Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Sons of the Wilderness (1)
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Golden Highway's 9th Checkpoint Defense Line.
The wind howled fiercely. After endless battles with the demonic beasts, the wooden barricades and earthen walls had crumbled, sending clouds of dust straight into the sentries' noses and mouths.
They coughed, clamping one sleeve over their mouths. Yet even then, their other hand never left their shields. They knew all too well by now that threats could strike from anywhere, anytime. The past month's trials had taught them far more than years of training ever could.
Still, they couldn't help growing weary.
No one knew how many rampaging demons remained. The casualties had mounted beyond any hope of concealment. Ominous rumors swirled of hordes of demons gathering nearby. But more than the immediate pain, it was the utter lack of an end in sight that wore the soldiers down most.
Yet even so, hope wasn't entirely lost.
Around that time, a peculiar rumor began circulating among the troops.
"Hey, have you heard?"
"Heard what?"
"About the 'Demon Slayer.' They say he's butchering every demon he lays eyes on. Thanks to that mercenary, the demons west of the highway have been all but wiped out."
"...What kind of nonsense is that?"
It started as mere hearsay from a single courier. But soon, messengers from other defense lines brought similar accounts, and the rumor snowballed with embellishments. No one had witnessed the fighter up close, though, so descriptions varied wildly—from appearance to backstory.
Some said he was a small but nimble alliance native. Others claimed a massive Atalan. A bearded, pale northerner... A wandering mercenary avenging his parents, slaughtered by demons. A disgraced high paladin on a purge order from the council. A gladiator slave escaped from the arena, wielding some ancient relic...
"I heard it straight from a soldier at the 5th checkpoint—he hurled a house-sized axe and split a demon's skull clean open! Gotta be a northern relic hunter loaded with dwarf artifacts!"
"Hah, cut the crap! How's a man supposed to throw a house-sized axe? Unless he's a high paladin..."
"Word is, he called lightning from a clear sky. Obviously a secret soldier bred by the Magic Tower. Probably stole the tower lord's treasure and bolted."
Whenever they snatched a meal, a break, or even a brief moment, the soldiers spat debates about the 'Demon Slayer.' Lacking evidence, opinions clashed wildly, but one fact united them all.
He was slaughtering demons along the Golden Highway—and heading this way.
It was an immense comfort to the troops. They craved a hero to sweep away the mighty demons. The Magic Tower reinforcements, whom they'd pinned hopes on, had proven mere vultures eyeing the scraps. Demon extermination took a backseat to looting corpses and body parts.
They'd waited ages for a true demon-slayer zealot. Questioning returning sentries—"Anyone coming?"—had become routine. The lookouts always shook their heads. Scout parties and mercenary bands hunted beasts elsewhere, but no one approached this line.
Yet perhaps their desperate pleas reached the heavens. A few days later, someone finally arrived.
Just not the one they'd hoped for.
"This the 9th checkpoint? We're from Galentana's council. Fetch your guard captain—he'll know who we are."
Mysterious warriors, strung with demon heads dangling from ropes. Each exuded an eerie menace. While the sentries gawked, the guard captain rushed out and ushered them inside.
And as that enigmatic group passed, another figure appeared.
This one, even harder to judge for passage.
"I'd like to pass through. Here's my permit."
"..."
A face radiating murderous intent, a beastly bulk more monster than man, skin and clothes streaked with fresh blood, a keen sword and an axe still dripping gore.
Reeling from the visitors' savage looks, the sentries seriously pondered if demons had donned human disguises.
*
Kadim and Duncan weren't cleared through the line right away. Instead, they were led to a tent inside the camp.
"Sorry, but please wait here just a moment!"
The polite apology from the soldier did nothing to ease Kadim's irritation. He furrowed his brow slightly.
"What do you think's holding us up, Duncan?"
"Pardon? Well... This is Galentana council territory, so maybe that's it... Our permit only bears the Delutana council's seal. Might need renewing..."
"..."
If true, it spelled trouble. Kadim had no connections to this council. Even name-dropping a councilor would mean tedious procedures for any renewal.
'...If those damn wizards find the demons first, we're screwed. Maybe just force our way through.'
As he mulled it over, a haggard man with sunken eyes entered the tent. His breastplate bore the same wooden emblem as the soldiers', but far sturdier armor marked him as the commander here.
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Yulitan Jermani, captain of the Golden Highway 9th Checkpoint Guard. You're... the mercenaries and entourage permitted passage by the Delutana council."
"That's right."
"...Before we proceed, one quick question—if you don't know, just let it pass. Ever heard rumors of someone called the 'Demon Slayer'?"
Kadim's eyebrow twitched. Yulitan waved his arms animatedly, piling on details.
"Y'know, the one who drops lightning from clear skies, summons house-sized axes, rips demons apart barehanded, escaped the Magic Tower as a paladin with ancient relics, now a mercenary avenging his parents by slaughtering every demon in sight... Ring any bells?"
Kadim stared at him like a madman. Duncan blinked in confusion. Yulitan sighed deeply, deflated.
"Hoo... Never mind if not. Just idle gossip among the troops... Anyway, you plan to continue down the highway from here?"
"Yes."
"Afraid I can't allow that."
Yeah, figured as much.
Better this way, even. Taking the captain hostage would make punching through the troops easier. Kadim subtly shifted his arm back, gripping his axe haft.
Yulitan shivered at the sudden killing intent. Reflexively clutching his sword hilt, he waved his other hand placatingly.
"Whoa, hold on! I don't mean just you—we're all under lockdown!"
"..."
Kadim released the axe. Tense Yulitan kept his grip awhile longer. As Kadim crossed his arms expectantly, the captain finally relaxed, pulling a map from his breastplate.
"You've come along the highway, so you grasp the basics. As for our situation: the west is mostly cleared of demons and beasts. But the towns and villages between here and the 10th checkpoint? All overrun."
Yulitan's finger traced the clustered place names. Kadim scanned the map impassively; Duncan swallowed hard.
"Borden, Rodem, Silmont, and even Soltana... Council forces held for a while, then fell like dominoes. Likely a powerful demon rallied the rest for a full assault. And... who knows when that horde hits us."
"..."
"Haven't told the men, but our line's on the brink. If this last bastion falls, Galentana's done for."
It fell within expectations. Still, Kadim couldn't suppress a frown.
"Isn't all this classified? Why spill it to me?"
"...Can't assign a task without context. And in these times, a mercenary vouched by fastidious Delutana council? First I've seen."
"...?"
"We've okayed plenty of mercenaries due to urgency. But Delutana's seal? They must trust you with something special. Am I wrong?"
Yulitan's sunken eyes sharpened on Kadim, then flicked away as he rubbed them with his sleeve.
Nearly a misunderstanding. Kadim's permit came from councilor ties; he barely knew Delutana. He let it slide, cutting to the chase.
"So, what job? Unless it's splitting demon skulls, pass."
"Perfect. That's exactly it: join the demon-slaying purge squad. That blood on your gear—all demon, right? You look seasoned; you'd be a huge help."
Kadim's face hardened fiercely.
"If it means teaming with Magic Tower wizards, count me out. Don't feel like handing them my kills."
Yulitan's expression mirrored his.
"No tower mages in the squad—relax. Those cursed wizards give me chills too... If they'd helped properly, we wouldn't be this bad. This rampage might end with Galentana, Vesta, and the tower at total war."
"..."
Kadim's lips twitched.
The enemy of my enemy... In this unwelcome mess, a silver lining. He smirked crookedly at the captain.
"Fine. Who's in this purge squad? Hope no dead weight."
"Warriors from our council. Proven by the demon heads they brought—no worries there. You're Delutana-vouched; they're Galentana-vouched."
Yulitan grinned meaningfully, adding,
"You'll get along just fine."
*
The squad's pay: 50,000 luden upfront, plus bonuses per demon slain.
Generous for mere participation. Risky, low odds of survival, sure—but free money to Kadim, who planned to hunt demons anyway.
The camp buzzed with purge squad prep. Soldiers hauled supplies, sweat pouring, yet stole glances at Kadim.
"..."
"...Think that's him?"
"Who else? The 'Demon Slay—"
"Hey! Deployment's imminent! Move it!"
The squad leader's bellow refocused them. Kadim ignored the stares, heading to the squad's waiting tent.
Demons were manageable with tattoos and blood arts. The only hitch: the rest of the squad. No mages was good; greenhorns dragging him down, bad.
'If they slow me, ditch 'em and go solo.'
Resolved, Kadim lifted the tent flap.
And understood Yulitan's smirk.
"..."
Dust hung thick; black eyes gleamed within. Sunbeams from roof holes lit bronze skin scarred and tattooed.
Slouched casually, but coiled muscles primed to spring weapons. The tent thrummed like a pen of starved gladiator hounds—or a cage of razor-edged prisoners.
"..."
"..."
Kadim and a dozen men locked eyes.
In the taut silence, a scar-faced man rose, gripping a crescent spear.
He stomped, lunging with a wild swing.
Clang—reeeng!!!
Kadim drew Mosquito in a flash, parrying.
Despite the spear's longer arc, raw power disparity jolted the attacker back. He braced the butt on ground, barely steadying—then swung again.
Clang—reeeng! Clang—reeeng!! Chaeng!
Each strike met the same: Kadim deflected like a child's tantrum. The spearman staggered, off-balance. Onlookers' eyes flickered with curiosity, surprise.
Soon, they thumped fists to chests in respect. Scar-face lowered his spear, smiling, thumping his own.
"Vanguard of the Indomitable Legion, glory to Atala! Glad to meet you, brother. Sending another fine warrior just in time—Father of the Wilderness must burn to dry demon seed!"
"Glory to Atala!"
"Glory to Father of the Wilderness!"
"..."
Kadim scowled deeply. That spearplay—a greeting? The others rose in welcome, but his grimace lingered.
'...Insane barbarians.'
Thus, his abrupt, uneasy encounter with his kin.