Chapter 52 – Greed (3)

“What kind is it?”

When Belloc asked, Kara opened her mouth after fiddling with the spell scroll.

“A teleportation spell is engraved. The coordinates are… the Arian Desert? He tried to flee quite far.”

‘Is it like a Town Portal?’ Belloc’s eyes grew slightly wider. Strictly speaking, wasn’t his falling into this world also a kind of dimensional transfer? He grew interested in that spell scroll.

“It is a waste of an item for a guy who tried to satisfy his greed by coaxing the Lord to have. I will put it to good use.”

Secretly tucking the spell scroll into the hem of her robe, Kara handed the recommendation letter to Belloc.

‘This woman?’ When Belloc glanced at her, Kara casually shrugged her shoulders. It carried the meaning of ‘What? Why?’

‘Right, it’s easier for mages to manage magic items.’ Giving up, Belloc pulled out the sword that had been lodged and slung it on his back. Grinning, Kara gestured with her eyes.

“By the way, what are you going to do? Are you going to kill him?”

Turning their heads, the Lord of Karven was staring at them with a terrified gaze. Trembling, the Lord spoke.

“P-Please spare me. I, I… I really did not know. I merely…”

“Wouldn’t it be better to kill him?”

Adel said, caressing her scabbard. Although he was terrified now, she did not know when he might harbor a grudge and target the group’s backs. Moreover, since he even knew of the existence of the spell-warding armor, it would become troublesome if rumors spread.

However, Kara’s thoughts were slightly different.

She wearing an uncomfortable expression, she stared at the Lord.

“From what I see, this guy was merely coaxed by the evil mage. Isn’t it a bit much to kill an unresisting opponent?”

“Troublesome things will occur. There is no sure way to silence someone than killing them.”

“What about the soldiers who fled? What about the other people in the castle who heard the rumors from them? Are you going to kill them all too? The blood of countless innocent people will flow. We are not crazy murderers. We must observe the right path.”

“Mercy comes from leisure. However, you must also know that it can choke your own neck.”

“That is…”

As Kara trailed off at Adel’s cold words, the Lord of Karven’s complexion turned pale. Descending from his chair, he flatly prostrated on the floor.

“N-No! I swear I won’t retaliate against you. I, I will stake my name on it!”

Kara sighed. Looking at Belloc, she spoke.

“The decision is made by the leader. We merely follow.”

Belloc pondered, stroking his chin. Both of their words made sense. His black eyes stared long at the trembling Lord’s eyes.

A short man who was swayed by others, coaxed by his retainer, and committed things beyond his status. Belloc let out a sigh.

Was it due to the level-up? Or was it because he had obtained the grand armor? For some reason, he felt like taking Kara’s side. It could be called a whim. Belloc spoke.

“I hope that oath is not light. Strictly speaking, you are the one who ordered your subordinates to threaten us first.”

The Lord of Karven nodded frantically.

“That is right. I was foolish! It is my fault for believing that fool’s words!”

“So, try to filter and choose your subordinates next time. And do not forget that I have the Church behind me.”

There was actually a slight stretch in Belloc’s words, since there was merely a single identification guarantee from the Church and one paladin involved.

However, language originally differed in its aftermath depending on how and under what situation it was thrown. It would be sufficient for threatening the terrified Lord.

Tapping the Lord’s shoulder once, Belloc turned around. Adel glared at the Lord till the end, but soon followed her master.

The three retrieved the horses left at the stable and left the city. Until they crossed the drawbridge toward the main road, no arrows flew from atop the city walls. Whether they had not heard the news yet, the guard merely bowed to them.

“Was your stay in Karven pleasant? Have a safe journey, milords.”

Belloc slightly shifted his head to look at the ancient elven land and the human city.

Despite that commotion, the world was spinning well.

He saw adventurers entering the forest with solemn expressions and swordsmen passing through the gate late. They were the challengers.

He also saw those who emerged from the forest with grinning faces, perhaps having picked up gold pieces, and merchants greeting them joyfully. They were the people who had accomplished something.

Belloc turned his head once again. He, too, had gained a tidy profit.

Although he did not obtain the targeted rune sword and rune armor, he had obtained the spell-warding armor and released the seal on the magic book left by the archmage.

If he were to rank himself as a grave robber seeking treasure, he would be worthy of a spot on the leaderboard. He wondered if he should quit being a knight and change his class to an adventurer at this opportunity.

Roaming unfamiliar lands based on the martial power he possessed, searching for gold and gems. Perhaps he might even obtain new magic items.

‘How about a canteen where infinite water wells up? Taking that to the desert kingdom of Arian and selling water.’

Smirking, Belloc stopped his delusions.

The path he had to go was the path of slaughtering monsters and demons. There was no such thing as dreams or romance here.

On the swaying horses, the group kept moving. Finally, when they established some distance from Karven, Kara opened her mouth.

“Our conversation was cut off due to some weird guys. I told you before, didn’t I? That I might find out the whereabouts where the archdemon is hiding.”

“You mean the tracking spell.”

“Right. Belloc. Can you show me that ring?”

Belloc took out the black gem ring from his bosom. When he tried to hand it to Kara, she waved her hand.

“It is an item filled with the archdemon’s energy. I, who have not even received God’s blessing, do not want to touch it. Do you want to see me go crazy?”

Feeling awkward, Belloc placed the ring on his palm, and Kara parted the hem of her robe.

Beneath the cloth garment she wore under it, the magic tome bound in ropes hung from her waist. Opening the magic book with her slender hands, she spoke.

“It happened while engraving the spell onto your armor. This fellow emitted light and opened by itself. Just as you said, this book is incredible. It is indeed filled with mysterious spells. With this, I… oh, that is not what is important right now.”

Staring at the book as if possessed, Kara shook her head. Soon, reading a passage from the book and licking her lips, Kara cast a spell toward the ring held in Belloc’s hand.

At that moment, the patterns on Belloc’s armor flashed. It had absorbed Kara’s spell. She wore a dumbfounded expression.

‘No, you made it, so how can you not know?’ When Belloc stared with a dumbfounded face, Kara went “Hmm,” twirled her hair, and spoke again.

“It seems I misunderstood that armor. I thought it wouldn’t matter as long as it wasn’t a spell harmful to you. Or is it? Because a tracking spell could also be considered a kind of threat…”

Trailing off, Kara looked at Adel and spoke.

“Adel. I would like you to hold that ring and follow me. If it is in Belloc’s hand, I cannot cast a spell on it.”

“What shall I do?”

As Adel sought permission, Belloc nodded and handed over the ring.

Although sparks flared with a sizzle, Adel grimaced and endured it. Soon, leaving Belloc behind, the two drove their horses forward.

Leaving behind Kara’s low voice chanting a spell and the flashing lights, Belloc slightly closed his eyes. Having leveled up, it was to check his stats and skills.

Setting aside stats, he first examined his skills.

Beside the three skills of ‘Knight’s Swordsmanship’, ‘Undying Fighting Spirit’, and ‘Sixth Sense’, four skill points were visible.

Belloc invested in Fighting Spirit without hesitation. Demons originally used bizarre secret techniques and dug into human fear with their grotesque appearances. When dealing with them, a mental strength as strong as a robust body was necessary.

Leaving behind his more fortified mind, Belloc examined his stats. Originally, it would have been strength without question. However, through the journey of the past few weeks, there was something he had realized.

He was human. A human who grew tired if he did not eat or rest. Of course, although he possessed stamina dozens of times superior to ordinary people, he did not know when that, too, would reach its limit.

Therefore, Belloc invested in Stamina. Then, the body’s fatigue was instantly relieved, and his blood vessels surged. He also felt his skin hardening like stone.

It was a completely different experience from when he first invested in the Stamina stat in Loven in the past. ‘This is nice too.’ Belloc wore a content smile.

“So… are you listening to me? Belloc?”

Slightly opening his eyes, Belloc emerged from the inner world. Whether they had finished engraving the spell on the ring, Kara and Adel had returned. Blinking his eyes once, Belloc asked.

“What did you say?”

Kara smirked. However, that smile was close to a forced one.

“What are you, some kind of mage? Meditating on a horse.”

“Let’s call it a knight’s ritual. So, were you able to find his location?”

“Lord Belloc, about that…”

Adel trailed off, fiddling with the ring she held in her hand. Kara also licked her lips with a troubled look. Belloc asked again.

“Why? Is there a problem?”

Kara muttered.

“The capital.”

“Hmm?”

Letting out a sigh, Kara spoke in a serious voice.

“The archdemon Astaroth. The guy is currently in the heart of the kingdom.”

Belloc frowned heavily. ‘Why on earth is that bitch stuck there?’

“I have a bad feeling.”

‘Surely, a situation where we have to beat down a king who turned into a demon won’t happen, right?’ Belloc earnestly hoped.

#

“Immediately after the oracle descended, all churches in the capital rose up. However, His Majesty, let alone explaining, remains completely silent. No, he has completely blocked all gates leading to the royal palace. The situation in the capital right now is literally… the height of chaos.”

Nodding at the fat merchant’s passionate speech, Belloc opened his mouth, telling him to speak more.

“What was the content of the oracle?”

The merchant cleared his throat. Soon, catching the atmosphere with a lowered voice, he spoke.

“As a great evil shrouds those wise eyes, ruin has soon arrived. Corpses will form mountains, and blood will drench the seas. Beware of him. He will bring ruin to you all. The lion’s heart has fallen to the ground.”

“Is that all? You doubt the ruler of this land based on only that?”

The merchant shook his head. Then, he lectured this young knight who did not even know the news of how the world turned.

“In the past few months, the public executions held in the capital alone exceed several hundreds. For someone who was once so benevolent and wise to change like this? One can only think of it as a trick of a demon. Otherwise… the oracle might be just a pretext. A pretext to resist the king’s tyranny.”

“I see. Thank you.”

“Do not mention it. Is there anything else you need? We also have wine from Mount Arian.”

“No, since our destination is close, we won’t need that much. Keep up the good work.”

“Safe travels, milords.”

Leaving behind the bowing man, Belloc’s group mounted their horses once again.

The wagons of the food merchants who were well-informed of rumors also rattled away.

Belloc rummaged through the bag hanging from the saddle. Soon, he took out a piece of jerky he bought from the merchant and bit it.

Although it was salty and tough enough to dislocate his jaw, he chewed it as if it were gum. His head was complicated. Perhaps it was the same for Kara and Adel, as both of them opened their mouths.

“Killing the Lion King is a completely different matter from killing a lord possessed by a demon. Whether he is a real demon or a human driven mad, it does not matter. It will cause a massive ripple effect.”

“There is nothing more foolish than believing the words of greedy merchants as is. Nothing has been confirmed yet.”

“Rumors also spread because there is a basis. Moreover, isn’t the ring containing the archdemon’s energy also pointing to the capital? Perhaps we might face the worst situation.”

Just as Adel was about to shoot a word at Kara for being such a coward. Belloc, swallowing the chewed jerky, spoke.

“I wish it weren’t so… but let us assume the worst and move. If the rumors are true, we will have to face the King’s army and the archdemon’s army at the same time.”

The scale of the journey to return home was growing larger and larger. Now, solving the situation was impossible with just two knights and one mage. However, Belloc did not give up. If the rumors were true, there was a way for them as well.

Since the oracle that the King was possessed by a demon had descended, the churches would step forward. The lords coveting power to replace the King and sit in his place would also gather. It would become a mudfight. Whatever it was, it was clear that a bloody wind would blow in the capital.

They just had to target that gap and kill the archdemon. ‘Yeah, it should be very easy.’ Belloc let out a dry laugh.

‘Why on earth is this world in this state?’ Along with a low curse, Belloc sank into thoughts once again, and Kara opened the magic tome to read new spells. Adel also held out a prayer sheet.

Everyone was preparing in their own way for the situation that would happen in the future. As if representing their thoughts, the horses also walked slowly without any particular complaints.

However, time flew like an arrow. The three soon arrived in Askra, the capital of the Adria Kingdom and the city where the archdemon secretly operated.