Volume 6 Chapter 17 Valzeil And Horace
"It's been a long time, Horace."
"Since Gaspar Redless lost control at the world conference? Yes... even longer, Your Majesty."
"Back then, I never thought we'd speak like this again."
They sat in Valzeil's office in the Diamante Kingdom.
Valzeil had cleared the room. Even the Knight Order's leader, Cain, wasn't allowed inside. Only Horace remained. He sat on the couch, quiet.
"You've changed, Your Majesty," Horace said.
"Do I look stronger now?"
"Not your body. But the way you scare people... it's stronger than before."
"You're right. I can't use a sword or magic. But now, I can crush more enemies with fear alone."
He used his eyes like weapons. Magic flowed through them, sharp like a cannon. Tiaris once called it that—his "cannon stare." Over time, it only grew more powerful.
"How strong is it now?" Horace asked.
"I can freeze monsters on the sixty-fifth floor. They stop moving. My soldiers finish them off while I hold them still."
Horace was quiet. Then he said, "S-rank... They say those Adventurers are like monsters themselves. The average S-rank works between the fifty-first and sixtieth floors. And you—without magic or swordplay—can push even deeper?"
"I'm not a fighter. I'm not even close to that level. But fear—fear changes things."
"No one ever said a leader should fight monsters."
"I used to think the same. But humans don't have claws or scales. We have ideas. We use fear. Even monsters can feel it. That's all there is to it."
"...I guess that's true."
"And you've done the same, haven't you? Even when your body was failing, you pushed monsters back with fear."
Horace gave a small nod.
He'd been an Adventurer for five years. Then he worked in the castle for ten more. During that time, he traveled the world, finding members for the Luster Report and fighting many battles. He didn't always win cleanly.
His strongest weapon was the iron golem Deus Ex Machina. But he couldn't use it well until after the Demon Lord fell. Only then could he gather the rare metals it needed.
He'd been in real danger before. Many times. And sometimes, only fear saved him.
"When you left the capital," Valzeil said, "things got bad. Real bad. But we managed... because of intimidation."
In this world, strong people get rich. Dungeon monsters drop coins. Deep floors have treasure—rare magic tools that can change the world.
S-rank Adventurers are called "non-human." They fight in places most people never see. Floors fifty to sixty are hard, but still reachable by normal humans—with enough work.
But floor sixty-five?
To hold back monsters there with fear alone—that is real power.
"I needed money. I had no time to build an army. So I dove into dungeons myself. I went with my men. I did what I could."
Horace didn't answer. But he thought: So that's why he looks so old now.
He used to think Valzeil was fifty-five. Now, he looked like he was in his sixties.
But his real age was only forty-two.
Still, fear needs fire. You don't get used to it. It burns you.
Reaching the sixty-fifth floor was likely his limit. Doing that again and again would ruin anyone. Of course he aged faster.
Horace didn't say that out loud.
"Though... being seen as old isn't always bad," Valzeil said.
"That's true."
He knew people thought he looked older. But that look—an old man with power—gave him an edge. People respected it. Feared it. And he needed that.
Still, even if he knew it was true... he didn't like hearing it.
Horace, age twenty-seven, had accepted that he was a grown man now. If someone called him old, he wouldn't care.
Valzeil, though? He cared. A little too much.
"Anyway," Valzeil said, "I used that fear to gather gold."
"Is it enough?"
Horace knew how deep Valzeil could go. Sixty-five floors was impressive. But he also knew the dungeon maps near the capital. And Valzeil had government duties, too. Horace had handled them alone for ten years. He could guess how much time Valzeil had for diving.
So the question stood: Was it enough?
"...About that," Valzeil said, "there was a special item in the vault. It only works after floor sixty. It boosts the amount of gold you collect. It's an accessory."
"Only after sixty?"
"Yes. And it stacks with others. It was marked as a gift from the 'Four Source Maidens.'"
"The Four Maidens? Those Adventurers from over a thousand years ago?"
"Yes. Though... the dates don't line up."
The Diamante Kingdom was founded four hundred years ago. The math didn't make sense. But that wasn't the point today.
"Anyway," Valzeil said, standing, "I didn't call you here just to talk about money. I want to borrow something from you."
"Something I have?"
"You'll understand once you see who had it first. Come in!"
Valzeil looked toward the door.
It opened.
A man in a trench coat stepped in.
"Sid... you're here?"
"Yes. The new Commander, Cain, found my hiding place."
He was once a partner of Eudynes the Great, a hero from one hundred years ago.
Sid, Apostle of the God of Provisions Arzent, and leader of the Key of Pharos, entered the room.
Character Notes:
• Gaspar - Head of House Redless in the Obsidian magic Dukedom.
• Cain - A 14-year-old beautiful boy with short, light purple hair. Newly appointed Commander of the Diamante Kingdom Knight Order. Highly talented and efficient, tasked with managing the 'Forest of Souls' dungeon and participating in the Blood Duel Cup. Twin brother of Abel.
• Tiaris - Blonde, busty maid with a charming smile. Manages the mansion, prepares Horace's workspace, and works independently. Grateful for being raised by Horace, dedicates herself to serving him.
• Deus - A mischievous, childlike entity who transformed from Horace's battle equipment into a five-year-old boy with bright red hair. Energetic, curious, and chaotic, he calls everyone 'mommy,' survives lethal blows from Horace’s golem, and casually discusses alchemy and magic. Horace's exasperated yet intrigued companion.
• Eudynes - Weird adventurers from a hundred years ago who were the first to understand the 'Golem Master' concept. Horace respects them but uses their story as a cautionary tale.
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