Chapter 364
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 364
Chapter Title: Lordrian Grand Duchy
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Lordrian Grand Duchy.
He had returned to the imperial capital and was sitting in his office, reviewing reports.
Beeeep
A communication orb on the desk vibrated with a signal tone.
The Lordrian Grand Duke set down his documents and placed his hand on the orb, channeling mana into it.
The orb lit up, projecting the face of Duke Alpheer.
What is it?
His voice was dry as he asked. Duke Alpheer cleared his throat once before getting to the point.
Your Grace, we need the power of the Imperial Knights.
Imperial Knights.
The Lordrian Grand Duke frowned.
Imperial Knights? Are you preparing for war now?
No, its not that...
The Imperial Knights do not move without a grave matter. You havent forgotten that, have you?
He led that organization, and the Imperial Knights were a force even the empires emperor could not touch lightly.
They pledged loyalty not to people, but to the empire itself.
Please, Your Grace. At this rate, the Austro Kingdom might swallow us whole.
Swallow us?
Yes. The truth is...
Duke Alpheer explained the quest that had come down to the empire.
Along with the news that the 1st through 3rd Knight Orders had been annihilated.
The Lordrian Grand Duke let out a sigh, his face filled with despair.
How on earth did you judge that you could pull major imperial forces and lead them to total annihilation?
Thats why Im begging you... If the Imperial Knights step in, well surely obtain rewards.
Ha. I refuse.
Pardon...?
Duke, I have no interest in such paltry rewards.
Are you saying youll just watch the empire fall into danger?!
No, our Imperial Knights are prepared to lay down our lives for the empire.
Then why...
Isnt this crisis born from the emperors greed?
The Lordrian Grand Dukes face had returned to an expressionless mask as he posed the question to Alpheer.
...What are you trying to say?
So tell him to handle that problem himself.
Do you really think that makes any sense?
Why not? If we suffer losses and an invasion comes, call us then.
In advance...
Alpheers words could not continue.
The Lordrian Grand Duke forcibly cut off the mana, ending the communication.
Beeep
The orb vibrated with a signal tone again, but the Lordrian Grand Duke simply shoved it aside.
Your Grace, Count Iandorf has arrived.
As soon as the call ended, the butler entered and reported.
You came prepared.
The corner of the Lordrian Grand Dukes mouth twitched.
Anticipating that communication wouldnt work, Duke Alpheer had assembled an envoy led by Count Iandorf and sent them via teleportation to the grand duchy.
What shall we do?
Send them back.
Of course, he had no intention of allowing their visit.
They say... they wont leave until you let them in.
Did they know Id refuse?
It seems so.
Let them do as they please. Ignore them completely, whether they freeze or not.
Understood.
The butler left the office.
Angry shouting came from outside, but the Lordrian Grand Duke lightly ignored it and returned to his documents.
No, you cant! Outsiders without verified identity cannot enter!
Itll be quick, so step aside.
No, you cant... Argh!
Clang.
The door burst open roughly amid the butlers scream.
The Lordrian Grand Duke pinched the bridge of his nose once and stood from his seat.
Uninvited guests had come, so he wouldnt send them off unscathed.
He reached for the sword at his waist and moved to step outside.
But the intruder was faster.
The office door flew open, and in an instant, a man stood face-to-face with the Lordrian Grand Duke.
I couldnt read him.
The Lordrian Grand Dukes face hardened.
Who the hell is this?
Unable to read information.
Unable to read?
The Grand Dukes eyes trembled faintly.
Mind handing over the key?
Key?
The path to the dungeon is blocked. I was thinking of forcing my way through, but that didnt seem polite.
Do you think barging in like this is polite?
I thought I was being reasonably courteous, but it seems not to your liking.
The mans cold eyes scanned the Lordrian Grand Dukes body.
Damn... I cant even move.
He wanted to draw the sword at his waist, but his body wouldnt budge, as if broken.
Who the hell are you?
The Lordrian Grand Duke ground his teeth as he asked.
He had never heard of anyone in the empire with this level of skill.
Which meant this man was from another nation.
You dont need to know. Just hand over the key.
...And if I refuse?
Then Ill have to force my way through.
Without killing me?
Id prefer not to see blood.
The man smiled faintly.
Hes a man with truly striking looks.
Without the smile, his impression was icy, but with it, the chill vanished, replaced by an air of mystery.
What should I do?
The answer was already decided.
The man before him was beyond anything he could handle with his own power.
If he wished, he could turn the grand duchy into rubble.
Yet offering a chance meant he had no intention of killing.
Then promise me one thing.
Promise?
Ill give you the key, but return it once youre done. And dont break the surrounding barriers.
I promise.
Satisfied with the response, the man withdrew his gaze from the Lordrian Grand Duke.
Only then did his stiffened body relax, granting him freedom.
Cold sweat...
In that brief moment under the mans gaze, sweat had drenched his entire body.
The Lordrian Grand Duke opened a drawer in the desk and pulled out a blue box.
Inside was a red key.
This was the key that could temporarily disable the barrier blocking the path.
It was required to enter the dungeon, and the barrier had to be unlocked with it to exit as well.
Thank you for the wise decision.
The man who received the key turned around immediately.
Wait! That key only needs one turn. Absolutely do not turn it twice.
It would fully disable the barrier?
...Youre a sharp one.
Dont worry. You resolved this peacefully, so Ill do the same.
With those words, the man vanished.
Left alone, the Lordrian Grand Dukes legs gave out, and he collapsed into his chair.
His body still hadnt stopped trembling.
Just what kind of monster is that guy...
The Lordrian Grand Duke muttered repeatedly in a daze.
Having obtained the key, Jeong Hoon arrived at the barrier in an instant using the Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon.
The barrier had a small hole at about chest height.
To disable the barrier, a key is required.
That message had appeared when he approached, which was why Jeong Hoon had gone to meet the Lordrian Grand Duke.
Player Information
-Nickname: Kaziks von Lordrian
-Level: 1,520
-Job: Sword Master (5th Class), Lord of Lordrian Grand Duchy, Captain of the Caldrian Imperial Knights
He was a fully matured Sword Master who had completed his 5th Class.
At the same time, the lord of this grand duchy and the sword guarding the empire.
Undoubtedly a top-tier powerhouse within this dimension.
What a shame. If he couldve seen your level, hed have pissed himself.
Tenebris, who had watched everything from the side, noticed that the Lordrian Grand Duke couldnt read Jeong Hoons information.
Didnt know? I already did.
Jeong Hoon had known already.
Huh? You figured it out before me?
Someone told me.
Opponent failed to access information.
When hed met Lee Yu-chan before, a message had appeared about a failed information read.
Probably the difference in our realms.
Upon becoming the dimensions master, Jeong Hoon had become half-human, half-god.
So it was only natural he couldnt be read.
Damn... I didnt realize, and I was looking forward to your surprised face.
Jeong Hoon ignored Tenebriss muttering full of regret and inserted the key into the hole.
It fit perfectly, and following the Lordrian Grand Dukes request, he turned it only once.
The barrier is temporarily disabled.
The barrier blocking the path vanished in an instant.
As Jeong Hoon pulled out the key, the barrier began rapidly regenerating.
Lets go.
Storing the key in his inventory, Jeong Hoon crossed the barrier.
After about five minutes, it resealed the path.
So, out of all these dungeons, which one are you heading to?
Over twenty were visible to the naked eye alone.
Jeong Hoon passed them all by.
Do you remember how I found the Demon Realm before?
How would I know that?
Watch closely.
Using Supremacy of the Heavenly Demon, he skipped past dungeon after dungeon until he reached the northern edge.
There, a black portal unlike ordinary ones flickered.
Whoa, Baal! Was your Demon Realm this easy to find?
Tenebris asked Baal incredulously.
Baal, sweating profusely, replied.
Probably not.
Only Jeong Hoon could find the Demon Realm.
It was hidden in a place no one else would dare approach.
Honestly, its not easy here either.
The countless monsters hed hunted while passing the dungeons.
Every one was over level 1,000.
With 300 to 400 of those high-level monsters swarming each field, not even the Lordrian Grand Duke could dream of forcing this path.
Absurd. How do you explain the monsters getting wiped out with a gesture?
Thats only possible because its me.
The same went hereonly Jeong Hoon could break through.
True enough.
Tenebris admitted readily.
Then lets head in right away.
As Jeong Hoon entered the portal, a familiar message appeared.
Cannot enter Demon Realm.
Must complete entry quest to proceed.
Start quest?
Hed had to complete a quest before to enter the Demon Realm previously.
Jeong Hoon selected start as usual.
A new message followed.
You meet the qualifications. Quest may be skipped.
Entry to Demon Realm enabled.
The quest skipped entirely right after starting, due to his qualifications.
Because Ive done it once before?
Good, no time wasted.
You have entered the 72nd Demon Realm.
You have entered an area forbidden to humans.
This was the 72nd Demon Realm.
Baal, know anything about the 72nd Demon Realm?
Why ask Baal and not me?
Tenebris glared at Baal with displeasure.
Because obviously Baal knows more than you.
What?!
Now he glared at Baal like he wanted to tear him apart.
Under that gaze, Baal could only roll his eyes, unable to respond.
Ha, youve been sealed for ages. I just figured Baal, who ruled the same Demon Realm, would know more.
Fine, fine. Baal, if your answer doesnt please me, youre done.
Why are you picking on me...