Ch.275EP.61 – The Knight Fear People More Than Ghosts 2(5)

The flames still raged violently.

True to its design for hunting large magical beasts, the scroll’s power and duration were unmatched.

If this hadn’t been an empty lot filled with nothing but dirt, the flames would have spread and caused a tremendous fire.

That’s how hot and dizzying the flames were.

However, the very person who caused this explosion was turning pale, as if witnessing something even more terrible than the power of the flame scroll.

Crack, crackle…

That thing, the monster, was regenerating.

Arms and legs, head and waist—despite its entire body being burned or crushed, it was returning to its original form.

It looked as if time was reversing, and while it briefly resembled a phoenix regenerating from flames, it was impossible to think of a phoenix while looking at that monster.

After all, while a phoenix is said to regenerate beautifully and magnificently from flames, this monster’s regeneration…

“Simon, did you deliberately lure me here? Planning to use that dangerous thing from the start?”

“……”

“Wow, truly impressive. We’ve known each other for some time, yet how can you be so cold-hearted? Trapping weak little me in such a cruel trap… I’m quite disappointed.”

“……”

Crack!

…It felt so unnaturally alien that it was indescribable.

A physiological revulsion.

Simon, no, any ordinary human would inevitably feel revulsion looking at that thing.

And as his revulsion surged, Simon simultaneously felt self-loathing and disgust.

‘I really feel like dying from how stupid I’ve been…’

How…

‘I was actually “deceived” by that monster for an entire year?’

It was an utterly humiliating fact.

* * *

Ten days ago—that was probably around when he first noticed something was off.

– Sir Ihan. Why didn’t you take the twins with you?

– Huh?

– If you’re planning to infiltrate Modred, wouldn’t it be better to take the twins with you? I’m just wondering why you’re going alone. It would be better to take them along…

– Ah, those kids? No need. It’s easier for me to move freely on my own. Taking them would just make me uncomfortable. Could you look after them? I’ll pay you.

– Ah, yes…

– Why such a glum response? Did I say something strange?

– No, that’s not it.

It was a simple exchange with just a few lines of dialogue and an expression of doubt, but the person having this conversation was none other than Simon.

The head of the Southern Guild and possibly one of the ten smartest people in the royal capital…

Through this seemingly insignificant conversation and behavioral patterns, Simon reflexively analyzed the man’s psychology and state.

‘Why? Why isn’t he taking the twins with him? …No, before that, did Sir Ihan even need the guild?’

The sprouting questions kept branching out, and Simon recalled countless pieces of information.

‘Sir Ihan is someone who tracked down and eliminated hundreds of illegal mages on his own and single-handedly destroyed a major slave trading organization. Honestly, his tracking abilities and enemy elimination skills are unparalleled.’

Information about Ihan that the guild had collected.

‘So why did he come to the guild seeking help? He doesn’t need our help at all. For smooth progress, he said? Was that really true…?’

Negative thoughts and suspicion.

‘His statement about not trusting the nobles of the royal capital must be true. And it makes sense that there might be spies among them. But that’s likely not the whole truth. And it certainly doesn’t make sense that only the guild is safe.’

Expanding conjectures.

‘Yet why is he still cooperating with the guild? Even deliberately leaving his own people behind…’

The organizations he had destroyed.

Information the guild had quickly discovered.

The journey to Modred as a result.

‘Huh? This is…?’

─It seems we’ve been led to Wales.

‘!!?’

Simon almost screamed involuntarily.

The shock was so great that it struck his mind and made the back of his head throb.

And suddenly…

– Sir Ihan… have you been protecting the guild?

– What?

– There’s something in the guild, isn’t there?!

– ……

– There is, isn’t there!? A vam… vampire…

Slap!

– !!

– This is why perceptive ones are…

– ……

– No, seriously, how far did you get in those 10 seconds of spacing out? You’re a frightening person…

– ……

– I get that you’re smart, but lower your voice and calm down again.

– …Yes, I’m calm now.

– Already?

– This much is nothing.

– …You’re a monster. Well, I suppose that’s why they wanted to use you.

– ……

Simon felt dizzy again at his confirmation.

It was like a confirmation shot, reminding him of the truth.

– When did you start to notice? I thought I was being quite careful.

– …It’s nothing special.

Simon analyzed Ihan’s behavioral psychology and honestly shared his thoughts.

– With your abilities, Sir Ihan, you don’t need the guild’s help. Yet you deliberately sought us out, which made me feel something was off.

– Just from that?

– Not just that. It’s an action that teaches me a lot.

More precisely, Simon was able to deduce this because he had previously investigated the person known as Ihan.

The reason he sought cooperation with the guild, even paying a commission fee without any benefit to himself.

Others might suspect he had some malicious intent toward the guild, but if he wanted to, he could easily crush the guild.

In other words, the fact that he was cooperating with the guild despite having no need for any conspiracy suggested the possibility that he was protecting the guild from someone.

And now, the person targeting the guild was…

– It must be that monster you’re chasing.

– I told you to watch your mouth. There are ears everywhere.

– Don’t worry. Even if there are listening ears, only I will die.

– …You also have a tendency to be reckless with your body.

– I’ve lived a street life, after all.

– Sigh! Words become seeds.

– Haha, I’m sorry.

After receiving a not-unpleasant scolding, Simon roughly wiped his sweat-soaked brow and called out to him.

– …Sir Ihan.

– What?

– If my guess is correct, that monster is likely disguised as one of our guild members. Yet I’ve never suspected anyone until now. Me, of all people.

Simon knows his abilities are not insignificant.

Even that remarkable knight would probably acknowledge this.

However, despite these abilities, Simon had not been able to identify any suspicious individuals.

A person with pride in their abilities might express disbelief at this point, suggesting the other person was mistaken, but Simon succeeded in awakening a different possibility instead of showing distrust.

– According to legends, that monster—or rather, the vampire species—is said to have numerous abilities. Among them is the power of mental manipulation, correct?

– You…?

– Perhaps my mind was manipulated at some point. Hmm, do you know any high-level mages or shamans? Such a person might be able to break mental manipulation.

– ……

– Why are you looking at me like that?

– No, just thinking that the world is full of talented people.

– ??

After that, the process was simple.

He was able to get help from a shaman, and in the process, discovered that he had indeed been mentally manipulated, and had it removed.

And the moment it was removed, Simon realized something even more horrifying than the fact that a vampire had infiltrated the guild.

Namely…

“It made me sick to my stomach to realize that the secretary I’d been with for a year was a fabricated existence from the beginning.”

The fact that he had “never hired a secretary” in the first place.

“I’m the type who would hire mercenaries as bodyguards rather than use a woman as a secretary. Why? Because this harsh guild environment is too difficult for women to endure.”

Simon doesn’t discriminate against women, but this job often involves witnessing many harsh situations.

Shameful incidents that would be too difficult for women to endure were common.

Therefore, since becoming the guild master, Simon had never employed women as subordinates, and even if he did, it was only for short-term employment in unavoidable situations.

Yet he had employed a woman and kept her as his secretary?

This was a complete destruction of his values, equivalent to a change in personality.

Thus, Simon found that vampire both more detestable and frightening.

Because it had manipulated not just his memories, but his values as well.

“Oh my, I thought guild work was fine? It was quite fun for me.”

“To you, we must have seemed less than insects, you monster.”

“…That’s too harsh. I thought we had a connection. How could you be so disappointing?”

“Stop spouting nonsense, monster. You manipulate someone’s mind and expect kind words!? If you’re saying this in your right mind, go get examined at the temple. They’ll probably diagnose you with a mental illness.”

“……”

“People are not your playthings!!”

Despite his fear, Simon’s anger was beyond imagination.

To the point of overcoming his instinctive fear and terror…

“You got to spend a year with such a beautiful woman… you should be grateful, you know.”

“!!?”

Perhaps it was impossible to make a monster understand human sensibilities after all?

Instead, the monster, Henzel, asked while reproaching him.

“By the way, Simon. Won’t you tell me the location of Modred’s secret chamber that you discovered? I have business there.”

“…As if I would tell you that.”

“You should tell me. Do you know why I’m keeping you alive even after this ‘hot prank’? Because I still have things to find out from you.”

“……”

“Oh, and by the way, you shouldn’t trust those little ones. They’re just puppies after all. And that knight is at the castle, right? I could kill you dozens of times in the time it would take him to get here, you know.”

Henzel smiled, appearing friendly on the surface, but threatened him with an ominous aura.

Suggesting that if his life wasn’t precious, or if he wanted to die as a human, it would be wise to obey.

Simon…

Flick.

“…?”

“Eat this.”

He raised his middle finger, and Henzel blinked blankly.

“…You’re more of a tough guy than you look.”

Wondering what gave him the confidence to act like that.

Did he not value his life?

Henzel was so dumbfounded that he almost laughed, and just as he was thinking he’d have to handle this roughly…

Click.

“?”

…Something was stepped on.

“Did you step on it?”

“I did, didn’t I?”

“Yes, I did.”

“…Let’s run!”

“Yes!”

“Carry me, mister!”

In an instant, Simon, who had completely changed his expression from provocative to something else, and the twin siblings who had been so spirited, started to flee, and just as Henzel was wondering why they were suddenly acting this way…

WHOOSH!

“…Again?”

The flames exploded.

*

*

*

BOOM!!

“…I told him to plant them moderately.”

Ihan blinked as he watched the pillar of fire rising in the distance.

It was quite a spectacle.

“…Did he plant all 100 sheets as landmines?”

He had only taught the basic principles of landmines, yet…

“Should I consider this rapid progress…?”

It was a moment when he had a small worry that he might have created a legendary bomb expert.