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HEL SCANS
[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]
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Chapter 213
“…Suicide.”
The Hero read over the details of the failed mission report again.
The direct cause of ‘Jerry Blaze’s’ death was excessive bleeding from the mouth.
The instrument used for suicide was a sharp piece of glass.
It was strange, given that they had thoroughly inspected belongings before confinement.
‘It must have been passed to him by someone during transportation to the prison or afterward.’
They heard that even the Laman Security Division was under heavy scrutiny.
Anyway.
Jerry used the sharp glass to cut his tongue halfway and continued to swallow the pouring blood until he fainted.
When the guards found Jerry, it was already too late to intervene.
Kasim, who had returned, shook his head with a disgusted expression.
“…What could have driven him to such madness?”
“…….”
…According to the interrogation records, religion was the most suspected motive.
It was a reasonable assumption.
It’s an era of great chaos.
Although the Demon King’s religion is famous, in fact, there are countless other cults.
‘Could he have been one of them?’
The Hero picked up another document.
It was a document containing Jerry Blaze’s personal information and past actions.
There was even more surprising information recorded there.
‘He was a former mercenary.’
He had a disabled daughter.
It seemed he had been a mercenary for a long time to cover her medical expenses.
The requests he participated in and the mercenary groups he joined were all recorded without omission.
He wasn’t someone to be taken lightly.
He seemed to have had quite a rough life.
…So it was even more mysterious.
Mercenaries are people who know better than anyone else how the world works.
They are often secular people who believe in money and contracts rather than gods.
‘What could have happened to him?’
He wasn’t some ignorant villager to be swayed into becoming the leader of a cult.
‘And it seems there’s an insider in the security division.’
The Hero clenched his aching temple.
Pia briskly brought chamomile tea.
“…Pia, have you found any information about the disabled daughter?”
“Not yet. Her whereabouts have been unknown since a few months ago…”
“Let me know as soon as you find out. We need to meet her to understand the truth behind this incident.”
“Got it.”
…They had also arrested several suspects in other stolen Holy stone cases, and he was still receiving their investigation reports.
They had taken all the necessary measures for now.
The Hero stood up from his seat.
“…Are you going to see the children?”
“I think we need to have a chat.”
“Mmm, that’s a good idea.”
Extreme Team 3 had returned to the dormitory from Laman a few hours ago.
Pia recalled their depressed looks and nodded.
“They seemed really down.”
The suspect they had captured had committed suicide.
The mission they eagerly embarked on had also failed.
Their mood must be quite complex.
▼
Astera Vision Activated
▲
The Hero’s eyes scanned the map of the academy.
It was a moment when counseling was needed after a long time.
* * *
A large floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the beautiful night view of Rosenstark.
Warm lighting, comfortable chairs, and a soft carpet.
The dormitory lounge was usually bustling with children caught up in the busy curriculum of the academy.
But today was different.
An empty lounge, and even the visitors couldn’t find peace of mind.
Gerald sighed deeply.
“…As expected, it’s just us.”
“Everyone must be busy with their missions.”
“Still, who comes back so quickly after failing?”
Gerald flopped onto the couch.
Nyhill, as soon as he returned, seemed to have urgent matters and left.
There were only two of them.
Gerald muttered softly.
“Ah, it’s embarrassing. How can we face the kids?”
Their fellow members of the Extreme were always comrades, so it was okay.
But it was the other students who took different classes that were the problem.
They had always subtly shown jealousy and competition, which made them uneasy.
Their gaze could only worry.
…Embarrassment and shame.
But that was only a small part of the problems they faced.
‘Failure. We’ve utterly failed.’
They hadn’t even caught a glimpse of the relic.
The criminal they had caught didn’t confess and committed suicide.
Thus, the mission left them forever under the name of ‘failure.’
It was harder to bear than anything else, knowing that there would be no chance for redemption.
‘I’ve disappointed everyone….’
The head was a mess, and chest felt tight.
Why was that?
When the Hero entered the lounge, both Ban and Gerald reflexively bowed their heads deeply.
Gerald, in particular, looked even paler.
“Do you know whose disciples we are, huh?”
They boasted confidently but ended up failing miserably.
It was as if they tarnished the reputation of their master.
There was nothing they could say even if they had two mouths.
They were just sorry.
“There you are.”
But the Hero approached them with his usual impassive face.
And he sat down in front of them, who seemed unsure of what to do.
At the similar eye level, the corners of the children’s eyes trembled slightly.
‘What, what’s this?’
‘Is he here to scold us?’
But what came out of the Hero’s mouth was far beyond their expectations.
“How are you feeling?”
What does he mean, “how are we feeling”?
The children blinked in confusion.
“This is probably the first time you’ve failed so spectacularly.”
“…….”
“I’m asking how you feel.”
Gerald’s lips were the first to be bitten tightly.
Ban remained silent, his gaze lowered.
A brief silence.
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HEL SCANS
[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]
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Gerald finally spoke up.
“…It’s hard. Scary.”
The Hero still calmly asked.
“What’s hard? What’s scary?”
The children were speechless.
It wasn’t because they had nothing to say.
It was because there was too much to say.
But it was not easy to gather up and articulate everything.
After the failure of the mission, Ban and Gerald reflected on their emotions for the first time.
And not long after, they realized what was the most difficult and frightening thing.
This time, Ban struggled to speak.
“We feel like we’ve disappointed the people who trusted us with the mission the most… That’s right.”
“You must be talking about Priest Cain, the client.”
“…And, and also our professor. He trusted us and prepared this training.”
At that, the Hero smiled faintly.
The children finally realized that his demeanor was not as stern as during lectures.
His gentle gaze and soft gestures.
Yes, just like during counseling sessions.
Leaning back against the sofa, the Hero murmured.
“I’ve never said I’m disappointed.”
“But…!”
“I know you did your best. But the failure of this mission was inevitable. There were variables that were difficult for you to handle with your abilities.”
Sometimes there are unavoidable circumstances like that.
The Hero added.
The children listened quietly to his words.
“Disappointment… Yes. If you had said you were disappointed because of the loss of reputation or lack of reward, it would have been natural. But just now, you gave the right answer.”
Duty and responsibility.
Ban and Gerald keenly felt this, and the Hero pointed it out.
“I think I taught you well.”
Ban and Gerald looked blankly at the Hero’s calm face.
…They met eyes filled with warmth.
The comfort offered by the Hero was usually like this.
His words weren’t direct or eloquent.
But as if piercing through their souls, they always touched the right spot accurately.
Unknowingly, the children blurted out their pent-up feelings.
“S-Sir, we’re really worried about Priest Cain.”
“Why?”
“…We heard stories about the relic.”
A white jade sculpture shaped like a bird made of Holy stones.
The stolen relic was said to have been passed down through generations of Priest Cain’s family.
The Hero nodded.
“A priest with a long family history. It’s quite rare in this era.”
Since the loss of divine power, people have turned away from the gods.
The religious Churches have declined rapidly, and the clergy have become impoverished.
Even corrupt priests who squeeze out whatever faith remains among the people have emerged.
As the image of the clergy deteriorated, it had almost reached the point of being laughed at.
In such a situation, to maintain faith and inherit a relic…
…Cain and his ancestors must have had quite remarkable faith.
Ban cautiously continued.
“And he seemed like a good person.”
When they investigated the area due to the mission.
They received many praises from the residents for their small acts of kindness and help.
As the children spoke, the Hero suddenly remembered the face of an old woman guarding Harlem.
‘In a way, he’s similar to Barun.’
A person who, despite the complete rejection of faith, clings to it in any way possible and walks her own path of righteousness.
Gerald and Ban continued to explain, their expressions becoming more pained.
“That relic must have held a special meaning for him. It could have been evidence of his ancestors’ footsteps. But now that it’s gone forever, how great must his grief be.”
So, even though he wore tattered priestly robes, he must have risked his entire fortune.
Thirty gold coins.
“…That’s why we wanted to help him more.”
The boys finally bowed their heads deeply.
The Hero looked at them quietly before speaking.
“Of course, this can’t completely replace the precious relic…”
▼
Access Key of Valber
▲
What descended from the empty void space was a sculpture of a white hawk.
Height 30cm, width 15cm.
It resembled the stolen relic remarkably, to the point of being surprising.
It even emitted a faint divine aura, as if containing Holy stones.
After hearing about the children’s failed mission, the Hero had asked Noubelmag to quickly make it.
A special consolation for the children whose mission was thoroughly ruined by external interference.
“Uh, uh…”
The children’s eyes widened as if on saucers.
The Hero lightly remarked.
“The cost will be deducted from the next mission.”
The children showed no signs of dissatisfaction, even if everything was taken.
Ban cautiously picked up the sculpture.
“I-if this is it…”
Wouldn’t even the gloomy priest be somewhat pleased?
Ban and Gerald felt a little relieved from the tightness in their chests.
Watching over such disciples, the Hero was very pleased to see that they had grown into people who felt their moral responsibilities deeply.
“Well, then, we’ll be off!”
They were about to get up immediately to send the sculpture to Ramahn.
But just as they were about to do so—
Creak—
Someone opened the door to the lounge and entered.
She walked briskly towards the three gathered there and stopped abruptly when she saw them.
Bowing her head towards the Hero.
Ban couldn’t help but mutter under his breath.
“…Leciel?”
Had she already finished the mission and returned?
As expected.
But what mission had she taken again?
Certainly, Leciel must have been near Laman
Ban suppressed his urge to burst with joy and continued speaking.
“How was the mission…”
But he couldn’t finish his sentence.
The Hero and Gerald were already frozen.
Ban pointed incredulously at the white hawk sculpture in her hands.
“Why, why do you have that!?”
The situation was taking on a new turn.
——————
HEL SCANS
[Translator – Night]
[Proofreader – Gun]
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