Episode 1137
Episode 1137
"...Since when were you out here?"
Even the knights were startled and began murmuring. Looking around, there was something odd among them.
Someone in wizard robes who wasn't dead...?
-Wait. Since when were they here?
-Quite skilled, aren't they?
Despite the gazes and whispers pouring in from all directions, the students from the Phoenix Tower stood there shamelessly.
To be precise, only Nigisor and Siana stood there shamelessly, while Dijiling bowed her head in embarrassment.
"How did you all know to come out?"
Lee Han asked again, puzzled.
He was certain he hadn't told anyone and had prepared in secret—so how?
'Did our plan leak?'
Seeming to think similarly, the knights also stared pointedly at Ibinta.
Being a bandit, surely he couldn't keep his mouth shut.
"N-No, that's not it!"
-What do you mean 'not it'? We haven't even asked anything yet.
"......"
While Ibinta cursed at the knights, Siana stepped in to explain.
"Nobody told us. We just figured you'd sneak out at night no matter what, so we've been waiting outside since earlier."
"......"
-......
Lee Han felt slightly embarrassed.
He thought he'd prepared everything covertly, but his friends had read his movements.
'Was I too obvious?'
"If you leave us behind, we'll tell the professors—"
"Alright, alright. You can just come along."
At Nigisor's words, Lee Han waved his hand as if conceding.
He had noticed Lee Han's intention to move without them and spoke first.
"It's not like I wanted to leave you behind. I was going to wake you up anyway. I just thought you might be tired."
'He's lying.'
'That sounds like a lie.'
"Anyone can tell that's a lie—ah."
Siana stopped short when she realized she'd spoken aloud.
How petty of them!
"...Anyway, let's go. We only have a few days to stay, so we need to move as efficiently as possible."
Nigisor thought, 'If we only have a few days in the city, shouldn't we just give up on finding the Evil God Worshippers?' but didn't voice it aloud.
When someone was burning with determination, no words would make a difference anyway.
Perhaps it was better to let the fire die out naturally. If the Evil God Worshippers didn't show up, Lee Han would give up eventually.
"But what if they do show up?"
"Tch. As if they would."
Zandanni and his junior sat in a coffeehouse in Bepaim City, discussing the day's events.
Though the students of Baldrogard came from diverse backgrounds, they were all cultured nobles who polished their dignity without needing external rewards.
No matter how tired they were, such refinement was only proper.
Of course, this coffeehouse wasn't as beautiful or elegant as the ones in front of Baldrogard, but...
...the students of Baldrogard were wise and gracious enough not to complain, especially with the recent disaster in the western regions.
"So, Senior. You shouldn't act so recklessly."
"But sometimes, necessity demands such actions."
"Even if I concede that extreme measures might be needed in certain cases—acting like Wardanaz is absolutely out of the question!"
Jean-Bir, a third-year student of Baldrogard from the Raban family, armed with common sense and intellect, remained unshaken.
Of course, it wasn't that he couldn't understand the allure of wielding overwhelming magical power. They were mages, after all.
But before being mages, weren't they dignified nobles of the Empire? No matter what, they couldn't just surround and batter down a count's mansion.
'I must convince Senior to come to his senses.'
BANG!
"??"
When the sound of someone crashing onto the street below the second-floor window suddenly rang out, the two jolted and looked down.
People were scrambling out of a tavern at the back of the alley in panic.
"Aaaah! They're insane!"
"Everyone, run away!"
"With the city regaining its liveliness, are people starting to fight again?"
"That certainly could be the case. Even conflicts require energy..."
"Stop them! Don't let them escape!"
When Lee Han came rushing out again, leading the knights behind him, the two Baldrogard students simultaneously spat out their coffee.
...What the hell are they doing?!
'What am I even doing?'
Ibinta stared blankly at the tavern being enthusiastically demolished, his mind in utter confusion.
In fact, perhaps Ibinta had been trapped in a nightmare ever since being caught by the Skeleton Principal. Otherwise, none of this made any sense.
Right before entering this tavern, Ibinta had this conversation with Lee Han:
"Young Master. Do you recognize this symbol?"
"I don't. And don't call me 'Young Master.'"
"Ah, yes. Well... it's the Thieves' Guild symbol."
When one heard "Thieves' Guild," it was easy to imagine some organized and orderly group like the Empire's other guilds, but in reality, the Thieves' Guild was far from that.
If they had the capability to establish and operate an organization spanning the entire Empire, why would they even need to steal in the first place?
Thus, the Empire's Thieves' Guild was essentially just a loose gathering of thieves who banded together in their respective regions.
No communication, no interaction, and no sense of belonging to the same group.
However, regardless of that, those who lived in the Empire's underworld needed a means to communicate with each other.
In fact, precisely because they engaged in illegal activities, this was even more necessary. It was difficult to pull off anything alone.
If a mercenary fleeing from some incident arrived in a new region looking for work, how would they find employment?
They couldn't exactly walk around the plaza holding a sign that said, "Looking for illegal work," so they needed a means of communication.
That's why mercenaries and bandits in the Empire frequently used these symbols.
If such a symbol was drawn on a wall, it meant that thieves gathered there—if someone recognized it, they could show their face without worry!
"I see. I'll remember that."
"There are many variations, so just memorize the general rules. Anyway, a tavern like this would have several shady characters gathered... What should we do? Should I interrogate them?"
"Yes. Please interrogate them."
Ibinta nodded happily. He was so excited at the chance to showcase his skills that he didn't even realize something was off.
He should have noticed the strangeness in Lee Han saying, "Please interrogate them," rather than "Interrogate them."
"Hey."
"?"
"Things have been chaotic around here lately. Any work to be done?"
"Rich folks have been hoarding gold and running scared. What kind of work do you expect?"
"What? That's exactly when there's more work. These are the times when you can really make a profit."
"Hmm... Normally, we don't offer jobs to outsiders, but looking at your face, you seem pretty reliable."
"......"
"Actually, we were just saying we needed one more. Interested?"
"Of course. Just introduce me. ...Nothing unusual going on around here, right? No suspicious folks?"
"Now you're the one sounding suspicious. Why would you ask that?"
"Tch. Just give me a break. If you knew my name, you wouldn't dare say such things."
"So who are you, then?"
"Ibinta. Ever heard of Ibinta of the Iron Cloak?"
"Ibinta of the Iron Cloak! No wonder your face looked so menacing... I see. I have heard of you. Weren't you part of the Shadows of Kangla? Why is someone like you wandering around alone?"
"Long story. Ran into some crazy archmage."
This wasn't a lie. Ibinta shuddered as he recalled the eldest son of the Wardanaz family.
"Been on the run ever since, just in case."
"If it's Ibinta, then we can trust you. The others will welcome you too."
The tavern owner's attitude softened considerably when Ibinta revealed his identity.
Even among mercenaries, reputation still carried weight.
"So? Any suspicious guys?"
"None. Plenty of scoundrels trying to sell stolen goods, but that's just business as usual."
"Think a little harder."
"I told you, I don't know! I'm just a middleman arranging jobs, not some Empire investigator hunting down suspicious—"
"EVERYBODY FREEZE!!!"
"???"
"???"
"Keep your heads to the ground! Anyone who lifts their head won't be spared by the Young Master!"
"Drop your weapons! Anyone who reaches for theirs will lose a limb!"
The merchants suddenly tore off their disguises, revealing themselves as heavily armored knights, leaving the thieves in the tavern utterly stunned.
"How dare you— Gah!"
"I said keep your heads DOWN!"
The knights ruthlessly swung chairs, knocking the thieves to the ground. A few patrons and thieves who misread the situation tried to flee in panic, but Lee Han and the knights swiftly apprehended them.
And now.
"Mr. Ibinta."
"......"
"Mr. Ibinta?"
"Huh? Oh, yes!"
"You've worked hard. You did well."
Lee Han expressed his gratitude. Ibinta, still bewildered from being on the run, asked in confusion.
"W-what exactly did I do well?"
"You bought us time to thoroughly seal off all possible escape routes while we searched, didn't you?"
"......"
The tavern owner glared at Ibinta like he wanted to kill him.
You damn traitor!
Of course, from Ibinta's perspective, this was just absurd.
"N-no, I mean... I thought 'searching' meant... asking around... gathering rumors... that sort of thing?"
"Ah. Well, that is one way to do it, but as you know, I'm pressed for time."
Given that Lee Han had to return after finishing this request and only come out again for the next one, such methods were far too slow.
Any Einrogard student worth their salt would take the initiative rather than wait passively in a situation like this.
"Now. Let me ask again. Were there any suspicious individuals?"
Lee Han addressed the captured tavern owner.
Though he was the de facto leader of the local thieves, the poor tavern owner was so cowed that he couldn't muster a word.
With Death Knights swarming the tavern, their eyes glowing ominously, who in their right mind would dare protest?
"I... I really can't think of anything..."
Lee Han used Illusion Magic to check the man's soul state. He wasn't lying.
Not just the tavern owner—even the harmless thieves who had come purely for leisure were dragged in and interrogated.
Yet, no one resembling an Evil God Worshipper was found.
"Nothing here."
-What a shame.
"Can't be helped. Let's move to the next location. We have a few more places to check."
"......"
The tavern owner stood dumbfounded before his face turned deathly pale.
They're going to do this somewhere else too?!
Just as Lee Han was about to leave, he turned back as if remembering something.
"Oh, right. I'll be back tomorrow. Please do some checking in the meantime."
'He's coming back TOMORROW?!?!?'
That was far more shocking than the idea of them repeating this elsewhere.
What on earth did he mean by coming back?!
"W-w-w-wait a minute! If you come back tomorrow... it's not like new information will just appear out of nowhere..."
"People might change, new intel might surface, or if someone lied using magic, cracks might show by then. Unless... are you hiding something and telling me not to come?"
"N-no, of course not! Absolutely not!"
The tavern owner groveled as he saw Lee Han's group off.
Once they were gone, a heavy silence fell over the tavern. Barely regaining his composure, the tavern owner downed an entire bottle of strong wine before roaring:
"...FIND THEM!"
"F-find who?"
"Those damn Evil God Worshippers! Spread the word—check every newcomer, anyone suspicious, anyone whose background doesn't add up! Grab them all! If they don't exist, MAKE SOME UP AND BRING THEM TO ME!!!"