Chapter 182

Chapter 182

TL/Editor: raei

Status: 5/week mon-fri

Illustrations: none

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Ian treated Salvador and the Knights of Saint Santiago with the utmost respect.

These knights were the ones he had forged a bond with during the manticore hunt in the past.

Both Salvador and Ian.

Except for the unexpected encounter in the southern Empire, the atmosphere was quite jovial.

"You seem to have grown even more since then," Salvador remarked.

"I've learned various new spells," Ian replied.

"No, no. Not your magic, I mean your body seems to have grown more."

The robust old man, Sword Master Salvador, first noticed the change in Ian's appearance.

Back then, Ian certainly had a youthful face closer to that of a boy...

But now, he looked like a well-built young man by anyone's standards.

Salvador gazed at Ian with a fond smile.

Even a brief encounter can form a connection. Seeing an acquaintance from the past grow up healthy filled him with warmth, like meeting a long-lost grandchild.

"If you come down to the Coral Sea, I could introduce you to my granddaughter..."

"I appreciate the sentiment, sir."

After exchanging medieval-style greetings (read: marriage proposals), Ian shared a glass of wine with Salvador and chatted.

"Have you been well?" Ian asked.

"As well as one can be, I suppose."

Salvador proudly held out a foul-smelling bundle.

Inside the bundle were countless severed monster body parts.

All were from beasts hunted by the Knights of Saint Santiago, collected as hunting trophies.

"We hunted monsters, recruited new members, and occasionally took on requests from nobles as we traveled the Empire."

More than half of the Saint Santiago Knights were unfamiliar faces to Ian.

Some had left due to death or injury, or found new lords and settled down.

"It puts my mind at ease to see you've been doing well too."

Ian also gave a brief summary of his journey so far.

"You went to the land of barbarians?" Salvador asked, surprised.

"Yes, I made a quick trip to rescue Takarion."

"What!"

Salvador was genuinely shocked.

"You mean to say you rescued [Golden Finger Takarion]?"

"Well, yes. That's how it turned out."

Salvador whispered his question.

"... Then, do you have a gospel book with Takarion's personal signature...?"

"Old man, are you perhaps a fan of Takarion?"

"Ahem! Hmph! No! What do you take me for! How could I possibly like such a frivolous and preposterous gospel!"

"..."

"M-my granddaughter is quite fond of Takarion's gospel..."

Ian rummaged through his belongings and pulled out [The Gospel of Marcus].

It was a book that Takarion had forcefully given him as a memento before leaving the Blue Key Monastery.

Medieval books were expensive and rare, so Ian had been carrying it around as a refundable item.

"No! This is! A first edition of the Gospel of Marcus?! And with Takarion's own handwriting!"

"Old man?"

"I-I remember it because I hate it so much! Tsk tsk! Young people these days treat faith like casual entertainment!"

"Ah. You hate it? I was going to give it to you as a gift..."

"... I hate it, but my granddaughter really likes it..."

Ian smiled and held out the Gospel of Marcus.

"Then take it for your granddaughter."

"... Ian, my boy. Have you ever thought about marrying my granddaughter? If it's a son-in-law like you..."

"Oh come on, I said no."

Ian thought as he watched Salvador grinning from ear to ear.

Takarion, you terrifying bastard.

You've even turned a Sword Master into a fan...!

It wasn't that strange for Salvador to like the gospel.

If he wasn't interested in faith, he wouldn't be traveling with the monastic order of Saint Santiago.

The reason for accompanying the monastic order was likely a strong sense of atonement for sins committed in his youth.

After exchanging greetings, Ian soon got to the point.

"So, Salvador? What brings you to Baron Vincent's domain?"

As far as Ian knew, there were no famous monsters in this area.

There was no reason for Salvador and the Knights of Saint Santiago to visit.

It was even less likely that they came because of the war.

The Knights of Saint Santiago were an order dedicated to serving humanity, after all.

At Ian's question, Salvador's expression turned serious.

"..."

The face of a certain noblewoman flashed through Ian's mind.

Her with beautiful dark blue hair and bright yellow eyes.

Lucy.

The girl who took Ian's first kiss, as close to a lover as one could be.

The Barony of Talian was located close enough to the County of Catina to be called neighbors.

Moreover, Talian was where the fairies contracted to Ian were producing Fairy Silk as a specialty product(?).

And now, to hear that the County of Catina had been attacked by a black dragon.

"Salvador. What about the County of Edward?"

"I haven't heard anything about that place either. I suppose it's probably safe?"

The County of Edward was Ian's true homeland.

The land where his father, mother, siblings, and little sister lived peacefully.

'... That's a relief.'

Ian could easily calculate the black dragon's range of activity.

It must have made its lair near the [Golden Mountains] where he had once built a house and lived with Eredith.

If so, the County of Edward should be safe for the time being.

The problem was the Barony of Talian.

The probability of it being attacked by the black dragon was too high.

'Lucy.'

Ian had promised Lucy he would return once his journey was over.

But if he went back to Talian...

Would a pile of ashes greet him?

'...'

Just imagining it pissed him off.

'F*cking black dragon bastard.'

No, in this vast empire, why the hell did it have to build its nest in the Golden Mountains?

And what did that dragon-headed bastard plan to do after collecting all that treasure? Could it buy pizza with it?

Ian felt his hostility towards the black dragon growing rapidly.

If it had messed with lands unrelated to Ian, he might have considered turning a blind eye.

Dragons were MAX level dangerous lunatics, and it was generally better not to mess with them if possible.

But if it touched Lucy's and his parents' lands...

He was more than willing to pluck its wings and make dragon nuggets.

"Ian, my boy."

Salvador paused for a moment before speaking.

"I'm thinking of heading up to the Duchy of Araz like this and meeting with Duke Araz."

"The Duke?"

If an aging mercenary said he was going to meet an Imperial Duke, he'd immediately become a laughingstock.

But Salvador was the Empire's greatest warrior, honored with the title of [Sword Master] by the late emperor.

Duke Araz would certainly meet with Salvador.

"Then Salvador is..."

"That's right. I intend to vanquish the black dragon along with righteous young people."

"...!"

Salvador and the Knights of Saint Santiago were an order of knights specializing in hunting monsters.

And now, they were about to challenge a dragon, which could be considered the apex of monsters.

"Fighting a dragon will be extremely dangerous. We certainly can't guarantee our lives, and every moment will be fraught with peril."

"..."

"So Ian, I know it's an unreasonable request."

Salvador extended his hand to Ian.

"Would you lend your magic to the young people who will shed blood and sweat?"

Ian immediately grasped Salvador's hand.

The advice of the space-time wizard Gerard didn't even cross his mind.

This was a golden opportunity.

Salvador and his knights. Add to that the substantial support of Duke Araz, and it was enough to take on even a dragon!

'I'm going to take that dragon's head.'

Let's become a dragon-slayer while we're at it. F*ck yeah.

"If my magic can be of help, by all means."

When Ian answered decisively, Salvador broke into a broad smile.

'As expected of a righteous young man!'

---

[1. raei: anyone know what Mila and blue star is a reference to?]s

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