Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Rino's Awakening
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[Chapter 111 - Communication (Author's Note: Timeline Summary)]
After conquering the ruins, the process of returning to the surface was straightforward.
This was because the elevator could only descend one floor at a time but ascended straight back to the surface in one go.
One might wonder why they didn't just destroy the elevator and climb down using ropes instead of fighting the giants, but if they broke it and couldn't descend afterward, they'd never be able to return to these ruins. So they couldn't risk experimenting recklessly.
After ascending four floors at once and working to clear their clogged ears, they pulled the pulley again to open the door.
Just as Anun had said before entering, it was pouring outside.
Not just any rain, but a torrential downpour that swallowed up all surrounding sounds.
"Damn..."
Anun let out a sigh laced with lament.
"Looks like we'll have to rest here today."
"Sure. We're waiting for Rino to wake up anyway."
* * *
The group set up a rest area right next to the entrance on the ruins' top floor.
No one knew how it was built, but despite the trapdoor-style entrance being exposed to the outdoors, no water seeped inside.
When closed, not a drop of rain leaked in, and any rainwater that entered while the door was open drained away somewhere, as if there were well-maintained sewer facilities.
"Ugh..."
Once they'd set up a suitable resting space, Rino groaned and opened his eyes right on cue.
As he tried to sit up, he noticed Arsen sitting directly across from him and bolted upright.
"Captain!"
"Sit still."
Arsen pressed down firmly on his shoulder, and Rino let out a grunt before slumping back into place.
Looking at Rino, Arsen congratulated him flatly.
"How does it feel to be a knight?"
"Pardon? A knight, you say?"
Only then did Rino look down at his own body.
There were no outward changes yet, but he could feel the mana flowing through him.
Just like Arsen had in the well long ago.
"This... no way... me, really...?"
"Yeah. Consider it your reward for that life-risking good deed."
Overwhelmed with emotion, Rino soon began to sob.
As the soldiers gathered around to celebrate, Arsen stepped aside and stood.
The moment he moved to a slightly secluded spot, Marun approached.
"What is it?"
"It's about Rino's awakening. For a gift... I suppose I'll have to give him my Jin."
At Arsen's words, Marun grinned.
"You can't just let a friend's milestone pass without fanfare. We'll give him a gift too!"
Marun declared that he'd let Rino pick one of the weapons they'd obtained this time.
Arsen didn't ask if he could make such a decision without consulting the elders.
Gifts from the impulsive should be accepted when offered.
After expressing his thanks, Marun, who had been laughing cheerfully, suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, right, there was something I meant to tell you originally. The elder wants to relay a message. Said news has come through..."
Finally. Swallowing those words, Arsen glanced around before asking.
"The crystal orb?"
"I've got it. Here."
Nodding, Arsen called Eloise through his earring.
[Eli, come here a sec. Important talk.]
[What is it?]
[The estate.]
At that single word, Eloise, who had been sitting and resting, shot to her feet.
The three of them moved to a corner away from the others and carefully set down the crystal orb.
Marun spoke first.
"Elder, Sir Arsen is here."
[Sir Arsen?]
"Yes, good to see you. Elder Latis."
They skipped the "long time no see."
Arsen had already spoken with Latis, the Starblind elder, after the last ruins conquest.
After finishing the Ire ruins, Arsen had contacted Latis in front of Marun and informed him about hearing the ruins' voice.
Though he couldn't verify the truth, Latis had seemed shocked at the time, as if it were an unheard-of tale.
"If it's good news, then it's what I think, right?"
[Yes. We've made contact with Lord Luden.]
At those words, Arsen clenched his fist.
Eloise, listening beside him, let out a small gasp.
Since leaving Belluan, Arsen hadn't heard any news from there.
He had no idea how Luden was faring, if the estate lord was still alive, or if a rebellion had broken out and who had seized power.
The only crystal orb in Belluan had to be reserved for contacting the detachment, so he couldn't leave any means of communication behind.
That's why Latis had promised to send a spy to Belluan and give Luden a crystal orb to establish a network.
And now, that promise had finally been fulfilled.
"...Thank you, Elder Latis."
[No need. This is just the courtesy we owe. Shall I connect you now?]
Arsen asked him to do so.
The connection between them was somewhat crude.
Latis simply pressed together his two crystal orbs—one linked to Luden and one to Arsen.
Of course, Latis could hear their entire conversation, and the voices sounded a bit distorted and distant, but communication worked fine.
[Arsen? Eloise?]
"We're here, Sir Luden."
[Well... hearing your voices again brings me joy.]
"The feeling's mutual."
[And Eloise?]
"She's right here."
"I'm here, Luden!"
Hearing Eloise's voice seemed to lift his spirits, as Luden's laughter came through.
"We're both safe, and things are progressing well. How are you, Sir Luden? And the estate?"
[Things here... surprisingly haven't gone to hell. Truly surprising.]
With that opener, Luden began explaining the current situation.
First, the estate lord's condition hadn't improved much over the past few months.
Nor had it worsened.
He'd lost flesh and muscle from immobility, but they sustained him with nutrients via psychokinesis magic, feeding him soft foods.
Groom's healing spells had also greatly helped maintain his state.
As for the two sons, they remained in a cold war stalemate.
With the estate hall at the center, they'd divided the entire estate into south and north, ruling their domains while glaring at each other.
Naturally, control over the frontier castles had all but vanished.
"Hmm..."
Arsen caught a whiff of Narvik in those words.
A lawless city overrun by all sorts of armed groups.
Belluan seemed to be heading down that path.
"Surprising. I figured they'd have killed each other by now."
[They both seem cautious. It's a one-shot chance, after all.]
Since Arsen and Eloise had left for the distant west—effectively dead—they'd apparently reached an implicit agreement: no clashes until after the estate lord died.
Meanwhile, they watched each other like hawks to prevent any tampering with the lord.
The moment one had proof the other killed him, they'd gain massive legitimacy.
Thanks to that, the estate lord was barely clinging to life.
[Sir Palato has been a great help.]
Palato was maintaining a neutral faction, guarding the estate lord with help from Kamin, Zenovia, and a few other knights.
He was arguably the one most responsible for preserving this standoff; both sons feared ending up at odds with him if they started a fight and the lord died.
[But I honestly don't know how long this will last. It feels like peace on thin ice.]
"I agree."
Cold war—a term quite familiar to Arsen.
How many times had the world's past cold war, which split it in two, teetered on the brink of world war?
A much smaller cold war in Belluan estate would ignite into full war with the slightest spark.
Before that happened, Arsen needed to find the library and obtain ancient knowledge to cure the estate lord.
Simply defeating them might be possible now, but the result would likely be a Belluan reduced to rubble after fierce civil war.
Like Ormu estate in the past.
To fully seize an estate required overwhelming power or the estate lord's authority.
"Is Sir Palato not there?"
[No. He always guards the lord's bedroom at night.]
"Ah."
Where Arsen was, in Satien, it was still late afternoon.
Hearing about the time difference made Arsen truly feel how impossibly far he was from Belluan.
Even now, talking through the crystal, Luden was far to the east—weeks, maybe over a month away even riding nonstop on a black lion.
"Anyway... thank you for holding out. I'll return soon, so just a bit longer."
[We'll see about that...]
As they were wrapping up, Eloise nudged Arsen.
When he turned to see why, she spoke through the earring.
[Gisharan.]
[Oh right.]
Latis was listening, which was a slight issue, but since Marun knew everything anyway, Arsen explained about the Darkwood, Irenne, and Gisharan.
Once finished, Luden's shock transmitted clearly through the orb.
[I... never imagined... Irenne, really?]
"Shall I call her?"
[I'm not sure... No, we should talk. Please.]
"Got it."
Arsen stood and fetched Gisharan, who was resting with some female soldiers.
Explaining was easy.
There's an artifact that lets you talk to faraway people, and it's connected to her father right now.
Her father wants to speak, so just go and chat.
Unexpectedly, though, Gisharan shook her head and refused.
"If it's an order, I'll speak, but I'm not inclined right now."
"Why?"
"It's so sudden, I'm flustered... I'd rather talk face-to-face."
Reading her expression, Arsen sensed the typical reluctance of someone wanting to escape an uncontrollable situation.
He had no desire to drag someone unwilling into a father-daughter reunion, so he agreed and returned to the orb to relay her wishes.
Luden's voice carried a mix of disappointment and relief.
[Very well, that's probably better. I'm too shocked myself to know what to say... Tell her to contact us if she changes her mind.]
* * *
After the call ended, Arsen bowed politely to Latis.
"Thank you, Elder Latis."
[No trouble at all. It wasn't that hard.]
He said that, but it truly wasn't easy.
The wilds of this harsh world were far too dangerous for ordinary merchant caravans without knights.
Some threats were dangerous even to knights.
In such an environment, even armed with useful artifacts and accompanied by a mage, embarking on a trade journey to a distant estate was like living with a blade to your throat.
"For now, we've conquered up to the Wigon ruins. We've found both clues."
[I see. You secured the black lion too?]
"Yes."
[Heard it's a powerful Jin. We left it because it was impractical to take...]
Latis's voice clearly held regret.
But moments later, he erased it and firmly changed the subject.
[Anyway, it seems time to head to the next destination.]
"Right. The next destination..."
[Mm.]
Latis let out a hum, then spoke in a hesitant tone.
[Sir Arsen.]
"Go ahead."
[I'd like to speak with you alone for a moment.]
That meant Eloise and even Marun should step away.
Arsen agreed.
"Eli, watch this for a bit. Sir Marun too?"
Both Eloise and Marun, respecting the elder's words, withdrew without question.
"It's just me now. Speak."
Right after Arsen finished, Latis got to the point.
[I have a personal favor to ask.]
"Personal..."
Meaning not as a Starblind elder, but as the man Latis.
"What kind of favor?"
[Nothing difficult. Just find one person and pass along simple regards.]
Latis's request was to find an old woman living on the southern outskirts of the next estate they were heading to—or her relatives if she'd passed—and tell them 'Ethan' was doing well.
Say he's happy, no need to worry. And that he still keeps the horn flute.
Hearing that, Arsen's mind raced with possibilities.
Who was Ethan? Could be Latis's real name, an acquaintance, or some Starblind code...
'No, probably not.'
If so, he wouldn't have dismissed Marun and Eloise, nor bothered telling Arsen specifically. He could've just told Marun.
'Wait.'
In that moment, Arsen recalled a past question.
'Is Starblind a unified organization?'
Latis had previously said their goal was to "restore the world to its original state," but they disagreed even among themselves on what that was.
Disagreements meant factions.
Perhaps Latis didn't want other factions knowing about this errand.
The reason for asking Arsen instead of Marun could be that Marun wasn't his faction.
'Or maybe he just doesn't trust Marun.'
That seemed more likely.
Arsen himself trusted Marun's character but not necessarily his discretion.
So what to do?
After brief thought, Arsen decided to grant the request.
He'd received many favors from Latis as Starblind representative, so repaying was proper.
Plus, it was a chance to curry favor with a high-ranking elder.
If it was faction infighting as suspected, better to aid the side showing goodwill.
"Understood. I'll do as you wish."
[Thank you. As you know, to the others...]
"I'll keep it secret. Even from Sir Marun and Eloise."
Latis's grateful voice mixed satisfaction and unease.
[I'll repay this favor for sure.]
"Thank you. Anything else?"
[No. Safe travels.]
Author's Note – Timeline Summary
Many readers said they were confused about how much time had passed.
So here's a summary of time elapsed since Arsen left Belluan.
Initial departure – End of winter
Late February.
Belluan to Narvik: Super-fast traverse of the plains, about 3 weeks.
Mid-March.
Narvik: Meeting, assembly, training, detachment join, Narvik ruins dig – 7 days.
Late March.
Narvik to Wiju Mountains, Exekia estate – about 4 weeks.
Late April.
Exekia: Monarch hunt, rest, departure – about 2 weeks.
Early to mid-May.
From Exekia to western outpost arrival – about 7 days.
Mid-May.
Outpost arrival, sparring, then to Darkwood – about 7 days.
Late May.
Darkwood: Rest, incident resolution, to fallen Ormu estate – about 3 weeks.
Early to mid-June.
Ormu to ruins city Satien – about 2 weeks.
Late June.
Ruins city: Conquering three ruins – about 4 weeks.
Late July.
So, about 5 months since Arsen left the estate.
Wow.
Seeing it laid out, so much happened in such a short time...
I should've made it clearer in the story, but my skills fell short.
I'll strive to write better from now on!