Chapter 62: Chapter 62

The man's name was Rev.

"The correct pronunciation is 'Rüyve,' but who cares? Hehe."

Ran and Rev slipped out together. The opposite end of the passage was connected to another house in the village.

Rev took a deep breath, savoring the feeling of being alive with every fiber of his body.

"Hooray! Hooray! I survived! Haha!" ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs, ᴘʟᴇᴀsᴇ ᴠɪsɪᴛ novel⸺fire.net

Ran did not hesitate long before untying his bonds. No matter how he looked, Rev was not someone who could pose a threat.

Above all, Rev had some information.

"So, you're saying that not far from here, there are survivors from the Liberation Army gathered together?"

"Yep! Ah, please speak comfortably. You're my savior, after all. And I think you're older than me."

"? What makes you say that?"

Rev's eyes went wide. For the first time, his perpetually cheerful face hardened. Ran's expression was chilling.

"Maybe my mind got scrambled because I nearly died. You don't really seem older than me."

"Well, anyway. Is there a large group? And since when have they been there?"

"About thirty people. Quite a lot, right? It's a place where people gathered one by one since the site itself is decent. The settlement is right by a lake."

"And how did you end up in this state?"

"The settlement sends people on regular hunts far afield. For some reason, I wanted to join them that day. Damn, that was how it happened. Everyone I was with ended up eaten by that crazy old hag."

Rev covered his mouth with a trembling hand. The face of the flesh-eater who had chewed his companions alive flashed in his mind.

"Why did Umi keep you alive?"

"It's a bit embarrassing to say this myself, but I'm pretty good at talking. I sweet-talked the old hag, and ever since, she treated me like a pet. Said she was lonely, isolated, spouting ridiculous nonsense... but seeing this place now, I think I get why she kept me alive."

Rev scanned the desolate village. He hadn't given much thought to Umi's claim that she was the village's sole survivor before.

Rev bowed his head deeply to Ran.

"Thank you so much, sir. You saved my life. I don't know how I could ever repay this kindness."

"It's Ran. Not 'sir'."

Ran went into Umi's house and came out after grabbing a few usable supplies. First, he poured liquor over Rev's arm without warning. Rev screamed, tears and snot streaming down his face. Ran, unbothered, wrapped Rev's severed arm with a rag he had found.

"Ugh, th-thank you! Even treating my wounds..."

"It was unsightly. There's a child with us."

Rev swallowed hard. Perhaps he wasn't mistaken in assuming Ran was older.

'Never expected there'd be a child, too.'

Rev glanced warily at Ran.

Even deep in the mountains, the sun rises as always. As if nothing had happened, the weather turned clear. The morning mist dissipated completely.

"You're truly amazing, Ran. A mercenary who wanders the mountains to keep a promise with the former commander—that's a spirit of chivalry you don't often see these days."

Rev talked nonstop. Though he didn't have much, he shouldered all of Ran and Iel's luggage.

His life had nearly ended, and he was determined to repay Ran however he could.

"I'll help so you two can rest even a little in the safe zone. The 'Commander' isn't a stingy man; he probably won't turn you away so coldly."

Iel asked. In the short time she traveled with Ran, she'd learned much. She realized she had to be especially careful to protect herself.

"Yeah, the Commander. Most members are former soldiers, so naturally the highest-ranking one—Commander—became the leader of the safe zone."

Iel cautiously glanced at Ran. Ran was holding a long branch, pressing through the underbrush as he walked.

'If Ran is fine with it, then it'll be alright.'

That's how she felt. Even a child like Iel could see Ran was always prudent.

"They can't just hide out forever. Isn't there any plan?"

"For now, the Commander's top priority is to make contact with other survivor groups. The mountains are so vast, he figures there must be other groups besides ours."

Simply increasing numbers alone wouldn't solve everything.

But Rev continued with a confident look.

"Things might be tight now, but the situation will definitely improve. We'll reorganize soon to get news from the outside."

Fortunately, the path ahead wasn't rough. A gentle forest trail continued on.

Ran quietly followed Rev, who led the way, double-checking the route he had memorized.

Conveniently, the safe zone was in the direction of Northland. He planned to get supplies there and set out. Even if it was tough, he could avoid unnecessary conflict, so there was no harm in accompanying Rev.

"A war correspondent?"

"Haha, yes. Believe it or not, I'm quite the writer, too."

Rev quickly became close to Iel as well. He was just that personable.

On the other hand, Ran, who was awkward with people, still felt awkward dealing with Iel. But in a way, thanks to Rev, the tense atmosphere had softened.

"I've never heard of a war correspondent before. So what did you do during the war?"

"I recorded, one by one, how we demons fought for freedom amidst life-and-death battles. You don't have to wield a sword yourself to fight against the emperor's tyranny."

"? That's... amazing, Rev."

"Haha! Thanks for saying so. Actually, back in my hometown, people often asked how someone like me would make a living."

"My father used to say the age of the sword would soon end. Someday, intellectuals will have greater power."

"Absolutely. No doubt such a day will come. By the way, Iel, your father must be a wise man. Which house is he from?"

Ran, who had been quietly listening behind them, cut him off. Rev and Iel both looked at him for his reaction.

They'd already agreed not to ask further about Iel for now.

"Ah, sorry, Ran! I got carried away..."

"Let's just be careful. We're traveling together because it's on the way, but we don't plan to stay long anyway."

"But wouldn't it be safer for Iel if we all moved together rather than splitting up in a dangerous place ?"

"Would rather you worry about yourself."

"? H-haha. I guess I was being nosy."

Rev's concern was genuine. Until the war, he had led an ordinary life—a serf's son, neither wealthy nor particularly poor.

Then the civil war broke out. The war became a conflict of race and ideology, and as a vigorous young demon, he fulfilled what he saw as his duty.

The reason he felt drawn to Iel, whom he had only just met, was simply because she reminded him of the sisters he left back home.

"Ran, just over that hill is our destination."

Rev pointed to the hill visible across from them.

Ran surveyed the terrain. If they hurried, it seemed possible to cross before tonight. But traveling at night with Iel was dangerous.

"We'd better look for a campsite."

The group went a bit further and found a suitable place—a shallow cave.

"Judging by the lack of animal tracks, it doesn't seem too dangerous."

Ran thoroughly inspected the area. On the way there, they'd encountered wild animals several times, and Ran hunted each time to supplement their food.

"Wild animals have raided the safe zone before. They're nearly as vicious as demons."

Rev grumbled as he set down the luggage and stretched, relieved at the thought he'd soon be back.

It was a deep mountain valley. Strange phenomena that defied explanation often occurred here.

Rev thought a gust of canyon wind had just whipped over his head. Absentmindedly, he looked back—and his eyes grew wide. An arrow was stuck in the rocks.

He instinctively called for Ran, his voice trembling.

As soon as he turned his head again, Rev squeezed his eyes shut.

A flash of light exploded.

Rev crouched, clutching his head. He didn't know what happened—only that he'd almost died.

He slowly raised his head.

Ran was shielding him, blade thrust out overhead.

"Take Iel and get inside, quickly."

Though he hadn't fought with weapons, Rev had seen enough battles. He quickly understood the situation.

If someone fired a bow, they were human. Up until now, only demons or wild animals had confronted them in the mountains.

Rev's heart pounded. Maybe it was just other drifters.

He guided Iel into the rear of the cave, keeping an eye on Ran's back the whole time.

Ran, sword drawn, was focused on the direction the arrow came from.

'Ran really isn't an ordinary man.'

He had met many swordsmen during the civil war and studied their every move. Ran's posture alone showed he was extraordinary.

No follow-up attack came. A heavy silence settled; a tense stand-off.

Lying low beside Iel, Rev watched Ran's back, holding his breath.

Ran plunged his sword—the Nachal—into the ground.

'At least there aren't many of them.'

Ran's eyes gleamed sharply. He glared at the dense shrubs all around, tracking the movement of each and every leaf.

Ran placed his palm on the end of the Nachal's hilt. Responding to him, the blade shone white. Mist-like vapor rose in shimmers.

The swirling vapor took the shape of an evil spirit. It had a vaguely human frame clad in tattered armor, but the horned head like a club, the burning eyes in its sockets, and the sharp fangs marked it as a demon.

White breath issued from its mouth. The form was denser than it had been during the fight with Umi.

An arrow passed through Nachal's forehead.

Ran read its trajectory and braced with only his scabbard.

"Damn! Our position's blown!"

Two imperial guards in light armor hurriedly stepped out from the opposite brush.

Ran closed the distance in a flash.

The scabbard's tip stabbed one guard right in the throat.

It wasn't the guards' reactions that were slow—Ran was just that fast. Even seeing him charging, they couldn't block it.

Ran's gaze flickered to the remaining guard.

'Pure hunting instinct?!'

In that instant, the guard was genuinely impressed by Ran's movements.

Only a few of the pursuit squad had entered the Astana Mountains. Under Oscar's command, they worked in pairs to comb the area. Before being sent out, they'd been given Ran's basic profile.

Former inquisitor of the Special Unit. Still, just a somewhat capable mercenary. To the imperial guards, that was nothing. The Emperor's imperial guardsmen were all handpicked not just for prowess but for bloodline; only the best of the best. Each was fiercely proud.

Their own estimation: warriors of superhuman level; just shy of the very best among mere mortals.

'? This is on another level!'

His comrade, stabbed in the throat by a scabbard—no less—was staggering right in front of him.

He instinctively sensed death. But begging for his life wasn't in his nature. The guard gripped his hand axe tightly.

"You son of a bitch—!"

He lost control, swearing. The axe whistled through the air.

Pain shot up his wrist; the axe slipped out of his grip.

At such close quarters, the fight would be decided in a blink—a single breath all it took for a life to end.

Ran took the axe and severed the staggering guard's head. The head dropped to the ground as if by magic.

He swung the axe again, its edge just grazing the remaining guard's forearm.

Breathing hard, the guard backed away, trying to create distance.

He wiped sweat from his brow, hands trembling. Death was inches away.

"M-my name is Kassel Westhorn. Prince's murderer, Ran. You are—?"

Kassel tried to draw his sword.

His mind lagged behind. Suddenly, his viewpoint dropped. Darkness swept over him, sounds becoming muffled. The sensation of death felt foreign.

Ran tossed the axe aside. It landed next to Kassel's head with a thud.

'They've already caught up with us.'

Barely four days since entering the mountains. Only spent a single day in Toho Re. He'd pushed hard, hurried so far with Iel.

'I have to hurry. If we get into Northland, it'll throw off the pursuit.'

Ran returned to Iel and Rev.

Above his sword, the summoned Nachal still floated in the air.

Ran felt the Nachal's gaze. Was it angry at being used as mere bait, or sizing up its new master, or maybe feeling grudging respect? Its look was hard to read.

Ran casually dispelled Nachal, the afterimage vanishing instantly.

"Th-that was the Imperial Guard? Wasn't it?"

Rev asked, voice trembling, face flushed.

The Imperial Guard were terror to the Liberation Army. Whenever they appeared, the tides of battle swung decisively to the Emperor's side.

And Ran had dispatched them so easily.

"And that thing floating here just now, wasn't it...?"

Sweat beaded on Rev's hands as they shook.

-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=

Who's willing to bet that Rev will die?