Chapter 22
Chapter 22
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: New Myth (5)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Thank you, Captain. For a moment there, I nearly hated myself even more."
"Alright, then. Let's get to work. You've both heard about the next mission, right?"
"Yes, Captain!"
Graveheim explained the Hero's party's mission this time while gazing at the map of the eastern continent hanging on one wall.
"It's because the Hero insisted on it, but this diplomatic mission is unavoidable for our empire. Is it because the Hero appeared in Helred? The demons' madness seems to have grown even worse. Systematic plundering, and even senseless murders. The entire eastern continent is burning with anxiety due to the inexplicable movements of demons appearing in the western continent's Gehenna. If we don't unite the friendly beastkin scattered across the regions, the fairies of the Sun Forest, and now even the dwarves... If another demon invasion happens like this, we won't be able to stop it with our strength alone."
The demons as a whole, the nation they rule. The royal palace, or the Basilica of Evil.
Known by countless names, it was the very place where the demons began their invasions: the western continent's Gehenna.
"Gehenna... It's true that our information on them is far too lacking."
"If there's no information, we gather it!"
Rondnel spoke hesitantly, and Gil responded with a hearty laugh. Graveheim finally managed a smile as well.
"That's why this mission is even more important. Forming alliances between races and gathering intelligence on the demons. You've probably heard of it, Rondnel. Do you know about the seers who come from Tehom?"
"Ah, of course, Captain. On Haipoji Mountain, there are those presumed to come from the western continent's forbidden lands. Of course, even to the dwarves, they're like ominous superstitions, so everyone keeps it hushed."
"Are they demons, Rondnel?"
Gil asked, and Rondnel stroked his chin beard as he replied.
"No, my friend. Those who've seen them all describe it differently, but they're less demons and more questionable whether they're even alive. They're like the pus of this world, corrupted by Tehom itself-the Abyss."
"You talk so complicated!"
"And you're so simple!"
Graveheim wrapped up the situation and spoke firmly to the two bickering young knights.
"Alright! Go to that great and secretive mountain of the dwarves, gather information, and use your strength and wisdom to aid the Hero's diplomacy. You're true members of the Hero's party now, after all. I'll be here pondering the empire's and the coast's defenses, so bring back perfect answers! Yerutsa Rahav!"
"Yerutsa Rahav!"
The two knights pounded their chests in response. As they turned to leave after saluting, Graveheim handed them a letter of recommendation and added one last thing.
"Oh, right. And for this mission, one of our 2nd Knight Order's geniuses will be joining you. Her name was... what was it again?"
***
"Who goes there?"
Late at night, as Bulki came to the special stables next to the imperial castle to tend to his mir, he spotted a shadow reflected in the pond set up in the middle of the stables.
"Ah! Sorry, Hero! Senior Knight Elis Hope of the 2nd Knight Order, at your service."
He had thought it was a man due to her height, bigger than most adult males, and sturdy build, but upon seeing her long-bound hair and plain face illuminated by moonlight, Bulki realized Elis Hope was a woman.
"First time hearing the name. Nice to meet you. But how did you get in here?"
"I'm sorry! I was appointed a knight a year ago, but thanks to awakening my sword name right away, I've been on knight training in the Granblad Great Canyon for the past few years. To reach Sional, you must cross the Granblad Great Canyon, so Princess herself designated me to assist you on this diplomatic mission to Sional! Oh, and please speak casually to me!"
"Ah, got it. But the Princess?"
At that moment, a massive reptile with a turtle-like shell on its back-or a horse from legend-appeared from the darkness: Cheret, the Glory Mir. Cheret scattered a mystical light and brushed Bulki with the feathers on its face to show affection.
"A Glory Mir! No blinding light, but that subtle glow is truly beautiful!"
Elis's eyes sparkled like a child's seeing a jewel for the first time. Cheret seemed to like her too, rumbling as it brought its head close to her.
"Cheret takes a liking to you. Go on, touch it, Elis."
"H-How could I dare?"
"It's fine. Cheret doesn't follow anyone it doesn't deem worthy."
At Bulki's kind words, Elis finally reached out to touch Cheret.
"Eek!"
Right then, as if teasing her, Cheret suddenly jerked its long neck away.
Elis yelped and fell back on her butt. Cheret and Bulki laughed at each other like kids who'd pulled off a prank.
"Ah, sorry. This one always pranks good people like that."
Bulki took her hand and helped her up as he spoke.
"It might be a long journey. I'll prepare Cheret, so... Elis, right? You should head back, rest, and get ready for tomorrow."
"Yes! Thank you! I'll go prepare for my first campaign!"
Despite the prank, she was still full of energy, and Bulki quite liked Elis's pure enthusiasm. After watching her leave with a loud farewell, Bulki adjusted the saddle to put on Cheret.
With a new companion added, he needed to prepare this and that.
"But the Princess personally ordered it."
Bulki believed the Princess was kind, but receiving such excessive attention made him feel burdened. His desire to repay her somehow, out of love for her, was growing ever stronger.
"No matter the reason, this diplomatic mission is key. Of course, for exterminating the demons, for everyone to become knights, we must learn the truth of the Holy Brazier there too. So for now, let's just focus on crossing the canyon, Cheret."
He also decided to take good care of Elis. With Gil and Rondnel joining this journey, it would be a great opportunity and experience for a newbie in the 2nd Knight Order.
"A first campaign."
Bulki sank into memories again this late night. Moments from his own first campaign, when he and his friend had talked all night about it, singing of each other's exploits and convictions.
"Those memories feel like they're fading away now."
That one moment when something like a grand epic began, just like now.
"Iven..."
He quietly murmured a name no one should remember.
***
The next day, at the square-the very place where Bulki had set out on his first campaign.
"Shall we get moving now?"
Bulki mounted the Glory Mir Cheret himself and took the lead at the front of the group.
"Ah, so you're that genius knight?"
"Yes! Senior Knight Elis Hope of the 2nd Knight Order! Please take care of me!"
"Great energy! Speak casually among fellow knights!"
"Pleased to meet you, Hero... Er, no, that dazzlingly beautiful fairy couldn't be..."
"Watcher of Deinaus Forest, Shainelius. I'm joining this journey on behalf of the fairies to discuss racial alliances. Nice to meet you."
Gil, Elis, Rondnel, and even Shainelius, the sun fairy from the Sun Forest, were all together. Ever since Bulki the Hero had stopped the war her brother Hainelius and Eden Sonain tried to start five years ago, they had occasionally spoken.
Her joining the Hero's party was also at Bulki's direct request, to help foster more peaceful diplomacy in the human-other races pact.
"Don't cling to me, human. I'm only going to learn of the oath from a thousand years ago."
"More half-human than human. A dwarf from Sional, too. Though before your beauty, I'm just a mere man."
"What a strange half-human you are."
Shainelius, clad in a forest robe and carrying a bow larger than herself, clearly found Rondnel's persistent chatter annoying. She pulled her hood down, tucking her pointed long ears into the holes to hide her face, but the people gathered in the square began murmuring and recognizing her.
"I-Is that... a fairy?"
"Fairies hate humans, though."
"We weren't much different. There's even a dwarf knight? But what's that weird-looking horse?"
As the murmurs grew, Bulki-who had hoped for a quiet departure-stroked Cheret's neck. Soon, true to the name Glory Mir, Cheret began emitting light.
"Mir!"
"Hero! Hail Yerutsa!"
"Oh, Sonain, where are you headed today?"
"The Hero's party is departing! Let's go watch!"
"Mifplasye, you who receive the favor of the goddess and saintess, lead us."
Only then did the crowd recognize the Hero from afar and start gathering around the party. Pollen seemed to celebrate their departure, and a warm breeze blessed the start of their quest for truth. Bulki met his companions' eyes once before shouting in a manner befitting the Hero.
"We! Though we have different appearances and origins, we have united under the same goddess Mifplas! Ignore everything else-we now depart for Sional. We will achieve diplomacy through any hardship and find the answer to exterminating the demons!"
Cheret raised its front leg powerfully while scattering light.
"We unite to forge a new myth! May harmony be with us! Yerutsa Rahav!"
In that instant, the cathedral bells rang out alongside the people's thunderous cheers.
That one step where the Hero seeking truth, the knights guarding their posts, and the witch preparing the end intertwined and began.
Bulki advanced the great Hero's steps slowly, with even more vigor.
Unaware that this would later be recorded as the Hero's final departure.