Chapter 76 : Chapter 76
Chapter 76. Gotten Cocky?
Hyunwoo rummaged through the items Pierre had left behind.
Most of them were necessary items for the dormitory, and as he was sorting through them, he found a letter tucked between the items.
‘What’s this letter?’
He picked up the letter and examined the seal, and saw that it was from Lotus.
Hyunwoo broke the seal on the letter without hesitation.
On the stationery inside the envelope, a short, hastily scrawled sentence was written.
[The deadline is one year. Bring the item to ‘Alcazar Castle’ within that time.]
There was no sender listed, but he immediately recognized that it was a letter from Jude.
Hyunwoo recalled the scenario quest.
⌜Scenario Quest!
You have obtained a clue about the curse engraved on ‘Jude Basterion’.
Retrieve ‘Atemoa’ from the Kormur Dungeon before he goes berserk.
Deadline: One year.⌟
It was something he was well aware of, even without Jude needing to emphasize it again in a letter.
‘Alcazar Castle…’
It was a useless letter with no content other than the name of the castle where Jude was staying, ‘Alcazar Castle’.
Hyunwoo was about to carelessly toss the letter into the trash when he remembered something he needed to do at Lotus.
‘Where are the High Orc tribes right now?’
The High Orc tribes were a nomadic people.
They constantly wandered the Demon World to train their bodies and minds.
Due to their nature, it was difficult to pinpoint their exact location.
In order to carve Van's tattoos, he needed to find a High Orc tribe.
‘First, I need to find out their location.’
Hyunwoo roughly prepared himself and headed to Lotus.
* * *
Upon visiting Lotus, Hyunwoo was immediately able to meet with Verian.
She spoke with her usual refreshing smile.
“I heard you’ve acquired a sponsor. Congratulations.”
It seemed that even Lotus knew about his business with Jude.
‘Well, of course.’
He had suspected as much since Jude's letter had been delivered through Lotus.
Since she brought it up first, it was easier to talk about.
“I was lucky.”
“It must be because you are capable.”
“Well, I agree to some extent.”
Hyunwoo silently nodded.
In the Demon World, humility is a luxury, and bravado is a virtue.
Moreover, this had been possible because Hyunwoo had demonstrated outstanding ability.
Humility that tried to hide one’s abilities would only make one look down upon by others.
At Hyunwoo’s calm response, Verian tilted her head.
“Somehow… your atmosphere has changed.”
“The situation has changed. I am adapting to the ways of the Demon World.”
“Ah. I often forget that you are human, Sir Hyunwoo. Because you are so exceptional.”
When Verian smiled with her eyes, a laugh escaped from Hyunwoo as well.
There was no way the branch manager of Lotus would have forgotten he was human.
A way of speaking that naturally praised the other person.
For someone in the Information Guild, it was a behavior ingrained through training.
Knowing this well, Hyunwoo could only admire her excellent social skills.
When Hyunwoo showed no particular reaction, Verian shrugged with an awkward expression.
“I heard you have been freed from your slave status.”
“Isn't that information supposed to be a secret?”
“Of course. Because there was a warning from Sir Lionel. So…”
Verian, cutting off her words in the middle, drank her tea and looked at Hyunwoo for a moment.
“Are you planning to leave the Arena right away?”
“Once I finish what I’m doing, I plan to.”
“Hmm……”
A sense of disappointment could be felt from her as she lifted her teacup again and slowly drank her tea.
“Sir Hyunwoo is a first-class customer of Lotus, so you will be able to use any branch comfortably.”
“I actually came for that very reason.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“There will be Lotus branches in the Demon World, but building a relationship again would be quite a hassle.”
“By that, you mean…?”
“So, even after I leave, I plan to use this branch as much as possible.”
“Are you serious? I would welcome it, but… wouldn’t it be a hassle for you, Sir Hyunwoo?”
Although it was a shame to part with Branch Manager Verian after their long acquaintance, that alone wasn't a reason to continue using this branch even after leaving the Arena.
The reason Hyunwoo wanted to continue doing business with her was simple.
It was just a ploy to save even a little bit of mana stones.
“So, give me some service while we’re at it.”
Instead of an information transaction, Hyunwoo’s shameless words asked for information for free.
In exchange for continuing to use Verian’s branch, it was a light matter.
Verian, having quickly done the math in her head, spoke.
“What information do you need?”
“I need the location of the High Orc clan.”
“Please wait a moment.”
Verian received a document from a hand that emerged from the shadows.
“Their current location is the Montis Rocky Mountains, but… are you perhaps thinking of visiting them?”
Seeing Verian's troubled expression, he guessed there was some kind of problem.
“Yes. I have business with the High Orc tribe. Is there a problem?”
“Well… I think you might need to hurry a bit.”
Instead of telling him the reason, Verian handed the document in her hand to Hyunwoo.
Hyunwoo, taking the document, quickly understood what the problem she mentioned was.
It was true that the High Orc tribe was staying in the Montis Rocky Mountains.
The problem was the state of the Montis Rocky Mountains.
⌜Montis Rocky Mountains—Disputed Territory⌟
It meant that the High Orcs might be at war.
The High Orcs might leave once the conflict ended.
It was not easy to find the wandering High Orcs.
‘…I need to hurry.’
There was no time to dawdle in the Arena.
* * *
The next day.
Pierre came to the dormitory at Hyunwoo’s summons.
“You called?”
The way he sauntered over was unusual.
He looked like a soldier at the end of his service, which was absurd.
“You seem to be doing well for yourself these days?”
“Yes, well. So-so.”
“……”
Pierre, with his mouth half-open, tilted his head and acted cocky.
He must have been doing really well, as his once-gaunt limbs seemed to have put on some flesh.
Hyunwoo lowered his voice.
“Pierre.”
“…Yes?”
Then he stared at Pierre intently.
Even at this, Pierre flinched for a moment before straightening his posture.
It seemed he had made up his mind about something.
“Gotten cocky?”
“Of… course. I’ve worked so hard all this time…”
“hard?”
“…sir.”
“Right. It feels like just yesterday you were fidgeting with your bundle on your back.”
“…What ancient history are you talking about?”
“Yeah, you're right. It's an old story I can't even remember. Pierre. It's time for you to be independent. Isn't it?”
“Ha. If you're thinking of threatening me with the honorary plaque like last time, it won't work anymore…”
“No.”
Hyunwoo smirked.
A sense of anxiety crept over Pierre, who had been puffing out his chest and facing him confidently.
“You can have it. I don't need it anyway. I'll pass it on to Sylvester. That I’ve completely transferred ownership.”
“…Yes?”
“It’s no big deal. You can have it all.”
“……”
“Let's see. What else did I promise to do for you?”
Hyunwoo rolled his eyes upwards and began to ponder.
Pierre had been waiting for the moment to escape Hyunwoo's clutches, but now that he was getting what he wanted, something felt strange.
“Ah! Right. The market shop. But, do you need that now? I think you’d earn more outside.”
“…That is correct.”
“And what’s left is… a demon. Right?”
“……”
At the word ‘demon’, Pierre felt his heart flutter again.
However, Pierre thought that was impossible even for Hyunwoo.
He hardened his heart, determined not to be deceived by him anymore….
“When I became the Champion this time, a demon from the ‘Basterion’ family became my sponsor.”
Basterion.
At that word, Pierre’s body momentarily froze.
“Basterion, you say…? Don’t tell me…!”
“Shh—!”
Pierre covered his mouth with both hands.
In the Demon World, it was impossible not to know the name ‘Basterion’.
Because it was the family of the ‘Demon King’.
As the weight of the five letters ‘Basterion’ was being imprinted in Pierre’s mind, a small question arose.
“Who of the Basterions…?”
“You'd die if you knew the name.”
“…I haven’t heard anything.”
“He has promised to carry out a great will with me soon. It can't be helped since you won't be joining me.”
“No, that’s not it!”
“It wasn't? That's the impression I got.”
“That is a huge misunderstanding. Haven’t we already agreed to be together until we die? Hehe……”
The guy who had been acting cocky just a moment ago changed his attitude as easily as flipping his palm.
Good grief.
He was one thick-skinned guy.
“No. The more I think about it, the more I realize I've been pushing you around too much. I'll give you the honorary plaque as a gift, so take it. Even without being a demon, you'll be treated well anywhere with that…”
“Oh my! What a disappointing thing to say! Even without something like this—!”
Pierre threw the Sylvester Honorary Plaque to the ground.
“I was planning to follow you for the rest of my life, Sir Hyunwoo!”
“…Really?”
“Yes! It’s true. Please believe me! I was just playing a prank because you looked bored. Hehe….”
“It was a prank, right?”
“Of course!”
“Alright. Let’s do well, okay?”
“Yep!”
Pierre, having finished his mental rearmament, answered with sharp precision.
“Before long, the fact that my sponsor is a member of the Basterion family will spread.”
“I suppose so. If it’s the Basterion family, it’s more than enough.”
“I will be your official backer.”
“Are you serious?”
Only then did Pierre’s face brighten, and Hyunwoo raised his index finger.
“But, there’s one condition.”
“Just say the word!”
“I’ll be away for about a year now. So, prepare the things I’ll need from the outside.”
“A whole year…?”
“I’ve been given an important request. And this request is also related to you.”
“To… me, you say?”
Pierre had a bewildered expression.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to become a demon?”
A demon!
Pierre’s heart began to race again.
“This request… this is a secret. It’s related to the Basterion family. You know what that means, right?”
“Gasp—!”
A demon, a goal he had thought was a pipe dream.
With the magic word ‘Basterion’ added to it, it really seemed possible.
“Gather a lot of mana stones so that I can use them at any time. Now, whether you become a baron or a viscount depends on your efforts.”
“Yes! Just leave it to me!”
The desire in Pierre's eyes leaked out.
This time, there was the solid evidence of ‘Basterion’.
Confirming that he had perfectly motivated him, Hyunwoo nodded.
* * *
After that, Hyunwoo focused on raising his swordsmanship proficiency.
He was anxious that the High Orcs might leave the ‘Montis Rocky Mountains’ soon, but he couldn't give up the effect of the ‘Champion of the Bellatus Arena’ title, which rapidly increased his proficiency.
There was no choice but to achieve master level as quickly as possible.
Besides.
‘If it’s the Montis Rocky Mountains… that means it’s their habitat.’
If the tribe in conflict with the High Orcs was ‘that tribe’, then he actually had plenty of time.
‘Because I can solve Van’s problem and Jude’s problem at the same time.’
He had requested a further investigation of the ‘Montis Rocky Mountains’ from Verian.
Once the results came in, he would know for sure.
‘It won’t be too late to make a plan after that.’
That’s why he did his best in his swordsmanship training.
Despite his best efforts, another two weeks passed.
The interview effect must have been certain, as Pierre was once again sharp and disciplined like a new recruit.
I didn't know how long it would last this time, though.
Since he was an unpredictable fellow, I had tasked Lotus with keeping an eye on Pierre, so no major problems should arise.
In the meantime, Lucas hadn't come out of his room, so I didn't know what he was doing, and Van’s shield arts had also improved a lot.
Though not as much as Hyunwoo.
Flash—!
The light of the sword-screen Hyunwoo unfolded filled the entire training room.
The Master Event unfolded before his eyes, and even more certain proof of a mastered swordsmanship, the status window.
⌜Veluma Swordsmanship (3-Star)—100%(M)⌟
‘Done.’
All that was left.
Was the long-awaited synthesis into a 4-Star swordsmanship.