Chapter 32

"What the heck are you talking about?"

Despite Baron Miraculous' shameless attempts.

They already had a video of the knight's confession, and that was enough to get Baron Miracul arrested.

Most importantly.

There's no need for a long-winded explanation.

"Stop pretending you don't know, and let's go."

He strode forward, reaching for the handcuffs around his waist. The knight on the floor nearby unsheathed his sword.

"I've never heard of a noble being arrested by the Burning Hell."

"It's a new development."

"Nonsense!"

The swords of the unconvinced knights flung.

Maybe it's because of what happened with Harde's sword, but now he can see the path of the blade even without the aid of Arrakis's eyes.

He dodged the attack by twisting his body.

He filled his hand with mana to increase his power. With that, he delivered a swift blow to the knight's neck.

*Thump!*

The knight cried out in pain, gagging.

If the knight had remained vigilant, he could have avoided it, but all he could think about was his flawed plan and the need to protect Baron Miracul.

He wouldn't even know why he lost.

"You'd better not be thinking of rebelling."

Leaving the knight behind, Redin approached Baron Miracul. He was frowning but offered no resistance, so he was quickly handcuffed.

"You are.."

Viscount Volta furrowed his brow.

*thud-thud*

The Viscountess who came in with Rebecca hugged Viscount Volta.

The Honorable daughter of the Viscount, who came in with Rebecca, embraced Viscount Volta.

"Dad!"

"Annes!"

Redin looked at them both and then at Rebecca.

"I need you to organize the situation. I'm going to go to the office and see if I can find anything on Magnes."

"Okay."

He needs to get the Hidden Piece before Harris gets here. The layout here is familiar, so he just needs to be quick.

He left the group and started walking down the hallway.

The workers who had come because of the commotion were standing against the wall, shaking with anxiety. Redin passed between them and arrived at the office.

*creak!*

Redin pushed the door open and stepped inside.

As the knights he met during the smuggling trade were representing the Barons, there was no one blocking his way.

Inside, it's aristocratic, to say the least.

From the expensive-looking chandeliers to the paintings on the walls. It looked like a Baron's extravagance.

"He's had his comeuppance."

Redin shifted his attention and looked at the wall to his right.

A bookshelf stacked high with books. Beyond it is a path that leads down to the basement. In the game, it was a collapsed wall, so he could simply climb down.

"Should I take it out?"

He activated Arrakis's eyes, just in case. Green smoke wafted from one of the books on the shelf.

He walked over and stood in front of the bookcase.

A book made of red leather. As he pulled it out, the floor creaked slightly and the bookcase moved sideways.

*Kugugoogung!*

Redin followed the stairs down to the bottom. After descending a long way down the spiral structure, he reached its end.

A small room.

Upon entering, the magic was triggered and a bright light illuminated the space. A collection enclosed within a transparent glass window.

Red Orc's Eyeball.

A stone infused with the breath of a spirit.

.

.

.

It wasn't anything special, but it included things that were highly collectible.

Things that weren't easily available.

It wasn't anything special, but it included things that were highly collectible.

Things that weren't easily available.

There was a neatly organized book in the middle of the window. He picked it up and looked inside. It had something to do with Magnes.

It was a diary of sorts.

The last thing he wrote was that he had a plan to break his relationship with Magnes.

What a unique hobby.

A unique hobby.

After tucking the journal into his pocket, he looked around once more. There is one more way down from here.

Redin focused on Arrakis's eyes.

A green glow emanated from one of the bricks on the floor. He stepped onto it.

*Kugugoogung!*

The floor moved.

It went down like an elevator.

A gigantic space was now visible.

Beyond the thick bars, I could see a lake filled with water, and a short distance away, people in shabby clothes were huddled together.

Their gazes darted towards him.

Fear in their eyes. He knows what it meant. A monster lurking in the depths of the lake.

They fear the creature.

In the game, Viscount Volta captured it. It's not an easy creature to capture, but Redin knows its weaknesses, so it's not a problem.

He took a step forward and stood in front of the iron bars.

There's a key to the door, but he has neither the key nor the time.

"I have to… break down the iron bars."

'Heh'

As his sword enlightenment reached twenty percent, he was able to use the famed sword Cairo, which he hadn't been able to unsheath until now.

Redin gripped the hilt of the sword tightly.

*Shrrr!*

A white blade emerged from the scabbard. The scabbard was rusted, so naturally Redin guessed that the blade would be too, but that wasn't the case.

A bloody anticipation passed by.

The sword was light in weight and well balanced. It was indeed the weapon of the sword saint Harungel.

A sword worthy of the title.

He could feel the power of the sword.

"Let's give it a whirl."

Aside from drawing the sword earlier, this is the first time he's ever wielded it properly. Redin drew up his mana and channeled it into the sword.

*Wrrrr!*

Blue mana pulsed around the sword.

Even though he used less mana than usual, it felt more powerful than he was used to.

In the past, due to his limited amount of mana hole he was restricted in ability to use his skills, but Cairo seems to have solved that problem to some extent.

A bit more mana.

Mana flowed through the sword, spreading out in all directions. Blue mana crackled like flames, dwindling the mana in his body.

"As expected, it's still too much."

When he attains a higher level, the overflowing mana will take form.

Sword Blade.

A mastery that can cut through anything.

To do so, you need to be diligent. He snapped out of his musings and raised his sword for a slash.

A sword swung in place without moving.

The mana-filled Cairo sliced through the grates as easily as it would tofu. He slashed again, creating a space for people to pass through.

"I guess this is why they sing songs about famed swords and legendary swords."

He took a step forward and went inside.

When he saw the fear in their faces and urged them to come out, they didn't move easily and looked around warily.

"If you want to live, you'd better get out, because the monster in there is about to go on a rampage."

After saying that, Redin headed towards the lake.

The water stank terribly, but the stench of blood was just as nauseating. Bone fragments and torn clothing littered the place.

Baron Miracul fed humans to raise his monsters.

An item that one of them had.

It was in the creature's belly, and Viscount Volta would later obtain it when he killed the creature, thus achieving his revenge.

It exuded a thick scent of death.

"Come out."

Then a small ripple rose in the lake, and as the ripple grew stronger, something emerged.

Green skin and a long, gaping mouth.

Razor sharp teeth concealed within.

A crocodile.

Not just any crocodile, but a large, giant crocodile, its eyes glaring at him. The kind of eyes that look at one's prey.

Is this how easy it is to live?

It seems there's some knightly reward for being eaten by a giant crocodile. Well, considering Viscount Volta was thrown to the crocodiles as well.¹

"Keuheoeoeoeo."

The giant crocodile's eyes flashed.

The next moment, it was charging toward Redin with a swift leap. Unfazed, he raised his sword. He swung his sword as he had done earlier when he had cut through the grate.

Gently.

*Clang!*

The mana flowing from the sword split the giant crocodile in half, and something fell into the center of the split crocodile.

Viscount Volta had gotten.

And later, what Bahad had.

A hidden piece.

The mask of the dead.

He picked up the mask made of wood.

[Mask of the Dead].

-Transform into the person you want to kill.

-You cannot return to your original form until you kill the target, and if you fail to kill the target after a day, the owner dies.

-Killing a target binds their soul to a curse, allowing you to transform at any time. As the number of cursed souls increases, the mask's power increases.

-Current Souls: 0

A cursed item whose bound spirits drive its owner mad. This is the reason Viscount Volta took his own life.

But Redin has the fire of purification that Bahad had. The power of purification that burns away negative things.

That blocks the cries of the damned soul.

… was officially announced by the game company, but most thought it was a poorly designed setting mechanic breakdown.

That included him.

A system unique to the Bahad raid.

For every failed Bahad raid, a stack of masks would build up, making Bahad even stronger.

Only when the week was reset.

The mask's stats were also reset.

In order to maintain the unique raid setting, the game company changed the description of [Fire of Purification]

From 'negative things that affect the body' to 'all negative things'.

Redin thought it was ridiculous at the time.

"This is how it goes again."

Redin took the mask in his arms.

Soon, there would be a war with Magnes, and in the midst of all the chaos, this mask would be invaluable.

* * *

Redin took the people from the basement and returned to the room where Baron Miracul was handcuffed.

Harris, who arrived late, was there.

"I found a secret passageway in the main office, and he was raising a giant crocodile in that underground room."

Baron Miracul's entire complexion changed at once. His face turned a deep blue, as if he had been mortified.

"And this is a record written by Baron Miracul, I don't know why he wrote this, but it's about his dealings with Magnes."

"Ah… no! I didn't write that!"

Baron Miracul cried out.

"How dare you try to disgrace a nobleman, Viscount Volta! They are trying to frame me by fabricating evidence!"

He turned his gaze slightly.

Redin saw Viscount Volta with a grim expression on his face.

Like he was about to kill him.

He stepped forward and stood in front of Baron Miracul.

"This man belongs to Burning Hell. It would be best for both of us if you put down what you're thinking, Viscount Volta."

Redin locked eyes with Viscount Volta.

"Did you say Redin?"

"Yes."

"What will happen to him?"

"He will be imprisoned in the underground dungeons of Burning Hell, where he will live in agony, for the rest of his life."

Viscount Volta exhales deeply.

A small part of Redin admires him for keeping his emotions under control in this situation.

This is no ordinary man.

"Then please do, and let me apologize for the letter the other day. I'm sorry. I was rash."

"You were not."

"Come to the estate sometime. I'll treat you properly then."

"Vis… Viscount, Viscount Volta!"

Viscount Volta took his daughter and left the room. It was all over. All that remained was to transport Baron Miracul and the rest of the Magnes men to Burning Hell.

"Perfectly executed mission, both of you."

The corner of his mouth lifted at Harris's praise.

"No, sir."

"But the job isn't done yet, because we need to take them back to Burning Hell."

* * *

They made it to the harbor without incident.

"I'll take them to Burning Hell, you go to your quarters and get some rest."

Originally, Harris would just hand it over to the arrest team and that would be the end.

Normally, I'd just hand him over to the arresting officer.

But now that Magnes has a noble associated with them, the task force is going all the extra mile to Burning Hell.

"Got it."

As Redin bowed and turned to leave, the mission bird flew in and perched on Harris's shoulder.

Gold parchment on its legs.

It's a rare color of parchment Harris hasn't seen before, but he knows what it means.

Emergency support mission.

It means something is wrong with one of the Special Forces members.

"Shit…"

Harris frowned, then looked at Redin and Rebecca.

"I'm going to need one of you to handle transportation, and the other to move with me now."

He raised his hand.

"I'll take the transportation."

** ** **

TL/N:

1. Baron Miracul would often include useless knights as the giant crocodile's food. He would often drug the knight then dispose of them with the help of the crocodile.