Chapter 133
Chapter 133
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 133
Chapter Title: Elnas Mountains (1)
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133
42. Elnas Mountains (1)
1.
The Maple World was always abuzz with tales of heroes and adventures.
But right now, everyone’s ears were tuned to one place.
“The hottest spot right now is the Nihal Desert!”
The Nihal Desert.
More precisely, all eyes in the Maple World were on the Ariant Kingdom.
It was only natural.
“From the prince’s tomb being revealed, to Crown Prince Kashan’s appearance, and even Queen Areida’s assassination!”
Events that could shake the Maple World on their own were happening one after another without a moment’s rest.
“A chimera appeared in Magatia!”
“And the janitor Grendel cleaned it up!”
“Who cares about that right now?”
In the midst of all that, the janitor Grendel’s chimera subjugation barely got any attention.
“The history of the Ariant Kingdom might change!”
That was the level of it.
“You have to watch the Ariant Kingdom right now—even if your feet are on fire!”
The Maple World’s attention on the Ariant Kingdom, that burning focus, seemed impossible to pull away.
“Hey, big trouble!”
“What big trouble?”
“Aran’s item has appeared!”
“Hey, so what? Who’s Aran? Wait a sec.”
But that news was different.
“Wh-who?”
“Aran!”
“Y-you mean that Aran I know?”
“Is there another Aran in the Maple World besides her? Aran, one of the Six Heroes and the polearm hero!”
The moment the name of Aran—one of the Six Heroes—came up, the Maple World’s attention had no choice but to flock there.
The value of the hero who saved the world from the Black Mage outweighed the history of the Ariant Kingdom by far.
Moreover, this wasn’t just some story about a hero.
“Her divine weapon has appeared in the world!”
The polearm hero Aran, who had vanished without a trace, and the item she used in life had now surfaced.
Not only all the adventurers of the Maple World, but the merchant groups of Victoria Island, the warriors of the Ariant Kingdom, and even the Cygnus Knights.
Everyone had no choice but to focus on that item.
“My god.”
Naturally, they were no exception.
“We have to go get Aran’s item right now!”
“This isn’t just any ordinary matter.”
“It’s not ordinary—it’s insane! Everyone’s going to be gunning for it right now?”
Dibo, Kiri, and Miner reacted intensely.
“H-hey, Ralph? Why are you so calm?”
In contrast, Ralph showed no particular words or reaction, and the moment Dibo asked about it, Ralph spoke.
“Huh? What did you say?”
“Huh?”
“Sorry, I must’ve dozed off for a second.”
“You dozed off?”
“I had a dream that Aran’s item appeared, but that’s ridiculous, right?”
“That’s not a dream.”
And the moment he heard Dibo’s words, Ralph’s face hardened colder than ever.
Killing intent flickered in his eyes.
From this moment on, anyone eyeing Aran’s item would be beaten to death with his fists on sight—that kind of killing intent.
A truly terrifying sight in every way.
But his companions didn’t question his demeanor.
Aran’s item was worth that kind of reaction.
El Pam, however, was different.
His expression remained calmly composed.
El Pam wasn’t rejoicing at this situation—in fact, he was troubled.
‘This is a different story altogether.’
The reason for his concern was simple.
‘From what I did with Phantom the thief.’
The request he’d received from Phantom the thief was none other than to go to the Elnas Mountains and retrieve Aran’s item.
It went without saying, but when giving that request, Phantom had emphasized secrecy above all.
If word got out, everyone would change their tune and come swarming, just like now.
Yet suddenly, this news had spread across the entire Maple World?
Two things were certain.
‘This isn’t Phantom the thief’s plan.’
For one, it wasn’t Phantom’s style.
He wasn’t the type to escalate things like this.
On top of that, the timing wasn’t right.
Right now, Phantom was focused on regaining his power—in other words, he wasn’t in a position to perform like he did back with the Six Heroes.
Starting something like this wouldn’t be something he could handle.
‘Those who would stir things up like this.’
That was why El Pam was convinced.
‘They’re the Black Mage’s followers.’
2.
Elnas Mountains.
“Pleased to meet you.”
In that snow-covered place, three people had gathered.
It was a dangerous meeting.
The snow-blanketed Elnas Mountains made it harder to maintain distance than even a desert, in some ways.
And in a blizzard like this, visibility was practically meaningless.
You couldn’t even see your own outstretched hand.
But the biggest problem was the monsters in the Elnas Mountains.
Junior Yetis, penguin monsters called Pepe, wolf monsters called Hector, and White Fangs.
The Elnas Mountains teemed with terrifying monsters that even 4th Circle adventurer parties had to brace for death against.
That was why there was a rule in the Elnas Mountains region.
On snowy days, adventurers below 5th Circle should not adventure.
Yet here, in this blizzard, three people were meeting?
Even so, the trio showed no fear.
“Queen Areida and Lord Ebob.”
It wasn’t because two of the three were the ones who had shaken the Ariant Kingdom.
Quite the opposite—they weren’t adventurers.
If a pack of Hectors appeared right in front of them, they’d be turned into mincemeat without proper resistance.
But those two felt no fear.
It was because of the young man with black hair and blue eyes greeting them now.
“I am Hote.”
Hote—that name wasn’t famous.
In the Maple World, you could confidently say fewer than ten people knew it.
But to those who did, it was different.
“You serve Lord Ban Leon.”
Ban Leon, the Lion King who ruled the Elnas Mountains.
Hote was one of his most trusted vassals—not just any vassal.
He was a member of Ban Leon’s Shadow Knight Order, serving as vice-captain.
Naturally, his abilities were extraordinary.
On his left wrist were no fewer than six rings.
6th Circle!
That was an immense level.
Considering that the Cygnus Knights’ captains and the Maple World’s top figures were 7th Circle, he was just one ring shy of that staggering realm.
Of course, the gap between 6th and 7th Circle was even greater than between 1st and 6th, but it was still an astonishing height.
He could laugh off a pack of over a thousand Hectors and hunt them down.
That was why Queen Areida and Ebob moved without escorts.
Of course, their expressions weren’t relaxed.
The mere fact they were here proved their dire straits.
They could no longer hold out in the Ariant Kingdom and had fled to the deepest part of the distant Elnas Mountains, to Ban Leon’s castle.
Decisively, the Hote before them was, as described, a member of Ban Leon’s Shadow Knight Order.
And the Shadow Knight Order lived up to its name as shadows—unknown to the world.
They were a group whose very existence was barely acknowledged.
Knights in name, but in a sense, assassins.
“I’ve heard the explanation. You wish to entrust your lives to my lord.”
Such beings wouldn’t welcome Queen Areida and Ebob lightly or amiably.
“And my lord has delegated full authority on this matter to me.”
Hote had no intention of hiding that fact.
It happened in an instant.
The tip of the sword Hote drew was suddenly aimed at Ebob’s throat.
No one saw it, no one heard it.
Ebob only realized Hote had drawn on him after feeling the prick at his neck.
Gulp!
As Ebob belatedly swallowed, Hote’s blue eyes gleamed as he spoke.
“Queen Areida’s life has value. But Ebob, yours does not.”
A chilling warning.
“I’ll give you one chance to prove your worth.”
Then, a glimmer of hope.
But from Ebob’s perspective, it hardly felt like hope.
He knew it wouldn’t be an easy chance.
“Phantom the thief has appeared. And now, the polearm hero Aran is judged to have appeared as well.”
As expected.
“The polearm hero Aran—propose a way to find her.”
The moment they heard that, Queen Areida and Ebob were stunned.
“Is that true? The polearm hero has appeared?”
They were already shocked by Phantom the thief’s emergence, and now the polearm hero too?
Moreover, as Black Mage followers, they knew better than anyone.
“She, who left not even a trace despite all our searches?”
The efforts the Black Mage’s followers had poured into tracking the Six Heroes’ traces.
Efforts vast enough to swallow the Maple World whole.
Yet Aran, whom they couldn’t find, had appeared?
That alone was shocking.
But Ebob couldn’t afford to be shocked.
Now he had to show Hote a way to find Aran—the hero the Black Mage’s followers couldn’t locate despite their full might.
It was, in truth, an absurd test.
So Ebob said.
“It’s impossible to find her. If it were possible, you wouldn’t even ask.”
Hote nodded at that.
“Then there’s only one method: make her come to us of her own accord.”
“And what is that method?”
“Dye the Elnas Mountains in blood.”
Hote’s eyes sharpened at those words.
But Ebob’s gaze didn’t yield.
If anything, Ebob’s burned fiercer.
Truth be told, Ebob wasn’t ordinary either.
He had led the top-tier Kania Merchant Group on Victoria Island, a figure respected even among the Black Mage’s followers for his skills.
Above all, he was staking his life now.
Between the hunting lion and the hunted hyena, who was more desperate was obvious.
“There’s a saying: heroes emerge in chaotic times. Create chaos, and the hero will appear on her own.”
“Aran isn’t that much of a fool, is she?”
“Simple massacres alone won’t be very effective. But if it involves her name, it’s different.”
“Her name?”
Above all, Ebob knew.
“I understand that the Lion King possesses the item the polearm hero Aran wore in life.”
At those words, Hote smiled and withdrew the sword from Ebob’s throat.
It wasn’t a gesture of goodwill.
Quite the opposite.
Hote prepared himself.
To behead Ebob in one stroke if his words proved distasteful.
After all, Ban Leon possessing Aran’s item was the utmost secret.
If Ebob knew such a secret, he was a grave threat to Ban Leon.
And eliminating such threats by any means was the Shadow Knight Order’s role.
Meaning Ebob had only one sentence left.
“Spread the word across the Maple World that Aran’s item is in the Elnas Mountains. Adventurers will swarm like bees. Kill them.”
Ebob uttered what might be his final words.
Fortunately, they weren’t his last.
Hote’s sword remained sheathed, and Ebob continued.
“If adventurers start dying because of Aran’s name, she’ll react in some way.”
With that, Ebob closed his eyes.
To him, Hote said.
“Welcome to Elnas. I’ll escort you to the castle.”