Hero without Blood or Tear - Chapter 43

Chapter 43

After separating from Walpurgis, I headed to Dresden, the capitol of Sachsen territory .  That’s where the hint in resolving the matter at hand was .

It was about 140 Kilometers north, and although Pilsen, an intermediate city, was under the control of a demon king, it was not much of a concern .

Pilsen was being ruled by demon king Kubalt, the 26th in the line of power, and was a moderate demon king who maintained normal relations with the humans as well .  As long as a toll fee was paid, the passage would be smooth .

After arriving at Pilsen three days later, I’ve reached Radbouza River that passed through Pilsen .  It was rather narrow to be called a river .   Nonetheless, it was necessary to pay a toll fee before crossing the bridge .

“How much?”

“Where have you come from, sir?”

The goblin soldier who was collecting the toll fee was looking at me with interest .

“

“Is that important?  There must be a countless number of people who cross the bridge . ”

“It’s only because you look extraordinary .  Isn’t it my duty to check those individuals who look that way, sir?”

“I see that you are dedicated and diligent to your work .  I’ve come from Wittenbaier . ”

“You’ve come from far .  May I learn your name, sir?”

“I’m Ballasthedde Valer .  I’m just a lowly mercenary . ”

In response, the goblin laughed as if he was being entertained and slightly raised the eye glasses that he was wearing with one of his hands .

“Kakaka .  I’ve seen many mercenaries in my life time, yet I have never seen a ‘lowly mercenary’, like you . ”

“Hm, I’ve seen many goblins also, but never saw any one goblin like you who are very mindful . ”

I subtly looked at the ring that the goblin was wearing .

“I’m a very ordinary guy like a small pebble in the streets .  Please do pass . ”

“Thank you .  This is a beautiful city . ”

Perhaps, he liked what I’ve just said?  He screamed from behind my back as I was leaving .

“Please have a great journey, sir!”

After waving my hand, I led Philly .  There were a lot of unusual things to see in demon kings’ territories .

From orc sentry, holding a halberd, succubus who was making passes at passersby, to ogres who seemed to have been captured as a slave from his young age, there were full of diverse spectacles .

I was making my way forward, thinking that it would be worthwhile to visit Pilsen as a tourist, when a large Minotaur stopped me in my track .

Wearing excellent clothes, he was very tall, like the Minotaur that he was .  His eye level was about at the same height as mine, riding on the back of Philly, the war horse .

“Pardon me . ”

As I tried to steer the horse to a side, the Minotaur spoke to me unexpectedly .

“Sir Ballasthedde Valer . ”

What the heck was this…It wasn’t that I didn’t have any clue as to how this person knew me, but still my name wasn’t very widely known .

“Who are you?”

“I am Guram, a night who is currently serving the ‘great one’ .  He has requested me to bring you . ”

“The head of this city is what you mean?”

“Yes, if you’d approve, I’ll take you to him . ”

Looking at him, I could see that his fist was as big a boulder .  If I was to decline, I was afraid as to what might happen next .

“I see .  It will be an honor if I could meet his highness, Kubalt . ”

After nodding just once, Guram led the way .  It did not take long to reach the ostentatious palace of the demon king .

“Please wait in the reception room . ”

I was led in to a room that was elaborately decorated with amber .  After saying goodbye, Guram has disappeared .

How long have I been waiting?  With a knock on the door, a goblin servant entered the room .

“Uh, you?”

“We meet again .  A lowly mercenary, sir . ”

The goblin was none other than the one who was collecting the tolls at the bridge .  I could finally see what was happening at that time .

“What about his highness, the demon king?”

“I believe he will be a little delayed due to an unexpected occurrence . ”

Interesting .  I did not realize that this was how they were going to approach it .

“Do you think that I have snitched on you?”

I shook my head as the goblin asked me while he was pouring a cup of tea .

“That is not important . ”

“Then what is important?  I’m not sure I understand . ”

“Everyone ought to be able to assume that you are simply a snitch .  However, by thinking a bit more, it will be possible to see beyond that . ”

“Beyond that, you say?”

“Right . ”

After nodding my head, I gently looked at the goblin and asked again .

“Isn’t that so?  Your highness?”

At that moment, the goblin hesitated .  But soon, he began to laugh brazenly .

“You must not know since you’ve come from a far away land .  A goblin like me could not be the leader of this great city .  The demon king looks like that . ”

The goblin pointed to a portrait that was hung on a wall .  In the picture, a handsome man with a horn on his head was smiling softly .

“He is handsome man . ”

“He is Kubalt, the demon king .  He is in no way related to a goblin like me .

“Look .  Wisdom is not something that can be measured by wild guesses . ”

“Then?”

“I have several hints that you are the demon king . ”

In response to my words, the goblin giggled .

“That’s a very interesting point of view .  I’ll be your conversation pal as there still is time before the highness can make his way here . ”

I opened three fingers and showed them to the goblin .

“There are three hints that you are the demon king .  First of all, his highness, Kubalt, the demon king is a master of disguise .  It was told that he enjoys observing the city in many different forms .  Especially, he is known to appear as either a goblin or a child to a person that he encounters for the first time . ”

“Why is that?”

“That’s simple .  That is to observe how the other party approaches the situation by showing himself as a vulnerable person . ”

The goblin’s face was filled with interest .

“That’s an interesting opinion .  But then that alone is not a sufficient proof to say that I’m the demon king . ”

“I agree .  Second, it is the ruby ring that you are wearing on your finger . ”

“This ring, you mean?”

The goblin raised his hand to show it .

“That’s right, on the outside, it appears as if it is an ordinary ring which can be seen anywhere .  However, someone who is highly observant can determine that that item is a ring that his highness always wears . ”

“That’s an interesting opinion, but still insufficient .  This type of ruby ring can easily be ascertained by purchasing it, as long as you have the money .  Even if it looks similar, that doesn’t mean a thing . ”

“I’m not sure, if that was an ordinary ruby ring, that may be possible, but what sort of a goblin would be wearing an imperishable ruby, mined from the Kaicit Mountain, which the demon king also wears?”

With that, the goblin could not hide his astonishment .

“Do you know of Kaicit Mountain?”

“It is a well known mountain and as such there is no reason for someone to not know of it .  It seems that your kind often forgets how profoundly the humans are interested in the demons . ”

“Well, I’ll give you that .  What is the last proof?”

The final proof was the most definite one .