How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 270

[…Therefore, I, Belinthes Aransel, a knight before being a king, under the name of the honor I bear, do solemnly swear by the code that must be upheld, to venture from the distant north into the human lands, to punish the wicked monsters who reveal their cruelty and bring forth only worthless suffering, and to defend the people and their homeland. Thus, I declare that I take up my sword.]

Belinthes Aransel.

A distant descendant of Bellangas, and the king of humans who rules over his kingdom’s subjects, declared his departure. He was clad in knight’s armor and a cloak embroidered with golden threads.

The capital was ablaze with excitement.

The gloomy atmosphere caused by the war and monsters was instantly reversed. With the king taking the lead in the expedition, no nobles dared to think, ‘Good, I should hide safely.’

Those who could wield a sword followed, and those who couldn’t offered their wealth. Thus, Belinthes led the entire Imperial Guard Knights and the Capital Knights, along with the 2nd Legion, on the expedition.

“Are you leaving?”

Ruth approached me as I watched the long, large-scale procession.

Ruth, entrusted with the weighty task of leading the legion to Flores Territory and escorting Belinthes, saw me off with a worried expression.

“I have to go.”

“You said you were going to the Volum Mountains.”

“Yes.”

“…Is it about him again?”

At the mention of Kerwyn, I nodded slightly.

“He is the beginning and the end of this entire journey.”

Ruth lowered his head at my words. Then, he sighed and looked up again, his face showing a firm determination.

“Even though I have now moved my base to Flores…”

“Even though?”

“Whenever you need me, I will always be by your side. I have not forgotten the oath I made when you first took me to the Volum Mountains.”

He was referring to the very beginning, when I first fell into this world and was about to meet Kerwyn.

I smiled slightly at Ruth’s words, recalling when he was chosen as my escort knight.

“I know, right? If I had known you would be such a leech, I would never have picked you.”

“If I had known I would be worked this hard, I would have thrown a tantrum and refused to go.”

Ruth and I eventually burst into laughter without another word.

Soon, I reached out my hand, and Ruth grasped it powerfully. From that grip, I felt not only strength but also a firm will.

“You must be safe.”

“Take care of yourself, too.”

After sending Ruth away, I looked at Illia next.

Her expression… what should I say? It was like a child who doesn’t want to take bitter medicine. It seemed she wasn’t happy about the order to lead the Sky Knights to the Sky Fortress and rescue people.

“Don’t glare at me like that. You know there’s no other way.”

“Couldn’t you come to the Sky Fortress with me? You can take me to the Volum Mountains after that…”

“Sure, sure. Get a picnic basket too. It would be great to leisurely enjoy the snow in the Blue Mountains, eat lunch, and slowly go to the Volum Mountains.”

“…”

“Illia, you know we’re not in such a leisurely situation. I need to find a way to end that damn black-haired guy [Neviros, the antagonist], and at the same time, rescue the people isolated in the Sky Fortress. I can’t do both at the same time.”

Still the same expression. It’s driving me crazy, really.

“After rescuing the people, come straight to Lindayer Territory. I’ll be waiting for you there, so let’s join up. Is that okay?”

Finally, Illia’s expression softened a little, and I reached out my hand, intending to say goodbye and part ways.

However, Illia, who had been staring at my hand for a moment, ran to me and hugged my chest. Who can stop her, really.

“I will definitely go to Lindayer Territory. So you must be there.”

“Okay, I promise.”

I could only replace my greeting by stroking Illia’s back.

* * *

Flying alone on a griffin was also a return to my true self, the madman.

Why? Because no one would think it’s strange no matter how much I talk to myself.

[You’ve been too much lately. You always leave me alone, and when you occasionally talk to me, you just snap at me.]

“Well, you know that I can’t help it because you see and feel it too.”

[So, are you saying you did well now?]

“Okay, okay.”

I didn’t even feel tired as I was appeasing Aphen [MC’s sword with a spirit].

Well, I’ve left him alone too much. I’ve always been with people, and I’ve been under a lot of mental stress because of the battlefields.

In fact, Aphen has been quiet because he can read my mood to some extent, but it’s still true that I’ve neglected him.

“Still, it’s good.”

[What is?]

“It’s been a while since I’ve been out here alone, getting some fresh air.”

[I like it too!]

“What do you like?”

[We’re going to see our mom.]

That’s true.

Kerwyn Aphen. What is she thinking now? Maybe she’s reading the situation clearly even in that dark hideout and waiting for me to come.

“Good. We’re almost there.”

Before I knew it, the huge Volum Mountains, which seemed to connect the sky and the earth, were close by.

A natural barrier that blocks the north and Lindayer Territory. The clouds hanging over each peak were spectacular. And below, the familiar vast territory of Lindayer was spread out.

Should I stop by Wind Nest for a while? No. Since it’s a place I have to go to after meeting Kerwyn anyway, there’s no need to waste time.

At that moment, the griffin that was flying suddenly cried out. There are two possible meanings: it’s either hungry, or it sensed something uneasy.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the former.

“What is that?”

Suddenly, black dots began to spring up from the forest on the low mountain ridge. It’s obvious what they are. Monsters, right?

I gnashed my teeth at Marquis Halin Irfe.

“Damn it, you said the Volum Mountains weren’t breached yet?”

The black dots that soared like arrows grew larger and began to reveal their shapes: a sharp, streamlined body and a tail that stretched out like thorns. Wyverns.

“This is crazy. An aerial battle?”

It’s not that I’m afraid of wyverns. If they attack, I can just cut them down with my sword.

The problem is the griffin. What if this guy gets attacked….

I glanced down and looked below. If I fall from this height, even a knight will go straight to the afterlife.

In the end, I grabbed the reins and turned to the left.

“Let’s see how fast you are.”

As if sensing my intention, the griffin narrowed its wings and began to glide, increasing its speed.

The destination was the summit of the Volum Mountains. It doesn’t matter as long as I land near there. I have nothing to fear on the ground.

The sky is noisy with the cries of the griffin and the wyverns. I aimed Aphen at the wyvern that had already stuck to my tail.

“Block them!”

[Okay!]

At the same time as my mana was being drained, a pure white cluster of light formed at the tip of Aphen’s sword: seven long pillars of light, magic missiles.

“Did I get them?”

Was it because I recited a line that was perfect for being betrayed by expectations? The wyverns nimbly flew and dodged all the magic missiles that came flying. It was an acrobatic flight that made me dizzy.

“Useless.”

[Huh? Did you just ignore me? Okay, I’ll show you properly!]

Aphen, who had made a boast, spewed out magic again. Flashing electric magic was fired.

You should have done this from the start. There’s no way to avoid this.

Kyaaaaak-!

The wyvern that was hit by the flying lightning bolt trembled and fell straight down.

Okay, that was good so far. But after a while, the wyvern twisted its body a few times and began to soar again.

“…What is that?”

There’s a winged beast that’s fine even after being struck by lightning?

Just as I was doubting myself whether I was seeing things, I saw the approaching wyvern shedding a bright red light.

“Magic stone!”

Damn it. They were definitely strengthened with magic stones and became abnormally strong.

This is Lindayer Territory, but has it already been breached? Or did they come over first because they were winged beasts?

“Worry about it later!”

It’s not too late to postpone worrying until after dealing with the wyvern that’s following me. I put my hand into the subspace bag [a magical storage item], took out a sphere, and twisted my waist to look back while pulling up my mana.

“Will you be safe even after being hit by this!”

I stretched my hand back as far as I could and threw the sphere out. The sphere, which flew with a hideous sound that tore through the wind, cleanly pierced the head of the wyvern at the front.

“Good, one more.”

It was then that I was about to put my hand into the subspace bag again to take out a sphere.

Kyaak! Kyaaaaak!

More than a dozen black dots soared up again from the distant forest. After confirming that they were all wyverns, I quietly put the sphere back in and grabbed the griffin’s neck.

“Shake them off! If you can’t shake them off, just crash!”

With nearly twenty wyverns on its tail, the griffin began to flap its wings with all its might.

But it was visible to the eye that the distance was getting closer and closer. It seemed to be because it was carrying a person and had been flying for a long time.

As I said before, the griffin getting hurt would be a huge loss in terms of mobility, so it must not happen.

I made up my mind.

“A little lower!”

While urging the griffin, I put my feet on the saddle and squatted down. I gritted my teeth as I watched the mountainside, which was getting bigger and bigger every moment. The wind that brushed past my ears was fierce.

Just a little, just a little closer.

[You’re crazy! Really!]

Listening to Aphen’s scream, I jumped off the griffin’s saddle as it was. After a moment of weightlessness, the fall began. Feeling my lower abdomen tingle, I reached out my hand.

Kwaga gagak!

A rough shock struck my whole body. While rolling down the sloping mountainside, I reached out my hand and grabbed everything I could.

“Cough!”

A scream burst out as I hit a protruding rock directly in the waist. But despite the encroaching pain, my hand, after much effort, succeeded in grabbing the edge of the rock.

Supporting my body with one rock on the cliff-like hillside, I looked up at the sky. Fortunately, the griffin seemed to have become lighter and was leisurely shaking off the wyverns.

Is it okay if only I’m okay now?

I moved my hand with difficulty and hugged the rock. Then, when I gave strength and stood on it, I felt a cool sensation.

Krrr….

When I raised my head, what I saw in my vision were hideous figures dripping saliva between their jagged teeth like saw blades.

Bulky muscles and clubs as thick as an adult man’s thighs, trolls.

One, two, three, four… how many are there?

The trolls, at least a dozen of them, started screaming when they saw me. Moreover, all of them had been strengthened with magic stones, and their eyes were burning like fire.

It’s certain. The Volum Mountains have been breached. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be monsters like this.

Moreover, fighting on a mountainside with a cliff right below was not at all welcome.

Kyaaaaak-!

To make matters worse, I even saw the wyverns, who had missed the griffin and changed their target, rushing towards me.

“I’m going crazy.”

Let’s use Hashunar’s emblem first. And if I can just escape this damn hillside….

“Huh?”

Suddenly, the surroundings become dark.

I’m not kidding, the surroundings really started to get dark. The sunlight disappeared?

Then, a reverberation that seemed to beat my whole body was emitted from above the sky.

Kureureung…….

Before I knew it, clouds that had turned pitch black covered the entire mountainside. Then, a sparkling spark flashed, and soon, the black clouds began to pour out lightning instead of rain.

Kureureuk!

The emitted lightning swallowed the trolls and wyverns in an instant. Their bodies burned in the lightning and turned into black charcoal, and some were completely shattered and scattered into powder.

After that, lightning began to strike even in the distant forest. There must have been more numbers than the monsters I saw.

I slowly put my sword in and stood upright on the rock. In front of me, an opaque black Phantom Steed slowly began to descend.

Of course, it’s pointless to say who sent it.

“Thank you.”

Listening to Aphen’s joyful voice, I nodded slightly and slowly put my body on the Phantom Steed.

As soon as I took a complete posture, the Phantom Steed slowly began to fly. It was obvious where it was going.

To the highest peak of the Volum Mountains.

Kerwyn’s hideout was the same as I remembered: a magnificent hall decorated with tapestries and antiques that could be said to be the epitome of splendor.

The only thing that had changed was one thing.

Kerwyn Aphen, sitting in front of me in an antique posture. She, who possessed the most powerful mana on the continent, put down the teacup she had brought to her lips and gave a faint smile.

“It’s been a while.”

“I can’t say you’ve been well…”

What should I say about Kerwyn’s appearance? It’s the kind of appearance that an old man on the verge of death would show.

It’s not that her appearance is literally like that, but the atmosphere she exudes was full of the smell of death.

“Are you just going to stand there?”

At Kerwyn’s urging, I carefully sat down on the chair opposite her. Kerwyn, who smiled at my action, reached out her hand.

What does she mean?

I was a little embarrassed for a moment, but soon realized that she meant to give Aphen to her, so I carefully drew my sword and handed over the handle.

“Hello, Aphen.”

Kerwyn, who picked up Aphen, smiled and started talking to him. What are they talking about? In the middle, Kerwyn even burst into a small laugh.

“Yes, you had a good adventure. Yes, yes. There’s not much left. But you knew it too, didn’t you? Don’t be too sad.”

…What does she mean that there’s not much left?

Feeling my heart heavy at the expected words, I solemnly lowered my head.

Soon, Kerwyn handed Aphen back to me, as if the conversation was over.

[…….]

When I grabbed Aphen, he was sobbing silently. I sighed softly, put Aphen in the scabbard, and looked at Kerwyn.

“May I ask how much time you have left?”

“The time already allotted is over.”

“It’s over?”

“I’m holding on because there’s still work to be done.”

“What do you mean by work to be done?”

“What else would it be but Neviros?”

“You knew.”

“Of course I know.”

“Did he finally descend?”

“Yes, but not completely.”

Not completely?

Kerwyn smiled softly as I widened my eyes.

“Didn’t you diligently disrupt their plans? Thanks to you, they had no choice but to perform an incomplete ritual because they couldn’t delay any longer.”

“You mean….”

“If they had completed their preparations and performed the ritual, Neviros would have descended with his full power. If that had happened, the kingdom would have collapsed without saying anything more. You stopped that, so you can be proud.”

Praise is definitely a good feeling, but that didn’t mean the situation was resolved, so I shook my head.

“Even so, it’s difficult. Monsters are already crossing the mountains and heading south. What happened to the barrier?”

“Neviros broke through it.”

“That easily?”

Kerwyn shook her head at my absurd words.

“It’s not easy to break through the barrier I created with force. He probably consumed a lot of power as well. It’s good news added to the incomplete descent.”

I paused to organize my thoughts.

Incomplete descent.

Perhaps they were planning to slowly gather power with magic stones, complete their preparations, and then perform the ritual.

But when I, the troublemaker, appeared and tried to ruin their plans, they had no choice but to advance the plan.

In addition, because they advanced the plan, there was a need to forcibly break through the barrier that Kerwyn had created.

“So that black-haired guy asked about your whereabouts.”

“Did he?”

“Yes. I just said I didn’t know, but he said it didn’t matter anyway. He must have been prepared to just break the barrier like now.”

I nodded.

“You said a little while ago that the time already allotted was over.”

“That’s right. There was a slight problem with the operation of magic power as he broke the barrier. It’s like barely standing and getting kicked in the shin.”

“…But you also said that there was still work to be done.”

“Yes.”

“What is it?”

What kind of clever plan is there?

Unlike my expectations of waiting for her answer, Kerwyn just slowly raised her hand and began to stroke her cheek. The slow hand movement was like searching for something she missed.

“Have you been to the forgotten castle in the north?”

Her voice was wet. I didn’t say anything insensitive, like what kind of nonsense is this all of a sudden.

“Yes. It was a beautiful castle.”

“After he died, I didn’t want to see it again and tried to erase it from my memory. But now that I’m facing death, why do I suddenly miss that place so much.”

Hundreds of years of separation.

Hundreds of years of waiting….

What kind of heart did she live alone in solitude during that long time?

“I’m ready to keep my promise to him to protect the kingdom, but I need your help to do that.”

“You said you need my help?”

“Yes. It’s something that can only be done if you allow it.”

What is it that I have to allow?

Whether she knew my question or not, Kerwyn, who had returned to her original cold eyes, slowly began to explain.