Chapter 44 Part3 (2/2)

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo inwardly nodded in satisfaction at granny Retadane's story as she was just getting to the climax of the story.

”They wanted to create a special dungeon called the 'Spirits' Spring' within Bayran. They sought to create a s.p.a.ce where only spirits and those the spirits permitted could enter, but... In the process, something went wrong. The palace's Elementalist Leader, Princess Dana Von Etliber was put in charge of creating the Spirits' Spring... and was also put in charge of Bayran as well.”

”Dana Von Etliber.”

He could tell how this was going to end. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had heard this story and this person's name before. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo narrowed his eyes and Retadane continued calmly. He briefly felt an indescribable sadness and fury from her expression, but Lee s.h.i.+n Woo wanted to believe that it was just a delusion. He wanted to believe it was, but...

”She is also one of the 12 Generals, called the Spirit General. To this day, she's probably still in Bayran.”

”!?”

Kratia and Prince's eyes widened. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo just sighed.

”We don't know whether or not the other 12 Generals will come, but there's already one of them there.”

”Plus, it should be filled with several corrupted spirits as well. Even so, I will find her. I was scared thus far, but... I believe now is the time to go looking for her. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, could you please help me? Are you prepared to fight against the 12 Generals?”

”Yes. After all, it's our duty to take down the 12 Generals.”

”Good. Just keep thinking like that. ...You're quite reliable. Please make sure I don't lose my way.”

It seemed like she was trying her best to not show any signs, but Lee s.h.i.+n Woo could hear the loneliness within her voice. Retadane, who was likely the daughter of a duke, must've been close with the princess.

He thought she was just a crazy woman who was only interested in killing the undead, but looking at her now, perhaps her hatred towards the undead wasn't so simple... He felt that pointless feeling slightly, very slightly.

”With this party, killing the 12 Generals is... No, it's a piece of cake. We've only gathered elites!”

”If we exclude you, Prince.”

”Why would you exclude me!? I've gotten a lot stronger too! I've really gotten a lot stronger!”

”Taking on one of the 12 Generals isn't an issue. I already told you. That there wouldn't be just one or two of them there. ...If you're not confident, then you can turn around now.”

Prince was p.i.s.sed as she hung onto Kratia and questioned Retadane, but Lee s.h.i.+n Woo replied calmly. Hearing that, Prince straightened her back, as if ice had been poured onto it, and responded confidently, even while pouting.

”I'm all ready. I'm just shaking a bit! Since I'm so excited!”

”Then you're fine. I came prepared too, so I have something to show you.”

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo then took out three pieces of paper. The three women tilted their heads, but one of them stiffened at the sight of the papers.

”These are...”

”They're all Bayran Inner Maps...”

”Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, where did you get these?”

”I got each of them from a different member of the 12 Generals.”

”What!?”

Kratia remained calm, as it wasn't news to her. Prince's pupils shook. Seira Von Retadane didn't even respond; she just looked stiff. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo didn't give them a chance to respond and continued.

”I'm not sure how Bayran was when you last saw it, but the imperial troops have made a lot of changes to it. And if we put all the maps together, then...”

”Wait, it's filled with traps everywhere! Such vicious traps at that!”

”The worst part about it is that there may be more maps than just these four. There are twelve generals, per their t.i.tle. But the chance of that is low. Of course, there may be some fakes among the maps, but... with this many of them, we should be able to pick the safest route by comparing them, no?”

He was originally going to do this, but he didn't say that and just looked at Retadane. She was still looking at the maps with a stiff expression, but once she realized that he was waiting for her response, she quietly agreed.

”My knowledge will be helpful in your a.n.a.lysis. But we'll need some time to prepare. We should stay here before we infiltrate the city. I'm sorry everyone, but could you prepare the camp?”

”Of course.”

She probably had much she wanted to ask him and much she wanted to tell him, but she generously let it go. Whereas Prince looked like she wanted to ask Lee s.h.i.+n Woo a hundred questions, but Kratia immediately stopped her.

”You knew, didn't you!? That my Junior took down some of the other 12 Generals alone!”

”Of course. Since I was with him each time. So technically he didn't take them down alone. We took them down together.”

”Aaaaaaaah!”

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had not only killed a few of the 12 Generals in an unknown place without her knowledge, but Lee s.h.i.+n Woo and Kratia had taken them out, just the two of them (though Jin was actually with them as well!). Upon this realization, Prince screamed and was. .h.i.t by Kratia again.

”Why didn't you tell me...?”

”I knew you'd worry about me. I'm sorry, Senior. We didn't fight them because we wanted to. We had the misfortune of running into them, so we had no choice but to fight them to survive.”

”Ahhhhhh!”

It was a lie, of course, but Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's acting was enough to trick her. Retadane, who was standing beside them and perusing the maps, nodded slightly. She probably attributed that to why 'Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was so strong'.

”...In any case, I've gotten a lot stronger too. You don't need to do something so dangerous alone anymore. Just follow me!”

”Ok, Senior. Then please help me set up this tent.”

”Leave it to me!”

He really loved idiots; they were so easy to manipulate... Lee s.h.i.+n Woo watched Prince busily move around to set up the tent and smiled. Beside him, Kratia and Jin were speechless, but as always, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo just ignored them.

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