182
It’s hard
“The seeds are in this remote castle? Is this information certain? Did the seeds actually exist in the first place?”
The black magician Chart adjusted his wand at the question he heard from the side.
It was worth questioning. In the first place, the word seed was a legendary word among black magicians.
However, the information I got this time was real.
This was information that was especially pointed out to me by an information broker who had never sold me false information before. He even advised me to move quickly because the information would be released soon.
“I’m sure. You know, the one who was loved by Mana before? That woman was the seed.”
“···Those who receive Mana’s love are just the wizards’ bastards talking nonsense, right?”
This time, it was a valid question. I thought the story about being loved by Mana was just a rumor that wizards used to tell.
“No, it’s true. And before, those guys also tried to take away Young-ae, who was loved by Mana, but failed. So, it’s a story with some basis in fact.”
The chart answered quickly. The warlocks were full of twisted people and did not trust each other, so the question needed to be evolved in advance.
Although it was a castle on the outskirts, it was necessary to be careful because it was a castle that had recently become known as Cassadic. There were three knights, and the meeting guys had failed, so there were many risk factors.
It was a chart fully prepared for him.
“Isn’t this too weak a basis for a surname change?”
One of the warlocks in the corner muttered. He was unique even among the gloomy warlocks. Whenever he opened his mouth, he would ruin the mood with negative words.
“Anyway, the night is short. Those who won’t do it, get out. Eight warlocks have gathered, and you’re going to run away because you’re scared? It’s not even a direct fight in the first place.”
The chart went rather confidently. If we lost our spirit here, we would only show weakness.
“So what do you plan to do with the seeds?”
A guy with unusually long bangs asked a question.
“There are people who are willing to pay a high price. Of course, the aftermath is also neat. And she’s just a noble young lady from a remote region.”
Chart lowered his voice and spoke provocatively. Several people nodded their heads at him.
“···How can I trust that black magician?”
This time, the one who had been quiet until now started to ask questions. Since it was a question that could easily arise, Chart had planned a response in advance.
“I will ‘swear’ that when we gather again with the seeds, we will divide them neatly among the living.”
A few people snorted at the remark on the chart. It was clear that the word ‘alive’ was on their minds.
“Good.”
They were black magicians whose brains were so crazy that they were obsessed with the devil. They laughed at the thought that their share would increase.
“Then let’s go.”
The people around them nodded at the muttering of the chart.
It was a dark night, with even the moon hanging at its edge. They were wearing black robes and moved slowly, permeating the darkness.
Finally, the castle came into view.
However, the form was very different from what was expected.
“······Didn’t you say it was a small castle on the outskirts?”
The one who had been nagging in the silence asked sharply. The others nodded. The flow was not good, but even the chart was speechless.
‘Is this a castle in the outskirts?’
The chart was equally confusing. It blinked and checked the castle in front of it.
The walls were as high and strong as a large city, and the gates were as splendid as those of a capital city. The walls, which looked like some kind of monster, were enough to make people sick just by looking at them.
In addition, the strange sculptures lined up in front of it added to the sense of oppression. Even the gathering of black magicians did not display this level of madness.
No, what was contained in those pieces was something beyond madness. I was more astonished than amazed at how a person could create such pieces.
No matter how you look at it, it didn’t look like a castle in the outskirts.
Chart looked around hurriedly. All the proud warlocks had tired faces. Some stepped back slightly.
“If the external appearance is like that, wouldn’t the internal appearance be even worse? I’m falling for it.”
One of the warlocks stepped back, raising both hands. It was a really quick decision.
“No matter how splendid it is, it is only a castle. I have checked it out. There are only three knights. You will never encounter them.”
“No, I’m missing out.”
Despite Chart’s persuasion, the black magician moved further away. It was a refusal that showed no opening.
The chart looked at the others. Everyone was exchanging glances. There was no way to back down.
How much money did you spend on this information?
How much have you prepared for this?
If I had just backed off, the chart would have been finished.
“A prickling thorn.”
The chart murmured lowly and shook its hands. The long shadow behind the opponent stabbed the bastard.
The opponent also seemed to be preparing something, as he was holding a staff, but it was already too late. The one who stabbed first won.
A long thorn rose from the creature’s stomach. The red blood spraying around it made the surrounding area hot. The creature spat out curses, but to the warlock, it was actually a compliment.
After the bastard collapsed, Chart wiped the sweat from his forehead.
I pushed myself a little to set the mood, but I could still handle it.
The chart lifted its chin for no reason at the attention of those around it. How much blood had been collected for this day? Thanks to that, it was possible to properly set the mood.
“I’m a charter of eight. Eight out of ten times I succeed. If you really don’t trust me, you can leave. This guy just used excessive force because he had money tied up with me.”
The chart spoke for itself. It was a chart with a high success rate. The choice of the warlocks was obvious.
Even though one died, the heat rose. Some even laughed at the fact that their share had increased.
“Let’s get started. It’s easier to climb the wall than to go through the gate, so let’s head to the side.”
As the chart moved, the warlocks quickly followed suit.
I walked around the wall. There was a low part that was different from the other parts.
Perhaps, it was not a wall built high from the beginning, but rather it was strengthened later through repairs. This part has not been repaired yet.
“Do you all know how to use vines?”
Chart said in a low voice.
Warlocks use different magics, but vines are the most basic of the basics because they are versatile and easy to implement.
“Continuous and unbroken. A vine.”
“vine.”
“Vegetables are tasteless. Vines.”
The vines were created using different spells.
The chart shot vines upward, long black stems that looked like plant roots.
He continued to climb upwards, entangled with the vines of other warlocks. The vines were sturdy yet weightless, making them particularly effective when climbing the walls.
The vines soon clung tightly to the walls. Chart, whose body had been strengthened with black magic, took the lead. Others followed.
I glanced down and saw that everyone was diligently following me up.
‘Even though I’m strengthened, I’m still out of breath.’
Chart, who had reached the end of the wall, let out a small breath.
However, reliable sources say that the one who is loved by Mana wanders the outer castle alone during this time.
Since he was said to be incapable of using magic despite being loved by Mana, it would be easy to catch him. The problem was getting out of the castle.
As he thought that and was about to step onto the wall, Chart felt a strange sensation.
It was chilly. It was naturally chilly because it was snowing in the winter, but I had my physical enhancement on. I raised my head with a strange sense of foreboding and saw a monster… no, a man, in front of me.
He was a man so large that he looked like a monster, and he was wearing black armor all over his body.
The faint moonlight illuminated the man’s face. With scars all over him, as if he had just emerged from hell, Chart hurriedly adjusted his cane at the tremendous impression.
All sorts of thoughts came to mind. Why is he here at this late hour? No, to begin with, he looks so vicious…
“hmm.”
At that moment, the man let out a sigh.
“Consider it bad luck! A prickly thorn!”
Chart hurriedly waved his staff. He had already shown up, so he couldn’t be sent away alive. Fortunately, there was no man with such features among the knights residing in Cassadic.
If it weren’t for the knights, there would be no way the chart would be empty. Even if it were a knight, there were seven warlocks on this side…
At that moment, a black line was drawn in the air.
Suddenly, the surroundings began to spin. My vision became clear. No, I was lifted into the air.
The feeling of floating as I slowly fell felt like I was dreaming.
Binggle-. My vision rolled and I saw a familiar body below me. Strangely, it wasn’t there above the neck.
‘Ah, it’s my body.’
Only then did Chart realize that he had beheaded himself.
A man holding a long sword, the origin of which was unknown, was standing at the edge of the wall.
Maybe it was because I was on the brink of death. The chart made me think time was passing slowly.
As with all things that come up, the charts slowly fell. The charts felt free.
BINGLE – The face of the man standing at the edge of the wall appeared. The man, pointing his sword downwards, was smiling.
It was a very high position, but the man jumped down without any hesitation. Below him were warlocks climbing the walls, holding onto vines.
The man who fell late actually fell faster than the chart.
The chart made it all seem slow. The man drew a series of oddly angled lines as he fell.
The lines continued on, bent at odd angles. In between them was the neck of a warlock.
Their heads were floating in the air. They were all laughing, not even noticing that they were dying like a chart.
The head rose and blood sprayed out a beat later. The man continued to draw lines as he fell.
Before he knew it, the man was below the chart. Soon, the man landed on the ground.
Kuung-. With a heavy sound, the snow around the man began to rise, creating a small blizzard.
“Success in finishing with one stroke.”
The man’s soft muttering mixed with laughter. Heads that had lost their bodies fell down like corn.
Crunch.
A faint sound marked the end of the chart.
Barack, the warlock who was always the last to seek safety, could not understand what had happened.
A cold, cold wind blew, and suddenly my hair fell off.
Bodies that had not yet accepted death were still hanging above. It was truly miserable to see him from below.
The dripping hot blood burned Barack’s head.
Barack was too scared to even recite the spell, just holding on to the vines.
I desperately prayed to God or the devil that this was a dream.
At that moment, footsteps were heard from behind. Crunch, crunch. The piled up snow seemed to scream. Soon, the footsteps stopped right behind me.
Barack grabbed the vines because he didn’t have the courage to look back.
“If you answer the questions honestly, you will be able to die cleanly.”
That deep, laughter-filled voice was clearly not human.
If I answer, I’ll kill you cleanly. It was a ridiculous and strange condition.
Barack nodded desperately at the voice that spoke as if it was truly kindness.
***
“That means… there is a traitor among the brothers.”
I looked at the five eldest sons and scratched my cheek. The usually grumpy guy was glaring.
That was my reaction when I told him what happened when I did night patrol yesterday in place of Choco, who had caught a cold.
“betrayal?”
“Yes, hearing the story about the seeds and targeting the one who is loved by Mana means that the information has leaked out.”
The fifth eldest son frowned and said, and I nodded.
‘It’s been quiet recently.’
The guys who used to go after Park’s head at every opportunity have been quiet recently. Of course, it couldn’t be helped since most of them are dead, but it seems like they’ve been reborn after a while.
“It’s not a big deal to target someone who is loved by Mana. It’s a well-known fact. The problem is that it’s an extension of the seed.”
‘It’s no big deal.’
I clicked my tongue as I watched the guy talking at length.
“Information about the seeds is strictly controlled. But if it’s even targeting warlocks, then it must have already spread quite a bit.”
He dug into the cake with a silver fork. It was a bit more agitated than his usual, old-fashioned way of doing things.
“There is talk of a traitor among the brothers. Someone close to the eldest son or-.”
He poked at the cake with his fork. Thick cream oozes out the sides. He scooped it up with his fork and put it in his mouth.
“Or the eldest son.”
I took his word for it.
The guy nodded, glaring at me.
I thought back to the elders I had seen back then. The first and fourth ones were particularly opposed, while the second one was a bit lukewarm.
The first and fourth were more likely, but you can’t judge just by looking at superficial attitudes. The second one didn’t agree either, so it was possible.
The most important thing for a detective is a wide field of vision. Even the five rich men who eat cakes had to be put on the suspect list. Every time I saw them, it was ominous.
“Why are you so sure that it came from your brother’s side? Even the fox mask knew about the seeds.”
“It couldn’t have leaked out from there.”
I nodded at the confident answer of the five elders.
“Why don’t we have another meeting? After we light a fire, we hold hands and spin around. Then, the sincerity and tears will flow freely.”
“It is impossible. If it becomes known that there are traitors, they will delay the great undertaking for that reason. They are cowards.”
“so?”
“I’ll take care of it.”
The guy who answered firmly ate the cake slowly. Looking at him, I felt uneasy for no reason.
At that moment, the door opened and a sergeant came in. After quickly looking around, he strode towards us.
“Let’s stop here for today.”
The five elders got up from their seats. Looking at the serious face of the man, it seemed as if he was about to do something.
As soon as a seat opened up, Lunggyup sat down. I clicked my tongue and pushed the cake I had prepared away.
The slaughterhouse in front of Keir shook its head from side to side. For some reason, the slaughterhouse reacted like that when the five elders were taken away and cake was given to it. The corners of its mouth also strangely went up.
The old man muttered a small ‘thank you’ as he ate the cake.
I looked at him and thought of the guys I had killed yesterday. They didn’t have much trouble because they had just cut off his head, but when I checked what they had, they were quite strong guys.
However, it was not threatening.
‘The flies are going to swarm again.’
I was already busy, so the extra work just got more annoying.
At that moment, the clerk handed over the cake,
I hesitated for a moment and then accepted it.
Then the snail shook its head from side to side. As it shook its head, the startled snail took the cake and ran away.
***
“I still haven’t gotten over it.”
The swordsman Daiso looked at my sword with emotionless eyes and muttered.
Although we didn’t talk about it separately, we were receiving special training at the same time every day.
Although Kensul Daiso didn’t say anything, he seemed to dislike the fact that I was carrying a sword.
“Yes, it’s a sword I bought for twenty gold.”
I adjusted my posture while bowing with the utmost respect.
I don’t know what his intentions were, but either way, Kenshu Daiso was helping me.
Of course, it just continues to wield extremely primitive violence, but that method suits me better.
As I kept repeating it ignorantly, I gradually got the feeling.
‘It’s a claw…’
He clenched his left hand and muttered, feeling that he could now pull out the erosion quite naturally.
There were a number of side effects, but they weren’t unbearable.
There was only one reason for training while causing unsightly erosion.
‘For some reason, the sword’s owner felt uneasy.’
As I left the palace, that uneasy feeling of having met my gaze continued to haunt me.
A lukewarm sensation that was hard to describe. Having seen the monster’s power, I couldn’t just ignore it.
This was a precaution in case of emergency.
“Up to here.”
Kensul Daiso rarely showed his emotions. No, he seemed to be emotionless. He didn’t eat or drink anything.
I wondered how they were alive and if they even photosynthesized, but I didn’t bother asking. This distance was just right.
The swordsman Daiso sat on a tree with only the stump left. Snowflakes fell on the old man’s disheveled white hair. His clothes were a little more disheveled than yesterday.
I lay there and thought about the sensations I had today.
‘It’s a claw…’
Although my swordsmanship skills were not good for me using a sword, I felt a subtle difference in using my left hand as a sword.
It’s not the kind of thing that can be called enlightenment, but it’s definitely made my sword sharper.
Although my sword skills improved by seeing and imitating the swords at Daiso, I also felt it when I started handling my left hand like a sword.
The meaning of what the old man said, ‘You don’t have claws, so you use a sword’ gradually dawned on me.
It was my black claw.
That’s an extension of the arm.
I glanced around and saw the side profile of an old man looking up at the sky. It was a face that seemed to have as many stories as wrinkles.
After a while of being hit by the falling snow without saying much, I got up from my seat.
The old man went to Dalus’ cabin, and I went to Cassidy.
Both the old man and I knew that this distance was appropriate.
Back at headquarters, Berman and Kel were bickering as usual.
Kel, who discovered me, opened his eyes wide.
“Chief, are you getting hit? What kind of bird is it? Just tell me your name and I’ll do it! Just like that!”
“Speak with some saliva in your mouth.”
Kel chuckled and held out a handkerchief. It was a clean handkerchief with a flower pattern on it.
“thanks.”
“No! I gave it to you to use for a moment! I didn’t give it to you, so please use it! I got it from Rosa!”
As I quickly put it in my arms, Kel jumped up and down.
“Then it’s me who received it from Rosa. This is a return gift···.”
“You must not encourage it! Absolutely not!”
“You said you’d do it cheaply before, so I···.”
“It was a joke! Please write it quickly!”
I wiped my face with a handkerchief because I felt like it would foam at the mouth if I left it alone. The white handkerchief quickly turned black.
“Well written.”
Kel was exaggeratedly relieved to get his handkerchief back.
“Captain, please use this. I soaked it in water.”
This time Berman held out a wet handkerchief. I rubbed my face again with the wet handkerchief and it felt cool.
“···What’s going on these days?”
While cleaning every nook and cranny, Berman asked carefully.
“I’m undergoing special training.”
“Does the captain need training?”
Berman asked, as if it was really strange. I suddenly wondered what these guys thought of me.
“Of course. What do you think of me?”
When I asked while wiping the back of my neck with a handkerchief, the two men’s faces turned strange.
“······A dirty big, strong, but nasty monster?”
“A great monster that can even defeat the devil?”
It was absurd why only the modifiers were different and the result was a monster. However, there was no need to explain it to those ignorant medieval guys.
“Ouch! Why are you hitting me! The leader asked me!”
“···Ugh.”
The guys who had been hit in the head each grumbled softly.
“Okay, it’s almost Holy Day, how are you two going to work? This time, there are a lot of people from the religious community, so they’re reducing your workload. They’re saying they’re going to draft a few people from each group.”
I asked, recalling the story I had heard from the captain that morning.
“I can’t work because of Rosa!”
Kel raised his hand without looking back. It was an expected reaction, considering Rosa was pregnant.
“Yeah, Kel’s out. Berman, what about you?”
“I······will work.”
Berman answered in a subtle voice.
“Huh? Berman, you said you had an appointment with Razbeth.”
Kel suddenly poked his head in and made a vulgar gesture. Berman scolded him, and the two soon began bickering again.
I nodded my head while looking at Berman. Berman was ugly, so he didn’t have many opportunities. As a boss, it was right to push him as much as possible.
“You can leave it out, Berman. Anyway, me, Poole, and Weasel are enough. Oh, Brick would rather enjoy working.”
“Yes? Is it okay, Captain? If the Captain works on a holy day… Ahem. It’ll probably be quite noisy.”
Kel raised his eyebrows with a stony expression. Somehow, both eyebrows moved alternately. When he hit his head once, his eyebrows went down.
“If the captain works, I will do it too.”
Berman shouted with a look of determination on his face, as if he were going to war.
“Okay. You’re ugly, so you have to do your best.”
As I patted him on the shoulder and encouraged him, Berman’s expression became subtle.
“······Yes, thank you.”
Berman nodded with a crumpled face, as if he was impressed.
“Is it really okay to encourage it? I’m so anxious······. Ahem.”
Berman, whose expression quickly changed, asked again. Berman’s eyebrows moved awkwardly, as if he had been moved by Kel.
I nodded at him. If it wasn’t for guard duty, I would just be taken to the abbot.
It would have been more efficient to have a relaxed guard.
Plus, thinking about the guys I met yesterday, I probably wouldn’t be able to drink for a while.
‘I’m tired.’
However, to survive in this shitty place, I had to be more diligent than anyone else.
I nodded with a long yawn.
I was thinking of cutting down on sleep for the time being.
***
“It was a good meeting today too.”
Adela stood up proudly.
‘What makes a good meeting···.’
Nova grumbled slightly as she looked at Adela. But Adela only challenged her to a duel once today.
It was a development of its own.
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Kanna, who had jumped down from her chair, bowed her head. Seeing her lovely appearance, Nova unconsciously stroked her head.
Kanna’s eyes widened in surprise, but she soon brought her head closer so that it was easier to touch.
It seemed like Kanna had her own social life. Thinking that she had been granted permission, Nova gently hugged Kanna.
Nova was quick to act because he was always waiting for an opportunity.
There was a subtle resistance, but soon Kanna was obediently held in Nova’s arms.
Nova stroked Kanna’s head, trying to hold back the corners of her lips that were about to loosen.
Nova relaxed his strength after seeing Kanna’s expression. Kanna stepped back slightly and bowed her head. Unlike Aaron, she was very polite.
Vivian quickly approached and grabbed Kanna’s hand. It looked as if she was waiting for her friend’s work to be over.
Kanna, who was holding Vivian’s hand, smiled crookedly. Nova, who saw him, felt envious of Vivian for no reason. He shook his head to shake off his thoughts.
The two walked out the door together. Adela followed behind them. Their conversation could be heard from outside.
“You became close with Sister Nova too?!”
“···Because Vivian likes the secretary.”
“How was it? Was it really good, Sister Nova?”
Nova swallowed her saliva for no reason. She remembered what the maid Blossom had said. She said that a man with children should aim for the children first.
Of course, I didn’t mean to do that. I just found Kanna cute and reached out without realizing it.
“Huh? How was Nova Unnie?!”
“···It was hard.”
Nova’s eyebrows gathered at Kanna’s faintly heard answer.
‘······Hard?’
It was a subtle review. I don’t know why, but it was a review that really bothered me. Nova’s eyebrows rose slightly.
‘······Tough?!’
Nova gently tapped her chest. It made a refreshing sound.
‘It’s quite stiff.’
It seemed to be because of the heart protector.
Blossom told me that it was unsightly to wear something like that under a dress, but I couldn’t help it. I wore it so much that I felt empty without a heart protector.
Nova smiled slightly, feeling that Kanna’s short yet clear answer was similar to Aaron’s.
The only thing that was not scary was Nova, who was not popular with the kids, so I decided to think positively about it.
“···Secretary Nova.”
At that moment, Pulpouts called out in a low voice.
“yes.”
Nova answered while observing Fullfoot’s complexion, which had become more pale than usual.
‘What’s going on?’
Lately, Fullfoot’s condition has been strange. I’ve always pressed my temples or frowned, but recently, the frequency has increased significantly.
Pulpouts was unusually hesitant. Nova waited quietly without urging him.
After a while, Pulpouts opened his mouth.
“This may be an exaggerated thought… I just can’t get it out of my head. It’s not something I should talk about outside… Would you please listen and make a judgment?”
Nova swallowed hard at the extremely cautious tone.
“······Yes, of course.”
“Yeah, I···.”
The silence continued again, and Pulpouts’ lips hesitated and then moved.
“···Somehow I feel like Frederick Guild is a rebel group.”
Pulpouts’ words were far beyond Nova’s expectations.
“···yes?”
Nova asked back without realizing it.
What kind of guild is Frederick Guild? It was so large that it was difficult to call it a simple guild. Some would say that it was worth more than a marquis.
How could such a Frederick Guild be a rebel······.
‘huh?’
Nova’s head tilted in doubt. Nova opened her hand and closed it again.
“I feel like Frederick Guild is a rebel.”
Pulpouts muttered again. It was more like he was mumbling to himself than speaking to Nova.
‘If it’s a guild, the rebels might hide their intentions… The main members of Frederick’s Guild were survivors of the fallen kingdom, right?’
Information about the Frederick Guild came to mind one by one. I scanned through the first page of the paper that Razbeth and Gillian had organized.
When you look at the two separately, there is no connection at all. That is why the sense of awkwardness is so deep.
‘······Hmm?’
Nova’s head tilted even further. I don’t know how he got Frederick Guild and the rebels involved, but-.
‘That sounds plausible.’
Knock, knock. Nova tapped the table with her fingers.
‘No, if you think about it that way, everything gets tangled up. What’s not to like about rebels? If you say that Aaron, who destroys everything he goes to, is also a rebel······.’
Aaron, who had destroyed the desert kingdom in the past. However, he was a man who could not be solved because there was no detailed information. Aaron had a blank space that Nova did not know.
If you put the word rebel in that place-.
“······Guildmaster Frederick requested Aaron. If Aaron was a former rebel and the guildmaster came looking for him-.”
As if he had read Nova’s thoughts, Pulpouts scratched the itchy spot hard.
“we are-.”
Fullfoot took a deep breath. The accumulated air felt suffocating.
“···They might already be rebels.”
Nova’s eyes widened at his quiet soliloquy.
If Aaron is a member of or from the rebels, then Cassidy, who has been like that for over two years and has even served as an honorary secretary-.
Nova swallowed her words.
In the silence that was heavier than before, Nova closed her eyes tightly as she imagined the rebel Aaron.
‘······It’s my calling.’
It suited Aaron better than anything else.
