Mess 190

190.

Just as Pura had predicted.

Once the Kia company had finished their business, they returned to the lodgings first.

The remaining mages claimed they needed to conduct another experiment with their communication magic at dawn, so they began inspecting the land at the outskirts of the territory.

Immediately, the cadet branch family members from Tifeon, who had been lurking nearby, hurriedly interjected.

“You can’t go any farther than this.”

When the mages tried heading toward the mountains at the rear of the estate, they suddenly appeared, blocking the way and insisting it was strictly forbidden.

“Wild animals live here and there have been many injuries. Especially now, during the wild boars’ breeding season, human entry is strictly prohibited.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Mage Er widened his eyes as if hearing this for the first time.

“Then could you mark on this map just how far we are not allowed to go?”

We’re here to run experiments.

Not to quarrel with you.

Er and the mages offered their most innocent, kindly smiles.

At that, the cadet nobleman gave a pompous cough.

Then, snatching the map, he quickly got to work.

“Well, here and here are off limits…”

Scratch, scratch.

He began marking the forbidden areas.

Every restricted zone declared off limits was on the ridge of the mountain range behind the estate. The reason for prohibition was the same as before.

It was dangerous, supposedly due to wild boar breeding season.

“So, as long as we avoid these spots, we should be fine.”

Er folded the map and slipped it into his coat, nodding with an amiable smile. The cadet nobles began to relax.

That was a grave mistake.

The mages had never actually said they wouldn’t go.

---

That night, before dawn.

The traders were sleeping in their lodgings, and the mages had left to conduct communication magic experiments at the outskirts near the base of the mountains.

During that window, Pura, several Glakes, and a few mages slipped away and crossed the ridge.

By most standards, the mountain range was gentle and low—almost a stroll for the physically gifted Glakes.

With keen night vision, their movements were unhindered.

Even so, in consideration of the accompanying mages, they kept their pace in check.

Instead, two Glakes moved further ahead to scout.

“Honestly, I always thought mages were just frail academics…”

Trailing behind, Er replied to Pura’s remark casually, “I hear that a lot. But you need stamina to sit and study or research for long periods.”

He added that good health was also necessary for proper use of magical power.

That was why, in the Mage Tower, proper exercise and nutrition were strictly observed.

Pura nodded in agreement.

“I once tried desk work for a week and it was exhausting.”

“See? Just sitting and studying all day isn’t as easy as people think.”

As they climbed—

“…Take a look here.”

One of the scouts pointed to a narrow gorge.

It was a deep, confined ravine set in a gentle slope.

A clear spring dripped down, forming a brook that trickled all the way into the territory below.

“What is it?”

Er narrowed her eyes but could make out nothing in the darkness.

But the Glakes saw.

“There…”

Pura noticed suspicious traces behind the trickling water.

“Grooves, right?”

Two long furrows, as if carved deliberately, extended in parallel.

Like the tracks left by the wheels of a cart.

Descending to inspect them, they quickly found more suspicious traces.

A man-made path, following the water, ran alongside the grooves.

Pura opened a map and estimated the location—it seemed to connect the rear of the gorge directly with the Tifeon estate.

“…….”

“…….”

They met each other’s eyes, nodded, and hurried on past the gorge.

Following the grooves, they found a hidden passage among the rocks.

From up ahead came faint but strange sounds.

The breeze, brushing over the mountain, carried with it many things.

The fur of animals, the scent of fresh leaves.

Damp grass and earth.

And—

“…It’s a human voice.”

Now Pura and Er took the lead.

Er placed both palms on the earth. Complex magical runes glowed green, then sank into the ground.

“……”

Beads of sweat began forming on Er’s brow as she closed her eyes, focusing. Her eyelids twitched in concentration.

After a short while—

“…Shit.”

Cursing softly, Er lifted her hands from the ground and reported her findings in a slightly breathless voice.

“Fifty people. Twenty are moving around, like they’re on patrol.”

“So the rest must be asleep—”

“No.”

Er cut her off.

“…Four of them aren’t showing any physical signs at all.”

Pura stopped one Glake, who was about to dash ahead.

“Wait! We can’t just—!”

“Lara, after hearing that, you—!”

“If we rush in, the others who are still alive might die! Do you think this is easy for me?!”

“……”

The mood turned oppressively somber. No one spoke.

Pura bit her lips, then scraped her eyes with the back of her hand.

“We finally made it this far. Ser—no, Count Validus, trusted us and made this chance for us. If we miss it, it’s all over!”

Pura wanted to rush in and slaughter them all as badly as anyone.

No, perhaps more than anyone, she craved it.

Had she not threatened and pushed Seraphie all winter in that icy village outside the Iris estate to find news of the missing?

Now she knew.

Right when the moment she’d longed for was finally within reach, that was the time to be most cautious.

From here on, they could not afford even the smallest mistake.

“…The ones on patrol are probably mercenaries.”

Er nodded at Pura’s words.

Quickly, they began to formulate a plan.

---

Hidden beyond the mountain ridge that circled Tifeon territory was a secret factory, unknown even to the estate’s own residents.

This was because no one ever approached the mountains.

Over time, eerie sounds heard beyond the ridge spawned bizarre rumors—rumors of ferocious beasts lurking there.

For the safety of his people, Count Tifeon had strictly banned passage through the mountains, and the villagers had obeyed without question.

Now, only a few woodcutters or wild-herb gatherers ever ventured near the foothills, and only at the very edge.

“…Not much work lately, huh?”

One of the mercenaries on patrol yawned widely in the predawn gloom.

Another mercenary, patrolling with him, nodded.

“It’s because of last year. The, uh, the explosion…”

“The Mars port?”

“Yeah.”

Apparently, that incident almost exposed counterfeit gold bars, and now those puffed-up nobles were panicked, taking extra precautions—which made the mercenaries snicker.

“Bunch of cowards…”

“Still, we should probably be careful too.”

“What, you scared now?”

“Come on, we live hand to mouth anyway.”

Even so, a recent rumor nagged at the man’s mind.

“One of the nobles involved lost his whole family. If trouble spreads this far, we’re all finished.”

“Can’t deny that.”

Truth was, no one wanted to die in someone else’s mess.

“And they say Validus took barbarian bodyguards.”

“Some barbarian woman. What’s the big deal?”

One merc snorted derisively.

“Just got lucky, threw out her own father and snatched a title—nothing special…”

Whump.

Suddenly, the mercenary staggered.

Blinking in confusion at the sharp pain in his belly, he stared ahead.

“……”

“……”

His companion looked just as baffled.

Then, together, they looked down.

“…Huh?”

A stupid question mark hovered in the air.

A sharp blade stuck out through their bellies.

“Gurk!”

“Ugh!”

But there was no time for further thought, as blood poured out and they collapsed.

In the next instant, a single blow to the neck finished them off.

Two Glakes, watching impassively from behind the fallen bodies, melted back into the shadows.

Just as Er had said, the twenty moving figures were all mercenaries patrolling the perimeter.

Each perished in the night, robbed of voice and breath, their dying groans muffled by darkness.

Three mages and four Glakes. The mages used spells to root their enemies or draw their attention; the Glakes subdued them with speed and force.

Their teamwork was flawless, exhilarating in its seamless synchronization.

‘Is this really possible?’

Er felt a chill of awe.

Glakes had no magical or martial talent, but their instincts and physical prowess were second to none.

Still, was that alone enough to make them this perfectly in sync?

‘Maybe I’ve been missing something important, blinded by prejudice all this time…’

Er just barely suppressed a grin.

But there was more pressing work.

The takedown continued.

All twenty mercenaries on patrol were killed. The ones who had been sleeping were gagged and bound.

“…In here!”

Pura hurriedly called the others over after scouting inside the factory.

There, a group of terrified people stared blankly at their rescuers, wary of the unfamiliar faces now surrounding them.

The Glakes and mages frowned.

The prisoners’ condition was dire, the environment unsanitary.

Some were even shackled at the wrists and ankles, to prevent escape.

“…Lara?”

From among the captives, a man called out to Pura, disbelief thick in his voice.

“Is that really you, Lara?”

“……”

Pura barely suppressed her tears, forcing a smile.

“Mister.”

She pulled something from her belongings and handed it to him.

It was a distinctive trinket with a unique pattern—one she had found during the previous winter in the forests of the Iris estate with Seraphie’s group, at the site where they’d discovered a child’s body.

“I’m here. It’s going to be all right now.”