How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 230

Living as the Third Son of a Trash Novel – Chapter 231

Chapter 55. Escape

The strengthening was over.

I snapped my head up at Aphen’s words. Then, I immediately assessed my surroundings.

It was true. Kerwin’s mana, which had been abundant, was no longer present.

Everything had returned to normal. The mana that had been wandering would now be used to maintain the barrier again.

But problems still remained.

I quickly retrieved Aphen and struggled to get up. A thick haze slowly dissipated, and the dragon’s sleek outline gradually began to emerge.

It didn’t move. It seemed to be waiting leisurely, either hoping I was dead or convinced that I would be.

Confirming its presence, I slowly raised Aphen.

“Hey, do you have enough mana?”

[I ate plenty! My belly is full.]

“Then what are you doing? Why aren’t you firing a shot already?”

[Fire? At what? Ah, I got it!]

I nodded at Aphen’s words, belatedly understanding my intention.

“Make it a hot one.”

[Leave it to me!]

With Aphen’s shout, the amber gem embedded in the guard began to emit an intense energy.

The golden energy that flowed out soon wrapped around the sword, looking as if golden snakes were coiling around a pure white pillar.

Following that, Aphen began to glow white-hot.

Aphen, burning in pure white to the point where I worried my hand might get burned, soon created a form resembling itself.

[Eat this! Flaming Sphere!]

With Aphen’s spirited roar, the magic was completed. It was a spear of flame made of pure white fire.

To retaliate against a fire-breathing Red Drake with magic of the same element? Fighting fire with fire, indeed.

Whirr!

The massive flame spear, easily over 3 meters long [~10 feet], exuded its presence, emitting white heat in all directions. The thick haze that had settled was cleared away in an instant by the heatwave.

As the stone wall collapsed, revealing a clear view, the drake and I made eye contact.

Kaaah!

The drake, seeing me alive even after taking its breath, let out a ferocious cry. I had to struggle to avoid being knocked over by the intense roar.

Even as my hair and cloak fluttered wildly, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“That bastard, he’s really pissed off?”

[Tell him to eat this!]

With Aphen’s last words, the burning spear was fired towards the drake.

Kuaaaak!

As if a siege weapon like a ballista had been fired, the Flaming Sphere hurtled towards the drake with a hideous sound.

Perhaps because it couldn’t react quickly due to the thick haze, the drake barely managed to avoid a fatal blow by slightly twisting its neck.

Thus, the spear of flame pierced through the membrane of the drake’s right wing. A large hole was torn, and fire ignited from that point, spreading rapidly.

Kyaak! Kyaaak! Kyaaaa!

Cries of pain echoed continuously. The drake began to twist its body to put out the fire on its wing.

“Hahaha!”

I burst into laughter at the unsightly sight, and Aphen threw a reproach at me.

[Is this the time to be laughing leisurely? It only made him angrier.]

“What’s he going to do if he’s angry?”

[……It’s completely impossible to walk out of here now.]

“That’s true, though.”

Well, I was completely surrounded by flames and trapped.

But that also meant that it couldn’t attack me right now. Of course, it had its breath, but it wasn’t like it was sneezing. Perhaps that last attack was its last for now.

Kyaaaaak!

As if my thoughts were correct, it let out only angry cries instead of breath, and then disappeared from view. Was it leaving?

Thump!

Of course not. The inner castle began to shake again. It seemed it had decided to destroy the castle again.

“That’s even better.”

[Better?]

“Yeah. Now that the strengthening is over, there’s no reason to come back here.”

[That’s true, but…….]

“Besides, if it destroys this place, we can screw over those Neviros bastards when they come back. They’ll probably have to clear the rubble before they can do anything.”

[Okay. Whatever, let’s get ready to get out of here first. I don’t want to be buried alive. Huh? Huh?]

“I agree with that.”

Nodding, I slowly got up.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

It was still focused on destroying the stone walls supporting the inner castle by swinging its tail.

What a fool. I gave it a good sneer and struggled to move towards the upper part of the inner castle.

[But are you really going to use the space- *idong* magic circle?] (*Idong* is Korean for ‘transfer’ or ‘movement’.)

“Yeah.”

[Wouldn’t it be dangerous? What if there’s something on the other side?]

“Whatever’s there, it’s better than being buried alive or eaten by that thing.”

[That’s true.]

“But it seems like we’ll have some time to rest.”

Regardless of its size, this ancient castle built by Kerwin seemed quite sturdy.

Well, of course. It was made by that woman, so how could it not be?

So it would take some time for the drake to completely destroy the inner castle. Let’s use that time to recover as much as possible.

Passing through the swirling dust and stone fragments, I entered the upper hall and saw a magic circle overflowing with blue energy.

“Activation?”

[I can activate it right away if you give the signal.]

“If that’s the case.”

[But are you really going to be okay going over there in that condition? I’m worried.]

“There’s a way.”

Struggling to walk, I stood in the center of the magic circle and sat down. Then, I rummaged through my bag and took out the elixir I had brought from Kerwin’s storage.

[Ah! You had that, didn’t you?]

“Yeah.”

Kerwin’s mana.

The space- *idong* magic circle.

And the elixir.

These three things were the reason I decided to stay alone in the ancient castle.

I thought I could endure the strengthening with Kerwin’s mana against the monsters, and I wouldn’t have to worry about escaping alone with the space- *idong* magic circle. And I could alleviate the danger on the other side of the magic circle by recovering my body with the elixir.

“Hoo.”

I sighed, looking down at the elixir in my hand.

I have to drink it, even if I don’t want to.

The elixir itself is not so much a panacea as it is a high-purity preservation of troll blood, which has extreme toxicity, without spoiling it.

Thanks to this, the recovery power itself is raised to a level similar to that of a troll, but the problem was still the remaining toxicity.

Therefore, Kerwin created the elixir by choosing a bizarre method of gaining only the recovery power by giving complex and complicated chain magic formulas, and healing the toxicity at the end.

However, the concern is that in the process, the user is driven to the brink of death.

‘Well, as long as I don’t die.’

After taking a few deep breaths, I opened the elixir’s stopper as if breaking it and poured it straight into my mouth.

A moment later.

“Kuaaaak!”

I began to twist my body like a fish taken out of the water against my will.

I’m, I’m going to die.

This feeling of someone forcibly manipulating my internal organs, I’m sure, is a pain that only those who have drunk it can discuss.

Just before my eyes were about to turn over from the pain of my limbs twisting, the magic that Kerwin had cast was activated, and the toxicity embedded in my body slowly began to be removed.

“Heok, heoeok…….”

Having been half-dead, I took a deep breath for a while in a prone position.

Really, no matter how good the effect is, it’s a potion I never want to drink again.

[Ehehehe!]

Aphen’s laughter echoed in my head, amused by my appearance.

“Shut up.”

[Hehe, ehehe! But your body is better now, right? Ehehe!]

“…….”

I can’t deny it. Certainly, my body, which I would have had to shut up and rest for a while, has recovered enough, even if not perfectly.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

……Damn it, you couldn’t give me some time to rest.

As if it had noticed my recovered appearance? The drake began to accelerate the destruction of the inner castle.

“Let’s get ready.”

At my words, which I spat out after rinsing my mouth with water, Aphen asked anxiously.

[Where does this magic circle lead? What if it’s a really dangerous place?]

“Where do you think it is?”

[The center of their base?]

“Idiot, there’s no way.”

[Why!]

“They’re the ones who have been thoroughly hiding where their base is. Even the black magician we captured last time doesn’t know.”

[What does that have to do with it?]

“What does it have to do with it? Would those guys who care so much about security have left a magic circle connected to their base unattended like this, even in the north?”

[That’s true. Then, on the contrary, is it a completely remote place? Like the Volum Mountains or the Blue Mountains?]

“I don’t think so either.”

[Huh? Why?]

“The purpose of this magic circle is to transport drafted dark elves into the kingdom. But what if the dark elves get hurt or run away by connecting it to such a place? They might be spotted by herbalists, woodcutters, or hunters.”

[Now that I hear it, that’s true too.]

“So, in the end, it has to be a place that is not too remote, and at the same time, their identities are not exposed, and it must be easy to obtain carts to carry the dark elves and food to feed them.”

[Then?]

“It’s likely to be near a sufficiently developed city. At the same time, it would be a controlled area so that passing strangers can’t easily set foot in it. But it wouldn’t be a military area where troops are stationed. Security is best maintained when fewer people know about it.”

[Ummm…… Is there such a place?]

“A place that cooperates with the Neviros Order, that is, the manor of a noble under Rodkius in the south is likely. Anyway, that level of risk is something I can handle.”

[Okay, okay.]

I shrugged at Aphen’s agreement.

“Honestly, I think it’s better this way.”

[Better?]

“When would I ever cross the north again, cross the Blue Mountains, and then go from the north to the south through the central region? I’m tired of riding a horse.”

[So you’re going to the south in one shot through the space- *idong* magic circle?]

“Yeah. Anyway, it seems clear that those guys are doing something suspicious in the southern islands right now. Besides, it would be better to use the same route to use the clue that Bleau gave me.”

[Well, anyway, I think you’re right. So you weren’t worried much? You’re smart?]

“Isn’t it that you’re stupid?”

[Even if I give you a compliment!]

Kugugung!

At the same time as Aphen’s shout, the inner castle shook violently. It seemed that the time had come for the drake’s efforts to bear fruit.

I shook off the stone fragments that had fallen on my shoulders and checked my condition.

Not bad. I took a short but fulfilling rest, and thanks to the unique potion left by Kerwin, the elixir, I had fully recovered my strength.

Finally, I rummaged through my bag and took out an ampoule. It’s an item with magic that allows you to easily change your hair color at any time.

I lightly opened the ampoule’s lid and poured it directly on my head. Then, using Aphen’s blade as a mirror, I examined my hair, which had turned reddish-brown.

[You look like a gigolo.]

“Shut up.”

I dismissed Aphen’s words and smeared the stone fragments scattered on the floor on my face.

The smooth skin instantly dried out and became rough and rugged.

I wonder if I look like a worn-out mercenary with this. Anyway, my face is widely known throughout the continent, so disguise is essential.

Nodding, I confirmed that all preparations were complete and slowly got up.

“Shall we go?”

[Okay. Stick me in the magic circle.]

Nodding at Aphen’s words, I grabbed the sword in reverse and carefully stuck it in the center of the magic circle.

Kugugung…….

At the same time, the entire inner castle began to tilt. It seemed that the drake had finally demolished the support.

“Well, you’ve worked hard too.”

I briefly acknowledged the drake’s efforts and closed my eyes. Then, I nodded at Aphen’s words.

[Go?]

“Go.”

Flash!

The mana that had been dwelling in the magic circle was emitted in an instant. That was all. There was nothing particularly special to feel. Could it have failed?

I opened my eyes at the rising doubt.

“…….”

At first, I really thought it had failed. The drab and rugged scenery was similar to the hall of the inner castle.

But after seeing the bright light seeping in from afar, I could tell where this was.

“Cave.”

It was a cave. Looking at the floor, a magic circle similar to the one installed in the ancient castle was drawn.

But the faint light that the magic circle emitted was soon briefly maintained and then completely disappeared.

‘It must have collapsed in the end.’

The ancient castle had collapsed. Confirming this, I slowly looked around.

There was nothing around. There wasn’t even a soldier guarding the magic circle, let alone an ant. I wondered if there might be a trap, but that was also a concern.

It’s safe.

Convinced, I slowly moved towards the cave entrance that was visible in the distance.

As I stepped out of the entrance, a bright light suddenly covered me from all directions, stimulating my eyes, which were accustomed to the darkness.

“…….”

A short moment passed, and what I saw in my eyes, which had completely adapted to the light, was a sight I had longed for.

The blue greenery and the cries of insects that were draped in the season when late spring passes and summer approaches. And even the coziness of the late afternoon sunset.

Swaaaaa-

That wasn’t all. A familiar sound was heard not far away. At the same time, the wind that brushed my nose contained a faint but clear salty smell of water.