Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Found
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#107
"We've found him."
It was Magerus.
He reported calmly, though he was desperately hiding his urgency inside.
"...Where? Is he alive?"
Briani urged him on, lifting her hips in agitation.
"Inside the Talan-bound train. And yes, he's alive."
At the news of Seo Woojin's survival, Briani let out a deep sigh of relief.
The past day had been agonizing, like her blood was drying up.
Her life benefactor had been kidnapped on her own territory, his fate unknown.
She hadn't even uncovered who the culprits were, so it was easy to understand her state of mind.
"Did you identify who they were?"
"Woojin-ssi did mention one name."
Briani's eyes narrowed.
Murderous intent poured out in thick waves.
"It was Reina."
"Reina?"
Briani tilted her head, as if it were a name she'd never heard before.
"...She said she's from the bloodline of the Ruler of Darkness."
Crack—
The armrest of the chair Briani was sitting on crumbled to dust and fell to the floor.
"Those filthy mosquito bastards dare!"
Her rage ignited uncontrollably.
Vampire bloodline.
They were among the most infamous followers of the Demon King, right alongside the Dark Elves.
Sucking human blood, using their powers to expand their domain...
They were a plague in themselves.
Briani found it repulsive that they'd even set foot on her land.
"Prepare to leave."
"Where to?"
"To Talan. I need to see Woojin."
She had to see his safety with her own eyes.
And while she was at it, track down those mosquito bastards too.
"Not a single bone fragment left. I'll burn them all to ash."
Magerus swallowed dryly at the sight of his master gnashing her teeth, her red hair whipping around.
* * *
A day had passed.
He'd come to in a city called Talan, in the Empire's south.
He'd passed out on the train as if falling asleep, and when he woke, he was here.
It felt like days had gone by subjectively, but only a day had actually passed, which brought him some relief.
He'd been worried that returning to the Academy too late might cause more worry.
'Though it'll be a bit late anyway.'
He probably couldn't make it back today, so being late was inevitable.
"Hoo—"
As Seo Woojin sighed, someone approached.
"Hero, sir, are you feeling better?"
It was the boy.
Around eight years old?
He was the kind kid who'd been looking after Woojin ever since he woke up.
"Ah, yeah. Thanks for worrying."
"Hehe, no problem. It's my job."
"You said your name was Brío?"
When Woojin asked, the boy's eyes went wide.
"Y-You remembered."
He seemed thrilled, never expecting the hero to remember his name.
"By any chance, do you know how long I have to stay here? I need to get back urgently, you see."
The place Woojin was in was a mansion in Talan.
One of the homes belonging to the lord who governed the area, apparently.
Fortunately, the owner was away, so no risk of running into them, but he couldn't stay forever.
He wanted to leave right away, but...
That wasn't realistic.
He was in no condition to move freely.
'Lost my coin pouch, so I can't even buy a train ticket.'
Reina wouldn't have taken it.
She was far too refined a monster for that.
If she'd wanted the coin pouch, she'd have taken the expensive items he had too.
She didn't seem short on cash, so it must've been swiped by someone while he was unconscious.
That's why Woojin had to stay put until he met some generous soul who could lend him money.
"Actually, I just heard some news. People are coming from Mernotain to pick you up, Hero sir!"
Woojin sighed in relief at Brío's excited shout of 'Mernotain! Isn't that amazing?!'
'The Grand Duke must've heard about me.'
Good.
He felt bad for troubling Briani unnecessarily, though.
'Still, it'll be at least a day late.'
He'd thought nothing would go wrong this time, but he'd gotten caught up in another incident.
He should've stuck to his resolution to avoid going out for a while.
Then this wouldn't have happened.
'No. I might've gotten dragged into something bigger.'
Woojin recalled what Reina had said.
"Hanging around the Academy might get you caught, which would be a hassle."
From that, it seemed she even planned to infiltrate the Academy.
What if he'd encountered a monster like that there?
Unlike now, where only he was targeted, it could've caused massive casualties.
'What the hell have I gotten tangled up in?'
Ever since being summoned to this world and getting the 'Demon King' class, his life had been anything but ordinary.
And the longer it went on, the deeper he got pulled into graver, worse incidents.
It felt like sinking into quicksand.
"Hero sir?"
He heard Brío calling.
"Yeah?"
Snapping back, he turned to see the boy looking worried.
"Are you okay? You don't look so good."
Brío glanced at him carefully, then handed over a cup of warm drink from the tray.
"Now that you're in Talan, you'll be fine. No monsters here, and no one who would do bad things to you, Hero sir."
Was it pride in his city?
Even though he didn't look well-off himself, Brío clearly loved Talan.
"Yeah, thanks."
Woojin smiled at the boy.
"Oh, by the way. Do you know who's coming from Mernotain?"
Magerus? Lumas? Or maybe some nameless soldiers from the Grand Duke's castle.
Woojin hoped it would be someone he knew, like Magerus or Lumas.
But the name from Brío's mouth was completely unexpected.
"I heard the Grand Duke herself is coming! Wow, the Grand Duke. Is she really coming here? Must be a rumor, right?"
Grand Duke Briani.
Woojin stared blankly at the news of her coming to Talan personally.
'No, why?'
Why would someone of her stature come all the way here just to see him?
The door opened.
The first thing he saw was red hair like a lion's mane.
'She's here.'
He'd actually known she arrived even before the door opened.
The commotion outside made it impossible not to know.
Woojin stood, straightening his clothes.
"How did you get he—"
"Are you okay? How's your body? No injuries? What about blood? She didn't suck your blood, right? That crazy mosquito bitch didn't do anything? Answer me!"
Not even giving him a chance to speak.
Woojin couldn't collect his thoughts amid the barrage of questions that could slap even Lee Ji-ah's cheeks.
"Please calm down."
Even Magerus had to step in from behind to restrain her, but the questions kept coming.
"I'm fine. Aside from feeling a bit weak, no injuries. I'm perfectly okay."
The weakness was just from encountering the otherworldly monster Reina and being drained.
Other than that, Woojin's condition was pretty good.
But Briani didn't seem reassured, inspecting his body all over.
"Grand Duke..."
Like a mother checking her son back from battle, Magerus called her, covering his face with his hand.
"What? So?"
Of course, Briani paid it no mind.
"Good, you're fine. No bite marks. I can relax now."
Only after thoroughly checking him over did she finally let go.
"I kept telling you I'm fine."
Woojin shook his head.
"I only trust what I see with my own eyes."
She declared it boldly.
'Why is she so favorable to me?'
Woojin wondered at her behavior.
Because he was the hero?
Because he'd lent a hand against Gerald?
She called him her life benefactor, but Woojin didn't see it that way.
If she'd fallen, he'd have died too, so he'd just helped.
Yet she treated him with utmost kindness.
It was burdensome, but also grateful.
Coming here personally for something like this.
The title of Grand Duke wasn't light enough for casual trips.
"Moved?"
Was she reading his eyes?
Briani smiled with her eyes and asked.
"No, well. Not moved exactly."
He averted his gaze slightly, and she burst out laughing—puhaha.
It was behavior utterly at odds with her refined face.
Briani patted Woojin's back—thwack thwack—then composed herself and turned her head.
"Everyone out except Magerus. I need to talk to Woojin alone."
At her words, Brío and the attendants filed out like the tide receding.
Just the three of them left.
Briani stared straight into Woojin's eyes.
Then asked.
"Now tell me in detail what happened."
Her eyes burned red with anger.
......Gerald's dead?"
Come to think of it, she probably wouldn't know that.
Even Woojin had only realized after leveling up.
"You didn't know, huh."
He'd expected as much, but it wasn't her who'd killed Gerald.
'Then who?'
There couldn't be many who could kill a monster like that.
"Yeah, just found out. I have a guess who, but..."
Woojin's eyes sparkled.
But Briani shook her head.
"Sorry. I'd love to tell you, but it's not something I can just say."
"I see."
Woojin smacked his lips in disappointment.
"Anyway, they kidnapped you to find out how Gerald died?"
"Seemed like someone gave the order."
Who could give orders to monsters like Gerald and Reina?
He couldn't even guess.
......Right?"
"Huh?"
He thought he'd heard something from Briani, but he'd missed it, lost in thought.
"Never mind. I'll look into that."
It felt like she was hurriedly changing the subject, but he didn't press.
'If she could say it, she would have by now.'
Woojin nodded and let it go.
"You should head back now. Come to Mernotain with me."
"Ah, I need to return to the Academy. My vacation ends today."
"Huh? We were gonna hang out today."
They had promised that.
But he wasn't in the mood for fun in this situation.
"I was late last time, so I have to go back on time this time."
He smiled awkwardly, and Briani furrowed her brow.
"Can't be helped then. But you have to come visit soon."
"Got it."
Woojin nodded quickly at her eyes that seemed ready to devour him if he didn't.
"Magerus, get a capital-bound ticket for Woojin so he can go back."
Woojin's face brightened.
The generous soul sending him home was, as expected, the Grand Duke.
"Thank you."
As Woojin smiled brightly, she shouted once more.
"First class!"