Hero's Coffin Chapter 22

Chapter 22

With goosebumps all over, he was dragged to the meeting place.

Without a chance to refuse, his arm was grabbed by the boy and he was pulled along. When he came to his senses, he was inside some warehouse building. The space, neatly arranged with several chairs, looked almost like a lecture hall.

The warehouse was packed with people wearing black robes. While some didn't cover their faces, most had their hoods pulled down to cover even their noses. Some, pursuing an extreme concept, even wore black masks.

I want to leave, I need to get out—

He tried to escape, but the grip of the human who had dragged him here, who introduced himself as 'Sile', was terrifyingly strong. Thinking that his attempt to break free was due to shyness at his first meeting, Sile encouraged him to sit down, saying everyone was nice.

If they were nice, would they follow Isaph?

He had heard from Noi that there were people among mercenaries who imitated Isaph, but he didn't know there would be a follower meeting. They must all be crazy. Barely suppressing the urge to shudder, he attempted self-hypnosis.

This is a gathering of people who love black robes, a meeting that reveres black cats...

However, the reason he had entered this terrible space was half out of curiosity. While he had been dragged in out of shock, he was not only curious about what kind of people would follow Isaph, but also thought they might know a lot about Isaph.

While information about Harenir could be found in all sorts of books, there probably wouldn't be any books about Isaph. To begin with, it was impossible for a book about a villain to be published in the Holy Empire.

On the other hand, he was also curious about the existence of the close aide who was said to be in contact with Isaph. Did Isaph have a companion? Did they really communicate? ...Wait, surely notifications wouldn't ring in a form I couldn't perceive? He felt around his robe warily.

Just then, clap clap clap, applause was heard from the front.

"He's coming in!"

As if it were some kind of custom, the people sitting in chairs all stood up and followed suit, clapping their hands, and he dazedly joined in while watching the podium. Who was this body's companion?

"His closest aide, Mr. Bart!"

The person coming onto the podium had a thick build and was also wearing a black robe. With the hood pulled over, only half of his face was visible, but a scar on his chin was noticeable. The scar, which looked like it had been scratched by fingernails, was slightly red as if it was recent.

The silk robe shimmered as he walked. He's wearing expensive stuff. While he was making these idle observations, the hype man in front of the podium even induced cheers before seating the people.

Bart tapped the desk on the podium, tap tap, and spoke in a meaningful tone.

"You've all heard the recent news, haven't you?"

"Of course!"

People shouted, vying with each other. Praises for Isaph's actions, who was said to have exploded the prison tower the day before his execution and escaped, even stealing the holy sword Piarus along the way, poured out from all around.

It was strange to hear someone speak that name favorably for the first time, but on the other hand...

"I heard that the Order will soon issue a wanted notice, and it will have the highest bounty in the empire's history!"

"Wooow!"

...Isn't this bad news? It meant that many more people would be targeting and chasing Isaph. Oddly enough, he felt he should stick close to Harenir. Even if he could escape, which he probably couldn't, it was obvious he'd be caught by bounty hunters.

Bart grinned at the people's reactions.

"That's right. All of this is His plan. Getting imprisoned, taking the holy sword! He knew the future where the holy sword would leave the hero's hands!"

People cheered at that exclamation, but his eyes turned cold.

This bastard is a con artist.

He had secretly hoped to meet one of Isaph's companions, but that hope was not just crushed but pulverized. As he sat with an increasingly poor posture, people kept nodding.

"I knew it would be like this!"

"Isaph has never been caught before, right? He blocked pursuing holy knights with just a gesture, and even when the cardinal stepped forward, he easily repelled him! He summoned dozens of undead and they fled with their tails between their legs, haha!"

"A noble called a warlord said he would definitely catch him and persistently pursued him, but instead his own mansion collapsed and he was trapped there! He cried out pathetically for help, buried under the rubble!"

"No one can catch Him. He suddenly appeared one day and has been turning the empire upside down, but no one has been able to find out anything about Him...!"

...Was Isaph that overpowered? He looked down at his hands in bewilderment. He had only perceived him as someone with a very pathetic body.

While he still couldn't understand this follower meeting, if he had to guess, perhaps Isaph's actions of messing with those in power were seen as satisfying. Somehow, people's praises seemed to be getting more and more excessive, but thanks to this dark fan club, he was learning about Isaph's past.

Just then, Sile shouted from beside him.

"When that noble's mansion was destroyed, there was a big commotion because a warehouse full of gold and treasures was discovered. They said it was grain and treasures extorted from the people of his domain! He made it possible for them to return to their original owners!"

"That's right. He's actually standing against those in power...!"

Ding, a blue window popped up in front of his eyes.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is an unfounded rumor.

—------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

He burst into laughter at the sudden appearance of the status window. What, it didn't bother to explain about the appearance of the fake close aide, but it wanted to prevent Isaph from being interpreted as a good guy?

In fact, there was no need to correct it. That incident was probably closer to Isaph taking revenge on the noble who dared to persistently chase him, making an example of him. It was a warning not to bother him in the future, showing what would happen if they did.

Snickering, he quietly asked Sile beside him.

"Do you really think the hero is dead?"

"W-why are you asking that?"

"Actually, I think he might be alive. Well... sigh, I believe He might have stolen the holy sword, but I can't believe the hero is dead."

"I-I actually think so too...!"

When he deliberately left room for agreement to the hesitant Sile, the boy quickly agreed. Although he hesitated a bit when saying 'He', feeling creeped out, the boy didn't notice anything strange and kept nodding.

He had expected this from the moment he saw Sile's naive face, and he had also noticed that the follower meeting was 'delighted that Isaph had messed with those in power'. Moreover, the fact that they never mentioned the Klam Massacre incident and vaguely considered it as some kind of misunderstanding added strength to his guess.

The people here just wanted to show off using Isaph's reputation. Perhaps they had been marginalized in society due to timid personalities or weak physiques, but found that people flinched and avoided them just by wearing a black robe, so they got into it.

His thoughts were further solidified as most of the people he had encountered in this space were small in stature, and the lower halves of their faces visible under their hoods looked youthful. If they were kids, it would make sense for them to be drawn to such sentiments...

Just then, Bart tapped the desk to draw everyone's attention.

"Now, I will contact Lord Isaph."

He said this while carefully taking out a palm-sized crystal ball from his bosom. A communication artifact? He watched curiously. This place was starting to get interesting.

–Yes, Bart.

As a purple light swirled like a vortex in the transparent crystal, a voice was heard. The sound was very faint, mixed with surrounding noise, but that was probably intentional too. There was no way anyone here would know Isaph's voice to begin with.

People seemed unsure, but with the appearance of such a rare magical tool, they seemed to believe it was real and their eyes lit up. The voice phishing scammer Bart's performance continued.

"Yes, Lord Isaph! Where are you now?!"

–I'm hiding near the capital. I need your help.

"Your faithful servant is waiting!"

–Cause a commotion elsewhere. We need to divert attention.

Was the fake Isaph they were contacting nearby? Somehow, he felt envious of him. The real Isaph had a collar around his neck, but the fake Isaph was free. People in the warehouse even sympathized, saying, "You're going through so much..."

"You all heard that, right? We must help Lord Isaph."

He gradually grasped Bart's purpose. Bart slammed the desk with a bang and said gravely,

"Let's cause an explosion at the Rus Historical Hall. Since Lord Isaph caused a commotion by blowing up the prison in the holy city, if we destroy a major building in Rus, the first capital of the empire, it will confuse their tracking, making them think He is here."

"Gasp. The H-Historical Hall...?"

"E-E-Explosion....?"

"Yes! You all just heard Lord Isaph's tired voice! We must unite our strength!"

Finally, Bart spread his arms wide.

"So if you all provide donations, I will try to obtain an explosion artifact!"

He was inwardly roaring with laughter at this absurd scam, but suddenly stopped. A cold uneasiness spread to the back of his neck.

Wait, 'I' am really in Rus, aren't I?

While it was purely for the purpose of extorting donations, what if they caused a commotion just for show? Like causing a small explosion at the Historical Hall. If that really drew attention...

Not only would it be very uncomfortable for him, but he could already imagine the tremendous looks his companions would give him. Wouldn't Kalterik shout that problems were tangled up with Isaph's very existence? It was obvious that Harenir would smile and say, "You really..."

After heaving a deep sigh, he finally stood up. It seemed he had to end this absurd scam. He was somewhat concerned that most of the people gathered here were young.

He couldn't let them fall victim to voice phishing right in front of him.