My next target territory was a bit far.
And based on my memories from before the regression, I had to hurry a little to make it on time.
“In the Empire, the emergence of a Hero is a top priority for the royal family. They’d be deeply concerned about whether he’s a true Hero, when the divine oracle will come, and when to announce it publicly across the continent.”
—Naturally.
“So Kaeld is probably trying to win the Emperor’s favour by revealing the sword is fake. I’m sure of it.”
Offense asked in a slightly amused tone.
—You’ve figured all that out and still sound relaxed. You said you were rushing somewhere, didn’t you?
“Yeah. I’m on my way to do something that’ll make revealing a fake sword look like child’s play.”
—Now I’m curious. No need to tell me now. I’ll hear it later.
“Sure. But once again, be careful.”
—Don’t worry.
Click.
The communication ended.
Neril smiled for some reason.
“That kid’s definitely on our side now. Honestly, I had considered the possibility of him turning on us later.”
“It must be that he was moved by my capability and character.”
“Look at him say that without a single change in expression.”
“Anyway, just a second.”
I called Trail.
[What now? I was just about to sleep.]
‘So you do sleep, huh.’
[Except for using the bathroom, I do everything.]
‘Whatever. Show me the screen.’
[Yeah, yeah.]
<Reputation points needed for next level: 17,760 / 20,000>
<Your name echoes across the Druker Territory. (All points collected!)>
<Your name echoes across the Quelk Territory. (All points collected!)>
<Your name echoes across the Lior Territory. (All points collected!)>
<Your name echoes across the Avis Territory. (All points collected!)>
I had recovered all the points from Avis as well.
Next, I asked for the map.
The northern part of the continent was now pretty well marked with our influence.
Meanwhile, Kaeld was still lagging behind.
Here are the exact numbers:
<Mide Mohan: 17,760>
<Kaeld Wake: 21,090>
Nice.
I rubbed my hands together and grinned.
‘If I pull this off cleanly, I’ll overtake him. That number’s going down.’
Just then, Neril spoke.
“So what exactly are you planning to do in the next territory—Raynus?”
“You know how famous Raynus is, right?”
“Of course. It’s the birthplace of the second Hero in continental history—Lepia Odgar, the one who defeated the Demon King of Greed.”
Lepia Odgar.
She was the only female among the four Heroes in history, a legend who had supposedly reached the pinnacle of swordsmanship.
Raynus was the territory where she had been born and raised.
But that wasn’t what I meant.
“As expected of someone from the old days—you only remember the old news.”
“Xenia calling me grandma is more than enough.”
“I didn’t call you grandma this time though… Anyway, there are two famous figures from Raynus. One is Lepia Odgar, like you said. The other—”
I dug up a faint memory.
“Is Mariana Ayn, the Empire’s greatest necromancer.”
“Mariana? Never heard that name.”
Not surprising, since Neril hadn’t even heard of the Martial King Terce.
“Mariana is a master of necromancy. You know what necromancers are, right?”
“Don’t look down on me. They summon the spirits of the dead into their own bodies to borrow their knowledge, memories, and power.”
“Exactly. You know some of the Heroes of old had necromancers in their parties, right? That’s how central necromancers are in the Empire. And Mariana is one of the best.”
It happened when the current Emperor ascended the throne.
The former Emperor had died mysteriously without naming a successor.
Some said it was poisoning, others claimed it was just old age—but the person who resolved that matter was none other than Mariana.
She summoned the former Emperor’s spirit into her own body and exposed every detail of the truth behind his death to the world.
Neril showed interest.
“I don’t know much about necromancy since it’s so different from magic… but I’ve heard that most summoned spirits just ramble nonsense and disappear. She was really that clear and rational?”
“That’s why she’s a great necromancer.”
“Hmm.”
“Anyway, because of that deed, Mariana—despite not being particularly strong in combat—was given the seventh highest rank in the Empire. And she’s the one I’m going to meet now.”
Neril narrowed her eyes.
“Don’t tell me you were thinking of making her our next party member?”
Haha. As if.
Just a mere seventh-ranker, daring to try and take a seat?
[Sometimes, when I look at you lot, I wonder if common sense even means anything.]
‘Thanks.’
I expressed my honest gratitude to Trail, who hadn’t complimented me in a while.
Then I said to Neril,
“I’m going to meet Mariana’s son.”
“Her son?”
“Yeah. He’s a necromancer hundreds of times more talented than his mother.”
Before the regression, he was Kaeld’s sixth party member.
The kid who joined right before me as the seventh.
Unlike Neril, who called everyone a brat, I only used that word for actual brats.
‘He should be around fourteen at this point in time.’
Adwin Ayn.
Also known as the Friend of the Dead.
Somehow, he even managed to host the souls of past heroes in his own body—truly, one of the great heroes.
It’s been a while. I’m going to hear more stories about that guy—regrettable in all sorts of ways.
Neril stretched.
“Well, seems like you’re not telling me everything, but I’ll hear it later. I’m getting sleepy.”
“Yeah. We’ll probably arrive by morning, so get some rest.”
“Got it. Xenia, you too.”
But Xenia wasn’t listening to us.
She kept tilting her head and mumbling,
“Why was it a pheasant?”
Kaeld and his party arrived at the Padania tomb.
The other members felt solemn standing before the resting place of a legendary hero… and Kaeld wore the same expression outwardly, but in truth, his mind was elsewhere.
‘Mide Mohan.’
Kaeld recalled a conversation with Offense not too long ago.
That was when Offense returned to the inn where Kaeld’s group was staying, having just finished his mission in the Avis territory.
Kaeld shifted in his seat and asked,
“You’ve really gone through a lot. Came back sooner than I expected.”
“You summoned me urgently.”
“Hmm. Well, sit here.”
Kaeld gestured warmly to the seat across from him.
Offense, though slightly tense, hid it completely as he took the seat.
“What about the others?”
“Serein and Lisel? Said they were bored of lounging around in the capital and went out for fun. Those two really are like sisters.”
“I see.”
Kaeld continued with a grin.
“They were asking me the same thing earlier, you know. Where the hell is Offense hiding, that we haven’t seen a trace of him?”
“Hmm.”
“This mission—it’s a secret between just you and me, from beginning to end. I’d appreciate it if you fed them a suitable excuse.”
“Don’t worry. I’m quite adept at fabricating cover stories.”
Kaeld narrowed his eyes and studied Offense.
‘A top-class assassin really is different. Can’t read anything from that face.’
Well, it’s impossible to read Offense’s expression under normal circumstances.
Unless he’s actively disguised as someone else, anyway.
Eventually, Kaeld spoke up.
“I got periodic updates via the communication orb, but that doesn’t give me the full picture. Give me a detailed report of what happened in Avis territory.”
“Well…”
Offense spoke in a light tone.
Exactly the version he’d pre-arranged with Mide.
He explained how he managed to locate Ariena just in time and prevent a war.
However, the success didn’t boost his fame as much as he’d hoped—most of the people in the territory were simply relieved at Ariena’s safe return.
Kaeld, arms crossed, asked,
“Weren’t you supposed to kill Ariena?”
“I failed. I ended up facing Mide head-on.”
“An assassin should never allow themselves to end up in a direct fight with a top-tier mercenary.”
“Yes, I hadn’t planned on it either, but I was interrupted by the Witch of Carnage and the God’s Agent.”
“…”
“To be honest, the fact that I returned in one piece after fighting them is a miracle. I’d say the task was excessive, to begin with.”
Kaeld asked for a more detailed account of the battle.
That too had already been coordinated in advance with Mide, Neril, and Xenia.
Offense described it casually, and it was convincing enough to satisfy Kaeld.
‘Judging by the circumstances, it all seems fine…’
But he wasn’t entirely convinced.
Until Offense said this:
“Oh, by the way, those people had an interesting conversation.”
“Hm?”
“The Hero’s Sword.”
At that moment, Kaeld’s eyes lit up.
“The one in the Padania Brook Tomb. They’re after it.”
“…”
“But that tomb is, essentially, in your territory, isn’t it? Just as you’re wary of Mide, he’s wary of you.”
“…”
“He’s hesitating to make a move because he’s worried you’ll get in his way. Still, it seems like he’ll make a decision soon. What should we do?”
At that moment, Kaeld felt a tickle in his chest.
No, more like something blocked had suddenly cleared—refreshingly so.
Just as Mide had predicted, the doubts and wariness in Kaeld’s heart melted away like snow.
Kaeld’s thoughts returned to the present.
That was when Serein, one of his party members, spoke.
“We’re finally going to get our hands on the Hero’s Sword.”
“Yeah. With this, the gap between Mide and me will be irreversibly wide.”
“You mean that guy claiming to be a hero in the north? Kaeld, you’ve been thinking about him a lot lately.”
“Not anymore.”
The other party members—except for Offense—looked puzzled at that answer.
But rather than explain, Kaeld continued thinking to himself.
‘Mide… I was a little concerned about him, but he’s clearly not hero material. He doesn’t even know the Hero’s Sword in the Padania Tomb is a fake.’
Well, of course.
No matter how exceptional that guy is, he’d never suspect the sword is a fake.
Unless he can see this.
Kaeld quietly closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, he was seeing an entirely different world.
<Next Quest: Retrieve the Hero’s Sword from the Padania Tomb.>
<Reveal to the Emperor that the Hero’s Sword is a fake.>
Kaeld was born in a rural village.
Whenever the lord made an important announcement, a proclamation would be posted on the notice board in the village hall.
That notice.
One day, papers written in the common language had started appearing around Kaeld.
At first, he thought it was an illusion.
But no matter how much time passed, the notice never vanished. In fact, it got closer and clearer.
Kaeld remembered the first sentence ever written on one of those notices.
He recalled his first quest, and smirked.
<First Quest: Kill Bion Kunze.>
TL : Peakkkk