Chapter 24
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Iron Song (1)
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A ridiculously unfair contract had been signed.
After receiving a briefing from Bran on the job details, Ilrak nodded vigorously.
"Alright. So I just have to guard you for a fortnight? Never taking my eyes off you, twenty-four hours a day, eating, sleeping, and shitting right there."
"Y-Yeah, that's right... but does it feel a bit too demanding?"
"Not at all. I've handled way worse. And no booze on the job, so don't worry."
Ilrak was the real deal, a true professional.
Leodorn let out a sigh of relief upon hearing she wouldn't be drinking.
"Phew... That's a relief. I'll make sure to pay you properly."
"You'd better. It's Ilrak Zarheim. Just call me Ilrak."
"Leodorn Bellmayer here. I trust you too—argh!!"
Leodorn let out a bizarre yelp as he shook hands with Ilrak.
She quickly pulled her hand away.
"Eek, sorry. It's been ages since I shook hands with a human."
"N-No problem! Just be careful next time!"
Leodorn shouted while clutching his right hand.
They were already getting along great. It was a heartwarming sight.
"Whew... Anyway, Bran, where to next?"
"Thinking Steel District first. Got a bunch of things to handle."
"Oho, heading into the heart of Valkeros, eh? Planning to pick up a weapon?"
"That's one of them, yeah."
Bran nodded.
He was confident he could make do with whatever they gave him, but it was about time to get a decent weapon.
He hadn't settled on a type yet, but it had to be sturdy, no question.
Pure physical build comes first. No room for fancy tricks yet.
Bran was currently focusing on a straightforward physical build.
A character type that crushed enemies with high stats and enhancement skills as the base.
It lacked flashiness, but had a high ceiling and could bulldoze through most situations reliably.
In that sense, his new weapon absolutely had to be tough.
Stuff like flames erupting from slashes or ice exploding on thrusts? Those were just bonuses.
...Though they'd be nice, of course!
"Makes sense. Lucky for us."
"Lucky how?"
"I can help in all sorts of ways. Actually, about that..."
"Quiet."
That was when Ilrak suddenly cut off their conversation.
"What's up, Ilrak?"
"Something's coming. Big."
She strode forward, blocking all three of them.
Her broad back filled their view.
Staring fixedly at one spot, Ilrak curled her lips into a grin.
"Talk about bad luck right at the start."
"What...?"
Ilrak's eyes had narrowed vertically like a reptile's.
Battle-ready. Her tail and thighs were swelling up.
The moment Bran turned to look where she was staring—
KWAaaaANG!
The concrete wall ten paces ahead exploded, and a steel bull burst out.
"Eeeek!"
"My god, an Iron Bull?!"
Kael screamed. Leodorn's face filled with shock.
Its steel body was as massive as a real-world shuttle bus.
The Iron Bull—a manned transport vehicle built for hauling cargo over rough terrain.
"Kyaaah!"
"Damn it, what's the driver doing?!"
"Call the Steel Guardians!"
Pedestrians screamed and fled.
Its horns were already stained red from hitting several people.
Steam billowed fiercely from the nostril-shaped exhaust ports.
The Iron Bull stamped the ground, looking around, then locked eyes on Bran's group.
"No way."
Kael went pale.
The inevitable struck again. The Iron Bull charged at them, venting steam.
At the same time, Ilrak's legs snapped straight, propelling her forward.
Kwaaaang!
The two massive forms collided, producing a deafening crash like a dump truck wreck.
"Ha!"
Bran let out a hollow laugh.
Ilrak was facing down the Iron Bull.
A feral smile played on her lips as she wrapped her arms around its steel neck.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"...!"
The Iron Bull had ground to a complete halt.
This lump of seven-ton steel—capable of hauling dozens more tons—was being held back by Ilrak alone.
Psh! Psssh!
Even at full throttle, all it could do was scrape the ground with its hooves.
Steam blasted from exhaust ports all over its body.
Suddenly, Ilrak's back and arms began to swell rapidly.
"Hup."
Now she was starting to put some real effort in.
Her body heat rose. Heat haze shimmered over her tanned skin.
Pedestrians had stopped fleeing to watch the surreal clash between the dragonkin and the steel beast.
Ku-gu-gu-gu...
The Iron Bull's legs, which had been stamping in place, slowly lifted off the ground.
"N-No way."
"Hiiik...!"
Gasps erupted from all around.
It evoked the image of a stag beetle hoisting another on its horns.
The moment the Iron Bull's body rose perpendicular to the ground—
"Raaagh!"
Ilrak roared.
The Iron Bull's body shot up, slamming down behind her.
Kwaaaaang!
The boom shook Iron Street.
As the Iron Bull belly-flopped, one horn snapped off and flew.
"Oh no...!"
Ilrak gasped.
This she hadn't expected. The child-sized iron shard was about to pierce a worker.
Kwaap!
Bran leaped, hugging the fragment as he rolled across the ground.
"Ha, not bad!"
Ilrak cheered.
It had been close. Reflexes on par with her own animal instincts.
You've demonstrated astonishing reflexes that surpass your limits. Tenacity of the Weed activates!
Agility growth rate increases slightly.
The system agreed it was a solid move, popping up messages.
Steadying himself, Bran sighed in relief.
"Phew... You okay?"
"Y-Yes! Thanks to you, I'm alive."
The worker nodded frantically.
A split second later, and his body would've turned into avant-garde sculpture.
Snap! Ilrak flashed Bran a thumbs-up.
Impressive as always. The Destroyer moniker fits perfectly.
Bran chuckled.
Even accounting for dragon blood, it was insane strength.
With his current power, even three activations of Power of the Great Tree wouldn't cut it.
Bran muttered,
"If only she'd drop her obsession with bloodlines, she could get way stronger."
But compared to her potential, she fell a bit short.
She was strong, no doubt, but on the wrong path.
Having played as Ilrak, allied with her as an NPC, and even fought her as an enemy, Bran knew her optimal build better than anyone.
"Huh? What'd you say?!"
Ilrak hadn't caught it and asked again, but Bran didn't answer.
Better handle his own urgent business first before giving advice.
Finishing his thoughts, Bran irritably tossed the horn fragment away.
"Anyway, which idiot was driving like that?"
Even a chimp on the controls wouldn't drive that badly.
Approaching the immobilized Iron Bull, he flung the shard aside in annoyance.
Clunk!
Prying open the hatch on its back revealed the cockpit.
"This is..."
Bran's eyes narrowed.
The goggle-wearing driver was dead, foam at his mouth.
Looked like sudden illness at first glance, but suspicious points abounded.
Ilrak arrived, quirking a brow.
"Not an accident, huh?"
"You noticed?"
"Duh. Smells like poison. Blech."
Ilrak sniffed and gagged.
Her dragon blood gave her senses far beyond human.
A closer look showed a pill stuck to the driver's left hand.
"Found it. Tried to fake an accident, botched it, so suicide. Looks targeted at you."
"...They caught on quick. Where'd the intel leak?"
"Beats me. But damn, you're hunted by some real heavy hitters, huh?"
Leodorn twisted his lips silently.
An assassination method no ordinary person would dream up.
Unless they were Baek Eunsong board level.
Ilrak snickered.
"Good thing you hired me. No one else could protect you."
"...Can't argue there."
"I'll do the job right, don't worry. Now, if no more business, we should scatter?"
Ilrak glanced toward the main road.
Sharp sirens and the heavy footsteps of Steel Guardians approached.
As Bran and Kael exchanged looks to leave—
"Bran. Kael."
"Yeah?"
"Hold on. Got something for you."
Leodorn suddenly called them back.
He'd dashed into the wagon and returned with a small, worn chest.
Dusting it off with a smile, he offered it to Bran.
"Take it. Set it aside last night. Iron Bull interrupted before I could give it."
"What's this?"
"Same as the cargo in my wagon. A token of thanks."
Bran's eyes widened.
The cargo Leodorn had desperately protected, shitting bricks the whole way.
Whatever it was, it was as precious as his life to the old man.
"You sure about giving this to us first? Your ace in the hole for Baek Eunsong?"
"Heh, who else but you?"
Leodorn stroked his beard, chuckling.
"I'm a devotee of the Golden Merchant Delpha. Know what he values most?"
"Gold?"
"Trust. Between people, between companies... The foundation of all honest deals."
Made sense, in a way.
Leodorn continued,
"You're my benefactors. Escorted me to Valkeros, even hooked me up with a reliable guard like Miss Ilrak. No strings attached."
"You gave us rides and fed us. That's payment enough."
"Normally, it wouldn't be that cheap. You reminded me of trust's true value—something I'd forgotten."
Leodorn cackled.
Stepping close, he shoved the box into Bran's hands.
"So take it. Payment for the trust you gave me."
"If you put it that way... Thanks."
"Meet at the Steel Tower in a fortnight. Hope we meet smiling."
"Phew, finally done."
Leodorn turned away.
Ilrak, who'd been waiting anxiously, sighed in relief.
Before leaving, she glanced back at Bran and grinned, baring her teeth.
"See you."
Bran waved.
With that, the group parted.
Ilrak loaded the two mules into the cargo hold and took the reins.
Leodorn's screams trailed the speeding wagon through the crowd.
"Kwaaaah! W-Wait! Hold on!"
"No time for whining, old man! Gotta bolt before more assassins!"
"Pffheeeng!"
Like a runaway locomotive.
The mules, passengers for the first time instead of mounts, neighed merrily.
Bran hated hassle too, so he slipped away with Kael.
In a quiet alley, Bran set down the box and tilted his head.
"What's the big deal?"
"R-Right... I'm curious too."
Kael nodded eagerly.
He'd shown steady interest in Leodorn's gift.
Click. Manipulating the lock, the chest opened.
Two fist-sized stones lay on velvet.
"Hm...? Pebbles?"
Kael tilted his head.
Visually, no different from street gravel.
Except for the subtle sheen on their rugged surfaces.
Then, a low mutter escaped Bran.
"That crazy old coot."
"B-Bran?"
Kael yelped in confusion.
Bran's gaze stayed fixed on the stones.
He'd have been less shocked by a ticking bomb.
Leodorn wasn't delusional or a dreamer.
Clack.
Closing the chest, Bran nodded toward the main road.
"Kael. Steel District. Now."
"Huh? Right now?"
"Yeah. Was gonna grab food first, but can't wait. Up you go."
"Hyak?!"
Bran hoisted Kael over his shoulder in one motion.
More practiced now, the carry was steadier.
Kael's face flushed as he flailed.
"I can walk! Put me down!"
"Nope."
"Waaah, please! I stink of sweat!"
"You don't. And that 'sweat' from the south was dew?"
Bran shook his head firmly.
For the first time in ages, excitement bubbled up.
"Gotta commission him quick. Few smiths in Valkeros can handle this."
"Y-You know a smith in Valkeros?"
"Yeah. He doesn't know me."
"What do you—Hiaaak!"
Bran bolted mid-sentence.
Kael's screams echoed behind him as he raced like the wind.
Iron Street's scenery blurred past: grease-stained workers, merchants, prostitutes, rusty chimneys on every home.
Thinking of Leodorn's gift, Bran let out an incredulous laugh.
"The price of trust, huh."
Generous valuation.
The mysterious stones were called Numerite.
A material from special veins, random-spawn with abysmal odds.
Bran had only obtained it twice in all his Return Lord playthroughs.