Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Damn....
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'Not a small city by any means. Sigh...'
Thanks to Bebeto, who was in a good mood after eating his fill, they arrived early at the skies above the city of Denfos.
Looking at the long walls that clearly showed how much expectation the Bazran Empire had once placed in this place, he let out a sigh of regret.
If there had been an outstanding leader, this place wouldn't have become the ruins it was now.
Countless thoughts tangled in his head.
Shiiiik.
While lost in thought, Bebeto slowly descended in front of the hangar that had become his home—the Outsider Airship Squadron hangar.
Not even a Jindo dog, yet it found its way home perfectly.
'Ho, they've cleaned it up nicely?'
Aside from the soldiers protecting the hangar perimeter like an iron wall, there were about a dozen workers tidying up the hangar and its surroundings.
"Kaiyer-nim! Bebeto!"
Derbal came out with a bright smile to greet Bebeto.
"Derbal, nothing out of the ordinary?"
"As you can see, nothing besides this."
Derbal grinned, gesturing around with his hand.
'For private soldiers, their discipline is pretty good?'
He hadn't gotten a good look at Jenis's private soldiers that morning due to the rush.
Even seeing Bebeto and him, they maintained perfect vigilance without any disruption.
"By the way, Kaiyer-nim, I think we need to head out together for a bit."
"Why?"
As he jumped down from Bebeto, Derbal explained they needed to go outside.
"We need to buy daily necessities and recruit mercenaries to guard us for the time being."
"Sure, why not."
You couldn't just leave your house to the neighbor's dogs.
He nodded at Derbal's words.
He wanted to sightsee the city anyway.
"Then let's head out right away. I've already prepared the horses."
'Horses already?'
Derbal was always impeccably prepared.
He pulled two horses out from inside the hangar.
Kuooh...
Bebeto's eyes sparkled at the sight of the horses.
Remembering the horse meat from the Kirfone Airship Squadron, its golden eyes glittered.
"No~!"
'You brat! Leaving free orc meat everywhere, and you go for expensive horse meat!'
Just a short distance away, organic(?) orcs were roaming freely in the wild.
In that situation, he had zero desire to offer horse meat just to whet Bebeto's appetite.
Of course, it wasn't because he was stingy or small-minded at all(?).
"Please take care, Chase-nim."
"Haha. Don't worry and go on."
Derbal bowed politely to the knight commanding the soldiers.
Seeing Derbal like that put him in a good mood.
That attitude without pointless pride.
It was reliable and trustworthy.
"Bebeto, watch the house well!"
Kuooh.
Bebeto nodded, replying in its own incomprehensible language.
It was cutely mismatched with its massive size.
"Hya!"
Hiiiing!
The horse saddle was worlds apart from Bebeto's back.
It felt just like switching from driving an Equus to a Tico.
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"One copper, please... My little siblings are starving and crying at home..."
"Milord, give me any job! I'll work my life away if you just feed me!"
"Grab something with those filthy hands and make a fuss!"
Thwack!
"Aaak!"
As soon as they exited the airship squadron grounds, they saw nearly destroyed roads and crumbling buildings.
And the brutal cityscape that came into view.
'Is it this bad?'
It wasn't that cold, being the season transitioning from spring to summer, but children who must have been barefoot since last winter roamed in packs, begging.
When the kids clung to them, the mercenaries swung violence without hesitation, annoyed.
"This was once the Neruman Plains, booming with a gold rush. Connected trade routes to other continents, vast fertile land, mines discovered everywhere. The empire aggressively promoted immigration, drawing crowds here. But invasions by monsters, enemy nations, and pirates turned it into abandoned wasteland."
Derbal spoke in a moist voice laced with regret.
"S-Sky Knight!"
"Uwaaa!"
"Run!!"
The begging kids or those huddled in alleys spotted him and screamed, fleeing.
Not just them—mercenaries and commoners alike hurriedly bowed their heads or scurried into alleys.
'The buildings are dilapidated, the people starving, and the public sentiment hostile.'
Denfos looked entirely different from the view from the wide skies.
His heart grew heavy.
Poorer and dirtier than anywhere he'd seen so far.
"That seems to be the commercial district. With monsters swarming nearby, plenty of mercenaries hunting them, magic towers sourcing materials, and specialty merchants."
The street looked desolate thanks to people hiding at the sight of him.
In the distance, buildings that at least appeared clean stood out.
"From what I've seen, no farming outside the city walls—how do they manage food?"
"Merchants come and go via Havys Kingdom, I think. Sea routes have been blockaded by Kesmir Archipelago pirates for quite a while."
'Worse than I thought.'
Trash piled everywhere, stench—no one managing the city.
It felt like paradise for rats and cockroaches, not people.
"If they just fend off the monsters, no place on the continent has better conditions. If the empire had invested a bit more, but at the critical moment, their ally Kubiran Kingdom was attacked by Temir bastards and pirates, splitting their forces. Such a shame."
Derbal smacked his lips in assessment.
'What if I became the lord here...'
A sudden hypothetical stirred in his mind.
'I'd have to pour in a ton of money?'
But he wasn't some miracle bone from a hero tale—how could he alone handle the millions of daui-worth of monsters?
Moreover, the shattered flask-like Neruman Plains.
Pouring water into it would be pointless.
"This must be the mercenary guild."
Chatting with Derbal, they arrived at the commercial district.
Worn two-story-plus wooden buildings lined both sides of the main road.
In front of a three-story building, about a hundred rough-looking mercenaries gathered.
"..."
He approached the mercenary guild alongside Derbal.
Naturally, gazes converged.
Everyone looked at him.
But upon seeing the red cape symbolizing Sky Knight and the silver air plate, they flinched in surprise.
"A Sky Knight I haven't seen before..."
"Ah! That rookie Sky Knight who smashed up Lukens Viscount's soldiers yesterday!"
"He's suicidal. Daring to defy Lukens-nim... Tsk tsk."
Whispers reached his sensitive ears from the mercenaries.
They gossiped among themselves, but erased expressions when eyes met.
Instead, contempt and sneers appeared.
Insignificant punks full of bravado.
Clank.
He dismounted under the mercenaries' watchful eyes.
'Not a mobster wedding either.'
Mercenaries with scars tattooed across faces and bodies.
Even without scowls, they ruined appetites just by sight.
Step step.
He handed the reins to Derbal and entered the guild.
"Kekeke, the guy's about to die and he's putting on airs..."
"Kekekeke, guess any dog or pig can be a Sky Knight these days."
Two idiots muttered behind him, fearless as he passed quietly.
Shiiik! Thwack!
"Graaak!"
His specialty reverse roundhouse kick activated.
Boom!
One flew far with a single blow.
He then flung his right arm, smashing the remaining fool's jaw—who had insulted his horse—right into it.
Clatter.
The guy tumbled down the stairs, corn husks spilling from his throat without even screaming.
"Huh...?"
Siiik.
Mercenaries let out short yelps.
A cold smile crept across his lips.
No more words needed.
Creak.
Derbal, having tied the horses, opened the guild door.
Step step.
He turned and walked back inside.
And no more sneers were heard.
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"That punk went into the mercenary guild?"
"Yes, Palmer-nim."
"What a gutsy bastard. An exile from the empire strutting around here..."
"What shall we do? Confirmed wyvern in the hangar too... Shall we crush him?"
"No. Yesterday's probe is enough. Without Lukens-nim's permission, we can't move rashly."
In Lukens Viscount's mansion within Denfos.
Sky Knight Palmer, dispatched from Lukens Viscount's castle outside the city, conversed with a knight.
"Then..."
"Watch him for now. Investigate what he's up to, who cooperates with him, what that wench is scheming with him—everything. No slacking."
"Yes sir!"
The knight replied energetically to Palmer's order.
'Play around a bit, rookie.'
He knew well that someone demoted here wouldn't have anyone in the empire caring if they died.
Moreover, owning a hybrid wyvern that Sky Knights abhorred.
Temir bastards sometimes attacked on hybrid wyverns, so few here were surprised, but it didn't make him a perfect Sky Knight.
'Kaiyer, was it? Crawl in if you want to live. Don't get hurt needlessly... Kekeke.'
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"..."
Everyone inside fixed gazes on the armor and cape symbolizing Sky Knight.
"Who's the guild master here?"
He demanded naturally, seeking the guild master.
"P-Please wait a moment."
A young mercenary hurried upstairs in response.
'Pretty clean for a mercenary guild?'
Illiterate hick mercenaries.
Yet their guild boasted a surprisingly tidy interior.
"Yawn..."
While scanning the guild, a figure descended from upstairs.
'A mercenary?'
Unlike mercenaries boasting tattoo-like scars, a clean, refined nobleman's face.
A man seemingly in his late 20s descended with an annoyed expression.
"What business do you have with me?"
Unlike mercenaries cowed by the Sky Knight, this handsome man asked casually.
His blue curly hair and eyes were striking.
"Are you the guild master?"
"Well... these days, yeah."
The man answered vaguely to his question.
'His mana is impressive!'
Even without mana scan, the subtle aura was palpable.
Surrounded by intangible energy, clearly a powerhouse.
'Doesn't seem like a mercenary from his vibe...'
Every movement exuded elegance, like an imperial guard knight.
Definitely someone with a story.
"I want to hire mercenaries."
"Mercenaries? You could just tell the guys here..."
The guild master looked annoyed at the trivial request.
"Double pay for each rank. No time limit. Blade rank or higher mercenaries and mages after consultation. Mages especially—I'll provide grimoires if wanted."
"Ho, unlimited hire... You want private soldiers?"
The guild master's eyes sparkled.
"Heh..."
He chuckled softly instead of answering.
Flash.
Their gazes clashed in the air.
Siiik.
The guild master smiled at that moment.
A strange sense of kinship.
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"You sure about this?"
As they left the mercenary guild, Derbal—who didn't know his finances—asked cautiously.
Even third-rate mercenaries cost several gold per month; double was generous.
"Derbal, would you want to serve under me?"
"Well..."
"If you do, I'll accept; if not, whatever. Why complicate life? Right now, I just need headcount for soldiers."
Lukens probably had his movements tracked already.
He wouldn't leave an intruding lion cub alone either.
'Sigh, not a strategy sim game.'
That Three Kingdoms game he'd briefly played.
He felt like a character in it.
'The commerce is decent?'
They moved from the guild to the main street with shops.
'Buildings worn but fixable with repairs...'
From the rough explanation, Denfos and Neruman Plains weren't bad territory.
"Kaiyer-nim, that place looks good for purchases."
Derbal pointed to a general store among the countless shops.
'Huh? Rubis Merchant Group?'
The familiar Rubis Merchant Group sign.
One of the continent's five great merchants, their building here too.
"Unlike others, famous for honest dealings. Pure merchants, not backed by powers—trustworthy."
Derbal praised them with dripping confidence.
'Derbal, I'm one-click friends with their head manager there. Kekeke.'
Derbal knew little about him.
They stopped in front of Rubis Merchant Group.
"Welcome."
Unlike others, a dozen armed guards stood vigilant.
The lawless city vibe made them extra cautious.
Jingle.
They entered amid the guards' polite reception.
'Wow!'
The vast interior—hundreds of pyeong—brimmed with goods.
Weapons like armor and swords, daily items like pots, flour sacks piled high.
'Like a big mart.'
"Greetings, noble Sky Knight-nim. We sincerely thank you for visiting Rubis Merchant Group. I'm Renkis, Denfos branch manager."
A sharp-eyed bald middle-aged man in his mid-40s rushed over, bowing deeply.
"Came to trade goods."
Derbal stepped forward.
"Trade, you say..."
"Our lord, newly assigned Baronet Kaiyer to the airship squadron, is raising private soldiers. We seek bulk purchase of necessary military and daily items. Here's the list."
Ever-prepared Derbal handed over a densely written paper.
"Hmm... Quite the list. 200 matching chain mails, 300 halberds and longswords. Plus warhorses..."
The bald branch manager's face filled with bewilderment reading it.
"As you know, Neruman Plains mercenaries make uniform armor and weapons hard to source. Need at least a month. Daily goods we can handle here. But... military items this scale require Lukens Viscount's permission..."
The branch manager looked troubled.
"Branch manager, care for a quiet word?"
"Y-Yes? Ah, this way..."
He intervened; the manager startled.
The merchant's sly face stiffened.
'Mister, relax—I won't eat you.'
Class was gangster here.
Dealing with nobles was big for commoners.
"Derbal, check if we need anything else."
"Yes! My lord!"
Derbal called him lord.
What a cheeky fine young man.
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"Any specific orders...?"
The bald branch manager led him to a room behind the shop.
Cautious expression.
"Branch Manager Renkis, how long with the merchant group?"
"About 20 years..."
"Tsk tsk. Still just branch manager in a dangerous outpost—not even head manager..."
"..."
Renkis's eyes widened at his tongue-click.
"Cooperate fully with me. In a few years, I'll make you head manager."
"H-Head manager? No, that's impossible. I'm content now..."
"Hey! Wyverns leave hides, men leave names! How can a man lack ambition? At least make a name in your field before dying. Especially you, sacrificing in this perilous remote post for the group—you qualify. Don't you think? Daily with dumb mercenaries, unknown monster raids, lawless city—shouldn't you get commensurate reward?"
He barraged, pricking pride till Renkis couldn't speak.
"W-Well..."
Renkis's expression wavered.
Hearts are similar.
Even he, without fanatic loyalty, would want safer promotion.
Swoosh.
He quietly presented a metal plate before the conflicted Renkis.
"Huh! Th-This is!"
"Head Manager Zamer gave me this head manager warrant plate."
"Y-Yes. Zamer-nim's seal."
Renkis nodded inspecting it.
"Understand now?"
A regional head would grasp the implication; his eyes sparkled.
"Truth be told—not bragging—head manager rose with my help."
"Th-Then, the one who got the Madir and monster goods..."
"Oh! Rumors reached there?"
Not old, yet his speech turned noble.
He gestured grandly, slightly surprised.
"Please take care of me! Guide me much henceforth!"
Renkis bowed sharply.
'Keke. Connections matter.'
No need for more words.
Not a deadbeat; he was prime credit customer.
Obey well, get scraps at least.
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"Farewell. Contact anytime for needs—we'll rush over!"
"Haha. Most pleasant transaction."
"Honor to meet you."
Everything proceeded smoothly.
"..."
Derbal's gaze brimmed with respect.
How not admire solving the impossible instantly?
'20% discount, interest-free installments! Zamer, drinks on me later.'
"Derbal, let's go."
"Yes! My lord!"
They received bows from the still-90-degree branch manager and guards, turning reins toward the squadron.
'Grow fast. Keep Lukens sleepless.'
He'd wanted quiet monster-hunting for territory funds.
But new foe Lukens Viscount wouldn't let him.
A thick thorn to remove for peace.
"Derbal, grab a meal since we're out?"
"As you wish, my lord."
Lord sounded better than expected.
Gaining voluntary true loyalty—not force or money—from elites like Derbal was hard.
"About how many soldiers does Lukens Viscount have?"
Smart Derbal would've asked Jenis's men while he was away.
"Sky Knights including viscount: twelve. Blade Knight-grade knights: about fifty. 5-circle mages: two. Mid-tier wind spiritist: one. Regular soldiers: around 4,000."
'4,000? Quite a few.'
Even on empire mainland, county-level force.
"But something peculiar."
"Peculiar?"
"About Baron Jenis."
'Jenis was a baron?'
"Baron Jenis isn't exiled nobility from mainland—born in Neruman."
"Neruman native?"
"Yes. Legitimate heir of Zadran Barony, which held territory in Neruman Plains."
'Legitimate heir?'
"Especially, Lukens—close friend of Jenis's late father baron after posting here. Then sudden rift; soon after, baron died mysteriously."
"I see."
"Don't know details, but they're on bad terms over it. Seems linked to previous baron's death."
'That's why she reeked of killing intent.'
Explained Jenis's vibe over drinks yesterday.
"Her visit yesterday probably related—to recruit Sky Knight lord against Lukens."
Derbal shared his guess.
"Does Lukens have a separate castle?"
"Yes. Gadein Castle, hour's ride from Denfos. Jenis at fortress overlooking harbor."
Too busy fending monsters/enemies together, yet power struggle amid empire neglect.
Didn't want caught between.
'Don't bother me. I might snap...'
Neruman Plains—even given, unwanted.
He suppressed wriggling ambition.
Unprofitable, headache-inducing.
Far from his paradise dream.
"My lord, that looks good."
Clean two-story inn amid barren worn city.
Crash!
"Ugh!"
"D-Darling!!!!!!!!"
"Daddy!!!!!! Waaaaah!"
A passing shop door shattered; middle-aged man flung out.
Screaming woman and ten-ish girl followed.
"Heh heh. Shop's ours from today—for months' protection fee and loan interest."
Five soldiers in hard leather armor and one knight exited the shop.
'Huh? Familiar faces.'
Same uniform as Lukens soldiers who'd lost fear bullying Derbal.
"N-No! This shop's our family's fortune! Kick us out, where do we live?! Please! One more month! Leather arrives today—make/sell, pay all interest! Milords! Spare us!!!"
Man, spitting teeth and blood from punch, crawled to knight on knees.
Thwack!
"Graaak!"
Knight booted his face with metal greave mid-crawl.
"D-Darling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"Waaaaah! Bad guys! Stop hurting daddy!!!! Waaaaah!"
Woman rushed hugging bloodied rolling man; child wailed earth-shatteringly.
"Borrowed money? Repay. Think we dig dirt to eat? No home? Become serfs under Lukens-nim—fed, sheltered, monster-protected. How nice. Kekeke."
Vile knight spewed evil lines laughing dirtily.
Unbelievable he wore knight garb.
Even in lawless land, knights vow loyalty and protect weak—conscience of era. This was predatory usurer.
"Why hurt daddy! Bad guys! Waaah!"
Bang bang.
Innocent girl charged, pounding knight's armor with egg-sized fists.
"Bratty wench!"
Nearby soldier swung spear at child.
"Stop!"
Boiling fury from heart's depths.
Surged, heating body.
"What! H-Huh...!"
"Huh! Th-That guy's!"
Knight and soldiers finally spotted them, faces paling in terror.
Tap.
He leaped from saddle.
Thwack!
Smashing right fist.
"Guh!"
Soldier rolled on ground from one punch.
Clang.
Knight drew sword.
Boom!
"Argh!"
Clean back kick sent him flying; agonized scream.
Thud thud thud.
Mana-charged blow launched knight 5 meters rolling.
"Ugh..."
Knight and ally downed instantly; remaining soldiers paled, teeth chattering.
"Tell Lukens... Don't live like scum."
"..."
Shivering, speechless.
"Scram."
One word.
They bolted, supporting fallen knight and soldier without looking back.
"D-Darling... Sob sob."
"S-Sorry... Ugh..."
Face bruised blue from hard hit, man weakly gripped wife's hand, apologizing.
"Waaah..."
Child rushed to parents.
Roadside family of three collapsed embracing, sobbing.
Denfos citizens gathered soon.
Stony faces, staring blankly.
Powerless biting rage against unbeatable power.
Chest twinged.
Pitiful none's sorrow before eyes.
He looked to sky.
"Damn...."
One curse slipped.
Bright sky overhead.
Today, it annoyed him.