Chapter 149
Chapter 149
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 149
Chapter Title: Chapter 4. Uruun, the Land of Entertainment and Culture
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Upon hearing Judah's confident reply, Roxen let out a hollow laugh. He wondered where this baseless self-assurance came from—enough to make him want to slice open Judah's head and take a peek inside. Having finished speaking, Judah began examining the map this way and that.
"Hmm. Pretty detailed."
"Of course. Who do you think gathered this intel?"
Roxen wore a smug expression as Judah nodded in satisfaction.
He might not realize it, but Judah knew how to read maps just fine and was even cross-checking them against others. He didn't seem to need any help with it.
Unbeknownst to Roxen, everything was updating in real-time on Judah's player privilege, the . Even the notes scribbled in colored pens were being recorded, so once the update finished, there'd be no need to carry the physical copies around.
"Here, take this."
"What is it?"
"A gift."
Roxen tossed something from his pocket. Catching it, Judah saw it was a sixteen-sided die, perforated with holes that revealed a magic stone inside.
"Infuse it with mana."
As Judah did so per Roxen's instructions, the stone absorbed his mana and glowed red. Roxen then handed over a pair of goggles. Looking through them, Judah saw a straight laser-like beam shooting out from one of the holes.
"Oh?"
An exclamation escaped him unbidden. It was like those detectors in movies guarding warehouses with valuables.
"It's a basic detection device used by Uruun's nobles. If a magic stone in the garden is glowing red, that's your sign it's active. Even if you dodge the patrolling guards, you'll run into these scattered around anywhere that's not a proper entrance."
"Hmm..."
Even without the goggles, opening his demon eye would probably suffice. Not wanting to hand over too much intel to the Shadow Kingdom, Judah removed the goggles and thanked him.
On top of that, Roxen stood beside Judah as he studied the map, pointing out ways to bypass the mansion's wards one by one. He was doling out the info bit by bit, but dawn was already breaking. Winter days dawned late, but lingering much longer would mean the sun fully rising, making escape impossible.
"The day's breaking, so I'll head out."
"You're leaving already?"
As Roxen walked toward the window, Judah asked.
"Have to. We snuck in at dawn, but I can't exactly lounge around in Count Genauer's mansion till morning."
"Fair point. Here, take these then."
"What? Huh?"
Judah held out three maps to Roxen, who had his back turned. He'd asked for them himself—why ask for them back now?
"......"
Judah's brain short-circuited for a moment. Judah smiled gently at him.
"I've got all the key spots memorized. Feel free to take them. No point me holding onto them after tonight anyway. They're copies, sure, but you might need them elsewhere."
"Uh... yeah. Right. Probably."
Roxen took the maps in a daze. Just as he opened his mouth to ask if Judah had really memorized everything, Judah kept talking without pause.
"And you've got Shadow Kingdom butterflies watching me, right?"
Butterflies referred to the lowest rung in the Shadow Kingdom—those granted the black butterfly emblem as proof of their skill.
'You knew?'
Pretending not to notice Roxen's stiff reaction, Judah tapped the table with his left index finger and averted his gaze, signaling his tacit approval.
"Don't make them wait around your mansion all tired-like for me to come out. Hmm... alright. I'll go with the Neyubae estate first, so have someone nearby tonight. But once I rescue the elf, how do I hand her over?"
"We'll handle the pickup. Don't worry about that. Just focus on the elf. Though if things get dicey, we won't be rushing in to save you, so think carefully before you move."
Judah chuckled at his words.
"Got it. Now go on already. You've been saying you're leaving, but you're not in any hurry."
You're the one holding me up! Roxen swallowed the urge to shout, letting Judah push him toward the window. Perched on the outer sill, Roxen turned back before leaving and sighed softly at Judah.
"It's not too late. Think it over."
"Worrying over nothing."
Judah saw Roxen off. Alone in the room, he slipped on the Valentine ring and began plotting tonight's moves via the .
'Murder, then gambling. Now thieving too.'
Not simple theft, though. Legally speaking, sneaking in at night armed to the teeth—that's aggravated burglary, right? Who knows. Bits of his old world's laws popped into his head unbidden. Seemed like he was ticking off every "don't do" on the list one by one.
"Haa."
With a small sigh, Judah refocused on the map. Morning sun rose, and for the first time in ages—truly ages—he sat down for breakfast with Jeanne and Arhil.
'But who's that next to her...?'
One stranger sat beside Jeanne. An elderly man with a stern face, back ramrod straight, eating his breakfast in precise, disciplined motions.
'Feels like staring at the company commander.'
Reminded him of that picky-as-hell officer from his army days. Curiosity getting the better of him, Judah shot Jeanne a look as breakfast wound down. She met his eyes with a troubled smile and glanced sideways. The man beside her had finished eating and clamped his mouth shut.
"Sir Wolfram."
"Hm?"
"This boy here is traveling with me."
"Oh-ho? Nice to meet you."
He finally acknowledged Judah's existence. His words sounded friendly enough, but the tone dripped hostility. What was it—like meeting your girlfriend's dad? He extended a hand as if for a shake. Judah reflexively offered his, only to feel a vice-like grip. Applying moderate pressure in return, he saw a flicker of surprise in the man's eyes.
"Hm! I like you."
Judah caught the quiet mutter. The man ramped up the force until Judah's hand throbbed, then gave it a light shake. The handshake ended quickly.
"Ah, I know your name already—no need to say it. Jeanne told me about you yesterday. I'm Wolfram Nio, an upper-rank Blue Lance Knight. Instructor to Jeanne Artluar here."
He lifted the conical spear pendant around his neck. It was the symbol of the Blue Lance Knights, just like the one Jeanne always wore. But the real shocker was his name.
'Why's Wolfram here?'
A former NPC in the Byron Empire, Wolfram trained apprentice Blue Lance Knights. You met him as a companion after recruiting a Blue Lance Knight, during a visit to the empire. Reaching a certain level with Jeanne Artluar let you promote from apprentice to mid-rank via him, unlocking new skills and gear. For him to be in Uruun—not to mention breakfasting in Count Genauer's mansion—was bizarre. At a loss for words, Judah paused before replying.
"You're... her instructor?"
"Indeed."
Did I screw something up? The man fixed Judah with a stubborn glare.
"I hear... Lady Jeanne owes you a great debt."
"Yeah. Pretty much."
Probably the Baekje fighter brawl. He'd saved her then. She'd repaid it by granting his request. Memories resurfaced. But the man calling himself Wolfram wouldn't let him dwell.
"You asked her to be your companion for a year, traveling the world together?"
"Yes."
Judah answered his questions with the friendliest smile he could muster. Stranger or not, he was Jeanne's acquaintance—an elder, no less. No call for rudeness. Satisfied with the prompt reply, Wolfram nodded once.
"You knew she was a Blue Lance Knight and still made that request?"
"Pardon? Ah... yes. Sure."
"Just to be your companion? She'd have granted anything that didn't betray her beliefs or disloyalty to the emperor."
"Is that not allowed?"
"No! I'm just saying—why such a modest ask?"
Hmm, some kind of test?
Judah racked his brain for the answer that'd please him most, but drew a blank. So he repeated the reason he'd given her back then, verbatim.
"Because that's what I needed most. A reliable companion."
"Oh-ho! So Blue Lance Knights are reliable, you say?"
"At least, I figured I'd betray her first before she betrayed me. She's got strong pride as one, and showed her knightly honor to me plenty of times."
Wolfram laughed heartily, satisfied.
"Good answer. Very good! Yes, no one more trustworthy than a Blue Lance Knight. You're a likable fellow despite the first impression."
"Thank you."
Judah bowed his head lightly.
"...Sssip—! Hm. That said—and forgive me for this—I have a favor to ask."
"Sir Wolfram! We agreed not to—!"
As he spoke, Jeanne's eyes widened beside him. Wolfram held up a palm to silence her. She shut her mouth but shot him a displeased look, chewing her lip. Bad vibes all around. Wolfram eyed Judah more seriously than before.
"Go ahead and say it. Better to hear you out first."
"I'd like you to give Lady Jeanne some time."
Judah's eye twitched at the words.
"Sorry, but what exactly do you mean?"
"Hm. Of course. Hold off on that year-long companion request you made to her—just for a bit."