Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: The Star That Pierces the Truth (1)
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The summer heat had become far more bearable than before. They'd finally escaped the wasteland.
Changes seeped into the land little by little—ever so slightly, yet unmistakably.
Weeds began mixing into the road choked with tough scrub. Scattered trees stealthily formed groves. The vivid green traces that sharpened with every step overflowed into a flood of lush foliage once they crossed Agon's border.
No more dust clogging their throats all day. No more scorching ground heating the air. Cool mountain breezes, shady tree canopies, and clear-running streams took their place.
They'd neatly wrapped up business in Agon and escaped that interminable wasteland for greenery at last. No matter what lay ahead, they had every reason to feel a bit uplifted right now.
Yet Duncan was nervously biting his nails.
Kadim asked casually.
"What's wrong, Duncan? Some problem?"
"Ah... No, sir! No problem at all! Wow, what fine weather! The b-breeze is cool, the sunshine is crisp, the p-pockets are lined with coin... It's paradise itself, milord!"
"......"
His godawful acting would make even the dimmest suspect something was up.
Kadim was certain. That guy's hiding something. He narrowed his eyes and scanned the merchant.
And spotted the reason right away.
"Where's the dagger?"
"......Pardon?"
"The hellfire dagger I gave you. Why's only the steel one from Galentana left?"
The blood drained from Duncan's face.
Indeed. He hadn't recovered the hellfire dagger he'd dropped in the ruins. By the time he realized and went back for it, the witch was dead and the ruins sealed.
That dagger was no ordinary weapon. A divine artifact blessed by Elga to incinerate hordes of demons, forged with every ounce of Old Man Ironhammer's skill—an immortal masterpiece. And to Duncan, it held deep personal meaning. His first gift from Kadim, proof he'd proven his worth.
But it'd burned out as a one-use firestarter. No helping it. Duncan spilled the whole story, trembling on his knees. He braced for at least having his hair and beard yanked out.
Yet unexpectedly, Kadim issued no punishment.
"So it was you who caused those stone golems to collapse and the witch to crawl outside after all."
"......Pardon?"
"Get up. You didn't mean to, but you saved my life again."
He praised him warmly instead and gifted another hellfire dagger.
The great warrior's magnanimity still brought indescribable joy. But the outcome so exceeded expectations that Duncan just stood there like a stunned mule, blinking blankly for a while.
He finally gathered his wits.
"Y-You're not pulling my beard, then?"
"......Why would I?"
"B-But... that dagger—wasn't it awfully important to you, milord?"
"It is important, but not more than my life. If you hadn't stopped those stone golems, I'd probably be dead. Besides, it's not like there's only one."
Old Man Ironhammer had made four hellfire daggers total. Even after giving one away, two remained.
Circumstances aside, Duncan was overwhelmed by boundless mercy. He dropped to his knees, eyes welling up. He'd fretted over regrowing a yanked beard... Kadim eyed his pathetic display with disgust and added a warning.
"But if you lose that one too, be prepared. It'll be more than your beard—I'll pluck every hair from your body."
"No chance of that, sir! I'll scald myself in hot water ahead of time to make it easy!"
"......"
Watching Duncan beam innocently, Kadim wondered if the merchant was starting to lose his mind too.
At the end of the path, they found a clearing by a stream. The two decided to rest there. Duncan astutely set out cups and wine, then grabbed ingredients and a pot, grinning as he headed to the stream to prepare a meal.
Kadim didn't touch the cup right away. Instead, he decided to inventory his belongings while he was at it.
My load's grown so much I'm forgetting what I've got... Got spoils from Agon too. Better check before I lose or forget something.
In a game, he'd just open the menu. But reality's 'inventory' demanded dumping everything out. He emptied the heavy pack, unbelted his pouches—soon a mound of gear towered.
"......"
Impossible to sort like this. He categorized: weapons, clothes, food, currency, drink, relics, demon blood, sundries... Grouping similars, he checked each item.
Clothes, food, and drink were plentiful. They'd barely touched Galentana supplies, plus he'd swiped extras from Yubik's mansion.
Currency overflowed. Original funds plus gold bars and gems from there tallied at least 20 million luden. Enough for 6,000 ponies and a ranch.
Relics seemed useful someday: ruin-chasing stele, two lost-kingdom silver coins. He'd keep them close to avoid loss.
Demon blood was spoiled. Excluding tattooed Pevillatus blood, the rest had rotted in wasteland heat. Burn these; procure fresh later.
Weapons inspired confidence just looking. Two hellfire daggers; Blood Ghost with 'Vampiric' and 'Blood Accumulation'; Thunderstrike with 'Return' and 'Lightning'. These outclassed flimsy enchanted rares.
But this time, he'd scored a cheat-tier weapon beyond them.
A jet-black battle axe radiating overwhelming menace.
Kadim's gaze lingered on Judgment of Atala.
In the game, it ranked 'Legendary'—top tier. But by symbolism and power, it deserved its own superior grade. Divine investiture was basic; in skilled hands, it unleashed far deadlier might.
Beyond specs, it meant more.
Judgment of Atala was his trusty companion from the first playthrough—slaying demons in the demon realm, up to severing the archdemon's neck. Countless times its black blade saved his life. Joy and fulfillment surged, like reclaiming a lost comrade.
Though for a comrade, I ditched it pretty callously after killing the archdemon...
No more of that. He'd fully embraced the great warrior's identity and mission. Kadim awkwardly stroked the haft in apology.
Bzzz. The axehead hummed faintly in recoil. A single polish couldn't erase 300 years' wait. To fully soothe its resentment... it'd take time.
Sundries were mostly trivial: Duncan's originals, shop-bought essentials, weapon oil and whetstones...
Yet some caught his eye.
A rod wrapped in rags, and jet-black stone shards.
These...
It took a moment to recall. Iron staff from killing the demon-possessed old mage in Soltana. Magic stone from Lemtana's high mage advisor's heart.
Coincidentally, items evoking their next destination—the journey's goal.
The Magic Tower.
Where genius girl mage Melissa's last traces lingered.
And where demons' corpses gathered for bizarre schemes, strayed far from founder's intent.
'So, after slaying the archdemon, what next? Hmm... Build a tower to teach mages?'
Her voice—bratty usually, dead serious when earnest—echoed clear. Memories unmarred by ice, but reality layered dusty centuries.
300 years. What happened in his absence? The day to glimpse truth neared. Ideally, peruse her records frictionlessly. But odds seemed low...
"Here, meat soup! Thick broth, not bad at... Ack, what're you doing, milord?"
Duncan gawked at the vendor-stall spread. Kadim paused his thoughts, bundling staff and shards in rags.
"Sorting gear. Set the pot here. Finish sorting after eating."
The soup was decent—plenty dried meat chunks, rich broth. They slurped in silence, clinking cups lightly.
Talk resumed as bowls emptied. Duncan glanced slyly.
"Milord... Few more days, and we'll reach the Magic Tower, right?"
"Aye."
"So, uh... Mind sharing what you'll do there? That Melissa? Meliza? Gotta be about the first Tower Lord... Didn't hear details before..."
"......"
He'd never told Duncan the journey's purpose. Kadim chuckled inwardly and answered plainly.
"Check the first Tower Lord's records. Got things to verify."
"Ah... Oh? Aah... Right! S-So scholarly, milord! Martial prowess and erudition..."
"Spare the bootlicking. Anything else?"
"......"
Duncan hesitated, lips sealed.
He'd guessed by now.
This man wasn't just some war god great warrior from beyond the mountains. He bore vast, unfathomable history. Held... some colossal secret touching the world's core.
But asking about it still terrified him.
He'd earned huge trust since they met. Yet if the man's mood twisted, he'd die without a squeak. Crucially, he hadn't secured the key reward—his 'life.'
Still... even so...
Even so, the end neared.
Guide to Vesta's Magic Tower, and his duty ended. Freedom at last. Home to wife and son. Lifetime wealth let him quit trading, open a guild in a big city.
But then...
...he'd never see milord again?
"Asked if you had more questions."
"Eek!"
Duncan jolted, shoulders shaking. Facing Kadim's stern look, he flashed an awkward smile.
"N-No! Nothing!"
"......Why jump like that?"
"Ah, it's nothing! B-By the way... That Lemtana consul—think he's okay? Sudden Atalans swarming—he'll be shocked..."
"......"
That reminded Kadim of something forgotten.
The consul sought every way to query Magic Tower records, sent a letter... What came of it?
*
Lemtana's consul, Enrico Turis, remained Delutana's center of buzz.
Nay, more than before. He'd first reported the Arch Paladin and high mage deaths—now rumors linked him to the 'Demon Slayer' too.
"Consul Enrico, true you issued Golden Highway passes to that 'Demon Slayer'?"
"......"
The 'Demon Slayer''s fame—piling demon corpses into mountains—had spread to the Golden City.
Not just Highway feats. Sharp ears heard of Galentana; swift sources even caught Agon whispers.
Unending curiosity for the consul who'd met that fearsome mercenary. Crowds swarmed him like flies.
"Consul, did he really tear demons barehanded?"
"Does he eat demon flesh for meals, pick teeth with their bones?"
"Didn't he kill folk and rampage in Lemtana? Galentana's population halved after..."
"Consul, introduce me if you can? Starting a mercenary band..."
"......"
Such attention was fine. Annoying, but harmless.
The real danger: shrewd folk sensing odd vibes.
"How'd you meet him, Consul? Why pass Lemtana? No profitable demons or monsters there..."
"Could the Demon Slayer tie into the Arch Paladin and Ymir Deban deaths?"
"......"
Tie in? He'd killed them both.
Enrico couldn't welcome this. Truth out, and he'd doom not just himself and kin, but Delutana entire. He even regretted allying with Kadim at times.
But dice were cast.
Enrico did his part. Hid truth desperately, negotiated sources underhand, spread fakes to muddle speculation, scoured for Magic Tower record access. So hectic, days with two hours' sleep were countable.
Not futile. Success meant a prize.
The Demon Slayer 'Kadim' card.
A trump to potentially shatter the Church's asymmetric force, the Decagram, when Empire allied against them.
Then, an unexpected event.
"...Yes, relay the message well, Feldric."
"Aye, no worries, Consul!"
He'd just finalized secret talks with the Tower, dispatching a courier to Kadim. Dark circles sagged to his jaw, but accomplishment brought a rare smile.
"Phew..."
Next: meet brother Pellico. The Elga Church archbishop's long-heralded visit loomed. Time to head home and finalize plans...
As he turned—
Enrico's figure vanished cleanly.
Whoooo...
Silence descended without warning.
Where one man blinked out, sunlight merely rippled innocently.