Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: 36. Second Deal with Phantom (3)
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5.
“I refuse.”
Cheryl expressed her refusal without a moment’s hesitation the instant she heard El Pam’s story.
“It’s beyond my abilities to create a new identity for you.”
She wasn’t just refusing to do it—she literally couldn’t.
“It’s true that we’re experts in that sort of thing.”
In fact, faking an identity in the Maple World wasn’t all that difficult.
The Adventurer’s Association did verify adventurers’ identities, but those verifications weren’t anything extraordinary.
Moreover, one didn’t have to receive official certification from the Adventurer’s Association to be considered an adventurer.
Getting certified meant the Association acknowledged your skills, which came with various benefits, but adventurers had a far more reliable proof of their prowess.
The circles—an utterly definitive proof.
On top of that, this was the era of the Mystic Gates. There were more places for adventurers to explore than ever, and demand for adventurers was overflowing.
It was an age where even uncertified adventurers could adventure without issue.
“But a 5th Circle adventurer is a different story.”
The problem was that El Pam was at the 5th Circle.
For starters, there were very few 5th Circle adventurers.
Even with the rapid growth spurt adventurers had experienced thanks to the Mystic Gate era, their numbers remained limited.
The scarcity made it that much harder to fake one.
“Now only Green rank and above are viable targets, and Green rank gates have stricter oversight.”
Especially since El Pam didn’t just need any identity—he needed one that would let him tackle Green-rank Mystic Gates.
That was the issue.
At Green rank and up, the management was on another level, and the adventurers participating were no ordinary bunch.
That meant mutual scrutiny and surveillance among them was equally intense.
No adventurer would enter a Mystic Gate with someone whose identity and background were uncertain.
Especially not a 5th Circle one.
“I know it’s not easy.”
El Pam was well aware.
“Even so, you’re the only ones I can ask.”
‘There’s a way.’
It was tough, but conversely, the Cross Hunters could make it happen.
In fact, El Pam knew they could.
‘It’s just that they won’t reveal the method easily.’
What Cheryl was doing right now was haggling.
And that was exactly right.
“We can’t do it, but there’s someone who can help.”
Cheryl began the negotiation.
“I’ll connect you if you need.”
Since he’d anticipated it, El Pam gladly accepted the offer.
“Very well.”
And so, they met.
6.
“Nice to meet you.”
She was a stunning beauty with red hair and emerald-green eyes that were incredibly captivating.
“I’ve heard the story, El Pam.”
When she extended her hand, El Pam’s reaction was a touch slower than usual.
“Yes, I’m El Pam.”
It was a minuscule difference. No one would notice.
But it existed, and it was proof—proof that El Pam had been caught off guard the moment he saw the woman before him.
Of course, it wasn’t because she was breathtakingly beautiful.
“It’s an honor to meet Captain Oz of the Fire Knights.”
“You know me?”
“It’d be weirder if I didn’t.”
His counterpart was none other than Oz, one of the captains of the Cygnus Knights.
It was widely known that she had come to the Ariant Kingdom.
‘I’ve ended up meeting someone even harder to see than Abdullah VIII.’
But meeting her was, in a way, far more difficult than meeting Abdullah VIII.
‘Not many seek out a Cygnus Knight captain.’
And for good reason—encounters with the Cygnus Knights were rarely pleasant.
The Knights were enforcers from the start.
They managed compliance with the rules set by Empress Cygnus.
Of course, that management wasn’t just talk.
If words alone could control things, there’d be no need for the Knights to mobilize.
In other words, meeting the Cygnus Knights usually meant being forcibly managed.
It rarely meant a good encounter.
‘That’s why the captains themselves avoid meetings even more.’
The captains knew this well and avoided non-official meetings as much as possible.
‘They’re filled with loyalty.’
Above all, the Cygnus Knight captains had unwavering loyalty to Empress Cygnus, so they avoided anything that could invite suspicion.
They even refrained from private meetings.
Meaning it was only natural they were hard to meet.
‘But she can provide exactly what I want.’
On the flip side, she was the one person in the Maple World who could most reliably give El Pam what he desired: a fake identity.
It wouldn’t be difficult.
‘If a Knight captain vouches for it, nothing could be more certain.’
Once El Pam had his new identity certified by a Cygnus Knight captain, no one would doubt it.
Of course, as mentioned, the Cygnus Knights didn’t move for trivial matters.
Requesting a private meeting like this.
“I’ve heard about you often.”
And this meeting was for a transaction.
A Cygnus Knight captain guaranteeing a disguised identity—in other words, breaking the rules—in exchange for something.
‘It’s hard to guess what she’ll demand.’
It would surely be something massive.
Naturally, the weight of the conversation from here on would be immense.
“Ah.”
That was why El Pam was tense when Captain Oz of the Fire Knights spoke up.
“More importantly, how’s Kiri doing?”
It was an unexpected remark.
The first question in what should have been a heavy conversation was about Kiri?
But El Pam wasn’t surprised.
‘Kiri’s that important, huh.’
It meant Kiri had some special background worth mentioning by Captain Oz of the Fire Knights.
In truth, he’d sensed as much.
Listening to Kiri’s stories, she sometimes spoke of things far removed from ordinary folk.
Things only those with exceptional backgrounds could say.
‘Just look at how freely she moves.’
Most tellingly, she was a member of El Pam’s party of her own volition.
The Cygnus Knights were different from adventurers. Even as a trainee, joining an adventurer party like this was normally impossible.
And she wasn’t just tagging along.
“Yes, she’s saved my life several times.”
She was an active member of El Pam’s party—that formidable group.
“That’s a relief. Please take good care of her going forward.”
But even El Pam hadn’t expected Captain Oz of the Fire Knights to mention her directly like this.
This was a big deal.
It was an unspoken request—and threat—to protect Kiri’s life.
A burdensome statement.
But to El Pam, it meant nothing.
“I’ll protect my comrades with my life.”
He intended to do so regardless.
“No matter what happens.”
Even if the Cygnus Knights tried to kill her, El Pam would still protect her.
If he lacked that resolve, he never would have accepted her into his party in the first place.
“Thank you.”
Captain Oz of the Fire Knights gave a satisfied, warm smile at El Pam’s words.
But El Pam didn’t smile.
Now the real deal would begin.
“I know your skills are exceptional. Especially your ability to retrieve relics from Mystic Gates—it’s said to be the best.”
The true transaction.
“I’m not the best. But I’m confident I won’t fail.”
El Pam didn’t back down here.
“Is it relic retrieval you want?”
“Yes.”
“Green rank?”
“That’s right.”
He even took the lead in the conversation.
This was a place for transaction talk—nothing more, no need for drawn-out chit-chat.
The reward didn’t need discussing either.
It had already been stated: the Knight captain’s cooperation in forging El Pam’s identity.
So he only needed to know one thing.
“Whose tomb is it?”
“A Cygnus Knight’s tomb.”
“Whose exactly?”
The risks involved.
“Do I have to say?”
Oz looked reluctant to reveal it.
It wasn’t strange.
If she was going this far to retrieve a relic, its owner must be extraordinarily special.
If it were someone whose name could be revealed openly, she wouldn’t have sought out El Pam in secret for this risky deal.
El Pam respected that.
“You don’t have to tell me. But if you don’t, you’ll need to pay accordingly.”
Provided she compensated him appropriately for the respect.
“I know you’re using my necklace. That means you use fire-attribute magic, right?”
“Yes.”
That was the moment.
“Then this should be meaningful.”
With those words, Oz removed her earrings and handed them to El Pam.
El Pam’s eyes narrowed upon seeing them.
‘Oz’s earrings.’
He knew them.
“Helios’s Earrings.”
He knew what item it was.
And its abilities, too.
‘Wearer’s fire-attribute magic damage increases by 20 percent.’
Damage boost—the effect was simple.
But its value was anything but.
Wearing these earrings would boost El Pam’s fire magic power by 20 percent.
And El Pam wasn’t just any mage.
A single Fire Arrow from his hand was more devastating than another fire mage’s Explosion.
It meant more than just a 20 percent increase.
It was a reward beyond generous.
Yet El Pam wasn’t pleased.
‘To just hand this over.’
A legendary-grade item like this, just for not asking questions?
It meant the tomb’s owner was no ordinary figure.
He had to brace himself.
On the other hand, he thought:
‘Two reasons.’
Offering such compensation meant it was that dangerous—and that secrecy was paramount.
“How many can enter?”
“33 people.”
That was why.
“Secrecy seems more crucial than ever, so fewer entrants would be better.”
“Indeed.”
“If you provide additional compensation, I’ll try to minimize the numbers.”
It was why El Pam made the additional proposal.
Of course, it was an excessive demand.
One that crossed the line.
Oz’s slightly flustered expression upon hearing it was proof.
“Minimize the numbers? That’d make it more dangerous, wouldn’t it?”
Everyone knew fewer people meant easier secrecy, but it also lowered success odds.
For Oz, who prioritized relic retrieval above all, failure was unacceptable.
“Reducing the member count by a few won’t meaningfully improve secrecy.”
Crucially, whether 33 or 30 entered, cutting just three offered little security gain.
“It wouldn’t make much difference.”
El Pam knew that too.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have made such a proposal.
“But a significant reduction changes things.”
He continued.
“Cutting from 33 to 28—I believe that would provide sufficient security merit.”