How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 223

Aphen was silent, his usual playful demeanor gone.

Well, anyone would react similarly to that news.

I decided to leave Aphen alone for a while and leaned against the wall, away from the magic circle.

‘There was no need to rush here, then.’

After all, they wouldn’t try to break the barrier until their plan was complete.

Still, I have to proceed as planned. In the worst-case scenario, they might complete their plan before I do. If the barrier is strengthened by then, I can at least buy some time.

After organizing my thoughts, I looked at the magic circle drawn on the floor.

‘So, what exactly is this magic circle for?’

If it was created to siphon mana, as Aphen said, then this must be an experiment for something they plan to do in the future.

Once all preparations are complete, they’ll probably install dozens of these magic circles to break the barrier all at once.

Well, either way, there seemed to be no reason to leave it intact.

“Does breaking the floor also break the magic circle?”

[Ugh, unless you specifically want to exploit the magic circle, that’s the most certain way to get rid of it.]

Aphen, dejected after hearing about their terrible plan, replied. Hearing that, I stroked my chin.

“Exploit it, huh… If it’s just for siphoning mana, it’s not really useful.”

Nodding, I raised my arm. Subsequently, the mana I drew in infused my fist with immense power. If I struck down like this, the floor would shatter into pieces.

‘Wait.’

It was then. Something in my peripheral vision bothered me.

A sense of incongruity. I don’t experience this feeling often. I felt like I was missing something important.

I slowly lowered my raised fist. Then, I carefully examined the surroundings again.

What was I missing?

There was nothing particularly noteworthy. All I could see were footprints on the accumulated dust.

Yes, all I see are footprints. But why do all the footprints point in the same direction?

“Nothing went out.”

[Huh? What do you mean?]

“Just what I said. Look at the footprints. They’re all from coming in here, but there aren’t any going out.”

[Oh? You’re right!]

Nothing went out. Only came in.

There’s only one thing you can infer from that.

[A space- 이동 (transfer) magic circle?]

“Probably.”

[No way!]

“Why not?”

[The theory of magic must have been passed down as knowledge, of course. But actually manifesting it is a completely different matter. If I’m not mistaken, the only mage on the continent who can satisfy the mana needed for space- 이동 magic is our mom!]

“That’s right.”

[What?]

“The power of that one and only mage on the continent is right here.”

[…….]

Hearing my words, Aphen shut his mouth.

That’s right. Kerwyn is probably the only human who can use the unprecedentedly powerful magic of space- 이동, at least at this moment.

But what if we could use the power of that unique human?

“If this is a space- 이동 magic circle, everything that was ambiguous suddenly makes sense.”

Why did they have the Beastmen, subdued by the power of Mana Stones, guard this place so far away from the kingdom? If it was just for experimentation, they could have chosen a more easily controlled location.

The answer is to prevent monsters that wandered in from damaging the magic circle.

Then why did they install this space- 이동 magic circle?

That’s also simple: to transport the Dark Elves they selected.

This also fits with what Kuhn said about a strong energy emanating whenever those guys came.

Space- 이동 magic consumes a tremendous amount of mana, so the energy fluctuations must have been significant.

I thought they occupied the castle to break the barrier, but the reality is completely different, which is ironic.

Those cunning bastards.

Tsking, I asked Aphen.

“Can you decipher this magic circle?”

[I can.]

“I thought it would take a long time to undo the binding magic.”

[Idiot! A magic circle is a blueprint itself! It’s like solving a problem with a commentary next to you! Don’t compare things that shouldn’t be compared.]

“Really? Well, then, try deciphering it.”

[I can, but why? Are you thinking of using it?]

“That wouldn’t be bad either.”

[I’d like to dissuade you from that. Even if you can decipher and activate the magic circle, you can’t know where it’s connected to.]

“You can’t know?”

I felt deflated. If I knew the destination, I could focus on examining that place and find traces.

“If I activate this magic circle, I might end up in the middle of enemy territory?”

[Of course!]

It suddenly occurred to me: my sudden appearance in a place full of Unholy Knights, led by the black-haired man.

I certainly don’t like the sound of that.

“Still, it wouldn’t hurt to have it deciphered. Is there anything I can help with?”

[What do you know about magic? Just stick me in the magic circle and give me some time.]

I nodded at Aphen’s words that he didn’t need help and got up.

“Then let’s put this aside for now and finish what we need to do.”

Turning around, I left the hall and headed to the first floor.

Going downstairs, I saw the Beastmen being cared for by Kuhn. They seemed to have regained quite a bit of consciousness, thanks to the potion I gave them.

Seeing me come down, Kuhn got up from his seat and bowed lightly.

“I don’t know how to repay this debt.”

“There’s no need to thank me. Just help me as much as I’ve helped you.”

“What is it?”

“Before that, there are a few things I want to ask.”

“If it’s something I know.”

“What kind of monsters appear around here?”

“Monsters?”

“I saw some monsters on the way, but those can’t be all of them.”

Kuhn tilted his head as if wondering why I was asking such a thing and opened his mouth.

“Goblins and Orcs in colonies are as common as pebbles. Dire Wolves and Owlbears, which prey on them, are also abundant. Trolls and Ogres hunt them all, and there are Wyverns in the sky. Harpies, who clean up the leftovers, are a bonus. Cyclops, Minotaurs, and Basilisks also appear from time to time. There are countless others besides those.”

“……So you’re saying everything, regardless of size or type, is gathered here?”

“That’s about right.”

“But that’s a bit strange.”

At my words that it was strange, Kuhn’s eyes lit up.

“You think so too?”

“Of course. This area is more desolate than other regions. I can understand monsters at the top of the food chain gathering here because there’s prey, but why would Orcs and Goblins set up colonies in a place like this? Do they have a hobby of becoming prey themselves?”

“It’s because of the guardian spirit that has settled here.”

Guardian spirit, again? What is it this time?

Kuhn, sensing my question, growled softly.

“There’s a Drake’s lair in this vicinity.”

“Drake?”

“Yes, Drake.”

“When you say Drake, are you talking about the Drake I know?”

“Are there other monsters with that name?”

Drake. A monster often confused with dragons due to their resemblance, but strictly a lesser species.

The Black Drake, which the Great Emperor defeated during the Tribal War, was also one of them.

Such a being is here? Kerwin certainly didn’t mention that.

“When did it appear?”

“I don’t know the specifics. I only know that it suddenly appeared about fifty years ago and set up its lair.”

Fifty years ago, Kerwin wouldn’t have known. Damn it, that’s what happens when you’re stuck in the mountains.

I clicked my tongue inwardly and looked back at Kuhn.

“So, the monsters are gathering in this area because of the Drake?”

“That’s right. They are suppressed by the Drake’s Fear, worship it, and voluntarily act as guard dogs, protecting the vicinity of the lair.”

Although it’s a lesser species, a Drake is still a top-tier monster that can be considered the same species as a dragon. Naturally, it can also mimic its unique ability, Fear.

It might not be able to control beings with intelligence, but it can certainly bind monsters that are faithful to their instincts.

In fact, during the Tribal War, the monster army led by the Black Dragon was said to be extremely threatening.

‘This isn’t good news. No, it’s beyond not good.’

According to Kerwin, a massive amount of mana would be released during the process of strengthening the barrier. Naturally, he also said that monsters would attack, sensing it.

But I thought that would be limited to sporadic attacks. The monsters that crossed paths would fight each other and self-destruct.

So, I thought the actual number we’d face wouldn’t be that high. In fact, Kerwin said that with the help of other races, it would be easy to fend them off.

But the appearance of the Drake completely changed the story.

The monsters suppressed by Fear would try to eliminate the most immediate threat for the Drake. And that threat would probably be inside the castle, which is constantly emitting mana.

My head throbbing, I rubbed my temples and opened my mouth.

“Does that mean the Drake might appear in person?”

“You don’t have to worry about that. It rarely leaves its lair. It solves everything with the monsters it has captured with Fear. I’ve only seen it very occasionally, wandering far in the sky a few times a year. Even that hasn’t happened recently, as it seems to have entered a period of dormancy.”

“Dormancy… That’s a relief then. But why haven’t you guys left, even though such a terrifying creature has settled here?”

“Rather, thanks to the Drake, there’s an abundance of prey, so there was no reason to leave. The fact that it likes to stay hidden also played a part.”

“I guess so.”

“But why are you suddenly asking about monsters?”

At Kuhn’s question, I crossed my arms.

“You said that every time the guys who captured your tribe with magic stones came here, a strong energy was released, and monsters, sensing it, rushed in.”

Kuhn’s expression hardened when I brought up the Neberus Order.

“That’s right.”

“What were the numbers like?”

“Usually from a few dozen to over a hundred.”

“You blocked all of those?”

“Most were Orcs and Goblins. Occasionally, medium to large monsters came as well.”

“Didn’t the ones gathered here fight each other when they met?”

“You’re right. The ones captured by Fear only try to eliminate threats for their master. So, at first, they blindly rushed in, seeking the released energy. But as the energy dissipated, the ones who arrived late fought each other and self-destructed.”

So, if we just hold on, they might fight each other and self-destruct. But even so, the difficulty is higher than I imagined. Damn it.

I sighed deeply and said weakly.

“I need to get some air.”

* * *

Standing on the spire, where I could see the entire castle at a glance, I stood facing the northern wind.

Looking down, the overall structure of the castle didn’t seem to function well as a fortress, even to my untrained eye.

Well, this castle wasn’t built by Kerwin because of external threats in the first place. But as someone who has to use this place as a base, I don’t like it.

“Aphen.”

“[Yes?]”

“What exactly does strengthening the barrier mean?”

“[Hmm, first, the barrier’s operation stops.]”

“It stops?”

“[Because it’s completely redefining the design.]”

“Then the mana flowing out of the underground subspace earlier?”

“[It will scatter in all directions since there’s nowhere to go.]”

“How long did you say it would take to strengthen the barrier?”

“[About three to four hours?]”

Everyone! The continent’s best mage’s mana will be released! In this place swarming with monsters because of the Drake! For three to four hours!

“This is going to be a disaster.”

It was obvious how the monsters suppressed by Fear would react to the released mana. They’d rush in like crazy. Damn it.

I really don’t want to, but it’s time to do some calculations.

“Let me ask one more thing. Do you know how much energy the teleportation magic circle they created leaks?”

“[Not exactly, but roughly.]”

“Then you’d also know how different it is from the mana that will be released while strengthening the barrier.”

Perhaps because she knew what I was curious about, Aphen’s voice dropped.

“[It will be a lot, a lot.]”

“How much?”

“[At least twenty times.]”

“I’m going crazy.”

Twenty times, she says.

According to Kuhn, every time the Neberus guys used the teleportation magic circle, a few dozen to over a hundred monsters rushed in.

So, if we take the average of fifty and multiply it by twenty…

“A thousand.”

At least a thousand, or more.

And it’s not just weaklings like Orcs and Goblins, but a large-scale monster wave mixed with all sorts of medium to large monsters.

Standing on the spire, I looked around and briefly indulged in imagination.

The monsters, sensing the intensely emitted mana, would rush towards the castle with fierce hostility.

Even if everything else is fine, will the castle gate really stop medium to large monsters?

It certainly won’t last long. And what about the hundreds of Orcs and Goblins rushing in through that breached path?

Besides, the sky is also a problem. Just thinking about a swarm of Wyverns, which require a subjugation squad to be dispatched even if only one appears, makes me dizzy.

“Shouldn’t we just give up on strengthening the barrier or anything?”

“[You~?]”

“I know. I’m just saying, damn it.”

A laugh leaks out in disbelief.

It seems like this isn’t something that can be solved by thinking alone.

There’s someone coming who knows more about monster warfare than I do, so let’s talk about it then.