Chapter 120
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 120
Even if he refused, Rashumer had nothing to lose by listening. In fact, the more information he could pry out, the more he stood to gain.
"Isn't it about time you brought out that magic tool?"
At Rashumer's sudden words, Uin and Barisik shared the same startled expression, a split second apart. They were terrible at hiding their emotions.
"The one your commander packed for you. If he had any foresight, he would have given you one. Stop testing the waters and bring it out. I need to hear what he has to say."
"Hah."
With a short, admiring grunt, Barisik pulled a communication magic tool from his vest.
*
[I am Ar Edelbreas Galf Rivisten, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Dungeon Subjugation Union Headquarters.]
"I am the man you were looking for."
[It is an honor to speak with you, Sir Rashumer.]
The mana-imbued communication tool glowed faintly as they exchanged brief pleasantries.
As soon as they confirmed each other's identities, Rashumer placed the device on the dining table.
He leaned down, bringing his eyes level with it.
He did so because of the voice on the other end. Ar's voice was surprisingly calm.
Of the countless people who had approached Rashumer with an agenda over the years, Ar seemed to be the type who could skillfully lead a conversation. When speaking with such an opponent, he had to focus completely to extract any useful information.
[...]
After the greeting, Ar said nothing more. He was waiting for Rashumer to ask the first question.
Rashumer chuckled silently at the bold response. It was quite unexpected that Ar, after sending emissaries all this way to recruit him, wouldn't be the one to speak first.
Pondering what to say, Rashumer broke the silence.
"Who is this enemy you're going to such lengths to defeat?"
[Swallow.]
"As I thought."
There was no hesitation in Ar's answer.
Since Rashumer was aware of recent events in the Empire, he already had a rough idea of the situation.
"Your companions were hiding it, though."
[Because I asked them to.]
A light chuckle came through the device.
Hearing the sound, Rashumer returned the chuckle.
Indeed, there was nothing to gain by announcing from the start that they were going to subjugate an ancient monster.
Is he speaking to me directly to ease their burden?
No, it’s more than that.
...Can he really claim he will defeat Swallow without a single shred of hesitation?
"I agreed to this call to pry a few things out of you, but I also figured your two emissaries would be far too persistent if I simply turned them away."
[The fact that you can read people so well only makes me want you on our side even more, Sir Rashumer.]
Indeed, contrary to his boisterous personality, Barisik was a persistent man. Uin also possessed a will befitting a Hero—and above all, she harbored a complex mix of admiration and resentment toward Rashumer.
The envy of a current Hero looking at a former one, and the inability to understand why someone with such power would live in seclusion in a remote corner of the Empire.
Until she could come to terms with it herself, she would never back down, even if she failed a hundred times.
"I have no desire to recite my entire past to companions I've only just met simply to make them understand why I can't go. If I have to convince someone, I'd rather it be you."
[I, too, wished to speak with you directly, Sir Rashumer.]
"With such a grave situation ahead, you must have prepared a tool like this and done quite a bit of background research on me, haven't you?"
[Background research? Far from it. Please think of it as the minimum courtesy to ensure a smooth conversation.]
"In any case, if you've done your research, then you should already know, Your Majesty's trusted aide."
Rashumer, who had simply been calling Ar 'you' until now, adopted a more sarcastic tone.
Commander-in-Chief of the Dungeon Subjugation Union Headquarters.
The vanguard of the Empire's dungeon subjugation.
It was obviously a key position—and since it held military authority over the subjugation squads, it was inevitably a seat that only someone favored by the Emperor could occupy.
From that perspective, Ar, in Rashumer's eyes, was merely an emissary carrying out the Emperor's orders.
In other words, whether it was Ar or Uin, it was all a facade.
...It was the Empire that was demanding Rashumer's reinstatement.
And Rashumer...
"Then you must also know how much I despise the upper echelons of the Empire."
[I am also aware of the unfortunate events of the past.]
"Then let me make one thing perfectly clear. I have no intention of helping, nor do I have the strength to do so."
[No strength to spare? The very fact that you're speaking with me now means you must have already subdued Uin and Barisik.]
"I wouldn't be here if they had fought with the intent to kill. Besides, a lot of time has passed. I don't even have my beloved sword, Tanabella, anymore."
[...]
"I heard Bern lost it in the Primordial Core."
[The Empire has many treasures. They may not compare to a masterpiece like Tanabella, but we have some that come reasonably close.]
"As you said, they won't compare to Tanabella. How could an old man like me, without even his original sword, be stronger than Uin?"
[You possess things that Uin does not.]
"Let me finish. Uin may be a fellow Hero, but she is far more talented than I ever was. You know I barely survived the Sand Hell in my twenties, don't you? In contrast, Uin has already earned the title 'Hero of Sand Hell' at her age."
[...]
"A Hero's talent grows with their physical body. Uin's body still has a few years left to fully mature, which means she'll grow stronger even if she does nothing for the next few years."
[I know.]
"With a few more years of growth, she'll approach perfection—enough to rival most Great Evil Cave bosses single-handedly."
Having said his piece, Rashumer cleared his throat.
After a brief pause, Ar slowly began to speak.
[...Then let us start over from the beginning.]
His voice dropped a register.
[First, your premise is wrong. And you are mistaken about everything that follows from it.]
"First," Ar said, taking a breath.
[First, I am not undertaking this task as someone favored by His Majesty. His Majesty knows absolutely nothing about this matter.]
"..."
[Second, and for the same reason, I am not asking you to become a Hero again, Sir Rashumer. I am asking you to become my knight.]
"A knight?"
[A member of the Edelbreas Black Wolf Knights.]
"...Is there a third?"
[Yes. While you may occasionally fight on the front lines, I will not be asking you to face Swallow. The ones who will fight the ancient monster have already been chosen. I don't want you as a fighter; I want you as Uin's mentor.]
"Didn't I just tell you? Uin is not yet complete. Give her five or ten more years. There is no need to rush."
[There are things that cannot wait that long. You must see and confirm the details for yourself.]
"I can't trust you based on that alone."
[But she might be walking the same path as you, Sir Rashumer.]
Rashumer flinched. Damn it, I can't read his true intentions.
Ar continued in a calm yet serious voice.
[You of all people should understand, Sir Rashumer. She is the 'Hero of Sand Hell,' after all. Uin also ended up in the 'Sand Hell,' at the Empire's request. It was a fate she accepted... just as you once did.]
The only differences were that Uin's fighting style was different, she was better prepared, and she was lucky enough to escape without major casualties.
After that incident back then, Rashumer had been consumed by many things.
Hatred, resentment, guilt toward his companions. Among those emotions was also a deep self-loathing.
If only I had been a little stronger.
If only I, Rashumer, had been strong enough that the Empire couldn't touch me.
Or if I'd been strong enough to face the order to go to the Sand Hell head-on.
[Since Uin is also a knight of the Edelbreas Black Wolf Knights, I don't like seeing her manipulated by the Imperial Family either... but I can't block their every move. If a similar situation arises again, who knows what the outcome will be.]
"Are you threatening me?"
[I am merely expressing my concern. Calamity does not wait for humans to grow.]
Rashumer's swallow was exceptionally loud. Whether Ar didn't hear it or simply pretended not to, he continued in a dry voice.
[The reason you agreed to speak with me is because you saw 'something' different in this proposal compared to all the others. That something is Uin.]
"Stop."
[A fellow Hero, manipulated by the Empire, yet unable to abandon its people—her heart, her will, her fighting spirit.]
"I said, stop."
[...If her only failing was a lack of strength, then you are the one who can help her gain it, Sir Rashumer.]
Silence fell.
Although both spoke in polite tones and neither raised their voice, the atmosphere on both sides, separated by a vast distance, grew equally tense.
The silence cooled the heated air, and Rashumer, having regained his composure, finally spoke in a weary voice.
"...Do you have anything else to say?"
[Lastly, there is one thing you were mistaken about, Sir Rashumer.]
"What is it?"
[Jakoff.]
The moment he heard that name, Rashumer felt something sink heavily in his chest.
Unconcerned, Ar continued.
[Brenda.]
[Arnold.]
[Kenneth.]
[Hugh.]
[Reinhardt.]
Six people in total.
The heads of the six families who deceived Rashumer's companions and sent them to die in the Sand Hell.
"What are you trying to say?"
[It wasn't six.]
"What..."
[It was eight. There are two more you failed to find, Sir Rashumer.]
"Are you playing games with me..."
He couldn't finish his sentence. Rashumer knew all too well that this was absolutely not a joking matter.
[The remaining two are living out their old age in luxury. The eyes constantly watching you, Sir Rashumer, didn't all belong to the Empire. A good number of those watchers were sent by those two, terrified you might discover their identities.]
Rashumer couldn't answer. Only after delivering this final blow did a hint of a smile enter Ar's voice.
[And I know the names of those two.]
*
The door opened.
Uin and Barisik had been caught by the cook and were repairing the collapsed wall. The cook was preparing a simple meal in a relatively intact corner of the kitchen.
Hearing the door open, everyone paused their tasks to look at Rashumer. His face was grim.
Just as the cook was about to say something, Barisik, who had been crouching to clear the debris, stood up and asked first.
"How did it go?"
In a voice as heavy as the weight on his heart, Rashumer replied.
"I..."
*
The mana flowing through the communication magic tool swirled around the orb like steam before dispersing into the air.
Having finished the conversation, Ar stood up and staggered. As he stumbled, Garot rushed to support him.
"I'm fine."
Though he said so, he was not fine at all.
His body could not accept the black energy, but it continued to nibble away at him bit by bit.
The anomalies didn't stop there. Its insidious influence had now reached his health, leaving him physically drained.
He raised his head and looked at the sky.
The sun was still high.
"There is much to do today."
Soon regaining his strength, Ar carefully took a step. Garot, supporting him, matched her pace to his.
The place they were heading to was a hidden sanctuary, its very existence unknown to most of the Empire's subjugation squad members.
As they walked, Garot spoke.
"We received a report that Nerit and Ireira, who set out before Uin and Barisik, have made contact with Hero Sian."
"The result?"
"They say the persuasion is nearly complete. According to Nerit, he's about ninety percent convinced."
"...Sir Rashumer will join us soon, too."
"They really are all gathering."
"Because a war is about to break out."
"..."
Garot looked at Ar, her expression asking if this was truly the best way. But Ar didn't even spare her a glance.
It wasn't a war he had started.
It was a festering wound that was bound to burst eventually.
"If we can't stop it, winning is the best option."
Flags of the Empire hung in the four corners of the massive room. After dispelling the protective magic cast on them and pushing aside a stone statue, a hidden space was revealed.
They stepped into a sanctuary honoring a noble soul.
Whenever a war broke out, the Empire had always offered prayers here.
The coffin in the center of the sanctuary belonged to a hero of the Empire who had known nothing but victory. He was a symbol of triumph, a key figure in the Empire's founding.
Standing before the coffin, Ar bowed his head.
"Please bring peace to the Empire."
*
"Strangely, my ears are itchy."
"You don't even have ears."
"Still, it gets like this sometimes. It feels as if someone is looking for me... So, Boss, I was thinking, maybe this is a sign that the magic power dwelling inside me is awakening. Ah, what if I end up becoming the second Erebos?"
"A second Erebos, huh."