<h4>Chapter 66: gon (3)</h4>


    Hiram managed to reach the imperial army post. As soon as the other soldiers realized who Hiram was affiliated with, they immediately called over the priests and wizards to heal him. However, to Hiram, teleporting was much more important.


    “Teleport, get ready for teleport first!”


    “But the wound on your shoulder is so severe…!”


    “I don’t care, just hurry!”


    He had to let Salmora know that the mission hadn’t gone as nned as soon as possible. Although Hiram almost passed out from the excruciating pain when they treated his wound, his loyalty kept him awake.


    After he was treated, they were ready for teleportation.


    “We’ll start now.”


    <i>Voom!</i>


    Casting a teleportation spell on one’s own was fairly difficult, but if there were a few wizards around and a ready magic circle, teleporting was a convenient means of transportation.


    <i>Zap!</i>


    When the correct coordinates were entered into the magic circle, the teleportation was instantaneous.


    * * *


    Hiram felt nauseous and sore from the teleportation, but he hurried to meet Salmora right away.


    “Sir, it’s Hiram, themander of the fifth unit.”


    “Tell him toe in.”


    Salmora’s light purple hair was neatly slicked back, and it looked like poison diluted in water. His face was cold and impassive, and even Hiram’s sudden appearance didn’t affect his expression.


    Hirman arrived in front of Salmora, sweating all over. Despite the urgency and pain, Hiram saluted–with his left hand because his right arm was gone.


    Salmora’s eyes narrowed like those of a viper when he saw Hiram’s shoulder.


    “Salute! Greetings, sir,”


    “...It seems that the mission was a failure.”


    “I-I apologize. I will dly ept any punishment for failing toplete this mission.”


    Despite the urgent situation, Hiram did not seem to be in a rush and appearedposed. Salmora hated people who panicked or acted like they were in a rush or busy.


    Salmora put down the book he was reading and said coldly, “Cut the crap and exin what happened.”


    “The thing is…”


    Hiram told him everything factually without any subjective opinions, not neglecting to include his own insufficient skills.


    “Even though you couldn’t sense any aura from him, he still fought with you toe to toe?”


    “Yes.”


    “Hmm.” He knew full well that Hiram was not the type of man to lie to avoid responsibility, which is why he was directly under Salmora’smand, even though he was in a low-level unit. However, this perplexed Salmora even more.


    <i>‘He didn’t even have an aura. How is that possible?’</i>


    There was not enough information on this man. In addition, if Hiram’s identity was discovered, it meant that Munke would have also been discovered.


    <i>‘I need to take care of this.’</i>


    Although the supplies given to the exiles didn’t amount to a lot, it was still a part of a budget set by an imperialmand and policy. If there was evidence that they hadn’t followed the imperialmand, Marquis Aubert and Salmora would both be held responsible.


    <i>‘My reputation will be ruined as well.’</i>


    The Three Great Families could cover it up, but if it ever got out that the empire’s most prestigious imperial knights were pretending to be bandits, they would be the subject of ridicule.


    <i>‘I can’t let that happen.’</i>


    .


    Salmora hated all attacks on his pride. So, before anything got out to the public, Salmora decided to get rid of all the evidence. He told his secretary, “Call in themander of the third unit.”


    “Yes, sir.”


    In order to deal with the situation, themander of the third unit had real skill, unlike a lousy Sword Master.


    Right after the order, Hiram, who had been looking at Salmora, hesitated and began to talk.


    “Um… sir.”


    “What is it?”


    “What is going to happen to me now…?”


    It had been decades since the war had ended, but the military, including the imperial knights, were still there for any possibility. A swordsman who could no longer hold a sword was useless to the imperial army.


    Salmora replied coldly, “You’re saying you want to stay in the imperial army even though your arm looks like that?”


    “T-that is…”


    It was not an answer he wanted to ept.


    Salmora suddenly gave a rare smile and said, “I’m kidding. I don’t abandon my subordinates, but since you don’t have a right arm anymore… Hiram, go to the magic tower.”


    “Thank you! Thank you so much! But… may I ask: what is the magic tower? I don''t think I’ve ever heard of it?”


    “My mistake. Let me correct myself, forget what I just said.”


    “Yes, sir.”


    “Anyway, go to the Magical Spire and look for a wizard named Dracan. If you let him know that I sent you, he’ll understand why you’re there, and who knows, maybe Dracan will be able to restore your severed arm?”


    Salmora smiled like a snake as he spoke.


    * * *


    Shalon ate the dishes Henry had prepared until he was full. The dishes were so tasty that everyone shed tears of joy. None of them had had a hot meal since arriving in Salgaera. After stuffing himself, Shalony on the floor with his arms and legs spread.


    “Oh wow… There''s still so much room for me even though I’m spread out like this…”


    Shalon had never been able to sleepfortably since he’d started living underground over a year ago. It was warmer underground, but if they weren’t careful, the buildup of moisture would make their clothes damp. Also, the poor venttion made the air stuffy, and bugs like centipedes and ants would crawl on their thighs from time to time.


    The mansion Henry had built for them had high ceilings, floors that were free of moisture, and plenty of space. There wasn’t a single thing to dislike. In addition, the floors were warm even without a fire, almost as if the sun were shining on them.


    It felt like a dream to Shalon and all the other vigers.


    “<i>Phew</i>, finally it’s done.”


    Hagler had just finished organizing the supplies that Henry had left to him. He sat against the wall and was reminded of his past as he watched the joyful vigers.


    <i>‘If it weren’t for the master… I would have been in the same situation.’</i>


    His life had been insignificant before he’d beaten the count he was serving and joined the Million Corps. Because of this, Halger could understand the struggles of the exiles and sympathize with them. His opinion of Henry rose.


    <i>‘I didn’t realize how great a person he is.’</i>


    At first, Hagler thought Henry was simply apetent baron. Also, the continent was sorge that he hadn’t thought twice about Henry having the same name as Henry Morris. However, after Henry calmly revealed his identity to the vigers, Hagler was amazed.


    <i>‘Who would have thought that he was the disciple of the great archmage?’</i>


    The former archmage, Henry Morris, was called the wise man of the empire. He was a man of enormous influence; it was enough to say that the entire empire flourished thanks to the rise of a single wizard.


    In addition, he was famous for not having any disciples so that he could focus on his development. To find out that Henry had been hiding a disciple who happened to be the master Hagler was serving made Hagler get chills all over his body. That such a great man would call him arade made Hagler’s lips curl up into a smile.


    “Hehe… I swear loyalty to my master,” Hagler said to himself, his head bowed.


    “Alright, I’ll keep that in mind,” a familiar voice replied.


    “Huh? S-sir?”


    It was Henry. Hagler quickly stood and greeted Henry. “When did you get back?”


    “Just now.”


    “But I didn’t hear the door open.”


    “I’ve already revealed that I am a wizard. Why would I use the door?”


    “Ah…”


    Henry was simply stating a fact, but Hagler felt like he had spoken in such a graceful way.


    <i>-Khuu?</i>


    “H-huh?”


    Hagler automatically raised his arm to defend himself when he noticed a strange reptile on Henry’s shoulder.


    Henryughed and said, “Why are you so startled?”


    “S-sir! W-what is that?”


    It was natural that he’d be surprised since he had never seen an evil spirit before.


    “Have you never seen a spirit before?” Henry asked casually.


    “S-spirit…?”


    “This guy''s name is gon, he is the offspring of the highest form of water spirit, Elyragon. However, he’s just a newborn, so his abilities are still insignificant.”


    Hagler had only ever seen a low-level spirit before that belonged to a low-ss elementalist, and he observed gon curiously. However, he didn’t have the courage to touch the creature.


    “I’ve dealt with the drinking water and other things, so tell them all toe out.”


    “Yes, sir!”


    The vigers also seemed quite surprised at Henry’s sudden reappearance, but unlike Hagler, their reactions were more muted since they’d seen this sort of thing before. Everyone followed Henry, and when the front doors opened, they were all amazed.


    “Wow…”


    “What am I looking at right now?”


    “How… What the…”


    The vigers looked in awe at the giant, steamingke right in front of them. The heavy snow of Salgaera falling on the hot spring created an unusual sight. “While I was examining theke, I happened to find out that Salgaera was mostly a volcanic region.”


    “Volcanic region?”


    “Most of them are dormant volcanoes… And because of that, most of Salgaera’s water is hot, not cold.”


    “Then what about theke in the north?”


    “Thatke didn’t have an ice spirit like you thought, but there was something simr there. This guy ate it, though, and now theke is a hot spring.” Henry did not hide gon from the vigers.


    After getting rid of all the dead fish, Henry tried to make a waterway that would bring the water from the northernke to the front of the mansion. When gon understood Henry''s intentions, he’d bitten down on Henry’s pant leg and dragged him forward.


    <i>‘I didn’t know you had the ability to find water veins.’</i>


    Perhaps because he had received Henry’s mana as an egg, gon couldmunicate with Henry so well that no other spirits could even dream of it.


    Although gon was still too young to have a full conversation with him, Henry believed that gon would stay loyal to him since they already had this level ofmunication.


    gon found a vein of water closer to the mansion and Henry used a spell to create a secondke right in front of the mansion for the vigers.


    “The water is clear and clean, so there will be no problem using it as drinking water. I have also made a well near theke, so you can get drinking water from there as well.”


    The vigers once again bowed and expressed their gratitude toward Henry.


    “From now on, I will take care of all of you by creating a merchantpany so you won’t have to rely on the Painted Merchants.”


    “Really?”


    “I think this will reassure me more.”


    Henry finallypleted all of his preparations.


    <i>‘Now, is the only thing left is to hand the men over to Count Eisen?’</i>


    Henry finally let go of the guilt he’d held on to for so long. Henry finished praying for the dead with everyone and began to make his way out of Salgaera with Hagler.