Ch.287EP.62 – What is a Knight’s Cause to Fight? (10)

-The first paper airplane I received was from ‘Taechang-i’.

[Instructor, I also have urgent matters and won’t be able to help you directly. However, let me jot down a few minor pieces of information I know…]

[Looking into records about Modred, I found that a terrible famine occurred 300 years ago. But from what I’ve heard, this wasn’t a natural famine, but one caused by some kind of archfiend.]

[They say the head of the Modred family at that time vanquished this archfiend, but there are no detailed records of exactly how it was done.]

[…And Instructor, you’ll probably hate hearing this, but regarding the original game’s content, the team leader in charge of that part is quite a pervert—no, a strange person. They always end things in despair or devastation. So be careful. Whatever method you use, there’s a risk things could go in the worst possible direction.]

-The second was a classical message sent via hawk from ‘Regression Hunter Black’.

[Instructor, seems you’ve gotten yourself into troublesome business. You said you were going to hunt vampires, but now you’re suddenly asking about Modred’s secret history, really…]

[However, I owe you many debts. So let me tell you what I know,]

[Though my knowledge is limited, one thing I can tell you is that ‘in the future,’ Modred will be destroyed without a trace. Please don’t ask how I know this. I simply ‘know,’ but I don’t know the solution or countermeasures. Had you not mentioned Modred, I would have believed it was just destruction caused by natural disaster.]

[After searching through Lionel’s books, what I can predict is that it’s related to the <Land God>. I don’t know if you’re familiar with Land Gods, but they’re like natural disasters and are beings on par with fairies. However, like fairies, Land Gods cannot influence the world directly. If they want to affect the world, they must either make contracts or ‘descend’ into human bodies.]

[Instructor, also be aware that unlike the serpent worshipped by barbarians or Lionel’s lion, Land Gods may not be friendly to humans. Just as there are good and evil people in the world, the same applies to Land Gods.]

[And if you’ve confirmed that a Land God is involved… please flee.]

-The third, from the blonde ‘Magician Chick’, sent [Gentle Breeze].

[Instructor! I really really miss you! I’m being pushed around by Young Master Roen, sob…]

[But I’m still working hard-!]

[…Oh! Right. Regarding your message, um, honestly I don’t know much.]

[B-but! I think I can offer some magical help! I’ll send you a little gift, hehe!]

[……I miss you.]

-The last one was nagging from the silver-haired ‘Big Sis’.

[Don’t stay there, get out immediately.]

[…Sigh, even if I tell you, you stubborn fellow probably won’t listen.]

[Huff, I’ll give you one piece of advice. Never be enchanted by ‘it’. Don’t show any weakness. Because when that happens, even if I want to help you, there will be no way for me to do so.]

[……May the blessing of the silver dragon be upon your path.]

*

*

*

The previous day, Ihan didn’t expect much, but after asking around, he was able to gather some information.

Though most of it was vague or puzzlingly significant, Ihan tried his best to understand with what knowledge he had.

Although Ihan didn’t have Simon’s deductive ability to piece information together like a puzzle to uncover others’ secrets, there was one thing Ihan didn’t lose to Simon in…

“‘Imagination.'”

“…?”

“This is just my delusion, so listen and then forget it.”

“I’ll listen…”

“Don’t take it seriously, I said.”

Ihan hesitated for a moment as if embarrassed to share his thoughts, but soon spoke boldly.

If he spoke confidently, he might be wrong but at least wouldn’t look foolish.

“Probably, Wales had Land Gods like the North or the Barbarian jungles. I’m guessing it might be a Land God related to the ‘spirit sight’ possessed by the Modred bloodline?”

“But for some reason, the relationship between that Land God and Modred became twisted. The famine 300 years ago was likely the result, and your ancestor probably fought that Land God to resolve the famine.”

“But from the Land God’s perspective, it must have been absurd. The very people blessed by it dared to defy it. Like being bitten by a dog you raised. In other words, it must have felt utterly betrayed.”

If it were him, he would have left a curse too.

This wasn’t about who was wrong first, but more about emotional resentment.

“Well, seeing how peaceful things are now, it seems they somehow succeeded in defeating the Land God, but even a rotting god is still a god. It wouldn’t have gone down without a fight, and probably left a curse.”

“And because of that curse, Wales experiences periods every 60 years when evil spirits like Wraiths run rampant. I looked through your archives, and there were many casualties among the mansion staff due to these evil spirits, right?”

He had seen it firsthand.

The strangely disloyal servants of Modred.

And those who were reluctant to mention Modred.

It was an odd culture for lands ruled by a noble family, and Ihan believed this culture stemmed from the periodic surge of evil spirits.

“But what’s really peculiar is that the servants who suffered harm were mostly those who came to Modred with ‘hostility’ or ‘ulterior motives.’ In other words, if spies or criminals infiltrate Modred disguised as servants, they end up getting hurt.”

It was almost as if something was protecting Modred, which suggested…

“The Land God probably resents Modred, but nevertheless wants something from Modred. That’s probably related to Modred’s ‘bloodline.'”

From here on, it was just grandiose delusion.

A delusion so outrageous that he would understand if the man drew his sword in displeasure.

“…There’s something called the Dark King in the North, right? A fragment left by the Lion King, the guardian deity of the North. And the reason Lionel can be the ruler of the North is because they inherit the power left by the Lion King through their bloodline, which is possible because Lionel’s bloodline is mixed with the Lion King’s blood.”

“Similarly, you too were blessed by Wales’ Land God and probably became physically more receptive to the Land God’s power. And… perhaps the Land God of Wales wanted to descend into this world through you?”

“Generally, divine beings like fairies need physical bodies to influence this world in order to descend.”

The descent of gods appearing in ancient myths.

Just as gods borrow the bodies of saints to convey their messages to believers and build faith.

Perhaps the Land God of Wales also…

“Wanted to descend to this land by borrowing your bodies. But not just anyone would do, for example… huh?”

Why is it so quiet around here…?

Ihan noticed the Modred family members looking at him with pale expressions as if they’d seen a ghost, or with their mouths hanging open.

Especially…

“D-did you spy on us somewhere?”

“Huh?”

“H-how do you know so much about us!?”

“…I told you.”

Ihan shrugged lightly.

He didn’t understand why they were reacting so sensitively.

“It’s just a delusion? Just laugh it off.”

He chuckled awkwardly, wondering why they were reacting so intensely when they should just dismiss it as the nonsense of a foolish man.

“…Far from laughing, I feel like fainting in shock.”

Heh heh…

The Modred family was simply dumbfounded, as if they had met someone more ghostly than the ghosts haunting their surroundings.

* * *

“Well, it seems there’s nothing left for us to explain…”

The old knight was the first to recover.

Indeed, the experience of years couldn’t be ignored, quickly shaking off the surprise…

“…You wouldn’t happen to be from a family of shamans? Or perhaps a fortune teller?”

“……”

“Ahem, I-I’m joking…”

Now that he thought about it, this gentleman seemed the most dangerous.

Someone who claims to see ghosts might be susceptible to superstition?

If Ihan were a fortune teller, he might bring his entire fortune. Ihan clicked his tongue and shook his head.

“I’m not a mudang or anything like that.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s like a fortune teller. Anyway, I’ll say it again, my words are just delusions based on various pieces of information. But judging by your expressions, my delusions seem quite plausible.”

“…Yes, plausible enough to make our skin crawl.”

“Keep your goosebumps in check, and let me confirm one more thing. The Land God, the <Great Archfiend>, is here, right?”

“…Why do you want to know that?”

Ganok asked before answering.

Wondering why he would ask such a thing.

“Why ask something so obvious?”

Ihan smirked as if asking why he would question something so self-evident.

After all…

Whoosh!

“I’m here to rip out the throat of that child-molesting bastard who’s targeting an eight-year-old’s body—do I need a reason?”

“……”

…For a moment, the Modred family rubbed their eyes.

Somehow, for an instant,

‘D-did his appearance change?’

If an incredibly handsome young man suddenly looked more terrifying than any monster, like a ‘predator,’ would people believe what they saw?

What…

‘Could he possibly be able to transform?’

The Modred family indulged in this futile delusion.

After all, it’s impossible for a human to transform…