Book 13 Chapter 18
Episode 10
To carry out a Grade 1 request, I temporarily joined the mercenary group 'The Genius Tinkerer, the Nine Monkeys, and the Foolish Giant.'
Grade 1 Request.
It seems to be a mission commissioned by the state only to the 11 mercenaries ranked 2nd to 12th, platinum-grade mercenary groups, and its reward is said to be immense.
“It's the subjugation of a Svalarg. It's a monster of the highest danger rank. They say it's the first time it's appeared south of the Wall in nearly 500 years.”
Balrag.
Its identity is unclear, but the prevailing theory is that a spirit has fallen into corruption in the abyss of the <Forgotten Kings>.
The prefix changes with each attribute. The one that appears in the north and controls snow is called a Svalarg.
“Merchant caravans passing near the northern capital, <Snowstorm>, and several nearby small towns have already suffered significant damage. Grand Duke Duren has summoned everything that could be called a force. We, who happened to be operating nearby, are one of them.”
“If a Balrag appeared so close to the capital, shouldn't it be an emergency?”
“No, it can't be. Don't you know that the Imperial Election is soon, and Grand Duke Duren is aiming for the throne this time?”
There are five Elector families in the Empire, and the next emperor is chosen through an election, with the Duren family being the Elector family of the North.
Therefore, the Empire's administrative divisions follow a Five Capitals (五京) administrative system.
The major cities governed by each Elector family become the capitals of their respective regions: Bukgyeong (Northern Capital), Junggyeong (Central Capital), Namgyeong (Southern Capital), Seogyeong (Western Capital), Donggyeong (Eastern Capital).
“During this summer season in the North, when various festivals and exams are concentrated, what if they don't declare an emergency but subjugate the Balrag themselves and handle the situation gently? It seems they calculated that it would be good publicity nationwide.”
Indeed.
Unlike the South, the North can enjoy a winter atmosphere even in summer.
Tourists are said to flock there, so suddenly declaring an emergency would cause immense nationwide losses.
“The Phoenix Wing Knights, the strongest knight order in the North, the main force of the Belsedel School, one of the Seven Great Academies, and even the battlemage faculty of the <Winterhold> Magic University have been summoned. How about that, can you feel the immense scale just by hearing it? Tell me if you're scared.”
The moment I heard this request, I couldn't quell the excitement boiling up from deep within my heart.
Is it strong?
It must be strong, right?
Being strong means it won't fall even if I use every single spell I have, doesn't it! To grow as the [Strongest Mage], one needs an opponent to enhance their practical abilities.
“I'm not scared. I happened to need a toy that wouldn't break easily.”
Even black mages, who sought to be the [Strongest] to the point of corruption, would fall with a single spell, contrary to my expectations, so I was losing interest in combat magic these days.
“Guhahahahahaha! Even gold-grade rookies turn pale and scurry away at the mention of a Balrag subjugation, but an extraordinary fellow has rolled in!”
“Link! Link!”
As Link pounded the table with his fist, Nils took a leather pouch from his pocket and tossed a single Golden Dragon coin onto the table.
A gold coin is worth one Black Tortoise silver coin. One silver coin is an average worker's daily wage.
“This much should be enough for a children's Hanbok suit. We'll leave through the North Gate right after lunch. We need to go to the subjugation force's encampment near Bukgyeong <Snowstorm>.”
Link caught the gold coin bouncing on the table with his huge hand and placed it in my palm with surprisingly gentle movements. For a moment, I seemed to just stare at it blankly.
“You want me to take this?”
“You were the one who asked for an advance payment, weren't you? Do you have a faulty memory, like a monkey?”
“We just met.”
“When you're my age, you develop an eye for people.”
“What if I run away to prove that eye is wrong?”
“Then I won't be fooled by someone like you next time. Guhahahaha! That would merely be the cost incurred for such a lesson! That's all!”
“Link, Link, Link!”
I thought the path to becoming the [Strongest] would be lonely, but if I were to meet other [Strongest] individuals in different fields like this, the journey seemed like it would be quite enjoyable.
“Alright. You guys eat. I'll be right back after taking care of something.”