The Seventh Apostle's Defeat
Roen entered the audience chamber carrying a gray envelope.
"Lord. A report has arrived from the Light Wind Squad leader."
He approached Glenn, who was seated on the throne, and extended the gray envelope in his hand.
"Report..."
Glenn frowned at the envelope.
"I wonder if that guy can even write a proper report."
"Even during my time as senior instructor, most were just oral."
"Yeah. The only one who submitted documents and reports was the survival test."
"Haha."
Roen smiled faintly. Rimer mostly relayed reports orally. The only thing prepared in advance was noting the training locations for trainees during the survival test.
Whoong!
When Glenn raised his finger, the envelope in Roen's hand floated up and landed in front of him.
"Let's look at it first."
Glenn took out a sheet of paper from the envelope, and his hand trembled.
"This crazy guy wrote a report like this..."
"W-what happened?"
"Look for yourself."
Glenn handed the document to Roen. The content was exactly two lines.
[Raon defeated the 7th Apostle. Wow!]
[Mission complete!]
Roen was speechless upon reading the report. It was too simple, and the content was unbelievable.
"Even setting aside how simple it is, if it's an apostle's name, at least..."
"Yeah. Master. That old monster wouldn't give the title of apostle to someone who couldn't even cross the wall."
Glenn nodded at Roen's stunned face.
"The young lord is still an expert, how did he defeat a master?"
"I have the same question. Moreover, this damn guy wrote it too simply to understand the situation. It doesn't even say if he was safe or injured..."
"Given how simply he expressed it, he probably didn't get seriously injured."
"You never know. That gambler's way of thinking is different from ours."
"Even so, it seems he did defeat the 7th Apostle. He wouldn't lie about something like this."
Roen swallowed dryly, his hand trembling as he held the document.
"That makes sense."
"Defeating a master at the expert level, it's not something that happens often as one ages, but Raon young lord makes me surprised every time. As far as I know, it's the first on the continent..."
"I've never heard of it. Anyway, he doesn't live a normal life. It's worrying."
Glenn nodded. His eyes were sharp, but the corners of his mouth were soft.
"I don't know why he made it so curious by defeating an apostle."
"Indeed."
"Defeating a master as an expert, the world might go into chaos. Hah!"
"Huhu."
Roen smiled at Glenn's awkward boasting.
"I want to move the Biyeonhoe, but it would be better to hear it directly from him. I want to return quickly and hear what happened."
"Yes. I'm curious too."
"And Rimer that guy should be punished."
"..."
Raon headed to the city hall with the Light Wind Squad. The annex was below the street, so they had to walk up a bit.
"Hey, wait! That person..."
"Blonde hair and red eyes! Zieghart's uniform!"
"That's right! The vice-leader of the Light Wind Squad who defeated the 7th Apostle!"
"Raon Zieghart!"
People on the street recognized Raon and cheered.
"He said he had major injuries, but he's fine?"
"Supernaturals have fast recovery too."
"A young swordsman like that defeating a high priest and cutting down an apostle, it's unbelievable."
"It's not the end. That guy also found the White Blood Cult branch!"
"I heard he even declared he would kill the 10th Apostle?"
"Indeed, it's the Ziegharts."
People already knew everything Raon had done.
"What?"
Raon narrowed his eyes, looking around. Everyone seemed to know about him.
"Already the rumors have spread everywhere. That you killed the high priest and defeated the 7th Apostle."
"Who... ah, obvious."
No need to ask. It was clearly the gambling boss who had nothing better to do.
"Well, the boss is a first-class hero, but the hostages there also talked a lot about you."
Burren continued with a faint smile.
"Thanks to you, the Light Wind Squad's visibility has skyrocketed. Even though it's just the first mission, the rumor that the strongest young warrior among the Six Kings is spreading."
"Hmm..."
Raon frowned slightly. He couldn't tell if this was good or bad.
"By making a face like that, it looks cooler?"
"Yeah! Zieghart has that kind of coolness."
"Is the injury not better yet?"
"Probably. Defeating a master as an expert, it must have been serious. For now, he's holding back."
"Declaring to the 10th Apostle in that state, he's a born hero."
But people cheered even louder, apparently liking the face too.
This interpretation was good, which explained why Rimer wanted to make Rimer famous first.
When he tried to enter the city hall with an awkward expression, a group of people came out from inside. Morell, Salaman, and Princess Jayna.
"Hic!"
The princess gasped as if seeing a ghost upon seeing him and stepped back. When others looked, she blushed and lowered her head.
"Long time no see."
Raon bowed politely to Morell.
"Are you well?"
"Are you well?"
"Ah, no! The mission is over, right...?"
Morell's eyes widened in surprise. In the middle, he added "yo" again.
"That's right. The mission is over. I was joking."
"Ugh..."
When he said it was a joke, Morell frowned and let out a sigh of relief.
"You have more mischief than you look."
"Sorry."
Raon smiled faintly.
"Anyway, you did an amazing job. Not only did you find the White Blood Cult branch and defeat the high priest, but you also defeated the 7th apostle."
His cold eyes still held amazement.
"I admit. This time, Valkar completely lost to Zieghart."
"It was a mission, so where's the win or loss."
"No, you lost. When you came up here, did you hear of Valkar's name?"
"That is..."
Morell was right. The only things heard were his own name, Zieghart, and the Light Wind Squad.
"The Six Kings are allies but also rivals. It's a bit awkward for me to say, but through today's events, Zieghart's status has risen, and Valkar has fallen."
"By moving the name of the Six Kings with just one mission?"
"Moving the name of the Six Kings means that. Moreover, among the things you did, there was nothing surprising. Even if the high priest is one thing, when I heard you defeated the 7th apostle, I was surprised too. Because of that, I couldn't properly extinguish the fire in the food warehouse."
Morell smiled bitterly, as if regretting.
"Tsk, what's so great about that."
Las clicked his tongue, saying it wasn't to his liking.
"Handle the work quickly and go to the restaurant."
The guy's head was full of food and restaurants.
"The loser will withdraw first. We have nothing to do here."
"Thank you for your hard work."
"What hard work. You only played around under my hand. I don't know how someone like you came out under a freak like Rimer."
"Still, when the time comes, you do it."
"That time rarely comes."
"Well, that's it..."
"Enough, next time when we meet, repay today's humiliation."
Morell waved his hand and went down the street. He said it nicely, but his pride seemed quite hurt.
"Lord Raon. I look forward to meeting you again."
"Yes. See you later."
Tias bowed his head 90 degrees as he passed by. Raon smiled and nodded.
"..."
Princess Jayna was moving among the mages, as if avoiding eye contact.
"Princess. You saved me, but don't you think you should give a thank you?"
Jayna, who was trying to escape, flinched and stopped.
"T-thank you... yo."
She left the words and hurriedly turned her body.
'As expected.'
Raon chuckled. As expected. That proud princess didn't tell anyone about that time.
"Hey."
He called Inild, who was moving at the very back.
"Yes? Ah, yes!"
Inild stood at attention as if he were a soldier. He seemed to have realized that he couldn't reach him after hearing the rumors about him.
"No serious injuries?"
"Of course!"
His front teeth were visible as he answered.
"From now on, watch your position and extend your legs. If you act rashly, your neck might fly off."
"Yes! T-thank you for saving me!"
After patting Inild's shoulder, he shook his head and nodded.
"Then, go."
"Yep!"
He ran to Morell again, as if calling him again.
Raon chuckled and opened the door to the city hall. People inside were all wide-eyed, as the rumors had spread there too.
Accepting their surprised gazes calmly, he went up to the upper floor where the market was.
"Oh! You're awake!"
Forban Market Oweist jumped up and ran out upon entering the market room. His large face was full of smiles.
"Are you feeling well?"
"Thanks to your consideration, I'm fine."
"Really, I'm glad."
He nodded while maintaining a big smile.
"Please sit."
"Yes."
Raon followed the market's gesture and sat on the chair.
"You've done an amazing job. You're my savior. No, you could be called the savior of this Forban City."
"Well, that's a bit much..."
"No! It's true!"
The market shook his head vigorously.
"If I hadn't saved the kidnapped princess who left the White Blood Cult, Forban would have become a sea of fire by the Valkar. You found the branch, saved the princess, and defeated the high priest and apostle."
Oweist's words were not complete flattery. In fact, the story that the Valkar king valued the princess was true.
"I don't know how to repay the kindness of saving me, the citizens, and this city itself."
He bowed deeply from the chair, as if grateful.
"I only completed the mission that brought me here."
Raon played humble once.
"-What are you saying after coming to receive money! Show your true colors!"
Las was shouting not to lie and to show his true self quickly.
'Wait. I can't say it right away.'
He shook his head with a calm gaze.
"Since you wiped out the entire White Blood Cult branch in Forban and defeated the apostle, I want to do everything I can."
"Ah, now that I think about it, when I talked to the boss, you said you would give a reward after completing the mission, right?"
"Yes! That's what I said!"
Oweist patted his chest as if to say just talk.
"Well, if that's the case..."
Raon reached out to Dorian on his right.
"Yep."
Dorian put his hand in his belly pouch and took out a contract with small letters densely filling it.
"Actually, we are a new squad and need more than a few items. Thank you for supplying all of them."
"Eh? I didn't say 'all'..."
"For now, there's a lot of dust in our training ground. It seems we need to fill it with the best forging soil used in the training ground."
Before Oweist's words ended, he mentioned the first item listed in the contract.
"Ye, forging soil is priced..."
"Next, since the kids' strength dropped a bit from fighting this time, I want to give each a small healing potion."
"Ye, the healing potion's price is one thing, but the quantity..."
"And it would be good if there are enough people with equipment to manage swords."
"Tongue, the sword maintenance is more expensive than high-grade silk..."
"As I said, since we are a new squad, we need some activity funds too. In my opinion, is this amount of gold coins not enough as a reward..."
"Gold coins for items too?"
"Yes. It is definitely necessary."
Raon ignored Oweist's small objections and listed the necessary items in the contract, then showed the exact amount of gold coins.
"Eu...!"
Oweist's eyes, after checking the items and amount, brightened.
"You don't have anything you need?"
"I want to replenish the items used during this mission!"
Dorian raised his hand quickly.
"Items used during the mission, so please provide them?"
"T-that's obviously what I should do."
Oweist nodded his head even in surprise.
"Really? Then please get these!"
Dorian took out a longer and wider paper from the belly pouch than what Raon had taken out.
"For now, one large mace, one small mace, special contract, general contract, and 17 tents and sleeping bags. We also used smoke bombs and glow beads..."
"Maces and tents are already with you."
"Ei, there's depreciation."
"Ha, it feels like the deal is off..."
Oweist's face gradually paled. He grabbed his stomach with trembling hands.
"I need equipment that can manage training clothes. On the way here, I saw products using water-attribute magic stones and wind-attribute magic stones."
Burren didn't miss the opportunity and mentioned items to manage clothes.
"I'm out."
"Bead ice cream."
Marta shook her head as if not needed, and Runaan said ice cream as expected.
"Ice cream? That's easy, I can get as much as you want..."
"Store."
Oweist's expression brightened for the first time, but it died again with Runaan's next words.
"Eh?"
"Ice cream store."
"..."
Raon came out of the city hall with the contract signed by Oweist.
Because he had said it himself, he signed the contract with a belly that felt like convulsions. Thanks to that, the signature was crooked.
"-Damn guy..."
Las shook his head as if disgusted. He hadn't thought that all things there would be taken.
'Opportunity must be caught properly.'
Since this opportunity might not come again, it must be caught properly when it does. Moreover, if he missed it, this huge amount would have been Rimer's bet.
'I earned quite a bit.'
Combining the gold coins earned from gambling and those received from Oweist, it was enough to set up anywhere on the continent. His stomach was full.
When he patted the pouch full of gold coins satisfyingly, Runaan was seen slightly sticking out her tongue.
It seemed she was a bit upset that he couldn't buy the store, but give ice cream.
"The store can't be bought, but I'll buy ice cream by type. Let's eat after eating."
"Yeah."
When he said he'd buy all the ice cream he wanted, Runaan put her mouth in and nodded.
'Where did you say there was a restaurant you wanted to go?'
Raon, looking displeased, poked Las with his elbow.
"-Finally going?"
'Since I promised, I have to keep it.'
"Good! That's why you're human! The name is Dongryeong's Chicken Neck! It's a famous place for chicken dishes!"
'How did you know that?'
"While you were investigating those crazy guys, this king investigated restaurants."
'Impressive...'
It seemed he collected information about restaurants using hearing. Admiration for his passion came out.
"Since the mission is over, let's have a meal. Today, I'll pay."
Raon gathered the swordsmen and suggested having a meal together.
"Oh oh oh!"
"Really?"
"Big! As expected, different from the boss!"
"Someone knows that Dongryeong's Chicken Neck is good?"
"I know!"
Dorian raised his hand quickly. This guy also knows nothing.
"Chicken dishes are delicious. Let's go there"
"Yep!"
Following the guy's guidance, they went to Dongryeong's Chicken Neck, and from the opposite side, a red-haired elf with drooping shoulders approached.
"Boss?"
"Raon? You're awake!"
Rimer, who had been frowning, smiled brightly and approached.
"Your complexion looks good. It wasn't a wound that would make you wake up soon, was it?"
"Thanks to your quick treatment."
"What? Ah, that's right. I did a good job."
He laughed smugly, saying it was the right answer.
"But looking at your expression, it seems you lost everything."
"N-no, lost what..."
The voice that pierced the floor, it seemed he was completely cleaned out from gambling.
"In which gambling hall did you do it?"
"Cat's Jelly."
"..."
It seemed he had heard it somewhere, and the name of the gambling hall that smelled strongly of scammers.
"Want to have a meal together?"
"Meal? Then of course I have to go too! But this boss still has work left. Go first."
"Understood. Then come to Dongryeong's Chicken Neck."
Raon bowed and headed to the right road.
"Yeah. Yeah."
Rimer waved his hand and headed to the city hall. A smile began to bloom slowly on his awkward expression.
"Finally woke up."
Now it's okay to go.
I was silent because it would be guilty conscience to talk about money while Raon was not awake, but now it seemed okay to go to the market.
"Huhuhu. All gone!"
Gambling is originally about stakes. Thinking about gambling with a large reward from the market, laughter came out.
"Huung!"
Rimer sang a hopeful whistle song as he went to the market room.
"The boss also came!"
Oweist was holding his stomach uncomfortably, his face pale.
"Are you okay? You don't look well."
"Ah, my stomach hurts a bit..."
"You have to take care of your body."
Rimer looked at Oweist's upper and lower body with a worried expression.
"I-I'm fine."
Oweist placed the car he drove in front of Rimer.
"But what is the matter..."
"There was a conversation we had before. After this mission is over, you said you would give additional rewards..."
"Ah, I came to check. Hoo, you have really amazing subordinates."
"Eh?"
Rimer's eyes widened as he opened his hand to receive money.
"None of the requested things are not high-end, and they are things that can be obtained in Forban now, so I can't refuse. It seems you prepared quite thoroughly."
Oweist took out the contract in front and sighed.
"T-this is..."
Rimer looked at the items and names in the contract and understood how things were going. Raon and the Light Wind Squad had beaten him to it before he came.
"This is the first time I've been completely cleaned out while living in the market. This made me feel again that it's not good to speak lightly. I thought he would give only five or six."
Oweist grabbed his stomach again, feeling sick.
"I came because I was worried that the Light Wind Squad would negotiate well, but you don't have to worry. From Lord Raon and the others, they are really amazing friends. Hahaha!"
"B-but, is there additional gold coins..."
"Of course, I received it."
He pointed to the safe in the back. The open safe was empty.
"Receiving not only items but also activity expenses, not only the city budget but also my personal funds."
"Ahahaha! You also received gold coins..."
Rimer nodded blankly. He couldn't say to give more money to a person who said he would use personal funds instead of budget.
"W-well, since it's checked, I'll go..."
A sad tear fell from the left eye of the gambling addict turning away.
I raised a tiger cub...