Chapter 330
Chapter 330
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Translator: crow
Chapter Title: EP.69 – The Knight Cheers for the Youths (9)
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Lee Han had debuted Pierre in high society for one reason: to flush out the heretics leeching off the nobles.
Fortunately, things went smoothly.
Somehow…
"You're pretty popular, huh?"
"…"
"Loosen up, man. With a face like that, no one's gonna approach you. You're supposed to be the flower of high society."
"I have no intention of becoming anything like that."
"Anything like that? Do you know how hard our little chicks work to debut in society? You calling that 'anything like that'? Should I rip your mouth open?!"
"…S-Sorry about that."
Just like that, he secured cooperation effortlessly, but shortly after entering high society—not even four days later—Lee Han realized the problem.
"These guys are really hiding on purpose…"
No matter how hard he searched, there was no sign of them.
One might say it was too soon to draw conclusions after just four days, but it was different for Lee Han.
Even simply walking the streets allowed him to sense everything within a 500-meter radius.
If he focused, he could extend it beyond 3 kilometers, but narrowing his aura's range allowed for even more precise detection.
Thus, even in just four days, Lee Han had conducted the equivalent of a hundred people's worth of observation and search. And so, he was certain.
…These bastards had already gone into hiding.
"And they used some pretty special method for it."
It wasn't just their presence they hid—they had erased every trace, including scents and energy signatures.
They must have received help from magic or shamanism, he thought. Thorough bastards.
But…
"Not just magic and shamanism, though?"
Even if they hid meticulously, the complete lack of any trace felt off to Lee Han. Perhaps these guys were using…
"…Holy Arts too?"
It was just a hunch, but Lee Han thought it might be right.
Holy Arts—the priests' mysteries, distinct from both magic and shamanism.
With that power, plus magic and shamanism, vanishing this thoroughly wouldn't be hard.
But that was strange.
The temples that oversaw Holy Arts had long since burned their insolent collaborators to ash.
He had witnessed it with his own eyes, flames roaring high. Meaning the temples were no longer in league with those heretics.
So how did they obtain Holy Arts' aid?
Lee Han racked his admittedly limited brains, and suddenly, inspiration struck.
Not because he was clever, mind you…
"Come to think of it, there were guys using Holy Arts who aren't even priests, right?"
Holy Knights—or more precisely, a great noble house fully aligned with the temples.
Their name was…
"Roengrin, was it?"
The holy house of Roengrin.
Lee Han recalled the one family that hadn't burned in yesterday's incident, and somehow…
"Well, look at that…?"
The moment he uttered the name, his instincts screamed it was correct.
"From then on, I made that bastard take the Roengrin name. Wandering around with a surname like that should draw a reaction soon enough."
"…Hah."
Roan, having heard the full explanation, nodded in agreement. It was a plausible theory.
But…
"…There are too many flaws."
Roan voiced his doubts.
"Impersonating nobility is a grave crime. And if your instincts are wrong, it could lead to even greater offenses. Even if their pillar is crumbling, great nobles are still formidable. You can't topple them by knocking down one or two supports."
He could end up hurt too.
Expressing his concern, Roan received this response:
"If there's prison time, it's that bastard who'll serve it, not me. Worst case, he'll take the fall anyway."
"……"
"What?"
"…Nothing."
He stated it so boldly that Roan was left speechless.
'How did that wicked girl end up like this…?'
To Roan, the slyest woman he knew becoming disposable bait for him was profoundly ironic.
It stirred complex emotions hard to define, and for the first time, Roan—who had always viewed Pierre with hostility—looked at her with a mix of pity.
All because her pitiful position made him forget his grudge.
"I'll look into Roengrin too, so don't push yourself alone."
Hah…
"That dark-skinned guy's got more loyalty than his looks suggest."
Cold on the surface, but once he takes a liking, he sticks by you to the end.
Isn't it touching when a cat that seems aloof turns out to be a total dog at heart?
That was exactly how Lee Han felt now.
"This should accelerate the rumors."
With Darkie fully committed to helping, the Roengrin impersonation tale would spread through the capital in no time.
Probably no one left unaware within days.
And then.
'They'll bite.'
Lee Han felt like he was fishing.
What was the point of this ridiculous [Santa Ri Han] transformation—er, disguise?
To bait without exposing himself. His rising fame was drawing eyes, so he dulled his presence while dangling the lure.
Anyone who's fished knows: catching the big ones called "grand hauls" requires time, passion, caution, and a gambler's spirit.
In that vein, Lee Han planned to pour those four elements into hooking a great noble.
…What if they're unrelated and his guess is wrong?
'Will Redhead do time in prison or head to the guillotine?'
Don't worry—a scapegoat dummy's ready to take the hit.
Lee Han nodded contentedly, then slipped away from the party center, ignoring Pierre twitching like he had spasms.
…Or tried to.
"Um, might I have your name, milord?"
"…?"
"H-Here! If it's alright, please come later. I'll be waiting…"
"??"
Lee Han blinked at the woman slipping him a note.
'…What the?'
Glancing at it, he saw a high-end inn's name and room number in the upper district. A twitch ran across his eye.
"Th-This is that kind of thing, right?"
Lee Han wasn't an oblivious fool; he knew exactly what it meant and couldn't hide his awkwardness.
First time receiving something like this from a lady, after all—a novel experience.
However…
"Um, miss…"
"Yes?"
"Wh-What's your name?"
"???"
The same thing happened about five more times, leading Lee Han to a new realization.
'…Looks really do matter.'
In the end, Lee Han received fifteen notes, which he promptly burned like kindling.
Not out of disgust, but simply…
"Can't toy with young girls' hearts."
This appearance was fake; deceiving them would be wrong.
He had no intention of judging them for handing these over based on looks alone.
Youthful impulses—who hasn't made mistakes in their younger days? Without his unique traits, even Lee Han might have fallen for such temptations.
-Heh heh, aren't they tempting? With Ambrosia's help, you could indulge that desire for a day.
"Ehey, get out of my head, out."
Lee Han waved away the lewd demon whispering in his ear like a sultry siren in the princess's form.
He had no interest in fooling around with strangers, and thanks to the curse, his desires were faint anyway.
Well, if the curse were fully lifted, that might change—but until then…
'Sigh, this curse.'
His thoughts turned to the curse afflicting his body.
A shamanistic curse etched into his cells, rendering him impotent.
Unless it was perfect [Ambrosia], it would torment him like a divine punishment.
But for now, Lee Han trusted Isis and waited.
Believing she would create the perfect Ambrosia.
'She's not the type to break promises.'
…Though she might keep making unreasonable demands.
"She said I might overcome it on my own if I do well."
Overcoming the curse. In the past year of rapid growth, Lee Han felt the curse weakening with each level-up.
Meaning if he grew strong enough to overpower even a curse like a brand on his body, then perhaps…
'Who knows.'
He might conquer it without drugs.
It sounded like mental gymnastics, but possibility beat none.
Lee Han looked forward to the future.
And for that positive future too.
Ting!
"-These guys have less patience than I thought. I figured it'd take a few more days."
These bastards needed thorough extermination!
Lee Han saw the silver thread like spider silk coil around his neck—then snap as he grabbed it mid-retrieval.
Crunch!
─He squeezed hard.
"!!!?"
"What the…!!"
"That's three-hundred-year-old Arachne silk! And he caught it barehanded!?"
The group yanked along with the thread screamed in shock, but Lee Han just snorted and clicked his tongue.
"If it's three hundred years old, it's way past expiration anyway."
He could only laugh at their ignorance of basic facts.
…As he casually hurled a hand axe.
Whoosh!