[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]
Chapter 100 – Nano (2)
Ketal lifted his head.
The grand royal palace stood before them.
“Is it alright? If there’s a commotion, it might draw a lot of attention.”
The Kingdom of Lutein was just like the Kingdom of Denian.
The royal palace was at the center of the capital, and ordinary people lived in the capital.
What Nano had altered was solely the interior of the palace, not the capital itself.
[There will be no problem. They won’t be able to see it.]
“Is that even possible?”
To obscure the vision of everyone in the capital—this meant that a single spell could influence an entire nation.
A look of intrigue crossed Ketal’s face.
[We only need to wait for a moment.]
The Tower Master gathered mana.
The mana spread quietly but surely towards the capital.
The Tower Master, who had been chanting the spell, opened his mouth.
[Barbarian. Do you know where these things come from?]
“I do not.”
[They come from the Forbidden Lands.]
“Hmm?”
Ketal’s expression changed.
“Is that true?”
Elene had mentioned something similar, but there had been no evidence at the time, so he had dismissed it.
However, the Tower Master was certain.
[Do you know about the Forest of Nothing?]
“I do.”
The Library of the Barkan Territory.
When he read books about the Forbidden Lands there, there was indeed a place with that name.
The forest was nothing.
On the surface, it looked like any ordinary forest.
Anyone could enter it.
But the forest had one peculiar trait.
Once you entered, it was impossible to leave.
If you tried, you would vanish the moment you touched the boundary between the forest and the outside world.
That was the Forbidden Lands.
The Forest of Nothing.
“Are those things from that place?”
[I recently checked it. It had truly turned into an ordinary forest. It coincided with when those things appeared outside. I even had a conversation to confirm it, so I’m certain.]
The Tower Master looked quietly at Ketal.
[What do you think?]
“Is that so? Fascinating.”
Ketal’s response was brief.
The Tower Master was puzzled by his lack of reaction.
Ketal was from the White Snowfield, another mysterious place.
In some ways, he could be considered akin to Nano, having emerged from a similar place. The Tower Master had been sure Ketal would have some feelings about Nano.
But Ketal felt nothing.
He had no sense of belonging to the White Snowfield.
His home was this world.
He had no interest in the Forbidden Lands and no intention of getting involved.
However.
‘Are those from another Forbidden Land?’
Ketal’s eyes darkened.
The Tower Master spoke.
[It’s done. Are you ready?]
“Yes.”
[Then.]
The Tower Master waved his hand.
The chaotic mana formed a pattern according to its master’s will and reflected that intention in the world.
[Unfold.]
The mana spread smoothly like a veil.
It touched the sky.
A grand spell that affected the world itself.
There were skilled magicians in the royal castle.
Surely, even the superhuman-level magician Adamanth would be there.
But none of them sensed the movement of mana.
[And envelop.]
The mana veil touching the sky slowly enveloped the royal castle.
The capital and the royal castle were separated by the mana veil.
[Conceal and protect yourself.]
Then the mana veil changed according to its master’s will.
The Tower Master spoke lightly.
[It’s done.]
“Hm? Did you do something?”
[I wrapped the entire royal castle with mana. It is now isolated from the outside, so whatever happens inside won’t be seen or heard outside. Of course, no one can leave either.]
“…Really?”
Ketal was surprised.
Not even two minutes had passed.
Yet the isolation of the castle and capital was already a success?
And it wasn’t done with some lengthy incantation like Adamanth would do.
With simple, light movements as if he was out for a stroll, the Tower Master had separated the castle from the world.
He didn’t even seem tired.
‘This is the Tower Master.’
Someone above the superhuman level, a hero-class magician.
Ketal was impressed.
[The rest is your job. Please check the interior.]
“I’ll do my best.”
Ketal nodded.
Before entering the castle, Ketal suddenly looked at the Tower Master.
“How strong is the mana barrier you’ve set up?”
[That’s a strange question to ask.]
The Tower Master replied with a puzzled expression.
[The barrier won’t cause any problems. Nothing can get out without my permission.]
It was a newly created magical barrier, woven so tightly that not even a cell could pass through.
It could withstand considerable impact without any issues.
“I see. Then there shouldn’t be any problems.”
Muttering, Ketal entered the interior.
The Tower Master watched him from the outside.
‘Let’s see how he handles this.’
The master wasn’t expecting a fight.
Their goal was to gather information and determine the best course of action, not to solve the problem immediately.
He trusted Ketal to think the same way.
The entire castle was made up of nano.
This was their stronghold.
Fighting alone here was practically a suicide mission.
The master was curious to see how stealthy Ketal would be.
But when he saw what Ketal actually did, he was shocked.
[…That crazy barbarian!]
* * *
[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]
In front of Ketal was a small wall with a gate leading to the castle.
‘Is this the presence of the Forbidden Lands?’
“Hmm.”
After a moment’s thought, Ketal shook his head.
“Enough.”
Thinking about it any longer was pointless.
The immediate goal was clear: to solve the problem at hand and uncover the mystery.
So Ketal clenched his fist.
He swung his arm with force.
A blast of wind struck the wall.
Boom!
The wall crumbled.
Debris flew and hit the castle.
The sound of the collapse echoed loudly.
Leisurely, Ketal walked through the fallen wall.
One by one, people began to wake up from the nighttime commotion.
Some of them quickly rushed toward Ketal.
“Intruder!”
“Who goes there!”
They were knights.
Ketal smiled.
“Oh, nice to see you again. You must be Lukento.”
The green-blue knights who had clashed with Ketal before appeared in front of him.
Seeing Ketal’s face, Lukento scowled.
“…Crazy barbarian! As if kidnapping the princess wasn’t enough, you dare set foot here! Kill him!”
The knights charged.
Their movements were perfectly synchronized.
It was impressive.
Ketal took a step forward.
He threw a punch.
The chest of the knight who approached first was crushed.
Ketal shoved the knight aside and grabbed the next one’s head.
He squeezed with force.
Crunch.
He tossed the limp knight aside.
He moved his feet.
The bodies of the knights behind him crumpled.
He tore, broke, and threw them.
There was no mercy in his hands.
After all, they were merely imitating dead beings.
Boom!
The knights flew and shattered before they even realized what was happening.
“It’s too late, but I’ll pray for your souls.”
Ketal walked inside.
At that moment, the fallen knights got up again.
“Barbarian!”
“Stop the intruder!”
Ketal knocked them down once more.
But they immediately stood up again.
Even the wall Ketal had initially destroyed was restored.
The traces of his destruction had vanished without a trace.
“It’s like a dream.”
As Ketal marveled at the strange sensation, arrows of wind shot towards him.
Ketal waved his arm.
The arrows burst and disappeared with his gesture.
Seeing the face that appeared, Ketal smiled warmly.
“Adamanth. Nice to see you.”
“You! You’re insane!”
Adamanth was aghast.
He never imagined Ketal would invade the castle!
“You will pay for this with your life!”
Adamanth waved his hand.
Magic surged like a storm.
“Oh!”
Ketal laughed with joy and threw himself into the storm.
The storm shattered and dispersed against his fists.
‘Damn!’
Adamanth gritted his teeth.
This barbarian was strong.
So strong that he could call Adamanth insignificant.
But they wouldn’t die.
No matter how strong the barbarian was, he was still human, made of flesh and blood. Eventually, he would tire.
In a long-term battle, their victory was assured.
‘…He may be able to kill us.’
This barbarian had certainly killed part of him.
But such power couldn’t be wielded lightly.
In fact, the barbarian had clenched his fist and exerted significant force when killing him. Without that level of power, killing them was impossible.
The Tower Master, watching from the outside, had a similar thought.
[A barbarian is a barbarian.]
He could win the immediate battle.
Ketal had at least superhuman strength of the highest caliber.
But what did that matter?
Their true nature was immortality.
Even if Ketal could kill the immortals, he couldn’t kill all of them.
The Tower Master clicked his tongue.
The original plan was for Ketal to enter and gather information.
Even if problems arose, someone of Ketal’s strength could escape without much difficulty.
If necessary, he could assist him.
But now everything was tangled.
‘Is this why he asked how strong the barrier was?’
The Tower Master sighed softly.
‘Even if he can kill, it doesn’t matter if he can’t kill them all.’
What had already happened couldn’t be helped.
As the Tower Master contemplated the next plan,
“Hmm.”
Ketal blocked the attacks with a curious expression.
Seeing that expression, Adamanth was convinced Ketal was flustered.
But Ketal’s expression had a different reason.
“So, even if I smash you, you don’t reveal yourself. You’ve got some guts.”
“What nonsense are you…?”
“Well, fine. I’ll make you reveal yourself.”
With those words, Ketal’s fist swung.
Crack.
The bodies of the charging knights were crushed.
But this time was different.
They couldn’t rise again.
Rainbow-colored particles scattered on the ground.
The Tower Master was stunned.
[…What?]
“Huh, huh?”
Adamanth couldn’t comprehend it for a moment.
Wait.
They’re dead?
Those who knew no death were dead.
The rainbow-colored particles appeared when they were truly stopped.
Of course, they knew Ketal could kill them.
But only if he grabbed them and used his strength.
Simple punches shouldn’t have killed them.
Adamanth believed that.
As Adamanth’s mind was reeling, Ketal stomped the ground.
Crack.
Adamanth’s body was crushed.
“W-Wait!”
Adamanth reappeared.
But part of his body, composed of nano, scattered into rainbow-colored particles.
‘R-Response magic!’
It didn’t activate.
There was only one reason.
Ketal’s speed was so fast that the response magic couldn’t react.
‘This is absurd!’
During their previous fight, Ketal couldn’t counter the response magic!
Moreover, how did he kill them with just punches?
They had believed he needed to grab and exert force to kill.
In that moment, a possibility dawned on Adamanth.
‘…Could it be.’
The previous fight, wasn’t at his full strength?
No. It wasn’t even close to his full strength.
To this barbarian, it was more like light play.
“I can kill you.”
Ketal grinned broadly.
“If you plan to stay dead, that’s fine, but I doubt you want that.”
“You, you…”
As Adamanth staggered back, his body trembled.
Shock spread across his face.
“No…”
With those words, Adamanth’s consciousness faded.
Ketal’s eyes gleamed.
“So, now it comes.”
The castle.
The remains of the fallen knights.
The wall.
Everything began to change.
No, it wasn’t changing.
It was returning to its original form.
[Hu. Man.]
Ketal smiled.
“Nice to meet you.”
[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]
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