๑ ♡ ๑
Chapter 05
๑ ♡ ๑
Dhiope couldn’t believe it, but he calmly controlled his expression.
‘The sword’s location is on the right.’
Seizing the opportunity, he had to stabbed his heart and escape quickly.
Unaware of his true feelings, Baekhan hummed a tune.
“Ogres, if you’re caught sneaking and eating, you know what happens, right?”
“I know. Won’t eat. Even if I die. Absolutely not.”
Ogres sweated cold sweat.
“Fine. I’ll trust you.”
Baekhan shook the reins generously.
“This way…!”
The white horse left Ogre’s hiding place, the Pasting Cave, with a dignified expression. The bridge climbing the mountain path moved dynamically.
How much did they race like that?
Dhiope, who had been eagerly waiting for an opportunity, twisted his body to draw the sword, intending to attack the knight monster once he pulled it out.
‘Ah.’
As Dhiope gripped the sword hilt, the seemingly ordinary longsword vibrated strongly. A fierce black blade burst out from the pure white scabbard—a resolute rejection response.
‘Damn. It was the Ego Sword.’
The legendary sword known for choosing its own master, the Ego Sword.
Duraan using such a sword was unexpected.
As he refused to let go of the sword, sparks leapt strongly along his arm.
‘Ugh!’
A feeble groan escaped. Dhiope, unable to resist once, lost consciousness.
“This little guy is getting all angry, kekeke. Hilarious.”
Baekhan embraced the fallen Dhiope with sturdy arms.
“It said I shouldn’t eat the little human’s head.”
Thud, thud.
Along with the sound of hoofbeats, malicious laughter echoed eerily.
***
At the same time, in the run-down Raut Inn on the outskirts of the capital.
“Five headquarters and branches have been raided.”
High-ranking executive urgently gathered at Raut Inn, the hiding place of the Information Guild Bloodgen.
Among the headquarters and branches distributed in the capital and provincial territories, the most affected was the headquarters.
“Could it be the palace’s doing?”
Bloodgen had obtained crucial and perilous information: the emperor was building an altar on the eastern mountain, sacrificing innocent civilians.
Three days after receiving this information, a sorcerer wielding dark magic attacked Bloodgen.
In the unexpected assault, twenty-five key executives were killed, and four branch managers were unconscious.
“We can’t jump to conclusions yet. There’s no evidence linking these events to the palace.”
“Why is there no evidence? The sorcerer using dark magic is the proof.”
Books related to dark magic were sealed in the royal underground archive. If someone mastered dark magic, it was inferred that the palace might be involved.
When one branch manager asserted this opinion, another executive opposed.
“That’s an excessive assumption. Who’s to say there aren’t individuals secretly inheriting dark magic through generations?”
Despite the palace reportedly reclaiming all the forbidden books, human curiosity knew no bounds. There could be the possibility of pre-copies or summaries secretly shared.
“Even if caught, who would do such a thing as teaching dark magic?”
“Don’t you know? In this world, there are many who fear death less than stepping on ants.”
One executive sneered, and no one countered the argument.
“If this attack was orchestrated by the palace, that complicates matters. It could mean the emperor is training assassins using dark magic.”
“So, this might not be a warning to let go if you want to avoid further damage.”
Like a mutual agreement, the executives’ remarks ended there. Amidst the weighty silence, discreet glances were exchanged across the mahogany table.
In reality, most executives in this room wanted to disentangle themselves. There was no need to insist on a confrontation with the palace while running the guild.
“Agreed.”
A welcome voice was heard.
“Let’s suspend the investigation into the eastern mountain for the time being.”
The words came through Guild Master Louis, seated at the head of the table.
In response, the executives’ expressions noticeably brightened.
“However, there’s no law against the assassins coming tonight. Please don’t let your guard down for at least the next week.”
Louis’s gaze was stern, and his voice lacked hesitation.
“If the assassins don’t come when we stop the investigation, it’s safe to consider this attack as a warning from the palace.”
Louis had firmly cautioned against speaking about this attack. He was convinced that the emperor had gone to the extreme of sending a warning assault.
“Regardless of what we uncover, if they don’t intend to continue challenging Bloodgen permanently, there won’t be further attacks.”
Bloodgen had rapidly risen as an information guild five years ago. Absorbing smaller guilds and expanding its influence meticulously, it now had more than fifty branches across the empire.
Currently, it had established itself as one of the four powerful guilds in the capital.
“Furthermore, we’ll provide support funds and rewards at the guild level for the families affected by this incident. We’ll also gather funds for each branch later on. For now, assume the assassins will come every night and be fully prepared.”
The dispersal order was given. Executives collectively tore magic scrolls to conceal the meeting.
The conference room emptied.
Vice Guild Master Altein and Guild Master Louis faced each other.
“Louis, is Dhiope still absent?”
“No contact yet.”
Externally, Louis was the guild master of Bloodgen, but Dhiope was the one leading the Information Guild effectively.
Louis, Altein, and Dhiope.
Only the three knew the truth within Bloodgen.
“Perhaps… Dhiope is incapacitated due to a fatal injury?”
Dhiope had once vanished without a trace in a similar situation, causing concern. Then, he had returned unharmed, surprising Louis.
“Dhiope? I find that hard to believe.”
Louis regarded it lightly.
“Considering the lack of news, he might be on personal business, as he did last time.”
He casually shook a bracelet adorned with crystal gemstones. There were a total of forty red stones. The bracelet, with its subtle crimson hue, reflected sunlight, evoking Dhiope’s eyes.
“Moreover, this bracelet. It’s connected to Dhiope, and it hasn’t shattered. If he faced danger, the stones would have turned gold by now.”
Louis, unaware of Dhiope’s situation, smiled lightly.
“He’s the kind of person who can survive barehanded even if he falls into the demon-infested mountains of Barun. Don’t worry too much.”
***
[Hey, wake up a bit.]
Concern filled the melancholic eyes of the baby penguin, Connie Heart. She seemed to say, ‘Are you going to stay stuck to the snow forever?’ The boy had indeed been brought back by Baekhan, even losing consciousness.
[Why can’t you wake up? I’m sure I did all the healing…]
Baekhan anxiously circled around Dhiope.
Could Baekhan have used violence when bringing the boy?
Duraan was infamous as a cruel undead monster, and most monsters were not friendly to humans. Even if Baekhan had used force during the abduction, it wouldn’t be unusual.
“Baekhan, where did you get this little human?”
The dark figure, who eyed Dhiope with displeasure, asked.
“Took him from Ogre’s house.”
“Where did Ogre get this little human?”
“You should ask someone with a clever mind. The captain knows. I can’t answer difficult questions because I don’t have a brain.”
“Is that so? Hehehe. Captain, huh?”
Heukhan, who had been sitting upright in front of Dhiope, suddenly hugged Connie Heart.
“Where did Ogre get this human?”
It was a shamelessly straightforward question.
Startled, Connie Heart let out a soft chirp with its yellow beak.
Speaking wouldn’t matter anyway, considering Dhiope couldn’t hear, but she responded bluntly.
[Why ask me? Ask the Ogre.]
As expected, Heukhan couldn’t grasp the meaning of her words.
[…….]
Connie Heart sighed.
In reality, when she ventured deep into the Stone Cave, she passed numerous giant monsters, all huge and formidable creatures.
It dawned on Connie Heart belatedly; she hadn’t set foot in the mountains. She realized this was a monster lair.
“Huhuhum. I hear, it’s being heard, it’s heard…!”
Abruptly, Heukhan raised his index finger and pressed it firmly on Connie Heart’s forehead. Like adjusting a helmet, the pitch-black helmet shook vigorously.
“Captain, what are you hearing?”
“Kekekekie. It’s telepathy my head is sending to me.”
“Telepathy? What’s it saying?”
“My head says it saw human clothes flying in the air on the road earlier. Since it smelled unfamiliar, it hid behind a rock to find the owner of the clothes.”
Connie Heart had a bad feeling.
Heukhan was now telling his own story.
[It was you hiding behind the rock.]
Unheard words echoed in the cave, reaching nowhere.
Thankyou for coming to this sites and read my translation, enjoy! Sorry if theres still have any mistake on the translation. See you on the next update!
Click bellow to support me on ko-fi.
Thank you for the chapter!
Thankyouuu for reading this story!