Old People Don’t Hold Hands - Chapter 116



Only Krnovel

Episode 116, The Fugitive (5)

It was in EndWorld that I learned about the ‘Masters of Pale Blood’ when they had grown to a considerable size.

At that time, there were only rumors going around that there were scary ‘humans’ who sucked blood…

Even then, I thought it was strange that such rumors were circulating about humans, not monsters in the labyrinth, so I dug into it.

What emerged after all that investigation was the ‘Master of Pale Blood’.

When I first learned that there was a guy who could mass-produce manifesters, I was quite intrigued.

Even at that time, I didn’t do anything about him right away.

Of course, I was planning on dealing with it because it would cause problems later… … .

These kids should move when things get bigger, and they can get bigger rewards, right?

So, as we left it alone, what followed was the rebellion of the manifesters.

I remember it as a fairly large incident for a crude rebellion.

There were quite a few manifesters, and they moved cleverly.

They attacked the chosen people within the Holy Land.

In addition, even a slight injury can cause immediate death due to loss of blood.

It was to the point where all the priests of healing had to be mobilized and pour out their power.

So, compared to their level, quite a lot of troops were consumed… … .

At that time, it was Geumdae that decisively stopped the rebellion.

And thanks to that event, Geumdae was even nominated as a candidate for the vacant position of Corps Commander.

Of course, I knew the limitations of that position, but I was given the title of chosen person instead.

Anyway, the important thing here is.

These guys are definitely a group that will have a big impact in the future.

Also, in a case like this where I am a manifestor and have a headache because of my status, for me.

They would be more helpful.

So, we decided to have a conversation for now.

Of course, we can’t have that conversation in public, so let’s move to a separate place.

We went to a place where there were few people, and only the leader moved separately.

The Robb group and all survivors from our side remained where they were.

Of course, if we left them alone, something might happen again, so we kept the Robb guys tightly bound.

When I told him that I was going to capture the group, the leader hesitated at first.

Since I was going to die if I refused anyway, I had no choice but to accept it obediently.

So over there was this strapping Veronica girl, this big guy, and this other girl.

On this side, the leader who was not captured was with me.

“… … First of all, thank you for your understanding.”

Well, there’s no need to even understand it.

There was another reason why the leader was not captured.

“Okay, let’s try using that power first.”

As I spoke, waving my hand slightly, the guy smiled awkwardly and extended his hand.

The red crystals spread out from the bastard’s hand and soon formed a curtain.

A dome-shaped curtain large enough to envelop us.

Ohhh… … ?

I lightly tapped the curtain with my hand.

Because of this, it was not necessary to tie him up tightly.

They said that if you wrap it like this, you can block out sight and sound.

If you talk in here, it’s like a whisper mode.

Well, there’s no point in talking about it here outside.

As soon as the curtain was drawn, the conversation got straight to the point.

“Ah, ahem. You already know about pale blood, right?”

At his question, I stopped knocking on the wall and looked in his direction.

When I was playing the game, I started hearing rumors about them at a point when I had pretty high gold levels… … .

There wouldn’t even be any such rumors now.

To begin with, the Hong Gil-dong incident has been causing more of a stir recently.

So there was only one stance I could take toward him.

“No? I don’t know.”

When he came out like this, the leader hesitated for a moment.

As if he thought I couldn’t not know.

“Then why did you insist on talking to us?”

……what.

I had already thought of an excuse to make in this situation.

therefore.

“You clearly said you were the owner of pale blood.”

“… … Yes, right?”

“But I find it suspicious that all of your abilities are related to blood. That’s why I wanted to hear your story.”

And I just stared at him as if to say, “Take this.”

The guy flinches and has no choice but to answer like this.

“Oh, I see. That could be the case… … .”

That could be the case, but damn it.

I think you too are probably thinking that something is strange.

“… … Then let me start from the beginning. As you may already know, we are manifesters.”

“I knew that much.”

“And we… … chose to become manifesters.”

“You chose it yourself?”

“Ahem, yes. We were orphans living in District 4. We were very poor. We lived by begging… … .”

“for a moment.”

“Yes, yes?”

“We don’t have time, so do you plan on telling me every single detail of your life story?”

“… … .”

“Speak simply and clearly.”

“Ahem, oh, I see. As usual, while we were begging, a group of men came to us.”

“… … .”

“They said they would give us money if we ate this decision. It was only about 100,000 neels, but at that time, we were children who were starving and didn’t even have 5 neels.”

“So you made a decision because of money and became a Manifester?”

“… … Yes. At that time, eight people, including me, ate the decision, but only about five survived.”

“That must be the five of us here now.”

“… … Yes. After that, I managed to live in hiding, but I was eventually caught and had to run away here.”

“But why did you come to the labyrinth?”

When I asked him this, he paused for a moment.

He said this.

“… … Since becoming manifesters, we have been receiving orders from those who gave us the decision.”

“… … Hmm.”

An order… … ?

“They said we have to find someone to be our king.”

“That must be the owner of the pale blood.”

“… … That’s correct.”

Ohh… … , that’s right.

Well, it’s a bit different from what I knew.

I thought that the owner of the pale blood came first, and that the manifesters were mass-produced through his abilities.

But they mass-produced the manifestors in advance and created a king over them… … .

So, the question here is:

The question is, what kind of people are the ones who started this first?

“Do you know anything about the guys who gave the orders?”

“No. I don’t know. No matter what I do, I can’t find out any information. Other than the fact that he’s a manifester… … .”

Hmm, that’s right.

“So what do you want to tell me about that position?”

From then on, he answered my questions without hesitation.

Meeting my gaze, so that I could see straight ahead through the robe.

“I am confident that you will become the master of pale blood.”

“……what?”

For now, I couldn’t help but react bewildered to the guy.

Since we used up a lot of Emission and Goods in the previous battle, shouldn’t he know?

The fact that I will generally be the successor to the Libero is something to ponder.

“I understand, but I am the successor to Revalo. But how can I get there?”

“… … Even if you don’t hide it, we already know the truth.”

“Actually, Irani?”

Let’s try to control our expressions and watch him.

As if he couldn’t waste any more time, he came right away.

“… … We ate the decision and gained powers related to blood. I have the ability of an absorber and an emitter.”

“That’s something I already know.”

“… … Most of them, like me, do not have many powers, and many of them specialize in one thing. One can make crystals grow out of their bodies. Another can imitate the body of someone who has consumed their blood.”

“I know that too.”

“… … Another one can move to the place where the blood mark is engraved.”

“That too… … .”

When you try to say that you know.

He continued right away saying:

“… … and another one can temporarily recognize his comrades through blood.”

“comrades?”

“… … So, you’re saying that you can identify manifesters like me?”

“… … .”

“After the battle, I explored with that power, and found that all of my companions, except for the man with the ponytail, were manifesters.”

When I heard the bastard’s words, my hand reflexively reached for the sword handle.

This thought just occurred to me.

So what this means is that he knows that we are manifesters.

Kill him, okay?

As if he had read my mind because of my subsequent actions, he immediately waved his hand and said.

“We have no intention of using this as a threat or anything! We plan to keep quiet for the rest of our lives.”

“… … .”

“Well, instead, only the manifester… … , I know can become the master of the pale blood. And when we were running away, they said that the one who would become the master of the blood was definitely in the labyrinth.”

“… So you’re saying that while you were running away, you ended up in a labyrinth?”

And the person I met there thought I would become the owner of Pale Blood.

“Yes, that’s right! That’s what I was going to tell you.”

“Hmm… … .”

When I see you say it like that, I don’t think it’s a lie.

It was impossible to believe this and just let them live.

First of all, it is true that information that should not be caught by them has been leaked.

So what should we do… … .

“If you will be our master, we will have no choice but to obey you. So there is no need to betray.”

“So, is this something like becoming your king in order to trust you?”

“I… … , I think you are the right person for the job.”

“What is the reason?”

“This is… … , I can’t tell you right now.”

“Even if I die if I don’t tell you that?”

“I, really. The owner of blood can only be proven by blood… …!”

… … I have no idea what you are talking about.

Since there didn’t seem to be any lies in what he said, I took my hand away from the sword.

So the guy seemed noticeably relieved.

Well, let’s get this sorted out.

“It’s not that I’m not interested, but I have no intention of joining you right now.”

“Oh, I see.”

“You guys must know that we’re being chased by the temple right now, right?”

“… … Yes, I know.”

“I also received information about you from the temple in advance. There are probably other adventurers besides us who received information.”

“At the temple… … , I see.”

“But I am very interested in what you guys have to say. I am willing to contact you later, if not right away.”

“Does that mean… … that you’ll spare my life?”

“okay.”

“… … !”

“Instead, I need proof that I hunted you guys.”

“Evidence… … , you mean?”

“Yes, evidence.”

Even if I leave these guys alive and go into the labyrinth.

It’s an excuse for me to report to Aizel safely and get out.

At the same time, this is proof that they have safely escaped the labyrinth and will not be chased any longer.

In other words, it would be proof that I killed them.

So, I quickly drew my sword.

“… … !”

I aimed it at a part of his body.

To be exact, on his left hand.

And to the surprised guy, he asked:

“Can you give me your little finger as a token?”