Chapter 141
Chapter 141
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Chapter 4. Uruun, the Land of Revelry and Culture
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The streets were incredibly spacious, and the crowds moved about while maintaining a respectful distance from one another. Most visitors to Uruun were wealthy merchants or nobles, some accompanied by heavily armored knights from Filoria as escorts or hired mercenaries.
It was quite peaceful.
With everyone keeping their distance, there were no deliberate collisions, and pickpockets were nowhere to be seen thanks to the diligent patrols circulating at regular intervals. But this was only the daytime scene—come nightfall, the streets would erupt with noise from those lost in revelry.
"Hmm..."
Holding a bun slathered in thick cream, Judah munched on it as he walked the streets, quietly observing the passersby. Among those who weren't nobles or merchants were mages, knights, and adventurers. They wandered with excited expressions, mostly beaming with joy or wonder. Yet none among them appeared to belong to the Shadow Kingdom.
〈Shadow Kingdom〉
Despite its grandiose name, they had roamed the continent for over two hundred years without a fixed territory. For an organization of elite assassins, land held little importance.
They existed on the 1st Continent and the 2nd Continent alike.
They were in Baekje, in Krakhus, and even in the desert lands.
With tendrils in narcotics, finance, gambling, slavery—diverse fields—they infiltrated various organizations. Like shadows that inevitably appear wherever there is light, they were everywhere. Wherever their leadership gathered became their territory, and where their king resided became their capital. Common folk might scoff at such tales, but nobles and merchants who had once crossed paths with them could only muster bitter smiles.
They knew all too well the Shadow Kingdom's information network and power. Unless one owned a spirit sword themselves or employed a spirit sword wielder as a bodyguard, no one could fend off their assaults. Yet they didn't take just any commission. They only accepted requests from those they deemed worthy or who came recommended.
A coalition of kingdoms could theoretically eradicate them, but unfortunately for them, the Shadow Kingdom currently possessed 〈Ginnungagap〉.
The twentieth fragment of Perlnirn: Ginnungagap.
This massive scythe granted its wielder a constant "Guardian Magic Barrier" that absorbed most magic attacks barring physical ones. It also allowed the user to slash at distant foes by nullifying the space between them—even a swing through empty air would strike a far-off enemy.
It had originally fallen in the Ahman Kingdom on the 1st Continent and been recovered by their army. But the Shadow Kingdom's king, 〈Cheron〉, heard of the special power embedded in the fragment and personally seized it. Now it was the treasure among treasures of the Shadow Kingdom, passed down through generations of kings.
But that wasn't the point.
'The real key is that their leadership is here in Uruun.'
Judah headed to the square where he had gone yesterday. Some sat on benches enjoying photosynthesis after a night of debauchery with beautiful women, while others chattered around the fountain's elegant water jets. A diverse crowd gathered, but most were just taking a brief rest from exhaustion. Judah circled the square under the pretense of sightseeing, scanning the people.
'Not here?'
In the game, a middle-aged man on a bench would suddenly offer a quest just by walking around. Here, though, that wouldn't happen—he had to search manually. And since there was no telling when the man might show up, aimlessly waiting felt pointless.
'Definitely.'
From what he recalled of the setup, it was in the morning, so if afternoon came without luck, he'd just tour Uruun. He hadn't expected to find him in a single day anyway. The exact date hadn't been set, and bad luck might keep him away entirely.
About a week.
That's how long he'd commit: mornings in the square, killing time. He sat on an empty bench with a good view, gazing at the fountain and sky while revising his 〈Memo〉 overall. Time passed surprisingly quickly.
At lunchtime, he'd venture out for culinary adventures: one day north, one west, one south, one east, one blending east and west—covering all of Uruun. Some afternoons, he joined Jeanne and Arhil, who had agreed to tag along.
Sarah, daughter of Count Januar, was always with them. Her presence was a boon, as the count's wealth covered everything for Judah's group. Fancy restaurants? Paid with gold from her pouch. Shopping? More gold from her pouch. It even made Judah consider ditching solo outings altogether.
Around the seventh day, Judah sat on his usual bench with a clear view of the square, passing time as always. Today, he'd bought milk and an assortment of freshly made croquettes from the bakery.
"Looks delicious. Mind sharing one?"
Then, someone sat beside him. Dressed in a rumpled suit, the man wore his long hair in a ponytail despite being male, with patchy stubble suggesting days since his last shave. Oddly, despite the disheveled look, he was clean and odor-free.
"Want one?"
Without much thought, Judah pulled a bun from the bag and handed it over.
"Then thanks."
He grinned at the offer, reaching out to grab it. Right before Judah's eyes, the back of the man's left hand came into view: a tattoo of a snarling "dog baring its teeth" at the base of his pinky.
'Found him.'
Today marked the seventh day of his search for Roxin.
Coincidence or fate—he had come right to him. Watching the man wolf down the offered bun, Judah couldn't help but smile. Tying back his hair and growing a beard could change a person this much—he thought that as he silently ate his croquette.
'No need to rush now that I've found him.'
Now he just needed to build rapport. In the game, it was a quest; here, fulfilling a simple request would likely suffice. Judah set the croquettes between them so the man could eat freely, tearing open the bag. He even offered a bottle of milk from another bag.
"Here."
"Much obliged."
Short exchange, but enough. After devouring the bun and milk, his hunger sated, the man let out a satisfied groan, leaning back against the bench and tilting his head skyward.
"Haha, hitting up a stranger like this... what a sight I make. Thanks. Dumped all my cash into gambling, that's what."
He burst into laughter. Losing everything should bring despair, a sense of defeat and helplessness. Yet his voice brimmed with vigor, as if unbothered.
"You don't seem too bummed about losing the money."
"If you win some, you lose some. The thrill in that moment made my money well worth it."
"But now you're mooching food off others."
He snapped his head up, frowning at Judah.
"Hey now. Life happens! Yeah, sorry for freeloading off you. But money's quick to earn—I'll repay the favor later. Name's Roxin! A man who returns kindness in kind."
"Roxin?"
"Yeah, that's me. Remember it. Someday, it'll be the name of the guy helping you out."
He laughed heartily. He probably had no idea that day wasn't far off. Oblivious, he extended a hand for a shake, grinning. Judah clasped it, feeling a firm grip.
"I've said mine, so now yours. What's your name?"
"...Judah Arshe. Just Judah's fine."
"Haha. Most folks coming to Uruun are nobles anyway—no need for surnames. A name's enough. Here, luck trumps family power."
"In gambling, luck beats skill every time," he added, then tilted his head, squinting as he peered closely at Judah's face.
"Tsk... you look young. How old? Even for baby-faced, you seem too youthful."
"That's 'cause I am young. Uncle."
"U-Uncle!? How old are you?"
"Fifteen. Turning... sixteen soon enough."
"Huh? Hard to believe. Weren't you just a kid hitting adulthood?"
He scanned Judah top to bottom in disbelief. Clad in black wolf leather clothes and coat, Judah looked refined to him. For a fresh adult, his proportions were good, his body toned from systematic training, and that brief handshake had revealed solid grip strength.
"What was the family name again?"
"Arshe. You won't know it. Fell ages ago, over a decade."
"I see."
He fell silent briefly, then gazed at the sky again. Judah nibbled the remaining croquettes. Glancing at Judah's profile, the man spoke up.
"That filling you up?"
"It would have been if someone hadn't snatched some. A bit short now."
"Heh, yeah? Know a great spot. Baekje Empire chef runs it—bone broth soup that'll blow your mind."
"...My treat?"
He nodded contentedly.
"Of course. Ah, don't feel too ripped off. Seriously—I'll help you out one day, so think of this as prepayment. Yeah, mooching off a fifteen-year-old bruises my pride, but hey, it's fate, right? Let's chat more over a meal."
========== Afterword ==========
Monday's here again... *drool*.