Chapter 6: Convincing Yulda
The Khaïbet-Nefertoum... a legendary relic, once wielded by our ancestor Nefertoum Indivar during the Great Hundred Years War, lay deep within the Riverdale Forest, not far from the River Estate. The fact that it was there remained unknown.
"It’s not far from here... barely two kilometers from the castle."
I absentmindedly scratched my smooth chin while examining an old rolled-up map on the table. This dungeon... it had fueled the rivalry between the River and Indivar estates for five years now.
Why? Because an S-rank dungeon, born from a spatial rupture caused by the power unleashed during the Hundred Years War, created a separate spacetime pocket—an entirely different ecosystem with its own inhabitants.
It’s more than just a challenge: it’s an invaluable treasure trove. A source of magical crystals, rare materials, and sometimes, lost relics like this one. For me, a pathetic weakling who couldn’t even beat a starving goblin, it might have been madness. But I had something many didn’t: a filthy rich family. And sometimes, money can be a better shield than steel.
I left my room with determination, slowly closing the door behind me. The hallway, bathed in the golden light of twilight filtering through the stained-glass windows, was deserted. On my way, I crossed paths with my bodyguard, a serious-faced young man of about twenty. He wore light metallic blue armor, accented with a white cape embroidered with golden threads. His name was Erwan, a commoner raised to knighthood through sheer skill. His brown hair tied in a ponytail, his cerulean eyes sharp and wary, he exuded an annoying sense of righteousness. But he was reliable.
"Fetch the butler for me," I ordered. "And tell him to meet me in the Archduchess’s office."
"At once, young lord."
He nodded and disappeared.
I continued on my way. Ten minutes later, after navigating the corridors and climbing a spiral staircase lined with purple tapestry, I knocked on a massive door adorned with relief carvings.
"I’m busy!" a voice both gentle and authoritative called out.