Chapter 276
Chapter 276
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.61 – The Knight Fears Humans More Than Ghosts 2(5)
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The flames still flickered wildly.
True to its design for hunting large monsters, the scroll's power and duration were unparalleled.
If this weren't an empty lot filled only with dust, the flames would have spread and caused an enormous blaze.
The fire was that intense and dizzying.
However, the very person who had unleashed this explosion grew paler, as if he had witnessed something even more horrific than the flame scroll's power.
Kuduk, kududuk...
The monster was regenerating.
Even though its arms, legs, head, and torso had been burned or crushed, it was returning to its original form.
It was as if time itself was flowing backward, reminiscent at a glance of a phoenix regenerating from flames—but no one could think of a phoenix while looking at that monster now.
And for good reason: the phoenix was a being that regenerated beautifully and majestically from fire, whereas this monster's regeneration...
"Simon, did you lure me here on purpose? Planning to use that dangerous thing from the start?"
"......"
"Wow, impressive. To think you'd be this heartless when we've known each other for a while. Trapping a fragile soul like me in such a cruel trap... I'm deeply hurt."
"......"
Kududuk!
...only felt utterly alien, beyond description.
A physiological repulsion.
Simon—no, any ordinary human—couldn't help but feel revolted at the sight of it.
And as much as Simon felt that repulsion boiling up, self-loathing and disgust welled up in equal measure.
'I'm such an idiot I want to die...'
How...
'How did I get 'fooled' by that monster for a whole year?'
It was an utterly shameful fact.
Ten days ago—that was probably around when he first noticed the sense of wrongness.
- Sir Lee Han. Why didn't you bring the twins?
- Huh?
- If you're planning to infiltrate Mordred, wouldn't it be better to take the twins along? That's why I'm asking. It seems better to bring them with you...
- Ah, those kids? Nah. It's easier to move freely on my own. Bringing kids along just makes me worry. You look after them for me. I'll pay you for it.
- Ah, yes...
- Why the reluctant reaction? Did I say something weird?
- N-no, it's not that.
It was just a simple exchange of a few words, merely voicing a question—but the person he spoke to was none other than Simon.
The head of the southern guild, a man so sharp he might rank among the top ten in the capital...
Thus, Simon reflexively analyzed his psychology and state from that brief conversation and behavior.
'Why isn't he bringing the twins? ...Wait, before that, did Sir Lee Han even need the guild?'
The threads of doubt branched endlessly, and Simon recalled countless pieces of information.
'Sir Lee Han tracked down and exterminated hundreds of illegal mages single-handedly and dismantled a massive slave trading ring alone. Honestly, his tracking and enemy elimination skills are unmatched.'
Information the guild had gathered on Lee Han.
'So why did he come to us for help? He doesn't need our assistance. For smoother operations? Was that really it...?'
Doubt and suspicion.
'It's true the capital's nobles are unreliable. It makes sense that spies might be among them. But that's unlikely to be the truth. And claiming the guild is the only safe place doesn't hold up.'
Expanding speculation.
'So why is he still cooperating with the guild? Even leaving his own people behind on purpose...'
The organizations he had crushed.
Information the guild had quickly uncovered.
The resulting journey to Mordred.
'...Huh? Could it be?'
─Did we get lured to Wales by him?
'!!?'
Simon nearly screamed without realizing it.
The shock hit his mind like a thunderbolt, making even the back of his head tingle.
And for a moment...
- Sir Lee Han... Were you protecting the guild?
- What?
- It's there, right? In the guild...!
- ......
- It is, isn't it!? Gasp, bloo...
Chak!
- !!
- That's why quick-witted guys are...
- ......
- No, what did you figure out in the ten seconds you were spacing out? Scary guy...
- ......
- I get that you're smart, but lower your voice and calm down.
- ...Yes, I'm calm now.
- Already?
- It's nothing.
- You're something else. No wonder he tried to use you.
- ......
At his affirmation, Simon felt dizzy again.
It was like a confirmation kill, reminding him of the truth.
- Where'd you notice from? I thought I was pretty careful.
- ...It's not that impressive.
Simon explained what he had pieced together, frankly analyzing Lee Han's behavioral psychology.
- With your abilities, Sir Lee Han, you don't need the guild's help. The fact that you came to us anyway felt off.
- Just from that?
- Not just that. Your actions revealed a lot.
To be precise, Simon could infer it because he had investigated Lee Han before.
The reason he sought the guild's cooperation, even paying them without gain.
Others might suspect some malicious scheme, but if he wanted, dismantling the guild would be easy for him.
In other words, for him to cooperate despite no need for schemes suggested he was protecting the guild from someone.
And the one targeting the guild now...
- Can only be that monster you're chasing.
- I told you to watch your mouth. Ears are everywhere.
- Don't worry. Even if there are ears, only I'll die.
- ...You have a reckless streak too.
- Street life does that.
- Sigh! Words can jinx you.
- Haha, sorry.
After a moment of not-unpleasant scolding, Simon roughly wiped the sweat beading on his brow and called out to him.
- ...Sir Lee Han.
- Yeah?
- If my guess is right, that monster is likely disguised as one of our guild members. Yet I've never suspected anyone. Me, of all people.
Simon knew his abilities weren't lacking.
That exceptional knight would surely acknowledge it too.
Yet despite his skills, Simon couldn't pinpoint any suspicious figure.
Normally, someone proud of their abilities might distrust him here, but Simon sparked another possibility instead.
- Legend says that monster—no, vampires—have countless abilities. Including mental manipulation, right?
- You...?
- My mind might have been tampered with at some point. Hmm, do you know any high-ranking mages or shamans? They could probably undo mental manipulation.
- ......
- Why are you looking at me like that?
- Nah. Just thinking the world has a lot of talent.
- ??
After that, the process was simple.
He got help from a shaman, discovered traces of mental manipulation during it, and had it undone.
And the moment it was undone, Simon realized something even more horrific than the vampire infiltrating the guild.
None other than...
"It made me want to puke. To think the secretary I'd been with for a year was a fabricated being from the start."
The fact that he had never hired a secretary in the first place.
"A guy like me would hire mercenaries for protection, not use a woman as a secretary. Why? This harsh guild life is too tough for women to endure."
Simon didn't discriminate against women, but this job involved seeing ugly sights often.
Humiliating incidents too shameful for women to bear happened frequently.
Thus, since becoming guild master, Simon had never kept a woman as a subordinate, except for unavoidable short-term hires.
Yet he had hired a woman—and as a secretary, no less?
This shattered his values; it was a complete personality shift.
Thus, Simon loathed and feared that vampire even more.
It had manipulated not just his memory, but his values too.
"Aw, I actually enjoyed guild work? It was pretty fun."
"To you, we must've seemed less than bugs, so of course it wasn't harsh, you monster."
"...That's harsh. I thought I did a decent job fooling you? Don't be like that."
"Shut up, monster. You manipulate someone's mind and expect nice words!? If that's what you really think, go get checked at a temple. They'll diagnose you with insanity."
"......"
"People aren't your playthings!!"
Fear was fear, but Simon's rage surpassed imagination.
Enough to overcome instinctive fear and terror...
"To spend a whole year with such a beautiful woman and not even say thanks... Ungrateful."
"!!?"
Was it impossible to make a monster understand human emotions, after all?
Instead, the monster—Hansel—scolded him back and asked,
"More importantly, Simon. Won't you tell me the location of Mordred's secret base that you uncovered? I have business there."
"...You think I'd tell you?"
"You should. After this 'hot prank,' why do you think I'm letting you live? Because there's still something I need from you."
"......"
"Oh, and don't trust those kids. They're just puppies at best. And that knight? He's at the castle. By the time he gets here, I could kill you dozens of times. Keep that in mind."
Hansel smiled amiably on the surface but threatened him with ominous energy.
If he didn't value his life—or wanted to die human—obeying would be wise.
Simon...
Cheok.
"......?"
"Eat this."
...flipped him off, and Hansel blinked in bewilderment.
"...Tougher than you look?"
What gave him the confidence to act up like that?
Did he not value his life?
Hansel let out an incredulous chuckle, deciding he'd have to handle him roughly after all.
Chilkeok.
"?"
...Something crunched underfoot.
"You stepped on it?"
"Stepped on it."
"Yeah, stepped on it."
"...Run!"
"Yeah!"
"Piggyback, mister!"
In an instant, Simon switched expressions as if he'd never provoked him, and the bravado-filled twin siblings bolted away. The moment Hansel wondered what was up...
Hwaaaak!
"...Again?"
The flames erupted violently.
Kwaaaaaang!!
"...I told that guy to bury them properly."
Lee Han blinked at the distant pillar of fire rising up.
What a spectacle—or not.
"...Did he plant all 100 as landmines?"
He'd only taught them the basic principle of landmines, yet...
"Guess you have to see this kind of rapid progress too... Huh?"
It was the moment a trivial worry arose about having created a master bomber.