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EPISODE 133 – TO THE ROYAL CAPITAL (3)
“First of all, a mid-ranking demonic human would probably be sent.”
Cordelia nodded at Jude’s words.
Because she agreed and thought that they wouldn’t dispatch a new low-ranking demonic human now.
“During the time they last chased us, we easily cut down the low-ranking demonic human. So Saluzia probably thinks of us to be barely as strong… as one low-ranking demonic human.”
“Barely?”
“She’ll rate us to be that much. Think about it. We had a hard time fighting the low-ranking demonic human in Langesthei, right? It’s only been a few months from that time, so she wouldn’t think that we had become stronger than how we were at that time.”
“You’re right.”
Cordelia meekly answered and smiled at the end of her words.
Because she enjoyed the fact that they were several times – no, almost ten times stronger than what Saluzia had thought.
“She’ll dispatch a mid-ranking demonic human anyway. And because of Saluzia’s personality, there’s no way that she’ll send just one. Considering her failure when she personally went last time, she’ll probably send three of them.”
Saluzia had a rather cautious personality.
And given the precedent so far, the number of demonic humans who Saluzia mobilized to capture them was always more than two.
“She must have been really worried and impatient to capture us given that she personally came last time. She must have been put in a difficult spot within their organization because of us.”
“So she’s sending three mid-ranking demonic humans?”
“Yes, that’s likely because of Saluzia’s personality.”
Cordelia nodded her head when Jude affirmed it.
Somehow, it must be true if Jude was the one who said it.
“And perhaps…the mid-ranking demonic humans who would be coming to capture us would be them – Lou, Ken, and Kargo.”
“You know who’s coming?”
“Because Saluzia doesn’t have many options. Mid-ranking demonic humans are not a common resource.”
“Huh…not common?”
“I mean, Haraken pretty much poured all of his resources in the wild lands. So the Devil’s Eye must have suffered a huge loss from his operation in the wild lands. They lost a lot of mid-ranking demonic humans after all.”
“Ohhh.”
“Anyway, the Devil’s Hand is made up of six branches, and Saluzia is the head of one of them. The number of mid-ranking demonic humans under her are six at most.”
“But it’s three out of six. Why did you think it’s Lou, Ken, and…”
“Kargo.”
“Yes, Kargo. Anyway, to guarantee that it’s those three…”
“I’m sure of it.”
At Jude’s words, Cordelia blinked her eyes again and pondered.
What is it?
What makes him confident to say that?
“Should I tell you?”
“Yes, yes, tell me.”
Cordelia asked like a girl curious about a magic trick, and Jude smiled before he said.
“As you know, our information about the Devil’s Hand isn’t perfect. We didn’t know that there was someone with a foresight ability even if it was imperfect right now.”
“So?”
“But that doesn’t mean we don’t know them at all. The personality and bearing of those who were grouped together can be grasped from their dialogue and mutual relationship that was shown in the game.”
Saluzia had a cautious nature, so she handled everything meticulously.
In other words, she was a boss who would consider the compatibility of her subordinates when she gave them joint missions.
“Sending people with a bad relationship with each other will induce competition…so it’s not good to group those people when they must succeed in their mission. Saluzia has a conservative personality, so she’ll choose those who can work well together. Therefore, if we put together all the evidence so far, the most likely combination we’ll get is-”
“Lou, Ken, and Kargo?”
Jude smiled and Cordelia gulped nervously.
Because it was so amazing to see Jude come up with that conclusion just from analyzing the facts they had.
Of course, there was a possibility that Jude’s words were wrong…
‘No, I don’t think so.’
He was none other than Jude.
‘I’m really glad that Jude is on my side.’
It would have been terrible if Jude was on someone else’s side.
‘Yes, he’s terrible. He makes fun of me all the time. He’s evil.’
Cordelia frowned as she remembered the events of the past five years, and Jude looked confused as he was unaware of her thoughts.
“Cordelia?”
“You’re mean.”
“What?”
“Um, anyway. What’s the next?”
Cordelia asked with sparkling eyes, and Jude was confused again but did not dare question it, so he continued his explanation.
“Moving on, since we know who’s coming, we can build a strategy based on their personalities and abilities.”
“Are we using traps?”
“Yes. And the place will be here. It’s Markville, a town that is a part of Count Ficus’ fief. Our opponent’s foresight ability can only foresee the approximate place, so we don’t have to be afraid that they’ll find out the location of the traps we’ll set up.”
Cordelia was startled and surprised when Jude tapped and moved his fingers as if he was drawing figures in the air.
“Why?”
“I mean, won’t people get hurt if an explosion happens in the town? Like innocent civilian casualties.”
“Wait, why are you talking about an explosion?”
“It’s a trap.”
“It is a trap, so why would it explode?”
“Because traps explode. It’s an unspoken rule that traps explode.”
“I don’t know when such an unspoken rule was established, but we’re not doing that this time.”
“Tsk, how boring.”
Cordelia pouted her lips, and Jude unwittingly glanced at the detonating cord bundle on her waist.
I made it because I wanted to make her happy, but was that a mistake?
“Anyway, what kind of trap is it?”
“It’s a bit quieter, moderate, and simple trap.”
With a smile on his face, Jude stared into space as he thought of Markville’s map in his mind.
“First of all, there is only one inn in Markville where nobles like us can stay. In other words, if we can lure them into the fact that we’re heading to Markville, they’re going to focus on the only inn – White Dove Inn.”
The two knew who were coming, so they knew how to welcome them too.
“What if they don’t come to Markville?”
“Then we’ll have to set up the next trap. But it’s highly likely that they will come this time.”
“Because Saluzia is impatient?”
“Bingo.”
She, who was a high-ranking demonic human and also the branch head, had personally gone in the past to capture the two of them.
Perhaps she wanted to go this time too.
‘But she must be busy with their plans for the royal capital now.’
The founding anniversary was also a very important event for the Devil’s Hand.
‘In any case, Saluzia is in a hurry, and now that we’ve come out looking so defenseless, there’s a high possibility that she’ll make a quick decision.’
Therefore, she would settle on White Dove Inn, Markville’s only luxury accommodation.
“We’ll only get one room.”
“Uh, wait. Just one?”
“It’s a trap after all. We won’t really need two, right?”
“We’ll only end up sleeping if they don’t come and trigger the trap.”
“That…you’re right. Well, but haven’t we done it before?”
They always shared the same room in the wild lands.
“And this is to narrow down their targets into one too.”
“Ugghhhh.”
Cordelia puffed her cheeks as she hesitated, but soon nodded her head.
They had done it before as Jude had said.
‘We’ll be saving on expenses too. Yes, that’s it.’
Cordelia was relieved after she added another reason, and she focused on their plan again.
“What about the room?”
“We’ll noisily enter the room, and then sneak out and hide ourselves in a place where we can watch the room.”
“Is that possible?”
“Yes, I know the secret passage.”
Jude replied so naturally to Cordelia’s question that she blinked her eyes but decided to stop thinking about it and soon said.
“JudeWiki is awesome.”
“Hehe, it’s not called a wiki for no reason.”
Jude pretended to show off before he concluded his explanation.
“We’ll defeat the one who try to attack us or run away. It’s simple but effective.”
In order to catch an assassin, it was necessary to bring out the hidden assassin from its hiding place.
“But Jude, will it really work as you said?”
“It will turn out well. It’s Lou, Ken, and Kargo.”
He designed the trap based on his understanding of the personalities of the three demonic humans.
But it was at that moment.
Jude’s confident smile suddenly turned into a mischievous one as he said.
“Shall we make a bet?”
“What kind of bet?”
“If my plan will work or not.”
“What will we bet?”
“Hmm…well. How about granting a wish for anything?”
“Anything?”
“Yes, anything.”
Jude said with a good-natured smile, but Cordelia knew.
That Jude’s expression was what he makes when he scams someone.
‘But.’
Wouldn’t it be impossible for Jude to get everything right such as where they would attack, their numbers, and who would be there?
“If you miss one, will I win?”
“Of course.”
“You said ‘anything’?”
“Yes, anything you wish. Well, it can’t be helped if you’re scared.”
The provoking Jude had a wily smile, and Cordelia pouted and thought about it as she clenched her fists.
Because her desire to win, which had been burning every day for the past 5 years, had been lit anew.
“Okay! Let’s do it!”
“Thank you, dear customer. You can sign here.”
Jude pretended to give her a paper in the air, and Cordelia pretended to stamp her fingerprint on it.
“Thank you. Then shall we wait for the result?”
Jude said, and Cordelia somehow felt something but quickly shook her head.
Even if he is Jude, he can still get one thing wrong.
He’ll get one thing wrong.
He has to be wrong.
Please.
And that night.
When darkness descended because the clouds covered both the light of the moons and the stars.
“Well, it really happened.”
Jude abominably said and Cordelia was about to cry.
***
Lou, Ken, and Kargo.
Among the three mid-ranking demonic humans of the Devil’s Hand, it was Kargo who personally entered the inn.
He was bewildered by the empty room and searched under the bed, inside the closet, or any place where they could possibly hide, but not a single trace of Jude and Cordelia was seen.
‘What happened?’
He clearly saw them entering the inn.
But nothing will change if he denied the reality in front of him.
Kargo went out of the balcony and signaled that the operation had failed.
Then he tilted his head again.
‘What?’
Why is a reply not coming back?
Kargo shook his head and shrugged at the ominous feeling that began to deeply creep inside his heart. He sent a signal again.
‘What’s going on? What in the hell is going on?’
Lou and Ken should have received his signal.
But not even one of them were responding.
Something must have gone wrong.
That was all he could think of.
‘Let’s get out of here first.’
It was foolish to check on Lou and Ken in this current situation. The priority was to get out of here first, even if it was only Kargo himself.
Having made up his mind, Kargo took a few breaths and then left the room slowly. He went through the hallway and took a normal route instead of jumping down from the balcony, and after leaving the inn as inconspicuously as possible, he hid himself in the shadows.
He left the town just like that.
It all went smoothly for him.
He was able to get out of the town without any difficulty.
“Haa.”
Kargo unconsciously sighed in relief.
But he was suddenly robbed of his breath.
Chwalalalalak-!
Right after he left the town.
A place where damage would not reach the town.
The black detonating cord wrapped around Kargo’s neck in an instant.
Its swiftness seemed to be like that of a live octopus’ tentacles.
“Gak?!”
Kargo immediately transformed into his demonic human form after being strangled. His body instantly grew, and three horns rose above his head.
“Who are you!”
At the moment he cried out, the detonating cord flew in the air again. Kargo tore off the detonating cord that was wrapped around his neck, and roughly swung his right hand that had turned into a blade, but the flying detonating cords swam in the air to avoid his attack.
Just like tentacles again, the detonating cords wrapped around Kargo’s left arm and waist.
“Ugh?!”
A telekinetic power.
And it set off one after another.
Babababang!
The detonating cord exploded and Kargo’s left arm fell. His waist was also severely injured, and his neck was half broken.
“Haa!”
But Kargo had a regenerative power. He immediately recovered from his wounds and threw his gaze towards the direction from which the detonating cords came from, but a golden whirlwind suddenly blew behind his back.
One blow.
Jude’s fist that was filled with the energy of the black dragon swiftly penetrated Kargo’s back. It struck the heart and destroyed it.
“Ahh!”
Kargo turned around as he vomited black blood. But he couldn’t see Jude. A golden whirlwind appeared again, and a blade of light flew in the dark towards Kargo’s chest and pierced the spirit stone that was right next to his heart.
Heavenly Judgment.
The pure white blade was filled with the angel’s power.
“Light of Judgment.”
As Cordelia chanted it like a spell, the blade of Heavenly Judgment shone again, and Kargo’s entire body turned into black ashes and scattered in the air.
They defeated him through a series of surprise attacks.
A ring of light appeared around Cordelia and Jude.
“As expected of my angel.”
Jude let out in admiration, and Cordelia hmphed and recovered the Heavenly Judgment. Because she was happy that she was able to properly use her angelic power one way or another.
“And…”
“And?”
“That’s all you’re praising me?”
Jude blinked his eyes when Cordelia asked, but he soon understood it.
“Detonating cord.”
“Ahem, ahem.”
“It was amazing. I really thought that it was a tentacle.”
“Ahem, ahem.”
Cordelia let out an aura that was asking for more praise, but Jude stopped there for now. Because they still had some work to do.
“Okay, let’s begin our counterattack. Let’s join the Guardians of the Holy Cross at the city of Minette.”
When Jude suddenly spoke in a firm tone, Cordelia blinked her eyes but soon came into an agreement. Because she met eyes with Jude.
“Okay, I understand. Is it a large-scale surprise attack?”
“The troops of the Guardians in the Sälen Kingdom will gather together. Now’s the time to eradicate the Devil’s Hand in the north.”
Jude said that and looked at her again, and Cordelia perfectly understood him as they began to quickly run.
5 minutes passed by like that.
Cordelia turned to Jude when she thought that they had widened their distance enough.
“What was that? Are we really attacking them? Was there such an event? No, did you talk to the Guardians?”
“No, there isn’t. It’s a lie of course.”
“It’s a lie?”
“Yes, a lie.”
Jude smiled as he explained to Cordelia who began to frown.
“Because Kargo can leave residual thoughts. Probably by tomorrow morning, the Devil’s Hand will find out that they died. They will also collect Kargo’s residual thoughts.”
And Kargo’s residual thoughts would completely convey their conversation.
And the changes that would result from it…
Saluzia’s branch would stop chasing Jude and Cordelia and instead prepare for the Guardians of the Holy Cross’ surprise attack which they didn’t know when it would begin.
He even mentioned clearly the name of the city where their branch headquarters was located, so they couldn’t just ignore it.
“Wow, you damn scammer.”
Cordelia said in admiration, and Jude smirked as he asked like always.
“So, you don’t like it?”
“I love it so much. It’s so good.”
Cordelia broadly smiled, and the satisfied Jude gently stretched out his hand. It was to escort her.
“Well then, my princess. Shall we go to the Temple of Life?”
The Devil’s Hand would probably not care for them for some time.
“Yes, Daddy.”
Cordelia grinned and answered, but she climbed on Jude’s back instead of holding his hand. Jude then created a golden whirlwind.
“By the way, Princess.”
“Yes, Milord.”
“I can wish for anything, right?”
Cordelia stiffened instead of answering him, and Jude had a shameless smile.
“What should I wish for?”
Cordelia unconsciously gulped in nervousness, and Jude deliberately stopped talking.
By doing that, Cordelia would come up with all sorts of delusions on her own.
‘So cute.’
Jude mischievously smiled before he quietly turned into a gale.
He headed to the Temple of Life with Cordelia who was beginning to grumble.