Chapter 185 : Chapter 185

Chapter 185 : I Shall Lead the World with Light

It was late at night when the two returned to the hideout.

Noser stopped walking and called Ellen who was ahead.

“Ellen.”

“……Yes?!”

Ellen's shoulders flinched. It was a reaction as if he had been stabbed in the back unexpectedly.

Noser tilted his head slightly.

“Why have you been acting like that since earlier?”

“…….”

“I didn't do it to receive thanks in the first place, nor do I intend to take credit, but keeping your mouth shut with a face like you chewed something is not polite.”

Ellen swallowed hard.

Was I doing that?

He already knew Noser was an outstanding expert.

But after actually seeing him subdue Johnana's gang right before his eyes like dealing with children, he couldn't help but be speechless.

Above all, the words he spat out while locking the door were the problem.

―I shall lead the world with light.

That was the rule of the Sharon Faction that Luke always repeated.

“Yo, You.”

Ellen raised his head. Since it came up, he decided to muster up courage.

“Are you really from the Empire?”

Cold sweat flowed as soon as he spoke. If he really was a knight hiding his identity, his life was in danger in many ways.

It wouldn't be strange if he died at Noser's hands right now, and he could be driven out as the culprit who unknowingly brought them in and put Brakenport in crisis. Even if he was called a traitor, he would have nothing to say.

“……What are you saying all of a sudden?”

Noser was flustered in his own way.

He didn't even draw his sword earlier…….

‘Don't tell me this fledgling noticed it was Kingdom swordsman movements just by looking at my footwork?’

Noser shook his head. It made no sense.

“E, Ellen…….”

It was then.

A weak voice was heard from behind.

Ellen turned around, and his eyes widened.

“Tiaro! Wh, what? Why do you look like……!”

He was truly a wreck.

One eye was swollen and half-closed, and a scab of blood had dried under his nose.

Not only his face, but all his exposed skin was mottled red.

“Tiaro has been reborn as of today.”

From behind, Bolero walked over leisurely. He showed his healthy teeth and gave a thumbs up.

“From a raccoon growling without distinguishing fire or water into a gentle sheep.”

Ellen looked back and forth between Bolero and Tiaro with his mouth agape blankly.

Tiaro couldn't say anything and just bowed his head deeply.

That appearance was a bigger shock to Ellen.

Bolero turned his gaze to Noser.

The playfulness had already disappeared.

“I have something urgent to tell you.”

“Hmm, me too.”

“Is Bihen not here yet?”

“It seems so. Let's go for now.”

Ellen patted the sniffling Tiaro and silently watched the backs of the two leaving the spot.

“Ellen, I have something to say too.”

“Say it, Tiaro.”

“I think we made a mistake somehow.”

“Mistake?”

“Yeah. Bringing those guys. That was our mistake.”

Ellen swallowed saliva.

He couldn't refute it.

Rather, he was in a position where he should apologize first.

Strictly speaking, the person responsible for bringing them in was none other than himself.

“Do, do you know what that bulk monster did today……?”

Tiaro's voice trembled.

Tears welled up in his eyes.

“He completely turned the gambling duel arena into a mess.”

Ellen's eyes widened as if they would pop out.

All gambling duel arenas were businesses managed by Alkabang's Gang.

“Wh, what does that mean? He turned it into a mess?”

“Something about fighting for money being barbaric or whatever, anyway fuck, he went around the main branch and all four branches and caused a scene.”

“Cr, crazy……. Then Alkabang's Gang……?”

Tiaro pointed to his own face.

“They all ended up like me. No, it would be rather fortunate if it was this much. Half of them will probably find it hard to walk on their own legs for the rest of their lives?”

“…….”

Ellen wetted his dry lips with his tongue.

He tried hard to hold onto his scattering reason somehow.

“Huu― Listen carefully, Tiaro. We were threatened by those people and got involved unavoidably. Got it? Just in time, Alkabang also saw my eye looking like this because I got beaten by that person today, so the justification is sufficient. Although my pride is hurt a bit, still…….”

“No, it's blown.”

“……What are you saying, again?”

Tiaro suddenly put his hand inside his clothes.

From inside the clothes that looked like rags, large and small bundles poured out.

Soon, when he untied his waist, a heavy bundle fell out last from inside his crotch with a thud.

“Wh, what is all this……?”

Ellen couldn't close his mouth. Tiaro laughed awkwardly.

“Sorry. The bulk monster just threw them, telling me to take them, and when I came to my senses, it became like this.”

“…….”

“……We are in the same boat.”

Tiaro muttered quietly.

That if looked closely, there were gold coins mixed in too.

“Ellen! Elleeeennnn―!”

The two turned their heads at the same time. It was McRay.

He ran panting and caught his breath in front of Ellen.

Ellen took a step back as if scared in advance and looked at McRay anxiously.

“Something happened to you too?”

“Yeah! We're really fucked!”

“……What is it?”

“O, Old Man Luke did to Alkabang's Gang guys…….”

Instantly, the blood drained from Ellen's face.

***

While Ellen's Gang trio were doing that, Noser and Bolero also shared what happened today with each other.

“With this, we have secured the justification to drive out Alkabang's Gang using Ellen's group for now.”

“That is correct. Now the guys here will think we and Ellen's Gang are in cahoots.”

Not trampling Brakenport coercively from above, but completely taking control from below could be said to be the ultimate goal of the three, that is, the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.

For now, we definitely made an impression.

In that respect, the plan was smooth.

“It is as Oliver said. Unlike Grimlok, the people here go beyond perceiving Deiron and revere and fear him like a king.”

The scenery of the back alleys Bolero saw today was a spectacle.

In some alleys, portraits of Deiron were plastered on every wall.

Surprisingly, such a phenomenon became more prominent the further away from the Abandoned Port, the center of Brakenport.

The more familiar their lives were with violence, the more they worshipped that violence like a religion.

“Just as Bihen said, cutting off the head right away won't change anything. As long as the roots are rotten, it is hard to expect good sprouts.”

“That is correct. There is no choice but to cut out the roots entirely.”

Noser stroked his chin.

Punishing corrupt nobles and correcting order were familiar to him.

However, this time was different.

Not cutting off the top line, but changing from the bottom.

That was closer to unfamiliar reform, not the purification he had done all his life.

‘Revolution.’

Noser blinked. What did I just say?

“……Keu-heum.”

“What is wrong?”

“It is nothing. Anyway, even if we replace Alkabang's Gang, fundamental guidance is difficult.”

“As expected, Deiron's head will be needed. Then, I will go to Tarnholt.”

Noser nodded.

That head sealed so it wouldn't rot could become the final dot to complete the revolution.

“Good, go and come back. But where and what is Bihen doing until now that even his nose isn't visible?”

***

Whioooo―

I am currently standing on top of the highest building in Brakenport.

The lights of the lawless zone spread out below shimmered through the sea fog.

“…….”

Certainly, this was the coast. The wind was cuttingly cold.

Why am I doing this.

It is precisely because I lost Luke.

‘Driving me crazy.’

McRay came down from the altar where Rosaria was, carrying Luke on his back.

According to him, Luke was a homeless person without a proper place to stay.

Anyway, McRay put Luke down somewhere in an alley like a set promise, and I ended up like this while chasing after him, having ditched McRay.

‘Hmph.’

I groaned and looked down.

Conversely, McRay, who was looking for me, seemed to have given up eventually and returned to the hideout.

‘Does it make sense?’

It is true that Luke displayed mysterious swordsmanship that was hard to believe even while seeing it, but his difficulty in moving was never an act.

Above all, his mental state wasn't sound either.

I lost such a person?

It is utterly incomprehensible.

‘Forget it, anyway, what now?’

Ghost Eye is useless too.

In Brakenport, there are countless people with mana besides Luke.

Besides, Ghost Eye isn't for tracking in the first place.

Since it can see traces but doesn't tell the direction.

‘……Huh?’

I narrowed my eyes.

I caught a suspicious movement.

About ten people were heading somewhere in a group.

‘Is it Alkabang's Gang?’

Anger was felt in their huffing footsteps.

‘It is toward Ellen's Gang hideout.’

I wasn't that flustered.

Because somehow I felt like I knew what the situation was.

I recalled McRay's reaction upon seeing Luke's eccentric behavior.

Although he was shocked, he was closer to thinking 'eventually it happened' rather than being flustered by a first-time experience.

The appearance of him hurriedly carrying him and leaving the scene even looked familiar from numerous experiences.

‘Ellen's group and Luke's connection is deep enough that Alkabang's Gang knows about it.’

Since the whereabouts of Luke, whom they should actually retaliate against, are unknown, they intend to vent their anger on Ellen's Gang instead.

‘Since it came to this……’

I should do what I originally intended to do.

Our goal today is to openly make known the relationship between the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult and Ellen's Gang under the guise of free travel.

For instance, like there is a suspicious force looking after Ellen's Gang.

Cheok―

“Hiiiek!”

“Wh, Whaaaat!”

I landed in front of the guys.

The guys who were walking pompously all fell back in surprise.

Just in time, a few passing guys started shouting loudly that a fight broke out, and in an instant, a crowd gathered.

“Ha.”

A sigh burst out unknowingly.

They were like gnats flocking to light.

Guys crazy about fighting.

“Uh? Th, that guy! He's the guy who was with them earlier!”

Just then, one of Alkabang's Gang pointed at me abruptly and shouted.

He was missing one arm.

It seemed he was the guy who got hit by Luke earlier.

“That guy is also in cahoots with McRay!”

“McRay? Then you mean that guy is also Ellen's Gang?”

“How would I know that, you blockhead!”

I listened to the murmuring sounds from the surroundings.

“It's a face I'm seeing for the first time? Who is it?”

“Ellen's Gang? For that…….”

“He looks a bit old. Ellen's Gang are all brats.”

……Hmm.

“Hey.”

I opened my eyes which were gently closed.

I felt the weight of my thickened double eyelids.

It becomes like this when I'm tired or pissed off.

“What.”

“……What? You are the one who popped out suddenly, bastard.”

“Ah, right.”

“Ah, right? Ah, riiight―? Is this guy crazy? What are you? Where did you roll in from, punk!”

The guy who approached swaggering reached out his arm as if to push my shoulder.

The bad habit of pushing with hands peculiar to ruffians is the same in the Empire or Kingdom as if they agreed on it.

Crack!

“Kuaaaaaaack!”

I snatched the guy's arm and then bent it.

Instantly, the bone tore through the flesh and popped out.

“I am Bihen Benkou of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”

The guys freaked out and stepped back.

The murmuring around spread like waves.

“H, Heavenly Demon Divine Cult?!”

“What kind of guys are they?”

“Never heard of it?”

“They are guys Ellen's Gang brought from outside. I saw them from the first day they came in!”

“That thing called tourism business or whatever?”

“There's no way something like that would work here. Ellen's Gang, they must have pulled a trick intentionally to bring mercenaries from outside!”

Alkabang's Gang listened to the sounds heard around with stupid faces.

A few guys started to agree.

“S, Somehow fuck! I wondered where guys like that suddenly popped out from!”

“Ellen, this son of a bitch! Is he planning to sell off Brakenport!?”

“Crazy! To dare have such insidious intentions!”

I looked around.

The atmosphere was riding a rapid current.

Anyway, they are unpredictable.

“Brakenport will not lose!”

“Ooh―!”

Done. With this, the preparation work is finished.

Now Ellen is one of two.

Either become a traitor of Brakenport as is, or become the new ruler of Brakenport that we will remake.

At this point, if we, the background figures, step forward too much, the side effect will be large.

There is a need to adjust appropriately.

“Imaginations are excessive. We only came because we heard there are many skilled people here.”

Kiing―!

I raised the Heavenly Demon high.

It was a posture piercing the sky.

“Survival of the fittest, destruction of the weak.”

The crowd buzzed.

They exchanged glances busily.

Since it was an unfamiliar phrase, there were no guys who understood immediately, but if they knew the meaning, anyone would have nodded.

At least if they were humans of Brakenport.

Because here, power is law, and the winner is truth.

‘I must start with their language.’

Brakenport's physiology is violence.

Then I must answer with violence that will govern that violence.

Do I intend to speak of a justification for simple slaughter?

No.

Power is only a means.

The real strong one is one with a will.

I intend to change Brakenport into a world where only those with uprightness will survive.

“This is not power, but a doctrine of will.”

I raised the Heavenly Demon higher.

“We are―!”

Instantly, the surroundings became quiet.

Eyes wavered, and someone swallowed a breath.

“The Heavenly Demon Divine Cult.”

The sword tip of the Heavenly Demon flashed.

A cool breeze blew in from somewhere.

The first spark of Brakenport ignited like that.