A Disaster-Level Assassin Has Been Freed

Chapter 83: Invitation (2)

At the time when Harang was deep in thought due to the guide's unintentional consideration.

Guild Leader Jeten, who had invited him, and his aide were sneering at him with sinister smiles.

It went without saying, but Jeten was not busy with urgent matters.

He was merely deliberately dragging out the time to wear down and pressure Harang, his rival in love.

“Aide, how long has it been since the fellow visited the guild?”

“I heard he arrived almost exactly at 12 o’clock…… so it’s been a little less than three hours.”

“Huhu, that should be enough to make him extremely restless. He’ll be hungry, in a bad mood, but his reputation will be insufficient to openly express such feelings, and as he himself knows that well, his self-esteem will also be lowered…….”

“That’s right. Having properly experienced the majesty of the great Jeten Guild, he must have keenly felt how infinitely lower his position is compared to yours, Guild Leader.”

“Good, very good.”

Jeten nodded his head.

At first, he had thought of crushing Harang sword to sword.

However, there was no need for that.

No matter how promising a young man Harang was, he was not in the same league as himself, the head of a giant guild.

Rather, if he carelessly engaged him, it could backfire, with talk like ‘an talent worthy of Guild Leader Jeten drawing his sword himself.’

Therefore, he would only show the difference in class.

Thus, he would make Harang not even dare to think of crossing swords with him, and make him realize that he was far from worthy of being by Lady Viyan’s side.

Jeten, having organized his plan, smiled faintly and called his aide.

“Aide.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s have the meeting soon. I’m also getting a bit hungry.”

“Understood. I will prepare it immediately.”

“Hehe, I’m looking forward to it. A shameful situation where he has been openly insulted but must hide his anger due to the difference in power…… What kind of attitude will the fellow show, I wonder?”

“If he endures it forcefully, he’ll be a cowardly fellow, and if he can’t endure it and acts out, he’ll be a petty fellow who can’t even understand that much.”

“I’d prefer it if he acted out. Without me having to step in myself, if one of the elite guild members is sent out to crush him mercilessly, that would be the best picture.”

“I’ll try to provoke him well.”

“Good. I’m counting on you.”

Jeten and his aide, looking at each other’s faces and smirking despicably.

While they were doing so, about 20 more minutes passed, and finally, the meal was prepared.

Jeten, seated at the head of the table, looked towards the door with an expression full of anticipation.

It was because he wanted to clearly see that fellow Harang’s thoroughly crumpled face.

After a little time passed like that, the door to the banquet hall finally opened.

The first to appear was the low-ranking guild member in charge of guiding, but his expression was strange.

He had expected him to have a similar expression to his own, but he was exuding a somewhat unsettling feeling.

‘What is it?’

The more incomprehensible part was that the expression of today’s protagonist, Harang, looked extremely satisfied.

It was true.

As he entered the banquet hall following the low-ranking guild member’s guidance, he exuded a very refreshed and bright atmosphere.

It was definitely not the appearance of someone who had suffered inconvenience due to a 3-hour delay in the appointment.

At this, Guild Leader Jeten glanced sharply at his aide.

“…….”

Of course, the aide had nothing to say.

He also couldn't understand the reason.

No matter how much he thought about it, it didn't make sense.

Why was that strange fellow wearing such a joyful expression despite having been so insulted?

What was even more absurd was the words that flowed from his polite mouth.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I am Harang. Thank you very much not only for inviting me but also for your consideration in allowing me to observe the Jeten Guild’s swordsmanship.”

“…….”

“…….”

‘This fellow…….’

‘He’s a master strategist!’

Only then did Jeten and his aide, realizing Harang’s intention, nod their heads simultaneously.

That’s right.

This fellow, instead of intuitively revealing his uncomfortable feelings, was expressing them in a roundabout way.

At first glance, it sounded like he was praising them, but if one looked closely, it was no different from scolding them, ‘Why did you call someone over only to make them run around in circles?’

It was certain.

They knew it better than anyone because it was a tactic they often used.

‘What should I do?’

Guild Leader Jeten looked at his aide again.

If he had his way, he wanted to scold him, asking where he was playing his tricks.

However, he couldn't.

Whatever his true intentions, the fellow was outwardly polite, making him quite tricky to deal with.

At that moment, the aide, receiving the Guild Leader’s gaze, clapped his hands to call a servant and ordered wine to be brought.

He said to Jeten.

“Since a precious guest has arrived, isn’t it proper to bring out precious alcohol?”

“……Hmm! That’s right! You speak correctly!”

‘Yes, there was such a way!’

Guild Leader Jeten nodded his head vigorously.

Alcohol was the best way to break through the current situation.

No matter how deep-hearted a fellow he was, like a raccoon, if he was continuously fed alcohol, his true feelings would eventually come out, and his emotions would inevitably intensify.

Of course, he intended to serve the best alcohol, just as the aide said.

If he continuously presented rare items that ordinary people couldn't even touch and subtly mentioned the price, the fellow would probably taste defeat once again.

However, they did not know.

That Harang had a trained body that did not get drunk no matter how much alcohol he consumed.

And that he had thick nerves that couldn't understand even if someone spoke indirectly beside him.

Therefore…….

“How can this be! Tamdooria 50 Year!”

He had no choice but to receive all the alcohol provided to break his spirit as complete goodwill.

“Am I, really, allowed to taste this precious alcohol?”

“Huh? Uh…… O-of course. Isn’t it given to be drunk? Drink comfortably.”

“Yes? Not just one glass, but I can drink comfortably, as much as I want?”

“……Of course. Drink as much as you like.”

Jeten had said to drink comfortably, but he hadn't said to drink as much as he wanted.

However, since Harang was acting like that, he couldn't show weakness, so he had no choice but to belatedly add the words to drink as much as he wanted.

The result was disastrous.

Numerous valuable liquors, including Tamdooria 50 Year, Octamia Cask Strength, and GlenDron 45 Year, began to run out completely.

‘No, why isn’t that bastard even thinking of getting drunk?’

‘And how does he manage to pick out only the most expensive ones from the alcohol we have?

Is he a connoisseur of alcohol?

At such a young age?’

Jeten felt like his anger was about to explode.

He had thought one or two bottles of strong liquor would be enough, but Harang’s eyes were so good that he was picking out all the expensive and rare alcohol from the liquor display in the corner of the banquet hall.

While doing so, he would prattle on, ‘Perhaps that one too…… Ah, I know well enough that it’s precious, so it’s alright if you save it and drink it at a more valuable time.

It’s really alright,’ and with such a way of speaking that seemed to make a person look stingy, how could he possibly save the alcohol?

In the end, Jeten had to part with half of his cherished whiskey collection.

Despite that, Harang still showed no signs of being drunk and remained as he was at the beginning, so it felt as if a fire was raging inside him.

Of course, Harang had no idea of his feelings.

‘He’s a really good person.’

Harang had quickly forgotten about things like choosing clothes, etiquette, or culture, as they were fields he had no interest in.

However, alcohol had a strange charm that made one’s palate open up the more one drank it, so he had continued to study it steadily after learning from the old beggar.

Therefore, he knew better than anyone how precious the things Guild Leader Jeten was treating him to were, and he felt grateful to him.

‘He said he would treat me with special care, and it was true.’

It was even beyond his expectations.

It was the first time he had received such lavish treatment since coming to the outside world.

Swordsmanship observation, enlightenment, extremely precious alcohol, and delicious side dishes…… The Jeten Guild had truly given him everything they could.

‘Compared to that, what can I give?’

Harang wore a worried expression.

He had become less awkward about the concept of ‘receiving something’ than before, but fundamentally, Harang was the type to feel burdened by being indebted.

Although he might not be able to repay everything he received from the Jeten Guild, the thought of wanting to give whatever he could within his means filled his mind.

Therefore, after emptying the last whiskey bottle, he straightened his posture.

At this, Guild Leader Jeten and his aide flinched.

‘Why is he doing that?’

Harang, who wore a puzzled expression for a moment, soon revealed the words in his heart.

“I am immensely pleased to have received such sincere and lavish hospitality. However, one concern I have is…… whether I am truly deserving of such great kindness. Should I say I received a huge gift for which I see no way to repay? If there is anything that I, a mere Wooden Plate Mercenary, should do for the Jeten Guild, please do not hesitate to tell me. Though my body is lacking, I will do my best to the extent of my abilities.”

“…….”

The aide, hearing Harang’s words, wore a dumbfounded expression.

He couldn't help it.

Because he had lost.

Completely, thoroughly defeated.

No matter what method they used, they couldn't bring out Harang’s true self, couldn't elicit a sense of inferiority, and couldn't draw out his emotions.

It was rather the opposite.

That young raccoon-like fellow, on the contrary, not only spewed out words that were outwardly polite but would inevitably be offensive if one thought about them even a little, but he also greedily drank down Guild Leader Jeten’s cherished liquors as if he were oblivious.

An unbelievably cunning and sly fellow!

The aide, belatedly coming to his senses, bit his lower lip hard.

He vowed that if he ever engaged in a war of words with someone else again, he would not be defeated so one-sidedly as he was today.

Having finished his thoughts, the aide looked at Guild Leader Jeten.

“…….”

He, too, like the aide, remained silent.

However, unlike the aide who sought to grow from today’s pain, for Jeten, today’s meeting had absolutely no value.

He had wasted emotions.

He had wasted alcohol.

He had wasted money.

The result?

There was nothing but Harang’s face looking even better.

There was nothing but a smile blooming on the face of his rival, whom he loathed more than an enemy.

Thinking that, he could no longer maintain the thread of reason.

“Harang.”

He opened his mouth.

It was a voice as hot as lava flowing beneath the earth.

Harang felt something was strange.

He only now realized that, unlike himself, the other person was not in a good mood.

But it was too late.

Before he could make any excuse, extreme words flowed from Jeten’s mouth.

“A duel.”

“……Yes?”

“I am challenging you to a duel. I’ll arrange the place and the notary for your convenience. Ten days from now, in the vacant lot of Marzen, with Head Philip Portville as the notary, let’s have a match. The winner will enjoy all the glory by Lady Sheratiya Viyan’s side, and the loser will have to lay down all rights and retreat desolately.”

“…….”

“Why, are you not confident?”

‘……Why is he suddenly acting like that?’

Looking at Guild Leader Jeten, who was growling like a wounded beast, Harang couldn't help but wear a bewildered expression.