Chapter 164
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 164
Chapter Title: Drastic Measures
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“When on earth are you coming out?”
Hyde tapped his foot impatiently.
Half a day had already passed, yet Pernyan, who had gone inside, showed no sign of emerging.
He had only said he was going to take a quick look around; if he took too long, they would surely come looking for them.
In that situation, if they asked where Pernyan had gone, he'd be hard-pressed for an answer.
“Don't tell me something happened to him…?”
No, considering the thing hanging around Pernyan's neck, that was impossible.
In Hyde's opinion, Pernyan was the type of person who would return unscathed even if a demon were summoned right before his eyes.
“Don't worry. I'm fine.”
With a slight tremor, a head popped out of the pit where Pernyan had disappeared.
“You're too late! Didn't you say you were just going to check the ore vein?”
“Something came up.”
“Something?”
“A pleasure to meet you.”
A new head appeared next to Pernyan's.
“…What is this?”
“There's a city of dwarves down here. I was just having a chat with them.”
“Wait, how can you speak so carelessly about the city!”
“I'm not being careless. Hyde is my most trusted aide. Besides, do you really think I could hide it when we met you right here with him?”
“…No more. Seriously.”
“I'll keep that in mind.”
Pernyan nodded. Hyde could tell it was a gesture made with no real intention of keeping the promise.
*He must have hooked some clueless dwarf. Getting a promise from him without a contract…*
“Anyway, Hyde. Let's hurry back to the main camp. We need to prepare and then head back to the underground city immediately.”
“You're going again?”
“Well…”
Pernyan glanced at Ahgrote, then whispered in Hyde's ear.
“How can I just leave them be when there are dwarves rolling around for the taking?”
I have to scoop them all up and make them Fallenberg workers.
“What did you two talk about?”
“Nothing much. Just that I found traces of the Vile Breed in the underground city.”
…Vile Breed?
“You mean the Vile Breed are there?”
“Yes. I saw them.”
“…Wait, wait. What are you talking about? Are you saying there are Vile Breed in our city?”
No matter how isolated the dwarves were, they weren't so ignorant as to not know about the Vile Breed.
“And you saw them yourself? Who is it! The Vile Breed who betrayed our race!”
“I'm busy now, so I'll tell you the details later. And I didn't see them directly.”
*He saw it in the Prophecy Book!*
Hyde understood what Pernyan meant.
To think they were hiding even in the underground city of the dwarves, who didn't even know they existed.
“No, what does that…”
“I've already spoken with the mayor. So, Ahgrote, hide somewhere nearby. I'll be back within a week.”
Ahgrote reluctantly agreed.
“…Yes. I'll do that. But you're really coming back within a week, right?”
“Stop with the nonsense and think carefully about what we discussed earlier.”
“…Yes, I understand. Oh, and you must not tell any outsiders about us. Please!”
Ahgrote disappeared beyond the rocky mountain. He was probably taking the opportunity to check the surroundings now that he was out.
Or perhaps he would go back to the mayor and ask about the Vile Breed.
“What was it you discussed?”
“He said he's twenty-one.”
“With that face?”
“Don't say that in front of him. He gets angry.”
“Of course, I'm saying it because he's not here... You said it to his face, didn't you?”
Hyde let out a dry laugh.
“So I told him to enroll in the academy.”
“Hasn't he already missed the window?”
“Even if he missed it, I have to get him in.”
“Is he worth it?”
“He's one of Aint's companions, certified by the Prophecy Book.”
“…Aha.”
Though they had left the main camp early in the morning, the day was already drawing to a close. The two began their swift return.
“I understand why you're going back there. But it'll be a problem if the elves find out.”
The elves wouldn't stand by and do nothing if they learned that dwarves, with whom they had a poor relationship, were living in a city on their territory.
“So we can't get caught.”
“Then what reason will you give for going in?”
“If I say I'll go search myself since there have been no results recently, they'll follow, won't they?”
“You requested that large escort under the pretext of safety, so of course they'll follow.”
This time he'd managed to slip away by saying he was just looking around, but next time he'd need to be gone for at least a week.
The excessive escort he'd arranged for his 'protection' had now become a hindrance.
“The time I promised the dwarves is one week. Is there any way to find out if they're connected to the Vile Breed within a week?”
“Isn't that why you were planning for the long term in the first place, because it's so difficult?”
“Yes. That's right.”
Taking it slow was the logical approach, but the thought of the dwarves kept nagging at him.
“If the dwarves' city is left alone, a demon will be summoned. When you think about it, that situation is more urgent.”
“…Damn it. Are you saying another demon is going to descend?”
“Probably.”
“Then this is a huge problem…”
Hyde shut his mouth. Though they were still far from the main camp, he could sense a large number of people in the distance.
A moment later, elves appeared.
“Found them! They're here!”
“We've found the young lord!”
It was a search party, assembled to find Pernyan, who had been gone for too long.
Pernyan returned to the main camp with them and was met by Adolph, who let out a sigh of relief.
“I'm relieved you're safe. You were gone for so long that we were in the middle of searching the area.”
“I apologize for worrying you. I got carried away searching for traces of an ore vein…”
“From now on, I will be sure to accompany you.”
*Looking at him like this, he doesn't seem like a Vile Breed.*
The Vile Breed had begun to consider Pernyan a target for elimination, on par with Aint. If Adolph really was one of them, Pernyan should feel regret rather than relief.
*He could just be a good actor.*
If so, Adolph should have been on a stage, not a knight. His performance was so good that Pernyan couldn't suspect a thing.
The day passed like that.
“Pernyan. Did you see? The part about Amy… that Amy will be summoned…!”
And when he returned to his tent and was unpacking, Gismond came to find him.
“Did you see it too, Sunbaenim?”
“Of course. What do we do? Do you have a plan?”
“I do, so don't worry. I've defeated demons several times already. This time will be no different.”
He intended to stop the summoning altogether, just like with Seere.
“It's reassuring to hear you say that. Sorry, I just got a little anxious seeing the 58th-ranked demon appear so suddenly.”
He found his peace of mind and left.
Thanks to him, Pernyan learned one more thing.
*So it's not a proper prophecy, and even things like this are shared between us.*
Then does it work the other way around, too?
It was a little new, but nothing special.
The next day, Pernyan went out again under the pretext of prospecting, and Adolph and the other escorts followed.
“This is how you resonate your mana with the earth to grasp what's inside.”
“It's a bit different from spirit arts.”
“Can you also find ore veins using spirits?”
“It's possible. However, the mana consumption is too great, making it highly inefficient.”
Pernyan deliberately guided the conversation toward Adolph.
“I feel the recent Elector conference was quite regrettable. As I said before, while we can't handle the aftermath perfectly for you, we have no disagreement with Friedien being an Elector.”
“But I've also heard you don't necessarily support Friedien either.”
“Acknowledging it and taking action are two different things. Why should we subject ourselves to checks from other Electors for Friedien's sake?”
“…How very Fallenberg of you.”
He was hoping he might glean something, anything, from their conversation.
“This is something I learned recently, but demons apparently don't place much value on ores. From what we call the three great metals to gold coins. Isn't that interesting?”
“It seems the Fallenbergs and demons could never coexist.”
“At first glance, yes, but that also has its advantages. What we desire is nothing but trash to them, so we're free to hoard as much as we want, aren't we?”
People often make mistakes in conversation, after all.
“In a way, I can understand the Vile Breed. How hopeless must one be to sell their soul to demons?”
“Still, a Vile Breed is a Vile Breed.”
“Of course. I'm not defending selling one's soul to demons. It's just a pity. If they sold their souls to us Fallenbergs instead, we'd give them a fair price in cash.”
It felt a bit blatant, but with time running short, he had no choice.
Three days passed like that.
“Any results?”
“Nothing.”
Adolph showed fewer openings than expected, even after Pernyan had intentionally made comments that seemed to defend the Vile Breed.
Only four days remained until the time he'd promised the dwarves.
Could he find conclusive proof or become certain that he wasn't a Vile Breed within that time? He started to feel a little anxious.
“I have no choice. I'll have to use a drastic measure.”
“A drastic measure?”
“Jeffrey. If he finds out that the human whose memory he erased still remembers everything, how will he react?”
“He'd realize something went wrong and try to fix it.”
“Exactly.”
That's it.
“It's a little extreme, but it's a good method.”
“…Is it really a good method? My lady, if this happens, the Vice-Commander won't let me be.”
“Don't worry. It won't come to that.”
“But…”
“I trust Sunbaenim. Or would you rather see Friedien fall at the hands of the Vile Breed?”
“…I understand.”
Jeffrey refused at first, but under Aria's pressure, he finally accepted.
***
*Why on earth am I…*
Ever since regaining his memories, Jeffrey had been plagued by nightmares every night.
The events of that day. Adolph Friedien, pressuring him while he was severely injured, suggesting they overthrow the Empire. And the hand that had covered his vision.
It was a memory that remained like a curse, one he didn't want to recall.
Lately, just seeing the Vice-Commander's face sent shivers down his spine, yet he was being told to openly declare that he remembered and ask why he did it.
He really didn't want to do it, but it was his lady's command. It was for the sake of Friedien.
*I am a knight.*
A knight of Friedien. He had sworn to be Friedien's sword and shield. He was prepared to throw his life away for Friedien.
Late that evening, he steeled his resolve and entered the Vice-Commander's tent.
“Vice-Commander.”
“What is it, Jeffrey?”
Facing the Vice-Commander, his resolve wavered.
*I am a knight of Friedien.*
But he forced himself to remember his resolve and got straight to the point, afraid he wouldn't be able to say it if he hesitated.
“There is something I wish to ask you.”
“What is it?”
“Back then, why did you do it?”
“Back then?”
“That time. When the demonic beasts appeared in the south and I was severely injured.”
I still cannot understand your intentions behind those words.
“Do you, Vice-Commander, wish to overthrow Friedien?”
“……”
In that moment.
Goosebumps erupted all over Jeffrey's body.
An immense pressure stole his breath.
“What are you talking about, Sir Jeffrey.”
From within it.
“To say that I intend to overthrow Friedien.”
Adolph's low voice could be heard.
“All I did was heal your injuries, was it not?”
The color drained from Jeffrey's face.
***
A mine shaft, shimmering with dim light.
“P-please, spare me…!”
A dwarf covered in wounds crawled on the ground. Adguif strode after him and stomped on his leg.
*CRUNCH—*
“Gyaaaaaaah!”
The dwarf screamed.
“A human entered this city two days ago. You probably have no idea how happy I was to hear that news.”
I was so happy I jumped around like a child.
“I thought a new wind was finally blowing into this stagnant, rotten city. That change was finally coming.”
But what happened? The human was immediately banished from the city.
The mayor said the human would return in a week, but why would he?
“The dwarves!”
*CRUNCH—*
“Once again!”
*CRUNCH—*
“Have chosen the path of self-isolation!”
“Gyaaaaargh…!”
Adguif's kicks had completely shattered the other dwarf's leg bones.
“Do you know? Humans rule the continent. Even the elves established kingdoms and are now a pillar of the Empire! But what about us? What about us dwarves?”
We're scattered without a proper nation of our own, living as parasites in other countries.
“While we live like parasites, they're living high and mighty! Does that make any sense!”
“N-no, it doesn't. It doesn't…!”
The man grabbed Adguif's leg. With dazed eyes, he nodded desperately.
“I knew you'd feel the same way I do.”
Adguif knelt and grabbed the other's chin, forcing their eyes to meet.
“That's why I intend to bring a new current to this rotten puddle. You'll join me, won't you?”
“Yes, of course. I will, I will…!”
The dwarf nodded frantically.
“Thank you. I will never forget your noble sacrifice.”
“Yes, yes… Yes?”
“Your righteous spirit will be an example to all dwarves. Your blood and life force, along with that of others, will bestow a new current upon our stagnant and rotten race.”
Adguif raised his axe.
“No, wait! I want to live—!”
*THWACK—*
The axe sliced through the dwarf's neck.
“A dwarf shouldn't go back on his word.”
The torso collapsed. A moment later, the head dropped with a thud.
“Make sure you collect the entire corpse, leave nothing behind.”
“Yes, sir. But... is this alright? You've gone too far this time.”
From behind, other dwarves who had been standing at attention began to handle the body.
“So?”
“It's just that…”
“This city has thrown away its last chance. I will hesitate no longer.”
There was no more hesitation.
I will show the dwarves the light of the surface, no matter what it takes.
Adguif casually shook the blood from his axe.