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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
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Chapter 112: Den of Devils
Taris reported back after completing his mission.
"Nothing unusual occurred during the mission."
"Welcome back, Taris."
Jeffrey confirmed there were no notable wounds on Taris's face.
"Were there any assassins?"
"Yes, one disguised as a sailor tried to target Gemini."
"Were they strong?"
"They were strong. But they lacked experience. If they had anticipated someone was after them, it would have been a difficult fight."
Jeffrey smirked at that response.
"You're not saying you would have lost though?"
"It would be shameful for a Royal Guard of Grunewald to be defeated by a mere assassin like that."
"Well done. Good work."
Jeffrey patted his subordinate's shoulder.
"Take three days off. Rest and recover from your journey."
"That won't be necessary. I didn't do much besides sit on the ship during the return anyway."
"Oh, is that so?"
Jeffrey looked fondly at his subordinate's admirable response.
"You're an honest one. Most would just take the chance to slack off when they can."
"I wouldn't know what to do with the time off anyway."
"You live such a boring life."
Jeffrey nodded.
"Well then, change your clothes, rest a bit, and come back when you're ready. You're excused from today's duties."
"As expected of Captain!"
Jeffrey noticed something in the delighted Taris's possession and asked.
"By the way, what's that?"
"Oh, this?"
Taris pulled out a dagger sheath and scratched his head sheepishly.
"Miss Gemini made it for me as a thank you gift."
"Oh ho?"
Jeffrey chuckled.
"You didn't get carried away and ask her for a love letter or anything, did you?"
"I did no such thing."
"You fool. Is it because you want to be careful about starting a family while serving in the military? That's very like you though."
"Well, that's part of it..."
Taris said with a determined expression.
"Long-distance relationships are difficult, aren't they?"
"...Ah, right."
Jeffrey waved his hand.
"Fine, you can go now."
"Yes, sir."
After the door closed, Jeffrey muttered a curse under his breath.
"I almost felt touched for nothing. What an idiot."
Taris's voice came through the door.
"Why are you cursing?"
"Shut up."
Jeffrey lowered his voice and muttered again.
"Having unnecessarily sharp hearing..."
***
It was late into the night.
After immersing myself in meditation, internal mana cultivation training, and sword practice, I suddenly felt restless and went up to the rooftop of the annex.
Unlike the window view that mainly showed the sea, from the rooftop I could see everything from the dark ocean to the sleepless city lights of Grunewald, depending on where I looked.
"How brilliant, truly brilliant."
I gazed at the lights of human desire and prosperity. It was like seeing stars that had descended to earth.
Behind those city lights, men of the underworld would be spilling blood and violence today too, throwing themselves into desires like mayflies.
'That's the land I must return to.'
I plan to return there as Karzan, and rule it as Allenvert.
'...And.'
Look at the northern district with few lights, like an isolated island within the city.
Somewhere there, my mother's family and clan is barely clinging to life.
"Just wait a little longer."
Allenvert's fight for the throne must begin with finding you and settling our stained grievances.
'My body is getting restless.'
Truth is, even right now...
I wanted to throw myself into those city lights, walk through Grunewald underworld, and reclaim everything.
But lacking the power, I could only endure, and frustration welled up inside me. If not managed properly, frustration becomes madness.
Shing!
I drew my sword. For a swordsman, the only way to release such passion is through this piece of steel.
Whoosh!
As I poured in all my mana, blue aura rose like flames. It illuminated the dark night like a torch.
'Allenvert, you must become stronger.'
Higher, further up, beyond the realm I couldn't reach in my previous life-
I will ascend.
"It would be futile if I die from this illness before then."
It would be good if I could find Ereshkigal .
Even if not, I held hope in my intuition that Eisenach and mother would know clues to unlock the secret of this incurable disease.
'If not, so be it.'
Life never goes exactly according to plan anyway.
'I can only do my best.'
After reaching a compromise with Verdzig, I had been devoting myself to sword training and martial arts day and night.
It was partly to soothe something that rose up like madness-
And partly because I needed something to do while waiting for news about Eisenach's survivors...
But simply, it was also because I wanted to grow stronger by digesting my new sword and the spirit medicine I had taken.
'Skill and talent alone cannot take you to the peak.'
Environment, and luck.
Things beyond my control must be added like gifts for it to be possible.
'I can't help that this is how the world works.'
Karzan died as a discarded blade because he didn't receive the environment and luck.
But Allenvert Grunewald is different. Even though his maternal family fell, his mother went into seclusion, and he wasted seven years, he was born with the most noble bloodline in this duchy.
...Therefore.
"Lady Wolfhilde sends a message. She requests your presence at the Special Operations Division tomorrow afternoon."
When this news from Wolfhilde shook my heart, I had to grit my teeth to suppress the boiling hatred.
"There, my lord, you will meet the 6th Division Commander of the Special Operations Division, Ludgarda Angantyr."
The daughter of the usurper, a hostage abandoned by her father. Commander of the 6th External Battalion within Special Operations Division. The daughter of my enemy who crawled up from a hellish fate-
Is waiting for me.
...My blood ran cold.
"Angantyr, Angantyr."
My body, Allenvert's heart, seemed to feel infinite hatred at that name.
But I will not let myself be consumed by chains of vengeance.
"...Tomorrow."
I must recruit this enemy's daughter, who has overcome a fate as cruel as mine, as a External Battalion commander of the Special Operations Division, to my side.
* * *
Zizek's condition to the Black Night Society leader was to increase the tribute payment in exchange for taking over Vincent's organization.
'Naming such a large sum. Was that bastard getting desperate too?'
Zizek set a fixed amount rather than a percentage because he was confident he could earn much more than currently-
But the Black Night Society leader, unaware of these intentions, gladly accepted the sweet proposal. Of course, it would be a lie to say the gold coins Zizek had slipped him had no influence.
"Hmm."
However, the peaceful collusion between the two organizations was now hitting unexpected rocky waters.
"Zizek did this?"
Before the inspector from the upper organization - that is, an executive dispatched from the 'Bisachino Brotherhood' that controlled Grunewald city - the Black Night Society leader was sweating profusely with his hands clasped in front, as he was merely a low-ranking member of the inspector's faction.
"I heard he was living quietly since leaving independently."
"He's changed," the inspector muttered.
"I've heard stories about him too. If not for 'that incident', wouldn't he have been a man who could stand shoulder to shoulder with you by now?"
"Y-you could say that."
"Listen well, Black Night Society leader. I have no interest in pathetic bottom-feeder organizations killing each other."
The inspector spoke with dry eyes more befitting a human butcher than a swordsman.
"But I wonder where he suddenly got money to construct buildings and offer to increase your tribute payments."
"We also don't quite..."
"Don't know?"
The inspector's voice turned cold.
"Is that your best answer?"
"I-I'll find out right away."
"Investigate whether he's made deals with any rats or if he dares to harbor other intentions. Do I need to spell everything out?"
"No, sir."
"If you have money for wasteful luxuries, use it to buy spirit medicine for your subordinates. Only knowing how to hoard whatever comes your way without knowing how to invest..."
"I will correct this."
Though he reigned as the absolute authority of the Black Night Society, before an executive of the upper organization, he cowered like a rat.
However, the leader was also a man too worn down to even feel humiliation at such treatment anymore.
"Submit your report within 7 days."
"Understood."
"When someone does something out of character, there's always something behind it. If you investigate carelessly, I'll return."
"I'll do my best."
"That would be better for you all. I won't show restraint next time."
He rose from his seat after berating the Black Night Society leader.
"Ah! Leaving already? I had prepared drinks..."
"I don't have time for that."
"Do you have urgent business?"
The inspector twisted his lips at the leader's careful question.
"Yes. I'm working on a certain precious young lord."
"Eh? A precious young lord, could it be..."
The inspector reacted sharply to the leader's curiosity.
"Shut up. You don't need to know about that."
"M-my apologies."
The inspector gave the leader a cold look before vanishing into the darkness.
"..."
Unable to even curse out loud, the leader turned around with a crumpled expression.
"Look into that bastard Zizek's background."
* * *
Unknowingly becoming the eye of the storm, Zizek was now climbing a steep slope in the northern district, considered the most dangerous area in Grunewald city.
He was accompanied by Rob.
"Wow, this is damn high. Isn't this basically a mountain?"
Rob stuck out his tongue, panting as he climbed.
"Shut up. Complaining about this much? I noticed when you skipped physical training yesterday."
Dismissing Rob's grumbling, Zizek looked around the dark alley and muttered.
"Damn, look at this atmosphere. Was this originally a cemetery? Why's it so eerie?"
"It's not just me, right? Feels like evil spirits might appear."
Zizek sighed.
"Ah, getting a bit nervous."
"Shouldn't we have brought more guys?"
"Quiet. Are we going to war? Coming in a crowd."
Zizek said while fingering the sword at his waist.
"I only brought you to discuss business with them."
"Isn't it because you were scared to come alone?"
"Getting too comfortable these days, aren't you?"
"Sorry."
Then a voice came from beside them without any warning.
"Where are you fellows from?"
"Gah!"
Rob jumped like a cat, clutching his startled chest.
"W-who are you?"
"Just an old man who lives here."
"Ah, I see."
The old man glanced at the two and set down his water jug.
"First time here? You're drenched in sweat. Have some water."
"Ah, um, well."
Rob looked uncomfortable.
"Hmm? Ah, is it because it's water from a stranger?"
The old man chuckled and scooped up water with a small gourd.
"Ahh, good water."
"...!"
"Thought I might have poisoned it? Don't worry. Just drew this from the well on my way."
Zizek let out an awkward cough.
"But you went through the trouble to draw that water..."
"What's that supposed to mean? My joints are still in their prime. I'm different from those hunched old folks down below."
At those words, Zizek took a fresh look at the old man's physique.
"I suppose you're right."
Though his face was aged, his posture was straight.
"Then I'll gratefully accept."
After drinking the water with pleasure, Zizek exclaimed.
"Ah! The water really is good!"
"Water from high places always tastes better."
"That's very true."
The old man watched Zizek's reaction with satisfaction and asked.
"So what brings you to this dangerous place? You look like folks who know how to use a blade."
"Ah, actually, we're looking for someone."
"Someone? Who? If I know them, I could introduce you."
"Well, um."
Zizek cleared his throat and answered.
"To be precise, not a person but a group
"Hmm? A group?"
The old man tilted his head.
"What was it called? The name wasn't familiar..."
Rob, catching Zizek's look, said.
"It was called Hug-"
At that moment, the gourd Zizek was holding split in two.
"!!!"
Throwing away the gourd and drawing his sword to barely block the surprise attack, Zizek's eyes widened.
"Young man, why are you looking for them?"
Asked the old man, his strange dagger clashing with Zizek's sword.
"No, wait, damn it."
By the time they realized it, they were already surrounded by men who had appeared from beyond the rooftops and walls of dilapidated buildings.
"Young ones, drop your weapons."
"..."
Zizek could only watch silently as the old man gently took his sword away.
"Uh, boss, are we screwed?"
Rob whispered.
"...Shut up."
Zizek retorted.
'Well, at least we found who we were looking for.'
Given the situation, these must be the Eisenach survivors that he and Karzan were searching for.
'...Damn, they're brutally efficient.'
Zizek sighed, finding himself helplessly captured before opponents of a completely different caliber.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Pot]
[Proofreader - Kawaii]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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