I Became God of War’s Youngest Disciple - Chapter 9



Only Krnovel

Episode 9

Needless to say, the person I feared the most in my past life was my father, Iron Blood Prince.

Of course, I have never even had a proper conversation with my father. On the contrary, the number of times we have met face to face can be counted on one hand.

Nevertheless, as someone who had the last name Badniker and lived off the family’s legacy… … .

The influence of Iron Blood Ball became an invisible pressure that bound me.

In other words, the fear of Iron Blood Ball was an uncertain type of fear that had not been specifically proven to me.

On the other hand, Arjan in front of me is a proven fear to me.

In my past life, just looking at Arjan’s face made me shiver, so I did my best to avoid him.

Of course, what scared me more than the violence at that time was Arjan’s unique cold gaze.

‘The child is the same as in my memory.’

It was that face when he silently beat me like a machine.

I couldn’t understand anything, and even if I apologized for being wrong, I would only shake my fists, so I couldn’t help but feel afraid in my immature days.

Actually, that’s why I was curious.

How would I feel if I saw Arjan in person?

The soul and body are inseparable concepts, and the fear imprinted on the body is surprisingly tough.

It was an unexpected opportunity to answer that question.

“hi.”

As expected, nothing happened.

That’s because, for 10 years, I was beaten a thousand times more by a person a hundred times scarier than Arjan.

At this moment, I also realized one fact that was not particularly important.

It is true that in the future I will never submit to violence against anyone.

“Yes, master. long time no see.”

“What happened all of a sudden?”

“sorry.”

Arjan’s waist was tilted at a right angle.

“I tried to take at least one more week of self-reflection, but I heard a report from my employer that I couldn’t let go of.”

“A report that cannot be overlooked?”

“I heard that the Fang Knights came to visit. And they are taking you back to your hometown.”

“that’s right.”

I nodded but was puzzled.

It was surprising that it had already reached Arjan’s ears even though it had just happened.

‘There’s no way this guy could have secretly eavesdropped… … .’

It means that in this mansion, there are people who serve as Arjan’s eyes and ears.

Of course, there is a possibility that the employees suddenly informed Arjan regardless of his will.

If the former is the case, Arjan may be more insidious than we think.

“… “Of course, my master’s return to his homeland is a happy event, but I heard that the process involves passing through the Jewel Mountains.”

“The knights said so.”

Then Arjan closed his mouth.

It felt like he was sighing, but it was also the face of a childish master who had no idea about the world.

“Do you know what kind of place the Jewel Mountains are?”

“It’s the largest mountain range in the empire.”

“Anything else.”

“The name is a bit unusual? “I think there’s a mine.”

Although I worked as a mercenary in my past life, I actually don’t know much about the geography of the empire.

This is because the activity area was completely different from the beginning.

At that time, hearing the name Badniker was a pressure in itself, so if possible, I worked in remote areas of the empire where the name was not heard.

“It is one of the four forbidden places in the empire. “Do you know what prohibition means?”

Even though I knew that much, I tried to keep quiet.

As expected, Arjan continued his explanation.

“Even though it is an imperial territory, it is a land that the empire has not conquered.”

“… … .”

“The empire sent punitive forces to the danger zone several times, but no significant results were achieved. In the end, it was judged that it was more practical to neglect rather than forcefully conquer it, so entry was prohibited and it became a prohibited area.”

“Haha.”

“… … .”

“… … .”

I laughed because I thought it was a joke, but looking at the expression on his face, I thought it wasn’t, so I smiled.

“But they said the knights came here through the mountains? “It didn’t even have the nuance of being particularly dangerous.”

“It was just once, wasn’t it?”

Arjan said, stretching out his index finger.

“The number 1 has no statistical significance.”

That is correct.

As I listened to the story, it seemed like the Jewel Mountains were a much more dangerous place than I expected.

But there was one thing Arjan didn’t know.

“But I still have to go.”

“Do you really want to go back to your hometown?”

“It’s not that problem. “This is the head of the family’s order.”

Then, for the first time, surprise spread across Arjan’s calm face.

“You worked at the main house, so you know better than me, right? “This is not the kind of thing you can refuse.”

“… okay. understand.”

It’s surprisingly easy to understand.

Maybe it wasn’t Arjan who couldn’t communicate, but maybe it was me in the past.

The moment I thought about that, Arjan looked at me and said something rather shocking.

“In that case, I will accompany you.”

* * *

next day.

Before the sun had even risen, the Fang Knights visited the mansion again.

These guys saw me standing in front of the mansion, then looked at Arjan and asked.

“Who is he?”

“This is Deacon Arjan. It’s the pride of our mansion. “Somehow, I ended up accompanying you this time.”

“hmm… … .”

About two out of five knights looked at Arjan blankly.

Because of my profession, I must have often seen noble ladies, and even for such people, I think they have an impressive appearance.

However, Osel narrowed his eyes.

“It’s not an easy place for just one butler to stay together… … .”

“… … .”

At this moment, I raised my head with a sense of discomfort that I had unconsciously felt.

I quietly looked at that greasy face, but this guy did not avoid his gaze until the end.

As we exchanged silent glances, Arjan spoke.

“I can protect my body-.”

I cut Arjan off.

“So you’re going to the mountains without a single attendant?”

And he said with a frown.

“You can’t do that? Of course, I would consider it if one of the officers would exclusively assist me.”

As I added this with an unlucky laugh, the knights’ expressions hardened. Some guys looked at Arjan with pity.

“… All right. Instead, please keep in mind that in an unlikely situation, the only person we can protect is you.”

“It sounds obvious. I am the son of a butler and an Iron Blood Master. “It’s obvious who should take priority.”

These words probably hardened Arjan’s expression.

Instead of looking at Arjan’s thoughts, I slowly looked at Osel’s face. If you have something to say, say it.

Then, like last time, this guy just slightly raised the corners of his mouth and spoke.

“… “Then shall we leave now?”

* * *

“The Jewel Mountains are located southeast of the imperial capital. The average altitude is 3,000m, which is nowhere near the highest peak on the continent, but the reason this place is dangerous has little to do with the height.”

“… … .”

“It’s because of the monsters that live in the Jewel Mountains. Master, please wake up.”

“… ‘I didn’t sleep.’

I answered, swallowing the saliva in my mouth.

Arjan, who looked at me for a moment, continued his explanation again, and I pretended to listen and looked out the window.

It’s still calm.

Of course, since most of the day is spent just moving around.

The day of departure.

Immediately after leaving the mansion, we stopped by a nearby village.

There, we found a carriage heading to the Gem Mountains, loaded ourselves in, and spent the first day sleeping in the open.

Of course, Osel paid all the expenses.

Immediately after dawn, we started moving again… … . If Osel says so, we will arrive at the mountain range around this afternoon.

“Surprisingly quickly. “Are the mountains close to our mansion?”

“Precisely because the Gem Mountains are very large. No matter where you go southeast of the imperial capital, you will definitely come across this mountain range.”

“hmm.”

“It is said that new plants and animals are discovered in the Jewel Mountains with each expedition. This is also why some scholars interpret the place as its name suggests. This is because the probability of mutations appearing is very high due to the mountain range environment, but generally at the beginning-.”

As I listened to the story, my eyelids became heavy again.

I hit the player first before falling asleep again.

“butler.”

“yes.”

“I’m done with the detailed explanations, so just tell me the main points.”

“Is that the point?”

You’re talking right now, right? Arjan added with an expression on his face.

I guess the few hundred words he said with a serious face were all that mattered.

“Why is it called Gem Mountains in the first place? “Is there a mine?”

I think I probably asked a similar question before leaving, but I didn’t get an answer even then.

“… … .”

Arjan blinked his eyes.

His face looked like he had no idea he would ask such a simple question.

Still, since he is basically aloof and shows little emotional change, he quickly continued his explanation with a calm face.

“There are monsters in the mountains that you should never encounter.”

“monster?”

“yes. It is a particularly dangerous entity among mutants. “There are many names for them, but this is generally what they are called.”

Arjan added in a calm voice.

“It’s a gemstone.”

“… “Is it right to go to a place full of such dangerous people?”

“That is why I am accompanying you. “To take responsibility for your safety.”

Arjan spoke in a calm voice.

“Of course, I heard that the probability of encountering a jewel tree in a mountain range is similar to the probability of a lightning strike in a dry sky. “From what I heard from Sir Osel, our chances will be even lower if we don’t go deeper at the beginning of the mountain range.”

“… “A lightning strike in a dry sky.”

I muttered while looking out the window.

“It’s not that low of a probability.”

Just then, the carriage went over the hill.

And in the distance, the huge shadow of the mountain range slowly began to appear.

– Two days after leaving the mansion.

We entered the Jewel Mountains.