Chapter 87

# Chapter 87. < Meeting Again? >

Watching that despair was a right Raon enjoyed.

"Luxurious."

Kale said this and gave Chaihan an order.

"Sit him in that chair."

"Yes."

Chaihan carried Benyon over his shoulder and dumped him onto a luxurious leather chair. Kale stared intently at Chaihan. Under that gaze, Chaihan avoided Kale's eyes.

"…I apologize. When I saw the inside of the hideout, I got even angrier."

Hideout. Currently, Kale's group was in a secret hideout that Benyon Sten had secretly set up in a back alley. It was a place overflowing with opulence and wealth.

This place was where the mad priest Cage had informed them two days ago.

Cage, who served the God of Death, had been excommunicated but was still a priest. As someone specialized in curses, she had expertise in mental torture. Getting information from Benyon's subordinates was no trouble for her.

Of course, because she bore the name of a god, she could only use curses in what she considered just. In this case, she must have used curses in the name of justice.

'Still, impressive.'

Currently, among the priests serving the God of Death, no one was better at using curses than her.

It wasn't for nothing that she was called the reincarnation of a necromancer, a name that didn't fit a priest.

'Well, there are actual necromancers, though.'

As in most fantasy worlds, professions said to have disappeared in the past were often hidden somewhere, like the protagonist's next-door neighbor turning out to be a former sword master.

Isn't that the charm of surprises and twists?

'This world is no different.'

The story "The Birth of a Hero" was full of such twists.

Kale gazed steadily at Benyon, who was slumped in the chair, still dazed.

"I understand your frustration, but this state is a bit problematic, Vicrose."

"Huh, yes."

With a deep sigh, Vicrose approached Benyon. He then properly seated Benyon and began to tidy up his attire and hair.

To anyone, he looked like a noble who had eaten, slept, and dressed elegantly for several days.

There were small, potion-untreatable wounds on Benyon's back, but most of the other wounds were healed, especially on his face, hands, and other visible areas, showing no signs of injury.

"Then, we'll leave now."

"Alright."

Vicrose took Chaihan and quietly slipped out through the back door of the hideout. Kale approached Raon, who had been quietly crouching in a corner of the hideout.

"Shall we start?"

"Understood, human."

Kale also crouched next to Raon.

"Come over."

Nyaaaoong!

On and Hong ran over and crouched next to Raon and Kale. Kale confirmed that they were huddled in the corner and looked at Raon. Black mana rose from Raon's front paw.

Now it was time for the unamusing spectacle.

Paaat.

With a small sound, Kale's body gradually turned transparent. Soon, their figures became invisible inside the hideout.

"Ugh, ugh-"

A moment later, a groan echoed through the hideout. It was Benyon. He frowned deeply as if having a nightmare.

"Huff."

He inhaled deeply and opened his eyes, staring blankly ahead.

Blink, blink. After blinking a few times, he began to recognize the scene before him.

"Ah, where-"

Benyon was startled and touched his neck. His voice was back. No, he could speak human language.

He touched his neck and realized there were no shackles.

Only then did he hastily examine his body and see that his arms and hands were unharmed and free of blood.

There was no blood on his luxurious clothes either.

He wasn't in pain.

"…Is this a dream?"

He couldn't tell if this was a dream or if the basement was a dream.

It was vivid and terrible, but it didn't feel real. Benyon slowly extended his hand.

Swoosh. He caressed his desk in the hideout. The sensation was clearly real.

Yes, reality.

Benyon's face twisted. Was it a dream? Was he not kidnapped on his way to the hideout at dawn, but arrived directly and had a long dream?

"Khh."

Benyon's lips curled up. Despite his distorted face, his eyes were filled with various emotions.

"Yes, it was a dream."

It had to be a dream. Even now, the feeling of whips and sharp blades cutting into his body enveloped him. He could feel the cold gaze of the torturer and the dragon's eyes.

He was still scared and terrified.

But it was a dream.

If not, what was this situation now?

"Hhh-"

Benyon clasped his neck with both hands. Relief washed over him. At that moment,

Nyaaaoong.

He shuddered.

Kale, who was watching him in a transparent state, stroked Hong's head again with a blank expression. Hong meowed again, as frighteningly as possible.

Nyaaaoong.

Benyon's face turned pale, and his fingers trembled. A memory surfaced in his mind.

'I plan to keep you alive.'

'So, whenever I feel like it, I'll come to find you.'

Benyon's hands, gripping the desk and armrest, turned pale.

"Mad-"

He looked down, trembling.

Sssss-

A dark red mist, snake-like, slowly crept up from his feet. Benyon's face twisted like a crying child.

"You, you mad dragon brat!"

He roughly shook his feet. But the mist didn't disappear and continued to rise. He felt like he was going mad.

But at that moment, Benyon realized something.

It was different from last time.

Unlike last time, he could move his body. Benyon lifted his head and scanned the hideout. He saw the entrance.

Kale looked at his watch the moment Benyon saw the hideout door. If he hurried a bit more, the scene would be perfect.

Kale stroked On's back.

Sssss-

The mist climbed up Benyon's legs a bit faster.

Nyaaaoong.

At the same time, the cat's meow grew stronger.

Benyon's legs were trembling. He quickly stood up from the chair.

Bang! The leather chair fell backward with a loud noise. But Benyon, without a care, hurriedly ran toward the hideout door.

Despite his noble, luxurious attire and hairstyle, his face was that of a madman terrified out of his wits.

"Hurry-"

With trembling hands, Benyon grabbed the door handle. At that moment,

Click.

The sound of the doorknob turning came from outside.

Subordinates? Relief flooded Benyon's mind that he wouldn't have to face this terrifying situation alone. It must be the two subordinates who were with him that morning.

Someone outside pulled the door. Thanks to this, Benyon could naturally face the outside without exerting any effort.

Creak-

The door slowly opened. The light peeking through the gap made Benyon miss the mist around his legs disappearing without a trace.

The door opened.

"Finally found you."

And the person Benyon faced was Taylor Sten, his brother whom he had crippled.

"…Wha-"

Benyon took a step back.

Behind Taylor Sten was a passage leading down to the secret hideout, and in that passage were many people. The elite of the Sten Viscount family and Taylor's people.

"Wh-What is this?"

Taylor looked at Benyon's face, confirming that he had no visible injuries. It was a face filled with fear.

The eldest son, Taylor, looked past Benyon's shoulder into the hideout. No one was there. But Kale must be inside.

He had used the invisibility magic device that Kale had lent him. So, he was even more certain that Kale was inside.

"Is this a dream too?"

Benyon muttered, unable to take a step back. Taylor, looking at his hated brother, answered his question.

"Looks like you had a long nightmare."

He turned and gave instructions to the viscount family's knights.

"Arrest him."

Benyon's nightmare was just beginning.

He would be permanently removed from the line of succession and would have to pay the price for various illegal activities. He would have to bear the full brunt of the anger of the Sten viscount family, who were furious at the loss of status.

"…This, this is the dragon's doing. All the dragon's-"

Taylor ignored Benyon's muttering from behind. He focused on the voice of his colleague, Cage, who passed by him and whispered.

"Tonight."

Tonight, Taylor could finally meet his benefactor after a long time.

"Master, should we search the hideout now?"

Taylor shook his head at the knight's question.

"First, we need to quietly move Benyon to the lord's castle. There are many citizens outside."

"Isn't it hard to do it secretly?"

Outside the hideout, citizens had gathered. The knights and viscount family members were flustered by the situation.

But all of this was due to Odysseus spreading rumors at Kale's command, and Taylor knew this. He acted with a thoughtful expression. Now he could do this too.

"True, but we need to move as quietly as possible. We can't let the status of the Sten viscount family fall any further."

"…Understood!"

The knight answered with a serious expression.

"After that, focus on capturing the remaining people in other areas of the hideout. But leave