Chapter 57

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Translated by Jinmu

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

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The dark hallway on the 2nd floor of the Northon mansion.

Two soldiers were slowly moving their steps for patrol there.

“Come to think of it, the Mayor’s condition was a bit weird today, right?”

“Today?”

At a soldier’s words, his colleague repeated his memories.

He nodded his head as if he remembered something.

“He definitely avoided meeting people’s gazes. But he sometimes did that usually too, right.”

“No, I mean today there was a feeling of him genuinely trembling violently? Did he hear a scolding from Vares-nim?”

“That itself is a familiar occurrence, right. He might just not be feeling well.”

A conversation far too profane for the family’s guards to bring up.

However, in this Northon mansion, it was a very common sight.

Swoosh-

Han-bit’s group, watching that sight, hid their bodies behind the soldiers and moved.

The ones moving together are Yeon-woo and Cowen.

Ria and Asla are on standby near the secret passage.

– It’s a real infiltration;

– I wanna snap their necks so bad.

– Why aren’t you killing them?

– Did you not watch the meeting?

– ‘Why aren’t you’ peeps please leave.

The viewers started bickering amongst themselves as usual.

Not subduing the enemies was a part of the plan established before infiltrating.

“We don’t need to subdue the forces guarding the mansion. Coz we just have to kidnap him.”

“Isn’t it too dangerous? If we’re discovered, an uproar will immediately happen.”

“It’s fine. Since we’ll go while avoiding the enemies’ eyes.”

The goal of this plan wasn’t simply kidnapping Brooke.

The key is making sure no one realizes this fact.

It was sufficient if the personnel in the mansion appeared peaceful like normal.

Sss-

Han-bit’s group moving from behind the soldiers entered a room with an open door.

Then slipping out toward the balcony, they leaped upwards.

Tap-!

Grabbing onto a protruding structure, he quietly began climbing the wall.

The countless windows existing on the Northon mansion’s exterior walls.

The decorations wrapping around that vicinity were too good to be used as handholds.

Sss-

Reaching the top in an instant, Han-bit looked at the two people following him and pointed to the roof below.

Then carefully applying force, he lifted a roof tile.

Pop-

A structure separated with a faint noise.

Below it was an empty space analogous to an attic.

Srrr-

Taking out a rope and tying it down, Han-bit grabbed it and slowly moved downwards.

A faint light was reflecting on the wooden floor.

“Those f*cking bastards…”

A small voice echoing faintly.

Looking through the crack, Brooke’s figure shoved into a corner came into view.

Since he was wrapped up completely in blankets, only his face occasionally peeked out.

“Suddenly looking for a Holy State spy? What nonsense.”

“Did I kill my older brother? No, I had no intentions of killing him. It’s all Vares’s fault.”

“I am a victim too. Yes, I am a victim.”

Brooke muttering to himself while biting his nails.

Seeing his body shivering uncontrollably, his anxiety had reached its peak.

Sss-

When he signaled Cowen, he nodded his head and took out a bottle containing a purple liquid.

Then he sprinkled it on the spot Han-bit marked on the floor.

Srrr-

The liquid quickly absorbed into the wooden planks gradually melted them down.

When he took out a dagger and sliced it, the planks split as easily as a sheet of paper.

Reconnecting the rope, Han-bit slowly moved downwards through the created hole.

“That f*cking adventurer bastard. Do I have to lock him up first?”

Brooke was still muttering while shivering.

Meanwhile, Han-bit gradually got closer right above his head.

“Right. That bastard called Black Dragon, I just have to frame him as a Holy State spy too. It wouldn’t be strange if another crazy fanatic appears. If I borrow Vares’s power…”

“Did you say I’m a fanatic?”

“…!”

In an instant, his gaze that snapped out of his delusions met Han-bit who arrived right in front of his nose.

Brooke was so surprised he even forgot to breathe.

“U… Uhh…”

Stuttering, he flailed around trying to stand up.

However, Han-bit’s both arms were already wrapping around Brooke’s neck.

“Hold on…!”

Crunch-

A sound echoing even before his words could continue.

Without even putting up a proper resistance, Brooke ended up losing consciousness.

***

Han-bit, having kidnapped Brooke, returned to the underground secret space again.

Then he took out the white uniform he brought from the temple and changed into it.

A veil covering his face and scriptures held in his arms.

Down to the star emblem attached on his shoulder, anyone would see him as a complete Holy State Bishop.

– A player suspiciously good at wearing outfits.

– Is this also from experience?

– Working in the field offline *shiver*

– Black Dragon Religion;

Behind the screen, Ria and the others were watching the situation.

“Hyung, I’m kinda nervous, you know?”

From behind, Yeon-woo wearing a similar believer’s ceremonial robe whispered as if speaking softly.

Since it was a role where he just had to stand there, there was nothing particularly difficult.

‘From here on out is the important part.’

Brooke tied to the chair in front.

The reason he went out of his way to disguise himself as a Holy State Bishop was simple.

Because Brooke is more afraid of the Holy State than Vares.

“I’m starting.”

Rattle-

Holding a bucket full of ice water, Han-bit took a step closer.

Then he threw it straight towards the fainted Brooke’s face.

Splash-!

“Gasp!”

At the sudden shock of the cold, Brooke regained his senses at once.

Startled and wandering, his gaze landed on Han-bit standing in his front.

“…!”

Brooke opened his eyes wide.

The face he faced right before fainting.

It was definitely Adventurer Black Dragon whom he had invited during the day.

But his current attire was something strange.

“H-How do you have those clothes…”

A Bishop’s uniform with a unique star emblem drawn on the shoulder.

He simply couldn’t understand why an adventurer was wearing those clothes.

Even so, an instinctive fear toward a high-ranking believer sprouted all over his body.

Whoosh-!

Furthermore, a bizarre wind was stirring around him.

Because neither magic circles nor magic tools were visible, he couldn’t think of it as anything else but an unknown power.

That thought dyed Brooke’s mind with terror once again.

Waiting for the delusion to persist, Han-bit spoke lowly with a stern voice.

“Do not make loud noises. Or you will receive divine punishment.”

– *shiver*

– Is the change in his tone for real;

– Suspiciously good at acting…

– Telling you he really does have experience.

“Hiiik!”

The sharp warning blew away all sorts of suspicions.

Only the thought that he had to survive entered his mind.

The choice he made first was to simply nod his head.

Looking at his submissive reaction, Han-bit spoke in a low voice.

“Under the order of the Archbishop, I disguised myself as an adventurer and infiltrated. Even if it was for a greater cause, making remarks slandering the Holy State and our people broke my heart. Even a confession spanning the dawn was lacking.”

“Ah…”

At the emotions vomited out with a trembling voice, Brooke recalled their meeting at the City Hall.

The hostility that Adventurer Black Dragon poured out towards the Holy State.

To an ordinary believer, even that would become a sin, but if he is a Bishop, the story was different.

Even if he received the Archbishop’s order, it was practically like wearing an indulgence.

“So, do you know the sins you bastard committed?”

“…Yes?”

At the sudden question, Brooke immediately spat out a doubt.

Holding the scriptures in his arms, Han-bit slightly frowned and said.

“Do you think your sins will disappear just because you put on such a shameless expression?”

“N-No! But I truly have no idea what sins I committed…”

No matter how much he retraced his memories, he had no reason to commit a crime against the Holy State.

Since after his older brother’s execution, he even tried hard to absolutely never get involved with them.

“Ah!”

Grabbing his head, he recalled what happened right before he fainted.

Then squeezing his head down as deeply as he could, he raised his voice.

“I apologize! Not recognizing you are a Bishop, I spouted the absurd remark that you were a fanatic! I couldn’t even imagine you would disguise yourself as an adventurer and infiltrate!”

Perhaps thanks to his survival instinct, his brain rolled somehow.

He was certain this was the right answer.

However, the returned reaction was different from his expectations.

“Do you really think that is all?”

“Ah…”

He was wrong.

That thought once again dyed his head with terror.

Trembling, he squeezed out a voice by any means possible.

“I-I apologize. Please, would you inform me of the sins I committed?”

“Phew.”

Looking at Brooke’s desperate eyes, Han-bit let out a sigh.

Then applying force to the hand holding the scriptures in his arms, he said.

“Chapter 8, Verse 5. The heart of betrayal is like thousands of swords, so tightly embrace your scabbard.”

“Chapter 16, Verse 9. Those who chose betrayal over death shall cross the river of the end. Even God shall not reap their souls.”

“Chapter 31, Verse 2…”

– ?

– Did he seriously memorize all this?

– Are you a crazy bastard?

– Isn’t this bastard really a believer of the Holy State?

– Info) In reality, there is a Holy State cult.

– I knew it, Black Dragon.

A few verses recited without even opening the scriptures.

Brooke’s expression hearing those contents gradually led to bewilderment.

“W-Why are you saying those words to me…”

“You bastard who dared to betray God out of personal greed! Are you shamelessly speaking lies!”

At the reaction displaying complete ignorance, Han-bit bellowed loudly.

Whoosh-!

The strong wind blowing along with his voice made Brooke open his eyes wide.

“I apologize! I absolutely have no intention of speaking lies! If you tell me my sins, I will confess everything without hiding anything!”

Brooke bowed his body somehow while his limbs were tied.

As the desired attitude came out, Han-bit caught his breath again and said.

“Then I shall ask. Why did Vares and you bastard try to betray us?”

“…Yes?”

When Vares’s name came up, Brooke’s thinking stopped for a moment.

Rummaging his memories, he asked a question once again.

“Did you say… Vares is going to betray you?”

“Right. The ring passed down in the Northon family. Within it dwells the traces of the Spirit Spirit King Salion. You bastards tried to deceive the Holy State and secretly take it for yourselves.”

“…?”

A story he heard for the first time in his life became confusion and stormed through his mind.

Information he hadn’t heard from his predecessor William, nor from Vares who obtained information from the black market.

There was nowhere Brooke could have learned of this.

“Do not pretend you do not know. You must have been sharing information with Vares even before dragging your older brother to the execution stand, no?”

“N-No! I am merely… a Mayor set up like a scarecrow… I really don’t know anything!”

“Do you think you can be forgiven just by being ignorant? If there is no evidence that this was Vares’s arbitrary decision, I will judge you as well.”

“That is…”

In a desperate situation, Brooke rolled his brain once again to survive.

Concentrating until his mind felt faint, he finally recalled something.

“There is!”

Brooke raised his voice while lifting up his head abruptly.

Looking at that expression, Han-bit quietly asked.

“Explain what it is.”

“Yes!”

Brooke read the somewhat changing atmosphere.

Then wriggling his tied body, he desperately shouted.

“Records containing all of Vares’s plans are in the mansion! Please, check that!”