Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Chapter 44. Crimson Balrog (6)
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14.
“Gaaah!”
It was Dibo’s scream.
A tearing, agony-filled sound that only someone in excruciating pain could utter.
It wasn’t a noise you heard every day, either.
Dibo was the kind of adventurer who wouldn’t scream at ordinary pain—in fact, he’d laugh it off.
For him to scream like that?
It meant this was no ordinary wound.
And indeed, Dibo’s injuries were severe.
The armor he wore was shredded to rags. His body beneath it was far from unscathed. He was covered in blood from head to toe, with plenty of deep gashes visible among the wounds.
His left arm hung at an unnatural angle, broken.
He was in no shape for proper combat—critically wounded.
It was a sight shocking enough just to look at.
“Boss!”
But El Pam’s expression showed no tension or surprise upon seeing Dibo like this.
He knew better.
“Got it.”
And he knew that Dibo, whom he had trained, only let out such a pained scream after his prey was perfectly slain.
“Yes, we got it.”
Just as expected, about forty meters from where Dibo stood lay the Crimson Balrog’s corpse.
Its fingers and toes had been mostly severed by a polearm, and its body bore gashes so deep the bones were visible.
The most fatal wound, though, was on its chest. The depth was indescribable.
But that one wasn’t from the polearm.
It had been made by a sharp blade and bullets.
Kiri and Miner’s handiwork.
Naturally, El Pam could instantly picture it in his mind.
Kiri and Miner landing focused strikes while Dibo held the Crimson Balrog’s attention.
Of course, it hadn’t been easy.
The Crimson Balrog was cunning. The moment it sensed their intent, it would have attacked them or fled.
Yet it had worked anyway, for one reason.
“I pushed a bit hard.”
Dibo had gone all out to block the Crimson Balrog.
That was why he was drenched in blood.
“That was really dangerous.”
It was far from a safe strategy.
“You’d be dead if not for me.”
A method they never would have even attempted without Ralph.
Still, it was impressive.
Something ordinary folks wouldn’t dare imagine.
Facing a Crimson Balrog for the first time with just four people, and coming up with such a radical plan?
They might dream it up, but executing it was another story entirely.
“How’d we do, Boss?”
“Beyond expectations.”
Even El Pam hadn’t anticipated this exact outcome.
Seeing that reaction, Dibo grinned.
“I always exceed expectations.”
Exceeding El Pam’s expectations—that was the highest praise in El Pam’s party.
“You probably never imagined we’d take it down like this.”
“Not quite.”
“Huh?”
“I expected you to take it down.”
El Pam hadn’t been caught off guard by the situation itself.
“I just didn’t think you’d do it ten minutes faster than I figured.”
At those words, Dibo and the others stared in disbelief.
It was understandable.
El Pam wasn’t bluffing or joking—he truly believed it.
Which meant he’d even anticipated Dibo pushing himself that far.
Even accounting for that, it was still remarkable.
They had surpassed El Pam’s expectations, plain and simple.
By a full ten minutes, no less—which meant Dibo’s skill exceeded what El Pam had thought.
El Pam welcomed it.
“Good work. Thanks to you, we can head out sooner.”
Just one thing left now.
“Right? We just need to find that necklace. No idea how long that’ll take, though.”
Finding the necklace.
“Might take ages. When the hell are we getting out of here?”
El Pam answered the question.
“We’re leaving right now.”
15.
Adventurers didn’t think highly of the Cygnus Knights.
First off, they saw them as stifling their adventures. Second, their high-handed attitude rubbed people the wrong way.
Truth be told, it was unavoidable.
As knights, the Cygnus Knights lived by strict codes and rules, making their demeanor rigid by nature.
To free-spirited adventurers, that was even more grating!
That was why she stood out.
Tiger Eye Viola was one of the most famous knights in the Cygnus Knights.
“No knight’s as friendly as Viola.”
She was the highest-rated knight among adventurers.
She had a knack for befriending anyone quickly.
But it wasn’t just her personality earning that praise.
She understood adventurers’ situations and showed them consideration.
She was doing it now, too.
“Lady Viola.”
Trouble had erupted.
“It’s been fifteen days since El’s party left to search.”
Big trouble, at that.
“Five days past the promised ten.”
This wasn’t mere broken promises.
The stakes were too high for that.
Viola’s deployment proved it. To the Cygnus Knights, she was utterly reliable, reserved for their most critical missions.
On top of that, this was the Elnas Mountains—hardly friendly territory for the Cygnus Knights.
“They might’ve run off.”
In this mess, the Cygnus Knights suspected El Pam’s party had fled.
“At least running would be lucky. What if they betrayed us?”
Some saw it in a good light; others claimed outright betrayal.
Either way, no one spoke kindly of El Pam’s party.
Except one.
“I believe in them.”
Viola still trusted El Pam’s party.
That was why they hadn’t moved yet.
Loyalty to their leader—they had to honor that, no matter what.
Of course, it didn’t quell the rising discontent.
Above all, everyone knew.
“Lady Viola, if we keep this up, the Knights will force our hand. We can’t delay any longer.”
The Cygnus Knights were the most furious right now.
And they wouldn’t stop at anger.
“They’ve probably already sent a knight from above.”
Likely someone to replace Viola.
A major blemish on her reputation.
“Lady Viola.”
It could even mean disciplinary action.
Yet she waited.
“Why aren’t you moving?”
The reason was simple.
“Because I promised.”
In her own name, no less.
So if problems arose, she’d take responsibility.
That played a part, sure.
‘He’s different. He wouldn’t run or betray for no reason.’
But mostly, it was her faith in El Pam.
That’s when it happened.
“Uh, Lady Viola over there!”
A knight rushed up to her, breathless.
“They’re here!”
Everyone thought the same.
‘The Cygnus Knights sent someone!’
To replace Viola.
“Who is it?”
“Which Knight Order?”
That’s why the questions flew.
“A 5th Circle knight?”
The messenger shook his head, and faces hardened.
‘No way—a 6th Circle?’
A 6th Circle knight meant more than replacement.
It meant judgment for Viola.
“Then 6th Circle?”
Another headshake, and everyone recoiled in horror.
“Th-then, no way...?”
Only one option left.
7th Circle!
The Knight Commander herself!
“N-no, that’s not it.”
The shock didn’t last.
“El’s here.”
“What?”
16.
“Sorry for being late.”
Viola shook her head at El Pam’s apology.
“El, I don’t need your apology.”
She refused it.
“Glad you’re back safe, at least.”
First, reassurance.
“But I need to know why you were late.”
Then, the reason.
It made sense.
Apologies meant nothing now.
El Pam answered without hesitation.
“We hit a snag.”
“A snag? Trouble on the way?”
“Route was easy. The issue hit the moment we found the Mystic Gate.”
“You found the Mystic Gate?”
Viola’s eyes narrowed at his words.
She’d given El Pam a rough location, not the exact one.
Plus, the Mystic Gate was hidden by spells.
Impossible to find without precise coordinates.
El Pam explained.
“The riskiest way to hide treasure is in a treasure chest. The harder you hide it, the easier it gets to spot.”
Arrogant, perhaps.
Claiming to find what the Cygnus Knights had concealed.
But Viola didn’t see it that way.
She knew El Pam’s experience was extraordinary.
“Then...”
Instead, she worried about something else.
“Yes, we saw it. Proof it belongs to the Lion King.”
El Pam knowing its true nature.
Obvious, but that changed everything.
On one hand, it explained the delay.
‘So that’s why they were late.’
Why they’d missed the deadline.
Anyway, Viola weighed her options.
‘Two choices: break the contract.’
Circumstances had shifted—time for new terms.
‘Or renegotiate and go together.’
Taking El Pam’s party would cost far more than promised.
Her dilemma boiled down to one thing.
Worth paying El Pam’s party extra?
She didn’t deliberate long.
‘Finding it on his own means he’s top-tier.’
She wanted him along.
Regardless of cost.
“How much for the risk pay?”
“Triple the original deal.”
“What?”
El Pam named his price, stunning Viola.
She knew roughly of his deal with the Flame Knight Commander.
A massive sum.
Triple that?
Viola had resources, but not that much.
“No less.”
El Pam drove it home.
Viola conceded.
“Sorry, that’s beyond my authority.”
No reckless decisions.
El Pam nodded, as expected.
Creak!
“Then I’ll decide.”
But his arrival was unexpected.
“El, I accept your terms. Triple pay.”
No choice.
“M-Master?”
The door swung open to reveal the Lightning Knight Commander, Hawk Eye.