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chapter 57
A dim corridor on the second floor of the Northton mansion.
Two soldiers were slowly making their rounds on patrol.
“Come to think of it, the mayor seemed kind of strange today, didn’t he?”
“Today?”
At one soldier’s words, his companion searched his memory.
He nodded as if recalling something.
“He definitely tried to avoid people’s gazes. But he does that sometimes anyway.”
“No, today it really felt like he was trembling. Maybe Lord Vares scolded him?”
“That’s nothing new. Maybe he was just feeling unwell.”
A conversation far too irreverent for household guards to be having.
Yet in the Northton mansion, it was an all-too-common sight.
Rustle—
Watching them, Hanbit’s group moved while hiding behind the soldiers.
Moving together were Yeonwoo and Cowen.
Ria and Asla were waiting near the secret passage.
-This is real infiltration;
-Really want to snap their necks.
-Why aren’t they killing them?
-Didn’t watch the meeting?
-Stay in your lane.
As usual, the viewers began bickering.
Not subduing the enemies was part of the plan decided before the infiltration.
“There’s no need to take down the guards in the mansion. We’re only here to kidnap him.”
“Isn’t that too dangerous? If we’re discovered, it’ll turn into a commotion immediately.”
“It’s fine. We’ll move while avoiding their eyes.”
The objective of this plan wasn’t simply Brook’s kidnapping.
The key was ensuring that no one noticed it happening.
The people inside the mansion only needed to remain peaceful as usual.
Slip—
Moving behind the soldiers, Hanbit’s group entered a room with an open door.
Then they slipped out toward the balcony and leapt upward.
Tap—!
Grabbing onto a protruding structure, Hanbit quietly began climbing the wall.
Countless windows lined the outer wall of the Northton mansion.
The decorative elements surrounding them were perfect as handholds.
Slip—
Reaching the top in an instant, Hanbit pointed toward the lower roof while checking on the two following him.
Then he carefully applied force and lifted a roof tile.
Tuduk—
With a faint sound, the structure came apart.
Below it was an empty space like an attic.
Slide—
Hanbit took out a rope, secured it, and slowly descended.
Faint light shone on the wooden floor below.
“Those damn bastards…….”
A small voice echoed faintly.
Peering through the gap, they spotted Brook crouched in a corner.
Wrapped tightly in a blanket, only his face peeked out.
“Suddenly saying they’re looking for Holy Nation spies? What nonsense.”
“Did I kill my brother? No, I didn’t mean to kill him. It’s all Vares’s fault.”
“I’m a victim too. Yes, I’m a victim.”
Muttering to himself while biting his nails, Brook trembled violently.
Judging by his shaking body, his anxiety had reached its peak.
Slip—
At Hanbit’s signal, Cowen nodded and took out a bottle filled with purple liquid.
He poured it onto the floor where Hanbit indicated.
Slide—
The liquid was quickly absorbed by the wooden planks and gradually dissolved them.
When Hanbit took out a dagger and sliced, the plank split as easily as paper.
Reattaching the rope, Hanbit slowly descended through the opening.
“Those damn adventurers. Should I lock that one up first?”
Brook continued muttering and trembling.
Meanwhile, Hanbit drew closer above his head.
“That’s right. I can just frame that Black Dragon as a Holy Nation spy too. Even if another deranged zealot appears, it wouldn’t be strange. If I borrow Vares’s power…….”
“Call me a zealot?”
“……!”
In an instant, Brook’s gaze snapped out of his delusions and met Hanbit’s face right in front of him.
So shocked was he that he forgot even how to breathe.
“Uh… ugh…….”
Stammering, Brook staggered as he tried to stand.
But Hanbit’s arms were already wrapped around his neck.
“Wait—!”
Crunch—
Before he could finish speaking, a sound rang out.
Brook lost consciousness without putting up any real resistance.
***
After kidnapping Brook, Hanbit returned to the underground secret space.
He then took out the white ceremonial uniform he’d brought from the temple and changed into it.
A veil covering his face, a scripture held to his chest.
With the star emblem affixed to his shoulder, he looked exactly like a Holy Nation bishop.
-Suspiciously good at wearing outfits.
-Is this experience too?
-Offline professional, damn.
-Black Dragon Sect;
Behind the partition, Ria and the others were watching the situation.
“Hyung, I’m kind of nervous.”
From behind, Yeonwoo whispered while wearing a similar priestly robe.
Since his role was just to stand there, there was nothing difficult about it.
‘Now it really begins.’
Brook was bound to a chair in front of them.
The reason Hanbit had gone so far as to disguise himself as a Holy Nation bishop was simple.
Brook feared the Holy Nation more than Vares.
“Let’s begin.”
Clatter—
Hanbit stepped forward holding a bucket full of ice-cold water.
Then he poured it straight onto Brook’s face.
Splash—!
“Gah!”
Brook snapped awake instantly from the sudden shock of cold.
His wandering gaze soon landed on Hanbit standing in front of him.
“……!”
Brook’s eyes widened.
The face he’d seen just before losing consciousness.
It was clearly the adventurer Black Dragon he had invited earlier that day.
But the outfit now was strange.
“H-how are you wearing those clothes…….”
The bishop’s vestments with the unique star emblem on the shoulder.
He couldn’t understand why an adventurer was wearing them.
Yet instinctive fear toward a high-ranking cleric spread through his entire body.
Whoo—!
On top of that, a bizarre wind was swirling around him.
There were no magic circles or artifacts in sight, so it could only be some unknown power.
That thought filled Brook’s mind with even greater terror.
Having waited for his misunderstanding to deepen, Hanbit spoke in a solemn, low voice.
“Do not raise your voice. You will receive divine punishment.”
-ㄷㄷ
-Did his speech really change like that?
-Suspiciously good acting…….
-Definitely a professional.
“Hii!”
The sharp warning blew away all doubt.
All that remained was the thought of survival.
The first thing he chose was to nod obediently.
Seeing his compliant reaction, Hanbit continued in a low voice.
“By the archbishop’s command, I infiltrated here disguised as an adventurer. Even if it was for the greater good, hearing words that slander the Holy Nation and our faithful grieved my heart. Even confessions after enduring the dawn were not enough.”
“Ah…….”
At the trembling emotion in his voice, Brook recalled the meeting at city hall.
The hostility Black Dragon had spewed toward the Holy Nation.
That alone would be a sin for an ordinary believer, but for a bishop, it was different.
And if he’d received the archbishop’s command, it was practically a license to do anything.
“So tell me. Do you know the sins you have committed?”
“…Yes?”
At the sudden question, Brook reflexively voiced his confusion.
Hanbit, holding the scripture to his chest, frowned slightly.
“Do you think making such a brazen expression will erase your sins?”
“N-no! But I truly have no idea what sin I’ve committed…….”
No matter how much he searched his memory, he hadn’t committed any crime against the Holy Nation.
After his brother’s execution, he’d tried hard never to get entangled with them again.
“Ah!”
Clutching his head, Brook recalled what had happened just before he passed out.
He hurriedly bowed his head deeply and raised his voice.
“I apologize! I did not recognize you as a bishop and uttered the blasphemy of calling you a zealot! I never imagined you had infiltrated disguised as an adventurer!”
Perhaps driven by survival instinct, his mind spun desperately.
He was sure this was the correct answer.
But the response he received was different from what he expected.
“Do you truly think that is all?”
“Ah…….”
He was wrong.
That realization once again filled his mind with fear.
Trembling, he squeezed out his voice.
“I-I’m sorry. Please, could you tell me what sins I have committed?”
“Hoo.”
Looking at Brook’s desperate eyes, Hanbit let out a sigh.
Then, tightening his grip on the scripture in his arms, he spoke.
“Chapter 8, verse 5. A heart of betrayal is like thousands of blades; thus, hold fast to the scabbard.”
“Chapter 16, verse 9. He who chooses betrayal over death shall cross the River of the End. Even the god shall not gather that soul.”
“Chapter 31, verse 2…….”
-?
-Don’t tell me he memorized all that?
-Are you insane?
-Is this guy actually a Holy Nation believer?
-FYI there’s a Holy Nation cult in real life.
-Knew it, Black Dragon.
Reciting several passages without even opening the scripture.
As he listened, Brook’s expression gradually turned to bewilderment.
“W-why are you telling me those words…….”
“Dare you betray the god for petty greed and then brazenly lie!”
At Brook’s clueless reaction, Hanbit shouted.
Whoosh—!
The fierce wind accompanying his voice made Brook’s eyes fly open.
“I’m sorry! I have no intention of lying! If you tell me my sins, I will confess everything without hiding anything!”
Bound hand and foot, Brook desperately bowed as much as he could.
Seeing the attitude he wanted, Hanbit steadied his breath and asked again.
“Then answer me. Why did you and Vares attempt to betray us?”
“…What?”
At the mention of Vares’s name, Brook’s thoughts froze.
Searching his memory, he asked again,
“Did you say… that Vares betrayed you?”
“Yes. The ring passed down through the Northton family. Within it resides the traces of the Spirit King Salion. You sought to deceive the Holy Nation and secretly take it for yourselves.”
“……?”
The story was something he’d never heard before, plunging his mind into confusion.
Neither from the previous family head William, nor from Vares who’d gathered information on the black market, had he heard this.
There had been no opportunity for Brook to know.
“Don’t feign ignorance. You were sharing information with Vares even before dragging your brother to the execution platform, weren’t you?”
“N-no! I’m just a mayor propped up like a scarecrow! I truly know nothing!”
“Do you think ignorance alone will earn you forgiveness? If there is no proof that this was solely Vares’s doing, you will be judged as well.”
“Th-that…….”
In a life-or-death situation, Brook wracked his brain to survive.
Focusing until his head felt faint, he finally recalled something.
“There is!”
He jerked his head up and raised his voice.
Seeing his expression, Hanbit asked quietly.
“Explain.”
“Yes!”
Brook sensed a slight change in the atmosphere.
Wriggling his bound body, he cried out desperately.
“There is a record containing all of Vares’s plans in the mansion! Please, I beg you to confirm it!”
