Chapter 111: Prisoner Lee Han (4)

-Blood Cross? What is that? Some kind of Blood Cult ripoff?

-Right? You think so too, right?!

Since the status window guy was probably the only one in the world who understood Lee Han’s sentiments and romanticism, he really welcomed his statement. It affirmed that he wasn’t the only one feeling weirded out by it.

Still, it didn’t lessen the status window guy—or rather, Derrick’s dumbfoundedness.

-A force that originated from the temple? A group of parasites that was destroyed by the previous king but managed to survive somehow? What in the world is all that?

He muttered to himself repeatedly in bewilderment. It was the first time he had ever heard of such a group, hence why he was so confused.

-F-First of all, yes, I was part of the development team, but I wasn’t very high up in the ranks. I don’t know everything about the game. This Blood Cross group could be a setting that was scrapped by the planning team, or part of the setting from the original work that I don’t know about.

-The game and the original work, huh…

-I can tell you more about it if you want to…

-…No need. It’ll be convenient if I know more, but if I know too much, I might end up thinking too much and hurt my head instead. Just like you.

-I-I can’t deny that…

Just as Lee Han said, because he knew too much, Derrick’s mind was always filled with complicated things.

Some people might envy him and think that if they had that much information, they could do anything they wanted, but in reality…

-It feels awful…

In Derrick’s eyes, knowing too much was actually a poison. After all, no matter how much information one had, they still need the power and strength to utilize it and push it forward. But that wasn’t all.

-Unless someone has the power of the God of War and the power of an Aura User, they will not be able to use the information however they want.

Actually, it would be good enough if Derrick had one of the two, but he didn’t. Just like back when he told Lee Han that a monster would appear during the exam, he knew what was gonna happen, but he couldn’t do anything about it. This was why he was always so stressed, and why there were many nights when he failed to fall asleep.

In fact, if it wasn’t because he gained Lee Han as a trustworthy ally recently, he would probably still not be able to sleep well.

-Haaa… It’s as you said, Instructor. It’s more comfortable not knowing too much. I think I’d rather be an information vending machine.

-Rascal. You should try to be an Aura User yourself, or try to gain the same level of power as the God of War.

-…Neither of those are easy. Besides, I don’t want to do either of those….

Leveling one’s skills and getting more achievements wouldn’t be enough to turn someone into an Aura User. While to become someone at the level of the God of War, they’d need a strong enough political power to bring others together. Derrick had no ability or guts to do either.

-Trust me, you are someone who can do anything you want. You just need to be more confident.

-…You think too highly of me, Instructor. Anyway, that isn’t important. We need to focus on the fact that an unidentified force has appeared.

-Do you really not know anything? I mean, you even predicted the monster attack before.

-I just know that there are villains in this world. But, I’ve never heard of anyone who used ridiculous names like the ‘Blood Cross’.

-…

-Either my information is lacking or there’s an error somewhere. To find that error…I think it would be better for me to move together with you, Instructor.

-Hooo… Finally being proactive, hm?

-…Ahaha, it’s nothing special. I’m just following your words, Instructor.

-My words?

-Didn’t you tell me before? Be ‘responsible’ for whatever I do. I’m trying to do that.

Taking responsibility as the game developer. Derrick was trying to put that into practice.

That was why…

“Wow, how long has it been since we’ve had clean water?”

“The bread is soft, and the milk is fresh—as if it had been freshly squeezed. Just how did you get this kind of food in such a dangerous place?”

“Eeeeeeeeeee!!”

“S-Sir Arren, slow down. You’ll suffocate.”

“Cough! W-Water…!”

“…What did I tell you?”

Thanks to Derrick, the knights were able to enjoy warm meals and fresh milk like farmers enjoying the rain after a drought. [Inventory] was an amazing and fraudulent mystery that only players could use.

“I never thought you would know such a capable collaborator. I see you differently now, Lee Han.”

“You have quite a wide connection, Senior.”

“This time, I’ll acknowledge it.”

“Acknowledge what?“

“I’ll acknowledge it.”

“Right… Why am I even expecting something from you?”

“…”

As always Lee Han nagged the foolish Eighth Prince, but at the same time, he was also focusing on his conversation with Derrick.

“So, have you found out anything?”

[Not yet. I didn’t expect the tunnel to be so big. I know it’s the largest fertilizer production site in the kingdom, but I still underestimated its size. It’s at least as big as five amusement parks combined.]

“…It was that big?”

Just like Derrick, Lee Han knew the place was big, but he never expected it to be that big. Then again, it was a facility that supplied fertilizer to the entire kingdom—no, the entire Southern Continent. So, it was rather impossible for it to not be big.

“Exploring the whole place won’t be easy.”

[It’ll take me five days at least to go around the place.]

“Hmm.”

That was just the minimum estimation. If he had to look around in more detail, two weeks probably wouldn’t be enough. The problem here was that looking around wasn’t enough, as their goal was to find out something about an organization that might be hiding somewhere around this place.

Are we really in the right place?

Lee Han doubted what they were doing momentarily. This place was just one of the three sites that Isis was suspicious about, and the reason why they came here instead of the other sites was because they were following Isis’ intuition.

Was it a mistake to believe her intuition and come here?

… No, it’s definitely the right place!

However, Lee Han decided not to doubt her intuition any longer, not after she had shown her crazy foresight that was easily on the level of a mystical ability over and over again. So, he decided to trust her and thought that they were in the right place.

On the contrary, the more he distrusted her, the less he would find anything.

“Hmm, I guess you’ll have to work harder. I’ll also try my best to find it, but as a convict, my actions were quite limited.”

[Don’t worry, I’ll take care of the rest. Alright, I’m going to go around a bit more and come back.]

“Okay, see you in the evening.”

[Yes.]

Whoosh-!

His presence disappeared. Lee Han couldn’t help but marvel over the amazing stealth tech–no, Skill.

If that skill is just a little stronger, I probably wouldn’t be able to detect it.

Seriously, Status Window is just a cheat.

The guy had invisibility, stealth, and acceleration Skills all at once. It was as if he was a stealth aircraft in a human form.

As Lee Han was envying the guy like that…

“You there, knights from Britain.”

“?”

“It’s our first time meeting, but I can tell just by looking at your trained body that you’re quite skilled. Nice to meet you. My name is Mustang de Varga.”

A fool approached them, suddenly revealing his name.

As if they had to tremble at the mere mention of his name.

But they…

“??”

Just gave him a look which as if saying ‘What’s up with this idiot?’.

“…Y-You don’t know my name?”

As Mustang’s eyes shook in confusion, a sudden reaction came out.

“…Mustang? By any chance, are you the general who used to lead Britain’s Third Corps?”

Jake, the one who read the most newspapers among the group, mentioned the man’s background. As soon as he heard it, Mustang started to beam, however…

“Ohh!”

“The one they called the hidden supporter of Pendragon as his idiotic command helped Pendragon to win the war? The same guy who was suspected as a Pendragon’s spy?”

“…Oh.”

“The crazy guy who held a party in the middle of the battlefield—”

“T-That’s enough! That’s enough…!”

His happy expression didn’t last long as what was revealed next was his rather unfortunate background.

The general Mustang guy frowned before shouting in urgency as Jake kept on revealing his background.

However, it was too late, as everyone had heard what needed to be heard.

‘Wow, I’ve heard a lot about how Britain was doomed to fall, but to think that I got to see a living example of that. They made this kind of guy a general?’

‘They say incompetent allies are more dangerous than enemies…’

‘C-Can someone like that really become a general?’

‘I mean, if you think about it, they made you a commander of a Knight Order, so it isn’t a far-fetched idea.’

‘W-What are you trying to imply, huh?!’

Everyone threw him cold stares. With the revelation that he was an ‘incompetent idiot’ among all kinds of idiots in the world, it was hard for them to look at him favorably.

While receiving those judgmental stares, he opened his mouth. And as if to prove his incompetence, he…

“Ahem, anyway, if you know my name, you’ll know that I was your superior. State your name and affiliation and be polite to me!”

“…”

…Started to whine like that, asking for them to treat him politely—or rather, to serve him well. Needless to say, the four knights were struck speechless.

‘So this kind of idiot exists…’

‘I can’t believe I’m impressed at how incompetent someone could be…’

If one could assign levels to incompetence, then the guy in front of them would be at the level of Unrestrained¹ or even Profound,² otherwise, they wouldn’t be so impressed with him.

Then, at that moment…

“Huh? You want to be treated well even in prison? Don’t you have any conscience, you lowly guy?”

The White Lion of Pendragon—no, the spoiled kid, whose pride in his status pierced the sky, openly showed his displeasure and started an unnecessary argument.

“Lowly guy? How could you call me, the heir of the noble Varga Family, a lowly guy?”

“Because you are. I’ve never even heard of this Varga Family.”

“What! How dare you…!”

And so, a childish argument between the spoiled child of Pendragon and the troublemaker of Britain ensued.

Even though the only correct answer in this situation was to not engage in any conversation with this kind of idiot, seeing how the guy insisted on arguing with him, it was clear how much of a spoiled child he was.

Before long, their argument heated up.

With this, one could see how similar these two were.

They both were proud and confident in their bloodline.

Hence why those guys would never give in to the other.

They wouldn’t stop unless the other person bowed their head first.

That was why…

“This lowly guy, really—!”

“You dare curse at me!”

They grabbed each other by the collar and started fighting.

Even though it had only been five minutes since they had met. Nevertheless, no one stopped them. No, to be exact…

“What are they doing?”

“Hooo… They’re still so energetic…”

It would be more accurate to say that the people around them didn’t have the strength to stop them. They were already exhausted from fighting the Mini Worms, no one had the strength to stop the two, or even watch them, actually.

From the perspective of the convicts, it didn’t matter at all whether there was a fight or who won.

However…

“General Mustang, please stop fighting. After all, aren’t they your fellow ‘countrymen’? Shouldn’t you convince them to join forces at a time like this?”

“But this guy was the one who insulted me first—!”

“Haha, calm down, calm down.”

“…Hmm.”

An unusually good-looking man calmed Mustang down, and with that, the commotion quickly came to an end.

“Please forgive him. General Mustang didn’t do all this because he had bad intentions. He was just happy to see fellow knights from Britain. Let me reiterate, he doesn’t have any ill intentions, haha.”

“…”

“Ah, right! How could I be so mannerless? My name is Roy Bant. Please call me Roy.”

“…Hmm.”

Roy Bant, who approached them with a smiling face and shook their hand, seemed to be an upright young man. He looked like a capable civil servant—a harmless man without any fighting ability.

“Sir Bant! Are you telling me to leave these rude people alone?!”

“General, aren’t they knights from your hometown? Besides, it doesn’t seem like they’re from the corps you led, so isn’t that a fortunate thing for you?”

“T-that’s…”

Mustang flinched, as he was reminded of his own mistake. After all, his corps was effectively routed due to his own trolling. If he wasn’t aware of that, he would be worse than even an animal.

With that, he shut his mouth, while Roy Bant, wearing a relieved expression on his face, turned his gaze back to the four knights.

“We’ve shown you such an embarrassing sight.”

“No, only that one guy picked a fight with him anyway, so it doesn’t really matter.”

“Haha, that’s fortunate… But, can I get your names?”

“My name is Lee Han.”

“…Lihan?”

“Hmm, it’s been a while since I’ve heard that.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. Just call me Lihan.”

“Did I do something rude without knowing…?”

“Nope. More importantly, what’s your relationship with that guy?”

“…?”

Towards Lee Han, who was showing a sudden and unnatural kindness, Roy Bant gave him a strange look. Nevertheless, he still answered his question sincerely.

“…I met General Mustang in this place. The general saved me when I was almost killed by the worms. He was my savior.”

“Hahahaha! Right, right, that happened!”

Mustang laughed exaggeratedly, as if he had forgotten about what happened before, then he patted Roy Bant on the shoulder as if telling him to talk more about his feats.

It must have been unpleasant for him, but Roy Bant’s smile didn’t falter. And when people’s favorability toward Mustang was starting to fall even further…

“That’s strange. In my eyes, you aren’t weak enough to the point that you need to receive help from someone less skilled than you.”

“…”

…Lee Han remarked as such, making Roy Bant’s smiling face turn stiff..

“Strange, indeed.”

“What…are you talking about…?”

“Hm? You don’t understand? Well, I’m trying to say that you’re suspicious, you fuck.”

“!!?”

Whoosh!

Thud-!

“…”

“Oho, you blocked that.”

“Ha, this crazy—!”

Lee Han’s fist was definitely not something that a normal person could block. Especially when the fist was filled with the intent to kill, like this one. And yet, Roy Bant easily blocked that fist. This was good enough evidence…

“Seems like you are glad you took the antidote after betraying your lifesaver?”

“…Damn it.”

That he was using Combat Technique. Almost immediately, his eyes were filled with murderous intent.

And the moment Lee Han caught sight of it…

“Found you.”

Suspicious bastard.

He happily extended his fist at him.

Bang-!

Lee Han’s and Roy Bant’s fists collided.

A loud explosion—like a tire bursting—rang out one after another. Each time the sound rang out, it rang out so loudly that it could injure the listener’s eardrums.

Whoosh-!

Roy Bant dished out a kick, creating a snake-like trajectory, so complex that anyone would think that he was actually a snake doing a Brazilian Kick.

And he did multiple of such kicks, dishing one kick after another at Lee Han. But, the knight wasn’t distracted by the complex movements at all.

Thud-!

“Is that all?”

“!”

Because he blocked every single one of them with ease.

Just by looking at the kicks’ movements, he easily predicted their paths and blocked it, leaving Roy Bant astonished.

It seemed like this was the first time he had seen his technique being blocked so easily.

Whoosh-!

However, as soon as he knew that his technique was blocked, Roy Bant showed even more powerful and flashy techniques. In Lee Han’s eyes, the technique resembled Muay Thai, as it possessed outstanding practicality and lethality.

It was obvious from a glance that he had properly learned the technique and had perfected it in real combat.

Boom-!

Highly skilled technique, body, and Combat Technique. The attack from the guy, who had reached the level of perfection in those three aspects, had the power to break rocks and even tear apart wild beasts.

A kick came flying with such sharpness, leaving a footprint on the ground.

Accompanied by a footwork that was even more dazzling than before.

Wow, his footwork is a work of art.

Unlike most knights in Pendragon—who developed more of their martial arts and wrestling techniques, the knights of Britain developed their footwork to the extreme levels. He had never properly fought a knight from Britain, so it was his first time seeing it, but it didn’t stop him from admiring the footwork.

That was why…

What a pity, no matter how much you fly and crawl, you’re only second to last.

It was clearly a good technique, but unfortunately, he had witnessed more advanced techniques than what he showed several times this year.

In his eyes, Roy Bant’s technique was only second to last, as it was only slightly better than Arren’s technique.

Towards the flashy footwork which was threatening him…

Bang-!

“Keuuuuk…!”

“Too light. Put more weight into it.”

He showed what simple ignorance would bring if one were to attack someone else with it. A strange sight where the person who was attacking was the one who got hurt ensued.

Then again, this was an inevitable outcome. Though his attack was powerful enough to break rocks, it wasn’t powerful enough to break steel.

Vajra Body.

And of course, it was far from enough to even move Lee Han’s strong body. Before long, Lee Han grabbed the guy’s ankle—who was writhing in pain—with one hand and…

Clench-!

Boom-!

Slammed him down onto the ground.

It was an ignorant swing with no technique or anything.

“Ahhhhh…!”

“I’ve only slammed you twice, why are you making so much fuss?”

“This! This can’t be—!!”

“Oho, you’re still fine, I see.”

Bang-!

Before the guy could say anything further, Lee Han swung him again.

Bang-!

In the middle of the slams, the guy tried to kick him, attempting a desperate struggle, but…

“At least you’re three times better than that spoiled rascal.”

Lee Han lifted him up high, as if he respected his strong will and skills.

BAAANG-!

Then, he gave him peace.

Crack-!

Or rather, a German Suplex.

As he slammed the guy down, a cracking sound entered his ears, prompting him to grimace.

Ah, wait… I shouldn’t have done that…

He began to worry what was going to happen to the plan if the guy’s head was broken.

But just like how the saying went, ‘regret always comes too late’.