Emotionless Swordsmanship Genius

Chapter 49: New Companion (2)

After leaving the vigilante base, Karon and Shong rejoined Hinshan and spent the entire day climbing the Meklero mountain range.

They were crossing a relatively low pass, but the constant uphill journey slowed their pace significantly.

Had they not received horses from the vigilantes, they would have been in serious trouble.

Throughout the journey, Hinshan engaged in frequent conversation with Shong, though Karon remained mostly silent.

“So, who exactly are the Black Wolf Elite?” Shong asked.

“They’re rivals to the Blue Raven Squad. Both factions are obsessed with finding demonic orbs and weapons. I don’t know too many details, as both groups operate in secrecy.”

“I see. Do you think they’ll come after us again?”

“I don’t think so. They suffered severe injuries and retreated to the south. I doubt they’ll be able to pursue us.”

At Hinshan’s reassuring smile, Shong finally let out a sigh of relief.

Had it not been for his cloak, he would’ve already been killed by them. Just thinking about it made his skin crawl.

They were nearly over the pass now.

Once they crossed, they would reach the wide-open Kennet Plains, a path frequently used by those traveling to and from the capital.

As they approached the pass, they could already see travelers along the road, which prompted the trio to don cloaks to avoid drawing attention.

They kept their weapons hidden to avoid attracting curious eyes.

“There’s a small village called Felbrook just past this pass. Let’s rest there for the night,” Hinshan suggested.

Karon nodded in silent agreement, and Hinshan quickly turned to Shong to discuss dinner plans.

Hinshan had quickly learned that important decisions should be deferred to Karon, but more trivial matters, like meals, were best discussed with Shong.

Karon, after all, wasn’t particularly interested in food and preferred the quiet. He had a peculiar habit of chewing on herbs from time to time.

“The venison in this village is quite exquisite,” Hinshan mentioned, piquing Shong’s interest.

“Is it expensive?”

“It’s the most expensive dish they offer.”

“Oh! In that case, let’s go for it.”

“As you wish, Sir Shong.”

Shong had a particular fondness for money.

He complained about many things, but he was easy to manage.

Karon, on the other hand, was an enigma. He was always expressionless and spoke very little.

Having spent the entire day riding alongside them, Hinshan had already begun to understand their personalities.

Before long, they reached the top of the pass.

Below them, the vast plains stretched out as far as the eye could see.

The wind was strong at this high point, rushing through the valley and giving them a refreshing sense of openness.

Just as Hinshan had said, a small village came into view as they descended the pass.

The sun was beginning to set, so it seemed like a good idea to stay the night.

Upon entering the village, however, the trio frowned at the eerie atmosphere.

There wasn’t a soul in sight, and all the doors of the houses were tightly shut.

The twilight hour only heightened the ominous mood.

“Is the village always like this?” Shong asked.

“No, it’s usually a lively place, frequented by hunters and herb gatherers. I’m not sure what’s going on, but we should head to the inn. We’ll learn more there.”

Hinshan led them to an inn he was familiar with. After stabling their horses, they went inside, finding the first-floor dining area deserted.

This place was normally bustling with activity, so the silence made them even more curious.

Just then, the innkeeper appeared, looking weary and worn out.

“Welcome. Would you like a room?”

“Yes, three rooms, please. We’ll be staying for the night,” Hinshan replied.

“And for dinner?”

“We’ll have venison, if you have it.”

At this, the innkeeper looked troubled.

“I’m sorry, but we don’t have venison at the moment. We can offer pork instead.”

“Very well, then. And what’s happened to the village? It’s so quiet.”

Hinshan asked as he glanced around the empty hall. The innkeeper let out a long sigh before explaining.

“Oh, it’s a mess. A few days ago, a massive beast that looked like a wolf appeared near the village and killed all the hunters and herb gatherers. We tried organizing a group to hunt it down, but they never came back… Worse still, the beast has started attacking nearby villages as well.”

“A beast…,” Karon muttered under his breath.

“Most of the villagers have fled to the towns below the mountains. We’ve heard that a hunting party will be coming up from the lower villages tomorrow to deal with it. Hopefully, this time they’ll succeed.”

“Have you notified the Imperial Army?” Hinshan asked.

“Yes, but they said they’re short on soldiers. It’ll take time to gather a force to deal with the beast. But for us, this is an urgent problem that needs to be solved now.”

“I see.”

With a clearer understanding of the situation, the three went upstairs to settle their things before coming back down for dinner.

The food was served quickly, though Karon only picked at his plate before setting his fork down.

“So, what do you want to do?” Shong asked, his mouth full of meat.

His question was brief and to the point, but Karon knew exactly what he meant.

Karon took a sip of water before muttering.

“We’ll see.”

“It’s nearby. Why don’t we check it out?”

Shong lowered his voice and glanced around to ensure no one was listening.

“You never know. That beast might have a demonic orb.”

Karon remained silent, lost in thought. He knew how powerful the demonic energy was, and the idea of gaining more power to fight the Blue Raven Squad was tempting.

Seeing that Karon hadn’t responded yet, Shong turned to Hinshan.

“What do you think, Hinshan?”

“It doesn’t seem like a bad idea. Since the beast is nearby, we could deal with it. But it might be risky. How about we join the hunting party tomorrow? If we succeed, there’s a reward in it for us as well.”

“Exactly.”

Hinshan agreed with Shong. Being connected to the Empire, he couldn’t help but feel responsible for these matters.

Of course, Karon’s opinion was what mattered most. Even if they chose to ignore the situation, Hinshan couldn’t object.

Creak—

“…I’m telling you, it’s true.”

“No way, by a single person? That’s impossible.”

At that moment, the inn’s door swung open, and three men walked inside. Judging by their attire, they appeared to be herb gatherers or woodcutters.

Karon’s group paused their conversation as the men’s talk became audible.

“I heard it directly from a friend in the vigilante group. Palen is in complete chaos, burning to the ground.”

“No way. One person took out those ruthless Tripolas guys? That doesn’t sound possible.”

“It came from the vigilante group, so it must be true.”

“What’s going to happen to the mines now?”

A man who had just returned from ordering food joined in.

“I heard the vigilantes freed all the enslaved villagers. It’s over now, I guess.”

“Well, that’s a relief for everyone.”

“But we can’t focus on other people’s problems right now. We haven’t worked for days because of the beast.”

“Ugh, true. I passed by the neighboring village this morning—it’s like a ghost town.”

The three men’s faces fell, realizing that they couldn’t work due to the fear of the beast in the mountains.

Their complaints continued, but after a few drinks, they started chatting loudly as if their worries had been forgotten.

“I’m heading up first,” Karon said, pushing his chair back and standing.

As usual, Shong simply waved his hand in a casual farewell, while Hinshan stood and bowed politely.

* * *

Late into the night, when everyone was asleep.

Karon, lying in bed, quietly got up. Grabbing his black blade, he silently slipped out of the inn and disappeared into the forest.

Snap!

Karon sprinted through the dense woods, his feet swiftly crushing twigs as he ventured deeper into the forest.

Before long, he arrived at a spot where a massive boulder stood among the thick trees.

Screech

Standing atop the boulder, Karon unsheathed his black blade.

He began channeling the demonic energy stored within him into the sword.

As crimson mist elegantly swirled around the blade, like blooming flowers, Karon sensed strong presences approaching from far ahead.

One, two, five, nine, twelve…

Karon’s expression grew stern. Each presence carried a formidable energy, and there were many of them.

And then there was one, further back, whose energy was overwhelming, even for Karon.

“This won’t be easy.”

Karon absorbed the energy back into his body and swiftly left the forest.

* * *

The next morning.

Karon came downstairs, already packed and ready to leave. Shong and Hinshan were leisurely eating breakfast, dipping bread into soup.

Seeing Karon with his gear, Shong looked surprised and asked, “Why the bags?”

“I changed my mind. We’re leaving the village.”

“What? Suddenly? Why?”

“This is a waste of time. Get ready and meet me outside.”

Karon spoke indifferently before heading out of the inn. Shong and Hinshan exchanged puzzled glances.

Hinshan was the first to react.

“Let’s get ready.”

Without a word of complaint, Hinshan headed upstairs, and Shong sighed before following him.

A short while later.

The three of them were ready to go, with their belongings loaded onto their horses. Karon was already mounted, prepared to depart.

At that moment, the three men from the previous night stepped out of the inn.

As Karon, Shong, and Hinshan slowly rode out of the village, Karon overheard their conversation.

“When is the hunting party supposed to arrive?”

“Not sure. Probably around noon.”

“Think they’ll catch the beasts this time?”

“The Miguel Mercenaries are joining, so there’s hope.”

“Miguel? Now that’s reassuring.”

Suddenly, Karon stopped in his tracks.

Shong and Hinshan, following behind, gave him puzzled looks as Karon turned around and said something unexpected.

“Now that I think about it, I’m curious what these beasts look like. Let’s deal with them before we leave.”

“A wise choice, Sir Karon,” Hinshan said, quickly falling in line with the decision and turning his horse around to follow Karon back into the village.

Shong, on the other hand, rolled his eyes in disbelief and muttered, “What’s he on about…?”

* * *

Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the capital, Pontania.

In a dimly lit underground tavern, a group of people sat huddled together.

Most wore cloaks or robes pulled low over their faces, their eyes sharp and wary.

It was clear that one group dominated the tavern.

At that moment, someone burst through the doors and hurriedly crossed the tavern, heading toward a hidden corridor.

Two men guarding the passage confirmed his identity before letting him through.

Inside the secret room, a hulking figure stood guard at the entrance.

Several individuals were gathered around a large table, studying a map and discussing something in hushed tones.

In the shadows, a figure watched them intently.

The map, illuminated by a lantern, depicted the capital. Various “X” marks were drawn across it, indicating they were searching for something.

“We’ve found it,” the man who had entered announced urgently, bowing his head.

All eyes in the room turned toward him.

One of the figures spoke, “You found it at last. Where?”

“At the residence of Duke Decius, one of the Empire’s grand dukes.”

“Duke Decius? Was it sold off as a maid?”

“No. It appears she’s his adopted daughter.”

At this revelation, murmurs broke out among those gathered.

The residence of Duke Decius was heavily guarded by imperial soldiers and various knight orders, making it nearly impenetrable.

“Interesting. Very interesting.”

The figure who had been watching from the shadows finally spoke, stepping forward into the light.

With striking blue hair and piercing blue eyes, pale skin, and a sharp, elegant face, he wore fine clothes and a blue robe.

This was none other than the leader of the Blue Raven Squad.

TL NOTE: Rate us on NOVEL UPDATES