Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Merchant (1)

#27

【Deep water will come.】

【The day all stars sink.】

【The sky will become the sea and pour.】

It is the prayer text of the Abyss that is still vividly remembered.

Abyss.

The evil organization that opposes the player until just before the ending credits rise.

The purpose is to destroy the world so that the Outer God they serve can descend.

It is not an exaggeration to say that most of the playable characters of Return Road died fighting these bastards.

‘Thinking about it the Nameless Hero uncle also died because of these guys.’

Since he died while blocking the Outer God’s army it was almost the same.

Originally if not for the Abyss the Outer God would not have descended either.

Silien asked.

“But how do you know me? Recently I’ve been busy so I haven’t even come out of the tower.”

The Otherworld presence that had been blooming over the shoulders had disappeared without a trace at some point.

Evidence that unlike beasts like the Serpent of Dementia she had the ability to control her own power.

Truly a monster with black insides.

Instead of answering, Bran raised his hand and pointed behind her.

“You’re originally a famous person. There’s also that kind of thing.”

“Yes?”

Silien turned her head.

A city public interest poster was attached to the old wooden wall.

Silien holding a staff was standing in the middle, and the Steel Sentinel and laborer magic golem were taking bodybuilder-like poses behind her.

Below it written as large as a gate.

[The empire is together with Valkeros. Silien Lua of the Blue Magic Tower, inaugurated as chief mage scholar!]

“Ah.”

Silien’s face hardened.

Awkward silence descended between the two.

Slightly avoiding her gaze she coughed hollowly.

“Ahem, ahem. Embarrassing··· I didn’t know they would still be attaching that.”

“Why has the chief mage scholar come here?”

“I came to see you guys.”

“Yes?”

What is this sound again.

“There were rumors that mercenaries who just registered their names in the guild consecutively solved difficult requests. They only chose requests others avoided, is there a reason?”

“Just because they give more money.”

“Huhu, an excellent mindset as a mercenary. Anyway glad to meet. As I said earlier I’ll buy so lightly a drink···”

“That seems hard. We were just about to go.”

Bran decisively shook his head.

The eyes of Silien who was hit by the wind widened. Awkward silence descended.

“It was an insanely hard day. If I don’t go back right away and lie down I think I’ll foam at the mouth and faint. I can’t show such an unsightly appearance to the chief mage scholar.”

Bran raised his body.

Contrary to the calm attitude the heart was running madly.

Originally Silien was an existence that should not be faced now.

‘Why is this witch here now?’

She is strong.

Strong enough to kill the current Bran and Kale or anything with reciting one chant.

He thought he would face her at the end of this journey, but it was extremely flustering.

“······Is that so? Regrettable.”

“I’m also regrettable. But there will be a better opportunity.”

Leaving the scene in a hurry was the best policy.

This is not running away. It’s a strategic retreat.

Bran who was staggering as if drunk put his arm around Kale’s shoulder.

“Aigoo tired, my legs seem to have turned into lumps of lead!”

“A-are you okay Bran?”

“Not okay so don’t do this you shorty. Can’t you go out quickly?”

“Hik.”

Bran whispered lowly.

Kale quickly nodded.

The two who turned their backs to Silien hurriedly headed to the exit.

Good. It was natural.

Just as he was about to leave the guild while promising that the next meeting would be delayed as much as possible.

“Soon we will invite you guys at the Steel Tower.”

Silien’s voice caught his ankle.

Bran slowly turned his head.

“···Yes?”

“It’s not only me who took interest. The lord also said he wants to meet after hearing the two’s exploits.”

“I don’t think we’ve established that much of an achievement yet.”

“Huhu, I gave a hint. All talents should properly be treated, but the younger the age the higher the value. Why, they say a giant tree is recognized from the sprout?”

Silien was still smiling brightly with her hands behind her back.

It was an attractive smile enough for all mercenaries to turn around once, but to Bran it only felt like the trick of a anglerfish luring prey with light.

Gloomy pedophile.

She continued.

“So, at that time let’s slowly converse again.”

“······Let’s do that.”

Bran nodded.

Silien watched the two’s backs until they disappeared from view.

While even muttering to herself in an unnecessarily excited mood.

“Soon a new member might come in.”

The qualifications need to be confirmed more but the first impression was very excellent.

At most one month from now.

Before finishing this stupid city it seemed he found a jewel to collect.

****

“Kale. We’re fucked.”

It was the first words Bran said after returning to the inn.

Kale was startled and asked back.

“S-suddenly? What’s the matter that you’re like that?”

“I didn’t expect it at all. To think the Abyss would contact already.”

Sitting on the edge of the bed Bran roughly scratched his head.

If it was his past self it was a situation where he would have smoked three packs on the spot.

“Abyss···? What is that?”

“I haven’t told you yet. Simply explaining it’s just bad bastards. A fanatic group whose purpose is to destroy the world while putting forward idiotic doctrine.”

Kale also needs to know now.

Bran explained the information about the Abyss he knew to him as clearly as possible.

If something large-scale and fucked up happens, mostly the Abyss is behind it.

“The Silien we just met is a member of that Abyss.”

“What? Lady Silien?!”

“They must have come to recruit us. The Abyss is always thirsty for talent. As that person said the younger the age the bonus points attach. Because it’s easy to manipulate to their taste.”

Becoming famous was not just good.

If he had just waited and spent time sightseeing he would not have faced Silien.

However, since it did not seem a level where the Abyss would make contact he had a question.

‘Even if early it’s too early.’

In the game the Abyss’s scout event itself actually exists.

If the playable character satisfies the standard of specs or fame, and has not fallen to a mortal enemy with the Abyss it is an encounter that occurs randomly.

However, that standard was quite high.

Even raising stats to a level similar to the current Ilark it is insufficient to attract the Abyss’s interest.

In the case of fame it was more picky, originally he would have to perform exploits of the level of smashing Blackstone Fortress about three or four times to give an impression of “hmm, usable?”

‘There’s something more. Absolutely not coming just looking at age and recent exploits.’

Even considering the point of being young and solving many troublesome requests it was the same.

Bran was convinced that there was another secret.

Right now he just had no guess.

Stomping his feet Kale opened his mouth.

“Th-then what do we do now? Do we have to run away to another city?”

“We can’t retreat. We have no choice but to become stronger and break through head-on.”

Bran shook his head.

Since he already made a verbal promise the encounter with Silien could not be avoided.

The best measure to take now was to thoroughly prepare so that no matter what happens when reuniting with her at the Steel Tower he can prepare.

“Good. Decided.”

The pondering Bran snapped his fingers.

There was a need to place a strong move.

Like entering the Bottom Farm to obtain the Heart of Harmeno.

“Kale. Before being invited to the Steel Tower let’s solve one big thing.”

“B-big thing··· is it a very dangerous matter?”

“That side. I can be sure that if the us of fifteen days ago charged we would have died.”

“Hiek.”

Kale’s face turned pale.

The appearance of trembling was pitiful but there was no other choice.

As Blackstone Fortress was, this city also has a hidden piece.

He had just been postponing obtaining it because the difficulty was originally high.

‘I don’t think I’ve challenged at such an early point even in the game.’

Still thinking of the spec-up of the past fifteen days there was a possibility.

Tomorrow the weapon made by the best blacksmith in Valkeros will be held in hand!

He can also receive the support of Ilark whose escort of Leodorn has ended.

“For now let’s sleep. To exert strength we have to rest when resting.”

“Yes. Bran sleep well too.”

Bran lay down on the bed.

Everything was a matter to think about after the sun rises tomorrow.

Just as Kale was taking out pajamas to change from the backpack.

Knock knock knock.

Someone knocked on the door.

“Who at this time?”

“Uum··· is it the inn owner uncle?”

Bran frowned.

It was not yet dawn but it was a sufficiently late time for a guest to visit.

A urgent voice rang out from beyond the door.

“Is it Mr. Bran? This is the Valkeros post office, could you open the door for a moment?”

“Post office? What’s the matter?”

“A letter came by midnight special delivery. It’s one sent from a forge called Song of Iron.”

The two’s eyes widened round.

Bran who got up from the bed opened the door.

A young man wearing a bread hat the symbol of a postman was standing.

“Phew, fortunately you’re not sleeping yet. I’ll give it quickly.”

Whether he ran the face was somewhat flushed.

It was the moment he put his hand into the messenger bag saying he would take out the letter.

Grab!

Bran who grabbed the young man’s collar slammed his head on the floor.

“Gack!”

The young man’s hand came out of the bag.

Not a letter but one dagger was gripped.

Pressing the side of the head with his knee, a scream burst from the young man’s mouth.

“Kyaaaak!”

“If a postman he would have been holding the letter in advance.”

Bran let out a hollow laugh.

How long was the time walking to the door, was he sucking his fingers during that time.

Kale who believed he was really a postman froze in place like a statue.

“Who sent you?”

“Heh. Hehe. Do you think I’ll say that···?”

The postman cackled.

Looking well not only the dagger but also something like cloth was sticking out from the bag.

Judging from the pungent smell unique to paralysis poison it seemed he was trying to kidnap not kill.

“Yes. Don’t say.”

“···Eh?”

Even before he expressed a question.

Bran put strength into the knee pressing the head.

Squish!

Along with the sound of the skull crushing the young man’s limbs went limp.

Standing up after leaving the corpse with the head deeply caved Bran clicked his tongue.

“Tch, he really killed a real postman and robbed.”

Only the person changed but the postman’s props were all real.

Turning the backpack over mail poured out.

There was only one express mail.

On the letter stained with soot one truly concise phrase was written.

[Completed!]

It was clear it was talking about the completion of the weapon.

Below it the recipient, that is Bran’s name was written.

It was a fluent handwriting unbelievable for a blind person to have written, and it seemed not even an hour had passed since it was written.

Bran’s face hardened.

Even in this confusing situation he could be sure of one thing.

“Let’s go to the Song of Iron. Bilmoris is in danger.”

“Wh-what?”

The reason he killed right away without interrogating the young man. Because the thing to do was clear.

If he harmed an unrelated postman for kidnapping, there was no guarantee anywhere that the sender Bilmoris would be safe.

Crash!

Bran threw a chair and broke the window. Night air rushed in greatly.

Jumping down the name of the most likely suspect flowed from his mouth.

“These White Silver Pine merchant bastards are crossing the line in the end.”

White Silver Pine. The giant merchant group that rules Valkeros.

It seems those miscellaneous things judged that just targeting Leodorn is insufficient.