The Count’s Youngest Son Is A Player - Chapter 127
Episode 127:
There are two types of dungeons in Connect.
One is when the gate that could not be processed becomes stuck and combines with the connect world. Monsters are constantly produced and can only be destroyed when certain conditions are met.
The other is a variety of dungeons that existed before the creation of the gate. Places that were undefined and kept secrets, such as the wizard’s laboratory, hidden temple, and dragon’s nest, were collectively called ‘ancient dungeons’.
A regular dungeon with a fixed gate has a translucent membrane formed at the entrance, and the inside is a kind of dimensional passage connected to a ‘second dimension’.
However, the ancient dungeon itself is part of the Connect world. It was made by digging into real ground or using space expansion magic circles and barriers.
So, newly created regular dungeons can be discovered quickly, but ancient dungeons have not been discovered in many cases, even though they have existed for a long time.
“…So, this dungeon is presumed to be ‘Zenak’s Dungeon,’ whose entrance disappeared several years ago.”
After receiving the report, Raoul praised the adventurer who discovered the dungeon, paid sufficient compensation, and sent him away.
“What is the current situation in the dungeon?”
“It is strictly guarded by knights and soldiers. Of course, information is being controlled.”
Fortunately, the discovered location was near the dungeon assigned to the First Guild, so securing the entrance was not difficult.
In fact, even if it was known, it wasn’t a dungeon that would cause much of a problem.
Zeinak’s dungeon.
It had already been a dungeon visited by many adventurers and explorers in the past, and the level of risk was set at the highest level.
Although only a portion of the dungeon’s entrance was explored, quite a few artifacts and ancient books were discovered.
However, it was a place so infamous that few of the countless adventurers and mercenaries who entered beyond the entrance came back, and the dungeon entrance collapsed after a noble family’s exploration team set foot there a few years ago.
Of course, we dug back into the collapsed area, but the entrance to the dungeon had disappeared.
Only now, several years later, has the dungeon been discovered in a different location.
“Are you planning on conquering the dungeon?”
“okay. “I plan to deal with it before a competitor takes over.”
“Are you planning on accompanying me with someone?”
Suddenly, the knights’ eyes sparkled and they stared at Raoul.
Everyone looked like they wanted to participate in the dungeon raid.
What makes sense is that these people were young people in their teens or early twenties.
It was natural that I did not want to miss the adventure of exploring an ancient dungeon that had not yet been conquered.
But unfortunately, Raoul had already completed the selection in his mind.
“We will go together until the beginning, but we plan to enter the interior with only a small number of elites. Ken, are you confident?”
“Me? of course. “I really want to go!”
The knight named Ken, who had been nominated by Raoul, was overjoyed with a smile on his face.
“Among the drivers, I plan to bring only Ken. Of course, don’t be too disappointed if you are left behind at the beginning. Depending on the situation, everyone may have to enter.”
“of course. “It’s unfortunate, but there’s nothing we can do about Ken.”
“Congratulations Ken. “Let’s do our part and help Master well.”
The knights who were classmates at the academy readily accepted Raoul’s decision.
Ken was the second most skilled knight among the 10 people who joined the First Knights after Dalton, and he was the only one among them to reach intermediate expert level.
After the brief meeting and everyone dispersed, Raoul called Ken into the office separately.
“Did you call me?”
Ken was around 170 cm tall and had a slim, muscular body.
Although he was short for a knight, he had better mana control than others, making up for his lack of physical strength.
Squeak.
Raoul, who personally poured the tea into the cup, sat facing Ken and spoke calmly.
“Ken. “Are there any inconveniences while living as a knight?”
“yes. I am very satisfied with the efficient training system, excellent facilities, and generous support. Moreover, I think there is no better environment than this because you can fully experience the actual battle.”
Perhaps because it was in front of the owner of the Knights Templar, the answer seemed a bit stereotypical.
Even though they were graduates of the same National Academy, the period of time between them was so short and they were not personally close, so there would be a sense of distance between them and Raoul.
“If there is anything that needs improvement, please make a suggestion to the branch manager at any time. Since it is still a new knighthood, there are bound to be some shortcomings, so my honest feeling is that I wish there were more suggestions.”
“all right!”
Apparently, it wasn’t a comfortable position for Ken.
“Then, let’s get to the main topic and choose Ken as the member to conquer this dungeon for a special reason. “Do you have any idea what it is?”
“I do not know!”
I heard that he was leading a very exemplary life as a knight, but I had no idea that his discipline would be this high.
Because Raoul knew his situation to some extent, there was a part of me that found myself nodding my head.
“First of all, before talking about the dungeon, there is something that needs to be addressed first. Isn’t that right? “Daughter of the Marquis of Caylee de Greer?”
“…!”
The pupils of Kaylie, the eldest daughter of the Marquis Kenani Greer, wavered.
With a slightly pale complexion, she bit her lip for a moment, then stood up, folded her waist, and apologized to Raoul.
“sorry. I unintentionally deceived Viscount Raoul. “I really don’t have anything to say.”
And she kept her head down for a while without even thinking about straightening her back. Her tightly clenched hands were trembling.
‘ha. I thought I might get caught someday, but I never thought it would be now…’
Kaylee, or rather, Ken’s mind, the events of the past began to pass by one by one.
The Marquess of Greer, one of the five most prestigious samurai families in the Kingdom of Leuven.
The Marquis of Greer, who settled on the southernmost beach of the kingdom, has been recognized as a prestigious martial artist, producing numerous talented people based on his powerful spear skills.
However, after experiencing the ups and downs of losing both the head of the family and the heir in the last war with the empire, it slowly began to go downhill.
As some of the vision that had been passed down only to the head of the family was lost, it was impossible to produce a sword master, and he retired from central politics and was cultivating his fierce strength to regain his past glory within the Marquis’ territory.
How on earth did the daughter of such a prestigious marquis enter the academy disguised as a man and join the First Knights?
‘Whew. It was a really nice place…’
What Ken said to Raoul was sincere. If she had not joined the First Knights, she would never have achieved what she has now.
However, Ken decided to accept the fact that his relationship with the First Knights ended here.
Whatever her circumstances, joining the Knights while hiding her identity was a mistake that could not be overlooked.
And because of the culture of the Kingdom of Ruben that looked down on female knights, most knights did not accept female knights as members.
“I’ve been really indebted to you so far. I guess I have grown this much thanks to the grace that Viscount Raoul, or rather Master, has bestowed upon me. I will definitely repay this debt, even if it means risking my life. “I am truly grateful and I apologize once again for my sins.”
Although she was a strong woman who even disguised herself as a man and endured the difficult training of a knight, it seemed that she couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed by emotions, and her words trembled.
“Hmm… Ken, the Marquis of Cayley, are you thinking of quitting being a knight?”
“…yes? no. “No matter what anyone says, I will continue my knightly career!”
She responded a little late, probably because she was a little embarrassed, but she answered firmly.
Even if I was kicked out of the knighthood, I had no intention of quitting being a knight. That was my resolve from the moment I ran away from my family.
However, her expression wavered once again at Raoul’s next words.
“But why are you talking like you’re quitting the Knights? “Have I or the Knights done anything to make you feel uncomfortable?”
“Oh no. There was nothing like that at all. Rather, I just feel sorry for being so nice to you. “By the way, does that mean… that I can remain in the Knights’ Order?”
When Ken clenched his fists and asked cautiously, Raoul asked back as if he was rather puzzled.
“Isn’t it obvious? What kind of stupid knight order in the world would send out a talented person who reached intermediate expert level in his teens? “Have you done anything else wrong to the Knights or me other than hiding your identity?”
“Not really, but… I am the daughter of the Marquess of Greer, a rival family to the Earl of Ashton. And she’s a woman. Are you saying this is no problem?”
Ken opened his eyes and looked straight into Raoul’s eyes and asked.
Raoul answered confidently without avoiding her eyes.
“yes. That’s no problem. What matters is the will of you, the Marquis of Cayley. So let me ask you. Would you like to quit the Order and be treated as the Lady of the Marquis of Cayley, or would you like to remain in the Order and pledge your loyalty to me as Ken?”
“Are you really saying that my gender or status doesn’t matter?”
“If a problem arises, it will be the sole responsibility of Raoul, the master of the knights who accepted you as a member. From the moment you become mine, I take responsibility for everything. So erase all other thoughts and clearly state your will. Are you Kaylee? “Are you Ken?”
After hearing Raoul’s confident words, Ken knelt down on the spot and shouted.
“I, ‘Ken’, a knight from the Marquis of Greer, as a member of the First Knights, once again pledge allegiance to my master, Viscount Raoul de Ashton. “I swear to my spear and to Batar, the god of war, that my loyalty will only be to Raul, and that I will go before anyone else and crush your enemies with my own hands.”
Ken’s expression was more flushed than ever as he lowered his head, and his voice was filled with firm determination.
“I, Master Raoul of the First Knights, gladly accept Knight Ken’s loyalty and promise to faithfully fulfill my responsibilities as master and lord.”
In this way, Raoul accepted Ken, a potential S-rank talent who was the first female knight to reach the level of master in Connect in the past life, as his subordinate.
‘It was a long way back, but the goal was achieved anyway.’
In the first place, the talent that Raoul initially wanted to acquire from the National Academy was her.
As the Gate incident broke out and things got complicated, Dalton got involved with Raoul first, but what does it matter since he was able to attract her now?
“So what should I do now? Do I have to reveal my true identity and gender before I work?”
Raoul answered Ken’s question as if it was nothing to think about.
“I’ll leave that up to Ken’s own choice. “You can continue as you are now, and it doesn’t matter if you reveal your true identity.”
“Whew. In that case, I will live as Ken for the time being. “I want to be evaluated based on my skills without any special treatment or discrimination.”
“okay. But keep one thing in mind. If there are people you think are real colleagues, it would be better to reveal the truth before it is too late. “Let’s think about the reasons for ourselves.”
“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”
This didn’t just apply to her.
As long as he continues his activities under the false identity of Bae Do-hyeon, it was a reality that Raoul would have to face one day.
Raoul still didn’t know whether there would be a comrade who could truly reveal his identity, or if so, what decision he would make.
“Now then, let’s talk about the dungeon again. “Why do you think I’m taking Ken to raid the dungeon?”
A question posed back to square one.
This time Ken didn’t avoid answering either.
“That’s…”
(Continued in the next episode)