Though he had spent less than a day with his multiple-great-granddaughter, Gawain had already formed a very deep impression of Rebecca. More than once, he found himself wondering if something had happened to her head when she was a child…
Logically, that shouldn't be the case. Even disregarding the elite education that noble children must undergo, her identity as a spellcaster should indicate a certain level of intelligence. After all, conjuring a fireball isn't something just anyone can master…
In contrast, the others were not in the mood to ponder Rebecca's absent-minded remarks. Even Hetty, who was usually very strict with Rebecca, was filled with deep concern. "Are you saying… the monsters that appeared in the Cecil territory are the same ones from seven hundred years ago?"
Gawain sighed. "Given your unfamiliarity with those creatures, it seems they haven't been seen for several hundred years."
"The wars with those monsters after the expansion period have become history…" Hetty gently shook her head. "While there are records in the history books, the most recent accounts date back at least six hundred years. From what I learned, the monsters that emerged from the ruins of the ancient empire indeed troubled Ansu for a long time. But ever since the elves helped humans build those watchtowers, those monsters became a mere legend…"
Gawain furrowed his brow. "The watchtowers? Surely, what the elves built wouldn't be so easily compromised."
"This must be reported to His Majesty the King…" Rebecca suddenly clenched her fist, her face serious. "The sudden reappearance of monsters that vanished hundreds of years ago within the empire's borders means we need to relay this information back urgently. Furthermore, the Cecil territory has suffered greatly from this calamity. We… we must seek assistance from the royal family…"
Gawain thought back to "his" glorious achievements from years ago and smiled confidently. "Don't worry; with the status of the Cecil family in Ansu and the influence I left behind, I'm sure Saint Sunir City will spare no effort to help you rebuild the territory."
However, as soon as those words left his mouth, both Hetty and Rebecca's expressions turned strange rather than relieved.
Gawain was left puzzled. "Uh… what's going on?"
Could it be that, after seven hundred years, the legendary name of Gawain Cecil had faded into obscurity in this kingdom?
"Ancestor…" Hetty's face looked unusually grim. She bit her lip several times, as if finally resolving to speak, "Actually, I wanted to tell you something while we were in the tomb, but… it was hard to get it out."
Gawain had an inkling of what she might say but nodded for her to continue. "Go ahead; I'm listening."
"The glory of the Cecil family has long since faded. Although you are still regarded by the kingdom as the legendary founder, the truth is…"
Hetty exchanged a troubled glance with Rebecca. "But now, the heir to the family title, Rebecca, is merely a viscount. This Cecil territory… is the last remaining land of the family."
Gawain was left dumbfounded. "What?! I distinctly remember being a duke when I 'died,' and it was an inherited title at that! The territory stretched all the way to the Holy Spirit Plains… What in the world have the later generations of the Cecil family been up to? Did they rebel or stage a coup?"
Hetty lowered her head in shame. "A lot can happen in seven hundred years, both to the family and the kingdom. Today's Ansu is no longer the First Dynasty but the Second Dynasty. The Cecil family is no longer a pivotal supporter of the royal family but has instead been ostracized and bears a tarnished reputation."
Rebecca chimed in, picking up on Hetty's words. "A hundred years ago, the last king of the First Dynasty, Darian III, died of a sudden illness without leaving an heir. At that time, the royal family was already fraught with internal conflicts. Even the legitimacy of Darian III's own succession was contested. After the king's death, the queen and the regent failed to control the situation in a timely manner, resulting in the 'Fog Month Uprising.'"
Members of the royal family with collateral claims to the throne fought for power during the "Fog Month" of Ansu 635. By the third week after the Fog Month concluded, court struggles escalated into civil war, with various royal members and the noble factions supporting them directly engaging in armed conflict. The Cecil family was also caught up in this turmoil…
"The root of the trouble was Marquis Gruman. At that time, Duke Cecil was quite advanced in age but still healthy. His relationship with his son, Gruman Cecil, was strained; perhaps Gruman felt the crisis looming…
"He secretly plotted and participated in that civil war. Lacking enough charisma since he had not yet inherited the family's power, he turned his sights on the legendary ancestor…"
Gawain pressed his hand to his forehead. "I remember now; I was the one who let him take my shield, right?"
Hetty nodded and continued for Rebecca. "Marquis Gruman first placed the Duke of Cecil under house arrest. Then he took your sacred relic, the Shield of the Guardian of the Kingdom of Ansu, from the ancestral tomb and announced his support for Prince Toshi, who was assassinated that March."
"Then Marquis Gruman quickly declared his support for Prince Fidiq, who committed suicide in April after suffering defeat…" Gawain said, speechless.
But that wasn't the end of it; Hetty had more to say. "After that, the marquis approached one of the uncles of Darian III. With his eloquence, he managed to forge an alliance. However, the following month, the Northern Duke, Blun Weir, unexpectedly pushed a boy onto the stage and announced that the boy was the illegitimate son of the previous king. The Northern Duke then used this as leverage to participate in the civil war, which came to an end during the Fog Month of Ansu 636.
"Just before the civil war concluded, Marquis Gruman attempted to declare allegiance to the new king again. But before he could make his statement, he was attacked by both enemies and allies on the battlefield, dying under a rain of blades."
"After that, the Second Dynasty of Ansu was established. Of course, regarding the term 'Second Dynasty'… it remains a sensitive topic to this day."
At this moment, Amber, who had been listening quietly, suddenly said, "This whole farce lasted only a year, yet it completely reshuffled the kingdom's order… Who doesn't know about this history on the continent?"
"Since the one who ascended to the throne was an illegitimate son, this war is also referred to privately as the War of the Bastards…" Hetty added. "Numerous noble families were involved in the internal conflict, resulting in many families being affected. Yet, this was still part of the nobility's rules. Furthermore, at the start of the Second Dynasty, the country was in extreme chaos, and the new king needed to restore order. Therefore, most families were not eradicated, except…"
"Except for those who jumped the highest, right?" Gawain couldn't help but smirk, feeling a sense of discomfort with this entire history that even someone who had observed humanity for over a hundred thousand years found overwhelming. It was evident that life was often more exaggerated than novels; there was still some basic logic in fiction. "I guess no one could stir up trouble quite like Gruman Cecil, could they?"
"After that, the Cecil family fell into decline…" Hetty lowered her head. "The fate of the family could have been worse, but your prestige and the efforts of the old duke at that time managed to preserve the family's bloodline and their last remaining foundation. However, after that, the name 'Cecil' could no longer become the center of the kingdom, just as you see…"
Gawain followed Hetty's gaze, looking at Miss Rebecca Cecil, who seemed to have been struck in the head at some point.
Noticing Gawain's gaze, Rebecca turned her head. "Ancestor?"
"What a misfortune for the family, what a misfortune…" Gawain sighed, pressing his forehead. Although he wasn't the true ancestor of the Cecil family, the glory of Marquis Gruman's achievements and the bizarre nature of his deeds had reached the point where listeners were astounded and onlookers were brought to tears. Even just hearing about it left him deeply moved. "And that reckless descendant even lost my shield…"
Hetty and Rebecca exchanged glances, realizing that their ancestor was once again cursing his great-grandfather. It was clear that, for the younger generation, it was often better to remain silent.
Fortunately, Gawain was not the true subject of the events, and he quickly adjusted his mindset. To Hetty, this made him appear broad-minded and remarkably magnanimous. She shook her head slightly. "Let's not dwell on the past; it doesn't benefit our current situation. Regardless, those monsters that have reappeared pose a significant threat to the human world. The king of Saint Sunir City may overlook the fallen Cecil family, but he cannot afford to ignore those monsters. Therefore, he must pay attention to us, the survivors of this disaster."
Hetty nodded emphatically. "What you say is true."
After this, Gawain lost interest in speaking. The dim and cramped underground passage dampened everyone's desire for conversation. All that remained was the need to quicken their pace and continue onward.
Fortunately, the straight underground passage allowed them to traverse the entire Cecil territory swiftly. The nearest exit was not too far from the castle. After a while, Gawain assessed from his memories that they had arrived at a suitable exit.
Thanks to the blessing of the earth element, the ancient tunnel steps showed no signs of collapse. It was quite fortunate that the exit was not completely buried under rubble. After clearing away some roots, vines, and loose soil blocking the exit, fresh air finally blew over everyone's faces—a welcome change.
Re-emerging into the light.
Knight Byron led the soldiers out first. Once they signaled that it was safe, the others followed suit.
As soon as Rebecca climbed to the surface, she took a deep breath and cheerfully exclaimed, "We're out!"
Gawain followed Rebecca to the surface, feeling just as excited, if not more so.
Before him was a vast expanse.
His first reaction was to raise his head and look toward the sky.
Unfortunately, it was nighttime outside.
But he was thankful for the night, as it allowed him to see the starry sky of this foreign world for the first time.
A faint white light appeared at the horizon, and the approaching dawn made the starlight seem thin and dim. The scattered stars appeared to be shrouded in a mist, hazy and distant.
They were entirely unfamiliar constellations.
The white light on the horizon grew brighter; night was giving way to dawn. Each person escaping from the underground tunnel was enveloped in the joy of survival. Gawain, filled with a peculiar excitement, turned toward the rising sun, spreading his arms as if to embrace the sun of this new world.
Then he saw an unprecedentedly large, glowing arc, shimmering with a faint mist, rising gradually above the horizon, casting light across the world.
That was not the sun.