Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Great Warrior Ivar (3)
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"Are those the ones the little rats sent to fight the Night Lord? They look even scrawnier than the guys I faced off against."
"They're not soldiers. They called themselves pioneers... no, adventurers."
"How could you not tell the difference after seeing the Imperial Army up close, Vigo? And you still charged at Ivar?"
"Shut up! I didn't lose. I just blacked out for a moment from that coward's sneaky ambush..."
Vigo, Helga, Kara. The three young warriors sent out as scouts reported that a group of people who had emerged from the castle's back gate were heading toward the western edge of the great plains—the Swallowing Forest.
It matched the ominous direction pointed out by the fortress shamans as well. That meant the Night Lord was currently inside the forest.
"We tried to follow them deeper in, but there were too many magic beasts around, so we couldn't enter."
"They vanished right in front of our eyes. They melted into the flow of the air so naturally—it was amazing. Was it Ancestral Power?"
"Probably."
"They've got some sneaky ancestors, huh."
Having listened to their story, I asked for more details about them. Just as we could gauge strength by the number of runes, adventurers carried badges to prove their prowess.
"Weren't they wearing something around their necks?"
"Huh? Were they?"
"Yeah, you idiot Vigo."
"Just like Ivar said, they had pendants with iron shards strung around their necks. Sunset-colored."
Gold rank, as expected. They weren't some ragtag bunch. Considering how quickly they'd crossed the border, they had to be among the very best—excluding the one adventurer party that handled national-level commissions.
Who sent them? A certain figure flashed in my mind, but that wasn't important right now. Special-grade magic beasts were too much even for gold-rank adventurers. As predicted, after entering the forest likely for reconnaissance, they hadn't emerged even hours later.
Harald asked,
"What now, Ivar? We're ready to fight."
The aftermath of the battle hadn't fully faded, but if we were going to move our forces, it had to be now. Any more delays, and we'd clash with the other Imperial forces that had crossed over.
I’d ruled out any chance of cooperation from the start. The founding emperor’s edict—to treat barbarians as less than human and avoid any interaction or exchange with them—was the foundation of their society.
"I'll go alone."
"No, you won't."
"It's one of the steps to becoming a Great Warrior anyway. I'll go by myself."
The second and final condition for earning the title of Great Warrior: facing one of the calamity beasts known as the Lords and returning alive.
Leading these weary warriors against the Night Lord would only increase our losses. Worse, the starving beast might devour their flesh and mana to grow even stronger.
Honestly, I was regretting it a bit. If I'd realized sooner how this world worked, I might not have needed to pull off something this reckless.
Gathering those who fought special-grade magic beasts in the original story as allies could have improved things. But no matter how I racked my brain, there was no way to take down Serath faster and enter the Empire. Even if I did, to them, I'd just be another barbarian.
I stopped my wandering thoughts before my head started spinning. Anyway, I had to fight alone now.
"Didn't you say you weren't going to become a Great Warrior?"
"I've changed my mind, brother."
No one had the right to interfere in the trial. At my declaration of leaving them behind, everyone at the round table voiced their dissatisfaction.
The one who calmed them was Ur, the eldest among the elders.
"Everyone, quiet down."
He held the position of Great Chieftain. Unlike a Great Warrior, it was a temporary role during the winter alliances of many tribes, coordinating their opinions—but many still followed Ur's will.
With two runes and three faded ones, he stepped forward himself to permit my departure.
"Go, Ivar. I won't stand in the way of your path to Ishkar."
"Thank you. I'll head out right now."
"Eutchah!"
"Huh?"
He went outside and grabbed the reins of his old Karangal.
"Where to?"
"The Swallowing Forest."
"Didn't you say you wouldn't stop me?"
"Our paths just happen to align—don't mind us. We won't block you, Ivar, but you have no right to block us either."
"Us..."
I knew it. These battle-mad lunatics wouldn't back off just because I told them not to come.
With Ur's permission granted, the warriors cheered. They grabbed their weapons without needing further prompting.
But it wasn't a mindless charge. They formed up around me in an arrowhead formation, intent on clearing a path to the Night Lord. We lacked the adventurers' skill at hiding our presence, after all.
"Ishkar doesn't call on all of you...!"
"Anyone bored, follow along!"
To keep from grinning, I looked up at the sky and let out a deep breath. My efforts so far hadn't been in vain. Romance fantasy or whatever—this was where the comrades I'd trust at my back were. That fact alone kept the smile from fading.
"Warriors!"
"Let's go prove who's master of the plains!"
With the chieftains' shouts, the vanguard charged. Soon, the Karangals' hooves shook the darkened plains.
"This is as far as we go."
"Thanks, Helga."
"It was an honor to ride with a great warrior."
"Take good care of that weapon. If I come back alive, it'll be worth even more."
Hours later, the ground was littered with magic beast corpses. Alone, in this sub-zero chill, I'd have collapsed from exhaustion facing so many.
Thanks to their sacrifices and aid, I'd reached the forest's edge unscathed. They all looked worn out, but they'd conserved enough strength to return—no need to worry.
"Vigo."
"......"
"Next time, let's have a proper duel on the open plains, not in some council hall."
"......Don't run away with your tail between your legs."
I met the eyes of each survivor, expressing my gratitude. I didn't forget to promise we'd meet again.
"Hey. Y-You're giving back my Satchpi, right? You'll give it back if you survive...!?"
Now, only one task remained. Time to find the Night Lord and shut that stinking maw of his.
As I moved to enter the forest without hesitation, Harald called out.
"Brother."
"What is it, brother?"
"Take my club."
He pointed to my axe. The weapon, looted long ago from some nameless Imperial general, had its edge worn down from repeated brutal battles.
Thanks to its enchantments, it still drew blood, but it was practically useless as a blade anymore. Still, I gently refused Harald's kind offer to hand over his own weapon.
"This one still has its uses."
"Really?"
"You can trust me. You'll need a weapon to get back too—this'll do."
With that, I parted from everyone. Slowly urging my Karangal forward, I delved deeper into the Swallowing Forest.
The darkness was so thick you couldn't see an inch ahead. Relying on my third rune to read mana flows, I searched for the Night Lord.
How much time passed? Something snagged on Satchpi's foot—an adventurer's remains.
Only the upper body remained. It looked like he'd crawled from the nearby cave before meeting his end.
I silently prayed for his soul, tied up Satchpi, and entered the cave. The moment I passed the entrance, heavy air crushed my lungs.
Ignoring it, I pressed on and spotted a faintly glowing object. I thought it was a gem at first, but it was a human eye. Crystallized, it rolled on the floor emitting dim light.
A trait from the novel. To a greedy dragon that loved treasures, nothing sparkled more than the eyes of living beings that held light.
A mountain of treasures piled in the corner, but the Night Lord—in humanoid form—was plucking eyes from corpses. He barely reacted to me, muttering in draconic tongue.
"This one's dirty too. That one, the one who woke me. Why? Have I lived too long and grown too filthy?"
It was mentioned just before the finale. This guy's backstory—tied to the Empire, what woke him from deep slumber. Some long-winded explanation spanning about five chapters. Skipping it hadn't hurt the story.
No desire to recall it now. I just needed to remember how to kill him. As I drew on Ancestral Power, his head snapped toward me.
"You're filthy too."
"Do I look it?"
"Yeah, you've seen too many deaths. I'll spare you, so bring me other humans' eyes? About 500 pairs should do. Fresh ones from kids who haven't seen much light would be best."
A horn sprouted above his forehead, unleashing pressure incomparable to before. As expected of a monster that took at least three unique magic path users to handle.
But that was per the original story's late stages, as it raced toward the end. Unlike then, when the Empire's blunders let hordes get devoured by darkness—now, freshly awakened, I could take him alone.
"If that's what you want, stay still."
"Huh?"
No, I had to. Taking a deep breath, I raised my axe and said,
"I'll start by pulling out yours for a pair."