Chapter 137
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 137
Chapter Title: To the West (5)
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"Make sure to lock your scabbards tight."
As the Silver Guard Knight cautioned, the sharp clicks of clasps snapping shut echoed one after another.
The scabbards for Prius knight longswords were fitted with sturdy clasps, designed to let them be swung sheath and all. It was perfect for non-lethal situations or sparring matches.
With the Silver Guard Knight paired against Wedin, and Shuren against Ilenia, the free sparring began.
In the meantime, I helped Makina prepare breakfast.
I gathered twigs for firewood and added water to the pot as she directed.
Once the stew was bubbling away, loaded with generous spices, Wedin let out a grunt and hit the dirt.
"Your strength's still lacking, but your reflexes are solid. Good work."
The Silver Guard Knight extended a hand to Wedin. Groaning, he grabbed it and pulled himself up.
Meanwhile, Shuren and Ilenia were locked in a furious exchange. Their sheathed blades clacked relentlessly against each other.
Shuren moved with fluid grace, parrying or deflecting Ilenia's sharp strikes. She should have been tiring, but her assault only grew fiercer.
"Hya!"
Ilenia swung hard at Shuren's face. He leaped back in surprise.
A flicker of red flame danced briefly along her scabbard before vanishing.
"Ilenia, watch the fire!"
"Ah, got it!"
At Shuren's shout, Ilenia hurriedly drew a deep breath to rein in the flames.
In that split-second opening,
Shuren gripped his sword with both hands and darted inside her guard, slamming the hilt upward.
Thwack!
He aimed to jolt the weapon from her grasp with the impact.
"Ngh!"
Ilenia's hands shook, and her sword slipped free. Triumph flashed across Shuren's face—Got her!
But Ilenia was no pushover.
The instant her blade hit the ground, instead of bending to retrieve it, she kicked Shuren square in the gut—now dangerously close—and twisted his sword arm behind him.
"Hngh!"
"Got you!"
Shuren choked out a gasp as Ilenia yanked his arm hard, pinning him completely.
"Dropping your sword means it's over!"
Shuren twisted to free himself, his face flushed beet red as he yelled.
"No, it's not! This is free sparring, not pure swordplay. You have to handle body techniques too!"
"That's...!"
"That's enough."
The Silver Guard Knight stepped in at just the right moment.
Only then did Ilenia raise both hands and release Shuren.
He rubbed his throbbing arm, grumbling under his breath.
"Silver Guard Knight, clarify this. No more of that next time."
"Hm. Free sparring should include hand-to-hand, but in Prion, we usually stick to swords."
"Exactly. And she's a Fire Arbat—our bodies aren't even comparable. Using taijutsu puts me at a disadvantage. That's why knight academy spars were pure swordplay."
Shuren vented his grievances in an aggrieved tone. His point was valid enough that the Silver Guard Knight simply nodded.
"That's your challenge to overcome, Shuren. Ilenia's got the edge as a Fire Arbat, but it's not overwhelming like a bear Loran."
"True, but..."
"You're so reliant on your sword because your swordsmanship is top-notch. Use this chance to train mixing in taijutsu."
Shuren's frustrated expression soon settled into calm resolve.
He straightened his posture seriously and nodded.
"I understand, Silver Guard Knight. Situations where I can't use my sword might come up."
Nice, the Silver Guard Knight thought. He turned to Ilenia next. Her shoulders tensed under his stern gaze.
"Ilenia, you let your emotions get the better of you too often. Flames are powerful, but if uncontrolled by feeling, they're just a hazard. Remember that."
"Yes, Silver Guard Knight. I'll keep it in mind."
"Training's over. Everyone, take a break."
The two saluted him, then raced each other toward the stream in the front yard.
Watching them go, Makina shrugged.
"Even Prius's Silver Guard Knight isn't just a fancy title, huh."
"Probably the toughest rank there is..."
I gave a wry smile.
After a hearty breakfast to recharge, we left the final lodge in the Quint Mountains.
Makina explained that once we crested the low peak ahead, we'd enter the old empire's southeast region.
Of course, the massive Quint range wouldn't end so easily—but at least we'd be out of Lesion Kingdom's Quint Mountain Guard patrol zone.
Makina led us along a path closer to Feira. It curved north.
Tall trees dotted the peaceful hills, alive with wildlife and small birds.
Grown used to the mountain trek and fitter now, we pressed on without pause.
"Gray Mercenary Company?"
"Yeah, never heard of them?"
Ilenia seemed shocked at Shuren's blank look.
I'd never heard the name either.
"Rings a vague bell... or maybe not. There are so many mercenary alliances and companies out there."
"Fair point."
Ilenia laughed aloud.
"The Gray Mercenary Company bases out of Artlam. They usually operate around there, but looks like they've pushed into the southeast this time."
The Silver Guard Knight spoke up quietly from behind.
We'd been talking about the mercenaries who'd aided the Red Guard in the Delatria battle.
Artlam—a massive city that ran like one giant workshop.
Magic tools of every kind were forged there and shipped worldwide.
Its location... west of the old empire, if memory served. Quite a hike.
"Right. They came up to the southeast for a job—wiped out some infamous bandit gang in a flash."
"Not that surprising. The Gray Mercenary Company was formed mostly by Fire Arbats."
"A mercenary company made of Fire Arbats?"
Just imagining it was terrifying.
A bunch of people who could wield flames like Merian or Ilenia?
Ilenia nodded casually.
"Not all, but most."
"They use unique weapons backed by Artlam. Those are their main strength."
"Yeah, Silver Guard Knight. You've run into the Gray Mercenary Company before? You know your stuff."
As Ilenia glanced back from the lead, we all turned to him.
He nodded faintly.
"Never worked with them, but impossible not to know. Their captain's Silas Cortis."
"Eh?"
Shuren blurted in shock.
"Cortis? Silas Cortis, you mean...?"
Ilenia chuckled lightly at his mutter.
"Yep, my mom's brother. I just call him 'Uncle.'"
Ilenia's face softened at the mention of Silas Cortis.
"Mom used to leave me with him a lot when I was little. Dangerous missions or whatever. Honestly, I loved it—Uncle and the other mercs played with me great."
"Hm. So you know the Grays well."
"Last I saw was in Delatria, but they're good folks. A bit rough and rowdy... but free-spirited and fun."
Fire Arbat mercenaries... Yeah, figures it'd be a Cortis.
I quietly recalled old memories.
Cowan Cortis, one of the heroes, had led a Fire Arbat mercenary company to fame across the old empire.
Now his son was carrying on the legacy with his own group.
"Anyway, that's why Mom called in Uncle Silas for help. Never seen Fire Arbats deployed on that scale before... I missed out, though."
Ilenia's voice dipped a little. The Silver Guard Knight nodded silently.
"...I see. Understood."
"Having that many mercenaries and knights in the area... must mean it's dangerous, right?"
Wedin sighed heavily, stating the obvious.
"Yes. Mercenaries fill in where we can't reach."
"Plus, the old empire's full of folks who don't like us Prius types."
Ilenia added to the Silver Guard Knight's reply.
Hmm. The old empire's southeast we're heading into feels worlds apart from Lesion Kingdom.
Lesion had been extremely friendly toward us, thanks to the White Guard Knights.
Prius always strived for neutrality, but our unmatched strength made us a target for suspicion everywhere.
"No stable nations left in the old empire's lands—security's shaky. Plenty of magical beasts and bandits. Watch for traveler-hunters too."
"We've seen our share of scum even on knight escort duty."
Shuren let out a small sigh.
"And the old empire's beasts... some are huge and nasty. Something about the land being messed up, right?"
"Ah, yeah. Read about that in a book."
I nodded at Ilenia, old readings and experiences blending in my mind.
"The Demon Emperor ruled there so long, and so many died horribly—the mana itself is warped. Plus, hardly any Dragon Veins, so it doesn't circulate properly."
"Dragon Veins—like those ruins we just visited?"
"Think more like the Elgrace branch."
I corrected Wedin's guess.
"Empire mages did anything for power—even sucked Dragon Vein mana straight into their bodies."
Imperial noble rank hinged on magical prowess and mana reserves.
Raw power meant family survival, honors, and imperial favor.
Mages went to extremes to pass on bloodlines. Absorbing Dragon Vein mana often ended with no corpse left behind.
"Ugh, that's horrifying."
Ilenia shuddered with a groan. I managed a bitter smile.
"So, almost no Dragon Veins remain in the old empire. The few that do are unstable. Mana circulates via Dragon Veins worldwide—if they're gone, it stagnates..."
"Making magical beasts prone to mutation."
I nodded at the Silver Guard Knight. "Exactly."
"Haa... really don't wanna run into any..."
Wedin sighed from the heart. Makina giggled at that.
"Hey, Wedin. Don't say stuff like that—it jinxes it. Look at that big tree."
Makina pointed at a massively thick trunk.
One so wide two people couldn't embrace it. Twisted vines and underbrush cloaked it, forming what looked eerily like a human face.
"Looks just like a tree giant Minos. Plenty in these woods..."
As Makina finished, the trunk slowly lifted its "head."
Red light gleamed through the facial branches, staring us down.
"Uh, th-that..."
Makina trailed off in panic. We were all speechless.
"G-Gwaaaah!"
Wedin's scream rang out as the ground quaked.
The path crumbled, trees shaking roots-up. The tree giant was rising slowly.
Ruuuumble...
A menacing roar, vibrating the air, echoed through the forest.