Old People Don’t Hold Hands - Chapter 119



Only Krnovel

Episode 119, Detected (1)

Kikruk, kikruk, ker, yuck!

Dudu, dam.

As we go up, we deal with the wolves that pop out more frequently.

I was quickly climbing up to the boss room.

During that time, most of the work of dealing with mobs was done by Biella and Nowen.

In short, it’s like this.

Kkuruk, kwok!

The red thorn wolf that tried to attack from a distance was stopped by Biella shooting her arrow.

The vampire wolf that rushes at you from closer range is blocked by Nowen.

In particular, Nowen lifted a vampire wolf and tore it apart.

… … This is truly incredible strength.

Of course, since he is a 5th-level adventurer and has inherited the power of struggle, it would be natural for him to do this much.

Well, no matter how you look at it, he’s a talent that’s desirable.

In particular, the successor to the power of struggle was an absolutely necessary composition to fight the gods on high floors.

After easily dealing with the mobs, we were able to reach the boss room.

In the meantime, time passed and it became night.

We went back and set up base camp in an area a little away from the boss room entrance.

“… … Hmm? But why don’t you go straight to the boss room?”

Well, Nowen asked this question as if he was curious.

First, he kept saying that he had work to do.

After hearing the explanation, Nowen seemed to have some idea why I was doing that.

“Are you going to go catch them again?”

“For now, yes.”

Nowen frowned for a moment as if he was puzzled by my answer.

Soon, he just nodded as if he understood.

And time passed and it was 10:49 PM.

Since we had already spent the night on the second floor, there was bound to be a catastrophe at midnight.

That meant it was time to fulfill the deal with the manifester.

I quickly got up as soon as I checked my watch.

“I have something to do, so I’ll be back soon.”

Diana remained silent in response to my words without asking any questions.

As I drank the water, Biella suddenly asked me a question without any warning.

“Huh? Sir, where are you going now?”

“… … I have something to take care of for a moment.”

When I explained it to this extent, Biella nodded as if he understood to some extent.

As Biella agreed, they were about to leave base camp.

Suddenly, Nowen grabbed my wrist by the chin.

“Mr. Nowen, what is it?”

“No, that’s what I mean… … .”

“… … ?”

I stood up and stared at Nowen, who was holding my wrist.

He hesitated for a moment before answering.

“Are you planning to meet those… … and execute them?”

There was no malice in the expression on Nowen’s face as he asked the question.

Even the ill will that the successors usually feel towards the manifester.

And to Nowen’s question.

“… … I think so.”

I had no choice but to answer like this.

If I tell the truth to Nowen, things will get complicated.

At my answer, Nowen tilted his head again as if he didn’t understand.

“But, DeClen, didn’t you clearly deal with them?”

… … Huh.

It seems like they don’t understand why they would go and execute him so late while the deal was still being made.

“No matter what, the principle is to execute the person who manifested it immediately.”

“Well, that’s right, but… … .”

Despite the firm answer, Nowen still seemed to have some doubts, so his words trailed off.

Diana, who quickly grasped the situation, suddenly joined the conversation.

“Mr. Nowen, let’s trust Mr. DeClen for now. If we rest here for a while, we’ll be fine.”

“Well, then, yeah… … . Okay.”

It’s a bit bitter to see Nowen’s reaction, which isn’t as cool as usual.

“Then I will go and be back.”

“Yes, have a good day, Mr. Declen.”

***

After DeClen left.

The three men, excluding DeKlen, were resting near the embers.

At this time, Nowen still seemed to have something on his mind.

Sometimes I would scratch my cheek and get lost in thought.

Diana, who had been watching this closely, approached Nowen and asked.

“Mr. Nowen, why are you thinking like that by yourself?”

“Um, I guess I’m curious about what deal DeClen had with them. Do you know anything about it?”

“… … No, I don’t know either. I think Ms. Biella doesn’t know either.”

“Yeah, that’s right. I don’t know either.”

Despite Biella’s answer, Nowen sighed as if he was still concerned.

Diana, who was watching that scene, hesitated for a moment before opening her mouth.

“… … But Mr. Declen has always made choices for us, even if he doesn’t tell us everything.”

“… … .”

“Maybe there’s a good reason why they’re doing it that way this time too.”

“… … I know that too. I know that’s why he got stronger so quickly.”

“That’s right. So, for now, I trust Mr. Declen… … .”

“But no matter how much I look at it, I don’t understand.”

“……yes?”

“They must have made a deal at the cost of their lives, so if we execute them like this… … wouldn’t that be breaking their promise?”

At those words, Biella, who had been eavesdropping on the conversation between the two, suddenly asked a question.

“So what you’re saying is, even if he’s a manifestor, if he keeps his promise, you can spare his life?”

When asked like this, Nowen’s expression didn’t change at all.

“I guess so. Wasn’t that a promise?”

“Huh? Is that so? Usually, Successors hate all Prophetizers.”

“… … Is that so? I may sound a little irreverent, but I don’t think that a Prophet is necessarily an anti-God being.”

“… …Why do you think so?”

“It is unknown how they obtained powers similar to ours, but if they used them for the right things and not for ill-gotten gains… … . wouldn’t they be good enough adventurers?”

“Huh… … .”

Biella just nodded repeatedly with a faint smile in response to Nowen’s answer.

He muttered like this.

“… … That’s right.”

“But it’s strange?”

“……what?”

“What you just said? It’s almost as if you’re the one who’s speaking.”

“… … What the heck are you talking about?! Seriously, everything is wrong from start to finish!”

When Biella got angry for no reason and snapped at him.

In response to Biella’s words, Nowen made a sullen expression without being able to deny anything.

“… … Don’t be too hurt, Mr. Nowen.”

Instead, Diana, who had been talking to him, ended up patting his shoulder.

The conversation between the three people came to an end.

***

I went to the boss room, where a small man was waiting for me.

I went closer to check and it was as expected.

What was waiting for me was the same leader I had seen before.

As I approached, the leader simply handed me his bag without saying a word.

Check inside, then turn your head to see the guy’s hand sticking out of the robe.

Near the empty little finger of the left hand, as if trying to replace it.

There was a red crystal hanging.

Just the size of a little finger.

… … Well, it looks like the other kids were treated similarly.

“I have confirmed the evidence. I will hand this over to the temple and have a good talk with them.”

“… … We will definitely inform the owner of the blood outside the labyrinth.”

“… … But how do you plan on finding us and approaching us?”

“There is a way to remain quietly within the Holy Land, if only you can avoid the temple’s surveillance.”

“… … So you were planning on staying in the Holy Land from the beginning.”

“Yes… … , I will definitely come and see you when I hear the news.”

Well, it wouldn’t be an entirely impossible story.

In the first place, these people aren’t the only ones who have become manifesters.

There may also be some who have the power to search for and contact someone through blood.

I opened my mouth as I looked at the back of the guy who turned around after saying those words.

“What is your name?”

I thought I should at least know the name.

I wonder if he was thinking similar things to my question.

He just turned his head towards me and told me his name obediently.

“… … This is Nokin.”

“I understand, it’s Nokin.”

I thought that my deal with the guy would end well after he answered, but… … .

Just then, a voice that shouldn’t have been heard came from behind.

“As expected, Berman was right.”

I was startled and quickly turned my head towards where the voice came from.

The shapes of four people, completely blended into their surroundings and invisible, began to appear.

As expected, there… … .

The three adventurers I had seen before and Berman were standing together.

It seems that he had used a higher-level hiding power.

Because I didn’t even feel any movement at all.

And the one who casted this was… … .

Over there?

“… … .”

When I met him before, he was a man of few words, to the point of being timid, which didn’t match his large size.

“Decklen, I think I need to explain what the situation is.”

The short guy approached me first and asked, but I didn’t answer.

I just remained silent and met Berman’s gaze, who was glaring at me.

Berman erased all the longing he had shown before.

He glared at me with eyes filled only with betrayal.

“You clearly swore… …, didn’t you?”

“That’s right.”

“But why now… … !”

“I am trying to keep my oath.”

I spoke confidently, but unlike before, Berman no longer seemed to trust me.

… … It was the same for the three adventurers.

The short guy tilted his head as if he found it strange, looking at me still speaking confidently.

He took a step closer to me and said.

“If you really intend to keep your oath, execute him right now. If you don’t want that, hand him over to us.”

“… … I don’t like it.”

In response to my answer, the guy also looked at me with distrust and questioned me.

“… … How can a successor not keep his oath? If he does, he will die immediately.”

As soon as the short guy finished speaking, the guy holding the document opened his mouth.

In a firm, cool tone.

“Then there is only one conclusion.”

“… … .”

“Dicklen, you are not the successor. At least not to Revel.”

“… … .”

“You too… … are you a manifestation?”

Even though it was in the form of a question, you couldn’t help but know it by hearing the bastard’s voice.

He was sure of it.

The fact that I will be a manifester.

And when the bastard finished speaking.

“… … I guess I can’t help but think that way. I can’t use his power if I’m not the successor to Revalo. … … Unless I’m a manifestation or something.”

“… … .”

“I, I think so too. This wicked… … !”

The other three people there seemed to think the same thing.

Let’s take a quick look back while we’re facing off against those guys.

The leader already seemed prepared to fight them.

… … Chew.

No matter how I looked at it, there was no other way to break this situation than to fight.

And if you say you’re going to fight.

There is about an hour left.

I had to deal with those guys in there.

Unlike before, there is absolutely no room for wasting time.

… … If a cataclysm occurs, we won’t be able to chase them anymore.

The moment they leave the Holy Land, this story will spread.

After making my decision, I exchanged glances with the leader and then immediately called for Jaehwa.

He just swung a huge flame at them.