Chapter 96
Chapter 96
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 96
Chapter Title: Cause of the Change (2)
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I finished my conversation with the dwarves and immediately returned to the village where Riya and the elves were.
They looked puzzled at my quicker-than-expected return, but their expressions changed completely once I explained the situation.
That was only natural.
A disaster that should have been dead was alive and well, having fled into the forest.
“The Corrosion Disaster is alive, you say!”
“Yes.”
“How could that be...! We even formed a magical contract!”
To prepare for such a contingency, Lavanteira had used magic to form an ironclad contract with the demon tribe.
But since the contract hadn’t been properly fulfilled, their outrage was understandable.
“To break a contract backed by one’s life...”
“Judging by the traces of battle, it probably wasn’t intentional.”
The intense signs of combat left in the Kezman Mountains made it clear the demon tribe had genuinely tried to take down the Corrosion Disaster.
However, they likely didn’t fully understand the disaster’s abilities and couldn’t wield the power of the sealing sword Sealpin, leading to this outcome.
‘No, maybe they deliberately didn’t use it.’
If the demon tribe that came to Lavanteira aimed to discover and ‘transport’ one of the Seven Heavenly Swords, then it would be more accurate to say they refrained from using Sealpin’s power.
After all, a sword could have only one master.
‘The one who wants the Seven Heavenly Swords is probably the Demon King.’
The demon I encountered in Aintban was a high-ranking one with a noble title.
The only being capable of commanding such a demon that came to mind was the Demon King.
The demon who obtained the sealing sword Sealpin had to deliver it to the Demon King, so they couldn’t become its master and use its power.
‘The Demon King, huh.’
My mind grew complicated, but for now, I had to focus on the immediate problem.
“We need to think about the problem right in front of us now. To resolve this, I’d like to meet Lavanteira’s king.”
I said this to the dazed village chief, who nodded with a dark expression.
“Sigh, I understand. This... is beyond my authority to handle.”
By now, the divided body of that thing had probably merged back together, but searching for it in this vast mountain range was too much for just one village.
More importantly, I didn’t have time, so I needed to find the Corrosion Disaster as quickly as possible.
‘I should check Jerbisia’s settings while I’m at it.’
I could obtain the information I wanted through his settings.
* * *
Lavanteira’s capital was carved into a valley, boasting an enormous scale.
Even the imperial palace I’d seen in the empire was impressive, but Lavanteira’s castle felt suffocating under the overwhelming presence of nature.
Riya, who rarely showed surprise at anything, was slightly taken aback the moment she saw it.
“Coming here has really changed my view of the Ain race. This is why experiences matter so much.”
“Yeah. People really need to see the world.”
“If I’d stayed cooped up like a corpse in the imperial palace, I never would have known. I’m so glad I met Clay.”
Riya said this with a bright smile. It had been a while since I’d seen her genuine smile.
‘Makes me feel kinda embarrassed.’
Her one-sided affection was sometimes burdensome, but when she approached so directly like this, even I felt my heart warm for a moment.
That must be the charm of Riya Asktalin.
“I’ve heard from Village Chief Eliad. Please come inside.”
As we approached the castle entrance, a lightly armored elf came out to guide us.
[I’ve never been here before either.]
Gransesia chattered excitedly in my mind.
‘Didn’t you say you’d been near the Kezman Mountains before?’
[‘Near’ is the key word. You’re probably the first human to enter Lavanteira’s capital.]
Hearing that drove home how unreal my current situation was.
‘Come to think of it, there was nothing about Fabian coming here either...’
Was I doing something even that guy hadn’t?
The thought lightened my steps.
Opening the massive marble door revealed a vast hall.
Elves, dwarves, and beastkin knights stood in formation, with a king seated on a jade throne at the far center.
The one on the throne was a middle-aged elf.
He looked relatively young for a king, but that was because he was an elf who had lived nearly a thousand years.
‘His name... Serbin Lavanteira.’
I’d already heard from the village chief, but just in case, I checked his settings again.
Nothing special.
He had no notable achievements in the original story either; it was mostly generic information.
No particular details in the peculiarities section, so he seemed unrelated to Jerbisia’s events.
“Are you the master of the sword bestowed by the gods long ago?”
“Yes.”
“I never imagined such a thing would happen in my lifetime.”
Contrary to his appearance, his speech was dignified, like an old man’s.
With quiet green eyes fixed on me, he spoke.
“Is the Corrosion Disaster truly alive?”
“Yes. The dwarves who went to the ruins with me witnessed it too.”
“...I see. We shouldn’t have trusted the demon tribe after all.”
I quickly spoke to him as he muttered with a somber face.
“The power of a disaster is too much for ordinary people to handle. I think it was an unavoidable choice.”
“No, it’s our fault. We handed the sword to a demon who wasn’t its master, all for our own safety...”
With that, King Serbin bowed to me in apology.
Murmurs rose around us for a moment, but no one tried to stop him.
“From now on, all of Lavanteira will devote its full strength to aiding you. We’ve lost one of the Seven Heavenly Swords—or two, including the stolen one—in vain. It’s our duty to recover them.”
He spoke as if atoning to me.
Having lived long as one of the Ain race, he understood the value of the Seven Heavenly Swords.
“Then there’s one request I have. The Corrosion Disaster is currently hiding somewhere in the mountains.”
“You want our help with the search.”
“Exactly. And above all, I don’t have much time. So we must find the disaster within two days.”
King Serbin nodded firmly at my words.
“Understood. I’ll relay your words to all our people right away and have them assist. From this moment, Clay Banheart, you are essentially my proxy. I grant you authority to command everyone in the kingdom.”
It was an unprecedented offer.
The hall, which had only murmured briefly when he apologized to me, now erupted in shock.
“Father! What are you saying?!”
A man who had approached shouted sharply at Serbin.
‘That’s Jerbisia.’
Narrowing my eyes and scanning his settings, I could only bite my lower lip.
‘...As expected.’
I’d suspected as much, but confirming it firsthand brought on a headache.
This incident had been derailed from the start.
==
[Jerbisia Lavanteira]
Age: 331
Gender: Male
Role in Story: Lavanteira’s prince, first master of the Madness Disaster (extra)
Abilities: Magic (5th Circle), Spirit Magic (low-grade)
Peculiarities: Lavanteira’s prince. In an attempt to earn merits to become king, he invades Talua Kingdom and encounters the Corrosion Disaster.
During his escape, he obtains the Light Sword Hela and becomes the first master of the Madness Disaster. Using the sword’s power, he indiscriminately absorbs the life force of those around him, commits mass slaughter, and eventually dies.
Currently trading with Lavanteira’s slave trader, Gwyn Viscount, receiving Talua intelligence and large bribes to amass wealth.
==
Jerbisia’s settings were as follows.
Most of it was as I’d expected, but what caught my eye were the last two lines.
‘Gwyn Viscount...’
He was one of the nobles who participated in the war with Kainzel Kingdom.
In the original story, Talua suffers near-annihilation in the war with Kainzel.
Gwyn Viscount took part in a raid on Kainzel’s rear, so he must have died.
But that was the original story.
Now, due to my influence, Talua Kingdom won, so he survived unscathed.
‘And became a slave trader.’
I didn’t know if he’d always done it, but that was the result.
[So all this happened because that Gwyn guy is alive?]
‘Two main reasons. Gwyn Viscount survived, and Talua Kingdom’s national power wasn’t weakened.’
In the original, Jerbisia tried to invade Talua for merits, but with history changed and Talua victorious over Kainzel, he had to resort to other means.
And of all things, selling his own people into slavery.
Knowing my actions had altered history to cause this left a bitter taste.
“It’s just an old legend! The Seven Heavenly Swords? You really think we can face that monster with just that?!”
I calmly looked at Jerbisia as he shouted in agitation and spoke.
“Jerbisia.”
“...What? You scum, did you just call me by name?”
“Yeah, I did.”
Jerbisia looked utterly dumbfounded as I straightened up confidently.
“Father, look! See how this insolent human is acting! It’s all because you gave him excessive authority!”
But King Serbin kept his mouth firmly shut despite Jerbisia’s cries. It wasn’t just because he’d granted me equal rights.
“Do you happen to know a Gwyn Viscount?”
“...!”
Jerbisia’s flushed, agitated face turned deathly pale at my next words.
“First I’ve heard of him. Who are you talking about?”
“Your acting is terrible. His Majesty the King already knows everything you’ve done.”
“W-what?! I-I haven’t done anything special...”
“You’re colluding with a slave trader.”
I said it loudly enough for everyone in the hall to hear, and the surroundings erupted in murmurs.
Lavanteira’s prince colluding with a slave trader kidnapping citizens!
This was no light matter.
“I know nothing about it!”
“There are witnesses. And Gwyn Viscount is probably locked up right now, spilling everything about you.”
“...!”
This information had already reached King Serbin. After all, the village chief had reported it to him first.