Chapter 245 : Chapter 245
Side Story 4. Raven (1)
Yaren’s emergency declaration was understandable in one respect.
A black-haired man had appeared out of nowhere and abruptly presented the king’s seal, so it was only natural that I looked suspicious.
More than anything, the fact that there was no information about me at all must have played a major role.
If I had come carrying the king’s seal, I should have been a fairly important figure, yet it made no sense for an intelligence organization like Cheonra to know nothing about me.
However, there was one point that could not be overlooked.
The timing of Yaren’s sudden emergency declaration.
It was immediately after I had asked about Dragons.
If not for that question, there was a high chance Yaren would not have gone this far.
After all, his attitude toward me was still cautious.
“Honestly, you are anxious, are you not? Worried that you might be making a mistake right now.”
“Of course, I have fully considered that possibility.”
Even while mobilizing warriors, his tone remained perfectly courteous.
“If it is later concluded that this was a mistake? How will you handle it then?”
Yaren answered in the same indifferent gaze and businesslike tone.
“When that time comes, His Majesty will personally decide my punishment. I am prepared not only to step down from the position of Deputy Leader, but even to be imprisoned.”
“If you made this decision while accepting that risk, it must mean you know something about Dragons.”
Yaren did not answer me.
No, he likely could not answer.
Of course, that was also a positive sign for me.
“Begin! However, you must not kill him under any circumstances. Only subdue him!”
“Yes, sir!”
At Yaren’s order, Cheonra’s warriors narrowed the encirclement all at once.
What was surprising was that among this group, there were even two Expert-level swordsmen.
A coordinated attack unfolded in perfect order, and the tips of twelve swords approached me.
‘As expected, there is no killing intent.’
I immediately created twelve flames.
The blazing flames formed in midair soon changed into the shape of long spears.
“Everyone, be careful!”
“He is a mage of considerable skill!”
It was no wonder they mistook me for a mage.
According to Rosie’s evaluation, my magic level was at the 6th Circle.
She had said that its actual power was even greater.
The way I handled mana was not that of a conventional mage, but the results I produced were close to the 7th Circle.
In other words, it was more than enough to make the encirclement around me tense.
‘Fire Spear!’
My will manifested as a phenomenon, and the spears of flame shot toward the warriors.
The warriors swung their swords to block the sudden incoming attacks.
Of course, it would not have been easy for most of them.
“Aaagh!”
“Argh!”
Groans poured out from every direction.
The spears of flame they failed to block properly pierced their bodies and delivered searing pain.
Even so, the two Experts completely split apart the flames and glared at me.
‘They are quite impressive after all!’
Trying to face Expert-level swordsmen with only magic showed just how high their realm was.
I fired the same attack at the two of them again.
Fire Spear.
This time, I increased its power by another level.
I knew very well that ordinary magic would not work against an Expert.
FWOOOSH!
Two much larger flame spears collided with their swords.
Mana clashed violently against mana.
A 6th Circle mage was rarer than a Sword Expert, but that did not mean the mage would win in a direct contest.
In close combat between the two, the Expert still held the advantage, and a mage had to be at the 7th Circle to have a chance at competing.
Of course, even at the 7th Circle, victory could not be guaranteed.
After all, mages were beings specialized in long-range combat.
In other words, subduing those two Experts with the attack just now would be quite difficult.
SWISH!
As expected.
Breaking through the flame attacks, the two approached me from both sides.
Their eyes were full of composure.
They were brimming with confidence that they could subdue me easily.
FWOOOSH!
For the last time, I fired Fire Spear to both sides.
It was a magic attack launched from quite a close distance.
However, as though they were mirrors reflecting each other, the two Experts cut down the Fire Spears at the same time.
Their expressions, which said that magic like this was nowhere near enough, were also similar.
The flames went out helplessly, and two blades shot toward me.
‘It cannot be helped.’
I quickly changed the method of mana operation.
Not as a mage, but as a swordsman.
WHOOSH!
I turned my body and lightly avoided the attacks from both of them.
Perhaps they had not expected me to move like this, because their eyes widened.
‘Well, they must think I am a mage.’
But it would be troubling if they were surprised by only this much.
I moved behind one of them and struck the nape of his neck with the edge of my hand.
THWACK!
He collapsed forward without even letting out a groan.
Since he had lost consciousness, his eyes were unfocused.
I threw a dagger toward the remaining one.
WHIZZ!
Then one more.
WHIZZ!
With a stunned expression, he threw himself aside and barely avoided my attacks.
Of course, they had not been sincere attacks.
After all, I wanted to finish this with magic.
FWOOOSH!
A decisive Fire Spear flew out and pierced his shoulder.
My persistence had finally borne fruit.
“Aaaagh!”
Hearing his scream made me feel somewhat satisfied at last.
Even Yaren, who had been maintaining a poker face, could not close his gaping mouth.
And at that moment, someone hurriedly burst into the scene.
It was a knight sent by King Adrian.
“I have brought His Majesty’s message!”
The situation reversed sharply.
***
The message Adrian sent was simple when summarized.
If someone appeared carrying his seal, they were to be treated with the utmost respect without any suspicion.
It seemed he had grown worried belatedly, perhaps having anticipated that something like this might happen.
‘If he was going to do this, he should have taken care of it earlier.’
In any case, the situation was quickly settled.
Yaren lowered his head before me and knelt.
“I have committed a sin worthy of death against an honored guest!”
“As long as you understand.”
Since he had not harbored any malicious intent, I immediately helped Yaren to his feet.
“In the future, if you meet someone with black hair, be careful.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
“Then shall we begin again with the story about Dragons?”
“……”
“You do know something, do you not?”
Otherwise, there would have been no reason for him to act like this while risking his own neck.
“It is not yet certain.”
I knew it.
“I assumed as much. If it were certain, it would already have been reported to the king.”
After hesitating for a moment, Yaren continued.
“As you said, Cheonra recently detected a suspicious current that occurred in Kalia. After compiling the information on it, we concluded that it might be a Dragon’s Nest.”
“A Dragon’s Nest?”
“Yes. And what is even more surprising is that as many as seven appeared and then suddenly vanished. In truth, that number, seven, is only the minimum. There may be some we failed to detect.”
“If that is true, it certainly is strange.”
The simultaneous appearance of seven or more Dragons was unprecedented.
That was true even in the other dimensions I had visited through the Abyss.
“The nests have disappeared for now, but we believe they will appear in the same places again. Dragon appearances are often like that.”
“I want to know all seven regions.”
“Before that, may I ask what you intend to do?”
“Is it not obvious? Why would I ask if I did not intend to enter?”
Yaren’s eyes shook.
“If something were to go wrong……”
“What more could happen than death?”
Just as it had to me in the past.
“Forgive me, but that is difficult for now! We at Cheonra have not yet discovered why Dragons have suddenly tried to reveal themselves in Kalia! We must first know what their intentions are……”
“I know that.”
“……Pardon?”
“I will handle it myself, so you just tell me the locations. That is what will save Kalia.”
Yaren looked as though he was going mad, unable to understand what was going on.
“If you do not want to answer, you can declare another emergency.”
“N-no, sir!”
Of course, he had no authority to refuse to answer.
He had received the order to tell me everything Cheonra knew.
“The locations where presumed nests were discovered are……”
The location information Yaren gave me was completely scattered.
While Cheonra’s information network was impressive for discovering places spread all over like this, it was also bound to be troublesome.
‘It would have been convenient if they were gathered together.’
Still, it was fortunate that Cheonra had branches throughout Kalia.
It meant I could use information that would become my eyes and ears free of charge wherever I went.
In that sense, visiting Adrian first after coming to Kalia had been the right choice.
“Excuse me…… If it is not discourteous, may I ask your name, young sir?”
Naturally, Yaren must have been curious about my identity.
I was presumed to be a close associate of the king, a mage of considerable skill, and at the same time someone with swordsmanship capable of subduing two Expert-level swordsmen with ease.
For an intelligence organization to let such a person slip away before their eyes would be a severe dereliction of duty.
“What will you do if you know my name?”
“If your name is difficult to reveal, then perhaps where you are from, at least.”
Yaren was asking for a clue to dig up my information in a very blatant way.
“It is useless. There is no one in this world who knows me properly. Are you suggesting a give-and-take because you gave me information?”
“N-no, sir! I simply find it difficult to believe!”
“What do you?”
“While working in Cheonra, I have known information about countless eccentrics in Kalia. But this is the first time I have met someone like you, young sir. Until now, there has never been a case of someone possessing such abilities while remaining unknown to the world!”
The calm poker face Yaren had maintained was already nowhere to be seen.
“Then let me ask one thing as well.”
“Please speak!”
“If you coldly compare Johan Raven and me, whose information do you think would be more expensive?”
“Th-that is!”
At my mischievous question, Yaren’s eyes shook wildly.
“Enough. You do not need to answer.”
No matter whom he chose, it felt as though something would linger afterward.
“Since I received good information, I should repay it. Johan Raven. That man is my master.”
“……Pardon?”
It was only natural that Yaren showed doubt.
“It does not matter if you do not want to believe it.”
“No, sir! However, not only was he known to have taken no disciples, but I also know that he had no interest whatsoever in magic……”
“How can you be so certain of that?”
“Cheonra secretly investigated his movements for a very long time. Except for his final movements before his disappearance!”
These bastards.
No wonder the back of my head had itched throughout my entire previous life.
In any case, it was time to decide my next destination.
“Lucy Raven. You know her well even if I do not explain, yes?”
“Of course!”
Though she was my half-sister, she was the only family I had left.
By now, she might be the proper Family Head of the Raven Family.
“I am curious about her news.”
But Yaren could not answer immediately and only stammered.
“Th-that is……”
“What happened? Speak!”
“In truth, a problem recently arose with the Raven Family!”
“A problem?”
“There is a family preparing a declaration of war against the Raven Family. It seems to still be proceeding in secret for now, but it will likely become official soon.”
“What?”
Our family was about to be declared war on?
If I had been there, such a thing would have been unimaginable.
No matter how much things had changed, I was so dumbfounded that words would not come out.