[Translator – Prøks]
[Proofreader – Prøks]
Chapter 8
They passed several rural territories.
These rural territories were no different from Chichiron, and they only stopped briefly to replenish supplies.
With the ancient empire fallen and the continent in turmoil.
Interactions between territories could hardly be described as active, and each territory barely managed to sustain itself.
The skyrocketing prices even depleted the gold coins Sein had brought.
This phenomenon could be even more severe in remote areas.
-If you want, we could pay for the Dark Hobgoblin’s corpse with gold coins.
Arin suggested, but…
-Why?
[TL/N: Just so you know these were like that in the raws too so this is not an error. ]
Sein replied.
Even in rural, small territories, there were rotten spots.
Sein was like a cockroach surviving in such rotten waters.
-Well Then. They call me the Mad Dog of Chichiron. Fork over all your travel expenses, or else I’ll send you on your way in this rugged world!
-What the hell are you saying!
-What else? Hand it all over and scram.
The dwindling travel expenses seemed to have increased again.
No matter how well hidden the gold coins were.
-Boss, I found it.
-No! That’s for our son’s medical expenses!
-Should I believe that you have a son just because you say so?
Sein and Darren thoroughly looted them.
They advanced without hindrance!
“That kind of recklessness won’t work anymore.”
For the first time, Arin, who had only observed, warned Sein.
“Well, the village was quite bothersome anyway.”
More like a small town than a village.
As expected, the level of trash in the alleyways was quite high.
Well, it’s just…
“Thanks to that, we have plenty of gold coins, so it doesn’t matter, right?”
They were just alleyway trash.
They looted more gold coins from one village than they could gather in a lifetime in Chichiron.
“It seems like I have a talent for robbery.”
“Are you just realizing that now?”
“Even robbery has its geniuses, now I know.”
“Tsk.”
But Sein knew too.
‘From now on, it’s going to be real.’
As Arin said.
The looming giant walls were getting closer.
For Sein, or rather Sein Demorus, it was the first time seeing such a magnificent wall.
It was a true city, incomparable to villages or even small towns.
“Borpeo Viscountcy.”
It was a real city.
The barrier covering the territory was so strong that it was visible to the eye.
“I recommend you don’t go on a rampage from here.”
Another warning.
“The Borpeo is definitely a place with a master.”
“I understand, I get it.”
Sein moved forward again.
“You’re not Demorus yet.”
Sein paused momentarily at Arin’s words.
“The successor candidates are just candidates for Demorus. Remember that you can’t wield the power of Demorus’s name.”
“Yes. Yes, I know.”
Rumors had even reached the remote Chichiron.
Confirmed upon arrival here, and the truth heard through Arin.
Here’s the translation of the provided text:
“Our impressive seed-spreading ancestors spread their seeds so widely that someone like me still feels insignificant.”
“If I remember correctly Demorus has over a hundred children?”
“Impressive. Very impressive.”
With such trivial conversation, Sein’s group arrived at the gates.
Seeing gates of this size for the first time in this life.
Familiar.
It was a familiar sight to Sein.
Guards blocking the way before they knew it.
“What do you want?”
“Just someone trying to pass through the gate.”
The guards frowned at Sein’s words.
“Do you have a permit?”
Indeed, was this truly a city?
It was different from the easygoing atmosphere of the village.
Ping!
Sein flicked out a gold coin.
“It’s a permit.”
As in the small town, intending to use the gold coin as a permit.
Tock.
The coin Sein flicked fell to the ground without much care.
“You’re rude.”
“Oh. Expensive guys.”
“You!”
Thud.
The guards raised their spears, facing Sein.
“Get lost. Before we kill you.”
Growling, the guards didn’t seem inclined to step aside easily.
They weren’t guards with a strong sense of justice.
Even as they aimed their spears at Sein, their eyes glanced briefly at the fallen gold coin on the ground.
Literally meaning expensive guys.
“Shall I give two more coins?”
Even at Sein’s words, the guards didn’t bat an eye. Their gaze turned to Arin.
“Hah.”
Now he understood the purpose of these guys.
Arin was a rare beauty.
With such a beauty in sight, gold coins wouldn’t catch their eyes.
“Bold talk for such small fries.”
“I’m impressed. To think you would stand before Borpeo’s guards?”
They are bold.
“You touch her, she’ll kill you, not me.”
“…?”
“If money won’t do, then so be it.”
Sein felt reluctant to part with the money.
Clang!
A longsword from one of the villages he’d passed was drawn, and he shook off the guards’ spears.
“I am Sein, the mad dog of Chichiron….”
Grin.
“They call me Sein Demorus. Open the gate. You bastards.”
“…!”
* * *
“You’ll regret this.”
Arin spoke.
“You haven’t been granted the right to use the Demorus name yet, so the price for using an unauthorized name will be steep.”
“Geez, give me a break.”
Sein replied nonchalantly.
“I’ve only done you a favor by spreading your name. Can’t I use the castle freely as my reward?”
“…Do as you wish.”
Sein nodded in response to Arin’s words.
“I will.”
There was certainly a conventional route.
To quietly accumulate power and slowly gain recognition while hiding oneself.
But.
“It’s too late.”
Though Sein smiled, his eyes were as cold as ice.
“If my fate is to be the heir of underworld.”
When his fate was sealed, Sein made up his mind.
“I’ll reveal myself and earn recognition.”
It wasn’t a reckless gamble.
Though it might seem reckless, it was far from it.
His heart raced.
There was a way to handle all of that, a plan in place.
In fact, this was necessary for the existence of Sein Demorus.
“Arin.”
“…Speak.”
“Threats don’t come when I want them to.”
Adversity and hardship weren’t things one could seek out and overcome on their own.
“They come at the worst possible time.”
It was about preparing in advance to be able to overcome them.
To become stronger.
To survive.
You had to keep pushing through and defeating the challenges that kept coming your way.
“Luck and hardship hitting you all at once can be overwhelming.”
It was a familiar sight.
The quiet streets.
There wasn’t a soul in sight.
“The welcoming committee seems grand.”
“Are you the mad dog of Chichiron?”
A group of men blocked Sein’s path.
* * *
“Are you the mad dog of Chichiron?”
“Do you know me?”
He asked, but he already got the gist of it.
The events at the gate must have already spread throughout the city.
‘I’ve heard that the entire continent is rotten.’
With the emergence of the New Empire, the underworld had become mainstream.
It was said that their power was so strong that the world outside was engulfed in Darkness, and the inside was tainted with blood.
But even so, this was too much.
For news of what had just happened at the gate to spread to the alleys before reaching the lord was unheard of.
“With just a name, you managed to open the gates of Borpeo. If you don’t know, you don’t deserve to survive in the alleys.”
“Then you must have heard of me.”
Sein’s voice was calm.
“My name too.”
“I am Sein Demorus.”
Demorus.
At the mention of that name, the men blocking Sein’s path trembled.
Even in the outskirts, the name carried fear.
In a large city like this,
“…Do you mean the real Demorus?”
“Do you think I’m crazy enough to impersonate a Demorus?”
“Well…”
The power of a name and reputation in the underworld was formidable, even surpassing that of the empire’s order.
“But for now, you’re just a candidate, right? I haven’t heard any news about the successor to Demorus being chosen.”
“…Are you stupid or brave?”
Swoosh.
The group blocking Sein began to advance slowly.
Thunk.
Darren gripped the hilt of his longsword, while Arin folded her arms as if she had no interest at all.
Sein just stood there, staring at the troublemakers with a cold gaze.
“So, shall we have a go?”
There were twenty of them.
But they were nothing like the third-rate thugs they encountered in Chichiron.
Their refined posture and movements proved that they were survivors of real combat, strong enough to live through it.
‘Are they mercenaries?’
They were not monsters outside the norm; they were just ordinary mercenaries.
“Well, that’s not too bad. If it’s back alley talk, it’s the quickest.”
The men paused.
Only one one-eyed man stepped forward.
The one-eyed man came closer and closer.
They were within striking distance of each other’s blade.
However, what the one-eyed man drew wasn’t a sword but his hand.
“They call me Cyclops. I may be small, but I rule one of Borpeo’s back alleys.”
A handshake.
“Welcome to Borpeo. Mad Dog.”
With a smile full of kindness, the One-eyed man extended his hand to Sein.
Clang!
“Oh, you tried to cut off my wrist. Not bad.”
Sparks flew upon impact.
The gleam from Sein’s dagger clashing against the One-eyed man’s sword.
“Where did you learn those dirty tricks?”
“…He doesn’t seem to understand goodwill when he sees it.”
The One-eyed man and Sein had unconsciously distanced themselves.
“There’s something important in back alley fights.”
The One-eyed man spoke.
“Justification.”
Just like among nobles, justification was important in the back alleys.
“I showed you goodwill, but you repaid me with a sword. That’s my justification. What’s yours?”
A fight dictated by rules.
At this, Sein twisted his lips into a smirk.
“I don’t have that kind of thing.”
“…What?”
“Oh, maybe I do.”
His eyes turned fierce.
“Blocking my path.”
Clang!
Once again, a large flame burst forth.
“Indeed, you are crazy.”
“And that’s not enough?”
Beyond the clashing swords, both laughed.
“No, it’s enough.”
The first battle in Borpeo.
Even though it was in the heart of the city, there was no intervention from the guards.
This was a battle that took place within the underworld looming over the city.
And shortly after.
“I apologize.”
The One-eyed man knelt down, facing Sein.
[Translator – Prøks]
[Proofreader – Prøks]
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