Chapter 34

#034

A shabby shack filled with old furniture.

“Ugh… Ugh…”

Bradley, bound and tied to a chair in the middle of the room, struggled.

He had a gag in his mouth and a dusty hood over his head.

"The location you chose is impressive."

Ian, who had just entered, said as he took in the scene.

This was a house located on the outskirts of the slum.

It would have been difficult to find without Patton and Sixfingers' guidance.

Declan, who had been leaning against the wall, smiled.

"Unfortunately, I didn't do that part alone. This place is where the man enjoys secret meetings with the government. I just waited."

He approached Bradley.

Bradley stopped struggling the moment he heard his voice.

Declan removed the hood.

"Nice to see you, Sir Bradley."

"Ugh…! What is this? Where is Rose?"

Bradley spat out the saliva in his mouth and roared as the gag was removed.

Declan shrugged.

"She's probably sleeping well at home."

"Setting such a trap… If the Duke finds out, you won't be able to handle it, will you?"

"That's my problem. You, on the other hand, should worry about yourself. Unfortunately, I'm not the one who has business with you today."

"What…?"

Bradley finally turned to look at Ian and Philip.

It seemed he had just realized they weren't Declan's subordinates.

Ian smiled.

"Finally meeting you, Bradley."

"…Who are you? I've never seen you before."

Bradley glared.

Taking out an identity badge from his pocket, Ian approached him.

"You're right. I've never seen you before. But this man knows you well, doesn't he?"

"What nonsense… ……!"

Bradley's eyes widened as he confirmed the identity badge.

"Where did you get this…?"

"A ghost gave it to me. He said to resolve his grudge. He asked me to find the one who killed and buried them under the ancient tree."

"Ancient tree? I don't know anything about that-"

Ian grabbed Bradley's angular jaw.

Ian's smile vanished.

His eyes were cold and black.

"This is your last warning. I'll ask again."

Letting go of his jaw, Ian looked down at Bradley's bound hands on the armrest.

"By whose order did you offer them as sacrifices?"

"Ancient tree? Sacrifice? What the hell are you talking about- Aaah!"

Bradley screamed.

Ian had grabbed his left pinky finger and snapped it.

"Whose order was it?"

"You… bastard…! Do you know who I am-"

This time, his right pinky finger broke.

Bradley glared at Declan with bloodshot eyes.

"I knew you were low and foolish, but to fall for such nonsense and do such crazy things- Aaaah!"

Another finger broke.

No one came to the house despite the screams and cries.

It was a place where few people lived.

Thanks to Patton and Sixfingers leading their gang to block the roads, no one could approach.

"Don't think it will end with your fingers. Toes, ears, nose, eyes… There are many places to break, and breaking them won't make them fall off. Of course, you won't be able to faint, and you'll feel everything vividly. I guarantee it."

Ian, speaking in a monotone, looked at Bradley, who was now crying and drooling.

"Whose order was it?"

"…The Duke."

The moment Ian grabbed his middle finger, Bradley spat out the answer.

"The Duke ordered it."

Ian's hand stopped.

"Mason Burchar? Why would the Duke give such an order?"

"I don't know… Gah…!"

Bradley's left middle finger broke. He struggled, gritting his teeth, and gasped for breath.

"Damn…! You had to block the pass. If you could block just one of the passes from Agel Ran to Orden, you could gain a strategic advantage!"

"Strategic advantage…?"

Declan's smile froze as he watched like an audience at a play.

Ian, giving him a look that said 'stay out of this,' asked.

"Does Lord Burchar know about this?"

"Of course… It was what Lord Burchar wanted. He said the time was near."

"The time is near…"

"That's all I know. I just followed the order! For the glory of Orden, the sacrifice of such lowly people is nothing!"

Bradley said, his neck veins bulging.

One corner of Ian's mouth curled up.

"Right… War is imminent. To achieve great things, sometimes small sacrifices are necessary. Especially when it's for independence and nation-building."

"You understand. Damn… I didn't want to, but someone had to do it, and it was me."

"A perfect answer. It's as if you prepared it in case you were caught."

Ian's voice grew cold.

"Of course. To hide the fact that you are a fallen one, you had to be this prepared."

"……!"

Bradley's eyebrows twitched.

He hadn't imagined such a conversation would come up.

Of course, it was only for a moment.

He frowned naturally and asked.

"Fallen? What nonsense… Aaah!"

His finger broke again.

"I already knew you were a fallen one. Stop the poor acting. If your lord is a fallen one, how could his eldest son's confidant be innocent? Let's start again."

Ian smiled coldly.

"What did they promise you in return for joining them? Immortality? Power? Authority?"

Bradley's eyes shook uncontrollably.

He was convinced that Ian knew everything.

Just as Ian was about to grab his index finger, Bradley suddenly asked.

"How did you know? Is there someone else who knows this?"

"Actually, I didn't know everything."

"What…?"

"All I knew was that the Duke you serve is a fallen one. Now it's clear that Lord Burchar is also a fallen one."

Ian shrugged.

"Thanks to your testimony just now."

"You… you bastard…!"

Bradley's face turned red.

Ian put the gag back in his mouth.

"As a reward for your cooperation, I'll end it quickly. Don't move. If you want to die peacefully in one go."

"Mmm…!"

Ian drew the Sword of Judgment.

Just as Bradley's eyes were about to bulge with blood.

"Wait a moment."

Declan's voice echoed.

His face, which had been gradually hardening, now looked bewildered.

He couldn't follow the conversation anymore.

"I don't object to killing this man, but you should explain properly first."

Declan, standing in front of Bradley, looked at Ian with a serious expression.

"Ancient tree, rebellion, independence, and now fallen ones. What are you talking about? Are you saying your father is plotting a rebellion against the kingdom and has even fallen?"

"That's right."

"That's absurd-"

"You haven't been cleared of all charges yet. So…."

Ian suddenly stopped speaking.

After narrowing his brows for a moment, a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Right. I didn't just get a promise."

"What…?"

A crack echoed behind the dazed Declan.

The chair restraining Bradley had broken.

Crack, crack, crack-

A bone-chilling sound of bones breaking followed.

A shadow rose above Declan's head as Ian lunged forward and threw him behind him.

"Protect the young master, Philip."

A calm voice despite his actions.

Philip grabbed Declan's arm as he was about to fall.

"Stay behind me."

He said with a determined face, already drawing his sword.

Declan, who didn't even respond, turned around, and his eyes widened in shock.

Crack, crack, crack-

Bradley's body was transforming into a grotesque shape.

His muscles swelled as if multiplying, and his skin tore, revealing red flesh.

Bradley's angular face twisted like a tumor, buried between the bulging muscles.

Spikes like the exoskeleton of a crustacean protruded from his shoulders and sides.

Sss-

Ian soared above the transforming creature's head.

The Sword of Judgment in his hand drew a sharp arc and fell.

Crack!

The spike on Bradley's shoulder blocked Ian's sword. The blade sank halfway but didn't sever it.

Bradley's bloodshot eyes drew an arc.

"A poor strike… Hah… Hah."

A chilling voice mixed with low frequencies.

Joy spread across Bradley's twisted face.

"Is this… power… Hah… Hah… I was foolish… To fear not being able to return to my original form in front of such immense power…."

"Am I being treated like a transparent person, muscle monster?"

Ian, hanging from the spike with the sword hilt, said.

Bradley's smile deepened.

"No way… Hah, you can move… I don't plan to let you die easily…."

"Creative last words."

Ian's arm tensed as he gripped the hilt.

A blue light, like a flame, began to spread along the blade.

Bradley's eyes widened.

His eyeballs popped out.

"Divine… Divine power…?"

"That's also cliché."

Ian, speaking, struck the sword with all his might.

Flash! Crack!

Divine power exploded like a flash, and a blue trail cut through Bradley's body and fell.

Ian, kneeling on one knee, landed.

"Kuh… Ah… Ahh…."

Bradley, split from shoulder to groin, fell to either side with a drawn-out scream.

Ian, covered in blood and entrails, stood up.

He looked down at Bradley, still holding the sword that glowed with light.

The creature was still alive, even with his body split in half.

A face twisted with pain and fear.

There was nothing more to say.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Ian struck the twisted and swollen muscles near the creature's face.

The divine power faded, and dark red blood splattered with each strike.

Finally, Bradley's head was severed.

Ian, holding the severed head between the scattered flesh, turned his gaze.

Declan, who had watched everything with a stunned face.

The severed head rolled to his feet.

"Do you believe me now?"

Declan, who had been staring at Bradley's head, which was no longer human, finally looked at Ian again.

"You… No, what is your true identity? Are you really just mercenaries here to solve a commission?"

Ian's gaze suddenly turned to Philip.

Philip had taken a step forward.

He said resolutely.

"This is my role."

"…Do as you please."

Shaking his head, Ian began to wipe the blood from his face.

"I'll introduce myself formally again."

Meanwhile, Philip, recovering his sword respectfully, spoke.

"Swampland dragon hunter. Balk's problem solver. Slayer of werewolves, ancient trees, and headless knights, and purifier of the Grave Forest's demonic realm."

Ian's expression grew more and more twisted.

But Philip, not even glancing at him, continued with a faint smile.

"Also, the apostle of Tir En, the executor of the southern border, and the only and official representative of Sir Mev Liurrel, the sword of Agel Ran. Ian Hoff, at your service."

"……."

Declan, who had been standing with his mouth open, couldn't even respond.

Philip, placing his hand on his chest, bowed slightly.

"And I am Philip, the servant who serves my lord."