Chapter 58

In the eastern district of the city of Kama, known as the slums, the poorest residents who cannot even pay taxes live. This area is ideal for criminals to hide, and many criminals and foreign spies lurk here. It was late at night, and most of the residents were already asleep, with the lights in their homes turned off. However, there was a small shack where a faint light leaked out. Inside, men were discussing something. They were dressed in tattered clothes like the poorest residents, but their bodies, which could be glimpsed, were slender yet covered in steel-like muscles, indicating they were not ordinary people.

"Have you found out which country the Enchanter is from?"

"We still don't know which spy he is."

"What the hell is the guy who was tracking the Enchanter doing!?"

The men were frustrated. This was because their mission was not going well at all.

"Moss is dead."

"Joseph!?"

"No, it was one of Moss's men."

"Collector Moss Goffa Bah? ... Many of the adventurers and mercenaries he employs are B-rank or higher. If things get any more complicated, we might have to consider retreating to our home country to avoid total annihilation."

Total annihilation—what the man said was not an exaggeration. In the past month, eight of their comrades, who were spies, had been killed or had committed suicide to prevent information leaks. Four of them were killed by Joseph.

"Calm down—there is no retreat from this mission. Only success and return are allowed. After all, this mission comes not from the upper echelons of the Dark Department but from the Grand Bishop of the Holy Country."

"Why would the Grand Bishop of our home country get involved? We still haven't been told what secrets that black-haired boy, Yu, has."

The man who seemed to be the leader among the group slowly spoke.

"I haven't been told the details, but it seems he has the potential to be a harbinger of calamity. It's possible that the nightmare of Hamelin could be repeated."

"A demon king... the fifth demon king is manifesting... or rather, being recognized? If that prediction is correct, we are clearly undermanned. Why capture him? Shouldn't we bring in the Hero of Pandora to destroy him?"

Currently, the monsters recognized as demon kings by humans include: the Tyrant Dlim, the lord of the S-rank dungeon Grim Castle in the west of the Holy Country Jardaruk; the Void Sadem, the demon that dominates the frigid mountain range to the north of the free state of Hamelin; the Thunder Flame Dragon Muuse, which has its base deep in the desert to the south of the Delim Empire; and the Calamity Demon King, which appeared in the small village of Pandora in the free state of Hamelin. Each of these beings has the power to destroy a nation. While they were in a stalemate without major conflicts as long as humans did not interfere, the manifestation of a demon king in the small farming village of Pandora in Hamelin was different. The demon king devoured the village of Pandora, leaving only one survivor, and then wreaked havoc in the Delim Empire. Despite the Delim Empire mobilizing all its forces to repel it, they could not destroy it. The damage caused by the Calamity Demon King, before being defeated by the Hero of Pandora, the Holy Maiden of the Holy Country Jardaruk, and the Delim Empire's strongest Seven Swords, was in the hundreds of thousands in Hamelin and Delim alone, and over a million when including small countries and villages.

"It's not confirmed yet. The target, Yu Sato, is not an impossible opponent to capture."

The men around the leader became excited and began to argue.

"Are you serious? Joseph is guarding him around the clock, and now he has the support of Collector Moss's followers!"

"That's not all... Yu Sato's individual abilities are also a threat. According to the information we had, he was only supposed to have a magic eye that could see through status, but his detection range is abnormal. In the city, we can blend in with the crowd to get close, but outside, he can sense us even from a kilometer away. The changes in his detection ability based on elevation suggest he has other skills."

"Moss reported that he was fighting Joseph. A 13-year-old kid?"

"What are you trying to say..."

"There is a significant discrepancy with the information from Lady Stella. It's an impossible story, but—"

"Watch your words. Lady Stella is a descendant of the Holy Saints. Even though she has passed away, I will not tolerate any disrespectful remarks. Do you want to die?"

The leader suddenly had a short sword in his hand.

"......I'm sorry... I retract my words. We were wrong... I got too excited and said too much."

"I understand your frustration. We have already requested support from our home country, and we received a response. Additional spies and former regiment commander Chi Du are on their way. They are expected to arrive in the city of Kama in a month."

"Chi Du, the Chi Du? Is our home country planning to start a war with Uudon!? The residents of the city of Kama won't get off easy either?"

"The Kingdom of Uudon has no state religion. While many religions coexist, anything other than the Iligamit religion is considered heresy. It doesn't matter how many heretics die."

"Man, we really got ourselves into a mess, didn't we?"

Woods was looking at the obsidian greatsword and gauntlets with a somewhat impressed expression. After eating at the Wind Vane Inn, Yu and Marifa had come to Woods' blacksmith shop. Yu had asked Woods to repair his broken weapons, but Woods replied that it would be better to buy new ones given the extent of the damage.

"Guess it's no use... Old man, can you make two stripping knives and some metal parts from that greatsword and gauntlets?"

"Sure, I can do that... but, the girl's leather jacket and gauntlets are also damaged... I heard about the rookie hunters, but it's impressive you survived."

"I made sure to kill them for the damage they did to my equipment."

"O-oh, right."

"I want to sell the broken equipment, and also the equipment I recovered from the rookie hunters, and have some weapons made."

Yu took out a mithril full plate armor, a Damascus helm, and a magic shield from his item pouch.

"Is this a mithril full plate armor! And a Damascus helm, and that shield with the rock stuck to it is a magic shield?"

"I want to make a dagger, robe, and staff from the full plate armor, and a dagger from the Damascus helm. Please polish the magic shield. I'll sell the leftover materials."

"I can't buy these. Take them to Rops' shop on the main street."

Rops' shop is located on the main street and is one of the largest in the city of Kama, with a blacksmith shop that is also one of the best.

"Why?"

"I've only handled a few pieces of mithril. I don't have the money to buy such a masterpiece, hahaha. It's better to sell them at Rops' shop and have the equipment made there."

"Hehe, I can tell you don't have the money just by looking at this shop. I'm not short on money, so just deduct the cost from the equipment I'm having you make. I'll pay the rest later."

"Just deduct it... You'll make a fortune just by selling the leftover materials. You're a fool... Fine! I'll use all my skills to make the best equipment for you!"

"I'm counting on you. By the way, I want to buy some equipment for Nina and a weapon for this one."

"Ah, so this girl is a new companion? Hmm... If you bought her as a slave, you have the responsibility to provide her with food, clothing, and shelter."

Marifa hid behind Yu, trying to avoid Woods' gaze.

"I know. Show me the cheapest bow and arrows."

Woods went to the back of the shop and brought out several bows and wooden arrows.

"These are the cheapest bows and arrows, but can this girl, who is so thin, even draw them?"

Yu tested the bows by pulling the strings, and chose the one that required the least force to draw.

"I'll take three of these shortbows and all the arrows you have."

"All!? What do you need so many for? And three of the same shortbow?"

Woods, despite his words, brought out three shortbows and a large number of wooden arrows, stacking them up.

"I see, you've thought this through. But using an item pouch just for arrows is quite a luxury."

Yu stuffed the item pouch into a wooden tube, tied it with a string near the opening, and stored the arrows.

"Indeed, you've thought this through. However, using an item pouch just for arrows is quite a luxury."

Yu gave Marifa the shortbow and quiver, then paid Woods.

"Give me some time to make the weapons and the girl's equipment. About a week should be enough to prepare good equipment. By the way, is the equipment for the dark elf girl okay?"

"Old man, what are you talking about? I used to throw rocks to kill goblins. Having a weapon is already a great advantage."

Yu left, and Marifa bowed to Woods before running after Yu.

"Killing goblins with rocks..."

Woods muttered, then immediately started a fire in the forge to begin making the equipment.