WeTried Translations

Translator: Dawn

Editor: Dawn

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ The Genius Knight of a Fallen Race

Chapter 12

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Now Is the Best Time to Invest

Passing through Fortress Solrod, the gateway that marked the border between Libert and Pendia, required no special procedure. The relationship between the two kingdoms was not particularly hostile, and the fortress’s strategic value lay less in defending against invasion and more in controlling the monsters that crossed the border.

However, instead of heading straight through the gate, Roden entered the fortress and rented a room at an inn. Shan looked around the large inn like a country boy seeing such a place for the first time.

“It’s huge...”

There were quite a few guests, most of them appearing to be armed mercenaries. They were likely people crossing over from Pendia after hearing news of the war in Libert. After eating an early dinner in the tavern on the first floor, Shan and Roden headed to the shops inside the fortress before sunset to take care of some errands. Since the fortress functioned as a trade city between the two kingdoms, there were plenty of places to buy goods.

“What are you buying?”

“I couldn’t prepare properly while we were stuck in small villages, so I’m thinking of getting some armor. At the very least, I should get some decent clothes.”

Shan was currently wearing clothes given to him by the Alto troupe. His original clothes had been torn apart by Fional’s spear and soaked in blood, making them unusable. Naturally, since the troupe had no children his size and the dwarf Boldot’s clothes were far too small, the clothes he wore now were oversized and loose. It was time to get something that actually fit. It would also be good to buy extra clothes in case they get torn or bloodied again.

In any case, they still had several days of travel before reaching a major city in Pendia, so they needed to prepare now. After visiting several shops, Shan managed to acquire clothes that fit reasonably well, along with gloves and shoes made of quality leather, and a hat to block the sunlight. He also bought arrows and a properly sized spear.

Finally, back at the inn, Roden called for a barber and, for the first time in Shan’s life, he had his hair cut. His messy hair, which had grown down to his shoulder blades, was trimmed neatly to just below the back of his head. After washing it with soap and applying oil, it was combed back into place.

The result looked surprisingly decent. Before, he had looked like a vagrant tagging along behind a dignified knight, but now, he looked at least like a young squire. Staring at his reflection in the slightly cloudy mirror, Shan admired the change. Roden, standing behind him, nodded with a smile.

“You look much better like this.”

Shan wasn’t a stunning beauty, but considering how roughly he had lived, his features were fairly well-balanced, and his teeth were straight. His large, slightly drooping eyes gave him the appearance of a gentle puppy. It was perhaps not ideal for a warrior, but his actual ability more than made up for it.

“It feels really strange having someone else cut my hair.”

“How did you do it before?”

“I just cut it roughly with whatever knife I had.”

That explained the mess it used to be. Whenever Roden heard things like this about Shan’s past, he felt a tightness in his chest and let out a quiet sigh.

“From now on, just go to a barber. It’s easier.”

“Come to think of it, what about you? You can’t use blades, right?”

“I’ve got my own way of handling it. Don’t worry.”

After some prompting, Roden demonstrated how he used blunt-tipped scissors to trim his hair and beard. Watching him neatly cut even areas he couldn’t see was impressive. Perhaps because they had arrived early and rested well at a good inn, they felt refreshed the next morning. Once they passed fully through the gate, Roden looked visibly relieved.

“Ah... finally, Pendia. I missed the smell of home.”

Shan didn’t bother asking how crossing a single gate could change the smell of the land. After spending time with Roden, he had finally developed a bit of tact. However, that afternoon, as the sun began to set and their next stop drew near, Shan finally realized just how different this land was from Libert.

“Roden.”

“What?”

“There’s something ahead.”

Whatever it was had tried to approach stealthily, but it couldn’t hide the sound of rustling bushes, footsteps, and a foul, fishy odor. When Shan drew his sword and pointed, the creatures realized they had been found and leaped out with shrill cries.

“Water ghouls!” Roden shouted in alarm, grabbing the flail strapped to his saddle.

The creatures looked like grotesquely twisted monkeys with mossy green hair, pale skin, and sharp teeth and claws. They had likely crawled out from a nearby swamp. Shan leaped off his horse and immediately beheaded one charging at him, then pierced another through the chest. 

Their tough, wrinkled skin could withstand ordinary blades, but Shan’s sword cut through them like cheese. Their blood was an unnatural pale blue. After killing two in an instant, Shan glanced to the side just in time to see another creature’s body crushed and sent flying with a loud crack. Roden had struck it upward with his flail.

“Not a chance!”

It was the first time Shan had seen Roden fight properly. Unlike Shan, Roden remained on horseback, guiding it with one hand while chasing down a fleeing creature and smashing its skull with his weapon. After killing four in a matter of moments, the remaining creatures fled into the bushes. After staying alert for a minute, the two finally relaxed.

“...I didn’t want to feel like I was back home like this.”

“There really are a lot of monsters here. How do people even live in a place like this?”

To Shan, it seemed impossible for ordinary people to survive against such creatures.

Roden answered simply:

“That’s why people who can’t fight don’t wander outside. But honestly, it’s the same in Libert, no? Just replace monsters with bandits or wild animals.”

Roden then showed Shan how to extract the creatures’ teeth. Unlike normal creatures, their teeth were connected at the root, so if you cut open the jaw and pulled sideways, they came out easily.

“Aren’t teeth and claws scary, too? They’re sharp like blades.”

“As long as it’s not metal, I’m fine. I don’t know why... Anyway, don’t throw those teeth away. They’re valuable alchemy materials, and carrying them proves something.”

“Proves what?”

“That we’re not just idiots walking around with weapons.”

Pendia had once been the eastern frontier of the Arman Empire—a shield against the monsters pouring out of the Demon Realm. Because of that, even in modern times, people here valued personal martial strength and monster hunting. Not just for honor, but for survival.

Shan truly understood this when they arrived at a small village surrounded by a wooden palisade with a population of a couple of hundred. The villagers, seeing the teeth hanging proudly from Shan’s saddle, looked astonished.

“Th-those are...?”

“Water ghoul teeth. Ran into them near the village. Nasty things.”

“Not long ago, one of our young men was taken by them... How can we ever thank you?”

The village chief repeatedly expressed his gratitude and offered them his home as lodging. Even their horses were fed beans instead of grass, seeming pleased. Still, Shan didn’t like how the villagers whispered when they saw his faintly glowing eyes. It wasn’t so different from Libert. 

When he mentioned this, Roden replied awkwardly,

“It can’t be helped. As I said before, the Old Faith is strong in Western Pendia. But at least they won’t openly oppress you since it’s illegal.”

Indeed, the villagers only looked uneasy. They didn’t openly insult him. Perhaps the sword at his waist and the monster teeth helped. 

After a night’s stay, they continued eastward. Pendia truly lived up to its reputation as a land of monsters. Just as different animals inhabited different mountains back in Libert, so too were monsters here. There were water ghouls, gaunt lower vampires, and ghouls controlled by insects eating their brains...

Fortunately, not all monsters attacked on sight. Some ignored them entirely, and in such cases, Shan and Roden didn’t bother to engage. Even goblins, common as they were, often fled at the sight of Roden’s imposing figure. Had Shan been alone, he would have fought constantly.

On the fourth day after leaving Fortress Solrod, they reached a large city with thousands of inhabitants. Like most settlements in Pendia, it was surrounded by walls—stone at the base, wood above.

“This is Ovilos City. We’re already more than halfway to the capital.”

“Already?”

“The capital is in the western part of Pendia.”

Naturally, because the Demon Realm lay to the east. If the capital were closer, it would be vulnerable to powerful monsters. As they passed through the gate after paying a silver coin to the guard, Shan noticed something unusual. There was a strange pattern carved into the inner gate, and at its center, a glowing gemstone.

“Roden, Roden.”

“Yes?”

“What’s that?”

“That... ah, a magic circle and a mana stone.”

Muttering that Shan probably hadn’t seen one before, Roden explained right away.

“I’ve heard that mages use them when enchanting objects. I don’t know the details, but since it’s on the gate, it’s probably to make it sturdier. Any fortress of decent size in Pendia has one on each gate.”

Mana stones were mostly obtained by hunting monsters near the Demon Realm. Because of that, Pendia relied on magical enchantments for fortifications, while other countries, where mages were looked down upon and mana stones were scarce, used priests’ blessings instead.

“So, without something like that, a big monster might just smash the gate down. Or a skilled knight might break it with a mounted charge.”

“Ah.”

Thinking about it, that made perfect sense. The sheer force Shan had seen before was enough to tear flesh apart and fling dozens of soldiers like chunks of meat. Such an impact could easily destroy an ordinary wooden gate. As he walked, leading his horse because riding was forbidden in the city, Shan noticed something else.

An Alto?

There was a woman with curved, goat-like horns walking casually down the street. What shocked him even more was that no one paid her any special attention. No fear. No contempt. People simply passed by her as if she were no different from anyone else.

Looking around more carefully, Shan realized there were Altos everywhere in the city. Some worked as laborers, others as hawkers, and even as blacksmiths. Seeing his own kind living among others as ordinary people was just as shocking as when he had first seen the Alto troupe.

“There are really a lot of Altos here.”

“Compared to other countries, yeah. And this is still the western region. The East has even more. Over there, maybe one out of every twenty people is an Alto.”

Yet despite such numbers, there were no Alto knights. That meant the barrier to entering the upper class was far higher than it appeared. As they walked, Shan noticed something odd—Roden had passed several decent-looking inns. Eventually, Roden stopped in front of a mansion inside the city.

“Where is this?”

Shan stared at the tall walls and statues with wide eyes.

“This is a mansion owned by one of my acquaintances. It’s more comfortable than an inn, and I can catch up on what’s been happening while I was gone.”

After knocking on the gate, a servant cautiously peeked out. Seeing Roden’s imposing figure, he flinched.

“Who are you?”

“Tell Mr. Poirve that Roden Weavers has come.”

“Weavers...? P-Please wait a moment!”

The servant rushed inside in shock. About a minute later, a middle-aged man came running out in a hurry, barely dressed properly. And he addressed Roden in a way Shan had never expected.

“Young master! Where have you been all this time?!”

“Wandering is a young man’s specialty, uncle.”

Roden replied with a playful grin befitting his age. The man sighed in disbelief before laughing.

“Do you know how worried your father has been? I still receive letters every three days asking me to report immediately if you’re found.”

“Please tell the others I’m sorry too.”

“No, no! We owe your father too much to complain. By the way...”

Only then did the man notice Shan standing behind Roden.

“Right, I haven’t introduced you. Shan, this is Mr. Poirve Cologia. He controls the jewel trade in Ovilos City,” Roden shrugged.

“You flatter me. I merely run a small shop thanks to your father’s generosity.”

Poirve looked at Shan with curiosity.

“And this is Shan, the one who made me give up my dream of becoming a knight.”

“...Give up your dream?”

As Kalion’s closest man, Poirve knew well how deeply Roden had longed to become a knight. He even ran away from home to achieve that dream. Yet strangely, Roden showed no resentment toward Shan. Puzzled, Poirve invited them inside. As Shan stepped into the mansion, his jaw dropped.

“Wow...”

The exterior alone was stunning. There were dozens of glass windows, something most homes replaced with wood. The walls were made of finely polished stone and timber. Now Shan understood why Roden had chosen this place over an inn.

Inside, the reception room was just as luxurious. A neatly dressed maid served them tea, making it feel no different from a noble household. Shan cautiously blew on the hot liquid and took a sip, only to scrunch his face.

“It’s bitter.”

“You should get used to things like this. Knights are expected to have some refinement. Not like nobles, but still.”

Watching Roden treat Shan almost like a younger brother, Poirve’s curiosity deepened. Roden then explained everything—his fear of blades, his frustration, his reckless runaway journey, and finally the monstrous boy he met in a rural village.

Poirve’s jaw dropped after hearing the story of the boy who had slaughtered over a dozen elite mercenaries without proper training. When Roden mentioned Shan surviving a clash with the Fional the Black Spear, Poirve momentarily lost focus entirely.

“G-Goddess above... That’s...”

“Hard to believe unless you see it yourself, right? I felt the same. But I’ve seen enough from him to know that there are talents in this world that defy reason,” Roden spoke firmly.

Roden expressed his opinion without hesitation. He claimed that by the time Shan reached adulthood, even Marquis Abel, the strongest knight in Pendia, would be no match for him. He appealed that this was a chance to support the greatest knight in history while he was still young. Poirve listened with a conflicted expression.

“If I heard this from anyone else, I’d call them insane... but coming from you, young master, I cannot dismiss it.”

“I plan to introduce him to my father once we reach the capital. I can’t support him properly on my own.”

A knight required armor, weapons, and a fine warhorse. Magic or blessed equipment was far beyond Roden’s means. And more importantly, Shan needed proper training under a real master, learning both combat and noble etiquette.

He also needed to build connections with promising aspiring knights and nobles. To become a knight as an Alto, overwhelming skill was a given, but several other factors are also required. Poirve, who had been listening quietly, let out a low groan.

“I believe you, but I’m not sure how your father will respond. As you know, he trusts only what he sees with his own eyes,” Poirve nodded slowly.

“Yeah... he always said, ‘Judge everything yourself. Don’t rely on others’ opinions.’” Roden frowned slightly as he repeated his father’s favorite motto.

He had ideas on how to persuade his father, but hadn’t settled on one yet. At that moment, Shan, who had been quietly sipping tea, spoke.

“Is there a strong monster nearby?”

“...A strong monster, you say?”

“Yes. Something that would make your father say, ‘That’s incredible! I have to support this boy.’”

“Shan, that’s...”

“You said it yourself, Roden. In Pendia, people respect those who defeat powerful monsters. I don’t want charity from your father. I want respect.”

Shan looked straight at Roden with clear green eyes. Seeing this, Poirve burst into laughter. 

“So it’s not just talent. This boy has conviction. Truly outstanding.”

From what he had just heard from Roden, the boy must have lived a very harsh life. But despite growing up without proper education, Shan carried himself with remarkable independence. Most children would rely entirely on someone like Roden. However, Shan chose his own path. And as it happened, there was indeed a perfect problem nearby. After a moment of thought, Poirve spoke,

“There is indeed a troublesome monster near the city... Have you heard of a troll?”