Ch.261EP.58 – A Knight Never Forgets a Grudge (4)

Before long, the twins were dozing off using Ihan as a cushion, while Ihan recalled all those he had destroyed with his own hands.

“Not even a cuckoo. Quite the mess they’ve left everywhere.”

The one Ihan was chasing was none other than Number 2.

Though he’s now called the 2nd Apostle or Hansel or whatever, the Number 2 that Ihan knew wasn’t some grand apostle but simply a hopeless pervert.

A guy who would lust after and try to pounce on anyone he felt affection for, whether male or female.

By the time they met again, he had completely transformed from a man into a woman, and if that potential criminal had changed into a woman, he was surely planning some new perverted act or crime.

However, Ihan wasn’t particularly concerned about whatever this vampire was trying to do.

Just…

‘If you throw the first punch, you should be prepared to get beaten up too.’

To be clear, Ihan disliked him.

Especially since he almost “fell victim” to him when he was younger…!

And now this detestable guy picked a fight first, hit him, and ran away?

This was no different than pointing a gun at someone’s head, demanding a fight to the death.

Ihan wasn’t magnanimous enough to forgive someone who pointed a gun at him, and if forgiveness was the virtue of a great man, he had no desire to become one.

So Ihan was wasting his precious winter break chasing after the guy, but…

“He thinks he’s Hong Gil-dong or something…”

Not just appearing east and west, but this guy’s traces were overflowing everywhere like a virus.

Even the ones Ihan had destroyed so far had the guy’s “traces” on them.

Thanks to that, he could destroy them without hesitation.

But.

“This approach isn’t going to work…”

He wanted to catch him before winter ended, but unfortunately, the reality was that there seemed to be no hope at present.

It would be nothing more than a drawn-out game of hide and seek.

“No. I can catch him.”

“That’s right.”

“…Are you done with your nap?”

“Oh, I’m not done.”

“Th-that’s right…”

“Wipe the drool from your mouth before you speak.”

“!!?”

The twins seemed to have woken up from his muttering and made meaningful remarks.

Well, no matter how meaningful these little ones tried to sound, they just looked completely harmless.

…My back is all damp.

“And I just put this on today…”

With a trivial grumble, Ihan looked at the twins rubbing their eyes.

They were still clearly drowsy, but having woken up, they showed firm determination not to fall back asleep.

“O-our drool isn’t dirty.”

“…It’s clean.”

“You talk well.”

“!!”

“Anyway, what do you mean I can catch him?”

If it had been ordinary children’s muttering, he wouldn’t have paid much attention, but these were confident mutterings from a mystical race.

It wasn’t something to be taken lightly, and sure enough.

“The rotting smell is lingering around.”

“Bad smell is stinky! But the worst smell is still nearby!”

“……”

“So you can catch him!”

“Catch him!”

“…?”

…He couldn’t understand a word they were saying.

Ihan was too much of a jaded adult to understand the language of pure children.

*

*

*

Slash!

The black trajectory of the blade sent the heads of five approaching goblins flying all at once.

They flew off so easily that others watching might get the mistaken impression that dealing with goblins was simple, but…

Stab!

“Argh!”

“P-please spare me!”

“You idiots! I told you not to rush at the goblins recklessly!!”

Mercenaries were being stabbed by spears or dragged away one after another.

Seeing them fall to goblins, which are classified as the weakest monsters in the world, despite being war veteran mercenaries, one might think the mercenaries were weak, but that would be a misconception.

Rather…

“Don’t underestimate goblins. One wrong move and we’ll be annihilated!”

Among monsters, they had excellent teamwork second only to trolls, and they were a species that knew how to use tactics.

Additionally, since these goblins used basic spear and sword techniques, a single goblin might be laughable, but a group of goblins was more frightening than a pack of wolves, according to monster scholars.

As if proving these scholars right, the goblins were toying with even experienced mercenaries, and more than five mercenaries had already been seriously injured.

If…

Swoosh!

“They’re endless!”

“Kunta, this is tough.”

“Don’t charge in alone!”

Without them, this battle might have been much more difficult.

Though not quite one against a thousand, three cadets were each handling ten enemies at once, swinging their blades vigorously, and with each swing, groups of goblins were swept away.

But even more impressive than these young men was probably…

“Everyone back away from there! There’s a trap! Shield formation, raise your shields! Those in the back, throw stones from the ground as high as you can! Higher!”

Slash!

While cleanly piercing the forehead of an approaching goblin, a blue-haired girl demonstrated considerable leadership with accurate commands and an upright voice. Her presence was the main reason they could fight against 8,000 goblins without suffering major casualties.

“Bear girl is amazing!”

“I thought she’d become a big shot, but she’s already one.”

“She’s an impressive person.”

“Talk later! Garand, join the mercenaries and secure command! Arno and Kunta, continue individual combat! Do your best to either kill the leader or block him with Lord Roen!”

They followed her bold commands without question.

There was a power in her upright, righteous, and conviction-filled strong voice that moved people’s hearts.

A “power” that those who sacrifice others for their own purposes, like soldiers or politicians who ruthlessly discard soldiers’ lives as pawns, could never possess!

It seemed to be a power that only she could possess—a stubbornness and nobility born from the determination not to sacrifice anyone.

It wasn’t [Mystical], but it felt almost mystical, and witnessing this scene, the black-haired young lord who was the actual leader of this expedition was recalling fond memories despite the chaotic situation.

“…You truly are my admiration, Jeanne.”

It was dazzling to witness the dignity and nobility befitting the Mercenary Queen.

At some point, even the stubborn mercenaries who tended to look down on women and the dwarves who were known for not trusting humans had started following her. Roen was simply moving his sword like an ordinary combatant, slaughtering goblins, but he had no complaints about losing command.

Because he knew her command ability was a hundred times better than his own.

[Kaaaa!!]

But perhaps being lost in sentiment during battle was a fatal mistake.

A goblin that had approached unnoticed aimed a rusty sword at Roen.

Stab!

…Not knowing there was a shadow secretly protecting him.

Blood spurted from the back of the goblin’s neck as it collapsed, and the shadow lowered its awl.

“My lord, I understand you’re moved, but you need to focus on the battle right now.”

“Would you believe me if I said I was careless because I trusted you, Jack?”

“As if you would.”

“…You’re starting to sound like the instructor too.”

“Would you prefer I be disrespectful? And you said this was just a light journey! But we’ve already encountered goblin hordes four times!!”

“I didn’t lie.”

A journey to take the dwarf party back to their homeland.

He had mentioned this journey beforehand.

Just…

“To reach the dwarves’ homeland, we needed to enter the mountain range controlled by goblins. Why else would I have hired this many people?”

To cross the mountain range, Roen had paid a large sum to a first-class mercenary group and cadets from the Swordsmanship Department.

It seemed excessive for a journey, but there was a reason for it.

Of course, bringing knights would have been good for a safer journey, but…

‘They need to become stronger.’

It was also Roen’s scheme to help the Swordsmanship Department’s elite students grow stronger quickly.

Raising those with the power to replace fighting techniques.

That was part of the picture Roen wanted to paint.

…Well, from the perspective of the cadets who were hired thinking they’d earn some pocket money, this situation would be quite unfair.

Still, Roen had no intention of recklessly putting them in danger.

He knew the instructor was scary and didn’t want to make unnecessary enemies.

So…

“-Everyone, step back.”

He had taken out a big insurance policy.

Whoooosh!

A powerful gust of wind blew.

An outburst of powerful magical energy that seemed impossible to come from a girl with fairy-like beauty.

The genius magic girl, who had the talent of a great mage—no, who could already be called a great mage—had finished preparing her spell.

“[Wind, blow], [Strong and powerful], [Pierce through everything], [More intensely than a spear]!”

Crackle!!

As the girl’s magic swept through, the goblins were scattered like dry twigs and shattered.

The wind, like a condensed small typhoon, was a disaster in itself, and the girl’s powerful magic had both the sharpness of blades and the heaviness of blunt weapons arranged within the wind.

This alone would have certainly killed hundreds of them.

“Magnificent.”

Irene Windler. The insurance Roen had hired for a hefty price was performing beyond what he had paid for, and Roen smiled with satisfaction.

“Um, my lord. I’ve been wondering, what did you give her in exchange to hire this young lady? The Galahad family shouldn’t be short on money…”

“……”

“Ah, if it’s a secret, you don’t have to tell me.”

“…I just gave her a gift.”

“A gift?”

“…Just leave it at that…”

“??”

The world was full of things one didn’t need to know in detail.

“…Ahem.”

Jack didn’t see it, but rarely, Roen’s expression had stiffened, and he was even sweating.

“Hehe, thanks to this bracelet, my magic seems to work even better today.”

Irene smiled brightly even while pulverizing goblins.

Her condition couldn’t be better.

But looking at the girl, the ghost girl felt nothing but terror.

[…Arin, are you happy with that?]

“Hm? I’m just happy. I’m with a part of the person I like, aren’t I? That’s enough to make me happy…”

[……]

“What?”

[Ah, never mind, I shouldn’t say anything…]

“??”

The ghost girl felt an indescribable terror toward Irene but couldn’t bring herself to say anything more.

The girl hadn’t committed any crime, and if she said she liked it, there was nothing more to say.

However…

[…A bracelet made of hair is a bit…]

The bracelet on Irene’s wrist.

It was made from the instructor’s hair, and the way she treasured it like a charm gave the ghost girl goosebumps.

[They say humans can be scarier than ghosts…]

“What are you muttering about?”

[…That you’re scary.]

“???”

[Sigh…!]

The ghost girl sighed, worried about her seriously damaged partner.

…Ironically, the person in question had no idea what was wrong with her.