Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Side Story (1)
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“Hey, Kalt.”
“Yes, did you call for me, senior?”
“Well, you see…”
“Yes?”
Raniel spoke with her eyes closed.
“…The city… it’ll be fine, right?”
“Pardon?”
“No, I mean… I think I might’ve caused quite a bit of damage. I’m starting to feel a little bad for the lord…”
“Ah, well…”
Kalt let out a bitter smile.
“Won’t they take care of it somehow?”
“…That sounds pretty irresponsible.”
“But it’s the truth, isn’t it? It may not be something I should say, but do we really have the time to worry about things like that? The underlings will handle it.”
“Hmm…”
“If they’re told to do it, they’ll do it.”
There was nothing particularly strange about his tone. Still, something about it felt oddly familiar, making Raniel frown. She couldn’t quite remember where she had heard it before.
‘Still, that’s a bad habit.’
She nodded slightly.
‘This brat’s picked up a really nasty habit.’
Raniel opened her mouth to lecture him.
“Hey, that’s a really bad habit. From a subordinate’s perspective, it’s seriously damn annoying. Where the hell did you even learn that?”
“Oh, is that so?”
“…Why are you looking at me like that?”
“No, it’s just… I was thinking you’re not really in a position to say that, senior…”
“What? Want to get hit?”
“…”
Raniel glared.
Kalt fell silent.
‘Who do you think I learned it from?’
He swallowed those words.
If he said them out loud, a spicy punch would immediately come flying at him.
“…I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Yeah, that’s right. Treat the people under you well. You need to have some kind of reputation, you know?”
“Ah… yes…”
Kalt nodded along appropriately. Regardless of everything, he was quite perceptive for a subordinate.
* * *
Morning arrives in the night city of Kadinak.
The sun rises beyond the plains, and the lazy morning light spills over the city. Though it marks the start of a new day, mornings in Kadinak are usually quiet.
Adventurers who spent the entire night drinking stagger back into inns, reeking of alcohol. Those who had their fun in brothels or gambling dens return to their lives under the morning sun.
Rather than the beginning of a day, it feels more like the end of a long night.
That was how Kadinak normally was…
“One, two, three! Push!”
“Over there! Keep the balance! Hup!”
But today’s morning was different.
The streets were bustling with strong-looking adventurers. They were helping the knights clear away monster corpses and debris from the collapsed walls.
“Ugh, this is heavy.”
“Is that all cleared? Then next—”
“Let’s take a break first. I’m dying here!”
It was lively from the very morning.
The residents of Kadinak glanced toward the west side of the city, where the wall had completely collapsed.
“…How did only that part collapse? The rest doesn’t even have a single broken stone.”
It was truly baffling.
There wasn’t a single adventurer in Kadinak who hadn’t witnessed last night’s battle. Though they couldn’t observe it clearly due to the distance, they knew at least one thing—
It was no ordinary fight.
‘A battle where you’d die just by getting caught up in it.’
They kept their distance, afraid of being dragged in.
That place had become a different world altogether. And yet, despite such a high-level battle, the damage was confined to the western district, with minimal casualties.
“What the hell was fighting?”
“No idea. It’s not like anyone saw it properly. There was dust everywhere, and things were exploding nonstop in the blink of an eye—how are you supposed to see that?”
“What about the knights?”
“They said they don’t know either. Apparently, they were just following orders from the Royal Guard that came from the capital.”
“Seriously…”
In the end, there were no proper eyewitness accounts.
“By the way…”
An adventurer slumped his shoulders. The one listening to him sighed deeply, already guessing what he was about to say.
“Why did it have to be the western district…”
“At least there were no casualties. They evacuated as soon as the monsters appeared.”
“My favorite spots were all there.”
“Take this chance to quit.”
“Tch…”
The adventurer clicked his tongue and looked toward the western district.
‘Ten visits for one free…’
He swallowed his tears inwardly.
Seeing him so dejected, his companion spoke up.
“…I’ll recommend my regular place.”
“Regular place?”
“That one’s still intact. I’ll treat you today.”
The adventurer’s eyes lit up instantly.
All traces of his gloom vanished.
An adventurer is someone who lives for today. Yesterday’s sorrow is buried away. Tonight, they’ll chase new pleasures.
‘That’s what it means to be an adventurer.’