Ch.399EP.82 – Not a Knight-Errant. Not Even a Knight (8)

-Boom.

“What was that?”

“Earthquake?”

“…Doesn’t seem like a big one.”

The soldiers and servants of the mansion were slightly frightened by the faint tremor, but they didn’t make much of it.

After all, it was just a minor vibration, hardly worth worrying about.

Crack, crack…!

…However, if they had witnessed this scene, they would have realized that something terribly wrong had happened.

Something so severe it was already beyond the point of no return.

“……”

“…Hey, Mr. Fallen Noble Merchant.”

“What is it, debt collector Korin?”

“Just who… is that person?”

“…I’m wondering the same thing.”

Crash!

A ‘tunnel’ had been punched through a wall about 4 meters thick.

A tunnel that would take ten strong men working diligently for two days to create had been formed with a single ‘punch.’

It was an unbelievable sight even as they watched it happen.

But what was even harder to believe was…

‘D-did he say he was holding back?’

‘…Is it even possible to make a tunnel without collapsing the ground?’

The fact that the person who performed this miracle didn’t look tired at all.

He even seemed like he had done it with moderate effort.

And their assumptions were correct.

“Can’t go all out. I still have things to find.”

What would be the point if he collapsed the foundation too?

…His quiet yet penetrating mutter gave them a strange sense of emptiness.

An emptiness that was somehow pleasant.

* * *

Ihan repeated this tunnel-making process a total of four times.

It could be called a tedious repetitive task, but Ihan trusted his instincts.

‘There must be something here…’

The exaggerated thickness of the prison walls had aroused his suspicion, and each time he broke through a wall, the prison shook.

Fortunately or perhaps due to negligence, there were no guards stationed in this underground area, making their activities relatively free. And since he directed his power in a straight line to prevent the ground above from collapsing, no disasters occurred.

Of course, this wasn’t a skill just anyone could perform.

It was a master’s technique that required the ability to freely control kyung—that is, power—like Ihan could.

“…Found it.”

Perhaps his efforts had finally paid off.

Ihan had finally discovered an empty space hidden within the wall.

A mysterious space that made one wonder why it would exist in an underground prison.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a terrible stench rose from the space he had found.

It was so horrific that even the rotting smell inside the prison seemed preferable, an instinctively repulsive odor.

“This is…”

Perhaps a priest is always a priest?

Korin’s face wrinkled severely as he recognized the source of the stench.

“Demonic energy, hellish demonic energy, why…?”

Hellish demonic energy. It was similar to the impure energy that exists in the netherworld, and ranked higher than the demonic energy possessed by monsters.

It was an energy occasionally seen in demons, black magicians, and those who practice evil sorcery, something that shouldn’t normally be visible…

The space Ihan had discovered was overflowing with this hellish demonic energy, emitting a thick, almost fermented aura.

It was like poison gas to humans, and merely coming into contact with it could be life-threatening.

“You all stay here. I’ll go in alone.”

“…Understood.”

They didn’t argue.

They didn’t want to get in the way.

However.

“But will you be alright, sir? That energy seems dangerous…”

“Hmm, I think I’ll be fine?”

“Pardon?”

“According to Taechang, I can digest most poisons.”

“?”

“Did he say I could even digest hydrochloric acid?”

“???”

…Is he joking?

* * *

Ihan advanced without hesitation into the space overflowing with hellish demonic energy.

Seeing that even stairs had been built, it was clearly a deliberately constructed space. Though pitch-black darkness obscured his vision, it wasn’t particularly bothersome to him.

Thanks to this, his steps showed no hesitation, and while descending was easy, the hellish demonic energy grew thicker as he went deeper.

In truth, this was no longer an environment where humans could survive.

Hiss….

As if to demonstrate the potency of the hellish demonic energy, his clothes began to dissolve.

The poison and death energy contained in the hellish demonic energy was truly potent.

However, unlike his dissolving clothes…

‘I can handle this.’

His skin remained perfectly fine.

It stung a little, but he felt he could endure in this hellish demonic energy indefinitely.

Thud.

“?”

Something caught Ihan’s foot.

His expression hardened as soon as he looked down to see what it was.

“…Human bones.”

They were human bones, barely maintaining their form, looking as though they might dissolve and disappear at any moment.

Swish.

Looking around just in case…

‘Just how many people were here?’

Countless traces were visible.

Each one looked like evidence of human presence. As Ihan was making an indescribable expression…

“Have they sent another person down… How cruel. I wonder how much more sin they intend to commit.”

“……”

“So, what crime did you commit to end up here, hmm?”

“……”

“…Ah, I see, you’re so shocked you can’t speak. Well, that’s understandable. Coming to what is essentially a live burial execution site would render anyone speechless. I understand you.”

A middle-aged man was lying quietly in a corner, sneering with cynical laughter.

His body was so emaciated that only bones remained, making him look almost like an old man at first glance.

It seemed miraculous that he was alive in such an environment, but Ihan realized that his survival wasn’t due to luck.

A glimpse of sacred energy was protecting his life even in this pitch-black darkness.

“Holy magic.”

“Hmm, so you’re not mute after all? And quite perceptive too.”

It was an incredibly faint holy power.

So faint it was difficult to detect just by looking.

‘With sufficient holy power, he could be considered a high priest.’

The holy power itself was insignificant, but his control ability was considerable.

Evidence of talent in holy magic.

Looking directly at such a person, Ihan asked with a hopeful expression.

“…Do you know a person named Korin?”

“He’s my disciple, but why?”

“……”

“Why do you ask?”

“…I was wondering why I suddenly got so lucky when I’m not usually this fortunate.”

“What?”

“I mean I came here to find you.”

“…Who are you?”

Though he should be bewildered, the man showed an indifferent reaction, tilting his head curiously. He seemed to be no ordinary remarkable person, as rumored.

‘Maintaining sanity in this environment, and all that. He’s extraordinary.’

According to Korin, his master had been missing for over a week.

In a way, this person had survived here for over a week, which was amazing.

‘Even I would find it difficult to endure.’

Not just the darkness, but the thick stench of death and human bones scattered everywhere, with human corpses visibly melting or decaying in real time.

To survive for a week in such a place with one’s mind intact, especially with such an emaciated and wounded body, was not possible with ordinary mental strength.

Though lacking physical strength, he was extraordinary in mind and spirit, and such a person would likely have the answers Ihan sought.

…Well, he would help him regardless of whether he got answers or not.

“Just know that I’m someone who needs your help. Right now, I should help you escape from here first.”

“Did someone leave something with me?”

Though he responded mockingly to Ihan’s words, Ihan was quite sympathetic.

Who would cooperate when a stranger suddenly demands something?

But…

“The monsters in the circus, do you know their ‘true identity’?”

“……”

“It seems you do. Then do you also know how to save them?”

“…Young man, you have an interesting talent. Tell me your name first, don’t try to read my thoughts.”

“Ihan, but call me Santa for now.”

“…Young man, you live a complicated life.”

It was a strange flow of conversation.

Since both were high-level individuals who could follow a conversation three moves ahead, the dialogue progressed smoothly.

It takes one to know one.

It seemed like he had met someone he could communicate well with after a long time.

Flash.

“Let’s get out of here first.”

“…Why are you carrying me like luggage?”

“You don’t seem able to walk, so this is my way of being considerate.”

“…Well, that’s touchingly kind of you.”

Though it sounded sarcastic, he was genuinely grateful.

That’s just how his tone was.

“Hmm, I appreciate the young man’s consideration, but it won’t be easy. This space, perhaps due to the hellish demonic energy, is easy to enter but nearly impossible to leave. It could be called a distorted space.”

“Is that so? Hmm, will it take some time to get out then?”

“Did you even listen to what I said?”

“We can get out. If it’s too difficult, we can just tunnel all the way to the surface.”

“?”

“Is there such a thing… Huh?”

In the middle of his response, Ihan felt something vibrating in his pocket.

Wondering what it was, he took out a faintly trembling compass.

Zing-.

“…Is this broken?”

The needle was emitting light.

As Ihan was wondering why it was doing this…

“…I’m just asking out of curiosity, but is that a Pilgrim’s Compass?”

“Oh, you recognized it right away? Your disciple had to examine it thoroughly before figuring it out.”

“Don’t compare me to that fellow. More importantly, is it really a Pilgrim’s Compass? The one that supposedly prevents you from getting lost in any situation…”

“?”

Wasn’t it just a compass with demon detection capabilities?

“…That’s just its basic function. The true power of this compass is that it always shows the ‘right path’ for those it ‘recognizes as its master.’ It’s said to find answers even amidst any maze, hallucination, or illusion.”

“I thought it was just a defective product that brings bad luck…”

“Hehe, it might seem defective to ordinary people. But at a glance, you don’t seem ordinary.”

“Is that a compliment?”

“It is indeed. Consider it an honor, as I rarely compliment others.”

“…Should I consider this as being insufferable?”

Ihan was dumbfounded by his shameless tone, but seeing the holy relic emitting light, the man’s eyes had turned favorable.

As if being recognized by the holy relic was enough to guarantee his identity.

“…Come to think of it, I haven’t properly introduced myself to the young man who came to rescue me.”

“What’s the point of introductions in this situation?”

“That may be true, but I should at least know your name.”

With a chuckle that seemed out of place in the situation, he showed a momentary hesitation before continuing.

“Diogenes, that’s my name. And my surname is-.”

Flinch…!

Ihan’s feet suddenly stopped.

He felt somewhat perplexed after hearing the man’s surname, and wondering if he had misheard, he asked again.

“What did you say?”

…he said.

Diogenes seemed amused by his reaction and chuckled again, but still kindly recited his full name.

“-Diogenes Hannibal.”

“……”

Though there was no status window, Ihan could be certain.

…A named character had appeared.