Law of the Devil
Chapter 59 [The Fate of the Adventurer]
·
Chapter 59 [The Fate of the Adventurer]
The Snow Wolf Mercenary Group camp is doing very well. I can see that this is a group of people who are used to camping out in the open.
This low-lying terrain effectively plays a certain wind protection role, and the two high slopes next to it are very defensive. In the event of an accident, the camp can be secured as long as it effectively guards the threshold in the middle.
Dewey and Dardanelle walked into the camp with Captain Bienrich, so he was greeted by the astonishing eyes of many mercenaries.
The camp doesn't go down, and Dewey is watching, and there are about a hundred people. Unlike those noble private armies or imperial local guards that Dewey has seen. These mercenaries do not have uniform armor or equipment. Most of them dress very personally. Some in leather jackets, some in leather robes, and some in leather armour.
However, in the role of covering up in the snow forest, most people choose white.
As for the weapons they use, that's even weirder, those with swords, those with machetes, those with axes, those with spears... Dewey even saw a guy with a weapon like a wolf's tooth stick.
Moreover, these people, without exception, have a puffy, nasty smell on their faces. As Dewey walked into the camp, there were some guys who were polishing their weapons looking cold at Dewey and Dardanelle, two outsiders.
More shouting: "Hey! Captain, why did you bring in a child? Hahahaha, is this the new guy you recruited? He looks like he's still breastfeeding! ”
As soon as it came out, it immediately caused people around them to laugh.
Bienrich looked down and drank: "None of this nonsense! Do your own thing! Be polite, this is our guest! ”
It seems that the leader is very prestigious, and that, although some people still don't think so, everyone closes their mouths.
“Well, Your Mage, these are rude men who don't understand politeness.” Bienrich then wanted to invite Dewey to stay in his tent, but Dewey politely declined, so the head of the regiment let them vacate a lot of land in the middle of the camp, and Dewey and Dardanelle set up their own little tent.
Less than a moment later, the captain sent two more thick blankets to his men.
“These guys don't seem very nice to us.” Dewey looked at the mercenary who was sending the tent away indifferently and smiled back at Dardanelle.
“Very normal.” Dardanelle keeps his mouth shut: “Newcomers in a team like this are generally difficult to accept immediately. They prefer to trust their old companions who were born and died together… even in the regular army. ”
At night, the mercenaries laid several large fire piles in the middle of the camp, and the mercenaries sat in front of the fire and waited for dinner.
Bienrich personally invited Dewey to dine with him and squeezed him in front of a fire.
The mercenaries had a much better attitude towards Dewey, and I think the head of the regiment has announced Dewey's Magician status. But there are still some people who look at Dewey with suspicion... after all, he looks too young.
Not only those mercenaries, but even Bayernrich has been a little confused.
Sitting in front of the fire, taking off the thick leather hat that covered a third of his face, Dewey looked even smaller... Bienrich had to wonder: Is such a small child really a magician?
Or... even if he's a magician, but at such a young age... I'm afraid he's just a magic apprentice? Or just a first-degree magician?
Wizards are rare, but if they are just a magic apprentice or a first-degree wizard… then there is little value in soliciting them.
No one next to the mercenary in front of the campfire was doing their thing: they used a couple of large iron pots, melted snow and burned hot water, and then two robust men lifted some strange, big and small animal bodies out of the tent... Dewey took a closer look and didn't know if it was a cow or a sheep. Dardanelle recognized it, but he frowned and lowered his voice: “This is... my God, a snow camel monster... oh, this is a diamond cow... ah, and a snow wolf! Jesus Christ, do you guys eat these at night? ”
Bainrich laughed and said, "No, it's us! We, and you, eat these at night. ”
“The body of a warcraft.” Dardanelle sighed.
“Yes, Warcraft.” Bienrich leaves his mouth open, laughing: “It doesn't seem to me that these things are very different from ordinary beasts… at least they taste just as good in their mouths, except they use some magic while they're alive, and when they die, they become our food. ”
Dewey didn't say anything. He watched the two men pull out the sharp knife, broke up the bodies of several warcraft into pieces, and threw them all into a large iron pot to boil.
The skin of these beasts had long been stripped off, and Dewey watched as the two men went back and moved more beasts out of the tent. He had to blow his whistle, and he looked at Bainrich: “Sir, it looks like you've had quite a trip. ”
“It's not easy to get on with life," Bainrich whispered. These days are also a struggle for life. But you're right, the harvest was okay. We've been in the woods for five days, hunting more than twenty warcraft, but I lost seven or eight of my men. Three dead and three permanently disabled. ”The head of the mercenary sighed:" The skins of these beasts sell a good price in the south, and their nuclei… you magicians are willing to buy at a high price. ”
Dewey couldn't help but look at the corpses of those beasts...
The Ice Wolf the mercenaries moved out of, Dewey knew, had seen the Ice Wolf in the illusion the last time he was played by that demon in Half Corner City.
However, the bodies of these mercenaries were apparently smaller than the ones that emerged from the last illusion.
The water in the pan boiled and fleshy, and many mercenaries couldn't help sniffing their noses.
The captain had several large bags of liquor removed from his tent, and the mercenaries immediately cheered, and several bags were passed down and each mercenary had a sip of liquor. Drink a sip of wine to warm yourself up in this ghost weather that will keep your nose cold, which is the best way to enjoy it.
Bain Rich didn't forget to entertain Dewey, he grabbed a silver bottle from his arms and laughed: “This is my personal treasure, the best wine in the North… Your Magician, would you like to try it? ”
Dewey laughed and took a sip of the bottle, but almost didn't choke!
“Cough! What kind of wine is this...” Dewey coughed sadly, his voice hoarse, just like a flame burning in his mouth!
In a hurry, Dewey could only grab the snow from the ground and shove it in her mouth! The burning sensation in the throat eased a little after swallowing three large chunks of snow in one breath.
Bain Richhaha laughed, "Mage, this is good stuff! I foamed this wine with the magic nucleus of a flaming rhino! When I drank it, it was like a fire in my throat! Absolutely powerful! Especially in this shitty weather, a little sip will burn your whole body! You'll be warm all night! ”
Dewey squeezed his nose: "Thanks! I can't stand this stuff. ”
Bain Rich laughed, took a sip of himself, then immediately showed a painful and happy look on his face, shook a few times, then gasped, and shouted: “Cool! ”
He handed Dardanelle another bottle: "Drink, my friend! ”
Dardanelle hesitated to taste it, but it was much more bearable than Dewey's. After a sip, he shook his whole body a few times, just like Bain Rich, but he gave a painful look and exclaimed: "Good stuff! Your body is warmer! Shit, it's like there's a fire in my stomach! ”
Next, Dewey tasted some cooked warcraft meat. The ice wolf meat was a little old, with a hint of acid. Dewey wasn't used to eating it. But in places like this, ice and snow, it's good to have a hot bite of meat to eat.
At least last night when I followed the old magician, Dewey ate dry food.
Well, I don't know if that old guy is looking at me now... Young Master, I'm sitting around drinking and eating meat, and the old guy drinking wind, which feels good.
Dewey ate a little something, was feeling much better, tried two more special drinks of Bain Rich, this time fully prepared, it wasn't as bad as the last time, and this wine was definitely a good thing, after drinking it, it was like a flame immediately burned all over the five dirty organs, instantly the whole body rolled hot, the cold air was purged clean!
“Your Majesty the Wizard, you must have come to this forest looking for some kind of monster, too?” Bienrich smiled, “The magicians who came here for these purposes. If that's the case, maybe we can help each other, maybe I have the beast you need. ”
Dardanelle and Dewey glanced at each other, and Dewey nodded, and Dardanelle replied, "Have you heard of Golden Eyed Python, Captain? ”
Bienrich's face showed a little surprise: "Golden Eyed Python? That's a great guy. I've seen magicians catch it here when I was younger, but we've never caught it ourselves... and..."
He hesitated for a moment and slowed down: “This is just the periphery of the frozen forest. A high-end warcraft like Golden Eyed Python has to go deeper into the forest. Strong warcraft operate in the heart of the forest, and there is no such thing on the periphery. However, the further you go in, the more dangerous it becomes. ”
“The heartland?” Dewey smiled. “With all due respect. This is my first time in the ice-covered forest, and you see, I'm a young magician, and I'm not familiar with this place. You said the heartland... we've been walking in the woods for two days. Is this still just the periphery? ”
“Of course." Bienrich shook his head: “The frozen forest is too big… even to say how big it is, I'm afraid no one has ever really measured it personally. I heard that 20 years ago, a powerful magician with several knights of the temple had been walking deep into the woods for a month, and had not reached the other side of the woods, and the ghost knew what was on the other side of the woods, and perhaps the end of the world. And there's a record of what we can look at right now, that time 20 years ago. It was a great magician of the Magic Union who came in with several high consecrated knights of the temple. Unfortunately... only the sorcerer came out alive in the end. In the heart of the ice-covered forest, I hear there are many advanced warcraft out there. Even powerful magicians cannot deal with the siege of several advanced warcraft at the same time. As for us mercenaries, we, the Snow Wolf Mercenaries, have always operated only in the periphery, and the furthest we have travelled is nine days… and that was years ago. ”
Dewey was somewhat surprised...
A magician and a few high divine knights gone for a month without ending?
Is this forest that big?
Dardanelle's face is also a little ugly... so where can I find Golden Eyed Python?
“I advise both of you.” Bienrich's expression is serious: “We Snow Wolf mercenaries, hunting warcraft in these woods, have been doing this for years, and I have met some magicians who came in looking for warcraft. But even some magicians don't dare to go too far... at most near ‘Great Circle Lake', no one dares to go back inside. Two… I know you are a magician and I respect the abilities of a magician. But let me persuade you, if it's not necessary, to give up your plans...”
Dardanelle's face was ugly, and he thought about it and suddenly said, "Thank you, Captain, for your kindness, but I have to find the golden-eyed python. Hmm... and...” He suddenly had a strange look on his face: “I know your group is in the business of hunting warcraft, and if I may, I would like to offer a high price to hire you to help me find...”
“Sorry, no.” Bienrich turned it down simply: “Although we make money from this, and I also know that the greater the risk, the greater the profit. But if you know it's death and hard work, then it's not risk, it's idiotic behavior. Our Snow Wolf mercenary regiment has no talent for entering the heart of the ice-covered forest. Whatever your price, I'm afraid there's nothing we can do. ”
Dardanelle sighed, knowing that Bienrich was telling the truth, and no more, and sipped a sip of wine in boredom.
Bienrich's attention went back to Dewey, and he thought, “I'm curious about you, my magician, and I don't think very many people of your age qualify as magicians. I've lived 40 years, 20 years of adventure, and I've met not many magicians, but I've never seen a genius like you. ”
Dewey smiled bitterly...
Genius? That's what you haven't seen.
Dewey's own strength now is only about three levels of magician. More genius than ordinary people... but... compared to the other two female geniuses that Dewey met, Dewey had nothing to be proud of.
Qualified Level 8 magician at the age of fifteen or six! That's genius! And Dewey met two at once.
As Dewey looked silent, Bain Rich was silent for a while and slowly grabbed a roll of paper from his arms.
“My Lord Magician, I would like to make a deal with you and I wonder if you would be interested? ”
Dewey's eyes shine: “What deal? ”
“Well, I know magicians are wealthy, so if I give you any treasure or anything, you won't see it in your eyes..." Bienrich smiled. “Me and my people, we'll go north for about four or five days, we'll go to the Great Circle Lake, and then we'll go back. I think you and your buddies are headed north anyway, so why don't you follow us for the next few days. Me and my people can be your guides, take you all the way to the Great Circle Lake, a forest this big, and without a guide, I'm afraid it's easy to get lost. What do you think? ”
Bienrich unfolded this roll of paper in his hand: "This is a map of the frozen forest! There's absolutely nowhere on the market to find such a map! Even if you spend 10,000 gold coins, you'll never buy it! Because this is me, Bain Rich, who used my nearly twenty years of adventure in these woods, more than forty times, drawing on my memories! I'm afraid the whole empire won't find a second map in such detail. ”
Dewey moved in his heart!
He took this map and unfolded it...
The drawing depicts a large area of lost forest icons, with several entrance paths to the forest at the southern end, several small towns to the south of the frozen forest and some checkpoints set by the Northern Storm Legion patrol.
After a few glances, Dewey found her way into the forest with the old magician the night before.
On the drawings, the size of the entire forest is unknown, but with a slight pointer from Bain Richie, Dewey probably had a little idea.
“Here, this is about where we are now.” Bienrich's fingers poked a little bit on the map.
From the map, this location is very, very close to the southern edge entrance of the forest, and Dewey can't help but see some exasperation… It took two days to walk out of this tiny spot on the map.
Bienrich laughed, and then pointed a little further inside the forest on the map: "This is where me and my people are going, Great Circle Lake. ”
The map shows a lake with a slightly flattened circular sign.
As Bienrich probably described, this lake is situated in a forest, a middle forest lake. However, it is quite large.
“That lake is about five or six miles wide... at least that wide. I've been there a few times, but haven't measured it specifically. In fact, I haven't even been to the other side of the lake. The Great Circle Lake is sort of the dividing line for some of the adventure teams in the ice-covered forest. ”
“What do you mean?” Dewey is curious about everything in this frozen forest.
“The dividing line of power.” Bienrich laughed, "Basically, in the south of the lake, everything is not too dangerous, and a mercenary group like ours can still operate. But... in the north of the lake, very few dare go. Those who dare to cross the lake and continue north, according to what I know, are the strong ones with names all over the continent... at least I'm not that kind of person. I have traveled to the Great Circular Lake several times with my men, but never dared to continue north around the lake. ”
After a pause, he had a strange smile on his face: "By the way, if it was summer, I wouldn't take anyone to the Great Lakes. You know, everywhere there are water sources, there are usually dangerous beasts out there... the same goes for warcraft, who also drink water, and warcraft who like to bathe. In the summer, the weather here is cold, but not as cold as it is now. Now, just in the early spring, the lake water has not thawed, the lake is ice, and there are no warcraft moving to the lake. But summer is different. Summer is a place of warcraft! Damn... I've heard of several mercenary regiments, hundreds of people attacked by warcraft on the waterfront of that lake! That's where the whole team died! So, because of the season, I dared to go there, and if I changed summer, I would definitely be far from there. ”
Bienrich said it all and looked at Dewey and said, "What do you say? Your Majesty? My deal is simple: Me and my people took you to that lake, and I gave you this map... Although I haven't been to the north of the lake, I've collected a lot of information over the years, it's all from some strong people who have been to the north of the lake, but it cost me a lot of money to gather information! Even if you cross the Great Circular Lake and continue north, at least the map shows the terrain for the next two or three days. ”
Dewey glanced at Bainrich: "Dear Captain… I was curious, if you're not going to the north of that lake, why are you gathering information on the north of those lakes? ”
There was a slight emotion in Bienrich's eyes, and the expression on his face was sincere and serious: “Remember, Magician, I am an adventurer! ”
When he said that, his face even smelled a little pious.
“I'm an adventurer! Although... I am now working as a mercenary and I have made some profits by risking in the frozen forest... but I am not a copper-smelling businessman! In my bones is the blood of an adventurer!” Bienrich sighed: “I've risked half my life in this place, and since I was younger, I've always wanted to look like the frozen forest north of the lake... although I know my strength is far from being the strongest man on the continent. And now I've got a whole bunch of people following me, and I'm taking responsibility for them! But I have my own dreams too! My dream is... in the future, when I'm old and retired, I won't be the leader anymore, my people are handed over to their new leader, so when I'm alone and I don't have any responsibility, I'll be ready to cross that lake and take a look north! I've been spinning around this place my whole life! In the future, if I have never seen the North before, I will die for nothing! I gathered this information for the future! I intend to go alone when I am ready, and I am even ready to die from the north side of Grand Circle Lake! Even if I die, at least I can see what the legendary North Coast looks like before I die... and die there, I have accomplished the fate of an adventurer! ”
Speaking of which, Bienrich made a remark that made Dewey so reverent:
“Being an adventurer and dying in bed is a disgrace! As a true adventurer, you should choose to die on the most exciting journey! ”
Dewey took a deep breath and his tone became a little more respectful: "Dear Commander, you promised our guide and gave us this map… So what do you need me to do for you? ”
“It's simple." Bienrich laughed. “I only have two conditions. First, on our journey together, if we encounter any kind of trouble, such as being attacked by someone or a warcraft, you, Your Majesty the Mage, please take our side, and when appropriate, we need the help of the Mage. ”
“No problem.” Dewey immediately replied: "Now that we are on the road together, it is natural that we are companions. ”
“Thank you. My second condition is… if you can go back after this adventure… please excuse me for using such a bad idea. But for the last time, the North is dangerous!” The captain sighed at Dewey for not accepting his suggestion: "So... if you could come back, I think you're the only amazing magician I've ever seen in my life... you're so young! Apart from genius, I have no other words to describe. I am confident that in the future you will become a famous strong man on the continent. If one day, I hope you will remember the name of our Snow Wolf Mercenaries… I dare ask you to remember that once in the Frozen Forest, the Snow Wolf Mercenaries helped you. As for this sentiment, it's enough to give us a hand at the right time and at your convenience. ”
Very clever Captain!
Dewey's got a little more respect for this captain!
If that “adventurer's fate” phrase just now makes him look like an idealist... then this trading condition behind him shows that the leader has a long vision!
There was actually no price to pay for this... they were going to go to Grand Circle Lake, a team of over a hundred people, and it didn't cost them anything to bring two more. Instead, there was an extra Magician companion on the road.
In addition, as for the map… the captain made it himself, and although he gave it to Dewey, he could always draw another one himself. There was no loss for him.
And these, in exchange for a magician!
Wizards are more precious than gold on the continent of Roland, especially the powerful wizards. This captain's calculations are clever, Dewey has become a magician at such a young age, his future must be bright... so long as he returns alive, it will be at no cost to the Snow Wolf Mercenary Corps to form a friendship with a future great magician!
You can count on the help of an archmage at some point in the future!
An idealist, but not without realistic cunning.
This is Duvi's assessment of Captain Bienrich.
•
Nothing to say this night.
The next morning, as Dewey drilled out of the tent, the Snow Wolf Mercenary Corps was ready to leave. Some warriors are not afraid to wash their bodies with snow, while others are carefully shaved with daggers. These guys who are used to adventurous careers, they are all in a vigorous spirit, and finally summon their peers to the road with a cheerful cry.
Dardanelle's mood is a little low.
Following last night's briefing by Chief Bienrich on the frozen forest, Dardanelle was clear that the chances of finding the golden-eyed python by herself were, I'm afraid, minimal. Even with that little Harry Potter wizard, I'm afraid that's not enough.
Dewey comforted the Lester family with a few words of loyal samurai, and then went along with the Snow Wolf Mercenary Group.
The Snow Wolf Mercenary Regiment was full and two teams scattered around to search the road. On this afternoon, Dewey witnessed first-hand the process of the mercenary corps hunting for the beast.
The search team found a cave of warcraft, and the roots of a giant tree were dug up, and a giant bear, full of snow and white, hibernated in it.
This is a "Roaring Snow Bear," which is almost twice the size of a normal bear and looks very much like the polar bear that Dewey knew in his previous life, but this roaring snow bear can make a magical attack: its roar can roll up a small tornado!
The Snow Wolf Mercenary Corps seems to have a very skilled approach to dealing with this kind of warcraft. A dozen strong samurai tied themselves and their companions together with rope. First, they threw burning pine branches into the bear cave, forced the bear out, and then attacked it with bows and arrows far away.
The roar of a giant bear struck a small cyclone, scratching two giants halfway into the sky! Fortunately, however, they were tied up with their companions, although they fell a little hard, but the snow was thick and there were no serious injuries. It's just a bad guy's ass falling on a rock covered in snow and wrecking his waist.
The mercenaries covered the bear with a giant toward it and divided it into four directions, each with more than a dozen hard pulls.
Finally, Captain Bainrich, with a giant axe in his hand, stood about fifteen steps away from the giant bear, and his temper sparkled and he threw the axe fast!
In that silver douqi, the captain cut the giant bear's head in half with one axe!
Dewey couldn't help but be surprised.
The martial arts of Captain Bainrich are quite remarkable! The name of one of the three northern mercenaries, it's true!
Dewey compares his dark to the martial arts masters he has seen, and finds that neither Robert's knight nor his father's guardian, Alpha Swordsman, is as good as this Bainrich.
The only thing comparable, I'm afraid, is Joanna's martial arts.
In the cheers of the soldiers of the mercenary group, everyone went up and retrieved the body of the giant bear. A captain skillfully cut the bear's stomach with a dagger, first removed the bear's gallbladder, then removed the nucleus from the bear's head and put it away.
The rest, the three soldiers quickly peeled off a whole piece of bear skin and, as for the bear meat, split it it into pieces so that the soldiers could share their backs and continue on their journey.
Down this day, similar scenes, Dewey saw again four or five times. Snow Wolf mercenary groups hunted two more Ice Wolves, but unfortunately, during the hunt for the second Wolf, a mercenary was tragically caught in the stomach by the Wolf's claws and even his intestines blew out on the spot!
“This is the life of the adventurer. Every day of adventure, someone may die.” Dardanelle whispered to Dewey, "I had the same life back then, but then I opted out. ”
The mercenaries also expressed a slight condolences to their dead companions and then buried the bodies of their companions and continued to raise their heads on the road...
At night, everyone had a meal of wolf meat, but Dewey noticed a detail while taking turns drinking and warming up.
More than a dozen mercenaries sitting on the outskirts of the campfire never touched the rummage bag.
“Those are the night watchmen.” The captain looked into Dewey's puzzled eyes and faintly said: “Night watchmen, I demand that they remain 100% alert and calm all night long! Because in a place like this, if the Night's Watch neglects a little bit, it could end up with a whole team of people! So, Night's Watch, you are not allowed to drink a drop of wine! But as a reward, these vigilantes, after changing hands the next night, get double drinks. The loot they hit the next day, they can also split an extra one when they get back. ”
When the Commander spoke here, he added in a low voice: "If, of course, they could return alive at that time. ”
After listening to this, Dewey looked at the Night's Watch soldiers who looked calmly at their companions cheering on their drinks… with an extra glimmer of respect in his eyes.
·