Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Beatrice's Proposal
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"Hi, Esther. You're late."
"Long time no see, Paladin Helena."
"You're still calling me so stiffly? How about treating me more casually? Like sisters, maybe?"
"I haven't found my sword yet. A pilgrim who hasn't completed their pilgrimage can't stand equal to a paladin."
A pilgrim who hasn't finished their pilgrimage is just a pilgrim.
"No pilgrim is stronger than you. Most paladins are probably weaker too. Aren't they saying the church will grant you a sword since you're hailed as the next saintess? Seems plenty possible."
The church had curved swords among its treasures.
Would a swordsmanship genius called the next saintess really miss out on something like that?
"I refused."
"Figured you would. You're so stubborn, always making things harder for yourself."
"A pilgrim embarks on the pilgrimage solely to find their sword. To wield it and carry out the will of the gods."
"To offer a sword that would satisfy the gods."
"Yes."
"Right. So, when do you think you'll find your sword?"
"......Soon."
Esther's eyes shook with quiet sadness.
Helena thought of the church saint who was her guardian and had adopted her as a foster daughter, then decided to change the subject.
"Anyway, why were you late? I was waiting quite a while."
"I stopped by somewhere briefly."
"Where?"
"A site of a small skirmish. There were traces of one expert fighting a large group."
"Oh......"
Helena had a hunch but decided to listen quietly.
This stiff girl was showing a rare expression of delight.
"Must've been quite strong."
"Yes. The traces looked like a fight against ghosts. Or rather, there were hardly any traces at all. To battle that many foes without even drawing his sword. I really want to meet whoever it was."
"Still no idea who it was?"
"Yes. Unfortunately."
She let out an awed "Ah."
"Why?"
"I did meet one person involved, but......"
Esther frowned as if it was truly bizarre.
"He suddenly turned into someone else."
* * *
Hard bread softens and moistens when dipped in stew.
The rich meat stew's flavor soaks in, doubling the taste.
I picked up fork and knife to slice the meat steak.
One bite, and the perfect sauce mingled with the meat's juices bursting out the more I chewed, sweetness following.
"Delicious."
"Glad it suits your taste."
"That fork isn't ordinary."
"You noticed. It's rare. An artifact."
The fork and knife I'd gotten sometime ago.
Artifacts.
Nothing particularly outstanding.
Just sturdy and always clean.
As I answered her question, I glanced at Beatrice eating with me.
Same appearance as Maria.
But the plain look I'd thought before had flipped 180 degrees with a slight style change.
If Maria was pure cotton incarnate, Beatrice was a rose.
A seductive rose.
'Probably that.'
A character I hadn't set.
Likely one arbitrarily added by the company side.
Named characters like that often had exaggerated concepts, so I figured Beatrice was the same.
'Mmultiple personalities.'
There'd be a trigger to switch personas.
Figure that out, and I might strike a good deal.
After the meal, I handed Beatrice her sword.
"Here, take it back. I took it without thinking."
Beatrice's eyes twitched.
"I don't know that sword. If you're gifting a lady, flowers are better than swords, no? Or......that little one over there. I'd like her."
She meant Vivi.
She was using the beast for strange experiments, but Vivi had apparently grown on her.
"I'll pass. She's a cherished child."
"Shame."
"But really, you're not taking it? This must be your treasured sword."
"I really don't know it."
She refused steadfastly.
If my guess was right, touching Maria's sword switched her persona. Otherwise, no way she'd refuse her own sword like that.
"Anyway, shouldn't you tell me now? Why you were waiting in my house."
Whatever.
I was looking for Beatrice anyway.
"I don't like long preambles, so straight to the point."
"Yes, I hate wasting time too."
I pulled a vial from my pocket and set it on the table.
"This is?"
"Thunder dragonet blood."
"Thunder dragonet......"
"A beast carrying dragon blood. Can you refine the demonic energy from this blood and extract the pure dragon blood?"
Beatrice would later become one of the kingdom's top ten saint alchemists.
But that's from the game I knew.
No guarantee everything would unfold exactly as set.
So, first, a test.
"Can you extract the dragon blood?"
If yes, I'd entrust her with even rarer things.
Troll blood, thunder dragonet horn and byproducts.
Later, Valterus's Tears and all holy water production.
If she proved skilled and trustworthy, no reason not to.
I'd be in the capital Kaladi awhile, but eventually, I'd oversee the north.
The north needed to grow bigger, stronger.
"Can you?"
"......"
Her eyes on the vial were purely those of a saint alchemist.
Greed shining.
But her brow stayed furrowed, not relaxing.
She was pondering.
Whether she could or not.
"Not confident?"
I said, inwardly disappointed, but she nodded calmly.
"Honestly, no. But with some time and preparation, it's doable."
Ho.
Worth the wait.
"What preparation? I can support if needed."
Pockets were full now.
Investing some wasn't hard.
"First, funds and time: ten thousand gold and a year should do. But the most essential thing is hard to obtain. Is that okay?"
Ten thousand gold and a year.
Ten thousand gold made sense, but a year was too long.
And something even more essential? A sigh escaped.
I hadn't even mentioned the troll potion yet.
"Tell me. What's the most important?"
"Ever heard of a demon core?"
Demon core.
"I know of it."
A nucleus occasionally from special individuals heavy with demonic energy.
Simply put, like a devil's serum, but pure demonic energy bound. Rare in normal beasts.
Only high-purity superior beasts produce it easily.
Like a spirit stone from a mature human.
"I need a demon core. To extract dragon blood, you remove the demonic blood first. Impossible without one."
According to her, the demon core—pure demonic energy—absorbs the demons in the blood.
Makes extraction easier.
'Unbelievable.'
Demon cores weren't meant for that. Their setting was to make a beast's demonic power rampage more.
Using it to remove demonic blood instead?
A shocking reversal.
As expected of Beatrice.
Qualities of the kingdom's top eccentric saint alchemist showing.
"So, you have a way to get one?"
But demon cores were sky-high rare, ill-omened as demonic, never on market.
Ways to use beneficially, but no acquisition method.
Hunt beasts with them, but even northern war, no memory of seeing one. That's how rare.
"Not impossible. Just an uncomfortable opponent."
"Someone has it."
Music to my ears.
That simplified things.
"Who?"
"Know Count Altemion?"
"Altemion?"
"Yes. His eldest son has an eye for beasts, trains and sells them under the table."
Started as hobby gifting nobles occasionally, then scaled up for profit.
Scaled up, acquired a demon core.
"Two ways."
Trade with Violle.
"Or steal it."
Beatrice smiled slyly—unlike Maria, quite sinister.
* * *
Back at his lodging, Kallias shed his armor and sat on the bed.
Thud.
"Tired."
No need to mention the troll potion.
A demon core would purge the troll's demonic energy too.
Demon core. Violle's.
Trade. Robbery.
Options swirled.
Trade impossible. Robbery no.
Violle still harbored malice, no proper deal possible.
Talk to Count Altemion? No difference.
"Only one left."
Kallias lay on the bed, pondering.
Extract dragon blood, combine with other parts, might create relics beyond artifacts.
Plus, demon core solves troll potion.
Beatrice's skill could handle rest.
Just secure the demon core.
"Not hard."
Just needed justification.
No trade, no steal—make them offer it.
Kallias had power and status for that.
They were doing illegal anyway. Viscount status and heretic inquisitor rights made it easy.
Issue: Would Altemion yield easily?
Judge's fame spread too far; Altemion likely hunkered down after Violle's mess.
Inquisitor procedures pending—time to hide demon core or beasts.
If they came first, easier, more gain.
Pity, unavoidable.
They'd handle it.
"Never thought she'd get beasts from Violle."
Explained her detailed knowledge—buying for experiments.
Knew ins and outs.
She hid depths, but no matter.
Knew enough.
"But where'd Brans go?"
Left Vivi, vanished. Still no sign.
* * *
Rattle.
Same time, Brans trembled in terror.
"Ridiculous fool. Why does that wastrel keep a coward like you around?"
Brans shivered behind bars.
"You can't sleep without me, milord! Kill me and he'll avenge me—kill if you dare!"
Bold words, but Brans pissed himself shaking.
His cage sat amid a beast horde; right before it, salivating monsters bared teeth to devour him whole.
"Think that'll bring him?"
Brans's kidnapper: beast master.
Violle de Altemion.
Count Altemion's eldest son.
"Won't be time wasted."
"He'll come! Wait!!"
"Threat or plea? I'll wait. Sent word to his lodging."
Reply soon.
Or he comes.
One or other.
"If he comes here, won't leave alive."
Even strong paladin can't beat all these beasts. And he's kingdom's top wastrel. Whatever trick faked rumors.
Tavern knights? Trickery.
Fooled then, not now.
"These are my full-effort bred ones. If he comes, you and master fed alive."
"Eeek!"
Weak nobles love taming mighty beasts beneath them.
Vicious hobby, but useful.
"Nothing better for unwanted fools."
Terrified.
Screaming, eaten alive—soon silent in bellies.
"Regret insulting me forever. In a beast's gut."
Hahaha!
"Hope Kallias comes save you!"
"H-he will, you dog!"
Brans anxious but believed. Kallias would come.
Surely....
'He'll come, right?'
Anxiety lingered.