Volume 11 Chapter 3 Nokin’s Memory
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
*Nokin’s perspective
Arriving in Nolans with Terry and Geronimo as escorts, a man named Magnus stepped forward to greet us.
Though he looked a bit worn, he handled his duties as our host perfectly well.
His efficiency made it clear that Kent’s country thrives with the right people, but it also highlighted the low talent level in my home, the Eastern Garuda Principality, alongside Alonsa.
The next day, a Dragonewt arrived for our transport.
Climbing onto its back, we flew straight to Estfort, where Kent’s castle sits.
”Lord Nokin, it’s been a while. Sir Kent has instructed us to provide you with every comfort. Please let us know if anything is inconvenient.”
It wasn’t Kent who greeted us, but Chancellor Lila.
I had met her through Porcha during the Gertroud campaign while she schemed for Alonsa’s independence in the east.
She also convinced Velis, who opposed us during our post-war autonomy talks; she was a true ally.
”So it’s Lady Lila welcoming us. Is Lord Kent still busy? Or is he wrapped up with High Priestess Elkisa?”
Not seeing Kent, I decided to tease Lila, but she just laughed delicately.
”Well, it’s somewhat like that. You know how our king is, Lord Nokin.”
”True. This visit is unofficial for the Beast King tournament, but when I come officially, I am a king too. I’d appreciate a fitting welcome.”
Came here to celebrate High Priestess Elkisa’s wedding and to join the Beast King martial arts contest in this land, aiming to bring back the first seat of the Garuda Ten Elite for Alonsa, entering the South District Margrave country as a man of the Garuda Clan.
”We have prepared the residence of a Noble from Abyss Vena for you, please feel free to use it. Our country will cover all expenses, so please be at ease.”
”I apologize, but Alonsa didn’t give much road silver since our country is poor. I was worried because I heard Abyss Vena is expensive.”
Lila saw me and chuckled softly.
”Lord Nokin, you somewhat resemble our king. He’s not very kingly either.”
”Is that so? I admit I’m not kingly, but is Lord Kent not beloved by his people? Alonsa praised him for such good governance, unlike any former king.”
”Since you’re Lord Nokin, let me tell you, Sir Kent just hates work. He’s good at pushing tasks onto others; that’s his political style.”
Lila was the talent discovered by Kent, who achieved the great task of establishing the South District frontier as an autonomous nation.
Originally waving the flag of Sharp in the Kingdom as Gwain’s wife, she came to Kent and her talent blossomed, now a female Chancellor managing a country.
”Don’t say Lord Kent is enviable… I think Alonsa can become a Chancellor to match Lady Lila too.”
”I also admit the strategic wisdom of Lady Alonsa. She could match me, I believe.”
Lila seemed to acknowledge Alonsa’s abilities as well.
We wanted to continue our conversation, but Chancellor Lila seemed busy, as a guard approached to whisper something in her ear.
”Lady Lila looks busy. Just guide me to the Abyss Vena lodge, that’s all I need.”
”My apologies. I will send a guide named Annabella. Please ask her for the details. Excuse me.”
”Oh, I’ll come visit when I have time again. I’ll be living in Abyss Vena for a while.”
As Lila bows and leaves, a woman in her twenties with brown hair in a maid outfit steps forward from the castle.
When she reaches me, her movements are graceful as she offers a perfect greeting.
”I have been assigned as your guide by Lady Lila. My name is Annabella.”
”I’m Nokin. The other 2 are Terry and Geronimo.”
Annabella looks us over, her gaze not unpleasant at all.
In fact, there’s a vibe from her like that of a seasoned warrior.
”Does Annabella have a combat class?”
Curious about the vibe I sensed, the question slipped out without much thought.
”I have the Warrior class to protect my master, Sir Kent. My skills aren’t impressive, though…”
”Hmm… for someone with such modesty, you seem quite skilled.”
”Umm! Sir Nokin, asking unnecessary questions about a lady is rude. Should I report this to Lady Alonsa when we return?”
Terry, standing behind me, cleared his throat loudly, signaling to stop the questions directed at Annabella.
”That wouldn’t be good. My apologies, Lady Annabella. Now, please guide us.”
”Yes, understood. The carriage is ready, so please get in.”
With Annabella leading the way, we got into the nearby carriage.
The carriage began to move towards Abyss Vena.
* * *
The mansion provided in the Noble Street of Abyss Vena was more luxurious than the one at Garuda Principality’s royal castle.
After unloading our luggage, Annabella said the staff could be used freely and then left.
Terry quickly gathered the servants and started preparing my dormitory by unpacking the luggage.
I tried to help, but Terry said, “This isn’t work for a king,” leaving me with nothing to do. So, I took Geronimo and wandered around the places Bartram and Repulus told me I used to frequent.
First, I went to the Hunter Guild building in Hunter street.
Repulus told me that before I lost my memory, I lived here as a Monster Hunter. But looking at the building, no memories came to mind.
As I entered the Hunter Guild, about ten Monster Hunters drinking inside began to murmur.
”Hey, isn’t that ‘Wolffang’ Nokin? I’m sure he’s the king in the east now…”
”Can’t be. Just because of the Beast King Tournament, doesn’t mean he’d come all the way to the South District.”
”I’ve heard rumors that he became a general in the Demon God Emperor’s army after disappearing.”
”Poor guys at Remarque dojo. Their dojo got destroyed because Nokin turned into a bandit leader.”
”The reason it got destroyed is a mystery, but there were rumors about it before. It was bound to happen after Belholt was executed. It’s a miracle they lasted until last year.”
Monster Hunters were sitting in the dining area on the first floor, eating and drinking, talking about all sorts of interesting things.
Intrigued, I approached the group.
”Excuse me, I’ve been hearing about Remarque dojo. What’s my connection to it? By the way, I’m Nokin Wolffang, the leader of the Eastern Garuda Principality.”
The Monster Hunters sitting at the table stood up, knocking over their chairs.
”W-What?! Is that really Sir Nokin?! Yikes! Sorry, Sir Nokin!”
The young Monster Hunters from the Majin Clan changed their attitude as soon as they realized I was Nokin.
”I’ll ask again, what is your connection to the Remarque dojo?”
The man from the Garuda Clan next to me looked puzzled but started to speak under my pressure.
”I heard from other Monster Hunters that Sir Nokin trained at Belholt Remarque’s dojo. The Remarque dojo was a swordsmanship school in Abyss Vena. It closed down after last year’s big attack. I think there were a few students left.”
”Sir Nokin’s martial arts were honed there.”
Geronimo, who was with me as a guard, looked happy to see a glimpse of my strength.
”Do you know the location of that Remarque dojo and where the former students are? If you can find out, I’ll give you a decent reward.”
”It won’t be easy right away, but I can find out using my connections. Give me 3 days, and I’ll look into it.”
The Garuda Clan man suddenly showed enthusiasm when I mentioned the reward.
”Then please do. I’m staying at a mansion on Noble Street, so come there when you gather the information. If I’m not around, just give the info to a woman named Terry, and she’ll make sure you get paid.”
”Got it.”
The Garuda Clan man dashed out into the town like a spring.
* * *
Next, I arrived at the ‘Silver Wolf Inn’ in the same Hunter town.
I heard from Repulus that before becoming a free solo Hunter, I used to go to the Remarque dojo and was part of Matthew’s Hunting Group called ‘Silver Wolf.’
”Welcome… Oh, look who decided to show up! Nokin, I thought you were lost, but I heard you suddenly became a king in the east. Try to understand my feelings about Freyria… Oh, wait, Hendric stopped me from saying that.”
A bird-type woman in the kitchen was busy cooking when she saw my face and began to scold me.
The name she said popped into my mind, and a hazy fragment of memory started to surface.
That memory showed a beautiful woman, thought to be from the Majin Clan, lying in front of me while my hands were covered in blood.
…What is this memory…?
”Hey! Nokin! It’s really you! I heard you went missing. I was worried! You survived that terrible battle and became a king, huh?”
Lost in those fragments of memory, a big guy from behind grabbed my shoulder.
”Don’t touch Sir Nokin. Do you want me to break your arm?”
In a flash, Geronimo swatted the guy’s hand away.
”Hey! Just greeting an old friend, and you aim to kill me?”
”Geronimo. It’s fine. This guy means no harm.”
”Even Matthew is not aiming to kill. Beatrice will come to eat soon.”
”Oh, sorry about that. If Thelma says so, I can’t argue.”
The guy called Matthew, from the Majin Clan, plopped down heavily in the seat next to me.
”By the way, are you here to join the Beast King Tournament?”
”Yeah. I came to claim the position of the first fang of Ten Elite Garuda. Sorry, but I can’t just give it away to Kent.”
Hearing I was joining the tournament, Matthew yelled to Thelma in the kitchen.
”Thelma! Big news! Nokin is seriously aiming for the first fang of Ten Elite Garuda. If it goes like this, Kent might get half-killed!”
Thelma, who was cooking, stopped what she was doing.
She turned just her face toward us.
”What are you saying! Nokin! Do you even understand what it means to sit in the First Fang? You’re the Garuda Clan Leader recognized by Lady Elkisa, but you’re just a decoration without being in the GarudaTen Elite. What do you think will happen if you take the First Fang in this Beast King Tournament? The Garuda Clan will split in the South District and the East! Don’t you get that?”
Thelma was so angry, like a fire-breathing dragon, but I couldn’t understand why she was so mad.
Alonsa said that if I took the First Fang, my authority as the Garuda Clan Leader would rise, and I could gather the power of the Garuda Clan living in the Demon Continent to improve our status.
I didn’t understand what Thelma meant about the East and South District Garuda Clan splitting.
No matter where they live, the Garuda Clan should follow the Clan Leader’s instructions; that’s the rule of our tribe.
”Why can’t I sit in the First Fang? Clan Leaders have held the First Fang for generations…”
”Kent married Lady Elkisa. I thought the authority of the ‘Moon Goddess,’ the Beast King’s priestess, would be greater than the Clan Leader’s, but was I wrong? And do you really think Talia, Lady Elkisa’s advisor, will let you take the First Fang?”
Thelma pointed at me, putting down the knife she was holding.
”I thought anyone from the Garuda Clan could participate in the Beast King Tournament, but is that not true? Or is this tournament just a fixed match?”
”I don’t want to say it’s fixed, but since Kent is competing, the Blackdagger family will put all their strength into supporting him. Even if Nokin became king, do you really think you can compete with the Blackdagger family, one of the richest and most powerful Private Hunting Groups in the Demon Continent?”
”Whether I can or not, I will do my best to reach the top.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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