Chapter 131
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 131
Chapter Title: A Price for Salvation
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Having dealt with the egg, the Margrave began the full-scale cleanup.
Bercefe had not defended its lands with its own strength alone.
Without the Mercenary King’s help, they would never have been able to defeat Kimaris.
And if not for the reinforcements from the Dragon God Cult, they could not have prevented the wall from falling.
Above all, without Pernyan’s actions—hiring the Mercenary King and using the golems to hold out until reinforcements arrived—this hopeful outcome would have been impossible.
Even if they were part of the same empire, even if there was an emperor who represented it all.
When it came down to it, the nobles were no different from the kings of their respective territories.
The Armian Empire was a place where hundreds of different nations were loosely entangled, and if you gained something, you had to pay a price for it.
Those who had helped could demand their rightful due.
However, Bercefe’s current situation was not so bad.
Normally, they would have had to pay an enormous price to their saviors, but the Dragon God Cult was satisfied with taking half of the countless demonic beast corpses outside the wall.
“To think the egg was destroyed…”
The cult’s priests had departed in tears after losing the demon’s egg right before their eyes, but in any case.
“It’s not my place to negotiate with you. You’re not my employer.”
The Mercenary King also demanded nothing from him. It was more accurate to say he had neither the right nor the authority to do so.
Thus, although many had helped, the only ones Bercefe had to properly compensate were Pernyan and the Fallenberg family.
“Now, speak. Pernyan Fallenberg.”
In the conference room of Bercefe Castle, Pernyan sat facing the Margrave.
It was the Margrave who spoke first. Pernyan took a sip of warm coffee before replying.
“First, we will supply the materials for the collapsed wall.”
“Supply? You mean sell, I presume.”
“No. It will be free of charge, so ‘supply’ is correct.”
“Free of charge?”
It was an offer Bercefe couldn’t refuse, yet the Margrave’s stern expression did not soften.
“What sort of absurd demand are you laying the groundwork for?”
“We do not desire much.”
“Don’t beat around the bush. Frankly, as long as you don’t ask for more than half of Bercefe, I’m willing to hear almost anything.”
Normally, there would be fierce negotiations, and he would have to fight to give up as little as possible, but Bercefe had gained too much.
Of course, that didn’t mean he was going to let himself be swindled right under his nose.
He would first listen to what Fallenberg wanted, and then they would negotiate.
“Since you put it that way, I won’t drag this out and will get straight to the point. First, I want the exclusive rights to distribute Bercefe’s weapons and armor throughout the continent.”
Bercefe’s armaments were renowned across the continent, but unfortunately, they strictly controlled their export.
The enemies at their doorstep left no room to divert resources elsewhere.
Bercefe also lacked the capacity to produce enough to sell and still have a surplus.
But the Monster Wave, a plague brought by the demonic beasts in the past, had wiped out most of the monsters.
What little remained was eliminated by the demonic beasts, and most of those scattered when the demon died.
The North had become unprecedentedly safe, and Bercefe needed money to rebuild its territory.
“Even if the number of monsters has decreased, the danger still exists. Bercefe cannot afford to produce more than that.”
“We will invest.”
“You mean to steal our technology?”
“We will *only* invest.”
If he had his way, he would take all of Bercefe’s outstanding smithing techniques and technology.
“Expand your workshops with Fallenberg’s money. We will only take a stake and the corresponding profits. All rights and operations will remain with Bercefe.”
But the Margrave was no fool; he wouldn't just hand them over.
That would never happen unless his territory was on the verge of annihilation.
“Fallenberg making a deal where they only lose?”
“Strictly speaking, it is not a loss.”
“What do you really want?”
And Pernyan had just eliminated that chance.
‘Though it’s a stretch to call it a chance.’
Therefore, Pernyan aimed for something else.
To be precise, while waiting for Aint, he had corresponded with his father and considered what would be most valuable.
“I want the development rights to all the mines in the blank lands.”
“…The blank lands?”
Bercefe had always been plagued by monster invasions. Even without demonic beasts, the territory was dangerous, and they had always prepared for it.
The blank lands were part of that preparation.
A wilderness between the fortress and the cities, designed to give the city time to prepare or evacuate in the event the wall was breached.
Combined, it was the size of a small kingdom, an undeveloped frontier.
‘But it’s not useless land.’
Development had been halted for safety reasons, but a secret investigation by the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild long ago had revealed it to be a treasure trove of resources.
Untouched by human hands, and thus all the richer.
“That entire vast area?”
“Yes, all of it. I believe we have earned the right to make such a demand.”
“Ha, you’ve found something I hadn’t even considered.”
The blank lands remained undeveloped because of the monsters, and later, the demonic beasts.
The same reason they couldn’t export their armaments. So, this problem, too, was as good as solved.
‘War will soon break out.’
Kimaris was by no means the end. The demons still existed, and one day, the demonic legions would trample the continent once more.
Given this instance, they would prepare even more thoroughly next time.
It meant a great war encompassing the entire continent would erupt, and war consumed vast quantities of supplies.
Especially food, horses, and armaments.
And the most crucial materials for making those armaments were ores.
‘Mine the ores from the blank lands, entrust them to Bercefe’s workshops to create superior weapons. Then, the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild will distribute them across the entire continent.’
And what if they promoted it by highlighting that a Bercefe sword had slain a demon?
It was a business that would have them sitting on a mountain of gold, a venture guaranteed to succeed.
The Fallenbergs already had a hand in many arms industries, but he couldn't even begin to fathom how many war materials a conflict that engulfed the entire continent in flames would consume.
“Very well. The demons are not finished, I’m sure. A war is coming, so it won’t hurt Bercefe to have a stake in it.”
The Margrave also foresaw the future of war, the future Pernyan envisioned.
“The important thing will be the ratio.”
The share ratio of the workshops.
And the tax ratio for the mines in the blank lands.
“We can start discussing that now.”
The negotiations dragged on for two full days before finally concluding.
After the negotiations ended, the Count immediately sought out his daughter.
“Ruina.”
“Yes, Father.”
“I have given that man the very pillars of Bercefe.”
It wasn’t quite the pillars, but it was true that he had handed over a great deal.
Things he would never have given away so easily under normal circumstances.
“You will get them back.”
“Me? How…?”
“A matchmaker to Fallenberg…”
“…I have no thoughts of marriage yet. I am going to become a Royal Knight.”
“You’re not saying no, I see.”
“No…”
Ruina’s face flushed.
***
‘I thought it might drag on for a week, but it ended quickly.’
Hiring the Mercenary King had been the biggest factor. Without him, the Margrave wouldn't be negotiating; he would be a corpse with his head severed by Kimaris’s sword.
In any case, Pernyan and the Fallenberg family had gained the most they could from Bercefe.
He could have tried to extort more, but to maintain a proper relationship with the Margrave, and with Ruina, this was the best outcome.
And as for the Mercenary King.
“It was a satisfactory transaction.”
“I’m glad you’re satisfied.”
Where there is gain, there is also loss.
Using the battle against a demon as leverage, the Mercenary King had intended to extort an truly enormous sum of money.
Pernyan had said he would pay the standard rate, but there were many loopholes. Since a request to fight a demon was a first, whatever they attached to it became the standard, the baseline.
The Mercenary King emphasized this point as much as possible, while Pernyan tried to haggle it down as much as he could.
But completely lowballing him was impossible. This wasn't some ordinary mercenary, but the Mercenary King, and he had slain a demon.
More importantly, for the sake of the future, he had to be willing to accept a reasonable loss.
“Now then, I’d like to hear your answer.”
“Are you certain another demon will descend?”
“It’s still only a possibility, but we judge it to be a high probability.”
“Is there a need to drag me into this? This time was unavoidable, but couldn’t Fallenberg handle it on its own?”
Of course, based on this incident, Pernyan was confident that the Fallenberg family could handle a single demon on their own.
With Aint’s help, he was even more certain.
However, the Fallenbergs would also suffer considerable damage, and there was no reason to bear that burden alone.
Above all.
“If a demon were to descend within Fallenberg territory, we certainly could.”
“I see your point. A precedent has been set with this incident. There will be fools who judge that two Royal Knights are all it takes to solve the problem.”
The first officially recorded appearance of a demon in a thousand years had certainly shocked the continent. Vigilance and hostility toward demons, beyond just the Vile Breed, had surged.
But conversely, there were also whispers that it might be manageable.
Because two mere Royal Knights had slain a legendary demon.
One couldn't call two Royal Knights ‘mere,’ but compared to a legendary demon, they certainly seemed smaller.
Their argument was simple.
‘Humanity has advanced over the last thousand years, so maybe we can stand against demons?’
Nonsense. The kind of drivel only those who haven’t seen a demon firsthand could spout.
‘Worst case, say we pair up and take down ten demons. What about the other sixty-two?’
But the problem was that there were quite a few such fools.
He understood. Humans don’t easily believe what they haven’t seen with their own eyes.
“I have no reason to refuse. The battle with the demon was the kind that made my heart pound for the first time in a while. And I was paid a satisfactory amount. As a mercenary, what could be better?”
That wasn't all.
The Mercenary King's fame for killing a demon was soaring to the heavens, and naturally, his authority within the mercenary world was becoming even more solid.
“However, next time, if there are already two Royal Knights or Archmages, I will not participate.”
“I know. This time, it would have been impossible if you two hadn’t worked together for so long.”
Pernyan was also aware of that fact.
It wasn't that they killed the demon because there were two Royal Knights, but because it was the Margrave and the Mercenary King that they were able to defeat Kimaris.
“By the way, how is Barus?”
The Mercenary King paused for a moment, then snorted.
“Yes, he’s fine. Some guy paid his medical bills quite handsomely.”
He hadn’t actually been paid.
It was just a way of saying they would both forget about what happened with Barus.
After sending the Mercenary King off, Pernyan smiled in satisfaction.
‘Now, all that’s left is Aint.’
Has he finished his business in Prasia?
‘If not…’
*Tap, tap.* Pernyan drummed his fingers on the table.
***
【Demon Invades Bercefe! No Longer a Tale of a Thousand Years Ago!】
【Armian Stands Against the Demon, a Great Name Indeed.】
【A Tall Black Knight on a Giant Horse. Believed to be the 66th Demon, Kimaris…!】
【Bercefe Repels the Demon Invasion. 10,000 Demonic Beasts Battered Bercefe’s Walls, but They Never Broke Through.】
【The Heroes Who Slew the Demon: Bercefe’s Margrave, Albinus Bercefe; the Mercenary King, Garrett Schreiner; and the Dragon God Cult’s Cardinal, Elvy Galliano.】
“This is more than just a commotion.”
Aria, having returned to the academy from the Prasia Kingdom, scanned the newspapers.
From the flashy front page to the very last, every single one was filled with the same news.
“So this is why he rushed off after getting Senior Pernyan’s letter.”
He had left in such a hurry that she hadn’t gotten a proper explanation. But with the whole world talking about it, perhaps she hadn’t needed one.
“A demon. That’s the second time already. Is this really okay?”
“Don’t ask me.”
Verian, who was eating grilled pork with seasoning in front of her, answered curtly.
“Who else am I supposed to ask? You’re right here.”
“I wasn’t sitting with you in the first place. I was eating, and you came and sat down.”
“Are you not going back home this time either?”
Aria smoothly changed the subject. Verian just frowned but said nothing more.
In truth, there would have been no problem if he had returned to his family after receiving his father’s letter.
But he couldn’t, because Aint Armian had gone to Bercefe.
He had already sent a letter saying he was going to Pandrein with Aint. What would happen if he returned home now?
‘They would ask why I came back to the family instead of following Aint Armian, who was making a name for himself in Bercefe.’
If he wanted to return home, he needed to at least get his story straight with Aint. And for that, he had to wait for Aint to come back.
“Why aren’t you returning to your family, then?”
Permission to use the teleportation magic circle to Bercefe had been granted only to Aint, and the students traveling with him had no choice but to part ways at the academy.
Valoci had already returned to the Vienderk estate long ago, but Aria and Verian were still at the academy.
Barus was on a leave of absence, so he was out of the question from the start.
“The direct magic circle to Friedien isn’t connected yet.”
“So you’re afraid of boats.”
It was a well-known fact among those in the know that elves were susceptible to seasickness.
“…I’m fine on boats.”
“If you say so.”
Aria was silent for a moment. But the topic she brought up next was quite random.
“Isn’t it strange?”
“What is?”
“I’m talking about Senior Pernyan.”
She said, unwrapping a piece of candy and popping it into her mouth.
“The place the demon appeared this time was Bercefe.”
That in itself wasn't surprising. No, it was surprising, but perhaps because she'd already experienced it once, it wasn't as shocking.
She had suspected this was just the beginning ever since Andromalius descended.
What was puzzling was that Pernyan was directly or indirectly involved in almost everything that had happened so far.
“Like when you became a Vile Breed.”
“I would appreciate it if you would shut that mouth of yours.”
“And when he brought the Branch of the World Tree.”
“Wasn’t that you dragging our senior into it one way or another?”
Aria lightly ignored Verian’s jab.
“And with Andromalius.”
“I seem to recall that was also your fault for losing your mind to a Vile Breed.”
“Anyone listening would think I was the only one.”
Aria continued her story nonchalantly.
“And at the Continental Academic Conference, when he and Aint caught the Vile Breed.”
“That seems like our senior made the best possible response to a sudden accident. Weren’t you there too?”
“And finally, this incident in Bercefe…”
“I heard Senior Ruina invited him personally…”
“Since when did you become such a fervent follower of Senior Pernyan?”
“I was merely stating the facts.”
*I’m the one who should be asking that,* he thought.
“So what are you trying to say? That Senior Pernyan might be a Vile Breed?”
“What kind of ridiculous nonsense is that! Our senior is the one who’s been catching all the Vile Breed. There’s no way.”
“Then?”
“Our senior has a clue about the demons. Definitely. And he’s been preparing for it.”
Otherwise, there was no way he could have created the golems called Wooden.
How long must he have been preparing to create such things?
“How on earth did he know the demons would rise again?”
To Aria’s suspicion, Verian replied nonchalantly.
“The Vile Breed are spread throughout the empire. The fact that they’re being caught everywhere is proof of that. The Fallenbergs probably knew about it first and didn’t take it lightly.”
“Hmm, you think so?”
That was the most likely possibility.
And that made it all the more impressive. Under the same conditions as other families, he had shown a completely different side.
“I guess it’s only the Fallenbergs…”
“Is this about your connections again?”
“…No, I don’t know about the Calburdens since you’re not an Elector, but it’s not just about becoming an Elector.”
The hazing is so bad, they still won’t acknowledge us even after more than ten years, you know?
Aria grumbled under her breath.
“Befriending other students won’t change anything right away.”
“I’m looking at the future.”
Verian had a feeling that wasn’t all there was to it, but he didn’t press the issue.
‘An Elector.’
His father, more than anyone, wanted the rights of an Elector.
Originally, he had planned to completely crush the Armians to get it, but with the appearance of the demon and Aint Armian’s heroic deeds, everything had gone awry.
His father was probably the one fuming the most right now.
“Anyway, what I’m trying to say is…”
Aria crunched on the candy. *CRUNCH.*
“Our senior’s insight and schemes are beyond what I imagined. The Fallenberg’s preparations, too. I think it would be best to stick close to our senior and eat the crumbs that fall from his table.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because you’re officially on our senior’s side, right? It’s a little less conspicuous if I go with you rather than by myself…”
Just then, someone opened the dining hall door and entered.
“There you are. Where’s Valoci?”
“Aint?”
“Why are you here? Weren’t you in Bercefe?”
“I was. And I’m going back again.”
“To Bercefe?”
“No, to Prasia.”
“Again?”
“Yeah.”
Aint nodded.
“With our senior this time.”
“Our senior?”
“From the looks of it, you’ve all been well.”
Pernyan appeared from behind him.
“Senior!”
Aria’s ears perked up as she shot up from her seat. In an instant, she was right beside Pernyan, sticking close to him.
“It’s even better to see you after so long.”
“It’s only been about a month.”
“A month is plenty long. So, you’re going to Prasia with me?”
“Not with you, but with all of you.”
“Same difference. I’m all for it! Verian, don’t tell me you’re refusing? Have you forgotten the mercy our senior showed you?”
“I didn’t say anything!”
Verian, suddenly caught in the crossfire, shouted back.