Chapter 19 Blind Trust (1)
Roman’s question was straightforward.
“Hans. Did you usually see me taking drugs, or was there any circumstance that presumed that I was taking drugs?”
“yes?!”
Hans was startled.
it’s medicine
He thought he was going to run errands as usual, but he couldn’t hide his embarrassment at Roman’s sudden question.
And in that response, Roman was convinced.
Hans, who had meticulously taken care of Roman’s daily life even before he became possessed, would surely know the information he was looking for.
Roman said.
“It is not my intention to scold you, nor to condemn you. I just want to take the time to look back on myself. I plan to check how I lived through the eyes of a third person, not my memory.”
No excuses were added.
Loss of memory due to possession.
It was a part that needed explanation, but Roman knew that it was not necessary in his position.
A question posed calmly.
It was Hans’s share of worries.
Unlike usual, he showed a hesitant look, but he showed a serious expression as if he had made a decision.
‘Bocchan Roman, whom I recently experienced, is not someone who would speak carelessly. I really want to confirm the use of the drug from a third person’s point of view, so let’s be honest with what I know.’
“… I’ve never seen him use drugs. However, there were times when the young master’s behavior was a little strange.”
“When was that?”
“Was it a fortnight ago? Bocchan has been to a social party for a long time. Actually, that in itself wasn’t anything special, but the boy’s condition was a little strange after he had been to a social party. From that day on, he refrained from going out, locked himself in his room, and demanded an excessive amount of alcohol every night with a lifeless face. So I suspected that the young master might have dabbled in a forbidden substance at a social party.”
The day Roman committed suicide.
Hans looked at Roman, possessed by Baek Joong-hyeok, and suspected the drug.
It’s been such a problem among the nobles lately that Dmitri’s fool was suspicious.
but.
“Other than that, there is nothing particularly circumstantial. And now I know what a stupid idea that was. There’s no way such a strong young master would touch such a medicine.”
It was simply a story that ended with suspicion.
Hans trusted Roman.
Roman’s cleverness shown in the process of subjugating Blood Fang was something an addict could never show.
‘It’s a social party.’
Roman was deep in thought.
social party.
It was a familiar word.
Roman changed after attending a social party, and shortly after that, he made the extreme choice of suicide.
And the rumors of adultery that Flora heard also came from social parties.
then.
“Who was in charge of the social party I attended?”
root of the problem.
That was important.
And the answer is.
“You attended the Barco family’s party.”
Barco.
It was at this moment that the situation entered a new phase.
The explanation was simple.
“I knew the eldest son of the Barco family from the beginning. Although the relationship has been strained since the marriage conversation with Lawrence came and went, none of the children of nobles hung out with Master Roman as often as he did. So it wasn’t too strange to attend the Barco family’s social party. Interests are complicatedly intertwined, but that does not mean that the previous relationship will disappear.”
Barco’s eldest son.
Antony Barco, like Roman, was a man with a bad reputation around him.
So the two got along.
The two men, who come from powerful families in the northeast region and have a trashy reputation, often hang out together
. They had a similar reputation, so it must have been to the extent that they simply hung out together as entertainment companions. But that relationship got entangled around Flora. Antoni Barco wanted to marry Flora, and Roman was no different. And the winner of that fight was Roman. It’s because the Lawrence family, who rejected Barco in the end, decided that Dmitri was better than Barco.’
The pieces of the puzzle have fallen into place.
Barco’s invitation.
If Roman, who had been in a strange state since then, made the choice of death, it was certain that the cause was in Barco.
‘The only reasonable suspicion I can make is that Barco induced Roman’s suicide. If Dmitri becomes one with Lawrence, Barko will not be able to claim Flora or Lawrence’s fertile soil. And the simplest way to solve the problem is to prevent the marriage from happening in the first place. According to Hans, seeing that Barko wished to marry me instead of Lawrence, the only way left for them now is to induce them to break off the engagement or create a situation where they cannot get married.’
picture was seen.
Roman’s death.
The force that benefits the most from that is Barco.
I don’t know how they induced suicide, but they tried various methods to achieve their goal.
Inducing a breakup by spreading obscene rumors.
Made Roman commit suicide.
‘Wherever you go, trash exists.’
The truth wasn’t great.
but.
It was disapproving.
Because he decided to live Roman’s life, the name Barco got on Roman’s nerves.
It was then.
said Hans.
“… In fact, a few days ago I received an invitation to a party from Barco. I couldn’t deliver it to you because the young master started training in the closed hall. How should I handle this?”
“Barco invited me?”
“yes.”
food.
A laugh came out.
They were openly ignoring Roman.
He was so bold that he sent out an invitation to see her again no matter what kind of harm he did to himself.
‘It’s annoying.’
Didn’t like it.
My name is Barco.
In order to live as Roman in the future, it was necessary to clean up the parts that bothered me.
blast furnace.
“Tell them you’re going to the party.”
to face the problem head-on.
That was the way Roman would live from now on.
* * *
The party was two weeks later.
With time to spare, Roman visited Kevin, who was waiting for him during the closing training.
“What can I do next?”
Kevin.
he said, lowering his head.
Although he followed Roman’s suggestion, the problem was that there was nothing he could do for Roman.
Kevin was just a teenager.
He, who was born with ordinary talent like a stone rolling on the side of the road, could not come up with an answer to his role no matter how much he pondered over the past week.
So I asked.
own role.
That is, why did you accept yourself?
Roman said.
“I want to use you as my sword. However, the use of a person is not determined by the will of others. So, from now on, I will tell you three paths so that you can choose for yourself.”
knife.
It was unexpected.
To think that he would use himself as a sword, having never touched a sword in his life.
It was a statement that could not be understood by common sense, but Kevin did not raise any objection to Roman’s words.
“The first is to give up its use as a sword. If you are afraid to hold the sword and do not want to shed blood, then be my hands and feet, not as a sword. You can do your part just by following Hans, learning what Hans does, and doing the non-dangerous things I tell you to do.”
safe choice.
No risk was forced.
Forced risks lead to variables, and Roman did not keep the weak human as his sword.
“The second is to stand by my side as a sword. However, there is no way for you to become stronger in a short period of time, having been far from living as a prosecutor for the rest of your life in your mid-teens. The world is not a beautiful fairy tale. It takes a lot of willpower to become strong later on, and if you choose the second option, I will test your willpower with the number of limbs. A method of giving bone and muscle twisting pain. It is not just a verbal decision, but a result that proves your will.”
It was cool.
Fractured bone.
The fear emanating from the words made Kevin’s mouth dry.
but last.
When Roman accepted Kevin, he thought maybe Kevin could handle the final ordeal.
“The third… .”
I drew my sword.
And then.
Took.
“Cut off your wrists with this sword. Even in a situation where you inflict pain on yourself, if you endure the pain to the end and achieve your goal, you will become stronger than anyone else.”
A sword fell in front of my eyes.
For the first time, a feeling of fear appeared on Kevin’s face, who had shown determination until just now.
light horse.
When I first met him, Gwangma was just an insignificant boy who, like Kevin, did not know anything about martial arts.
however.
How could he have grown into the Four Heavenly Kings?
Because of your natural talent?
no.
His growth came from a strong will.
‘There are ancient martial arts in the treasury of the Demonic Cult. Among them, Ghost Demon Gong (鬼魂魔功) is a powerful demon that has turned countless demons who seek strength into obsolete people. In order to become a sword useful to me, the light horse learned the Ghost Demon Gong, and by overcoming the ordeal of the Ghost Demon Gong, it became a sword I trusted.’
ghost magician.
It’s a dangerous martial art.
The moment you use martial arts, your mind is gnawed by demonic energy, and you exert your power in the excruciating pain that slashes your blood vessels.
It is a pain that ordinary people would not dare to bear.
Just like Roman’s last suggestion, using martial arts even in the pain of cutting off one’s own arm is the ghost magic trick.
A world that cannot be reached with ordinary will.
So, I chose the ghost magician.
I don’t think Kevin can really handle the ghost magic, but I wanted to at least give him a choice.
Roman said.
“In order for an ordinary person to transcend the limits of their talent, that much sacrifice and will is required. you are already mine Whatever choice you make, I will use you with value, but the use is up to you to decide.”
passed the decision.
Kevin swallowed dryly.
As he looked down at the sword, his eyes trembled with fear, and his mouth was so dry that he couldn’t even swallow saliva.
cut off your own arm
It was harsh.
how did you do that
“Whoop whoop whoop.”
Breathing became rough.
I’m not sure that this is the right thing to do, but at least I had trust in Roman who was looking at me.
I believed in Roman.
Just like you saved yourself.
He believed that Roman would save his life again.
“I’ll do it.”
fast.
gritted it
He bit so hard that he could feel his teeth crumbling.
widely!
Kevin snatches the sword.
And the moment he tries to drive the sword into his arm.
‘The liquor of the phantom.’
anger.
Roman’s eyes flashed.
At the same time, Mana raged.
Demonic Cult’s martial arts.
Kevin’s eyes became hazy as the martial arts of the Hwanma, which is known to have dazzled the souls of many people, were demonstrated.
And then he collapsed on the floor.
In Roman’s world, he’d slam his face on the floor as if he were dead, but in Kevin’s world, it didn’t change at all from the moment he tried to drive the sword in.
From now on, it was a fantasy world.
yet.
Kwadeuk!
Kevin’s face contorted in pain.
