The Elder combed his beard. “The possibility of that is high.”
The name of the Marcus family was as prominent as that of the Royal Family. Even their secluded village in the middle of the forest had heard of them.
“But what is someone with such background doing in this place? In that town?”
The Elder shook his head. “I don’t know. But that’s no longer important.” He shouted at a couple of youngsters. “What are you doing? Bring only the necessities with you!”
The kids flinched and whispered among each other. “Hey, I told you! We can’t bring these with us!”
“But maybe we could just carry it? I’m sure the Elder wouldn’t mind!”
The Elder scratched his head and went towards them. “We’ll need the carts to carry those that are unable to move. Aside from food, bring nothing else with you.”
“But Elder!”
“Would you rather keep those toys than let Anandra comfortably sleep in the wagon?”
The question of the Elder made them immediately change their minds.
“Of course not!”
“It’s for Anandra’s sake… Everyone! Listen to the Elder! Leave those behind!”
“Yeah!”
All of the kids in this village greatly admired Anandra, the strongest warrior of their tribe. Although they were young, they clearly understood that if it were not for him blocking the assault of the basilisk, they would have been dead by now.
The Elder looked at the cart where Anandra was. ‘The young Lord should have finished the second part of treatment by now, right?’
The Elder decided to check on the state of the injured warrior. Just in time, upon checking the cart, the young noble stepped out.
“Ah, young Lord,” said the Elder. “How’s he?”
Lark wiped the sweat on his forehead. “He’ll be safe now. It’ll probably take several days more, maybe a week, before he regains consciousness though.”
The Elder sighed in relief. “I see. I’m really glad to hear that. Thank you.”
“Are the preparations finished?” said Lark. “My men and I are ready to move out any time.”
“Yes.” The Elder nodded. “We’re just waiting for the young Lord’s signal.”
“Is that so?” Lark looked around. “Tell everyone to gather here. There’s something I need to tell them.”
“As you wish.”
Soon, all of the villagers gathered before Lark. They were clearly emaciated, and fear were evident within their eyes.
“Listen,” said Lark. “I’m sure everyone’s aware – currently, there are two basilisks in this forest. The one we’ve fought before’s the male. It’s currently injured and it’ll probably take a week or more for it to fully heal. The problem’s the female. Although it seems that it rarely leaves the nest, it’ll still be best to prepare for the worst circumstances.”
Lark looked at them in the eye. “I’ll be blunt. I need sacrifices.”
Silence befell everyone.
“Right now, I’m not strong enough to protect every one of you here,” said Lark. “The female basilisk is far stronger than the male. If it attacks us on our way out of this forest, there will surely be casualties.”
“So you’re asking some of us to hold it off as everyone escapes?” said Valak. A quiver filled with arrows was on his back. “I’ll do it.”
The other hunters nodded. “Me too.”
“Same here.”
There was a total of nine volunteers.
“The female basilisk has the ability to petrify its targets. You need to constantly move around to avoid the spell. Stay too long under its gaze and you’ll turn into stone.” Several villagers grimly looked at the volunteers. “All of you will probably die. You’re aware of that, no?”
Valak was the first to reply. “We know.”
“But if it’ll save the lives of my wife and kids…” said another hunter.
Lark was starting to really like this tribe. Unlike most people, this group held honor highly. Their resolve to protect their fellow villagers and family was something seldomly seen in this day and age.
“Let’s just hope that the female doesn’t attack us,” said Lark. “Avoid making too much noise as we go out of the forest. Our goal is to reach the main road before the day ends. Everyone, get ready. we’re moving out.”
Numerous carts pulled by men and women started leaving the village. Upon reaching the forest, rattling sounds were heard as the wooden wheels struck the root-blanketed ground.
Dawn quickly passed. Noon came and everyone stopped to recuperate. They have travelled a fair bit of distance by now, a good distance away from the lair of the basilisks.
“Elder, can’t we really eat anything until we get to the main road?” said Arthus. “Aunt’s been groaning from hunger for quite some time now inside the cart. Big sister’s like that too. Surely, we can take some of the roasted boar and feed the people.”
The Elder sighed. “I understand, young one. But the Lord clearly told us not to open the bags of rations. He didn’t want to unnecessarily attract the monsters. It’s unfortunate, but we’ll have to hold it in until we arrived at the main road.”
Arthus was unsatisfied of the answer but nodded regardless. He went back to the group of kids and disseminated what he heard from the Elder.
Lark clapped his hands twice. “Rest is over. Move out.”
To the villagers that have been emaciated for weeks, this journey was arduous, almost excruciating. If not for the feast they received last night, they would have no energy to travel this far. At the very least, their desire to survive kept pushing them forward.
Hours quickly passed and by dusk, they finally reached the main road. It was still surrounded by trees in all directions, but with such distance, it should be fairly safe to consume the rations.
Lark ordered the guards and the hunters to distribute the food. The kids started making a campfire.
Every now and then, Lark would use magic to scan their immediate surroundings. It was a very small area when compared to this large forest, but it was better than nothing. After making sure that the area was safe, he would then proceed to heal the injuries of Anandra. By now, the stench of decay from the warrior had dissipated. His breathing normalized and the skin that have been peeled off started to regenerate. Lark avoided using too much mana on the treatment since there was still the risk of being attacked by the basilisks.
After everyone have been fed, Lark instructed the guards to take turns taking watch. Two hours passed and to everyone’s dismay, he once again ordered them to move out. Still, no one openly complained. They all knew that this was for their sake.
The group continued walking, and by the next morning, they finally reached the end of the forest. The plains and the Prey River were in sight.
Lark was really glad that luckily, the female basilisk did not give chase. They have avoided the worst and did not sustain a single casualty.
“Here, take this.” Lark handed the Elder a scroll.
The Elder opened it. “This is… a letter to a person called Gaston.”
Lark raised a brow. “You can read?”
Including Melody and Silver Claw, this old man was the third person to know how to read.
The Elder scratched his beard. “Just a little bit. This old man has lived for over seventy years. I’ve been to numerous cities back in my youth. I’ve been a daring young man back then, you see.” He chuckled. “Learned a few things here and there, and reading’s one of them.”
Perfect. These hunters are really good with bows, and this old man knows how to read. They’ll be really good additions to the town.
Lark suppressed the excitement from showing on his face. “Gaston’s my butler. Show that to him and he’ll understand eventually. The eastern part of the town’s still under construction, so it might take some time before we’ll be able to give settlements to everyone.”
The Elder understandingly nodded. “I see. We’re just grate
ful that you’re willing to go that far for us, young Lord.” He bowed his head low. “Since you’re giving me this…”
“That’s right,” said Lark. “This is where we part ways. I still have to visit Lion City. We’ll meet at Blackstone Town in a week or two.”
Lark called one of the guards over.
“Yes, Young Master?”
“Accompany them to the town.” Lark leaned over and handed him a palm-sized stone tablet. “Make sure you carry this with you on your way inside.”
“This is?” the guard stared at the tablet. There were unknown symbols engraved on it.
“An entry pass,” said Lark. “Be sure not to lose it. It’s a sign of your group’s identity.”
The guard did not fully understand what the Young Master was trying to say but he nodded regardless. The instruction of bringing it with him to the town was very simple, after all.
“Understood!”
The stone tablet was imbued with Lark’s mana. With it, the ‘Guardians’ he had created would not attack their group upon entering the town. It was a small precaution to avoid such accident. After all, it would be easy for the Guardians to mistake their group as hostile forces with such numbers. Lark wanted to avoid that at all costs.
After the necessary preparations have been made, the two groups parted ways in the plains. One was headed towards Blackstone Town, the other towards the Lion City.
Chapter Twenty-Four
[Lion City – Merchants Guild]
Big Mona, the Merchant Guild Master, skimmed through the documents he held in his hands. He stopped and leaned on his chair, making it creak from his sheer weight. He took a handful of biscuits and threw them inside his mouth.
“I heard that you guys are having a hard time defending the Valley of Witches.” Big Mona’s spit flew out as he spoke. “And you expect me to provide more weapons and rations?” He chuckled and took a sip of wine from the goblet.
The representative of the Mercenary Guild frowned at the blatant crude display. He had heard of how gluttonous and barbaric the Head of the Merchants Guild was, but he had not expected this much. Even now, Big Mona continued grabbing snacks from the plate in front of him, throwing it inside his mouth. Every time he spoke, crumbs and spit flew out.
“But Master Alexander told us that you’ve prepared them already,” said the representative. “It’s supposed to be part of the agreement—”
“—The agreement’s valid only if he doesn’t lose the Vespa Fortress in the south.” Big Mona glared at him. “Surely, before coming here, you’ve read that, no? Or are you simply too stupid that you couldn’t even think of something so simple?”
Big Mona slammed his stubby fists unto the table. “Tell Alexander to meet me here himself! I wouldn’t continue supplying his army otherwise!”
“But the Master’s in the Valley of Witches right now! He’s busy fending off the invaders from the United Grakas Alliance!” The representative refused to yield. “You know that it’ll be impossible for him to leave his post and come here himself! That’s why he’s been sending representatives—”
“—Enough with the excuses!” snarled Big Mona. “I don’t plan on wasting resources on such an incompetent leader! You’ve been incurring defeats left and right and you still expect support from the Merchants Guild? Hah!”
“Master Alexander’s not incompetent! And those were not defeats! We purposely left those strongholds to prevent further casualties! You damn merchants have no idea on how we risk our lives just to defend the invasion from the United Grakas Alliance!”
Big Mona snapped his fingers and the two guards standing next to the wall grabbed the representative. “Throw him out.”
“Wait! Please! Our army really needs the weapons right now!” He was grabbed by the guards. The representative struggled, but was soon thrown out of the Merchants Guild.
Big Mona burped and wiped his mouth using a napkin. A button on his gaudy dress popped off after he deeply breathed in.
“Is this really fine?” asked his assistant. “It’s the Mercenary Guild.”
Big Mona chuckled. “It’s fine. He’ll come back tomorrow.” He grabbed the documents on the table and started flipping through it. “The spies I’ve planted in the United Grakas Alliance told me that the attack on the Valley of Witches wouldn’t escalate until the reinforcement from their capital arrived. They’re currently in a deadlock with Alexander’s army. We’ll be able to buy two more months with just that. It’s better to make the Mercenary Guild beg for help, no? We’ll be making them a bigger favor that way.”
“But what if the information sent by the spies are wrong?”
“Then Alexander will lose his life.” Big Mona was nonchalant. “It’s not like there’s no one to replace him as Guild Master of the Mercenaries. And even if the Valley of Witches gets seized by the United Grakas Alliance, they’ll think twice before attacking this city. After all, the Lord governing this place’s far too dangerous to be an enemy.”
The last part was a bluff. Big Mona knew that once the Valley of Witches was razed to the ground, there would be no stopping the invasion of the United Grakas Alliance – even the Lord of this City wouldn’t be able to stop it. But he knew that Alexander would not croak that easily. As long as that man was alive, the beastmen would have a hard time invading this Kingdom.
The assistant of Big Mona felt that the merchant was too laidback on this. Right now, a massive war was breaking out in the Eastern Region, specifically at a place called Valley of Witches. The United Grakas Alliance sent out a legion to claim the castles in that area. One after another, cities fell under their military might. If not for Alexander personally setting out to stop the invasion, the army of the Alliance would have reached this place by now. He could not understand why Big Mona, the number one supplier of weapons and arms in the city, refused to give aid to the army.
“I know what you’re thinking.” Big Mona pointed a quill at him. “You think I’m stupid, right? You’re thinking why this fatso’s withholding those weapons when war’s about to break out.”
The assistant felt chills crawl down his spine. Everything was spot on. “N-No! Of course not!”
“Stop lying.” Big Mona grinned. “Listen, kid. You’ll never survive as a merchant if you keep being a compassionate moron. An offer made on the brink of death carries more weight, even if it’s from the devil. Remember that.”
Three loud knocks were heard at the door. “Sir, the son of Duke Drakus wishes to see you.”
Big Mona paused. “Son of Duke Drakus?”
The Silver War God was among the most prominent figures of the Kingdom. Even for a merchant like him, it would be very hard to meet the Supreme Commander of the Western Army. Big Mona doubted the report of the servant.
“Are you sure about this? Why would the Silver War God suddenly come here from the Gryphon City?”
“Ah, it’s not Lui Marcus, sir,” replied the servant. “It’s the younger brother.”
Even this was surprising. He had seen the Silver War God a few times before back in the Capital, but he never once caught glimpse of the supposedly incompetent little brother of his. He heard several months ago from his information merchant that he was exiled to a desolated town.
“The purpose of his visit?” said Big Mona.
“About that…” There was a pause. “He told us that he’s here to make a business proposal.”
“Business proposal?” Big Mona knitted his brows. His stare was piercing.
“H-He refused to tell us what kind!” The servant’s voice trembled for a moment. “He said that you’ll understand once you meet him!”
Normally, Big Mona would not bother meeting with the lord of a small town without prior appointment, but his mind was screaming at him to find out the purpose of the visit. His intuition never failed him before.
Big Mona stood there and contemplated. Eventually, he decided. “Bring him to the room on the second floor.”
“As you wish!”
<
br /> After the servant left, Big Mona looked at himself in front of the mirror. He satisfactorily nodded upon seeing his bloated body and fat, rosy cheeks. “I look dashing today.”
It had been his routine to check himself before meeting a potential client, no matter how small the transaction may be. It was a habit engraved into him since he was a kid. Although his father died before becoming a successful merchant, the lessons he had instilled into Big Mona helped mold what he was today.
Accompanied by his personal guard, he went up the stairs and entered a spacious room. Inside, a young man, probably in his early teens, leisurely sat on the couch. Upon seeing Big Mona, he smiled, nodded once, then stood up.
“You’re the head of the Merchants Guild?” said the young man.
Big Mona did not like the haughtiness within the guest’s voice. “That’s right. You’re the Lord of that small town near the Endless Forest, right?” He sat on the opposite couch. “I normally don’t entertain such guests without prior appointments. Consider yourself lucky. Boy, get straight to the point. What did you come here for?”
Lark took out a wooden box and placed it on the table before them. “Take a look.”
Big Mona leaned forward and opened the lid. He stared at what was inside for a moment before taking it out. A crystal shaped like a lotus flower.
“Kalrane stone?” muttered Big Mona. Although the shape was different from the usual, there was no doubt it was made of kalrane after seeing the translucent crystal and the specks of silver dusts inside it.
“Yes. Now, touch the tip of the flower.”
Big Mona did not like how he was being ordered around by some brat. Still, he did as he was told. He touched the tip of the flower. To his surprise, the specks of silver dusts inside began emitting bright light. It was bright enough to overshadow the large candelabra near the window. For a moment, Big Mona reflexively closed his eyes.
“Touch the tip again.”
The blinding light vanished. It took Big Mona some time before he was able to adjust to the now dimly-lit room. He blinked thrice and stared at the crystal he held in his stubby hands.
Legend of the Arch Magus- The Expansion Page 16