Chapter 508
"As long as it is not a matter of breaking the rules, I will do so gladly," Mukapa answered without a hint of hesitation.
Ian smiled and raised his glass. "It probably won't be. I'm asking you to meet with His Grace, Duke Jihandar, as my representative."
"Your representative?" Mukapa asked, his thick brow furrowing slightly. It was clearly not what he had expected.
Ian, who had taken a sip of wine, nodded, "We may have just met today, but Lady Ingrid vouched for you. I have no reason not to trust you."
He gave a slight nod toward the parchment on the table. It had stated that a seasoned, capable, and trustworthy warrior would be dispatched, and Ian had no reason to doubt it. It seemed so to Ian as well. A reliable messenger had rolled in on his own two feet at just the right time.
"I will write you a letter of introduction along with my identification. Go to Arvant and deliver it to His Grace, then come back to Tahena. We will be staying at the House of Erenos."
As Mukapa's brow finally furrowed slightly, Ian added, "This is a necessary process for you to cross the inland sea safely as well."
"That… seems like quite a few steps skipped, Sir Ian," said Lucia.
Receiving Ian's gaze, she shrugged. "May I explain in a little more detail?"
"Well, go ahead."It probably wouldn't make a difference to an orc anyway, he thought, bringing the glass to his lips.
In the meantime, Lucia, who had turned to Mukapa, said, "Do you know what the situation is like in the inland sea right now?"
"I have not yet heard the latest news." Mukapa, who had been looking at Ian as if he had more to say, finally turned to Lucia and answered.
"I thought so. In fact, we only heard the news today ourselves." Lucia nodded as if she had expected it.
After all, Mukapa had left his tribe not long after the Black Wall fell. Since then, he'd spent his time searching the front lines for Ian's whereabouts, with no chance to gather other news.
"But you at least know where we came back from, don't you?"
Mukapa nodded his head slightly. "Yes. I do."
"Beyond that Wall stretched a vast demonic realm. One as large as the Empire, no, maybe even larger."
Mukapa's eyes narrowed slightly as Lucia continued in a calm tone. There was no need for a long explanation. Simply recounting what had happened while they were stranded beyond the Black Wall was enough.
"You saw it with your own eyes?" Mukapa asked quietly, having sat like a statue, eyes fixed on Lucia's mouth the entire time.
It was hard to read his emotions from his tone or expression. Only the faint trembling in his eyes betrayed the fact that he was shaken.
Lucia looked at Diana instead of answering. After all, she had been engulfed in holy fire in the middle of it and lost consciousness.
Diana, who smacked her lips with a reluctant expression, finally nodded slightly. "Yes. I'm the only one who saw it all from beginning to end. But in any case, we were all in the same place."
As Mukapa let out a quiet breath, Lucia offered a small, appreciative smile and said, "Actually, I was only really worried for a moment. As is known, demons need a domain to maintain their existence. From what I've seen, the archdemons were no exception. The inland sea is not only vast, but the gods are also watching over it."
Sighing, she raised her glass to wet her lips. A voice mixed with a slight self-reproach followed.
"So I assumed that while the Sea Beasts might cause some localized trouble for a while, they'd eventually die off or flee to the Black Sea. Especially Bukikia. For one that powerful to establish a domain, it would need to reach waters so deep they'd be beyond even the gods' gaze. I figured you thought the same, Sir Ian."
I didn't think that deeply about it.
Ian only shrugged. There was no need to say it out loud and spoil the mood.
"But apparently, not a single ship has arrived from the mainland," said Lucia.
Mukapa's brow twitched. Looking steadily at his yellow eyes, Lucia added, "We can't be sure yet. Even if true, it could be due to the port being locked down or sailors refusing to sail. It could be a storm, just larger than expected. Still…"
Lucia looked at Ian. "The mere possibility that the sea beasts have occupied the inland sea is reason enough to blockade all the ports. To do that, we need to tell His Grace what we saw."
Even after she finished speaking, Mukapa didn't move. He looked as though he was wrestling with something deep within.
"I fully understand the gravity of the matter. However, I cannot be your representative. Not only because it goes against the rules, but because in this case, I am not qualified."
One of Ian's eyes twitched slightly as he brought the glass to his lips. Lucia also clenched her jaw.
"No matter how much of a Duke he is, it will be difficult for him to readily make the decision to close all the ports. Not until fatal damage is actually confirmed. And I, who have not seen what you have experienced, won't be able to persuade His Grace," said Mukapa.
"You might be right," muttered Ian, clicking his tongue briefly.
Given the current chaos following the fall of the Black Wall, it was hard to imagine someone making such a complacent decision. But at the same time, Mukapa had a point. Ian had seen more than a few nobles make stupid decisions out of pride or vanity.
"Well then, I have no choice but to go myself."
"Damn it..." Diana, who had squeezed her eyes shut, let out a sigh.
"I'll go," said Lucia.
As Ian's brow narrowed, Diana, who had opened her eyes wide, looked at her.
Lucia curled her lips slightly. "I'd feel too sorry to make you take a detour when you're right in front of your home."
"No... well... it's not something you need to feel sorry about..." Diana, who had paused, mumbled.
Lucia, who smiled more deeply, continued, "I'm kidding. But in any case, I'm Sir Ian's official representative right now, aren't I? I'm also the one who experienced everything. Besides, now we have Sir Mukapa."
"Please, just call me by name, Priestess," said Mukapa.
Lucia, who smiled faintly, looked at him. "You may not be able to be a representative, but you can accompany a representative as an attendant, can't you?"
"Yes. That is possible." Mukapa nodded.
Lucia's gaze returned to Ian. "So, I'll go, Sir Ian. I'm confident I can persuade His Grace even if he tries to make a foolish decision. Let's move efficiently. You have to meet your friend, too, Sir Ian. I'll go with Mukapa and join you in Tahena as soon as we finish our work."
Ian, who had looked at Lucia for a moment, finally looked at Mukapa. "Did you come on horseback?"
"Yes."
"Then I'll ride that horse. I'll lend you my horse instead. The one going further should ride the better horse."
"Yes, good thinking—" Diana began to agree enthusiastically, but quickly shut her mouth when Ian shot her a cold glance. She turned away and brought her glass to her lips.
"Will it be alright? It will take at least ten days. Moro will be separated from you for too long, Sir Ian, "Lucia asked cautiously, casting a subtle glance at Mukapa—likely worried that Moro's transformation wouldn't last that long.
"Well..." Trailing off, Ian stealthily looked down at his right hand.
Yog had already returned to its usual form, curled around his finger, when Mukapa had taken his seat.
—Ah, am I allowed to interject?
As Ian wiggled his finger, Yog's whisper followed.
—It doesn't take that much power to maintain the disguise. But it might be dangerous if it's over ten days. There's a solution, but it's not something I'm keen on.
As Ian flicked his finger once more, Yog, who let out a short puff of air, whispered.
—I can accompany them and share my chaos with Moro. Of course, I'll have to go with your blood in me, and I won't be able to give Lucy any wise advice.
It was a problem that didn't even require thought.
Ian, who looked at Lucia, smiled. "It seems to be resolved."
"I suppose so."
As Yog gave another soft sigh, Lucia turned to Mukapa.
"I'm counting on you. I've never been to the South before, so please guide me well."
"I will escort you safely."
"You must." Ian added firmly as Mukapa nodded, then reached for the wine bottle and said, "Let's discuss how to cross the inland sea again after you return."
If they really did end up taking a corrupted person's ship, Mukapa might not agree readily. Of course, if that happened, he intended to part ways without trying to persuade him. It would be a shame to lose a good meat shield on a pirate ship, but orcs had never been the type to respond well to reason.
Just like in the game.
Orc bodyguards had high stats, just like beastfolk mercenaries, but their hiring conditions were strict, and their price was high. On top of that, they would often stand there doing nothing, and in the end, they would just leave, which had turned his stomach upside down. After that, Ian never hired an orc again.
It wasn't until he read a strategy guide that he found out those reactions were triggered when the player broke their code.
"Understood," answered Mukapa, unaware of Ian's internal thoughts.
Ian gave a small nod, set the bottle down, and looked around at the others.
"Well then, let's eat. We'd better get our money's worth."
Lucia and Diana picked up their forks again. Mukapa finally began to eat too, consuming almost as much as Ian. The waitress had to bring out several more meat dishes.
The next day, the group left the city early in the morning. They came to a stop around midday, at a fork where the main road split in two.
"I'll be back."
"Be careful."
With a short farewell, the future saintess and the orc on a sleek black horse went north. The superhuman and the fairy returnee took the path that led west.
It took only half an hour for them to be out of each other's sight.
***
As they left the main road, the air grew cooler, and the grass and trees became dense. The sky was still teeming with dark clouds, but the green foliage had not faded at all. Perhaps due to the climate, many of the grasses grew as tall as a person.
It might be because the saddle is lower.
Climbing the gently sloping hill, Ian indifferently brought the wine bottle to his lips.
The brown horse Mukapa had ridden didn't match its owner's size—it looked more like an oversized pony or a small mule.
But despite its appearance, it had excellent stamina. It even ate the grass on the roadside indiscriminately as it walked, so there was no need to prepare a separate meal for it.
At the low humming that grazed his ears, Ian's brow twitched for a moment. It was the sound made by Diana, who was climbing the hill a little ahead.
"Good grief..."
It really doesn't suit her.
Letting the wine bottle hang, Ian let out a hollow laugh. Her expression had been getting better as they got closer to Tahena.
But humming, of all things?
"Huh? What did you say?" asked Diana, whipping around.
Her mask now hung at her neck, and a smile rested on her lips.
Ian, who took in the sight of the nameless wildflower tucked behind one of her ears, finally said. "Nothing. Just that the flower suits you well."
"Huh? What's with the sudden compliment?" Diana's eyes widened.
"Why not stick one on top of your head, too?"
Diana blinked her eyes as if more flustered. "Uh, that, should I? Does it suit me that well?"
So she really didn't catch that.
As Diana glanced around in confusion, Ian chuckled again and pulled out his silver cigarette case. There were only a few cigarettes left inside. It was the result of smoking them little by little on the way here.
Lucia's face flashed through his mind the moment he lit one.
She's probably doing just fine.
The reason she often came to mind, even though there was no need to worry, was probably because they had spent so much time together, depending on each other.
You only notice stuff like this once you're apart.
Ian, who had gently shaken his head, inhaled the cigarette smoke.
"I see it!" Diana exclaimed from above. She was standing in the middle of the road at the top of the hill.
She turned and shouted down to him, "Tahena! It's Tahena, Ian!"
Tears were welling up in Diana's eyes as she looked down at him—tears as out of place as the flower tucked behind one of her ears.
Ian glanced up at her for a moment, then finally let out a puff of smoke and muttered, "Then, we'd better hurry."