Chapter 164: The Capital (8)

Chapter 164: The Capital (8)

There was a man named Orix Dragonic three hundred years ago.

Just like Vermouth, Orix suddenly made a name for himself in the world. During the time when demonic beast armies had invaded the Kiehl border, a general thought that his army had no chance of winning on this chaotic battlefield, so he was about to order his people to retreat.

At that moment, Orix literally dropped from the sky. After he appeared, he slaughtered half of the demonic beast armies with his sword force that reached tens of meters in length. With Orix's help, the Kiehl army had a chance of winning, and they didn't let it go to waste — they successfully drove out the demonic beast army from the Kiehl border.

Most heroes who lived during the era had a story or two like this. That was only natural; the world was in chaos three hundred years ago. There were wars going on everywhere, the enemies were always strong, humans were weak and outnumbered.... People couldn't help but dream of becoming a hero.

When somebody asked Orix about where he had learned swordsmanship, Orix told the man that he had learned it from his father. When someone else interrupted the conversation and asked how he could accumulate that much mana, his answer remained the same. In fact, he used the same answer for most questions. In the end, the general became so frustratingly curious that he had to ask who Orix's father was.

—My father's name is Parlasquez. He is a dragon.

...Although the world believed so, Hamel knew that Orix Dragonic wasn't half human and half dragon.

His name was Venos Allen. Just like Hamel, he was a mercenary. At one point in time, Venos and Hamel had been in the same mercenary guild. They had even fought together on the battlefield.

He wasn't Hamel's friend, though.

Venos was a narrow-minded bastard. When the young Hamel had first joined the mercenary guild, Venos had become Hamel's direct superior since Venos was a year older than Hamel. Venos would order Hamel to empty chamber pots and wash the senior mercenaries' smelly clothes. Since the tradition of the group's youngest member doing all sorts of dirty work had already been in place even in that fucked up era, Hamel obediently followed Venos' orders.

Hamel was still young at the time, but true to his inborn nature, his temper was getting worse and worse. At first, he simply followed orders, but at one point, all the things that he was forced to do began to annoy him.

'That bastard is just a year older than me, but he keeps ordering me around just because he is my direct superior.'

Venos was not the only one that Hamel didn't like. He also hated the mercenary seniors. There was nothing to learn from them, and they deserved no respect. Some of them even looked at the young Hamel's butt in a very sexual way, and it wasn't all that rare for these kinds of incidents to happen in the mercenary guild during the era.

Of course, Hamel would have rather died before he accepted any kind of sexual harassment, and that was how all hell ended up breaking loose. One of the mercenary seniors stretched a little too close to Hamel's sleeping bag. Having finally run out of patience, Hamel simply beat the shit out of his senior.

Naturally, Venos also flipped out. He showered Hamel with curses, so Hamel beat up Venos as well.

The leader of the mercenary guild then jumped on Hamel, saying that he was going to cut off Hamel's arms. How dare the youngest member of a mercenary guild go crazy and commit mutiny? Therefore, Hamel beat up the mercenary guild leader too.

Obviously, since he had, in fact, revolted against the leadership, he could no longer stay in the mercenary guild. The young Hamel thus quickly gathered his belongings and ransacked the pockets of the unconscious Venos and other mercenaries. After that, he left the mercenary guild.

Hamel thought that was going to be his last time seeing Venos.

When Venos had become Orix and protected the Kiehl border, Hamel was in Vermouth's party. At the request of the Kiehl emperor, they headed to the Kiehl border. When they arrived, however, the battle was already over.

The general who was guarding the border introduced Orix to the hero party in a rather grand manner. Since Hamel hadn't met Venos for a long time, he wasn't able to recognize Venos from his appearance. On top of that, Venos looked different too — his hair was now red and his eyes became blue.

Yet, Hamel remembered Venos' mana. Of course he would — Venos had always nitpicked on how Hamel trained his mana. Though, for a person who spouted that much bullshit, Venos surely didn't have many Cores or that much mana....

"Do I have something on my face?" Alchester asked as he shyly brushed his cheek.

'I must have stared at him for too long.'

After the thought, Eugene casually answered, "I was just amazed to meet the descendant of the legendary half-dragon. That's all."

"Ah...." Alchester grinned as if he understood why Eugene stared at him. "I am talking to the descendants of the Great Vermouth, so I know I shouldn't be too proud.... But my ancestor, Sir Orix Dragonic, was also a legendary hero."

Eugene desperately held back his laughter.

"My ancestor couldn't refuse the emperor's request at the time, so he remained in Kiehl and protected the Empire. However.... According to our family's history, he always regretted not going to Helmuth...."

Under the Cloak, Eugene pinched his own thigh. Mer also read what was going on in Eugene's head. Without any personal reasons, Mer helped Eugene hold back his laughter by also pinching and twisting the skin on Eugene's waist and arms.

— Are you Venos?

— ...You've got the wrong man. My name is Orix Dragonic. My father is Parlasquez the dragon....

— It's little, but I can still sense Venos' mana.

— ...I don't know who Venos is.

Venos had kept on pretending that he didn't know anything, so Hamel had made him tell the truth. Hamel had some proof to back up his words.

— You motherfucker. You are a Demon King's spy, aren't you?

— That's outrageous....

— You see, the Venos I know is a bastard who is weaker than a stone rolling around on the street. How can such a bastard get this much stronger within ten-something years?

— ...Lord Hamel.... I heard you were also an ordinary mercenary....

— Everybody already called me freakishly strong when I was a mercenary, but they didn't call you that, Venos. How can I not have some doubts when a weak-ass bastard like you has gotten this strong? Tell me the truth, you son of a bitch. You are a Demon King's spy, aren't you? A Demon King ordered you to infiltrate Kiehl and kill the emperor, right?

— What in the world...?

Hamel hadn't felt the need to talk about this any further — he had simply pounced at Orix. Baffled, Orix had fought back right away. However, it hadn't taken long for Orix to roll around on the ground, bleeding from both nostrils.

— Speak the truth, you son of a bitch. You are a Demon King's spy, aren't you?

— No, I told you I'm.... Argh!

After beating the living daylight out of Venos for a bit, Hamel could finally hear about what had happened to him.

Due to Hamel's rampage in the mercenary guild, the guild had disbanded. Therefore, Venos had been forced to bounce around multiple mercenary guilds to gain experience. During that era, a mercenary's main job had been to fight in wars, but that wasn't their only job.

— You explored an underground dungeon because of a quest. But it turns out that the dungeon was a dragon's tomb...? When you touched a Dragonheart in that dungeon, its power entered your body? Are you fucking kidding me?

— W-why do you keep saying I'm lying...?!

— If you are going to lie, you have to make your lies more believable, you know....

Orix had cried his eyes out at the time, his tears mixing with snot and blood from his nose.

In Eugene's head, Orix's face at the time overlapped with the face of Alchester, who was sitting right in front of him. As a result, Eugene almost lost it, even though Mer was still pinching him with all her might inside the Cloak.

"If my ancestor had gone to Helmuth with the heroes.... The Great Vermouth might have made more achievements...," Alchester spoke, looking outside the carriage's window.

Of course, Alchester had no way of knowing that story. Eugene, on the other hand, knew Orix and what had happened in the past, so it was torture for him to listen to Alchester. Orix had been hellbent on not going to Helmuth three hundred years ago. He had wanted to be treated with utmost respect in Kiehl, just fighting off the demonic beasts that invaded the border from time to time. If he had gone to Helmuth, Orix would have had to fight every day and worry about someone shoving a knife into his throat every night. That was just how Helmuth had been at the time.

The hero party also had no need for Orix. At first, Sienna had been interested in Orix's Dragonheart, but she quickly became disappointed when she found out that Orix didn't have that much mana even though he was the owner of a Dragonheart.

— Hamel, do you know the saying 'putting lipstick on a pig?'[1]

— Why would you put lipstick on a pig?

— You're dumber than a pig.

Since Molon liked fighting against a strong person. he had also been interested in Orix. However, his interest quickly dissipated once he found out that Orix wasn't as strong as he had thought.

As for Anise and Vermouth, they had shown zero interest in Orix from the get-go. Anise said that the current party was ideal, adding someone would just break the balance. On top of that, she evaluated Orix as someone who wasn't worth enough for her to wait until the party regained balance.

Vermouth said the same stuff: the hero party didn't need an extra member. The five were fine on their own.

Vermouth always said that. While the party had been wandering around Helmuth, they had met numerous heroes. Some had wished to be a member of their party. There had been some whom Hamel himself wanted as one of his party members.

There was one thing he could never deny — Hamel was the weakest member in the hero party when they first arrived at the frontline of Helmuth. Among the heroes who had already made a name for themselves in the area, there were many people who were stronger than him.

Yet, Vermouth never asked them to join his party. On the contrary, when other heroes approached him wanting to become a member, he firmly rejected them. Vermouth explained to them that it had been great fighting together on this or that occasion, but he had to be together with his current teammates.

At the time, Hamel had really been unable to understand Vermouth.

'...I still don't.' Eugene thought, feeling mixed emotions.

He put his hand inside the cloak and slapped the back of Mer's hand to stop her from pinching him.

"...You seem to have a lot of respect for your ancestor," Eugene spoke, trying to be as calm as possible.

"Just like you respect the Great Vermouth," Alchester spoke, smiling. "My ancestor may not have fought against the Demon Kings in Helmuth, but he protected numerous Kiehl citizens and the Kiehl borderline as he remained in the Empire. Sir Vermouth protected the world by fighting against the Demon Kings, but my ancestor also devoted his life to Kiehl."

Alchester looked at the symbol of the White Dragon Knightly Order on his uniform.

"...It is said that the first Kiehl emperor was friends with a dragon," Alchester explained the founding myth of Kiehl. "From the start, the Kiehl Empire has been friends with dragons. However, a long time has passed since the guardian dragon of the Empire died. No connection existed between the Empire and dragons afterward.... But when my half-dragon ancestor arrived at Kiehl three hundred years ago, the Empire once again became friends with dragons."

"...Cough," Eugene suddenly cleared his throat.

"What's wrong?" Alchester swiftly asked.

"...My... my wound from the fight with the Rakshasa Princess suddenly ached." Eugene grabbed his chest, physically suppressing his laughter from coming out.

"Of course, you would have an injury. The Rakshasa Princess is strong," Carmen spoke as she turned her head away from the window. Holding her bandaged right arm, she continued, "But we're strong too, kid.... Well, I guess I can't call you kid anymore, Eugene."

"...Why are you calling me kid then...." Alchester timidly interrupted.

"Quiet, kid. I haven't survived a life and death battle with you, so you are still a kid to me, Alchester."

Alchester wasn't able to understand Carmen's logic, but he decided to not nitpick on that.

"A dragon, huh...," Carmen muttered under her breath as she stared at her bandaged fingers.

"Do you have something you would like to say?" Eugene cautiously asked.

"No, it's nothing." Carmen put her hand in her coat pocket and chuckled. "Heaven Genocide.... The pocket watch that hides its true form."

As she kept on staring at her pocket watch, she furtively glanced at Eugene. "...A dragon, huh...."

Eugene stayed silent at Carmen's obvious act. What Carmen had said the day before crossed Eugene's mind.

— I found the Heaven Genocide through a coincidental encounter — no, a miracle.... Wow, it has already been decades since I found it. I went through a magical experience when I was young. That's all I can tell you.

— You started anyway, so why can't you just tell me the whole damn story?

— I can't. I can't break the promise since promises are important.

In any case, thanks to Carmen being really obvious, Eugene had a rough idea about how Carmen had gotten her hands on Heaven Genocide and who had made it.

"...Wouldn't it be better if we go together?" Alchester asked with a hint of discontentment.

"No, you guys should go by carriage." Carmen shook her head.

"I think it's inefficient...."

"I asked you and the rest of the White Dragon Knights to guard the nearby areas of the Lionheart land. I don't want strangers to enter the main estate."

Due to Carmen's firm rejection, Alchester had no choice but to step back.

"In that case, I will do as you ask. We will use the warp gate at the outskirts of Ceres to visit the Lionhearts' land."

"We will discuss how to protect the estate later. We will come to you, so you just put up a camp outside the main estate's wall or something," Carmen instructed Alchester.

Leaving Alchester, Carmen went through the warp gate first. Following Carmen, Eugene also entered the warp gate. The sight of a familiar forest unfolded before his eyes.

"Did you do that because of the forest?" Eugene asked Carmen, who was putting another cigar in her mouth.

"Yeah, that's why." Carmen nodded. "Alchester isn't a black-hearted person. I have known him since he was a little child. At one time, I have exchanged knowledge for the sake of the Lionhearts and the Dragonics' friendship."

"Exchanged knowledge?" Eugene tilted his head in confusion.

"I taught Alchester the Lionheart style. Alchester's father... the former Dragonic Patriarch taught me the Dragonic style. I personally think the Lionhearts were the ones who suffered a loss during the exchange," Carmen spoke, chewing on the end of her cigar. Soon, she frowned as she felt the bitterness spreading in her mouth. "...To put it in another way, I was Alchester's teacher, so I know who Alchester is. He's timid, but his loyalty for his lord makes him overcome his timidness."

Alchester's lord was the emperor of Kiehl.

"This forest is too valuable. There is not only the leyline made by the Great Vermouth, but there are also the trees that you brought. These things make the forest into a treasure warehouse. If Alchester finds out about the forest... he will definitely report back to the emperor. He wouldn't try to take our land, but he is more than capable of producing a royal decree ordering us to cooperate and let the White Dragon Knights train in the forest. Things would get real noisy around here."

As they talked, the other Black Lions arrived at the estate through the warp gate.

Watching them, Carmen continued, "The Rakshasa Princess retreated, but don't lower your guard. Since she went that far last time, we don't know when she will strike again."

After warning Eugene, Carmen went over to the Black Lions to discuss their future plans.

Eugene approached Lavera, who looked noticeably pale.

"...Master Eugene." Lavera's eyes lost focus for a moment.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm...okay. Master Eugene, are you.... No, never mind. I'm sorry...."

"What's there for you to apologize?" Eugene grumbled as he stood in front of Lavera. "Stand still."

"...Pardon?"

"Don't move," Eugene repeated, grabbing Lavera's shoulders.

Lavera was surprised, but she stood still, remembering Eugene's instruction.

'He is punishing me.' Lavera thought and bit her lips.

Although Lavera hadn't done it on purpose, Eugene had fallen into danger because he had gone out to the city with her. Since the slave had put her master into trouble, the slave had to be punished.

"Hmm..." Eugene groped Lavera's body, starting from her shoulder. His hands went slowly over her armpits, collarbones, and her chest. Lavera wasn't humiliated, but saddened by the fact that Eugene, whom she had idolized, was doing this kind of stuff to her.

While talking with the Black Lions, Carmen happened to see what Eugene was doing to Lavera. She gaped in shock, her cigar falling out of her mouth.

'What on earth is he doing? Why here? They aren't alone. Why would he be groping an elven maid's body in front of everyone?'

Carmen's eyes lost focus.

"Hmmmm..." Eugene's touch was delicate, as if he was merely conducting some sort of diagnostic. After her chest, Eugene's hands had come down on Lavera's waist and abdomen.

Turning her flushed face, Carmen loudly cleared her throat. "...Uhm... why don't you... do it later...?"

"Got it." Eugene spoke calmly, not giving a hoot about the onlookers' impression.

'Got what?' Carmen bewilderedly thought.

Before she could say something, Eugene slapped Lavera's waist.

"Ugh...!" Feeling a shock spreading throughout her body, Lavera covered her mouth.

Eugene infused his mana into Lavera as he kept his hand on her waist.

"Open your mouth," Eugene ordered.

However, there was no need for Eugene to give such an order. Something instantly squirmed out from deep inside her body and filled her mouth.

"Blarghhh!"

Lavera vomited up a dark lump.