Chapter 144
Chapter 144 – Crimson Balrog (6)
14.
“Kwaaaaak!”
That was Devo’s scream.
It was a very tearing sound, a sound that only someone in pain could make.
It was also a sound that was not easy to hear.
Devo, he was an adventurer who would laugh rather than scream even when in extreme pain.
And that’s why he screams?
It usually means that it is not a wound.
In reality, Devo’s injuries were serious.
The armor he was wearing was torn to pieces like rags. The body beyond it was not unharmed either. His entire body was covered in blood, and among the visible wounds, there were many deep ones.
Also, his left arm looked broken and not in its normal shape.
In fact, he was in a state where he was mortally wounded and unable to fight properly.
It’s in such bad condition that it’s shocking just to look at.
“boss!”
However, when El Palm actually saw that Divo, there was no sign of tension or surprise on his face.
It was because I knew.
“Got it.”
And El Palm, who had been taught by him that Divo would only let out a scream of pain after his prey was completely dead.
“Yes, I got it.”
As expected, the Crimson Balrog’s corpse was about 40 meters away from where Divo was.
Most of the fingers and toes were cut off by the polearm, and the body was wounded so deep that the bones were visible.
The most fatal of these was the one on his chest, the depth of which was indescribable.
However, the wound was not caused by a polearm.
It was caused by sharp knives and bullets.
The wounds that Kiri and Miner created.
Naturally, El Palm was able to immediately picture it in his head.
A scene where Kiri and Miner focus their attacks while Divo catches the Crimson Balrog’s attention.
Of course, it was by no means an easy task.
Crimson Balrog was a cunning man, and the moment he figured out Kiri and Miner’s intentions, he would have attacked them or run away.
Nevertheless, there was one reason why this work was successful.
“It was a bit too much.”
The fact that Devo went to great lengths to stop the Crimson Balrog.
That’s why Devo was covered in blood.
“It was really dangerous.”
It was never a safe method.
“If it weren’t for me, you would be dead.”
A method I would never have tried if it weren’t for Ralph’s presence.
Anyway, it was a great method.
Methods that most people would never dare to imagine.
It makes sense. How could four people come up with such an unconventional method against the Crimson Balrog they were encountering for the first time?
It was a strategy that could be imagined, but never put into practice.
“What do you think, boss?”
“That’s unexpected.”
In fact, even El Palm did not expect this result.
Divo smiled at the sight of El Palm.
“I always exceed expectations.”
El Palm exceeded expectations, for there could not have been a greater compliment for an El Palm party.
“Even the boss couldn’t have imagined that we would catch him like this.”
“That’s not it.”
“yes?”
“I expected to catch it.”
Of course, El Palm did not anticipate this situation itself.
“I just didn’t realize that I would catch it about 10 minutes sooner than I expected.”
Everyone, including Divo, looked dumbfounded at El Palm’s words.
It was worth it.
When El Palm says that, it’s not like he’s bragging or joking, it means he really thinks so.
That means El Palm knew that Devo would be a mob.
Of course, even taking that into account, it was a great feat.
It is clear that El Palm’s expectations were exceeded.
The fact that he was out by 10 minutes meant that Devo’s skills were greater than El Palm had expected.
It was a welcome development for El Palm.
“Thank you for your hard work. Thanks to you, I was able to leave quickly.”
Now there was only one thing left.
“Yes, now all I have to do is find that necklace. I don’t know how long that will take though.”
Finding the necklace.
“It might take a month, but when do you think I’ll be able to leave?”
El Palm answered that question.
“I’m leaving right now.”
15.
Adventurers’ evaluation of the Knights of Signus was not very good.
The first reason was that they thought they were suppressing the adventurers’ adventures, and the other reason was their overbearing attitude.
Actually, it was inevitable.
As knights, the Knights of Signus had to live within many rules and regulations, and as such, their actions had to be rigid.
Even more so for free-spirited adventurers!
That’s why.
Tiger Eye Viola, she is famous among the knights of the Knights of the Signus Order.
“Viola, there is no knight so kind as her.”
She was the knight most highly regarded by adventurers among the Knights of Signus.
She was the type of person who could quickly become friends with anyone.
Of course, he couldn’t have received such an evaluation just because of his personality.
She understood the adventurers’ plight and took care of them.
It was the same even then.
“Viola.”
The thing blew up.
“It’s been 15 days since El Party left for the search.”
It wasn’t just a job, it was a pretty big deal.
“Five days have passed since the promised ten days.”
It wasn’t just a case of breaking a promise or anything like that.
The gravity of this matter was indescribable.
Viola, her deployment was proof. From the perspective of the Knights of Signus, Viola was a very trustworthy knight, and so they only deployed her on missions that they deemed most important.
Moreover, this place was the Elnas Mountains, a land that was by no means friendly to the Knights of Signus.
“He might have run away.”
In any case, given the circumstances, the Knights of Signus were seeing the possibility that El Palm Party had escaped.
“It’s fortunate that you managed to escape. What if you betrayed me?”
Even those who viewed it favorably, while those who viewed it unfavorably claimed that it was a betrayal of the El Palm Party.
Whatever it was, there was no friendly opinion towards the El Palm party.
Only one.
“I believe.”
Viola, she alone still believed in El Palm Party.
That’s why they aren’t moving now.
Following the leader was something that had to be kept no matter what.
Of course, it wasn’t possible to extinguish the discontent that was rising in my heart.
Above all, everyone knew.
“Lady Viola, if we continue like this, the Knights will make a move. We cannot delay any longer.”
At this moment, the one who is the most angry is no one but the Knights of Signus.
And the Knights of Signus didn’t stop at just being angry.
“The article must have already been sent from above.”
They must have sent someone to replace Viola.
That also meant that Viola’s reputation would soon be greatly tarnished.
“Viola.”
Beyond the scratches, you could be disciplined.
Still, she waited.
“Why aren’t you moving?”
The reason was simple.
“Because I promised.”
That he made the promise in his own name and not in anyone else’s.
That’s why I thought I would take responsibility if a problem arose.
Of course, there was that too.
‘He’s different. He’s not the kind of person who would run away without meaning to.’
Belief in El Palm.
That was when.
“Hey, Viola over there!”
A knight came urgently to where Viola was and said:
“Wow, here we come!”
At those words, everyone thought.
‘You’re from the Knights of Signus!’
The one sent by the Knights of Signus to replace Viola has arrived here.
“Who is here?”
“Which order are you from?”
That’s why everyone asked that question.
“Are you a 5th Circle Knight?”
The person who brought the news shook his head at the question that followed, and everyone’s expressions hardened at that fact.
‘Could it be Circle 6?’
If a knight from the 6th circle had come, it would have been at a level where he would simply replace Viola.
Meaning to judge the viola.
“Then 6 circles?”
So the reporter shook his head at that question, and at that point everyone was terrified.
“Then, then, really?”
So now there’s only one thing left.
7 circles!
That basically means the commander has arrived!
“That, that’s not it.”
But the surprise didn’t last long.
“Ah, Elle is here.”
“what?”
16.
“Forgive me for being late.”
Viola shook her head at El Palm’s words.
“El, I don’t need your apology.”
She did not accept El Palm’s apology.
“I’m glad you’re back.”
The first word is comfort.
“But I need to know why you’re late.”
The next thing he asked for was a reason.
It was natural.
Because even if I received an apology now, it would be meaningless and useless.
El Palm spoke about it without hesitation.
“There was a problem.”
“Is there a problem? Did something go wrong on the way?”
“It was easy to figure out the route. The problem was the moment I found the Mystic Gate.”
“You discovered the Mystic Gate?”
Viola’s eyes narrowed at El Palm’s continued words.
She gave El Palm a rough idea of where she was, but not the exact location.
Above all, the Mystic Gate was hidden by magic.
A condition that can never be found without knowing its exact location.
About him, El Palm said:
“The most dangerous way to hide treasure is to hide it in a treasure chest. The more you hide it, the easier it becomes to find it.”
In a way, that was an arrogant statement.
Because it was said that it was the Signus Knights who easily found what they had hidden.
But Viola did not consider those words arrogant.
We know that El Palm’s career is unique.
“then…….”
On the contrary, at this moment Viola was concerned about something else.
“Yes, I saw it. That place is the Lion King’s property.”
El Palm knows the identity of that place.
It goes without saying, but the moment you know that, the story changes completely.
On the one hand, I understood.
‘So that’s why you’re late.’
Why El Palm Party didn’t keep its promise.
Anyway, here Viola thought.
‘You have two choices: break the contract or do nothing.’
Now that circumstances have changed, it is time to negotiate a new deal.
‘Or we can renegotiate and go together.’
And if you take El Palm Party with you, you’ll have to pay a much higher price than previously promised.
Here, Viola had one concern.
Is it worth paying extra for El Palm Party?
That worry didn’t last long.
‘If you can find that place on your own, you’re an incredibly skilled person.’
I wanted to take El Palm with me.
“How much do you think the risk cost is?”
At any cost.
“It’s three times what was originally promised.”
“yes?”
El Palm asked for additional fees for that, and Viola looked surprised when she heard it.
That would be the case, since she knew roughly what the deal was between El Palm and the Commander of the Fire Knights.
There was a huge financial negotiation between the two.
But you’re asking for three times that amount?
Viola is also no ordinary person, and she has a lot of money to move in her name, but it is beyond her capabilities.
“I will not accept anything less than that.”
El Palm put a stop to it.
Finally, Viola raised her hand.
“I’m sorry, but this is not something I can decide on my own.”
She didn’t make any reckless choices.
El Palm also nodded to her choice. He expected her to make such a choice.
Squeak!
“Then I will decide on my own.”
But his appearance was unexpected for El Palm.
“El, I will accept your offer. I will pay you three times.”
It had to be that way.
“S, Master?”
The one who opened the door and appeared was none other than Hawkeye, the Commander of the Lightning Knights.