Chapter 148: Taking a Step Forward
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 148: Taking a Step Forward
As the dust settled within the territory, Ferda reached out to Count Consilus for the first time in weeks.
“How is the situation in your territory, Count?”
—The situation? There hasn’t been much to do besides holding funerals.
While the Archduchess of Valdrova’s territory held a magnificent banquet for the victors, Count Consilus’s lands held only a somber gathering following a joint funeral service.
Most of the casualties had come from the Far East Union’s side. Although the death toll was relatively low compared to the total number of troops, death was still death.
“I will provide additional condolence money.”
—No, that is quite alright. These are matters we can still resolve within our own budget…
“Do not refuse. Take it and distribute it to the bereaved families.”
—If you insist, then I shall accept it with gratitude. I will take great care to ensure every bit of it reaches the hands of the fallen soldiers' families.
Ferda’s generosity stemmed from a keen understanding of his own position. No matter how high he stood in the Far East, he could not serve as their emotional core. Count Consilus, the eldest among them who had protected this land for a long time, was their spiritual pillar. When supporting him, Ferda had to be decisive.
“By the way, I heard that someone else took care of that super-sized monster we were planning to deal with.”
—That is correct. He stood alone on the battlefield, slaughtered a vast number of monsters, and then finished off the super-sized one.
At the time, Ferda had only received a brief report that someone had handled everything alone, so he didn't have the full details. He decided to use this opportunity to ask.
“Was it a mage?”
—No. It was a knight.
“A knight took down a super-sized monster alone?”
It was a difficult claim to believe.
“Is he skilled in magic?”
—Not that, either. I asked the mages, and they said he cannot handle magic, nor even Aura.
Strong despite being unable to use Aura. The image of the Armored Knight who had turned the wolf monster into a pulp became increasingly clear.
—I suspect it might be the knight you mentioned before.
“If it’s the knight I was looking for…”
—You mentioned looking for a knight in armor so heavy it looked suffocating, did you not?
Ferda remembered.
‘The Moving Fortress, Alberdo.’
That was how he had described him. Of course, Ferda hadn't actually expected to find him. He was a free-spirited wandering knight, focused solely on hunting monsters.
—When asked what he wanted for his contribution, he pointed toward the Archduchess of Valdrova’s territory.
“Does he mean he wants to receive his reward from me?”
—It seems so. After saying that, he set off on his own. I should have informed you yesterday, but…
“You’ve told me now, so it’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
It didn't matter to Ferda. In fact, if the person he was looking for was coming to him of his own accord, why would he refuse?
“When is he expected to arrive?”
—Judging by his walking pace, I expect he will arrive sometime tomorrow morning.
Tomorrow morning… Even if he wasn't on horseback, he would likely walk without rest, meaning his actual speed would be comparable to a horse. Ferda waited eagerly for his arrival.
* * *
Around the time Hestia Village was regaining its stability.
Valdrova donned her armor and stepped outside for the first time in a while. Since she had told Hanson she was going to her hometown the last time they met, she was now acting the part of someone returning from a trip.
‘I’ve been away for too long.’
A wave of guilt washed over her. In reality, she had been keeping watch from atop the Lonely Mountain, but in this armored form, she had supposedly gone to her hometown and hadn't returned. The fact that she hadn't been there when they needed her weighed heavily on her heart.
‘Will the people hate me because I wasn't here?’
Why weren't you here when we needed you? Do you know how many people suffered because of you?
Carrying those fears, she cautiously approached the walls of Hestia Village. The walls had been completed while Valdrova was away, and there were now sentries posted.
“Halt! Identify yourse—oh? Aren't you the Armored Knight?”
“?”
“It’s me, Hans! I worked on the village construction. Ah, well, I only ever watched you from a distance.”
The young man who identified himself as Hans smiled brightly and cleared the way.
“Please, come inside quickly! Everyone has been waiting for you, Sir Knight!”
Waiting for me?
As she stepped inside, she found that the sentry’s words were true; people were indeed waiting for her. Those who recognized her burst out in cheers and ran toward her.
“It’s the knight! The knight has returned!”
“It’s the Armored Knight!”
“Our savior!”
Contrary to her expectations, they welcomed her with immense warmth. Surrounded by the crowd, Valdrova thought to herself.
‘Why?’
Valdrova was utterly bewildered. While she had gained some recognition as a hero during the monster raid, she had never received this level of hospitality. She thought back carefully.
‘All I did was build some buildings…?’
Was it because of that? Was this reaction because she had built the walls and buildings so well?
‘Come to think of it, they did say things were being built faster thanks to my help.’
They were thanking her for creating houses and walls that could accommodate many people in a short time, keeping everyone safe. That was what Valdrova concluded.
‘Maybe that’s why…!’
Having reached a remarkably simple conclusion, she let the matter go. Bathed in their welcoming and admiring gazes, she made her way toward the labor union office.
“Ooh! Our hero has arrived!”
Hanson, who had now become the president of the labor union, greeted Valdrova.
“I was waiting for you, thinking you’d head this way once you returned. Come in, come in! Actually, there’s someone who’s been wanting to meet you. Would you mind having a quick chat with her?”
Valdrova nodded. Hanson stepped aside to clear the path, and inside the president’s office, a woman sitting at a table came into view.
She had blue hair and a refined, elegant face. She wore adventurer’s gear, and a platinum badge was pinned to her chest. Upon seeing Valdrova, she reached out a hand with a friendly expression.
“Hello. I am Eri, the branch manager of the Far East Adventurer Guild.”
Though she was using a pseudonym to hide her identity, Valdrova recognized her at first glance.
‘Isn't she the child Iorga dotes on?’
The girl who was always by Iorga’s side whenever they crossed paths. She was a Dragon Spawn whom Valdrova had secretly admired for being as serious and intellectual as Iorga herself.
‘Why is she pretending to be human?’
She was dying to ask, but remembering she was supposed to be a mute, she silently took the hand. Just a light handshake made her feel as if she had somehow become smarter.
“The rumors about you are widespread. I hear you’ve been here since the construction of this village began?”
Nod.
“Everyone thought you were just someone with monstrous strength, but then you proved your worth during the monster raid.”
Nod.
“And this time, I heard you sliced a super-sized monster clean in half. I was truly impressed.”
No…d?
Valdrova tilted her head in confusion.
‘A super-sized monster?’
Killing such things was part of Valdrova’s daily routine, but that couldn't be what Erica was talking about. The only monsters she had killed in this armor were about two wolves.
‘Besides, I should have been right here…?’
Did the armor move on its own and go somewhere? The Bronze Dragon was a master craftsman, but knowing Valdrova’s personality, he wouldn't have included such a function.
‘Then there must be another Armored Knight.’
Only then did she understand why she was being welcomed so warmly. Didn't this mean she had been basking in someone else’s fame all this time? Her face flushed red with embarrassment, and she felt incredibly awkward. She needed to explain, but her mouth was sealed by the Vow of Silence.
“Thanks to your dedication to the prosperity of Hestia, you have become a role model for many adventurers.”
It wasn't me!
She wanted to say it, but the praise was so high—words she would never normally hear—that she couldn't find the right timing to intervene.
“If it’s not too much trouble, could you tell me your name? If you’re an adventurer, I need to check if you’re registered.”
Her name. Naturally, she couldn't give it. Not only because of her "concept," but because the image of Ruri’s sharp, scolding eyes flashed in her mind, making her throat tighten.
“I see it’s difficult for you to say. I understand.”
Erica didn't press further, acting as if she understood.
“President.”
“Ye-yes!”
“I apologize for taking up your space, but may I speak with this person alone for a moment?”
“Oh, of course!”
There was no way a mere union president could refuse a request from a platinum-rank adventurer. Hanson quickly excused himself. Erica went a step further and deployed magic, turning the room into a private space completely cut off from the outside.
Valdrova waited quietly. She had faith that Iorga’s child would never do anything bad to people.
“What I’m about to say is something that would only disadvantage us if others heard, so let’s keep this between us.”
Nod…
Valdrova couldn't help but feel tense. Erica cast another spell. In an instant, the president’s office warped to another location. No, it was a magical reconstruction of a specific space.
Valdrova recognized this street. It was the place where she had stood during the monster raid.
“I reconstructed the scene of the wolf monster’s disposal to take a closer look. Please forgive me for doing this without your consent, Sir Knight.”
There, the wolf monster and a man wearing the exact same armor as her were facing off.
Bark! Bark!
The wolf monster lunged fearlessly, and—
Thwack!
It died at the hands of the Armored Knight.
“The time it took to dispose of one was a mere 0.3 seconds.”
Erica spoke, unable to hide her amazement.
“For someone at the level of an Imperial Swordmaster, handling a single wolf monster like this would be no trouble. However, you are in a different league from those Swordmasters.”
“…”
“Because you killed it with pure strength alone, without using weapons or Aura.”
Valdrova tensed at the word "strength." Erica rewound and replayed the scene several times as she spoke.
“There is a saying that everything is powerless before overwhelming strength, but this is a level of technique that strength alone cannot explain. You are a seasoned veteran with experience facing at least dozens of monsters.”
Overwhelming strength and experience. Inside the armor, Valdrova was trembling. She was terrified that Erica would conclude it was the Aspect of Power. Was she going to be caught like this? By Iorga’s child, whom Ruri had strictly warned her never to be caught by? The lecture that would follow was too painful to imagine.
Is this how I die??
“Rest assured. I have no intention of prying deeply into your past. What matters to us is not your history or identity, but solely your skill.”
Valdrova felt a wave of relief at those words.
“Based on these skills, I would like to make a proposal.”
Erica handed her a piece of paper. The title read: ‘Land of Demons Exploration Plan.’
“As the branch manager of the Far East Adventurer Guild and as an adventurer myself, I am currently forming a team.”
Nod, nod.
“And I would like to recruit you, Sir Knight, to this team.”
An adventurer… A group that roamed the Serdes Continent, unearthing mysteries and defeating evil. Mingling with people was a fundamental part of the process. And in that process, she wouldn't be able to return to her castle for days.
Shake, shake!
Valdrova instinctively shook her head. She tried to strongly convey that she simply enjoyed building things here. Erica nodded as if she had expected this.
“Of course, I expected you to refuse.”
If she had only expected a refusal, there would have been no point in making the proposal. Erica already understood the source of Valdrova’s anxiety.
“Considering your behavior patterns, I assume it’s because of anxiety regarding teamwork and the discomfort of long-term face-to-face interaction? I will take those points into consideration using my authority.”
Even with the promise of accommodations, Valdrova only continued to shake her head.
“You truly do have a deep story, don't you?”
A knight who possessed veteran combat skills and overwhelming power, yet did not fight for honor. Erica knew this type well. Someone whose internal support had crumbled, leaving them unable to care about anything else. The greatest hero of the Twelve-Member Expedition had been just like that.
However, Erica could not back down.
“But if you care about the survival of this village, I ask that you reconsider just a little more.”
The purpose for which Hestia was built.
“Hestia Village was created to conquer the Land of Demons. Its purpose is to accommodate many adventurers and research means to oppose the demonic forces.”
Valdrova had heard that before. But she had thought it was a story far removed from her.
“As is always the case, good intentions do not always lead to smooth results.”
Ferda provided unstinting support for the affairs within the territory. Under Burnell’s leadership, technology had advanced dramatically. But support alone was not enough to change the hearts of men. Everything depended on human will.
Everyone dreams of striking it rich. But that only happens when the risks and returns are clear. The Land of Demons was a place where the returns were uncertain. Because of that, those with true skill refused to go, and only the riffraff continued to gather. It was to break out of that situation that she had become the branch manager of the Far East Adventurer Guild.
“I don’t know what your circumstances are, but you clearly wish to distance yourself from anything related to violence. However, I cannot let someone with your abilities rot away at a construction site forever.”
Erica spoke firmly.
“If you truly love this Hestia Village, I hope you will join us in doing what others cannot.”
“…”
What others cannot do. No one could move as many materials as she could. But if people gathered, that was something anyone could eventually do.
But what about monsters? Monsters were different. Even if dozens of people gathered, if they lacked martial power, they were nothing more than prey.
‘I… like how things are now.’
From the moment she had come down to Hestia Village until now, all she had done was raise buildings and stack walls. Doing small labors, receiving pay, and watching people smile was incredibly rewarding and wonderful to her.
‘If I start killing things again…’
Once she used violence, she couldn't control it. What if… what if she swung this power wrongly while trying to protect everyone and ended up killing them instead? She would never be able to forgive herself.
Watching Valdrova, Erica thought, ‘Is she going to refuse after all?’
She had already realized that this person hadn't actually taken a Vow of Silence. She assumed the knight had a secret they couldn't tell others, much like Ferda. Though she was desperate for the knight's help, if the refusal came again, Erica decided to give up. There was no point in forcing someone into an adventure.
After a moment of contemplation, Valdrova finally gave her answer.
Nod, nod.
“So you refuse… wait, you’re saying you’ll do it?”
Erica asked again, startled.
Nod, nod.
Valdrova nodded once more. Had it been the day before the Start of Spring Festival, she would have surely thought that a simple life as a laborer building houses was enough.
The reason she couldn't do that was because she had seen it with her own eyes. She had seen that those monsters standing beyond that land were massive, even from so far away. And she had seen that Hestia Village, nestled beneath her castle, was so small and fragile, even from so close.
Lives like floating weeds, which would surely be swept away if even a single monster slipped through, were under her wings. She had grieved for them and been consumed by worry. At the same time, Valdrova had thought: If that land disappeared, I wouldn't have to worry like this…
‘She’s right.’
Building alone wasn't enough.
‘I have to do what others cannot.’
She had to stop those disgusting things from being created; she had to eliminate them. It was time for the hatchling that had broken its shell to take another step forward.
* * *
In front of the gates of Hestia Village.
The sentries were enjoying a moment of leisure, chatting idly.
“What’s for dinner today?”
“I heard it’s hodgepodge stew. They said they have to use up all the leftover ingredients.”
“Man, those cooks have it easy. If anything goes wrong, they just throw everything into the pot.”
“I’ve got a bunch of sausages left over, I’m gonna toss those in and eat.”
“Share some, will you? You’re the only one eating the good stuff.”
“Go buy some yourself then.”
“Ugh, you pig, just eat it all, then. Eat it all.”
“How many minutes left on our shift?”
“The sun was over there when we got here, so about twenty minutes. They’ll be getting ready for the rotation soon.”
“Uuuugh, I thought it had been three hours. How do people stand this boredom?”
“Boredom is better. If monsters kept attacking, we’d be the ones working ourselves to the bone.”
“True. I’d rather die of boredom.”
The places they used to live were areas where beasts or monsters like goblins, drawn by the smell of food, would run rampant. But the forest spread out before them was as quiet as the grave. It was so peaceful that it didn't even feel real that the Land of Demons lay just beyond.
As they waited, letting out long yawns—
“Hmm?”
“What is it?”
“Wait, doesn't it feel like the ground is shaking?”
“Can you even feel the shift leader’s legs trembling from here?”
“No, feel it for a second. It’s like something heavy is thumping.”
“Ah, this guy, trying to pull something on me again…”
The sarcastic remark cut short. Just as he had said, a vibration traveled up through his boots. It grew stronger and stronger until it could no longer be dismissed as a mere whim.
Something was approaching.
