Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Followers of the Forgotten God (2)
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The position of captain of the Ninth Checkpoint Guard on the Golden Highway wasn't one just anyone could claim.
It was the gateway straight into Galentana, so among the captains of nearby checkpoints, it carried the most clout. As long as you didn't cause any major incidents during your service, it was a key post that could easily lead to promotion to Galentana guard captain or a high-ranking officer in the garrison.
On top of that, Yulitan had even racked up some distinguished service. There had been a major crisis midway through, but he'd still managed to fend off the demon incursion and hold the city to the bitter end. Now all that was left was to clean up the aftermath of the rampage, let the chaos die down, and he'd be hailed as a hero, rising swiftly through the ranks.
Or so it should have been.
Instead, Yulitan found himself grunting like livestock as he pulled the cart.
Clunk, clunk—
"Huff, huff, huff..."
The guard captain, who had once been promised a brilliant future, now lolled his tongue out like a dog and groaned in misery.
It had been a mistake. When he'd received orders to bolster the subjugation force with suitable mercenaries if available and secured the budget from the council, everything had seemed fine. Even when he'd first met this mercenary and lured him into joining the subjugation force, he'd secretly hoped for some outstanding performance.
But the problem was that the performance had been too outstanding. Who could have imagined he'd slaughter over fifty demons single-handedly? No, was that even a number one person could kill?
If he shelled out that kind of compensation on his own discretion, the council would mistake it for embezzlement and have his head. Not that he even had the funds to pay in the first place... Normally, you'd just deny everything and kick them out, but if he tried that now, this mercenary might collect his and his men's heads right after the demons'.
In the end, Yulitan had no choice but to be dragged all the way to Galentana. Pulling a cart loaded with severed demon heads.
"Are you alright, Captain, sir? Your face looks pretty pale..."
"Huff, no, not... not alright... Breathing's hard enough, so don't... talk to me..."
"..."
Duncan glanced back, wondering if he should offer help. Kadim shook his head firmly.
He'd expected there wouldn't be that much money in the outpost, but their post-incident handling had been utterly botched. Trying to fob him off with pocket change or a mere slip of paper and bolt... Out of spite, Kadim intended to make the captain pull the cart all the way to Galentana.
"Huff, huff, huuuuh..."
Yulitan collapsed from exhaustion before even two hours had passed.
Kadim casually lifted his axe a couple of times, and he scrambled back up in panic. But by the third, he lay there with eyes half-rolled back, as if daring him to kill him. Kadim looked down at the captain coldly.
"Get up. We've still got a long way to go."
"Huff, huff, p-please... spare me... This cart's too heavy... This isn't for humans—bring oxen or horses..."
"Quit whining. What's so heavy about it?"
Kadim hooked his pinky finger on the handle and pulled. The cart rolled forward effortlessly, as if empty. Yulitan's sunken eyes bulged out once more.
He shot to his feet and hooked his own finger on it, trying to pull. But even with one hand, it didn't budge, and only when he yanked with both hands, grunting, did it wobble forward. Kadim drove the dagger home at the bewildered captain's expression.
"You're weak."
"..."
Yulitan barely suppressed the urge to shout that he was the monster.
An hour later, when the captain truly passed out, the cart-pulling duty finally shifted to Duncan. In exchange, Kadim woke Yulitan for some interrogation to see if he had any useful info.
And that's when he heard some utterly ridiculous news.
"...Agon’s Furious Horn subjugated the central demon?"
"Sigh, yes... Thanks to him, the rampage ended, and the demons scattered. Though to you, who made a fortune off them, it might be bad news..."
"...Are you saying that yourself?"
"No. Some of his followers—Atalain warriors—passed through the outpost and mentioned it. Said Agon’s Furious Horn took the rest of the warriors straight back to Agon. Didn't you run into the champion by any chance?"
"..."
Duncan, pulling the cart ahead, shuddered with a jolt. Kadim narrowed his eyes and furrowed his brow.
It was unclear how much truth there was to it.
His underlings might have spread baseless rumors on their own, or Agon’s Furious Horn might have led the charge in fabricating them. Either way, if the rumors had spread this far already, soon plenty of people would wrongly believe he'd slain the central demon.
But it didn't matter. He hadn't killed demons to make a name for himself in the first place, and it wasn't the first time that bastard had stolen his thunder.
Besides, he planned to split the fool's skull soon enough anyway.
Kadim resolutely stroked his axe head and changed the subject.
"What kind of place is Galentana?"
"...Hm? You've never been?"
"Probably not."
"I see... Allow me to explain briefly."
The great cities of the Free City Alliance each had their own moniker tied to their specialties. Delutana, basking in the greatest wealth, was the "City of Gold"; Vesta, home to the Magic Tower, was the "City of Miracles"... And Galentana's title was the "City of Knowledge."
That jogged a memory of something he'd heard somewhere.
"Is it because of that 'Galentana University' that scholarship flourished there?"
"Exactly. In terms of history or prestige, Galentana University has no equal anywhere in the world. Countless scholars from across the continent flock here to hone their knowledge. Thanks to them, Galentana has prospered for ages as a repository of knowledge and the alliance's intellectual hub. Well, the damage from this rampage was severe, so it'll be quiet for a while..."
Kadim half-listened, letting it slide past as he sank into thought.
That archaeologist chasing ruins had definitely introduced herself as a "Galentana University scholar." Though whether she was truly an archaeologist was debatable...
If Galentana University really was a "repository of knowledge," it should hold all sorts of information. Even if he couldn't find the woman, there might be details on the silver coin she'd left or other useful intel.
'If I get the time, I should stop by the university...'
Kadim steeled his resolve and cut off the soldier's sudden lament on Galentana's realities.
"...The demon rampage reminded us of defense's importance, but relying on external forces based in other cities still leaves serious security gaps..."
"Right, then switch with Duncan and pull the cart again."
"...Pardon?"
"You've rested enough. If you have more to say, do it while pulling."
Yulitan's vision went black.
*
The pale crescent moon hung dimly in the night sky. Since the other two had labored through the day, Kadim took watch.
Exhausted as he was, Yulitan couldn't sleep easily. He felt uneasy entrusting his safety entirely to a barbarian. Kadim reassured him flatly.
"Rest easy. If I really meant to kill you, sleeping or awake wouldn't make a difference."
"..."
It backfired. Yulitan fought even harder to stay awake. But utterly spent, he blacked out the moment his mind slipped.
Kadim slowly scanned the surroundings.
The long spring had ended, and summer had arrived before he knew it.
The heat hadn't fully ripened yet, so the breeze was lukewarm. Lush grass and bushes rippled in deep green waves, and a lakeside bird perched on a branch fluttered away in alarm at the chirp of crickets. Moonlight filtered softly through dense leaves; stars and the Milky Way streamed sinuously, as if emerging from the hazy lunar halo. If only for the sticky night insects clinging close, it would have been a truly romantic summer night.
Kadim picked up a pebble at his feet. He pinched it between thumb and forefinger, squeezing hard. Soon, it crumbled with a crunch, like damp soil.
His body had undergone yet another radical growth spurt. Thanks to hunting powerful greater demons and high demons.
He had long surpassed the physical limits ordinary humans could reach. Now, he could probably take on a progenitor mid-tier demon barehanded. If his first playthrough physical stats were 100, this was maybe around 30.
"..."
But it still wasn't enough.
Just like in his first playthrough, increasingly overwhelming foes were appearing.
He'd thought building external strength would reduce his reliance on demon blood. Wrong. The stronger he got, the fiercer the enemies that appeared. The journey always pushed him mercilessly. Your current power isn't enough. You need to get stronger—stronger, stronger. To survive the crises, drink the 'demon blood' first...
Kadim gripped the blood-filled canteen tightly. A sharp urge stabbed at one side of his brain.
A thirst for blood was starting to emerge. Once the impulses worsened, he'd crave it even in moments he didn't need it. His mania would accelerate too. Symptoms intensifying, durations lengthening, aftereffects lingering...
And eventually...
"..."
...Kadim snapped out of his dark thoughts, eyes sharpening fiercely.
His senses had grown sharper with the latest level-up. That was why he'd noticed the anomaly—despite an almost ghostly faint presence.
Whoosh, rustle—!
"Eek!"
He hurled his axe into the bushes, drawing a panicked yelp. Kadim extended his hand to retrieve it like a salmon, then knelt.
"Reveal yourself before I rise, or die."
"I-it's me, sir! Remember me? The archaeologist studying the Wildland Witches! When we explored the ruins together—that time..."
A familiar silhouette burst from the bushes. Sun-kissed skin, dark brown braided hair, graceful curves that even an oversized tunic couldn't hide. Her yellow eyes flickered like a wind-tossed candle flame.
Kadim scowled deeply. This was the last person he'd expected.
"Why are you here?"
"Wait, whoa... Calm down first... Just calm down..."
The archaeologist, Ilenia, caught her breath and spread her hands placatingly, like soothing a raging beast. She nodded slyly, suggesting he lower the axe.
Kadim stared silently, refusing to drop it. Hadn't he confirmed last time that this archaeologist hid a weapon too? Ilenia finally gave up and spilled words in a rush.
"Anyway, uh... It's been a while—really glad to see you, sir... Who'd have thought we'd meet again like this? Looks like the thread of chance tying our fates hasn't snapped yet..."
"Cut the fluff."
"Y-yes, got it! Straight to the point: I got stuck in Galentana for ages because of the demon rampage on the Golden Highway. Oh, I mentioned I'm a Galentana University scholar, right? Anyway, yesterday—or whenever—they said the rampage ended. So I finally stepped out, and on the way, I spotted someone who looked just like you..."
"How'd you sneak out of the city at night? And why approach like a rat?"
"Oh, I left during the day, obviously! And I approached stealthily just in case I was wrong—if it wasn't you but some other dangerous guy, who knows what might happen. I'm just a frail woman, after all, heh..."
"..."
It was suspicious, but the story held together. Kadim slowly—very slowly—lowered the axe blade. Ilenia sighed in relief, hand on her chest.
"Phew, thanks for trusting me... But I didn't come just to say hi. I actually have business. I was hoping to meet you anyway—perfect timing!"
"..."
"Ahem, anyway. Last time, I gave that little old man a silver coin to pass to you, right? Oh, he's sleeping over there. But I gave him the wrong one by mistake. It should have been a plain 100-luden silver, but I handed over something really important to me..."
"...This?"
Kadim held up the silver coin etched with strange runes. Ilenia lit up and stepped closer.
"Yes, that's it! Phew, thank goodness you didn't lose it! See, it's not just any coin—it's from a fallen ancient kingdom..."
The razor-sharp axe blade blocked her approach. To the puzzled Ilenia, Kadim spoke sternly.
"I can't just give it back."
"...Pardon?"
"Not until you confess your true identity, your goals, your companions—everything."
Ilenia's eyes and lips twitched ever so slightly, almost imperceptibly. Kadim caught even that faint tremor clearly.
"Um, that... Didn't we wrap it up when I gave you the stone tablet about the ruins last time?"
"It wrapped up for you. You bolted before I answered."
"Sigh, for real... I am a Galentana University scholar, studying the Wildland Witches. If you don't believe me, come to the university with me and check..."
A faint sense of wrongness.
Her speech patterns, appearance, conversation—all matched perfectly from before. It was hard to think she was anyone else. Yet Kadim had glimpsed it: a thread-thin, inhuman unease in her eyes moments ago.
So he set the trap.
"Still hard to believe. In those ruins, didn't you single-handedly cut down three tree-like monsters? How could an ordinary archaeologist do that?"
"Oh, that! It wasn't my power—I used a relic! Without it, I never could have..."
Kadim swung the axe down with conviction.
Splut—crunch!
"...Huh?"
Her skull split perfectly in half along the blade. Blood and brains oozed down the cleaved forehead. The horrific impact caved in the cranium, flesh bulging out, distorting her features into a grotesque, sedimentary-rock fracture.
Kadim intoned coldly at the twisted-faced woman.
"There were no 'tree-like monsters' in those ruins. Only 'carved stone warriors.'"
"..."
"Who are you?"
The eye bulging from its socket spun wildly. A blade shot from her sleeve. Kadim stepped back, yanked the axe free, and slammed it back into her head.
Crack—crunch!
"No games. Answer."
"...Grrr."
Ilenia—or whatever wore her skin—never answered.
The flowing blood turned black, and the thrashing form bubbled with flesh-flecked foam, gradually melting away.