Chapter 32: Settlement and the Figure at the Door

Watching Sarah's skipping figure as she left—looking as though she could knock over a roadside stall at any moment—Raine quickly shifted his gaze back to the "Lady" before him.

Ada. The crisp, decisive-sounding name perfectly suited her demeanor.

She and Sarah were like ice and fire—one rigidly calm, the other wildly passionate. This pair of friends, with completely opposite personalities yet such a deep bond, was rather interesting.

Kaelin, on the other hand, felt a stir in her heart as a look of deep thought flashed across her eyes.

Sarah ran an Alchemy Workshop. Regardless of her quirky personality, she had to be an accomplished Caster of the Transformation School. Her magical mastery and repository of knowledge were surely nothing to scoff at.

Could she be the one to break the sturdy Magic Barrier deep within the Howling Cave?

This thought dropped like a pebble into a calm lake, sending ripples through Kaelin's mind.

"I just hope the goal of that girl's latest experiment isn't to blow the roof off her workshop again."

Lady Ada stared toward the door. Her eyes, which usually held a sharp and slightly impatient gleam, revealed a rare hint of worry.

Hearing this, Raine and Kaelin exchanged a glance, both unable to hide their confusion.

Ada quickly noticed their bewilderment, and a touch of helplessness spread across her wheat-colored face. As she expertly jotted down information on a strange stone slab with a feather pen, she explained casually, though her lips twitched slightly as if she were recalling some exasperating memories.

"Sarah's Alchemy talent is indeed excellent, top-tier even. But the problem is that her Magic can sometimes be... slightly unstable, or rather, a bit too 'unrestrained'.

"Just three months ago, her workshop experienced sixteen 'controlled Energy vents'—as she called them—within a single month.

"During that time, Water Bag Fizz straight-up built a shed outside her workshop and lived there, completely abandoning his bathhouse business. Even the Town Mayor, Sir Skeller, personally visited several times.

"Rumor has it that after extinguishing the last batch of erratically flying purple Flames and sticky gelatinous blobs, Fitz was so drained of Magic Power that he was bedridden for a whole week. To this day, his calves instinctively tremble whenever he spots Sarah from a distance on the street."

As she spoke, Ada briskly retrieved two gleaming Gold Coins from beneath the counter.

She pushed one toward Raine and the other toward Kaelin, her tone reverting to its usual businesslike coldness. "The reward is two hundred Silver Lions, which converts exactly to these two Golden Kings. Check them now; we take no responsibility once you leave the counter."

Raine picked up his coin. It felt slightly cool to the touch, and as he rolled it between his fingertips, he could feel the distinct milling on the edges. Its solid weight was a testament to its undeniable value.

Engraved on the front of the coin was a side profile in relief of an imposing, heavily bearded old man wearing a crown.

The profile's rigid lines and piercing gaze belonged to the late King of the Solan Kingdom, the "Dragon Fall King," Olein II.

As his fingertips brushed over the cold relief, the Epic sung by Minstrels involuntarily surfaced in Raine's mind.

A century ago, the young Prince Olein wielded the Royal Family's heirloom Giant Sword, "Lion's Fang," and battled the rampaging Red Dragon, "Flame Fury," for three days in the Roaring Hills. Ultimately bathed in dragon blood, he struck off the dragon's head with his sword, earning the illustrious title of "Dragon Slayer."

However, whether one was a King, a Dragon Slayer, or the Dragon Fall King, no one could ultimately withstand the erosion of time.

In his twilight years, the old Olein passed the throne to his son, a prince also named Olein.

But fate played a cruel joke. In stark contrast to his father, the new king, Olein III, was born frail. It was said he couldn't even lift the "Lion's Fang" Giant Sword that symbolized royal authority.

Raised under the imposing shadow of his father, the young monarch grew up to be indecisive, entirely lacking his predecessor's drive and prestige.

While the lingering echoes of the lion's roar still reverberated in the air, the one who inherited the throne was merely a cub incapable of intimidating the wolves.

The past glory forged by the Solan Royal Family rapidly faded with the old king's passing.

Without a powerful royal authority to keep them in check, the long-standing conflicts and ambitions between the Kingdom's New Nobility and Traditional Nobility finally erupted completely, like ferocious beasts breaking free from their cages.

The infighting intensified until it reached today's brink of armed conflict; otherwise, the Town Mayor, Sir Skeller, wouldn't have left with all the town's soldiers.

"A tiny Gold Coin seems to carry a century of the Solan Kingdom's rise and fall. It truly makes one sigh," Raine thought. He reigned in his thoughts, his gaze subconsciously drifting toward the Gold Coin Kaelin had received.

The profile on that coin was entirely different. The King was much younger, and the crown's design was simpler and more rugged, lacking Solan's refined style.

Holding the Gold Coin in her palm, Kaelin briefly explained its history.

"This is Rorik VI, a great King of the North.

"Under his personal command, the Grim Kingdom's fleet broke through the fog of the Frozen Strait, allowing the Northern Territory's furs and Ore to sail more smoothly out into the world. The Kingdom ushered in an era of unprecedented prosperity.

"Unfortunately, the heavens envied his brilliance. In his prime, he met with a tragic accident while exploring a new maritime route. The royal flagship, the Icebreaker Brave, was capsized by a sea monster as massive as a mountain.

"To this day, every port in the Grim Kingdom still builds towering lighthouses of ice and snow on the anniversary of his fall, guiding the way for the monarch who was buried at sea."

Her voice trailed off, seemingly feeling pity for the young King as well.

A moment later, seeing that the settlement was complete, the two bid Ada farewell and prepared to leave.

Seeing no one else in line behind them, Ada asked casually, "With all that clamoring outside earlier... did you two really take down a Razor Beast?"

"Just a stroke of luck," Raine replied with a faint smile.

Ada shrugged, returning to her businesslike demeanor. "The Guild has been purchasing Razor Beast Bone Spikes lately. Five Silver Lions per piece. Do you want to sell them?"

"We have no use for them anyway." Raine nodded slightly. Without hesitation, he and Kaelin placed their share of the Bone Spikes on the counter.

Seeing the two produce the Bone Spikes, coupled with the vigorous "promotion" from Matthew and his group, many Adventurers in the hall now looked at Raine with unconcealable surprise and even a touch of awe, wondering if this kid had actually killed a Razor Beast.

But just as these shifting gazes glued themselves onto Raine, a sudden commotion broke out at the entrance, instantly silencing the originally noisy Guild hall.

As if drawn by a magnet, the eyes that had just turned to Raine snapped toward the door in unison.

Three figures stood in the doorway, their Shadows blocking out most of the incoming light.

The heavy thuds of boot soles stepping onto the stone floor, mixed with the crisp clanking of metal Armor, rang out exceptionally clear in the abruptly quieted hall.