Dark Fantasy: Magical Eye Knight – Chapter 67

Chapter 67: Omen (1)

TL: Potato-tan

Proofreader: Asianpotato

 

Russell awoke in the early hours of the morning. He slowly stirred from his bed, only to discover a long, serpentine tail tightly coiled around his body. It was the tail of Aellasis, who had reverted to her natural form while they slept.

 

Aellasis preferred to sleep in her true form when it was just the two of them. Though her human guise was certainly another aspect of herself, she still found it more comfortable to be in her draconic state.

 

Russell carefully untangled the tail from his arms, shoulders, and neck. Aellasis, having indulged heavily in beer the night before, was still fast asleep and unmoving. He stroked her white scales and got out of bed, heading towards the window.

 

The window was low, and there was a chair and table set before it. It was a comfortable spot from which to observe the outside world.

 

Russell did so, as he had intended. From the east, a blue hue began to emerge.

 

The morning air was crisp and clear. The wind that blew from the distant mountain range had not yet lost its scent.

 

There were not many people on the morning streets. Nonetheless, there were those who were clearly going somewhere. Perhaps they were fetching water, gathering firewood, or collecting grain. One way or another, they needed to address the idleness of the previous day.

 

He knew that he had awoken early. The two-month journey had been peaceful, without any significant battles. At most, there had been the three excavators they had encountered before reaching this city, as well as the group led by an orc they had met the previous day.

 

It surprised Russell somewhat to realize that he missed the thrill of battle. The belligerence that was inherent in this vigorous body seemed to have become a part of him. It was a life that was in many ways a contrast to his previous existence, where he had kept violence at arm’s length. Yet Russell found himself enjoying it all the same.

 

Looking down, he closed his eyes and delved slowly into his own being. The potent mana that had not yet fully dissipated was coursing vigorously through his bloodstream, in time with his heartbeat.

 

One could describe Russell’s mana as vast. It had increased dramatically during his battles with the likes of Karugon, Ludwig, and Ismenios in the city of Calisden, as well as with the undead and Logos in the village of Logos.

 

In this world, mana was an indispensable element in humans’ journey to transcendence. There was also a divine power, but it was difficult to discern because it rested on the firm yet shaky foundation of faith.

 

There were not many ways to quickly accumulate mana in this world. Training helped, but the most important factor was combat.

 

People accumulated mana when they achieved a state of mental exhilaration on the fierce battlefield and when they survived. Or, perhaps, one’s constitution was simply suited to accumulating mana.

 

It was not that there were no secret cultivation techniques, like in martial arts novels, but their efficiency was abysmal. They were not much different from breathing exercises or simple image training. One could not accumulate mana simply by sitting for a hundred days and practicing breathing exercises.

 

In the end, only those who had walked countless battlefields and narrowly escaped the crossroads of life and death could receive the favor of mana.

 

That was why the difference in martial prowess between those who had earned titles through military exploits and those who had inherited titles from their parents was so clear.

 

This also contributed to the difference in perception between the central and frontier nobles. The nobles who guarded against the monsters that swarmed from behind the natural barriers of mountains, forests, and deserts were strong.

 

The nobles who had monster hordes within their fiefdoms, even if they weren’t on the frontier, needed to strengthen themselves to defend their territory and prevent death.

 

Such individuals aged slowly due to the effects of mana, even as they grew older, and their bodies remained robust. However, the lords of safer lands, where the kingdom or empire had paved roads and exterminated monsters, could not deny their relative weakness.

 

From time to time, when the nobles gathered for national events in the royal capital, it was often possible to tell where they were from by their appearance alone. It was not unusual for those who appeared to be nearly ten or twenty years apart to be the same age.

 

The central nobles envied the resplendent and beautiful frontier nobles, in contrast to their own aged and unsightly appearance, but they were not brave enough to willingly engage in life-threatening battles. After all, those who lived side-by-side with monsters were those who had risked their lives to gain beauty and strength.

 

However, humans were a race that always found a way. And that way, it might be surprisingly close at hand.

 

Knock, knock.

 

Russell opened his closed eyes at the sound of a knock on the door. Time had passed without him realizing it, and the sun was rising in the sky outside the window.

 

There were now many more humans and beastkin walking on the streets than before. They were all busy with their own tasks, looking only forward as they walked.

 

“Come in.”

 

The door creaked open. Laura was the one who entered. She appeared to be in her twenties, with a face similar to Robin’s and brown hair.

 

“What is it?”

 

“I wanted to prepare breakfast for you once you woke up.”

 

“Are we not going down to the dining hall?”

 

Laura crossed the room and stood before a certain wall. She touched a device on the wall, causing a large, rectangular sliding door to open on one side. The door had paper attached to it.

 

When she opened the door, there was an empty space inside, and judging from the pulleys at the back, it seemed to be a space that could be lifted up from below. The bell would probably ring when the food went up.

 

“We will bring food and utensils up here.”

 

“That’s amazing. Is this Luke’s handiwork?”

 

“Yes. It’s changed a lot since the beginning, but there are many useful devices that make it convenient. If my parents were alive, they would have been happy and amazed.”

 

Laura could not look Russell in the eye as she spoke. She was still awkward around him. It was a stark contrast to Robin, who clung to Russell and tried to discover his strength’s secret by any means necessary.

 

“I won’t ask.”

 

“Excuse me?”

 

“Whether it’s your siblings, your parents, or the dwarf who runs this inn, I won’t ask about your circumstances, so don’t bother trying to tell me.”

 

Laura was speechless for a moment. Then, she simply nodded.

 

“It’s late, but thank you for yesterday.”

 

Russell nodded and told her to send up breakfast. Laura greeted him once more before opening the door and going downstairs.

 

Soon after, the bell rang. When Russell opened the door, he found a tray with neatly arranged dishes, food, and water inside. He lifted the tray and placed it on the table.

 

Aellasis sniffed the air and lifted her head. She looked like a puppy, and Russell chuckled.

 

“Your clothes are over there, so go change into them.”

 

“Hmph. Okay.”

 

Aellasis reappeared wearing the pants and shirt that Remeron had chosen for her. The food was delicious. When he placed the empty dishes and utensils back on the tray in the square space, it went down on its own as if it had sensed something.

 

Aellasis, who had just discovered the small elevator, approached with a surprised look on her face.

 

“Wow, what is this?”

 

“They said the special rooms have things like this. Luke must have made it.”

 

“Oh. . .”

 

Russell and Aellasis washed their faces and went down to the first-floor hall. There were a few people who seemed to be suffering from the previous day’s hangover. Among them was Remeron’s colleague, Phel.

 

Aellasis skipped over and sat down in front of Phel.

 

“Hello! Are you okay?”

 

“. . . . . .No.”

 

While Aellasis teased Phel in a singsong voice, Russell sat down at the bar. Luke, who was wiping glasses right in front of him, acknowledged him.

 

“You’re up?”

 

“Yes. I slept well. The room was nice. The room included an amazing elevator.

 

“There are many things to consider when running a business.”

 

“I can imagine.”

 

At that moment, Robin came out of the kitchen, perhaps having heard their voices. He carried a towel over his shoulder, seemingly from dishwashing. Robin approached with a bright expression.

 

“Are you up, Sir?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Is there anything I can help you with?”

 

Russell ordered a stout. Instead of Robin, Luke filled the mug and brought it to him. His small stature was skillful, a testament to how long he had been running this inn.

 

Furthermore, Luke had an adjustable chair, which allowed him to converse with Russell at almost eye level.

 

“Damn, bless the dwarves. I wonder why God gave us such a short and stocky body.”

 

“If you were as tall as you are skilled,  you would be the ones leading the world.”

 

Perhaps there will be cars, airplanes, and even computers in the distant future. However, the chances of that happening were extremely slim, as dwarves were generally only interested in the weapons and beer they made.

 

Russell said,

 

“I heard something from the orc Kai yesterday. According to him, strange corpses have been found in back alleys for about three weeks. Do you know anything about it?”

 

Robin, who had been sitting close by, looked between Luke and Russell. Luke looked at Russell. A beard covered half of his face, and his hair was graying. His beard obscured his expression, making it difficult to read. Luke spoke in a quiet voice.

 

“. . . . . .It’s not a rumor. They brought it here once. I saw it myself.”

 

“Was it as the rumors say?”

 

“Yes. The mummy had completely dried up and was devoid of any blood. Its skin was all shriveled up.”

 

“It doesn’t seem like they’ve done anything about it.”

 

“Look. I’m already over four hundred years old. I’m an old dwarf. I’ve almost lost the strength to lift an axe. All I have left are Robin and Laura, my two children, and my brewing skills. How can I fight against the monsters who created those corpses in this situation?”

 

Russell drank his beer silently. Asking those engrossed in peace and complacency to take up arms and fight was challenging. They did not have the strong bodies or mana that Russell possessed.

 

In any case, they were the fiefdom people of the Errandis fiefdom, and they could only live there and rely on the protection of the garrison or the gangster organizations.

 

It was ridiculous for a complete stranger like Russell to say anything to them. So Russell drank his ale in silence, and Luke did not say anything either.

 

Robin, who had been listening in silence, said,

 

“It is a bit strange. I didn’t get a good look at the corpse, but my sister, who saw it that day, was pale all day long. It’s also strange that the guards aren’t doing their job properly. And Kai is asking for more money in the midst of all this. . .”

 

Robin, who had been muttering, noticed that the atmosphere was becoming strange and spoke in a deliberately cheerful tone.

 

“Well, it’s all been resolved somehow. We just have to protect this inn in our area. Just like our parents did.”

 

It was an optimistic statement, but Russell could not help but think about what would happen after he left. The lord, who was only interested in dungeons and excavation sites, the people who flocked to the fiefdom, and the chaotic back alleys, would be difficult to describe as having a positive influence on ordinary people.

 

Russell had grown quite fond of this inn that brewed stout.

 

The sound of footsteps descending the stairs was audible at that moment. They were light and lively. Russell guessed who it was.

 

“Oh? Are you up already? You’re incredibly diligent.”

 

Remeron approached them with a cheerful smile and greeted them. Russell nodded in return.

 

“Did you sleep well?”

 

“No. In her sleep, Phel was grinding her teeth. I thought my ears were going to fall off.”

 

Remeron rubbed his own long ears and joked.

 

Russell glanced behind him, and Aellasis and Phel were still talking. It seemed that most of their conversation was about alcohol, and Russell was worried that Aellasis was developing a bad habit.

 

Remeron said,

 

“What are you planning to do today?”

 

“I wasn’t able to take Aella out yesterday, so I thought I’d take her around today.”

 

“Aaah. You’re close. She’s a very interesting child. Her appearance and her drinking capacity rival Phel’s.”

 

“What about you?”

 

“We have to find a way to achieve the purpose of our visit. Will you join us?”

 

“I don’t mind.”

 

“Haha, yes, I understand. I’ll see you again this evening.”

 

Russell got up from his seat and walked over to Aellasis.

 

“Let’s go, Aella. We’ve come to the territory, so we should have a look around.”

 

“Okay. Are we going to the ruins, too?”

 

“We’ll see.”

 

Russell and Aellasis departed from the inn. The weather was clear, but there were clouds here and there.

 

Aellasis skipped along the street, and her lively appearance drew laughter from many people. Russell followed behind with a faint smile.

 

Soon, they were on the road leading to the center of the territory, where they could see the fountain and the church behind it. The church was neither large nor small, but just the right size.

 

While Aellasis looked at the fountain, the various buildings, and the church, Russell looked at the people. To be precise, he looked at the mercenaries and adventurers armed with armor and swords. Most of them had grim expressions on their faces.

 

Just as he was thinking about why, Russell turned his head at the sight of Aellasis tugging at his shirt’s collar.

 

“What?”

 

“Look, aren’t these the guys we saw yesterday?”

 

 They are the orc, the cat, and the rat.

 

Russell looked in the direction Aellasis was pointing. Sure enough, Kai and his group from yesterday were there. They were arguing with a priest in front of the church.

 

As they approached, they could hear their conversation more clearly. Kai, who had a fierce expression but had a slightly comical appearance due to a broken right canine tooth, was almost yelling at a priest.

 

“No, why can’t you sell me holy water?”

 

The priest said with a troubled expression,

 

“As I said before, we have run out.”

 

“Yesterday, you had holy water, so why is it that you’ve run out today, of all days?”

 

“How would I know? I am a humble priest who follows the words that come from above. Please show some understanding.”

 

“Dammit, this is ridiculous.”

 

The argument was going nowhere. In the end, Kai left in a huff with Jerry and Tom. The priest wiped away his troubled expression and made a contemptuous face before spitting on the ground and going into the church. It was a series of actions that were difficult to believe had come from a priest.

 

“Why are they like that?”

 

“It seems that they’re not on good terms.”

 

In most religions, the beastkin occupies an ambiguous position. They received neither open rejection nor warm welcome.

 

The beastkin also had their own religions. However, their scale was overwhelmingly smaller than that of human religions.

 

For one thing, there were only a handful of officially established temples, and the number of believers was correspondingly small. As a result, most religious people tend to view beastkin gods as little more than powerful spirits.

 

As such, the divine power that the fallen gods bestowed upon the beastkin believers was mostly insignificant, and the beastkin believers would no longer follow their gods. It was a vicious cycle.

 

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