Apostle of the Void

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 44: In the Red Mountain Range (8)

"Tall-Half, you say?"

"Yeah, despite how she looks, she's twenty-five. She's ten years older than you."

Tall-Half was a race born from both humans and Dwarves.

Although generally short (but taller than Dwarves), they experience aging much later in life.

Since they inherit traits equally from both humans and Dwarves, they're known for having greater strength than humans and possessing a small degree of magical ability.

‘Now that I think about it... Dwarves are usually protective of their techniques, but Tall-Halfs are considered kin, so they’re more open to sharing them.’

Though smaller than Jerome's, it was clearly a steam core.

Attached to both sides of the steam core were two holstered pistols.

It seemed that, unlike Jerome’s preference for heavy weaponry, this person opted for light armor focused on speed.

"This is Arzen. He brought most of the high-quality spikes."

Ronnie clapped her hands.

[tl/n:Ronnie is the nickname given to Ronida by the author]

"Wow, impressive!"

Arzen arrogantly brushed under his nose.

"Hmph, is it really that impressive?"

"Then are you saying it isn't impressive?!"

"Typical for someone with Dwarven blood—quick to stubbornly hold their ground but even faster to relent when it’s convenient!"

Beth burst out laughing.

"You two seem to get along well. That’s good, because I plan to send both of you as escorts for the Deep Investigation Team."

"The Deep Investigation Team?"

"After analyzing these spikes for a month, we’ve confirmed something. These spikes are a tool to suppress the power of the Red Mountain Range by damaging its ley lines."

"What do you mean?"

"The original name of the Red Mountain Range was Anshurnav, which translates to 'The Twisting Range.' It was the domain of one of the <Forgotten Kings>, the Lord of Time."

“!”

"The Red Dragon Legion once filled the mountain range with flames to suppress and seal the corruption that spread throughout it. The kobolds’ goal is undoubtedly to weaken that seal."

Arzen raised an eyebrow.

"Kobolds aren’t smart enough for that."

Ronnie nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, they’re usually pretty dumb. But I did notice they were stronger than the ones we used to deal with."

Beth sighed as she placed a spike on the table.

"If they find a leader, who knows what could happen. Arzen, you would know better than anyone, wouldn’t you?"

"...!"

"In any case, there’s something suspicious behind the strange phenomena in the Red Mountain Range. And yesterday, we discovered a deep rift."

Beth unfurled a large map beside the spike.

It was unlike the cheap maps they had seen at the branch office.

A holographic map of the mountain range appeared in mid-air, with the target tunnel clearly marked.

It was undoubtedly a map manifested through sorcery.

"The party that found this place marked the location and immediately retreated, saying it looked extremely dangerous. This was a top-tier Brass-ranked party."

Ronnie placed her hands on her hips.

"You mentioned we’d be escorts, right? So who’s in charge of the investigation?"

At that moment, from the far end of the table inside the tent, the witch who had been silently sitting there lifted the brim of her pointed hat, revealing her face.

"It's me."

The badge on her chest marked her as a Witch of Death.

Just wearing that badge indicated she was not an apprentice witch, but a fully qualified one.

Her robe was red, which meant she specialized in battle magic—she was a Red Witch.

"She's my disciple. Her name is Svena," Beth explained.

"Though she’s only been a witch for a few years, her combat skills far surpass her seniors'."

"She’s quite formidable."

"Of course, I trained her rigorously. I’m confident the three of you can uncover the secret buried beneath the Deep Rift."

Arzen stroked his chin.

"Deep exploration takes a lot of time, and only three of us... that seems—"

He had intended to use this as an opportunity to negotiate higher compensation, but the foolish Tollhalf woman spoiled his plan.

"Yes! A long journey with just the three of us will be tough! We’ll probably need some help!"

Svena shook her head.

"I already sent a large-scale request through the Adventurer’s Guild yesterday. By now, the entrances to tunnels 1 through 9 should be swarming with adventurers heading toward the Deep Rift."

"!"

"While those adventurers distract whatever might be behind the kobolds, we’ll head deep underground through tunnel 10."

The tunnels close to each other were all connected below ground, thanks to the kobolds’ digging.

"Esteemed witch, hehe, what about the reward?" Arzen asked, rubbing his hands together with a sycophantic tone.

"Do you really have to ask?"

"Oh! I was just talking nonsense!"

"Since we’re putting on such a grand show, it’s only right to expect a big payoff!"

Wait, a gold coin?

Sure, this request was big enough to warrant hiring Silver-ranked adventurers, but still…

‘No matter how I look at it, this reward is way too generous!’

Arzen’s spirits soared as he remembered how lavishly he’d lived after receiving a single gold coin from the request he had completed with Sia’s party.

"Oh, esteemed witch, I’ll give everything I have to this mission until my body breaks!"

"But after taxes and fees, it comes down to 80 silver coins."

"Uh, then maybe I won’t go all out until my body breaks."

Beth sighed with disappointment.

"I routed the request through the guild specifically because finishing this mission will give you the chance to take your promotion test… but if you insist, I’ll arrange for you to be directly contracted instead."

Arzen immediately fell to his knees before the witch.

"Oh, my foolish self! I swear I’ll give my all to complete this mission!"

---

And so, the three-member investigation team was formed.

It was a shame they didn’t have a proper vanguard.

However, since the Red Witch, who had officially been knighted, was extremely powerful, there wasn’t much to worry about.

Silver-ranked adventurers, like the ones in Sia’s party, were known to be quite strong.

‘And more importantly, with the future Gold-ranked Arzen on this team, this mission is as good as done!’

It would be nice to receive the reward immediately, though... Just kidding.

After bowing deeply to Beth and stepping outside, Arzen saw that Ronnie and Svena were already geared up and ready to move.

Ronnie was warming up her steam core. She seemed to wear a special pair of goggles during combat.

Ronnie asked,

"It sounds like an important mission. Why is only one witch going?"

"Because I wanted to. As my master's disciple, I saw this as the perfect chance to make a name for myself."

"?"

As Ronnie and Arzen gave her skeptical side glances, Svena turned to face them and snapped her fingers.

"Let me make this clear right now. I’m perfect! And you two are lucky to be escorting me. You’re going to get high rewards without much risk."

"???"

"And since I’m destined for greatness, it wouldn’t hurt to start earning points with me now. Adventurers know how important it is to build connections, don’t they?"

Arzen furrowed his brow.

‘This brat—her arrogance is through the roof now that the esteemed witch isn’t around!’

However, the simple-minded Ronnie responded with genuine admiration.

"Wow, that’s incredible! I look forward to working with you!"

Svena then looked at Arzen.

"Answer."

Arzen neither applauded nor replied.

That was something only novices did!

Instead, he picked a fight with some adventurers being tossed aside like trash on the road.

"Hey, move it, you bunch of weaklings! The great Witch Svena, future High Priestess, is passing through! Huh?!"

The adventurers gritted their teeth at Arzen’s provocations, but knowing it would do them no good to anger a witch, they went on their way.

With exaggerated gestures, Arzen pointed ahead.

"Lady Witch, please proceed! I’ve cleared the path of trash for you!"

Svena grinned in satisfaction.

"Ahahaha! Very good! Now, let’s go and find out what’s happening in the Deep Rift."

* * *

While adventurers were lining up to enter tunnels 1 through 9, tunnel 10 was under the strict control of the Witch Association.

"Hey, can’t we use this tunnel too?"

Several adventuring parties pleaded with the apprentice witches at the entrance, but the association’s stance was firm.

"No, you can’t. We’re not letting you in. Go away. We won’t change our minds."

"That’s so unfair…."

"Let’s stop wasting time and go line up. The Witch Association’s stubbornness is nothing new."

With slumped shoulders, the adventurers departed, defeated.

As Arzen passed by them, he felt like he was on top of the world.

This is how winners and losers in life are separated.

‘Pathetic! These trash adventurers should have been smart like me and made connections in advance!’

The apprentice witches, who had maintained a strict and serious attitude with the adventurers, immediately bowed repeatedly when Svena appeared.

"Se-Senior!"

"T-The Red Witch Svena, who was knighted at 23 years old!"

"Kyaa, she’s so amazing!"

Their reactions were incredibly contrived.

It was obvious that Svena had trained them herself.

But Arzen decided not to point it out. This is just how social life works, after all.

"Starting now, we’re on an investigation mission. Guard the entrance well. Oh, and if we don’t come out within 48 hours, send a rescue team."

"Yes, Senior!"

"Alright, let’s move out, adventurers."

As they descended the tunnel’s slope, they soon reached a point where the torches began to flicker and fade.

Arzen opened the scripture.

The Lamp of Prayer, summoned with a perfect incantation, was large enough to be split into two. He placed one at the front and the other at the back, illuminating the entire tunnel.

Witches were often clumsy, and it wouldn’t do for them to trip on something valuable.

"This is useful, after all."

"Oh, it's just a minor trick. Nothing compared to the power of a witch."

"That’s true."

Arzen's eyebrow twitched.

‘This arrogant witch… gets cocky just because I praised her a little?’

But he had to endure it.

In this line of work, the client is king.

And among clients, the Witch Association was the one that tossed gold coins around without a second thought.

‘If I’m going to flatter her, I should do it in the most fantastic and artistic way possible!’

Just then, Ronnie, who had been quietly staring into the darkness, moved.

In an instant, she pulled two guns from her Steam Core’s holsters, one in each hand.

"Hostile detected, it’s a kobold."

Sshhhh...

The sound of steam traveling through the hoses of the Steam Core was quickly followed by screams.

Arzen squinted his eyes.

"Wasn't that a person?"

"N-No! It's not!"

"A person? Are you insane, murderer!"

"It’s a kobold! Hmph, my Alpha Vision scans perfectly up to 20 meters."

Ronnie proudly pointed at her goggles.

‘Huh... are those goggles actually an artifact?’

How could someone of Silver rank already have an artifact?

‘Wearable artifacts are so expensive, they might as well touch the heavens!’

While Arzen was deep in thought, Svena had already moved forward and was nudging the kobold’s corpse with her foot.

"It’s a kobold."

All five of them had their helmets, made of mana stones, pierced precisely in the middle of their foreheads.

The aim was extraordinary.

Svena continued speaking.

"Kobolds are the spawn of the Lizard Lord, failed creations that couldn’t become reptilians."

"!"

"Since their connection to the abyss is weak, they survived even during the Era of Light."

"!!"

"Until now, they’ve caused trouble here and there, but never in large groups or to the extent of affecting the Red Mountains… Something is definitely strange."

Just like Yuz, witches often exuded a serious and dignified aura when talking about the legends of this world.

Maybe it was part of their education.

"I'll be observing the flow of spiritual energy as we move. Keep guarding the front and back as you are."

For a big mission that offered a high reward, the faster it was completed, the better. There was no benefit in dragging it out.

"Kaz tu Arcturas! Full deployment of the Void Squadron!"

From the darkness came the eerie sound of wings flapping as the creatures of the Void poured out.

‘Void creatures total, 79 units!’

After a month of continuous training (with rest on holidays, of course), Arzen had managed to increase his squadron to 18 units.

"Destroy the kobolds that dare interfere with the great Witch Svena! Do not allow them to interrupt her spiritual energy observations."

Buuuuuu...

The lead bees guided the Void creatures into the dark area beyond the torchlight.

"That...!"

Svena’s eyes trembled for a moment.

A sudden flash of fear crossed Arzen’s mind.

— That’s clearly an ancient evil power! Ronnie, arrest that suspicious thing at once!

— Kyaaah!

However, in the next moment, Svena simply darted behind Ronnie’s back.

"Eek! Bugs! I hate bugs more than anything in the world! Don’t let them come within 5 meters of me!"

This time, Ronnie placed a hand on her Alpha Vision goggles, furrowing her brow.

"I’ve heard of this... It’s a monster that’s been attacking adventurers recently, causing them to lose their hair!"

Ronnie looked at Arzen with a serious expression.

"Arzen, could it be... you?"

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

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