Chapter 170

“What? Only two? Even so, is it really acceptable for the eldest son of the Duke’s family to be like this?”

“With the Seven Swords of the Continent by his side, what is there to worry about? And…”

“And?”

“Nothing. Never mind.”

Dale shook his head at Master Baro’s question.

Strictly speaking, there weren’t just two people there.

Two men rode across the empire’s lands. Without any escort to guard them, or any other servants.

They passed through the northern part of the empire, where the Duchy of Saxony lay, heading toward the empire’s far eastern region, where the scorching sands of the desert stretched out.

“I’ve informed my father, and I’ll return to the Duchy of Saxony at least before news of my absence reaches the outside world.”

“Well, everyone always makes their plans sound plausible, don’t they?”

Master Baro chuckled.

“Even those who bought a free pass to Samdocheon on my blade, you see, were devising what they thought were plausible plans until their heads were severed.”

“…….”

On the galloping horse, Dale shook his head in utter disbelief.

“So, is there a proper way to make contact with the mountain assassins?”

“We’ve arranged to join forces with someone who can make contact with them along the way.”

“A human?”

“Well…”

“Hmm, that gives me the creeps.”

“Do you know anything else about them?”

“They’re similar to our own fanatical bastards.”

He must be referring to the Shadow Court.

“They’re an assassination organization within the elven society who believe without a doubt that they are the ones carrying out the divine mandate. It’s laughable that I’m even saying this, but they’re basically psychopaths who don’t make any sense.”

“Seems you know more about them than I expected.”

“Ah, didn’t I mention it?”

Master Baro answered Dale’s question with a carefree tone.

“My old master hailed from their neck of the woods.”

Dale swallowed hard at the casual remark.

“…What did you just say?”

Dale asked back in disbelief, and Master Baro replied as if he couldn’t believe Dale didn’t know that either.

“Oh, so that’s why you brought me along?”

“No, I wasn’t.”

“Hmph, damn it.”

“Why are you acting like that?”

“Well, I don’t think the Master will be too pleased to see my face.”

“Did you happen to cross paths with those dark elves over there?”

“Well, depending on your perspective, there are various interpretations one could offer…”

Master Baro trailed off, lost in thought for a moment.

“Suddenly, I feel like going back to the Duchy.”

“…Damn it.”

In many ways, it was already too late.

Little is known about the elven society. They dwell in three places: the Crystal Land, called the Antarctic; the Desert Land, called the Far East; and finally, the Great Forest where the Green Magic Tower stands… All three are lands not particularly suited for human habitation, so even the Empire has no desire to covet their territories.

They built an extremely exclusive and closed society, a community that valued strict discipline above all else.

That was all Dale knew.

In that regard, Sepia possessed an open-mindedness and receptiveness unlike most elves. What might seem insignificant at first glance was likely an absolute taboo within their elven society.

“……”

She hadn’t expected to see Sepia here.

After all, Sepia probably didn’t even know that Dale was forgiving her debt. It was simply Dale repaying the debt he owed her in his own way, nothing more, nothing less.

It was something she had resolved herself to the moment she lifted Sepia’s curse that day. Nothing had changed.

A free city in the eastern part of the empire that had agreed to contact the Sorceress Council.

By the time Dale and Baro arrived after a week and a few days of roughing it, dusk had already settled thickly.

“Let’s meet here tomorrow morning.”

“Hmm, I suppose I don’t need to stick to your side day and night, do I?”

“You don’t need to stick right by my side even in a place like this.”

“Heh heh, being the eldest son of the Saxon family isn’t for just anyone, after all.”

Dale moved his feet to the second floor of the tavern, where he had reserved two rooms. Master Baro remained seated on the first floor, his legs dangling over the wooden bar, and began gulping down beer.

The single room on the second floor of the shabby tavern.

It wasn’t even worthy of being called a bed; it was a room with straw roughly spread out.

“Lady Aurelia.”

In that empty space, Dale murmured softly.

Simultaneously, the shadow at his feet began to ripple, forming the silhouette of a person.

As always, it was Lady Shadow, the shadow who served the Saxon family’s ‘Black Prince’.

“Did you call?”

“You haven’t eaten yet, have you?”

“Dinner, huh…”

Saying that, Aurelia smiled bitterly.

“When I’m within your shadow, I can forget so many things in this world.”

The qualification to dwell within her shadow, granted by a special contract with Shuv.

By existing within the shadow cast by the ancient Mother of Darkness, she could naturally be freed from the various constraints inherent to a human body.

Just like Dale, who was now reborn as a creature of the dark caverns.

“Just as your body is now.”

Dale swallowed softly at Aurelia’s words.

“Even the days when I fought for the ancient Kingdom of Bratinaa, guided by the goddess’s revelation, now feel like a distant dream from a bygone era.”

“…….”

“Without needing to think about anything, without needing to suffer over anything… I can feel myself drifting further and further away from being human.”

Orelia, Lady Shadow, said bitterly.

“It feels as though my entire existence is merely to become a sword in the shadows, wielded for you as needed.”

“Is that what you desire, Lady Aurelia?”

Drifting away from humanity. Dale asked again, and Aurelia answered coldly.

“Because you wish for the empire’s downfall.”

Her resolve was beyond doubt.

“In the shadows, I can know and feel many things about you. And I can also see how much effort you are putting into the empire’s downfall.”

Dale remained silent.

“My role is simply to watch over it and wield the sword so your will may be fulfilled.”

The watcher in the shadows spoke.

“For that purpose, I will gladly become a puppet dancing within your shadows.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that.”

Dale spoke, and Aurelia smiled silently.

At that moment.

“Hey, where’d this stray dog come from? Doesn’t even recognize his big brother’s face…”

Leaving the room where Dale and Aurelia were behind, an unexpected commotion unfolded on the first floor of the tavern.

In every street of the city, and especially in its heart—the tavern—there were always gangs unable to control their power.

Small-time troublemakers terrorizing the city, feared by its people, and larger-scale gangsters establishing their organizations within the city to reap profits.

But Master Baro was not one to bow his head meekly before them.

“Oh, you little bastards.”

Standing before a group sporting sharp axes strapped to their waists, Master Baro casually spat out curses.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, picking a fight and causing trouble while people are drinking?

The expressions of people throughout the tavern turned pale, and one of the gang burst out laughing defiantly.

“Looks like this little bastard doesn’t know how to behave in this city yet.”

As he said that, he was about to raise his arm to the hatchet at his waist to show off his strength.

“Huh?”

But he felt no resistance from the axe handle. No, there was no sensation in his arm at all.

Splash!

Only the gushing blood told him what had happened.

“You think I came all the way out here just to watch you show off your strength? Huh?”

Master Baro still had his legs propped up on the table, sipping his beer as he calmly continued speaking.

Splash!

But once more, a bloodline was carved into the flesh of one of the gang members.

“Aaargh!”

Each time, an arm or a leg was severed, and screams echoed from all around.

“I may not know how to live in this city, but I know damn well how to survive in this country.”

Leaving the echoing screams behind, Master Baro sipped his beer and spoke.

Watching the backs of the gang trying to flee after seeing their comrades suffer too late.

“Hey, you’re not getting away after stirring up trouble like that!”

Something plunged down, aimed precisely at the tops of their feet as they desperately tried to flee.

It was a dagger.

As if refusing to let them escape any further, the shadow claws slammed down on their feet, pinning them in place.

Leaving the echoing screams behind, Master Baro turned his head.

“Oh dear, what a mess.”

The eldest son of the duke’s household he served stood there.

“…What are you doing here?”

“I’m terribly sorry about this.”

Master Baro scratched his head awkwardly.

“I’m the type who just can’t walk past idiots.”

“……”

Dale turned his head, and there was a gang, a sea of blood, begging for their lives.

“We were supposed to make contact with your people here, but drawing this much attention… it’s not good…”

It was right then.

“There they are.”

No sooner had Dale finished speaking than a suspicious figure clad in robes appeared at the tavern entrance.

“I never imagined you’d summon me like this.”

It was a clear, feminine voice, and Dale looked up.

“How utterly lacking in dignity, rude, and a noisy way to do things.”

The woman finally removed her hood. Crystal-colored hair cascaded down, revealing two pointed ears.

“I imagined the ‘Black Prince’ would summon me in a more elegant and dignified manner, you see.”

Dale gasped for a moment.

It was a Snow Elf. But it wasn’t Sepia.

“I am Erze, sorceress of the Blue Magic Tower.”

“Heh heh, who said they called you? This is a case of severe princess syndrome, isn’t it?”

Master Baro burst into hearty laughter at the sight. For a moment, Erze blinked in flustered surprise.

After blinking, a blue chill began to sweep through the area.

“No, you’ve come to the right place, Erze.”

In the midst of the unexpected situation, Dale urgently interjected.

“This man will take us to the ‘Mountain Assassin’ as promised.”

“Huh, Shiel.”

Master Baro gulped down the rest of his beer in flustered haste.

“My apologies for not recognizing you, young elf lady.”

“…Night has grown late, and I intended to visit tomorrow morning, but somehow things turned out this way.”

Dale also looked around awkwardly as he spoke.

“It’s best not to draw attention. Shall we move immediately?”

At those words, Erge finally nodded silently. Leaving behind the sea of blood suddenly covering the entire tavern.

In more ways than one, it was a first encounter that had gone completely wrong from the start.