Chapter 35
Chapter 35
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: The Size of the Vessel
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After several days of rest.
The day of departure had finally arrived.
'Equipment's all good.'
Damian, who had decided to join the escort after much deliberation, gave his gear one last check.
Black Viper Leather Armor, the buckler reborn through elven craftsmanship.
And Dawn along with the Elven Sword.
Everything was in top condition.
'Feels solid.'
Why had he agreed to join the escort at the lord's request?
For one, there wasn't much left to do in Sobkov Territory for the time being.
'They've shifted into full-scale subjugation prep.'
Unless he ventured deep into the great forest alone.
For now, they'd be hunting orcs and trolls along the border between the territory and the forest.
It was meaningless to Damian, who had grown tremendously from the previous suicide squad mission.
'Better to seek new experiences instead.'
And it wasn't just about experience.
He could observe a master's every move.
There might even be bigger predation opportunities along the way.
Of course, he was curious about the royal capital, Fairspeta, too.
He'd never been there before.
'Not to mention connections with those in power.'
What was bad about building a friendly rapport?
"All set?"
A voice called out then.
It was Lord Mikhail Sobkov.
Elena, Adnen, and Kanna appeared behind him.
"This guy's gonna get a taste of the capital and never come back."
Adnen joked.
He had recovered quite a bit but still couldn't use one arm.
"No way. Seeing His Highness safely back is part of the mission."
"You sure?"
"Positive."
"Then take this."
Adnen murmured as he handed something over.
It looked like a crude necklace made from a stone lump.
"Don't let the looks fool you—it's an heirloom artifact from my family. Artifact."
Artifact.
An item imbued with magic.
Damian's first time seeing one for real.
"Not anything fancy, but it'll clear your head if you keep it on you."
"You sure it's okay to give something this valuable to me?"
"I'm the third-generation sole heir of my family."
"...Pardon?"
"No branches, no kids, no bastards."
"..."
"Without you, the line would've ended."
"..."
"What's the point of a house if the family's gone?"
In simple terms, permission granted.
A reward that went beyond saving his life—to saving his house.
Damian nodded and accepted it.
"I'll treasure it."
The Mount family necklace.
The moment he put it around his neck.
"...!"
It was exactly as described.
A reaction stirred in his mind.
Not huge, but refreshingly clear somewhere.
'Artifact.'
As he internalized this new realm in his mind.
"Come back safe, mercenary."
Kanna saw him off in her own way.
Her speech carried the rough tone unique to barbarian naturalized citizens.
"And this."
She handed him something while murmuring.
"Special rope made from ogre tendons."
"Ogre tendons... you say?"
"Saw you handle ropes well last time. Use it wisely."
He had used rope-throwing skills a few times in the great forest.
Especially climbing the forward base walls—it must've left an impression.
Likely something she put thought into making herself.
"Thank you. I'll make good use of it."
Gifts infused with sincerity and trust.
Damian expressed his genuine gratitude.
"Travel safely."
Now Elena's turn.
She had prepared something too.
"This is...?"
"A cloak. Made from fabric unique to Sobkov Territory—great insulation and durability. You'll find it useful the whole trip."
Perfect timing.
He'd been wanting a decent cloak anyway.
"Thanks. I'll take good care of it."
The indigo-dyed cloak.
It fit perfectly—not bad at all.
Made him feel a bit more dignified as a warrior?
"Looks better with something draped over you."
Mikhail said to Damian, now cloaked.
Despite his words, trust shone clearly in his eyes.
"Not much to give from me."
Yet he handed something over.
A longsword elegantly sheathed.
"Sword I used in my youth."
"From your youth...?"
"Don't use it much these days. Better off finding a new owner than gathering dust."
Passed off casually.
But even at a glance, it exuded class.
Clear blade, wolf head carved at the pommel.
Even the leather wrap on the hilt screamed luxury.
"Name's Howling."
"Howling..."
Howling.
Wolf's howl.
A name fitting the family crest.
Lighter than Dawn, too.
Undoubtedly a masterpiece.
"A swordarm needs three blades, no?"
An enormous gift.
But the lord's gifts didn't end there.
"And this one..."
He snapped his fingers with a click.
"Hiiing!"
A black horse came galloping over.
Responding to a call alone showed its intelligence—a fine steed.
"Introduce yourself. It'll be your legs from today."
"Even a horse?"
"Can't have you riding some pony alone and forlorn."
p>
The prince and escort knights alike.
All would ride pedigreed warhorses.
Pride aside, lagging behind would be embarrassing.
"Name's Breeze. Gentle sort—easy to handle."
Breeze, as in a light wind.
Damian nodded.
"Thank you for taking such good care of me."
"Nothing compared to the lives you saved with your own hands."
Not just Adnen and the lord.
The variables if the suicide squad had been wiped out.
Undoubtedly, countless lives lost.
"Come back safe. And thank you for granting my request."
With farewells complete.
"Farewells done?"
The prince and escort emerged from the castle, ready to depart.
They seemed fully prepared too.
"Travel safely, Your Highness."
With the lord's send-off.
"I'll bring good news for sure, my lord."
Prince Bastian and the escort.
And Damian's journey began.
Destination: the capital, then back to Sobkov Territory.
No easy road ahead.
"Then."
With a brief goodbye.
Damian joined the escort.
Clop, clop clop...
Watching Damian's receding figure.
Adnen muttered.
"That guy's gonna get snatched away like this, isn't he?"
A hint of reproach toward the lord.
"Why bring him into the escort too? Sir Gerd alone should've sufficed."
Not wrong.
Damian's talent transcended norms.
The royals would covet him too.
But the lord thought differently.
Or rather, had changed recently.
"...Who knows. Will he?"
He shook his head.
"Not the type to be tied down anywhere."
Be it the royals.
Sobkov Territory.
Or even greater powers.
The more you try to bind him, the further he slips.
His vessel was simply larger.
'Free Knight.'
A term flashing through the lord's mind.
A title from legends or tales.
Not bestowed by rank.
One the people naturally grant.
'To the hero who roams slaying demons.'
Perhaps that was Damian Winter's path.
Lord Mikhail Sobkov believed it without doubt.
About ten days later.
'Elite few, they said.'
Truly few.
The prince's escort numbered exactly six.
Knight Gerd Khan, whom he'd seen before, and four royal knights.
Plus Damian, the mercenary.
'Strong, but honestly, Sir Gerd carries most of it.'
Gerd Khan was overwhelming.
The other knights weren't much superior to the suicide squad.
If anything, slightly inferior.
'Fitting for the kingdom's top knight.'
Gerd Khan, observed over the past ten days.
The knight was thoroughly meticulous.
Different from the cool-headed 6th Legion commander or the hearty lord.
The prince called him 'the kingdom's finest knight.'
'Even the prince is unusual.'
More surprisingly, Prince Bastian Calitus.
Damian had half-expected a sheltered flower.
Far from it.
Accustomed to rough travel, led by example in camp setup, casual with the knights.
"Sir Damian."
As expected.
The prince approached Damian.
Sir, despite repeated corrections.
"Sun's setting soon. How about camping here?"
"...As Your Highness wishes."
Always like this.
Seeking and respecting Damian's input at every turn.
'Honestly, it's burdensome.'
Unfamiliar treatment.
Thus, the tenth night's depths.
Damian had first watch tonight.
'Let's see.'
Damian closed his eyes, expanding his senses.
Rooted senses linked to the earth, scanning the area.
'...All clear.'
Safety confirmed first.
He drew his sword from his belt.
Lately, he'd gotten hooked on training.
'More effective than I thought.'
Not as immediate as predation, of course.
But training had its own appeal.
Thanks to various predations unlocking talents?
'Above all, can't predation quality prey every moment.'
Weak foes often gave scattered skills—or none.
Catching a hundred minnows wouldn't stack much power.
'Time to gather intel this trip.'
Info on bigger hunting grounds.
The capital would have plenty.
Hub of all sorts.
Shing!
Stray thoughts ended there.
Damian drew Howling from his belt.
'Begin.'
As over the past ten days.
Recalling Gerd Khan's movements.
Sword arcs, footwork, mana flow.
Attempting full replication.
Now quite natural.
"Huuu..."
How long in that trance?
"...!"
Presence at his back.
Damian instinctively turned.
Gerd Khan stood there.
Come for watch change, it seemed.
'How long was he watching?'
Without rooted senses, he wouldn't have noticed.
But more surprised was Gerd.
'Sensed me?'
No sign shown, of course.
Just the prepared line.
"You've improved a lot."
On the escort's first day.
Damian had asked Gerd's permission.
To mimic the training he'd seen before.
Gerd allowed it readily.
"Keep at it, and you'll see results."
"Thank you for the advice."
Now time to switch watches.
Damian bowed sincerely.
As he turned to head back to camp.
"...!"
Sensation from underfoot.
'I feel it.'
Someone nearby.
Not the prince or escort.
A third party.
'Beast? Monster? Or human?'
Not even Gerd sensed it.
Only Damian, with rooted senses.
But the presence felt subtly off.
Hard to pin down?
"What's wrong?"
Gerd asked at his reaction.
"Something's there."
Damian whispered low.
The moment his gaze pierced the forest.
Rustle!
Leaves parting, something burst out.
But.
"...Huh?"
Not as expected.
Or rather, matching expectations?
It was neither human, beast, nor monster, after all.
'This is...?'