127. Encounter (5)

‘We need to get information from here… … . What did he do to pierce through his power and harm us?’

Battle Bishop Julie was pretending to be unconcerned on the outside, twisting the corners of her mouth, but deep inside she felt nervous.

Lost Hope.

A group she believes in and follows as a servant.

The ‘barrier’, the power bestowed there, makes the body impervious to swords without any training.

Of course, this barrier is not invincible either.

The ‘Northern Sword’ sitting on his heavy buttocks up there worked well enough for them.

Even barriers were ineffective in front of those who instinctively slashed out their swords while slaughtering monsters moving south at any time.

If it weren’t for them, the empire would have fallen into Lost Hope’s hands long ago.

However, Julie’s common sense could not accept the fact that Joheiden and the like destroyed the wall, not those Northern guys.

‘The time has come for the promised one to arrive, and it must be at a time like this!’

Lost Hope has been carefully expanding its territory for a long time in the shadows.

Now, the wait in the basement was at an end.

There is no need to hide anymore, reveal the true body of Lost Hope in front of the world

When the moment to overthrow the empire is not far.

A sudden accident.

Those who were mobilized in a simple operation to kidnap bandits and slaves were found as cold bodies.

It was all the more surprising because there was even a bishop among them who was in the same position as himself in terms of rank.

‘Even though he’s not a battle bishop, he’s a faith bishop… … . Still, compared to Shinto, there must have been a wall that couldn’t be crossed… … .’

Also, I couldn’t even guess.

‘Even if I don’t know what the technique that killed the bishop is, I have to be vigilant and take out my trump card here.’

But Julie knew that in moments like this, she had to show a more laid-back attitude.

“… … What the hell are you guys doing? How did you kill them… … ?”

“… … .”

He asked, but the duke’s tightly closed lips showed no sign of opening.

“Even so, it is useless. Back then, the kids you dealt with weren’t kids specializing in combat… … . The four of you here are shadows. These are the kids who were raised with great care in Lost Hope. And I’m also a combat bishop on a different level than that guy at that time. We are Lost Hope. Those who serve the demon king and worship the demon king.”

“… … .”

“Do you know why you tell me everything like this?”

Julie smiled coldly.

“that. It’s a condition for my ability to activate. By revealing our existence… … . I won’t let even one of you live… … . A proof of faith… … .”

—As soon as she finished speaking, the sound suddenly stopped.

Her dull silver hair soared into the sky, and her jade-green eyes parted vertically.

“And this is why no one knew of our existence until now.”

Sussuk-

Red smoke rose like a haze over her body.

At that questionable smoke, the Duke of Joheiden finally opened his mouth and shouted with blood in his neck.

“The Joheiden Knights! Don’t breathe that smoke! And… … . Prove the light of Joheiden!!!!”

“““Prove the light!!!”””

A huge red hemisphere appears in the middle of the nameless forest.

As soon as it assimilated with the surrounding landscape, everyone’s figure was erased.

* * *

“yes!? I’m coming too… … ?”

Soi, who opened the rabbit’s eyes, raised his voice in surprise.

“yes.”

Zeke nodded.

“Hey, wait! Where are you going?”

“It’s a place called the Laios Mountains.”

“That… … . Aren’t you going to do something dangerous?”

“… … .”

A moment of silence passed between Zeke and Soy.

She narrowed her eyes and glared at Zeke.

“I can guarantee you that nothing will be dangerous to you.”

“No matter how much!”

“It’s your fault for not making bread that lasts for two weeks. So I have no choice but to take the bread shuttle.”

Zeke said with an impudent face.

“Papa, a bread shuttle… … .”

kiik-

“This voice is Soi… … ? Why at this time… … . oh! Aren’t you Instructor!?”

At that time, Soi’s mother opened the door and poked her head out at the tumultuous voices in front of the store.

When Soyi and the instructor visited while class was in full swing, he seemed embarrassed.

“hello. mother. How are you today?”

Zeke looked at her and said.

“Ah, thanks to you, it has improved a lot. Thank you always. Instructor.”

She nodded.

As she said, Soi’s mother’s face was much more straightened than when she saw her before.

“I’m glad that’s the case. Well, you’d better tell your mother than Soyi.”

“Yeah?”

Soi’s mother opened the door and came out.

“Right to the point, can I have Soyi join me on my trip for about two weeks?”

“Travel… … ? 2 weeks? Are you going as a group from the academy?”

“no. This is a private tour. Of course, we will take measures so that there is no disruption to Soyi’s classes or attendance.”

She couldn’t erase her embarrassment at Zeke’s words.

“You know Soyi makes bread for me every day.”

“yes… … . You say you like baguettes… … . If you eat it every day, you’ll get tired of it, are you okay?”

Celia and James, the other family members at Hilllace Bakery, were aware of Zeke’s use of bread as a weapon, but did not appear to be Soy’s mother.

‘Then there’s no need to worry anymore.’

Zeke figured out the fact and made up words.

“you’re right. But this time, I will be away for about two weeks due to travel.”

“… … Yes, what about it?”

“But let’s think that we won’t be able to eat the baguettes Soyi makes throughout the entire trip… … . My heartache was bigger than I thought.”

Zeke lowered his head slightly and spoke in a low voice.

“Oh, um! town!”

Sieg blocked Soyi’s mouth with mana as he tried to intervene.

Then, Soi looks at Zeke with absurd eyes.

“… … Whoa, it’s like I’m addicted to Soy’s bread… … . Now I feel like I can’t stand a day without the baguettes made by Soyi.”

“Uh… … . Well, before, when Soyi made and sold bread, there were people who sometimes complained of such symptoms and bought bread… … . By any chance, what prevented you from making that bread… … .”

Soi’s mother asked in a voice that couldn’t hide her anxiety.

“It’s not like that, so don’t worry. The bread was just so delicious. And the reason Soyi was not allowed to make bread was just to secure time for training.”

Zeke lies without spitting on his mouth. However, that expressionless face added credibility to his words.

“Whew—. I’m glad that’s the case. Anyway, what does that have to do with making Soi join the trip for two weeks?”

“I want to hire Soyi as my exclusive baker for a while.”

“Ah, then I understand!”

At first, he couldn’t hide his doubts when he said that he would take his daughter for two weeks, no matter how much he could not repay the favor.

It wasn’t uncommon for high-ranking nobles to hire a cook from their favorite shop to take with them when they left.

“Here is one gold coin for Soi’s employment fee.”

Zeke took out a gold coin from his bosom.

Then Soi’s mother looked at Zeke with trembling eyes.

“I… … . Perhaps, the nobles… … . Do you know that the smallest unit of money is a gold coin… … ?”

*

aaa!!

Every time I kicked my feet, there was a violent storm accompanied by an explosion.

“Ahhhhh !!!!!”

Thanks to that, Soi was hanging behind Zeke’s back and the wind was blowing right in his face.

“Stay a little closer to your back.”

I was able to avoid the wind by putting my face right on my back at Zeke’s words.

Soyi, who had nothing to be surprised about anymore, spoke in a dying voice.

“But can I go so suddenly? I brought a ton of baking ingredients… … . Other items, such as sleeping bags… … .”

A pocket full of luggage in both hands of Zeke.

When Soyi said she was going on a two-week trip as a baker, her mother showed the limits of her humanity.

“It’s okay because I’ve separately asked the head of the Adventurer’s Guild for my share.”

“Then what about me… … ?”

“Use mine.”

“… … Same price, sleeping bag?”

Startled by Zeke’s words, Soyi raised his head and was hit by the wind again in the face.

“Heaaa!!!”

“Didn’t I tell you to put your face on your back? And I don’t mind sleeping outside.”

“What is that… … . It’s a mountain range… … .”

Zeke didn’t really respond to that, and spurred on his speed.

‘How much was the jjambab I cooked outside in the previous world, so that’s a problem?’

After speeding up for several hours, the promised place caught my eye.

‘yes? I told the head of the union that I would go too, and told him to wait here… … ? Didn’t the Duke of Joheiden hear me?’

An empty forest without a single person, Zeke raised one eyebrow.

‘This… … .’

Zeke’s eyes narrowed.

In my field of vision, a space no different from the scenery in the forest entered.

As I got a little closer, I could sense it.

‘Space isolation magic… … .’

Zeke put down the large pouch and incendiary he was holding on the floor.

Koo-ung!

“Yes?”

“Soi, wait here for a second.”

“Yeah… … ?”

“Looks like something happened. It’ll take a while, so I’ll be on my way.”

“Ah, no, but leave me here… … .”

He said that, but Zeke had disappeared from sight before he knew it.

“What is a wizard… … . really… … .”

Only Soi’s grunting sound reached the clearing.

* * *

“Um… … ? what the hell are you… … ? Why are you so weak?”

She looked around with a cold gaze.

Of course, by using his ability [Lost Space], the shadow and his own power became incomparably stronger within this space, but even so, it was too weak.

A situation where only four shadows knocked everyone down.

In order to quickly deal with the large number of enemies, taking his own life was postponed, but that was only a matter of time.

Of course, the shadows were not without damage.

But a couple of small cuts.

The only thing engraved on the body were scratches that weren’t even funny.

‘Yes, I understand the trick that broke the barrier. Apply the magic stone to the sword… … . That’s definitely something I never thought of… … .’

However, was it possible to kill the Bishop of Lost Hope without taking any damage?

Even though the question was answered, Julie still couldn’t hide her embarrassment.

“Tsk… … . Has the adventurer’s guild leader died… … . Weakling bastard.”

In the lost space, there is an ability that weakens the opponent’s energy and strengthens the power of the servants who follow the devil. However, Julie clicked her tongue as she saw the head of the union whose life had changed just because she was swept away by it.

‘It was strange that Joheiden was in the place where I had been chasing once because it showed signs of something suspicious… … . What the hell is it?’

With her eyebrows raised as if she didn’t understand, Julie trudged forward.

The Duke of Joheiden leaned against the rock and let out a cough.

“Cool!”

Then red blood spurted out with a cough.

I could feel my intestines already being shaken by the shadow’s light kick.

The Duke of Joheiden raised his head and glared at Julie with brightly shining eyes.

“Lost Hope… … .”

“Yes, I am Lost Hope. The adventurer’s guild leader is already dead. I should ask you.”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

The Duke of Joheiden bit his lip and said.

“What… … . I like the idea of putting magic stones on swords to deal with us. It’s novel. But, that alone killed the bishop? No damage on your side?”

Julie tilted her head. Her dull gray hair slicked around.

“How the hell did you know us?”

“… … .”

“Tell me. How the hell did you kill him? huh? He’s not someone you can deal with just by applying magic stones to his sword.”

Julie scratched her head in annoyance.

“no… … . I’m really curious I just came to see if the head of the adventurer’s union had a dream of betraying us and running away, but this is so strange. huh? Isn’t it okay if you tell me while you’re dying anyway? Just tell me and I’ll save your family. If you investigate your family, it’s only a matter of time before you know. Two sons, one wife and one daughter… … ? Were there two… … .”

Then, the Duke of Yoheiden opened his eyes and responded to those words.

The Duke of Joheiden forced his voice to speak.

This was the last straw.

To gain faith that Zeke Klayman is not a traitor.

“The Adventurer Guild Leader… … .”

“Yes, the head of the Adventurers Guild. I killed him because I couldn’t control my strength… … . um, yes He knows Lost Hope… … . It’s no wonder that we found out through him. So, how did you know him? No, how did he know about our breaking law?”

Julie said, kicking the corpse of the union leader.

“He was our spy… … .”

The Duke of Joheiden was trying hard to pretend to be calm, but he was desperate.

A daughter who is so precious that he would give even more than his own life, no, his own life.

Because Serena was near Zeke.

That’s why I couldn’t leave the thought of what if Zeke Kleiman was really, really, a person from the Lost Hope side.

“No, I’m not asking that! I also followed him because he was doing strange things, so I know that! What I’m asking is how the hell did you know how to break down our barriers! And how did you kill the bishop!? Are you really going to find and kill each and every member of your family?”

There was joy in the eyes of the Duke of Joheiden.

What was bothering him the most was in his head just a moment ago.

It just washed clean with her words.

They still didn’t even know about Zeke’s existence, and they said they happened to feel suspicious of the spy, the head of the adventurer’s union, and followed him.

Now that I’m in a situation where I’ll die

If it was to give them despair and dig up information, there was no way they would have taken this approach.

If Lost Hope had been holding Serena as a weakness through Zeke from the beginning, there wouldn’t have been anything they wouldn’t be able to tell.

“hahahaha!!!!! Cool, hahahaha!!!!!”

He opened his neck and raised his head to the sky.

It wasn’t the blue sky like Serena’s pupils because the red energy covered her vision, but then what?

At least

I thought Zeke Clayman wasn’t a traitor!

The duke had no doubt that he would protect his family along with Serena.

It pierced his conscience mercilessly that his second son died with him.

Still, the worst was far from over.

Even without confidence, Joheiden will revolve around the first and remain strong.

“What, what… … ?”

Julie frowned at the suddenly bewildered Duke of Joheiden with a face that said she couldn’t understand.

He stopped laughing and glared at the gray-haired woman with eyes full of determination and determination.

“All you can take from me is this life. Lost Hope.”

“ha… … . I wish we had a brainwashing bishop here… … . As long as you’ve already used up the lost space… … . I have to kill… … .”

she scratched her head.

“… … . It’s a pity that I even used this technique on idiots like this because I was scared, but I can’t help it… … .”

She let out a small sigh.

He had already used his ability and had no choice but to pay the price for it.

Julie pulled out the whip from behind her back and swung it at the Duke of Joheiden’s neck.

aaah!

A whip approaching through the wind with a sharp sound.

The Duke of Joheiden closed his eyes with a happy smile on his lips.

‘Zeke Kleiman, Serena… … . request. And sedan, I’m sorry. I wanted to protect you… … .’

at that time.

chin.

with a dull sound.

“I came a little late, why are you doing this? Your Excellency Duke. If you do this every time, I’m in trouble.”

A low, blunt voice was heard in his ears.

*

As soon as I tore through the space, what I saw was a sharp whip directed at the neck of the Duke of Joheiden.

whirk-

Zeke jumped right in and wrapped the whip around the bread.

“I came a little late, why are you doing this? Your Excellency Duke. If you do this every time, I’m in trouble.”

The Duke opened his eyes wide and looked at Zeke.

Then he smiled and said in a joking tone.

“… … Really, it’s a decisive moment enough to be suspected of being a spy. After all, this isn’t your fault… … . Cool. I came as I was told, and those guys followed me.”

“ah… … ,”

After hearing that, Zeke looked around and saw the dead Guildmaster lying on the floor with his eyes closed.

A few others were seriously injured, but most were alive.

Joheiden’s second silver-haired head was also lying flat with her eyes closed, but the intermittent rise and fall of her chest did not seem to have any effect on her life.

‘I’m glad though… … . If the Duke of Joheiden or her brother had died, I would have been embarrassed to see Serena.’

ha-

A sigh of relief escaped his lips.

“I guess I was thinking too stupid of Lost Hope. Or that spy was too stupid… … .”

If I had come to Zeke Hall as originally planned or had designed it in a little more detail, there would not have been such a mistake.

An unexpected problem arose when the script was changed in a hurry.

This was his own fault.

“This is my mistake. I’m sorry.”

The Duke rather smiled at Zeke, who nodded and honestly apologized.

“No, no, I just knew it wasn’t you, so that’s all… … .”

“You are resting for a while. I’ll get it done quickly.”

Zeke got up from his seat and twisted the bread in his hand to unwrap the whip.

“Huh-. Who are you?”

Chwak- Tak!

Julie retrieved the whip from a crooked position.

“You asked who I am.”

Saying that, Zeke slightly twisted his body

I drew the bread in my hand from bottom to top.

whirk-

A shadow approached Zeke’s back before he knew it.

A vertical red line appeared on his body from the top of his head to his groin.

It opened like a flower blooming.

dump.

dump.

One body splits in different directions

The sound of hitting the floor.

A fountain of blood gushed into the sky.

Patter-

Against the backdrop of drops of blood falling like rain

Zeke chewed the bloody baguette with his mouth.

“He is a warrior who came to catch the demon king.”