Ch.108EP.28 – I Am Prisoner Rihan (1)

The clatter of hooves echoed softly through the quiet forest path as the mule walked.

Unlike its gentle footsteps, the cart pulled by the mule traversed the gravel and root-filled path with ease. Watching the mule walk tirelessly after pulling a heavily loaded cart for 20km without rest, it was clear why merchants of old favored these animals.

Then suddenly.

“Halt! We’ll rest here!”

“Stop!”

“Give water to the mule.”

“Soldiers, finish your meals quickly.”

The mule stopped at the command of the rough-looking men leading the procession.

And then.

“Urgh… k-kill me…”

“W-water…! Please, some water…”

“Nngh…”

Surprisingly, the once-silent forest path was filled with people’s cries. They were merely muffled because the people wore muzzles typically meant for animals.

But did these faint murmurs irritate someone?

“You bastards!!”

Thwack! Thwack!

One of the rough-looking men—no, an escort guard—beat those who had moaned with a club, wearing an indignant expression. The club was so large that a misplaced hit could easily paralyze someone, but the guard didn’t care.

Rather:

“Die! Die, you criminal scum!!”

He didn’t hesitate to beat them with all his might.

“Nngh!”

“Aagh! P-please… spare me…!”

The people being beaten might appear pitiful and helpless, but each one—whether a young man crying out in pain or a frail old man—had committed heinous crimes.

The young man had committed over a dozen frauds, destroying more than ten households, while the old man was a rapist who had violated children much younger than himself.

Therefore, they deserved no pity.

[Criminals have no human rights, and if they made someone shed tears of blood, make them bleed from their entire body].

This was the absolute rule proclaimed by the founding king of Pendragon, the great Knight King.

Criminals, regardless of age, gender, or status, needed to be reminded that even their breathing was a waste.

However…

“Hey, rookie. Those ones can die for all I care, but don’t beat the ones over there.”

“Why not? They’re just criminals too.”

“…Kid, questioning your superior already shows you’ve got the makings of a washout. Or maybe you’re just an overzealous washout?”

“I-I’m sorry…”

“Why apologize for… Hah, never mind. To satisfy our enthusiastic rookie’s curiosity, those people over there are headed for the ‘Tunnel.'”

“T-the Tunnel? You mean…”

At the word “Tunnel,” the escort guard’s expression turned sympathetic.

Those headed for the Tunnel were, unlike the worthless trash who didn’t deserve to breathe, often taken there somewhat unjustly.

“Don’t pity them. Some of them are soldiers or knights who killed our troops during the war. …Though there might be farmers who rebelled against rotten nobles too.”

“……”

“…In this job, you’ll meet all sorts of people. Don’t get too emotional about it. You’ll burn out quickly.”

“…Yes, sir.”

But the rookie was still a rookie, clearly struggling with his emotions.

His superior gave a bitter smile, saying he’d expected as much, and recalled having similar feelings when he was new. Then he briefly glanced at the prisoners headed for the Tunnel.

Unlike the rookie, he wasn’t looking at them with mixed emotions.

‘Hmm, I heard there would be knights and noble sons among this transport batch. Are those the ones?’

He was looking because he’d heard some important figures would be included.

And there…

‘Wow, those two have some savage bodies. They’re practically human weapons. Are all knights like that?’

Most prisoners wore only pants with their upper bodies exposed to prevent them from hiding weapons.

His eyes were naturally drawn to them, but then…

“…!!”

His breath caught.

‘C-crazy… how can that be a human body?!’

There was a man whose savage physique made even the two fierce-looking knights seem delicate by comparison.

This man had something wild about him that surpassed the formidable bodies of the two knights.

Muscles? Could those even be called muscles?

They looked like they were woven from iron chains, and just looking at his muscles convinced the guard he could never win against him.

…No, even if everyone here attacked together, they couldn’t handle him.

‘What a monster…’

It was both awe-inspiring and terrifying just to look at him.

‘Well, good thing he came quietly.’

Perhaps his family or acquaintances were being held hostage, or there was some other reason for his docility. Otherwise, someone like him wouldn’t have been captured so easily.

‘Whatever the case, it’s fortunate… Wait, didn’t they say there were four knight-class prisoners?’

As the person in charge of the escort, he’d been told that among the 48 prisoners headed for the Tunnel, four were knights.

But apart from those three…

‘I don’t see anyone else?’

Of course, knights shouldn’t be judged by appearance alone.

But with his now-elevated standards, he couldn’t spot anyone else who looked like a knight, and he scratched the back of his head.

‘Did I hear wrong?’

…The escort guard didn’t know.

There were indeed four knights, and the young man with dirty gray hair who resembled a stray dog was also a knight.

And that knight, Aren Pendragon, wore a dazed expression.

‘…Why am I here?’

He still couldn’t accept reality, and he looked at the monster with resentful eyes.

The beast who had dragged him into this hell four days ago.

‘You dishonorable…!’

“You should keep your eyes to yourself.”

“……”

“I might just pluck them out.”

“…My eyes are only looking forward, so I don’t understand why you’re saying such frightening things.”

“……”

“…I’ll keep my mouth shut too.”

Aren’s small act of defiance ended easily.

After all, a fist nearby was more frightening than distant power.

*

*

*

“You’ve been quite the spectacle.”

Crumbling sand—no, what used to be bricks—fell to the ground.

“…I apologize for this one.”

“You certainly should. After destroying so much royal property.”

The devastation created by two men colliding.

Would you believe that it took less than 5 minutes to completely destroy about twenty iron bars?

However.

“But you look quite pitiful.”

It seems the fight wasn’t equal but rather one-sided.

Ihan’s appearance was a mess.

Bruises and contusions covered him everywhere, making him look like he’d tumbled down a steep hill.

But Ihan grumbled that he would have been less injured if he had actually rolled down a hill.

“I got beaten up badly. That man was on a rampage today, just going wild.”

Though he described it as a clash, in reality, Ihan was beaten by Baltar.

No, even “beaten” is too gentle a description.

“You know what? These iron bars and bricks—after subduing me, that man grabbed my leg and swung me around wildly, destroying everything. He swung me like a doll… I thought I was going to die.”

“……”

…Isn’t it more amazing that your body didn’t die after such treatment?

This was the expression Isis conveyed, but unfortunately, Ihan didn’t notice it.

“Sigh, so did you come to make me pay for this? I don’t have money. Ask that man instead. He’s the one who destroyed everything.”

Ihan was still staying in the ruined prison.

Though there were no iron bars left to contain him, the bed provided by the soldiers was so comfortable and cozy that he chose to remain, knowing that escaping would only bring troublesome matters. So he was essentially voluntarily imprisoned.

He wanted to tell anyone demanding money from someone who found even prison comfortable that they had the wrong person.

“…If I were to demand payment from Sir Baltar Grace, every knight in this country would consider me an enemy, and I don’t wish to contemplate such a novel method of suicide.”

“…Was he that significant?”

“Hehe, perhaps only my little brother would regard Baltar Grace as casually as a neighbor. Do you think he’s called a great hero for nothing?”

“I only ever see him playing around.”

“He achieved ‘immortal feats’ in his youth. As long as he lives in this kingdom, every knight will admire him. They’ve all grown up hearing tales of his achievements like bedtime stories.”

Isis’s calm voice showed no fluctuation or emotion.

It seemed like even the royal heir respected Baltar, giving an impression of sublime reverence, but…

‘Sister and that old man didn’t get along, right?’

Ihan knew.

That she was mocking him.

That her emotionless voice concealed irritated displeasure.

‘…Still the same.’

Though he hadn’t heard details, according to rumors circulating in the Order, about 25 years ago, she had “asked” Baltar Grace to support her.

Back when she wasn’t even a crown princess or princess, but merely called “princess”…

But what kind of man was he?

Even when she was twenty, he was already a man of immortal legend, famous for being a knight of loyalty who decided to follow only the previous king.

So the outcome was predictable:

– Don’t bother me, Princess. Play your childish games alone.

…That’s what he reportedly said.

And Ihan would bet his hair that it was true.

That old man would definitely have said exactly that, without missing a single syllable.

“Hmph, don’t worry about the iron bars or the Order of the Silver Lion’s affairs. The great Sir Baltar Grace will take care of it.”

“……”

“Don’t think I’m petty. Whether 20 years pass or 50, I will never forget that day’s humiliation.”

“…I don’t know what you’re suddenly talking about, but more importantly, do you really mean I don’t have to take responsibility?”

Ihan had no intention of getting involved in others’ fights; his own matters were more important.

Isis looked at him with an annoyed expression for a moment, but he remained shameless, and she massaged her furrowed brow before saying:

“…Could they hold you responsible if they had any shame? It’s already shameful that the Order was defeated by one person, and they even called for reinforcements because they couldn’t handle it. They even mobilized soldiers for petty reasons. They’ve already lost completely in terms of both justification and strength. Rather, if they still don’t realize their own fault and defeat despite all this… they wouldn’t be worth keeping alive.”

“…That’s quite a brutal thing to say.”

“Because I mean it.”

“……”

“Is there any need for an Order of knights that has neither honor nor strength?”

“Correction: You’re just a brutal person, sister.”

Ihan shook his head.

Then.

“Do you remember when I, no, when I said I had a request for you?”

“…I remember.”

“Then I’d like to start now.”

“Hmm…”

“Can you do that for me?”

“……”

Ihan smiled bitterly.

Though she called it a request, she was actually “asking” for a favor.

‘Wow, this is intense.’

When was it?

He once had tea with the white-haired butler.

At that time, the butler said:

– The princess often refers to herself as “I (余).” However, this isn’t simply to elevate herself. In Sir Ihan’s words, it’s a kind of mental management technique.

– Who? The princess?

He thought his ears were deceiving him.

Why would someone inherently arrogant need mental management techniques?

She seemed like someone who would have proclaimed “I alone exist” from birth.

However:

– She’s more fragile-hearted than you might think. But she becomes comfortable when she has allies. That’s why she often uses “I (나)” in front of Sir Ihan. I find it… quite pleasant to see.

– …I find it rather uncomfortable.

It was an explanation from the butler, or rather, the superhuman disguised as a butler, and Ihan had to forcibly store that conversation in his brain’s memory.

Somehow, the words of scary people tended to stick in his memory.

So Ihan understood.

That her words were a request, not an order, as she was humbling herself.

‘Mr. Butler, I find this trust and respect burdensome.’

-Hoho, that just means Sir Ihan holds special significance to the princess.

Ihan smiled bitterly at the butler’s voice automatically replaying in his head.

…And so:

“…I was planning to accept any request as long as you helped resolve my student’s situation properly, so don’t worry.”

“Hehe, you’re quite devoted to your disciple.”

“By the way, do I have to do this request alone?”

“Hmm, it would be more convenient if you had talented and trustworthy people. Do you have anyone you’d like to bring?”

“Two people. They’re skilled and trustworthy.”

“I think I know who they are.”

“You know too much… Ah, right. There’s one more person I want to bring.”

“?”

Isis wore a puzzled expression.

An expression suggesting there was someone among Ihan’s acquaintances she didn’t know about.

But it wasn’t an acquaintance.

Rather:

“There’s just someone I want to teach a lesson to.”

“…Oh my, that’s-“

It was more of a bad connection.

Though he was of a status Ihan couldn’t casually handle:

“I can’t help but like the sound of that.”

With permission from one of the highest powers in the royal family, there was no one he couldn’t take with him.

—And now.

“Haa, haaack…”

“Walk faster. Even the mule walks better than you.”

“I-I’m not a mule…!”

“What?”

“…I said I’m not a mule, sir!”

“…Consistently arrogant bastard.”

Though still arrogant to the end, his efforts to reduce his arrogance were quite amusing.

A kind of arrogance that was entertaining just to watch.

However:

‘From now on, there won’t be much to laugh about.’

As the destination guided by the mule’s footsteps came into view, Ihan gradually hid his smile.

‘…The Blood Crusaders, was it?’

This was ridiculous.

‘Did the author read wuxia novels before writing this romance fantasy?’

As a devoted reader of wuxia novels, he couldn’t help but suspect this organization was a knockoff of the Blood Cult.