Golden Deer (3)
The deal with the Golden Deer was a success. They promised that once the request was completed, they would officially handle everything from trades and contracts to even mediating future requests.
Yet Hans and Sophia’s reactions were far from pleased. Hans in particular was the most negative. The fact that the Golden Deer had offered such favorable terms could only mean one thing: the request was far more dangerous than anyone imagined.
"But we don’t have much choice, do we? Seniors, you said all the other routes were blocked."
"Being isolated is a serious problem. Especially in Gideon."
On the other hand, Kain and Yuliana seemed to think this sort of group was actually preferable—clean, without loose ends. Merchants might pull tricks, but they almost never broke contracts. A trading company that failed to honor its agreements could never have grown into something as massive as the Golden Deer. In business, credibility was everything. Throwing it away was suicide.
"This is the first large-scale expedition the entire guild has undertaken."
"Yeah. It’s our first official request, so I’m a little nervous…"
"……."
While Heres offered his thoughts with a relaxed expression, Diego and Sasha were visibly tense. It was only natural. This was the children’s very first time joining a request.
In any case, because every member of the guild was participating, they had no choice but to rent an entire carriage. Fortunately, the Golden Deer had provided even that level of support.
"Why are you so quiet today?"
Las, who had been quietly observing the guild members from the back, turned to the boy sitting beside him—Diego.
Normally the kid would have puffed out his chest, acting like a senior, only to get knocked down a peg. Instead he simply muttered:
"……Just. Looking at them irritates me."
"Irritates you? Because they’re not playing with you?"
"Do they really believe they can change anything?"
"Change what? The current situation?"
Diego gave a small, silent nod. Right now they could see hope right in front of them—the hope that they could somehow change their miserable reality. But in the end, nothing would change.
Las wondered if there was some story behind the boy’s attitude, but he didn’t press. Gideon was not a city with the luxury of worrying about other people’s pasts.
If anything, those people were the strange ones—pursuing the intangible value of family in a place like this. And yet their master truly believed in that value and lived it with his every action.
"It’s only natural not to believe," Las murmured.
"……."
"But I want to believe."
In the sight of Gideon being changed by a man like that. The Gideon their master would create had to be better than the one Las had known so far. At least, that was what he chose to believe.
"That’s exactly why it’s a problem," Diego finally spat, unable to hold back a sigh.
In the end, nothing changed unless you seized it for yourself. And the world was not kind enough to let that happen easily. Eventually you had to give up. So why believe in someone else only to invite despair again?
Diego genuinely could not understand.
The Golden Deer’s request itself was simple: subjugate the demonic beast living on Mount Eritos.
Eritos was a mountain the Golden Deer had purchased outright. Their original plan had been to carve a road through it, creating a vital new trade route. But at some point a colossal boar had appeared and begun wreaking havoc, giving the merchant guild a massive headache.
Zeek tilted her head.
"Didn’t you say the Golden Deer has considerable influence?"
"They do."
"Then why can’t they deal with a single demonic beast?"
"Because that beast is extraordinarily powerful."
In truth, the Golden Deer had thrown everything they had at the problem. A road through Eritos would connect them directly to the coast, slashing transportation costs for countless resources by an astronomical margin. They had mobilized all their forces to eliminate the boar, but every attempt failed. Even the Hades Guild had refused the request, citing past conflicts.
The Eritos boar was simply too strong. It required the full strength of a top-tier guild like Hades to bring down. With Hades refusing, the Golden Deer found itself in dire straits. The mountain held vast resources even without the road. They could not afford to abandon it.
Yet every subjugation attempt failed. The resulting financial strain, combined with rival merchant guilds seizing the opportunity to strike, would eventually cause the Golden Deer to collapse.
Is saving the Golden Deer truly the right choice?
That was where Isaac’s dilemma began.
In the original story, the Golden Deer had appeared as a fallen guild, barely clinging to life. Its past glory was not mentioned lightly. He also remembered passages suggesting the guild itself carried significant problems.
If they eliminated the Eritos boar here, the Golden Deer would reap enormous benefits. The merchant alliance currently keeping them in check might instead be devoured by the guild’s sudden surge in capital.
"Well, it’s not really my problem."
Isaac shook his head, brushing the distracting thoughts aside. He had briefly worried about how this would affect the original plot, but he quickly realized the concern was pointless.
The original story? What did that have to do with him? The path he walked was the original story now.
If the Golden Deer caused trouble later, he would simply deal with it himself. He refused to worry about things that had not yet happened. That was Isaac Silvertehr’s way.
"Where is the Eritos boar?"
"It’s sleeping on the mountain’s mid-slope."
"I see. Then we’ll handle it immediately."
"Wait—Master, are you planning to deal with it alone?"
At Hans’s attempt to dissuade him, Isaac looked back with an expression that seemed to ask whether that was wrong. Hans let out a long sigh. Of course he knew how strong his master was.
"But there are limits to that approach."
"What specific limits?"
"The experience of risking your life against powerful enemies is necessary. You learn more from defeat than from easy victories."
"So you’re saying I’ve been overprotective?"
"Exactly."
Not sending the inexperienced children on requests yet. Requiring that every newcomer’s first request be accompanied by a senior. He understood the reasoning, but the protection had become excessive.
"They need to be allowed to do things themselves. Even if the opponent is a monstrously strong beast. That accumulated experience is what forges veterans."
"You’re not wrong."
"Then I will command the operation directly. If Master steps forward, it will end too quickly. Do not worry—I will ensure not a single person dies…"
"But that isn’t the best solution either."
Isaac smiled and took one step forward.
At that exact moment, a tremendous roar erupted from the mountain’s mid-slope, as if the creature had sensed his presence. The ground began to shake violently.
Boom!Thud!!
The footsteps sounded like those of a giant, rapidly closing the distance. What finally appeared was a boar as massive as a mountain. Even veteran Hans was momentarily stunned by its size. Its black hide bore no scars despite countless battles.
Yet its furious red eyes were locked solely on Isaac. It had instinctively realized that the only one here capable of taking its life was the silver-haired man standing before it.
Isaac, however, paid it no mind. He drew his sword without hesitation.
One Sweep Cleanses the Land, Blood Dyes the Mountains and Rivers
It was the sole blade technique a talentless dullard had spent his entire life refining. The ultimate slash that could cleave both sky and earth bisected the colossal boar in an instant.
Hans swallowed hard. The battle-hardened veteran recognized it immediately: that strike had been Isaac’s full power.
For the first time, he had truly seen it.
"Why do you only run away?"
"A man should fight with everything he has at times like this!"
"You’re saying this isn’t the time?"
"Of course! The only time I give my all is for my family!"
I thought it was just nonsense back then…
Looking back now, Hans finally understood why Isaac had only fled in their previous battles. That man had already known. He had known that, at the time, there was no greater cause worth fighting for on their side.
"Hans, this is what I believe."
"……."
"It is better to learn from victory than from defeat."
It was only natural to wish for one’s family to avoid walking a painful road. Of course, he had no intention of spoiling them. Still, wasn’t it better to learn from good things than bad ones?
It tore. I shit my pants.
If only he hadn’t added that last unnecessary comment, it would have been perfect.