Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Back Alley Fight
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“Berik.”
“…Kuhk!”
At Ian’s call, Berik shot up. His eyes gleamed sharply without a hint of dullness, but the pillow mark on his cheek clearly showed he’d slept like a baby. Berik shamelessly furrowed his brow and muttered.
“Ah. Staying up all night is seriously tiring. I need to grab some meat when we head out today.”
“Berik. I just heard you snoring.”
“Must’ve misheard?”
Ahem. Berik rubbed under his nose while glancing at Ian. He’d definitely stood watch properly until dawn, but the moment servant Mini coughed, he’d blacked out. Berik kept eyeing Ian warily, afraid of a scolding, as he paced around.
“Nothing happen overnight?”
“Nope. Absolutely nothing.”
“Then at least wash your face before eating. You look a mess.”
“Food! Let’s eat!”
Clatter! Berik bolted upstairs at Ian’s permission. Mini paused while bringing warm soup.
“He’s already gone up? He said he wanted soup at dawn, so I made some. No patience at all.”
“Just set it out with the meal.”
“Yes, understood.”
Mini said that at dawn, he’d come out with bloodshot eyes wide open, standing at the front gate. He seemed to handle tasks well, so Ian entered the dining room satisfied. Lady Vivianna and Romandro were already there in light attire.
“Good morning, Lord Ian.”
“Thanks to you, Lady. The bed was very comfortable.”
“You have a busy day ahead, so get ready quickly and head out.”
Vivianna seemed to have meticulously written a shopping list overnight. She read down the neatly folded paper, slowly reciting the route through the commercial district for the day.
Under the warm sunlight piercing through the buttery aroma and cool air, Ian felt a rare peace. Hasha did too, sitting quietly in his chair sipping milk.
“Hasha. Any scents? Different from yesterday?”
-No. Especially now, the butter smell is too strong.
Hasha’s nose twitched in ecstasy.
‘Was it unnecessary worry?’
After making enemies in the borderlands, stepping into their den was much the same. Plus, facing Marib and Gail in succession had him on edge.
“Food! Food!”
…He’d taken it out on poor Berik.
Feeling a bit sorry, Ian personally poured him tea. Oblivious or not, Berik started devouring the table’s food.
“Kuhahaha! Delicious!”
“Sorry, Lady. Might not be good for the baby.”
“Oh, no. I saw them eat out yesterday. It’s nice to see him eat so heartily.”
“Mini! Prepare the carriage to be heated inside.”
“Yes, Lord Romandro!”
Just beyond the upscale residential area, the streets grew complicated. With crowds, illegal messenger birds zipping between carriages, and kids on bicycles, traffic would jam up. To avoid shivering in the cold, heating the carriage in advance was key.
“So, where we going first?”
Berik asked, chewing bread, and Vivianna answered instead.
“We’ll drop off the knight’s sword first. There’s an old smithy nearby. They sharpen blades amazingly well. Leave it there, buy clothes, eat, then pick it up after.”
Berik nodded, finishing his meal. His dull blade was better for bludgeoning anyway.
“Alright! Let’s go! Guuulp.”
“Good heavens. Berik!”
“…Sorry.”
Hasha growled with extreme annoyance. And so their peaceful morning began.
* * *
“This is the smithy.”
“Ian, Romandro, and I will wait here, so hurry back.”
“Got it. Berik. Come on.”
“Yessir. Time to sharpen our black blade~!”
Not far from Romandro’s mansion. Ian and Berik entered with their swords. Amid the humid sweat and ear-splitting metal clangs.
Whiiiing!
Clang! Claaang! Clang!
Berik plugged his ears and yelled something right beside him, but even that was inaudible. Ian scanned around and spotted a yellow bell.
Click.
Pressing it lit up lanterns visible to the smiths. A sort of doorbell signaling customers. They instantly stopped hammering and turned to the entrance.
“Master! Customer!”
“Yeah, yeah. What brings you here, sir?”
Sir, right? The smith addressing Ian glanced at Berik and trailed off.
“The blade’s too dull. Sharpen it sharp.”
“One moment. Hm? This a sword?”
“Yes. Price?”
“Five dong coins should do, but that’s not the issue. Do you know what it’s made of?”
“No. I’m no expert.”
He’d just thought it dark-colored. The smith examined it gravely, and others gathered to gawk.
“What’s that? Why the color?”
“Post-treated with momentum?”
“Even denser. Not monster stone, surely.”
“Don’t jinx it! Monster stones aren’t common!”
“Sir. If you don’t know what it is, we’re not liable if it breaks while sharpening.”
Ian looked to Berik at the smith’s question. What now? But he dug his ear casually and nodded.
“Even if it breaks more, fine. Better halved—it’d stab easier.”
“Do as you see fit. Please take good care of it.”
While Ian paid, the smiths kept inspecting Berik’s sword. Seemed the thieves had stolen something impressive.
“We’ll pick it up by evening.”
“Yes! Thank you! We’ll sharpen it with utmost care!”
Creak! Slam!
Outside, Berik’s face was beet red from the smithy’s heat. Ian’s probably wasn’t much different.
Swipe.
Ian paused boarding the carriage. Subtle footsteps crunching snow behind. Berik tilted his head—why not boarding?—and Vivianna twisted the handle, thinking it stuck. Ian lightly tapped the window to signal no.
Tap tap.
“Lord Romandro. Head to the tailor first.”
“Hm? Ian, you?”
“I’ll walk to cool off from the heat. I know the way, no worries. Past the crossroad, left immediately, right?”
Had he been here before? He knew the central area inside out. Puzzled but unquestioning, Romandro urged the coachman.
Neigh!
As the carriage left, Berik gaped in disbelief.
“Ian! Me? Lo-Romandro! Take me toooo!”
“You’re with me.”
“No, it’s freezing out here!”
“Come. Follow slowly.”
Ian turned into an alley opposite the carriage. Grumbling but lost, Berik had no choice but follow. They delved into quiet, twisting back alleys. Midday shadows from buildings hid the sun, down to the city’s underbelly.
Clack clack!
By then, Berik noticed the tail. He rubbed his bare hands on his jacket, muttering.
“Should’ve bought a new one while dropping off.”
“You’ve got money, huh, Berik.”
“Master’ll buy it, right?”
“This way.”
Thud! Thud thud clack!
The eerie pursuit continued. The stalker moved nimbly, refusing to lose them. Or trying not to. But...
Ta!
“Ah.”
Rounding a corner, the pair vanished clean. The pursuer panted, scanning around. No obvious side paths. As she gritted her teeth and turned back.
“Hi~?”
Smack!
Berik lunged with a fist. Sudden attack, but she stably blocked. Using the rebound momentum for a counter, her robe billowed like waves.
Thwack!
“Huh.”
Berik barely blocked, blinking in genuine shock. But soon his eyes lit up, grinning like he’d found prey.
“Hey! You can fight!”
“Shut up! Are you Ian?”
“Yeah. I’m Ian~.”
Thwack! Thud!
Smaaack!
Seamless exchanges without openings.
Female voice, but her stance was no amateur. Polished warrior form unlike Berik’s raw style. Strength equal—astonishing kept echoing in his head.
“Berik. She’s left-handed.”
Uses left fist mainly—right side relatively open. At Ian’s hint, Berik dove right, headbutting her jaw.
Smaaack!
“Aaak!”
Something shattered properly. Berik rubbed his forehead, poking her side.
“Hey hey. Get up. We’re not done yet...”
Zing.
Her face as she raised her head: deep navy mid-bob, neat layered hair signaling a privileged upbringing.
And eyes gleaming fiercely. Black pupils swirled with sharp blue aura.
“…Sword-Mage?”
“You’re Berik! Die!”
Flash!
Headbutt bloodied her nose. She unleashed mana, extending her hand. Flickering blue dagger in air. She flung it at Berik like a toss.
Shiiiing!
“Uwaat! What the fuck is that!”
“Berik!”
Too fast to dodge. Berik flinched in shock; Ian explosively released mana waves.
Boom!
Earth-shaking roar shook the alley, muddy dust flying everywhere. Visibility zero. Ian waved it clear. The pursuer sprawled gasping.
“What. She attacks and falls? Why?”
“…Shut up! Huff, huff...”
“Seemed like her finisher, Berik.”
“Ah. One-shot and done?”
At their words, she bit her lip, glaring. No rebuttal—it was true. Never expected her ultimate used like that.
“Now we ask. Weapons? None?”
“Drawing on the unarmed is shame and waste.”
Berik cracked his knuckles approaching; she staggered up, resuming stance, spitting blood and a broken molar.
“Ah, tough one. Wanna introduce ourselves?”
“I am!”
She shrieked like a battle cry, charging with a fist.
“The proud daughter of Petreio, former captain of the Imperial Palace Guard!”
Petreio.
Ian instantly recalled the familiar name.
The man who, on Molin’s orders, tried to kill him but upheld loyalty by suicide.
“Barsabe Brute!”
“Ooh, yeah! Nice to meet ya! No proud parents here! Fuckin’ just Berik!”
“Father’s enemy!”
“Wrong address, bitch!”
Smaaack!
Fists simultaneously smashed faces. Ian winced as if it hurt him more.