How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 221

“My name is Kuhn.”

“Cain.”

“I don’t know where to begin this story.”

The beastman, who introduced himself as Kuhn, slowly began his tale.

After the Race Wars [a period of conflict between different humanoid races], numerous heteromorphic races driven to the north had to struggle to survive.

However, some eventually adapted even in that barren environment. One of them was the werewolf, possessing a robust physique.

With thick fur and the powerful strength to tear apart most monsters with their bare hands, and some with special bloodlines even manipulating mana, survival wasn’t too difficult.

“We survived, but our ancestors’ lives weren’t easy. They had to wander for a long time. But one day, our ancestors discovered this castle.”

“So?”

“…Since then, our ancestors began to live here, claiming it as their territory. Until now, my generation.”

“And then those guys came here?”

“Yes.”

The story was predictable from then on.

The Neviros Order found this ancient castle, and the beastmen were defeated by them, instantly losing their home.

“They… subjected our clan to all sorts of experiments, using our lives as leverage.”

Kuhn looked at his clan, completely changed by the influence of the magic stone.

“I don’t know the details of the experiments. But one thing is certain: we became puppets who only follow orders. They turned our clan into guard dogs protecting the castle in an instant.”

“But you’re fine. Probably because they needed someone to control the clan.”

“That’s right.”

“But that means they follow your orders, right? Have you ever thought about leading everyone to escape?”

At my question, Kuhn growled briefly and pointed to the magic stone embedded in the central pillar of the hall.

“The clan never tried to escape the influence of that stone. It was as if a fundamental principle was set. But I couldn’t abandon the clan and run away alone.”

“So you’ve been adapting and living on?”

“…They said they would release us when their work was done.”

“They’ll release you? You believe that?”

“Even if I don’t believe it, I have to. I can’t abandon the clan and run away.”

Kuhn’s only eye twisted. He clearly didn’t like the current situation either.

“Anyway, if we can be free, my clan and I are willing to pay any price.”

After speaking, Kuhn subtly gauged my intentions. In response to his unspoken request for help, I shrugged.

“So, the problem is that magic stone controlling your friends, right?”

“Magic stone?”

“Ah, that’s what I call that stone. Anyway, we just need to neutralize it.”

In most cases, neutralizing that magic stone would be quite troublesome. Probably powerful mages and renowned scholars would have to spend a lot of time researching how to break it.

But it’s not a difficult problem for me. I have a glutton that eats everything without discrimination.

I drew Afien from its sheath again. Then, I slowly started walking towards the magic stone.

Kuhn watched my actions, holding his breath.

‘If they’re subdued by the magic stone, then getting rid of the stone’s power will solve the problem.’

A very simple solution.

I swung my sword and cut down the pillar in one swift motion. Then, I approached the magic stone that had fallen to the floor.

The magic stone was still emitting an eerie energy. Feeling a sense of gloom, I pointed Afien at the magic stone and stabbed it straight in.

The tip of the sword pierced through the resistance in an instant. Then, the amber jewel embedded in the guard began to glow.

The process didn’t take long.

As Afien absorbed the evil energy like injecting a vaccine for a disease, the magic stone soon turned into a mere dark, dull stone.

“Kuh-ruk…”

“Kuh-eok!”

At the same time, thudding sounds were heard from all around. It was because the beastmen who had been dominated by the magic stone were released.

They collapsed powerlessly, as if suffering from severe aftereffects. Kuhn approached one of them who seemed relatively okay.

“Chieftain…”

The beastman, supported by Kuhn, coughed repeatedly and spat up blood.

“Hey! Get a grip!”

Seeing Kuhn’s desperate appearance, fearing something might go wrong, I took out a potion from my bag and threw it.

“Give him this.”

“Thank you!”

Kuhn opened the potion cap almost breaking it and poured it straight into his mouth. Watching the scene, I crossed my arms.

“He looks pretty bad.”

“Whenever those guys came here, a considerable number of monsters would rush in. We were always the ones who stopped them. No matter how naturally strong we are, a long fight rots the body.”

“Monsters rushed in? Did they follow those guys?”

“No.”

“If not, then?”

“I don’t know much about magic… but I can vaguely sense that energy. Whenever they stayed here, they would emit a strong energy.”

“The monsters felt that energy and rushed in?”

“That’s what I guess.”

Did they use some kind of magic?

But if it was an energy that monsters could feel, it wouldn’t be ordinary magic.

“You don’t know what they did? Tell me anything, even something trivial.”

“I don’t know either.”

“What? You said you’d cooperate if I helped you?”

As I frowned, Kuhn slowly shook his head.

“I really don’t know. What those people did here, or what their purpose was.”

“What? You weren’t just cooped up in a room all day, and you don’t know?”

“That’s right. I don’t know. They disappeared without a trace, not knowing when they left. And then, after some time, they would come back here.”

“Wait. Disappeared without a trace?”

“I can see them coming in, so I know. But I’ve never seen them leave, so I don’t know. They disappeared like ghosts. That’s all I know.”

Disappeared like ghosts…

“Maybe there’s a secret exit in the castle.”

“We were the owners of this castle before they came. If there was something like that, we would have known by now.”

I carefully examined Kuhn’s expression. He didn’t seem to be lying.

Anyway, it’s clear that those guys did something suspicious here. Nodding, I unfolded my arms and put my hand on the sword sheath.

“How do I get down to the basement here?”

* * *

After that, I headed to the basement of the castle.

According to Kuhn, there was a staircase leading to the basement, but strangely, there was nothing at the end of it.

Of course, that would have been an arrangement made by Kerwyn [likely a powerful being or character]. A monster with a sense of adventure could recklessly rummage through the castle.

The staircase leading to the basement was spiral. Just in case Kuhn had deceived me, I heightened my senses.

But there was no sign of anyone. Just a dark and damp staircase.

[Ehehe, it’s spooky. It feels like a ghost will appear,]

‘…

How far down the stairs did I go, listening to Afien’s jokes?

At the end of the stairs, there was a long corridor.

But the end of the corridor was a dead end. A space where there was nowhere else to go unless you turned back. It was indeed as Kuhn said.

“Hmm.”

I lightly exhaled through my nose and lifted Afien. Then, I pointed to the wall.

“Open it.”

[Am I some kind of dog? Don’t order me around like that!]

Afien grumbled and emitted a golden aura. Then, strangely, cracks appeared on the wall that received the aura, and it began to shake.

The cracks that appeared soon transformed into the shape of an arch, turning into a new passage. How amazing.

I let out a hollow laugh and passed through the passage that had been created. How far did I go?

“…”

Koo-roo-roong!

A sound resembling thunder began to be heard from afar.

At the same time, a reaction came from my body. This tingling sensation, like electricity flowing through me. It feels like I’ve experienced it somewhere before. Where was it?

‘The Great Forest.’

Yes, it was in the castle in the lake that Kerwyn had created for Aslahina in the Great Forest. The sensation I felt in that place, where mana was so full that it seemed to burst and even distorted time.

The fierce howls of mana that made my skin crawl.

Overcoming that chilling sensation, I continued to move forward, and soon a huge cavity appeared before my eyes.

And in the center of that cavity was a mana storm writhing like a dragon.

A rough torrent. It was as if all the mana in the world was gathered and mixed together.

‘I’m sure of it.’

This was definitely the mana used to maintain the barrier that Kerwyn had spread in the north.

As evidence, even now, those mana were constantly twisting, yet drawing a certain trajectory. And the beginning of that trajectory was right in the center of the underground cavity.

A blackish-purple subspace that spewed out mana voraciously, as if a volcano was spewing out lava.

Through that place, Kerwyn’s mana residing in the Volum Mountains must be flowing out. It’s a fascinating phenomenon no matter how many times I see it. I probably won’t understand it even if I die and come back to life.

Anyway, the mana that flowed out in that way formed vivid trajectories and soared towards the ceiling of the underground cavity.

After standing there blankly for a while, admiring the sight, I slowly opened my mouth.

“Did the Neviros guys discover this place?”

[Well? It doesn’t seem like there’s any particular problem.]

“Then where did the problem occur?”

[If there’s no problem at the beginning, there must be a problem in the process.]

Listening to Afien’s words, I looked up at the top of the cavity, following the trajectory of the mana.

There was a circular hole in the ceiling. Perhaps the mana that had gathered here through the subspace passed through that place and headed to the upper part.

“Is the mana that flows through that place flowing into the barrier spread out in the north?”

[Maybe?]

“If those guys did something, there’s probably an answer there.”

Feeling like I was slowly grasping a clue, I nodded and approached the hole, looking up at it.

A tall and long vertical passage. Judging from the location, it seemed to be the towering spire surrounded by the inner castle wall that I had seen from the outer castle wall.

‘I have to go up.’

It was a structure that humans without wings could not climb. But knights manipulate mana, and that mana willingly becomes wings.

Drawing up mana, I kicked off the ground and soared upwards.

After alternately kicking off the walls, how far up the towering vertical passage did I climb?

‘Is that it?’

A peculiar phenomenon was visible.

A portion of the mana that should have been soaring endlessly through the vertical passage was heading elsewhere, branching out in the middle.

Confirming that, I quickly looked around. I found a slightly protruding brick nearby where the joints didn’t fit, and grabbed it.

Glancing down, the height I had climbed seemed considerable. Looking up again and confirming the place where the mana was leaking, I nodded.

“Is that the cause?”

[Probably?]

Since the mana that should be properly supplied was leaking in the middle like that, the barrier was bound to weaken.

If so, now it’s time to find out who did such a thing and how.

Hanging in the air with only one hand, I examined the place where the mana was leaking.

It was a narrow hole. Could there be an enemy on the other side?

I held my breath for a moment and carefully examined the inside of the hole. How many minutes had passed? I couldn’t feel any presence inside.

I switched the arm that was supporting my weight, which had become stiff. Then, I sent the mana I had drawn up to my legs and kicked off the wall, leaping forward.

Bang!

My shoulder crashed into the stone wall, breaking through. Then, I rolled once and immediately drew my sword, taking a stance. Just in case there might be an enemy.

[Woohoo, you look like a wild boar!]

‘Shut up.’

As expected, there was no enemy.

However, something completely different from what I expected was waiting in front of me.