kscans

CHAPTER 8 PATARAPOZA – Episode 3 Elopement (Part 1)

1

Bard was dumbfounded. It was gone. The streets and roads that once existed had vanished into the forest.

Bard had encountered his impostor in the town of Cocochi. This town was located slightly north of center in the domain of the Great Lord of Yadobalgi. Heading straight east from there should have led to Bovard. After leaving Cocochi, Bard’s group had headed directly south. The main purpose of this journey was to retrain Bard’s mind and body in order to confront the monster known as Patarapoza. Their tentative destinations were Mageia, Linz, and the capital of Parzam. Before he died, Bard wanted to see Jules one more time. He also wanted to meet Baldrant, Jule’s son. No, by now Baldrant may even have a younger brother or sister. For Bard, with little time left, the goal of lifting up Baldrant and his siblings and giving them words of blessing was enough to motivate him for this journey.

So they had headed straight south from Cocochi. Originally, Bard had never properly traversed this domain of the Great Lord of Yadobalgi. In his previous travels, he had gone much further east, passing through places like Shesa, the Misty Valley, and along that waterfall.

However, such grueling journeys were a bit too much for Bard’s current physical condition. So they had decided to travel from town to town. But those towns were not there.

To begin with, there are no proper roads in the frontier regions. Even between neighboring domains of great lords, there is little movement of people. Or rather, even within the same domain, there is often no travel between towns. At most, there might be some exchange between neighboring towns or towns with special products.

Nevertheless, because there are people who have business in distant towns or wander from place to place, rumors about other towns do spread to some extent, and if one wants, it is possible to move from town to town.

However, the towns they had been told existed were not there. And not just one or two. A large swath of towns in the southern half of the Great Lord of Yadobalgi’s domain had vanished without a trace.

No, that’s not quite right. There were faint traces. If one looked closely, evidence remained that towns had once stood there. So why had the towns perished? They had been consumed by the forest.

Nature in the frontier is harsh. Creating and maintaining villages and towns there is a battle against nature. Even when a splendid town is established, it does not mean victory over nature has been achieved. At any time, the town could be devoured by trees, beasts, and insects. If one lets their guard down and neglects to prepare for this battle, the forest will encroach on the town. These towns existed on a precarious balance to begin with. Once encroachment begins, the town is quickly consumed. Bard had seen many villages and towns that had perished in this way. However, this encroachment seemed to cover an unusually wide area. It was possible that the entire domain of the Great Lord of Yadobalgi had already collapsed. If they went all the way west to the banks of the Ova River where the great lord’s estate was located, they might learn more details, but Bard had no particular desire to do so.

In the end, it turned into a journey of continuous camping. Bard’s body creaked and screamed in protest. Pathetic as it was, this was the reality of Bard’s current condition. Waking up shivering in the cold of dawn, Bard sighed. As the body weakens, so does the mind. In this state, he could not possibly face Patarapoza.

2 (t/n: this is full of bard innter monologue, a bit hard to decide to use 1st pov or 3rd pov)

Nevertheless, Bard continued to think desperately. Meeting Patarapoza will probably be unavoidable. But what should he do when they met? This was not an opponent he could fight head-on.

If the General of Greed had fought at full strength and without letting his guard down, Bard would have had no chance of victory. Now he understood. The General of Greed had grown weary of living and was testing the world.

“Destroy me, or I will destroy the world,” he seemed to be saying.

This was especially clear in their second battle. There could be no other explanation for such reckless fighting. He had been a terrifying man. A great man. But even that General of Greed had been utterly helpless against the monster Patarapoza.

The same was true for the Queen of Manuno. Even she could not resist Patarapoza’s power and was used as a servant. Hadn’t the Queen said it herself? The King of Evil Spirits does not die, does not weaken, and possesses immense power.

And the same was true for the Dragonoids. Despite their intense hatred for their “master” Patarapoza, they continued to serve him for hundreds of years. They had no choice. That’s how powerful Patarapoza is. He likely possesses strength comparable to the gods. In that sense, he could be called one of the gods.

Engdahl, Yemite, and the others who had explored the labyrinth beyond Fyuza’s Wind Hole had told Bard to call them when it was time to confront Patarapoza. But Bard had no intention of doing so. This was not an opponent that could be challenged with mere strength.

The confrontation was unavoidable. Because that’s what Patarapoza wanted. But could Bard’s aged heart withstand such an encounter? Might this old body not turn into a cold corpse with just one glare from the monster?

Stay calm. Do not fear, Bard Rowen. Fear clouds the eyes and paralyzes the limbs.

Bard tried to tell himself this, but the more he understood the true nature of the monster, the more fear welled up from the depths of his heart. He could not completely suppress this fear. Just when he thought he had it under control, it would surge up again. What a feeling of helplessness. When thinking about the monster, he felt like throwing his limbs to the ground and melting away into the earth. While scolding himself for such thoughts, Bard continued to ponder.

Do not fear, Bard Rowen. The larger something is, the larger its weaknesses. Think, Bard Rowen, think. What are that monster’s weaknesses?

It was extremely difficult to maintain clear thought while exhausted from continuous camping, chilled to the bone, and swaying on horseback. But that was good. That was exactly right. Schemes devised in comfort only produce complacent ideas. It is the thoughts squeezed out while suffering through hardship that become true strategies. Think. Keep thinking.

He possesses immense power. One of his greatest abilities is to read others’ thoughts and control their minds, dominating them. However, he cannot use this greatest weapon against me. If he were to “taint” my mind, this ancient sword I carry would also become “tainted.” A tainted ancient sword cannot summon King Jean’s legacy. Therefore, he will not, or cannot use his powerful magic to dominate my mind. This is probably certain. Do not doubt this, Bard Rowen. You must not doubt this.

Furthermore, he cannot simply kill me either. He can only seek to have the wielder of the ancient sword cooperate with him voluntarily. Since he could just wait for the next wielder to appear if he killed me, he might kill me as a last resort. But he will likely try to persuade me first. There is room for negotiation there.

But what should I negotiate? What can I extract from him? And what can I give him, and what must I not give him? Think, Bard Rowen. Keep thinking.

Bard was seized by an impulse to try summoning the “Arrow of Corama’s Fury.” This was not the first time. The temptation had assailed him many times. The ancient sword has the power to call out to the Arrow of Corama’s Fury. The Dragonoid Echidorkiye had said that its call could reach incredibly far distances. The Dragonoids had searched the entire continent but couldn’t find the Arrow of Corama’s Fury. That’s why they thought they had to use a relay device to call out to the ends of the world. But we don’t know that for certain, do we? It might be hidden surprisingly close by. If I called out with this ancient sword. If I, the wielder, called out. The Arrow of Corama’s Fury might respond. If I walked around the continent continuously calling out to the Arrow of Corama’s Fury, I might get a response.

Bard was on the verge of trying it. But every time he thought to do so, the face of the Dragonoid chieftain appeared in his mind. Since leaving the Cave of Trials, the Dragonoids had maintained an eerie silence. But was that really true? Might they not be secretly watching Bard even now, at this very moment? If Bard were able to summon the Arrow of Corama’s Fury, the Dragonoids might immediately appear, dominate Bard’s mind, and take possession of it. If that happened, the monster Patarapoza might be destroyed, but hell would await humanity. They would become slaves to the Dragonoids, used, torn apart, and devoured. For the Dragonoids, Patarapoza is a hated enemy, but humans are also like thorns in their eyes. When they become the masters of the continent once again, there would be only despair for humans.

However, if there was certainty that summoning the Arrow of Corama’s Fury could defeat the monster Patarapoza, Bard might have attempted it. But even if he summoned the Arrow of Corama’s Fury, how could he reach the Captive Island? There was no way. In other words, even if he summoned the Arrow of Corama’s Fury, he could not defeat Patarapoza.

No good. No good. Methods that rely on brute force are no good. First of all, even with the Arrow of Corama’s Fury, can we be sure such a thing really exists? And even if we obtained it, could we actually use it? In truth, Bard only knew about the Arrow of Corama’s Fury from what he had heard from the Dragonoid chieftain and Echidorkiye. He couldn’t stake the future of humanity and the continent on something so uncertain. Here, he needed to suppress his restless heart and maintain grounded thoughts.

Bard desperately tried to organize his thoughts as he swayed atop Yueitan. Both Karz and Seto were careful not to disturb Bard in this state. Eventually, rain began to fall in scattered drops. The rainfall gradually intensified, and the three people and three horses became soaked.

“Bard Rowen… Bard Rowen…”

3

“There’s a manor over there. It looks like a knight’s manor. It might belong to the local lord. Let’s ask for lodging there for the night,” said Seto, pointing to a building visible through a gap in the trees.

Bard rarely sought lodging at noble, that is, knights’ manors. He preferred to stay at inns if available, or in farmers’ homes if not. He disliked formality. However, after being showered by the rain for half a day, Bard was completely exhausted. He merely nodded in response to Seto’s words, without opening his mouth to reply.

As they approached, they saw it was a very old-fashioned but magnificent manor. Moreover, the estate sprawled along the mountainside, quite large in size. Seto dismounted and knocked on the door.

“Hello! Hello! This is Sir Bard Rowen, Knight of Fyuzarion, and his party. We have been caught in the rain and are in difficulty. Might we impose upon you for lodging for one night? Hello! Hello!”

Seto continued knocking on the door for a while. Eventually, the door opened slightly. The person visible through the gap was holding a candle. It was an old man, dressed properly in the attire of a butler. The master of this manor seemed to be a person of higher status than expected.

“Did you say Sir Bard Rowen, Knight of Fyuzarion?”

“Indeed.”

“Might you be Sir Bard Rowen, Knight of Pakula?”

“My master was formerly a Knight of Pakula. He is now a guest of the Orgazard family in northern Fyuzarion on the frontier.”

The aged butler peered at Bard’s face through the gap in the door. His weathered face seemed to confirm Bard’s features in the darkness of night. Opening the door wide, the butler welcome them.

“Please come in.”

4

The butler welcomed Bard and his two companions into the manor. A page took the horses’ bridles, saying he would stable them. This was most welcome. After taking their cloaks and hats, the butler guided the three to the second floor.

Thankfully, hot water was promptly brought. This is one of the welcoming aspects of travelling in the frontier. With no shortage of wood for fuel, hot water is often available in abundance. Of course, this requires manpower, so the fact that such hospitality could be provided immediately to unexpected guests shows that the servants are well-trained. The master of the manor was a knight named Kurt Arendas. This Lord Arendas had apparently instructed the butler to treat them nicely.

“If it is Bard Rowen of Pakula, show him to a room immediately.”

The butler must have sensed respect and goodwill in his master’s voice. There was politeness and warmth in his treatment of Bard and his companions. After being given a change of clothes and freshening up, Bard and the others were shown to the dining room and treated to wine and stew.

“As the master has already retired for the night, he asks to be excused this evening and will greet you tomorrow,” said the butler.

Of course, this was to avoid causing unnecessary concern to Bard and his companions, who were likely tired. As evidence of this, although the mansion was quite large and appeared to house many people, only those of lower status came out to greet Bard and his companions.

Sleeping in a bed was truly comfortable. Bard slept soundly.

5

The next morning, he woke up quite early. Bard was alone in the room. Each of the three had been given their own room. Despite Seto’s light attire, they seemed to have recognized him as a squire close to knighthood. Of course, all three were on horseback, and Seto’s horse was quite magnificent, so anyone with a keen eye would realize he was not a mere servant.

A water jug was placed by the pillow. After moistening his dry throat, Bard returned to bed and pondered. His head was clear, and his thoughts had regained their sharpness.

There was no need to overthink things. It was clear from the start that this was an opponent they couldn’t defeat. However, the other side wouldn’t try to kill them immediately. There was an opportunity to exploit there.

What was their wish? It was to know the truth. They wanted to know the true identity of the monster. They wanted to know the monster’s aim. They wanted to know the monster’s strengths and weaknesses. They wanted to know the true nature of the inheritance. They wanted to know what the monster intended to do after obtaining it.

However, they must never hand over what the other side wanted. This meant that they would die. Dying was acceptable. There was nothing they absolutely had to accomplish while alive. The ability to choose death was their greatest strength.

The problem was what came after. How to preserve the information they had learned. That was the issue. That knowledge would serve as a guiding light for future generations.

For this purpose, it was necessary to have someone present during the meeting with Patarapoza. The problem was how that person could escape safely after the meeting with Patarapoza ended and Bard died. Patarapoza wouldn’t simply let someone who knew the secret escape. Was there someone who could still escape despite this?

He couldn’t think of anything beyond that immediately. However, Bard felt his mind and body becoming more invigorated. It should be said that the hardships of the journey had paid off. There was no need to rush. He could slowly refine his thoughts.

6

Breakfast was served in each person’s room. Seto quickly finished his meal and came to Bard’s room to attend to him. There was a message from the lord of the house, asking them to stay one more night. He said he wanted to greet them properly at dinner. Bard accepted.

At the dinner table, there were four people from the mansion. Lord Kurt Arendas, the master of the house, and three others. One was Kurt’s wife, Suraciena. While her husband Kurt was well past seventy, Suraciena was barely over twenty. She was a strikingly beautiful woman. Her eyes and mouth were large, and her jaw was taut and well-defined. Her mere presence seemed to cast a brilliant glow around her. Strangely, even with just a subtle glance, one could tell where her eyes were looking and what they were focused on. Even the slightest lift of her mouth corners conveyed that she was smiling. Her eyes and mouth were so impressive that even the slightest change drew one’s gaze. Without making any particularly provocative gestures, the lady’s sensuality was dizzying. Despite being such a striking beauty, it was said that the main dishes of the meal were prepared by the lady herself.

“My wife loves to cook. Well, I wonder if it suits your taste,” Kurt said.

This modesty was entirely unnecessary. The dishes prepared by the lady were all exquisitely delicious. Moreover, how should one put it? They were warm and tender.

Take, for example, this stewed mountain bird and yam. It was well-cooked and tender. It was properly seasoned, but not overbearing. There was no harshness to it. It’s incredibly soft and feels gentle on the body. While it’s not as exquisite as Kamler’s cooking, it had a truly good flavor. It was a dish filled with thoughtfulness. One could call it homely. What could explain the gap between the lady’s flashy appearance and this cooking?

No, that’s not it, Bard thought. This cooking revealed the lady’s true nature. She might appear flashy at first glance, but one’s facial features are something one can’t help. The gentleness and thoughtfulness felt in this cooking must represent the lady’s true character. If one had to choose between believing the lady’s appearance or the taste of this cooking, it must be the taste of the cooking. One shouldn’t be misled by appearances. This lady must actually have a very domestic, gentle, and modest temperament.

The other two who joined the dinner were knights serving the Arendas family. The knight named Danga Uzu was large and had a very martial air about him. However, his martial prowess was quite impressive. The knight named Shayma Idaaru was slender and had refined manners. This man also seemed quite capable, but he didn’t seem to match up to Danga.

Surprisingly, despite living in such a remote location, Kurt had heard rumors about Bard from the Pakula era. This night’s dinner was quite enjoyable. Through Kurt’s consideration, Seto was also allowed to join, and he enlivened the table by telling interesting stories about their journey.

That was all well and good, but there was one thing that bothered Bard. It was the way the knight Danga looked at the lady. It wasn’t the way one should look at their lord’s wife. To Bard, it seemed to have the heat of a carnivorous beast eyeing its prey.