Chapter 92
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Translator: Xrecker
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: The Prodigal Son Returns
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After bidding our farewells, we left the Demon Lord’s castle on our Wyverns and headed for the Hamburg fortress on the border.
The soldiers stationed there, having served under Dorothea just a month ago, gave us a warm welcome.
We then switched from Wyverns to horses.
Gold Run, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, still had his beautiful golden mane.
Its fluttering in the wind was captivating.
“So, what’s happened in Hamburg since I left?”
Dorothea, who had been riding silently behind me, shrugged.
“The situation hasn’t changed much. The factions supporting Rachel, the rightful heir, and her younger brother are at a stalemate.”
“What a waste of time.”
Rachel, the rightful heir, was currently rotting in a dungeon, waiting to die.
“The humans don’t know that the Hero’s party has been wiped out. It’s a reasonable assumption on their part.”
Dorothea brushed a stray strand of hair from her face and, noticing my gaze on her hand, grinned and waved her left hand.
“And I have the family seal.”
The 80-carat diamond ring, the symbol of the Hamburg family, now belonged to her.
The ring was a prerequisite for claiming the title of head of the family. With it in the hands of the enemy, they were at a loss. They probably thought it was lost.
“There are other ways. They can make a forgery.”
“And where would they get an 80-carat diamond?”
I shrugged.
“They’ve developed a technique for creating artificial gems with transmutation magic. They can replicate the appearance, if not the hardness.”
Of course, it would require a significant amount of resources, but the Hamburg family was one of the wealthiest in the kingdom. They would gladly invest in a forgery if it meant securing the family title, as the cost would be easily recouped.
“To go to such lengths for power… humans are truly frightening.”
“I agree.”
As Dorothea and I chatted to pass the time, I noticed that Vanessa, who was riding behind us, was unusually quiet.
Is she feeling left out?
I turned to look at her and saw that she was dozing in the saddle.
To be able to sleep on horseback was a talent in itself.
After three hundred years of military service, she had probably mastered such a skill.
Damn, veterans were scary.
***
“Food!”
We arrived at the southern gate of Hamburg in the late afternoon.
We had almost been forced to camp outside, but thankfully, the guard I had met before recognized me and let us pass.
Dorothea presented her identification from her time at the Ruby Tower, and Vanessa presented a forged document.
“A freelance knight? We don’t see many of those around here.”
She looked like an ordinary knight, so she wasn’t questioned further.
The guard had likely been lenient because she was with me.
I slipped him a few silver coins as a thank you.
We then went to the same ten-silver-per-night inn I had stayed at before.
While it was expensive, we could afford it.
The Demon Lord had provided us with a generous amount of funds.
As long as we didn't spend recklessly, we could live comfortably for a while.
After dropping off our luggage, we went down to the first-floor dining hall. Dorothea, who had changed into casual clothes, waved at us.
“Hey! Over here!”
Dorothea was objectively beautiful.
While her breasts were small, her figure was slender, and she had a cute face.
She insisted on wearing sleeveless tops and short shorts even in winter, claiming it was more comfortable for casting magic, which was a treat for the eyes.
Vanessa, having removed her tin can helmet, was also a beautiful woman, with a serene and elegant air.
The two beautiful women, with their contrasting styles, had drawn the attention of everyone in the dining hall.
This was not the ideal situation for a stealth mission.
Damn it.
I rubbed my forehead and hurried over to their table.
Dorothea, oblivious to my inner turmoil, slung an arm around my shoulder and handed me a mug of beer.
“You’re having the fried chicken, right? I already ordered for you.”
“Ah, thanks.”
Having drunk with her so often, Dorothea knew my tastes well.
Fried chicken and beer, a timeless classic. I took a bite of the boiled peas, which were served as a complimentary appetizer, and looked at Vanessa.
“Can Dullahans eat beans?”
Vanessa shrugged and replied nonchalantly,
“I can convert them into mana, so it doesn’t matter. Most natural-born demons eat for pleasure, but since I was originally human, I enjoy eating.”
“Really?”
I was surprised. I took a sip of my beer.
“Blegh.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I don’t like warm beer.”
The people here usually drank warm alcohol to ward off the cold. They didn't seem to have the concept of cold beer. But I, a native of Korea, where cold beer was the norm, preferred it chilled.
I channeled my mana, and a layer of frost formed on the mug.
When it was sufficiently chilled, I stopped and took a long swig, then tore into a large chicken wing.
“Ahh! That’s the stuff!”
Fried chicken and beer. It was pure bliss.
Happiness in the form of calories.
As we were enjoying our late dinner, a commotion erupted at the table next to us.
“…I activate my card! Barbarian King’s attack power increases by 500! His total attack power is now 4500! Go! Barbarian Slash!”
“GAAAAH!”
Clang!
A man, who had been playing cards, fell to the floor, his chair tipping over.
The scene seemed familiar. I blinked, then recognized the face of the warrior who had just dominated the battlefield.
He was the captain of the Black Bear Mercenary Company, the same man I had met during my last visit.
Is this guy a regular here?
Was he some kind of tavern NPC?
The captain of the Black Bear Mercenary Company, noticing me, waved.
“Brother! We meet again!”
He was alone this time.
Dorothea, who had been eating her stew, asked,
“You know him?”
“Uh… a little?”
I couldn’t bring myself to admit that we had become friends over a card game. It was a bit embarrassing to admit that I was a serious Tribal Wars player at my age.
But the bear-like man, oblivious to my predicament, approached our table and then paused, noticing Dorothea and Vanessa.
“Brother, who are these beautiful women?”
He looked like a bandit but was surprisingly shy.
…Could he be a virgin?
I looked at Dorothea and Vanessa, who were watching me with curiosity, wondering how I would introduce them.
I sighed and said,
“This is my girlfriend, and this is my colleague.”
“Hehe…”
“Hmm.”
Their reactions were mixed.
While Dorothea’s was understandable, why did Vanessa look disappointed?
The captain of the Black Bear Mercenary Company, who seemed to be a hopeless romantic, was staring at Vanessa with puppy-dog eyes, but I wasn't about to get involved in this little drama. I stood up.
“It’s been a long day. Let’s call it a night. We have an early start tomorrow.”
“Huh? Oh, right.”
“Shall we?”
Thankfully, they were both understanding and agreed.
The captain of the Black Bear Mercenary Company, mustering his courage, asked Vanessa out, but she replied coldly, “I have standards. And you’re not it, old man.”
He clutched his chest and collapsed to the floor, as if struck by a fatal blow.
Well, it seemed a Sword Master could kill with words.
What a terrifying ability.