Chapter. 14. One Empire, Three Legends (13)
****
The sun has risen.
A priest from the church said, “The saint is staying.” This is an inn where not only guests, but even the inn owner, runs away thanks to the scary words like “Heresy when entering except for authorized personnel” posted in front of the inn door.
Aldrich and Ottman’s eyes were full of fatigue as they discussed what would happen today until dawn, and Lucilla was dozing off at the table.
“Today is going to be a very complicated day.”
Everyone’s eyes lit up as they heard the professor’s words announcing the start. The party, who had become accustomed to the activities of this crazy hero, was able to face the coming hardships calmly. Idrasil, who had temporarily rented the kitchen, brought out a simple breakfast, and the group eagerly reached for the food as if preparing for the hardships ahead.
“Of course, it is complicated as a whole, but if you look at it individually, it is a simple task that just needs to be done well. “Nothing big or difficult.”
.
.
.
.
“Except you, Borka.”
“….hmm.”
“Are you confident? “I was worried because you left without saying a word.”
“I went out of the city for a while and went to the forest.”
The werewolf, who had emptied his share of the bowl and closed his eyes, quietly lowered his gaze.
“15 years ago. When I left the forest, I came out with the intention of giving up my life. You abandoned me as a warrior when you signed the slave contract, and for the next eight years, you abandoned me as a human being. As time went by, I became accustomed to throwing away what was left, but there were some things I held on to instead of throwing them away. “I just threw it away yesterday.”
Grumbling –
Borka got up from his seat and turned around, holding in his hand the gladiator equipment neatly placed in a corner.
“If only I could give the forest back to my children… I would never have to be called father again.”
The werewolf even put down his only wish for his final rest from his heart. After a long day of meditation, the werewolf’s steps were filled with firm determination, with all his spirit and body filled with only one goal.
“I’m going.”
Jump up!
The inn’s door opened, and the gladiator, wearing Benard Fang’s helmet again, stepped toward the carriage waiting for him.
“Waaaaaa!”
A legend who vanished after conquering a gladiatorial arena a long time ago. Amid the cheers of the people who were sure that the second legend was coming true, the colorful carriage began to move towards the Colosseum.
****
Borca is moving away with thunderous cheers. He will fight alone from now on. For the moment I’ve been waiting for for 15 years in that Colosseum, where you never know what kind of tricks might be in store.
The party’s mission was to remove all the circumstances that stuck behind him so that he could safely complete his goal.
“….Borca too. With that meaningful look in his eyes, he said, ‘I will go.’ What is it? There are many good words like “I will go and come back” and “I will come back”. “It bothers me.”
“Arthur. Did you see him looking back at the end with those complicated eyes? “If you go into his room, I’m sure there will be a will.”
The professor looked at Borca’s back and said, ‘I’m ready~’ at a glance, and agreed to Lucilla’s grumbling.
Since Wuthering Heights, he’s always carried stationery and a pen. Since he wasn’t even included in the strategy meeting to just focus on the finals, it was obvious what he would do with the time he had left.
As if to prove that the prediction was not wrong, Idrasil took out a letter from his arms.
“here. “I found it.”
“Ugh. Are you also observing Borca now?”
“…the sound of nails grinding at night is interesting, so stop.”
The professor, who was about to burn Borca’s will that Idrasil had presented him, suddenly smiled and stuffed it into his pocket, and Lucilla, disgusted by the sight, stabbed him in the side.
“Are you really going to get that? They say that death can easily find a person as long as the will remains in the world.”
“Then I, who has Wills Nos. 1 to 34 at home, died long ago in the evening? When I finish work today, I will read this out loud in front of the kids in that house. A will is a letter that summarizes one’s life, right? “I need to let my children know so that it doesn’t feel awkward to meet their father for the first time in 15 years.”
“Wow… that was really bad.”
“Still don’t you want to see it? That blunt werewolf’s face turned red and he was struggling to get his will back?”
Lucilla imagined Borca chasing the professor, not knowing what to do between the children and the professor. Hmm…
“I’d like to see it at around 500,000 shillings?”
“yes? So, let’s get started quickly. “We will only be able to see that if our Bohemian Wolf friend doesn’t die and the children all come out safely.”
Grumble!
The professor got up from his seat as a signal and everyone started moving towards their assigned duties.
Notum Aldrich teams up and heads to the outskirts of the city.
Otman Hydrasil Lucilla to the market area.
Borka is an arena.
And I…
Pagak!
“I received an invitation, so I should go say hello.”
Just like the scenario they were drawing, to the territory of the Marquis de Vilderand.
The ‘calling stick’ given by the religious leader. When the professor sitting on the door broke it, a thin light rose up as if piercing the sky, conveying its message to all the priests and believers in the city.
‘On the occasion of the saint. ‘God’s will needs your hands.’
There was no need to explain any other reason. The calling of someone who has been officially recognized as an agent of God’s will by the church.
A reverent smile formed on the professor’s lips as he heard the sound of people running around the inn gasping for air.
“Huh oh oh oh oh! Ratu…la!”
“Ratura lo haram. “There is some time before the parishioners arrive, so you wouldn’t have to rush in like that.”
“Hehehehehehe… I know. “I had been waiting for this moment ever since I heard that the Holy Spirit had come to this city, so my body reacted first.”
The priest holds his hands together and holds his breath. The professor responded to his shining eyes with a soft smile.
“So, what did you call me for…”
“Hahahaha. It’s not that big of a deal. “It just happened as it was supposed to happen, and where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
The professor woke up at the sound of the holy light and the paladin’s armor clanging across the alley.
In the priest’s head, ‘You are taller than I thought!’ Just when I thought about it, the professor, wearing only half of his white robes and tying the upper part around his waist, revealing his scarred torso, finally said! The answer he wanted came out.
A sacred event that was expected to happen because he came here.
“They say the nobles here are breeding a great evil. “I have called you to reveal the truth to the public.”
“That great evil….”
“A person who was born impure. A person who wants to stain the world with blood and place it under his feet. “Mutation Blood, the descendant of that cursed whore is hiding there.”
As the priest continued, he immediately looked around to find something that could be used as a torch.
‘If you want a temple, I’ll give you a temple.’
A letter that could only be said to be malicious, and the Holy Knight priests of the church gathered from the next morning. It might seem like everything is going their way. But….
‘Life is real, friends.’
[Giggles]
I can assure you that what will happen in the future will not match their expectations one bit.
****
“Kiik! Wait here! If you’re sleepy, sleep, and if you’re hungry, say anything! The finalists will do anything! Because it might be the last meal of your life! Kigeek! Kigi geek!”
The goblin walks away with an unlucky laugh. Borka was neither tired nor hungry. I just thought that this place was so familiar that it made my teeth tremble.
‘arena. A house and coffin for slave gladiators.’
Although he tried to ignore it, his life was ingrained in everything surrounding this place.
The smell of dried blood seeped between the cracks in the stones.
Between the cool air and the stuffy helmet, a gentle breath forms on my eyebrows.
The smell of iron. The smell of sweat. The sour harvest of a nervous beast.
And the audience murmurs in anticipation of the slaughter that will unfold in the future. Terrible people who shout that they love and support him more than anyone else and want him to stand at the crossroads of life and death more than anyone else.
Beyond that will be his son. In the same room, in the same solitude.
The end is approaching. Like a bright light coming through the door of a dark waiting room. Like enthusiastic cheers that eat away the silence.
The door to the arena opens, and the werewolf who has completed all preparations steps into the light.
“Waaaaaaah!!!!”
Hundreds of torches twinkling to the point of blinding eyes. The audience chanted his name at the top of their lungs just by his appearance. And his opponent looming between cold eyes.
“…Tushan.”
When I saw my son dressed like a gladiator, my molars tightened without me realizing it.
Finally. After all these years, we finally met. My son, my son who is alive and breathing!
The voice of a goblin using a magic loudspeaker was heard between the two werewolves staring at each other in silence.
[The long-awaited final! The two strongest and most honorable fighters on the plains are ready! On the left! A powerhouse in the arena that no one knows about in Haunuman! He is a true fighter who has come this far alone, as if mocking the rule of two people per team, and is challenging the throne for the third time this year! Tushan- Dalun!]
“Waaaaaaaa!!!”
A shout that resonates throughout the arena as if to prove its popularity. Not only werewolves, but even bears, rabbits, mice, tigers, and beasts stood up and cheered, and some even pulled out their own fur and threw it into the stadium. The idol of the Haunuman beast people, who lived a miserable life like them, but did not give up even for a moment and walked upward one step at a time.
Tushan walked out to the center of the arena amid shouts of his name.
[Keyiik! The pride of the great and great arena is Tushan, the blue mane! However, there is no shortage of opponents against him! right! That opponent is amazing! He is the king of the arena who conquered Gentia Arena, once the largest arena in the East, beyond those mountains! The protagonist of a massacre so famous that its reputation has faded! A single arena covered in blood from the slaughter of more than a hundred gladiators and warriors who lived there – Benard!]
And his name was called after that.
Borka took a step towards his opponent amidst the cheering that could be felt in his own skin.
I thought I never forgot it for a moment, but 15 years were enough to weather the edges of my memories.
His infant son was now taller than him.
The small mouth that used to make tongue clicking sounds was tightly closed with a long, vertical scar.
In contrast, the eyes inside the helmet that revealed his face were tightly closed, steeling his resolve.
but.
“Tushan… Is it Dalun?”
“Benard Fang. “I’m sorry to see the blood of my own people.”
The moment his son, who had been quietly brooding, opened his eyes, Borka had to hold his hand as he almost went forward without realizing it at the sight of his wife’s soul in those deep blue eyes.
My son’s body odor was the same as the one that came from that pillowcase 15 years ago. His nose was similar to his, his mouth was similar, and he had the same gray hair and blue eyes as his wife.
It’s just that Tusan’s left eye has a clumsily sutured scar on it. I just feel resentful that my wife has only one eye when I meet her again.
As the cheers subsided, the one-eyed werewolf, knowing that the time had come, raised his sword.
“I heard your story.”
“….my?”
“okay. The story of a prisoner gladiator who finally won freedom. To face the protagonist of a story that was both my hope and despair in the finals. God seems to like playing sick jokes.”
Crash.
Borca also raised his shield. Keep your shield forward and low. A short knife is held in the hand that is condensed like a spring and pulled back.
Tushan’s hand holding the sword gained strength due to its strong appearance.
“I don’t want to see the blood of my compatriots, so surrender. Benard Fang.”
“…Likewise, I don’t want to see your blood. Tushan Dalun. “When death approaches, surrender without delay.”
A wooden plaque with the names of two people written on it is held in the host’s hand. The one-eyed werewolf’s mouth twisted at the sight of the other person making the same recommendation as him.
『Fight without a single bit of shame before the name of Khun Tagiz!』
Takkak-!
“I… made a mistake!”
Kaang!
As soon as it started, sparks flew between the two shields facing each other.
Borka’s gray eyes met Tushan’s only blue eyes.
The longing, apology, and joy of reunion accumulated over 15 years.
There was so much to say, but it wasn’t the time yet. Since the children had not yet escaped the gladiator’s bondage, he did not even have the right to ask for forgiveness.
-Kaang!
“It means that I will have to see blood in the end!”
“….If you need!”
As the gladiator Benard Fang, not Borka Dalun under the veiled helmet, he swung his blade without hesitation.
****
“Hahaha! “Is this right here?”
“Two blocks further and on the right. Lucille Ottman. Just have a little more strength. “The cheers in the Colosseum are growing louder.”
Around the time when the professor went to the Marquis and Borca headed to the Colosseum.
Da-da-da-da-da-da-dak!
Shake! Shake!
Lucilla and Otman Idrasil were loading cargo covered with a large cloth onto a cart and heading to their destination. Because it was a cart imbued with the spirit of Idrasil and running as fast as the wind, it was more appropriate to say that it was hanging on rather than pulling it, but since the direction had to be controlled, the two young and old people holding the handle were running as if they were being chased by the cart.
“Huh huh huh huh! I guess I made a mistake in organizing the staff! “You’re making an old man, a girl, and a young elf drag this heavy cart!”
“Ugh! Edie! “A little help will help!”
“My job is to guide you to the quickest route. Turn right and face straight ahead. “It’s the second tent from the left.”
Lucilla gritted her teeth and took a deep breath as she heard the elf’s voice giving directions as she jumped from roof to roof.
“If I gain muscle on my legs… I swear on Aedran’s name that I will pay for ruining that girl’s life!!!!”
“Hey honey! We need to slow down-”
“We’re late!”
Before we knew it, a large tent was approaching. Lucilla pushed the cart straight into the open rib tribe’s tent, which had wide open ribs and a silver coin instead of a heart.
Market Area Open Ribs A tent that oversees the tribe’s business.
The goblins, who had been counting money without participating in the finals where everyone else was going, screamed when the wind suddenly pushed the cart, and Lucilla and Otman, gasping for breath, entered the tent, which became chaos.
Faba Park!
The goblin’s poisonous sting, which flew in without a word, was blocked by a curtain of water, and Lucilla, barely able to catch her breath, cried out as she pulled the cart that was stuck in a corner.
“The goblin with the most money here! Come out now! “Because I’m here to make a deal!”
“Kiik! Don’t be funny! Wizard human female elf! It’s an attack! “I’m here to steal the tribe’s silver!”
“I don’t have time, so come out quickly!”
Woe!
Lucilla, seeing that no one came out and goblins armed with various weapons rushing in, pulled down the tent of the cart and then nervously kicked the lid of the half-broken chest.
Rattling!
Chrrrrrrrr-!
“It’s an attack! Wet-?!!! Kiiik!”
“Kwaaeak!”
“Squeak! Kiik! Kiiik!”
“KIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEICK!!!”
A chest that collapses under Lucilla’s kick and spits out silver coins.
Among the goblins, who were more excited than when facing an enemy, a short goblin wearing a monocle came forward, and Lucilla, who instinctively knew that he was the highest person here, took a step forward.
“Kiik. I believe in trading. A lot of money! Great deal! “What did you come to buy, human?”
“That’s the most expensive one here!”
As Lucilla winked, Otman, who was on guard, snapped his fingers and a small water droplet exploded, completely overturning the cart.
“Ki…. Kieeee….”
All nine large chests on the cart tipped over, creating a mountain of silver coins. While all the goblins around were mesmerized by the sight, Lucilla approached the goblin who came forward as if to represent them.
“The truth about goblins who say lies are their language! This is more than enough to pay for it! You there! glasses! Have you ever seen this much silver in your life? It’s not just a brief flash of light that passes before your eyes, it’s a lifetime to come! “Enough silver coins to put under your bed and swim every day!”
The dazed goblin seemed to think about what Lucilla’s words meant and approached the mountain of silver with blank eyes.
Goblins are a race of people who are so instinctively greedy for wealth that they can be said to be creatures created out of greed. Of course, as he is an intelligent being, he thinks about the future and distinguishes between what should be done and what should not be done, but…
“I live on my own…. So this…. all for me?”
“Right here, right now! All! “In cash!”
“Ke kehiiiii-!!!”
If you are presented with wealth that overwhelms your reason, you will even lose the reason you have built up throughout your life.
The answer of the goblin, who was entranced by the wealth he had only dreamed of before his eyes.
In that state, the words that come out of the goblin’s mouth at the time when the evil mentality has been unlocked are the only words that are considered trustworthy among the words that come out of the goblin’s mouth, known in the world as ‘the truth of goblins’.
“Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee….!”
Lucilla spoke as if scolding the goblin, who was stroking a mountain of silver coins with blank eyes.
“An arena controlled by your Open Ribs tribe! “Do you guys have the contracts for those arena slaves?”
“No… the chief’s precious servant… handed over to a human noble… sparkling… keii…”
“Human noble? who?”
“One of the eight tribes…. Vilderland…. We only take money and manage it, but in fact, the owner is that bearded man….”
“Otman! “You heard it!”
After getting the answer he wanted, Otman immediately came out of the tent with Lucilla and stretched out his hand toward the sky.
The finals of a speculation contest with all kinds of interests at stake. Since they are in charge of management, most of the Open Rib Goblins’ chieftains and leaders will be in the arena.
The ones remaining in the market area now are goblins who have extensive experience in the business here, but whose status is somewhat lacking. At the same time, he has earned the trust of the chieftain enough to manage the place where all the tribe’s money is collected.
‘I thought that money would be enough for a middle manager or something like that!’
Fuwaaaaak!
The water that rose like a fountain from Otman’s hand, which was preparing in advance, turned towards the sky and contained the water spirit of Idrasil, and a double rainbow appeared out of nowhere in broad daylight and decorated the sky.
One is yes. A promise to say no to two.
“…It wasn’t the goblin side after all.”
“Saint. “What are you saying?”
“No, Bishop. “Please proceed as promised in advance.”
The professor who confirmed this from the other side of the city led the Holy Knights toward the Marquis’s territory.
“There are two. Should we move too?”
“Gwok.”
A shabby slum on the outskirts of the city. Notum and Aldrich, who had been searching the darkest parts of the slum with black magic and magic, respectively, received a signal and began to move.
****
