Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Adventure
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Barad Great Plateau entrance. The horses carrying the Hero's party kicked off the ground and charged forward.
The sound of steel vibrating as it cut through the wind resembled flute music, and the heavy clanking armor and the swords each knight carried clashed in rhythm with every stride, turning this moment of their gallop into a symphony of free improvisation.
Yet even in that freedom, they felt the weight of their grave destiny, and not a single one smiled. The Hero reflected on the time before setting out on this true adventure.
***
"Why can't I come?!"
Princess Mariel Sonain asked desperately, her face devoid of any sincerity. The Hero Bulki, oblivious to it, smiled gently with all his love and replied.
"Princess, if you join me on this adventure-no, if you accompany me as a knight-in-training-the late Emperor's soul won't find peace and will wander this world trying to kill me."
The Princess feigned even greater excitement and tried to don her armor. Bulki failed to notice this was just another wicked act and simply thought it adorable.
"If I just put on this armor like this!"
"Princess."
Bulki grasped her arm gently with his sun-like smile, careful not to hurt her, and said.
"As Princess, you must guide the young Emperor. As Saintess, you must lead all of Helred. Every subject and other races draw strength from your every word and action-you're my guiding star. I can't put you in danger."
"But... what if that wicked Demon King attacks again?"
That was a concern for Bulki too, but he had no time to dwell on it now.
"I swear on the edge of my sword: I'll save my friend and return to protect you."
Bulki had learned his old friend had become the Demon King and considered the possibilities.
"Without fail."
From the will he'd left behind, Iven must have known about the Holy Brazier and its injustices, just as Bulki understood them now.
The absurdities cloaked in the name of myth and succession.
And the Corpse Eater attacked him, stealing his knowledge and heart. But somehow, Iven overcame the Corpse Eater's soul and survived. Thus, Iven's soul had taken over that body. That wretched form was undoubtedly Iven.
First possibility: If Iven was forced to become the Demon King and serve the Great Demon King, Bulki would strike down the Great Demon King and rescue him.
Second: If Iven was fighting to open the Holy Brazier himself, Bulki would stop him and persuade him to join in erasing the Great Sin together.
The final scenario-one Bulki didn't consider-was if Iven was dominated by the Great Demon King's will, forcing them to clash swords. But Bulki pushed that aside.
All this assumed he could meet Iven again, of course.
"Of course, I need to meet Gehae's Mir Yam first and claim the power of the future-that light."
As others had witnessed, his future awakened self had nearly repelled the Great Demon King's forces, so demon invasions would be on hold for a while.
And if they dared invade, the knights-including squires-were training even the other races, so there was no need to worry.
"Really? Will Helred's light-my love-truly become yours?"
The Princess knew all this but pretended ignorance. It was the best way to steal the Hero's love.
Once the Hero left, she'd expand her dominion over the knights to all races in Helred. She wanted to stab them all right now and let her sword taste their blood.
Of course, she'd need a more meticulous plan, but that Iven remained the problem.
"Don't worry. I'll rescue my friend and eradicate that Pitiful Eye, the root of all demons. This adventure is the start of that journey."
Because the Hero still believed Iven-against whom his sword would prove useless-was his friend.
"Alright. I'll do my utmost from my position."
"Thank you for believing in me, Princess."
The Princess now resolved to plot Iven's gruesome death once more. A vile scheme to hide the truth and make the man she'd seen in the future fully hers.
***
"Hero! Regarding the Pitiful Eye, of course Sherpandelnel knew everything, so we dwarves under his lead have decided to follow your will."
"The sun fairies agree. Now that we've confirmed the Pitiful Eye's existence, our Queen wishes to destroy it by recreating the Great Sin."
Rondnel of the 2nd Knight Order, traveling by horse, and the sun fairy Shainelius voiced their assent.
"Well, as long as you take good care of the guba."
The only one in the party not riding a horse but running on his own two feet-a black cow beastman-spoke up. He was Bison, the first beastman to become a knight and inherit a sword.
"Alright, this seems to be the spot? Everyone, halt for a moment!"
Gil of the 2nd Knight Order, riding above, called for the party to stop.
They all reined in and dismounted. The young-faced black cow beastman knight tossed off his unique helmet that covered his horns and ears, saying.
"This is it. I know the way, Gil. It's my hometown, after all. Though I became a knight, this helmet's still so stuffy."
His lower body was covered in a steel skirt, his exposed hooves clopping on the ground, while his upper body resembled a human's but bulkier with muscle.
"It's custom-made by Magen, so you'll get used to it, Bison. Once word spread that horns mark demons, everyone feared horned beastmen. It's a relief you, the youngest chieftain among them, volunteered to hide yours first."
Rondnel spoke with his first smile, but Bison just scowled.
"I'm ten this year. That's a full adult in my tribe. I even have kids, and I earn the most guba in our clan."
"Beastmen have short lifespans. Such a pity."
"Exactly! I was about to say 'handsome chieftain' but stopped."
Shainelius sounded genuinely sympathetic, while Rondnel stroked his beard and changed tack in defeat. Soon Bison started grazing, and Bulki said.
"Barad Great Plateau-lonely as its name suggests. The Emperor will handle the pact with the beastmen well. The plateau's lands will develop too."
"I lack the qualifications to represent beastmen, but Bison thanks you in advance."
"Still, you sure about this, Gil?"
Gil, whose expression had soured, replied to Bulki's question.
"Of course. It's what I want. Sorry I can't go with everyone, but heading to Agagtur first to find the Inferno Mir will help Helred and let me reclaim my justice."
"But that land's named after the Inferno Mir-it's a realm of flames..."
As Bulki kept worrying, Gil continued bitterly.
"Bulki, I've realized I hesitate in my justice. Everyone here, all Helred's races, know of the Great Sin and agree to destroy it-but I haven't truly embraced that resolve. There's hesitation."
Like the frost-covered empty plateau, his heart ached emptily. He rubbed his chest painfully, as if something sharp lodged in his throat.
"I can't say everything now, but I truly loathed demons-they made my blood boil. I thought killing them was my mission, my justice. Yet now, rethinking demons, I feel my sword tip waver. So I'll return to where I trained as a knight squire-beyond there-to reignite my justice. Wait for me."
Bulki, whose friend had become the Demon King, empathized fully-his own thoughts on demons weren't so different-and raised his sword.
"Yerutsa Rahav, friend. I hope you find your justice."
"Yerutsa Rahav, Hero."
Gil smiled wryly and clinked his greatsword against Bulki's. Then Bison spoke.
"Ah, I'll guide you inside the Barad Great Plateau. You, bumpy knight."
"Hahaha! You're a knight too, bumpy beastman!"
With Bison joining Gil, he pointed ahead, explaining the path.
"One way not to get lost in the Barad Great Plateau: follow where the wind lays the grass flat. Head opposite that for three days, and you'll reach the sea."
With direction set, the party bid temporary farewells.
"Thanks, Bison. Well, see you soon."
"Hope we meet again in Sonain after finding the Mir!"
Watching Gil and Bison depart, Bulki, Rondnel, and Shainelius remounted.
"Shall we go?"
Bulki stroked the Glory Mir Cheret and said. They charged across the lonely land once more.
Toward Hoshekh Hatar, the ship Sherpandelnel had built himself, bound for the ocean's heart.
Thus began the Hero's adventure.
Unaware that when they met again, they'd point swords at each other.