Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Hunting, Predation, and Change
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Spring arrived as winter ended and fresh buds sprouted.
In Hasra, the capital of Pendia, a rumor originating from the royal court began spreading far and wide like a horse without legs.
"The king will name the prince who brings a way to restore his health as his successor!"
Being court business, no one dared gossip too freely, but once such tales took hold, they were impossible to contain. Before long, both princes were openly recruiting skilled warriors.
They sought powerful individuals useful for exploring the Demon Realm—fighters whose pride would normally keep them from even glancing at such a perilous place. Knights of high standing now showed their faces. Naturally, this news reached the common folk, who chattered about it endlessly in taverns.
Alongside this, one topic naturally drew attention: the "mysterious warrior who slew the Cockatrice." The unbelievable story claimed he had subjugated it alone in the Demon Realm, or at most with just a single mage and priest.
No one knew the warrior's true identity.
Some said he was a giant like a mountain, others a lean middle-aged fighter with sharp eyes, and still others a tall female warrior.
There was even absurd nonsense about a barely-adult Altoin boy—a tale that left even the Altoins in the slums scoffing in disbelief.
Kallion seized the moment to subtly probe nobles from families aligned with Prince Elvin's faction, those he regularly traded with. He framed it as a bet with an acquaintance: if the Cockatrice slayer turned out to be an Altoin, would the nobles knight him? All in a joking tone, of course. Lavish flattery and bribes came naturally in the process.
Unfortunately, the responses were uniformly negative. The most positive was something along the lines of "lure him in with a knighthood promise, then use him up as needed."
While Kallion and Roden hustled tirelessly, Shan tended to his own essential task: maintaining his most vital asset—his body.
"Heading out, young master?"
"Just to the doctor. I'll be right back."
Shan, dressed in light spring clothes, smiled at the maid's question and stepped onto the street. After crossing two main roads, one narrow alley, and a river, the familiar amethyst tower came into view. It was Pendia's Magic Academy, a source of pride for all mages.
Shan's destination was one of the mage workshops behind the academy building.
"Anyone home?"
Knock knock. A click sounded, and a small peephole opened in the wooden door, revealing eyes peering out. Moments later, the door swung open, and a kindly middle-aged woman appeared.
"Shan! It's been ages. Back from the Demon Realm already? No injuries, I hope?"
"None, Professor Maya. I just came for that checkup we talked about—to see if anything's off."
Maya Bekaris was an authority on alchemy and life studies, a full professor with an official academy degree. Or, as some called her kind, a doctor.
Of course, most sick folk sought priests first, so doctoring was more of a side gig.
Their connection stemmed from Knight Darkal's introduction. Back when Shan had just begun knight training, Darkal noticed peculiarities in his body and dragged him here for a forced examination.
"A mage? That's kinda scary... What if they do weird experiments?"
"Quit whining and get in!"
Priests were far better at simple healing, but they often didn't understand what they were fixing. For diagnosis and analysis, mages were superior—that was Sir Darkal's firm belief. He'd received considerable help systematizing ki awakening training here too.
Shan learned much about his body's secrets: bones lighter and more flexible than normal, muscle fibers finer and denser for greater strength per mass. Hearing this, Darkal had remarked, "Good to know your guts aren't missing a few like I thought."
An Old Faith follower teaching an Altoin apprentice was odd enough; befriending a mage was another eccentricity. He was a true eccentric.
"Come on in."
Her workshop was cluttered with glass instruments, research papers, biological specimens, and a musty odor—like a witch's hut from stories. Recalling his past terror, Shan settled into the exam chair with practiced ease.
"I meant to mention last time: how about hiring a servant? Even next to the academy, a woman alone seems risky."
"Tried once. The fool sold off my tools and bolted. Too scared to try again. Know anyone reliable? Send them my way."
Makes sense—plenty here looked valuable to other mages. While chatting, Maya deftly took hair and blood samples, soaked them in alchemical solutions, and measured his height and weight.
"You've grown quite a bit. Weight's up too."
"Hope I keep shooting up like Roden."
"Eat well and sleep plenty, then. You could gain another twenty centimeters."
Maya checked solutions next, confirming no infectious diseases.
"Always fascinating."
"What's that?"
"Figuring out your body's state with magic."
"Hard study and research. Magic gives nothing for free—you grind till your eyes bleed and brain fries."
She tapped her temple as if it ached just thinking about it, then pointed at Shan.
"Your body's the real marvel. I've written papers galore on it."
Excited, Maya explained: she'd examined many Altoins (all legally, of course), but none maximized physical advantages like Shan.
Most showed superficial traits or outright disadvantages; beneficial physical or mental mutations were rare, one in dozens. Shan's level was unprecedented.
"I'd love to meet your parents... Oh, sorry."
"It's fine."
Through chats, she knew he was an orphan, abandoned. Apologizing with a bow, she scrutinized the solutions with his samples—and frowned.
"Hmm..."
"Something changed?"
"A little."
She'd called him back to study Demon Realm effects on Altoins. Capital Altoins rarely ventured there; those who did lacked pre-visit baselines, making data scarce.
"Anything special in the Demon Realm? Odd spring bath, weird light?"
"Nothing like that... Well, I did hunt a Cockatrice."
"Cockatrice!?"
Her wide-eyed glare was pure witch; Shan flinched instinctively.
"That rumor floating around... You, a kid? Heavens! You could've died, you reckless fool!"
"Manageable enough."
He puffed up a bit at her scolding—like a child praised by the riverside. After lecturing against risks (visiting the Demon Realm at his age was risky itself), she changed subjects.
"Got any Cockatrice byproducts? Need a few; I'd pay well if you're willing."
"Sold them all to the guild."
"Ah..."
Disappointment clouded her face. Selling direct to capital mages beat guild markups, but it trespassed Count Varik's turf. Bragging about the kill while selling elsewhere could've invited sabotage.
"Anyway, something's changed. Felt anything? Sudden strength surge?"
"Not at all."
Shan, master of his body, would've noticed. After more tests, Maya sighed.
"Hard to pinpoint now. Mind more blood? Might need help."
"Help?"
"Yeah. Not quite a disciple, but a talented kid I taught. Busy lately, but maybe. Or borrow gear."
"Damn it! This kingdom's nobles are all rotten!"
Evening dinner after Shan's checkup. Roden vented.
Kallion nodded silently beside him—things weren't going well lately.
"Drink?"
"Thanks."
Roden gulped Shan's poured grape wine, wiping his mouth with a satisfied ahh. The alcohol soothed him somewhat.
"Every last one—same trash. Some said they'd sooner knight a dog than an Altoin. A lone Cockatrice killer? What does race even matter?!"
"Quiet down."
Roden calmed at his father's stern tone. After silence, he shifted topics deliberately.
"Heard Azun Kingdom sent envoys recently."
"That thing?"
"Yeah. The paladin they killed was a duke's son. His wife is Azun's king's sister—fits the nephew bit."
Mere jewelers like them had no access to interkingdom talks, but word was the Azun envoys were aggressive: intense probes of Pendia explorers, especially Altoin ruin diggers—demand the killer or arrest all.
Pendia naturally rebuffed them. Fed up with "paladins" meddling in their explorer industry, compliance would've made them a vassal state.
With the king bedridden, both princes attended—posturing tough for their nobles, no concessions. The talks collapsed.
Barring Azun spies slipping through the rugged mountains, their deed killing that noble stayed hidden.
"Lucky..."
"And this broke the Azun prince's engagement to our princess."
"Princess?"
"Yup. Who'd think we'd stomp such a footprint in kingdom politics?"
Sabotaging an alliance? Beyond a mere jeweler's scope.
Shan recalled the princess from the academy half a year back as Roden chuckled. Blonde? Silver-haired? Memory fuzzy. Two existed, anyway—one of them.
"Roden, get a checkup with me soon."
"Why?"
"Went today; she said something changed post-Demon Realm. We've stuck together mostly."
"If there's an issue, we both have it. Fine. When?"
"She'll contact when ready."
Securing Roden's promise, Shan asked Kallion for a blacksmith intro: skilled with rare Azun alloys, tight-lipped.
Merchant and smith guilds were separate but linked; finding one via connections was easy.
Backlogged with reliable skill, it took a week.
"Sent by Kallion?"
"Yes. Want this processed."
Shan produced four metal chunks: Alto city sewer shield fragments, sliced into a thousand shapes then patterns ground off. Even the owner returning couldn't confirm it.
"Whatever mangled this... Nasty. Hmm, iron alloy heavy on Kellede."
Expert terms aside, the smith advised shock-absorbing properties suited armor. No everyday weapon from the awkward shape; armor it was, regrettably.
"Shield then. Small, forearm-strap type."
"Handheld's better defense."
"Fine by me."
"Need freakish reflexes to block properly."
Shan demonstrated: catch tossed pokers nearby, then meters away at full force. The smith gaped.
"That'll do for small... Remelt from scratch. Mind tweaking ratios? Ideas brewing. Cost up, but quality worth it."
Shan agreed. Altered alloy hid origins—even from Azun folk. Pendia used such gear plenty anyway.
With scraps, a face-open helm too. Shan dodged or blocked most; in desperation, this could save his life.
Maya's summons came next day post-commission. Goddess's world-shaping week's last day, noon.
Roden free too; they arrived on time.
"Hm?"
Shan's eyes narrowed mid-stride. A seemingly ordinary mercenary leaning by the workshop gave off an ominous vibe. Mingling with warriors had honed his senses: vast skill-clothes mismatch. Similar aura from a sword-bearing woman across the street.
"Roden."
"Yeah?"
"Man by workshop, woman opposite—both at least solid knight-level. Recognize them?"
"What?"
"Don't stare."
Roden glanced subtly, shook head.
"No clue."
"Hide behind me if trouble."
"Relax. An ambush in the capital...?"
He trailed off. Their deeds offered ample ambush motive—especially if Azun sniffed them out, assassins weren't implausible.
At the door, Shan knocked, feeling their gazes. They just glanced, no reaction. Maya peeked, eyes widening at Roden.
"Roden too? Should've said you were coming!"
"Went to Demon Realm with Shan. He nagged me to join."
Roden, Darkal's ex-pupil too, knew Maya. She hesitated, then ushered them in.
"Pardon the intrusion."
Inside, Shan noted another besides Maya: girl with dark blue hair tied back, stained dress, thick amethyst glasses for poor sight. She flinched seeing him.
"Who's this?"
"The kid I taught. Meant to borrow tools, but your body's intriguing. Mind if she helps? Theory's mine; her senses sharper."
"Fine if thorough."
Roden silent, Shan glanced. Roden stared bug-eyed at the girl.
"What?"
"Huh? Nothing."
Subtle exchanged glances between blue-haired girl and Roden. Love at first sight? No intent to cockblock a friend's crush, Shan casually asked her name.
"What's yours?"
"...Me? She—Sheri. Sheri."
"Nice to meet you, Sheri."
He sat first; Maya fiddled large tools—Sheri's, unseen before.
"Need skin access. Shirt off?"
"Sure."
Shirt off, a gasp nearby. Sheri stared at his scarred torso; Shan grinned sheepishly.
"Sorry, gross, right?"
He knew scars repulsed most. Overreacting to this? How'd blood draws go?
Despite dopey first impression, Sheri's exam gaze was keen professional. They bantered incomprehensibly over tools.
"Sublimation in solution like Alvar's case."
"More Cosa solution?"
"Good idea."
Intrigued genuinely, Sheri poked his blood every way, delighted. Seemed to glean much.
Dozens minutes later, Maya announced.
"Your body's hardening up."