Chapter 8: Pursuit

Muno, who had left the training hall, let out a sigh of relief.

‘I didn’t hear it. Hmm, I definitely didn’t hear it.’

His mother’s nagging about party etiquette and choosing a bride-to-be flashed through his mind, but.

‘Ugh…….’

Smiling and laughing while painting each other’s faces with gold with people he was seeing for the first time was really not his thing.

‘I’d rather fight.’

At that moment.

Ukssin.

“Ah, sseu…….”

The pain from his left side, which had been pierced by a sword, once again sparked anger and blew away his idle thoughts.

‘Maybe I should have just wrung that bastard Eli’s neck…….’

As he examined the wound while having such pointless thoughts, he noticed that the amount of blood flowing out had already decreased significantly.

It was a wound that had been pierced by a sword, yet it was already healing naturally.

It felt like it would be completely healed by tomorrow morning at the latest.

‘……Certainly, this isn’t normal either.’

It wasn’t the regenerative ability of a normal human.

That was true even by the standards of a Corporeal Arts user.

‘I heard that there are some who specialize in recovery.’

His own specialty wasn’t in that area, yet it was to this extent.

Even the energy he had consumed when he had successfully performed ‘Wind Slicer’ seemed to be mostly a different kind of energy, not calories.

‘It’s probably, demonic energy.’

The power of a demon. To be precise, the amorphous power that brings about a disparate change to this world.

His body, in addition to its abnormally superior regenerative ability, also harbored that special energy.

– Corporeal Arts interfere with the evolution of the body. Even those whose minds have evolved, when you think about it, it’s their brains that have evolved.

– But you have clearly devoured a spiritual being from another dimension, a demon. It’s definitely something that goes beyond the limits of Corporeal Arts.

– So be even more careful. Not to be discovered by magicians. And…….

‘……Not to be consumed by that power.’

Kkuuk.

He could feel a powerful force even in his lightly clenched fist.

He could clearly feel that his body, which had been quite strong in the past, had now evolved to a point where he couldn’t even guess its potential.

“……Well, it’s a good thing, anyway.”

Honestly, he had been through too many bad things in his current life as well, before coming to the Drasen territory.

Moreover, life in this fantasy world was full of inconveniences, to the point that it would be hard to call it comfortable even as an empty compliment compared to his past life.

But if there was one good thing about this world, it was that he could obtain superhuman strength by training himself.

On top of that, the power he had now obtained was described as something special, whose origins even his father, a powerful Corporeal Arts user, didn’t know.

‘The shortcut to the life I wanted was inside me.’

So for now, rather than being concerned about the warning that he could be consumed by that power, he was just pleased with his strengthened body.

The only thing he had to be careful about was that murderous intent that had surged like crazy when he was just attacked by Eli.

Even now, whenever the pain of his injury welled up, the urge to go back and kill Eli was rising.

However, that was just a very minor side effect compared to the power he had gained.

‘I just have to control it well.’

It might be different for others, but for him, who was used to splitting his consciousness in two in the first place, it wasn’t a big problem.

The evolution trait of a Demon Devourer was, rather, the best card that would allow him to obtain what he had longed for since his past life.

‘This time, unlike in my past life, I don’t have to end up as a powerless person.’

He liked that fact very much.

The freedom to choose his own life.

In this world, powerful ‘strength’ would be the very potential to do so.

From now on, until Lian becomes the official heir, he will build up his strength through training and find a way to repay the family’s kindness.

And after that, he planned to leave to see this wide world.

‘The beginning of a life lived like a human being, starts with a journey…….’

Travel experience.

That was one of the two major differences that separated Han Munho from ordinary people.

After seeing the world through a long journey, which he had so longed for but had never been able to do in his past life, he will then decide on his next life’s goal.

If that’s the case, he might be able to handle the coming-of-age party, but an engagement is absolutely out of the question…….

‘Ah, this is not the time for this.”‘

As he felt the traces of demonic energy suddenly fade, the long train of thought that had stemmed from a single wound was broken.

“Get a grip.”

Jjak.

Muno lightly slapped his own cheek and then focused his mind again on the traces of demonic energy.

He had escaped from the training hall as if running away, but the words that he could see the traces were by no means a lie.

In fact, the traces of demonic energy that led from Eli’s head were showing the path he had taken.

‘It hasn’t been long since he was put under the spell. If a magician really exists, they’re close. Let’s focus.’

He had to finish the pursuit before the traces faded any further.

Muno’s body ran straight along the path Eli had taken.

The path leading to the inner castle’s training hall.

The fact that he had exquisitely passed through only places where no one was watching made it a path worthy of an insider to choose for an ambush.

But in the end, what was at the end of it.

‘A mansion?’

It was the knights’ quarters, where nine mansions, unfitting for a small territory, had been built in a space larger than the lord’s residence even within the not-so-large inner castle of Drasen Castle.

A space for the knights alone, separated from the inner castle according to his father’s will.

‘He came straight from home to attack me?’

He didn’t understand, but he couldn’t just turn back after coming this far.

But just then, the soldiers on night watch blocked his path.

“Who goes there! Stop……. Eok!?”

The senior soldier, who was about to shout at the sight of someone approaching, quickly trailed off after confirming the Young Master’s face revealed under the torchlight.

It was a familiar face to Muno as well. The soldier he had gone on several subjugations with recently, Rom.

“Wh-what brings you here, Young Master?”

“Didn’t Eli come this way just a moment ago?”

“Pardon? Ah, no, sir.”

He could see Rom’s flustered expression as he called the knight by his name, but he didn’t care.

There was a bigger problem at hand.

“No?”

“Yes, sir. Other than Sir Rodney, who is on night duty, no one has come out of the mansions for the past hour.”

Hmph, he came out without the soldiers’ knowledge?

“I’ll check myself. Step aside.”

“Ah, you can’t, Young Master.”

“I can’t?”

“Yes, sir. The knights’ quarters are a private space for the knights, and even the Lord does not enter rashly. If you need to, you must obtain permission.”

The soldiers, sweating profusely, stubbornly blocked Muno’s path.

“But Young Master Muno is speaking……?”

“Right? Did he get smarter after his hair color changed?”

“Could that ‘awakening’ thing have also affected his head…….”

I can hear you, you people.

Muno didn’t bother to react to the muttering voices of the soldiers behind him.

He was just recalling the peculiarity of the Drasen territory that Rom had just mentioned.

‘That’s right.’

Jjeut.

The northern part of the Iron Kingdom.

The Drasen territory, which was closest to the northern mountain range, which was treated as a semi-demonic realm, had a population of only about a thousand households, including those who farmed outside the castle.

So, unlike other territories, they couldn’t afford to grant the knights separate manors and manpower.

Yet, they needed a lot of knight manpower, so in order to appoint nine knights, they had to build nine three-story mansions that would be more likely to be seen in a large city.

While even giving them freedom over their own space.

But now was not the time to be considering such things.

“Sir Eli was caught attacking me in the training hall just a moment ago.”

“Yes!?”

“But you haven’t seen Eli, and you’re even going to interfere with my search?”

“Th-that’s……?”

As Muno retorted with a sharp tone, the soldiers’ faces turned pale in an instant.

Words that were difficult for them to handle had come out.

Just then, a voice cut in.

“Are you saying Sir Eli attacked you?”

Turning his head towards the voice, he saw a huge, heavily armed knight slowly walking out of the darkness.

“……Rodney?”

“I would appreciate it if you would use the proper title ‘Sir’, Young Master. It is a courtesy that even the Lord observes.”

A huge knight who looked to be about 2 meters tall, holding a giant halberd.

Muno’s face grew even colder as he looked at him.

“That’s because you’re insisting on your status as a knight of Trian and haven’t sworn an oath of allegiance to Drasen.

I don’t see any reason to use honorifics for a guy who hasn’t even sworn an oath of allegiance and just takes the money.”

At those words, Rodney’s bear-like face twitched.

“I heard you had an evolution that improved your intelligence.

But I just now learned that your personality has become worse along with it.

Just like your changed hair color.”

He was a guy he didn’t like, as expected.

This guy had also been dispatched from the Trian territory about a year ago, and there were widespread rumors that he, like Eli, had caused some kind of trouble.

However, compared to Eli, who had periodically picked fights with Muno after being beaten once, this guy, who had been a 2-star knight since he came to Drasen, had completely ignored him.

Of course, it was no secret that the two of them were close, so there was no way any good words would come out of Muno’s mouth.

“The way you talk to your lord’s son, too.

Did you perhaps plot this with Eli? It would be a bit troublesome for me to take down two 2-star knights at once.”

At those words, Rodney’s face twitched once more.

“I don’t know what’s going on, but you are making a big mistake right now, Young Master.”

Muno snorted at the words that were spat out through gritted teeth.

“Me?”

“Yes. To take your words as they are, you’re saying you subdued Sir Eli by yourself, which doesn’t make sense from the start.”

It was a perfectly common-sense answer, but he didn’t have time to put on a pointless show of force against Rodney here and now.

“Even after seeing this?”

Muno opened the side of his light training armor and showed him the wound.

At his confident action, Rodney’s eyes twitched again, but he soon saw the wound and let out a snort.

“……If a scratch is proof of being ‘attacked’ by a 2-star knight, I can show you a dozen more right here.”

At those words, Muno’s gaze naturally followed the man’s to his own side, and his face contorted.

“Ha…….”

The wound was almost healed.

Even though it still throbbed inside.

‘Damn it.’

A sigh escaped him, but he didn’t want to drag this out any longer.

Even at this moment, the traces of demonic energy were gradually fading.

“We’ll know the situation when we see it for ourselves, and I need to check Eli’s mansion. If my words are false, I will take responsibility later. Step aside.”

And yet.

“I cannot do that.”

“What?”

“You are currently trespassing on the knights’ private space, which the Lord has permitted, and you have also insulted Sir Eli’s honor.

You cannot get away with it by saying you will take responsibility later.”

This bear bastard wouldn’t listen.

Even at that moment, the traces of demonic energy were gradually fading, making it feel as if a magician was running away right in front of his eyes.

He couldn’t stand it any longer.

‘Tsk.’

He wasn’t a guy he liked from the beginning, anyway.

“Take a break, Rodney.”

Chwareureureuk.

“Hat!?”

The moment the black chains that had been released from his ankle wrapped around Rodney’s ankle and broke his balance.

Muno’s fist struck the man’s jaw straight on.

Bbeoeok.

He had put enough power into it to knock him out.

“How dare you!”

Rodney, who had seemed to be falling backward, forcibly righted himself and swung his halberd with his eyes half-rolled back.

Paaaaang!

The huge axe blade came at him in an instant.

‘This bastard?’

KWANG!

At that, Muno drew his greatsword and parried the halberd, then rushed at the man and kneed him in the solar plexus.

Bbeoeoeoeok.

“Kkeueueu…….”

It was a solid hit.

He was about to turn away as he saw the strength leave the man’s hands that were holding the halberd.

“Uwoeoeok!”

“Heup!?”

Rodney charged straight at him, let go of his weapon, and wrapped his arms around his waist.

Udeudeuk.

A monstrous strength was put into the hands that were squeezing his waist as he pushed him crazily.

The moment he felt the pain, Muno’s head grew hot again.

– Kill, kill kill!

The rage that surged from the depths of his chest demanded that he crush the enemy.

‘Shut up!’

But instead of plunging his greatsword into Rodney’s back according to the impulse, Muno gritted his teeth and slammed his elbow into the back of the man’s head.

KWANG!

“Kkeu…….”

With a sound as if giant blunt weapons were colliding, Rodney’s body, which had been pushing Muno, collapsed on the spot as if melting away.

Teolseok.

“Ha…….”

And only at that moment did the soldiers’ screams erupt.

“Y-Young Master!?”

“Sir Rodney!?”

“Don’t make a fuss. He’s just unconscious. You all step aside too. I’ll take responsibility.”

“But…….”

“If you let the enemy escape, I will hold you responsible!!”

He shouted in a burst of annoyance.

“Kkeu, kkeueuk…….”

The voice of a man who was clearly down came from behind him again.

Startled, he turned around and saw Rodney staggering to his feet again.

“Aisshi…….”

Is this guy a real bear?

He felt anew that a 2-star knight was not to be taken lightly.

He was about to make a move again, but.

“Principles are principles…….”

He couldn’t help but pause as he saw the man muttering such words with his eyes almost completely rolled back.

‘It doesn’t seem like he’s really in on it…….’

He felt like he had become the villain for no reason.

Chit.

“Follow me if you can.”

Muno spat out the annoyed words and turned towards the mansion where he could feel Eli’s traces.

Chwareureuk.

And while the soldiers were belatedly trying to open the gate, he extended the chains from his limbs and hooked them onto the top of the wall.

Pabak.

The four long, blunt chains, which responded to his will faster than his limbs, powerfully launched his body into the air above the wall.

“Heot!?”

“How…….”

Muno, who had landed on the mansion roof while letting the soldiers’ surprised voices go in one ear and out the other in mid-air, began to run towards the building where he could feel the traces of demonic energy.

Pababak.

‘I should have just done this from the beginning, damn it.’

He had already caused as much of a disturbance as he could, but he moved as quickly as possible, thinking that a magician might still be there.

But what he found after entering Eli’s room was.

Only the faint demonic energy that had flowed out from the traces of a shattered, fist-sized crystal sphere.

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