Chapter 110
Chapter 110
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.28 – Prisoner Ri Han Here (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
html, body { margin:0; padding:0; }
Pickaxe and shovel in hand, Jake blinked as he worked diligently.
Even while enduring harsh labor due to a bad friend, he showed no dissatisfaction upon hearing it was a mission from the royals. It wasn't an exaggeration to call him a rare true knight.
"-Blood Cross Army? Never heard of such an organization. No, more than that, to think such shady elements came from the temple... I can't believe it."
Kwang!Kwang!
"I agree completely."
Likewise, seeing cadet knight Yord Decker—Jake's junior who had followed his misguided senior—hauling dirt despite being a newbie was truly pitiful.
He had no loyalty to the royals like Jake did, so there was no real reason for him to take on the mission. He had simply tagged along because his respected seniors were going.
Yet he showed no particular complaints either.
It was his first mission since becoming a knight. He must have had some expectations.
"You don't have to believe it. I only heard it from someone else anyway."
And the culprit who had dragged his friend and junior to this hellhole.
He was digging soil barehanded, outpacing those with proper tools, and even smashing a boulder the size of two watermelons with his fists...
The group had gone from knights to criminals trapped in a tunnel.
"...Can't you work normally for once?"
Jake scolded him, who was thriving like a fish in water.
It felt less like work and more like play.
At least for that guy.
"The equipment's too flimsy to use. If I had my usual gear, maybe."
"You still doing those side gigs?"
"Pays real well. Good exercise too."
"...You're a freak."
Their conversation lacked any real order.
They'd discuss serious matters only to slip into casual chit-chat, mostly bantering.
They were also speaking unusually loudly, to the point where others might overhear if they listened closely.
And this was...
'No reactions.'
'Others don't seem suspicious from their responses. Though we're getting treated like total lunatics.'
'Because we're talking about weird cults?'
'...Nah, it's probably you. I told you to work normally!'
'I want to, but the tools break too easily. What do you want me to do?'
'Control your strength!'
'...Not easy.'
—A sign they were deliberately leaking information to gauge the [sinners'] reactions.
...But as the saying goes, you can't fill your belly on the first try.
'Tch, not a single one biting.'
The results were disappointingly meager.
Lee Han could sense everything within a 1km radius by his standards.
He could push to 5km if he focused, but it wouldn't last 10 minutes, making it inefficient.
Thus, 1km was ideal and a powerful tool in itself.
Thanks to this, he successfully scanned the reactions of all criminals gathered in the [tunnel], but failed to pinpoint any suspects. A non-result result.
"Frustrating..."
"Hang in there. We knew it wouldn't be easy from the start, right?"
"Indeed, Senior. A force plotting to overthrow the kingdom? Finding traces of such a group isn't simple."
Jake and Yord urged him to be patient, saying it was never meant to wrap up quickly.
"You're one to talk. Thinking you can finish a royal mission in days? These things usually drag on for years."
"No time to drag it out."
"Why not?"
"My kids' break—or rather, school vacation—will end soon, and I gotta go back."
"......"
Jake couldn't decide whether to rejoice that his irresponsible friend had found his calling or rage at treating royal orders like a short-term gig.
The beast terror—or the academy disaster as it was also called—from the previous day.
The incident where demon king-class beasts and hordes of yokai appeared had no casualties, but it was a terror attack that could have toppled the capital.
It was only due to Lee Han and the cadets, plus a competent regressor's abilities, that damage was negligible.
Otherwise, it would have been a catastrophe beyond estimation.
The capital survived, but the process was harrowing.
Failing to foresee how one mistake could lead to horror meant lacking the responsibility to lead a nation.
[-This incident is a blatant provocation against the entire kingdom. We must devote all resources to resolving it. They must pay the price, no matter what.]]
The current king was enraged, issuing a decree for severe punishment of the perpetrators.
High officials and countless others mobilized swiftly, turning the capital's back alleys into days of dread for a while.
Soldiers moved, knights moved, sweeping up suspects repeatedly until over 80% of the capital's hidden criminals were rounded up.
...However.
[We still haven't caught the true culprits!! What are the police doing!!!]
The true perpetrators remained elusive, enraging the king further.
But it wasn't royal incompetence.
Rather, the culprits were exceptionally capable.
...Leaving no trace despite soldiers and knights scouring everywhere.
All the royals found were massacre sites presumed used for the terror.
Thus, what they thought would be a short battle turned protracted, with fervor still high for capturing the true culprits.
...But.
-Blood Cross Army, ha! What a laughably absurd group.
Someone suspiciously competent—a royal successor—uncovered terror intel faster than the royals.
Isis had astonishingly outlined those who invaded the capital.
-The illegal mage Duke Galahad captured was a low priest. He had a cross symbolizing the [Light of Glory].
-So the temple is the culprit?
-Soldiers investigated, but the temple just denies having such a low priest. Though the soldiers probably didn't investigate properly. With followers of that arrogant temple everywhere, how could they?
- ......
-But that doesn't matter to her.
-You'll get divine punishment.
-Heaven doesn't punish. It just flows by natural order. Don't you know that?
- ......
...Right, the royals weren't incompetent compared to her alone, unable to even outline the terror.
They knew but couldn't investigate deeply.
Because it was the temple, the Light of Glory.
The national religion everyone followed—soldiers couldn't dig too far.
Even soldiers were devotees.
They dared not dismantle the temple.
But Isis was different.
A blasphemous woman who sought no miracles from gods, using even them.
She relentlessly probed the temple, extracting info.
Not sitting on a throne like the king, but personally.
A bit radical for a nation's heir, but this was...
-Better to trust my own eyes than the incompetent.
...Her innate quality as a monarch.
Thanks to such radical actions, she uncovered the temple's—and royals'-buried 'remnants of the past' first.
-Among the temple's mad faithful, a faction dreamed of rebellion. But the previous king crushed it swiftly... Only for it to resurface.
-Even after being wiped out...
-Ideology and religion are like dandelion seeds. You can't eradicate them; they keep sprouting.
-In short, fanatics being fanatics?
- ...More like you should worry about divine punishment.
-Why me?
- ...Anyway, my guess is those seeds are replanting in the temple... No, spreading across the kingdom.
An army bearing the blood cross to purge the capital and all unbelievers and heretics with blood.
Blood Cross Army.
How...
-Pathetic and repulsive. Filth selling God's name for power and greed.
Isis showed utter contempt for the temple, but Lee Han didn't sympathize.
- ...You sure they exist?
Since hearing "Blood Cross" or whatever, Lee Han felt uneasy.
Fanatic ideology aside, he'd never heard of such a group despite their scale.
But Isis affirmed.
-They exist. Albert scoured everywhere to confirm.
-Where'd that old man go... Stop working him so hard.
-He's tougher than me. Can't let him rest yet.
-Geez...
Mentioning Albert left him unable to argue.
Then...
-So, find that Blood Cult or Blood Cross Army and present them?
Lee Han guessed her impending order; she nodded emphatically.
-I want two things. First, proof of the fanatics' existence, and lists or traces of their collaborators.
-Collaborators?
-They sacrificed tens of thousands of criminals to summon beasts. Right in the capital's heart—no way without help.
- ...I get it, but isn't this like finding a needle in a desert?
He understood the mission but found it unreasonably tough.
Even she had barely found traces.
How could he—a guy just good at fighting—locate them and evidence?
Like dropping him in the ocean without a compass.
Lee Han wondered if this auntie had finally snapped from stress.
-I see that irreverent thought on your face.
-Busted.
-Insolent brat.
Thwack!
Her fan struck his crown familiarly.
Unlike usual, it flew to hit him—not wielded directly. To spare her wrist, now she threw it...?
Plop.
-?
A note fell from the fan.
- ...I investigated the sacrificial bones. Called in countless experts: traced origins, movements, even identities.
- ......
-Narrowed most to three major prisons. And my intuition points to one.
Thud.
-That one. Investigate properly.
- ...You've done this much; why need me?
What more was there to find?
Witnessing her true madness in piecing together chaotic bones to origins and paths, Lee Han questioned his necessity.
Couldn't she handle it alone?
-Even with power, not everything bends to will.
A bittersweet mutter of unclear meaning; to her, Lee Han said,
-That's just lack of effort.
- ......
-Let's try harder.
-You earn the rod, little brother.
Crack!
Her pointed heel slammed his shin; Isis sprained her ankle that day.
"...Barbarians don't hit people like that."
"What?"
"Nothing..."
"?"
Lee Han hurriedly changed the subject.
How could he say it?
That he injured the crown princess's ankle.
Jake would probably grab his collar yelling "Are you insane?"
He didn't want to choke his friend in the process.
Then.
"Senior. But seriously, what's this tunnel?"
"Huh?"
"Asking now...?"
"I, uh, just followed without thinking..."
"......"
Lee Han scratched his cheek.
This guy was hopeless too.
'He'd stand surety if asked...'
Yord Decker.
The dutiful junior knight who followed without complaint.
Diligent, skilled—reminded him of his trio trainees.
Thus, Lee Han explained kindly.
"Hmm, what do you think this tunnel is?"
"Uh, looks like a place to dig randomly..."
Yord had been imprisoned here today without explanation, just digging.
And there seemed no reason for it.
He thought mining minerals, but no—just endless dirt and rock removal.
What purpose? Maybe tunneling to enemy lands, as named?
But.
"That'd be fun, but too many rivers nearby. Could flood anytime."
"Not for invasion then."
"Right."
"Then reforming criminals through meaningless repetition—"
"No. Reforming's temple stuff. Kingdom doesn't bother with that."
"Then..."
"Ah, perfect timing. You'll see."
"??"
As he tried more questions, Lee Han redirected his gaze.
There.
Aren—far from them, beggar-like—vented complaints. Yord wondered why look there.
"-Incoming."
Kwarururuk!
"!!?"
From the dirt pile Aren dug, something poured out.
[Keeee!!!]
"S-Sand worms!?"
"Not full sand worms—hatchlings. Gear up. Gotta catch 'em all. Oh, and."
Swoosh,
"...Rescue that idiot too."
"......"
Yord stared incredulously at Lee Han strolling toward the sand worms, shovel in hand.
What the—!
"...Can you really catch all those?"
Dozens—no, hundreds.
Squirming young sand worm masses kept growing. Yord swallowed dryly, relieved on one hand.
'Good thing I only drank water today...'
The grotesque sight alone induced nausea.
The tunnel: the kingdom's largest 'sand worm habitat'...
And its biggest [Fertilizer Factory].
...The occasional secret that humans digested by sand worms became fertilizer shouldn't spread.