Chapter 149
Chapter 149. Prologue - Guidance
As if trying to stem the flow of life slipping away, Alter pressed his hand against the wound.
Yet the crimson blood continued to seep relentlessly between his fingers.
Verrot looked down at these futile struggles with a smile playing on his lips.
When Alter finally stopped moving, Verrot placed his hands on his own neck and mouth.
Lambert, Felix, and Yabusho silently watched this.
Amidst the sound of dripping rain and wind sweeping across the grasslands, Verrot nodded once and stood up.
"The job is complete. Everyone, good work."
At these words, the smeared deep green camouflage faded, revealing the attackers.
Then the central man—Craig—stepped forward. "I'm not tired. We just chased from a distance."
"Nonsense, you performed admirably. Simply hinting at your presence had meaning."
Yet Craig frowned in dissatisfaction.
"If you wanted us to contribute, you shouldn't have changed plans. What was all that preparation for? This level of work didn't require my involvement."
"I apologize for that. But without someone of your caliber, Alter-sama would have grown more wary. He might have suspected another scheme."
Even so, Craig's expression remained unchanged.
Verrot seemed to realize further words were pointless and shifted his gaze.
"Lambert-sama, you were splendid as well. Alter-sama never suspected a thing."
"I merely behaved as usual, following your advice. More importantly—was that boy not part of the setup?"
When Lambert motioned toward the motionless Yunek with his chin, Verrot shook his head exaggeratedly.
"No, no, not at all. I was surprised too. At first, I even suspected a trap."
"Then—"
"It was all genuine. I agonized over how to handle it, but this turned out to be the best outcome. We owe much to Yunek here."
Verrot bowed slightly to the lifeless Yunek.
Originally, the plan was to take Lambert hostage to restrain Alter.
Even if his life was in danger, Alter would never abandon a friend.
They had prepared based on that certainty, yet Verrot couldn't shake his concerns.
Namely, the strength of the boy named Lambert.
His combat skills were one thing, but his mental fortitude was extraordinary. It was strange that he remained docile while his friend's life was at risk because of him.
Though confident in steering the flow, Verrot knew it wasn't absolute.
And if Lambert's betrayal were discovered, Alter would escape.
In that case, even Craig's group might not catch him.
Worse, they risked being picked off one by one.
But with Yunek as the hostage, there were no such worries.
A powerless, oppressed boy.
Alter would surely sympathize, making him an even stronger shackle than Lambert.
Even if the betrayal came to light, Alter would still try to save Yunek.
With that judgment, Verrot revised the plan using information gathered by Craig's group.
He reinforced the shackles, spoke Alter's thoughts for him, and guided his decisions.
Though Alter strove to remain cold, at his core, he was a kind boy.
As intended, he became trapped between protecting Lambert and saving Yunek, losing the luxury of assessing the situation.
Even if they had planted a boy like Yunek, it wouldn't have gone this smoothly.
Artificial setups inevitably had flaws.
Verrot was genuinely grateful for this chance encounter.
"Verrot, are we done here?"
Having waited for the conversation to end, Balner spoke up.
"Ah, yes. My apologies. Items that clearly identify him—like his signet ring, adventurer card, and letters—we'll dispose of. The rest is yours to take."
When Verrot gestured with an open palm, Balner eagerly approached Alter.
The first thing he took was the bag slung over Alter's shoulder.
"So this is the magic bag, Telpars' Bag..."
Lambert frowned in disgust at Balner's awed expression.
Unnoticed, Balner called to his comrades.
"Help me strip his gear."
Even when called, Sekies remained silent.
Ambel hesitated at Sekies' inaction but, urged by Balner, reluctantly approached Alter.
As Balner rifled through Alter's pockets and Ambel removed his azure mantle,
Lambert watched his friend before standing beside Sekies.
"How long? How long have you been planning this?"
"...Two years."
Sekies murmured softly before continuing.
"I only learned the target this morning, but... I had my suspicions."
Hearing Sekies' strained reply, Lambert felt a bitter taste rise in his throat.
His friend's face twisted in far more pain than his own for betraying someone.
Sekies was a good man.
That was why Verrot chose him and kept the assassination target hidden until the last moment.
(Maybe I'm the worse person here.)
Lost in thought, Lambert reflected on recent events.
The letter from his father arrived shortly after the new year.
It contained an order to assassinate Alter.
No reason was given—only instructions to meet a man named Verrot.
Though he'd followed his father's orders before, this was the first as the lord's command.
Yet Lambert couldn't rejoice.
He reread the letter countless times, agonized for days, and made a decision.
He would settle everything at the martial tournament.
He'd challenge Alter with intent to kill, and if it was a good fight, he'd demand a duel.
This way, he wouldn't disobey his father.
If he lost, it would just mean he lacked strength.
But the tournament ended in crushing defeat.
No matter how hard he tried, no matter how recklessly he fought, he couldn't reach Alter.
To Alter, it was just a mock battle—he never even recognized Lambert's seriousness.
Waking in the waiting room, Lambert realized his folly.
A good fight was impossible. The gap in strength was too vast.
And regardless of the reason, he saw that his father's choice of assassination was right.
"What the hell is this sword?!"
The sudden shout snapped Lambert from his thoughts.
What caught his eye was the dazzling gleam of Ratarl Ore.
As he stared at the sword in Balner's grip, Verrot suddenly burst into laughter.
Noticing the others' stares, Verrot stifled his mirth and spoke.
"My apologies. Balner, that is the Heaven's Law Blade."
Even so, Balner tilted his head in confusion.
Verrot examined the array of weapons and pointed to an unremarkable one.
"That sword is Nosvar. Both were Klaus' beloved blades."
"Wait, Klaus?"
Craig reacted, then fell silent.
Verrot seemed oddly proud of this.
"No mistake. That knight was quite famous."
"Then the mercenary band's annihilation, the clash with Jarid—"
"Was likely Alter-sama. Right to the end, he keeps surprising us."
Yabusho stood dumbfounded at their exchange.
Even at the Adventurers' Guild, the Sigus Mercenaries' destruction was a hot topic.
Rumors said Jarid, the Demihuman, had been with them.
As the words sank in, Yabusho's expression stiffened.
Meanwhile, Lambert struggled to grasp the situation and glanced at Felix for answers.
Seeing him shake his head, Lambert turned to Sekies.
Sekies explained the mercenaries' destruction starting from a conflict, and the A-rank Jarid.
As the story progressed, Lambert and Felix's faces grew tense.
"He... fought an A-rank? Alter?"
"I don't know the details. But it's confirmed that a small adventurer pursued the mercenaries. Their destruction followed."
It was possible Alter went to Rapzel, where Klaus died, and received the swords there.
But it was hard to imagine Klaus would entrust his beloved blades to someone without a deep bond, and Verrot's tone suggested otherwise.
If the speculation was true, it meant Alter had calmly participated in the tournament's mock battles after fighting the Demihuman Jarid.
As everyone fell silent, Verrot turned emotionless eyes toward Craig.
"Do you understand now? Our opponent was a monster who could fight a battle-hardened A-rank at thirteen. Even with all our preparations, it wasn't enough. If you have a better plan, changing strategies is trivial. By the way—you disobeyed orders, didn't you?"
At the sudden accusation, Craig frowned.
"Earlier, you said Alter spotted you?"
"That? I ran into him while investigating the academy but shook him off immediately. That much—"
"Is enough for him to see through you. The moment you appeared, he identified you as the same person. Alter is an exceptional swordsman, mage, and scout. But that's not why I forbade contact."
Pausing, Verrot looked down at Alter.
"This is speculative, but Alter-sama likely has Appraisal-type skills."
The statement shocked not just Craig but Lambert and Felix too.
Looking back, the two had their own suspicions.
Alter's guidance was always precise, his questions almost like reconfirmations. Many of his other actions made sense if he had Appraisal.
But Craig, unaware of this, argued despite his surprise.
"Any proof? The Insight Ring was blocked, wasn't it?"
During the joint exercise where Alter fought Elfimia, Verrot tried using [Basic Appraisal] with the Insight Ring but was completely blocked.
This had made preparations difficult, a report Craig had received.
Yet Verrot calmly shook his head.
"Observation makes it obvious. Alter-sama is too efficient in everything he does. And he has the wisdom to deduce answers from minor clues. You being appraised would have been disastrous. Also, you seem to misunderstand. I was given command for this mission. Disobeying is tantamount to defying the captain—no, His Highness's orders."
"That's—!"
Craig tried to rebut but choked on his words.
After several aborted attempts, he finally bowed his head.
"My actions were rash. I apologize."
"I accept. I also underestimated Alter-sama. I thought my estimates were generous, but... I never imagined he could fight Jarid. Never crossed my mind."
Verrot smiled wryly, then straightened and turned to Lambert.
"Lambert-sama, this was truly a great deed. Had we faced him head-on, we might have been wiped out. I'll be sure to report your contributions to His Highness."
Even as Verrot bowed deeply, Lambert's expression didn't change.
He didn't even shift his gaze.
Yabusho was the same.
They all stood silent, staring at Alter with looks reserved for monsters.
Shrugging, Verrot clapped his hands lightly.
"Shall we depart soon?"
"What about the bodies?"
Craig gestured toward Alter with his chin.
"Leaving them should be fine. Few near Fasden would recognize Alter-sama, and we've collected all his belongings. Even if adventurers find him, his identity won't be known. Though, I doubt even bones will remain—"
Through the misty rain, a headless ostrich—a Kuckle—raced toward them, drawn by the scent of blood.
Balner hurriedly stuffed loot into the Telpars' Bag as the group retreated.
Looking back from a distance, they saw the Kuckle tearing into Alter.
Verrot bid farewell to Lambert, then turned to Yabusho.
"You've all done well. Reluctant as I am, we part here. Henceforth, I am Verrot the merchant. Your continued patronage is appreciated."
With a theatrical bow, Verrot turned on his heel.
Craig motioned for his group to follow—then froze.
Glaring back, Craig stood rigid.
The Kuckle's bone-crunching bites echoed in sync with its movements.
Verrot glanced questioningly at Craig's pause, but Craig didn't respond.
After a long silence, Craig muttered softly.
"Never mind. He's already dead."
Unable to hear, Verrot looked back.
Then, tilting his head curiously, he resumed walking.
Seeing off Verrot's group heading northeast, Lambert, Felix, and Yabusho moved toward Fasden, distancing themselves.
Lambert trudged through the rain, eyes fixed ahead.
Felix glanced at his lord but said nothing, looking away.
Yabusho stayed vigilant against monsters, forming up around Lambert in silence.
Yet their thoughts seemed varied.
Sekies was grimly silent, Ambel worried over him, and Balner—perhaps preoccupied with the Telpars' Bag's contents—struggled to hide his grin.
Noticing Balner, Lambert's brow furrowed slightly.
He didn't regret it. This was a decision made after much anguish.
Still, he wondered if there'd been another way.
Had the orders come after returning to Kelten, he could have questioned his father. Maybe even persuaded him.
At that thought, Lambert smirked bitterly.
(Like father, like fool of a son.)
The letter hadn't explicitly ordered him to kill.
But aiding an assassination made it a real possibility. Failure would turn not just Reedwald but the Marquis faction against them.
He'd be discarded then.
Branded a son's grudge, handed over with some coin.
Such a man had no hope of persuading his father.
Lambert took a deep breath, exhaling his self-mockery, then looked at Sekies.
"Can you escort me to Kelten?"
"Of course."
"One more request. Lend me the Rhino Sword and Stiletto."
"The Rhino Sword?"
Sekies tilted his head.
Balner, perhaps thinking his magic tools were being confiscated, warily pulled the bag closer. But at Sekies' nod, he reluctantly drew the Rhino Sword from the Telpars' Bag.
The pristine blade made Balner sigh, but he also seemed relieved.
"Not a magic tool, then...?"
"I know. It's just a fine blade. Sharp but hard to wield. Not suited for adventurers."
"Well, yeah..."
However fine, the Rhino Sword was unnecessary for Yabusho now.
He had the Heaven's Law Blade, Nosvar, and other magic swords Alter had crafted.
"If it's not a magic tool, I don't mind. You can have it."
"Understood."
With Sekies' agreement, Balner handed over the Rhino Sword and Stiletto.
Lambert received them almost reverently, gazing down at the two blades.
The worn hilts and scabbards spoke volumes about what they'd meant to Alter.
Sekies, too, stared silently at the swords.
◇◇◇◇
The grasslands echoed with the Kuckle's growls and another crunching sound.
Its massive jaws clamped onto Alter's left arm and torso, trying to tear him apart.
Then, abruptly, the beast stilled.
Blood gushed from its maw as the Kuckle slowly knelt.
Silence fell.
Raindrops dripped from grass and leaves, wind rustled through the trees.
Amidst nature's breath, Alter's eyelids suddenly opened.
Dispelling [Earth Shield], he pulled his left arm from the Kuckle's [Earth Bolt]-riddled maw.
Then, as he tried to breathe—blood spewed forth.
(Can't... breathe...)
Through fading consciousness, he recast [Operate Air].
Alter was, for all intents, dead.
His heart destroyed by Lambert and Verrot, his lungs, diaphragm, and other organs ravaged by the Kuckle.
What kept him alive was [Operate Water] and [Operate Air] via [Multi-Cast].
Magic circulated his blood and forced air into his lungs, staving off instant death.
Only his precise control and [Multi-Cast] skill sustained him.
Yet pulse and breath were symbols of life.
A being without both was undeniably dead.
Alter's blood flowed sluggishly, thin tubes exchanging lung air.
No heartbeat, no rising chest.
Verrot, knowledgeable in anatomy, missed Alter's survival.
And Craig, the skilled scout, was fooled by life's tenacity.
Death wasn't instantaneous.
Like Meruga moving post-death, humans didn't cease activity immediately.
Alter's near-death presence had dwindled to a flicker.
Craig, too, knew too much of life and death.
With faltering consciousness, Alter swayed upright.
Magic forcibly prolonged his life, but mana depletion meant death.
Pale-faced, he glanced down.
The beastkin boy—his only ally.
Unaware of Verrot's schemes, dragged into their plot.
Alter's expression darkened slightly as he hoisted Yunek onto his back.
(I'll heal him... Treat him... And myself...)
Alter poured all his focus into sustaining the magic.
His usual judgment gone, he didn't notice the boy's coldness.
Whether avoiding Lambert's group or seeking medicinal ingredients.
He staggered forward—toward the Depths' Forest.
Alter trudged on, unsteady.
No caution for monsters, no search for herbs.
With the cold boy on his back, he marched steadily toward death.
How much time passed?
His hazy consciousness wavered, and Alter halted.
(Again... doing as you please...)
At his feet appeared a small earth spirit—a Merlock.
Though his remaining mana dictated his lifespan, Alter felt no anger, just a dull stare.
The tiny armadillo looked up once, then toddled ahead.
After a few steps, it glanced back.
When Alter followed, it kept distance before looking back again.
He lacked the strength to discern its intent.
Guided by the Merlock, Alter ventured deeper into the forest.