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Chapter 148

The Northerner, Bor, who received Ian\'s gaze after Fael, nodded lightly.

Fael\'s smile broadened. "I\'m glad you remember. It\'s good to see you again. I never imagined I\'d see you in a place like this. Charlotte, it\'s good to see you too. Haha."

Charlotte nodded in response to Fael\'s gaze. Philip leaned slightly toward her and whispered.

"Who is that?"

"A merchant from the Imperial Ark Caravan. We helped him when we were passing through the Northern snowfield. We even traveled together to the barrier gate for a bit."

"Ah...? I see... So then..."

While Philip mumbled with shining eyes, Fael looked at Ian, who was roughly shaking his extended hand, and asked.

"Would it be alright if I join you for a while if it’s not too much trouble? There are some people here I\'ve never met, and I’d like to introduce myself and catch up."

He was still as extroverted as ever. Ian glanced at Philip, who nodded with shining eyes, and at Mev, who wore a calm expression, then nodded himself.

"There\'s no reason why not. Sit down."

"I was worried you might refuse. It brings back old memories. Haha."

Fael quickly brought over a chair and sat between Ian and Mev. Bor stood slantingly behind him without sitting down. Though it was a potentially intimidating posture, none of the group paid it any mind.

"This is Sir Mev Riurel, a knight. Next to her is her squire, Philip."

Ian, who had introduced Mev and Philip, pointed at Fael and added.

"And you\'ve already heard about these two."

"Nice to meet you. I\'m Fael from the Ark Caravan. The intimidating friend behind me is my guard, so please don\'t mind him." Fael said with a smile.

Mev and Philip nodded in turn. Fael\'s smile broadened.

"Judging by the fact that you\'re with Sir Ian, you must not be ordinary people. By the way, I don\'t see that fairy friend..."

"She had to leave for a while due to some circumstances," Ian replied nonchalantly.

Fael nodded in relief. "If that\'s the case, I\'m glad. Actually, I was worried as I spoke. My big mouth is always a problem, haha."

As Bor, standing behind, nodded as if to agree, Fael looked back at Ian.

"Anyway, this is fortunate. I\'ve been thinking I must thank you properly if I ever meet you again."

"Thank...?" Ian asked, raising his glass.

Instead of answering, Fael gestured to the waitress.

"Another round of beers for everyone, please."

Turning back to Ian, he quickly raised an index finger in front of his face.

"This is just out of joy. I\'ll express my gratitude separately, so don\'t be disappointed."

"I won\'t refuse, but I thought you already thanked me before," Ian said with a slight smile.

Fael shook his head. "That was for what happened then. I heard about what happened in the North afterward. It was chaotic, they say. Moreover, I heard that the merchants who left Travelga had their trades cut off. The North doesn\'t associate with cowards, they say."

Fael, who sighed as if brushing off his chest, added. "If you hadn\'t helped, I would have been there too and in the same situation. Just imagining it is terrifying."

"Hmm..."

Was there such an incident?

Ian nodded roughly.

He recalled the merchants leaving Travelga as soon as they heard of the approaching darkness. They probably intended to come back and profit when Travelga turned into a mess. But it seemed like things changed when the undead legion was stopped at Bellium Fortress.

It was something he couldn\'t know since he wasn\'t interested.

"I was worried that something might happen to you too, but seeing you safe like this is a relief. You were in the North back then, right?"

"I was."

"Oh, then–-"

As Fael was about to continue, the waitress approached with a tray full of beer mugs. After distributing the drinks and taking the empty cups, she quickly departed.

Holding up his glass, Fael lowered his voice. "Was it really as the rumors say? I heard dragons fought battles fit for myths, and a new Northern champion pierced the heart of a fallen dragon."

"...."

Where do these merchants hear all these stories?

While he pondered, Philip and Mev simultaneously looked at Ian. Ian nonchalantly brought his glass to his lips and said.

"It\'s true."

"Oh, Lu Solar..."

"I also heard rumors that the Great Warrior of the North appeared. Is that true as well?" It was Bor who interrupted.

As Ian was about to nod, Charlotte added bluntly. "The Great Warrior of the North is the very Dragon Slayer."

Charlotte quickly closed her mouth after receiving Ian\'s gaze. Her expression, with her tongue flicking, looked oddly satisfied. Fortunately, Bor, unaware, bowed his head with a solemn expression.

"Indeed... I thought the rumor about the incarnation of Lu Solar descending was just nonsense. The Northern superhuman..."

What\'s going on today? Is it some special day or something?

Ian smacked his lips and set his glass down. He didn\'t forget to shoot a sharp glance at Philip, who looked like he had a lot to say.

Fael continued. "When I first heard the news upon arriving in Borta, I was so shocked. I never thought all the rumors would be true. I assumed some were exaggerated."

"Has the news of the North spread a lot?"

"By now, even the southern part of the Empire must know. The order is keeping the details under wraps, so everyone is more curious."

"The order is keeping Northern affairs secret?"

"They\'re not revealing the identity of the Dragon Slayer. I heard the North is doing the same. They consider it blasphemous to say the name."

"...."

"Though I don\'t know the exact reason, the order must have a similar reason."

Blasphemous, huh?

Ian stifled a laugh.

The Platinum Dragon, Archeas, flashed through his mind. He thought that perhaps it was Archeas who had silenced the order to ensure its agent could complete its mission without annoying interference. Knowing Archea’s personality, it was entirely possible.

However, Ian couldn\'t quite grasp why the Northerners were keeping their mouths shut. They were the kind to use Karha’s name as an exclamation, just like Lu Solar.

Did those who know my personality come up with some rules on their own?

As Ian scratched his chin, Fael continued. "So I briefly considered making my next trade route back to the North. Even if it\'s a secret, you can hear stories on-site somehow. But another good opportunity came up, so I had to postpone it. Of course, thanks to that, I get to meet you again."

"So, are you starting your trade route, or are you on your way back?" Ian asked, raising his glass.

He wasn\'t particularly curious but wanted to steer the conversation away from the North. Otherwise, it seemed like the topic would never end.

Fael nodded. "I\'m about to start. We arrived yesterday and plan to leave the day after tomorrow. After a long journey, both people and horses need to rest. So, where are you headed?"

With a subtle look, Ian wet his lips with his drink and answered.

"We\'re heading to Lu Sard."

"Oh, I see. Is it an important mission?"

Ian nodded.

Fael sighed once again. "That\'s unfortunate. I was thinking of asking to travel together if our destinations matched."

So he had underlying motives.

Ian smirked briefly. Like before, Fael was someone who expressed his desires straightforwardly, not like a typical merchant. If this was a strategy to appear honest, it was working quite successfully.

Fael added. "Whatever your mission is, be careful. Lately, the rumors about Lu Sard aren\'t good."

"Rumors?"

The group\'s attention naturally focused on Fael. He lowered his voice.

"They\'ve suffered several defeats in battle. Since then, they\'ve become extremely wary of outsiders. They say that not only the borders but even the cities are closed off to outsiders. Even merchants face this treatment. Perhaps because it\'s a country not used to war..."

"Hmm..." Ian nodded nonchalantly.

Of course, it probably wasn’t a decision made just to keep outsiders away. More likely, it seemed like an attempt to hide what was happening in the cities.

The refusal to accept merchants was probably because they were the ones who uncovered secrets and spread rumors, just like Fael was doing now.

"That\'s why Lu Sard is not on our current trade route. It\'s the wealthiest country on the frontier, so it\'s a shame."

"It seems like your group has grown."

"We’re all different caravans. The world of trade is also in chaos these days. Large caravans like Libra and Ring are faltering, giving opportunities to smaller merchants like us. While they quarreled, we decided to join hands and open trade routes to the frontier. It\'s a temporary alliance."

"Is there a problem with the Libra Trading Company?" It was Charlotte who asked.

Fael sighed shortly and nodded, looking at her.

"One of the caravan master positions is vacant, you know. It seems there were some happenings during the process of dividing trade routes and power. The Ring Caravan apparently instigated it from behind. Then the head of the Libra Trading Company found out, and it caused an uproar. I don\'t know the details, and I couldn\'t even if I wanted to."

As the corners of Charlotte\'s mouth curled up slightly, Ian asked. "So, are you heading to Bel Ronde?"

"Yes, for now."

Fael nodded.

"For now...?"

"Bel Ronde is just the start. We\'re planning to go up to Menere and then to Agel Lan."

"...."

Ian\'s expression momentarily became peculiar.

Fael, unaware, continued. "Each caravan is focusing on different countries. We won\'t trade only there, but we have some agreements. For me, it\'s Agel Lan. A new nation might emerge there."

"So, did Orendel eventually rebel?" Mev asked in a subdued voice.

Fael blinked and nodded. “I see that you know about it, it\'s not widely known information yet. From what I heard, the lord of Orendel is a bastard with the blood of freemen, so he has the people\'s strong support. He and the king of Agel Lan are in the midst of a civil war. It\'s like a war within a war."

"So it has come to that..."

While Mev sighed, Philip looked at Ian with a meaningful gaze.

The person who led the rebellion in Orendel was someone they knew well. They had even assisted him in becoming the lord.

As Ian silently brought his cup to his lips, Fael added. "Perhaps other lords of different nations might be secretly nurturing their dreams by looking at Agel Lan. For merchants like us, it\'s all an opportunity. As dangerous as it is to travel through a warring country, the opportunities are just as great."

"So, who are you planning to sell your goods to? Agel Lan? Orendel?" Philip interjected.

Fael, after drinking, shrugged his shoulders.

"As a lowly merchant, it\'s only right to trade with whoever pays the highest price... but this time, I intend to deal with that lord of Orendel. Given the situation, my heart leans toward the side with a slight disadvantage. I heard the king is a fool, so he doesn\'t inspire much trust."

Ian let out a low chuckle as he brought his glass to his lips. That couldn\'t be the whole reason. He must have calculated that if Orendel won, it would become a stable trading partner for his caravan.

Orendel, being less connected to various other caravans like Agel Lan, would treat them far better. It wasn\'t a bad gamble. As long as he could make it back alive.

Fael turned to him and added. "Anyway, it\'s a pity. If you had traveled with us, it would have made the journey safer."

"Well... that\'s uncertain."

After taking a sip, Ian set his glass down and added.

"If we step into somewhere like the demonic realm, I\'ll be too busy just taking care of myself."

"Demonic realm...?" Fael\'s eyebrows furrowed. Bor, who had been silently drinking, also paused and looked at Ian.

Ian added leisurely. "Demonic realms are being formed all over the frontier. Probably."

As Fael tilted his head, Philip added. "It\'s true."

"We ventured into a cursed land not long ago. It was horrific. Only the Radiant Goddess might know how many more such places exist and where they are."

"I\'ve never heard of such misfortune..." Fael murmured in disbelief.

Ian laughed dryly. "Of course. No one comes out alive to tell you about it."

Ian already knew that the frontier would soon be filled with demonic realms. That was why he had a peculiar expression while listening to Fael\'s story. Last time was the same. It seemed that this merchant named Fael had a knack for finding himself in deadly situations. Maybe that\'s when he kept running into Ian.

"I knew something was up. Didn\'t I say it felt ominous?" Bor clicked his tongue and said.

Fael closed his eyes tightly for a moment. He couldn\'t ignore Ian\'s words. They had had a similar experience in the North before.

"Do you have to stay with your group until the end?" Ian added.

"Not necessarily... but it\'s better if we do. As you know, the frontier is dangerous right now. It\'s better to have a large group."

"In return for the drink, let me give you some advice..."

Setting his glass on the table, Ian met Fael\'s anxious eyes with a calm gaze.

"It\'s best to simplify your route, finish your trades as quickly as possible, and return. Do not stray from the main roads."

Fael, who had momentarily stiffened, let out a long sigh. "I\'m not sure how feasible that is. We have to sell all our goods, and this time it\'s not just beer and cheese. We went to great lengths to prepare Imperial weapons, cosmetic equipment, and magical artifacts to sell to the lords..."

As Ian\'s eyes briefly gleamed, Bor bluntly spoke.

"As expected, biting off more than you can chew brings trouble."

Fael glared at Bor as he turned his head. "Don\'t talk as if it\'s someone else\'s problem. If I go down, you go down too."

"I told you the investment was too large. I suggested we just take provisions to Travelga, but you were blinded by greed."

"You should have been more forceful in stopping me then! You\'re always saying things like that, so I thought you were just saying it again."

"I always meant it. You just never listened."

Fael sighed deeply.

While the group looked on in astonishment at the seemingly reversed dynamics between the two, Ian leisurely took another sip of his drink and finally spoke.

"You said Imperial weapons and cosmetic equipment? And magical artifacts?"

Fael, smacking his lips, nodded.

"Yes. I couldn\'t afford anything particularly spectacular, but I managed to get a decent assortment—"

"Could I take a look at those items?"