Chapter 256

Chapter 256

[Translator – Clara]

[Proofreader – Lucky]

Chapter 256: Sword Tomb (2)

Crackle –

The old piece of parchment, dried to a crisp after being buried in salt, unfolded before Vikir’s eyes. Familiar handwriting adorned its surface.

“To dear C” – From your Brother Hugo.Nêww chapters will be fully updated at novelhall.com

Vikir first checked the sender of the letter. As expected, it was Hugo le Baskerville. The seal of the letter indicated that it was meant to be a highest-level military secret, handled only by the head of the family.

However, there was something peculiar.

“...C? And a Brother?” Vikir muttered to himself. Hugo was undoubtedly the eldest son of the Baskerville Clan. Was there anyone else worthy of being called an older brother?

That was a rare occurrence within and beyond the family.

At that moment, Vikir recalled something Hugo had said in the past.

“Age does make everything taste better, you know.”

“Hehehe. True. Even this old man worked hard to become the head of the family when he ascended to the position.”

It was part of a conversation Vikir had with Hugo, when he dealt with the triplets.

Initially, Vikir had questioned whether being the eldest son was something to strive for. But now, he understood.

Hugo, not the eldest son by birth, had ruthlessly killed or subdued his older brothers in a power struggle and ascended to the position of family head. In other words, he had become the eldest son through circumstances.

‘But still? Hugo had someone whom he humbly called brother?’

Vikir pondered while recalling memories from before the regression, then proceeded to read the full contents of the letter.

“I am pleased to inform you that my 15-year-old son has recently returned after surviving alone for two years in the Red and Black Mountains. I plan to arrange a modest dinner, and if conditions allow, please attend to brighten the occasion. It has been a long time since we last met. The return of my brother with the greatest strength among the seven Counts will undoubtedly bring great power to the family. I look forward to your reply.”

In essence, the letter was an invitation to Vikir’s feast, when he returned from the mountains.

Vikir rubbed his chin after reading the letter. It wasn’t as old as he had thought, and Hugo presenting himself in such a formal manner was a first.

Finally, Vikir speculated on who the recipient of the letter, “C,” could be.

“C. And the Count... Seven Counts...”

In the Baskerville Clan, there were only seven Counts who spent their lives in constant battle.

In common parlance, they were referred to as the “Seven Counts.”

The Seven Counts was an ancient title, that existed since the chaotic era known as the Warring States period, even before the establishment of the Loc Empire.

Back then, kings were mere lords, and the current empire had unified them into one empire and seven great clans.

For instance, the Baskerville Clan managed the tribes at the western front, and the wandering tribes of the seas were overseen by Donquixote clan.

One Clan, one nation.

An era where a single clan could play the role of an entire kingdom.

It was a time when everything gradually consolidated into one empire and seven great clans during the chaotic period of unification.

Whirrrr—

A dreadful storm enveloped the entire desert. The white salt grains, twisted by the wind, acted like gigantic ramparts, sweeping and engulfing everything in their path. In the extreme dryness, anything that came into contact with the air had its moisture stolen, becoming dry and brittle, eventually eroded by sharp grains of sand.

Vikir, wrapped in a black cloak, walked through the storm.

“It’s undoubtedly tough. Even a Graduator would be on the brink of death in these conditions.”

Just enduring this was challenging, and facing a Rank S monster like a Basilisk during it, would likely lead to nothing but accepting death.

Even if someone was a high-tier Graduator.

Kraaak—

A large vulture was flying in the sky.

It was eyeing Vikir, waiting for him to be dried to death by the storm.

However, even the vulture in the open sky couldn’t escape the power of the salt storm.

This giant bird miscalculated its flight and was soon broken, with its neck and wings twisted by the storm, suspended in the air before eventually being petrified by salt.

...Thunk!

The withered mummified corpse of the vulture fell to the ground. Though contorted and broken, it had died even before being struck by the rapidly dehydrating effects.

“...Welp.”

Vikir murmured as he pierced through the edge of the storm.

He was barely surviving, thanks to the enhanced body from the Styx River blessing and the regenerative power of the fog lizard.

...How much time had passed?

Upon penetrating the salt storm, he saw something unfamiliar in the once radiant salt field.

A tower. A crimson tower.

That was the only way to describe the bizarre and eerie structure. It looked like a spear protruding from the ground, simultaneously bathed in the black of the night sky and the crimson of blood.

The material forming the wall was an indiscernible cold metal, and the height was unimaginable. The only certain thing was that high-level spatial distortion magic was applied inside the tower, far beyond what was applied in the Mage tower.

“...This really existed.”

Vikir, for sure, had seen this tower before—not with his naked eyes, but during his childhood, just for a moment, during his early education in the “Cradle of Blades,”

It was a fictional existence, often mentioned on a corner page of the textbooks when studying the family mythology of the Baskerville. However, now it was standing here, real and tangible.

“...!”

Eventually, upon reaching the tower, Vikir found words engraved with a crude knife on what seemed to be the entrance.

‘Sword Tomb’

From cradle to tomb.

Certainly, it must signify someone’s end.

[TL/N: Sorry for not fulfilling my promise guys. I had a family emergency (Had to rush to the hospital) and wasn’t able to focus on translating. I’ll try to increase the daily amount of translated chapters to compensate you lovely people.]

[Translator – Clara]

[Proofreader – Lucky]