The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

‘Hmm. Someone’s in a hurry.’

Facing the Tower of the Demon Realm once again, Raul slightly furrowed his brows as he checked its detailed information. The tower, with a total capacity of 15, already had 3 individuals inside.

He had a rough idea of who they were. Most likely Noel, the representative of the Holy Empire’s hero party, and his companions. Considering they had arrived right after conquering the 15th and last Demon God’s Temple and regrouping.

‘They must have waited for the outer barrier to open and then entered immediately.’

They must have been quite eager for that controller position. Seeing that Noel’s party had cleared three Demon God’s Temples, their skills were undoubtedly not lacking.

However, there was something they did not know.

“Once you enter, you’ll probably have to climb the tower from different starting points.”

“This means that individual strength is crucial from here on.”

“And it will be just as dangerous.”

Two people responded to Raul’s words. They were none other than his father, marquis Melvin de Ashton, and the Sword Saint, Duke Templeton.

Both were key figures when discussing the pinnacle of martial prowess on the Connect continent, and thus they too had qualified as controller candidates.

“Are you really planning to go in? For the sake of the kingdom and the family, it might be better for you to remain….”

“That’s already been decided. Honestly, I’d rather stop you, but I can’t.”

Count Melvin patted Raul’s shoulder with a regretful expression.

“Indeed, those who wield power must accept the responsibilities that come with it. How can we exclude ourselves from something that could determine the fate of the continent?”

The determination in the Sword Saint’s voice was unmistakable.

“Of course, Raul, you should have no problem accomplishing this. However, you might need our help in case of emergencies. And do not assume that only the demons of the Demon Realm are your enemies. There will surely be those who seek divine power itself rather than peace for the continent.”

“I will keep that in mind.”

Raul humbly accepted the Sword Saint’s advice. Both the Sword Saint and Count Melvin looked at Raul with pride in their eyes.

The collaborative training of superhumans that started after the kingdom’s civil war had been ongoing for nearly three years, honing each other’s skills.

And Raul was the one who had shown the most remarkable growth in that period. Although it was just training, Raul had long since matched both Count Melvin and the Sword Saint in swordsmanship.

Including all of Raul’s other abilities, it was clear who possessed the superior skills.

‘The future of Connect now rests in Raul’s hands. Our role is….’

‘To deal with anyone who might hold Raul back.’

The two sword masters steeled their resolve. Realizing once more that he couldn’t dissuade them, Raul spoke.

“Then I wish you good fortune. If any problems arise, follow the pre-arranged plans.”

“Alright, we wish you strength. We’re sorry to burden someone so young with such a heavy responsibility. But do your best for the sake of the continent.”

“Of course! If we don’t deal with this place, there’s only ruin left for us.”

The Sword Saint, with a reassuring smile, was the first to enter the tower.

“I hope you won’t push yourself too far just to attain divine power. Even without it, you’re already strong, and there is a family and a clan standing firmly behind you. Stay safe.”

“Yes, father, you must return safely too! You still owe me a proper duel!”

“Haha, alright. Once this is over, let’s have a proper match.”

Count Melvin gave Raul a tight hug, patting his back, then took a deep breath and stepped into the tower.

As Raul turned, he saw the reassuring sight of his loyal companions and subordinates in the distance. He saluted them back as they placed their fists over their hearts in a gesture of respect.

‘Let’s see what formidable foes are waiting inside.’

Raul extended his hand and crossed the barrier of the tower.

*

Flash.

With a burst of light, Raul materialized in midair, then landed.

‘Ugh. What a stench!’

He wrinkled his nose as he surveyed his surroundings.

A dark cave.

Faintly glowing stones were sparsely embedded in the walls.

Squish.

A sticky, unpleasant sensation beneath his feet.

‘Disgusting.’

The floor was covered in a mire of filth and blood. And piled up like small hills around him were incomprehensible chunks of flesh. The putrid air made this place feel like a dumping ground for corpses.

As Raul surveyed his surroundings, weapons began to pour out from behind him.

Clang!

Hundreds of weapons formed a formation in the air above the cave, and he spoke quietly.

“Enough with the games. Why don’t we get started? Surely, you didn’t expect me to fall for such a crude trap?”

But there was still no movement.

‘Well, if that’s the case.’

Raul smirked and gently moved his hand.

Swish! Boom!

The spinning weapons scattered in all directions, slashing at the chunks of flesh and the cave walls. A psychokinetic whirlwind erupted around Raul, blowing away the surrounding filth and blood.

Rumble.

The entire cave shook.

Roar!

Screech!

From all sides, monstrous forms began to rise with terrifying wails.

Abominations.

Giant grotesque beings made from the corpses of humans and monsters haphazardly fused together. Among the dozens of Abominations, flesh Golems made of grotesque flesh and Blood Golems made from blood also started to appear.

“Hmph. How cliché. This isn’t even a warm-up.”

Raul clicked his tongue and sparked his energy, sending the legion of weapons darting through the cave, cleaning up as they went.

Crunch.

A tiny fragment in Raul’s hand was crushed to dust. At the same time, the last remaining Abomination’s massive body melted into a puddle on the floor.

‘Golem-type monsters are easy if you can find the cores.’

A typical Master-level swordsman might have been exhausted by the endless wave of monsters, but Raul was not an ordinary opponent.

Raul, with his hands behind his back, had effortlessly wiped out thousands of monsters. Moreover, he had shattered every core that acted as a medium for summoning. This place was now nothing more than a literal dump.

‘Someone is going to be pretty upset.’

Imagining the summoner watching from somewhere, Raul allowed himself a slight smile.

‘Now then.’

It wasn’t a kind place to offer quests or signposts to guide him to his destination. Raul felt a powerful energy coming from above and lifted himself off the ground.

Crunch!

The legion of weapons drilled a hole through the ceiling, creating a passage upwards.

‘Whether I use stairs or make my own path, it’s up to me.’

Raul flew towards the opening.

*

‘Annoying.’

Raul grimaced seriously for the first time in a while. It had been a day since he entered the Tower of the Demon Realm. Yet, the final destination was still nowhere in sight.

After clearing the pile of corpses, Raul was greeted by a horde of beasts. A pack of grotesque, monkey-like beasts, which replicated themselves like amoebas, constantly hindering Raul’s progress.

If only they had cores, he could have dealt with them instantly, but they weren’t that type of monster. He had no choice but to steadily reduce their numbers.

Fortunately, they weren’t capable of infinite replication; eventually, they succumbed to the savage teeth of his weapon legion.

The corridors were a bigger issue than the monsters themselves. The first cave was just an appetizer. From the second level onward, the corridors had immensely powerful barriers.

Raul’s attempt to pierce straight through the ceiling had failed, and he had no choice but to follow the path as it led. What blocked Raul’s way was an overwhelming onslaught of monsters.

It seemed as though the entire corridor was filled with monsters. With each step, he had to build a mountain of corpses. Most were not particularly strong, but they were tenacious.

The most aggravating were the spirit-type monsters. With their curses, hallucinations, and screeches as they died, they gradually eroded one’s sanity. They were bothersome opponents.

‘Had it not been for Rabel, it would have been much more difficult.’

Rabel’s timely sound barriers, scent blockers, and barrier creation kept the fatigue at bay significantly.

‘The intention is obvious and quite irksome.’

The goal was clearly to exhaust the intruders’ stamina and energy slowly. Though Raul was strong against numerous enemies, controlling the weapons still consumed his mental strength.

Even Raul, relentlessly ascending the tower, began to show signs of fatigue on his face.

“You’ve done well. It seems we’re almost there, though?”

Rabel, from above Raul’s head, sprinkled fairy dust to aid his recovery and adjusted her glasses.

“I think so, too.”

Up until now, the surroundings had been wild, unrefined natural caves or barren landscapes. Now, what appeared before Raul was a neatly crafted corridor made of polished marble.

This could very well be where the real challenge began. Their prediction was correct.

“Well, you’ve arrived sooner than expected. Seems the rumors weren’t exaggerated.”

Beyond the marble corridor, in a small plaza, a group awaited Raul. They wore black armor adorned with dragon emblems—Knights of the Cranen Empire.

‘So, they’ve been hiding here…’

Raul’s expression hardened slightly. Those blocking his path were not just ordinary Imperial knights.

‘Imperial Demon Generals. And quite a few superhumans too.’

Since they had not appeared on the battlefield at all, Raul had doubted their presence here. But to think they would actually be in this final gateway.

Raul was aware that the Empire and the Demon Realm were connected, but he hadn’t expected the Empire’s reach to extend into such a critical location.

However, what truly drew Raul’s attention was the young man with black hair leaning casually against a wall near the Imperial troops, watching with an amused expression.

‘Who is he?’

There was almost no discernible power coming from him. In fact, that made it even stranger. For someone to be standing so nonchalantly in such a dangerous place while appearing so ordinary was unusual.

The young man seemed to sense Raul’s gaze. He smirked and pointed a finger towards the Imperial troops.

‘Isn’t it wise to deal with the immediate threat first?’

Though the young man’s relaxed demeanor was concerning, he wasn’t wrong.

“Finding your way to your own death. Admirable courage, but plain stupidity. Or maybe you desired that ‘divine power’ so badly?”

The Imperial Demon General, who seemed to be the leader, looked down at Raul and spoke.

Raul scoffed and replied, “Well, I see it differently. It’s pretty clear whose grave this will be.”

He then smirked, causing the superhumans standing behind the Imperial Demon General to exchange incredulous glances as they drew their weapons. Raul glanced at them briefly before suddenly clapping his hands and speaking.

“Ah, it’s you. That was an interesting toy.”

Whoosh.

The chunk of flesh Raul threw landed at the feet of an Imperial mage with a hood.

“Fearless brat. I’ll personally strip your bones and add them to my collection.”

The 8th-circle necromancer declared ominously, but Raul just shrugged.

“Oh, really? Give it your best shot.”

That necromancer was not Raul’s prey. He had reliable allies for that task. That was the end of the conversation.

As the Imperial Demon General gripped his sword and advanced towards Raul, twenty or so Imperial superhumans began to approach as well. Raul prepared for battle.

Clang!

His inventory opened, unleashing the weapon legion.

Flash.

Three power armors, possessed by Caldenas, aimed their long swords at the Imperial troops.

Whoosh.

An enormous vortex whirled above Raul, gradually growing in size. Rabel’s 8th-circle wind magic targeted the Imperial army.

“Go!”

With Raul’s gesture, the legion of weapons imbued with aura began to rain down on the Imperial troops.

(To be continued)