Chapter 152: A Restless Heart

“Rainbow Stone Forest?”

When Greym announced his decision, Rodin immediately remembered Vail saying that he needed maggotbeasts. The only place in the entire Vela Empire whose environment suited them was the Rainbow Stone Forest, where vast numbers of the creatures gathered. If they wanted to find any, they naturally had to go there.

The problem was that the Rainbow Stone Forest was home to more than one kind of magical beast. Another terrifying species dwelled among those strange stone formations—one that inspired fear merely by its presence. Traveling there meant venturing into an exceedingly dangerous place.

With that thought, Rodin hurriedly tried to dissuade him. “Boss, surely we know what kind of place the Rainbow Stone Forest is, even if others don’t. It’s far too dangerous! Sending only Rosdy and Vail is simply too risky. If they really must go, then at the very least, Pepero and I should accompany them!”

“No, Rodin. I know what you’re worried about. The Rainbow Stone Forest is indeed dangerous, but you must understand that it isn’t a place where safety is guaranteed simply by bringing more people. On the contrary, fewer people may actually be safer. You and Pepero have your own task, while Rosdy will be responsible for Vail. With his experience, nothing should go wrong…”

Greym looked up at Rodin and waved a hand with a sigh. “Rodin, you’re the vice-captain. You ought to have a little faith in your companions. Being overly hesitant and cautious will only impair your judgment. All right, Rodin. That settles it.”

“Very well…”

Rodin knew there was no point in saying anything more. He nodded helplessly and slowly left the room.

What surprised everyone most was Pepero. For some unknown reason, the girl had not uttered a single word from the beginning. She had raised no objection either to Greym’s assignment for her and Rodin or to Vail and Rosdy traveling to the Rainbow Stone Forest. Throughout the entire discussion, she had remained curled up quietly in a corner of the room like a cat. When she saw Rodin leave, she immediately followed him without a word.

To anyone familiar with her, the sight was undeniably strange.

She was simply too quiet. And that very silence suddenly gave Vail an indescribably odd feeling. As far as he knew, he had never once seen Pepero remain quiet. In fact, the word “quiet” seemed never to have belonged to her at all. As Pepero herself might have put it, this was not her style—Pepero’s style.

Rosdy seemed somewhat unaccustomed to watching her leave without a sound. Given Pepero’s temperament, she would surely have preferred venturing into the dangerous Rainbow Stone Forest to capture maggotbeasts rather than calmly purchasing and transporting supplies. Going by past experience, she should have been dissatisfied and thrown a fit.

Yet this time she had not said a word—not even the most basic complaint.

Had the girl suddenly changed?

Rosdy opened his mouth several times, but in the end he swallowed his doubts and questions.

“All right, Rosdy. I’ll leave Vail in your hands. The Rainbow Stone Forest is dangerous, but Vail is a mage, and with your experience, I believe nothing will go wrong.”

Rosdy nodded at Greym. After thinking carefully, however, he raised his head and said, “Still, Rodin was right. If Pepero went with us, her abilities might improve our chances of success.”

“I’d like to take her…”

Greym rubbed his slightly aching forehead and gave Rosdy a bitter smile. “I know perfectly well how dangerous the Rainbow Stone Forest is. But you also know what that wild girl Pepero is like. Going there is far too risky. We can’t afford the slightest mistake. That’s why I didn’t send her.

“As for Rodin, he’s still young and far too cautious. When the critical moment comes, he might not be able to make the right decision. So, old friend, I’ll have to trouble you. With your experience, I believe you’ll have no problem.”

“What do you mean, trouble?” Rosdy waved a hand. He glanced at Greym’s legs and sighed. “If your legs could still move, you’d certainly be going to the Rainbow Stone Forest yourself, wouldn’t you? Still, Jo, don’t worry. We’ll return safely.”

Greym nodded and said nothing more. Rosdy shook his head lightly, then went out to purchase the supplies they would need in the forest.

The room was left with only Greym and Vail.

“Vail, can my legs really be healed?”

Greym’s voice was quiet, but Vail heard him clearly. He nodded, then slowly walked to the door and opened it.

“Rest easy for a while. When I return, everything will begin anew.”

The door slammed shut.

Greym was alone in the room. He lay quietly on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.

No one understood his injuries better than he did. After Barrick’s scheme had sent him plunging from a cliff thousands of meters high, he had managed to survive—but the bones in both his legs had been completely shattered. There was no possibility of healing them.

At thirty-seven, Greym was in the prime of his life. He was still young, with ambition enough to spare. With his talent, strength, and experience, he could lead his own mercenary company into the world—to fight, to struggle, and to forge a brilliant future.

But what could he do now?

What could a cripple do?

Serve meekly as the captain of a B-class mercenary company? Was that truly what he wanted?

Yes. He had already fallen into despair. He had even considered finding a suitable opportunity to tell Rodin and the others that they should simply disband the Moonslayer Company.

But just when Greym had given up hope, Vail—the young boy—had told him that his legs could be healed.

He could walk freely again, just as before. He could run as swiftly as before. He could once more throw himself wholeheartedly into battle. He could continue striving toward the future he had always dreamed of.

Just as Vail had said, everything would begin anew.

“Everything… beginning anew…”

Greym drew a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes. Yet his fists remained clenched—tightly, fiercely—for a long time.

* * *

Once everything was ready, Vail and Rosdy left Norwegian Town together.

According to Rosdy, the Rainbow Stone Forest lay a full ten days away. Along the journey, they would have to cross two great mountains and a magical-beast forest stretching for more than twenty kilometers. They therefore had no choice but to travel on foot.

Not long after the two men departed, Rodin sat in a tavern in Norwegian Town, swaying drunkenly as he shook his head.

“Pepero… I feel… I feel there’s something wrong with this wine…”

“Hmm? Do you?” Pepero deliberately took the cup from his hand and sniffed it. “You must be mistaken. Isn’t it perfectly good? Come on, don’t think about it too much. Here, have another drink!”

As she spoke, Pepero filled the cup again.

This time Rodin refused. He suddenly lurched to his feet, but his entire body was weak and limp. After staggering twice, he collapsed back into his seat. He slapped his head repeatedly, then pointed at Pepero.

“No! Something’s wrong! Pepero, did you put something in this wine?”

“Of course not. How could I? Rodin, are you feeling especially sleepy? It’s all right. Go ahead and sleep. We can leave a little later…”

Pepero talked on without pause. After considerable effort, she finally watched Rodin sway and topple forward onto the table.

Seeing this, Pepero breathed a sigh of relief. She hurriedly hauled Rodin upright and carried him onto her back.

Only then did she notice that the surrounding drinkers were staring at her strangely. Some of them even wore faintly malicious expressions. Their lecherous looks irritated her at once.

“Damn it! What are you staring at? Never seen a beautiful woman drug a man before?”

With a furious roar, Pepero hoisted Rodin onto her shoulder. Her body flashed, and after two or three quick movements, she vanished from everyone’s sight.

“Vail, just you wait! How dare you take advantage of me? If I, Pepero, don’t make you pay for it, then I’m not Pepero! Hmph… Damn you, Rodin. Why are you so heavy?”

Pepero tossed the unconscious Rodin onto a bed, hastily scribbled a message on the wall, and then flew from the inn. Following the route Rosdy and Vail had taken, she swiftly gave chase.