Chapter 52 : Chapter 52
Chapter 52: Bahab
“Welcome to Huit.”
4 PM.
Simurtr and Deban left Jabad and arrived at the Huit territory.
The Hero Festival had ended long ago. Unlike last time, there was no line waiting to enter the castle gate, nor was the main road filled with crowds.
The fucking sounds of praise that could be heard from everywhere were gone. That fact satisfied Simurtr.
“But isn’t this place off-limits? The same goes for Jabad, where we first arrived.”
Huit Barony. Simurtr’s first mission area.
A month ago, here, Simurtr killed Andre Koitro, the knights of Jabad, Juyce, and the Phantasm.
“What, you knew?”
“Everyone in the main castle knows. It was a situation where the young master could have become a target.”
“Then why did you follow me?”
“You would have hit me if I didn’t, wouldn’t you?”
“What do you mean, hit? A knight.”
“…….”
“Just don’t get caught.”
“My corpse?”
“That’s also a possibility.”
“…The record would be left in the Magic Gate log.”
“We have the 6th Head of the Sword, don’t we?”
“Ah, was I the only one who didn’t know?”
“It’s a secret between the three of us now.”
Simurtr found the inn he had visited last time. The inn where he had killed Juyce and the Phantasm. The Northwest's Short Slumber, where he had fought the knights, was still under reconstruction.
“But really, why did you come here?”
“I have something to do.”
As he paid the innkeeper, Deban tilted his head.
“That… by any chance, last time….”
The innkeeper, giving change in silver coins, recognized Deban and flinched.
“Ah, you recognize me.”
“Yes, this time, if you could just… erase the traces….”
“Traces?”
“Yes…. Last time, I saw blood in the room….”
The innkeeper remembered Room 302 from ten days ago.
The floor, of course. The bed, the walls, even the doorknob. That horrific room where bloodstains were splattered everywhere.
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
Deban tossed a few gold coins. The innkeeper’s face immediately brightened, and he handed over the keys.
“It will be clean this time.”
There were two keys. For Room 302 and 303. Go and reminisce about your senior. Simurtr picked up the key to Room 303.
“What is it you have to do?”
“I let one of them get away last time. I’m going to find him.”
He was talking about the Phantasm.
Bring your friend. That’s what Simurtr had said when he subdued the man.
“Do you think that guy is still in Huit?”
“If he’s not, then there’s nothing to be done. You don’t have to move with me.”
“Are you going to look for him now?”
“No, at night.”
***
9 PM.
Simurtr, who had been sitting on the floor, opened his eyes and rolled up his sleeves. Three lines of Pagna. It was actually a bit disappointing. With just a little more, he felt he could have reached four lines.
‘Well, whatever. It’s not like anything will happen.’
Simurtr took off his black martial attire and put on the neat clothes he took out from the subspace. It was awkward and uncomfortable. He didn't like these kinds of clothes in his past life either.
“Are you really going?”
As he was leaving the room, he heard a voice. Deban was squatting in front of the door of the next room.
“Of course. Weren’t you waiting because you knew?”
“I was waiting to stop you.”
Tracking the Phantasm’s colleague. Deban didn’t believe it. A whole month had passed, and now he was going to track him? This was a lie that disrespected the listener. He wasn't a child.
“I’ll just go take a quick look and come back.”
“You don’t even know where it’s being held.”
Deban said, as if pleading. Because he felt like he knew where Simurtr was going. Because he felt like he should follow.
Andre Koitro’s villa, the burned invitation. Kanan had said he was attending a banquet held somewhere in Bahab as a proxy duelist.
The date fit perfectly. At that time, Kanan had said the banquet was a month later. Now was that exact time.
…To be precise, in two hours.
“If I can’t find it, I’ll give up.”
Despite being found out, Simurtr was not flustered.
He hadn’t intended to deceive him. He had expected to be caught like this. If he had no intention of taking him, he would have come out alone without a companion.
Kanan didn’t have much information. The Bahab territory, 11 PM. A specific time, but a general location.
That was it. He had to find the detailed venue himself. And that process would surely be shortened with Deban’s presence.
“You know that Hero Families don’t interfere with each other, right?”
“I know.”
“And that you can’t enter recklessly without permission?”
“I know.”
“Then how are you going to go?”
“I can just sneak over.”
“You, young master? You’ll get caught. Your magic is too bright.”
“You can guide me.”
Simurtr grinned.
If you don’t have infiltration skills, someone who does can guide you through a safe route.
“I’ll be in big trouble if I get caught. I’ll be expelled immediately. No, I’d be lucky if it ends there.”
Deban trembled.
It was a pact between the Hero Families. A solemn one that a mere official knight could not break. If the main family found out, it would be difficult not to be killed.
“I’ll save you.”
“How?”
Although the adopted son, Simurtr, had obtained a position equal to the direct line, that was it.
A youngest son who hadn’t even had his coming-of-age ceremony yet. He was favored by his superiors due to his outstanding talent, but his influence wasn't that great yet.
He himself might be fine, but he wouldn't be able to prevent others from being punished.
He had moved to the 6th Sword Order following him, and he had said he would do well for him, but…….
At Deban’s doubtful gaze, Simurtr drew his sword.
“I’ll save you if you follow me now.”
“…….”
***
The sharp Akarr.
The hero Akarr Bahab knew how to read the pulse of the Doom War. The battle with the king of the Doom Species, which decided the tide of the war.
Concerned about Exa Baperr’s reckless solo assault, she persuaded the other heroes to support Exa Baperr.
‘For fuck’s sake.’
That’s why he had once vowed to track down the publisher and author who published the hero's biography someday.
“For the hero Akarr!”
“Long live Bahab! Long live the hero!”
Simurtr frowned at the blatant toast.
‘The Hero Festival ended ages ago, why are they still acting like this?’
Stalls set up in various places, taverns with their windows wide open. He was keenly aware that he had arrived at the Ducal territory of Bahab.
The sharp Akarr, the great Akarr, the respected Akarr. No matter where he went, the disgusting praise never stopped.
The people of Bahab were truly proud of the Ducal House of Bahab.
“I don’t know. I’m following you because you threatened me.”
“I know. But you’re the one who showed me the way.”
“…I just do as I’m told. But if we get caught, you have to help me.”
“Of course.”
When talking with a Degrate, he felt a certain comfort. Those gloomy losers were generally quick-witted.
Deban was similar. A simple glance was enough for him to understand everything. He understood even difficult requests for the most part.
“What do you think?”
“About what? Ah, the hero Akarr?”
“Yeah.”
“She’s amazing. I was born during the war, so I was in an environment where I had no choice but to respect the heroes.”
“Ugh.”
Simurtr momentarily felt his stomach churn.
“Which hero do you like the most, young master?”
“They all suck. You?”
“Me, um… Exa Baperr?”
“Why?”
“Most commoners probably respect the hero Exa. The unfortunate genius expelled from the Ducal House of Mectera, the world’s youngest Sword Master. His record is the most splendid, isn’t it?”
“You pass.”
“But there are also rumors that he had a bad personality. From interviews with fellow heroes.
Well, more people don’t believe it, though.”
“That's just gossip.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing.”
He had crossed the wall earlier. It wasn’t a very difficult process. There were guards on duty, but finding a gap wasn't too hard for Deban.
“Where could it be?”
In the middle of the main street.
To the left were taverns, and to the right were numerous stalls. It wasn't a street targeting the rich.
“Wouldn’t it be in the opposite district? This place seems a bit ambiguous.”
The opposite district. The northwest district where some great merchants and nobles working in Bahab Castle resided.
“Right.”
Even Andre Koitro was from a viscount family. This meant the invitation wasn’t given to just anyone. Simurtr walked with long strides.
“But it won’t be an openly held event. Since it includes a duel.”
“That’s true.”
Arriving in front of the northwest district, Simurtr decided on the next direction. He excluded locations that would attract attention, like near the main street or the central square.
“The outskirts, a place not deserted even at dawn.”
Even Koitro from a distant region received an invitation. This meant the number of invited nobles was considerable.
“And the people will all have an air of nobility. The fact that a proxy duelist is allowed means the participants’ ages aren’t very high.”
“Right.”
Bahab was a family that valued martial arts. Among them, the sword. But a proxy duelist is allowed? That meant the participants were young.
An age where they have talent but haven’t yet blossomed. The invitations would have been sent to such individuals.
Because not being strong despite having come of age meant one had been negligent in their self-management. Or they were a civil official.
‘But Bahab dislikes civil officials.’
In the end, only the former remained.
Simurtr’s eyes scanned the surroundings. Expensive fabric, a minor or a new adult, early 20s, some with companions. Cases where the companion looked like a proxy duelist or an escort.
Or those who showed signs of training and overflowed with confidence in their appearance.
“There it is.”
“I think so too.”
Finding it was not that difficult. It wasn’t a busy time of day. Just by turning his head a few times, a point where people were strangely gathered was revealed.
Peers who looked like nobles, young men who seemed to have just passed twenty. A considerable number of nobles were entering a certain alley.
“But there are no escorts at all.”
Many fit the description, but they were all alone. There were groups that seemed to be together here and there, but none of them had individuals who could be presumed to be escorts.
Everyone in that alley looked to be of a similar age.
“You’re right.”
“Well, we’ll know when we get there.”
The wealthy northwest district. But a secret alley, at dawn. Yet, there was no sign of hiding in their steps.
This meant it wasn’t a big secret. The possibility of Bahab’s involvement grew even higher.
“If it doesn’t work, we’re running right away.”
“I know.”
Simurtr followed behind them. No one found it strange.
He wore simple but neat, high-quality clothes. Black hair was rare, but they wouldn't easily associate him with Mectera.
Black was a symbol of Mectera, but Simurtr was an adopted son. It was rare, but not nonexistent.
“This is a secret, okay?”
It was a matter of ‘what if’. He was confident he wouldn’t get caught even without this, but it might cause trouble for Aran.
He had hidden his past life because he didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble, so it would be futile to cause trouble over such a trivial matter.
“Coming to Bahab? Or participating in the banquet?”
“That’s a secret too. And this.”
The banquet.
He didn’t know the level of the prepared forces. But the fact that it was held in the middle of the night meant that today’s banquet was not very official.
‘Three stars for now.’
But, even so, this was Bahab.
Three stars in his current state was the best Simurtr could do. He wasn’t confident in maintaining four-star level magic for long.
Three rotations. The magic amplified as it rotated through the circuits of his entire body. The returned Star-Breaking Style magic flowed along the seal on his heart.
‘The most common colors among imperial nobles are gold. Or brown.’
Then, an inconspicuous brown.
“How did you do that?”
Deban’s widened eyes turned to Simurtr. It was because his black hair and eyes had turned brown.
“How is it? Do I look like myself?”
“You look like the young master to me, but I don’t think other people would know……?”
He hadn’t touched his facial features. But anyone not familiar with Simurtr would inevitably be confused.
Is it magic? Deban asked without realizing.
“It’s Phantasmal Ability. Degrate’s.”
“What? How did you….”
“I’ll tell you later. If you keep the secret.”
“I guess I’ll be hearing it soon.”
Simurtr walked ahead. As expected. As it was a common color, few people paid attention.
The trivial noises were comments on his appearance, not suspicions of him being a Mectera.
“Excuse me.”
Suddenly, the man behind him overtook Simurtr.
He was alone and looked to be of the same age. In front of him, a three-story building came into view.
-It’s Vokes Huit. It seems that’s the right place.
The second son of the Huit Viscount family.
-Andre Koitro and Vokes Huit were friends.
Huit, attached to Bahab, Huit's friend Andre Koitro. A relationship where it wasn't strange at all to receive an invitation.
As Vokes opened the door of the three-story building, someone came out from inside. Not a bad physique and aura. Vokes showed him something, received a greeting, and went inside.
-It seems an invitation is mandatory.
Deban did not speak out loud. Without needing to be told, he sent a telepathic message first.
What Vokes showed was an invitation. The person who checked it must be the gatekeeper.
-Shall we go for it?
-I think it’s dangerous…….
Deban’s telepathic message wavered.
The gatekeeper’s aura. Deban placed his and the gatekeeper's accomplishments on the same level.
-If you don’t like it, go restore the invitation.
-…….
***
“Please show me your invitation.”
The gatekeeper, seen up close, had a rather strong aura. This meant that although he possessed considerable magic, he had not yet reached the stage of having it completely under his control.
-What are you going to do?
Deban’s telepathic message echoed in his head.
There was no invitation. But he had to go in.
The option of sneaking in was already too late. He was already facing the gatekeeper.
“Invitation?”
“Yes.”
“I lost it. Is it absolutely necessary?”
Simurtr replied in an annoyed tone.
He furrowed his brow slightly, a look that clearly said, ‘Do I have to be treated like this?’
“Well… that is….”
A confident attitude. The gatekeeper stuttered. He kept looking back as he turned his head.
-Looks like there’s a person in charge.
-I guess so.
Expert high-class. In Mectera, that would be an official knight. Only a Hero Family would use such high-class personnel as a gatekeeper.
‘It’s definitely Bahab.’
Simurtr barely held back the laughter that was about to burst out.
The Huit Barony had few Expert-level knights. The knights of Jabad were all Experts, but their numbers were small.
The world was wide but still very damaged. Peace had been restored, but the human population was still small. The average level of knights had risen, but that didn’t mean the number of talented people had increased.
Only a Hero Family could afford to treat an Expert so carelessly…….
‘I have to go in.’
This confirmed that the banquet was hosted by Bahab. It's not like he would die anyway.
There was no way a powerhouse who could threaten his life would be at a place where kids were playing.
If Akarr was in such a small building, Simurtr probably wouldn’t be able to stop himself from laughing for a long time. At that age, with that much fame, and he was doing this with kids.
“What are you doing?”
“Yes, yes?”
“If you don’t have the authority, shouldn’t you call the person in charge?”
-Oh. As expected of a Mectera.
It was so natural for him to talk down to others. That’s what Deban thought. He was formal, and his facial expression was perfect. He was far more aristocratic than Vokes Huit, who had just entered.
The gatekeeper hurriedly went down the stairs.
The place seemed to be in the basement.
-You can’t be overbearing this time. The other party is a Hero Family.
-I just did it because the gatekeeper seemed like a pushover.
A Hero Family. At the same time, a ducal house.
When Bahab lifts its head, the only thing it sees is the Emperor.
‘That kind of bastard… it’s absurd, but that’s how the times are.’
It was a naive gatekeeper, and he was satisfied with getting past the invitation check. Soon, the gatekeeper’s superior would come. He had to change his attitude from then on.
-But what are you going to do now? You’re not going to say you’re a Mectera, are you?
-Are you crazy?
Many surnames came to mind.
‘Baperr is obviously out of the question.’
In his past life.
He had saved quite a lot of people. The majority were commoners, but there were also not a few nobles. They were willing to offer their surnames for their benefactor.
Would they be the same now? Actually, he didn’t know.
Clomp. Clomp.
The sound of footsteps was caught by his heightened senses. And then, by his Sword Net.
-Deban.
The presence, the existence caught in the Sword Net. Simurtr’s expression hardened.
-Yes?
-If things go south, we run. The moment I draw my sword. Immediately.
-Now?
-Actually, I just learned Phantasmal Ability not long ago.
-What?
-Stop the telepathy too. It’s a Sword Master.
That presence slowly climbed the stairs.
Soon, a head came into view.
“Who did you say you were?”
The Sword Master who arrived in front of Simurtr asked.