Chapter 41

Chapter 41
## Chapter: 41

### Chapter Title: Messen’s Brothers (1)

—

In the course of a lifetime, there are moments when monumental shifts that ought to take decades to materialize suddenly strike with the force of a gale in a mere matter of days.

For Enrico, the diplomatic representative of **Remtana**, this was precisely such a period.

“…”

While touring the subterranean stronghold, Enrico found himself completely at a loss for words. The simple reality that a fortification of this magnitude had been concealed within his own territory felt like a plot point from a far-fetched piece of fiction.

To discover that within this hidden base, the **Magic Tower** had been cultivating monsters seized during the purge, plotting to manufacture a private militia, sending **Ymir** as a clandestine coordinator to oversee the project, and butchering countless innocents as raw material for this beastly legion—only for this unstoppable savage to have wiped out the entire swarm single-handedly?

“Hah…”

Even the most imaginative writers wouldn’t dare push a story that far. Managing the trolls within the **Twin Canyons** or dealing with the **Arch Paladin** was a sufficient nightmare on its own. To have one world-shaking revelation explode after another? He briefly wondered if the warrior was simply spinning a yarn to mock him.

However, the macabre sights within the fortress confirmed that these accounts were no fantasy.

They walked through narrow corridors littered with the shredded remains of beasts. The suffocating aroma of iron and decay assaulted his senses. In one chamber, he came across the remains of the couriers and recorders he had previously dispatched, now huddled together in a state of advanced rot. Enrico felt a wave of sickness hit him as a prickling heat crawled across his scalp.

After finishing their survey at the spot where the ogre had met its end, they finally departed the stronghold. The exterior was a chaotic graveyard of charred harpy and goblin remains. They turned away from the carnage and sought refuge in the shadow of a nearby stone formation.

Only when he breathed air untainted by the scent of slaughter did his mind begin to steady. After spending nearly half a *shichen* organizing his thoughts, Enrico cleared his throat to break the silence.

“To begin… I owe you thanks for completing the task safely. This situation grew far beyond my original request. I anticipated only the removal of **Ymir**, but who could have guessed the **Magic Tower** was committing such atrocities right on the doorstep of **Remtana**…”

“…”

“We in the Empire are led to believe the **Magic Tower** acts as a guardian for the entire coalition, but the reality is more complex. Their true loyalty lies only with **Vesta’s** council; their relationships with the other councils are merely superficial cooperation while they keep one another under surveillance. Even if they united, they would struggle to match the Empire—and to find they’ve been secretly assembling an invasion force by murdering the helpless… It is an unspeakable horror…”

**Kadim** held no concern for the internal squabbles of the alliance. He rested his chin on his hand with a look of boredom and steered the conversation elsewhere.

“Can you manage the narrative effectively, envoy?”

Enrico immediately adopted a professional, stoic mask and gave a firm nod.

“It is manageable. The fatalities involving the **Knight of Elga** and **Ymir** will proceed as we discussed: **Ymir** supposedly intercepted the knight during an illegal border crossing. However, the discovery of the fortress must be presented as an unrelated find uncovered in the wake of **Ymir’s** passing. We cannot risk providing a retroactive excuse for the knight’s trespassing…”

“…”

“Regardless, I will exert every effort to scrub your involvement from the records, so be at peace. Simply incinerate **Ymir’s** remains as if he were a holy knight later on. The body is already ruined, but we require some physical proof that the knight was the aggressor.”

**Kadim** gave a short nod of agreement. He doubted the truth could be buried forever, but this was the most viable path forward for now. The success of the cover-up now rested on the envoy’s political maneuvering.

As Enrico drifted back into contemplation, **Kadim** spread out the items he had scavenged from the stronghold. He produced the **Soul-Squeezing Iron Chains**, capable of harvesting human essence, and the dark mineral shards he had extracted from **Ymir’s** chest.

The shackles were an artifact that functioned only through the use of ‘mana,’ rendering them useless in **Kadim’s** hands. When he offered to sell them, Enrico accepted with visible enthusiasm, noting they were perfect physical proof to use as leverage against the **Magic Tower**.

“I will offer 100,000 **Luden** for these. Does that suit you?”

“200,000 **Luden**.”

“…200,000 is quite high. Perhaps 120,000?”

“200,000 **Luden**.”

“I could go as high as 125,000…”

“200,000.”

“130,000…”

“Eliminating that entire horde has left me feeling quite weary.”

“…Very well. 200,000 **Luden** it is.”

The negotiation concluded on favorable terms. **Kadim** then lifted the broken pieces of the black stone.

“Are you familiar with this, envoy?”

“That appears to be… a shard of a **magic stone**, is it not? Recovered from **Ymir’s** heart?”

“Correct. You mentioned previously that sorcerers do not make pacts with fiends. Yet this stone stinks of demonic essence. Do you have an explanation?”

“…!”

Enrico let out a sharp breath, his eyes widening in shock before narrowing into a frown. His expression grew increasingly somber.

“The creation of **magic stones** is among the most guarded secrets of the **Magic Tower**. They typically disintegrate the moment the wielder expires, making any study impossible. I was unaware that demonic energy played a role. But how did you manage to perceive it?”

“A foul odor. A cold, stagnant feeling.”

“…To sense it so clearly—your instincts are beyond human. If the **magic stones** are truly corrupted by demonic forces, this is a crisis of the highest order. Even without a formal pact, the **Elga Church** will not remain silent if this reaches their ears.”

“…”

“No, wait… how could they have overlooked this for so long…? The clergy are highly sensitive to unholy auras… Unless they are willfully turning a blind eye… I simply cannot wrap my head around it…”

Enrico rubbed his temples in visible agitation. It was clear no more information could be gleaned from him. Real clarity would only be found at the origin.

The **Magic Tower**. The institution **Melissa** had established to educate mages, now apparently warped into something sinister.

**Kadim** placed the stone shards into his belt pouch and stood up.

“Let us return to **Remtana** to finalize the transaction. I leave the rest in your hands.”

“Oh? Do you intend to depart **Remtana** immediately?”

“Yes. My first stop will be the **Magic Tower**. If you secure a path to the archives, send word. If not, I will visit at a later time.”

“…”

Enrico swallowed hard.

In the heat of the moment, he had nearly forgotten. Granting access to the records of the first **Magic Tower Lord** had been a desperate bait to keep **Kadim** compliant. To ensure his own safety now, he would have to pull every favor he had.

Still, the investment was worth it.

This man had demonstrated power that transcended the natural world. A monarch would bestow titles and territory upon him; a merchant prince would offer piles of gold; a warlord of the north would trade ancient dwarf artifacts for his service. Stumbling into such a powerful connection by chance was an incredible stroke of fortune.

And Enrico was not a man to let fortune slip away.

“I will honor my commitment, certainly. But might I propose one further contract?”

“…”

“Nothing as grueling as your recent work. Simply provide me with an escort along your path. Upon reflection, to resolve this matter properly, I must personally visit the council of **Delutana**.”

“…”

“We shall depart as soon as my affairs here are settled. We can travel together until the junction of the **Golden Highway**: I will proceed to **Delutana**, and you can continue to **Vesta** as intended. I will pay whatever sum you require, and provide the mount and all provisions. It is a logical arrangement, is it not?”

He looked into eyes that remained unreadable. Enrico held his breath and waited. **Kadim** rubbed his jaw in thought before answering.

“**Delutana**, you said?”

“…Indeed.”

“Then adding one more to the party won’t be an issue.”

Leaving the envoy looking baffled, **Kadim** walked away without providing further context.

—

*Clang, clang, clang!*

The rhythmic strike of a hammer rang out from behind the heavy metal portal. The smell of metallic dust hung in the air, though the door remained unbolted this time. As he pushed it open, the intense heat of the smithy hit him like a physical wave.

“Enter… Hm? Ah, the sellsword! What brings you back to my shop?”

**Kadim** let out a short, quiet laugh.

The man’s unruly hair and snowy beard had been tidied. He was dressed in clean, sturdy work clothes. The bitter, cynical edge to his voice had been replaced by a boisterous energy. Aside from the permanent damage to his right leg, the transformation was total. **’Ironhammer’ Gullak** appeared to be a man reborn.

“You look well, old man. A far cry from when we first met.”

“I’m back at the anvil! I can’t believe I spent all that time rotting away in the dark. Orders started pouring in the moment I finished your commission—I haven’t had a moment’s rest!”

“That’s good to hear. You’ll be plating that anvil in gold soon enough.”

“Kehahaha… I owe that to the envoy and to you. But you didn’t drop by just for small talk, did you? Is there a problem with the blade?”

“No, it’s perfect. The dagger is exceptional.”

“Oh? Then perhaps you’ve come back for some more of that spirits from last time…”

“Bring that poison near me again, and you’ll be drinking your meals through a straw for the rest of your life.”

“…Tch, typical barbarian.”

Both **Kadim** and **Gullak** shared a rough laugh. The tension that defined their first meeting had evaporated, replaced by a mutual respect between the fighter and the craftsman.

**Gullak** rested his tools. The two men sat at a small workbench. As soon as **Kadim** sat, he dropped a heavy bag of coins onto the wood. **Gullak’s** brow furrowed in confusion.

“…What is this? My fees were already settled, if I recall correctly.”

“I put the blade to the test—it exceeded my expectations. The small amount you charged before wasn’t sufficient. Quality work earns a quality wage.”

**Gullak** pulled a gold piece from the bag, his clouded eyes shimmering slightly. However, he slowly slid the pouch back toward **Kadim**, shaking his head.

“It isn’t necessary. Reclaiming my craft was payment enough. What use does a man as old as me have for this much wealth? As you said, I’m not actually going to gold-plate my tools…”

“You could relocate to a major city to be with your kin. A retirement fund.”

**Gullak** froze, his white eyebrows jumping. A melancholic smile touched his lips.

“…The envoy told you about my situation?”

**Kadim** offered no confirmation, simply moving to the point.

“The envoy is traveling to **Delutana** on state business. I’m acting as his guard until the **Golden Highway**. I decided it wouldn’t hurt to bring one more along, so I told him you’d be joining us.”

“What? Are you being serious?”

“We leave once his work in **Remtana** is finished. Pack only what you truly need.”

“B-but with my crippled leg, a journey of that distance is impossible…”

“The envoy has guaranteed a horse. Fortunately, a healthy one.”

**Gullak’s** eyes watered.

A flood of emotion rushed into the dry, cracked landscape of his heart, which had been devoid of hope for so long. He bit his lip, staring at the floor in silence before finally looking up, his voice trembling and low.

“Why go to such lengths for me? I… I haven’t done anything to merit such kindness from you…”

A reason?

There wasn’t a specific one. Being isolated from his family, having his leg ruined, losing his life’s work—the old man’s tragedy was a common story in this harsh world. Producing a few good blades didn’t make him more deserving than any other victim.

Yet **Kadim** looked inward.

To stay alive, he would walk through rivers of blood and consume filth without a second thought. But when survival wasn’t the priority, he would share his last meal with someone hungrier.

The days remaining where he could still hold onto this final shred of morality—before he fully transformed into a heartless monster—were dwindling.

So, while he still possessed his humanity, he would reach out to the person trapped in the dark beside him.

“…No reason at all. Think of it as a whim of providence.”

**Gullak** looked stunned for a moment before letting out a dry, rasping chuckle. He quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeve.

“Confound it, my eyes are leaking at a time like this… It must be the heat from the furnace…”

“…”

“Regardless… I thank you. Words fail me—I am truly in your debt. Call it a return favor or what you will, but before I pass on, I will craft you a true ‘masterpiece’… Be sure to visit **Delutana** one day.”

**Kadim** stood up silently. There was no telling when he might reach the **Magic Tower**. He preferred not to make hollow oaths. Whether they would meet again was a matter for fate to decide.

But as he prepared to exit the forge, **Kadim** noticed something on the table.

“…?”

A familiar olive shimmer. He grimaced as if looking at something repulsive. He couldn’t help but ask.

“Why is that here? What are you working on, old man?”

“Ah, the **Remtana** guards are all clamoring for these on their chest plates. They claim it’s a trophy from some great beast… I have a dozen more to finish. Hah, I’ll have to work double time if I want to get these done before we leave town.”

“…”

**Kadim** just shook his head. He cast one final look at the armor adorned with **hydra** scales, then walked out of the shop with a dark, mirthless laugh.