Chapter 34

Chapter 34
## Chapter: 34

### Chapter Title: Twin Gorge (7)

—

The infantrymen flinched in terror, diving away from the center of the path.

“Wh-what is he doing…”

“Y-yes, Excellency! At once!”

“Everyone, get back! Create a wide berth, immediately!”

Kadim produced a soft, mirthless laugh as he gripped the blade of the longsword with his unprotected palms. His skin hissed and scorched against the metal, yet the flesh began a sluggish process of knitting itself back together. The observing troops stared, their eyes bulging in disbelief.

With his free hand, Kadim took hold of the heavy dwarven axe.

He brought the axe’s edge crashing down upon the crimson length of the sword with terrifying power.

Ka-ang! Whoosh!

The consecrated weapon emitted a piercing shriek. Gouts of defiant fire flared upward. Yet the warrior remained stoic, driving the axe blade into the metal repeatedly with rhythmic brutality.

Ka-ang! Ka-ang! Ka-ang!

The holy blade had been crafted from red iron, a rare mineral sourced solely from the volcanic regions of the south, known for its supreme resilience. Further fortified by the grace of Elga, no standard armament could hope to mar its surface.

However, the dwarven axe was forged of frost iron, a substance from the frozen north that possessed a structural integrity even greater than that of red iron. By design, swords were vulnerable to forceful impacts against their flat sides. This particular weapon featured an exceptionally slender, elongated blade, rendering it even more susceptible to such a focused assault.

Tick, tick, crack—ang!

Under the relentless battering of the axe, fractures spread until the sword snapped violently. Kadim did not relent, continuing to pound the shards until the blade was utterly ruined. Bright embers and metallic splinters sprayed out like a pyrotechnic display, and the once-mighty red brand was reduced to six jagged lumps of metal.

Fwoosh, fwoosh…

Now that the sword was fragmented, the flames of holy resistance had dimmed significantly. They remained intense—surpassing the heat of a blacksmith’s forge—but they were no longer uncontrollable. Kadim gave a dark grin, his lip curling as he barked an order to the subordinates.

“Fetch me a set of holy knight’s armor. The plating is designed to withstand heat, so shove these shards inside and let them simmer.”

The troops obeyed without a moment’s hesitation. They handled the iron fragments with extreme caution, nesting them within the cavity of the breastplate. Just as Kadim predicted, the specialized armor muffled the heat to a manageable level. Soldiers wearing thick gauntlets transported the breastplate as if it held a king’s ransom, leading the procession while others gathered the remaining scorched debris.

Kadim noted silently that he would need to seek out a master smith capable of reshaping those molten lumps into functional gear when the opportunity presented itself.

The seasonal rains had finally ceased. Thin veils of soot drifted through the breeze as the rays of the setting sun cut through the charred ravine, illuminating the blackened stone walls. It was the conclusion of a grueling day drenched in gore and ash. The company moved forward, still paralyzed by the lingering shadow of the events they had witnessed.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

In the frontier settlement of Eckl, situated at the very boundary of the alliance territories, a series of miraculous developments had occurred.

The primary cause for celebration was the total eradication of the trolls within Twin Gorge.

The vital artery connecting the village to Remtana was finally restored. Following the commissioner’s decisive action, the flow of commerce resumed. The days of predatory mercenary groups harassing the locals were over, and the shortage of essential goods that had strangled the community was lifted.

The secondary cause was the unexpected preservation of the village treasury.

The commissioner of Remtana, Enrico, had pledged to honor the bounty the village elder had originally offered to Kadim. While the village still faced the burden of back taxes and various tributes, the fact that they were spared the double financial hit of the reward was a massive relief to the citizenry.

The third occurrence was entirely unprecedented.

When the ancient woodland—a place long whispered to be a point of no return—was consumed by the conflagration, the locals feared their homes would be reduced to cinders. However, the wall of fire had stopped abruptly at the village outskirts as if hitting an invisible barrier. Once the ash settled, a vast expanse of level, nutrient-rich earth was revealed. The cursed forest of dark legends was gone, replaced by prime agricultural land that felt like a divine gift.

Any one of these events would have been cause for a grand jubilee. The combination of all three sent waves of joy through the streets.

“Hahaha, a wonderful morning to you!”

“Here, take some of this produce home to your family!”

“Kuhaha, who is joining me for a cask tonight?”

The residents found reason to laugh at the smallest things. They embraced former rivals and danced in the squares. Children sprinted through the lanes without fear, women gathered to share meals and stories, and men crowded into “Eckl’s Feast” to toast their good fortune. The proprietor of the tavern poured his finest honey mead with an open hand.

While the scars of their isolation would take time to heal, the horizon looked bright and prosperous.

Naturally, whispers began to circulate regarding the architect of this triple miracle.

“They say he toppled two trolls without breaking a sweat…”

“Is that right? I heard it was the commissioner’s battalion that did the heavy lifting.”

“Nonsense, the troops themselves say that without that mercenary captain, they would all be feeding the crows.”

“The heavens preserve us, I knew he was something else when he thrashed those brigands… He isn’t a normal man.”

“I heard he was the one who quelled the forest fire with a gesture…”

“What? He’s a mystic as well as a brawler?”

“That’s what the soldiers were whispering…”

The legends grew more extravagant with every conversation. Kadim was initially praised as the formidable warrior who slew the trolls, but he was soon being described as a physical manifestation of the deity Atalans—a master of the elements who controlled the weather and the flames.

While some remained skeptical of the supernatural claims, every soul in the village was desperate for a glimpse of the hero. A constant crowd gathered near the elder’s residence where he was being housed.

However, Kadim remained in seclusion, refusing all visitors. He sent word through the elder that he desired no celebration. The disappointed crowds eventually drifted away, looking back at the house with reverence.

Consequently, his skyrocketing reputation benefited his associate.

Kadim’s lone partner, the self-titled expert pathfinder and the man responsible for circulating the stories—Duncan Wheeled. He had become the most popular man in the village, a guest of honor at every table.

And on this day, as he had many times before, Duncan held court at “Eckl’s Feast,” enjoying a banquet provided free of charge.

“…And there it stood—by the gods! That towering monstrosity, a serpent of the abyss, ripped apart and cast into the muck! Its foul ichor drenched the swamp, turning the very soil of the woods a deep crimson!”

“Heavens!”

“Was it truly that gruesome?”

“It beggars belief…”

Even though he had told the tale a dozen times, the villagers and the garrisoned troops listened with rapt attention. Stories always carried more weight when the hero was sleeping just a few doors away.

Observing their wide-eyed fascination, Duncan realized the iron was hot. He slammed a bulging coin purse onto the wood and, with the flair of a theater actor, held up a single, olive-green scale.

“And I have here a remnant of the very beast the lord slew during that encounter! Look upon it! Observe that supernatural luster, the freezing chill it emits, its diamond-like hardness! There are precious few remaining! A legendary relic: 1,000 luden per set, or 100 for a single piece…”

The response was instantaneous and frantic. No one questioned the authenticity of the scales from such a terrifying demon.

“W-wait! Stay right there! I’m going for my savings…”

“I’ll take three—no, give me four of them!”

“One for me! Here is the silver!”

The tavern erupted as people scrambled to buy even a tiny fragment. Duncan suppressed a gleeful shout as the pile of coins grew.

In a strange twist of fate, the merchant who had once been nearly executed by holy knights for the crime of trafficking demon remains was now doing exactly that, and being thanked for it.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Inside a room lit by a low, flickering lamp, a stern man of middle age sat at a table. The village elder and the staff had been dismissed at his insistence. The hallways were silent.

Kadim rolled his tense shoulders and took a seat opposite Enrico.

“It has been some time. What brings you here, commissioner?”

“…First, I ask you to accept this.”

Clink. The bag Enrico produced hit the table with a heavy, metallic thud. Kadim’s eyebrow rose as he pulled it toward him. Inside, he found far more gold than their agreement dictated.

“This is a significant sum. Was our bargain not for 20,000 luden?”

“The original bounty I authorized for the trolls was 50,000 luden. It was intended for whatever company finished the task… but since the others are either in the ground or in hiding, the full amount belongs to the one who stood his ground.”

Kadim watched the commissioner in silence. Unlike the jubilant peasants outside, Enrico had grown pale and gaunt over the last few days.

The warrior rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Wealth was always useful, but he knew that in the world of men, nothing was ever truly gifted. Offering 20,000 would have been fair; offering 50,000 implied a hidden price.

Enrico recognized the scrutiny. He rubbed his weary face with a trembling hand and let out a heavy breath.

“You are observant. This isn’t a mere display of gratitude. I have an ulterior motive.”

“…”

“I have navigated a lifetime of contracts, backroom deals, and tense negotiations to earn my title. Usually, I favor the dance of diplomacy and careful rhetoric—those are the tools of my trade. But I will dispense with them. There is no sense in playing games with a man who could split me in half with his axe.”

“…”

“To be blunt: You have saved my region, but I am in a desperate position. The demise of an arch paladin is not something a mere border administrator can simply ignore. Not even the council in Delutana can shield me from the fallout.”

An arch paladin of the empire had trespassed into alliance territory. The empire was technically the aggressor. However, his death changed the political math. The alliance, though independent, still existed within the empire’s shadow.

“…I have sworn the soldiers to secrecy. But the villagers caught sight of that silver plate armor. If the church sends inquisitors, the truth will surface. They will demand staggering compensation and the head of the man responsible.”

“…”

“In that scenario… we would be forced to surrender you. Or face total war. The holy fires of the empire would sweep through this land, burning the innocent like dry leaves once again.”

Kadim folded his arms, his massive frame casting a shadow that seemed to swallow the room. The simple movement projected an overwhelming aura of menace. Enrico’s eyes shone with a desperate light.

“…But I have no desire for war—and certainly no desire to be your enemy. On the contrary, I want to secure your loyalty by any means necessary.”

“…”

“I have never encountered a combatant of your caliber. I am deeply curious about where you came from and the nature of your abilities. The paladin labeled you a monster, but I saw something else. I suspect your lineage is tied to something… like Agon’s Furious Horn.”

The temperature in the room seemed to drop. Kadim’s eyes flared with a lethal intensity as he slammed his palm onto the table.

“If you value your life, never utter that name in my presence again.”

It was a cold, terrifying ultimatum. The blow hadn’t even been his full strength, yet the table split down the center, its supports shattering into splinters.

Enrico swallowed hard, paralyzed by the raw power.

He had assumed the man was merely a mercenary associated with the famous arena champion. Even Atalans rarely showed such vitriol toward Agon’s Furious Horn—he had been the one to bring them prestige. Why this burning hatred?

“I understand. I will not forget… Forgive my ignorance.”

Confused, he offered a hasty apology. It required every ounce of his willpower to continue the conversation.

“I have spent the last few days agonizing over this. Trying to find a way to settle this without conflict. A way to avoid betraying my savior, avoid the empire’s wrath, and prevent a war.”

“…”

“Earlier today, I finally saw the path.”

Kadim’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He had assumed that killing the high-ranking knight would lead to an unavoidable mess. Regardless of international politics, he expected to be hunted. But this bureaucrat claimed to have a solution? He was intrigued.

Enrico leaned in, lowering his voice to a whisper.

“You remember Ymir? My sorcerer advisor.”

“Yes. A man with his own agenda.”

“Exactly. I have been analyzing the facts: He is the one responsible for herding the trolls into the Twin Gorge. The timeline of his arrival matches the start of the trouble; only he possessed the means to intercept my couriers. The most damning evidence: Ymir Demil is a master of mental manipulation magic.”

“…”

“I hadn’t considered the possibility of a mage controlling such beasts, but if you cast him as the villain, the puzzle is solved. If we leave him be, he will simply strike again.”

This wasn’t just a change of subject. Kadim gave a cynical laugh, realizing where this was heading.

Enrico continued with cold resolve.

“The alliance cannot walk away from this without shedding blood. We need a sacrificial lamb whose status matches that of the arch paladin. If blood of equal value is spilled, the empire’s leverage vanishes. The incident began with the paladin’s illegal crossing, after all.”

“…”

“Ymir is the perfect candidate. He isn’t just a local aide—he is a high-ranking conjurer, the third-highest authority in the Magic Tower.”

“…”

“I am asking you directly: Kill Ymir Demil. I will reconstruct the narrative: The paladin and the mage engaged in a lethal duel. I will ensure every trace of your involvement is scrubbed from the record.”

A high-ranking knight of the church invades; a master mage of the Magic Tower intercepts him; a violent clash ensues; both combatants perish from their wounds. Even without Kadim’s name mentioned, it was a perfectly believable story.

That was the “picture” Enrico wanted to paint.

“This is no simple task, so I am not making a hollow request. I will provide an additional 250,000 luden as a reward. Furthermore, you will have my full backing for whatever your true goals may be.”

“…”

“I may be a mere border official, but my lineage is not. The Turis Family is the most influential house in Delutana; my brother serves on the high council and is the frontrunner for the chairmanship. Their resources, intelligence networks, and political reach are vast—they would be an invaluable ally to a man like you.”

“…”

“We would both hold the other’s secrets—there would be no fear of betrayal. I eliminate a traitorous rival, you escape the empire’s hunt, and the alliance avoids a massacre. It is a perfect arrangement, is it not?”

A sharp, calculating glint returned to Enrico’s eyes. He was no longer the broken, tired man from a moment ago. Physically, he was nothing to Kadim, but his true strength lay in the manipulation of people and power.

He hadn’t ascended to his position through luck. Kadim’s lips twisted into a grim, appreciative smile.

In moments like these, it seemed that even the most ancient demons could not compete with the sheer deviousness of a human mind.