Ch.247EP.55 – The Knight Do Not Speak Falsehoods (3)

A tremendous explosion roared.

People whose ears were already numb from Ihan’s lion-like roar had to cover their ears again in pain as another massive explosion, like a grenade detonating, struck them.

That’s how intense the sudden blast was.

“Keuugh?!”

“Kuhek…!”

Some half-demons who didn’t know their place were waiting for the right moment to pounce on Ihan when they were exposed to the pressure from his blazing fist. Their bodies bounced away like marbles, suffering severe internal injuries.

KWAAANG!!

The fact that it sent upper knight-level fighters flying just for being nearby meant that anyone directly hit by that strike would likely have their body pulverized.

This wasn’t just a simple punch, but rather something with the power of dozens of dynamite sticks bundled together.

Absolutely terrifying.

And yet…

Whoosh!

“How frightening. How did you know? My concealment was perfect.”

The fact that someone withstood the blow meant they were no pushover either.

“!!?”

People were shocked.

They were already startled when Ihan suddenly threw a punch, but now a woman appeared from the wall destroyed by that blow.

“M-Master’s Hundred-Step Divine Fist was blocked?”

They couldn’t hide their astonishment that someone had withstood the Hundred-Step Divine Fist.

However, the opponent merely dusted off her wrist, unconcerned with Levi Jeanne d’Arc’s group’s surprise.

“My wrist hurts, it really hurts. What brutal power. How much force did you compress into that…?”

Whoosh!

“!!?”

The woman who had been smiling, seemingly attempting conversation, had to be startled.

Because Ihan was already clenching his fist again, as if there was no value in attempting dialogue with her.

Crack!

“I don’t talk with terrorists.”

What’s the point of talking with these lunatics anyway?

WHOOOOSH!

Suddenly, wind gathered around Ihan.

Though he had merely clenched his fist, a vortex formed around him, creating a small typhoon. The ominous energy emanating from him suggested that the previous display of power was merely a greeting.

And then…

KWAAAANG!

-An entire forest disappeared.

* * *

“……”

Pitter-patter…

Ihan stared impassively at the devastated forest, but inwardly he was surprised.

‘What? Why is the Hundred-Step Divine Fist like this? I didn’t use my full power.’

Ihan had clearly used only half his usual power for the Hundred-Step Divine Fist.

But strangely, the current power of the Hundred-Step Divine Fist was similar to when he used it with layered horse stance, despite his intention to hold back.

The fact that it displayed such power even when he restrained himself meant…

‘This image training, is it working?’

…And quite effectively at that.

Come to think of it, this was his first real combat or sparring with someone other than the Sword Master since he began mental training.

No, it hadn’t even been a month since his last battle, yet he’d improved this much. It felt both awkward and refreshing.

Well, well.

“Am I still in my growth period?”

“……”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“…It’s just too absurd.”

“People can joke around. No need to be so dumbfounded.”

“I’m not dumbfounded because of the joke, but because I genuinely wonder if you might actually be in a growth period.”

“??”

“What’s your secret? Are you actually from a mystical race?”

“I’m a pure-blooded human though?”

“……”

“Why are you doubting me?”

It was the little wolf giving him an irreverent look, and Ihan found it ridiculous that he was taking his joke so seriously.

But there was nothing he could do about it…

“How can I consider someone who erases forests with his fists a human?”

Technically, it was the Hundred-Step Divine Fist that caused the devastation, but Ihan just shrugged without adding anything.

Even if he could throw such punches…

‘There are plenty of monsters who can block them anyway.’

He knew there were monsters in this world who could withstand even his full power.

…Like now.

Slash!

The woman, spitting blood and cutting through the dust storm, was struggling to get up.

“…Wow, you’re really too much. If I hadn’t blocked it, I would have died right there.”

“Tch!”

“Hmm, I survived by sacrificing three fingers, so I guess that’s relatively cheap? Hehe.”

“……”

“Aren’t you going to attack again?”

“…It seems you wouldn’t die even if I did.”

“Oh? Your observation skills are quite sharp?”

“……”

He wondered why she ended with a question mark when stating he was sharp, but Ihan didn’t pay much attention and just narrowed his eyes at the opponent who was still alive.

Though she looked like she might die at any moment, Ihan felt it was just a deceptive tactic.

After all…

‘She’s using an unusual technique?’

Even if others couldn’t see it, Ihan had observed what technique the opponent used.

‘The Hundred-Step Divine Fist was blocked midway, or was it split? What’s that blood-red glow…?’

“-Blood thorns.”

“…Bear cub?”

“In-Instructor, if I’m not mistaken, that woman….”

“…You saw it?”

“J-Just a glimpse.”

Now he realized there wasn’t just one witness, but two.

It was Levi’s comment, and Ihan nodded with satisfaction, though it didn’t quite fit the situation.

‘She’s growing well.’

It’s always gratifying when a disciple shows flashes of talent in any situation…

“Good observation. I’ll reward you at the shop later.”

“Th-Thank you.”

“Lady Levi?”

“Oh, it’s nothing special, but I saw it. That woman’s blood….”

Swoosh!

Ihan’s scabbard moved quickly, striking a “bullet” that was flying toward Levi.

He hit it with the force of a grand slam home run, sending the bullet right back at the woman.

BANG-!

“You blocked it like that?”

The woman caught the bullet that had returned to her and widened her eyes in surprise.

Not only was her attack blocked, but it was shot right back at her, and her hand hurt from stopping it.

“You really are scary. It wasn’t just luck that you’ve been ruining all our plans.”

The woman let out a hollow laugh.

She had intended to just check him out casually, but this encounter was turning out to be anything but casual.

“Blood? No… Bone?”

Perhaps because he had seen the opponent’s attack this time, Arno de Ophen realized what the projectile was and his face hardened.

An attack using blood and bone.

It wasn’t a human attack method, and thanks to his experience reading numerous historical texts due to his father’s profession, Arno succeeded in deducing the opponent’s identity.

“A noble race originating from dragon’s blood, but cursed by the gods for their arrogance to be hated by light, immortal yet not immortal, blood-drinking humans similar to monsters…”

Vampires, or…

“Hmm, rather than that name, would you call me ‘Blood Nobility’? I prefer that.”

– The mystical race of vampires.

According to documents, they were a dangerous race said to have slaughtered an entire country’s army in less than half a day.

* * *

Swoosh!

The blood that had risen from the woman’s body gathered back around her as if reversing time.

It happened quickly, and the woman’s body was completely healed as if she had never been injured.

However…

“Ah, my fingers aren’t regenerating.”

The fingers that had been completely obliterated by the Hundred-Step Divine Fist couldn’t be restored, and it seemed that even vampires couldn’t regenerate something that had been completely annihilated, judging by her grumpy expression.

“Tsk, it’ll take at least four days to regenerate. Or maybe I need to have more ‘meals’.”

Muttering to herself, she acted like an actress on stage.

Her actions and tone were exaggerated, and her expressions were intense as if to draw attention.

Whether she was born that way or deliberately acting like that was unclear, but it wasn’t a major concern.

People were still shocked after hearing her identity.

“V-Vampire? That’s something from legends, isn’t it?”

“It’s hard for me to believe too, but in this continent, only vampires are capable of such abilities.”

“That’s…”

Levi’s face turned pale, and it was understandable to be afraid.

Whether in fairy tales or history books, the danger of this race was well-known.

If she truly possessed all the abilities described in legends, she was undoubtedly a dangerous creature.

It was beyond the capabilities of mere fledglings like them to face her, and trembling with fear was only natural for any living being with survival instincts.

Sure enough…

“Hmm, should I get some revenge for my lost fingers?”

Squelch!

With a playful remark, a stream of blood spurted from the woman’s side.

She had stabbed a dagger into her side to forcibly draw blood, and while it seemed like she had a death wish, the flowing blood…

Wriggle, wriggle…!

Moved like a living organism, and as bone fragments mixed with the droplets of blood, it truly seemed like witnessing the birth of a living creature.

<Red Ant Legion> born from the gathering of blood droplets and bone fragments.

Such a name came to mind naturally.

“How about it, shall we have a match?”

The woman smiled as if saying it would be fine to throw another blow at her, and Ihan wiggled his fingers as if contemplating whether to draw his sword.

Then, soon after…

“…You’re still quick to run away, bastard.”

He spat out a contemptuous criticism.

“Huh?”

“What match? Your real body has already fled.”

“……”

For the first time, the smile disappeared from the woman’s face.

“You still don’t know how to be serious, treating the world like a joke, you damn mosquito.”

“…Do we know each other?”

“I didn’t recognize you at first either. But now I get it. Why are you a woman now? Did you finally find your gender identity?”

“……”

“Congratulations, you piece of trash.”

“…Who are you? I don’t remember any rough-looking girls among those I liked.”

She gave Ihan a sharp look for the first time as he saw through her methods, but Ihan had no intention of talking.

Whoosh!

“I’ve never received affection from someone as disgusting as you either.”

Ihan’s foot suddenly kicked a spear that had been lying on the ground, and the kicked spear pierced through the Red Ant Legion and through the woman’s head.

Gwanilchang.

It was the moment when the spear, with the determination to pierce even the sun, shattered the cowardly monster’s avatar.

* * *

“……”

Ihan looked at the dying ghost’s avatar with a grim expression.

So even that evil spirit has appeared in the world, he thought.

‘Why couldn’t it just die? Why is it still alive?’

It was rare for Ihan to show such unrestrained hatred, and people cautiously observed his mood in the tense atmosphere.

“…Don’t worry. I’m not angry at you.”

“Instructor…”

“I’ll tell you about that evil bastard later, but for now.”

Thud.

“I need to have a parent-teacher conference first.”

“…I’m sorry.”

“What do you have to be sorry about? It’s all…”

Because the adults are incompetent.

Yes, in every era, it’s the incompetent adults who make children suffer.

Even embarrassing other adults.

*

*

*

“…Blech, ah, maybe I shouldn’t have left an avatar behind?”

The woman spat out blood.

Some might wonder why a vampire would spit out blood, but what she expelled was dead blood.

“What is this? What kind of attack affects me like this?”

Though only her avatar was hit, the impact was fully transferred to her.

The woman, Hensel, smiled as she recalled the knight who had inflicted such damage on a vampire who was nearly immortal.

“I just thought I’d casually check him out, but he turned out to be a more interesting knight than expected. Hmm, the First Apostle would find this amusing.”

An unexpected gain.

She thought today’s big catch would be from the Ophen family, but now…

“…Next time, I should seriously consider killing him.”

Hadn’t she discovered an even more interesting and appetizing prey?

The descendant of vampires, once called disaster-level monsters alongside the Demon King, smiled and her eyes gleamed.

Eyes tinged with bloodlust.

As if genuinely looking forward to their next meeting-.