Chapter 50

Chapter 50
## Chapter 50: Golden Highway (2)

One didn’t require the heightened senses of Kadim to perceive the commotion. The shouts of the guard officer berating his subordinates beyond the entrance were perfectly audible.

“You absolute brainless half-wits!! …I gave explicit orders that nobody stops a dignitary from the Turis Family…”

“…But sir, there was no way for us to identify…”

“…You should have used your heads!!! Curse it, who authorized you idiots to draw steel as a first resort…”

“…Guh, arrgh!!”

“…Aah, stop!”

The reprimand concluded with the dull thud of blows and pained yelps. Enrico cleared his throat, feigning ignorance of the violence. Kadim remained unmoved, eventually speaking with a detached air.

“His status must be greater than I assumed. I didn’t anticipate them groveling so pathetically.”

Enrico shook his head in disagreement.

“Rank plays a part, but the true terror is my lineage. As an envoy, I lack direct power over local staff, but if my brother—a high-ranking councilor—or the Turis Family decides to act, this captain and his entire chain of command are finished.”

Shortly after, the door was flung wide, and the massive frame of the guard captain burst into the chamber. He dropped to the floor, slamming his brow against the stones in a desperate display of submission.

Crack!

“Loyalty! Honor to the Golden City! I am Gradin Anglor, Captain of the Golden Highway Checkpoint 2, at your service, Special Envoy! My subordinates were so dim-witted they dared show you unpardonable insolence! I deserve to be stripped of my office and executed, but if you could find the compassion to overlook us just this once…”

“Stand up. I have no desire to penalize you or your unit. The fault lies with me for failing to present my credentials immediately.”

“Far from it, sir! You are beyond reproach, Special Envoy! I shall meditate on my inability to control my troops and will attend to your every command!”

“…Rise. I’m concerned your neck might actually break.”

The exhausting exchange continued for some time. It was only after his face turned a deep crimson that the captain finally stood. Enrico gestured for the panting man to sit and got to the point.

“Now, provide an explanation. Why has the Golden Highway been shut down? Who gave the order? Even a day’s obstruction results in catastrophic losses.”

“Huff, whew… It is… but if I might ask, who is the individual seated beside you…?”

“This is my savior, a man who offered vital assistance and preserved my life. He is not one to gossip, so you may speak without reservation.”

“……”

The captain clearly disliked discussing military intelligence in front of a stranger, but with the envoy’s personal pledge, he couldn’t refuse. Wiping away beads of sweat, his heavy features trembling, he began in a hushed tone.

“Phew, you likely suspect the truth… pardon my need to confirm. What I am disclosing is top secret. Should this reach the public, the entire alliance will descend into panic.”

He leaned his heavy bulk toward Enrico and dropped his voice to a whisper.

“The central stretch of the Golden Highway has been seized by demons. Their numbers are overwhelming; we are still fighting just to contain them. Consequently, all councils issued a joint blockade. To ensure neither the beasts nor demon thralls migrate further, elite envoy units have established perimeters at every gate.”

“…!”

The captain mentioned they were still gathering intel on the specific types of demons and the body count. Kadim narrowed his gaze and folded his arms. Enrico rubbed his jaw, his expression darkening.

“Weren’t practitioners from the Magic Tower stationed at these points for exactly this reason? What is their status?”

“Immediately following the breach, mages from the surrounding stations were sent in as a vanguard, but they have vanished. The survivors are barricaded behind the defense lines, focusing entirely on bolstering wards…”

“What? Does that mean these aren’t standard demons? Is there no word from the high-tier mages of the Tower?”

“Well… The Tower and the Vesta council haven’t grasped the gravity of the situation yet. They dispatched more personnel, but not a single one of conjurer-rank or above.”

“……”

“There are rumors that other cities are waiting for someone else to bleed out first… Particularly regions like Galentana, which is right on the border of the infested zone—they’ll only commit their full strength if the demons knock on their front door.”

A grinding sound came from Enrico’s jaw.

This was a blatant betrayal. Hadn’t the other councils subsidized the Magic Tower’s maintenance costs for the Golden Highway specifically so the Tower would resolve such nightmares?

The guard captain looked uneasy, fully aware of the injustice. Fearing he might provoke the envoy further, he added that the mages currently on-site were still capable, and since the demonic activity was focused toward Galentana and Vesta, the route to Delutana remained secure from this side.

Enrico found little comfort in that. Even if he was safe, the barbarian was walking straight into the fire.

“……”

Having extracted the necessary information, they sent the captain away. The man bowed low from his thick waist one last time and exited. Silence followed, broken only by the rhythmic tapping of Enrico’s fingers against the wood.

After a moment of thought, Enrico addressed Kadim with a careful suggestion.

“…Perhaps we should take a northern detour, circling above Delutana toward Vesta? It adds time to the trip, but it’s significantly more secure.”

“No, I’ve lingered long enough. I have no intention of stalling here.”

“Please, reconsider. If the Tower mages are failing, these are no petty spirits. I don’t question your prowess, but shouldn’t we favor discretion? There could be two-horned higher demons or something even more foul…”

Enrico looked over, expecting to see a flicker of hesitation. Instead, he recoiled in shock.

He hadn’t expected the warrior to feel dread. This was the man who had decimated trolls, monstrous packs, holy knights, and master wizards without help. Yet, he never anticipated the expression currently on Kadim’s face.

Kadim looked as though he had received a wonderful gift, his features pulled into a terrifying, bloodthirsty smirk.

“Excellent. I was starting to miss the taste of quality blood.”

It felt to Enrico as though he were staring into a bottomless pit of gore, thick with malice and the intent to kill.

Enrico bit his lip hard enough to draw blood. He needed the pain to steady his trembling jaw against the sudden, cold fear.

The group’s shared journey reached its end. The barbarian and the merchant were bound for Vesta, while the others turned toward Delutana. It was time to part ways.

Enrico ensured the captain provided a travel permit so Kadim could pass the military lines without conflict. The captain assumed the document was for Kadim’s protection—in reality, it was to protect the soldiers from Kadim.

With the official seal of the council and the captain’s signature, his passage would no longer be contested.

The soldiers were genuinely sad to see Duncan go. They had grown fond of the friendly, quick-witted trader, slapping his back with genuine warmth as they said their goodbyes.

“It’s been a blast, Duncan!”

“Visit us in Remtana again! We’ll show you a good time!”

“…Y-yeah, definitely.”

But Duncan couldn’t manage a real smile.

Unlike the oblivious guards, he knew exactly why the path was closed. The easy travel was over; they were heading into a slaughterhouse. His knees felt weak, and his skin crawled with nerves.

Meanwhile, Gullak signaled for Kadim to step aside before they split. He swung his heavy mallet and stroked his beard with a thoughtful hum.

“Mercenary, you haven’t forgotten our agreement? I owe you a masterpiece, so make sure you find your way to Delutana.”

“I haven’t forgotten.”

“The thing is, age has dulled my imagination. Do you have a preference? I’ll incorporate your needs into the design.”

Kadim doubted he would ever see Delutana. He gave the first answer that came to mind.

“Make it massive.”

“…Massive?”

“Weight is good. My current steel feels like toys.”

The lines on the master smith’s face deepened.

He muttered “Massive, massive…” under his breath and climbed onto the transport without another word. Kadim watched him go with an indifferent gaze.

What he truly desired was the weapon from his first life, the “Cataclysmic Relic” that had claimed the heads of demon lords. Discussing it with the old man was pointless.

‘…That isn’t something a human forge can produce.’

He shook the useless thoughts from his mind. Enrico was the last to approach. Though still visibly rattled, he managed to put on a professional face for the farewell.

“There were many complications, but… it was a privilege to travel with a fighter of your caliber. I’ll smooth over the legal issues regarding your status, so don’t fret. I’ll search for a way to access the Tower’s archives and get word to you—just wait. May the brilliant light of Lord Remillion guide your steps.”

“Understood. May the rage of Atala go with you.”

They offered blessings in the names of their respective deities. The official and the warrior turned away without looking back.

One went toward the den of vipers where politics, deals, and treachery reigned.

The other moved toward a wasteland crawling with demons that gorged on agony.

Each walked toward his own theater of war.

The Golden Highway stretched out under the searing glare of the sun.

The granite paving was flawless, a straight line cutting through the landscape under a clear sky. Massive stone barricades lined the path, with manicured trees standing sentinel beyond. The sheer scale of the construction was a testament to human ambition.

However, neither Kadim nor Duncan was interested in the view.

Kadim was buried in his own thoughts, while Duncan acted as a nervous navigator.

“This is the second gate, so… about six hours to the third, sir… Between the sixth and seventh, we should veer off to Kivon Village to rest. Assuming the demons haven’t reached it…”

Duncan stole a glance at his companion. Kadim wasn’t paying attention to the route.

“Who is Remillion?”

“…I’m sorry?”

“Who is this Remillion? You people speak his name like a god, but I don’t recall a deity by that name.”

Duncan was twice stunned: first by the random question, and then by the blasphemous ignorance.

He almost shouted “How can you not know?!” but then remembered the man hadn’t even heard of the Lucaonia Empire—and that his own survival depended on this warrior.

“Lord Remillion was the one who united the warring states and free cities long ago to form our alliance…”

Duncan gave a patient history lesson.

The son of a legendary trader, he had consolidated the alliance’s power, building the foundation that allowed them to hold out against the empire. He held titles like the Golden Sovereign, the Savior of the Coin, and the Dragon Slayer. To the people of the alliance, he was a living god.

“Perhaps people hope for a second Remillion to unify the councils again and break the imperial chains for good…”

Duncan finished with a sigh for their current plight.

As he listened, a strange spark appeared in Kadim’s eyes. He searched through ancient memories before questioning further.

“Dragon Slayer?”

“Yes. The chronicles say he was taken by a dragon as a child, but he used the creature’s own hoard to drive it off and escape.”

“He didn’t just beg and trade for his life?”

“Excuse me? What—what are you saying! Speaking such things in public would get you arrested!”

It was high heresy. Even on the empty highway, Duncan looked around frantically for spies. Kadim ignored the panic, looking as if a missing piece of a puzzle had finally snapped into place.

The history lesson ended, and the sound of their boots resumed. The road remained empty as the sun began its descent. Duncan checked his map and whispered.

“Why would demons target the Golden Highway of all places, sir?”

“I don’t know. But one thing is certain.”

“…What’s that?”

“Ensure our supplies of water and food are full.”

“……”

There would be no avoiding the fight.

Duncan squeezed his eyes shut, letting out a low groan of despair. Kadim gripped the hilt of his sword, his fingers tightening as he let out a savage, predatory grin.