The Count’s Youngest Son is a Player

“Sorry, but you can’t enter this area.”

In front of the gray-glowing gate. After transferring through three portals, they arrived to find a group already in formation.

‘…That emblem belongs to the Batar Order?’

Raul immediately recognized the identity of those blocking their path. The emblem of a sword and shield belonged solely to the Order that worshipped Batar, the god of war.

“What do you mean by we can’t enter?”

Kane asked the order’s leader with a bewildered expression.

“Exactly as I said. Our order’s hunting team has already entered the gate, so no one else can go in.”

Typically, when a gate was being raided by a hunting team from any faction, it was customary for others to yield. However, in such a special situation, particularly when the Holy Empire’s order itself had requested cooperation, barring entry was unusual.

“What should we do?”

Kane asked Raul, looking uncertain. They could force their way in, but confronting the order wasn’t exactly a desirable choice.

“Do you need any assistance? Since we’ve come all this way, we’d like to lend a hand in clearing the gate.”

Raul spoke directly to the leader. But he remained obstinate.

“Our raid leader specifically requested no one else be allowed inside. We appreciate your journey, Count, but please leave this to us.”

Seeing the leader even bow in apology, Raul had no choice but to withdraw.

“What’s going on, Kane? Didn’t you say our scout discovered the gate?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t understand either. He assured me he told no one else.”

The scout himself looked apologetic as he explained.

“I discovered it alone. I immediately reported back to headquarters. I never expected the order to send their forces first….”

There was seemingly no way the information could have leaked. Yet somehow, the order had claimed the gate and their hunting team had already entered. A thought flickered in Raul’s mind.

‘No. Let’s not jump to conclusions; we need more proof first.’

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he gave Kane an order.

“Set up camp nearby and keep a distant watch on the gate. If the situation changes, we’ll move in immediately. Prepare thoroughly.”

“Yes, master.”

They had crossed half the continent, only to be denied a glimpse inside the gate. Several hours passed.

“Master, come outside. The gate….”

Raul exited the tent at Kane’s call and saw the distant, fading gate. Dozens of individuals were emerging from it.

“It seems they’ve succeeded in the raid.”

As Kane mentioned, the Batar Order’s hunting team appeared to have completed the raid, evident as the gray gate vanished into thin air shortly after they exited. Among the exiting figures were some familiar faces.

‘Those are…?’

Kane had already recognized them and moved ahead to intercept.

Moments later.

“It’s been a while, Count Raul.”

Standing before Raul were Asher and Regan. They had visited Raul’s territory as part of the Order’s investigation team and fought alongside him during the battle at the barrier.

“It’s been a while, sir Asher. And Magician Regan.”

Over four years had passed since their last meeting. That time had been sufficient for the once-green warrior Asher to grow into a full-fledged warrior.

‘I can sense a significant aura. As expected of a hero.’

Raul could feel the aura of a superhuman emanating from Asher, and Regan, too, seemed to have surpassed the Sixth Circle in magic.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, Count. We’ve heard news of your exploits from afar.”

“I always knew you’d become great, but now everyone on the continent knows your name. When I tell people I know you, they hardly believe me, haha.”

Asher and Regan greeted Raul warmly and exchanged updates on their lives. The saintess Kiera had left the investigation team and returned to the Order. And the guide Shimar…

“He wasn’t lucky. He encountered an S-class Guardian at the wrong place.”

He had lost his life to an unknown monster at some gate.

“We’ve been reorganizing our party repeatedly, continuing to raid gates.”

“And recently, we joined a large-scale hunting team. But, well….”

Their expressions soured as they recounted recent events. Apparently, the team that raided this gate was composed of hero parties from various Orders.

“There’s something we need to tell you….”

As Asher began to speak with a slightly darkened expression…

“Hey, Asher! If the battle’s over, shouldn’t you be wrapping things up quickly? Lingering around like that, have you still not learned?”

A voice interrupted, and Asher bit his lip. Footsteps approached. A group walked towards Raul and Asher.

“How long has it been since you begged to join even as a laborer, and you’re already slacking off?”

“Grr….”

“What? You want to fight? Go on, try it.”

The man towering over Asher, who stood at 185cm, looked down at him. His massive build and bulging muscles made him seem like…

‘He looks like a big brother figure.’

He appeared just as imposing as Dylan, the eldest son of the Ashton county, known for his extraordinary physique even throughout the continent. Asher, momentarily seething with anger, eventually lowered his head and apologized to Raul.

“I’m sorry. It seems we’ll have to continue our conversation another time.”

He and Regan then returned to their main camp. The man who had been arrogantly watching them turned to Raul, smirking.

“Well, well, to meet the most famous person on the continent like this. It’s truly an honor, Count Raul.”

He bowed slightly, pretending to show respect, but his tone and demeanor were far from courteous.

“You must be the person in charge of this raid. Is that correct?”

“Haha, that’s right. I’m Noel, a warrior blessed by Batar and the leader of the Holy Empire’s hunting team.”

He extended his hand as if to challenge Raul. Raul shook his hand without a hint of expression. There was no immature attempt to test grip strength, but in the brief moment their hands touched…

An invisible force seemed to pass between them.

‘He certainly appears to be skilled…’

His aura alone was at a master-class level. Given his claim of divine blessing, he likely had hidden strengths as well.

That’s probably why they managed to clear such a mysterious gate so smoothly. Noel stepped back, still smirking, and asked.

“I heard you’re busy expanding your territory, so what brings you to this remote area? Ah, you don’t have to answer if it’s a difficult question.”

His knowing gaze was exceedingly irksome.

“I came because I was concerned about the gate. Seeing that the Order has it handled well puts my mind at ease. Please continue to do your best.”

Raul was not so shallow as to reveal his true thoughts outwardly. Seeing how the Batar Order and the Holy Empire seemed to back Noel, there was no point in making an enemy of him. Though it seemed Noel did not share the same sentiment.

“Haha. Don’t worry. Unlike some who are busy building their empires, my colleagues and I have been fighting gates in unseen places for years. It’s best if everyone sticks to what suits them.”

“How dare you speak like that to—”

Kane moved to confront Noel, but Raul raised his hand to stop him. The heroes behind Noel had already reached for their weapons.

“The gate has been destroyed, so there’s no reason for us to stay. Get some rest after your hard work.”

Turning away with his subordinates, Raul began to leave.

– Look at him run away. They say reputation isn’t everything….

– Coveting divine power despite not being a believer. He’s no different from other greedy lords….

Some murmurs could be faintly heard from behind as they walked away.

Raul’s knights, their hands tensed, were clearly annoyed, but Raul quietly departed the area.

“I’ve discovered some information. It seems there was a hierarchy established among those called hero parties.”

A few days later, in Raul’s office at Calix Castle, Kane, slightly flushed, reported his findings.

“And it was during that time that the so-called divine blessing was passed on to that arrogant raid leader, Noel.”

Kane’s information-gathering skills were as sharp as ever. Within a few days, he had uncovered solid details about them.

‘So that’s why.’

The members of the raid team that day. Each of the dozens of members had superhuman strength. They had likely honed their true abilities over years of acting as hero parties under divine blessings.

The issue was that their bodies didn’t exhibit much ‘divine power’ or holy energy. Even Asher, compared to their first encounter, seemed devoid of holy energy, which had puzzled Raul.

‘I see, they’ve consolidated the divine blessing into one person.’

Among the raid team, Noel stood out unmistakably. The reason for consolidating power might be the expectation of formidable enemies on the horizon.

‘Or it could be that the Holy Empire wants to ensure one of their own becomes the Mediator.’

What was clear was that Noel was also one of the final candidates for the Mediator role.

And it was likely he was aware of the scenario’s details. Blocking others from the gate was probably a move to prevent other candidates from gaining achievements. But Raul found it all rather amusing.

‘If manipulating the situation could change the outcome, it wouldn’t be called the final scenario.’

This wasn’t a simple class president election where cleaning up a few gates would determine the results. Moreover, the real purpose of the selection was to deal with the emerging enemy, not just to clean gates.

Since the true enemy hadn’t yet appeared, there was no reason to fight over the gates. Raul’s ultimate goal was merely to ensure the safety of his people – his family, subordinates, and citizens.

He had fought fiercely for this, not to waste his efforts on becoming some unknown ‘Mediator’.

‘If they’re going to take care of it without me lifting a finger, that’s fine by me. Go ahead, hero.’

Raul chuckled to himself as he focused on the backlog of territorial paperwork, letting the so-called heroes handle the gate.

*

“Do you think this is fair competition?”

“Is that the first thing you say after not seeing each other in so long? Tsk tsk.”

“It’s best not to get too emotionally involved with humans, Gray.”

In an unknown place. Mist-like clouds covered the ground, and a translucent white curtain surrounded them. Three figures stood there, each cloaked in black, grey, and white robes.

They were the renowned Three Sages of the continent: Grand Black, Alfredo Gray, and Jenas White.

“It’s the final test. To interfere in a test that must be fair above all else—what if an error occurs? Who will take responsibility?”

Gray asked in a displeased tone, and Black replied with a question of his own.

“Fairness? You’ve hit the nail on the head. Do you think this final test is fair right now? What’s the point of a test that’s already biased? As it stands, we’re just rubber-stamping a predetermined answer. And I’m not even convinced that answer is the right one.”

“I agree with Black on this. If it’s supposed to be a competition, it should be under similar conditions to make it meaningful.”

Even White sided with Black, causing Gray to shake his head.

“Evaluations have been ongoing. The final test is just a continuation. Ignoring what the candidates have built so far and focusing only on the final test—what’s the point of the previous trials then?”

“I’m not suggesting we negate that. I just want a bit more rigorous verification.”

Gray sighed, looking at the faces of the other two. Stubborn Black and the ever-smiling White. He had long known that changing their minds was an impossibility.

They each knew the other’s thoughts inside out after so many years. Black, who had spent a long time suppressing the Empire both directly and indirectly, wanted a pure Connect native to earn the Mediator title.

For him, those who had truly protected this continent deserved the position. On the other hand, white desired new blood. Better to place hope in change than in those who’d been unable to provide answers over a long period.

And as for Gray himself…

‘What does origin matter? We should choose the most qualified individual with the highest probability of success.’

Gray’s mind was already firmly set on one name.

“Anyway, I plan to continue sharing information until the actual test begins. To stop them, we need to stir human greed a bit.”

“I agree. Even if they’re not candidates, we need humans to move. What do you think, Gray?”

Gray had no choice but to nod at White’s question. While the test was important, overcoming the crisis facing Connect was paramount.

“I agree, but be mindful that excessive intervention is not advisable.”

“You know very well that we no longer have the power for that. It’s up to the humans now.”

The forcefully maintained balance of power was already crumbling. What the future held for Connect was unknown even to these three.

(To be continued)

TL’s Corner:
With their names, and how they call the humans the way they do. I am guessing the 3 sages are really dragons.
Black Dragon, White Dragon, and Gray Dragon.
They didn’t have much presence in the story so far aside from Gray.