Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Assault Team Division
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Now, Elasia followed Havel's every command without a word of protest.
A short while after she gave a subdued "Yes" in reply...
Elasia returned with clothes prepared for Havel.
Havel changed into them, carefully storing his torn outfit in his subspace ring.
The garments fit him perfectly.
They struck a balance between a mountaineer's practicality and noble elegance.
Formal enough for decorum, yet functional for the task at hand.
"They suit you well."
"Do they now."
"Yes, you look just like a noble."
Well, he was a noble.
But recognizing it as her own form of praise, Havel let it slide without rebuke.
"Um, Lord Havel."
As Havel adjusted his collar, Elasia hesitantly called out to him.
"H-How much longer will I be traveling with you?"
The original deal had been to let her go once they tracked down the thieves who stole the key.
Yet here they were, still together afterward.
It was only natural for her to wonder.
"What, you want to run off?"
"N-No! Of course not!"
Elasia forced a smile.
He had worked her pretty hard lately, after all.
"I'll take you as far as Cloud Mist Island. That's where we part ways. Probably more convenient for you, too."
"R-Really?"
Havel nodded once more to confirm.
Her face lit up with genuine joy.
No more unpaid labor, after all.
'She kept nagging about cocoa. Should've bought her some.'
She'd been genuinely helpful, so he felt a twinge of guilt.
"We're heading up right now. You coming?"
He even extended the courtesy of asking her preference.
"You're actually asking me?"
"If you've got nothing better to do."
"I-I'm free, of course. But it feels rewarding, like the fruits of my hard work. Hehe."
Her haughty gaze was long gone.
She grinned with the innocent glee of a novice.
Havel figured she'd been broken a bit.
Maybe some psychological phenomenon where the victim defends the perpetrator.
Perhaps that's what had gotten to her.
In any case, Havel re-entered the Tower alongside this new version of Elasia.
Moebius had promised to head straight for Cloud Mist Island.
If he went ahead, the man would find his own way there.
Sure enough, as Havel stepped back into the 6th Hierarchy, a milky white sea greeted him.
Gazing at the setting sun, he soon felt Elasia approach from behind.
Being carried on his back was second nature to her now.
"Lord Havel."
As he hoisted her up, she spoke up out of the blue.
"What?"
Elasia hesitated at his question.
Then, as if steeling herself, she pressed on.
"Do you think... Selenetia and Banpellyon could forge a good alliance?"
Havel instantly grasped why she'd approached so cautiously.
Elasia knew how much Havel valued House Banpellyon.
Havel was strong.
A monster with the power to shake the world.
She wanted to turn their connection into something positive, rather than sever it.
'Not some psychological quirk after all.'
Just a noble acting for her house.
"What value could Selenetia offer Banpellyon?"
Havel responded in kind, like the noble he was.
"Ah, w-well..."
Elasia fumbled for words.
She clearly hadn't expected that question.
Ignoring her, Havel stepped out onto the water's surface.
"Think it over on the way. When we reach Banpellyon, relay those thoughts to Arthur Banpellyon himself."
Arthur would understand and build ties with Selenetia accordingly.
"Ah."
Elasia's eyes widened as the intent dawned on her.
Soon, a beaming smile spread across her face.
"Yes!"
House Banpellyon looked poised to grow even stronger.
Two days after arriving at Cloud Mist Island.
Havel had been resting comfortably in the quarters prepared by House Selenetia.
In the meantime, he'd tested his destructive power on a nearby islet—not far from the island.
KABOOOOOM!
The small island was gone, erased entirely from the map by Havel's hand.
He'd even caught the island's lord in the process.
Thanks to that, his Technique stat had finally broken into the four digits.
"Talent will hit Transcendent in two days, too."
Now, everything but Calamity was on track to reach Transcendent.
"That settles the performance check."
Havel rolled his shoulders loosely and returned to Cloud Mist Island.
The moment he did, he heard a commotion.
Heading toward the noise, he found a familiar group.
"No, we're here to see Lord Havel!"
"Don't lie to me, you thieves! Who'd believe scum like you?!"
It was Moebius and the Selenetia mages.
The fuming burn-scarred man and the Selenetia magus were at each other's throats.
Moebius, standing behind them, looked troubled—until he spotted Havel and let out an "Ah."
Scratching the back of his head, Havel realized he'd forgotten to mention it to House Selenetia.
Approaching from behind, he grabbed the burn-scarred man by the scruff and hoisted him up.
"Gah! Wh-Who?!"
His collar tightened around his neck, drawing a yelp—until he saw Havel and froze solid.
Havel turned to the magus and apologized.
"These guys are with me. They've sworn loyalty, so no worries."
"Ah, i-is that so?"
The magus looked sheepish.
Elasia had made sure everyone knew not to offend Havel, after all.
He recognized the face well enough.
"Follow me. I've got plans."
At Havel's gesture, all four fell in obediently.
They'd witnessed his power firsthand.
And with their pact to ally with the Whisperer...
Defying him was out of the question.
As he led them inside, Havel spoke en route.
"Baria."
"Yes."
Baria appeared out of thin air, right on cue.
True to House Graiza's prowess in intel and assassination, he was a master of concealment.
Even the burn-scarred man and spearman gawked in surprise.
It meant Baria's stealth outclassed those two.
But before Havel? Not a chance.
He'd always pinpointed Baria's location and called him out.
"We're having a meeting. Bring the other two."
"Azaris is asleep. Passed out yesterday after dueling a Selenetia magus in spellcraft."
"Drag him here, even if you have to beat him awake."
Baria obeyed without protest, fetching Azaris promptly.
Moments later, Azaris showed up—with a fresh lump on his head.
A direct scion of House Ignor, yet all he did was brawl daily.
To Havel, the house's future looked bleak.
With Priest Edler gathered as well, everyone was assembled.
Havel stood before them and introduced Moebius first.
"These four will be with us for a while. Casual greetings suffice."
Baria eyed them with a hint of pity, for some reason.
"Baria Graiza."
"Moebius."
Once the perfunctory intros wrapped up...
Havel got straight to business.
"We're dividing into teams to conquer the 6th Hierarchy."
"Teams?"
They were already a small group.
Baria questioned if splitting further was wise.
Havel pointed at Moebius, signaling no concerns.
"Moebius's team and mine. Two teams total."
Baria gave Moebius a surprised glance.
Handing a team to him meant Havel saw him as highly capable.
"Moebius, how many mutant strains does that old woman of yours need to produce?"
Havel had already learned from Moebius how to clear the 6th Hierarchy.
Fill the floor's Calamity quota, and it clears.
A cheat method, sure—but a valid way up the Tower.
Havel planned to use it without hesitation.
"Granny."
Moebius turned to her, and she looked up.
She'd aged even more dramatically since before.
Having barely regained her senses days ago, she sighed deeply.
"At least a hundred. Could be fewer if they're on par with the ones from before."
A hundred.
Considering the original thousand islands to scour, it was a pittance.
They could gather that many in no time.
"Two teams, fifty each. Can you manage?"
"That was the plan anyway. Yes."
Moebius replied with confident assurance.
That level of certainty was trustworthy enough.
No funny business, at least for now.
"We'll mix the members."
Still, better safe with contingencies.
"Baria, Edler—you join them. Burns, you're with me."
The burn-scarred man paused mid-scratch.
Baria, meanwhile, looked relieved.
He knew Havel's side was the real grind.
Edler simply crossed himself silently and moved over.
"Wh-Why me?!"
Burns blurted in panic.
Havel eyed him coolly before replying curtly.
"Mages are more useful if you're sticking with me."
His schedule was about to get grueling.
Carrying Elasia had driven it home:
Magic users fit his pace best.
Hence, Burns made the cut.
"Have a good one."
The spearman saw him off with a grin.
"Wipe that smirk off your face."
Grumbling hotly, Burns shuffled to Havel's side.
Azaris eyed him with sparkling curiosity, but Burns ignored it.
"Finally, Granny stays here on Cloud Mist Island. I've informed Elasia."
"The old bat lives."
They'd treat her right on their own.
"Lord Havel."
Moebius spoke up then.
Havel turned to him.
"I have a proposal, if you'll hear it."
"Out with it."
"If our team retrieves the key first... would you reconsider the Whisperer's alliance offer more favorably?"
Moebius knew Havel distrusted the Whisperer.
Hence the pitch:
Trust us through our efforts.
Havel studied him steadily.
What was the Whisperer to this man?
He didn't know—but there must be reason enough for Moebius to serve.
"Fine. Deal."
"Thank you."
Havel had no intention of yielding...
But it spurred motivation. No harm there.
With team assignments finalized...
Havel strode out, Azaris and Burns flanking him.
No time like the present—even for the iron bull.
Next island, straight away.
Moebius watched his unflinching back, then turned to Baria.
"You'll have your work cut out."
Baria gave a wry smile.
"Yeah, it's a daily grind anyway."
Staying near Havel drained the soul every day.
He'd even lost weight lately.
But Baria knew.
This path might reshape the world.
"Still, I think it's worth it."
The world was due for massive change.
He might be in the luckiest spot imaginable.
'No wonder Penbola sensed the danger.'
Havel had a way of drawing people in effortlessly.
Even Baria, a direct heir of the Five Great Houses, felt the pull.
Anyone would be equal in his presence.
"You'll be grinding too."
"Serving someone is familiar territory."
Baria sensed it'd be no picnic for them either.
Mission accepted, though.
"Looking forward to it."
"Likewise."
For some reason, they felt an instant rapport.
An unexpected alliance formed in that moment.