Chapter 117
Chapter 117
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Have a Drink (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"See you later, bro!"
"Yeah."
The knight's face was flushed with alcohol.
Regin immediately wrapped up the conversation.
The male knight, thrilled at having gained a mage brother, waved cheerfully at Regin.
"He's heading deeper into the alley."
Then he walked toward the square and informed Jack of the male knight's position.
Now it was Jack's turn to move.
"Wait a moment."
Jack immediately pursued the man.
With a decent buzz going, he should be able to link without the target noticing.
'Plus, with low mana in his body, his reactions will be sluggish.'
Regin waited off to the side, hoping Jack would come through.
Soon after, Jack emerged from the alley and approached Regin.
"How'd it go?"
"...What you're curious about is Ferma Vinish's fate, right?"
"Yes."
"Since you were digging for info before he died."
Jack knew what information Regin was after.
He continued with a grave expression.
"It seems the execution was carried out."
"Pardon?"
"Ferma Vinish is dead."
Regin's face hardened.
'...Damn it. One step too late?'
Clench.
His fist balled up involuntarily.
He felt like smashing a table or something.
"When was the execution?"
"No idea on that. The knight didn't hear the full conversation."
"..."
"But probably at least a week ago. Doesn't seem like it was right before."
It's not like you were late.
Pat. Jack tapped Regin's shoulder briefly in consolation.
He knew Regin had been searching for Ferma's info for a while and had accounted for the time.
He could sense a hint of anger because of that.
Regin usually kept his emotions in check, so it stood out even more.
"Not sure if this comforts you, but I learned one more fact."
"Yes?"
"Normally, criminal corpses are handled in the underground sewers?"
"What are you talking about?"
It seemed trivial, but Regin's eyes widened instantly.
"He said corpses used for black magic are all processed uniformly in the capital's underground sewers."
"Processed in the underground sewers?"
"Yeah, couldn't get more than that. Anyway, they're not just burned or buried like regular bodies."
It was news to him.
There was a lot he'd learned since entering DAT, but this hit differently from other info.
'No way. Was Ferma more than just a black mage?'
His heated head cooled in an instant.
Like a cold shower, it made him calmly reassess the situation.
That bit of info was a major clue to several unexplained matters.
'Criminals grade 3 and above. If they're not just black mages...'
Why handle their corpses separately?
In DAT, corpses became dangerous in one case.
'Demonic corpses come back to life.'
The only race capable of resurrection.
The only race creatable through blood awakening.
...If it was the demons Verdante was making, separate corpse processing made sense.
Grab—
Regin seized Jack's hand and said.
"Jack."
"Yeah?"
"I think you need to come with me to the capital."
"What's this about now?"
He'd already slipped gold into Jack's hand. Ten gold—a fortune. Regin continued.
"We might need to verify more info."
If Ferma was a half-demon or a full demon, Jack was essential.
"By the way."
"Yeah?"
Making sure Jack couldn't refuse by guiding the coins into his pouch, he pressed on.
"Have you ever tried Link Eye on a corpse?"
* * *
After the festival, in a carriage heading back to the capital.
Marquis Dylan gazed at the night sky from within.
It had been a day full of events including the festival, but one thought dominated his mind.
—Moonlight. Beauty. Dance. I heard those words.
Regin's words flashed by.
'He met a Verdante member but killed him and survived, a mage...'
He'd heard about party members, but only three in total.
And none were high-rank powerhouses or even famous.
'Something's definitely up.'
It smelled fishy.
The thick scent that this wasn't a normal case.
Of course, he wasn't pinning big hopes on those three greenhorns yet.
The kingdom had chased the witches for decades without catching them.
He didn't expect Regin to nab Verdante, the group they'd formed.
'But they could be a lead.'
From Lycansrope to Rabbit Hole, and now Verdante.
Too many incidents for one explorer in three encounters.
If true, it meant something about the guy.
'Even if he's in league with Verdante, that's fine. The kingdom needs to keep eyes on him for a while anyway.'
Swish—
He fiddled with the communicator in his hand.
Once tomorrow's situation was sorted, he'd report up and summon Regin.
He planned to register him and his party with the palace, making them covert witch hunters.
* * *
Late into the night.
In the west's Middle Street, Nuada also gazed at the night sky.
"Master."
"Yes."
Nuada turned from the window at Regin's call.
"Care for a drink?"
Nuada rarely drank, but tonight was different.
"Has Manannan returned to the inn?"
"Yes."
"Then just us two."
Nuada picked up a wine glass and sat.
"You drank that much earlier—sure you can handle more?"
"Haha, I wasn't even buzzed. Plus, I want to talk more with you, Master."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. Even if I get tipsy, holding onto my wits is the mage's way, right?"
"Heh, who said that? Best to get smashed when you can."
He did want a drink, half-seriously.
He wanted to properly ask about Ferma.
Stress from meeting Dylan and pooling info with Jack lingered.
Before bed, he craved a cool drink to clear his head.
Clink—
Glasses met in midair.
"I'm worried about you tangling with back-alley groups, but I heard you handled the marquis well. Good job. Not reporting it would've caused bigger trouble."
"Feels like I learned something I shouldn't have."
"True, but... they were chance encounters. Not your fault."
The mood wasn't grilling Regin as expected.
Seemed he bought the story of stumbling into Verdante and reporting it right away.
Regin hesitated, then broached.
"About Ferma Vinish. That other disciple of yours."
"..."
"He wasn't at the west square earlier. He used to wander there always."
Nuada stared blankly at his glass.
Not discomfort, more like deep thought, so Regin continued.
"Is he in the capital?"
"...Yes."
Nuada downed another glass.
Best to get smashed when you can.
That line felt aimed at himself too.
"My mistake."
"..."
"I let Ferma stray unchecked, not knowing he might veer off path. My fault."
"..."
"I taught him exploration and pride, but not moderation or limits."
Memories of Skull Island surfaced.
Nuada's stern scolding face back then too.
'Didn't want to create a second Ferma.'
Effort to avoid repeating mistakes.
"In the end, he crossed an irreversible river learning black magic. Can't let you or Manannan go that way."
His resolve unchanged, he fixed Regin with a stern tone.
"Nemed School... stick to that and nothing more."
A severe warning.
Don't dig further into Verdante or black magic.
'So that's why he didn't press after I came clean.'
Just like now: don't court death, live on.
Nuada's eyes conveyed it.
"Thanks for telling me first. I was wondering how to bring up Ferma since you knew him."
"Feels better having said it."
"And a rare drink with my disciple ain't bad."
Regin felt more at ease than during earlier drinks.
Black magic research wasn't on the table while under kingdom watch anyway.
Planned to survive and get back somehow.
'I already agree with Nuada's words.'
So the nagging didn't grate.
Better: gauged Nuada's mindset, knew aid limits.
'And this vibe feels good too.'
The comfort of the mood.
Like the guy from dinner opening up, warming to Regin.
Regin too enjoyed honest talks with his master.
'Even if I'm not the real Regin.'
"...Ah."
Regin smiled bitterly. Emotions twisted oddly for a moment.
As Park Jin-seong, no one to call master.
He'd yearned for one, never met.
True guidance from someone.
Life and efforts acknowledged.
Never experienced.
The bitterness welled from there.
'Like that illusion in the black self-portrait...'
Leaving the convenience store where he'd toiled faithfully.
Hoped for the boss's blessing like in the vision.
The day he revised and submitted the project fully.
Wished the section chief and assistant manager recognized like in the fantasy.
"One more."
"Yes."
"You've done well, Regin. Saving Manannan too. I believe you'll keep it up."
Clink—
Glasses clinked again, wine rippling.
Not a one-shot; words truly failed him.
What if he were the real Regin? The thought brushed by.
'Impossible.'
He chuckled.
Never imagined catching soft feelings in survival-crazed DAT.
* * *
Next day, Regin moved swiftly again.
Before the receiver buzzed, no intent to delay.
"You have to go to the capital?"
"Yes."
Needed to inform Greg and Celia ahead.
"So that's what your talk with Dylan yesterday was about."
"Yes. Better prepare."
"He said he'd summon via receiver?"
"Yes."
Early morning at Greg's smithy.
Both nodded after hearing.
"Got it. But Regin."
"Yes?"
Celia eyed him casually.
"Bringing weapons?"
"No, the capital anyway..."
Weapons had to be checked at palace or Dylan's office.
Might as well go empty-handed, he started to say.
But Regin switched gears.
"Pack 'em anyway."
Just chatting with Dylan? Unnecessary.
But Regin had another goal.
'The underground sewers beneath the capital.'
If chance arose, had to go there.
"You never know."
No telling what might happen; even Regin lacked solid data.
At his words, Greg wrapped his axe in cloth and hefted it.
Celia sheathed her dagger at her waist.
Regin too packed all his scrolls in his bag.
"Oh, and someone else is coming with to the capital."
"Someone else?"
"Yes. My close buddy. One-eyed Jack."
Creak—
Door opened; Jack entered with a smirk.
"Regin, you seem to misunderstand 'friend.'"
"You made it? Introductions."
"...Uh, sure. I'm Regin's friend, Jack."
"See? He says friend too."
All gathered and ready, including Jack.
Bzzz—!
The mana stone receiver pinged with the summon signal.
"To the square."
Regin led the three there. Eyes sharper than ever.
Yesterday's drinking sentiments shelved for now.
Slack off, and it'd all go wrong.
'I don't know much about the capital's underground sewers either. No clue on corpse processing.'
Mind sorted, he ran his usual internal countdown.
Today: two days till First Wave.
'And day one since starting the Ferma corpse hunt.'
* * *