Chapter 117
Chapter 117
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 117
Chapter Title: Meeting the Viscount
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As expected, Rashid was a noble.
It wouldn't have made sense if he hadn't acted strangely without knowing anything, so he'd already suspected as much.
But he hadn't expected the guy to be the son of this territory's lord.
No, he hadn't cared.
There had been no need to.
But the situation had changed a bit.
'His own child would die without blinking an eye, or so he said?'
He hoped Viscount Mohiuddin was the kind of man who could separate public duty from private matters.
Suppressing the rising unease, he looked at Rinar.
"Take me to where that man is."
Rinar knew the city like the back of his hand, so he could lead him there quickly.
But the boy wore a strange expression and didn't move.
"You already forgot? You still owe me for stealing my stuff."
Rinar flinched as Seo Woojin spoke with a smile.
"N-No, that's not it."
He shook his head quickly, making excuses.
"I don't think you need to go there yourself."
"Huh? What do you mean by..."
Seo Woojin trailed off and looked around.
Chunks of what had once been soldiers were scattered about, mingled with the red carcass of the demonic beast.
"You're right."
A demonic beast had appeared in the city, and soldiers had died.
Of course, knights and soldiers would be dispatched.
Seo Woojin figured it would be easier to wait for them and then have them bring the lord here.
It would be simpler to convince him after showing him the carnage firsthand.
'Sharp kid.'
Rinar was proving quite useful.
Not just his abilities, but his quick wits and sharp instincts.
Having a guy like this around would make things a lot easier.
'But not yet.'
He'd even left Ailin behind to prepare for danger.
He couldn't take a kid like this along.
If he were to take him in, it would have to be later.
'Once this is all sorted out.'
With that thought, Seo Woojin sat down on an old chair in front of the inn.
He was waiting for the people who would soon come rushing here.
In the meantime, he started asking Rinar all sorts of questions.
Nothing particularly useful.
Just to pass the time.
Rinar answered Seo Woojin's questions with utmost sincerity.
How much time passed like that?
"They're coming."
He sensed mana approaching from this direction.
Three of them.
Mid-level knights, by the feel of it.
Seo Woojin stood up from the chair, preparing to greet them.
"You stay back."
Rinar nodded as if he understood and stepped behind Seo Woojin.
'Huh...'
Even though he was just out of sight, Rinar's presence was barely detectable.
Unless they had a 'scouting' type skill, he could proudly claim to have the most developed senses among a hundred warriors.
And yet he couldn't detect him...
'Does he have an 'ability' like the Grand Duke or Gerald?'
There was no other explanation.
Seo Woojin decided to look into it properly later as he turned to face the front.
He could see knights in silver armor approaching rapidly.
They were moving so urgently that their feet were a blur.
"Hup!"
The knights arrived at the scene in an instant and frowned.
They'd spotted the soldiers' and demonic beast's corpses.
But it was only for a moment.
Their faces quickly hardened as they drew their swords and pointed them at Seo Woojin.
"State your identity."
It was a disciplined response.
The fact that they didn't attack immediately upon seeing such a gruesome scene showed how well-trained they were.
'They'll listen to reason.'
Seo Woojin nodded, raising both hands to show he had no intention of fighting, and spoke.
"I'm Seo Woojin from the Empire's capital."
Even after he gave his name, the knights didn't lower their guard.
"Your status?"
One of the knights asked, eyeing the 'Rune Dear' at Seo Woojin's waist.
"I suppose you'd call me a student training at the Academy..."
"The Academy?"
The knight's eyes widened.
There was only one thing that could mean.
Even knights from a rural territory like this couldn't possibly be unaware.
"Yes, a hero. Could I meet Viscount Mohiuddin?"
A gasp came from behind, followed by the sound of Rinar collapsing to the ground.
* * *
"A hero wants to see me?"
"Yes."
A soldier who had rushed to the lord's castle to report answered.
"A hero..."
Mohiuddin stroked his beard with a serious expression.
"So he's the one who killed the demonic beast that invaded the city?"
"Yes."
The soldier repeated the same answer.
"Seo Woojin, Seo Woojin..."
Come to think of it, he'd heard the name before.
"The hero who chased Gerald away from Mernotaine alongside the Grand Duke."
Rumors about it had spread not just through the Empire but across the entire continent.
It had been a rare occasion for the Grand Duke to enter battle personally, and the hero—who had only been the subject of rampant rumors—had defeated Gerald, the monster of infamy...
It was impossible for word not to spread.
Of course, it was mostly among the nobles.
"And he demanded I come to him?"
Mohiuddin chuckled dryly.
"...My apologies."
To dare order the lord around.
If he weren't a hero, it would have meant the whip—or worse.
"Prepare to go out. I've been invited, after all. It would be rude to refuse."
"I'll prepare right away."
Once the soldier left, Mohiuddin's expression hardened.
It wasn't displeasure toward Seo Woojin.
His character was far too noble for that.
The reason he hardened his face was...
'Five soldiers dead.'
It pained him deeply that people under his command had lost their lives.
At the same time, anger toward his son surged.
To dare use the territory's soldiers for personal matters, leading to their deaths.
This was no small crime.
Even as the lord's son, it was overstepping bounds—treasonous, depending on interpretation.
But Mohiuddin couldn't bring himself to punish his son.
He loved him too much.
Enough to overlook most faults.
"Haa."
He let out a deep sigh.
He knew money couldn't solve it, but he vowed to give generous compensation to the families of the fallen soldiers—more than enough.
Knock knock.
"Everything is ready."
The soldier's voice came from outside.
Mohiuddin stood from his chair, schooled his expression, and left the office.
Now it was time to meet the hero from the capital.
* * *
Seo Woojin quietly regarded the man who had appeared before him.
Pale white skin and a neatly trimmed beard.
He had a sturdy build and a kindly, affable impression.
"I'm Mohiuddin. I humbly serve as the lord of this place."
He greeted Seo Woojin politely.
'Nothing like his son.'
Rinar had already told him, but seeing him in person made it hard to believe they were father and son.
"I'm Seo Woojin."
"I'd already heard. They say you're the hero who performed great feats in Mernotaine."
Seo Woojin's face flushed slightly.
He hadn't expected anyone to know about that, so he was caught off guard.
"It's an honor to meet a hero in person."
Mohiuddin chuckled.
"The honor is mine to meet Viscount Mohiuddin."
Seo Woojin returned the polite greeting.
They might need to cooperate for a while, so there was no reason to act embarrassed.
"You wanted to see me? May I ask what for?"
If it were just greetings or some secret mission, he would have come to the castle.
But to specifically summon him here meant there had to be another reason.
"Perhaps because of that?"
He pointed to the headless demonic beast corpse.
Black blood was oozing out, staining the surrounding ground.
"Yes."
Seo Woojin nodded.
"Not for formalities, then. What is it?"
Mohiuddin decided to hear him out first.
If it was a demand for payment, he was prepared to offer as much as needed afterward.
To him, Seo Woojin was a benefactor who had protected his people—and ultimately, a savior of the world.
But Seo Woojin's next words exceeded his imagination.
"Monsters and demonic beasts will soon come swarming toward this city."
"...What did you just say?"
"It's what I heard at the Academy."
Something had been discovered in this city, and those drawn to it would come.
Of course, it was laced with a bit of a lie.
Mohiuddin's face grew as grave as it could be upon hearing Seo Woojin's story.
"Can you take responsibility for those words?"
"The Sword Sage and Shadow Duke will soon arrive with reinforcements."
Even the guardians' names were mentioned.
It couldn't possibly be false.
"If it was that important, it would have been better to discuss it at the castle."
It was a question of why he had summoned him here specifically.
"Take a look at that."
Seo Woojin pointed to the demonic beast's carcass.
He then asked one of the knights to slash it with his sword.
The knight looked puzzled at the sudden request, but nodded when Mohiuddin did and drew his blade.
And...
"Hah!"
Clang-!
As expected, the scales didn't even scratch.
The flustered knight struck several more times, but nothing changed.
He was a mid-level knight who could hunt most monsters with ease, but this beast was impossible.
"Dozens, hundreds of those things will come."
Mohiuddin paled.
Now he understood why Seo Woojin had called him here specifically.
He wanted to show him this sight.
"You called me here because..."
"Yes. Everyone in the city needs to evacuate."
Even ten of those beasts would cause casualties.
Seo Woojin couldn't be everywhere at once.
But if several times that number attacked all at once, the city was done for.
"It's no easy task."
"It has to be done."
To save as many people as possible.
Mohiuddin pondered for a moment, then nodded with a heavy sigh.
"When should we start the evacuation?"
"The sooner, the better."
Honestly, he wanted to say to evacuate right now.
But an unprepared flight could lead to even greater losses.
"At least enough to reach safe shelter."
"There are a few such places."
Mohiuddin nodded.
He felt the gravity of the situation more keenly than anyone.
"Oh, and..."
Seo Woojin called out to Mohiuddin.
"Another request?"
"Could I borrow a few soldiers? Guards, if soldiers are too much."
They would already be short-handed.
Asking for manpower in the midst of that might be unreasonable.
"May I ask what for?"
Mohiuddin looked slightly troubled, as expected.
But it was necessary.
"I have a message for Rimartan in Yanagdar."
The Sword Sage and Shadow Duke.
He needed to summon those two here.