Chapter 81: Heroes (1)

Chapter 81: Heroes (1)

Soul domination was notably more effective on beings with weaker mental strength and weak will.

This was especially true for dim-witted beasts and lower undead.

That was precisely why Dales attempt at soul domination had worked so effectively on the skeleton.

Really, what are you doing, Sir Dale

Erielle, having given her piece of mind, sighed deeply.

The skeleton that had been freed from soul domination was still standing blankly as if it had lost its senses.

Erielle inquired,

Master Ludwig, are you alright? Are you coming to your senses?

It was only when his name was called that the skeleton showed any sign of response.

With the characteristic smoldering gaze of the undead, the skeleton silently observed Erielle and Dale for a moment before lumbering back to its usual spot.

There, it began to swing its sword in the air.

One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

It appeared to have forgotten the count it had been keeping before and started counting from the beginning again.

Dale scratched at his helmet.

Against expectations, not even a hint of anger was shown.

The skeleton seemed utterly devoid of emotion.

It was like a machine crafted solely for the purpose of swinging a sword through the air.

Erielle who was resting a hand on her hip remarked,

Anyway, Im glad to see Sir Dale grow stronger. Please continue to put forth great effort. After all, Sir Dale is now the face of our temple, like it or not.

Dale merely nodded in response, though he didnt take the words to heart.

He would continue to act as he always had. He didnt care about others opinions of him.

When Dale left the temple, he was greeted by Harty who had been sitting at the entrance.

Gazing at the bright sunlight in the sky, Dale pondered his next move.

There was no shortage of tasks awaiting him.

He needed to collect his reward for a successful mission at Rebeccas merchant guild and report to the mercenary guild.

He even thought about going to Kaylas inn and showing his face. Because somehow he felt like she was just waiting for him to come back.

Theres much to do.

It was his first time back in Irene in a while and he had a lot to deal with.

After some deliberation, Dale said to Harty,Updated from novelb(i)n.c(o)m

Lets head to the guild.

The sun was still high in the sky, leaving too much of the day remaining to simply return to the inn.

Though it was somewhat annoying, Dale had decided to first pay a visit to Garland.

The mercenary guild they arrived at was crowded as always.

Mercenaries looking for missions or companions stopped in their tracks at the sight of Dales entrance.

The appearance of a knight who had hunted a demon caused all to fall silent and willingly make way for him.

Dale walked through the center of attention and approached the reception desk.

The receptionists no longer showed any signs of fear towards Dale and greeted him warmly.

Youve arrived, Sir Dale.

Id like to see Garland.

The guild master has been eagerly awaiting you. Ill guide you to him immediately.

I can go by myself.

Haha. We cant do that.

An employee from the reception walked out and personally escorted Dale to Garlands office.

Such treatment was unprecedented; the usual approach was more indifferent.

But now, the treatment he received was akin to that reserved for a distinguished guest.

Though the unusual treatment made him somewhat uncomfortable, Dale found it ridiculous to insist on going alone in such a situation.

He silently followed the employee to Garlands office.

The employee knocked on Garlands door.

Branch guild master, I have brought Sir Dale.

Let him in.

In contrast to the previous slum search where he was buried under a mountain of documents, Garland was now leisurely enjoying a cup of tea in his office.

When he saw Dlae, Garlands face lit up with a welcoming smile before he turned to the employee and said,

Thank you for your help. You may return to your duties now.

Yes.

After the employee respectfully bowed and closed the door behind him, Garland gestured invitingly.

It seems we have much to discuss. Please, take a seat.

Dale sat down in the chair opposite Garland, which creaked and strained under his weight.

Garland chuckled wryly and remarked,

Youve become stronger, havent you? Your aura seems different too.

Right.

Indeed. Its only natural, after all. Youve vanquished a demon.

Dale was about to repeat a point he had made many times before at Garlands remark.

Ganiagos had just been resurrected and

Could only wield a fraction of its original power, I know. But even if it was only a half-strength demon, the fact that you defeated it will become a truly valuable asset for you, Sir Dale. Both in terms of experience and socially standing.

Social standing?

When Dale asked that, Garland whispered in a tone only Dale could hear.

In fact, this matter has attracted the attention of the nobles in the upper districts and even His Majesty the Emperor. And why wouldnt it? A demon has been brought down for the first time in years. Even if it was just newly resurrected, it holds great significance.

The fact that a demon was hunted is in itself a great morale booster, not just for the citizens, but also for the soldiers at the front.

It plants a seed of hope that perhaps, in this seemingly endless war, victory might one day be achieved.

This would be a very pleasing thing for the Emperor who had to maintain an empire that was unstable in many ways.

Garland added softly.

This is something Ive heard through the grapevine, but it seems likely that a medal will be awarded to you, Sir Dale.

A medal?

A medal. An honor bestowed by the Emperor upon those who have achieved great deeds.

The medal was not only a significant honor but also brought tangible benefits.

Dale locked eyes with Kayla and asked,

I assume this isnt free, right?

Of course! Harkin has agreed to cover the cost of the food!

What? This is the first Im hearing of it.

Once everything was ready, everyone gathered around the dining table to begin their meal.

Harkin boasted with exaggeration about how dangerous and amazing the journey had been.

Fraud listened intently and his eyes were sparkling with interest in Harkins stories.

As time passed, Balton who had heard the news came by, and Esther who had finished her work also joined them.

The inn quickly became bustling and lively.

While sipping on the beer Kayla had made, Dale thought to himself that considerations about being a hero or a mercenary king could wait.

For now, he was just savoring the moment.

***

In the upper Districts, district 3 housed facilities like the Magic Tower, the library, and the Mercenary Guild. District 2 was filled with nobles mansions and theaters.

And at the center, encircled by Districts 2 and 3, lies District 1. In other words, there was the imperial palace.

Dale planned to start exploring in District 3.

Though he had visited it several times in the game, he was sure there would be many changes.

The gate leading to District 3 was located in District 7 which was guarded by knights clad in full plate armor.

Next, please present your identification.

The knight spoke in a tone that held no highs or lows. As Dale stepped forward, a flicker of interest briefly lit the knights eyes.

However, the knight refrained from engaging in any unnecessary conversation and adhered strictly to the procedures.

Present your certificate.

Dale extended the certificate issued by Garland.

The knight received the certificate and handed it to a lower-ranking noble standing beside him. This noble meticulously inspected the document to ascertain whether it was a forgery or not.

The lower-ranking noble nodded at the knight. It was a silent signal indicating the certificate was genuine.

After the knight returned the certificate, he asked Dale,

Is this your first visit to District 3?

Right.

Then, I shall explain a few rules to you.

The knight said before lifting the visor of his helmet to speak more clearly.

Firstly, covering your face is not permitted in Districts 2 and 3. You will need to remove that helmet.

It was a measure intended to prevent any deceitful activities by ensuring faces were visible.

As to be expected from an upper district with many important people, the rules were strict.

And youd better not to draw any weapon you may have at your waist. In fact, its best not to carry one at all. Causing even a single incident could lead to consequences far more severe than just getting kicked out.

I understand.

Dale nodded his head in acknowledgment.

Seeing that Dale listened without any problems, the knight softened his tone slightly as he continued.

After sunset, individuals without permission are not permitted to roam outdoors. It would be wise to conclude your affairs before dusk and return to the outer districts. Do you understand?

Was this an indication of a curfew?

The rules seemed somewhat different from what Dale knew. While the place had always operated under a strict order, the regulations now appeared to be significantly tighter.

Did something happen in the meantime?

Regardless of his personal feelings about them, Dale knew he had no choice but to adhere to the rules.

He nodded in agreement.

Only then did the knight step aside to let Dale pass.

Enter. Welcome to the heart of the Empire.

Dale stepped onto the bridge and laid over the moat. The moat itself was unusually deep and wide and filled with water, making it seem almost like a small river separating the upper districts from the outer districts.

Dale looked down at the strangely deep moat then lifted his head up.

Above the high walls that were even taller than those of Irenes outer defenses archers and mages stood guard.

Its practically a fortress.

It seemed that even an army of a million would struggle to breach such a stronghold.

Dale resumed his walk. The first thing he saw after passing the excessively thick wall was a statue.

It was an intricate sculpture made of marble. Dale assumed it was likely a statue of the current Emperor or the founding Emperor.

However, the neat inscription below it read:

[Glory be to the nameless heroes.]

[The King of Mercenaries, the Archmage, the Saintess, and the Faceless Knight.]

Dale stared blankly at the statue. For some reason, this statue captured his attention so strongly. He couldnt figure out why at first.

But as he examined it more closely, he realized that the figures in the sculpture bore an uncanny resemblance to characters from his own memory.

These are

Who they were puzzled him. After much contemplation, Dale finally remembered.

Theyre all characters Ive raised.

Could this be a mere coincidence?

Certainly, the figures werent exactly as he remembered from the small monitor screen.

Yet, several distinctive features remained unmistakably the same.

No matter how he looked at it, it seemed too perfect to be a mere coincidence.

Dale felt bewildered and confused. But he soon calmed his mind.

Right. Its possible that the characters Ive raised could be here.

That much, he understood.

From the moment he arrived in this world, Dale had become unfazed by most occurrences.

The idea that the characters he had nurtured were now alive, moving about and becoming heroes, wasnt surprising to him.

In fact, it would explain a few mysteries.

Dale had been puzzled upon hearing that someone had vanquished the demons. After all, a demon in its intact state was truly a powerful being.

But now, that puzzle seemed to have found its solution. If the individuals represented by this statue had united their strengths, their victory would have been more than plausible.

Up to this point, he could comprehend.

However, there was one aspect he couldnt accept.

How could all four of them be together?

The game set in this world was meant to be a single-player game.