Chapter 179
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 179
Her eyes, brimming with curiosity, sparkled like jewels. Her younger sister’s were shining just as brightly. They were clearly cut from the same cloth; though their demeanors differed, they were identical at their core.
“We’re heading to the dungeon anyway, so what’s the harm in asking? Think of it as a preliminary investigation. Is there some reason you can’t tell us?”
The older one is far too aggressive, Scobina thought. As a member of a merchant guild that dealt not only in goods but also in monsters, she had encountered countless beasts and could say this with absolute certainty.
This wasn’t the look of a monster on its way to meet a new boss. It was dangerous. Anyone with eyes like that could cross the line at any moment.
“That is…”
Fearing the silence would drag on, Scobina started to speak. However, she couldn’t decide what kind of answer she should give them.
It was in that moment of indecision.
“Do you think that makes any sense?!”
A loud, boisterous voice echoed from outside the window.
The sudden commotion shattered their conversation. Soon, a barrage of monstrous shrieks followed that initial shout. Every voice was thick with discontent.
“Did something happen?”
Just as Scobina voiced the question and the older Yaksha sister stood up to check, the noise abruptly died. Instead, the creak of wooden floorboards grew steadily closer. Someone was coming up from the floor below.
“…I am terribly sorry for the sudden intrusion.”
The innkeeper, the source of the footsteps, opened the door and spoke in a groveling tone.
“What is it?”
When the older Yaksha sister asked in a chilling voice, the thoroughly intimidated innkeeper bowed and apologized repeatedly.
“I-I rushed up here because there’s something I must ask. My apologies for disturbing your rest.”
The innkeeper, warily reading the room, turned his gaze toward Scobina.
“Lady Scobina… are you heading to the Primordial Core?”
“…”
“I-I haven’t been digging into your affairs! It's just that I know the Leprechaun Merchant Guild does business with the Primordial Core, so I just… g-guessed.”
Ever since the death of the Orc Chieftain Gakundar, rumors had spread far and wide that the Leprechaun Merchant Guild was under the protection of the Primordial Core. Naturally, monsters in his line of work, who had to be highly sensitive to their clientele, would pay close attention to such details.
True or not, there was no reason to deny it now. Having made her judgment, Scobina replied.
“That is correct.”
“W-Well, just a moment ago… a group claiming to belong to the Primordial Core entered. I came to tell you in case they might be your companions.”
“Them?”
The older Yaksha sister, who had somehow climbed back onto the windowsill, spoke up.
Far in the distance, in the marketplace illuminated by elemental light, a group of monsters was loitering about. The innkeeper, who had entered the room, followed her gaze and said:
“Yes, those are the ones who came earlier.”
“They look like those punks from the north.”
At the older Yaksha sister’s words, Scobina approached the windowsill. Seeing her struggling with her short stature, the younger Yaksha sister simply lifted her up, giving her a clear view of the group.
A yeti, an Ice Plate Dragon, and a white-scaled Lizardman.
Just as the Yaksha had said, most of them were monsters that inhabited the north.
I wasn't told any other monsters were coming to the Primordial Core.
She was certain of this, as there had been no mention of it when they last spoke two weeks ago. Besides, they didn’t look impressive enough for the Primordial Core to recruit them separately.
Among monsters who traveled in packs, a chaotic mix of races usually meant they were common thugs, unless they were some kind of special unit.
“They seem like the type to run wild, piggybacking on the Primordial Core's reputation,” Scobina remarked.
Such groups used to be rare, but ever since the Empire was paralyzed, the number of posers had been steadily increasing. In Scobina’s eyes, it was simply pathetic.
“Well, it is that time of year. The Giant Turtle should be migrating south about now,” the innkeeper chimed in.
“The Giant Turtle…?”
“Sister.”
As if she couldn't be bothered with the innkeeper's idle chatter, the older Yaksha sister changed the subject.
“Think they’re strong?”
“We’ll have to clash to find out, Sister.”
“Right?”
The older Yaksha’s lips curled into a grin, as if she’d gotten the exact answer she wanted. Soon, her gaze shifted to Scobina.
“…”
She seemed to be asking for permission.
Hiding her uneasy expression, Scobina considered the situation.
Causing trouble wasn’t ideal, but Scobina had no authority to stop them. There was no such clause in their agreement.
“Just keep the trouble to a minimum…”
“I’ll be right back!”
Taking Scobina's words as consent, the older Yaksha sister left that promise behind and leaped out of the window.
The innkeeper stomped his feet in a panic, as if a disaster had just struck, before rushing back downstairs. The younger Yaksha, seemingly amused by the whole affair, smiled brightly and picked up the bowl in front of her.
“My sister asked a question but left before she got an answer.”
The bowl was filled with a clear liquid. Scobina, who had been curious about the bowl she’d been nursing for a while, asked:
“Is that alcohol?”
“No, it’s water. You can’t test your strength properly when you’re drunk. Alcohol is bad for that.”
“Testing your strength…”
“For generations, our clan has loved strength and served the strong.”
Scobina nodded slightly. The younger Yaksha naturally continued.
“Like my sister said, we’re just curious. It’s not like we plan on fighting Lord Swallow… especially after he already took down one of our own.”
In Knecht, a Yaksha claiming to be a descendant of Kubera was blown to pieces. We have no intention of challenging Swallow.
“But for a warrior, measuring one’s own standing is a fundamental virtue.”
After gulping down the water as if it were alcohol, the younger Yaksha sister continued.
“Since we came all this way to join the dungeon, we have no intention of being mere rank-and-file members like the other monsters you brought, Miss Scobina.”
A smile played on her lips as she spoke, the corners of her eyes curving in a way that suggested an ulterior motive.
It was another ominous smile. Organizing her thoughts, Scobina spoke slowly.
“What do you think of the Gatekeeper of the Great Evil Cave?”
“Just what I’d expect from an elite of the merchant guild. Quick-witted, and you answer a question with a question.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, the younger Yaksha sister replied.
“They’re strong. I’m sure of it. But they aren’t terrifying. We have a record of defeating a gatekeeper before.”
Not terrifying. Defeated one before.
—Is that all?
And with that level of confidence, they're coveting the Primordial Core's gatekeeper position? They're delusional. Completely and utterly mistaken. A little thought would tell them that since the boss is far beyond the level of a Great Evil Cave, its gatekeeper wouldn’t be on the same level as others, either.
Still, there was no need to say anything. The moment she offered unsolicited advice and got dragged into this, her own life would be in danger.
Having sorted her thoughts, Scobina replied.
“My apologies for not having a satisfactory answer. I suppose all I can say is that you’ll have to go and see for yourself.”
*
“What rotten luck.”
To think that the ones actually heading to the Primordial Core were staying there.
At first, he had caused a scene, thinking the innkeeper was lying, but the guest registry clearly showed the names of the Leprechaun Merchant Guild. Besides, after seeing their carriage at the depot earlier, it was too much to be a coincidence. The crest was unmistakable.
The Leprechaun Merchant Guild is directly connected to Swallow, so they're dangerous.
The inn was conveniently located midway between the merchant district and the Primordial Core. Too many coincidences to be chance. Avoiding them was wiser than looking for trouble.
Nesboe, the ‘Ice-Stealing Monster’ and leader of the northern group, concluded his thoughts. Taking the form of a small figure made of ice, he was currently passing through the market, perched on the shoulder of the Ice Plate Dragon.
“Once the Leprechaun Merchant Guild leaves, we’ll get to work.”
The northern group’s plan was to subjugate the entire area.
They were a force that had descended from the snowy mountains, timing their arrival with the Giant Turtle’s nesting season.
Walking on eggshells around the Giant Turtle had been annoying enough, but then some ancient monster came out of hiding and utterly crushed the humans. In short, the age of monsters had arrived. They couldn’t stay in the north forever, cowering before the Giant Turtle. They had to seize power in this new chaotic era. That was the shortcut to becoming a true powerhouse.
The only problem was the treatment they received from the monsters of these warmer regions. They were mocked, asked what power a bunch of ice blocks could possibly wield in a place like this.
He’d been ignored and humiliated multiple times on their journey south. But the moment they borrowed the name of the Primordial Core, everyone’s attitude changed.
Currently, the name of the Primordial Core held absolute authority among monsters. Simply saying, “We were recruited by the Primordial Core and gladly came down from the north,” made everyone fall in line.
“How peaceful. The monsters in places like this are usually rich. Tomorrow, we’ll just collect money under the pretext of a Great Evil Cave tax. That will lay the foundation for our dungeon's operating funds.”
Prestige was synonymous with violence, so the northern group caused trouble wherever they went. They were just now returning from a restaurant where they’d flipped tables and ruined food, venting the frustration from their humiliation at the inn.
No one could resist. When they brought up names like ‘the Great Lord Swallow,’ everyone merely wore resentful expressions. No monster was crazy enough to make an enemy of a Great Evil Cave, let alone the Primordial Core.
What a magnificent weapon!
—Just as he was thinking this, the Ice Plate Dragon came to a halt.
A small girl was blocking their path.
She was half-naked, yet covered in all the right places—a peculiar sight. She belonged to a race he’d never seen, but her surprisingly human appearance was enough to make irritation flare within him.
“Who the hell are you?”
Nesboe asked, stepping down from the Ice Plate Dragon’s shoulder. The small monster blocking the path replied:
“Are you the boss? You’re smaller than me.”
“What?”
“Ah, I heard you were a group from the Primordial Core, so I came to take a look. I’m pretty disappointed. Does Lord Swallow really keep things like you as subordinates? Are you really monsters from the Primordial Core?”
What nonsense was this? Nesboe furrowed his brow deeply, the sound of ice fragments cracking off his face.
“Yeah, that’s right. We’re the monsters who are about to become a force for the Primordial Core! And I’m already annoyed as hell after traveling all the way from the north. I wouldn’t feel a shred of guilt about killing a few of you.”
“Hah, a bluff!”
“…”
“But we’re on the same page! I was thinking the exact same thing.”
I’m being completely looked down upon. Thinking this, Nesboe’s voice turned cold.
“…What do you take us for?”
“A bunch of pathetic losers?”
Without another word, Nesboe unleashed all the mana in his body.
‘Ice-Stealing Monster’ was an alias derived from his unique trait. The mana dispersing from his body instantly froze the air, and the atmosphere began to dry as if all moisture was being sucked from it.
Ice clung to his small, thirty-centimeter body at a terrifying pace. It looked as if he were expanding. The now-massive body of ice shifted and reformed itself.
Soon, a giant ice golem standing over three meters tall loomed before the monster in front of him—the Yaksha.
“Oh…”
Crack!
Before the Yaksha could even finish her exclamation of awe, a massive fist of ice slammed into her face.
A sharp crack echoed as the ice fractured. But the fist, cracked from the impact, was instantly mended by his mana. The real problem was the Yaksha. She…
“…”
Despite taking such a massive blow, her cheek was only slightly swollen. Her head had barely turned. That was it. She hadn’t been pushed back a single step.
Even if his claim about the Primordial Core was a lie, he was still a being with no rivals in his territory, the so-called Lord of the Ridges in the northern mountains. For a blow from him to…
“Whoa, just as I’d expect from a monster of the Primordial Core.”
The Yaksha shook her head, a look of amusement on her face. It was as if she were thinking, He hit me first, so now I’m fully justified in hitting back.
“…Just kidding, you really are a pathetic loser.”
The patterns engraved all over the Yaksha’s body glowed crimson.
While Nesboe shrank back in intimidation, the Yaksha kicked off the ground and leaped high into the air.
*
Phase. 2
A carriage from the Leprechaun Merchant Guild entered the forest of Graphenia.
“Scobina of the Leprechaun Merchant Guild. I have fulfilled the request you entrusted to me and am here to report.”
Immediately after her formal greeting, Scobina handed over a rolled-up parchment. As Patrick untied the red knot in the center, the unfurled parchment stretched so long that its end touched the floor.
Taking the paper, Patrick tilted his head slightly as he counted the days.
…Had it been about two and a half weeks since he entrusted the request to Scobina?
Two and a half weeks.
That's a bit faster than expected.
The parchment was densely packed with the names of the monsters Scobina had recruited. After scanning the list, Patrick nodded and asked:
“Is this list in the order of recruitment?”
“Yes.”
The top two were the Yakshas. Below them were names he had heard once or twice…