Chapter 108
Chapter 108
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: The Path of the Swordsman
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In the northern part of the continent, hidden in a small cave between cliffs untouched by the Empire's influence.
The Pentagram, moving under Baphomet's will, and their leader, Matteo Lich, showed signs of discomfort.
"What brings you all the way here?"
Albus stroked the snake's head and replied in a low tone.
"I've been ordered to kill you."
"Me? By whom?"
"From above."
"Glazer?"
"No."
"Then higher up?"
"Yes."
Matteo Lich clicked his tongue and gripped the sword at his waist.
"The reason?"
"Now that Duchess Catarina is dead, the Pentagram is no longer useful..."
"I'm no longer useful? Those snot-nosed brats are finally making their move."
"......"
"The one who sent you to deal with me, and you who came alone to capture me despite the orders—you're both impressive."
"I'm sorry. Please understand that I'm just following orders."
"Sorry my ass. This is all karma from my past."
"Then... will you die for me?"
Shak!
The tip of Matteo Lich's blade stopped right in front of Albus's nose.
"No."
"Hah— we've known each other for at least ten years, and now I have to kill an old friend with my own hands."
"I don't want to kill you either. Pretend you didn't hear about this mission and just go back."
"If I did that, they'd kill me. They tolerate mistakes but not failure! You say it all the time."
"Mistakes or failures."
Albus narrowed his eyes with a subtle smile and wagged his index finger in the air.
"No, mistakes can be rectified. Failure is already over."
"Then they won't forgive you for failing to kill me today."
"Haha... but I won't fail."
"Let's call it a mistake then. That might be better for your survival."
With those words, silence fell between them. The tension was thick enough that even the twitch of a finger could spark a battle.
If they fought, one of them would surely die. Matteo Lich knew this and wanted to avoid clashing with Albus.
But things in the world rarely go as planned.
"Failure or mistake, I'll carry out my mission first."
With that, Albus wrapped the snake around his neck in his hand and began chanting a spell.
"In the name of my master, I command the fairies of the earth and roots in this land."
A large egg made of mana emerged from the snake's mouth.
"Curse those who block my path with the barren land."
Thud! The shell cracked with a sound, and reddish-brown plant roots burst out, quickly wrapping around the surroundings.
Ssssss!
Matteo Lich kicked off the ground and leaped back, shouting.
Pop.
"So, we're doing this after all!"
The moment the battle began, hundreds of gray rats appeared from somewhere and started gnawing at Albus's root magic.
Kuduk, kuduk, ku-du-duk!
"You acted like you wouldn't fight, but you were already prepared."
"I was waiting for someone else, not you."
"Who?"
"The one you want to kill."
"The one I want to kill?"
Matteo Lich curled his lips into a smirk.
"A warning in advance: if you kill me now, you'll all die too."
I checked the border between Strange and Glazer with Maria Theresia.
Predicting when they would attack was incredibly simple.
'As expected.'
Reaching out toward the long yellow line stretched across the ground.
Chijijik!
Something invisible blocked my path. It was clearly a device created by Glazer's mages to prevent our surprise attacks.
"A barrier?"
Theresia asked from a step behind.
"Yes, it seems Glazer has set it up."
To be precise, they were on the defensive because we moved first.
We hadn't just gone to rescue Duchess Catarina; we'd caused problems there too, so their reaction was the natural course.
'Good.'
This was exactly the direction I wanted.
'As predicted.'
Now I knew they had finished preparing for war. As long as Kaifa evacuated the territory's residents to safety...
The goal of this expedition would be safely achieved.
"Lady Theresia, let's head back to the castle now."
"Is that it?"
"Yes."
She looked disappointed.
Well, if she'd known it was such a simple mission, she wouldn't have come. It was something a few scouts could handle.
'But.'
My decision to lead this expedition personally wasn't wrong. Thanks to it, I'd reaped unexpected gains unique to this adventure.
'Right.'
From Rothschild's movements I'd uncovered along the way to the appearance of a powerhouse I'd never seen in my previous life.
On top of that, I'd learned Philip had intervened with the enemy forces, clarifying what preparations I needed to make upon return.
'This war's key is troop numbers.'
Soldier quality mattered, of course, but to counter two families of similar physique and Philip's near-infinite monster production, we needed matching fortifications.
'No choice but to deploy the family secret weapon, the Guardian Spirits.'
"Huh? Lord Berddin. Smoke's rising over there."
Theresia looked up at the sky.
Turning my gaze in the same direction, black smoke was indeed creeping through the surroundings and into the forest.
"Smoke?"
"Didn't you say there are no villages around here?"
"Yes, it's Strange territory, but too close to the border and dangerous, so we told them not to approach."
"Then who are they?"
I had no idea.
'Goblins maybe?' The thought crossed my mind, but no individual with intelligence high enough to use fire existed among them.
Even if a goblin evolved to champion level, its intellect never surpassed that of a dog or pig.
"Hmm—"
I checked the map from Strange Castle. No villages were marked nearby, even on reexamination.
'Kaifa wouldn't make a mistake drawing the territory map.'
So, likely a group of adventurers operating in units. And ones skilled enough to venture into Strange territory.
"Let's head back."
I turned away without overthinking.
Having confirmed Glazer's barrier, there was no need for another operation now that the objective was met.
'Play it safe.'
We would win this war anyway. As I turned to leave with that thought, a scream rang out.
-Kya aaak!
"Sa-sa-save me!"
A woman's desperate cry came from not far away. Her ragged breathing suggested she was fleeing from something.
-Kieek!
A monster's cry followed.
'Kobold?'
The familiar voice let me identify it instantly. Theresia and I hid behind a tree, watching the direction of the screams.
"Lord Berddin."
"Don't worry. Kobolds are low-level monsters even squires can handle."
"Still, it seems dangerous. Shouldn't we help?"
"No need. Strangers not on the map aren't Strange residents, and we have no duty to save outsiders."
Theresia gazed pityingly into the distance, then clasped her hands in prayer and whispered softly.
"May this woman chased by darkness safely return to the path of light—"
A fervent prayer for someone she hadn't even faced. I hesitated watching her, then drew my sword and took a deep breath.
Swish.
"Hoo— just this once."
"Pardon?"
"Rescuing strangers. Just this once."
"Ah?! S-so you'll help that woman?"
"Maybe. She could be a Strange resident who fled here from monsters."
She suddenly glared at me with fierce eyes.
"No, you should've thought that from the start and helped!"
"The odds were low, so I didn't want to move. We need to conserve stamina for the return to the castle."
"......"
"Lady Theresia, as I said before, I'm a knight who kills people. I walk the absolute best path for my survival."
"I know."
"You can doubt if it's right or wrong. If you think it's wrong, leave me anytime."
"......"
"If that's the path you want, I won't stop you."
Saint Maria Theresia.
The greatest help in this life, an irreplaceable healer.
But if she doesn't want me, we can't stay together.
No matter how skilled, forcing an unwilling ally creates an enemy more dangerous than foes—a lesson from my previous life.
"Lord Berddin."
"Yes."
Maria Theresia hugged my back tightly.
Thud.
"Pretty good for a kid."
"...Pardon?"
"I heard from an adventurer who visited the Papal Court."
"What about?"
"Push and pull. The games lovers play to gauge each other's hearts."
She seemed to have misunderstood my words.
"I'm not Lady Theresia's lover."
"That's how close we are."
"......"
"No matter what. I won't leave you, so know that. Even if you're not just wrong, but on the wrong path."
-Kya aa aak!
The screams grew closer.
Shak!
One stroke severed the kobold's head. It collapsed without even noticing me.
Thud.
The woman fleeing at full speed stopped, startled by the kobold head I'd severed, and fell backward.
"Hiiik!"
She scrambled back, then turned to look at me and whispered softly.
"Th-thank you for, for helping me."
I wiped the bloodied blade with a cloth and replied.
"Where are you from?"
"...Pardon?"
"I asked where you're from. You look like a merchant—why are you in a dangerous monster habitat?"
Her clothes were torn, but the remnants were clearly merchant garb.
At least ten pockets on the upper garment, and bean pouches dangling from her waist.
"How did you know I'm a merchant?"
"Answer the question. Where are you from?"
She glanced between Theresia and me, then drew a dagger from her waist and stabbed her own chest.
Puk!
"I don't know which family's young master you are... but please, pretend you didn't see me."
Thud.