Chapter 112 : Chapter 112

Chapter 112

“What’s your plan?”

Orchid Owl asked, not hiding her playful grin.

“I have to go.”

“Hng~”

His plan, or to be precise, the contract, was to locate the Piece of the Grotesquery in the western frontier.

The search was successful, and the terms of the contract were fulfilled.

Whether Killian Eurasia lived or died, all she had to do was take Cornelia’s pendant.

‘Hmm. But if Killian Eurasia is defeated by the Piece of the Grotesquery, it means it’s a foe I can’t handle either.’

Because of the faint evil energy spreading around the destination, she had not been able to scout all the way inside.

“You don’t know what effect the Piece of the Grotesquery has, do you?”

“Things would have been easier if you had found that out too.”

Killian said, showing the pendant hanging around his neck.

It meant that he had no intention of handing it over until he had taken the Piece for himself.

“Hng~”

Killian ignored Orchid Owl's grumbling and fell into thought.

‘In Agnil's case, it was annihilated, but there must be another way.’

If the Piece existed in a different form, it could be recovered and studied.

He had the brilliant Loen Favre and Sharle Cornelia by his side, and since this was a matter related to the rise and fall of the kingdom, they would surely research it with sufficient interest.

‘That guy Pierre will also cooperate if I handle him well… The problem is this woman.’

Killian looked at Orchid Owl, who was still wearing an inscrutable smile.

“I thought you had completely sided with Cornelia, but are you holding hands with the Empire as well?”

“The kind known as Walkers must always keep survival in mind~”

It meant she lacked confidence in the alliance of the two kingdoms, Eurasia and Cornelia.

‘She’s weighing both nations by appropriately leaking information to Romero and Cornelia.’

The struggle for the Piece of the Grotesquery between Isaac Heinrich and Killian Eurasia in the Flask Mountain Range would also be nothing more than a test for her to choose whom to side with.

She pointed at Killian’s pendant.

“I just need to receive that item. I’ve done my part, so I’d like to receive it now.”

“That would be difficult.”

“Why?”

Orchid Owl’s voice turned icy.

“You take me for a fool. I haven’t confirmed the item yet.”

“…”

The chilling killing intent that had been leaking from her body subsided.

“You’re more meticulous than you look~ I see why Crimson is so hung up on you.”

“Hung up? Crimson Wolf would be disappointed to hear that.”

In the first place, if she had only given the information to him, he would not have needed to compete with Prince Isaac.

However, the fact that the prince was so keen on scouting this place also meant that her information was accurate.

‘Isaac dispatched Superhuman-level individuals who wouldn’t be caught by detection to search, trying to keep the information as secret as possible, and even caused a clumsy Monster Wave to create a diversion.’

As expected.

“The Flask Mountain Range. One of the monsters here was carrying the Piece.”

There were three 7-star monsters left.

It was possible he might encounter it at the next location.

“However.”

“…?”

“Since you and I have a special relationship, it wouldn’t be bad to give you one gift.”

Orchid Owl took a map from her bosom and threw it.

Killian’s expression changed as he caught and examined it.

“This is…”

The Superhumans who had entered the mountain range, and their movement paths.

And in addition to that, unexpected information was marked.

A smile formed on Killian’s lips.

“And for the Prince?”

“Shh~”

Orchid Owl brought a finger to her lips.

A grin.

The corners of Killian’s mouth went up.

“I’m glad I made a contract with you.”

“I’d be grateful if you thought so~”

Kyaruru.

As Orchid Owl twisted her legs, Nox, who was pinned underneath, let out a groan.

“With this, I can assume our relationship has gotten a little closer, right~?”

Orchid Owl asked in a sultry voice.

“More importantly, how long do you plan to sit on my guide?”

Killian asked, motioning with his chin towards Nox Benjamin, whom Orchid Owl was sitting on.

Hahahaha.

Orchid Owl rose, gradually concealing her presence.

“Let’s meet again~ Agnil of the Black Dragon Mercenary Corps and the cute puppy~”

Hoo.

Her figure vanished in an instant.

In a mountainous area like this with plenty of cover, her abilities were further enhanced.

“Hah…”

Only after the Night Walker’s presence had completely disappeared did Nox exhale.

“Hah… Haaah…”

“Sir Nox, we have a long way to go. I think we should start moving soon.”

“Wa-wait… a moment…”

“…?”

After catching his breath on the ground for about a minute, he pushed himself up.

“O-Orchid Owl is the leader of Absinthe.”

A Night Walker who had even assassinated a Sword Master and an Arch Mage.

‘A moment ago, if she had wanted to, I would have been killed.’

And he was talking with such a person as if they were plotting something.

Nox’s questioning gaze turned to Killian.

“Who… in the world… are you…?”

“Didn’t I tell you? A skilled mercenary.”

“…”

“As you heard, from now on, we will move with the assumption of engaging Superhuman-level opponents.”

“Is it… because of that thing called the Piece of the Grotesquery…?”

“Yes. That item will determine the outcome of Cornelia’s current war.”

It was an operation in which the majority of the Superhumans brought by Isaac Heinrich had been deployed.

The standoff on the battlefield was likely a trick to apply pressure.

“How can this be…”

The difficulty of the mission to guide them through the mountain range had suddenly skyrocketed.

“Sir Nox, what you heard just now is confidential, but.”

“…”

He was beginning to understand anew why he, the heir of the family, and not others, had been designated as the guide.

“Security is vital for confidential matters.”

Who was the master and who was the guest?

At Killian’s gaze, which seemed to demand an answer.

“I understand…”

Nox could only nod his head.

***

Hordan, a 7-star knight.

“Tsk.”

He, a knight who had crossed the wall, clicked his tongue, displeased with the current situation.

It was because he, who was worthy of serving as the Commander of the Royal Knight Order, or at the very least leading a knight order, was wandering alone in a frontier mountain range like this.

He wanted to align himself with the First Prince, Crusty, but that side was impossible to connect with unless one’s status was backed up.

On the other hand, the Second Prince had a reputation for not hesitating to keep people by his side as long as they had skill and achievements.

He was well aware of the limitations of his commoner background and had bet on Prince Isaac.

‘My abilities were recognized, and I rose to my current position.’

Mid-forties, mid-tier 7-star. It was the prime time to enhance his honor on the battlefield.

But what was his reality?

He was in a situation where he was hacking through bushes alone in a mountain range, not even in the war on the western frontier.

“This is absurd.”

The bushes cut by his swung sword were scattered by the wind.

The order he received was to find the monster carrying the Piece of the Grotesquery.

If he found it, he was to avoid engagement and report immediately.

It was a job for Rangers who couldn’t even form a Mana Heart, or for Walkers who were like little rats.

What was most unbearable was.

“Mainz Kimbel. To think a punk like that would give me orders.”

A knight from the unremarkable Kimbel Family.

It was impressive that he had become a Superhuman along with Voltz Kimbel, but there was much gossip about his skills.

Rumors circulated that he had not crossed the wall on his own but had received help from the Black Duke.

‘When he was a 6-star, his skills were below mine. Unless he had a Great Awakening, such an achievement is impossible.’

Moreover, the brothers had failed the Prince’s order to watch the western and eastern frontiers and had been caught.

They deserved punishment, yet the Prince kept Mainz Kimbel even closer and brought him along on this expedition.

While he, who had diligently followed orders and stayed by his side, was hacking through bushes like this, he was still by the Prince’s side.

“Damn it. I can’t figure out what His Highness is thinking at all.”

The Grotesquery was a mysterious existence mentioned only briefly in the history of hundreds of years ago.

He could not understand why he was obsessed with a piece of such a thing.

‘What’s certain is…’

Prince Isaac was gathering information about the Piece of the Grotesquery not only in the western frontier but all over the continent.

“It’s information from Absinthe, which holds sway over the entire western frontier, so it can’t be wrong.”

For now, he needed to finish this mission properly.

Hordan grumbled and looked at the map once more.

The place marked with a large X, presumed to be where a 7-star monster resided, was not far.

He took out a white Magic Stone from his bosom.

It was a magic tool modified to turn black if the Piece of the Grotesquery was nearby.

‘What on earth is that Harend guy doing.’

The 7-star beginner-level Arch Mage who was the first to set foot in the mountain range.

His skills were the lowest among them, but he was the one most optimized for the current mission.

He could completely deceive mana detection and, above all, could cause confusion among the monsters to make them attack villages.

If that guy had done his job properly, he could have searched more actively than him, who was running around on foot, and he wouldn’t have had to rummage through this huge mountain range for a whole month.

At that moment, he felt a strange pressure.

“Finally found it.”

It was the aura of a 7-star monster.

It must be one of the five monsters vying for the position of the mountain range’s ruler.

But there was no change in the color of the Magic Stone. He needed to get a little closer.

Hordan killed his presence and entered the cave.

A faint light was shining from inside.

‘Magic? No, this is… a sword…’

The moment he had that thought.

“…!!”

Clang!

He hastily swung his sword to deflect the flying sword energy.

‘What is this…’

Hordan was dumbfounded by the tingling sensation.

Even so, he instinctively sensed that this was an attack by someone related to the loss of contact with Harend.

Soon, a black-haired man walked out from the inside of the cave.

A bluish mana was shimmering on the greatsword the man was holding.

It was the source of the light that had been illuminating the cave.

The black-haired man opened his mouth with a blank expression.

“Are you Isaac’s knight?”

“Just because you have a mouth, do you dare utter his respected name so carelessly!”

“You’re as talkative as you look.”

Hordan corrected his stance and used Carpe.

There was no additional mana or evil energy felt other than the man in front of him.

It seemed the 7-star monster that was supposed to be here had been hunted by this man.

“Did you take care of Harend?”

“Harend? Are you talking about the mage or the knight?”

“You bastard… surely…”

“Yes. You’re the last one.”

“…!!”

Hordan felt a chill run down his spine.

Those words meant that three Superhumans had already been taken down.

“Are you someone sent from Cornelia? Reveal your origin.”

“Agnil, Captain of the Black Dragon Mercenary Corps.”

“A mercenary…?”

“No last name. I’m a commoner.”

“Ha.”

Some kingdoms or knight orders used dragons as symbols, but for a mere mercenary corps to call themselves the Black Dragon.

Besides, he had never heard the name Agnil.

‘Is he hiding his identity? If so, why?’

Several thoughts flashed through his mind.

There was not much he could do.

‘No matter what, I have to deal with the guy in front of me.’

A gray mana coated Hordan’s sword.

“Gray again.”

Killian silently observed Hordan’s mana.

Among modern mana users, there were particularly many who had awakened to gray.

It was a question worth exploring at some point.

“You bastard!”

Hordan rushed in and unleashed a flurry of violent sword strikes.

Clang-clang-clang!

How many times had they exchanged blows?

Claaaaang!!

How many secret techniques had he unleashed?

‘This guy… is Master-level!!’

It did not take long for Hordan to realize the gap between him and Killian.

Eurasia Style.

“Thorn.”

Slice.

The sword that found an opening deeply slit Hordan’s throat.

“Keuk…”

“I was thinking of letting you live this time, but it’s a shame.”

He had to end his life because the man tried to unleash a secret technique through Carpe Illusion at the last moment.

Killian went back into the cave and packed the 7-star monster’s Magic Stone into his backpack.

The Piece of the Grotesquery was not found here either.

“I knew you guys would start your search focusing on the 7-star monsters. That guy Isaac, he’ll be furious when he finds out Orchid Owl tricked him.”

It was as if he could hear Orchid Owl’s laughter.

She had made one mark on the map.

A large X drawn in a place deeper than the mountain range ruled by the five 7-star monsters.

It meant that the ruler of the mountain range had been born.

‘With this, all the Empire’s Superhumans who entered the mountain range have been dealt with.’

He had asked Nox to move one captured Superhuman to the castle, and had told Hazard to follow him just in case.

Since contact had been lost with four Superhumans, Isaac Heinrich would soon make a new move.

He intended to solve it before then.

“Stop hiding and come out.”

A moment of quiet silence descended.

Rustle.

Orchid Owl revealed herself from behind a tree.

“Since when?”

“From the beginning.”

“Haang~”

“Since you’ve already lent me your strength, how about you put in a little more effort?”

“I’m quite expensive, you know?”

“The faster my plan progresses, the closer the time to have this will get, won’t it?”

“…!!”

Orchid Owl’s demeanor changed at the sight of the pendant he held up.

“Really now~”

Drip. Drip.

Dense mana flowed over her body.

“If you don’t keep your promise, I’ll kill you~”

“If you can.”

Killian grinned and put the pendant away.

Now, it was time to go and face the Piece of the Grotesquery that had taken root in the western frontier.

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