Old Comrades (9)

It was the evening of the third day since descending from the tower.

Just as I was about to leave the mansion, a knight from the main house arrived.

"Message from Lord Lois."

He handed over a red letter.

Diberry, the butler, sensing the gravity, cleared the room of everyone but me.

'A red letter.'

This is not given to just anyone.

It's used only for special matters or critical situations, containing messages considered cryptic.

I began to open the letter carefully.

Rip.

The red seal bearing the Strange family crest, a cross, slowly came apart, and whispers started emanating from it.

This letter wasn't written with words but was instead imbued with a spirit's power, transmitting the message through voice. The recorded content spoke for itself.

Rustle.

As I pulled out the paper inside, a rough male voice resonated.

"If you want war, create a justification."

A firm, resolute voice filled with determination.

It was a voice similar to my father's but different, meant to prevent the letter's contents from leaking. Some high-level alchemists possess techniques to steal power just by hearing a voice, so this method was likely chosen to avoid such risks.

'So all I need is a justification.'

As I confirmed my father's message, I burned the letter in the candle flame.

Flare.

As the letter burned, the voice faded.

Small spirit-like insects clinging to the paper fled, unable to withstand the heat.

I blew them away with my breath and burned the remaining paper.

Flare.

"So, Father knows everything."

The curtains and shadows shifted as Kang Gradera emerged, bowing deeply.

"The Strange family's information network is the best on the continent. He probably noticed Marquis Pierre's potion scheme from the start."

Indeed, with many bearing the Strange name across the continent, they wouldn't sit idly by if someone messed with potions.

"Curious about the letter's contents?"

"A bit. Can you tell me?"

"Yes, I'd like you to handle this matter, Kang Gradera."

"Me?"

I answered, placing the remaining spirits on the back of my hand.

"If you want war, create a justification."

"War, justification…"

Kang Gradera rolled his eyes upward in thought, then nodded in understanding.

"So, the Strange family intends to settle things with Bourbon?"

"If I wish it."

"Do you wish it?"

"A little."

"A little?"

"I want to kill Marquis Pierre, but I don't want to do it myself."

Of course, personally toppling them would be satisfying.

However, in this situation, what would be gained from a fight? Even if the beginning and end are decided, the process won't be smooth.

A conflict between lords would undoubtedly escalate into a large-scale war, resulting in significant military losses on both sides, which isn't worth it.

It would be easier and cleaner to send an assassin to cut off the enemy leader's head.

'Of course.'

The Strange family, who values chivalry, wouldn't do such a thing.

'What should I do?'

In my past life, it wasn't us but Glazer who toppled Bourbon.

As a result, wizards gained financial freedom and later created the ultimate mana artifact, the Philosopher's Stone.

Of course, that year the emperor destroyed Glazer on the pretext of Marquis Pierre's death.

Using the Strange family as the base, he declared a continental mobilization.

'Yes.'

That's the issue.

If Father takes action, erasing Bourbon's name from the map would be simple.

But unlike in my past life, if the emperor allies with Glazer to eliminate Strange, the impact would be beyond our control.

"Kang Gradera, may I ask you a slightly unreasonable favor?"

"…Please go ahead."

"You can use mana, right?"

"Yes."

"And magic?"

Kang Gradera hesitated, then ignited a blue flame in his palm.

Flare.

"I can manage up to the 3rd circle. However, my spells are closer to sorcery than magic, so they're not very powerful."

"That's enough."

"Enough?"

"Yes, as long as you can show magic."

"What do you mean?"

I picked up the Blue Cannabis on the desk and spoke to him.

"Marquis Pierre's Bongshin is looking for the supplier of high-grade potion ingredients to the Beastfolk Trading Company. They don't know our identity yet."

"…"

"So, if you appear before them claiming to be the supplier, and threaten Bongshin with magic, what will happen?"

"…Are you suggesting pitting Bourbon against Glazer?"

"Can you handle it?"

Kang Gradera swallowed hard.

After a moment of contemplation, he nodded shortly.

"I'll handle it."

Dark clouds loomed low.

Raindrops began to fall.

A storm was brewing.

I walked towards the Adventurers' Guild with Cynthia's party.

This time, there were things to prepare with them before heading to the tower.

"What? You want us to take an S-rank quest?"

Cynthia's face was one of sheer disbelief.

Her reaction was understandable.

At the Adventurers' Guild, failing a quest meant bearing the consequences, and with S-rank quests, failure often meant risking one's life.

"Yes."

"No way. Do you know what happens if you fail an S-rank quest?"

"What happens?"

Cynthia's party member with a ponytail interjected.

"Recently, an eastern knight with Sword Master potential went missing. His name was 'Monestier.'"

"Monestier?"

That name sounded familiar.

"Yes, Baron Monestier. He was a knight known by the alias 'Blue Hound' (靑犬)."

Blue Hound? Another familiar alias. However, since his face didn't immediately come to mind, he wasn't someone I saw frequently.

"So what?"

Ponytail pushed his glasses up with his index finger.

"He failed an S-rank quest before he disappeared. Despite warnings from the Adventurers' Guild, he took on an unreasonable quest and ended up like that!"

"So, if you fail a quest, the Adventurers' Guild takes action?"

"Exactly. The Seven Shadows, whom they hire, will come for you."

This was news to me.

Of course, in my past life, I never failed a quest, so I might not know. Still, having successfully completed SSS-rank quests, it was hard to believe I hadn't heard of this.

'Of course.'

I knew that failure could mean death, but that was usually at the hands of the quest giver, not the Guild.

I leaned back in my chair, scanning the request board in the corner of the tavern, and replied.

"You made two promises with me."

"Promises?"

"One was the joint climb of the tower with Cynthia, as I proposed. The other was the accompaniment of your existing party members, as Cynthia proposed to me."

"Th… that's right."

"So, how should we fulfill both promises in this situation?"

Ponytail glanced at Cynthia. He understood my meaning but kept silent.

Without waiting for a response, I pointed at the S-rank quest notice.

"The chance of failure is extremely low, so don't worry. The quest is to collect 'Devil Horns.'"

Cynthia pushed Ponytail aside and asked.

"How do you know the failure chance is low?"

"I've done it."

"You've done it?"

"Yes, that quest. I've completed it before."

Though in a past life.

"...Really?"

"Yes."

"And the quest details are the same?"

"The same. And no more questions. This isn't a request; it's an order. You were already willing to risk your lives climbing the tower, right?"

Alfredo frowned deeply as he stepped between us.

"Hey, kid. What did you just say?"

"I said it's an order."

"You're ordering us?"

"Any objections?"

He briefly met my gaze, then turned to Cynthia.

"No, if it's an order, we must follow it. Cynthia, what are you doing? Let's go accept the quest."

Cynthia sighed heavily.

"Then let me ask one last thing. Why are we taking a quest if we're climbing the tower?"

"To obtain a reward in the next trial, we need an item from the quest."

"A reward?"

"This is all I'll explain. Go accept the quest."

Cynthia glared at me for a long moment before reluctantly leading her party to the tavern master.

'There was no other choice.'

A promise is a promise.

Thud, thud, thud!

There was a loud crash as a table toppled over and a chair was thrown.

"I don't care who you are! If you lose, you pay up. Pay up!"

The tavern was thrown into chaos.

Amidst the commotion, a familiar voice rang out.

"I-I'll pay! I'm from the Strange family, the Strange family. The greatest swordsman family, Strange!"

Bang!

'Strange?'

From my corner, I walked towards the noisy center where people were gathering.

In the middle of the circle formed by onlookers stood two men.

One was a dwarf with a beard so long it reached his navel.

The other, around Cynthia's age, wore the red cape with the cross symbol of the Strange family and had a face covered in countless scars.

'No way.'

"My name is Monestier de Strange. I'll bring the money once I return to my estate. Just give me some time!"

I was shocked.

Ponytail's mention of him earlier had me unsure, but seeing his face brought back memories.

An outcast of the Strange family, bearing their name but considered a non-entity due to his constant absence.

'Monestier de Strange.'

He was shackled with Aura suppression cuffs, pleading.

"I'll pay, I'll pay, damn it! How much do I owe?"

The dwarf extended his thick hand.

"Two gold coins."

"Really? Did I lose that much?"

"Yeah, you said you're a Strange? Looks like you're from a branch family, not the main one. If you don't pay up, I'll report you to the main house."

"..."

"I'll tell them you're disgracing the Strange name by pulling such stunts. They'll probably execute you and your entire family."

The dwarf threatened to use his family as leverage. Monestier waved his hands in distress.

"A-anything but that."

"Then pay up."

"How about this? I'll complete a quest and get the money soon. Just wait until then."

"How long?"

"A month."

"You have a week."

"A week? That's too short!"

"You know what happens if you don't get the money by then, right?"

One side smirked cruelly while the other looked ready to cry.

'Money, huh.'

I stepped between them and pulled out two gold coins.

"Here's two gold coins. I'll pay for him."

Monestier.

Consider this the price for your life.