Chapter 144
Chapter 144. The Return Journey - Clash
Count Sylvek is a noble who represents the southeastern part of the empire.
As explained in the academy's lectures and by Verrot, there are few large towns within his territory.
Yet, in contrast, he was also a wealthy noble.
The slave trade.
Sylvek is a major hub for the slave trade, and most of those who fall into slavery in the southeastern empire are gathered in Sylvek to be sold and transported elsewhere.
Not just locals, but slave merchants from other regions also set up branches in Sylvek, tirelessly trading human lives day and night.
The silhouette of such a town came into view slightly behind schedule.
The sun had dipped considerably, but there was still time before evening.
"Then, I leave it to you." "Understood."
Sent off by Sekies, Verrot and Balner headed toward the town of Sylvek.
Their goal was to confirm whether Yunek was a trap meant to lure us in or if it was safe to hand him over.
Even if the former was just paranoia, what if there was an issue with the latter?
I couldn't come to a conclusion, but Lambert would make a cold, calculated decision.
Unlike me, he's suited for command in situations like this.
Since we both aim to be knights, maybe I should learn from him.
Also, the reason I—with my high scouting skills—didn't go was because the required abilities were different.
I'm good at detecting hidden enemies, but negotiation and investigation are outside my skill set.
I barely have any experience, and how many times have I been pegged as nobility?
It was wiser to leave it to the two who were used to it.
After watching Verrot and the others enter the town, we proceeded a short distance east along the road and decided to rest in the grasslands.
While everyone unloaded their luggage and relaxed, I climbed a nearby hill.
Using [Presence Detection], I scanned the area but sensed nothing suspicious—no ominous shadows in sight.
Breathing in the spring air, I took another look around.
Mountains to the north, grasslands everywhere else. The faint mountain range to the east was new to me.
That must be the Lazarag Mountains.
I turned my gaze back to Sylvek.
Judging by its exterior alone, it was quite large—bigger than Selene.
But with few tall buildings, it gave off a flat, unremarkable impression.
"With that much space, it should have a sizable population… but there are few fields. Mostly grasslands. Do they rely on imports?"
"Probably inside the walls. Towns in dangerous regions usually are like that."
Hearing my muttering, Sekies answered from the base of the hill.
Taking a closer look, I spotted another wall inside the outer one.
Seems the fields were in between.
Remembering the Eras Rhino herd, I nodded and descended the hill.
While drinking tea and waiting, the two emerged from the gate.
They seemed to have restocked supplies, both carrying large leather bags.
The weight must have been considerable—Verrot's steps were unsteady.
Unable to watch, Sekies went to meet them and took the bags.
The moment they regrouped, Verrot, now unburdened, dramatically sighed, "My arms are exhausted," before suddenly lowering his voice.
"First, let's get away from the town."
His expression didn't match his words, but we smiled and agreed.
With Sekies and Balner still carrying the bags, we continued east along the road until the outer wall was far behind us. Then, Sekies stopped.
"What happened?"
"We found out who owns Yunek. Viscount Fasden."
"A noble?"
Sekies glanced at Yunek in surprise.
Fasden is also a famous town in the southeast.
It serves as a base for adventurers challenging the Deep Temple Forest, and the War Axe of Purging stayed there for about two years.
At any rate, one mystery was solved.
The reason the C-rank Brave Warrior was searching so desperately was that Yunek was a noble's slave.
As Verrot relayed the information, Lambert frowned in thought.
I called him aside quietly, stepping away from the group.
"Is there any special relationship between Keiten and Fasden?"
"There shouldn't be. They're both imperialists, but they're not even remotely related by marriage, let alone close. Something might've happened in the three years I was gone, but… it's unlikely."
I nodded at Lambert's answer.
Though I hadn't told Hashou the details, the one plotting this attack was the second son.
No matter what backroom deals he might've made, I doubted he could mobilize someone of Viscount Fasden's standing—equal to his father.
Even if the viscount willingly helped, there'd be no reason to use his own slave as bait.
That left the question of what to do with Yunek.
"How do we handle the viscount?"
"Hand him over immediately. We can't afford to offend him. It'd cause trouble for my father."
I was in the same position, but I couldn't nod right away.
A noble buying a beastkin child slave.
The worst possible scenarios were all that came to mind.
Glancing over, I noticed Yunek had realized he was the topic of discussion, his eyes darting nervously.
Watching his small figure, I thought.
Angering Viscount Fasden would be bad.
Personally, I wouldn't care, but I couldn't drag my father, Lambert, or his father, Viscount Keiten, into this.
The question was: why did Viscount Fasden buy Yunek?
Setting aside the worst-case scenario, the most likely reason was combat slavery.
With that much talent, his future—no, that didn't add up.
Yunek didn't know how to disclose his status.
Would a slave merchant who barely fed him bother with [Appraisal]?
Even if they had a magic tool, they'd treat him well if they knew his potential.
Did the viscount even know about Yunek's talent?
If he did, the Brave Warrior's aggressive attitude made sense.
But just knowing the viscount owned him—would that be enough?
And if he knew, he wouldn't let Yunek starve.
A replacement for Yunek would be nearly impossible to find.
Given that the warrior had been searching nearby, it couldn't have been long—two days at most.
Meaning Yunek likely hadn't eaten properly since being transported.
If the viscount didn't know about his abilities… no, this line of thought was pointless.
Too little information. Only bad assumptions came to mind.
Switching gears, I considered alternatives.
What if we handed him over for now?
After escorting Lambert, I could rush back, consult my father, and retrieve Yunek later.
It might cause trouble, but one look at him would evoke sympathy. Blood ties or not, we were family.
Plus, Yunek's talent was too valuable to waste.
The Reedwald Knights had scouts, but many were just lightweight runners.
If Yunek could share my burden, it'd be a huge help.
That said, Viscount Fasden would probably call in a favor.
Money could be managed, but… I wouldn't know until we negotiated.
While I agonized, Lambert and Sekies discussed the handover.
If Lambert revealed his identity, the viscount would have to treat him as nobility.
To avoid being invited to the castle, they decided to credit Hashou with the discovery and have the Adventurer's Guild hold the reward.
As the handover plan took shape, I watched silently.
On a normal journey, this wouldn't have been hard to handle.
We could've taken Yunek and parted ways with Lambert—same result as handing him over.
But with Lambert's life at risk, I couldn't leave his side.
So for now, handing him over was the only—
Then it hit me.
Why had Verrot suggested leaving town?
If we were handing Yunek over, that was unnecessary.
Looking over, Verrot wasn't joining the discussion, lost in thought.
Noticing my gaze, he smiled and nodded before turning to Lambert.
"May I?"
Startled by the sudden address, Lambert paused the conversation.
"I hesitated to mention this due to unreliable information, but I have an idea about why Viscount Fasden bought Yunek."
"An idea? How'd you figure that out in Sylvek?"
"Well, 'idea' might be an overstatement. It's not exactly a secret—any Sylvek resident would know. Ask any adventurer or merchant, and you'd hear the same."
Lambert urged him on with a skeptical look.
"To be precise, it's not about Yunek personally but why the viscount is buying slaves. Apparently, monster numbers in the Deep Temple Forest near Fasden have been declining, and adventurers are leaving for other towns. This has been going on for years, so the viscount shifted focus to his other income source: the Torpus Salt Mines."
Lambert and I exchanged glances.
Merkant had mentioned this too—fewer monsters than expected.
Frowning, I asked,
"He bought them to work the salt mines?"
"Most likely."
Verrot nodded, but I still couldn't believe it.
Forcing this emaciated boy to work in a salt mine?
Mine slavery was said to be as good as a death sentence. Yunek wouldn't last a week.
As if reading my thoughts, Verrot continued.
"If mining slavery was the goal, the viscount wouldn't care about individual quality. Only numbers matter. Plus, children can fit into narrow gaps, and beastkin have stamina—plenty of reasons to buy them. That said, Yunek's condition… the viscount would probably be furious if he saw this. He'd wonder if he's even useful."
Though his tone was light, Verrot's expression was firm.
It made sense.
The carriage might've been transporting slaves for the mines.
That's why they let the beastkin slaves escape—they knew they'd die soon.
As I stood speechless, Balner stepped forward.
"This isn't related to the viscount, but I heard something odd. There's supposedly a beastkin village in the Deep Temple Forest. Most of the empire's south is that forest. If this boy was told to go there, it might've been to that village."
"I've heard that too…"
Lambert's voice was strained, as if dredging up memories.
"Does it actually exist? A beastkin village?"
"Sadly, it's just a rumor. Decades ago, a beastkin group supposedly visited Fasden for supplies. They mentioned living in the forest."
"So it might not even exist now. Or it might. Either way, it's irrelevant to us."
I agreed.
I'd considered the possibility earlier but dismissed it as baseless speculation.
Wondering why he'd brought it up, I watched as Verrot spoke again.
"Let me ask. Does anyone still suspect Yunek?"
Seeing Yunek shrink, everyone exchanged glances and shook their heads.
Satisfied, Verrot continued.
"We gathered information in Sylvek with extreme caution, and the Brave Warrior didn't share details. No one would know we've identified Yunek's owner. Even if we didn't hand him over, as the son of a viscount, Lambert-sama wouldn't face serious repercussions—the viscount wouldn't escalate things over an honest mistake. So, I have a proposal."
After a beat, Verrot speaks up.
"I propose we change our destination. Our new target—the Deep Temple Forest."
The unexpected suggestion leaves us stunned.
Lambert looks at him as if doubting his ears.
"Are you... serious? The Deep Temple Forest?"
"Yes, completely. Our journey so far has gone smoothly. If anything were to happen, it'd likely be at Mount Lazarag or its southern detour. Even if they're waiting elsewhere, it doesn't matter. What's important is how they'll react if we defy expectations. What if we suddenly head for the Deep Temple Forest instead?"
Lambert answers thoughtfully.
"They'd be helpless. Their trap would fail."
"Exactly. And the forest is in the opposite direction of our original route—impossible to predict. Plus, it spans the entire southeast. They won't know where we'll enter from."
"Then that means..."
As Lambert glances at him, Verrot nods as if reading his mind.
"They'll have to act before we enter the forest. Even with fewer monsters, tracking us in the Deep Temple Forest would be extremely difficult. They might lose us entirely. It's precisely because it's the Deep Temple Forest—and nowhere else—that they'll be forced to move."
Lambert falls deep into thought at Verrot's confident smile, while I can only marvel.
I've thought it before, but this man is something else.
And his plan is brilliant.
The attackers would undoubtedly be thrown into chaos.
Their carefully laid plans would be circumvented, forcing them to scramble for a backup.
Avoiding Mount Lazarag alone would still leave our route predictable, but the Deep Temple Forest? Impossible to anticipate.
But if we follow Verrot's suggestion—
"What about him?"
Sekies jerks his thumb toward Yunek, who flinches violently.
"Let's take him with us. Yunek is skilled—he'll be useful. And he'll be safer with us than—"
"Safer!? You're planning to drag him into our mission!?"
"If we hand him to Viscount Fasden, he'll die. If we go to the Deep Temple Forest, we might find the beastkin village."
"But—!"
"Calm down, Sekies."
Soothed by Anbell, Sekies bites back his words.
He exhales sharply, then turns back to Verrot.
"But can you guarantee there's no trap? What if they've already anticipated this? They must know we have a beastkin child with us. And about the village. If they've prepared for it—"
"That's highly unlikely. Even if they noticed Yunek, they'd investigate first. That's why we're going via Fasden. Since his owner is the viscount, they'd assume we're transporting him. Setting a trap just because a beastkin village might exist? That's a terrible gamble."
Sekies presses further as Verrot answers matter-of-factly.
"Even so, he'll slow us down. No matter how skilled, he's too weak physically. This isn't a rushed journey—we have time to negotiate with the viscount. If you're worried about the mines, we could buy him and have him wait in a town."
"Whether we hurry is the client's decision, not the escort's. And taking too long gives them time to set traps around Fasden. Worse, if they learn a beastkin boy is staying there, they might deduce we're heading for the forest. The whole point is a quick resolution. Yunek's stamina won't be an issue."
"What if the viscount finds out we took his slave? It'll cause trouble for Lambert-sama too!"
"Again, we don't know the owner, so it's not theft. By law, those who capture runaway slaves can claim rights—even demand a reward for protection. Regardless of intentions, on paper, we'd be thanked. No trouble at all."
"Then—!"
The cooled debate reignites.
Even Anbell gives up, stepping away from the two.
I approach him and whisper.
"Does this happen often?"
"Sometimes... yeah."
Anbell forces an awkward smile.
Sometimes, huh?
Normally, Sekies has the final say, so Verrot's input is just advisory.
He probably speaks with that understanding.
But now, Lambert holds the authority.
A mere merchant would defer to the escort leader, but Lambert seeks everyone's opinions to find the best solution.
Verrot's overwhelming competence is pressuring Sekies—but he's no slouch either.
When two equals clash, stubbornness takes over.
Still, they seemed like a tight-knit party back at the ranch.
Maybe it was because they agreed then, or because Sekies was in charge.
Where there are people, there are disagreements.
Not an unusual sight, but—
Watching them still arguing, I replay the debate in my head.
Ultimately, both are worried about Yunek.
They just see the risks differently.
And since they're trading assumptions and speculations, there'll be no conclusion unless one backs down.
It's a tough call.
Verrot's reasoning aligns with Markant's account.
The odds of Yunek being sent to the mines are disturbingly high.
But as Sekies pointed out, Yunek might slow us down.
His skills are exceptional, but his physical endurance is a concern.
Both sides have valid points.
Glancing over, I see Lambert listening with a stern face.
Anbell looks troubled, Balner silent.
Felix, as always, waits for Lambert's decision.
And the one at the center of it all—
Yunek is curled up, trembling.
He's the reason these two are fighting.
Though both care for him, the heated words make him flinch instinctively.
Seeing him on the verge of tears, a bitter realization hits me.
Yunek's presence has faded.
He's using [Stealth]—likely unconsciously.
Is this how he's shielded himself from anger and malice all this time?
"Enough."
The sharp words slip out before I can stop them.
Ignoring the two's hurried apologies, I turn to Lambert.
"We've heard all the arguments. Make the call."
"Not yet. What's your take?"
Lambert's stern gaze presses me.
Swallowing the bitterness, I think.
"Both sides... make sense. But unless we hear it from the viscount himself, Yunek's fate is just speculation. Still, Verrot's plan isn't bad. We're up against a C-rank threat—they'll be prepared. Yunek's skills... could be useful."
"With another scout, we'd have the upper hand?"
"I think so."
Lambert closes his eyes, crossing his arms in deep thought.
Soon, he clenches his fist as if reaching a decision.
"We change course. Our destination is the Deep Temple Forest. We'll flush out the attackers and crush them. As for Yunek—we'll keep protecting him."
With a piercing look at the group, Lambert makes his declaration.