WeTried Translations

Translator: Hydrogen B

Editor: Hydrogen B

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Sword Master of the Fallen Kingdom

Chapter 50

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At the Crossroads (2)

An Imperial Traitor. And the gate that had suddenly been sealed.

The man’s desperate cry plunged the inn back into silence. What they had just heard was too shocking to brush off. But that silence did not last long. After a moment, people glanced at one another and began speaking up one by one.

"An Imperial Traitor?"

"What kind of bullshit is that? This is the Kingdom of Brendel. Do you know how far it is from Archandia to here? Why would an Imperial Traitor suddenly show up?"

"You crazy bastard! Did you get drunk this early in the evening?"

"If you’re going to barge in and spout nonsense, stop ruining our drinks and get lost!"

The rough-looking mercenaries shouted with mugs in hand.

The inn’s servers, who had been busy carrying food and drinks, and the bartender reacted the same way. Every one of them stared at the man as if he were insane.

This was a gate city. Naturally, a great many people came and went.

On top of that, lodging at Wind’s Rest was expensive, so skilled mercenaries and wealthy merchants often stayed here. Suddenly pleading to people like that about an Imperial Traitor and a sealed gate was never going to feel real.

"No! It’s true! It’s a complete mess outside! Come out and see for yourselves!"

The man shouted again. This time, no one answered. A few people frowned and jeered at him. Kyle watched the man stamp his feet, his face twisted with panic, then turned his gaze forward.

"I’ve lived a long time, but I’ve never seen a madman like that before."

"Same here. I’ve seen beggars walk in boldly enough, but this one’s new."

The two mercenaries sitting there could not hide their disbelief. The short-haired mercenary who had just said meddling was not in his nature clicked his tongue.

"You believe that? The gate closed because of an Imperial Traitor?"

"Hard to say..."

Normally, Kyle would have brushed it off. This time was different. He could not simply dismiss the man’s desperate cry.

An Imperial Traitor.

It was probably not referring to him. In the three years since he had fled, Kyle’s identity had never been exposed, except to Gerard at the Magic Tower. There was also no clear proof that Kyle had been from the Knights of Ash. It would be impossible to figure out his identity from the silver Mercenary Badge of the Kingdom of Kirian he had shown during inspection.

"It does look like something happened."

Even so, Kyle had no choice but to say that. He could not treat the man’s words as empty noise.

"Something happened? How?"

"We’ll know soon enough."

Kyle could tell. Just as the man had said, the situation outside had turned chaotic. Kyle’s abnormally sharp senses could grasp the state of things beyond the inn to some extent, even without drawing up mana. If that man was telling the truth, then another Imperial Traitor, someone other than Kyle, had really slipped into this gate.

"What? What do you mean..."

The short-haired mercenary was about to ask again.

Clank, clank.

The sound of armor shifting and scraping rang out. At the same time, another figure appeared beyond the open door. The Ligrid Gate guards.

A man near the entrance recognized him and flinched back in surprise.

"Attention! I have urgent news to announce."

The man, who seemed to hold a fairly high position, shouted. Silence fell for what felt like the countless time. Those who had ignored the first man saw the armored man and the soldiers behind him, and their faces stiffened in an instant.

"Some of you may already know this, but Ligrid Gate is currently sealed."

"What? It was true?"

"No, what the hell..."

"And right now, someone believed to be a first-class Imperial Traitor is hiding inside Ligrid Gate. Therefore, after consulting with the gate guards, the mercenary guild has decided to issue a muster order."

"A muster order? Seriously?"

The impact of those last words was enormous. Noise erupted from every direction on a completely different scale.

A mercenary guild muster order.

In general, the mercenary guild provided registered mercenaries with all sorts of benefits. It did so to gather and control mercenaries, who could turn into bandits at any moment. Of course, it was not free. The higher the rank, the more benefits came with restrictions attached. That was also why Kyle had deliberately avoided promotion to Gold Rank.

Among those restrictions, a muster order was a kind of duty imposed on mercenaries of every rank. All mercenary guilds were managed by their respective nations. So when an emergency occurred, a mercenary guild could issue a muster order at its own discretion. Even Kyle, who held a Mercenary Badge from the Kingdom of Kirian, was no exception.

Even if this was a Brendel branch, he had to obey a muster order. All mercenary guilds in the south were connected as one network. Refusing would not get him killed or injured, but his reputation could drop afterward, and in severe cases, his rank could be lowered. Unless he intended to quit mercenary work altogether, the structure forced him to comply.

"Quiet! Everyone, quiet!"

Just as objections burst out here and there, the man who seemed to be the commander shouted again.

"It goes without saying, but this muster order comes with emergency pay! The greater your contribution, the richer your reward and the higher your reputation will rise!"

"Even so, this is..."

The complaints lasted only a moment. The mercenaries softened a little at the mention of pay.

"We don’t have a choice anyway, so we might as well get paid. What else can we do?"

"Hah... there goes a comfortable night."

"An Imperial Traitor, was it? I am curious what their face looks like. What did they do to get chased by the Emperor?"

In the end, mercenaries moved for money. At the mention of performance, reputation, and payment, the mercenaries soon had their ears turned toward the man.

"And one last thing!"

After checking the reaction inside the inn, the man caught his breath briefly and continued.

"Are there any Silver Rank or higher mercenaries staying here right now? If so, follow me. The Ligrid Branch Director has summoned you. There will be a separate designated commission."

The mercenaries exchanged glances, each watching the others. That was when Kyle rose from his seat.

"...You were Silver Rank?"

The short-haired mercenary sitting across from him looked surprised. Kyle ignored him and walked toward the entrance. The moment Kyle stepped out first, every gaze inside the inn gathered on him.

"A Silver-rank Mercenary? Good. Stand by for a moment. After we gather the other mercenaries..."

Kyle did not listen to the man. He passed him and stepped beyond the door.

"Wait! Don’t act on your own..."

The man tried to stop Kyle.

A sudden breeze brushed past the side of the man’s face. A beat later, strands of severed hair fluttered down. The man’s eyes widened until they looked ready to tear.

Wind Magic?

Before anyone knew it, even the soldiers were flinching back and clearing Kyle’s path. At the entrance of the inn, Kyle looked over the city. The streets were still crowded with people, just as before. But the kind of commotion had changed. Every mercenary who had come out into the street wore a hard expression. The guards moving everywhere were no different.

So it really was true that the gate had been sealed.

The other inns seemed to be in the same situation as Wind’s Rest. Soldiers who looked like guards, and mercenaries filing out one after another. The city, drowned in the sunset, was chaos itself. Kyle muttered to himself.

A traitor, a traitor, an Imperial Traitor...

First, he needed to hear the details from that Branch Director.

"Do I go to the mercenary guild?"

Kyle asked, only turning his head back. The dazed man answered in confusion.

"Y-yes... that’s right. Before that..."

"Then that’s enough. I’ll go ahead."

Kyle did not listen to the rest. He moved his still feet forward. The streets remained full of confusion. Kyle picked up his pace toward the mercenary guild.

***

It did not take long to get from Wind’s Rest to the Ligrid Mercenary Branch. Just as the coachman had said, it was close. There was no need to look for a sign.

"No, what the hell is this sudden muster order? I’m saying I’ll leave, so why are you stopping me?"

"Hah... this is driving me insane. What are they planning after gathering everyone here?"

"So what exactly are we supposed to do?"

"I’m sorry. If you could wait just a moment..."

"Do you know how many times you’ve said that already? Huh?"

The inside was a complete mess. Some had rushed over after hearing that the gate had been sealed because of an Imperial Traitor. Others, like Kyle, had heard the news from guards who barged into their inns and were half-forced to come along. The furious mercenaries were taking their anger out on the anxious staff.

"Kyle, Silver-rank Mercenary. I came after receiving the muster order. I was told the Ligrid Branch Director summoned me for a designated commission... Where should I go?"

Kyle caught one of the busy employees and asked. The employee saw the Mercenary Badge Kyle handed over and widened his eyes.

"A Silver Badge from the Kingdom of Kirian..."

"Is the Branch Director not here right now?"

"Ah, I’m sorry. The Branch Director is currently in his office on the second floor. We were ordered to escort all Silver Rank or higher mercenaries to the second floor. Please follow me."

The employee respectfully returned Kyle’s Mercenary Badge and guided him to the second floor. From behind, jealous and envious stares glared at Kyle for being guided separately, but he ignored them.

"This is the room. You may enter."

The employee stepped back. Kyle grabbed the doorknob without delay and pushed it open. Inside the fairly spacious office, five people had arrived before him.

Mercenaries who were at least Silver Rank. Those comparable to decent knights radiated dangerous pressure. There was a wide variety among them, from someone who used a sword like Kyle, to a spear, a bow, daggers, and even a robed mage. Unlike Kyle, they seemed to have been dragged here half by force, and their moods looked sour.

"Is everyone here?"

Beyond them sat a man behind a desk. The Branch Director of the Ligrid Mercenary Guild. He glanced at Kyle and was narrowing his eyes with a bored expression when another mercenary entered behind Kyle a beat later. It was one of the mercenaries who had been staying at Wind’s Rest earlier.

"Close it."

The plump Branch Director, who looked more like a wealthy merchant than a mercenary, spoke curtly to the employee beyond the door. The employee bowed slightly and carefully closed the office door.

"First, I’m sorry for gathering you like this."

After confirming that the door had closed, the Branch Director let out a long sigh.

"Everything I’m about to say is confidential... Does anyone want to leave? For reference, once you hear this, you can’t cancel the designated commission. If you want out, leave now. By tomorrow, the rumors will spread anyway."

The Branch Director looked over the mercenaries one by one. No one left. Giving up a designated commission issued under a muster order would cause a major drop in reputation.

"Good."

He leaned away from the back of his chair and spoke again.

"You’ve probably heard the rough story, but the reason this muster order was issued is because we found signs that an Imperial Traitor has entered Ligrid Gate. A first-class traitor, at that."

"A first-class traitor?"

"Yes, a first-class traitor."

Murmurs spread among the mercenaries. A first-class Imperial Traitor was someone who had assassinated the Emperor or committed a crime on that same level. This was not an ordinary traitor. As the matter turned out to be more serious than expected, the mercenaries each scowled hard.

"But how do you know that traitor entered the gate? Did the Empire send some pursuit force all the way down here to the southern continent? Must’ve been one hell of a fast bastard."

A mercenary gripping a spear with a swaggering expression asked. This world was terribly lacking in communication technology, including things like telephones. At best, people exchanged letters through Carrier Birds or messenger hawks. Ligrid Gate had countless daily visitors, so realistically, recognizing a traitor who had fled the Empire and sealing the gate would be difficult.

"This letter flew in just now. It’s the cause of this damned mess."

Instead of answering, the Branch Director waved a sheet of paper that had been sitting on one side of his desk.

"A first-class Imperial Traitor is currently fleeing toward the Ligrid Mountains. There is a very high chance that they will pass through the gate, so we send this messenger hawk in advance to request cooperation. If a person matching the description below is found, seal the gate immediately."

"Arrogant bastards, aren’t they? Who do they think they are, ordering people around on land that isn’t even Imperial territory?"

"Under the peace treaty signed fifty years ago, the southern kingdoms have a duty to respond to Imperial requests. The reverse is also true. We have no choice, even if we don’t like it. The Ligrid Gate guards agreed as well."

The Branch Director spoke. The grumbling mercenary shut his mouth.

"So who sent it? Did they send a knight order as the pursuit force?"

"A wyvern knight."

For an instant, a cold silence drifted through the office. A wyvern knight. Even those two words carried enormous weight.

"Did I... just hear that wrong? A wyvern knight from the Imperial Household’s Celestial Knights?"

A mercenary armed with daggers and a bow asked in a trembling voice. As if they had agreed beforehand, the other mercenaries all looked at the Branch Director at once. He gave a heavy nod.

"That’s right. A wyvern knight from that Celestial Knights. They are pursuing on wyverns right now."

"Huh..."

"Right after receiving the letter, we also received a report from the guards that a person matching the description written here had just passed inspection. White robe and a smooth black mask, apparently. They are said to be a fairly skilled mage, and they crossed the gate using identification from the Arven Mage Tower."

The Arven Mage Tower was one of the most prominent magic towers in the Empire. The Mana Compass Kyle had given to Erik’s group before entering the Alenos ruins was also a Magic Tool from the Arven Mage Tower. On the surface, the Empire and the southern kingdoms had signed a peace treaty, so if the Magic Tower identification was valid, there would be no problem passing inspection.

"A wyvern knight got involved, and they still haven’t caught the target?"

"Even a wyvern isn’t invincible. The amount it eats each day is incredible, so it seems supplies have interfered with the pursuit."

The Branch Director answered with a face soaked in fatigue. That was when one mercenary stepped forward.

"So, to sum it up, this is how it goes. A first-class Imperial Traitor is fleeing while being chased by wyvern knights. Almost at the same time as the letter arrived by messenger hawk, someone matching the traitor’s description crossed the gate. So the city gate was closed earlier than usual. That’s also why the muster order was issued. Did I understand that right?"

Like Kyle, the mercenary had a sword at his waist, and a long scar marked his cheek. His confident tone and stride made it clear enough. Even his steel breastplate and equipment, unlike an ordinary mercenary’s, showed that he was not on the level of an average Silver Rank.

"Exactly. I like that you’re quick."

When the swordsman summarized everything the Branch Director had said in one sentence, the Branch Director added with a satisfied look.

"Since this is a first-class traitor being chased by wyvern knights, the pay will be generous. If you capture the traitor alive, the reward will be much richer. Any objections?"

The mercenaries fell silent. It was silent agreement.

"If not, we’ll start immediately. The deadline is before sunrise tomorrow. By then, the wyvern knights should have more than enough time to arrive, so we only need to capture the target alive before then. If needed, cutting off their limbs is fine. They said it doesn’t matter as long as the traitor is still breathing. At the very least, we have to make sure that traitor does not cross this gate."

"......."

"Bronze Rank and below mercenaries are gathered on the first floor, so form teams as you see fit and move out. The remaining mercenaries will be placed under the guards’ command and..."

The Branch Director was speaking.

Kyle cut through the mercenaries. The Branch Director stopped mid-sentence at Kyle’s sudden movement. The scarred mercenary who had stepped forward first narrowed his eyes at Kyle.

"How many?"

"What?"

Kyle paid him no attention. He ignored the stares pouring onto him. Standing directly in front of the desk where the Branch Director sat, Kyle asked again.

"The number of wyvern knights pursuing the traitor. Is it one?"

"...No, two. At least, that’s what the letter said."

Kyle picked up the paper in front of him.

Inside, short and concise lines were written in elegant Imperial dialect.

"Two wyvern knights... Seeing that they’re willing to abandon a front to pursue this person, they must be someone extremely important."

Kyle muttered quietly. Typical Imperial noble handwriting.

Strength naturally entered his hand. His lips twisted in a mocking smile. Yet his eyes had sunk colder than ever.

"As for the reward for this designated commission, the Imperial side will also..."

"I don’t need it."

The Branch Director, who had been watching, flinched at the chillingly refined rage.

Kyle burned the letter in his hand with white flame.

"I’ll move alone. That should be much faster."

Before anyone knew it, the office had fallen into silence. Through it, Kyle’s calm voice rang out. The pure white flame rising from Kyle fully swallowed the letter, then slowly faded away. Where the fire vanished, not even ash remained.

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