Ch.44Please stop the indiscriminate hate and criticism.

# 1.

Hestia Gardner.

A woman who had spent her entire life being overly conscious of others, as an unawakened member of the Gardner family.

Because of this, she had become quick-witted and skilled at analyzing and dealing with others.

To be honest, up to this point, it was quite common.

These were ordinary character traits and settings that any character could have.

But as Nahan had just mentioned, Hestia was an “intelligent” woman.

Unlike her frail body, her intelligence was exceptional, and when combined with her quick perception and ability to analyze others, the result was remarkable.

‘The way of handling gazes, the timing of swallowing saliva, the pauses between a series of movements.’

Her keen intuition, honed to sharpness, penetrated the habits she had noticed through observation, accurately identifying the commonality between the two individuals.

That commonality was the gaps in Nahan’s acting that he had momentarily missed,

-“Don’t worry. I have no intention of killing you.”

-“Free Priest Ian Red greets the intelligent lady of the Gardner family.”

It was when the true self of “Nahan” had shown through, rather than “Black Wolf” or “Ian Red,” though to her, it simply appeared as a commonality.

That’s why she opened her mouth.

“…Black Wolf?”

As if she had blurted it out unconsciously, with uncertainty and doubt.

But in reality, it was suspicion bordering on certainty.

The situation,

The circumstances,

Even the small gaps she had discovered.

After considering everything, it was clear that the man before her was indeed Black Wolf.

“……”

“……”

Hestia observed his reaction.

Of course, if he truly was Black Wolf, she would most likely die.

But if that meant recovering the “Celestial Shield” and suppressing the war?

If it meant exchanging her life—a burden to her family who couldn’t even walk—for the lives of hundreds of thousands of citizens?

‘Gladly.’

Having made up her mind, Hestia kept her fishing line cast, waiting for the other party to show definitive proof.

‘So if you are indeed Black Wolf, take the bait.’

She would gladly sacrifice her one life to save tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, millions of citizens.

After a moment of silence.

Nahan carefully raised his hand, his chestnut-brown eyes narrowing.

‘…Is he going to kill me?’

Since I’m the only one who knows his identity, is he trying to silence me?

‘But it’s useless.’

By special order of the family head, numerous warriors were hiding all around to protect her.

Even so, the fact that she would die at Black Wolf’s hands wouldn’t change, but with so many warriors and the hero party—Gwangmyeong—nearby,

‘Somehow they could capture him and at least find out the location of the Celestial Shield.’

So she was prepared to die without regret.

‘I would be more useful that way.’

Without the slightest change in expression,

Just as the woman who considered herself a disgrace to her family prepared for death.

Nahan scratched the back of his head with his raised hand and grinned.

“Well, I was trying to hide it, but since you recognized me first, I don’t know what to do with myself.”

“…Eh?”

The unexpectedly quick admission she had feared.

Thanks to that, Hestia let out a dumbfounded sound and was trying to think of what to say next when.

【Stage 3 – Method is activating.】

【You are now ‘Ian Red’.】

Nahan instantly raised his <Acting> level and knelt on one knee before her.

“I am Free Priest Ian Red, who confirmed your survival from that ‘Black Wolf’.”

A warm, considerate gesture, matching her eye level since she couldn’t walk.

For a moment, Hestia felt an involuntary sense of goodwill, but she quickly composed herself.

‘Get a grip.’

The way of handling gazes,

The timing of swallowing saliva,

The pauses between a series of movements.

The possibility that the man before her was Black Wolf…

“…Huh?”

The chestnut-brown eyes that met Nahan’s again shook violently.

The habits Hestia had identified were things that people couldn’t easily change.

Even if one were acting as someone else, it would be impossible to maintain it consistently.

That’s why 90% of her certainty was based on circumstantial evidence, and the remaining 10% on habits that convinced her the man before her, ‘Ian Red,’ was ‘Black Wolf,’ but,

“My lady?”

All evidence had suddenly vanished.

‘…Did I make a mistake?’

Was it really just a coincidence that what I saw in that moment overlapped with ‘Black Wolf’?

Or was it an act?

‘No. Even trained spies couldn’t perfectly change their unique biological rhythms.’

Whatever the case, maintaining silence any longer would only arouse suspicion.

With a gentle smile, Hestia bowed her head to Nahan.

“I’ve heard a lot about you. Thanks to the priest’s information about my survival, I was able to return alive like this.”

“How could that be my merit? It was due to your ladyship’s perseverance, the heroes’ courage, and Lady Aria’s blessing.”

Ian Red.

The free priest who, when everyone thought she was dead, used his granted power to inform the hero.

A kind and humble man who, despite maintaining formality, appeared free and comfortable.

Not a single trace of the terrible and powerful aura that emanated from Black Wolf could be found.

‘Was it a mistake?’

While everyone has different biological rhythms, they sometimes overlap.

‘…Yes. I’ve been dealing with too much lately and must have become overly sensitive without realizing it.’

Hestia was intelligent.

That’s why she clearly understood her own state, and after recalculating with her poor condition in mind, she reached a new conclusion.

‘Ian Red is not Black Wolf.’

Of course, she still had doubts, and the basis for those doubts was solid, so,

‘Let me check one last time.’

If the man before her was Black Wolf, he would instinctively react to an unexpected attack.

“Have you eaten yet?”

“I was actually starting to get hungry and was thinking of finding something to eat.”

“Finding something? Priest, you are a benefactor to our Gardner family. We will provide whatever you desire.”

As Hestia continued the conversation naturally, she subtly grasped the dagger in her possession.

“Though I am a free priest, how could I accept rewards as a member of the clergy? I am grateful just to be remembered like this.”

A smile that seemed completely off guard.

‘If I roll the wheelchair just one span more, there’s a slight step. When it tilts, I’ll pretend to make a mistake and stab the dagger into his neck. Or I’ll stop midway, and if he is Black Wolf, then all the way—’

Having instantly formulated her plan, Hestia rolled the wheels as intended.

“No, I insist that I—”

Clunk!

As the wheelchair tilted at the slight step, the dagger she had been holding in her bosom suddenly protruded.

‘He might notice and take a small attack. I must aim for a vital spot.’

Even while falling chaotically, Hestia, who had “accidentally” gripped her “self-defense dagger” tightly, swung the blade toward Nahan’s heart,

‘Got it.’

As her body moved as expected, she smiled faintly while observing the outcome.

“My lady!!”

Nahan rushed forward.

And at a speed that,

“It’s dangerous!!”

A frail free priest, as Hestia thought, could never achieve.

“Ah, wai—!!”

Once the plan had gone awry, it was already too late.

Thunk!

The cold sensation of a sharp blade tearing through flesh and the warm blood covering her hand.

Crash!!

The two ended up tumbling on the floor, and when Hestia quickly raised her head, what she saw was.

“Are you alright?”

Nahan, still smiling, and,

…Gulp.

Blood flowing from his abdomen, where the blade had penetrated deeply enough to be completely swallowed.

“P-Priest!! Is anyone there?! We have an injured person here!!”

“I’m… fine. Please calm down.”

“But I…!!”

“Everyone makes mistakes, don’t they?”

“Ah…!! Priest!!”

To think she had suspected such a person of being Black Wolf.

Only then did Hestia realize what she had done.

‘I heard from the hero that the priest’s power was minimal.’

That’s why he must have trained his body, and she had missed his reaction speed because of that.

‘If only I had thought a little, just a little more…!!’

The priest wouldn’t have been hurt.

“Ugh…!”

When Hestia’s fingertips inadvertently brushed against the dagger, Nahan let out a groan.

“Ah!! I’m sorry, I’m so sorry…!!”

The flustered Hestia hurriedly raised her upper body, and at the same time, she saw it.

Nahan was cradling the edge of a rock that had been hidden by a slight mound, right where her head would have fallen.

While she had tried to stab him with the dagger, he had been solely concerned for her safety.

“Ah…!!”

As guilt washed over her, her chestnut-brown eyes began to moisten, when

Nahan whispered to Hestia with the same faint smile as before.

“I was… trying to… hide it, but since you… recognized me first, I don’t… know what to do… with myself.”

In the same playful yet kind tone he had first used when addressing her suspicions.

Shortly after.

“Over there!!”

“Don’t remove the dagger!!”

“Take your hands off, now!!”

The situation was relayed to the warriors guarding Hestia, and several mages rushed over.

“I’ll count to three and then pull it out.”

“Phew… I’m ready.”

“THREE!!!!”

Squelch!

“Holy sh…!!”

The dagger pulled out in one go,

The wound healing rapidly,

And,

‘Goddamnfuckingshitisitreallythishardtosurvivecanmyluckgetanyworse?!!’

Nahan, continuing to act as ‘Ian Red’ until the end, while inwardly swallowing a string of curses.

Hestia falling by chance,

The dagger in her hand by chance,

The dagger stabbing me by chance.

‘Is this some kind of cosmic joke?’

And now, is Ilsik going to attack right now too?

“KYAAAAH!!!”

“In-intruders are attacking!!”

“What!? Could it be those Black Wolf bastards!?”

“…Oh for fuck’s sake.”

For the record, the last comment was from Nahan.

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◆ Mission Conditions.

1. Apply medicine to Asha’s face. (Achieved!)

2. Attend the party with Gwangmyeong. (Achieved!)

3. Have a conversation with <Hestia>. (Achieved!)

4. Stop <Ilsik>’s attack. (…In progress.)