Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Broken Spear Castle
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-Rumble, rumble.
The carriage was climbing a gentle, unending uphill slope.
At the end of what seemed like an eternal horizon, massive rocky peaks began poking their heads up one by one.
'This place was originally a basin, huh.'
I'd thought it was just a hole in the flat ground, but in reality, it was a massive crater that had formed below a plain already surrounded by mountains.
From that perspective, the destination perched atop the mountain summit—Broken Spear Castle—was...
"Right on the border between the Nether and the outside world. Exactly at the boundary of two realms."
The ancient fortress stood there, exuding a mystical aura from its symbolically charged position on the border between two worlds.
Even in a world where tourism was practically nonexistent, I could instantly understand why people made such a fuss about it being a must-see before death.
'Most of all, the geographical position is cheat-level.'
Turn your head left, and you'd see the medieval fantasy landscape of sprawling plains and rice paddies.
Turn right, and there was a city-sized sinkhole, its edges crammed with the hybrid scenery of the Threshold.
A starkly contrasting border between two worlds, and the ancient castle right in the middle.
I was utterly overwhelmed by the breathtaking vista it created.
It was so stunning, I wanted to paint it and preserve it forever, even if I couldn't draw to save my life.
In contrast,
"Haaah... It's... too high... Scary..."
my companion seemed to have the exact opposite impression.
"If it's scary, shall I close the curtains?"
"N-No! It's f-fine! If it weren't for Will, I couldn't even come here..."
The platinum-blonde girl sitting across from me frantically shook her head in panic.
She was trembling without properly meeting my eyes, reminding me of a timid herbivore.
Seeing her like that made me think of Elenaia. Wonder how she's doing.
"Ah! M-More importantly... Th-Thank you so much! If it weren't for you, Will... I thought I really couldn't get in like this. I was wandering in the Threshold... and ran out of money to reach the castle..."
-Bow.
The slender woman bowed deeply from the waist.
Her name was Marie. The one from yesterday at the Hunter's Tavern who got hassle from Gold Sun bro.
"Well, I happened to lose my group too. But it's surprising. Who would've thought you were heading here too, Marie."
"Y-Yeah..."
Here's what happened.
While I was shedding tears of betrayal after Gold Sun bro and Breeding Man bro ditched me, Marie approached me.
She suggested traveling together if I was going to Broken Spear Castle.
"So, you were talking about that at the Hunter's Tavern too?"
"Y-Yes... I overheard those two saying they were going to the castle... B-But... your faces looked s-scary, and you suddenly grabbed my hand..."
"Those bros do have unfriendly faces."
They're good guys personality-wise, but their looks are a barrier to entry.
'Faces, huh... Come to think of it...'
Watching the utterly fragile Marie brought Regen’s words to mind.
-And especially! Watch out for women. Especially if a pretty one approaches? Suspect first.
Watch out for women. Especially beauties.
I couldn't fully disagree with Regen.
There was precedent with Rack, who backstabbed me and Fey and ran.
'But...'
"A-Anyway, thank you again... I'll speak as well as I can to my u-uncle! P-Promise! A grand welcome!"
What can you do?
The heir to Broken Spear Castle herself promised a grand welcome.
Normally, an outsider like me with no backing could at best peek from afar outside.
But letting me inside?
Plus a lavish meal and a night's stay?
'Even if it's a trap, it's worth it.'
At this point, even if I die, no regrets.
Stuff my face, sightsee, and become a top-grade marbled ghost.
"Ah! So should I call you Lady Castle Lord now, Marie?"
"N-No way. Someone like me... Probably... some misunderstanding!"
Marie shook her head wildly in surprise at my words.
"I'm an heir in name only... I've never even met my uncle or the castle... I don't know territory management... All I can do is weave straw mats..."
"That must be confusing."
"Y-Yeah... I have no idea what's going on..."
Here's how Marie ended up at the Threshold.
Marie was a tenant farmer in some backwater outside the Nether when an uncle she'd never met suddenly said, "You're actually the family heir, come here."
So she came, but having never left her village, she got lost, spent all the travel money her uncle gave her, wandered the Threshold, and met me.
"I was already this scatterbrained getting here... How could I manage a territory...?"
Marie hung her head with a gloomy expression.
I could understand her feelings.
Media loves "Turns out I'm a chaebol illegitimate child?!" as lucky, but in reality, it wouldn't be great.
It's like dropping into a capitalist jungle full of wolves with zero knowledge.
But,
"Still, Marie. You might have unexpected talent."
"Wh-What?!"
"You picked out the most decent coachman among those trying to rip off a newbie like you."
I had to haggle since Marie was too shy, but.
"Th-That was just... looking at the horse and cart..."
"Not everyone can do that."
"But I can't even talk to people..."
"Eh, a castle lord can delegate people-handling to subordinates. I think you'd fit right in."
Ideally, she'd thrive and keep at it forever.
Having the owner of this massive castle as an acquaintance? Cool.
"..."
For a moment, Marie's eyes widened as she stared at me.
What? The vibe shifted a bit...
"M-Maybe... Ah! Th-Thank you for the compliment..."
Nah.
-Ding-a-ling!
At that moment, the bell signaling our arrival rang.
"Eek! W-We... arrived..."
"Yep. Shall we go?"
I wondered what the castle interior looked like.
Brimming with anticipation, I entered the castle gates with Marie.
The first person we met at the castle was a stern-faced butler.
"...You are."
"Uh... I-I'm... un-uncle, n-no... Broken Spear va-vassal..."
"This is her uncle's the castle lord. She says she received a letter and came."
"...Enter."
Replying for Marie, who was too shaky to speak, the butler let us inside with a displeased look.
'The inside is cleaner than expected.'
Unlike the exterior giving off abandoned ancient castle vibes, the interior was well-maintained.
"Miss Marie, follow me. And you... Wait in the parlor with the other guests."
"Other guests?"
We weren't the only ones?
"I'll inform you at mealtime."
The butler briskly ignored my question and led Marie down the hall.
Unexpected visitors, huh. Not great guest treatment.
'Parlor, parlor...'
After parting with Marie, as I searched for the parlor alone, I spotted a luxurious room furnished with blue-toned furniture.
And inside,
"Mumble mumble mumble—"
a middle-aged man muttering something while wearing a sedge hat and carrying an Eastern-style sword indoors,
"Fuu—"
a woman puffing rainbow smoke from a pipe,
-Thwack!
and a man with a black eyepatch throwing darts dead-center on the board.
'What is this, a circus troupe?'
As I wondered if this was part of the lavish welcome show—
"Oh, a guest? Nice to meet you."
A blond handsome man approached from behind.
If yesterday's Gold Sun was dark blond, this guy's light blond.
Tall and striking, with a sunny aura that screams leader anywhere.
"Ah, sure. I'm Will."
"I'm Extraus. An explorer like these folks."
Extraus, huh.
Sounds like a name doomed to side character.
"Haha, it's grandiose, right? Ancient tongue for 'the one who will be savior.' Embarrassing every introduction."
"...Aha."
Oh, that kind of setup?
"Anyway, you got an invite from Broken Spear Guild too? What's your rank?"
Then the smoking woman asked me.
"Uh, I just got qualified recently. Iron."
"What? How'd a mere Iron get invited?"
"I wasn't invited in the first place."
I briefly explained how I ended up here, and she lost interest, ignoring me to smoke again.
This is too much.
"Haha... Don't take it to heart. She's from the Magic Tower's second seat, kinda prideful."
Extraus at least consoled me softly so I wouldn't feel bad.
"So, what brings you all here?"
"Ah, well... Haha... Bit boastful from me, but."
"Don't know details. But probably scouting. By Broken Spear Guild."
The eyepatch guy on the sofa answered for Extraus.
Amazingly juggling darts blind.
"Broken Spear Guild?"
They own more than the castle?
"Broken Spear's one of the top five guilds. No standout explorers, weakest in force, but irreplaceable mediating between outer nations and the Threshold here."
"Mediating meaning..."
"After the Nether appeared, all sorts of scary stuff popped out, right? They monitor and control so it doesn't leak outside carelessly."
Like customs protecting local merchants from foreign goods.
In a place overrun by over-tech like No. 3's armor, definitely needed.
"But with the weakest force, can they?"
"Dunno details, but... Broken Spear family managed this area even before Nether. At least in Threshold, their influence is absolute."
I recalled Broken Spear Castle on the two-worlds border.
Not just locationally on the border.
"So, natural they'd eye promising Threshold rising stars."
Now stacking card towers, said the eyepatch guy.
"Knight Extraus, Magic Tower Second Beans, me 'Mind's Eye' Zamov..."
"...Baldo."
"...And the sword guy who only says that. All the hot new Threshold rookies gathered. Obvious, right? They're extending a hand of cooperation."
"Ooh..."
Everyone here was a big shot.
If I play nice, might get latest explorer trends.
Time to make friends.
'I'm top of this exam too, sorta.'
Bragging, but top is top.
Noob, but can chat at least.
"Ah, speaking of, I topped this exam too..."
But,
"Dinner is served. The lord awaits too."
The butler appeared, cutting me off; my words didn't reach the guests.
"Dinner, great. Was getting hungry."
"Ah~ Stomach rumbling~"
"Looks like chicken. Good. Baldo, up you go."
"...Baldo."
They all shuffled out.
"..."
Feeling awkward, I followed Extraus to the dining hall.
Chatting with Extraus as we walked the hall,
At the hall's end, a strange device caught my eye.
"...Elevator?"
A modern apartment-style elevator installed in the wall corner.
They tried hiding it with a large painting frame in front, but it was way too obvious.
Why's modern tech in a medieval castle?
"Will, hurry. Everyone's waiting."
"Ah, yes."
Wanted to look more, but followed Extraus to the dining hall, curiosity shelved.
[Content]
Straight up, my save data vanished.
Was leveling fine, doing well in Threshold, then suddenly Broken Spear? Got an invite from some big corp.
Said they noticed my exploits, wanted to chat or something.
So I went to the castle after invite?
Then suddenly fuck, lord dies, curse on castle, gotta clear 99-floor underground dungeon to escape?
Fuck, it was 'darkest dungeon' vibes but I pushed.
Difficulty was insane tho.
Relics good, but enemy spec scaling too steep, no answer;;
Char that cleared 2F Dawn Zone, got half-chewed by giant centipede mid-game, end.
Then static noise, back to before castle.
No save data. Exactly pre-dungeon point. (No invite)
Wondering if bug only me, asking.
Solvable?