086. The Mysterious Jewel Box 2
In the warehouse of Danel's mansion, black flames erupted from the palm of Bin Bascon's hand. The flames melted the jewel box in an instant, reducing it to ashes. And from within... something emerged.
Codic's eyes gleamed as he beheld the object. 'What an odd aura...!'
Bin lowered his head and lifted the item from the molten remains of the jewel box. 'This is...'
What lay before him was none other than a black helmet.
A helmet. The essential piece of armor that protected the head—one of the most vital parts of the body, second only to the heart. It was a must-have for knights heading into battle, one that could drastically reduce mortality rates.
Bin examined the black helmet. '...'
Its shape was no different from a standard helmet. But the material was something else entirely. It had been forged with such durability that it could likely withstand even top-grade weapons.
Bin pondered as he gazed at it. 'If my memory serves me right...'
Recalling something, he slipped the helmet on. In that instant—
Bin's entire body vanished completely.
Startled by the sight, Codic whipped his head left and right. "M-My lord!?"
Codic's eyes were filled with bewilderment. His lord, who had been standing right there, had disappeared in the blink of an eye. Had he already slipped out of the warehouse? Codic's gaze darted to the door, but it remained closed.
"Where in the world has my lord gone...?"
Before Codic could dwell on the mystery, his head floated up into the air. It felt as though someone had lifted him.
Moments later, Bin reappeared, holding the helmet in one hand.
"Just as I thought. It's Quinae."
It was one of the artifacts he remembered from a manual during his days as a blacksmith. A superior-grade item capable of rendering the wearer fully invisible. The Quinae helmet, which concealed not just the body, but presence, scent, and even sound. It was said to fool even the gods themselves.
Bin smirked meaningfully as he held up the Quinae. "This'll come in handy."
Within a mansion in Plentel Castle, two centurions faced each other. Beside one stood a long spear and a red horse, revealing him to be Hipo, captain of the 2nd Knight Division.
Before Hipo loomed the massive, one-armed frame of Odekus, captain of the 5th Knight Division.
They each downed a shot from their glasses at the table.
Slurp.
Hipo had come to Odekus for one reason: to ask about certain details regarding Pirenchi Castle.
Gazing at Odekus's severed shoulder, Hipo wore a bitter expression. "It's a shame about your arm."
Slurp.
Odekus lifted his glass with his left hand and began to speak. "No, sir. I've gained something far greater."
Hipo had watched Odekus since his days as a 50th captain in the 5th Division, so Odekus addressed him with respect.
Hipo studied Odekus and sensed a change. The once self-centered man had transformed. "You seem different from before. Your whole vibe has shifted."
"In what way, sir?"
Odekus's question prompted a snort from Hipo, who brushed it off. "Hmph, never mind. But seriously, how did it happen? Conquering Pirenchi Castle from the 1st floor all the way to the 4th...?"
Hipo knew the place well. Pirenchi Castle, the Monster Fortress, ruled by the undead. He didn't know about King or Queen, but he remembered Jack vividly—the opponent he'd clashed with when he'd set foot there himself.
'That guy was guarding it. How...?'
Jack exuded an otherworldly demonic energy. Several knights from Hipo's 2nd Division had fainted the moment they entered. In the end, Hipo—the 2nd-class knight dubbed the "Spear Master"—had stepped up. Yet Jack's skill was on par with Hipo's own swordsmanship. After a grueling battle with no victor, Hipo had retreated.
That memory fueled his doubts. How had the captains of the 5th, 6th, and 7th Divisions not only overcome Jack, but cleared up to the 4th floor?
Odekus thought of Bin at Hipo's words—the sight of him slicing through the undead in one stroke and subjugating them as his minions. The memory still made his body tremble.
"... "
As Odekus hesitated to answer, Hipo spoke up. "Fine, if it's awkward to say, I won't pry. You must've come up with some clever strategy."
Hipo speculated about the 5th, 6th, and 7th captains. 'Maybe Odekus, with all his combat experience, shone in his moment of crisis and avoided dismissal.'
After a brief silence, Odekus finally spoke. "Conquering the 4th floor... it was entirely thanks to Young Master Bin—no, Captain Bin of the 7th Division."
Hipo's eyes flashed. "Thanks to Captain Bin...?"
It was natural for Hipo to question it. Even if Bin had beaten Silva, he was still just a mid-teen. Hipo figured he lacked the experience to command subordinates. Fighting well was one thing; leading knights was another. And Bin had only recently become a centurion, deepening the mystery.
"Are you saying Young Master Bin excels that much as a centurion?"
Odekus nodded silently.
Nod.
Nod.
His gaze didn't waver, brimming with utter conviction. It was clear how highly he regarded Bin.
Hipo stared intently at Odekus's demeanor, wondering just how impressive Bin must be to inspire such resolve. Fixing his eyes on Odekus's, he asked, "Then how does he stack up against you?"
Odekus answered without a moment's hesitation. "How could a wretch like me even compare?"
Hipo tilted his head at the firm response. 'A wretch like me?' Odekus was humbling himself— the opposite of his usual self-centered attitude. It only deepened the intrigue.
With a meaningful glint in his eye, Hipo pressed on. "And compared to me?"
Odekus replied instantly, no deliberation needed. "Obviously beneath you, sir."
Hipo's lips curved up at the decisive tone; the lack of hesitation was satisfying.
'Of course. It has to be.'
Hipo had grown immensely since his battle with Jack—far beyond compare. He'd half-expected that answer; the question stemmed from his own pride.
Leaning back with a serene smile, Hipo said, "Hahaha. This body of mine won't yield to some young pup until my back starts bending... "
Before he could finish, Odekus cut in. "How dare you compare yourself to him?"
'What?!'
Hipo's brow furrowed. The word 'him' made it click: Odekus valued Bin over even him.
Narrowing his eyes, Hipo scrutinized Odekus to discern if he was serious or joking. He was a 2nd-class knight, the famed "Spear Master." Yet Odekus placed the newly minted centurion Bin above him.
He could see it in Odekus's eyes—unshakable conviction.
'He's serious...!'
Hipo stared at Odekus in shock.
A few days later. Late at night in a mansion within Plentel Castle.
Bin stood atop the mansion's roof, gazing downward. Below teemed with monsters made of countless bones. Many were clad in armor that concealed their skeletal forms.
Bin had gathered them for one purpose. With the mission for the 5th, 6th, and 7th Divisions wrapping up faster than expected, orders had come down to support the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Divisions in clearing out chimeras around Plentel Castle.
He planned to expedite it—using these skeleton monsters to sweep through under cover of the dark night.
Scritch.
Scritch.
A scratching sound reached his ears. The culprit was Codic, gripping a sword in one hand and drawing something on the ground per Bin's instructions.
Codic muttered, focused on his task. 'Why won't this go how I want...?'
Moments later, all eyes turned to Codic's finished "drawing."
At the center was a 'P' for Plentel Castle, with markings in three directions.
From the 'P': 4 o'clock was 'J'. 8 o'clock was 'Q'. 12 o'clock was 'K'.
'J. Q. K' stood for Jack, Queen, and King. The rest of the monsters were indicated by the first letters of their names in alphabet form.
The monsters took a while to decipher Codic's crooked scrawl, and some skeleton soldiers giggled at the sight.
"Heh... heh..."
Click! Click! Codic snapped his tongue at the skeleton soldiers' laughter.
Currently, the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Divisions were operating from Plentel Castle in three directions: 4, 8, and 12 o'clock.
Bin looked down at the monsters. From Pirenchi Castle: the now-skeletal King, Queen, Jack, and O-Fang Knights. Plus the existing starfish, Gold Tooth, Behemoth, elite skeleton knights, Gustave, and more.
Bin's gaze lingered on the now-docile starfish. 'It's settled down a lot.'
It used to rampage uncontrollably compared to now. But as Bin's power grew, so did their loyalty. His overwhelming strength had quelled their instincts.
Gold Tooth was the same.
Soon, a full moon rose in the night sky.
'It's time.'
Bin addressed the monsters as he eyed the shining moon. "Two orders: Don't let the other knights spot you. And any monsters you encounter... slaughter them all."
The group bowed their heads in unison.
"My king, your will be done!"
"Yes, my lord!"
....
Bin gazed at his reliable minions and murmured lowly. "Tonight... we hunt."
The moment his command fell—
Under the moonlight, black shadows scattered swiftly in three directions.
Swish.
Swish.
Swish.