Chapter 7
Chapter 7
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: The Butcher of Deisol
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Valiant was a massive intelligence guild based in the eastern part of the Empire and the autonomous districts.
The Rantzverger Assassination Guild and the intelligence guild had much in common.
Both were filled with agents who moved stealthily in the shadows, disguising themselves as all sorts of people to carry out their missions.
Finding the Valiant Guild wasn't difficult, but establishing a close relationship was another matter entirely.
'Sertin of the Cat's Eye. The guild master of Valiant.'
Sertin was a rising power within Valiant who had seized the position of guild master.
A true mastermind whose identity had never been revealed.
She was a ruthless figure, with rumors claiming that anyone who saw her true self ended up dead.
But I knew quite a bit about Sertin's identity.
Her grudge against the Discret Guild was so intense that even the Assassination Guild kept an eye on it.
In a way, I was a key figure from the opposing faction.
To get Sertin's attention, I had to find a different approach.
"I'll need to create an identity that piques her interest."
* * *
In the eastern part of the Vertos Empire, north of the Veltia Autonomous District, lay the Deisol Wasteland.
Further east from here was a unique place called the Forest of the Dead.
In this wasteland, one couldn't even drink carelessly from the springs.
To do so would mean a gruesome death, contaminated by the potent energy flowing from the forest.
However, the wasteland was not entirely devoid of people.
This was because an important trade route connecting the north and south passed through here.
Clip-clop! Clip-clop!
"We're almost there."
The Curie Merchant Troupe was one of the prominent groups that used the Deisol Wasteland.
Its leader, Curie, earned a handsome profit trading between the northern and southern parts of the Livius continent.
That was why he couldn't abandon this trade route, despite the danger.
"We're entering the disputed territory. We must be extremely careful from here on."
"It wasn't such a dangerous road in the past. But ever since the Riverune fell, bandit groups have been rampant."
Curie shook his head at the guard captain's words.
Today, it seemed as though more of the wasteland's coarse sand clung to his white beard than usual.
"Tell the guards to be on high alert. It would be good to distribute some rations and water as well."
"Yes, sir."
Curie showed goodwill to the caravan guards and mercenaries.
It was because he always acted this way that he had been able to save his own life with his companions' help whenever he faced danger.
But somehow, it felt like that wouldn't be possible this time.
An enormous number of horsemen had appeared over the hill, threatening the caravan.
"B-Bandits have appeared!"
"All hands, prepare for battle!"
They appeared endlessly along the low ridge.
"This is a scale we can't possibly fight against!"
"I-Incredible..."
The guard captain groaned and looked back at Curie.
The troupe leader, too, had never seen such a sight.
"Abandon the goods and flee. Our lives are more important than money, aren't they?"
"Understood."
"As long as I survive, paying the commission won't be a problem. I'm counting on you."
"Get on this horse."
Curie moved onto the guard captain's horse.
Then he watched the bandits with an anxious gaze.
If they were the type to leave a caravan alone after it abandoned its wagons, there would be no major problem.
After all, the most valuable items were all inside Curie's sub-spatial ring.
But if they were ruthless bastards who wanted more, it would be a different story.
A life-or-death struggle, where lives could be lost and won dozens of times in an instant, would likely unfold.
Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!
The bandits occupying the hill began to move, kicking up clouds of dust.
They descended the slope at high speed, passed the caravan wagons, and charged fiercely after the guards.
"D-Damn it! They're coming after us!"
"Ride! We have to get out of here, no matter what!"
They galloped like mad, but there was nowhere for Curie's troupe to run.
Before long, bandits were swarming toward them from the front as well.
"Ah!"
Seeing the group, Curie and the guard captain wore looks of dismay.
"Th-This is..."
In the end, the caravan guards gathered together and formed a defensive line.
Soon, the bandits closed in, completely surrounding them.
Seeing them go this far, it seemed they were well aware of sub-spatial magic items.
But just then, a sudden commotion erupted from the rear of the bandit group.
Shunk! Thud!
"Kuaargh!"
"Keoheok!"
A series of death screams rang out, and the entire bandit group fell into disarray, changing their formation.
"What in the world is happening?"
"Perhaps they're fighting amongst themselves? Maybe factions are splitting over the treasure."
"But they don't even know how much treasure we have, do they?"
"Let's just watch for a moment."
Curie and the guard captain's eyes darted around, looking for a chance to escape.
Peeeeee! Thud-thud-thud-thud!
But then, even the bandits who had blocked their escape route passed by Curie's troupe and rejoined the main force.
This happened after a long whistle blast.
A few still remained, but it was the perfect chance to escape.
"Now's our chance. Let's go!"
"Let's!"
Curie's troupe broke away from the trade route and began to gallop away.
But they soon had no choice but to slow down.
It was because they had finally realized there was no need to run.
"H-How can that be!"
When Curie turned his head, an unbelievable sight met his eyes.
A lone man was slaughtering the bandits all by himself.
"Th-Thank you."
When the situation was over in an instant, Curie bowed his head to the man.
But the man merely wiped his sword on a dead bandit's clothes, not even sparing him a glance.
His appearance—plain, dark brown leather armor and a black cloak—was reminiscent of a veteran mercenary.
His carelessly tied gray hair and the scar across the bridge of his nose were quite striking.
The indifferent way he wiped the blood from his blade made him seem devoid of even the slightest human emotion.
Like a lone jackal roaming the wasteland.
"Sir... I'd like to offer you a reward for saving us. Please, come with us."
Curie once again expressed his gratitude politely.
Only then did the man turn his head and scan the members of the caravan.
Then, he answered in a dry tone, as if spitting out the words.
"Not interested."
"Th-Then, could you at least tell us your name?"
Curie desperately tried to show his gratitude in some way.
At that, the man readily gave his name, as if he had been waiting for the question.
"Keros."
And with that, leaving only a lingering impression, he walked off toward the other side of the wasteland.
"Ah..."
The members of the caravan stared at Keros's back for a long time.
That was how strong an impression the man had left.
Soon, they recovered their wagons and resumed their journey.
A few days later, upon arriving in the Pellard Autonomous District, Curie was able to confirm the reputation of the man named Keros.
His name came up frequently whenever Curie visited restaurants and taverns.
Curie posed a question to a merchant at the next table.
"Is this Keros fellow that famous?"
"What, is there anyone in Pellard who doesn't know of Keros, the 'Butcher of Deisol'? I heard he slaughtered another group of bandits just recently. In the Everdeen Autonomous District, that is."
"So he's made a name for himself by slaughtering only bandits?"
"If he doesn't like them, he'll go after caravans too. There have been a few groups who got their heads chopped off for hanging around him trying to make a quick profit."
"Ah..."
It seemed this Keros character didn't just kill outlaws.
Curie breathed a sigh of relief that he had let the man go without provoking him.
* * *
Clack! Thump.
Keros, the Butcher of Deisol, abruptly stepped into a shabby tavern in a corner of the Pellard Autonomous District.
The tavern was full, but surprisingly, it wasn't very loud.
For a moment, all eyes in the tavern turned to him, but he paid them no mind and walked to the bar.
There was exactly one seat left there.
"A glass of Vel's Tear."
"15 Geld."
Clink!
It was an outrageous price for a single drink, but Keros unhesitatingly tossed down three five-Geld gold coins.
The bartender opened a door behind him and stared intently at Keros.
The meaning was clear: go inside.
Keros rose from the tall stool and pushed his way through the back door.
Just as expected, there was a staircase leading down to a basement.
"Classic."
"It's also the safest. Follow me."
A voice came from the darkness, but he remained unfazed.
He had already sensed that someone was hiding there.
Keros followed the person for a long time through a secret, maze-like passage.
Finally, they reached their destination.
Click. Swoosh.
Entering a rather spacious room, he saw a woman in a red dress smoking a hookah.
The deeply plunging neckline of her top explicitly revealed her voluptuous figure.
"Hooo..."
A thick apple scent emanated from the dense smoke.
From the demeanor of the men lined up around her, he could guess the woman's identity.
"Sertin of the Cat's Eye."
A faint smile flickered across Keros's grim face before vanishing in an instant.