When Rey and the others arrived at Emily’s treatment room, chaos had already broken out.
Inside the room were Eris, Tristan, Willson, Drax, Vincent, and Evelyn. Several of them stood close to the bed, their expressions tense and worried as they tried to restrain and calm Emily, who was struggling violently.
“I don’t know you people!” Emily shouted hysterically. “Let go of me!”
Her eyes were filled with fear and confusion, her breathing uneven.
“Emily, please calm down!”
“Stop moving!”
Eris was on the verge of tears.
“Emily, it’s me—your sister!”
But Emily only shook her head harder.
“I don’t know you! I don’t know any of you!”
Luna stepped forward, her voice calm but firm, carrying the authority of a healer.
“Emily… calm down. Rey is on his way, okay?”
The moment Rey’s name was spoken—
Emily froze.
Her struggling stopped instantly.
“…Rey?”
At that same moment, Rey entered the room.
“Luna—what happened?”
Before anyone could answer, Emily turned her head.
The instant her eyes landed on Rey, her pupils trembled.
“Rey!”
She broke free and ran straight toward him.
Everyone gasped.
Emily threw herself into Rey’s arms, clinging to him desperately.
“Rey… please don’t leave me alone again.”
Rey stiffened.
For a split second, he didn’t know what to do.
Then, slowly, he raised his hands and placed them gently on her shoulders.
“…Alright,” Rey said softly. “You need to calm down first, okay?”
As if responding only to his voice, Emily’s trembling slowly subsided.
Her grip loosened.
Moments later, she stepped back, tears streaming down her face as she stared at Rey.
Rey crouched slightly to meet her gaze.
“Emily… how are you feeling?” he asked gently. “Are you alright?”
Emily wiped her tears and nodded.
“I’m fine… after I woke up, I felt okay.”
Rey hesitated, then asked carefully.
“…Do you not recognize these people?”
He turned slightly and gestured toward Eris.
“Earlier, you called her your sister right after you woke up.”
Emily frowned.
She pressed a hand to her head, her expression twisting in pain as she tried to recall.
“I… I don’t know,” she said weakly. “I don’t know what happened.”
She shook her head.
“I only remember you.”
The room fell silent.
Everyone stared at her in shock.
Just moments after being released from the crystal, Emily had clearly recognized Eris and called her “sister.”
But now—
After fainting—
Those memories were gone.
Rey’s eyes darkened.
Is this connected to that aura…?
He took a breath and tried again.
“Emily… do you remember anything else? Anything at all besides me?”
Emily closed her eyes.
“There are some things,” she said slowly. “But they’re unclear.”
She opened her eyes again, looking straight at Rey.
“What I remember is… you leaving me for a very long time.”
Rey’s heart skipped a beat.
That’s impossible…
He had never met Emily before today.
Suppressing his confusion, Rey asked carefully.
“Can you tell me more? What kind of memories?”
Emily hesitated, then spoke haltingly.
“I… I was in a very frightening place.”
Her hands trembled.
“There were raging flames everywhere. The fire was terrifying… it felt like the middle of a massive war.”
She squeezed her eyes shut.
“But I don’t remember where that place was.”
Rey glanced around.
The others exchanged uneasy looks.
Most of them believed the same thing—
That Emily had been suffering from nightmares during her long imprisonment in the crystal.
However, Alex spoke up, his expression uneasy.
“But Rey… don’t you find this strange?”
Rey turned to him.
“Strange how?”
Alex frowned.
“Why does she suddenly recognize you? Out of everyone here?”
Rey fell silent.
“…It’s only a possibility,” he finally said. “But I can feel it. This is connected to that aura.”
His gaze hardened.
“I’ll find a way to resolve this.”
Turning back to Emily, Rey softened his tone.
“Emily, you should rest for now. Stay with Eris.”
He spoke slowly, making sure she understood.
“You’re home now. Everyone here is part of Clan Origin—your friends. And Eris… she is your sister.”
Emily listened quietly.
Rey continued,
“It’s okay if you can’t remember everything right now. There’s no need to force yourself.”
After Rey explained everything about Clan Origin, Emily slowly nodded.
“I understand…”
She then allowed Eris to take her hand.
“I’ll go walk around with my sister,” Emily said softly.
Watching them leave together, Rey let out a quiet breath.
Then he turned to Alex.
“How’s Floryn?”
Alex sighed.
“I’ve settled things with her.”
Then his expression turned serious.
“But after this, there’s the meeting for your Duke title. Are you ready?”
Rey smiled faintly.
“Of course. So when do we leave?”
“In a few hours,” Alex replied. “We can relax a bit first.”
They departed as a group of six.
Emily wanted to follow, but Rey gently stopped her.
“You should rest in the clan for now.”
After some time—
Rey and the others arrived at the Royal Family’s Palace.
The moment they stepped inside, Melvin, Elysa, and Luna froze in awe.
The palace was magnificent beyond words—towering pillars, golden carvings, and mana-infused chandeliers illuminating the halls.
“This place is insane…” Melvin muttered.
Floryn smiled.
“You three,” she said, “I’ll take you around the palace.”
The three of them exchanged glances and nodded.
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“Alright.”
They followed Floryn, disappearing down another corridor.
Rey leaned closer to Alex and whispered,
“Hey… doesn’t it feel like Floryn already knows them pretty well? They seem close.”
Alex scratched his head awkwardly.
“I’m not too sure either. But after I told Floryn that they were your former party members, she immediately went to meet them.”
He paused.
“While you and Edric were focused on freeing Emily, the four of them were already discussing something.”
Rey raised an eyebrow.
“…Are things really okay between you and Floryn now?”
Alex nodded.
“Don’t worry. We’re fine.”
Then he added quietly,
“But there’s something you need to know. After this meeting… I’ll tell you.”
Rey didn’t press further.
Together, they entered the palace.
Servants from the Royal Family guided them directly to the meeting hall.
Inside, nearly thirty nobles were already seated.
The Arden Family and Hartz Family occupied the most prestigious seats, positioned closest to the king—clear proof that the Kingdom of Christope possessed two Duke-ranked noble families.
Rey and Alex were led to seats prepared specifically for them.
Once everyone had arrived, the king’s right-hand man stepped forward.
“Now that our guests have arrived,” he announced, “this meeting shall commence.”
He glanced across the hall.
“The first matter to be conveyed on behalf of His Majesty concerns the Kingdom’s ranking—”
His voice rang clearly.
“The Kingdom of Christope has officially risen to the upper-tier ranks, alongside two other major nations.”
The hall stirred.
Rey’s gaze sharpened.
Applause erupted throughout the grand hall.
Most of the nobles clapped enthusiastically, their faces filled with pride and excitement at the announcement of the Kingdom of Christope’s rise to the upper-tier ranks. Murmurs of approval echoed from all directions as glasses clinked softly against one another.
However—
Not everyone was pleased.
Among the nobles seated closest to the Arden Family, several expressions darkened. Their applause was slow, forced, or absent altogether. Some exchanged glances filled with displeasure, while others scoffed quietly.
Then a loud, arrogant voice shattered the celebratory mood.
“You should all be thanking the Arden Family.”
The speaker was Helberg Arden.
He stood up boldly, his presence instantly drawing everyone’s attention.
“With the Arden Family’s support,” Helberg continued loudly, “a newly formed clan like Origin could grow so rapidly and even manage to clear the seventh floor.”
The hall fell silent.
The royal family members exchanged shocked looks.
Several nobles frowned deeply.
Some even began whispering among themselves.
“So… Clan Origin was supported by the Arden Family?”
“Does that mean every achievement they made was backed by Arden?”
“Is Clan Origin just a puppet?”
The murmurs grew louder.
Then—
A sharp, mocking laugh rang through the hall.
“Hahahahaha… the Arden Family?”
Alex stood up slowly.
His eyes were cold, sharp as blades as he stared directly at Helberg.
“A cowardly family like Arden wants to claim they contributed to us?”
The hall tensed.
Alex continued, his voice steady but burning with anger.
“If not for the Arden Family, Clan Origin would not have lost such a massive amount of resources.”
He clenched his fist.
“All of that happened because the Arden Family launched covert attacks on Clan Origin while we were out on missions.”
Gasps spread across the room.
Helberg’s face twisted in fury.
“You insolent brat!” he shouted. “After all the help we gave you, you dare speak without gratitude?!”
Alex did not back down.
“Help?” he replied coldly. “You Arden nobles are nothing more than rotten parasites that have taken root in this country.”
The moment those words left his mouth—
Helberg released his aura.
A violent pressure exploded outward.
The entire hall descended into chaos.
Several nobles staggered back, struggling to breathe. Others broke into cold sweat, unable to withstand the oppressive force.
No one dared to speak.
Even the royal family fell silent.
Then—
A calm yet commanding voice cut through the pressure.
“Helberg… have you forgotten that I am here?”
Edric Hartz stood up.
His eyes gleamed sharply as he released his own aura.
Unlike Helberg’s wild aggression, Edric’s aura was refined—controlled—yet far heavier.
Helberg’s pressure was instantly pushed back.
Gritting his teeth, Helberg withdrew his aura.
“Ohh…” he sneered. “So the Hartz Family wishes to interfere in the Arden Family’s affairs?”
Edric smiled faintly.
“You’re joking,” he said calmly. “I’m merely reminding you that we are standing in the King’s hall.”
He glanced around.
“And today is a special day for the Kingdom of Christope.”
Edric’s voice carried clearly through the silence.
“The nation has risen in rank. A powerful new clan has emerged. And…”
He turned his gaze toward Rey.
“…someone is about to become a new Duke.”
The hall erupted.
“What?!”
“A new Duke?!”
“That means—three Duke families?!”
Shock rippled across the nobles.
Even Helberg froze.
Three Duke families meant a shift in power balance—something unprecedented in Christope’s modern history.
At that moment, the King stood up.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Clan Origin,” he announced solemnly. “Your contributions have allowed this nation to grow at an unprecedented pace.”
The King then turned his gaze toward Alex.
“Regarding the request you submitted concerning the selection of a new Duke,” the King continued, “I have personally approved it.”
The hall held its breath.
The King gestured to an attendant.
A decree was brought forward and unrolled.
“With this,” the King declared, “the Kingdom of Christope bestows the noble title of Duke upon the Ace Family.”
A wave of shock swept the hall.
“Furthermore,” the King added, “Clan Origin has successfully passed the evaluation to participate in the Clan Tournament.”
Helberg’s eyes widened.
“Ace?” he muttered. “Who is Ace?”
At that moment—
Rey stood up.
“That would be me,” Rey said calmly. “Nice to meet you.”
His gaze met Helberg’s directly.
“We will be fellow Dukes in the future.”
Helberg’s teeth clenched.
Ace… he thought.
I don’t recognize him…
Then a rumor surfaced in his mind.
The man who brought the head of a dragon-type monster after the dungeon transformation…
Helberg forced a smile.
“You?” he said mockingly. “Do you really think you’re qualified to be a Duke?”
Rey smiled faintly.
“Of course,” he replied evenly. “I cleared a dungeon that even guilds and two major clans failed to complete.”
He continued,
“And I personally killed a high-level monster.”
Helberg raised an eyebrow.
“Oh?” he asked. “Then what level was this monster?”
Rey’s smile widened.
Without another word, he reached into his inventory.
A massive Frost Dragon head appeared before the nobles, radiating cold mana.
Gasps erupted.
Rey spoke clearly.
“This is a Frost Dragon—Level 120.”
The hall exploded into shock.
“That’s impossible!”
Helberg slammed his hand against the table.
“Don’t lie! In the entire history of the seventh floor—even across other continents—no one has ever killed a Level 120 monster! The highest recorded was Level 119, an Orc General!”
Rey raised his voice.
“Then verify it yourself.”
I already had the System modify the corpse, Rey thought calmly. There won’t be any issues.
Helberg and Edric stepped forward.
They examined the dragon head carefully, activating their appraisal skills.
Helberg’s face darkened.
His appraisal couldn’t read the monster’s level.
Edric’s eyes narrowed.
Then he spoke.
“This monster… is Level 120.”
Silence fell.
Absolute silence.
The nobles stared in disbelief.
A Level 120 monster—
On the seventh floor—
And not an Orc General.
Helberg swallowed hard.
Then, regaining composure, he said,
“The Arden Family requests custody of this monster corpse for further research. We will ensure it is used effectively.”
Rey laughed loudly.
“Hahahahaha! Earlier, you belittled Clan Origin, claiming the Arden Family supported us.”
His eyes sharpened.
“And now you want to take what belongs to Clan Origin?”
Helberg smiled confidently.
“Of course. The Arden Family has the technology to fully utilize a monster of that caliber.”
He continued proudly.
“Armor, weapons, items—everything can be crafted.”
Rey’s expression turned cold.
“Don’t act like you’re superior. This is Clan Origin’s property.”
Alex stepped forward.
“If the Arden Family wants powerful monsters,” he said sharply, “tell Clan Aegis and Obsidian—your subordinates—to hunt them on the seventh floor themselves.”
Helberg clenched his fists.
Just as he was about to speak—
The King raised his hand.
“Clan Origin will be granted permission to conduct independent research, equivalent to the Adventurer Guild.”
Helberg spun around.
“Your Majesty! Are you certain?!”
The King hesitated slightly.
He was clearly nervous.
Behind the Arden Family stood forces far beyond Helberg alone.
Still, the King spoke.
“Yes… I have considered it carefully.”
He took a breath.
“One of my subordinates reported that northern continent nations are now observing Christope closely.”
The hall stirred.
“Even upper-tier nations,” the King added, “such as Xylandra and Drakmore.”
Rey and Alex exchanged shocked glances.
Even those superpowers had taken notice.
Alex asked carefully,
“Your Majesty… why now?”
The King replied gravely.
“After the major dungeon transformation recently, every continent learned that the Kingdom of Christope—of the Northern Continent—successfully cleared the seventh floor.”
The implications were clear.
Christope—
Was no longer insignificant.
And Clan Origin—
Was at the center of it all.
Rey and Alex understood the gravity of the situation. The atmosphere inside the royal hall had grown heavy, not with hostility, but with the weight of truths that could no longer be ignored.
After a brief silence, Rey finally voiced a question that had lingered in his thoughts for a long time.
“Your Majesty,” Rey said calmly, his tone respectful yet firm, “may I know more about this Dungeon? Is it connected across every continent and the surrounding nations?”
The King nodded slowly, his expression gentle but serious.
“Yes,” the King replied. “Every section of the Dungeon is connected to all nations across this world. However, the entrance gates they pass through are different. Think of it as a vast labyrinth—different doors, different paths, but all leading toward the same destination.”
He paused for a moment before continuing.
“That destination… is the Seventh Floor.”
Rey frowned slightly, absorbing the meaning behind those words, before asking another question.
“Then… does that mean the boss on the Seventh Floor is the same for everyone?”
The King nodded once more.
“That is correct. Every floor’s boss is identical across the Dungeon. That is also one of the reasons why other nations have begun closely observing the Kingdom of Christope.”
The King’s gaze sharpened.
“Information has already leaked that you—Clan Origin—have successfully defeated a Dragon-type boss monster.”
A faint stir rippled through the hall.
Raising his hand, the King gestured toward the enormous map suspended above them. Magical light illuminated the vast landmasses, continents, and borders drawn in glowing lines.
“Look at this map,” the King said. “These are the continents and nations of this world. Countries surrounding Christope—such as Hyleos and Xylandra—will receive news like this very quickly.”
His expression darkened slightly.
“This will inevitably result in visits from neighboring nations.”
The King’s voice lowered.
“And the most troubling part… is when this matter begins to attract attention from nations of other continents.”
Rey and Alex fully understood every word the King spoke. Without hesitation, they bowed slightly.
“Please do not worry, Your Majesty,” Rey said with resolve.
“Clan Origin will stand together with the Kingdom of Christope and defend this nation.”
Alex nodded in agreement.
The King smiled faintly, clearly relieved. His gaze then drifted toward the royal family seated nearby.
Among them stood a young woman of breathtaking beauty, dressed in attire befitting a royal princess—robes of red and gold that shimmered softly under the light.
The King smiled warmly as he looked at his daughter.
At that moment, Rey noticed something odd—the King’s smile seemed… different.
Rey felt a strange sense of unease rise in his heart.
“Why is the King suddenly smiling like that?” Rey wondered silently.
Before he could dwell further, a royal attendant stepped forward and announced loudly that every noble present was to receive a royal decree.
He further reminded them that within the coming years, they must prepare for the Tournament between nations of the Northern Continent.
As for Clan Origin, they were to ready themselves for the Clan Tournament, which would commence in only a few months.
With that, the assembly began to disperse.
However, Rey and Alex were asked to remain behind for a moment.
Not long after, Floryn, Melvin, Elysa, and Luna finally arrived and rejoined Rey and Alex. Their presence brought a sense of familiarity back to the group.
Duke Edric approached them with a cheerful expression.
After greeting Rey and Alex, his gaze shifted to Floryn.
“If you have any free time,” Edric said with a smile, “I would like to ask you to visit my daughter. She misses you dearly.”
Alex chuckled before responding casually.
“If your daughter wishes to meet Floryn, she’s welcome to stay at Clan Origin,” Alex said.
“We’ll also teach her a thing or two about magic.”
Edric burst into laughter, clearly satisfied.
“Hahaha! An alliance between the Hartz Family and Clan Origin grows stronger by the day.”
Just then, the royal family approached them.
The King and Queen stepped forward, and the King gently gestured to his daughter.
“My daughter,” he said, “please introduce yourself.”
The young woman stepped forward gracefully.
“I am Elizabeth,” she said calmly.
“A princess of the Royal Family of Christope.”
The moment Rey and Alex laid eyes on her, both of them froze briefly, visibly stunned.
Behind them, Floryn quietly reached out and pinched Alex’s side.
“Ow—! S-sorry!” Alex blurted out reflexively.
Melvin, Elysa, and Luna noticed the unmistakable exchange of glances between Rey and Princess Elizabeth, who were now looking at one another.
Elizabeth spoke first, her voice clear and composed.
“Greetings,” she said.
“My name is Elizabeth, O Noble Ace.”
Rey straightened his posture and replied confidently.
“Greetings. I am Ace… and a Player.”
The King, Queen, and Elizabeth were visibly surprised.
However, that surprise quickly turned into satisfaction.
Rey’s status as both a Duke and a Player would undoubtedly strengthen the Kingdom of Christope.
The King then spoke casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
“The Royal Family welcomes all proposals from the families of Dukes.”
Everyone froze.
Rey and the others were utterly stunned by the King’s statement.
Edric, however, quickly grasped the meaning behind the King’s words.
“Hahahahaha!” Edric laughed heartily.
“That is certainly true. But does not the Royal Family already possess proposals from powerful nations… even from the Southern Continent?”
The King’s eyes widened slightly, surprised by how much the Hartz Family knew.
He then replied calmly.
“Those are merely proposals. The final decision… will be made by my daughter herself.”
Before anyone else could speak, Elysa suddenly stepped forward, her voice loud and sharp.
“We of Clan Origin have urgent matters to attend to,” she declared.
“We shall take our leave shortly.”
She cast a jealous glance at Rey before firmly grabbing his hand and pulling him away.
Rey barely had time to react.
Alex bowed apologetically.
“We apologize for our member’s behavior,” he said.
The King waved his hand dismissively.
“I understand,” he replied.
“Strong clans are always busy—especially with a tournament approaching.”
Soon after, Rey and his group returned to Clan Origin.
Not long after their arrival, Willson rushed toward them with urgent news.
“We’ve received word,” Willson said.
“Noble families from the Kingdoms of Xylandra and Hyleos will be visiting us.”
Everyone stiffened.
Rey’s eyes narrowed.
In his heart, a single name echoed.
“Hyleos…”
“Lucas.”
