Chapter 134 : Chapter 134

Chapter 134: In the Name of Father

Thud-thud-thud—!

I was falling.

Swirling dirt blocked my view, and my vision was swallowed by darkness.

I couldn’t tell if I was plummeting downward or if the ground was surging up.

The deafening roar exploded like a series of blasts, and my body tumbled, making it nearly impossible to steady myself.

Even breathing freely was a struggle.

All I could hope was that my heart wouldn’t hit rock bottom before I did.

Ghost Eye.

First, I had to find Roberto.

It was a stroke of luck that he had even a trace of mana.

There.

I saw it.

Through the murky darkness, a faint blue silhouette emerged.

Even in the dust-clouded haze, it shone clearly like a twinkling star.

Crack!

I barely managed to twist my body, tucking my legs before kicking out with force.

The pile of rocks my foot struck gave me a burst of momentum.

As the blue dot grew closer, Roberto’s form came into clear view.

I wrapped my left arm around him, holding him tightly.

Projection.

My shadow clone plummeted downward rapidly.

I realized it again—this mine was incomprehensible.

A fall this deep could only be explained by the Demonic Corruption’s influence.

It’s close…!

I sensed the ground approaching.

Thanks to my heightened mastery of swordsmanship, my connection with the clone had grown stronger.

Now was the time to trust my instincts.

I’d never used a clone to gauge distance like this, but I had a rough sense.

The clone, outpacing my fall, would hit the ground first and likely dissipate from the impact.

I’d switch places with it just before it struck.

In that fleeting moment of Transposition’s rigidity.

I’d use the muscle memory of that sensation to minimize the impact.

The perfect distance…!

Now!

Boom—!

·

·

·

“Cough! Cough!”

“Ugh…”

I opened my eyes.

A vast, dark ceiling loomed above.

Below it, faint dust and green toxic mist floated, illuminated by the scarlet glow of Mana Stones.

The sight triggered a wave of nauseous coughing.

After heaving, the throbbing in my chest subsided, and my senses sharpened.

A groan from beside me turned my head.

“Sir Roberto, are you alright?”

“Ugh… I don’t know what just happened.”

It worked, more or less.

We were alive, so it was a success.

“We fell quite a ways down. Try standing.”

I helped Roberto, who was writhing on the ground, to his feet.

He didn’t seem to have any major injuries.

“Where are we…?”

Roberto looked around.

Only then did I take in our surroundings.

It felt brighter than before, thanks to the Mana Stones’ light.

The illumination was noticeably stronger, like the upper levels of the mine.

“We fell deeper, so why is it like this…?”

Roberto blinked, confused.

I was equally puzzled.

From the beast-infested zones, the Mana Stones’ light had been distinctly dimmer.

“The space is much larger too. It’s like a different place.”

The mine had been a series of narrow passages.

Here, the area was wide open, the high ceiling amplifying the sense of space.

“Let’s save the sightseeing and move.”

Since Roberto likely didn’t know the way from here, there was no need to rely on him.

I took the lead, but a short, heavy groan erupted behind me.

Roberto was clenching his lips, eyes shut tight, as if suppressing pain.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ugh, I think I sprained my ankle.”

Nothing comes easy.

“I’ll support you.”

I wanted to sling him over my shoulder, but his size made that impractical.

“Sorry, Sir Bihen. I didn’t want to be a burden.”

“You didn’t get hurt on purpose, so don’t beat yourself up.”

“…Come to think of it, I haven’t thanked you. You saved my life. You’re my benefactor.”

It’s not easy hearing such words face-to-face.

I tried to move on silently, but Roberto wouldn’t shut up.

“If I remember right, you jumped in to save me. Why go that far…?”

“Hey, be quiet and let’s go. I’m already exhausted, and you keep talking.”

“Ahem. Sorry.”

As we moved, the path was surprisingly well-maintained, almost polished.

If not for the floating toxic mist, I could’ve believed we’d landed somewhere else.

Roberto’s head swiveled as he scanned the area.

“This is really strange. I’ve never seen a place like this.”

He muttered absentmindedly.

Grrrrrr.

A low growl from a pack of Demonic Beasts announced their presence.

“Sit tight for a moment.”

“…”

I propped Roberto against the wall and stepped to the center of the passage, loosening up.

As I did, the beast pack slowly emerged from both directions, no different from the ones we’d encountered.

Each was a grotesque hybrid, with human body parts forcibly attached or embedded.

Why are they like this…

It’s common for beasts to feed on human flesh, but mimicking humans like this? Unheard of.

Shing.

I couldn’t lose my composure against mere beasts.

Taking a deep breath, I launched forward.

Heavenly Demon tore through their grotesque forms.

As I rampaged, the surroundings grew quiet.

Pssshhh.

Toxic fumes rose from the scattered flesh fragments, quickly clouding my vision.

I hadn’t noticed when Karim handled the cleanup.

This was no small nuisance.

“Sir Roberto, can you burn these?”

“I… don’t know magic.”

The medicine’s effects were wearing off.

As Roberto answered, my vision spun.

I hurried to him and pulled him up.

“Let’s move. Once the purification’s done, the poison should dissipate naturally.”

“…”

Has he gained weight?

Roberto felt unusually heavy on my arm.

With each step, my strength drained bit by bit.

As my eyelids drooped, I shook my head and forced my eyes open.

“Hey, Sir Roberto.”

Speaking eased the dizziness.

It seems humans instinctively regain control of their bodies in a crisis.

“You said you were adopted into the Cox Family. Were you with another family before?”

“Why ask that all of a sudden…?”

I steadied my quickening breaths.

The sound of my swallowing echoed in my ears.

“Just curious.”

“The head of the Cox Family died in battle without an heir.”

“In a fight with Theodore?”

“No, elsewhere. The count has pacified the region now, but back then, five domains fought constantly, and blood never dried. They say territorial wars were daily.”

I see.

No wonder Roberto held no grudge against Theodore’s family.

“In Kingdom knight families, they set succession orders, including collateral lines, for times like these. I was the third son in my previous family, but my second brother refused adoption, so it fell to me.”

“Lucky break?”

“Maybe. I was forty then. Embarrassing to admit, but I was still preparing for the Royal Knight Corps entrance exam.”

It wasn’t just me—the poison was wearing on Roberto too.

His breathing grew ragged.

“Things have changed, but back then, there was a culture that found it shameful to be treated as a knight just for noble blood, with no skill to back it up.”

So, the Kingdom once had some backbone.

I don’t know who ruined that spirit, but I’d love to track them down.

“It wasn’t enough to wear expensive plate armor. There were ways to prove you were a true knight. One was joining the Royal Knight Corps.”

Roberto let out a weak laugh, mixed with a cough.

“Guess what? I realized my limits and accepted adoption into the Cox Family. Not the ending I wanted.”

“…”

“It’s a bit embarrassing. Seeing you brings back old memories. Please forget I said anything.”

“How do I forget what I’ve heard? I’ve got a good memory, you know.”

“You’re a tough one.”

I considered telling him about my run-in with the Royal Knight Corps to say they weren’t all that, but he might take it the wrong way, so I held back.

“Still, I’m content with my life now. It’s not just resignation to fate.”

“Good to hear.”

“Good? I want to go back and smack the me who wasted days agonizing over accepting the succession.”

“Curious—what changed your mind?”

“Of course, there was a reason.”

I glanced at Roberto.

“Duty. A knight carries more responsibility than anyone, don’t you think?”

“…”

“There are countless people here who look at me. Even the lord does. Doesn’t that make me a fine knight? At least in Labotas.”

A faint smile crossed Roberto’s weary, downturned face.

“My son calls me a hero and takes pride in me.”

Last night, I envied Count Theodore.

He was the ideal noble, the ideal father.

Now, seeing Roberto, I felt something similar.

As a knight, as a father, as a man.

I wanted to tell him it was a fine, admirable life, but I held back.

Out of petty jealousy.

The path stretched on, as if guiding us.

Beasts kept appearing, and I’d set Roberto down to fight, then help him up and support him again.

Both of us were crumbling under the poison’s effects.

“This won’t do.”

Roberto reached behind his shoulder, fumbling.

He was unbuckling his breastplate.

“What are you doing?”

“Lightening the load. I’m already a burden; this makes it worse.”

I forcibly re-buckled it.

“What are you doing, Sir Bihen!”

He tried to resist, but it was futile against me.

“Planning to shame your son?”

“What?”

“Kids his age care about appearances. You said it yourself—knights these days are judged by their plate armor.”

“Well, yes, but right now…”

“Whatever your story or resolve, Joseph doesn’t care about that yet. That worn-out armor? To him, it’s the shiniest thing in the world.”

And he’s already so gruff with his son.

“…So don’t take it off.”

I’m already exhausted, and he’s draining me further.

Wiping sweat from my temple, I heard Roberto mutter.

“Did I ever tell you my son’s name?”

“That’s not important right—”

Rumble—!

It was close.

My instincts told me it was just beyond the corner of the passage ahead.

Roberto and I exchanged a glance.

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