Chapter 37
Chapter 37
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: The Sound of Hoofbeats
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The retreat was a success.
One week of fierce battle.
32 dead. 112 wounded.
70% of the demonic beasts in the main border region eliminated.
This overwhelming achievement set Lansen’s soldiers ablaze with passion.
“Hey, barkeep! Hurry up with the beer!”
“Hey now! We got a hefty bonus, and we can’t spend it if you’re this slow!”
The soldiers, welcomed back by the citizens in a triumphant return, holed up in taverns from broad daylight to blow off the stress they’d accumulated.
Their boisterous, excited mood provoked the other freelance warriors in the tavern.
“...But did they really wipe out the demonic beasts?”
“I know, right? I just can’t wrap my head around them doing it in a week...”
Some showed their displeasure.
“But it must be true, right? We all saw the swarms of smaller beasts pouring out.”
“Yeah. That number wouldn’t have come out unless they really stirred things up inside.”
Others made a more rational judgment.
And Lansen’s soldiers simply brushed off the chatter of the other warriors with an air of relaxed bravado.
“Hey. Hey. Have you ever tried to stick a spear in the neck of a Rock-Ox charging at you full tilt?”
“That’s right, pal. Have you ever blocked a club swung by a Taurund with your shield? That thing was over three and a half meters tall.”
“If you haven’t done it, don’t talk.”
Just one month and one week.
The army of Lansen had already kindled the flames of camaraderie and pride in their hearts.
* * *
‘It went very well.’
I was extremely satisfied with this operation.
Is this what an artist or a novelist feels when they look at their own work?
Seeing the tactics and strategies I had only conceived in my mind actually come to life was... a pure thrill.
Only thirty-two dead.
Despite the dangerous mission, we had suffered far fewer casualties than a typical beast subjugation.
This was because the perfectly maintained formations had exerted sufficient defensive power.
It was also because the Experts, their strength preserved, had intervened at critical moments to save the soldiers.
All of this was exactly as I had intended.
Satisfaction. Pure satisfaction.
I was in a good mood, and after returning home and washing off a week’s worth of grime with hot water, I felt like I was in paradise.
Steaming gently, I headed to the conference room.
I was tired, but with the Gale King targeting Kinalo and Kashu, the situation was urgent. I planned to get the report first and then immediately start planning the occupation of Kushan City.
However,
“What happened to your eye?”
Baren was in a corner of the conference room, his head bowed, awkwardly covering his face with his left hand.
“Ah... Boss... it’s just...”
“Let me see.”
He kept trying to hide his face, so I walked over and pulled his hand away.
“Who did this?”
Baren’s left eye was black and blue.
It was a proper shiner, bruised dark and swollen.
What? What happened? Isn't he supposed to be 'Baren the Shiner'?
He was hit, not the one hitting?
And in the first place, who could even land a punch on this guy, a top-tier Expert...
“Wait a minute.”
Just then, something strange caught the corner of my eye.
“Rivera. Turn your head.”
“Y-Yes?!”
“I said turn your head. Let me see your left side.”
Our dear Baron Rivera was awkwardly twisting his neck to show me only the right side of his face.
“Now.”
Finally resigning himself, Rivera turned his head, and his left eye was also... bruised black.
Ah.
He got hit?
By who?
...This is pissing me off.
“Who was it.”
“W-Well, it’s...”
“My lord. You see...”
While Baren and Rivera stammered, Sea cut in with a deadpan expression.
“Yesterday. Baren was beating up some warriors who broke the rules when some old man started a fight with him.”
“An old man?”
“Yeah. So they fought... and that’s what happened.”
“And you just let it happen?”
“He was so strong that a real fight would have just caused more damage. And the old man himself hadn't broken any rules. Besides, you know how it is, right? It's hard to make a big deal out of a fistfight between warriors in Roverland.”
“So.”
“Rivera heard about it and went to get some personal revenge.”
“And he ended up like that too?”
“Yep.”
I looked at Baren and Rivera, their heads hung low.
This was no small matter.
Two of the only four top-tier Experts in our city had come back beaten up.
This was a matter of the city’s honor... and besides that, it was just plain infuriating. Someone hit my guys?
Who does he think he is?
“Take me to him.”
This was no time for a meeting.
I picked up my sword and rose from my seat.
* * *
The old man was drinking at , a tavern frequented by warriors.
What really got on my nerves... was that the old man was so popular that warriors were swarming around him, offering him drinks.
“Old man! You were incredible!”
“Seriously! To give Baren the Shiner a black eye of his own!”
“Who are you, really? With your skills, your name must be pretty well-known!”
They were having a grand old time.
‘He beats up my guys and gets this popular?’
I strode forward.
How should I start this?
Should I just punch him first?
As I was pondering this, my eyes met the old man’s.
“Ah! You’ve come!”
The old man, his face flushed with alcohol, stood up from his seat.
The warriors, who only then turned to look, went pale.
Like a swarm of bees smoked out, they scattered away from the old man’s side.
That’s right. You better move.
When the Sword Master who killed Ksias is in a bad mood, you should know to get out of the way.
“Was it you?”
Even when I asked, the old man just chuckled without a hint of tension.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you. I’m glad to see you like this.”
“You say that like you were waiting for me.”
“I was. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Jahir, and I serve under the Gale King, Lord Harun.”
What?
The Gale King?
Jahir?
A murmur went through the crowd.
“Jahir of a Hundred Victories...”
“The Strongest Expert...”
“Ah! That scar on his face! Why didn’t I recognize him?”
“Wow...”
Jahir of a Hundred Victories.
I knew him well.
He was a warrior whose fame resounded throughout Norverge in the northwestern part of Roverland.
Though a top-tier Expert, he was known as the Strongest Expert for having dueled one hundred other top-tier Experts and winning every single time.
In this part of the world, there were plenty of warriors who respected Jahir more than any Sword Master.
This was a bit surprising.
So the Gale King sent Jahir to me...
But that’s that, and,
“So.”
I stared straight into Jahir’s eyes.
“The esteemed Strongest Expert.”
I wonder if you can see the blue flame flickering in my pupils right now.
“Why did you hit my men?”
Jahir of a Hundred Victories or not.
I couldn’t just let this go.
* * *
“Haha, my apologies. Even at this age, this old man still can’t control his hot-blooded nature... Lord Harun scolds me for it all the time. Haha.”
He’s laughing?
My mood was souring by the second, but Jahir continued speaking with a nonchalant air.
“In truth, I have come today as an envoy of Lord Harun.”
“An envoy?”
“Lord Harun holds you in very high regard, Lord Lansen. He asked me to inquire if you would be open to meeting on a fine day to speak frankly and perhaps join forces.”
Wait.
So, that part about joining forces...
“You’re asking me to become the Gale King’s vassal?”
“Vassal, lord, what do such trivial titles matter? What’s important is for great heroes to meet, exchange their views, and measure each other’s worth.”
So it means exactly what I thought.
If we measure each other’s worth, he assumes mine will naturally be smaller, and I’ll become the vassal. That’s his line of thinking.
So I asked him straight out.
“If I become his vassal, what’s in it for me?”
The answer came back instantly.
“Lord Harun can handle the excavation and sale of the ruins on your behalf.”
“Handle it on my behalf?”
“Yes. With Lord Harun’s connections and trade routes, you can generate much greater profits far more quickly.”
“And?”
“And you, Lord Lansen, would receive 30% of those profits. You would amass great wealth without having to do a thing. Wouldn’t that be beneficial for both parties?”
...?
So, he’s saying he covets my Glowingsteel ruins, and he wants to take it over and give me a mere 30% of the profits. Is that what I’m hearing?
‘Unbelievable...’
I was stunned.
Even if Roverland was a lawless continent, how could he make such a brazen proposal?
“Are you sure that’s a good deal for me?”
Despite my direct question, Jahir didn’t even blink.
“Of course. Under Lord Harun’s protection, Kushan City will prosper even more by being actively connected to the large markets of Ailun. Despite providing such benefits, Lord Harun will not collect a single coin in taxes.”
No taxes?
What a ridiculous play on words.
“Do you know how much the ruins are generating right now? It’s more than 1.5 times the entire city’s tax revenue. If you take 70% of that, isn’t that already a massive tax?”
His response to that question was a masterpiece of audacity.
“Of course, it’s a good thing. Because under Lord Harun’s protection, your right to rule Kushan City will be guaranteed.”
!!!
The warriors who had backed away, listening to the conversation with bated breath, began to stir loudly.
Katrina, who had been watching from behind, stepped forward, her aura flaring.
“Hey... old man.”
Katrina, who had been itching for a fight, vowing to avenge Rivera and Baren herself, made no attempt to hide her fury.
I stopped her with a hand gesture.
This was a response I had to deliver myself.
He’ll guarantee my right to rule?
So, he means, ‘Do as I say or you die,’ right?
Well,
I get it.
Nothing had changed.
From the moment I came here, there was only one answer I was ever going to give.
“Jahir.”
“Yes, Lord Lansen.”
“This is my answer.”
CRACK!
My pommel, moving like lightning, struck Jahir’s right eye.
Whoosh—CRASH!
Jahir flew into the air, smashed through several tables, and slammed onto the ground.
He rolled across the floor in a clatter and then lay still, apparently knocked out cold.
His left eye was already turning a fiery red.
Hmm, looks like that’s going to swell up nicely... and the bruise will last at least a month.
Ah, I finally feel a little better.
“Throw him outside the city gates and sprinkle salt. He’s banned for life.”
“Ah... I wanted to do that.”
Katrina grumbled as she hoisted Jahir over her shoulder and headed for the gates.
Why is she doing it herself instead of ordering a soldier?
Is she planning to rough him up on the way...
“D-Did you just see that?”
“Even for a Sword Master, to take down Jahir of a Hundred Victories in a single blow...”
“That’s not the point. He used his pommel. That was a show of force, meaning he could have taken his head just as easily...”
The astonished warriors whispered among themselves.
They might be surprised, but to me, it was only natural.
Strongest Expert or not, no one can block an attack that comes without any preparatory motion.
That was the realm of the Entrusting Sword.
“Let’s go back. We need to have that meeting.”
In any case, this made one thing clear.
The Gale King wasn’t just targeting Kashu City.
He was after this place, Kushan City, as well.
It seems,
I’ll have to speed up my plans.
* * *
Inside the war tent of the Gale King, Harun.
In the center of the camp, where bonfires lit up the surroundings and soldiers stood on high alert, a burst of boisterous laughter erupted.
“Puhahaha! Jahir, so you got kicked out just like that? With a black eye?”
“...Please don’t laugh.”
The Gale King, Harun, clutched his stomach and roared with laughter, while Jahir, embarrassed, covered his bruised eye.
“Still, that’s impressive. Was it really so fast you couldn’t even dodge?”
“Dodge? I... I don’t remember. One moment we were talking, and the next thing I knew, I was outside the city gates. Someone even drew on my face... Sigh...”
“Wow. That Lansen kid. He’s something else, isn’t he? Honestly, I thought someone like you could kill a half-baked Sword Master.”
“...He seems to have far surpassed that level.”
“Seems so. Hah~ But he’s got quite a temper, doesn’t he?”
“Yes. He showed no hesitation at all after hearing the proposal.”
“He’s wild. A feral beast. Yes, there are guys like that. The kind who won’t open up no matter how much sincerity I show.”
Harun muttered as he drank the wine placed beside him.
“Guys like that only seem to open their hearts after they’ve heard the sound of hoofbeats.”
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
Just then, the sound of galloping cavalry on the move drifted in from beyond the tent.