The Path of Ruin-Chapter 106: More Than Ready

The summons Marshal had mentioned arrived five days later, in the morning.

During those five days, Kael had experienced nothing out of the ordinary. He had woken up, trained, killed a few of the creatures being bred for his curse, and quietly continued with his life.

But even though he was quiet, he knew the Empire was not so quiet.

"The Lockhend Family has quite clearly denied the allegations. Although Feria Lockhend is currently under arrest, they say she is innocent, that she has been framed. If things continue like this, things could get a little heated."

These were Hakon's words. And the change in the atmosphere at the palace clearly showed Kael that this story was true.

More knights were roaming around now. Most of the servants looked as if they had received bad news.

Normally, Kael thought the Empire would simply resolve this matter in a way that the Lockhend Family could do nothing about, but clearly, he had underestimated a ducal family. Surprisingly, the Lockhends had enough influence and power to retaliate.

Which was worrying.

After all, he was at the center of this whole affair right now. Wouldn't the Lockhends target him in a situation like this?

When he voiced his concerns about this, the answer he received was simple.

"There's nothing to worry about yet. You're safe as long as you're inside the palace."

So, would he be assassinated the moment he stepped outside the palace?

It was a little... scary.

Still, he kept it to himself and waited patiently.

Finally, on the fourth day, he received unexpected news.

"Feria Lockhend's guilt has been confirmed with the statements of all the nobles he threatened. Her execution will take place in a few days. The Lockhend Family is silent for now, but that's only because they have no words to say in the face of all this evidence."

"So... I'm safe?"

At Kael's tense expression and uncertain voice, Hakon smiled brightly, then replied as if delivering happy news.

"You're not."

"..."

Kael struggled to reconcile the words coming out of the man's mouth with the smile on his face and didn't know what to say.

Was this... really something that needed to be said with such an expression?

"It's unlikely that anything will happen to you directly in the first few months. The incident is not that forgettable since it involves a ducal family. If you, who contributed most to its exposure, were to disappear in an 'unfortunate' way, it would be clear who would be held responsible. The Empire would not remain silent in such a situation. However, that doesn't mean they won't try something secretly. An accident during a mission, for example."

Hakon shrugged his shoulders, as if even he didn't know all the possible dangers.

"Anything can happen. That's why you have to be careful from now on. But, honestly... it's not that big of a deal. Walking on a tightrope isn't something you haven't done before, and we'll do everything we can to protect you. So, Kael, there's only one thing left for you to do."

He could guess the rest, but he didn't stop Hakon.

"You will continue your training. You will successfully complete the missions assigned to you. You will grow stronger. You will increase your influence and status. You will become a Pursuer, then a Seeker. You will go even further, I'm sure. Step by step, you will become someone who can stand up to any threat the Lockhends can send you on your own, and then someone they will hesitate to touch."

The risk he took just to grow stronger faster, and catch the eye of the Empire seemed too great. All he did was expose a criminal, but even that had become a threat to his life, simply because the criminal was backed by a ducal family.

It wasn't just the chains binding his heart that desired his death now.

'How nice…'

Yet, instead of succumbing to despair in the face of this, it only strengthened his resolve. After all, he now had even more reason to grow stronger.

Thus, when the summons he had been waiting for days arrived the next morning, the flame burning in his eyes was brighter and fiercer than ever.

He prepared himself especially. He washed, cleaned his hair, and combed it. His clothes were carefully chosen, black garments that did not hinder his movement in any way and, at the same time, made him look quite nice and presentable.

Thus, as he walked alongside Hakon and the knights guiding them to their destination. His steps were firm on the ground. Whatever he might encounter, he was ready.

*******

Kael couldn't help but feel excited when he learned that he would be entering the palace itself for the first time, even though he had been living in the palace district for over half a year. He had always wondered what lay within this immense structure that he saw every day, which seemed to reach up to the sky.

And he was not disappointed by what he found.

The first thing he saw when they entered through the palace's enormous doors was... a work of art.

Although he tried his best not to show it, he was truly enchanted inside. Different and colorful rugs spread across the floor, chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, each more beautiful than the last, walls decorated as if they were paintings...

Everything he saw here seemed to be carefully designed, created specifically for the place it belonged.

The palace corridors also bore the same attention to detail. Moreover, interestingly, although he expected such a large building to feel chaotic inside, it didn't feel that way at all. It seemed like he could easily find his way wherever he wanted to go.

Compared to the overly modest palace of Arcanoa, this place resembled a place where gods lived, down to the smallest detail.

Still, his examination remained quite superficial. Because they did not go deep into the palace. Soon they stopped in front of a room they had come to, and then the knights who had been following them until then left them and returned. Hakon spoke without paying them any mind.

"Lady Emila is inside, isn't she?"

His words were directed at the servant standing right next to the door they were facing, watching them.

"Yes, she was expecting you. You may go right in."

Hakon nodded politely, then knocked on the door even though he had been told they could enter directly.

"You may enter."

After receiving permission, he lowered the handle and slowly opened the door.

The interior of the room... was surprisingly simple. It was indistinguishable from a typical office, even resembling Hakon's own. It was just considerably larger than normal, the reason for which became clear the moment one entered.

This room… was like an archive room, with documents lining the walls, shelves, and cabinets.

And sitting at the desk in the middle of all this, a desk so cluttered with documents that the slightest touch would send papers flying everywhere, was a single person. This person was a woman with green hair and blue eyes, wearing glasses. She was dressed in plain, dark-colored clothing, and her face, showing she was in her twenties, was covered in freckles.

As Kael examined her, Hakon closed the door they had entered through. He then approached the desk, and Kael immediately followed him.

The woman was eyeing him suspiciously at this point. Finally, she spoke.

"Hmm, is this the boy?"

Hakon nodded.

"Yes."

The woman, named Emila, sighed softly, took one of the piles of documents on her desk, examined it, placed it in front of her, and picked up a pen.

"Name?"

Silence filled the room.

Kael didn't understand what was going on for a moment. But then he saw Emila raise her eyes and look at him.

"Name?"

'Ah...'

"Kael."

"Last name?"

"None."

The woman paused for a moment, but then quickly moved on to the next question.

"Date of birth?"

"The second day of the first month."

She asked many questions like this. His current age, height, weight, what they knew about his family, and more. But after a short while, she put down her pen, sighed lightly, and turned to Hakon.

"Have all the necessary evaluations done; they'll be waiting for you anyway. Come back here two hours after everything is finished."

"Sure, thanks for everything Emila."

Hakon put on his usual bright smile and didn't forget to wave as he left.

"Get lost."

"...?"

Kael could have sworn that despite the woman's words, her face flushed slightly.

"..."

This woman... was apparently seduced by Hakon's gentle smile and gentlemanly demeanor.

'What a pity...'

If she knew the dark side he hid behind that bright expression and personality, she was quite sure she wouldn't like him. This man called Hakon was not so different from the devil himself, after all.

However, Kael kept his thoughts to himself, and they finally left the room.

When Hakon started walking toward a seemingly random place without waiting, as if he knew where he was going, Kael silently began to follow him again.

But this time, Hakon did not share this silence.

"We'll be here for a while. There's a lot that needs to be tested, so our work won't be done until evening. Also, believe me, you'll struggle a lot. They'll test your limits, after all. Prepare yourself accordingly."

"Understood."

He hadn't thought the tests would be easy from the start anyway.

He was already more than ready.

And so, the first place they arrived at...

Was a vast, enormous courtyard.

Not only was it vast, but it was also extremely crowded.

Knights were training everywhere. He could see swords, spears, axes, maces, bows, daggers, and many more weapons all at once.

Some were training with their colleagues, while others were swinging their weapons at stationary training dummies. Each was so focused on their task that they hadn't even noticed Kael and Hakon entering the yard.

'Am I going to fight these knights...?'

As he continued walking with Hakon, he waited to step among the knights. However, that did not happen.

Hakon ignored all the knights and walked around them. He headed towards the other side of the yard.

The spot they were now approaching was arguably the emptiest part of the yard. There was nothing there except a massive man leaning against a training dummy.

It wasn't long before he noticed them.

He was a middle-aged man wearing plate armor. He had brown hair and obvious, old, frightening scars on his face. His tall stature and broad shoulders revealed how muscular and well-built he was, despite the armor. His green eyes looked both tired and ready for battle at the same time.

'Wow.'

That was all Kael could think of as he looked at the man. But it wasn't just about the man's appearance. It was more that...

'He's just standing there, arms crossed and leaning back... but...'

He couldn't see any weaknesses. Even this seemingly careless stance, which should have been full of openings, was actually like an impenetrable wall.

He could almost feel what would happen to him if he tried to attack him. It was... nothing more than a certain, crushing defeat.

But then, he suddenly paused.

They had gotten quite close to the man while he was busy examining him. Now, the one being examined... was himself.

"Hmm."

The man looked thoughtful, weighing Kael just as he had done to him.

But after a short while, his straight lips curved upward, a smile appearing as if he liked what he saw.

Apparently, the first person to test him was satisfied with what he saw.

Kael couldn't help but smile slightly. He was sure that the giant man in front of him would praise him when he finally opened his mouth.

"Is this puny thing the one who caused such a stir and whom you accepted directly as your disciple, Hakon?"

...

"...?"

Kael's eyes, which had been waiting for praise, remained unchanged. He couldn't even bring his slightly upturned lips back to their original position. He just stared blankly, a single thought on his mind.

'Puny...?'