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Chapter 92

"Ian probably is."

Even as he found it hard to believe, Askel did not show his skepticism. The group did not press him to believe. They found meaning simply in having the conversation; Askel believing it or not was not the important part.

"Hmm...."

Finally, the village landscape became visible. Deep in the forest, far from the highway. Ian looked at the densely packed palisades on the gentle hill and commented, "It\'s much larger than I expected."

"Our village has a statue of Karha. There are only a few of those throughout the North. That\'s why quite a few people have moved here instead of to the provincial cities," said Askel.

His tone was far from boastful or haughty. Ian easily guessed that Askel also wanted to move beyond the gates of the autonomous regions. It was unexpected. Typically, at that age, one would aspire to be a grand warrior or a hero.

Though it\'s none of my business, thought Ian.

"Just a moment, please. I\'ll open the gate." Askel strode toward the large gate blocking the village entrance.

"It\'s almost like a fortress," Charlotte remarked as she looked at the Northern warriors with bows revealed on top of the palisades.

Ian casually nodded. "It probably wasn\'t like this from the start. It became fortified as they added more to it."

The palisades were made of a mix of old and new wood. Near the hill, only the bases of the trees remained. It looked even more like a fortress in the forest because of that.

"I feel a bit queasy. I don’t feel good," Thesaya murmured, squinting her eyes.

Ian turned to her. "You\'re feeling queasy?"

"Yeah. Not as much as near that temple you visited before."

"Hmm." Ian nodded slowly.

He said there was a statue here.

It seemed they were not just surviving here in the Northern Spirit amid the snow.

Charlotte snorted through her nose. "Good. Keep quiet. Take care of those eyes of yours. It would be troublesome if they found out that you\'re a demon."

"My eyes aren\'t something I can control. How am I supposed to take care of them?"

"That\'s not my problem. Pretend to be blind or something."

"That makes no sense—"

"Shut your mouths. The gate is opening." Ian cut off the conversation.

Charlotte and Thesaya looked ahead. As the gate was opening, Ian stepped forward. The gazes of the sentries on the palisades followed them. Beyond the thick gate, the figure of a Northern warrior with narrowed eyes was revealed.

A typical barbarian warrior.

Miguel had said that not all Northerners were burly and muscular. However, the warriors now appearing were mostly owners of a bear\'s bulk. They looked even more so because they were wrapped in various animal furs. Ian let their gazes slide off him casually as he passed through the gate. Behind him, the low growling breath of Charlotte continued. Probably having a staring contest with the gatekeeper.

"I\'ll escort you home. Please follow me." Askel, who had been waiting, turned around.

"It looks like they\'re demons. To host such folks at a time like this. Is he trying to involve them in the village matters?"

"It seems so. Shameless. Well, it\'s the cowardly Askel, after all."

"To think that such a coward could come from that great warrior\'s lineage...."

Low voices continued from behind. As if he hadn\'t heard, Askel moved on without any sign of disturbance.

"Cowardly Askel, huh?” Charlotte frowned as she retorted.

Askel shrugged. "Since the snow started to cover the village, I was the only one of my age to argue that everyone should move beyond the gate. That\'s how I got the nickname."

"If it were me, I would have pulled out all their throats. To stop them from spouting nonsense again."

"I don\'t feel that way. Maybe because I\'m a coward."

"That can\'t be."

Ian chuckled lightly and said, "It\'s rare for someone to speak their mind while looking us straight in the eye, especially when alone, Askel."

"I agree. You\'re not a coward." Charlotte chimed in.

Askel, with a calm smile, moved on without another word. Ian also took in the village. The muddy main street was lined with log houses built seemingly haphazardly, yet with a strange regularity. The busy residents, despite their haste, cast wary glances at the passing group. The level of suspicion was excessive, even with Charlotte present in such a closed-off village.

"Not many men around."

"It\'s a busy time. Those who stood guard last night are sleeping, and the rest are out hunting and scouting. As I mentioned, we are facing problems."

They had reached the village center by then. There appeared to be a square used for gatherings and a relatively large building, seemingly a hall of some sort. Askel raised his hand.

"That\'s the statue of Karha."

"I was already looking at it. It\'s quite an ancient statue."

The statue stood next to the square. It depicted a long-haired warrior grasping a great sword pointed toward the ground in both hands. Ian\'s instincts sharpened as he gazed at the statue.

"They say it was made in his real likeness. There\'s no way to verify that."

At Askel\'s words, Ian shrugged. "Given the holiness it exudes, it might well be true."

This was because he felt a divine power emanating from inside the statue. Although it wasn\'t as distinct as the statue of Lu Solar or the sacred flame of the Temple of Brazier, there was definitely something inside the statue. Charlotte looked at the statue with interest, and Thesaya quietly furrowed her brow as Askel turned back to Ian.

"Can you feel holy power?"

"Yes. You guys can’t?"

"Only when it\'s very distinct. ...Well, you might, Sir Ian, given that you\'re such a formidable warrior, as I\'ve heard."

He’s saying all sorts of nonsense.

Ian gestured toward the tip of the sword with a smirk. "That at the tip of the sword looks like blood."

This was because the ground near the tip of the great sword held by the statue was stained red.

"Yes, it\'s flowing from the sword."

"A miracle, then."

Just as the statue of Lu Solar emitted light, it seemed Karha\'s sword bore blood. The fact that it was blood seemed more miraculous than the Lu Solar Sect not deeming Karha a demon.

"It started happening a couple of months ago. It was considered an ominous sign that the warrior\'s sword would stain with blood."

"A couple of months...?"

"Given the events that have occurred since then, it might not be entirely wrong."

"Hmm...." Ian\'s eyes twitched slightly.

This coincided strangely with the time he had set foot in the North, and it was also around the time he had made a pact with the demon in the underground palace.

...An overreaction. Not everything happens because of me.

Ian soon chuckled softly. Although there was a chance it was related to him, there were plenty of other reasons why the statue might be showing ominous signs.

Hum—

The Sword of Judgment at his waist suddenly hummed softly.

What can I do about it? I\'m not interested in you gods.

Muttering internally, Ian passed by the statue casually. Ian didn’t see the red light at the tip of Karha\'s sword flickering more distinctly.

***

At the end of an alley, Askel stopped in front of a house near the palisade.

"Here we are."

"It looks too big for just one person."

"I live here with the old man. Don\'t worry, you\'re my guest, so there won\'t be any problems."

Ian slightly narrowed his eyes. "I think it would be better to go to an inn."

"We don\'t really have inns in our village. I\'ll lend you an empty house, just stay for a while. I also have something to tell you. Please wait a moment."

Askel went inside the house. A few words were exchanged inside, and soon the door opened again.

"Please come in. Sorry to keep you waiting."

After exchanging a glance with Thesaya, Ian entered the house as she nodded slightly. The interior was filled with the smell of animal skins and a musty chill. An old man leaning on a chair in the corner looked at Ian.

The old man’s hair was stark white, and he was missing his left eye, which seemed to have been taken by a deep scar that ran from one side of his forehead to his chin. The old man\'s brow slightly furrowed as he saw the group.

"Hmm."

"They are my guests, so please don\'t be rude," Askel spoke nonchalantly, lighting a fire in the stove that resembled a hearth.

The old man gestured toward the dining table set in the middle of the room. He had only up to the wrist on his left hand.

"Please sit."

Ian sat down calmly, and Charlotte and Thesaya naturally gathered and sat around. The old chairs creaked. Askel, having lit the fire, turned around.

"I\'ll borrow a place for you to stay, get some food, and be back soon. Do you need anything else?"

"Is there a chance for a bath?"

"A bath...? It\'s possible." Askel blinked, surprised by the unexpected request.

Ian shrugged. "Then prepare the bath, and warm up the house in advance. I\'m tired of the cold."

"Yes. I\'ll be back soon."

Askel left, and a brief, awkward silence fell.

The old man, who had been watching the group, finally spoke calmly. "I heard you\'re monster hunters."

"Mercenaries. We mainly fight monsters."

"Have you received any commission?"

"Not yet. I haven\'t even heard what the problem is in this village."

"Hmm. Wondering whether the village warriors will agree? They won\'t."

Ian\'s brow furrowed slightly. "Can\'t you freely commission mercenaries here?"

"That\'s not it. But even if you are experts, the three of you won\'t be able to handle it alone. It has to be resolved with the village warriors."

"Well..."

Ian recalled the warriors near the palisade. If it was a problem the three of them couldn\'t handle, it seemed unlikely that adding dozens more like those would change much.

"But the warriors will not agree. They\'ll see resolving problems with outside help as meaningless. Askel is already out of favor, so bringing in outsiders might just bring retribution on him," the old man muttered disdainfully. "Karha fought to survive. Everyone seems to have forgotten what\'s truly important. Eventually, it will lead to everyone\'s demise."

"Then why not just leave?"

The old man gave a wry smile. "I\'m an old man looking not for a place to live but a place to die. Those who need to live are the young ones."

"Hmm...."

What a response.

At that moment, the door opened. Askel entered, holding a basket.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I\'ll prepare the meal now."

"Is everything ready?"

"Yes." Askel set the basket down and handed a purse to Ian.

Ian narrowed his eyes slightly. "You\'ve used too little."

"It\'s because you\'re my guest. I didn\'t want to charge at all, but I don\'t have much money."

"Hmm."

Ian, scratching his chin, suddenly turned to the old man. "Old man. Do you know how to cook?"

"I can grill over the fire."

"Then I\'d appreciate it if you could do that."

The old man stood up without a word. Askel tilted his head.

Ian gestured toward an empty chair at the table. "Sit."

Askel sat down, blinking.

Ian bluntly asked, "What\'s the problem with the village?"

"Uh... Even if you are very strong, the three of you can\'t solve it alone. The village warriors need to help. That\'s the priority."

Just as the old man said.

Ian, inwardly smirking, calmly looked at Askel. "That\'s not for you to decide. Both the feasibility and the methods are for me to judge and decide. Your job is to explain the details of the request and offer a reward. That\'s where your role as a client ends."

Ian shrugged one shoulder and added. "I hate dragging things out. Since it\'s already come to this, I won\'t ask again later."

After a moment\'s hesitation, Askel seemed to make up his mind and began to speak. "...Every night, monsters surround the village. We call them the White Demon."

"Tell me the details."

"At first, it was just one. A white, giant creature, a kind of harpy I\'d never seen before. I saw it myself once, and it looked more like a demon than a harpy. It had no eyes, just white crown-like horns. When the village warriors charged, it simply flew away. But..."

"So the next day, it came back. This time with its minions."

Askel blinked. "How did you know?"

"Just keep talking."

"At first, it was just one ogre. It just watched from a distance. The next day a few more harpies came, and after that, goblins appeared. That\'s when we realized it had minions, and we went out to subdue them."

"You failed, I guess."

"Yes. The creature just sent its monsters and fled. It happened several times. Recently, it started bringing the dead."

Ian\'s brow furrowed slightly. "The dead...?"

"Yes. Walking skeletons. Whenever our warriors go out, it just sends the dead and flees."

Ian\'s eyes narrowed.

A Mutated Harpy Queen. It was a named monster in a game. Originally, harpies lived in small groups centered around a queen. Apart from flying, their combat ability was not remarkable. Mental Charm effects, which could beguile an opponent, were ineffective against those with even slightly higher Mental Fortitude.

However, this mutated creature, tainted by the madness of the Black Wall, instead of harpies, dragged other monsters around. It also retained its innate wariness, quickly fleeing if not directly targeted or if attention was not sufficiently divided. However, dragging the undead around was a pattern not seen in the game.

Maybe this is another change that came with reality. Perhaps it\'s a consequence of me having killed all those giant named creatures.

"It\'s been repeating since then. Our side has been gradually accruing more victims and fatigue. That\'s why a few days ago, we stopped trying to subdue it during the night and have been searching for its lair during the day."

"There\'s been no profit in that then. The number of monsters must have piled up."

"...Yes. Fortunately, their numbers haven\'t increased any further recently, but any fight would still cause significant damage. And now, we only see the undead; we haven\'t seen the creature itself anymore."

"A typical harpy tactic. So..."

Ian nodded, then looked at Askel. "If we take care of this creature for you, what can you offer us in return?"

"That\'s—"

"I have some imperial gold coins. I\'ll give them all to you." The old man interjected.

Askel looked at him, surprised, while Ian saw the quest window pop up in front of his eyes.

[The White Demon]

The reward was an increase in the strength attribute.

...This seems like it was originally a quest exclusive to barbarian warriors.

Thinking this, Ian smiled.

"I accept. The contract is established."