The Blockade
After emerging from the cave, we quickly gathered what we needed and headed straight for the city.
“Let’s head down right away.”
Even though it was a nighttime descent through the mountains, the mercenaries handled the injured with practiced ease, moving like they owned the Kaine Mountain Range.
Thanks to their familiarity with the terrain, we actually reached the city gates faster than I had alone before.
“Nighttime entry… uh.”
“It’s urgent business.”
The gate guards were the same ones from last time, and they recognized my face, waving us through without any hassle.
“...Night entry into the city this easily.”
“Ignore it. You lot go file the report.”
“And Cain, sir…?”
“I have my own report to make.”
I left the public report to Jeban and the Silver Wings adventurers.
Then I headed straight back to the mansion.
Late as it was, I slipped right inside.
“Master Lane? What brings you here?”
I ran into a guard on his nightly patrol through the mansion’s interior.
“Is Master Rowell awake?”
“Yes, sir. He mentioned some work and went to his study a little while ago.”
“Then if you’ll excuse me.”
...Figures the old man doesn’t need much sleep at night.
Grateful for it, I made my way to the study.
Navigating the now-familiar corridors of the mansion, I arrived at the door and knocked.
—Come in.
The voice from within prompted me to open the door. There sat Rowell alone, illuminated by candlelight as he pored over documents.
“Weren’t you out earlier? You’re back late.”
“Yes, sir. I went to the Kaine Mountains.”
“That was quick for such a trip. What happened?”
Rowell eyed my hurried appearance with curiosity.
No wonder—I’d come straight from the mountains, still covered in the grime of battle. I recalled the guards glancing at my filthy clothes earlier.
“Well, you see…”
I laid it all out for Rowell: the orc village in the mid-range, the captured Gold-rank adventurer duo, the clash with the orc champion, and the pile of corpses we’d found in that artificial well.
“So they were up to no good in the mountains after all.”
Rowell’s expression darkened as he listened.
“Any idea who’s behind it?”
“Likely collaborators with the Demon Worshippers from the sewers—other worshippers, I suspect.”
“Other worshippers?”
“Yes. Even among Demon Worshippers, they serve different demons or bloodlines. That’s why they’re so hard to eradicate completely.”
...What a pain these bastards are.
No surprise they’ve been popping up since ancient times.
“Do you know why the orc champion was so grotesque?”
“Probably the power of a demon that warps living flesh. A notorious one.”
“Demons come in every flavor, huh.”
“There are as many as cockroaches, so naturally, some have particularly bizarre traits.”
This is ridiculous. Aren’t demons way too overpowered?
Though that explains how they exert influence from the deep underworld up here.
“I’ll need to pass this along right away.”
“Yes, sir. Will they send an investigation team?”
“Likely a lengthy one. Who knows what else they’re scheming elsewhere in the range.”
With that, Rowell rose from his seat after hearing me out.
“You get some proper rest now.”
“Yes, sir. That’s the plan.”
Time for a bath and bed.
The mountain ordeal had left fatigue caked on me like grime.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Rowell departed with the news I’d brought, and I bathed in the servants’ facilities before returning to the doghouse in the courtyard.
Inside, Whitey lay sprawled across my cushion as if it were his own.
Doesn’t this guy have his own spot?
Shrinking my space, too.
Still, he wouldn’t fit like this once he grew bigger, I figured.
Not that he seemed inclined to—his teeth were coming in, but his body wasn’t bulking up.
“Hoo.”
Anyway, I needed sleep too. I nudged Whitey aside and claimed the cushion.
Something would come up by tomorrow, no doubt.
**
And the next day.
“We’re blockading the Kaine Mountains.”
“Pardon?”
The news from Rowell hit me like a gut punch the moment I woke for lunch.
“A full blockade?”
“Likely until a thorough investigation wraps up.”
“That serious?”
“Last night’s preliminary probe suggests ongoing experiments on highland monsters and mercenary abductions.”
“Grim.”
How had they gotten away with it so long?
Well, the Kaine Mountains were mostly mercenary turf. Snatching one or two at a time wouldn’t raise flags.
Experiments on highland monsters, though…
“Hm. So was this one an experiment too?”
I gestured to Whitey, lounging on my lap as usual.
That alpha wolf had seemed off too—some kind of test subject?
“No, I doubt it.”
“Really?”
“Yes. Didn’t Terra confirm it’s a Spiritual Beast?”
“Oh, right.”
Come to think of it, Terra—a mage of her caliber—had stamped it as such.
Her eyes wouldn’t miss something like that.
A blockade on the Kaine Mountains, though.
What would the capital’s mercenaries do for work?
They’d scatter to other regions on temp gigs, probably.
They had to eat, after all.
“Well then…”
I set Whitey down and stood.
“I need to head to the mercenary guild.”
“It’ll be chaos there right now.”
“I’ve got something to pick up.”
The orc shaman’s staff—I’d left it with Jeban.
No more material runs for a while, but I could at least deliver this to Gareth.
Keng…
I brushed off Whitey’s where-are-you-going stare and headed straight for the guild to meet Jeban.
At the guild entrance.
“What do you mean, blockade?!”
“Get the guild staff out here!”
Mercenaries had already swarmed, protesting loudly.
Unable to vent at the royals, they were raising hell here instead.
Makes sense—most jobs halted overnight.
“Coming through.”
“Hey, you—hup.”
I shoved my way past the crowd into the guild.
Whether it was my growing rep or my look, they parted easily enough.
Inside the guild tavern, a few stayed calm, nursing drinks amid the uproar.
“Jeban.”
“Ah, Cain, sir. You’re here.”
“My staff?”
“Right here.”
I took back the shaman’s staff first.
The orc’s bulk meant it was hefty, but manageable to carry.
Gareth would take it off my hands.
“Heard the news? Mountains are sealed.”
“Yes… That bad?”
“Yeah. Don’t go climbing for nothing.”
I warned him next.
These were folks experimenting on highland elite monsters.
Who knows—might be a four-headed, eight-armed ogre abomination lurking.
“Understood, sir.”
“Taking it in stride, huh.”
“We can operate out of the neighboring city till it blows over.”
“Smart move.”
Better to work elsewhere than cling to a sealed capital range until the probe ended.
“But you, Cain, sir…”
“I’ve got to stay in the city.”
Not like I could leave.
“I’ll teach you Fleet more later.”
“Ah, yes, sir…”
“Worst case, learn from the newbie.”
I nodded at the rookie sitting nearby.
Then…
“...Think I really should?”
“Kidding.”
He looked half-serious, pondering it.
Sheesh. Guess even Jeban knew the newbie was no ordinary guy.
“Keep him in line yourself.”
“Yes, sir. He gets top treatment.”
“Good.”
Honestly, why join a merc band with that skill? Any rural house would grovel to take him.
Anyway.
“Like I said—no mountains. Keep updating my record with missions to maintain my status.”
“Got it… About this mission’s reward, though.”
“You keep it. The staff’s enough for me.”
I gave Jeban one last caution, grabbed the staff, and left the guild.
Next stop: Gareth’s smithy.
“Oh, back already with more?”
“Yes, here.”
“This… top-grade stuff.”
Gareth marveled at the staff I handed over.
“That good?”
“Aye, steeped in the essence of the Lunaria Great Plains.”
“Perfect.”
Good materials make good weapons.
Mine would be sharper for it.
“Size means extra pay.”
“I’ll take it.”
Merc rewards split n ways weren’t huge anyway, but Gareth’s material fees were another story.
“Here you go.”
Another heavy pouch joined my belt.
Snacks for Whitey on the way back.
“Heard the news, by the way?”
“Yeah, mountains sealed. Supply chain’s fucked.”
“A shame.”
Come to think of it, Gareth was hurting too—not just me. He sourced via mercs.
“Then I’ll be off.”
“Hold up.”
As I turned to leave, business done, Gareth stopped me.
“More business?”
“Well… uh.”
He scratched his head, a bit sheepish.
Then.
“You’re Rowell’s disciple, right?”
“Not exactly.”
“Close enough—you’ve got his trust.”
“Fair enough.”
Sending me on proxy jobs meant some cred.
“Then, if you ever head to the mountains—extra materials? For a premium.”
“Even with trust, I can’t waltz into a blockade.”
Was he nuts? Solo into that?
Orc champion alone had me ready to bolt without the newbie and Jeban.
“No, not sneaking. They’ll investigate during the blockade. If you join, grab these.”
“Materials you need?”
“List incoming. Whatever you can snag from it—I’ll pay over market.”
“Sure.”
No reason to refuse. I took the list.
Grab what I could when chances arose.
A smith like Gareth had other pipelines anyway.
“Now I’m really going.”
“Take care.”
Finally leaving the smithy, I headed to the mansion, glancing at the list en route.
This guy… wants the world.
Not just highland monsters—mid-range ones dotted the page too.
Stocking up before shortages bit hard, probably.
Whether I’d get chances was another story.
I’d be mansion-bound from here on, it seemed.
Sparring was the worry now.
No Deron or Caiden—stuck pounding straw dummies.
That day, I reached the mansion and crashed through evening.
The next day.
“Mountain investigation—want in?”
“Pardon?”
“Request from Astra Trading Company again.”
...Opportunity knocked faster than I expected.