novelraw Chapter 235 : The North (14)
Chapter 235 : The North (14)
‘The strategy of pitting one enemy against another by luring the Minotaur.’
…Though U-jin had never given it such a name, to borrow Kanna Cartier’s words, that was the name of the strategy.
U-jin had been able to use such a strategy entirely because his pre-regression experience had given him a deep understanding of the characteristics and geography of this Downhill Wilderness.
And because he knew every last detail about the ‘Minotaur,’ the Count of Excitement.
It was difficult to explain it all piece by piece, but in any case, he had executed it because his past life’s experience and knowledge had aligned perfectly, giving him a gut feeling that ‘he could do it.’
Besides, the true key to that strategy was the woman standing before him.
The biggest factor in the operation's success hinged on the grand premise of ‘preventing the Minotaur from catching the fleeing U-jin.’
And in that process, it wasn't so much that U-jin's evasion was spectacular, but rather that Kanna Cartier’s spears, which she rained down from the sky every time her cooldown was up, did a great job of preventing the Minotaur from reaching its top speed.
In the first place, if he hadn't known of her abilities, U-jin would never have attempted it.
Of course, the attacks from the other Hero-class individuals had helped, but she was still the core of the plan.
He didn't know for sure, but as U-jin had narrowly escaped the Minotaur's grasp, he figured the white spears she had rained down for three days and nights must have numbered at least a thousand.
It was a plan he couldn't even have conceived without her.
“I told you to speak.”
“……”
Despite U-jin's repeated denials, Kanna Cartier shook her head.
“This goes beyond simply praising your achievements; it’s a matter related to the morale of the entire battlefield.”
“……”
“Those who achieve great things must be rewarded.”
It seemed it was already too late, but he wanted to avoid standing out for now.
He was scheduled to receive the undivided attention of the entire battlefield in the upcoming battle at the Orc Mountains anyway, and to increase his leeway until then, he had to refuse any rewards.
It was a slightly distasteful part of it all, but jealousy and envy existed even on a battlefield like this, and it wasn't just a matter of being watched—it could turn into direct interference against U-jin.
In particular, the special rewards from The Order, bestowed by the Commander's privilege, were directly linked to the 'Heroes' reasons for participating in the war.
If he accepted this, there was no telling when some leech might latch onto him and start a useless squabble.
“That…”
Just then.
As U-jin was rapidly racking his brain, wondering how he could safely (?) escape the situation, he heard a presence behind him.
- Is this the place?
- …I believe so.
- Tsk. I can’t trust you. You’re terrible with directions, senior.
- …Scouting and tracking are core competencies for punishing the Demonic Species. Do not presume to judge a person based on your ignorance…
The voices coming from beyond the thick tent flap were faint.
But their identities were quite clear.
“…This is definitely.”
* * *
“I’m telling you, this guy insists he’s not bad with directions. Back when I was his acolyte Priest, I blindly trusted him when he said he was good with directions, and ever since I got lost in the monastery, I’ve never once…”
“…That’s enough, Ludwig Allegro.”
“No, but the more I think about it, he’s the only one who doesn’t know. He doesn’t know the way…”
“…One more word and I’ll pull out what’s left of your hair.”
“See this! Is it okay for a Priest to be this violent? Just because she has a full head of hair, she’s threatening the few strands I have left…”
Throb-
Kanna Cartier clutched her head and shook it as she muttered.
“…Why the hell are you both here making a scene?”
As one could tell from her tone, which was a bit rough for a Priest.
These two old-timers (?) and Kanna Cartier already knew each other.
No, to say they were merely acquainted would be an understatement; their connection ran quite deep.
They were from the same monastery, and with their careers only a year apart, they had spent their time as acolyte Priests together.
Leonardo Louis Button.
Ludwig Allegro.
Kanna Cartier.
Since she never mentioned it herself, her exact age was unknown, but it seemed their ages fell in that same order.
“…Don’t you have anything better to do? Why are the busiest people in The Order causing a ruckus at the Northern Subjugation Army’s encampment?”
“Hey, now. Nothing better to do? We’re here for work, too. Didn’t you hear? The two of us are the advisors for the subjugation coalition.”
“…Then go advise. Why are you in someone else’s barracks talking nonsense about being bad with directions? It’s bad for morale.”
“Well, that’s…”
Ludwig Allegro trailed off and turned his head to look at Louis Button.
“Why were we here again?”
“…How should I know? You started this on your own before I even came in.”
Anyway.
From U-jin's perspective, their intervention came at the perfect time.
Whether it was intentional or not, their appearance had thrown the atmosphere in the barracks into chaos, and the talk of a ‘reward’ seemed to have been put on hold.
And.
“…You haven’t even shown your faces on-site until now, let alone sent a single letter. Just like during the previous subjugation in the Demon King's Territory, and now you show up after the matter of the
Their influence was needed from this point on.
“Besides, the advisory role was established so we could ask questions related to the Demonic Species or when an unknown entity is discovered, not for you to be stationed here permanently. As both of you seniors are well aware.”
To be precise, it was from the ‘Orc Mountains’ Subjugation War onward.
It seemed Kanna Cartier couldn’t comprehend why the two men, who had been quiet and hadn't shown their faces at all during the previous subjugations, had suddenly changed their attitude and become so proactive.
It was because I had given them a heads-up beforehand.
It was a given from the moment I told them about the Northern Subjugation War back in the Beastkin Nation, but I needed their influence to directly intervene in the Orc Mountains battle, going beyond the level of a simple ‘hired Hero.’
“…We came just in case. It has been smooth so far, but given the scale, there might be things that a single person’s perspective can’t catch.”
“……”
“I came to review if there are any peculiarities related to the Demonic Species. My schedule happened to be free. And as for this one…”
Louis Button turned his head, and Ludwig Allegro picked his nose.
Scrape-
“…I don’t know either, so you can kick him out again or execute him, Kanna Cartier.”
“The latter is less trouble, so I’ll go with that.”
“Please do. I also agree. No, I’ll amend that to strongly agree.”
…They seemed to be on the same wavelength.
As if unafraid of their half-joking, half-serious exchange, Ludwig Allegro finished his business and leaned forward, turning his head back to look at me.
“I don’t have any business with you separately.”
Swish-
“I came because I have business with this one over here.”
“…This one?”
Kanna Cartier’s eyes widened at Ludwig Allegro’s sudden remark.
She didn't know for sure, but it seemed she hadn't expected Ludwig Allegro and I to be acquainted.
“Yeah. We’ve met before. Right, pal?”
Instead of answering, I nodded and gave Kanna Cartier a rough explanation.
“We met once before on other business. Even if you ask, he’ll probably tell you it’s top secret.”
“……”
Her head turned towards Louis Button.
“I knew you were connected with him…”
“…Don’t look at me like that. It’s not a deep relationship.”
“……”
“…I’m serious.”
Her narrowed gaze proved that she already knew about Darkest Dungeon and the indulgences.
No, if she hadn't known, she would have interrogated him about the Minotaur incident before praising him.
It was something he had already guessed she knew.
“Anyway, I’m just gonna borrow him for a bit. We both came here because we have business with this pal.”
Screech-
Ludwig Allegro pushed back his chair and stood up.
“…Reason?”
“Reason? Well, the reason is…”
“……”
“To check if he’s a Demonic Species and do a little background check?”
It was an excuse anyone could tell he had made up on the spot.
Flinch-
‘…….’
Even though I knew he was joking, there was a part of me that felt a prick of guilt at his words.
In any case, after saying that, Ludwig Allegro looked at me and snapped his fingers.
“Anyway, I’ll bring him right back, so don’t worry and wait right here…”
Snap-
And then.
Silence-
…Nothing happened.
“…Huh.”
As if something was wrong, Ludwig Allegro frowned.
“What’s wrong with this?”
“…What is it, Ludwig Allegro?”
At his strange reaction, Leonardo Louis Button asked.
Ludwig Allegro muttered, his previous playfulness completely gone from his voice.
“…My magic isn’t working.”
Whoosh-
A moment of silence.
After that.
“…Excuse me?”
“…What do you mean, your magic isn’t working?”
The voices of the two burst out simultaneously, full of disbelief.
“Just now. I was trying to summon a Mana chain to pretend to tie him up and leave.”
“……”
“My Mana isn’t reacting. Damn it.”
Although Ludwig Allegro ran a secret organization called UMC and wasn't a frontline figure, that was because his skills in that area outshone his magical abilities, not because his magic was weak.
In reality, he possessed abilities far superior to most high-ranking Priests specializing in magic, and as he had just shown, he was skilled enough to use it casually in daily life without concentration.
For such a person to be unable to use magic meant one thing.
It wasn't just a personal problem.
Snap-
“…It’s not working for me either. What in the world.”
It meant there was a problem with this space, or with every individual present here.
A heavy silence fell among the three as they realized the gravity of the situation, and it continued for a long while as each of them pondered in their own minds.
And amid the silence, the first to speak was.
Leonardo Louis Button, who muttered softly as if he had remembered something.
“…Don’t tell me.”
At his quiet gasp, everyone’s head turned to him.
Instead of answering their unspoken question, Leonardo Louis Button dashed out of the barracks.
Flap-
And above the southern sky, beyond the hastily thrown-open tent flap.
“…Good heavens.”
A curtain of pitch-blackness was unfurled.