Chapter 9. Johann, That Bastard

He was a man with a terrifying drive.

I flopped down on the soft bed after unpacking all my things. Ahh. It’s really fluffy and nice. It felt like lying on a cloud.

This smooth bedding that seems like it wouldn’t have a single dust mite!

My quality of life is rising, rising.

Even though my whole body felt like it was crumbling from the harsh training, just lying on this good bed seemed to recover my body to some extent.

Is this why adults said beds are important?

“Uwaaahhuuaah.”

I buried my face in the pillow and then rolled over, stretching noisily. The chandelier hanging in the middle of the ceiling caught my eye.

“It’s luxurious.”

Really, everything in this palace was luxurious from top to bottom.

Just over 10 years ago, this was a land full of war debris…

“Johann is really something.”

When I read it in the novel, I just thought he’d be capable since he was a male lead candidate, but actually living in this world with these memories, the feeling was different.

In my memories, this land was nothing short of hell.

Screams and cries never ceased… and above all, the eerie cries of various undead could be heard from all directions. Those things, as if they had some grudge against humans, appeared without fail wherever there was a human scent.

It was commonplace for things like ghouls to suddenly rise from the bare ground. This was why Seraphina had a special fear of ghouls.

The creatures that took her parents right before her eyes.

The purifier had developed trauma from mere low-level ghouls.

She was three years old at the time.

The terror of a child witnessing black shadows larger than herself swallowing her parents before her eyes couldn’t be expressed in any words.

Even now, just recalling that time makes my heart tremble.

I felt my breath catching as I slowly traced the emotional memories that remained intact within me.

<Waaaaaahh!>

<…ck! There… a child’s cry…!>

I only remember crying hysterically. Overwhelmed by shock and terror, all other memories were devoured.

It made sense in that pandemonium.

And the next memory is…

“The orphanage.”

It seemed I was moved to an orphanage with someone’s help.

And this was really a lucky case.

It means I could escape because they were ghouls.

If higher-level undead like Durahan or Death Knights had appeared, it would have been unimaginable luck. Higher-level undead devastated the entire surrounding area.

And one of those unlucky regions was right here, Elmon, the capital of the Granz Empire.

Countless buildings boasting a long history crumbled. The Imperial Palace was among them. The Emperor and Empress died then.

Johann, who had special abilities as a knight, was rushing about under the grand cause of ‘Undead Extermination’, and because of that, he couldn’t attend the funeral even after hearing the news. Ah, I know this from reading the novel; his absence from the funeral wasn’t publicly known.

Anyway, that’s how it is.

Like me, Johann also became an orphan due to the undead.

This place was full of such stories.

Well, anyway…

I forcibly cut off the gloomy thoughts to drive away the sinking feeling.

“So what I’m saying is that Johann is an incredible talent. How did he manage to rebuild everything in 10 years as if nothing had happened?”

Even though I lived in Seoul, known as the Miracle on the Han River, I couldn’t stop marveling. This was even more than the Miracle on the Han River.

Knock knock.

Just then, a polite knocking sound was heard.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

“Ah. Joha… Hahaha! Come in!”

I almost made a mistake because I had been calling his name so much in my monologue!

I got up from the bed, slapping my mouth with one hand.

I had already been called disrespectful by Jesuf several times, and I couldn’t afford to be marked any further. Maybe because of this morning’s incident, today’s training seemed subtly more brutal than yesterday.

Since he sticks to me like gum, did he come along again?

As I was thinking this, the door opened.

“Are you that happy that I came? You’re laughing so cheerfully.”

“Of course I’m happy, you’ve given me such a nice room.”

When I smiled brightly, Johann narrowed his eyes kindly as if satisfied.

“Is that so? I’m glad.”

Really.

He’s the culprit behind the hellish training, but he melts people’s hearts with his face.

I’m quite foolish too, falling for just one smile.

I asked, watching him close the door behind him.

“Didn’t Jesuf come with you?”

“……?”

Johann tilted his head at my question. As if asking why he should come along.

I quickly added.

“No, it’s just that you’re always together whenever I see you.”

“Is that so.”

Johann passed over it as if it wasn’t a big deal. Well. To him, Jesuf is a loyal subject, but not someone who needs to be by his side all the time.

I followed with my eyes as Johann leisurely moved his long legs, looking around the room carefully.

Somehow, I felt strangely tense.

Is it because I’m alone in a room with the Emperor?

“You shouldn’t have any inconveniences staying here.”

Johann spoke again at that moment.

“But if there’s anything, report it to me immediately.”

Oh…

Somehow feeling like I was receiving special treatment, I blinked foolishly. Seeing me like that, Johann continued.

“I think it would be good to assign someone to serve you as well.”

“Huh! How could a commoner like me have servants…!”

The maids working in the palace were at least nobles. It meant an extremely uncomfortable relationship would form.

I waved both hands hurriedly in surprise, but Johann’s stance was that there was no problem.

“You’re too modest.”

“Pardon?”

But I’m not.

I’m not being modest.

“Regardless of your former status, you are officially appointed as a purifier. I appointed you. So whoever comes will consider it an honor to serve you.”

“Does it work like that…?”

“Yes. That’s how it works.”

Somehow Johann looked at me with something like a fatherly smile.

What’s this.

Why is he being so nice to me?

In the original work, I was just an extra described as dying while moving from battlefield to battlefield…

“So don’t worry about anything else and just focus on training. You need to grow quickly and go out to exterminate the undead, don’t you?”

…I should have known.

There was a reason for all the kindness.

Well. I can’t say I disagree. I need to earn my keep too.

“Of course. I’ll work hard!”

“Jesuf isn’t pushing you too hard, is he?”

“It’s fine!”

Suddenly disciplined, I answered vigorously.

I shouldn’t have done that…

Damn it.

“Good. Then from tomorrow, we can start some basic sword training.”

“Sword training?”

No, what about purification abilities, why keep focusing on physical training and swordsmanship…

As questions arose in my mind, Johann immediately answered.

“It’s good to build a foundation. Purification ability is not an offensive ability. Shouldn’t you know how to defend yourself?”

“Ah.”

“I don’t want to lose a valuable talent like you.”

It was clearly just words from a lord to his subject…

He even called me a talent with his own mouth…

“…Ah, yes. I’m, I’m deeply honored.”

My heart somehow beat a little faster.

Without knowing what ‘basics’ would start from tomorrow.

* * *

The northern border of the Granz Empire.

As always, a cool chill flowed through the Grodes Mountains covered in eternal snow.

And somewhere in the mountains.

“Is it all over…”

Red eyes like blood flashed under jet-black hair.

The man holding a heavy sword muttered with quite a tired look. At his feet, the corpses of skeletal soldiers formed a mountain.

“Lord Claude, it’s all over.”

Just then, another man in wizard’s attire murmured. He had just spread a detection spell to confirm that there were no more undead in the vicinity.

“Austin, any injuries?”

The black-haired man, that is, Claude, turned towards the wizard.

Clatter clatter.

Then he approached Austin, stepping on the skeletal corpses.

“I think I need to show my wounds to a healing mage.”

“Go right away.”

Claude moved without delay.

Every time he took a step, he gave the impression of a fierce beast prowling.

“We’re returning to the castle.”

As Claude mounted his horse and gave a short order, numerous knights including Austin and other wizards followed him.

In the treacherous Grodes Mountains where the undead frequently appeared, scenes like today were common.

Compared to other regions of the continent, the undead still appeared frequently only in this place.

As a result, Claude’s knight order was naturally cultivated into the elite of the elite.

They had pride.

Pride in protecting the North.

But…

“Your Grace, you’ve returned safely! A reply has come from the Imperial Palace!”

“Johann, that bastard…”

It was questionable whether others evaluated them as highly as they prided themselves.

Claude, who had just entered the castle gate, gritted his molars at the butler’s words. What he had been waiting for was not just a single letter, but reinforcements.

But he was ignored again.

What use is a letter now that they’ve returned after exterminating everything?

“Give it to me.”

Nevertheless, Claude snatched the letter from the butler’s hand.

He intended to read what was written anyway.