‘D*amn it, d*amn it, d*amn it…’
As Han looked at Martin’s massive body walking ahead, he muttered curses repeatedly.
‘Is he a monster? Is that really a human? Isn’t it crazy? Isn’t that beyond human modification?’
Martin’s body, towering over 3 meters, instilled overwhelming fear.
‘If he even lands one blow, I’m dead. Seriously dead.’
Just imagining it made him feel like collapsing. Han trembled and bowed his head.
‘…Is he the Margrave?’
Come to think of it, the kids said that.
When meeting the Margrave, they’re sure to die.
Did the fear of death rush over him as soon as he met him too?
Yeah. It’s the Margrave. It was definitely the Margrave. If it’s not the Margrave, it won’t do. Please don’t tell me there’s someone stronger than this.
“Um… Lord Margrave?”
Han cautiously opened his mouth. Immediately came the response.
“I’m Martin.”
“…You?”
“Me, the commander. Not the Margrave.”
“……”
For a moment, Han thought he had lost his mind and disappeared.
There’s someone stronger than this? No, no. That can’t be true. It must have just been the kids exaggerating. Yeah, yeah. They’re just kids. Kids always like to exaggerate.
“Ha, hahaha. No, it’s just something Shekina said. That I would die as soon as I saw the Margrave… M-Martin looked so strong, so I must have been mistaken… Haha.”
So Han forced a smile, trying to change the mood.
Martin stopped his steady walk and looked down at Han.
“The Margrave are more stronger than me.”
He said confidently.
“I’m scared of him too.”
“……”
D*amn. What kind of place is this, where such a monster is scared of someone?
I really want to go back.
I want to leave.
I’m scared.
Mom…
Han was now truly on the verge of fainting.
“Get down here.”
Martin’s gesture was enough to drain Han’s spirit.
It was stairs leading to the basement.
“…….”
Han hesitated to speak, then bowed his head deeply and resigned himself.
“You’re trying to kill me… Well… I guess I’m asking for it, dragging these strange guys into the territory and hoping to survive… Yes… I will humbly accept death…”
Yeah. Let’s just die.
What’s the big deal about dying? It won’t hurt, it won’t be scary. So it’s okay.
“Get down.”
“Yes…”
Han descended the underground stairs with heavy steps. What’s dying, anyway? What’s the big deal? No, it’s not like that! I don’t want to die! Dying is a big deal!
Each step felt heavy. What’s dying, anyway? What’s the big deal? No, no… I don’t want to die! Dying is a big deal!
Han glanced around, wanting to escape now, but Martin stood tall behind him.
Mom… I miss you…
With tears streaming down his face, Han continued down the stairs.
Then,
“What’s wrong, sir? Why are you crying?”
Han saw Shekina.
Only now did Han realize that this place was a prison, and inside were the humans who had attacked him.
In other words, this wasn’t his grave.
“It’s because the prison is damp. The temperature, lighting, humidity—everything is so romantic.”
“You mush be crazy.”
Shekina grabbed his sleeve, laughing absurdly.
“Excuse me, these are the humans who followed you.”
Han recognized them earlier, but now, led by Shekina, he approached the bars. And then,
“Oof!”
He couldn’t help but retch.
There was no other way.
The people inside the prison… were truly miserable.
Can they even be called human, in that state?
Shouldn’t we just say they’re pretending to be human?
Han couldn’t bear to look at them any longer in their horrific state, but Shekina standing right beside him seemed utterly indifferent.
“You, you…”
Han looked at Shekina with a puzzled expression.
“For a small kid, you seems got a strong stomach…”
They say she’s three years old, but even for a three-year-old to see something like that and remain unfazed is just too…
‘I’m scared, d*amn it.’
Han sniffled again.
“Did you do this? Haha, that can’t be true. No, please tell me you didn’t do it! If I hear anything more here, I feel like I’ll go crazy!”
“… Sir, you still seem a bit crazy.”
Shekina glanced at Han, snorted, and then turned her head away.
“Oh my. Why’d you bring me to these humans I told you about?”
Then, someone appeared from the darkness.
“Ah!”
He smiled brightly and reached out his hand to Han.
“Hello? I’m Arthur. Please feel free to call me by my name.”
A plain-looking man.
Good impression, and a pleasant smile.
Normal.
He’s normal.
Han momentarily choked up again.
“Uh, my name is Han….”
“Hmm? Why the tears?”
“It’s because of the dampness….”
Han replied, poking his eye area with the back of his hand.
Arthur looked at Han sympathetically, then pointed towards the direction of the prison and spoke again.
“I’ve been squeezing them for two days, but nothing came out. Either they’re keeping quiet, or they really don’t know.”
Arthur clicked his tongue.
“So, I brought back the escaped leader.”
Where would someone who set foot in the rugged northern residence of Daimon escape to anyway?
Arthur could easily catch the leader.
“Wow, really… You’re truly amazing….”
Han was once again impressed by the abilities of the Daimon Margrave family and turned his head in the direction Arthur was pointing.
Inside the cell, there was a box.
Inside the box, there was a crumpled figure.
“…Is that person alive?”
“More or less.”
“Was it you, Arthur?”
“Yes, that’s right!”
“Haha….”
Han buried his face in his hands and burst into a fit of giggles.
“I’ll just faint for a moment….”
And then he collapsed.
Watching Han’s one-man show, Shekina sighed heavily, while Arthur clicked his tongue at Han’s antics.
“Humans are really weak.”
It’s not that I’m weak, it’s that you guys seem crazy….
Han muttered, feeling his mind drifting away.
***
“Ugh!”
Han jolted up as if recoiling.
Cold sweat streamed down his body. It must have been because of the bizarre dream he just had.
“Wow, really. What a crazy nightmare.”
Han trembled, clutching the blanket tightly.
“Yeah. Where would such people exist in the world? I had a weird dream! Aaaah!”
But it wasn’t a dream.
The man sitting in front of him was none other than the formidable Martin.
“Oh, you’re awake.”
Ugh, I really want to run away.
Han lowered his head and sniffled, wiping his nose.
“Baby, the human’s awake.”
“Oh, really?”
Shekina, who was in the adjacent room, approached with hesitant steps.
Still with a vacant expression, she addressed Han.
“Sir, how do you carry out assassination missions in such a small strengh?”
Han widened his eyes at Shekina’s question.
“You guys….”
“Us?”
“You guys are unusual!”
Han mustered his remaining courage and shouted.
“I was known for my courage, famous for my poker face! Why reduce me to this mess! Ugh!”
He sobbed, his cries echoing.
It was quite unpleasant to see a grown man cry, but Shekina, who considered herself kind, refrained from driving him away and endured.
How much time passed like this?
When Han’s crying subsided slightly, Shekina dragged a chair next to the bed and sat down.
“Are you done crying?”
“Sniff.”
“Then let’s talk about what to do next.”
“……”
Come to think of it, isn’t the scariest person in this place is Shekina.
Han had a chilling thought.
“Before disclosing the information obtained to the commander, Sir Han, you need to confirm with me.”
Whether Han had such thoughts or not, Shekina prioritized verifying the authenticity of the information she had uncovered.
Shekina’s eyes sparkled.
