Episode 91 – The Dilemma (1)

“What kind of nonsense is that? Why would these guys ever live as slaves?”

Everyone was too shocked to speak, but Albert quickly snapped at Helvina in disbelief.

“Kazar doesn’t look like someone who’d ever live under another person as a slave.”
“Exactly. And you think sword aura or magic power just falls from the sky? You’re telling me those kids who used to be slaves in a mine suddenly became experts like this?”
“How should I know! Maybe that mine teaches slaves magic and swordsmanship!”
“Don’t be ridiculous!”

Helvina knew it didn’t make sense either.

Ernolf was an intelligent and talented mage. And Kazar’s swordsmanship and quick, experienced decision-making were skills that could only come from years of harsh training.

As they argued, Kazar was thinking the same thing.

‘Yeah, that part never made sense to me either. I started using magic like crazy right after awakening my mana heart.’

Ernolf had gained strength from the Beast King’s heart and the teachings of Elfriede Serel.
But even before that, he was strangely good at using magic.

‘Usually, when you first awaken, the only magic you can use is something simple like fire. But my brother…’

Kazar remembered Ernolf fighting Retchaka back in the mine.
He had used ice magic first, then created a fire-attribute mana shield afterward.

A fireball might be possible without learning spells, but a mana shield?
Could someone really use that without knowing the proper spell formation?

‘Maybe it’s like aura shields — something you can do with pure control of energy?’

Trying to make sense of it, Kazar thought maybe Ernolf could do it because he had strong control over mana, like a swordsman with aura.

‘Even before getting the Beast King’s heart, Tyr was strong. He killed that fake priest of Thalisa and defeated Belligan. He even disarmed complex traps and opened sealed magic boxes like it was nothing.’

Could someone who awakened on their own actually create spell formations instinctively?

‘It’s almost like… he learned magic before.’

While Kazar was thinking that, Ernolf was having the same thought.

‘Yeah, I’ve wondered that too. Look at Kazar — he fights like a veteran who’s spent decades on battlefields. Could anyone really fight like that just by self-learning?’

The brothers shared a silent, meaningful glance.

‘No way… he didn’t travel through time like I did, did he?’

The sudden idea shocked Kazar — but he immediately rejected it.
Tyrad had died in the mine just before his fifteenth birthday. His life ended there.
Even if he had been reborn, he couldn’t have retained his past magical knowledge.

‘Unless… someone else’s soul took over his body? No. That’s impossible. We resonate with each other — this is Tyrad. It has to be.’

For fifty years, Kazar had missed Tyrad — not just because he was his twin brother, but because of the “Resonance.”

People say twins are born from one divided soul. Because of that, some twins can share each other’s thoughts and emotions even when apart — this bond is called “soul resonance.”

So even though Tyrad was weak, a bit strange, and had a difficult personality, the resonance proved he was his real brother.

‘That was a silly thought.’

Kazar erased the doubt from his heart.

Ernolf, who had wondered if a veteran warrior’s soul had possessed Kazar, also dismissed the idea.

‘No, he’s definitely Kazar. He remembers everything from his life, and honestly, he still acts like a brat.’

Though it was strange that Kazar fought so skillfully right after awakening, he was still undeniably himself. Possession didn’t fit.

They both sighed at the same time and turned away from each other.

There was no point staring — they had more important problems right now.

“We’re exactly halfway,” Ernolf said suddenly.

Kazar blinked. “Halfway?”
“We’re just about to enter the 4th floor.”
“Oh… yeah. Right in the middle.”

Their party was in a dungeon with six levels, standing right between the 3rd and 4th floors.

If they had been one floor higher or lower, the decision would’ve been easier.
But now, they were stuck right in the middle — the worst possible spot for hesitation.

“What’s this? Are you two thinking about leaving? Is it true what we heard in the mercenary town?” Helvina asked, shocked. Her voice rose sharply, almost like a scream.

“Why should we answer that?”
“Let me handle this, Kazar.”

Ernolf stepped forward calmly, drawing everyone’s attention.

Wal swallowed nervously.

‘Wait, is he really going to tell them everything?’

Back in the Densalbi Mountains, Wal had learned that Ernolf and Kazar were escaped slaves.
If the nobles like Elcid, Albert, and Jephroi found out, who knew how they’d react?

Ernolf began speaking quietly.
“We lived as slaves in a mine until just before we came to Clerron.”

“What? Are you serious?”
“Yes.”

“Then who helped you awaken? Was there a mage or a warrior guiding you?”

Albert and Jephroi bombarded him with questions. Ernolf remained calm.

“No. It was a small mine. There were no such people.”
“Then how did you awaken? Did some traveler just happen to help you?”
“Oh, wait — is that why you didn’t name your guide?”

The brothers’ hearts raced as they waited for his answer.

Ernolf replied evenly,
“Have you ever heard the legend of those who awaken by themselves?”

Albert frowned. “Wait, you mean people who awaken without a guide?”

Jephroi nodded. “Yeah, that’s what he means.”

“That’s possible?”
“Think about it — the very first person who ever awakened had no guide.”
“Oh… right. The first one must’ve done it alone. But why are you bringing that up?”

Albert already guessed what Ernolf was implying — but he didn’t want to believe it.

“You’re not saying you two are self-awakened, are you?”

“Do you think so?” Ernolf asked softly.

Elcid cut in before Albert could speak. “Wait, are you saying yes?”

“Yes,” Ernolf said clearly. “Both Kazar and I awakened without any guide.”

Everyone froze.

Self-awakened beings were the stuff of myth — the first magician who created magic itself, the dragon slayer who killed a legendary beast alone… people like that.

And Ernolf had just said he and Kazar were like that.

It was too shocking for words.

“It is surprising, I know,” Ernolf continued calmly. “But it didn’t happen once — it happened twice, in the same bloodline. I awakened magic, and Kazar awakened aura.”

He smiled faintly. “Not only that, but we also gained the understanding of sword techniques and magic spells as if we already knew them before birth.”

“Okay, stop!” Albert waved his hand, laughing in disbelief.

Jephroi and Elcid also let out awkward chuckles.

“Come on, Ernolf! You almost got me for a second!”
“Yeah, seriously — self-awakened and born knowing sword arts? What a story!”

Ernolf sighed. “It seems my humor doesn’t match yours. I always end up getting misunderstood.”

The three nobles shook their heads, still chuckling.

Helvina, however, wasn’t laughing. Her eyes narrowed.

“So what are you saying? That Kashion got it wrong?”

Ernolf shrugged. “I told the truth. Believe it or not — that’s up to you.”

“Ha! You call that believable?!” Albert shouted, his voice echoing down the stone corridor.

Just then, a rock fell from above. Jephroi flinched, whispering nervously, “Please tell me that tunnel isn’t collapsing again.”

Then he asked softly, “So… if that’s true, then the person Kashion took hostage isn’t your parent?”

“Then there’s nothing to worry about, right?”

Ernolf didn’t answer them. Instead, he turned to Helvina.

“But tell me — why did you share something that important? Did Kashion tell you to?”

“What?” Helvina snapped.

She’d told them because she owed them her life — but now they were accusing her of being Kashion’s spy.

“To threaten us with a hostage, we’d have to know there’s a hostage,” Ernolf said coldly. “It sounds like you were sent here to deliver that message.”

Albert nodded. “You know, he’s right. You don’t seem like someone who’d freely share such critical information.”

He half drew his sword, while Jephroi pulled Elcid closer, just in case.

“So you still think I’m Kashion’s lackey?” Helvina said bitterly.

“Trust must be earned,” Ernolf replied calmly.

“Then what do I have to do to make you believe me?”

“Well,” he said, “you could start by telling us more useful things.”

If the hostage wasn’t their parents, the information she’d given was worthless to them.

Helvina sighed. “Fine. I’ll tell you everything I know.”

“Kashion joined hands with the Red Serpent, Maderil. Maderil is the second-highest priest in the Temple of the Serpent of Wisdom.”

“What kind of person is he?”

“All I know is that he’s stronger than Belligan. He’s lived in seclusion for years, so not much else is known.”

Ernolf frowned — he’d never heard of this Maderil before.

But Kazar’s face stiffened.

‘Wait… could he already have become a vampire?’

In Kazar’s past life, Maderil didn’t turn into a vampiric sorcerer until about ten years later.
That meant history had changed again.

‘This is getting troublesome…’

He didn’t know if Kashion really had their father as a hostage, or if Maderil was truly working with him — or how powerful they’d become now.

‘What should I do?’

His father’s life might be in danger. Should he keep exploring the dungeon or go back to face Kashion and Maderil right now?

“What do you think we should do?” Ernolf asked.

“You’re asking me to decide?” Kazar replied.

“Yes. You were the one who insisted we come here. And besides,” Ernolf said calmly, “you’re the one thinking more clearly about this than I am. I can’t remember our parents — but you can. So tell me, should we keep going, or turn back?”