Chapter 126
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: Kimaris
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A deal is something made between people.
And between people, there’s no such thing as an ‘absolute.’
Many things can change depending on the situation, on the circumstances.
That was the case now.
Normally, the Mercenary King should always have the upper hand.
He was the Mercenary King, respected by countless mercenaries, and a Royal Knight appointed by the emperor.
But the fact that he wanted something created an opening to shift the balance, and Pernyan did not miss that chance.
“Garrett, you desperately want to fight a demon. Am I wrong?”
“And you think that gives you the right to lowball my fee?”
“No.”
“No?”
“I wouldn’t, so long as you aren’t fixated on the Vile Breed.”
Garrett’s brow furrowed.
“Are you trying to play word games with me?”
“I simply wanted to understand why you, Garrett, would come all this way just to chase after the Vile Breed.”
And from his reaction now, he had a good idea.
If Barus had died, Pernyan would have indeed slashed the fee. Because not taking advantage of a situation you can use makes you a fool.
The Mercenary King would have been blinded by the death of his prized student, and the fee would have been the least of his concerns.
But Barus hadn't died.
Though he might want revenge on the Vile Breed, there was no need to suffer a loss or risk everything for it.
And yet, the Mercenary King spoke of revenge, seeking out requests and clues related to the Vile Breed and demonic beasts.
The world might say it was for his student’s revenge, but to Pernyan, that wasn’t it.
‘He’s a man who became the Mercenary King. He’s no fool, nor is he one to be swayed by emotion.’
Mercenaries were often looked down upon as those who lacked the ability to become knights.
But those who reach the pinnacle of any field always possess something extraordinary.
Was he really chasing a demon to avenge a student who wasn't even dead, without any deeper thought?
‘Not a chance.’
At least, not in Pernyan’s eyes.
Then what was it?
The answer was simpler than he thought.
‘He’s looking to the future.’
Not in the sense that he was literally seeing the future like Pernyan or Gismond.
He was anticipating how things would play out.
He knew this Vile Breed incident wouldn't end simply, that the possibility of demons descending was high, and he was preparing for that future.
By experiencing the Vile Breed and demons firsthand.
“I will pay the standard fee. In return, I have one condition.”
“So that was your goal from the start.”
“Yes.”
“You Fallenberg bastards are always a pain in the ass. To dare play such games in front of me.”
He growled.
The crushing pressure was suffocating, but perhaps because he had experienced it once before, or because he was certain Garrett wouldn't kill him, it wasn’t as difficult as last time.
Soon, he retracted his aura.
“Speak.”
“I know of another demon’s traces.”
“……!”
The Mercenary King’s eyes widened.
“…I didn’t realize the Fallenberg’s information network was that extensive.”
“I would like to hire you for that occasion as well, Garrett.”
This was his true objective.
From the very beginning, Pernyan had sought out the Mercenary King to deal with the 64th demon, Flauros, who was set to descend upon the Pandrein Continent.
But then another incident had erupted in Bercefe, throwing a wrench in his plans.
So Pernyan proposed the simplest solution. Since he was a mercenary, hire him twice.
“……”
The answer didn't come immediately. The Mercenary King stared directly into Pernyan’s eyes in silence. Pernyan did not look away.
Finally.
“That will depend on the outcome of this job.”
“That is sufficient.”
Pernyan smiled, satisfied.
* * *
The egg was not allowed into the Bercefe capital.
An object that contaminated the land just by existing, leaking demonic energy, could not be brought into a city teeming with people.
Thus, upon hearing about the egg, the Margrave guided them to an abandoned mountain fortress on the outskirts of his domain.
A place no longer used since Bercefe had expanded its territory. A place so deserted that people rarely came here.
It was the most suitable location to store a mysterious and dangerous egg.
“…This is ominous.”
The Margrave let out a groan as he faced the egg.
The egg seemed alive. The faintly pulsating, dark-red shell resembled a heart, and the raised lines looked like blood vessels.
“Where did you get this?”
“A group of about one hundred fifty Tradens had taken over the 8th Snow Troll nest.”
The ‘8th’ referred to the eighth of the Snow Troll habitats identified by Bercefe.
“In the process of annihilating them, the ground collapsed, revealing a massive cavern underground.”
“And that was in there?”
“Along with numerous demonic beasts.”
“You couldn’t break it?”
“No.”
At the White Lion Captain’s words, the Margrave drew his sword.
A blue aura condensed upon the sharp blade. It didn’t look particularly large or exude any special pressure.
But Pernyan felt an instinctual fear.
‘One cut and I’m dead.’
With his skills, no magic he could cast would be able to block it.
‘What if I use an artifact?’
It would be the same. No matter how expensive the artifact, it would be destroyed.
It was an Aura Blade, compressed and honed to an extreme degree. No one who wasn't on a similar level of skill could ever hope to resist it.
The Margrave swung his sword down.
From top to bottom. A very simple motion.
────!
But the result was anything but simple.
A formidable shockwave completely swept through the area. Just as the violent storm was about to hit Pernyan, Ruina’s back shielded him.
“Are you alright?”
“…Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. You are still a guest of Bercefe.”
Ruina’s aura dissipated the shockwave. Hyde, a step too late, stood awkwardly beside Pernyan.
“…Hmph.”
“Don’t worry. You may seem inadequate, but I won’t discard you.”
“Even if you fire me, His Excellency said he would guarantee my retirement.”
“The Fallenbergs do take good care of their vassals in their old age.”
Pernyan’s gaze returned to the front.
“Ah.”
And he realized just how durable the egg was.
The Margrave’s strike had shaken the mountain fortress, yet the egg itself only had a tiny scratch.
‘Just a scratch from a Royal Knight’s blow?’
Everyone present seemed to share Pernyan’s thought, their eyes widening.
“Looks like sitting on your fat ass in a warm castle has made your skills fat too. Step aside.”
All except one—the Mercenary King.
Garrett Schreiner drew the spear from his back. Without a moment’s hesitation, he thrust it at the egg.
────!
He thought it had pierced through.
It was a savage thrust, different in nature from the Margrave’s, but the result was the same.
“Looks like you’ve been rolling around in the dirt so much you didn’t even notice your spear had rusted in the mud.”
Their roles were reversed. The Margrave’s slash fell once more.
“Hmph.”
Followed by the Mercenary King’s spear.
“Pathetic.”
The Margrave’s sword.
“Go do your paperwork.”
The Mercenary King’s spear.
Their sword and spear struck the egg dozens more times.
The shockwaves they unleashed made the knights and mercenaries cry out, and the remnants of the fortress were erased.
And then.
*Rumble—*
“The-the fortress is collapsing!”
“Your Excellency, you must evacuate!”
“Captain!”
The old mountain fortress, long neglected, could not withstand the power of two Royal Knights.
* * *
The dozens of strikes had damaged the egg, but not in any meaningful way.
In the end, the two Royal Knights gave up on breaking the egg for now and agreed to borrow the power of Aint Armian.
“The problem is how to store this thing until Aint Armian arrives.”
The ground where the egg lay had already turned black.
An object that leaked demonic energy couldn't just be left unattended.
“I have a good idea.”
“What is it?”
Pernyan shared the storage method he had been contemplating on the way here.
“Request help from the Dragon God Cult. They have a spell called ‘Sacred Light.’ It’s a specialized anti-demon magic they created to fight demons.”
“‘Sacred Light’?”
“It’s called light, but it’s actually a flame. It’s not as potent as Armian’s light, but it was quite effective at burning away demonic energy.”
“So we have the priests surround the egg with flames?”
“I brought some holy water they gave me, mixed with sand. It was effective.”
Since the capitals of all the Elector families had teleportation circles directly linked to the Dragon God Cult, summoning them wouldn't be difficult.
‘If this had been around during the Monster Wave, Bercefe wouldn’t have suffered so much damage.’
Unfortunately, before the Monster Wave, there were no direct teleportation circles connecting the Electors.
A thousand years ago, they had been united under one roof called the Empire by the first emperor, but they never considered each other true comrades.
Therefore, they were wary of teleportation circles, viewing them as potential invasion routes.
‘Now, that custom has just continued for a thousand years.’
It was only after Bercefe was half-destroyed that a direct magic circle was connected to the Dragon God Cult, who had no ambition for the throne or power, just in case.
Between the other Elector families, it was still unthinkable.
‘In any case, persuading the Cult will be easy. No, it won’t even require persuasion.’
The priests of the Dragon God Cult would probably come running like mad dogs the moment they saw this egg.
The Pope himself might even show up, eager to study it.
“For now, that seems to be the most certain method.”
The Margrave nodded in agreement with Pernyan’s opinion.
“For now, I’ll leave the knights here and return to the capital to…”
It was then.
“Your Excellency!”
A messenger with a pale face rushed into the fortress.
“What is it?”
The messenger stumbled and fell before the Margrave.
“It’s-it’s terrible! We’re under attack!”
“An attack? What audacious fool dares to attack Bercefe! Speak in detail!”
The messenger barely managed to catch his breath and continued.
“We have intelligence that a large force of demonic beasts has started moving from the Demonic Frontier! They are currently heading south toward this location, and their numbers are said to exceed ten thousand!”
“……!”
Everyone’s expression hardened.
* * *
‘Because of me?’
Pernyan knew that a large-scale force of demonic beasts would come down from the north.
But it wasn't supposed to be now, and it wasn't supposed to be ten thousand.
This was because of the egg.
It was clear that upon losing the egg, the medium for the descent of the 69th demon, Decarabia, they were leading an army down to retrieve it.
‘Wait a minute, if that’s the case…?’
An ominous premonition surfaced.
Pernyan had originally thought that Decarabia was the one leading the army down from the north.
It was only natural. Decarabia was a demon, after all.
But Decarabia had not yet descended, and yet the army of demonic beasts was on the move.
‘Can the Vile Breed control demonic beasts on that scale?’
It wasn't a mixed group of monsters, but a pure host of demonic beasts.
He didn't know for sure if it was possible or not, not having been a Vile Breed himself. But he was more confident that it wasn't.
If it were possible, they would have done so from the Taklakan Desert.
If so, then.
“A demon… There’s a demon. One that’s already been summoned…”
Pernyan’s face turned pale.
And that ominous premonition.
A few hours later, when the army of demonic beasts arranged themselves in an orderly fashion before Bercefe’s first defensive wall, it was no longer a premonition.
“The demonic beasts aren’t attacking directly, they’re forming ranks…?”
“Someone is clearly controlling them…!”
“The Vile Breed?”
The soldiers on the walls were aghast.
“A-a demon, it must be a demon…! Why? At this time?”
Gismond, muttering to himself, turned deathly pale.
As if to prove his words, the demonic beasts split in two, creating a path.
And from the end of that path, someone was walking forward.
A massive black steed, more than twice the size of an ordinary horse, and upon it, a colossal black knight holding a greatsword.
*Clip-clop—*
With his appearance, the demonic energy grew even thicker.
No one could tear their eyes away from him, and in the silence, only the sound of hooves echoed softly.
And finally, when he stood before humanity.
He scanned the humans on the ramparts.
“Hiiik…!”
“Gah…!”
The soldiers who met the crimson gleam shining from within the helmet gasped violently and collapsed.
“I am Kimaris, the 66th. Marquis of Hell and commander of twenty infernal legions.”
His voice was grotesque and chilling, like scraping metal.
Overwhelmed by the instinctive pressure and fear his voice carried, the soldiers trembled, not even registering that their opponent was a demon.
“I shall grant you insignificant creatures an opportunity. Swear fealty to Hell. I, in my magnanimity, shall grant you worthless beings the chance to serve Hell…”
In that moment.
A savage spear tore through space and appeared right before the demon’s face.
─────!
A massive shockwave shook the battlefield. The noise snapped the soldiers out of their fear.
“I am a great Royal Knight and the king of all mercenaries. Wouldn't it be fitting for a mere marquis like you to submit to me? Kneel and bow your head at once.”
The owner of the spear, standing atop the wall, shouted with a twisted grin.
“I see…”
Kimaris lowered the greatsword he had raised.
“You humans are a primitive race that only understands fear after you’ve tasted it.”
It has been a thousand years, so I must have forgotten.
Black demonic energy billowed from the sword. He swung it in a clean arc.
────!
The magic circles carved into the ramparts shattered in an instant. A massive scar was carved into the sturdy wall.
Soldiers screamed as a part of the wall crumbled.
And.
“Attack.”
*Kieeeek!*
*Kyaaaa!*
The demonic beasts began their advance.