NOVEL NEXT Chapter 243
Chapter 244
Light shattered through the ornate stained glass, casting a sliver of moonlight into the dark chapel where a man stood muttering.
“Phew, this is tough.”
Kim Hyun-soo let out a weary sigh and wiped the moisture from his cheek. It looked like sweat, but upon closer inspection, it was blood.
Leaning against the back wall to catch his breath, Double D had completely lost his composure and slumped to the ground.
“He’s a madman, a total madman….”
“Well, we managed to survive.”
Surrounding the two were figures dressed in dark clothing and numerous carcasses of bats scattered around.
Who knows how many times they had crossed the line between life and death, but today’s experience was clearly going to serve as fodder for the future.
While they felt satisfaction in such a fact, both were also gripped by fear.
Above all, it was the hill at Kim Hyun-soo’s feet that bore such a calm expression while speaking of difficulty without a single drop of sweat.
‘What hill?’
There couldn’t be a hill inside a chapel. That was a mountain formed by stacked corpses.
A mountain made of bodies without a single one missing, all with skulls crushed beyond recognition. Covered in blood, dripping from the mace in Kim Hyun-soo’s hand, he descended from that mountain.
Double D instinctively trembled, not because he thought that mace would head their way, but simply because the horrific sight they had just witnessed was too shocking.
“This place sure has a lot of mosquitoes. I guess it isn’t famous for nothing.”
“Calling a vampire a mosquito right in front of them, are all Academy professors like that?”
“Probably. It’s a job that can’t be satisfied with just a little strength.”
“That’s terrifying, truly terrifying.”
With professors like this, is it any wonder there are also bosses like that? A rumbling sound echoed as if to remind Bald and Red, who were standing dazed, to get a grip. It was a noise from Kim Hyun-soo’s stomach.
“Oops! How embarrassing. Shall we move on to dinner like this?”
“No, I think Hyun-soo should wash up first.”
With a look that seemed to question his sanity, Bald pointed at Kim Hyun-soo. Indeed, his black armor and leather clothes, not to mention the exposed skin, were all dyed red with blood.
“Then let’s each take an hour’s rest at our lodgings and meet again. Is that okay?”
The two eagerly nodded their heads. Kim Hyun-soo was the first to exit the Gate. Bright light flooded in, and he realized that he had returned to Earth.
As he walked toward the stronghold, Kim Hyun-soo suddenly spoke to the air. A tree’s shadow flickered.
“Where to next?”
“From the stronghold, head 2 km southeast. We’ve set up a barrier in the forest.”
“I’ll give you a heads up, don’t even think about trying to deceive me. I have an excellent intuition.”
“I’m aware. The prince ordered me to convey his thanks for your cooperation.”
“Please thank him. Oh, and tell him if he tries to act friendly again, I’ll come for him.”
As Kim Hyun-soo flashed a smile, the shadow trembled. Was it suppressing its rage? Either way, it was fine. After all, they were both just using each other, weren’t they?
A swarm of mosquitoes that told him where their kin had made nests. They were nothing more than that for Kim Hyun-soo.
Regarding trust for non-humans, that was about as far as it went.
*
“Hey, Captain. You alright? Too bad about the last new face on the ship… let’s see, it’s been five hundred years, huh?”
“These bastards really prepared a sacrifice, didn’t they? …Wait, are you saying the youngest has been the youngest for five hundred years because no one new joined the crew?”
“Oh, you’re sharp! That kid’s even got ‘youngest’ as their name now. If the captain had been new, the name would’ve changed!”
The green-bearded figure chuckled. He seemed banged up from the battle with the split Kraken, but overall, he looked fine.
Not exactly words for a ghost, though.
“Well, I’m glad you’re safe. So, why did you come?”
“Eh? Why do you think I came? I came to be released from this form.”
“…You usually don’t come back just to die, do you?”
“If the captain cooperates, he said it would be easy to pass on!”
“I didn’t think you’d show up voluntarily…. If I had to run away, I figured I’d chase any pirates that showed up next time.”
“Running away was the best decision you could’ve made….”
Seeing the bewildered expression on the green-bearded figure, Yeon-woo scratched his cheek. No way he thought he’d have to come out himself….
“But why do you want to be released now? You’ve never cared before.”
“Well….”
The green-bearded figure hesitated and slowly opened his mouth. What could possibly be the reason? Even on the day of battling the Kraken, he charged in excitedly but didn’t seem keen on passing on.
“The people of this city said thank you to us.”
“…Huh?”
Yeon-woo’s hopes for some dramatic story plummeted as he gave a strange reaction. After all, not long ago, they had been at each other’s throats at sea…?
“Of course, not everyone feels that way. But a few nobles said it. They heard the story and thanked us for fighting the Kraken.”
“Oh, ohh….”
As Yeon-woo blankly nodded, the green-bearded figure smiled sheepishly. His expression was full of vitality, hard to believe he was a person who had died centuries ago.
“Even though there’s nowhere lower to fall, I thought I shouldn’t accumulate further karma.”
“…Ugh, what are you, some kind of officer receiving thanks for the first time?”
“Seriously. It’s not fitting for me, the Red Beard.”
And he even agreed.
The hostility that had been there just a few days ago was now completely gone, leaving a strangely mushy impression. It felt a little odd.
“The old man doesn’t seem to regret anything at all….”
“Huh? What did you say?”
“Never mind, just a musing. For now… let’s just wait a bit. If it’s about the size of a ghost ship, we need to prepare ourselves too.”
“Understood. I’ll make sure not to cause any trouble for the living.”
As he spoke and passed through the wall, Yeon-woo let out a deep sigh. How is it that the dead are more flexible than the living? Where did all that rigor mortis go?
“What’s this, looking all grim in broad daylight? Need a smack?”
“Senpai, I understand what you saw, but saying that directly leads to misunderstandings.”
“Hey, the internet should be more interesting. What’s up? Got some kind of trouble?”
“Ugh, don’t get me started. Anyway, the living are way more petty.”
Edward appeared utterly unrepentant. Given the situation, he had stepped back for now, but it seemed he didn’t believe he had done anything wrong.
He probably thought the one who pushed him down was from a family more powerful than his.
Lucrecia, who had listened quietly to the tales related to Edward, nodded. She seemed to understand quite well.
“Ah, I know that feeling. It’s always those without skills who, after losing, sulk saying they didn’t lose to the person but to the family!”
“Well, it’s not like that guy has no skills….”
“Oh really? Then that’s even better. You handle it. Then he’ll back down and tuck his tail!”
“I considered that too… but I’m not sure if I can handle it.”
“Huh? Junior, are you seriously trying to pick a fight with just an ordinary old man? I’m disappointed. If so, I won’t, no, I can’t issue you a Dragon Knight certification!”
Was that even necessary? I mean, you need a license to ride an e-scooter, so I suppose a license to ride a dragon would be a must. I decided to bury the memories of my many unlicensed adventures in the back of my mind.
With that thought, Yeon-woo raised his head after holding his forehead in contemplation.
“Let’s give it a shot.”
“Yeah, that’s the spirit, junior.”
*
“…So you really plan to go out and fight again?”
“Hahaha….”
Responding to Nea’s inquiry, Yeon-woo wore an ambiguous smile. Help!! I sent a signal for rescue but found Lucrecia sprawled across the sofa, happily watching TV with the children.
If she wasn’t a Dragon Knight, she was quickly bonding with Shar, and Tae-oh also seemed to have opened his heart.
No one was around to lend a hand. Just as he thought about banging his head in despair, he heard the sound of the door opening as Dawn came out from the washroom.
“They say one only comes to their senses after dying, but I figure Uncle here could never wake up even if he did.”
“Don’t say such harsh things.”
“Well, he didn’t come to his senses even when half-dead.”
“That’s true.”
Dawn’s wit was getting sharper with each passing day. It’s not like I was particularly winning either, so I should refrain from any notions of winning in the future.
“…Ugh, right. Like you said, he won’t come to his senses even if he dies, and he wouldn’t return just because of some flimsy incident, so just do as you like.”
“Oh….”
“But remember this, it’s your fault this time, Yeon-woo.”
“Huh? Why? What did I do wrong?”
“You foolish child!! If a conflict arises, you should’ve nipped it in the bud right from the start! What? You arranged for someone else to contract with Shar!? I don’t know what kind of dog bone you think you are, but Shar can’t enter into a contract with anyone else! No, I won’t allow it!!”
“That’s… fair.”
Indeed, he realized it. At that moment, he had been so busy and had been so glad for the opportunity to prune an issue which would have emerged that he overlooked how utterly rude it was, akin to saying ‘I’m marrying off your daughter to someone else, sorry.’
“Damn it, I should have torn up the paperwork and threatened to kill you back then!”
“Why are you bringing this up now, of all times?! I should have just pushed you overboard when we were on the ship together!”
“I’m sorry.”
Even if he had a hundred mouths, he wouldn’t have a retort. Regardless, let’s just say pushing him overboard was a bit risky. If the head of the Noblesse Guild were to accidentally die, it would be too much liability for the captain…
And so, several days had passed since then. While he brushed off the green-bearded figure eager for release, it was time for him to regain the senses he had lost to deception.
Edward accepted Yeon-woo’s suggestion. Given his belief that he would never lose, it made me think he hadn’t quite matured for his age.
“Since ancient times, people are not meant to be remade.”
Although some were subtly throwing hints they could be remade for a while, it just didn’t seem like Edward was one of them.
“To show respect to the elderly, shall I concede a few rounds?”
Thus, he decided to kick things off with a provocation. Hey, you think you’re tough in a fight?
(To be continued in the next installment.)