157
means and methods
‘Why on earth does it have to be when I’m working…’
Barkan, the outer wall guard of the city of Karzan, was now in a very difficult position.
It was because of the vicious-looking guys right in front of me.
They were a strangely named merchant known as ‘Strong Aaron’, and one side of their carriage bore the emblem of the Baron Pulpouts.
After the heresy incident, the security of Karzan became very strict. It was impossible to completely lock down the city like other castles.
That’s why it couldn’t be passed through without a hitch even though it had the symbol of the Baron Pulpouts. However, the leader of the Lone Wolf, ‘Danso’ Dante, made a separate statement.
If anyone is looking for a name that starts with Dan, let them pass. Plus, they get a fat wallet afterward. It was a perfect request.
Of course, I couldn’t pass up all the requests of the lone wolf leader. The market had been on fire recently, so if I got caught, I could lose my head.
It was possible because the target was at the top. Even if the security was strengthened, if it was at the top with the noble emblem, it would be possible to pass through.
So originally it would have passed through the strong Aaron top.
But the order from the viewing room was the problem. It was said that the strong Aaron upper class should not be allowed to pass. It was even said that the order came from the first class.
On one side is the order of the 2nd class and the leader of the lone wolves, on the other side is the order of the 1st class manager.
I don’t know why he’s giving opposing orders, but what can a mere guard, Balkan, do? If he’s going to do it, he’s going to do it.
But I couldn’t kick him out, so I just contacted him and held on to him.
Fortunately, no major problems occurred.
“So how much do you get paid per month?”
Among them, a very vicious looking man approached me and asked me something strange.
‘He really looks tough.’
As a guard, I could boast that I had seen quite a variety of people. Even I had not seen such a rough impression from him very often.
I was nervous because such a vicious guy was approaching me, but I was completely shocked when he asked me about my salary.
‘···What is this smell?’
If it had been any other guy, I would have cursed at him and chased him away, but I couldn’t bring myself to do that because of the man’s appearance.
“You get 30 silver.”
“Fuck.”
Balkan tilted his head at the unfamiliar word coming out of the man’s mouth. He didn’t know what it meant, but he quite liked the tone of it.
“What shift?”
The man asked again.
“Of course it’s a three-shift system.”
“Fuck.”
Balkan muttered along with ‘F*ck’. It sounded good.
Thud thud. The man looked down at Balkan as he was hit by the rain. Balkan quickly turned his head as he met his sunken eyes.
‘What kind of human eyes are these…’
It was a look in his eyes that was filled with an indescribable aura.
Raindrops ran down the man’s head. After a moment of being like that, the man suddenly snapped his fingers.
“Yeah, there’s nothing to block the rain here? I’m going to get rained on while I’m working. This is really fucked up.”
Balkan nodded at the man’s muttering. Of course, it’s obvious. If it rains, you have to get wet. Besides, rain is a blessing from God. Why would you avoid it?
Although it was hard to see clearly because of the scar, the man’s face seemed to relax a little.
“Oh, how much is the toll?”
The man’s next question was a sensitive one.
This is the first time I’ve seen someone ask such a question. Balkan frowned, but the man seemed completely unconcerned and asked again.
“We don’t collect tolls.”
Balkan answered with a small sigh.
For some reason, the man’s face seemed to brighten up. At this, Balkan felt strangely bad and added something he would not have said originally.
“Instead, I receive money separately from the top brass or gangsters. The amount is roughly per month······.”
The man’s face crumpled when he heard the amount. Balkan was slightly surprised, but strangely felt better.
“then···.”
The man frowned again and thought deeply about something. Since the man’s reaction was quite good, Balkan also gradually found the conversation interesting.
At that moment, a woman approached through the rain.
She was quite a beauty, so Balkan unconsciously straightened his posture and tense his chin.
The woman spoke something to the man with great care, as if she were addressing a nobleman, and then turned back.
Balkan smacked his lips with a strange sense of regret. Then his eyes met with the man’s, and the man frowned.
“Wake up. There is someone who is connected to the king’s legs. No matter how ugly Berman is… Well, he was really ugly.”
I couldn’t understand what he was saying. I nodded, as if he was telling me not to touch the woman.
“Anyway, back to the main topic. Do you have any complaints?”
The man asked in a strangely excited voice. Balkan looked around for a moment. The young leader had disappeared again.
Originally, four people were supposed to be on duty, but two were out in front checking. The team leader was nowhere to be seen.
“있지. 우리 조 조장이 말이야. 아주 개새끼거든. 얼마나 개새끼냐면···.”
Balkan kept cursing at the leader for a long time. He was such a petty person that he had a lot of complaints.
“Well… I guess the team leader has his own set of difficulties, right?”
However, unlike before, the reaction from the men was lukewarm.
“The complaints are a plague. They get paid more than me, but they act so snobbish…”
Balkan continued his swearing. The funniest thing was gossiping about your superiors. How long did he do that?
The man squinted his eyes. It was really funny to see that ugly face like that. Balkan laughed and continued his gossip…
“Is that fucking leader talking about me?”
A sharp, irritated voice came from behind him. Barkan’s throat stiffened.
‘This is fucked.’
It was the voice of a fucking bully.
Balkan’s head quickly turned to think of an excuse. If it’s about the story of the other group leader that the group leader hates…
“Oh, you’re that fucking leader.”
The man immediately clapped his hands and said,
‘crazy.’
Balkan held back his swear words. Dex was known for his foul temper. With Dex swearing out of the blue, it was obvious how the situation would turn out.
“Who are you?”
However, since the opponent’s impression was so fierce and he was so big, Dex seemed to be cautious.
“It’s Aaron.”
Dex’s eyes narrowed at the man’s answer.
Aaron, a famous name. The rascally guard captain of Cassidy. He was just as I had heard. A giant in stature and a ferocious countenance.
‘···Then what about that strong Aaron top?’
Balkan suddenly remembered the name of the company and shook his head. How could a mere security chief have a company named after him?
It was a common name, so it was clearly a coincidence. Dex frowned as if he was thinking the same thing. It seemed like he had figured out his position and that of his opponent.
“Aaron? The scoundrel of Cassidy? Ha, you can tell just by looking at his face that he’s a scoundrel. Do you think that just because you’ve made a name for yourself in such a small castle, you’ll be able to do well in the city of Karzan?”
Dex let out a torrent of abuse.
Dex was quite large, befitting his personality, but he didn’t show off in front of his opponent. He must have sensed it too, because it was quite funny how he slightly lifted his heel.
During the checkpoint, the guard was the face of Karzan.
Touching that guard was tantamount to declaring war on Karzan. Dex knew that anyone who wasn’t a noble would be making a fuss.
Of course, that prediction was correct. Even the most crazy person would become docile after being questioned.
Even if he was known as a total rascal, he had no choice but to put up with it.
at that time-,
Thud. Dex fell with a heavy sound.
The punch was delivered without a shred of hesitation, and felt as natural as swinging a hand at a bug.
How can a punch come out so naturally? It was so natural that Dex, who got hit, didn’t even seem to notice.
And to think that he would throw a punch just because he heard a single curse word… Balkan stuck out his tongue at the unimaginable ignorance.
A knocked-out Dex rolled around in the mud. Dex’s mouth was wide open. I thought he was dead, but he was still breathing.
Balkan felt regretful. Apart from that, he could not tolerate violence within the man. It was cool, but hitting the guards.
“What have you done just now···.”
At the moment when Barkin was about to draw the sword from his waist.
““You’re here!!””
A loud voice was heard from behind.
Balkan unconsciously turned his head and was so startled that he almost dropped his sword.
There were a lot of men there with fierce looks, each with a famous face.
A lone wolf, a cool dagger, and a cute rabbit were all gathered together.
The largest organization in Karzan, Lone Wolf, and the two organizations right below it appear at the same time?
Even the person at the very front…
‘Danso Dante?!’
Balkan hurriedly grabbed his sword. It was Dante, also known as the master of the Karzan underworld.
I heard that since there were so many enemies, they wouldn’t come out, but they came all the way to the castle gates. It was clear that something was going to happen today.
“Are you here?”
However, the famous Dante bowed his head. And the target was-.
“okay.”
It was the man who had been making weird jokes until just now.
The man grabbed Dex’s head, lifted it up, and handed it to Balkan.
“It’s bad if you sleep while working.”
Balkan received the dex in a dazed state.
The road was long and lined with men, and the man followed him as if it were a given.
‘···Who on earth is that guy?’
It was as if he was possessed by a ghost. However, once Dante appeared, it was not a problem he could stop on his own.
Balkan, who had been dazed for a moment, came to his senses when Dex flinched.
Balkan looked at the unconscious Dex and then hit him on the back of the head.
It was quite cool.
***
“The remodeling went well.”
Karzan was a mess the last time I visited, but it looked much better after it was overturned.
‘Why are this kid’s eyes like this?’
However, Dante’s condition was a little strange. He was still quiet, but his gaze was very irritating.
The somewhat burdensome and irritating look in his eyes reminded me of the abbot of a monastery I was worshipping.
I briefly considered hitting him once to fix it, but I held back because he was a hard worker.
Instead, he hit the head of the weasel that was laughing excitedly next to him. The weasel had a small fit and laughed.
Dante took care of the business on his own. Judging from the table of the man who had received the order, he seemed to be getting a good price.
We followed Dante to the Lone Wolf building. We sent the foreign workers to the bar in the hall and went upstairs with Choco and the Weasel.
The room had changed layout since I had cut off the old bastard’s neck. It was definitely bigger, but slightly smaller.
‘It’s covered with a cloth.’
It was hard to tell because the room was dark, but it wasn’t a wall, it was a piece of cloth. It wasn’t a bad strategy.
I nodded and sat down in the largest chair. The weasel quickly sat down in the chair nearest to him and crossed his legs, and Choco lifted the bottle of alcohol on the table to his lips.
Dante stood beside me like a butler, his hands folded politely, waiting.
Behind them stood the other gang members I had seen before. The sight of those vicious men standing in a row was not a very pleasant sight.
It felt like I was the leader of some villains or something.
It seemed to be because the room was dark.
“Turn on the light.”
I said lightly, pushing my wet hair back.
“They said it was dark!”
“Bring me the fire! Fire bastard! Fire!”
I was taken aback by the passionate reaction. They showed some violent behavior towards the guys, but they never threatened me, and I was very angry.
I just ignored it because it was better than being slow. After a while, the bad guys came rushing in, holding candles in their hands.
They were circling the room, and they were such vicious men that it looked like a gang leader was having an event.
“Why are your faces like that? Smile.”
Everyone laughed heartily at my command.
It didn’t look any better.
I gave up because it seemed like it wasn’t something I could do.
But when I lit the candles, the atmosphere in the room became more peaceful.
‘Take care of the top of the car and prepare Ethan.’
I closed my eyes for a moment and thought about what I had to do.
‘I guess I have to move diligently.’
Fatigue weighed on my body, but I couldn’t rest.
I had to keep running until I got an arrow stuck in my head.
“···Brother, am I faster than this guy?”
Then the weasel pointed at Dante and asked.
It was amazing that he was trying to match the appearance Dante had shown just now.
“okay.”
Timing-wise, the weasel was quicker.
“hey.”
The weasel quickly got up and grumbled at Dante.
I was slightly amazed at the sight. I couldn’t tell if the child was strong-willed or crazy.
“Yes, brother.”
Dante looked at me for a moment, then bowed his head and answered my question.
Then the weasel laughed loudly as if he had received a birthday present and patted Dante on the shoulder.
And then he went around bragging about being the older brother.
I found his sullen behavior annoying, but I didn’t point it out because I knew he would have a hard time for the next few days.
I chuckled and looked at the paper Google handed me.
There was detailed information about Ethan written there.
‘Marquis Ethan, estimated to be 20 years old. The kingdom of Byzant was destroyed by some incident, and the last of the great stars······.’
The words ‘some kind of incident’ caught my eye.
‘It’s a pretty big deal, but since even the Information Guild doesn’t know about it, I guess the management office must have been working hard.’
My thoughts naturally drifted back to the moment when I first encountered the Administration.
***
“···Can you hear me?”
The woman’s voice brought me back to my senses. The woman was looking at Udra in my arms, not at me.
Only then did I look around. It was a neat office that seemed more modern than medieval. There was even a coffee smell coming from somewhere.
‘Am I dreaming?’
I could be having a very deep and terrible nightmare.
If not, how could this happen?
I nodded while holding Udra, who was about to fall.
“yes.”
My mind was clear. The woman’s eyes widened, perhaps because my answer was unexpected.
I was amazed that he was still sane after the mercenary force was completely destroyed and Woodra was killed twice by my own hands.
“I am Selena, the Director of the Imperial Central Administration.”
It was only then that I realized that the woman had pointy ears.
The shape that had been blurry became clearly visible.
“···What is the Management Bureau?”
The woman shook her head at my question. Her face was filled with deep compassion.
“First, let’s get that out of the way···.”
“This is Woodra.”
The woman’s eyes examined Udra in her arms.
The woman advised me to let go several times, but I shook my head. I didn’t want to let go. No, I couldn’t let go.
“···Okay. Then get treatment.”
I shook my head again. It was just a little hot. My vision was red here and there because of the blood that had gotten into my eyes, but my body was fine.
“Okay. Anyway, I’d like to ask you a few questions about the Demon of Despair.”
The woman asked me, holding the paper in her hand like a doctor at a hospital. Her voice was so dry that it felt like a survey.
‘The Demon of Despair.’
It was the first time I heard the word, but I knew what it referred to. A forbidden monster. Whoever came up with it, it was a very appropriate name.
Despair. Yes, he was despair. He took everything away, what better name could there be?
“I know it’s confusing, but could you please focus?”
A woman’s warm voice brought me back to my senses.
Anger seethed. What did he know? Who dared say he knew?
Thud. Because of the force exerted, Udra’s shoulder gave out and he rolled on the floor. I picked him up in a hurry, looked around, and realized.
‘I’m trapped.’
It looked like an office, but there were three heavily armed imperial knights standing nearby.
There are three imperial knights attached to him. The elf in front of him seems to have a rather important position.
The target of my anger was not the ignorant elf.
‘Why was there such a thing as a ban? Did the king know that and send us? Why on earth···.’
Questions kept coming to my mind. Everything was strange. I couldn’t even tell where things had gone wrong.
“hey-?”
A woman’s voice. I looked again at Udra in my arms. It was a mangled corpse.
‘Has it been about four days?’
I tried to calm my hot head and assess the situation.
The mercenary force was annihilated. They were attacked by demons, but it wasn’t just the demons’ problem.
The guys who pushed them there.
They were at fault too.
Yeah, there was a mistake.
The brain, which was filled with emotions, found something to vent its anger on.
‘Revenge, the duty of the survivors.’
Revenge without regard to means and methods.
It was the discipline that formed the basis of the mercenary corps.
I thought it was meant to prevent others from looking down on the mercenary force, but when I actually found myself in that situation, my thoughts changed.
It was for those left behind. It was the last gift from those who had left to those who had lost their way.
‘The duty of the one left behind.’
There was something to do.
I put down Udra and looked into the woman’s blue eyes. There was an inexplicable warmth in them.
My head, having found its direction, forced itself to continue thinking.
‘This is the Imperial Palace. Seeing me here, having lost my mind from the ban, it seems like there must be some kind of connection with the First Star.’
Why did you save me? I could tell from the woman’s question. She wanted information about that demon.
Why do you want information about that demon? The brain, which had found its direction, focused its thoughts in one direction.
The events that had happened in the meantime followed one another and filled in the flow that I had missed.
“Um, are you okay?”
The woman muttered, her nose wrinkled. There was a fleeting moment of pity. It was a crack.
I took a deep breath as I looked at him. The smell of coffee and the strange scent of a woman filled the air.
The mercenary corps was finished. The captain could no longer handle foreign affairs.
As the youngest, I used to do only what was given to me, but now I had to do everything by myself. I had no one to complain about.
Because I was left alone.
[You should always maintain a correct posture when dealing with others. People look different just by having a confident posture.]
I puffed up my body like a captain.
His face was distorted in agony as his entire body was torn apart.
[Even if a knife is put in front of your throat, smile. Even if you feel like there is nothing more you can do, smile. Then, the other person will be on guard and think there is something about you. You will be able to create an opening.]
The secret to the survival of the legendary gladiator Gorgai was, ironically, his smile. It was a secret that could come from any sales job.
“First of all, I am Aaron.”
Now that Gorgai was gone, I smiled and held out my hand.
The woman, who had a surprised expression for a moment, smiled awkwardly. The pity on her face deepened.
[Never lose your sense of humor. That’s like being relaxed. And there’s nothing better than that when it comes to flirting with women.]
Wayne’s sly voice can be heard from somewhere.
The hand of the woman I was holding was truly cold.
“You have Raynaud’s syndrome.”
The woman, who had been frowning for a moment, crinkled her ears and laughed loudly.
I also raised the corners of my mouth.
I tried hard, but my eyes just couldn’t smile.
***
“Remember the contract. ······Be sure to come back.”
Selena whispered.
The whisper, filled with restrained earnestness, brought back memories of the conversation I had with Selena.
The administration wanted to change the top star.
A more docile and obedient dog.
I proposed a plan to him. I was quite trusted by the Kingdom of Byzant, so if you just give me a chance, I will make you achieve the results you want.
The plan was to advance the imperial army more than usual to create a commotion, and then kill the prime star and do whatever he wanted with it.
It took some persuasion, but Selena gave me the strength to get the approval.
Since it was an offer they had nothing to lose in the first place, they may have accepted it.
“okay.”
Selena’s ears were drooping, as if she knew she would never see him again.
It was a reasonable interest, but elves were more emotionally vulnerable than humans.
I don’t know how such an elf found favor with me, but it was a good means for me.
‘Without regard to means and methods.’
I chewed my lip and turned away.
An imperial knight was attached to the side.
The role was that of escort and surveillance.
The bastard’s expression was quite something to behold, and his balls looked like they were all twisted up.
I guess that’s why he kept looking at Selena and me, but I didn’t think much about it.
Fortunately, there was plenty to do. I pushed my long hair back and stared across the street.
‘There was a tunnel in a place like this.’
A passage leading from the Empire to the Kingdom of Byzant.
This confirmed Selena’s words. The Empire did not wage war to take over the Kingdom of Byzant. For some reason, they were deliberately maintaining the front lines and continuing the damage.
I thought back to the Kingdom of Byzant. There were many better guys than the imperial guys who only aimed for the back of the head.
What I’m about to do will ultimately lead to their release, but I won’t act hypocritically.
It was just a means to revenge. It wasn’t for a good cause.
The passage was dark, like the entrance to hell.
I looked at him for a moment and then pushed myself in. The passage leading down into the desert could be called the passage to hell.
It was so hot and humid that I couldn’t breathe well and there were bugs everywhere. I walked around picking them up and eating them.
It was a meal that suited me, bursting with rich flavor and flowing with disgusting juices.
When I came out after a while, it was a familiar sight. A hot desert with nothing but sand.
“Thu thump thump-.”
The royal knight’s swearing was heard from behind.
I walked diligently because I had made a plan. There was a place Ethan stopped by every day after work.
There was a giant crouching in the center of the place where countless swords were stuck. He must have worked hard today, because he was covered in blood. He had his head down and was burying the corpse.
I looked at him and checked the plan I had made in my head once more.
“Hey, Ethan.”
Now I greeted the guy with a natural smile.
“Brother Aaron!!!”
The guy who had been bowing his head suddenly got up, looked at me, and screamed very loudly.
The bastard’s face was quite a sight to behold.
It was reported that our mercenary unit had betrayed Bisontro, so perhaps that was why he grabbed his sword with a troubled expression and then put it down. It was just for a split second.
I looked at him and touched the sword hanging at my waist.
However, the bastard did not draw his sword, but held out his bare hand. Only then did I let go of the hilt of my sword and take hold of his warm hand.
“Ethan, listen carefully to what I’m saying now.”
I looked into his gray eyes and spoke repeatedly.
It was an unbelievable feast of stories, but the guy listened to me silently.
Stupidly, he showed no sign of doubt.
I swallowed thick saliva as I looked at the bastard.
The means and methods were irrelevant.
If only I could get revenge.
I was willing to give my soul to the devil.
“You will be the star, Ethan.”
Now my eyes were smiling.
***
‘···oh my god.’
In front of Keirnhardt, Swallows and Vivian Youngae were facing each other.
“Yes! I know!”
Vivian Youngae nodded with a bright smile that even a woman like her would see.
“Would you like to try it once?”
The Swallows asked back indifferently.
“Ah! I can’t do that!”
“Then you’re saying you don’t know?”
“Ah! Then I don’t know! No! I know!”
“Would you like to try it?”
“No! I don’t know!”
‘···How can someone who receives Mana’s love be this stupid!’
Due to the unexpected ambush, Gyernhardt had no choice but to completely revise his plans.
‘I have to drag the Swallows…’
Keernhardt glared at the back of Swallows’ head, chewing on his stale jealousy.
There was nothing he could do because the one who received Mana’s love was more stupid than he could have imagined.
“This is how you do it.”
The little boy next to Vivian Youngae said something.
“I think I know!”
Vivian Youngae said, clapping her hands.
“Then would you like to try casting it? Oh, and you shouldn’t hold hands with Kanna.”
Vivian Youngae, who had been secretly holding his hand from behind, became gloomy.
