Chapter 20: The Coastal City (2)
"The number of people asking about him has increased."
"I heard there's a high possibility he’ll come here to Wyvrich."
I took a swig of the drink, and its pungent taste was so surprising that I almost spat it out. In silence, I forced myself to swallow it, and deliberately emptied the glass in one go.
"The odds are high. But why him specifically?"
"Isn't it obvious? Luminaris themselves put a bounty on his head. That means he’s a dangerous bastard."
"And what of it?"
"It means it’s better for society if the likes of him disappear, and quickly."
I spoke in a deliberately hoarse and rough voice.
"Of course, I need the money too."
"You're a novice, aren't you?"
The owner immediately picked up on the part where I was overacting.
"If you don't have the stomach to kill a man, give up on bounty hunting."
"...I lost my family because of an Outer God."
After a deliberate pause, I spoke, my voice tinged with as much bitterness as I could muster.
"I lost my son and his wife. All I have left is the granddaughter they sired."
"...Hmph."
The owner acted like he didn't care, but he poured me a drink I hadn't ordered. It was a clearer and more expensive liquor.
"Just focus on raising your granddaughter."
"She says she wants to find work here. That she wants to travel."
"Leaving the nest already?"
"She’s smarter than two men combined."
The owner ended up staying by my side, listening to my story. As a man with a daughter and a granddaughter, he probably didn't feel it was someone else's problem.
'There's no way he doesn't know that "Luminaris" have undercover agents here...'
This tavern owner was not an easy man. If such a principled man had accepted Luminaris' interference, he must have been coerced, likely with threats related to his child or grandchild.
"I need a lot of money. Just this once. How much can I make by going out on a few more whaling trips?"
"Dammit, and do you have a way to deal with an Outer God priest?"
"...I heard there’s a black market."
I said it deliberately, in a voice that was almost a whisper.
"Black market?"
"A black market for those who collect tools related to Outer Gods. That means there are people who know how to handle and fight an Outer God's power. People like those."
The owner thought over my words, then nodded slowly.
"I suppose that makes sense. I didn't know such a market existed... crazy bastards."
As I emptied my glass, the owner poured me another.
...This is getting a bit difficult.
"If I’m going to go, I should at least earn a good sum to leave for her, shouldn't I?"
"Have you ever thought you might die a dog's death?"
"It’s worth the risk if my granddaughter avoids a life of hardship."
The owner stared at me for a long time. He poured himself a drink, then extended his glass toward mine. I clinked my glass with his, and we both emptied our glasses in silence.
"Is there much competition?"
"Plenty. There's 'Kivari,' famous for his long-range shooting skills. And the duo known as 'Delion' and 'Lady Angsandi,' a chaotic man and a master swordswoman."
...I hadn't heard of any of them.
"I heard many youngsters are looking to join in as well."
"Dammit... this is going to be painful."
I deliberately clicked my tongue and stood up.
"Thanks for the drink."
"Just be good to your granddaughter."
"Actually, she’ll be here soon."
"...I’ll give you a large room. You can use it. The price will be the same."
At this point, my conscience was starting to seriously prick me...
With no other choice, I accepted his kindness and booked the large room.
When Talia arrived later, she demanded to know what kind of fraud I had committed to make the owner treat us so well.
Late that night.
Luminaris knights, Jake and Exxon, heard a tap on the window and reached out toward it. The message left on the windowsill contained the results of their investigations on Ahab.
"Hmm, this story about that fellow Ahab... seems to check out."
Exxon asked as he stretched lightly.
"Anything suspicious?"
"They say Ahab is likely not his real name. It’s a name he probably uses as a sailor... and he’s not quite a novice as a mercenary."
"So the old man has something to hide, huh?"
Jake nodded.
"He seems to be an acquaintance of Ander, the leader of the Blood Bear Brotherhood."
"What? That means he’s a formidable fighter."
As Exxon asked in surprise, Jake continued reading.
"It says his whereabouts became unknown after the two had a major falling out over a difference of opinion and parted ways."
"Did he go to take care of his granddaughter?"
"That’s very likely. It says there's a rumor he lost a child around the same time."
Exxon thought for a moment, recalling Ahab's story.
"So, did he really come back for his granddaughter, just like he said? Trying to pull off one last big score before he’s done?"
"Most likely. As for the granddaughter... there are no records of her."
"Well, I guess you can't expect to find records for a retired mercenary's granddaughter."
The two men pulled out a piece of parchment and drew a line through the name 'Ahab.' There were many names crossed out like that, and many names that weren't.
"That Outer God priest, where in the world is he and what is he doing? Since he hasn't shown up yet, maybe he went somewhere else entirely."
"What about that black market for Outer God tools Ahab mentioned? What about that?"
"It’s real. But we’ve been ordered not to touch it."
"Seems like a job for 'Stigmata'."
Exxon sighed.
"Another failure today?"
"Better we keep coming out empty-handed. Better than an Outer God priest actually showing up in the city."
Ahab's name was gradually fading from their interest.
"...Will it really work this way?"
"I planned it to work this way as much as possible."
Talia was still expressing disbelief at the reasons I gave for us not being suspected.
"They won't find much even if they dig deep."
"But that acquaintance of Mr. Ander really exists, right? Won't we be found out?"
"That man is already dead. By Ander's own hand. And no one knows that truth but Ander."
A man named Jackson, who lost his child and grandchild to an Outer God, got into a confrontation with his friend Ander that ended in a fight. Due to a matter of money and faith, Jackson intended to use a large sum of money to find a miracle that could revive the dead and tried to persuade Ander.
"Could no one suspect that I’m his granddaughter? Someone who knows his family..."
"When you do hard work with many enemies like a mercenary, you don't tell the people around you about your family, so it’s fine."
In addition, I had deliberately transformed into Ahab and visited Ander with Talia.
"You’ve been acting as his granddaughter ever since, so there’s no reason to doubt."
"But someone might recognize me in my real form."
"No, that would be difficult."
I can say that with certainty. After she cleaned up and wore good clothes, Talia looked like a different person from her orphanage days. While we were at it, we cut her hair into a neat style.
"I was quite fond of that hair..."
"...Ahem."
"I’m joking. So, what’s the schedule now?"
At Talia’s words, I refined our plan.
"You find work, and I, under the identity of Ahab, will continue looking for information about 'Eitnos'."
"So you're pretending to hunt yourself?"
"That's right. I'll monitor 'System of Life' movements and gather information on other mercenaries."
"So, what about the black market?"
Talia pointed out my other concern.
"I’ve set the bait for 'Luminaris', so we’ll have to wait and see. It’s possible Layla's master knows something."
I checked the amount of potion I had left, and diligently memorized how much I could use. Then I prepared to change into a form other than Ahab.
"...Are you alright, sir? My stomach always feels sour whenever you drink that."
"I can handle it."
I drank the potion and transformed into the form of an ordinary, sturdy young man.
"You get some rest."
"Alright. What about you, sir?"
I pulled out the letter Layla gave me from my robe and looked at it again.
"I have to meet Layla's master."
Layla's master was a great sorcerer.
'I was shocked when I heard the name...'
Sernon Umberlight.
I had encountered that name in `Orders`. As an enemy, no less.
'This is a strange feeling.'
To think now that I must build a good relationship with an enemy I defeated in `Orders`.
'But, it's a relief that it's Sernon.'
He was a man who was considered strange among strange sorcerers for being, paradoxically, natural and realistic.
'Although he calls himself realistic and then requests a meeting in a place like this...'
The place Sernon chose was nothing more than a street stall. Amidst the loud chatter of drunken men, I saw a cloaked figure. Few would associate the great sorcerer with such a ragged appearance.
"Can I buy you a drink?"
I approached and asked politely. The cloaked man turned to look at me, then made some room as if inviting me to the seat next to him.
"Seems you're making good use of the potions."
Sernon said, as he took off his cloak. A face with short white hair, wrinkled with age. But his sturdy build gave him the air of a veteran warrior.
"Yes, thanks to your arrangements."
Sernon looked at me. Most striking about his face were his eyes, which seemed to burn with brilliance. They had a flickering light in them like a flame.
"The place is a bit noisy for conversation."
With a slight gesture from Sernon, the surrounding noise faded away.
'Is this magic that erases sound with wind...?'
To cast it with a simple gesture—he wasn't called a great sorcerer for nothing.
"Let’s get straight to the point, you won't be doing the work I was going to task Layla with."
"So, what is the work?"
"It’s about the black market."
As I thought... the reason Sernon came here was because of the Outer Gods' black market.
"To think that you can use the Book of Desecration so freely..."
"Did Layla tell you?"
"Healing, a mutated arm, a lot of money. I can deduce that much from just these details."
Sernon let out a short laugh and emptied his glass.
'He's very interested in Outer Gods.'
Sernon seemed to know a fair amount about the miracles written in the Book of Desecration.
'But as far as I know, Sernon wasn't a character involved with Outer Gods...'
It seemed there were far more factors involved than I realized.
"It seems you were in need of someone who can handle an Outer God's miracles."
"Indeed. I was surprised at how perfectly you fit our needs. No, I am more surprised that someone like you exists at all."
Sernon showed me a large bag.
"......What is this?"
"It’s a down payment."
"But I came here to pay the price......?"
When I looked in confusion, Sernon laughed.
"What I need from you is far too large to be covered by a single robe. What I want is access to the black market by any means necessary, and......"
Sernon narrowed his eyes and hummed.
"......and contact with the unidentified figure who seems to be its master."
Sernon started pulling things out of the bag.
"The price is a scroll inscribed with a certain Outer God's miracle. And......"
Sernon showed me a rolled piece of parchment, then reached back into the bag. The last thing to come out of the bag was a rectangular, pure white book. It looked more like a ball of white yarn so much so that I couldn’t even recognize it as a book.
"......the book of the Outer God, 【The One Who Unties the Threads of Ruin】."
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