How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 224

Dark Elves, led by Redran and Illia, arrived a few days later.

“After the Dark Elves, it’s werewolves… What’s next? Winged bird people?”

Redran, seeing the demi-humans, seemed displeased, tapping his hand on the hilt of his sword.

Illia, on the other hand, approached me quickly, looking relieved.

“You’re safe.”

“Why, disappointed that nothing major happened?”

“Of course not.”

“Just kidding, just kidding.”

“More importantly… Weren’t those bastards here?”

“Yeah, but the demi-humans were being controlled by magic stones. They must have stopped by here.”

“I see.”

“Where’s Bläu?”

At my question, Illia turned her head.

The lined-up Dark Elves began to make way. Through the opened space, Bläu appeared, looking quite weary.

Bläu nodded slightly towards me and then stood before Kuhn, who was representing the demi-humans.

There was no need for lengthy explanations between them.

Each had the insignia carved by the Nebiros Order on their chests, which soon formed a deep bond between the two races.

Bläu was the first to speak.

“You must have gone through a lot.”

Kuhn growled softly at her concern and shook his head.

“You too must have had it rough. First, on behalf of my tribe, I thank you again for the help you gave us in the past.”

“Thank you for not forgetting.”

Redran wore a strange expression at the sight of Kuhn and Bläu reuniting.

He had lived believing that anything other than humans was the enemy, so this must have been an ironic situation for him.

Of course, it’s not my problem. It’s not like I arranged this meeting to introduce him to friends.

I decided to leave Kuhn and Bläu alone for a while and raised my hand to call Illia and Redran.

“Illia, Redran, come with me. I have something to show you.”

After speaking, I immediately turned and headed for the stairs leading to the basement.

It’s a dark, spiral staircase where you can’t see an inch ahead if you don’t concentrate. Illia, looking around, picked up an old torch hanging on the wall.

Then, she skillfully took out oil from her bag, soaked the torch, and lit it using a flint.

As the surroundings brightened, Redran grumbled and stepped onto the stairs.

“Creepy. Did you hide something interesting in the basement?”

At Redran’s complaining, I slowly began to speak.

“Redran, do you remember the story I told you before?”

“Story?”

“About the Dark Elf forest.”

Redran’s expression turned serious as he realized it was about the magic stones and the Nebiros Order.

“You said there were guys trying to turn the continent upside down with magic stones, and you’re tracking them down.”

“That’s right.”

“Bringing up that story must mean it’s related to this damp basement we’re going down to.”

“Rather than related, I’d say it points to the cause of all this.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Redran, why are monsters only swarming in the north and not crossing over into the kingdom?”

Redran scoffed as if he was dumbfounded by my question.

“Because they’re stupid. They probably see the Volum Mountains and the Blue Mountains as the end of the world, right?”

“But shouldn’t some of them be able to cross over?”

“Even if a few cross over, the Volum Mountains are guarded by rangers, and the Blue Mountains have the Sky Fortress. How could they?”

“What about flying monsters? The rangers and the knights of the Sky Fortress don’t have wings.”

“…So, what are you trying to say? Is there another reason why monsters aren’t flowing into the kingdom?”

As Redran’s question ended, we reached the end of the basement.

Just as I remembered from my previous visit, I turned around in the blocked corridor where there was nowhere else to go.

“Redran.”

“What?”

“Are you ready to see the truth?”

Turning my head, I quietly recited.

“Open.”

As soon as I finished speaking, golden light began to flow from Achen, which was hanging on my waist.

Redran frowned as he saw a new path appear in what had been a dead end.

“What? What kind of secret passage is in a place like this…”

But Redran’s words trailed off. The reason was obvious: the energy he felt at the end of the newly created passage.

As if compelled, Redran slowly began to move, and Illia and I followed behind him.

And when we reached the end of that passage…

Gooooooo….

Redran stood before a mana storm that was more astonishing than bizarre, his mouth wide open. And that was the same for Illia, who had some idea of the internal situation.

“Who is it?”

Redran, watching the roughly intertwined and rising mana storm, asked abruptly.

“Who? What?”

“If you connect what you said earlier with a place where such power is concentrated, there’s only one answer. Someone is stopping the monsters, right?”

“You’re quick to catch on.”

“So who is it? The royal family? No. The royal family can’t have that kind of power. Then the magic noble family, Bashrun? But that’s strange too. This is the north. Do they have the spare capacity to extend their power to a place like this?”

I answered briefly to Redran, who was racking his brain.

“Kerwyn.”

“Who’s hiding such power… Huh? What did you say?”

“You asked who it was. I said Kerwyn.”

“Kerwyn? The Kerwyn I know?”

“Is there another Kerwyn? People usually don’t use that name.”

“…I’m not in the mood for jokes right now.”

“Sorry, but neither am I.”

Redran carefully examined my expression and soon realized that I wasn’t lying, letting out a hollow laugh.

“That magician built this place? Hundreds of years ago, the one you can only find in history books?”

“That’s right. And the power that comes from this place is preventing the monsters from crossing the mountains.”

“What is this place?”

“The last legacy she left behind. I can’t explain it in more detail than that, so just understand roughly.”

“You’re telling me to believe that now?”

“If you can’t believe it even after seeing it, I can’t convince you any further.”

Redran closed his mouth at my words and approached the mana storm. Then, he slowly reached out his hand and carefully felt it.

“…It’s definitely not an illusion. The purity and amount are absurd for something that formed naturally. Even Duke Bashrun couldn’t create such power.”

“How long are you going to play detective?”

Redran turned around and looked straight at me, asking.

“Was this the reason you came all the way here?”

“That’s right.”

“If it was running smoothly, you wouldn’t have come here without anything to do.”

“True.”

“I have a feeling there’s going to be something troublesome.”

I chuckled softly at Redran’s words.

“Let’s move to another place and finish the rest of the story.”

* * *

At the top of the ancient castle’s spire, where the northern gale struck his entire body, Redran let out a hollow laugh as if he was dumbfounded after hearing my explanation.

“The barrier needs to be strengthened, but in the process, the mana we saw earlier will be released, and the monsters that sense that energy will swarm in?”

“Clean summary.”

“And the number of monsters coming is a thousand?”

“Yeah.”

“Is there a possibility of fewer?”

“There might be more, but not fewer.”

“Is this for real?”

“Definitely not fake.”

“…….”

Redran spat out a curse as if chewing it. On the other hand, Illia calmly asked for the necessary information.

“Is the goal annihilation?”

“No. According to the demi-humans, when the emanating mana fades, they will start fighting each other.”

“Then the goal is to hold out.”

“That’s right. That’s why I said there’s something to entrust to Redran.”

Not only me, but Illia is also confident in combat, especially if it involves swords. But what we have to face now is a siege, against monsters, not humans.

Perhaps Redran has more experience in this area. After all, he reigned as a ruler in the chaotic east.

Redran, realizing what I was hoping for, let out a bitter smile.

“Look, compared to the fortresses in the east, this castle is like a toy. But we’re going to fight a siege? Besides, I heard there are ogres and wyverns [dragon-like creatures]? That makes the already low walls meaningless.”

“We’re not defeating them. The goal is to hold out.”

“…….”

“Tell me straight, is it possible? If it’s impossible, tell me quickly. I need to make other plans.”

At my question, Redran stroked his chin. Then, he quickly rolled his eyes and scanned the castle’s scenery spread out below the spire.

After a few minutes, Redran opened his tightly closed mouth and sighed.

“…If the purpose is simply to buy time…”

“Does that mean it’s possible?”

“How much time do you need?”

Redran raised his eyebrows at my words.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Do you think the opponents are farmers who were dragged in from plowing fields?”

“The monsters will probably come in sequentially. It will take some time for all the ones that are far away to come rushing in. Besides, they’re not as organized as human armies.”

“Is that supposed to be comforting?”

“Anyway, practically, it’s about an hour or two.”

“Either way, damn it.”

“So, is it possible?”

“…Well, it’s not impossible, but there are a few conditions.”

“What kind of conditions?”

Redran, tapping his finger on his chin, slowly opened his mouth.

“First, a unified command. There are too many places to pay attention to, so it’s absurd to go through someone every time I give an instruction.”

“I’ll talk to the Dark Elves and demi-humans about that.”

“Secondly, I need to know my card deck properly to fight.”

“Card deck?”

Redran sighed at my questioning words.

“The battle starts with accurately understanding the power I have. Dark Elves? Demi-humans? They’ll be helpful, but the most important thing is you and Illia: your power that faced the Black Knight in the Dark Elf forest, and that woman’s power that defeated my Red Knight Order. Knowing that and using it properly is the only way to win.”

That makes sense. You can’t beat the opponent without knowing yourself.

“Explain it as easily as possible. Are there any other conditions you need?”

“Thirdly, this castle may not be completely protected.”

Completely? Well, Kerwyn doesn’t seem to have any attachment to this castle. If she did, she would have mentioned it in the first place.

“What exactly do you mean by not being able to protect it?”

At my question, Redran pointed to several places on the castle walls.

“That place, over there, and next to it. We need to destroy the roads, break them, or get rid of them altogether. If we can’t protect all the places, we should at least reduce the places where they can step.”

“If it’s just that much.”

“Fourthly, we need time to train the elves and demi-humans.”

“Train?”

“What do those guys who climb trees and run on four legs know about sieges? We need to teach them at least the basics to use them.”

Well, he’s not wrong.

But I can’t give them much time. If the Nebiros Order guys find out that I’m here, I don’t know what they’ll do.

“I can’t give you much time.”

“A few days will do. I’ll just teach them the simple stuff.”

“Okay.”

“Lastly, this is the most important thing.”

Redran paused for a moment, furrowing his eyebrows and looking at me.

“In the worst-case scenario, I’m just going to run away.”

“Run away? Didn’t you promise to help me with my work?”

At my question, Redran avoided my gaze and answered in a low voice.

“I know what you’re trying to do, and I know what you’re doing this for. That’s why I’m going to help you with this. Damn it, a thousand monsters. You must be crazy. So don’t force me to die with you. That’s why I’m doing this crazy thing, right?”

After speaking, Redran bit his lip tightly. Illia’s eyes flashed at the sight.

“How can you say that now…”

“No, Redran is right.”

I raised my hand to stop Illia and nodded calmly.

“As you said, our relationship is not one of master and servant, so I won’t force you to risk your life. Do as you please.”

“If that’s the case.”

Redran nodded and started to go down the spire, turning his body. Illia, watching his back, gritted her teeth with sharp eyes.

“If Redran really tries to run away alone, I’ll keep him in sight and kill him.”

“No, just let him go.”

“He knows too much. Shouldn’t we prevent future troubles?”

“I said leave him alone.”

It would be difficult for him to return to the kingdom alone from this distant place. Even if he succeeds, if I, who hold his identity, die, Redran’s only place to return to is the cold royal prison.

Well, that wasn’t the only reason I allowed it. Redran is right. Who am I to force him to risk his life?

The rough wind blew my hair, and I pressed down on my hood, looking at the desolate north.

“The choice is made by oneself, not by others.”