Chapter 215 : Chapter 215
The smoke appearing in front of the party leaving Phoenix instantly transformed into the figure of a familiar person.
Before the young man with pure white hair and red eyes could even say anything, Muno abruptly stepped forward.
"You are extremely late. Why is a rabbit so slow!"
"……Something came up."
A bitter expression came back in response to the joke-mixed greeting thrown out in anticipation of him getting angry.
An expression so dark that I couldn't even ask what happened.
So I couldn't make any more jokes.
"……Did you make a decision?"
"Not yet…… I do not know. Really."
"Then why did you come here?"
At those words, Victon bit his lip tightly, let out a small sigh, looked up at the sky, then slowly looked at the faces of Muno and the party again before spitting out words as if he had made up his mind about something.
"I plan to follow you around for a while. I want to watch the situation by your side, as you are at the center of this storm."
A conclusion I hadn't expected at all.
"What?"
"I applied for a long-term leave from the Imperial Royal Inspection Bureau. It is unprecedented, but……. It will probably be accepted."
Long-term leave?
Was the Imperial Royal Inspection Bureau a group that had such a thing?
"Ah, no. That is none of my business, but why me?"
"I told you. Either way, it seems you are at the center of the things happening these days. If that Demon Cult Leader, Exlam, whom you mentioned, is really inside the Empire, he will eventually appear in front of you. Because you made everything go wrong."
Victon's red eyes shone too fiercely as he said that.
It seems he has a similar guess to the story our party discussed, but Muno decided to probe him once.
"What if he doesn't appear?"
"The international situation is changing more complicatedly and urgently than expected. If he still doesn't appear in front of you within a short period of time despite that, I can just judge your words as nonsense and return."
What does the urgent international situation have to do with him appearing in front of me?
"Why do you think so?"
"A Seven-Star has taken refuge in the Empire; would he only stay in the dark? To officially reveal his identity, he would try to shake off the remnants of the past."
"Hoh?"
It was a plausible guess, but there was a critical problem with it.
"He shouldn't know that I remember him though?"
"Do not try to understand the compulsions of mages with rationality. The nature of magicians and mages who have reached Seven-Star is that they cannot let even a minute uneasiness pass. He will surely try to clear it up. You, who have been the biggest obstacle to the Demon Cult so far."
His words sounded as if he had experienced many mages, but I didn't tackle him on it.
The addition of Victon, a 6-Star Corporeal Arts user with a unique and powerful trait, would be helpful to the party.
The current me who has created a ‘new weapon’ through evolution, Imadi, and Lauel. And adding Victon to that?
'Very good. This is a sure win.'
If Exlam's skill is about the level of that Green Tower Master we met in the northern mountain range, we can guarantee a sure victory.
'That monster called Exlam a loser. Then there is a high possibility Exlam is weaker than him.'
Now the remaining problem is only when he will appear in front of me.
A smile naturally spread on Muno's lips.
* * *
"Excuse me……."
"Is that black knight perhaps……."
"Recently, that……."
Murmur, murmur.
Gathering gazes.
And.
"This is a place under the control of the Northern Royal Family. I am sorry, Black Knight, but we do not have the capacity to welcome you."
The cold tone of the Guard Captain and the spear tips aimed at us.
'The Hulk grandmother's influence is bigger than I thought. No, is it that the grandmother handles things well?'
Muno clicked his tongue inside his helmet.
"I only plan to stock up on supplies in this city and leave."
"Entry is forbidden! Get lost immediately!"
I only laughed inwardly at the sight of the Guard Captain shouting.
Because the guy who was demanding a bribe just moments ago changed his attitude completely as soon as I took off my robe and gathered people's attention as if I were angry.
But I visited this city officially wearing even my helmet because I intended this situation.
I just stopped by because it was visible on the way; I don't even know the name of the castle.
'But this level of commotion is weak.'
The moment Muno, wearing his helmet, flicked his finger.
The white smoke that was faintly melted in the air all around instantly gathered in one spot and thrust a human face in front of the Guard Captain.
"That would be troubling."
"Heeaak!"
The Guard Captain, who had been arrogantly thrusting his spear, recoiled in fright and stepped back hurriedly.
In the meantime, the white smoke that took the form of a complete person, Victon, smiled bitterly and took out an identification plaque from his bosom.
"I am Victon Ares, an Imperial Royal Inspector. I am guiding the envoys of another country, so open the way."
"B, but……."
"We plan to buy only necessary supplies and leave immediately. Is even that not allowed?"
The flame pattern rising above the identification plaque.
Staring at it, the Guard Captain soon forced a smile and stepped aside.
"It, it will be troubling if you cause a commotion."
"Of course."
The party bought daily necessities including food in that nameless city.
Adding even horses and a carriage.
"This, this, and even this."
"Even this?"
So much that anyone would think we don't plan to stop by a city in the future.
In fact, it was unnecessary as long as masters of camping out and hunting existed.
Muno exposed his gleaming black armor to the whole world, and Lauel even took off her veil.
"That woman…… black? Surely the Tower of Spirits……?"
"That black armor is that Black Knight……."
"There is even an Imperial Royal Inspector……."
"But who is that middle-aged man?"
"Don't know. Must be something like a butler or a servant."
Because drawing attention and receiving notice like this was the party's goal.
Fortunately(?), the merchants of the city began to rip us off blatantly amidst the secret gestures of the Guard.
"Hey, do you think this makes sense?"
"Ey. The times being what they are, Sir Knight."
A merchant asking for 1000 Imperial gold coins for horses, a carriage, and food prices combined.
It was a rip-off amounting to five times the regular price.
"Tsk……."
Muno glared at the Guard for a moment, then paid the price by coolly emptying the gems that had been sleeping in his bosom for a long time.
Then the merchant's expression brightened instantly.
"You must be going far. Ha, hahaha."
"Since the treatment is like this, I intend to head straight to the Kingdom without stopping by cities in the future."
The party didn't forget to subtly leak their destination.
And to recover the emergency funds emptied at once.
"Why, why are you ba, bastards……?"
"Why indeed, it is troubling for a knight to pass by upon seeing injustice."
"Crazy Iron bastards……."
"The crazy ones are you guys."
SMACK.
"Aaaack!"
We caused another commotion by smashing the gangsters extorting money from the poor and outsiders in the alleyway.
As a result.
"Tweeeeet!"
"Over there!"
The City Guard flocked in droves, and the Imperial Royal Inspector blocked them again.
"You said you wouldn't cause a commotion!"
"I said we are leaving now? You know that something bad happened to our party too."
"Le, leave immediately!"
"That is the plan!"
Even when leaving the northern gate of the castle, they were able to leave receiving the grand welcome of the Guard and the attention of the people.
Like that, the 'party heartbroken by the Northern King's mistreatment' slowly set out on the return journey.
Matching the speed of a general merchant procession, which didn't suit their usual speed.
Rattle rattle.
"Why only me……."
Muno grumbled while walking fast next to the baggage carriage that looked plausible on the outside but had a cheap appearance.
Then Imadi, who was sitting on the coachman's seat since he was misunderstood as a butler or servant anyway, rebuked him at once.
"Don't you see the crack here? How about doing something about that body and armor that even a lightweight reinforced carriage can't withstand before speaking?"
This old man seems to be sulking…….
"Lord Muno, I will walk with you……."
"No, no. It is fine."
Restraining Lauel who abruptly stuck her head out from inside the baggage carriage, I looked up at the sky with a sigh.
'This seems too blatant…….'
Although I grumbled, there is no way walking just this much would be tiring.
It felt unnatural because it was too comfortable compared to the time when I ran east, west, north, and south like the wind, taking only minimal rest.
But soon I shook my head and brushed it off.
'This is normal. It is normal.'
An envoy of the Kingdom kicked out after being mistreated by the ruler of the Northern Empire.
Running back hurriedly because of that would not fit the national prestige of Iron, the country of knights.
Rather, more confidently, slowly.
As if the insult you gave cannot affect me at all.
'Please bite.'
While desperately hoping the enemy would bite this bait, I walked while acting calm on the outside.
And when two days had passed like that.
A night with a full moon.
Muno, who was about to prepare dinner by gathering branches and lighting a fire in a clearing, stopped momentarily and stood up.
'He came!'
Creepy, massive demonic energy suddenly felt from not far away.
"Heh. Means he has no intention of hiding either……."
When I glanced back in disbelief, I saw Imadi lifting his chin with a hardened face.
Meaning, wasn't I right?
- When you become a Seven-Star, the world looks ridiculous.
It seemed the party's effort to light a campfire on purpose to hide Imadi's ability and hide the aura of spirits with magical tools shone brightly.
"Lord Muno?"
"Surely……?"
"Yes. He came."
The moment I told Victon and Lauel, who couldn't feel it yet because of the distance, the party each drew their weapons.
As soon as they did.
[Do you think struggling will change anything?]
A shrill voice was heard.
'Hm?'
The moment Muno paused at the sense of incongruity flashing through his mind.
[Caton's grandson, step aside.]
Just as the massive demonic energy seemed to flood in, the ground of the clearing rose up in an instant and swallowed Victon.
RUMBLE.
KUGUGUGUNG.
"Heup!?"
A change that happened in an instant when the enemy hadn't even shown herself.
The ground itself became the mouth of a giant monster, swallowed Victon, and dragged him underground.
"Lord Muno!"
I saw Lauel throwing herself towards the forest outside the clearing while shouting.
Only then did Muno dash towards the center where the demonic energy was felt.
But I couldn't shake off the bewilderment.
'The voice is different.'
I wondered if it was a disguise, but intuitively I got a feeling.
'It is rough, but it is a woman's voice.'
It wasn't my enemy, Exlam.
'What on earth is this…….'
I was confused, but tried to focus my mind.
And.
[So it is you.]
RUMBLE.
Paaaak.
I kicked off the crumbling ground and flew into the air.
And extended the iron chains on my two legs to 'step on' the trees on the ground outside the clearing that hadn't collapsed.
Chwareureureuk.
Kwadedeudeuk.
Trees crushed in an instant by the indescribable massive weight.
But the iron chains that contracted that much stretched out again in an instant and bounced Muno's body into the air.
Paaaaang!
A body soaring like an arrow.
The iron chain extending from my right hand crossed a space of 200m and struck a corner of the night sky.
Taaaaang!
[Hoh?]
Along with the sound of hitting a rough iron wall, a translucent barrier and an entity wearing a golden robe inside it revealed themselves.
A woman with golden blonde hair reflecting the moonlight hanging down to her waist, skin smooth like porcelain, and exceptionally red lips standing out.
[You are quite good.]
There was still composure in that shrill but delicate voice.
However.
Kwadeuk, kwadeuk.
[Ha……?]
As the ring mouths of the iron chain wrapped around that barrier and ate it away, her expression changed drastically.
Her appearance looked pretty even when surprised, but because of the demonic energy filling inside, she only felt disgusting to Muno.
"That pretty face……."
The moment he took out his greatsword and swung it.
"……I will crush it."
Paaaaang!
[Pretty?]
The woman's face also distorted at the same time.