Chapter 262
Chapter 262
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.58 – A Knight Never Forgets a Grudge (4)
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By the time the twins had dozed off using Lee Han as a pillow, he was lost in thoughts of all the scum he'd personally wiped out so far.
"Not even a cuckoo bird, but they've scattered their filth everywhere."
The one Lee Han was chasing was none other than No. 2.
Now going by Second Apostle or Hansel or whatever, but to Lee Han, No. 2 was nothing more than an irredeemable pervert—far from any grandiose apostle title.
A creep who lusted after affection from men or women alike and pounced on them.
And this time, the bastard had turned into a woman. A potential criminal like that switching genders? Obviously plotting some new perversion or crime.
But Lee Han wasn't particularly interested in what the vampire might be up to.
Just...
'If you're gonna swing first, you better be ready to get swung on.'
To put it bluntly, Lee Han hated the guy.
Especially after nearly getting jumped as a kid...!
But for that hated bastard to pick a fight first, land a hit, and then bolt?
That was as good as pointing a gun at him and screaming for a deathmatch.
Lee Han wasn't the type to forgive someone who'd aimed at him like that. And if forgiveness was a virtue of the magnanimous, he had zero interest in becoming one.
So here he was, wasting his precious winter break chasing the prick down.
"Not even Hong Gildong, flashing east and west like that..."
The traces of the bastard were overflowing everywhere like a virus.
Even the ones Lee Han had already exterminated bore his 'marks.'
Which made it easy to wipe them out without hesitation.
But.
"This isn't gonna cut it..."
He wanted to catch the guy before winter ended, but sadly, things looked hopeless right now.
It'd just turn into a drawn-out game of hide-and-seek.
"No. I can catch him."
"Yeah."
"...Slept off your naps already?"
"Uh, no."
"Y-yeah..."
"Wipe the drool off your mouths first."
"!!?"
Having overheard his muttering, the twins woke up and dropped their cryptic lines.
Of course, coming from those kids, it just sounded childish and trivial.
...My back's all damp.
"This is what I wore today..."
Grumbling offhandedly, Lee Han eyed the twins rubbing their eyes.
Still groggy, but now wide awake with firm resolve not to sleep again.
"O-our drool isn't dirty."
"...It's clean."
"You talk a big game."
"!!"
"Anyway, what do you mean you can catch him?"
If it were ordinary kids mumbling, he'd brush it off. But this was the confident whisper of a mystical race.
No way to ignore it—and sure enough.
"Rotting smell's lingering around."
"Bad smell's super gross! But the worst one's still nearby!"
"......"
"So we can catch him!"
"Catch him!"
"...?"
...No clue what they're saying.
Lee Han was too jaded by society to decipher the pure language of children.
Slash!
The black trajectory of the blade decapitated five oncoming goblins in one go.
So effortless it might fool onlookers into thinking goblins were pushovers, but...
Stab!
"Gaaah!"
"S-save me!"
"You idiots! I told you not to charge the goblins recklessly!!"
Mercenaries were getting impaled on spears or dragged away left and right.
Even these war-hardened vets falling to goblins—the weakest monsters around—might make you think mercenaries sucked. But that's wrong.
On the contrary.
"Don't underestimate goblins. Mess up, and it's a wipe!"
Second only to orcs in teamwork among monsters, they even knew basic tactics.
Armed with rudimentary spear and sword skills, a single goblin was a joke, but a pack was scarier than wolves, per monster scholars.
True to that, these goblins toyed with seasoned mercenaries, and over five were already gravely wounded.
If not for...
Thud!
"No end to them!"
"Kunta, this is rough."
"Don't charge alone, sir!"
...those guys, the fight would've been way tougher.
Not quite one-versus-a-thousand, but the three cadets handled ten each, swinging blades that swept away goblin packs with every strike.
But even more impressive than those boys was...
"Everyone, fall back! Traps ahead! Shields up front! Rear, hurl those fallen rocks high! Higher!!"
Swoosh!
The blue-haired girl pierced a goblin's forehead mid-command, her crisp voice wielding serious leadership as she kept them holding strong against 8,000 goblins with minimal losses—the biggest reason for their success.
"Bear Cub's amazing!"
"Knew she'd be big, but she's already huge."
"Truly remarkable."
"Talk later! Garand, join the mercenaries and take command! Arnault and Kunta, keep breaking them individually! Help Roan young master take out the leader or block it!"
They obeyed her spirited orders without complaint.
A voice straight, righteous, infused with conviction—it moved hearts.
The ruthless sacrifice commanders or politicians demand for their goals? Impossible for them.
Only she, stubbornly refusing any sacrifices, could wield that noble 'power.'
Not [Mystery], but it felt mystical. Watching this, the expedition's de facto black-haired young leader forgot the chaos, lost in fond memories.
"...You're still my idol, Jan."
Witnessing her mercenary queen dignity and nobility was blinding.
Stubborn mercenaries who dismissed women and distrustful dwarves followed her. Roan just slashed goblins like a grunt, content despite losing command—her skills outshone his by a hundredfold.
[Kaaaa!!]
But getting sentimental mid-battle? Fatal mistake.
A goblin sneaked up, thrusting a rusty sword at Roan.
Stab!
...Unaware of his shadowy guardian.
Blood sprayed from the goblin's nape as it collapsed; the shadow lowered its stiletto.
"My lord, I get you're moved, but focus on the fight."
"Would you believe I let my guard down trusting you, Jack?"
"Sure you did."
"...You're picking up the instructor's tone."
"Would you prefer disrespect? Or calling this a 'light trip'!? We've hit goblin packs four times already!!"
"I didn't lie."
A journey to escort the dwarves home.
He'd said it was a trip.
Just.
"We have to cross goblin-held mountains to reach their home. Think I'd hire this many for no reason?"
To traverse the range, Roan shelled out big to a first-class mercenary band and swordsmanship cadets.
Overkill for travel? All part of the plan.
Knights would've been safer, but...
'They need to grow strong.'
Roan's scheme to fast-track the swordsmanship department's 108 troublemakers.
Raising those with power to rival Fighting Techniques.
Part of his vision.
...Unfair to cadets thinking it was easy pocket money.
Still, Roan wouldn't throw them into danger recklessly—he feared the instructors too much for grudges.
Thus.
"-Everyone, fall back."
He'd insured heavily.
Whoosh!
A mighty gale erupted.
Unimaginable from the fairy-like beauty: massive mana burst from the genius mage girl—grand mage material already—readying her spell.
"[Blow, winds], [strong and fierce], [pierce all], [fiercer than any spear]!"
⟨ Wind Spear Storm ⟩
Krunch!!
As the girl's magic raged, goblins shattered like dry twigs in the gale.
A compacted typhoon of razor winds and blunt force—hundreds surely dead.
"Spectacular."
Irene Windler. Roan's big-money insurance paid off beyond expectations; he smiled in satisfaction.
"Uh, my lord. Been wondering, but what did you offer to hire that lady? Galahad folks aren't hurting for cash..."
"......"
"Ah, secret's fine."
"...Just a gift."
"Gift?"
"...That's all you need to know..."
"??"
Some things are better left unknown.
"...Ahem."
Jack missed it, but Roan—rarely—looked stiff, sweating coldly.
"Hehe, magic's flowing better today—thanks to the bracelet."
Irene beamed amid goblin carnage.
Peak condition.
But the ghost girl watching her felt only dread.
[...Arin, you're happy with that?]
"Huh? Yeah, why not? It's part of someone I like—makes me happy..."
[......]
"What?"
[Ah, never mind...]
"??"
The ghost girl felt indescribable terror toward Irene but couldn't continue.
No crime, and she liked it—what more to say?
Just.
[...A bracelet from hair is a bit...]
The bracelet on Irene's wrist.
Made from the instructor's locks, treasured like a talisman—chilling the ghost girl to the bone.
[People scarier than ghosts, huh...]
"What're you mumbling?"
[...You're scary.]
"???"
[Sigh...!]
The ghost girl sighed, worried for her seriously broken partner.
...Ironically, the girl had no idea what was wrong.