[Trantor - Kiteretsu]


    [Proofreader - Kyros]


    Chapter 21


    "……What did you just say?"


    Kaylen had encountered countless connections in his previous life.


    Not just humans, but many other races as well.


    He had experienced all kinds of situations with them.


    But this was the first time someone, smiling so innocently, had asked him to burn them alive.


    "Ah, I must not have exined enough."


    Princess Violet reached for her half-mask, cia.


    Sizzle.


    As white steam rose from the part of her face in contact with the mask, Jane shouted.


    "Princess, you haven’t evenpleted the contract yet……!"


    "It’s fine. It’s not like Lord Kaylen would go around talking about it, right? The rumors are already out anyway."


    Clink.


    When cia fell away from her face, Princess Violet’s full face was revealed.


    ‘Hoo.’


    Ice.


    The left side of her face, previously hidden by the mask, was entirely frozen.


    Only the eye appeared human.


    The surrounding skin waspletely encased in thick, frozen ice.


    "Disgusting, isn’t it?"


    Princess Violet spoke as she opened and closed her mouth.


    Her normal right side and her frozen left side moved simultaneously.


    For something frozen, the left side moved naturally.


    But that very movement seemed unnaturally eerie, evoking revulsion from those who saw it.


    "Is this the power of cia?"


    "Yes. It seems I’m just toopatible with cia. Though it’s turned me into this solid block of ice……"


    Tap, tap.


    Princess Violet tapped her frozen cheek with her fingers.


    "It doesn’t interfere with movement."


    "You resemble a spirit."


    "Exactly. cia’s power is transforming me into something akin to an ice spirit."


    She pointed to her mouth with a finger.


    That area, untouched by the mask, was still pure white flesh.


    "My lips haven’t frozen yet, but I have a feeling…… Soon, the ice will spread there too. Then, I’ll be a perfect Ice Witch."


    "To prevent that, you’re asking me to burn you?"


    "Exactly. Just until I reach the fifth circle, I’d like to ask for your help."


    "Until the fifth circle……."


    "Yes. By that time, I’ll be able to fully control this cial power."


    Shhh.


    Princess Violet ced cia back on her face, and Kaylen asked her another question.


    "If you take off the mask, won’t the process slow down?"


    "I can’t take it off. If I stay apart from it for even a moment, the mask flies back to my face on its own. Besides, to reach the fifth circle, I must train while wearing it."


    "I see."


    "Can you grant my request?"


    Kaylen looked at Princess Violet''s face.


    A beautiful face that resembled Bormian, the knight he once cherished.


    However, that beauty was marred by the frozen half, turning it grotesque.


    In a situation where the ice might spread at any moment...


    ‘Even so, she’s full of confidence.’


    Her eyes sparkled like stars, and her demeanor exuded self-assurance.


    That confidence reminded him so much of his ancestor, Bormian.


    Amoner who, despite his origins, always brimmed with confidence,manding the attention of nobles and royalty alike.


    Recalling the knight who led the charge in the Continental Unification War brought a smile to Kaylen''s lips.


    To the descendant of such a loyal knight, he wished to offer even a small favor.


    "Alright."


    "Ah, is it possible?"


    "Yes. But in exchange, may I ask one more favor aside from thepensation?"


    "Of course, tell me."


    "May I see the dungeon core you showed earlier, even if it’s just a fragment?"


    "Are you talking about Gold Star?" Princess Violet’s expression grew troubled.


    "Actually, even though the mages tried to secure fragments for research… the Gold Star disappears once it’s taken out of the dungeon. So fragments don’t exist."


    A Gold Star that leaves no trace behind.


    If he could see it with his own eyes, he might confirm its connection to Infinity.


    Sensing Kaylen’s disappointment, Princess Violet offered a suggestion.


    "Once you be a Meister, you’ll be able to see the Gold Star during dungeon practice. I’ve heard they n to add it to the curriculum."


    "Is that so…?"


    Bing a Meister would mean waiting until the third year next March.


    At least six months from now.


    Kaylen didn’t want to simply wait until then.


    "Then, may I ask for this favor instead?"


    "Go ahead."


    "Excuse me from my sses."


    If he couldn’t see it outside the dungeon…


    He’d have to go directly and find it.


    "Ah, that’s not difficult at all." Princess Violet easily epted his request.


    What exactly happened that day?


    After being summoned by the princess, Kaylen stopped attending sses entirely the next day.


    And something else had changed—the reactions of the instructors.


    The teachers, who had been eager to find fault with Kaylen, suddenly acted differently.


    "Everyone is ounted for."


    Even with Kaylen’s absence ringly obvious, they marked him present.


    "Let’s begin the ss."


    They deliberately ignored his empty seat and pretended it didn’t exist.


    Three dayster.


    Homeroom teacher O''Connell returned to ss.


    With a pale face and dragging one leg, O''Connell entered the ssroom, letting out a sigh of relief as his gazended on Kaylen''s empty seat.


    He seemed genuinely relieved that Kaylen wasn’t there.


    "……I have something to announce to everyone."


    Looking around nervously, O''Connell began speaking in a low voice.


    "Do not concern yourselves with Kaylen from now on."


    "But, sir, he hasn’t been attending ss at all……."


    "I said don’t concern yourselves. It’s an order from the princess."


    The Boromian royal family wielded immense power, and the Magic Academy was ultimately under the kingdom’s control.


    The words of royalty were as good asw.


    Still, it was rare for royalty to intervene so tantly like this…


    ‘What exactly happened with that guy?’


    ‘The teachers’ attitudes changed so suddenly.’n/?/vel/b//jn dot c//om


    ‘Sure, he was strong… but strong enough for the princess to pay this much attention?’


    The students who had been in the training hall witnessed Kaylen overpowering O''Connell. Even so, they couldn’t understand why the princess was going out of her way to intervene like this.


    Princess Violet, known as the brain of the First Prince''s faction, had a reputation for valuing ability over status. Even so, she had never abused her authority so overtly.


    ‘What does the princess see in Kaylen?’


    Lina bit her lip.


    Her family had invested a fortune in Kaylen, expecting him to fail against O''Connell. She had even tried to stir the atmosphere in front of the princess’s training hall.


    But as it turned out, Kaylen was incredibly strong.


    ‘Shouting back then only made him catch the princess’s attention.’


    At the time, she thought it was the best course of action…


    But now, the situation had taken an unexpected turn.


    "And… ahem."


    O''Connell, looking ufortable, cleared his throat and addressed the students again.


    "Kaylen is confirmed to participate in the Superior Mage Selection Tournament. Is there anyone else who wants topete? If not, I’ll submit the list as it is."


    At his words, Lina shot her hand up.


    "Me."


    "Lina? You said you weren’t interestedst time."


    "I’ve changed my mind. I’d like to participate for the experience."


    She didn’t want to get involved with Kaylen any further.


    But to restore her family’s diminished standing and regain her father’s trust, she needed information about Kaylen.


    ‘I have to find out why the princess is favoring him.’


    "Very well, Lina. If there’s no one else, I’ll finalize the list."


    O''Connell jotted down Lina’s name and scanned the room.


    No one else volunteered.


    "Prepare for ss, then."


    Dragging his leg as he walked out of the ssroom, he looked pitifulpared to themanding presence he had just a few days ago.


    Lina found his dejected figure oddly rtable.


    She saw her own position in her family, which had fallen because of Kaylen, reflected in his steps.


    ‘But what’s that guy doing, skipping all his sses?’


    ***


    "Are you sure it’s okay for you to be out here like this?"


    "Is this really allowed? For us to be out here like this?"


    "It is. The princess has given her permission. Her authority is more significant than I expected."


    Kaylen and Alkas walked through the streets of Alzass, the capital city of the Bormian Kingdom.


    For Kaylen, this was the first time experiencing the city in his current form.


    However, the name "Alzass" carried memories.


    This was the ce where he had once sworn Bormian into knighthood.


    "Back then, this was just a rural vige. It’s changed a lot."


    What was once a mere vige, too small to even be called a town, had grown into a city fitting for a nation''s capital.


    Still,pared to the capital of the Meier Empire a thousand years ago, its scale was unimpressive.


    "A rural vige? Really?"


    "Yes, something like that. But never mind that—where is the Dungeon Guild?"


    "We''re almost there."


    The Dungeon Guild was an organization created through international cooperation to counter the ever-growing threat of dungeons.


    It wasn''t just humans who participated; various other races joined forces to aid in dungeon subjugation.


    Kaylen''s purpose in visiting was clear: to enter a dungeon.


    Specifically, to seek out the Gold Star that resembled Infinity.


    Instead of sitting throughckluster sses, he nned to explore a dungeon directly.


    "But… can we really manage with just the two of us?"


    "Are you worried?"


    "I trust in your power, my lord. But I’m not sure they’ll grant us Civil Squad certification. We don’t meet the minimum team size requirements."


    Civil Squad


    This term referred to civilian teams authorized to hunt dungeons.


    When dungeons started appearing in overwhelming numbers, national forces alone could no longer handle the situation, leading to the creation of Civil Squad.


    Mercenary groups, often well-funded, hired Meisters and formed Civil Squad teams to subjugate lower-ranked D, E, and F-grade dungeons.


    The maintenance of Mana Suits and Meisters was expensive, but the rewards from dungeon subjugation and the lucrative trade of dungeon cores made the endeavor worthwhile for those with sufficient resources.


    "In the past, they gave out Civil Squad permits too easily. Scammers flooded the system, so the requirements were tightened."


    "We have a royal rmendation letter. That should take care of it."


    "A… royal rmendation letter? Seriously?"


    Alkass was startled.


    The Dungeon Guild staff, however, reacted even more dramatically.


    "You’re applying to form a Civil Squad team? With just two members? And no Meister? Is this a joke?"


    The staff member frowned as they reviewed the application.


    Already overwhelmed with work, they found the request absurd.


    "Guards! Throw these people out!"


    The shouting stopped when Kaylen handed them a folded piece of paper.


    The staff member initially red at it dismissively, but their face quickly changed upon realizing its significance.


    "A… royal rmendation letter?!"


    Their attitude shifted immediately.


    "My sincerest apologies! I didn’t realize who you were. This way, please."


    The staff led them to a VIP room, where a robed magician awaited them.


    Upon seeing the royal rmendation letter, the magician, too, was visibly taken aback.


    After scanning it carefully, the magician began flipping through documents to proceed with their application.


    “Bring some tea.”


    “Understood.”


    The mage carefully adjusted his posture and began handling Kaylen''s party with a more courteous attitude.


    “To be honest, with a royal rmendation letter, it was once possible to instantly establish a D-grade Civil Squad. But… thews have recently changed.”


    “Changed, you say?”


    “Yes. Due to incidents like the unruly prince of Obern Kingdom recklessly issuing royal rmendation letters, new regtions now require Civil Squad teams to meet specific eligibility criteria, even with a royal endorsement.


    Looking at your submitted documents, your team consists of only two members, and youck both a Meister and Mana Suits…”


    Hearing this, Kaylen interjected.


    “Eligibility criteria, you say. Does that mean creating the team is outright impossible? My goal is simply to gain ess to dungeons.”


    “Dungeon entry itself is possible even with an F-grade Civil Squad. A royal rmendation letter would allow you to establish an F-grade team, but… F-grade teams can’t ept mostmissions and aren’t eligible for advance payments.”


    When a dungeon appears, nearby towns or cities issue subjugation requests with corresponding rewards.


    Most of thesemissions include an advance payment to invite a Civil Squad team, as operating one requires significant funds.


    This is due to the expenses involved in deploying soldiers to clear out dungeon monsters and using Meisters equipped with Mana Suits to break down the sturdy dungeon cores.


    While the advance payments might seem high, they were often justified by the costs of operation.


    However, smaller towns with limited resources often couldn’t afford such payments.


    In these cases, they would propose post-missionpensation, which was usually meager. Consequently, such requests were often ignored by civilian Civil Squad teams unless the situation became critically dangerous, prompting national intervention.


    “So, in the end, an F-grade team is limited to meager-paying, low-priority dungeons.”


    “Precisely. This is why we rmend forming a team with a Meister and Mana Suits. An F-grade Civil Squad is practically meaningless.”


    “But even so, as long as an F-grade team grants dungeon ess, that’s sufficient for my needs.”


    “Well… that’s true.”


    “Then I’ll proceed with the application.”


    As long as he could enter dungeons, that was all he needed for now.


    He could establish the team now and upgrade its gradeter when ready.


    “Are you certain about this?”


    The mage alternated his gaze between Kaylen and Alkas, clearly skeptical.


    Even with a royal rmendation, forming a Civil Squad with just two members seemed highly unorthodox.


    Despite this, Kaylen remained resolute.


    “Yes. Please proceed.”


    “…Understood. It will take about two weeks for the documents to be processed and approved. Is that eptable?”


    “That’s fine.”


    By then, the Superior Mage Selection Tournament would have concluded, leaving him free to move forward.


    As Kaylen nodded, the mage sighed in partial resignation and asked:


    “Very well… What will you name your Civil Squad?”


    Hearing the question, Kaylen smiled.


    There was a name he had long wanted to use.


    “Meier. Let’s call it Meier.”


    [Trantor - Kiteretsu]


    [Proofreader - Kyros]