CH 114

Chapter 114

After removing the hood, Simon's pupils started shaking as if experiencing an earthquake.

The person underneath was someone Simon knew.

No, not just knew. They saw each other multiple times a day.

"Kajann Edvalt…!"

The faded gray hair and long scar going down his right eye. Even his distinctive straight, sharp eyes.

It couldn’t not be Kajann.

It was difficult for Simon to keep his composure after the shock, but he barely managed and asked,

[Answer me. Are you the Priest?]

Kajann looked quite frail where he lay.

"I'll ask you this instead. Do I look like a priest to you?"

Simon bit his lip.

[I'm not in the mood for jokes.]

"The only answer I can give is the obvious. No. But in the end, it's all up to you. Kill me or spare me, do as you please."

Simon calmed down and recalled the battle he just had with Kajaan.

He then also recalled the battle with the priest he fought when with Camibarez.

The fighting styles of the two were completely different. Kajann was thoroughly fighting with physical reinforcements, and the priest focused on jet-black spells.

Of course, he might've fought in different ways to deceive Simon.

However, if Kajann could utilize high-level jet-black spells from the beginning, he couldn’t have been captured by Simon in the first place. Kajann fought too earnestly for deception to be the goal.

That’s not to mention how people have a unique atmosphere, gait, attitude, and set of habits. It wasn't difficult to tell that the two were completely different people. However, Simon hadn't yet lowered the greatsword pointing at his neck.

[Answer me. What were you doing in the Forbidden Forest?]

Kajann slowly closed his eyes.

"I was looking for the priest who had infiltrated Kizen."

Simon shut his mouth. Kajann was doing the exact same thing as him.

"While following the priest's trail and searching the Forbidden Forest, a strange woman introduced herself as a priest, and I fought to interrogate her. Is that answer satisfactory?"

[One last question.]

Simon tensed up and continued.

[Why are you after that Priest?]

"I received a mission. It's forbidden to reveal the client's name, but…"

Kajann looked at the artifact hanging from Simon's neck.

"It should be fine if it's you. The client is Nefthis Archbold."

Shiing.

Finally, Simon's greatsword went down.

“I’ve assigned trustworthy servants for investigations for now. We’re also getting clues little by little.”

It was also in line with what Simon heard from Nefthis when he met Lorain at her house.

Besides, Kajann showed the request form with Nefthis' seal from his subspace.

Nothing else seemed out of line.

"By the way."

Kajann scratched at the scar on his right eye.

"When did you get such a nice skull helm, Simon Polentia?"

[…]

Simon sighed lightly and removed Pier's skull, letting it join the armor on his neck.

"Did you notice it from the start?"

"Somewhat, yeah."

Kajann smiled lightly.

"When you shouted 'Eliza' at first, I knew it was your voice and went to help. But I soon realized that you and that woman named Eliza were on one team."

"…"

Elizabeth crossed her arms and glared fiercely at Kajann.

"I engaged with the idea that you might be an ally of Efnel, but I guess not. Because if you really were with Efnel, you would've beheaded me, being a witness. And…"

Kajann's gaze once again turned to Simon's artifact.

"A genuine product imbued with the power of Nefthis. That's something that priests can't even think of imitating."

"What in the world is this?"

Said Simon, fiddling with the necklace. Kajann sat down on the grass and took out a few  potions from his subspace.

"You'll know when you really 'experience death'. You don’t need to understand now."

He then took off his clothes and started pouring potions all over his body.

[Boy. If you want to kill him, this is your only chance.]

Warned Pier in Simon's head. Simon's gaze was also directed toward Kajann's back.

[He saw the Legion. Things will be complicated if he spreads that fact to Kizen.]

'…Leave it to me, Pier. It seems that Kajann is also a person of Nefthis.'

Simon sat next to Kajann and helped him apply the potions.

'Gosh, it must be painful.'

The black potion Kajann was using bubbled as soon as it touched the wound, and a huge amount of smoke billowed out. You could see the blood stopping and the wound forcibly shutting closed.

"…I'm sorry, Kajann."

"It's a common thing when you engage in a battle. You don't have to apologize."

His wounds were quickly sutured, but several scars remained. Perhaps those scars all over the body were from similar events.

The two exchanged tales while bandaging and treating their wounds.

And the most surprising of them all was…

"It's the thieves guild I’m thinking of… right?"

"Yeap."

Kajann was the son of the Thieves Guild’s Head.

He was also already a 'completed person'. At only 18 years old, he was an undefeated monster that could best even quite a few pro necromancers with his bare hands.

Of course, he met Simon, the commander of the Legion, and recorded 1 defeat, but that was only because he was unlucky with the match-up.

However, Kajann didn't call himself a genius, but a 'created monster'. He said there was a secret about his birth, but he didn't reveal what it was.

Anyway, the reason why Kajann, who had far surpassed the level of a student to the point where he didn't need to learn anything from anyone, was forced to come to Kizen was because of Nefthis' request.

I think there's a spy from Efnel inside Kizen.

Nefthis' request was an undercover investigation.

After Kajann formally enrolled Kizen, he focused on his investigation rather than his classes.

That's why he went out of the dormitory every night and weekend. And why, when Simon saw him during the day, he was covered head to toe with a blanket to make up for the lack of sleep.

The priest seemed to be active as a member of Kizen during the day, but he moved mainly at night to give 'worship' and such, so Kajann also went out at night and wandered all over Roke Island to catch the priest.

"Wait a second! You're a repeater, Kajann. So you were in Kizen last year too, right?"

"Yeah. It was last year when I received the request from Nefthis."

Simon rubbed his chin.

It means that Nefthis knew that the spy had been in Kizen since last year.

"This much information must be enough to repay you for sparing me."

Kajann stood up and looked back at Simon.

"Simon."

"Yes?"

"I'll take care of this case no matter what. I'll also tell Nefthis, so get your hands off of this. It's too dangerous for you."

* * *

Reaper Scans

Translator - Ramen

Proofreader - Artethrax

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* * *

Simon smiled.

"It's okay. I'm stronger than you, you see?"

"…"

Kajann's face stiffened at those words. The expression was so funny that Simon could only barely hold in his laughter.

"…I'll admit that. But it's not a matter of who's stronger. It's a matter of safety. You focus on living the Kizen life with your friends. Enjoy the happiest time of your life to the fullest."

"I'd like to decline."

Simon slowly stood up and looked Kajaan in the eyes.

"That priest wants my life, and I've actually come close to dying several times. Above anything else, he hurt my friend and also got my other group members involved. I have reasons to pursue him."

"…"

Kajann let out a long sigh and brushed back his hair. Silently, he stood still and pondered before finally looking at Simon.

"…Nefthis would've stopped you if she was planning to anyway."

"What?"

"Sure. We have clear common goals. Let's form a united front."

This was the answer Simon wanted to hear.

"The undead you control look quite useful, so I want you to continue to cover the Forbidden Forest like you did until now. And once a week, when that noisy bastard isn't around, I'd suggest reducing the number of suspects for who could be the priest by sharing the information we've gathered."

The 'noisy bastard' he mentioned probably meant Rick. Simon smiled and nodded.

The night was getting deeper, and there would be nothing good if they delayed their return to Kizen, so the two of them were walking back as they talked.

"Ahem."

Simon cleared his throat and checked Kajann's countenance.

"By the way, you aren't… asking anything about me, huh?"

"What do you think is the biggest risk for the agents of the Information Guild?"

"…B-Beats me."

Kajann answered while craning his head forward.

"It's knowing."

Simon tilted his head in confusion.

"There's a famous saying that 'ignorance is bliss'. Those who belong to the Information Guild inevitably come to know dangerous information. And when it comes to secrets, the more people who know about it, the more anxious those that keep it become, and they tend to want to remove the element of anxiety."

Kajann let out a small sigh.

"For them, who buy and sell information, the more they know the more their lives are threatened. There's no need for me to know any information that I don't need to. I'd like to exercise my 'right not to know'."

"Kajann…"

Simon looked at him, slightly moved.

[Bwahahahahahaha!]

Suddenly, Pier's loud laugh sounded in Simon's head.

[Well! Looks like he knows how to take care of his own business! Do as you wish!]

Even Pier didn't ask to kill Kajann anymore.

* * *

Left alone in Room 409, Rick was anxious for no reason.

'I told him to avoid days when Keepers are around, gosh.'

Simon went down to Rochest, and Kajann was nowhere to be seen either today.

"Ah… Whatever. Don't tell me I didn't warn you."

It was then when Rick was rolling around in his bed.

Thunk!

Maybe they’d been to the public bath. Simon and Kajann, with their wet hair wrapped in towels, entered the dormitory room side by side.

Rick's eyes widened.

"Wh-What? Why are they together…?"

It was so out of the blue. A combination that didn’t match at all.

Didn't we consider him to not exist? Why did they come in together?

As always, Kajann went up to the bunk bed and prepared to cover himself up with a blanket, and Simon packed their clothes.

"Kajann, I'll leave these at the laundry, too."

"…Thanks."

Replied Kajann before covering his head with the blanket. Simon smiled a little and left the room.

Click.

The door closed, and Rick, who was feeling detached and left out, suddenly raised his voice.

"Wh-What??! When did the two of you suddenly become close?!!"

Rick jumped up from his bed.

"Wait, Simon! What's the meaning of th—!"

Thump!

A pillow flew and hit Rick right in the face. He let out a small "Oof!" as he fell to the bed.

"I told you not to be so loud until I fall asleep."

Rick hurriedly returned the pillow after seeing the creepy eyes from under the blanket.

Kajann went back under the blanket with the pillow, and you could hear his snoring within minutes.

'Huhu! Why am I the only one being treated the same as before?!'

The only person who couldn’t be reached even with Rick's boldness and sociability.

The truth was, Rick secretly wanted to be friends with Kajann.

——