All-Master Player Of The Academy [EN]: Chapter 167

◈ Chapter 167

84. Cordyceps – 1

This discovery was made during the investigation by those dispatched to Pelle County.

Although not in large numbers, people such as serfs, commoners, or mercenaries often went missing in Pelle County.

“Reporting it this way means it’s not due to monsters or wild animals.”

“Hmm, that seems to be how they’ve dismissed it. But after investigating and inquiring, it seems that’s not the whole story.”

You need to know the territory in detail to sell it properly.

So, pointing to a report containing information gathered during the investigation, she calmly said.

“Pelle County was secretly cultivating special drugs. The place where they cultivate these drugs is a village called Tormbe, located in the innermost part of the county. People have been disappearing quite frequently there, especially.”

“Was there no report about that?”

“No, there wasn’t.”

It’s said that the village chief of Tormbe visited Pelle County several times because people were disappearing.

And whenever Pelle County sent knights, soldiers, or mages to investigate, the disappearances would mysteriously stop.

It was said that after they returned, the disappearances would start again.

That was information I already knew.

And the Guardians were investigating it.

Ian looked through the documents once more and then asked.

“So? Did any investigation results come out?”

“No. For a more thorough investigation, knights were sent to Tormbe Village a few days ago, along with Guardians following Gust… but we’ve lost contact with them too.”

‘Where is Gust?’

“Doesn’t something smell fishy?”

“You’re saying it’s better for me to go directly. I understand.”

Keith was relieved when Ian nodded.

“That’s a relief. I’ll prepare a separate reward for this.”

“Sure.”

As Ian nodded and got up to leave, Aranses, who had been waiting outside, looked at him worriedly.

“What was so important that you had to talk separately?”

“It’s a story related to demons. It’s nothing much, so don’t worry about it.”

“How can a story related to demons be nothing much? Anyway, if it’s a request, it should go through the Academy…”

“Is there really a need for that? I can go alone and come back.”

“Hey, hey. Don’t go around alone too much.”

“That’s right. Maybe we should go with you.”

Widia agreed with Haryun’s words.

However, Ian simply shook his head firmly.

“Gust is there, so don’t worry too much.”

“If you say so, that’s a relief…”

“Still, I think it’s better to be careful.”

Ian nodded at Aranses and Widia’s words.

Shortly after, Keith, who came out of the room, looked at the people in the hallway with a puzzled expression.

“Why is everyone here? Aren’t you going to attend the coronation celebration party?”

“Party, what party? We’ll be going back now.”

“Ian, I hope you return safely.”

“I hope nothing bad happens.”

“Come back quickly as always~”.

As they left first, Keith chuckled.

“You must be happy? Having people who care about you so much.”

There was no way they didn’t know Ian’s strength.

Yet, the fact that they expressed such concern meant that their worries were genuine.

At Keith’s words, Ian lightly shrugged his shoulders.

“I guess I have good friends. Anyway, give me any other materials you have.”

“It’s in my room, so let’s go.”

After receiving and reviewing some more materials from Keith, he passed through the garden to leave the castle.

There, he found Lakid sitting alone and praying.

As Ian approached, he opened his eyes and looked over, having heard the footsteps.

“I guess I can’t call you a training priest anymore. Should I call you Your Majesty?”

“……Haa.”

“A sigh. Why aren’t you attending the coronation party?”

“I don’t like those kinds of parties. And even though I’ve become king, I don’t know what to do. I needed some time to think.”

“Isn’t it the same as when you were the student council president? You did well back then.”

“Well… I don’t think the position of king will end so easily.”

His voice was filled with bitterness.

Hearing that, Ian grinned.

“You’ll do well.”

“Is that genuine?”

“Yes.”

“Then, do you have any intention of working as a Count of the Scarlet Kingdom?”

“No, I don’t.”

Lakid chuckled at Ian’s answer.

“I figured. You’ve always been confident and free.”

“You’ve become the king, a position that others are making a fuss about wanting, but you don’t seem happy.”

Lakid sighed again.

No matter how good a position is, if you can’t enjoy it, it’s just burdensome.

“Still, now that you’ve decided to do it, try to do well. I’ll come to help if anything happens.”

“You? Why?”

“Because I like you.”

Lakid had an unattainable wish.

Complete peace without conflict.

Even Ian, who had traversed countless worlds, had only encountered worlds with peace and no conflict a few times.

Wanting such a special world and striving for it.

It is a resistance to make the impossible possible.

And that was quite pleasing to Ian, who was rebellious.

“It would be better if you were by my side to help.”

“Haha. Please leave me out of it. But I’ll help from time to time. Anyway, Your Majesty, I hope you do well in the future.”

As he greeted with a smile, Lakid asked with a sullen expression.

“…But where are you going? The Academy?”

“I’m going to lend a hand in achieving the peace that Your Majesty so desires.”

So.

Let’s suppress the demons who want to destroy the world and temporarily eliminate the fighting.

As he grinned, Lakid shrugged his shoulders.

At that moment, Count Eldan and several other nobles came out of the party venue.

Seeing them looking for him, Lakid said to Ian.

“It seems like a fight always breaks out wherever you are.”

“Hahaha.”

He chuckled softly and walked away, saying.

“It’s not even a fight.”

* * *

Ian stopped as he was about to head to his destination after exiting the gate in Red City and arriving near Pelle County’s border.

“Hmm?”

Not long after he came out, the gate was reactivating.

And a group of knights emerged from there.

“Oh?”

Ian, who was standing there, and the knights who came out of the gate faced each other.

The knight at the head of the group looked at Ian with a puzzled expression.

“Why are you here?”

He was Ise, a knight of the Karza Marquisate and the commander of the Karza Knights.

As he asked in disbelief, Ian was even more dumbfounded.

“That’s what I should be asking. This is the Scarlet Kingdom, not the Evol Kingdom. Can you just come here like this?”

“We came to find this. We sent an official letter to the Scarlet Kingdom separately.”

Ise took out a pouch.

Inside the pouch were quite a few white paper bags.

“Some bastard spread this dirty drug in the Karza Marquisate.”

“Ah.”

“While tracing the origin, we discovered it was here. So we came to investigate. To think they would brazenly spread such drugs in the Karza Marquisate. I can’t forgive anyone involved.”

Ian nodded at Ise’s confidence.

“It’s true that the drug is made here… but you’ve heard that everyone belonging to Pelle County has disappeared, right?”

“Yes. But we can’t rule out the possibility that the drug or manufacturing facilities are still there. To brazenly spread such drugs in the Karza Marquisate. I can’t forgive anyone involved.”

“Well, putting that aside, the place where the drug is made is called Tormbe Village.”

“You even know that much. Did you come to investigate that too? Did this drug spread to the Academy?”

“Not really. The drug is related to demons.”

Ise’s expression hardened.

He thought seriously with a grave face and then nodded.

“All of you, go back.”

“But Commander!”

“If that guy is stepping up himself, it must be a pretty strong demon. You’ll only be a hindrance.”

The knights were worried about Ise, but they couldn’t overcome the order.

Eventually, as they returned through the gate, Ise said firmly.

“Someone like me can participate in the investigation, right?”

“Take care of your own life.”

“That’s a given.”

Together with Ise, who had joined him, Ian headed to the border.

Arriving in front of the border, the gray-hooded elf warrior, Overlord Gust, was waiting.

“What? Ian, why are you here…? No, wait a minute. Why did you come, Ise?”

“What? Is that Gust?”

Ise and Gust seemed to know each other.

And judging by the way they glared at each other, they didn’t seem to be on good terms.

“I won’t tell you to get along, but I won’t stand for it if you interfere with work while fighting.”

At his fierce momentum, the two stopped glaring at each other for now.

As the short battle of nerves ended, Ian immediately asked Gust.

“I heard the story from Commander Keith. What happened?”

“Then the story will be faster. The Pelle County’s drug is being cultivated and processed in Tormbe Village. Some of the Guardians and knights of the Icebin Knights were investigating the place together, but we lost contact with them a few days ago.”

So she was coming out now to go check it out.

“But next to you… it looks like Trinmere.”

As Ise spoke, the dwarf next to Gust slowly took off his hood.

He looks even smaller next to Gust, who is already large.

But the appearance itself is not much different from an old man.

“Tsk. How unlucky to be recognized. I wish we could just pretend we didn’t see each other.”

He seems to know Ise as well.

After grumbling briefly, he greeted Ian.

“Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you. One of the Lords of the Magic Tower. I’m called Trinmere.”

A dwarf in the position of Lord, which can only be reached by reaching the 7th Circle [a high level of magical proficiency].

As Trinmere, who was in league with the Fredisian County, introduced himself simply, Ian also said lightly.

“I’m Ian Brandon.”

“Yeah. The one on your shoulder is that rumored Spirit of Light, Mya, right?”

“Myaa~! Myamya~.”

As Mya cried out loudly, Trinmere smiled and held out his hand.

Mya, who happily accepted the gesture, purred, and he said leisurely.

“First of all, I’m also part of the Guardians. So let’s speak casually to each other.”

“Sure.”

As the brief greetings ended, Trinmere walked forward and spoke about the part he had investigated.

“I don’t know if you know, but the drug they’re growing is called the Hell Clown’s Mushroom.”

“Hell Clown’s Mushroom? But that’s a mushroom that can be found anywhere.”

“Hmm. But this is a bit different from ordinary mushrooms.”

He took out a small pouch from his bag.

Inside was a mushroom emitting a bright blue light.

“How about it? Do you feel anything?”

As Trinmere asked, Ise shook his head.

“I don’t know.”

“I didn’t ask you.”

He was asking Ian.

And, as he expected, Ian calmly gave his answer.

“Along with malice, there are also traces of humans inside. In other words, this mushroom… It’s a mushroom that grew from a human body.”

Hearing those words, Trinmere smiled pleasantly.

“Correct. You’re amazing as rumored.”