The carriage that departed from the Rel mansion was heading north.
The previous night, Ran had said to Camus and Viola,
"I will take Iel and go to Igraine. We'll cross the Astana Mountains and pass through Northland."
The Igraine region was in the northeastern part of the continent, almost at the opposite end from Rel.
Of course, Camus had opposed the idea. She couldn't just watch as young Iel was made to cross treacherous mountains and the land of barbarians.
The debate quickly ended. Camus hadn't managed to break Ran's stubbornness.
As they reached higher ground, the speed of the carriage became slower and slower.
"Aunt, no matter how I think about it, this isn't right."
Camus's face was full of worry. Viola and Iel, sitting across from her, looked at her.
"It should have been me going directly to Igraine. What on earth was he thinking, taking this little child to cross the mountains?"
"My lady. Even if I'm small-built, I'm not frail. I carry the blood of Igraine after all."
Iel cut Camus off. There was determination on the girl's face. Viola, sitting next to her, looked on with satisfaction. She seemed every bit the capable granddaughter.
Viola slowly began to speak.
"These days, crossing the continent from Rel to Igraine must be even harder. More than anything, Ran will have a hard time protecting the young lady."
"Surely someone from Igraine will come, right? Their own blood is here, how could they just ignore that?"
"Igraine has long since cut off exchanges with the outside. We don't even know what the situation is there, and they might even refuse a visit from you, my lady."
"Then, what about proof that Iel is here?"
This time, Camus bit her tongue. Iel bowed her head, biting her lip firmly. The bold young lady, who was never daunted by anything, suddenly seemed anxious, which flustered Camus as well.
'Hah, I don't understand any of this, so I can't even butt in.'
Toby was busy reading the room. His head was pounding. He stuck his head out the small window.
'The northern wind really is cold.'
His hair whipped around wildly. Ran was following at a distance, far behind the carriage.
The group was heading, just as he asked, to Orvik at the far north of the continent, where the Astana Mountains meet, with Iel in tow.
The trailing Ran pulled his reins and veered off onto a side road.
Toby quietly watched Ran fade into the distance.
* * *
Ran arrived at Kalondo, a small village adjacent to Orvik.
It had been quite a long journey from Rel. Measured from Gerinhild, Kalondo was even further north than Haskinderun. During his time as an inquisitor, this was outside his jurisdiction, so it was his first time visiting.
Whooooo.
The wind blowing straight from the mountains was terribly cold and dry. His cloak, wrapped around his body, fluttered incessantly. Ran pulled his hood even deeper. In the shadowed face, his eyes shone sharply.
'The mercenary village, Kalondo.'
Kalondo had become famous toward the end of the civil war.
When a large contingent of rebel remnants disappeared into the mountains, the imperial army put a bounty on them, and mercenaries from all over gathered here, looking to cash in.
To reach the mountains from near the capital, the only route was through Orvik. Concerned about security, the lord of Orvik made the mercenaries stay outside the city.
That village, subordinate to Orvik, was Kalondo.
'Thanks to that, Kalondo saw a boom.'
Where people gather, wealth follows. Kalondo's lodging, entertainment, and more for wayfaring mercenaries prospered overnight. Since its clientele did dangerous work and chased windfall gains, gambling, prostitution, and black-market dealings thrived.
'The village grew more lawless by the day, but the lord, citing the postwar clean-up, simply turned a blind eye.'
It wasn't just Kalondo. These days, places like this were common across the continent.
Ran picked the most conspicuous tavern nearby—a large one.
Creak.
As he opened the door, a loud uproar assaulted his ears. Heat thick with all kinds of body odors instantly hit him. The place was teeming with people.
"Welcome!"
Even amid the commotion, a staff member greeted with a loud voice, discreetly sizing Ran up as he did.
'The more lawless the place, the more they're wary of strangers.'
Ran knew the way of things. He adeptly picked an empty seat at random and sat. Everyone else, boisterously drunk, ignored him.
"Would you like to order?"
The same staff member approached Ran with a nonchalant face.
Ran glanced around and flicked his hand. He slipped a silver coin to the staffer, who came close with confusion.
"I'm looking for an Orvik passage broker."
The staffer glanced warily between the coin and Ran, then quickly changed his expression.
"Sir, this isn't that kind of place. You're looking in the wrong spot."
Ran didn't press further. With a shrug, he put the coin away and simply ordered a beer.
Gulp, gulp.
The beer tasted better than expected. He sipped absent-mindedly, quietly observing the interior.
Ran was an expert at sizing people up at a glance. He could quickly spot the veterans of the sword. Most here looked like mercenaries, but there were many exceptions.
There were traders hustling for deals, professional gamblers, and prostitutes working the crowd, hoping to find business for the night.
"Handsome guy."
Ran looked up. A strong scent wafted over. She was obviously much older than he.
"Haven't seen you around."
"It's my first time today."
"Wow, really? Why'd you come to such a dangerous place?"
"Just because. Your name?"
"Me? Oh my, asking my name first! I'm Jaina."
As she spoke, Jaina settled naturally across from him.
For a moment, a faint memory surfaced of another Jaina who'd briefly been his assistant.
'Jaina said she did similar work before.'
Whether Jaina was a common alias in this circle, or whether anyone could make it to apprentice priest under such a name, he didn't overthink.
The Jaina in front of him gazed at him seductively.
"You really are good-looking, up close."
Ran hastily gulped more beer.
'I'm working. This is work. Besides, that woman is way older than me!'
His face heated. He felt flushed. Ran glared at himself. Suddenly, the Jaina leaning on her elbow burst into laughter.
"Blushing all shy, how cute! Really, I've never met someone like you. Not once since working here, seriously."
Without hesitation, Jaina took Ran's mug and only wet her lips, then licked the moisture.
"Hey. Want to do a trial run?"
"Trial?"
Jaina mimed shaking something in her hand. One cheek bulged.
Ran swallowed nervously.
Led by Jaina's hand, Ran stepped outside. Suddenly, the northern wind felt sharp and clear.
"Heh, this way."
Jaina didn't let go of his hand, dragging him somewhere.
With each step, he felt something draining out of him. His mind blurred.
'This is really dangerous.'
His mind and body disconnected.
He snapped back to attention in a lonely alleyway.
Suddenly, Jaina slipped behind Ran and grinned.
"Sorry, handsome. Let's meet again!"
"Wa-wait?"
Jaina scurried back toward the tavern. Ran gazed after her with a longing look.
'Almost my first love.'
Ran cursed himself. He always fell for this, unable to overcome it. For the priests of Quersa, resisting temptation was impossible.
"Hey, what are you moping around for?"
A harsh voice came from within the heavily shadowed alley.
Ran didn't bother looking, only muttered back,
"You could've just called. No need to mess with my feelings."
He sensed about half a dozen presences.
Ran turned and faced them.
Five men. The tall man in the middle was even taller than Ran, and seemed to be the leader. Ran looked right at him and continued,
"That sort of thing builds grudges."
The tall guy looked momentarily befuddled, then burst into laughter. The others joined in.
After a round of hearty but seemingly forced laughter, the tall one suddenly scowled.
"Who are you? Who sent you?"
"I came of my own accord."
"Is this guy kidding? Who? Zornyak? Titch? Which bastard?"
The man grabbed Ran by the collar. His face, which had been barking orders, suddenly stiffened. The front of Ran's cloak parted, revealing the clothing underneath.
"What the—no way—?"
Ran kicked the man in the shins. Simultaneously, the men on either side lunged.
It happened in an instant. There were consecutive bone-crunching sounds, and only Ran was left standing where he'd started.
"Hey, why grab someone else's collar?"
Ran rotated his neck with a crack. The others sprawled on the ground, groaning, unable to get up. A few retched violently.
The man who had grabbed Ran's collar staggered to his feet, but recoiled and sat back down when Ran approached.
"I know this business inside and out. Want some advice? In a strange place, there's no need to beat around the bush. They call this kicking the beehive. Stir the honey jar and they react right away."
The man understood none of Ran's words, only trembling with raised arms. When Ran drew nearer, the man screamed and scrambled backward, falling.
'Who, what is this guy?!'
To enter Orvik, the mercenaries of Kalondo needed to be accompanied by an administrator of the Orvik family, passing several strict inspections. These didn't occur regularly, so the competition was fierce.
That's why there was high demand for so-called brokers—passage intermediaries.
There was only one broker organization in Kalondo. Rival organizations increasingly contested this monopoly.
'Could he really be with the Special Unit?'
At first, they just thought he was from a rival group themselves. Broker arrangements began with secret contacts—looking openly for a broker was as good as a declaration of war.
"Wh-who the hell are you?"
"I told you: a customer. Looking for a broker."
"? Then follow procedure! Why are you doing this?!"
"I don't have time."
"What?!"
Ran slapped the man's cheek indifferently. The man's head snapped to the side and he glared. Ran continued slapping until the man's attitude changed.
Eventually, tears welled up in the man's eyes.
"Stop, for fuck's sake! Why are you doing this?!"
"Bring your boss."
"Huh? I don't know what kind of big shot you think you are, but our boss doesn't come and go on command. You'll leave with your bones broken—mine too."
"You don't worry about me. What happens to you isn't my business."
"?? Psycho."
Ran grabbed the man's scruff and hauled him back into the tavern.
In the din, the staffer who'd greeted Ran dropped the tray he was holding when he saw them.
Some customers, confronted with the man's battered face, turned pale, including Jaina. She looked back and forth between Ran and the man, her face going white as a sheet.
'Wicked woman.'
Ran gave Jaina a sidelong glance.
'Still, she probably meant it when she said I was handsome?'
Ran passed Jaina and dropped heavily into a seat deep inside. He reclined against the booth.
Wham!
Ran propped both feet on the table. The man, startled by the noise, flinched.
"I'm in a really bad mood now. Bring him quickly. Run."
The man gritted his teeth. Left alone, he'd keep escalating and even disrupt the business.
'Either way, I'm as good as dead.'
He finally scurried out.
Ran folded his arms and fell into thought.
'Orvik's gates must be more closely guarded than ever. I just need to get inside—then I'll take Iel from there.'
Camus and Viola had suggested he hide out in Rel until things calmed down.
'Because of me, even Rel is at risk.'
The emperor he'd faced in person was no ordinary man. He could feel the pure malice and hostility the emperor radiated. Even if he had to tear up the land searching, he would find the enemy who killed his son—and the vessel.
'... The Apocalypse.'
He'd made up his mind with just one word from Viola. She had said the Apocalypse lay in Igraine.
The only key now able to open the sealed gates of Igraine was Iel. Of course, Ran had no intention of handing Iel over to the emperor anyway.
'I have to go to Igraine and uncover the truth.'
He still didn't know why contact with Quersa had been lost, but his mind was clearer than ever. His goal was focused.
He had just gathered his thoughts.
"Sorry! That's all for business today! Everyone, please leave! Please!"
The staff began to throw out everyone except Ran. The drunk customers protested and a scuffle broke out. Chaos reigned for a while.
'Are they bringing everyone in? Why go this far?'
Giving up a night's takings meant they were seriously provoked. Since their illegal business wasn't something to advertise, they'd want to handle this quietly and quickly.
A long time passed.
The place quieted, as if by magic.
Creak.
The door opened. A man walked in alone.
"I hear someone is desperately looking for me."
Ran's pupils dilated.
It was a familiar situation from another time. The man deliberately mimicked the exact lines.
"Knew it was you, bastard."
The man twisted his lip into a smirk.
His name was Armand. Of the Zima family brothers, Ran and Armand had almost been enemies; Armand had always held a grudge.
It was because, due to an incident involving Ran, Armand had lost one of his eyes.
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
I hope this Jaina has better fate than the previous Jaina...
【ദ്ദി(⩌ᴗ⩌)】