Chapter 99

#099 Chapter

Rescue the Caravan. Like most side quests in this world, it was a rather unremarkable quest with only experience points as a reward.

'At least it’s something.'

While closing the window, Ian took in the darkness beyond.

The caravan had been attacked by a pack of snow wolves.

These wolves usually traveled in groups of no more than ten, and deeper into the region, much stronger monsters were more common, making them a sight only seen around here.

“Everyone, don’t leave your horses!”

“Damn it, what are you standing there for! Shoot the ballista!”

The wolves circling the caravan now numbered at least thirty.

'They don’t seem to be led by werewolves. Maybe they just naturally banded together out of hunger.'

As he thought, Ian observed the caravan dealing with the wolves.

There were three wagons. The guards, including the porters, numbered around twenty.

Though few in number, they proved they hadn’t come to the snow region unprepared, maintaining their formation and protecting the horses.

Most were armed with ballistas and spears, and a few looked quite formidable.

Especially the northern guard, who wielded a spear that seemed to be a magical artifact.

'They might be able to handle this on their own.'

But there would likely be some casualties.

As he thought, Ian leaped toward the wolves that had noticed his approach.

Crack! Kyeong!

Ian sliced one wolf in half with a single stroke. Now, this level of skill was possible without magic or blessings.

Ian rolled on the ground and charged at another wolf. The wind blades swirling around him enveloped his entire body.

Squish!

The wolf that lunged at Ian was split in half from the middle of its gaping mouth, and the severed wolf fell to the ground, spraying blood like a fountain.

The hungry beasts' eyes glinted red at the scent of blood.

“Hold the reins, you fool!”

Charlotte also leaped into action, following Ian.

Crack! Squish!

Ian and Charlotte cut down the snow wolves without hesitation.

Most didn’t even require a second attack.

These beasts, tainted by corrupted magic, were no match for the two mercenaries who had fought giants.

Of course, the fact that they weren’t being targeted by a coordinated ambush also made the battle easier.

Crack!

“What, what is this?!”

“Reinforcements? Are they reinforcements?”

The guards, who had noticed the reinforcements, looked flustered.

The area was still chaotic with running snow wolves, and the sight of Ian and Charlotte fighting in the darkness was barely visible to them.

“Remarkable warriors.”

Among the guards, the northern guard who skillfully handled the long spear said.

His eyes accurately caught Ian and Charlotte in the darkness. Soon, he turned to the other guards and shouted.

“Close ranks and only deal with the ones charging at you! Don’t use the ballistas!”

'Is he the leader of the guards?'

Ian, who heard the shout, slightly curled his lips.

In the midst of this, he sliced a wolf in half and thrust his sword into the mouth of another that leaped at him.

'Another mess of blood. Damn…'

Despite his internal grumbling, he diligently reduced the number of wolves.

The battle ended soon after.

The remaining four or five wolves, finally overcome by fear, fled.

“Phew….”

Ian caught his breath, shaking the thick blood off his sword.

Charlotte, also covered in blood, walked toward him.

She looked at the merchants tending to the casualties, then, while tying her battle axe back to her back, said,

“I’ll go to the driver’s seat.”

Ian nodded and walked toward the caravan.

People with torches were approaching from the other side.

The northern guard who had shouted at his subordinates and a man in a thick fur coat, who looked like a merchant, were in the lead.

“You don’t seem to be from the north. You’re quite skilled.”

“Didn’t you say there were two? I don’t see the other one.”

“The other one is a half-elf. The carriage behind you, he’s going there. The two of them could have killed all of us.”

“If they wanted to, they would have done it already. Besides, they’re our saviors. What kind of rude talk is that? Anyway.”

“Better to be safe than sorry.”

Though they were whispering, Ian heard every word.

Yeah, better to be safe than sorry.

As he smirked, the man in the fur coat stopped.

He was an imperial man in his mid-thirties with a beard.

“Thank you for your help. I’m a merchant of the Imperial Ark Caravan, Fael.”

He bowed politely.

Ian sheathed his sword and replied.

“Mercenary, Ian. The ones behind are my subordinates.”

“Oh, a mercenary…!”

Fael’s voice brightened.

He approached Ian.

“I saw your skills clearly. You’re remarkable. So, may I ask, where are you headed?”

“To Traverga. We’ll cross the gate first.”

“Good. We’re also heading to the Northern Wall gate.”

Fael smiled and pointed to his carriage.

“Shall we go back and talk? I’d like to offer you some good wine and cheese. I also have some high-quality jerky seasoned with spices.”

A quest completion window appeared, followed by a linked quest: Caravan Escort.

A rare small quest.

Ian smiled.

“If you treat my subordinates the same way.”

***

“You’re not an ordinary mercenary group.”

Fael whistled after seeing the members of the group.

A blood-covered half-elf and a blind silver-haired elf. It was a combination that was far from ordinary.

“Well, people who travel through such places can’t be ordinary mercenaries. Are you returning after completing a job?”

“Yeah, something like that.”

Ian wiped the blood from his face with the cloth Fael offered.

Beside Fael sat the northern guard, Bor, while the others made several bonfires around the carriage and gathered.

Some were skinning the dead snow wolves.

They glanced at Ian’s group.

Everyone had at least seen the blurry figures of Ian and Charlotte leaping through the darkness like ghosts.

“Not asking about the job, but where did you come from?”

He seemed quite curious.

Ian smirked but answered frankly. The wine and cheese Fael brought were quite delicious, making him more lenient.

“We had some business near the mountains. After finishing, we stopped by a barbarian village.”

“A barbarian village? Do you know the name of the village?”

“Black Forest Hill Village.”

“Hmm….”

Fael looked surprised. He exchanged a glance with Bor and said,

“That village is home to particularly hardline northern barbarians, who are notoriously unwelcoming to outsiders. It’s quite an achievement that you managed to enter. It’s also surprising that the village still exists.”

“You seem to know a lot about the north.”

Fael nodded.

“Not the entire caravan, but I do. I’ve crossed the wall every winter, bringing food and money, and trading for furs in the barbarian villages.”

He took a sip of wine and murmured,

“I’ve been doing this for five years now. It’s quite profitable.”

“Given your knowledge, why did you cross the wall with just this many people? Your guards are skilled, but the snow region is full of monsters.”

“It wasn’t like this until last year. We only had to be careful in the snow-covered areas. Who would have thought it would become so dangerous in just a year?”

“The gate should have warned you.”

“They say it every year, but I didn’t expect it to be this bad. Our caravan isn’t very large, so news travels slowly. Besides, there aren’t many who know about this area. If it weren’t for you, we would have lost many valuable members.”

“The Ark Caravan is quite far from here, so the news would have been even slower.”

Charlotte said calmly.

She was sipping the wine Fael brought, clearly enjoying it.

Fael hesitated and looked at her.

“Do you know our caravan?”

“I know it well. I worked for the Scales Caravan until recently.”

“Oh…! I heard there was an incredibly skilled half-elf guard in the Scales Caravan. Could it be…?”

Charlotte only shrugged in response.

“Did you leave the caravan?”

Fael’s eyes gleamed with interest.

Charlotte nodded calmly.

“Yeah, I left.”

“How…?”

“The employer I served died.”

“…Ah.”

The heat in Fael’s eyes quickly cooled.

He seemed to instinctively realize he shouldn’t ask more, and he turned his gaze away, curling his lips.

“Is the elf not hungry?”

“There’s nothing here for me to eat.”

Tessia, who was squatting, replied.

The saliva at the corner of her mouth was due to the smell of wolf blood, not the food. She was likely suppressing her fangs from protruding while maintaining her position.

“As you can see, they’re unique. It’s best not to engage them in too much conversation.”

Ian added casually.

Fael nodded quickly.

He’s met mercenaries before.

Ian took a bite of cheese and nodded.

“It seems the supplies in the wagons are mostly intact. Did this trip fail?”

“I knew something was wrong as soon as I saw the snow.”

Fael sighed deeply and took a sip of wine.

“There’s a barbarian village two days northeast of here. When I entered, everyone was preparing to migrate. The trade beyond the wall has lost its meaning.”

“You must have suffered a significant loss.”

“I can’t return empty-handed. I’ll take what’s left to Traverga and sell it. If possible, I’ll trade for furs and return. The profit won’t be much, but at least I won’t be completely empty-handed.”

Well, you won’t have to worry about food for a while.

As Ian smiled inwardly, Bor, who had been listening silently, spoke up.

“I’m against that.”

“There you go again. If you worry about every little thing, nothing will get done.”

Fael shook his head.

Ian looked at Bor.

“Do you have a reason to oppose it?”

“I heard from the barbarian warriors in the village. It was a disturbing story.”

“I’d like to hear more.”

Ian raised his wine glass.

Bor drank from the bottle and said,

“There are monsters entering and exiting the mountains.”

“Entering and exiting the mountains…?”

“Many warriors have seen harpies and ogres fleeing the mountains. Haven’t you seen them?”

Ian shook his head. They hadn’t seen any.

The monsters they encountered on their journey had all attacked and been killed.

“On the other hand, some have seen monsters walking into the mountains. Reanimated dead. Spirits of the ancient kingdom.”

“…!”

Ian, who was about to take a sip of wine, paused.

“They were seen walking into the mountains as if under a spell. Everyone knows what lies dormant in the mountains, right?”

“Giants?”

Tessia said bluntly.

Bor nodded.

Tessia tilted her head.

“But if they’re giants, we- Ow!”

Charlotte quickly slapped Tessia’s mouth and looked at Ian.

“Maybe the presence I sensed, which I couldn’t identify, was those spirits. They were walking north, as this man said.”

“…How many undead did we kill on our way here?”

Ian, who had taken a sip of wine, put down his glass and asked.

Charlotte shook her head after a moment of thought.

“None.”

“Hmm….”

Ian let out a low hum.

Fael, who had been watching him, cautiously asked,

“Do you have any idea what’s going on?”

After a moment, Ian said,

“It’s better if you don’t know.”

“…”

“And perhaps, you should listen to your guard.”

“…!”