episode_0015

“Oh my god…”

It was truly terrifying news that would make one turn pale. Could it be a giant monster? No, according to the guild master, it could really be a ‘sea god’. Whether or not he knew that the saint’s face was changing from moment to moment, the guild master continued his explanation.

“When the sea god came rushing in, Glenn panicked and forgot to return, fighting alongside the islanders. However, the sea god’s tentacles were so strong that resistance was meaningless, and he had no choice but to flee. However, since it was an island, there was almost no way to escape. Many people were killed in an instant. Even if he fled to the sea, the tentacles attacked people along the water. Adventurers, vassals and servants of nobles, and even people who had immigrated… In the midst of this terrible reality, Glenn luckily found the Duke of Arkwright’s ship and quickly boarded it. It was an escape ship prepared by the Duke of Arkwright, his entourage, and some of the crew as an emergency. However, the ship was also attacked by the monster’s tentacles. Glenn barely managed to repel the tentacles through a desperate fight and returned to the continent. The island was said to have been covered in horribly black tentacles. ”

The saint recalled her own experience.

She also remembered the terrible anecdotes she had experienced in the realm of the demon tribe. The demon king’s army consisted not only of demons, but also of many deformed monsters. They boasted strength that matched their horrific appearances, and the party of heroes had been in danger more than once. So, Glenn, who was not a warrior, and the people staying on the island must have felt hopeless.

“Mr. Glenn, you had a really horrible experience.”

“Yes. That’s right. Glenn, who successfully escaped, immediately arrested the Duke of Arclight and entered the palace as soon as he arrived on the continent. He informed His Majesty the King of the whole story of the incident and delivered the evidence. His Majesty accepted all the evidence in an unprecedented manner and immediately brought down the Duke of Arclight. As you know, it only took 15 days from the time he was accused to his execution. It was possible thanks to His Majesty’s firm decision, but it was also possible because the nobles who had invested in or cooperated with Arclight quickly abandoned the Duke’s family. ”

In aristocratic society, treason was a surefire way to ruin. As a result, other nobles, whether they were involved or not, rushed to denounce everything they knew about the Duke of Arkwright. The King planned to destroy only the ringleaders, and the other nobles would back down and secure their own necks. Instead, the Duke of Arkwright was condemned… with the most horrible pain the Saint knew.

Not only those who inherited Arklight’s blood, but also his vassals, their families, servants and their families were all executed or sold as slaves to various parts of the continent.

They weren’t even just slaves. They were sold naked after being subjected to horrible treatments such as cutting off their limbs, gouging out their eyes, and cutting out their tongues. Men were castrated and sold to sodomites, and women were handed over to brothels after having their limbs cut off and their eyes gouged out.

With the extinction of one family, the incident was concluded.

The saint remembered that bloody scene. After all the judgments were over, she had led a memorial service for those who had been harmed or killed by the conspiracy of the Duke of Arklight. As she recalled that solemn atmosphere, her heart grew even heavier.

“That’s how the great incident ended. The palace kept the whole incident a secret. If it was revealed that the island was inhabited by a sea god-like monster, those with dark intentions might do something. So the incident was simply announced as a treasonous plot by the Duke’s family. And Glenn, who was practically the only adventurer to experience and survive all of it…was deeply hurt. ”

“Huh? Mr. Glen…are you hurt?”

“No. I was deeply hurt.”

In that moment, images of Glenn from the past ten days flashed through the saint’s mind. That gloomy and dejected look that had bothered her since they first met. That depressed look.

“He broke down and eventually became a wreck, repeating words of self-reproach. He thought that if he continued like this, he might end up taking his own life.”

Besides that, there was a reason. At the time, not only Glenn but also many adventurers belonging to the Adventurer’s Guild participated in the development of the island upon the request of Duke Arclight.

Of course, with the exception of Glenn, most of them either died or were injured to the point where they would never be able to continue their adventures. However, if they lost Glenn here, the Adventurer’s Guild might fall into an unprecedented slump.

“I was afraid of losing him like that. First, the guild gave him a break. And I asked the king to let him rest for about a year, taking a break from his duties at the palace. Fortunately, His Majesty approved it in return for Glenn’s great achievements. I told him to read books and calm his mind. Come back when he wants to. However, I would never allow him to leave this guild. He nodded, and for over a year…he had been resting like this. ”

“Mr. Glen…”

Suddenly, sadness and regret filled the saint’s heart. Wounds. The saint, who knew well how deep the scars of the heart are, how great the pain is, and how long it does not go away, could not help but express her feelings in this way.

But why did Glenn, who was so sad, accept the request? The guild master smiled and said, knowing the question on the saint’s face.

“I know what you’re thinking. So, why did Glenn accept this commission?”

“Yes. Although he initially refused… after I personally invited Glenn… no, after I explained the situation in detail, he accepted my request. ”

“I see. Phew…”

The guild master tapped his teacup gently, paused, and then spoke again.

“Your Majesty, do you know that the Count Bronkhorst family has a deep connection with the Duke of Arkwright?”

“Ah, yes. I heard that the Bronchosts were originally a family that received a title for their merits from one of the vassals of the Duke of Arkwright. ”

“Yes. It is as common sense as a cat catching a mouse to associate Bronkhorst with the Duke of Arkwright. And Bronkhorst is also involved in the incident on the island I mentioned earlier.”

A slight chill ran down the saint’s body. Could it be that there was a connection…

“Yes. The Bronchosts are the family that invested the most assets and manpower in the purpose of the Arkwright family. And they are also the family that was the first to actively sell out their master when the Arkwright family fell. Glenn knew that. So, he had enough personal grudges. ”

I felt like all my questions were being answered at once. Things that I thought were indistinguishable were actually connected.

plural.

The shock overwhelmed her thoughts, and the saintess had no choice but to cover her mouth with her hand.

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‘My name is Glen! I’ve come to get my adventurer’s license!’

He was a brash boy. That was Glenn ten years ago. He believed that he could solve anything with his fists, and he actually did. After learning a little manners and dignity, and learning how to use his fists in various ways, his belief grew even stronger.

‘Is this enough? Hand it over quickly!’

The decision to hunt a giant boar was actually quite spontaneous. He asked the guild master, who was thinking about what task to give him, if he would give it to him if he hunted a huge one. The guild master nodded with a blank face at the suggestion, as if he hadn’t expected it, and the next day, he had to watch a huge boar carcass, a boy, and many onlookers gather in front of the guild. After that, he also forgot to use it cleverly.

‘Now, let me be clear. There are two reasons why you are losing. First, you are stupid. Second, you met me!’

After that, Glenn continued his adventures like a sledgehammer. The job of an adventurer seemed to exist for him. If he had a little bit of culture and solved the problem, he would have money and friendship. He used the money to save or buy food, and through meeting many colleagues, he learned how to get along with people and interact with them.

Three years ago, when he joined forces with his colleagues and personally defeated two of the Demon King’s henchmen, and received praise from the King himself, his spirits were sky-high. His confidence. His skills.

‘Damn it. You’re annoying me so much just because I have a fancy badge on.’

Rather, since he started wearing the gold badge, things that were not his style have increased. He had to follow around a nobleman with high reputation without much to do. He had to give up the request to defeat nearby bandits in order to protect the nobleman’s territory far away.

He had no choice but to do all sorts of things to satisfy the adventurous spirit of the noble young lady who was always whining. And the complicated and difficult missions that the king sometimes gave him didn’t pay much and were hard on his body and mind.

‘Wow, why are the salaries so high? Is this guy crazy?’

The one who approached him, who was so dissatisfied, was one of the vassals of the Duke of Arklight. With sweet words, he told him that the Duke of Arklight was developing a new region, and Glenn, who had been dissatisfied with not being able to go on adventures as an adventurer, gladly accepted the request despite the high compensation.

‘Hey, I knew it!’

And at the same time, a messenger from the royal family approached him. The order was to find out what Duke Arklight was up to, collect evidence, and arrest him if he caused any trouble. His good mood was quickly ruined, but he had become a man with common sense like an adventurer, so he swallowed his discontent and focused on his work.

‘What? Why are there these kids?’

‘Wow, it’s a kid. A kid.’

‘You guys, what are you talking about when you’re just kids? I’m an adult!’

‘Hahaha! You’re an adult, an adult!’

‘He’s a little adult, a little adult!’

‘What the heck, guys…’

Glenn, who had boarded the ship in anticipation of exploring the island, was greatly surprised by the village and the large number of ordinary people who greeted him as soon as he arrived. There were even quite a few children. The children played around as if they were the neighborhood elders rather than adventurers.

Moreover, the island was so terrifying that not even a single monster was visible. There was only one old underground ruin, but it was said that other adventurers were already exploring it. Glenn, who did not have enough knowledge to explore the ruins, could only sigh in disappointment.

All I could do was take turns guarding the village with other adventurers and play with the children who came to visit.

‘Wow, you’re really strong, hyung. You can even break rocks like that.’

‘He’s so strong for being so little! Will I be strong like him when I grow up?’

‘You guys are impossible. You guys. Especially you who call adults ‘kid, kid’. I won’t even let you train!’

‘Wow, that’s too much!’

‘So petty! As petty as he is tall!’

‘Hey, those guys? Over there!’

Of course, even in the midst of all this, he did not forget to carry out the king’s orders. Despite his small size, he managed to sneak in and extract all the information related to the duke’s conspiracy.

‘Oh my. I thought something was strange, but you were planning something like this.’

It was easy. There were many regrets, though. So Glenn spent his days on this insignificant island, playing with the children, waiting for the day he could return to the continent.

And then, that day came.

‘Oh my god. What is that!’

‘Run, run. You have to run away!’

‘Quickly, quickly, launch the boat! Everyone, get away from the island!’

‘Ugh, euaaaah!’

Those were giant tentacles that I had never seen before. Those tentacles that I couldn’t even guess where they came from slowly and nimbly attacked the coastal village. Glenn, who was flustered, tried to fight them off several times, but no matter how much he hit the tentacles, it was impossible with his bare hands. Even his secret weapon that he had practiced for a long time was not enough.

Eventually, in a desperate situation at the end of the dock, they quickly boarded the Arklight Duke’s last emergency measure after confirming it.

‘If you want to live, leave now… Wait a minute, people over there! We have to pick up people!’

‘Oh, that’s impossible! Even if we leave now, I doubt we’ll be able to avoid that!’

‘Don’t talk nonsense! People will die!’

‘Tongue, bro!’

‘Brother Glen!’

‘Save me, save me!’

‘Oh, no. No!!’

However, despite Glenn’s cries, the ship had no choice but to take a realistic approach. They barely managed to escape, but the survivors were left with nothing but despair. They could only watch the island in the distance, covered in tentacles, as it sailed away, leaving the wind to guide them.

‘You, you son of a bitch! Because of you, because of you, innocent people are dying!’

‘Heeek!’

‘Glenn! I understand your feelings, but… if you kill this guy now, the one responsible will disappear! First, you have to save his life!’

‘…I guess all I have to do is save his life?’

‘Ugh, euaaaah!’

An overwhelming sense of anger, despair, sadness, and fear filled Glenn’s mind. Even after he had finished venting his anger, even after he had arrived on the continent, even after the dukedom had been punished and all of them had disappeared into the morning dew on the execution ground, that twisted feeling, that terrible pain, did not improve.

‘If only I had paid a little more attention…’

The sight of countless people dying still lingered in my mind.

‘If only I, if only I were just a little stronger…’

The smiles of the children, who were having fun while making fun of themselves, never left their faces.

‘If I, if I had done just a little more…’

A feeling of overwhelming despair enveloped Glenn.

I didn’t want to do anything. I didn’t want to feel anything.

Rather, rather who…

‘Glenn, you. Have you ever thought of taking up reading as a hobby?’

There was someone who recommended something to me with a pitiful expression.

Ah. Who is that? That familiar beard.

Yes, Guild Master.

I was an adventurer. Of the Adventurer’s Guild.

But. I couldn’t defeat the monster. I couldn’t save the person.

A book? A bundle of papers with letters written on them? Why? If you read it, will the dead come back?

No way, no way! Nothing changes! Nothing, nothing!

However, in despair, he grabbed the book in his hands, desperately trying to grab onto straws.

And then, I got sucked in. I gave myself over to the flood of countless letters. My eyes hurt as I kept looking at them. The guild master recommended glasses. If possible, I got them that covered my entire face and were big enough to focus on reading the book.

He wanted to hide himself. From others. Above all, from himself. Without the energy or motivation to move, Glenn slowly began to be forgotten.

I didn’t want to go back to reality.

I didn’t even want to think about reality.

I couldn’t stand reality. It was hard to bear.

Little by little, my mind began to calm down and healing took place, but the thought of getting up again still did not occur to me.

At that time, I wasted my life without meaning, ignoring the advice of my colleagues and letting those who left in disappointment go by without holding on to them.

‘Please teach me martial arts. As soon as possible.’

A woman called the saint appeared before his eyes with a request.