Chapter 12
Chapter 12
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Underground Auction
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"Hoo."
Cedric's office, now empty save for him, was filled with the smoke from the cigar he had lit.
A hazy fog blanketed the room, making it hard to even see his figure clearly.
The ashtray overflowed with a mountain of spent cigars.
Knock knock.
At the sound of the knock, Cedric lifted his head, which had been bowed.
He stubbed out the cigar in his mouth into the ashtray, rubbed his dry face once, and then spoke.
"Come in."
It was a familiar set of footsteps and presence.
It was his trusted subordinate.
"How did it go?"
"It's true. They say a pilgrim named Kallias demanded that Sir Cedric repay the debt on your behalf."
"Hmm, so it was true."
Just in case, he had sent his subordinate to verify at this late hour.
There was no way it could be false.
It was a story known only to the herbalist Artemo and himself.
"You've had a hard time coming out so late."
"Yes, then."
Once the subordinate withdrew, Cedric mulled over Kallias's words.
Oracle's Greaves. The location of the holy relic.
"Could it really be true?"
The Oracle's Greaves, undiscovered for centuries. The heirloom of the Madrichan family.
Its location revealed so simply?
His father had searched, his grandfather had searched, his great-grandfather had searched, yet none had ever found the Oracle's Greaves, the holy relic of the Twin Gods.
Objectively, it was hard to believe.
Especially since it came from a young man barely in his twenties, and a wastrel rumored to be little more than a human dog.
Only a fool would believe him.
How could a man who had likely never left the kingdom know where a holy relic was hidden? It made no sense.
'But...'
What if, by some one-in-a-thousand chance, it was true? What if he truly knew the location of the holy relic they had sought for so long?
Then, of course, there would be no reason not to accept his terms.
No matter what they were, he had to fulfill the conditions and retrieve the relic.
Cedric bore the duty to find the Oracle's holy relic, even if it meant sacrificing everything he had.
'Establishing a church in Carpe.'
His demand was absurd.
He said he would reveal it if Cedric swore brotherhood before the gods and promised to establish a church of the Twin Gods in the Kingdom of Carpe.
The location of the relic.
"Jerban's wastrel..."
What was his scheme?
No matter how much he thought, he couldn't fathom what motives lay hidden.
Establishing a church in Carpe.
A brotherhood with himself.
The two were too far apart to connect.
"He must know my gauntlet isn't just any ordinary item."
Yet he hadn't dodged the punch coming at him by even an inch.
He hadn't even blinked.
Was he bold or simply fearless?
'Haa... Fine, brotherhood is one thing.'
But what was this sudden demand to establish a church in Carpe?
Even if he found the relic and revived the church, what benefit would Kallias gain from setting it up in Carpe?
'For the sake of the kingdom?'
It sounded like utter nonsense.
Yet his expression hadn't seemed to hold any lies.
That only made it harder to understand.
He wasn't a key figure in the Valterus Church, nor the heir apparent to the count's title.
The information gathered on Kallias painted him as a textbook spoiled noble. Little more than a discarded pilgrim from his family.
And yet, such a man claimed he would act for the kingdom and the church?
It was baffling. What was that guy up to?
"What picture are you painting?"
No way that wastrel.
"Has a sense of patriotism and plans to stand against the Empire?"
Ridiculous. How could he save a kingdom on the brink of collapse?
After all he'd been through, he likely had no attachment left to his family, the church, or even the kingdom.
Moreover, Valterus was Carpe's state religion.
Would they allow the establishment of a Twin Goddess church?
Neither the state nor the church would stand for it.
It was preposterous.
But ironically, that very absurdity made it harder to discern truth from lie.
'Am I overthinking this?'
Had the endless years spent searching for the relic turned him cynical?
"Either it is, or it isn't."
First, hear the location.
If he found the relic there, Kallias would become his one true brother.
Otherwise, he'd be a man worth killing, and Cedric could simply crush him.
'Establishing a church in Carpe...'
If he found the relic, setting up a church in Carpe would be foolish.
Why bother in a nation one step from being devoured by the Empire?
"No, no."
If he could find the relic.
If he could just find it, what couldn't he do?
Cedric steeled his resolve.
It was then.
Click.
"Sir Cedric! The pilgrim Kallias has moved."
"Is that so? Where to?"
"Trista."
"Trista? Young and restless, his feet are light."
Stroking his chin, Cedric nodded as if it made sense.
"Now that he has money, he wants to spend it."
"What shall we do?"
"Tell them to report every detail, down to whether he shakes it off with his right hand or holds it with his left."
No.
"He went to the auction house. I should go myself."
To see if he was worth trusting or killing.
He wanted to watch personally.
Cedric donned his overcoat.
But he didn't make it out of his office.
"Well, if it isn't Sir Ryburn, the Iron Heretic Inquisitor of the Valterus Church."
At some point, Ryburn, the Iron Heretic Inquisitor, stood before him.
Behind him were other inquisitors.
Cedric's eyes narrowed.
A rather troublesome fellow had arrived.
To Cedric, who hid his identity, church inquisitors were among those he least wanted to tangle with.
"Sir Cedric. Long time no see."
"What brings you here at this late hour? Barging in without notice."
The corners of Cedric's mouth curved into a smile.
His mouth smiled, but his eyes gleamed like those of a furious beast. The inquisitors around him furrowed their brows, struggling under his ill-tempered aura.
"We're hunting apostates. We request your cooperation."
Apostates?
"Why would you need my cooperation to hunt apostates?"
"Because excluding Lord 'Gerald of Judgment' in Trista, you are the one with the greatest influence here."
Ryburn's answer was short and to the point.
With Gerald absent, coming to him was the best option.
Cedric didn't like the sound of that one bit.
"Did that old man Gerald send you?"
"No. I haven't met Lord Gerald."
"Huh~ So, without even being sent by the old man, you're marching an armed group into someone else's place of business and ordering cooperation like it's your right."
"...If we've been rude, I apologize. We're carrying out the will of the gods in a time-sensitive matter, so please understand."
"Then I ask for your understanding as well. Please don't bother me and get out."
"How rude!"
Shing!
One inquisitor, unable to bear it, drew his sword. But the blade didn't even point at Cedric.
Clang! Whoosh, thunk!
Before it was fully drawn, Cedric's fist shattered it in two. The broken sword dissolved into hazy smoke and vanished.
The Word of the Broken Corpse Sword.
"Are Valterus inquisitors these days carrying broken swords on purpose?"
Is that the fashion now? Cedric chuckled mockingly, and the inquisitors bit their lips.
Many bristled at his taunt, but none stepped forward.
"Your skills are as sharp as ever. If only you'd devoted yourself to Valterus, it would have been perfect."
"Hmph, I hear that nonsense from the old man every day too."
Ryburn clicked his tongue regretfully and looked at him with serious eyes.
"Sir Cedric. We have only one request. Please cooperate in the search for the apostate Kallias, who may be in Trista."
"...Apostate?"
Kallias, an apostate?
'No way, is he...'
Possessing the Oracle's relic.
'My brother?'
* * *
Trista Auction House.
There sat Kallias, wearing a half-mask and dressed in clean clothes for once, with Brans beside him.
'Cedric must want the relic's location.'
My conditions are two.
To form a bond of brotherhood with me.
This was an obvious necessity, as fulfilling it would undoubtedly strengthen his power alongside his combat prowess once he found the relic.
The other was establishing a church in Carpe.
It wouldn't be easy, but by the time he found the relic and returned to build the church, things would be busy here too.
The Empire would suppress Carpe by force and uproot all religions other than its own.
As long as I was part of Valterus, I had to prevent that.
For balance of power.
Establishing the Twin Gods' church in Carpe would bolster the kingdom—and that was my path to survival.
"Nothing special."
"Is that so? To me, everything here looks precious enough to make one's eyes pop out."
It was certainly of higher quality.
Even the ordinary swords on display had been forged by master smiths.
The armors and helmets were all high-grade as well.
"Eek, Master! This dress is three hundred gold coins!"
"Brans. Quiet."
"Y-yes!"
However, as Brans said, the items here were high quality but expensive.
Too expensive.
Poor cost-performance.
'Items for showing off.'
Which meant they weren't what Kallias needed.
"Where's the underground?"
The items in the main hall were for common folk. Not the extraordinary ones he sought.
As Kallias lost interest, Brans stepped up to ask. He inquired with several staff members but got nothing, so he slipped them a few silver coins.
Only then did Brans's face brighten as he came running back panting.
"I found out the location. Shall I guide you there?"
"Yes."
He had wondered if he'd taken on too undignified a thug as a servant, but he had more wits than expected.
Not trustworthy yet, but useful enough to keep around a bit longer.
"This way."
Following Brans's guidance, the path narrowed.
Soon, a small auction hall appeared.
People were heatedly bidding on something.
But both the item and the bidders seemed utterly ordinary.
Kallias could tell at a glance this wasn't the auction he wanted.
"Let's go underground."
This place was pointless.
Walking a more secretive path, stairs leading underground soon came into view.
Guards controlled the entrance, as expected.
"Please state your identity."
"This gentleman here... Uh, Master, what is your name?"
"Move."
Pushing Brans aside, he handed over a card, and the staff member's eyes widened.
"A black card... You're Sir Cedric's honored guest. My apologies for not recognizing you."
The staff examined the card with a magnifier, decoded their private cipher, and nodded.
"You're confirmed. The card lists 'Ashen Wolf.' Will you use the alias as is?"
"...Yes."
"Understood. Sir Ashen Wolf, your number is 770."
The auction staff handed Kallias a placard marked 770.
'Ashen Wolf...'
What a strange thing to write.
Did Cedric put that?
"By the way, Master's name..."
"Go."
"Yes!"
Adjusting his half-mask, Kallias straightened his clothes and headed underground.
"It's dark."
The stairs continued for quite a while.
Each candle served as a guide, leading them down.
How far had they descended?
"Oh, it's the end!"
"Can't you shut that mouth even for a moment?"
"S-sorry."
As they reached the bottom, the quiet in his ears picked up noise.
Murmurs and the cries of various beasts mingled together.
'This is the place.'
The smell alone was sinister.
A sticky, poorly ventilated stench.
The sorrowful cries of beasts and the scent of blood.
And the smell of greed.
Clank.
The entrance guard eyed Kallias sharply.
His gaze was different from those outside.
This gatekeeper had crossed the line between life and death multiple times; his cold demeanor showed it.
"Looks like I came to the right place."
Satisfied, Kallias showed his card and placard from his pocket.
The guard immediately bowed and escorted him to the VIP room.
The number was 770, but with the black card, he was led to the VIP seats.
Central second floor, with a clear view of the entire auction hall.
The wider, more comfortable sofa marked its status.
"The auction is already underway."
"It just started. Here's the catalog. Let me know if you need anything else."
Even a dedicated attendant.
Cedric's influence was strong.
"Hm."
The catalog listed Trista's artifacts and rare materials in dense detail.
There was also a booklet for current auction items.
But my eyes went to the catalog first. These were items available for immediate purchase without bidding.
Even unlisted items could be requested for checking availability. I marked several items and added needed materials.
The attendant's pupils dilated at my entries, then returned to normal.
"Possible?"
"Of course."
The attendant vanished confidently, and Brans approached curiously.
"Why's he acting like that?"
"You don't need to know."
I had listed materials for holy water.
Ironically, Valterus holy water's main ingredients were mostly potent toxic herbs, so that must have surprised him.
'They're meant for assassinations, after all.'
With most materials secured like this, I could focus on the auction.
"Brans."
"Yes! My lord! What is it?"
"You're in the way. Move."
"Y-yes..."
With Brans stepping aside, the auction hall came into full view.
'Second item.'
The current bidding was on the second item in sequence.
Not of interest.
No, it wasn't even an item to begin with.
"Any more bids!? One hundred forty gold coins!"
One hundred forty gold coins.
The "item" was a small beast caged in iron bars.
'No, it's listed as a magic beast.'
Nobles sometimes kept them as pets, and it became a fad.
Even dangerous magic beasts were raised by nobles hiring specialized handlers.
The caged magic beast resembled a lion cub.
But it was said to grow to the size of a house, lead packs, and devour people.
Kallias looked at the magic beast with pity.
Knowing its origin story, he couldn't help but feel sympathy.
"Two hundred!! Bidder 447 calls two hundred gold coins! Any more!? If not..."
Bang bang bang! The black lion went to a man in the next seat using the alias Alros. Half-masked, his identity was hard to pinpoint, but noble poise and bearing oozed from him.
'And next...'
Clank, clank.
"This is a rare sight here. A bit flawed, but no better specimen at this size! Bidding starts at 100 gold!"
A short slave missing one eye.
Disheveled hair and beard hid his face.
But the venom in his visible eye and the stubborn crease in his brow were impressive.
Shorter than a normal man's solar plexus, yet his arm muscles bulged unnaturally.
He was a dwarf, a rare race of the Hammer God not easily seen in Carpe.
"One hundred gold! Any more?"
Scanning the room, the auctioneer brightened at the second-floor VIP.
"770 calls two hundred gold!"
All eyes shot to the second floor. Who would bid two hundred on such a useless thing?
'Dwarves excel at crafting.'
They had a knack for artifacts, dubbed failed holy relics.
But they were stubborn folk.
They wouldn't make what you wanted.
Useless as slaves.
However.
'Gain their goodwill, and a dwarf is worth more than anything here.'
Kallias's lips curved.
His ash-gray eyes discerned the three colors.
In the one-eyed dwarf, an unmatched golden light churned.