Chapter 71 : Chapter 71

Chapter 71: The Value of Humanity (1)

Once the situation was roughly settled, the party discussed what to do with Roston.

It was obvious that if they just sent him back, he would immediately report to the count.

“It's simple. Place a curse on him.”

“A curse?”

As Artier asked, Tersion casually pulled a scroll from her bosom.

“Yes. A curse that prevents him from confessing anything that happened here or that he met us.”

However, the party’s reaction was not very positive.

“I wonder if that's really a good choice…”

“Do we have to use it? I don’t like the feel of it.”

A curse forcibly changes the flow of mana to alter its nature.

Unlike magic, which returns to its original state after its duration ends, a nature altered by a curse could only be reverted through a 'dispel' process.

And crucially, this was a type of black magic.

There was a reason my companions were reluctant.

“I do not recommend it. A curse is an act that goes against the flow of nature, sir.”

Collie, a druid who loved the harmony of nature, was frowning as if in open disgust.

“You think I don't know that? I dislike it as much as you do.”

Tersion shrugged at Collie's reaction.

She, too, was an elf who loved the harmony of nature.

“But this isn't the time to be stubborn. What if we send this guy back as he is, just because it’s not right, and he tells the count? You'd be putting everyone in danger to protect your conscience. Is that a harmonious act?”

“……”

Collie couldn't answer her.

In the end, they placed a curse on Roston and sent him back to Crotan.

***

And three days passed.

“Mr. Artier, an express letter for you. Here you go.”

Artier, who was resting after returning to Pons, received two letters stamped with a familiar crest.

One was from Ropin, and the other was a request letter from Condestraden County.

To my dear Sir Artier,

I have checked all the contents.

They said they would also investigate at the faith’s headquarters.

It is a small token, but I send a reward with this letter.

Come find me at the temple in the capital later.

I promise to help you to the best of my ability.

Looking forward to the day we meet again, Ropin.

The temple in the capital meant the Holy See.

Hearing this, everyone froze stiff.

“C-Can we really go to a place like that?”

What was the Holy See?

It was the place where the Pope resided, a figure even the Emperor of the Orion Empire had to be mindful of at times.

It was naturally the most sacred place in the empire, and at the same time, the most solemn.

“How would I know? It's just what's written here.”

Artier, who also seemed a bit burdened by this, immediately put the letter away.

The next one he checked had a familiar feel to it.

“It's a quest proposal from Condestraden, recruiting mercenaries.”

“Could they have found out we were digging into them?”

“I don’t think so. And even if they did, this isn't the time for them to be choosy.”

Artier unfolded the letter and showed it to the party.

The paper showed a rough map and the movement routes of the Hellmorphs, with the area just above Condestraden County painted entirely in red.

“A large-scale attack, the likes of which we've never seen before, is being observed.”

All the Hellmorphs in the vicinity were converging on Condestraden County.

The county was predicting that this invasion would be on a larger scale than any attack that had occurred before.

“Then isn’t it dangerous…?”

“Hey, since when did we only go to safe places?”

Jeina looked up from sharpening her axe.

“But I don’t want to go this time. Are we really going? Bro?”

“Huh? Why?”

“If what we found out is true, then that count is the bad guy, right? Even if we’re getting paid, for us to go and protect a castle ruled by that bad guy… isn't that a bit weird?”

“Uh…”

Caught by the unexpected question, Artier was at a loss for words.

“Oh, sounds like you’ve put some thought into it.”

It was Tersion who answered Jeina's question.

“But you’re still far from it.”

“What? Was I wrong?”

“You’re not wrong, but you’re not entirely right either. As you said, that count might be a piece of trash who was willing to feed a castle to the Hellmorphs. But that doesn't mean everyone living in that castle is in on it.”

“That’s…”

Most of the people in the county were likely unaware of the count's scheme.

“It's been three months since they appeared, and 30% of the empire's territory has been reduced to ashes. It seems the council is starting to feel a sense of crisis now.”

Tersion, adjusting her mask, looked at Artier.

“An order came down from the council.”

“What is it?”

“That they’ve granted me the authority to permit the use of the artifact you mentioned, based on my judgment.”

“If that’s the case…!”

Artier unknowingly gulped.

‘The timing is perfect, isn't it? The defense of Condestraden is the first main quest that requires the artifact!’

“...I will accept this quest.”

“I have no objection either.”

Gerard unfolded his arms and walked forward, and Collie had no intention of leaving Artier’s side in the first place.

In the end, only Jeina was left.

“Ugh, alright! Let’s give it a go!”

Finally, Jeina bumped her fists together and nodded.

Thus, their next destination was decided: Condestraden County.

“When are we leaving? Right now?”

“We have to go right away.”

“It seems quite urgent.”

“No. It’s because the teleports to the war zones have been blocked recently.”

Starting a month ago, the Hellmorphs began to scatter a kind of membrane in the areas adjacent to the regions they had occupied.

When the membrane, which adhered to the ground, was burned or left alone, it released corrupted mana. In regions where the sky was filled with this corrupted mana, the long-distance teleports used by humans could no longer be used.

“Teleportation is only possible between places connected by mana… It seems the fiends have begun to understand human technology.”

“Then how do we get there? By boat like last time?”

“No, we’ll go by airship.”

Since the mana flow was not in the sky, airships could still operate. They headed straight to a nearby airship station.

On both sides of the giant gasbag were mana engines with huge crystals attached, and the deck attached below was already packed with numerous mercenaries, like Artier, heading to the county.

“This is cool?!”

“Other than riding one for tourism, this is my first time. A military airship is bigger than I thought.”

“What kind of magic makes this huge thing float? It’s amazing…”

The party members shared their thoughts as they boarded the airship.

After they boarded, the door closed, and the gradually rising airship suddenly started to shudder and activate its mana engines.

Whoooosh…

“Ah.”

“What's wrong, Collie?”

“I didn’t eat the Blue Marlin.”

“Ah…”

Kwaaaaaang!

Was it just my imagination that I saw tears in Collie’s eyes?

The moment the mana engines activated, a powerful propulsion force was generated, making everyone standing there stumble for a moment, and they began to glide through the sky at a tremendous speed.

***

It took six hours to reach Condestraden.

And that was on a fast, military-grade airship.

“Collie, are you okay?”

“Ughhhh…”

During that time, Collie had gone through hell.

[Collie is in a state of Exhaustion (Severe).]

Attack power decreases by 75%.

50% chance of forced cancellation when casting magic.

Maximum health decreases by 75%.

“Completely worn out.”

Gerard, checking Collie’s pulse, shook his head.

“Healing magic won't work on him in this state. The only way is to receive the help of Holy Magic or to rest.”

“I’m sorry…”

“It’s fine. The invasion is still a long way from starting anyway.”

Artier, stroking Collie's head, looked down at the massive county beyond the station.

“This is one of the biggest castles I’ve ever seen.”

“It goes to show this isn’t just any county, but one of marquis-level.”

A translucent protective shield was draped over the sturdily built castle walls. And above it, endlessly tall buildings.

Although a closer look revealed they were all medieval-style buildings made with magic, simply looking down from the sky made it seem just like a modern city.

But Artier, looking down at the city, casually glanced up at the sky and froze.

“What is that?”

“What are you talking about?”

Gerard approached.

Artier remained silent for a moment, then pointed a finger at the sky.

“I was wondering what that huge shield is.”

“That? It’s a large-scale barrier deployed in emergencies in territories of county-level or higher.

Is this your first time seeing one?”

“Yes, and what’s that? There’s something attached to the castle walls.”

“Mana cannons. They’re devices that detect movement in front and fire mana bullets.”

Afterward, Gerard continued to explain the defensive equipment installed here.

Mana barricades that create walls to paralyze enemies.

Guard marionettes and golems that patrol automatically and send signals upon discovering an enemy.

“Oh, they’re even equipped with a Telekinesis enhancement zone. Using telekinesis up there will make it more powerful than usual. Even lightly throwing an object can produce the power of a decent mid-level magic spell.”

“Gerard.”

“What is it?”

“You look very excited.”

“...Ahem.”

Only after seeing Artier’s grinning smile did Gerard clear his throat and look away.

“I didn't know you were so interested in this sort of thing.”

“...You tend to get interested when you work as a mercenary.”

“Right, let’s go with that.”

“It’s not ‘let’s go with that,’ it is that.”

Gerard coughed repeatedly.

“Anyway, it's been a while since I've seen a castle this well-fortified. Are they calling in additional mercenaries despite being this thorough?”

“That’s certainly true.”

Even from what Artier remembered, castles with this level of fortification were few and far between.

The imperial capital, or a marquisate of a similar level.

In the first place, even the cheapest of that equipment was high-priced military gear costing hundreds of gold coins.

“Either the count is just that thorough of a person.”

Tersion approached and said.

“Or the scale of the enemy is no joke, to the point that he can’t feel safe even with all this.”

“I hope it’s not the latter.”

“Indeed.”

Finally, the party left the airship station and began to walk through the castle.

The interior of the castle was clean and systematically developed, hard to believe for a border territory.

“The shopping district is still in operation…”

“It wouldn't be bad to split up here.”

“Is that okay? Actually, that armor over there has been bothering me for a while now!”

“Let’s split up and meet again later. I’ll take Collie to an inn and come back.”

With Jeina, who disappeared excitedly, leading the way, the party dispersed, and Artier, after checking on the limply carried Collie, began to walk the streets again.

‘…It’s faint because of the shield, but I wasn't mistaken.’

A glance.

Artier’s expression hardened as he looked up at the sky again.

[Time until next quest begins 06:45:23]

Tick… Tick…

In the skies above Condestraden County, a familiar information window, visible only to Artier, stretched endlessly, covering the entire sky.

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