episode_0056

After leaving the island with my doubts behind me, I headed straight to the villa to join my group.

On the way, I kept having anxious thoughts that something might have happened to the group.

“Wade… !”

Fortunately, the group was safe.

“Wade… !”

“Way, Mr. Wade… … .”

“I’m glad you’re safe.”

“… … .”

Starting with Mary, everyone in the group recognized me and seemed to know me.

However, what was in those eyes was not entirely joy and concern for me.

Questions and astonishment also seemed to have a place in it.

This was something that could not be helped.

Because I single-handedly killed the tentacle wolf that Ethan assessed as a disaster-level monster, right in front of them.

To be honest, I couldn’t help but smile bitterly about the fact that I had been hiding for so long being revealed, but there was nothing I could do about this.

If I hadn’t stepped in and dealt with it, the situation would have definitely gone in a bad direction.

As usual, I ended up revealing my skills unintentionally, but I wasn’t that anxious.

Although my companions did not know the exact level, they knew that I was hiding some level of skill, and more than anything, I thought that they were not people who would talk lightly about my true skill just because they knew it.

“Why did you stop by the island?”

At that time, someone asked in a calm tone, as if they didn’t care about that.

It was Estelle.

Perhaps because she knew something about my skills, she didn’t seem surprised like the rest of the group.

However, it was difficult for me to answer the question about the island right away.

“I’ll explain that later.”

“I understand.”

Estelle nodded gently.

This is probably because she knows that this situation is not appropriate for conversation.

Putting aside the details, the group decided to focus on the present again.

Even though the group was safe, the octopus people were still hanging around.

Because of this, I had to immediately participate in the monster hunt.

My body and mental strength were practically at their limits, but considering the surrounding situation, I had no time to rest.

Fortunately, the octopus people were nothing special except that they had a lot of pages.

Anyway, the group I joined cleared out the octopus people at a faster rate than before.

The fight continued like that, and by the time the surroundings had settled down to some extent.

“What, is it over already?”

Ethan is back.

With a face that shows signs of being quite tired.

Aside from the face, there were minor scratches here and there and the worn-out state of the clothes made it look like they had been through quite a fierce battle.

But there seemed to be no noticeable injuries.

This was a big deal.

No matter how advanced a warrior is, a disaster level monster is not an easy opponent.

Considering the time it took, it is fair to say that he cannot use sword techniques or equivalent techniques.

Nevertheless, he ended up defeating the tentacle wolf single-handedly.

This meant that he had overcome the tentacle wolf’s outrageous defense and regenerative abilities in a somewhat ignorant way.

Considering the monstrous nature of not being able to inflict any meaningful wounds even with a sword mixed with intent, what Ethan committed was worthy of being called a feat.

That’s why I look at him with admiration.

“… This crazy guy doesn’t have a single wound.”

Ethan actually looked at me with tired eyes.

Actually, on the outside, I seem to be more sane.

Because I didn’t get a single wound in my fight with the tentacle wolf.

But that’s purely because I can use the sword.

Perhaps, if Ethan had been able to use his sword, he would have cut down two tentacle wolves by himself the moment they appeared.

Just looking at the current situation, Ethan only looked dirty on the outside, and he had much more energy left than I did.

So, to be honest, it felt unfair to receive those looks, but I decided to postpone resolving that unfairness until later.

Even Ethan joined in, and the monster hunting sped up even more.

Not long after Ethan joined, the surrounding area was all cleared up, and the group started chasing the monsters that had escaped in different directions without any time to rest.

After running around for a while, the crack commotion finally came to an end.

***

The crack commotion that suddenly struck us ended without significant damage, despite its ridiculous scale.

There were no casualties among the group, and external damage was not significant.

As the octopus people spread out in all directions, there was no damage to civilians, but fortunately, not many people were harmed.

This was because most of the vacationers who flocked to the lake noticed something strange in the pasture and evacuated.

However, even though the damage was not that great, rumors of the crack commotion spread across the continent at an incredible speed.

It was natural. The appearance of a crack so gigantic that one wonders if it has ever been observed, two monsters presumed to be calamitous, and a number of monsters that are difficult to count are rare events throughout the history of the continent.

Additionally, there were many eyewitnesses, so it was inevitable that the rumor would spread quickly.

The rumor about the crack scandal spread overnight, but there was something missing.

The part about those who dealt with two catastrophic monsters and brought the situation under control.

This was because we intentionally hid our identity.

After settling the situation and taking care of our belongings, we hurriedly left the lakeside.

It was obvious that if it became known that we were involved in this incident and that we had taken care of most of the monsters, the attention of the entire continent would be focused on us.

That wasn’t what we wanted, so we hid our identity and erased our traces.

Thus, an uproar caused by unexpected news and an unanswered question remained on the continent.

Meanwhile, what happened to us, of course, we went back to Lakenwood.

I was accompanied by a customer named Ethan who wasn’t there when I went.

To be honest, I didn’t expect Ethan to accompany me, but I had no reason or justification to refuse his companionship.

As for this incident, it probably would have turned into a very serious accident if Ethan hadn’t been there.

Two tentacle wolves, I may have been able to twist my whole body to deal with them, but if I had, I wouldn’t have been able to deal with the island’s monsters.

There is also a possibility that he was stuck without being able to escape.

From that perspective, it was difficult to refuse Ethan’s companionship.

Besides, I had something else to talk about with him.

However, I was worried that Ethan’s unpredictable personality might cause a commotion, but Ethan was surprisingly good at hiding his identity, did not cause a big fuss, and was also polite to the Viscount and his wife.

Anyway, when we returned to the mansion with an unscheduled guest.

The Viscount and his wife reacted very strongly.

I was anxious and worried whether my precious daughter and the guests were hurt in any way.

Fortunately, it sank after confirming that everyone was safe, but it was still quite a big deal.

On the other hand, my father.

“… Are you hurt?”

“… Yes.”

“… That’s it then.”

This was the reaction.

At this calm greeting, the group looked at me and my father with strange eyes, but I didn’t say anything.

Because my relationship with my father has always been like this.

Anyway, after the sudden non-daily life, we returned to our daily lives.

***

“So, you couldn’t retrieve the new item?”

dark room.

In a room where you can barely distinguish the outlines of objects thanks to the dim light.

One person let out a loud voice.

“… Yes.”

The answer came from a little further down.

There, a man wrapped in a robe was prostrating towards the human being.

“… … .”

And then, silence fell in the room.

“… … .”

In that heavy silence, the prostrate man was sweating coldly.

If Inyoung’s feelings were hurt, a big disaster would have happened.

The man desperately hoped that he would be lenient, but he knew better than anyone that that was not possible.

It would not be surprising if a large-scale purge was carried out due to the lack of respect for the police.

Therefore, the man closed his eyes tightly, preparing for the coming future.

However.

“I see.”

Inyoung’s reaction was calm.

Completely different from what the man expected.

“… … ?”

It was so surprising that the man couldn’t help but reflexively raise his head with a puzzled look in his eyes.

I thought my head would blow off at any moment, but you reacted so calmly?

“Is there any problem?”

“Oh, no… !”

As if noticing the man’s reaction, Inyoung asked, and in response to that question, the man quickly lowered his head again.

‘why… ?’

This is definitely not an issue to be taken lightly.

It was a serious matter that was understandable even if the organization was completely turned upside down because of this incident.

However, Inyoung’s reaction was very calm.

As if he doesn’t really care about this incident.

‘… Whatever the reason.’

I couldn’t understand it, but it wasn’t a bad thing.

No, it was actually a good thing.

It meant that his life did not end today.

“What is the specific situation?”

“… The cracks that appeared on the lakeshore near Lakenwood seem certain to have been caused by Brian.”

“I guess so.”

After hearing the man’s information, Inyoung calmly nodded.

Opening such a huge crack and causing two disastrous alien monsters to appear at the same time would be impossible without a divine object or something equivalent to it.

“What is the whereabouts of the new object?”

“That’s… … .”

The man closed his eyes tightly and then spoke.

“It appears that a ‘great being’ took it.”

“… I see.”

Inyoung nodded again.

Soon after, Inyoung’s mouth opened again.

“Has it been revealed who disposed of the two disaster-level animals?”

“That… Because the scene was so messy and there were almost no traces left, the exact identity could not be determined… Judging by the faint traces left behind, it is presumed that a Ten Sword-class warrior was involved.”

“He’s a ten-geom level warrior… I see.”

Inyoung nodded for the last time.

Then he spoke in a calm tone.

“Go out.”

“… Yes.”

In response to Inyoung’s congratulatory message, the man left the room without the slightest hesitation and with fluid movements.

‘I lived… !’

I don’t know what happened or why Inyoung was so calm, but she survived anyway.

Rather than pouring cold water on this joy by asking unnecessary questions, the man decided to be thankful that his life did not end today, and walked away with lighter steps.

***

The man left the room, and Inyoung was finally left alone in the dark room.

How long did the silence last in the room where I was alone?

Suddenly Inyoung opened her mouth.

“… Once again, the tide has changed.”

The planned flow has changed.

And twice.

A huge change that cannot be dismissed as a mere coincidence has already occurred once.

And this time too, a variable occurred.

Originally, disaster would have descended on royalties.

The apostle of the ‘Great Being’ would have descended, causing irreparable damage to humanity.

A variable appeared and changed that future.

“Variable… D.”

Recalling memories from the distant past, now blurred.

Inyoung raised her head.

“It can’t be repeated.”

In the silent darkness, only Inyoung’s eyes flashed.