Chapter 210
Chapter 210
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 210
Chapter Title: Northern King (4)
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“No reply from the soldiers stationed at Heiran? Did you contact them properly?”
“Y-yes...”
The werefox staff officer bowed his head. Jaeger, half-reclining on the bed, furrowed his brow. What the hell was this?
“Hundreds of them, and they're all just gone? Did the ghosts from the ice sea drag them off or something?”
“I-I'm sorry. We have no idea... We've already assembled a scouting party and sent them out, so we'll have answers soon.”
The staff officer groveled, sweat pouring down his face. He couldn't even lift his head. An aura of enhanced dignity emanated from Jaeger, who had returned gravely injured two days prior.
Dignity, perhaps. Having overcome a brush with death, he seemed far more solemn and weighty now, like a different person altogether.
After a moment of silence, Jaeger spoke.
“Hmph... Understood. Withdraw.”
“Yes, sir.”
The staff officer retreated. Left in the vast room were Jaeger and his six elite guards, positioned to guard against any potential ambush.
What a ridiculous situation.
Jaeger stroked his chin beard. It was awkward. Ronan and his group would arrive at Heiran the day after tomorrow. At this rate, he couldn't confirm if his promise to withdraw the troops had been kept. After pondering deeply, he spoke.
“...Assemble a commando unit. Looks like I'll have to check it out myself.”
“Shouldn't you rest a bit longer?”
“I should... but my gut feeling isn't good.”
Jaeger rose from the bed. The intuition that had saved him from crises before was now sounding the alarm. Something unpleasant was about to happen.
He needed to confirm the current situation firsthand. As he adjusted his clothes, the office door slowly creaked open.
-Creak...
“Hm?”
Jaeger turned, puzzled by the lack of a request to enter. His eyes widened in shock. Standing at the threshold was someone he hoped never to see again.
“Barca...!”
“Good to see you, Jaeger.”
Barca wore his usual pitch-black robe. His strides were silent as he approached.
Jaeger stumbled back. The guards, belatedly sensing the presence, drew their weapons.
“Hold! Stop right there!”
“Heard you were badly hurt. Glad you're okay.”
But Barca ignored the guards' warnings. The entire castle guard had been ordered to eliminate him on sight—how had he gotten in?
Did he take out all those men? No, impossible. He must have snuck in.
Jaeger's fur stood on end. Though the robe hid Barca's face, Jaeger knew he was smiling. Barca tilted his head, staring at Jaeger.
“Why so tense? What, think I did something?”
“...What nerve to show up here. After running away alone back then.”
“Sorry about that. I underestimated them and needed time to set the board. They were far stronger than I expected.”
The brazen response came. By now, the guards had fully surrounded Barca.
Encircled by six blades, he finally stopped. Just as Jaeger was about to bring up the assassin, Barca continued.
“So, as compensation, I have a proposal. One you can't refuse.”
“A proposal I can't refuse...?”
“Yes. Truly... one you can't refuse.”
Jaeger's eyebrow twitched at the meaningful tone. Suddenly, Barca snapped his fingers. Snap! His robe writhed, and a black shadow leaped out.
“Huh?”
The shadowy form brushed past the guards' bodies. So fast that none of the seven, Jaeger included, even registered it.
As the shadow slipped back into the robe—slash! Limbs flew, blood spraying in fountains.
“Arghhh! M-my arm!”
“Wh-what?!”
Screams echoed. Severed limbs and mangled torsos collapsed. Jaeger's legs buckled; he gripped a side table to stay upright.
“Wh-what...!”
He couldn't comprehend it. All he'd seen was the robe twitching. Amid the blood mist, Barca stood motionless like a statue. Finally, he spoke.
“Cooperate, and I'll let you live, Jaeger. That's my offer.”
“Urk!”
“I don't forget betrayal. You're trash anyway. Obey me, and in a few years, you'll rule the North as king.”
Barca's tone was domineering. So, he'd been found out for leaking info. Red eyes gleamed from within the robe.
“Damn...”
His attitude was completely different now. But Jaeger had half-expected this since two days ago, so it wasn't too shocking. So, I was just a puppet for this monster's ambitions.
If I refuse here... I'll lose everything.
Jaeger clenched his fist. A fleeting image of the werewolf freak's face crossed his mind, along with the memory of spilling secrets in a haze of misplaced justice and guilt.
I must've been crazy.
Jaeger squeezed his eyes shut, then opened them and spoke.
“Fine... I'll cooperate.”
“Wise choice. There's work for you in Heiran. Follow me.”
Barca's tone softened instantly. Jaeger sighed in relief and released the table.
“Alright. Mind if I grab something before we go? It's in the desk drawer.”
“Do as you like. We leave in three minutes.”
Barca turned. The guards, still clinging to life, groaned in agony. Closer inspection revealed not just limbs severed, but horrific gashes all over their bodies.
“J-Jaeger, sir...!”
“Cough... hngh...”
Jaeger ignored them. Staggering to the desk, he opened the second drawer. Deep inside lay an ornate dagger, coiled like a venomous serpent.
You bastard...
He'd prepared it anticipating a day like this. Venom glistened along the blade—potent enough to drop an ogre in one strike.
This wasn't right. King of the North or emperor, this crossed the line. He didn't know Barca's exact goal, but letting him continue would mean more atrocities.
Though reason and intuition screamed to submit, his body followed his heart. A first in thirty years of life.
One strike. Just one.
Deep breath. Gripping the hilt carefully, Jaeger called out.
“Hey, Barca.”
The sky was clear. Bone-chilling wind blew, but without snowflakes, it was bearable. Adeshan fed a piece of jerky to Sita.
“Here. You eat too.”
“Ppe!”
The journey to Heiran was entering its third day. Ronan, Adeshan, and Sita sat resting on the ground. A massive barren hill blocked the north wind, allowing a more comfortable break.
Adeshan and Sita ate lightly, while Ronan scribbled on paper with pencil atop a flat rock. Chewing jerky, Adeshan asked.
“Ronan. Who're you writing to?”
“Hm... what should I say...”
No reply. His uncharacteristic grunting was suspicious. Adeshan asked again.
“Ronan?”
“Ah, sorry. To His Majesty the Emperor.”
Adeshan's eyes widened. Ronan finished the letter and stood, tying it to Sita's ankle.
“A personal favor. A tough one, but since I've earned some merit, maybe he'll agree.”
“...Impressive. In many ways.”
Adeshan shook her head in exasperation. Not prying into the secret contents, Ronan patted Sita's head firmly.
“Sita. I'm counting on you.”
“Ppe!”
Sita spread four wings and soared. Vanishing like a black comet in a blink. A reply should come in two days at latest. Adeshan said.
“Hope it works out. Whatever it is.”
“Yeah. Shall we get going?”
“Sure.”
They brushed snow from their clothes and rose. Scaling the northern hill took nearly thirty minutes.
At the summit, Ronan and Adeshan halted simultaneously. Heiran's polar landscape unfolded before them. Adeshan gaped in awe at the vast icy, rocky expanse.
“Wow...”
“Finally here. Damn it.”
Ronan ruffled his bangs roughly. Short but grueling journey. Hostile beastkin, monsters had kept sleep scarce.
Blue ice protruded from dark soil patches. The horizon to the north confirmed the continent's edge.
Beyond lay the Ghost Sea, destination. Said to echo wails of drowned sailors year-round.
Why summon me there, Father—or Elisia? Ronan lit his pipe and asked Adeshan.
“How's the blood compass?”
“Still fixed. Maybe he's injured and bedridden?”
“Hope so... Well, we'll see when we get there.”
The blood compass from Jaeger had locked northward last night. Suspicious, but something was indeed in Heiran, as he'd said.
First priority: smash Barca. Forge and father later.
They descended the steep slope carefully to avoid slipping. Confirming no presences nearby, Ronan whistled.
“Oho... Jaeger kept his word. Was a bit worried.”
“Me too. No signs. Definitely withdrawn.”
Adeshan nodded. Promise to pull soldiers honored. No monsters or beasts apparent, they followed the compass smoothly.
“Still, keep the crossbow from freezing. Might need to fire anytime.”
“Got it.”
Adeshan fiddled with the crossbow on her back. Unlike the beastkin alliance infiltration, fully prepared now.
Each step ground ice shards and volcanic rock into an addictive crunch. After a long walk, they reached the coast.
Nothing notable but weathered crags and ice clumps. Waves roared louder. Adeshan, holding the compass, tilted her head.
“Weird. Should be something by now.”
“Yeah... Wait, what's that?”
“Hm?”
Ronan pointed ahead. A massive ice mound, hill-sized, bridged sea and land.
A foreign mana flow swirled in the bluish ice wall's center. Adeshan's eyes widened.
“That!”
“Suspicious, right.”
Matched the needle's direction. Mesmerized, they approached. Before the ice wall, Ronan slashed empty air.
Slice! Paper-cutting feel shattered the illusion cloaking the wall. A hidden door appeared. 4m tall wooden doors, not human-sized.
Creak... Opening revealed a deep, unmeasurable tunnel. Stale air carried faint metallic blood scent.
Needle pointed straight inside. Glancing at each other, they faced forward. Ronan buttoned his collar.
“Found it.”
The tunnel was far deeper than expected. Breathing echoed loudly in the winding cave.
Ronan's torch was the sole light. Flame flicker danced their elongated shadows.
Full alert: Ronan's free hand on hilt, Adeshan with bolt nocked and ready. Primed for anything.
“Ha, building this inside ice.”
Ronan admired softly. Near-4m-high walls and ceiling of translucent ice, tougher than stone or metal. Skillful carving. Floor straw prevented slips—likely for Barca.
Bloodstains marred the straw, irregular trails deep into the tunnel like spilled stew.
“Badly hurt, huh. Where'd he get injured this time.”
“...Seems so.”
Adeshan nodded flatly, voice subdued.
Ronan understood. The culprit who'd taken everything from her lay ahead.
Pondering, he offered.
“I'll yield him to you.”
“...Huh?”
“Barca. You can kill him.”
Silence at the abruptness. Adeshan chuckled after a beat.
“Thanks. But killing Barca isn't my goal.”
“What is?”
“Just wanna ask why. Why he did it, still does. Why squeeze blood and tears from so many to rule the North. He'll pay separately, of course... but that's my aim.”
Her voice steady, unshaken. Ronan nodded silently in respect to her maturity. After ten more minutes, Adeshan ahead halted.
“Ronan. Something beyond the corner.”
“Yes?”
A right bend ahead. Ronan closed eyes, focused. Nodded. Mana shimmer leaked.
“Probably... Barca.”
Adeshan raised crossbow. Her blood compass pointed same. Ronan drew sword.
“I'll go.”
He advanced silently, blade ready to sever. Torch lit the corner—Ronan's face iced over.
“This is...!”
Beyond: ice wall 3m ahead. Stone altar for rituals sat alone.
Seven beastkin heads lined atop. Leather pouches dangled from hooks above, swaying.
Adeshan dropped the compass seeing it late.
“Oh my god...!”
Clatter echoed. Faces twisted in agony, as if beholding unspeakable horror. Ronan's gaze fixed center.
“...Jaeger.”
His breath roughened. The white tiger head was unmistakably Jaeger's—only one not terror-stricken.
Ears pinned, fangs bared mid-roar, decapitated in fury. Adeshan covered mouth with both hands.
“H-how...! Then this compass...?”
“...Fucking bastard.”
Ronan ground teeth. Surveying, he quickly deduced the compass and mana trick.
Blood dripped from the dangling leather pouch above—Barca's, disrupting. Extra measures too.
“Ha...”
Laughter escaped incredulity. Heart pounded. Sudden click from feet.
“What?”
They looked down tensely. Gazes met on compass. Red needle pointed to cave entrance. Low vibrating voice from behind.
“Nice to see you. Pests who ruined everything for me.”