How to Live as a Swordmaster of the Enemy Nation

Black Cloud Knight Order (4)

'Something that only I must do. Something only I can accomplish.'

There was undoubtedly no room for excuses. Trustworthy knight order members were limited, and among them, it was no coincidence that Gregory had been chosen.

Moreover, the others' faces had already become known to a person named Bram, so inevitably, Gregory had no choice but to take on this mission.

Thanks to that, he was able to steel his resolve and reaffirm his determination.

"That aside... I've received the information, but I can't come up with a suitable solution."

Gregory observed the area around the mine for quite some time. It made no sense for such a wide place to be completely empty of people.

What's more, from the sound of pickaxes ringing inside for a while now, he could tell that Bram was working inside. To go into the mine so defenseless, without any security at all...

Gregory didn't think well of such carelessness, but since his only task was to carry out the mission, it wouldn't be much of an obstacle.

'I need to go inside.' ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by NoveIꜰire.net

Gregory headed straight for the entrance of the mine. He thought that if he wore his formal attire, he'd be too conspicuous inside the mine, so he came wearing more practical clothing.

The miners who saw him seemed to find nothing odd, as if there was nothing unusual about Gregory, and no one in particular appeared suspicious of him.

Inside the mine, gleaming mana stones caught the eye here and there. When mana seeped into stone, it turned into a mana stone. Since such mana stones affected magic research, they were inevitably sold at a high price.

"Hey, you. What are you doing there?"

Someone called out to Gregory, who was lingering inside the mine. White hair, a white beard, and a burly, heavily muscled frame — it was clear at a glance that this must be Bram.

He personally commanded the site, and when he barked orders, the miners bustled to carry out his directives.

From the start, Gregory had been briefed by the Black Cloud Knight Order regarding Bram's appearance, characteristics, and temperament, and the scene before him only reinforced that information.

'Alright... In that case, let's try to approach him discreetly. I already thought of a plan based on the information I heard.'

Gregory's goal was to win Bram's trust gradually, without being detected, and to persuade him over to the Black Cloud Knight Order. Therefore, he planned to follow like an innocent lamb, and when their rapport deepened, appeal to him emotionally.

"Um, are you talking to me?"

Gregory approached the man presumed to be Bram and asked.

"We've been discovering mana stones one after another in here. This isn't the time to waste."

It was Bram's first time seeing Gregory, but with so many miners around, he didn't seem particularly suspicious. Above all, bram was an impatient man, so seeing Gregory just standing there didn't please him.

He didn't leave Gregory, who looked like a miner, alone and instead gave him orders. Gregory thought it was a good opportunity and grabbed one of the pickaxes lined up, following Bram.

The further in they went, the steeper the incline became, and the narrower the space got, to the point where there was barely room to set one's feet. Once the rail tracks ended, there wasn't even much space to stand. Gregory followed Bram deeper inside.

The geothermal heat rising from the earth soaked him in sweat.

'Ugh... it's a much harsher environment than I thought. Why work in such harsh conditions?'

Gregory was well aware of Bram's actions so far — thanks to the information he received from the Black Cloud Knight Order.

He was a man who put the people above all else, and, even when he was in the knight order, devoted himself wholeheartedly to fulfilling his duties whenever he could help the people.

It was said that, having lived a hard life since he was young, he continued to keep his convictions even after joining the knight order.

To Gregory, he was someone to emulate. However, if he was a person not present in Gregory's past life memories, then it was certain he would vanish living this way.

Just then, bram spoke to him.

"Now that I think of it, you look like someone I haven't seen before. Around here, miners run into each other at least a few times. What's your name?"

Gregory thought that revealing his name might give him away. In fact, his own reputation was already quite well known.

So he mulled over it, but in the end he had no choice but to answer honestly.

"My name is Gregory."

He anxiously trailed behind, worried Bram might recognize his real identity. At that moment, bram suddenly stopped walking.

"Gregory, you say?"

Gregory tensed at the unexpected reaction. If Bram did know who he was, the operation could fall apart.

"Yes... That's right."

Bram pondered for a moment before opening his mouth.

"That's a fine name. By the way, you look quite young—how did you come to work here?"

Gregory inwardly let out a sigh of relief as he answered. One might have thought he was just spouting nonsense upon a quick glance.

Yet, he too believed that sincerity should be met with sincerity, so he didn't lie.

"I came because I wanted to protect my comrades."

"Comrades, huh... It is unusual to volunteer for mining work just to protect your comrades. Not sure what connection there is, but still."

Bram didn't press further. It seemed he was worried that his questions might trouble Gregory and so didn't push any more.

Thinking that this was the perfect time to earn Bram's favor while staying close, Gregory took his turn to ask a question.

"In that case... may I ask your name, sir?"

"My name is Bram. I might look a bit scruffy, but I'm the one overseeing the miners here."

Gregory feigned surprise at Bram's words and asked,

"You're overseeing the miners...? I apologize for not realizing. Then may I ask why you, sir Bram, chose to work as a miner?"

"Me? Hmm..."

Bram lifted his head with a slightly displeased look. In truth, Gregory knew well the reasons why Bram and the Black Cloud Knight Order had fallen out.

Following an order from higher up would have caused great harm to many commoners. Bram refused to carry out the kingdom's order to protect them.

By disobeying the kingdom's command, he inflicted great damage on the kingdom and, as a result, had no choice but to leave the knight order.

'Hmm... As expected, it's a difficult thing to talk about.'

Gregory could understand Bram's feelings. The Black Cloud Knight Order had been quick to rebuke Bram's actions.

According to the law of the kingdom, bram deserved to be executed. The kingdom even organized an inspection squad to capture him, but the Black Cloud Knight Order was equally at risk without him and considered him an eternal comrade, so they risked their lives to vehemently oppose it.

They threw everything into preventing his execution, but by then, bram had already packed up and left the knight order for good.

"Actually, something like this happened."

Bram figured it would take more time to mine the ore anyway and, guessing Gregory also had a tough story, confided his circumstances.

He told Gregory a story different from what the Black Cloud Knight Order had relayed.

"... I betrayed the kingdom, so I deserved to die. But the kingdom did not try to kill me. Only then did I realize: the comrades I thought had abandoned me fought to the end to protect me. That's why I couldn't bring myself to return."

Gregory quietly listened to Bram's tale. In such disputes, it's always more accurate to hear both sides before taking a neutral stance.

After doing so, he confirmed there had indeed been a misunderstanding between Bram and the Black Cloud Knight Order.

"I see... That's what happened."

However, all he could do was sympathize; he couldn't yet find a way to persuade Bram. Anything like "Go back now" or "The Black Cloud Knight Order is looking for you" couldn't be said lightly.

While Gregory was lost in deep thought after hearing Bram's story, bram began to suspect his reserved reaction. Most people who heard his story showed sympathy or were shocked that he was once a member of the knight order, but Gregory was peculiarly calm.

"Something's odd after all... Are you, by any chance, from the Black Cloud Knight Order?"

Instead of being startled at Bram's words, Gregory showed a meaningful smile. In any case, in this dark place there was no way Bram could see that smile.

His mission was to carefully investigate the real reason Bram had grown distant and parted from the Black Cloud Knight Order. By sincerely listening and acting, he had now found a clear cause.

And now, the perfect opportunity to persuade him had arrived.

'Alright... Now that it's come to this, I'll just have to risk it all.'