Ch.160EP.39 – Two Men Go All the Way (3)

Ihan’s [Lie Detection Function] is an ability even Isis acknowledges.

His hearing captures heartbeats, and his touch detects the subtle movements of others. His smell and taste can pick up not only sweat but also the faint scent of deception—even catching minute hormonal changes. His vision detects subtle muscle relaxation, pupil contraction, and the faintest trembling of the body.

Finally, his sixth sense helps with overall judgment and decision-making.

Thus, Ihan’s lie detection ability was a “technique” that mobilized all his senses.

But while it sounds easy in theory, using it in daily life was extremely difficult.

Since it involved employing all his senses to read information, the accumulated stress and fatigue were considerable. If overused, it could even make his head spin.

Perhaps this proved that great power comes with an appropriate price?

So…

“First question. If you know whether the wizards expelled from the Tower are alive or dead, is it possible to track their location?”

“……”

With a slight shake of his head, the yellow-haired man denied it, as if saying it wasn’t possible.

Twinge.

…For an instant, there was a slight smell of sweat and a fishy sensation.

“I see, so it is possible.”

“!??!”

“Second question. Is that location tracking still possible now?”

“……”

“Hmm….”

The yellow-haired man exercised his right to remain silent.

He must have been testing Ihan’s detection ability by expressing that first lie. Cunning behavior befitting a spellcaster.

His firmness suggested a determination not to respond anymore.

Though the situation was clearly awkward, Ihan said,

“I see? So it is possible.”

“!!!”

It didn’t matter to him whether the man remained silent.

Physical reactions weren’t something one could hide simply by not responding. Even without an answer, it was possible to gather plenty of information through subtle changes in body odor, heartbeat, gentle muscle tremors, pupil dilation, and breathing sounds.

Converting that information into certainty was his sixth sense, which could also be called “judgment.”

For three years, or perhaps more than half his life, he had been involved with spellcasters and devoted himself to fighting them.

Isn’t it said that you know best what you hate most?

In his previous life, celebrity anti-fans became experts on famous people just to criticize them. And Ihan was the “anti of antis” who despised wizards more than anything else in the world.

As an appraiser and expert in identifying wizards’ character…

‘-I wasn’t wrong.’

Ihan firmly believed in the information he obtained and his judgment, without wavering in the slightest.

With the conviction that ‘I am the world’s best wizard appraiser.’

And so.

“Is the Tower still in contact with illegal wizards?”

“Does the Tower have devices to monitor, track, or communicate with illegal wizards?”

“Did you come to the kingdom not only to meet Irene Windler but also to meet illegal wizards?”

“Do you have impure intentions toward Irene Windler?”

“Are you planning to carry out terrorism against the kingdom?”

“Are the Empire and the Tower planning to attack the Pendragon?”

A barrage of countless questions.

Drip….

Though sweat was now cooling on his brow and his head was starting to throb slightly, Ihan didn’t stop questioning.

A near-manic obsession.

An obsession to find wizards by any means, no, to know ‘everything.’

“…ugh, uugh…!”

The yellow-haired man, Huey de Beyron, trembled in fear.

The opponent’s formidable obsession and madness, his killing intent toward wizards, had made him terrified.

It seemed as if he was determined to destroy the very foundation of wizards, and before this intensity, Huey de Beyron finally,

“Kuuugh….”

Thud…!

His eyes rolled back and he fainted.

“…Bastard, putting on an act when I’m the one dying here.”

With foam at his mouth, it looked somewhat like an exaggerated fainting spell.

Ihan frowned, clutching his aching head from the migraine.

He was dying from a headache, yet this guy who should have just quietly submitted to questioning suddenly rolled his eyes and fainted.

Typical of spellcasters, weak in both mind and body.

Ihan then drank all the iced coffee and even the milk tea.

His thirst was raging uncontrollably.

At that moment, everyone in the café suddenly went quiet.

People who just moments before had appeared to be ordinary housewives, laborers, or part-time girls all stopped laughing or talking.

And then.

“…I think I would have fainted too. Actually, I’m impressed he only fainted.”

A man walked over.

He was a male with a face that seemed worn by fatigue, but his eyes shone calm yet bright, giving off the aura of quite an important figure.

Ihan calmly expressed his gratitude to the man who had helped him.

“Thanks.”

“Not at all, I’m glad I could be of help, Sir Ihan.”

Simon, the guild master of the Pendragon Guild.

He was also the person who had hired all the customers and staff in this café today.

“I’ll pay you back later.”

“Haha, it’s really fine. Oh, and I suggest you move locations soon. Guild soldiers are preventing other soldiers from entering this café, but they can’t hold them off forever.”

“…Right.”

With those final words, Ihan left the café carrying the unconscious wizard on his back.

With unhurried steps suggesting he had all the time in the world.

And watching him disappear until the end, Simon…

“…Truly, what a frightening man.”

Simon had watched him corner the wizard from beginning to end.

Relentless?

No, it was something beyond relentlessness.

It was like watching a blazing fire, and the wizard seemed to be flailing as if engulfed in flames.

If Simon had been subjected to such an interrogation, he was certain he wouldn’t have lasted even a second before fainting or wetting himself.

That’s how terrifying it was.

Even ghosts or evil spirits would seem cute in comparison.

“Whew, I really need to stay on good terms with that man.”

Having once been his enemy, he knew his ruthlessness, and the more he knew, the more terrifying the man became.

Simon clicked his tongue, thinking that if asked who was the most frightening person in his life, he would name that man.

* * *

Munch munch.

As he left the café, Ihan took out a lunchbox from his bag and ate.

It was lunch delivered by the maid.

“…This is delicious.”

As expected of the maid.

Though she couldn’t handle household chores, her cooking skills were excellent, and it was an utterly satisfying meal.

Whew!

Perhaps thanks to consuming a meal filled with care.

His mind and body, exhausted from excessive sensory detection, recovered somewhat as Ihan stretched.

Based on his feeling, going forward.

‘Half a day, or at least 3 hours of rest should be enough to recover.’

Keeping precise track of his recovery time, Ihan decided to find a place where he could rest lightly.

‘Where should I go, Blackie? Or Timid’s hideout?’

Thanks to having good disciples, he had quite a few places to rest.

‘Or should I just go see both of their faces?’

Not only did he need to hide, but he also had questions for both of them.

The question of whether such events had occurred in the regression before or in the game story…

He needed to resolve that question, and if this was something that hadn’t happened originally, it would be reasonable to figure out where the problem began.

As Ihan was about to make his choice.

Pause.

“……”

…Suddenly a new option appeared, and he had to stop in his tracks.

Though wrapped in a bundle, Ihan was using a deserted path because he had something (or someone) that would attract attention.

But directly opposite him was a man staring at him.

None other than.

“We see each other often? Not pleased at all.”

“The feeling is mutual.”

Lac de Duron.

A knight of Galahad with a name that Ihan, who strangely had poor memory, remembered perfectly after hearing it just once, was blocking his path.

As if he had been waiting for him to come this way.

“…I don’t have time for you. I’m busy too.”

However, Ihan showed an unhindered gait, not caring whether the man was there or not, and as he tried to ignore him and pass by,

“‘Galahad’s Safe House’ is nearby.”

“……”

“You look like you need rest. Our safe house would be suitable. It even has a medicinal hot spring.”

“Ahem….”

The man was acting uncharacteristically cunning, and Ihan swallowed hard.

He desperately needed rest, and the mention of a hot spring greatly tempted him.

Whether the man knew it or not, one of his hobbies was hot springs.

And the man added another blow.

“Additionally, we have high-quality milk and ice cream.”

“Come on, how old do you think I am to fall for that? It’s ridiculous….”

Ihan found it amusing that the man seemed to be boasting about the final benefit.

Of course, he knew that high-quality milk and ice cream in this world cost astronomical prices, and that their taste was incredibly rich and good for health, but even so, he wasn’t a child who would fall for such an offer.

Thinking this man wasn’t particularly eloquent either, Ihan…

“What are you waiting for? Lead the way.”

“……”

“What?”

…He certainly hadn’t fallen for the hot spring or high-quality ice cream.

He just felt less guilty exploiting a wealthy person than begging from his young disciples.

So there was nothing to feel guilty about-

“Wipe your drool, you rogue.”

“……”

…Well, in the code of the martial world, one should pretend not to see such things.