I Became God of War’s Youngest Disciple - Chapter 335



Only Krnovel

Episode 335

After leaving the underground library, I headed straight to the Socheoldang.

The mansion, which had been empty for quite some time, was now teeming with people, which wasn’t surprising since I had seen this before returning.

Every time I ran into someone, someone who seemed to be a servant would bow their head and greet me. Every time that happened, I would nod roughly and head to my room.

I nodded at the casual clothes lying on the bed.

“As expected, you have good sense.”

After a quick shower and changing into some light clothes for the first time in a while, I was thinking about what to do from now on when I suddenly felt hungry.

Come to think of it, I haven’t eaten anything today.

“Home cooking is the best.”

There is a separate restaurant in Socheoldang, which means there is a kitchen and a chef.

I headed to the restaurant with high expectations… … .

“I’m sorry. I started cooking as soon as I heard that the Lord Soga had returned, but it’s not quite ready yet.”

“How much longer will it take?”

“Two hours should be enough.”

Did I hear wrong?

“Two hours? Not 20 minutes? Are you cooking something like a stew? Why is it taking so long?”

“You guessed it right. What we’re preparing right now is a dish called Smasum, a home-cooked meal from the north, which is also your hometown.”

The chef started explaining with a happy face, but I just let it go in one ear and out the other.

I’ve never been to my maternal grandparents’ house, which is said to be in the north, although that’s my hometown.

“Two hours is a bit much, so I’ll just eat in the main building.”

“ah…….”

But the man who seemed to be the chef was looking very sad for his age, so I quickly added.

“Instead, I’ll come and eat dinner, so can I look forward to it?”

“… … ! Of course! Just leave it to me!”

“I’ll watch over you even if your leg breaks once.”

So I left the Socheoldang behind and headed towards the main building.

As I walked through the garden of my parents’ house and glanced around, I still felt that the scenery was desolate.

“… It doesn’t feel like spring here either.”

The last time I saw it, it was in the middle of winter, so even so, it is now spring in full swing, but Badniker still has a cold wind blowing.

I think the atmosphere would improve a bit if we planted some bright flowers in the garden and built a large fountain.

To begin with, the name of the mansion I’m staying in is a bit strange.

What is Socheoldang? Socheoldang.

The name itself is seriously stiff, and it feels like even the bed is made of stone.

I grumbled as I walked through the garden and arrived at the main building’s restaurant.

It was not yet meal time so the restaurant was relatively quiet, but there was a rather unexpected person sitting there.

Just then, that person saw me and narrowed his eyes slightly.

“huh?”

“you…….”

Sitting at the table with a stoic expression was Olivia Badnicker, one of my half-sisters.

“Luan Badnicker.”

“good morning.”

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to the restaurant to eat, what else could I have come here for?”

I replied in an informal tone.

Because now I’ve gotten tired of using polite language to my brothers and sisters.

But I especially left out the previous scolding of ‘asking a stupid question’. If it had been our Hector, it would have been merciless.

“… … .”

Olivia, unaware of that fact, kept her mouth shut.

Of course, he probably asked why I was at my parents’ house rather than why I came to a restaurant.

But I, on the other hand, was curious as to why Olivia was here.

The large restaurant on the first floor of the main house is usually used by employees.

Of course, the chef’s skills are top-notch, but since he was cooking for a group, the quality was bound to be a bit lacking…

In fact, if you are a nobleman who is more snobbish than that, eating in the same place as your servants is considered to be a low-class act.

Of course, I’m the type of person who doesn’t care about things like that, so I came all the way here.

“… … .”

Olivia looked at me for a moment, then lost interest and moved the dishes again.

With just one hand.

His other hand was turning over something that looked like a strange ledger, and his gaze was directed towards a map spread out on the table.

“ha…….”

And he even lets out a sigh every now and then, so I can’t help but look at him since I have nothing to do while waiting for food.

‘But how old is he now?’

Olivia Badnicker is a maid.

It means that the difference in rank between me and my family is not that big. It’s probably within two years at most, or a few months at least.

Yet somehow, her impression seems more worn out than that of the second daughter, Nero.

My skin is also a bit dark… … Of course, it’s not because of my Iron Blood lineage.

Olivia’s skin in my memories didn’t look that tanned, so it was probably an acquired effect.

I couldn’t look at the ledger, so I looked at the large map spread out on the table.

‘Is this the southern map?’

Southern part of the empire.

A vast and dry land with a different meaning from the North.

And it is also a place of memories where I rolled around like a dog until just before I died in my previous life.

Is that why?

I had an overwhelming knowledge of the South, throughout the Empire.

In fact, my life right now is not like that of a returnee who knows the future 10 years from now, but it means that if I go to the south, I can pretend to know a little.

‘Come to think of it… … .’

Olivia said she was working as a mercenary.

Looking at it again, the costume definitely looks familiar, and it feels like it belongs there.

Turbans and scarves to protect against sandstorms, and even relatively large-area cloth clothing… … .

It was strangely familiar to see him checking his ledgers and notebooks in that manner, and occasionally writing something down on a map.

Because it was a sight I had seen many times in the past.

“Sister, were you the leader of the mercenary group?”

“… … .”

Olivia’s gaze fell on me again.

It’s a look that’s clearly intended to tell you to keep your mouth shut and ignore it.

But unfortunately, I’m the type of person who has to check things out to be satisfied…

He got up from his seat and plopped down next to Olivia.

“you…….”

“That’s right. A map of the southern part of the empire. Wow… isn’t this really expensive?”

At that moment, Olivia closed her half-open mouth. Then, she furrowed her brows again and glared at me, then slowly opened her lips.

“Why do you think it’s expensive?”

“The size isn’t the only thing that matters, but the locations of the dwarf village and the oasis are drawn as well. The path is also quite detailed.”

“… … .”

Then Olivia’s face hardened.

What I realized was that what I was talking about was something that only those who had not set foot in the desert themselves would know.

“… Have you ever been to the desert?”

“No. I just saw it in a book.”

“What book did you read?”

“I don’t know. I read it a long time ago so I don’t remember very well.”

“hmm…….”

“The mercenary base is… [Sorun Village]? Judging by the number of people on the map, it looks like they mainly do escort missions.”

Olivia nodded and continued.

“… That’s right. I’m mainly in charge of escorting those who go back and forth between Sorun and [Aaruga].”

For reference, Aaruga is the largest city in the South.

“But recently, the sandstorms have gotten so bad that missions have been delayed. Last month alone, there were five missions that missed their deadlines, and I had to pay for all of them.”

“That’s too bad. What about the route?”

“Through [the Ormot ruins].”

“aha.”

I think I know why you’re late.

The Ormot ruins are located in a sandstorm zone, but even if you encounter a sandstorm, you have the advantage of being able to take refuge in the surrounding ruins.

‘I can tell what kind of personality he has.’

Olivia is probably a safety-oriented person.

Rather than rushing and encountering a storm that could result in the unit getting lost or the mission failing, they would have chosen the safe route even if it meant being a little late.

However, there are times when sandstorms last an unusually long time, and during these times, there are often cases of consecutive mission failures.

‘Let’s see… … .’

At a time when I had nothing else to do, I thought about it quite hard.

“What are the ranks and sizes of the mercenary group?”

“There are 15 people in total, and their rank is B.”

“How are the members’ skills?”

“I didn’t pick them randomly. I’m sure they’re all strong compared to their ranks.”

That’s probably it.

15 people is not a large number for a mercenary group, but the fact that they were rated B-class means that they are all very skilled in the mercenary industry.

I thought about it here and there and quickly came to a conclusion.

“Then go to [Storm Bridge].”

Olivia paused.

“If it’s Stormbridge… the dwarf village?”

“Yeah. A mining town. It’s not that far from Sorun Village, right?”

“That’s true, but why there?”

“There is a tunnel that is not used in that area, and it leads all the way to Aaru.”

“I’ve never heard of this before.”

“That’s right. Dwarves are insular. Especially if they’re from the South.”

“hmm…….”

“It’s a bit of a roundabout route, so it might take some time, but if there’s a sandstorm going on, it might be a little faster. If you negotiate the deadline well, you won’t have to pay anything.”

“If that’s true, it’s golden information, but… … I doubt those closed-off dwarves will let us use the tunnels so readily, even if they’re not using them right now.”

“I should have done it.”

“How can you be sure?”

“The reason we don’t use that tunnel is because monsters are pouring out of it. Things like poison scorpions and huge earthworms.”

“ah.”

“It’s not a bad thing for a dwarf to clean up the tunnels. In fact, if you prove that you’ve caught a monster, you’ll be rewarded.”

“So that’s why you asked about my skills.”

I nodded.

Olivia said, her face brightening.

“Our mercenary group can easily defeat the poison scorpions and sandworms.”

“That’s fortunate.”

After the conversation was over, the food came out.

I started eating, thinking that I had wasted my time well.

Dalgrak.

“… … .”

Even though I was moving the dishes so quietly, my face felt warm for some reason.

I took a bite of the meat, swallowed it, and then asked.

“You didn’t eat it all?”

“Well, that’s true, but… … .”

Olivia hesitated.

Judging from his expression, he seemed to have a few more questions.

“I’ve been starving for a while. I’ll eat first.”

“Oh, yeah. Eat a lot.”

I looked at Olivia again, fiddling with her ledger.

“… … .”

Olivia Badnicker.

One of the three children of the Iron Blood Lord who died before reaching adulthood.

Listening to the story, I think I know roughly how he died.

‘Ludwig’s death was a lie from the beginning, and I stopped Ryzen.’

Even though we are brothers, I have no obligation to personally stay by Olivia’s side and protect her…

If today’s conversation with me can be used as a source of nourishment to grow and overcome the crisis of death, it is at Olivia’s discretion.

By the way, I also have some questions about the desert situation.

***

After I finished eating, I sat down to let my food digest and chatted with Olivia.

Actually, it wasn’t bad for me either since it made me reminisce about old times, but it was annoying because he kept talking even after the meal was served.

“Let’s talk about the rest later, Sister. I have something to do right now.”

“Ah. I see. Thank you. I’ll definitely pay you back for today’s debt later. If you ever come to the Southern Sorun area, come find the [Black Peony Mercenaries].”

“okay.”

After giving a rough answer and thinking about it, it seemed like Olivia’s mercenary group might be of some help.

Anyway, my next destination was the south.

After finishing my meal, I returned to the Socheoldang, and the maid who seemed to have been waiting for me bowed her head.

“Welcome, Lord Soga.”

“Do you have anything to say?”

“Yes. Sir Asad and Sister Razbeth are waiting in the visiting room.”

Looks like they both went to see Iron Blood.

I nodded and went up to the meeting room to meet them both.

First, I asked Verita.

“Did you check?”

“Yes.”

“Can you fix it?”

“The odds aren’t that high, but it’s worth a try.”

It’s a shame that the probability isn’t high, but from Assad’s perspective, those words will sound very hopeful.

Because no one who diagnosed the Iron Blood Corps up until now has ever said something like that.

I pretended to think for a moment and then opened my lips.

“Mr. Assad.”

“why?”

“I can double, or even triple, the odds that Sister Razbeth mentioned. If you, Assad, will allow me to do just one thing.”

“What permission?”

I opened my mouth slowly.

“Please free Lisera Digos.”