Carian Manor

"Ha ha, goodbye, Brother Luo!"

The two had their arms around each other's shoulders, eating prawns and chatting away. The more they talked, the more animated they became.

As Lin Luo spoke, he even gestured with his hands. Shrimp Bro wore a hat, so his expression could not be seen, but his tone made it clear that he was excited as well.

If Melina had not dragged Lin Luo away in the end, the two of them probably would have sworn brotherhood on the spot.

Thinking of Shrimp Bro's timid expression when he had first seen Lin Luo, then looking at him now, calling "Brother Luo" one after another more affectionately than he would his own mother...

"Goodbye, goodbye! Next time I go to Stormveil Castle, I'll definitely have to eat your prawns!"

Lin Luo mounted Torrent and waved to Shrimp Bro.

"Alright! I'll head to Stormveil Castle right away! I definitely won't let Brother Luo down!"

"I'll spread Shrimp Bro—no, Brother Luo's Prawn Stall across the entire Lands Between!"

"What exactly did you say to him...?"

After leaving Shrimp Bro's shabby hut and walking for about several dozen minutes, Melina finally asked curiously...

"He looked so excited. Why did he seem like he was about to cry...?"

"Uh... it's hard to describe..."

Lin Luo scratched his head.

"It was kind of like how the Greater Will makes promises to the Tarnished and tells them to become Elden Lord!"

"Except Shrimp Bro really does have the ability... Mm, his prawns really are delicious."

Lin Luo licked his lips, still savoring the taste...

Melina found his expression rather amusing.

With a soft huff, her figure faded away once more.

Lin Luo did not mind and continued on his journey.

Ranni's Sorcerer's Tower stood beside Carian Manor in the upper reaches of Liurnia.

To reach Ranni's Sorcerer's Tower, he first had to pass through Carian Manor, where the Carian nobles lived.

Carian Manor had once been guarded by a powerful royal knight—Loretta.

But she was no longer here. Only a phantom of her remained in the manor, guarding the Royal Moongazing Grounds.

It was said that she had left to find a place for the Albinaurics to settle.

In the end, she had gone to Miquella's Haligtree and was presumably now one of its guardians.

But none of that had much to do with Lin Luo.

He was not even afraid of the real Loretta, much less a phantom.

Still, objectively speaking, Loretta's sorcery was quite powerful, especially Loretta's Slash. If all four arrows struck accurately, they would deal a fatal blow to the enemy.

But Lin Luo had never believed that anyone could be his match now. It was not that he looked down on all the heroes of the world; he simply had sufficient confidence in himself.

He followed the narrow path along Liurnia's cliffs. No foolish soldiers or demi-humans blocked his path, so Torrent's speed was unaffected.

After several hours of tedious travel, he finally reached his destination.

Lin Luo even spotted an "old acquaintance."

Not far from Carian Manor, a troll sat atop a massive stone platform. He wore a cape and a strange helmet made of several rectangular panes of glass. If Lin Luo remembered correctly, it was a crystal mirror helm—used to prevent interference from the Greater Will.

He held a book in his hands and quietly turned its pages. The enormous smithing table before him and the rack holding swords revealed his identity.

At that moment, Lin Luo walked over.

Torrent's hoofbeats immediately drew his attention.

"...Oh? A visitor... How rare."

The blacksmith spoke with a trace of disbelief.

"You look like a Tarnished. What brings you here?"

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The blacksmith paused, seeming to realize that his words had been somewhat impolite.

Then he added apologetically, "Oh... apologies. It is rather inappropriate to question you so closely."

"It's fine..."

Lin Luo smiled, indicating that he did not mind.

"My name is Lin Luo, a Tarnished. May I know your name?"

"Of course."

The blacksmith smiled. "My name is Iji. I once served the Carian royal family as a blacksmith..."

"...Then, even after my smithing skills declined, I still did not wish to retire, so I stayed here and quietly continued as a blacksmith..."

"This old man still has a few tricks left. Care to find out?"

"Mm..."

"Not for now..."

Lin Luo waved his hand.

"I'll be heading into Carian Manor shortly. I probably won't be staying here long."

"Tarnished... heed my advice..."

Iji said.

"This land was originally territory of the Carian royal family. Further ahead lies the manor where members of the royal family reside..."

"After Raya Lucaria Academy betrayed the royal family, many Carian Knights began attacking this place... After destroying this area, they pressed ever closer to the manor."

Iji looked toward Carian Manor in the distance and continued, "However, even after being caught off guard, the Carian royal family still had the strength to repel those knights."

"Only, the magical traps used back then still remain where they were, so... Tarnished, do not approach the manor..."

"You do not wish to follow in the footsteps of those foolish cuckoos, do you...?"

"I'm sorry, but even after all that, I still choose to go..."

Lin Luo rubbed his forehead helplessly.

"I'll find a way to deal with those magical traps... I have a reason I must enter Carian Manor..."

"Is that so...?"

Iji nodded lightly.

"Since you, Tarnished, have made your decision, that means you have enough confidence as well..."

"If you truly must go... try keeping close to the cliffside. There should not be many magical traps there."

"I see..."

Lin Luo stroked his chin. "Thanks."

"No need. It was nothing..."

Iji smiled and lowered his head to continue reading the book in his hands.

Naturally, Lin Luo had no intention of wasting so much effort forcing his way through. Since he could take a shortcut, why charge in headfirst?

Besides, Torrent certainly did not want to be struck by lightning either.

Lin Luo patted Torrent's back and mounted once more. Man and steed headed toward the outermost cliff, keeping close to the rock wall as they moved forward slowly.

Though a bolt or two of lightning occasionally struck toward them, they dissipated halfway due to the distance. At most, a thin streak of electricity would dart over, making Torrent shudder in fright.

They proceeded steadily, and before long arrived at the gates of Carian Manor.

At last, the magic stopped attacking Lin Luo. The lightning from before seemed as though it had never existed.

Lin Luo dismissed Torrent with the Spectral Steed Whistle and activated the Site of Grace at the entrance.

That "legendary weapon"—the Sword of Night and Flame—was here.

Lin Luo greatly enjoyed this sort of increase in strength. His power had stagnated long ago, and only when he fused Great Runes or obtained weapons like these did he feel himself improving even slightly.

Lin Luo took off his sorcerer's robes and put on a suit of silver-white armor. After all, clothes as thin as paper offered no protection whatsoever.

After finishing his preparations, Lin Luo stepped through the gates of Carian Manor...

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