Chapter 125
Chapter 125
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 125
Chapter Title: Orduk Guild
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Orduk Guild.
Unlike noble houses that had naturally formed over the course of history, they were a profit-driven group assembled by individuals.
And perhaps because of that.
They straddled an awkward line between the surface world and the underworld.
Compared to prestigious families, they lacked influence.
And compared to the underworld's titans, Memento Mori.
They couldn't wield much power in the shadows either.
It was a group stuck in a middling position.
But even so, as a sizable organization.
The families made a point of leaving them alone.
And Memento Mori was no different.
Had they brazenly dipped into the underworld, it might have been another story.
But their shadowy dealings were always half-hearted.
Guild skirmishes.
Or backroom manipulations.
Nothing more than that.
So Memento Mori simply ignored them.
It wasn't fear that kept them away.
Just the stink of shit.
But the Orduk Guild mistook this for something else.
They started acting like they were hot shit.
Inside the Orduk Guild's building.
In a brightly lit room.
"Hahaha! If this job goes through, we'll make a killing."
A burly man slammed his desk, bursting into laughter.
His name was Orduk.
The head of Orduk Guild.
He couldn't stop grinning.
And why not?
A massive payday was on the horizon.
Bold as brass, what Orduk Guild had pulled off this time was kidnapping the head of House Banpellyon.
Arthur Banpellyon.
The rising Banpellyon house.
Rumors had it their wealth had skyrocketed lately.
But for all that fortune, the family wasn't all that big.
Young Lord Arthur was doing his best to flex some muscle.
But houses grow over long stretches of time.
So maybe that's why—they'd puffed up their facade somehow.
But inside? A total mess.
They'd grown too fast for their fame.
No time to shore up the foundations.
"That brand-new Dawn Knights outfit? Nothing but ragtag amateurs."
Sure, they had a few competent types.
But barely knight-level from other houses.
Far from a proper knight order.
Orduk Guild might not look like much, but their scale was impressive.
Orduk could say it with confidence.
If Banpellyon clashed with Orduk, it'd be Banpellyon getting smashed.
"A fat toad shaking its ass, begging to be touched. How could we pass that up?"
He savored the wine in his glass.
Normally, even they steered clear of houses.
Houses had roots deep in this world.
Tied together in tight-knit webs.
So even small ones were off-limits.
One wrong move, and some massive backer shows up. Game over.
"But Banpellyon? Not them!"
The man beside Orduk piped up excitedly.
His upturned mustache twisted into a sleazy grin.
Orduk's right-hand man.
Pierba.
"Word is, they have zero backers."
House Banpellyon was utterly fallen.
Other houses might have some lingering ties even after ruin.
"Heh heh, and the ones who crushed Banpellyon? None other than Glasis."
Pierba chuckled, referencing the latest rumors.
One of the Five Great Families: Glasis.
They were the culprits behind Banpellyon's fall, or so the talk went.
No one knew the exact reason.
But the rumors leaned toward truth.
Traces of Glasis trying to erase Banpellyon long ago had surfaced.
And then, a few months back, it all bubbled up.
The bet between Banpellyon and Glasis.
Banpellyon had won.
"Glais must've tried to stomp them flat again."
It failed.
But with Banpellyon making noise, the incident hit the surface.
"Glais is surely pissed about it."
Pierba's guess was surprisingly spot-on.
Families that hounded Banpellyon daily had indeed pulled back a bit.
Banpellyon might be on top now.
But picking a fight with them meant crossing Glasis.
No one wanted to buddy up with a house defying one of the Five Great Families.
"This is our chance."
While other houses hesitated, watching Glasis.
And Banpellyon's growth stalled.
Orduk Guild saw the gap and snatched their lord, Arthur.
House Banpellyon must be in chaos without their head.
But they couldn't turn to other families for help.
One option left.
Cough up that vast wealth to ransom Arthur.
"What's to fear from a flashy paper tiger with no backers or house muscle?"
Pierba cackled.
"You're right. Pierba, you've got a head for this like no other."
"Gotta fleece 'em before Glasis crushes them for good."
Orduk's praise puffed Pierba up even more.
In truth, all Five Great Families, Glasis included, had been smashed by Havel in the Tower.
But they had no clue.
Why would wrecked elites blab about it?
And no climbers had witnessed it.
"Uh, doesn't Banpellyon have that guy Havel?"
A timid-looking man hesitantly raised his hand.
His face brimmed with worry, unlike the other two.
Orduk's left-hand man.
Poa.
Great at desk work.
But born without guts, always weak-willed.
So Pierba always dumped jobs on him.
"He cleared the 7th tier before the Five Great Families, right?"
The hottest name lately: Havel.
If he showed up, the guild could be in danger.
But Pierba scoffed at his words.
"Poa, you always know one thing and miss two."
"Huh? What?"
"The Five Great Families never went all-out on the Tower."
Pierba stated it confidently to Poa.
"For some reason, they always focused on holding the Tower."
"Like how it stalled on the 6th tier forever."
He trusted his intel implicitly.
"So they just parked enough guys to maintain it. No real push to clear."
"Havel didn't beat their true strength."
"All that hype? Total bubble."
"B-But 6th tier aside, 7th is different, isn't it?"
"Haha, idiot. The 7th was the Five Great Families fighting over spots."
"Havel went quiet for a while, right?"
" opportunistic bastard saw his chance and hitched a ride!"
Pierba's voice rose, making Poa shrink back.
Pierba fancied himself a genius.
So he trusted his brain implicitly.
"Heard Glasis's lord moved recently?"
Poa had caught that news too.
Glais's head.
Sword Saint Lebltein Glasis.
Back from the demon realm.
"That monster who never returns shows up. What do you think it means?"
"......To settle things with Banpellyon."
"Right. Havel's done for."
"Tower cleared a month ago, and no sign of him since. Proof."
"Heard about Glasis and hid in the Tower."
"Scared stiff he'll get sliced by the Sword Saint if he steps out."
Pierba mimed slitting his throat.
Humanity's strongest: Lebltein.
No matter how good Havel was, he couldn't touch the Sword Saint.
"We just grab the loot in the meantime."
Poa bit his lip.
To him, it seemed shallow and risky.
But Pierba wouldn't budge.
"Enough, both of you."
And unfortunately, Orduk trusted Pierba more.
Pierba had delivered big wins before.
Orduk just liked him that much.
In reality, Poa patched the holes behind the scenes.
But Orduk wasn't sharp enough to check.
"Poa, quit whining."
"......Yes, sir."
Poa bowed at Orduk's words.
No point arguing now.
ZZZT—
Right then.
The magic communicator on Orduk's desk lit up.
The update on Arthur's kidnapping he'd been waiting for.
"Quiet, both of you!"
Orduk snatched it up, barking.
"Yeah, it's me."
His face bloomed with smiles.
Big money incoming—no holding back the grin.
[Yeah, you?]
But the voice was unfamiliar.
Doubt flickered in Orduk's eyes.
The moment he tilted his head.
KABOOOOOM!
A massive rumble from below.
All three froze.
Only Poa sensed trouble, eyes darting.
Then, sounds of combat drifted up.
Guild members clashing with someone.
[We'll head up soon. Wash your neck and wait.]
The line cut dead after that.
Orduk's gaze shifted to Pierba.
Pierba's face hardened, then met his eyes.
He yelled hastily.
"Looks like those idiots botched the snatch. Fucking morons."
Fuming like it wasn't his fault.
"Could've been smooth if they'd manned up!"
"Pierba, shut it."
Orduk had no patience for excuses.
That voice just now.
Didn't know who, but young.
Maybe twenties.
Dawn Knights?
Thinking of Banpellyon's Dawn Knights, he scowled.
"......That voice—wasn't it Havel?"
"No way! Havel can't come down 'cause of the Sword Saint!"
Pierba shot back loudly.
Step out of the Tower, and Glasis and the Sword Saint carve you up.
Havel wouldn't dare descend.
"I agree with Pierba. Sword Saint's a monster."
"Havel or whoever, tangle with him and you're dead."
Orduk didn't peg the voice as Havel's.
So he grabbed the spear from the wall.
"Dawn Knights acting ballsy."
Arthur snatch failed.
So retaliation from the Dawn Knights. Obvious.
"I'll handle it."
Ballsy fools.
Orduk flung open the door, intent on slaughtering them all.
Something caught his eye.
Dark hallway, lights out.
A lone silver-haired boy stood there.
Sword at his hip, looking like he was out for a stroll.
Orduk tilted his head at first.
The face was too familiar—from the kidnapping plans.
"......Arthur Banpellyon?"
That face.
Definitely.
Arthur Banpellyon.
Why was the kidnap target here?
Arthur, shambling along, glanced their way right on cue.
Spotted Orduk, stroked his chin.
"Oh, bingo."
Flashed a delighted grin.
"You're Orduk, the one who cooked up my kidnapping."
Orduk's chest bore the guild master's insignia.
Arthur clocked him, and Orduk reacted with shock.
"Never dreamed the lord himself would show."
In that instant, Orduk's form blurred.
He closed on Arthur, swinging the spear.
"Or that you'd have balls this big."
Daring to face him, founder of Orduk Guild, alone.
Grab Arthur now, shake Banpellyon down raw.
That thought fueled his downward thrust.
Clink—
Something met the spear's tip.
It didn't budge an inch.
"Huh?"
As he blinked in confusion.
Moonlight pierced the gloom.
Silver hair, near-white, gleamed in it.
Long locks.
Blue eyes, just like Arthur's, gleamed coldly.
"The ballsy one's you."
Orduk finally spotted it: a fingertip blocking his spear.
Chill raced down his spine!
No presence until now.
Only just noticed him.
"W-Who the hell are you?"
"Who else?"
The man pushed with his finger; the spear bent.
"Banpellyon, here to smash you lot."
And as light gathered in the man's hand, Orduk's luck ran out.