three.
"Where exactly are we going?"
"You know the North Sea has the most ancient ruins, right?"
"Famous fact."
"But the palace wasn't built here just for the power of those relics."
"Then...?"
"Our ancestors were guardians who wandered the North Sea. They discovered one ruin here."
"Hm."
"And settled here the moment they did."
"That remarkable?"
"More like... that dangerous. Our ancestors were god guardians."
Reaching the lowest underground level, Karin brushed the wall lightly. She bit her finger and smeared blood into a small groove.
Kugugugugu...
The door opened.
"No way this is..."
Adel frowned slightly at the strange patterns carved on the basement door.
"Right. The Ice Palace was built atop the ruin the guardians found."
As the door opened, the peculiar scent of an ancient ruin assaulted Adel's nose. The heavy, sinking aura was unmistakably from a divine site.
No... Damn it. This is Randuin's ruin.
He seemed to recognize it instantly from the scent.
"Randuin?"
One of the ancient Arunasar.
"Hm, if you remember the name, not your average ancient."
Far from average. Teacher of the Three Lords. Founder of alchemy, laid foundations for the Immortality Books. And...
As Garon quietly flickered with flame while listening to Kalderet,
The first ancient to receive divine punishment.
The underground walls were covered in unknown formulas, equations, and diagrams.
Arunasar challenged the gods and fell. Randuin sought to tame them.
Step- Step- Step-
Karin Samakal slowly entered the ruin's hall. No fire burned now, but braziers that once blazed and scattered tools hinted at its past. It resembled a massive forge, where countless arms must have been born.
Ancients had many alchemists. Demons like Ragol using Cove savages, or Absian who made the 【Thousand Snowflakes】 tiara above the Little Palace Lord's head to open spirit gates.
"Sp-spirit gate?"
Karin asked, startled.
No need for surprise. You'll learn naturally as affinity with Water Spirit King grows. Count that tiara as fortune—worth more than any treasure here.
She unconsciously touched the tiara atop her head.
But Ragol, Absian, even the Three Lords are novices compared to Randuin.
"True enough. To speak of taming gods."
Absurd. Arunasar civilization was great but fell challenging gods.
Adel wondered what arms were forged here.
Taming gods? Madness. He earned divine punishment—utter annihilation, soul unsalvageable.
Kalderet said coldly.
"As you say. Taming gods is impossible. He made countless restraints, but none bound a god."
"Failure's price was divine erasure."
"Yes."
Karin Samakal said.
"But... when our ancestors found Randuin's ruin, they learned one success amid endless failures."
"Success...?"
"Guardians who worshipped and protected gods built the Ice Palace and palace to keep it from this world. We descendants guard that restraint."
"......Dangerous artifact."
Dangerous? Cursed thing.
"Yes. Even Randuin might not have dared use it, leaving it."
She pointed to the hall's end, where a black chain lay like a collar.
"Randuin's relic, Mukhon."
"Chain to tame gods..."
"Yes. Wield it, and you'd truly lord over gods."
"......"
Adel stared at the black chain.
You wouldn't... plan to use that.
"Why? You said from the start you'd lord over your kind. This would make it easy."
That's why— it doesn't fit your goal.
"What do you mean?"
You said you'd lord over us. But not enslave us.
Becoming worthy of our follow is different from making us tools.
Adel chuckled at his response.
"You're right."
Otherwise, no contract from the start.
"Little Palace Lord. I'll gain all by my own power. Thank you, but this doesn't suit me."
"Really? I'm ashamed to have shown it. Power relying on tools isn't truly yours, as you say."
Karin nodded awkwardly.
"That's why we uphold their will, guarding this treasure."
She shrugged.
"We couldn't use it even if we wanted. It chooses its own master."
Adel eyed the chain curiously.
"Interesting. Seen master-choosing arms. Father's seventh bow, Slraf, does too."
"Slraf... Yes, Mother mentioned. But incomparable. Rejecting differs from devouring."
"Pardon?"
"This chain devours the unworthy. No qualifications? Death."
"......Why mention now? Even less interest."
Adel looked askance at the chain.
"Well, perhaps even Randuin lacked courage after perfecting it through trials."
"Nah, fear his own creation?"
Plausible. Creations sometimes overwhelm creators.
"Anyway, irrelevant to me. Won't use it."
Adel waved it off.
Chyaruruk...!!
Then—
The chain coiled around his wrist.
"......!!!!"