Chapter 350: The Lost Land

“Kanterville—one of the few ancient nations clearly recorded in those surviving texts passed down from the Age of Chaos.

It was called the Golden Country, a land overflowing with gold and jewels, with the most impregnable walls and barriers. Even during that thousand-year-old cataclysm that swept across the entire continent, lasting who knows how long, it remained untouched.

Rich, civilized, and prosperous—those are the words found in every single book that mentions it.

Some legends even claim it was a paradise where milk and honey flowed across the land, where fields grew pork and lamb, and where no one ever knew hunger or pain—everyone lived happily ever after.”

“...That’s quite the exaggerated description.”

Muen’s eyes darted quickly over the small booklet Liya had handed him, introducing Kanterville.

In front of him sat the Pink Bear, eyes flickering guiltily, like a thief caught in the act.

“But even such a paradise—enough to make anyone yearn for it—vanished without a trace at the end of that chaotic age.

No record tells how it disappeared. In every surviving chronicle, not one great event from that period matches its fall. Yet this vast kingdom simply... ceased to exist.

Thus, it came to be called the Lost Land.

For generations, countless scholars have been obsessed with this legendary realm, chasing after the faintest clues, yet always returning empty-handed.

But ten years ago... the Church suddenly dug it up.

A massive nation—buried beneath the earth for over a thousand years.

And for the past decade, the Church has been quietly working to unravel Kanterville’s mysteries.

However, just as the texts describe, Kanterville is sealed by a sturdy barrier. Even the Church has made painfully slow progress.

Until recently... what was supposed to take several more years to fully unlock—was suddenly completed.

And thus came this perfectly timed Baptism Ceremony.”

Muen lifted his gaze from the booklet and looked at the Pink Bear, sneering.

“A sacred ceremony to select the Saintess—held atop an ancient ruin? Truly enough to stir one’s blood and make the heart pound with excitement.”

“Right? Right!”

The Pink Bear nodded enthusiastically. “A hot-blooded event like this deserves your full effort! That’s what youth is all about!”

“But if someone had just done his job beforehand—instead of scratching his ass and reading smut on the way here—and told me such crucial intel earlier, maybe I wouldn’t have nearly had a heart attack last night!”

Muen squeezed the booklet until it crumpled, grinding his teeth.

“Uncle, before I deliver divine punishment upon you, do you have any last words?”

“Cough, cough—”

The Pink Bear hacked violently as if choking, then rubbed his paws together with a sheepish grin.

“Don’t be mad, don’t be mad! There’s really no difference. You know now, don’t you? What’s the point of knowing sooner or later?”

“How is that the same? If I’d known this was some dangerous ancient ruin—”

“What, you wouldn’t have thrown yourself in front of that little girl last night if you knew?” The Pink Bear looked at him, half-smirking.

“...”

“See? Makes no difference.”

The Pink Bear suddenly straightened his back, pulled out a cigar from who-knows-where, crossed his legs, and inhaled its scent with relish.

“Besides, your teacher didn’t tell you either. How’s that my fault? She’s the one who set you up!”

“...”

Muen was speechless. At this point, he just wanted to go back and throw that scheming little loli across his knee for a spanking.

She had said the Baptism Ceremony would be “light and easy”—but since when is an ancient ruin light and easy?!

The number of powerful people who’ve perished in bizarre ruins like this is probably uncountable!

Let alone someone like him—a pitiful, helpless blond brat still trying to cling to others for survival...

Utterly infuriating!

Alright, fine. He also knew that if he tried spanking her, he’d probably end up over her knee instead.

But still—Mela-sensei’s strawberry candies... gone!

“In the end, this whole thing is just weird...”

Muen rubbed his temples.

He had no clue what this “Kanterville” was—it didn’t exist in the original plot.

And judging by the Church’s original timeline for deciphering it, Kanterville’s appearance must’ve been part of some late arc he’d never read.

But now, it suddenly shows up...

“Wait a second... this timing...”

He stared again at the booklet, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

The Church’s announcement of unlocking Kanterville’s entrance—it was... probably... right after the Moon fell, wasn’t it?

Could Kanterville be related to the Silent Moon?

Or did the Church, like Mela-sensei, seize the chance to “harvest some wool” off the Moon’s corpse before it cooled—and use that to open the gate?

“...No way.”

So in the end, all of this mess—

Was his fault again...

Thunk. Muen dropped his head onto the table, overcome by despair at how ridiculous this butterfly-effect world had become.

Just end it already. Please.

“No need to be so pessimistic, kid.”

The Pink Bear had lit his cigar, took a deep drag, and eyed Muen.

“For ruins of this caliber, the safest approach would normally be to gather top-tier powerhouses from every faction and plow through together. Then nothing—no demons, no ancient horrors—could cause a ripple.

But unlike its sturdy shell, Kanterville’s interior is fragile. If someone too strong enters, the whole thing could collapse.

That’s the curse of most ancient ruins—time erodes them until they’re on the brink of collapse, unable to handle too much disturbance.

So there won’t be anything too overpowered inside. Otherwise, the Church wouldn’t feel so confident letting you kids in.

And since the outer area’s already been explored, safety-wise, they say it ranks among the top few ruins found so far. At least in terms of structural danger, it’s not as bad as you think.”

“But all those ultimate treasures luring in every major faction’s elites—that’s what’s terrifying, isn’t it?”

Muen’s voice came out as a defeated groan, like a salted fish.

That was the real reason last night was filled with geniuses and prodigies everywhere—the difficulty level had skyrocketed several tiers.

Compared to a Church-sponsored ceremony that offered nothing but “training and later rewards,” the legendary Golden Country—Kanterville, the Lost Land where no one goes hungry—was the true treasure that every nation and faction would drool over.

“Now that you mention it, I’m getting pissed!”

The Pink Bear slammed the table, snorting in anger.

“Listen, brat—your academy and your country sent you here to win glory for the Empire! And what did you do? You ran off to join the Church as a knight just to chase girls! How could you betray us like that?!”

“I wasn’t chasing anyone! We’re in a normal relationship, alright?”

Muen coughed awkwardly. “But... is it really that exaggerated?”

“Hmph. Maybe it doesn’t look like it, but every side’s secretly competing behind the scenes.” The Pink Bear grumbled, clearly disdainful of such political tug-of-war.

“If that’s the case, why isn’t Celicia here? She’s supposed to be the best of the Empire’s young generation, isn’t she?” Muen asked curiously.

“Who knows. I couldn’t care less about whatever shady deals the Empire and Church have going. But, kid...”

The Pink Bear stared at him, then suddenly broke into a mischievous grin.

“You sure Celicia’s absence isn’t a blessing? If she had come, and saw you kneeling before that little girl last night, swearing knighthood—she’d have jammed her heel straight up your ass.”

“...”

Muen shivered. In his mind’s eye, Celicia’s frost-like beauty appeared, her icy-blue gaze staring at him like he was an insect...

Smack.