Chapter 331 : Side Story (1)

“Obro Denoebang is a strong man. He was born a swordsman by nature.”

His origin was the Denoebang family, Maesh’s greatest sword-arts family.

The first time he held a real sword was at age 4, and he became accustomed to stabbing and cutting before he could even speak proper sentences.

It was at the age of 8 that he surpassed his sword-arts teacher, who was a Master of Maesh.

In March of the year Obro turned 8, he achieved his first victory in a duel against his teacher.

Soon, he began to win once out of ten times, then once out of five times the following month, and once out of three times the month after that….

Eventually, his teacher laid down his sword at the end of the year.

It was because he realized he would never be able to win against Obro Denoebang again.

His father, Desep Denoebang, was also Maesh’s greatest swordsman.

Because of this, no matter how talented Obro was, surpassing his father was not an easy task.

It was when he was a whopping 15 years old that he became stronger than his father.

“He realized his Ars, ‘Purity’, at 18.”

‘Purity’ was eight swords.

The straightest sword, ‘Will’.

The oldest sword, ‘Dream’.

The most stalwart sword, ‘Perseverance’.

The most splendid sword, ‘Laughter’.

The hottest sword, ‘Courage’.

The broadest sword, ‘Mercy’.

The most beautiful sword, ‘Temperance’.

The sharpest sword, ‘Brilliance’.

Obro Denoebang, who drew eight swords from his soul, was a swordsman who could find no equal in the West.

At the same time, he was renowned for his noble character.

He had no interest in alcohol, honor, or women.

He lived the life of a hero, ascetic and strong-willed enough to cause concern among those around him.

The entire West had no choice but to be enthusiastic about him.

“They say everyone called him the White Lord. It speaks for itself that he even fought a duel against the Empire’s Two-Flame Grand General Sen Hostanio and won.”

“…I happen to be that very Sen Hostanio, Your Majesty Shion?”

“Be quiet and listen. It is the life story of Obro that you asked about, isn’t it?”

“…….”

From 18 to 26 years old.

Most of the White Lord’s great achievements were accomplished within this time of a little over 8 years.

The West was looking for a figure to resolve their long-standing sense of inferiority and wounds regarding the Empire, and Obro Denoebang seemed perfectly suited for that.

Obro also tried to live up to those expectations.

However, on the night he was 26.

The day he got drunk for the first time in his life….

“There was the ‘Night of Inversion’.”

The underworld opened.

Evil spirits and specters poured out and dragged people into their territory.

Hundreds of thousands of lives, equivalent to three cities, vanished in a single night.

They raised their voices looking for the White Lord, but he was dead drunk and sleeping.

Just a single night’s mistake.

A misstep so trivial that it felt like a hangnail or a scratch to call it a mistake.

But someone had to take responsibility.

Because there were too many lives lost, they could not help but blame someone.

It was too harsh to blame the White Lord’s negligence, but there was nothing to blame other than his negligence.

All condemnation was directed at him.

Everyone he had loved and tried to protect all his life poured out sharp words, utmost mockery, and unbearable hatred upon him.

No one took Obro Denoebang’s side.

Obro Denoebang endured.

Amidst all the storm-like situations, he held onto himself and did not collapse.

With unbelievable will.

However, storms usually subside as time passes, but all the situations surrounding him, rather than calming down after several years, only grew fiercer.

“They say he endured for 3 years, and could have endured more, but decided not to endure any longer.”

“Why is that?”

“It is a very painful story for him.”

Obro Denoebang endured for 3 years amidst the condemnation.

However, he did not know that he was steadily becoming a madman.

One day, he shoved his younger sister during an argument, and his sister, unable to withstand the White Lord’s power, lost one eye.

Only then did Obro realize that he had become a madman, and a very strong madman at that.

So he had no choice but to flee.

He realized the fact that his enduring was actually becoming a wound, so he had no choice but to let go of his life.

“8 years after that. 8 years inside the collapse he chose for himself….”

It was said to be a very long time.

He drank in the morning, drank at lunch, and drank in the evening.

He could not endure without drinking, and being awake with a sober mind was so painful that he could not help but sob.

Even though he spent it drunk like that, it was said to be 8 years that were longer than 800 years.

Since he had forgotten now, he was able to live on.

“Fortunately, he stood up again, found his new Ars, and saved several hundred people he thought he had lost.”

“…….”

“He is a more powerful and outstanding swordsman than before. But he still considers himself a miserable drunkard. Having lived in a nightmare for 11 years, he does not treat that as a badge of honor, but has become even more humble instead.”

“…He is a strong man.”

Sen Hostanio spoke.

“He is a strong man, enough to make this old man ashamed….”

“In my view, you have no reason to be ashamed either.”

Shion continued speaking.

“It is a sorry matter for Obro. He still hates Cordis, yet he became a person of the Empire to keep his promise to me.”

“…It is understandable that he would hate it. Since such a thing happened.”

“Still, I was happy.”

Shion tapped the golden crown on his head.

“Because he came running immediately as soon as he heard news of me.”

“Do you know how surprised we were? Since some drunkard came charging in saying he would see Your Majesty, and neither I nor Hermai could stop him even with our combined strength….”

“I told you.”

The Emperor giggled.

“That Obro Denoebang is a strong man.”

“However.”

Sen Hostanio stroked his chin.

His old eyes were full of concern.

“Would it have been wise to entrust this mission to him? If hatred toward the Empire still remains in his heart….”

“That is why I had to entrust it to Obro Denoebang even more.”

“Do you trust him, Your Majesty?”

“I end up trusting him inevitably. Because he is a strong person, enough that saying it several times is not enough.”

He recalled his old secret.

‘He does not trust’.

But it was a lie.

Because he was a liar, he ends up trusting this easily.

Inevitably, even if he ends up getting hurt.

“He will certainly do well this time too.”

***

Obro Denoebang was in the mountains.

Not just any mountains, but very deep within the mountains.

He felt like taking out his Ars, ‘Grayish-white Nobility’, and cutting down the dense thicket in a single stroke.

In fact, he could cut down not just the thicket but the entire mountain.

But he could not move a mountain just because he was uncomfortable.

He moved his steps while telling himself to think of this as having come out for a walk.

“Is this the right way…? Really?”

He checked the map several times.

He had come in so deep that he wondered if he might have taken a wrong turn.

However, his map blinked with light, saying he had come the right way and to go in further.

“…Elder Hermai’s magic map surely wouldn’t be a defective product.”

Obro Denoebang continued on his way while grumbling.

He couldn’t even remember how many days it had been.

His chin was itchy.

Since his 8 years of life as a hairy man, his beard had acquired a tremendous growth speed.

Even though he hadn’t shaved for just a few days, his beard was already starting to take on a decent shape.

There is a lot of grass.

There are a lot of trees.

There are a lot of beasts too.

Instead, there are no roads, no water, and no people.

It was because he was Obro Denoebang that he could roam around with his bare body; if it were an ordinary person, the terrain was rough enough that they would have lost their lives long ago.

“My throat is burning, geez….”

He wiped his sweat with the back of his hand.

Even if it wasn’t to the point of exhaustion, the fatigue was certainly there.

When he put his hand into his bosom, a small canteen was felt.

The problem was, there were two canteens.

“…….”

Obro Denoebang fell into very serious contemplation over which of the two canteens he should take out.

One contained water, and one… naturally contained alcohol.

Alcohol!

Not just any alcohol, but distilled liquor brewed in the traditional Hotus way!

Deeply infused with the unique scent of Seram wood barrels….

“…No!”

Obro Denoebang, who had been smacking his lips without realizing it, suddenly shouted.

His voice was so loud that the whole mountain rang resoundingly.

He shook his head and shook off his thoughts.

“Endure, Obro! Endure!”

He is still a drunkard.

Even though his wounds were healing, strangely, the habit of drinking did not disappear easily.

Even if he became just a little tired, he immediately wanted to gulp down alcohol.

“You’re in the middle of work, work!”

Obro hastened his steps while admonishing himself.

“I’m going to finish it quickly and drink myself into a stupor! Quickly!”

***

“…Is there still a place like this these days.”

Obro Denoebang looked down at the map.

The map flashed with green light, indicating he had arrived correctly.

However, he felt reluctant.

“Even in the West, a remote mountain valley of this degree is rare….”

In the mountains, deeper in the mountains, even deeper in the mountains, and after riding the mountain path windingly into the deepest mountains, he discovered a single village.

It was funny to even call it a village.

There were exactly twelve houses, and three among them were deserted houses.

Obro Denoebang swept his chin and examined the village.

There was a field outside the flimsy wooden fence.

It wasn’t a small size, but there was only one person working.

He approached the man working in the field and coughed loudly.

“Ahem.”

“……?”

The man working in the field raised his head.

Then he stiffened his body tensely with wariness.

“…Who are you?”

“I am a passerby.”

“…In these deep mountains?”

“Do not be wary.”

Obro Denoebang raised both hands.

“As you can see, I am empty-handed without a single weapon.”

“…I see.”

Only then did the man working in the field relax the tension in his body a little.

Obro Denoebang could topple the Ten Great Generals of the Empire with his bare hands, but he didn’t bother saying such words.

He simply put on a good-natured smile and spoke to the man.

“I am looking for Paeniteo Village.”

“That is a slightly old-fashioned pronunciation. We call it Peniteo.”

“Anyway. So this is the right place.”

“Yes. This is Peniteo.”

The man raised his body.

He was wearing a thick towel on his head to cover his face while working in the field.

Obro, seeing the face inside the towel, let out a groaned sound.

“…Mm.”

“That reaction is rude upon seeing a person’s face.”

“I am sorry. But please understand. I don’t know how this will sound but….”

The skin of the man working in the field was dark brown.

Dark skin, thick facial features, jet-black eyebrows and beard.

An appearance very unfamiliar to Obro, who was from the West.

“…I did not think there would be an Eastern person in a remote mountain valley like this.”

“I also did not think there would be a guest in a remote mountain valley like this.”

Obro glanced sideways at the man.

“Are you a Horm person?”

“At one time.”

“I see. Mushat.”

“A welcome greeting. Mushat.”

They exchanged greetings in the Horm language.

The man with dark skin asked the uninvited guest.

“It seems you are not a Cordis person either.”

“How did you know?”

“Your way of speaking is strange.”

The Horm person giggled quietly.

“Because you are using a strangely archaic way of speaking. I do not know if you are aware of it.”

“…I am aware, but it isn’t fixed easily.”

“Just speak freely. Who would say anything if you act rudely while pretending your speech is clumsy because you are a foreigner?”

“…Like you are doing now?”

“You are quick-witted.”

They conversed in the Imperial language and laughed.

It was somewhat funny that one side was a Westerner and one side was a Horm person, yet they were conversing in the Imperial language in the Empire.

“So, what brings you to this mountain valley village, Peniteo?”

“I want to meet the village chief here and speak with him. Are you the village chief?”

“Would I be?”

The Horm person made a nonchalant expression.

“It has been only about 3 years since I came here. It was right after the new Emperor ascended to the throne.”

“…It would be His Majesty the Emperor.”

“For being from the West, your loyalty is extraordinary. Your clothes are like that too. Did you want to show off that you are a noble?”

“I am sorry, but you also seem to be from quite a precious family.”

“Me? At one time, I was.”

The dark-skinned man smiled bitterly.

Obro Denoebang suddenly recalled that Horm had also experienced war recently and felt embarrassed.

“…Anyway, I wish to see the village chief of Paeniteo Village.”

“Peniteo.”

“Peniteo! I get it!”

“Okay. That’s a little better. It’s a much more honest tone.”

The man raised his body.

“Follow me. The village chief is probably watching the kids.”

He brushed off the sweat that had seeped into his beard.

“Oh, I didn’t even ask your name. Your name is?”

“Obro.”

“Obro? That’s quite a Western name.”

“Then what is your name?”

The Horm person answered with a laugh.

“Cheshih.”

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