Chapter 91

“……”

For some reason, I had a bad feeling and decided to ask.

And as if my hunch had hit the mark, Nigelung froze upon hearing my question and didn’t answer right away.

“Why aren’t you answering, bro? You told me to ask you anything.”

“Hey, Kairon.”

“I’m listening, bro.”

“You right now…”

Nigelung took a slight step back from me, then glared at me with a sharp, menacing look.

“Are you interrogating me right now?”

“Bro, how could I do something like that to you? You know me. I’m not that kind of person. Especially not to you.”

“You’re doing it right now, aren’t you? Aren’t you?”

They say strong denial is strong affirmation.

If he were truly innocent, he could’ve just told me where he heard it from. But reacting this sharply and showing hostility? That’s suspicious.

But I didn’t need to make Nigelung any more on edge, so I decided to lighten the mood with a soft smile.

“Why are you being so sharp? Don’t misunderstand. It’s just us here. You know I’m just here in Rostia for a short vacation. Of course, I’ve met a few people while on vacation, but not many who’d recognize me. It’s just curiosity. Wondering who remembered me.”

“……It was a doctor.”

“A doctor?”

“*Sigh*, yeah. Might as well tell you everything now.”

Nigelung let out a light sigh and spilled the answer to my question.

“Actually, it was personal business. I went to the Rostia Magic Tower to request magical support for the Vanguard. You know how it is, right? The magical tools from Kresnig were sturdy at first, but time has passed, and even the sturdiest tools can’t hold up forever.”

“I get it. A third of the magic lanterns are broken and flickering randomly, and the kitchen stoves have inconsistent heat. So you went to request repairs?”

“Yeah, yeah. You know how important those small things are. Even the heating magic has become dangerous lately.”

“Hmm, I see. I understand. I’ve been watching my subordinates struggle with broken magical tools for a while, so I’m actually surprised it took this long to request repairs. So, how did you end up at the hospital?”

“I met a magician from the Magic Tower and explained what we needed. That’s when the magician told me. There was a big commotion in the city recently, and you and Abelin were involved, right?”

“That’s right. It happened a few days ago, but things are being sorted out.”

“Apparently, Abelin was seriously injured and even hospitalized. So, as Balthazar’s adjutant, of course, I had to go check on the members’ conditions. Right?”

“Mhm, I see.”

“Yeah. I heard from the doctor at the hospital that you guys came here for a meal. Thankfully, you weren’t hurt.”

“Right, right. Got it.”

I nodded as if all my doubts had been cleared.

Then I subtly signaled to Riana.

“Riana, don’t be surprised from now on.”

“……Okay.”

As expected, quick-witted Riana nodded immediately.

“And bro.”

Now that everything was ready, I casually added.

“First off, I’ll give you credit. For a lie, it was pretty convincing.”

“What…? Ugh!”

I took advantage of Nigelung’s lack of guard and caught him off guard before he could react.

I roughly grabbed him and pushed him against the wall of the back alley.

“W-why are you doing this to me all of a sudden, Kairon!”

Nigelung struggled to break free, but with the advantage of position and posture, he couldn’t escape my grip.

But causing a scene wouldn’t do any good, so I quickly punched the wall next to Nigelung’s head.

With a sharp impact sound, the brick wall crumbled, and Nigelung finally stopped struggling.

“Shut your mouth for a bit.”

“Kairon, why are you really doing this to me?”

“Shut up and listen. First, I never told any doctor where we were going to eat. So how did you hear it from a doctor? And so accurately?”

“You brat, are you doubting me over something like that? I didn’t hear it exactly. I just heard you went this way. I asked around about your appearance and came here.”

“People who just passed by would remember my appearance that well? Fine, let’s say that’s true. But second, the Rostia Magic Tower has a gag order regarding the recent incident. Yet they told an outsider like you? That’s completely wrong.”

“You brat, do you think I wouldn’t know that? Of course, they told me. But you and Abelin are part of the Vanguard, and I’m also a senior member, so they made an exception… Ugh!”

I punched the wall closer to Nigelung’s head to shut him up again.

“Haha, caught you, huh?”

“C-caught me? What did I do!”

“You forgot how overly closed-off the Magic Tower is? Magicians need direct approval from the Archmage to even leave. Which means…”

Now, there was no need to smile.

I glared at Nigelung with a completely hostile expression.

“The fact that Abelin was injured is something the magicians at the Magic Tower wouldn’t know. Of course, they wouldn’t know that you and Abelin were involved, or even the hospital’s location!”

“……Kairon.”

Nigelung, who had been wearing the most wronged expression, suddenly turned serious.

“Let me go. Before it’s too late.”

“Why should I let you go?”

“We’re comrades, Kairon. If we start turning on each other, the Vanguard is done for. Can a divided Vanguard withstand the next wave?”

“Shut your mouth!”

“……”

Nigelung fell silent for a moment at my shout.

But soon, he spoke again with a calm expression.

“Let me go, Kairon.”

“Let me ask you this. If you were me, would you let me go?”

“Let me go.”

“I can let you go anytime. But I’d like to hear the truth while we’re at it.”

“Let go…! Ugh!”

I tightened my grip on the liar’s neck.

Nigelung punched me repeatedly in pain, but without mana, the light pain didn’t bother me.

I could feel the strength draining from Nigelung’s body.

When the punches stopped and it felt like he was nearing his limit, I whispered into Nigelung’s ear.

“You don’t seem to understand the situation, so let me make this clear. I could kill you right here, right now. This isn’t Kresnig. If I decide to kill you in this back alley, your loyal guard comrades won’t be able to save you. Got it?”

“Ugh… I… got it…!”

After hearing his pained confirmation, I finally let Nigelung go.

Nigelung, who was almost at the brink of death, collapsed to the ground, gasping for air in relief.

“*Gasp*, *gasp*… Kairon, you weren’t like this before. What happened to you?”

“You’ve got it all wrong.”

“Ugh…!”

I mercilessly stomped on Nigelung’s back as he lay on the ground.

Nigelung struggled with all his might, but it didn’t matter.

“I haven’t changed. You guys are the ones who changed me. So talk. How did you know Riana and I were here? What’s your real purpose in Rostia?”

“……”

“If you’re really willing to risk your life…”

Without hesitation, I sat on Nigelung’s body, pinning him down firmly.

“If I can’t get anything out of you, there’s no point in keeping you alive. Let’s end it here. It’s been fun, bro.”

“Kairon.”

Nigelung spoke in a meaningful tone.

“If you kill me, Commander Balthazar won’t let you off.”

“Why’s that?”

“*Chuckle*, have you forgotten whose adjutant I am? Of course, he came with me.”

“You’ve got a nasty laugh, bro. So where’s our benevolent Commander? Your adjutant is about to be quietly killed in a back alley, and he’s not coming to save you.”

“……!”

For a moment, I didn’t miss the flash of anxiety on Nigelung’s face.

And without hesitation, I started choking him again.

“Ugh, ah…!”

“If he was going to save you, he would’ve come by now. But since he didn’t come even when you were almost killed, it seems like an adjutant like you is disposable. What do you think, bro? Or should I say, Adjutant of the Benevolent Commander Balthazar!”

“Ugh, ah…!”

And finally.

“I’ll… talk!”

“What’s that? I can’t hear you.”

When I slightly loosened my grip, Nigelung screamed as if it burst out.

“I’ll talk, I’ll talk! Just spare me! I don’t want to die…!”

The liar’s face was a mess of tears, snot, and spit.

Pathetic.