Still Haven't Come to Your Senses?
Still Haven't Come to Your Senses?
Was this how a herbivore felt upon encountering a predator?
His body froze to the point that he could barely even exhale.
Every word and action of Daniel's pressed down on Bilof with overwhelming pressure.
But staying still like this would only hasten his own death.
Realizing he had to find a way out, Bilof forced a smile onto his face.
"Major General Daniel, sir? Please, quell your anger. I merely came here to contribute to the region's development in collaboration with the mayor."
"You said you collaborated with the mayor."
It was an unbelievable statement.
A person in the mayor's position couldn't fail to know that St. Michael's Monastery was where Daniel Steiner was born and raised.
Therefore, if the mayor intended to pursue a project related to the monastery, he would have contacted Daniel beforehand.
Daniel Steiner currently stood shoulder to shoulder with His Majesty the Emperor, so the mayor couldn't afford to be tactless.
'He's lying.'
Just as he was thinking the man seemed shady, the Vice-Head Monk opened the monastery door and stepped out.
"Thank you for your patience. Here are the items the city councilman requested...."
The Vice-Head Monk stopped mid-sentence and shut his mouth.
Because a familiar face, impeccably dressed in military uniform, was looking back at him.
The medals attached to his uniform and the two stars signifying the rank of Major General shone brilliantly in the sunlight.
The Vice-Head Monk blinked blankly before slowly raising his head.
"......Daniel?"
He thought it was absurd, but the general before him was definitely Daniel.
His features had grown sharper since they last met, but it was unmistakably Daniel.
Witnessing that fact, the Vice-Head Monk fell into cognitive dissonance.
"Are you really...... Daniel?"
When the Vice-Head Monk suddenly used formal speech, Daniel let out an involuntary laugh.
"What are you so nervous about, sir? It's not as if I've become a different person."
"Good heavens......! It really is you, Daniel? You're the same Daniel who pestered me to raise Kelly at the monastery? The one who blackmailed me, saying you wouldn't believe in God if we didn't let you?"
Daniel let out a dry cough and spoke in a small voice, mindful of his surroundings.
"Vice-Head Monk, sir. How long ago was that? Why bring it up now? It's embarrassing for no reason...."
Seeing Daniel flustered, the Vice-Head Monk was finally able to confirm that the general before his eyes was, in fact, Daniel.
"Oh my God! It really is Daniel! But how on earth did you make it to Major General? I heard you got a special promotion, but Major General...... I still can't believe it even as I'm looking at you."
"I understand. There are times when I can't believe it myself. But what is that in your hands?"
"Ah. They're the monastery's blueprints and the roster of the children."
The Vice-Head Monk looked at Bilof.
Bilof shook his head, begging him not to say anything, but the Vice-Head Monk paid him no mind.
"The city councilman over there asked me to hand them over, saying they were needed for promoting the monastery."
"Is that so. He asked for the monastery's blueprints and the children's roster......."
It was the moment suspicion became certainty.
Daniel slowly shifted his gaze to look down at Bilof.
"It seems you've got a death wish."
At the voice laced with killing intent, Bilof sucked in a breath he couldn't release.
Looking steadily at Bilof, who was trembling helplessly, Daniel narrowed his eyes.
"If I had my way, I'd interrogate you right here and now, but I won't. This is a place where the monastery head, the monks, and the children all live."
He had come back after a long time and didn't want to cause a disturbance and make everyone uncomfortable.
Furthermore, a person who had deliberately sought out the monastery would have prepared a few excuses; it wasn't something that would be resolved by causing a scene here and now.
With that judgment, Daniel sent a frigid look at Bilof and moved his lips.
"Get the hell out of here right now."
The sharpness in his words felt as if it were gouging at Bilof's heart.
Bilof's breath caught for a moment, but realizing this was his first and last chance, he bowed his head.
"Ah, understood."
With those words, Bilof turned on his heel and left without looking back.
The soldier who had been watching Bilof's retreating figure with suspicion let go of his pistol and whispered to Daniel.
"Give me the order, and I'll follow and surveil him."
But Daniel shook his head.
"There's no need. He won't get far anyway."
Because his tone carried an inexplicable certainty, the soldier nodded without another word.
He figured Daniel must have a plan.
"Now then......."
Having issued the dismissal order to Bilof, Daniel's expression softened, as if to say the trouble was over.
"How about we go inside and catch up on old times? Personally, I also have some questions for the Monastery Head, sir."
The Monastery Head and the Vice-Head Monk looked slightly bewildered, then shrugged their shoulders.
They didn't quite know why the city councilman had suddenly fled, but they figured there must have been a reason.
Besides, today was meant to welcome Daniel, who had returned after so long, so they decided not to pay much mind to other matters.
"Very well then. But you said you had questions for me?"
At Hieronim's words, Daniel nodded.
"That's right. I wanted to ask why black mana is rejected as a demonic energy. There are only a handful of people in the capital who know. And there are almost no records left. It seems to be related to religion, and since you've studied theology so diligently, Monastery Head, sir......."
Daniel closed his mouth.
Because he witnessed Hieronim's complexion darkening before his eyes.
"......You do know something."
Hieronim's hands, which had been clasped over his stomach, curled up weakly.
As if recalling a bad memory, Hieronim took a deep breath and looked up at Daniel.
"Daniel. I wish to know why you are curious about that."
"Because a subordinate I care for wields black mana. I heard she recently exhibited a mana backflow reaction, and I've been collecting information out of concern."
"A subordinate you care for has black mana......."
If it were a simple curiosity, Hieronim would have said there was no benefit to knowing and told him not to pry. But if someone with black mana was near Daniel, it was a different story.
Hieronim let out a low sigh.
"I think it would be best to eat first. When you're done and it's time for bed, come find me. If your resolve hasn't changed by then...."
Hieronim, who had been deliberating, steeled himself and spoke in a serious tone.
"I shall tell you an old story that you must not know."
*
Bilof, who had been driven from the monastery by Daniel, fled to a city near the village.
He was overwhelmed by the fear that Daniel might attack him if he remained in the village.
Of course, that wasn't the only reason he had made the long trip to the city.
The primary reason Bilof had arrived in the city was to commission a contract killing.
Because he had recently learned that a murder-for-hire organization existed in this city.
Acting on the information he'd gathered, he uttered a password at a bar, and the bartender showed him the way to the basement.
After moving through the dark basement, Bilof found a shabby wooden door.
When he opened the door and went inside, he saw people handling knives by the light of a few candles.
They all had the hoods of their robes pulled down low, so he couldn't see their faces properly, but that didn't matter.
"......I've come to commission a contract killing. Where do I make the request?"
Snickering sounds came from all around at the mention of contract killing.
Among them, a man sitting at the central table raised his hand, and the laughter ceased.
The man slowly lowered his hand and raised his head to look at Bilof.
"The target?"
He felt the pressure of the eerily chilling atmosphere.
Bilof, who had been gauging the situation, steadied his breathing and spoke.
"You don't need to know. I'll tell you the location and description, so just go and kill him. Then I'll pay you ten times the amount you bastards usually receive."
A stir ran through the room at the mention of ten times the amount.
As if intrigued, the man stroked his chin.
"Ten times, huh. That's music to my ears. Right. What's the description?"
Bilof swallowed dryly, pulled a simple radio from his coat, walked over to the table, and set it down.
"When the time is right, I'll notify you by radio. For now, just know the destination is Pianmari Village. You need to deal with the bastard before he leaves the village, so you'd better start moving now."
Next, he placed the briefcase he was holding onto the table.
When he opened the briefcase, it was about half full of bundled cash.
"This is a down payment. You'll get the rest once the job is complete."
After a brief silence, a hand emerged from the man's robe and grabbed the radio.
"Fine. Consider it accepted."
Hearing the man's words, Bilof nodded.
'I don't know if these bastards can really kill Daniel Steiner.......'
Now, while Daniel was on leave with only two escort soldiers, was the perfect time for an assassination.
Even if they failed the assassination, Bilof could simply run away, so he had little to lose.
"Wait for my contact."
With those words, Bilof turned around and walked out.
As Bilof left the room and his footsteps began to fade, the man pulled out a radio from inside his robe.
It was different from the one he had received from Bilof.
"......Can you hear me? The bastard took the bait. Spreading the false rumor was a good move."
No sooner had the man finished speaking than the surrounding figures began to remove their hoods.
What was revealed were dark complexions, far removed from Caucasian.
The candles in the room flickered gently, causing the shadows to dance.
As they faced forward with bloodthirsty eyes, a reply came through the radio.
─ If he took the bait, we should make him reveal his identity on the surface.
It was the voice of Hamtal, the leader of the Black Bird.
─ Move out. Tomorrow, we will let them know.
While everyone held their breath, Hamtal quietly continued speaking.
─ That opposing Daniel Steiner is an act of suicide.