Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: The Butcher of Daysol
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Night had fallen, blanketing everything in darkness.
Somewhere in the northeastern reaches of the Riverune continent, within the domain of House Everfilt.
An ordinary merchant's carriage came to a halt in the middle of a trade route.
It was so late that they seemed to be preparing to make camp nearby.
But no matter how long one waited, no one emerged from the carriage.
Clip-clop. Clip-clop.
Soon, a light appeared from the opposite direction, and a lavish carriage approached.
The two parties, now stopped and facing each other in the center of the trade route, remained silent for a while.
It was as if they were surveying their surroundings.
"There was still quite some time left on the deadline. Have you brought the item already?"
A middle-aged man who had stepped out of the lavish carriage addressed the gloomy-looking driver.
However, the reply came from the suddenly opened carriage window.
*Click!*
"Hmph! Of course. Is there any reason to drag out a simple task like this?"
"Hmm... It seems the hefty fee was worth it. Let's see it."
"One moment."
The one who alighted from the merchant carriage presented a long object wrapped in black cloth.
A moment later, the wrapping was removed, revealing a staff adorned with all manner of jewels.
"At last..."
The middle-aged man, his robed hood pulled low, caressed the ornate staff with eyes full of delight.
This was none other than the sacred artifact of the Gray Tower, the Granmagia.
The young man who handed over the staff spoke with a wry smile.
"Now, hand over the payment as promised. I trust there will be no... disagreements with House Everfilt."
"Of course. However... mentioning the client's name here seems to be against the rules."
"Ah, my apologies. It's such a significant job, it slipped out."
"Please be more careful."
"By the way, how will the payment be handled?"
"The same as last time. I'll leave a carriage near the border. Retrieve it and be on your way."
"Very well."
The young man nodded and immediately boarded the merchant carriage.
Soon, the two parties turned and disappeared into the darkness.
The members of House Everfilt in the lavish carriage were engrossed in examining the Granmagia.
As a sacred artifact of the Gray Tower, it was bound to have incredible functions.
It was an item more than sufficient to pique a mage's curiosity.
But a rather young man with curly brown hair tilted his head and said,
"It's a bit more ordinary than I expected."
He had examined it closely, but the Granmagia seemed like a common magical item.
It didn't have the awe-inspiring feel one would expect from something called a sacred artifact.
Its appearance was ornate, but that was about it.
"Our superiors ordered this. We just need to carry it out."
"That's a given, of course. I'm just curious. Why do those in high positions collect things like this?"
At the curly-haired man's question, the middle-aged man stroked his chin, his expression hardening.
"You're still young, so you wouldn't understand."
"Pardon?"
"The higher a mage rises, the more they focus on such collectibles. Take Lord Felix, the governor of Everdeen, for example."
"Ah, him? Now that you mention it, I think I understand. It's not to my taste, though."
"Tastes always change. You, for instance, are always making eyes at voluptuous women, aren't you?"
"What? Who told you that?"
"Hehe! It was just a guess. In any case, I've got a good handle on your preferences now."
"Ah, you got me..."
The middle-aged man chuckled slyly and picked up the Granmagia.
Then, he carefully placed it into a heavy-looking metal case.
Soon, the lavish carriage of House Everfilt began its journey north, toward the main family estate.
Unaware of what it was they were truly transporting.
* * *
I spent the entire day sweating bullets, trying to explain how I'd destroyed the greenhouse.
Befitting the generous daughter of a duke, she didn't demand I pay for the repairs.
She was simply sad that her flowers had been crushed.
'This just makes me feel like scum. How was I supposed to know that would happen?'
The Heaven-Severing Supreme Annihilation I'd unleashed as a test had demonstrated truly immense power.
And I hadn't even executed it with that much force.
It was all because the form had been completed.
'With this, I've taken another step forward.'
I thought it would only conceal my presence, but the power of the technique itself had also increased dramatically.
It would be no exaggeration to say I could now stand shoulder to shoulder with most of the Rantzverger elders.
Of course, that was just my own assessment; I didn't know how it would play out in reality.
"Anyway, what should I do about the ruined greenhouse?"
I couldn't pay for the repairs right now.
But I could offer compensation in another form.
For instance, what if I uncovered the mastermind behind the attempt on Adel Richter's life?
That would surely be sufficient payment.
"I'm heading out for a bit."
"Where are you going? If you're going to see the city, let's go together. There's a lot to see here."
As I was about to leave through the main gate, Adel, who had been reading in the garden, came over.
But I wagged my finger from side to side, signaling my refusal.
"Unfortunately, I'll have to turn down the date."
"What are you talking about! I'm just getting restless being cooped up in the villa."
"Sorry to rain on your parade, but I'm not going out for fun. I have something to investigate."
"Investigate?"
"I'll tell you later."
I left a puzzled Adel Richter behind and departed from the villa.
'Going to the Eastern Branch... isn't a great option.'
I was going to crush the Arcanus Guild for personal reasons, so I couldn't operate as an agent of the assassination guild.
Of course, using the identity of Ray Carter, the merchant's son, was also out of the question.
That left me with roughly two choices.
One was Ray the treasure hunter, and the other was Keros, the Butcher of Daysol.
'For a rough and tumble act, a psychopathic killer is probably the better choice.'
*Crack! Cra-crack!*
In a gloomy alley, I used the Seven-Joint Face-Changing Technique and transformed into a man with ash-gray hair.
A sword scar across the bridge of his nose, and empty, emotionless eyes.
He exuded the rugged air of a jackal roaming the wasteland.
"Kuh! My acting skills are truly to die for... Ahem! Focus. Get into character."
I pressed my flippant lips shut and surveyed my surroundings with chilling eyes.
Instantly, a butcher reeking of death emerged.
Donning dark brown leather armor and a black cloak, I completed the perfect image of Keros.
In this guise, I deliberately wandered through the most secluded alleyways.
"Who the hell is this guy? What a face. Where'd this stray crawl out from?"
"Hey, you know where you are? Why you walking around with a face like that? Fix your expression."
Immediately, the low-life thugs of the back alleys started picking a fight.
They seemed to think I was just like them—all bluster and no skill, trying to be intimidating.
'Too bad for them. I'm the real deal.'
As I turned my gaze on them like a machine, the two thugs who had spoken so harshly flinched.
The men tried to create an intimidating presence with crude tattoos, piercings, and menacing blades.
But they were no match for Keros, the Butcher of Daysol.
I held their gaze and walked slowly toward them.
The two thugs faltered, backing away until their backs were against a wall.
They were completely overwhelmed by my presence.
"Who do you work for?"
"What?"
One of them answered my question with a dumbfounded expression.
He had clearly never expected to be asked such a thing.
But they would have no choice but to answer faithfully.
*Zzzzt! Thwack!*
Because a sword imbued with aura had pierced the wall, burying itself more than halfway.
And it had grazed his earlobe on the way.
"Gyaaaah..."
The thug let out a strange groan, his eyes wide with shock.
He had probably never felt such immense terror in his recent life.
It must have felt like being dragged to the guillotine.
It was at that moment.
*Thud-thud-thud!*
The other thug standing beside him turned and tried to flee.
'A pathetic attempt.'
With a sneer, I flicked a dagger from my belt.
It wasn't the Spinning Lotus Dagger technique, just a simple throw a mercenary might use.
Of course, that was more than enough.
*Thunk!*
"Argh!"
The blade buried itself in his calf, and the fleeing thug screamed as he tumbled to the ground.
Even so, I never took my eyes off the one trembling against the wall.
I had cut off his escape without even looking.
At this, the thug whose earlobe had been nicked began to tremble even more violently.
I spoke to him in a voice utterly devoid of emotion.
"Affiliation."
"Aaaah!"
In the end, the man broke down before me.
Soaking his trousers with a yellow liquid.
'Well, I didn't mean to go that far.'
For some reason, I felt a little bad.
* * *
The two guys who had picked a fight on the street were nothing more than common back-alley thugs.
They robbed travelers visiting the Pennant Marquisate and kidnapped children to use as beggars.
They were just petty criminals, but they had the advantage of being quite knowledgeable about the local underworld.
Because they were small-time crooks, they had managed to survive by keeping a low profile.
'Arcanus isn't here, but someone even better has moved in.'
There was no way the assassination guild operating near Troven would have expanded its influence this far.
However, in the Pennant Marquisate, there was an organization with which I had deep ties as Keros.
The Valiant Guild, one of the continent's three great information guilds.
'But what on earth was the Eastern Branch doing?'
Letting another information guild set up shop near a branch of the Rantzverger Assassination Guild.
I could understand Discret, but to let Valiant expand this much?
It seemed I'd have to have a word with Dusk when I got back.
After I got everything I wanted first, of course.
*Clink!*
"A glass of Bell's Tear."
"..."
As I tossed fifteen Gald onto the bar, the bartender's face twitched slightly.
Judging by his reaction, he already seemed to know who I was.
'Oh? Well, that speeds things up.'
I didn't know who was at the Pennant branch, but there was no way they wouldn't know the Butcher of Daysol.
After all, I had taken care of quite a few of those troublesome Discret bastards for them.
Besides, the incidents I caused were so shocking that my image must have been seared into their minds.
"Go that way."
I headed in the direction the bartender indicated.
Parting the black curtain revealed a staircase leading down to a basement.
'These guys really like the classics.'
Smiling inwardly, I strode boldly into the heart of the Valiant Guild.
Gleefully anticipating shaking down the branch.
"This way."
An agent waiting ahead led me through a maze-like underground passage.
Seeing how well-constructed it was, it seemed they hadn't expanded into the Empire half-heartedly.
The Valiant Guild originally operated out of the Four-Part Autonomous Zone.
*Halt!*
"Go inside."
At the end of the passage was a thick wooden door.
As if his guidance was complete, the agent suddenly disappeared down another corridor.
With a light heart, I turned the doorknob.
*Click!*
But beyond the door, a scene completely different from what I had expected unfolded.
"…!"