Chapter 960 – 960. Rainbow Fruit
I massaged the sleeping Baroness’s buttocks on the bed, glaring around. With my Thousand Eyes activated, I could see through the surroundings. The more I focused on the X-ray vision, the more mana it consumed, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle.
‘There’s no butler in the castle. Where did he go?’
Just in case, I scanned the inside of the castle once more.
It was late at night, and most people were asleep. There were hardly any people moving, making it easier to identify them. The butler was nowhere to be found.
I checked the basement as well. Warehouses and the dungeon. There were only a few prisoners. The butler wasn’t there. Of course, neither was the lord.
‘The butler sneaked out of the castle. That bastard is definitely up to something.’
My goal was to find the rainbow fruit. And the rainbow fruit was related to the butler and the lord. My gut was telling me.
‘I need to keep a close eye on the butler tomorrow.’
I got out of bed and returned to my room.
***
I met Kang Seok-soo.
Unlike yesterday, he looked tired.
“You look like death warmed over.”
“I couldn’t sleep because I was reading and analyzing the data you gave me.”
“So, did you get anything out of it?”
“It was helpful. However, there were some awkward parts in the data. Are there any missing materials?”
“No. I took pictures of all the rainbow fruit data in the study.”
“Then that means one thing. Someone removed some of the rainbow fruit data.”
Kang Seok-soo stared at my face.
“You seem to have someone in mind?”
“Yeah. I suspect the butler. And yesterday, I went to see the lord without the butler knowing… and the lord wasn’t there.”
I told him about the situation in the mansion.
“That butler is definitely suspicious. He leaves the castle at night… I’ll follow him myself.”
“You’ll do it yourself?”
“I’m getting restless just sitting here.”
“Tell me about the results of your analysis. I’m curious too. Did you figure out where the rainbow fruit is?”
“If I had figured that out, I wouldn’t be sitting here. These materials are more like a collection of stories related to the rainbow fruit. They seem like completely different stories, but they have something in common.”
“I know that. The end of those who possess the rainbow fruit is always bad. The stories all have bad endings.”
“That’s right. But there’s more to it than that. They all eat the rainbow fruit.”
“Of course they’d eat it, it’s a fruit.”
“If I got a mysterious fruit like the rainbow fruit, I wouldn’t eat it, I’d study it. And I would try to plant and cultivate it.”
“……What does that have to do with anything?”
“Nothing. The important thing is the process of obtaining the rainbow fruit. In the stories, the people who obtain the rainbow fruit are diverse. Kings, nobles, commoners. Even slaves get the rainbow fruit.”
“Was there anything special about the process?”
“In the stories, someone always gives them the rainbow fruit. As a tribute, a bribe, a gift, a reward, etc. Someone always hands over the rainbow fruit. Like a devil handing over the fruit of destruction. And where they get the rainbow fruit is never clearly stated, it’s always vague. There are many stories where it doesn’t even mention how they got the rainbow fruit.”
“……Come to think of it, that’s true.”
“This is a dungeon, and our goal is to get the rainbow fruit. The rainbow fruit exists. So, we can’t ignore these stories.”
“You’re saying we need to find the person who brings the rainbow fruit?”
“That’s right. I just thought of someone who might be the one who brings the rainbow fruit. I can’t be sure, but I suspect him.”
“The butler?”
Kang Seok-soo nodded. Well, the butler was very suspicious. I thought of the butler right away too.
“If the butler is the one who brings the rainbow fruit… is the lord the one who receives the rainbow fruit?”
“Probably. Now you know what’s missing from the story, right?”
“…….”
I remained silent. I didn’t know. If you don’t know, you should shut up, that’s half the battle.
Fortunately, Kang Seok-soo was a surprisingly talkative man.
“The price. There wasn’t a single story that mentioned what they gave in exchange for the rainbow fruit.”
“Maybe there was no price at all.”
“I’ve already verified that. Last night, I heard a legend about the rainbow fruit from a peddler. Do you know the story of the noblewoman who gained wisdom from the rainbow fruit?”
“I know. In the end, she ends up as a prostitute at the hands of the jealous queen.”
“The data didn’t mention the price the noblewoman paid, but the peddler knew the price. He said the price was her legs.”
“Her legs?”
“To be precise, he said her human legs turned into monster legs.”
“If it’s a monster….”
“It’s as you imagine. There must be some connection between monsters and the rainbow fruit.”
***
“Sir Eugene. I have a favor to ask. Please stay by my side this afternoon.”
Baroness Revillidy said to me. I nodded with a sly smile.
“I will escort you properly today. If you wish, I will escort you to the heavens.”
Revillidy smiled awkwardly.
“…That’s not what I meant, Sir Eugene. An Inquisitor from the Cel Church is scheduled to arrive soon.”
“Is he an important guest? Is it okay for a newbie like me to be by the Baroness’s side?”
“You’re the most trustworthy person in this castle, Sir Eugene.”
We had slept together, but we hadn’t known each other for long. Yet, she trusted me the most? It was a meaningful statement.
“Thank you for trusting me. But there’s still time before the Inquisitor arrives, isn’t there?”
I kept sending her subtle glances, and the Baroness couldn’t refuse.
And about two hours later. We hurriedly wiped the sweat from our cheeks and went outside the castle. A group of people on horseback was approaching.
At the center of them was a man in armor. He had a clean face and wore a black cloak. That didn’t mean he was handsome. He looked ordinary. He was a man in his 30s, and his eyes were sharp. If you looked closely, his nose was slightly crooked.
‘Is that the Inquisitor the Baroness mentioned?’
My gaze then went to his side. Among those who appeared to be his attendants, there was a modern person. A hunter who had entered the dungeon with me. He also looked at me with a welcoming expression.
‘Was his name Jo Woo-saeng? I didn’t expect to meet him like this.’
Jo Woo-saeng smiled brightly at me. I didn’t know the details, but his face showed an undeniable fatigue, as if he had suffered a lot.
‘I can roughly understand his situation.’
Jo Woo-saeng looked clueless. He must have been tossed around by the role the dungeon had given him.
“I am Coleman Direp from the Cel Church. I received a report that there is heresy in this city. Are you Baroness Revillidy?”
Coleman Direp got off his horse. Clang. The sound of his armor echoed. As soon as he got off the ground, he pulled out a mace from his waist and held it in his hand. He had no manners. However, neither Baroness Revillidy nor the knights and soldiers could protest and were afraid. It was clear how powerful the Cel Church was.
“Yes. I am the mistress of Revillidy.”
“Where is the lord?”
“My husband is currently bedridden and unable to come out.”
“He can’t come out even though it’s not that far… His condition must be very bad.”
“I will treat you as the lord’s representative, Coleman.”
“Enough. I didn’t come here to be treated. I came here to work. I need to meet the lord of this city. Lead me to the lord’s room.”
“B-but the lord is in a state where he needs rest!”
The Baroness said. Her voice was trembling. I felt a sense of novelty at her appearance, which was different from the confident one she had shown when I was in front of her. Was the Inquisitor that scary?
“I have to do my job. Lead me. Madam, if you stop me, it means you are supporting heresy. I believe you are not a heretic.”
I glanced at the Baroness. Should I step in? But if I stepped in now, things would definitely get complicated.
‘And the lord isn’t in this castle right now. Let’s see how things go.’
I looked for another person. The butler. He was standing there without running away. His face was calm. He wasn’t flustered.
“I… will lead you.”
The Baroness said.
We all rushed to the lord’s room.
Inquisitor Coleman was tough. Bang! He opened the lord’s door without knocking and strode in. He looked around and said as if spitting out words.
“He’s not here.”
“T-that can’t be…! Butler! Where is he!? Where is he!?”
The flustered Baroness called for the butler. The butler was in charge of the lord.
“That’s… I don’t know either. The lord was definitely here until lunchtime today….”
“Suspicious. I will interrogate you. Seize the butler.”
“Yes!”
As soon as Coleman’s order was given, the knights quickly moved and grabbed the butler’s arms.
“P-please let me go! I am not a heretic!”
“It’s not up to you to decide that, it’s up to me.”
Coleman said coldly. His voice was dry, without a single trace of mercy. He moved his limbs and rummaged through the room. He grabbed the end of the bed and checked the floor, then swung his mace and smashed the bed. His mace was aimed everywhere. Clang! The vase broke. Crack! The drawer was smashed. He banged on the walls, floor, and ceiling.
“Sir Eugene. You must be flustered?”
Jo Woo-saeng approached me and spoke quietly.
“It’s a bit flustering since it’s so sudden. You seem used to it, Jo Woo-saeng.”
“It’s because I’ve seen this scene several times on my way here. They’re looking for traces of heresy. I was so flustered when I was given the role of a knight… I’ve been hit a lot by that Inquisitor too.”
“You didn’t seem surprised to see me, Jo Woo-saeng. Have you already encountered other hunters?”
“Yes. I met Park Jo-hyuk yesterday. He was a hunter, but he escaped, saying this dungeon was a waste of time.”
Dungeon escape.
I didn’t blame Park Jo-hyuk. He had made a choice for himself.
“Sir Eugene. Be careful of Coleman. Even if he makes you feel bad, I recommend that you bow your head for now.”
“Yes?”
“That man is incredibly strong. He’s probably A-rank… Oh, no. Have I become attached to those guys after living with them for a few days?”
Jo Woo-saeng scratched his head. I was about to open my mouth but closed it. The man who had made a mess of the lord’s room strode towards the butler.
“You’re calm in this situation. You have guts for a mere butler.”
“Coleman. I am not a heretic. The Inquisitor only kills heretics, so there’s no reason for me to be flustered.”
“It’s up to me to judge who is a heretic.”
Tear!
Coleman grabbed the butler’s clothes and ripped them off. I clicked my tongue. I didn’t want to see an old man’s naked body. But I was curious about what Coleman was going to do.
Jo Woo-saeng quietly explained next to me.
“Many heretics leave traces of heresy on their bodies.”
“Have you actually seen heretics?”
“Yes. I’ve seen them. I’ve seen 34 of them on my way here. Did you know? Heretics suddenly turn into monsters. Like monsters from a B-grade movie.”
“A monster with red skin and bone spikes sticking out?”
“Huh? How did you know? Did you encounter one?”
“…Yes, I even killed one myself.”
“You must have had a hard time. They’re not ordinary.”
Jo Woo-saeng chattered. This guy was also quite talkative.
“It’s a trace of Brahmasen! He’s a heretic!”
Coleman shouted when he saw the five water droplet-shaped patterns rotating on the butler’s side. The knights quickly drew their swords. Jo Woo-saeng did the same. Thud! Their swords pierced the butler’s body. Jo Woo-saeng’s sword pierced the butler’s heart accurately.
The butler didn’t even groan. The butler’s skin and eyes turned red. The butler licked his lips and said.
“Inquisitor, you came too late. If you had arrived just one day earlier, it would have been troublesome. The fruit is already ripe.”
“Fruit? What do you mean!”
“Hehe. Find out for yourself. I have completed all my missions.”
“Interrogation is meaningless. Goddess! Give me the power to defeat this evil seed!”
His mace turned pure white.
“Brahmasen!”
The butler closed his eyes, calling the name of a god. The mace smashed the monster’s head.
