episode_0299

A dark night road.

It’s Friday, time to spend quality time after most company employees have left work and company dinners are over.

Due to the darkness that falls at this time of night, visibility is limited.

Additionally, terrain features located along the road secondarily limit the field of vision.

Finally, the field of view was triply limited for another reason.

Yet the car continues on without a care.

On this night road.

On this road.

Without even knowing what the heck was going on.

Soon the vehicle begins moving towards its final destination.

Pass the last red light and reach the intersection.

Predicted location.

Exact time.

Something was prepared that the parties were completely unaware of.

A sign that had recently been taken down for renovations blocked that exact view, and it made the news when a middle-aged woman was killed in a traffic accident when her car was struck by another vehicle.

but.

-Booow!

──!

The rear-end collision that should have occurred at the intersection goes nowhere.

By someone who put a huge crack in this plan.

She was fine.

She didn’t even hear this sound and just went on her way.

That is, I don’t know anything.

It is not known what happened.

Because the vehicle that collided with the car in question was not the woman’s car, but a high school student’s delivery bike.

The incident was somehow concluded well.

Afterwards, Minhyuk wakes up in the hospital room.

As usual, his family asked him where and what he had been doing to get so hurt.

“I guess it’s just because I’m a lesser person.”

He didn’t answer the question about the truth of that day.

***

-Tiring!

▶Hidden Memorial has ended.◀

When I see the scene shown in the memorial, I vaguely remember it.

In an attempt to disrupt the planned plan, he brought his bike out of the blue and covered up the attempted murder by disguising it as a rear-end collision as a real accident.

…That was really stupid.

Because of that, my whole body was in tatters.

In the midst of all that, when the guy who was planning the murder got really angry and attacked me, I had to fight him with all my might.

Observe your opponent’s movements carefully.

I had to move and subdue a body that seemed ready to collapse at any moment.

Fortunately, the opponent was also badly injured and his movements were slow, so the subduing itself was easy, but it wasn’t all that easy.

I had to take the cell phone that would be used as evidence in advance and also buy time until the police arrived.

I was using all my mental power to stall for time, and it was getting to the point where I was really exhausted.

The incident was brought to a close with the arrival of the police.

To arrest the criminal who was preparing the murder plan and the person who ordered it.

That was the whole story of the incident, another memory of mine that I had forgotten until now.

“…Yes. My memory. Not Karsane’s memorial.”

With a heavy sigh, I recall this again.

I still wonder why it showed my reality and not Karsene’s past…

Thanks to that, I also ended up realizing who I had to protect in this episode.

Of course, maybe that’s a wrong idea.

You may have made a hasty judgment based on limited information.

But somehow my intuition and past experiences told me so.

▶We will pay compensation.◀

▶Search through the man’s chest to obtain items.◀

-Ugh.

You can check the missing information. As I pulled out one of the objects sticking out from the arms of the man I had knocked out, the status window popped up again.

-Tiring!

▶You have acquired the item!◀

◆A mysterious note.

I opened the note without thinking.

Although there were only a few short phrases written inside the note, I couldn’t shake the strange feeling of discomfort.

The exact time is written.

It’s as if he knows the entire schedule of the founding of the country.

The route is precisely identified among wide areas.

In the founding of the country, it was specified how to avoid all eyes.

and.

There were eerie instructions given on how to use certain items.

I know what the object is used for.

I can guess how it will be used and what will happen.

Although no explanation was written in detail, I could tell.

It was none other than a request for someone’s assassination.

This confirms the kill.

There is no need to even use elimination.

Even if you just look at this note, there’s only one person that’s being targeted.

“…This time too, okay.”

This time again, the person I was supposed to protect was the person called ‘mother’ in this house.

***

“…”

Now, while the foundation of the nation is in full swing.

Isabella suddenly glanced around.

“Um…”

When Claire asked where Karsane had gone, he replied that he was busy as he was in charge of the security and safety organization, but Isabella couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

Of course, I wasn’t suspicious of the child.

Didn’t you complete the training course of the 1st Knights of the Bagrand Dukes without any reservations?

After completing his training with a report of excellent performance, Karsain is a worthy knight.

However, it was not easy to manage the situation by deploying guards and receiving reports on small incidents on a daily basis within this tight schedule.

Isabella tries to ease her worries a little by tapping the seat with her fingers, but eventually she gets up from her seat.

‘I should have gone back for inspection anyway. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to give Karsane a break while I’m at it.’

Making excuses like that.

“When Claire gets back, tell her I have something to do, so I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay, Duchess.”

Isabella gets up from her seat and walks away lightly.

Her original destination would have been a crowded hallway, such as the infirmary, the steam room where servants were resting, or the reception room where guests were gathered, but now she takes a completely different path.

Because Carcein will be on the command side now.

The command and control room are located directly opposite, and the imperial ceremonial area blocks this path. For now, it’s a long way around.

But if you go past that dark alley, you can get there without any trouble.

What if it’s a little gloomy?

As it was the founding day, Isabella thought nothing would happen and entered the middle of the alley without noticing the awkwardness.

however.

-Kwaruruk!

“What, what is it? What the…!”

Suddenly, the path she was supposed to walk was blocked.

By rocks that suddenly collapsed.

“I almost got seriously hurt. How could this happen…”

Although a little surprised, Isabella was unhurt.

It’s good news that there aren’t even any minor scratches, but it doesn’t avoid questions.

“Why on earth did this rock suddenly fall down the alley?”

Looking around, there is no trace of poor construction.

It is not enough to say that it was used as a building material or for a purpose.

Even if we make a few concessions and assume that something like this is used in the founding of the country, it is the same.

There’s no reason for me to fall at this timing near an alley like this…

“Okay. That’s not the problem right now.”

You can ask the employees about small things when you get there.

The urgent task now was to advise Karsain to rest and return his work to him.

***

A mysterious man looks around, startled by a strange sound.

When I came to my senses, the path I had come back on was blocked by a rock.

“Ugh…! What the heck is this…!”

And this time, the same noise occurs from the front.

The bright light was blocked, creating a dark shadow.

The man, who had been looking around with bewildered eyes, soon swallowed dry saliva.

“What the hell is this? I didn’t even activate the magic tool, so why is it falling now?”

This wasn’t the original plan.

Isabella should have been brought in, as it was certain that she would be passing through this alley at exactly this time.

I had to isolate her in this alley, take her away without anyone knowing, and have her listed as missing, just like her husband and her own son.

However, due to the magical tool working on its own, Isabella, and he alone, ended up being isolated here.

“…There’s nothing I can do. Even if it causes a bit of a commotion, I have no choice but to remove it myself.”

-Swish!

He broke the magic tool that had become useless.

And at that moment, when I was trying to break through the blocked entrance with the mana loaded on my sword.

“Well. Who sent it?”

“…!”

-Kaaaang!

Someone’s sword energy, swung while falling from the air, aimed straight at the sword and pushed it back.

Then came a series of threatening attacks without warning.

It is true that they were helplessly pushed back by unexpected attacks, but each and every attack was extremely sophisticated and heavy. They are not an opponent to be taken lightly.

The voice was one I knew well.

That’s why it’s even more confusing.

‘…Is this really Carcein?’

At that time, I was panicking and keeping my distance.

The hem of the hood falls apart into shreds.

“As expected, it was you. I was wondering why Theo Ramstar was suddenly released. Then it seems like you were targeting the dukedom from the beginning.”

Anyway, my identity has been revealed for a long time. The man answered, throwing off his hood that was cut off here and there.

“I won’t deny it, Karsain. But, you are strange.”

“What?”

“What I was trying to do was to free you from the Duke.”

When he felt the time was right, he relayed his master’s orders.

“The Duke accepted you and even registered you, but he didn’t treat you properly. Isn’t that right?”

“…”

“There must have been dozens, if not hundreds, of incidents that occurred at the work site. If we include those that were influenced by external factors, the number would be even greater. Even the authors, who are called sisters, must have harassed them more than others.”

Silent Carcein.

The man continued talking.

“Why are you trying to protect them when it wouldn’t be strange to kill them one by one?”

It was an incomprehensible act.

This situation should be rather refreshing for Karsain.

It wasn’t something I had to go out of my way to save.

To that question that was meant to be incomprehensible.

Karsine answers calmly.

“If you’re going to ruin the dukedom like that by making excuses like that, then you’re probably one of the guys who killed the previous duke and his own son Karn, right?”

“…!”

The man hesitated and froze.

“No matter how much shit I’ve been through, I don’t think I should listen to a psychopathic killer who enjoys ruining relationships with his family while he’s cleverly committing murders.”

“…You’re so stupid. You kicked away my opportunity.”

“You’re not so intelligent as to take that as an opportunity.”

“Since you did not share my master’s will, I will take your life. It is too late to regret it.”

The conversation ends there.

The secondary function of the man’s magical tool is activated.

-Kugugugu!

Narrow alley.

In this closed space, dozens of rocks began to fall.

Anyway, all rocks are just bait.

The spells and magic engraved within it are the main body.

-Passs.

“…You crazy guy. Did you carve magic into all the rocks?”

-Jangle!

“I’ll give you enough money to take with you on your way to the afterlife.”

This was the second function of the magical tool that was not activated until the last time, and it was a trap prepared to completely cover the area after eliminating the target.

The magic engraved throughout will greatly limit movement within it.

‘If you move wrong, your limbs will be cut off, and if you step on a wrong spot, an explosion will occur. There’s no way for you to survive here.’

The outcome will be decided quickly due to the one-sided difference in information.

A rock the size of a fist falls directly between the two.

That was a rock without any magic carved into it.

‘Okay. I can’t react to this at all.’

So the view is obstructed.

The moment when you kick the ground, aiming for the fleeting moment when it will be revealed again.

-Kaang!

Contrary to expectations, the black one hits straight in.

“Sorry, but the view is wider on my side.”

“…!”

“All of it, I calculated it. That kind of stuff.”

“Even so, it’s just a bunch of nonsense!”

Even if there had been no such thing, it would have been possible to suppress Carcein with one’s skills.

Connect sword strikes along graceful lines.

Limit the space to be blocked.

Push through to the end.

It feels instinctive.

If we push Karcein to the end like this, we can win.

Carcein is steadily weakening compared to before.

As the sum grew longer and the sword strike became heavier, both Carcein’s mana and sword energy became more and more disrupted.

The condition is not perfect.

So, the outcome is decided in a short period of time.

So that the moment I lose my strength, I can immediately cut off your breath.

Soon, Karsine began to breathe heavily, as if he was greatly exhausted. As if he had been waiting for this moment, he began to press forward, and the sword was raised to one side.

The flying object flies through the air with a bang.

“Goodbye. Carcein.”

The man laughed and tried to bring down his sword.

But… the sword didn’t move.

“Seo, no way…!”

“The money you borrowed, I think you should take that.”

With a jingling sound.

A loud explosion filled the alley.

***

My body was covered in wounds from the battle with the assassin.

It wasn’t much different from that time.

The fact that he was discovered by a guard instead of a police officer and immediately devoted to recovery.

The fact that my family was upset when they suddenly heard the news that I had been injured.

and.

“How did you get hurt like this? Huh?”

Even Isabella has no idea about it.

That felt strangely dirty.

-Tiring!

▶The assassin has been eliminated.◀

▶If you successfully protect Isabella, the episode will be cleared.◀

▶Episode VIII. Cleared the blatant objective.◀

‘…Okay. The episode has been cleared.’

Now there is only one thing left.

In this house, the only way out is to escape.