Chapter 39 |
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[Translator – Clara]
[Proofreader – Demon God]
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Devourer and Patrick had to circle the territory for about half a lap before they could arrive at this place, the back alley.
When they realized that there had been a theft, it was quite frustrating. Devourer, Patrick, neither of them had any cunning skills to find thieves.
Tracking peculiar scents or using magical means to trace the whereabouts of objects were stories of a distant land for Devourer and Patrick. Originally, they were just ancient monster and Death Knight. They were monsters that knew nothing but hitting and smashing.
So they ran with their feet unsophisticatedly, until they found them.
“I’ve missed you guys like crazy.”
Patrick enjoyed the gaze of those humans and slowly walked forward. As the place where the thieves were was the darkest part of the back alley, the humans’ backs were blocked by a wall. There was no way out.
Patrick, having pushed the humans inside to some extent, looked towards the ribs and black clothes.
“All the items seem to be intact.”
The worst-case scenario that Patrick had in mind didn’t seem to have happened. If stolen goods had left the hands of the thieves and leaked outside of Hastin, he might have had to roam the entire continent playing hide and seek or live a life without ribs for the rest of his life.
Fortunately, contrary to such concerns, the clothes and ribs in front of Patrick seemed to be unharmed.
Patrick, who breathed a sigh of relief, turned his head and glanced at Devourer, checking for his reaction.
Earlier, he had said something like, ‘Ah, we survived.’ Now, his expression seemed like he might collapse at any moment from physical and mental exhaustion.
“Well, Renee gave me this outfit.”
Since Renee had returned not long ago, and causing another hole in her heart might lead to unknown consequences, Patrick added.
“Besides, the boss even jumped around.”
The ancient monster, renowned for serving Primordial Core for over a hundred years, jumped around with a stern expression. It was a sight that even Patrick, who had served Devourer for over a hundred years, had never seen before.
Anyway,
“Sorry for the trouble.”
Patrick, who spat out words to the residents of the back alley, loosened up. The sound of rustling from the plate mail sounded unusually loud. Whether that sound was perceived as a threat or not, tension spread among the humans.
“Are you the leader?”
Clad in full plate mail, Patrick, a knight with a tall and robust figure, looked down at the humans and asked. His gaze focused solely on the captain.
Instead of answering, the captain raised the corner of his mouth. It was a smirk.
Patrick, satisfied even with that response, also smiled. However, that smile couldn’t be seen behind his helmet.
“Why do you think so?”
“Because you look like one.”
When asked the question, the human didn’t avoid eye contact. Not caring about anyone’s opinion meant there was no need to be cautious. It probably meant there was no one higher than oneself.
Besides, there were a few more reasons to be sure, but before that, the captain admitted in a low voice.
“I’d prefer if you called me Captain instead of leader.”
“It’s a waste of energy to argue about such similar meanings. Besides, strictly speaking, wouldn’t Leader be more accurate than the Captain? Calling someone the captain in a back alley discussion is too much.”
“You look like a knight, but instead of martial skills, you seem to have focused on training your tongue.”
“Oh, You, who swim at the bottom of morality, even have the qualifications to judge people?”
—Besides, I don’t even have a tongue to train.
A blue glint shone within the helmet.
Whether it was noticed or not, the captain’s lips twitched slightly.
“How did you know and came here?”
“It seems the item was desperately looking for its owner.”
Once again, Patrick replied with a playful tone.
Seemingly dissatisfied with Patrick, who hadn’t given a proper answer since earlier, the captain frowned.
The captain slowly stood up from his seat and brushed his knees. The humans lying down also got up one by one, following the captain.
Devourer’s yawn was heard at that moment.
“I’m tired. Let’s finish this and rest quickly.”
Patrick, who was about to turn his head to deliver his usual nagging, forcibly fixed his gaze on the captain.
I’ll endure it just for today, boss. You’ve been running around until just now.
“It seems the private talk has become too long. Back alley leader— No, well, if you want, I’ll call you Captain. Back Alley Captain, you picked the wrong items to steal.”
It was fortunate that the culprits were the back alley poor. If such humans, who couldn’t receive the protection of nobles, were suddenly discovered as cold corpses, it wouldn’t attract much attention.
Moreover, in a situation where the village was in chaos and commoners were dying, would a few poor people’s deaths become an issue?
In fact, it was surprising that these guys had survived until now.
‘As long as we clean up afterward, Everything will be fine.’
However, it’s better to leave as few traces as possible in any case. It would be best for Devourer to devour everything at once.
Patrick turned his head towards Devourer. As Devourer’s gaze was unusually quick-witted only at times like this, Devourer quickly declared before Patrick could open his mouth.
“Ah, I’m too tired to help with anything.”
“…I didn’t expect much, but isn’t that too quick?”
Well, that’s true. Given that he followed, he should be thankful.
Seemingly disappointed by Devourer’s reaction, Patrick asked the humans in a more generous tone.
“Do you have any intention of returning them nicely?”
Several humans, taken aback by the sudden question, glared at Patrick with eyes full of hostility.
The captain, in turn, questioned back.
“…Is there any guarantee that you guys will just leave if we return them?”
“Um, now that you mention it, it does sound like that.”
Without any counter arguments, Patrick nodded. Of course, there was no intention to just let them go.
The situation is different now. Tanabella was left behind. It was certainly noticeable for sneaking around due to its large size. So, even if the surroundings became a bit dirtier…
“Let’s not complain about being unfair to each other, alright?”
A playful tone filled with mischief echoed.
* * *
‘So, it turned out like this.’
The captain murmured to himself secretly. And he thought,
…This isn’t just a bluff.
There exists an atmosphere that can be discerned by each person’s actions, voice, demeanor, etc. From that perspective, the knight in front of him—yes, from the beginning, he exuded confidence.
This side was by no means a small force. Being nonchalant in the midst of such a crowd meant having confidence in one’s abilities.
Why would someone confident in their abilities let things slide so gracefully? Of course, on this side as well, they couldn’t just return the items without any conditions.
He extended his right hand. Several comrades responded to the signal and slowly approached the knight. Some who concealed weapons discreetly surrounded the shabbily dressed man standing next to the knight in a natural way.
‘I need to be cautious.’
Let’s think about how they found their way here.
Even if Rosalina, who was not familiar with this lifestyle, left traces unskillfully, it would be impossible to follow those traces on a dark night. But did they search all of Hastin?
It would have been impossible. Because Hastin is by no means a small land. Unless those two were monsters, it would have taken too short a time to wander around and find them.
“Dark magic, perhaps.”
“Yes?”
The knight replied with a questioning look, but other than this method, there was no other interpretation.
Recalling the conversation between the knight and the shabbily dressed man, the man spoke informally to the knight. The knight used polite language with the man. Externally, it meant that their positions were opposite.
The title of a knight was equivalent to a sub-viscount. Although the number of knights had rapidly increased due to the popularity of dungeon exploration, and their status had drastically declined, a knight was still a higher existence than commoners. That the knight used polite language…
Then, could it be that the man had a higher status than a sub-viscount?
‘That can’t be.’
It was absurd for a noble to walk around in such shabby clothes. Then, if it wasn’t their status, something else distinguished their hierarchy. If so, the shabbily dressed man must be stronger than the knight.
‘There’s no way.’
It was inconceivable for a noble to wear such humble clothes. So, something other than status must be distinguishing their hierarchy. If that’s the case, the shabbily dressed man must be stronger than the knight.
In this situation, only one conclusion could be drawn. The man was a necromancer. Moreover, a necromancer stronger than the knight. The captain clenched the rib bone in his hand.
“You guys live in the darkness, don’t you?”
“Indeed, caves are dark.”
“What is this rib bone for? Some kind of magic?”
“It’s just mine.”
“…Are you saying you gave away bones from your body?”
“No, it’s just mine.”
The man behind him remained expressionless and did not answer. Only the knight responded one by one. It was all meaningless words that couldn’t be understood.
“Isn’t it too obvious that you’re trying to buy time?”
The knight asked. Flicking his fingers, he taunted them to come at him. He was enjoying his leisure since he was blocking their only exit. Of course, the captain had no intention of quietly enduring it.
Although he was currently the leader of the poor in this quiet village, he had once gained notoriety even in the slaughterhouse where dozens died at a time. It wouldn’t be too difficult for the captain, who had gained a notorious reputation, to suppress a single knight.
“Rosalina, Tott.”
Rosalina, who had been in a state of confusion, lifted her head. The girl was trembling, maybe due to guilt over her actions.
Tott remained relatively calm and composed. He had already overcome countless crises, so there was no reason for him to be flustered.
“…Those who can’t control their bodies properly take priority.”
The captain couldn’t elaborate further. Rosalina’s reaction was ambiguous, but Tott seemed to understand as he nodded.
Only now did the relieved captain glanced at the knight in front of him. The escape routes were wide-ranging. While it might seem like the path was completely blocked, there were many hidden escape routes, as you never knew when someone might come barging in.
First, prepare for the worst and evacuate the vulnerable. Of course, this was just a method to minimize damage in the worst-case scenario.
‘They are undoubtedly strong, but…’
Even though they may be strong, they’re not invincible. There is a good chance for us to win as well. They probably underestimate us due to their arrogance. Each of those gaps in their confidence is a vulnerability, a variable.
If we aim well, we can definitely win.
The captain addressed the knight.
“This rib bone, it must be precious.”
“Yes, it’s my own, after all.”
“…Is it as precious as your body?”
“No, it’s just a rib bone.”
The conversation was filled with cryptic words. Deciding that further conversation to buy time was impossible, the captain chuckled lightly.
The rib bone floated into the air just as the knight briefly diverted his gaze, catching a glimpse of the captain’s smile.
“Ah.”
The knight, Patrick, uttered a brief voice and immediately leaped.
The captain shouted, “Tott!”
The resounding voice broke the silence of the night.
Upon hearing that voice, Tott also shouted towards the residents of the alley.
Those who were sick and weak quickly moved towards Tott’s hidden escape route. It was a method to minimize damage in the worst-case scenario.
At the same time, someone close to the knight, with a brick-made hammer, swung towards Patrick’s waist.
The goal was Patrick’s waist.
Patrick, who had caught the rib bone with agility, immediately turned his body.
It was already a late situation. The man with the hammer, with a maniacal smile, confronted Patrick.
Klang!
The sound of a metal plate striking filled the narrow alley.
Meanwhile, an individual rushed towards Devourer, aiming a dagger at his side.
However, behind all these actions, there were no screams or cries that should have followed.
The dagger couldn’t even pierce the skin.
Whether it was coated with protective magic or the armor itself, there wasn’t a scratch.
“What… what’s happening?”
The man was bewildered, and Patrick laughed.
“Well, how to handle this is the problem… There’s a way to kill them all, but then the ground would get too dirty. How about knocking them all down first and then thinking about it?”
“Are you suggesting we spare all of them?”
“I’m not saying to spare them. It means dealing with them collectively.”
“I don’t know. I’m too tired, and I’m not sure if I can control my strength.”
“Well, that’s something stressful.”
Whether he didn’t properly grasp the situation or not, the resident from the alley who attacked Patrick just stared with a vacant expression.
Patrick grabbed his arm and lifted him into the air. It was as effortless as throwing a pebble.
“Just make an effort.”
Patrick slammed the man into the ground.
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[Translator – Clara]
[Proofreader – Demon God]
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