Chapter 127
There are two types of dungeons in Connect.
One is where an unresolved gate has become stuck and merged with the Connect world. It constantly spawns monsters and can only be destroyed by meeting specific conditions.
The other type consists of various dungeons that have existed before the gate appeared. These include the mage’s laboratory, hidden temples, dragon nests, collectively referred to as ‘ancient dungeons’ that have undefined secrets.
Stuck gates and regular dungeons have a semi-transparent barrier at the entrance, with the interior serving as a kind of dimensional passageway connected to a parallel dimension.
On the other hand, ancient dungeons are a part of the Connect world itself. They are created by digging into the real ground or using spatial expansion magic circles and barriers.
As a result, newly created regular dungeons are quickly discovered, but ancient dungeons, despite existing for a long time, are rarely found in reality.
“… So, it is presumed that this dungeon is the ‘Zeinak’s Dungeon’ whose entrance disappeared a few years ago.”
After receiving the report, Raul praised the adventurers who discovered the dungeon and rewarded them generously before sending them on their way.
“What is the current situation in the dungeon?”
“The knights and soldiers are guarding it meticulously. Information is strictly controlled.”
Fortunately, the location that was discovered was near the dungeon assigned to the First Knight Order, so securing the entrance was not difficult.
In fact, even if it were to be exposed, it was not a dungeon that would cause significant problems.
Zeinak’s Dungeon.
It had been a well-explored dungeon by many adventurers and explorers even before, classified with the highest level of danger. Although exploration had been limited to just the entrance area, quite a number of artifacts and ancient texts had been discovered.
However, beyond the entrance, it was a place that had such a notorious reputation that few adventurers and mercenaries returned, and a few years ago, the entrance of the dungeon collapsed after an expedition by a noble’s party.
Naturally, even after excavating the collapsed area, the entrance to the dungeon remained in a vanished state.
After several years, the dungeon that had been in that state was now discovered in a different location.
“Do you intend to conquer the dungeon?”
“Yes. We plan to deal with it before competitors arrive.”
“Do you have anyone in mind to accompany you…?”
Suddenly, the knights’ eyes sparkled as they stared through Raul. They all seemed eager to participate in the dungeon raid. It was understandable, as they were young teenagers in their teens or early twenties. They didn’t want to miss out on the adventure of conquering an ancient unexplored dungeon. Unfortunately, Raul had already made up his mind internally about his choices.
“We’ll go together to the entrance, but only a select few will proceed further inside. Ken, are you ready?”
“M-me? Of course. I really, really want to go!”
Ken, the knight chosen by Raul, smiled broadly as if he were about to jump for joy.
“Among the knights, only Ken will accompany me. Don’t be too disappointed if you’re left at the entrance, as circumstances may require everyone to enter,” Raul said.
“Of course. It’s a shame, but if it’s Ken, then so be it.”
“Congratulations, Ken. Put in your best effort to assist the master.”
The knights who were Raul’s academy peers readily accepted his decision. Ken, ranked second in skill among the ten new recruits of the First Knight Order, was the only one who had reached Intermediate Expert level.
After a brief meeting, as everyone dispersed, Raul called Ken to his office separately.
“You called for me?”
Ken, with a height of around 170 centimeters and a lean muscular physique, was on the shorter side for a knight, but he compensated with exceptional mana control skills and made up for his lack of physical strength.
Sip.
Raul, who personally brewed tea in a teacup, sat facing Ken and calmly spoke.
“Ken, is there anything uncomfortable for you in the life of a knight?”
“No. I am very satisfied with the efficient training system, excellent facilities, and generous support provided. Moreover, being able to gain ample real-world experience, I believe there is no better environment than this.” he replied, though it seemed somewhat rigid, perhaps due to standing before the knight’s master.
Although they both graduated from the National Academy, their time together had been short, and they were not personally close, so there may have been a sense of distance between Raul and him.
“If there are any areas that need improvement, make sure to bring it up to the department head at any time. Since we are still a new knight order, there are inevitably areas where we may fall short, so I would appreciate it if there were many suggestions. That’s my honest sentiment.”
“Yes, understood!”
It seemed that this was not a comfortable position for Ken.
“Now, let’s get to the main point. There must be a special reason I chose Ken as a member for this dungeon expedition. Do you have any idea what it might be?”
“I’m not sure.”
Despite hearing that he led a very exemplary knightly life, Raul did not expect him to be so disciplined. Since Raul had some understanding of his circumstances, there was a part of him that silently nodded in approval.
“Before we get into the dungeon talk, there’s something we need to address first. Don’t you agree, Lady Kaylee de Greer?”
“…!”
Ken—or rather, Kaylee de Greer, the eldest daughter of the Marquess of Greer—had her pupils tremble.
The slightly pale complexion on her face, she bit her lip momentarily, then promptly stood up, bowing deeply to Raul.
“I apologize. I unwittingly misled Sir Raul. I really have no words to offer.”
For a while, she remained bowed with her hands tightly clenched, trembling.
‘Well, I thought I might be caught someday, but why did it have to be now….’
Inside Ken’s head, memories of past events began to flit through one by one.
The Greer family, one of the five prestigious martial arts families in the Ruben Kingdom. Located on the southernmost coast of the kingdom, the Greer family had been recognized as a prestigious martial arts family for producing numerous talents based on their powerful spear techniques.
However, after suffering a major setback in the past battle with the Empire, losing both the patriarch and the heir at the same time, they had slowly begun to decline. As the cultivation technique that had only been passed down to the head of the family was partially lost, preventing the emergence of a Sword Master, Ken, who had retired from the central politics, was diligently cultivating her strength within the Marquessate to regain their past glory.
What circumstances led the beloved scion of a prestigious noble family to disguise herself as a man and enroll in the academy, eventually joining the First Knight Order?
“Ah, it was truly a good place….”
Ken’s words to Raul were sincere. If she hadn’t joined the First Knight Order, she would never have achieved what she has now. However, Ken decided to accept the fact that her connection with the First Knight Order ends here.
Regardless of her circumstances, joining the Order while hiding her identity was an undeniable mistake. Due to the customs of the Ruben Kingdom, which look down upon female knights, most knight orders did not accept female members.
“I have truly received a lot of grace. Thanks to the favors bestowed upon me by Young master Raul, I have grown this much. I will repay this debt even if it costs me my life. I am truly grateful, and once again, I apologize for my sins.”
Though she endured tough knight training even while disguised as a man, it seemed inevitable that her emotions were getting the best of her as her voice trembled at the end.
“Hmm…. Ken, or rather, Lady Kaylee, are you thinking of quitting being a knight?”
“… Yes? No. No matter what anyone says, I will continue my life as a knight!”
She seemed slightly flustered, and her response was delayed, but she answered firmly. Even if she was expelled from the Order, she had no intention of giving up being a knight. That determination had been with her since she fled from her family.
However, her expression wavered once again at Raul’s following words.
“Why are you talking as if you’re going to quit the Order? Is there something I or the Order did that displeased you?”
“Oh, no. There was nothing of the sort. If anything, I am deeply sorry for being so well-treated. B-but, does that mean… you are saying I can stay in the Order?”
As Ken clenched her fists and cautiously asked, Raul looked bewildered.
“Isn’t it obvious? What foolish knight order would send away a talent who has reached the intermediate level at the age of ten? Did you do anything wrong that would hurt the Order, other than concealing your identity?”
“That’s not the issue… but I am the Marquess of Greer, a rival family to the Ashton County. And I am also a woman. Are you saying these are not problems at all?”
Ken’s eyes widened as she looked directly into Raul’s eyes and asked. Raul met her gaze unwaveringly and answered confidently.
“No, those are not problems at all. What matters is your will, Lady Kaylee of the Marquess of Greer. So I ask you, do you wish to leave the knight order and be treated as Lady Kaylee, or will you remain in the knight order as Ken and pledge your loyalty to me as you have until now?”
“Are you really saying that my gender or status doesn’t matter?”
“Even if issues arise, it is solely my, Raul de Ashton’s, responsibility, the Master who accepted you as a member of the Knights. From the moment you become mine, I take responsibility for everything. So, erase all other thoughts and clearly state your will. Kaylee or Ken?”
Upon hearing Ken’s resolute answer, Raul kneeled where he was and shouted, “I, Knight ‘Ken’ of the Greer Marquessate, once again pledge my loyalty to Master Raul de Ashton as a member of the First Knight Order. I swear upon my spear and the god of war, battar, that my loyalty will solely belong to you, Raul. I solemnly vow to stand at the forefront and crush our enemies with these hands.”
Ken’s bowed head was more determined than ever, her voice filled with unwavering resolution.
“I, Raul, Master of the First Knight Order, gladly accept the loyalty of Knight Ken and promise to faithfully fulfill my responsibilities as both Master and Lord.”
Thus, Raul accepted into his service Ken, a talent of S-Grade potential, who in his previous life had become the first female knight to reach the rank of Master in Connect.
‘It’s been a long journey, but I’ve achieved my goal nonetheless.’
From the start, the talent Raul sought to gain at the National Academy was her.
When the Gate Incident occurred, things got complicated and Dalton became entangled with Raul first, but now that he could bring her into his fold, it didn’t matter.
“So what should I do now? Should I reveal my true identity and gender while I continue to serve?”
To Ken’s question, Raul responded as if it required no thought.
“That’s up to Ken to decide. You can continue as you are now, or you can reveal your original status. It’s up to you.”
“Well then, for now, I will continue to live as Ken. I want to be evaluated based on my skills without any special treatment or discrimination.”
“Got it. But remember one thing. If you find true comrades who you consider as such, it’s best to reveal the truth to them sooner rather than later. Think about the reasons for yourself.”
“Yes, I will keep that in mind.”
This was not just a message for her alone. As long as Raul continued to operate under the false identity of Bae Dohyun, he would eventually face the reality of having to reveal himself as well.
Will genuine comrades emerge who he can reveal his true self to, and if so, what decision will he make? Raul himself did not yet know.
“Now, let’s talk about the dungeon again. Why do you think I want to take Ken on a dungeon conquest with me?”
Returning to the starting point, Raul posed the question.
This time, Ken did not shy away from answering.
“That’s…”
(To be continued)