Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Hunt Begins
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The innkeeper just shrugged his shoulders. It was an attitude that said he had neither the means nor the will to check.
"Magic Department?"
"Yes. Wasn't it that an entire village vanished? A mage came in person to lead the investigation. Ah, you know what a mage is, right?"
He was someone who traveled with a carriage that size, so of course he knew, but the innkeeper asked anyway, just in case.
"Yeah. I know."
"Ahaha. Yes, yes. Good thing you didn't say you didn't know, or I'd have been embarrassed. Truth be told, I first learned what a mage was back then too. They say they're people with tremendous power. Some say they can even create thunder and lightning... Anyway, they investigated thoroughly before leaving, so it must be true. After that, we always make sure to cook our food properly."
Ian nodded as if listening attentively, but his mind was racing with complexity. As the innkeeper said, the disappearance of an entire village was certainly a major incident.
But...
'The already short-staffed Magic Department dispatches personnel to investigate a small provincial town? Mages wield magic, not handle cleanup like investigations. Special investigation teams are usually under the Administrative Division, not the Magic Department.'
Like Bertie Erika. Molin probably fell into that category too. It was true that those dispatched to various provinces from the administration followed a set pattern.
"If you need anything, just let me know."
"Yeah. Thanks for the soup."
"I'll call you when the meal is ready."
Creak.
As the innkeeper bowed and left, Berik, who had been waiting, grabbed the bread with both hands and shoved it into his mouth greedily. He seemed to have learned some manners now, at least.
"So that dog lives in Danil? Alone?"
"If that's the only inhabitant, yeah."
"The villagers are all dead, though. What does it eat?"
Ian glanced sideways at Berik's chatter, eyeing the last piece of bread disappearing into his mouth. Berik noticed and pulled out the half-eaten piece.
"...Here, yours."
"What am I supposed to do with something that's been in your mouth? Eat it all. I was just looking because it's surprising you care that much about the dog."
"It's not caring, it's gathering info. That mutt had the nerve to bite my hand? Next time I see it, it's dead for real."
"Next time? When's that?"
Ian smiled faintly. The Magic Department's involvement was suspicious, but the road to the capital was long. He had no intention of turning back there.
Knock knock.
"Ian. It's me."
"Ah, Lord Romandro, come in."
Romandro, who had been unpacking in the next room, entered dressed for going out. Berik wiped his mouth and looked up at him curiously.
"It's almost night. Where are you off to?"
"They say they only sell beer here."
"Good grief."
"While I'm at it, I'll pick up some necessities too. Ahem."
"I'll go with you!"
"No. If I go with you, what should take ten minutes will drag on and wear me out. Anyway, I'm heading out. Need anything?"
Rejected outright, Berik clicked his tongue and licked the soup bowl clean. Ian shook his head and scanned the worn menu on the wall. It was overall standard fare, but nothing to really melt away the fatigue.
"On your way out, tell everyone if they want something to eat, don't hesitate. Beer is fine, but remind the coachmen we leave early tomorrow."
"Got it. Will do."
Ian handed Romandro the pouch containing the travel funds.
"And tomorrow, we'll go via Longin. That's the only place with a bank open."
"Is that so? Alright. See you later."
"Yes. Don't overdo it."
"Yeah, yeah! Got it!"
Romandro chuckled excitedly as he left the room. On this harsh winter journey, his demeanor made it feel like a real trip.
Plop!
"Ian, belly full and back warm... Guess we don't need the imperial palace... Hngggg!"
"You're falling asleep mid-sentence?"
Berik, who had been clowning around beside him, plunged into sleep in an instant. Ian suddenly recalled a story from some province about pigs falling asleep while eating.
'No wonder he gets along with them.'
Ian let out an absurd chuckle and cleared the dishes. Then he too surrendered to the bed for a short nap.
* * *
How much time had passed?
Thud! Thud thud!
Ian cracked his eyes open at the vibrations from downstairs. The candle on the table had burned halfway, suggesting a couple of hours. Berik was out cold with his mouth agape. Ian rubbed his face against the pillow and frowned.
'Why's it so rowdy downstairs?'
Bang! Crash!
Still half-asleep, he couldn't quite make out the sounds. Something breaking? Or not...?
"Aaagh!"
But at the scream, his eyes snapped open, and he bolted upright on reflex.
"Berik."
"Whyyy..."
"Get up. Something's happening outside."
"Time to eat yet? Yawwwn."
"No, not that..."
Clatter clatter!
Bang! Boom!
Footsteps ascended from the first floor to the second. Doors were being flung open all along the corridor.
Berik finally sensed something off and blinked, but he was still sprawled on the bed, groping for his sword.
Bang!
Berik hurled the blanket at the opening door. He leaped forward swiftly, thrusting his sword through it. It felt like a person by the shape...
Stab!
"Huh?"
Berik's eyes widened at the unfamiliar sensation. It wasn't the feeling of piercing flesh, parting organs, and warm blood spurting.
Swish.
The blanket fell away, revealing the intruder.
"What the hell?"
His face was masked, but his pupils through the slits had no focus. More than that, the blackish skin and the stench of rot wafting up.
Ian covered his nose with his sleeve and muttered.
"Berik. Step back for a sec."
"Huh? Oh, yeah."
Despite being attacked, it didn't flinch. No red blood stained the sword as it slid out. Berik examined his blade in confusion, while the figure twisted its body unnaturally, jerking its head side to side.
"Why the hell is an undead here...?"
Undead. The general term for corpses that wouldn't die. Did that mean a necromancer nearby?
The undead staggered, slammed its head against the wall, and began muttering something.
-...Uh.
"What'd that bastard say?"
"Shh."
Outside, the roars, screams, and fierce combat sounds continued. Ian and Berik held their breath, focusing on the undead's words.
-Uuuuuh.
"......?"
Just meaningless noise. But the voice was eerily familiar—very much like that dog's from earlier in the day.
Boom!
Ian realized it just as footsteps approached from outside the door. This time, not undead—real people, bandits.
"Ah, there you are. You're the carriage owners from downstairs, right?"
"Fuck, what kind of plot twist is this?"
Berik irritably flicked his sword. The bandit cackled and tried to enter, but the undead stiffly blocked him.
"What the—why's this thing acting up?"
He tried shoving it aside, but it wouldn't budge. As if telling him not to approach Ian and Berik. The bandit didn't hesitate, hacking off its limbs and shoving it away.
Slash!
Thud!
The undead collapsed limply forward. For the first time, a spark of life flickered in its eyes looking up at Ian and Berik, then faded. The bandit stepped forward, sword raised toward the bewildered pair.
"Where you folks from? Heading where? Pulling ten carriages means your pouches must be fat. Mind if I check?"
Stab!
Before he finished, Berik's sword flashed like lightning into his gut. Unlike the undead, thick blood dripped steadily.
"I asked how this shit's unfolding. You little punk."
"Hngk!"
"Ah, yeah. That's more like it. Finally feels right."
Berik grinned satisfactorily at the dripping blood. The bandit stared at his pierced belly in disbelief, blinking rapidly. Then came the explosive scream.
"Aaagh!"
As if to announce the pain's magnitude, he charged at Berik roaring. But Berik casually grabbed his face and smashed it into the wall.
Crack!
"Gaaahk..."
Once more.
Boom!
First his nose broke, then the door shattered as he sprawled. Ian stepped into the corridor, backing past the undead still staring up at him with wide eyes.
"Spare me! Please!"
"Kyaaah!"
"That's all the food? Where's the warehouse?"
"B-by the stables, that's all!"
Looking down from the railing, bandits had the inn staff cornered, looting. They swept everything into moldy sacks, leaving a trail of blood.
Slash!
"Aaagh!"
Ian pressed his forehead, trying to piece it together.
For starters, that gaze he felt earlier in the day was indeed the bandits. They must have spotted the carriages entering the village and waited for sundown.
"Berik."
"Yeah?"
Berik was grinding the fallen bandit's head underfoot. Ian grabbed his forehead and infused mana.
Zing.
"Bandits downstairs. Looks like we drew them here."
"Kill 'em all?"
"Got questions, so leave a few alive."
Berik wiped the blood from his sword on his outer coat and leaped down. His steps were light, like a kid rushing to get a gift.
Thwack!
"Wh-what the?"
While Berik cleared a path on the first floor, Ian grabbed the essentials. Then he asked the undead.
"Hey. That you, the dog from earlier?"
-......
No answer. With its head half-severed, only its mouth flapped. Its eyes darted up and down rapidly, vitality draining—the sign of whatever linked it to the undead severing.
-Uuuuuh......
With a groan, thick sludge oozed from every orifice on the undead's face. True death. The murky green liquid seeped into the floorboards. Ian sighed quietly and stepped over the corpse.
Boom!
"Ah, cut it out! Dru! Dru, you dogshit!"
Berik was gleefully wrecking the first floor. A dozen bandits beaten to pulp was secondary; all the shop's odds and ends lay smashed and scattered.
"Berik!"
"Yeah?"
"Stop and hurry to the stables!"
Ian quick-stepped out the back door. Not far off stood the wooden door to the stables. Outside, the severity hit home.
Boom!
"Aaagh! Another one!"
"You crazy fucks! Get lost!"
"Spare us! Please!"
"Kids first—evacuate them!"
Flames and screams filled the air everywhere. Women fled barefoot clutching children; men grabbed anything weapon-like to fight the bandits.
"Lord Ian. What is this?"
"Ah, you!"
One of Romandro's men. Face flushed from drinking somewhere, he couldn't grasp the situation.
"The carriages are gone."
"What?"
Entering, Ian saw excited horses tossing their heads. As the man said, the spot for the carriages was empty.
"Fuck, all our stuff's in there."
Stuff? Mana stones and valuables galore. Ian pressed his forehead and murmured.
"You—find Lord Romandro now. Gather everyone quick."
"Yes, sir."
"Ian, me?"
"Berik. You..."
Then it came: a resolute cheer distinct from the villagers' resistance. Karenna's guards had mobilized. Reinforcements from other areas would arrive if they held a bit longer.
Whistle!
The rampaging bandits whistled signals to each other. Clear retreat order.
"Catch all the fleeing ones."
"Can I kill 'em?"
"Better yet."
"Yes! Berik's on the move~!"
Taat!
With Ian's permission, Berik shot outside like an arrow.