Ch.220EP.49 – The Most Dangerous Creature in the World…(7)

BOOM!

…Had I hit it thousands of times already?

WHOOSH!

Anyone who’s ever punched a sandbag knows that hitting an object is a more difficult and exhausting process than one might think.

For the first ten hits or so, you might think, “Huh? This isn’t so bad,” feeling confident and wondering if you might have a talent for it. But after a few dozen more repetitions, you’ll find yourself whining, “This really hurts and it’s too hard,” as you clutch your painful fist and aching elbow.

The act of hitting something is this exhausting, and if the object you’re hitting is a massive creature that moves dynamically, it becomes even more difficult.

That’s why during their first sparring session, people often declare with their soul drained, “…I don’t want to learn boxing (or combat in general),” giving up entirely.

And so, they too…

“Huff, huff…”

“……”

“…This is tiring.”

…were being tested to their limits while fighting a type of monster they had never faced before.

A full 98 minutes. In two more minutes, they would reach 100 minutes of prolonged combat. Everyone was so exhausted that they were reminded not just of their first sparring match, but their entire lives flashed before their eyes.

It felt less like a battle and more like a war. Or like performing precarious construction work without rest at the 90th floor of a skyscraper that only had its frame barely built.

If they had been ordinary knights, they would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago. But by coincidence, these three knights were half beyond human—what a certain status window boy would call [Lv.8 Hero Class] knights.

With stamina like desert camels, they endured this limit-testing battle to the end, and finally…

[…K……E……]

They succeeded in bringing down the monster.

The body of the hell beast gradually dissolved, scattering like sand.

True to its name, it was returning to the world of the dead—hell or the netherworld.

[Congratulations, you’ve just accomplished a heroic feat that will go down in history. Impressive.]

The hollow-eyed one didn’t hold back his praise.

Had the hell beast they just defeated somehow escaped outside, it would have caused tremendous casualties.

It would have taken an entire army to barely defeat such a monster, yet they had vanquished it with just three people—truly a remarkable achievement.

They were excellent, and the gatekeeper who had guarded the Grand Temple’s holy relics for many years nodded deeply, not sparing his praise.

[In that sense, it’s rather unfortunate. Such achievements should normally be known to the world, but no one will know about this…]

For knights, fame and honor are more valuable than any treasure.

However, unfortunately, they couldn’t make this valuable achievement known to the world.

After all, they couldn’t reveal that they had infiltrated the Grand Temple.

What honorable knight could possibly admit they had entered to steal holy relics?

Therefore, the feat of their fierce battle and repulsion of the hell beast—which could have been a great calamity for the human world—must neither be revealed nor can it be told.

Literally a conclusion with nothing but wounds.

…However.

“Haha, honor is something one only needs to hold for oneself.”

“How can honor bestowed by the world be true honor? It’s enough if I myself am proud.”

“Hollow-eyes, you’re quite worldly, aren’t you? Or are you an attention-seeker?”

[……]

Following their remarks, the hollow-eyed one was momentarily at a loss for words.

[…You’re refreshing fellows.]

The knights he knew weren’t like this.

Knights were a breed that clung to honor and fame, desperately trying to become known.

So those who treated honor like a mere pebble were “rare.”

[…It’s been a while since the first knights…]

The first knights.

Hundreds of years ago, in what was called the barbaric age, people united solely under the ideology of wanting to help the good but powerless common folk.

In that era, “knight” was merely one of many titles for nobles, but these heroes called themselves “knights” without being appointed by anyone, and helped the powerless and poor people.

Later known as <The Knight King and the Knights of the Round Table>, they were the “first knights” recognized by the gatekeeper and fairies.

Other so-called knights of that era?

…They were worse than bandits.

They were the ones who spread the ideology of helping others, and thanks to that ideology, Pendragon became known as the kingdom of knights, and countless knights began to respect that ideology and help people.

So while the hollow-eyed one was immersed in nostalgia, recalling memories of the past…

[Is this a harbinger of doom?]

He smiled bitterly.

Because it seemed that harsh trials would continue to befall the human world.

Three heroes appearing at once, and various evil creatures including netherworld beasts emerging into the world—a flow of chaos.

Perhaps a crisis was approaching the world, just like in the era when the Knight King was active.

[This is why the emergence of heroes isn’t always something to celebrate.]

Because inevitably, trials that humans can barely handle are approaching.

So the hollow-eyed one…

Pat, pat.

“…What’s this all of a sudden?”

[Nothing, just. Hang in there.]

“??”

Simply patted the knight’s shoulder with his wing, offering encouragement that wasn’t quite encouragement.

* * *

The end of the hell beast raid.

While this was a welcome achievement that brought a great sense of accomplishment, it also meant one unfortunate thing, namely…

Swish.

“…This is too much, really. Doing this as soon as the fight ends?”

“You should stop fidgeting your fingers. It’s extremely annoying.”

“Oh, was it, was it that obvious?”

“Very much so.”

“……”

It meant the end of their alliance, and they immediately entered a standoff.

Lac pointed his spear again, and Daina broke into a cold sweat.

She had seen how fast Lac’s spear was, and knew that despite his depleted stamina, he could easily pierce her throat.

“Hmm.”

“……”

With the two in a standoff, Maximus and Yan had no choice but to face off as well, but Maximus frowned as he looked at Yan.

“…Of all opponents, a shaman. I don’t want to be cursed.”

“You may kill me. However, the ‘price’ won’t be small.”

“…Well, this is troublesome.”

If Maximus wanted to, killing Yan would be easier than breaking a brittle twig.

But even a brittle twig becomes a different matter if it’s coated with a deadly, flesh-melting poison.

And the poison that a shaman like Yan carried would be even more fatal to a knight.

The danger of a shaman that made even the northern champion, who feared not even death, click his tongue.

A standoff between four people.

However, if Lac and Maximus made up their minds, it was already determined that those two wouldn’t see tomorrow’s sunrise, and the two were resolved not to go down without a fight when…

“-I’m curious about something. Why do you keep calling me a traitor?”

A carefree question broke the tension.

“…You want to ask that in this situation?”

Daina asked incredulously, but Ihan shrugged.

“If you die, there won’t be anyone left to ask. So I need to ask now.”

“…You say some brutal things, No. 8.”

“I told you, it’s Ihan.”

“……”

Daina was silent for a moment, rolling her eyes as if observing her surroundings. She seemed to be contemplating something.

With a visibly complex expression, she soon seemed to have made a decision…

“I have nothing to say to you…-“

“-No. 8, why did you kill No. 9 and No. 10?”

“Yan!?”

Yan opened the conversation, cutting off Daina who was about to refuse, and Ihan shifted his gaze to Yan as if changing targets.

“Why I killed them?”

“Yes, during your first mission as team leader, you abandoned the mission midway and killed No. 9 and No. 10. Afterward, you escaped from the organization… If you’re not a traitor, who is?”

“……”

“Moreover, you must have heard that the organization was relocating its headquarters, but you…”

Swish.

“……”

Suddenly Ihan gestured for him to stop talking, and Yan unconsciously closed his mouth.

Though it was just a gesture, he felt strong pressure, and Yan swallowed dryly.

While he was tense, wondering if Ihan might kill him out of displeasure…

“I’m a bit dumbfounded right now, so let me make an explanation that’s not really an explanation. First, I’ve never betrayed anyone. If anything, I was the one who was backstabbed first.”

“…What?”

“During my first mission, No. 9 and No. 10 suddenly tried to kill me by hitting me from behind. So I fought back because I needed to survive.”

“??”

“And relocating headquarters? What nonsense is that? I never heard about it.”

“……”

“I thought the organization had collapsed. I thought you were all dead too.”

“……”

“You might think I’m lying. If so, that can’t be helped.”

Ihan crossed his arms as if he had said all he needed to say.

As if saying, I’ve said my piece, now it’s up to you to judge.

And Yan stared at Ihan’s face for a long time.

As if trying to determine whether his words were true or false.

Yan stared at Ihan for a long time, and at some point, light gathered in Yan’s eyes.

Swish!

Maximus hurriedly raised his battle axe, but it proved unnecessary as…

“…I surrender.”

“Yan?”

…An unexpected declaration came from his mouth.

Yan, still with clear light in his eyes, said to Daina:

“Daina. If the Black Moon has abandoned us, then the ‘oath’ is gone too. Since they betrayed us first, it’s better to surrender to a ‘friend.’ We need to save our lives.”

“……”

“No. 8 wasn’t lying. I swear on a shaman’s soul.”

“…You fool, there’s no guarantee they’ll spare us.”

“Hehe, at least I promise I’ll save you.”

“…Sigh.”

Thud.

After Yan’s continued persuasion, Daina sat down and raised both hands, and everyone knew this was a sign of surrender.

The end of the battle.

* * *

“Haha! Indeed, our northern shaman is quite capable! Brother, following you has brought me luck! Ahaha!”

“Stop calling me brother…”

Maximus laughed heartily, his face beaming with joy.

He had captured an enemy officer as a prisoner.

Someone who clearly had more information than the No. 4 they had captured the day before.

It was like getting a handful of clues to catch the Blood Cross Army or whatever that Blood Cult knockoff was called, so Maximus couldn’t help but be pleased.

And he wasn’t the only one happy.

“Don’t even dream of taking them to the North.”

Even Lac de Duron, that annoying spearman, was unusually unable to hide his satisfaction.

However, while they were happy, it was still undecided who would take the prisoners.

In a way, the knights’ alliance had ended, and a dispute was about to begin.

[Knights, as always.]

“So, are you satisfied, hollow-eyes?”

However, Ihan and the hollow-eyed one weren’t concerned with the finished business but were settling accounts.

[Somewhat. No, to be honest, you were excellent.]

Initially, the gatekeeper had made him an offer.

To get rid of the villains who had infiltrated the holy repository.

In return, he would give him what he wanted.

And the gatekeeper…

[This is a gift.]

Thunk.

Dropped a ring as if promising to keep his word.

Clack.

Ihan caught the ring and showed interest.

“This is…”

Even at a glance, it was imbued with extraordinary power, emitting a sacred light, making anyone who saw it understand what it was.

A holy relic.

The legacy and remains said to have been left by saints.

It had come into Ihan’s hands.

[The moment this holy relic leaves, the holy repository will be sealed. For about three years? Even fairies won’t be able to enter this place.]

“Is that how it normally works?”

[Yes, automatically when a holy relic is removed. Well, this is what keeps the holy relics safe.]

“Hmm.”

Having achieved his original goal, Ihan now understood why Raphael had told him to steal a holy relic.

‘Just stealing it means the temple can no longer use the holy repository.’

As expected, that old man had a plan.

As Ihan admired this and fiddled with the holy relic, he somehow felt the relic fitting snugly in his hand.

Was it supposed to be like this?

[No, that’s attraction. It feels familiar to you because it’s the holy relic that best matches the wavelength of your soul.]

“Ah, what the old man mentioned…”

So this is what it was.

As expected of the old man…!

“But what’s the name of this holy relic?”

However, despite receiving the ring, he had no idea what this holy relic did.

Ihan sought an answer from the hollow-eyed one, who smiled as if it were nothing special.

[Nothing special, just a ‘fragment’ of the ‘Holy Grail.’]

“Hmm, Holy Grail, I see… Wait, what?”

…Is something wrong with my ears?

Ihan asked again, thinking his ears had deceived him, and the hollow-eyed one was still smiling innocently.

[You didn’t mishear. Keep it safe. If you collect all four fragments, including this one, it’s a treasure of treasures that can even grant wishes.]

“……”

…Unfortunately, the hollow-eyed one’s words didn’t properly register in Ihan’s ears.

It seemed he had…

‘Is this, is this the One Ring?’

Acquired a treasure he couldn’t handle.

Ihan wanted to return this treasure immediately and looked urgently at the hollow-eyed one, but…

Whoosh!

[Time’s up.]

As if timed perfectly, rays of light began to shine down and envelop Ihan and his companions, and Ihan had no chance to return the ring.

[Farewell, I wish you luck in your future life.]

Hearing the hollow-eyed one’s blessing, he was completely enveloped in light.

…Was it just his paranoia that the hollow-eyed one seemed to be looking at him with pity?

*

*

*

…Paranoia my ass!

“…Damn, did that hollow-eyed bastard curse me instead of wishing me luck?”

Ihan cursed the hollow-eyed one in frustration.

And for good reason.

—Whoosh!

…If you’re engulfed in flames the moment you come outside, wouldn’t you call it a curse rather than luck?

The Grand Temple was burning fiercely.