Chapter 236

“Is this mountain where the corrupt are hiding?”

Garrett Schreiner walked along the dark mountain path. With him were the Red Wolf Company, the guide assigned by the second prince of Linelt, and a small group of knights as escort.

“Yes, that’s right. They’re the same ones His Highness the Regent had been secretly tracking for some time.”

The guide added that, amid the chaos caused by the king’s illness, they hadn’t had the opportunity to wipe them out.

“How fortunate that His Majesty the Mercenary King came to our kingdom at a time like this. The regent was very concerned.”

“I see.”

In just a few days they had “found” the trail of the corrupt, as if they’d been waiting for it. And the result was this—heading out in the dead of night to a hideout of the corrupt.

Was it truly a trap, or the truth?

The Mercenary King’s gaze settled on the guide, who kept rubbing his neck.

“Is your neck hurting?”

“Yes… A few days ago, Princess Yuli held a masquerade ball. I got so drunk I ended up passed out somewhere. I think I slept badly, and now my neck and shoulders hurt.”

“What did you say your name was?”

“Kyren Excel, sir.”

Viscount Kyren Excel. According to Fernan, he was one of the three most trusted men of the second prince.

Sending someone like that directly could only mean two things—either they were truly serious about eliminating the corrupt at all costs, or the viscount was allied with them and had set up a trap.

Either way, the result would be the same.

That’s why Garrett couldn’t lower his guard.

‘If a demon were to appear here…’

He wouldn’t be able to contain it alone. That’s why he had already sent a letter to Fernan to be prepared.

‘But the probability of a demon appearing here is low.’

In the letter he had received, Fernan explained that he had found traces of a summoning ritual and that, if it were to happen, it would be in the capital of the kingdom. And this place was quite far from it. Besides, summoning a demon wasn’t something that happened instantly.

So the possibility was low. But then, what was all this?

“This is it.”

Kyren Excel pointed tensely at the entrance of a cave.

Garrett barely managed to suppress a laugh. The corrupt often hid in caves or underground. It turned out Fernan was right.

The Mercenary King extended his perception, but there seemed to be some sort of interference—he couldn’t clearly distinguish what was inside.

“No choice. Let’s go in.”

“Eh? Shouldn’t we first check how many there are and what’s inside…?”

“That’s not my style.”

Besides, Fernan had anticipated a potential surprise. There was nothing to fear.

The Mercenary King dashed into the cave, followed by the Red Wolves.

“W-Wait! We’re coming too!”

Viscount Kyren Excel and his knights entered as well.

***

A little later, not far from that cave, on a cliff with a good view of the entrance, Fernan and Luina observed.

“Looks like it really was a corrupt hideout. No traps.”

“I see.”

They had been there for an hour. Finally, the Mercenary King came out of the cave dragging five corpses of corrupt and dozens of slain monsters. It didn’t seem like any additional problems had occurred.

“So what does this mean now?”

“That the second prince just sacrificed his own collaborators.”

“An internal war, then.”

“Maybe he was already waiting for this opportunity even before we arrived. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have acted so fast.”

“True.”

Though the opposite was also possible—a bait to earn trust, only to betray later.

“Either way, nothing will happen to Garrett today.”

“What a pity, and I had my sword all ready.”

Luina half-drew her new sword. The blade gleamed in the sunlight.

“You’re that excited?”

“Of course. It’s an adamantite sword.”

She’d been given the sword just before they departed.

“Technically it’s an alloy.”

“That makes it even better. The three great metals work better in alloy than separately, don’t they?”

That’s why they were so coveted.

“And there’ll be no shortage of work for your sword.”

“I know.”

Luina sheathed it again.

“Want a chocolate?”

“No.”

She popped it into her mouth and, taking a deep breath, added:

“While we’re at it, why not go for a walk? Some small town, as long as it’s not the capital.”

They both had dyed hair—Fernan’s brown and Luina’s black. Their unique aura didn’t vanish entirely, but unless someone knew them in advance, they were hard to recognize.

“My treat. I can’t pay in money because it means nothing to you, but at least dinner.”

“No, when it comes to money, I like all of it, regardless of the amount.”

“So, do you want me to pay in cash?”

“There’s a hot spring village nearby. Want to go?”

“Perfect.”

They mounted their horses and rode for about an hour. The place came into view—too big to be a village, too small to be a city, but lively with tourism.

First, they secured an inn. Though it was crowded, since it was run by the Golden Turtle Guild, they had no trouble.

“Shouldn’t we keep our identities secret?”

“I didn’t say who I was. I just showed a special guild card.”

It was a certificate only granted by the Golden Turtle Guild to kings, princes, great nobles, or magnates with massive fortunes.

“The receptionist probably thought I was just another rich guy—nothing out of the ordinary.”

“And he wasn’t wrong.”

“Just that I’m richer than he thinks.”

They left the horses at the inn and went out to explore the town. It happened to be festival time, so there were plenty of activities to try.

“Perfect timing to arrive.”

“Not bad.”

“Want to bet on that?”

“Did you leave your conscience at the inn with the horse?”

What Luina pointed to was a carnival booth where you had to throw darts to pop balloons about thirty meters away.

“You think you can’t do it?”

“You want me to challenge a knight who’s even fought demons in a dart game?”

“You can use magic if you want. And if you’re too scared, it’s fine.”

Luina smiled mischievously. Fernan snorted with disdain.

“Fine. What are we betting?”

“Dinner.”

“Didn’t you say you were treating me?”

“That’s for tomorrow—if I win, of course.”

Clack!

Fernan stepped forward confidently and placed a bag of coins in front of the booth owner.

“Eh? What’s this for?”

“To fix the booth when we break it.”

“Excuse me?”

No further explanation was given.

“You go first. Ten darts each. Whoever pops more balloons wins.”

“Alright.”

Luina went first.

Ssshh!

The dart flew like an arrow and in an instant popped two balloons at once.

“Two in one shot?”

“I just threw, that’s all.”

“So it seems.”

But there were only twenty balloons. Having already popped two from the start left Fernan at a disadvantage.

“Now it’s my turn.”

Fernan threw the dart gently, and it began to swim through the air as if gliding.

Pang!

It popped one balloon and, without losing momentum, continued toward another.

Clang!

A stone intercepted the dart and sent it rolling to the ground.

“So that’s how we’re playing?”

“I didn’t hear any rule against interference.”

“The just and honorable knight I once knew is dead.”

“Killed by a rich man who bought him with money. Now it’s my turn.”

Luina took another dart. A blue aura of light surrounded it.

Fsssh!

The blue flash closed the distance in the blink of an eye.

Just before it hit the balloon, a steel wall appeared in front of it.

───!

However, the dart pierced the barrier and ended up bursting a balloon. The blast made even the rocks behind tremble.

“I had already anticipated that.”

“…Now it’s my turn.”

Fernan threw again. This time, dozens of stone spears surrounded his dart like escorts, each targeting a different balloon.

“This is my victory!”

It was nearly impossible to stop so many scattered projectiles.

“That’s not even a dart anymore!”

“All that matters is popping them!”

“Then…!”

Luina threw her remaining eight darts all at once. All charged with aura, they sped ahead.

Bang, bang, bang!

They crushed the stone spears and reached the balloons. But at that moment—

Rrrrumble— The ground shifted, and the fixed balloons changed position.

Luina, as if she had predicted it, clenched her fist.

The darts exploded simultaneously, and the aura-propelled fragments expanded even faster in all directions.

They covered every balloon.

Pop pop pop pop!

One after another, all the balloons burst at once.

“No way.”

Fernan stared in disbelief.

“I won.”

Luina smiled in satisfaction.

“Cheater.”

“You’re one to talk.”

“How did you know?”

“You usually move the ground when you’re too lazy to walk. Why wouldn’t you do the same with a target?”

“You know me too well…”

“It’s been over two years now.”

She shrugged.

“Still, I’ll pay for dinner. That’s why we came out.”

“You’d better. I already spent enough on fixing the booth.”

“A logical reason. Accepted.”

“Want a chocolate?”

“Yes. And what are you in the mood for dinner?”

“We already had too much seafood at the Academy. Meat is better.”

“Perfect.”

They both walked off, chatting quietly.

“My god, what was that?”

“Looked like a knight and a mage having a lover’s quarrel…”

“Nothing romantic about that—they destroyed half the place! If they do that twice, the whole town won’t survive.”

The crowd that had gathered began to disperse.

“…Oh.”

The booth owner, now alone, looked at the large bag of coins.

“Incredible.”

He smiled with tears of joy—he had enough money to rebuild his booth three times over.

***

Fernan and Luina then entered the most elegant restaurant in town.

“Don’t tell me this one also belongs to the Golden Turtle Guild?”

“No, not this one.”

“Oh, okay.”

“I only invested a little here.”

“…Is there any place you haven’t meddled in?”

“The Golden Turtle Guild is everywhere and, at the same time, nowhere.”

He showed his golden card again, and they were given the best table, overlooking the entire town.

“A little wine?”

“Are you sure you can afford it? It’s expensive here.”

“My family is doing pretty well.”

“Last I heard, you still had debts…”

“Really?”

“Just kidding.”

Fernan smiled under Luina’s gaze.

At that moment, other patrons began to come up the stairs.

“Wait a second.”

Fernan recognized a face and lowered his voice. Luina followed suit.

“What’s wrong?”

“That man.”

He looked familiar—Fernan had seen him in reports. Dark blue hair, black eyes, just like Viscount Kyren Excel.

“That’s Count Patrick Pirandello.”

“…The one you said is a corrupt?”

“Yes.”

The count entered with a woman who seemed to be his lover and sat down.

“Why here? Could it be related to today’s attack on the corrupt?”

Then something happened by pure chance—when he moved the chair, the count’s sleeve slipped and revealed his wrist.

Fernan’s eyes locked onto it.

A strange symbol was engraved on his skin.

[- That’s it!

“What is it?”

Gardner Alfenparsen, upon seeing it, was horrified.]

That symbol…

[- A contractor! A demon contractor! Contractors always carry that mark on the back of their hand.

“You mean he’s a corrupt? I’ve never seen one with that.”

— No, it’s different. The corrupt are fools who pawn their soul. A contractor is someone who signs a pact on equal terms with a demon.]

And then, Fernan had a new vision from the book.

[“…Is that even possible?”

— It’s nearly impossible. But some can. In the entire continent, only a few.

“Who?”]

By sheer coincidence.

[- Colomo.

— Colomo and his bloodline. Only they were capable of making equal pacts with demons.]

“…Ha!”

Fernan’s lips twisted into a smirk.