Chapter 143: Royal Treasure
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 143: Royal Treasure
Lake Fortress was more bustling than ever before. The people from the Snow Cloud Association had brought a mountain of goods.
The quality and quantity of the items far surpassed what Bifen had brought. The variety was also much greater.
The eyes of the people, encountering these new wares for the first time, sparkled with curiosity. It was like a child who had only ever known simple toy cars suddenly discovering one that could combine with others to form a robot.
Of course, such toys were expensive, enough to break a parent’s back. And when it came to toys, parents desperately wished their children would remain frogs in a well, ignorant of what lay beyond.
Jorn was feeling exactly that way right now.
He was extremely wary of these unfamiliar items.
He glared at me, the one who had brought them in.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“What do you mean? It’s all for the good of the tribe. Do you have any idea how hard I worked for this day?”
“Our tribe has no need for such things. Send them all back.”
“What, is this a ‘We’d rather perish than open up’ sort of thing? Should I bring you some paint? I’ll get the washable kind, since it’d be a problem if it didn’t come off.”
“I don’t know what nonsense you’re spouting. These things will only slacken the tribe’s discipline.”
I had a rough idea of what Jorn was worried about.
It wasn’t so much about the lack of money as it was a concern about new technology. Once you get a taste of convenience, you can never go back to the old ways.
That’s what he was afraid of.
That’s why my monitor is still 60hz.
I understood Jorn’s feelings a hundred times over.
“Don’t you worry. I’ve taken everything into consideration. I specifically chose items that are only slightly sturdier and slightly more convenient than what they’re used to. The things you’re worried about won’t happen.”
“……”
Jorn, who had been staring at me intently, turned his head away. It was the air of a reluctant concession.
Jorn was a stubborn man, but his love for his tribe was stronger than anyone’s. He couldn’t take a hard line when his people were so clearly delighted.
That’s exactly what I’m counting on.
Because the phrase ‘a little more convenient’ is a terrifying thing.
People would start seeking out convenient things, then more convenient things, then incredibly convenient things. That’s just human psychology. The small crack I’d made today would become a gaping hole. It was only a matter of time.
“Sir, I’ve brought the Terrapin you requested. Where should I plant it?”
A merchant from the Snow Cloud Association approached and asked me. Resting gently in his hands was a palm-sized green fairy with a sprout sticking up from the crown of its head like a silly cowlick.
“There’s a potato field behind that tent over there. You can plant it next to that.”
“Understood.”
The merchant disappeared with the fairy in the direction I had pointed.
“What’s that now?”
“It’s an earth fairy called a Terrapin. If you plant it in the ground, it helps the surrounding plants grow well. You’ll probably be shocked when you see the effect.”
It was an essential fairy for anyone running a farm in TOS. It was also called the fairy of agriculture because the tiny creature helped crops grow exceptionally well.
It was an incredibly expensive little thing.
I had decided to be generous and splurge.
With the branch manager’s money, of course.
“Well then, I’m off to see the chief. I have something to show her.”
“Something to show her? What is it? I can’t let you in without my confirmation.”
“It’s the ring that the Great Chieftain Zeke wore. Isn’t it Northguard tradition to report to the chief after a battle? This is the spoils of our victory.”
“…No matter how great your contribution, I cannot allow you to meet with the chief alone. I will accompany you.”
“Suit yourself.”
*
I entered Darka’s tent with Azyeth.
The moment we walked in, Darka’s face lit up.
“Oh, you’re here, you’re here! Where have you been wandering off to? I haven’t seen hide nor hair of you lately. Come, sit here next to me!”
“Haha, to think the chief was waiting for me so eagerly. I’m touched. I won’t refuse.”
“Not you!!! Who told you to sit down?”
“…”
Correction. It wasn’t ‘us’ that made Darka’s face light up, it was ‘Azyeth.’
Azyeth naturally took the spot next to Darka. Perhaps because she possessed the Lazurite, Darka didn’t seem to be greatly affected by the cold.
“There, there, my dear. Come here. Look at your pale face. Don’t wander around outside in this cold weather, just stay by my side.”
This demented old hag.
Look at how fucking affectionate her tone is.
She treated Azyeth, a complete outsider, like her own granddaughter, more warmly than she treated me, her son’s friend, or Jorn, the acting chief.
What’s more, she forgot who I was every single time we met and I had to constantly remind her, but there was no such process with Azyeth.
It was as if Azyeth was etched deep in her mind; even after a long time, she remembered her perfectly.
“Jorn, I think you need to seriously reconsider handing over the chieftain position.”
“……”
Jorn remained silent.
“So, what brings you here? Should Granny tell you an old story?”
“I did come to hear a story, but today I came because I want to hear a different one,” I said.
“Hey, you son of a bitch! I’m trying to talk to the little one, why do you keep interrupting? You want me to smash that ugly mug of yours?”
Challenging me to a fight? Did she think I couldn’t win against a half-dead old woman?
I never back down from a fight that’s brought to me.
Only against weak children, weak women, and weak old people.
“That’s alright.”
But I’d let it slide, just this once.
I took out the jeweled ring and handed it to Darka. Darka jutted out her chin, peering at the ring with her dim eyes.
“What’s this?”
“It’s the Great Chieftain Zeke’s ring.”
At those words, Darka’s narrow eyes flew wide open.
“Zeke? That brat who doesn’t know his place?”
“That’s right. Our dear Azyeth defeated Zeke and took the ring he was wearing.”
“…I see. So you caught that brat Zeke.”
The vacant look that always clouded her face vanished without a trace, replaced by a solemn gravity. She began to speak in a serious voice.
“Zeke… that boy was the shame of Northguard. He couldn't overcome his own ambition and abandoned the honorable path of a guardian of the North.”
Darka showed us the jewel.
“Do you know what this ring is?”
“Zeke’s ring.”
“No. This is a ring worn by the old royal family. That bastard Zeke must have found it somewhere. And then he started calling himself the Lord of the North.”
“Is that so?”
“The return of this ring must mean that boy has paid for his sins. Very well done!”
“Haha, I just did what had to be done.”
“Not you!”
Damned old woman.
“But this ring is only a part of it. On the day the dragon attacked the kingdom, there were more than a few thieves who stole the royal treasures. Not just humans, but demonic beasts stole them too!”
Darka’s clenched fist trembled. Her eyes blazed with fury.
“As the successor to the royal mages and the chief of Lake Fortress, I have an urgent request. Will you defeat the demonic beasts and retrieve the royal treasures they have taken?”
“If the chief herself is asking, how could I possibly—”
“Not you!”
“…Azyeth. The chief is asking you. What do you want to do?”
Azyeth answered slowly.
“I’ll… do it.”
“Oh! Thank you!”
Joy bloomed across Darka’s face.
She began to rummage through the leather rug she was sitting on.
“Let’s see. There was a map around here somewhere… Oh, here it is.”
Darka handed the map to Azyeth.
“This is a map showing the locations of the demonic beasts that stole the treasures. Defeat them and bring back the jewels they took.”
“Okay…”
Azyeth accepted the map.
As if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders, Darka’s expression became much more relaxed.
“Thank you. Thanks to you, I can take another step toward fulfilling the duty passed down from my ancestors…”
Darka murmured, closing her eyes as if she were passing into enlightenment.
A moment of silence followed.
“Huh?”
Darka’s eyes snapped open.
She blinked, looking around with a dazed expression.
“What? Why is everyone gathered here? It’s so distracting.”
As if her duty as chief was done, Darka returned to her usual self. She was just an ordinary old woman with dementia again.
“Why are we gathered here? We came because we wanted to talk with you, Chief. There’s no one quite like you, after all.”
“Who are you, and why are you in my tent?”
“Oh, dear. You don’t remember me? I’m Karami, Pascal’s old friend.”
Darka thought for a moment, mulling over my name.
“Karami…? Yes, I think there was a boy like that. But where’s Pascal? Why are you here alone?”
“Pascal has gone on a short journey. To bring back a wonderful gift for you, Chief.”
“A gift? What useless gift. I don’t need anything like that, so tell him to stop his foolishness and come back at once. What kind of son goes off on a journey, leaving his own mother behind? Leaving his mother behind…”
As she spoke, Darka looked bitter.
She seemed lonely, somehow.
“If you leave him be, he’ll come back on his own. Until then, I’ll keep you entertained.”
“Really?”
“Haha, of course. I’ll do my best to make sure you don’t feel Pascal’s absence.”