Chapter 92
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: Windsor Castle (1)
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The special effect Kang Sa-hu had unleashed—ceaseless bleeding—was an ability inherent to his weapon, entirely distinct from a necromancer's blood magic.
But Agravain, lacking any information to differentiate them, assumed it was necromancer magic.
And he wasn't the only one laboring under that misconception.
Adelaide and Adalberto, convinced the unrelenting flow of blood from their wounds stemmed from Kang Sa-hu's necromancer magic, hurriedly recited the prayer for Pama—the most efficient anti-magic incantation they could complete quickly.
Yet for some inexplicable reason, even this holy magic, which held supreme advantage against evil, failed to staunch the bleeding swiftly.
'What in the world is this? And when did it happen?'
Adalberto had known his throat was slashed when his body went numb and his chest was stomped. But Adelaide still couldn't grasp when her own nape had been cut. She stared at Kang Sa-hu in horrified disbelief.
All three fixed their gazes on Kang Sa-hu, but he merely glared down at the two paladins with a face darkened by chilling fury.
To amplify the ceaseless bleeding effect further, Kang Sa-hu channeled mana. The wounds, which had begun to clot after multiple overlaps, erupted anew with spurts of blood.
"Guh... hng."
Adalberto's face, marred by a long gash on his nape, rapidly paled, his vision blurring.
'I... I'm going to die.'
The word "death" involuntarily flashed in his mind, and Adalberto gritted his teeth.
'Lord. Before I return to You, grant me the strength to judge this sinner.'
Adalberto offered a prayer amid his fading consciousness.
But before it could fully form, his massive frame collapsed sideways.
Thud—
Adalberto fainted and toppled over.
Adelaide, too, was slowly paling as blood continued to seep steadily from her tiny wound.
Agravain watched her in silence, then turned gravely toward Kang Sa-hu.
"Sir Kang Sa-hu."
"Yes, Sir Agravain."
Though his mind boiled with rage, Kang Sa-hu betrayed none of it, replying in a calm voice.
But rage wasn't expressed solely through words and actions—Agravain could faintly sense it.
"I truly apologize for saying this, and I understand your fury, Sir Kang Sa-hu. But as you know, this is Her Majesty's domain."
Kang Sa-hu stared at him wordlessly.
Meeting those eerily serene eyes, Agravain swallowed hard.
"That said, I'm aware they came all this way. I can't stop you, but for my sake, I ask that you show them mercy this time."
"......"
At his words, Kang Sa-hu silently regarded Adelaide.
Deep down, he wanted to kill her right there.
No.
To a necromancer, death was merely respite.
Thus, he burned with an intense desire to go further—to annihilate even their spirits after death.
Yet into Kang Sa-hu's mind came images of the Underworld King and his parents.
And the other necromancers.
Even now, countless people lived in subterranean cities deep underground, denied sunlight.
Above all, thinking of the Underworld King, who hadn't seen the outside world in over four hundred years, Kang Sa-hu quietly closed his eyes.
The positive reactions to necromancers spreading across NewTube.
The wealth amassed from hunting, and the vast lands granted by the military.
And himself—an EX-rank hunter.
Recalling all he had prepared thus far calmed his heart, and the fierce light in Kang Sa-hu's eyes dimmed.
Exhale.
At the same time, he suppressed the ceaseless bleeding effect.
His gaze met Adelaide's, who clutched the wound on her nape with a pallid face as she stared back at him.
'I can decide after confirming. With a Round Table Knight involved, they won't be released easily anyway.'
Observing Adelaide—who had shown no killing intent throughout the fight and was clearly concealing information he didn't know—Kang Sa-hu made his choice.
"I'll let you live, as promised. I have no intention of breaking the non-aggression pact like you lot. But..."
For a fleeting moment, long-suppressed killing intent flickered in his eyes.
"Someday, the Vatican will pay dearly for all this."
As his words ended, she felt the bleeding diminish enough to notice by touch and hurriedly treated the unconscious Adalberto's throat.
Kang Sa-hu averted his gaze, as if even the sight disgusted him. In the distance, a group arrived by car.
"The knights. They'll escort you, Sir Kang Sa-hu."
Agravain bowed to Kang Sa-hu.
"Thank you truly for your mercy, Sir Kang Sa-hu. I'll wrap things up here, transfer them to the prison, and meet you at the castle."
"...Understood, Sir Agravain. Just one piece of needless advice, though..."
The light that had faded from Kang Sa-hu's eyes flared briefly.
"Handle it thoroughly."
"...Of course."
Meeting that icy stare, Agravain felt his fist clench involuntarily.
Watching Kang Sa-hu board the car under the knights' guidance, Agravain swallowed hard.
'The strongest necromancer in history.'
He repeated the title and name that had put him on edge with just a glance, until the car vanished from sight.
Then Agravain turned to bind the two paladins.
"Thank you for your mercy, Sir Agravain."
Adelaide bowed politely to Agravain as the knights bound her without resistance.
Though they had entered the country illegally by smuggling and attacked Kang Sa-hu—who had even been invited by the Queen—
As leader of the Paladin Order, Agravain responded with due courtesy.
"It's regrettable we met under such circumstances, Lady Adelaide. Your thanks should go to Sir Kang Sa-hu, who spared you. And even as Paladin leader, you'll face a thorough investigation over this incident."
"Naturally. I'll abide by Her Majesty's laws."
At her composed reply, Agravain appraised her and the fainted Adalberto anew.
Shoddy, inadequate gear supposedly prepared for combat.
A mere duo entering Stonehenge in England—a setup ripe for earning enmity from both the Round Table Knights and the necromancer.
And Kang Sa-hu, bearing only the chest wound unscathed otherwise.
Putting it together, Agravain instantly realized this wasn't her solo decision.
No, the Paladins infiltrating England illegally was absurd to begin with.
'The Vatican. What are they scheming?'
To the Vatican organization, she was just another pawn.
Someone else had sent her here and issued the orders—Agravain felt no anger toward her.
A female knight searching Adelaide for potential hazards tilted her head at something found in her bosom.
"This is...?"
Adelaide's face blanched upon seeing the item the knight had pulled out.
"Ah, it's just my personal taste. If it's alright, could you put it back or hand it over quickly?"
Adelaide narrowed her eyes and arched her brows awkwardly. The knight eyed her suspiciously, inspecting the accessory with aura.
But as if her words rang true, no power registered against the aura. After conferring with her accompanying knight, the female knight returned the accessory to Adelaide's bosom.
"Thank you, knight."
"No trouble."
The knight who finished the search snorted inwardly, noting how Adelaide kept glancing at the fainted Adalberto as he was carried off by fellow knights.
'The Vatican Paladin leader has quite the unique taste.'
She recalled the green-and-blue-eyed skull accessory utterly unfit for a paladin, but her senior's call soon erased it from her mind.
After riding with the knights a short distance and boarding the waiting helicopter, Kang Sa-hu arrived at Windsor Castle.
Upon disembarking, he was introduced to a butler by the knights, who then led him to his prepared guest room.
"Sir Agravain instructed me to ensure you rest comfortably, Sir Kang Sa-hu. Let me know if you need anything."
His manners, ingrained from serving the royal family, prompted Kang Sa-hu to respond with the etiquette he'd learned from Ella.
"Thank you. I'd like a bath, fresh clothes, computer access, and to speak with Sir Agravain when he arrives. Is that possible?"
Though invited to request needs, the butler was momentarily surprised by Kang Sa-hu's confident, effortless demands.
But it lasted only a split second—too brief even for Kang Sa-hu to notice—as the butler recomposed himself and nodded.
"Of course. Shall we prepare the bath first, then new clothes and computer access?"
"Yes, thank you."
Having voiced his requests, Kang Sa-hu retrieved a potion from his dimensional storage and took a sip.
As the chest scar was nearly healed, word came that the bath was ready. Kang Sa-hu sank into the room's tub.
Gazing at the petals floating and sinking on the water, he reviewed the recent battle.
'Something's off.'
Points invisible during the fight with the paladins emerged as he calmly replayed it.
'They came to kill me with that pathetic gear? Just the two of them? And why was that paladin so shocked when she slashed my chest?'
And above all.
'Why did Adelaide show no killing intent?'
With more questions piling up than answers, Kang Sa-hu squeezed his eyes shut.
He had been careless.
Had he calmly dissected these oddities a bit more, he might have uncovered far more.
Regret lingered, but Kang Sa-hu soon steadied himself.
'They'll be locked in an English prison anyway. I'd prefer they stay long-term, but the Vatican will try to extract them soon. Not today or tomorrow, though.'
After finishing his bath and the prepared meal in the room, Kang Sa-hu stared at the computer—like reuniting with an old friend.
'The basics are in place regardless. Plenty of time to interrogate before returning to Korea. For now, handle what's needed now.'
Logging online, Kang Sa-hu swiftly searched for a messenger app, installed it, and signed in.
Watching the circling loading bar indicating connection, his eyes hardened.
Moments later, login complete.
Kang Sa-hu's face stiffened at the endless '9's in his message rooms.
"......"
From Afterworld Guild members to NIS agents, guild leaders—
Messages overflowed from countless people, maxed out.
Quickly scanning, Kang Sa-hu scowled and tapped Kang Ji-ye's profile, hitting call.
A cheerful ringtone played, and soon after.
[Oppa?! Oppa!]
Kang Ji-ye picked up, breathless and panting.
Behind her: "Oppa? Is that Guild Leader Kang Sa-hu?!" "Guild Leader Kang Sa-hu called!"
More alarming—heavy crashes of massive objects collapsing, and ongoing explosions.
At the forefront, Kang Ji-ye's tearful shout rang out.
[Why didn't you pick up?!]
"Sorry. Something came up."
Their agreement was one call per month, more frequent if issues arose.
But excuses felt pointless now.
"I checked the messages. What's the situation?"
[In combat! Most guilds are committed to this operation! No gate breaks yet, but not for long!]
As fury kindled in Kang Sa-hu's eyes.
Kang Ji-ye's scream pierced through the receiver.
[Lost the Prophet, so no clue where or when gates spawn. World average gate break rate's nearly tripled!]