Chapter 50 : Barbarian by Barbarian
Barbarian by Barbarian
While talking with the nobles, Edmund politely bid them farewell and then brought me to a secluded place.
"What, what exactly do you think you're doing!?"
There, Edmund questioned me, clearly flustered.
"Didn't we agree that anything related to my father's tomb would be kept secret!?"
"That's correct."
"Then why all of a sudden—!?"
"The accounting hasn't been settled yet."
At my words, Edmund looked troubled.
"The accounting... isn't finished?"
"Compensation for emotional damages remains."
Emotional damages.
As soon as those words came out, Edmund's face turned pale.
"W-Why do I have to pay compensation for emotional damages?"
"For the emotional distress caused by disturbing the grave."
"Isn't it normal that I should receive the compensation?"
"I've been plagued by nightmares from waking a soul that should have been at rest."
At my words, the blood drained further from Edmund's face.
"No, didn't you swear on your god that you wouldn't speak of this!?"
That's right. I did say that.
"Barbarians have memory for a day. I don't remember."
"What the—!"
Realizing words were useless, Edmund let out a shallow sigh.
"Does this mean you want a different kind of compensation?"
Quick on the uptake.
"I can't agree to that. There's no guarantee you won't do something like this again."
Maybe it was because I'd shown up and suddenly brought up the grave issue. Edmund seemed extremely on edge.
Or is it because Barkal isn't around?
"Understood."
"Thank you for understanding."
"I'll go talk to the other nobles."
Other nobles.
Seeming to grasp my meaning, Edmund flinched in surprise and grabbed me.
"A-alright! Just this once! I'll do it just this once!"
"Thank you for your understanding."
Edmund sighed deeper than before.
"So... how much money do you want?"
"Gold coins..."
Wait a moment.
The reason I came here wasn't for gold coins.
Swallowing, I corrected Edmund.
"The dungeon that formed in the tomb."
"Yes."
"I want formal recognition that our adventurer party conquered that dungeon."
Hearing this, Edmund silently chewed his lip and darted his eyes around.
"That's a difficult matter. That dungeon is connected to my father's tomb."
"That's true."
"Would you accept another kind of reward?"
Money.
That would be nice, but the real reason I'm here is to shed the 'temporary' tag on our provisional silver rank.
"Let's think about it together. There's bound to be a better reward."
"The more heads involved, the better."
"Exactly."
"I'll call in the other nobles so we can discuss it."
"W-wait a moment!"
Edmund hurriedly blocked my way.
Did he say it was difficult?
Does he think coming and going from dungeons is an easy task? If it were easy, I wouldn't have come to him in the first place.
"Alright!"
In the end, Edmund nodded. Looking at his face, I could see a hint of relief rather than humiliation.
"I-I'll ask Blaz for help and try to do something about it!"
"Glad we could communicate."
Hearing this, Edmund gave an awkward smile.
"I never imagined a barbarian would negotiate in this way."
Grinning slyly, I replied to the grumbling Edmund,
"Barbarian by barbarian."
* * *
After getting Edmund's confirmation, I returned to the banquet hall.
"Brother!"
The first to welcome me back was Serena. She looked a little worn out from standing in for me and dealing with the nobles.
"You did well, Serena."
"It was nothing! Did things go well with Edmund?"
"He said he'd update things through Blaz."
"That's great!"
Serena clapped her hands, her face bright with joy.
"Where's Barkal?"
At my question, Serena pointed to the center of the hall. Barkal was there.
That crazy bastard.
Still wrestling with the roast pig like it's a duel. At this rate, he might finish that whole huge pig himself.
"One less meal expense to worry about."
"Brother Barkal really can eat."
"Serena, you're no lightweight yourself."
Serena is quite an eater, too, though Barkal's in a league of his own.
Realistically, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say she could digest seventy percent of what he eats.
"So, if we just clear one more 'bronze-level' dungeon, we'll officially become 'silver rank'!?"
I nodded.
Already, we'd come this far. But before I could be swept up by sentiment, light began to spill across the center of the hall.
At the same time, lively instruments filled the room, and the nobles—dressed for the ball—began moving in small groups to the center floor.
Surely they're not about to dance?
Edmund, did you set up the party this way?
"Adventurers and dancing. Doesn't seem to fit."
"But if you're guarding nobles, you'll end up doing everything at banquets, so it's not so strange."
That's true. I found myself agreeing with Serena for the first time in a while.
"Come to think of it, brother Dmihtan, you said I did well, right?"
"I did."
"If you really think so, how about a dance with me?"
A dance?
Surely she's not suggesting... dancing, right?
I did feel bad that she couldn't enjoy the party because she was busy dealing with nobles for me.
But dancing... that's a tall order.
"I've never learned to dance."
"Then I'll teach you!"
"I have no intention of learning."
At my words, Serena bit her lower lip and grumbled. Seeing the earnestness in her eyes, I let out a sigh.
"If I make a fool of myself, it's on you."
My words brought a flush to Serena's cheeks.
"It's fine! I'll teach you!"
Without hesitation, Serena held out her hand, and I awkwardly accepted it.
She guided me to a spot in the center of the hall, one less in the public eye.
There she started moving her hands and feet to the music.
"Alright, brother Dmihtan! Start by stepping your right foot forward and follow my left."
Her excited voice gave her instructions. I clumsily lifted my right foot as she directed.
Wait, is it not now? Maybe I'm off on the timing?
Where is my left foot supposed to be?
"Turn left one full circle... and lift your arm a little."
Whenever I missed the beat or jumbled my steps, she would demonstrate again or gently guide me with her hand on my back or waist.
Wow.
This is really hard.
I don't think I even sweat this much when I fight monsters.
"Hehehe..."
What's so funny? I kept my focus on the motions, glancing at Serena.
"S-sorry. You're always so composed, but seeing you flailing around like this..."
That's a mean way to put it. I was opening my mouth to retort when—
From inside my ceremonial clothes, a faint light began to glow. Inside was the 'Ascendant Maiden's Right Eye' I'd acquired before.
I couldn't just leave it lying around somewhere else, after all.
"I-it's just like with the underground waterway?"
Serena noticed the glow emanating from me and seemed to realize what it was.
However, this time, something was odd. Considering the distance between the sewer and Iushil Castle, the 'ritual circle' shouldn't be reacting.
So why was the 'right eye' resonating again?
The answer was simple.
* 〈'Necromancy Tracking' proficiency has increased.〉
A Mortis necromancer.
While dancing, I glanced around and saw 'necromancy traces' etched on the floor of the hall.
The traces were like threads along the floor, and following them with my eyes led to a door opening onto Iushil Castle's backyard.
At the end of the thread, I saw a man hurriedly leaving the hall.
That's him.
Should I call for Barkal? I considered it, but my feet were already chasing after the man.
He's fast!
The complex halls of Iushil Castle meant the fleeing necromancer quickly disappeared from view.
But the trace remained. I pressed on, following the fading 'thread'.
"B-brother Dmihtan!"
Could I really take down a necromancer alone? The thought crossed my mind, but thankfully, Serena kept up with me.
"What's going on?"
"There was a necromancer in the hall."
"A-a necromancer!?"
I nodded at her reply and kept following the trace.
Maybe it was just a feeling, but the necromancer we'd encountered seemed like a troublesome one.
For one thing, he hid his identity so well no one else noticed, and he had enough social status to enter a 'banquet hall' among nobles.
Besides...
"Why would a necromancer be at the banquet...?"
"He's looking for this."
To Serena's puzzled question, I showed her the 'right eye'.
Now quiet, the light that had briefly emanated from the 'right eye' earlier was just like the resonance of the 'ritual circles' set by the other Mortis necromancers.
In short, the necromancer hiding in the banquet hall was after the 'right eye'.
An artifact of divine rank.
Could he be an 'apostle'?
If he's of that level, is it really safe to just chase after him? Even so, I couldn't stop now.
I wasn't sure, but he might have realized I possessed the 'right eye'.
To get back a divine artifact, he'd surely target us, no matter what.
So I had to kill him now, before he could make a move.
* 【Skeleton Promotion effect activates.】
* 【Summoning Warrior Skeleton.】
It's always fortunate to have these tattoos at times like this.
With 'skeleton exoskeleton' on my legs, I kicked off and ran.
Servants gave me strange looks as I sped down the corridors of Iushil Castle, but I couldn't afford to care.
Following the necromancy traces brought me out to the rear garden. But night had fallen—everything was dark.
The trace was gone.
Tsk.
Did he escape?
"He's climbing over the wall!"
While I was still feeling frustrated, Serena pointed into the darkness.
The necromancy trace I'd thought gone was connected to the fleeing man's body.
Damn, Serena, you've got incredible eyes!
But the distance seemed too far. At this range, pursuit seemed impossible...
"Hiyahhhh!"
With an impressive shout, Serena instantly buffed herself and bent her body like a spring.
She launched herself toward the fleeing 'necromancer' like a missile.
Is that even humanly possible?
Her punch struck home, landing squarely on the escaping necromancer.
If Serena ever invites me to dance again, I'd best not refuse.
That aside—
Well done, our human butcher Serena.