Ch.401EP.82 – Not a Knight-Errant. Not Even a Knight(10)

The soldiers were gripped by terror.

BOOM!!

“AAAAARGH!”

Because there was nowhere to run.

“Sh-shoot! Shoot! Just shut up and shoot…!”

RAT-TAT-TAT-TAT-TAT!

They pulled their crossbows, ready to unleash every loaded arrow and gunpowder, but it had no effect on their opponent.

THWACK!

Rather, their attacks were blocked futilely.

The opponent didn’t even dodge their attacks.

He simply walked forward silently.

If he had at least tried to run away, or if the arrows had passed through him, they might have mistaken him for a ghost, but their opponent…

THUD!

Was taking all the arrows.

Yet nothing worked.

Everything just bounced off.

Ping…

With that hollow sound.

It was beyond surreal—it was terrifying.

No, it was horrifyingly frightening.

What were they even looking at right now?

“I-I’m going to live!”

Finally, a deserter emerged from among the soldiers.

Once one person breaks rank, is a chain reaction inevitable?

“I-I’m sorry!”

“I-I can’t take this anymore!!”

More deserters followed, and as positions emptied, the remaining soldiers seemed about to fall into panic.

The desire to flee, the reality they would face after running.

As they experienced agonizing conflict amid this disconnect…

THWACK!

The enemy kindly eliminated their dilemma.

Thump…

The fleeing soldiers all collapsed like puppets with cut strings, as if struck by hammers.

It was a bone-chilling sight that sent shivers down their spines.

“Uh, uhh…”

With trembling lips, the soldiers who couldn’t comprehend what had happened suddenly recalled a certain “warning.”

None other than…

“I told you, it’s better not to think about running away.”

“……”

“I rarely lie. You can trust me on that.”

With a gentle smile, he repeated his earlier warning, and the soldiers finally broke into tears.

Whether they fought or fled, the outcome would be the same—faced with this reality, they dropped their crossbows.

Their arrows and gunpowder were depleted anyway…

Thump.

The soldiers could only bow their heads, as if begging for mercy.

* * *

Situation resolved.

That phrase naturally came to mind as the underground prison fell into silence.

In the face of such overwhelming difference, even fighting spirit couldn’t boil up.

The soldiers’ actions were completely understandable.

Of course…

“Wh-what are you doing?!”

Count Deniro was different.

From the count’s perspective, it was outrageous that the soldiers had stopped attacking and assumed positions of submission, so he raised his voice in anger.

“We’re not done yet! Don’t give up and keep attacking! Hold out until the knights and other forces arrive!”

Essentially meaning to hold out at the risk of death.

But you know what?

“Do it yourself…”

The count’s orders were too insignificant to move the soldiers.

“!!”

Count Deniro gasped.

“Wh-who was that! Who dares speak to me with such insolence…!”

Though trembling with rage, no one answered him.

So-called soldiers fight in wars risking their lives not only because the madness of war numbs their reason, but also out of patriotism for their country and loyalty to their king.

But this situation was different.

Even if they wanted to numb their reason, no one had died.

Some soldiers had merely fainted, but most were still alive.

Moreover…

“……”

As soon as the soldiers stopped attacking, their opponent also ceased his attack and stood still.

This alone showed that the current battle was taking place in a very rational situation, which restored the soldiers’ reason.

Given this…

‘Come to think of it, why should we fight?’

‘From what I can see today, the count is definitely going to die, so I probably won’t be punished for insubordination.’

‘I need to survive. Who will take care of my family? It’s not like the count will look after them if I die.’

This was a world without life insurance.

Moreover, they knew well that the count wouldn’t take care of their remaining families even if they died.

How did they know?

Because they had seen it firsthand.

The reality of their fallen comrades’ families struggling to survive.

“You fools! I will never let you get away with this…!”

Thus, all the count could do was threaten the soldiers.

Unlike them, if the knights who had sworn loyalty to him arrived, he would surely punish these men.

The count was like that…

CRACK!

His jaw turned sharply.

“Shut up, man.”

Ihan’s Hundred Step Divine Fist struck as if annoyed by the constant squawking.

CRASH!

Rolling dramatically on the floor, the count…

“AAAAARGH!”

…let out a scream as if the world had ended.

It was endlessly noisy and exaggerated for someone expressing pain.

“I even controlled my strength, what a drama queen.”

Ihan chuckled at the sight.

A nobleman, especially one of count rank, would naturally have learned upper-level martial arts and should have a reasonably sturdy body, so the exaggerated reaction seemed excessive.

Besides, he had hit him with only about one-tenth of the force used on the soldiers, so Ihan was understandably perplexed.

However…

“Your attack must be like poison to the count.”

“…?”

Diogenes’ explanation came.

“From what I can see, the count’s extreme pain isn’t simply from being attacked. He seems to be suffering from some other factor… Do you perhaps possess holy power? Or have you learned techniques effective against demons?”

“I do have something like that.”

“I thought so.”

“?”

The Prajna Great Ability.

Ihan’s martial art, similar to spiritual power, was particularly sensitive to beings like demons.

But why would it be effective against the count?

Pointing.

“Look over there.”

“……”

Instead of explaining, Diogenes pointed in a direction, suggesting it would be faster to understand by seeing, and Ihan could see it.

HISSSS!

“D-don’t look! Don’t look, I say…!”

The intense sulfurous stench emanating from Count Deniro’s body and his melting skin…

“This human…”

“Finally became a [Fallen One]. What a foolish choice.”

Diogenes clicked his tongue.

It was more a rebuke of regret than contempt for the count.

“Some seek immortality through demonic power. Those who wish for eternal life. Not knowing it’s a path of thorns…”

The implication was that, by some unknown method, he had accepted hellish demonic energy into his body.

In other words, the Prajna Great Ability sensed the count’s hellish demonic energy and automatically released its power to attack it.

As always, it acts on its own, just like someone I know.

‘…Me?’

“Making a pact with a hellish being only leads to a miserable end. He made a foolish choice.”

“Isn’t that obviously something you shouldn’t do?”

Even if he experienced poverty—though he probably never knew true poverty in his life.

It’s incomprehensible what could drive someone to make such a choice when they lack nothing.

“With a count’s status, he shouldn’t have wanted for anything.”

“Those who already have always want more.”

“…I concede that point.”

Ihan smirked, recalling how a certain king had acted as a cult leader’s puppet.

Anyway.

‘This kingdom has too many people who deserve a beating.’

Disgustingly so.

…But even more disgusting than such creatures…

“-How disappointing, Count. Can’t you even handle this much on your own?”

…might be creatures like these.

CLANG!

“…Hmm, no, I see now that you’re quite skilled.”

“A sinister clown, I see.”

“Haha, I forgot to remove my makeup before coming.”

A woman in a ridiculous hat and outfit with white face paint—the typical clown costume—appeared giggling and threw a dart pin, which Ihan easily deflected, but the deflected pin…

HISS!

…was melting the brick wall while emitting intense poisonous energy.

If anyone other than Ihan had been hit, they would likely have died instantly.

The clown…

“I’ve heard rumors. About a knight active throughout the southern regions recently. Someone with the courage and power to face demons, witches, and monsters without retreating.”

With a cold gleam in her eyes, she pulled out a whip, and soon after, clowns wearing masks lined up behind her.

The once-spacious underground prison quickly became crowded, filled with a murderous atmosphere.

“Wandering knight. I’ve heard much about you.”

WHOOSH!

Killing intent rippled and took form.

Energy also surged from the clowns’ bodies, and it was unmistakable what kind of energy it was.

“Materialized martial energy…”

A level of skill rated above even sword aura, a technique typically used only by champion-level knights in small provincial territories!

This was Giovanni’s muttered realization after understanding the nature of the power, while others trembled with pale faces.

What makes materialized martial energy so formidable is this:

The mere emanation of its energy can cause the weak-hearted to die on the spot.

It’s an undeniably destructive force unlike sword aura.

And there were about 30 people emitting such martial energy.

Plus another 80 formidable fighters.

This was already a force beyond what one person could handle alone…

“-Which generation are you?”

“?”

“Which generation of test subjects are you guys?”

“??”

…Ihan narrowed his eyes and clicked his tongue.

“I didn’t recall at first, but now I remember. You’re the ones who were under Number 3.”

“!!”

“That woman’s still at it, huh? Modifying people to create something similar to the Numbers. In a way, you’re my juniors.”

“You…”

“But you know what? That body modification or superhuman project or whatever—it cuts your lifespan in half, right? If I remember correctly, your seniors didn’t even last a week. How long can you guys hold out?”

“Sh-shut up!!”

CRASH!

The clowns charged at Ihan in outrage.

With intense hostility, determined not to let him live after touching their sore spot.

Dozens of people all at once-

“…When your senior speaks.”

CRACK!

“You should listen to the end, you damn fools-.”

“……”

Crunch, crunch, crunch…!

-A person was being folded.

Once, twice, three times…

Like origami, a clown was being folded, and the other clowns hesitated in their steps.

They thought fear had disappeared, but seeing such a sight naturally slowed their pace.

He continued…

“I’m not a wandering knight. Not even a knight. I retired long ago.”

THUD.

He grabbed the limp clown’s foot and dragged him forward, and with each step, the clowns retreated.

It was an instinctive reaction upon meeting Ihan’s fierce gaze.

“But you know what? There’s someone who calls me a knight despite all this. So…”

Thud, thud.

His body gradually grew larger.

Gone was the handsome man, replaced by a giant that even a barbarian would have to acknowledge.

Such a man spoke as if making a promise to himself.

“I’m trying to practice chivalry. Of course.”

—Not the chivalry defined by the kingdom, but the chivalry he defined himself.

WHOOSH!!

He swung his whip.

…A whip named clown.