Chapter 125: The Inheritance of the Ruins (3)

What appeared before them wasn’t a Death Knight, but a group of people.

Yuri recognized immediately who they were.

“They’re mercenaries.”

“Huh?”

It was strange.

Adelein was supposed to be a place that no one could easily enter, yet common villagers were collecting mandrakes as if it were nothing, and now unfamiliar mercenaries were showing up. Meanwhile, Gert was nowhere to be seen.

“You say they’re mercenaries? Their equipment looks too good…”

“Being a mercenary pays well. See the three knots under their banner?”

“Yes.”

“That indicates the group’s rank. A three-knot group is on par with an average knight, so they get paid accordingly.”

“And how do you know so much about mercenary work?”

“Well… life stuff.”

The fact that Yuri, a prince, knew so much about the world of mercenaries made Jared look at him with a growingly suspicious expression.

“Tell me honestly.”

“What?”

“Are you living your second life?”

“What? N-no! Of course not!”

“I was just saying it. Don’t fake surprise. You’re always messing with me…”

Yuri had genuinely been nervous, but Jared thought he was just provoking him again and pursed his lips in frustration.

“I always learn from you, Your Highness. As a bodyguard, it’s embarrassing.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. I don’t expect anything from you.”

“Hahaha…”

“As long as you’re a decent escort, that’s enough for me.”

“That sounds even worse…”

Meanwhile, both groups were gradually approaching each other.

There was no sign of hostility from the group of mercenaries. They also seemed surprised to see Yuri’s group and tilted their heads curiously.

Jared stepped forward to speak with them.

“Good morning. Are you mercenaries?”

“Ah, yes. That’s right. Are you a knight?”

“Yes. What brings you here?”

“Well… I should probably ask you the same.”

“Hmm…”

Jared and the mercenary looked at each other, leaving the sentence unfinished. Both wanted to know what the other was doing there, but at the same time, they seemed wary of whether the other group was dangerous, hoping the other would reveal their identity first.

As the silence dragged on, Yuri, who was behind, suddenly spoke.

“We came to kill Gert.”

“Ah…”

Jared looked at him with a frustrated expression. Yuri shook his head.

“What else would a knight come to do? If we claimed another reason, that would actually seem more suspicious.”

“Still, that was very blunt…”

“In situations like this, if you’re not direct, it could turn into a fight.”

While they were talking, the mercenaries exchanged glances among themselves. Finally, a man from the back stepped forward. He had a thick beard, messy hair, and his gear looked old and worn.

That meant he was an experienced mercenary.

“Knights… or rather, brave warriors. I’m Ivan, leader of the mercenary group Ivan. We’ve entered Adelein on a commission.”

“May I ask what the commission is about?”

“Well…”

He stroked his beard as he replied.

“It’s nothing we need to hide. We’re protecting a scholar who came to investigate Adelein.”

“A scholar?”

“Yes.”

He pointed behind him. Then, from behind a large tree, a man wearing glasses timidly appeared.

He wore a poorly fitted backpack and was clearly not a mercenary.

“He’s our employer. A renowned scholar studying the history of Adelein.”

It was a strange combination.

Yuri expanded his perception once again, searching for Gert. He didn’t seem to be nearby. There was time to talk.

Yuri spoke.

“Since we’re here, why don’t we sit for a moment and chat?”

***

Pierre, who was researching the history of Adelein, obtained unexpected information in Sordelvain.

There was a method to enter Adelein without encountering Gert.

If that were true, he could access the Grand Library located in Adelein.

And if he published a thesis based on the documents found there, he felt he would have a great chance of winning the Best Scholar Award given annually.

That’s why he hired a group of mercenaries. That was Pierre’s explanation.

“Best Scholar Award?”

“Yes. It’s my dream.”

“I see. And what’s the method to avoid Gert?”

“You don’t know?”

Pierre opened his eyes in surprise. He adjusted his crooked glasses and replied.

“Ah, right. You said you came to capture Gert. That makes sense. In that case, please try a bit of that mandrake over there.”

“The mandrake?”

“I see you really didn’t know. If consumed in small amounts, Gert doesn’t appear. And not only that. If you crush the mandrake leaves and soak them in a cloth placed in your ears, you can endure the mandrake’s scream without a problem.”

“Wow, we didn’t know that.”

Now everything made sense—the villagers didn’t react to the scream of the mandrakes.

“And also…”

Pierre wouldn’t stop talking in front of Yuri’s group. Meanwhile, Ivan’s group of mercenaries had taken a few steps back and sat down to rest.

From time to time, they glanced at Pierre out of the corner of their eyes but didn’t intervene in the conversation.

They were simply fulfilling their commission; nothing more. A very mercenary-like attitude.

Since Yuri had been in the same line of work for a long time in his previous life, he couldn’t help but feel a certain affinity, as if he were seeing a comrade. While watching Ivan’s gestures, he asked Pierre.

“Hey, but we haven’t eaten mandrake, why hasn’t Gert shown up?”

“Well…”

Pierre scratched his head.

“According to what I heard in town, his activity has decreased lately. No one knows why. They say he used to appear as soon as someone set foot in Adelein. Maybe that Death Knight is getting old.”

“Really?”

“Anyway, eat some mandrake soon. It’s dangerous.”

“We came to fight Gert.”

“But think about us, who are with you!”

“Hmm…”

“What if I die? Will you take responsibility? I don’t want to die! I want to study the history of Adelein and spread the knowledge!”

“Alright.”

Pierre talked a lot.

“If I eat it now, how long does it last?”

“If just a little, about a day.”

Yuri signaled to his group.

“Let’s try it.”

“This?”

“Yes.”

“Gross…”

“Give me the mandrake.”

Yuri brushed the dirt off the surface of the mandrake. He cut off the most contaminated parts with a knife. As he did, a bright red juice oozed from the cut.

It looked like blood.

“Ugh…”

Everyone recoiled in horror at the red liquid that flowed like blood.

Pierre smiled.

“Go ahead, take a bite. Be careful not to stain your clothes. Though it looks terrible, its taste is surprisingly sweet.”

As a precaution, Yuri decided one member of the group should try it first to observe the effects.

“Simon, Guinness.”

“Huh?”

“Decide.”

They looked at each other and played rock-paper-scissors. Guinness, who threw scissors and lost to rock, stepped forward. But he couldn’t hide his expression of fear.

“Having second thoughts?”

“N-no.”

“You’re the one who chose to join this expedition to Adelein.”

“But…”

“Eat it bravely.”

“Ugh…”

With a twisted face, he tightly shut his eyes and took a bite. His expression gradually changed as he chewed.

Jared tilted his head.

“Looks like he’s enjoying it.”

“Yes. It does.”

“Really?”

“It’s sweet.”

He showed no negative symptoms. Then Simon and Cory also tasted the mandrake.

“It’s okay. Though it feels slightly medicinal…”

“It’s a weird sensation, but it’s edible.”

Pierre explained with a smile.

“Mandrake has a mild stimulating effect. If not consumed excessively, it’s fine. Look at me! I’m very frail and perfectly fine.”

Finally, it was Yuri’s turn. The mandrake had already been nearly devoured, as if its limbs had been torn off.

No more juice came out, only red flesh was visible. It wasn’t an appetizing sight, but Yuri closed his eyes tightly and took a bite.

Contrary to expectations, it had a crunchy texture. The juice that emerged was, as they’d said, sweet.

Suddenly, Yuri sensed a faint trace of evil energy in the mandrake. He looked at Pierre.

“W-why are you looking at me like that…?”

“Hmm…”

Depending on how that energy behaved, Pierre’s fate could change. Yuri monitored the internal changes.

The evil energy spread through his meridian system. It didn’t interfere with his mana method. It was like oil and water—it flowed in the same direction without mixing.

And over time, it weakened. It was as if the color of the mandrake had overlaid the mana he already possessed.

“Interesting…”

If what Pierre said was true, it could be deduced that Gert didn’t attack those who possessed that energy.

“That’s enough. And if you need more mandrake, don’t forget to use the leaves to cover your ears.”

Even the horses were made to bite a bit of mandrake.

“Thanks. Is there anything else we should know?”

“Yes, several things. I mean…”

Pierre shared several tips he’d heard in the village. Once Yuri had gathered all the useful information, he stood up.

“Well then…”

“Yes?”

Yuri nodded toward the group of mercenaries.

“You must’ve paid a lot, huh?”

“Huh? Ah, yes. Hahaha…”

Pierre nodded.

“They’re a very competent group. I used my entire fortune to hire them.”

“I can see that. Can people like them be hired at a mercenary guild?”

“Huh? Ah, yes. Are you looking for mercenaries?”

“Maybe someday. If there are people that capable, I think I’ve been judging mercenaries wrongly.”

“Haha, yes.”

“And what are they like?”

“They’re reserved, but good people. And very skilled. I don’t think there are many like them.”

Yuri nodded.

As they talked, time passed. They had nothing more to say. Yuri stood up.

“Time to part ways. Seems like each of us has our own path.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m heading to Sordelvain. I’ll surely run into Gert there.”

“Sir Knight, please be careful. Even if you’re confident, that Death Knight is a monster who has killed many. I truly hope you succeed in subjugating him.”

“Thanks. I also hope you win that Best Scholar Award.”

“Oh, I hope so!”

They shook hands and parted. Pierre returned to his group of mercenaries. But then, just as he turned around, Pierre called out to Yuri again.

“Oh, by the way, knight. I say this as a precaution…”

Yuri looked at him.

“If things get complicated during the fight with Gert… try talking to him.”

“Talking?”

“While I was investigating the surroundings of Adelein…”

Pierre adjusted his glasses and continued.

“People describe him as a demonic Death Knight. But some also called him a true knight.”

“A true knight?”

“Yes. If he truly was a knight, maybe by speaking to him… he might regain something of who he once was.”

Pierre smiled enigmatically and walked away, waving. As Yuri watched Pierre and his group leave, Jose muttered.

“This is suspicious.”

“Yeah?”

While stroking his beard, he said.

“In this world… there’s something called probability.”

“Probability?”

“One strange thing can happen. But if two strange things happen at once, then something is hidden behind it.”

It sounded oddly logical.

“What’s strange?”

“There are two groups wandering through Adelein.”

“One of them is us.”

“Exactly. We know we truly came to kill Gert. But we don’t know if they’re telling the truth. They could be hiding something. So clearly, there’s something suspicious about them.”

“Aren’t you exaggerating?”

“Hahaha, maybe.”

“But you’re right.”

Yuri nodded.

“They are suspicious.”

“Huh?”

When Yuri spoke about the group of mercenaries, Pierre had said he spent his fortune to hire Ivan. And when asked if such mercenaries could be found at a guild, Pierre only replied yes, saying nothing more.

But to hire three-knot rank mercenaries, you need guild history. And Pierre didn’t seem very familiar with mercenary customs.

That could only mean one of two things either Pierre didn’t hire them directly, or Ivan’s rank was falsified.

“Gert hasn’t appeared, and that scholar is also suspicious…”

Yuri nodded.

“I’ve got a good idea.”

“What idea?”

“Let’s make that scholar meet Gert.”

“Huh?”

“Maybe that way we’ll discover something.”

“What if we’re wrong?”

“So what?”

Yuri smirked.

“You think anyone will complain if a lowly scholar and a few mercenaries die in Adelein?”

“Ooohhh…!”

Jose nodded firmly, as if he finally understood.

“I was wrong. The suspicious group wasn’t them… it was us! Hahahahaha!”

“Exactly.”

***

He wandered for a long time.

It was to fulfill the order he had been given. His body, increasingly worn out, was beginning to stop responding. If things continued like this, he wouldn’t last much longer.

However, that fact didn’t bring him sadness or fear. It simply was—unaccompanied by any emotion.

Suddenly, he sensed the presence of life in the distance.

With his creaking body, he stood up and began walking once more.

Thus, the old knight once again crossed the ruins of the fallen kingdom.