Chapter 53 : Chapter 53

Chapter 53: Meeting the Spirit Creature (3)

Wild Summoner.

It was a class Artier had never heard of before.

‘This is the first I've ever heard of a hidden class and a class-exclusive skill.’

But on second thought, it wasn't that strange.

The summoners Artier knew could, at best, command spirits or monsters.

But now, his summon was a Spirit Creature. He didn't know about spirits, but he couldn't put a mere monster on the same level as a Spirit Creature.

The second request will naturally be fulfilled by your answer.

The First Beast yawned and waved its forepaw lightly.

In that case, I too must give a fitting reward.

Collie, while tense from the blue energy gathering around him, did not run away.

As the mana flowed into Collie from all sides, his form began to change with a flash of light.

“Whoa, whoa……?”

Artier faltered as he watched Collie's body begin to grow larger.

[Collie has obtained the title ‘Intermediate Spirit Creature’.]

[The skill ‘Shape Shift’ changes to the skill ‘Polymorph’.]

Paang!

The light vanished.

Where the bright light had disappeared, a Collie that had grown to the size of a tiger stood with a bewildered expression.

“M-Master. Something is strange with my body.”

If not for the voice like that of a young boy, Artier might have mistaken Collie for a different Spirit Creature.

Protect that child. That is my second request.

With those last words, the First Beast closed its eyes, seemingly to rest.

The history of the world shall always cycle. Though I may not see its end, that will shall surely…….

A moment later, no further thoughts could be felt from the cave.

Collie, who was watching the beast stir slightly, twitched his nose a little and spoke to Artier.

“It's sleeping.”

“Huh?”

“It's true. It's sleeping soundly.”

As if the conversation they just had was all a lie.

The First Beast had fallen into a very deep sleep.

“That’s quite something.”

In a way, it could be seen as an order to leave.

Neither of them had any intention of waking the sleeping being.

“Let's go back.”

“To Gigas Hall, you mean?”

“Yes. I think we're done with everything here.”

In truth, nothing had been resolved, but just by obtaining a proper class and with Collie becoming stronger, Artier's purpose for coming here could be said to have been sufficiently achieved.

“Then where is our next destination?”

To Collie's timely question, Artier answered with a slight lift of his lips.

“Kelta Castle.”

Kelta Castle, which belonged to the Korta Marquisate.

It was a place where a Hellmorph invasion was expected in a month at the latest.

“We need to get back quickly. We have to get out of Gigas Hall and take a Teleport Gate.”

“Is it urgent?”

“A little.”

It had taken a considerable amount of time just to get into Gigas Hall.

Even if they could use the Teleport Gate the moment they got out, they didn't have much time to spare.

“Then please get on, sir.”

“What?”

Get on? On you?

I thought it was a joke, but Collie was serious.

“In my current state, I can carry someone of your size without any trouble.”

Collie exclaimed proudly and boasted, but Artier couldn't bring himself to laugh.

No matter how much his body had grown to the size of a tiger, his appearance was still that of a Border Collie.

Wouldn't he look like a master abusing his pet dog to anyone who saw?

But this was Artier's misconception.

***

“Whoa?”

The primitive-sounding noise that had just been heard was made by Jeina.

“Am I seeing things? Is this Collie?”

Jeina pointed at Collie, who was yawning at her waist level.

It was at her waist level because it was Jeina; for Gerard or Artier, he came up to below their chests.

“Why did our cute puppy suddenly turn into a monster?”

“That's quite rude, you know. Monster barbarian.”

Collie sighed, and stirring up a cloud of dust, he returned to his boy form.

“What? Why is your human form still the same?”

“Isn't it obvious? The body getting bigger and aging are two different things.”

In fact, now that his Shape Shift skill had been upgraded, Collie could also take on an adult form.

But for the 10-year-old Collie, the most comfortable body was that of a boy appropriate for his age.

“It seems you two were up to something while you were away.”

Tersion was silently checking her equipment as if she already knew what had happened.

“That mask, are you wearing it again?”

“Why, does it look awkward?”

“Isn't that hood enough to cover your ears?”

When Gerard pointed to the hood, Tersion shook her head.

“The council's decision was to wear both items. There's no exception even if you all found out.”

“I see.”

“So from now on, call me Bow in front of other people.”

With a grin, Tersion put on the fox mask again after finishing her words.

“Are we heading to Kelta Castle now?”

Gerard turned his head to Artier.

“……But what's with your hair?”

Artier's hair was swept to one side as if he had applied wax.

At Gerard's question, Artier gave an awkward laugh.

“I couldn't handle the speed.”

Artier showed Gerard the letter he was reading.

The letter, which had been tied to a pigeon's leg and arrived at Gigas Hall this morning, was from the Mercenary Guild.

“As expected, it seems we have to go to the Korta Marquisate.”

The letter contained a proposal to hire Artier, a Supreme-Grade Mercenary.

Ever since becoming a Supreme-Grade Mercenary, quests had been coming to him on their own.

“As expected, the Hellmorphs have appeared near Kelta Castle.”

“With two castles already fallen, it's no longer the time to be concerned with pride.”

The castle lords, who had initially boasted that they didn't need the help of lowly mercenaries, became anxious after the first castle fell, and then the second.

The strategies they had devised were not enough to stop the cunning Hellmorphs.

“Besides, there's no burden. It says we won't be charged a penalty fee even if we retreat based on our own judgment.”

This was because Kelta Castle was not a strategic location.

In fact, the main quest of Kelta Castle was a quest purely for leveling up, with no failure penalty.

“If we leave right away, we won't be late. Let's go.”

The party, having packed all their belongings, left Gigas Hall without hesitation.

Until the last moment of leaving the forest, they could feel countless stares that felt like they were piercing the back of their heads.

“Even if they don't hate us now, it's still burdensome.”

“It can't be helped. We are outsiders here.”

No matter how much good they had done, and even if Tersion had made it known, the day when humans were not treated as foreign objects among other races seemed to be a long way off.

After that, a journey of traveling on foot and then by boat continued.

This time, since there was no quest to escort Ropin, they were able to arrive near Kelta Castle two days before the main quest began.

“I didn't know Blue Marlin was such a delicious fish!”

“I'm glad it suited your taste.”

Fortunately, this time, thanks to the vaccination(?), I didn't have to see Collie suffer.

“The line is longer than I thought……”

Gerard looked around at the line heading towards the castle gate.

Merchants pulling carts and mercenaries wearing equipment were slowly entering the castle.

“What an incredible crowd.”

“It seems they've roughly figured out the number of soldiers they need now.”

It was certainly too many people to enter a small castle.

Even after Artier and his party got in line, a considerable amount of time passed, but the line did not shorten easily.

“The inspection is taking longer than expected……”

If Gerard was raising a question, it certainly seemed to be taking much longer than usual.

“It may be slow, but it's still within the normal range.”

“That's true. I wish they would let us through quickly……”

But Gerard's wish did not come true.

When their turn came, the expressions of the soldiers inspecting their luggage were stiff with caution, showing no signs of flexibility.

“What are all these things?”

“They're things we need for adventuring.”

“List the contents specifically. Don't try any tricks.”

“Huuuh?”

When the soldier who was using magic to check her inventory asked with a sharp expression, Jeina froze and hesitated.

Even if it was her luggage, how was she supposed to remember every single thing inside?

“Why are you carrying a tree branch?”

“It's a staff.”

“You don't look old enough to use a staff?”

“Is this the first time you've seen a mage……?”

Over there, Collie was talking with a soldier with a puzzled expression.

He had traveled to many cities, but this was the first time he had been questioned over a tree branch.

But these two were actually nothing.

Because there was one person who was in the most trouble.

“Supreme-Grade Mercenary Bow, you say? Hey, take off the mask.”

“What?”

When Tersion asked back in a stiff voice, the soldier shouted in a thorny voice.

“I said take off the mask! I need to verify your identity, don't I?”

“There isn't a picture on my identification card, so what can you confirm by seeing my bare face?”

“Who knows if you're hiding something suspicious behind that mask? Take it off, quickly!”

With those words, the soldier reached for the mask.

Of course, it was a futile act.

Thwack!

The soldier's hand couldn't advance an inch and was caught by Bow's hand.

“This isn't some prison facility for criminals. I came to carry out a quest, and to think the manners here would be so damn atrocious.”

“W-what strength is this?”

Tersion might lose in other things, but there was no way she would lose in arm strength to soldiers merely guarding a castle gate.

“H-help me!”

“That's enough.”

“And who are you?”

Just before the soldiers swarmed around, Artier approached the soldier and gave Tersion a look.

As she stepped back, Artier opened his mouth to the soldiers who had already approached and aimed their spears at him.

“I am the Supreme-Grade Mercenary Artier. I have come in response to a quest request.”

“Supreme-Grade Mercenary?!”

“Would you like to confirm?”

Artier very naturally placed his hand on his sword.

At the same time, the surrounding air began to freeze coldly.

“……”

The soldiers began to exchange glances.

Even a high-grade mercenary would require them to suffer immense damage to subdue. As for a Supreme-Grade Mercenary, there was no soldier who could stop him unless a knight was called.

“J-just your identification card, please.”

In the end, Artier was able to pass the inspection by simply having his identification card checked.

“Hey, why has the security become so tight?”

Before going inside, Gerard caught a soldier and asked.

The soldier couldn't hide his annoyed expression, but upon feeling Artier's gaze, he immediately opened his mouth.

“There have been continuous incidents of people disguised as mercenaries causing trouble inside the castle. So an order came down to strengthen the security.”

“Mercenaries? What kind of mercenaries would do such a thing?”

“I don't know. But it's not just one or two……. Whether they are bandits or robbers, they all go around lying that they're mercenaries, so we have no choice but to investigate more strictly.”

The soldier disappeared after saying that, and Artier and Gerard looked at each other.

“How common is it for robbers and bandits to impersonate mercenaries?”

“It's not uncommon.”

However, right after those words, Gerard continued with a serious expression.

“But that's something that only happens in the outskirts where the inspections are weak. For such things to happen frequently in a combat zone like this is abnormal.”

Artier was lost in thought for a moment at those words.

‘Something…… is strange.’

If this were ordinary reality, he would have let it pass even if something was a little strange.

But what if it was a game……?

He immediately approached another soldier who was nearby.

“Excuse me, but I have something I'd like to ask.”

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