Chapter 169 – As Expected of Commander-in-Chief

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Translated by Heavenly Cat

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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Worthwhile.

The blacksmith unanimously considered the best by dwarves with high pride.

Regarding his skills, it was better to show than tell.

The decisive battle weapon of Akshan, the Quernberg Machine Tower, of course.

The Iron Castle, and even the gateway to the dwarves’ hideout.

There was no place his touch hadn’t reached.

“Damn it.”

“Th-that, to say unnecessary words for nothing……!”

“Oops.”

At Gwicheol’s resounding rebuke, the dwarves let out laments.

Chainwalker muttered.

“An incident happened.”

The survivors of Dreadsen Village.

Lansha and the other survivors helped with the dwarves’ work tactfully. To think the dwarves they only heard of in old tales would appear riding a ship flying in the sky.

It was an unimaginable event, but it wasn’t a dream.

‘Anyway, we have to earn our keep if we don’t want to get kicked out.’

However, the atmosphere was too unusual to just let it slide.

Moreover, a talking lump of rock!

Eventually, Lansha carefully asked Chainwalker.

“……Is perhaps something serious going on?”

“Ah, there is nothing for you all to worry about. According to the covenant with him, we dwarves will protect you all to the end. Did someone say something unpleasant by any chance? I told them not to act territorial……!”

“If it’s him…….”

It would be the liege that black shape, The End, spoke of, right?

Though she didn’t know what kind of covenant he was talking about.

Lansha felt the urge to at least see their benefactor’s face.

But before that.

“No! It’s not that, it seemed you had some worries!”

She had to resolve the misunderstanding first.

“He must be an incredible person, the one called Worthwhile!”

“Was it about that? This is embarrassing for being so noisy.”

“No. It’s lively and nice for a change!”

It wasn’t empty words.

Truly.

To the point of feeling alive for the first time in a while.

“That is a relief then.”

Chainwalker let out a deep sigh and continued.

“Just thinking about suffering from that stubbornness of Worthwhile makes my head throb already.”

His skills had to be acknowledged, but Worthwhile when smelting something is a monster itself.

His eccentricity was beyond words.

He was cranky enough just when pounding on unspeaking iron ore.

“Having heard such words from Gwicheol, he won’t stay still.”

Indeed, Chainwalker’s prediction hit the mark.

Gwicheol’s resounding shout.

As if not losing to that, Worthwhile opened his mouth.

Lansha only then realized.

“I showed consideration, but you’re being haughty, you Gwicheol brat!”

He was worried because of that?!

“Y, you’re unexpected? Very much?”

To think such words would pop out from an extremely strict, stern, and serious face. As Lansha couldn’t hide her surprise, Chainwalker wrapped his face with both hands.

“……Survivor of Akshan.”

Your Gwicheol ended up touching that old man’s pride.

From now on, even Chainwalker couldn’t dare to guess.

Worthwhile, from the meeting of the dwarves’ best blacksmith and Gwicheol, he couldn’t even imagine what kind of equipment would be forged. Naturally, he couldn’t help but be concerned.

“Alright, there is no more consideration!”

Fwoosh!

As the output was increased, the ultra-high-temperature furnace burned even redder.

At Worthwhile’s words, Gwicheol responded.

“It is lukewarm. Even hotter!”

Usually, equipment should have consideration for the user.

Whether right-handed or left-handed, from the design of the handle accordingly to delicately considering the user’s abilities. However, since Gwicheol fanned Worthwhile’s flames.

“Whatever it becomes, your master can handle it, right?”

Equipment solely for performance with no consideration will be born.

That was why Chainwalker went beyond wrapping his face to dry washing it.

Would Sir Ho-yeol be able to handle such an ignorant piece of equipment? But making the worry pointless.

“Of course. Did I not say it continuously?”

Gwicheol, who had watched him closely more than anyone else, was speaking.

“His vessel is so vast that even if filled and filled, it will not be filled!”

That’s right.

There was certainty in that voice.

“Any further worries would be doubting him.”

Thanks to that, Chainwalker of course.

“Is that truly so?”

Worthwhile carrying the hammer could also shake off his worries.

Worthwhile resolved.

“Good!”

He would pour out the sincerity he had never shown even once.

“In that case, Worthwhile shall forge you with full power!”

“Good! Just what I wished for!”

Paaat!

*

Good my ass it’s good!

Hiel, The End, and even Gwicheol.

I understand everyone’s intentions.

It must all be for my sake.

But excessive loyalty sometimes overwhelms me…….

To think Gwicheol was having a battle of nerves with Worthwhile.

To think Worthwhile declared he would make equipment that goes beyond a masterpiece and will remain in history.

And began pounding Gwicheol day and night.

‘I’m worried about the result.’

Starting with the Quernberg Machine Tower.

To the laser cannons of the Iron Castle that swept away millions of demons.

I was someone who literally felt the dwarves’ technological prowess with my whole body. Among those dwarves, Worthwhile, considered the best, declared he would do his utmost.

‘……Will I even be able to equip it.’

Speaking bluntly, what if an item with a level 1,000 restriction is born?

Truly, it’ll be a pie in the sky.

Of course, regardless of such inner thoughts, I chattered.

“An excellent attitude as my weapon.”

For Granfel, level restrictions are merely numbers, so it wouldn’t be a problem.

Ultimately, this is also befitting me.

There’s no choice but to solve it shamelessly with an exploit.

I am practicing with the [Fang of the Wicked Earth Dragon] anyway.

Various usage methods, that is.

Soon after, The End’s deeply moved voice was heard.

“As expected, my liege.”

……Don’t consider nonsense as a matter of course. Please.

I feel the sincerity, but I can’t just be purely happy.

However, I don’t have the luxury to act pitifully and pathetic either.

The demons of the Arcana continent that began to move.

Because the [Demon King Continental Clash] is right around the corner.

I opened my mouth.

“Hiel, The End. Do your best in your positions.”

“I will follow your words.”

“Your command.”

“And convey this.”

There wouldn’t be a need to add a request for the dwarves and the Dreadsen survivors.

Including them, the survivors of Arcana have struggled desperately more than anyone in a living hell.

My, Granfel’s pride does not allow wishing something from them.

From now on, it means it’s our side’s turn.

“That your pride has reached us.”

*

Yusra Kingdom, Golden Palace.

As the commander of the Shadow Mercenaries, Kichi had touched countless gold, silver, and treasures, but he couldn’t adapt to the splendor of the Golden Palace at all.

Light pit-a-pat

However, Kichi’s footsteps crossing the Golden Palace were unusually light today.

His expression and atmosphere were exactly the opposite of what they were until this morning.

“Hey, Commander.”

The 2nd seat, Wolf, asked carefully.

“……Did you drink alcohol by any chance?”

“I didn’t? Why? Craving a drink? What’s going on with Wolf?”

“No, not that, you just look like you’re in a good mood.”

Even just earlier, Kichi’s face was ‘죽.상’ (gloomy/miserable).

Truly, a ‘face that looks like he’ll kill someone’ (죽일 것 같은 상).

The reason for that was obvious.

Anyway, a member riding the same boat.

The lowest seat, Lockid, sustained serious injuries from the elf.

In such a situation, he himself was drunk and asleep.

It made sense he couldn’t control his anger in many ways.

Golden Palace annex.

As Kichi entered, the members who were pretending to do other things focused their gazes.

That included Lockid, who had just regained consciousness.

Lockid, with a voice that was half-locked and even huskier, spoke.

“……Hey, Commander.”

“What is it? You woke up? Your limbs were dangling!”

“Tsk, the way you talk makes affection drop.”

The 7th seat, Akari, explained for him instead.

“A mage from the Mage Tower stopped by here.”

“Is that so……. It’s not that, a M-Mage from the Mage Tower did?! Why?! Did someone do something wrong? Did you get caught spouting nonsense during the Demon King’s Castle rift?”

“You’re saying things that’ll cause big trouble, Commander.”

“Huh? I’m not?”

“What do you think is the reason Lockid woke up perfectly fine?”

“That’s because he’s ignorantly sturdy like an ogre…….”

No, Lockid’s wound was a critical injury.

To the point where even the potion crafted by Akari had little effect.

But for him to wake up perfectly fine like that…….

“Don’t tell me, that Mage Tower mage healed Lockid?!”

“That’s right. Among them, a Senior Mage came in person.”

“……Why would they?”

Kichi knew the species called mages well.

The names that frequently appear on the assassination request list are precisely those of mages.

That alone would be enough proof of their dirty tempers.

If it’s a mage from the Mage Tower, it’d definitely be more, never less.

‘There isn’t any point of contact in the first place though……?’

Was there another point of contact besides the Demon King’s Castle rift?

In Kichi’s mind while thinking for a moment.

There was a figure brushing past.

“……Commander-in-Chief Lee Ho-yeol?”

Akari chuckled and nodded.

“He said he came to treat the injured at his request. It was an entrancing magic, that was. A massive amount of magic power wrapped around Lockid’s body, and then……!”

Making Akari’s vivid expression pointless.

Nothing entered Kichi’s ears.

Because of the voice lingering in his mind.

-“The one who takes responsibility for you is me.”

Kichi smirked.

‘He really takes responsibility properly, this employer of ours.’

Of course, Lockid had no way of knowing that story.

Seureuk

Lockid slowly raised his massive body.

“So where is that bastard?”

“That bastard?”

“That big-eared bastard I mean. Since I got hit, I have to pay him back. This debt.”

After the employer barely kept him alive.

What?

Pay back the debt?

Kichi’s eyes narrowed again and then.

“This guy still hasn’t regained his mind……! Phew, no. Lockid.”

Returned to normal again.

Since he still doesn’t know anything, doing such a reaction is understandable.

Wolf spoke on behalf of Kichi who was busy suppressing his anger.

“Calm down for now, Lockid. Is it possible in that state?”

“What does an archer know to be blabbing? If we fight again, I win.”

“Really? Well, if you say so.”

Wolf shrugged and looked at Kichi.

Following him, all the members’ gazes headed toward Kichi.

As mentioned, the Shadow Mercenaries had rules.

Badeuk!

Lockid ground his teeth.

“I will absolutely pay him back as much as I suffered.”

Finally time to bring up the main topic.

Kichi opened his mouth.

“Just like I said in the morning. Commander-in-Chief Lee Ho-yeol, I conversed with him. About handling the elf.”

“Since we have a justification. The talk must have ended well, right? So where is that big-eared bastard right now……!!”

“First calm down and listen, Lockid. The elf, that guy called Elsidore is currently in the Golden Palace. He’s staying in an annex just like us.”

“……What?”

Lockid flinched.

Memories cut off because he fainted.

In his remaining memory, the elf was no different from a madman.

Apart from his strength, didn’t he spout words that couldn’t be understood, didn’t he attack without warning. Because he didn’t seem to have any intention of listening to anyone’s words. Thus, he couldn’t believe it even after hearing the story.

“Y, you made that bastard kneel?!”

And that just by flapping lips a few times at that?

“…….”

Lockid closed his mouth in disbelief.

However, there was proof.

None other than the fact that the big-eared guy was quietly stuck in the Golden Palace.

Let alone magic, sword aura that reached a realm he couldn’t even recognize, and now.

This time, did he subjugate the elf with words?

“This is absurd.”

Lockid sneaked a glance at Kichi.

‘……Perhaps he found a goal bigger than even the Commander.’

It was something to rejoice over, but he had to make it clear.

“So what does that have to do with paying back the debt, Commander?”

There were no flaws in Lockid’s words.

The attention of all Shadow Mercenary members, including Wolf and Akari, headed towards Kichi again.

Kichi brushed up his hair and gloated.

“What you want is his life, right?”

“As expected, Commander. You know well, right?”

“Regarding that, our employer, the Commander-in-Chief spoke.”

“……?”

As if elevating expectations.

He looks around the members.

Kichi, after pausing sufficiently, continued speaking.

“That he will make him spit out something more valuable than his life.”

“……!!!”

Everyone flinched at Kichi’s words.

To make him spit out something more valuable than his life.

No matter how you look at that…….

“Isn’t that ‘what’ we’re good at?”

Torture, interrogation, blackmail with life as collateral!

Lockid raised the corners of his mouth.

“This is raising my affinity for our Commander-in-Chief, you know?”

I thought he was stiff.

Unexpectedly, we have things in common, right?

Kichi put his hand on his waist and laughed heartily.

“See, you know why I came back smiling, right?”

Lockid nodded eagerly.

“As expected of the Commander. You had a plan!”

“So kill your temper a bit, Lockid. They are elves who live an eternity of time. Isn’t it possible that incredible information pours out even if we dig just a little bit?”

“That’s right! The debt, I can just pay it back after that. Hahaha!”

“Of course, before that, from the tavern tab first you’ll have to pay.”

“Ah.”

Amidst the comedic banter going back and forth, Wolf shrugged.

‘Everyone is severely misunderstanding it, though?’

Lee Ho-yeol.

No matter how much he looked at him, he didn’t look like the same species as them.

Certainly, the commander is misunderstanding as he pleases. Like always.

Of course, he had no intention of explicitly correcting it.

Kichi soon continued, speaking meaningfully.

“So from now on, what we have to do is simple.”

“……!”

“For incredible information. For incredible treasures. For a comfortable old age. We make a distinct impression on our employer.”

Wasn’t the stage set right on time?

“Let’s do our best, in the holy war!”

*

Total assembly.

The location is the Yusra Kingdom Golden Palace.

The appointment time is noon.

Harkon visited the Golden Palace as soon as he finished morning training in Frost.

There were still a few hours left until noon, but it was to meet Jesica and Enoch who were carrying out their missions.

However.

“Oh? You’re late. I arrived way, way, way earlier.”

“……?”

However.

There was someone who arrived at the appointment location earlier than him.

It was a completely unimaginable figure, Kichi.

Harkon flinched.

A shadow even the Empire couldn’t control.

The mastermind of the Arcana continent.

The Shadow Mercenaries.

Just what kind of wind blew into them?