Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: A Good Day for Farewell
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'Doing great!'
Swoosh, shiiiish.
The final third flight assigned to him.
Unlike the others, Russel alone confidently took the rear seat and soared through the sky.
'But that guy... giving birth to a boy?'
Thanks to yesterday's special training, Russel had overcome his fear of heights.
The owner of the wyvern carrying that Russel was a male sky knight.
A sudden surge of jealousy boiled up.
'I need to ask Countess Irene for a favor. This is dangerous.'
Not a kiss, but the recipient of my pure first kiss, Russel.
From now on, she was my woman, whom I had to protect.
"Kair-nim, how did you manage that? Fear of heights is almost impossible to cure..."
Standing with me in front of Bebeto's hangar, watching Russel, Derbal asked in astonishment.
"Heh heh. It's all about knowing the tricks."
"As expected! You're incredible, Kair-nim. Curing acrophobia overnight!"
Even today, Derbal showered me with eyes full of admiration.
"Derbal, I'm heading to the imperial capital for a bit."
"Understood. Don't worry about Bebeto and go."
Thanks to yesterday's brutal rampage, rumors had spread, so administrative staff and soldiers averted their eyes whenever they saw me.
That was why no one in the air squadron dared touch Bebeto anymore.
'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth! Just try it! I'll send you all to hell!'
I couldn't just sit like an idiot and take it.
I had to embody the spirit of "prepare for the unprepared" and ready the utmost defenses.
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"The name of the one who offended His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince is Kair?"
"Yes, Your Excellency. Despite being a trainee, he's become a sky knight with a hybrid wyvern."
"Hoo, really? A mere trainee owning a hybrid wyvern, which is notoriously hard to handle?"
One of the massive mansions in the Bazran Empire's imperial capital.
The Pasain Ducal House, one of the empire's four pillars.
Duke Orme Pasain, a young noble in his late forties, looked intrigued at the report in his hand.
A report on the crown prince's activities sent from the Kirfone Air Squadron.
It detailed an unexpected turn of events.
"They say this Kair is the one who broke Tedran-nim's leg."
"I know. Heh heh. I was planning to thank the guy who showed Tedran the world... perfect timing."
Duke Orme flashed a meaningful smile.
As the crown princess's guardian, he was a leading figure in the crown prince's faction.
"What shall we do? Shall we send them?"
Viscount Parkes, Duke Orme's confidant, mentioned "them."
"No need to send them to the air squadron. There are dozens of ways to deal with him without them."
Around 180 cm tall with a sturdy build.
Duke Orme, who had reached master-level swordsmanship.
His lips smiled, but his eyes gleamed coldly.
"There's the weekly noble assembly tomorrow, right?"
"Yes, Your Excellency."
The regular noble gathering held weekly in the emperor's presence.
A crucial venue overseeing the empire's military, politics, and economy.
"That should do it. Send him... there. Heh heh heh."
Duke Orme smiled, seemingly pleased with his idea.
His blue eyes, filled with sinister intent, sparkled brighter than usual.
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'The water's great~!'
The spring in the Bazran Empire's imperial capital, utterly different from winter.
Flowers were blooming.
Cherry trees and flower beds along the streets competed in beauty with various blossoms, and the spring breeze carried fragrance to the ladies out enjoying the warm weather.
'Being nobility is the best~!'
When I showed my appointment letter at the gates, the soldiers saluted crisply.
My black cloak marking a sky knight trainee drew plenty of stares from passersby.
'I wonder how Zamer's doing?'
I followed the now-familiar streets of the capital to the Rubis Merchant Company building.
"Whoa! Aren't you the esteemed customer of our head manager?"
The guards standing vigil at the entrance spotted me and snapped to attention.
True to merchant company folk, they had sharp eyes.
"Ahem, long time no see."
"Please, come inside."
These guards had once slighted me and gotten chewed out for it.
They personally opened the door and escorted me.
'This is why people need money and power.'
Being nice didn't earn much respect.
But before blatant power and wealth, people ignored one's kind heart.
They judged by their own standards, so appearances mattered in relationships.
Newly realizing life's harsh truth, I strolled inside leisurely.
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"Welcome, Kair-nim!"
"Haha, long time no see, branch manager."
The branch manager in his mid-forties greeted me warmly, as if we were old friends from one meeting.
"I've heard the news. You got a wyvern and rose to the rank of baron, they say."
'Whoa! Already reached here?'
The astonishing intelligence network of the Rubis Merchant Company.
It was downright scary.
"Don't be too surprised. Merchants supplying the Kirfone Air Squadron told us—you turned the place upside down."
'Tsk, that infamous already?'
Definitely infamous, the kind you don't want to be known for.
"How's Head Manager Zamer?"
Nobles weren't supposed to use honorifics with commoners, so I spoke casually.
"Thanks to your concern, he's doing splendidly."
From the branch manager's welcoming expression, he seemed fine.
If Zamer had fallen from grace, he wouldn't greet me so warmly.
"I have a favor to ask today."
"A favor? Haha, just say the word. We'll handle anything with top priority."
"Just deliver these items to the location I specify."
"What... Whoa!"
The branch manager took the paper I handed him and freaked out.
"Th-this... isn't this prohibited goods?"
"Shh! That's why I'm asking you."
"Even so... if we're caught."
"I know all about it. The Rubis Company deals with dark merchants too, doesn't it?"
"Um..."
Dark merchants, or shadow traders.
They dealt mainly in shady business: poisons or drugs you couldn't sell openly, illegal weapons, and such.
According to Derbal the know-it-all, all merchant companies had ties to dark traders.
They traded with them when needing items unavailable through normal channels.
"These are necessities for sky knights anyway, right? No harm will come to you here, so don't worry."
"This isn't something I can decide on my own. Even with your ties to the head manager, it could catch the empire's inspectorate's eye."
'Oh no, this won't do...'
These were essential items for survival.
Derbal said we'd be lucky to get one or two officially.
"Fine. Then give me contacts for reaching the dark merchants. I'll handle it myself."
"If that's the case... I'm sorry. The company prohibits military contraband as prohibited goods..."
The branch manager bowed his head.
"It's fine. Just loan me about 50,000 gold from my savings."
"I'll process it immediately."
Relieved at my easy acceptance, the branch manager smiled.
'Dark merchants—might as well meet them once.'
Shadow organizations scattered like roots across the continent.
I heard they fiercely vied for territory in the shadows.
And today, I had to meet the dark organization ruling the Bazran imperial capital.
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'Man, just like in the movies.'
True to their shadowy dealings, the dark merchants operated from back alleys.
They shared tight bonds with thieves' guilds, assassin guilds, information brokers—night owls all.
They'd set up in the rundown back alleys of the commoner districts, the capital's slums.
'Brotherhood? Pfft! Bullshit brotherhood—maybe if they traded double blades.'
A small tavern in a dim alley, dark even by day.
Its weathered wooden sign bore incongruous letters.
Creak.
Sneering at the sign, I stepped inside.
'Ugh! Smokers!'
The tavern reeked of acrid smoke like cigarettes.
Dim light from tiny windows revealed a mole-hole interior.
Zzzt, zzzt.
'Look at these guys.'
Several gazes fixed on me, cloaked as a sky knight trainee.
They were clearly on high alert.
Thud.
I approached a table, pulled out a rickety chair, and sat.
'Hmm, a few who can handle mana.'
Unlike the day, they ruled the night.
Without skill, they couldn't dominate the empire's vast darkness.
"A new face. What'll it be?"
A balding, pot-bellied man in his early fifties, looking ordinary, came for my order.
"A cool black ale. And for snacks, your house specialty."
"Got it."
A man unafraid even seeing my sky knight trainee cloak.
I turned my head.
"And Ofern Empire philemones. Well-ripened ones."
The passphrase the branch manager gave to summon dark merchants.
"Wait a moment. Those take a bit."
He replied casually, without turning.
'He's tense as hell.'
The tavern's air tightened the instant I spoke.
'Bunch of money grubbers acting all sleazy...'
The rundown tavern, cobwebs everywhere.
I waited for my impending fate.
"Your ordered ale and our specialty, smoked sausage."
'Hoo, looks decent?'
A large wooden mug foaming with ale, thick sausages on a wooden plate.
Gulp.
I took a taste first.
"Kyaa~!"
The toasty bitterness of barley-roasted black ale.
It burned down my throat.
Crunch, crunch.
I bit into the appetizing sausage.
'Ooh! Yes, this is it!'
No comparison to 21st-century junk full of additives—pure, pollution-free handmade bliss.
Pork aroma infused, chewy delight melting on the tongue.
Best beer and sausage I'd had yet.
'These bastards could make a killing just selling booze.'
Various eyes watched me eat.
"Pick your philemones yourself. No whining later about rotten ones."
The man beside me gruffly told me to choose.
'Means "follow me," right?'
"Alright."
I stood without protest.
I'd savored the cool ale; time for business.
Rattle.
He opened a door inside the shop.
'Illusion magic?'
A space befitting dark merchants, laced with spells.
Swish.
The man walked toward what looked like a wall.
I followed suit.
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Swoosh!
'Illusion, huh.'
"Don't move. Any funny business, and you're sliced."
Three swords suddenly at my front.
'Illusion and silence magic too.'
Another space appeared upon entering.
A clean room with sofa and table.
Three men inside gave me a hearty welcome.
Knight-level mana users.
"Not much courtesy for a guest."
"I'll judge if you're a guest."
'And what's this?'
One seemed seated there from the start.
'Black cat Nero?'
Pitch black all over.
A woman in skin-tight black leather.
'They call that a fox?'
Slightly upturned black brows and eyes.
Tiny red lips like a cherry.
Provocative beauty oozing seductive charm.
Enough to make any man swallow hard.
'Black hair?'
Shockingly, pure black hair like mine.
"I'm Baron Kair the Sky Knight."
"I know, Baron Kair."
'Eh? Word reached here too?'
"Rumors spread across the empire of your close ties with the crown prince and noble heirs. Hohoho, everyone's wondering how long you'll last."
'What? My life? These bastards! I'll live long enough to shit on your walls and make you starve!'
"Enough chit-chat. To business. I'll handle my life; worry about yours."
"What brings you? Not here for magic armor for your hybrid wyvern, I assume..."
'Shadows have fast info, as they say.'
"Since you know, I'll be direct. Get me blessed spears, model irrelevant."
"Blessed spears? Oh dear. Empire-prohibited goods... A noble shouldn't break the law~"
The vixen trailed off, twinkling red eyes.
"2,000 gold each."
Ignoring her, I pressed on.
"3,000."
Her counter.
'1,000-gold items for 3,000? Damn thieves.'
"2,500."
"2,700. Or leave."
The black cat pushed hard.
"Fine. 2,700. Twenty total. 54,000 gold."
No point haggling over pennies with them.
They knew my dire straits.
They'd squeeze every coin.
"Hoho. As hot-blooded as the duel-with-crown-prince rumors. Deal."
'Good? Heh heh. Let's see how long this happiness lasts.'
No mercy for pretty foxes who saw me as easy prey.
I etched her fox face in memory.
Splat.
"Rubis Merchant gold bond. 30,000 gold; rest on delivery."
"Thank you, Baron Kair. We'll deliver promptly and cleanly."
She licked her lips with a pink tongue, smiling at the money.
"What's your name?"
"Hoho, no name. Call me Black Fox."
"Black Fox... Noted."
"Thank you, milord. Oh! As thanks for our first trade, here's fresh news."
"News?"
"Assassin guilds are moving on you, Kair-nim. Stay safe."
'Assassin guilds. Heh heh, come on. I'll crush you!'
I'd braced for it anyway.
"I'll trust you then."
Dark merchants selling souls for gold.
Traffickers and villains—I didn't want to linger.
"How can you trust us with such a sum?"
The sly fox crossed her slender legs, smirking.
"No matter how big, not worth my life. Heh heh..."
Fwoosh!
"Gasp!"
"Eek!"
I flared my mana.
The relaxed thugs freaked at the sharp aura filling the room.
"Touch me... and I'll hunt you to hell's end and skin you alive."
I smiled coldly at the black fox.
Smack.
Undaunted, she smiled sweetly.
Step, step.
I turned and walked toward the illusion wall.
'Try giving me fakes! I'll chase you to hell and give you the shits!'
Me, who hadn't killed a soul—pure movie-line bravado.
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"Here."
"Wh-what's this?"
"Can't you tell? A gift."
The heart-shaped pendant necklace I offered.
Specially bought from a jewelers.
"Th-thanks."
Russel, meek since revealed as a girl, blushed and took it.
"Thanks my foot—I'm the thankful one."
'Heh heh heh.'
This proved my excitement around Russel wasn't pervy.
'Tonight, maybe another kiss?'
Sharing a room with Russel.
We'd kissed, fueling a healthy(?) teen's fantasies.
"Passed today. Thanks, Kair."
"Huh? Flight training?"
"Yeah. All thanks to you."
"Good for you."
"Yeah..."
"..."
Awkward silence post-chat.
"Um..."
"You."
Russel, head down at the pendant, and I, staring ceiling—we spoke together.
"You first."
"No, you."
This awkwardness absent when I thought her a boy.
Her sweet breath heated my heart.
"But... can I learn magic too? Magic swordsman is risky."
"Magic? I'm fine. My master's amazing."
"Master?"
"Yeah. Gandalf—chews gum like a boss back home."
"Ch-chews gum?"
"Oh, no—spits a bit."
"Spits? Why?"
Words that'd fly in Korea.
But Russel looked puzzled.
"A grand archmage researching magic's limits."
"Ah! Grand archmage! But Gandalf? No famous one by that name..."
'The thug who stops crying babies. Gold-eyed reaper Idal is Gandalf!'
Couldn't reveal his(?) name.
"Seeks knowledge for freedom and truth, from the shadows, for the world."
"Amazing. Holding back fame as a grand archmage."
'Hold back my ass! Damn it, frustrating!'
Couldn't call my "master" Gandalf the ultimate thug Idal.
He'd rampaged, got chased here—how to confess?
Plus, that scumbag soul who tricked innocent me into this world for his body? No way.
"Y-yeah... truly great."
'Thanks to master, he's mellowed.'
"Anyway, Russel. Sit on the bed."
"O-oh, why?"
Stuttering nervously at "bed."
'Heh heh, so cute.'
Grow hair, wear a dress—she'd be a knockout.
But her short-haired pure mask oozed androgynous charm now.
"Don't trust me?"
"N-no, I do..."
'Who trusts anyone but dad in this world!'
Pure Russel trusting me outright.
She sat cautiously on the bed.
'Hmm... why's my heart pounding?'
Watching her small back breathe steadily from behind, heat rose slyly.
Stroke.
Flinch.
"Stay still. Feel it..."
'Why's my line so cringy?'
Embarrassed even saying it.
I gripped her shoulders.
'Need to expand her dantian.'
Good spirit affinity, but low mana for Russel.
A small gift for her.
"Deploy mana breathing. Silently. Follow my lead."
"Okay..."
Freshly showered, her shoulders glistened damply.
Calming my mind, I drew up mana.
Tremble.
Slowly infused mana along her shoulders.
Per stored magic knowledge.
'I'll help, Russel. For your revenge.'
My mana merged with hers, swirling her body.
Gently expanded her dantian mana core.
Full of my warm feelings for her...
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"Early morning report: imperial messenger arrived."
"Messenger?"
Derbal informed me upon reaching the hangar.
"Usually riders, but a sky knight today—special."
"About me?"
"Probably... orders for you and Bebeto."
"Al-already?"
"Cursed wyvern Bebeto's treated like a monster here. This is black wyvern turf—symbol of the imperial house. They'll rush to handle backlash."
Derbal echoed Marquis Mermos.
"But I barely did flight training..."
"Everything else fine... pray it's not that place."
"That place?"
"Yes. Of the empire's air squadrons, the one to avoid most. Foreigner Air Squadron of Neruman Plains... anywhere but there."
'Foreigner Air Squadron?'
Derbal's fearful face while speaking.
"That bad?"
"You really don't know?"
"Nope."
"Sigh..."
He shook his head with a sigh instead.
'Huh?'
Open hangar doors for ventilation.
Marquis Mermos approached with three knights.
"It's here."
Tense Derbal.
"Welcome."
I saluted the stern-faced trio entering.
"Hmm, what a tempting beast."
Mermos admired Bebeto instead of greeting.
'Like it? Buy it then.'
Wings a meter longer than others, bulkier by a leg—huge.
Blinking golden eyes at the marquis.
'That document?'
Thick white paper in the marquis's hand.
Brief silence.
"Transfer orders for you."
The marquis's calm voice.
"Baron Kair de Adalon, imperial transfer decree from His Majesty. Accept with honor."
"Yes, sir!"
I'd seen it done—slapped right hand to heart, saluting.
"Baron Kair de Adalon is hereby assigned to the Foreigner Air Squadron of Neruman Plains on Empire Year 328, Month of Nermis 21. Effective immediately on the 21st!"
'Gasp! Foreigner Air Squadron?'
Derbal's dreaded outcome happened.
"Y-yes, sir!"
No choice—accept orders now.
Only Bazran would take a cursed wyvern like Bebeto.
"Pack and depart before sunset. Safe imperial skies—no escort needed. Details from admin troops."
Cold words, then he turned away.
He had no choice.
Direct from Bazran's big boss, the emperor.
'Unarmed? Think my head's a bucket! Hell no!'
Even slaughter-bound cows know fate—let alone clever me, living large.
"Orders received!"
Clear response.
No regrets for this unlucky dump anyway.
'Russel, Irene, Aegis... Your Highness.'
Just bittersweet parting from women I'd grown fond of.
"Derbal, pack up."
"Already did. Nothing much to take..."
'Tsk, why recall Heungbu getting kicked by Norbu's wife?'
Baron, House Adalon, wyvern—yet this nagging unease.
'I'll return! As a hero, saluting you lot!'
Humble start, explosive end to my life.
Grinding teeth at my banishers.
'Perfect weather, damn it.'
Cumulus clouds, shimmering hills.
Ideal for farewells.