Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: A Great Discovery
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The city was still in the process of mopping up the remnants, but I left that to my brothers and led the merchants out first.
“We came because you told us to… but is this all right?”
“I know. I’ve never heard any rumors about ruins being discovered, and now we’re suddenly excavating some…”
“Still, I feel better being out here. It’s too scary inside the city…”
“You’ve got a point. A great purge… Isn’t he killing too many people?”
“What’s he going to do about subjugating the magical beasts?”
“Exactly! Dammit, why did I have to come here?!”
I could hear the merchants murmuring.
They tried to whisper amongst themselves, but to my Sword Master ears, I could hear them as clearly as if they were right beside me.
*They must be having a hard time.*
They were merchants who traveled between various cities, after all.
From their perspective, it was none of their business whether Ksias had committed evil deeds or not.
If anything, they were more likely to harbor resentment toward me for killing so many warriors.
After all, fewer warriors meant trade would become that much more difficult.
That’s why I was looking forward to it.
*I wonder what kind of faces they’ll make later.*
Clip-clop.
As I rode ahead on my horse, I glanced back at Kalserik, who was following with a stoic expression.
The leader of the Kalserik Brotherhood, renowned in Roverland.
He was accompanying me, his emotions thoroughly concealed.
“So, Kalserik? Have you thought about it?”
“…Are you asking me to pledge loyalty, along with all my brothers?”
“That’s right. Like I said, I’ll give you the best possible terms.”
“…I am truly sorry. As I told you then, I cannot make this decision on my own. I will ask my brothers, but I cannot give you a definite answer.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. However, until we have repaid our debt for you sparing our lives, the five of us brothers will serve you with our lives for the next year.”
“Do as you wish. Just don’t regret it later.”
“My apologies…”
Due to the massive purge, Kushan City was now facing a severe manpower shortage.
The Kalserik Brotherhood was a large mercenary group with over thirty Experts in its ranks.
It would be wonderful if I could just swallow them whole…
In truth, Kalserik’s intentions were obvious.
*He must think we aren’t worth pledging his loyalty to.*
Kushan City was a mid-to-low-tier city in the grand scheme of Roverland.
It also held relatively little importance on the golden trade route connecting the eastern continent of Oldland and the western continent of Gloryland.
So, it was no surprise that it wasn’t to the liking of the rather successful Kalserik Brotherhood.
Since I had demanded a year of service in exchange for sparing their lives, his plan was likely to fulfill that and leave immediately.
*He might even be thinking this city will soon fall to ruin.*
Just like those merchants over there, worrying about what would become of the magical beasts.
That’s why I was so curious.
I wanted to see what kind of expression Kalserik would make later.
I looked up at the sky.
“Turn the horses slightly, toward one o’clock.”
“Yes, sir!”
Watching Mibabar rise in the sky, I adjusted our direction of travel.
We passed through rolling hills covered in grass, and the ground gradually grew muddy until a swamp, overgrown with moss and trees, appeared.
“The northern swamp?”
“Are there really ruins here?”
Leading the murmuring merchants, I dismounted and continued on foot.
And then, finally.
“This is it.”
Looking at the sky, I was certain.
Mibabar hung at the exact same angle I remembered. The other principal deities, too.
“Is this the right place? It’s a magnificent sight, but…”
Kalserik asked with an inscrutable look.
As he said, it was indeed a spectacular view.
Large boulders jutted out here and there, and sheer rock pillars stood tall, all covered in moss and trees, forming a labyrinth.
The ground was muddy, and shallow water rippled.
It was a beautiful place, like a garden sculpted by nature.
But that wasn’t its true value.
*It’s been a while. Has it been about ten thousand years?*
To others, it might just look like randomly jutting rocks and pillars, but my eyes could pick out familiar streets and silhouettes within them.
Was it sad? Or was I glad to see it?
My predecessor.
You really did live in a world so far removed from mine.
I slowly approached and placed a hand on a boulder.
Beautiful and prosperous, yet long since vanished—that place was right here.
“Yes. This is the place.”
Hearing my answer, the merchants who had followed craned their necks.
“I don’t see any ruins… at all…”
one merchant said, then covered his mouth.
As he should. He had to watch his mouth in front of the new Count who had slaughtered hundreds in a single day.
I answered with a sly grin.
“Look closely. Everything you see right now is part of the ruins.”
“Uh… now that you mention it, I suppose it does look that way…”
Watching the merchant work his social skills, I grinned and drew my sword.
“Eek!”
Leaving the startled merchant behind, I stood before a boulder covered in moss.
“Keep your eyes wide open.”
*Swish!*
I swung my sword over the moss-and-tree-covered boulder with the delicacy of a barber.
As the severed moss and branches rained down to the ground…
“A w-wall?!”
A seamless wall, as if sculpted from clay and fired, revealed itself.
“This architectural style… it’s from the Magic Era…?”
A merchant with a keen eye muttered as he pressed himself against the wall.
Watching the merchants make a fuss, I gave an order to the soldiers.
“Well! What are you all doing! Strip off the moss and trees!”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
A hundred soldiers scrambled into action at my command.
“H-Here too!”
“It’s another wall over here!”
“Gasp! There’s a door here!”
The ancient buildings, hidden by moss, trees, mud, and ponds, revealed themselves one after another.
“Now, now, pull out whatever you see and bring it to me!”
With that, I found the entrance to the building I had cleared first and went inside.
The inside of the building was also full of moss. Tree roots had pierced the walls and wrapped around them, and the floor was pooled with splashing water.
But as soon as I raised a torch and cleared away the mud, I was able to find shimmering objects.
Just as I thought. Fitting for a city of knights that something like this would be found right away.
I gathered an armful of them, went outside, and poured them out.
“Th-That’s!”
The merchants swarmed like a cloud.
Without a care for the mud staining their expensive clothes, they examined the items I’d dumped out and gasped in astonishment.
“It’s been in a swamp like this, and there isn’t a speck of rust?”
“There’s no doubt! This sheen. The sound it makes when tapped! A material that doesn’t rust even in humidity!”
“R-Ruceras Steel!”
“Ancient armaments!”
The eyes of the merchants, who had been lukewarm just moments ago, turned bloodshot.
Ancient armaments made of Ruceras Steel were expensive treasures coveted on any continent.
*Well, in reality, they were common items that even a knight apprentice would have owned, but even that is a tremendous treasure in this era.*
The ancient techniques for crafting armaments were incomparable to those of today.
With the exception of the crudely made iron swords intentionally crafted for Sword Ki training, by modern standards, they were all masterpieces of the century.
In other words,
the discoveries were just beginning.
“S-Something’s been found over here, too!”
“Over here as well!”
The soldiers who had scattered in all directions also brought out items and poured them before me.
“Another sword? No, armor too?”
“Why are so many swords and suits of armor turning up?! Is this a coincidence?”
“Wait! Those are ancient gold coins! Collectors pay a fortune for those…!”
The merchants were losing their minds over the flood of treasures.
Then, a clever merchant suddenly realized something.
“Wait! Wait a minute!”
“What? What’s wrong?”
“If you’re not going to look, then move! Let me see too! Wow… three ancient swords already!”
“No, just wait! Everyone, look around!”
“Ugh, what is it?!”
The clever merchant held his head high and looked around like a madman.
What his eyes saw were… the endlessly sprawling boulders and the sheer rock pillars that stood like cliffs.
All of them were covered in moss and trees, their true nature hidden, but…
“So you’re saying! All those boulders and pillars… they’re all buildings?!”
“!”
“!!”
Only then did the other merchants begin to grasp the situation.
“Wh-What? No way…”
“Is it true? All of that is…?”
Their gazes slowly turned to me.
A dance of trembling pupils.
I gave a nod.
“Welcome. To the ancient city of Glowingsteel.”
“!!!”
The merchants flinched as if struck by lightning.
One of them muttered.
“It was a city… Not just ruins, but an entire ancient city has been discovered…”
They had only searched about ten buildings, yet so many treasures had already emerged.
If so, how many treasures would be found if they searched all the buildings here?
“At this point, this is practically a mine, isn’t it? A mine that produces ancient artifacts…”
They were realizing.
That Kushan, an unremarkable city in northwestern Roverland, was about to form a new economic zone centered around ancient artifacts.
“Ah~ It’s a problem when the ruins are this big. We’ll need a lot of warriors and explorers to excavate all of this~”
I stretched and spoke loudly, making sure they could hear.
This was why I brought the merchants here.
These merchants would now spread what they saw today across the continent.
Along with the fact that Kushan City needed many warriors and explorers, and that there was a great deal of money to be made.
“U-Um…! Count!”
“Count! A word, if you please!”
The merchants, who had been glancing and whispering until now, suddenly rushed toward me eagerly.
They were as desperate as if they were meeting family after a ten-year separation.
I guess they see me a little differently now, huh?
From here on, it was my turn.
“Ah, as for the details, let’s talk back in the city. Sometime tomorrow. Sometime tomorrow.”
It was cute how they whimpered like puppies needing to be let out at my refusal.
Alright, I’ve had a good look at the merchants changing their tune.
I slowly turned my gaze.
To Kalserik, who stood beside me.
The man who had stood there gravely with his mouth shut the entire time was now gaping.
I don’t know when he got over there, but he was touching the ancient swords and armor, breathing out words of admiration.
He looked like he might even start drooling.
Suddenly, our eyes met.
*What do you think?*
When I asked with a raised eyebrow, Kalserik put down the artifact and approached me.
As expected, he walked with the restless gait of a puppy needing to go outside.
Of course. If his eyes didn’t widen at the sight of ancient armaments made from Ruceras Steel, he wouldn’t be a warrior.
He glanced at me cautiously and opened his mouth.
“U-Uh, Count Lansen… About that…”
I smiled brightly.
“Yes? Is there something you want to say? Sir Kalserik, who plans to leave in a year?”
I told you, didn’t I?
You’ll regret it.
* * *
A few days later.
A rumor spread rapidly throughout Roverland.
‘A huge money-making opportunity has appeared in Kushan City!’
‘Ancient weapons and armor are pouring out!’
‘The new Count is currently short on talent!’
At the news, warriors and explorers all over Roverland grew restless.
“Boss! They say there’s good money to be made in Kushan City!”
“Boys! Pack your things!”
The ruffians who strutted about in every city,
“This is a tremendous opportunity.”
“Indeed. The ruler of Kushan City will now wield immense power.”
“Yes. A regional hegemon, perhaps even rising to a level just below the Five Kings.”
“So if we join now, we’ll be founding members?”
“It could be a chance to turn our lives around.”
“…Alright. We’re going to Kushan.”
mercenary groups and warrior bands that had strength but had yet to find a home,
“Ruins the size of a city!”
“We have to go! We’re definitely going!”
“If it’s a city, there must be something in the surrounding area too! Finding something like that would change our lives!”
explorers who were mad for ancient ruins,
“You there! Have you heard the news?! Ruins from the Magic Era have been discovered…!”
“Haha, I’ve already sold my house and hired warriors. Are you going as well?”
“Aha…! I just need to sell my house! Let’s go together!”
and even scholars who had dedicated their lives to researching the Magic Era—all rose to the occasion.
A relic rush!
In search of treasure, opportunity, and knowledge, warriors from all over Roverland flocked to Kushan City.
* * *
“Kushan City?”
The news spread quickly, reaching the ears of a giant crouching in the northwestern part of Roverland.
He was a tall man, over 190 centimeters, with pale golden hair.
He, who had been lazily lying about, plucking grapes to eat, shot up into a sitting position.
“Ksias is dead, and an ancient city has been discovered?”
Unable to contain himself, the man leaped to his feet, paced in circles, and then let out a sly laugh.
“The heavens are on our side, aren’t they?”
“Indeed, they are.”
“Prepare the army. The swift and experienced ones.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You know, right? Speed is?”
“Life.”
“Good! Today, we train the cavalry!”
The man practically ran outside, unable to hide his excitement.
The ruler of the Ailun Steppe, the heart of Norverge.
The man who held a seat among the Five Kings of Roverland.
The Gale King, Harun.
It was the first time in a long while that his heart pounded.