Chapter 225
Chapter 225
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 225
Chapter Title: The Blind Heavenly Demon
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I stood there in a daze, then asked as if my second senior brother were right in front of me.
"Am I visible to you?"
['Blind Heavenly Demon' shakes his head, tapping around his eyes.]
"Ah."
I'd blanked out for a moment and forgotten he was blind.
"Then can you hear my voice?"
['Blind Heavenly Demon' nods.]
Has my wandering mind still not returned?
Of course he can hear me—that's why he responded to my first question.
Anyway.
"…Haha."
A laugh bubbled up from sheer joy.
It felt just like that sudden regression, or the time I'd bumped into my fourth senior brother on Spirit Mountain—pure delight.
"Senior brother, have you been well? I could've sworn I heard your bell during that crisis last time. Did you perhaps help me out then? Or maybe it was just my imagination. Oh, and have you seen Master recently—"
['Blind Heavenly Demon' presses a finger to his lips.]
I shut my mouth at the message floating before me.
Somehow, I could picture him leisurely extending and retracting his steel thread, a faint smile on his face.
I'd gotten too excited.
As I slowly caught my breath, a spear infused with his will appeared once more.
['Blind Heavenly Demon' says we can communicate like this from time to time going forward.]
"Really? What about the other senior brothers besides you…?"
['Blind Heavenly Demon' nods.]
That's a relief.
Like my fourth senior brother, whom I hadn't thanked properly last time…
Or the third senior brother, whom I suspect came from the same world as Seren—plenty to ask him too.
I opened my mouth again.
"Did you hear from fourth senior brother that I stopped by Spirit Mountain before?"
['Blind Heavenly Demon' affirms.]
If so, that speeds things up.
I got straight to the point.
"So, can I head to Spirit Mountain right now?"
No answer came, but I sensed my second senior brother—who'd heard my voice—pondering for a moment.
"It doesn't have to be right this instant. The key is that I'd like some say in the timing."
['Blind Heavenly Demon' asks if you desire training.]
"Yes."
Another brief silence after my affirmation.
A few seconds later, the window reappeared.
['Blind Heavenly Demon' says there's no need to rush—you'll be able to head to Spirit Mountain soon enough.]
[He adds that you'll need to prepare yourself by then.]
"Hmm."
A slight chill ran down my spine.
Second senior brother's lessons, instruction, and training were brutal. Among us disciples, his were by far the most intense.
Even fourth senior brother, who was relatively restrained and tailored curricula to physical limits, had nearly killed me with assignments back on Spirit Mountain.
So how hard would second senior brother push me?
"Alright. See you then."
I was a bit worried, but also looking forward to it.
Not because I'm some masochist, of course.
It's the gains after that grueling training that have me excited.
['Blind Heavenly Demon' cheers you on along your path.]
With a faint poof, a soft light shimmered.
The light soon coalesced into an old book that dropped into my palm.
['Blind Heavenly Demon' sponsors the Scripture of Heavenly Catastrophe Birth.]
"Second senior brother?"
I called out in confusion, but no window appeared.
Somehow, even that distinctive droplet-like presence of his seemed to have vanished.
"Hmm…"
I raked back my messy bangs and smacked my lips.
It felt like I'd seen a ghost in broad daylight, but…
The book in my palm proved it hadn't been a dream or hallucination.
* * *
There was quite a distance to Heros headquarters.
Too far to walk, so naturally I had to find a carriage.
Rather than scouting options, I decided to just rent one outright.
I didn't want to share the not-short journey with strangers.
Chartering a whole carriage was blatant money-burning, but so what?
Only the rich can afford to burn cash. Harsh truth, but there it is.
Anyway, I knew how to drive one, but given the distance, better to leave it to a pro.
Lots of people look down on coachmen as lowly, but I couldn't disagree more.
Top-tier coachmen know every road in the empire, handle dangers expertly, pitch and break camp swiftly, and can even cook or pull night watch.
Finding that caliber of talent isn't easy, of course…
"The name's Gon! It's an honor to chauffeur the famed hero of the academy! Haha."
The middle-aged coachman said with a beaming face.
Honor wasn't empty words.
I'd paid double the going rate, after all.
His eyes sparkled like the Milky Way.
And he was worth every coin.
Our all-purpose collector Keian had handled hiring—contacted the merchants' guild directly, met in person, and vetted.
"When's departure?"
"Tomorrow morning."
"Got it. See you at the east gate then."
I nodded, then considered telling Mir the spot…
But figuring he might not show, I opted to move together.
I took Mir to an inn near the east gate and booked a night.
Trailing close behind, I asked him.
"Got money?"
"Yeah!"
Mir proudly showed his pouch.
Peeking inside, it was stuffed.
With what looked like beast fangs and claws.
"What's this?"
"Uh? Money?"
Giant tribe currency?
"Silver? Gold?"
"What's that?"
"…"
I was speechless for a second.
Then it hit me—this guy had been in group action since Bednicker days, no personal spending.
Seemed hopeless at first glance, but not quite.
I dragged Mir to the bank.
The imperial bank exchanges all tribal currencies.
The haul? A whopping 4 silver, 17 copper.
"Ooh… so this is silver…!"
Mir marveled at the coin, huffed on it, polished it on his sleeve.
For reference, that'd barely cover two nights' stay.
Imperial prices are insane even accounting for that…
"…You're broke, huh."
"Huh?"
I explained the capital's costs; his face paled.
"N-No way… That'd buy a month's bear meat back home…"
"…"
"B-But… two nights is doable, so I'll cover my share!"
Mir said something admirable.
I patted his shoulder.
"Nah. Cover mine too."
"Uh, what?"
"Dinner tonight and breakfast tomorrow too."
Mir's pupils shook violently.
"W-Why…?"
"I hired the carriage and driver. I'll cover travel expenses too. Gotta eat on the road."
"Ah…"
I skipped mentioning the 5 gold for carriage, driver, and supplies.
Mir paid at the inn glumly; we started a late dinner.
Inn had a restaurant, but the food was awful—I quit after a few spoonfuls of soup.
"Hm? Done already?"
"Yeah. Want the rest?"
"Sure!"
Mir took even my leftovers and devoured them.
Tiny guy, bottomless pit. Appetite rivals mine—giant tribe trait?
Nothing for the inn's poor quality.
Remote dump, low traffic.
We're famous in the capital now, so we picked this spot on purpose.
I filled up on water and suddenly asked.
"But can you really just follow me like this? No other place to go?"
"Nope."
"Home?"
"Why would I? My coming-of-age isn't done."
Mir said something curious.
"Coming-of-age?"
"Yeah. Our tribe leaves home before adulthood, doesn't return till prepped for the final trial."
"What's the final trial?"
"Land of Trials! Hunt any magic beast there!"
I knew of the northern Land of Trials.
One of the empire's four forbidden zones alongside the swamps and Jewel Mountains, strictly controlled by giants.
"What're you hunting?"
"Gotta see when I get there. 'Lava Boa,' 'Rag Hound,' 'Fanged Wolf,' 'Hell Eagle'… Who knows."
Sounded like monsters just from names.
Could Mir really solo one?
"Hunt success means recognized as a warrior, pick a weapon at the [Frozen Forge]! Doesn't it make your chest swell?"
Mir swung his arms excitedly.
"So you never planned to go home anyway."
"Right. Was gonna tail you regardless—thrilled when you suggested teaming up."
"Tail me?"
Mir nodded.
"Felt like I'd grow stronger by your side. Even in that red world. I broke my limits."
"You nearly died."
"Battlefield death? Not scary."
"What?"
Mir grinned.
Fangs bared, ferocious smile suited him perfectly—like a true warrior's face.
"The real fear is surviving but unable to fight anymore. I survived, grew stronger, kept all limbs intact by luck. Ancestors watched over me."
I stared at Mir blankly.
Poor speech, small frame… Mir wasn't to be underestimated.
"Bednicker's great. Endless trials. Training camp incident cured my freeze-ups against bigger foes. Finally could fight."
"…"
"Sticking with you? I sense more growth ahead."
I was at a loss for words staring at Mir.
What to say?
Mir the giant made me regret seeing him as temp filler. Solid talent.
Body aside, his mentality outshone other leads. Tougher than Seren or Hector—maybe even Karon.
"…Yeah. By my side, trials won't end."
"Uhaha! Count on it!"
Mir bellowed a hearty laugh.
* * *
After dinner, Mir headed to his room…
I stepped out again.
Capital nights were bright, but this inn's back alley was dim.
I found what seemed an abandoned park, sat on a rickety bench.
Pulled out jerky I'd packed, chewed piece by piece.
Footsteps soon approached; someone sat at the bench's far end.
I offered jerky.
"Want some? Not great, but."
"Nah."
"Alright."
I shoveled the rest in.
Wasn't planned, but this reminded me of before—similar setup with him, ends of an academy bench.
Felt like ages ago, though recent.
"Hey, Evan."
I looked at Evan.
"What're you gonna do now?"
"…"
Evan stayed silent.
He'd left the academy post-incident. No one knew his whereabouts.
He'd deliberately vanished.
Separately, I'd known since yesterday he was tailing me.
What had he been thinking these past days?
Curious, but instead of prying, I switched topics.
"Nothing? Come to Heros with me then."