124 068. Ancient Ruin -1 Part Two

I continued listening to Tina’s story while feeling rather bitter about it.

A short while later, Kasal’s voice came to us from outside the tent, “I’ve brought some food, sirs. Would you like some?”

“Ah, hang on. Let me join you guys outside. There are some things I’d like to hear from you as well.”

Damon and I stepped outside the tent, leaving Tina and my skeleton behind inside.

I let her be on her own and headed straight into the midst of the mercenaries currently sitting around a campfire.

However, even I could tell that they were quite tense. From what I heard, they were like this because of how so many of Aslan’s Necromancers were cruel and volatile in nature.

The atmosphere suggested that this was not a place I should stick my nose in, but it couldn’t be helped as I had a pressing matter to attend to. After getting a bowl of soup, I wanted to somewhat soften the stiff mood around, so I stared at Hans next.

He was still glancing at me every now and then as if he wanted so badly to solve his curiosity over the skeletons I summoned earlier.

“Ah, yes. I am.”

“Your wares seem rather excellent.”

Hans’s eyes began gleaming once I praised him a bit. It seemed that he was a bit on the gullible side.

2

I carried on talking to him in a slightly flattering tone of voice. “Indeed, your products seem quite useful. If it’s alright with you, I wouldn’t mind purchasing some of them.”

“O-of course! I have many varied wares to choose from. Such as the crystal sphere containing poison that will explode, a goggle to detect any traps lying in wait, and also…”

Hans sounded quite excited as he began introducing his products. Now that I heard him, several of his things really did sound useful.

“I wish to learn alchemy as well. Is it possible?”

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Hans flinched upon hearing that.

He replied while cautiously minding my reaction. “That… will be difficult, sir. My family forbids the passing of our alchemy skills to someone who is not of our descendant…”

I was a bit flustered by that reply. I was initially sceptical of the Theocratic Empire being on the losing side, but then it occurred to me that Kasal only said that to hopefully please the ‘noble’ of this country.

Damon also seemed a little taken aback by Aslan’s situation and paid closer attention as well.

I spoke up again. “I pray that you answer me honestly. I’m simply curious. I merely wish to find out what the citizens are thinking of, that’s all.”

The mercenaries began exchanging glances with each other after hearing what I had to say.

Another bout of silence ensued until Hans decided to butt in. “Apparently, we’re in the middle of a negotiation, sir.”

“Negotiation, is it?”

I stared at Hans.

He continued on. “As you may well know, Aslan has taken hostage of the Theocratic Empire’s Second Crown Princess Consort and the Imperial Princes.”

“W-well, that… that, that is… Ha-haha… No way?”

“No way what, exactly?”

I smiled meaningfully at Hans.

With a pair of trembling hands, he carefully folded the portrait away. As thick cold sweat drops rolled off his face, his whole body went stiff and he dared not to look at my face anymore.

He finally squeaked some words out. “N-no, it’s nothing at all, good sir. I… I haven’t seen anything and heard nothing at all. T-that is why…!”

As I thought, this guy enjoyed a run of great luck. Despite his loose lips and lightweight behaviour, he somehow managed to keep surviving in this harsh, unforgiving world.

Unfortunately, his luck seemed to have finally run out this evening.

A tall shadow suddenly appeared from behind Hans. A summoned skeleton stood there and reached out to firmly grab him by his shoulder.

When the atmosphere fell off a cliff in an instant, the mercenaries flinched nastily, and as befitting a bunch of men with quick wits, hurriedly vacated their spots around the campfire.

“Why don’t we have a more measured, intimate conversation, just the two of us?”

While I smiled oh-so happily at him, Hans’s complexion became deathly pale.

1

More sweat flooded down from his face as he murmured one other thing in a weak voice, “T-that alchemy thing, do you still wish to learn it, good sir?”

3

It was good to know that he was so willing to change his tune. Too bad, he seemed to be a bit tardy in that regard.

I shook my head. “Nah, I’m good.”

“W-w-wait a moment, please!”

He fell into a bout of a deep contemplation. He was probably searching for a way to keep breathing, or so I thought.

No matter how dimwitted he was, he should be able to figure out by now that the current situation was rather precarious to his overall health.

His eyes urgently shifted from this way and that before he suddenly clapped his hands as if he finally managed to recall something. “Ah! B-by any chance, have you heard about the treasure trove hidden inside an ancient ruin?”