Chapter 24 : Chapter 24
Chapter 24: The Unsetting Sun (2)
“Have some.”
The reception room of the mansion.
Four teacups were placed on the table. It was tea that Deban had brewed himself.
“You know how to do this too?”
“Anyone with hands should know how.”
“I don’t think so.”
The swordsmen of the main castle?
In all my past life, Simurtr had never seen a swordsman who knew how to do something like this.
If ordered, they would do it, but their faces would be all scrunched up, saying their hands weren't made for this.
“Where did you get the tea?”
“It was in that drawer over there.”
“And the sword?”
“Ah. I left it in the basement.”
Simurtr let out a hollow laugh at Deban’s words.
He was a peculiar one in many ways. This guy was from the main castle? If I hadn't experienced it myself, Simurtr would not have believed it.
“Go get it.”
“Yes.”
Deban left the reception room. Perhaps Deban had deliberately excused himself.
‘He’s so quick-witted.’
Simurtr looked at the remaining two people.
“So, Kanan? And Mei?”
“That’s right.”
“Yes.”
The sturdy swordsman was Kanan, and the woman was Mei. Members of the Unsetting Sun.
‘What kind of group is it that they revere me?’
It couldn't be the Black Land, could it? They should still resent Exa Baperr. If it was something like black magic or the art of resurrection…
‘No. Then the Sword Tower would not have provided them with a territory.’
There was too little information. Mectera did not have such skills. Moreover, the Sword Tower was a domain outside the Empire.
“So. Um. Uhm…”
If I had my way, I would have asked about everything, but my mouth wouldn’t open easily.
The other party disliked Mectera and revered Exa of my past life.
‘But I’m a Mectera now?’
My past life wouldn't be revealed, but it was hard to bear my own embarrassment. He was a guy who rejected Mectera and Bahab because he liked me.
“Why do you call him Baperr? The world calls him Mectera.”
So I asked something I wasn't particularly curious about.
“If that were the case, Mectera’s sword would have resembled his. Mectera is called a Hero Family, but there was no trace of the Hero to be seen.”
Simurtr was secretly impressed.
I thought he was just another swordsman, but he had a considerable eye. Sharp. Even if he had seen it in person, being able to recognize it at a glance was a skill and a talent.
“Then why were you captured?”
To be captured as a slave with that level of insight? Simurtr couldn't easily understand that fact.
“You said you were from the Sword Tower.”
A massive group that could be compared to Basor’s Magic Tower and could challenge Mectera by proclaiming another Sword Master.
The current Sword Tower was said to not be much different from the past. Although its fame had somewhat diminished due to being overshadowed by the heroes, the Sword Tower was still the Sword Tower.
“We are not affiliated with the Sword Tower. We are in a cooperative relationship, but we are strictly different…”
“It’s my fault.”
Mei cut off Kanan’s words. Simurtr listened while savoring the tea Deban had brewed.
“So. On your way back, Mei was captured as a slave while you were away. You attacked the Artang merchant group alone to save Mei and got captured together?”
Mei’s carelessness. The foolish Kanan who charged in without knowing the difference in their levels.
The story was long, but in summary, that was it.
“…That’s right.”
Simurtr looked at Kanan with a pathetic expression. He didn’t even try a stealthy approach but ambushed a passing merchant group head-on.
And his opponent had hired an entire mercenary group.
“Why?”
“I thought I could do it.”
“Seriously?”
“…Yes.”
“You. Are you a Sword Master? Or is it that thing? The one that believes enlightenment is given only through hardship and… dying and coming back to life… what was it again?”
“The Karka?”
“Oh. Right. Those bastards. Are you one of them?”
Deban, who had returned at some point, asked, and Simurtr answered naturally. A presence like Deban’s was fully caught in his Sword Net.
“Was the basement that far?”
“I went to the second floor too. There was something to clean up.”
“Clean up? Do we need to do that?”
Didn't the Intelligence do all that?
“There's no harm in being on the Intelligence's good side. But how do you know about them, Young Master? It's been a long time since they've been seen.”
“Those bastards were like that too. The ones who chose to be slaves. I heard it while walking earlier.”
“You did? From whom?”
“How would I know? Stop being so obsessed. You. Kanan. Are you one of them?”
“No. I am of the Unsetting Sun…”
“Then are you a Sword Master?”
“…That either.”
Simurtr clutched his head. It felt like an unnecessary headache was starting.
Perhaps the Unsetting Sun was not such a great group after all.
For the first member I've met to be like this.
‘Right. It’s obviously a group made by idle people.’
To pursue the dead Exa, a mere human. Such a completely useless act. How was it any different from the gloomy Black Land folks worshipping the Doom Species?
This was not something my squad members would do. Simurtr came to that conclusion.
‘They’re all living constructively. Semenu was like that too.’
They were probably living in luxury somewhere on the continent. No matter how much I thought about it, I had never taught them such foolish things. I was sure of it.
***
At the exile mansion, Simurtr learned many things from Meram. Mostly history. The founding and fall of numerous kingdoms. The founding of the thousand-year Melken Empire. Its thousand-year history. The Doom Species and the war.
‘But it was nothing special.’
Among all that knowledge, there was not much that caught Simurtr’s interest.
‘Because Meram doesn’t know either.’
Meram the magician’s knowledge was certainly abundant, but most of it was not helpful to Simurtr.
‘It’s not like I’m going to be a magician.’
Simurtr wanted detailed information about the Hero Families. The current strength of the traitors. The military power of the Hero Families. The current status of their ongoing affairs.
Their areas of activity.
‘My kids too.’
As befitting the most famous Hero Families on the continent today, information about them was available. Of course, the depth was shallow, but still.
But I had never heard any information about my squad members.
If it were just Simurtr, it would be one thing, but the fact that Meram didn't know meant that the squad members were not particularly well-known to the public.
‘Semenu, Melia.’
The information Simurtr knew was limited to those two. And even that wasn't much. He had seen Semenu in person, but he only knew that Melia was based in the Sage's Castle.
‘What about the others?’
The knowledgeable Meram didn't know anything about them. She hadn't even mentioned them. It meant they were living quietly. Or that the public had no interest in them.
‘They should be living in luxury, what are they doing?’
That fact did not sit well with Simurtr. They deserved to live better than the heroes who were currently being revered…
“The Unsetting Sun. What’s the name of the master there?”
Simurtr asked suddenly.
If the one who created such a group was among his squad members… Simurtr would personally go to the Sword Tower and turn it upside down. Asking them if this was what they were doing after surviving through so much.
“…I cannot say.”
“Tell me.”
“I cannot.”
“I’ll kill you?”
“……”
Simurtr sighed at the look in Kanan’s eyes. Looking to the side, Mei was not much different.
These two were more concerned about the well-being of their organization than their own lives.
‘Right. Still, they’re people who like me.’
On the premise that his squad members were not involved, honestly, he couldn't deny that a slight feeling of pride was rising.
Of course, his thought that it was a useless act remained unchanged, but it meant there was someone who thought of him.
And strangely, he felt a sense of affection for the foolish Kanan and Mei.
“What’s the promised day?”
This would probably be the last question.
I planned to ask Deban separately about things related to the Unsetting Sun.
It didn't seem like I could break Kanan and Mei's stubbornness. And it seemed like it would be quite embarrassing to hear it from the person concerned.
“He said there was an important banquet. He had promised freedom on the condition of victory.”
“A duel? With whom? When?”
Simurtr said that and looked at Deban. Andre Koitro’s schedule. If it was an event like a duel, there was a high probability that the Intelligence would have passed it on.
“First time I’m hearing about it.”
Deban shook his head. It was information that hadn't come to the main castle. Either the Intelligence didn't know.
‘Or they’re pretending not to know.’
The latter seemed more likely. Simurtr did not trust the Imperial Family, but he trusted the Intelligence.
That is, he didn't think an agency like the Intelligence would be unaware of such information. They were hiding this.
‘They don’t want to mess with the Hero Families.’
While they mess with Mectera freely.
“…He said he was invited.”
“Whose invitation?”
“I don’t know. But he said it was in the Bahab territory. The date is a month from now. I saw something like an invitation.”
“Bahab?”
“Yes. The Hero Family. The Ducal House of Bahab.”
Bahab. Simurtr’s eyes lit up. A banquet, Bahab, a duel. I didn't know what kind of banquet it was, but anyway, didn't it mean that Bahab was involved?
“Deban.”
“Yes.”
“Go and find the invitation.”
“Pardon?”
“I said go to the second floor. It should be in the room.”
“Um. Uh… it’s probably not there?”
“What?”
The moment Simurtr frowned.
“Don’t you smell something burning?”
Kanan said.
“The mood seemed to be winding down. I told you I came back after cleaning up… didn’t I?”
The flames were slowly starting to spread to the first floor as well.
***
The brilliant Sword Saint.
After being reincarnated. Simurtr had seen such a modifier several times. He didn't really want to hear it, but Meram's education was mandatory.
…For the person himself to hear, it was extremely embarrassing and awkward… but in truth, it was not such an unfamiliar expression.
The hope of the Doom War, the star, the light. The soldiers on the battlefield used to refer to Exa as such.
It was still embarrassing, but of course, I understood. People wanted hope in that bleak war.
“You're looking for the traces of Exa Baperr?”
But traces? A star exists for an eternity, but in the end, a person is not a star.
I died without living even half of a hundred years. That death was known throughout the continent. But still searching for traces?
“That’s right.”
“What are you going to do when you find them.”
“That… I cannot say.”
Kanan glanced at Mei. When Mei's elbow struck his side, Kanan shut his mouth.
“Don't look. What are you going to do searching for the traces of someone who's already dead.”
I had anticipated that my past life would be revealed someday.
The traitors became heroes, and their families are praised as Hero Families. It was bound to be exposed in the process of confronting and killing them.
That fact had been weighing on my mind ever since I was reincarnated. I was already worried about causing trouble for my squad members.
Even if it was a pathetic and idle group that just revered the dead… I didn't want to see innocent victims arise in the process.
“That’s impossi… ugh.”
“We’ll try.”
Thump. Mei hit his side again and answered instead. Simurtr gave a perfunctory nod. In fact, I hadn't expected anything while saying it.
‘If it gets on my nerves later, I’ll have to personally go find and beat up the one they call their leader.’
It was the ideology of that group, so what meaning would there be in telling these two who seemed to be mere grunts at best?
“We will not forget this favor.”
“Thank you. I will surely repay you for the rest of my life.”
“Forget it. I'm going to pretend I don't know you next time we meet. Go.”
Strangely, I felt an affection for them. Simurtr gave them a small amount of gold and two horses. He had also let them pass through the castle gate, so there should be no difficulty in returning to the Sword Tower.
“No. I thought Sir Simurtr seemed to like those two… so they shouldn’t die.”
“……”
“Of course, the Intelligence will handle the aftermath, but we can't ignore the possibility that Viscount Koitro will look for the slaves, can we?”
Walking down the main road, a group was seen running in the opposite direction.
“Whose mansion did you say?”
“It’s Viscount Koitro’s villa!”
“Fuck.”
Of all times, during the Hero Festival…
The dark street began to brighten. It was because the residents of the territory, who had noticed the commotion, had all turned on their lights and started to stick their heads out.
The people who were praising Akarr just a moment ago were now freaking out. Simurtr found that quite pleasant.
“Sparks could fly unnecessarily. We might get an earful from the main castle, but I thought it was better than those two getting into danger… Was I being excessive?”
Simurtr was still just walking silently. It was 20 minutes later that he opened his mouth.
“Huh? What was that?”
When we arrived at the inn, Northwest’s Short Slumber, Simurtr looked back.
“What did you say?”
“Pardon? No. I was apologizing. For my hasty judgment. I'm sure we'll get a scolding from the main castle too.”
“Ah. That’s nothing. Why are you apologizing for something like that? It's fine. It probably won't have much of an effect anyway.”
Simurtr answered nonchalantly. I thought I kept hearing a voice, but to think it was such a useless worry.
“In the first place, it's my decision how to handle it, right? It’s fine. If anyone's going to get into trouble, it's the bastards at the Intelligence, so what's the big deal.”
The evaluation of the main castle held no interest for Simurtr. He had no intention of competing with the siblings, nor did he intend to make a good impression.
“If you're sorry, just listen to me from now on.”
“I’ll always do as you say.”
“I never told you to set it on fire.”
“I’m shrugging.”
“You’re proud?”
“No. I’m scared.”
“Get me some information by tomorrow.”
The Unsetting Sun. The strangely familiar Kanan and Mei. The banquet to be held somewhere in Bahab.
Everything was weighing on Simurtr’s mind.