Chapter 119 - Bring Them to Me

"No." Berge shook his head. "This is our first meeting."

"Are you sure we've never met?" Dafner leaned closer.

"We haven't."

"Really?"

Never met, indeed. They had crossed paths twice. Berge had looked down on Dafner through the tower's power when the hero came close in search of it, and had encountered him again while robbing the Hilderan nobles' secret vaults with Ernyan. At the time, however, Berge and Ernyan had concealed their faces beneath their robes as thoroughly as possible.

"You're getting on my nerves. Are you trying to pick a fight?"

"Lord Dafner. Pale is my companion. I cannot allow any further discourtesy."

"... If we haven't, I apologize. I must have been mistaken."

"But that presence feels familiar." Muttering uneasily, Dafner turned away again.

'I'll have to be careful.'

Dafner had never seen his face directly, so he must have sensed his presence. At least for the duration of this expedition, Berge would need to keep it carefully contained.

"When did you meet Dafner?"

"I never have." Berge shook his head at Hillen's whispered question.

"Really?"

"Do you want to die?"

"Ahem. No."

"Oh. There's another Star with us, too..."

"Why are you looking at me like that? ... Wait."

Roselle's face twisted into a fierce scowl. Just then, a woman with blue eyes and blue hair alighted gracefully.

"Aina, you fucking bitch?"

"Still making my name sound vulgar, I see. And your face is as hideous as ever."

A lilting laugh rang out. Walking past Dafner, she smiled at Hillen and Berge.

"The hero, Hillen Cargill. This is our first time meeting in person. I'm Aina Diaphrin."

"A pleasure to meet you. I'm Hillen Cargill. It's an honor to meet the renowned water mage in person."

"I heard you were smooth-tongued, and it's true. You're quite different from the gorilla beside you."

"Why not just say you want to die?"

Flames surged upward. At the same instant, a spray of water rose. Just before the opposing forces collided, Hillen and Dafner severed the flow of mana.

"We understand you two don't get along, but could you choose a more appropriate time and place?"

"Members of the imperial family are just ahead."

At that, Roselle Charnt ground her teeth and canceled her spell.

"I was only defending myself because I had no choice, you know." Aina shrugged.

"And who might this gentleman be?"

"Pale."

"So you're the man they call Roselle's man?"

"... What?"

"Oh, it's merely a figure of speech. Honestly, I wondered just how remarkable a human's mana could possibly be. But this is the real thing. I can see why Roselle and the Kingdom of Akan are going mad over you."

"Just as the rumors say, you really are like a spirit. Though it's rather off-putting that you resemble a fire spirit, of all things. How does one acquire mana like this?"

Pure mana transformed the density and quality of magic: greater amplification, faster casting, and more reliable efficiency. It was hardly strange that mages—no, everyone who wielded mana, knights included—were enthralled by purer mana and obsessed with obtaining it.

"Am I obliged to tell you?"

"It would certainly be nice if you did, wouldn't it?"

"Fuck off."

"If you can't tell me here..." Aina slowly approached. A pale hand caressed Berge's shoulder, and her blue eyes gazed steadily into his.

"Why not tell me somewhere else? Anywhere is fine with me."

It was a breathless attempt at seduction.

"Is this how you usually get what you want?"

"That depends on whom I'm dealing with, doesn't it?"

The hand on his shoulder glided gently toward his cheek. Berge swatted it away.

"Well, you don't look like a match for me."

"Don't you know who I am?"

"Should I?"

"You don't look as though you truly don't know." Her eyes curved into crescents.

"Fine, then. I have no desire to cling to someone who doesn't want me."

"You're putting on quite a one-woman show."

"A man who stays cold to the bitter end isn't particularly attractive."

"Neither is a woman who keeps clinging so pathetically."

"... You're the first person to treat me this way."

"What's with that cringe-inducing theatrical delivery? Aren't you embarrassed to hear yourself say it?"

"Other men swoon over it."

"Stop bothering me and fuck off."

"Well, the gorge is vast, and there will be plenty of opportunities."

Aina departed with a lingering look of disappointment. Dafner followed her.

"Those two don't get along?"

"No."

"They're not dragons. Don't tell me it's because one uses fire and the other water."

"... Well, there are various other reasons, but as I understand it, that's the root of it."

"What a ridiculous pair."

"Still, their abilities can't be dismissed."

"I can see that for myself."

The woman was on par with Roselle Charnt, an archmage. In other words, Aina was also an archmage bearing seven engravings.

Just then, someone called out, "Monsters...?"

An ogre leaping down the side of the gorge fell to the ground roasted whole. The mercenary raising the alarm about the monster attack stared dumbfounded.

As if that weren't enough, fireballs rained down on the monsters visible in the distance. Catastrophe unfolded before the trolls' eyes.

"She seems furious."

"At least she won't half-ass the fighting. I wasn't pleased with her doing everything so carelessly just because she wasn't getting paid. This isn't bad."

"I should consider putting those two together again just before we reach the center."

"Are you a devil?"

"'Devil' is simply a name humans gave demons because they feared us so much."

Berge smiled in satisfaction.

* * *

"You've spent a great deal of money." The Third Prince murmured after examining the composition of the Second Prince's forces.

"No reason not to spend it when I have more than enough."

It was impossible even to guess how much money he had poured into hiring over a thousand mercenaries. Especially since these were a far cry from mediocre fighters.

"Is that so?"

"Would you give up the throne just to spare the money you'd pay a few mercenaries?"

"Why do you want to become emperor, Brother?"

"It's more amusing that you think becoming emperor requires a reason."

The Second Prince pulled some jerky from inside his clothes and chewed it.

"If that's your attitude, why not drop out? Hand over all the nobles supporting you, and I'll at least provide for your retirement."

"I cannot compel them. And I have no intention of giving up."

"You kept Hillen Cargill's visit to you secret for quite some time. What were you preparing during that time?"

"Ask our eldest brother. He'll tell you."

"So you did prepare something to use against the undead. And you unleashed it on the bastards who attacked you?"

"Yes."

"Heh heh heh. Now I really want to see that damned brother of ours' face." Bits of jerky flew everywhere with his vulgar laughter. Without any change in expression, Martin picked a piece off his face.

"You do know where we're going, though?" Floyan glanced at Hillen behind them.

"Have you ever driven a carriage?"

"What are you talking about all of a sudden?"

"There's a saying among coachmen: 'Unless told otherwise, straight ahead.'"

"What kind of bullshit is that?"

"We need only keep going straight. If we need to turn instead, Hillen Cargill will tell us."

"That's reassuring, but..."

"Don't worry. I'll make sure you don't regret joining forces with me. Isn't that your main reason for doing so?"

"Hmm. You're clever, as ever. Dafner Philiain is finding the route quickly, but he still falls short of Hillen Cargill, who already knows the way. Still, there's something I find surprising."

"I don't know why, but since Hillen Cargill came to you first, I thought he would probably join your side. But how did you recruit Roselle Charnt? She isn't someone you can sway by throwing money at her, no matter how much."

"She doesn't care about money."

"I know that. I'm asking what else you offered."

"It's a secret."

In truth, he had nothing to tell. He wasn't the one who had recruited Roselle Charnt.

"As your older brother, let me offer some advice. It's best not to keep secrets between brothers."

"Could you tell me the location of the Blue Rose Trading Company's secret vault?"

"Tsk. You used to be cute. It was fun taking you around with me."

"You were always trying to make me your subordinate—"

WHOOSH!

An arrow came flying with a sharp whistle.

CLANG!

The Second Prince's guard knight knocked the arrow aside.

"...weren't you?"

That was the beginning. Dozens of arrows rained down at once. Rocks falling from the top of the gorge came crashing toward them.

"An ambush!"

"Block them!"

Mages protected the imperial family and nobles with magical barriers. Soldiers raised shields against the arrows, while knights knocked aside the falling rocks.

"Which son of a bitch...!"

"Your Highness! Are you all right?"

"I'm fine! Capture them at once and make them kneel before me!"

"As you command!"

The Second Prince's knights and mercenaries rushed out in pursuit of the attackers.

"You've picked the wrong moment, bastards." Roselle Charnt, who had been looking for somewhere to vent her anger, rose into the air. Brilliant flames bathed the gorge in red.

"Marlene stopped interfering with me after two battles. Those must be our brother's dogs, following you?"

"Yes."

"I thought as much. I'd wondered why you were moving so slowly despite having Hillen Cargill." The Second Prince clicked his tongue.

"Let me give you a piece of brotherly advice. You have to wipe out insolent bastards before moving on. Show mercy, and they become a nuisance like this."

"I know."

"A man who knows but fails to act is the greatest fool in the world."

"Exterminating them would delay us too much."

"Then I'll do it for you this time. Consider it a gift to mark our alliance, temporary though it may be. You are guiding us well, after all."

A short while later, Dafner returned after driving off the attackers and stood before Floyan.

"Lord Dafner."

"Yes, Your Highness."

"I'll give you all the mercenaries. Can you pursue them to the end and wipe them out?"

"No one can escape my sight. Especially in a place like this, teeming with monsters."

"I like your confidence. I hope your skill matches it."

"At the very least, you'll get your money's worth, Your Highness."

"They're likely knights of House Osrian, you know."

"In terrain like this, mercenaries are more adept than knights. And above all, you have me, don't you?"

"Good."

"Your Highness! Forgive me, but if you send them all off in pursuit..." His guard knight hastily tried to dissuade Floyan. Realizing what worried him, Floyan snorted.

"Better to do it thoroughly than halfheartedly. Besides, I know my younger brother better than you do. Isn't that right?"

"Of course."

"And even if that weren't true, are my knights so weak?"

"No, Your Highness!"

"We will protect you with our lives!"

Dafner led the Second Prince's troops after the attackers. Roselle Charnt joined them, her anger not yet spent.

"We'll keep moving. They'll catch up on their own."

A week later, Dafner Philiain returned covered in dust.

"We didn't wipe them out completely. But that will happen on its own."

Dafner explained that only a portion of the White Lion Knights had survived. He had abandoned the pursuit when they entered the territory of monsters on an entirely different level.

* * *

"We've lost contact?"

"Yes."

"Floyan and Martin joined forces, and Dafner Philiain led a pursuit force. And that was the end of it."

Rufus showed his displeasure. "The White Lion Knights do nothing but disappoint me."

Even if their opponent was Dafner Philiain, even if House Bolderbof's elite troops and mercenaries had joined forces, the White Lions had a formidable reputation to uphold. This was far too disappointing.

"What shall we do?"

"It doesn't matter. The contest is already over."

Disappointing though they had been, the White Lion Knights hadn't accomplished nothing. They had delayed the Third Prince sufficiently. Even after the two princes joined forces, they had forced the Second Prince to commit his entire army to the pursuit, increasing the burden of dealing with monsters. That was enough. At least up to this moment, neither prince had arrived.

"Marlene. Don't be a burden this time."

"Hmph. I only hope you won't get in my way, Your Highness the First Prince."

Marlene Jespine, her long blond hair reaching her waist, glared at Rufus.

Rather than answer, Rufus stared ahead. An enormous host of white bones awaited them, numbering in the thousands.

"Interesting."

He had suspected as much ever since the guide he had obtained through the fortress lord told him there were fewer monsters than usual. But seeing it with his own eyes was another matter. It was immensely irritating and troublesome.

"My lord."

"Yes, Your Highness." The great hero bowed his head.

"Does your earlier assurance still stand?"

"Of course."

"With so many of them?"

"However many there are, they're merely undead."

"How reassuring."

"Your Highness, you have us as well. We will slay them all and offer you the dark mages' heads." The knights vied with one another in proclaiming their loyalty.

"Excellent."

"How about putting an end to this pathetic contest of loyalty and starting the fight? They're already right in front of us." Marlene shot them a withering glance.

"Did you hear her?"

At that same instant—

THUMP!

The great hero kicked off the ground. An immense aura surged along his heavy greatsword.

A single swing brought down an entire section of the undead host. It was hard to believe that just one human had wrought such a sight.

"Go. Go and bring me their heads."

The First Prince folded his arms. Shaking her head, Marlene personally led her knightly order into the charge.