Chapter 17
'Blake Siers, you're more capable than I thought.'
Kain thought, watching Blake calmly.
Blake having Kain cast Fire first, anticipating Richter's fault-finding, was an excellent judgment.
Thanks to that, Richter was caught in his own trap of finding fault with his own words, and considering his pride, he wouldn't be able to bring up the matter of expulsion again.
'But what's with that scheme now?'
Kain looked back and forth between Richter's and Blake Siers' faces.
Richter, who had been red-faced just moments ago, suddenly had a serene expression, and this time, Blake was the one with a flustered look.
"To Kain, you say...?"
Richter nodded.
"Since we're investigating anyway, wouldn't it be better to give Kain an opportunity to prove his abilities? Even if he can only properly handle 1st Circle magic, catching Snow Rabbits wouldn't be difficult, so I think it's a worthwhile task for someone as talented as Kain."
Richter looked at Kain with a smile.
"If it's simply because it's the breeding season and the population has increased, then he can just catch that many Snow Rabbits... If there's another reason, then he can just figure out what that reason is. It's a simple task."
It was indeed a simple task in itself.
Investigating the cause of abnormal monster behavior was a task often given to disciples.
However.
'It seems he's hiding something.'
He wasn't talented at reading people's emotions, but he had learned from Harman that if someone who was just angry suddenly proposed something with a serene face, there was likely something fishy behind it.
-And if they even praise you? That's a hundred percent sign that something's up. Remember, Sein. The bastard who offers reconciliation first is the culprit.
-I'll keep that in mind.
Blake Siers, also sensing something suspicious, couldn't readily answer.
As Blake hesitated, Richter added in a generous tone,
"If Kain catches a sufficient number of Snow Rabbits, I won't hold him further responsible for the incident where we were attacked this time. And, if Kain even identifies the definite cause."
Richter looked at Kain and said,
"I will even make it as if the incident where Kain previously stood up to Hayden never happened."
"......!"
Blake's eyes widened.
"Does that mean...?"
"It means that I will not only restore the support fund cuts from that time but also provide other conveniences."
Gulp.
Blake Siers swallowed.
Even the master and direct line disciples who had been silent until now flinched.
Unlike other cuts, the cut in support funds due to the Hayden assault incident was quite significant because the justification was so clear.
If they could restore that, it would ease the strained budget that had been squeezed and divided to the limit.
Blake glanced sideways at the carriages lined up behind Richter.
The support funds for this visit should be in those carriages.
If Kain successfully completed the mission and returned, it meant they could receive the increased support funds immediately.
'Moreover, making that incident as if it never happened... means they will withdraw even the disadvantages they imposed without directly stating it was because of that incident.'
Most importantly, it also implied that they would no longer interfere regarding Kain in the future.
'I resolved the expulsion issue, but I thought there would be continued checks in other ways since Hayden holds a grudge against Kain...'
Since Richter had publicly announced it in front of so many people, he wouldn't lie.
If Kain cleanly completed the mission and returned, no matter how much Hayden threw a tantrum in the future, he wouldn't be able to touch Kain.
'However...'
But Blake knew.
'There's no way they would offer such good conditions without any reason.'
There must be a reason, a purpose, for offering these conditions.
Blake slowly opened his mouth.
"Then, are there perhaps any other conditions...?"
"Ah, nothing much. Just one condition. Kain will go to the snowy mountains alone. That's all."
Richter smiled slyly as he spoke.
"What...!"
Blake clenched his fist without realizing it.
'Such brazenness!'
Kain failing to complete the mission in the snowy mountains and dying at the hands of monsters.
Blake had long suspected that was what Richter truly wanted.
Otherwise, there would be no reason to promise such extraordinary rewards.
However, he hadn't expected him to brazenly present such a shameless condition.
'I knew it.'
At first, he had thought it was a worthwhile gamble.
Richter probably thought that Kain was only a 2nd Circle mage with almost no practical experience, while the real Kain that Blake knew was skilled enough to hunt adult Snow Leopards alone.
'But no matter how capable Kain is, no one knows what might happen if he goes to the snowy mountains alone.'
Although Snow Rabbits were relatively weak, if they attacked in a large group from multiple directions with their agile movements, it would be dangerous without a 3rd Circle magic like Fire Wall, and if two or three Snow Leopards appeared on top of that, it would be as good as a death sentence.
'Even when sending a mission to the snowy mountains, we send ten people, or at least five...'
Yet, not even five, but telling him to go to the snowy mountains completely alone.
'It's no different from telling him to die.'
It was a gamble that couldn't be won from the start.
Blaming himself for having even a moment of hope, Blake opened his mouth.
"That's unacceptable..."
And at that moment.
"I will do it."
Kain's voice, quiet but clear, rang out.
"W-what did you say?"
"Go to the snowy mountains alone, catch the Snow Rabbits, and determine the cause of their activity outside their territory. Isn't that what's required? I will do it."
It was the longest sentence Kain had uttered since coming out here.
'This is the perfect opportunity.'
It was a very unfavorable condition for Kain in the eyes of anyone but Kain himself.
But for Kain, it was as if a good opportunity had rolled right to his feet.
'I was wondering if there was a way to go to the snowy mountains alone anyway, so this works out perfectly.'
Their intention might be to send him to the snowy mountains to be killed by monsters, but Kain had no intention of dying in the Garil Snowy Mountains, which were as familiar to him as his own balcony.
'Going alone will actually be advantageous for me. My movements will be unrestricted.'
In fact, the moment Richter mentioned the snowy mountains, he had wanted to say he would go.
However, he wasn't yet certain of their exact intentions, and he had waited patiently, thinking they would present conditions and rewards.
'If I can get the support funds restored and get rid of that annoying Hayden with this, there's no reason not to do it.'
But unfortunately, Blake didn't seem to think so.
"Kain! What on earth are you saying! You're going to the snowy mountains alone? Do you think I would allow that?"
"Yes. Aren't the rewards clear?"
"The rewards aren't the issue here!"
Blake shouted.
Even Blake Siers, who had won the clan head competition, couldn't be sure he would survive if he went to the snowy mountains alone as a 2nd Circle mage.
'In fact, considering pure potential, Kain might even be more outstanding than me. He has a bright future ahead. But...'
That was precisely why he couldn't send him alone to such a dangerous place before he had even achieved significant growth.
"I... absolutely cannot allow it. Clan Head Richter Bederman. I am grateful for your promise of rewards, but please consider this conversation as never having happened."
"Hahaha. But Kain himself seems willing to go. As a clan head, wouldn't it be better to encourage a disciple's challenge rather than keeping him confined within the fence?"
"I apologize, Clan Head. I will pretend I didn't hear that."
Blake Siers seemed absolutely unwilling to budge.
Then Richter clicked his tongue softly and shrugged.
"Well, alright. Then let's change the conditions a little."
Richter held up three fingers.
"Three people. He can bring up to three companions. Of course, disciples at or below the 2nd Circle, like Kain."
Blake Siers hesitated.
Three companions. Including Kain, that meant he could send a total of four people.
Considering disciples of the same 2nd Circle level, if they assumed each person could do the work of at least two or three people, then they could say they had met the minimum number.
Blake, who had been adamant that it was absolutely impossible, paused at Richter's rather unconventional proposal.
And then, someone's voice came from behind.
"Brother. Why don't you let him go?"
"Cristan...!"
The one who spoke was Blake Siers' younger brother and one of the clan elders, Cristan Siers.
In the past Clan head competition, when Blake was chosen, those who didn't become the Clan head either left the Clan or became elders.
The two mages who chose to become elders were Cristan Siers and Wayne Siers, who was standing next to him.
Among them, Cristan had remained as an elder with a grand plan to make his son the next Clan head, and in fact, his son Derrick Siers was currently vying for the top one or two ranks among all the disciples.
"To be honest, how much financial damage has Kain caused the clan so far? He's saying he'll take responsibility and make up for it, so we should give him a chance. Don't you think so too, Wayne?"
On the other hand, Wayne Siers was evaluated as having remained as an elder because he didn't have the courage to leave the clan, and his children generally lacked the skills to actively participate in the succession competition.
Wayne avoided Blake's gaze and answered quietly.
"...I will leave it to the Clan Head's judgment."
"Tch. Indecisive fool."
Cristan clicked his tongue.
"Everyone else is probably thinking the same thing as me, even if they're not saying it. It's not like only one or two people have suffered because of Kain all this time."
"Cristan!"
Blake sent a sharp glare, meaning for him to watch his words, but Cristan looked straight back at Blake.
Cristan also had no intention of retracting his words.
"If he had to go alone, I wouldn't have interfered either. But he can take three others, can't he? Just bringing back all the Snow Rabbits would be a good deal for us. Please make a decision for the sake of the other family members, brother."
Blake bit his lip tightly.
Unfortunately, there was some truth in Cristan's words.
And no matter how much of a clan head he was, he couldn't completely ignore the words of an elder.
'Hoo...'
Blake took a slow, deep breath.
Then he looked down at Kain.
Kain still seemed eager to go to the snowy mountains, looking at Blake with an unusually lively gaze.
His eyes were so bright that they would have seemed to sparkle if they were just a little brighter.
'Kain... are you really that confident?'
If he succeeded, Kain would be free from Bederman's checks and interference while he underwent rapid growth in the future.
'Kain is probably aware of that and is trying to take the risk.'
Kain, who had been cooped up in his room, had changed from some point on.
Not only his skills but also his way of speaking and his atmosphere had changed. He wasn't just like that in front of the clan head; he had also received reports that his attitude towards training in the East Wing was perfect.
Would such a Kain really step forward for a reckless challenge with no chance of winning, like a naive fool?
That thought began to form in his mind.
Blake closed his eyes for a moment.
And then, opening his eyes, he spoke.
"Alright. I will allow Kain to go to the snowy mountains. However."
Blake looked around at the disciples and continued.
"I will send him if three volunteers come forward to accompany him. Since it's a dangerous undertaking, I cannot send anyone arbitrarily."
That was Blake's final decision.
"Among the disciples on the second floor, those who wish to go to the snowy mountains with Kain, raise your hands."
Cristan clicked his tongue at those words.
'It's over. The old man used his head.'
There was no way any disciple would want to join a group of just four 2nd Circle mages going to a place without a higher-circle mage to lead them.
It seemed like he had accepted Cristan's opinion at first glance, but in the end, it looked like things would go as Blake wanted.
Kain, also thinking this had no chance, sighed inwardly.
'Too bad.'
Kain himself was confident, but the possibility of the other three believing in him and following him was practically zero in reality.
It seemed he would have to give up on going to the snowy mountains and look for another way to accumulate mana.
"......"
As expected, no one raised their hand.
Silence flowed for a while.
"If there's no one..."
And then.
"I'll go."
"M-me too."
The ones who raised their hands were the twin brothers, Edward and Fohn.
There was a brief stir at the unexpected volunteers.
"Quiet."
But even though Edward and Fohn had filled two spots, the 2nd Circle disciples only glanced at each other with uneasy eyes.
After enough time had passed.
Just as Blake Siers, half relieved, was finally about to open his mouth.
"I will go."
The one who raised his hand was surprisingly Bolio, the one who had picked a fight with Kain on his first day entering the East Wing..
