The Vastness of Magical Destiny

Komer naturally was not willing to risk deciphering the Magic Array lightly, and Rebry and Solonberg likewise were not willing to make such reckless moves without assurance. It had become a consensus among the three to delay the study to a later time, making them even more excited, patient, and meticulous in their subsequent search efforts. However, much to their disappointment, the search didn’t yield many valuable results afterward. Aside from a collection of oil paintings and Artworks found in a secret chamber—which might represent a significant find for Komer—for Rebry and Solonberg, it was meaningless.

Fortunately, the two sealed locations had already satisfied both the Mage and the Dark Knight. After all, this was only the initial exploratory search, primarily aimed at eliminating any potential hidden dangers. In the eyes of Rebry and Solonberg, the cold aura that both Rebry and Komer had felt was undoubtedly some sort of strange object created by the reliance on the Eye of Darkness. And it surely resided in the Underground World beneath the castle. It behaved so obediently today, perhaps because it realized that the three challengers who entered were no ordinary individuals; it too needed time to observe and determine its strategy.

The first expedition to Damarlinsk Castle thus ended with little fanfare. While the trio had their modest gains, Komer felt somewhat disappointed due to the exceedingly high expectations he had set for the adventure—it was almost completely devoid of danger and lacked interesting or novel goods. Even the Magic Arrays or magical seals seemed to be beyond the trio’s current level of expertise to solve instantly, which left the question of whether Damarlinsk Castle was suitable for habitation still open for debate. On the contrary, Rebry and Solonberg were eager to move in soon and, with the arrival of some of their friends, hoped to join the exploration and study of the castle perched upon the Eye of Darkness sooner rather than later.

The exploratory trip stirred a sensation that Komer had not anticipated. Although the trio managed to keep their venture a secret, Komer’s unique status made his friends and subordinates worry about potential risks; they had already agreed that if there was no word after three days in the castle, a larger group would forcibly enter for a search. Many people opposed Komer’s brash decision, especially the new Immigrants who now saw Komer as their pillar of support. The appearance of Half-Beastmen and Barbarians in the territory made the Mortals feel the need for a strong Lord for survival, and they vehemently opposed Komer’s knightly adventurous conduct, though this wasn’t enough to douse Komer’s plans significantly.

The adventure of the trio soon caused a sensation in Ugru, with nearly everyone discussing and paying close attention to the expedition, especially the Indigenous People who had lived there for decades or even generations. They told colorful and vivid stories of the castle’s legends, adding countless animated listeners to the Taverns and coffee shops.

Was Damarlinsk Castle, deemed an inaccessible region, now conquered by the Lord and his two friends? Although the residents of Caucasus were yet to fully accept this reality, individuals like Puber and Neptune leveraged this event for a publicity campaign that once again earned the respect of people across the Caucasus Region. For years, Damarlinsk Castle had been the source of fear in the hearts of the Indigenous People—evoking a sense of dread even stronger than that caused by the threat of Barbarians—and the new Immigrants had largely been influenced by this sentiment as well. Damarlinsk Castle was one of the main topics of discussion in Taverns and coffee shops. But now, it seemed the castle lay prostrated at the feet of the Lord.