Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Layered Cliff Island
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Even after Baria joined, more people continued to gather.
Penbola's vow to usher in a new era for himself didn't ring hollow.
There was a considerable number of them.
And among them, there were especially many from families that hadn't made it into the Five Great Families.
They were the ones inspired by Penbola's dream.
For the families crushed under the Five Great Families.
Those who harbored ambitions to open a new era themselves.
Havel didn't particularly scorn them as fools for it.
'Young people want to change the world, after all.'
Toward a better world.
In a direction where they could find happiness.
That's how the youth of their twenties burned bright.
Havel didn't mock such people.
A life only once.
Those who ridiculed people living their best mocked because they'd never given their all.
Simply put, they had to bear the consequences of giving their all and challenging themselves.
That included taking responsibility for their failures themselves.
'Not all fledglings can grow into full chickens.'
If there was a summer where they could grow tall and strong,
there was also a harsh winter they had to endure.
And sorry to say, they would face that winter this time.
'They'll serve as fertilizer for Banpellyon to make its name known.'
Penbola included, of course.
"Alright, Golden Generation! The time has come to open a new era!"
With Penbola's spirited shout, the entire Golden Generation followed behind.
Havel strolled leisurely with his hands clasped behind his back.
The young ones' steps were hurried,
while the steps of one who had dominated an era were unhurried.
So even if the young ones stumbled midway,
they quickly caught up to those ahead.
But among those ahead, there were always exceptional ones.
Ones who went so far ahead that no matter how hard you struggled, you couldn't catch up.
"Lord Havel."
From behind such a Havel,
Baria, who had somehow become his friend, cautiously spoke up.
"If it's not too rude, may I ask you something?"
"You can ask between friends. What is it?"
At the word "friends," Baria gave an awkward smile.
"I'm curious why someone like you, Lord Havel, would join the Golden Generation."
Havel turned to look at Baria.
In Havel's eyes, Baria hadn't been particularly inspired by Penbola.
The sole reason he joined the Golden Generation was to know how they would proceed.
In other words, he was their informant while extracting the most information himself.
Penbola wasn't unaware of this.
But he judged the benefits outweighed the drawbacks for now and kept Baria close.
So Baria was curious.
If even he didn't place much value on the Golden Generation,
why would Havel follow their cause?
"Baria, do you know the time when Banpellyon dominated the era?"
Baria, who had looked into Banpellyon after getting to know Havel, naturally knew.
"That was before the Calamities even appeared, wasn't it?"
To be precise, Banpellyon's era lingered a bit even right after the Calamities emerged,
but Havel didn't bother correcting him.
"Yeah. I'm going to bring that era back."
Baria froze.
Because with Havel, it actually seemed possible.
"......The Five Great Families aren't pushovers. Especially with their Five Stars, including the Sword Saint."
The Five Stars of the Five Great Families, Sword Saint included.
They were all top-tier powerhouses in the world.
But Havel just snorted at the words.
"As a commemoration of our friendship, I'll tell you one thing."
Havel looked up at the entrance to the 6th hierarchy.
"I've grown stronger than back then."
"......Pardon?"
Baria made a dumbfounded face.
Strength tapered off sharply the higher you went.
For a perfected powerhouse like Havel to have grown stronger?
He couldn't comprehend it.
"Take a good look now. And spread it to the world with your own mouth."
Havel's steps led into the 6th hierarchy.
"How they should treat Banpellyon from now on."
A lion always went all out even when hunting a rabbit.
So he decided to let the families swarming the 6th hierarchy know.
What kind of predator the lion called Banpellyon was.
Whoosh― splash―.
The moment Havel entered the 6th hierarchy,
the sound of waves filled his ears.
He looked up, and far off, an endless horizon came into view.
6th hierarchy, the Sky Islands Zone.
The salty tang unique to the sea brushed his face.
But the sea's color was different from normal.
A milky white sea stretched out, reminiscent of milk.
'The sky's crimson too. Definitely not a world for humans.'
As Havel thought that, Penbola gathered the mages.
"Mages, if you would."
This was the starting island.
To reach other islands, they needed ships.
"Baria, where did you say the first attack target was?"
"The Layered Cliff Island, currently monopolized by several families sparking disputes."
Baria had become Havel's question-answering shuttle somehow.
Of course, with no intent to irk Havel, Baria answered readily.
"Direction."
"Straight northeast, but since it's the sea, your sense of direction might get twisted."
On the open sea, you couldn't judge direction from surroundings.
But it didn't matter to Havel.
His body made sensing direction trivial.
"Point the way from here."
"This way."
Baria, puzzled, pointed toward the sea anyway.
Havel stepped that way and said,
"Tell Penbola."
"Pardon?"
"I'm going ahead."
"G-going ahead? Where to?"
Baria asked even though he already knew.
"Where else? Layered Cliff Island."
And sure enough, the answer matched Baria's expectation.
Baria tried to say something, but Havel ignored him.
He had simply placed his foot on the sea.
Normally, he'd sink,
but as if proving he far transcended humanity, he strolled leisurely across the water.
Layered Cliff Island, was it?
Time to check the other families' prowess.
Layered Cliff Island.
This island, surrounded by cliffs on all sides, was practically a natural fortress.
The moment one secured it first,
they gained the geographical advantage of barring anyone else.
However, three factions had claimed the Layered Cliff Island almost simultaneously.
The island's powers were two families and one alliance.
The Volants family, known for their spears.
The Selentia family, orthodox light magic mages.
One alliance of climbers banding together against families: Valtua.
These three factions were vying over the Layered Cliff Island.
"Yaaawn."
One member of Valtua on the island let out a long yawn.
He was patrolling the area they'd secured.
It had been half a year already since fighting over Layered Cliff Island.
Patrols had become routine.
'This setup just won't let the fights end.'
Currently, the three factions on the island checked each other.
A worst-case setup where striking one prompted another to strike back.
As a result, the island power struggle showed no signs of stopping.
Rustle―.
At that moment, a sea breeze rustled the bushes.
He absentmindedly turned his head to follow it.
Then he spotted a man.
Long silver hair gleaming under the moonlight.
Eyes like sapphires.
A straight nose and deep eyes evoked an air of nobility.
Yet his presence was eerily faint.
If he hadn't turned by chance, he might not have noticed.
For a split second, he thought ghost, but the other side looked over.
Human.
"Who the hell are you? Which faction?"
So he immediately drew his sword and warned him.
Killing someone you met at night was fine,
but if it sparked a faction war, it'd be a hassle.
Better to avoid fights if possible.
"Parrot emblem. Valtua, huh."
The other recognized them too.
Then the man started walking over from the woods.
His nonchalant demeanor furrowed the man's brows.
Faint presence or not, he'd approached this close.
Not quite an ambush, but he wouldn't yield first strike.
He ignited his aura and swung at the man's neck.
Clang!
It happened then.
The full-force swing reached the neck,
but the blade shattered like striking rock.
The broken shards spun and thunked into a tree.
As if proof of full power,
the blade was deeply embedded inside the tree.
Yet Havel's neck bore not a scratch.
The Valtua member's full power left not a speck.
And no aura rose from Havel's body.
How was this possible?
Chill!
The Valtua member felt every hair stand on end.
Like he'd touched something he shouldn't have.
Havel looked down at him impassively.
Then he smiled faintly.
"Where's your boss?"
"B-boss?"
"Yeah. I've caught Volants' knight commander and Selentia's magic captain, so only your guy's left."
"W-what the hell are you talking about?"
The Valtua member couldn't make sense of it.
But regardless, Havel patted his shoulder.
Then his vision went pitch black.
Havel's darkness enveloped him.
"Aaaagh!"
He screamed in shock, but the sound stayed trapped in the dark.
In the darkness, a hand shot out and grabbed his collar.
"Just answer my questions."
Meeting Havel's blue eyes, the Valtua member looked ready to cry.
The Havel reflected in his eyes was no longer human.
Oni.
An oni.
"Where's your boss?"
To that question, all he could do was answer.
Valtua's boss.
Brekchino.
He had spent the night agonizing with the leadership over winning the faction wars and was resting.
Maybe from overthinking, his head throbbed.
It had been eight years since forming the Valtua alliance.
They'd climbed the tower relentlessly, but who knew people would be the obstacle.
'Can't just rush into faction wars blindly; the aftermath's the issue.'
Families were always obstacles.
They weren't just single groups.
A noble society linked layer by layer through communications.
Mess up, and the tower wasn't the problem.
The real issue lay outside the tower.
Where the families' true powers resided.
'Damn it, that's why noble society sucks.'
He felt disgust but knew the reality.
An alliance like Valtua couldn't easily handle families.
But that didn't mean they could abandon the island.
The byproducts from one island alone were enough to sustain the alliance.
They needed this island.
Rustle―.
Then it happened.
Footsteps sounded outside the makeshift tent.
Thinking leadership, he turned as the tent flap burst open.
Whoooosh!
The wind from the opened flap whipped the inside.
As Brekchino puzzled,
a man appeared in his view.
"You Valtua's boss?"
"Who're you."
As Brekchino questioned,
his vision suddenly blacked out.
Like getting hit by something.
When he snapped his eyes open,
he sat alone in some clearing.
He blankly looked around.
Then he realized one fact belatedly.
There were two more people besides him.
And he knew them well.
Volants knight commander Pelnox Voland.
Selentia magic captain Elashiya Selentia.
Leaders from opposing camps.
"Tough endurance. Figured you'd wake first."
He looked up following the voice.
A white-haired man entered his sight.
He sat atop a boulder, looking down at the three.
"I'm Havel, of Banpellyon."
He tossed the words out and descended the boulder.
Brekchino focused on the name Banpellyon.
A family recently ascending the tower triumphantly.
"You three each hold a piece of the method to summon this island's lord."
Brekchino's eyes hardened.
He knew what "island's lord" meant.
Rumors were true.
Banpellyon was a family obsessed only with climbing the tower.
He'd come to clear the tower.
"The one who tells me first gets governance of the island."
The following words made Brekchino hesitate.
Offering to him first, before the other two even woke,
was Havel's mere whim.
But that whim weighed heavily on Brekchino.
"Urgh."
"Grk, wh-what is this, where are we."
Then the other two woke belatedly.
Meaning the deal over the island was about to begin.