Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Infermer, City of Navigators (2)
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“According to legend, the Great King knows every waterway across the seven seas and is thus well-versed in the rumors of every continent where waters flow. Is that true?”
“Excluding the Pantheon of Myriad Gods and the Myriad Demon Hall, at least on the seas, few know the ways of the world better than I.”
Gaimeorn smiled contentedly as he gazed at Fernandez.
“Are you curious about the horizon of distant lands? About beaches studded with jewels instead of grains of sand?”
“I am merely curious about the whereabouts of a certain person.”
“Oh ho, and who might this person be that you seek?”
Fernandez met Gaimeorn’s blue eyes as he spoke.
“One who has achieved the rank of spirit while still alive. Among them, one who accomplished this without spawning legends of rising ranks. In other words, I’ve heard rumors of someone who, from birth, has aimed solely for godhood on their own merits.”
“Hmm...”
The rank of spirit was the accumulation of achievements built through life. When mortals piled up accomplishments through their own power, forging rumors, legends, and myths, their spirits ascended to immortal ranks.
Yet there would be someone who did not follow that path. He needed to find a soul that possessed an overwhelming rank from birth.
Only Fernandez, who remembered nearly all the heroes and villains who had shone in his past life, could perceive this distinction.
There would be heroic qualities absent from his past life. Even if the odds were slim, if he had to make one request of the scant few transcendents in this material world, it had to be this.
‘Beitasser’s four daughters.’
-Beitasser’s four bitches.
‘Fallen demigods...’
Even if they had forsaken their demigod status and fallen, their ranks remained incomparably superior to those of ordinary people.
Thus, if they were active in this world, their fame would inevitably pierce the heavens someday. He had to find them before it was too late.
While he could still control them. In other words, before they had grown enough to solidify their positions.
‘Beitasser said to “save them.” That means there must be some problem with every one of them.’
The words spoken by a god held meaning, no matter how lightly uttered. Gods did not speak any word lightly.
Assuming that, the fate befalling Beitasser’s four daughters would be far from trivial.
To save them, the sooner the better.
“An intriguing condition. But peculiar. By my eyes, you don’t even know who you’re seeking. Why propose such specific criteria?”
“Is this a question that demands an answer?”
“No. Uncovering it myself will simply add to my amusement. Better you stay silent. It will make for delightful entertainment.”
Gaimeorn crossed his arms and looked down at Fernandez. Thick curiosity filled his eyes. He had grown curious about Fernandez the man himself.
What thoughts he harbored, what goals he pursued... But the incomprehensible was dangerous.
“I shall lend you further aid. My daughter will assist you. Accept her gladly.”
“Uh... Is that truly necessary?”
“My daughter is a Wildprince. Finding one stronger among mortals would be difficult. Is there reason to refuse?”
Fernandez and Gaimeorn’s gazes locked.
[She’s an emissary, isn’t she? Surveillance?]
[Shut up and take it.]
Eyes conveying such meaning tangled briefly. Fernandez lowered his gaze slightly and nodded quietly. Only then did Gaimeorn smile in satisfaction and step back.
“Wise judgment. Conversing with a mortal like you has been a most enjoyable time for me.”
“The honor is mine.”
“Withdraw. I have much to discuss with my daughter.”
“May you live long and prosper.”
Fernandez clicked his tongue as he rose. Kirhas Hearttaker, who had been shrinking back, hurried after him almost like she was fleeing.
Only after the audience chamber’s doors closed did Kirhas let out a huge sigh.
“Benefactor! Are you insane!? How could you speak so bluntly to a being like that...”
“?? The Elfin Serpent King isn’t my king, so what’s the problem? If something’s offered, you take it.”
“Benefactor, you’re... so fearless... I couldn’t even breathe!”
“Uh...?”
Fernandez paused and mulled over Kirhas’s words. She had been so cowed she couldn’t breathe? The great hero Kirhas Hearttaker? Even if her rank hadn’t built up yet...
‘Ah.’
That was it. Fernandez’s soul was that of an eighty-seven-year-old archblack mage. If it had fully reincarnated in its essence, it wouldn’t cower before a transcendent’s spirit.
‘An unexpected harvest?’
Resisting a transcendent’s presence alone was immensely useful. Standing on equal footing was the foundational condition for opposing such beings.
*
Even after the audience chamber doors closed and all presence had faded. Leia remained prostrated motionless before Gaimeorn. Gaimeorn opened his closed eyes and looked at her.
“Well then, daughter. What exactly is this forgotten magic?”
“It seems to be the use of Melisildur’s dawn.”
“...? Berailde’s? But that human carried almost no scent of a mage. A member of the Berailde school couldn’t hide it from us.”
“But I saw a light powerful enough to melt Franzrit’s pursuers in an instant. And no matter how imperfect I may be, our kind would never mistake Melisildur’s dawn.”
“That is true, but...”
Gaimeorn fell into thought. Leia was a half-elf, and precisely for that reason, she was a precious asset. Free from the continent’s curse as an elven sword.
Thus, whenever Gaimeorn needed to dispatch agents inland, it was always Leia’s duty. If Leia judged so, Gaimeorn trusted her judgment.
“Berailde’s successor is Maleyrn’s daughter. A human couldn’t possibly learn from that child... A strange affair.”
How could someone in the deepest palace of the Maleyrn dynasty—the fiercest kingdom in the Elven Trident—teach magic to a priest of inland civilized society?
Gaimeorn grew ever more intrigued by Fernandez. He looked at Leia and said,
“Do not take your eyes off that human. Report all events to me. That man is truly... unique.”
And dangerous. Leia understood the unspoken words as she bowed deeply.
If a young human not yet twenty could boldly hold audience alone with the Serpent King and negotiate, possessing such audacity and fortitude. That alone made him a threat to the elves.
Leia closed her eyes and thought,
‘Please, don’t become an enemy to the end. It would be a pity to kill you.’
*
Fernandez was killing time in the room a servant had shown him to. He polished his longsword, whose teeth were already chipping.
“This thing’s gonna get me killed by Brother Martirio.”
-You sliced two high nobles and it’s still intact. That’d make it a holy sword.
“Hope I don’t break it this time before heading back.”
-Too late for that.
Fernandez chuckled as he looked at Feizashi. Unnecessarily, Feizashi sat in a chair with arms crossed.
No body, yet sitting in a chair? Fernandez gazed at Feizashi and snickered.
“Anyway, the Bronze Throne’s no good anymore.”
-Elves despise black magic residues. Using it would get you caught immediately.
“What about trying another school’s magic?”
-Halo makes that hard to recommend... And from the Berailde magic results, it doesn’t seem promising.
If he didn’t use magic, what was his best option? Fernandez sat cross-legged on the bed, placing the longsword across his knees.
Savoring the cool touch of the blade that hadn’t yet lost its edge, Fernandez closed his eyes.
Twilight had already crept in through the window. The harbor’s twilight held a special charm. Beyond the endless horizon, the sun sank, turning the sea into a dazzling golden reflector, rippling gloriously.
Then to crimson, to red, to purple. And as it reclaimed its cool blue. Finally, Fernandez sheathed his sword and stood.
-Creeeak.
The rusted hinges from sea winds squeaked softly as they swung open. Fernandez opened the window and faced the salty, fishy harbor breeze. The harbor night was cool.
“Basila.”
“Yes, Benefactor.”
From the roof, Kirhas’s voice rang out. Fernandez smiled. Kirhas was an immature warrior still, but her animal instincts and innate talent were reliable.
“Let’s go hunting.”
“Yes, Benefactor.”
-Thud.
Kirhas leaped down without a sound, light as a feather.
Grabbing the terrace railing, she flipped acrobatically, landing balanced, then grinned playfully at Fernandez.
The wind tousled her long, black hair. Fernandez stroked her ear once, then leaped down himself.
The Elfin Serpent King’s palace was vast, deep, and tall. The pinnacle of elven construction, and anchored in the sea’s midst, an impregnable fortress in itself.
Untouched by waves, unrotted by winds, unburned by fire—like a massive island.
Every sector was strictly guarded by Sea Guard and Wildprinces, with elven mages’ barriers vigilantly warding intruders.
Yet all those defenses were mere obstacles for a Demonica inquisitor versed in magitech, alongside a catfolk with peerless talent as a torchman.
They slipped between ships undetected by any eye, vanishing into the harbor’s shadows.
*
In the harbor night market street, Kirhas munched on the skewer Fernandez had handed her.
“Mmm. Nom, mmm.”
“Eat slowly, slowly.”
“Mm, yes. Yup. I’ve been craving meat so much...”
Kirhas seemed to enjoy the night market like any young girl. Surely she had other thoughts too...
Even so, for a catfolk in torchman training. Fernandez looked at her and said,
“Basila, how would a vampire sneak into this city?”
“...Uh...”
“Think about it. Elves have keen senses. They wouldn’t dare near the elven fleet. Naturally, they’d hide in the harbor district.”
“That... makes sense?”
“Harbors reek of all sorts of smells, easy to mask blood scent. High transient population makes disappearances easy too.”
“Y-Yeah...?”
Kirhas seemed to have slept through her entire torchman training. But that was fine; Kirhas was a实战 type... Fernandez nodded.
“So, slums and underground sewers. We’ll check those two areas. Easiest places to hide.”
“Uh-huh...”
Recalling his past life, when vampires infiltrated cities, it always started in one of those two.
Unless they were bold, skilled ones posing as nobles, generally speaking.
Kirhas flinched at the mention of underground sewers. It seemed sewer life had left her with major trauma. Fernandez smiled and handed her an incense burner.
“If you spot a vampire, light a fire, think of me, and send the bird. It’s a holy relic needing no mana, so you can use it. I’ll take the sewers; you start with the slums.”
“Yes, Benefactor!”
He didn’t know how many vampires had infiltrated or their strength. Could be mere scouts or a full vanguard. But Kirhas could survive.
From the night market alley, Fernandez sent Kirhas ahead and watched her back.
Sword belted at her waist, skewer bite in her mouth, glancing around—she looked every bit the catfolk girl.
-Worried?
‘About Kirhas?’
The Kirhas Hearttaker, rumored to have faced a demon duke alone, a master of reversal? Fernandez chuckled.
-Don’t get too attached, Fernandez. She’s a tool.
‘I tend to get attached to tools anyway.’
-...
Fernandez shrugged and headed to the alley’s corner.
Worry or not, it was hunting time. By now, Franzrit’s home base would know the envoy arrived safely.
He couldn’t predict what desperate schemes the anxious foes would try. Time was never fully on his side.
*