Chapter 183

“What kind of Merchant Guild is this that handles such expensive goods so carelessly?”

“Hohoho. Exactly. Are they really giving us 20% here?”

“It’s enough to live on for a lifetime.”

Mercenaries.

No, a Band of Thieves.

The Knight merely oiled his Sword slowly as he watched the scene unfold.

It was a mission carried out under orders to blend in together, but this was clearly not the kind of task that sat well with him.

His Lord.

For the benefit and protection of those he served, it irked him somewhat to be treated akin to Mercenaries or Thieves.

Though if the high pay and reward came through, it would be an issue easily resolved…

At least, that’s how he felt at the moment when his mood was being judged.

The Mercenary who liked the 20% cut gets buried somewhere again.

It was only natural.

When the number of people profiting decreases, it’s also important to reduce the eyes watching and mouths speaking in situations like these.

Noble’s Affairs.

That’s how things go in the Backworld.

“The Task.”

“Shall we do it here?”

“Hmm… let’s move it a bit closer and then proceed.”

“Alright.”

The reason the Mercenaries were kept alive was simply because their services as porters were still needed.

Even after breaking apart the Carriage and extracting the key items, the weight remained considerable.

“That Baron’s gonna feel a little sour about this.”

“What can you do? This is Noble’s Affairs.”

“Hohoho.”

The conversation between the figures appearing to be Knights referred to none other than Baron Meolone, targeting a man called Minho.

Everyone was circling, but they had merely been the ones to strike first this time.

There were countless others eyeing the gold-laden Merchant Guild.

This incident was bound to happen sooner or later.

Their feet had just moved a bit faster, that’s all.

“How do they make something like this? Do they have some amazing Blacksmith around here?”

“Maybe they’ve been rolling it out until death? Perhaps using threats too. Hohoho.”

The Knight holding the Sword examined it against the light from various angles before grinning wickedly.

It was a fine blade, one even believable to have been crafted by a master artisan.

To think something this good would be casually loaded onto a carriage like this was incomprehensible.

Selling such a fine Sword in bulk was nothing short of sacrilegious to the weapon itself.

The Knight truly believed this.

That the Guild and the Baron failing to recognize the value of this Sword and losing it was fortunate indeed.

Precious items should rightfully fall into the hands of those who appreciate their worth.

Such as beings akin to Knights.

“I’ll need to take this Sword.”

“One each?”

“Yeah, even one apiece will suffice. Once sheathed, there’s no way to tell if it’s been swapped.”

“Good thinking.”

This wasn’t thievery.

It was a noble act of upholding the honor of the Sword.

The Knight rationalized thus, completely oblivious to the fact that his actions flowed no differently than those of the nearby Band of Thieves.

Bad ideologies spread quickly.

It was only natural that knights involved in tasks like these would start leaning toward such thoughts.

“With Artifacts around, this feels like a windfall.”

“Should we stash a few?”

“Do you know anyone who handles stolen goods?”

“There are places in large Cities or the Capital where you can quietly sell them off.”

“My my, you sure have a wide network.”

“Hohoho. Thanks to some sweet side income.”

The Knight said this while tossing an Artifact into the air and catching it.

A piece of jewelry symbolized by a Ring.

Regeneration and Resistance abilities—features likely to appeal to Nobles.

It could be practically used in Combat, but as usual:

Expensive magical accessories like these would never see front-line deployment.

“Organize! We’re moving again!”

The Leader’s command.

While the Knights moved quite briskly, the Mercenaries’ movements were sluggish and awkward in contrast.

They begrudgingly moved despite showing reluctance, driven by visions of a happy future filled with beauty.

“Hey Chief! Since we’re resting anyway~ Can we rest just a little longer… GURK!”

“…?”

“Ambush! Take cover!”

Something black flew and embedded itself into the head of a Mercenary who had been laughing and speaking nonchalantly.

His life crumbled away instantly.

Dumbfounded mercenaries stood frozen.

Knights swiftly hid behind terrain features.

Some prepared to counterattack with Bows.

The disparity in their responses was glaring.

And that small difference delayed their swift demise momentarily.

The sound cutting through the Wind.

Some unseen projectiles.

As dusk approached, sharp objects shot forth carrying the fading evening light.

Countless cries accompanied the falling of mercenaries struck precisely in vital spots without error.

“Hmph. You’ve done us a favor by reducing our workload.”

“Combat situation. Focus.”

“I get it. Surely we won’t die in a place like this, right?”

Meanwhile, a Knight wearing an Artifact smirked, slightly exposing himself.

A precise strike slipped through the narrow gap.

He deflected it with his Sword, seizing the dark object in his hand.

“What is this? Not an arrow.”

“Looks like something made by coating animal bones.”

“Fascinating weapons. Are you trying to hide your identity?”

“Probably another group eyeing stolen goods like us.”

The Knights prepared for combat.

They donned equipment they had loosened earlier and readied themselves.

“Tch. It’s unfortunate we need to leave this intact. With this, we could win much easier.”

“What can we do when our Noble Lord has given instructions?”

“Yeah. Basic skills are enough to deal with these pests anyway.”

“Isn’t the Sword different?”

“This is basic. The Sword is a Knight’s Basic.”

“Knight, huh. Shh.”

“Anyway, now that the Mercenaries are all dead, what’s the point.”

With that, one Knight stepped forward.

A group cloaked in dark hoods.

As the distant attacks subsided, one cautiously approached to observe them.

“Is pretending to be Assassins amusing?”

The Knight mocked the hooded group with a sneer.

Hardly any visible armament.

Their presence was rather pathetic.

Even if they caused slight injuries, they weren’t a threatening opponent.

At the Knight’s shout, more Knights rose from various spots.

A total of twenty.

Twenty Knights fully armed and ready for battle, aiming hostility towards the hooded group.

“Correct.”

“It matches the Artifacts mentioned by Father.”

“Don’t kill them all. There are facts we need to extract.”

A low growl, darker than the rumble of a beast.

An eerie voice that scratched like Hell itself sent chills down the spines of the Knights despite knowing it was human speech.

Why did such a sense of horror arise?

Shaking off the unease, the Knights formed defensive formations.

“You spoke of verifying us.”

The dark voice emanating from within the hood gripped the Knight’s hand tightly around his Sword.

The creaking noise from the grip represented the mounting tension.

“Complete it perfectly.”

The moment those words were spoken, the battle commenced instantly.

The Knight’s hands went wild with confusion.

The weapons wielded by the figures inside the dark hoods varied greatly.

One swung massive bones like Axes.

Another extended long claws.

Yet another utilized sharp protrusions from their elbows as weapons.

And there were those who fought with bare fists.

Without any uniformity, they all led battles like specialists excelling in individual fields.

“Guh…”

“Jon!”

“GAH!”

“Damn… Tet too.”

The Knight’s defensive formation collapsed easily.

Not a single casualty among the hooded figures during the process.

The vast disparity left the knight facing them with a face darkened by despair.

“Retreat!”

At the Leader’s command, the Knights scattered in search of escape routes.

Escaping a group numbering around thirty didn’t seem too difficult.

Thinking this, the Knight forcefully broke off the engagement, retreating backward.

Gathering strength in his legs, he leaped powerfully away.

A gentle comfort coursed through his aching feet.

The immediate effect of the Artifact was regarded as sheer fortune by the Knight.

“…”

But even that…

Couldn’t evade the blow from someone hiding in the boundary of Light.

Struck on the back of the head, the Knight lost consciousness, his fading vision capturing fellow Knights scattering blood around.

…

* * *

Coldness covered him.

Realizing this, Knight Ber’s eyes opened slightly.

The ache from the blow to the back of his head confirmed his body was tightly bound.

“You’re awake.”

“…Are you Monsters?”

“We ask the questions.”

“How can Monsters speak human language…”

Upon reflection.

Bones protruding unnaturally from human bodies.

Bizarre movements and diverse weapons.

Somewhat clumsy pronunciation.

All of it suggested that whatever lay beneath the disguise wasn’t human.

“The Baron… was raising Monsters.”

“How is that possible?”

Before answering that question, Ber hastily interjected.

“Just a moment! I’ll tell you who’s behind this. Let me live and use me as a guide!”

Ber didn’t want to die here.

A faint sense of justice arose alongside the desperate desire to survive, hoping to somehow convey this information elsewhere.

Just as he began struggling to survive,

The words from the lips of the hooded figure plunged him into despair.

“Behind this? Are you referring to Count Christian’s territory?”

“…!”

“The look of surprise. What does Father not know?”

“Indeed.”

Who was this ‘Father’?

The Knight’s lips gnawed themselves raw, unnoticed amidst the overwhelming dizziness clouding his mind.

“Father gave word. To ransack the Count’s territory.”

“Will you just take faces?”

“Yes. We must observe reactions.”

Ber silently closed his eyes upon hearing those words.

What sort of cruel and merciless beings were these?

The Knight couldn’t recall his own misdeeds, revealing only a sense of injustice over his current situation.

“One last question.”

“…”

“Surely it’s not hard to answer before dying…”

Thus, Ber, filled with resignation, asked the man before him.

“…”

“So, what are you? I’d like to know who I’m dying to.”

“Hm.”

At those words, a sneer curled the corners of the man’s mouth.

“Why does curiosity linger so strongly in someone about to die?”

“…”

“Give thanks for a clean death. Though it’s inappropriate for one who coveted the King’s property.”

The Black Flare extending from the man’s hand grazed the Knight’s neck.

That was the end.

The group that attacked the Carriage ceased to exist in the world.

“Father.”

“Yes.”

“I shall proceed to the next step as instructed.”

“Yes.”

Listening to Father’s voice emanating from a small Tool, Nepile bowed his head quietly.

“Move.”

“Understood.”

In the absence of anyone else.

The Demon language unfolded among them.

Their operation took place within the domain of a certain Count.

Fully entrusted based solely on ability.

Nepile could confidently proclaim the retribution.

Blood for blood.

Death for death.

For vengeance wasn’t limited to gratitude.

A deep smile curling Nepile’s lips stemmed from the joy of instilling fear.

…

* * *

“Didn’t you hear something just now?”

“It’s nothing.”

Upon hearing Nepile’s report, Evangelin tilted her head in puzzlement.

Being so close to me, it was understandable she might have heard something.

“It’s summer, so it’s sweltering. I’ve prepared something refreshing.”

“Thank you.”

As evening approached,

The setting sun lingered longer, spreading its light further.

Eventually, it succumbed to the encroaching darkness, casting a soft gray hue over the Village.

Sipping the cool drink Evangelin had prepared, I stepped outside.

[Protector! My memory is hazy…]

“It’s alright. You did well.”

[Y-yes.]

It’s impossible to remember everything.

Discovering that information alone significantly shortened the time, making the World Tree’s contribution quite significant.

My affirmation wasn’t unwarranted.

All I wanted to check was whether someone was behind the Count.

I merely sought to examine that connection.

If nothing was found, then so be it.

It would be better if there was nothing.

The Demons would uncover the results directly, so all I had to do was wait.

“Interesting.”

Whoever it was, I intended to ensure they paid fully for disturbing the tranquil everyday life.

…

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