Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: The Sun's Haven
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Loan and Lucas parted ways with the torchbearer and slowly made their way to the next checkpoint.
Though the milky haze made it difficult to distinguish day from night, they had no trouble finding their way.
They were once again grateful for the role of the torchbearers.
Lucas, holding the reins loosely, spoke to Loan.
"I was talking with those Libertha guys earlier, and it seems their Grand Commander is really something."
"How so?"
"Apparently, not many can take him on one-on-one. He once fought our Commanders and managed to escape even after taking on four of them."
"That's incredible..."
"If their Grand Commander is there, I'm worried we'll be at a disadvantage."
They had said they were planning an all-out war.
Loan's understanding of an all-out war was a head-on clash at an agreed-upon location.
Sometimes, a few one-on-one duels were held to boost morale on both sides.
Just as Lucas feared, if the Grand Commander participated in the battle, the forces from Barcino and the Security Division might not be enough.
Loan said calmly.
"If you found that out, then the Vice-Commander and Senior Sienna must have as well. They've probably already exchanged messages with headquarters."
"Hmm, I guess so..."
Lucas trailed off, his voice lacking its usual confidence.
It was unlike him.
"Why so down?"
"It just feels like there are too many strong people in the world. Take that torchbearer, for example. How did he take down five aura-wielding swordsmen so easily? By stabbing them in the nostrils, of all things."
"Then you should try stabbing nostrils with your claymore. Imagine how exhilarating that would be."
"I'm not joking."
"Neither am I. Your greatest weapons are your confidence and your spirit. When it comes to being unique, I'd say you're right up there with that torchbearer."
"Is that a compliment?"
"You can consider that my entire quota of compliments for the day."
As they chatted, they soon arrived at the second torch site in the bridge area.
It wasn't much different from the first one.
Loan walked straight to the brazier.
Behind the flickering blue flames, a large-bodied old woman was dozing.
"Hello."
"Hmm?"
The old woman squinted her eyes open.
She recognized the badge on Loan's chest at a glance.
"Huh? Where did you get this?"
"The torchbearer gave it to me. Over there."
Loan pointed back the way they had come.
The old woman, blinking her dim eyes several times, looked startled. She too had very curly hair.
"Goodness gracious... What's with that fire?"
Loan calmly recounted the events that had transpired.
The old woman's eyes widened as she listened.
After that, things proceeded smoothly.
After all, if they had killed the torchbearer and stolen the badge, the flame wouldn't be burning so brilliantly.
"Then I'll go see if there are any fellows we can use as offerings."
Loan spoke politely to the old woman, then searched the torch site with Lucas.
Soon after.
"Lucas, over there."
A short distance away, a group of Libertha men were sitting around, laughing and joking.
Lucas took a deep breath.
His mana swirled through his body for a moment, then he stomped the ground with a *thud* and shot forward.
He shouted "Libertha—" but by the time the men turned, all they saw was the flat of his broadsword.
*CRASH! BANG!*
And just like that, Lucas gave them no chance to even speak.
He was certainly exhilarating and full of spirit. It was good to see Lucas like this.
"Kugh..."
While they might have been individually stronger than Lucas, they were helpless against a surprise attack.
Some might call it cowardly, but that was the nature of the Union's work.
Vicious criminals and traitors were countless. Every day was a life-or-death struggle. The Union's mission was to use its legitimately granted power to achieve its goals.
Being picky about the means and methods was nothing but a luxury.
"Lucas, don't kill them!"
Loan and Lucas quickly subdued and bound the men, who were flailing in confusion.
The men jeered that the Union's brats had learned some new tricks, asking if cowardice was their specialty.
Trying to appeal to the onlookers who had gathered—
"He drew his sword in the bridge area! Why aren't you stopping him?"
one of them shouted.
Their previous complaints had gained no sympathy, but the matter of the bridge area's unwritten rule was different.
As a commotion arose, with people muttering that even the Union couldn't get away with this, the old torchbearer approached, leaning on her knees with effort.
"You lot have a lot to say for people standing on someone else's land. This child is one of our own. If you don't like it, you can take a walk in the swamp."
She pointed to a swamp of unfathomable depth.
Only then did other voices begin to mix into the commotion.
Whispers of fear from those who knew of the torchbearers' prowess, testimonials from those who had witnessed Loan at the previous checkpoint, and so on.
And after Loan had the Libertha gang sit in a circle around the brazier and fed the fire, no one uttered another complaint.
"Oh my... To think I'd experience such a luxury in my final years."
The old woman, her body feeling much lighter, expressed her gratitude to Loan.
Taking the opportunity, Lucas asked.
"Is there any chance you could stop Grave from passing through the bridge area?"
"If they pass through quietly, we have no reason to stop them. That has been our duty until now, but..."
"Lucas, that's rude. Just like the Union, these people have beliefs they've upheld their entire lives. What we've received is more than enough."
Loan cut off the old woman's words before she could continue her rebuke, gently chiding Lucas.
"I apologize."
Lucas bowed his head deeply in apology.
The old woman waved her hand, about to say something.
"Well, our schedule is tight, so we must be on our way."
Satisfied with having used the Libertha gang as kindling, Loan and Lucas headed for the next checkpoint.
The old woman watched the departing children for a long time, the unspoken words lingering in her mouth.
Passing three more torch sites just like the ones before, Loan brightened the haze-filled bridge area even more.
*I've gained a wonderful gift.*
After taking a short nap under the torchbearer's protection, Loan silently reviewed the process of absorbing mana into the flames.
It was a type of magic with too many restrictions and conditions to be used in actual combat right away.
However, having directly interfered with an enemy's mana breathing was an incredibly valuable experience.
Widening the application of Convection and learning to control it more precisely was also a major achievement.
Furthermore, there was the satisfaction of having exacted his own form of revenge, corresponding to the wicked deeds committed by Grave.
As he crossed the bridge area, still lost in thought.
"We're out!"
Lucas suddenly shouted.
The clatter of hooves told them they had reached solid ground.
Spurring his horse on, he glanced back.
The haze-filled bridge area was shining brightly.
It was a rather nice gift left for the seniors who would be making the long journey.
* * *
After passing through a few small villages, the great city of Barcino, the origin of the duchy's name, came into view.
The buildings had unique shapes and incredibly ornate exteriors.
Some outer walls were decorated with tiles, and bold colors were used, which absorbed and reflected the brilliant southern sunlight, filling the city with a cozy and peaceful atmosphere.
"They say it's nicknamed 'The Sun's Haven'."
Loan said, his voice filled with awe.
It was knowledge he'd learned from a book.
Now, facing the real thing, he realized that words couldn't fully capture the beauty of Barcino.
And that his imagination had been sorely lacking.
"I need something that will actually fill my stomach more than those flowery words."
Lucas suddenly grumbled.
While it was a shame to have his admiration interrupted, Loan was just as hungry.
They decided to eat before passing the city walls and heading to the center. If they ran into their seniors from the Security Division, it wouldn't be easy to bring up the topic of food.
"Let's go this way."
Lucas said, sniffing the air as they entered the commercial district.
The delicious smell of food wafted through the bustling crowds.
"The must-try foods here are cured ham and sausages. There are also noodle dishes with seafood, and rice dishes."
Loan shared the knowledge he had gleaned from *A Gourmet's Stroll Across the Continent*.
Lucas's eyes sparkled.
"Seafood?"
"Yeah. I heard the sea is a little further southeast of here."
"Have you ever seen the sea?"
"No. Have you?"
"Nope. I'd like to, though."
"Me too. There's a restaurant there I really want to visit."
He had read about it in a book. If it weren't for their mission, he would want to go right away.
Though they bore the weighty name of the Union on their chests, they were, after all, two vigorous young boys.
Loan and Lucas promised each other they would go see the sea before heading back if their work in Barcino went well, then entered the restaurant with the most enticing aroma.
Suddenly, all eyes were on them.
The weather was so warm that they had left their cloaks with their horses at the stables.
Their black uniforms and the unique gleam of their badges had caught the attention of the other patrons.
"Union?"
"I heard things were tough, but I guess they're really desperate, mobilizing kids like that."
"They're not what they used to be. Everyone wants to join Grave these days."
"Well, making a living comes first. To hell with causes and justifications."
"I hear there's a big fight coming. If you want to make a fortune, siding with Libertha would be the smart move."
"And Le Tell has joined them too, so that side seems like the better bet."
In the brief moment they stood at the door wondering where to sit, a flood of backbiting remarks and unbearable nonsense washed over them.
Lucas shouted with a sour expression.
"If you have something to say, come and say it to us properly! The Union always listens to the voices of the powerless."
For a moment, the restaurant fell silent.
Loan led Lucas, who seemed to have fully regained his spirits, to a table in the corner.
Judging by their mana density, they were all talk and not worth dealing with.
That much was clear from how quickly they were intimidated by Lucas's roar, which had been subtly imbued with magic.
But the things they'd said were not so easy to dismiss.
Especially the part about Le Tell joining them.
"What's with that look? Is it because Le Tell joined them?"
Lucas asked anxiously, as if trying to soothe his own impatience while waiting for the food.
"Yeah. It confirms what you heard back then. It seems they're the ones modifying children, too."
"Those guys sure are persistent. How can they keep doing such wicked things without end?"
"That's why we have to work even harder."
Lucas fell silent when Loan said this with a stern expression.
It was true that Loan tended to become more sensitive than usual whenever Le Tell was mentioned.
Fortunately, the unique dishes made with fresh southern ingredients instantly lifted their spirits.
While most regions of the continent were groaning under a long famine, Barcino seemed to have lost none of its usual vitality, thanks to the seafood provided by the sea.
"This is amazing. This seafood dish simmered in oil."
Lucas exclaimed, continuously popping plump shrimp into his mouth.
Not to be outdone, Loan first took a deep breath of the aroma.
The piquant scent of well-fried garlic and hot peppers, enveloped in olive oil, gently filled his senses.
Soon, the shrimp meat burst in his mouth. The texture was incredible. A chewy yet tender sensation was followed by a savory flavor that swam around on the oil.
"Try this too, Loan!"
Lucas's hands and mouth moved with urgency.
He served Loan a portion of a dish made by simmering raw rice and seafood in broth.
The perfectly cooked rice was stained a golden yellow.
They both slurped at their food, blowing hot steam toward the ceiling, their teeth never resting for a moment.
Their mouths and stomachs were delighted.
"Let's try this one, too."
Thinly sliced, almost translucent cured pork leg. They speared generous amounts with their forks and put it in their mouths at the same time.
"Salty!"
"So salty!"
They wondered how on earth people were supposed to eat this.
"No, no, that's not right."
When had he appeared beside them?
A man in a Union uniform with very neat features.
No matter how focused he had been on the food, for Loan not to even sense his mana approaching was astounding.
"Here, here, like this, like this."
The man spread olive oil on a biscuit, then placed a piece of the meat, which he had dipped thoroughly in a sweet sauce, on top and handed it to Loan and Lucas.
"Try it, go on."
Taking it hesitantly, they looked at the man's chest.
Expert rank.
The meteoric iron insignia symbolizing a Commander was shimmering with a strange light.