Chapter 760: Chapter 760: The Secret Garden (1)

The Evil Eye, Roland Banossant.

Under the law of Orkulis, where strength determines rank, he killed the previous deputy commander in a single blow and claimed the position for himself. A top-tier psychic.

I’ve heard dozens of stories about this guy’s career—too many to recount—but if I had to name the most recent one:

The defeat of Ainard Prnelin, the New Spear.

It feels strange to say this, but Ainard was the strongest of my early comrades after Elwen. Even back when she was called the Violent Spear, she was one of the Seven Peaks. That says it all.

Ainard is objectively very strong.

But that bastard beat her.

Without suffering even minor injuries himself.

More than that—he captured Ainard alive.

Even one of those feats would’ve marked a massive power gap. But both? The answer is simple.

He’s very, very strong.

Maybe that’s to be expected, given he’s Orkulis’s deputy commander. Still, I didn’t see it coming.

In my memory, the guy was making a dumbstruck face, getting his skull smashed in by a hammer as he died.

Sure, I had the element of surprise back then, but still.

Now to hear that the same guy wiped the floor with Ainard? That’s enough to break my sense of reality.

“Yandel... be careful. He uses some really strange abilities...”

I chuckled when I heard Ainard’s advice.

'...So she can talk like that when she’s scared, huh.'

Well, she probably doesn’t know what kind of Essence that bastard has.

To her, it really would’ve seemed like “some strange ability.”

'Even if I take care of the Evil Eye... can Amelia and Ainard handle the rest? While dragging those two burdens?'

Tsk... this might be tough.

Just as those thoughts were forming—

“Ahem!”

The bespectacled man, who’d previously shattered the (former) symbol of peace’s mental composure, cleared his throat and boldly stepped forward.

Well, not too close. He was still quite a distance away...

“Baron Yandel! Hear me!”

'...Huh?'

Me, this time?

“You are already surrounded! If you’re still hoping the Imperial Army will save you, abandon that hope immediately. The Royal Army is currently in retreat!”

“...So?”

“To someone whose fate is already foretold, I present a proposal. Lay down your arms and surrender. I cannot speak of the details here, but the Lord wishes to meet you.”

I stayed quiet out of curiosity. It seemed like a recruitment attempt. I glanced at Amelia, silently asking who the hell is this guy? She answered:

“He’s one of the Lord’s people. Doesn’t have a fixed post. They just call him in whenever they need something done.”

It was a vague concept, but easy enough to understand.

I’d heard Amelia herself used to occupy that very role.

In short, this guy held the same position Amelia once did...

'No wonder I didn’t recognize his face.'

Still, it was kind of funny.

Here we were, facing the elite forces of Orkulis, yet the one trying to win me over was the “Lord.”

“Well then, what say you? I won’t wait long. Decide here and now.”

The glasses-wearer looked absolutely certain that I wouldn’t refuse. But after hearing his offer, my only impression was:

'What a completely half-assed, shitshow family.'

My answer was already decided.

“I refuse.”

“...Excuse me?”

“Is there something wrong with your ears? I said I refuse.”

I mean, the marquis is just up ahead.

And once I take him down, my mission’s complete.

That was the one task the king gave me.

Capture the marquis, and my companions and I avoid the wrath of the royal family.

But surrender now?

'Are you stupid?'

Even if the marquis wasn’t nearby, my answer wouldn’t have changed.

Barbarians only kneel when they’re crouching to build momentum.

And right now, every instinct I have tells me—

There’s no momentum in that offer.

“Tch.”

The bespectacled man looked confused, and the Evil Eye clicked his tongue and spoke.

“I told you, didn’t I? He’s not someone that kind of offer would ever work on.”

Apparently, he’d been sure from the start that I wouldn’t accept. Maybe it’s because he’s had his head smashed once before?

“What a waste of time.”

With an annoyed expression, the Evil Eye stepped ahead of the glasses-wearer, who reluctantly backed off.

And then—

“There’s no point in talking when both sides walk parallel paths.”

“Parallel? Stop using fancy words.”

I tilted my head with mock confusion as the color of the Evil Eye’s irises slowly began to change.

That subtle shift in the air—only felt right before a fight.

I tightened my grip on the new symbol of peace.

And just then—

“Fweeeet—!”

A ridiculous whistle cut through the tension like a knife, reminding me again of just how unpredictable humans can be.

“Hey, Deputy Commander!”

The Evil Eye turned toward the sound, and I followed his gaze.

And I saw him.

“......”

Platinum blond hair slicked back with pomade.

Skin pale as if it had never seen sunlight, with cold, sharp features.

A mischievous grin that didn’t suit the rest of his face.

“Aha! This humble one has arrived!”

A walking wildcard—Ibaekho.

***

Ibaekho appeared on the roof of a three-story inn—and he wasn’t alone.

Behind him, sitting casually at the edge of the roof, were familiar figures.

Rek Aures. Jaina, the disciple of Karui. The Destruction Old Man.

And...

'Who the hell are those guys?'

Dozens of cloaked figures, radiating an ominous presence, standing behind him.

Since when did Ibaekho have ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ his own private army?

It was suspicious, but the Evil Eye didn’t even glance at the ones behind. He only stared at Ibaekho and asked:

“What brings you here...?”

Something in his tone made me feel oddly sympathetic.

Because clearly, even this deputy commander knew—

How utterly unpredictable Ibaekho was.

“Oh, just here to watch.”

The Evil Eye didn’t reply.

He simply stared at Ibaekho, like he was trying to read the truth from his expression.

And then—

'Shit.'

I suddenly became extremely tense.

Because the last time I saw Ibaekho had been a disaster.

Sure, exploring outside the walls together had been fine. But in the end, things went south and his group jumped me. I held out as long as I could, and when my comrades came out looking for me... they saw everything.

In a final standoff, he dropped to his knees before me.

[I deeply... apologize... for threatening... the Baron...]

The shame and humiliation he must’ve felt then—probably unimaginable.

He definitely holds a grudge against me now.

Which means, in this situation, he should be classified as a negative variable—

“That’s a lie.”

Suddenly the Evil Eye muttered something, and Ibaekho grinned.

“Correct!”

“...Explain your business.”

“I was just watching and thought it looked boring.”

“Boring...?”

Naturally, the deputy commander didn’t understand the slang. And instead of clarifying, Ibaekho cut straight to the point.

“But with these numbers, a gang fight won’t be balanced, right?”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Just go one-on-one.”

Completely unconnected logic—no beginning, no buildup, no justification. Classic Ibaekho.

But because it was so primal, its meaning hit harder than anything else.

“If you refuse, we’ll side with Baron Yandel.”

“You mean to break the pact?”

“Yup!”

The deputy commander was stunned by the cheerful reply. And Ibaekho, embodying pure chaos, didn’t miss the opportunity.

“What, you really trust a piece of paper? I didn’t know our deputy commander was such a romantic.”

Infuriating taunts, delivered in a childish tone—designed to provoke.

The Evil Eye clenched his teeth.

“This is why you don’t trust stray dogs that bite anyone they see...”

“Whoa now, that’s harsh. Why ‘dog’?”

Despite the provocations, the deputy commander quickly regained his composure.

“So this... ‘one-on-one.’ What does it mean?”

“Oh! Right, I should explain. It’s like, a duel... no, not quite. So...”

Ibaekho lowered his voice, suddenly serious.

As if to prove he wasn’t joking.

“You two fight. One-on-one.”

His tone almost sounded like a threat.

The Evil Eye calmly asked just one thing.

“Why?”

“Gang fights with unbalanced numbers are boring.”

The conversation paused there.

The deputy commander fell silent, calculating his options. And I wasn’t doing much better—my head was spinning.

Is Ibaekho a positive variable?

Or the opposite?

There was no easy answer.

Ibaekho’s “boring” excuse was obviously a lie.

He had an agenda.

But...

'For now, maybe it’s actually positive...'

I reached that conclusion.

Because honestly, if Ibaekho had joined the enemy right now, I’d be screwed. The fact that he wasn’t taking an openly hostile stance—that alone was a positive.

Whatever this leads to.

Anyway—

“Ah! Come to think of it, I didn’t ask Baron Yandel if he was okay with it! Baron, is one-on-one fine with you?”

“I don’t care.”

“Kya! As expected, barbarians are real men!”

I made my choice.

And Ibaekho, thrilled, turned back to the Evil Eye.

“How about our deputy commander?”

“No answer?”

“Don’t tell me... scared...?”

“Wow, he’s totally scared!”

The insults kept coming. Finally, the Evil Eye spoke.

“...If I accept this ‘one-on-one,’ can you promise not to interfere?”

“Huh... promise?”

Ibaekho tilted his head.

Didn’t expect the guy to bring up promises again after mocking them so thoroughly.

But—

“Sure! I promise! A hundred times if you want!”

“...Very well. I accept.”

“Oh, really?”

I don’t know what logic brought him to that decision. But the deputy commander agreed to the duel.

It’s not like he believes Ibaekho’s promise.

'Then what’s he thinking?'

The answer came soon after, in his own words.

“You are to watch them closely. No matter what happens, do not assist me. Just focus on preventing interference from the others. Understood?”

“Yes, sir.”

And in that moment, it hit me.

I let out a small sound without meaning to.

“Ah.”

He really thinks... he can beat me.

At first, I felt insulted.

But soon, a smile crept across my face.

“How amusing.”

There’s nothing more fun than shattering someone’s beliefs.

Especially when their head is full of flowers.