Chapter 59: The Free City, Bernhard (6)

Councilman Garrett Mason ultimately chose Bernhard’s survival, just as Edric intended.

Although a huge bloody wind would blow in Bernhard as a result, that was a share that Garrett Mason would have to bear entirely.

Like that, Garrett Mason left to convene the council, and we also moved.

“……Is this going to be okay?”

Conlan spoke, unable to hide his worried look.

“It’s probably what happens from now on that’s important.”

“Is there a way?”

“First, the whole situation before and after has been revealed, so I have to find out from now on.”

“……What?”

Conlan made a dumbfounded expression.

“You said there was a way earlier?!”

“I’m saying, I can find one.”

“You…… if things don’t go well, I won’t let you off.”

“Do as you please, if you can.”

“This bastard……!”

“Stop.”

Alicia, who had been watching silently, blocked Conlan’s path.

“The useless talk, do it later.”

“You……!”

Conlan’s rough hand trembled as if it would strike Alicia at any moment, but such a thing did not happen.

Not only was there no way Alicia would quietly take it, but Conlan himself had suppressed his anger.

“……I’m counting on you.”

“Let’s hurry.”

Edric, who had likewise been watching this, spoke.

“Now, then, I’m getting curious. So what on earth is it? The way to stop the demonic beasts that are flocking to Bernhard right now.”

“You said that to Councilman Garrett Mason without knowing?”

At this point, I was about to be floored by this man’s shamelessness.

“Isn’t it always better to hold more cards? Even if that card isn’t in my hand yet.”

“Usually, that’s called fraud.”

“It’s also called the art of negotiation.”

Edric laughed heartily as always.

I wondered how a person could laugh so shamelessly, but now was the time to think about something else.

“It’s probably magic.”

“Magic…… as expected. In that case, what magic is it?”

“It’s not certain, but…… seeing as it can move this scale, there are a few magic spells that come to mind.”

There were quite a few magic spells that could artificially move demonic beasts, but there were few magic spells that could draw in demonic beasts on this scale.

Moreover, if it was magic to the extent of even causing a Wave, it was even more so.

‘Magic of the Celestial Sound.’

The Magic of the Celestial Sound was a magic that scattered high-frequency sound waves, which ordinary humans cannot hear, in all directions.

Even if ordinary humans heard this high frequency, there was no great effect, but demonic beasts, whose senses were sensitive, were different.

For demonic beasts, the Magic of the Celestial Sound presented a terrible pain that was utterly unbearable.

Therefore, demonic beasts instinctively took one of two actions when exposed to the Magic of the Celestial Sound.

Either chase the source of this sound to eliminate the cause.

Or flee as far as possible.

Therefore, the Magic of the Celestial Sound itself was a very effective magic against demonic beasts, but depending on how it was used, it could also intentionally cause the effect of luring or repelling demonic beasts.

The demonic beast army that was currently advancing toward Bernhard must also be due to such Magic of the Celestial Sound.

‘In other words, it means there is a mage using the Magic of the Celestial Sound somewhere in Bernhard right now.’

Now that I knew the cause, how I should move was also decided.

“Captain.”

“Speak.”

“We must find the Mage of the Celestial Sound who is somewhere in Bernhard. The mage is calling the demonic beasts to Bernhard.”

“Mage of the Celestial Sound?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…… come to think of it, I think I’ve heard that there is such a magic. You did well to find out.”

“Because methods that can bring in demonic beasts of this scale aren’t common.”

“True.”

Albino, who had been silent until now, opened his mouth, looking at me.

“You, you knew about such magic too?”

“I’m quite the knowledgeable type.”

“……Is that so.”

Albino’s words sounded meaningful somehow, but now was not the time to worry about such things.

Edric spoke.

“The method to find the Mage of the Celestial Sound?”

“The Magic of the Celestial Sound is a magic that emits high frequencies. If it’s a high frequency to the extent of bringing in this many demonic beasts, they’d be using it in a place with wide-open surroundings. A high building top is probably the most likely.”

“A high building……. There must be more than one or two such buildings in Bernhard.”

“What can we do, we have to find it.”

“Keung. We must hurry. It would be nice if there was someone to help at a time like this……”

Unfortunately, Garrett Mason was currently absent, convening the Bernhard council and handling work related to it.

Besides that, it was unlikely there were any troops we could mobilize here, and in the first place, if such troops had existed, they would have been mobilized to defend the city walls long ago.

It meant that although Bernhard’s fate was on the line, the only ones who could actually move were us, the outsiders.

“Hmm……”

Edric, who was pondering for a moment, his gaze soon naturally turned toward Conlan, who was standing with his arms crossed to one side.

“You.”

“……Do you have something to say?”

“I hear you used to live as a mercenary here?”

“That is correct.”

“In that case, you must have colleagues you worked as mercenaries with before.”

“That’s……”

“Bernhard’s fate is on the line. Can you help?”

“……”

Conlan’s expression hardened stiffly.

I didn’t know what on earth had happened in Bernhard before, but looking at that reaction, it wasn’t a situation where he could easily ask for help.

Despite that, whether he felt the situation was what it was, Conlan forced himself to nod his head slightly.

“……I will try.”

“Good. Then you go ask your old colleagues for help. The rest will move immediately.”

“Understood.”

While Conlan went to ask his old colleagues from his mercenary days for help, we looked at the high buildings where the Mage of the Celestial Sound was likely to be.

“There isn’t much time, so it’s best we split up. Move.”

“Yes.”

Alicia, who was about to move, glanced back at me and spoke.

“Be careful.”

“There’s no need to worry.”

“Still.”

Alicia took her steps after those last words.

I, too, shifted my gaze toward the highest buildings in Bernhard.

‘The Mage of the Celestial Sound is highly likely to be watching the current situation. If so, it must be a place where visibility in the direction of the Mülhen Granary Zone is also secured.’

Therefore, I intended to primarily focus on and check the buildings in the east.

‘In that case…….’

I burst into the first building I saw.

Kwang!

There was no time to ask for permission for each one.

“Kyaak! Wh-Who are you?”

“It’s an urgent matter. May I check the upper floor?”

“What is that……”

“I wasn’t asking for permission.”

The citizens of Bernhard couldn’t hide their shock at seeing me suddenly burst in, but regardless, I held my sword forward and recklessly rummaged through the buildings.

“What are you? Get out now!”

“I will, just after checking the upper floor.”

“This bastard!”

Although there was quite a bit of commotion in the meantime, there was no way an ordinary person, who hadn’t even been properly trained, could block me now.

“Wh-What strength……!”

“Move. You’ll get hurt.”

“Aak!”

“Kyaaaaaak! S-Save me.”

“I have no intention of killing. Unless you mean I intend to save you.”

“R-Really?”

“Aigoo.”

A sigh escaped on its own.

It was probably the irritation conveyed by the fact that I had to do Bernhard’s work for them.

‘Once this job is finished, I’ll have to collect it, with hefty interest.’

Perhaps, at least on this part, Edric would also agree.

As I was thinking about the future disposal of Bernhard like that, the people inside the new building I entered screamed at the top of their lungs.

“G-Guard Force! Call the Guard Force!”

“The Guard Force is busy right now. Bernhard is on the verge of destruction.”

“What kind of nonsense is that!”

“The vibration you’ve been feeling since a little while ago, don’t you think it’s gotten bigger?”

“Stop with the nonsense……”

Koong!

Kuuuuung──!!!

“……Huh?”

“Tsk.”

Just as I thought.

It seemed there wasn’t much time left.

And why not, because with the even bigger vibration, the cries of demonic beasts had been heard from outside since a little while ago.

-Kroooooooo……!

-Kruk! Krururuk!

-Kkieeeeeee!

What this meant was clear.

The demonic beast horde had finally reached the very doorstep of Bernhard.

***

“Dammit, dammit, dammit……”

Conlan ran, continuously spouting curses to himself.

He had said he would do it, but when it came to actually finding his old colleagues, his past memories held him by the ankle.

「“You traitor!”」

「“Get lost now, before I kill you.”」

「“Conlan, how could you……”」

However, that hesitation vanished completely with a single bizarre cry that echoed soon after.

-Kroooooooo……!

A terrible, bizarre cry that instinctively dyed humans with fear.

It was the cry of a demonic beast.

‘They’re already this far?’

He had thought there was still a little more time left before the demonic beast horde arrived.

However, it was a delusion.

The demonic beast was not an existence that could be dared to be judged by human common sense, and as if to prove that fact, their advancing speed also surpassed expectations.

‘……There’s no time to hesitate.’

Now that the situation had become like this, being captured by old memories had become an utmost luxury for Conlan.

Even if he were to face his past ties and see an unpleasant sight, now was the time when he had to endure even that.

[Leila Mercenary Guild]

Conlan, having finally arrived at the place that had been buried in his past memories, moved his heavy steps.

It was a time that should have been quite crowded usually, but perhaps the mercenaries had also sensed the unrest currently happening in Bernhard, as the inside of the guild was quite quiet.

In a way, it was a natural thing.

Because mercenaries were a breed that was as sensitive to profit and loss as merchants, and who cherished their lives even while going back and forth on battlefields where they risked their lives.

“How may I help you?”

“I’m here to see Leila.”

“You mean the Guild Leader? Do you happen to have a prior appointment?”

“No. Just tell her Conlan is here.”

“……Conlan? Wait, don’t tell me……!”

The mercenary guild staff’s face turned pale white, and his hand urgently rang a bell connected to the desk.

Ding, ding, ding!

With the fiercely ringing bell, guild members ran out from inside the guild.

The guild members who ran out were on the verge of attacking Conlan at any moment, but soon, one man among them recognized Conlan and made a shocked expression.

“……Conlan?”

“It’s been a while, Hamyul.”

“How are you here……? You were definitely captured by the Punishment Order……!”

“I need help.”

“Help? Ha! Help?! Do you think you’re in a situation to ask us for help right now? You traitor!”

“I have never betrayed anyone.”

“Don’t make me laugh!”

The man called Hamyul growled and drew his sword.

A touch-and-go moment.

“Stop!”

At the sharp sound that echoed from somewhere, everyone inside the guild stopped.

This was because they knew all too well who the owner of this voice was.

Clack, clack─

With that, a tall, beautiful woman with red hair revealed her form from the top of the stairs.

Conlan, seeing her, slightly opened his mouth.

“……Leila.”

He had wanted to avoid her.

He had wanted to get away.

However, as if by a twist of fate, for some reason, Conlan came to stand in this place once again.

“It’s been a while, Conlan.”

Leila added, smiling fiercely.

“No, should I call you my ex-husband?”

Conlan had come to face the past he had tried to avoid until now.

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