LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 117
Shione stood blankly in front of Ravi Crunel, who looked utterly lost.
“Who are you…?”
The hollow gaze was hidden beneath a long robe, directed at my lord.
Shione slightly lifted her heavily drawn robe to reveal her face to her.
“Young Lady?”
“Ravi Crunel, leader of the Second Magic Unit of the Alenarr Marquis Family. I apologize for coming here with such a sudden request, but… could I ask for your help?”
“Help, you say?”
“I’ve found a woman imbued with magic. From her appearance, it seems she’s in a hurry to go somewhere. I want to follow her…”
“Uh…?”
Of course, you’re not from the Count’s House but from the Marquis Family’s magic unit. It wouldn’t matter if you refused my request or anything like that, Shione’s trailing thoughts continued.
Ravi Crunel appeared not to have heard Shione’s trailing thoughts.
Naturally. It would be difficult to understand that the second daughter of the Count’s House was asking for help in finding what seemed to be a cultist during a festival, while everyone else was lost in merriment.
Where exactly is that Shianella Count? The Demonic Realm beside the Beltlin Mountains.
The church under the papacy monitoring the Demonic Realm is full of excellent priests and paladins. Together with the guards from the Count’s House, they regularly patrol the territory.
Even if they belong to Shianella’s bloodline, they are well adept at detecting the scent of demons. How on earth could the cultists have hidden within this territory?
I, too, am curious how those cultists are breathing in this place. It wouldn’t be weird for Ravi to show such a reaction.
I followed behind Shione, lowering my hood momentarily.
Upon seeing my face come out from under the hood, Ravi’s tired eyes widened in surprise.
“It’s been a while.”
As I bowed my head in greeting, Ravi alternated her gaze between me and Shione.
“Young Lady, could we get some more details about what you just mentioned?”
“We don’t have much time, so I’ll explain briefly.”
Shione occasionally cast glances at the cultist in the distance as she quickly summarized the situation.
There seemed to be a slight gap in status between the Count’s Family and the Baron’s Family, so even when Shione spoke to her in a relatively humble manner, Ravi didn’t seem offended in the least.
The discussion concluded with Ravi nodding to Shione’s suggestions.
Ravi even advised that rather than immediately following her, it might be better to assemble some soldiers, but ultimately, after a brief consultation following Shione’s words, she nodded in agreement. The decisive factor was that the cultist had started moving after joining forces with someone.
Those were the magicians from the Marquis Family who had slain the demons adapted to the harsh cold overwhelming the northern kingdom and taken the land stained with their blood.
They wouldn’t sit idly by when it comes to cultists, and with the addition of magical support, they likely felt confident that they could at least assist in tailing rather than fighting.
‘That’s a relief.’
Even if a bit of combat breaks out, considering they are battle wizards of the Marquis Family.
With Ravi alongside us and a number of wizards with her, even if a decent opponent shows up, it wouldn’t be too dangerous.
“Phew…”
I came out to have fun at the festival, yet I wonder why the conversation has drifted this way.
It’s clear that either I or Shione has invited misfortune. The stories she gets entwined in are always filled with such troublesome matters.
Especially Shione. She has a knack for aggravating already annoying situations.
I might let it slide this time, but I should definitely give her a talking-to once we return to her room.
I must tell her to think twice before stepping into dangerous situations impulsively again. If possible, I also plan to inform Ainel about Shione’s recklessness.
‘Well, still.’
If so many individuals are accompanying us, my worries about this foolish Shione’s safety are somewhat alleviated.
No, it would be far more effective and safer than sending some mediocre battle priests or soldiers to dig them out.
As soon as the demon worshipers began to stir, Shione pulled her hood down deeply and spoke.
“Thank you for granting my sudden request. I will ensure you receive proper compensation when we return to the Count’s House.”
Of course, Shione promised compensation for the future.
It’s expected since it wouldn’t be the strength of the Count’s troops but rather the wizards of the Marquis Family lending their aid.
Moreover, having undertaken such a bothersome task, it would only be right to grant a suitable reward.
Ravi nodded her head in acknowledgment of her words.
“Understood. If we all stick together, they’ll easily catch on, so you three will need to split off and follow behind.”
The most reliable Ravi stayed by my side and Shione’s.
The three wizards who had been with her formed another team.
And thus, our journey began.
The goal was to follow them and gather even small bits of information. Ideally finding out about their schemes or hideouts would be the best outcome, but simply catching their trail would be enough.
If we tail them for a while without results or if we get discovered, the plan is to extract information through interrogation. In case of an emergency, Ravi took on the responsibility for suppression.
The other team planned to take a slightly different route. As for me, Shione, and Ravi, since we determined to directly tail them, we promptly followed in the direction the cultists had trod.
“…So we’ve ended up in the red-light district.”
“It seems we’re heading towards the slums… since this red-light district is the nearest street to the most impoverished area.”
At my words, Shione gave an awkward smile.
Soon afterward, she and Ravi began to concentrate once more on the behavior of the cultists ahead.
Slipping behind them, I did my best to obscure the hellish scene unfolding before us.
Still, I could only pray to escape the red-light district as quickly as possible while casting glances at the unpleasant sounds and fleeting demonic figures.
*
“A slum. It’s my first time here…”
A slum.
The most wretched and dangerous place even behind the sturdy walls of the Count’s House.
Unlike the nearby center, this desolate place felt incredibly bleak.
For those living here, the festivities meant nothing but a deception for the wealthy.
Those struggling to survive here were not entranced by the festival’s excitement but rather focused on finding warmth to endure the cold winter.
This was an image familiar to me, Ravi Crunel.
“…It’s worse than I expected.”
Yet, it seemed to be an unfamiliar sight to the Young Lady.
A deep frown settled on her face.
She couldn’t move easily.
Countless gazes from those around her trapped her, unable to move as they stared through the holes in the dilapidated walls of their homes.
Meanwhile, I approached, familiar with the view of the slums, encouraging her to step forward and speak.
“Young Lady, the slums are known to be a place where those who have not seized opportunities gather to struggle for survival.”
“…?”
“However, the truth is a bit different. Most people here aren’t those who’ve simply missed their chances; the majority are those who had opportunities and chose to toss them away instead. Most of them have made the decision to stay here on their own accord.”
“Sir Ravi Crunel, is that really…?”
“There’s no need for sympathy. These people are fugitives who have turned their backs on effort and surrendered to despair, finding refuge in these shabby homes.”
“……”
“Have you heard of the Crunel Baron family?”
The Young Lady fell silent.
“It might sound foreign. My family is a fallen house. Embarrassingly, I spent quite some time living in the slums as a child. It was then that I realized.”
“……”
“Those without sin here are merely the young children with pure eyes who dream, or the desperate folks before they embrace complete despair. Even they eventually learn to steal and fight over time, and before long, they too change into eyes that are dim and hollow.”
With a cold gaze, I swept my eyes over the slum dwellers.
The ones stealing glances at us wore lifeless expressions. They were no more than worthless stones in a muddy pit.
“Just those frail individuals unprepared for the winter of spring and fall. There’s no need to fuss too much over those who couldn’t overcome their struggles. People from the slums tend to find a multitude of opportunities. They simply let them slip away. Look at them.”
The gazes of those looking at us were all starkly clear.
Just like I said, they had dim and vacant expressions. Not a single one was straightened out.
They were merely the broken individuals who couldn’t overcome their plight.
“Though it’s inevitable to feel sympathy, it’s troublesome if our steps slow down because of it. I exaggerated my expression, but please, do not let my words weigh heavily on your heart.”
“…I understand. Let’s keep moving.”
In silence, we continued to follow the group that reeked of magic.
I glanced back. Being of commoner origin, is that the reason for such disparity? Unlike the Young Lady, her devoted attendant seemed used to it, openly absorbing the surroundings as she followed along.
As I inhaled the cold winter air, a sigh escaped my lips, and I recalled my former self.
I was born into a family that had fallen from grace. My parents had passed away when I was young, leaving me alone.
Wandering through the slums, I met a woman.
An elderly sorcerer who lay in a shabby room in the slums.
Under her tutelage, I began to learn magic, and the naive child, Ravi Crunel, started to dream grand dreams.
I was naturally curious since childhood, and magic became my most delightful toy and dream.
When I learned magic, I was filled with joy. I still can’t forget the day my mentor first taught me how to create flames.
Of course, there were plenty of hard days as well.
Having been born the descendant of a completely fallen noble, the surname Crunel couldn’t shield me.
I’ve been beaten just by the fact that I carried the blood of nobility. There were many times I was robbed of the hard-earned coins I’d made working in the center.
Ultimately, when my only remaining family, my mentor, was unjustly taken by the scoundrels of the slums, I didn’t lose hope and overcame it.
Being born in the slums or having to survive there, the idea that living this way is one’s fate is absolute nonsense. I am the living witness who overcame all this harshness. Who would dare speak such weak words?
The people up from the slums are nothing but those who dream not, doing nothing, and have no thoughts of overcoming.
They are nothing but fools who wish to rise from the depths yet make no efforts whatsoever.
Even without being fortunate enough to possess talent for magic, or not having the favorable chance of joining the Marquis Family’s unit, if one truly tries—
There’s no reason one couldn’t establish a fine shop in the outskirts or lead an ordinary life like a tenant farmer.
“Phew…”
I simply despise the slums. I loathe those in the slums as well.
I just focus on tracking the villains at the Young Lady’s request, hoping to forget that the surrounding area is the slums.
*
How much longer would we have to walk?
Once we started the pursuit, we ended up right in front of the towering castle wall.
Shione was lost in thought over something Ravi had said, and Ravi moved soundlessly, arriving here.
The atmosphere was stifling.
Regardless, the result of our tracking yielded—
“There are many of them. Moreover, they all carry the scent of magic.”
We found the demon worshipers gathered right in front of the castle wall.
Not only that, I noticed magical circles engraved upon the wall.
Though I wasn’t deeply versed in magic and didn’t know the specifics of the rites involved, seeing Ravi’s tense expression suggested it was no small matter.
Having successfully traced their whereabouts, we now sought to uncover the secretive actions occurring at the wall.
In that moment, a woman’s hoarse voice called from behind us.
“Tsk. Seems like we’ve got a little rat following our comrades.”
Four cultists had caught our trail.
Drawing their weapons suggested that a battle was now inevitable.
“…We’ve been followed. They all carry the scent of magic as well.”
I lamented as I placed my hand on the hilt of my sword.
“…I’ll take care of it.”
Upon seeing Shione nod slightly, I—
Swish!
Quickly drew my sword and without hesitating, struck across the chest of the woman who’d approached.
The sword gifted by Eunice Kalia could slice through even the thick skin of an orc, drawing blood while delivering a cold, lethal outcome.
Thud.
In an instant, the cultist fell, cleaved deeply, and I dashed toward her companions who were drawing their weapons behind her.
“Ugh!”
Letting out a short breath, I swung my sword horizontally.
The wide arc of my blade cleaved through another demon worshiper’s neck as it passed.
“You…you…!”
The red line appeared on her neck.
Soon after, she clasped her throat with both hands and collapsed.
‘Two more to go.’
If I want to slip away quietly, I need to quickly deal with those two before they raise an alarm.
I couldn’t help but smirk at the tense expressions of the two in front of me.
This is why it’s not a joyful festival for everyone but merely a festival of blood.
Life truly is a series of trials.