It wasnât comparable to when he came in contact with the demon or the demonic monsters, but this necklace possessed Magi, which couldnât be ignored.
And it shook Irene, making the man in the dreams rise up.
Not knowing that, Kazhar thought that he might get killed.
âI shouldnât lie! I should tell him the truth!â
âTh-That⌠uh?â
But he couldnât understand.
It was strange. He knew that he was wearing it, but he couldnât remember anything about it.
Not just that, he couldnât even understand why he acted the way he did until now.
âWhy, why did I do such a stupid thing?â
Breaking the merchantsâ items or asking for half of them turned into a pain.
If the merchants gave them away and left, it was good, but the situation would have worsened for him if subjugation troops arrived.
He knew that better than anyone else, which was why he controlled his greed until nowâŚ
âI asked where the necklace came from.â
âAh! ThatâŚâ
âYou donât remember?â
âYes, Iâm sorry⌠I really am! I just canât remember it! As if I was possessed by something⌠ac-actually, what happened now too⌠hm!â
Kazhar tried to make himself look better in front of the merchants, but the mood was already bad.
If Irene Pareira permitted it, the merchants looked like they would kill the man.
He gave up and decided to wait until the young manâs verdict fell.
Fortunately, he wanted a peaceful end.
âMr. Kazhar.â
âYes, yes.â
âI believe that you were possessed by something.â
âThank you, thank you!â
âYou know it too. The fact that the surrounding estates have stayed quiet until now is because you were good. I hope that todayâs mistake doesnât continue.â
âIt wonât!â
Kazhar nodded his head.
It wasnât just him. The bandits, who were pale-faced, bowed their heads. Some even bowed by falling onto their knees.
Itâs because they, too, couldnât understand their leaderâs recent behavior.
Fortunately, Irene had enough power to bring their leader back to his senses.
And they knew that their leader wasnât someone who took peopleâs lives lightly.
Turning to the merchants, Irene said.
âOkay, itâs settled, so letâs go.â
ââŚâ
In that way, the tension-filled situation that almost turned into a battle settled without one.
With the help of the golden generation of Krono.
âThank you! Thank you so much!â
âWe survived thanks to you! The 27th batch of Krono will be responsible for the great future of the continentâŚ. I saw one of them in action!â (*)
âHurrah, Krono Swordsmanship School!â
âHurrah! Hurrah!â
âUh⌠thank you.â
The matter with the bandits was settled, and from one point on, the group began to regain their senses after the shock.
And Irene Pareira was treated like a great hero.
âI apologize. We misunderstood you too much! We ridiculed you while we were in the wrong. We will pay for those sins with our lives!â
âNo, calm down. Itâs fine⌠it really is fine.â
Trent and the other mercenaries who made fun of Irene came forward and apologized as Irene was being treated as a hero.
Of course, it was burdensome for Irene.
He just did what he was supposed to do.
Even if he was asked if that was his best, he couldnât nod and say yes.
Maybe the way he approached the issue was wrong?
Maybe there is a better way?
Irene thought about it and asked Lulu.
âFortunately, we got out, but⌠is it alright to leave the bandits like that?â
âRight! Itâs a stupid idea! Those bandits! How dare they torment us! You should have destroyed them!â
âThat⌠that is a bit much. Still, it would have been better to put something like an eye on them. Maybe other merchants will suffer if we leave them⌠is it not? But I took the necklace, so that shouldnât happen, right?â
âIf you couldnât destroy them, then you should have broken their legs! Right! Their legs!â
ââŚâ
âAnyway, we should have chained them together! Or put them in a cell!â
âIf that happens, there will be fights and casualties on our side too. Sigh⌠come to think of it, leaving them like that is the right thing. Since the merchants around the estates are involved, we canât complicate it and if we donât have a plan, leaving it like that is betterâŚ. For now.â
Perhaps, the news was being delivered to the lords, and plans were being made? â˝Âšâž
Even with that being said, Irene pondered.
To figure out a better way.
Kuvar looked at him with deep eyes.
âEven if itâs done, you donât stop worrying.â
When he first saw Irene, he thought the kid was too young.
A young master who grew up in a family with little social knowledge.
It seemed like he would have fun giving him information, so he joined the party.
But every time he saw that deep and serious image that came out, Kuvar thought that even he was learning something.
âYou donât avoid a problem that doesnât have an answer because itâs burdensome. You keep trying to find an answer by pondering it.â
Usually, no one does that.
Alhad was like that. It was a troublesome and tiring matter.
There wasnât a proper answer.
Most people give up on finding an answer.
But a few didnât.
Those few donât run away from a problem, and they constantly ponder and work hard to come up with an âanswer of their ownâ even if it isnât the correct answer.
Such people are the ones who had their own âbeliefsâ and whose swords didnât waver.
âIrene is like that.â
Kuvar smiled.
Irene had a flustered expression.
It was a good thing that Irene wasnât conceited.
And Irene was always shy when he was praised.
If it was Irene a few years back, he would have avoided the situation.
He would close his eyes to avoid the ridicule and force himself to sleepâŚ
âStill⌠I think I have grown a lot compared to back then.â
He didnât hate it.
As Kuvar said, he managed to overcome his old habit of running away.
He said.
âThank you, Kuvar. Although your compliments are burdensome, they felt good.â â˝Â˛âž
âHaha. They were exaggerated compliments. Looking at those adoring eyes over there. Those are the burdensome ones.â
âI have to practice. I havenât done it in a while.â
Irene turned away from the mercenariesâ hot gazes.
Kuvar narrowed his eyes.
âWhy all of a sudden? Arenât you strong enough? You did a great job today.â
âYes? If you wanted to learn swordsmanship, you could have stayed back at the school.â
âAch! Claws!â
Kuvar yelled at Lulu, who was sitting on his head.
Irene laughed seeing those two.
He smiled and then spoke.
âI think I can improve in some things, and the better I get in those things, the more options I get to choose from.â
ââŚâ
âToday, if it wasnât for you overwhelming Kazhar⌠an unwanted fight would have erupted. People would have lost their lives.â
âHm. Right.â
Irene nodded.
That was certainly right.
Even if the answer was found because of his worries, if he didnât have the ability, then it was worthless.
Irene pointed something out.
He said.
âI heard that a lot of famous swordsmen gather in Derinku, right?â
âRight. Those men often duel, so that might help you.â
âIâm looking forward to it.â
It was the moment Irene Pareira slowly nodded.
Whoo!
Kuvar suddenly stopped walking.
It was because he noticed a change in Irene.
It was so fleeting that it couldnât be felt, butâŚ
âIn an instant, the fire in his heart seems to have gotten strongerâŚâ
âKuvar? What is it?â
â⌠nothing.â
Kuvar, who was dazed, took a step forward.
Irene looked at him as Lulu fell into a deep sleep.
As Kuvar moved, this time, he smiled a little.
Four days after crossing Alhad safely, Irene and his party moved with the previous mercenary group.
There was no need to travel separately because their destination seemed to be Derinku.
Besides, after what happened that day, they took pleasure in walking with Irene.
The only thing which bothered Irene was the necklace with Magi that Kazhar was wearing. But that wasnât something he could resolve.
Thanks to sealing it inside one of Kuvarâs spirit pouches, there was no problem.
âBut where did it come from? I donât think you can get that type of thing randâŚâ
âEven if we use all of our heads, no answer will come. Letâs go to the temple and talk about it later. The fire element pouch has anti-magi properties, so it should be fine for a month.â
After that, the pouch will become useless, and there is no way to stop the Magi in the necklace from spreading again.
âAre you feeling good, Lulu?â
âYes. There, scratch my back! And my neck!â
âYes! Please enjoy the magic comb of our Reika that removes dead hair!â
âWhat? This is a magic tool?â
âNo, this isnât a magic tool⌠at this level. This is a treasureâŚ.â
âAh, I know.â
Lulu was being groomed.
âHmm! This sweet scent⌠this, it seems to be around 17 years oldâŚâ
âIt is. This Talista is 21 years old. Whisky with a slightly smoky flavor, although there are a few who dislike it⌠I thought that if it was someone like Mr. Kuvar, you would enjoy itâŚâ
âOf course. It must taste amazing! But, to give me such a precious drinkâŚâ
âEhhh, what are you saying? Irene Pareiraâs party can take more than this.â
âReally? Then canâŚâ
âCome on, letâs have a cup!â
âHuh? Ah, yes. Kuah⌠so nice.â
Kuvar enjoyed the whisky with the merchants.
It was truly noble hospitality that even nobles wouldnât receive.
However, Irene, who had to be the main character, didnât demand any special treatment and lived a normal life.
âThis is burdensome.â
Of course, it wasnât that he hated the favor.
But it was difficult to refuse it, and he knew that refusing it would make them feel bad.
To be honest, he also liked the part where he was given a good room.
Irene, who unpacked in the luggage room wide enough for five people to stay in, went downstairs.
Lulu fell asleep enjoying the grooming, and Kuvar was drinking with three merchants.
âIrene! Come and have it with us.â
âI donât drink. I will have a mealâŚâ
âNo, donât drink. I have an interesting story to tell you. This gentleman here has brought news of Derinku.â
âDerinku?â
âOh, is he the young hero who overthrew the bandits in Alhad? He looks great!â
â⌠thank you. Can we hear about Derinku?â
âAh, of course. Do you know that Derinku is where the best blacksmith is out of hiding. And heâs looking for a new master of the sword.â
âThe best blacksmith?â
âA dwarf named Vulcanus. There is an interesting story about him. Come and sit.â
At the gesture of the unknown man, Irene took a seat.
Vulcanus, a familiar name. It seemed like a man who had great skills.
What was it about him that made the merchant so excited?
That question was immediately resolved.
âVulcanus puts a number on the swords he cherishes. Theyâre called the Numbering Swords, and there are 9 on the continent. He only passes those swords to two classes.â â˝Âłâž
âI see, what classes?â
âThe first is Sword Masters. And the second⌠someone who can become a Sword Master.â
âHuh?â
âItâs said that every person who received a Numbering Sword from Vulcanus has become a Sword Master.â
Editorâs Note
â˝Âšâž The news being that the bandits have gone âcrazy.â
â˝Â˛âž The whole spiel about those who ponder answerless questions is Kuvar complimenting Irene. Itâs just not written out in dialogue.
â˝Âłâž The author writes ânumberingâ in English and Korean, âëë˛ë§ (numbering),â although I prefer âNumber Swords,â we will use âNumbering Swordsâ as itâs literally given to us in both English and Korean.