Chapter 1257: Scorched World

The air settled coldly. I had to shut my mouth at the Iron Dragon Unit Commander’s words.

‘…You can’t eat monsters unless you’re an Apostle?’

For a moment, my mind went blank. Was there something like that?

‘That can’t be right?’

As far as I knew, it wasn’t. Because I clearly remembered devouring even monsters in my past life.

Of course, even if it was impossible in reality, it was possible in this world.

But.

‘Here, it’s not possible?’

I thought it was the same world, but here it’s impossible? Those were words that made me pause for a moment.

Is that possible? A gap created by information differing from what I knew.

While I was pondering how to patch this up.

“It’s a lie.”

“What?”

“The atmosphere was so bleak, I tried spitting out a lie just to see, and your reaction is quite fresh.”

The Iron Dragon Unit Commander said that, turned his head, and moved forward.

‘Hmph.’

Looking at him, the corners of my mouth twitched.

‘This is ridiculous.’

‘You’re testing me like this? Thanks to that, my reaction was delayed.’

It was the problem created by the year-long gap and the doubt that this might be a world I didn’t know.

‘This has become troublesome.’

Although I was moving forward pretending to be unfazed, suspicion was filling that guy’s head.

Moreover, it must be no different than lighting a fire with the current reaction.

‘Annoying.’

There was a possibility he might make a move.

What should I do?

I pondered.

A way not to get caught? That wasn’t the worry.

‘Should I kill him?’

Whether to kill him or not.

That kind of worry had arisen.

* * *

Passing the surface, we dug a little deeper.

Even though we had entered the interior, nothing had changed visually.

‘It’s the same.’

The withered trees and dried-up ground showed no significant difference.

Considering it was described as so dangerous, it meant it was the same.

‘Then.’

It meant that a large number of monsters were hiding somewhere around here.

‘That’s even stranger.’

In such an open setting, where could they possibly be hiding?

I wondered.

“How far do you intend to go?”

First, I asked the Iron Dragon Commander about the objective.

“A little further forward.”

“Haven’t you said that several times already?”

“……Just a little further.”

Even if we go a little further from here, what could possibly be there?

It’s obvious it’s just a plain.

“Monsters appeared last time too, wouldn’t it be dangerous if just the two of us go?”

“If it seems like the situation will explode, we just need to flee.”

“Wow, easy for you to say.”

How do you plan to flee after it explodes?

Ah.

‘Since he is fast, maybe it’ll be fine.’

Yesterday, it was the other personnel who were the problem; at the Commander’s level, fleeing would be possible.

‘The problem is that wouldn’t be the objective.’

I already knew the Iron Dragon Commander’s objective wasn’t the exploration and search of the west. The objective must clearly be me.

‘What trick is he planning to use?’

What does he intend to do? While that was the question.

“Well, let me ask just one thing.”

The Iron Dragon Commander asked me a question.

“What is it?”

“I heard you repelled the Apostle’s attack.”

“Yes. I did.”

“How did you repel it?”

“How do you mean, how did I repel it? They just charged at me, so I beat them up.”

“……It was possible with just that?”

“Yes. Why? Can’t it be done?”

“Because the aura of a warrior doesn’t affect Apostles, you see.”

“Hmm….”

This was something I had heard from Poison Phoenix beforehand.

They said it was difficult to deal with Apostles because the aura of a warrior didn’t work on them.

‘It seems just like the characteristics of the Red Monsters.’

The Red Monsters, who wrap their unique Ki-aura around their bodies.

It bore a strong resemblance to their characteristics.

That’s why other people are busy running away from those called Apostles.

“But well, since I fought, it worked.”

“……Really?”

“Yes.”

“I see.”

“……”

“……”

The conversation stopped again. Reaching this point, I eventually had to let out a deep sigh.

“……What’s your point?”

“……”

“Why do you keep testing me? Testing me. What do you want to do?”

I was starting to get tired of the Iron Dragon Commander’s actions. I wanted to keep going along with it, but if he acted this suspiciously, I didn’t even want to do that anymore.

“Do I seem like an Apostle?”

I asked him directly.

“Yes.”

This time, the Iron Dragon Commander answered honestly.

“I think you are an Apostle.”

“Oh, really? Even though I said I wasn’t?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because all the circumstances indicate so.”

“……Hmm.”

Circumstances, you say. It’s a bit difficult to refute that. But.

“Even so, did you deliberately come with me?”

The more so, the less I could understand the Iron Dragon Commander’s words.

“If we came out like this, just the two of us, and if I really were an Apostle, it’s possible I might kill you.”

There’s no need to keep someone who suspects you around. If we came out together, it would be enough to just kill them, so why would there be a need to make such a dangerous choice?

To my words, the Iron Dragon Commander calmly said.

“If I had intended to kill you, I would have annihilated you long ago. There would have been ample opportunity yesterday too.”

“……So you won’t kill me even now? But you think I’m an Apostle?”

“It’s unknown what purpose you might hold. Therefore.”

Chul-geok.

The Iron Dragon Commander grabbed the hilt at his waist.

“I’ll have to find out, starting now.”

“……Hmm.”

I scratched my cheek.

“……That’s not a good choice.”

If he was deliberately trying to pick a fight, it was a bad choice.

‘I don’t really want to kill him, though.’

Knowing he kept suspecting and provoking me, my impulse was to really kill him, but.

‘……Mi Hyoran is a concern.’

Mi Hyoran is subtly weighing on my mind. After all, isn’t he someone loyal to her?

Moreover.

‘If I kill him here.’

It was uncertain whether I could return to the Central Plains originally, like I did in my past life.

Until I’m sure about this part, it’s right to refrain from unnecessary killing. I really want to do that, but.

“Why do you keep acting like this, making things annoying for me?”

My hand moved first.

Kkwaak.

“……!”

With my body lunging forward, I shoved his sword in.

“Don’t pull it out.”

“……What….”

“It’s a request, in a way. If you pull it out, I won’t be able to hold back either. Let’s just get along, okay?”

If you pull out the sword, I will kill you.

So this was the last chance.

“……”

Kkeugeuk.

It seemed he kept applying force to his hand, intent on pulling it out somehow.

“Tsk.”

I scowled. If it comes to this.

‘Should I just knock him out?’

I should knock him out before it gets more troublesome. It’s a shame I won’t be able to see the interior further, but arguing with this guy is a bigger waste of time.

Thinking that, I was about to strike his jaw with my hand.

Uung.

‘Hmm?’

I felt something. It was coming from the Iron Dragon Commander’s upper body.

Sensing something strange, I immediately reached out my hand.

Sook!

“……Hut!”

I pulled something out from his chest. Looking at it, it was a bead.

“……What is this?”

“……How could you…!”

The Iron Dragon Commander seemed quite flustered, his expression changing immediately. What is this?

‘Even at first glance, this wasn’t just a normal bead-‘

If it wasn’t an ordinary item.

‘Could it be?’

Is it some kind of mystical artifact?

I narrowed my eyes. Even if I didn’t know what kind of artifact it was, from the looks of it, this seemed to be the means he had prepared.

“What is this? Are you trying to gauge whether I’m an Apostle or not with this?”

“……Hand it over.”

“Hand it over? Why would I give this to you? It’s a suspicious item even at first glance. What is this?”

I created distance. As I moved slightly away holding the bead, the Iron Dragon Commander rushed straight at me.

Seureureung-!

Drawing his sword, he rushed at me.

Seeing that, I frowned.

Swiik-!

The sword flies towards me. Figuring out the trajectory, I moved my hand.

Ppaak-!

“Kkuhk!?”

Hit on the wrist, the Iron Dragon Commander flinched. He didn’t let go of the sword. A person’s willpower seemed excellent. But.

“I told you.”

Half a step forward.

His upper body unsteady from the impact, I reached right in front of it.

“Not to pull out the sword.”

I drove my clenched fist into his side.

Ppaak-!

“……Keok!”

Along with a groan, he was busy letting out pained sounds.

Teolsseok.

“Heok… Heok…”

Clutching his side, he knelt down. The Iron Dragon Commander was busy letting out strained groans.

“Why don’t you listen to people? I clearly said I wouldn’t leave you alone if you pulled out the sword. You’re always like this, so dense.”

“……Keuk…… Keok……”

“And what’s this bead? It seems different from the handcuffs……”

It looked somewhat different from those handcuffs that could identify Apostles. What kind of effect does it have?

“……Hand it over……”

The Iron Dragon Commander reached out his trembling hand towards me.

Is he trying to take it back again?

“……This guy is really stubborn?”

I’m annoyed.

“Ah, seriously.”

I tried to suppress my emotions, but even that isn’t easy. If I hold back this time, how many times has it been? Two or three? I don’t know.

Should I just kill him?

Hwaaaaaa-!

Killing intent burst forth.

“……Keok!”

The Iron Dragon Commander bled.

His insides seemed to churn, caught in the killing intent. Looking at him like that, I had to cool myself down.

“……Mister.”

Through the swirling killing intent, I brought my hand towards him.

Just like that.

Hook-!

Grabbing him by the collar, I pulled him behind me.

“It seems like someone has arrived?”

I turned my head. This killing intent wasn’t mine.

Suddenly feeling this immense, pouring killing intent, I looked up at the empty air.

“……Huh?”

My eyes widened.

“……That’s.”

Above the reddened sky, something flickered. That is.

“……Flames?”

Grayish flames.

Something that appeared to flicker calmly was emitting immense killing intent.

Seeing that, my heart.

Thump…!

Stirring lowly, it was heating the blood in my body.

It resonates.

My body began to resonate with those flames.

Gradually, and fiercely.