Dark Fantasy: Super Coward Mode

At the news from Deputy Commander Maren Burstian, I couldn’t hide my surprise.

Rebel forces, huh?

So that’s why he hadn’t shown up until now—he was too busy forming a rebel group?

“Apparently, their slogan is ‘Let’s crush the outsider lackey force.’ While you did work with outsiders, the idea of an ‘outsider lackey force’ is ridiculous.”

The Deputy Commander pressed his hand to his forehead, as if nursing a headache.

This slogan was a direct blow to the image of the Knights.

Not good.

Historically, if rebel forces weren’t suppressed effectively, support for the leader would significantly weaken.

And it was even a force created by the protagonist of Snow Castle, the Hunter?

All the logic of this world would force this to succeed, even if it meant bending reality.

If Rondan’s Knights were to disappear like this, taking down the Giant of the Snow Mountain would become quite a challenge.

Even with the strong knights led by the Knight Commander, they were an enemy that couldn’t be beaten.

If the support for the Knights weakened, their scale would naturally shrink, leading to a decrease in supporting troops as well.

That meant they would never be able to defeat the Giant of the Snow Mountain.

“Horrible story,” I said.

“Weren’t you close with the Hunter? What on earth happened?”

Upon hearing the Deputy Director’s question, I felt a bit somber.

That scene back then could not have been better for the Hunter to misunderstand.

After all, hadn’t I repeatedly shown situations that would raise suspicion in the Hunter’s eyes?

The fact that the Hunter had been understanding for so long could only be explained by his great ability to embrace.

“…It seems it’s a bit of a tricky matter to answer.” (Deputy Director)

Since I was unable to respond, the Deputy Director sighed softly.

“No. On the day we dealt with the Interrogator, I noticed the body of the replaced Interrogator and subdued it, but the Hunter seemed to have misunderstood and thought I had attacked a person from afar.”

“Couldn’t that have been clarified to him?”

“The Interrogator’s body maintained its monstrous appearance even after the soul vanished due to residual strength, so I couldn’t prove anything.”

“…That’s not easy.”

Right?

It really wasn’t easy.

If it hadn’t been for all this, things wouldn’t have turned out this way.

It felt like a situation that could only be described as Tricks of the Sky.

The Deputy Director sighed.

“Anyway, regardless of the backstory, we need to focus on what needs to be resolved now.”

“Right.”

“From now on, we’ll declare the rebel forces as traitors and suppress them by force.”

Suppress, huh.

Honestly, I didn’t quite get it.

There were quite a few hidden elements that contributed to Snow Castle’s popularity.

That meant many potential strong forces might be lurking within Rondan that had yet to surface.

Thinking about that, subduing the rebel forces wouldn’t be an easy task.

“Deputy Director.”

“…Don’t worry. I know about your friendship with the Hunter, and I trust you’ll help in the annihilation of the outsiders. So, let’s aim for a direction where misunderstandings can be cleared.”

“Can you erase my name from the Knights?”

Upon my words, the Deputy Director looked taken aback.

Was he shocked by the sudden bombshell?

“What do you mean by that! Are you going to give up your knighthood just because of that group?”

Hmm.

As expected, speaking without proper explanation leads to trouble.

When the Deputy Director, who looked a bit flustered, seemed a bit calmer, I carefully opened my mouth.

“I don’t mean I’m giving up my knighthood. I just want to hide for a while.”

“You think they will disband if they see your name not written down?”

“Isn’t that likely?”

“That’s a too simplistic thought!”

The Deputy Director slammed the table and stood up.

Was he angry, or did clenching his body make his already broad shoulders seem even bigger?

“If they scatter like that, do you think when you return they’ll just forget about it? No, they’ll check your activity logs and recruit again. The force that forms then will likely further worsen public sentiment with excuses like ‘The Knights deceived us.'”

Suddenly, the Deputy Director picked up a piece of glass and held it high.

“The forces are like glass. Do you think any gathered group can quietly disperse just because they achieved their goals? No!”

With that, the Deputy Director let the piece of glass drop to the floor.

The shard shattered into pieces and scattered everywhere.

Although shards of glass now littered the floor, the Deputy Director didn’t care at all.

“On the contrary, they will undoubtedly release their strength and then disappear. What do those who have lost their goals know to do, and you think they will conclude like that!”

If it were for his own benefit, the Deputy Director would never act so angrily.

Considering this man’s personality, he would likely calmly discuss it; if he didn’t find it convincing, he would simply let it go.

His anger was directed toward me.

Just when I had the chance to reveal my knighthood, thinking it would crumble so easily like this infuriated me toward the rebel forces.

Even if it were temporary.

“Deputy Director.”

“I can hide you for a while. But I will never allow you to be removed from the name.”

At the Deputy Director’s words, I felt a bit choked up.

I was grateful that this person wanted to take care of me so much.

“Then for now…”

“Knight Leydan Tanton, come out immediately!”

Just as the Deputy Director was about to say something, there was suddenly a commotion outside.

It wasn’t just a loud voice – it sounded like someone was trying to break in as if reaching down to the depths of Bonub’s underground.

This could only be one thing.

The Hunter’s rebel forces.

They had already made it here.

“Damn it. Are they really coming out so ruthlessly!”

The Deputy Director, feeling extremely frustrated, roared like a tiger.

But that didn’t mean he could do anything now.

Engaging with the rebel forces recklessly when a proper branch wasn’t even prepared would lead to severe troop losses.

The Deputy Director clenched his teeth, expressing his anger, and suddenly ran to a corner.

I wondered what he was about to do when he suddenly opened the stone floor in the composition, revealing a door-like opening.

“Tanton! Get in here quickly.”

“Where is that?”

“If there’s only one exit in the headquarters during an emergency, that would be a catastrophic situation, wouldn’t it?”

The Deputy Director said this with a slight smile, but soon returned with a tense expression.

“We don’t have time. Move!”

“…Understood!”

With no choice, I entered the opening.

Looking back at the Deputy Director, he nodded once before closing the door.

Although my mind couldn’t veer very well in the sudden situation, I started running towards the exit while prioritizing immediate tasks.

#

In an alley devoid of people.

I was walking as quietly as possible.

In such a situation, I couldn’t shake the suspicion that there were quite a few individuals claiming to be rebels throughout Rondan.

If I got caught, it would lead to a troublesome chase right from that point.

First, I needed to get to Asti.

I had set a course to the branch to report back to the Knights from the library.

If I suddenly vanished, she would be the most concerned about me.

As for White Mask and Muyun, they would get the report from the Deputy Director, so I wouldn’t have to worry.

Arriving at the branch, given the situation, I skipped saluting to the Branch Manager and dashed into the room.

The Branch Manager only looked at me with a worried expression, as if he had already received orders from the Deputy Director.

“Asti!”

I quickly opened and entered Asti’s room to convey my situation and leave, but strangely, no one was there.

How could she be out during such a time?

Thinking it was a bad situation, I suddenly recalled Asti’s characteristic that I often found in my room and opened my own door.

“Asti!”

Entering while urgently calling her name, I faced a rather embarrassing situation.

There she was, smothering her face with a bunch of my blankets.

What in the world was going on?

“Asti…?”

Even after throwing her a question, she showed no signs of panic; instead, she took a deep breath as if she could smell something.

“Ahhhh.”

Satisfied, she lifted the blanket from her face, but my cold sweat was in full flow at the sight of her expressionless face as she quickly tidied up afterward, as if nothing had happened, and bowed her head to me.

“Asti.”

“Yes.”

“What were you just doing…?”

“I was recharging my energy while Leydan was away.”

What was she trying to gain from such an act since the last time?

Where did the embarrassment of the person involved go?

“So why did you call me like that?”

“Ah.”

Having seen her bizarre behavior, I forgot my original purpose.

“Asti. I think I’m going to have to hide for a while. If that’s the case, I won’t be able to come into this branch anymore. I don’t know how long it’ll take, so I’m letting you know in advance.”

I shared my current situation with Asti, feeling a bit bleak about it.

Given Asti’s usual personality, I thought she might feel a bit sad, but still would wish me to take care and come back safely.

“I’ll go with you.”

But Asti showed me a look that was completely different from the calm face I had expected.

“It’ll be dangerous.”

“I’ve become tougher after receiving my mother’s physique.”

“Still, they’re rebels. They led by Hunter.”

My words aimed as a warning, but Asti grasped my hands and looked at me seriously.

“You’re telling me to live in anxiety, knowing Leydan is in danger and not being able to check continuously?”

I thought it was a distorted interpretation, but upon reconsideration, it might indeed be such a situation, leaving me speechless.

I had much more to say, but looking at Asti’s expression left me at a loss for words.

I sighed and gently ruffled her hair.

“Just got free, and I’m going to end up a fugitive again.”

“I’m okay.”

Asti merely stated that calmly.

#

As I stepped out to find a place to hide, a familiar voice called out.

“Why are you just coming out now? I thought I’d end up waiting forever.”

I looked toward the voice, wondering who it could be.

“Let’s go, to another domain.”

It was Agartha, standing in front of the train, saying just that.

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