<Kubri Lendi-Rolango>
[Level:58/59]
[HP:14][Strength:13][Agility:16]
[Mana:17][Spirit:09][Senses:19]
[Divinity:05]
[Traits: Champion(S+), Petrifying Evil Eye(A), Poison Resistance(B) and 3 more]
[Skills: Rolango Crushing · Extreme(S), Iapino School Secret Weapon Art(A), Quentaltin Modified Heart Method · Extreme(B+), and 3 more]
I checked Kubri’s sheet.
His level was 58, same as in the original at this point.
It was a level where he could fight on equal terms with Hagel, the Dragon Horse Cult leader I encountered recently in the Snowflower Swamp.
For reference, in my personal ranking of the Continent’s Twelve Heroes’ combat power, he comes in at 4th. In other words, among the nine excluding the Triple Star, he’s the strongest.
Some readers rated him above Tristan Alabru, a member of the Triple Star and a level 60 mage, because in a one-on-one between a pure warrior and a mage of similar levels, the warrior usually has the advantage unless there are special circumstances. Of course, that’s just combat power comparison; if you consider versatility as a mage, Tristan undeniably has the overall edge.
Kubri said as he looked over our group.
“It’s awkward to talk standing here. I’ll guide you to a restaurant in Umbril that human folk prefer the most.”
Umbril is a city-state in the humid southern continent. Due to special circumstances, finding a decent place around here was quite difficult. It’s gracious of him to guide us personally.
“I appreciate the kindness. But before that, I’d like to see the ‘Giant’s Sword’ first.”
“That works too.”
Kubri nodded as he gazed at me steadily.
Soon, he began leading us somewhere. Epio stuck close behind Kubri and asked.
“I knew there was a branch in Umbril, but I didn’t expect to run into it right away.”
“For a lizardfolk like you to come to a human folk’s restaurant— that’s rare.”
“I have guests today.”
At Kubri’s words, Loreno shifted his gaze toward us slightly. He scanned our group with a relaxed air, and when his eyes landed on Chesa, a hint of admiration showed briefly.
But only for a moment; he soon turned back to Kubri.
“The reason for the divide in tastes along the restaurant street in Umbril is simple, red-haired boy.”
“I’m Epio!”
“Right, Epio. Anyway, among the subhumans living in humid regions like Umbril, the ones who enjoy fine dining are mostly reptile or amphibian types. That means most prefer fish or insect dishes. Humans from the central or northern regions tend to abhor such eating habits. So it’s natural for demand to polarize by race.”
After pondering Kubri’s words for a bit, Epio asked.
“Are insect dishes tasty?”
“…It depends on the chef’s skill.”
“I see. Thanks for telling me!”
Epio nodded in satisfaction. Clara, who had been listening to their exchange from the side, looked utterly disgusted.
“I-Insects… Epio, you can’t seriously be thinking of eating that?”
“You don’t like it, Clara?”
“I hate it! The kids at the cathedral said never to deal with small creatures with six or more legs!”
“But it might taste good if you try it?”
“No way!”
I watched the two bicker with contentment. It’s a sight you never see after Part 2 in the novel, making it feel all the more precious.
About ten minutes later, we arrived at a lake on the village outskirts.
And right in the middle of that lake’s surface.
A massive sword was embedded.
It was bizarre enough that such a heavy-looking object floated awkwardly without sinking below the water, but the problem was that the exposed part alone seemed over 3 meters long. It was so huge it looked more like a sculpture than a sword.
Kubri pointed to it.
“We call that the ‘Giant’s Sword’. One day, that sword suddenly flew in and embedded itself in the middle of the lake, and after that, none of the villagers could approach the lake.”
His expression was dark as he explained.
Linia, feeling curious, asked him.
“…Can’t approach? Because of that one sword?”
“It might be hard to believe, but yes. If you try to immerse yourself in the lake to get close to the sword, you’re repelled with strong resistance. A few executives from the clan and I managed to overcome it and approach, but no matter how hard we tried, we couldn’t move the Giant’s Sword.”
He added that the residents’ concerns about this were no small matter, but our clan hasn’t been able to resolve it for over half a year. The fact that it doesn’t affect the fish in the lake much is the only consolation, he said.
After hearing the additional explanation.
I used the ‘Appraisal’ function.
Undefeatable Divine Holy Sword (S+)
- Tracks impure energy in the absence of a user
- ???
- ???
- ???
“…As expected.”
An exclamation escaped me the moment I saw the equipment’s name.
And right after that.
[MacGuffin No.355 / Giant’s Sword has been retrieved.]
[Achievement Points + 1,000]
It was the MacGuffin retrieval message I hadn’t seen in a while.
It was nearly a certainty among readers, but indeed, the ‘Giant’s Sword’ that brought calamity to Umbril was the Undefeatable Divine Holy Sword (S+).
That sword is a relic of the Church of Struggle lost in the distant past, and it’s also the favored weapon of ‘Bellifort Shafeck’, the leader of the Five Heroes who will awaken in Part 3.
It’s equipment that requires a very high [Divinity] value to even approach, let alone equip. And it just so happened to fly into a lake near the city—one that supplies drinking water and food to the residents—causing disruptions to daily life.
The reason that sword suddenly appeared in this neighborhood is because the Five Hero Bellifort Shafeck is sleeping nearby in Umbril. The sword, hidden in a specific location for a long time, must have sensed its soon-to-awaken master’s energy and flown here.
The Undefeatable Divine Holy Sword is a top-tier relic with a slew of extremely troublesome functions.
One of my reasons for coming to Umbril was to intervene before Bellifort, whom we’ll fight later, gets that sword.
I looked at Clara, who was gazing at the lake with wonder.
You’ll have to earn your keep again this time.
We arrived at a high-end restaurant deep in the city center. A quick look inside showed it was run by a human chef, not a subhuman.
I’m not fond of insect cuisine either, so that’s appreciated.
As we entered the restaurant, someone approached. More precisely, toward Kubri, not us.
“Master Rolango?”
“…Lord Loreno.”
He was a human male in his mid-to-late 30s, with a large build and light brown hair.
<Loreno Pecheli>
[Level:38/45]
[HP:10][Strength:11][Agility:14]
[Mana:09][Spirit:07][Senses:17]
[Divinity:01]
[Traits: Swordsmanship Genius(A), Lightning-Fast Sleight of Hand(B), Precise Dexterity(B) and 2 more]
[Skills: Eastern Secret Quick Sword Art · Extreme(A), Pecheli Heart Method(B+), Pecheli Family Swordsmanship(B) and 3 more]
[Description: Age 36, Human. One of the top executives of the Pecheli Clan. Famous for wielding swift swords that target the enemy’s neck with speed.]
Upon closer inspection, he was an executive from that ‘Pecheli Clan’.
I knew they had a branch in Umbril, but I didn’t expect to encounter them right away.
“For a lizardfolk like you to come to a human folk’s restaurant— that’s rare.”
“I have guests today.”
At Kubri’s words, Loreno shifted his gaze toward us slightly. He scanned our group with a relaxed air, and when his eyes landed on Chesa, a hint of admiration showed briefly.
But only for a moment; he soon turned back to Kubri.
“From what I know, Quentaltin is busy enough dealing with the ‘Giant’s Sword’ or the recent surge in missing persons, so does the clan master have the leisure to personally entertain guests?”
“That’s none of your concern.”
A rare cold response from Kubri.
It was natural, given the sarcasm from the other side first.
Loreno smirked at the sharp attitude and left the restaurant. His apparent subordinates followed in a line behind him.
After the minor hassle, we were guided to a private room.
“Who was that guy?”
Chesa asked Kubri with a puzzled look. It seemed hard for her to understand someone provoking Kubri, one of the Continent’s Twelve Heroes.
Kubri replied.
“That human swordsman just now is named Loreno. He’s a direct descendant of the Pecheli Clan master and one of the top executives.”
“Pecheli Clan? The one that occupied the entire Vardia Kingdom?”
Chesa showed rare surprise.
As mentioned before, among large clans, there are examples that effectively puppet and proxy-rule an entire country.
A prime representative of such clans is the Pecheli Clan, which occupied the Vardia Kingdom.
Unlike Caracol or Quentaltin, where the clan master is one of the Continent’s Twelve Heroes, Pecheli’s foundation isn’t an overwhelming powerhouse but the excellent quality of its supporting executives.
Pecheli is a clan with over 200 years of history, deeply rooted in the Vardia Kingdom’s economy and society, and thus its talent pool is vast and solid.
Thanks to the infrastructure spread throughout the kingdom, promising talents constantly knock on Pecheli Clan’s door. As a result, according to the setting, the number of level 40+ individuals—quasi-Twelve Heroes level—in the clan exceeds 10.
It wasn’t strange for hobbyists to include it when naming a few clans boasting the greatest influence on the continent.
I said to him.
“No matter how solid his backing, being able to act so recklessly in the south must be because Quentaltin’s position is gradually shaking.”
“You’re straightforward.”
He didn’t seem particularly offended by my words. That’s because we’ve already gauged each other’s intentions through exchanged letters.
In the past, during the incident involving the Infinite Thunderstone, I made one request to a Quentaltin Clan member: to inform Kubri that I know the whereabouts of ‘Ravalbea’, a beastkin warrior. Ravalbea was Kubri’s close friend who went missing five years ago, and by mentioning him, I succeeded in drawing this man’s interest.
“As Sub-Master Stroke said, the Pecheli Clan is attempting to advance into the southern continent, taking advantage of the cracks in our clan’s position.”
And this was spearheaded by that Loreno we just saw.
As the third son of the Pecheli Clan master, he’s in a disadvantaged position in the succession race and is trying to turn the tables with the achievement of southern expansion. In the original, he seizes that opportunity and achieves some success, but… unfortunately, since I’ve come here, storm clouds are rapidly gathering over his bright future.
“Aiden, you confidently stated in your letter that you can resolve the three issues plaguing Umbril. Surely that wasn’t empty words?”
“I swear on the Seal of Struggle.”
At my words, Kubri nodded. As an active member of the Continent’s Twelve Heroes, he knew well the weight of the Seal of Struggle.
The issues I confidently claimed I could resolve in the letter are as follows.
First, the Giant’s Sword embedded in the lake.
Second, the recent surge in unexplained missing persons.
Third, locating Ravalbea’s whereabouts and bringing him back.
“You said that upon completing these three requests, you want three corresponding rewards from our Quentaltin Clan.”
“That’s right.”
“Then let’s draw up the contract.”
Without hesitation, Kubri took out two sheets of paper from his bosom. We stamped our Seals of Struggle on them.
Through prior negotiations, one of the rewards demanded from the Quentaltin side included a clause that all byproducts obtained in the process of resolving the issues would belong to Blispiel.
This preemptively blocks any potential disputes regarding the elixir we’ll obtain here, the Wings of the Firebird (S-).
“The contract is established. Then, let’s handle the Giant’s Sword first.”
“Right now?”
Kubri looked slightly surprised.
But this is just the beginning.
In fact, the three issues surrounding Umbril are all extensions of a single event.
Resolving the most fundamental problem will net me three rewards at once—truly killing three birds with one stone.