Chapter 849 – Meanwhile, on the Ground -2-

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As evacuation on the ground begins, a procession of people evacuating underground continues.

In the brothel managed by Yoho and many other demi-humans, there was a continuous procession of people escaping through a huge underground facility prepared in cooperation with Herti.

“Would it be better for us to go into the underground shelter?”

When Sasha asked that, Bourbon thought for a moment and then shook his head.

“… No. “If people go into a crowded basement and Dharma runs amok there, that would be a disaster.”

Bourbon was sitting on a chair, shaking his short legs while calmly assessing the situation.

“Because there are many other demi-humans in the brothel, there is a possibility that they are targeting the underground shelter…”

＂It’s not that there is no possibility at all, but the most blasphemous beings in the Expulsion Church are those born as a mixture of demi-humans and humans. Humans are the only race allowed to live on earth, but the fact that such humans have mixed blood with demi-humans is unacceptable. Therefore. If they’re going to target me, they’ll start with me first. I once lost it while hunting.”

Bourbon shrugs his shoulders and speaks as if he is dumbfounded.

“Well… The word ‘Ain’ itself is a human-centered word in the first place.”

Amelia also hears the story and nods her head.

“That’s right. Especially in the kingdom, sub-races are often portrayed as monsters, but in reality, they are nothing like that… They are ordinary people.”

＂Even in the case of elves and dwarves, who rarely appear in front of humans anymore, that is what happened as the kingdom gained hegemony over the continent. Since they use the cult as their base, they tend to discriminate against races other than humans knowingly or unknowingly.”

＂Well, once I became like this, I was treated like a half-human… I don’t think anyone at the academy cared that much.’

When Sasha talks by pointing to her ears above her head, Amelia answers her.

＂Because the academy is a place where talented people from all over the world gather, there are many students who are demihumans and other special races. If it’s a beast, it’s also common on the continent.”

＂Well, it was something like that.＂

Now that Sasha thinks about it, she remembers that there were people in her class who were half-elfs and who, unlike herself, were animals that walked on two legs.

Just like himself, they, too, were not discriminated against, and on the contrary, they were both objects of admiration within the department due to their excellent archery skills.

＂Well, but. If you can get along with demi-humans from a young age, there will be less discrimination against them. If such awareness spreads even a little, it will become difficult for the exiled denominations to operate.”

Bourbon nods his head as he adds that he appreciates that aspect of the Academy, but then frowns.

“But, I can’t trust the Academy because of those strange red-cloaked guys at the Academy.”

Sasha blinked her eyes for a moment at Bourbon’s words.

Red Cloak…? It feels like I’ve seen it somewhere.

“Mr. Bourbon, do you also have any connection with the Academy?”

“It’s not something that can be called fate. Occasionally, I saw him wandering around near the adamantite mine. Perhaps, he came to the vicinity to obtain information to find the mine.”

Bourbon speaks with a huff and a snort.

“What. I don’t know where they got the information from, but their skills were so-so. The sound of the mining bomb exploding scared me so much that I ran away. Now that I think about it, he hasn’t shown up for the past few months. When it was bad, he appeared every week.”

As Bourbon tilted her head while saying that, Sasha seemed to think for a moment and then opened her mouth.

“Probably, that. It’s probably called the ‘Execution Department’ of the academy.”

＂Execution Department? A gwane with a strange name. “What kind of enforcement is going on with student subjects?”

When Bourbon speaks with honest feelings, Sasha nods her head as if she agrees, but continues the story.

＂There was something like an internal power struggle at the academy… The execution department was the department that handled the academy’s dirty work. When we were at the academy, there was a big incident involving the execution department and the underworld behind it, and as a result, the execution department ended up disappearing.”

When Sasha says that, Bourbon looks at her and speaks while raising her voice.

“What, then it was Cleon and your group who solved the problem?”

“Eh, so… I just fought together with everyone in the academy. If everyone didn’t unite and protect the academy, something huge would have happened.”

A weapon that was trying to come from another dimension, or a black battle.

“Being humble. What. Either way, if those guys are gone, I’m glad I don’t have to worry about my mine being discovered in the future. Knowingly or not, I owe you something.”

“Debt… I just did what I had to do.”

When Sasha speaks as if she is embarrassed, Bourbon laughs and pats her on the back.

“What. With that feeling, I will ask you to be my escort as well. It’s a Dharma guy. It stands out so much that you can tell right away when it comes close.”

＂Does it looks that unusual?＂

When Amelia asks curiously, Bourbon nods her head while sighing.

“Okay. That guy really stands out. With his bald head, his entire body is muscular… And his physique is quite large. Even compared to Miyeomgong, who is a mixed race with a giant-“

When Bourbon spoke that far, she kept her mouth shut for a moment.

＂Why are you doing this?＂

When Amelia suddenly stopped in the middle of her words and asked a question, Bourbon felt a bad vision of her flash through his mind and opened her mouth.
“… No, I just had an extremely uneasy feeling. Did I say this before? Dharma will target mixed blood with demi-humans rather than pure demi-humans.”

＂Right…? That’s why Mr. Bourbon is being targeted…”

When Sasha responded by nodding her head, Bourbon turned to the two and spoke.

“If you think about it. In this situation, is there some strategic advantage to Dharma targeting me? He’s definitely a muscle guy, but he’s not an ‘idiot’. He is a destroyer who actively acts by choosing the strategy that the opponent would hate the most when he is attacked.”

After saying that, she looked at the clouds in the sky and the fortress beyond.

“Liomes and Demis, you both said you went in there to do something to the fortress, right? In that case, the current strength of the palace is about Duke Miyeom and a few generals… Most of the government troops are spread out throughout Asteris and helping with the evacuation. … It’s time for the palace’s defenses to show loopholes.”

＂…─No way!＂

In Bourbon’s story, Amelia opens her eyes wide as if she senses what she is trying to convey.

And, their gaze was directed outside the brothel – towards the palace where Miyeomgong would be.

＂Miyeomgong, like me, is a human whose blood is mixed with that of a human. Moreover, there are no national guards to protect him, and there are no princes or princesses to clearly interfere with him. Then, Dharma’s next target is probably not me-“

“… The king of this country. U.S. Yeomgong himself… It might be him.”

Both Sasha and Amelia’s expressions darkened as they thought about that possibility along with Bourbon.

Duke Miyeom is one of the few people in this country who knows the truth about the exiled church, and is a strong ally who supports Cleon.

And, he was a leader who ruled the entire Eastern country wisely.

If he is assassinated by Dharma, the country will be engulfed in great chaos.

Even if Riomes and Demis returned safely and succeeded to the throne, it was a seed of anxiety that could lead to bad results in many ways.

And as if to prove it – in the distance, in the direction where the royal palace was located, a wave of evil magic suddenly erupted, causing the ground to tremble.

Most people with little or no aptitude for magic would not notice, but the shamans, Amelia, Sasha, and Bourbon also felt it and their expressions changed.

＂Already…!?＂

When Sasha got up in a hurry, Bourbon held her hand.

“… What, what! Let’s calm down a little and think. Although I brought this up, Miyeomgong is strong. Although he is a bit older and past his prime, he is a seasoned warrior. There are no humans that are easy for Dharma.”

Even though Bourbon said that, somewhere in his heart, he was not sure that Miyeomgong would be able to win 100% against Dharma, compared to Dharma.”

＂…＂

Sasha and Amelia make eye contact with Bourbon.

Now, they were only protecting ‘Bourbon’.

That’s why we can’t just say we’re going to help Miyeom-gong here.

In order to move something here, permission or instructions from Bourbon were needed.

“… To be honest. I am also scared of meeting Dharma. Of course, I am powerless, but I once saw Dharma come close to killing a person right in front of my eyes.”

Bourbon’s expression darkens as he remembers the sight of Tal Check, whose entire body seemed to have been crushed by a single punch.

At that time, if Tal Check had not come close to dying instead of him, he would have died instead.

It would be a lie to say that fear does not exist.

─But.

“But that doesn’t mean I can lose Miyeomgong here and now! Considering that we will have to deal with the Eastern Kingdom and the Exiled Church in the future, Miyeom-gong must survive.”

After Bourbon said that, he got up from the chair he was sitting on, looked back at the two people, and nodded.

“Let’s go to the palace! “I’m helping Miyeom-gong!”

Amelia and Sasha nodded in response to her decision.

And then, the three people run towards the palace.

“For a moment! What happened just now? What was that shock? You all feel… Hey! Where are you going?”

And, Schrödinger, who had left for a while to patrol, returned late and chased after the three men.