Ch.43Chapter 43 – A Familiar Information Broker (2)

It was dawn, several days after that.

“Benefactor, benefactor!”

As I was about to be dragged out by Rudger again, Christina approached.

“Oh, who is that?”

“Mr. Rudger from the Jeolei Order.”

Christina’s eyes widened.

“Goodness, Paladin Rudger?!”

“Nice to meet you, young devotee of Lady Evgenia.”

As Rudger greeted her with proper etiquette, Christina bowed her head deeply.

‘My goodness…’

I never thought I’d witness these two exchanging quiet, reverent greetings.

“Um, I have something to tell my benefactor. Is that okay for a moment?”

“I don’t mind…”

Rudger stood for a moment, looking at Christina.

“Go ahead for now. I have some separate questions for young Kay.”

“Yes, thank you!”

Soon Christina took my hand and headed toward the back of the guild.

“About what you asked before, I’ve found out something.”

I narrowed my eyes and asked carefully.

“So, the Red Holy Knights have arrived, haven’t they?”

“Yes. But they say they haven’t left the Emiris Order’s church even once.”

Christina wondered if they were just praying inside.

Of course, I could guess the reason.

‘They probably can’t let them wander around openly.’

I briefly recalled my time as a test subject.

I remember being able to process any order but unable to move without one.

I’m not sure how they would react to an order like “enjoy your free time.”

Especially after what happened with me.

They must have established some protocol or manipulation to prevent even the slightest possibility.

“For now, it seems we won’t encounter them outside.”

“Huh, who?”

“Nothing.”

I must have accidentally spoken aloud.

“Anyway, thank you, Christina.”

“It’s easy for me when it’s a request from my benefactor. It didn’t even cost anything.”

Christina said with a smile.

“By the way, are you going on a subjugation? May I join you?”

Looking at Rudger, he shook his head.

“No, I have many things to teach this friend.”

“Ah…”

Christina, momentarily disappointed, took my hand.

“Then, be careful not to get hurt. If you do, come to the church.”

“Ah, yes.”

Too close.

I unconsciously turned my head away, and Rudger was laughing.

“My, my. Things are heating up.”

“Please shut up.”

Rudger just kept laughing.

+

I sparred with Rudger again and shot arrows.

After shooting for several days, I felt like I was getting somewhat used to it.

-Swoosh! Thwack!

“Hmm, you’re hitting the target fairly well now.”

“I hit five out of ten shots.”

“That’s remarkable progress for just a week.”

Rudger said with a smile.

I put down the bow without replying.

Then I immediately drew my weapon and swung it at Rudger.

“Tch.”

“What’s this? Your version of a surprise attack?”

Rudger blocked the attack calmly.

I aimed my sword at Rudger’s head, stomach, legs, and arms.

Rudger calmly deflected everything with his staff.

Soon, as he swung his weapon, I ducked my head to avoid it and immediately threw a punch.

-Thud!

“You really do have good strength.”

Rudger said, shaking his hand.

“Blocking with one hand, ouch, my arm is tingling.”

‘He’s not a monster.’

I had hit him with all my strength, but this was all it did.

Still, I didn’t give up and charged at him.

I swung my sword, determined not to get beaten like on the first day.

We fought continuously for several hours.

-Thwack!

“Ugh!”

As the staff struck my helmet, today’s match ended in my defeat again.

“Still, you’ve improved a lot.”

“I can’t tell.”

Rudger laughed heartily.

“That’s because you’re facing me.”

This old man.

I glared at him slightly, but Rudger just laughed boisterously.

“Now, would you say you can hold your own enough for it to qualify as a ‘fight’?”

Thanks to getting beaten for days, as Rudger said, I could now fight back and hold my own to some extent.

Of course, Rudger still beat me while smiling, but still.

‘He really beats me like dust on a rainy day.’

Thinking that the places he hit were still slightly sore, I looked at Rudger.

“Let’s take a break.”

Rudger gestured for me to sit down, so I followed suit.

“These past few days, have your matters been resolved?”

It was a sudden question from Rudger.

“No.”

“I see.”

That was true.

Since the day I started training with Rudger, I had been monitoring the Emiris Order’s church every night.

However, there had been no significant results.

Two days before hearing Christina’s information, I had actually heard the same thing from an information broker.

Of course, it was just words, and since they hadn’t come out, I worried it might be false information, but since Christina confirmed it, it was certain they were here.

And as both of them said, they were inside the building but not coming out.

That made me a bit anxious.

‘Should I sneak in for a surprise attack?’

If they won’t come out, I’ll go in.

Reducing their numbers would increase my chances of survival.

“Don’t do anything rash just because you’re in a hurry.”

Rudger suddenly spoke.

I looked at him.

“I don’t know what you’re worried about, but rather than making a worse choice out of impatience, waiting calmly is also an option.”

I listened quietly to Rudger’s words.

“If something happens to you, there are people who would be sad. There’s no need to act hastily.”

“…That’s true.”

Had I become that anxious?

I think my head wasn’t working properly from barely sleeping while monitoring that place.

Rudger held something out.

“It’s a fatigue recovery potion. You seem like you haven’t slept well these past few days, so I prepared it.”

“…Thank you.”

I took it and drank.

‘Ah, bitter.’

I unconsciously thought it would taste similar to what Sera made.

I almost threw the bottle away at the tasteless, watery flavor.

‘It’s less effective than what Sera made.’

I should ask her to make some later.

Still, after drinking this watery substance, my head felt a bit clearer.

“By the way, time is almost up.”

“What do you mean?”

When I asked Rudger, he smiled and said.

“The subjugation. The grand subjugation.”

Rudger spoke as if it was obvious.

“Let’s end training here and rest for tomorrow.”

“Right now?”

He was ending it earlier than usual.

“Resting well is also a warrior’s virtue.”

I wasn’t someone who disliked being told to rest.

I immediately nodded and stood up.

“I’ll pray for your success today.”

“Thank you.”

I greeted Rudger and left.

“Ah, but we’ll continue training after the subjugation, so don’t think about skipping!”

And the good mood was ruined.

I unconsciously clicked my tongue and fled the scene.

+

I returned to the inn and entered my room.

I checked the materials I had gathered from the information broker and Christina.

“First, the subjugation list.”

It was a list of the investigation team distributed by the guild.

The mission was to enter the ossuary and attempt to resolve the current situation quickly.

The entry team included Rudger, Aria, myself, and Christina.

Other orders were assigned to focus on the subjugation from outside.

The plan was for adventurers and other orders to clear the undead outside while we entered the ossuary.

I also received a list of participants from the orders from the guild and checked it.

‘They’re not here.’

The group suspected to be the Red Holy Knights was not listed.

‘Ib clearly said I was taken right after the grand subjugation.’

She wouldn’t lie, so the test subjects disguised as the Red Holy Knights would definitely come.

But they weren’t on this list.

The only ones listed as participants from that order were a few priests.

They were all scheduled to conduct the subjugation from outside.

Are they coming in a different way?

Or will they ambush on the way back?

‘That’s not it.’

In the scene Ib saw, even if I had no connection to Rudger, given his personality, he wouldn’t stand by if the Emiris Order caused trouble.

Though our interaction has been brief, he’s not the type to remain idle if I were attacked.

And with this plan, I’d likely return with Rudger and Aria, so it probably won’t be on the way back or before the operation.

Then, a place where I might be separated from Rudger for some reason.

‘The ossuary?’

There was a place full of corpse golems.

A place where someone had deliberately placed golems.

If unlucky, there might be traps that could separate the group.

So, I thought there was a high probability of encountering them in the ossuary.

“It must be tonight.”

If they’re going to move secretly, tonight would be the last chance.

Checking that it was getting dark outside, I left the inn.

I quietly headed to the Emiris Order’s church.

From a distance, I watched the church building and checked the people coming and going.

‘Still no familiar faces.’

I watched for any test subjects I might remember, but there were none.

Still, I remained vigilant.

As the night deepened, I was considering resting for tomorrow when I accidentally touched the bow and arrows I had brought while trying to fight off drowsiness.

Red armors came into view.

Though it was dark, these red armors belonged to people I hadn’t seen before.

I immediately thought they must be the Red Holy Knights, the test subjects.

“Bingo.”

I quietly moved to the rooftop.

I kept them in sight as I moved.

‘They haven’t noticed me yet.’

Just as I couldn’t see them clearly, they probably couldn’t see me well either.

I followed a man who seemed to be the leader and three knights behind him.

‘Let’s try.’

As the distance became somewhat close, I picked up my bow.

I placed an arrow on the string and carefully aimed.

I’ll reduce their numbers here.

Concentrating as Rudger taught me, I pulled the string and released.

The arrow cut through the dark night sky.

Just as the arrow was about to hit someone…

Suddenly, a silver flash occurred.

“Ha, they cut that down.”

I think I could do it too, but it was a nearly silent surprise attack, and they managed to cut it down.

‘No, if I can do it, they can too.’

I immediately nocked another arrow and shot, then followed up with another.

They started deflecting the arrows with their swords.

I continued running and shooting arrows.

“Damn, I’m hit!”

Along with the shout from the one who seemed to be the leader, I saw one test subject get hit by an arrow.

I immediately pulled the string and aimed for the head.

“I’m sorry.”

The words came out unconsciously.

After all, they’re victims in the same situation as me.

If possible, I wouldn’t have tried to kill them either.

But I want to live too.

I don’t want to die or end up like them by showing mercy to these puppets.

‘Farewell.’

If I just release the string now, I can send one of them away.

I was about to release the string.

“Where do you think you’re going!”

A voice rang out, and I quickly moved while shooting the arrow.

‘Damn.’

The aim was slightly off.

I only confirmed that the arrow, which should have pierced the head, hit the shoulder instead, and then I looked toward the source of the voice.

Figures in black robes appeared before me.

‘Five of them?’

I quickly counted as I ran, and they chased after me.

A chase began as I leaped across rooftops in the middle of the night.

I saw them taking out what looked like crossbows behind me.

I touched my quiver to count the remaining arrows.

‘One shot.’

Originally, it would have been the last arrow for the Red Holy Knights.

But because they blocked so well, I only managed to wound one.

Using this on them now would probably not hit.

“Individual elimination has completely failed.”

They may look like that, but they’re priests.

If it’s not a fatal wound, they’ll probably heal it quickly with recovery magic.

Thinking that things wouldn’t be resolved easily, I took out the arrow.

“Stop!”

They won’t stop just because they’re told to.

As I jumped down from the roof, I aimed my body toward the black robes.

While falling, I aimed the arrow and released the string.

-Swoosh!

-Thud!

I saw one of them fall as the arrow pierced his chest.

I landed on the ground, watching him fall lifelessly.

“Damn, our comrade!”

As they jumped down next to me, they shot their crossbows, and I quickly moved away from my position and approached the one who had just died from the arrow.

Meanwhile, another one landed on the ground.

“Stop, damn you!”

I saw him running toward me.

I forcibly pulled out the arrow I had hit earlier and held it.

I threw the arrow at him.

“Ugh?!”

The arrow pierced his head.

He must have been wearing some kind of protection as he didn’t die, but his body was collapsing.

I quickly approached, drew my sword, and slashed.

“Wait…”

With those final words, the second pursuer’s body collapsed.

‘Having a good sword certainly makes things easier.’

Feeling slightly grateful to the old man who made it, Peri who sold it, and Rudger who bought it, I looked back.

I saw the remaining three black robes jumping down from the roof all at once.

I quickly turned and fled.

Since individual elimination had failed, I shouldn’t linger.

I needed to retreat and think about what to do at the ossuary.

“I’ll have to deal with those first.”

I muttered while running.

I dodged occasional crossbow bolts and ran through alleys.

My plan was to shake them off or split them up using the geography I had memorized from my delivery job.

As I turned my body, I saw a crossbow bolt fly from behind and land next to my foot.

“Die!”

“Oh no.”

Someone must have climbed onto the roof and was running in the direction I was heading, as I saw one of them falling from the roof.

I was about to grab my sword to cut him down.

“Whoa! Watch your head!”

I instinctively ducked, and I felt something quickly using my body as a stepping stone and flying past.

-Thud!

With a crisp sound, I saw the black robe who had been jumping down collapse.

‘What?’

Looking through the gap in my helmet, I saw familiar robe hems and black hair.

I’ve seen this somewhere before.

“Information broker?”

“Yep! I came to sell some information just in case, but you were being chased, customer?”

I saw the information broker’s face.

Familiar eyes, hair.

Though she was wearing a mask, presumably to hide her face, I couldn’t mistake that voice.

Rather, I’m surprised I hadn’t noticed until now.

“The vomiting woman from the mine?”

“Wait, why are you calling me that, Mr. Helmet?”

The information broker spoke as if incredulous.

“Then, drunkard.”

“No, that’s not… Ah, I never introduced myself properly.”

As if just realizing she had never told me her name, the information broker shook her head.

Her seemingly unkempt hair swayed accordingly.

“Listen well, my name is…”

“Die!”

A black robe shouted and shot a crossbow.

I quickly pushed her aside and deflected the crossbow with my sword.

“Really, those guys have no manners…”

Looking angry, the information broker stared at the black robes.

Thanks to her taking one down earlier, there were only two left.

They no longer had crossbows, it seemed, as they drew their swords and charged.

Seeing them charging with quite a formidable momentum, I raised my sword.

The information broker whistled once and looked at me.

“Left? Right?”

“You’re going to help?”

When I asked sharply, the information broker nodded.

“I have a grudge against them for interrupting my self-introduction.”

I was dumbfounded that she was getting involved for such a trivial reason.

Still, I had to say something.

“Right.”

“Then I’ll take the left!”

The information broker immediately lunged at one of them.

I saw the other one who was charging together aim his sword at her.

“Too slow!”

I saw the information broker shout as she kicked off the ground and did an aerial flip.

Then, she extended her leg and sent the one she said she’d handle flying.

“You, dog!”

Immediately, the other one tried to support by targeting the information broker’s back.

I quickly jumped in and swung my sword at him.

-Clang!

He must have noticed my surprise attack, as he also swung his sword.

After exchanging a few sword strikes, I glanced at the information broker.

-Thud! Thud!

“Hey mister, are you drunk? Why is your body trembling so much?”

“Damn it…!”

I saw the information broker, who had taken a fighting stance with both arms raised to her face, pummeling the black robe with her fists.

‘She’s quite skilled.’

Judging by her movements and speed, the black robe was no match for her.

She even seemed to be toying with him.

I briefly thought she should finish him off and help me.

“Where are you looking!”

Thinking I had taken my attention off him, the man swung his sword at me.

I glanced at him and thought.

‘Slow.’

Compared to Rudger, this guy was much slower.

I easily blocked his attack by twisting the incoming sword.

I quickly tripped him, made him fall, and stabbed down with my sword.

Flowing like water, naturally.

My body moved on its own.

“Gack!”

I dealt with him instantly.

‘Was that training more effective than I thought?’

I was surprised at how cleanly and easily I handled it.

Meanwhile, I saw the black robe being beaten by the information broker drop his weapon.

“Then I’ll finish with this!”

The information broker very smoothly moved behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist.

Then, bending her knees, she lifted him up and slammed his head into the ground.

It was a clean German suplex.

“Gack…”

His neck must have broken, as the black robe was seen convulsing.

Soon the black robe’s movements stopped, and the information broker released her hold and stood up, dusting off her arms.

“Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve exercised.”

Smiling and moving her body around, she approached me.

“Wow, you fight pretty well?”

“You too.”

After giving that brief reply to her casual comment, I quickly turned away.

I went to find the black robe that the information broker had intercepted in mid-air.

‘There he is.’

He was lying motionless on the ground.

I approached and tapped his face to wake him up.

‘What?’

There was no response.

He seemed to be just a corpse.

‘This means I can’t extract information…’

While I was a bit confused, the information broker approached.

“Sorry, I broke his neck earlier.”

“What a waste of time.”

So he wasn’t unconscious, but dead.

I threw him down on the ground.

If I had kept that black robe alive, I might have extracted some more information, but it was too late now.

‘I should quietly retreat.’

I felt this was as far as I could go.

The information broker approached and smirked.

“Hey, I helped you. Don’t you have something for me?”

“You said it was a grudge for interrupting your self-introduction.”

“Let’s say our interests aligned, and I’m a bit short on money. Cut me some slack, big brother?”

What a dog.

I searched the fallen man’s pockets, took out what looked like a wallet, and stood up.

I tossed it to the information broker.

“Oh, this is good~ I was worried I wouldn’t get more money since I didn’t have any other information~”

“Good for you.”

There was no benefit in lingering here any longer.

Without saying anything more, I turned away.

“Use my services again~”

The information broker said something behind me, but I ignored it.

I needed to get away quickly before anyone else approached.

Now it was time to prepare for an attack during the grand subjugation.

+

“Well, that’s a shame.”

After saying that, the information broker approached the black robe from earlier.

She forcibly opened his mouth and put something in.

“Ugh…”

The black robe was alive.

“Good thing I controlled my strength.”

“Who…”

“You don’t need to know, hunting dog of the New Kingdom.”

The information broker said with a smile.

“What’s your purpose?”

“Ah~ I have many things I want to hear.”

The information broker picked up the black robe.

She began entering an alley, dragging him in that state.

The black robe, limp and being dragged, eventually became anxious and tried to move his body.

However, his body wouldn’t move.

‘What…’

As he tried to understand the situation, a voice was heard.

“Now it’s time for the rough sister.”

In the streetlight, the black robe could see the information broker’s face.

A considerable beauty with black hair.

Her mouth was smiling.

Her eyes were not.

“Now, I’ll extract everything you know.”

“You crazy, dog…”

“I hear that a lot.”

He shouldn’t be dragged away by this woman.

The black robe made one last struggle.

But his body wouldn’t move, and the woman dragged him away.

She showed a determination to never let her prey escape.

“Save…”

“No.”

The woman said with a smile.

“Mercy is what you need least.”

The black robe prayed.

He prayed that the god he had believed in would save him, that a miracle would happen.

Even though he thought that god wouldn’t listen to his prayers, he still prayed.

And so, the scenery of the deep alley became the last thing he ever saw.