Ch.109EP.28 – I Am Prisoner Rihan (2)

Jake, who was working hard with a pickaxe and shovel, blinked.

Despite being forced into hard labor due to following the wrong friend, he didn’t show any complaints about the royal mission. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him a rare true knight.

“Blood Crusaders? I’ve never heard of such an organization. No, more importantly, to think such dangerous elements came from the temple… I can’t believe it.”

KWANG, KWANG!

“I agree, sir.”

Looking at Yord Decker, the junior knight who had also followed the wrong senior, it was pitiful to see him hauling dirt despite being a newcomer. Unlike Jake, he had no particular loyalty to the royal family and no reason to take on this mission, but he had simply followed out of respect for his seniors.

Yet he too showed no complaints.

This was his first mission since becoming a knight.

Perhaps he was harboring some expectations.

“You don’t have to believe it. I only heard it from someone else.”

And then there was the culprit who had brought his friend and junior to this harsh place.

Despite digging with bare hands, he accomplished more work than others with equipment, and Ihan even crushed boulders the size of two watermelons with his bare hands…

They had gone from knights to criminals trapped in a tunnel.

“Can’t you work normally?”

Jake scolded him as he worked enthusiastically like a fish in water.

It seemed more like playing than working.

At least for that guy.

“The equipment is too flimsy to use. If I had my usual specialized gear, it might be different.”

“Are you still working that side job?”

“It’s quite lucrative. Good exercise too.”

“…You’re a strange one.”

The conversation between the three lacked any particular structure.

They would discuss serious matters one moment, then switch to casual conversation, mostly chatting about trivial things.

Their voices were also unusually loud, as if they wanted others to hear them.

And this was…

‘No reaction.’

‘Judging by others’ reactions, there doesn’t seem to be anyone suspicious. Though we’re being treated like madmen.’

‘Is it because we’re talking about strange religions?’

‘…I think it’s because of you. Please work normally!’

‘I want to, but the equipment keeps breaking. What am I supposed to do?’

‘Control your strength!’

‘…Not easy.’

—This revealed that they were deliberately leaking information to observe the reactions of the “criminals.”

…But as they say, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

‘Tsk, not a single person is taking the bait.’

The results were utterly disappointing.

Ihan could detect everything within a 1km radius by his standards.

If he wanted, he could extend it to 5km, but that would be inefficient as he couldn’t maintain it for even 10 minutes.

Thus, 1km was the most ideal range, and utilizing this made for an excellent weapon.

Thanks to this, Ihan had successfully monitored the reactions of criminals gathered in the “tunnel,” and the result—or lack thereof—was that he couldn’t identify any suspicious individuals.

“This is frustrating…”

“Be patient. We knew from the start this wouldn’t be an easy mission.”

“That’s right, senior. How could it be easy to find traces of a group trying to overthrow the kingdom?”

Jake and Yord told him to be patient, as this was never going to progress quickly.

“If anything, you’re the strange one. Did you think you could complete a royal mission in just a few days? Royal missions typically last for years.”

“I don’t have that much time.”

“Why not?”

“When our kids’ vacation—I mean school break—ends, I need to go back.”

“……”

Jake couldn’t decide whether to be happy that his irresponsible friend had found his calling, or angry at the disrespectful fellow who treated a royal order like a temporary job.

* * *

The monster attack from the previous day, also known as the Academy Disaster.

The incident where Demon Lord-level monsters and hordes of gnolls appeared would have been a catastrophe that could have destroyed the royal capital if not for the lack of casualties.

Thanks to the abilities of students like Ihan and capable returners, the damage was virtually nonexistent.

Had it not been for them, an unimaginable catastrophe would have occurred.

While the royal capital remained safe, the process was nothing short of terrifying.

And if one couldn’t predict what terrible future a single mistake might bring, they had no business leading a country.

[-This incident is nothing less than a major provocation against the entire kingdom. We must devote all our resources to resolving it. No matter what, those responsible must pay the price.]

The current king was furious, and a royal decree was issued to severely punish those behind the terror attack.

High officials and countless others had to move quickly, resulting in terrifying days in the back alleys of the royal capital.

Soldiers moved, knights moved, and suspicious individuals were repeatedly arrested, until eventually more than 80% of the criminals hiding in the royal capital were captured.

…However.

[To think you still haven’t caught the real culprits!! What exactly are you all doing!!!]

The whereabouts of the true perpetrators remained elusive, and the king was enraged.

But it wasn’t that the royal court was incompetent.

Rather, the culprits were exceptionally capable.

…So much so that even with soldiers and knights mobilized, they couldn’t find a trace.

What the royal court did find were scenes of mass slaughter presumed to have been used for the terror attack.

As a result, the royal court realized that what they thought would be a short battle against terrorists had become a long-term struggle, and they continued to focus on identifying the true culprits.

…However.

– The Blood Crusaders, ha! What a ridiculous organization.

Even before the royal court could act, a suspiciously competent crown heir had already gathered information about the terrorists who had invaded the royal capital.

Isis, remarkably, had managed to outline those who had invaded the royal capital.

– The illegal mage captured by Galahad was a lower priest, I hear. He was carrying a cross symbolizing the “Light of Radiance.”

– So the temple is the culprit?

– Soldiers have already investigated, but the temple keeps insisting there are no such lower priests. However, it’s highly likely the soldiers didn’t conduct a proper investigation. With so many arrogant followers of the temple, how could a proper investigation have taken place…

– ……

– But that doesn’t matter to me.

– You’ll receive divine punishment for that.

– Heaven doesn’t punish. It merely follows the laws of nature. Don’t you even know that?

– ……

…Indeed, it wasn’t that the royal court was more incompetent than her alone and couldn’t even outline the terror attack.

Even knowing, they couldn’t investigate thoroughly.

Because it was the temple, the Light of Radiance.

The sole religion followed by the entire nation, so soldiers couldn’t dig deeply into them.

Even the soldiers themselves were believers of the Light of Radiance.

They didn’t dare to investigate the temple.

But Isis was different.

She was an impious woman who didn’t ask for miracles or wishes from God, and would even use God if she could.

So she persistently dug into the temple and eventually extracted information.

And she didn’t just sit on the throne like the king; she moved personally.

In some ways, it might seem too aggressive for a country’s heir, but this was…

– Rather than trusting incompetent ones, I will confirm with my own eyes.

…undeniably the nature of Isis as a ruler.

Anyway, thanks to such aggressive actions, she succeeded in discovering the “remnants of the past” buried by both the temple and the royal court before the royal court itself did.

– The temple, these madmen, had a faction dreaming of treason. However, that organization was quickly dismantled and disappeared under the previous king… but it seems they’ve resurfaced.

– Even after being eliminated once…

– Ideology and religion are like dandelion seeds. Even if you eliminate them, they will continuously reappear.

– Hmm, simply put, fanatics being fanatics, right?

– …I think you should worry more about divine punishment than I should.

– Why me?

– …Anyway, it seems such seeds have been planted again and are spreading throughout the temple… no, the entire kingdom, according to my prediction.

An army bearing the bloody cross, aiming to overthrow the royal capital and purify all non-believers and heretics with blood.

The Blood Crusaders.

Truly…

-They are not just laughable but disgusting. Using God’s name to fill their own power and greed.

Isis showed unrestrained contempt for the temple, but Ihan didn’t particularly sympathize.

– …Are you sure they exist?

Since hearing the name “Blood Crusaders,” Ihan had been skeptical.

While he could understand their fanatical ideology, it was strange that he had never heard of such a significant group before.

However, Isis affirmed:

– They exist. Albert has been running around everywhere to confirm their existence.

– I was wondering where that gentleman went… Please stop making the elderly work.

– He’s more vigorous than I am; it would be wrong to let him rest yet.

– Really…

With Albert’s name mentioned, he couldn’t refute further.

So…

– So you want me to find these Blood Crusaders or whatever and bring them to you?

Ihan had predicted what her order would be, and she nodded.

– I want two things. One is evidence proving the existence of these fanatics and a list or traces of those cooperating with them.

– Cooperation?

– They sacrificed tens of thousands of criminals to summon monsters. Right in the middle of the royal capital. This couldn’t have happened without collaborators.

– …I understand what you mean, but aren’t you asking me to find a needle in a haystack?

He understood the mission, but it was unreasonably difficult.

Even she had barely found traces of these fanatics.

How could someone like him, who was just good at fighting, find them and gather evidence?

It was like being dropped in the vast ocean without a compass.

Ihan wondered if this woman had finally lost her mind due to stress.

– I can see you’re having disrespectful thoughts.

– Ah, caught me.

– Insolent fellow.

THWACK!

Her fan struck Ihan’s crown with familiarity.

However, unlike usual, she didn’t hit him directly; the fan flew and hit his head.

Since hitting him would hurt her wrist, was she now throwing things…?

THUD.

– ?

A note fell from the fan.

– …I’ve examined the bones of the sacrificed. After consulting numerous experts, we’ve determined where the bones moved from and to, which region the people were from, and even their personal details.

– ……

– Thus, we’ve been able to narrow down the prisons where most of these individuals were incarcerated to three locations. And among these three, the one that triggers my intuition is…

THUD.

– That place. Go investigate properly.

– …If you’ve figured out this much, don’t you not need me?

What exactly was he supposed to find out?

Witnessing the true madness of piecing together scattered bones to determine hometowns and histories, Ihan wondered if he was even necessary.

Couldn’t she just solve everything herself?

– Even with power, one cannot do everything as they please.

It was a somewhat bitter murmur with an unclear meaning, and Ihan responded:

– That’s all because of insufficient effort.

– ……

– Let’s work harder, shall we?

– You’re a younger brother asking for a beating.

THWACK!

Her pointed shoe struck Ihan’s shin, and Isis sprained her ankle that day.

* * *

“…Seriously, you’re not a barbarian, why hit people?”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing, nothing…”

“?”

Ihan hastily changed the subject.

How could he possibly say that he had caused the crown princess of this country to sprain her ankle?

Jake would probably grab him by the collar and ask if he was insane.

Ihan didn’t want to cause a situation where his friend might accidentally strangle him.

Just then.

“Senior, by the way, what exactly is this tunnel?”

“Huh?”

“You’re asking that now…?”

“I, I just followed along without asking…”

“……”

Ihan scratched his cheek.

This guy was really hopeless.

‘He’s the type who would sign as a guarantor if asked…’

Yord Decker.

A diligent junior knight who followed without complaint simply because they were going together.

His diligence and skill reminded Ihan of the trio he was teaching.

Perhaps that’s why.

Ihan kindly explained:

“Hmm, what do you think this tunnel is?”

“Well, it looks like a place where people dig without reason…”

Since being confined here today, Yord had been continuously digging without any explanation.

But there seemed to be no particular reason for digging this tunnel.

When one thinks of digging like this, they might expect to be mining minerals, but that wasn’t the case.

It was just repetitive work of digging soil and breaking rocks.

He wondered what purpose this activity served, and if perhaps, true to its name, they were digging a tunnel to reach another country.

But.

“That might be fun in its own way, but there are many rivers around here, so we might all drown if we’re not careful.”

“So it’s not for invasion purposes.”

“That’s right.”

“Then is it some kind of rehabilitation through meaningless repetitive work-“

“No. Rehabilitation is something the temple does. What reason would the kingdom have to rehabilitate people?”

“Then…”

“Ah, you’ll be able to see now.”

“??”

As he was about to ask additional questions, Ihan redirected Yord’s gaze.

There was…

[Why must I, a noble one, be reduced to such a miserable state!]

Aren, who had been complaining from a distance, looking like a beggar, and just as Yord wondered why he should pay attention to that person…

“-It’s coming.”

CRACK!

“!!?”

They could see something pouring out from the pile of dirt Aren had been digging.

[Keeee!!!]

“S-Sand worms!?”

“Not quite sand worms, but baby sand worms. Get ready. We need to catch them all. And also.”

SWOOSH,

[D-Don’t bite me! W-Where’s my sword!? Give me a sword!]

“…Save that idiot as a bonus.”

“……”

Yord gave an incredulous look to Ihan, who was leisurely walking toward the sand worms with a shovel.

No way…!

“…Can we really catch all of those?”

Dozens, no, hundreds.

Looking at the continuously growing mass of baby sand worms, Yord swallowed hard, and at the same time felt fortunate.

‘Thank goodness I’ve only had water today…’

It was a disgustingly grotesque sight that could make one nauseous just by looking.

The tunnel was the kingdom’s largest “sand worm habitat” and also…

The kingdom’s largest <fertilizer factory>.

…Though it was a secret not to be revealed to the public that occasionally humans digested by sand worms became fertilizer.