Chapter 7
Veilant was a massive information guild based in the Empire’s Eastern Branch and autonomous districts.
The Lantzvalger assassination group and information guilds had many similarities.
They both moved stealthily in the darkness, and were full of agents who disguised themselves as all kinds of people to carry out their missions.
Finding the Veilant Guild wasn’t difficult, but establishing close relationships was another matter entirely.
‘Sertin of the Cat’s Eye. The guild master of Veilant.’
Sertin was someone who had risen as Veilant’s emerging powerhouse and secured the guild master position.
A true mastermind whose true identity had never been revealed.
She was such a cruel person that there were even rumors that everyone who had seen her was dead.
But I knew quite well about Sertin’s identity.
Her grudge against the Discreet Guild was enough for the assassination group to keep watch.
In a way, I was essentially a core figure of the hostile faction.
To catch Sertin’s eye, I had to find some other method.
“I need to create an identity that would pique her interest.”
***
In the eastern part of the Bertos Empire, north of the Beltia Autonomous District, there was the Daysol Wasteland.
Going further east from here, you would come to a special place called the Forest of the Dead.
In this wasteland, you couldn’t even carelessly drink spring water.
If you did, you would die miserably from being contaminated by the powerful energy flowing from the forest.
However, the wilderness wasn’t completely devoid of people.
This was because an important trade route connecting the north and south passed through here.
CLOMP CLOMP! CLOMP CLOMP!
“We’re almost there.”
The Quri Merchant Group was one of the representative groups that used the Daysol Wasteland.
The merchant leader Quri traveled back and forth between the northern and southern parts of the Ribias continent, earning decent trade profits.
That’s why he couldn’t give up this trade route even though it was somewhat dangerous.
“We’re gradually entering the conflict zone now. We really need to be careful from here on.”
“This wasn’t such a dangerous path before. Ever since Riverrun fell, bandit groups have been running rampant.”
At the escort captain’s words, Quri shook his head back and forth.
Today, it seemed like more of the wasteland’s rough sand was sticking to his white beard than usual.
“Tell the escort team to be extra careful. It would be good to share some provisions and water too.”
“Yes.”
Quri showed kindness to the merchant escort team and mercenaries.
He had always shown such behavior, so even when in danger, he could save his life with help from his companions.
But somehow, it seemed like that wouldn’t be possible now.
A tremendous number of cavalry men appeared from beyond the hill threatening the merchants.
“B-bandits have appeared!”
“Everyone prepare for battle!”
They revealed themselves endlessly along the low ridge.
“This is a scale we absolutely cannot resist!”
“It’s, it’s enormous…”
The escort captain let out a groan and looked back at Quri.
The merchant leader had never seen such a scene before either.
“Abandon the goods and run. Life comes before money, doesn’t it?”
“Understood.”
“As long as I’m alive, paying the commission fee won’t be difficult. I’m counting on you.”
“Please move over here.”
Quri moved to sit on the escort captain’s horse.
Then he looked at the bandit group with anxious eyes.
If those people left the merchants alone after they abandoned their wagons, there wouldn’t be any major problems.
All the most precious items were inside Quri’s subspace ring anyway.
But if they were merciless bastards who wanted more than that, the story would be different.
Probably a life-and-death struggle where lives would hang in the balance dozens of times in a single moment would unfold.
THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD!
The bandit group that had occupied the hill began to move, raising dust clouds.
Those who quickly came down the slope passed by the merchant wagons, then fiercely galloped after the escort team.
“D-damn it! They’re following us!”
“Run! We’ll escape from here somehow!”
They accelerated like crazy, but there was nowhere for the Quri Merchant Group to flee.
Before they knew it, bandits were also rushing in from the front.
“Aah!”
Seeing the group of people, Quri and the escort captain wore stunned expressions.
“Th-this…”
Eventually, the merchant escort team gathered in one place and formed a defensive formation.
Soon the bandit group completely surrounded them and slowly approached.
Seeing them go this far, they seemed to be people who knew well about subspace magic items.
But right at that moment, an unexpected commotion arose from the rear of the bandit group.
SWOOSH! THUD!
“GAAAAH!”
“GUHK!”
Death cries were heard continuously, and then the entire bandit group was in chaos, changing their formation.
“What on earth is happening?”
“Maybe they’re fighting among themselves? Like factions splitting up to claim the treasure.”
“For that to be the case, don’t they not even know how much our treasure is worth?”
“Let’s just watch for now.”
Quri and the escort captain rolled their eyes around, looking for a chance to escape.
WHEEEEEE! THUD THUD THUD THUD!
But then, even the bandit group that had blocked their retreat route passed by the Quri Merchant Group and joined the main force.
This happened after a long horn sound was heard.
Although a few people still remained, it was a golden opportunity to escape.
“Now’s the time. Let’s go!”
“Let’s do it!”
The Quri Merchant Group broke away from the trade route and began to run quickly.
But they soon had to slow down.
Because they finally realized there was no need to run away.
“Th-that can’t be!”
An unbelievable scene entered Quri’s eyes as he turned his head.
It was a scene of some man single-handedly slaughtering the bandit group.
“Th-thank you.”
When the situation ended in an instant, Quri bowed his head toward the man.
But the man just roughly wiped his sword blade on a dead bandit’s clothes and didn’t even glance at them.
His appearance in ordinary dark brown leather armor with a black cloak draped over it reminded one of a mercenary who had been active for a long time.
His casually tied gray hair and the sword scar crossing the bridge of his nose were quite impressive.
His indifferent manner of wiping off blood seemed to lack even the minimum human emotion.
Like a jackal wandering the wilderness alone.
“Excuse me… I’d like to offer some thanks for saving us. Won’t you come with us?”
Quri once again politely expressed his gratitude.
The man finally turned his head and looked around at the merchant’s people.
Then he answered in a dry, spitting tone.
“Not necessary.”
“Th-then please at least tell us your name.”
Quri made every effort to express his gratitude in some way.
Then the man, as if he had been waiting for this question, readily gave his name.
“Keros.”
With that, he left only lingering impressions as he walked away toward the other side of the wasteland.
“Ah…”
The members of the merchant group watched Keros’s retreating figure for a long time.
That’s how intense that person’s image was.
Eventually, they gathered up the merchant wagons and began heading toward their destination again.
A few days later, when Quri arrived at the Pellard Autonomous District, he was able to confirm the reputation of the man named Keros.
Because that name came up frequently whenever he went to restaurants and taverns.
Quri asked a merchant sitting next to him.
“Is this person named Keros really that famous?”
“What, is there someone in Pellard who doesn’t know Keros the ‘Slaughterer of Daysol’? I heard he slaughtered another bandit group recently. In the Everdin Autonomous District.”
“It seems he’s made a name for himself by going around slaughtering only bandit groups?”
“If something doesn’t sit right with him, merchants also get killed by him. There were several groups who got their heads cut off after hovering around trying to get some benefit.”
“Ah…”
It seemed that the person named Keros wasn’t going around killing only outlaws.
Quri let out a sigh of relief that he had let the man go without provoking him.
***
CLANK! THUD.
Keros the Slaughterer of Daysol suddenly stepped into a shabby tavern in a corner of the Pellard Autonomous District.
The tavern was packed, but surprisingly, it wasn’t very noisy.
For a moment, the gazes of the people in the tavern converged on him, but he paid no attention and walked to the bar.
Because there was exactly one seat left there.
“One glass of Bell’s Tears.”
“15 gelds.”
CLINK!
It was an outrageous price for a single drink, but Keros threw down three 5-geld gold coins without hesitation.
The bartender opened the door behind him and stared at him intently.
It meant he should hurry inside.
Keros got up from the long stool and pushed himself through the back door.
Sure enough, there were stairs leading underground.
“How classic.”
“It’s also the safest. Follow me.”
Some voice was heard from the darkness, but he wasn’t disturbed.
Because he had already sensed that someone was hiding there.
Keros followed that person, walking for quite a while through secret passages that twisted and turned like a maze.
Then finally, the destination appeared.
CLANK. SWOOSH.
Upon entering the fairly spacious interior, a woman in a red dress was smoking a water pipe.
The deeply cut neckline of her top blatantly revealed her voluptuous figure.
“Whooo…”
A thick apple scent could be felt from the dense smoke.
He could guess the woman’s identity from the attitude of the men lined up around her.
“Sertin of the Cat’s Eye.”
A faint smile flickered across Keros’s fierce face and then disappeared instantly.
