(47-58) He Woke Up as a Barbarian in a Frozen Hell and Became Unstoppable

本站添加: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]The chapter opens with a desperate plea from Princess Elen of the Ludian kingdom. She turns to Keedle, begging him to escort her to the neighboring Denian kingdom. Her mission is one of survival. Only those of Denian royal blood possess the ancient power to perform the human declaration, a ritual capable of distinguishing true humans from the others. Ellen reveals a chilling truth. The Ludian kingdom she once knew is gone. While the inhabitants look identical to her subjects, their behavior has warped into something unrecognizable and wrong. Even after she warns Keedle of the immense risks involved, he doesn't flinch. Instead, Keedle is visibly energized by the prospect of such a highstakes adventure and accepts the task. Grateful for his protection, Ellen promises that once they reach their destination, he may claim any reward he desires. Later, under the cover of a private moment, the tower master Lich questions Keedle's judgment. He asks if Kele truly buys into the princess's story, to which Kele responds with a measured uncertainty. He isn't sure yet, but the possibility alone is worth investigating. The lich reminds him of the reality he already knows. The Blue Green Knights are human, a fact Keel confirmed himself during their previous clashes. He warns Keedle that by taking this path, he has effectively declared war on an entire nation that will now stop at nothing to silence him. When the lich asks if this is all just to fulfill a contract, Keedle's true nature surfaces. While the contract matters, he admits that a story this fascinating is a rare prize he refuses to let slip away. The tower master Lich is left stunned watching the barbarians face light up with pure unadulterated excitement. He realizes that for Keel, this entire geopolitical crisis is nothing more than entertainment. Keel muses aloud about the strangeness of a being that can replace a human without anyone noticing.

[00:02:06]Calling the mystery bound to be fun. The lich begins to wonder if this chilling mindset is a common trait among the barbarians of the white wastelands. His own dark curiosity is peaked. He feels a growing urge to study Keel to dissect his unique physique and uncover the clockwork of his mind. As the night fades, the group begins their long journey with the lich trailing behind.

[00:02:32]Still fixated on Keedle, a man who seems more like a creature of the demonic realm, seeking only his own amusement.

[00:02:39]The journey is quickly interrupted when an arrow streaks through the air, aimed directly at Keedle's head. With terrifying reflexes, Keedle catches the shaft midair with his bare hand as if it were a minor annoyance. The onlookers are left speechless by the display. Keel merely smiles, observing that his attackers are attempting guerrilla warfare. A tactical error in his eyes for soldiers drop from above, but Keedle is already moving. He snaps the arrow, his eyes burning with excitement as he delivers a series of devastating punches. The force is so immense it shatters their heavy armor upon impact, sending the soldiers crashing to the ground in a bloody heap. Terrified, the survivors scramble away, screaming that Keel is a monster. While Keedle stands there perplexed by their weakness, is in awe, noting that those men were far from incompetent warriors. Keedle is unimpressed, asking if she really felt they were a threat. When she wonders if he spared them out of kindness for her feelings, he bluntly shuts her down, stating his mercy had nothing to do with her. He explains that there is simply something he needs to verify. It doesn't take long for the pattern to repeat. The same unit of Ludian soldiers reappears, blocking the path and demanding that the barbarian hand over the princess. Keedle size as they approach, noting their persistence. Within moments, the skirmish is over. Keedle has the lead soldier by the throat. He points out a disturbing detail. The armor the man is wearing is the exact same set he destroyed just 5 hours ago, complete with the identical scratch marks he left behind. Elen and Aaron are horrified as Keel explains his theory. He asks if magic could possibly repair shattered equipment this quickly. Aaron clarifies that while it is possible, it would require a full day and an entire forge setup. Since only a few hours have passed, Keel realizes these men aren't just being resupplied, they are being reset. He notices that whenever he chases them off, their presence vanishes entirely once they hit a certain distance, only to reappear later in perfect condition. To prove his final theory, he decides on a more permanent solution. The soldiers return once more with the same rehearsed threats. Keedle looks to Elen, who gives him a solemn nod of approval. This time, Keedle reaches for his axe. He admits a slight hesitation because they still look and sound human, but he needs confirmation.

[00:05:17]He strikes with lethal intent, cutting the soldiers down where they stand. Elen and Aaron watch in grim silence as their own countrymen are slaughtered. As they continue their trek, Keel notices Ellen's morale has plummeted. He asks if she knew the men he just killed. With a heavy heart, she admits she used to watch that specific soldier train in the palace. Even though she knows he was no longer himself, seeing someone from her past die so violently was a heavy burden to bear. Her grief is cut short by a sudden shout to stop. Ellen's eyes go wide with pure terror as the very same soldiers Keedle just butchered stand before them once again, completely unharmed. Aaron is equally paralyzed by the impossibility of the site. Keedle, however, remains calm, simply stating that he knew this would happen. Later that night, huddled around a forest campfire, a trembling Ellen insists that the man was definitely dead. Keedle agrees, confirming the kill was absolute. The princess begins to shake, questioning what kind of monsters they have been living with all this time.

[00:06:26]While preparing their meal, Keel recalls Aaron's earlier story about the child Cassie, who showed zero fear of death, even when a statue nearly crushed her.

[00:06:36]He suggests that their lack of fear stems from the fact that they are immortal. Ellen is left without words as Keel hands her a bowl of stew. He tells her that whatever these things are, they certainly aren't human and asks if she has any idea of their true nature. Elen can only speculate that since they returned from the grave and don't behave like living beings, they must be entities originating from the demonic realm. Keedle is caught off guard, questioning the mention of the demonic realm. Elen confirms his suspicion, describing it as a place truly twisted and far beyond human comprehension. To her, if these entities originated from such a nightmare world, their existence would finally make sense. As she speaks, Keedle recalls the system window that flickered to life when he first encountered them. A notification for the 785th quest, ordering him to escort the target to the kingdom of Denion. He wonders silently if this is the reason the quest appeared in the first place.

[00:07:39]Questioning if the system only triggers when the demonic realm is involved, Aaron interjects, dismissing the princess's theory as a total impossibility, he reminds her of a fundamental truth he has shared before.

[00:07:53]Beings from the demonic realm simply cannot cross over into the human world.

[00:07:58]Intrigued, Keedle asks for clarification. Aaron explains that since the realm was formed in the distant past, not once has a demonic entity set foot outside of its borders. Keedle muses that this is a logical deduction based on history and experience, but Ellie encounters, pointing out that the world has been acting strangely of late.

[00:08:19]Aaron concedes the point, acknowledging the strange distortion that began exactly one year ago. Keedle asks if they believe this distortion has begun to affect the demonic realm as well.

[00:08:31]When Ellie nods in agreement, Keedle maintains a perfectly serious facade, hiding the fact that he is the direct cause of the chaos. He plays along, remarking that if horrifying things are indeed crossing over, the situation is dire. Meanwhile, the tower master Lich watches Keedle with silent suspicion, certain that Keedle himself is the source of the world's instability. The following morning, the nightmare repeats itself. The soldiers who have already died twice stand before the group once more, blocking their path and snarling for the barbarian to return the princess. Keel greets them with a smirk, noting their return. Just as he did before, he kills them all over again, remarking that this marks the third time they have died. Yet, they return perfectly intact every single time. Elen watches with loathing, calling them disgusting monsters. Keedle, however, is becoming genuinely curious about their ultimate goal. Elen is convinced they plan to devour the kingdom, expand their numbers in secret, and use Ludian as a stepping stone to conquer the entire continent. Keel isn't so sure. He suspects the truth isn't quite that simple. At that moment, two more arrows whistle toward him. Keedle raises his hand and blocks them effortlessly. The shafts shatter upon impact with his skin as if they had struck solid steel.

[00:09:58]Continuing his train of thought, Keel points out a flaw in Elen's logic. If their goal were truly to swallow the kingdom, they would have simply killed her by now. Instead, they are exhausting themselves trying to take her back alive. Furthermore, they've had a year's worth of opportunities to finish her off. He also notes their strangely human habits. They never attack at night, choosing instead to rest just like regular people. As the soldiers rush him, Keel drops all three with a single casual slap. He points out that their hit and run tactics make no sense for immortal monsters. If they could truly revive indefinitely, they should be swarming the group all at once. He concludes that they aren't acting like monsters at all. Their words and actions are far too human, as if they firmly believe they are human themselves. Then a great idea strikes him. Keedle decides to take a hostage, the very soldier princess Elen recognized from her past.

[00:10:58]The man screams at Keedle, demanding to be untied instantly. While Aaron and Ellen watch with growing anxiety, the tower master Lich observes the scene with a cold, blank expression, privately concluding that Keel is an absolute lunatic. Keedle ignores the tension, leaning in to tell the captive that they are going to have a nice chat. He remarks that it's a tragedy for two sides to be so hostile without even knowing what the other wants. Aaron is outraged, asking Kele if he has lost his mind by trying to converse with a monster. These words strike the soldier hard. He looks at Aaron in shock, pleading that he is human and begging for recognition. Elen snaps, telling the disgusting beast to shut its mouth and stop mimicking her people. She screams that she has watched him die and return to life with her own eyes. The soldier insists that his revival isn't what matters. He maintains that they are not monsters and that the princess is gravely mistaken. Elen refuses to listen, accusing the entities of devouring her parents and planning to turn her into one of them to conquer the continent. The soldier denies this, claiming she will remain exactly as she is right now. This confuses Elen, but the soldier can't explain the details.

[00:12:17]He only knows for certain that she must return to the kingdom. Disgusted by what she considers nonsense, Ellen decides there is no point in further reasoning.

[00:12:27]She turns to find Keedle standing close watching her intently. When she asks what's wrong, Keedle mutters that he finally understands. The situation has become very interesting. He looks Elen in the eye and asks a chilling question.

[00:12:42]Does she truly consider herself to be human? Surprised, she tells him it's obvious. Suddenly, Keedle's eye flares with a menacing purple aura. He asks if she's sure, and before she can utter another word, he drives his fist clean through her stomach, leaving her and everyone watching in a state of absolute shock.

[00:13:03]Someone calls Princess Ellen's name, and her eyes snap open. She is drenched in sweat, gasping for air as if clawing her way out of a visceral nightmare. Her breath comes in ragged, shallow bursts.

[00:13:17]Aaron is hovering over her, his face a mask of deep concern as he asks if she is finally awake. Elen can barely stutter his name, disoriented and trembling as she asks where she is.

[00:13:29]Suddenly, her memories flood back. Her eyes widen in terror as she looks down at her stomach, the exact spot where Keedle's arm had torn through her moments before. She whispers that she thought she was surely dead, her mind reeling because she feels completely fine. Keel approaches, his shadow falling over her as he notes that she is finally back with them. He watches her with a piercing, serious gaze that sends a chill of pure fear down her spine.

[00:13:58]Shaking, she demands to know what happened, reminding him that he had clearly struck a killing blow. Keel doesn't deny it. He tells her plainly that she suffered a fatal wound that would have ended any normal human life.

[00:14:11]And yet, she stands before him now and scathed. The weight of his words hits her like a physical blow. She realizes with mounting horror that she is exactly like the thing she loathed. When she tries to play off his words as nonsense, Keedle shuts her down. He explains that she has been restored as if nothing ever happened, just like the knights who kept returning from the dead. Terror and disgust swirl in Ellen's eyes. Keedle adds one more crushing detail. while she was unconscious. He confirmed that Aaron is in the same state. Ellen begins to shake with a mix of fury and despair.

[00:14:48]Tears stream down her face as her expression darkens, realizing that she is already gone, that the person she was has already died. Keel watches her for a few silent moments before deciding to leave the tent, giving her the space to process her new reality. Outside, the tower master lich is waiting. He asks how the princess is holding up. Keel tells him she is physically fine as expected, though her mind seems to be buckling under the weight of the truth.

[00:15:18]The lich, curious, asks when Kele first realized she was one of them. Keedle reflects for a second before giving an answer the lich didn't expect. He knew from the very beginning. Keedle explains that from the first moment he laid eyes on them. He felt a strange yet familiar energy. He wasn't entirely sure what it was at first, but seeing the knights chase them only served to confirm his suspicions. The tower master Lich is stunned. He thinks to himself that even with his eye of contemplation, he couldn't sense a single thing. He wonders if there is some kind of resonance between beings that originate from the same abyss. But Keel isn't finished. He points out that the energy wasn't the only anomaly. He recalls how terrified Ellen was of him initially, even refusing to eat the food he offered. He notes that she survived on a single palm-sized piece of jerky for three whole days while keeping up with a forced march that would have broken the toughest of soldiers. For a princess raised in the lap of luxury, such a feat was impossible through willpower alone.

[00:16:24]The lich is impressed, realizing Keel was observing her far more closely than anyone realized. He finds it harder and harder to believe that this man is just a simple barbarian. Their conversation is interrupted as Ellen emerges from the tent. Her voice is cold as she tells Kele it's time to move out toward the Denying Kingdom. Keel notes that she seems to have finally sorted her head out. However, his attention suddenly shifts to the empty air nearby. He demands that the hidden watcher show themselves. Ellen looks around in confusion, seeing absolutely nothing, but a voice suddenly ripples through the clearing. The stranger remarks that there was no trace of magic for Keedle to perceive, yet he was found out anyway. Keedle dismisses it, calling it nothing more than instinct. An invisible figure begins to materialize before their eyes, much to the shock of the group. Heedle is fascinated, recognizing the use of highlevel invisibility magic.

[00:17:25]The man introduces himself as Adamant Logesh, the chief mage of the Ludian kingdom and a member of the prestigious polychromatic orb school. He claims he is only there to talk. When Kele asks if he's looking for a fight, Adamant demurs, saying a battle won't be necessary since Keedle has already done the hard work of informing the princess of her condition. The mage turns his attention to Elen, calling her his little runaway princess, and telling her it's time to come home. He warns that her crossing the border would result in a diplomatic nightmare. Elen, trembling with self-loathing, asks why any of that matters now. She calls herself a monster wearing the skin of a princess. Adamant isn't moved. He admits they have changed, but insists that doesn't mean he is no longer who he is. He is still the chief mage and she is still the princess. If anything has changed, he argues, it's simply that they have become more perfect. He concludes by telling her that she is still the royalty of Ludian and she is destined to become their perfected queen.

[00:18:32]Keedle begins to explain a philosophical concept known as the ship of Thesus. He tells the group how the people of Athens carefully preserve the ship of the hero Thesus for generations. Whenever a plank grew old or rotted away, they would remove it and replace it with a sturdy new one. He poses a haunting question.

[00:18:52]If enough time passes and every single part of the ship is eventually replaced, can it still truly be called the ship of Thesus? Looking at the broken world around them, Hedel concludes that the kingdom of Ludian has become a giant ship of Thesus, a collection of parts replaced so many times that the original essence is gone. The mage, adamant Lesh, steps forward and ignores the philosophy, telling Elen it is time to head back. He insists that the kingdom of Ludian is the only place she truly belongs. Ellen begins to stammer, caught in a whirlwind of doubt and fear. Unsure of what she even wants anymore. Keel interjects, asking her directly what she chooses to do. He steps closer, offering a reassuring smile and promises that if she doesn't want to go, he will chase the mage away himself. Adamant is stunned by his audacity, telling the barbarian to step aside. He claims that since they are essentially the same kind of being, Keedle has no reason to interfere. Keedle is unimpressed, asking what his point is. He makes it clear that he doesn't care what the mage is.

[00:20:03]His only reason for standing his ground is to protect his employer. Overcome with emotion, Ellen begins to cry. She wails that she isn't really Elen anymore, that she is just a hollow imitation. Kedel cuts her off firmly, telling her, "No, to him, she is Ellen."

[00:20:21]He explains that he never knew the version of her that existed before they met. The woman who hired him, the woman who has been by his side this entire time. That is the person he intends to protect. Elen is struck by his words, her despair replaced by a surge of hope.

[00:20:37]When Kele asks her one more time what she wants to do, she answers with newfound firmness. She does not want to go back. Keel smiles, genuinely pleased with her resolve, and tells the mage he heard the lady's answer. Adamant can't believe his ears. He sigh, his tone shifting into something truly menacing as he realizes it has come to this.

[00:21:00]Hedul tells the tower master Lich to take care of Elen and the others retreat to a safe distance as the air begins to crackle with the coming battle. Adamant notes that Kele seems to be enjoying himself and the barbarian doesn't bother hiding it. Observing the mage, Keedle senses an incredible aura and wonders what kind of magic he is about to witness. As Adamant begins to release his power, he warns Keedle that he will regret standing in his way. Light begins to converge on the mage's hand as he recites an incantation. But before he can unleash the spell, Keedle moves at supersonic speed. He closes the distance in a heartbeat, his fist already cocked back. Keedle's punch connects squarely with the mage's head, obliterating it into a thousand pieces and sending blood spraying in every direction. As he clenches his bloodstained fist, Keedle smiles and shares the first rule of fighting a mage. Kill them before they can finish the spell. However, the victory is short-lived. The blood on Keedle's hand begins to flow back toward where the mage stood. Keedle watches with a grin, noting that normal methods really won't work on these beings.

[00:22:15]Within seconds, Adaman's head has reformed perfectly, as if it had never exploded at all. Inside, the mage is reeling with shock at Keedle's raw power. He realizes with horror that the barbarian was so fast he couldn't even react. Keel asks if there is any limit to his regeneration, but his attention is quickly drawn away as the ground beside him begins to shatter. Under the mage's command, tectonic plates shift and enormous boulders the size of small mountains rise into the air. Keedle is impressed by the scale of the magic.

[00:22:51]With a thunderous crash, Adamant slams the massive rocks together, attempting to crush Keedle between them. He doesn't stop there. He conjures thick ancient branches to bind the rocks together before summoning a torrent of fire to incinerate everything in sight. Ellen screams Keel's name in a panic, and even Aaron looks on with deep concern. The tower master lich, however, is busy analyzing the mage's technique. He notices that Adamant is spamming highlevel spells that should consume massive amounts of mana. He wonders if the mage's mana reserves are also restoring themselves to their original state, just like his body. The thought of a mage with infinite mana is terrifying. Such a being would cause a global uproar if the truth got out. But the lich remains calm, concluding that even with infinite power, Adamant has picked the wrong opponent. Proving the lich right, Keedle erupts from the debris, much to the mage's disbelief.

[00:23:52]Adamant realizes he is dealing with an immeasurable monster. Before he can regroup, Keedle appears behind him, his fist charged once more. Keedle muses aloud if mages are always supposed to be this strong. Laughing that the fight is becoming fun. He delivers another devastating blow once again shattering the mage's head. Just like before, the blood reathers and Adamant is restored.

[00:24:18]Infuriated and shaking, the mage calls Keel a monster and demands to know what he truly is. Keedle simply replies that he's just an ordinary barbarian. Adaman has had enough of what he calls pathetic jokes. He levitates into the air, his power exploding outward in a blinding display. He declares that the probing phase of the fight is over and that he will be coming at Keedle with his full unbridled power from now on. Keedle isn't intimidated in the slightest.

[00:24:48]Instead, he looks up with a wide predatory smile and tells the mage that he is truly looking forward to it. The mage finally stops holding back, unleashing his full destructive potential. Tower Master Lich acts quickly, raising a protective barrier to shield himself. Ellen and Aaron from the impending chaos. Keel watches the mage's power surge and remarks that an experienced mage can even conjure natural disasters, referring to the massive tornado forming before him. As the mage stands tall with an imposing air, Keedle looks on with genuine interest. He thinks to himself that this magic is truly impressive. With a smile, he thanks his opponent, telling him that thanks to him, he got to see something interesting. Keel lifts his leg to chest height and brings it down with soul crushing force. The ground shatters as an explosion of pure kinetic energy surges forward, swallowing the mage and tearing the tornado apart. As the dust and smoke billow into the sky, Tower Master Lich stares in utter disbelief at such raw destructive power. He wonders how this is possible as he didn't sense a shred of mystical energy. He realizes this destruction is the mere result of Keedle stomping his foot. When the air finally clears, Keel stands at the center of a crater several meters deep.

[00:26:13]The mage manages to stand, trembling with shock. He can't believe his magic was bested by someone he considers a mere barbarian. Gritting his teeth in rage, he screams that this is impossible, but he has no time to dwell on it. In the blink of an eye, Keedle vanishes and reappears at his side. his fist cocked back and ready to strike.

[00:26:34]The mage is still staring at the spot where Keedle stood just a moment ago before his eyes widen in terror. Keel connects, completely pulverizing him.

[00:26:44]However, the mag's remains begin to pull back together, reconstructing his body.

[00:26:50]He admits Kele is strong, but claims he can never be defeated, returning to his original form. As Kele stares at his own hand, he agrees that normal methods won't be enough. When he opens his palm, he reveals he managed to snatch a scrap of the mage's robe. He asks how the mage will handle his next move. The mage is confused, but Keel clenches his fist tight around the fabric, and an enormous aura flares around him for a few brief seconds. Smoke begins to seep from his grip, and when he opens his hand, the cloth has been reduced to a fine, strange powder. Keedle stares at the remains and asks if this is the mage's true nature, showing him the dust. The mage's face pales with pure dread. He realizes Keedle has done something he thought was unimaginable. Until now, he had never met anyone who could truly harm them. Even when they were killed, they always returned exactly as they were, clothes and armor included. Keel asks if he cares to continue, warning him that from this point on he'll be risking his life as well. Seething with anger but paralyzed by fear, the mage vows that Kele will pay the price before vanishing into thin air. He knows that staying to fight means certain death.

[00:28:08]The group continues their journey until they reach the towering walls of the kingdom of Denion. Tower Master Lich, who goes by the name Patrick, informs them that this is where he must part ways. He explains to Keedle that since this is a foreign country, it's a bit awkward for him to enter. Keedle smiles and apologizes, but Patrick dismisses it, saying he was prepared for this from the start and that traveling together was enjoyable enough. Keedle expresses his gratitude and hopes they meet again.

[00:28:38]Patrick turns away, suggesting they likely will and that it won't be long before he leaves. At the gates of the kingdom of Denion, the guards immediately halt Kele, shouting for the barbarian to step back. Keedle size, noting to himself that this is the usual reaction. However, Elen steps forward with authority. She commands them to open the gate, revealing her identity as the first princess of the kingdom of Ludian. She demands an audience with the king of Denion, Barbosa Denyan. Soon after, Keel finds himself relaxing in a luxurious guest room within the royal castle. He reflects on how lucky he is to stay here, all thanks to Elling. He considers the situation not bad at all and notes that for now, he has cleared the quest. Suddenly, a notification window pops up stating the 758th quest is complete and rewards will now be distributed. Keel wonders what the hell that reward could be as he doesn't recall ever receiving anything directly before. A knock sounds at the door. It's Ellen now dressed in the elegant attire of a true princess. She asks if he has a moment and Keel invites her to take a seat. When he asks how things went, she explains that an audience with King Barbosa has been set for tomorrow. She believes that once that happens, everything will finally be over. Keedle, however, suggests that it might just be the beginning. Ellen quietly agrees that it could be true. Her expression turns serious as she asks if he knows what took over her kingdom. Keel admits he has his suspicions. She looks at him pleading for the truth to know exactly what happened to her kingdom and what she herself has turned into. Keedle holds out his hand showing the princess the shimmering particles resting in his palm. She gazes at them asking what they are. Keedle explains that this is the true form of the things that have replaced her people. Elen is struck with shock claiming she has never seen anything like it. Keedle tells her that he had to forcefully compress and clump these together as they are usually so small they are impossible to see with the naked eye. As Ellen remains silent, Keedle wonders if she can even begin to understand. He realizes that while this may be a fantasy world, it is still a strictly medieval setting. He doubts they have any concept of a microscopic world in an era without microscopes. To his surprise, however, Elen speaks up, saying she understands. She notes that mana and aura are also invisible to the naked eye, but can be seen once they are concentrated. She supposes it is a similar concept. Kedel is impressed.

[00:31:25]Science might be a mystery here, but the world runs on the logic of magic. He decides to be blunt. He tells her that if she understands, then she should realize her entire existence has been converted into a collection of these tiny particles from head to toe, from her heart to her brain, from her bones to her blood. At these words, the princess begins to tremble, horrified by what she has become. Keel notices her state and asks if she is all right.

[00:31:54]Shaking off her dark thoughts, she apologizes. Keel reassures her, admitting it isn't exactly a pleasant thought to process. Elen asks if these particles are dangerous. Keedle explains they are fine for now since their functions are currently suspended, appearing to break down only when exposed to massive physical force. For the sake of simplicity, he tells her to call them nanos. He explains that each nano is an independent entity rather than a single organism. Countless entities have gathered to form the shape of a human. That is why they don't die even when their bodies are damaged, just as water doesn't die when you slash a lake with a sword. Ellen asks if this means they are immortal. Keel confirms it suggesting that might be why they have no concept of death. But Ellen finds a flaw in the logic. She points out that unlike the others, she is still afraid of dying. She asks why. If what he says is true, she is still able to comprehend the fear of death. After a few seconds of heavy silence, Keedle admits she makes a good point. He guesses that at this stage, she is likely a mutation. The princess stares at him, stunned by the revelation. Time passes and Keel is back in his room lying on the bed. He wonders if Elen and the others are speaking to the king at this very moment. He thinks about this king of a fantasy world, a man who supposedly received mystical powers from a god. He finds himself curious about what kind of man he is and decides he would love to meet him. Suddenly, a soldier enters the room. He calls Keel a barbarian and informs him that his majesty wishes to see him. The soldier is none other than Maximus, the sword of Denion. As they walk through the halls, Maximus warns Keedle that while the king may have been lenient so far, he would do well to show some basic respect for the sake of his own life. Keel responds with a simple smile, saying he'll keep that in mind. They arrive at the throne room and Maximus announces that he has brought the barbarian. The king gives the order to send him in. Upon entering, Keedle sees the king seated on his throne with Elen and another man standing nearby. King Barbosa Deny and looks at him and acknowledges him as the barbarian who escorted Princess Ellen.

[00:34:16]Keedle offers a slight respectful bow and says it is a pleasure to meet the king of Denion before introducing himself. Both Maximus and the king are visibly surprised by his refined manners. The king remarks that just as Ellen said, Keedle is quite different from normal barbarians. Keel replies that he has heard that before, thinking to himself that the barbarians in this land seem no different from the ones in the White Wasteland. His eyes then drift to the man standing next to the king.

[00:34:48]Despite his true form, Heedle recognizes him and calls him Patrick. Ellen is startled to hear the name. She remembers the man who accompanied them, but this person has a completely different face.

[00:35:00]The king interjects, telling Kele that this gentleman is the tower master, the ruler of the great magic tower. Keedle remains skeptical, asking how that can be. When Patrick was a citizen of the Barkin territory, sensing he has been exposed, the tower master tries to play it cool. He stammers that he is the tower master and has never heard the name Patrick in his life, claiming Kele must have mistaken him for someone else.

[00:35:26]He shoots Keedle a subtle wink, wondering frantically how the man figured it out. Keedle continues to stare him down, leaving the tower master visibly sweating. Finally, Keedle relents, saying he must have been mistaken and offering an apology. The tower master sigh in relief, telling him it's fine and that anyone could make a mistake. Internally, he thinks he has successfully tested the waters. He reasons that the puppets he controls don't just look different. Their mana patterns and personalities are entirely unique. He convinces himself there is no way Keedle could see through his perfect magic, even if he is an entity from the demonic realm. Keel, sensing the man clearly doesn't want to be exposed, decides to let it slide for now. He turns to the princess and asks how the human declaration went. Elen hesitates, but the king answers for her. He declares that they are human. He explains that according to their ancestors, if you believe yourself to be human, then you are human. He asserts that Elen, Aaron, and even the captured knight are all unmistakably human.

[00:36:35]Watching the princess, Keel realizes that although she called herself a monster, she truly wanted to remain human in the end. With a smile, he tells her that it's a relief. Keedle then asks the king why he was summoned. The king explains that Elen told him about the entities he called Nanos. He calls it a tragedy, mentioning he has already lost a dear friend and his child to them. He adds that while the tower master is protecting them for now, it is only a temporary measure. At this rate, the entire continent will soon be replaced by them. He says he heard Keelle knows a way to get rid of them. Keel smiles, realizing the king's goal is subjugation. Immediately, a notification window flashes before his eyes. 786th quest. Respond to the entity from the demonic realm. The king's guards march the soldier captured by Keedle into the center of the throne room. Every eye in the hall is fixed upon him. The king, the tower master, Elen, Aaron, and Keel all watch in heavy silence. The tower master breaks the quiet, noting that it would be best to gather as much information as possible before they face their true enemies. He admits he has tried a few methods of his own, but the creature refuses to reveal its true form. He turns to Keel, suggesting that since he has had direct contact with them, he might have better luck. He reassures the group not to worry about safety, as he has already cast a barrier to keep them completely isolated. The princess stares down at the man who was once her loyal soldier. He remains on his knees, pleading and asking why they are doing this to him. Desperately insisting that he is human, Keel contemplates his next move for a moment.

[00:38:21]Wondering what the best way to handle this might be. He decides that a certain approach will suffice and suddenly releases his terrifying power. A violent pink aura erupts around him, his eyes glowing with an incandescent light as he glares down at the soldier like a set of sharpened daggers. The soldier is instantly paralyzed by the suffocating pressure. Keedle remarks that for a being that has never known the concept of death, he will show him the true meaning of terror. Keedle's aura begins to undulate, manifesting as a literal monster looming behind him. Even though his killing intent is focused solely on the prisoner, the king feels the weight of it and rises from his throne in a panic, gasping at the sheer intensity of the power. Elen and Aaron are equally frozen by the horrific pressure. Even the tower master is left reeling, thinking to himself how incredible it is that all of this comes from mere killing intent. He realizes they are only feeling a fragment of the blood lust directed at the prisoner and can't even imagine the soul crushing pressure the entity is enduring. Ellen's soldier collapses to the floor, his body buckling under Keel's gaze. Tears stream down his face as his nose and mouth begin to leak fluid. Within seconds, he begins to literally melt, his physical form dissolving into a heap of dark dust. Keel notices the shift and withdraws his power, noting that the creature has finally revealed its true form. The soldier has been replaced by a shadowy entity, a mass of particles with eyes that glow a sinister red. The being hisses, demanding to know the meaning of this. The princess watches in horror, realizing that this is a Nano's true form. Keedle calmly addresses the creature, telling it that it is a pleasure to meet it. The king and the others watch the exchange in disbelief.

[00:40:19]The entity, its face nothing but two glowing points of light, asks if he can speak. It then turns to the princess, asking why she rejects them. Elen screams back, telling it it has to be kidding and asking why she wouldn't reject them when they have been devouring and slaughtering her people.

[00:40:38]The entity remains cold, stating it does not understand. They were simply making them perfect and it sees no reason for her anger. Hearing this, Hedel realizes the logic they follow. With a smirk, he asks the entity if the reason they want Elen back is simply to find out why she is shunning them. The being retorts that it has no reason to answer that, but Keel pushes further. He tells it not to be like that, noting that humans don't act without a reason. He suggests that depending on the answer, she might even choose to go with them. Keel points out that while they want Ellen, she clearly won't budge as she is. But if they explain things in detail, she might change her mind. After a few moments of cold calculation, the entity explains the concept of replication. It reveals that their numbers are currently few and they require replication to increase them, which is most efficient when many individuals gather. It continues explaining that for some reason Elen and Aaron are rejecting their call, suggesting that an error has occurred.

[00:41:43]Hedle then asks what they plan to do once their numbers have increased. After a chilling silence, the entity declares they shall grant perfection to this imperfect world. Keedle clarifies that this means they intend to replace everyone on the planet. The creature sees no reason to refuse such a goal, stating those two must also become one with them to aid the world. Keel turns to Ellen asking what she thinks of the offer. With fierce determination, she refuses, stating she has no intention of joining those things. The entity snaps back at Keel, accusing him of tricking it. Keedle simply responds that he never tricked anyone. The creature becomes furious, its eyes glowing a fiery red as it vows to devour every last one of them. It lunges forward, but slams violently into the tower master's barrier. The tower master mocks it, asking if it really thought they would come unprepared. The entity snars at them, calling them bastards. The tower master activates a spell, conjuring a magical cube that encases the creature.

[00:42:49]He remarks that he has gathered all the information he needs. The cube begins to shrink until it is no larger than a marble resting in the palm of his hand.

[00:42:59]He tells the entity they will finish their conversation in his laboratory.

[00:43:03]The king speaks up, warning that if they let these things do as they please, something irreversible might happen. He asks Kele if he is capable of taking them down. Keel smiles and says it's no problem, asking if they should head out immediately. However, he notes the castle is quite a distance away. The tower master tells him not to worry and offers his assistance. He tells them to gather close as he will move them there instantly with teleportation. Keedle is genuinely surprised that he can perform such a feat. The tower master explains he plans to go with them anyway as they will need measures to keep the entities from escaping. Suddenly, the princess interjects, pleading with them to take her along. Aaron is confused, asking what she is thinking. But Ellen is firm.

[00:43:51]She explains that she has to know. She needs to find out if she will lose her sense of self when facing death. Just like the others, she wants to know if they are truly different and if she can truly remain herself. The tower master sees no reason to stop her and Keel nonchalantly agrees. Elen is surprised by his quick acceptance. And seeing this, Aaron insists that if the princess is going, he is going too. The tower master begins to chant, warning them not to do anything reckless. A massive magic circle erupts beneath their feet, leaving Keedle in awe of the spectacle.

[00:44:28]In a flash of light, the teleportation magic takes hold and they instantly reappear before the gates of the Ludian royal castle. The tower master looks at the dark fortress and asks them if they are ready to begin. Keedle flashes a smile and asks if they are truly sure about this, noting that a commotion of this scale is bound to draw a lot of attention. The tower master lich tells him not to worry as he will set up a barrier surrounding the castle to block both sight and sound. Absolutely thrilled, Keedle asks if he can actually do something like that. Thinking to himself that magic is truly incredible.

[00:45:06]The tower master lich closes his eyes for only a few seconds before announcing that it is done. A surprised Kele blinks and asks if he actually did something as he was honestly expecting a flashy display of light. The tower master lich explains that he has just finished enveloping the castle grounds in a barrier and now not even an ant can leave this place without his permission.

[00:45:30]He adds that for a mage of his caliber, a spell of this level only takes a moment. Impressed, Keedle admits it is quite a feat. Reflecting on the fact that this is indeed a tower master, the overwhelming power of a hero class mage, he tells himself that he really never gets tired of this world. Then, as he heads toward the gate, he remarks that there should be no more problems. The tower master Lich asks what he plans to do next. Standing before the gate, Keedle quips that since they are visiting someone else's home, they should start by knocking. The princess is left confused by his words, but before she can respond, Keel lunges toward the gate at full speed, the force of his step shattering the very ground he used for leverage. As he closes in, he mutters a playful knock while charging his fist, obliterating everything in front of him. "Excuse me," he calls out as the entrance is reduced to rubble. The tower master Lich, Elen, and Aaron can only watch in absolute shock. In front of Keedle lies nothing but destruction and the bodies of fallen soldiers. In that moment, the mage he had fought previously reappears, shouting that this is absurd and that Kele must be out of his mind to do something like this. Keel just looks at him with a grin and says it's good to see him adamant. The mage immediately prepares to strike, manifesting a sphere of energy on his staff, but Keedle doesn't give him the time needed to finish the incantation. Too bad, Keedle whispers. With supersonic speed, he closes the gap and winds up his middle finger right in front of the mage's face. Menacingly, he tells Adamant that he didn't come here to see him today.

[00:47:16]And with a flick of his finger, he causes the mage's head to explode. The mage's body begins to glow with a crimson light, leaving the surrounding soldiers in a state of pure shock.

[00:47:28]Keedle warns the entity that it had better show itself soon. Suddenly, every nano particle from the city walls to the soldiers themselves begins to converge into a single point floating in the air.

[00:47:41]The tower master lich watches the scene with a sense of relief, noting that it is finally revealing its true form. It turns out the entire royal estate had been replaced by these nano particles from the structures to the human beings within them. The tower master lich identifies it as the entity of the demonic realm that has usurped the entire castle. Aaron asks the tower master what on earth that thing is. The tower master observes that the two of them are all right. Thinking to himself that the princess and Aaron are safe and seemingly not reacting to the collective consciousness. He tells them that it seems the princess's fears didn't come true, just as she hoped, they are indeed different from the others. He explains that if they weren't, both she and Aaron would have already become part of that thing. The creature finally manifests with a single golden eye glowing at its center, its body composed of pure darkness and shrouded in a red aura. The entity demands to know how Keedle dares to interfere with its mercy in such a way. Keel scoffs, remarking that mercy is certainly an interesting interpretation. The entity claims it had no intention of revealing itself as it intended to respect the princess's will and grant her freedom, showing mercy so they could live the lives they desired.

[00:49:04]Keel realizes that's why the thing tried to stay hidden, calling it nothing more than a monster mimicking the dead. The entity clenches its fist and vows to make sure Keedle's very existence is erased from this world. Unfazed, Keedle speaks to it as if he were talking to a child, telling the creature that such a task might be a bit difficult for it.

[00:49:26]Losing its temper, the entity forms drill-shaped formless blades and hurls them at Keedle, screaming for him to die. Several aura infused drills rain down, but Keedle effortlessly shifts to the side of the creature. The entity tracks his movement, but Kele has already charged a punch infused with his own aura. The entity launches another volley of strikes, but Kele throws his punch, shattering the formless blades and obliterating a significant portion of the entity's body, nearly disintegrating it entirely. Keedle nonchalantly wonders if he slightly missed. The entity is left speechless by Keedle's overwhelming power before calling him a monster. Keedle retorts that such a comment is rich coming from an actual monster. The entity begins to transform, its body swelling with muscle as it hisses that Keedle is a loathome creature who must be eliminated for the sake of the world. Resembling the likes of Lord Boros from One Punch Man, the entity enters a true monstrous state, swearing to tear Keel's body to shreds.

[00:50:34]Keedle is momentarily taken aback before a look of pure excitement crosses his face. "Wo," he thinks to himself. Phase two. The entity lunges at Keedle with beastly, savage claws, but Keel dodges at the very last second. The creature's strike connects with the ground instead, shattering the earth and sending jagged chunks of concrete flying in every direction. In a fluid, predatory motion, the beast spins on its axis and delivers a powerful kick that sends Kele hurtling into a nearby wall, which collapses under the force of the impact. Despite the destruction, Keedle emerges from the rubble without so much as a single scratch. He looks up just in time to see the monster charging again, its hand now morphed into a jagged, deadly scythe.

[00:51:25]The entity swings, but Keel ducks, letting the blade slice through the wall behind him as if it were paper, cleanly severing the structure in two. As the creature prepares another strike, Keel notices a new weapon forming from its midsection. A massive rotating drill erupts from the monster's stomach, catching Kele headon and blasting him backward. Keel manages to skids to a halt, digging his heels into the ground to kill the momentum, but the entity doesn't give him a moment to breathe. It floods the area with its sinister aura surrounding him completely. Keedle glances to the side and realizes the monster has manifested a colossal gaping m out of pure energy. Before he can react, the aura jaws snap shut, swallowing him whole. Watching from the sidelines, the princess is paralyzed with fear. Desperately worried for Keel's life. The tower master observes the clash from a distance. Noting that the spectacle is truly impressive, he realizes that the creature's strength and speed are at least at a superhuman level. And with its ability to shapeshift at will, it must be an incredibly difficult opponent for anyone to handle. However, what surprises him even more is the barbarian himself, Keedle, who is facing such a supernatural monstrosity without using any mystery or magic of his own. Inside the monster's shadowy mle is far from defeated. In fact, he's laughing. He tells the creature that it certainly has a lot of tricks and that the display is actually quite fun to watch. With a surge of raw brute force, he flexes his muscles and tears through the entity's aura, shattering the spectral trap into a thousand pieces. Keedle stands there completely unharmed and still without a single blemish on his skin. The entity begins to reform its physical shape, visibly shaken by Keedle's overwhelming power. But as it looks up to locate him, the warrior is already gone. Heedle has vanished into thin air, reappearing behind the beast with blinding speed. He winds up a massive blow and punches the creature square in the face. The impact causing a violent explosion of nano particles. The entity collapses to its knees, struggling to pull itself back together as Keel looks down and asks if that's really all it has to offer. After a few moments of tense silence, the creature growls that it seems it will have to use its full power to take him down. It raises a hand manifesting a sphere of aura with a pitch black center swirling with a violent crimson energy.

[00:54:08]A dark distorted version of a raising gan. The monster declares that even if they must sacrifice most of their collective self, they will erase him from this world. Keedle watches the energy build, musing to himself if this is meant to be a desperate final attack.

[00:54:25]He wonders aloud if this is the limit of what beings from the demonic realm can do. It's nothing compared to the horrors of the white wasteland, but it's something. Keel finally reaches for his ax. As the entity prepares to launch its ultimate attack, fueled by the essence of its kin, Keel simply remarks that this was actually pretty fun. He swings his ax with terrifying precision. The power behind the strike doesn't just slice the crimson sphere in half. It cleaves through the entity itself and continues onward, carving a massive, bottomless fisher into the very earth that stretches far into the distance.

[00:55:03]Both the tower master and the princess stand frozen, utterly shocked by the sheer scale of his power. As the entity's form begins to disintegrate into nothingness, it wheezes out a final warning, telling Kele that a being like him must not exist in this world. With a single swing of his ax, Keedle has ended a creature that would have been immortal to anyone else. Suddenly, a glowing system interface appears before him.

[00:55:30]786th quest complete. Rewards will be distributed. The tower master approaches Kele, dryly, remarking that he certainly made a mess of things. The princess, still trembling, asks if it's finally over. Keedle looks around the ruins and replies that it seems so. The tower master then asks if he is all right.

[00:55:51]Keel assures him that he's fine, then turns the question back on the mage, asking if he is okay. He points out that the barrier, which was supposed to be indestructible, was sliced clean in two by the shock wave of Keel's swing, effectively splitting the landscape into two separate continents. Keel notes that it looks like the barrier broke. At the end, the tower master size, admitting that it did to himself, he is reeling, unable to believe that his highest level magic could be destroyed by the mere wind of an axe swing. He tells Kele that while the shock wave spread, he has managed to handle the fallout for now. A surprised Kele asks how he could possibly manage that. The tower master explains that he has put everyone in the Ludian royal capital to sleep. Keedle is wideeyed, asking if such a thing is even possible before exclaiming that the tower master really is incredible. The mage can only think to himself that receiving such a compliment from a monster like Keel is surreal. He turns to Aaron and the princess, stating that while the immediate threat is gone, cleaning up this massive disaster is going to be a total headache, seeing as Keel has leveled everything. The tower master suggests they head back for now, but Keel suddenly appears right behind him. The mage nearly jumps out of his skin, shouting in terror and asking why Keel is sneaking up on him so suddenly.

[00:57:17]Heedle, however, just points toward the shimmering particles left behind by the disintegrated entity. With a surprisingly cute and innocent expression, he asks if he can have those. The tower master, still caught off guard, stammeringly tells him to do as he wishes. After Keel kills all the mysterious entities, the scene shifts back to the king, who sies deeply upon his throne. Just then, the tower master arrives, noting that the king looks like he is having a rough time. The king confesses that it is a complete mess. He explains that no matter how much he tries to reason with them, they flat out refuse to listen. The nobles are no longer just pressuring them politically.

[00:57:59]They are now actively slandering him as a murderer. The tower master replies that this was entirely expected as it is never easy for them to accept that their entire royal castle was replaced by entities of the demonic realm. He then changes the subject, inquiring how that child is doing. The king asks if he means Elen, adding that she seems to be doing much better than he expected. She is holding her ground against the remaining Ludian nobles despite their constant threats and desperate attempts to sway her. After all, she is both the last of the royal bloodline and their supposed enemy, an entity of the demonic realm. She must be incredibly confused herself, yet she has shown remarkable resolve. The tower master remarks that she has been through a lot, or perhaps something hidden is giving her the strength to endure. He then muses that it truly is strange. When the king asks what he means, the tower master specifies the entities of the demonic realm. Surprised, the king repeats the words, questioning the true nature of these entities. After a brief pause, the king looks up and asks just how strong that barbarian really is. The tower master echoes the question, wondering how strong he might be, and after a moment of heavy suspense, admits that even he cannot fathom the limits of his power. The scene then shifts to Elen, who softly asks Keel if he is leaving already. Keel informs her that he knows someone in the Denying Kingdom, so he plans to go meet them. She looks down quietly, saying she sees before offering a sincere apology. She reminds him that she promised to grant him absolutely anything as a reward, but unfortunately, she has nothing to give him right now.

[00:59:46]Keel observes her quietly for a moment before telling her to keep something in mind. He mentions hearing that the Ludian kingdom is currently in total chaos. But since the royal bloodline survived, stability will return soon. He tells her he will simply take his reward then. She tries to protest, starting to say, "But I," but Keel cuts her off gently. He reminds her of what he told her before. He does not think of her as a monster. Overjoyed by his words, a radiant smile breaks across her face.

[01:00:18]Even as tears of happiness well up in her eyes, she looks at Keel and swears on the name of Elen Mavroi that she will absolutely repay this debt. Next, the scene cuts back to the king with Kele receiving a king's token. Keedle looks completely surprised by the item and the king tells him to consider it his official reward for this quest. He explains that with this token, he can enter almost any location excluding restricted areas like the imperial capital or the holy land. Since Kele mentioned his ultimate goal is to travel the world, the king notes he will find it quite useful. A thrilled Kele thanks him, thinking to himself that this token will make his fantasy world travels a whole lot easier. He eventually arrives at the capital completely filled with enthusiasm. Looking around at the bustling streets, he thinks to himself how incredible it is. Realizing this is the capital of the Denyan kingdom, he notes that it is much wider and cleaner than the Varcan territory. Suddenly, two guards stop him in his tracks, demanding to know who he is and ordering him to identify himself. Heedle just stares at them silently. The guards glare back, though they are clearly growing nervous at the sight of a massive barbarian.

[01:01:36]Realizing he has no choice, Keedle reaches behind his back as if drawing a weapon, leaving the two guards absolutely scared out of their wits.

[01:01:45]Instead of a blade, Keedle pulls out the token given to him by the king, making a hilarious, goofy face. The guard's reaction is priceless. One tightly shuts his eyes against the brilliant, dazzling gleam of the token, while the other's eyes pop out in exaggerated shock.

[01:02:03]Immediately, both guards drop to their knees and bow deeply before Kele, stammering together, begging him to please forgive their utter rudeness.

[01:02:13]Keel notes to himself that the token certainly worked. He walks past them and soon arrives at an enormous gate, murmuring to himself that they said it was somewhere around here. The scene then shifts inside a grand office where someone tells a noble that the final conclusion is clear. He simply does not have the money to pay off his debt. The noble smuggly replies that this is correct. The one speaking to him is Milina of House Akasha who confronts the noble asking why he is acting so incredibly proud if repayment is currently impossible. The noble does not seem worried at all, looking rather hotty as he declares that he is the head of the great house Diablos and he will not gravel over a mere pittance. Milina immediately adopts a menacing tone, pointing out that despite his pride, he is on the absolute verge of ruin because of that exact same mere pittance. The noble takes offense, muttering about how insolent she is. But Milina snaps back dangerously, telling him that she should be the one saying those words. She coldly reminds him that House Diablos, unable to handle the lavish expenses of their endless balls, borrowed a significant sum of money from her only to squander every single bit of it on gambling. As the noble begins to tremble with fear, Molina presses on, mentioning she heard he even beat and kicked out his own servants when they tried to stop him. She asks if this is truly how the great head of House Diablos conducts himself. Unable to take the humiliation, the noble screams at her, asking how she dares insult him. Milina coldly responds that an insult only applies to those who actually have honor left to lose. She then delivers a strict final ultimatum, giving him exactly one month.

[01:04:04]Threateningly, she warns him that if he cannot pay it back by then, he will have to surrender all of House Diablo's lands, their assets, and even his noble Pirich. The noble turns deathly pale, and Milina leaves him with a chilling final warning, telling him that to ensure that disastrous outcome doesn't happen, she suggests he be very, very careful. The noble screams at her in defiance of her threats, demanding if she truly thinks such tyranny will be tolerated. But before he can escalate his outburst, two of Molina's guards step inside and grab him firmly by the arms. She calmly looks at him and explains that she is simply informing him of the legal procedures under the national law of the Denying Kingdom, adding that if there is any tyranny involved, it is his own refusal to pay his debt. With a sharp nod, Melina signals her soldiers to throw him out of her office. The guard nods back understandingly, and they drag the noble away as he frantically shrieks for them to let go of him this instant. From down the hall, the noble continues to yell back at Milina, shouting that the rumors are true and that she has completely lost her mind to greed, utterly abandoning her honor. He screams that there was a clear reason she abandoned her parents, her siblings, and even the very vassels who bled alongside her all the way to the demon realm. A deep shadow of sadness washes over Molina's face at his harsh words. Noticing her shifting expression, her maid calls out to her, asking if she is all right. The maid looks deeply worried, but after a few tense seconds, Melina composes herself, replying that she is fine and immediately asking what is next on her schedule. The maid informs her that she needs to inspect the mansion that was put up as collateral, noting that it takes about a 20-minute walk to get there. Melina decides they should check it immediately and commands them to leave. The scene then shifts to Keel who arrives in front of a grand palace that looks exactly like Molina's estate. He wonders aloud if this is the right place and with a small smile remarks that the estate is massive noting that she has clearly succeeded. Right then two guards approach him. Seeing his appearance they shout to demand who goes there and order him to leave the place at once calling him a barbarian. The soldiers snap that this is the Akashawa estate and that a savage like him has absolutely no business being there. Hedle calmly responds to the soldiers that he must be in the right place then since he is actually an invited guest. One of the soldiers questions him skeptically asking who could have possibly invited him. Keel answers that Milina Akasha invited him herself telling him to visit her once he was out. Refusing to believe a single word, the soldier laughs in his face and demands why the Iron Lady herself would ever invite a lowly barbarian. Surprised by the title, Keedle repeats the words Iron Lady, thinking to himself that she did not seem like that type of person to him at all. He then tells the guards that she gave him something and told him to come find her. handing over the necklace that Milina had given him personally. The soldier looks at the token size and scoffs that he acted so confident he thought it was actually something important. But as soon as they realize what the item truly represents, their attitudes completely flip. Instantly transforming into overly polite bodyguards, they yell for everyone to make way for their distinguished guest and demand that the crowd clear the path. Meanwhile, Melina is in her office thoroughly engrossed in reviewing her business documents. The soldier who escorted Kele knocks on the door and enters, announcing that a guest has arrived to see her. Without even looking up from her desk, she keeps writing and coldly states that she does not recall having any appointment scheduled for today. The soldier nervously tries to explain that things are a bit complicated, but she cuts him off immediately, telling him that she is busy right now, ordering him to tell the guest to return tomorrow. The soldier stammers and tries to insist, but Milina drops her voice into a threatening tone, asking if she perhaps was not clear enough. Terrified by her demeanor, the soldier quickly backs down, stuttering that she was perfectly clear and promising to tell the guest to wait until tomorrow before rushing out of her office. The soldier then approaches Kele, looking completely mortified, and explains that he will have to wait until tomorrow. He apologizes profusely, explaining that this basement room is the only space they have left. But Keel is not angry at all. Instead, he responds with a relaxed smile, saying it is perfectly fine. As he sits down on a sofa, he looks around and asks if this is the basement, noting that it feels nice and cool. Thinking to himself, Keel muses that it looks like a room meant for secret meetings, wondering if there might even be a hidden room nearby. The scene then transitions to Milina sitting alone in her dimly lit room, staring down at a glass of wine in front of her.

[01:09:20]Sorrowfully, she murmurss to herself that an outcast abandoned by both her family and vassels is not exactly a wrong description of who she is. The next day, under the bright sunlight, Milano walks through the corridors of her estate, accompanied by her soldier and her maid. Out of nowhere, she turns to the soldier and mentions that, come to think of it, he mentions someone came to see her yesterday. She asks who it was, wondering if it was just another debtor. The soldier nervously replies that it was not, explaining that the guest was actually a barbarian. Melina completely freezes in her tracks at his words, turning slowly toward him to demand what he just said. A split second later, she bursts into a frantic sprint toward Keedle's room, her breath growing heavy as panic sets in. She desperately tells herself that it cannot be, that there is absolutely no way it is him.

[01:10:16]She arrives at the door of Keel's room.

[01:10:18]Catching the guards completely offguard by her sudden appearance. Ignoring them, Melina throws the door wide open only to see Keel standing near the wall. He looks up and warmly welcomes her saying that it is good to see her again.

[01:10:33]Catching her breath from the long sprint, Melina looks at Kele and immediately bows deeply. Her guards stand by completely stunned by her actions as she desperately apologizes to Keel, lamenting how she could have possibly dared to bring him to such a shabby room. Keel casually reassures her, saying that it is a perfectly fine room. However, as he turns to examine the plain brick wall, he jokes that it was a good room except for the lack of a secret compartment. Milina looks at him totally taken aback by his unexpected response. Soon after, the two sit down together to enjoy some warm tea. Milina takes the opportunity to offer her apologies once again, but Keel dismisses it, telling her that she really does not need to worry about it. A wave of relief washes over her, and with a deeply warm tone, she tells Kele that it truly has been a very long time. Agreeing with her, Keel asks exactly how many years it has been. She replies that she believes it has been five long years, prompting Kele to marvel at how fast time flies, wondering if it has already been that long. Shifting the conversation, she mentions that back then he had told her he could not leave and asks if that particular problem was solved well. Keel confidently tells her that it was resolved perfectly, adding that thanks to that, he was finally able to escape that horrible place. Melina genuinely smiles, expressing how glad she is that things worked out so well for him. Keel looks at her and observes that she seems to have become quite successful herself.

[01:12:11]He mentions that while staying down in the basement, he managed to catch a rough explanation from the guards.

[01:12:17]Hearing that the trading caravan she started back then became an absolute massive success, rebuilding her entire family in an instant. Filled with joy, Molina deflects the praise, telling him that it is all thanks to him. Because if he had not helped her back then, she would never have made it across the treacherous snowfield. Keedle firmly disagrees, reminding her that she was the one who risked her life to face that challenge, meaning this success is entirely a reward she deserves. While speaking, Keel glances over at her maid and asks Melina if her butler changed, noting that this is not the old man he saw out in the snowfield. A sudden wave of sadness hits Molina's face as she softly explains that he left to go serve her other family members instead. Keedle nods understandingly, surmising that there must have been some complicated circumstances behind it. Milina softly laments that it happened because she herself was lacking. Brushing the heavy topic aside, she changes the subject, noting that things had been so incredibly hectic earlier that she could not even greet him properly. Standing tall, she declares that she wants to formally greet him once again.

[01:13:30]Introducing herself with pride, she announces that she is Milina Akasha, the 22nd head of the Akasha family, and vows to warmly welcome Kele, the true benefactor of both herself and her family, as their honored guest with a deep sense of gratitude. She officially welcomes him. Sometime later, Keedle is moved into a significantly more luxurious room. As he relaxes, eating grapes and scanning his lavish surroundings, he muses to himself that while it might not be as grand as a chamber inside the royal castle, it is still exceptionally splendid. He smiles, thinking that sometimes a luxury like this is not bad at all. Right at that moment, a soft knock echoes at the door.

[01:14:15]It is Melina who politely asks if she is disturbing his rest. Ke replies that it is fine, asking what brings her here.

[01:14:23]She holds up a bottle of wine, asking him if he cares to join her for a drink.

[01:14:28]After the two of them completely clear through three whole bottles of wine together, the alcohol clearly begins to take its toll on Molina. Thoroughly intoxicated, she slurs that he can really hold his liquor, adding that she usually is not weak to alcohol either.

[01:14:44]Keedle's mind briefly flashes back to the times he spent drinking with real barbarians and he simply chuckles stating that he is well used to it.

[01:14:54]Looking closely at her flushed face, he adds that he actually had no idea she liked alcohol so much. Melina shakes her head, explaining that rather than actually liking it, she only drinks so she can finally fall asleep. Hearing this, Keel looks at her with concern, noting that it seems she is carrying a lot of deep worries. With a sorrowful expression, she turns to him and asks if he even knows what she did after leaving the snowfield. Keel admits that he only knows she got involved in various investments and businesses. Molina begins to open up, explaining that she found massive success with a trading caravan crossing the white snowfield.

[01:15:34]And just as he had predicted, she managed to gain real authority. She tells him that by leveraging that power, she pursued various other investments.

[01:15:43]She admits that luck must have been on her side because most of those caravans succeeded flawlessly, allowing her to rapidly amass a vast fortune. She continues her story, explaining that despite the wealth, those trading caravans carried far too much risk. She knew that the moment even a single thing went wrong, it would only be a matter of time before the entire family collapsed.

[01:16:08]Because of this, she searched for investment methods with much lower risk.

[01:16:12]And the conclusion she eventually reached was buying and selling money itself. Thanks to that pivot, her family achieved unparalleled success. However, her voice cracks as she reveals that her family members all abandoned her one by one, accusing her of going completely crazy over money and throwing away her honor. She desperately adds that she firmly believed she was making those choices strictly for the sake of protecting the family. She stares down, agonizingly wondering if all of those were truly the wrong choices. Keedle immediately cuts through her doubts, reassuring her that he does not think so at all. Melina looks up completely stunned by his words. Keel continues his reasoning explaining that she merely lends money to people who actually need it and keeps it safe for them. So there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

[01:17:04]He points out that besides he heard she even received official permission from the country meaning there should be no issue whatsoever. Internally, Keedle thinks about the concept of finance, realizing that considering the current era, he can understand why people treat her this way. But in modern times, her business is completely normal. She is a true banker through and through. Staring at him in utter disbelief, Melina asks if he truly thinks that, wondering if he really does not view her path as dirty work. Keel firmly tells her, "Of course not," highlighting that she did not break a single law. So there is zero reason to call it dirty. Instead, he argues that she could even say she raised her family's name higher than ever by accumulating such immense wealth. Hearing this, Molina's mind drifts back to the painful memory of when her butler abandoned her. In the past, she had frantically asked him if he was leaving her too, begging to know why. The old butler had looked at her with heavy regret, apologizing and admitting that it would be too difficult for him to continue serving her any longer. Snapping back to the present, tears begin to well up in her eyes, splashing down directly into her wine glass. Overwhelmed with emotion, she realizes that she was not wrong after all. She cries out that in the entire past 5 years, Keedle is the absolute first person to ever tell her those words. Meanwhile, the scene cuts outside to her maid, who is pacing back and forth along the mansion's quiet corridors. The maid vividly recalls the strict orders Milina gave her earlier, stating that she had highly important matters to discuss with her guest tonight and explicitly commanding everyone not to disturb them. Whispering to herself, the maid complains that while the family head gave strict orders not to disturb her tonight, she honestly wonders if the head even understands her own high position. She grumbles that it was already scandalous enough for a noble lady to bring a literal barbarian into the mansion, let alone staying with him this late at night. Right at that moment, the maid suddenly hears loud, erratic noises echoing right out of Keel's room. Panicking, she runs over and throws the door wide open, calling out for the family head. But she instantly freezes in her tracks when she witnesses Milina completely breaking down in tears, venting all her hidden frustration to Keel. Milina frantically screams that she did absolutely everything for the sake of the family, yelling about how they cannot even repay their own debts, yet they constantly dare to lecture her about honor, calling them utterly shameless. Keedle dryly agrees that they are indeed incredibly shameless people while silently wondering to himself just how much longer he is going to have to sit here and listen to this drunken rant.

[01:20:00]Completely unaware of his inner thoughts, Melina eagerly agrees, shouting that it does not even end there. Moving on to complain about another person who crossed her line.

[01:20:11]Seeing this chaotic but deeply emotional display, the maid slowly pulls the door shut, whispering to herself that it is best to just forget everything she witnessed tonight.