Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: The Sword King's Return
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Subduing the men sent from Glazer was not difficult.
All of them were skilled with weapons far beyond average, but compared to me now—back in my days as the Sword King—they were no match at all.
"You three are the last ones."
While everyone else charged at me, three remained at the back, not moving rashly and assessing the situation.
Their faces were hidden deep under their robes, but compared to those who'd attacked me earlier, it was clear they were no ordinary fighters.
'Not only do all three have Guardian Spirits.'
They're only showing the bare minimum aura to avoid revealing their full power to the enemy.
Splash, splash, splash.
One of them stepped through a puddle filled with rainwater and approached me. I lowered my sword but kept my guard up as I waited.
"What's your name?"
"...Are you asking me to introduce myself when I've come to assassinate you? If you're aiming for my neck, you must already know it."
"No, I don't."
"You don't?"
"Yeah. The client didn't tell us anything about you."
I quickly scanned him from head to toe to check for hostility.
'Giving up the fight?'
That would be a wise decision.
But why approach me for a chat instead of just running away?
"Berddin."
I didn't hide my name.
There was no need to conceal that I'd grown stronger through the tower—in fact, it made for a good warning to my enemies.
'Why bother hiding it?'
The man flinched at my name, then hurriedly threw off his hood and shouted at me.
"Berddin!!!"
I thought it was a battle cry.
But no.
It was a cheer directed at me.
"Bichon?"
The dog that had been armed like a knight, aiming for a Gold Class badge alongside me in the arena.
'No.'
A knight with a dog-like face came running toward me with a bright smile.
Shing!
I pointed my sword at his throat and said,
"Have you turned against me?"
Bichon waved his hands frantically with a troubled expression.
"No! This is a conspiracy. A conspiracy!"
"Conspiracy?"
"Yeah! We just took a job at the Adventurer's Hall... We had no idea you were the target!"
"Job?"
"Someone must have set this up to drive a wedge between you and us. It's true—believe me."
The robed men behind Bichon removed their hoods, revealing 'Chihuahua' and 'Collie,' who'd partied with me in the arena before.
"Hey, shorty, why'd you suddenly get so tall?"
"Shut up, Chihuahua. Is that what's important right now? Sir Berddin, don't misunderstand! We didn't come here to fight you. We just accepted a request at the Adventurer's Hall to recruit high-rank mercenaries!"
Rain soaked Bichon's face. Whether the tears streaming from his eyes were rain or real, he grimaced and dropped his weapon to the ground.
Clang.
"...Spare me, Berddin."
He fell to his knees and pleaded.
"No, help us."
We soon moved to the Adventurer's Hall to talk.
Their story about Glazer's request for high-rank mercenaries was true, and we even learned that the number responding wasn't just thirty, but in the thousands.
'So that's how it is.'
I fell into thought.
Where did Glazer get the money to hire that many mercenaries?
Even the Strange Family couldn't afford to bring a thousand high-rank mercenaries.
"Sir Bichon, so you're saying Baron Gerard has gone missing, and you're wandering as knights errant to find him?"
Bichon tore into a steaming turkey leg ravenously.
Crunch.
"Y-Yes."
"Eat slowly. No one's going to steal it."
He glanced at Chihuahua and Collie, who were drooling, then took another bite before answering.
Crunch.
"Sir Berddin, sorry, but is it okay if we share the meal?"
"Of course. Eat it all—if you need more, I'll order extra."
Chihuahua and Collie buried their noses in the food like puppies.
At least Bichon, who'd regained his composure, tried to make eye contact as we talked.
"Yes. The Rothschild knights suddenly invaded and turned our territory to ruins..."
"What reason did they have to go after Baron Gerard?"
"...Treason."
"Treason?"
"Yes. They claimed we failed to manage the western wave, Fenrir, so the god-eating beast made it all the way to the central region."
It was an absurd excuse.
Clearly just a pretext to capture Baron Gerard.
'Of course.'
Only Sister Valentine could control Fenrir across the entire continent.
"So, did the Rothschilds capture Baron Gerard?"
"We don't know. We've been asking around..."
"Did you go looking for him?"
"No. Charging into Ragnarok without preparation would just be a doggy death."
Fair enough. The Rothschilds treat commoners worse than beasts, so low-ranking nobles like them wouldn't get any mercy.
Rox, listening at the same table, nodded.
"Exactly. A dog's death for a dog."
"...Pardon?"
"Oh, nothing. Sorry. Continue."
Cynthia pinched the back of Rox's shoulder out of sight to warn him.
"Anyway... where should I start over?"
I organized my thoughts for a moment, then began asking about the questionable parts one by one.
"High-rank mercenaries should get at least three silver coins a day. Were you starving despite that pay?"
Bichon, Chihuahua, and Collie all looked at me. The latter two had their mouths full and couldn't respond.
Only Bichon nodded and spoke.
"We get paid after the job's done."
"That's only if the request specifies it clearly. For time-bound hires like this, they pay daily or weekly."
Bichon shook his head.
"It used to be that way. Not anymore."
"Not anymore?"
"...The world's changed. Ever since the Adventurer's Hall master changed. Now all payments are after completion."
The master of the Adventurer's Hall changed? I never heard of that even in my previous life.
The 'master' position is reserved for veterans with at least thirty years of adventuring.
'Who could replace them?'
And it's an imperial appointment.
"When did the master change?"
"Not long ago. A week, maybe a bit more."
"And when did Baron Gerard disappear?"
"We didn't count the days exactly, but around when we arrived at Legion... about a week."
Baron Gerard disappears, and the Adventurer's Hall master changes on the same day.
'I see.'
The Rothschilds' doing, no doubt.
'No idea what they're after, though.'
I moved aside to let the dogs eat comfortably, then called Cynthia and Alfredo for a meeting.
"First, Alfredo, stay here and head to the 10th floor of the tower. Wait there until I call you back—or until the war ends."
"...10th floor?"
"Yes. Learn martial arts from the Goblin Champion there. You've already passed the trials, so he'll help with that much."
Alfredo frowned.
"Why?"
"Because you're weak."
"Weak? Me?"
"Yes. If you want to climb higher with me, you need to get much stronger."
"......"
"Honestly, you can't even handle a 6-star knight right now."
Alfredo pointed at me as if to argue, met my eyes, then nodded slightly.
"How long?"
"Until the war quiets down."
"...Got it."
I turned to Cynthia.
"What about you? You're not going back to the Papal Court, right?"
Cynthia stared blankly at my face for a long time, then tilted her head and touched my cheeks with both hands.
"You're usable now."
"...Usable?"
"I wondered when you'd grow into something useful. Didn't expect this method."
Cynthia lightly touched the ring on her finger.
"Taller than me now, and your face exceeds expectations."
'What is she even saying?'
I glanced at her drink glass to check if she'd gotten drunk. She hadn't.
'Could it be.'
The tower experiences were too shocking, and she still hasn't recovered mentally.
I brushed her hands away and stood.
"Rest up. When Theresia wakes, we'll return to the castle. Think about where to go by then."
Cynthia grabbed my finger to stop me.
"Berddin."
"What?"
"If I go back to your castle now, would I be a burden?"
"No, not at all."
"...Then I'll go to your castle. No matter how I think about it, I have nowhere else."
I nodded briefly. The plan changed a bit, but it was no issue.
"Sirs Bichon, Chihuahua, Collie. Come with us to Strange Castle."
Back at Strange Castle, I received grim news from Valentine.
"Berddin, a Rothschild knight stole the necklace that controls Fenrir."
Someone had infiltrated the castle and attacked Sister Valentine.
And succeeded in stealing the necklace from her.
'Who the hell?'
No one among the powerhouses I knew had that level of skill.
'This is bad.'
Fenrir, the god-eating dog, was one of Strange's trump cards to check Glazer.
Without it, we couldn't restrict the mages' movements anymore.
Meaning Glazer could attack us through the central region anytime.
'I thought it was a dead end, but they found a way out.'
Glazer was not to be underestimated.
"I'm sorry. I underestimated the enemy."
"No, Sister."
"I never imagined he'd have immortality."
"Immortality?"
"Yes. Stabbing his heart, severing his neck—none of it killed him."
"A body that doesn't die from stabs or cuts."
Honestly, no idea who. A Rothschild knight with immortality.
In my previous life, after their crushing defeat to Father, they never even thought of challenging me.
"Sister, so now the Rothschilds can control Fenrir?"
"Yes. They can't give perfect commands yet, but moving its position should be possible."
Moving position.
I closed my eyes and pondered their options. If I were the enemy, what would I order Fenrir to do?
As I thought, Valentine suddenly took my hand.
"Don't worry too much. Even if Fenrir's in enemy hands, I know how to make it rampage out of control."
"Rampage?"
"Yes."
She reached out and gently brushed my hair.
"By the way, you're bigger than me now."
"A little."
"A little? Verdandi would have loved seeing this."
Valentine's lips curved slightly as she gathered her armor.
"You've traveled far, so go rest in your room first. Something fun is waiting for you."