Ch. 159
Translator: AkazaTL
Pr/Ed: Sol IX
***
Chapter 159 – The Archipelago (2)
The Gray Island.
A nation formed from countless islands, yet known across the continent not by its true name, but as the 「Black Archipelago」. What represents the Black Archipelago is not its royal family, nor its armies, nor its native goods. Its true symbol is an institution—the Red Bank.
The most powerful bank on the continent. A capitalist conglomerate that holds most of the continent’s gold in its grasp. Because of the Red Bank’s influence, the people of the Black Archipelago do not worship the Seven Lords or the Nine Goddesses.
They worship something else—money.
They are those who serve gold, who live not by the logic of divine power or faith, but by the ruthless logic of capitalism. And through that logic, they have risen to become one of the great powers of the continent.
That is the Black Archipelago.
***
“Hm.”
At the entrance of the Karavan Territory—still a ruin awaiting restoration—the flag of the Black Archipelago fluttered in the wind.
A black field bearing the design of scattered, rusted gold coins, swirling like waves.
A symbol far too vulgar to represent a nation— and yet, there was no flag more fitting to embody the Black Archipelago.
“It seems we’ve arrived late! We tried to maximize our profits and mistimed the entry! We could’ve bought in at the peak, but by the time we came, the value had already dropped, tsk. We should’ve invested the moment the ‘Flame Veil’ was raised. We underestimated the variable that was the lord. My usual caution backfired this time…”
Compared to the Machine Empire’s magic corps, the Black Archipelago’s delegation was small—barely the size of a knight order.
Most of them weren’t even soldiers but merchants—hauling wagons and bundles instead of swords and spears. If not for their flag, one might have mistaken them for a wandering caravan.
“…Aren’t they just here to sell goods?”
I muttered quietly, watching their procession.
Elizabeth turned her head toward me and replied:
“Yes. Of course, they’ve come to sell something. Every being affiliated with the Black Archipelago moves for the scent of gold. Their appearance means they’ve caught that scent here.”
“I don’t see much here that would make money…”
“Gold and jewels aren’t the only things with value.”
Elizabeth frowned, her gaze sharpening as the Black Archipelago delegation approached.
She clearly didn’t welcome their arrival.
“The Black Archipelago appears whenever someone desperately needs something—and they sell it for the highest possible price. Telling them you have no money won’t work. They’ll simply find whatever you possess that has value and demand that as payment.”
She clicked her tongue.
“…Be careful. Even we sisters have been ensnared by those greedy devils before.”
Right. Even a bumpkin like me had heard the stories.
I tensed as the Black Archipelago wagons thundered closer, their flag whipping in the wind. Then—
“Well, well! So this is the young lord we’ve heard so much about! Word of you has spread even across the sea! The noble hero of the Iron Kingdom’s Arena, who shattered the pride of the arrogant House Rhapsody and humbled Hugo Rhapsody himself! Ah, such valor—and such looks, too! My eyes nearly went blind just now! I’d wager the noble ladies of the Iron Kingdom have lost many nights of sleep over you, ha ha ha ha!”
“……”
“And didn’t you once make a fortune trading with us? Why, not even the hero of a chivalric romance could compare! Ha ha ha ha—!”
The man opened with a barrage of outrageous flattery. I tried my best to answer calmly.
“What’s your purpose—”
“Oh, splendid lord! A fine hero, and yet still our valued customer! But let’s not dive into business so soon—first, a bit of service! Come on, everyone! Move it! Our client’s lands have been ruined by those dog-blooded Machine Empire bastards! Unpack what we brought and start the repairs! Service is life, people! Service is life!”
“……”
This guy…
“You must be exhausted from battle! Bring everyone inside! My people will handle the cleanup. While we’re here, security’s our problem—mercenaries will be stationed everywhere! Rest first, then we’ll talk about business. After all, what’s money without health, right? Ha ha ha!”
His charm was dangerously effective.
“Oh! And once cleanup’s done—bring out the food and drink! We’ll hold a feast! Hardship must be conquered with laughter! In the honor of the Black Archipelago, not a soul shall leave unhappy tonight! And, Lord Arhan, don’t worry about the cost—it’s all on us! Everything’s free! The feast will be in your name, of course! We pay, you take the credit! Now that’s what I call service!”
…This guy. Could he actually be decent?
***
Laughter and singing filled the night air.
The people of the Karavan Territory—who had suffered for so long—ate good meat, drank freely, and enjoyed a long-forgotten festival.
Collapsed buildings were rebuilt in moments, and the Black Archipelago workers even constructed new homes on empty lots, claiming them as gifts to the residents.
“I’m truly your fan, my lord! Meeting you is an honor. Ah, even if I gained nothing from this trip, I’d still leave satisfied!”
“…Enough lip service.”
“Eh? It’s not lip—”
But I cut him off.
“What kind of deal are you offering that you’d go this far?”
I knew better than anyone—nothing in this world was free.
“If your goal was to win my favor, congratulations. Seeing my people laugh again is enough for me. So tell me what you want. If it’s a deal where only I have to pay the price, and my people can continue smiling, I’ll gladly accept.”
I spoke sincerely. In truth, there was little reason for the Black Archipelago to care about this territory.
There was nothing here of economic value. Which meant there was only one reason they had come—people.
Me, a swordsman of rising fame. The two Witches reside here. Tom, a wounded but genuine Sword Expert. For such a small land, there were quite a few noteworthy figures—enough to catch the Black Archipelago’s greedy eye.
“I don’t know what you’re after, but I’d prefer it if I were the only one involved. I’m grateful for what you’ve done, but my people are too precious to offer up.”
The man’s expression changed. His obsequious grin vanished, replaced by a mask of lifeless calm—like a doll’s face, emotionless and still.
“I see. I hoped to enjoy the pleasantries a little longer, but so be it. You’re not one for idle games, are you?”
“I’m not.”
“Then I’ll be direct. We came here for you, Lord Arhan Karavan.”
He raised his glass.
“Your value is considerable. You’ve proven yourself once in the Arena’s 「Infinite Duel」 and again by protecting this land from the Rhapsody. You’ve earned fame through impossible victories—fulfilling every condition of a hero. Or, to be precise, one who others perceive as a hero.”
“A hero?”
“Yes. Your actual strength may amount to that of a capable Sword Runner—no more, no less. That alone wouldn’t justify our visit. What makes you valuable is your name. Your legend. People are moved by heroic tales—by miracles achieved against all odds.”
“……”
“These days, the public easily sees through manufactured heroes. The ones we created ourselves were exposed long ago. So, instead of forging another false idol, we’ve come to buy an existing one. A hero already beloved by the people—you, Arhan Karavan.”
His gaze swept over me, like a merchant appraising merchandise.
“You know the current trend. No one can defy it. The Black Archipelago foresees a massive war across the Southern Continent. We won’t fight in it—we’ll profit from it. We’ll run mercenary companies, lend money, and invest in one of the warring sides. When they win, we’ll claim our share of the spoils. Glory without blood. For that, we need heroes. A single hero can shift the tides of war, inspire armies, and perform miracles. Just as in the previous Age of War, one hero can change everything.”
“Influence, then.”
“Exactly. But in times of peace, true heroes are rare. Most are noble-born knights or commanders backed by family power. You, however, are different—a nameless lord from a forgotten land, who rose through his own strength to defeat a great house. A story worthy of obsession.”
He took a sip of his drink.
“Soon, the great powers will clash in the Southern Continent. It’ll be a proxy war—not full-scale invasions, but smaller deployments, supplies, gold. And in that conflict, you will have value beyond that of a mere warrior. The morale boost of having a living legend on one’s side. A personal powerhouse. And above all—a variable capable of creating miracles.”
He set his glass down.
“The Black Archipelago wishes to hire you as a mercenary. Once under our banner, you’ll become even greater—a hero elevated by our hands. Some southern nations might even worship you as a mythic figure.”
“And my duty would be to fight. That’s all?”
“Yes. Think of it as joining our ranks as a Fighter.”
A Fighter. An apt word.
“This is also an investment in the future. You’re young—and already accomplished much. You’ll grow stronger still. It’s only wise to secure ties before your value rises further. Besides, we’ve found several individuals connected to you—your Sword Expert steward, the two Witches, the Orc Shaman Sherdik, and even ties to the Dwarven Kingdom. Not all may follow you, but hiring you means earning a link to them. That alone is worth it.”
He spoke plainly, without pretense— as though explaining a business contract.
“We’ll take a loss at first. But in time, it’ll pay off. That’s how investment works—accepting short-term losses for long-term gain.”
“Long-term gain…”
“In return, we’ll give you what you need most.”
“And you know what that is?”
“Safety.”
His gaze locked onto mine.
“The Red Bank’s mercenary forces will guard this land. We’ll fully support your territory’s recovery—food, supplies, whatever you need. If you wish, we can even name you a lord of the Black Archipelago itself. We’ll assist in relocating your people there, to one of the safest lands outside the Sky Empire. A life without wandering, without fear. Let’s be honest—the Iron Kingdom is no place for the kind or the weak. But the Black Archipelago? Work diligently, and you can live a golden life without ever drawing a sword. As I said, this is a deal where we take the loss.”
“……”
“As war between the Iron Kingdom and the Machine Empire intensifies, our envoys have already visited both sides—offering defense in exchange for… valuable concessions. When our mercenaries garrison a region, conflict rarely erupts at all. We take minimal risk and reap steady profit.”
It was impossible to read his eyes. Cold. Grave. Empty.
“The offer’s the same here—we can protect this land. But what’s unique is this: we’ve made no such offer anywhere else. That’s how much we value you. The Black Archipelago appears when the need is greatest—and we offer only fair trade. If we take something of value, we pay the appropriate price. Hiring you means granting what you cherish most— the complete safety of your people, and for them, a peaceful, prosperous future.”
It was a sweet offer. No—beyond sweet.
It was… an irresistible offer.
“When we say we’ll hire you, we don’t mean as a slave gladiator. We mean to nurture you as a hero, supporting your growth entirely. Any weapon, elixir, or swordsmanship of the great houses—you’ll have access to them all. In the vaults of the Red Bank lies every valuable thing in this world.”
“……”
“So what will it be? Will you take our hand and stand with the Black Archipelago— or face the coming Age of War alone?”
“……”
“No individual can defy the grand tide. Those who don’t unite will be swept away. Even a mythic hero cannot protect the weak of this poor land alone. But together, we can. Will you join us?”
The obsequious fool who had once laughed and flattered me was gone. What stood before me now was the true face of the Black Archipelago— the embodiment of greed itself, offering a deal no one could refuse.
Before the true face of the Black Archipelago, I could only ask—“May I have some time to think?”
For now—time-out.