Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: 53. Legacy of the Ruins (3)
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What appeared before them was not the Death Knight, but a group of people.
Yuri recognized them immediately.
"Mercenaries."
"Pardon?"
It was bizarre.
In Adelbine, a place said to bar all casual intruders, ordinary villagers roamed digging up mandragoras. Now unidentified mercenaries had shown up. Yet Gerdt was nowhere in sight.
"Those are mercenaries? They look far too well-armed..."
"Mercenaries make good money. See the three knots under that flag?"
"Yes."
"That's their rank. Triple-knot mercenaries are as strong as any ordinary knight, which means they demand top pay."
"How do you know so much about mercenary work?"
"Eh, just happened to pick it up."
Jared eyed him with deep suspicion now. A prince born and bred, and Yuri knew the ins and outs of mercenaries?
"Be honest with me."
"About what?"
"This is your second go-around at life, isn't it?"
"What? N-n-no, it's not?"
"Just messing with you. Stop pretending to be shocked. Always teasing."
Yuri had truly stammered in panic, but Jared took it for banter and pursed his lips.
"I'm always just learning from you, Your Highness. It's embarrassing as your guard."
"Don't get all sentimental now. I don't expect much from you anyway."
"Sigh..."
"A guard just needs to be reliable."
"That's not quite..."
By then, the two groups were drawing closer.
No hostility radiated from the mercenaries. They seemed surprised by Yuri's party too, tilting their heads in curiosity.
Jared stepped forward to speak.
"Greetings. You gentlemen are mercenaries?"
"Ah, yes. That's right. And you're knights, I take it."
"Yes. What brings you here?"
"That's what I'd like to ask you..."
"Hmm..."
Jared and the mercenary exchanged glances, both trailing off awkwardly.
It was that subtle look—like they were curious about each other's business but wary the other might be shady, hoping the stranger would reveal themselves first.
As silence stretched, Yuri spoke up bluntly from the back.
"We're here to kill Gerdt."
"Uh..."
Jared shot Yuri an aggrieved look. Yuri shook his head.
"What other reason would a knight have? Anything else would seem more suspicious."
"Still, that makes it sound way too easy."
"In a spot like this, play it too safe and it'll turn into a bloodbath."
Meanwhile, the mercenaries exchanged glances among themselves.
Soon, a man stepped forward from the rear. His jaw was thick with beard, his hair wild and unkempt, and his gear looked thoroughly battered.
The mark of a veteran mercenary.
"Knights—or should I say heroes. I'm Ivan, leader of the Ivan Mercenary Corps. We've taken a job that brought us into Adelbine."
"Mind sharing what that job is?"
"Well..."
He stroked his beard, then spoke.
"No reason to hide it. We're escorting a scholar here to study Adelbine."
"A scholar?"
"Yes."
He gestured behind him.
A bespectacled man peeked out hesitantly from behind a massive tree, backpack slung crookedly on his shoulders. No one would mistake him for a mercenary.
"That's our employer. A renowned scholar researching Adelbine's history."
An odd pairing.
Yuri extended his senses to check for Gerdt again. No sign nearby. They had time to talk.
"Since we're here, why not sit and chat a bit?"
Pierre, who had been studying Adelbine's history, had obtained unexpected information in Sordelbine.
There was a way to enter Adelbine without attracting Gerdt.
If true, he might reach the grand library in Adelbine.
Publishing a paper based on those materials could win him the Supreme Scholar Award, held every year.
So he hired the mercenaries.
That was Pierre's explanation.
"Supreme Scholar Award?"
"Yes. It's my dream."
"Alright, so what's the way to avoid Gerdt?"
"You don't know?"
Pierre's eyes widened. He adjusted his crooked glasses and continued.
"Ah, right, you said you're here to take him down. Fair enough. In that case, go ahead and take a bite of that mandragora each."
"Mandragora?"
"You really didn't know. Eating a little mandragora keeps Gerdt away. And that's not all. Grind up the leaves, soak a cloth in the juice, and plug your ears—you can handle the mandragora's scream no problem."
"Handy trick."
No wonder the villagers didn't flinch at the screams.
"And also..."
Pierre chattered on nonstop with Yuri's group right there.
The Ivan Mercenary Corps hung back, sitting on the ground to rest.
They'd glance over at Pierre's prattling now and then but didn't join in.
Just do the job, nothing more.
A true mercenary attitude.
Having worked the same trade in his past life, Yuri felt an odd camaraderie, like colleagues in the biz.
Watching Ivan's movements closely, Yuri asked Pierre,
"By the way. We haven't eaten any mandragora. So why hasn't Gerdt shown up?"
"Beats me..."
Pierre scratched his head.
"Word in the village is he's been less active lately. No one knows why. Used to be he'd pop up the moment you stepped into Adelbine. Guess the Death Knight's getting old."
"Is that so?"
"Anyway, eat the mandragora quick. It's dangerous."
"We're here to fight Gerdt."
"You gotta think of us too."
"Hmm..."
"What if I die here? You gonna take responsibility? I don't wanna die. I have to research Adelbine's history and spread the word."
"Fine, got it."
Pierre talked a blue streak.
"Right now? How long does it last?"
"A nibble holds for about a day?"
Yuri nodded to his group.
"Let's try it."
"This?"
"Yeah."
"It's gross-looking..."
"Hand over that mandragora."
Yuri brushed off the dirt from its surface and sliced away the heavily soiled parts with his knife. Crimson juice oozed from the cut.
Just like blood.
"Ugh..."
Everyone recoiled as the red liquid dripped.
Pierre chuckled.
"Go on, one bite each. Watch your clothes. Looks iffy, but it's surprisingly sweet and tasty."
To be safe, Yuri had one eat first and observe.
"Simon, Gines."
"Yes?"
"Decide."
They eyed each other, then played rock-paper-scissors.
Gines, who threw scissors against rock, stepped up. But he hesitated, face twisted in dread.
"Having second thoughts?"
"N-no, sir."
"You chose to scout Adelbine."
"But..."
"Man up and eat."
"Urk..."
He scrunched his face, squeezed his eyes shut, and took a bite.
Gines's expression shifted in real time as he chewed.
Jared tilted his head.
"He looks like he's enjoying it?"
"Yes. He is."
"Really?"
"Sweet."
No ill effects on Gines. Simon and Kori followed suit.
"Feels fine. Some warming energy, but..."
"Weird vibe, but not bad at all."
Pierre grinned.
"Mandragora has a mild awakening effect. Small amounts are harmless. Look at me—total weakling, but fine."
Finally, Yuri's turn.
The mandragora was gnawed down, limbs hacked off like a mutilated human.
Its bloody innards exposed, drained dry.
Not appetizing, but Yuri shut his eyes and bit in.
Surprisingly crisp. The juice was sweet, as advertised.
Suddenly, he sensed faint demonic energy from it.
Yuri eyed Pierre.
"W-why are you looking at me like that..."
"Hmm..."
This energy's behavior would decide Pierre's fate.
Yuri observed the changes inside.
The demonic qi spread through his channels.
It didn't interfere with his Mana Circulation Method. Like water and oil, it circulated alongside his mana in the same direction. And even that faded over time.
As if the mandragora had tinted his mana.
"Ho..."
If Pierre was telling the truth, Gerdt probably ignored those carrying demonic qi like himself.
"That should do it. For more, grab leaves to plug your ears—don't forget."
Yuri's group fed bites to the horses too.
"Thanks. Anything else?"
"Yes, bits and pieces. Like..."
Pierre shared minor village tips.
Yuri absorbed all useful info, then stood.
"Oh, and."
"Yes."
Yuri nodded toward the mercenaries.
"Must've cost a fortune."
"Pardon? Ah, yes. Haha..."
Pierre nodded.
"Top-notch crew. Emptied my savings for them."
"Figures. Can you find types like that at the mercenary guild?"
"Pardon? Ah, yes. Need mercenaries?"
"Might someday. Didn't realize there were such skilled ones. Changes my view."
"Haha, yes."
"How's their character?"
"Gruff, but good folk. Skilled too. Rare breed."
Yuri nodded.
Time passed in chit-chat. No more to say. Yuri rose.
"Time to part ways. Both got places to be."
"Where to?"
"Heading to Sordelbine. Bound to run into Gerdt."
"Knight, take care. Confident or not, that Death Knight's a monster who's slain countless. I pray you succeed."
"Thanks. Hope you snag that award."
"Heh, wouldn't that be nice."
They shook hands and parted. Pierre returned to his mercenaries.
But he turned back suddenly, calling Yuri.
"Oh, one thing, knight. Just a precaution..."
Yuri looked at him.
"If things get dicey with Gerdt, try talking to him."
"What do you mean?"
"I've poked around old records on the fallen kingdom near Adelbine."
He adjusted his glasses, eyeing Yuri.
"Folks call him a demonic Death Knight, but some say he was a true knight."
"True knight?"
"Yes. If he was, talking might snap him back, even briefly."
Pierre smiled meaningfully, waved, and walked off.
Watching Pierre and the mercenaries go, Hose spoke up.
"Suspicious."
"Yeah?"
He rubbed his chin with a massive hand.
"There's this thing called probability."
"Probability?"
"Weird stuff happens once in a blue moon. But two weird things? Means something's up."
A strangely convincing point.
"So what's weird?"
"Two groups wandering Adelbine."
"One's us."
"Exactly. We trust ourselves—we're truly here for Gerdt. But them? Can't tell if they're lying. They must be hiding something."
"Aren't you being too paranoid?"
"Hahaha, maybe."
"But you're right."
Yuri nodded.
"They're suspicious."
"Pardon?"
When Yuri mentioned the mercenaries, Pierre said he'd scraped his fortune to hire Ivan.
Asked about the guild, he just said yes, nothing more.
Hiring triple-knot mercs requires guild history.
But Pierre didn't seem versed in mercenary customs.
Meaning either he didn't hire them himself... or Ivan's triple-knot mark was fake.
"No Gerdt, shady scholar..."
Yuri nodded.
"Got a good idea."
"What?"
"Let them meet Gerdt and the scholar."
"Pardon?"
"Something'll happen."
"What if we're wrong?"
"So what?"
Yuri smirked.
"A few dead scholars and mercs in Adelbine gonna cause issues?"
"Ooh..."
Hose nodded vigorously, finally getting it.
"I was wrong. The shady group is us. Hahaha!"
"There you go."
He had wandered for a long time.
To fulfill his given command.
His wearing flesh grew disobedient. He wouldn't last much longer this way.
That fact brought no sorrow or fear. Just a simple truth, unaccompanied by emotion.
Suddenly, he sensed life signs far off.
His creaking body rose. He began walking again.
The aged knight thus crossed the ruins of the fallen kingdom once more.