Chapter 54
Chapter 54
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 54
Chapter Title: The Twenty-Fourth Fragment, Carpediem
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Ea.
That was her name. She was a member of the Baekje Empire's honorable knight order, the Brawlers, dispatched alone to recover the Fragment reportedly fallen in Serenia Castle.
The Brawlers previously sent to Serenia Castle had been upper or mid-tier. But those dispatched every three years returned without any results, turning the place into somewhere no one wanted to go. Even apprentices who had to work hard for mid-tier recognition avoided it.
Everyone knew. With not even a clue about the Fragment, going there was a waste.
It burned time and dulled skills. While peers built merits on battlefields or missions and grew stronger, they'd be wandering in search of a Fragment that might not even exist. Brawlers who returned from Serenia Castle all said the same: if possible, don't go.
By now, the Empire might have reconsidered dispatching anyone, but giving up seemed unpalatable from their perspective. Sending groups other than Brawlers raised loyalty concerns.
No group matched the Brawlers' absolute loyalty to the Emperor and homeland. Dispatch someone else, and if they acquired the Fragment, defection to another nation was a real risk.
Left with no choice, the Empire offered high pay and ample rewards, but no takers emerged. Only Ea took interest and volunteered.
Well, the result was as many expected.
She hadn't found the Fragment, nor anything comparable. Just as others said, she'd wasted time. The one silver lining was learning from Kaseun, the Spirit Sword wielder, and receiving his advice—otherwise, she might have returned to the Empire in tears.
Her dispatch period was ending soon, and like her senior Brawlers, she had no desire to extend it. If possible, she wanted to leave Serenia Castle quickly. She had no intention of wasting her life here again. Time was precious, gains nonexistent, connections nil.
'No, there's one damn connection.'
Juda, Serenia Castle's young hero. An unpleasant tie.
Their first meeting and impression were the worst, and today's events a major humiliation. Without kids like Kain or Riel there, she would have cut Juda down on the spot. The humiliation of a blade at her nape that moment was unforgivable.
To a Brawler, defeat and humiliation were mere steps toward victory. Thus, the Empire never punished them for battlefield losses. Other knight orders faced severe penalties, but the Brawlers were the sole exception, tolerated for defeat.
Lose in battle? Survive the disgrace. Endure humiliation through gritted teeth. Betray the Empire? No—but beg for life from the enemy if needed.
In return, return alive and seize victory next time. Repay disgrace, return humiliation tenfold. Failures and defeats? Fine. Lacking skill? Retreat, bide time. Endure any hardship to stand victorious, looking down with a smile.
That was the Empire's Brawlers.
And Ea intended to repay the humiliation of that blade at her throat moments ago.
She knew the forest terrain well. She'd scoured the area like a comb for two years—impossible not to. She let the group go ahead, pretended to follow from behind, then slipped into a side path through the brush. Seeing them walk on unsuspectingly, Ea turned her steps.
"Alright then, shall we chase that arrogant brat?"
She pulled a portable map from her pack and headed where Juda had vanished. Faint footprints marked the damp soil. Tracking and stealth were basic survival skills for Brawlers. She followed Juda's trail swiftly. But something felt off. Juda wasn't following paths.
'Has a destination?'
The trail broke midway; scouting around, she saw he'd climbed a hill, slashed through blocking brush with a blade. This meant a specific goal.
Sensing oddity, she unfolded her map. This direction led to nameless ruins. An ancient site with brick walls and crumbled building remnants still standing.
Ea calculated time slowly. Even with wide strides, he'd camp there overnight at most. Smiling faintly, she hurried after.
"Ha, this brat's fast, though."
She'd tracked diligently, yet Juda was nowhere. Ea sighed, preparing to camp. Darkness fell; further pursuit impossible. She knew the direction to the ruins, but navigating dark woods required a torch.
A torch in dark woods stood out too much. Resigned, she halted tracking and spent the night in the forest. At dawn, following yesterday's trail, she reached the ruins.
Ruined walls and building debris suggested a former castle scattered about. The trail vanished. Though wrecked, the stone-paved roads made footprints impossible to follow. Sighing, she looked up, scanning surroundings.
Warm sunlight bathed crumbled buildings; nameless vines climbed ruined walls. Eerie at night, mysteriously antique in morning light.
Traces of past homes made it a hazard too—magic beasts sheltered from rain, nesting there.
Unpredictable dangers kept her hand on the short sword at her side, alert as she moved. Stone fragments crunching underfoot on the pavement sounded loud.
'Where's that brat?'
The ruins were vast by her memory. Searching might take time—or paths might cross without meeting. To kill without trace, do it here... A touch of anxiety hit her. Then a sudden doubt.
Had the brat noticed being tailed?
Unlikely. No way he'd know. That's why she anticipated his face upon meeting. But anticipation cooled fast. No sign of Juda. As if he weren't here.
Only an abandoned doll peeking from rock piles and ragged cloth scraps visible. Ea sighed, easing tension. Nothing here made her prior wariness foolish. To ease hunger, she pulled packaged jerky from her pack, chewing. Busy munching salty jerky while moving, she heard a distant sound.
Kieeeek!
A magic beast's scream. Pitch suggested common local goblin. Pattern: not rallying allies, but pained shriek. It cut off quickly, but direction approximate.
"…!"
Spitting half-chewed jerky, she dashed. Sound close. Echoey ruins, but direction clear—easy to find. Leaping forward at tremendous speed, she heard combat sounds.
Thud, thump!
Heavy stomps like giant footfalls, followed by goblin shrieks. Someone fighting beasts beyond that corner. Found him. Tedious wait over. Bloodlust rising, faint smile on lips, she rounded the wall—then clamped mouth shut, stepping back.
Thump!
Kieeeek...!
A goblin, blasted like cannonball, grazed her wall-hugging form, slamming ground. A beat slower, it'd hit her. Goblin twitched, side caved—broken ribs.
"What?"
An ogre? Wary of more projectiles, she peeked from cover. About ten goblins lay twisted, scattered. Amid them stood a knight with spear and shield.
Silver full plate armor gleamed brilliantly, helm donned. Form-fitting plate showed graceful curves—female. But gender irrelevant. That knight: Azure Lance Knight. Eternal foe of Brawlers, knight of the Empire's enemy, Byron.
"Hmm."
Brief hesitation, then she stepped out, drawing twin short swords from waist.
"Pheasant or chicken... no, chicken for pheasant?"
Original target Juda sidelined. Priorities shifted. She'd retreat from others, but not an Azure Lance Knight. Her footsteps turned the knight's head. Visor hid expression, but lowered spear twitched.
"You...?"
Ea tilted head with a smile.
"Hello, Lance Knight. Long time no see. Remember me?"
"...Of course. You're not forgettable."
"Whew, glad. What brings you from east woods to west? Didn't find what you wanted?"
Shrugging with swords in hand, she grinned. Azure Lance Knight Jeanne narrowed eyes, watching approaching Ea. Her voice pleasant—like famed beautiful rose. But thorny like rose, it soured moods. Approaching sword-drawn, no sweet words expected—but to Jeanne, she'd been thus two years ago. Jeanne tensed left arm on shield, ready to defend.
"Yes, thought Fragment in east woods, but no luck. Seeing you here suggests same for you?"
Ea's eye twitched as she walked.
"Yeah. Invested two years, got nothing. Just aged."
"Recall what the lord said? Fragment appears to fate's chosen. Sadly, not us."
"Ha! Bullshit! Fate's chosen gets Fragment? Damn. If I'd found it, I'd shove those words down his throat before the lord. Sigh."
Drooping swords, approaching Jeanne, Ea halted abruptly, head down, deep sigh.
"Frustrating. Really."
"Agreed."
Eyes closed, calming—then flashed open, gripping swords tight. Tassel on hilt shook violently.
"You and I wasted two years, yet came back—means we can't let go, right? Returning empty-handed to Empire? Mockery awaits. Gotta salvage something."
"A duel?"
"Yes. Brawlers' greatest pride: owning an Azure Lance Knight's pendant. Yours: our short swords? Perfect for duel. No lord banning fights in neutral zone here."
"True. Die here, looks like 'killed by monster.' Azure Lance Knights avoid force if possible—but against Brawlers, different."
"Oh? Coincidence? We Brawlers too."
Ea curled lips, lowering stance. Classic Brawler guard. Jeanne raised shield forefront, lifted lance. Sharp killing intent crossed.
"Enough talk. Not a word-fight? Quietly yield that neck."
"Take it if you can. Though impossible."
"Heh heh heh!"
Fun, Ea laughed at Jeanne's words, charging.