84
Chapter 84
It didn't seem like the village had been directly attacked.
However... perhaps because the mercenaries staying in the village had been defeated one after another, the outer fields were unusually empty today.
It seemed an evacuation order had been issued, as not a single shadow of a person could be seen.
As I made my way toward the village entrance, familiar faces caught my eye.
One of Mister Nas's mercenaries, and the young man in charge of the village guard, Ronton.
As soon as he saw me, the mercenary's eyes widened in shock.
"W-what! What happened! The monster? Did you lose it?"
Questions poured out.
With a startled look still on his face, he approached me and asked endlessly.
"W-well. A passing Gold Token Mercenary... took care of it."
"A passing mercenary?"
He looked puzzled for a moment, then nodded with a relieved expression.
"Ah, the report we sent to the guild must have already arrived. Thank goodness."
There was no sign that he doubted my words.
That was something to be thankful for.
...I could have told him the truth, but there was no need to do so.
A person living in hiding would have their own reasons.
"What about Mister Nas?"
"..."
At my question, he closed his mouth for a moment with a gloomy expression.
And after a brief pause, he carefully spoke up.
"He's alive. But..."
The words that followed
were heavy and quiet.
"One of his arms was completely crushed... I don't think he'll be able to do this kind of work anymore."
I couldn't say anything.
I couldn't bring myself to speak.
It was fortunate enough that he was alive, but losing an arm was practically a death sentence for a mercenary.
He was a man who had relied on a sword and a shield his entire life...
"Well, there's no need to be too sad. He said he has some money saved up, so he's going back to his hometown to farm."
"Is that so...?"
"Yeah. It's a relief he survived. As long as he can stand back up on his own two feet, that's enough."
He smiled quietly and nodded.
"You should head inside too. Your friends probably think you're dead."
"...Damn it."
I muttered briefly, suddenly feeling a sense of urgency.
I bowed my head silently and hurried my steps.
Crossing the village entrance, I ran straight toward where my colleagues were.
Passing by the buildings, I heard a familiar voice as I arrived near the inn where we stayed every day.
It was quite loud.
The sound of a noisy argument.
"I'm telling you, we need to go look for him!"
It was Eileen's voice.
Anger was mixed into her tearful tone.
"No, calm down. If you follow him and get into an accident, it would only dishonor Riv's sacrifice."
Baldic's voice.
He was calm as usual, but his tone was firm.
"No, Riv isn't... he can't be dead yet!"
Eileen glared fiercely, clenching both hands tight as she shouted.
Behind them, Silon was also standing there blankly.
With his arms crossed, he didn't seem to have any intention of stopping them.
His expression... it was a look that clearly said, 'I don't want to go.'
...I'll definitely have to drag that guy along.
Bracing myself once more, I made my presence known and approached them.
Step.
At the sound of footsteps, Baldic, who had his back to me, turned his head first.
Then, with a look I had never seen before, his eyes widened as he shouted.
"R-Riv!?"
At that voice, Eileen also whipped around.
The moment she saw me, her eyes wavered and her lips trembled.
"Riv!!"
She ran over without hesitation and threw her arms around me.
I tried to step back for a moment in the sudden situation, but her small shoulders were quietly trembling.
I silently gave her a light pat on the back.
After holding me like that for a long time, she finally stepped back as if to catch her breath.
A faint blush had risen on her face.
"...I thought you were dead."
"...I was lucky."
"Don't do that again."
"...Okay."
Well, it wasn't like I did it on purpose either.
We couldn't all just die together in that situation.
It wasn't even a choice; it was something I had to do for us to survive.
But considering how worried she must have been, it was best to just say 'okay'.
Only after Eileen had barely calmed down did Baldic quietly approach.
As soon as he came near, he bowed his head with a stiff expression and spoke.
"...I'm sorry."
"Huh? For what?"
"For abandoning you. I should have looked for another way."
"No, well. It wasn't a situation we could resolve on our own in the first place. It's nobody's fault."
In fact, it was practically like a natural disaster.
If there was anything to blame... it would be that damn stone, the Demon Stone.
Sensing that I truly meant it, Baldic's expression finally softened a little.
"...What happened?"
"That person helped me."
"That person? Who... Ah."
He seemed to have quickly caught on.
"You were lucky. But that person, they keep helping us without asking for anything in return."
"Actually, about that... I have something to say. First, let's all go inside and talk."
I subtly shifted my gaze toward Silon.
He flinched slightly, as if sensing something ominous.
With the Party in tow, I went inside the Inn after what felt like both a short and long time.
After making sure everyone was seated, I quietly opened my mouth.
"I think... I'll have to travel far away for a commission."
"Suddenly? What commission?"
"What? A commission?"
The Party tilted their heads in unison, looking confused.
"Well, other than Baldic, you two probably don't know. We met an old woman beyond the boundary. She was a Magician, and the one who took down the Monster this time... was her."
"A Magician?"
Eileen's eyes went wide.
"Yeah. She called herself a Warlock... I don't know much about that, but she was definitely the real deal anyway. I received a commission from her."
I took out the Map that Marley had handed to me and carefully spread it out on the desk.
An elaborately drawn Map.
Silon stared at the Map in admiration, but at some point, he tilted his head as if realizing something.
"Here, at the bottom of the Map. In the southeast direction, there's a Kingdom called Gradran. We have to go to the Yellow Magic Tower there."
"The Yellow Magic Tower? ...What kind of commission is it exactly?"
At the mention of the Yellow Magic Tower, Eileen opened her eyes wide in surprise.
Just from her expression, it seemed something had caught in her memory.
...Does she know something?
"It's nothing much. It's just an errand to deliver an item. It's not a dangerous item, either. Why, have you heard anything about the Yellow Magic Tower?"
She furrowed her brow slightly and nodded.
"I heard about it from Sir Chad. He said that when he went out to a Fief war in the past, the most difficult opponents were the Magicians of the Yellow Magic Tower."
...They really were Warmongers.
Marley didn't just call them that for nothing.
Hearing a first-hand testimony made me want to go even less.
"...I know about the Yellow Magic Tower too."
This time, Baldic chimed in.
"Their infamy is well-known even among Mercenaries."
"Is that so?"
"There's even a joke that on a Battlefield where they are present, it's better to fight holding a Stone."
"...Hmm."
Should I go back tomorrow and tell her I won't do it?
For some reason, I felt my anxiety only growing larger by the minute.
"Anyway, I received help from her... I can't just not go."
"Then is that all? We just need to get ready right away, right?"
Eileen nodded with a prepared expression, looking like she would follow me this instant.
But that wasn't the purpose of this conversation.
"No. You have to stay here."
"...What?"
Looking at her surprised expression, I added.
"You don't have to follow me all the way there. You... have things you need to do too, don't you?"
Eileen wasn't someone who followed me around just to stay by my side.
She had a clear goal.
To bring down the Madam who killed her Mother, and the corrupt power controlling the Baron's Family.
But right now, she still had evidence left to gather.
Normally, I would have helped her by moving together once we had the funds, but things were different now.
The place where the Yellow Magic Tower was located was in a completely different Kingdom.
The travel itself would be difficult, and above all... there were still people after her.
What if she ran into her pursuers while traveling with me right now?
She would be taking on unnecessary risks and wouldn't even be able to collect the evidence she needed.
That would be a loss for both her and me.
Therefore, she had to stay here.
She had to stay behind and quietly, steadily gather the evidence for the fight she had to face.
"...That's..."
Eileen lowered her head.
I could sense her disappointment, but at the same time, her eyes showed that she already understood.
She was someone who knew what her own fight was.
"I've already asked the person I mentioned earlier to look after You for a bit. Even if I'm not here, there won't be any major setbacks to your work."
...To be honest, in terms of ability, I think she might be better than me.
"...Understood."
"Yeah. Don't overdo it, and until I get back... just stay safe."
"Okay."
Only then did she nod with a slightly resolute face, as if she had made up her mind.
That settled the issue with Eileen.
So, next up.
"Are you going?"
"Hmm?"
Baldic turned his head, looking at me as if asking what I was talking about.
"Where? To buy groceries?"
"No... I mean the Yellow Magic Tower. I was wondering if you were coming with me."
"...Hey, you punk! What kind of stupid question is that!"
He spoke as if he was scolding me instead.
"We agreed to do Mercenary work together in the first place. Then of course I'm going with you. Why are you even asking?"
"Ah..."
For some reason... I feel touched.
"...Even though there's no reward?"
"Tsk. You still don't have an eye for picking commissions. Pick a proper one next time."
"Haha, I will."
Only then did I feel a bit more at ease.
Truthfully, traveling through an unknown land alone was quite a daunting task.
Having someone I could communicate with and trust with my back was something I was truly grateful for.
"I guess we're pretty much done talking now."
"Yeah. So when are we leaving?"
"They said they'd drop by around tomorrow... so it should be fine if we leave the day after."
"Perfect timing. I heard Nas's crew is holding their funeral tomorrow too. It would be polite to help out before we go."
Ah, I should also go visit Mister Nas in his sickbed.
Just as the conversation was gradually wrapping up.
A voice suddenly cut in.
"No, no, hold on a second!"
"Huh?"
"Why are you leaving me out of this? Shouldn't you be asking me too!?"
Silon suddenly interjected.
"Huh? Do you have something else to do?"
"What? No... I don't, but still, my opinion-"
"Then stop being annoying and go pack your bags."
"What the...!"
At Baldic's words, Silon repeatedly beat his chest with an unfair expression, looking like his world had ended.
...That's just his fate, I guess.
He should have spoken more kindly and behaved better normally.
Leaving behind the screams of Silon, who grumbled until he eventually got smacked, I approached Eileen, who was sitting silently with a complicated expression.
"Riv."
She raised her head.
Worry still lingered in her eyes, and her lips remained half-closed.
"Are you worried about something?"
She hesitated for a while before slowly shaking her head.
"No. I just... wanted to travel with you a little longer."
"...I felt the same way."
I said with a faint smile.
"But what you need right now isn't sticking by my side, it's finishing the work you have to do."
Eileen pressed her lips tightly together and gave a small nod.
"...Yes."
"The person taking care of you is also an incredible Magician. I'm sure there's something you can learn from her. ...Though I'm not so sure about her personality."
"Really? I've never seen her before, so..."
"As for what kind of Magic she used-"
I carefully described the scene of her fighting the Monster that day.
The red Magic Circle, the vibrating air.
And the wave of Magic Power that pierced right through the black figure in a single breath.
Listening to my explanation, Eileen widened her eyes in awe.
"A Magician like that... is living in hiding in a place like this? It really sounds like a Witch from a fairy tale."
"...Baldic said the exact same thing."
Eileen, who had been smiling brightly as if imagining the Witch's appearance, soon had her face filled with worry again.
"...Will I be able to do well, even on my own?"
"If it's the you I know, you can do it. And like I said earlier... you don't have to push yourself too hard."
I quietly added.
In the first place, time was on our side.
The moment that critically ill Baron collapsed, Eileen's victory was already half guaranteed.
Of course, if she couldn't secure enough evidence, that Madam might find fault with everything and wait for an opportunity...
But she likely knew that too.
"Actually... I've already made some plans."
"Really? Like what?"
"I'm going to keep doing Mercenary work around here. Honestly, when we stopped by the Information Guild back then, I also asked them a question."
"Is that so?"
It was my first time hearing that she had dropped by the guild that day.
I thought Baldic was the only one who went.
She probably just popped in and out quickly, so I hadn't noticed.
"The name on that hidden Letter... 'Alwyn Feldric'. I asked about him."
"Oh."
I had said I'd look into it someday, but I'd completely forgotten.
Still, it's a relief that at least Eileen remembered.
Normally, we should have already proceeded with investigating the person named 'Alwyn Feldric' that we found at the Black Hand Hideout.
But getting swept up in one incident after another, that plan was naturally delayed.
To begin with, if what Marley said was true, we'd also have to think about going to Mondak.
"But they asked for one Gold Coin. So I just walked out."
"If it was just that much... you should have told me."
"...Because it's my business. It's only right that I find out using my own money."
Her tone was firm, yet somehow soft.
She wasn't being unreasonably stubborn, nor was she forcing herself to bear the burden alone.
"Since I have some time now... I'm going to try earning it with my own strength."
I nodded lightly and said.
"Alright. Just... don't take on anything too dangerous."
"I understand. Like before, I'll only take on minor jobs."
"In that case... that's a relief."
While I was chatting about this and that with Eileen, Silon came slouching over from somewhere, clutching his head.
"Ugh, it hurts... Hyungnim, I think you need to take a look at this."
"Look at what?"
He tapped the Map we had spread out earlier.
"This Map. Well, it looks pretty old."
"Yeah? How old is it? Can't we just roughly follow it and go?"
To be honest, the world Maps here were all completely arbitrary.
The drawing styles were different, the roads were different, and I'd even seen Maps where entire mountains had disappeared.
From that perspective, this Map was on the rather precise side.
"No. Looking at the place names and the shapes of the borders... I'd say this is at least five hundred years old."
"...Huh? Five hundred years?"
For a moment, I was so dumbfounded that I turned my head.
A five-hundred-year-old Map.
This goes way beyond something we can just roughly follow, doesn't it?