Chapter 76 : Chapter 76
Chapter 76. Verification
Dwight’s gaze was icy.
“Oh, my apologies. Seeing as my elder brother called for me first, I seem to have gotten a little excited.”
Dwight, his hand now free, frowned and looked for a towel. Then he scrubbed his hand as if something unclean had touched it.
Seeing this, I swallowed a hollow laugh. If you’re going to call someone over to test them, you should be more brazen about it. This was like openly shouting, ‘I have insidious intentions.’
“Be careful. I don’t like it when people touch my body.”
Was this the same man who was embracing women in the bathtub? I had no idea what kind of nonsense he was spouting.
“Yes, I will be careful.”
Still, I said what he wanted to hear. Since I had gained something from this, I could at least do that much.
‘He’s completed the 3rd Circle.’
He was at the 1st Circle when I saw him at the banquet hall. Not much time had passed since then, yet he had achieved the 3rd Circle. It seemed the rumors about Dwight’s martial talent weren’t unfounded.
“Your Highness, aren’t you coming back in?”
One of the women lolling in the tub asked, her voice full of nasal tones.
Dwight looked at her. It was like looking at a pet.
“Wait.”
At Dwight’s words, the women let out tinkling, coquettish laughs. The sound of laughter echoing faintly amidst the thick steam, the fragrant scent of soap, and the moist sensation that tickled the skin…….
‘This could bewitch a person.’
I turned my gaze and looked at the women swimming in the steam. The occasional glimpses of their back muscles made my nerves sharp.
Creak, creak, creak.
Something made of metal moved. Then, I heard the sound of water pouring.
“Turn off the water.”
Dwight’s voice echoed. In response, the women’s laughter and the words, ‘The water’s getting cold, we can’t help it,’ came out. As the heat rose, the steam grew even thicker.
Creak, creak, creak.
Again, something made of metal moved. The sound of pouring water continued. I couldn’t see my surroundings because of the thick steam.
“At least open a window. Can’t you see I can’t see anything?”
Dwight’s leisurely voice grated on my nerves.
I moved my Mana Heart. I didn’t have Dawn. Handing over my weapon was a requirement to meet Dwight. Still, I had the Talisman of Murti, so I would manage somehow.
Creak, creak, creak.
Creeeak.
It was a similar sound, but subtly different. It wasn’t the sound of something turning, but of something opening.
Bang!
Clang!
“What is it!”
The sound of things breaking and shattering, followed by Dwight’s shout, was heard in succession.
I emitted mana to create a wave. Inside the tub, the two women were still swimming and playing. A figure that looked like Dwight was standing a little distance away. And five men were rushing towards where I was.
Swish!
Something sharp grazed my face. A dagger.
I reached out and grabbed the arm and wrist of the one who had attempted the attack.
Crack! Paak!
“Keuk!”
I heard the sound of someone swallowing pain.
I picked up the sword the man had dropped. Even in the steam, its menacing blue glint was clear.
“Keoheuk!”
The man, with a sword embedded in his chest, coughed and spat out blood.
‘Now, four.’
I pulled the dagger from the dying man. Blood flowed out, soaking the floor.
I stood on the blood and composed my breathing.
The remaining men were spread out wide, looking for an opening.
“Who goes there?”
Dwight’s voice echoed again from beyond the steam. He was trying to act urgent, to act surprised. But his overly stable breathing told me it was a clumsy act.
Splash.
The next move came not from the front, but from behind.
I turned my body to block the attack coming out of the tub. But their actions were a beat faster.
“Keuk!”
A whip wrapped around my face. I tried to cut it with the dagger, but…….
“Pull!”
As soon as the woman’s voice hit my ears, my body was plunged into the tub.
Kwaaaak!
The mana-infused whip grew heavier and heavier. Because of it, I couldn’t lift my head, which was pinned to the bottom of the tub. If I stayed like this, it would be one of two things: either I’d die with water filling my lungs, or I’d die from another attack.
I stimulated my Mana Heart. The Talisman of Murti glowed with a deep light, amplifying the power of my mana.
The words ‘Kill him!’ sounded muffled.
Tuk.
The whip was severed by a mana-infused hand.
At the same time, something sharp flew towards my face.
I rolled to the side to avoid the pouring attacks. Poong! Poong! Poong! The sound of something stabbing the bottom of the tub was heard in succession.
I flung my body out of the water, creating a splash. The foam and water droplets disoriented their eyes.
Bang!
I slammed the head of the one who had thrown the whip onto the bottom of the tub.
“Don’t let him get away!”
In response to another man’s shout, a hand axe aimed for my face.
I twisted my body and struck the elbow of the man holding the axe. The joint shattered, and the front part of his arm dropped limply.
“Kuaaak!”
I grabbed the head of the screaming man and pulled him in front of me. A spear shot out from the steam and dug into the chest of the captured man.
“Keolreok.”
The blood of the man pierced by the spear stained the tub red.
I pushed the dying man away and steadied my ragged breathing. Two corpses were strewn inside the tub, one outside.
‘A bull?’
The corpse of the woman who had thrown the whip caught my eye. The bull emblem on her back was clear. I wouldn’t have to ask Dwight whether he knew the Hoso Merchant Guild or not. It would be strange if he didn’t, considering the man who hated being touched so much was enjoying a bath with two women.
“Don’t panic! There are two opponents! Kill them all!”
Someone among the remaining men shouted. These bastards, it’s not like they’re in on it together, but it’s so obvious to anyone that they’re only coming at me, yet they’re spouting nonsense like ‘Kill them all!’.
Clank.
I heard the sound of chains moving. Woosh! Woosh! Along with the unpleasant sound, the shape of the regularly floating steam distorted.
I gathered mana and held it in my hand.
Kwajik!
A mace the size of a human head was stopped by my hand and halted in its tracks.
“N-no?”
The man who had swung the mace couldn’t hide his surprise. It was clear he had intended to shatter my bones and render me incapable of fighting, even if he couldn't kill me.
Bang!
When I put strength into my fingers, the mace shattered as if it had exploded.
“What? H-how?”
I dove into the surprised man’s embrace. ‘Clumsy fools,’ I said, stabbing his neck with the remaining fragment of the mace in my hand.
He looked at me with eyes that couldn’t comprehend, and spat out blood. It was as if he was asking how this could be, when there was only one of me and seven of them.
“You’re not even hunting dogs. Just dogs.”
The man mumbled, as if wanting to say something. But he couldn’t even form a proper sound before collapsing.
I composed my breathing for the next one. Three men and one woman had fallen at my hand. Now, what remained were two men, one woman, and…….
“Little brother! Are you alright?”
Dwight.
The others were nothing special, but Dwight was different. He might not be on Gwanju’s level, but he was a skilled fighter who could display that level of skill. In a precise battle, he might even be trickier than Gwanju.
“What a mess.”
Along with Dwight’s voice, the steam gradually cleared. My eyes took in the chaotic surroundings. The scattered corpses and pools of blood spoke of the intense situation.
“I haven’t been clean for long, and this is annoying.”
Dwight was looking at me, his entire body covered in blood. At his feet lay the dead extra assailants.
I maintained my tension and met his gaze.
“Are you alright?”
I asked a formal question.
Dwight approached me, a sword in one hand and the head of a dead man in the other.
Thud.
Dwight threw the head of the dead man he was holding in front of me. It was as if he was saying he had killed him for my sake.
“What on earth is this? How could something like this happen?”
“I was surprised too. Are you hurt anywhere?”
I asked, pretending to be worried, but the answer was obvious.
“I’m fine. Just a little startled.”
He was indeed fine. But he wouldn’t have been startled. For a startled person, his breathing was too even. And his eyes were full of disappointment.
I nodded and looked around at the dead men.
‘He had no intention of killing me.’
They were shabby fellows without even circles. It seems their objective wasn’t to kill me, but to injure me. Or maybe they had another plan. Not that it would be anything but obvious.
“What happened to them?”
I asked, looking at the two naked, dead women.
“I don’t know either. How could this be?”
Dwight put on a serious face and touched his forehead.
“I think an investigation is needed.”
“Yes, attacking a prince is a very serious matter. I will investigate this myself. So you don’t need to worry.”
I quietly watched Dwight, who was grinding his teeth so hard it made a sound. He was a man who didn't even bother to appear meticulous. Then again, why would he need to be meticulous in life?
“You’ll need to rest, so let’s call it a day. I will clean up here. So you should return.”
Fatigue and annoyance were mixed on Dwight’s face. Underneath it all lay a sense of displeasure. It wasn’t displeasure towards the attack. He wasn’t even checking the dead bodies at all. There was something that had deviated from what he had planned.
“I understand.”
I don’t know what it is. But whatever it is, it doesn’t matter. Because I know very well that you want to kill me and put me on display.
***
Thump!
“You dare! On your own accord!”
Dwight was venting his anger, his hand clamped around Gabriel Hoso’s neck.
“Keub! Why are you doing this?”
“Why? You pushed a wench you’ve been rolling around with onto me? Do you want to die?”
“Rolling around? What on earth are you thinking?”
At Gabriel’s words, Dwight tightened his grip.
“Trying to deceive me? You really must want to die!”
“Keuk! Deceive you? I’ve never done such a thing.”
“This bastard, until the very end!”
“Your Highness.”
Gabriel spoke in a heavy voice and grabbed Dwight’s hand.
Dwight glared at him with bloodshot eyes.
“Calm down.”
Dwight slowly breathed, calming his emotions. Then he released his grip.
“She was a child Your Highness chose yourself. You checked everything when you took her.
Don’t you remember?”
“You didn’t tell me she would be used for this!”
“It was a side job. They have to earn their keep, don’t they?”
“It’s unpleasant! Those wenches didn’t even follow my will!”
“I understand. I apologize for not informing you in advance.”
Gabriel, with a sly smile, brushed off his shoulder. It was as if he was brushing off Dwight’s tantrum.
“How was the 5th Prince?”
And then he asked casually, as if nothing had happened.
“That bastard Maxim…….”
Dwight threw himself onto the sofa and furrowed his brow deeply.
‘Catching Hans doesn’t seem to have been a coincidence.’
The rumors circulating about Maxim—Dwight hadn’t believed them. He thought the story of Hans being defeated by Maxim was a lie, that it had happened only through good luck or someone’s help. But this time, seeing it with his own two eyes, he changed his mind. No, he had no choice but to change it. Because Maxim had displayed considerable martial prowess even in a situation where everything was against him.
‘He didn’t even use the power of a god.’
That point was displeasing.
The purpose of the event Dwight had orchestrated was to gauge the extent of Maxim’s power and to which god he had sworn an oath. He had clearly seen the first. But he couldn’t confirm the second.
“Was he as the rumors say?”
Gabriel asked again.
Dwight felt a kind of thirst in his question.
“What are you so curious about?”
“With so many rumors that he’s changed so much, I can’t help it. Didn’t I send a rather useful fellow at Your Highness’s request? Right before the start of the semester.”
“Are you talking about that incident that was just a waste of money? That piece of trash.”
Dwight snorted and let out a sneer.
‘If only Mother hadn’t been so anxious.’
Barnetta’s hatred for the 5th Prince was close to an obsession. Dwight considered this to be because the king had loved the 5th Prince’s mother too much. Of course, Barnetta said it was because she was afraid that things other than her own children would gain influence.
“He wasn’t a friend to be taken down like that, but he fell so helplessly. I was curious whether that was the 5th Prince’s skill or the skill of those helping him.”
“That could be. That could be.”
Dwight gave an arrogant smile and stared at Gabriel.
“Is there something you need?”
“An Elixir. I need it before the martial arts tournament.”
At Dwight’s answer, Gabriel forced a smile.
‘It wasn’t an exaggeration.’
He recalled Gwanju’s death. And he resolved to make it so that Dwight could eliminate Maxim himself at the martial arts tournament.