Ch.23Chapter 23 – The Spoon Murderer

I decided to keep my head turned away from those priests.

In my case, there’s absolutely nothing good about getting involved with the Emiris Order right now.

“Bring us some alcohol, alcohol!”

“Let’s see if this place is any good!”

With those words, the men began chattering and snickering as if they were having the time of their lives.

I wonder why they feel the need to speak so loudly.

“…They have no class whatsoever.”

Eve finally spoke with disgust, apparently bothered by the noise.

“Let’s ignore them.”

“Absolutely.”

I tried to ignore them and continue my meal with Eve, but things didn’t go as planned.

“What? It’s taking too long? Can’t you just make mine first?”

“Hey, server, you’re pretty cute. Why don’t you come over here?”

They started making ridiculous demands.

Those priest robes seem to be purely decorative.

“I chose this restaurant thinking people like that wouldn’t be here, but I guess such people can turn up anywhere.”

Eve grumbled, clearly quite annoyed.

“You haven’t seen this before, I take it.”

“No. We went to another restaurant first, but you seemed uncomfortable, so I downgraded by two levels.”

The rich really are different.

She considered my comfort and chose a place two levels below her usual standard.

However, Eve’s excellent choice was ruined by those thugs.

“Hey, how about that table?”

“Ah, not really.”

“That one?”

“That one’s not great either.”

“The quality here is terrible!”

Now the two thugs were evaluating the surrounding tables.

Seeing women seated at each table, I could guess what they were really evaluating.

“So anyway, that stupid bitch.”

“Oh, the one preaching about that weird god? The one who got dirt on her clothes?”

“She turned pale and started babbling about laundry, but why should I listen to that?”

“What did you do?”

“I kicked her and asked how she could compare her pathetic deity to our god, and she couldn’t say a word!”

They were loudly boasting about bullying someone as if it were something to be proud of.

They continued their loud conversation, completely disregarding how uncomfortable they were making everyone around them. Unable to bear it any longer, someone who appeared to be the restaurant owner approached them.

He was a slightly balding man who approached the two thugs with a respectful attitude.

“Sir, you’re disturbing the other customers, so please…”

“Huh?”

One of the thugs glared at the restaurant owner with displeasure.

They must have been drinking heavily, as their faces were visibly red even from a distance.

“I’m really seeing all sorts of unpleasant things today.”

Eve lamented.

“I should have chosen a different place.”

“It’s not your fault.”

Of course, it wasn’t Eve’s fault.

After all, she had chosen this restaurant with my comfort in mind.

Who could have predicted such troublemakers would be here?

I tried to comfort Eve, but her patience seemed to have already reached its limit.

“I think we should quietly leave.”

“Shall we?”

I didn’t want to keep those guys in my sight either.

I nodded to Eve and put on my helmet.

Just as I was fastening the lock…

-BOOM!

As if by some cruel joke, a person came flying onto our table.

Looking at his face, I realized it was the restaurant owner.

“Ugh…”

“Are you alright?”

Eve quickly checked on the restaurant owner’s condition.

Then, I heard the voices of the thugs.

“How dare you talk back to a priest who serves the great Emiris, you mere merchant?”

“To us, who have devoted everything to the great deity with such purity?”

The dictionary definition of “purity” seemed to be losing its meaning.

That word certainly didn’t suit those guys.

I observed the thugs with just my eyes.

‘There’s something strange about their eyes.’

With hazy eyes, they were slowly approaching us.

Their shoulders were twitching as if something was bothering them.

And there was a small light enveloping the two of them.

‘I’ve seen this light before.’

Searching my memory, I quickly recalled it.

‘…The holy knight’s sword.’

It was the light I had seen from the holy knight’s sword when I escaped.

The light that emanated from the sword when the holy knight fought me.

And I remembered how the holy knight became stronger when he drew that sword.

‘Perhaps it’s something that enhances the body?’

While I was analyzing that light…

“…Using magic inside a restaurant, of all places…”

Eve had helped the restaurant owner sit up.

The thugs didn’t seem to hear Eve’s words as they approached us.

“What’s this? Not barking confidently like before, huh?”

Of course, the restaurant owner had only politely cautioned them.

The ones who were barking were these thug priests.

They seemed about to lay hands on the restaurant owner when one of the thugs suddenly looked at Eve’s face.

“Hey, she’s quite a beauty.”

The other thug also turned his gaze from the restaurant owner to Eve.

“Wow, she’s top-tier.”

“Hey, miss. What’s your name?”

The thugs naturally reached out toward Eve.

Eve, clearly disgusted, swatted their hands away.

“How rude.”

The thug seemed surprised that Eve had rejected his advance, staring at his hand for a moment.

Soon, his face contorted with anger as he shouted.

“How dare you reject me?!”

They reached out again, trying to grab Eve.

I grabbed their arms before they could reach her.

The hands that were reaching for Eve froze in mid-air.

“Huh? Who are you?”

“A helmet? Who’s this creepy guy?!”

Angered, the thug tried to swing his captured arm.

I gripped it tightly.

I could feel the arm moving inside my grip.

But that was it.

When he realized his arm barely moved, the thug seemed to understand something was wrong.

“Hey, let go right now!”

Even as he said this, he was desperately trying to shake off my hand.

‘Should I apply a bit more pressure?’

I gathered strength in my grip.

“Ow! What the hell?”

One thug’s expression twisted in shock.

Only then did the other one seem to realize things were taking an unexpected turn.

“Hey, you! Let go right now!”

He tried to pry my hand off with his other hand.

It’s only natural to let go when someone asks, right?

So I lifted him up and slammed him to the ground.

“Guhk!”

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

The other one demanded.

“You asked me to let go, so I did.”

I spread my arms and shrugged.

His already red face from the alcohol turned even redder.

“Are you insane?!”

He threw a punch at me, but I simply caught his arm, pulled him in, and slammed him on top of his friend who was trying to get up.

“Argh!”

They made a strange sound as they piled on top of each other.

But they didn’t give up, and I saw them both getting back on their feet.

“Damn it, what is this?!”

“How are we losing in strength even with magic?!”

Come to think of it, that holy knight had become stronger than me, but these guys didn’t.

Perhaps the effectiveness of that strange technique also depends on one’s basic physical abilities.

While I was calmly analyzing this, they suddenly picked up chairs.

“Take this!”

A chair came flying at me.

I was about to simply dodge it when I looked behind me.

‘I thought I could dodge, but…’

Eve was helping the restaurant owner stand up.

Since the owner hadn’t regained his senses yet, she had his arm over her shoulder.

If I dodged now, those two might get hit.

I reached out and caught the flying chair, then gently placed it on the ground.

“Come, let’s get out of the way quickly.”

“Oh my, thank you.”

After speaking calmly, Eve took the restaurant owner and retreated behind me.

Her every movement was unhurried.

“Ah, Kei.”

“Yes?”

“Just don’t kill them.”

I nodded.

No need to spill blood here.

Meanwhile, the thugs, realizing their chair attack had failed, now picked up a table.

“Do you think we’re pushovers?!”

As if trying to prove they weren’t just showing off with their magic, they easily threw the large table.

But Eve had already moved out of the way.

‘I have no reason to just stand here and take hits.’

As I easily dodged the table, I noticed them pulling out what looked like daggers from their clothes.

‘They’re looking for weapons since nothing else is working.’

I had both a sword and a dagger at my waist, but I wondered if I really needed to draw them. Then I noticed something shining on the floor.

I kicked it lightly into the air and caught it.

“Are you kidding me! What are you going to do with a spoon?!”

I dodged their stabbing attack and looked at what was in my hand.

It really was a spoon.

‘…I was expecting a knife or something.’

Perhaps because it made me look quite pathetic, the thugs charged at me with renewed confidence.

“You idiot, just die!”

Should I just throw this?

While dodging and thinking, I kicked away the arm of the one trying to slash me, making him drop his dagger, and then grabbed him by the collar.

“This… let go!”

Naturally, the guy who was now dangling in the air started to resist.

“Hey.”

“I said let go!”

No one lets go just because they’re told to.

I shook him once to disorient him, then spoke quietly.

Suddenly, a term popped into my mind.

“Have you ever heard of the Spoon Killer?”

The thug’s movements stopped.

He didn’t seem to understand what I meant.

Seeing his confused expression, I nodded.

“I guess not.”

I jabbed the end of the spoon against his forehead repeatedly.

After several jabs, the thug screamed in pain and went limp.

I hit his cheek hard with the spoon, sending him flying.

“Gah!!”

Of course, it’s just a spoon.

Getting hit with it won’t kill you.

The guy who was hit with the spoon grabbed his head and writhed in pain.

“It… hurts…”

“Does it hurt?”

I grabbed the head of the guy who was in pain and lifted it up.

“Then you’re still young.”

I slammed him hard onto the ground.

I immediately stood up, kicked him in the stomach to send him flying, and pointed the spoon at the remaining thug priest.

“Ah, this is a bit bent.”

I must have hit too hard, as the spoon was slightly bent.

The remaining thug priest, who probably never imagined his companion would be beaten with a spoon, pointed his dagger at me while backing away.

“You… bastard…”

I approached him while pointing the spoon at him.

“It’s just a spoon, what are you so afraid of?”

“Stay back!”

I couldn’t help but laugh seeing him fear a spoon.

“Is your body made of butter? You’re afraid of a spoon.”

The priest was so terrified of the slightly bent spoon in my hand that he stumbled and fell while backing away.

“So, do you know what the Spoon Killer is?”

There was no answer.

“I guess not. Butter.”

I quickly reached out and grabbed him by the collar, lifting him up.

The thug priest naturally resisted.

“Let go! Let go!”

“Just stay still.”

“What the hell is that freezing Spoon Killer anyway?!”

I paused at Butter’s words.

I should probably tell him the truth now.

“I don’t know either.”

I had just blurted out a phrase that suddenly came to me from my fragmented memories.

My answer seemed so absurd that Butter’s resistance stopped.

I jabbed his forehead with the spoon.

+

The spoon was completely bent.

“…I guess I got a bit carried away.”

It seemed like I had just said whatever came to mind while beating them up in a moment of excitement.

I should exercise more restraint next time.

Since it felt awkward to keep holding the bent spoon, I gently placed it on top of the priests who were sprawled on the floor, bleeding from their foreheads. Eve approached me.

“How is the restaurant owner?”

“He has some bruises, but he seems fine.”

After saying that, Eve looked at the spoon placed on top of the priests and spoke with amazement.

“So even a spoon becomes a weapon in your hands, Kei?”

“I wonder.”

Eve started to chuckle.

There was no reason to stay here any longer, so Eve paid for our meal at the counter.

“By the way, did you call the guards?”

“Yes. They should be here soon.”

“Then they can get compensation from those people.”

Eve pointed at the priests lying with the spoon on top of them, and the employee nodded.

“Excuse me, but the guards might want to find you…”

“I have work to do, so I need to go.”

Saying she had done her part for the day.

Apparently not wanting to deal with the hassle either, Eve took out her identification from her pocket.

“If there’s any issue, tell them to come to the Lavencha Trading Company.”

“Understood.”

As we opened the door and went outside, we saw guards rushing from one side.

“They’re quick. No, since the incident is already over, are they slow?”

“Given that you beat those people with a spoon, they’re actually quite fast in responding.”

True, not much time had passed since the priests got beaten up.

As we were heading back to the Lavencha Trading Company, Eve started laughing to herself.

“Something amusing?”

“There was indeed.”

Eve looked at me while laughing.

“You’re really entertaining, Kei.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

I don’t know what’s so amusing.

After that, we walked in silence for a few more minutes until the main branch of the Lavencha Trading Company came into view.

We entered the store, and I received the payment for the troll blood I had sold from Eve.

Just as I was about to turn around after quietly completing my business…

Eve suddenly looked at me.

“Kei.”

“Yes.”

She seemed to hesitate for a moment, which was unlike her.

But it didn’t last long.

“Take care on your journey.”

“I will.”

“And look after your health.”

“Of course.”

With those words, Eve returned to her room.

I also turned and left the store.

I thought that I should drop by occasionally, at least to say hello.

That small thought crossed my mind.

+

“So he’s nowhere to be found in the country.”

The platinum-haired man said.

His empty-looking gray eyes gazed at the people around him.

“We’ve searched thoroughly, but if he’s not found, he might already be dead…”

“Don’t joke.”

The man cut off those words simply.

“You all know what kind of test subjects they are.”

“However…”

“If they could die so easily, they wouldn’t have been summoned in the first place.”

The man spoke as if talking to himself.

“It would be troublesome if they died so easily.”

The surroundings fell silent for a moment.

One man addressed him with respect.

“…If I may be so bold, since he’s no longer in the Holy Kingdom, we must assume he successfully fled abroad.”

The man listened quietly to his words.

“There have been cases of inquisitors being killed after the border was sealed, and one of those cases might be the work of that test subject.”

“Any tracking?”

“We’ve deployed everyone.”

The man paused briefly before adding another word.

“However, contact with the Kingdom of Mikea has been lost.”

Is it the test subject’s doing? The platinum-haired man fell into thought for a moment.

It seemed it would take time to gather information about the escaped test subject.

The man soon organized his thoughts.

“Continue tracking the escaped test subject. If capture is difficult, he must be eliminated.”

“Yes.”

“Send trackers to the Kingdom of Mikea again.”

The man who had been showing respect earlier spoke up.

“Should we increase the personnel to handle the girl’s case as well?”

“Do so.”

Monotonous voices echoed, and the men rose from their seats.

Shortly after, they emerged into a lavish corridor somewhere and began walking.

That day was an important event for the Holy Kingdom of Traigiana.

The men, finding their places, looked down at those lined up in the parade ground, which was elaborately decorated.

They were all wearing red armor.

Their faces were also covered with red helmets.

Their builds varied.

At a glance, some looked like boys, others like women.

There were 28 in total.

“You’ve finally arrived, hero of the Holy Kingdom.”

“I was a bit late due to the meeting, Regent.”

When the regent of the Holy Kingdom of Traigiana greeted him, the platinum-haired man returned the greeting lightly.

The Holy Kingdom recognizes the god Emiris as its king.

That’s why it’s called the Holy Kingdom (神王國).

The regent is merely someone who governs on behalf of the deity.

Of course, in terms of other countries, his position is equivalent to that of a king, but even that was determined by the order long ago.

It has continued because it was a hereditary system.

Still, the regent is the one who represents at such occasions.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, new holy knights of the Holy Kingdom!”

The regent soon stepped forward and began his speech.

The 28 red-armored figures stood motionless.

At a glance, they looked like machines.

No, they were no different from machines.

They were test subjects like No. 13.

Watching them, the platinum-haired man recalled something he had heard before.

‘They say the one who escaped was originally supposed to be the commander.’

He was supposedly the most outstanding test subject.

If he hadn’t suddenly broken free from the brainwashing and escaped, he would probably be standing there blankly, listening to the regent’s flowery rhetoric.

On the other hand, he wondered if giving such positions to those guys had any meaning.

They’re just expendable tools that move according to orders.

They’re imitations modeled after mythical beings.

‘Heroes, huh.’

The platinum-haired man recalled those mythical beings.

Beings who appeared when the world was in chaos, wielding terrifying power alone to restore order.

In the historical materials he had been collecting, there were descriptions like these:

They were summoned from another world.

In crisis situations, they suddenly exert several times their normal strength.

They could handle any weapon with ease.

No matter how injured they were, they recovered enough to fight again.

For awakening…

There were many parts that were lost or not properly decoded, but these phrases always appeared.

“…therefore, I hereby announce the establishment of the Red Holy Knight Order!”

What’s so good about it?

The platinum-haired man briefly interrupted his thoughts at the regent’s words.

The 28 test subjects seemed to have learned something beforehand, as they were seen performing the holy knight salute.

Their movements were impressively synchronized, without the slightest deviation.

“So they’re just imitations of mythical beings after all.”

He thought it might be more interesting to track the one who had regained his senses and escaped, rather than watching the antics of such imitations.

Turning his attention away from the machine-like imitations, the man turned around.

On this day, the Holy Kingdom of Traigiana widely announced the establishment of a new holy knight order called the Red Holy Knight Order.

It consisted of 28 members.

As knights who had even abandoned their names for their faith.

As warriors who had undergone harsh and rigorous training, their name became known far and wide.

Of course, the fact that they had all been summoned from another world was never revealed.