146
Surprise
“This reminds me of the old days. Those imperial bastards really are tough.”
Perhaps because he’s old, Choco naturally brings up old stories.
As the bastard said, it was a method often used on the battlefield. There was nothing more primitive and effective than this.
“······Back then, the enemy was clear.”
Choco continued speaking with a hollow smile.
“So there are several now?”
I asked, checking the bait.
It seemed okay for the bait to flinch. He smiled with satisfaction and tapped the bait. The bait fluttered.
“I don’t know now… Sometimes I think it was better back then. Even though I drink a lot of cold wine.”
“Oh, you, eat some ice.”
Choco’s words suddenly reminded me of Hannah’s grumbling.
Choco is not like drinking wine with ice, but like drinking wine with ice. Ha-na said in passing that she eats a lot of ice at the bar.
“······Didn’t you say you could eat as much as you wanted?”
Choco asked in a strangely sad voice.
“You should eat in moderation. In moderation.”
For someone who has been in hot places all his life, how cool and appealing would ice be?
He could understand, but it felt a bit harsh to eat ice whenever he had the chance.
Although ice production has increased dramatically with the recent addition of batteries, Choco’s ice consumption is somewhat excessive.
“······right?”
Choco asked me with cloudy eyes. There was a thick layer of black blood around his eyes.
I thought about it for a moment and then answered.
“Five in one glass.”
“That’s too little. Wine is meant to be drunk from a large glass, and if you put five in there, you won’t even notice it.”
“Yeah, seven in one glass.”
The chocolate guy smiled brightly at my answer.
Hannah said fifteen, and I was originally thinking of ten.
However, since I liked seven of them, I thought it would be okay. Even if I eat a lot of ice when I’m old, it’ll just make me cold.
“Anyway, back to the story….”
Choco, not being bored, forced himself to bring up an old story.
‘I used to be really reserved.’
I nodded vaguely, clicking my tongue.
“Those were truly terrible times. There was never a day when my hands would go dry. No wonder they said that the temperature in the desert went down thanks to the blood shed in the war.”
“That’s right.”
His words were not true. The blood that was sprinkled was not used to lower the temperature of the desert. It was used as food for the monsters.
‘I guess now would be the time.’
Of course, there was no need to tell me, so I answered roughly and looked down.
It seemed a little early. The raccoon’s patience and acting were amazing. He was a very meticulous and vicious raccoon.
‘There is no tree that won’t break after ten blows.’
I nodded, reciting the famous quote. No matter how vicious the raccoon was, if you keep beating him, he’ll eventually come over.
“But I miss those days. Those were really horrible times, but there were some pretty funny stories, too. What was his name… a big guy among your colleagues.”
“···Gorgai?”
I answered with a cough. It had been so long since I had heard that name that my mouth felt rough as if a thorn had grown in it.
“Yes, Gorgai! The guy who was a gladiator. Didn’t he get bitten while sleeping with one of our women?”
Choco’s words suddenly brought back memories that were buried very deeply. I laughed out loud for the first time in a long time at that.
“That’s right, from then on I was called a gojagi.”
It was a funny story that happened because the desert and the empire had different traditions, but it was a pretty serious incident at the time.
Fortunately, thanks to the desert wizard, it was stitched up and I was able to get through it.
‘It was worth seeing.’
I laughed like a man with a hole in his lung, but the aftertaste was so bitter that I hardened my expression like a man with a knife in his lung. The bait’s eyes widened as it looked up at me.
“Maybe it’s because there were so many fun things going on, but I often miss those days.”
Choco was talking peacefully. It was the tone of a discharged man who was missing his military days, but it was absurd that the target of his words was a battlefield where blood flowed every day.
It wasn’t that I couldn’t understand it. If you asked me, I would nod my head too.
“This is fucking sick.”
However, both he and I knew that we could not go back to that time.
“······If I go back to that time, I will beat you up really bad.”
Choco muttered so quietly that it was hard to hear.
He was a funny guy. He would often beat me up under the pretense of training, even if I didn’t go back. It helped, though.
“It’s menopause, menopause.”
“···Menopause? What does that mean?”
Choco muttered ‘menopause’ in a slightly awkward tone.
I hesitated for a moment about how to explain menopause to a primitive medieval man, then gave a vague answer.
“There is something like that. Anyway, what you’re saying is that you lost your goal. You just have to create a goal.”
“Menopause… I really like that word. Oh, I forgot to bring that.”
As I prepared the bait, Choco skillfully held out the bottle. The bottle was filled with yellow oil.
I looked at the bait, thought for a moment, then nodded.
It would hurt a lot if I got burned, but I figured it wouldn’t matter since I would be reborn anyway.
He was caught after he ran into a group of other men and shouted, “We will all rise again! It’s a noble sacrifice!”
If it’s going to happen again anyway, like the guy said, then it’s okay to burn it a little.
“So what is your goal?”
As I took aim with the bait, Choco bit down softly.
I answered him without hesitation.
“Survival.”
I met the bait’s terrified eyes.
I don’t know why he was scared when he was supposed to be reborn anyway, but I smiled kindly at him as I looked at him.
The bastard’s face became even more wrinkled.
“For a very long time.”
Just then, a very angry raccoon appeared at a suitable distance.
“Come find me when you are born again.”
After I made the promise of bait and food, I just threw it out.
Now you’re pretty good at it and you can draw nice parabolas.
The one that exploded in the middle and had added visual effects split into mini lungs in front of the raccoon.
‘Your swordsmanship is better than I thought.’
I watched him closely and then hurried to the next area at Choco’s gesture.
Choco looked very excited and the corners of his mouth went up.
I looked at him, clicked my tongue, and touched the corner of my mouth.
The corners of my mouth went up even higher than his.
***
‘···It was my fault for leaving the work to the third child.’
Gobersan glared with bloodshot eyes and then took a deep breath.
A corpse was burning in front of me, cut into pieces. I could tell what was written there without even looking at it.
The weird words like “when will it start” or “when will it start”.
‘······The third one caused an accident again.’
It seemed as if he had misunderstood the signal he was giving.
This was a problem that arose because it had been a really long time since I had dealt with the third child.
‘Did you think this was the beginning of a great undertaking? You clearly ordered the killing of Brighton and the destruction of the Bible…’
This was an accident that often happened when working on the third page before.
They were very aggressive, impatient, and extremely stupid, so if you didn’t tell them exactly what to do, they would always get into trouble.
Of course some people call him a righteous man, but he was just stupid because he got slaughtered because of it.
So, at that time, when dealing with the third child, I gave quite detailed instructions, but this time I spoke too vaguely.
The third one was a mistake that came about because it had been so long that I had forgotten about it.
‘What should I do···.’
Gobersan muttered, caressing the ring on his hand. Of course, it didn’t matter if he ignored it.
There was a strange atmosphere, but he was a cardinal.
It didn’t matter if they suspected him, as long as nothing direct came out of it. In the end, the only credit would be for catching the heretic.
Of course, it is a very small merit that Gobert does not like.
“The pagans have been targeting only the Cardinal since a while ago.”
Johelia asked with a strangely twisted attitude. The thorn in her words was very irritating.
‘You cheeky bitch. Why did the Pope put that on me?’
It wasn’t a position to be suspected to this extent, but it was another matter for Johelia to report the matter to the Pope.
Now an old pope, secluded in the Holy Land, his influence was less than that of the cardinals, but a pope was still a pope.
It was clear that if the story reached the Pope, it would be troublesome.
Gobersan looked ahead, his mouth watering. The atmosphere was slowly settling down.
Compared to the number of children who entered, the damage was really minimal.
‘I won’t even get half the price.’
Achievements usually follow the damage done.
Considering the number of children who entered, the damage was so minor that it should have been at least in the hundreds.
‘No, there are still more children prepared. If you use them during the moving process later…’
Children were spread all over the continent, so it wasn’t a big problem since they could be replenished later.
The third guy, whose intentions were unknown, was the problem.
The third one was famous for his stupidity and his power. If he started something, it would definitely not end easily. Thinking about him gave me a headache.
“How about coming in?”
The Johelia Temple Knight asked in a cold voice. It was rough, if not worried.
Johelia was pressuring him more and more openly. Gobersan was already very sensitive, but as he kept getting on his nerves, his shadow kept getting distorted.
‘······hmm?’
Gobersan, who was staring at the back of Johelia’s head, suddenly wondered why he was worried about the third child.
‘The third one, who knows my relationship to the Bible, and who, if left alone, will be the trigger for the stupid brothers to start a great undertaking. Why are you worried about him?’
When I peeled off the shell of brotherhood, my head spun quickly as if I had eaten a sweet candy.
‘······If the descendant of the third devil appears again, not only the religious order but also the imperial family will turn their attention.’
I don’t know exactly how strong he is, but that’s a problem that can be solved if I help him. He’s not the eldest son, but even if he’s just the third brother, he should be able to solve these guys here.
Just in case, I had already brought the kids along. I had originally planned to use them on my way out of Cassidy, but…
‘Is it really necessary to do that?’
Gobersan glanced around. Among the heretic inquisitors on his side was the Knight of the Temple of Johelia.
Because the children were scattered, it was the best condition to exert power. If we just attack and take care of Johelia······.
‘The descendant of the third demon who threw the Catholics into confusion and took the heads of the Knights of the Temple. Cardinal Gobert who captured him.’
The problem was the excuses I had to make to my brothers.
‘I guess I can just use the Pope as an excuse.’
All you had to do was talk to the Pope like the five eldest sons who had the imperial family in their mouths. Even if that didn’t work, it didn’t matter because the situation would have already ended.
The stupid third one back then probably didn’t even realize that he had been betrayed and was going wild. Thinking back, it was mostly the stupid and violent third one’s fault.
‘Yeah, because he’s that stupid third one.’
Isn’t it because of this purpose that the ignorant third son, who couldn’t even handle divine powers, was able to be included among the brothers?
Gobert’s eyes, which had been drenched in fatigue, sparkled.
It was a brilliant move that allowed me to clear up several headaches while simultaneously satisfying my own hunger.
‘Let’s take this opportunity to refill those guys as well.’
Gobersan could not believe what he had suspected. They were the inquisitors who had already finished their work, but he was planning to select them again.
It was an extremely tedious and inefficient task, but I had no choice because of the nervous breakdown I had developed from my long life as an infiltrator.
Because he was so suspicious, Gobersan couldn’t completely trust the third one.
If I said something like that among my brothers, they would laugh at me, but even as the third son, I couldn’t completely believe it.
‘Once he shows that he has something solid, he starts.’
Gobersan glared at the back of the head of the insolent knight with bloodshot eyes and cast a shadow on his ring.
***
Stab···.
An unpleasant sensation passed through my body as I was put on the ring.
‘The kiss has finally come.’
How many baits did I throw out before I finally got a response from the guy.
He was a man of great patience.
It was amazing how he managed to keep his composure even when surrounded by demon candies and templars and inquisitors constantly throwing bait at him.
‘Just keep throwing it until it works.’
Even the guy who had been so vicious now seemed to have run out of patience and started to bite.
The will of the bastard could be felt through the ring, as if the tenant’s opinion was being conveyed.
‘Starting a great undertaking?’
His answer was a bit more radical than I expected.
The intention was conveyed in a feeling similar to emotion rather than language, and the bastard intended to immediately destroy all the bastards around him.
I did throw him some bait, but I intended to create a moderate amount of conflict.
It was a sudden, bewildering rash that was different from what was expected.
It was hard to believe him, because it was the opposite of the patience he had shown so far.
However, my fishing wasn’t over yet. Like fishing, I was planning to start in earnest only when the guy’s devil candy emerged from the surface.
‘Let him move first.’
All you have to do is create a mouth-watering situation that will make even the most suspicious and meticulous raccoon take action.
I carefully took out the items I had packed inside and inspected their condition.
It was a perfect item, worthy of the name Kanna. It was so comfortable that I felt uneasy holding it. It was even more suitable because it was dark at night.
At this point, even the most picky raccoon would be sure of it.
“Are you here?”
Choco asked while preparing the bait.
“okay.”
“As expected, this always works.”
Choco chuckled, shaking his head at the bait.
I nodded and checked the condition of the sword.
The dark days eased my mind.
“Then what should we do about this?”
As Choco muttered in a regretful voice, hope appeared in Bait’s eyes.
Why are those who are going to be reborn so foolish?
“Now that I’ve caught it, I might as well use it.”
At my answer, the bait’s eyes began to rot again.
“You said you were born again.”
The guy shook his head at my muttering, but was changed to a nod by Choco.
***
‘A pagan attack…’
Pulpouts looked around while pressing his temples.
When the cardinal visited, the pagans suddenly attacked him head-on.
‘That was almost a disaster.’
If a cardinal had been attacked within the Catholic Church, it could have been a very terrible thing.
It’s crazy enough that a cardinal would visit, but then he gets attacked by pagans within the Catholic Church?
Perhaps all of Pulpouts’ remaining hair would have fallen out. Of course, it wouldn’t end there.
‘As expected from Aaron. That was a really great response.’
Aaron’s command to do as he pleased had great effect.
When I heard the report about the ‘pagan countermeasure training’ that Aaron had been promoting, I wondered if it was necessary, but as always, its true value was revealed later.
“······I can’t see the young lady.”
Pulpouts’ thoughts were broken by the sheriff’s report.
‘Oh… I didn’t think of that.’
Because so many big things happened one after another, I forgot something important.
Vivian must have gone out to distribute food to the residents. There was a lot of food left today.
Cassidy was doing a great job of blocking, but it was still going on. It was dangerous.
“Spread out and look for Vivian.”
“Then, Your Majesty’s escort······.”
Pulpouts’s brow furrowed at Adolf’s question. That’s true, but…
“It’s okay.”
Pulphutz glanced at the cardinal in front and answered. Adolf nodded, understanding the gesture.
Adela, who was about to protest, was stopped by Adolf.
‘Adolf, you are a good knight.’
Although the circumstances leading to his stay at Cassidy were strange, he was a capable knight for his low price.
Although Adela was inferior in terms of force, she was able to control the knights well with her experience.
Originally, knights were often in conflict because of their arrogance, but after Adolf came in, there was no more conflict among the knights.
In addition, he seemed to know how to handle Adela well, as he secretly supported her.
Pullputs watched the knights moving away and then sneaked forward.
There were many heretics, but with the famous Knights Templar, it was clear that there would be no danger.
However, that thought did not last long.
“Hahahahahahaha!!”
Aaron appeared wearing a strange helmet and burst into laughter.
Although he didn’t know why Aaron suddenly appeared wearing a helmet, Pulpouts felt extremely uneasy.
Every time Aaron put on his helmet and covered his face, something big happened.
And that anxiety reached its peak when Aaron suddenly saw the strange object he took out of his hand.
The moonlight was dim and it was hard to see, but what Aaron was holding in his hand was someone’s head. And the face was very familiar.
‘······The Abbot of Brighton? Weren’t the two of you close?’
Even though it was a horrible sight, it was hard to perceive because the eyes were closed and it looked so peaceful.
However, what Aaron was holding in his hand was clearly the head of the Abbot of Brighton. Just a head without a body. Something was dripping down from underneath it as if it had been placed on a scaffold.
Fullfoot looked at the cardinal with crumpled eyes, pressing his temples against the sharp headache that had suddenly arisen.
Then, something fell from the air.
It was now a familiar falling pagan.
It wasn’t just Pulptu that was familiar, the Knight of the Temple cut him down without a second thought. It was almost like chasing an insect.
However, unlike before, when he was cut down, a large fire broke out in an instant. The knights of the temple were instantly engulfed in flames.
At that moment, the Cardinal’s eyes twisted momentarily, and at the same time, a huge darkness suddenly burst out from his body. The darkness, which made no warning or sound, aimed for the back of the head of the Templar.
Pulpouts had a feeling that the Knight of the Temple would lose his head.
That would be the case, the Templar had already swung his greatsword, and who would have expected the Cardinal to attack him on top of that?
Moreover, the darkness made no sound. The dark something the cardinal was spreading gave off a sense of danger, so Pulpouts opened his mouth to warn.
However, because the speed was so fast, Fullfoots reached right behind the Temple Knight before he could even make a sound.
Pulpouts was certain that the helmet of the Temple Knight would fall off.
Then the Knight of the Temple suddenly snapped his greatsword in a blinding flash of light. The Knight of the Temple’s arm was bent at an odd angle, as if it were not human.
It was a very natural response, as if he had expected the Cardinal to attack him.
“······back!”
When Fullfoot’s mouth opened and the first word came out, the situation had already changed drastically.
“Hahahahahahahaha!”
Aaron laughed even harder and more crazily.
“···.”
The Templar, surrounded by inquisitors, aimed his greatsword at the cardinal.
“As expected of the Knights of the Temple.”
The cardinal muttered with a deep smile that did not seem to belong to a priest. His words were full of mockery.
At that moment, the head of the Abbot of Brighton, which was in Aaron’s hands, fell to the floor. Crunch. With a strange sound, the Abbot’s head was shattered into pieces.
However, what was sprinkled was not blood, but dirt.
‘······?’
Pulpouts opened his eyes wide at the incomprehensible situation.
The expressions on other people’s faces weren’t much different.
Among them, the face of Mount Gober was the most spectacular.
“Surprise-.”
While everyone was being dumbfounded, Aaron spoke with a voice full of laughter.
······Ugh.
A strange noise came from the cardinal’s side.
Fullfoot quickly ran away, taking a step back.
A thick darkness covered Cassadyk, as if the sun had disappeared.
***
“······You’re not a knight?”
Dylan twitched his mouth at the stupid old man’s question.
The old man was a scary guy who would make you pee your pants just by meeting him, but Dylan got to know him after a few thrilling conversations.
‘Why don’t you just call me a knight?’
I shook my buttocks just in case, but the old man just trembled and asked, “Are you a knight?”
Even Dylan’s parents couldn’t stand it and threw a punch at him because of the butt dance, but seeing that he overcame it, it was clear that it was safe unless it was a knight.
However, I could feel it instinctively. If I tried to hit the back of his head, I would get beaten up regardless.
‘Hmm······.’
Dylan looked the old man up and down as he explained the ‘swindler’ at length again.
‘Is he an old man who only kills knights?’
Dylan’s eyes widened at the thought of him. What is a knight? To a guy like Dylan, a knight was an absolute being.
They were extremely vicious and deadly, wrapping themselves in iron so that even swords couldn’t penetrate them, and using a strange thing called an aura to pierce through the opponent’s iron.
But that old man who goes around looking for such articles? Even when he was beating up the brats, he was clearly a very dangerous old man.
“······Would you like to call yourself a knight?”
“Oh my, you really are inconsistent.”
Even though I knew for sure that he wouldn’t touch me, my hands started shaking when I faced him head-on.
‘I didn’t write the article because I was afraid this would happen to me.’
Dylan sighed in relief as he looked at the old man, his eyes redder than before.
Of course, even if he had tried to write an article, he wouldn’t have been able to, but Dylan had already decided not to do it beforehand. So it was right for him not to write an article.
‘What should I do with this old man?’
Judging from the atmosphere, he seemed like the kind of guy who would swing his sword right away if he ever met a knight.
Just a while ago, he had a sword pointed at his neck just because he was talking about the knight.
Dylan didn’t care whether the Knights of Cassadic lived or died, but they were the Knights of Cassadic who would one day become the surname of the Ten Pups.
Dylan was confident that the pups would one day overthrow Lord Cassady.
Of course, it’s still almost the same as before…
Anyway, the Knights of Cassidy could be seen as Dylan’s successors. It would certainly be easier to leave at least one more behind in old age.
The corners of his mouth went up automatically as he imagined the knights quickly running at his beck and call, then went down again at the old man’s bloodshot eyes.
Even though I knew I wouldn’t die, my body trembled just by being in front of him. This was a fear that came from instinct, so I couldn’t suppress it with reason.
“So you’re looking for an article?”
The old man nodded without answering. Dylan nodded his head, though his legs were shaking from the pressure.
“I know where the knights are. Let’s go!”
Dylan thought of a hole. He didn’t know what it was, but he thought he could just dump this senile old man through the hole that had been dug again.
The old man glared but didn’t move a hand. At that look, Dylan realized he hadn’t pulled up his trousers yet.
Dylan pulled up his pants and walked ahead.
‘If you go through a place where there are few people······.’
However, the steps soon stopped.
“Have you seen Miss Vivian?”
Because the knight Adela with an anxious face appeared in the alley.
‘···There’s no one here, so why is there a reporter here?’
Dylan was very familiar with Cassadick’s geography. Dylan planned out the escape route in advance because Cassadick never knew when something would happen.
That’s why I came all the way to this dirtiest street where people rarely go, so why did I meet the knight here?
And Adela, the most useful knight?
“Oh, are you a knight?”
An old man’s voice was heard behind me.
His voice was cracked and fierce, as if he had a knife to his throat, his huge build, and the sword at his waist.
The voice and the presence it gave off were so threatening that just hearing the voice made my body freeze and not move.
Dylan had survived the wrath of the fearsome punks many times, but the old man’s momentum behind him was far beyond him.
‘No, on the contrary, it’s fortunate!’
Anyone who saw the old man dancing his butt off would be able to tell that he was giving off a murderous vibe. A knight would feel it even more.
If he had been scared and answered that he was not a knight, the problem would have been solved.
Even those who walked around with their necks bent and called themselves knights were human beings. They would certainly bow their heads in front of a very strong, senile old man.
Dylan quickly looked at Adela. As he had expected, Adela’s face was hard.
Our eyes met at that moment. Dylan shook his head sharply. He kept shouting at me not to open my mouth.
Adela’s reaction was different from what Dylan expected.
“I’ve never seen that face before. Are you persecuting the residents?”
Adela glared at the old man, her hostility clearly on display.
‘stolid···!’
It was the first time that a knight had come forward for me, so I felt grateful, but I ended up cursing more than thanking him.
“Pip…Park? So you’re a knight?”
The old man’s mutterings were filled with genuine anger.
“Yes. I am a knight···!”
Adela revealed her identity very confidently.
Dylan’s eyes widened as he felt something passing by him.
At one point, the old man was swinging his sword in front of Adela.
No, it was not a sword, but an axe. The old man seemed to be swinging it around in a haphazard manner, like an axe used to butcher livestock.
Kaang! Kang! Kang! Adela, with a flustered face, was desperate to block. With each hit, Adela’s face crumpled and her arms shook.
I don’t understand. Isn’t Adela a knight? How can a knight be subjected to such absurd behavior?
At that moment, there was an unusually loud noise and Adela rolled on the floor.
The old man did not chase after him but looked down at him.
Dylan was reminded of the beast he had seen in the forest long ago. A huge wolf poking a deer in front of him.
The deer stopped moving after the wolf tore its throat, but the wolf left without even eating it.
The old man was playing with Adela like the wolf back then.
Adela, who had been rolling on the floor, suddenly got up and emitted a brilliant blue light.
Although it was clear that he possessed the aura of invincibility that was said to be the exclusive property of knights, his face was filled with a look of defeat that was in contrast to his usual confidence.
It seemed as if the old man realized that he was not his match.
It’s not too late. Even if you just say that it’s a fraud and then a mistake, the old man will believe you.
“Wait a minute, that woman isn’t a knight······.”
“I am Knight Adela. Who are you?”
Adela, holding her sword, calmly revealed her identity.
“Me?”
The old man’s new form leaned forward and was now swinging his sword in front of Adela.
Kwaaang-! A loud noise erupted as swords clashed against swords. The brilliant blue light shook violently as if it had been eaten by a wild beast.
“I am a hunter.”
Adela gulped at the madness in the eyes looking at her.
‘No, my… my successor…’
“Gyaaaaaaah!!”
Dylan screamed at the top of his lungs as the situation became dire.
***
‘···scream?’
Adolgu turned his head at the strange scream he heard nearby.
It was the direction Adela was heading.
When I turned my head towards him, I felt something distinct, even though it was invisible.
The presence I felt for the first time was so scary that it would have made the original Adolf run away.
‘Namaiyad does not run away.’
He was Adolph of Namaiyad, not Adolf.
“Delfgu! Go towards the scream!”
Adolgu pulled out his sword and shouted. Delphgu, who was on the other side, nodded with a stern face.
‘···Strategic cooperation.’
Adolgu continued to mutter the magic words in an inexplicable sense of desolation.
Thinking about a fair and square strategic alliance gave me courage.
