Chapter 54: The Free City, Bernhard

The Free City, Bernhard.

A free city bordering the Empire, and superficially, one of the Empire’s steadfast allied cities.

Well…… it was called an ally, but looking at its internal affairs, it was in a situation no different from being a satellite city of the Empire.

“Bernhard, you mean?”

“That’s right.”

“Why is that? Bernhard is a place quite far from Winter Castle, so is there a reason for us to go all the way there?”

Just as those words implied, considering the location and political situation of the Free City, Bernhard, and all things, it was strange in many ways for Winter Castle to dispatch us all the way to Bernhard.

Not only was the physical location quite distant, but above all, the Free City, Bernhard, was not a region under the direct rule of the Empire.

Even though it was controlled by the Empire to a level almost akin to interference in internal affairs, at least, that was the story externally.

In such a situation, for support to be sent from the far-off Winter Castle to Bernhard…… It was a strange thing at first glance.

“It’s said there was a request from Bernhard. The Imperial Household of the Empire accepted it.”

“If so, isn’t that even stranger? Is there a need for us to go, when it’s something the Imperial Household could step in and handle directly?”

The power of the Empire’s Imperial Household was truly mighty.

But instead of providing support directly with such power, they were specifically requisitioning personnel from Winter Castle, which was suffering from a manpower shortage?

It was strange not to have questions.

“It seems there’s been a lot of this and that commotion within the Imperial Household recently. In addition to that, the atmosphere on the southern front isn’t ordinary either……. In this internal and external situation, it means they can’t afford to pay attention to a satellite city.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s right.”

Many unresolved parts still remained, but perhaps complicated interests and politics between the Empire, Bernhard, and Winter Castle were intertwined there.

As if he knew my feelings well, Edric smiled lightly and spoke.

“As you may already know, Winter Castle receives many benefits and support from the Empire’s Imperial Household. This mission is also in that context.”

Edric added.

“To put it in one word, it means we have to earn our keep.”

“In return for that, aren’t we protecting the Empire from the Demonic Realm?”

“Don’t be like that. The fact that you all can complain like this right now, is that not also the grace of the Imperial Household?”

It was a word with some bite to it.

Just as those words implied, it was also true that we were originally nothing more than sinners who should have been subjected to capital punishment long ago.

A secret deal between the Empire and the Punishment Order.

As the price for that, we, who should have long since disappeared as the dew of the scaffold, were still alive.

“Tsk, like the dirty Order bastards. They act all righteous in front, but behind the scenes, they’re just the same.”

Albino scoffed.

“…….”

Alicia, whether she had many thoughts about that, kept her lips firmly closed and lowered her head.

‘Come to think of it…… I haven’t looked into what crime Vell Blackwood committed to end up in Winter Castle.’

I had only been thinking that I should look into it someday, but I hadn’t thought to look into it directly.

This was because I had deemed who Vell Blackwood was as not very important to me, and that thought hadn’t changed much even now.

‘I’ll probably find out someday if the opportunity arises.’

Because the important thing right now was about the Free City, Bernhard, where we would be going for this mission.

“Departure is tomorrow morning. Everyone, be prepared.”

Edric turned his steps after those last words.

The atmosphere inside the barracks after Edric left was unsettled, as if a storm had passed.

“Hmm…… Bernhard.”

“Why, is it a place you know?”

Conlan nodded his head slightly.

“I worked as a mercenary there for a while, a long time ago.”

“Really? That’s fortunate.”

“Well……”

Conlan showed a bitter smile.

I was a little curious about what had happened in Bernhard, but after that conversation, Conlan closed his mouth.

I wasn’t curious enough to force open the mouth of someone who clearly didn’t want to talk, so I just let it be.

‘More important than that would be to find out about the current situation in Bernhard.’

The Free City, Bernhard, that I knew was a peaceful city.

Although it was receiving rule from the Empire that surpassed the level of interference in internal affairs, at least superficially, local autonomy was practiced, and a mayor and council representing the city existed separately from the Empire.

However, all of that was ultimately Bernhard before the Destruction Dragon appeared, and I couldn’t know what Bernhard looked like now.

Because after the appearance of the Destruction Dragon, it seemed that truly many things had changed in this world.

‘In that case…….’

The easiest place to get information was, as expected, the Anonymous Bulletin Board.

[Connecting to the Anonymous Bulletin Board.]

[Title Search : Bernhard]

As soon as I searched for Bernhard, quite a lot of information poured out from the Anonymous Bulletin Board.

-Hesen : The atmosphere in Bernhard is unsettled these days.

-Newdeulbak77 : The person who said they’re in Bernhard, where are you now? I’ve arrived.

-Anonymous12 : Does anyone happen to have Tundra’s Essence? Buying at a high price. In Bernhard.

-ImABabyNewbie : Recruiting mercenaries to go to the disputed region in Bernhard. 10 Gold daily wage, spoils distributed.

.

.

.

-Anonymous999 : Buying demonic beast materials infinitely. Trade in Bernhard.

‘Hmm…….’

It was the same in the World of Justice, but the Free City, Bernhard, unlike Winter Castle Kreutz, was a city with a very large fluid population.

It was also a place where many users were active due to various advantages, including the convenience of transportation due to its geography, and it seemed that was still the same now.

‘A dispute region……. Was there such a thing in Bernhard?’

As far as I knew, there was no region near Bernhard that could be called a disputed region.

As I said before, Bernhard was originally a very peaceful city, and that was possible because the surrounding environment supported it.

‘But the fact that a place that can be called a disputed region has now appeared must mean that some problem has arisen, both inside and outside the city.’

And that was likely one of the backgrounds for Bernhard’s request for support from the Empire.

No matter how peaceful a city Bernhard was, asking the Empire for help just because a mutant had appeared was clearly a strange thing.

Although I didn’t know exactly what it was, it was correct to assume they were in a situation where it was difficult to handle the mutant on their own, due to internal and external city affairs.

‘On top of that, Anonymous999…….’

Among the posts that mentioned Bernhard, there was also a post written by Anonymous999.

It seemed he had engaged in commerce in Bernhard before coming to Winter Castle.

No, perhaps Bernhard might have been Anonymous999’s main area of activity altogether.

Objectively speaking, Bernhard was a city with pretty good conditions for engaging in commercial activities in many ways.

‘And that story meant it would be safe to assume that the Pegasus Merchant Guild’s hand also extended to Bernhard.’

Of course, how many places on the Lagna Continent would the Pegasus Merchant Guild’s hand not reach, but nevertheless, the difference between it being there and not being there was large.

Even though I couldn’t know how much information the Pegasus Merchant Guild side had about me, it meant that there was no harm in being careful.

‘In many ways, it would be better to refrain from using firearms in Bernhard as much as possible.’

Putting the Pegasus Merchant Guild aside, the fact that it was a region where many users were active bothered me.

I couldn’t know whether they would be hostile to me or not, but this too was something that was good to be careful about if I could.

The users in this world had one common goal.

Namely, the Ascension Stone Fragment.

Of course, those who had collected Ascension Stone Fragments above a certain level knew what kind of danger it possessed, so there would also be those who were wary of the Ascension Stone Fragments.

For starters, hadn’t Dennis and Bellerophon been wary of the power possessed by the Ascension Stone Fragment?

However, whether they were people trying to collect Ascension Stone Fragments or people wary of them, they would all commonly try to collect Ascension Stone Fragments.

Some, to get that power in their hands.

And others, to stop that power from falling into someone else’s hands.

Such backgrounds were ultimately inducing users to form groups among themselves, and for those groups to compete and confront each other.

As if it were a board maliciously set up by someone.

In any case, that was why, on this Bernhard mission, it was necessary to be as careful as possible about contact with other users.

If by any chance one of the users there recognized my existence, in the worst-case scenario, they could even target the Ascension Stone Fragments I possessed.

In fact, rumors of Newbie hunters floating around the Anonymous Bulletin Board supported that possibility.

‘I need to find out more about Bernhard.’

With open eyes, I continuously indulged in the information about Bernhard on the Anonymous Bulletin Board.

In order to find information that might be helpful to me, or that could be dangerous.

The dawn was deep.

***

The next morning came, and the 4th Special Task Force members gathered in front of the barracks.

“Everyone’s gathered. Then let’s depart. As the distance is what it is, it seems we’ll have to hurry.”

Just as Edric said, the distance from Winter Castle Kreutz to the Free City, Bernhard, was by no means close.

No, in the first place, it was so far that it was strange for support to be going from Winter Castle to Bernhard.

Therefore, the movement was naturally by horse.

After several Horse Riding Trainings, there was no one among the 4th Special Task Force members who didn’t know how to ride a horse, and besides, this was more advantageous for immediate action than a carriage.

“You ride pretty well now.”

“I’ve almost fallen off a few times, so how could I not even do this much?”

“Haha, so you do know.”

Edric laughed heartily as always.

However, the fact that his laugh felt somewhat heavy, unlike before, was probably not just my imagination.

“Is it really because of the mutant?”

With the words I threw out, Edric’s expression became subtle.

“Well…… that, I can’t know.”

Edric added.

“But I also don’t think the Imperial Household would have given such an order simply because of one mutant. No matter how much they want to make Winter Castle work, giving an inefficient order doesn’t save face for the Imperial Household either.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s right.”

Although I couldn’t find out much, I learned at least one thing.

Edric also believed that there was a hidden background or intention in this mission.

Meaning, Edric also did not yet know the true hidden meaning of this mission.

“I don’t know what it is, but it seems we’re going to get caught up in something troublesome.”

“I agree.”

While Edric and I were chatting like that, Conlan, who would have normally thrown in a few words, drove his horse while maintaining silence the whole time.

That appearance felt a little strange for some reason, but I didn’t say anything.

“Then let’s hurry, we have a long way to go.”

Edric drove his horse.

Just as he said, we had a long way to go.

***

The journey toward the Free City, Bernhard, was extremely long and tedious.

If there was at least one better point, was it that, unlike before when I didn’t have the Orb of Water, I could move while freely checking the Anonymous Bulletin Board without worrying about blind stone-throwing?

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-DoraDanineunGeoJoaham : I’m thinking of going to Bernhard this time, how is it these days?

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Title as is, I’m thinking of going to Bernhard, how is it? Need comments.

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-Anonymous97 : No no, don’t come, it’s brutal these days.

-Hesen : But was there ever a neighborhood that wasn’t brutal these days?

└Anonymous54 : fr lol

└DoraDanineunGeoJoaham : Hmm… is that so? ok, thanks.

-Newdeulbak77 : If you need help, please contact me.

As I kept looking at the Anonymous Bulletin Board, the journey that had felt only tedious passed by quickly before I knew it.

‘Hmm.’

Amidst the entirely white landscape, the ground melted from snow-covered ice, and small streams of water began to flow.

The trees sprouted buds and unfurled green leaves, and flowers raised their heads above the ground, blooming splendid flower buds, announcing the advent of spring.

The grassy fields grew lush and green, making one feel the energy of new life.

What should I call it…… should I say it felt like the season was changing the further south I went?

Amidst such sentiments, Edric spoke.

“We’ve arrived. It’s Bernhard.”

Far away, beyond the horizon, the Free City, Bernhard, finally revealed its form.

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