Jake, who had been working hard with a pickaxe and shovel, blinked.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that he was a rare true knight, seeing as he did not show any complaints when told that it was a mission from the royal family, even though he was doing difficult work due to having made the wrong friends.
“-Blood Crusade? This is the first time I’ve heard of such an organization. No, more than that, such subversive things came out of the temple… I can’t believe it.”
Boom, boom!
“I agree with you too.”
Likewise, it is heartbreaking to see junior knight Yorde, who met the wrong senior, being dragged to a place like this and having to carry dirt despite being a rookie.
He had no loyalty to the royal family like Jake and had no reason to take on the mission, but he was more like someone who followed his respected seniors because they told him to.
However, he didn’t show any particular complaints.
First mission since becoming a knight.
I thought maybe he had some kind of anticipation.
“You don’t have to believe it. I just heard it from other people.”
And the person who brought his friend and junior to this dangerous place.
He was able to do more work than others who worked with equipment, even digging the dirt with his bare hands, and he even broke a boulder that looked like two watermelons put together with his bare hands…
They were all criminals trapped in a tunnel, having gone from being knights.
“…Can’t you work a little more normally?”
Jake harassed him as he worked happily like a fish in water.
Because I thought it might be playing rather than working.
At least that guy does.
“The equipment is so poor that it’s unusable. It might be different if you have special equipment that you normally use.”
“Are you still working a side job?”
“It’s very salty. It’s also good for moving your body.”
“… … That weird guy.”
There was no particular order to the conversation between the three people.
Although it seemed like it was dealing with serious issues, it was mixed with everyday conversation and mostly consisted of small talk.
Also, his voice was strangely loud, and I thought that if I focused closely, other people might be able to hear it too.
And this.
‘There’s no response.’
‘Looking at other people’s reactions, I don’t think there’s anyone who’s suspicious. It’s just that we seem to be treated like crazy people.’
‘Is it because I’m talking about a strange religion?’
‘… Isn’t it because of you? Please do your job normally!’
‘I want to do that too, but my equipment is too weak and breaks, so what do you want me to do?’
‘Control your strength!’
‘…not easy.’
─This was also a part where you could see that they were deliberately leaking information to see how the [sinners] would react.
… But as the saying goes, you can’t get full from the first drink.
‘Tseup, there’s not a single person who gets caught.’
The results were quite disappointing.
Lee Han was able to detect the entire area within 1km by my standards.
If I wanted to, I could do it within a 5km radius, but that would be extremely inefficient since I wouldn’t be able to maintain it for even 10 minutes.
So, 1km would be the most ideal. If you utilize this, it would be an excellent weapon.
Thanks to this, Lee Han succeeded in moving around diligently and observing the reactions of the criminals gathered in the [Tunnel] one by one, and as a result, the failure to weed out the suspicious individuals was an achievement that was not an achievement.
“It’s so frustrating… .”
“Hold on. You knew from the beginning that this wasn’t going to be an easy mission, right?”
“That’s right, Senior. How easy would it be to find traces of a group that would attempt to overthrow the kingdom?”
Jake and Jordan told him to be patient, as this wasn’t going to be a quick process in the first place.
“You too, you. Do you think it makes sense to finish a royal mission in a few days? Royal missions usually last for years.”
“There’s no time to drag it out that long.”
“Why?”
“Once my kids’ vacation, or rather school break, is over, I should go back too.”
“… … .”
Jake couldn’t quite decide whether to be happy that his dishonest friend had found a calling, or angry at the impious brat who treated royal orders like a part-time job.
* * *
The previous day’s attack, also known as the Demon Terror or the Academy Disaster.
The incident where a large army of Demon King-level monsters and Nol appeared was a terrorist attack that caused no casualties, so it wouldn’t have been strange if the royal capital had collapsed.
Thanks to the abilities of the cadets including Lee Han and the capable regressors, the damage is at a level that is virtually non-existent.
If it weren’t for that, it was clear that a catastrophe would have occurred that would have made it impossible to even estimate the damage.
As a result, the royal road was safe, but the process itself was daunting.
And if you can’t foresee what kind of disastrous future a single mistake could bring, then you are not responsible for leading the country.
[-This incident cannot but be a large-scale provocation against the entire kingdom. We must resolve it with all our might. No matter what happens, we must make them pay the price.]
The King was furious and issued an edict to severely punish those who committed this terrorist attack.
Countless people, including high-ranking officials, had to move quickly, which made the back alleys of the capital city a place of constant trembling for a while.
The soldiers moved, the knights moved, and the suspicious people were all arrested repeatedly, and eventually more than 80% of the criminals hiding in the capital were caught.
… but.
[Still haven’t caught the real culprit!! What on earth are these police officers doing!!!]
The real culprit’s whereabouts were still unknown, and the king was furious.
However, it wasn’t necessarily because the royal family was incompetent that they couldn’t catch the real culprit.
On the contrary, it could be said that the real culprit is competent.
…so much so that even though the soldiers and knights had moved, there was not even a trace of them.
All the royal family found was a mass murder scene, presumably used for terrorism.
As things turned out, the royal family realized that the fight against the terrorists, which they had thought would be a short-term battle, was turning into a long-term war, and they were still working hard to identify the real culprit.
… was in the middle.
– Blood Crusade, ha! What a ridiculous organization.
It was a suspiciously talented heir to the throne who found out about the terrorists faster than the royal family could move.
Isis, surprisingly, had outlined the people who had invaded the royal capital.
– The illegal wizard that Galahad captured was said to be a low-ranking priest. He was said to have a cross symbolizing the
– So the temple is the culprit?
– The soldiers have already investigated, but they just keep repeating that there are no such lower priests in the temple. However, it is highly likely that the soldiers have not investigated properly either. How could a proper investigation have been conducted when there are so many followers of that arrogant temple?
– … … .
– But that doesn’t matter to you.
– Then you will be punished by heaven.
– Heaven does not punish. It just follows the course of nature. Don’t you know that?
– … … .
… Yes, it wasn’t that the royal family was a group that was more incompetent than her alone and couldn’t even figure out the outline of the terror.
Even though I knew it, I just couldn’t investigate it in detail.
Because it is a temple, because it is a light of light.
Since it is the only religion that the entire nation believes in and follows, the soldiers cannot delve into them in detail.
Even the soldiers were believers who followed the light of light.
They did not dare to dig up the temple.
But not ISIS.
She was an impious woman who did not ask for miracles or wishes from God, and rather, she even used God.
So she dug into the temple persistently and extracted information.
And he doesn’t just sit on the throne like a king and do nothing, he takes action himself.
In some ways, it may seem a bit extreme for a country’s successor to be seen, but this.
– Rather than believing in incompetent things, I would rather see it with my own eyes.
It must be the nature of a monarch named Isis.
Anyway, thanks to such radical actions, she succeeded in finding out the ‘remnants of the past’ that the temple and the royal family had buried before the royal family.
– Temple, it is said that among these crazy seeds, there was a force that dreamed of treason. However, that organization was quickly destroyed and disappeared by the former king… . It seems to have resurfaced like this.
– Even though I got rid of it once… .
– Thoughts and religions are like dandelion seeds. Even if you try to get rid of them, they will continue to appear.
– Hmm, so to put it simply, fanatics were fanatics?
– … I think you should be more worried about divine punishment than me.
– Why me?
– … In any case, it is expected that such seeds are planting seeds again and spreading them in the temple, … no, throughout the kingdom.
An army bearing the bloody cross that will overthrow the royal road and purify all unbelievers and pagans with blood.
Blood Crusade.
Indeed… .
-They are not only ridiculous, but also disgusting. They are disgusting people who sell the name of God to satisfy their own power and greed.
Isis showed her utmost contempt for the temple, but Yihan did not particularly sympathize.
– … Are you sure they exist?
Ever since he heard the name Blood Cross, Lee Han felt very uneasy.
Even if they have fanatic ideologies, it’s so strange that I’ve never heard their names before.
But ISIS confirmed.
– It exists. Albert went around everywhere to confirm its existence.
– I was wondering where that gentleman went… Stop ordering adults around.
– You are the one who needs to be corrected, so it is not right to let you rest just yet.
– Oh, me… .
When Albert’s name was mentioned, he could no longer refute it.
then….
– Does this mean that I should find that Blood Cult or Blood Crusade or something and bring it to you?
It was Lee Han’s question, as if he had gradually guessed what order she would give, and she nodded her head.
– There are two things I want. One is evidence proving the existence of those fanatics, and the other is a list or trace of those who collaborate with them.
– Cooperation?
– He sacrificed tens of thousands of criminals to summon a demon. And he did it right in the middle of the capital city. This could not have happened without collaborators.
– … I know what you mean, but how is that any different from asking me to look for a needle in a haystack, right now?
I understand the nature of the mission, but it is extremely unreasonable.
Even she is a trace of a fanatic whose traces have barely been found.
But how could he, who was only good at fighting, find them and even find other evidence?
It’s a mission no different from dropping someone in the vast ocean and not giving them a compass.
Lee Han thought that this woman had finally lost her mind because she was so stressed.
– I can tell just by looking at you that you’re having irreverent thoughts.
– Oh, I got caught.
– That damn bastard.
Taaak!
Her debt was familiar to Lee Han’s heart.
But what was different from usual was that it was not her who struck him directly, but a fan that flew and hit him on the head.
I was thinking that it would hurt my wrist if I hit it, so I thought it would be time to throw it… .
Toouk.
– ?
A note fell from the debt.
– … I investigated the human bones that were sacrificed. After inviting countless experts to find out where the human bones had been moved to and where they came from, I even succeeded in finding out their personal details.
– … … .
– So it was possible to pinpoint three major prisons where most of them were imprisoned. And of the three, which one resonated with Yeo’s intuition?
Bam.
– There you go. Find out for sure.
– … If you figured it out to this extent, then you don’t need me, right?
What on earth do you want me to find out, sir?
Witnessing the true madness of finding out someone’s hometown and whereabouts by piecing together all the messy bones, Lee Han wondered if he was needed.
I wonder if it might be possible to just solve it all by myself.
– Even if you have power, it doesn’t mean you can do everything you want.
It was her incomprehensible mumbling with a hint of bitterness, and Lee Han responded to her like that.
– It’s all because of a lack of effort.
– … … .
– Let’s try harder, please.
– He is the younger brother who beats the hawk.
Boom!
Her feet, wearing pointy shoes, struck Ihan’s shins, and Isis sprained her ankle that day.
* * *
“… Then you’re not a savage, so why are you beating people up?”
“what?”
“No, nothing….”
“?”
Lee Han tried to change the subject.
How can I say it?
That I injured the ankle of the crown princess of this country.
Maybe Jake would grab him by the collar and ask if he’s crazy?
Lee Han didn’t want to end up grabbing his friend by the collar and strangling him.
at that time.
“Senior. By the way. What on earth is this tunnel?”
“huh?”
“You’re asking that now…?”
“Well, I just followed along for the time being….”
“… … .”
Lee Han scratched the ball.
I thought this guy really had no plan.
‘He’s the kind of guy who’d give you a guarantee if you asked for one… .’
Jordan Decker.
A sincere junior knight who followed along without any complaints because we went together.
The sincerity and skill of these people remind me of the trio I teach.
Maybe that’s why.
Lee Han is kind in his own way.
“Hmm, what do you think this tunnel is like?”
“Oh, it looks like they’re digging the ground for no reason….”
Since being imprisoned here today, Jordan has continued to dig tunnels without even hearing any explanation.
But there didn’t seem to be any particular reason for digging this tunnel.
I thought that digging the ground like this would be for mining minerals or something, but that’s not the case.
A repetitive act of simply digging dirt and breaking rocks.
I wondered what the purpose of this act was, and whether, as the name suggests, they were actually digging tunnels to travel to another country.
but.
“That might be fun, but there are a lot of rivers around here, so if you dig a tunnel you might drown.”
“So you’re saying it’s not used for the purpose of invasion?”
“yes.”
“It’s like trying to guide criminals through meaningless repetitive tasks.”
“No. Guidance is something that is done in a temple. What would be the point of guiding people in a kingdom?”
“If you allow it… .”
“Oh, I guess I can see it now.”
“??”
I tried to ask additional questions, but Yihan returned Jordan’s gaze.
There.
[Why did a noble person like me have to end up in such a pitiful state?]
Aren had been complaining while looking like a beggar far away from them for a while, and Jord wondered why he had to look at him.
“-comes.”
Kkwadduk!
“!!?”
Aren could see something pouring out of the mound of dirt he had been digging through.
[Keeee!!!]
“Bird, Sand Worm!?”
“Not quite sand worms, but baby sand worms. Get ready. We’ll have to catch them all. Oh, and.”
Swish,
[Wh, don’t ask! Where is the sword!? Bring me the sword!]
“… and save that stupid kid too.”
“… … .”
Jordan gave a puzzled look to Ihan, who was leisurely walking towards the sand worm while holding a shovel.
No, what the…!
“… Can you catch them all?”
Dozens, no, hundreds.
Looking at the ever-growing mass of young sand worms, Jordan swallowed dryly, but also felt relieved.
‘Thank goodness the only thing I ate today was water…’
Because it was such a disgusting sight that just looking at it made me feel sick.
The tunnel, it is the largest ‘sand worm habitat’ in the kingdom… … .
It was also the kingdom’s largest
… It was a secret that should not be known to the world that sometimes humans digested by sand worms become fertilizer.
