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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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“We have arrived.”
“Thank you.”
Luke stretched as Luna paid the driver.
That carriage ride had been torture.
They had left in the morning and arrived well after noon.
Adela had been right about the distance. If they’d left any later, they’d have had to find an inn immediately upon arrival.
If it weren’t for the scenery, he would have blown up the carriage out of boredom.
“We’re here, Luna! Welcome to Beginner’s Village!”
“That’s not what it’s called…”
“I know. It’s a tradition.”
He had to say it.
The estate overlooked a vast ocean, a salty breeze filling the air. It wasn’t as large as the Imperial City, but it was clearly well-funded.
Clean buildings, unique local products, and many fish and shell-based decorations, befitting its coastal location.
“The lord here seems like a decent guy.”
“Indeed. Not the typical noble estate.”
Weren’t nobles usually depicted as greedy and corrupt, raising taxes and embezzling funds?
This estate was different.
The commoners seemed to be living comfortably.
And the lord had hired adventurers to investigate missing persons, using his own funds.
That wasn’t typical noble behavior.
“I feel like I’ve been here before…”
He had a vague sense of familiarity.
“What is it?”
“Is this… the womanizer arc?”
“…?”
Whatever. He’d find out soon enough.
They headed for the Adventurers’ Guild.
Adela had told them to show their request form to the local guild.
Don’t cause any trouble there!, Adela had warned.
Okay.
What kind of trouble could he possibly cause?
The guild building was made of brick, painted white, with a wooden sign that read “Adventurers’ Guild.”
It was smaller than the guild in the Imperial City, but it had everything they needed.
“Welcome.”
An unfamiliar receptionist.
It was a nice change from Adela.
“We’re here for the missing person investigation.”
“Please show me your request form.”
The receptionist stamped their form and returned it.
“That’s it?”
“Yes. Take this to the Count’s mansion. He’ll explain the details.”
The Adventurers’ Guild was always efficient.
This will be over quickly.
They left the guild and headed for the mansion.
Even Luke, with his terrible sense of direction, could find the Count’s mansion. It was the biggest building in the estate.
“Halt! State your business!”
Guards blocked their path, spears crossed.
A typical medieval fantasy scene.
“We’re adventurers. We’re here for a request.”
They were important guests.
He showed the guards their request form.
One of the guards scrutinized it.
“How do we know this is real?”
“You work for the Count, and you don’t recognize his family crest? Are you stupid?”
There were always these brainless characters in novels.
In the original story, the protagonist would have been flustered and complained loudly about the injustice.
Even Luna seemed taken aback by his bluntness.
The request form had the Count’s seal.
How could a guard in the Count’s estate not recognize it?
Is he a demon?
Should I kill him?
He was about to draw his sword, when the guard spoke:
“You’re a scammer. And a loudmouth.”
Oh?
He was challenging a K-netizen to a battle of wits?
A medieval grunt?
He’d show him a taste of K-netizen spice.
“You must have been deprived of oxygen during birth, causing brain damage. Your mother must have suffered greatly.”
“Y-you little…!”
“Not done yet. You know how your mother paid for your upbringing? She spread her legs in a brothel and let me—”
“You son of a bitch!!!”
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In Count Devon’s office, the only sound was the scratching of a quill.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”
“…?”
Isaac, startled by the sudden scream, put down his quill and looked out the window.
He saw a commotion at the main gate and his butler looking flustered.
He armed himself and headed for the gate.
“Cedric, what’s happening?”
“M-my lord…! It’s—”
Crack.
A sickening sound.
Followed by a scream.
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”
Isaac saw his guards lying on the ground, and a red-eyed man bending another guard’s body at an unnatural angle. A beastkin woman stood behind him.
“Watch this, Luna. This is called a Galaxy Z Flip.”
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”
The man continued to utter strange words.
More guards charged at him, only to be folded like paper.
His strength was incredible.
He was only about twenty years old, but his physical power belied his appearance.
“I told you to let me see the Count. Why do you keep popping up like cockroaches?”
He wanted to see Isaac.
He couldn’t just stand by and watch any more of his guards get hurt.
He stepped forward, ignoring Cedric’s attempts to stop him.
“I am Isaac Devon. What is the meaning of this?”
“My lord, get back! He’s dangerous!” a guard shouted.
Isaac smiled reassuringly at the guard.
“Is this a sitcom? People will think I’m a terrorist.”
“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!”
“Release him. I’m here.”
The man finally let go of the guard.
He dusted off his hands and pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, unfolding it before Isaac.
“…?”
Isaac calmly read the document.
“…Huh?”
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Luke hated contrived plot devices. They ruined immersion.
The extra guard blocking his path was one such device.
So, he folded him in half.
They’re so easily provoked.
He found it amusing how they reacted to a few insults.
In Korea, he could have reduced their mothers to pizza delivery workers and their fathers to seagull-fighting losers with a few keystrokes.
After demonstrating the Galaxy Z Flip to Luna using the remaining guards, he finally got to meet the Count and show him the request form.
“I apologize for my guard’s behavior. I’ll take appropriate action.”
“Yes, he was extremely rude.”
If he’d been a minute later, he would have turned him into a Galaxy Z Fold.
He was willing to forgive, since the Count promised to take action.
Though, I’m not sure what more he could do.
“Ahem. Let me explain the request.”
Finally, they got down to business.
Isaac explained the situation. At first, only people with few social connections disappeared, so it went unnoticed. But recently, the number of disappearances had increased, with families and friends reporting missing loved ones.
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Isaac had launched an investigation, but they found no trace of the missing people.
With limited manpower, he had no choice but to hire adventurers.
This is exactly like the novel.
It felt like Isaac was reading from a script.
He was certain now.
This was the vampire arc.
“Okay, Count. Let’s make a deal.”
“…What?”
“If I solve this in a day, you double the reward. Deal?”
Isaac narrowed his eyes.
“You speak as if you already know something. What happens if I refuse?”
“Curiosity killed the cat.”
The Count’s demeanor changed. He was no longer the kind, gentle lord from before.
What happens if he refuses?
He’d watch as the Vampire Queen awakened and destroyed the estate, then swoop in at the last minute, save the day, collect the reward, and leave.
The Count laughed heartily and accepted.
“Hahaha! Very well! I’ll double the reward if you solve it in a day.”
“Triple. Since you doubted me.”
“…?”
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This guy..
Ah, Deadpool. Now I realize why I like this MC so much. He’s like deadpool.