Chapter 148

Chapter 148

As Charlotte flicked her tongue, Ian answered, placing his cup down.

"I remember. Fael of Borta. And Bor."

The Northerner, Bor, who received Ian’s gaze after Fael, nodded lightly.

Fael’s smile broadened. "I’m glad you remember. It’s good to see you again. I never imagined I’d see you in a place like this. Charlotte, it’s good to see you too. Haha."

Charlotte nodded in response to Fael’s gaze. Philip leaned slightly toward her and whispered.

"Who is that?"

"A merchant from the Imperial Ark Caravan. We helped him when we were passing through the Northern snowfield. We even traveled together to the barrier gate for a bit."

"Ah...? I see... So then..."

While Philip mumbled with shining eyes, Fael looked at Ian, who was roughly shaking his extended hand, and asked.

"Would it be alright if I join you for a while if it’s not too much trouble? There are some people here I’ve never met, and I’d like to introduce myself and catch up."

He was still as extroverted as ever. Ian glanced at Philip, who nodded with shining eyes, and at Mev, who wore a calm expression, then nodded himself.

"There’s no reason why not. Sit down."

"I was worried you might refuse. It brings back old memories. Haha."

Fael quickly brought over a chair and sat between Ian and Mev. Bor stood slantingly behind him without sitting down. Though it was a potentially intimidating posture, none of the group paid it any mind.

"This is Sir Mev Riurel, a knight. Next to her is her squire, Philip."

Ian, who had introduced Mev and Philip, pointed at Fael and added.

"And you’ve already heard about these two."

"Nice to meet you. I’m Fael from the Ark Caravan. The intimidating friend behind me is my guard, so please don’t mind him." Fael said with a smile.

Mev and Philip nodded in turn. Fael’s smile broadened.

"Judging by the fact that you’re with Sir Ian, you must not be ordinary people. By the way, I don’t see that fairy friend..."

"She had to leave for a while due to some circumstances," Ian replied nonchalantly.

Fael nodded in relief. "If that’s the case, I’m glad. Actually, I was worried as I spoke. My big mouth is always a problem, haha."

As Bor, standing behind, nodded as if to agree, Fael looked back at Ian.

"Anyway, this is fortunate. I’ve been thinking I must thank you properly if I ever meet you again."

"Thank...?" Ian asked, raising his glass.

Instead of answering, Fael gestured to the waitress.

"Another round of beers for everyone, please."

Turning back to Ian, he quickly raised an index finger in front of his face.

"This is just out of joy. I’ll express my gratitude separately, so don’t be disappointed."

"I won’t refuse, but I thought you already thanked me before," Ian said with a slight smile.

Fael shook his head. "That was for what happened then. I heard about what happened in the North afterward. It was chaotic, they say. Moreover, I heard that the merchants who left Travelga had their trades cut off. The North doesn’t associate with cowards, they say."

Fael, who sighed as if brushing off his chest, added. "If you hadn’t helped, I would have been there too and in the same situation. Just imagining it is terrifying."

"Hmm..."

Was there such an incident?

Ian nodded roughly.

He recalled the merchants leaving Travelga as soon as they heard of the approaching darkness. They probably intended to come back and profit when Travelga turned into a mess. But it seemed like things changed when the undead legion was stopped at Bellium Fortress.

It was something he couldn’t know since he wasn’t interested.

"I was worried that something might happen to you too, but seeing you safe like this is a relief. You were in the North back then, right?"

"I was."

"Oh, then–-"

As Fael was about to continue, the waitress approached with a tray full of beer mugs. After distributing the drinks and taking the empty cups, she quickly departed.

Holding up his glass, Fael lowered his voice. "Was it really as the rumors say? I heard dragons fought battles fit for myths, and a new Northern champion pierced the heart of a fallen dragon."

"...."

Where do these merchants hear all these stories?

While he pondered, Philip and Mev simultaneously looked at Ian. Ian nonchalantly brought his glass to his lips and said.

"It’s true."

"Oh, Lu Solar..."

"Bel Ronde is just the start. We’re planning to go up to Menere and then to Agel Lan."

"...."

Ian’s expression momentarily became peculiar.

Fael, unaware, continued. "Each caravan is focusing on different countries. We won’t trade only there, but we have some agreements. For me, it’s Agel Lan. A new nation might emerge there."

"So, did Orendel eventually rebel?" Mev asked in a subdued voice.

Fael blinked and nodded. “I see that you know about it, it’s not widely known information yet. From what I heard, the lord of Orendel is a bastard with the blood of freemen, so he has the people’s strong support. He and the king of Agel Lan are in the midst of a civil war. It’s like a war within a war."

"So it has come to that..."

While Mev sighed, Philip looked at Ian with a meaningful gaze.

The person who led the rebellion in Orendel was someone they knew well. They had even assisted him in becoming the lord.

As Ian silently brought his cup to his lips, Fael added. "Perhaps other lords of different nations might be secretly nurturing their dreams by looking at Agel Lan. For merchants like us, it’s all an opportunity. As dangerous as it is to travel through a warring country, the opportunities are just as great."

"So, who are you planning to sell your goods to? Agel Lan? Orendel?" Philip interjected.

Fael, after drinking, shrugged his shoulders.

"As a lowly merchant, it’s only right to trade with whoever pays the highest price... but this time, I intend to deal with that lord of Orendel. Given the situation, my heart leans toward the side with a slight disadvantage. I heard the king is a fool, so he doesn’t inspire much trust."

Ian let out a low chuckle as he brought his glass to his lips. That couldn’t be the whole reason. He must have calculated that if Orendel won, it would become a stable trading partner for his caravan.

Orendel, being less connected to various other caravans like Agel Lan, would treat them far better. It wasn’t a bad gamble. As long as he could make it back alive.

Fael turned to him and added. "Anyway, it’s a pity. If you had traveled with us, it would have made the journey safer."

"Well... that’s uncertain."

After taking a sip, Ian set his glass down and added.

"If we step into somewhere like the demonic realm, I’ll be too busy just taking care of myself."

"Demonic realm...?" Fael’s eyebrows furrowed. Bor, who had been silently drinking, also paused and looked at Ian.

Ian added leisurely. "Demonic realms are being formed all over the frontier. Probably."

As Fael tilted his head, Philip added. "It’s true."

"We ventured into a cursed land not long ago. It was horrific. Only the Radiant Goddess might know how many more such places exist and where they are."

"I’ve never heard of such misfortune..." Fael murmured in disbelief.

Ian laughed dryly. "Of course. No one comes out alive to tell you about it."

Ian already knew that the frontier would soon be filled with demonic realms. That was why he had a peculiar expression while listening to Fael’s story. Last time was the same. It seemed that this merchant named Fael had a knack for finding himself in deadly situations. Maybe that’s when he kept running into Ian.

"I knew something was up. Didn’t I say it felt ominous?" Bor clicked his tongue and said.

Fael closed his eyes tightly for a moment. He couldn’t ignore Ian’s words. They had had a similar experience in the North before.

"Do you have to stay with your group until the end?" Ian added.

"Not necessarily... but it’s better if we do. As you know, the frontier is dangerous right now. It’s better to have a large group."

"In return for the drink, let me give you some advice..."

Setting his glass on the table, Ian met Fael’s anxious eyes with a calm gaze.

"It’s best to simplify your route, finish your trades as quickly as possible, and return. Do not stray from the main roads."

Fael, who had momentarily stiffened, let out a long sigh. "I’m not sure how feasible that is. We have to sell all our goods, and this time it’s not just beer and cheese. We went to great lengths to prepare Imperial weapons, cosmetic equipment, and magical artifacts to sell to the lords..."

As Ian’s eyes briefly gleamed, Bor bluntly spoke.

"As expected, biting off more than you can chew brings trouble."

Fael glared at Bor as he turned his head. "Don’t talk as if it’s someone else’s problem. If I go down, you go down too."

"I told you the investment was too large. I suggested we just take provisions to Travelga, but you were blinded by greed."

"You should have been more forceful in stopping me then! You’re always saying things like that, so I thought you were just saying it again."

"I always meant it. You just never listened."

Fael sighed deeply.

While the group looked on in astonishment at the seemingly reversed dynamics between the two, Ian leisurely took another sip of his drink and finally spoke.

"You said Imperial weapons and cosmetic equipment? And magical artifacts?"

Fael, smacking his lips, nodded.

"Yes. I couldn’t afford anything particularly spectacular, but I managed to get a decent assortment—"

"Could I take a look at those items?"