Chapter 144
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: Call of the Flames (6)
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As we chatted about past events, the conversation naturally turned to what had happened today.
The Fire Arbats among the mercenaries, and the refugees who had set up camp outside Peira.
"Ilenia, was it like this last time too?"
Shuren asked Ilenia. She had been picking at a piece of meat but looked up with a puzzled expression.
"What do you mean?"
"The refugees outside Peira."
"Oh... no. I knew people from Delatria and nearby areas were evacuating, but hardly anyone came all the way to Peira. The distance is just too far."
"How far is Delatria from here?"
Ilenia paused at my question, humming thoughtfully for a moment.
"It takes about half a day on foot. Faster on horseback, but the roads are rough and dangerous."
"For refugees to brave those roads and come all this way... things must not have gotten any better."
"Probably."
Shuren and Ilenia sighed in unison.
"I'm not blaming anyone, but if the Water Arbats had been more cooperative... it would have been better."
Ilenia said gloomily, rummaging through her nearly empty seafood salad bowl.
"The Water Arbats live in these safe, prosperous cities but don't help outsiders much. They barely move unless Prius makes an official request."
She stared wistfully at the lake shimmering under the streetlights and the people strolling around it.
The refugee camp outside the gates stood in stark contrast to the affluent peace of Peira. Thinking of those outside made it hard to simply enjoy the comforts here.
"Honestly, I think it's too much."
"Ilenia..."
"Even the Gray Mercenaries like Rot."
As Ilenia brought it up, Shuren frowned.
Like Ayla who had shoved them into the inn, Shuren seemed to want nothing more to do with the mercenaries.
"The Water Arbats must have their reasons too."
Shuren replied offhandedly, but Ilenia wasn't about to let it slide.
"It's not reasons—it's prejudice. They think Fire Arbats are all savage and rough. Potential bandits."
She looked up and stated firmly.
"Rot said it himself. Even after showing their mercenary badges at the gates, the guards didn't believe them. They're still treated like bandits just because they look a bit fierce."
Ilenia couldn't hide her anger. Wedin and I both fell silent, watching her.
"That's probably because that Scorching Band bandit group had such a notorious reputation. The Water Arbats have good reason to be wary."
Shuren said calmly after a brief pause. Ilenia shook her head vigorously.
"Rot's squad isn't bandits anymore. They have proper mercenary badges as Gray Mercenaries."
"They were part of a bandit group in the past, though. Starting a new life doesn't erase history. Not everyone forgives and forgets. And they did steal things this time too..."
"If they'd been let in properly, they would have worked as mercenaries and paid fair wages."
Ilenia cut him off sharply.
The meal had already come to a halt.
Ilenia stared intently at Shuren, who met her gaze without backing down.
I couldn't just watch any longer.
"Both of you, stop..."
But my attempt at mediation was buried under Shuren's next words.
"Ilenia, not everyone who can't enter Peira resorts to theft."
I grabbed his arm, whispering for him to stop, but he didn't even glance my way.
Ilenia's face twisted as if she'd been struck by his words.
"I... I'm not justifying theft. Of course that's wrong. But the Water Arbats who refuse to trust us at all, who won't even give us a chance to prove ourselves—they have a problem too."
Ilenia contorted her face in pain, covering it with both hands.
"This is about the mercenaries' honor. Uncle Silas has worked so hard for it, but people won't even look at us properly because of prejudice. How much more proof do we need? How?"
"Well, they should have expected this when they casually took in remnants of a bandit group..."
"Don't talk about Uncle like that!"
Ilenia's shout exploded. At the same time, she stood up and slammed both hands on the table.
Shuren flinched in surprise.
"You don't know anything about Fire Arbats! You didn't even know our mercenary group's name before coming here!"
"Our mercenary group? Ilenia, you're Prius, not Gray Mercenaries."
Ilenia inhaled sharply, her face paling.
"...Is that really what you think? I'm not so sure anymore."
Shuren froze at her devastated gaze.
Ilenia had left the Red Guard to join us, but she still hadn't received confirmation about joining the Silver Knights.
There was nothing Shuren could say to that. Wedin and I were at a loss for words too.
People around us started murmuring and looking our way.
Ilenia turned and stormed off.
Caught off guard by the sudden outburst, the three of us were rooted to the spot. None of us dared to chase after her or call her back.
Only the folding chair she'd been sitting on lay toppled on the floor.
"Ugh, damn it."
After a long silence, Shuren spat out a curse, covering his face.
I sighed deeply and took a sip of water. It did nothing to ease the heaviness in my chest.
"Should we go after her?"
Wedin asked, glancing in the direction she'd gone.
"Leave her be. She's not a kid."
Shuren grumbled curtly.
"You were both wrong."
I began clearing the table.
As the plates were cleared and space opened up, Shuren groaned and slumped face-first onto the table. He must have been really shocked.
"Did I say something weird?"
"You were too logical. It must have been hard for her to hear."
On top of that, Ilenia had gotten so immersed in the mercenaries' perspective that she'd lost her composure.
"Damn it," Shuren muttered again.
"It's true we don't know much about Fire Arbats or the Gray Mercenaries. Or even what the Water Arbats living here in Peira are like."
Wedin pointed out coolly. Shuren clamped his mouth shut, having no retort.
We couldn't go looking for Ilenia now that she'd stormed off in anger.
Had she gone back to the knight quarters? Maybe we should have followed.
I was worried, but any comfort we offered now would be superficial. We didn't know her situation well enough.
The clinking of empty dishes and utensils continued for a while... Then, after some thought, I quietly stood up.
"I'll pack some food to go. I should bring some to the Silver Guard Knight."
I suddenly remembered the Silver Guard Knight, stuck with the chatty clerk. He hadn't eaten properly either.
Wedin nodded.
"I'll take a walk by the lake. What about you, bro?"
Shuren groaned, pondering for a long time before speaking.
"I need to sort my thoughts. You go ahead, Lib. I'll get some air too."
"Alright then."
I headed to the outdoor restaurant's counter to pack food for the Silver Guard Knight.
Shuren and Wedin sat there a bit longer before slowly walking toward the lake.
By the time I returned to the Prius branch with the packed food, it was quite late.
The bustling knights and clerks were gone, and the refugee tents in the makeshift camp were quiet, everyone asleep.
Amid the stillness, only one room on the first floor of the main building was lit. It had to be the reception room where the Silver Guard Knight was held up.
I quietly made my way there.
Through the window, I could see Clerk Peltra sitting on the sofa, talking nonstop, while the Silver Guard Knight listened silently with his chin propped up.
As I hesitated at the door, wondering if I should knock, the Silver Guard Knight looked up and spotted me.
As if he'd been waiting, he stood immediately, excused himself to Clerk Peltra, and flung open the door.
"Silver Guard Knight, I figured you hadn't eaten, so I brought some packed food."
"Ah. Thank you."
His thanks were brief but sincere. I handed him the packed meal.
"Oh dear."
Clerk Peltra groaned as he approached us. He bowed apologetically to the Silver Guard Knight.
"I've kept a traveler who just arrived and is weary from a long journey here too long. My apologies, Silver Guard Knight. We can finish talking tomorrow. Please head to your quarters and rest. Use the lodging and office as I mentioned earlier."
"Very well."
Clerk Peltra bowed repeatedly to both of us before hurrying off down the corridor.
Only after his figure vanished into the dark hallway did the Silver Guard Knight exhale softly.
"You must be tired."
I gave a wry smile.
"The branch seems busy, huh?"
"Very. And the clerk is new, so he's unsure about procedures. He wanted confirmation on even trivial matters."
We headed toward the quarters.
The Silver Guard Knight looked fatigued but didn't show it much.
"Truth be told, there's not much I can do. With so few in the Silver Knights, I can't provide extra manpower. Just judgment calls and advice."
"That alone should be plenty helpful."
"...If so, that's a relief."
I thought his mere presence was already a big help.
"Anyway, I brought up Rot's squad. He said he'll assign a clerk tomorrow. Support for lodging and meals, and help disclosing the crimes and mediating."
"That's good news."
I felt relieved about the support, but wondered if the clerk would have helped the mercenaries without the Silver Guard Knight's request. Probably not.
We passed through the quiet corridor into the knight quarters lobby.
The interior was so still I couldn't tell if Ilenia had returned.
The Silver Guard Knight relayed what Clerk Peltra had told him.
Most knights and holy mages from Peira had been sent to support Delatria, making it hard to request aid from Peira's holy court or guards.
"I heard roughly about that 'Scorching Band' bandit group too. They were Fire Arbats who roamed the southeast, pillaging and burning villages everywhere."
"A bandit group made of Fire Arbats..."
It was hard to even imagine how terrifying they must have been.
I recalled how Rot's group had burned Minos without a second thought. They didn't care if the fire spread and turned the forest to ash...
"When Fire Arbats turn malicious, few organizations can stop them. They came all the way near Peira, plundering and torching indiscriminately."
"That's why Peira's guards wouldn't let Rot's squad in."
"I understand the caution, but... refusing to trust them despite their mercenary badges wasn't fair."
The clash between the insular Water Arbat society and the Fire Arbats' past mistakes.
I sighed softly, lost in thought. It seemed the Silver Guard Knight needed to know about the argument between Ilenia and Shuren.
"Silver Guard Knight, actually..."
I sighed again and briefly explained what had happened.
The Silver Guard Knight stopped at the second-floor railing, listening with a grave expression.