Although he had put out the urgent fire called the Broker Union, Osian still had a mountain of work to do.
"It was much more comfortable when I just took incoming requests and solved them."
He grumbled to himself uncharacteristically, but he still had to do what needed to be done.
The Broker Union was just the beginning. Thanks to them coming forward to actively support him, the recruitnt of the 2nd generation of the knight order itself had beco easier. However, Osian had no intention of stopping there.
'I need to expand my forces more.'
Originally a wandering knight, he doesn't belong to any particular faction.
That's how the ga genre was in the first place. Explore the map, take quests, and defeat monsters.
Building an organization, growing it, and forming appropriate relationships with the people around you is strictly outside the ga.
It was what you'd call a realistic problem.
No matter how upright a knight he was, he couldn't ignore reality. Whether he wanted it or not, people he had to protect had appeared. Living as a human being is like that. There's no person who stands completely alone.
People form relationships with others as they live, influencing them while simultaneously being influenced. Sotis they color others with their own hue, and sotis they add others' colors to their own.
As various colors mix together like this, the present self is completed. Osian had co here today to add a new color to himself.
[Heavenly Bell Sound]
Perhaps because he had visited once before, Osian was welcod warmly. Naturally, the one who welcod Osian most enthusiastically was Anora. She, who should have been absent due to her busy schedule, hurriedly appeared upon hearing news of Osian's arrival.
"Goodness! To think you ca first before I even called you. It's truly an honor."
Anora smiled brightly and had Osian sit down, then served him expensive refreshnts.
Osian sat facing Anora.
"I ca here because I need help."
"I'll do it."
"What?"
"I said I'll do it. Whatever it is."
The answer ca without any negotiation. Rather, Osian was the one who was flustered.
"...Wouldn't it be better to think about it a little before answering?"
"There's no need for that. It's none other than Sir Osian's request, isn't it? I should grant it imdiately without weighing the pros and cons."
Anora had created Heavenly Bell Sound solely for Osian and had been nurturing it. No matter how difficult the conditions Osian might demand, the option of refusing didn't exist for her.
"And I can roughly guess what kind of request you'll make. I know about the situation you're in right now, Sir Osian."
"I see. Then I won't need to give unnecessary explanations."
"Are you alright, Sir Osian?"
"What if I'm not?"
Osian chuckled.
"It's sothing that's already happened. Rather than continuing to deny reality, it's better to firmly grasp it. I ca to see you for that purpose."
"As expected...!"
Anora clasped her hands together, moved. To use a funny comparison, it was like a mother watching her son who had been stuck in his room finally start job hunting. Although those sparkling eyes were burdenso, Osian didn't bother to point it out.
"I'm being revered as a hero, but as a counterbalance, there are quite a few who want to bring down. I'm trying to build up my forces to prepare for that."
"Is that why you created the knight order?"
"At first, I had the idea of raising knights whose lineage had been severed. It was a purely personal matter."
How much loss had he felt at the fact that knights had disappeared through the ages. He had even felt considerable anger at the fact that external forces had intervened in the severing of the knights' lineage.
Establishing the knight order was to correct all of that back to the starting point.
"But I realized that it couldn't be done with such a complacent mindset. After all, the world has changed, and my situation has changed too."
When necessary, one had to move flexibly. Being too stubborn would only lead to breaking. If he had been alone, it would have been sothing he wouldn't have even cared about. However, Osian had never thought of this as shackles.
"That's why I need Heavenly Bell Sound. I'd like you to cooperate with the knight order I'm building."
"That's what we want too."
Anora nodded readily. For her, these weren't empty words either.
Although Heavenly Bell Sound was created by Anora, all the people affiliated with this place are those who engage in endless cultivation aiming for ascension.
The fundantal principles of their actions were the sa as the Starlight Knight Order. The existence called "I" molting one layer to live a better today than yesterday.
Even as separate organizations, joining hands would be no trouble at all.
"Although it may not look like it, Heavenly Bell Sound is larger in scale than you'd think. Not in terms of the number of affiliated people, but in terms of the capital we possess and the influence we exert on our surroundings."
"That's fortunate to hear. And there's another favor I'd like to ask of you."
"Goodness. What else is it? I'm so excited right now."
Whether she was happy about the very fact that Osian was making a request, Anora was in such ecstasy that her mind seed to be flying away.
Osian felt sowhat burdened by that attitude. Was it really okay to say it?
"To solidly protect the organization, I need more support."
Anora pondered over those words for a mont before giving her answer.
"Support wouldn't simply an material things. There are already many people connected to you besides , Sir Osian. If there's still sothing needed despite that, it would be more connections, wouldn't it?"
Indeed, Anora had outstanding insight befitting a celestial dragon who had lived for a long ti. She imdiately grasped the essence of Osian's vaguely expressed words.
"There are many things to be mindful of when establishing an organization. Especially considering the attention Sir Osian is receiving right now, the dia might step in too."
"Right. The most troubleso bunch."
"The dia ultimately has no choice but to cater to the tastes of the financiers who pay them. So will definitely try to tear apart the knight order."
The thod to stop the dia is simple. Use other dia outlets to stop them. Spear against spear. Sword against sword. Pen against pen. It's such a clear principle.
"It's not just dia outlets that are needed. There need to be companies that will sponsor the knight order. And there should be contact points with city governnt officials too."
Anora imdiately began consulting. She had created Heavenly Bell Sound. And it wasn't just Heavenly Bell Sound.
"Although it may not look like it, I also helped with the founding of the Witch Tea Party."
The Witch Tea Party is one of the prominent organizations in Tirna. The fact that Anora helped with its founding couldn't be false.
"With that much, you're more than qualified."
"Right? In my opinion, the justification for establishing the knight order is sufficient for now. With you being acclaid as a hero right now, Sir Osian, we should ride this montum and push forward. I'll arrange that opportunity for you."
Osian nodded.
The next place Osian visited was North Blinders.
The mansion of these mafia mbers who conducted legitimate business exuded grandeur. It was even more splendid than when he had seen it before, clearly showing that they continued to walk the path of success.
Osian received exceptional treatnt at North Blinders. From the entrance, organization mbers showed him respect and guided his way. The place he was guided to was Balud's office.
"What brings such an esteed hero to this humble place?"
Balud said this while smoothly adjusting his glasses.
"Even after a long ti, that attitude of yours remains the sa."
"If you ca to get on my nerves, please get the hell out. I'm not such an idle person."
"I'm not such an idle person either."
At those words, Balud stared intently at Osian, then personally served him tea. Just from the aroma, one could distinctly feel that it was expensive tea.
If he had truly disliked him, he wouldn't have served such premium tea.
"So what brings you all the way here? You must have a reason worth visiting despite being busy."
Balud was the sa as usual. Clean suit, hair slicked back, and glasses that hid his sharp gaze. Looking at that appearance alone, one couldn't feel at all that he was of northern barbarian origin.
"You must have heard the recent news of the city."
"It would be strange not to know that. Everyone's making a fuss about it with one voice. From the incident that occurred in District 17, and you being involved in it. Well, it was entertaining to watch."
Balud slightly loosened his choking necktie.
"Seeing that you ca all the way here in person, is there sothing directly or indirectly related to us?"
"You could say there is, or you could say there isn't."
"You're being ambiguous with your words. If you need sothing, speak directly. We North Blinders aren't that weak."
If you ask for help, I'll help you. This is what Balud was saying right now.
So might question what help re mafia could provide. But North Blinders isn't ordinary mafia.
They had advanced into legitimate business and ford a corporation. They had also ford close cooperation with Blackstone, a defense contractor. This was thanks to the outstanding capabilities of the new boss, Isela Burbank, and Balud who assisted her from the side.
Thus, North Blinders was able to be reborn as the ruler of one district. And Balud, the director of that place, had said he would help Osian.
"I heard you recently beca a hero and got entangled in troubleso affairs. Do you want us to resolve that?"
"That's fine. I've already made arrangents to receive help from soone else."
Balud slightly raised his eyebrows over his glasses. If it wasn't that, he couldn't guess why Osian would co to see him.
"I ca because I have business with you."
Osian said while staring intently at Balud.
"With you who possesses power as a barbarian warrior."
"If it had been anyone else, I would have torn their mouth apart the mont they ntioned barbarian or whatever to ."
It was a nacing statent that contrasted with his gentle attitude and manner of speaking. And it wasn't just an empty threat. Balud could really do that.
Balud wore a suit and put on the mask of a business representative, but his foundation was that of a warrior who kills people with an axe.
"That's why."
"...There's sothing else I don't know about."
Balud straightened his posture. He realized that the reason Osian had co was definitely not for ordinary matters.
"As you know, a big incident happened in District 17."
"I know about that from hearing it. They said heretics were involved. And there were more people in league with them than expected. Well, checking the list, it made sense."
"You seem to have checked quite thoroughly."
"Don't underestimate North Blinders' information network. Our foundation is ultimately the underworld. Our information capabilities in this area don't fall behind ordinary companies."
"Right. As you know, outer gods were involved in this incident."
Outer gods. Beings that exist outside, possessing divine strength.
"The monster called Red Eternity, aiming at this side from that distant outer realm."
"Are you saying that thing still exists?"
"No. I drove it away this ti. Even if it tries sothing, it'll be safe for the ti being. The problem is a different one."
A different one. Balud silently waited for Osian's next words.
"One troubleso fellow has flowed into this city. It's an outer god like Red Eternity, but looking at what it does, it's much more cunning. I'd like your help in finding that thing."
"Help in finding an outer god."
Balud leaned his back away from the sofa's backrest and bent his upper body forward.
"The fact that you ca to see directly, and not anyone else, ans there's sothing, doesn't it?"
Indeed, Balud was exceptionally clever. From the mont Osian brought up the topic to him alone, he realized that this was sothing only he could do.
"The power you handle."
"You an the Nord technique, runes."
"Right. That power is extrely effective in driving away outer gods."
"This thing? I thought it was useful, but I didn't know it was to that extent."
"It's not just you. The power I handle is the sa. And there are others too. Mages and paladins."
Of course, ordinary mages, paladins, or barbarian warriors couldn't face outer gods. They might be able to handle minions, but against the outer gods themselves, a diocre level would rather be devoured.
"Balud. You can use three rune techniques. Is that right?"
Balud nodded. In the case of [Runes] handled by Nordsn, there are a total of three characteristics.
[Raging Bear] [Frost Wolf] [Rune Raven]
This is a unique power that only Nordsn can use. However, not all Nordsn can use it. Only so talented individuals barely learn one of those three characteristics.
But Balud was different. He possessed the qualification to be called a hero, being able to use all three characteristics.
"There are such people. Those who can handle various powers regardless of scope in their field."
Osian brought up the main point of why he had co to see Balud.
"And you are one of them. You possess the power to bring down monsters from the outside, of which there are few in the world."
Balud listened to those words silently. He seed to be pondering sothing, crossing his arms and falling into silence. How much ti had passed?
Balud stood up from his seat.
"I should show you directly rather than just words. Follow ."
Osian silently followed Balud. The place the two arrived at was so large building considerably distant from the North Blinders mansion.
"This is it."
Balud briefly loosened his shoulders, then pushed the massive door with both hands using all his strength.
-Kuguuuung!
The door opened with a roar, and cold wind rushed out from inside.
'This is... frost?'
What was carried within the wind was pure white frost. Osian could see the interior through the open door.
North Blinders organization mbers were undergoing grueling training in an extrely cold environnt.
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