Episode 514
I am a person who has a personality that has to find out what is curious and sometimes emotional, but I am not stupid. I also know very well what it means to be curious and kill a person.
Are you telling me to just step foot in there knowing what’s lurking in that monster’s throat?
I plan to continue my research on the cushions somehow, but that is not the case now.
But right after leaving the guest house… … .
“you……!”
He came face to face with Assad straight away.
Assad, who was panting for some reason, quickly checked my body and said.
“Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Stop pretending to be Assad. You disgusting monster… … Do you think I don’t know your true identity?”
“what?”
I snorted and glared at the monster wearing Assad’s skin.
“It’s a hundred years too early to fool me… … Do you think that guy would care about my health? If I fell off a cliff, he would just watch?”
“What are you talking about? Are you hurt in the head? Calm down for now.”
However, this one was made much more precisely than the previous one and was not easily shaken.
“Haha! Do you really think you can fool me? You seaweed head. Don’t ever fall into the water. It’ll be hard to tell the difference between you and seaweed, so it’ll be hard to pull you out.”
“what?”
“Don’t you get it yet? There’s a foul odor that only comes from you! You can fool other guys, but you can’t fool this Luan Badnicker’s nose!”
“You, really… … .”
Is this too much?
Because Assad’s expression was not normal, I coughed in vain and covered up the situation.
“Ahem. Is it really Lord Assad-”
“I’m not fooled.”
“… … .”
Assad, whose look of confusion disappeared in an instant, muttered with a blank expression, then passed me by and sniffed his sleeve.
“Smell? Smell… … .”
Sniff sniff.
A monster in the shape of Assad, his nose flaring, opened the door to the main room and disappeared inside.
“… … .”
I froze for a moment, then opened the window next to me, jumped out, and hurriedly ran to the cypress tree.
* * *
Ironclad Delak C. Badniker is arguably the greatest patriarch and father in Imperial history.
Where in the world would you find a father who would create such a comfortable and perfect nest for his youngest child?
I went into hiding, wrapped tightly in a blanket, in the safest cage in the world, a safe zone where no one could harm me.
Warm, cozy and comfortable.
If you’re hungry, you can order food, and if you’re bored, you can ask for a book or newspaper.
If he gets tired of that, he even goes so far as to personally recruit the best bards and storytellers in the empire. This is the power of a great family, you might say.
In other words, this iron cage was literally a corner paradise, a stronghold for Luan Badniker alone.
While I was lazing around on the bed, trying to calm my tired body and mind, Assad came to visit me.
“… You said you didn’t step out of there for two days?”
I swallowed the cookie I was chewing, closed the book I was reading, and took out the cross I had prepared in advance.
“Get out of here, you rascal. As long as these iron bars are in place, you will not be able to fool or harm me with your cunning tricks or your devious tongue.”
“It’s serious. What on earth did you see? If it was before ten o’clock at night, there shouldn’t have been any problems… … No. So you’re still okay?”
“Are you trying to fool me with incomprehensible words again? No way. Back off.”
Assad let out a sigh and suddenly opened his hand, and a flower petal that seemed to be made of light bloomed from his hand.
A small spirit was curled up and dozing inside the flower, but it woke up, groaning as if it felt someone’s gaze.
[Hmm… Assad? What the hell, at this hour… … . This is a violation of the Labor Standards Act… … .]
“Dryad. Excuse me, but prove my soul to that guy.”
[Proof? You are Assad, my ally?]
“Well, that’s enough. I’m sorry. Go to bed.”
[Ugh… … . Next time, prepare some quality mana… … .]
The dryad flinched and then disappeared like a goblin.
Assad looked at me with his arms crossed.
“You know that spirits can’t lie, right?”
“Umm… … .”
“I’m Assad. So let’s talk. What did you see?”
“… … .”
I sighed, rubbing my forearms.
“So… … the guy imitating Assad took me all the way to Gajussi.”
“What? Explain in detail.”
I saw the black elf monster disguised as Assad, the mysterious passage I witnessed in the master’s room, and the second monster I encountered again when I came out.
After hearing the whole story, Assad looked at me with a serious expression and asked a strange question.
“How on earth did you manage to turn him down? If he had been blatantly flirting with you, you would have been dragged away long ago… … .”
“Who is he?”
“… … .”
“Are you not going to keep talking? You said it would be safe if you didn’t go outside after ten o’clock. I believed that and kept it, but didn’t that monster appear in the form of Assad and almost cause a big problem? What are you going to do if they use a more complicated method next time?”
Did you feel that my complaints and grievances had some merit?
Even this gentleman, who has not even a speck of flexibility, sighed and said.
——————
faqwiki.us
Join our Discord for new chapter updates!
https://discord.com/invite/xr7SxG5T6V
——————
“The one targeting you is the Black Elf Kusset.”
“… … .”
“You’re not surprised.”
“I had expected it. The guy disguised as Assad looked like a black elf.”
I’ve encountered the Black Fairy a few times before, but I only saw it once when I went out on my own after ten o’clock.
The other one was a black fairy that Lise had taken away separately, so I didn’t say anything about it.
Because, as I have said several times, I do not completely trust Assad.
“What surprised me is that… you didn’t fall for their delusions.”
“The disguise was amazing, but the way he acted and spoke was a bit awkward. And he didn’t even try to deceive me until the end. I just got the slightest hint of suspicion, so he ran away.”
“That’s what’s weird.”
“… … ?”
“Do you remember the characteristics of the Butterfly Forest? This vast forest basically enchants people. If you are not qualified, you will wander through the forest for the rest of your life and die. In fact, it was Kusset who created such an environment.”
“Was it so… … .”
I felt goosebumps run down my arms as I heard yet another secret.
Looking at it this way, the Butterfly Forest did not exist simply to prevent external invasion or confuse enemies.
This meant that if Kuset wanted to, he could completely lock up the people inside.
The reason why Badnikker became gloomy and insular was actually because of the great influence of Kusset.
“But the bloodline of the Badniker doesn’t wander in the Butterfly Forest, right? That’s why it didn’t work, right?”
“Generally, yes. But if Kuset wants to, he can easily ignore the advantages of such bloodlines. That’s why I warned you. Live in the iron cage as much as possible and don’t go outside.”
“I see. Um… … .”
I said, shuddering.
“They were definitely dangerous. They didn’t feel like evil demons, but in a way, they were more unpleasant. They acted as if they were imitating people… … .”
“… … .”
“… To be honest, it’s been a long time since I’ve felt this fearful emotion. So I’m going to stay here for the time being and not go out. At least until my father comes.”
“Yeah, that would be better.”
Assad said with a sigh.
“Excuse me. Delak will probably be back by the end of this week at the latest. Your brothers will be here before then. Until then, get some rest.”
“Oh. Wait a minute. When can I see my mother?”
“Lucia Badniker? I think she’s already arrived at the main house. She’s staying in the main building now… … If you want, I can meet you tomorrow.”
“Could you please call me here today?”
“Here? Why?”
“Hmm. I think it would be reassuring if it was in the same mansion as my mother… … .”
As I spoke, trailing off, Assad smiled and nodded.
“i get it.”
* * *
After leaving the room, Assad did not return straight to his office, but instead headed to the first floor.
The man who had been waiting in advance was a man named Rex, who was currently serving as Luan’s secretary.
Assad opened his mouth.
“Let’s keep an eye on the movements of the cattle.”
“Okay… … But I wonder if it’s Ki-woo after all.”
“what do you mean?”
“The Lord of Soga seemed really surprised this time. For two days, he hardly ever got out of bed except to wash or do other things. It was as if he was afraid of going outside the bars.”
“It could be acting.”
I thought that a guy who had faced the Demon King several times would not be scared by the Black Fairy, even if he was one of Kuset’s lackeys.
“Even if he was scared, I don’t think he would stay that quiet. Now I’m starting to get a feel for his personality.”
“Then the task you asked me to do is… … .”
“Proceed as planned.”
“… … .”
Assad frowned at Rex’s expression.
“What now?”
“That, that. I wondered if a mere servant like me could open the Lord’s door without permission… … If the Lord finds out later-.”
“I’ll cover up the Delak issue, so just do it. It’s simple, right? Just knock on the door at one or two in the morning, say something urgent, and tell them you’re here to place the guardian stone on my orders. Then just make sure Luan is inside quietly. Is that hard?”
“… … .”
“If he sneaked out of the room, there won’t be an answer, so you can open the door. The fact that the cow is missing is a much more serious situation.”
It was easy to say, but for Rex, it was crazy and mind-boggling.
Although Sogaju’s words and actions were frivolous, he was by no means a person to be ridiculed.
It felt more like a feeling of oppression than dignity.
He had a sense of prayer that could only be felt from an excellent unmanned person, and it is not surprising since he was one of the most promising youngbloods among the Empire before he went missing.
He wanted to be polite and avoid getting on everyone’s bad side as much as possible, but Rex had no choice.
That’s what Badnikker originally was.
Obedience is one of the basic principles.
Moreover, this character is the guardian of the family, whom even the head of the family, the Iron Blood Duke, cannot treat carelessly.
This means that Rex, who was just a mere servant, had no right to refuse in the first place.
“…All right.”
Rex spent the night wide awake, and when dawn came, he headed to Sogaju’s bedroom, holding the guardian stone that Asad had given him.
Then I knocked very carefully on the door.
“My lord, are you sleeping? This is Rex.”
“… … .”
“I apologize for the late hour. I have something urgent to deliver to you by order of Lord Asad… … . May I open the door for a moment?”
There was no answer.
Rex, his expression serious, spoke to me from outside and knocked on the door several times.
“Master Soga? Are you there? Is something wrong?”
In a voice so loud that no matter how deeply you sleep, you can’t help but wake up.
But there was still no sound from inside, so Rex grabbed the doorknob with a stiff expression.
“I’m sorry. I’ll go in.”
And then right after I opened the door… … .
“… … !”
A pillow flew into my face.
It was so fast that it was impossible to avoid.
Rex, who had been hit in the face with a pillow, fell on his butt from the impact.
“… I’m sleeping soundly. What the hell are you talking about? Do you want to get in trouble?”
Luan, who seemed to have just woken up, spoke in a low voice.
Did you throw the pillow through that narrow gap in the iron bars? If so, it was an amazing feat.
Rex quickly got up from his seat and bowed.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I just wanted to bring you this guardian stone… … . It’s something that Lord Asad made especially for you. It will be helpful if you just keep it in your room.”
“Give it to me tomorrow, you son of a bitch. Why did you have to come here at dawn to give it to me?”
“Well, you asked me to do it because it was urgent… … I’m sorry.”
Luan, who had been glaring at Rex, who was repeatedly apologizing, waved her hand.
“Okay, then you can go.”
“Where should I put the guardian stone… … ?”
“Put it on the desk over there. I’ll check it tomorrow morning.”
“yes…….”
Rex, who had hurriedly delivered the guardian stone, bowed again.
“Well, then I’m sorry.”
“Give me a pillow and go.”
“yes.”
Rex, who had just left the cattle shed, let out a sigh of relief.
As expected, Assad’s concerns were unfounded.
If I deliver this news tomorrow morning, he will feel relieved… … .
Rex, who had overcome the hump, went down to the first floor, clearing his chest.
“… … .”
And when the outside noise completely disappeared, Luan sighed and touched her face.
At that moment, the skin on my face changed into a hard, mask-like texture, and I even went so far as to remove it.
The face that was finally revealed was Arjan.
Immediately after taking off the mask, the body shape returned to its original state.
Arjan moved into the Cycad Dang with Lucia last night and they moved together… … .
Thanks to this, after secretly contacting Luan, he was able to change his appearance after receiving the mask of the Linchal tribe and wait in the bedroom.
‘Did I do a good job?’
Arjan thought back to the reaction he had just seen, and worried that perhaps his actions had been a little excessive.
I felt strangely nervous and my heart was pounding because I had rarely used such fiery language.
‘If you have a dog, you have a better tone.’
Arjan opened the notebook in his arms and checked Luan’s speech, habits, and actions one by one that he had meticulously written down under the blanket.
‘It would have been more natural to say, “Do you want to get scolded?” instead of “Do you want to lose?” Instead of telling her to go, it would have been better to snap at her to get lost… … Ah. What if she had run her fingers through her hair while talking? It would have been a bit of a bad look… … .’
Arzan, recalling several curses he knew, felt his heart beat faster for a strange reason, different from the excitement of battle.
Arjan spent the night wide awake, feeling a strange sense of liberation and excitement without even realizing it.
