Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Traces of Memory (5)
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1.
"...Arke, you say?"
"Yeah, I saw records of your merchant company trading there last year. Isn't the time just about right?"
Cyan gave Stran a simple rundown of her situation.
She didn't mention her exact purpose for heading to the elves' homeland, Arke, but either way, she planned to go there and wanted to hitch a ride on one of the Turk Merchant Company's airships.
From the looks of it, the Turk Merchant Company had gone to Arke last year too, importing elven goods.
And right now was exactly when they set out for Arke. That's what Cyan had been aiming for.
"Sorry, but we can't launch any airships this year."
But Stran just shook his head.
Cyan's eyes widened at the unexpected response, but she quickly started piecing it together.
Stran hadn't said they wouldn't launch airships—he'd said they couldn't.
That meant something was seriously disrupting operations, enough to ground even a major merchant company like Turk.
And that was the key point.
"What's the reason?"
"We've heard rumors of raider bands being unusually active this year. We're canceling for safety, even if it means taking a loss."
As he spoke, Stran handed her a newspaper.
Cyan wondered just how formidable these raiders must be to make the head of a major merchant company eat the losses and scrap the trip entirely.
📰 Breaking News Shocker! 'Richard Raider Band' Strikes Again—This Time Sinking the Reese Kingdom's Escort Fleet... "...The Richard Raider Band."
"Yeah, they pulled off a big one this time."
Once Cyan read the article, it all made sense.
The story was shocking: a merchant convoy from the Reese Kingdom had been captured by the terrorist Richard Raider Band, and they were now negotiating for hostages.
"Haa."
Cyan let out a sigh.
'So those guys exist here too.'
Traveling by airship had major advantages.
It let you bypass land bandits and sea pirates.
Plus, there were hardly any aerial monsters—wyverns were rare encounters—so it was generally efficient...
'Sky pirates, raider bands.'
That's why people didn't exactly recommend it.
These raiders hijacked entire airships. They were called sky pirates for a reason.
"But Turk is a major merchant company. Why worry about a bunch of petty thieves?"
That was only for personal airships, though.
A big company deploying military-grade vessels, or a national fleet? Raiders were small fry by comparison.
No matter their size, they were just armed thugs. No way a top-tier company like Turk feared them.
Yet Stran, the owner himself, clearly did.
'Something's off. The Reese Kingdom is second only to the Ailes Empire among human powers. How did they get taken down by raiders?'
So Cyan recalled the raiders from the game.
Novel Online had them too—hidden monsters with a chance to spawn on airships.
Early on, their specs outclassed players', making encounters brutal wipes.
But as players grew stronger while raiders stayed the same, they became mid-game fodder, losing their scary rep.
'If their game specs hold here, standard airship NPCs wouldn't cut it. Might need veteran adventurers...'
But probably not.
Turk had a contract with the Adventurer's Guild to hire escorts for every trip. Yet Stran was scrapping it entirely.
There had to be a bigger reason.
"...Well, word is they've allied with the Demon King's army. That's why the Reese escorts got wiped out."
"Demon King's army? You mean they're teaming up with small-time thugs?"
"Yeah, according to the sole survivors."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 2.
⚠️ Dangerous Stage ⚠️
>Raider Band Fortress "Keh...! This booze hits the spot!"
A hairy man bellowed as he admired the starry night sky.
He'd devoured a massive pork leg like it was chicken, and his bulk was enormous even for a human.
His size evoked the Swordmasters of the Holy Ailes Empire—so much so that rumors swirled he was Giant Race descent.
Of course, rumors were always exaggerated.
⚔ Status ⚔ Raider Band Boss Richard (★)
>Lv. 155 ※ Note: Human-Orc Half-Breed "Booze tastes extra good tonight. My mood should match... but."
"Aak!"
Raider boss Richard grabbed the woman beside him by the hair.
She was a crew member from the Reese Kingdom convoy, daughter of a notable noble by her looks—but her current state was pitiful.
Her clothes were torn, her face streaked with tears and bruises from rough handling.
She'd clearly been abused badly.
"Why're you ruining my mood?! Huh?!"
"I-I'm sorry!"
"You know you screwed up? Then pour me another drink! Useless noble brats who've never worked a day... Pretty face, but so fragile—not even good for one night!"
-Thud!
Richard slammed his mug down roughly.
He seemed especially vicious tonight.
He had orc blood, so he was always rough, but this was next level. Something was up.
"Damn... Those coward Turks..."
The reason? He'd heard the Turk Merchant Company trip he'd been eyeing for a month was canceled.
Turk was world-famous, massive scale—their cargo was ultra-premium. Better to hit one Turk convoy than dozens of minor kingdom runs.
He'd mapped their route, scouted escorts, all for nothing.
That intel had cost a fortune and time. No wonder the boss was pissed.
"Bet you're pissed too, right? We teamed up to rob those Turks."
A man spoke to Richard, who was unusually subdued.
This guy treated high nobles like dogs, yet he showed respect to the man before him.
The man had black horns and glowing red eyes peeking from his hood.
A demonkin.
⚔ Status ⚔ Demonkin ???
>Lv. ??? "...Don't worry. They'll come."
The demonkin replied calmly.
"Heh, that future sight thing? Reliable info says the trip's canceled."
Richard found the demonkin intriguing.
Demonkin hated humans, yet here he was cooperating. And he claimed future sight powers.
Whatever—as long as he helped.
"...Not doubting you, but doesn't foresight ever miss?"
"Fate doesn't change. Only heretics who defy the axis can alter a set future."
To outsiders, the demonkin sounded insane, but Richard held some hope.
He'd thought him mad at first, but when the Reese convoy hit exactly as predicted, he was stunned.
Right on time, the exact number of ships. It paid off big—piles of loot proved it.
But Turk had officially announced cancellation. Tomorrow was departure day, but airships were grounded. No way it'd happen.
Unless something crazy...
"Uh, ugh..."
-Crash!
Suddenly, the woman pouring his drink lost her grip, shattering the bottle.
"...You damn bitch!"
His clothes soaked, Richard raged and swung at her.
His massive fist could crush her skull. She collapsed, trembling in terror.
Seeing her, foul urges stirred—he wanted to drag her to bed right then.
-Smack!
As he grabbed her wrist...
"Careful! She's got a magic tool!"
The demonkin, sipping quietly, shouted.
"What?"
"...You filthy thieves, allying with demonkin? Then die with me!"
-Crackle!
Sparks flew from her hand.
She clutched a red-glowing magic tool.
It held Fire Storm—a 5-star high spell that could torch the whole island base.
Meant as a last resort, hidden in her mouth. Now hopeless, she'd take the demonkin and raiders with her.
It took seconds to activate—no escape.
"Grk...! You wench?!"
"You pig bastard, you'll burn especially well. I doused you in high-proof booze—perfect barbecue!"
She yelled at Richard.
Panicked, he released her and stripped, but it was too late—the tool was active.
"It's already triggered! No stopping it!"
Once started, magic tools were unstoppable.
Even mana barriers didn't block tool- or scroll-activated spells.
Well, one way...
"Dam, damn it?!"
-Boom!
Richard smashed the door to flee, but flames were closing in.
"Where you running?! Die here...!"
She didn't want to die like this either, but seeing demonkin alliance, she'd sacrifice for kingdom and family.
Didn't know why demonkin allied, but killing him here was fine.
Even mighty demonkin couldn't survive Fire Storm unscathed—if he did, kingdom forces tracking the signal would finish him.
Others captured with her would burn too, but better than slavery.
"...Human, sorry, but burning isn't your fate."
"What?"
Assuming the tool worked perfectly.
"Your death is already fated."
-Crunch!
The demonkin swiped the air.
"Eh...?"
Incredibly, the tool shattered to dust.
She stared in disbelief.
What just happened?
"And you're fate's slave already..."
But she had no time to dwell.
Soon, no thoughts at all.
-Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
"A-ah..."
Footsteps from the broken door—she collapsed staring.
He's coming.
The guy sensed the tool's nullification and came.
"No, nooo..."
-Boom!
Door debris flew.
"You damn wench!"
"No...!"
Richard returned, seized her head, and dragged her off.
Ragged breaths and pained moans followed from somewhere, but the demonkin just gazed at the stars, sipping.
"...Humans are so slaves to instinct."
-Creak!
"Boss, Turk's resuming the trip..."
A subordinate entered with papers after Richard left.
"Why's no one here?"
But the room was empty.
No boss, no demonkin.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 🛫 Neutral Stage 🛫
>Asral City Airship Dock "A-a High Elf is really escorting our convoy?"
"Yes. I don't plan to stay in Arke long. I'll escort you back too."
A cool breeze blew.
-Whoosh!
Foliage rustled, carrying fresh scents.
'So this is the airship dock.'
In-game, she'd just waited—no sightseeing. Reality felt different.
"...Prettier than expected."
This could be fun.
Not just riding a plane, but a sky-sailing ship.
Everyday for locals, but a new world for her.
Yeah, enjoyable.
...If not for those guys.
⚔ Status ⚔ Demon King ‘Silmarion’
>Lv. 500 (★) "Refreshing! This breeze feels amazing."
⚔ Status ⚔ Hero ‘Kang Siwoo’
>Lv. 215 "Yeah, washes away the laziness."
What kind of messed-up duo is this?