Human-shaped silhouettes lined the rampart. A few of them were shining light down toward him.

Meanwhile, the wall of fire blocking the road swelled larger.

«Son of a bitch!»

Byeonggap threw the car into reverse and gunned it. What car owner would want to torch their own vehicle? Lucky for him, the car was fine. But his blood was boiling.

«There’s… someone on the wall.»

Dorma noticed half a beat late. Byeonggap ground his teeth as he answered.

«Yeah. Lucky for us, they don’t seem to be Grugles.»

«Could they be Saraon? Maybe our surviving kin have gathered here at Chitosan.»

Merilin’s voice brimmed with hope.

Byeonggap wasn’t so sure. If a Saraon community showed up now, that would be its own kind of joke.

More fireballs flew in. But they never hit the car directly—they only built up the barrier of flame.

The fire was strange in many ways. Not flaming arrows or cannonballs, just pure balls of fire. And they kept burning without any fuel.

«It doesn’t look like they mean to harm us.»

«Looks like warning shots to me too.»

«What do you want to do?»

«If they’re people we can talk to, we try talking. Even if throwing fireballs first thing is a bit rude.»

Byeonggap unbuckled his seatbelt and muttered quietly.

«I’ll go out and speak to them. You two head to the trunk and grab the gear in the meantime.»

«Understood.»

«Yes, Lord.»

«Let’s move.»

They got out of the car. Byeonggap stepped forward with both hands raised; Dorma and Merilin headed behind the vehicle.

The light beams that had been hitting the car focused on Byeonggap. He squinted through the glare and looked up. The downpour of light left only silhouettes visible.

‘Okay, they’ve got limbs and heads, at least.’

He at least had a vaguely human shape. Byeonggap was just catching his breath, about to speak, when the other side called out first.

«Who are you? State your identity!»

It was a youthful male voice. He admired it for a moment, then found himself stuck. What was he supposed to say they were?

He wanted to ask back: who were they to claim a castle? But that would just loop the conversation. Better to fudge it.

«We’re wandering travelers!»

«Travelers?»

Murmuring broke out on the other side. Dorma and Merilin drew up beside him. Byeonggap took the sword they handed him and gripped it quietly.

«What is that contraption?»

«This? Oh, this.»

«Yes!»

«It’s a vehicle. Think of it as something like a horse.»

More whispering from the walls. Byeonggap couldn’t hold back.

«We’re looking for a place to stay for the night. We ask that you open the gate.»

«Wait. The castle lord is on his way.»

They fell silent after that. He asked ‘Who are you?’ a few times, but no answer came back.

About ten minutes later, a new figure appeared. He stood at the parapet, looking down for a long while. Then, without warning, the gate swung open.

«Are they letting us in?»

«That’s why they opened the gate. Both of you get in the vehicle. Keep your weapons ready.»

«Understood.»

The wall of fire blocking their path died down like magic. Byeonggap drove the vehicle slowly, steering around the soot.

Once inside the gate, soldiers lined both sides of the street. Whether creatures like these counted as soldiers was debatable. One thing was certain: Baltadren’s troops looked far better in comparison.

«M-My Lord! Who are these?»

«Yeah.»

Now he could make out what filled the castle interior. Their features were painfully familiar to his eyes.

Human-like but with oddly off proportions—eyes too large, faces like dolls or mannequins.

«Spirits.»

They were Ea’s kin.

* * *

A distant memory surfaced. He’d once heard there was a kingdom somewhere on the continent where spirits gathered. He never dreamed he’d run into it on the road.

‘Looks pretty shabby for a kingdom, though.’

Spirits had occupied the Saraons’ old castle, Chitosan. They seemed to have their own order and discipline, maintaining a semblance of civilization in this barren wasteland.

The spirits were horrified seeing Byeonggap’s party up close. ‘Grotesque-looking,’ ‘Clearly a Grugle at first glance’—none of it was flattering.

The one who silenced the murmurs was the so-called castle lord. A spirit himself—one who looked notably aged.

«You are not spirits.»

«As you can see.»

«Lower your weapons. Guards, return to your posts.»

He murmured, and the spirits moved with crisp efficiency.

The Castle Lord squinted one eye at the car.

«There’s no stable here. I’ve no suitable place for that grotesque mount.»

«You can just leave it over there.»

«I worry it’ll cause trouble. You haven’t even tied its reins.»

«It won’t cause any trouble. It’s docile.»

«If that mount runs amok, I’ll order an immediate attack.»

«Do as you see fit.»

A turned-off car couldn’t possibly move on its own. Go Byeonggap answered with perfect confidence.

The Castle Lord’s expression was far from pleased, but he nodded.

«Follow me.»

The Castle Lord led the way. He felt less like the ruler of a city and more like a neighborhood grandfather—a fussy, particular grandfather at that.

The place he guided them to was an ordinary wooden cabin. It hardly suited either a reception hall or the Castle Lord’s official residence. Byeonggap figured they were being led to their own lodgings.

But inside, a lantern was lit, and an open book lay on the desk. It was indeed the Castle Lord’s home.

«Make yourselves comfortable. Properly, I should treat my guests with utmost courtesy, but circumstances aren’t so generous. I’d appreciate your understanding.»

«It’s fine.»

Go Byeonggap sprawled casually on the floor. Dorma sat nearby with an indifferent air. Merilin looked somewhat uneasy but settled quietly in a corner.

The Castle Lord pulled up a chair, sat down, and rubbed his brow. He gazed at the three visitors with a blank expression, then spoke.

«At first, I thought I was seeing ghosts of the past, but you are clearly alive. To be honest, it feels like everything I’ve built my understanding on is crumbling.»

Go Byeonggap was startled and spoke immediately.

«Do you know what we are?»

«Of course. A human, a Saraon, and a goblin. Though I’m uncertain if it’s right to distinguish between Saraons and goblins.»

Go Byeonggap, Dorma, and even Merilin all gaped.

‘This spirit… knows the history of the Saraon.’

In any case, it was clear he was no ordinary spirit.

«You seem to know a great deal.»

«I’ve lived quite a long time. But even so, this is the most bewildering day I’ve ever known. I wasn’t this surprised even when those demon bastards plagued the mortal realm.»

«This may seem sudden, but I have many questions to ask you now.»

«Same here. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have let you into the city. But first, I have one thing to confirm.»

«What is it?»

«Did you happen to encounter the Titan on your way here?»

«Titan?»

Go Byeonggap cocked his head. The name rang a bell, but he couldn’t place it right away.

The castle lord asked, sounding surprised.

«You don’t know Titan? A Grugle as big as a mountain.»

«Ah, that one.»

Only then did Byeonggap recall the story Ea had told him. Among the Grugles, there was one as massive as a mountain, so infamous it even had a name.

The moment Byeonggap reacted, the castle lord’s face turned grim.

«You’ve run into Titan? When? Where?»

«Calm yourself. We haven’t run into him.»

«…You’re sure?»

Byeonggap glanced around carefully and shot a look at Dorma and Merilin — a signal to keep their mouths shut.

«Why would I lie? More importantly, what makes you think we ran into this creature called Titan?»

«You came from the west, didn’t you? Titan passed through here not long ago, heading west.»

«That’s a perfectly reasonable assumption, but we truly have never encountered a Titan.»

The castle lord paused, letting his agitation settle before speaking again.

«My apologies. I had to ask—I feared you might have drawn one here. If that were the case, I’d have no choice but to expel you.»

«You seem terrified of it. Is it really that strong?»

«Obviously. The Titan is the last calamity left on this dead continent.»

«And yet, for all that talk of one passing through, this place looks remarkably intact.»

The castle lord’s face hardened. He let out a pained groan, then spoke on a sigh.

«Over a dozen spirits sacrificed themselves so it wouldn’t notice us. I’d rather not dwell on it.»

«Well, fine. Not particularly curious about it anyway.»

«I appreciate your honesty.»

The castle lord let out a dry chuckle, then closed the book on his desk and slid it into a bookshelf. There were only a handful of books there—a dozen at most.

He felt her gaze and spoke.

«These books were all written by Saraon.»

«By your own kind!?»

Merilin reacted like she’d been struck by lightning. The castle lord shrugged in reply.

«That’s right. Every one of them was salvaged from here. …You know this was the old Saraon castle, don’t you?»

«I do.»

Byeonggap answered. The castle lord muttered, “Figured as much,” and nodded.

«I suspected you didn’t stumble here by chance. Your story about being a wandering traveler must be a lie too.»

The castle lord cut sharply. Byeonggap decided to come clean.

«I was on my way to Verbonia. Chitosan Castle was along that route.»

«Oh-ho, Verbonia. If my memory serves, that’s the old capital of ancient Asvillam. What business takes you there?»

«Something I need to do. Personal.»

«Is that so? Not that it’s any of my business what you’re here for.»

The castle lord chuckled, his laugh a dry rasp. He settled back into his chair.

«Come to think of it, we haven’t even exchanged names. I’m Kunta, the one who’s been acting as castle lord of this fortress.»

«Go Byeonggap. And these are my subordinates, Dorma and Merilin.»

Dorma and Merilin offered a brief nod of greeting. Castle Lord Kunta’s eyes widened.

«Subordinates, you say? Well now, that makes me all the more curious about you.»

«Since we both have plenty of questions, how about we cut the small talk and get to the point?»

«Fine by me, but what about you? Your traveling gear doesn’t look like you’ve had too rough a journey, but aren’t you tired? It’s late, after all.»

Of course he was tired. He’d been driving non-stop for fourteen hours, hadn’t he? His body and mind were both crying out for sleep.

But curiosity won out over all that exhaustion. He glanced at his subordinates and asked,

«Dorma, Merilin. You two tired? If you are, we can rest for tonight and—»

«Why would I be tired? All I’ve done all day is sit.»

«I’m fine too. But aren’t you more tired than us, Lord?»

When the word ‘Lord’ left Merilin’s lips, Kunta flinched. Byeonggap cast a sidelong glance at him and shrugged.

«You heard them—they’re fine.»

«Well… if you say you’re fine, then fine it is. So, what is it you wish to ask? If I can answer, I will.»

«What happened in this land.»

Byeonggap answered without pause.

«I want to know everything that happened in this land.»

«…You mean you want to know the history.»

«Yes.»

«Heh heh heh.»

Kunta let out a hearty laugh. He dragged his chair closer to Byeonggap.

His eyes were gleaming.

«You’ve picked your partner well. All this old bones knows are the tired, worthless tales of bygone days.»

Kunta opened his mouth. A long story began.