Chapter 30 [Disappointment]
Kradr: Sir, we have arrived. Is there any problem?
"Kradr carefully went down and put the Chlorine on, and when he went down he knelt down, thereby paying homage to the Faceless One. Chlori went up to the Faceless One and gently took his hand."
Faceless: Chlori, speak more quietly than usual.
Faceless>Chlori: At the moment, there are some problems and interest, well, and also there is something like a task for us. Let's start from the beginning, the kingdom of mist refused the peace agreement between our empire and their kingdom, this is a problem. Also, some people are watching me, and I have an interest in getting them lost or having a little dialogue with them. According to the assignment, we need to go to the land of rot.
Kradr: Okay, I get you. It is sad that the kingdom of mist refused the peace treaty. It remains to be seen whether they are our future enemies or allies. Your interest will be fulfilled, they will be directed to a Calm Madman. Should I do this after the assignment or now?
Faceless>Chlori: After the assignment. So they will have something to tell and remember.
Kradr: Accepted, then shall we head to the Rotten Kingdom?
Faceless>Chlori: Yes, I guess we'll do that, why delay?
Kradr: You do understand that we will go on foot, because I can no longer carry you in flight?
Faceless>Chlori: Yes, of course.
Faceless: Chlori, you can talk as usual.
Kradr: In that case, what should we do with Chlorine? I don't think that she, as an ordinary person who is not prepared for such distances, is unlikely to be able to overcome such a distance.
Faceless>Chlori: I will carry her on my back, or rather she will sit on my shoulders.
Chlori: What?!
Faceless: Do you mind?
Chlori: Well, I'm kind of shy...
Faceless: Don't argue and get in.
"The Faceless One got down on one knee. Chlori, embarrassed, climbed onto the shoulders of the Faceless One and dangled her legs. The Faceless One stood up."
Kradr: Well? Are we going on the road?
Faceless>Chlori: Yes, show us all out, please.
Kradr: I'm listening.
--- At this time---
Half-dead shield: Well? Are you done?
Professor: Yes, we are done with the introduction of thought transmitters.
Half-dead shield: Then you can close the hole. Is there any metal nearby?
Professor: Yes, we brought and cut thick sheets of steel in advance. She's lying next to the Screamers.
Half-dead shield: That's what you're doing. I just managed to sew up my head. Okay, are there any rivets?
Professor: Of course, here you go.
A half-dead shield: Do you always carry them with you?
Professor: You won't believe it, but yes. Because I mostly work with copper sheets at the station, I always take them with me.
Half-dead shield: Let's say.
"The half-dead shield stood up and went to the rightmost Screamer, took a sheet of steel, took a rivet. I put the sheet so that it completely covers the hole and put a rivet in the upper left corner of the sheet. Holding it all with his 1st hand, he took a bat and drove a rivet with a blow of the bat. So he did with the rest of the sheets."
Half-dead shield: I'm done. Who can give me a lift up.
Kumiko: I can take you upstairs.
Half-dead shield: Come on.
"Kumiko, with her telepathic powers, lifted the Half-dead Shield up onto the Screamer's back. The half-dead shield rose to the back of the Screamer's head and, opening the shutter, pressed the button."
Half-dead shield: The first one is ready! Screamer, take me to the 2nd Screamer and you can follow this trajectory of the planet's torsion.
"The screamer took a couple of steps and stood by his brother. The half-dead shield jumped onto the back of another Screamer and everything happened again. He pressed the button and climbed to the back of the 3rd Screamer's head, just like that, turned it on."
Half-dead shield: Everyone is ready. And so, Screamers, I didn't put this in the protocol of actions for you, so you have to figure it out for yourself. As soon as the red lamp on the top of that distant glacier lights up, one of you should start walking. After that, the remaining Screamer does the same, waiting for that lamp to turn on. And I went on business, further.
Screamer: Aaaaaaa.
Half-dead shield: Yes, it's a long time, but you can handle it. That's it, I'm leaving.
"The half-dead shield jumped off the Screamer and approached Kumiko."
Half-dead shield: Professor, maybe, but it's not accurate, it's not accurate at all, I'll need to make new details. If I have to do this, I will send you the drawings.
Professor: OK, I understand you. I understand that you are already leaving.
"The half-dead shield turned its head towards the professor."
Half-dead shield: Shogo, you got it right. Kumiko, we're leaving. As you wanted, let's go deal with the Scarlet Flyer.
Kumiko: But I didn't seem to say that...
Half-dead shield: Don't spoil the moment of my kindness, in front of the professor.
Shogo: Hee-hee, I'll take note, Akio.
"The half-dead Shield and Kumiko headed towards the visible forest in the distance."
--- At this time---
Kradr: Sir, we are almost there. Well, almost, we've covered half the way. It's just that we've almost arrived at a village that is in the domain of the Rotten Kingdom.
Faceless>Chlori: Okay, then let's go in.
"Kradr went to the village, which always had only 7 houses, of which there was a church in the middle."
Faceless>Chlori: We need an elder, then we can go to church. I am very interested in what exactly is in the current belief.
Kradr: Understood. The elder most likely lives in a distant house.
"Kradr headed for the nearest house. When he reached the front door, he knocked. No one answered him."
??Dear guests, perhaps you would like to personally meet the man from this house, but he is currently working on his small plantation.
"An old man appeared from around the corner of the right house. Moving at a low speed, yet he moved faster than any other old man. He kept his hands behind his bent back."
Kradr: Hello, we would like to meet with the elder. So we decided to ask some resident.
???: Okay, then I welcome you. I am the elder of our small village. My name is Shind. I have been running this village for many years, but I either drive away or destroy any uninvited guests. And I am very confused by the aura of the person behind you and yours too.
"Elder Shind slowly, but accurately, began to take out a katana from behind his back."
Kradr: We don't wish you any harm. Can't you see that? We didn't even do anything wrong, we didn't even want to.
Shind: Maybe, but I only see your aura. You may not have understood, but I am blind from birth.
"The old man was slowly moving towards Kradr, holding the katana blade down with his left hand."
Kradr: Let's calm down and talk normally?
Faceless>Chlori: Yes, let's talk. I'm the highest ranking man in the empire here. I can assure you that we are not evil.
The old man: That's what we're going to check now...
"The old man raised his katana and swiftly ran at the Faceless One. Swinging, he hit the Faceless One's armor and the katana broke."
Old man: Phew. I've never seen anything like it... Honestly, I didn't mean to hurt you. May I ask? And what is your armor made of?
Kradr: Old man, do you think that after you attacked us, we'll just answer you like that?
Faceless>Chlori: Kradr, calm down. He didn't want to hurt me. He hit the armor, yes. But no more. He had no intention of cutting.
The old man: And you're not as simple as I thought.
Kradr: So why did you attack?
Old man: Oh, the youth. You cannot understand the old man on the path from death. I'll explain it for someone like you. I wanted to test your strength. You made a lot of noise on the way here. Who knew that there would be only two people here, and not an army. Moreover, I felt a huge amount of mana and with this amount of mana you came here. Tell me, who wouldn't think that you belong to the power of the demon king?
Kradr: Ah, the crappy old man, me...
Faceless>Chlori: Wait. Old man, you do understand, right?
Old man: Kind of, yeah... But, it depends on what you're talking about...
Faceless>Chlori: Okay, let's take it in order. I am the emperor, and my translator is sitting on top of me. That red friend is a demon from hell, and quite the strongest of all demons.
The old man: Well, now in more detail. First of all, the emperor of what?
Faceless>Chlori: Hmm, and I do not know the name of the empire. My brother did not tell me it, although the contract was signed.
Old man: Hmm, okay. I'll ask you another way, why is the demon of hell under your command, and yet you claim that you are not bad?
Faceless>Chlorine: How to explain it. My brother, before I was born, made a small agreement with the demon king, and the queen of hell agreed to these terms. Now, they don't attack humans and demi-humans. Or rather, they don't attack at all. In order to strengthen the contract, they gave us their subordinates. And we, in turn, promised that they would form an alliance with our empire. Also, the fact that we will not attack them. Well, the usual peace treaty, created on a trusting relationship, backed up by their participation in each other's affairs.
Old man: I see. Then maybe we can go to my place. Shall we have tea or something stronger, and have a heart-to-heart talk?
Kradr: Of course I agree, but I don't trust old people I don't know.
Old man: Ha, how touchy. I am Kagarta, Kagarta Yoru. Satisfied?
Kradr: Yes.
Faceless>Chlorine: We would love to stay with you, but we don't have much time. The girl I'm wearing is an ordinary person, and she won't be able to stay awake.
Kagarta Y.: Clearly... And where are you in such a hurry?
Faceless>Chlori: We are...
Kradr: Mr. Faceless is heading to the land of Rot. We have business there.
Kagarta Yoru: That's understandable...
"Kagarta grinned."
Kagarta Yoru: Then I'll help you a little. My son, who is also my only living student, lives there now.
Kradr: Okay, we'll take note.
Kagarta Yoru: Don't worry, he will help you as much as he can. And I would like to ask you. I am no longer young, and my son is already 26 years old. I would like to play with my grandchildren. Well, you understand the old man, right?
"Kagarta lowered his head down, raised one eyebrow, and looked at Chlori."
Chlori: Yes, I understand you. We will help you in any way we can.
Kagarta Yoru: Oh, thank you. The son's name is Nosfald Yoru. As soon as you find him, tell him that everything is fine with the old man, and that he is waiting for him with the whole village, because he has not been home for a long time.
Kradr: Well, let's say that. Then shall we go?
Faceless>Chlori: Yes, we have to go now.
Kagarta Yoru: Have a good trip.
"Kradr and Chlori, sitting on the Faceless One, passed through the village and headed towards the capital of the kingdom."
--- Some time later---
???: Good evening, gentlemen. What is your business in our city?
Kradr: We're here on important business.
???: Yeah. Can I go into more detail? You don't have passes, do you?
Faceless>Chlori: We are here to possibly talk to the king and also get a pass. Can you tell me where you can get it?
???: There are different ways to get a pass. To be in any of the guilds, they provide a pass to all places where they have influence. The most popular of them are the Adventurers Guild and the Merchants Guild. You can also become a citizen of our kingdom or be an aristocrat of any kingdom or empire. And you have to make an appointment for an audience with the king.
Faceless>Chlori: I see. Then we'll probably head to the adventurers guild.
???: Good. I'll write it down. May I have your first and last names?
Faceless>Chlorine: I'm Faceless, I don't have a last name. Chlorine is on top of me, and my companion is Kradr, there is no last name.
Chlori: Rosh. I'm Chlori Roche.
???: Okay, then you can go through.
"The Troys have entered the territory of the capital of the Kingdom of Rot."
Kradr: It's strange, they said there was some kind of monster or something that guards everything, but along the way we didn't meet anyone except an old man.
Chlori: Yes, I read that there must be a monster here. But, in fact, this is a legend that scares off aggressive kingdoms and empires so that they do not attack. And since this is the border of the mainland, it is quite understandable why the legend was invented.
Faceless: I understand you're talking there and all that, but we should go to the adventurers guild.
Chlori: Yes, yes, we'll do it now.
Chlori: A young man.
???: Yes, what do I owe to such a beautiful lady?
"??? he turns around and feels oppressed, as he decided to conquer the girl, but there was a huge red demon standing next to him, and the lady was sitting on a terrifying black knight."
Chlori: Do you know where the adventurers guild is here?
???: Y-yes. I know. She's right on the t-road that we came out of and on the right there's a sign for the Guild of Adventurers.
Chlori: Thank you very much, because this fool is always worried.
Faceless: Who are you calling a fool?
Chlori: Okay, then we'll go.
???: Ah-ha, have a good d-day.
Chlori: Don't get mad. I said it for the image. You're not a fool, you're not a fool.
Faceless: Yeah, that's how I believed it.
Chlori: Uh...
Kradr: Don't swear. Have we found the way? They found out. So, as the master wanted, let's go to the guild.
Chlori: Yeah... Boring guy...
Kradr: Chloe!
Chlori: Well, what about it? I haven't seen him in years, but he has...
Faceless: That's it, calm down. Later, if you want, we'll discuss it, but now we have a case.
Chlori: Good...
"The three quarreling representatives of the empire continued on their way to the adventurers Guild."
--- Several tents and shops with food and weapons.---
"Kradr opened the gate to the Adventurers Guild building and Faceless entered, Chlori sitting on it bent over so as not to bump her head, and then Kradr came in. Everyone fell silent around, and after that, you could hear whispering. The trio walked over to the reception table. The girl sitting at this table did not smile encouragingly."
Girl: Hello. As I understand it, you are transferred adventurers? What are your ranks?
Kradr: No. We are not adventurers and are not registered in any of them. We would just like to register.
Girl: I see.... Then, keep the sheets and fill them out as much as you can, as well as information about yourself. Just do not lie, because all your abilities will be checked so that unforeseen circumstances do not happen. But this only concerns abilities. Data about yourself, except for age, can be written as you wish.
Kradr: Okay, that's what we'll do.
Girl: Here you go, there are three of you? Here are the 3rd sheets.
Chlori: No, I'm here as a translator.
Girl: Well, since you are walking with this knight, you should also fill out this leaflet that we are not responsible for you.
Chlori: So this sheet is an exemption of your responsibility for adventurers and is a registration sheet?
Girl: Yes. It's just that scammers used to use it once. They intentionally injured or killed someone, and we had to compensate for the damage.
Chlori: I see. Then let me fill it out.