STGAAB Novel MTL - Chapter 760
Chapter 760: Secret Garden (1)
Demon Eyes, Roland Banozant. A top-tier ability user who rose to the position of vice-leader by killing the previous vice-leader in a single strike in accordance with Orcules’ laws, where ranking is determined by strength. I’ve heard of dozens of his feats, far too many to list here, but his most recent one stands out the most.
He defeated the Divine Spear, Ainar Fenelin.
It’s a bit awkward to say this, but among my early comrades, Ainar grew the most after Erwen. During the days when she was known as the Wild Sword, she was part of the Seven Powerful, a testament to her strength. Objectively speaking, Ainar is incredibly strong. And yet, this guy defeated her without suffering even a single minor injury. Moreover, he managed to capture Ainar alive. If even one of these conditions is met, the gap in skill is already unimaginable, but what if both are fulfilled? The answer was simple.
He’s ‘very, very’ strong.
It might seem obvious since he’s the Vice-Leader of Orcules, but it was unexpected for me. After all, the last memory I have of him is his head being smashed in by a hammer with a bewildered look in his eyes. Sure, the situation was in my favor back then, but still. Hearing that the same guy had overpowered Ainar leaves me with a sense of cognitive dissonance.
“Yandel… Be careful. That guy uses some really strange techniques……”
Hearing Ainar’s advice, I couldn’t help but smirk.
‘…I didn’t know she could sound so nervous.’
Well, she probably doesn’t know much about the essences that guy has. So to her, it must have seemed like a ‘really strange technique.’
‘Let’s say I handle Demon Eyes… but can Amelia and Ainar take care of the rest? Especially with two deadweights?’
Hmm… this could be a bit tough. Just as I was thinking this.
“Ahem!”
The bespectacled man, who shattered the (former) Symbol of Peace’s morale, cleared his throat and stepped forward without fear. Although he was still quite a distance away…
“Baron Yandel, hear me!”
‘…Huh?’
What’s this? Now he’s addressing me?
“You’re already surrounded. If you’re counting on the Royal Army, I advise you to abandon that hope immediately. The Royal Army is currently in retreat.”
“……So?”
“I offer you a proposal, one that aligns with your inevitable future. Surrender your weapons and submit. Though I cannot speak freely here, the Lord wishes to meet with you.”
Curious, I listened in silence. It seemed like an attempt to ‘persuade’ us. I glanced at Amelia, silently asking, ‘What’s this about?’ and this was the answer I got.
“He’s one of the Lord’s men. He doesn’t have a fixed role but is called upon as a problem solver when needed.”
It was a rather vague concept, but I had no trouble understanding it. After all, I’d heard that Amelia once held a similar position. Simply put, this bespectacled man held the same rank as (former) Amelia……
‘No wonder I didn’t recognize his face.’
Still, it’s kind of funny. The ones blocking our path is the core forces of Orcules, but the one attempting to persuade us is the ‘Lord’.
“So, what do you say? I can’t wait long, so decide here and now.”
The bespectacled man seemed confident that I couldn’t possibly refuse his offer, but upon hearing it, I had only one thought.
‘This really is a slapdash operation.’
My answer was already decided.
“I refuse.”
“……Huh?”
“Do you have a problem with your ears? I said I refuse.”
If I go a little further, I’ll reach the Marquess and if I capture him, my mission is complete. After all, that’s the only task I received from the King. Once I capture the Marquess, my comrades and I can escape the royal family’s blade. And they’re telling me to surrender here?
‘Are you an idiot?’
Even if the Marquess wasn’t there, my answer wouldn’t have changed. The only time a Barbarian kneels is so he can gain momentum by crouching for a moment. But my instincts are telling me now. There’s no ‘momentum’ to be gained from this proposal.
“Tsk.”
Seeing the bespectacled man’s puzzled expression, Demon Eyes clicked his tongue and spoke up.
“I told you, didn’t I? He’s not someone who would fall for such a proposal.”
It seemed like he was certain from the start that this persuasion wouldn’t work. As expected from someone who has had their head smashed by a hammer.
“We’ve just wasted our time.”
Demon Eyes stepped forward, showing clear displeasure, and the bespectacled man, understanding his intention, sullenly stepped back.
And……
“There’s no point in conversation when our intentions run parallel.”
“Parallel? Don’t use difficult words.”
As I quizzically tilted my head, and Demon Eyes’ pupils gradually changed color. There was a subtle atmosphere that could only be felt just before a battle begins. At this, I gripped the new Symbol of Peace even tighter.
“Whew-!”
A frivolous whistle that didn’t fit the atmosphere rang out, reminding me once again how unpredictable this world is.
“Hey, Vice-Leader!”
Demon Eyes, who had been looking at me, turned his gaze toward the direction of the whistle, and I followed. And then I saw him.
“……”
His platinum blonde hair was slicked back in a pomade style. His pale skin, as if it had never seen sunlight, and his cold features contrasted with his mischievous smile.
“Ah! The great one has arrived!”
It was the human variable, Baekho Lee.
***
Baekho, who appeared on the roof of a three-story inn, wasn’t alone. Familiar figures stood behind him as he casually sat at the edge of the roof.
Lek Aures, Jaina the Priest of Karui, Fallen Scholar.
And……
‘Who the hell are they?’
Dozens of suspicious-looking figures clad in robes down to their ankles, exuding an ominous aura. Did Baekho Lee ever have such a force? It was suspicious, but Demon Eyes ignored the men behind and glared solely at Baekho Lee.
“What brings you here……?”
I felt a inexplicable sense of kinship in that question. That’s because the Vice-Leader knew as well. Just how unpredictable Baekho was.
“Oh, I just came to watch.”
To that, Demon Eyes gave no response. He simply stared, as if trying to gauge the truth of those words.
And……
‘We’re fucked.’
I was more anxious than ever, unsure of where to look. My last encounter with Baekho was disastrous. We explored beyond the city walls together, but things went south in the end, and I was ganged up on by them. I endured and endured until my comrades came looking for me beyond the walls, witnessed that scene…… After that game of chicken, he finally knelt before me.
[I… I apologize… for intimidating… you, Baron.]
I couldn’t even begin to imagine how much shame and humiliation he must’ve felt during that ordeal. He must already hold significant animosity towards me. Which means, in this situation, he’s definitely a negative variable.
“You’re lying.”
At that moment, Demon Eyes muttered in a low voice and in response, Baekho flashed a wide grin and shouted.
“Correct!”
“…Tell me, what is your purpose?”
“Just watching seemed like it would be no fun.”
“No fun……?”
Naturally, the Vice-Leader didn’t understand modern slang, and instead of explaining the term’s meaning, Baekho Lee just went straight to the point.
“But a group battle isn’t fair with uneven numbers, is it?”
“What are you trying to say?”
“Just have a one-on-one.”
Baekho Lee’s way of speaking lacked any logical connection between the beginning, the process, and the result. However, being so primitive, its meaning was clearer than any other words.
“If you refuse, we’ll side with Baron Yandel.”
“Are you saying you’ll break the agreement?”
“Yep!”
The Vice-Leader was left speechless by the incredibly cheerful reply, and Baekho’s brash attitude didn’t miss the chance to press further.
“What’s this? The Vice-Leader trusts in a mere piece of paper? How romantic.”
This taunt, childish as it was, hit a nerve and made Demon Eyes grit his teeth.
“This is why I’ve said you can’t trust a stray dog that bites anyone indiscriminately……”
“Hey, that’s harsh. Why am I a stray dog?”
Baekho Lee’s attitude only served to provoke him more, but Demon Eyes quickly regained his composure.
“So… what is this ‘one-on-one’?”
“Oh! I should explain that first! In simple terms, it’s a duel… Oh, wait, that’s not quite right. So……”
Baekho trailed off, lowering his voice, as if to emphasize that this wasn’t a joke.
“I mean, you two should fight one-on-one.”
The tone was almost threatening, and Demon Eyes calmly asked the one thing that mattered.
“Why?”
“Because a group battle with uneven numbers isn’t fun?”
The conversation paused there. Demon Eyes fell silent, calculating the pros and cons, while I wasn’t faring much better with the sudden headache. Was Baekho Lee actually a positive variable? Or was he a negative variable? The answer wasn’t immediately clear.
Both Demon Eyes and I knew that “because it’s no fun” was just an excuse. Baekho Lee definitely had some hidden agenda.
But…..
‘For now, he could be considered positive……’
I came to this conclusion because, in this situation, if Baekho decided to join forces against me, I would have been out of options. The fact that he wasn’t taking an outright hostile stance was positive enough. Well, I don’t know where this will lead.
Anyway.
“Oh! I almost forgot to ask Baron Yandel’s opinion! What do you think, Baron? Are you okay with fighting one-on-one?”
“I don’t mind.”
“Kiya! As expected of a barbarian, you’re a true man!”
Baekho exclaimed, delighted by my response, before turning his attention back to Demon Eyes.
“Well then, what about the Vice-Leader?”
“Why no answer?”
“Don’t tell me… Are you scared……?”
“Wow, you’re really scared!”
The mocking didn’t stop, and eventually, Demon Eyes spoke up.
“…If I agree to this ‘one-on-one,’ can you promise not to interfere?”
“Eh… Promise?”
Baekho Lee tilted his head. It seemed he hadn’t expected talk of a ‘promise’ after the previous conversation had already defined how meaningless such things were.
But……
“Ah, sure! I Promise! I can do that a hundred times over!”
“…I will also agree.”
“Oh, really?”
Whatever thought process led to that conclusion was unknown, but the Vice-Leader also agreed to the ‘one-on-one.’ Of course, he probably doesn’t actually believe in that promise……
‘What is he thinking?’
The answer to that question was hinted at through Demon Eyes’ words.
“Keep an eye on them. Under no circumstances should you think of helping me. Just make sure they can’t interfere. Do you understand?”
“Yes, understood, Vice-Leader.”
As the realization washed over me like a tidal wave, I couldn’t help but let out a sound.
“Ah.”
So, he genuinely believes he can defeat me. At first, it hurt my pride a bit, but soon, a smile formed on my lips.
“Interesting.”
It’s always enjoyable to correct someone’s thinking. Even more so when the inside of their head is like a flower garden.
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