Chapter 443: To the Black King Corps (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 443: To the Black King Corps (4)
Thud!
The thick handle of an axe-sword struck the back of Zephyrin’s head. It wasn’t an attack—she had simply bowed too deeply toward Murka.
“Ouch!”
As Zephyrin clutched the back of her head, Murka pounded his chest with his fist in sheer frustration.
He had no idea where a creature like this had crawled out from to disrupt the discipline of the 3rd Army.
“I’m so sorry, Captain!”
“If you’re sorry, then your life as a mercenary is—”
“Oh! Aren’t you Sir Jin Runcandel?!”
Zephyrin’s eyes sparkled as she stared at Jin.
Jin and Murakan felt a strange cognitive dissonance. Could this seemingly dim-witted young woman truly be the Demon Dragon?
Murakan, however, was intently sniffing the air around her.
—Murakan, how can a dragon be so dull? Ah, well. You’ve always been a thick-headed fellow.
—I don’t need to hear that from you.
—Didn’t you smell something from that human?
This was the conversation Murakan and Quicantel had shared at the Sword Emperor Castle banquet.
From Zephyrin emanated a thick, ghastly scent of dragon blood—something undetectable by human senses. It was the stench produced when the blood of multiple species was mixed together.
Hiss!
Suddenly, Murakan let out a threatening sound, the fur on his back standing on end.
He had finally caught the scent he’d missed at the banquet. His claws were unsheathed and sharp, and he looked ready to shred Zephyrin’s face at any moment.
“Oh!”
Zephyrin flinched and scrambled backward. Murka interpreted this as Murakan expressing his displeasure at her behavior.
“…My deepest apologies, Sir Jin. Lord Murakan. The Commander is still attending to a previous guest. Once it is your turn, my subordinates will inform you immediately.”
Murka spoke, suppressing his boiling rage as much as possible. He soon disappeared, dragging Zephyrin along with him and leaving only the mercenaries on duty with Jin and Murakan in the empty reception hallway.
“What was that about? Did you catch the scent Quicantel mentioned?”
“Meow!”
“Transform and speak like a person.”
Poof!
“Yeah, that was the scent,” Murakan said, now in his human form. “If Quicantel hadn’t told me, I probably wouldn’t have noticed it this time either because of her perfume.”
“What do you think?”
“About whether that woman is the Demon Dragon?”
“Yeah.”
“Hard to say. Like Quicantel said, the smell could be coming from her weapon.”
If Zephyrin truly was the Demon Dragon, then their two encounters thus far might not have been coincidences.
In that case, Jin realized the only reason she would intentionally approach him would be for Rontelgius’s grimoire.
‘She said she wanted to meet the 1st Flagbearer. Was that just idle talk?’
According to Murka, the reason Zephyrin carried an axe-sword she couldn't even use properly was out of admiration for Luna.
If she were a normal human, he could simply dismiss her as eccentric. However, he suddenly remembered how Luna had obtained Orgal’s Pendant.
‘Eldest Sister said she obtained that pendant after slaying a demon in the past.’
A pendant obtained from slaying a demon, a grimoire obtained from killing a demon, and now a Demon Dragon.
The pieces were fitting together too perfectly to be mere coincidence. When Jin shared these thoughts, Murakan nodded.
“Let’s just finish our business with the Black King Commander and ask her directly. Ask if she’s the Demon Dragon. We couldn’t ask at the banquet, and this uncertainty is getting annoying.”
“Right, that would be better. Though I doubt she’ll give us a straight answer.”
“Don’t worry, I have ways to verify it. Anyway, if she turns out to be the Demon Dragon, we might be able to find out the relationship between your brother and Rontelgius. Once we beat her until she spills everything she knows, that is.”
“There’s a chance she’s stronger than us, you know.”
“Where in the world is there a dragon stronger than this Murakan… Sigh, fine. I haven’t fully regained my strength yet, so I suppose that’s possible. Then we’ll just have to run for it.”
Jin shrugged.
“By the way, the guy inside seems to be a Runcandel. Given how Zephyrin was blathering about wanting to meet the 1st Flagbearer and all.”
“It’s likely one of the high-ranking Flagbearers or their proxy. Probably someone from the 2nd Flagbearer’s side.”
Since Joshua was in conflict with the Elder Council, he needed a force to bolster his lacking military strength. As the Next Patriarch, he also needed to demonstrate his ability to recruit and unify neutral factions.
‘But the Black King Corps has maintained its neutrality for a long time. They won’t be recruited for any ordinary price.’
Regardless of who was meeting the Black King Commander, if they had come for recruitment rather than a simple commission, they likely held a significant card.
The fortress servants brought out simple refreshments and tea. The two sat quietly, snacking and waiting for their turn.
It was nearly three in the morning when the door to the Black King Commander’s reception room finally opened.
“I shall see you again tomorrow morning, Commander.”
“Understood.”
The voices of the Commander and his guest drifted out. From the sound of it, they intended to continue their discussion the following day.
The figure who emerged from the reception room was completely concealed by a robe and hood. Jin realized at a glance that it wasn't Joshua or another high-ranking Flagbearer, but their proxy.
The figure also recognized Jin and Murakan. He tried to pass them by without a word, but Jin spoke up first.
“Hey.”
The robed figure stopped and turned toward Jin.
“You’re that guy from back then, aren’t you?”
That guy.
The masked Black Knight who had tried to kidnap Dante at the Sword Emperor Castle banquet. Jin was certain the robed man was him.
“I wasn't sure at first, but passing this close makes it clear. Claw users have a certain tell in their walk. A specific way of moving.”
Claws were not a common weapon, but Jin knew their characteristics well from the long time he had spent with Gilly.
“The 2nd Flagbearer must be entrusting you with something quite significant, sending a Black Knight here. Why don’t you tell me what you discussed? I’m about to meet the Commander myself.”
“…Your tongue is as sharp as ever. I suppose having the Black Dragon by your side makes you fearless.”
“I don’t know about that. I don’t think I was any different during our first meeting when Murakan wasn't there. If we had fought to the end back then, would you have been able to walk in here alive today?”
The robed man did not answer and turned away. He judged that engaging with Jin might lead to an unwanted entanglement with Murakan.
“Tell the Black Knights I’m always open.”
“The Black Helmets will never become your swords.”
“You should take those words to heart as well.”
Once the robed man departed, the mercenaries on duty signaled for them to enter the Commander’s reception room.
“Please enter.”
“Just in case, Murakan.”
“What?”
“Even if the Black King Commander isn't as polite as you expect, don't go saying things like ‘keep your eyes down’ or ‘I’ll twist your jaw.’”
“…Do you think I’m an idiot?”
“I’m just worried.”
“Tch.”
The reception room boasted a vast grandeur that made it hard to believe such a space existed at the end of a relatively narrow hallway.
Moonlight and starlight from the early morning sky poured through the impressive glass panes in the ceiling. It was a dreamlike sight, one seemingly at odds with the dark profession of a mercenary.
Beneath that light, the Black King Commander, Valkas Kran, sat at his desk to greet them.
Amela of the Gaifa Archipelago, Valkas Kran of the Black King Corps, and Ghost Captain Rata Prochi. Among the world’s top three mercenaries, Valkas was a man who vied for the top spot alongside Amela.
‘He certainly has a much more imposing presence than Rata.’
Jin’s first impression of Valkas was that even while sitting, the man seemed taller than him.
Jin didn't know significantly more about him than the average person. He knew of the legendary feats Valkas had achieved before becoming Commander, his immense martial prowess, and his general temperament. That was about it.
He’d had no reason to encounter him in either his past or present life. Moreover, Valkas was not one to have much information publicly available.
—Valkas Kran. Hmm, he’s actually more of a romantic than you’d think.
—Pardon?
—Should I say he cherishes his own people immensely? That’s why the Black King Corps is generally harmonious despite being the world’s best mercenary group.
—I see.
—The problem is that he treats everyone else besides his ‘family’ as either a paying client or a living piece of meat.
Jin recalled Talaris’s assessment of Valkas before he had set out for the Black King Mountain Fortress.
‘Is the reason Zephyrin only gets a scolding despite her blunders because of his affection for his subordinates?’
Or was it because Valkas also suspected Zephyrin and had ordered his men to keep an eye on her?
Jin suspected the latter. No matter how much he cherished his subordinates, the Black King Corps was a group famous for its rigid and sharp discipline.
Valkas raised a hand and spoke.
“Welcome, 12th Flagbearer of Runcandel.”
“It is an honor to meet you, Commander Valkas. Thank you for the hospitality.”
“I wouldn't go so far as to call it hospitality. And the one beside you… is he the Great Black Dragon?”
Despite the somewhat irreverent tone, Murakan simply nodded in silence.
Fortunately, Valkas committed no further rudeness.
“My subordinates have spoken of you quite often. It seems the memory of escorting you when you were young remains a pleasant one for the boys in the 3rd Army.”
“Is that so?”
“And even without my subordinates’ words, is the 12th Flagbearer of Runcandel not the most talked-about figure in the world right now? Stories are bound to circulate. I, too, was curious and wished to meet you at least once.”
Jin and Valkas exchanged smiles as their gazes met.
For some reason, Jin felt as though Valkas already saw right through the request he had come to make.
That feeling was proven correct only seconds later.
“The reason you sought me out is likely to commission the protection of Tikan Free City. Am I wrong?”
Though internally surprised, Jin didn't let it show and nodded.
“It’s as if I sent you a letter detailing the request beforehand. You are correct, Commander Valkas.”
The fact that Jin needed a means to protect Tikan was something most of the world’s major powers were aware of to some extent.
There was no way Valkas wouldn't know.
Above all, Valkas was even more conscious of the issue because Joshua’s proxy had just visited.
“Regrettably, I don’t think I can accept that commission.”
“You haven’t even heard the terms yet.”
“That may be so, but it means you are a step too late.”
Joshua hadn't sent someone to recruit the Black King Corps.
He had sent someone to urge the Black King Corps not to accept Jin’s request.