Chapter 140 : Chapter 140
Chapter 140 : Back to Winter Castle
Luna's sudden departure was certainly unexpected, but that didn't change the path I had to take.
As Luna herself said, she would find her way to Winter Castle once her business was done.
I was a little curious about what Luna's business was, but since she said she wouldn't say, I couldn't force her to open her mouth.
Everyone has their circumstances.
‘More than that, it would be right to worry about the problem at hand right now.’
From encountering Great Sage Akiro in Akiro's Labyrinth to meeting the Newbie Hunter.
One and all, I could see that something was happening centering around the Ascension Stone Fragments.
Of course, strictly speaking, I wouldn't need to be this impatient, but nevertheless, there was a certain sense of duty that I had to find out the truth about the Ascension Stone Fragments.
Although not certain, it was because I felt that the events surrounding the Ascension Stone Fragments currently happening were also related to me.
‘It probably isn't just my feeling.’
Even for that sake, I must collect the Ascension Stone Fragments as quickly as possible.
If Akiro's words are true, gathering the Ascension Stone Fragments would eventually allow me to face the truth.
What the Ascension Stone Fragments are.
Why we came here.
What truly lies at the end.
***
The process of returning to Winter Castle alone was, as expected, not smooth.
Especially when camping, the difference between having a reliable companion and not having one was stark.
Of course, if I utilized Akiro's laws, I could guarantee safety to some extent, but Akiro's Ring also had limitations, so ultimately I couldn't sleep deeply every time I camped.
The Empire's public order was certainly not bad, but that was strictly limited to the territories of nobles or cities, and outside the cities was still practically the wild.
Because of that, I encountered bandits a few times just on the way back, and the appearances of trivial demonic beasts were countless.
It seemed that when Luna was around, she hid the campsite with a refraction barrier when camping, and we also took turns standing guard, so we could have a quite comfortable journey, but when alone, that was impossible.
‘Plus, thanks to the presence Luna possessed, demonic beasts hardly bothered us either.’
I felt Luna's absence in many ways, but I tried not to mind it.
Luna is not a soldier of Winter Castle.
Also, since the reason she sought me out in the first place was also because of the Destruction Dragon's demonic energy, now that the problem has been partially resolved, it is also true that there is no reason for her to be with me.
So it would be right to put aside the regret.
One fortunate thing was that thanks to the Anonymous Bulletin Board, the lonely journey wasn't terribly boring.
Rather, once I arrive at Winter Castle, the time to leisurely look at the Anonymous Bulletin Board like this would decrease significantly, so I intended to look at it a lot now.
-Giving up in the labyrinth. Just gonna go home.
-Seems almost everyone left Akiro's Labyrinth side by now?
-The Plague Mask Gunman's role as a gatekeeper is insane lol
-No black cows are still running the labyrinth, right?
Looking at the Anonymous Bulletin Board after a long time, the topics about Akiro's Labyrinth seemed to be gradually decreasing.
It seemed that it had been quite a long time since Akiro's Labyrinth became a hot topic, and as players tired of Akiro's Labyrinth gave up and left one by one, it naturally fell out of the topic.
Instead, the news that came to the Anonymous Bulletin Board was, as expected, the original bait that dominated the Anonymous Bulletin Board.
-Heard the Newbie Hunter appeared again in the Central Continent this time.
-FR? He was quiet lately and seems to have caused trouble again.
-How does he wipe out players in the middle of the city? The guards aren't pushovers.
As the Newbie Hunter seemed to have resumed activities again with the incident in Elysian this time, the interest of the Anonymous Bulletin Board shifted sharply in that direction.
-Isn't the Newbie Hunter perhaps something like a noble? How do you kill people inside a city?
-Newbie Hunter came again? lol Sick of it, sick of it.
-When the hell will that damn Newbie Hunter be caught? At this point, isn't the Newbie Hunter's identity Cain?
-With that broken personality, there's a possibility FR
Regarding the identity, some suspected Cain, but naturally, there was no basis.
While examining the Anonymous Bulletin Board like that, I discovered one new post in the recommended posts list.
Specifically, a story related to the Eastern Union.
-CyberRekka9: Various stories about the Eastern Union's recent movements [★]
CyberRekka9, true to his name, mainly played the role of re-highlighting posts that received relatively little attention among posts on the Anonymous Bulletin Board or other bulletin boards, and because of that, some bulletin board users viewed CyberRekka9 unfavorably.
-Anonymous55: This bastard is stealing content again.
-Anteater: Did you get permission from the person who wrote this?
-Anonymous21: Would he have? lol Rekka level.
Of course, apart from that, most of CyberRekka9's posts rose to the recommended posts.
Leaving aside where the source was, the information CyberRekka9 brought was something worth becoming a topic for now.
‘Well, that aside…….’
Putting aside what kind of person CyberRekka9 is, the title of the post he uploaded was unusual.
‘Eastern Union, huh.’
Like other recommended posts, this post was one I especially couldn't just pass by.
After all, I was one of the parties who experienced the work the Eastern Union recently committed.
‘Behind the incident that occurred in Bernhard were Hanover and the Eastern Union.’
I clicked on CyberRekka9's post.
──────────────
Any user with slightly keen ears would know that the Eastern Union's recent movements are unusual.
Of course, in the history of the Lagna Continent, the Eastern Union revealing its ambition isn't something new, but the movement wouldn't have created as many repercussions as this time.
The biggest influence among them can be seen as, of course, the appearance of the Destruction Dragon.
Although its appearance cannot be found now, the Destruction Dragon inflicted massive damage on the Empire, and the Empire suffered wounds difficult to recover easily.
However, the Eastern Union was relatively less exposed to the Destruction Dragon's influence and could relatively maintain its power.
Actually, up to this point might not be a big problem. Even if they maintained their power, it was still not easy to bring down the Empire with the Eastern Union's power.
Above all, the biggest reason is the innate limitation possessed by the Eastern Union.
The Eastern Union is a collection of various kingdoms and warlords not belonging to the Empire, and thus, unless the Empire moves directly, it is true that it is difficult for them to unite as one.
However, a centripetal point has recently emerged in such an Eastern Union.
Although detailed identity or background hasn't been revealed, it is said that within the Eastern Union, they call him the Supreme King.
※This post clarifies that it was reconstructed by the author based on the post written by Anonymous852.
──────────────
CyberRekka9's post was a post that didn't seem very special at a glance.
The Eastern Union revealing bestial hostility toward the Empire wasn't very rare in the Empire's long history.
Nevertheless, the reason direct confrontations between the Empire and the Eastern Union didn't occur many times is that there were many circumstances.
One of the biggest reasons among them can be seen as geography; the Eastern Mountains exist between the Empire and the Eastern Union.
The Eastern Mountains are very rugged, making it difficult for troops to move, and above all, there are Orcs, the masters of the Eastern Mountains, there.
The Empire also organized large-scale subjugation squads several times in history to subjugate the Orcs of the Eastern Mountains, but each time they frequently experienced disastrous results.
Because of that, the Empire also only built walls in the Eastern Mountains to block the Orcs' attacks and did not attempt to cross the Eastern Mountains anymore.
In other words, the movement route between the Empire and the Eastern Union was virtually only the Mülhen Granary Zone leading from Bernhard, and currently, the Free City Bernhard and the Military City Hanover were serving as the gate and trade route for that passage, respectively.
‘Can this be seen as an extension of what happened in Bernhard before?’
The reason the Eastern Union, which had been quiet until now, is showing such blatant movements recently must be, as expected, because of the person mentioned in CyberRekka9's post.
‘Supreme King, huh…….’
A name I was hearing for the first time too.
I don't know if it's a player or a native of this world, but what's clear is that with the appearance of the one called Supreme King, the Eastern Union, which was like the Warring States Period, is showing signs of gathering as one.
‘No, maybe they have already gathered.’
Whatever it was, I didn't have a very good premonition.
Under the biggest goal of having to collect Ascension Stone Fragments, it feels like obstacle-like events keep occurring?
“Sigh…….”
Twilight Troupe.
Eastern Union.
Bellerophon.
Newbie Hunter.
Just one is a headache, but with headache-inducing names bursting out simultaneously, my head truly started to ache.
‘I should hope nothing happens.’
Although that won't likely be the case.
***
After a journey that literally involved crossing mountains and waters, I finally arrived at Winter Castle.
The scenery of the Winter Castle I visited after a long time wasn't much different from what I knew.
That noble scenery, almost buried in the snowfield, still looks somewhat lonely.
Of course, to me who had lived in Winter Castle, it just looks peaceful.
Perhaps because there was a big wave before I left Winter Castle, it seemed to have been a relatively peaceful time recently.
“Hmm? Who is this! Isn't it the Mage of Blazing Fire!”
Upon returning to Winter Castle, the Guard Team Leader, who happened to be acquainted with me, was on duty.
“It has been a while.”
“Returning from vacation? It really feels like I'm seeing you after a long time.”
“Was there nothing special?”
“Hmm, should I say there was something special……. Hear the details directly once you go inside.”
The Guard Team Leader welcomed me very much, but apart from that, something about the atmosphere was unusual.
After crossing the gate and heading to the barracks, I headed straight to Edric's office to report my return from vacation.
Edric, whom I naturally thought would be out, was unexpectedly in his office.
“Ah, it's you. It has been a while.”
“For that, your reaction seems a bit plain.”
“Haha, a soldier going on vacation isn't something that happens once or twice, do I have to welcome each one? Just taking it as it is.”
Despite it being a quite long vacation, Edric didn't make a fuss about my return.
“By the way…… didn't the person who left you come together?”
“She said she had personal business so we parted ways for a moment. She said she would come to Winter Castle later when she has time.”
“Groan. Is that so? It is my honest wish that she wouldn't come if possible but…….”
“Even I won't be able to stop that.”
“I suppose so.”
Edric, seen after a long time, had a somewhat tired face somewhere.
“Did something happen?”
“Hmm? Ah, there is something. It isn't a big problem.”
“What is it?”
Edric spoke in a calm tone as if it was nothing.
“It seems war will break out soon.”