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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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Chapter 172
Although they had just finished the battle, the knights’ condition was far from good. Every one of them moved with exhaustion weighing on their bodies.
Perhaps because there was no one watching, their slumped shoulders right after the battle made them look more like defeated soldiers than victors.
Dior let out a sigh, displeasure written all over his face.
"Ugh. These weak bastards."
The Red Spear Knights naturally began collecting valuables from the corpses of monsters and beasts, including mana stones and other profitable byproducts.
Their movements were mechanical. Having been drilled repeatedly, harvesting after a hunt had become second nature to them.
If not for their helmets, their grim expressions would have been as clear as Dior’s, whose face was fully exposed.
One knight, lifting a dagger listlessly to extract a mana stone, seemed to irritate Dior beyond his limit.
"Get yourselves together! If you’re going to complain, complain to me instead! Straighten your backs! Once we finish this, we’re heading back, so—"
"UWAAAAAAAH!"
A loud yell erupted from one of the Red Spear Knights. Immediately, others joined in, their voices echoing in unison. The deafening roar made Dior’s ears ring.
Frowning, he glanced around as if searching for the culprit who interrupted him, but it was already too late.
"Shut up! Just hurry up and finish preparing!"
Without exception, the Red Spear Knights continued their butchering, their moods noticeably lifted.
At the mere mention of returning, the previously somber atmosphere flipped as if they had taken some kind of stimulant. Their enthusiasm was palpable.
Watching the scene, Ian let out a quiet chuckle.
The camp was dismantled, and all accumulated byproducts were transported.
When a knightly order embarked on an external mission, it was standard for various support personnel to accompany them.
However, in some situations, they had no choice but to go without such support, which was why knights had to learn how to handle menial tasks like butchering and cooking themselves.
Only those with exceptional endurance could survive in such harsh conditions.
Thanks to these resilient knights, the return to the family estate went smoothly, and Ian soon found himself alone, meeting his eldest brother, Verdan.
"What are you doing? If you’re here, don’t just stand there—come in and sit down."
Verdan, leaning back on a plush sofa meant for entertaining guests, spoke while tilting his head toward the ceiling. His voice sounded so exhausted it was as if he might run away at any moment.
"Have you been well?"
"If that’s how I look, then that’s good to hear, Ian."
"Mm, I was just being polite. Honestly, your eyes look like you’re about to collapse."
Verdan let out a long sigh, as if releasing pent-up frustration, and picked up the teacup in front of him.
Ian wasn’t sure how long his brother had been sitting there, but the contents of the cup had already gone cold.
Ian glanced at the teacup in front of him. Steam was slowly rising from it.
"How long have you been sitting here?"
"About… twenty minutes, I think. I just couldn’t hold out any longer, so I rested until you arrived. Have you eaten?"
"I washed up as soon as I got back and ate right after. I stuffed myself."
After soaking in hot water to relax, he had gone straight to the knights’ dining hall.
Perhaps it was because he had been eating bland food while camping every day, but even simple seasoned vegetables had tasted unbelievably delicious.
He hadn’t cared about maintaining dignity. He had piled up a mountain of meat and devoured it.
People nearby had stared at his massive portions, but Ian hadn’t minded. The knights who arrived shortly after him weren’t any different.
Just thinking about the stir-fried meat dish made his mouth water again.
Verdan let out a small chuckle.
"Sounds like it was tough for you."
"Of course. And do you know why there were so few injured knights during that long mission?"
"Yeah, Dior reported to me. I heard you've been handling every demonic beast that appears. And by yourself, no less."
Ian showed a proud smile.
Since demonic beasts were extremely dangerous, they used to require exhausting one's mana or even coughing up blood to defeat. But now, simply rising in rank had made hunting them comparatively easier.
However, Verdan didn't look pleased.
"What's wrong?"
"Ian. I already mentioned this to Dior, but…"
"Yeah?"
"Death comes in an instant. You know how dangerous demonic beasts are. You've faced them yourself."
Ian nodded. Verdan continued speaking slowly.
"I'm truly grateful that you've risked your life to hunt them. Just as you said, thanks to you, the knights suffered minimal casualties. But that doesn’t mean you have to overextend yourself. We didn't deploy the knights for nothing."
Ian understood what he was trying to say. As the eldest son and a family member, Verdan was genuinely worried about his youngest sibling.
"You're telling me to rely on their help."
"Hmm. But if I do that, the damage will only increase."
"That’s something we'll have to endure. It’s not an ideal situation right now, but in the long run, the knights need experience hunting demonic beasts too. Watching is helpful, but it's not the same as experiencing it firsthand."
"I get what you mean. Next time I hunt demonic beasts, I'll focus on supporting rather than taking the lead."
"That’s supposed to be the role of the commander or vice-commander, not you…"
"It can't be helped."
The commander and senior knights, who should have been leading the Crimson Spear Knights, had been assigned to other missions.
It was a sign of just how short-handed they were. The eastern region of the El Carda Empire had a vast territory but a relatively small population, which naturally led to such issues.
That didn’t mean the empire was neglecting it. Every year, they poured in enormous resources and manpower.
Things were gradually improving, but until stability was achieved, they had no choice but to bear the burden.
"Endure it for a while longer. I'm counting on you."
Seeing the bitter look in Verdan’s eyes, Ian let out a small chuckle.
"I should be grateful to Mother."
"…All of a sudden?"
"I’ve heard that in most noble families, sibling bonds aren’t that strong. But that’s not the case for us. It’s all thanks to Mother, isn’t it?"
"Ian."
"Brother, I'm fine. I'm only doing what I can. Honestly, I was planning to complain a little. The constant mission assignments, barely getting any rest, barely eating, barely sleeping."
"……."
"But what can I do? It’s not just me—everyone’s struggling together."
"Of course. But we’ll make sure you’re properly compensated. The family's finances are at an all-time high right now."
"Well, that’s good news for me."
It wasn’t as if Ian had started this conversation with a reward in mind, but money was always welcome.
After all, he had been taking on family missions for the past two months because of a significant expenditure he had recently made.
He was barely managing to keep up with the invoices from the Inquisitors.
"Hearing that makes me forget what I was going to say."
"Not because you're looking at my face?"
"Ah, well, that too. Make sure you're eating properly. Stop locking yourself in your office. How is it that you look worse off than those out in the field?"
"If everyone who sees me says the same thing, then I must really be in bad shape."
Ian glanced at the desk behind Verdan. Piles of documents were stacked high.
"You have that much paperwork giving you a headache?"
“There’s no way there wouldn’t be a lot. Outer Gates are opening frequently in multiple regions. Near the defensive lines, there are fortresses and many armed groups, so it’s not a problem. But inside, it’s a different story.”
“Hm.”
“There are a lot of incidents, but more importantly, the fanatics have started taking action in earnest.”
“Fanatics? Have you figured out which Outer God they worship?”
Ian asked as he picked up his teacup.
“Fallen Star.”
“…Ah.”
“You know them?”
Ian didn’t respond. It wasn’t just familiar—it was a name he knew all too well.
Not long ago, when he accepted a request from the Inoria Foundation, he got tangled up with them. He had killed Talion, who had received the blessing of 'Fallen Star' and was destined to become an apostle in the future, at an ancient ruin.
Somehow, he felt like he knew why the fanatics had started moving.
‘Are they looking for me?’
It was just speculation, but the possibility was high.
The ‘power to subjugate others’ that Talion possessed must have been an incredibly tempting ability for an Outer God.
‘Ah…’
He was drawing the attention of the Outer Gods against his will.
The Faceless One was already after him, and the very first Outer God he encountered after his regression remained a complete mystery.
‘If this keeps up, what if the Outer Gods actually join forces and send down an apostle?’
The thought of the prideful Outer Gods cooperating was unthinkable, but if even one of them swallowed their pride, it wasn’t entirely impossible.
Apostle (使徒).
A being who acts as the hands and feet of an Outer God. The very cause of the Xail Empire’s downfall.
Many historical records stated that merely witnessing their existence drove people insane, and even superhumans couldn’t endure their presence.
Why was the founder of Berger so revered?
Because despite the prevailing belief that only a Hero could defeat an apostle, he had single-handedly slain the Giant of Fire and seized its core.
“What’s wrong?”
“Oh, sorry. What did you say?”
“I asked if you knew about Fallen Star.”
“Yeah, I do. And I think I also know why those fanatics have started moving. Want to take a guess? They’re looking for someone, aren’t they?”
“That’s not confirmed yet, but how do you know that?”
Ian smirked.
“Because the person they’re looking for is probably me.”
Upon hearing those words, Verdan let out a deep sigh and leaned his head back. Rubbing his eyes, he spoke in a resigned tone.
“What the hell have you been up to? The fanatics are looking for you?”
“It’s just speculation. I killed someone who was supposed to become that Outer God’s apostle. Oh, I never reported that, did I? Well, that happened.”
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kiteretsu]
[Proofreader - Kyros]
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