Chapter 256 : Prove Your Worth

After the long meeting that would decide the fate of Tundra, and by extension, the Maia Kingdom, was over.

The duke ordered the captain of Sherwood to be brought in.

To commission the Sherwood Mercenary Corps according to the results of the meeting.

No matter how he thought about it, the power of the Sherwood Mercenary Corps was indispensable in blocking this third wave.

The third wave would be on a different level from the second wave.

The objective numbers brought by the reconnaissance team and the records of the waves that had rushed in every year proved that fact.

On top of that, a special S-rank individual, said to be able to destroy a country on its own, had appeared.

If those monsters reached the barrier, the barrier would collapse as helplessly as a sandcastle.

That barrier, which had protected the Maia Kingdom from the white hell for hundreds of years, would fall.

The aftermath was too horrible to even think about.

They would roam all over Maia and turn the entire Maia into a white hell.

Of course, if Duke Elsbears himself went out with the Turquoise Sword, Aurora, he would be able to break one of the two individuals.

Because he was the absolute ruler of the north and one of the Eight-Bladed Masters.

Not only that, but if all the strong knights of Tundra went out, they would be able to somehow defeat the other one as well.

But, in that case, who would protect the barrier?

Even after gathering their heads and discussing various solutions based on various assumptions, the conclusion was always the same.

They needed Sherwood's help.

—The captain of the Sherwood Mercenary Corps has arrived.

"Let him in."

The duke looked at the red-eyed man who had appeared in the meeting room with an expressionless face.

He didn't say anything about the reason for this request.

The duke said to him bluntly.

"Eliminate the special S-rank individual, 'Snowman'."

He was not surprised.

Even after hearing the most difficult commission in the world, his face remained expressionless.

"And the reward?"

He calmly brought up the reward, as if he had already expected it.

"Is there something you want?"

At the duke's question, Ashuban stared blankly at his waist.

"That sword. Let me hold it once."

"...!"

The eyes of those in the meeting room widened.

"How insolent!"

The northern knights, who had been silent, shot up from their seats.

No matter how many achievements he had, this was an excessive statement and a rude request.

Duke Giyer Elsbears.

He was the absolute ruler of the north, called the king of the north, the leader who received the respect of the northern people, and the noble guardian of the barrier.

And, before being a monarch, he was a knight.

How dare he ask to hold a sword, which was also called the life of a knight?

And in a situation where they both knew that the sword was no ordinary sword.

It was a word that could never be uttered lightly, and a word that could not be taken lightly.

His sword was the Turquoise Sword, Aurora, one of the nine great swords forged by Ophosis, who was called the incarnation of Volund, the god of blacksmiths.

It was the Turquoise Sword, Aurora, whose hilt could not be carelessly handed over to even the most trusted knight, let alone his family.

The only one he had ever allowed to hold the hilt was Guston of the Greatsword.

But the red-eyed man did not take his eyes off the duke, regardless of whether the knights had shot up from their seats or not.

"Is it not possible?"

The duke, without taking his eyes off Ashuban's clear eyes, quietly raised one hand.

Then, the standing knights shut their mouths and slowly sat down.

The duke asked.

"The reason?"

Ashuban answered in a calm and composed tone.

"Shall we say it's a very personal, small goal to break the boring routine?"

"A small goal."

"To meet the Eight-Bladed Masters and hold their swords once."

"It would be fun."

"Yes."

"But it would be hard to live long."

As he said that, the duke's eyes flashed.

In an instant, an enormous pressure burst out from the duke.

"Heok...!"

"Keuk...!"

The vassals, feeling a pressure as if they were being crushed, looked like they were about to faint, and the knights broke out in a cold sweat.

In contrast, the red-eyed man just looked back at the duke's brilliant, gray eyes with unchanging eyes.

An eerie silence dominated the space.

The two men looked at each other for a long time.

After a long and short time, the duke gathered all the energy he had poured out.

And, he raised the corner of his mouth.

"...!"

The knights and vassals who were watching were surprised.

Because it was rare to see the duke smile.

No, in the first place, it was rare for his expression to change.

The duke, with the corner of his mouth raised, looked at the man before him with his brilliant, gray eyes.

The red-eyed man who had not avoided his eyes for a single moment.

The duke showed the turquoise sword at his waist and asked.

"Did you say you wanted to hold this one?"

"Yes."

The Turquoise Sword, Aurora, as if it had heard them talking about it, was humming, emitting a turquoise energy.

"Can you handle it?"

Ashuban looked at the duke, who was saying that, for a moment.

He remembered his face, which had looked very tired after wielding the Turquoise Sword, Aurora.

'It seems to consume a lot of mental energy.'

And yet, Ashuban nodded confidently.

Because he had the memory of beating the worst demonic sword, Vlad, which was famous for its ferocity, like a dog.

He wasn't going to become its owner anyway, just holding it for a moment, so what could happen?

If it tried to harm him, he could just beat it up, couldn't he?

"I will try, to handle it."

The duke's smile deepened.

How long had it been since someone had been so bold to him, the lord of winter?

He was a man without fear. As if he had overcome death once.

Suddenly, the thought that the man before him was not strong because he was not afraid, but that he had become strong because he was not afraid, came to him.

"A promise made only with words is empty. I can't just let anyone hold it."

The duke looked at the independent man who stood alone and said.

"Prove your worth."

"Worth, you say?"

"Let's do it by defeating the Snowman. Wouldn't that be enough proof?"

The duke said that and looked around the quiet meeting room.

The knights remained silent, and the vassals could not raise any objections.

"So it seems."

"I see."

The red-eyed man smiled as if it were interesting.

"I will prove that worth."

That smile was similar to the one that had bloomed on the duke's face.

"I'm looking forward to it."

The two independent men exchanged smiles without a word for a moment.

"Please discuss the other rewards and the commission form with the treasurer, Hudmilla."

Ashuban said that and turned to leave the meeting room.

Thump.

After the door of the meeting room closed.

"...Your Grace."

One of the old vassals cautiously called his lord.

They were not unaware of the meaning behind the act of holding the Turquoise Sword, Aurora.

To hold his sword was to inherit his will.

It meant the qualification to be the successor of Duke Elsbears, the king of the north and the guardian of the barrier.

"It doesn't seem like he meant it that way."

"Still..."

Even if the other party didn't think so, the action had a clear meaning.

It was not something that could be taken lightly.

As if guessing the vassal's inner thoughts, the duke said.

"It would be a lie to say that I also had no thoughts."

"...What do you mean by that?"

"A rare man. It's a shame to send him away without even making an offer."

"...!"

The eyes of all the vassals and knights in the meeting room widened.

Regardless. The duke looked at the door where the new captain of the Sherwood Mercenary Corps had left and muttered.

"And that would be after he really cuts off the Snowman's head and blocks the third wave."

If they couldn't block the wave, it was the end.

All of this.

The duke looked at the loyal knights and vassals of the north in the meeting room and dismissed the meeting.

"The meeting was long. Let's go and carry out what we have discussed."

"...Yes!"

At the duke's words, the knights and vassals, who had come to their senses, hurriedly left the meeting room to carry out his orders.

"..."

The duke, left alone, placed his hand gently on the humming turquoise sword and got lost in thought.

Thinking of a man who had once refused his proposal...

* * *

Time passed.

It didn't seem to have passed very quickly, nor did it seem to have passed very slowly.

It just passed at a moderate speed.

In the meantime, the number of Adrian's grotesque creatures beyond the barrier had increased frighteningly, as if they were breeding among themselves.

And Linda's poison research, after repeated experiments, had reached a somewhat satisfactory level, and had entered a mass production system with the duke's full support.

Now, even the mages were attached to it, researching ways to apply Linda's poison to the magic cannonballs fired from the barrier.

The people of the north were busy moving to be of some help in blocking the final wave.

But Sherwood was generally spending their time leisurely.

The treasurer, Hudmilla, was called to the duke's mansion and was handling various tasks.

Dofang, who had been groaning after being beaten up by Hudmilla and the demonic swordsman, soon recovered and exchanged greetings with the members he hadn't seen in a long time, and then, he started a conversation with a new face—Shushuruta.

Shushuruta, for her part, listened to Dofang's story with sparkling eyes and interest.

Perhaps because they were both thieves, they felt a certain sense of kinship that I didn't know. The two got along quite well.

Miho was sleeping on Scarlet's lap, and Big Sister was puffing out smoke, leisurely smoking her long pipe with a languid expression.

And the seat next to her was occupied by the demonic swordsman, who was trying hard to get Big Sister's attention.

"Big Sister. Is your research going well?"

"So-so."

"If there's anything you need, just say the word! I'll even go and get you a star from the sky!"

"Thank you for the thought."

"..."

It was like a dog wagging its tail.

In the first place, that guy was a Big Sister-worshipper, so it wasn't a very surprising sight.

Putting Hartz aside, even Sorrow was like that...

The Heavenly Demon said, as if surprised.

[Seeing that his eyes are blue, it seems to be the ice mage side.]

"I think so."

[I thought he had a cold personality.]

"He usually does, but he's only like that in front of Big Sister."

Come to think of it, when that guy had broken out of the Mage Tower, the first person he had met was Big Sister, wasn't it?

There was a past between the two that I didn't know.

I sat down next to Scarlet, on the opposite side of the demonic swordsman, and said bluntly.

"Big Sister."

"Hmm?"

"You said you were going to get a magic stone from the duke, right?"

"I did."

The demonic swordsman, whose attention had been stolen in an instant, glared at me, but I didn't care.

"What are you going to use the magic stone for?"

"I need it for my research."

Research that required an S-rank magic stone.

What in the world was that research?

"Boris must have done a good job of persuading you. For you to come in person, Big Sister."

"It's true that Boris was the one who delivered the news."

Scarlet blew out a puff of smoke and answered.

"It's nothing special. I just came because I needed some materials."

"Aha."

"I can't say that Boris's help was not there. He's probably working hard in the restaurant in my place right now."

"With the captain?"

"Yes."

That guy, who was so afraid of the captain.

To be working in the restaurant with just the two of them...

I felt a little sorry for Boris.

Soon, I asked what I had been curious about.

"Big Sister. What in the world is your research that requires an S-rank magic stone?"

Scarlet stared at me and then smiled brightly.

"It's a secret."

"It's always a secret."

"When the time comes, you'll find out even if you don't want to."

Scarlet, seeing my dissatisfied expression, laughed softly and gave a hint.

"It's research related to 'time'."

"Time?"

"Yes. Time is a very tricky fellow, so you have to be careful, very careful. Even a small twist can cause a completely unexpected event. Do you know about the butterfly effect?"

"No?"

"You foolish fellow. You don't know that?"

Sorrow, who had been waiting for an opportunity, immediately criticized me.

I thought for a moment, then snapped my fingers.

"Aha. So you've finally found a way to overcome the flow of time. Rather than slowing down aging, you're going to turn back time..."

I stopped talking and, seeing Big Sister's cold, murderous emerald eyes, I stealthily got up from my seat.

"Ahem. Shall I go for a walk?"

As I was about to tiptoe out of the inn, I heard Sorrow's serious voice from behind.

"Big Sister. Shall I take care of him?"

"Yes."

"Damn it."

"Stop right there! I must offer your ugly head to Big Sister!"

I ran out of the inn and played tag with the demonic swordsman, who had become the Red Witch's faithful dog, for a while.

* * *

Ten days after the second wave had rushed in.

The third wave began.

(End of Chapter)