Chapter 53
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: The Downpour
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The Downpour
“Well then, shall we prepare some delicious fear for our little rookie, Dune?”
*Clack.*
Dune nodded, looking at the jabbering skull with a cynical gaze.
“Everyone, march in formation—*clack*! Left foot on one, *clack*! Right foot on two, *clack, clack, clack*!”
The jabbering skull comically clapped its bony palms together, and the skeletons waiting behind it began to shamble forward awkwardly.
Watching them, the skull, with another *clack!*, wrapped a skeletal arm around Dune's shoulders.
A disgusting chill seeped from the bone, and Dune's face contorted.
“The plan is simple! We feed Dune fear until he's no longer a rookie! Then, once the non-rookie Dune takes care of the knight, I'll handle all the rest…”
Dune simply closed his eyes, focusing on the fear he could feel in the distance.
It was annoyingly loud, but the plan was decent enough.
As a ‘rookie,’ he couldn't use his full strength until he had consumed a certain amount of fear.
And the ‘Nightmare Eater,’ who became a worm before the strong and a god before the weak, could handle everyone but the knight single-handedly.
Sending its skeletons ahead to gather fear before making a proper move—it wasn't a bad plan.
However…
“So, what do you think! Our chemistry is perfect! Fantastic! The real deal! The two of us can achieve the most maximized efficiency described in the imperial guidebooks! All those other idiots…!”
*…Should I change my nickname?*
Dune seriously considered it as he glared at Caesadix Castle.
***
*I've got a bad feeling about this.*
Dylan… no, the Weasel chewed his fingernails, an inexplicable anxiety gnawing at him.
The rain was pouring so heavily that there were no visitors at all.
Even the tenant farmers couldn't work, so they were just taking shelter under the desolate castle gate.
*Swoooosh—.*
The thick sheets of rain narrowed his vision, making it impossible to see anything in the distance.
“Dylan, what's wrong?”
“Ah, Pul. I've got a bad feeling.”
At the voice from his side, the Weasel scratched his head vigorously and spoke his mind.
“A feeling? What kind?”
“My chest feels tight and I'm getting short of breath for no reason… It feels just like when I'm standing in front of Team Leader Aron. I've felt this way before… and every time, something big and terrible happened, so I'm feeling uneasy.”
The Weasel said, thumping his fist against his breastplate.
The heavy, metallic sound gave the Weasel a strange feeling.
*That strange son of a bitch.*
He'd beat me like a rat, then just hand over something this expensive without a second thought… He really was a strange son of a bitch.
“Haha! Feeling like you're in front of the Team Leader… That's serious, isn't it?”
Pul laughed heartily, spittle flying from his mouth.
“I'm not kidding.”
The Weasel's voice turned sulky.
“Alright, alright. Little brother Dylan has good instincts. Hmm… Since there are no visitors, let's close the gate and watch from above.”
“Huh? Are we allowed to do that?”
The Weasel's eyes widened at Pul's words.
“It's fine. No soldiers will come all the way out here in this rain anyway. If we get caught, we can just drop the Captain's name. He might grumble, but he's good at covering for things like this.”
“Huh? You mean that fat pig?”
“Puhaha! Yeah. Let's head up.”
To think that the pig of a Captain—the pinnacle of incompetence, a man living the future he himself dreamed of—actually had a sense of responsibility…
The Weasel found it hard to believe, but he ran inside, grabbed the handle, and started turning it.
“This thing is so stiff!”
The rainwater kept making his hands slip.
“That's not how you turn it—you need to use a trick, like this—”
Pul was shouting something from the side, but the sound of the rain was too loud to hear him properly.
Judging by his hand gestures, it seemed he meant to turn it sideways, so the Weasel nodded and put his strength into it again.
*Kreeeak—.*
The thick, rusted iron portcullis screamed softly as it descended, locking the gate. Still feeling uneasy, the Weasel grunted and strained to shut the heavy wooden gates as well.
The Weasel and Pul climbed up to the top of the gatehouse.
Water was cascading down the stairs, and he slipped, nearly falling.
Startled, the Weasel steadied himself and climbed slowly.
Looking down from the top of the wall, the Weasel clicked his tongue.
The heavy rain made it impossible to see what lay beyond, creating an eerie atmosphere. It felt like a demon that looked just like Aron could jump out at any moment.
If a demon that looked like Aron did jump out, he was certain he'd be too shocked to even scream before his heart stopped.
*If I knew this would happen, I should've followed that son of a bitch to the church a few times.*
The Weasel placed his left hand on his forehead, awkwardly mimicking a monk. He felt a little calmer.
“It's your right hand, not your left.”
At Pul's words, he quickly switched to his right hand.
Normally, he'd be chatting or hiding somewhere sipping alcohol, but today's bad feeling was so strong that the Weasel widened his eyes and stared ahead intently.
For the first time, the Weasel stood guard with all his heart and soul.
Then, he suddenly spotted something unusual through the sheets of rain.
“Since ancient times, a man is his money. You need a lot of money to meet women…”
“Pul?”
“Yeah, like me. That bastard Kel can go on and on about being handsome…”
“Pul?”
“Yeah! You need to have a lot of money, like me…”
“Pul!”
Something white was getting closer. When the Weasel finally identified it, he screamed Pul's name.
Pul, who had been boasting about his pockets, finally looked ahead.
“…Run!”
“I-Isn't that a skeleton?! Hiiiek! Pul!”
“Run, you bastard! Go ring the bell and report to the Captain!”
Pul kicked the screaming Weasel in the back, then took the bow from his own back and nocked an arrow.
The Weasel's mind cleared, and he bolted for the stairs.
In his haste, he slipped and tumbled down the stone steps. *Thump! Thump! Thump!* Luckily, he landed on his shoulder, and it only stung, but the Weasel still burst into tears.
There was a small bell on the other side they usually used, but it would surely be inaudible now. He had to ring the large bell in the plaza.
*Ptooey, ptooey—.*
Sobbing, the Weasel spat out the shit-tasting mud that had gotten into his mouth and ran for his life.
“Skeletons are outside!! The dead have come! The demons are here!!”
The Weasel kept screaming as he ran toward the plaza.
The disturbance thrown into the peaceful castle spread like an ember tossed onto dry straw.
Arriving at the plaza, the Weasel looked up at the long ladder. It was so tall that the rain obscured its top.
He was a little scared to climb it himself.
So the Weasel grabbed a man running past him.
“Wha-What is it! The demons are—!”
Time was short, so the Weasel did as he'd learned from Aron and punched the man in the face. The man fell silent.
“Get up there and ring it!”
The Weasel pointed to the ladder leading to the bell tower.
The man shook his head in terror, but just as he'd learned from Aron, another punch had him whimpering and climbing the ladder.
*So this is why that son of a bitch always throws a punch first?*
The Weasel looked down at his fist in quiet admiration.
He'd thought it was just the rampage of an ignorant bastard, but trying it himself, he found it was very convenient.
Just in case, the Weasel grabbed another man running by, had an Aron-style conversation, and then pointed to the ladder.
The man sobbed as he climbed the ladder.
At this rate, even if the first guy slipped, the next one would ring the bell.
Having done that, the Weasel now ran toward the headquarters.
As Pul had said, he had to report to the Captain.
The Weasel dragged his heavy, rain-soaked body through the downpour, running without pause.
“Demons—! Skeletons have appeared—! The dead are surrounding the castle—!”
The Weasel screamed desperately, trying to be heard over the rain, and kept moving.
***
It was a day like any other.
However, the scene he had witnessed yesterday was so vivid that the pot-bellied Cops was able to go about his day with more energy than usual.
It felt as if a small ember had been kindled in his chest.
*Was it like this?*
Cops put down his hammer, took a stance, and threw a punch.
*No. Like this?*
After a few awkward punches, Cops smiled in satisfaction. He thought he looked similar to Aron.
It was then. *Dong—dong—dong—dong—...*
Through the harsh sound of the rain, the heavy toll of a bell rang out ceaselessly.
Cops hastily put on his leather vest and headed for the plaza.
Many people had already gathered in the plaza.
They were shouting and pointing fingers at each other.
“It's because of that woman! I saw her dancing alone at night the other day! She's definitely a witch! Burn her now! If we don't, we'll all die!”
“What are you talking about! What's wrong with dancing! You uncultured brute!”
“I think there's something strange about the new prostitute! I saw her earlier, and the shape of her breasts was weird!”
“No! I heard that last time, the mask…”
They were raising their voices, spouting all sorts of stories. Most of it was about who was suspicious and needed to be caught and burned quickly.
The targets were mostly widows or old, unmarried women.
In a corner, the people he had met at ‘The Laughing Rabbit’ yesterday were gathered. Cops quickly headed toward them.
After seeing Aron's performance yesterday, they had officially formed a group. They named their group ‘The Ruffian's Spectators’ and had bonded over it.
“Si-lence-. Everyone, be qui-et-.”
Flip, the giant and Team Leader of the Outer Wall Guard's Team 5, drew out his words to quiet the surroundings.
“Everyone, grab your weapons or tools and come to the castle wall. This is an order from the Lord.”
Having said his piece, Flip disappeared into the rain with heavy footfalls.
Cops was startled.
To think he had to fight demons or skeletons…
“C-Come to the wall! I never heard anything about that! I'm going to the inner castle. The Lord loves my leather vests…”
Gelm, who was popular with the castle's maidens for his thick sideburns, stammered with an uncharacteristically weak expression.
“That's right! The guards should do it! That's what they get paid for! Let's go to the inner castle! The Lord has a duty to protect us! Think of all the taxes we've paid!”
A few people agreed, raising their voices in support.
Gradually, a consensus formed to go to the inner castle.
“Go where! He told us to come to the wall! Didn't you hear him?”
Just then, a woman's sharp voice cut in.
*…Hana?*
The heavy rain obscured her face, but he could tell who it was just from her figure. It was definitely Hana from ‘The Laughing Rabbit’.
Next to Hana, the cook was holding a rose umbrella and Kanna's hand.
The three large men who had been beaten by Aron yesterday stood behind Hana as if to support her.
*Why are they standing there like that?*
Cops tilted his head, seeing how the trio of large men seemed to be protecting Hana.
“Ahem… Hana, you don't seem to understand…”
“Don't understand?! You usually hit on women while bragging about how you've even caught orcs! But now that something's actually happening, you run away?! Ha! And you think the Lord will just welcome you into the inner castle with open arms?!”
She was the complete opposite of the Hana he usually saw. She had reverted to the prickly, sharp person she was before Aron came to Caesadix Castle.
“Th… This is really.”
“Hana! That's too harsh!”
“What's harsh are you cowards running away! Cut them off! Cut them off, I say! Since you don't need them!”
Despite the harsh retorts from those around her, Hana glared and continued to raise her voice.
Watching them, Cops suddenly felt ashamed.
Hadn't he just resolved yesterday, after seeing Aron, to walk the path of a man?
Cops looked down at his own fist.
A chubby, fleshy fist. It was clearly a pathetic fist.
*No! Aron's fist couldn't have been hard from the start! It's all the fruit of his labor!*
…Or is it?
Cops shook his head, dismissing the thought, and stepped forward.
*Hoo…*
After a small exhale, Cops sucked in his gut.
“Let's go to the gate!!”
Cops shouted as loudly as he could.
The people turned their heads to stare at Cops.
The focused gazes were so burdensome that the fat on his neck trembled, but he endured it and opened his mouth.
“Everything we've… we've gathered throughout our lives! Our very lives! They're all here, so where would we run to! And aren't the guards all our friends! To abandon them and seek only our own survival… what a cowardly act!”
He didn't know what he was saying, but Cops kept spitting out the words.
Despite his sincerity, the people still had sullen expressions. Feeling hurt, Cops felt a hand rest on his slumped shoulder.
‘The Ruffian's Spectators’ stood behind Cops with determined faces. They shouted, lending strength to Cops's words.
“What are you talking about, you pathetic runts.”
Gelm stood before Cops, his face filled with a sneer.
Cops looked up, met Gelm's fierce eyes, and swallowed hard.
The two were natives of the same age, so they had played together since they were young. No, rather than playing together, the unusually large Gelm had always bullied and teased Cops.
Because of that, even after becoming an adult, Cops would deliberately take a detour if he saw Gelm…
*He's smaller than I thought.*
Was it because he'd gotten used to Aron's massive frame?
Gelm, who had once seemed huge, now looked manageable.
“I don't know what you lot ate to get like this… especially you, Cops the bedwetter. Just because you've gotten a little older…”
The man blabbered on, but Cops couldn't hear him over the loud rain and his own heightened state of mind.
*If it were Aron!*
Recalling yesterday's scene, Cops awkwardly stepped forward with his left foot. Then, twisting his waist, he shot out his right fist.
It was a perfect Aron punch.
*Thwack!*
“Aaaargh!”
Cops screamed, clutching his right hand and jumping up and down. His first-ever punch was clumsier and more painful than he had imagined.
“What's this.”
Cops was grabbed by the scruff of his neck by Gelm and dangled in the air.
Just as he was about to die of embarrassment.
“Let go. He's one of our regulars.”
Hana said coldly, aiming a crossbow at Gelm's neck. A bolt was already loaded.
Gelm immediately raised both hands, and Cops fell to the ground with a thud. ‘The Ruffian's Spectators’ helped him up.
“Anyway, I won't drag you by force, but think carefully. Think about who has protected Caesadix Castle until now.”
After speaking, Hana headed toward the gate without hesitation. A few people followed behind her.
“Should we go too?”
Cops muttered in an unconfident voice, and the others nodded.
‘The Ruffian's Spectators’ moved to follow Hana.
Then, a sudden thought made Cops turn back.
On second thought, there was no need for him to throw punches he wasn't good at.
Cops's specialty wasn't punching, but his exceptionally good memory.
Seeing the considerable number of people heading for the inner castle, Cops roared.
“I'm telling Aron the names of everyone who goes to the inner castle!”
Cops's shout, which pierced through the sound of the rain, brought the movement toward the inner castle to a dead halt.
***
*Clang!*
The fourteen-year-old youth who had recently entered Caesadix Castle, Buburis… no, Buris, swung the sword in his hand.
A skeleton poking its head through the crenellations made a *kang!* sound as it thrust a white hand forward.
“Uwaaagh!!”
Only after swinging his sword three more times did the skeleton fall.
*They said Caesadix Castle was safe!*
Buris trembled, muttering a curse under his breath.
He'd entered the castle yesterday, went to sleep, and woke up to this mess!
Skeletons were suddenly climbing the walls, and he'd been dragged by a passing guard to fight them.
No wonder he'd wanted to turn back when he saw the murderous face of the guy at the checkpoint!
*What kind of castle guard was that! He was a demon guarding the gates of hell!*
Just then, a skeleton poked its head through the wall, and Buris swung his sword again.
On top of the wall, many people held all sorts of weapons.
Buris was one of the better-off ones, having a sword that was a family heirloom. Some were even swinging wooden sticks.
Even so, the number of people was steadily increasing.
In Karzan, everyone would be busy hiding or running away when trouble broke out, but it was strange to see people here taking up arms themselves.
Even in the chest of Buris, who was practically an outsider, he could feel something hot stirring.
*But they all look like they were dragged here against their will?*
The thought suddenly occurred to Buris, and he tilted his head.
“Hey! Berman!! Where'd Aron go!”
Hearing the shout from his side, he turned his head to see what looked like guards talking to each other.
“I don't know! He went out on patrol earlier, but no one knows where he is!”
“Really? Shouldn't we send some guys to look for Aron?!”
“Already sent a few!”
They kept looking for someone named ‘Aron’.
‘Aron’ was a name he'd been hearing over and over.
Buris guessed that ‘Aron’ must be a knight.
He didn't know why commoners would call a knight by name like a friend, but seeing how these terrified people were desperately looking for him, he must be an incredibly strong knight.
“Berman! Aron! Where's Aron!”
This time, a fat man shouted.
He'd heard he was the Captain of the Outer Wall Guard. He had shown up late and was now directing people with a loud voice, managing to form a decent defensive line.
“I don't know! He went on patrol with Kel and disappeared!”
“Isn't he napping somewhere?”
“Captain! Our Team Leader might be a ruffian, but he's not that kind of person! He's always been the one to lead from the front!”
“I know! Why are you yelling! Anyway! You can leave your post if you have to, just find Aron quickly!”
“Yes, I'll send some men!”
*Yikes!*
Just then, a skeleton reached out a skeletal hand through the wall. Buris quickly swung his sword and struck the skeleton's head. But it didn't fall.
“Uwaaa!”
Buris let out a war cry and swung his sword again.
*Cra-ack!*
The powerful blow shattered the skeleton's skull, but Buris's sword also broke in half.
*You said this was a family heirloom! A masterwork sword! Father!*
Buris stared at the broken sword with a look of despair.
No wonder he kept it in such an obvious place!
“Don't just stand there, move!!”
Startled by the sharp voice, Buris flinched and stepped back.
A woman holding a crossbow pushed Buris aside and aimed below the wall.
“Boss! It's dangerous!”
The three large men behind the woman shouted and swung something they were holding.
*Aren't those cooking utensils?*
Pushed awkwardly back, Buris squinted to get a better look.
“Hana!”
“Kel! Where's Aron?!”
“Everyone's looking for him! Wasn't he with you?! He didn't come when the bell rang, so I thought you'd finally taken down the Team Leader…”
“Is this really the time for jokes?!”
The woman shouted sharply.
*Who the hell is Aron?*
Buris panted heavily, wiping the rainwater from his face with his hand.
The cold rain and the constantly repeated word 'Aron' made his head spin.
*Where is Aron!*
Buris unconsciously searched desperately for the Aron he had never even seen.
Judging by their reactions, it seemed this Aron person could put an end to this terrible situation.
“Haven't seen you before. Move it!”
Just then, a deep voice from behind startled Buris, and he quickly stepped aside.
An enormous man came up, holding a hammer in each hand.
*Kwang! Kwang!*
The large man swung his hammers, sequentially smashing the heads of the skeletons poking through the wall.
His technique was clumsy, but his raw strength was so great that every skeleton he hit fell.
“Ska! Have you seen Aron?!”
“What—?! Aron's gone? This is big trouble! Without my comrade, I cannot unleash my full power…!”
However, this man was also looking for ‘Aron’.
Meanwhile, people kept coming up to the wall.
People from the church began treating the fallen and the exhausted. The defensive line, which had been pushed back slightly, began to push the enemy back again.
Then.
A blue light erupted from behind.
People scattered before the brilliant blue light, which was like a star risen from the earth.
A heavily armored woman emerged from the gap.
The woman, holding a sword suffused with blue light, climbed onto the wall.
The woman swung her sword, and five skeletons were instantly cleaved in two and fell.
Buris's jaw dropped at her overwhelming martial prowess.
*Is this woman Aron?*
Aron was a man's name, but Buris was convinced this woman was the Aron they were so desperately looking for. With that level of power, it made sense they'd be searching for her so frantically.
The woman, shining nobly with blue light, swung her sword and pushed back the skeletons.
The sword of humanity against demons.
It was Aura, the proof of a knight.
*Knight Aron!*
Buris cheered inwardly.
Just then, he heard small voices from his side.
“So where's Aron?”
“Team Leader Aron? Still haven't found him?”
“I'm telling you, he's definitely napping somewhere!”
“Captain! I won't stand for you insulting our Team Leader!”
“Insult my ass! I'm the Captain, you crazy bastard!”
“Anyway, I won't stand for it! And our Team Leader might be a ruffian, but he's not that kind of person!”
“That's right! Even if Aron's crooked, he's crooked in the right way!”
“Hey, you bastards! I told you, I'm the Captain!”
Seeing them still looking for ‘Aron’, Buris wrinkled his nose.
*Just who… is Aron?*
Unable to join the conversation, Buris felt a deep sense of alienation.
“Ah, that's right! Honorary Monk Aron!”
Just then, a young monk in the corner widened his eyes.
***
*Gulp—.*
I woke up thirsty.
I opened a clear potion lying next to me, poured it into my canteen, shook it, and drank.
Mixing the potion with wine made the taste somewhat bearable.
*Was that a 3:7 ratio just now?*
I had mixed it with wine to mitigate the potion's taste, and both the flavor and aroma had improved quite a bit.
*Is the effect the same?*
I felt like my fatigue had lessened a bit.
Shaking my head to ward off sleep, I retraced my memory.
*I came to the chapter house to replenish the potions I used on Ben… and Monk Ains asked me to sit at the potion exchange…*
The chapter house itself was well soundproofed and very quiet. On top of that, the potion exchange was in the innermost part of the building, making it as silent as if it were in a soundproof booth.
I couldn't even hear the loud patter of rain that had been drumming in my ears, so I'd sipped my potion cocktail and closed my eyes for a bit…
*Feels like I slept for quite a while.*
Monk Ains must have been slacking off somewhere, because a good amount of time had passed with no word from him.
*Even a monk slacks off…*
Just as I was clicking my tongue at such a very medieval action.
*Bang!* The door flew open violently, and that oaf from ‘White Leaf’ who'd been tailing me came in.
“You may be surprised who I am and why I've suddenly appeared! But that's not important right now!”
He shrieked. He looked just like a little kid who'd been hiding and was now thrilled to have successfully startled someone.
I'd known from the start that he was tailing me, so I wasn't particularly surprised, but I didn't bother saying so.
“Goodness me, what is it?”
“Caesadix Castle is under attack by demons!”
I'd made an awkward sound effect as a joke, and it must have pleased him, because his expression softened considerably.
*An attack? By who? It can't be him already.*
Frowning at the sudden news, I stood up.
“You need to go out right now…”
“Hold on.”
I gestured to the guy, who was excitedly pointing outside, and headed toward the back.
There was a small wooden door in the ceiling at the back of the potion exchange room. I pulled the handle on the small wooden door.
A small ladder leading to a hidden attic came down.
I put one foot on the ladder and poked my head up. I could see the Inquisitor, crouched in a small, cobweb-filled space.
*How did she get in here wearing that thick armor?*
As I clicked my tongue softly, the Inquisitor spotted me and nodded firmly.
I nodded back and opened my mouth.
“They say demons have appeared.”
In the darkness, the Inquisitor's dark eyes gleamed.