Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Devil's Cradle (4)
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For the time being, Lilia would stay by Carne's side until he woke up.
"I can't just abandon my brother who collapsed while talking to me, even if I don't know why, right?"
"If he wakes up and causes a scene, just send him to me."
"It's fine! I've got plenty of experience calming down people who make a fuss at the church!"
Lilia shook her cute little fist with a grin.
I doubted Carne would go that far with Lilia, but even if he did lose it completely, the gap in their skills was obvious. I'd played around with the Water Spirit Bullet enough to know.
Reassured, Galen left the parlor alone and went straight to find Myra. Permission to meet was granted immediately.
"Your Excellency. About this devil hunt commission..."
"Hm? Changed your mind?"
"Not exactly, but the situation might have. Is the Brutaine Family participating, by any chance?"
"...Did I not mention that?"
Myra paused to recall, then let out a dry chuckle.
She'd gone into exhaustive detail about what devils were exactly and how dangerous the Devil's Cradle was, but skimped on the commission itself.
It was inexperience born from the fact that the bishop rarely hired mercenaries herself. If not for her status, the mercenaries might have grilled her on why she withheld info.
"Sorry. Slipped my mind. Did Lilia tell you?"
"Yes."
"She's right. It was the Brutaines who tipped us off in the first place."
Devil hunts were the church's top priority, but without satellites or anything, they couldn't monitor the whole world. They usually mobilized on reports.
Most tips came from mercenaries or adventurers prowling demon realms, but in the east, whole families reported often too. With all the mountains and demons around, they stumbled on things during their own subjugations.
"Speaking of which, Lilia said the Brutaine second son came by. Did you run into him?"
"Ah, about that..."
Galen spilled the whole story of his tangle with Carne.
Myra listened intently, tossing in only brief questions now and then. She was far calmer than Galen had feared.
"...That's how it happened."
"I see."
Even after hearing it all, Myra looked unperturbed. Galen asked,
"This won't cancel the commission, right?"
"Cancel?"
"Like, if the Brutaines refuse to work with me?"
"Worried about that? No chance. Put your mind at ease."
Myra smirked as she replied.
"The Brutaines tipping us off doesn't make this their show. Devil hunts are church business, period. Back out now? They'd be refusing church cooperation."
"Ah, got it."
"And until this commission ends, you're basically church staff. I hired you myself. If they keep picking fights, it's a challenge to the church."
"As long as it doesn't mess up the job, that's a relief."
"However..."
Myra trailed off in a warning tone as Galen relaxed.
"After the commission, you might face annoyances. Facts are facts—you clashed with a direct Brutaine heir, circumstances be damned."
"Well... I couldn't just bow my head forever when they picked the fight, right?"
Galen scratched his cheek.
Clashing with a family as an individual wasn't wise, but neither did he have to fold to every arrogant punk riding their prestige.
Just as he'd guessed Silver rank started around Water Flow Manipulation level 30 with Thought Acceleration, he pegged Gold at 50 and up.
At Gold, a little arrogance was fair game. Even families like the Gaud or Narok families, vying for city dominance, sometimes lacked Gold-rankers.
No wonder Carne panicked realizing Galen was Gold. If Silver got respect anywhere, Gold stood out everywhere.
"Do you think I went too far, Your Excellency?"
"Not at all. Getting insulted by strangers on first meeting was bad enough—admitting preemptive strike makes it a slam dunk."
Myra stated flatly.
Even famed families had few Golds, so they usually let clashes slide. Finishing it would cost too much.
Besides, Carne started it, and Galen hadn't even broken anything. He'd shown mercy; the Brutaines owed him thanks.
"I didn't mean retaliation was certain. The Brutaine family head's sharp, from what I know."
"The second son didn't seem that bright..."
"...Raising kids doesn't always go as planned. Point is, he's not the type to miscalculate gains from antagonizing you."
"Then no big issues, right?"
"Still, stay cautious. Smart doesn't mean kind. If killing you profits them, they'll do it without hesitation."
"As long as I don't show weakness, we're good."
Galen shrugged.
Show them crossing him could uproot their pillar, and they'd behave? They'd see his skills up close on the job anyway.
No fire-magic family would mindlessly kill a water mage, surely.
Unless the head was some doting parent who had to crush anyone who made their baby cry, relations should stay smooth.
Probably.
Back in the parlor, thankfully only Lilia was there. Carne had come to and left in the interim.
"When I told him he'd be going on the commission with you, Brother, he started trembling all over?"
"Definitely not from joy."
Unfortunately for Carne, they'd meet again tomorrow. He was the one who'd brought the Brutaine tip-off, and now he'd guide the church folk to the family.
He left in a hurry, but even from the regular courier's letter two weeks ago, time had passed. The church was ready, just waiting for Lilia. No need to drag it out.
His stamina gripe vanished with one Miracle of Vitality for peak condition.
'A few more days' leeway would've been nice.'
Galen, who'd holed up in his lodging after dinner to rest a full day, felt a twinge of regret.
Whoosh!
A small flame kept igniting and dying in the air just an arm's reach away.
'Control's still meaningless for now.'
Staring at where he wanted fire, a black shadow rippled first like a preview, then ignited on command.
Like a game skill range showing on mouseover, but only he saw the phantom shadow—hence the name.
Carne had blocked Water Spirit Bullet with an explosive flame shield, but at level 1, Galen just made plain fire. Still better than a lighter.
Like Water Flow Manipulation and Spirit Creation, Phantom Inferno leveled fast with solo play early on.
A few days' buffer, and he'd have hit practical levels.
Regret aside, Galen shifted mindset.
'Can't use it openly with others around anyway. Better low-level useless than risky slip-up.'
After a night's training, next morning:
Myra's personally led party boarded church carriages and departed.
Destination: Elta, first city east of Abaca, ruled by the Brutaines.
Three days on foot, one by carriage—even accounting for dawn start and dusk arrival.
"Welcome."
Late as it was, the Brutaine family head greeted them personally.
No city-ruling family outranked a diocese bishop, so the warm reception was expected.
"Long time, Lord Moritz."
Church and secular weren't equals, but no strict hierarchy. Just converse aptly.
The two knew each other, so titles were long settled.
"Eaten? I'd have told the kitchens if I knew."
"One day's trip—no need. Grabbed something before sunset. Fine."
"Tomorrow then. Not leaving at dawn, I hope?"
"Here now, so we'll look around a day. Still, check prep tonight."
"Ever diligent."
Moritz shook his head but familiarly summoned the steward to guide the guests.
Meanwhile, Myra pulled Galen aside.
"Come with me."
"Got it."
"Hey, what about me?!"
"You rest."
Lilia and the rest followed the steward; Galen stayed with Myra.
"Been wondering—this young man's who?"
Moritz asked. Plainclothes amid robes stood out from the start.
"Mercenary mage I hired for the commission."
"...The bishop hired a mage?"
Moritz recalled the rumor—it was from the next city over, bound to reach here.
"That mage making waves in the frontier lately?"
"Him. Introduce yourself."
"Galen."
"Moritz. Pleased."
Brief intros done, Myra elaborated.
"Heard the rumors? Silver rank officially, Gold in reality. Proved reliable on church jobs. Thought he'd help, so I hired him direct."
"If you vouch, that's good enough. Barely past twenty and already Gold... impressive."
Praise from words, but Moritz's eyes felt ambiguous. Not pure admiration.
Maybe the smart guy was already calculating.
Or because Carne, not with the 'party' yet, hovered awkwardly nearby, shooting Galen dirty looks?
The head likely knew his son chased Lilia; Carne's attitude hinted the rest.
'More of a son fool than expected...?'
As Galen pondered subtly, Moritz half-turned.
"Anyway, shall we? You wanted prep status."
"Going well?"
"Won't think we're slacking once you see."
Moritz smiled faintly, adding curtly,
"Probably."