novelraw Chapter 34 : The Twin Gorge (7)
Chapter 34 : The Twin Gorge (7)
Chapter 34: The Twin Gorge (7)
The soldiers jumped back in shock, scrambling to get out of the way.
"Wh-what...?"
"Y-yes! Understood, sir!"
"Everyone, stand back! Make room, now!"
Kadim let out a faint, dry laugh as he lifted the longsword with his bare hands. His palms sizzled and burned, but the wounds regenerated almost immediately. The soldiers watching couldn't help but gape in astonishment.
Next, Kadim picked up the dwarven axe with his other hand.
Then he brought the axe blade down onto the red blade with all his strength.
CLANG!
Whoooosh—
The Divine Armament let out a sharp cry of protest. The flames of rejection flared up viciously, but the barbarian paid them no mind and simply swung the axe down again and again without pause.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!
The Divine Armament was forged from red iron metal found only in the volcanic regions of the south with an incredibly sturdy nature. On top of that, it was blessed by Elga themselves, making it nearly impossible to even scratch with ordinary weapons.
But is the axe if it’s not an axe forged by the dwarves?
That was made of cold iron from the frozen lands with even greater hardness than red iron. And structurally speaking, swords are inherently weak against lateral impacts. Being a longsword with an extended blade made it even more vulnerable to these kinds of blows.
Crac!
SNAP—
After a relentless barrage of strikes, cracks began to spread, and finally the sword shattered.
Kadim didn't stop.
He kept breaking the blade into smaller and smaller pieces.
Sparks and fragments flew like fireworks, and what had once been a long red blade was now reduced to six short chunks of metal.
Crackle...
With the pieces scattered, the flames of rejection weakened significantly, though they still burned hotter than your average furnace.
Kadim smirked and barked orders at the soldiers.
"Bring me the Paladin's armor. It's heat-resistant, so pack these pieces inside and carry them that way."
The soldiers obeyed without a word of complaint.
They carefully gathered the fragments and placed them inside the breastplate.
Just as Kadim had said, only a manageable amount of heat leaked through.
The gloved soldiers carried the breastplate like a treasure chest, leading the way while others followed behind with the remaining debris.
Kadim made a mental note to find an excellent blacksmith if he ever gets the chance and forge these chunks of metal into proper weapons.
The spring rain had stopped. Ash drifted faintly through the air, and the crimson light of sunset seeped through the blackened gorge.
It had been a long day, stained with blood and fire.
The procession marched forward in a daze, overwhelmed by the lingering sense of wonder they couldn't put into words.
***
In a remote village of Ekul on the outskirts of the Alliance territories, an unexpected wave of fortune had arrived.
The first stroke of luck was that the trolls of Twin Gorge had been eliminated.
The only road connecting Ekul to Remtana was finally open again and they'd regained access to the Consul's aid and their trade routes. No longer would mercenary bands run wild in the village, and no longer would the residents suffer from shortages of basic necessities.
The second stroke of luck was that they'd saved a ton of money in the process.
Enrico, the Consul of Remtana, had agreed to cover the reward the village chief had promised Kadim.
Of course, they still had to pay their overdue taxes and tributes after all of this, but for the villagers, the amount that they had to pay to the Consul was far more manageable than paying Kadim directly.
The third stroke of luck was something no one could have predicted.
When the wildfire broke out in the Forest of No Return, everyone thought the entire village would burn to the ground. But that inferno mysteriously extinguished itself just as it reached the village entrance. Once the threat passed and the ashes were cleared away, what remained was fertile flatland.
The forest that had been the source of so many sinister rumors was gone, replaced by a wide expanse of land perfect for farming.
It was like the heavens finally rewarded them for all of their previous hardship.
Any one of these strokes of luck would've been enough to throw a village-wide celebration.
But three at once?
So obviously, the villagers couldn't stop grinning from ear to ear.
"Hahaha, good morning!"
"Here, take some of this home!"
"How about drinks tonight? What do you say?"
The villagers would burst into laughter at the sight of a pebble on the road. They embraced neighbors they'd once been awkward with and danced together. Kids ran around playing for the first time in ages, women shared food and gossip, and men gathered at "Ekul’s Feast" to raise their glasses while the innkeeper generously poured out his precious honey mead.
It would take more time to fully recover from the isolation they'd endured, but to everyone's eyes, the future looked impossibly bright and rosy.
And word spread quickly about who was responsible for all this good fortune.
"Can you believe it? He really killed two trolls on his own..."
"Really? I thought the Consul's men helped him barely scrape by."
"No, no, no. The soldiers all said the same thing. If it weren't for that mercenary, they'd all be dead..."
"Good lord, I had a feeling when he beat the crap out of those thugs, but... he's not human. He can't be."
"I heard the wildfire going out was also thanks to that mercenary..."
"Wait, what? So he's not just good at fighting, he can cast spells too?"
"I don't know, I just overheard the soldiers talking about it..."
The rumors grew like a snowball rolling downhill.
At first, Kadim was known as a formidable mercenary who'd slain two trolls. By the end, he'd transformed into the incarnation of the war god worshipped by the Atala people and a grand shaman who could control weather and fire at will.
Not everyone took these stories seriously, of course.
But every single villager wanted to catch another glimpse of that great warrior. The area around the village chief's house where Kadim was staying was constantly packed with excited onlookers.
But Kadim kept to himself for a while and didn't show his face. He simply sent word through the village chief that he didn't want the commotion. The disappointed crowd glanced back repeatedly as they dispersed.
Ironically, someone else ended up benefiting from all that fame.
Kadim's sole companion, a self-proclaimed skilled guide, and the merchant who'd contributed greatly to spreading word among the villagers.
Duncan.
Before anyone knew it, he'd become a local celebrity and was welcomed wherever he went in the village.
And today, as always, Duncan was at "Ekul’s Feast," to enjoy his free food and drinks while spinning his tales.
"...And then, good lord! That mountain of a demon, the one that looked like a snake, was torn to shreds and buried in the swamp! Its foul blood overflowed so much that the swamp flooded, turning all the soil in the forest completely red!"
"My word!"
"It was really that bad?"
"Unbelievable..."
Despite having heard this story more than a dozen times, the villagers and the Consul's soldiers reacted as if hearing it for the first time. Stories have more power the more personal they feel rather than just random rumors. And the fact that the hero of this legendary tale was staying in their very own village made it impossible not to pay attention.
Seeing their bright, eager eyes, Duncan knew instinctively that this was the moment. He placed a heavy sack he'd prepared in advance on the table, then held up an olive-colored scale like a triumphant general.
"And this is a scale from that very demon my lord slaughtered! Look at this! The mysterious color, the cold aura, the steel-like hardness! Isn't it incredible? I don't have many left! Right now, I can offer you this mythical trophy for just one thousand Luden per scale, or one hundred Luden per fragment..."
The villagers' reaction was completely different from when he'd first shown them the scales. No one doubted that these scales came from that mountain-sized demon anymore.
"W-wait! Just wait a moment! I'll get the money right away..."
"Sell to me first! Three, no, four pieces!"
"Give me one! Here, here's the money!"
Not just the villagers but even the soldiers scrambled to empty their pockets for even a single scale. Duncan watched the money pile up in his purse and screamed with joy internally.
Ironically, Duncan, a merchant who'd been arrested by a Paladin on false charges of selling demon parts, had actually become exactly that kind of person.
***
A dimly flickering lamp reveals a middle-aged man sitting at the table with a solemn expression.
The village chief and his household had been asked to leave temporarily. From the lack of any presence, it seemed no one was eavesdropping.
Kadim cracked his stiff shoulders and sat down across from Enrico.
"It’s been a while. What do you want, Consul?"
"...Mm, first, take this."
Clink.
The pouch the Consul placed on the table rang with a heavy sound.
Kadim raised an eyebrow and accepted it.
Looking inside, there were far more gold coins than expected.
"That's a lot of money. Wasn't the promised payment twenty thousand Luden?"
"This was the bounty my office originally put up for the troll extermination. Fifty thousand Luden. Money I'd promised to whatever mercenary company completed the job... but they're all dead or fled. So it should rightfully go to the one who actually fulfilled the contract."
Kadim looked at the Consul in silence.
Unlike the festive villagers, Enrico's face had grown noticeably gaunt over the past few days.
Kadim stroked his chin slowly.
Getting more money wasn't inherently bad. But money never changes hands without purpose in this world. If twenty thousand Luden would've been enough, a man would only give twenty thousand. The fact that the Consul was giving fifty thousand meant he had some other agenda.
Enrico noticed the scrutinizing gaze. He rubbed his tired face roughly and let out a deep sigh.
"Your suspicion is correct. I'm not giving you this money just to show off. There's a reason behind it."
"..."
"I've made countless negotiations, contracts, secret deals, and bargains to reach the position of Consul. In those situations, preliminary skirmishes of probing intentions and diplomatic rhetoric are essential etiquette. But I'm going to skip all that now as that axe of yours might come flying at me if I try any clumsy tricks.”
"..."
"I'll be honest. While I owe you a debt I can never repay, I'm in an incredibly difficult situation. The death of a high-ranking Paladin isn't something a mere frontier Consul can sweep under the rug. No, even the entire Delutana Council wouldn't be able to cover this up."
An Archpaladin of the Empire had violated Alliance territory. In that case, the fault clearly lay entirely with the Empire. But an Archpaladin violated Alliance territory and was killed? In that scenario, the Alliance bore far greater fault. They'd been granted autonomy, but strictly speaking, the Alliance was still part of the Empire.
"...I've ordered the soldiers to keep their mouths shut about the Paladin's death. But several villagers already saw her plate armor. It's only a matter of time before the truth comes out. They'll probably demand massive reparations and the perpetrator's extradition."
"..."
"And if that happens... we'll have no choice but to capture you and hand you over to the Order. Otherwise, war will break out. The Empire's flames, raised in god's name, will burn innocent lives like autumn leaves all over again."
Kadim crossed his arms impassively and leaned back in his chair.
Though he'd simply adjusted his posture, the action radiated an almost unbearable sense of intimidation.
Enrico's eyes gleamed dangerously in the lamplight.
"...But I don't want to make an enemy of you any more than I want war. No, if anything, I want to bring you to our side by any means necessary."
"..."
"You're the first warrior of your caliber I've ever seen with my own eyes. I can't help but be curious about your identity and the source of your strange power. The Paladin called you a demon, but that's not what I saw. In fact, I suspect you might be connected to the other side. For example, perhaps you have some connection with Agon's Raging Horn..."
The atmosphere shifted instantly. Kadim's eyes blazed as he slammed the table.
BANG!
"If you don't want to be ripped apart like a rag, don't ever mention that name in front of me again."
A bone-chilling warning.
Though the strike didn't seem that forceful, the table split in half and its legs shattered completely.
Enrico swallowed hard.
He'd assumed Kadim was a mercenary under that legendary arena champion. No, even if he wasn't connected, there were hardly any Atala people who disliked the Agon's Raging Horn.
The man was a hero who'd elevated the status of all Atala people, after all. So why this reaction?
"Understood. I'll keep that in mind... I apologize for my careless words."
He couldn't understand why, but he had no choice but to apologize.
It took considerable courage to compose himself and speak again.
"In any case, I've been thinking deeply for several days. How can I resolve this matter safely? How can I avoid betraying my benefactor, prevent friction with the Empire, and avoid the flames of war?"
"..."
"And today, I finally found the answer."
Kadim's eyes widened slightly.
Even he had thought killing the Paladin was something that couldn't be cleaned up. He didn't care much about diplomatic issues between the Empire and Alliance, but he'd predicted troublesome complications for himself. But now this Consul claimed he'd found a solution, how could he not be curious?
Enrico leaned forward and lowered his voice conspiratorially.
"Ymir. Do you remember him? The mage advisor who works under me."
"I remember. You said his political stance differed from yours."
"Exactly. I've been thinking, and I'm certain he's the one who drove those trolls into Twin Gorge. The timing of the trolls' appearance matches perfectly with when he took his post, and he's the only one who could've blocked the messengers we sent for reinforcements. But most importantly, the fact that Ymir Demir specializes in 'mental' magic is the biggest clue."
"..."
"I never imagined he could control even a monster's mind, but if we pin him as the culprit, everything falls into place. If we leave him alone, similar incidents will probably keep happening."
The Consul wasn't changing the subject randomly.
Kadim let out a hollow laugh. He could already guess what was coming next.
Enrico continued with a resolute face.
"In my judgment, the Alliance can't just let this pass without blood being spilled on our side as well. In other words, we need a sacrifice equivalent to an Archpaladin. If we've both shed blood, the Empire will have a harder time holding us fully responsible. After all, the incident started when that Paladin illegally crossed the border."
"..."
"And Ymmir is more than sufficient to match a high-ranking paladin. He's not just a regional advisor, he's a mage with the rank of Conjurer, the third-highest position in the Mage Tower."
"..."
"I'll be blunt. Kill Ymir Demir for me. If you do, I'll craft the narrative that the Paladin and the mage faced off and killed each other. I'll completely erase any trace of you from this incident."
A Paladin of the Order crossed the border illegally and the Conjurer of the Mage Tower stood against her. After a fierce and bloody battle, both sides suffered fatal wounds and died.
Even without Kadim in the picture, the story held together perfectly.
That was the picture Enrico was painting.
"Of course, since this won't be easy, I'm not asking with empty words. I'll pay you an additional two hundred fifty thousand Luden. And whatever your goal is, I'll support it with everything I have."
"..."
"I may be just a frontier Consul, but my family isn't. The Turis family's reputation is one of the finest in all of Delutana, and my older brother is a multi-term councilman eyeing the position of Council Chairman. His intelligence network and influence reach across the entire Alliance; it will surely be of great help to you."
"..."
"Both of us will hold each other's weaknesses, so there's no need to worry about betrayal. I eliminate a political rival, you avoid being hunted, and the Alliance avoids the flames of war. Isn't this the perfect deal where nobody loses?"
A cold, sharp glint flashed in Enrico's eyes.
He no longer looked like the gaunt, tired middle-aged man you'd find anywhere. His physical strength might be nothing compared to Kadim's, but his true power lay elsewhere.
There was a reason he'd risen to the position of Consul.
Kadim twisted his lips into a bitter smile.
Moments like this made him think that demons still had a long way to go before they could match human cunning.