Echoes of Destiny 1: A LitRPG Fantasy Adventure, page 1
ECHOES
OF
DESTINY
BOOK ONE
While every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher assumes no responsibility for errors or omis sions, or for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.
This is a work of fiction. Sim- ilarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.
ECHOES OF DESTINY
First edition. August 3, 2024.
Copyright © 2024 ROBERT KING
Written by ROBERT KING
Contents
Chapter 1: Exiled into the maze of death
Chapter 2: Maze of Death
Chapter 3: Green Slime
Chapter 4: Starting Life in the Dungeon with a Slime
Chapter 5: Opening the Treasure Chest
Chapter 6: Beginning a Slow Life in the Dungeon
Chapter 7: The Injured Adventurer and His Junior Pursue His Fiancée
Chapter 8: Interaction with the Old Warrior
Chapter 9: The Duke Adapts to the Dungeon and Regrets His Fiancée
Chapter 10: The Natural Enemy of Slime & Father and Son
Chapter 11: Magician & Engagement Announcement
Chapter 12: The Duke Disrupts the Intelligence Agency & The Crown Prince Distorts the Truth
Chapter 13: Reaching New Heights & The Former Fiancé's Tears
Chapter 14: Campaign to conquer Dullahan & Crown Prince and Sophie
Chapter 15: Strategy for Recruiting the Headless Knight & Fallen Sophie
Chapter 16: The Headless Knight’s Past and the Duke’s Fury
Chapter 17: The Past of Dullahan and the Kingdom in Chaos
Chapter 18: The Recruitment of Dullahan & The Crown Prince's Arrogance
Chapter 19: One Month After Being Expelled from School
Chapter 20: Clay Dolls & The Infamous Information Bureau
Chapter 21: Clashes, Schemes and Consequences
Chapter 22: Merlin's plan & The captured intelligence officer
Chapter 23: The New Treasure & Natalie’s True Talent Revealed
Chapter 24: The Path to Becoming the Strongest One & The Price of Deceit
Chapter 25: The unparalleled gaze & Junior's emotions
Chapter 26: Glare's Talent and the Violent Crown Prince
Chapter 27: The past of Sula & the Crown Prince and Sophie
Chapter 28: The Master and the Servant
Chapter 29: To the Dragon & The Morning of the Two of You
Chapter 30: The Guardian Dragon of the Kingdom & Natalie's Theory
Chapter 31: The Duke's Awakening & Hypothesis Approaching the Truth
Chapter 32: Slaying the Dragon & The Crown Prince's Sister
Chapter 33: Words for the Dead and the Crown Prince and Father
Chapter 34: Celebration & Sophie Falling in Darkness
Chapter 35: Merlin's thoughts and the birth of a villainous woman
Chapter 36: The Night of Glare & Sophie's Ego Collapse
Chapter 37: Glare &The Duke's Decision
Chapter 38: The Unfortunate Dungeon Warden & Immoral Wine
Chapter 39: Glare on the Ground & Junior's True Intentions
Chapter 40: Glare & The Angry Crown Prince (From the Perspective of an Ordinary Adventurer)
Chapter 41: Joy on Earth &; Annihilation of the Watchmen
Chapter 42: Revenge on the Princess
Chapter 43: The Princess & Duke's Camp is Trapped vs the Intelligence Bureau
Chapter 44: Glare's Adventurer Registration Contest and the Chief Information Officer Stand in the Way
Chapter 45: The Adventurer & the Maid and the Murderer confront Glare
Chapter 46: Princess's Past & Akane's Second Day Dungeon Life
Chapter 47: Glare and His Genius Younger Brother Became Adventurers
Chapter 48: The Request of the Receptionist & Crown Prince's Failure
Chapter 49: Destroy the Demon Beast & The Crown Prince's Dream
Chapter 50: Thoughts of My Brother & The Crown Prince and Sophie
Chapter 51: Junior's Deep Plan
Chapter 52: The Crown Prince's Death Sentence
Chapter 53: Glare Becomes a Hero!?
Chapter 54: Natalie's True Feelings
Chapter 55: Father's True Feelings
Chapter 56: Family
Chapter 57: Natalie and Glare
Chapter 58: The Ball Pushed Me Back
Chapter 1: Exiled into the maze of death
That was the worst day of my life.
The first day, I saw my fiancé’s naked body. Things only got worse from there. Now, inch by inch, a venomous green monster is slowly approaching me.
In just a few days, my life had changed completely.
It was exhilarating to ride alone through the forest, enjoying my passion for horseback riding.
The birds chirped from the treetops, and sparkling streams ran below. The hustle and bustle of noble society seemed like a distant memory. Midori, my horse, seemed to smile at me as if it were alive.
I am Glare Mizail, 18 years old.
I am the eldest son of the Mizail Duke family, one of the most powerful noble families in the Ibgrand Kingdom, a vast continental power. My father is an excellent politician and currently serves as the Minister of Agriculture.
I am about to graduate from the noble academy and will soon prepare to take over the family duties. Honestly, my younger brother, Auraria, who is three years younger than me, is more capable. People often say things like, “You are honest and intelligent, but you lack political acumen,” or “You’re a good person, but too kind to survive in noble society.”
Auraria often says, “That’s what I like about you, brother. I hope you become Mikoshi. We’ll take care of the rest and make it interesting.” In a noble society where family ties can be fragile, our close relationship is largely due to Auraria’s unique personality.
To rest, I dismounted near the riverbank and took a sip of the clear water. The pristine water refreshed my parched body.
"Ah, Senpai, are you alone? That’s unusual."
I heard a familiar voice from behind me. When I turned around, a beautiful girl with black hair stood there. A silver pendant swung on her chest as she smiled cheerfully.
"Natalie? What a strange coincidence. A sudden change in plans forced me to cancel my original plan with my fiancée Sophie."
Natalie, the daughter of a viscount, is a year younger than me and adored by the girls for her boyish charm. Because our fathers are very close, she has been like a sister to me since childhood. It seems she was also out practicing horseback riding alone today.
"Hmm, that sounds like Senpai. How are things with Sophie?"
“We haven’t seen each other much lately because we’ve worked so much.” "Sophie is such a talented woman; it would be a waste if Senpai let her go, right? She’s very popular, even among the Bouran nobility. If you don’t take excellent care of her, someone else will quickly sweep her off her feet."
Hearing that made me wonder if I was a suitable fiancé. Indeed, it would be a waste.
Following the 20-Year War's territorial expansion, the Ibgrand Kingdom integrated the Bouran nobility, or the foreign Tozama class, into itself. Due to their origins, it was difficult for the Bouran nobility to penetrate the central power structure. Continuous factional conflicts arose between the original Ibgrand nobility and the newly integrated Bouran nobles.
I am a prestigious member of the Kingdom of Ibgrand, whereas Sophie comes from a distinguished family in Bouran. People thought our engagement would ease factional tensions.
"Oh, thank you for the reminder. Today is Sophie’s birthday, so I’m preparing a gift."
"That's a great idea!"
Despite her cheerful tone, Natalie's face looked a bit gloomy. Sophie and Natalie were also close friends, having known each other for a long time. She must be worried about my reliability.
"Alright, that’s it for today! Sophie’s likely to be sleeping in her dorm room at the academy, so I’ll drop by as her fiancé." "Oh, right. I think that’s a wonderful idea."
I bid farewell to Natalie and headed back to the academy.
Little did I know that this action would lead to my downfall.
Considering she was the daughter of a high-ranking noble family, Sophie’s room was one of the largest in the dormitory. Usually, it was strictly forbidden for men and women to enter each other’s dormitories, but over time, that rule had become a mere formality.
As usual, I knocked on my fiancée’s door.
No answer. Strange, since she wasn’t feeling well, she should have been resting in her room.
Worried, I knocked again and listened.
I heard Sophie’s pained voice from inside.
I quickly turned the doorknob, thinking she might have collapsed. The door was unlocked. I swung it open.
There…
Inside was my fiancée, Sophie, displaying herself in all her natural beauty. Her pink hair floated in the air before me. It was the first time I had seen her naked body, and it was as beautiful as silk.
"Glare... why are you here..."
If only my fiancée were naked, I could have thought she was just changing clothes and quickly closed the door. But, unfortunately, the situation in the room clearly wasn’t that simple. A man with a sheepish look was sitting on her elegant bed.
Smooth, golden hai
"Bad luck, that’s how it is."
Unperturbed, he poured wine from a bottle, filling his glass with the grace of an actor on stage.
"That’s a lie."
I opened my mouth as if to wring something out. All I felt was nausea.
"No, this is..."
The face of my fiancée, whom I once thought adorable, now looked like that of a demon.
"Hey, hey, don’t try to act all innocent in this situation, Sophie. If this gets out, there’s nothing we can do. Let me recall our earlier conversation for you. You laughed at me, saying Glare is such a fool. Women are scary. You’re having a secret tryst with me instead of a birthday date with your fiancé. But, Glare, you know how much talent and financial power you’re up against."
For some reason, the Crown Prince kept attacking my heart, even though he was the one who had betrayed me.
"Please stop..." "No matter how great a noble you are, you are still a vassal. Don’t you understand? Sophie is my woman. You need to gracefully accept defeat and step aside."
The birthday gift I held fell from my hand before I realized it. The Crown Prince stepped on the box, and the accessories inside shattered in that moment. I couldn’t wait to see Sophie again. There’s a chance this might happen in the future.
Sophie, my fiancée of five years, had disregarded her own birthday to reveal herself to the Crown Prince in a way she had never shown me before.
That alone made it clear there was nothing I could do. Desperate, I tried to rush toward Sophie, but...
The Crown Prince stepped between us, preventing me from touching her. And the moment he said, "Ah," a sharp pain shot through my cheek. Even in my nauseous state, the blow was so strong that I immediately saw stars and lost consciousness.
My body was trembling. Where was I? I tried to move my limbs, but I couldn’t because I was bound tightly.
“Have you awakened, Glare Mizail?”
A cold, emotionless voice. Director Barand, who oversaw the intelligence bureau, was smiling mechanically. Why was the man who controlled the kingdom’s dark side here?
“It seems you don’t understand what’s happening. That’s possible. However, I don’t think I need to explain in detail to a criminal. So, I’ll be brief. You are a rebel who raised your hand against the Crown Prince. You are imprisoned on the second level of the Maze of Death. The Duke’s family has stripped you of your inheritance. There is no escape.”
Chapter 2: Maze of Death
“Maze of Death… Are they really sending me to such a terrible place?”
Maze of Death—the most notorious dungeon in the northeastern Eve Kingdom. It was said to be the world’s most difficult dungeon, with legends claiming that a treasure of overwhelming power lay at its deepest point. The dungeon’s allure had lured many adventurers who attempted to conquer it, but none had ever fully traversed its lair of fierce monsters and deadly traps. Even the top-tier S-rank adventurers had only reached the 20th underground floor.
The mortality rate for those who challenged the dungeon was over 60%, and those who managed to escape back to the surface were considered miracles.
Imprisoned in a dungeon that even professional adventurers couldn’t conquer…
There were no guards here. The imprisonment was merely a subterranean hold, left for the monsters to devour. Perhaps within the next hour, a monster would attack me and reduce my bones to nothing.
“Don’t feel bad, young man. This is all to ensure the royal family’s survival. We will administer justice by sending a young man to his death.”
What are you talking about? I was merely trying to vent my anger at the Crown Prince for cheating on my fiancée. Aside from that, I didn’t even touch him. He was the one who raised his hand. I am the true victim here.
How could such absurdity be possible?
“I understand your point. But the royal family has denied it. In this country, such behavior is considered evil. You are the eldest son of a foolish duke who violently attacked his fiancée, and the Crown Prince is a righteous man who saved a woman from someone like you. Those in power will record that as official history. You lack that power, Glare.”
The executioner smiled cruelly.
“…”
I let out a voiceless scream. However, with my mouth gagged, it was merely a low sound. The intelligence officers, seeing my pathetic state, mocked me.
“Put him to bed with the drug.”
Barand’s order prompted someone to press a cloth against my mouth. Drawn by a strange, sweet scent, my consciousness gradually faded.
“Hey, wake up.”
A kick to the shoulder jolted me awake, and I found myself lying on the hard ground. My body was covered in mud. Barand was holding a torch, his only source of light. The cave walls completely blocked the sunlight.
Here it was—the Maze of Death. I had to acknowledge my presence within it. At the same time, fear gripped me, causing my heart to pound faster and my body to tremble uncontrollably. Although I tried to struggle, I couldn’t move due to the bindings. A strange sweat covered my entire body. I didn’t want to die. Someone, please help me.
“Take him away. It’s the usual place. Drop him down through that hole into the underground. This is just imprisonment, so don’t kill him. Even if he dies, he must die in the dungeon. Don’t worry, Glare, this isn’t an execution. I’ll give you some food.”
The two large men in command escorted me away, acting as though I was on the run, and without any resistance, they led me to the location where my fate would be sealed.
Entering a slightly larger room, Barand and his companions began preparations. There was probably a hole in the middle into which I would fall. It was a pit leading underground.
The first thing they threw in was a bag filled with food and other items. Perhaps wary of any resistance, they drew their swords and spears. Barand’s spear skillfully cut the ropes binding me, freeing me. However, when I attempted to escape, the armed men blocked the only entrance to the room.
“Now, let’s get on with it. Fall into the hole yourself, Glare. That way, your chances of survival are higher than if you resist poorly and end up forced down.”
“No.”
There was no way I could do that. Falling into a hole from here would be suicide. There was no way an untrained amateur like me could navigate a cave filled with monsters and deadly traps and miraculously return to the surface.
“Hey, hurry up!”
A relatively small man drew his sword and approached me. It had come to an end. I prepared myself, shouting in defiance.
“I won’t forgive you. Even if I die here, I will curse the Crown Prince and you.”
They were ruthless toward me, and I glared at them with a trembling voice.
“Thank you for the expected reaction. It’s time. We won’t meet again, Glare.”
Barand, like an executioner, spoke in a mechanical voice, plunging me into despair. As I was about to resist, the small man from earlier grabbed me, and a scuffle ensued. Then, the man and I fell underground together.
“Mr. Barand, what should we do? Camilla followed us down.”
“Hmm, my foolish subordinate passed away with him.” I don’t care. We’re evacuating.”
We hit the vicious ground, writhing in pain.
“That’s a lie. Why did you have to fall in love with me? This is your fault. I am an elite member of the Intelligence Bureau, and there’s no way I will die here. Why, why…”
The small man, who had seemed so full of energy earlier, was now shouting, on the verge of tears. My eyes had not yet adjusted to the darkness, so I couldn’t see where I was. I frantically searched for the supplies that should have fallen before us.
I must survive at all costs. I will exact my revenge on them.
“I will definitely survive. I am different from foolish nobles who oppose the royal family, like you. I am sure my comrades will come to rescue me. Indeed, if I choose that route, we will undoubtedly find salvation.”
The small man began chanting something. Then, his left hand began to glow brightly—a magical light source, Romil, a kind of magic that could be used in place of a torch.
Then this man started running like a madman. He dashed down the narrow passage of the dungeon without hesitation, leaving me behind. He must have turned down a passageway. Suddenly, the light in his hand vanished. In that moment…
