Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Things Head to the Mountains (1)
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Empty village.
In this place where only traces of human life remained, knights stood lined up, brimming with tension.
"Do you have any idea why we were specifically chosen?"
One knight asked his comrade.
But his comrade knew nothing either.
"Investigating a necromancer, and they pick us... There must be plenty of more skilled knights out there..."
"....."
The words were muttered softly, but they rang clear in the ears of every knight present.
They could have been taken as insulting, yet the knights' expressions remained calm.
It was just everyday reality for them.
"All we know is that Parmon himself selected us..."
At the mention of Parmon's name, the knights clenched their fists tightly.
Who was he, after all?
The man who led knights on the front lines, emerging victorious from countless dark nights.
Not only was his swordsmanship unparalleled, but his achievements and knightly honor made him an object of admiration for all knights.
For such a great figure to choose them personally...
A few knights bowed their heads, as if doubting their own worth.
"..."
"...."
Most of those present likely felt the same.
They were the weakest among the knights stationed in the imperial capital.
The continental war had claimed the lives of countless knights.
It had nothing to do with skill.
Their ancestors had met the same fate.
The swordsmanship and experience meant to be passed down through their families had been lost with their deaths.
The original forms of their techniques survived, but the skilled knights who should have inherited them were all gone.
Naturally, they had been weeded out among the knights.
"..."
"....To be honest, I just don't get it. Are we really the right ones for this job..?"
Thud.
Thud.
Footsteps echoed, and all eyes turned toward the sound.
"P-Parmon, sir!"
"Our respects to the great knight!"
A nod.
Tension rippled through the ranks of knights.
A massive gulf existed between them and Parmon.
Occasionally catching a distant glimpse of his face was the extent of their encounters.
Gulp.
The knights facing Parmon up close swallowed dryly.
Their hands grew slick with sweat from nerves and pressure.
All who beheld his steadfast figure felt the same.
Parmon's mouth opened.
"It seems you're wondering why you've been brought here."
The knights, bodies rigid, replied in unison.
"No, sir!"
"I heard it all on the way here."
They flinched.
"...."
"...."
They had nothing to say.
The knights fell silent, and Parmon spoke again.
"They call you the 'Broken Swords,' don't they?"
"..."
The knights averted their gazes in shame.
They were knights too.
Hearing such words from someone they revered was mortifying.
"Indeed. Let me ask you one thing."
"..."
"Why did you break?"
No knight answered Parmon's question.
They had plenty to say.
But how could they voice it before Parmon?
"Why no answer?"
"..."
"..."
War was ruthless.
A moment's hesitation meant losing your head.
Against a necromancer, it went without saying.
Parmon's judgment was strict.
"If you head into battle like that, you'll all die. Don't disgrace yourselves as knights."
The knights straightened their postures and responded.
"Yes, sir! Understood!"
Parmon walked through their ranks and departed.
Leaving one final remark.
"When this is over, I'll ask again."
"Hm..."
No matter how I thought about it, something was off.
A place where people lived, yet no souls in sight.
After touring the village all day, I could only conclude as much.
"There's really nothing here..."
Not even a common stray spirit.
Even at the gravesites, no souls appeared.
Honestly, by my standards, it was impossible.
Anyway, today was another bust.
"But... why are those guys keep doing that?"
After one round of investigation, the mages had gathered and were doing something.
If I had to describe it...
Totem pole extraction.
"Hah!"
His arms trembled.
Face flushed red as if exerting every ounce of strength.
But despite the effort, the totem pole embedded in the ground didn't budge.
"Hey, Chris. What's going on here?"
Even if they asked me, I had no real answer.
Similar things happened before these were made.
This was just another case of mysterious divine intervention.
"Looks like... it just doesn't want to be pulled up?"
"That's not what I mean. How is it fixed so firmly?"
Already another mage was tugging vigorously at it.
Mana flowed around him—he was even using magic.
"There's no magic on that wooden statue. This shouldn't be possible."
"Yeah... I don't get it either..."
"What in the world is this statue?"
I was about to answer but clamped my mouth shut.
Try telling them, 'It's a branch from the World Tree.'
I'd be bombarded with questions for the next three days.
They'd figure it out soon anyway...
Seeing the mages lost in excitement only confirmed it.
"No magic, yet this phenomenon..."
"What is this?!"
"No one's read any related books?"
It was like a festival scene.
A gathering of perverts, even.
Every mage examining the totem poles was shivering with excitement.
"Haa... I need normal people..."
"..."
"Serena's the most normal one here..."
As I chatted with Serena, old man Parmon sidled up stealthily.
"...?"
His vibe was different from usual, like he was gauging my reaction.
"Something wrong?"
"It's nothing major..."
Parmon hemmed and hawed.
"Any chance those guys are in big trouble?"
His gaze pointed toward the knights standing quietly, lost in thought.
"Trouble like... what kind...?"
Hit me with 'any big problems?' out of nowhere, and I've got too much to say.
The scope's too broad.
"Y'know... dying, getting hurt, that sort."
"Ah... nothing like that yet."
Same for everyone here.
No ominous signs so far.
I sensed some minor bad luck clinging to them, but nothing major.
Being dispatched for an investigation meant risks were par for the course.
"If any death omens pop up for them, tell me right away."
Judging by his demeanor, he was worried about them.
"Same for permanent injuries or serious wounds. Please."
Only after I nodded several times did Parmon's stern face relax.
Watching the knights, I'd felt it all along—they were truly pitiable.
Talented, with good fortunes too.
Just bad circumstances.
Stuck in a rut, you might say.
"Do you know them, old man?"
"They're descendants of comrades I fought with long ago."
"Hmm..."
No wonder he'd been fussing over them.
Seeing his expression made me itch to help.
"Old man."
"Speak."
"Got any money?"
"...."
I grabbed paper and pen from Serena right away.
"Uh, have a seat or something."
He seemed to know what I was up to.
Probably too embarrassed to ask himself.
"Mind if I request this? Feels like I'm making you work for nothing."
"This is my job, so don't worry."
Ting-
"Let's see... that guy over there..."
One knight immediately caught my eye.
Probably in the worst shape among them.
"That knight has a Divine Killer Star. And it's in the Palace position too..."
Divine Killer in the Palace meant job loss, pay cuts, or demotions.
Times like this called for caution in body and mind.
I explained and jotted it down on the paper.
"Bold and steadfast temperament, but his fortune's completely blocked."
"Hooh..."
"The blockage's self-inflicted. Just shift his mindset a bit, and he'll be great."
"I see. What about that one? I've had my eye on him. His grandfather was an outstanding knight."
Ting-
A really good-natured face.
Diligent, no shame in his efforts.
But fated without benefactors.
Hard to succeed in such cases.
People thrive by helping each other, after all.
"Give him a hand, and he'd soar."
"Is there a specific person destined to help?"
"Hmm..."
Benefactor bonds are tricky.
Yesterday's enemy could be today's savior.
Looking at his ties with the old man...
"Still, there's a connection, so you helping would work."
"How so?"
"Big favors might backfire. Just guide his diligence right..."
"I see..."
He listened intently to every word.
As if committing each one to memory.
As I read fortunes, one common thread emerged.
Flashes of contempt and mockery in their minds.
"Those guys..."
"Right. They're a bit lacking in skill."
"Hmm..."
"But they're all exceptional enough to serve in the imperial capital."
Talented and hardworking without flaw.
They seemed cowed overall, but to me, they were impressive.
Brought by the old man, they'd pick up something worthwhile.
As if reading my thoughts, Parmon shook his head.
"Swordsmanship isn't the issue."
"Pardon?"
What could be more important to a knight than swordsmanship...?
"My comrades didn't dominate battlefields just because of superior swordplay. Truth is, they started as average knights."
"Hmm..."
The old man let out a hearty laugh.
"Haha... Knights grow through battle."
As I finished the knights' readings, a mage came running.
"Parmon, sir! We've found a trace."
"Let's go immediately."
"But it's..."
The mage glanced awkwardly in a certain direction.
"The trail leads into those mountains."
I turned to look at the mountains too.
And those mountains were...
"That mountain...?"
Towering.
Immensely so.
"Do we have to climb that?"
"We'll check it out first."
"...."