Chapter 87
Chapter 87
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Dawn Excavation Corps
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[Chapter 86 - City of Ruins (3)]
"Those guys—you said they were Tiger Claws, right?"
"Yeah."
"Did the Steel Tiger really lose to one of its own claws?"
At Arsen's words, Bazkal rubbed his bruised face and shook his head.
His sullen expression was that of a kid who'd gotten beaten and come back.
Sighing at the sight, Arsen said,
"It's a tiger-like expression, losing to its own claw."
Beside them, the sound of hammers pounding and boards being nailed rang out vigorously.
The carpenters were fixing tables and chairs, patching up the ceiling.
Just then, Rasur, who had been talking with Yohun, called out to Arsen.
"The talk's over, Sir Arsen."
At Rasur's words, Arsen brought Bazkal over and joined the table where Rasur and Yohun sat.
No sooner had he sat down than Yohun bowed his head toward Arsen.
"First off... I sincerely apologize. I'm sorry."
In response to the apology, Arsen tilted his head to glance at Bazkal.
"The one who should be receiving it isn't me—it's this guy, I think."
Strictly speaking, Arsen hadn't taken a single hit; he'd only dished them out one-sidedly.
The real victim, insulted and beaten, Bazkal snorted.
"What'd you have to be sorry for? Stepping up when your comrade got hit is just natural. The apology's for that kid to make, right? Where's he at anyway?"
"Mazran's still out of it. He drank way too much."
"How the hell does a knight end up like that?"
At Arsen's question, Yohun let out a deep sigh before answering.
"Do you happen to know how many claws a tiger has, by any chance?"
"Five on each paw, twenty total."
Yohun looked at him in surprise when Bazkal answered immediately.
Pleased to show off his knowledge, Bazkal grinned.
"My mount's a great tiger. Anyone raising tigers has to know that stuff."
Yohun gave a hollow chuckle for a moment before continuing.
"You're right—tigers have five claws. We were five members too. That's where the name came from."
But contrary to Yohun's words, there were only four of them now.
Leader Yohun, the passed-out drunk Mazran, and the two nameless knights Arsen had beaten.
"Recently, we challenged a labyrinth ruin and lost one comrade. He was Mazran's childhood friend from the same homeland—and his fiancée."
Arsen and Bazkal listened intently with serious expressions as the heavy story unfolded unexpectedly.
"We were trying to save him from a trap, but I died in his place. Couldn't even recover the body. We were all suffering, but Mazran was completely broken by guilt the whole way back."
Yohun's voice grew low with anguish, sounding like a beast growling mournfully.
"So to console him, we went to an expensive tavern to have a few drinks, but he started chugging bottles of liquor that's even dangerous for knights."
A sigh came from the side. Arsen glanced over.
Not just Bazkal—Maroon, Eloise, and everyone else was absorbed in Yohun's words.
"When I told him to stop, he sulked off alone, saying he'd head back to the inn first and vanished. I was worried about leaving a drunk alone, so I followed... and that's when this mess happened."
"He seemed to have a real grudge against mages from what he was saying."
"The lad came from an estate with that kind of culture. We educated him separately while staying here for about a year. He's not usually like that, but since his fiancée died in a mage's trap..."
Yohun made excuses, saying many couldn't separate modern mages from ancient ones, so they blamed mages for near-death traps or dead comrades. It was especially true for those raised with such teachings from childhood.
'They set up those filthy traps... What do they think human lives are worth...'
Arsen recalled Mazran's drunken rant.
Whether he could empathize or not, the cause-and-effect was easy enough to grasp.
"When he wakes up, I'll make sure he apologizes properly. He lost his senses from the booze—he's not a bad guy at heart. He'll apologize sincerely."
At Yohun's words, Arsen looked to Bazkal.
"What do you think, Bazkal?"
"What's your take, bro?"
When Bazkal asked back, Arsen pondered briefly before replying.
"Better accept it. Outrageous, sure, but he was in a mentally exhausting spot."
If Eloise had died miserably trying to save him, Arsen couldn't be sure how he'd act either.
Liquor shouldn't be an excuse, of course, but Mazran's tragedy warranted some leniency after hearing it out.
Besides, aside from Bazkal taking a few hits, there were no real losses.
Bazkal nodded solemnly at Arsen's words.
"Well, if that's how you see it, bro."
Hearing Bazkal's reply, Arsen informed Yohun.
"No need for separate compensation—just cover the inn's damages from the broken furniture."
"I already paid for that. Ceiling, tables, even the meals from customers who left during the fight."
Rasur chimed in then.
That explained why the innkeeper's deathly pale face had brightened with a smile by the time the ceiling caved.
"Sir Rasur paid?"
Catching the 'why you?' nuance in the question, Rasur cleared his throat affectedly.
"Guess I should introduce myself first."
Rasur slightly lifted his chair away from the table, then bowed exaggeratedly.
"I'm Rasur, vice-leader of the Dawn Excavation Corps and captain of the Garmkal Digging Squad. And Sir Yohun's Tiger Claws Digging Squad belongs to our excavation corps."
"I see."
An excavation corps, simply put, was a coalition of various digging squads united for a specific goal.
A digging squad was a small group focused on excavation.
Large groups like Arsen's party were usually considered corps, but with a single leader, calling it a squad was fine too—the terms weren't strictly defined.
"We're not some rigid military hierarchy, but as vice-leader, I couldn't ignore a comrade in trouble. Tactless to say outright, but Sir Yohun's squad failed this delve, so he's a bit... short on funds."
Yohun wore an embarrassed look but didn't deny it, confirming the truth.
Then Rasur turned to Arsen.
"Ever heard of the Dawn Excavation Corps?"
"Not that far."
"Makes sense. It's pretty new. Two months? No, a bit longer?"
Grinning playfully, Rasur spoke in a dreamy tone.
"There are plenty of excavation corps in this ruin city, but ours formed for a rather special purpose. Our goal? Discoveries about the ancient era."
"Isn't that every excavator's goal? Everyone prowls ruins hunting ancient relics."
Rasur shook his head at Arsen's retort.
"Not quite. Most excavators dig for powerful or unique relics to claim their strength or sell for profit. Ours is historical inquiry. How the ancients lived, flourished... and fell. Uncovering all that."
"History, huh."
"Exactly. So we grab journals over powerful relics if we can—more knowledge inside."
"Why go that far?"
Rasur grinned at Arsen's question.
"If I said 'just wanna collect 'em,' you'd bolt, right? Our aim is to uncover ancient knowledge and return the world to that golden age."
Rasur's voice turned solemn.
Hearing this, Arsen shook his head slightly.
"You believe the ancient era was better than now?"
"Everywhere, folklore tells of it. Tales of a distant past: green fields across the world, blue skies, kids running free. No magic beasts, no raiders."
Arsen knew the tales. Belluan had similar ones.
The myth: far ancient times, mages' folly brought downfall's curse; the world shattered, humans imprisoned in estates and citadels.
A cruel fairy tale of a lost paradise due to sin.
Not unique to Belluan—every estate Arsen visited had variants of the same legend.
Like isolated Earth civilizations sharing flood myths.
"Imagine it. A world without magic beasts. Without raiders. Kids playing beyond walls, traveling distant estates without risking life. Vast plains turned to fields, no one starving. Safer, richer, more to see and feel. We're saving the world! Through dark night, to bring the dawn!"
Arsen glimpsed a master orator and agitator in Rasur's fervent speech.
Rhythmic, passionate voice; attentive gazes; dynamic gestures.
He had the knack to infect others with his zeal.
Even Arsen, a reincarnator knowing such a world wasn't pure paradise, felt swayed briefly.
Arsen glanced around.
With the commotion and late hour, only those involved remained—no other guests.
But the repairmen fixing ceiling and tables, and the overseeing innkeeper, were still on the first floor.
Rasur's voice carried loud enough for them.
"You say that here, to anyone?"
"Why not? Folks in the know already do. It's no evil deed—no need for secrecy. And..."
Rasur grinned.
"...if you're not 'anyone,' problem solved."
"You're inviting me to join."
"Right. We're always scouting young, passionate adventurers. Tossing Sir Yohun like that, subduing two knights barehanded? Perfect. Especially with a knight comrade, well-armed warriors, and mage allies in tow!"
"Why not offer earlier?"
"Didn't know you yet. Leader Kren might overlook it, but I value character as much as skill. Pursuing the world's gain over personal? Takes conviction. Your recent demeanor convinced me."
Kren. Arsen remembered the name.
The knight gathering people for an untouched ruin, per merchant Moro.
Before his thoughts continued, Rasur spoke with conviction.
"No excessive compensation from Sir Yohun? That's fairness. Understanding Sir Mazran's plight? Tolerance. Listening earnestly to what most dismiss as fancy? Earnestness. How could I pass on someone like that?"
The praise was so over-the-top Arsen's face flushed with embarrassment.
What really irked him was Bazkal and the others nodding proudly nearby, as if they knew a good egg when they saw one.
Arsen cleared his throat, calming himself before replying.
"You're praising me so much I'll float away. Grateful for the offer, but it doesn't click. I'm more into personal gain than public good. Sorry."
If he'd come solo, vaguely relic-hunting for cash, he might've accepted.
The pitch was that compelling; the intent far from bad.
But Arsen was an inheritor—a trait deadly to reveal in this ruin city. Any corps learning of his abilities would fight tooth and nail to claim him.
No way he could collaborate.
Rasur looked disappointed yet resigned, smiling faintly.
"That so? A true shame... But my offer stands. We'll be neighbors, meeting often—ponder our rep and such. I'll gladly await a change of heart."
With that and standard farewells, Rasur headed upstairs with his comrades.
Yohun apologized once more, then paused as if remembering something.
"One favor, if I may: don't judge the Dawn Excavation Corps by our disgrace tonight. Vice-Leader Rasur and the rest—they're good folk."
Yohun added, "A memorable encounter," before hurrying upstairs.
Suddenly weary, Arsen rubbed his eyes.