Chapter 253: The Obvious Story He Wanted To See (1)

Throughout the year, there would always be a day like this. A day where the sky was unusually clear, the wind was cool, and the sun was warm, making it incredibly cozy.

Some say it’s a perfect day for exercising, while others say it’s a good day for reading a book on a bench or enjoying a picnic in the park.

But…

Thud-!

It was a day that was not kind to a certain someone.

Numerous knights and soldiers surrounded a woman who was bleeding profusely, aiming their swords and spears at her.

If someone had seen it, they would have scolded the men, saying that they didn’t know honor and were persecuting women. However, the men would quickly beat up the people who critized them as they remembered the screams of their comrades who had died at the hands of that woman.

After all, the woman they pointed their weapon against was no weak woman.

“It is not right to talk to the enemy like this, and I feel sorry for my dead comrades, but I cannot help but ask. Why did someone who once rose to the position of His Excellency’s adjutant commit such a ‘betrayal’?”

“…It is foolish to ask why now. If you are going to kill me, then kill me without hesitation. My sword will also aim for your necks without mercy.”

“…”

Sreung!

The knights sighed and braced themselves as they faced the woman whose body was trembling but still had intact spirit.

“…Don’t hesitate.”

The knight drew his sword with a mutter that seemed to be addressed to his comrades, but sounded more like advice to himself. The other knights also drew their swords and swung them without an ounce of hesitation towards the woman who had once been loyal to Offen, but ended up betraying the family and threatened their lord.

“…What a fukcing life.”

The woman’s name was Elza.

Thud-!

“?”

Suddenly, a notebook was placed on the table, and Lee Han, who was busy eating ten paninis as dessert, tilted his head.

“What is this?”

“It’s Elza’s diary. They said the family’s servants found it.”

“I don’t have a hobby of reading other people’s diaries.”

“I don’t either. But I had to look at it. I had to find out why she betrayed the family.”

“Really?”

Lee Han shrugged his shoulders, not showing much interest on the topic before he went back to eating the panini.

Not only were the ingredients different, but the taste was also excellent, as if only fresh ingredients were used in it.

Moreover,

Eating food prepared by others is the best.

The fact that it was free food warmed his heart even more.

“…Haha.”

Seeing him who showed no curiosity at all, Iliad could only chuckled. After all, it’s not like he didn’t know Elza at all. He was also the one who resolved the situation, so it was strange that he was so uninterested.

Was it because his expression showed what he thought?

“I’m not reacting like this because I’m indifferent to other people’s business. I’m just acting like this because I expected it.”

“You expect it?”

“There are five main reasons why someone would betray. Money, love, revenge, and jealousy.”

“But that’s just four?”

“There’s nothing special about the last one. They just do it ‘just because.’ That’s what people are like. If they think it’s okay to do it, they will just do it. They’re just being true to their instincts.”

“Instincts, huh?”

“Well, if I were to give a proper name to the last reason for someone to betray, it would be ‘survival of the fittest.’ If the opponent looks weak, they will bite. It’s the logic of beasts, but humans are no different than beasts.”

“…”

“So I’m not really interested in the reason. Betrayal? Those who are going to do it will do it anyway. I gave you five grand reasons for betrayal, but even if it’s a just cause, it’s only natural to be angry because of it. Since it was just a failed betrayal anyway, you can just took your anger at the betrayers until you feel better. Don’t worry too much. If you worry too much, your mind will get sick.”

“…That’s right. Seems like that’s another way to do it.”

“Don’t take it too seriously, okay? After all, it’s just nonsense uttered by a kid who hasn’t lived much longer than you.”

“Haha! A kid, huh? I wonder if anyone would call you like that, Sir Lee Han.”

“There are more than you think.”

“Ahaha-”

Cough-!!

Before Illiad could even finish laughing, he broke into a series of coughing.

“You’d better calm down. Your body is still not in good shape.”

“…Certainly. I can’t even laugh freely.”

Now that Lee han thought about it, the evaluation of his body still not in good shape was a rather high evaluation. Right now, Iliad’s body was as weak as it could be. His body was so weak that he started to miss the time when he couldn’t use his legs.

Maybe, his current state was similar to a human who had barely woken up after being in a vegetative state for over 3 years. His arms were shaking so much that it would be better to say he had tremors, and his complexion was pale, like a sick person.

Moreover, all his muscles had evaporated, leaving only skin and bones. His eyes were also extremely dim.

Looking at his state, It wouldn’t be strange if he collapsed at any moment.

But still…

“…If you think of it as the price of survival, I think it’s cheap.”

“…”

“Thank you again, Sir Lee Han.”

…For saving me, a fool.

Hearing Iliad sincerely thanking him, Lee Han just scratched his cheek.

“But I just hit you.”

“That’s what I’m thankful for.”

“…”

“Oh, that was a bit misleading, haha.”

“…”

I don’t think so?

Why are you liking it too much?

Did I hit him too hard?

Lee Han slightly regretted not hitting him on the head.

He felt like he had ruined a perfectly good person…

The Offen Rebellion, which occurred from dawn until sunrise, was suppressed in a relatively short period of time. The issue was put into bed a mere 9 hours after it started thanks to a certain knight who stepped forward, but this issue was not discussed much in the kingdom.

The rebellion was short, but since there was an Aura User living in the place where the rebellion took place, the kingdom assumed that it would be resolved naturally.

However, the Aura User in question…

-She’s completely useless…

-!!

-Did I say something wrong?

-…You’re such a cruel child.

But the fact that she was of no help at all was probably a lie that was not really a lie. Well, even if the truth came to light, Lee Han still wouldn’t admit it. He didn’t want to attract attention because of this incident.

However, the kingdom was only quiet on the outside, but the higher-ups were very interested in this incident.

-Gardin committed a rebellion?! He, who was once called the White Sword of the Kingdom?!

-He artificially caused the knight to become a Demonic Human!? What the hell is this nonsense!!

-Those cultists again!! What grudge do these guys have against the kingdom that they keep doing this kind of thing…!

The fact that the cultist group called the [Blood Crusade] planned to swallow Offen and turn Iliad into a Demonic Human was enough to bring about a sense of unease and fear in the noble society.

Especially to the knights who had learned the art of Combat Technique.

-The tea was the problem.

– …There’s definitely a drug in it. But it’s unknown what kind of drug is it.

-…It’s ominous.

What was found in the teacup Elza the traitor gave to Illiad was a drug that even the kingdom’s best alchemists had never seen before. Some of the ingredients were revealed after long research, but the other ingredients were a mixture of ingredients that had never been heard before. The alchemists also confirmed that this ingredient was the one that caused the knight’s heart to go berserk and cause him to become a Demonic Human.

However, since it was a rare ingredient, they made a prediction that the quantity of those ingredients wouldn’t be much. But in the end, prediction was just a prediction. It was not enough to alleviate the nobles’ anxiety.

They only noted that the enemies had a ‘dangerous means’ to turn them into a Demonic Human.

“Well, the nobles are too cowardly and narrow-minded. There is a way to turn a Demonic Human back into a human.”

“In that case, it would be more accurate to say that they have narrow vision rather than they are narrow-minded, Kunta.”

“I see.”

“I understand what Kunta is trying to say, but I think the only person who can do that kind of skill is Master?”

“That’s right…”

The only reason why all the nobles just exploded and created widespread chaos was probably because they saw ‘hope’ in the case of a human who had once been turned into a Demonic Human being cured.

However, as Levy said,

“It’s possible only because it’s the instructor. How can someone destroy and protect the heart at the same time? Moreover, what is important is to immediately restore it after destroying it. Without Aura Users, it would be impossible to restore it.”

Even if it were easy to destroy the heart, the problem was that it was almost impossible to restore it.

For an Aura user with vitality as vast as the ocean, restoring the heart and saving a dying human wouldn’t be difficult, but would it be impossible for a human who wasn’t an Aura User to do such a feat?

In other words, it meant that a means to replace an Aura User in that kind of situation was needed, and that method would be…

“A potion or an elixir with 90% purity will be needed. That too, something that would also increase regeneration and recovery power.”

The blood of the trolls, which is valuable for potion making, was difficult to obtain even for the great nobles. So obtaining a troll blood with 90% purity in the market was simply too difficult in the market.

“Hmm, I guess I should invest.”

Due to a series of events, the price of potions and elixir materials would rise considerably for the time being.

“Since when have you been a full-time investor?”

“I just did it because of the chaos, Instructor. Like people said, a time full of chaos is a time where someone has to make money.”

“Someone like you still needs to make money?”

“The more money you have, the better.”

“…I can’t refute that.”

Lee Han nodded slightly, thinking that the mindset of a person who made a lot of money was indeed different from his mindset.

However, Lee Han was someone who was more curious about other things, even if there was a way to make a lot of money.

“So, do you think that guy can be cured?”

“…”

“…I see.”

“But I didn’t say anything?”

“I can tell just by looking at your expression. Don’t frown. It’s not your fault.”

“…I’m sorry for being useless.”

It wasn’t really his fault, but seeing him blame himself made Lee Han think that the guy was indeed living a hard life.

Life isn’t easy.

Lee Han shook his head as he recalled the Sword Saint who had been diagnosed as ‘incurable’ by the best doctor he knew.

He really wanted to help him…

“Well, if we have something like the fresh blood of the Ghost King’s, it might be possible to treat him…”

“Why are you looking at me like that when talking about Ghost King’s fresh blood?”

“Because I think you and the Ghost King are similar, Instructor.”

“…”

“D-do you have any thought of donating 2,000mL of your blood?”

“…”

“Instructor? Why are you taking out the axe all of a sudden…?”

“Because I thought that the ungrateful Status Window bastard needed a beating.”

“!!?”

Lee Han willingly took up the whip to correct his stubborn disciple.

The whip of love that was filled with the teacher’s passion for teaching.