Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Sahā Village's Black Fortress
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Sahā Village guard post.
There was a man desperately forcing a smile in front of Leyzon.
His name was the captain of the Sahā Village guards.
Perso.
"S-Sorry. We didn't realize you were a guest of Guild Master Rafila, and our gatekeeper was rude."
He apologized repeatedly, worried he might have upset Leyzon.
Perso remembered Rafila's message clearly.
If he ever caused Leyzon any trouble, atone with death.
Perso had originally been part of the Steel Wolf Guild's executive branch, the Wild Wolves.
As such, he knew Rafila inside and out.
Rafila was a man who always kept his word.
Leyzon, seeing this, waved it off instead.
"It's fine. He was just doing his job properly as a gatekeeper, wasn't he?"
"We heard late that he was a new recruit..."
"If he's a newbie, that's even more reason to understand. I actually want to praise him."
This was sincere.
Sahā Village was set to become Leyzon's base of operations.
The people working there needed to do their jobs right.
You shouldn't criticize someone for performing their duties well.
Praise was the proper response.
"What was that gatekeeper's name?"
"...Thompson."
Seeing Leyzon truly pleased, Perso hurried to answer.
Leyzon smiled faintly and pulled out a gold coin.
"Have a feast today or something. And make sure to look after the newbie so he doesn't get too down about this."
"Y-Yes! Understood! Thank you for your magnanimity!"
Perso bowed repeatedly toward Leyzon.
Watching this, Leyzon recalled the brigade commander who used to reward guards for doing their jobs well.
'I see. So this is the feeling.'
Noblesse oblige.
He finally understood the meaning.
Knock knock—
Right then, a knock echoed through the guard post.
Leyzon turned his head, and a familiar figure stepped inside.
Blue hair fluttered gently.
Seeing him, Leyzon raised a hand lightly.
"Long time no see, Rafila."
On paper, Leyzon was still a Steel Wolf Guild member.
His teasing tone drew a wry smile from the other man.
The Iron Wall Rafila.
Steel Wolf Guild Master and now the de facto mayor of Sahā Village.
"Guild Master!"
Perso bowed hastily, but Rafila waved him off casually.
"Let's move somewhere else."
He didn't reprimand Perso for the blunder.
He could tell from the situation that Leyzon had already smoothed things over.
Rafila let out a quiet sigh of relief.
If Leyzon had taken offense, who knew what might happen.
He knew Leyzon was a rational guy.
But with his occasional outbursts, worry was inevitable.
"What, you look like you're worried I'll cause a scene?"
Leyzon grinned, and Rafila forced a smile.
"No way."
His chest stung, and Rafila quickly led Leyzon outside.
Hanok trailed along beside Leyzon, eagerly munching snacks from the paper bag Perso had given him.
Rafila watched quietly for a moment before calling out to Leyzon.
"Leyzon, from the Impervia Duchy..."
"Yeah, right. Did some work with the Sunso Guild."
Leyzon caught on immediately and climbed into the carriage Rafila had prepared.
"I was shocked. Never thought that buffalo bastard would offer us support."
Once the door shut, Rafila dropped the formal speech.
Leyzon appreciated this flexibility.
"I put in some effort. Helpful?"
"Of course. Funds are breathing easy now, thanks to you."
"Use it well. I handed it over because I figured you'd handle it right."
Clop clop—
As the carriage started moving, Leyzon took in the cityscape.
Sahā Village looked completely different from before.
The young dragon had burned the whole place to the ground.
That disaster had actually helped transform the village into a proper city.
The townsfolk brimmed with vitality.
Large-scale merchants had gathered from all over.
Naturally, the city's population had swelled.
On top of that, the Steel Wolves had security locked down tight.
People strolled the night streets without a care.
The avenues glowed bright.
Lanterns everywhere symbolized the streets' newfound wealth.
The nation-founding ending was one step closer.
"It's developed a lot. You can really call it a city now."
"...Ahem. Serin Night scouted some folks skilled in that area."
Rafila coughed, a bit embarrassed.
He had promised a future with Serin Night's Guild Master Aegis.
Back then, he'd boldly vowed to return as a man worthy of her.
But it seemed Aegis was supporting him, openly or not.
"Man, you're on fire. Hot stuff. Gonna blaze right up."
Leyzon eyed him with teasing mischief.
Rafila coughed repeatedly.
He was still at that age where it embarrassed him.
"How many kids you planning?"
"As many as poss—no, it's not like that."
Rafila nearly slipped and waved it off.
Watching a grown man blush wasn't Leyzon's hobby.
He decided to drop it there.
"Anyway, Rafila, Five's coming to help you out for a bit."
"Five?"
Rafila's eyes sharpened instantly.
Five was exceptionally capable.
Rafila had experienced it firsthand.
With work piling up, this was the most reliable backup imaginable.
Hanok munched his snacks with a wistful look.
Probably bummed about parting with Five again.
"And one more—for the city construction."
Rafila tilted his head.
Another one like that?
"Pauli."
At Leyzon's call, the shadow split open.
Whirr—
A flapping sound emerged from the shadow, followed by an ant.
An ant wearing a crown and cape.
Rafila's eyes slowly widened at the sight.
"Th-this person is..."
Rafila shrank under the overwhelming pressure emanating from Pauli.
Even hero-grade Rafila could barely breathe.
"Hm, nice to meet you. I am Pauli Poatrioche."
"The Moving Black Castle."
The undead with the greatest renown among others.
The Moving Black Castle.
Rafila had naturally heard the name.
A being from the legends of bards.
Facing it now, Rafila's mind reeled.
Vampire Queen, Curse Demon King, and now the Moving Black Castle.
Leyzon was growing more terrifying by the day.
"Pauli's perfect for building fortresses. Give him materials, and he'll make whatever you want."
"...So eventually, Sahā Village becomes the Moving Black Castle?"
Rafila asked cautiously, and Leyzon stroked his chin.
"That all you got?"
Leyzon bared his teeth in a grin.
How far did he plan to take this?
Rafila felt he couldn't even begin to guess.
"And besides Pauli, another undead's coming this way. Two necromancers with him."
"Even more?"
"You wouldn't know the names anyway. Just tell them the Dead Dragon sent you."
"D-Dead Dragon?"
Rafila's face drained of color.
The Dead Dragon, whose name occasionally surfaced from the northern Ged Mountains.
Moving Black Castle, and now a Dead Dragon headed for Sahā Village.
"...At this rate, we could take on a lord's territory right now."
Victory would be a given.
"Oh, speaking of lords—the Bloodless Sovereign's gonna reach out soon."
Leyzon added as if it just occurred to him.
"She'll give you some necromancer skillbooks. Hand them all to the necros coming with the dragon."
"The Bloodless Sovereign."
Rafila's face filled with concern.
The Bloodless Sovereign ruled the underworld.
A figure who had reigned as a lord even before Rafila was born.
He knew her infamy well.
"Don't worry. She won't cause trouble."
Leyzon grinned.
"Actually, ask her for advice on market trends or economy—she'll be useful."
"If push comes to shove, drop my name. She owes me one."
Rafila decided to stop asking.
He didn't want to hear what adventures Leyzon had been on.
He was the Iron Wall himself, with a solid reputation.
Yet in front of Leyzon, he felt utterly insignificant.
"Ch-cheer up."
Even Hanok pitied him.
Leyzon wasn't oblivious to Rafila's feelings.
But with so much on his plate, he couldn't hide everything one by one.
There was plenty for Rafila to handle in his stead.
"Anyway, do your best. I've got business elsewhere."
Rafila pulled himself together.
A hint of regret in his eyes.
"Always so busy. Where to this time?"
Once the enemy who killed his brother.
Now his finest partner as a collaborator.
Plenty to discuss about Sahā Village affairs, seeking advice.
As Rafila showed his disappointment, Leyzon grinned.
"Happened to learn where one lord is."
He patted Hanok's head beside him.
"Going to find Hanok's brother."
The word "brother" puzzled Rafila.
Then he belatedly recalled Hanok was Sword-Tooth Clan.
Only one lord among them.
The Shadow Warlord.
"...The boy Shadow Warlord's little brother?"
"Yep."
Hanok's ears folded shyly.
"Someday, I'm gonna raise him bigger than the Shadow Warlord."
Leyzon ruffled Hanok's hair, drawing a squeal.
But he didn't seem to hate it.
"Leyzon, no fair! Me too!"
Syria popped out of the shadow and hopped onto Leyzon's lap.
Leyzon petted her head too.
Syria purred happily.
Before long, Iden and Five emerged from the shadow as well.
The carriage was so packed it might burst.
Rafila smiled faintly at the sight.
"Your face looks brighter than before."
Leyzon tilted his head.
"Does it?"
Well, the once-daunting paths were clearing up bit by bit.
Maybe it showed.
'Perhaps.'
Or maybe he was just more used to being around everyone now.
"Where you headed?"
Rafila asked, and Leyzon gazed out the window.
"South. The Plateau of Insolence."
The empire's directly forbidden zone.
And one of the Four Great Dungeons.
The key to the Hell Realm.
That was his destination.