n

nHowever, nobody was welcoming Beacrox and Ron who returned home after a long time.

nIn fact, enemies were charging at them from the main gate.

n“This is nice.”

n

n

n“Ugh!”

nOne of Arm's swordsmen who had been charging forward flew sideways after losing the power battle against the greatsword. But that was just the beginning.

nMages, knights, soldiers, and archers, all sorts of people charged at the two of them.

n“We should have killed all those Molan bastards!”

n“How dare these rats confidently charge in like this!”

nA few people who had betrayed their respective underworld households to join Arm in the past were shouting at Beacrox.

n“How funny.”

nThat was all Beacrox had to say before he started to move forward.

nHe knew where he needed to go and he was happy to swing his sword to get there.

n“…You-”

n“Please just follow me.”

n

n

nBang!

nA magic fireball exploded after touching the wind pressure created by the greatsword.

nBeacrox immediately stabbed the sword forward and took another step.

n“Aaaah!”

nBeacrox's sword pierced through someone else’s side. Beacrox pulled the sword out with a stoic expression and kicked to the side with his right leg.

n“Ugh!”

nA soldier fell down without realizing what happened.

n‘I will take the lead.’

nThat was the only thought on Beacrox’s mind as he swung his sword. Ron watched his son and quietly followed behind him.

n‘…He’s definitely gotten stronger.’

n

n

nAnd he was slowly becoming more like his wife. The way he uses his sword and his actions were both becoming like her.

n‘Although he looks exactly like me.’

nHe felt as if he would start to laugh. It was rare for him to want to laugh like this on the battlefield, but today felt as if it would be one of those rare days.

nHis wife had always been by his side whenever he laughed like this on the battlefield.

nThe two of them had started to date and got married at an older age compared to most people. Honestly speaking, it took a long time for them to get married after they started dating. They had done a lot of jobs together as those times together built up.

nShe was the first person Ron had allowed by his side other than when he was learning dagger arts and stealth techniques from the elders in the family.

nWell, it was probably more accurate to say he held her back at his side rather than allowed her to be there.

n‘I told you I’ll take the lead.’

n‘Stop rushing out so much.’

n‘Oh, come on! Stop being so frustrating.’

nShe really enjoyed taking the lead in battle.

nRon recalled some of the conversations he had with her.

n‘No. Listen to me. Think about being in the front and smacking the faces of the enemies with a greatsword. Do you know how that feels?’

n‘Do I need to know that? I prefer stabbing people in the neck from behind instead.’

n‘Aigoo, I shouldn't have even asked.’

nRon still clearly remembered how the woman who shook her head while saying that she couldn't understand assassins had swung her greatsword.

n

n

nTheir son reminded him so much of her.

nOf course, his style was not exactly the same as hers. Beacrox had been with Choi Han, Gashan, and other strong warriors and picked things up from watching their battles.

nHowever, the roots had started from his wife.

nRon, who ended up following behind his son, started to climb up the stairs toward the top of the wall with the main gate.

nOne step, two steps. He could slowly see the view inside the valley as he went up step by step.

nThe enemies started to charge at them even more fiercely as that happened.

n“You damn assassin bastard who ran away!”

nRon’s hand moved after hearing a voice behind him.

n“Ugh!”

nPuuk.

nRon turned his head back after coldly staring at an enemy falling down the stairs with a dagger in his neck.

nHe heard a loud noise at that moment.

nBaaaaang!

n

n

nHe could also see a person groaning as they fell off the wall.

nClang.

nThe sword in that person's hand broke into two and fell to the ground. Ron looked at that sword for a moment before looking at the stairs in front of him.

nHe was not far from the end. Beacrox who was already on top of the wall was looking at him.

n“Father, please come up.”

nThere were minor injuries all over Beacrox's body, but it was hard to tell because he was covered in other people’s blood.

nTap.

nRon took one step.

nTap, tap.

nHis movement slowly became faster as he quickly climbed up the few remaining stairs.

n

n

nA gasp-like laugh came out of his mouth.

nA perilous mountain range. This deep valley and the cliffs that seemed to have been artificially cut out.

nHe could see the sight that made him nostalgic about the past.

n“Father.”

nRon looked toward Beacrox who was taking out a rolled up piece of cloth from his pocket. He took the cloth from Beacrox and unraveled it. The cloth had the Molan crest on it.

n“…Did you draw it?”

n“Yes.”

n“Looks like you need to improve your art skills.”

nThis punk who was good at cooking and needlework was a terrible artist.

nHowever, he still did better than expected with this crest.

nThe Molan Household.

nThey could not openly reveal their crest during missions as they were part of the underworld. However, they had at least put their crest in this valley.

nThis was their territory, and it was a sign telling uninvited guests to stay out.

n‘It’ll be a bit different now.’

nThe meaning of this crest would slightly change from now on.

nRon walked to where Arm's flag was hanging and ripped that flag with his dagger.

nPlop.

n

n

nPiiiiiiiiiii- Piiiiiiiiiiii-

nBeacrox blew the flute at that moment.

nThe fog instantly disappeared. Mercenary King Bud Illis who was standing at the second boundary shouted as soon as he noticed the change.

n“Charge!”

nMages, swordsmen, and hunters. Mercenaries with all different types of occupations shouted as they charged toward the third boundary. The assassins who survived from those destroyed households and participated in this battle walked down from the buildings in the cliffs and disappeared into the battlefield.

nRon turned around after seeing their allies charging forward. He could see the central building. That should be where the important individuals in this secret base should be located. Even if there were no highest-grade individuals here, they needed to take back that building.

nHe turned his head.

n“Lead the way.”

nHe left the front for his son.

n“I will take care of the back.”

nHe was going to prevent the enemies from chasing them from the back.

n

n

nBeacrox took the lead and started to head for the central building.

nRon followed behind him.

nWithout any highest-grade strong individuals, there were not many in this secret base who could stop them.

nFinally, they were on the top floor of the central building. Ron looked at his liege at this place that used to be the Molan patriarch’s room in the past and started to speak.

n“Young master-nim, there is a teleportation magic circle leading to another secret base.”

nCale stepped onto the teleportation magic circle.

nChoi Han, Beacrox, the Mercenary King, the Dragon half-blood, and the children averaging nine-years-old were with him.

n“I will take care of things here before heading over.”

nCale nodded his head at Ron who was smiling benignly again.

n“Sure. But Ron, isn't your house too nice? It’s even bigger than our Henituse Estate.”

nRon smiled and Cale let the teleportation magic circle take him away.

nHe started to think about Arm's second secret base as it turned dark. Human! But why did the White Star put a secret base over there?

nThe Eastern continent's Three Restricted Areas.

nThe Wind Island where Cale got the top's whip.

nThe Castle of Light where Lord Sheritt's castle was located.

n

n

nThe northern part of the Eastern continent. A black hole located near the start of the glacier region.

nPeople in the past claimed that falling into that hole would take you to the world of death, the Demon World, leading to them avoiding this hole that was the size of a decent city.

nThis was the reason no cities or villages existed around it.

nHonestly speaking, there was no reason for anybody to live by a giant sinkhole.

nThis was because this sinkhole existed between the glacier region and the mountain range that protected the rest of the Eastern continent from the cold.

nThere was nobody who would create a village past the mountain range and near this hole.

nHowever, people still gave this place a name.

nThe final restricted area.

nThe Gate to the Demon World.

nArm's second secret base was located between the Gate to the Demon World and the mountain range.

nPaaaat-

nA bright light surrounded Cale and he had appeared outside Arm's secret base once he opened his eyes.

nThe distinction between the three boundaries was incomplete here as the Dragon half-blood had mentioned.

nCale saw Arm’s second secret base slowly become clearer as the bright light disappeared.

n

n

nHe started to laugh.

nHe was not laughing because he was happy.

nHe was laughing in disbelief. Human! This place feels familiar!

nIt was very cold even with temperature magic because it was near the glacier region.

nAlthough this was his first time here, Cale was very familiar with the layout of the second secret base.

n

"Cale-nim, this place-”

nChoi Han could not finish his sentence as he was at a loss for words as well. He eventually managed to get it out.

n“This place is similar to the Dragon Slayer village. No, it is almost an exact replica.”

nThe village underground. The green village surrounded by cliffs.

nThe stone building with Choi Jung Gun’s memoir at the center.

nEverything was replicating itself in front of them. Cale scoffed while looking at this secret base that was said to house the strongest of Arm’s forces.

n‘Isn’t this the same as the legend of the village created by the first Dragon Slayer?’

nThe first Dragon Slayer had lived away from the rest of the world with a collection of the strongest individuals.

nIt was unbelievable and laughable that the bastard who wanted to be the White Star instead of the Dragon Slayer had created such a place.

nWhy?

n

n

nIt was laughable that a bastard who had no problem sacrificing or harming people, a bastard who wanted to rule over everything, would have such emotions to create this village.

nIt also made him angry.

nIt annoyed him.

n

n

nCale could see the person walking out once the village gate opened.

n“How dare you crawl over to this place?”

nThe person provoking them was the Lion King. The person who had been at this place looked toward Cale and Choi Han in disbelief.

n“My liege did tell me that Arm’s base was being attacked. But the people who should be at the desert are here? Hmm?”

nHe shook his head in disbelief. However, the smile slowly disappeared from his face.

nIt was because that meant that they were tricked by Cale.

nMore enemies slowly started to appear behind him.

n“Cale-nim, they are strong.”

nAs Choi Han mentioned, each of them were strong enough to be a captain of a mercenaries squad.

nThat might be the reason the Lion King looked so relaxed.

n

n

nOoooooooong-

nDark aura started to gather around his body.

n“I'll throw you bastards into the Gate to the Demon World. Kehehehe!”

nThe Lion King could see Cale’s mouth slowly starting to open.

n“Hey, it’s your turn.”

n‘Hmm?’

nLion King Dorph could see a person behind Cale with his hood down low, stepping forward. He felt an unknown sense of wariness and suddenly got chills on his back.

nIt was the type of feeling he got when a big danger was headed his way.

nShhhhh.

n

n

nHe could now see the face of the person underneath the hood.

n

n

nThe Lion King's face looked astonished while the Dragon half-blood who took his hood off quietly closed his eyes. His hair was dyed red, but his face was still thin and looked annoyed.

nHe could feel it every day.

nHe could feel death approaching.

nThe pain throughout his body was getting worse.

nHe had to be careful every time he took a breath. An unbearable pain that made it feel as if he would die would strike him if he breathed incorrectly.

nHowever, if the end was near…

nHe wanted to choose his end similarly to how he had chosen to live six months more with the first decision he was given in his life.

nHe pulled out the light attribute that faintly remained in his body.

nThe light was very weak and his body was human now, but it was still there.

n“I'm prepared.”

nHe told Cale who was behind him and Cale gave the order.

n“Get started.”

nTwo people responded to him.

n

n

n

n