Old People Don’t Hold Hands - Chapter 118



Only Krnovel

Episode 118, The Fugitive (7)

… … When asked if I had seen the manifesters, I froze and took in their appearance.

There were three opponents in total.

But each and every one of them was wearing good equipment worthy of a 4th-level adventurer.

What is the power… … , I can’t see the sign.

As I was just looking at them in an unexpected situation, the skinny man holding the document looked at me.

He started whispering something to the short man standing right in front of him.

Then the short guy looked at me and suddenly asked me this.

“Are you the one who fought in the temple of Nigrosi?”

“……however?”

The short man smiled as if he was glad to hear the answer.

“Well, that’s fortunate. If you have a connection with the Negrosi, you must have heard about it, right?”

As I kept quiet and looked down at the short guy, he also looked over at us.

Then he opened his mouth.

“I’m talking about the man who escaped into the labyrinth.”

“… … .”

Instead of responding to those words, he turned his gaze towards Berman.

To Berman, whose expression was not good even when he came this far.

I gave a speech during break time.

The story goes that the manifesters will definitely be executed, so do not reveal to outsiders that you have met them.

Berman didn’t seem to like what I said, but since he had no other choice, he trusted the oath and seemed to have no choice but to accept it.

However, I was worried about the situation changing from before, so I checked on Berman.

He just looked at the three adventurers without saying anything.

… … Is it okay to still believe in false oaths?

Just as I was about to think that.

As I looked, Berman also turned his head and started looking straight at me.

When our eyes met, a strange sensation suddenly stabbed my head.

… … Chew.

Something feels ominous?

“Haven’t you heard anything from the temple? I thought you would have heard it?”

As I was locking eyes with Berman, the short guy asked again.

I looked at him again and continued what I was going to say.

“No, I’ve heard of it.”

I’m trying to wrap up the story by talking roughly.

Suddenly a voice was heard from behind.

“If it’s a group of presenters, I’ve seen it.”

When I turned my head to the source of the sound, what was there was.

It was Berman, looking at me with a hardened expression.

As Berman opened his mouth, the expressions on the three adventurers’ faces changed.

Among them, a man with glasses and a document in his hand looked particularly closely at Berman.

“… … You met them? How did you know they were Apparitions?”

“We met and fought. … … As a result, I lost two of my comrades.”

“… … Hmm, is that true?”

“Yes, it’s true. I almost lost my life too.”

At the words of the suspicious document guy, even the healer confirmed Berman’s words in a fluster.

Things started to get a little weirder.

First of all, they looked at me strangely because I didn’t say anything about seeing the apparition.

Especially the guy holding the documents.

“… … Really? So you guys saw it too?”

When the short man asked, I couldn’t help but nod my head at his words.

“But why didn’t you tell me first? You must have been in a position to catch those guys too.”

I was speechless for a moment, but I had plenty of excuses to make to them.

Hunting is ultimately a competition, right?

After all, only those who succeed in hunting can receive a proper reward.

So, I looked at them confidently and said this.

“I’ll catch it.”

“… … What, what did you say?”

“I didn’t say anything because I’m going to catch them. Before you guys start looking for them, I’m going to catch them anyway.”

“… … Are you saying that you deliberately withheld information in order to catch me?”

“… … .”

Let’s just look at the short guy’s words without confirming or denying them.

The man holding the document clicked his tongue and muttered.

“… … Tsk, anyway, those are your successors.”

Because they are the successors of the Libero clan, who are famous for being arrogant and reckless.

I think you misunderstood.

Despite their reactions, I deliberately straightened my shoulders as if to show off.

That’s the image I was hoping for in the first place.

I can’t even dare to think what the intention might be.

He is a character who is arrogant, reckless, and literally a total loser.

“You are already my target. So don’t worry about it.”

“… … You marked it?”

“Yeah. These are the guys I’m going to catch.”

The man holding the document turned his head as if he was really shocked by my insistence.

The short guy also tilted his head as if he didn’t understand.

“… … We have no intention of competing with you on this matter. We just need to catch them.”

Let’s just stare at him with our arms crossed, clearly showing that we don’t like what he says.

The short guy opened his mouth again.

“Ah, ahem! So you’re saying we should cooperate. We only need to be recognized for catching them, and you’ll get all the rewards. How about this?”

“No, I don’t need it.”

Even though I told you this, I firmly refused.

The short guy looked puzzled, as if he was looking at a crazy person.

The document guy, who had been on guard from the beginning, started glaring at me with an openly suspicious expression.

Even so, there is no evidence that I negotiated with the manifestor, so what can I do if you look at me like that?

“Just as you have your own circumstances, we have our own circumstances too. You know that much, right?”

When he said this, the short guy reluctantly nodded.

“What… … , I understand, but I think it’s a regrettable decision. Still, I guess there’s nothing we can do about it. I wish you the best of luck.”

Just as I was about to end my conversation with them, saying those words.

“… … Okay, please wait a moment!”

Berman opened his mouth again.

Berman looked at the three men who were trying to move away and said this.

“Um, how about taking me with you?”

“… … You?”

“Yes! The coefficient is not high yet, but the power is quite useful. Above all, since I have a record of fighting them, I have some understanding of their power.”

“… … Oh my?”

“Well, when fighting the manifesters, isn’t it important to understand their powers? I’ll tell you all the information I have.”

“… … Our goal is not to explore the labyrinth, but to find those guys. Is that okay?”

“That’s better. I… … .”

Berman, whose words trailed off for a moment, looked at me again.

He said this.

“Because I absolutely have to get revenge on them.”

“Hey, Mr. Berman? But it’s still dangerous, so stay safe by Mr. Declen’s side… … .”

When the healer tried to stop him, Berman forcefully pushed her away.

“I’ll tell you everything I know about them. If possible, I’ll even help you execute them.”

As Berman said this, the three men’s expressions slowly changed.

With the expression of an adventurer who is assessing his opponents quite coolly.

And after a moment of silence, the man holding the document opened his mouth.

“… … I don’t know if you are the kind of person who can help us.”

“The powers they possess and my powers are quite compatible. B-It will definitely help!”

So, the document guy whispered something to the short guy again.

At the end, the short guy looked at Berman and asked.

“Can you vouch for that?”

“Yes, you can just listen to it. I’m sure it will help you.”

“If you catch them and don’t get the reward, will that be okay?”

“… … Yes. Please just execute those guys.”

“Then, follow me.”

With their permission, Berman quickly walked towards them.

Meanwhile, the adventurers looked at the healer.

“Weren’t you part of the same crowd as this guy?”

When asked like this, the healer hid behind Nowen’s body and muttered:

“I, I just want to get out of the labyrinth safely. I will stay here… … .”

“Hmm, then I guess there’s nothing I can do. I guess I’ll go for now.”

When Berman and the three men were about to leave, leaving behind the healer who had decided to stay with our group.

“Berman.”

… … I called out to Berman, who had turned his back on me.

“You must have already sworn, but you still don’t trust me even after hearing the oath you swore to Lord Libero?”

Of course the guy doesn’t know.

That it was a lie and a false oath.

Still, Berman had no choice but to believe my oath.

I know that I am the successor to Revel.

Because in this EndWorld, there is no promise as powerful as an oath.

But, Berman… … .

“… … .”

They just followed me without giving me any answer.

As I watched Berman walk away in silence, I could only scratch the back of my head.

“… … Phew.”

If things get messed up here, they’re pretty messed up.

***

Without leaving any answer to DeClen’s words.

Berman left them and went on, joining up with new people.

While away from the Declen herd.

Two of the three adventurers, with quite serious faces, asked Berman earnestly what had happened.

And to their questions, Berman bowed his head for a moment.

All he could do was answer like this.

“… …we were taken by surprise and a battle ensued.”

“Hmm, so you were taken by surprise.”

“Yes. But… … , I had no choice but to take it unilaterally.”

Berman, who had been biting his lips as if indignant, continued speaking with difficulty.

“As a result, we had no choice but to lose two of our colleagues.”

At Berman’s story, the adventurer holding the document snorted.

“You want revenge for losing your comrade? That’s some great camaraderie.”

“… …Common, stop it. I think you have your own circumstances, too.”

“They were not just colleagues! Veronica in particular was my old friend and… … .”

When Berman could no longer speak,

The three adventurers looked at each other and said nothing.

The woman named ‘Veronica’ that Berman speaks of.

Because I could guess what kind of relationship he had with me.

“Ah, ahem! Then, can you tell me all the information about them like I said before?”

To change the gloomy atmosphere, the short man opened his mouth.

Berman, who had been lost in thought, nodded.

Let’s talk about the powers we saw and heard while fighting them.

The three adventurers looked at each other with quite serious faces.

“Using blood… …, what a strange power.”

“You have to be careful with the details. The moment you bleed, you will fall under their power.”

While the adventurers were discussing the powers of the manifesters.

Berman, who had been watching the scene silently, opened his mouth again.

“… … And there’s something else I want to tell you.”

“Hmm? Tell me.”

“That guy I just saw named DeClen. He also fought with them.”

“… … Really? You even fought a battle?”

“Yes. Thanks to our overwhelming force, we were able to capture them.”

The short man stroked his chin as if something was strange about Berman’s words.

“… … You even arrested him, but you haven’t executed him yet?”

“… …Dicklen released them.”

“… … ?”

The three adventurers looked at him with a puzzled look.

Berman gritted his teeth for a moment, then continued.

“… … It seemed like they had made a deal. They even swore that they would execute him when the time was right, but for some reason, they felt uneasy.”

“It may be a little strange, but if you swore an oath, it can’t be a lie.”

The man holding the document spoke with a cold face in response to the short man’s words.

“If they had planned to execute them in the first place, they wouldn’t have let them go.”

“Ahem, I agree with that.”

“… … .”

The short man changed his words.

Following this, even the taciturn man who had not said a word until then nodded as if in agreement.

Berman looked at them and spoke for the last time.

“So, I have a suggestion.”

“Tell me.”

“Instead of searching, we go after DeClen.”

“… … Tail Deklen?”

“……yes.”

The three adventurers exchanged glances as if to make sense.

Berman clenched his fists so hard that they turned white.

He said this.

“If there was a deal, I’m sure they’ll want to meet up with them again.”