Chapter 209
Chapter 209
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 209
Chapter Title: Omen of War (5)
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In the past few months, a massive upheaval had shaken the political landscape of Delutana, the Golden City.
There had been the deaths of an Arch Paladin and a high-ranking mage, a mercenary who slaughtered the demons on the Golden Highway had risen to fame, the Empire's threat had become palpable, and the head of the council had collapsed from a severe illness—numerous grave incidents like these had occurred...
But the biggest reason, without a doubt, was the alliance with the Indomitable Legion.
The Indomitable Legion, the elite Atalain unit led by the man once called Agon's Furious Horn.
This military force had suddenly drawn massive attention thanks to their leader's notoriety and their exploits on the Golden Highway.
Originally, the unit had been the direct force under the Agon faction councilors of the Galentana council. But after Agon was turned into a wasteland for some reason, they left their base and transferred their affiliation to the Delutana council. Thanks to that, the Golden City—which had been relatively weak in military power despite its wealth—had gained a sturdy guardian within its walls.
And without question, the primary architect of this achievement was the Turis Family.
The Indomitable Legion had come to Delutana in the first place because of an introduction to that family. At first, everyone had been flustered when these barbarians rolled into their home uninvited... but the Turis brothers had responded with utmost shrewdness. They quickly grasped that the warriors sought a place to settle and the council wanted watchmen, and promptly arranged for them to become a direct unit.
The Turis Family had already been a renowned house in Delutana. And now they had dramatically bolstered the city's meager military strength... so it was only natural that Delutana's power structure would realign around the Turis Family.
Pellico and Enrico, the brothers leading the Turis Family, swiftly rose to the center of Delutana's political scene. No one even batted an eye when the two attended conferences of city representatives in place of the bedridden council head.
The reason for this conference was to discuss countermeasures against the Empire's threat. To put it bluntly, it was a plea from Delutana—now with fire at its feet—for aid from the other great cities.
But somehow... the discussion wasn't going smoothly at all.
"Let me say it again: the Galentana council has no intention of cooperating against the Empire."
Valerio, a senior Galentana councilor, drew a firm line.
Pellico, a senior Delutana councilor, furrowed his brow slightly. Enrico, the Remtana council officer, struggled to maintain his composure as he spoke.
"This isn't a matter of whether you've thought it through or not, Councilor Valerio. Surely you don't believe Galentana will be safe even if the Empire invades our alliance?"
"Good grief, is that something to say after you stole our direct unit? Thanks to them leaving, Galentana's security is under grave threat—even without the Empire..."
Enrico nearly burst into hollow laughter.
Valerio had actually profited greatly from the Indomitable Legion's defection. It had caused the downfall of the Agon faction—his political rivals who had raised that unit—and allowed his own University faction to seize control of Galentana once more.
But that was an under-the-table matter; on the surface, his point was morally valid. Valerio clung to the pretext of having his direct unit stolen by another city and vented his righteous indignation to the fullest.
"Don't even get me started. We haven't even finished cleaning up the aftermath of the Golden Highway rampage, and then Agon's arena collapses in a massive disaster—adding insult to injury, the unit meant to maintain order defects... Galentana's territory is basically a scorched battlefield now."
"...A scorched battlefield? I heard Agon has actually turned green since the arena fell."
"Wh-what nonsense is that? And even if—cough—even if there's a million square feet of greenery, do you think it could match even a fraction of the arena's revenue?"
"That's why we're offering to fund the arena's reconstruction. If Galentana cooperates militarily with us and stands against the Empire together..."
"Cough, ahem... No amount of money chests will help when the Empire's holy knights come charging in. Sure, the great Golden Lord Remillion once saved a city with just a single gold coin back in the day... but I don't see that kind of prowess in our esteemed Delutana councilors..."
The conversation was starting to drag on fruitlessly. Before it could worsen, Pellico stepped in.
"Then tell us—what exactly are Galentana's conditions?"
"...Return the Indomitable Legion to Galentana, and bear the full cost of rebuilding the arena and the Golden Highway. Unless those two conditions are met, we won't lift a finger to help the Golden City against the Empire."
"..."
It was like dealing with a spoiled brat throwing a tantrum. The Turis brothers were at a loss for words. Galentana apparently saw the Empire's threat as mere infighting beyond the arena's walls.
In the end, they shifted the focus to the Vestana representatives. But their demands were even more outrageous.
"Withdraw all the mages dispatched to Delutana territory to the Magic Tower immediately."
"...What is this all of a sudden? They were dispatched under a proper contract, weren't they?"
"Didn't we include a clause that all would return if a serious issue arose at the Tower? We're tracking the missing Tower Lord, cleaning up after the two elders' civil war— the Magic Tower is critically short-staffed right now. Oh, and Galentana territory is in the same boat, so keep that in mind."
Forsilion, Vestana councilor and archmage conjurer, dropped a bombshell.
They had kept mages as a reserve force for emergencies, but now they were openly demanding to swallow past gains and pull out. Galentana exploded even more vehemently than Delutana—they had already been burned once during the Golden Highway demon outbreak...
The chamber descended into chaos as councilors grabbed at each other. Amid it all, Pellico accurately read Forsilion's intentions.
"The Magic Tower's manpower shortage isn't from cleaning up council messes, is it? It's because of research on that 'something' that returned recently."
"..."
It was obvious what he meant. Ancient mana, the supernatural force that was once the origin of all magic.
The energy, thought to be depleted, had suddenly returned to the continent. Few knew yet—even the Tower had only just confirmed it—but if its applications were mastered and ancient magics restored, the continental balance would shatter.
As a top-secret matter, Forsilion stonewalled and changed the subject. But the direction he pivoted to was both pointed and intriguing. The Galentana and Vestana councilors, who had been snarling like they wanted to kill each other, suddenly huddled together and whispered.
Soon, they spoke in unison.
"Council Officer Enrico, did you really issue a Golden Highway pass to that mercenary called the Demon Slayer?"
"Is it true you're in league with the Demon Slayer?"
"..."
Silent as the grave. Enrico turned away without a word.
The councilors from other cities widened their eyes in unison and declared.
"We'll add a condition. Galentana won't cooperate with Delutana until you hand over the Demon Slayer."
"When recalling the dispatched mages, send the Demon Slayer back with them. He's deeply involved in every disaster at the Tower lately."
"..."
The Turis brothers concealed their agitation and chewed on their bitter feelings.
*
The conference ended without any agreements or gains.
Pellico immediately left for separate negotiations. Enrico joined Goltaran and the Atalain warriors waiting outside the hall. The Galentana councilor who had demanded the Indomitable Legion's return inside fell silent upon seeing the parties involved and scurried away like a rat.
Goltaran let out a scoff and glanced at Enrico. He could guess what had transpired without being told.
"As expected, the other cities won't cooperate, right, Council Officer?"
"...Yes."
"Well, that's no surprise. But there's one unexpected piece of bad news and one piece of good news."
"What are they?"
Goltaran checked for eavesdroppers, then muttered lowly.
"The bad news is Old Man Ironhammer refused the order. The forge is so backed up that even offering ten times the pay, he can't make more weapons."
"..."
"And with war possibly breaking out, he refused to evacuate to the rear. A blacksmith doesn't abandon his forge more than once, he said. Even if Delutana falls, he plans to stay and keep hammering and bellowing."
The council officer's lips twisted bitterly.
That limping blacksmith had originally been stuck in Remtana. Enrico had brought him to Delutana at a mercenary's request. He'd reunited with his long-lost family, set up his own workshop, and was finally enjoying a happy retirement—only for war with the Empire to loom now... He couldn't help pitying the blacksmith's ill-fated life.
Enrico rubbed his dry face and sighed deeply.
"Breaking that craftsman's stubbornness would be harder than biting through an iron chain... While we're in Delutana, make sure Old Man Ironhammer and his family come to no harm, Duke Goltaran."
"...Understood."
"Alright, that's the bad news. What's the good news?"
"The good news is, among the women on our side—the daughters of the wild—a few have become Atal..."
Goltaran cut himself off and clamped his mouth shut. He'd sensed footsteps and the familiar killing intent of beasts.
-Woof, grrr, woof! Woof! Woof!
-Grrr, woof! Woof! Grrrrr...
Beast howls echoed loudly. A stocky man appeared out of nowhere, gripping the leashes of wolf-dog hybrids and blocking the path.
"Well, well, if it isn't Enrico, pillar of the esteemed Turis Family? Haha, what a coincidence— I was just walking my house dogs. How did the talks with the other cities go?"
"..."
The Atalain warriors swiftly shielded the council officer and their leader. Enrico clicked his tongue from behind.
Obstructionists weren't just outside. The man before them was their second-worst internal saboteur.
Ramulek Volgaruis, son-in-law to the Delutana council head and Pellico's rival for the next chairmanship.
From his perspective, the Turis brothers' rise was a catastrophe. With his father-in-law bedridden, he'd assumed he'd absorb the faction and take the seat—only for the Turis Family to seize the political center and shatter his dreams. Thus, he nitpicked and obstructed their every move.
"Hmm, seeing you leisurely walking dogs like me... the talks must have gone swimmingly! Soon, we'll see Galentana's council troops and the Tower's battle mages marching into Delutana in droves, eh, Council Officer!"
"Loose lips sink teeth. No such thing now, but soon... it just might."
"..."
Even knowing the talks had failed, Enrico parried calmly. The Atalain warriors, called "dogs," showed no reaction. It was a familiar insult they'd endured countless times.
Instead, Ramulek's dogs went berserk with excitement.
"Whoa, whoa... what's gotten into you mutts?"
-Grrrrr, grrrrr...
-Grr, woof, grrr, woof!
"Easy, boys! Calm down! We can't turn the council officer—who devotes himself to Delutana—into a rag, now can we!"
"..."
One of his vile habits was pretending to walk his hounds while seeking out rivals to intimidate them.
Ramulek's dogs weren't ordinary. Rumors swirled they were hybrids of blade wolves and bull mastiffs, raised on human blood. Long ago, a councilor investigating his corruption was found as bones the day after a hearing, "cause unknown"—an open secret.
Thus, those afraid of dogs never dared speak against Ramulek. Even the bold froze when he loosened leashes or "accidentally" let go.
But today, he'd picked the wrong foes.
"Wh-whoa, hey! Bad boy, come back!"
-Woof, grrr, woof, woof!
As the unchained hound charged, Goltaran seized its throat with one hand.
Crack—thud!
-Yelp—!
The dog, bigger than a calf, dangled like a pup.
This wasn't the first time. It had slipped its leash to threaten Enrico and him before. Goltaran resolved to warn the councilor he'd never pull this dog stunt again.
In Atalain fashion.
Crunch, crunchcrunchcrunch...
Ferocious jaws tore in; blood poured; the hound thrashed.
-Yap yap yap!! Yap! Yap! Yapyap...
When Goltaran dropped it, the hound's muzzle hung by its lower jaw alone.
Ramulek froze as if his own brain had been bitten. Enrico was momentarily startled but quickly composed himself. Goltaran chewed the severed upper muzzle raw, then spat it on the ground with a thwack.
"Dogs fighting dogs, so no blame. Right?"
"Uh, uh, uhhh..."
-Whine, whimper, whine, whine...
-Groan, ugh, whiiiine...
The maimed hound crawled whimpering to its master. The others cowered, pissing themselves in fear. Barely regaining his wits, Ramulek shuddered violently and muttered.
"Y-you barbarian... You insane, mad, uncivilized savage..."
"Calling my dog a barbarian? Thanks, Councilor. You've risen in rank quick."
An incomprehensible sight by human standards. No amount of cursing or bravado could dispel the primal terror surging from his depths. Ramulek desperately fixed his gaze on Enrico.
"You've got a truly, utterly barbaric mongrel under you, Council Officer...? With that thing leading a council direct unit, won't Delutana's citizens quake in fear if they knew...?"
"Who knows... I think it'll be fine. Thanks to someone walking wolf-dogs disguised as pets, Delutana's folk have decent guts."
Flames sparked in Ramulek's eyes. Forgetting to hide his hand, he unleashed all his intel in a tirade against Enrico.
"Ha, I know the mongrel you keep isn't just that one! Yes, there's an even more dangerous one! I heard the other cities demand 'that one''s custody for cooperating with Delutana—but how do you plan to handle that, hmm!?"
"...We'll send the injured dog's vet bill via your steward. Nice seeing you—must've been a shock, so rest up, Councilor Ramulek."
Enrico turned without answering and walked away. Goltaran and the Atalain warriors followed silently.
The dog-owner's bellows faded into the distance. On the way back to the mansion, Enrico and Goltaran exchanged not another word. Yet they understood each other perfectly.
They shared the same thought.
The card they'd seized, defying even the Empire and other cities—yet whose whereabouts they couldn't even pinpoint now: the Demon Slayer.
They had to find Kadim.