Tsuyokute New Saga (LN)

A country of mystery and adventurers…this was a befitting description for Eddos, located in the dead center of the humanfolk’s territory. One of its peculiar traits was that roughly 70% and more of its territory was covered by large forests. When it came to most forests across the continent of Loindars, they were usually inhabited by monsters and beasts, but none of those could be compared to the sheer amount of different races and types of monsters in Eddos’ forests. Amidst them were monsters with a conscience and magic special to only them, which were categorized as mythical beasts that one would only hear of in legends and myths.

This was what gave Eddos’ description the mystery aspect. The other was quite self-explanatory, as many adventurers visited this country. If one were to simply describe adventurers with a few words, it would be ‘endless possibilities’. Whether it was delivery people or guards moving from town to town, people looking for material used in alchemy, working on the subjugation of monsters, and searching for ancient labyrinths…Where there was a possibility, there was a job for someone to fulfill.

Requests came in daily, with varying levels of danger to the point where there were casualties on a regular basis, but the returns made up perfectly for this danger, and nothing could win against the thirst for riches for adventurers.

A certain location inside Eddos was overflowing with earth veins, transporting mana across the area, which is why you could find experimental facilities and other ruins from the Ancient Magic Kingdom Zaales. To treasure hunters, it was truly a mountain of treasure. At the same time, the materials gathered from monsters, such as meat or hide, even horns and talons, could bring plenty of fortune. Putting all these reasons together, it should be evident why so many adventurers gathered here in Eddos.

Roughly three months after the festival held in the Galgan Empire, Kyle’s group reached the capital of Eddos, called Rinecol.

“In the end, I’m still clueless…”

Kyle walked ahead of his group, along the main street of Rinecol which was bursting with energy and life, but his expression was gloomy and his voice exhausted.

“Not like you had any other choice. This entire story was shrouded in mystery from the very beginning. You most likely didn’t have any high hopes to begin with, no?” Shildonia commented, munching on the food she bought from the street vendors.

Kyle’s group had two goals of coming here to this country. First, they needed to research the Mera cult. After dealing with a follower of the Mera cult in the Empire, Barrel, they found letters in his possession. After deciphering the hidden messages thanks to Minagi’s assistance, they found out that the cult would be acting soon in the country of Eddos.

Fueled by this fact, the group made their way to this country, but they had yet to find any traceable leads. Over the past three months, they looked into all sorts of intel, but nothing bore any fruit, which is why Kyle’s group had no way of intercepting the Mera cult. Of course, the Empire had been looking into the cult themselves, but they were not giving out any information.

The same goes for the other larger countries. Even if they had a talented spy with Minagi on their side, it won’t be easy to grasp any possible intel, let alone anything worthwhile.

“…Well, that was just a bonus after all. I’ll have the Empire tell me if they find anything.”

In fact, the information Kyle gathered about the Mera cult—although not in great amount—was already conveyed to the third prince of the Empire, Maizar. He wasn’t giving up on the cult by any means, but he had more pressing matters to take care of.

“…The real battle starts the next time they act.”

Over these past three months, they had virtually no contact with the Mera cult whatsoever. That being said, letting down one’s guard would always prove fatal.

“Still, why is the Mera cult targeting you?”

“That’s what I’d like to know, all right.”

Seran, who had been walking at the back of the pack, now asked Kyle with his arms behind his head, letting out an elongated yawn, to which Kyle let out a sigh. Kyle could not find any possible reason as to why the Mera cult would target him. He expected to get their attention as an uprising hero candidate, but he was neither working for nor against them, so that felt all too forceful.

“I don’t get why they would target me…I guess I’d be useful to them, but beyond that…”

If Kyle knew the reason why he was targeted, he could work against that, but…seeing none of that, Kyle could only scratch his head.

“…If anything, we don’t know much about the Mera cult in general.” Lieze seemed bewildered herself.

After the festival ended, she learned of the Mera cult. However, since nothing happened after that, she was lacking a sense of reality in that regard.

“Not to mention that woman…Can we really put trust into that Minagi?” Urza commented with a complicated expression.

In fact, Minagi was currently not moving together with Kyle’s group. However, their work-related relationship did not end, as she would periodically come to report back to him. After Kyle first introduced Minagi to the group, she never showed up in front of them. It seemed like Lieze and Urza had trouble putting proper faith in Minagi because of this.

“…Just believe in me. I decided to hire Minagi, so I’ll take responsibility,” Kyle said, to which Lieze and Urza showed complicated expressions, but didn’t comment on it any further.

Seeing their reactions, Kyle was once again reminded of the trouble he went through when first introducing Minagi. Although he managed to sweep the details of their first encounter under the rug, Lieze seemed oddly distrustful of Minagi, and Urza’s mood wasn’t the greatest either. Understandably so, as Minagi is working as an assassin, living in the shadows of the world. Leaving aside Seran and Shildonia, who didn’t care much for a person’s background, it was perfectly reasonable for a normal person to have trouble accepting her.

Only because Kyle knew her from his previous life, he was able to perfectly trust her, and thus gave her this mission. As long as Kyle paid the money, she would not betray him. Kyle couldn’t afford to lose Minagi’s support. Naturally, Kyle was trying hard to find something to ease the anxiety of Lieze and Urza, but to this point, he was clueless.

It’s been quite some time……If I keep them at a distance, things should eventually quiet down, or maybe I can find an ace up my sleeve…

“Still, there’s a lot of adventurers in this country,” Seran commented with a nonchalant tone.

However, his eyes were sharp as he looked around. It’s true that they had been walking past peculiar people rather than average citizens. Not to mention that many wore armors like soldiers or even flashier clothes, so of course your attention would divert towards them. Usually, Kyle and his group were the main attention when walking down the streets, but now they perfectly blended in.

“This place sure looks prosperous,” Shildonia said, looking around as well.

As a town, Rinecol was fairly small, but the buildings were flashy and luxurious-looking on the level of Zilgus and even Galgan. You wouldn’t believe that the majority of this country was covered in forests.

“It must be because of the many adventurers. They are the main source of income for this country.”

Amongst the successful adventurers were those with riches and fame, even owning land somewhere in this country. Just as Kyle stated, many facilities and buildings around were aimed at these adventurers, prioritizing them, which in return gathered even more. With the gathering of rich adventurers, the more money they spent, the more the town flourished. It was an endless circle with profit for both sides.

“So, what will we be doing now?” Lieze asked.

“Right…guess we should work on the other goal,” Kyle muttered as he spotted the building he was looking for. “[Flame Dragon of Dawn]…that seems to be it.”

It was a stone-paved building, acting as a bar for adventurers. From there, you could pick up requests and errands, exchange information, or simply enjoy some time off with fellow adventurers. What stood out most was the carved statue of a dragon hanging above the entrance. It had its fangs baring at the visitors, ready to leap out at any moment. Having inspected that statue, Kyle remembered the other name that Eddos was known for. The county of mystery, adventurers—-and dragons.