Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Chapter 10 - Gleston Count's House #3
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[Master, it looks like the drone has stopped?]
Integra's words were spot on.
The drone, which had been gliding out of the bathhouse, had come to a complete halt in place.
"No, uh...."
What should he say? That it was a reflexive action?
The thought that Lilia and Karen were inside the bathhouse had made his hand freeze without him realizing it.
[Master, it seems like you're digging your own grave?]
That was the moment Integra's voice took on a strangely cold tone.
"I think... it's a shame too."
Karen's voice came from beyond the white curtain.
It seemed the soundproofing wasn't working properly.
"Right? Sigh... It sucks to part with Karen... and it really sucks to part with you, Luther."
Lilia spoke in a depressed tone, and Karen suddenly let out a small laugh before asking playfully.
"What about Max?"
"Huh? Oh, Max too. Hehe."
Anyone could tell she had only just thought of him.
'Poor Max.'
But it was true that his presence was pretty faint.
[Master, anyway, hurry up and pull the drone out? Okay?]
"Got it... Wait, I think they're talking about me."
Luther was right.
While Luther was chatting with Integra for a moment, Lilia had swiftly changed the subject and spoke in her characteristic languid voice.
"Luther is... cool, handsome, capable... Anyway, he just seems incredibly amazing."
"He is an amazing person. And he's got a strong sense of justice too."
Karen agreed, her voice tinged with warmth and satisfaction.
It was quite heartwarming to see them getting along so well while praising Luther himself.
[Your mouth is reaching your ears.]
[You look like an idiot.]
Despite Integra's jabs, Luther didn't wipe the smile off his face. Instead, he landed the drone flat against the wall and focused entirely on listening.
Along with the sound of Integra's sigh, Lilia's voice came through.
"Hey Karen, how did you end up traveling with Luther?"
"Hmm... Well, a fateful encounter... something like that?"
"A fateful encounter?"
"Yeah, fateful."
Karen said it with a slightly smug tone, and Luther briefly recalled the day he first met Karen and Max.
'...It was fateful.'
What if different people had been at that campsite?
Could they have formed the same cooperative relationship?
Luther shook his head.
If it hadn't been the calm and thoughtful Karen there that day, the story would probably have unfolded very differently.
"It wasn't anything that amazing. Or was it? In the Primitive Beast Forest, Luther saved me and Max, and to repay that favor, we decided to help him out."
[She's not mentioning the campsite encounter details. Classic Karen.]
[It's not something to talk about lightly.]
As Integra nodded approvingly, Lilia, who didn't know the full story, focused on the part about Luther saving them and pursed her lips before speaking.
"Karen, could you tell me a bit more about it?"
"Well...."
Karen trailed off for a moment before recounting what had happened on the day they first met Luther.
However, since she omitted the part about him being an 'angel,' it came out as: a passerby named Luther saved her and Max when they were in danger in the forest.
"Wow... That's similar to me. Feels like I had a fateful encounter too."
Essentially, it boiled down to the same core: 'Luther the passerby saved them.'
"Hmm... Yeah."
Karen's voice felt just a tiny bit stiffer.
"But Karen."
"Yes, Lilia."
"What are you going to do after you've helped Luther with everything?"
It was so very Lilia-like how the topic switched every minute or so.
But it was a pretty important question, so Luther waited for Karen's answer too.
And after a brief silence.
Karen, who had put off answering for a moment, looked off into the distance and said.
"I guess... I'll do what I originally planned."
"Your adventurer work?"
At Lilia's question, Karen gave a small smile and shook her head.
"There's something more important. Something I absolutely have to do."
That was it.
Karen said no more, and Lilia didn't ask further.
No, it would be more accurate to say she couldn't.
"Let's talk about something else."
"Sure, Karen. Have you heard of Balantur pork?"
As the two resumed their chit-chat, Luther quietly launched the drone and exited the bathhouse.
All he had to do now was search the main building again to find where the Spirit Jewel was hidden—but Luther temporarily cut off the drone's visual feed and closed his eyes before opening them.
There, right on his chest, sat a mini Integra, looking perfectly comfortable.
"Integra."
[Yes, Master.]
Integra's expression was as gentle as ever as she replied.
It was the face of someone who had a rough idea of what Luther wanted to say—a somewhat mature look.
That was why Luther didn't hesitate to ask.
"Is there no other way?"
[You mean besides stealing the Spirit Jewel?]
"Yeah, even something like buying it from the Count."
At Luther's words, Integra suddenly crossed her arms and gave a smile mixed with various emotions.
The reason Luther was suddenly suggesting a change in plans.
'You're worried about Karen and Lilia, right?'
The various troubles that would arise after seizing the Spirit Jewel from the Count.
If he ignored human relationships entirely, he could just steal it and run, hiding away—but that would put Karen and Max in a terrible spot.
Lilia would be deeply disappointed too.
[Well, aside from that, a bunch of other annoyances could crop up... So yeah, getting it willingly from the Count would be the best.]
"Right?"
[Yes, Master.]
As Luther's face brightened, Integra unwittingly smiled brightly herself. She floated up into the air, crossed her arms, and said.
[Still, just in case, I think we should keep mapping out the mansion's layout.]
[We'll talk to Karen and Max about it tomorrow.]
"Yeah, that sounds good."
Luther nodded and closed his eyes again, reconnecting the visual feed with the drone.
And the next morning.
Luther called Karen and Max to his room and got straight to the point.
"Hecatoncheires is after the Spirit Jewel that Count Gleston has."
[That was a bit too direct, wasn't it?]
But thinking about it, Luther had always been like this.
Even when he told them he'd entered the game, he'd jumped right into the main point.
And surprisingly, Luther's straightforward style often yielded good results.
"The organization that tried to kidnap Peliaru Princess was called Hecatoncheires, right? Is that when you found out?"
"Yeah, that's when I learned about it."
Riding on Karen's guess, Luther continued immediately.
"I don't know why Hecatoncheires wants the Spirit Jewel. But it's a fact that they're obsessed with it. If we stay like this, Count Gleston could get attacked, so I want to secure the Spirit Jewel."
The best option was to receive the Spirit Jewel from Count Gleston and then spread a rumor that 'the jewel was stolen.'
If the jewel's whereabouts became a mystery, not only would the Gleston family be safe, but it would also hinder Hecatoncheires' plans to summon the great beast Balakia in the west.
"I see... Understood. Then it might be best to talk directly with Count Gleston."
Straight ball to the Count too.
As Karen said, it was the most direct solution, but also the riskiest.
If persuasion failed, the Count would definitely become wary of them.
But Karen spoke in a crisp, nonchalant voice.
"If he rejects your proposal, Luther, then whatever happens is on him."
In other words, if he ignored Luther's warning and got attacked by Hecatoncheires, that was the Count's own fault—no helping it.
"But... if we warn him, he'll probably bolster his defenses on his own. Worst case... we can just take it by force. If it comes to that, we'll join you."
Karen smiled as she spoke, and Max nodded as if to say he was in too.
They were reliable, quick to decide—great, but... what was it? It was a bit surprising how they accepted Luther's story without a shred of doubt.
[That's not true, Master.]
[To Karen and Max, you're the angel from the heavens lol.]
[Fighting Hecatoncheires is justice in their eyes, so it makes sense.]
'Yeah, but did you just laugh?'
[No way lololol I'd do that.]
Even as she played innocent, her giggling was downright mischievous.
Luther lightly tapped the bracelet on his right arm as if flicking her forehead, then turned back to Karen and Max.
"Thanks so much for joining in."
"It's for you, Luther."
"It's for the world too."
Luther nodded again at their responses and glanced at the mini Integra standing on the table. Catching the meaning in his eyes, she displayed the time in midair.
About 10 hours left until the nanosuit was complete.
If things went south during the talk with the Count and they had to seize the jewel, it might be better to have the conversation after the nanosuit was done.
"I managed to upgrade the armor from the last battle. But it still needs a bit more time... So after it's complete—that is, after dinner—seems best for talking to the Count."
"Got it. If we request a meeting through Lilia, we can even talk to him late at night."
Karen replied sharply once more.
From yesterday's chat too, was Karen really from a fallen noble house?
Anyway, with the conclusion reached, the group began discussing plans after today.
The location of the second fragment, the route there, etc.
Depending on tonight's conversation, they might have to depart immediately.
"Then we'll prep our gear in advance."
"I'll talk to Lilia."
"Yeah, thanks."
As Max and Karen left the room, Luther lay back on the bed and closed his eyes.
A few days before the main story of Dragon Hunter Origin began.
Deeper involvement in the main scenario than just saving Peliaru Princess from Balboa.
[Everything will work out fine, Master.]
"Yeah."
With Integra's baseless but uplifting encouragement, Luther smiled.
* * *
Time passed.
After dinner, Luther called Karen and Max to his room for a final review of how to approach the conversation with the Count, and also discussed the route afterward that he'd briefly mentioned that morning.
And another hour or so.
[The second core of the core system has been fully activated.]
[Nanosuit Lv3 completed.]
[Drone Lv3 completed.]
[Energy Gun Lv3 completed.]
[Neutralizing Flame Projector completed.]
Integra's voice continued in succession.
Visually, the only immediate change was that the ring, previously only on his right arm, now appeared on his left arm, both legs, and waist—but Luther sensed changes beyond that.
[Master, preparations complete.]
"Yeah."
Luther gave a short reply and looked at Karen and Max. The quick-witted pair understood that Luther was ready.
And as if on cue, a knock came from outside the door.
"Luther, it's Lilia."
Lilia, who had arranged the meeting with Count Gleston.
Max got up and opened the door, and Lilia entered, looked at Luther, and nodded with a resolute expression.
Thanks to Karen having roughly explained the situation while asking for her cooperation.
"Alright, let's head out."
"Yes, Luther."
Leading the way, Lilia was followed side-by-side by Luther, Karen, and Max as they left the room.
Prepared for any contingency, Max was carrying all their gear.
[We're going to persuade the Count, but this feels more like heading into a boss fight.]
'Tell me about it.'
Why was that?
Because they were considering force as a last resort?
No, that wasn't it.
The moment they entered the corridor leading to the main building, Luther realized the source of the unease.
-Boom! Boom! Boom!
A deafening roar erupted from outside the building like something out of a fairy tale, followed by screams echoing from all directions.
"Th-the sky dragons from above!"
"Kyaa!"
"Run!"
Hecatoncheires.
The change triggered by Balboa's death and failure.
"Luther?!"
Lilia turned to him with a frightened face, while Karen and Max instinctively drew their swords.
Luther wrapped an arm around Lilia's shoulder and spoke quickly.
"Karen, take care of Lilia. Escape the mansion. We'll rendezvous tomorrow morning at the spot we discussed."
The assembly point they'd set in case they had to seize the Spirit Jewel from Count Gleston.
At Luther's words, Karen's face showed a moment of conflict, but only briefly.
She pulled Lilia toward her and said in a subdued voice.
"Good luck."
"Yeah."
Luther managed a smile despite his hardened expression, and Karen did the same.
"Max! Let's go!"
As Karen turned, Max hoisted Lilia over his shoulder and started running.
Lilia, who ended up slung over Max's shoulder like baggage amid the chaos, looked at Luther with a mix of panic and fear, but all Luther could do was smile reassuringly.
[Master, strong life signatures detected in the airspace above.]
[Estimated to be at least equal to Balboa, or stronger dragons.]
He had a pretty good idea who it was.
An aerial assault.
Unlike Balboa, who used sleep gas and assassins, this one started things openly without caring who saw.
"Astra."
The dragonkin boss of Chapter 2, from Hecatoncheires.
He was stronger than Balboa.
Not for nothing was he the Chapter 2 boss.
But instead of fleeing in fear, Luther stepped forward.
[Nanosuit upgrade 100% complete.]
[Core system activated.]
[Compatibility check complete.]
[System all green.]
[Equipping nanosuit.]
Nanomachines poured from the rings on his limbs and waist, enveloping his entire body.
His clothes vanished, replaced by a jet-black suit, and pristine white armor formed on both arms amid a blue glow.
The changes didn't stop there.
Blue lines connected from his back to both shoulders, and a backpack with thrusters rose to support his back.
And one more.
Blue lines swept over Luther's face.
A sharp-lined white visor formed along with the blue light, encasing his face, and Luther's eyes began to see far more.
[Combat prediction program initiated.]
[Weapon system compatibility complete.]
[Link status with each core system optimal.]
[Combat ready.]
[Shall we shake things up?]
The pure white drone had floated up near his head, with mini Integra riding it and flashing a grin.
Luther smiled back from beneath the visor and looked straight ahead.
Amid the pleasant tightness of the suit gripping his body, he kicked off the ground.