Chapter 340: Bread and Dagger (38)
Chapter 340: Bread and Dagger (38)
The hand axe, deflected by Sir Alex’s sword, spun through the air.
Its time aloft was brief, as it soon returned to my hand.
I let out another long, contemplative breath.
“Sir Alex, we need to gather information.”
I turned my gaze toward the Elf woman whose hair I had been gripping just moments ago.
She was staring at the Elf man and Sir Alex with a dazed expression.
Ultimately, I tossed her aside, releasing her hair with a rough flick of my wrist.
I slowly straightened my posture.
“To do that, the more mouths we have, the better… Isn't that common sense?”
“Hmm,” Sir Alex hummed, swallowing his thoughts as he stared at me intently.
After a moment of silence, a faint smile played on his lips, and he sheathed his sword.
“You still have some warmth left in you, Young Master. But soon, you will come to realize it yourself.”
With a soft shink, Sir Alex turned away, fully sheathing his blade. It was a gesture indicating that he was leaving the fate of the remaining Elves entirely to me.
I breathed a silent sigh of relief at his unexpectedly compliant attitude.
“...That the North is not as warm as the East.”
As if I didn't know.
This was a place where every breath froze into white mist the moment it left your body.
A living hell where even tears and blood became nutrients, turning the plants and moss a deep, visceral red. I knew exactly how hard it was to survive here.
All that remained was to transport the prisoners.
The interrogation would take place at the military camp. It wouldn't just be an official interrogation by the Yurdina army; there would likely be a secret session with Senior Neris in attendance as well.
Leaving the groaning Elf woman behind, I hooked my hand axe to my belt. Then, I whispered to Avian, who was still standing there, lost in a daze.
“...Avian.”
The Elf girl flinched and looked up at me.
Her eyes were swirling with so many emotions that it was difficult to read her true thoughts.
So, I simply said what I wanted to say.
“Don’t act out.”
It was the best advice I could give.
It was also the only way for the weak to survive.
With that one sentence—a maxim I had once held as sacred as gold—our return journey was decided.
Capturing three living Elves was an excellent result for a first scout.
For the record, the first Elf I had subdued was on the verge of death.
It seemed I had used a bit too much force.
However, since I treated him with a healing potion afterward, I decided I had done my part.
Besides, I could get healing potions for free from Senior Delphine anyway.
It was my first encounter with the Elves.
The Northern sky remained overcast, so thick that even the sunlight scattered like mist.
*
“You’re here for the Academy’s preliminary exam?”
It was early afternoon, under a clear sky with sunlight that felt a bit too intense.
Three women, each possessing the kind of beauty that would stand out anywhere, were gathered in one spot.
They sat at a table under the shade of a tea house located in front of the Academy’s Central Avenue.
The woman who had just asked the question had amber eyes. she was leaning back in her chair, sipping through a straw.
Based on coloring alone, it was hard to distinguish the questioner from the listener, as both had black hair and yellowish eyes.
However, their auras were completely different.
The woman who asked the question had her neck exposed, her hair tied back neatly in a ponytail that swayed behind her.
She gave off a vibrant, energetic impression at a glance.
On the other hand, the woman being questioned had long hair that reached down to her hips. Her pale skin gave her a somewhat frail, sickly appearance.
Their names were Celine Haster and Ria Percus, respectively.
At Celine’s question, Ria nodded with a somewhat exhausted expression.
“Yes. To be precise, it’s the preparation process for the entrance exam. The Academy’s Department of Commerce is famous for giving out all sorts of bizarre assignments. It’s not uncommon for people to settle down here months in advance.”
“Where do you have the money for that? I heard your merchant guild went bankrupt.”
“Thanks to an anonymous benefactor who provided the funds…”
It was a modest answer, but Celine didn't look convinced in the slightest.
Celine shot Ria a skeptical look.
Ria, of course, didn't flinch. Instead, she offered a bright smile.
“So, where is my beloved brother?”
“The North.”
Celine tossed the answer out casually, as if it wasn't a secret worth keeping.
Doubt filled Ria’s eyes.
Publicly, Ian’s departure for the North was being kept a secret. Since it was technically an intelligence mission, they saw no reason to announce it.
However, it was information that anyone in the know already possessed.
The group had used a Warp Gate, passed through the heart of Yurdina City, and stayed overnight at Yurdina Castle.
It was impossible for rumors not to spread.
They simply weren't mentioning it openly.
If Ria had spent just a few more days looking, she would have come across the information soon enough.
Her mistake was rushing to the Academy too quickly out of her desire to see her brother.
Celine glanced around at their surroundings before lowering her voice to explain the situation as she knew it.
“Senior Yurdina… you know, the next head of the Yurdina family? Seria’s older sister. That senior asked Ian for help. Apparently, the Elves’ movements have been suspicious lately.”
It was an explanation Celine had given her best effort, but Ria didn't seem to accept it at all.
In fact, she shot back a question filled with even deeper suspicion.
“No, wait. How long has it been since he almost died?”
“Um, about a month?”
Celine’s voice was surprisingly calm.
No, perhaps it was the voice of someone who had given up. As if to prove it, Celine’s face looked utterly hollow as she spoke.
She had been through this several times already.
She was slowly beginning to realize just how important Ian was, and more importantly, how heavy the burden of responsibility he carried was.
In fact, every time Celine realized that, her heart ached.
It felt as if her own incompetence was stabbing her in the gut like a blade.
Even if she wanted to share that burden, she couldn't. That was why Celine had been immersing herself in training day and night recently.
She wanted to stand by Ian’s side again, no matter what.
But that was strictly Celine’s perspective.
Ria was someone who lost all reason whenever Ian was involved. There was no way she would just accept it and move on.
The girl suddenly flared up, raising her voice.
“No, that’s so unscrupulous! Do you know how much my brother suffered? Sending someone who almost died back to the battlefield?! And you just stood by and watched, Sister Celine?!”
“Hey, hey. Calm down. It’s not like I didn't have anything to say about it…”
“I’m going to lodge a formal protest with the Yurdina family.”
Ria spat out the words, her body trembling with rage.
A fierce fire was now burning in her golden eyes.
“It’s obvious to me that there was some kind of coercion or blackmail involved! I mean, it’s my brother, right? There’s no way he’d volunteer to go to such a dangerous place! Unless that next head of Yurdina seduced my innocent brother…”
“Yes, my sister did what?”
The voice was thick with a chilling frost.
It was so cold that Ria, who had been ranting and raving, flinched. Her wide golden eyes turned toward the source of the cold front.
It was the girl with gray hair, Seria.
She was wearing a thin smile.
For Seria, who rarely showed any change in expression, this was a rare sight. But for some reason, it wasn't being taken in a positive way.
Ria felt a cold sweat run down her spine.
“Are you suggesting my sister did such a thing, young lady? My sister, who is respected by the people and her vassals alike, and who has always led us to victory with her rational and appropriate judgment—what exactly are you saying she did?”
“Th-that’s… I didn't mean she definitely did it…”
Ria was a merchant by trade.
She had rarely experienced the killing intent of a true swordsman before. Furthermore, she had just finished uttering a string of uncharacteristically rude remarks.
She couldn't help but shrink back completely.
Even so, Ria couldn't let go of her lingering doubt.
“I-I’m just saying the possibility can’t be entirely denied…”
Of course, her rebellion didn't last long.
An illusion of a shadow seemed to loom behind Seria. Ria trusted her animalistic instincts.
The girl’s head immediately slammed onto the table.
“I’m sorry! I got too excited and misspoke!”
“Yes, I’ll let it slide since you’re Senior Ian’s sister.”
Seria replied without losing her smile.
At that unhesitating answer, Ria let out a faint groan.
She hadn't realized it back at the Percus mansion, but this woman was dangerous.
She might look quiet on the surface, but she was exceptionally sensitive about certain topics. If one wasn't careful, they might suffer an unexpected calamity.
Celine let out a small sigh as she watched the spectacle.
Her attitude said she had expected as much.
She skillfully changed the subject.
“So, what kind of business are you planning to do?”
Ria wasn't one to miss the opportunity. She immediately lifted her head and began her explanation.
“O-oh! Right! Well, um… I’m planning to deal in Demonic Beast-related products. They’re really popular lately, starting from the Capital, right? I want to gradually reduce the aversion to Demonic Beasts and turn them into a kind of trendy item…”
“D-Demonic Beasts?!”
Celine, who couldn't get enough of Demonic Beast meat, her eyes instantly sparkled.
Ria, emboldened by the reaction, began to ramble about her plans. She mentioned how she had been planning this for a while, but her merchant guild had gone bankrupt just before she could realize it.
She explained that she had already secured the distribution networks and other necessary connections.
Of course, for Seria, it was all information she had zero interest in.
She simply sipped her tea, resting her chin on her hand as she thought to herself.
My sister, seducing Senior Ian with her body?
Pfft. A small, mocking laugh escaped the girl’s lips.
As if that would ever happen.
They were two people she loved and respected so much.
Such a disaster could never occur.
What if it did?
Even the mere thought was so revolting that Seria almost gagged.
Yes, there was no way.
Absolutely not.
*
Meanwhile, after transporting the Elves to the military camp, Ian headed to his tent. He wanted to close his eyes and get some rest.
The Elves needed treatment. A full interrogation could only begin after the Saintess gave her approval.
However, the real problem lay elsewhere.
Ian opened his eyes at the sound of rustling. Because he had been sleeping so soundly, he hadn't even realized someone had entered.
No, even so, he should have noticed.
Ian was a martial artist who had reached the Expert level. He should have woken up at even the slightest signal.
But when he opened his eyes, a suspicious shadow entered his vision. It was already sitting astride his waist.
Judging by the soft elasticity, it was definitely a woman.
Ian was able to deduce her identity in the dim light.
Flowing brown hair and eyes that resembled blue sapphires.
It was Elsie Lainella.
The man cried out in shock.
“Wait, Senior Elsie! What are you doing right now…!”
“Q-Quiet!”
But Elsie seemed to have already lost her mind.
Her trembling hands were fumbling over Ian’s upper body. It looked like she was trying to undress him, but since she had no experience with men, her touch was incredibly clumsy.
At this rate, it looked like it would take until the next morning for her to get his clothes off.
Elsie’s eyes were already spinning. It meant she was extremely flustered.
“I-It’s all your fault… Why, why is it only me who can’t!”
And as he caught the faint scent of alcohol on her breath, Ian squeezed his eyes shut.
Ah, damn these drinking habits.
He vowed to impose a ban on alcohol for the group while they were in the North.
Once he got through this crisis, that is.
Wait, is this an opportunity?
Ian was a little confused.