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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Thunder Pavilion Master's Fall
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The moment the Thunder Pavilion Master collapsed and Havel lightly landed atop the mountain range.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ You have defeated the master of the 3rd hierarchy, 'Thunder Pavilion Master'. You have accomplished a feat never before shown by anyone. Rewards will be distributed on the altar.
The Tower's voice began resounding in Havel's ears.
It was a different voice from the Demonic Palace.
"The Tower gives rewards for defeating the master too, huh."
He had just been thinking that with such generous rewards, it would help Banpellyon.
But for Havel, the real reward was something else.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ The Tower eyes you warily. Achievement 'Slayer of the 3rd Hierarchy Master' has been registered. The 'Tower 3rd Hierarchy Master''s Calamity permeates your body. 'Thunder Qi' has taken root in your body. ⚔ STATUS BOOST ⚔ ⚡ Strength: +31 💨 Agility: +34 ✨ Talent: +34 💪 Endurance: +37 🎭 Technique: +38 ☠️ Calamity: +35
The highest values yet were displayed.
Havel raised his sword and gave it a light swing.
The air split, sending trees crashing down one after another.
He could clearly feel a power different from before, matching those numbers.
Four digits were beginning to take shape.
Seeing this, Havel pointed his sword toward the sky.
'Thunder Qi.'
Crackle!
In that instant, brilliant white sparks erupted along Havel's blade.
His condensed aura had transformed into thunder qi.
The moment he thrust it skyward.
Kaboom!
Lightning pierced the thunderclouds and soared upward.
It was identical to the Thunder Pavilion Master's.
"Crazy. Unbelievable."
Others would call it mastering thunder qi, yet he'd grasped it this easily.
He truly felt how outrageous the power the Demonic Palace had granted him was.
'What realm will I reach after climbing the entire Tower?'
Havel had long surpassed the realms the world divided.
The Demonic Palace demanded transcending human limits, after all.
Yet now he was growing beyond even indefinable realms.
"Sheesh."
He couldn't tell if his path was smoothly paved or a bed of thorns.
It was downright frustrating.
'Just something to worry about for now.'
It was a problem he couldn't resolve yet.
Havel shoved it from his mind.
Then he returned to the altar.
"Havel!"
Dante rushed over as Havel approached.
Dante was singed here and there.
He must have fought his own fierce battle.
But those sparkling eyes suggested he'd gained something.
"Any injuries?"
"None."
That was enough.
As long as it wouldn't hinder climbing the Tower.
"Havel, come check this out."
With that, Dante led him to the altar's center.
A massive pile of byproducts was stacked there.
They screamed high value at a glance.
Havel realized these were the Tower's rewards.
"Isn't this way too much?"
"Yeah, I've never seen rewards in this quantity."
The Tower's rewards were usually enough for an entire knight order to split.
Still plenty for each member.
But this haul exceeded even that.
Enough for a bare-bones family to establish a solid foundation.
"No way we can carry it all."
Dante wanted it all, naturally.
But he only had two hands.
No pricey spatial artifacts either.
Carrying capacity had hard limits.
At least they'd bundled up in the 2nd hierarchy safe zone.
"Tch. Fine. Let's grab the best stuff. Time to head down anyway."
Dante followed Havel's lead, though reluctant.
As he said, taking everything was impossible.
"Rewards only get better higher up. We'll snag those—no issue."
Dante nodded in agreement.
Havel would conquer the Tower without a hitch.
No point getting greedy on the lower floors.
"Right. I'll pick only the most valuable."
Dante diligently sorted the byproducts.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
After packing all the byproducts.
Havel and Dante exited the Tower once.
The outside world was unchanged.
'Good. Unlike the Demonic Palace, no century skipped by.'
That would've been a real shock.
Havel turned to Dante.
"Dante, where were you planning to sell the byproducts?"
"With this much, probably a major merchant group that can move it fast. They'll haggle, though."
Dante looked less than confident.
He was a knight, not a bargaining trader.
Havel paused in thought.
A certain merchant group had come to mind.
'Beltella.'
The group that traded with Banpellyon back then.
'They backed us big during the Demonic Palace fiasco.'
Claiming they couldn't skimp on support for the hero who'd save the emperor.
Issue was, he hadn't saved the emperor.
Havel hadn't even returned for a century.
'They still around?'
Banpellyon was in ruins now.
Beltella might as well have been their direct arm.
Surely took a hit.
'Feel kinda bad. If they're hanging on, I'd like to toss them some business.'
He wanted to trade if they survived.
"Dante, you know the Beltella Merchant Group?"
"Beltella? Yeah, I've heard the name."
Dante pondered, expression vague.
Then something clicked, and he turned to Havel.
"The ones who dealt with Banpellyon ages ago, right?"
Good—Dante knew of them.
"Yeah. Prefer to deal with them if possible."
"Understood. I'll track them down."
Dante agreed without hesitation.
He followed Havel's word unquestioningly.
Soon after Dante inquired.
Beltella was in Babel, fortunately.
"Not far. I'll guide you."
Dante led the way at once.
Deep into the shopping district, reaching the outskirts after some walking.
A rundown shop came into view.
Havel sighed inwardly at the sight.
Beltella, once a grand caravan.
Now reduced to this lone outpost.
'Overextending on Demonic Palace support must've backfired.'
They'd banked on imperial compensation for backing Banpellyon.
But no emperor, no Havel returned.
Beltella must've reeled from it.
"Let's head in."
Havel opened the door and stepped inside.
A young boy was wiping down goods.
"Welcome."
Sleepy features, thick brows.
Reddish-brown hair.
Old memories surfaced for Havel.
The Unified War days.
A boy prowling the battlefield heart.
He'd scavenged enemy arrows, sold them to the army.
Used the cash to build a merchant group.
Then hauled war supplies, raking in fortunes.
"If everyone just flees war, how do we live once it ends? I'll take the future over safety."
Arhan teetered on defeat then.
He'd insisted the army needed them most now.
And their supplies did help clinch the victory.
Beltella profited handsomely too.
This boy before him evoked that very Beltella.
Had to be a descendant.
'Goods quality.'
Even a quick scan showed prime stock.
Few could afford such in a dump like this.
But those who could? Pure gems unearthed.
'Bet he's got loyal regulars.'
Tower climbers, no doubt.
When they rose to fame, the shop would ride their coattails.
The boy was playing the long game.
'Sharp mind. Business savvy. Eyes on the future—just like the man.'
Promising.
Havel smiled.
Had it been some sleazy hawker, he'd have cut old ties.
But the shop screamed potential.
That boy was destined for greatness.
And bridging him to Banpellyon? Havel's role.
"Dante."
Dante set the bundle before the boy.
"Ah, here to sell?"
The boy showed mild interest.
In a shack like this, sellers brought low-tier scraps usually.
But the bundle opened—and he froze stiff.
"Wha—what?"
His eyes darted over the haul.
Havel caught the raw hunger in them.
Enough to fund several new shops.
No wonder his head spun.
But soon, a troubled frown.
"Th-those byproducts are definitely top value, but..."
He lacked the funds.
"Not something I can handle right now."
He admitted plainly—his coffers couldn't cover it.
But that "right now" hung key.
Havel asked.
"How long?"
The boy's eyes lit up instantly.
It meant handing off distribution.
Folks hauling this much?
Bound to bring more.
One deal like this, and Beltella's revival was set.
"One month—no, one week."
Fearing a backout, he blurted it fast.
Still, suspicion lingered.
Why dump premium goods here?
Beltella's glory days? A century past.
Too ancient for nostalgia.
The name held no weight for him.
So why seek Beltella? No clue.
But opportunity knocked.
Merchants seized chances.
Sole lesson handed down in Beltella.
"One week."
Havel let the silence stretch.
Sentiment aside, the kid was a trader.
He strung it out, watching him squirm.
That face just screamed Beltella—oddly fun.
"Deal."
"Thank you!"
The boy boomed back.
Strong lungs.
"Your name?"
Long-term partner ahead.
Worth remembering.
The boy whipped out a business card from his vest.
"Beltella Merchant Group's head, Belfoa."
Proclaiming it boldly? Talent shone.
Havel pocketed the card.
Then the boy asked.
"And you, sir?"
"Banpellyon."
Havel gave the family name.
"Banpellyon—the house you'll deal with from here on."
Direct merchant-family pact.
As the boy's eyes widened, Havel turned.
"Later."
Beltella: Banpellyon's future cornerstone.
Expecting the boy and his group to soar.