Chapter 119
HEL SCANS
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“Ah.”
As soon as I unconsciously uttered a sound, Nyhill immediately pulled the reins.
“What’s the matter?”
A fleeting expression of concern crossed the quiet and calm eyes.
“It’s nothing.”
“If you’re tired, would you like to take a short break?”
“We can’t afford to rest when the destination is right in front of us.”
I urged the horse again.
After Lonkers.
I’m not sure if she’s aware of it, but Nyhill began to reveal her emotions little by little in front of me.
Usually, she was indifferent and restrained, but occasionally she showed human expressions or gestures.
… Like now.
“It’s okay.”
I turned my gaze away from the scrutinizing black eyes.
▼
…The forge has become a little stronger.
▲
The subtle nuances remained, but it was quite satisfying.
‘Felson’s cultivation technique is indeed effective.’
The reason for the sudden increase in progress comments in the middle of the road was thanks to his cultivation technique.
The Hero had been practicing forging since leaving Rosenstark.
Even while riding a horse.
Even while having a meal.
Even while standing still.
Thanks to that, achievements increased rapidly, and senses were honed like a blade.
‘The detection has definitely expanded and become denser, and that growth is reflected in the comments.’
‘Now I can prepare to some extent for the upcoming battle.’
This journey to the capital was inevitably a path where blood would be shed.
After all, it was to chase the lackeys and followers of the Demonic Church.
The problem was that the plans of those we learned through Enoch and Eitrobin were larger than expected.
If left unchecked, it would lead to irreversible consequences.
I must stop them.
‘He may be on guard because of the news that Eitrobin died, but…’
He probably hasn’t cut off all the loose ends yet.
It wasn’t such a simple ‘business’ after all.
Fortunately, capable allies were waiting to help me in the capital.
Now was the time to chase these guys.
‘You must find them no matter what.’
Thinking so, I pulled the reins firmly.
Thud, the horseshoe dug into the ground.
The body that had leaned forward returned to its original position with a light buoyancy.
“Stop, stop!”
The shadow of a massive castle wall was looming over us.
An entrance procession lined up in front of the castle gate.
Not only around the procession but also on the castle wall and at the main gate, knights and soldiers were packed.
Their stern eyes were directed at me and Nyhill.
The capital of Jeros.
.
. .
The vigilance was strict, but the entry was easy.
There was no need to reveal my identity.
I had a ‘magic pass’ that allowed me to freely enter and exit all territories of the empire.
When I showed the magic pass to the knight guarding the entrance, we were guided to a separate waiting room…
Beep-
“Verification complete.”
After a simple verification process, we were allowed to enter the capital of Jeros.
It was a tremendous change compared to when I was not recognized as a hero, taking several hours or even more than a day.
“…”
…Jujjwajujjwa.
The magic pass I possessed was a badge that only VIP’s, including the imperial family, public servants and famous heroes, could have.
The eyes of the knight who conducted the verification process widened with curiosity.
If it weren’t for the key of Valber, which could store the Black Hope, it would have been troublesome.
It was at the moment when I was about to pass by the knight who was shaking his head.
Beep beep beep beep beep-
A strange alert sounded loudly.
It was a communication bead.
“What, what?”
We had no choice but to stop at the knight’s bewildered voice.
He could have spoken, but the surrounding soldiers just stared with their mouths wide open, alternately glancing between us and the flashing communication bead.
“What, they say there’s a direct contact? Um, please wait a moment!”
The moment I stopped my feet at his words.
A very familiar voice echoed in my ears.
[Wait.]
Thud.
“…”
A moment of silence.
In the meantime, some knights and guards seemed to have noticed something unusual.
A man with a magic pass who received a direct contact from the royal palace.
Chuk-
When the knight who seemed to be in charge raised his sword in a salute with an excited expression, the others quickly followed suit.
Some of them had faces that looked like they were about to cry.
“Thank you for your dedication!”
“Thank you for your dedication!!”
… We received salutes.
With their faces lit up with joy like children, I added a word to them.
“Please carry on with your duties.”
“Yes, yes!”
…They probably won’t carry on.
By this afternoon, rumors that a person who looked like a hero had arrived in Jeros Kyros would spread little by little.
It didn’t matter.
It was intended.
“Oh, please keep the words in the inspection stable. I’ll come to pick them up later.”
“We will take care of them with all our hearts and souls!”
“…Thank you.”
I sat with Nyhill in the waiting room and waited for the person who would guide us.
Tick-
Not long after, footsteps were heard at the entrance of the waiting room.
But strangely, the knights and soldiers who should be welcoming the guest were just busy with their paperwork.
As if they couldn’t hear or see anything.
“Hello, hero. I’ve come to escort you.”
It was a woman with her face covered by a veil.
Even though her colorful embroidery, jewels, and elaborately decorated outfit with various colors would have been noticeable from a hundred meters away.
Even after she entered the waiting room, people were still focused on their tasks.
“I’ve arranged a carriage, so please come.”
The woman didn’t introduce herself even in front of the hero.
Nyhill’s body stiffened, seemingly nervous.
Thanks to that, I could easily discern her identity.
“Pleased to meet you, Mother Ghost.”
“I feel the same way.”
The leader of the Shadows. Ghost No. 0, Mother Ghost.
We followed her out of the waiting room.
The veil fluttered despite the still air inside.
.
.
.
“Huh? When did the hero… I mean, ‘that person’ leave?”
“Huh? Really? Where did he go? Did he go to the restroom?”
There was a moment of turmoil in the back waiting room.
* * *
A straight road leading to the palace.
The carriage quickly crossed the city.
The hero looked out of the open window, observing the numerous buildings and crowds on the street.
It was the most luxurious and secure street in the continent, despite the vastness of the continent.
“Traveler, our accommodation has a 2-person spa! Please visit with your loved one! Relieve your travel fatigue!”
“Our… where you can enjoy a delicious breakfast and a beautiful view…”
Even the hawkers’ pitches were somewhat different.
Rather than emphasizing price and safety like in other areas, they first boasted luxury.
Cheerful pedestrians were happily entering between the buildings.
‘…The bright side of Jeros.’
But, this time, the place where he would spend most of his time was not this lively street.
It was the other side.
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The hero’s eyes stared at a dark alley on one side of the prosperous street.
People unconsciously avoided that area, but occasionally, hooded figures with covered faces wandered around.
It felt like seeing a dark spot in a bright and beautiful painting.
That place was the slums.
An entrance leading to the red-light district.
‘…It’s still the same.’
The hero turned his gaze back inside the carriage.
Mother Ghost was sitting across from him, and Nyhill was in the adjacent seat.
“…”
In fact, traveling with Mother Ghost wasn’t very pleasant.
Because of Nyhill.
The hero looked at Nyhill, who was sitting rigidly with a straight back.
Her appearance, seemingly stiff like a doll, felt as if he had just met her for the first time.
Emotions sank below the surface, and her expression was as solid as long-set wax.
‘Didn’t they say she was raised by a mentor…?’
Back then.
Soft lips under the veil drew a gentle curve.
“Do you have any questions for me?”
“No. What about Euphemia?”
“Her Majesty is waiting at the separate palace.”
Before I could ask which palace, the answer came.
“It’s the palace where she resided during her princess days.”
Ah, that palace.
The hero briefly reminisced about the past.
The scenery of the charming palace flashed through his mind, where everything began.
“By the way….”
Mother Ghost’s head turned towards Nyhill.
Jjang-
The accessories attached to the veil made a sound.
“Are you satisfied with the performance?”
“…Performance?”
“It’s No. 3. If you want, I can replace it.”
…Performance, replacement.
The hero slowly spoke.
“Nyhill is doing well enough. If there’s one thing I wish for….”
“Yes, please tell me anything.”
“I’m tired so please shut up.”
After that, I could reach the separate palace quietly.
* * *
Nyhill and Mother Ghost said they would wait outside the separate palace.
Creak-
The hero opened the iron gate of the main entrance and entered.
A desolate and lonely landscape met his eyes.
From the entrance to the distant palace, there is not a single ant in sight.
It was a place that gave the impression that it had been neglected for a long time and was recently cleaned up.
‘Euphemia….’
He was able to find her quickly.
Surprisingly, it was not outside the palace, but in the garden, sitting on a cut garden bench.
“…”
Sitting on a garden bench with a cut garden tree, the silver-haired emperor was gazing blankly at the sky.
Thud-
Deliberately making a sound with his footsteps, the golden eyes of the emperor turned towards the hero.
Although it wouldn’t be possible, she looked somewhat pleased.
“You’re here. Did you come comfortably?”
“Except for the annoying companion.”
“Ha… Our tastes are the same, it seems.”
“What?”
“Well, it’s nothing.”
She stood up and approached the hero, brushing off the dust on her body.
For an emperor, her gestures were excessively simple.
She walked slowly and stood beside the hero.
And she brought up the main topic.
“As you know, we also captured and interrogated Eitrobin’s Gazols and their collaborators.”
“There probably wasn’t much success.”
“You know well. Dealing with a tangled web is always like that.”
A faint sigh escaped the emperor’s lips.
“In truth, we could hold those directly involved accountable, but… we failed to find the connections.”
Honestly, there was no point in interrogating.
…Gibberish.
Like someone under the influence of a drug, memories were chaotic, and the inability to distinguish truth from illusion was to blame.
The hero shrugged his shoulders.
“That’s why I’m here.”
“Yeah, you’re here. Without a proper plan or solution of what to do.”
“Nothing will change whether I speak first or not. If the Shadow moves recklessly, it might turn into a hornet’s nest.”
“Can you handle such a difficult problem?”
The emperor scrutinized him.
However, her expression was one of anticipation rather than reproach or suspicion.
The hero nodded slowly.
‘Organizations operated thoroughly based on points. It’s indeed challenging to trace.’
But Enoch’s ability connected those points.
The emperor may be a bit anxious because he did not mention the Enoch’s abilities, but he can track down the collaborators.
The emperor looked at him slowly, and soon, her gaze turned back to the front.
“…We said we would investigate the Harlem.”
“Yeah, I’m planning to start searching immediately after leaving the palace.”
“But you’re not asking for the assistance of the Shadows. Harlem isn’t an easy place to roam around just because you want to.”
The hero lowered his head.
Certainly, the Shadows were competent, but…
“Within the slums, there is someone with a more sophisticated information network, especially concerning the internal matters of the impoverished areas.”
“I expected that… Well, I plan to meet Barun.”
[TL/N: In a prev chap I TLed her name as Varun instead of Barun…and after being scolded by my lovely PR, I’ve come to accept that her name should be Barun and not Varun since that’s supposedly a manly name and Barun is a female.]
The hero’s eyes gleamed.
…Barun.
A member of the Dawn Knights known as the Saint of the Lowest, who had been guarding her position in Harlem for decades.
Also known in some circles as the ‘Great Mother.’
HEL SCANS
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