Chapter 87
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 87
Chapter Title: Getting Stabbed on the Roadside
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'His name was... Joseph, right.'
He was the leader of the group that Luke and Lucy were in.
'He said he was ex-military. Luke mentioned he was level 5.'
True to his word, Joseph's stance was flawless—even Jun couldn't spot a single opening.
Meanwhile, Aiden nodded innocently at the question about how new he was to the mercenary life.
"How did you know?"
"Saying a mission is 'easy' out loud is taboo among mercenaries."
He was spot on.
Jun just didn't care about that kind of thing.
"Ah, I see. I'll be more careful from now on."
Aiden's face smiled as he said it, but his hand had already drifted toward his waist.
Joseph noticed but just smirked.
"Anyway, you didn't come here just to chat. What's the real reason?"
"Right. I have a proposal."
Oh. A criminal making an offer.
"Just so you know, if it's anything shady, I'm ready to rat you out to the pioneer captain who's itching to torment these prisoners."
"Don't worry. It's nothing like that."
"Alright then. Let's hear it. Listening isn't a crime."
"Any plans to run a mercenary corps down the line?"
Jun's eyes twitched at the unexpected pitch.
"If you're thinking of leading one someday, I came to ask for a shot at it."
"So... you want me to take on an ex-soldier as a subordinate?"
"That's the idea."
Jun's gaze shifted to Aiden at Joseph's words.
'A discarded prince and a pack of retired soldiers? Talk about a perfect setup.'
Prime combo for getting stabbed on the roadside.
Jun left Joseph's proposal with a vague "I'll think about it for now."
It was basically a no, but he made a mental note of the man's name.
"Um,前辈. Why do you think Joseph made that offer? He's level 5—he could start his own corps solo."
"That's why he made it."
Branded for disobeying orders, his military career was toast.
Now he planned to scrape by as a mercenary in Blackout.
"Starting from scratch would take too long."
"Ah... so he wants a backer."
"Exactly. From his perspective, we're a great fit."
A mercenary corps backed by the Gilenoi Merchant Guild, far removed from politics.
And lately, the guild had the count's rising influence behind it.
"Plus, with our small size, he probably eyed a founding member spot."
Still, given his background, Jun had to tread carefully.
'A few ex-soldiers won't cause a fuss.'
But better not stir up needless trouble.
Eventually, he'd need to build his forces anyway.
And that meant dealing with Aiden's issue sooner or later.
'They won't sit idle while the discarded prince's influence grows, ex-soldiers or not.'
For now, the emperor's permission kept things quiet... but his days were numbered.
'Suddenly a lot to mull over.'
He didn't mind.
Nothing beat passing time like this.
Jun gazed at the sky, full moon drawing near, lost in thought.
The expedition, thought to wrap up quick, dragged on two more days.
By now, the mission was essentially done.
'No major hidden pieces in Orcutas's surrogate temple.'
Well, one existed, but it wasn't activatable yet.
'When the time comes, it'll be time to upgrade Aiden's sword too.'
Jun watched Aiden oiling his blade.
Tough sword—rarely dulled—but Aiden lavished it with affection.
Then.
A glance.
Aiden's eyes flicked to Maya's "Akanthus's Fang" for a moment.
He pondered something, then shook his head hastily.
Turning back with even warmer eyes to his beloved "Luminous Sword," he oiled it lovingly.
'Jealousy written all over his face.'
The Luminous Sword was solid even now.
High-performance gear good up to layer 5.
But... it paled next to "Akanthus's Fang."
6-tier vs. a whopping 3-tier.
'Got it earlier than expected. Supposed to be much later.'
Naturally, Aiden compared during fights.
'If there's a chance, I could hook him up here.'
But not yet.
It was afternoon by then.
Jun returned with rations for the prisoners.
Sudden commotion among the scholars. Schneider spotted Jun and rushed over in a frenzy.
"H-Hey! Jun! Come here quick!"
"What's going on?"
"Found a massive stone tablet inside the temple. Thing appeared out of nowhere!"
"...Out of nowhere?"
For some reason.
Dread crept up.
"Last night, the room was empty—and boom, tablet! Like it dropped from the sky!"
"..."
"And it's in ancient script, of all things! Hurry! It might vanish as suddenly as it came!"
Jun followed Schneider to the stone chamber.
Open ceiling—perfect for moonlight on a full-moon night.
"Translate it quick!"
Jun silently scanned the ancient text.
The more he read, the colder sweat trickled down his back.
'Damn it.'
This was a hidden piece never uncovered even in the game.
[In honor of the great hero Hargon's sacrifice.]
[Hargon, how fares it there?]
[To leave you this message fills me with regret.]
[Yet I do so to prepare for your return someday.]
[Since your sacrifice, our kin have lost our honor.]
[Outer gods' calamity struck; we turned on each other in war, blaming one another.]
[In that chaos, most of your history was lost.]
[But we know you'll return. Even outer gods' tricks can't break a warrior's soul.]
[Measures taken so your soul may dwell here. Barvata's sacrifice made it possible.]
[Barvata lamented his sins and faded away.]
[He said on the full moon night, amid blue flames, the netherworld gate holding you opens.]
[My body weakens too. Farewell, Hargon. Awaiting your return.]
[In memory, your friend, Bortan, conqueror king's comrade.]
"This... it's the key to a hidden stage."
"H-Hidden stage? Really?!"
"Yes... that's right."
Jun feigned calm after reading, but inside he reeled.
'It can trigger now?'
Orcutas's surrogate temple housed the soul of Hargon, orc hero and first Orc Lord.
Later, the Heaven-Cleaving Church awakens Orc Lord Hargon amid continental chaos.
'At least years from now.'
But certain conditions could awaken him even now.
The catch: once awakened and conditions met, dimension reversal hits.
'Damn it.'
The scholars didn't know.
If they rushed in, Jun and his corps would get blamed for triggering it.
'Forget reputation—can we even survive?'
Good news: survival possible even in worst case.
'Best to rein in these ancient light scholars.'
High risk, high return? This was ultra-high risk, ultra-low return.
Success meant losses outweighing gains; failure doubled them.
'Not good.'
Jun eyed Schneider cautiously.
Luckily.
"Hidden stage... too much for us."
Schneider was fanatical but rational.
But someone else reacted.
"What? P-Professor, what do you mean?"
His assistant, Breit, who uncovered the expedition's lead.
"Exactly that, Breit. Hidden stage trigger conditions—we can't handle it."
"But we brought mercenaries and pioneers for this!"
"They're guides, not for clearing hidden stages. Better report to the academy and form a proper raid team. You know how dangerous they are."
The other two assistants chimed in, persuading Breit.
"Professor's right, Breit. Think rationally."
"Forgot the layer 6 incident? Forced open a hidden stage—dimension reversal."
Thankfully, they grasped dimension reversal well.
Even Blackout-obsessed scholars dreaded it.
Not just their deaths—hundreds of thousands of innocents.
"But... but..."
Breit had no solid finds here yet.
Most were repeats from other fields.
This tablet was his one shot...
Problem: Jun hadn't spilled the full translation.
'What if they act on it?'
Schneider agreed.
Scholars' curiosity was no joke.
"Breit, calm down. Seems it appears only on full moon. Not just today. We can hear the contents later."
Discovering a hidden stage trigger was huge. Reporting it meant massive acclaim.
"But that's my... ah... no, sorry, Professor. I was too hasty."
"Good thinking. No rush—you're young, opportunities abound. Don't you see how monumental this is? Makes me jealous!"
"...Thank you, Professor."
Schneider glanced at Jun secretly.
Jun got it.
"I have no interest in the academy. Once the mission ends, I'll hand over the full translation. No worries there."
"...Understood."
Breit's disappointment crushed him; he slunk out.
The other assistants followed to console him.
Schneider turned to Jun.
"Whew. Sorry. And thanks. Breit's reaction—he'd have triggered it. You're wise."
"...Mercenaries hate variables. Just nipped it."
"Ha, if all mages were like you. Glory-hungry ones everywhere."
Fame meant funding, naturally.
"Breit's smart and diligent, but his excessive ambition from fallen nobility is troubling. Hope it doesn't strangle him..."
Then it clicked—Breit's occasional stares.
'Thinks I stole his credit.'
Not wrong.
Jun guided them safely here, into the temple, and translated the highlight tablet.
'Papers would be plastered with my name.'
Still, Breit's contributions remained.
Schneider thought so; Jun nodded.
Till late evening, scholars soothed Breit.
Mission nearing end—but trouble brewed that night.
"Hey, where's Breit?"
"Said he had business outside earlier..."
"When?"
"Huh? It's been a while..."
That chatter among scholars.
"Mustache guy's gone? Where to?"
Leon's voice from the prisoners.
Party noticed the two missing.
Whooooom――!!
Blue light like moonlight burst from the temple depths.
Simultaneously, untouched braziers flickered with blue flames.
Jun's face twisted in rage.
"Shit."
Hidden stage activated.
Jun wasn't the only one with ancient language skill.