Chapter 98 : Chapter 98
Chapter 98: Bellows-work (4)
“What did you say? Did you just curse?”
“Didn't you do it too, my lady. Let's pretend that never happened again.”
“Damn it.”
“Now I'm ahead.”
My lady!
I heard a shout. It was Jeremiah's voice, mediating between the two.
“What are those two doing?”
“Sir Homer is the type to be very informal.”
“He's a count, isn't he?”
And he's older.
“It's a good sign. The fact that Sir Homer is not being formal means that he likes the other person.”
“But he ignored my letter.”
“I don't know the details of that either… but since Sir Homer said he has done something similar, isn't it what he deserves?”
“That's also true.”
I chuckled, listening to Haryun's scream.
That's what a 17-year-old should be like. Bahab was a truly ill-fitting garment for Haryun.
“I was really surprised. To think you were the adopted son of Mectera. I thought you weren't a Mectera, at the very least.”
“Because I badmouthed Gerehk Mectera?”
Kanan smiled awkwardly and recalled the underground prison of Huit.
Bahab and Mectera. Kanan had cursed them a lot back then.
‘Though not as much as the Young Master.’
If Bahab or Mectera had heard, he would have had no excuse even if he were killed, but I, a Mectera myself, was worse than Kanan.
I had insulted the Magic Tower and called Bahab's sword filthy. When Kanan learned that I was a Mectera, he had slapped his own ears without realizing it.
Did that make any sense? I had called the former Sword Master ‘that bastard Gerehk’.
“Make yourself comfortable. I don't mind. I even badmouth him myself, so what can I say.”
“Haha… I also agree about the former Sword Master. I know a few anecdotes as well.”
“Did you hear that from the Sword Tower too?”
“I heard some from the Sword Tower, and I often hear about it from The Unsetting Sun as well. There are also things I picked up during the war.”
“Then you probably weren't that surprised.”
“No. I was more surprised because I heard it from your mouth, Young Master. Since you are a Mectera.”
“Really? I'm more surprised that you guys call Exa 'Baperr'.”
I grinned.
“The Unsetting Sun.”
A group where each individual calls themselves a swordsman and mourns Exa.
A group that follows Exa's sword, a group that was hard for me to understand.
“I'm so curious about your group. You call Exa Mectera 'Baperr', you disparage Mectera's Sword Master, and yet you don't seem to praise the Head of the Sword Tower that much, even though you seem to belong to the Sword Tower.”
What on earth were they thinking.
With what intention was it founded.
“The Head of the Sword Tower. I can understand that Lete Dujeu got involved to win the bid for Elder. Because that woman was a member of Baperr.”
The Unsetting Sun was based in the territory of the Sword Tower.
But they did not follow the Sword Tower. The reason they respected and followed Lete Dujeu's words was simply because that group's opinion and Lete Dujeu's coincided.
At least, that's how it seemed to me.
“If the place that emphasizes Exa's surname as Baperr and mourns him is the Sword Tower, then I can understand. There may be complaints, but in the end, the Sword Tower follows Dujeu's words. But what is The Unsetting Sun?”
Why on earth?
The question about The Unsetting Sun had been constant.
Since meeting Kanan and Mei in Huit, I had occasionally thought about that group.
“They must have skill. They won't be a bunch of riffraff. If they were, Lete Dujeu wouldn't have accepted them into the Sword Tower's territory. No, with her personality, she would have forcibly disbanded them.”
Lete Dujeu was not soft.
She was a swordsman who had been completed through experiencing the battlefield over and over. A Baperr who sympathized with Exa's ideology.
If it were the Lete from when she had just stepped onto the battlefield, maybe, but there was no way the current Lete would have acknowledged something mediocre.
“The founding. I don't think this could have happened without some kind of motivation. I think there has to be a connection at least as strong as Homer Harkinwagen's, if not Lete Dujeu's.”
Perhaps.
Was it one of the Baperrs who founded The Unsetting Sun?
When I thought about that group, I always came to that conclusion.
“No way.”
Aran was the guard of my childhood in my past life. He had always followed me, and had wanted to be kicked out together. He harbored deep lingering feelings and regrets.
Homer Harkinwagen had a deep connection with Baperr. Although he did not belong to the unit, the unit members had cherished the Homer who followed them around.
And Baperr. Lete Dujeu had a worthy reason to chase after the existence called Exa.
“No, right?”
You had to be on that level to be able to found a group with such a strange intention as The Unsetting Sun.
To mourn Exa, to join hands with Homer who was searching for Exa's body and traces, to be hell-bent on obtaining Elder…….
“…It would be inappropriate for me to say that, given my position.”
“But you were entrusted with a major task this time.”
“That's because it's related to the Empire. There are many swordsmen who have been banned from entering the country. From outside the Empire, I am still a rank-and-file member.”
“Then can I ask Homer Harkinwagen?”
“Sir Homer may seem frivolous, but he will not cross the line. Even if they are on good terms, they are not part of the same organization in the end.”
Pride.
I caught a glimpse of pride in his affiliated group in Kanan's words and actions.
To that extent? A group of people who were banned from entering the Empire?
“So if I want to confirm, I have to go there myself?”
“Haha. If you come to the East, Young Master, Mei would be very happy too. She would often tell me not to forget the kindness from Huit.”
That must be why.
Even though I had asked rude questions throughout, the reason Kanan kept a smile and did not dislike me was.
Because I was a lifesaver.
“I heard there will be an exchange match next winter.”
“An exchange match? Between whom?”
“Pardon? Of course, Mectera and the Sword Tower……”
“What?”
“I also heard that Lady Arnea Dujeu's children will be attending.”
“Lady Arnea's? The siblings?”
“Ah, yes. That's what I heard. Siblings born in the same year.”
I frowned.
It was the first I had heard of it. If there was news of such a big event, a message should have come even if I was in Bahab.
Jahar and Ael were going too? Then a message should have come all the more.
‘It’s the old man. He blocked the siblings' message.’
Medeoban Mectera.
My grandfather in this life wanted to keep me in Mectera.
That was why he was showing favor and craving it.
‘He must be hoping I don't participate.’
The Sword Tower. He must be worried that the attention of that group, which was so similar to the Mectera of the past, would be drawn to me.
“Weren't you coming then too, Young Master?”
“I have to go.”
I had no intention of following Medeoban's intentions.
I didn't have any before, and they completely disappeared with this opportunity.
The Unsetting Sun. It was an opportunity to investigate that group and Lete Dujeu's Sword Tower. It would also be an opportunity to discard unnecessary thoughts that were not needed for my revenge.
Homer, who was added this time, was enough. I didn't want to add any more external things to worry about.
“I will go out to meet you with Mei.”
“If possible, tell the leader who made it to come out too.”
“Haha……”
Kanan glossed it over with a laugh.
“I'm not kidding.”
They said they made it because they liked me.
***
“Your horse. Is it precious? You said it was at the south gate.”
“No. It's just one I got appropriately.”
“Then leave it and go out through the west gate. When you think you're not being followed, go back then.”
Akarr had noticed that Homer and Kanan were not from Koral.
I had proven myself by catching a baron-level Doom Species and had made a definite impression, but… there was no harm in being careful.
‘What Akarr wants is me. Not my surroundings.’
I didn't trust Akarr.
She wouldn't touch me openly, but I didn't know what she would do behind my back.
“The words of a guest of Bahab are more trustworthy than my judgment. I will do so.”
“Why are you looking at me while you say that?”
“No. I thought Bahab would at least say a word. When even a guest is so concerned.”
“Why would I be concerned about you?”
“You don't deny the possibility.”
“Because my mother is capable of it.”
Is this really a direct descendant of Bahab?
Homer looked at Haryun with a perplexed expression before turning away. He winked at me.
“…Go.”
Two or three years.
That meant that time was too long.
Disgusting. I frowned and waved my hand.
“How long is your guest life?”
“About a year?”
“When it's over, how about having a meal with Sir Aran.”
“I heard Harkinwagen is busy.”
“Then I wouldn't be doing this.”
Homer was a person who shared his work with his subordinates.
The fact that he was idling like this was proof that Harkinwagen was quiet.
“The Black Land is quiet?”
“That's right. In cases like this, it's usually one of two things. The districts of the Black Land have started a land grab. Or a singularity has appeared that all the districts have no choice but to focus on.”
It might be related to Remeter.
“I'll let you know if I find anything out.”
“Don't infiltrate.”
“Hmm. I don't know when was the last time I was worried about. I promise. Is Mectera convenient for receiving messages?”
“…The Crows.”
“As expected.”
He wasn't on good terms with Mectera.
Having confirmed it, Homer grinned and waved his hand. A large guy and a less large guy walked down the road leading to the west gate.
“Are you really going to do it?”
Haryun's voice was heard when the gate of the main castle of Bahab came into view.
“You're not?”
“I want to, but it's a bit much.”
“I guarantee it'll be fun. If you don't want to, then don't.”
“……”
“You want to do it, don't you?”
“A little?”
“Then do it. I told you. The fact that you responded itself isn't that important. If you're mediocre in anything, you'll be looked down on.”
“So if I don't have the confidence to go crazy, I should at least pretend to?”
“That's right.”
The entrance of the fortress.
In front of it, the guards who should have been guarding the gate were bowing their heads.
“A lot of them came.”
The bowing guards were hidden by the crowd.
The knights of Bahab. From the Swelling Flame to the Red Flame. All the knights who didn't have urgent duties had gathered.
“Ugh.”
The knights formed two lines, one on each side.
Like a corridor, the two lines of knights created a path leading to the gate.
“This is proper.”
It was a formation for a direct descendant who had successfully completed the Bellows-work.
If she walked through that, the knights would now applaud.
“I really hate this.”
Hejel Bahab had thoroughly enjoyed that formation, and the Haryun of that time had been quite envious, but.
Not the Haryun of now. Just imagining it gave her goosebumps on her arms.
“Why? It's rather good.”
The end of the formation.
At the end of the path and in front of the gate was Hejel Bahab. His intention must be to congratulate his younger sister who had successfully completed her Bellows-work.
‘But in reality, it's to check if Haryun really came back alive.’
Focusing on my vision, I could see the wide-eyed Hejel.
Just as I had recognized Hejel, he had also confirmed Haryun.
He couldn't believe her unscathed appearance and was frantically looking around for Alex Bemal.
“We can do it now.”
“Now?”
“There won't be a better opportunity than this.”
“…That's true.”
Haryun nodded as if she had made up her mind.
“My lady. Still, this is a bit… please reconsider……”
“You want me to pretend to be on good terms because there are many eyes here? Wait until later when there are no people and then go to the North Palace? That's too pathetic, Sir Jeremiah.”
“Right, right. Too pathetic.”
My encouragement became the catalyst.
Haryun took a deep breath and walked.
She arrived between the formation as she exhaled. Upon entering, the knights raised their hands.
Clang. Clang. The sound of clapping was loud.
They were all in full dress. It was the sound of gauntlets clashing, and it looked like an act to raise morale on the battlefield.
The gazes of the knights on Haryun were warm.
It was a sense of pride for a direct descendant who had grown enough to finish her first Bellows-work.
There were a few complaints mixed in, but it was a drop in the bucket. This formation was set up by Akarr. It was a place where Hejel's faction could not dare to express themselves.
“It’s too fast.”
It was also a rather stinging gaze for me.
The knights did not like the fact that a foreign substance called Mectera was clinging to the first step of the young Bahab.
“You'll regret it later. Thinking you should have enjoyed it more then.”
I said softly to Haryun who was walking ahead.
I don't like attention that much. Haryun complained internally but slowed down.
Becoming the Duke of Bahab meant that the Empire's attention would be on her. The master of a Hero Family. If she wanted to become such a person, she shouldn't avoid attention. She had to swallow any kind of emotion with a smile…….
“Brother.”
Haryun's steps stopped.
In front of her was Hejel Bahab. Haryun smiled as she faced him. The characteristic Bahab smile faced each other.
“You too have finally become a proud Bahab.”
No. Haryun suppressed a laugh that was about to come out.
Bahab was already awkward. Hejel's face was more incongruous than a mannequin's. It was awkward, and it felt like a spasm would occur. He kept rolling his eyes and checking the number of people.
“Is that all of you, the three?”
“Of course. We set out with three, so we must return with three.”
That reaction was so funny. Joyful.
If she had finished it quickly because she was nervous, she would have probably regretted it for the rest of her life. This time too, Simurtr was right.
The gazes of the knights who had finished their applause were focused. Hejel? He wanted to get away. He wanted the formation to disappear quickly.
“Congratulations. I am happy to be in charge of your first successful Bellows-work.”
Akarr had been there for Hejel's first Bellows-work.
“Thank you, brother. I don't know how happy I am that only you came out.”
Once, Haryun had thought that Akarr would be at her event too. She had wished for it, and imagined it.
But not now.
“I prepared a gift for you, brother.”
“A gift?”
Hejel's eyes widened again.
“Yes. I hope you will be pleased.”
“How could I not be pleased with something you give me.”
Hejel smiled as if he were benevolent.
A sense of composure was now in his smile.
Perhaps he had missed his way with Alex Bemal. Otherwise, he wouldn't have shown such a reaction.
‘He must be thinking that.’
Haryun turned her head back.
Simurtr, who seemed to be thinking the same thing, was smiling with his eyes. He reached out his hand to Jeremiah.
“I entrusted it to Sir Jeremiah. It's something that needs to be handled with care.”
When the auction house had melted.
Jeremiah had been at the Butcher Shop. When Simurtr and Haryun had lost their belongings, Jeremiah's subspace magic tool was fine.
“Is that so? I look forward to it.”
An eerie sensation touched her fingers.
It felt as if a tiny, very thin snake was crawling between them.
Haryun flinched but tried not to show it. She grabbed the thin, long things. She put strength into her smile.
“It's yours, brother.”
Haryun took her hand out of the subspace.
The hair tangled in her fingers came out with it. She did not close his eyes. The wide-open eyes looked at Hejel.
“I'll give it back.”
Alex Bemal's head was thrown at Hejel's torso.
Thud. Hejel, who had frozen, could not catch it. All of Bahab's gazes gathered on the head that had fallen to the floor.
“Crazy……”
There's nothing more effective than pretending to be crazy.
As expected, Simurtr is right.