Chapter 261
Chapter 261
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.58 – The Knight Does Not Forget Grudges (3)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"...Impressive."
Simon couldn't hide his admiration in his voice.
When he first took the request, he'd only been thinking of earning some pocket money, but now he felt like a fool for having such a lighthearted attitude back then.
"If I'd taken it more seriously, the amount I'd have earned would have been different... I want to smack my past self."
"You've said that already more than thirty times, Simon."
"More than thirty? Exactly forty-one times. If you're my secretary, you should remember that much."
"...The fact that you're counting them one by one means you're not exactly normal either."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
Whoosh!
His light banter with his secretary helped settle his regrets a bit.
However, the moment he checked the documents on the table, his stomach started hurting again—a natural human response.
These were the detailed reports of events spaced three days apart.
The thickness was unimaginable for just three days' worth, but since Greenbell was one of the larger mid-sized trading companies, there was a lot to cover, making the file quite substantial.
Still, it was dizzying in another way.
No matter how confident in martial prowess, wiping out a mid-sized merchant group would take at least a month, yet it hadn't even taken three days—that sent chills down his spine. And the description of how the knight handled the mage was nightmare fuel.
But his own nightmares were nothing compared to theirs.
The victims being annihilated right now were probably one step away from madness, not just having nightmares.
"...Is this even human?"
The list of large and small groups wiped out in a mere fortnight was terrifying beyond measure.
Some were tied to heretical organizations, but others were simply caught by the knight in acts like pillaging or village raids and annihilated on the spot.
In their cases, their faces were unrecognizable, and most survivors were drooling from extreme mental shock.
"...Who could have known? That the shadows of the south would change so drastically in a fortnight."
"It's not just the shadows changing. Even the trash in the light that's been coexisting with them are shaking in fear now."
"I should have gotten ahead of this... How much money could I squeeze out of these trash..."
"That's your forty-second regret, Simon. Look to the future."
"...You're right."
Simon's lament this time was mostly joking.
A guild master like him wouldn't keep regretting the past forever.
He'd spend that time on more productive things instead.
With that in mind...
"...What is our top client doing right now?"
"Resting in the warehouse, as far as I know."
"You're treating him well, right? No shortages?"
"Of course."
"That's a relief—"
"I'd like to say that, but unfortunately, he's declining most of our hospitality."
"..."
"They said he was frugal, and he really is. There's nothing we can do for him even if we want to."
"...No room to get in with that guy."
Simon felt a deep pang of regret.
Not as client and provider, but he wanted to get closer, yet the man gave no opening.
Still...
"Treating us as equals is pretty likable."
"Agreed."
The two couldn't deny their human fondness for this rare client who had no greed and knew how to show consideration.
...Lee Han found this situation burdensome.
"Here's your tea."
"Meal prep is ready. Oh, there's also a dish made from a unique grain imported from the eastern continent. It's called paella—hope it suits your taste."
"How about a glass of wine?"
Ah... This is really burdensome.
"...I said it before, but you don't need to treat me this well. Just give me ingredients for food, I'll handle it myself. Help only when I ask for something specific."
He refused firmly, but the servants who heard him...
"Hehe, how could we?"
"The guild master told us to take good care of you hundreds of times."
"This is our job, Sir Knight, so no need to feel burdened."
"..."
Their gentle approach made it hard to be harsh.
'...Fighting would be better.'
Some might envy being surrounded by beautiful maids, but it was torture for Lee Han.
Because they're beauties and unfamiliar? No, he's not that awkward.
Simply...
'Ah, one wrong bump and their wrists fly off...'
He felt disaster loomed if he touched these maids wrong.
His strength had surged recently, making control tricky again.
With such fragile women around, he had to be endlessly cautious.
What was it like?
Like having newborn kittens or puppies nearby?
Fear of hurting them made his movements naturally careful.
But he couldn't voice that thought.
Right? How do you say,
'I'm scared your arms or legs might burst like balloons if I touch you wrong.'
Not getting labeled a psycho or lunatic would be lucky.
So he showed maximum consideration, telling them it was burdensome and no need to fuss, but the maids insisted it was their job—the bickering had gone on for a fortnight in the guild's 'warehouse,' also called a villa.
But to others' eyes, his demeanor seemed...
"He seems warmer than I thought, Tina."
"I think so too, Tig."
...Sweet to the twins' eyes, apparently.
It was the chattering of the two small wolfkin siblings gazing at him with bright, sparkling eyes.
The black-haired man had promised help for Lee Han's hunting declaration but sadly didn't join the hunt himself.
– I have a place I must go. More precisely, a promise to keep.
What was it again?
Something about escorting a dwarf home?
True to a reincarnator, he was tangled with all sorts of unique folks.
...But the black-haired man didn't just sit idle on the vampire hunt; he provided two forms of support.
One was...
– Operating funds. Use this to commission the information guild—or better, Guild Master Simon directly. With this much money and my name as instructor, they'll cooperate fully.
He said even with the progenitor's blood, finding the main body is extremely hard.
So, wisely advised to systematically dismantle the branch organizations and gather intel.
As expected, the guild helped, leading to 11 large and small organizations meeting their end by his hand so far.
Some gave thumbs up for his greatness, but it wasn't solely Lee Han's merit.
The real praise went to the black-haired man's second support.
– These twins will be a huge help.
– ??
– They may look it, but they're special kids. Hard to find better detection and tracking experts.
Manpower support.
Two adorably cute twins.
They looked only 7 or 8, but actually twelve—hard to believe at first.
The black-haired man recommended them so confidently, so he trusted, and now he knew they were the real deal.
Their 'abilities' were solid.
'Half-bloods... The world has so many wonders.'
Half-blood.
Races mixed with human blood and something else, like atavism.
Born at rare odds if ancestors had special blessings or blood.
And these twins were exactly that.
– 'Wolfkin.'
A mysterious race among beastkin, extremely rare, famous for avoiding human society.
But these twins were a special case: born from a human woman.
Born human, yet not human...
Their lives surely weren't easy.
Proving it, they showed wariness toward people in their behavior.
"Hey, young master and miss? You've got some dust; let me wipe it off..."
Whoosh!
"Huh, where'd they go?"
They hid at the slightest approach.
With those short legs, how fast were they? Just like cats.
'Ah, wolves are canines, so not cats, huh?'
As Lee Han had that silly thought, the wolf twins had already hidden behind his back.
"...You act wary of everyone else, so why come to me?"
He didn't feel particularly close, yet they always hid behind him.
"...Your body's big, so good for hiding."
"Yeah, yeah."
"...Scaredy-cats who are cheeky too."
"W-We aren't cheeky."
"G-Good kids..."
"..."
Why was this?
'Feels like annoying non-existent nephews.'
Lee Han realized today that he didn't mesh well with kids.