VOLUME 15: CHAPTER 36

Thank you to all the readers who pointed out the mistake last time~
It really helps polish the story before publishing it on Amazon.

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VOLUME 15: CHAPTER 36

The first thing Lark did upon returning to the capital was issue a kingdom-wide bounty for the Wandering Sage.

Aside from thirty thousand gold coins, he also promised twenty kilograms of adamantite, a piece of land in the kingdom, and a nobility title to whoever could capture the Wandering Sage – dead or alive.

Even if the Wandering Sage held the title of the strongest in the entire continent, the sheer magnitude of the rewards would no doubt stir every mercenary, explorer, and bounty hunter across the lands.

Lark also added a clause: five hundred gold coins to anyone who could provide information on the Wandering Sage’s whereabouts. That way, even those too weak—or too wise—to face the monster directly could still take part in the hunt.

When Mokuva saw the bounty proposal of Lark, he wanted to say it was too excessive but decided to remain silent in the end after noticing the boiling rage suppressed by the young king.

Something must have happened during his trip to the southern continent, and Mokuva deemed that now wasn’t the time to pry.

Once the bounty posters were officially distributed by the end of the week, they would probably create ripples not just in the kingdom but in the entire continent.

In a way, the bounty posters would also confirm that the Wandering Sage did exist and that they’d done something to warrant the rage of the Lukasian king.

After the meeting, Lark learned from Mokuva that Secretary Irene had delivered her child a day ago. Without delay, he entrusted several follow-up orders to Elias Farsight and Captain Symon, then went straight to the estate where she was recovering.

The moment he entered the room, he was greeted by a sight he would probably never forget.

Secretary Irene sat on the bed, her golden hair loose and glimmering under the soft light that filtered through the curtains. Her skin still bore the weary glow of someone who had wrestled with pain and life itself—and won. In her arms, a small bundle swaddled in linen breathed softly, his tiny chest rising and falling with the rhythm of dreams.

Anandra stood beside her, a rare, unguarded smile on his face as he gazed at his wife and child. Lord Chase, Irene’s father, was blotting his red eyes with a damp cloth, trying in vain to hide the evidence of his tears.

It would have been a perfect scene of peace had it not been for George and Austen crouching suspiciously on the floor, tinkering with something they probably shouldn’t.

George jerked upright when he noticed Lark at the doorway and hastily stuffed a metallic object into his pocket.

“Ah, Master!”

All eyes turned toward the visitors—Lark at the lead, Princess Vivienne to his left, Lady Alice to his right, and behind them, Arcturus and the Scylla’s seven heads.

“You’re back!” said Austen, springing to his feet.

Secretary Irene looked pale, the toll of childbirth still visible on her face. Yet her golden eyes glowed with a quiet fulfillment, as though she held the entire world in her arms.

“Welcome back, Your Majesty,” she said softly, smiling.

“Master,” Anandra bowed.

Lord Chase scrambled to his feet and tried to compose himself, though his puffy eyes betrayed him. “Your Majesty! Ah—what do I say—that’s right, welcome!”

Lark couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s fine, Lord Chase. You don’t need to look so stiff. I can tell this is a happy day for all of you.”

“I’m back, everyone,” said Lark, stepping closer. His voice softened. “Irene, congratulations. I’m proud of you.”

The words were simple but heavy with sincerity. Knowing her king’s personality, Irene merely smiled faintly and inclined her head.

“Thank you for coming, Your Majesty. How was your trip to the south?”

Lark shook his head. “Let’s not talk about that now.”

He didn’t want to stain this moment with politics—the alliance talks, the Black Salamander outbreak, the Wandering Sage. There would be time for all that later. For now, he simply wanted his most loyal secretary to rest.

“Master! Master!” George blurted out, barely able to contain himself. “It’s a boy! And he looks nothing like the old man!”

Normally, Anandra would have glared or scolded him for insolence. Instead, he laughed—a full, hearty laugh that startled everyone, especially the mischievous brothers.

“Is that so?” said Lark, smiling. “Let me see.”

As he walked closer to the bed, Irene gently shifted her arms to reveal the child within the linen.

The boy’s hair was as fine and pale as morning sunlight, glinting faintly gold. His skin carried a warm tint, sun-kissed like his mother’s, and though his eyes were closed, a faint shimmer of gold could be seen through his lashes—like a sleeping ember beneath the dawn. His small fingers twitched every now and then.

Lark felt his lips curve into an unrestrained smile. “What a handsome child,” he said quietly. “He’ll break hearts when he grows up.”

Irene chuckled weakly. “We’ll make sure he grows up kind, so that never happens.”

“What’s his name?” Lark asked.

Anandra’s smile widened as he placed a hand over his wife’s shoulder. “Lucen, Master. His name is Lucen.”

Anandra was a commoner, and according to the laws of the kingdom, their child would assume the noble house’s name.

Lark nodded, as though committing the name to memory. “Lucen Chase. A fitting name for the child of two remarkable people.”

“Lucen means light,” explained Irene. “As parents, we hope this child will lead a bright and happy life in the future.” She kissed the child’s forehead and added, “I guess Mommy has to work harder to ensure that the kingdom you’ll grow up in will be peaceful even in the future.”

Hearing her words, resolve filled Anandra’s eyes as he nodded in agreement.

“I promise I’ll be strong enough to protect the two of you,” said Anandra.

Irene chuckled, “How reassuring, my dear.”

Anandra blushed, and George mimicked the act of vomiting on the ground.

Lark smiled contentedly. He’d been filled with boiling rage on the way to the capital after learning about what the Wandering Sage did to the members of the investigation team.

But after witnessing this sight, his rage dissipated. Deep inside, he was truly grateful that he’d been given a second chance to live such a fulfilling life.

Lark lingered for a while longer, watching the newborn breathe in peaceful rhythm. For all the chaos waiting beyond the city walls—the politics, the wars, the threats—this moment felt like a quiet miracle.

***

A week had passed since then.

As expected, the issued bounty on the Wandering Sage became a hot topic in the taverns.

Aside from the monetary reward—enough for one to buy a small city and live the rest of their lives luxuriously—the adamantite, piece of land, and nobility title were simply too tempting to ignore.

Adamantite wasn’t something someone could buy just because they had the money, but the King of Lukas was promising a large block weighing twenty kilograms!

Who was this Wandering Sage, and what did they do to piss off the King of Lukas?

Just by the mind-boggling rewards alone, it was apparent that King Lark was utterly furious.

Most of the people gossiping in the taverns mocked the Wandering Sage for making enemies with King Lark, who was considered one of the most influential and powerful individuals on the continent right now. But there were also some who looked up to the Wandering Sage for being so fearless and not caring even if they offended such a big shot.

While the common folk were busy discussing the bounty, Lark received two pieces of news from Secretary Irene, who’d recently resumed official duty.

First was the disappearance of Kalavinka, and second was news regarding the capture of Hatch and Van Bucky.

“Kalavinka Kelvin is missing?” said Lark.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” said Secretary Irene. “He suddenly disappeared one day without anyone noticing. It was only this morning when we received news about this matter.”

“Is it the pirates?” muttered Lark. “But no… I’ve assigned several Blackstone Knights as his guards.”

If the pirates had captured the boy, there should have been signs of battle at least. But according to the reports they’d received, Kalavinka seemed to have simply disappeared, as though he’d left the port of his own volition.

Or maybe…

The culprit who captured the boy was so skilled that the Blackstone Knights and soldiers nearby didn’t notice them at all.

“I promised him that I’d help rebuild the House Kelvin if he served me for several years,” said Lark. “Look into this matter, and send out several military ships and envoys to the Mullgray Islands. If we still can’t find Kalavinka in the next two weeks, we’ll ask the new Pirate King directly for his whereabouts.”

If the Pirate King was involved in this matter, confronting him about it could potentially cause a war between their two nations, but Lark no longer cared about that.

As arrogant as it may sound, he currently wielded enough power to crush the pirates if he so desired.

If those pirates were truly the ones behind the sudden disappearance of Kalavinka, he would make sure they suffered the consequences of their actions.

“And just in case, increase the security of the port,” said Lark. “Increase the number of patrol guards in the Kelvin Duchy, too.”

“Understood,” said Secretary Irene.

After discussing the matter related to the disappearance of Kalavinka Kelvin, Mokuva reported about the next pertinent matter—something known only to a select few in the kingdom.

The culprits behind the murder of the Lord of Lion City had been captured.

“Hatch of the Whale Tribe,” muttered Lark. “And Van Bucky, the Protector of the Rabbit Tribe.”

“They’re currently locked up in the dungeons underneath the headquarters of the Patrol,” said Mokuva.

Lark stood up. “I’ll see them myself.”

After the truth behind the atrocious deeds of Lord Valcres came to light, Lark believed that what the beastmen did was justified. Even he would have probably killed the city lord if he were in their shoes.

Although Lark had no intention of persecuting the two for what they’d done, as the king, there were still rules he had to adhere to.

Escorted by several royal guards, Lark arrived at the headquarters of the Patrol. He went down two floors and entered the dungeons.
Standing guard at the entrance was an Arzomos—the person who’d captured the two.

“King Lark,” said the Arzomos.

Lark didn’t know this demon’s name, but he was certain he was one of Kel’ Vual’s close aides.

“You’re injured,” said Lark.

There was a visible large cut on his chest, arms, and legs. The Arzomos must have relied on his natural regenerative abilities instead of using a potion. Although the wounds had lightly closed, the cuts were still visible.

The Arzomos smiled in amusement. “Those beastmen are impressive. I almost died trying to capture them alive. You don’t want them dead, do you?”

Subduing a target was exponentially harder than killing them.

Lark was really grateful that this Arzomos went to such lengths out of consideration for him.

“Thank you.”

“Since you’re here,” said the Arzomos, “I’ll be taking my leave. And be careful; those two are quite fierce. Especially the big guy. I’m considered one of the stronger ones in the tribe, but even I had a hard time fighting that one.”

Lark was surprised when he heard this.

How impressive.

He didn’t expect that even a member of the Arzomos tribe would struggle to capture those two beastmen.

Given enough time, those beastmen would probably grow even stronger in the future, and they might even become strong enough to defeat an Arzomos on their own.

It was no wonder they won the competition in the Magna Coliseum.

After the Arzomos left, Lark proceeded to the deepest part of the dungeon, where the cells of the two beastmen stood.

The air was stale and heavy with the scent of rust and damp stone.
Recently-lit torches lined the narrow corridor, their flames flickering weakly, painting the walls in uneven shades of gold and shadow. Lark walked past the empty cells, his footsteps echoing softly against the stone.

When he reached the final chamber, he stopped.

Inside, two figures sat on the ground. One was massive, his shoulders broad enough to block the wall behind him; the other leaner, with sharp eyes that glowed faintly in the dimness. Their weapons had been confiscated and placed elsewhere, and the chains that bound them were simple iron, not enchanted.

With just a glance, Lark could tell that the whale beastman could destroy those chains and escape if he wanted to.

Unlike the Arzomos, the wounds of the whale beastman had fully healed already. His regenerative abilities were as monstrous as the reports. He probably chose to stay here since the black rabbit nearby still hadn’t recovered from the wounds he’d sustained during their last fight.

The two captives looked at the person outside their cell.

The moment they saw Lark, their eyes widened.

“It’s been a while,” said Lark.

“Your Majesty,” said Van.

“King Lark,” muttered Hatch.

The darkness of their cell failed to hide the shame on their faces. Although they didn’t regret killing the city lord, they still found it hard to swallow the fact that they’d caused problems for the United Grakas Alliance’s benefactor.

“Open it,” said Lark to the royal guards behind him.

Although reluctant, the royal guards followed their orders and opened the cell where the two beastmen were being held captive.

Lark entered and sat directly in front of Van Bucky. Hatch looked at what was happening incredulously.

They thought that Lark was going to interrogate them regarding the murder of the city lord. But unexpectedly, he asked them an entirely unrelated question instead.

“I heard from the Beast King before,” said Lark, “the two of you plan to journey around the world.”

Although still confused, Van replied, “Yes...”

Hatch added wryly, “We planned to. But look at what happened.”

Fate sometimes played cruel tricks on people. These two beastmen, who dreamed of nothing but seeing the world with their own eyes, ended up locked here because of a single encounter with a deranged human.

“So, how is it? How’s your journey so far?” said Lark.

“Your Majesty…” said Van cautiously. “Why are you asking these questions instead of that?” He sighed. “Very well, since you want to know, we’ll tell you.”

Van’s eyes glimmered. “It was amazing. Although we may look pathetic after being locked up here, we never regretted our decision to leave the Alliance for even a single day.”

“That’s right!” Hatch chimed in. “We’ve only been to the Kingdom of Lukas so far, but it’s so big that we haven’t explored all of its cities even now!”

The United Grakas Alliance was larger than the kingdom, but the beastmen didn’t seem to care about that small fact.

Hatch continued, “We can only imagine what’s in store for us in the future! The Empire, the Republic! The Kingdom of Steelwall, the Principality, the Mullgray Islands! And there’s also the Three States Alliance and the Dwarven Kingdom!”

For some reason, the Elven Kingdom and the other nations in the southern continent weren’t on the list, but Lark didn’t pry further about that.

Maybe Hatch wasn’t aware of the Elven Kingdom’s existence, or maybe he was simply too lazy to include its name.

“Tell me about your experience in Lukas,” said Lark, smiling.

By this time, the beastmen had started lowering their guard upon realizing that it was genuine – Lark truly wanted to hear about their experiences during their travels.

They’d never told these stories extensively to someone before, and they had to admit that it felt exhilarating.

After an hour had passed, even Van started talking animatedly, not minding the rattling of his chains as he waved his arms now and then.

Lark had heard from Mikael Garios before that these two had visited Blackstone City, but hearing about it firsthand from their mouths gave him a fresh, different perspective.

“When we drank the alcohol handed to us by Mikael, my vision went black, and we thought he’d added poison to the drink! Hahaha!”

Hatch’s laughter resounded in the dungeons, and Van smiled fondly as he reminisced.

“Hmmm… I haven’t tried that one,” said Lark. “I’ll ask Mikael about it once I visit Blackstone City again in the future.”

Their conversation lasted nearly three hours, and by the time they were almost done, several patrol guards had arrived on this floor, worried about why the king had been taking so long to come out.

“Perfect timing,” said Lark to the patrol. “You’ve confiscated their weapons, yes?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” said one of the patrols. “We’ve been keeping them in storage.”

“Retrieve them for me,” said Lark. “Unlock the chains of these two and return their weapons.”

“…Pardon?”

“You heard me correctly,” said Lark. “I want you to release them.”

Naturally, the royal guards and the patrol were against it. The whale beastman was so huge that he could probably snap Lark’s neck with a single hand.

“They’re not dangerous,” said Lark.

“But…”

“It’s an order.”

The royal guards and the members of the patrol looked at each other. In the end, they compromised by strategically positioning themselves near Lark.

Should any ‘accidents’ occur, they would throw their bodies forward and shield him from harm. At the very least, it should be possible for them to buy enough time for their liege to escape unharmed.

Metal clanked, manacles were opened, and the chains binding the two beastmen fell to the floor with a loud thud. Five guards painstakingly dragged Hatch’s battleaxe and returned it to him. Likewise, Van also received his twin curved swords back.

“What’s the meaning of this?” said Van, his voice filled with disbelief.

“Isn’t it obvious?” said Lark. “I’m releasing the two of you.”

“But we killed one of your own,” said Hatch.

“You mean Valcres?” said Lark. Although there were dozens of ears nearby, he didn’t hesitate to denigrate the dead man. “That bastard deserved it. Honestly, I’m grateful that you killed him.”

The two beastmen were stunned.

Never in their wildest dreams did they expect that the human king would side with them like this.

They realized that the city lord was such a piece of scum that even his king didn’t care whether or not he was killed.

“You’ve done well,” said Lark. “I will free the two of you now, but I have to ask that you stay in the capital for a week or two.”

Van was quick-witted. He said, “The legal procedures, huh. We still need to undergo trial.”

“That’s correct,” said Lark. “Although the outcome is already predetermined, there are rules and processes we need to adhere to. Even I can’t mindlessly bend the law, after all. But rest assured, I will expedite everything and make sure it won’t cause harm to the two of you.”

Seeing Lark’s blatant favor toward the two of them, Van and even Hatch couldn’t help but bow their heads in gratitude.

“Thank you, Your Majesty.”

“We’ll never forget this favor.”

Now that this matter had been taken care of, Lark deemed it was time to return to the Dwarven Kingdom.

He wanted to check the current progress of the floating castle, examine the parts intended for his body modification, and inspect the adamantite steles he would use as the medium for Heaven’s Dominion.