Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Oh Dear, Human!
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"Chung!"
Skywing Corps, now the central base.
The mercenaries who had returned after ransacking Viscount Lukens's mansion spotted me and saluted with uncharacteristic military precision.
Ku-gu-gu. Ku-gu-gu.
Bebeto, deprived of his own lair, let out a low growl to voice his discontent.
'Just hold on a bit. I'll make you a minion of your own.'
In this reality, he couldn't afford to waste a perfectly healthy and valuable wyvern.
With one method in mind, he opened the side door of the hangar and stepped inside.
Flash.
'Look at this guy...'
The wyvern, whose companion Skyknight had died and who herself had sustained deep wounds.
As I entered, she glared at me with gray eyes filled with murderous intent.
Unaware of the unfortunate future awaiting her.
'A female, huh.'
Male wyverns have a hard crest about 50 centimeters long protruding like a rooster's comb near their beak.
Females, on the other hand, only showed faint traces of a flat crest.
And the wyvern before me, her ankle bound in iron chains, was a female.
Kuuuuh....
She trembled her throat and glared at me with killing intent in her eyes.
Sneer.
I flashed a cold smirk at her.
'Your master deserved to die.'
I'd inflicted serious wounds with a sword before, but I'd never killed anyone until now.
Yet I had committed my first murder.
Surprisingly calm about it.
Compared to the heaven-defying atrocities her master had committed, my actions were tame.
And crucially, he had tried to kill me.
My actions were purely self-defense.
Shiiiiiik.
'Huh!'
Suddenly, she lunged at me with her sharp beak.
A strike that would punch a hole right through at the moment of impact.
Thud.
I hastily pulled back, dodging the ill-mannered wyvern's attack.
"What's wrong with you? Like an amateur."
A fresh smile played on my lips as I put on a gentle expression.
I raised my hand.
Grrr! Grrr!
Thud! Thud!
As I lifted my hand, she freaked out, thinking I was about to attack.
"Silence!"
Watching her antics, I cast Silence inside the hangar.
Everything about to happen needed to stay strictly secret.
'Heh heh heh... You're done for!'
The wyvern mind-reconditioning operation I'd devised, dubbed the Wyvern Mental Reformation Project.
A method no non-mage could even dream of.
"Does it hurt? Bebeto's such a brute. How could he use such crude violence on a lady? It wasn't me, but I sincerely apologize."
I'd heard most wyverns had intelligence surpassing monkeys.
So they could probably understand most human languages.
In a voice full of kindness, I apologized to the wyvern for Bebeto's brutality in wounding her.
"....."
The wyvern stopped her frenzy at my sudden apology.
But one word wasn't enough to tame her.
"You don't believe me? Yeah, I get how you feel. If it weren't for me, your master wouldn't have died, and you wouldn't be suffering this humiliation... But what can we do? If it were you, could you smile and accept death from someone trying to kill you?"
In a soft, coaxing tone like reasoning with a person, I explained how my actions were justified.
"Of course, I'm sorry it led to death. If I'd been overwhelmingly superior or hadn't panicked, maybe I wouldn't have killed him... I apologize for that too."
I tried the baiting technique my master had taught me, this time on the wyvern.
It had already worked on Bebeto.
I was confident this would grill this dull gray wyvern and make her mine.
"Hand of Healing, appear here! Heal!"
Toward the wyvern blinking suspiciously, I cast Heal.
Flash!
Yellow mana infused with life enveloped her entire body.
'Damn!'
For her massive frame and the wounds, a basic 2-circle healing spell drained mana nearly equivalent to a 5-circle one.
Fusssssh.
The glowing magic's healing power lasted about a minute.
The wyvern flinched at the magic but relaxed into the soothing energy, surrendering her body. Soon after, the spell faded.
'Excellent!'
Despite wounds from Bebeto, my "sincere" magic had perfectly healed her.
"A small token of my remorse."
Stunned as her wounds vanished in an instant, the wyvern.
But the venom in her eyes hadn't fully dissipated.
"And... now that things are like this, how about starting fresh under me?"
Give poison, then antidote, now into recruitment.
Grrrrr.
Still harboring resentment, she bared her teeth in refusal.
"Got it. I don't want to force you."
I spread my hands to calm her, keeping my affable smile.
"I'll bring some fresh food soon, so fill that hungry belly first. I'm heading out."
No intention of forcing this trembling wyvern in this situation.
Clunk.
As if with zero lingering attachment, I opened the side door and exited the hangar.
Ku-gu-gu?
Outside, Bebeto, who had been perking his ears toward the hangar, looked at me with puzzled eyes.
Unable to hear anything due to Silence.
Curiosity filled his golden eyes.
'Heh heh, Bebeto, take good care of her.'
Now came Bebeto's crucial role.
"Block all entry within 100 meters of this place for everyone!"
Raiker's guard detail for the hangar, selected from the more capable mercenaries.
"Understood!"
The mercenaries replied vigorously and retreated beyond 100 meters.
"Bebeto, sorry to say this, but you need to know."
Bebeto, quick on the uptake, perked his ears at my words.
"That gray wyvern in there just said..."
At the mention of wyvern, Bebeto rolled his eyes.
"You're... a total jerk."
"....."
Bebeto pondered the meaning of "jerk" for a moment.
'You don't even know what "jerk" means! You dumb idiot!'
Time for stronger provocation.
"Plus, she said you're just a big, dumb pervert wyvern who isn't even worth submitting to."
...Kuooooooo!
Bebeto, a different breed wyvern who had lived oppressed his whole life.
At "submit" and "pervert," his golden eyes snapped around.
'Ooooh! Yes! That's it!'
Bebeto glared at the hangar door with crazed eyes.
Tadadak.
Drrrrrrk.
No words needed.
He charged, flung the hangar door wide open.
Kuoooooo!
Thud thud thud.
Shaking the earth, Bebeto stormed inside.
'Bebeto! Don't kill her. Heh heh.'
I smirked slyly at Bebeto as he barreled through the door.
Drrrrk, bang!
As Bebeto entered, I hurriedly shut the hangar door.
Ku-gung ku-gung.
Soon after, earthquake-like tremors shook the ground.
Silence muffled the gray wyvern's screams, but the hangar's shaking showed the chaos inside.
'Time to check in?'
About five minutes passed.
Feeling the vibrations stop, I opened the door.
"Bebeto!!!!! What the hell did you just do!!!!!!!!!!!"
I overreacted, yelling upon seeing the gray wyvern half-unconscious, tied up, and Bebeto licking blood from his claws.
'Heh heh heh! Bebeto, you're a lucky charm!'
Scolding Bebeto loudly as I entered, the delirious gray wyvern spotted me and let out ku-eok, ku-eok cries.
And those cries auto-translated in my ears as pleas to be spared.
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"Good choice. Let's get along from now on."
Kuu. Kuuu.
As I extended my hand, the gray wyvern cautiously pecked it with her beak in acceptance.
Yet her eyes darted anxiously to the hangar door.
Fearing when Bebeto might barge in and beat her to death.
'Carrot and stick works wonders. Heh heh heh.'
Simple Bebeto stormed the hangar five times on my lies.
Each time, I dragged him out and cast "sincere" healing magic.
Finally, the gray wyvern surrendered to me.
Her initial proud spirit tossed to a passing dog, now a meek lamb.
Her head now filled only with "Bebeto bad," and me as her savior.
"I'll bring your new master in a few days. Rest up till then."
Kuu kuuu.
Still anxious, glancing at the door, she rubbed her long beak against me.
"Don't worry. I'll take that thug Bebeto elsewhere."
I stroked her rubbing beak, reassuring her.
'Heh heh. Acquired one wyvern!'
A pleasant chime in my head.
'How much is this worth?'
Wyvern plus her armor. Felt like I'd gained a whole territory, electrifying satisfaction surging through me.
'Now I have two wyverns! Muahaha!'
At this rate, conquering the continent seemed possible.
"See you tomorrow."
Exchanging warm farewells, I exited through the side door.
Ku-gu-gu.
Bebeto, waiting, nudged his head in affectionately.
"Yeah, good boy, my baby. You did great today~"
I happily patted Bebeto's lowered head.
Kuuuuwu.
Bebeto purred contentedly at my pets.
Sunset already glowed behind his head.
So many events from sunrise to sunset.
Pride swelled in my chest at a fulfilling day.
"Bebeto, wanna fly?"
Kuoooo!
He bellowed joyfully, like answering a call.
Whoosh.
I lightly mounted Bebeto's back.
"Let's go! Bebeto!"
I secured the reins on Bebeto.
Kuoooooo!
Bebeto bellowed powerfully, flapping his sturdy wings.
Shiiiik shiiiiik.
Whoosh, we lifted off, soaring dizzyingly into the sky.
"Ah...."
The red sun half-buried in the earth pierced my eyes poignantly.
Shiiiing.
A single breeze blew.
I inhaled deeply.
And closed my eyes.
The purest wind over my closed eyes, tangerine sunset stinging.
No thoughts came.
Just all fatigue clinging to my body drifting away on the wind.
It felt good.
This moment's emotion simply endless bliss.
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"Palmer's dead?"
"Y-Yes. Moreover, all forces in Denfos have been annihilated."
"Hmm...."
Gadein Castle, a few hours' ride from Denfos.
Lord Lukens stroked his blue beard, frowning slightly.
"Jenis the Baron, perhaps?"
"N-No, not him."
"Not Jenis? Then the Supreme Commander himself stepped in?"
Lukens asked, slightly surprised it wasn't his guess.
Question filled the gaunt-faced Lukens's eyes.
"It's him. The culprit is Kair, the newly appointed Junior Viscount in the Foreign Skywing Corps."
"What? Kair Junior Viscount? He alone killed Palmer and seized the city?"
Excitement made Lukens's voice tremble.
"He wasn't alone. Hundreds of mercenaries became his private soldiers. Including Raiker, the mercenary guild master you tried to recruit."
"....."
Lukens fell silent at the knight's report of the regrettable news.
Silence briefly hung in the office adorned with beast hides, armor, and weapons.
"Kek... Not some brat, huh. A brat..."
Lukens chuckled lowly, murmuring "brat."
The scar around his right eye twisted with his smile.
"What will you do? Just give the order, and we'll retake Denfos tomorrow!"
Delbado, Lukens's advisor and one of his chief knights, declared confidently.
A fluke humiliation, but Gadein Castle's forces could handle it like eating cold porridge.
"No... No need. What's important now isn't dealing with one brat. The priority is safely handing off the goods. If this transport fails, the Raviter bastards will seize this place."
"No need to worry. The transport fleet is fully prepared. They're departing soon too. My lord..."
"Is that something to say now? Losing Denfos to one brat and you have excuses, Delbado?"
"No, it's just... completely unexpected..."
"Unexpected? Kekeke. Hilarious."
He laughed, but a chill permeated the office.
Thick murderous intent.
"Don't test my patience. As you know, I'm not a good person."
Gulp.
Lukens's soft, quiet warning.
The middle-aged knight called Delbado swallowed dryly.
He knew Lukens's temperament well.
Never given subordinates more than two chances.
Failure brought harsh punishment.
Possibly death.
"I'll devote my life to doing my utmost!"
Delbado bowed deeply, replying vigorously.
"No complacency until transport completes. If this goes wrong... everyone dies. By my hand...."
Paat!
As the warning ended, heavy mana swirled in the office.
The thick lanterns illuminating the room couldn't withstand and snuffed out.
Darkness followed.
Enveloping the room densely, like Viscount Lukens's unseen authority.
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"So Viscount Lukens holds the south connected to Havis Kingdom, the sole safe route through Neruman Plains; Supreme Commander Yaiks and his troops handle the north under heavy monster and Temir alliance attacks; Jenis Baron the coast?"
"Yes. Denfos here is the center of those forces. Ternain Junior Viscount under the Supreme Commander and thousands defend Denfos walls and surrounding forts."
'Sigh, never imagined war games.'
I'd studied Korean, English, math, and more, but nowhere taught noble brats real war.
Sure, history class covered some great victories.
But abstract triumphs differed from this bloody battlefield.
Here, defeat meant fleeing naked or dying.
Just a poor high schooler tossed into an African safari.
"What do you two think? When will Viscount Lukens attack?"
Plus this mismatched speech.
Kids at school would ostracize me hearing this.
"If he wants, he could take this place in hours. Prediction pointless."
"Agreed. I haven't been here long, but no one knows Viscount Lukens's true intentions. Ruthless and cold—his name alone makes people piss themselves."
'Tough personality.'
Not hot-blooded brute or sly opportunist, but ruthless and cold.
Meaning Lukens was always ready to backstab.
"Strike first?"
"M-My lord."
"Kek. Do as you please. I can escape if needed."
Derbal flustered, Raiker nonchalant.
"Meet the Supreme Commander."
"Count Yaiks?"
"If no attack from Viscount Lukens today, we'll have a few days' grace."
Derbal spoke like a fortune teller.
"How do you know?'
Raiker asked Derbal.
"Guess. A cold man knows Denfos's importance and that time lets you and Jenis Baron unite. No immediate attack means prioritizing something more vital."
"Oho! Spouting nonsense convincingly."
Raiker jeered.
"Probability?"
"About 90%."
Derbal showed baseless confidence.
"Ah! Come to think of it!"
Raiker suddenly exclaimed as if remembering.
"Recently, hunting mercenaries said activity surged around Viscount Lukens's suddenly quiet transport fleet, guards tripled."
"Transport fleet? Viscount Lukens has one?"
"Not sure, but several ocean-faring ships are docked at a pier not far from Gadein Castle."
'Transport fleet? Isn't the sea pirate territory?'
Neruman couldn't even fish far due to pirates.
Robert River abundant, but not enough for major transport.
"Suspicious. Most merchant caravans from Havis use land routes."
Raiker's words made Derbal's eyes gleam.
'Ho, interesting.'
Unclear what, but Viscount Lukens and transport deeply linked.
Important enough to ignore his home turf.
"Watch today. Send back captured prisoners, reorganize mercenaries, resettle Denfos displaced civilians."
Mercenaries and refugees poured in endlessly.
Rumors spread; at this rate, Skywing Corps becomes refugee camp.
"Yes. Repatriate those who lost homes or shops to Viscount Lukens. Select capable mercenaries or veterans, form units roughly per Imperial army structure."
"Understood!"
"Heh heh. Trust me."
Derbal overflowing confidence, Raiker none.
I nodded at their replies.
"Uh... my lord."
".....?"
Raiker, heading out, called slyly as if just thinking.
"Don't you need a Skyknight?"
"Skyknight? Why..."
"Heh heh. Truth is, I've ridden wyverns before. So, about that gray wyvern we caught yesterday—could you give her to me?"
'Huh? Got a pilot license?'
Raiker, money-and-women obsessed lech, spouting unexpectedly expert words.
Nobles-only wyvern riding.
"Just tame her a bit and hand her over. I'll make her absolutely loyal in days."
'Argh! Absolutely loyal?'
Wyvern aside, can't trust Raiker absolutely.
He'd sell her to rent a brothel for wenching.
"...I'll think about it. Not too busy yet."
"Haha. I'll take that as a yes and withdraw, my lord~! Thanks!"
Not even agreed, yet Raiker slurped imaginary soup, winking.
'Oh dear, human!'
Yet oddly not dislikeable.
What is it? A playful wanderlust emanated from Raiker.