Chapter 10 : Chapter 10

Chapter 10

The Mana Elixir that Sharon said she could make was a truly revolutionary item.

‘Is this really possible?’

Of course, according to Sharon, because it was a low-grade item of poor quality, it would be difficult to expect any dramatic effect, but even so, that was more than enough.

It was a hundred times better than having nothing.

Did they not say that many small things gathered together could make a mountain?

She said that Mana Elixirs were divided into four stages, from low-grade to highest-grade, depending on the grade of the Magic Crystal used as the material.

Naturally, a Low-grade Mana Elixir made from Low-grade Magic Crystals would only increase mana by an extremely tiny amount.

Well, that was fine. If quality was lacking, I could simply make up for it with quantity.

It seemed useless for me, but with Mana Elixirs, I could dramatically increase the strength of my family.

‘For now, Mana Elixirs have high strategic value.’

Sharon also explained several other abilities she possessed, but to be honest, I could not properly understand most of what she was saying.

The technical terms related to cursecraft and alchemy were too difficult and unfamiliar.

It was enough to make my head hurt.

It was a different kind of suffering from Seirei’s chatter.

However, amid her dazzling and difficult-to-understand explanation, there was one thing I could clearly understand.

The witch named Sharon Dimetia was an incredible summoned creature whom I absolutely had to bring over to my side, no matter what.

Her potential seemed so boundless that it was difficult to measure.

‘If I let her slip away, I will regret it for the rest of my life.’

Having made up my mind, I offered Sharon a proposal with the gentlest smile I could manage.

“Sharon. Will you formally join my Knight Order? I will treat you well.”

At that, Sharon seemed to hesitate for a moment. Then she stared straight into my eyes and spoke with a firm yet sorrowful expression.

“I have one condition.”

“A condition? What is it?”

“Please never betray me. I do not want to… go through something like that again.”

Her deep black eyes trembled fiercely with despair and anxiety.

“If you keep only that promise… I will gladly become your knight.”

Her voice carried wounds carved deep into her bones and a terrible sense of unease.

Then again, was her title not the “Massacre Witch Betrayed by Everyone”?

Because of her horrifying past experience, she was probably more sensitive than anyone else to the act of betrayal.

But to me, that condition was as good as meaningless.

After all, I had not the slightest intention of betraying Sharon.

No, I could not betray her.

She was far too precious to me. Perhaps she would become my only hope.

“Do not worry, Sharon.”

I looked straight into her eyes and made a sincere promise.

“I will never betray you. I swear it on my honor. No, I swear it on everything I have.”

Perhaps my sincerity reached her, because Sharon’s expression, which had been frozen like ice, softened slightly.

A faint light seemed to appear in her eyes.

“Then, I look forward to serving you from now on, Master Summoner.”

She lowered her head slightly as she spoke.

Her voice seemed a little softer than before.

“Yes. I look forward to working with you as well.”

I answered with a smile mixed with expectation.

I looked forward to the future achievements of this foul-mouthed witch, Sharon.

She would become my wings.

[Sharon Dimetia has been registered in the Knight Order.]

* * *

The mansion of the Hennes Viscounty.

After hearing the unbelievable news that had just been delivered by his escort knight, Owen doubted his own ears and sharply asked again.

“What did you just say? That bastard Cain, that good-for-nothing… is alive and well?”

His voice trembled violently with anger and bewilderment that he could not suppress.

“Yes, Young Master. Just in case, we sent someone to confirm it directly….”

The escort knight reported in a cautious voice.

“And? Are you saying he was truly alive?”

Owen roared.

His face twisted hideously.

“Yes. He was alive and perfectly well, without a single wound on him. There was even a report that he looked… livelier than usual….”

“Do you think that makes any sense? That damned good-for-nothing bastard, that half-wit who cannot even handle mana, returned alive from a dungeon?”

Unable to swallow his rage, Owen slammed his fist down on the table with a loud crash.

A crack appeared on the surface of the table.

“We have not yet determined the exact reason. However, considering there are no rumors at all within the territory that Young Master Cain entered a dungeon, it seems likely that he himself is hiding that fact.”

“Hmph. He must be keeping his mouth shut because saying anything would be meaningless anyway. Or perhaps he is hiding because he is frightened.”

Owen snorted in contempt.

“With the power of a fallen count’s family that is now only noble in name, they would not even dare think of standing against our Hennes Viscounty. He has no choice but to hide like a rat and keep his mouth shut.”

The current head of the Hennes Viscounty, and Owen’s father, Bradley Hennes, was an upper-grade Sword Expert knight, a powerful figure with few rivals in the nearby territories.

Before his overwhelming martial might, no noble family could raise its head carelessly.

It was obvious that a family like House Lake, now fallen and barely clinging to its name, a count’s family in appearance only, would not even be able to properly protest against the Hennes Viscounty.

“But even so, I cannot simply leave him alone. I do not like anything that leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”

Owen’s eyes gleamed coldly like a venomous snake’s.

If Cain ran his mouth carelessly, he might provide some unnecessary excuse or justification.

Leaving behind future trouble was a foolish thing to do.

In that case, the best course of action was to take this opportunity to deal with him quietly and thoroughly.

‘Good. This time, I will personally cut off that bastard’s breath with my own hands.’

Owen made up his mind.

He immediately ordered his loyal escort knight to follow him, then set out without hesitation toward the Lake territory where Cain was located.

On his face hung a sinister smile, like a predator targeting its prey.

* * *

Emperor Amita Blit clutched his throbbing head as he looked at Priestess Maria standing before him.

“Priestess… What is it this time? Do not tell me this is about that Shadow Knight or whatever he is called again.”

“The Book of Divine Revelation has been updated again, Your Majesty.”

“Why? Has he renewed the achievement for an E-rank dungeon this time?”

Emperor Amita Blit spoke with mockery in his voice.

The contents of the Book of Divine Revelation that she had brought not long ago.

When he saw that the shortest clear-time record for an F-rank dungeon annihilation mission had changed to 3 minutes, Emperor Amita Blit could not believe it.

Still, at that time, he had been able to understand it to some extent.

If luck were good in an extremely unlikely way, perhaps only one or two monsters might have appeared in the annihilation mission.

In such a case, even Grand Duke Alexius had said that he could complete the mission within 3 minutes.

That was why they had dismissed it as a sort of incident, or merely an instance of extraordinary luck. Yet today, the priestess had come to him again, saying that another record had been renewed.

“The shortest record for an E-rank dungeon annihilation mission has been renewed.”

“E-rank? Is that true?”

He had said it as a joke, yet it had actually happened.

The emperor’s voice trembled.

“Yes, Your Majesty. It appears the conquest was completed in 5 minutes.”

“Who in the world did such a thing? Surely not again?”

“Yes. It was Shadow Knight.”

The previous fastest clear time for an E-rank annihilation dungeon had been 10 minutes.

Even Grand Duke Alexius had said that the monsters appearing in an E-rank dungeon took time to deal with.

They were on a different level from F-rank monsters.

That was why, even after cutting the time down as much as possible, the record had been 10 minutes.

He had also said that luck had been considerably on his side at the time.

Yet someone had conquered an E-rank dungeon in half that time, in only 5 minutes. It was almost impossible to believe.

This was not something that could be explained with luck.

“Could there perhaps be a method we do not know of to achieve an achievement during a party conquest? Some sort of loophole?”

At Emperor Amita Blit’s words, Priestess Maria firmly shook her head.

“Achievements are granted when one overcomes a situation difficult enough to merit them. In order to be recorded in the Book of Divine Revelation, the conquest must be completed alone.”

“Do you think I asked because I did not know that? I am saying we should discuss the possibility that there might be another method.”

Priestess Maria’s answer was unwavering.

“This is a matter presided over by God. There are no loopholes.”

At Priestess Maria’s words, which were as straight and unbending as bamboo, Emperor Amita Blit’s headache grew even worse.

‘If this is true, then it means an unidentified new powerhouse comparable to Grand Duke Alexius has appeared.’

Alongside his deep curiosity regarding the powerful figure known as Shadow Knight, Emperor Amita Blit felt a trace of unease.

The appearance of such a powerful individual was something that could cause an upheaval in the political situation of the continent.

And such a powerful individual had to be under his command as the emperor of the Holy Empire.

A powerful person who could not be controlled was nothing but a threat.

“I will look into Shadow Knight separately. If another achievement is completed, inform me without delay.”

“As you command, Your Majesty.”

The messengers who received Emperor Amita Blit’s orders began secretly riding toward the kingdoms across the continent.

* * *

“Your Highness, the surroundings have been cleared.”

Grand Duke Alexius Loenheim nodded at his adjutant’s words and said,

“I will return shortly. Stand by.”

His expression looked somehow sharper than usual.

“Understood.”

Leaving his adjutant’s answer behind, Grand Duke Alexius Loenheim walked toward the dungeon entrance before him.

Judging by the letter F written above the dungeon, it appeared to be an F-rank dungeon.

After Grand Duke Alexius Loenheim entered, the adjutant looked at his watch and began measuring the time.

A little over 4 minutes after Grand Duke Alexius Loenheim entered, the dungeon disappeared, and the grand duke came back out.

“Hmm…. My luck was not good this time. 4 minutes and 17 seconds, is it?”

He had clearly conquered the dungeon in less than 5 minutes, a short amount of time, yet Grand Duke Alexius wore an expression that suggested something did not satisfy him.

“We move to the next dungeon.”

At the grand duke’s shout, the troops began preparing to move as though they were used to it, though they let out weary sighs here and there.