Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Night Lion's Legend
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In the city lord's residence of Havel City.
Vyran Tendar.
He had been anxiously pacing the city entrance ever since receiving the urgent report.
The news was none other than Havel's sudden appearance amid the invasion.
The war was clearly tilting against Tendar.
The Stryke Clan had come with their full might.
Tendar, comparatively unprepared, had been helplessly overwhelmed.
He thought the city was doomed to fall.
But after Havel showed up, the invasion ended in an instant.
He had repelled it single-handedly.
By taking down the Stryke Clan's grand mage, Adoris, no less.
Havel City had been on the brink of collapse.
Yet he resolved it in a flash, just like the Night Lion from the legends.
He had received a grace worthy of a lifetime's gratitude.
As city lord, he couldn't just sit and wait.
"How soon will he arrive..."
A few minutes of his restless pacing at the entrance.
"Vyran, what are you doing there?"
The voice reached his ears belatedly.
The moment Vyran whipped his head around, there stood Havel.
He looked exactly the same as when he'd left the village.
If he'd only seen this, one might think he'd just returned from a tavern.
"Here, the Star Sword."
Havel casually tossed the reclaimed Star Sword to him.
One might worry it was being handled too carelessly.
But to Havel, the Star Sword held no particular value.
Honestly, it was just a sword that ate calamities, that was all.
"And Elasia, hand over that magic tome you picked up to this guy."
"That one?"
Elasia responded with obvious reluctance.
But since it wasn't her trophy, she obediently retrieved it from her subs.p.a.ce.
"It's a magic tome authored by Adoris. Use it to train up some mages in Tendar."
"E-Even this..."
Vyran was at a loss.
He'd already received such immense grace, and now something even greater.
"Lord Havel, if you give me all this, I won't know how to repay your kindness..."
"Didn't do it expecting repayment."
Havel acted as if it was no big deal.
"Just keep the legend of the Night Lion alive. That's how I can show up again."
Anyone could see it was done for that very reward.
Elasia, who knew the truth, glanced at Havel.
But she quickly averted her eyes when he shot her a look.
"Ahem, that'll do."
Havel said, withdrawing his gaze from Elasia.
Vyran, mulling over Havel's words, hardened his expression.
"We of Tendar will never forget you, Lord Havel."
He was a descendant of Valdoran.
He'd keep his word.
Havel trusted him and decided to take his leave.
"There's a key handed down through the Tendar tribe."
"Yes, here it is."
Havel had asked Vyran about the key beforehand.
Receiving it, he realized it was the one from the 73rd floor.
'So that's how it's continuously pa.s.sed down.'
He could definitely feel that the entire hierarchy shared everything.
Havel combined the Stryke Clan and Tendar keys.
A brilliant light flashed, forming a single golden key.
Just then, Paiod and Owen appeared in the distance.
They had Barutuga and Merimolly—members of Memento Mori—in tow.
"Elasia, let's head up."
75th floor.
Finally, time to face the Memento Mori main force.
75th floor.
Crow Kingdom.
In one of the kingdom's inns.
A black-haired man sat on the bed.
His beard had darkened from not shaving for a while, and his eyes were amethyst.
His name was Baria Graiza.
A direct descendant of the Graiza family, one of the Five Great Families that dealt primarily in information.
It had been quite some time since he'd been confined to this room.
Ever since arriving on the 75th floor and getting captured by Memento Mori.
The room was sealed with magic to prevent escape.
"My realm's improved a bit."
He had no taste for being treated like livestock, of course.
Perhaps because of that, he trained diligently every day in his prison.
He had followed Havel to climb the Tower.
He might not catch up, but he refused to fall too far behind.
Seizing the opportunity, he focused solely on aura training.
Memento Mori had no intention of killing him.
They didn't want to completely antagonize the Five Great Families, after all.
So Baria could train with peace of mind.
Baria swept back his long hair and looked up.
'I followed Lord Havel, yet things turned out like this.'
Havel had entered the 7th hierarchy first.
He had chased after him into the 7th.
But Havel was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, he had to wage a desperate battle against Moebius's inner circle and the 7th floor's crows.
After clawing his way up floor by floor.
This time, Memento Mori—the lords of the underworld—ambushed him.
He'd even been separated from Elasia, who was climbing the Tower with him.
'I wonder what happened to Moebius.'
Baria had grown somewhat fond of Moebius during the ascent.
Naturally, he worried about Moebius, who had been holding out against Memento Mori to the end.
Trapped here, Baria knew nothing.
But there had been recent developments.
Two months ago, news from the lower floors.
The Crow City on the 74th floor had become Havel City.
Havel's description started getting reported everywhere.
Because Havel appeared in the Crow City's legends.
'He wasn't ahead... he was behind.'
Havel was utterly unpredictable.
He didn't know why Havel lagged behind instead of leading.
But roughly guessing, conquering floors alone took too long.
So he waited for other climbers to roughly map them out.
Then he'd swoop in to grab the lion's share.
"Just like Lord Havel."
Baria let out a hollow chuckle, convinced that was probably the truth.
Knock knock.
A knock came from outside.
This time was precious to Baria.
Disconnected from the outside, he couldn't even read books in this s.p.a.ce.
Creeeak.
The door opened, revealing a tall woman.
A dress cloaking her slender figure, a wide-brimmed hat.
Staff in hand, she was unmistakably a mage.
Her blue hair peeked from under the hat, fluttering.
In her hand was a single book.
It was Baria's exclusive tome from the Graiza family.
They were using him for information.
Naturally, she—the one holding him—was in charge of the book too.
"Graiza direct descendant, that's quite the beard."
She spoke in a leisurely tone.
Baria slowly stroked his beard at her words.
"Well, you don't give me anything sharp enough to use."
Unlike usual, he didn't mix in any honorifics.
To maintain his position, even a little, he needed to appear strong now.
"You know we won't kill you, and you're just biding your time for an attack window."
"My attacks aren't much of a threat to Memento Mori, are they?"
She chuckled at his provocative words.
"A cornered rat's bite doesn't hurt much, but why risk it?"
Baria clicked his tongue.
At that moment, he felt a breeze under his chin.
"If you want, I can trim it myself."
The whipping wind seemed ready to slice his throat any second.
"No need."
Baria frowned as if to say get lost, and she laughed again.
She promptly set the book down before him.
"Regular info exchange time. Hope there's something useful today."
Two months ago, after the 75th floor suddenly changed.
Memento Mori, aiming for the 76th via the Five Great Families, had hit a wall.
The conquest methods were completely different from expected.
And the reason was one man.
Havel Banpellyon.
Rumors about him had started spreading in earnest recently.
He was ascending the Tower at a phenomenal pace, just like before.
While leaving ma.s.sive impacts on every floor.
Memento Mori was, of course, keeping close tabs on him.
'Like Lord Havel. A true storm.'
Baria slowly opened the book.
No point hiding info anyway.
They'd hypnotize it out of him if needed.
Baria needed regular intel too.
Cooperating had exchange value.
How long had it been since he started flipping pages?
"Huh."
A surprised voice escaped Baria's lips.
"Looks like there's something worthwhile."
The mage reacted, and Baria hesitated briefly.
'A Graiza family scout was near Lord Havel.'
After some deliberation, he decided to share.
Thinking this very act might be part of Havel's plan.
"Banpellyon Havel has entered the 75th floor."
The moment he spoke, the mage showed a noticeable reaction.
Havel was one of Memento Mori's targets—and headaches.
News of his arrival warranted it.
"Finally decided to show."
She curled her lips into a smile.
Her surroundings seemed to bloom with vibrant flowers.
Many had their breath catch at that smile before.
"Any more info?"
"That's it."
The mage showed no disappointment.
Instead, she took back the book Baria held and turned to leave.
"Graiza direct descendant, seems you're pinning some hope on this Havel guy."
As she closed the door, she offered advice.
"Against Memento Mori, that kind of expectation means nothing."
With those parting words, she shut the door and walked away.
The clicking of her heels faded into the distance.
Baria let out a long sigh.
Then, as if to her retreating back, he muttered what he should have said.
"No need for hope."
Staring at the barred window with utter conviction.
"Lord Havel will flip it all upside down."
He could already see the future where Memento Mori lay in ruins.