The Druid Who Devoured the Great Nature

The ten families that ruled Brahms. If you were to ask if their capabilities were all the same, the answer would be no. It would depend on the criteria, such as military power, wealth, and fame, but Lumiere was a family that was at least half a step higher than the other families.

This was true even if you only looked at the family’s history. The agreement that the lord of Brahms would be one of the ten families was a very recent event in the city’s history. Lumiere had already been reigning as the lord of a region since the distant past, before the agreement.

They were a prestigious family with roots that were not inferior to the royal family.

“They’re just old fogeys, I don’t know why they talk so much.”

That was Katarina’s sharp criticism of the Lumiere family.

“Darian is a mild version compared to the Lumiere family. The romance of the knight that is prevalent in this city is practically something that Lumiere created. If I had been born there, I wouldn’t have just run away as a passive rebellion, but would have smashed everything and caused a riot.”

Could running away from home and working as a contractor in another city be called a passive rebellion? I had my doubts, but I didn’t say anything. If she said so, then so be it.

“Isn’t it more malicious to run away from home and work as a contractor? If you die on the road, it’s a dog’s death.”

Sage did not hold back. Although it was true, the contractor who was listening was about to get sad, but Katarina raised her chin and answered proudly.

“I came back in glory without dying, and I rolled up my sleeves to help with the family’s difficulties, so it’s safe to say I’ve been filial.”

Katarina was not to be trifled with. Seeing her proudly spouting sophistry, I was unsure whether the reality of her becoming the head of the family was a blessing in disguise or just a misfortune. Although it was true that the head of a group had to be shameless and sometimes stubborn, she was a bit excessive.

“But the Lumiere territory is certainly well-off.”

Katarina’s unadorned words were not that she was just dissatisfied with everything, but that her subjectivity was too clear. In fact, she admitted what she had to admit.

The power of Lumiere could be felt keenly since we had entered the territory. It was a chaotic time when even the residents of the public district were being careful. But there was no shadow on the faces of the Lumiere residents.

The sight of them not being particularly wary even when seeing an outsider. It was proof that life was stable in the Lumiere territory, even in the midst of the city’s chaos.

“That’s why it seems even more nonsensical. What benefit does Lumiere have in helping us? It would be rational to cooperate with the other two fallen families, but this is really like hitting your head against the ground.”

The outline of the plan I had made was divided into two. First, a request for cooperation from Lumiere. Second, the formation of a cooperative body with the other two fallen families.

The latter, everyone agreed, saying that it was something that should be done. All three families were continuing their sporadic resistance against the hostile families, but they were being suppressed. The consensus was that it was better to join forces and form a power, as they would just be defeated one by one at this rate.

However, the former was a different story.

“If we can just bring Lumiere in, it would be more than welcome.”

Morheim had a hostility towards the families that had not condemned Frederic’s cowardly move. Lumiere also belonged to the silent side. And yet, Morheim did not resent them.

Although they had been silent, it was because they recognized that they were not accomplices who had coordinated with Frederic in advance.

“They’re originally stubborn people, so they don’t care about other people’s family affairs. There are wars breaking out here and there, but they’re the only family that hasn’t moved their troops. They’re practically the only force that is advocating neutrality.”

That’s why the reaction was subtle. It would be good if it happened, but it was unlikely to happen, so it was difficult to readily suggest it. The reluctant atmosphere was resolved only after I stepped up and said I would solve it myself.

I had been planning to do that from the beginning.

“It’s better than being stuck in the castle and hammering, so I followed, but do you have a way?”

“Things will be easier than you think.”

The cooperation I had in mind and the cooperation Morheim had in mind would be different. It would not be an unreasonable request for Lumiere either.

“Worry about yourself before you worry about me. You can’t reveal your identity until you meet the person in charge of Lumiere.”

It was unknown where and how Frederic’s eyes and ears were planted. Although I had hidden my identity as much as possible, they would have guessed that I was the one who had interfered with their event.

If I moved openly with Katarina, it would be like advertising that I was on Morheim’s side. From then on, even if I was an outsider, they would not care and would carry out an attack.

That was why Katarina was wearing stuffy armor. Simon Jackson. Since they were both contractors, it wouldn’t be strange for them to stick together, and it was an appropriate identity that could also hide the fact that they were on the same boat as Morheim.

“That’s also something I’m curious about. If you want to meet the person in charge of Lumiere, you’ll have to reveal your identity before that, right? Then doesn’t that contradict what Allen said?”

“You’ll know when we get there.”

At some point, the destination was in front of us.

***

A castle is a military facility. It was built to block invasions, so it was not built with consideration for the convenience of internal life or infrastructure. The fact that the Morheim clan was holed up in the castle was because they were cornered enough to have to hold a siege there.

The safe Lumiere had no need to lead an inconvenient castle life. Naturally, the place where their clan stayed was a grand and huge mansion. The fence surrounding the wide land was no less impressive than a castle wall, as it reflected the sunlight and glittered.

Not only the gatekeepers, but every presence felt from inside was heavy. They were knights. Katarina was disgusted.

“Look at those stiff faces. Are they machines or people?”

“They’re the ideal image of a knight that the people of this city like. Darian would have liked it if he had seen it.”

“Why would he like it? It means they’re stubborn and inflexible. They’ll never open the door if you just talk to them.”

The magnificent gate was as tightly closed as their strict family tradition. What if I tried to open it with force? I could get a rough estimate just by looking at it.

‘It won’t be easy.’

Apart from the skill of the knights who were acting as guards, the strength of the metal gate was enormous. It would be difficult with just one or two impacts, and before that, the defense forces would rush in. It was also close to impossible to open it with force in terms of design.

The official setting was that the mansions of the ten families were built by dwarves from the frame up. It was on a different level from the electrical locks that were useless in front of Beta or the magical locks that Sage could intervene in.

A mechanism completed with delicate dexterity. It was a door made so that it would not budge unless it was operated from the inside.

“Let’s not get into a useless argument and get harsh words, let’s just climb over the fence. That seems like the most realistic plan.”

“I said I would take care of it. Stop talking nonsense on the street and just watch.”

I walked confidently to the gate. The two knights who were the gatekeepers fixed their gazes on us. As our steps did not stop, they frowned and tried to stop us.

“Stop, you cannot enter this area.”

“If you have business, state it.”

“I have come to meet the head of the Lumiere family.”

Katarina shook her head slightly. It meant that I was walking a path of unnecessary hardship without listening to her.

“Did you make an appointment to meet the head of the family in advance?”

“No.”

“The head of the family is not someone you can meet just anyone. If you reveal your identity, we will inform the inside and get an answer.”

Despite my rude tone and request, they did not show any displeasure, but did not lose their manners. It was completely different from the culture of Gellerg City, where they would have taken out their weapons with curses.

It wasn’t that the knights of Brahms were strict with etiquette, but that the Lumiere family was special. I ignored Katarina, who was tapping the lip part of her helmet. Now was not the time to reveal her identity.

“You don’t have to go to the trouble. I can just inform them myself.”

“……I have already told you, but a suspicious person who has not revealed their identity cannot see the lord.”

“Unfortunately, I have to meet him even if I have to force my way in.”

“Go back. This is the last warning before I draw my sword.”

“Really? Feel free to draw it.”

I took out my gun from its holster with a lightning-fast movement.

“I didn’t think we could come to a peaceful agreement anyway.”

The flow of pulling the trigger was natural.

Tang!

Despite the surprise shot, the knight’s response was calm. The trajectory of the sword, which drew a semicircle, cut the bullet in half. The knight is the main force that Brahms is proud of.

An elite selected through systematic training after being selected for their talent from a young age. They showed their best skills when riding a horse, but they were not weak when standing on two feet on the ground.

But whether it was intentional or not, I had already fought an enemy called a knight twice. Even if the knights of the Lumiere family were a little more outstanding, it was within the margin of error.

Ppeok!

“Heuk!”

He probably hadn’t expected a gunslinger to charge forward instead of keeping his distance. The movement to cover his abdomen was a beat late. He must have tried to endure, trusting the defense of his armor, but as the plate armor crumpled and pressed on his abdomen, his flustered expression was evident.

That was the end.

Kwadeuk!

A huge stem surrounded the knight’s entire body and squeezed him tightly. The knight, who could not even struggle, had his face contorted as his breath was cut off, and then his head drooped.

Kkaang!

“No, you said to just watch, but I can’t just watch!”

At a speed not much different from mine, Katarina knocked down the other knight. As she struck the back of his head with a hammer several times larger than her own face, the knight buried his face in the ground and convulsed.

“You could have at least given me a hint! I barely managed to keep up!”

“Thanks, but you should have just watched.”

The purpose of bringing her was to prepare for when I finally met the head of the Lumiere family. I had planned to handle the unavoidable noise that would occur in the process from beginning to end.

“How can I just watch! Do you really work like this? You’re really crazy, just like that cultist introduced you!”

For someone who said that, she had no hesitation in swinging her hammer. As for me, it was a planned action, but hadn’t she just acted first? From what I saw, she was indeed a friend of Elliot.

“You’re going to go in and threaten them? It’s hot, so it’s good. Since it’s impossible to persuade them with words, you’re going to subdue them with force… but if you have the skill to do that, isn’t it right to go to Frederic, not Lumiere?”

“It’s right to ask for cooperation. I won’t deny that the means are a bit rough.”

I hadn’t attacked the gatekeepers with the intention of killing them. Although it looked serious, they were just unconscious. The knight that Katarina had knocked down was the same. Seeing him twitching his limbs, his life would not be in danger.

“Yes, if you kill all the witnesses, it’s an assassination or something? Thanks to that, we won’t get caught when we climb over the fence.”

“You’re quite obsessed with the fence.”

“Then they don’t have a spare key, so how are we going to get in?”

“We have to open the door.”

“I said that’s not possible. And what’s the point of opening the door? Do you think they’ll treat us as guests if we go in through the front door?”

“You talk too much. You know well that a contractor is usually seen by their results.”

The stems of the World Tree that had spread from the soles of my shoes passed through the underground and came out on the other side of the door. Once I had done that, unlocking the lock was a simple matter.

Kureureureung!

With a vibration, the huge iron gate opened to the sides. Katarina was impressed when she saw the wide-open gate.

“No, why is this really opening? How?”

“Trade secret.”

At this point, such a trivial thing was not important.

“The gate…”

“Who is it? Were there any guests coming at this time?”

“Where did the gatekeepers go?”

“I think I heard a gunshot just now.”

As I stepped inside the gate, I felt gazes focusing on me. Was this enough for the number of shills?

“I have come to deliver the will of my employer to the head of the Lumiere family.”

The voice carried on the wind delivered my words to every corner without raising my voice.

“Guide me.”

A cold silence fell at the arrogant request.

(End of Chapter)