Chapter 21
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 021
Chapter Title: Brothers (3)
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The mercenary corps' executives had gathered for a meeting.
Kim Woojin naturally took a seat among them. Strictly speaking, he was an outsider, but there wasn't a single man bold enough to chew him out for it.
The one leading the discussion was Jonathan.
The Red Horn Mercenary Corps and Iron Shield Mercenary Corps had been stuck guarding the cargo the whole time, so they had no real grasp of the current situation.
Thus, when Jonathan's lengthy explanation finally wrapped up...
The reactions around the room were anything but enthusiastic.
"...Fuck, what the hell is this bullshit?"
Marcus, the leader of the Red Horn Mercenary Corps, spat out a curse. It was the kind of reaction you'd expect from hearing a ridiculous joke.
"Golden Beetle's two sons suddenly turned into monsters? That's the most insane crap I've ever heard. Dillon, what do you think?"
Marcus turned to Dillon, sitting beside him, as if asking for backup. But Dillon's response was utterly nonchalant.
"Doesn't seem like the time for jokes."
"You're buying this nonsense?"
"Got any better ideas? We've got multiple witnesses, and physical evidence to boot. No choice but to believe it. Arguing pointlessly is just a waste of time."
What they needed right now was a plan.
Dillon stated it plainly, and without hesitation, Marcus shot back.
"Do we even need a plan? Golden Beetle's sons are dead, so all that cargo is unclaimed property now. Why not just split it among ourselves?"
It was a tempting proposal.
Murmurs of agreement rippled through the group. If they divided Golden Beetle's wealth by headcount, everyone there could live comfortably for life.
But Jonathan shook his head.
"No can do. That's way too risky."
"A little risk is worth it for retirement funds in one go..."
"A Holy Knight's involved this time. The Church Alliance will definitely investigate. One wrong move, and our heads roll."
This job had multiple factions tangled up in it.
The Church Alliance, Pioneer Group, merchant guild, and even the mercenary guild. Swiping that money and bolting would bring a backlash they couldn't handle.
Jonathan laid it out, and Marcus scratched his neck awkwardly, realizing how reckless he'd sounded.
"So what do we do?"
"Best bet is to report this to the Church Alliance. No other options."
"You think those sticklers will buy our story? 'Our employer turned into a monster mid-job'? They'll tell us to quit bullshitting."
Marcus himself still couldn't fully accept Jonathan's words, even after seeing the abomination corpses with his own eyes.
Jonathan nodded in agreement.
"They won't believe us, sure. But one Holy Knight from the Church Alliance survived."
Words carry different weight depending on who's saying them.
If Holy Knight Raymond testified, the Church Alliance would take the whole incident seriously and vindicate the three mercenary corps for doing their jobs.
Dillon, who'd been listening quietly, nodded repeatedly. It made perfect sense.
"Then we head to the Third Pioneer City with the Holy Knight. Supplies are running low anyway, and they have a Church Alliance branch there."
"Sounds like the best play for now."
The Third Pioneer City wasn't far.
Just two more days of marching. Once they arrived, they could plan next steps based on the Church Alliance's response.
With that settled, Jonathan scanned the room.
"Anyone got objections? Better ideas, speak up."
No dissent.
Jonathan had summed it up neatly, so the mercenaries seemed ready to follow his lead without complaint.
No need to drag out the meeting once a decision was made. The group dispersed.
Woojin, who'd sat silently, rose and headed back to camp. Hearing his footsteps, Rex lifted his head from where he'd been lounging by the fire.
Claire looked over next.
"Back early?"
"Yeah. Meeting wrapped quick."
"Figured. Not many choices for us anyway."
Claire hadn't attended the meeting.
Jonathan had consulted her beforehand and presented the conclusions there. She already knew everything, so sitting in would've been boring.
Woojin had heard it all too, but showed up to gauge the mood.
"Good thing the vibe isn't sour even with the employer dead."
"Bodies are the biggest asset. Minimal injuries is what matters."
Light casualties for an incident like this.
It was a loss overall, but no major injuries among the mercenaries, so they were taking it in stride.
"Speaking of... Shame I missed seeing the abomination up close. Everyone's buzzing about it. Should've tagged along."
Claire regretted not witnessing a live abomination.
Woojin had warned her off beforehand, figuring it might get dicey.
She was bummed, but it had been the right call.
"No need to risk it. Could've gotten hurt."
"True, there were fatalities. Poor Raymond seemed wrecked... Hope he pulls through."
The two chatted idly by the fire.
Mid-conversation, Woojin let out a big yawn. Hunting the abomination had drained him, and the warm fire was lulling him to sleep.
"Gonna crash early tonight."
"Night."
After bidding Claire goodnight, he ducked into his tent. Lying comfortably, he stared at the ceiling. Then he rummaged in his pocket and pulled something out.
It was the abomination's inner core.
'...Feels iffy eating this.'
Woojin hesitated.
Derek and Cedric. An item scavenged from monsters that used to be human. Wasn't this basically cannibalism?
Still, tossing a hard-won core felt wasteful. He wasn't in a position to be picky. In the end, Woojin popped it in his mouth, chewed, and swallowed.
'Ugh, fuck... Tastes like shit.'
Hanging with mercenaries meant good eats lately, so the core's foul flavor hit hard. He rinsed his mouth with water from his canteen and lay back down.
Soon, he was fast asleep.
...What is this?
Woojin blinked repeatedly. He looked around. Nothing but pitch-black darkness. Like sinking into ink.
He'd lain down to sleep, but now he was somewhere weird. A dream, maybe?
As confusion set in... Colors splashed across the void like spilled paint.
Wooden chairs, a flower vase, bed—furniture materialized from thin air. Suddenly, Woojin stood in a lavish parlor.
Three men were there.
A man with a protruding gut caught his eye. Too young for an old man, too aged for middle-aged. Shadow clung thickly to his face.
'Golden Beetle Wolf.'
A total stranger, yet Woojin somehow knew his name. He knew the young men across from him too.
"Father! Why do you keep making decisions without consulting us?!"
Derek bellowed.
The stack of documents in his grip trembled. He was furious that his father had secretly sold off the Demonic Realm business.
Wolf replied softly.
"Someone's out to kill us. Need to liquidate and get out fast."
"There's no one like that! We called in Holy Knights for investigations over and over!"
"Those incompetents."
Wolf brushed him off and retreated. Back to holing up in his office. Watching this, Derek yelled after him.
"Please! You're not this kind of coward!"
Unable to contain his rage, Derek tore at his hair. His younger brother Cedric, standing nearby, chuckled and tapped his shoulder.
"Bro, you'll go bald like that."
"Aren't you pissed?"
"Water under the bridge. No point raging. Let's head out and blow off steam."
"...Yeah, okay."
Wolf had warned his sons repeatedly that outside the estate was dangerous.
But hot-blooded young men had no intention of listening. They figured their dad had some paranoid mental illness.
Wolf wasn't crazy.
...But he was wrong. It wasn't just dangerous outside the estate.
Returning from their outing, the brothers faced their father's corpse sprawled in the living room.
The moment they saw those pus-filled black sockets...
They understood what madness truly meant. It was staring back at them from the mirror.
'We have to get back inside the barrier.'
The sons carried out their father's plan. Hired mercenaries, sought Church Alliance aid. After thorough prep, Derek and Cedric set off.
Their destination drew near. As anxiety eased...
"...Guh?!"
The brothers' bodies stiffened mid-drink. Collapsing in the tent, Derek and Cedric convulsed on the floor. The Holy Knight rushed over.
Pfuk!
A honed dagger pierced the Holy Knight's throat. He crumpled like a puppet with cut strings. Derek glared at the dagger's wielder with bloodshot eyes.
The prostitute smiled at him.
"Too bad. Rolling around with you two was fun... Unlike that withered old merchant."
Muttering, she pressed her heel into Derek's groin. Then she smirked wickedly and bore down hard.
Derek screamed silently. Poisoned? Or paralyzed? He couldn't make a sound. She savored his reaction before lifting her foot.
"Killing you like this would be a waste. Guess you get a shot too. Get lucky, and you might keep having fun with me."
The prostitute pulled a vial from her bosom. Eerie black potion, swarming with tiny parasites like dust motes.
She drew some into a dropper and brought it near Derek's face. He wanted to squeeze his eyes shut, but his rigid body wouldn't obey.
Drip.
A drop fell into each brother's eye. Burning pain like fire. Derek and Cedric thrashed. Black veins bulged on their faces, spreading across their bodies.
Watching, the prostitute clicked her tongue in disappointment.
"Tch, both duds?"
Like father, like sons.
As the witch withdrew...
The brothers finally screamed.
"...Gaaargh!!"