Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Episode 31.
There was no longer any business in the north.
Though the possibility of the Beast King's ascension weighed on his mind, staying holed up in the frozen wasteland wasn't an option.
He couldn't waste time preparing for the Einherjar who might unite at any unknown moment.
Aiden needed to grow much stronger than he was now.
If he took it easy now, he'd only regret it later. Even moving fiercely every moment wasn't enough.
Therefore, he decided to leave the strange phenomena of the Eternal Snow War to the Empire and the Sword Saint for the time being.
Aiden headed straight south.
From one end of the Empire to the other, it took a full four days.
His destination was the coastal city of Ilyas, the location recorded in the letter he'd sent to the Saint.
Aiden slowly guided his horse through the plains where golden reeds swayed.
To the left flowed a massive river that connected to the sea within the city.
Sein, riding alongside Deril, found her gaze stolen by the beautiful river.
Eventually, she cautiously broached the subject.
"Um... Sir Paladin. Could we maybe ride a bit closer to the riverbank?"
Before Aiden could answer, Deril chuckled.
"You wanna get dragged into the water by a mermaid grabbing your hair?"
Sein burst into laughter following Deril's lead.
"All you ever think about is teasing me? I might have fallen for that when I was little, but not anymore."
"Oh? So you're an adult now? Whatever. If you don't believe me, ask His Lordship. Your childish innocence will come crashing down."
"What childish innocence? Every day brings fresh bloodshed."
The words Sein carelessly uttered painted a bitter expression on Deril's face.
The siblings' lives had been stained with blood. Whether red or black, there were few days when they didn't see something bleeding.
That's why Deril felt sorry for his sister. Before her emotions could properly form, she'd already become accustomed to death.
Seeing Deril fall silent, Sein realized her mistake.
She poked her brother's back and changed the subject.
"Sir Paladin, is what my brother said true?"
Aiden nodded.
"In the lower reaches of the Karel River, mermaids occasionally appear, having swum up from the sea. Don't go near—it's dangerous."
Sein looked slightly bewildered. While she knew mermaids existed, she hadn't realized they were dangerous creatures.
"D-do mermaids... eat people too...?"
"If we're being technical, they eat each other."
If one were to name Ilyas's most famous delicacies, mermaid dishes would undoubtedly top the list.
Mermaid sashimi, mermaid sushi, mermaid rice bowls, grilled mermaid... and so on. The cooking methods were so varied they couldn't all be listed.
And mermaids ate humans too. They enjoyed dragging people underwater and chewing them alive.
Sein's face froze in shock. No matter how much experience she had, a child was still a child. One could almost hear the sound of her childhood innocence shattering.
Had he been too blunt? Aiden felt oddly guilty.
"Sein, I'm sure there are mermaids who get along well with humans."
"...Yes."
Aiden cleared his throat unnecessarily and pointed ahead.
"We're almost there."
Before they knew it, the coastal city's gates had drawn near.
A long line of people waited for inspection, most of them adventurers.
Deril glanced at the rank badges on their chests and nodded.
"Truly the holy land for adventurers. Most are silver rank or higher. These are competent folk."
As Deril said, Ilyas attracted countless adventurers.
Located at the Empire's edge, this city was the sole gateway for voyages to the uncharted continent across the sea.
Aiden bypassed the line and approached the gates.
None among those waiting voiced complaints.
While adventurers often clashed with nobles, they universally acknowledged paladins' privileges.
Since guilds upheld meritocracy as their creed, personal martial prowess was their highest value.
Paladins were officially recognized powerhouses. Regardless of religious reasons, adventurers respected strength itself.
"Your service is appreciated!"
Returning the guards' greeting, they passed through the gates.
The horizon had transformed into a seascape. The briny air tickled their noses. Two centuries of history had seeped into the buildings as a salty tang.
The orderly city center was lined with pristine white buildings.
"It's like another world, milord."
A complete contrast to the barren north.
Sein also widened her eyes, looking around curiously.
"Let's eat first."
From the north to here, the only food they'd had was bread hard as stone.
They'd be busy soon, so they needed to fill their stomachs properly.
They settled at a bustling outdoor restaurant.
The cool breeze and shade from the canopy made it perfect for a brief rest.
Deril's gaze drifted to the next table.
On a plate sat a whole mermaid head. With features half-human, half-fish, it naturally provoked revulsion in first-time viewers.
Aiden felt the same, but apparently Deril didn't.
"Milord, that must be the famed steamed mermaid head they talk about in Ilyas. They say you're a coward if you leave without trying it."
The dish—mermaid heads and spices steamed together in a pot—was wildly popular.
Sein turned pale, squeezing her eyes shut before shooting Aiden a desperate look. Please stop her brother.
Aiden had no intention of letting them eat mermaid anyway.
"You'll regret it. Mermaids are human."
He didn't say this merely because mermaids resembled humans.
Though current Empire citizens didn't know, mermaids were literally human. Within ten days, everyone would know. The realization they'd been eating their own kind might cause massive upheaval.
Deril looked utterly baffled. But he'd never once seen Aiden speak idly.
"M-milord?"
"You'll find out soon enough, so don't have regrets later."
Aiden ordered regular fish dishes to fill their stomachs. By now, this world's food should have grown on him, but it still didn't appeal.
He missed the flavors of home.
Finishing quickly, Aiden addressed Deril, who was still eating.
"I have separate business. Secure lodging first. Head downtown—there should be a large inn called 'Mermaid's Tears.'"
Deril hurriedly stuffed the remaining food into his mouth.
"No need to go separately. I'm done, milord."
When Sein moved to follow Deril's example, Aiden stopped her.
"Eat slowly. I planned to go alone anyway."
With those words, Aiden turned his steps. He had matters to attend to before the Saint arrived.
His immediate destination was the Adventurers' Guild in the city center.
A pristine white building occupying vast grounds alone. Within the city, it was the third largest structure after the lord's castle and the southern diocese of the Varantes Church.
Aiden turned the doorknob. Sweet alcohol fumes and raucous noise greeted him.
The first-floor lobby doubling as a tavern bustled with diverse crowds—no uniformity whatsoever.
Adventurers drunk and sprawled out since morning, nobles watching them disdainfully, clients exchanging contracts, merchants selling artifacts, proselytizing priests, rowdy drunks.
Aiden navigated the packed crowd toward the central shelves stacked with liquor.
The bartender spotted Aiden and started.
"S-Sir Paladin?"
Aiden was impressed by his sharp eyes—he'd recognized him despite the black cloak hiding his paladin armor.
The bartender's voice poured cold water on the lively atmosphere.
When paladins visited adventurer guilds, the reasons were few.
Adventurers would do anything to grow stronger—some worshipped demons or dabbled in dark arts.
The Church discovering such circumstances and dispatching a paladin? People believed it unquestioningly.
All chatter ceased as eyes followed the bartender's gaze to Aiden.
Frowning, Aiden approached the bartender.
"Sharp eyes, but no tact."
He'd worn the cloak to avoid standing out. Unless the bartender was truly oblivious, he might have deliberately announced the paladin's presence to inform someone.
It didn't matter since he wasn't here to make arrests. But the attention itself was uncomfortable.
"...M-my apologies."
"Never mind. More importantly, I'd like to meet Yona."
Yona was a platinum-rank adventurer—a celebrity and exceptional powerhouse.
The crowd buzzed.
Had Yona made a demonic pact? Received dark rituals? If not that, then... and so on.
The bartender also looked flustered.
"I-I'll summon her. Please wait momentarily."
"I'll go up. Which floor?"
"Third floor, probably. No, definitely third."
Ignoring the murmurs, Aiden headed straight upstairs.
Gold-rank and above adventurers received private guild rooms—Yona was no exception.
Reaching the third floor, Aiden found her already waiting outside her door.
She must have gotten word. The red-haired woman bowed.
"Welcome. I'm Yona."
"Paladin Aiden."
She gestured him inside. They settled at a table.
Yona passed a teacup across with a relaxed expression before sitting opposite. To Aiden, it seemed her whole body proclaimed her innocence.
She cut straight to the point.
"If I may ask, why have you sought me out?"
Aiden answered immediately.
"I have a request. Can you take me out to sea?"
She looked puzzled.
"...Pardon? If you mean sailing, it's impossible. Mermaids are in mating season—they obsessively attack ships. Nobody sails this time of year. Thus, you won't find vessels heading to the uncharted continent. My apologies."
Aiden shook his head.
"I'm not going there. Literally into the sea."
Yona paused with her teacup at her lips.
"What do you...?"
"The deep sea."
Yona studied Aiden before smiling awkwardly.
"Forgive me. I'm slow—I can't grasp your joke at all."
Aiden exhaled deeply.
Knowing Yona's true nature but being unable to speak due to divine prohibition was intensely frustrating.
He had to resort to distasteful methods.
"Last question. Will you take me to the deep sea?"
"Haha... my apologies. I truly don't understand."
Aiden nodded.
"Before business, let's eat. They say you must try mermaid cuisine in Ilyas—know any good places?"
Yona's expression began cooling rapidly.
"Why ask? You reek of fish—I assumed you enjoyed it."