Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 63
>Chapter Title: Didn't You Say You Had Something to Say?
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After a thorough beating.
Reilly staggered about in a daze.
‘What the hell kind of hands are those...'
He hadn't realized they could sting like this.
He wasn't on the level of mercenaries who hunted monsters for a living, but he still had some pride in his own skills.
Over a decade, no less.
He'd survived in the Hamern Great Forest for over ten years—surely he could land at least one punch!
But the guy in front of him was on another level entirely.
Every fist that connected rattled his bones, and every kick sent his whole body jolting.
Resist? He hadn't even considered it.
Well, he had, but every time he thought about it, a fierce punch flew at him like the guy could read his mind!
"Urgh... ugh..."
As Reilly groaned from the pain vibrating through his very marrow, a nonchalant voice rang in his ear.
"I didn't even hit you that hard. Quit whining and get up."
Not hard?
He'd been beaten like a dog, and this guy called that not hard?
"You want me to really hit you hard once?"
"...N-no, sir."
Reilly scrambled into position, startled.
'I'm... I'm really gonna die.'
His instincts, honed over a decade traversing the Hamern Great Forest, told him so.
One real hit, and there'd be no difference between pain and anything else—he'd be bidding farewell to this world.
At the same time, his finely tuned sense screamed at him.
*Gulp.* 'Bow my head and grovel.'
This wasn't the same league as that amateur mage he'd tried to fleece earlier.
Forget street smarts or experience—this guy wasn't right in the head to begin with.
His calculations were quick.
His actions even quicker.
"Come sit here."
"Heh, heh... Would a lowly guy like me dare share your table? I'll just stand."
"Suit yourself."
Like a loyal retainer who'd served at his master's side for years.
Despite the aches wracking his body, Reilly stood ramrod straight beside him!
On the other hand, he was thinking:
*That motherfucker... And he just lets me stand?*
Aster stared at him blankly before asking casually,
"Were you from the Black-White Slums, by any chance?"
"H-how did you..."
"Yeah, figured as much."
Not just anyone had that kind of backbone.
It was the hollow tenacity only those who'd taken plenty of beatings and honed their instincts could possess.
The flexibility to bend one's convictions when needed!
It was an advantage unique to those from the Black-White Slums.
Anyway.
"What's your name?"
"I... used to be called Slippery back in the Slums."
"...?"
"Oh, Slippery was my old name from the Black-White Slums. Now it's Reilly."
"Made something of yourself, huh."
"Haha. Thank you. Yeah, none of my old gang has climbed as high as me."
Yeah.
For a Black-White Slums orphan to become a mercenary was a huge success.
Most ended up joining back-alley gangs and dying young.
That was the end of the small talk.
Aster took in his fellow Black-White Slums alum(?).
"Heard you earlier—can't go back to the Great Forest?"
"Ah... Y-yeah. How much did you hear?"
"From the beginning."
"...Oh."
Truth be told, Aster had entered the Herb's Sun around when the conversation started.
So...
- Mage, what do you think?
From around there.
He'd watched the scene unfold in silence, and it was quite the spectacle.
*'Please, just let me live?'*
If a mercenary signed a contract, he should honor it or pay the penalty and scram.
Appealing to emotions? That was code for straight-up scamming.
'Honestly, this is no big deal.'
Aster crossed his legs and leaned back in his chair, glancing at Obern to his right.
The real problem was that guy.
- No, mage, I'm the one who's sorry. So, about the penalty...
- You've given something more precious than life... I think you've fulfilled your role, Reilly.
Was that even sane?
It made his head spin.
He could've grabbed the guy by the collar and smashed his face into the floor, but instead, they were thanking him!
*'Good thing I came quick.'*
Something had felt off.
Two days since leaving the Academy.
A nagging anxiety from deep in his gut had hurried his steps.
Three warp gates.
A full day and a half of nonstop travel.
Even during the forced march, he'd wondered dozens of times, *'Is this really necessary?'*
But now that he was here, yes—it was.
*'Who'd have thought an idiot like this would show up.'*
It was downright chilling!
Anyway.
"Buddy."
"...Yes."
Gulp.
Reilly swallowed hard at that look in his eyes.
"Let's get our positions straight. So, you were saying you want to go into the Hamern Great Forest?"
"W-well..."
Aster didn't look directly, but he could clearly hear Reilly's eyes darting around.
Aster added a little nudge to his deliberations.
"Feel free to speak your mind. If you don't wanna go, no big deal. Forcing some unwilling guy along would just be extra baggage."
"..."
Reilly's eyes widened at the unexpected words, but Aster meant it.
He hadn't entered the Hamern Great Forest yet, and even in his past life, he hadn't been there.
Who knew what variables lurked inside.
Someone without motivation was worse than dead weight.
Did he sense the sincerity?
"W-well then... I don't have to go?"
Reilly spat out his honest feelings, as best he could.
Still, he couldn't help feeling anxious.
He hadn't known this masked man long, but the guy's temperament was so unpredictable.
But contrary to that anxiety, Aster's response was refreshingly straightforward.
"Yeah, sure."
"...R-really?"
"Yeah, really."
Human emotions are fickle things.
"Th-thank you! Thank you!"
Just moments ago, Reilly had been cursing him out in his head.
But now, this masked man looked like an absolute angel.
Had he ever expressed such genuine gratitude? Absolutely not.
"Right. Now tell me."
Aster posed a quiet question to the grateful Reilly.
"W-what..."
"Where do you want to be buried? You're dead set against the Hamern Great Forest, so I'll exclude that. But if we go, I'll at least pick a decent spot for you."
"..."
Reilly clamped his mouth shut.
Aster watched him.
*'Crazy bastard—letting me go just like that?'*
Look at the state of Greentown right now.
What pathfinder in their right mind would head into the Hamern Great Forest in this mess?
A brief silence.
It didn't last long before Reilly spoke.
"I'm a mercenary of integrity."
"Hm, sure."
"Hamern Great Forest. I promise a safe and comfortable guide to the 4th Base Camp."
"Hm."
Reilly bowed his head with utmost solemnity.
He looked just like the dignified manager of a high-end restaurant.
But.
*'This guy's gonna bolt.'*
Aster thought.
That face screamed inevitable betrayal.
In fact.
*'Fuck, something'll come up on the way.'*
That was exactly what Reilly was thinking.
And so.
"..."
One sucker blankly watching the scene unfold, one scheduled traitor.
And Aster.
The party bound for the Hamern Great Forest was formed.
* * *
Greentown's back gate.
The entrance to the Hamern Great Forest, where Obern stood.
*...Hm.*
Somehow, things had worked out.
Just earlier, he'd been agonizing over finding a pathfinder and navigating to the 4th Base Camp with just a map.
All those worries had vanished in an instant.
On the other hand.
One problem remained unsolved.
No—a new one had arisen.
*...It was definitely New Moon.*
New Moon.
He'd heard of it before.
From the old war era.
The secret special forces unit that his master and the empire's war mages had belonged to.
It was so classified that even its name had been forgotten to time, but his master occasionally reminisced.
- They were... absolute madmen. But it was fun.
And with those words, he'd shown him.
A mask with a black base and a white band.
- This is New Moon's token. Nothing special, but I'll pass it to you someday. We had a promise among ourselves. It'll be a big help.
Someday, if he proved worthy, he'd inherit the New Moon mask.
*So... does that mean he was deemed worthy?*
Or should he call him *that person*.
Obern recalled the New Moon mask-wearer he'd just seen.
The mysterious mage who'd told him to call him 'senior.'
A build not much different from his own.
Face hidden, so exact age unclear, but Obern knew.
*...He's definitely around my age.*
Part of Obern's 'talent.'
Eyes that pierced the essence of things to some degree.
He couldn't read intentions, but various details flowed in naturally, unbidden.
Fragmentary, but still.
Anyway.
He couldn't see the face or features, but the moment he laid eyes on him, he just knew.
This masked figure had lived roughly the same span of years as him.
Two thoughts crossed his mind.
*Incredible...*
How had someone his age inherited the New Moon token?
Rumors said the Blandoga young patriarch was a once-in-a-generation talent.
Even the Dinai young patriarch and second son, acknowledged geniuses—maybe on their level.
Could talent like that make it possible?
It was a kind of awe.
But on the other hand...
*...What do I do?*
He couldn't shake the worry.
Inheriting New Moon meant proving one's worth, sure.
*...*
A scene flashed in his mind.
- Kiiiaaaah—!
- Grraaah...
The undead emerging somewhere in the Hamern Great Forest, their influence reaching the 4th Base Camp.
No, the ancient spirits unleashed as the Destrow seal broke.
Could a boy his age endure that horror?
*'Master, why would your friend send...*
A kid like that to this nightmare?
Obern was still a kid himself, which was why he knew all too well.
Devious beings.
The mental shock of facing them.
Of course, that wasn't his only worry.
*...Hmm.*
Should he say something now?
*'It's too dangerous.'*
Worthy of the New Moon token or not, he couldn't expect the guy to be combat-ready.
In that case, better to politely send him back than drag him to a land of death...
It was a highly selfless thought, hard for most to have.
To shatter Destrow, the cursed being, they needed to grasp every straw.
Worrying about others?
Aster's voice came right then.
"What're you doing?"
"Ah, sen...ior."
Obern tried using 'senior' as instructed, but knowing the age made it awkward on his tongue.
Still, on one hand.
"Preparations are..."
"All set, mage!"
Reilly's voice cut in before he could finish.
True to that confident tone, his back was loaded with gear.
But there was so much...
"R-Reilly, that looks heavy. Why not store some in my sub-space..."
Polite as it was, Reilly shook his head firmly.
"No, mage. These are for emergencies—better in the backpack for quick access."
Of course, a lie.
Storing in the mage's sub-space would complicate a midnight dash.
Better to ditch it all and run than leave anything to snag his ankle.
Of course.
*...*
Aster knew the scheme but let Reilly do his thing.
*'Run if you want—it's into the Hamern Great Forest.'*
Even cats leave mice a breathing hole when chasing.
Better to let him hold onto some hope.
Anyway.
*Hoo, the Hamern Great Forest at last.*
Aster looked up ahead.
The Hamern Great Forest was immense.
Even from Greentown's back gate, quite a distance away, the foliage and trees loomed like they were right there.
A majestic natural treasure trove.
*'So, that's where you are, huh?'*
Did they know the Hamern Great Forest lay ahead?
Wooong... wooong.
A faint resonance from his chest.
To be precise, the resonance from the Fire Mark as it neared Destrow, but anyway.
Aster savored it quietly.
*'Alright, let's see what you're hiding.'*
Frankly, ignoring the Fire Mark's resonance wouldn't hurt.
His goal was building the tower, creating the Library for All.
A grimoire's power would help, but it wasn't his main aim.
Yet, since his regression.
A persistent hunch—or more accurately, the pull of fate.
It whispered to him.
The prologue of this new life's book.
No one knew how many pages it would span or where the period would fall...
*'But in the end, you'll be tangled in every moment, huh.'*
How could he not investigate?
"Alright, let's go."
Aster steeled himself simply and stepped forward.
That was when Obern hardened his resolve.
"Um, sen...ior. I have something to..."
He forced the words out.
But they didn't reach the end.
"E-eh...! Mages! Careful, careful!"
Far off, the Hamern Great Forest bushes rustled.
They swayed a few times, then vomited forth a horde— that's what Reilly spotted.
Their identity...
"H-Hamern orcs! These guys shouldn't show up till the 2nd Base Camp—how...!"
Dozens of orcs.
Each rode massive wolves, charging at ferocious speed.
Even from that distance, they'd close in fast.
"..."
Obern's eyes widened at the sudden appearance.
Fweet—
A soft whoosh cut the air.
Hundreds of somethings launched into the sky right then.
Obern stared up blankly. What unfolded before him was...
*'Crimson Jade.'*
Red gems.
Glittering beautifully in the sunlight.
But.
Pew-pew-pew-pew—!
As the Crimson Jades shot forward.
The result of those lovely blood-red gems was anything but.
Countless whooshes tore through the air.
A grisly slaughter sound beyond description.
When it all faded...
"..."
"..."
Obern and Reilly stared blankly ahead.
The dozens of orc riders were gone.
No—not gone, pulverized and dismantled by countless explosions.
It had happened in a blink.
*...How.*
As Obern's thoughts stuttered at the incomprehensible sight.
A quiet voice reached his ear.
"Junior."
"..."
"Didn't you say you had something to say?"