Book 14 Chapter 16
Platinum Mercenary Group,
In the northern part of the Empire (5)
“Snakehead, subjugation successful!”
And that was the end of it.
It was a bit difficult to understand how something so easy for us was such a massive problem in the upper village, to the point where they worried about their livelihoods.
The village instantly erupted into a festive atmosphere. That day, we were able to taste eighteen different dishes made with salmon.
“Try some of this, Swordsman.”
“Oh, what is it?”
“It’s a grilled salmon eyeball skewer. The crispy ones are very popular. Each salmon only has two of these small ones, so we never give them to anyone who isn’t an honored guest.”
Lista looked back and forth between the salmon eyeball skewer and the villagers, her lips pressed into a straight line.
“Ugh, why do Northerners love eyes so much?!”
“Is it because there’s a lot of snow? Hahahaha!”
Just as Lista and the villagers burst into laughter once more, the village chief approached me, sitting in a corner, and handed me a skewer.
For a moment, silence fell.
I don’t dislike such silence. On the contrary, I like it because my thoughts aren’t interrupted. Wow, but this eyeball skewer is really delicious.
“You, are you by any chance Atlante’s disciple?”
When the village chief finally spoke, I had to feign surprise.
“How do you know that?”
Then the village chief grinned.
“I was sure of it. The way you use magic is so similar.”
My desire to emulate the Archmage’s magic was so strong that I couldn’t help but be pleased.
It was my secret that on days the Archmage demonstrated magic, I would secretly imitate every single one of his hand gestures at night.
Therefore, my lips twitched uncontrollably, but as the strongest mage, I had to maintain my dignity.
“Not only that, but you resemble him in many ways. I had a strong feeling about it from the first time I saw you. I almost asked but didn’t.”
“I resemble the Archmage?”
“You can’t imagine how mischievous Atlante was in his childhood, can you?”
The Archmage’s childhood—I had never even thought about such a thing. It didn’t seem like the Archmage had experienced a childhood like mine.
The Archmage was the Archmage himself.
That is, he was regarded as something divine, not a human like me. Just as children find it hard to imagine their parents’ past.
“What?”
“Atlante’s disciple?”
“Wow, really?”
In an instant, the villagers’ attention focused on me. The village chief continued.
“Atlante used to visit our village once or twice a year to provide assistance, even when the previous Archmage was here, but recently, he spoke about his new disciple with a very happy expression.”
The Archmage talked about me? It might not have been a good story. After all, I caused him a lot of trouble.
I was curious, but equally afraid.
And since it was recent, he might have said something negative because of the incident with Ken Sermant.
“No, I just won’t listen.”
However, Lista interjected.
“I’m curious. What did he say?”
The village chief let out a chuckle.
“He said that while he can only barely solve the problems we face, his disciple, by the time they reach his age, will be able to prevent problems from arising altogether.”
The young woman who had given Lista the salmon eyeball skewer smiled brightly and continued explaining.
“So, when we asked when we could meet this disciple, and how we would recognize them, he replied like this:”
No explanation is needed.
Just as you can tell it’s a spring breeze by simply feeling the warmth of the wind, if that child arrives, you’ll know they are my disciple.
- That child is spring; a child who heralds spring with their life.
* * *
“Come again!”
“Next time, come with the Archmage!”
“I’ll treat you to even more delicious salmon dishes!”
The high temperatures of summer, blown in from the Demon Realm in the name of yellow dust, melted the snow in the northern mountains and rivers with their warmth.
At the same time, as we approached the border between the north and central regions, various colors began to emerge in a world that had been monochromatic white and black.
After staying a night, as we departed for [Stella Grand Bridge] with the villagers’ farewells, my steps felt lighter than usual for some reason. I felt, so to speak, ‘as if I could fly.’
“Rin, it was good we came here, wasn’t it?”
“Not really.”
“You’re lying again. It’s all over your face.”
“Gyu gyu gyu!”
I still don’t quite know how I can live the life the Archmage spoke of.
But…
If I follow this journey to the end, if I take in the world with my own eyes, won’t I come to know it?
Then I might be able to become it.
A disciple the Archmage can be proud of, anytime, anywhere, to anyone… none other than [The Strongest Mage].
* * *
“Captain, we were able to prevent Jack and Janna from being taken by the [Children of Gold].”
The [Children of Gold] was an inquisition body directly under the Papal Court.
Among the eight sword schools that dominate the Empire, the One Saint Seven Swords (一聖七劍), the ‘One Saint’ refers to these very [Children of Gold]. Their swordsmanship involves using a morning star and a shield.
Originally an unapproachable, elite inquisition body, the balance of power began to crumble as the Dragon Legion left for the Demon Realm front and criminals obtained the [King’s Flesh].
“But Jack’s condition is a bit strange.”
“Why?”
“He says he’ll just go to the Inquisition as is, and asks us to send him.”
The warrior woman, who had been chewing tobacco leaves rebelliously with her arms crossed, swung her hand with all her might.
Then, the portable iron cage where Jack and Janna were confined shattered into many fragments.
At the same time, she precisely targeted and broke only the chains that bound the two people. Neither of them suffered any harm.
“Hey, are you kidding me? If you go to the Inquisition, what about us, you bastard?”
This power proves that she ranks 11th among the Platinum-grade mercenaries, a rank only eleven out of countless mercenaries achieve.
Paradona of the Iron Split.
She was famous for her unique combat style, which used 10 iron wires attached to her ten fingers to cut even iron. She was a rising strong figure who was promoted to Platinum grade last year.
“Captain.”
As Jack, sitting disheveled inside the iron cage, lifted his head, Paradona gripped his chin.
“Who was it? Can you tell who those guys were?”
“…I don’t know. I was subdued before I could even find out.”
“Look at this bastard, all the venom drained from his face after having his flesh taken. Honestly, I don’t really care whether it’s drained or not, but you owe me. Is my flesh yours? I loaned it to you.”
“Captain, I…”
“Hand it over one way or another and go. Either find it from other bastards, or get it back from the bastards who took it. If you don’t like either option, then just die here. You know my personality, right? I can’t stand debt. Whether I incurred it or it was incurred against me.”
Janna, who had been confined with him in the iron cage, regained consciousness and shouted.
“Captain, those guys were heading south. Let me kill the woman.”
“You got beaten like a dog. How are you going to kill her now?”
“Next time, I definitely will!”
“You’re damn weak. What are you going to do?”
“With fighting spirit…”
Paradona playfully (?) slapped Janna on both cheeks and looked to the side.
“South? Why head south? The North should be a gold mine with relatively fewer competitors.”
The northern part of the Empire is vast but has many rough terrains, so there aren’t many densely populated areas. This means that public security management is relatively difficult.
“If they’re heading south, they must be planning to cross the Eleanor Great River via the [Stella Grand Bridge].”
The man responsible for the strategy of [Roar of the Grizzly Bear] said.
“That’s where the security forces of the North and Central regions are concentrated. It’ll get troublesome once they arrive there.”
Paradona spat, “Tsk.”
“I always repay my debts. I’ll take care of them before they cross the [Stella Grand Bridge], or as they try to cross.”