Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 023
Chapter Title: The Old Bear Watching the Performance
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After the fight ended, the Altoin exploration party was stripped of their gear and tossed out onto the wasteland beyond the building.
Their corpses would probably vanish without a trace soon enough, devoured by whatever monsters happened to pass by.
Just like what they'd tried to do to the "Green Eyes."
While sorting through the meager belongings the bandits had left behind, Shan called out to Roden, who was tending to his sword.
"Roden, take a look at this."
"What is it?"
"Looks like an exploration log, but I can't read it."
Roden took the small booklet and immediately understood why Shan was having trouble. The handwriting was atrocious—scrawled in a rush with abbreviations common among explorers. Reading it wasn't enough; it required actual decryption skills.
After wrestling with the text for a while, Roden handed it off to Jerpo, the smartest mage among them. It didn't take long for Jerpo to decipher it before letting out an exclamation.
"Oh ho!"
"Something good?"
"Yeah. For starters, I figured out why they ambushed us."
According to the log, the Altoin exploration party had run into trouble on their last expedition and borrowed a hefty sum of money. That's why they'd pushed so far north this time, farther than was sensible.
"They were already buried under debt, practically suffocating. Then they spot our group—half their size, but with two horses loaded with gear, and one of them's just a kid... Plus, a mage like me carrying pricey catalysts. Low risk, guaranteed profit. I get why they lost their heads—even if I don't condone it."
Thinking it over, it really did look like they'd dug their own graves, practically begging to be eaten alive.
Of course, if even one of them had witnessed Shan's skills in Shedil City, they never would've tried it. But they hadn't known.
"On top of that, seems they uncovered a pretty decent Altoin ruin up north. A big one—too much to haul back in one go. They could've robbed us, used the cash as startup money, made one more trip, and turned a massive profit."
Selling the ruin's location would've been an option, but that would've meant massive losses for them.
In the end, their unchecked greed had led them to their deaths.
"An Altoin ruin, huh."
Roden let out a low murmur at the unfamiliar tale. Who could've guessed a clue to the very thing countless explorers desperately dreamed of finding would fall into their laps like this?
"Does it say how far it is?"
"Can't fully crack the writer's notation, but it's probably about as far again as that last spot we hit."
"That's a haul..."
At that distance, they'd have to ditch a good chunk of their monster trophies, no doubt. They'd need to pack way more food and supplies.
Time for a council, then.
Sell the info to another exploration party? Or go dig it up themselves?
With the ruin up north, they'd risk drawing the attention of the Aijun Kingdom's holy knights.
"I wanna go check it out."
Shan, who'd been listening quietly, spoke up.
An Altoin ruin might have some fine magic gear, right?
Not something that needed constant spells from mages, but a permanent enchanted item...
If he could get gear better than what the royal guards used to flaunt so dazzlingly, it'd be pure bliss.
"I'm in too."
Jerpo's eyes gleamed with scholarly curiosity about Altoin relics, as expected of a mage.
"Hmm."
Priest Bent, on the other hand, didn't look thrilled. The loot they'd already scored would keep the monastery afloat for a good while; he wasn't keen on extra risks.
But passing on this was too tempting. The site's coordinates were solid, and they had a high-ranking knight-level warrior along.
He was getting on in years—one more expedition, and his joints would ache for weeks. Might as well cash in big and retire from the biz.
"Alright, let's go."
The decision didn't take long.
As everyone celebrated the agreement, Bent suddenly stared at Roden and spoke up.
"By the way, Roden."
"Yes, Father?"
"You ever killed a man before?"
"Pardon?"
"Saw you shaking pretty bad back there. You know Shan's skills well enough, and you're no slouch in a fight yourself. Can't think of any other reason."
In truth, Roden had never killed anyone.
No one who trembled at the sight of a blade could brawl beyond fists.
His guess was close but not quite on the mark. Roden hesitated on how to respond, then decided to come clean. Up till now, he could dodge with "you didn't ask." But hiding it and getting caught later would breed resentment too deep to mend—especially before a big job like this.
"Funny you mention it. There's something I need to tell you both about that."
Roden confessed honestly: he froze up whenever faced with a blade.
The unexpected revelation made the two exchange glances.
"Knew it. Good we found out now instead of in a pinch. Would've been chaos."
"You can handle a kitchen knife yourself, right? Just when someone's pointing one at you? Same with monsters?"
Roden was flustered by Bent's easygoing acceptance and Jerpo's academic interest.
Wasn't this like admitting a major flaw as a fighter? They ought to be furious or demand a loot reshuffle.
Bent chuckled at his concern.
"Yours is a big one, sure, but everyone's got flaws. Kleptomania or needing booze to fight? Yours is manageable."
"Honestly, Shan's why we're cool with it."
They could shrug it off largely because of Shan. One boy warrior who'd butchered a seasoned party single-handed? A teammate freezing at blades was no biggie.
"Please keep it secret."
"You got it."
"No worries. Mages are pros at secrets."
Neither wanted to expose Roden's issue and break up the party.
A few days' march later, the "Green Eyes" returned to Shedil City and instantly became the talk of the town.
They'd already gained fame from Shan's flashy display in the plaza, but now the buzz shifted to their stellar scouting skills.
"Whoa, isn't that werewolf hide?"
"First expedition, and they pull this off? Impressive."
"Honestly thought they were goners since they took so long."
Typically, a first scout barely skimmed the Demon Realm's edge. No intel meant clueless on monster hotspots or tactics—leading to wasteful fights that burned through supplies.
But Green Eyes came back laden with deep-run hauls. Sure, veterans Bent and Jerpo helped, but they were temps borrowed from other parties; their impact wasn't huge.
"Got room for more?"
"I'm a crack shot with a bow..."
"I know a secret route no one else does!"
A few tried to muscle in, but Shan and Roden turned them down. They had a ruin to excavate—more mouths meant slimmer shares.
Fewer people brought hassles, but Shan's overwhelming might solved most. The log would handle the rest.
They funneled all profits into expedition gear: two extra horses for hauling, plus pricey magic tools they'd skipped before.
"Do we really gotta buy this...?"
Even rich-kid Roden winced and squeezed his eyes shut at the magic tool prices. No wonder parties went bust.
While Roden hustled nonstop, Shan idled as usual—though he kept up training to stay sharp. No need for brutal grind like before; he knew slacking would tank his edge fast.
Stretching leisurely in the inn yard as always, Shan got an unexpected visitor.
"Long time no see, Altoin friend."
"Oh, you from the wooden sword bout..."
It was the guard he'd sparred with before. Ex-explorer, by the looks of his skills.
"Heard the rumors. Nice haul, huh?"
"Decent enough."
"Everyone's shocked. Skilled at your age is one thing, but nailing it as an explorer? Wild."
Raw power didn't make a great explorer. Demon Realm runs needed route-finding, supply savvy, and smarts alongside combat chops.
Shan left all that to Roden, but outsiders chalked it up to his genius too. Roden didn't scream "brains," after all.
"Anyway, someone's looking for you."
"Who?"
Someone who could order guards around? City official, maybe?
But the guest was bigger than Shan guessed.
"The city's lord."
"Ah, the Count... His Excellency?"
"Yep."
No refusing that. A commoner—Altoin trash, no less—snubbing a count? The noble's ego tantrum would be legendary.
Roden was out shopping early; no consult. Shan pondered, then nodded.
"Got it. Sweaty—should I wash up?"
"Nah, you're fine."
Shan cleaned up, changed, then untied his sword after a thought. No way the count let him strut in armed; if trouble brewed, snatching a foe's blade nearby was better.
Ideally no fight with the count, but wishes didn't bind foes.
Oblivious to Shan's escape schemes involving count-hostage plays, the guard led him to the castle.
Count Shedil's keep hugged the outer walls, not city center. It started as a small fort, grew into the city around it.
Passing the gates drew stares. "Who's that kid got access?" The count wasn't big on guests, apparently.
Entering the inner courtyard, Shan noted it wasn't flashy at all.
'Thought nobles lived in obscene luxury.'
Even non-noble Kallion Webers hoarded every luxury imaginable. Shedil's place? Frugal and functional—or just shabby, bluntly.
Hard to believe the guy raked in fortunes yearly selling monster bits and Altoin relics via the guild.
As Shan mused, a crusty middle-aged man approached with a sour look.
"You Shan? The Altoin explorer?"
"Yes, that's me."
His garb screamed steward under the count—knight-equivalent, at least.
Shan bowed properly; the man blinked in surprise. Explorers who knew etiquette were usually priests or mages—warriors? Illiterate brutes, mostly.
"Hm, less worry about you offending His Excellency... Still, memorize what I say. Got it?"
"I'll remember."
"Don't forget unless you fancy losing your head!"
The rules were all stuff Shan knew: no eye contact till permitted, right knee down first, etc.
Even after memorizing, they waited nearly thirty minutes before audience.
'What a pain...'
Ambitions of knighthood, nobility, lordship soured fast on real noble BS.
In the receiving hall, Shan halted six steps below the count's chair, dropped to one knee with crisp grace—thanks to Darkal, Roden, and his instincts.
"Altoin Shan greets Count Shedil, lord of Shedil and shield of Pendia."
"Well-trained. That jeweler's doing?"
The voice overhead growled like a beast with phlegm.
Shan stayed silent; the count tsked.
"Head up. You may speak."
Finally, Shan looked. Count Shedil, mid-fifties maybe, tall and broad—ex-knight rang true.
Youth unknown, but now? Fat and fight-softened. Like a haughty old bear.
Shan eyed him, then answered.
"If you mean Kallion Webers the jeweler, yes."
"I chopped that old fool's hands and feet off myself back then. Heard his son's got a swordsman now—thought assassin, so I invited you."
Roden had mentioned the count booting Webers' guild from Shedil—not personal, just all magic-stone dealers. But this reeked of grudge.
"I'm just an explorer who came here to work."
"Aye, solid record. Reports confirm."
He knew Roden's identity too; power meant tight info grip. Owning the guild? Explorer intel was his anyway.
"Heard you stirred up the plaza with a sword... Hm, bony types like you aren't my taste. Bluntly: they say you're better than most knights. Show me."
Shan narrowed his eyes, scanning. The two knights flanking, other guards—no immediate attack vibe.
"A duel?"
"Yes. Against a knight. Scared?"
Shan pondered. Brag confidence? Grovel humbly?
Why test him now? Grudge against Webers/Roden? Hard to gauge sans Roden’s cues...
Decision: no Roden, no politics—just gut.
The count's arrogant summons irked him; time to smack back. Itched for a real knight matchup anyway.
Worst case? Throat to the count's neck, bolt.
"Give me a sword, and I'll fight anyone."
"Cocky! Good! Sir Gowell."
"Yes, milord."
The left knight stepped up. Full plate, longsword at hip—majestic.
Shan opposite in plain cloth and cloak? Stark contrast.
"Your sword."
The guard offered a longsword—clearly inferior to a knight's.
No, worse than average. Gowell's blade gleamed with engraved runes mid-blade.
'Magic sword...'
Mages didn't engrave for temp spells; this was prime Altoin Empire relic. Rare heirlooms for old noble/knight houses. Demon Realm nobility? Handing treasures to retainers too.
Unknown enchant, but clashing this junk sword? Shatter city.
Full plate vs. rags, magic relic vs. scrap—gear gap screamed malice.
"Begin."
Count's word dropped; knight charged. Polished steps befitting lifelong martial life—cleaner than average thugs.
Skill lagged Darkal but topped Catra from troll hunt. Prime age, top physique—second only to Peonil among foes.
Shan watched the overhead chop calmly, parrying root-close with firm poise.
The magic sword, infused with spirit, failed to snap the rusty iron—knight's shock plain.
Skill gap clear; rattled? Done deal.
Shan's blade rode the magic edge up, slipping through the knight's visor slit.