Chapter 184 : Chapter 184

Chapter 184 : I Shall Lead the World with Light

In Brakenport, all sorts of human types exist.

There were also plenty of people who were twisted and went astray in various ways.

“I am Noser, the Left Messenger of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. Nice to meet you, Alkabang, Ruler of the Port.”

“……Ahem, hum.”

Alkabang cleared his throat with a reluctant expression.

He could tell from long experience.

‘A nutjob.’

He got the feeling immediately.

This man named Noser was the type that would be tiresome if he got involved with him for no reason.

‘Ellen, wandering around acting cocky outside, he finally brought something strange from somewhere.’

Indeed, it was an act befitting a rookie.

At the moment a sneer formed on his lips, Alkabang quickly composed his expression.

As the Ruler of the Port, he could not afford to consume mental energy on every single trivial thing.

“I warned you time and time again, Ellen. There is a limit to indulging your whining.”

“What did I do?”

“Do I have to explain it one by one for you to know? You stone-headed bastard?”

A moment of cold silence hung in the air.

Noser, who suddenly thrust his head between the two, looked back and forth blankly.

“…….”

“…….”

The expressions of the two people who met eyes with Noser were mixed.

Ellen let out a sigh nervously, and Alkabang lamented as if it was absurd.

Now that he looked at it, he was a refreshingly crazy guy.

Alkabang tried to ignore him and continued speaking.

“I heard you sent Johnana to hell yesterday? Are you crazy? Why do you keep touching our kids?”

“No, where is such logic? In the first place, it doesn't matter if the kids below fight among themselves. And what can I do when they keep picking fights first?”

Alkabang poked Ellen's forehead with his index finger.

“What do you mean what can you do! You should know how to bow your head appropriately, you tactless guy! Do you know how much talk there is even within us right now? Rumors are spreading that I favor you, and even that I picked you as my successor, you blockhead.”

Alkabang smiled slyly.

“Ha! It is absurd. Successor? Would I have had such a thought? But if such talk is going around, wouldn't it have been better if you acted appropriately with tact? Just, use that head, man, ah.”

“So what do you want me to do?”

“……Ah, frustrating bastard.”

Alkabang buried his body deep in the chair.

His hand went up to his forehead along with a heavy sigh.

He waved his other hand dismissively.

“Get lost, fuck. I don't even want to see your face.”

Ellen bowed and turned around.

Noser, who was gauging the two, also hesitantly followed Ellen.

“……Don't act up for a while. I'm asking you, Ellen.”

Ellen hesitated but soon left the door.

Trying to swallow back the words that rose to his throat was bitter beyond measure.

***

“It seems Alkabang cherishes you a lot.”

Ellen, who was walking ahead, stopped.

His face contorted sharply. He looked back at Noser as if shooting him with his eyes.

“He wasn't as reckless a human as I imagined? Surprisingly, he has quite some depth too.”

“……Tone it down, will you?”

“It ended at that level because I toned it down.”

Noser pointed to Ellen's bruised eye area.

It happened before the two came to Alkabang's office.

As soon as they were alone, Noser picked a fight with Ellen for a trivial reason, and sure enough, Ellen took the bait.

The result was Ellen's futile defeat.

It was at a level embarrassing to even call a fight.

It was fortunate that there were no onlookers around.

The shocking defeat led to the humiliation of having to painfully admit that the gap he vaguely felt from Bihen yesterday was not an illusion.

“What exactly do you want to do?”

Ellen raised his voice abruptly.

The more he thought about it, the stranger it felt.

Like he was getting dragged into something.

“What do I want to do? I told you. We came to Brakenport to do missionary work.”

“Missionary work? Heavenly Demon Divine Cult or whatever, do you think I don't know you guys are a cult group?”

“It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not. But don't forget. We didn't hire you guys for free today.”

Ellen bit his lip.

He couldn't refute it.

Actually, for him, adding Alkabang's scolding to the disgrace he suffered from Noser before coming here made him burst with anger, so his emotions were getting ahead of him unlike usual.

“Huu.”

Ellen let out a deep sigh and gathered phlegm.

It was his own way of controlling his anger.

Smack!

The moment he spat, Noser's palm flew to the back of his head. Ellen's face, having swallowed the phlegm back, turned crimson.

“Ah, this fuck…….”

“Don't bother doing unsightly things.”

“What did you say?”

“Live with the resolve that nothing remains except dignity.”

Ellen glared. He barely held back the curses trying to burst out.

He moved his steps nervously.

“Where are you going?”

“…….”

“I must have told you not to forget. It doesn't matter what you do, but you must take us with you today.”

Ellen stopped and rolled his eyes.

If he knew it would be like this, he wouldn't have taken the money……. But the amount was too large for that.

No, the problem was bringing them along thinking it was good in the first place.

Anyway, it was no use regretting it now.

“……Going to work, work.”

“Work? You do such things too?”

The condition for the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's free travel today was simple.

Regardless of what Ellen's Gang did, they just had to stick together.

So there was no obligation to answer faithfully every time he asked.

The moment Ellen ignored him and took a step―

Clink―

Noser flicked his finger and threw a silver coin.

Ellen received it inadvertently. He pocketed the silver coin as if swallowing bitter medicine.

“Going to collect money.”

“Collect money?”

“The Abandoned Port area is somewhat stable, but other areas are truly a mess. Faction fights never cease, so dozens of people die a day. Families with small standing like us get paid to help with dangerous work. Since we are a family, there are things they can't touch carelessly. Well, like high-class mercenaries.”

Noser let out a vain laugh.

Even here there was a gutter, but hearing that the outside was worse made him dizzy.

Ellen led the way, and Noser followed.

The further they got from the Abandoned Port, the shabbier the street scenery became.

The closely packed buildings looked precarious as if they would collapse immediately, and an unidentifiable stench pierced the nose.

“Wow― who is this, isn't it Rookie Ellen?”

“Ellen! You didn't forget us, right? Give us some charity before you go. Or you can give something else.”

Women in rags laughed mischievously.

Ellen passed by without even glancing at them.

“Hometown friends?”

“Hometown is right, but not friends.”

Just then, a scream rang out suddenly from somewhere.

It seemed a fight broke out not far away, but only Noser was surprised.

Ellen snorted as if it was bland.

“Why flinch over something like this?”

“It was a woman's scream.”

“What else would happen besides dying?”

Noser's expression gradually hardened.

It was truly shocking.

It made him wonder if this was really the same Kingdom.

Strictly speaking, it wasn't even very far from the Capital.

But this place was a completely different world.

Creak―

Ellen opened a shabby door. Noser's brow furrowed slightly.

The musty smell from old wood, the stale dust smell, and the sour smell of alcohol rushed in all at once.

A young woman appeared from inside the bar.

“E, Ellen. You came.”

“Sister, nothing happened, right?”

“Ye, yeah…….”

The inside was cozy. There were only five tables.

“Si, sit, Ellen. It was hard coming here, right? What do you want to drink?”

“Just give me a glass of water. No, two glasses.”

Ellen sat in a corner seat.

A creaking sound came every time he stepped on the wooden floor.

“No kids bothering you these days?”

“Uh? Ah, yeah. Since you looked after the shop, those kids have decreased a lot. Thanks to you, Ellen.”

“Don't mention it. Tell me anytime.”

Ellen sat obliquely on the sofa and crossed his legs.

His arms were spread wide and hung over the backrest.

Noser opposite him snorted.

Ellen putting on airs was just funny.

Thud.

The landlady put down a small bundle in front of Ellen along with the water glass.

“……I always feel thankful. Ellen.”

“Thankful for my foot. I have to take care of my hometown people, if not me, then who will?”

“I heard you get busy when you become a family. Competition is fierce too. Even in the midst of that, since you always come like this…….”

“Ey, forget it. I became a Family to do this anyway. Go finish your work.”

Noser spoke while staring blankly at the back of the landlady going into the bar.

“Speaking coldly, it doesn't suit you much. It's a combination that looks like it will only break your backs.”

Ellen spat out the water he had in his mouth.

If it were anyone else, he would have thrown the glass already.

“Funny, Ellen. I can't figure you out.”

“What do you mean?”

“Earlier you said you became a Family to do this. What does ‘to do this’ mean?”

Ellen frowned.

Since he hadn't thought about it concretely, an answer didn't come out readily.

He touched his ear for no reason.

“There isn't anything, just…….”

“There is no 'just' in the world. Even when a dog barks, there is a reason.”

Even if one intends to be serious, getting nagged at makes one annoyed first.

Ellen spoke curtly.

“When you become a Family, there is basically a base income. At least the days of breaking teeth chewing on stone bread disappear.”

“You mean it's because of money?”

“Is there anything else?”

Suddenly Ellen sighed deeply.

“If I have a lot of money, the number of people I can help increases that much. That's all.”

Noser stared at Ellen intently.

Ellen lowered his head for no reason as if the gaze was burdensome.

“Ellen.”

“Why?”

“I guarantee. Things that can be counted are not very helpful in life. The things that truly support life are usually things that cannot be counted.”

“…….”

“Have big dreams, Ellen.”

Noser's gaze was unwavering.

Ellen found it hard to face him.

Because he felt somehow stripped bare.

Ellen rubbed the tip of his nose.

The damp air was permeated with the smell of cheap alcohol.

“There was a person who said similar words.”

“Lucky, you are. Just having someone around who can give such advice is a blessing in itself. Moreover, in a place like this.”

“Advice? No. That person didn't try to teach like someone else.”

Ellen pointed slightly at Noser with his chin.

It was the moment Noser, who got choked up for no reason, was about to open his mouth.

“He told me I had a talent for the sword. It was the first time, such a person.”

“Talent for the sword. That is a different story again. If you confuse simply being a bit stronger and fearless than peers with talent, it is troubling. Regarding the sword, one must be cold. If the person who told you that is someone from here, nine out of ten it is likely a misconception.”

“I don't care about that. I just liked that he recognized me, wanted to look better, so I imitated him. That person.”

“…….”

“That is all.”

Ellen was staring blankly out the window.

The scenery beyond the murky glass window was blurry, but the scenes rising in his mind were rather vivid.

In Ellen's memory, he was always calm.

Even though he possessed power that the past Rulers of the Port, no, even Deiron could not touch rashly, he never showed off.

Rather, he always helped the weak first.

That was the appearance of a real adult Ellen saw for the first time.

So he wanted to imitate him blindly.

“He said if it were me, I could become an excellent knight.”

“Knight.”

“Yes. The Kingdom's best knight.”

Noser drank water.

He wasn't particularly thirsty.

He just needed something to hide his laughter.

There was nothing bad about giving hopeful words of blessing to wandering children.

But of all things a knight, and the Kingdom's best knight at that.

The person who said that must have been a vagrant far from a knight himself…….

The contradiction approached bitterly.

Crash!

The old door opened as if breaking.

Shadows with ill intent rushed in over the threshold where backlight poured in.

“Ellen, Ellen, Ellen. Fucking Rookie Ellen.”

At the very last, a large man swaggered in.

Ellen narrowed his eyes.

“……Johnana.”

“Nice to meet you? You midget.”

Six men including Johnana surrounded the table.

They even sat next to Noser and Ellen and giggled.

“Curious? How I came perfectly on time.”

“…….”

“Puhehehe!”

Johnana snapped his fingers.

From inside the bar, the young landlady appeared staggering.

Her face was pale with fear.

“This is the adult world, cute rookie bastard.”

Johnana pointed alternately at his crotch and the landlady.

The men giggled.

Ellen sighed.

“Look here, old man. If you don't want to get hurt, step out?”

Johnana threatened Noser with a fierce expression.

Ellen also chimed in.

“It's not a joke. Go quickly.”

Ellen is also a man of Brakenport after all.

He didn't know how to push his fight onto others.

Noser drank a sip of water and stood up reluctantly as if respecting that.

“Please make way.”

He passed through the men.

It was when he reached the door.

“If you need a young boy lover, go to Smith Street.”

Mocking laughter burst from behind his back.

Noser stopped abruptly.

He didn't particularly turn his head.

Through the small window on the door, the outside was visible.

The gathered children were peeking inside.

They were eyes mixed with interest and curiosity.

“…….”

Noser's gaze slowly moved to the top of the door.

He reached out and engaged the lock.

Clunk!

“With light.”

The other side as well.

“The world.”

Clunk!

Finally, he locked the door handle too.

“I shall lead.”

Click―

Silence fell.

Noser spoke without even turning his head.

“Do you know what it means?”

Ellen's face contorted with shock.

He almost answered.

I shall lead the world with light.

That was―

Because it was the rule of the Sharon Faction that Luke said like a habit.

“I will teach you.”

Just then, an empty glass was lying alone on the side table next to the door.

Noser tapped that glass with the tip of his scabbard.

Instantly, the glass spun and flew behind his back.

Whack!

The glass struck the forehead squarely.

Thud.

Johnana fainted just like that.