Stripped City Adra: Glanid Ashborn

Before long, they joined up with Fliuga and headed for their destination. As they crested the final hill, the view before them suddenly opened up.

A vast, tranquil lake spread out before their eyes, along with a sturdy drawbridge hanging down and a castle built beside the water. The forest, lake, and marble formed a beautiful scene with the solemn grandeur of something straight out of a fairy tale.

Yet the castle itself was far from comforting. Its crooked spires twisted like a suffering spine, while its piled marble resembled overlapping scales. Taken as a whole, it looked like a tormented giant stripped of its skin, prostrated upon the earth, with the manor itself serving as its heart.

"Mm. Just looking at it makes me uncomfortable."

Sefen muttered under his breath. Possessing a beast's instincts, he instinctively caught a trace of unease from that castle.

"This is life, boy. Dissatisfaction is what runs through life from beginning to end."

Fliuga tried to put on an air of worldly reflection as well, but his exaggerated comicality only made the attempt backfire.

Lord El-Melloi II furrowed his brow slightly and let out another soft sigh. If he could have avoided it, he would not have wanted to set foot in a place like this either. Unfortunately, he had reasons he could not ignore.

After crossing the drawbridge and passing through the broad yet simply laid-out English garden, their destination—Stripped City Adra—lay before them.

Before the entrance to the main castle, which served as the manor, stood a thin man in a suit who appeared to be something like a butler.

"It has been a long time, Lord El-Melloi."

Lord El-Melloi II nodded slightly and returned the greeting.

"Have you also come to covet the inheritance?" For the sake of the family's succession,