Chapter 84: Heroes (4) |
[The first notable appearance of the heroes, at least according to reliable records, was during the Siege of Astras.]
[At that time, the 2nd Legion was defending the fortress of Astras, which was on the verge of being overrun by the endless armies of ‘Calaril the Divider’. The fall of Astras would have undoubtedly plunged the central regions into war.]
[It was then that four heroes emerged. They suddenly appeared from nowhere, joined forces, broke through the demon army, and completely destroyed the demon Calaril.]
[Witnesses from that era unanimously testify to the heroes’ strength, which transcended that of ordinary humans. It was perhaps inevitable that a demon of intermediate rank would fall before such a united front.]
[Afterward, the heroes went their separate ways. The ‘Archmage’ became one of the masters of the Magic Tower, the ‘Saintess’ rose to a position that threatened the bishops within the church, and the ‘King of Mercenaries’ became a legend within the mercenary guilds.]
[Except for the ‘Faceless Knight’, who continued to wander the continent helping people, they essentially took control of the three most powerful entities within the Empire.]
Dale nodded as he read this far.
The magic tower, the mercenary guild, and the church. With support from these three, there’s nothing they couldn’t do.
If these four were to unite under a common cause, they would form a force that not even the Emperor could recklessly contend with.
Thud.
The scribe who was sweating profusely moved a chess piece.
Dale casually moved his piece in response.
The scribe flinched.
Dale then returned to his reading.
[Suddenly rising to power often triggers the defenses of those with established authority. At that time, there were moves among the nobles to keep the heroes in check. I won’t bother mentioning who is behind those nobles.]
Dale’s brows furrowed. Either make a full statement or don’t mention it at all.
He held out the book to the scribe.
“Who are you implying is behind the nobles?”
The scribe’s brows were also pinched together.
“Who else but the Emperor? Don’t ask questions when I need to think.”
Dale nodded his head in understanding.
It made sense that there would be a deliberate ambiguity when mentioning the Emperor.
[From the beginning, the nobles’ attempts to curb the heroes were doomed to fail. The heroes who read the disturbing movement began to demonstrate their influence in the most powerful ways. They gathered in one place and started hunting demons.]
[They eliminated a total of ten demons, including lower and intermediate-ranked ones like Dende, Ganiagos, and Orodoia. This marked the first time the demon army, which had been advancing unstoppably since the war, lost its momentum. The frontline settled into a stalemate. This was an achievement so remarkable that it was hard to believe it was the work of just four individuals. This was something beyond the reach of nobles confined to their desks and pens.]
Dale nodded his head in agreement.
He wondered why the frontlines had quieted down and never imagined that it was because ten demons had been slain.
[The exploits of the heroes proved they were indispensable to the empire. The people showered them with endless support and adoration. Had there ever been heroes so beloved in the history of the empire? Some daring gossips even claimed that this was the most precarious situation the imperial dynasty had faced in a millennium.]
As soon as you pass through the castle gate, the statues you see were of the heroes, not emperors, so it wasn’t difficult to imagine their stature.
Their achievements shone so brightly that they were beyond reproach.
Yet Dale had a hunch about what might have happened next.
It’s typical for those in power to never tolerate rivals who could threaten their position.
[Various events unfolded beneath the surface.]
The scribe had noted this down.
Unlike the detailed accounts before, the phrases were now terse and casual.
Yet Dale knew, this was the best the scribe could do.
Dale read on.
[Following that, the heroes headed to the 2nd Legion where the high-ranking demon, ‘Kolgoras the Terrifying’, was advancing. The heroes defeated Kolgoras. Afterward, they vanished completely from the public eye.]
Dale turned the page.
The next was blank.
It seemed the further back, the sparser and more abbreviated the content became.
Was it mostly unrecordable?
So, Dale asked directly.
“What became of the heroes after this?”
“Keep it down! I’m thinking…”
“I will take a step back.”
“Hmm.”
After a quick sniff, the scribe asked.
“What are you curious about?”
“It says they disappeared after the fight with Kolgoras, but if you think about it normally, couldn’t they just have died in the fight against the demon?”
The old scribe shook his head.
“No, that’s not it. There are eyewitness accounts that they definitely defeated the demon and returned to the camp alive.”
Dale organized his thoughts.
The heroes who had suddenly appeared made significant contributions. They completely turned the tide of the battle.
But that very act brought them the watchful eyes of the nobles. There might have been friction with the emperor.
Then, after their last battle with the demon, they mysteriously disappeared.
A sequence of events that seemed to follow one another yet somehow didn’t fit together.
Dale thought.
I need to find them.
He was certain.
These heroes could be the key to unlocking the secrets related to Dale.
He had to find them, no matter where they were hiding.
Having previously only pursued the vague goal of becoming stronger, Dale now had a clear objective.
Dale sealed his victory by moving a chess piece forward.
The scribe’s face turned pale.
“Ah.”
“I have a question.”
“…Can we play just one more game? I feel like I could really win this time.”
“Answer well, and we can.”
“Hmm. What do you want to ask?”
Dale spoke up.
“Where do you think the disappeared heroes might be, in your opinion?”
“Hmm. A topic ripe for gossip over drinks, it seems.”
The scribe swept the chess pieces off the board.
“Well, there’s plenty of speculation. Some say they’re collaborating with the generals at the frontlines and plotting a rebellion. Others believe they’re hiding within the empire and concocting schemes. There’s even ridiculous talk that they’ve defected to the demons.”
“Which side do you take in this?”
“It’s not you. it’s Andrei, you presumptuous thing. Pavel’s son, one of the seven masters of the Magic Tower, the fourth seat, Andrei.”
Dale paused.
“…A mage from the Magic Tower? And master at that?”
“So, do you see me in a different light now?”
Dale surveyed the library, its air filled with the musty scent typical of old books. Even at its best, it was hardly a clean environment.
He pondered over the role of a scribe. It was important, no doubt, but…
It just doesn’t seem fitting for a master of the Magic Tower.
Sensing Dale’s thoughts, Andrei quickly responded.
“Just so you know, I wasn’t kicked out of the Magic Tower. I left because I couldn’t stand being with those fools.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
But Andrei continued to explain.
“Anyway, they look down on non-battle mages. But before the war, the essence of magic was in the non-battle. They think there’s pride in studying spells for killing. Always mocking me for being short and old behind my back. As if I wouldn’t hear…”
As Andrei’s grumbling began to fade, Dale swiftly changed the subject.
“Will you be alright?”
“With what?”
“The Magic Tower probably doesn’t like me very much.”
The plan to drag Elena away and take her talent was thwarted by Dale after all.
Moreover, the story itself had become a novel and it gained immense popularity in the upper districts.
In the novel, the mages were depicted as particularly dreadful characters.
One could only imagine how the actual parties involved would grind their teeth in frustration.
“You don’t think other mages will dislike you helping me like this?”
But Andrei was nonchalant.
“It seems you’re under some misconception. Do you think the Magic Tower acts as one?”
“It doesn’t?”
“It might have been so in the past. Now, to call the Magic Tower ‘united’ would be an exaggeration. Once everyone had a bit of leeway, they started forming factions, indulging in political squabbles day in and day out. If anything, they should be thanking you for putting one over on a rival faction.”
The Magic Tower Dale remembered was, despite its flaws, a collective of individuals running towards the grand cause of defeating demons.
But it seemed the world had changed.
Seems like heroes hunting demons isn’t necessarily a good thing.
Dale steered the conversation back.
“So, I’d like to hear your answer to my question. Where do you think they’ve vanished to?”
Andrei rubbed his ear. with a look of indifference.
“Well, to be honest, I don’t really care much about it. They’re a secretive bunch, always hiding something and, to top it off, they don’t even reveal their names. They prefer grandiose nicknames instead like ‘King of Mercenaries’ or ‘Archmage’.”
Andrei continued.
“But if I had to choose a side… Yeah, the most plausible would be them cozying up with the generals at the frontlines. The atmosphere there has been quite peculiar lately, hasn’t it?”
Dale nodded his head in agreement.
Considering the incidents caused by returning soldiers from the frontlines and the rampant deserters.
It was clear that things were taking a strange turn.
“With their popularity skyrocketing among the citizens of Irene, imagine what heroes mean to the soldiers at the front. They’re almost like deities, aren’t they? If it were me, I’d probably blend in among those soldiers.”
Indeed, that option seemed the most credible.
Should I make my way to the frontline myself?
Heading to the frontline would likely uncover their tracks. The problem lay in the inherent dangers of the frontline.
Not only was there the constant threat of demons appearing, but the unknown motives of the frontline generals posed an even greater risk.
Is it all ultimately a matter of power?
If Dale were to become stronger here, it might be a problem he could solve.
However, he knew he shouldn’t rush himself. Dale was already becoming stronger at a rapid pace.
Noticing Dale’s pensive mood, Andrei hurriedly set up the chess pieces.
He then exclaimed,
“Come on, let’s get started!”
“If you want, I shall take the black pieces.”
“No! We’ll play as it is! The challenger takes the white pieces!”
Wasn’t Andrei who had been utterly defeated the challenger right now?
Though Dale wondered about this, he decided to go along with Andrei’s wishes. He knew that elders tended to be stubborn.
Dale calmly began the game and soon completely crushed Andrei once more.
Andrei lamented while clutching his head.
“How… how are you so good at this? It’s unbelievable.”
“It seems it’s getting late, so I’ll take my leave now.”
Dale stood up while holding the thick book Andrei had given him. It was a book detailed with records about individual heroes.
When Dale rose to leave, Andrei became flustered.
“Wait! Just a moment! You’ll come again tomorrow, right? Just one more game, please?”
Dale responded to the pleading Andrei.
“For free?”
“Damn it! That line again? Is it really okay for a bastard with a sword to say that? Huh? Don’t knights know anything about that?”
“A deal must always be fair.”
“…Come and beat me again tomorrow, and I’ll grant you any favor. How about that? It’s not often you get the chance to owe the master of the Mage Tower.”
“I do feel a bit sorry, though.”
“For what?”
“It just seems too advantageous for me.”
Andrei bristled at Dale’s playful arrogance.
“Insolent brat! Just you wait! I will surely win tomorrow!”
Dale stepped outside with a nonchalant shrug.
The weary-looking librarian bowed his head. Dale nodded back in acknowledgment.
As he emerged outside, the sun was already setting in a golden color.
The streets were nearly empty, save for heavily armed soldiers and knights who clamorously rang bells and shouted.
Ding Ding Ding!
“The sun is setting! All citizens are to return to their residences immediately, and outsiders are to leave the city!”
Following this, the few pedestrians quickened their pace.
The atmosphere had completely transformed from that of the daytime. The peaceful and relaxing vibe had vanished without a trace, replaced by a tense air that seemed to cut through the surroundings.
A soldier approached Dale as well.
“Hey, you! Why aren’t you leaving? We could arrest you right now… Ugh.”
The soldier who had been running over irritably faltered as Dale looked down at him.
Overwhelmed by Dale’s imposing presence, he momentarily lost his words.
Dale said,
“I’ll be on my way now.”
“…Yes, please do hurry.”
With the soldier suddenly turning polite, Dale nodded his head and moved past the streets towards the city gates.
Before leaving District 3, Dale cast one more glance at the statue near the gate.
A mercenary, a priestess, a mage, and a knight.
During the day, these sculptures exuded dignity and strength.
But as the sun set, the shadows cast by the city walls exquisitely covered their heads.
The four heroes submerged in darkness.
Was it too much of a leap in logic to feel that this sight hinted at something?
Dale moved closer to the sculptures as if drawn by an unseen force.
Something about them caught his eye.
Fine scratches that he hadn’t paid much attention to during the bright daylight. On closer inspection, these scratches seemed deliberately made, as if someone had etched them with purpose.
Dale leaned in to scrutinize the tiny scratches.
They were letters.
Beneath the statue, the following words were inscribed:
[It won’t take long.]
