Chapter 121
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 121
Chapter Title: Safety First
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Clang!
The powerful impact traveling up his sword made Gismond gasp.
“More aura is better, but quantity isn't everything!”
Clang!
His unstable aura finally shattered under the continuous barrage.
Mana backflowed, and the coppery taste of blood rose in his throat.
“If you just increase the volume, it shatters this easily. And the fact that it backflows after breaking just once means you have no real control.”
The knight sparring with Gismond lowered his sword, looking down at him with a pathetic gaze.
“The young lady made a special request, so I had high hopes, but you're a complete dud. Did you raid an elixir field on your way here or something?”
“Th-that's not…”
Gismond stammered, trying to make an excuse.
But on second thought, it wasn't entirely wrong. It wasn't an elixir field, but he had known where to find elixirs and pilfered them.
“Your swordsmanship is crude, too. You look like you've only been learning for about three years.”
“That's because…!”
It's only been a year! He was only adapting this quickly thanks to the original experiences and memories of this body.
“I don't even know where to begin with you. Why on earth would the young lady make such a request…”
The heavily scarred man scratched the back of his head in irritation, while Pernyan and Ruina watched from a short distance away.
“Is this really okay?”
“Of course.”
Ruina nodded, nibbling on a piece of chocolate.
“Sir Haken may be rough around the edges, but he's a skilled knight. He'll teach him well enough.”
“Doesn't seem like it… Haken, you say?”
“Yes.”
Pernyan knew the name Haken as well.
One of the key figures in training Bercefe's knights.
Not only was he an excellent knight himself, but his teaching ability was particularly outstanding. It was said that few of Bercefe's renowned knights hadn't been trained by him.
“You've assigned him quite an exceptional tutor. He lacks the fundamentals to learn from a master of that caliber.”
Pernyan knew all about Gismond's situation.
The fact that he was possessed, and that he'd never held a sword before.
“He's a senior from the academy. How could that be?”
Ruina retorted, as if she couldn't understand.
Gismond Erdt was a third-year at the academy—soon to be a fourth-year—and he had achieved significant results in the jousting tournament.
Objectively speaking, he was clearly a highly skilled individual.
“…Ah, I suppose you're right.”
Unable to speak about the possessed and the future, Pernyan simply nodded in feigned agreement.
‘Well, a skilled teacher will know how to adjust to his student's level.’
The problem was getting a subpar teacher, not an excellent one.
Probably.
“By the way, I heard you asked my father to locate the demonic beast colony.”
“The Fallenberg family needs a proper justification to get involved.”
“The colony is presumed to be located further north or east than the monsters' original habitat.”
The demonic beasts didn't just take over the monsters' territory.
They settled above or beside the monster territories, causing nearby monsters to flee, which set off a domino effect.
“That area is unknown to us as well. Naturally, preparations will take some time.”
“I understand.”
“And he believes you also need to prepare.”
“Me?”
“He said, and I quote, ‘If a brat who's never once set foot outside the northern barrier goes straight into the Demon Realm and causes a disaster, who's going to take responsibility?’”
The Demon Realm referred to the lands far to the north of Bercefe's northern territories, areas completely untouched by human hands.
“I don't think you needed to relay that word for word.”
“I toned it down.”
“I see.”
Pernyan readily accepted.
“He added that he doesn't want to deal with the awkward relationship with the Fallenberg family that would follow.”
“Should I write up a contract? Stating that even if something happens to me, Bercefe won't be held responsible.”
“Yes, and you'll have to go on a reconnaissance mission outside the barrier with me.”
A little taste of a monster colony before heading into the Demon Realm, is that it?
It didn't seem like a malicious attempt to give him a hard time.
‘He's not wrong about any of it.’
It was true he'd never been beyond the northern barrier.
Pernyan was ignorant of what lay beyond the barrier, and he'd never been to a place where life and death were decided in seconds.
‘Ah, does Andromalius not count?’
This would be a different experience from Andromalius.
“I'll go.”
And so, Pernyan accepted Ruina's proposal.
The lands beyond the barrier, and the Demon Realm beyond that, were harsh places Pernyan would never normally go near, let alone visit.
He wouldn't have gone this far if it weren't related to demons, but given the circumstances, there was no reason to refuse a favor that would help him prepare as much as possible.
“When do we leave?”
“Tomorrow. You don't need to prepare anything special, just bring yourself.”
“How can I do that?”
For a merchant to venture into dangerous territory without making his own preparations was suicide.
No matter how many knights Bercefe assigned to him, in the end, he was responsible for his own protection.
- Kkuung.
‘Of course, I have you, too.’
Right, a merchant can't be separated from the ego golem he went to such lengths to create.
“Anyway, what do you think?”
“About what?”
“The Demon Realm. Do you think there are really demonic beasts there?”
“There are.”
Yes, there are.
He knew this not just because of the prophecy book, but because demonic beasts had already been discovered in the north.
“Then how many?”
But he didn't know their numbers.
“Will it be like the Taklakan Desert? Or the academy?”
He didn't know what was behind it, or to what extent they were being summoned.
“If it's just demonic beasts, it will be dangerous, but I don't think it will be a major problem right away.”
The Margrave was coming along as well. If it was merely a large-scale operation by the Vile Breed, they should be able to escape no matter what happened.
“But, Ruina. What if it's more than that?”
“Are you suggesting a demon might be summoned? That's not an easy feat. Even at the academy, it required the special… Branch of the World Tree…”
“It's been over a decade since Bercefe was devastated, Ruina.”
Pernyan cut Ruina off.
“The people who died then, the monsters, even the ordinary animals. Can you count them?”
No. It was that indiscriminate, and there were that many.
“The demonic beasts first appeared over a decade ago. And since then, monsters have constantly threatened Bercefe's barrier. Do you really think all that death and blood would be insufficient to summon a demon?”
“…So what are you trying to say?”
It wasn't that she didn't know.
She just figured Pernyan had a reason for bringing this up and provoking her.
“As you know, newly summoned demons are weak due to interdimensional constraints. The fact that Andromalius was killed by mere academy students is proof.”
Even if it was Aint Armian, even if he was a future Royal Knight.
At the time, they were still just academy students. Not that much has changed now, of course.
And yet, Andromalius couldn't defeat them.
“But a demon that was summoned over a decade ago, one that has fed on blood and life force, would be a different story.”
What's more, there was no Aint Armian to weaken the demon's power this time.
“What if a demon like that has made its lair in the Demon Realm?”
“You were the one who suggested we investigate the Demon Realm, Pernyan. Will you please get to the point?”
“What I'm saying is, the fact that we need to investigate doesn't change, so let's put safety first.”
Closing your eyes and pretending not to see it won't make the problem solve itself or disappear.
“Safety first?”
Thwack—
Pernyan held out a piece of paper.
【Mercenary Request Form
Party A, ‘Pernyan Fallenberg,’ and Party B…】
It was a mercenary request form and contract, the standard format widely used by the mercenary guild.
“…Why this, all of a sudden?”
“Read it to the end.”
Puzzled, Ruina checked the name of Party B.
“……?”
Her pupils dilated.
“Is this for real?”
“Yes. I intend to hire that man for this expedition to the Demon Realm. I'll cover all the costs.”
Or more accurately, the Fallenberg family would.
“Will he accept?”
“I hear he's been grinding his teeth at the very mention of the Vile Breed since he almost lost his disciple. This time, it might not just be the Vile Breed, but a demon.”
I had originally planned to use him elsewhere.
“He happens to be here. It seems he thought it would be easier to find the Vile Breed in the north.”
“But I doubt my father will approve so easily.”
It was difficult for two tigers to share one mountain.
Especially for someone like the Margrave to accept help from the Mercenary King on his own turf.
It could be seen as a slight against the Margrave, or as a sign of Bercefe's incompetence.
“That's why.”
“Pardon?”
Pernyan gripped Ruina's shoulders firmly. A faint blush crept onto her flustered face at his sudden action, but…
“That's why I'm telling you first. Persuading the Margrave is your job.”
“…Pardon?”
“We're a pair. We work together by doing what we're good at and supporting each other. I'll submit the request, you persuade the Margrave.”
“……”
“I don't want to die because of some 'what if' scenario. I haven't even had a chance to spend all the money I've saved.”
Ruina's face twisted.
“And to be honest, Hyde has already gone to submit the request. It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.”
“What do you mean…!”
Before she could retort, Pernyan hastily made his exit.
***
Albinus Bercefe.
The current head of the Bercefe family, the man rebuilding the house that nearly collapsed due to a monster wave of unprecedented scale.
He was one of only ten Royal Knights in the world, and his pride was as great as his skill.
Accepting an investment from the Fallenberg family was something he could stomach, as it was in a slightly different domain from what Bercefe excelled at.
The alternative was a far worse future.
But to bring in another tiger.
[Father. The Demon Realm is a perilous place that even you have never ventured into.
It might be a stronghold for dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Vile Breed, or they may have already summoned a demon… (excerpt)…]
This was a completely different matter.
This concerned what Bercefe did best, the duty they had upheld for over a thousand years.
[…This is by no means a reflection of your abilities, but a precaution for the worst-case scenario… (excerpt)…]
It was tantamount to disrespect.
One might call it simple pride.
But it was the duty of a noble to protect that pride and defend their honor.
“…So you just left a letter and came out?”
“Sometimes, the written word is more effective than the spoken one.”
“……”
“……”
Was Ruina always this reckless? He didn't remember her being like this when they first met.
Pernyan let out a dry laugh.
“Eloping with the daughter who left him a letter. I can't even imagine what the Margrave will think of me.”
The two of them were riding across a dark field before sunrise.
“Don't say such strange things. This isn't an elopement; it's a dawn patrol. And it's on my father's orders.”
It wasn't just the two of them.
“Besides, didn't you ask me to talk to him? I've fulfilled your request.”
The White Lion Knights. Bercefe's most prized and powerful knight order was with them.
“Even if it is an elopement, we can keep the secret for you, my lady.”
“Sir Gelen. That's not funny.”
Ruina shot the vice-captain a glare before tapping her horse's flank and riding ahead.
“Let's go together, my lady!”
“Right now, I am a knight! Address me properly!”
The knight order quickly followed.
‘I have no idea how the Margrave will react to this…’
Lost in thought, Pernyan spurred his horse to catch up with the rapidly distancing group.