6. Proof of Existence (11)
Being the center of attention is something I don’t like.
Those who stood on the stage or podium would not know this again. However, I was only the second son of a rural viscount until recently, and I was not used to the gaze of others. The pouring attention was burdensome.
It’s a life where you can hear the sound of whispering around you even if you just move your steps.
Hiding his identity didn’t change anything. Rather, the fact that he was hiding his face with a hood seemed to arouse interest.
I just did that.
Two mercenaries appeared out of nowhere, bearing the seals of the imperial family. Even though both of them were sturdy, they stood out everywhere.
It wasn’t strange even if he was watched with caution.
“I heard that you received a request from the imperial family… … .”
“Could it be that the emperor would give away the seal carelessly? It must be of a noble lineage.”
“Isn’t that the Imperial Intelligence Service you’ve been hearing about?”
It seems that no one has yet realized my true identity. It was fortunate for me.
The cause of the massive occurrence of demons was not revealed, but if the incident was related, the Dark Church would have been involved. And I was no different than a person of interest in the Dark Church.
There was a high probability that things would get messed up if I had to reveal my identity. Of course, you can’t hide it forever.
Most of them would notice my identity even if I just pulled out a hatchet.
However, unlike me, Mr. Reynolds did not seem to be bothered by the attention of the audience.
“I didn’t know you had the imperial seal.”
It was a soft question.
Even so, I inadvertently put on an awkward smile. Come to think of it, the fact that I am the owner of the dragon blood character was only known to my colleagues.
Mr. Reynolds was right to have his doubts.
After much thought, I came up with a suitable excuse.
“I got it a while ago. They said it was a reward for defeating the Demon God’s family.”
“The weight of that pattern is not light.”
By ‘pattern’, it seemed to be referring to the dragon pattern engraved on the seal.
It was a well known fact. However, I couldn’t argue with the well-intentioned advice of an adult, so I calmly waited for the next words to follow.
“It means that you can achieve what you want, not just in the empire, but anywhere on the continent. Just like today.”
“You have to be that careful.”
“I’m glad you know. Remember that attention and vigilance are two sides of the same coin.”
The reason Mr. Reynolds cautioned me soon became clear.
As soon as I left the military camp toward the monster spawning area, I felt a presence following me from behind. He didn’t seem to be trying to hide anything.
When I glanced behind me, the two paladins stood still.
Among them, the one who opened his mouth was a middle-aged knight.
“As you know, it is also the duty of the Seongguk to ensure the safety of the distinguished guests.”
“I don’t need it.”
And it was Mr. Reynolds who responded on our side.
The heavy, chilly voice was good for forming a sense of intimidation. Especially if the other person can’t arbitrarily determine our identity.
Of course, the opponent did not back down easily.
“I hope you understand. If, by any chance, we had to deliver the news that an envoy from the empire had died in the jurisdiction of the Holy Land… … .”
“It is not an envoy. I’m just here for personal business.”
I swallowed a laugh at Mr. Reynolds’ brazenness.
He even showed the seal of the imperial family, but to say it had nothing to do with the imperial family. Of course, it was an excuse not to be eaten.
At this point, the opponent had no choice but to come out strong.
The two of them took a step and ejaculated in an earnest tone.
“Please look at the situation just once. We are also just following the orders of our superiors.”
It was a persuasion that stimulated sympathy.
Isn’t that the sadness of the person caught in the middle? One side insists on doing something, and the other side insists on not accepting it.
I also had a feeling of pity for a moment.
Although Mr. Reynolds did not show any agitation.
“Isn’t that the case with you? Again, the empire will not hold the castle accountable.”
“but… … .”
The story was running parallel. If left as it is, they might end up playing tug-of-war for the rest of the day.
Eventually I had to step in.
I asked, lowering my voice as much as possible.
“Is the only request of the Holy Kingdom to escort us?”
“Yeah? Yeah… That, yes, but.”
It was right after that.
I slightly bent my knees, lowered my posture, and my breathing slowed. A sword cut through the dull flow and fired.
A beam of light, or a straight line.
Any expression was good. It didn’t take even a moment for my sword to touch the paladin’s throat.
The paladin instinctively trembled, but it was already too late.
Again, dry words came out of my mouth.
“… … Is this still the case?”
Only then did the paladin’s face revive his emotions.
Confusion at first, then fear, then anger at the end.
He was also a martial artist who had trained for a long time. There was no way he would calmly go over with such a provocation.
It wasn’t long before my expectations were met.
The paladin’s head turned sharply. The tip of my knife glided past the uvula, and a thin, solid line was carved onto the man’s skin.
One step, a fist digging into the chest and throwing out.
If I swung my sword like this, it would be the end. Of course, this was an impossible strategy in actual battle, but this was the military camp of the Holy Kingdom.
There was no way he could take the life of a paladin.
It was a great improvisation. If only my skills were a little off.
It soars into the sky like a sword. The blade started to spin round and round, and my arm, which had regained freedom, immediately swung outward and rolled up the paladin’s elbow.
After that, give it strength and play.
Before the fists even touched, the paladin’s body turned over in the air with an ominous sound.
With a thump, the shock wave rose, and the sword that had been sent floating in the air began to fall.
It was up to the rest of the hand to snatch it.
I sighed, catching my breath, and slowly got up. The face of one remaining paladin had long since hardened.
I had one question to ask.
“May I leave?”
The remaining paladins glanced down at their comrades who were groaning on the ground. I showed a look of resentment, but no matter who saw it, my skills were superior.
No need for an escort.
Could there be a more effective persuasion to prove that fact?
As a knight of the Holy Kingdom, he would feel ashamed, but for now, he couldn’t help it. A trembling voice leaked from the paladin’s mouth.
“… … Go.”
Without hesitation, I turned around and took a step, and Mr. Reynolds naturally joined behind me. Not long after, a muffled laugh erupted from beside me.
“You’ve become a great man.”
“Originally, I didn’t do this… … .”
A bitter smile came to mind. This was a problem because the stronger they got, the stronger their tendency to resort to force.
Problems that can be solved through dialogue must be resolved through dialogue.
But Mr. Reynolds’ theory seemed to be the exact opposite.
“Force is also one of the great means of communication. It is not the attitude of a warrior to rot your weapon.”
“I’m afraid that Elsie-senpai will say something similar.”
“Of course, because that child also inherited the blood of Rynella… Fufu, you should remember it well. If you give birth to a child, shouldn’t you pass on the name of Rainella?”
A thick sigh escaped my teeth. You are already in a position where your child’s education is being interfered with.
I replied with a little annoyance.
“In that case, it would be better to pass on the castle of Percus.”
“Hmm, that might not be too bad… Wouldn’t our family also need an heir?”
In the past, I would have been treated like a son-in-law who would take me away.
Now, even if he handed over the castle of Percus, there was no resistance. It must have been thanks to my higher status, but on the other hand, it was also bittersweet.
After all, this is what an aristocratic marriage is like.
It was like a transaction of some sort. The relationship between me and Elsie senior is more pure though.
As such, accompanying Mr. Reynolds had a burdensome aspect, but on the other hand, there was a harvest as expected.
“Have you been here before?”
This was the question I asked Mr. Reynolds when he was some distance away from the military camp.
He bent down and held a pinch of black soil from the earth. And then rubbing your fingers and smelling it.
It seemed funny at first glance, but Mr. Reynolds’ expression was serious.
Contrary to my expectations, there was no hesitation in Mr. Reynolds’ answer.
“It was quite a while ago. Because I was still a mercenary.”
“Was this place like this back then?”
My eyes glanced around me. It was a flat land with nothing, and the soil was strangely black enough to even give a bizarre feeling.
How much more is the land? There was no resistance enough to feel the fluffy sensation, so every time I walked down the street, my footprints were left behind.
it’s an unpleasant place
Most of the people who visited this place would have similar feelings to me.
“No, I didn’t. It was not long after the mass outbreak of demonic beasts had occurred. Back then, there were still dense forests and green meadows. But now there is no trace of it.”
“You came to subdue the Witchbeast.”
I drew the most reasonable conclusion from the information given. Mr. Reynolds also did not deny my reasoning.
“Did you hear why I quit being a mercenary?”
“Isn’t it because Countess Rainella came to visit? Persuasion finally moved my heart… … .”
Mr. Reynolds rubbed the dirt again and again in silence.
Suddenly, darkness fell over the world. The settled air added weight to his breathing.
Only silence remained in the land where life had disappeared.
Even the sound of breathing can be heard sensitively.
“At the time, I was very stubborn. Even if my older brother came, I thought I wouldn’t budge. Because I still have work to do.”
These were words of deep remorse.
It was the first time I knew that Mr. Reynolds had such a variety of emotions. His blue eyes were blankly wandering somewhere in the past.
“I had to get revenge.”
“… … Revenge?”
“Yes, the revenge of colleagues. Right here, most of my comrades died.”
My brow narrowed slightly.
Mr. Reynolds was a great wizard. Even when he was a mercenary, I don’t know if he was as good as he was, but he should have been at least as good as the present Elsie senior. Even so, the mercenary corps suffered damage close to destruction?
Unfortunately, I could have encountered a strong demon. However, if it is enough to destroy a skilled mercenary group at once, the level of danger of the beasts is beyond imagination.
Of course, it was not possible to control with one or two Holy Knights. It was possible to stably eliminate it by forming an army right away to subdue it.
I inadvertently denied Mr. Reynolds’ words.
“It can’t be. If a monster that was as strong as that existed… … .”
“Everyone in the world is like that. I mean we got it wrong. In fact, the ones who attacked us were the monsters that usually live here. If anything else… He was amazingly intelligent, and he was ferocious.”
Saying that, Mr. Reynolds slowly straightened his back and stood up. His eyes were still on the grains of dirt left in his hands.
“But nobody believed me. Years after that, nothing similar happened, and I was actually getting tired. Maybe that’s why I returned to the arms of my family.”
“Then why the hell again… … .”
“I thought I forgot too. But strangely, the memory of that day keeps coming back to me from a while ago.”
There was a gnashing of teeth. Mr. Reynolds’ expression was distorted to the point of being horrendous.
“I just remembered… That day, I must have seen a girl.”
“What, a girl… Are you talking about the place where monsters appear?”
“yes.”
Mr. Reynolds’ eyes suddenly turned to the front. A soft spark flickered in those blue eyes.
“I remember my long black hair fluttering… the kid was laughing And those eyes, those eyes… … !”
It was then that the eyes widened with a hook went back to my back.
My eyes also followed that gaze. But nothing was there. It was just that the wind of unknown origin was blowing gently.
“… … Did you see it?”
“No, nothing… … .”
In the first place, at this distance, there was no way I could not notice the presence.
The moment he tried to calm Reynolds, saying that he seemed to be overly sensitive.
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Jet-black hair leaves a long tail.
Behind Mr. Reynolds, far away.
The lightning-like exit that followed, the sword was already gripped in my grasp.
Me and Mr. Reynolds watched each other’s backs and quietly began to gather in one place. It was a basic strategy to deal with enemies who could appear from anywhere.
“Nephew and son-in-law, I think I heard laughter.”
“Mr. Reynolds, no more scary noises… … .”
Then, “Cook,” the sound of clear laughter burst out shallowly.
I turned my head around to find the epicenter, but I couldn’t see the shadow of a person. On the contrary, it was an even greater tremor that greeted me.
The earth was vibrating.
The ground hummed and trembled. I looked at Mr. Reynolds with a puzzled expression on my face.
And Mr. Reynolds, yes.
He had a terrifyingly expressionless face.
“Similar to that time.”
“At that time, I hope… … .”
Before the words of suspicion were even spit out.
A high-pitched sound ripped through the ground and soared.
It was an earthworm the size of a house. The mouth was so huge that there was no face to speak of. Only the entrance of that terrible flesh pillar was visible.
It wasn’t one or two. The number of monsters soaring through and through was now impossible to count on one hand.
I aimed at Mr. Reynolds with the eyes of a small, slender beast.
The intention seemed so obvious. It’s hard to believe that it’s a beast that follows its instincts.
After silence, Mr. Reynolds asked me.
“… … How long can you wait?”
Grinding my teeth, I injected an aura into the sword.
“until the death!”
It was a ball held in the middle of the night.