Edgar

The dust kicked up by the meteorite settled...

The Meteorite of Astel truly deserved to be called powerful Stars magic. Although its accuracy was lacking, using it as an area-of-effect attack to clear minor enemies seemed, uh, a bit like overkill. Still, its efficiency was undeniably top-notch.

After all, Lin Luo had used Comet Azur against wandering sorcerers. Was it really excessive to use the Meteorite of Astel as an area-of-effect attack?

Perfectly reasonable.

Mm... it just burned through a bit too much mana.

Lin Luo looked at the demi-humans below, all of whom had already met their end, and smiled in satisfaction. Next, it was time to find Castle Morne's lord.

This lord of Castle Morne was like a stone in a latrine—stinking and stubborn. If you handed him Irena's letter directly, he would righteously refuse and declare that he was the lord of Castle Morne and had all sorts of responsibilities.

But if you killed the Lion Guardian behind the castle and showed him the Grafted Blade Greatsword, he would say, "I must live for my daughter..."

Unfortunately, though the tree wished to be still, the wind would not cease. Though the saying was not quite fitting here, its meaning held true. By the time he saw his daughter's corpse, regret would already be too late...

Lin Luo's appearance was meant to prevent that from happening. Such a fine girl, and she would have just died like that.

Thinking of this, Lin Luo could not help feeling a little sentimental. But only a little. After experiencing so much, he had come to see many things more lightly.

He brushed the dust from his clothes, held the Moonveil Katana in hand, and headed deeper into Castle Morne.

This time, he was not simply grinding through a quest as before. Lin Luo intended to wipe out every demi-human in the castle and make this place his first base.

There were not many demi-humans along the way. At least, compared to the group downstairs, they were hardly worth mentioning.

Lin Luo was delighted. He killed one when one came, a pair when two came. If several rushed him together, he used Bloodhound's Step, rolled away, then sent them straight to the Erdtree with a Moonlight Slash.

The paths atop Castle Morne's walls were tangled and complex, but Lin Luo knew them like the back of his hand. He jumped down through a breach in the wall, cut down the nearby demi-human along the way, and headed directly toward the castle lord's location.

The lord stood atop a battlement, and the spiral stairs leading up to it were blocked by broken planks and barrels.

Naturally, that could not stop Lin Luo. With two swift slashes, he split the wooden debris apart.

"Who goes there!"

The commotion was not small, and Castle Morne's lord naturally noticed it.

In his current situation, alertness mattered more than strength.

"If you do not wish to leave your head here, leave at once. Castle Morne is no longer what it once was!"

Upon seeing Lin Luo, the lord relaxed slightly. He did not expect anyone to help him, but neither did he want to drag anyone else into this.

"You are Castle Morne's lord, right...?"

Lin Luo pondered for a moment, then said, "Your daughter, Irena, asked me to come..."

"Irena? My daughter!"

The lord's expression changed.

"Oh, forgive me, Tarnished. I apologize for my earlier harsh words. But Castle Morne is truly dangerous now. I do not want you caught up in this."

"Let me introduce myself again. I am Edgar, lord of Castle Morne, ordered by Lord Godrick to guard this place."

"Your daughter hopes that you will survive."

Lin Luo said flatly, "Your daughter is blind. How could she possibly survive in the chaos of the Lands Between?"

"If she had not encountered me, she would probably have become a corpse long ago."

"How could that be..." Edgar murmured.

"Where is Irena? She is unharmed, isn't she?"

"Of course she is unharmed."

Lin Luo wiped the Moonveil Katana in his hand and slowly said, "My... wife will bring her here later."

"What! No, absolutely not..."

Edgar looked extremely agitated. "No, Castle Morne is too dangerous. Irena... Irena cannot return!"

"How do you think I got in here...?"

Lin Luo glanced at Edgar and sheathed his katana.

"As a lord, you are more than qualified."

"As a father, you are somewhat lacking."

"Wait, you mean...?"

Edgar caught the veiled meaning in Lin Luo's words and did not take offense. After all, Lin Luo was right. But he had noticed Lin Luo's first sentence.

An incredulous light flickered in Edgar's eyes. He hurriedly stood and looked down beneath the battlement.

"How... can this be..."

Edgar spoke in disbelief, then suddenly looked toward Lin Luo.

"That commotion just now... was that you as well?"

"..."

Lin Luo looked at Edgar without speaking, but Edgar had already found the answer in his eyes.

Edgar had not paid attention earlier. Given the current state of the castle, such commotions happened every day.

Thud!

Edgar suddenly dropped to one knee.

The foot he kept raised bore a lord's dignity; the foot he lowered bore responsibility.

"Please... help me... quell the rebellion in Castle Morne."

Sorrow filled Edgar's face, and tears welled in his eyes.

"We cannot let Castle Morne's secret treasure fall into their hands."

"I have nothing to offer as payment. If you can reclaim the 'legendary weapon,' then it is yours by right..."

"But I still hope you can help me... I do not want to disappoint Lord Godrick..."

Edgar lowered his final raised leg and knelt straight before Lin Luo. He knew he was no match for the Lion Guardian.

"Sigh..."

Lin Luo could not help sighing as well. He was not sighing over Edgar's humility, but over his blind loyalty to Godrick.

He probably still did not know that Godrick, the Golden King he had once followed, had become a monster who slaughtered living beings and grafted limbs onto himself. Once this man learned the truth, his faith would likely collapse...

It had to be said that Edgar was indeed a tragic figure. The king he followed had become a tyrant, the castle he guarded had become ruins, and his only family, Irena, would die at the hands of bandits... Even he himself would eventually die by his own hand...

"Get up. I promised Irena..."

Lin Luo smiled faintly. "The reward will be that weapon..."

"Th... thank you."

Edgar rose to his feet and bowed deeply.

"If Castle Morne can be rebuilt, its gates will forever stand open to you..."

"I will wait for that day..."

Lin Luo chuckled and helped Edgar up.

"You are a man. Remember my name: Lin Luo."

Lin Luo patted Edgar on the shoulder, a hint of admiration in his eyes.

"If you can still wield a sword..."

"Then follow me and clear out those demi-humans..."

Lin Luo looked at Edgar. The greatsword in Edgar's hand was already stained with blood and covered in rust.

It was clear that Edgar had slain quite a few demi-humans.

One person's strength was limited, unless that person was an archmage.

For example...

Lin Luo took out his staff.

"Lord Edgar, from here on, I will need your help..."

"It would be an honor..."

Edgar raised his greatsword, his gaze firm.

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