Chapter 95
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Deal and Orders (2)
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Hell Baron Elevepar.
The lowest rank among the five noble titles of duke, marquis, earl, viscount, and baron.
Yet at the mention that even this Elevepar was S-rank, Kang Sa-hu felt his mind growing complicated.
'Could it be that boss monsters corresponding to the five noble ranks actually exist?'
As his head spun from the unexpected information,
the sound of Paladins' footsteps began echoing from not far away.
Adelaide heard it too and continued speaking at an even quicker pace than before.
"Hurry and go. Even if this place is under the protection of the Knights of the Round Table, it's best for neither of us if they see us together."
Kang Sa-hu looked at her with eyes mixed with complex emotions as she spoke with apparent concern for him.
'When I looked at her spirit, there were no lies in anything she's said so far. But does that mean I can trust this woman just on that?'
He questioned himself, but the answer that surfaced was negative.
'She might truly be acting for our sake. But I can't just let the Paladin Captain go based on that alone.'
Having finished his thoughts, he slowly stepped toward Adelaide and extended his hand.
Tsurruk.
As he reached out, the magic that had been completed before entering the room—merely awaiting activation—manifested in an instant on his palm.
"What's this?"
Adelaide gazed curiously at the pale, thread-like magic floating before her eyes.
"The information you gave me is certainly useful and shocking. But you didn't think I'd let you go just trusting that, did you?"
"Hmm, fair enough. A safety measure for him, I suppose."
Adelaide, who had clearly anticipated this, nodded with a smile.
As she relaxed her body as if inviting him to do as he wished, the thread-like magic slithered into her nostril.
Though it resembled a thread in form, it caused little physical discomfort, and Adelaide didn't move a muscle until it was fully inside.
"That should do it. But surely you don't plan to stop at one necromancer spell as a safeguard? Against Paladins?"
"Of course not."
At her words, Kang Sa-hu pulled a small vial from his pocket and tossed it to her.
"What's this?"
She examined the finger-sized bottle containing a transparent blue liquid, curiosity piqued.
Upon closer inspection, three small beads floated within the liquid as well.
"They're soul cores. They're called beads, but simply put, they're like bombs."
"...Bombs?"
She looked at Kang Sa-hu with renewed surprise.
Kang Sa-hu met her gaze with eyes still burning fiercely.
"I'm not forcing you. This situation won't change even if one of you dies anyway."
"In exchange, if I drink this, you'll truly trust me, right?"
Adelaide flashed a playful smile and popped the cork off the vial.
Without hesitation, she gulped down the liquid and the soul cores inside. Surprisingly, it was Kang Sa-hu who was taken aback.
"...I can't understand you."
Hearing the footsteps drawing steadily closer, he began backing slowly toward the window.
"Why go this far?"
It was a question that might be hard to answer lightly.
Throughout their conversation, Kang Sa-hu had been observing her spirit to verify her words, confirming no falsehoods.
"Why, you ask... Well, first off, as I said, the Vatican now isn't the one I knew."
She smiled faintly.
"I joined the Paladins because of the Vatican from seven years ago."
"......"
Kang Sa-hu was moments from using his Blink skill as the footsteps reached the door.
"Ah! That's right. One more thing."
Adelaide beamed at him.
"I've heard so much about you from my best friend Reina. Seeing your actions match her stories exactly, I trust you as much as I trust her."
"......!"
Reina.
The necromancer who left the Necromancer Society seven years ago and was captured by the Paladins, opening the entrance gate.
At the name of his old friend, Kang Sa-hu's eyes widened in shock.
"You..."
Bang!
Before he could speak, the door burst open.
"Lady Adelaide!"
Being Paladins in the Queen's land, they hadn't dared run.
Instead, they ascended the stairs at the fastest pace that didn't seem frivolous, panting as they spotted Adelaide.
"Oh my. What is it? Did you all come all this way just to see me?"
Having already moved to the window, Adelaide slipped the empty vial into her pocket and leaned against the frame.
With her usual bright smile, she examined each of the Paladins who had rushed here.
It had only been a day since the surprise attack, yet ten Paladins had come running to her modest quarters on meager funds.
Feeling their care for her, she smiled softly and glanced outside the window frame.
"......"
Her eyes met Kang Sa-hu's, who stared intently at her from between the branches where he'd relocated. She winked subtly.
The narrowed-eyed wink was hard to make out clearly from afar.
But moments after she winked, confirming his form vanish in an instant, she smiled faintly.
As Kang Sa-hu blinked toward the helicopter, one man stepped out from inside.
"Greetings, Sir Kang Sa-hu. A pleasure to meet you."
A tall man in light, agile armor greeted him with a ready smile.
With blond hair and green eyes, he regarded Kang Sa-hu with interest before introducing himself.
"I've heard about you from Sir Agravain. I serve as the seat of Sir Gawain among the Knights of the Round Table. Her Majesty the Queen ordered me to escort you to Korea."
"Pleased to meet you, Sir Gawain. Necromancer Kang Sa-hu."
Kang Sa-hu shook hands after the introduction.
Gawain checked his watch, scratched his head, and gestured to the helicopter.
"I've prepared a private jet to depart for Korea immediately after your audience, so everything's ready. But on a first meeting, this might be presumptuous—I'm worried about you heading back to Korea right now."
He seemed fond of Kang Sa-hu, who had earned praise from both his queen and senior knight Agravain, furrowing his brow with genuine concern.
"It's like a warzone there, with fierce battles raging. I don't know the details, but do you really have to go?"
"I appreciate the concern, but my guildmates are there, and it's my home country. I won't shirk my duties because of danger."
"Ah, I see."
Gawain was startled by the new information but soon grinned broadly, showing his teeth, clearly pleased with the response.
"Indeed. A fine knightly spirit—no, you're not a knight. A fine mindset! Then, as requested, shall we depart right away? Have you finished all your business here?"
At the question, Kang Sa-hu turned briefly to glance at Adelaide's room.
Infusing his eyes with the faintest glow, he sensed deep in her mind the coiled magic ready to eavesdrop and track at his command.
And the troll soul cores that would manifest anywhere, no matter the distance, at his mere will.
He couldn't guarantee three trolls would kill her outright.
But fused to her body by the special solution he'd created, removing them wouldn't be easy.
Moreover, as one of his strongest summons, they made for a solid check on the Paladin Captain.
"Yes, we can go now."
"Understood, Sir Kang Sa-hu."
Gawain stepped aside cheerfully from the entrance.
The constantly spinning propeller sped up as Kang Sa-hu boarded, and soon the helicopter lifted into the sky.
"Ah, Sir Kang Sa-hu. If there's anything you need, please let me know. I'll prepare whatever I can before we board the jet."
Gawain smiled amiably, inquiring about needs. Kang Sa-hu nodded.
"Thank you. Then, could I make calls before boarding the jet and just before disembarking?"
"Calls, you say?"
Gawain tilted his head at the trivial request.
"That should be no problem. Is that all?"
"Yes, that's sufficient."
Kang Sa-hu regarded Gawain with impassive eyes.
Sensing a chill flicker in them, Gawain flinched instinctively, his hand twitching toward his waist before stopping.
'What was that just now?'
Trained not to draw even under great threat, Gawain was flustered at nearly pulling his defensive dagger from a mere glance.
Knowing the man had no reason to harbor ill will toward him, he realized it wasn't directed at him.
'...Well, can't blame him.'
Having heard briefly why the Paladin Captain and Vice-Captain were in England—and what they'd done seven years ago—Gawain understood Kang Sa-hu's anger.
'Paladins. No matter how they act in God's name, they've picked the wrong opponent this time.'
Harboring his own quiet resentment toward the Paladins' arrogance, Gawain inwardly chuckled at the faint fury leaking from Kang Sa-hu despite his efforts to hide it.
Ku-gu-gung—
As a deafening roar struck his ears and the building began to crumble, Bae Deok-ho wore a frustrated expression.
"Damn it. Escaped again?"
Looking skyward, countless drones buzzed tirelessly.
Higher still, a white-scaled dragon flapped its wings, scanning the area.
Yet despite the net-like coverage, nothing was found—the radio blinked silently.
As he sighed in disappointment, his phone vibrated with an incoming call.
"Oh? Could it be they've caught it...?"
Hoping against hope, Bae Deok-ho checked the screen.
And panicked at the unfamiliar number.
"...What? Spam call even in this mess?"
About to hang up on the strange number, he suddenly noticed it was a UK mobile prefix.
"...No way?"
Hurriedly answering, just in case,
[Hello? Is this Bae Deok-ho?]
The voice of his long-awaited guildmaster rang out.
"Guildmaster! Yeah, it's me! How'd you get this number?"
[My phone broke, so I borrowed one to call.]
"Got it. You talked to Ji-ye, right? So you know the situation?"
[Yes. I'm heading back to Korea soon.]
Bae Deok-ho clenched his fist at the news.
Just one more person joining, but with Kang Sa-hu, the endless game of hide-and-seek felt like it would end soon.
[However, before I arrive, there's something I'd like you to handle, Bae Deok-ho.]
"Huh? Something to handle?"
[Yes. More precisely, please get approval from the National Intelligence Service for the conditions I'm about to state.]
The mention of the NIS startled Bae Deok-ho.
Quickly grasping Kang Sa-hu's intent, he nodded solemnly.
"Understood, Guildmaster. Tell me anything. I'll take care of it."
Recognizing this as an order from his guildmaster, not a mere request, Bae Deok-ho focused intently on his voice.