CHAPTER 157

"Monsters, you said you dreamed of being a Knight, right? Then we have to go. It's obvious. Isn't slaying monsters what Knights do?"

Krais believed that slaying monsters was the essence of being a Knight.

However, those who heard his words interpreted them differently.

It sounded as though he was belittling Knights.

Treating a weapon capable of changing the tide of battle as merely a monster hunter.

"And isn't it our duty to save the villagers? My sense of justice is boiling over."

His tone, which should have been filled with concern, seemed rather greedy.

It was as if his eyes had turned into gold coins.

Everyone looked at Krais, thinking similar thoughts. But Krais didn't care about others' opinions.

He was entirely focused on Encrid.

What mattered was the decision-maker, not the opinions of others.

"What is it?"

Encrid asked, crossing his arms.

"Big Eyes here. Always wanting to go somewhere."

Rem, who had been lounging half-reclined on a bed, remarked.

Quite perceptive.

Krais thought and looked at the leader with his trump card: wide, bright eyes.

Yes, aren't my eyes big?

Look into my eyes.

Now, you want to take on this mission.

His eyes were so clear and large that they seemed to have a hypnotic effect. Encrid hesitated, then spoke.

"Should I spit on you?"

'Where did you get those eyes from?'

Krais read Encrid's expression.

'Ah, this isn't working, it's not convincing him.'

So, what's the next step? Krais pondered, then quickly gave up.

He was clever, quick-witted, and perceptive.

Krais attributed these traits to his hard childhood experiences.

It was thanks to that hardship.

'These tricks don't work on the leader.'

He sensed it. This wouldn't work.

So, what was left?

A direct approach.

Always straightforward and direct.

The leader always treated him and others that way, so he decided to do the same.

Krais had exceptional intuition. He quickly adjusted his approach, like a meteor falling swiftly.

"So, about a hundred years ago, there was a merchant named Dolph, renowned across the continent."

He began the story with a historical anecdote. The priority was to capture interest.

Should it be called the eccentric hobby of a wealthy man?

Or perhaps an odd quirk?

One of Dolph's hobbies was to hide a portion of his wealth and make treasure maps.

This is a legend found in old historical records.

"But did it end as just a legend? No. Otherwise, why would I bring it up?"

Krais's tone became more forceful at key moments. He could be described as a persuasive storyteller.

His words carried a sense of fervor.

Dolph was said to have been the owner of a once-famous merchant guild.

But shortly before he died, he siphoned off all his wealth and hid it.

Naturally, those who should have inherited it were furious.

Even his six wives were breathing fire.

"Why did you do that!"

It's said Dolph didn't answer. He silently endured their criticism.

He only said,

"If you want my wealth, find the map."

The legend conveyed that Dolph said this.

The last record in the legend was that a chronicler asked Dolph, the merchant, before he died,

"Why did you make such maps?"

Dolph's answer was a masterpiece.

"Because it's fun."

There were over twenty maps filled with codes.

The one who deciphered the first map obtained the treasure.

It was a man who had been Dolph's coachman.

The man became a rich merchant but later went bankrupt after establishing a merchant guild.

The one who deciphered the second map was Dolph's first wife.

She was greedy. She kept it a secret from her son and went alone to the place her husband had created, only to fall into a trap and die.

Indeed, the coachman was a decoy. He was Dolph's final ploy.

Contrary to what the legend said, Dolph didn't want his wealth to fall into anyone's hands. He particularly despised the idea of giving anything to his family.

"In reality, he was a fruitless tree. A bee that couldn't collect nectar."

Everyone had started listening to Krais. His storytelling skill was enough to rival that of a skilled bard.

Yes, Dolph was incapable of having children, yet he had six wives and over twenty children.

It didn't make sense.

So, he planned his revenge.

He hid all his wealth in various places.

A few of them had already been unearthed.

By a friend named Kirgon, the continent's greatest treasure hunter.

Treasure hunter Kirgon had already proven it.

"The treasure is real."

It was a hidden story of history.

Krais knew quite a bit about this subject.

Why wouldn't he, when it was related to Krona?

There were widespread rumors that if you found and dug up this map, real treasure would be hidden there, and treasure hunter Kirgon had proven it.

But, what luck!

Surely, the Goddess of luck had kissed his cheek while he was asleep.

During the last battle, when Krais scouted the enemy camp, he managed to grab a few items.

One of them was an item he retrieved from under a tree.

"Hmm."

The map smelled foul as if it had been kept between someone's legs.

He wanted to throw it away immediately, but Krais instinctively knew it wasn't an ordinary item, so he kept it.

Treasure maps were common items that circulated widely.

There were a lot of fakes.

There was someone in the Gilpin Guild who appraised such things.

In polite terms, an appraiser.

In back-alley slang, a fence.

You needed an eye for treasures to sell them.

"This looks genuine."

One word from him was enough. It was a hundred years old. The language was different, so the appraiser couldn't recognize it.

Krais hadn't recognized the ancient text either. He struggled to decipher it, but unexpectedly, the solution came from Frog.

Luagarne called himself,

"I am a scholar."

Frog?

Despite his thoughts, Krais didn't give Frog a disrespectful look. Instead, he asked Frog to help decipher a few random characters, and from that, Krais pieced together the answer.

It was Dolph's sixth map.

"There will be treasure. Enormous treasure."

Krais passionately spoke in the middle of the lodging. His face was red from lack of oxygen, as he hadn't paused to breathe.

"It's so old that none of the traps will work properly. It's like picking up jewels that have fallen on the road, just dust off the dirt and take them."

The story was quite interesting, but Encrid was not swayed by Krais's enthusiasm.

He didn't commit to going to the location marked on the treasure map.

He just thought,

'Since we're leaving anyway.'

Whether it was monsters, beasts, or war.

He was itching to test himself.

To see if what he had learned, if the skills and lessons acquired through training and sparring with everyone, were guiding him in the right direction.

The desire to confirm one's abilities is a basic human instinct.

"Request accepted."

Krais was delighted at Encrid's words.

"But visiting that place is uncertain."

Krais looked visibly disappointed at the follow-up statement.

He widened his eyes and muttered, "How could you?"

Rem, seeing this, laughed from the side.

Encrid didn't know, but ever since Krais realized the map was real, he had been plotting to capitalize on it.

Going to find the treasure alone? That would be like offering his flesh and blood to the monsters as bread and wine.

Then with the guild members?

That would be a banquet prepared with his and the guild members' flesh and blood.

He needed a group that was skilled enough not to be bothered by the threat of monsters, beasts, or bandits.

Hiring mercenaries? That would require at least a squad's worth, making it too costly.

So, his first target was Rem.

"Why don't you take a request?"

"I only take assassination requests. The targets are limited to three: a sly wildcat, a lazy glutton, and a religious fanatic."

Rem had no intention of listening.

Would Ragna and Jaxon be any different?

He didn't even try with Audin.

He didn't frequent battlefields often, so treasure hunting was out of the question.

"If Big Eyes vows to offer everything to God."

That's what he'd say.

Asking the Platoon leader for help was out since he had been swinging his sword like a madman for the past three months.

It was hard to even approach him.

"I would even borrow your hands."

He didn't dare ask Esther.

"Rawr!"

Esther expressed displeasure with her whole body. Any closer, and she would scratch with her claws again.

Ever since the day he first met Esther and tried to find out her gender by touching her, Esther had hated him. No, she despised him.

Even though she was a spiritual beast, it was surprising how a panther could express such emotions.

He was about to give up halfway.

No matter how much he liked Krona, he wouldn't risk his life. That was Krais's philosophy.

His dream was to open a salon and live without worrying about Krona.

Right in the middle of a safe city, enjoying the nightlife moderately.

Of course, running a salon wasn't without risk, but it was the kind of thrill that made life enjoyable.

Anyway, he was halfway to giving up, but if the Platoon leader decided to go?

Recently, how strong was Encrid?

"It's no use, even I can't beat him."

This was the official statement from the Border Patrol Commander.

"If you give me five sharpshooters and two wizards, it might be doable."

This was Torres, the Platoon leader's statement.

With five sharpshooters and two wizards, even Krais might have a chance against Encrid.

Even without himself, the others alone would be sufficient, right?

"It's getting interesting."

Rem also acknowledged this.

"I'm intrigued."

This was a phrase frequently used by the Fairy Company Commander.

What does all this mean?

It suggests that not even a group of ghouls could touch the leader's clothes, doesn't it?

Perhaps our Platoon leader is truly a genius?

There was no doubt. He had already seen him fight Frog firsthand.

So.

"Ah, come on. Let's go. Just go."

Krais pleaded.

Encrid ignored him.

"I'll go too."

Meanwhile, Frog joined the conversation.

"Great. That's good!"

Krais was pleased.

"Shall I join as well?"

Finn also raised her hand. She was a ranger, and a very skilled one at that.

Not quite at the level of a pathfinder who could create walking maps, but she was good at finding her way and fighting.

"Good!"

Krais spoke up again.

Encrid smirked at the sight.

There was no need to stop the two.

The request had reached them because the Battalion Commander had specifically pointed it out.

'A dangerous task.'

His heart was racing, and he had agreed because it was such a task.

But reducing risk was the smart move, so the more people, the better.

A colony of monsters, protecting the pioneer village, with temporary command and Frog as part of the team.

What if they brought Rem or another member?

"Want to come along?"

Encrid asked, not entirely without thought, as he somewhat hoped they would join.

"Don't you know I'm busy?"

Rem, who had already wrapped himself in a blanket on the bed, lazily replied, making Encrid think, "That's so like Rem."

Busy doing nothing but lounging around.

Then Encrid thought of bringing Ragna along and asked.

"Not interested."

Not interested? Want to laze around? Feeling short on laziness lately?

Ragna was also stuck to his bed.

He didn't even turn his head when he replied.

"The Lord hasn't given me any guidance."

Audin also declined.

Jaxon was nowhere to be seen.

It was said he was diligently on duty, but he didn't seem to have time to drop by the barracks.

In the end, it meant no one else was coming along.

Encrid didn't mind. In reality, if there were a significant threat, they would send the troops.

Would they specifically choose him for such a mission? He thought not.

The mission was to check on the colony of monsters near the pioneer village and, if possible, eliminate them.

The order stated that he would have command over the village's forces.

'If there's a village militia.'

They probably wouldn't be short on numbers.

So, the only thing left was to prepare thoroughly for the journey.

This world is not kind to travelers, so it was right to avoid setting out without adequate preparation.

Normally, even a group of four leaving might raise eyebrows, but with a ranger and Frog among them, it was different.

Moreover, the leader was a swordsman of an elite level, comparable to top-tier soldiers in Naurillia's military ranking system.

They were not a group that could easily be threatened.

Despite a world teeming with bandits and monsters, they had more than enough strength.

So, it didn't matter if no other platoon members came along.

"We depart in two weeks."

Encrid announced, and Krais, still anxious, asked,

"Is there really no chance?"

"We'll see."

Encrid was always sincere. Given the uncertainty of their mission, they had to assess the situation as they went.

Krais could only hope.

The treasure cave he found was in that area, just a day's journey from the pioneer village.

"Good. Great."

Krais realized that pressing further was pointless.

So, the group began their preparations.

Traveling in this world was truly challenging.

In a world where even merchants traveling between cities moved in groups of at least ten to maintain safety, mercenaries and the military mercenary system of Naurillia were highly regarded.

Despite this, only four of them were setting out.

There were no concerns, but that didn't mean they could afford to be careless in their preparations.

Encrid decided to go into the village for the first time in a while.

There were a few items he needed to procure from the market.

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