Book 8 Chapter 8

Chapter 182

“What does that mean? Miria is going to die?”

The female knight answered my question.

“I am Slime Slayer… Rinkleland, that is, Miria’s friend from back home…”

Normally, I would have found an inn or hospital and put her in a bed, but with Zernix’s magic now appearing, I couldn’t leave Aki alone.

Still, the spectator stands of Territos were a crucible of cheers and chatter, so there seemed to be no concern about this story leaking out.

Instead, I wrapped Seresia around my body, and Seresia transformed into a bed, allowing her to lean comfortably against the gunwale.

“I ran away from there to here… I was caught having second thoughts on the way and was attacked… But, ha, because of slime extermination, I know the sewers of <Terbenopl> inside and out…”

“You ran away, why? You said it was your hometown.”

“It was my hometown… ever since our ancestor, the Demon Slayer, settled on that island…”

The descendants of Demon Slayer Cassel Rinkan and their hometown…

Meeting them in person, the feeling was truly bizarre.

Once again, the fact that I alone had been abandoned 300 years into the future was acutely felt.

“It’s not anymore, you mean?”

“Ghosts took it over…”

“Ghosts?”

“Ghosts.”

Pipi ominously repeated the word.

“Ghosts, ghosts, ghosts, ghosts.”

“Those guys, 10 years… no, it’s 11 years ago now… they suddenly appeared on our island… Can you believe it? The Slayers from 500 years ago…”

Slayers…?

Being a person from 300 years ago, I know their stories better than modern people.

“Slayers? The only Slayers I know are one.”

The strongest mercenary group in history.

And the worst adventure party in history.

Arthur Brius, who was known simultaneously for fame and infamy under the nickname Uruk Slayer.

He subjugated the eight strongest mercenaries of his time, then bestowed upon them the nickname ‘Slayer,’ which was the background for the Slayers’ formation.

After gathering a hundred more lower-ranked mercenaries, a mere 109 of them reportedly swept through border battlegrounds.

However, it seems killing demons wasn’t enough for them; they occasionally picked fights with other mercenary groups or the republican army over various disputes.

‘Everything was done on a whim, they say.’

If more gold was offered, if fighting here seemed more fun, if there was someone they wanted to fight…

When border conflicts reached a lull, they would move up to small kingdoms and, at the request of kings, ‘legally’ ravage other kingdoms.

However, their atrocities were so cruel that about three years later, the Papacy issued an extermination order.

‘Yet, they reportedly hunted down more than a dozen wyverns sent by the extermination order…’

They committed such acts not in an era like the present, but during the golden age of dragons, when it was at its peak.

The extermination order was issued before <Flame’s Grand Vista> was built, at a time when the power of skilled warriors fighting demons in the border regions was desperately needed.

Rumor has it that if they were paid well, and if there seemed to be much to seize, they would even side with demons and antagonize their own kind.

‘That’s why they were called Uruk Slayer or Kinslayer before they got the epithet Dragon Slayer.’

The Slayers, who committed terrible atrocities even against their own kind, were finally barely subjugated by an unprecedented measure involving all three contemporary Feyquarius (!) and even the Cardinal directly.

However, Arthur Brius must be the only warrior in history who, despite not being a Feyquarius, possessed the martial prowess to hunt dragons with a mortal body.

That’s why I heard there were also warrior groups who secretly worshipped him like a religion.

This is why they were called the strongest mercenary group of their time, and why they are called the worst adventure party in modern times.

“Not the Slayers from 500 years ago, a new group of Slayers appeared?”

“Those are the very same Slayers.”

“What nonsense…”

“I couldn’t explain earlier because the gong rang. The reason I told you to avoid the Tersh Archipelago is precisely because the Slayers conquered it.”

“What?”

At that moment, a cheer erupted from the arena. It seemed Celine’s punch had knocked her opponent out with one blow.

“I told you. He revives even specters and uses them as his limbs. He himself is a specter from the start.”

“…!”

“The Slayers are one of the Black Church’s top nine organizations, just like Ruzaihyaen. In terms of sheer power, they are the strongest of those nine.”

I instantly shut my mouth.

A terrible imagination writhed and spread throughout my entire brain.

“So, those guys occupied the Demon Slayer’s home and controlled the entire Tersh Archipelago?”

What did the Papacy and the witches do?

Then, Valenidis’s voice from before echoed in my ears. Would you believe it if I told you he had a minion in the Papacy too?

“They control the entire green city of <Karsiko> from the archipelago’s underworld… My kin are now their slaves…”

“Slaves? Slaves? Slaves? Slaves.”

I couldn’t believe it at all.

But with Zernix also resurrected, if I accept the Slayers’ revival as fact, don’t all the mysteries suddenly unravel?

Why Miria had such sad eyes.

Kora sneered in pain.

“We earn money like mercenaries… to make it seem like there are no problems in Rinkleland…”

“…”

“And most importantly, to make it seem like we are using the name Slayers…”

When I came here, I recalled what the merchant ship captain said about Slayers recently taking exorbitant profits.

Miria, that bastard…

Why didn’t she tell me anything? If she had somehow explained the situation, I wouldn’t have idled around in the Bellisor Great River.

“It’s because of the mark.”

Valenidis answered my question.

“Even if you just decide to speak the secret about the Slayers, that mark will exert its power. The one you erased.”

My bitten lips split.

Zernix… a burning ember of rage slowly felt like it was scorching my heart.

- I just work for money. And the reason I only hunt goblins is that nobody else does it, so the pay is surprisingly good. Don’t you get it? I just said something plausible. Forget it all.

The mark of Miria that I erased in <Ortaris> was actually such a shackle on her life…

“So, to summarize, I erased Miria’s mark, and now she’s in danger of dying?”

“No, that’s not it… We managed to get by thanks to the trust we’ve built up… The reason Miria is in danger is…”

“Was it Miria who told you to find me?”

“No, it was someone else, someone else… It was a mage who helped me, his name was, Zer, yes, you would understand if I said Zer…”

Zer?

At that name, Valenidis raised both eyebrows and looked back at me.

“It’s a trap. As expected, we shouldn’t have gone to the Tersh Archipelago. They deliberately let this woman go to lure you. If the Slayers and Zernix are together, the chances of winning are zero.”

“…”

“Do you know? A Dragon Slayer is a monster with power beyond that of a Feyquarius.”

500 years ago, since the system of adventurers and adventure parties didn’t exist, naturally, that ranking system also didn’t exist.

The ranking system like Diamond and Platinum used by current adventurers was originally a refined version that absorbed the system used by old mercenaries.

Unlike today’s adventurers who value personality and contribution, old mercenaries determined their ranks solely by strength and achievements.

“I know. Dragon Slayer was a Diamond-ranked mercenary 500 years ago, wasn’t he?”

In an era where only one person could hold that rank, the meaning of the Diamond rank was singular, whether in the age of mercenaries or adventurers.

Supremacy (至尊).

Even the other eight Slayers were all Platinum-ranked, so there’s no need to further explain their potential.

“But so what?”

I am the Archmage of the hero’s party.

And I am an avatar of a dragon, holding a Dragon Orb in my soul. In both my past and present lives, I have lived possessing a power fundamentally different from mercenaries.

And I have fought alongside individuals who are fundamentally different.

- Link, here.

300 years ago, it was probably the day we were preparing for the final battle.

I once cooperated with Master Tinker Nils Blantz to make a magical artifact for Link.

It was in the form of a hood, and by simply injecting magic, the artifact would send electrical signals to the language-related areas of the frontal lobe to treat aphasia.

- I was originally researching to make it for Toureina, but that tomboy recovered on her own. I have no one else to give it to, so I'll give it to Link.

If Kies’s tongue wasn’t severed but he had a brain disorder, I would have tried to treat him this way.

- Hey, you impudent brat, by whose arbitrary will do you omit the exploits of this Nils Blantz? What about my heart? My skill?

- Ouch! I’m not finished talking yet!

While I was brawling with Uncle Nils, who had smacked me on the crown of my head with a tool, Link, who was wearing the hood, began to speak.

- Li, Link, Ni, Ni, Nils, tha, than, thank you.

At that moment, the laughter that burst simultaneously from the mouths of Nils and me, as we stared blankly at each other…

But the celebration of success was short-lived. Perhaps due to inadequate equipment or spells, all he could do was speak syllables haltingly.

Feeling sorry about that, I said this to Link before the battle began.

- Later, when Link gets married and has children, what's it called, I'll teach them how to read and write. Because it will be hard to teach Link.

- Ch, children, teach, Lin will?

- Yes, and as the Archmage of the hero’s party, I’ll tell stories. That this big, gentle uncle was a real Demon Slayer. Of course, only until that hood is completed.

At that, Link smiled innocently and promised to have a great many children.

- Ah, children, ma, many children, Li, Lin will, always, st, stay, together. Teach, read, have to.

And Link kept that promise. He had so many descendants that they formed a clan. So now it must be my time to keep that promise.

Even if I can’t teach them to read.

Even if I can’t tell them that story.

I’ll create an environment where they can learn to read and hear such stories in peace.

- If you really want to save Aki, you’ll need my help too. I know the terrain of the Red Mountains like the back of my hand.

Above all, I owe Miria. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have saved Aki.

“You said it before, Valenidis. If I act like this, what will Aki learn from me?”

“Learn, learn, learn, learn.”

“What will he learn from a guardian who doesn't properly help a friend who helped him? What kind of adult will he become when he grows up?”

Valenidis’s eyes widened, then he nodded in agreement with a sighing smile.

“Yes, you were always like this. I seem to have made a mistake.”

The Slayers and Zernix are together… persecuting Link’s descendants? My mind went cold as I re-evaluated the meaning of that.

It’s actually good.

Get ready and wait.

This time, I’ll happily send you undead bastards to hell.

“Your name was Kora, right? Guide me to your island. I’ll hear the details later.”

* * *

The Green City, <Karsiko>.

<Karsiko> is famous for its cityscape, where beautiful nature and artificial structures are in harmony.

This place, overlooking the panoramic view of the city, is the mayor’s office.

In <Karsiko>, ‘mayor’ refers to the former consul, meaning the top leader of the Tersh Archipelago… yet now he wore a surprisingly submissive smile.

“Hmm, the ‘Children of Gold’ have arrived?”

To the black-haired boy, who was perched on his table, peeling and eating a tangerine. The sweetness of the Tersh Archipelago’s tangerines is world-renowned.

“Yes, they arrived in a huge throng. They were all disguised as merchants, so they didn’t get caught in the first filter.”

“And you just let them through?”

“Th-that is, they submitted the Papacy’s search warrant for Rinkleland and 17 islands! You know, sir! Once that is presented, I have no way to stop it…”

The mayor frantically flapped his arms, asserting his innocence.

The boy took a small bite of the last tangerine, and its pulp dripped along his slender lips.

Meanwhile, cold sweat trickled down the mayor’s forehead and back.

Until the boy wiped away the dripping pulp with a finger, sucked it, and then grinned. The gesture was strangely lewd.

“Well, it doesn’t really matter. There are always two older sisters residing in Rinkleland. Women strangely really like that island.”

The moment the boy grabbed a strangely shaped knife, which he had leaned against the table, and stood up, the mayor flinched and stammered.

“I, I really am innocent! I, I didn’t do anything!”

“No, who said anything? Why are you so scared? I’m hurt~ We’ve been friends for 10 years already.”

“Ha, haha, haha, y-yes, that’s right! Hahaha, hahahaha.”

The sight of a boy, who looked barely fourteen or fifteen, pinching the cheek of a mayor old enough to be his father and laughing was truly bizarre.

But if one knew the boy’s real name, or rather, his alias, it wouldn’t be so surprising.

The boy, Aaron Ludwig.

His alias is Mage Slayer.

He is a legendary mage killer who, not in modern times, but 500 years ago, reportedly cut down over 100 battle mages.

Though he was erased from his family's registry due to his terrible personality and actions, the distinctive nobility of the Ludwig family, evident in his features, could not be erased.

“Ca, Captain!”

Just as Aaron was playfully pinching the mayor’s ear, the door suddenly burst open. As soon as the boy looked, the man clasped his hands together.

“Durl-Morris, Raven Slayer. Death to all crows. Something terrible has happened.”

“Durl-Morris, Mage Slayer. What’s another big deal? If it’s about the ‘Children of Gold,’ I just heard it from Mr. Mayor.”

“That’s not it! It’s an escapee! That Slime Slayer bitch… she ran away! Her mark also suddenly disappeared.”

At that moment, a scream burst from the mayor’s mouth.

“Ah, agh!”

The ear the boy was tugging on was half-torn, and blood spurted out.

“Which Slime Slayer? The original?”

“Yes, the one with the mark, not the brainwashed one. The one used for show.”

“Pl-please! Agh!”

“Oh, dear, they’re getting spoiled lately, so they’re all crawling over me one by one.”

“Mage Slayer-nim! W-we, you said we were fr-friends! Pl-please!”

“Oh? My apologies. I got distracted while playing around.”

Aaron finally let go of the mayor with a dramatic gesture, just before his ear was completely torn from his face. He apologized curtly, as if he had merely bumped into someone on the street.

The boy’s red eyes were redder than the blood flowing from the ear.

“Don’t worry. If you tell Sister Spiella, she’ll reattach it perfectly. Just tell her I specifically asked her to.”

The boy offered such comfort to the mayor, who was writhing in pain on the floor, then scratched his head as if utterly annoyed.

“So, I told my brothers and sisters back then that we should tear that Goblin Slayer bitch’s limbs off as an example… Where did the mark disappear?”

“<Terbenopl>.”

“Ugh, this kind of annoying task always falls to me. Prepare the fastest ship and gather the kids.”