Chapter 160: Zahard Territory (2)
In his youth, Russell’s life had been consumed by the task of controlling his eyes. He had been placid as a mere infant. It was only when he attained the age and development to move his body at will that his eyes gradually began to assert their powers. It was as if his ocular abilities blossomed one by one as he grew.
He could easily see through clothing and into the depths of skin, muscles, and organs. Even a prolonged gaze at an animal would cause it to suddenly cough up blood and die.
The joy of remembering his past life and gaining a new life was short-lived. He had to devote all his energy to controlling his eyes. Fortunately, his efforts were not in vain, and at the age of 15, he managed to control his eyes and suppress the power that flowed from them.
However, Russell and his eyes caused a series of incidents over the past 10 years that defied belief, even for a young child.
During training, if knights or squires so much as glanced at Russell, they would suddenly become enraged or stressed, losing control of their magic and injuring themselves.
Even when he joined an expeditionary force to repel the southward migration of demon beasts that descended from the mountain range each autumn or winter, Russell’s presence seemed to provoke an unusually high number of rampages among the demon beasts.
As if drawn to something, the demon beasts would follow Russell wherever he went, and upon catching sight of him, they would let out thunderous roars and charge.
Fortunately, Russell’s exceptional physical abilities and swordsmanship allowed him to slay all the demon beasts that attacked him, but the rumors persisted.
“He has the blood of a devil.”
“He has the eyes of a devil.”
And so on.
“It’s true that the blood of something similar is half of me.”
A dark space filled only with darkness. In that space, Russell met a faceless girl with gaping eye sockets. Or perhaps, what he perceived as the girl’s voice and form was actually something completely different.
The mysterious eyes he had been born with, his extraordinary physical abilities, and his boundless talent for manipulating magic were all inherited from that being.
However, he did not know if his memories of his previous life were also connected to that being.
Russell crossed the room and opened the window. The dust and stale odors that inevitably accumulated in the corners were carried out of the window by the fresh air.
At the same time, a multitude of sensations flooded his senses. The lush forests and the distant, snow-capped peaks of the Awnhilnar Mountains flooded his senses. The white caps that adorned each peak, as if they were wearing hats, could be seen at all times of the year.
He could see the territory below. Despite the cold weather, there were many people moving about the streets. Most wore thick fur coats, but there were also many who walked around in armor or other protective gear.
These were likely warriors or wizards who could maintain their body temperature without the need for fur coats, thanks to their magic. The magic herbs and demon beasts that grew only in the north were in high demand among mages and merchants.
Expedition teams investigating the strange magical phenomena along the Awnhilnar Mountains, excavation teams searching for traces of ancient lost kingdoms, and mercenaries hired to eliminate troublesome demon beasts.
Even at this late hour, the lights that illuminated every corner of the city showed no signs of dimming; on the contrary, they seemed to grow brighter.
‘I should pay a visit to that place tomorrow.’
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The entire Zahard family gathered for breakfast. Lahart sat at the head of the table, with his wife Leila and eldest daughter Irrucil on his right. On his left were Russell, Calia, and Aellasis.
The meal was quiet, broken only by the occasional clinking of dishes and utensils. Aellasis struggled with the complex array of cutlery and the different types of dishes that were used for each course, but Calia provided timely assistance, enabling her to finish her meal.
Leila, who had been watching Calia and Aellasis, spoke up once the food was cleared away and the after-dinner tea was served.
“Your hair color is quite unique. It’s very pretty.”
To Leila’s rhetorical question, Aellasis instinctively looked at Russell. Russell gave a slight nod.
“Oh, I, thank you, ma’am.”
“My name is Leila. What is your name?”
“I’m Aellasis, ma’am.”
“Aellasis. That’s a beautiful name. So, tell me, How did you come to be traveling with. . . my son?”
“Well, Russell made me come into being.”
“. . . . . .”
Stunned gazes turned from Aellasis to Russell. Lahart looked at Russell with wide eyes and said,
“Is. . . is that true? You’re the father of that child.”
“. . . No, Aella. Show them.”
“Okay.”
As soon as Aellasis answered, a light flashed from her head. In the place where the light had flashed, a white, spiral horn grew, its sharp tip pointing upwards. The horn, which was thicker and larger than Russell had seen before, emitted a faint electrical current.
At the same time, Aellasis’s pupils became narrow and sharp, like those of a reptile. Her appearance caused Leila to gasp and lean back from the table.
“Dragonkin. . . . . .!”
Lahart and Leila looked astonished at the horns and pupils, the symbols of dragonkin. Dragonkin were a rare race, and it was not often that they were seen by humans.
“As you all know, I was in Calisden. Aella is one of the acquaintances I made there. She had no guardian, so I have been taking care of her.”
“Then what do you mean by ‘made her come into being’?”
“Russell carried me around while I was still in my egg, and he breathed magic into me. It was a very familiar magic, so I was born earlier than I should have been, and I was able to fight the devil.”
“. . . . . . An egg? A devil?”
Lahart and Leila muttered, unable to follow Aellasis’s disjointed explanation. Russell spoke up.
“Aellasis is more than just a dragonkin; she is a dragon. She’s still too young to be called a full-fledged dragon, though.”
“But I’m all grown up now, aren’t I?”
“No, you’re still far from it.”
“There’s a dragon. It’s like something out of a storybook.”
“. . . . . .”
While Leila, unable to continue the conversation properly, stared at Aellasis, Aellasis used magic to make her horns disappear and her pupils return to their human form.
Leila, her heart still pounding, looked at Calia. Calia spoke up first.
“I’m Calia, a wizard who was indebted to Russell in Errandis’ estate. I was in a very difficult situation, and the lady’s son saved my life. I’ve been traveling with him ever since.”
“. . . . . .A difficult situation?”
“A group of fanatics awakened an ancient being that had been dormant in an old ruin in the territory. It was none other than the Progenitor Vampire, said to be the ancestor of all vampires.”
“The progenitor of vampires? Could you tell me more about it? It’s something I’ve never heard of before.”
Lahart leaned forward, showing interest in Calia’s words. Although Lahart made an effort to keep abreast of the political situation on other continents, such as the northern border, there were still many things that reached his ears late, or sometimes not at all.
Calia pursed her lips and said,
“There was a group that extracted the life force of humans to create red crystals and used them to gain immense power. They used the red crystals to awaken the Progenitor Vampire, and at the same time, turned dozens of the estate’s residents into vampires to carry out terror attacks. If it weren’t for Russell, the estate would have been devoured, and a kingdom inhabited only by vampires would have been born.”
Calia paused, her gaze shifting between Lahart and Leila, then playfully took Russell’s left hand in hers.
“I, too, almost died fighting that vampire, but thanks to Russell, we were able to defeat and kill that ancient being together. If it hadn’t been for him, something terrible would surely have happened. Of course, I wouldn’t be here either.”
Calia’s red eyes curled into a smile as she looked at Leila.
“I am now following Russell as his master, so you need not worry, my lady.”
“T, That’s good to hear.”
Leila found herself using polite language in response to Calia’s confident reply. However, no one at the table thought to comment on Calia’s manner of speech.
Calia was a beautiful woman who possessed the typical beauty of a woman from the central region, with her crimson hair and red eyes. Her demeanor was also graceful. Leila inquired cautiously.
“Are you perhaps a noblewoman?”
“I used to be, but not anymore. In my new life, I’m practically Russell’s subordinate.”
After a slightly awkward silence, Lahart looked at Russell and said,
“So you’re planning to leave again?”
“Yes.”
“Where do you intend to go?”
“I don’t have a specific destination, but there are people I want to meet. I’ll find out where they are and head in that direction.”
“Who are these people you want to meet?”
“They’re the group that Calia mentioned earlier. There are at least three of them, and they’re the ones who are toying with human lives. Strangely enough, they keep showing up along my path, keeping things from getting boring. So this time, I’m going to make things fun for them.”
“. . . . . .I see.”
Lahart, who had been looking at Russell, seemed to have something to say, but then he shook his head.
“Very well. If that is your decision, then I have nothing to say.”
“I appreciate your consideration.”
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“Russell.”
Irrucil called Russell out as he was leaving the castle. When Russell turned to look at her, Irrucil sighed lightly and beckoned him over.
“The stables are over there. They were expanded and moved recently. Follow me.”
Irrucil led the way, and Russell, Calia, and Aellasis followed her to a large stable. Well-fed warhorses neighed from inside the fence, watching the humans who had entered.
A stablehand, who had been filling a trough with water, approached Irrucil and Russell, walking quickly towards them. The middle-aged man, with a receding hairline, tucked the gloves he had been wearing into his apron and bowed low.
“Oh, young mistress! Young master! What brought you here. . . . . .”
“Uncle Devon. There are horses that arrived a few days ago, right? Bring them out.”
“Yes? Oh, yes. I shall do so.”
Soon, the stablehand, Devon, led out Russell and his companions’ horses. They were well-groomed, their coats and skin gleaming.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
“Oh, it’s nothing.”
The sun was shining brightly in the sky. The daytime brought a brief respite of warmth to the land.
As they left the castle and crossed the bridge, people’s hustle and bustle filled the air.
“Let’s go.”
“Where to?”
“To the market. We should stock up on supplies before we leave.”
Russell cocked his head. Irrucil’s attitude was so different from before.
“You’re acting strange.”
“What?”
“Never mind.”
The market was large and complex. The square, where all the roads in the territory converged and then dispersed, was filled with people going about their business.
There were groups of mercenaries, their shoulders brushing against each other, arguing loudly over their pride, while merchants and children watched them with amusement.
Merchants, who had set up large screens to block the wind blowing from the north, raised high banners with intricate designs on long poles and shouted to sell their wares.
Their stalls were lined with dried fruits and spices for which they had risked their lives or hired escorts from distant lands.
Smaller merchants were the ones who could not afford to set up banners. Some sat hunched over, peddling trinkets that no one seemed to care about, while others flicked their abacuses and made calculations.
Guardsmen, who were responsible for maintaining order in the territory, rushed past the people towards some unknown destination. They were either on their way to arrest the mercenaries they had seen earlier or to deal with an incident in another district.
Russell watched them quietly. Despite his large size and stature, which made him stand out even in a crowd, he quickly turned his gaze away.
“Let’s go to the blacksmith’s. Do you know any good ones?”
“If it’s a place that regularly supplies the castle. . . Why?”
“I think Aella’s armor needs to be refitted. It’s worn out. It’s also too small for her.”
Aellasis had grown so much in height and maturity that the clothes she wore no longer fit her properly.
They left the market square and headed towards the east gate. Along the way, they stopped at the artisans’ alley. Suits of armor, helmets, and all manner of blades were displayed on shelves or in complete sets.
The alley was also frequented by mercenaries who made their living from blades, and they could be seen examining swords with keen eyes or haggling over prices, comparing them to the weapons they already carried.
Russell looked around the blacksmiths and artisans’ alley, which he had not visited in a long time, and lost himself in memories.
He has not given much thought to the need for armor or weapon repair since acquiring his coat, Nahilnir, and Final Frost.
The steady rhythm and noise of the artisans hammering away at their metal echoed faintly through the alley, and Russell’s eyes were drawn to a particular figure.
A figure wearing a black robe pulled low over its head was walking purposefully towards some unknown destination. The reason Russell’s eyes were drawn to him was simple: the ears that protruded from the side of the pulled-down hood were unusually pointed.
Russell’s eyes widened slightly.
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