Chapter 163 : Chapter 163

Chapter 163: Into the Void

Oliver led the able-bodied men toward Deiron’s mansion.

Krnock and Deli dazedly followed behind.

“Th-The light kept flashing over and over. Just like lightning was striking!”

In Tarnholt, there was a steeple that overlooked Deiron’s mansion.

It was originally built for another purpose, but now it served as a watchtower.

The main duty of the Tarnholt guards was to take turns observing Deiron’s mansion from the top of the steeple using a magic tool.

“The fight must have been quite intense.”

“I-It seems so.”

“Damn it, so it’s come to this after all.”

“...I wonder what kind of tyranny he’ll unleash, using his hardship as an excuse.”

Oliver’s and the men’s faces hardened.

They feared the aftermath.

There was no telling when or how Deiron would vent his anger.

“Excuse me! Where are we going now?”

“Tell us too!”

Krnock and Deli, who were trotting behind at the very back of the group, said insistently.

When Oliver at the lead came to a sudden halt, the men following him also stopped walking.

“……”

Oliver revealed a look of despair.

The men, too, had no choice but to remain silent.

For they knew better than anyone that there was no greater ordeal than delivering a tragedy to children.

“Kids.”

Oliver set down his cane and limped over.

He even bent his body as if to truly share their sorrow.

“Listen to me carefully.”

Oliver placed a hand on each of Krnock’s and Deli’s shoulders.

“It seems the two of them will not be able to return.”

Krnock and Deli blinked. What was he talking about?

“We are on our way to clean up the traces and to collect the two’s final remains.”

A sigh was heard from behind Oliver.

Oh, if there is a god, look down upon these children.

Goddess of the Sea, I pray you watch over these poor children.

“...You must brace yourselves. Understood?”

Krnock and Deli looked completely bewildered.

Oliver let out a deep sigh.

Is it really okay to take these kids?

The shock would be considerable.

They would be carving a painful memory that they would never forget for the rest of their lives.

And so they arrived at Deiron's mansion.

Already, a few of them let out groans.

“Ugh, I can’t believe we’re here again.”

“Have you already forgotten what happened last time? We have to take the initiative and come here in advance like this to lessen his anger, if only a little.”

“That’s right. He might come to fetch people to clean the mansion and, in a fit of rage, add some other pretext to drag them away.”

Krnock and Deli were subtly frightened by the eerie scenery.

They asked a man standing nearby.

“Where is this place?”

“The mansion of the former lord. Now, a heinous villain named Deiron is using it as his residence.”

The man who kindly answered spoke to Oliver.

“Wouldn’t it be better to leave the children here?”

“We should. Deiron is sure to take an interest in new faces.”

As the mood shifted toward them waiting here for a moment, Krnock and Deli firmly stood their ground.

“We don’t care if it’s Deiron or whatever. We want to go with you. We want to see them quickly.”

Soon, a few of them clicked their tongues.

It was because they could guess how great the pain of loss the children would have to endure would be.

In the end, Oliver didn't try to stop them any further and walked on ahead.

The mansion was as ominous as ever.

Even though it was broad daylight, a thick, unidentified fog had settled in, causing even the sunlight to seep through hazily, blurring the entire surroundings.

“Uh, for some reason, it seems even quieter today?”

“You’re right. By now, one or two of them should have appeared.”

The men whispered.

Even so, their steps did not hesitate, as they had already been in and out many times.

One of the men suddenly looked back.

Krnock and Deli were holding each other’s hands tightly with terrified faces.

The man let out a sigh as if feeling sorry for them.

“Don’t worry too much. You’ll be able to find their bodies, at least.”

“Huh? What are you suddenly...?”

“Sigh... Anyway, they acted so high and mighty, and this is what they got. I warned them not to be reckless, but what crime did the kids left behind commit?”

Krnock and Deli were simply scared of the scenery.

If the noble mansions they had seen so far were living people, this place was like a rotten corpse.

The two young priests stared blankly at the muttering man.

It seemed like he was worried about them, but they were at a loss as to where to even begin explaining, so they just gave up.

“M-My lord...!”

The voice of the man leading the way cracked.

Soon, everyone’s footsteps stopped. Horror spread like wildfire.

“What in the world is...?”

Oliver swallowed a breath. Deep wrinkles formed around his eyes.

Demonic beast carcasses and human corpses were tangled together and scattered about.

The ground was soaked with blood, and severed body parts were scattered on top, floating about.

In the middle of that gruesome scene, the ground was raised high as if the earth’s crust had been twisted.

Below that hill, two people were sitting side by side, gasping for breath.

It was Noser and Bolero.

“Priest—!”

Krnock’s and Deli’s shouts echoed loudly in the silence.

Oliver and the men, who had been frozen, flinched in surprise.

“You two, how did you get here...?”

Bolero barely managed to lift his head.

Contrary to his pleased feelings, his voice had no strength at all.

“We’ve been looking for so long!”

“How did you end up like this here... Kyaaaaak!”

“Uwaaaak—!”

Krnock and Deli, who were approaching Bolero, were startled.

They hadn’t shown much reaction even after seeing the gruesome sight, but the moment they realized who the man sitting next to Bolero was, they couldn’t help but scream.

“Imperial Capital Knight Order!”

“Wh-Why are you with that person, Priest?!”

The memory of how he had menacingly admonished them came to mind.

Even the Lord of Aldenfort, who they thought would protect them, couldn't say a peep in front of that man.

“Ah, we meet again. The buzz-cut kids.”

The two young priests narrowed their eyes. It didn't look like the two of them had fought.

“Don’t tell me...”

“Did you fight alongside our priest to help him?”

Noser, who was about to stand up, slumped back down.

The moment he touched the ground, all the strength drained from his body.

He couldn't show it for the sake of his pride, so he just licked his lips.

“Rather than helping, our interests aligned.”

“What? That’s impossible. Why would your interests align with our priest, Sir Knight? Weren’t you chasing him to interrogate him about the Krause Family’s affairs?”

“There are such things as adult matters. And my name is Noser. I’m a noble, and I hold the position of Left Camp Leader of the Imperial Capital Knight Order. Hey Bolero, does the Solari Order not teach manners?”

“As long as one can distinguish right from wrong, that’s enough.”

“I’m saying this because it seems they can’t.”

Oliver and the men approached belatedly.

They looked as if they couldn’t believe what they were seeing.

“D-Don’t tell me, you did this? The two of you...?”

Bolero shrugged.

“Can’t you tell by looking?”

“……”

Oliver and the men looked around.

The gruesome scene spread before their eyes felt unreal, like a lie.

The blood-soaked area, the scattered corpses of demonic beasts and humans, and the two survivors in the middle of it all.

Everything was surreal.

It was then.

The thick fog that had settled in began to slowly clear.

As if a blocked airway had been opened, the suppressed gasps burst out all at once.

Like people seeing the light of dawn for the first time in their lives, emotions that were hard to describe in words appeared on every face.

Fear and disbelief faded, and in their place, relief and awe filled them.

“B-But... didn’t you just mention the Imperial Capital Knight Order?”

The people’s gazes turned to Noser one by one.

He hadn’t revealed his identity in the first place.

But they could tell without having to ask.

His shabby attire was clearly that of a mere mercenary.

‘A knight?’

‘And from the Imperial Capital Knight Order?’

The men’s Adam’s apples bobbed in unison.

Noser swept his hair back.

He had been waiting for this very moment.

“Ah, I see. I didn’t want to reveal it like this, but...”

“Hey! L-Look over there!”

Just then, someone pointed to a spot in the distance.

Everyone’s heads whipped in that direction.

Someone was walking toward them.

***

A moment ago.

I wrapped Deiron’s severed head in his pants. It was the only usable thing around.

“Strongest in the Kingdom, my ass.”

I grumbled at the bundle in my hand.

Even I, who was usually reserved in speaking to the dead, couldn’t hold back this time.

I went back down the hill.

“……”

Suddenly, I stopped and looked around.

When I came up, everything was gray, but on the way down, the scenery was slowly regaining its original colors.

It might have just been my imagination.

Saaaaaaa—

The sound of the wind was the same.

And through it, someone appeared.

“So you’ve gone and done it, have you?”

It was the Steward.

The upper part of his face was still completely blown away, leaving only his mouth and jaw on his neck.

Apart from his grotesque appearance, his voice was exceptionally cheerful.

“You, weren’t you a demonic beast?”

“Who knows. It doesn’t matter, does it? Nothing will change even if you find out.”

I grabbed the hilt of my sword as if there was no need for long deliberation.

“What should I do about this?”

“...?”

“The Deiron you killed.”

The Steward twisted his lips.

The corners of his mouth went all the way up to the severed cross-section.

“He was a rather cherished pet of that person.”

“That person?”

“Should I tell you his Imperial name, or his Kingdom name?”

I stared silently at the Steward.

On the outside, I was composed, but on the inside, I couldn't calm down.

‘...This openly?’

He seemed to be talking about one of the Eight Demons.

It was too blatant and sudden.

“What are you talking about?”

I judged that this was the best way to respond.

There was no need to get ahead of myself and reveal my speculations.

Anyway, what was important was something else.

‘They don’t share information about each other’s movements. They don’t even know that I was the one who eliminated the Blood Devil. No, it’s highly likely they don’t even know the Blood Devil was defeated.’

I had already confirmed this when I encountered the Poison Demon.

This was a clear loophole.

‘If they move separately like this, there are plenty of chances. For now, there’s no need to arouse suspicion.’

I worked hard to maintain my expression.

At the same time, I prepared for a possible surprise attack.

‘I won’t be taken down so helplessly again like last time.’

Slowly, my heart began to pound. A cold sweat suddenly broke out.

“In the Kingdom, there is no word to refer to that person. Because he has no substance. If you had to call him something, it would be history, I suppose.”

My eyes narrowed.

‘What is he talking about?’

I was flustered. I hadn’t considered the possibility of not understanding what he was saying.

“Phantom Demon.”

My eyes couldn't help but widen.

I had promised myself countless times not to show it, but I felt like I had fallen for a shallow trick.

“...So what. Did that bastard tell you to tell me that?”

A long tongue slithered out from between the Steward’s lips.

“Your thinking is shallow. Why don’t you consider that I might be a part of him?”

Seogeok—!

Heavenly Demon cut through the air. The Steward’s body was split in two, above and below the trajectory carved in an instant.

Tuk.

I held Heavenly Demon tightly. Now that it had come to this, talking would come after subduing him.

Just then, a mocking laughter flowed into my ears.

“Kihihihihihi......”

“What are you trying to do?”

“Why do you think I told you so nonchalantly? About that person’s identity.”

“I’m not interested. Just tell me where he is.”

“Alright. I’ll tell you.”

As soon as he finished speaking.

My vision wavered. Colors and shapes began to distort strangely.

‘Sorcery?’

The laughter seeping into my ears grew louder.

“If you’re so curious, why don’t you find out for yourself.”

My pupils trembled finely. A foreign sensation seeped through every pore in my body.

“Congratulations on being chosen by that person.”

My consciousness crumbled.

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