I Became God of War’s Youngest Disciple - Chapter 361



Only Krnovel

Episode 361

I looked at Ludwig for a moment, dumbfounded. Was he lying? Or was he joking?

But at a time like this, he wasn’t the kind of person to talk nonsense on such a topic. Ludwig wasn’t the type to be clueless.

“… … .”

When I was speechless, Ludwig also became more serious and asked with a somewhat puzzled expression.

“What did your father say?”

“They say I look like my older brother.”

“You really said that?”

“okay.”

“Aren’t you talking about someone else? I mean, not a blood relative, but an older acquaintance.”

At those words, I briefly recalled what Cheolhyeolgong had said.

– You really don’t look like me. You look more like your brother than me.

“… I don’t think so. The flow of the conversation itself didn’t feel like that.”

Since they started talking about how they look alike and such, it is highly likely that they are talking about his older brother.

Ludwig looked puzzled as he listened to my words, but soon he raised both hands and said.

“Let’s stop. There’s no point in discussing this among ourselves. The scope of our speculation is too broad, and if we’re not careful, we could easily end up in a mess.”

“hmm…….”

“If you’re really curious, let’s ask again when father comes.”

“I wonder?”

We nodded and then, while we were at it, we set up camp right away.

But then Ludwig, who had just spread out his sleeping bag, stopped and said.

“… But come to think of it, is it okay to camp like this near a sandstorm hill? That’s where sandworms lurk.”

“It’s okay because it’s a rocky area. Sandworms don’t like places like this.”

“Ah. That makes sense, since he’s the one who digs holes and moves.”

Ludwig looked at me with sullen eyes, convinced.

“But how do you know that?”

“I saw it in a book.”

“Oh. I see.”

Ludwig, who was not at all convinced, spread out his sleeping bag, lit a fire, and we roasted the remaining dried beef jerky.

After a short meal, I sat on a rock and looked up at the sky.

Strangely, I couldn’t sleep, so I spent some time lost in the constellations.

As I took in the night sky with my eyes and thought about the future with my head, the peaceful time passed quickly.

At one point, as if the world had accelerated, the darkness that had engulfed the sky was pushed to one corner, and a faint purple ray of light appeared on the other side.

“… … .”

Dawn broke.

And by then Delak had not returned.

***

The southern metropolis of Airuga.

In this barren land, it is the only city with a commercial district that can be called a downtown area, and it is also the place that southerners naturally think of when they think of a big city.

Of course, it is also a transportation hub, making it a central location with relatively easy access to anywhere in the south.

The same goes for the destination, Rahild Labor Camp.

Ludwig and I ended up here without finding Delak.

We searched the area around the sandstorm hill for a day or two, but didn’t find anything.

If the Iron Blood Knight decides to hide, how many people will be able to find his traces?

‘If there’s no trace, then it probably means nothing happened.’

It’s very unlikely, but if something were to happen – say, you were to engage in an encounter with an unknown person and get seriously injured – there would naturally be traces left here and there.

In other words, it means that Cheolhyeol Gong left the group voluntarily.

I don’t know what their intentions are, so I feel uneasy… … .

Since he wasn’t a dangerous person to leave alone, we had no choice but to move according to our purpose, and that’s how Ludwig and I arrived at Airuga in five days.

‘… … .’

Airuga is also the city where I mostly stayed before returning.

Of course, because it was a big city, the cost of living was incredibly high, but compared to other areas in the south, it still had a more human feel.

It’s a place where the minimum economy and public safety are secured.

It goes without saying that this is the only place in the South that has a branch of [D’Maline Tea House].

Of course, since he was a man with no skills and had to stay in the big city, most of the Luan Badniker before his return had no choice but to spend his days penniless.

“Is this Airuga? It’s more bustling than I thought.”

“… … .”

Ludwig, newly disguised, whistled while looking at Airuga.

The person Ludwig is currently disguised as is Sir James, a member of the Iron-Blooded Knights under Badnikaker.

This is a temporary status hastily prepared to put Luzad, who disobeyed the will of the Iron Blood Lord, in a labor camp.

It was inevitable because of Delak’s sudden departure, but Ludwig was sad that he could no longer pretend to be Ayvel.

I don’t understand it, but if it’s a hobby, I guess I have to respect it.

‘Hmm… … I wonder if it’s still there.’

I naturally took the lead, recalling the inn where I had stayed long-term before returning.

It was a really big city, so it took some time just to get there.

In the meantime, I took in the southern streets that were somewhat different from what I remembered.

Even though it was a big city, there weren’t even any roads built on the streets.

On the yellow road walked humans, dwarves, and various other races. There were many of the aforementioned races, but occasionally, mermaids, giants, and fairies were seen.

What they have in common is that most of them are covered in scars, have dirty impressions, and walk down the street with their shoulders hunched over.

Even if it looks a bit ridiculous, there’s nothing we can do about it.

The mercenary group is a group that makes a living off of their name value and fame.

Even if it’s a minor quarrel, I can’t show myself being inferior to someone, even to my peers.

So wherever you go in the Southern District, you can often see childish arguments and fistfights.

“You little punk, you had a bad day today.”

“Who the hell are you talking about, you punk!”

There were dwarves and fairies fighting in the streets, swinging their fists.

People around them whistled and watched the scene. Some even made bets on who would win.

The moment I secretly bet on the dwarf side… … .

A security guard, who appeared to be from the police force, appeared on the street.

“… … .”

The security guard, who looked a bit shabby, yawned and passed by when he saw a fight breaking out in the middle of the street.

‘Nothing has changed.’

Actually, that’s the southern average.

Unless someone pulls out a knife on the street, most commotion will just pass.

I understand.

The city has long since passed the point where it could be controlled.

If you try to control those impatient and ill-tempered mercenaries by force, you may end up in bigger trouble.

Bam!

“Cough!”

“Ha! You little punk!”

Meanwhile, the dwarf who had won the fight smiled ferociously and spat out bloody phlegm.

“… … .”

A few people around nodded and wrote something.

They are brokers.

These are the guys who evaluate the skills of mercenary groups and recommend groups that are suitable for the client.

They may seem like pathetic middlemen who just eat up commissions, but in reality, it’s not such an easy business.

Information in the mercenary industry changes constantly.

It’s not that strange here for a mercenary group that was enjoying a brilliant reputation until last night to be completely annihilated the next day.

Even the petty quarrels that take place on the streets like this are one of the ways to gauge the power of the mercenary group.

“Get out of the way, you little snails!”

“You little punk. What are you staring at? Should I gouge out your eyes?”

Just like those guys who walk around this huge street like it’s their living room.

I felt slightly happy.

The mercenaries were well-built and were wearing rather luxurious gear for a mercenary. Their armors all had a one-eyed mark engraved on them.

Those guys are the Cyclops mercenaries.

It is the most famous and powerful mercenary group in the South.

“What are you?”

“… … .”

They stood in front of me.

They were advancing along the wide street in a sort of siege formation, so they were bound to collide.

“Look at this guy? What a strange looking lizard.”

“Yeah. It’s my first time seeing black scales.”

“Heh heh. Should I catch him and sell him to a circus or something? It’d probably be a good deal.”

The mercenaries who had been chattering away seemed to be babbling vulgar words at first glance, but they were glaring at my entire body with cold eyes.

Checking which mercenary group they belong to.

Of course, there is no mercenary mark on my body.

Because Luzard’s official status is that of a free mercenary.

A sneer crossed the faces of the Cyclops mercenaries who realized that.

“What are you looking at?”

“… … .”

“Don’t roll your eyes and just go away, monster.”

Monster is, of course, a derogatory term used to refer to a different race.

The Cyclops mercenary group was known for their pure-blooded nature, and as such, they were particularly hostile to foreign races.

“Excuse me.”

I nodded coolly and stepped aside, and the mercenary who had been snorting slapped me hard on the shoulder as he passed by.

Anyway, his temper is like this.

‘You guys should know that you are lucky.’

If it were Luan, he would have caused a ruckus here, but Luzad, the lonely lizardman warrior, is a person with a heart like Hahae who doesn’t get caught up in such troubles…

Anyway, after that I was able to reach my destination without any major incidents or accidents.

I have arrived at the inn, [The Last Glass of Wine in Life], which is full of memories for me.

Squeak-.

When I opened the door and went in, the inside was so quiet that the noisy southern streets felt like a different world.

As is typical of southern inns, it was naturally a bar as well, and there were guests on the first floor, but… … .

Most of them were just quietly drinking.

It can’t be helped.

Most of the guests at this inn would be people who would be put off by noise.

“… … .”

There were some looks from people who had just entered the building, but they soon disappeared.

“This is… … .”

I nodded.

The ones who glanced at us were orcs, lizardmen, goblins… … so they were all foreign races.

It’s not strange.

From the beginning, this was an inn mainly used by different races.

The man sitting at the counter, the owner of this bar, had an appearance that didn’t fit in with the place.

“… … .”

If it weren’t for the clothes he was wearing, he would not be mistaken for a nobleman; his elegant appearance is no different from what I remember.

I smiled and looked at Bacchus, the bar owner.

“What would you like to eat?”

Bacchus said curtly, wiping his glass.

“Give me anything. Meat only. And I’ll get a room too.”

“How long do you plan to stay?”

“Just one day.”

“It’s three silver.”

It was ridiculously expensive for a one-night stay with one meal, but it was a relatively reasonable price for Airu.

When I, who had no money, saw Ludwig, the guy took some money out of his pocket and handed it to me.

“Can I eat in my room?”

“It doesn’t matter, but take your own food.”

I nodded to Bacchus’ words.

After waiting for a while, I took the food and went up to the second floor.

All there was in the room was a hard stone bed and a shabby table.

There wasn’t even a chair.

One of us will have to sleep on the floor, but that doesn’t really matter.

Because the lizardman had a tail attached to its body, it was more comfortable sleeping on the floor than on a bed.

widely.

Only after the door was closed did Ludwig open his mouth.

“What a strange place. There are only foreigners here, and the owner is human. He looks neat, but he speaks rudely, and he seems quite strong. What kind of person does he do?”

“I don’t know. But he must be an extraordinary person.”

“Hmm… … . Since you brought me in, it seems like you don’t only do business with foreign races.”

That’s correct.

In the past, I stayed at this inn for a long time because of its relatively low price, and the owner, Bacchus, pretended not to care but took good care of me.

Even if I couldn’t pay my rent for a day or two, he waited for me, and when I was starving because my mission wasn’t going well, he brought me leftover food.

Of course, at that time, I still had some ugly pride left in me, so I insulted Bacchus… …

The man didn’t seem particularly offended by my immature attitude.

So to sum it up in one word-.

The tavern owner, Bacchus, could be said to be my benefactor, to whom I owed a great debt before my return.

‘But I have a strange feeling… … .’

Looking at Bacchus with a different perspective from the reckless Luan of the past, I had a strangely strange feeling.

Apart from the peculiarities of being a person that Ludwig mentioned, I felt a sense of discomfort, or should I say a sense of deja vu?

… Of course, it feels quite vague, so there is a high chance that it is my imagination.

Ludwig, who had finished eating in the meantime, said:

“I’ll go and look into the workhouse for a bit. What do you want?”

“Stay here for a bit.”

“Okay. I’ll be back before the sun sets.”

He nodded and Ludwig left.

I went down to the first floor, ordered some drinks and snacks, and ate them alone, quietly enjoying the long-awaited nostalgia.

Although inside the store, the air was somewhat spicy and warm. I tasted steamed scorpion, which I could not have even dreamed of in the past, and watched the mercenaries passing by outside the window.

Then I heard the voice of a lizardman whispering to me.

“Are you of the same species… …?”

“No. Look at the marks on his face. He’s an outcast.”

“ah.”

This was also my intention.

I was afraid that if I got too involved with the Lizardmen, my identity would be revealed, so I carved the symbol of the Exile that they dislike.

Anyway, while I was having such a lonely but satisfying time, Ludwig returned soon after.

I said, taking a sip of the remaining beer in my mouth.

“Did it work out well?”

“Um… … . Should we go up first?”

“… … ?”

His expression seems a bit stiff, but that might not be the case since he’s used to hiding his feelings.

I went back up to the room with Ludwig.

Chook.

Ludwig drew the curtains, checked the next room, looked up and down, and only then opened his mouth.

“… I knew the South was corrupt, but it was even more corrupt than I imagined.”

“What do you mean?”

“I heard you need a bribe to contact the prison manager?”

I blinked my eyes.

“bribe?”

“okay.”

“What kind of bribe?”

“I don’t know the details either. But from the way you speak, I don’t think Rahild was just a prisoner or a debt collector. Rather… … .”

Ludwig said after thinking for a moment.

“Rather… an arena where only those who have passed the verification can enter? A land of gold? Something like that.”

“… … .”

“I’m not sure, so let’s wait for a bit.”

“Who?”

“I’m talking about the Information Guild. The information is accurate and, above all, fast. The only downside is that it’s difficult to contact and expensive.”

“Then you must have spent some money.”

“I thought so, but not this time. They treated me well because I said I was a member of the Badniker Iron-Blooded Knights. They said they had a few questions for me.”

“Do you have any questions?”

“That’s the funny part… … . He was curious about ‘Luan Badnicker’.”

I blinked my eyes.

I almost reflexively said, “Me?”

Ludwig said with a chuckle.

“What’s so surprising? Information about Golden Fairy Luan is currently extremely valuable. She is the most notable young hero in the Empire, and there are even rumors that she might be the de facto successor to Badniker… … . This is a source that will make the Information Guild drool.”

That’s right.

Although I felt like I understood it on the one hand, I nodded my head without thinking about it.

Then he looked at Ludwig’s face and asked.

“But you’re waiting? Are you sure he’s not coming here?”

“That’s right. I was just cleaning up and came right away-.”

At that moment, an exquisite knock was heard.

“Come in.”

With Ludwig’s permission, the door opens… … .

Soon a figure appeared, wrapped completely in a mask and robe.

‘and.’

That’s exactly the kind of appearance that comes to mind when I think of an Information Guild member.

“Are you Sir James?”

But why does the voice sound strangely familiar?

“huh.”

“I have brought you the information you requested.”

“It’s good because it’s fast.”

Ludwig nodded with satisfaction… and I felt a strange sense of discomfort again.

With my eyes narrowed, I watched this person as if I was exploring… … .

I asked abruptly.

“What is your name?”

“… … .”

Then the guild member who was looking at me glanced at Ludwig, then looked back at me and said.

“Sorry for the late introduction. My name is Sihyeon, the master of the information guild [Bastard].”