Chapter 116

In the center plaza of an underground village, a priest clad in ceremonial robes appeared, delivering a bizarre, impassioned speech:

“Nobles are all sinners by birth! We suffer because we lack power. So, we must gain strength and slaughter every last one of those so-called nobles!”

The fervor of the scene was enough to make anyone’s head spin, but it only held two onlookers in stunned silence for a moment before Lee Han muttered:

“Oh, an assassination organization?”

“Yeah, I think these guys might be the ones I know.”

Lee Han began revealing part of his past to Tae-chang. After all, Tae-chang wasn’t just any random companion; he came from the same region and bore similar secrets, making him the ideal confidant. Fortunately, the rest of their group was scattered at the moment, providing the perfect opportunity for a private conversation.

After Lee Han’s surprising confession about his possible involvement in a cult-like organization, Tae-chang responded with silent contemplation.

“….”

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. I just realized how turbulent your life has been…”

Tae-chang’s expression showed a mix of understanding and mild amusement. He murmured, almost to himself, “No wonder you have so many quirks.” Lee Han chuckled, recognizing the response as perfectly characteristic of Tae-chang.

Then, Tae-chang suddenly remarked:

“Well, from my perspective, it doesn’t seem like something to take too seriously. Someone kidnapped and forced into an assassination organization isn’t really a criminal. If anything, the people calling you one are the abnormal ones.”

“Hm, is that so?”

“...Well, considering the capital’s filled with lunatics spouting even more insane things, you don’t really worry about stuff like this, do you?”

“…You’ve learned too much about me.”

“Haha.”

Just as Tae-chang had suggested, Lee Han didn’t particularly care whether the group he had been associated with was a cult or not. There was some initial shock, of course, but once he took a moment to cool his head, it didn’t seem like a big deal.

“I mean, it’s not like I killed anyone or actively proselytized their teachings.”

After all, he had been kidnapped by the Black Moon and spent years being trained and brainwashed. But before he could complete even his first mission, the organization collapsed, leaving him free. He had no lingering guilt.

…However, Tae-chang’s suggestion that revealing his past might draw opportunistic attacks wasn’t entirely baseless. Plenty of people would jump at the chance to exploit a knight’s vulnerabilities.

If it came to that, Lee Han mused:

“I’d just smash them and make a run for it. Eastern or Northern Continent would do nicely.”

“Planning your escape route already?”

“Doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”

“Hmm, let me know if you’re going. I’ll tag along.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Well, if you’re gone, this kingdom’s as good as doomed.”

“Enough of that. You’re overestimating me. The kingdom will be fine even without someone like me, you fool.”

“Not so sure about that…”

Tae-chang’s gaze clearly conveyed disagreement, leaving Lee Han speechless.

Though Lee Han feared little, such high praise sometimes weighed on him. It seemed he wasn’t immune to the pressures of being regarded so highly after all.

“Well, anyway, I don’t think you need to worry too much,” Tae-chang continued. “Even if your past comes to light, you’ve got people who would support you, right?”

“Supporters, huh…? Can’t say they inspire much confidence.”

A few potential allies did cross his mind, but they weren’t exactly trustworthy. If anything, there were more people who would try to exploit him.

“Haha… Well, there’s still Sir Jake and Sir Jord, right? They’d back you to the end.”

“Those two? Sure, they’re loyal, but what can I expect from them?”

“Plenty. Sir Jord is bound to become a knight commander, and Sir Jake has what it takes to become a general.”

“…?”

“They’re definitely going to make it big. Honestly, your network is full of future big shots.”

“…Huh.”

Lee Han was genuinely surprised. He had never imagined his friends and juniors would rise to such prominence.

Though hard to picture now…

“You never know what the future holds,” Lee Han muttered, marveling at life’s unpredictability.

But Tae-chang’s next comment struck even harder.

“Besides, even if the experiments done on you are revealed, it won’t be a big deal. You’re not a demonkin.”

“You checked that with your skills?”

“Yup. Demonkin or half-demon would show up in the race description, but you’re listed as a ‘Question Mark.’ So, you’re not a demonkin.”

“That sounds even more suspicious.”

…Wait. I’m not human?!

That revelation hit Lee Han like a lightning bolt. Today’s top shock, hands down.

Sensing Lee Han’s unease, Tae-chang quickly tried to reassure him.

“N-No, no, the important thing is you’re not a demonkin. Maybe you have some mixed lineage from a mysterious race! So, don’t worry!”

“…You’re not helping.”

Before Lee Han could fully articulate his disbelief, Tae-chang continued:

“A-Anyway! If nobles have any sense of decency, they shouldn’t criticize you for having monster genes implanted! If anything, they should be the ones facing backlash.”

“…What?”

“You didn’t know? Oh, right, you never learned martial aura techniques…”

“What are you talking about?”

Lee Han blinked, intrigued by the unexpected turn in the conversation. Tae-chang elaborated, and the truth stunned Lee Han further.

“Well, the reason noble families’ techniques are classified as ‘Advanced Martial Arts’ is that they consume monster cores to practice them.”

It’s the pot calling the kettle black.

Lee Han finally understood why such techniques were shrouded in secrecy and inaccessible to commoners.

…Because anyone who learned the truth likely wasn’t around to tell the tale.

Some secrets were better left unknown.

===

While the conversation had lingered on casual banter for a while, neither Lee Han nor Derrick was neglecting their duties.

"Hoho, well done, brother."

"Not at all. How could carrying out the will of the divine be called labor? Hoho."

"Indeed, indeed! Haha!"

They had been stealthily tailing the priest all along.

‘These guys really know their way around this place like it’s their own backyard.’

The figure, whether a priest, propagandist, or expert in brainwashing, navigated the maze-like underground tunnels with ease, showing no hesitation even at dead ends. Strangely, no worms appeared along his path.

‘It’s true that the reversed cross repels monsters.’

‘So it seems.’

Roy Vant had possessed five significant items: three elixirs, a reversed cross, and a torn piece of paper. The elixirs were categorized as follows: one made from monster flesh, one containing narcotics, and one whose purpose was unclear. The torn paper’s use remained a mystery.

As for the reversed cross...

‘It emits a frequency that repels monsters. The intel was spot on.’

While it might not work on mid-level monsters, it was effective enough to drive off lesser ones. Clearly, these people hadn’t chosen the tunnels as their base out of sheer desperation.

Then, as Lee Han and Derrick reached the priest’s final destination, they were left utterly dumbfounded.

“???”

“By the heavens…! Hrk…!”

Both were stunned, though Derrick couldn’t help but gasp aloud in shock. Realizing his mistake, he hastily clapped his hand over his mouth. Lee Han, however, felt no need to chide him.

After all—

[[[KRRR]]].

The priest couldn’t have heard anything over the rumbling cry of the sandworm.

A massive sandworm, coiled up at an astonishing size of 110 meters, loomed before them.

When confronted with something unbelievable, the brain sometimes struggles to process it. Just as people freeze in awe at the sight of colossal buildings or creatures, Lee Han and Derrick found themselves rooted to the spot.

‘I thought the southern sandworms maxed out at 30 meters….’

In deserts, sandworms could grow to between 80 and 100 meters upon reaching maturity. Even then, sandworms of such size were rare, appearing perhaps once in a century.

But southern sandworms were a different story.

Having been bred for fertilizer production, their size was artificially capped due to environmental limitations, rarely exceeding 30 meters. Even at that size, they were formidable enough to require skilled mages and knights to take down, but they were far weaker and slower compared to their desert counterparts.

Yet this one was no ordinary sandworm.

Though it might still be slower and weaker than a desert variant, its sheer size defied comprehension. Words like "colossal" or "gigantic" felt inadequate to describe the overwhelming presence of the creature.

If that thing went on a rampage underground, the tunnels would collapse, and they’d be buried alive in an instant.

The mere thought sent a chill down their spines, and Derrick broke out in a cold sweat.

‘This is it. This is what they’re planning…!’

Finally, Derrick realized the enemy’s strategy for plunging the kingdom into chaos.

Somehow, they had successfully grown a monstrous sandworm to unimaginable proportions. And once it was unleashed…

‘The tunnels will collapse.’

The collapse of the southern continent’s primary fertilizer production zone would have a catastrophic ripple effect on agriculture. While the immediate impact might be manageable, the long-term shortage of fertilizer would devastate crop yields. Over time, the damage would escalate, leading to widespread food shortages.

The ones who would suffer most from such a crisis? The citizens who formed the backbone of the kingdom.

And the inevitable consequence of starving citizens?

‘…A peasant uprising.’

While it might seem like an extreme scenario, Derrick knew it wasn’t out of the question. If it happened, the kingdom would crumble from both within and without.

‘These bastards…!’n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Derrick cursed the enemy’s cunning. They had devised a plan to starve the kingdom into ruin.

But there was no time to wallow in shock. Activating his skill [Danger Detection], Derrick assessed the sandworm’s threat level.

“…It’s two tiers below the Demon King in strength. Its size is intimidating, but you can handle it, sir.”

“…….”

“B-But you’ll need to kill it in one blow. If it starts thrashing, the tunnels will collapse…”

“…….”

“O-Or maybe we should call for reinforcements…”

“Tae-chang.”

“…Y-Yes?”

“As much as I’d like to call for reinforcements, I think it’s too late.”

“…….”

“…You might want to leave first.”

“…!!!”

It was then that Derrick realized—

“You filthy rats. So, we finally caught you.”

Just as Lee Han and Derrick had been trailing the priest, the enemy had been aware of their presence all along.

Without warning, countless figures clad in black robes surrounded them, cutting off all escape routes.

===

The aura emanating from the black-robed figures was anything but ordinary.

The sheer number of them—thirty, by rough count—and their skill levels, which far exceeded the riffraff from the Silver Lion, spoke volumes about their capabilities.

And then, there was more:

"Surround them!"

"You accursed wretches!"

"A knight of the detestable Pendragon! Kill them!"

[[Kill them! Kill them, kill them!]]

Adding to the chaos, prisoners began gathering in droves.

‘Is this what they call a human wave tactic?’

The sheer spectacle of it was unparalleled: this many people mobilized for just two individuals.

As Lee Han observed the swelling numbers, he spoke with a faint chuckle:

"Hm, how did they know? I thought I’d been pretty discreet."

"Hoho, I felt a chill down my spine. Not a hint of their presence tipped me off."

Unexpectedly, the priest offered an answer to Lee Han’s question, his voice dripping with mockery.

Relaxed and brimming with confidence, the priest revealed a small sheet of paper.

"Perhaps you overlooked this?"

"That’s…"

The paper bore a striking resemblance to the torn scrap found on Roy Vant.

The priest grinned smugly.

"It’s a failsafe. The moment one of our people is compromised, it tears itself apart. You probably thought capturing one of us was an achievement, but… how naive. Did you truly think ‘we’ would be so careless? Hoho."

"So, you’ve known everything from the start?"

"Exactly. It’s too late for regrets now. Honestly, knights of the kingdom are nothing but fools, hahaha!"

The priest’s satisfaction was evident. Surrounding what he assumed to be a Pendragon knight was one thing, but what really delighted him was his perceived superiority. Crushing others seemed to fuel his sense of fulfillment.

"Surrender now, and I’ll ensure your deaths are painless."

"You’re not going to spare us?"

"Spare you? Of course not. You might have some skill, but I’ll personally ensure the deaths of your little friend and all your comrades."

"……."

It seemed the priest was aware of their three other companions.

"Sir… Instructor…"

Derrick’s face paled, realizing how dire the situation was.

‘I should’ve been more careful… Damn it!’

The shame of falling into such an obvious trap weighed on him. As guilt surged, he discreetly readied a dagger from his sleeve.

Even if everything had gone wrong, he had to save at least one person.

"Run, sir! I’ll hold them off somehow! With Manchunhwawu, I can at least take half of them down with me!"

"Don’t be ridiculous. Can you spill human blood?"

"That… I…"

Derrick hesitated. He had only ever killed monsters, never humans. It was a testament to his lingering modern sensibilities and an unprepared resolve.

Still…

"When the time comes, you do what you must… and that time is now."

"...Hah, you’ve grown a bit."

Lee Han reached out and gave Derrick a light pat on the back, as if proud of him. Derrick, confused by the sudden gesture, looked up at Lee Han.

"Sir…?"

Lee Han smiled faintly and stepped forward.

"Step aside. Let me show you how to handle situations like this."

"???"

As Lee Han advanced, the murderous intent emanating from the priest and the black-robed figures thickened.

"You’ve made a foolish choice."

The priest sneered, convinced Lee Han was preparing for a suicidal fight. He raised his hand, signaling his men to attack—

"─Throughout the tunnels, there are about 100 fire scrolls buried at key locations. If even half of them are triggered, this entire place will collapse."

[[………?]]

Everyone froze.

"...What?"

The priest blinked, wondering if he’d misheard.

Lee Han didn’t wait for clarification.

"Don’t believe me? Well, no one trusts words alone. Allow me to demonstrate."

From his pouch, Lee Han retrieved a handful of small, grape-like beads.

And then, with a swift motion, he crushed one.

BOOOOOOOM!

The explosion rocked the tunnels, sending shockwaves through the underground.

Rumble… Rumble…

Dust and debris fell as the ground trembled.

"……."

The priest and his men stared in shock, their faces pale with terror.

But Lee Han wasn’t done.

"Still don’t believe me? I could make the next one even bigger…"

"STOP! STOP!!!"

The priest screamed, his voice desperate.

Lee Han casually held up another bead, rolling it between his fingers.

"You believe me now?"

"Yes! I believe you! Please, stop this madness!"

"……."

"Do you intend to kill us all, you cruel bastard…!"

"And why are you talking to me so informally?"

"...?"

"Am I your friend?"

"??"

Lee Han crushed another bead.

BOOOOOOOOOM!

The resulting explosion was even more powerful, shaking the tunnels violently. Cracks spread across the walls, and the vibrations grew louder.

[[[Krrrr…]]].

The massive sandworm—no, the Mother Worm—began to stir, its cries reverberating through the ground. The priest’s face turned ghostly white.

"Oh, oh no… Oh…"

The priest froze, unable to process the chaos unfolding around him.

Lee Han tilted his head.

"I could set off another one, you know. Watch your tone."

"How… how could you…"

"Shut up."

"……."

"And stop standing there like an idiot. Kneel. Unless you want everyone here buried alive."

"……."

In an unprecedented turn of events, the terrorist who sought to destroy the kingdom now found himself utterly cowed.

The priest, his pride shattered, collapsed to his knees.

"See? You should’ve done that from the start."

"……."

True madness had silenced false bravado. And as dictated by natural order, the lesser madness could only bow before the greater.