Chapter 170 : Chapter 170
Chapter 170
“W-what is it.”
“How audacious!”
The two men who appeared laughing were clad in heavy armor. They were the knights who were supposed to be guarding the entrance to the banquet hall….
“Hahahahaha!”
“Hahaha!”
For some reason, they were laughing and moving strangely, approaching this way.
“You scoundrels! Can you not stop!”
A knight in splendid armor from the banquet hall stood in their way. He was a noble from a small western country.
“Knights! What is this disgrace?! Return at once!”
“Hahaha! Commander! Haha!”
“Hahahahahaha!”
The knights did not budge at the commander's command. The prominent figures in the banquet hall spoke ill of them, but.
The prominent figures with good intuition were silently trying to figure out the identity of the lingering anxiety.
“What is it.”
“…Strange.”
“….”
The commander finally clenched his teeth.
“Ugh, be prepared for severe punishment when we return…!”
The moment the commander stepped forward, thinking he had to subdue them, the two laughing knights drew their swords like lightning and swung. The commander's body was thrown back a full 5 meters.
“W-what….”
It is normal for a knight commander to defeat two or three of his knights. But to be overwhelmed instead?!
“Hahahaha!”
“Hahaha!”
The moment the two laughing knights rushed at the commander.
“You shall not pass.”
The shield, began to move. A man stood in the front. Just defenseless. The laughing knights' swords stabbed the man. Then, with a clanging sound, the swords shattered.
“A strange affair.”
A blue flash cut through the air, and soon the tendons of the two laughing knights were cut, and they fell to the floor.
“Haha! Haha!”
“Hahaha!”
A man stood over them, still laughing and squirming to move. The commander thanked the shield and spear.
“Th-thank you for saving me. Duke Tauforos, Duke Amulrent.”
The two dukes who had been guarding their positions had finally moved.
Nevertheless, the banquet hall was thrown into chaos. It would be one thing if it were one, but two knights had gone insane at the same time. Moreover, they had become stronger than their commander.
This era was one where martial power was important, so it was a sensitive issue. On top of that, what had happened to the other knights guarding the banquet hall?
‘There's nothing special outside either….’
I activated Wild Instinct. I could hear it. The laughter of people enjoying the festival. The screams from what seemed to be a haunted house….
Know-It-All (Lv 4) says to get a grip! Their laughter has a function that inhibits the perception of anxiety!
‘Oh no.’
Listening again, it wasn't the laughter of people enjoying the festival. Laughter. It sounded like a machine laughing. The screams… were desperate.
But even those screams soon turned into laughter.
‘I was careless!’
I think I know the identity of these laughing people.
‘Demon Lord Joverka! Proliferating Laughter!’
A demon lord that contaminates the human mind and makes them obey commands. The only good thing, if any, is that they laugh non-stop from the moment of contamination, so it's easy to spot.
‘Damn it! I should have told the Star Child!’
I should have prevented Joverka's attack in advance! In the original work, how many countries self-destructed because of that guy…!
Wild Instinct (Master) says to calm down. Joverka’s attack is a self-destructive move.
‘What?’
I looked around.
The Elf Queen. The four great dukes. And over a dozen Platinum Knights who had gathered from all over. On top of that, even the priests of the grand temple who would be celebrating the Founding Festival separately. It was practically a total mobilization of humanity's forces.
The probability that the Elf Queen truly did not know about the demon worshippers converges to 0%.
That's right. But why did she not show it?
An arrogant prey, not knowing its place, has walked into the hunter’s resting place. Of course, it will not be easy. Considering that they made a move even when the scales were tilting towards horizontal, they must have a plan of that caliber. But the result will not change.
It was a trap.
It’s hunting time.
***
“Now, let’s begin.”
Moti. The apostle of Joverka, said with a gentlemanly smile.
“Laugh.”
Simultaneously, laughter erupted from all directions. Numerous people standing around Moti were laughing uproariously. It didn't discriminate between imperial soldiers, knights, and citizens.
“Now.”
And they.
“Kill yourselves.”
Simultaneously, they slit their own chests with the knives in their hands. Then they took out their hearts with their bare hands, knelt down holding them in both hands, and prostrated themselves. They died with laughing faces.
Their number reached a thousand. Of course, the majority of them were prisoners who had been brought under control in prison. Because those with dirty and impure hearts were more suitable as offerings.
“Since the preparations are complete, please come.”
The massive blood magic circle drawn around Moti began to glow. The hearts, blood, and flesh of the laughing people were all sucked into the center.
[Kyahaha! Paradise! Paradise~! It’s been so long!]
Soon, a clown came through a bright red portal. The doll decorated with wax, with a ridiculous appearance, was laughing unpleasantly.
At that sight, Moti knelt, filled with emotion.
“I greet Lord Joverka, the Seat of Laughter.”
[Aha! Moti! Moti! Aha! You did it! Well done!]
The descended Joverka spread his hands wide.
[I love it! The empire is filled with my laughter!]
Imperial citizens, infected as if bitten by zombies, were wandering around, spreading laughter to others.
[But it’s still not enough!]
“Of course. But you don’t have to worry.”
Moti and Joverka smiled so wide their mouths seemed to tear.
“They’re on their way now. To the amusement park called Imperium Land. People will laugh and enjoy themselves. They will welcome Lord Joverka.”
[Really?! Haha! Then I! I will go too!]
“Shall we go together?”
[Uh…, but wait.]
Joverka flinched.
[Hi, hihi, I’m going, but.]
He then tore his lips even wider.
[Isn’t Kragakh’s apostle, who is always angry, already there?]
“Stop.”
Moti and Joverka turned their heads and looked at the roof. A man fell from there and landed in front of them.
“Who are you to dare…!”
[Shut up, Moti. Hi, hihi.]
Moti winced at Joverka’s sharp remark.
Wondering what he had done wrong, he looked at Joverka, but the great demon lord couldn't take his eyes off the suddenly appeared mysterious man.
And… he was supposed to be trembling and laughing all the time. He was rigid.
“Demon Lord Joverka.”
[Oh, hihi, hehehe! To find me so quickly! Ha, haha!]
Who was the man in front of him to make him tremble his voice so much?
[U-uh? Huh?]
But Joverka soon tilted his head.
[Aha! Ahaha! I see! Right! You! You received a ‘revelation’?! That’s why you’re weakened! Right!]
“…Lord Joverka…?”
[Moti, you go to the Land as planned. Hihihi…, I have to do something I've never imagined in my life here. Right now, yes! I think I can win! Kkyakakakagyahaha!]
“Yes!”
Moti turned and ran in the direction of the imperial castle. Behind him… the sound of Joverka’s laughter and gunfire began to echo.
***
Worry was etched on Nerjin's face. Something he had never thought of when he was running the business alone.
“Hmm.”
The parade was over. It was dinner time too. It should be normal to be at a loss with so many customers….
“Grandfather… today’s sales are ruined….”
The customers aren't coming.
‘I have no face to see President Martin.’
It would save face if I said we couldn’t handle the overflowing customers, but for the customers to come so sporadically like this. Of course, the daily sales had already reached five times the usual, but after paying the booth application fee, it was no different from breaking even.
‘Kngh, is it because Miss Lilac is the mascot?’
And Martin, who had recently gained great fame, had also become a major kanban along with Lilac, as the concept of a ‘real noble who serves coffee’ had caught on well. And with the two of them gone…
‘But even so, it’s strange.’
I also wonder if there’s a reason for there to be so few customers. For some reason, there seem to be fewer people wandering the streets. Looking around, the owners of other shops also had long faces.
‘We’re on the better side.’
Because some had almost no sales before and after the other parades.
‘…There’s something.’
Nerjin’s intuition activated.
“Savo. I’m sorry, but I’d like you to go somewhere for me.”
“Yes. Please assign me a mission.”
Thinking it wasn't about the Coffee Wagon's work, Savo put down the broom he was sweeping leaves with.
“Could you go and scout the surroundings? Something feels unusual.”
“Mission received.”
Savo, holding the sword at his waist, headed towards a place that seemed to have a lot of people.
“I should prepare some sweet cocoa for when Savo returns.”
Just as Bianca, who had seen Savo off, was about to get busy again.
“Cough, cough! Before that, for a moment…!”
A man in a black robe was staggering, walking with difficulty.
“…Won’t you help me…?”
His hand, which was clutching his abdomen… was covered in blood.
Thud!
Bianca ran towards the fallen man. First, she took off the cumbersome hood….
“Oh my gosh, grandfather! The wound is too severe!”
Bianca looked back at Nerjin. Because he was the oldest and a wise person everyone acknowledged.
“Grandfather?”
“B-Bianca….”
Nerjin trembled as if he had a tremor. He couldn't say anything even after seeing the man asking for help with a serious injury.
To think that man would become so tattered. What on earth happened?
“S-Star Child….”
It seemed like he would smirk and call her ‘kid’ at any moment. The Star Child had his eyes closed and did not answer.
In fact, Nerjin also knew. That a close relationship had been established between Martin and the Star Child. And that he had also trained Lilac in the meantime.
Surely, he must have known of his existence as well.
“W-we should take him inside the Coffee Wagon for now… O-we should close up shop for today….”
After moving the Star Child into the Coffee Wagon with Bianca’s help, he closed off all sides and was left alone to examine the Star Child's wound.
…Because a terrible scene might come out, he sent Bianca outside.
‘Who on earth inflicted such a wound on the Star Child!’
His abdomen was slit in a straight line. Fortunately, the damage to his organs was avoided, but it was just as serious.
‘He must have held on to prevent his organs from spilling out!’
Good. Even though the wound is large, this kind can be treated cleanly.
He began to take out potions from his magic pouch. They were emergency potions made for the purpose of treating President Martin if he got hurt.
‘Thank goodness.’
The Wisdrammus family, which had adopted Nerjin as their son, was the number one alchemy family in the Cosmos Empire. Naturally, the quality of their potions was on a different level from mass-produced ones.
“Star Child, it will hurt, a little.”
He wouldn't hear it as he seemed to be unconscious, but he said it out of ingrained politeness.
“…It’s, fine….”
A reply came back. His heart sank from the fear deeply ingrained in his instincts, but he quickly began treatment.
First, he washed his hands up to his elbows with a disinfectant potion. He removed the blood pooled in the abdomen with simple magic, then sprinkled a little hemostatic powder.
‘First, for any possible internal injuries.’
If one were to pick the most knowledgeable profession in the world, it would be an alchemist, so Nerjin also had some knowledge of medicine and human anatomy.
He examined the Star Child’s organs, and fortunately, he saw no damage. The peritoneum that wrapped the organs was slightly torn, but that much would heal quickly with a potion. Now, he had to suture the slit abdomen….
‘Who on earth slit the Star Child’s belly, which is harder than a lump of iron, in a straight line…?’
Suturing was also a problem. Unless he coated the needle with qi, he wouldn't even be able to pierce the skin. It was a common situation when warriors of a high state were injured. Naturally, he had also prepared a substitute.
‘So with tape and potions.’
He applied a harmless tape that would automatically melt to the inside and outside. Finally, he sprinkled a healing potion, then placed a healing cotton soaked in the potion on the wound. The potion would gradually leak and seep into the wound.
“….”
He swallowed hard and slowly backed away. Then he sat down, his strength gone.
“Phew─.”
A sigh escaped him automatically. What on earth was going on?
“…Are you done.”