I Inherited the Basement of the Tower - Chapter 30

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Inherited the Basement 1 of the Tower – Episode 30

My lord.
It wasn’t an unusual title for a knight to use when addressing his master, so no one thought it strange.
However, knowing its true meaning, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Very well. Were you in the middle of training?”
“Yes! I was just straightening out these fools’ heads.”

Yahwi tapped the shoulder of the fallen man repeatedly.

“Ugh!”

The fallen man let out a sharp cry.
Something was clearly broken.
Unable to hold back, Barkalor stepped forward.

“Captain. What are you doing? The Border Count clearly told you to preserve your strength for tomorrow’s parade!”

He shouted with a hardened expression.
Yahwi tilted his head for a moment.
Then he broke into a broad grin.

“Ah, Barkalor! So that irritating glint in your eyes was perfected from back then. My, how time flies. I can’t believe the old man looked like this.”
“What in the world are you—!”
“Calm down, calm down. I simply corrected my subordinates’ rotten attitudes.”
“That’s exactly what I’m asking about!

At Barkalor’s outcry, Yahwi chuckled and shouted toward the knights who were staring only at him.

“You lot!”

Then, with a sharp sound, the knights all shouted in unison.

“Yes, sir!”

The sound was so loud that the Training Ground rang with it.

“What would you do if someone tried to harm your families?”
“We would protect them!”
“And if that someone were the Emperor?”

Yahwi’s eyes blazed with intensity.
Without a moment’s hesitation, the knights roared in unison.

“We would kill him!”
“Yes! You are knights of the Border Region! Anyone who sends the people of this domain to their deaths is an enemy—and must be struck down accordingly! Even if that enemy is the Emperor of the Empire itself!”
“Yes, sir!”

Barkalor staggered backward in shock.

“This is madness…!”

Meanwhile, a brilliant smile played across my lips.
Yahwi is a sword fool, but he’s far from stupid.
He had heard Barkalor’s history alongside me.
In that position, his role would have been Captain of the Knight Order.
Through the whispers of his subordinates, he had grasped the current situation.
And perhaps even what was to come.

‘And he must have wondered—if I were the lord, what would I do?’

This was the answer he had arrived at.
Full-scale revolutionary indoctrination of his subordinates.

‘The madman.’

That extreme and audacious way of thinking was truly admirable.
My first subject is indeed exceptional.
How does he understand my thoughts so perfectly?

‘With that level of military strength and morale…’

It would prove quite useful in unexpected combat situations.
I was reassured by how sharp everyone’s focus had become.
Yahwi, the genius swordmaster instructor, truly lived up to his reputation.
In just one day, he had transformed the Empire’s loyal dogs into swords that guarded the Border Region.
It was understandable that Barkalor would be bewildered at this point.
These men who had been steadfast shields until yesterday were now speaking of rebellion.
He looked at me with eyes seeking an explanation.

“I know nothing about it.”

I shrugged my shoulders.
Not yet.
If Barkalor’s loyalty wavered,
resistance or not, the mission would fail.
Until then, I would do whatever he asked of me.
Shortly after, we returned to the Border Count’s office.

“Master, since the knights are in such a state, I thought I might appeal to something else instead.”
“Ah, do as you see fit.”

Ding!
【Barkalor’s loyalty has increased by 3.】
-Current value: 77.

“Master, I hear His Majesty the Emperor is fond of jewels. If you were to present one, it would surely ease his displeasure.”
“Is that so.”

Ding!
【Barkalor’s loyalty has increased by 3.】
-Current value: 80.

“Master?”
“Do as you think best.”

Ding!
【Barkalor’s loyalty has increased by 3.】
-Current value: 83.

After that, I committed myself entirely to the loyalty work.
I consented to virtually every matter that came up.
Fortunately, it seemed this had been the original working method as well, so my loyalty never declined due to lack of sincerity.

‘This is more relaxed than I expected.’

Barkalor handled all the work anyway.
All I had to do was sit and nod my head whenever he came seeking permission.
And as free time opened up, I naturally began searching for my own countermeasures.

“Sunglasses.”

Ding!
【Skill, Night Vision Lv.2, Search activates.】
【Hidden things are revealed.】

Whoosh.

Darkness instantly veiled my eyes.
It was the second-tier skill from Nix’s blessing I had obtained before.
Just as it had revealed Thanatos’s mark on the 10th Floor, it now revealed the hidden things in this space.

‘Three locations in total, it seems.’

One in the desk drawer.
One in the bookshelf.
The last one inside the vase.

Crack.

I flexed my hands with a sound.
Now then, what exactly did the Border Count, who was supposedly so upright and incorruptible, hide?

Click.

First, the nearest drawer.
Opening it, I found the problematic letter inside.
It contained the Emperor’s order to the Border Count to make the capable Barkalor into the Demon King.

“Damn it.”

Crunch.

A curse escaped my lips as I crumpled the paper in my hand.
When talented individuals exist, one should promote them—yet here they were, considering appointing the Demon King. I couldn’t fathom their logic.
It made no sense to me.

‘He’s even worse than Ahn Jae-jun.’

Next came the bookshelf.
I pulled out a single book that stood inverted among the others and opened it.
Inside was a single passage written in ink.

[A fish searching for the sea will suffer misery all its life.]

‘Hmm, that’s a fine saying.’

The fish already dwells in the sea where it lives.
If one searches elsewhere for a sea that might exist somewhere, they will never find it.
It was a thought-provoking passage, but the Border Count’s true hidden message was naturally not that verse.

‘Is this it?’

[The White Horse Tower has long protected the Imperial household and cultivated heroes to stand against the Demon King. Even after peace arrived, they lost none of their authority, and through the magic of light, they illuminate the Empire’s future….]

The White Horse Tower.
I recalled Barkalor mentioning this.
It matched exactly what was written in the historical records.
The Emperor would visit this place, bringing them with him.

‘Yahwi’s knights alone would never suffice.’

As I had said, knights could not overcome mages.

‘Unless it were someone of Yahwi’s caliber.’

And the Border Count seemed to know this fact as well.
He was no coward.
He had resisted the Emperor until the very end.

-The only way to resist light magic is darkness, as far as I can tell.

The phrase written in his handwriting and the artifact hidden in a corner of the book proved it.

Ding!
【You have obtained the Black Dragon’s Fang Necklace.】
-When equipped, light attribute resistance increases by 100%.
-However, the longer the duration of wear, the more you become consumed by the Black Dragon’s Consciousness.

From the Black Dragon’s Fang Necklace, I could feel the Border Count’s anguish upon receiving the Emperor’s letter.
Just as Barkalor said, he was an upright and honorable nobleman.

‘The effect is quite good, though.’

I was tempted to take it outside the trial.
Unfortunately, it was merely matter reconstructed by Nix’s power of Darkness—its essence was nothing but illusion.
When I cleared the second trial, the world crumbled into darkness and vanished.
When the third trial ends, this necklace will disappear as well.

‘If only I could take it with me, it would be useful when fighting Ahn Jae-jun later.’

It granted a whopping 100% increase in resistance to light attributes.

“I’ll make good use of this here, Border Count.”

Ding!
【You have equipped the Black Dragon’s Fang Necklace.】
【Warning: The Black Dragon’s power is attempting to consume you.】

Whoosh!

The moment I equipped it.
Black flames erupted across my entire body.
Indeed, a penalty as overwhelming as its superior performance.
Now I understood why the Border Count never wore this necklace until the end in the original history.

‘An ordinary person would have their mind corrupted merely by wearing it.’

However.

“It’s warm though?”

Ding!
【The Black Dragon’s power recoils from your darkness.】

As expected, it won’t work on me.

【The Black Dragon’s Consciousness attempts to escape from you.】

Whoosh, whoosh!
Whirrr!

The black flames that had been eyeing my body like a licking tongue suddenly shifted their momentum.
Now they desperately sought to escape from my form.
But it was too late.
But it was too late.

【Black Armor awakens from slumber.】
【Black Armor yawns and gazes upon the Black Dragon’s Consciousness.】
[The man in black yawns while gazing at the black dragon’s thoughts.]

“Take the new recruit. Blackie.”

Ding!
【The penalty of the Black Dragon’s Fang Necklace vanishes.】
【Black Armor absorbs the Black Dragon’s Fang Necklace.】
The black-clad figure absorbs the black dragon’s fang necklace.

Whoosh, whoosh.

Then they dissolved into the Black Armor that formed my clothing.
Then he disappeared into the black fabric of his clothes.

“Huh?”

Wait, if this is how things turn out.

Ding!
【The Black Dragon’s Fang Necklace has been bound to you.】

“Oh! Well done, Black Armor!”

I can take it outside as well.

Ding!
【Black Armor purrs contentedly at your praise.】
【The Black Dragon’s Consciousness retreats nervously.】
【Black Armor glares at him.】
【The Black Dragon’s Consciousness falls to its knees and begs for forgiveness.】

I laughed watching their exchange.

‘It’s really establishing dominance.’

In fact, I hadn’t called upon it even once since moving through the task.
It seemed to be stressed from being left dormant for so long.
And it had vented all of that completely onto the Black Dragon.
There was no way to know what happened inside, but it was probably quite violent.
I looked at myself in the mirror.
The necklace had lost its form, but remained as a rippling darkness shaped like fangs near my neck.

‘I have received your will well.’

The unease I felt moments ago was instantly resolved.
No matter how much the task’s world was a reconstruction of memories, these things had substance.
I wasn’t sure if the Black Dragon’s Fang Necklace alone would be enough.
But now I had a chance of winning.

‘Now, finally—.’

I reached my hand toward the vase.

Creak!

Suddenly, the door burst open.
Young Barkalor rushed inside.

“This is urgent!”
“What happened? Did Yahwi—no, the Captain cause trouble again?”
“No! This is far more serious than that!”

What?
More serious than Yahwi causing trouble?
How is that even possible?

“What in the world is going on?!”

I found myself jumping to my feet without thinking.
Barkalor swallowed hard, then opened his mouth.
His eyes were filled with fear and his voice trembled.

“H-His Majesty the Emperor has… arrived early. He’s here now.”
“….”

So he’s finally come.
Just as Barkalor told me from history.
The one who was supposed to arrive tomorrow has moved up his schedule.

“Let’s go.”

I grabbed the vase I hadn’t yet examined.

* * *

Late at night.

Clop-clop! Clop-clop!

The rapid clatter of hoofbeats gradually slowed to a measured pace.
Soon, the long procession came to a halt at the Border Region.
A banner bearing ‘The Sun’—the eternal symbol of the Empire’s glory.
It was the Emperor.
The carriage, crown, and armor covered in gold gleamed with such arrogance, as if proclaiming that wealth and power could illuminate even the darkness of night.
Behind him, I could also see a white carriage.

‘Those must be the mages from the White Horse Tower.’

Then, the Emperor—his flesh hanging loosely from his frame—barely managed to descend from his carriage.
He approached me slowly.

“Ah. Border Count. I trust you received my letter?”

At the mention of a letter, my brow twitched.
But as if indifferent to my emotions.

Ding!
【1. Of course. I will persuade Barkalor myself.】
【2. I will force him to kneel.】

Callous choices materialized before me.
I observed Barkalor.
He appeared deeply anxious, likely from his earlier words and actions.
Worried that I might fall out of favor with the Emperor.

‘He came here to drive the old man to his doom.’

Whichever choice I make, you will spend your life in solitude.
Never able to return near the Border Region you love so dearly.
Misunderstood by everyone.
And thus your neck will fall to a hero’s blade.
Is such an ending acceptable?
As long as this Border Region is protected?

‘I still cannot accept this.’

“Yahwi.”
“Hm? Yahwi? What is that?”

I continued speaking, leaving the flustered Emperor behind.

“How long do you think you can hold out against a mage?”
“Hold out? Anyone who stands before my lord shall be cut down without hesitation.”

The Emperor let out a sharp cry.

“Wait! What kind of conversation are you two having right now!”

Could we truly face all the mages of the White Horse Tower without Nix’s power?
It was impossible.

‘Without Nix’s power, that is.’

In that moment, I recalled a passage from a book I had seen in the Border Count’s study.
I recalled a passage from a book I had seen earlier in Byeon Gyeong-baek’s study.

A fish searching for the sea will be unhappy for life.

Because he was already in the sea.

It was a full moon.
It is a full moon.

And it’s nighttime.

Whoosh!

It was the sensation of the jet-black longsword piercing through the Emperor’s abdomen.
It was the sensation of a pitch-black longsword blade piercing through the Emperor’s abdomen.

“Cough, cough…! My luggage…!”

I withdrew the sword that had pierced through his belly.
I retrieved the sword that pierced through his abdomen.

Whoosh!

He opened his mouth as blood spurted up like a fountain.

“Come at me all at once.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————