016. Mission
Plentel Castle. Danel's mansion.
Bin looked around the interior of the mansion as he prepared to depart.
"Looks like that's everything."
Thanks to Codic, gathering the necessary items had been relatively straightforward. He just had to stuff them into the skull's mouth. Strangely enough, no matter how much he put in, the weight never changed. Nothing beat it for storage.
"Who knew this skull bastard would turn out so useful."
At Bin's words, Codic opened his mouth wide and began stuffing various objects inside.
"Hah, 'tis nothing, my lord."
Codic spoke nonchalantly, but his cheekbones were practically glowing. He was inwardly thrilled at the praise from his lord, Bin. Emboldened by the words, Codic stretched his jaw even wider.
But then...
Clack!
In the end, Codic's jaw popped loose from being forced open too far. Stunned by the unexpected mishap, he froze with a dumbfounded expression.
"...!"
Bin glanced at Codic, who was furtively checking his surroundings, and shook his head.
Typical. The guy has no sense of moderation.
With preparations complete, Bin sat down at the dining table. It was the last dinner with his mother before leaving at dawn the next morning.
The table groaned under an enormous spread of side dishes.
Mother... I get that it's to build up my stamina, but...
Bin eyed the feast with a queasy expression. Before him were dishes made from bokbunja berries, amphibian monsters, and more—all foods renowned for restoring vitality. It felt a bit excessive.
Danel watched his reaction, and Bin forced a smile. It was a meal his mother had prepared with care, so he tried his best to look cheerful.
"Bin, you'll be using a lot of strength soon. Eat up."
"Yes, Mother..."
Bin managed another smile and, glancing at her face, shoveled the food in busily with his spoon. Her smile widened at his eager eating. She seemed fully satisfied.
As Bin finished his meal, Danel asked,
"This mission is to the Royal Tomb, right?"
The Royal Tomb. It was the very place Bin had longed to go. After all, it was the habitat of the Cerberian, the monster whose materials were needed for Luminare.
Danel grumbled midway through.
"It's because of those rumors about dwarves appearing there, isn't it? I just don't understand why your father keeps assigning such perilous missions to a child like you. Especially now, with children going missing left and right. Sigh..."
As Danel said, ever since his duel with Willie five years ago, Moden had given Bin various missions. Most were daunting for a ten-year-old. But while others shook their heads, Bin's resolve was unwavering.
I'll get it done, no matter what.
Afterward, Bin had resolved missions beyond his age with outstanding potential and growth speed, earning acclaim in the family.
Seeing Danel's worried expression, Bin spoke up.
"Don't worry, Mother. I'm a Bascon 5th Class knight, after all."
He downplayed it, but he was the youngest 5th Class knight in the family.
"Even so... You're skilled, but your youth must leave you lacking in so many ways..."
At her concern-filled face, Bin replied in a confident voice.
"Just like always, this'll be no problem. Stretch out your legs and relax. I'll be back before you know it."
Danel reluctantly nodded at his firm gaze.
"Your mind seems made up, so I can't stop you. Just... please don't push yourself too hard this time!"
"Yes, Mother. I'll bring back lots of tasty treats when I return."
At Bin's resolute words, Danel's tone softened.
"All right, Bin. I haven't done much for you... but you've grown so splendidly. Your mother is truly grateful."
"...Don't say that. It's all because you gave birth to such a fine son."
It was a joke that might not suit him. But it was Bin's way of reassuring her. Before his regression, it might have felt embarrassing, but he mustered the courage to say it.
Danel let out a soft chuckle at the lighthearted remark. The child who once flickered like a candle in the wind now seemed so reliable.
"You've grown so much—you can even say nice things now."
She smiled outwardly, but worry lingered in her heart. Bin felt the same.
"...!"
Unlike his smiling face, Bin couldn't laugh inwardly. Just like Danel's unease, one thing gnawed at him.
It's finally this year. The year I turn fifteen...
Bin recalled a memory from his past life he could never forget: his mother murdered by the masked figure. Just thinking of it still made his limbs go numb.
He gritted his teeth, steeling his resolve once more.
No mistakes this time.
The situation had changed since the past, but the traumatic memory wouldn't let him relax.
As he dwelled on that nightmare, Bin handed Danel a round object from under the table. Her eyes widened in surprise.
"This... isn't this the egg of Zaratann from the last family tradition reward?"
Zaratann's egg. It belonged to a colossal monster resembling a turtle that grew to the size of an island. A mysterious being with varying hatching times, often mistaken for an island due to its massive form.
The precious egg resembled an ostrich egg in appearance, but its effects were extraordinary.
Danel's eyes bulged as she stared at it.
"Bin, you still haven't eaten this? It can block even a dagger to the heart once. You need it more than I do."
Bin replied a beat late.
"...Father gave me an extra one. You eat it, Mother."
Of course, it was a white lie. He said it so she could eat it with peace of mind.
"He must feel sorry for giving you so many missions. Sneaking you an extra one like this. You're truly reliable."
Danel beamed, and Bin couldn't hide his own proud smile.
Watching the scene, Codic narrowed his empty eye sockets.
Kyahaha, what a beautiful sight! At my lord's kind heart, even today this Codic cannot stem the tears from his— eyes, my lord.
* * *
A few days later.
On the road to the Royal Tomb. A mountain path overgrown with bamboo-like slender trees and thick bushes. Amid them fluttered a black flag emblazoned with a white wolf and the number 7.
It marked the Black Wolf Corps' 7th Company.
Bin rode a black horse through the path, flanked by other knights. More knights rode alongside carts. Roughly fifty men in total.
As the steep uphill climb left his black horse panting with tongue lolling, Bin shouted,
"Just over that ridge ahead, then we rest...!"
Before he could finish, someone interrupted.
"Everyone, let's fill our bellies here and rest a bit!"
It was none other than Donka, the 7th Company's centurion. Fat-bodied with a massive mouth and a beard covering his chin and upper lip. His face evoked a bandit.
The exhausted soldiers, caught between the clashing orders of their two commanders, dismounted warily.
Chomp, chomp, chomp.
Donka tore into dried meat with his mouth agape, chewing noisily. He called to another knight while munching.
"Hey, build a fire. You can't rest properly without some roasted meat."
At his order, another knight hurriedly dismounted, glancing nervously.
"Yes, sir!"
Thud!
His own footfall seemed unusually loud today. He was hyper-aware of the standoff between commanders Bin and Donka.
Donka, the 7th Company centurion and a 4th Class knight. With the two vying for command, most knights sided with Donka—older, higher-ranked, and someone they'd served under longer.
Bin swept his cold gaze over the knights.
Time to do this the Bascon way: survival of the fittest.
He approached Donka.
Step. Step.
Chomp, chomp, chomp.
Donka continued ignoring him, chewing away innocently.
"...!"
Aware of the watching soldiers, Donka feigned nonchalance.
Yeah, he's just a fifteen-year-old brat. No need to tense up.
As Bin and Donka faced off, the surrounding knights grew tense instead.
"...!"
Bin glared at Donka with piercing eyes.
Donka glanced around, then spoke in a cheeky drawl.
"Aigoo, young master, what's with the look?"
"...!"
Bin furrowed his brow at the insolence.
"If we light a fire now and the smoke draws a surprise attack...!"
Donka cut in again mid-sentence.
"Pah, young master, a surprise attack? Come on..."
He bowed his head as if respectful, but it was blatant disregard. Not imagination—similar incidents had piled up today.
Ignoring Bin's icy expression, Donka pressed on.
"Just hoist that Black Wolf Corps flag high, and any bandits charging in will tuck tail and flee with shriveled balls. Haha..."
As Donka threw his head back laughing,
Shing—
A blade whistled through the air, and a head floated up. Blood sprayed like a fountain, scattering as the head spun clockwise.
The owner was none other than Donka.
His airborne head gaped in agony, but severed from its body, it only mouthed silently.
Donka's headless corpse crumpled to the ground.
Thud!
Blood pooled from his neck, forming a small puddle in moments.
The knights froze like statues at the shocking sight.
"...!"
Bin stood before the fallen body, staring down at Donka's head with cold eyes.
"Don't make that aggrieved face. Family concubine's bastard."
"...!"
Bin's knowing, resolute expression—as if he'd seen through everything—made the severed head's pupils tremble.