Encounter

Pernok received Rio’s report.

“In an era when small demonic energy flowed through the mountain, an alien monster appeared craving demonic energy—it ate like humans, conversed, and spread evil. Enraged, a swordsman stabbed the monster’s heart and sealed it at the summit, and he was called the Sword Saint.”

He’d thought it fairy-tale content.

But the master’s heart he saw directly clearly bore deep cracks.

The cracks had been absorbing the mountain range’s demonic energy for decades, recovering to their original state.

“The Sword Saint said the monster would someday revive and dye the earth in hellfire. The subjugation force dismissed this as absurd talk, but now it’s become truth.”

“Had the master’s recovery finished?”

Pernok shook his head.

“The heart hasn’t fully recovered. Yet it easily surpassed my mana. We must kill it before it completes.”

“You said it’s impossible in the mountain range. To draw it down, won’t you need to release bait?”

“I’ve thought of bait.”

Pernok showed Borden’s urgent note.

[Royal Guard Knight Commander Marquis Zeef is coming directly.]

One of Rezhen Kingdom’s three Magi.

An S1 Magus and master of wide-area Magus Arts controlling wind, leading the knight order to the mountain range.

“The master is wary of me. In that situation, if a Magus and high-level mages gather below the mountain, what would it think?”

“If it has power to grasp the situation from the summit to here…”

Rio nodded.

“…It would have to come out even shaking off injuries. Because staying put might mean death.”

“It’ll likely descend bringing demon beasts. Perhaps wage probing battles.”

“But using a Magus might rather hold our ankles. Isn’t their original purpose detaining you?”

“If they only watch me, that’s rather good.”

“Pardon?”

“I summoned the Ten Assembly because we seem to need power reinforcement.”

The Ten Assembly is a gathering of A-rank guilds.

Once every five years, A-rank guilds scattered everywhere gather in one place at the association’s request.

Absence is fine in special circumstances or overlapping requests.

But an A-rank guild’s request, not the association’s.

Each A-rank guild has the right to forcibly host the Ten Assembly exactly once during its existence.

At that time, remaining guilds must compulsorily attend.

Sallio and Enri were integrated into Named without using this right.

Therefore, Pernok receives the right to forcibly summon the Ten Assembly.

And immediately after descending from the mountain range, Pernok activated this right.

Sallio and Enri selected a castle near here as the Ten Assembly location.

“Sallio and Enri should have arrived at the meeting location by now.”

“Persuading other A-rank guilds won’t be easy.”

“Isn’t a Magus coming here? If we use that reputation well, we can draw positive reactions from the Ten Assembly.”

Pernok rose from his seat and walked to the window.

“Let’s leave the Ten Assembly to those two and handle these first.”

A group bearing powerful mana entered the castle.

Magi and mages flying Rezhen royal flags.

Seeing the royal military organization Borden worried about, the Royal Guard Knights, striding through the streets, Pernok grinned.

* * *

Pernok asked Borden and Baltus to issue a demon beast mountain range summit conquest quest.

At minimum level 5 mages or those prepared to risk death for supply transport even without magic.

No applicants readily stepped forward for a quest saying to draft a will before starting.

Moreover, most high-level mages occupied positions in guilds.

The moment they moved, guilds had to act together.

Therefore, the quest was merely formal provocation.

Everything was to draw Rezhen Kingdom’s attention.

And as Pernok desired, a big shot came from the capital.

“Royal Guard Knight Commander Zeef. Are you Pernok?”

A powerhouse whose arrogant attitude looking down on people feels natural.

Zeef rose to S1 Magus at age 50 and is evaluated as one of three pillars supporting the kingdom.

“Sir Zeef, or should I call you Marquis?”

Zeef’s displeasure at a mere mercenary speaking informally was evident.

“The form of address doesn’t matter. I won’t take issue with your speech either. So immediately cease all those actions you’re attempting here.”

“Summit conquest is every mercenary’s dream. I can’t understand at all why the nation would stop it.”

“Hah, you lot summit conquest? If you’re serious, you’re thoroughly mad.”

“I’ve already climbed to the summit.”

“I know. I know indeed. Why do you think we left it alone? Because we know it’s impossible. If you saw that monster, you know too.”

Zeef smiled coldly.

“That even with injured body, a level 7 mage hasn’t a chance. And how did you plan to break the barrier? Do you think that’s possible?”

“With apologies, the barrier is wavering.”

“Hahahahaha! Didn’t you mistake mana rippling? That barrier, you see. It can hold for at least 100 years.”

“But from what I saw…”

“Are you a Magus?”

When Zeef sneered, Pernok stopped speaking.

“I was also in the first subjugation force. Duke Ryle, who was a Magus then, already confirmed the barrier would last hundreds of years.”

“Wait, would you look at this?”

Pernok produced monument fragments.

Discovering the kingdom’s mark, Zeef’s eyes narrowed thinly.

“The summit’s monument was already broken. But no signal came to the barrier stone.”

“Where are you spouting such nonsense!”

“The surveillance network was already dancing in the mountain master’s hands. It was holding its breath until its body recovered!”

“You expect me to believe such absurdity with one stone fragment?”

“If you climb to the summit, everything will make sense.”

“Haa, Guild Leader Pernok. Guild Leader Pernok!”

Zeef struck the table.

“Don’t you understand? Or are you trying to play the benevolent, righteous mercenary?”

“Sir Zeef!”

“What changes if the surveillance network broke? It’s still trapped in the barrier! Just re-erect the surveillance network and observe—it’s finished! Why complicate such simple matters?”

“I’m trying to suppress the situation before it swells uncontrollably.”

“Look. Do you think the first subjugation force merely watched after trapping it in a barrier because they couldn’t kill one monster?”

“I heard the kingdom has no method to break the barrier.”

“Methods exist. However long it takes, we could just keep pouring mana into the barrier to smash it.”

“You’ve postponed something possible until now?”

“It was the path to keep the mountain range alive.”

Pernok frowned.

“That master was rooted where the mountain range’s mana concentrates. Connected more densely than nerves, it felt like part of the mountain range. Yes, the head. If the mountain range is the body, it’s the brain distributing mana.”

“You believe killing the brain kills the body. Meaning killing it will eliminate the mountain range’s mana?”

“Correct. If the master connected to the mountain range now dies, mana will lose control, run wild, then dissipate. Demon beasts will no longer grow in the mountain range.”

“Wrong. The mountain range will continue bearing demonic energy, and the master is merely absorbing part of that demonic energy. It’s absolutely not a situation where the master manipulates massive mana!”

“Tsk tsk, a level 7 mage subject dares deny a Magus’s insight? A mere physical enhancement mage?”

“Sir Zeef!”

“I’m warning you for the last time!”

The moment Zeef’s eyes narrowed thinly, Pernok felt tingling throughout his body.

Because Magus pressure crushed his entire body.

“If you grew your guild through national business, repay that. Live within your station. Understand?”

“…”

“I came personally because you’re a mercenary properly managing business locations. If it were someone else, it wouldn’t have ended with words.”

“You’ll definitely regret today.”

“That statement applies to you.”

Zeef clicked his tongue.

“When the Chancellor offered faction proposals, why refuse? It was your last chance for lowborn status to enjoy glory for generations.”

Pernok bit his lip hard, and Zeef rose without regret.

“This warning is the first and last. Don’t worry about pointless matters and do your job properly. Ah! We’ll dispatch the knight order to restore the broken monument.”

Leaving behind the silent Pernok, Zeef exited the reception room.

Borden, sweating cold sweat, clung to him.

“Count, arrange rooms for the knight order to stay.”

“Already prepared. However, how long do you plan to stay?”

“That mercenary doesn’t seem likely to withdraw easily.”

“Haha, I persuaded him well, so he’ll withdraw.”

“Don’t tell me you’re reading that fellow’s face?”

“No way. I clearly know what happened when the former count colluded with that Jake fellow. Would I make the same mistake?”

“By the way, why request knight dispatch to nearby castles?”

“While Your Lordship re-erects the monument, I’m trying to safely protect the castle in case demon beasts run wild.”

“Do demon beasts even leave the mountain range?”

“Hahaha, yes. Occasionally demon beasts undetected by the barrier stone cause damage to villages. So, nearby lords exchange words to cooperate in emergencies.”

“Tsk tsk tsk, pointless acts.”

“Isn’t public sentiment also important?”

Zeef whispered with mirth.

“The nation comes first. The 1st Prince is very interested in the mountain range. If the Count wants to rise up, choose your line well.”

Zeef, who’d patted Borden’s shoulder, turned his body.

Watching the back walking out the corridor, Borden returned to the reception room.

Pernok was already sitting on the windowsill.

“Is the capital full of such types?”

As if he hadn’t raised his voice with Zeef, Pernok’s voice was very calm.

Borden also responded with his characteristic sly smile.

“Hoho, there are schemers, and many types like Zeef who use strong power to be greedy. Well, most Royal Guard Knights are similar to Zeef.”

“Idiots bound by bloodline and vanity.”

Rezhen Kingdom’s court Magus manages all knight orders.

But exceptionally, the Royal Guard Knights have authority to move independently.

As if proud of that specialness, though the Royal Guard Knights number only twelve, very demanding qualifications must be met to join.

First, one must be a level 6 or higher mage.

Additionally, magic’s offensiveness and uniqueness are subdivided.

Finally, only by completing the perfect trinity including family bloodline can one belong to the Royal Guard Knights.

All those knights idling outside the window now were this nation’s elites.

“They’ll try to completely break your spirit. Perhaps try to pull you into a faction using force.”

“They’ll apply pressure.”

“You might be stuck living in the guild. That’s Zeef’s personality and more.”

“Isn’t that good?”

“Hm?”

Pernok smiled.

“When they’ll start war with their own hands.”

Zeef is heading toward the knight order.

Pernok smiled watching him command them to hurry up the summit as if pointing at the new monument.

* * *

“Monitor Pernok well so he can’t cause trouble.”

“Yes.”

“And if the monument really broke, it’s serious. Climb to the summit, restore the monument, and watch the situation inside the barrier.”

“If the barrier is truly collapsing…”

“Tsk tsk, a deputy knight commander can’t even grasp that much!”

When Zeef frowned, the deputy knight commander bowed slightly.

“If the barrier broke, whether the monument functions properly or not, massive demonic energy would have exploded like a volcano in the mountain range. Yet the mountain is quiet now, isn’t it? Even if the barrier wavers, just pour mana in to reshape it. You just monitor the situation without fuss.”

“Yes, Commander.”

The deputy knight commander floated the monument behind him and turned to members.

“We climb to the summit.”

“What about the Commander?”

“We alone are sufficient. Since Named paved the path to the summit, the Commander needn’t lead.”

“Really, mercenaries rampaging without knowing their place…”

As knight members sneered, the deputy knight commander said with a stiff expression.

“Monument restoration is top priority. And if the barrier is disturbed, each inject mana to correct the barrier’s flow. Understand?”

“Yes!”

Led by the deputy knight commander, members climbed the mountain range.

Following the path Named traversed, their expressions were light as if on a stroll.

All were level 6 or higher mages.

Lower-grade demon beasts didn’t dare approach, and mid-grade demon beasts vanished instantly.

In less than half a day, they broke through 8000 meters altitude.

High-grade demon beasts hadn’t yet regenerated, so the path Named paved was very smooth.

They entered 9000 meters altitude without any threat.

“They swept even the Royal Guard?”

The deputy knight commander looked around with a surprised expression on the peaceful path.

Though they’d come prepared for the Royal Guard, they felt no mana.

“Did those mercenaries eliminate the Royal Guard?”

“I didn’t hear such words…”

Even for the knight order, 9000 meters altitude was burdensome.

Briefly surprised that Named swept this place, the deputy knight commander hurried the path again.

Then the summit.

Beautiful scenery greeted them.

“Deputy Commander! The monument is broken!”

It was as Pernok said.

The monument was shattered to pieces.

The deputy knight commander cleaned that spot and planted a new monument.

After confirming the surveillance network functioned properly, he commanded members.

“Observe both barrier and monster.”

“Yes!”

Members scattered in all directions.

They closely watched the paradise-like place inside the massive barrier but felt no particularly dangerous presence.

‘The barrier is also solid. Did that mercenary really spout nonsense like the Commander said?’

The deputy knight commander examining the barrier noted the setting sun.

“Just in case, install mana traps at each direction. Don’t allow even a gap.”

“Yes!”

Members began laying traps.

These were small surveillance networks made on similar principles to the monument’s surveillance network that activates the instant demonic energy flows outside the barrier.

“Albert, I’m going first! Let’s hurry and finish to drink!”

“Wait! I’ll finish quickly and follow!”

Level 6 nature-type mage Albert was planting mana in a trap to bury it in one barrier corner.

[Become my eyes.]

A strange voice echoed in his head.

And in the blink of an eye, Albert’s vision darkened.

Demonic energy covered his entire body, but Albert couldn’t even open his mouth.

When the curtain disappeared, someone else had already invaded his head.

“Albert!”

At the deputy knight commander’s call, Albert slowly rose.

Eyes that had been dyed pitch-black regained their original color.

“Albert, what are you doing!”

When a shout came again, Albert walked over smiling.

“You’re taking long to install one trap.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Magic training is good, but don’t neglect mana cultivation either.”

“Yes.”

The deputy knight commander examined the barrier once more.

The traps members installed functioned properly and the barrier was calm.

Though he regretted not observing the master inside, if the barrier is safe, no need to confirm.

“Descending the mountain.”

Before sunset, the knight order descended the mountain range.

Leading weary bodies, they savored the banquet Borden prepared.

Albert was meticulously confirming the appearance of numerous powerhouses and those with authority mingling in the castle.

* * *

Pernok was watching the castle’s splendid lights from the guild.

Others.

Even Zeef couldn’t detect the suspicious energy mixed there.

Naturally, that was like the thorn carved into the monument.

Magi or mages who only detect mana couldn’t distinguish this singularity.

But in Pernok’s eyes, he saw Albert’s soul gradually dyeing black.

“It’s begun.”