Chapter 114
Chapter 114
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: Sein's Awakening
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sein lay unconscious in Dante's medical bay.
Drip, drip, drip, drip.
The only sound echoing was the dripping of potion automatically flowing in through the mechanical device.
In the meantime, several of Dante's medical staff took turns checking on Sein's condition.
“Heal.”
The slave priests repeatedly poured holy power into him whenever they had a chance.
Then, at one point.
Sein, who had his eyes closed.
“……Rohan.”
He opened his eyes and spoke.
“Call Rohan.”
“……!”
The medical staff's eyes widened in shock at Sein's voice.
“Call the master right now! Right now!”
It was the moment Sein finally awoke from his deep slumber.
Once Sein woke up, the medical staff grew even busier, and Lifespan rushed over to attach monitoring devices to him and check his condition.
Sein's heart had healed far more than expected.
A short while later.
Bang!
The door flew open as if it might shatter, and a group burst into the medical room.
“……Rohan.”
Dante's master, Rohan, and what could be called Dante's executives stormed into the medical room.
Thud!
They immediately dropped to one knee and paid their respects.
“It's a relief that you've awakened.”
His voice carried genuine concern.
“It's a relief that you've awakened!”
The executives echoed Rohan's words.
They seemed unable to hide their true joy.
Like it or not, now that Rohan had publicly declared his support for Sein, Dante's fate was tied to his.
Moreover.
“It's been a while, but your face looks grim?”
In the current chaotic situation, Sein's awakening could truly be called a stroke of heaven's luck.
“That's……”
One of the executives started to speak, but Rohan raised a hand to stop him.
“You've only just woken up. We'll report later.”
“…….”
At that moment, one of the medical staff checking on Sein spoke up.
“Your condition… seems fine. In fact, it's better than fine. The poison that had spread through you appears to be completely gone.”
As he listened to the medical staff, Sein yanked out the IV needle that had been stuck in him.
“The scars have completely vanished as well.”
Sein's chest was as pristine as a newborn baby's.
“It must be… thanks to Lord Kolan's treatment.”
Everyone on the medical staff knew that Kolan had done something in the medical room.
They had checked and rechecked multiple times, worried it might have any negative effects on Sein.
But both then and now, the conclusion was the same.
“From my brother?”
It was undeniable that the Dagger of Purification Kolan had used had greatly aided Sein's recovery.
“Yes. While you were unconscious, Lord Kolan visited.”
Rohan said.
“He used the Dagger of Purification.”
“…My brother did.”
Sein's expression grew heavy.
“I owe my brother now.”
Anyone could see it was a face full of apology and gratitude.
The executives bowed their heads even lower in silence.
“Do you remember the assassin?”
Rohan asked then.
The attacker who had ambushed Sein still hadn't been caught.
Demorus was still racking its brains because not even a trace could be found.
“…I can't remember.”
“That's a shame. Please let us know whenever you do.”
Rohan's eyes blazed with fury.
“Blood must be repaid with blood.”
As he listened, Sein quietly sat up.
“So, where is my brother right now?”
If he had visited briefly and bestowed such a favor.
It was only proper etiquette to pay a visit in return.
“That's……”
But at Sein's question, not only Rohan but all of Dante's executives wore their darkest expressions yet.
“He is currently missing.”
“……!”
Sein's eyes widened.
“I need to hear the details.”
*
*
*
“Lord Kolan Demorus went missing during a mission.”
Rohan said.
“We are currently tracking his location, and Demorus has gone on high alert.”
The disappearance of a successor candidate was an extremely serious matter.
If he had died during the mission, it would have been a major incident, but Demorus wouldn't have declared a state of emergency.
But a disappearance meant.
“Which means kidnapping is a possibility too.”
Someone might have kidnapped Demorus's successor candidate and secured him.
“Yes.”
It was a situation where Demorus blood and secrets could leak elsewhere.
“The main family has dispatched three combat units and two intelligence teams, and is having the lower organizations confirm information on the incident.”
That was why Dante was in such disarray.
Since Dante was the last place Kolan had visited.
Step, step.
Personnel from the main family were conducting investigations into Dante and Kolan's movements.
“Before Lord Kolan departed on his mission, he requested support from us.”
“Support?”
“We dispatched three Black Sword members.”
Three Black Sword members.
“Ballak Demorus, Sebu, and Jane.”
Sein and Rohan met each other's eyes.
“Of those, Ballak Demorus and Sebu successfully escaped during the mission thanks to Lord Kolan's grace… but the rookie member Jane is presumed dead.”
“I see……”
The corner of Sein's mouth.
It twitched slowly.
“So that's how it went.”
Sein's mouth soon curved into an arc.
A smile.
It was all a play orchestrated by Sein and Rohan.
With people from the main family here, every corner of Dante was under surveillance.
Especially Rohan and Sein.
“What about them?”
Sein asked about Ballak and Sebu's whereabouts.
“They've been summoned by the main family's intelligence team to report.”
It was the natural procedure.
Though the 'reporting' was closer to torture.
It was then.
Hum.
Mana spread from Sein's hand, forming a barrier.
Beyond that.
“Do you know what mission my brother was on?”
“Direct lineage missions don't need to be shared with subordinate organizations like Dante, so only the main family would know.”
Sein and Rohan spoke without moving their lips, their voices echoing.
It was the power of the ring on Sein's finger—the Rogue's power.
-Deception.
The Deception skill.
A technique specialized in fooling and stealing from others.
“They'll suspect Jane's identity.”
Only then could Sein and Rohan have an open conversation.
“We've cleaned it up thoroughly. No need to worry.”
Rohan said.
“According to the main family's dispatched members, Kolan's subordinates and Jane were found this morning.”
A grin.
“As cold corpses.”
*
*
*
Sein had awakened, and his condition could be called fully restored, but he had been unconscious for a long time.
Dante's medical team recommended he rest for a day or two, and Sein accepted.
“You've had it rough.”
Sein said to Ballak, who walked out looking utterly exhausted.
“I heard you woke up.”
“Your appearance is even more wrecked than mine?”
Nothing showed outwardly.
But his gaunt frame and hollow eyes over just a few days told of Ballak's ordeal.
“It was worse than I thought.”
The main family's intelligence team's interrogation.
Those conscripted for Kolan's mission weren't released until they were satisfied.
“When do you leave?”
Ballak asked.
“Tomorrow.”
“Then, would you like to see the Black Sword for a bit?”
Even though he had only just been released, Ballak said to Sein.
“I'm the captain.”
Pfft.
Sein couldn't hide his laugh.
Ballak laughed along.
“Let's do that.”
And so the two headed to the training grounds where the Black Sword was drilling.
“Captain—!”
The Black Sword members shouted when they saw Ballak.
Even they, accustomed to death and loss, couldn't hide their delight.
“Are you okay?”
“Why are you here instead of resting……”
Only then did they notice Sein standing with him, the ones who had been worrying over Ballak.
Thud!
It was different from how they treated Kolan.
The Black Sword members immediately dropped to one knee and paid respects.
“We greet Lord Sein Demorus!”
The successor candidate supported by Dante, by Ballak, was Sein.
In particular, those who had stayed in Dante among the candidates who had been with Sein had shared stories about him.
“As reliable as ever. Is it because Ballak's the captain?”
Sein said, looking at them.
“It feels familiar somehow.”
Ballak, head bowed, also wore a small smile.
“Especially……”
Sein scanned the Black Sword members.
One caught his eye.
“That one feels even more familiar for some reason.”
It was Sebu, paying respects in an even more haggard state than Ballak.
“That one?”
“Yes.”
Ballak answered Sein's words.
“You've all worked hard for Demorus. I'll send a gift for Ballak, so tell everyone to rest and recover their weary bodies and minds.”
At his words, the Black Sword members, who had been somber, smiled amid the bustle.
They had been down because of Ballak, Sebu, and now the youngest, Jane, whom they would never see again.
Sein's consideration would at least lift their spirits a little.
“And……”
“I'm Sebu.”
“Let's talk for a moment.”
The Black Sword members stepped aside.
Only Ballak, Sein, and Sebu remained.
Flinch.
Sebu stood there at a loss.
That day, they had uncovered Jane's identity, but it was right after he had barely regained his senses on the brink of life and death.
Thud!
It was the first time seeing him again since then.
Sebu hurriedly dropped to his knees and slammed his head to the ground.
“F-Forgive me!”
His act that day had been convincing enough, but not now.
“I committed a grave offense……!”
It was the very image of the Sebu that Sein—or rather, Jane—had known.
“Pfft.”
Sein smiled at the sight.
“Thanks to you, I had an interesting experience too. I did consider slitting your throat.”
Flinch.
“But in the end, you were the one who got tormented, right?”
“……!”
“You've had it rough.”
Sein praised Sebu.
It wasn't because of the Jane incident.
Because Sebu had been investigated alongside Ballak over the Kolan matter.
“Now that you're one of mine, work hard. Especially follow Ballak well.”
“Y-Yes, sir!”
And with that, the meeting came to a close for now.
The next day.
“Shall we go.”
Sein left Dante.