Chapter 147
Chapter 147
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 147
Chapter Title: Goblin Slayer
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“Hey, stop there. Hey!”
After galloping nonstop for half a day, we arrived at Landkif, located at Imperial Crossroads 4-3.
It was a fortress five days’ ride from the southern border gate of Harad Gate. Though small in scale, it prospered thanks to the constant stream of merchants passing through day and night.
I handed over my adventurer ID plate in lieu of a travel permit or identification, and the gate guard eyed me up and down, quirking an eyebrow.
“Bronze rank is fine and all, but you’ve got a real ominous name there.”
The name engraved on the adventurer ID plate was Rain.
But the Rain remembered by the world—the Ludwig heir apparent and the boy who died in the Black Spot Incident—was a youth with black hair and red eyes.
“Why’s that?”
“What do you mean? Most adventurers with that name end up dead.”
“I got lucky and survived.”
“Hmm.”
On the other hand, I’d dyed my hair red to at least match Aki’s appearance and prove his identity.
My rain-soaked clothes were threadbare and moldy, and my unwashed body reeked.
Celesia’s mystically beautiful form aside, there was nothing about me that screamed nobility.
“And what’s with the baby?”
“My late-born little brother.”
“A-baht!”
“Uncanny resemblance. What’s your business here?”
“Spend the night, buy some clothes, and above all, get a bath.”
The guard scraped the ID plate with his fingernail to verify its authenticity.
A glow soon confirmed it as a genuine Alliance-issued magic tool.
This was just the initial check, and fakes could be forged, but unless it was a strategic point or restricted area, most guards skipped deeper scrutiny out of laziness.
“Hmm.”
As my heart beat slowly three times, the guard stared sharply at the boy.
Just as I wondered if something was wrong, he said “Cleared” and waved me through.
The guards withdrew their crossed spears at the gate, allowing entry into the town.
‘Harder to use this thing than I thought... I’ll need to reregister as an adventurer someday and get a new one.’
Of course, with my noble status unusable now, that’d have to wait until I had reliable comrades to vouch for me...
“Listen up, Aki. We’re heading to the Alliance branch now, got it? No babbling. No drawing attention, or we’re screwed.”
“Out!”
“Don’t worry? Easier said than done—you’re not trustworthy. Pipi, just stay inside Celesia.”
“Pipi, pipi, pipi.”
From the shadows of the ramparts, a three-eyed crow gazed secretly down at the boy before cawing ominously and soaring into the rain.
It took half an hour inside the town to find the adventurer branch in Landkif.
Located at the center, the streets had turned to mud under the relentless rain, with Alliance flags drooping limply and scarce signs of life.
The guild hall was fairly crowded. A dozen tables were packed, likely with adventurers escorting merchant caravans. In these turbulent times, demand for adventurers and mercenaries had skyrocketed.
“Hm?”
As the door opened, letting in a chill gust, the rowdy adventurers mid-drink glanced toward the entrance.
A red-haired boy... a face new to the area.
Average height, delicate features—he screamed rookie at first glance. Yet he carried an aura no one dared approach, silencing the veterans.
“No place to bring a little girl here.”
“Right, full of bad uncles.”
“Hahaha! Wife run off on you?”
The bronze-rank rookies tossed catcalls as the boy carrying the baby wove through the tables to the counter.
“...”
Some hooded figures shot eerie, expressionless glances his way. Hallucination?
‘Being on the run makes everything scary...’
Ignoring them deliberately, the boy faced the branch staff at the counter.
The clerk’s eyes were weary with fatigue. Midway through a yawn, he stuck out his hand bluntly.
Wondering what it was for, I stared at his palm before handing over the ID plate. He glanced at it casually and tossed it back.
“What’ll it be? Drink? Sorry, no childcare services.”
“A meal, baths for me and the kid, one set of casual clothes each. And an iron door room.”
This was why I chose the Alliance branch over a regular inn.
For those who’d acquired valuables en route, incurred grudges, or trusted no one...
Most branches offered iron rooms—extreme safe havens with iron-banded oak doors, guarded round-the-clock by guild staff.
“Twenty-two black silver coins.”
The clerk said it stone-faced. One silver coin was a day’s wage for an average laborer.
I dumped silvers from my pouch onto the counter. He didn’t count precisely, just swept them up and slid over a hefty iron key.
About a handspan long... I took it carefully, and he thumbed toward the upper floor.
“Third floor. Unpack, then come down to the first. We’ll heat the bathwater.”
The room had three heavy locks, prioritizing security over comfort—low ceiling, narrow space.
A faint musty featherbed smell lingered, so I sighed softly and cracked the window.
‘Twenty-two coins for this? Daylight robbery...’
After unpacking, I picked up Aki to head downstairs but paused.
‘Celesia...’
Celesia hung on the rack, bothering me—specifically, the Mirngardia dragon egg inside its subspace.
Safe to leave here?
Safer than a bathhouse locker, and that’s why I chose the iron room...
Still, better safe than sorry.
It’d get wet, but I’d take it to the bath. And for extra caution, set an alarm spell for intruders.
Rolling up Celesia, I headed to the baths, and both critters went wild immediately.
“Ow-oo!”
“Ow-oo, ow-oo.”
Aki, like a sun parrot with higher body temp, bared fangs warily at first but soon loved the hot water.
Dousing him with a ladle pre-bath to scrub off grime had him giggling and splashing like mad—total chaos.
“Come here! No, don’t eat the soap! Don’t shake the water, ow damn it! Are you a dog? Stay still, stay still, please.”
“Stay still, stay still, stay still.”
“Sit down, sit! Please sit, Aki.”
“A-sit.”
“Yeah yeah, good boy Aki. Warm, right? Feels good? Behave now.”
“Ahht, aye, ow!”
“Miraculously bug-free. Heat kill ‘em all?”
Fiercer than the battle with mage lord Seigan, peace came only after dunking Aki in the tub.
“Raising a kid harder than saving the world... this right...?”
And it’d double someday? What does Karenden expect from me...
Soaking deep in the steaming tub, I pondered the road ahead. Needed to cross the border to Republic territory soon...
Warm vapors lulled me drowsy; I dozed off. Waking, Pipi and Aki slept soundly too.
“...?”
I dressed in the cheap tunic provided outside, carefully clothing sleeping Aki in rough-spun. Stepping out, my back chilled.
Quiet.
Unnaturally so.
Late night or not, an empty hall was odd... and the faint metallic blood scent made me swallow dryly.
“...”
Focusing to sense presences yielded nothing... but dark blue mist roiled creepily at my feet, risen unnoticed.
White flowers bloomed in my eyes as I peered into the mist’s structure.
01010101001... Chant-type Altigma fused with forbidden Orvios...
‘Forbidden Orvios? Black magic?’
Rushing to the lobby, a hair-raising sight greeted me.
All adventurers... no, staff too, collapsed.
Some face-planted in soup bowls; a server lay amid spilled food and shattered dishes.
Sting.
A sharp prick in my mind—the barrier alarm triggered.
‘Felt ominous before town, and sure enough, nothing goes smooth...’
Tucking Aki and Pipi at my side, I summoned the flame staff and bolted upstairs.
Rotten stench thicker than blood... muffled male groans from somewhere.
Two staff slumped asleep; the triple-locked door neatly sliced open.
Flinging it wide, a tense breath burst out.
“...”
“...”
Seven burly men writhed on the floor. Stab wounds at non-vitals, oddly congealed black blood...
‘Those expressionless guys from earlier.’
Good call taking Celesia to the bath. Instinct never wrong—like now.
“More careless than expected.”
Whirling, my raised staff clashed with a silent incoming blade, screeching horrifically.
“Or playing careless to lure me? Not bad if so.”
I recognized instantly: elite assassin. And that strike held zero killing intent. Testing me?
“Who are you?”
The swordswoman withdrew her throat-aimed blade, tossing something instead.
My adventurer ID plate, left on the nightstand.
“Rain Ludwig... right? I’m hired to bring you in.”
Wiping cold sweat from my brow, I turned.
Light armor of chain and leather, partial iron greaves. Shortsword at hip for tight spaces, small shield in left hand. Daggers, knives, mini-bow hidden everywhere.
Curves hinted female; full-face helm hid her identity.
Oddity: back-mounted single-edge sword wrapped in ragged bandages, blade length between short and long.
“Searched ten days for you. No time for intros. Real pros coming now, not these small fries.”
“Who?”
“Check their hearts.”
Glancing at the thugs as she nodded, cold sweat poured.
Crows. Crows emerging from their hearts, gnawing rotten flesh, cawing ominously. Not black feathers—dark blue poison gas formed these aberrations.
“Black Church...?”
“Follow me. I’ll get you out of this fortress.”
“No, wait.”
Her not finishing us when she had the drop built some trust, but not enough.
“How do I trust you? Not one of them?”
The swordswoman, walking ahead, replied flatly, as if the question was absurd.
“Don’t worry—I’m not helping out of kindness.”
“Then why?”
“Money. Witch Association hired me. To bring you safely.”
Witch Association...
Republic’s unified body. Like the Empire’s mage alliance.
Suspicion surged. Why me, a total stranger to them?
“If you can’t trust, see this. But I’d run now. No idea who’s after you?”
She pulled a small scroll, contract-like, stamped with the Witch Association’s unforgeable sorcerous seal.
Meanwhile, crows screeched raggedly; the sorcerous mist thickened.
‘No choice...’
Slipping arm into Celesia’s sleeve, I strapped Aki into its auto-formed carrier and dashed after her down the stairs.
“Fine, I’ll follow. Quick intro? I’m Rain.”
“Goblin Slayer.”
Goblin? Goblin Slayer?
More mocking nickname than title, absurdly comical—but no laughing now.
Water Dragon Yeriserika’s advice throbbed in my mind.
—Returned one, head south and find the little demon.
Goblins called little demons too. Breath caught; I froze mid-landing.
‘Yeriserika’s little demon... her?’