Volume 3 Chapter 143-4 Merchant City Ramsey I
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
With Owl leading the group, Kian, Linca, and two guards followed behind, crossing the stone bridge in single file.
Linca had quickly put on an oni mask at first, but the moment her eyes met Kian’s, she took it off. The atmosphere didn’t feel hostile—if anything, it seemed they were looking for allies. In that case, hiding her face would only get in the way.
The five of them passed from the main street to the bustling market and arrived at a restaurant known for its freshly made Sage sausages.
As soon as they sat at the largest table available, Owl leaned back in his chair and said, “Order whatever you like,” before slumping into the seat.
His posture was completely different from earlier. Slouched and limp, he looked almost pathetic—like an owl that had lost its feathers and deflated.
”These two are my subordinates—Gunter and Julius. I also own a jewelry shop in Ramsey, though I usually leave the management to them.”
The two men gave a respectful bow.
Turning to Linca, Owl introduced himself. “And I’m Owl. Temporary commander of this front. I suppose that makes me the acting lord of the castle.”
”You can use my real name too,” he added.
”Ah… I’m Linca. I’m currently accompanying Sir Kian as part of his party.”
”You’re the one who submitted that business permit request a few weeks ago, right? So you’ve been investigating me since then?”
Owl had a sharp instinct for lies, but when the truth was mixed in, he couldn’t distinguish fact from fiction.
Linca nodded simply. “Yes.”
”The princess… doesn’t trust me, does she?”
”I don’t think that’s it.”
”Then why send Kian? You’re planning to have him take over command from me, aren’t you?”
”If I were the commander, Ramsey would fall in a single day.”
”…Is that so?”
Owl blinked several times, the motion visible even through his thick feathers.
”You’ve become more imposing than before. You’ve gained more magic swords as well. But more than that…”
His dark gaze shifted to Linca, standing quietly behind Kian.
”It seems we’ve gained another powerful Head Magician.”
”I’ve been lucky to make some good connections,” Kian replied.
”That’s always a good thing. The strength of our allies is our strength.”
Owl, usually quite talkative, had fallen unusually silent.
Kian noticed the knight behind him scratching under his feathers, near his left shoulder, with a clawed hand. He decided to shift the conversation away from the tense atmosphere.
”How’s the situation on the front?”
”You can probably guess. It’s dire. I didn’t expect it to be this bad. The enemy has two high-class warriors—Isthbaran and Arminus—and we don’t have any clear countermeasures. They’ve got more magicians than we expected, and the teleportation array connecting to Ramsey is likely to fall soon. At this rate, I almost want to borrow Christina’s help.”
”She’s still in Izerland handling public health efforts. Pulling her out isn’t an option.”
Kian glanced briefly at the two knights behind Owl before leaning forward on the table.
”Don’t you have any magicians among your undead troops?”
”I do, but it’s not enough. The enemy magicians have been dismantling barriers at several forts. We patch them up, but the defenses are weakening. If they launch a full-scale assault, we’ll probably lose the outer lines within three days. ──By the way, just to confirm: no reinforcements from Izerland?”
”None. According to Her Excellency, Lord Owl should be able to manage with current forces.”
”I… I see.”
”Lady Eleonora is scheduled to cross the Great Forest and enter the marshlands for a separate mission.”
Owl waved his hand to the server bringing drinks, gesturing for the mug to be set in front of Kian.
His right hand had grown darker and longer, the claws sharper—less human than before.
”She’s the Defense Minister, isn’t she? Is she being dismissed?”
”I don’t believe so.”
”Then what’s she coming here for?”
”We’ve discovered that the recent surge in Bloodsucking Kind appearances is linked to a dimensional gate in the northern marshlands. The Hairkin tribes have also been informed. Are you aware of this?”
”No… This is new to me.”
”A messenger from the alliance will be dispatched to Her Excellency Maribel’s faction at the ancient temple in a few days.”
”Maribel’s faction? So the princess sent a separate team from the Great Forest?”
”That would be us.”
”I see… The pieces are starting to come together. So, Kian, you came to investigate the cause of the Bloodsucking Kind’s surge and to carry out the secret audit I requested.”
”As for Lady Eleonora, she’s here to negotiate with the alliance to close the dimensional gate. She’s not here to fight.”
”If the talks fail, won’t it still lead to conflict? ──Ah, I get it. Since the talks are likely to fail, you’re already laying the groundwork for a joint assault.”
”Correct. Also, I’m under orders not to meet Lord Owl directly. No joint operations allowed.”
”Of course… It’s a secret audit. If I knew too much, it’d be hard to tell whether I’m still loyal to Maribel or not.”
”Does Her Excellency truly not trust Lord Owl?”
One of the knights behind Owl, seemingly unable to hold back, spoke up.
”Do you have any idea what it means to protect this place? Julius, you are from here. But there are others—like the people of Ramsey—who have no connection to this land at all.”
”Gunter. That’s enough.”
”…Understood.”
”We’re not just fighting for this place—we’re fighting for all of Izerland. The princess understands that. I’m the one she doesn’t trust… Isn’t that right, Kian?”
”Yes.”
Kian gave a straightforward answer. He knew Owl could sense lies, but in front of the knights, he spoke the truth plainly.
”I see,” murmured the knight behind Owl. He slumped again, hiding his face in his feathers.
The mood turned heavy. Asking whether Owl was involved in the rising dead or whether he commanded the undead now threatening Izerland felt almost too direct. But Kian had to confirm it.
After a pause, he finally spoke.
”Lord Owl, there are a few things I need to ask you.”
Notes:
• Linca – Jibril’s favorite girl. High-ranking warrior monk woman from Shin, with strong abilities like ignoring attacks and poisons.
• Mag – The wolfwoman under Yelmar—the one who was caught by Kian’s group earlier.
• Isthbaran – The High Warlord of the ‘Storm Herd.’
• Arminus – A formidable old general, comparable to the High Warlord Isthbaran of the ‘Storm Herd.’
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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