Chapter 51 : Chapter 51
Chapter 51. To the Iron Bank (1)
I had to leave for the Iron Bank not long after I got married. It was a place that took over a week of hard riding to reach, located deep within the Neyanpalgar Mountain Range. Considering the weather and road conditions, it could take over a month in the worst-case scenario. Ciella did her best for her husband who was heading out on a long journey.
"Please take this."
"What is this?"
Ciella stopped me as I was about to mount my horse and handed me two reagent bottles.
"They are for the knights of the Cadmus family. It should help offset their weaknesses, even if only a little."
I took the reagents Ciella gave me and examined them closely. One reagent was a bright red color, as if it contained blood, while the other was a silver-colored reagent that I felt like I had seen somewhere before.
"The red reagent is a drug that momentarily elevates the spirit. I made it for Sir Simon, who has not yet overcome his fear of blood."
Hearing Ciella's words, I thought of her from my previous life.
"And this silver liquid is a dilution of the Moonlit Grass solution. Since it contains the energy of moonlight, using it on Rakshar will draw out his potential as a werewolf."
"Did you make these yourself?"
I asked Ciella in wonder. I had not noticed at all that she was preparing such things.
"No. I do not know enough about alchemy to create such drugs."
These reagents were not made by Ciella herself. It was natural in a sense. Her full-scale approach to alchemy had happened in her previous life. Furthermore, no tools or equipment for performing alchemy had been brought into the Cadmus mansion.
"I requested the Neudorf family to make them."
Since becoming the mistress of the Cadmus family, Ciella had been looking for things she could do. However, the current Cadmus was a family that was barely established with the support of Tolome and Neudorf. Since it was a place that barely maintained its name without any external activities or businesses, there was nothing for Ciella to do as the mistress.
That was when Simon and Rakshar, who were devoted to training day and night, caught her eye. Ciella observed these two closely. Then, through her own senses, she thought of a way to strengthen the power of Simon and Rakshar using the Neudorf method.
"Was I too forward?"
Ciella was worried that her actions might have offended me. In fact, it was true that the mistress of a family interfering in the affairs of knights could be seen as going too far, no matter how much it came from a place of consideration. It was the law of this era that the head of the house handled affairs outside the family while the wife handled affairs within.
However, Ciella did not want to lose the peace and happiness she had finally gained. The reagents she handed to me were her own struggle to protect her current happiness. I quietly gazed at Ciella, who was shrinking back while watching my reaction. Traces of anxiety and fear still vaguely remained on her face.
However, contrary to Ciella's worries, I knew that the reagents I was holding were extremely useful. But what I was focusing on was not the reagents. I was focusing on the fact that Ciella had created the reagents to supplement the weaknesses of Simon and Rakshar after observing them.
Like the daughter of Berger blessed by the goddess, she had a brilliant mind, and like a child of the prestigious alchemy family Neudorf, her basic approach to solving problems resembled that of an alchemist. And I knew. I knew the fact that Ciella in her previous life had displayed her talent as Berger's assistant after returning from her eight marriages.
I should buy some tools later.
Although Ciella was not a mage who handled mana, alchemy was the magic lineage most free from mana. Just as I had encountered the White Thunderbolt late in life, the Ciella of my previous life was someone who entered alchemy late and achieved her own results. If there was my full support from now on, her hidden talent might blossom sooner.
"Thank you, wife. I will make good use of these reagents you have given me."
Whether it was because she was relieved that her actions did not upset me, or because of my smile directed at her, Ciella had a flush on her face.
"For the time being, Sir Hopkins will take charge of the mansion's security."
Hopkins, who had just recovered from his injuries, and the knights who were present that day decided to recover their bodies by returning to the security duties of the Cadmus family, which could be considered relatively leisurely work, rather than immediately returning to intense duties. And if it were the knights of Neudorf, Ciella, who would be left alone in the mansion, would be able to spend her time comfortably.
"Please travel safely."
Ciella knew well that calling Hopkins was an act of consideration on my part. So, she gazed in the direction we left for a long time, even past the moment I and the knights disappeared from her sight.
***
The autumn weather was clear, the roads the horses ran on were firm, and there were no insane groups of bandits targeting knights running with armor and swords. As a result, the Cadmus Knight Corps was speeding toward the Neyanpalgar Mountain Range. I pointed toward a building rising high in the middle of the plain far away.
"Is that the Continental Lighthouse?"
I asked Hansen, who was riding his horse alongside me.
"That is correct. That is the Continental Lighthouse. It is a lighthouse built on a plain, not the sea."
The high-rising lighthouse did not easily get closer even as our group rode on.
"It seems to be quite far away."
"To reach that lighthouse, we will have to ride for a full day."
If it was within my sight despite being a day's distance away, it must be an incredibly high lighthouse. Since it was still day, the light was not on, but when night came, it would rise like a single star over the Iateho Plain where the Cadmus Knight Corps was currently running.
"It is the symbol of the Torch Knights. It is the structure that gave our knight corps the name 'Torch'."
Tarania, who was running beside me, provided an additional explanation.
"It is said that during the time when Lord Aselheit fought fierce wars with black mages, the black mages covered the night sky of this Iateho with wicked magic to obstruct the reinforcements coming down from the Kingdom of Anton."
The Iateho Plain was a place with nowhere to set a reference point. The mountains seen in the distance all looked similar without any distinct features, and there were no particularly characteristic structures, so one had to grasp the general direction by looking at the rising sun and the stars in the night sky.
"So, Lord Aselheit is said to have built that lighthouse with the dwarves and the knight corps that became the ancestor of the Torch Knights. It is said that the construction period was less than half a year."
"That massive thing in less than half a year..."
It was a lighthouse where the skills of the dwarves, the masters of architecture and devices, were displayed without reservation. I felt as if I were listening to a legend appearing in mythology. In my previous life, I had once explored the Iateho Plain as a member of an exploration team to observe the trends of the Void.
At that time, the Continental Lighthouse was broken by the Void with only traces remaining. Fearing that those infected by the Void might notice, I remembered shivering while avoiding the biting wind of the plain without even being able to light a fire properly, using the structures scattered here and there as a windbreak.
However, the Continental Lighthouse before my eyes now stood tall, boasting a dignified appearance, unlike that time. Looking at that sight, I felt once again that I had regressed to the past.
"So, please take pride, Baron Blanc. You are a person chosen by a legend."
Tarania was right. The current me was not the Blanc of the past. I had something called an opportunity left. I looked at Tarania and nodded my head.
"This sword is one of the things that sustains my soul. It is my pride and my self-esteem."
I spoke while lifting my scabbard to show Tarania.
"Lord Aselheit would have been proud if he had heard those words."
Tarania curled the corners of her mouth as she looked at me. It was because she felt that I was genuinely happy, though she did not know why.
***
The group moved toward the Neyanpalgar Mountain Range without hindrance. The wind pushed us from behind, and the bright sun led us from the front.
"The way back will not go this well."
Hansen judged based on the experience stemming from his soul. This was the time corresponding to late autumn. He did not know how much time I would spend at the Iron Bank, but by the time the work was finished and we were returning, it would be the period just entering winter.
At that time, we would not be able to move as easily as we were now. Even when sleeping, we would have to take detours to find villages to avoid camping out if possible. I also agreed with Hansen's opinion.
"Baron, it is visible."
I moved my gaze following Tarania's gesture. What appeared before our group, who had just climbed the hill, was a massive mountain range. A presence visible even from beyond the wide plain. A mountain range stretched out so far that it could not be captured in a single glance. It was a mountain range rising as if a non-human being had grabbed the earth and lifted it.
And among those mountain ranges, there was one peak rising particularly toward the sky.
"The place you see now is the highest peak of the Neyanpalgar Mountain Range. The Iron Bank is located there."
It was a peak where the virtue called humility could not be found. A peak standing as if it would pierce the sky while insolently holding its head high. That peak rose through the clouds and sharply set a white spear at the highest point that would not melt even after ten thousand years.
"It is a magnificent sight."
I had never been to the Neyanpalgar Mountain Range even in my previous life. The sight I was seeing now was the first scenery of its kind in my life. While I was lost in appreciation as I took in the Neyanpalgar Mountain Range, Tarania once again checked her equipment and spoke to me.
"Baron Blanc, from now on, the directions we must go are different."
"Sir Tarania."
From now on, Tarania had to move in a different direction from the Cadmus Knight Corps, which was heading toward the Neyanpalgar Mountain Range. she had achieved her purpose. she had succeeded in teaching me knowledge and letting me gain experience so that I could stand against Evil, and during that process, she did her best to protect me from the Evil that had been separated from Ciella.
As the Torch Knights intended, I now possessed the power and knowledge to no longer be easily swayed by Evil. Tarania's mission was a success, and therefore, she now had to return. However, a single strand of worry for me remained in a corner of her heart.
"I hope you will think deeply about what I proposed."
Tarania sent a worried look toward my left shoulder.
"I hope you will come to acquire the qualification before your great work begins."
Tarania knew. she knew that I would have to raise an army to reclaim Norington in the future. she knew that I would enter a storm where I could not see even an inch ahead and would have to face countless swords and malice. Tarania sincerely hoped that the title she wanted me to obtain would protect me even a little.
"I will definitely stop by Moirai, if only to see Sir Tarania."
Since I also knew Tarania's sincere worry well, I replied that I would surely visit her to put her at ease.
"Let us definitely meet again."
"If you keep the tip of your sword pointed toward Evil, our shoulders will touch one day."
The shorter the moment of parting, the better.
"May the blessing of the goddess dwell upon your path ahead!"
With those words, Tarania turned her horse and rode toward the Holy City Moirai. Instead of replying to those words, I saw her off by waving my hand. The twilight, dyed in red, filled the Iateho Plain. Tarania's platinum hair was dyed red by that light. I gazed at her back. I paid my respects to the sword that had protected me.
"Let's go."
***
Even after parting with Tarania, the group galloped down the road without hesitation. And finally, we reached a massive canyon. Before the canyon stood two massive statues side by side, comparable to the statue of Wilhelm I in Baltimere. Between them, dwarf guards protecting the road toward the Iron Bank were visible.
"Have we finally arrived?"
"Once we pass that place, it will be the Iron Bank."
"The Iron Bank."
The Iron Bank. The place where all the wealth in this world gathered, situated in the Neyanpalgar Mountain Range. The place that made it possible to create the massive golden statue in Baltimere. And an organization that did not exist in my previous life. I had prepared a lot to come here.
It took two years from the age of thirteen for a penniless boy from a fallen baronial family to start and fully obtain the 500 gold deposit and the recommendation letter from Frederick, the King of the Felix Kingdom. And now, it was time to go there following the message from Ulrich Tiedemann, who had gone to the past 190 years ago, another regressor.
-My regression failed. If one of the two sees this, follow the golden guidance and call the name of the one who was my disciple.
Lord Ulrich. I was now ready to follow the golden guidance. I would call her name at the place where I finally arrived.