Reader’S Regeneration Life [EN]: Chapter 162

162―――――

I’m back, but what is this?

“The continent is currently in a state of chaos due to unfortunate events occurring in various places.”

As Zion expected, it was a start that accurately targeted the turbulent political situation in Hispania.

Putting aside the war with Nudia, there were the groups who attacked the royal castle, whose exact identities and reasons were unknown.

There was the noble who openly disregarded the royal family and ran a slave market, the rampaging monsters, the rough movements of the barbarian tribes, and the ominous movements of the northern nobles, who seemed to have been waiting for this moment.

‘These were the things that made it impossible for Prince Erader to remain unshaken, not only for the kingdom’s people and nobles. Of course, in the novel, there was even a large-scale pirate attack.’

In particular, Prince Erader, who was being considered as the next king, must have been extremely anxious.

In such a world, the chaos of the country was often attributed to ‘the fault of the royal family.’

It was natural for any royal family to be shaken if bad things kept happening in the country.

“It’s not just Hispania.

Various suspicious things are happening in Nudia as well, and in our Holy Prussen Kingdom, red water is leaking from the holy site.”

“From the holy site?”

“Hmm!”

It seemed that there were quite a few nobles gathered who were deeply devoted to religions related to the Celestial Race.

As they added appropriate interjections, a man in clerical robes, Lyman, who came as a special envoy from the Holy Prussen Kingdom, continued speaking with a light smile on his face.

“It is ominous.

Ominous things are happening everywhere, shaking faith and disrupting peace as a result.

So, our Holy Prussen investigation team even went to Nudia to investigate and finally came to a conclusion.”

“What is the conclusion?”

“That the mastermind behind all these events to date is none other than the Demon Race.”

Lyman never got excited or raised his voice, even when saying the most important part.

He spoke lightly in a very gentle voice, in a soft tone.

However, the impact that Lyman brought was neither light nor gentle at all.

“The Demon Race?”

“Why is the Demon Race suddenly popping up?”

“So, in the end, those wicked beings are causing trouble!”

“Special Envoy Lyman,

Is that true?”

The reactions of those gathered in the grand hall were largely twofold.

One was to actively agree with the Holy Prussen’s opinion, saying, ‘So there was a mastermind behind all this!

It didn’t just happen!

Those damned Demon Race bastards!’

The other was to distance themselves from Special Envoy Lyman’s opinion, thinking, ‘No, why is the Demon Race suddenly being mentioned out of nowhere?

The war with Nudia has always been there, and the other things don’t seem to be related to the Demon Race.’

Ah, if I had to say, there might be one more reaction.

A reaction of wanting to rip that bastard’s mouth and kill him, no matter what he says.

‘Should I just get Kim Yu-hyun to kill that son of a bitch?’

If possible, I really wanted to do that.

But this wasn’t some bustling marketplace, it was the middle of the royal palace.

Kim Yu-hyun wasn’t a person specialized in assassination like in *Assassin’s Creed*, and even if he did kill him, killing him in a place like this could further frame it as the work of the Demon Race.

“Everyone, think about it.

Don’t you think too many things are happening at once?

I don’t know the details, but I’ve heard that unfortunate things have continued to happen in Hispania over the past few months.

They were all things that threatened the peace and prosperity of the country.

Isn’t that so?”

At Special Envoy Lyman’s words, the nobles nodded as if they all agreed up to that point.

“A series of coincidences is ultimately a planned event.

We, who follow the light and justice and have been guided by the Celestial Race in our investigation, have finally learned that the events happening on the continent are happening due to the machinations of the Demon Race.

Therefore···.”

“Sorry to interrupt you while you’re talking.”

The one who stepped forward, cutting off his words outright, was, of course, Zion.

Perhaps it was because of the expression on his face, tilting his head slightly as if he was deeply displeased.

Special Envoy Lyman narrowed his eyes at his reaction and stared at Zion.

“I don’t know what happened in the Holy Prussen or Nudia, or to what extent, but I was involved in almost everything that happened in Hispania.

No matter how much I think about it, I can’t find any parts related to the Demon Race.”

“That can happen.

Originally, the Demon Race hardly leaves any traces, so only investigators from the Holy Prussen can find them.”

He was speaking in a soft tone as usual, but Zion could only hear it as, ‘Finding traces of the Demon Race is beyond your level, so just shut up and watch.’

‘That son of a bitch?’

The desire to shatter his bones with a *fact 폭력* [fact-based violence] right away grew stronger.

However, he knew very well that going further at this timing would be toxic because of what he had done so far.

‘If I push it any further, the moment I get suspected of being a Demon Race follower, even in a half-joking way, the situation will immediately reverse.

If I come on too strong from the start, it could become the guy’s scheme, so I’ll step back for now.’

Having finished thinking that way, Zion answered, ‘Is that so?’ and stroked his chin very naturally, as if thinking that could be the case.

Thanks to that skillful acting, Special Envoy Lyman thought, ‘I can persuade the rising star of Hispania!’

And immediately continued speaking.

“I have heard a lot about Young Master Zion Claussen since entering Hispania.

You have always taken the lead in the various events that have been confusing the kingdom so far, always making the best judgments and actions.

You must have felt strange parts as much as that.

That it is suspicious that so many things keep happening like this.”

Not suspicious, I just *터트린* [burst] what would explode later in advance.

And you son of a bitch!

Half of them were caused by the fairy bastards who were instigated by the Celestial Race, right?

Those bastards may not know that far, but it is clear that they are *넘어간* [deceived] by the whispers of the Celestial Race and are acting foolishly.

“···If that’s the case.”

King Edgar IV had been listening to Special Envoy Lyman’s words quietly and finally opened his mouth.

“If all the things that have happened in this land are really the work of the Demon Race, what is the Holy Prussen Kingdom going to do now?

I don’t think you sent a special envoy all the way here just to tell us this much.”

Like Special Envoy Lyman, King Edgar IV’s voice also had a gentle atmosphere.

Of course, his sparkling eyes looked as if he would bite at any slip of the tongue.

“If we leave it as it is, all countries will fall into chaos, and if that happens, the probability that the Demon Race, who are gathered in the Mortal Realm, will break through the border and come out into the world again is very high.”

“So?”

“···Therefore, we intend to show the judgment of justice and light that has been silent for the past hundreds of years.

A holy war!

The Holy Prussen Kingdom is starting a holy war and wants to ask for help from neighboring countries as well.”

Yes, that must have been the purpose after all.

A holy war, a holy war, a holy war.

That God wants it, that the angels of light with white wings will protect it, and so on.

It was the beginning of a mess that would be decorated with a variety of *개소리* [bullshit] that this is the duty that all rational beings living peacefully on the continent must bear.

“A holy war?”

“Are you saying we should form an allied force now and advance into the Mortal Realm?”

“That’s right.

If we delay any longer, we may not even have this opportunity.

Nudia is already in crisis, and our Holy Prussen is full of *불안한 기운* [unsettling energy].

Fortunately, Hispania has the outstanding hero Zion Claussen, who has crushed all of that, but no matter how much of a hero he is, he only has one body.

If things break out everywhere, there’s no way he can stop everyone, no matter what he does.”

That *새끼* [bastard] is still praising me as a hero.

I’m so touched.

Zion looked at Special Envoy Lyman and was reminded once again that things go well if you have the skill to *터는 아가리* [smooth-talking].

If you only listen up to that point, there is no problem with the words of the guy named Special Envoy Lyman.

He is arguing that we should cut off the seeds now by taking the lead at this time because there are ominous things happening little by little, there is damage, but we can stop it, and we also have *여유* [leeway]. If we give it time and the things that we can stop now spread like wildfire everywhere, we will be too busy stopping them and in the end, we will be exhausted and fall.

“Special Envoy Lyman.

Is it really the work of the Demon Race?”

“We need definite evidence.

A holy war?

Isn’t that something that was only recorded in history books?”

“It’s difficult.

Are you saying we should ally with Nudia?”

“We have to think carefully.

Rather, this is when we can show the power of our Hispania to Nudia.”

“If it’s a holy war, not only the kingdom’s elite troops but also the best experts have to go.

What if something happens again in the kingdom then?”

The grand hall became noisy in an instant.

Opinions collided: one was to turn the internal problem into an external one, and the other was that we couldn’t *빼다 힘* [divert strength] to the outside without knowing how *상했는지* [rotten] the inside was.

“···.”

King Edgar IV was quietly watching the nobles who were expressing their opinions.

He was watching the situation in the grand hall, even *괴고 턱* [propping his chin] as if telling them to *떠들어 실컷* [talk to their heart’s content].

Thanks to that, Princess Vanessa looked at Prince Erader with a bit of tension.

Clearly, if it was her brother, he would never *넘어갈* [fall for] a problem where he could show the kingdom’s power to the outside.

At that time, Special Envoy Lyman opened his mouth as if he was aiming for this point.

“Demon Race followers have appeared in Nudia.

They interfered with our Holy Prussen investigation team and even tried to physically threaten them.

So, we deployed holy knights to suppress them and completed the investigation.

I don’t know the details, but they were thinking of the Nudian royal palace as their next target.”

Special Envoy Lyman was stabbing at Hispania’s painful parts.

The Hispanian royal palace attack incident that had never happened before.

Regardless of whether it was successfully prevented or not, the fact that such a thing happened in the first place was an act that undermined the kingdom’s pride and caused anger.

Special Envoy Lyman was listening to the events in Nudia and at the same time, he was persuading them that the events in Hispania must have been the work of Demon Race followers, without saying anything else.

“Is that true?”

The first person to react to that was Prince Erader, who had been silent until now.

Princess Vanessa sighed, thinking that what was coming had come, at the sight of him looking like a hunting dog that had just found a good *먹잇감* [prey] to *물기* [bite].

“I also received a report on part of the investigation on the way to Hispania, so I’ll have to go back to my home country to know more details.

But what is certain is···.”

“Are you really sure that they are Demon Race followers?”

Special Envoy Lyman coughed, as if he couldn’t hide his displeasure at Zion’s appearance, cutting off his words again.

Of course, Zion *피식* [smirked] smiled and continued speaking as if to say that such *같잖은짓* [pathetic tricks] wouldn’t work.

“You’ve been arguing since earlier that the conclusion is a holy war, that we should strike first, but there’s no decisive evidence that the Demon Race is involved.

The investigation team goes and discovers something, finds something, but when you look back, it’s just *번지르르한 말* [glib talk], right?”

“···*번지르르 하다니* [Glib, you say]?

Your words are a bit too much.”

“This is normal.

As you said, I am Zion Claussen, who has experienced several events in Hispania.

Do you think I wouldn’t have been able to find out that Demon Race followers were involved in this incident?

According to your opinion, what’s the difference between us *떠드는* [claiming] that our Hispania is a stupid third-rate country that can’t even find that much evidence?”

“The Demon Race are *사특한* [cunning] beings.

It’s not easy to find the related parts···.”

“Then bring the evidence that you found.

If it was possible with just words, wouldn’t we have *벌이지 못했겠습니까* [been able to wage] a holy war for hundreds of years?”

“Young Master Zion Claussen.

You’re reacting too sharply.

I don’t know how you heard my words, but···.”

How did I hear them?

I heard them as *잡소리* [nonsense] that *개만도 못한 것들* [things less than dogs] are *지껄이는* [jabbering].

“Isn’t it normal to react sharply?

You came here without knowing the current situation in Hispania and are dividing the national opinion by arguing for a holy war from the start without any accurate evidence.

You all know how much human and material resources will go into the holy war.”

At Zion’s words, several nobles nodded.

If they bring accurate evidence and talk about a holy war, they might know, but they are just explaining the circumstances and immediately *꺼내놓아서* [bringing out] the enormous word of holy war, so what is the meaning of causing this commotion.

In a situation where the whole country was *뒤숭숭한* [unsettled] due to the affairs of the northern barbarian tribes and the rebellion of the northern nobles, it was certain that it would be really *감당이 안 될* [unmanageable] if internal forces were sent to the outside.

‘I knew there would be opposition, but I didn’t know they would react so sharply.’

Special Envoy Lyman stared at Zion and *쯧*, clicked his tongue.

Perhaps because he was a war hero, he was showing a quite sensitive reaction to the loss of the kingdom’s human and material resources.

It may be a natural reaction since sending internal troops to the outside in a situation where another accident could break out at any moment is a big risk, but the picture that he or the Holy Prussen Kingdom wanted was far from that.

‘No matter what happens, the holy war must happen.’

Therefore, Special Envoy Lyman had no choice but to use his trump card.

Although not as much as the Holy Prussen, there are still many who follow justice and light and believe in the Celestial Race.

Many of the nobles gathered in this place were listening to his and the Holy Prussen’s opinions, burning with hostility towards the Demon Race and showing a positive reaction to the holy war.

‘I’m sorry, Zion Claussen.

But it can’t be helped.’

Special Envoy Lyman sighed lightly and hesitated as if he couldn’t bring himself to say it, then opened his mouth.

“Young Master Zion Claussen.

You have been reacting sensitively to each and every one of my words since earlier.

You have seen the chaos of the kingdom with your own eyes and experienced it with your body, so you know that if you leave the Demon Race alone, such things will continue to happen.”

“···What are you trying to say?”

“It’s nothing.

But perhaps you are not following justice and light, and are thinking about something else···.”

He was trying to *돌려 말하다* [beat around the bush], but it was the same as saying, ‘Are you actually a Demon Race follower?

Is this *새끼* [bastard] completely *이단* [a heretic]?’

Zion, who couldn’t not know that meaning, *하*? [Huh?] let out an *탄식* [exclamation] that was *기가 막힌* [absurd].

Looking at Zion’s reaction, Special Envoy Lyman *속으로 큭* [chuckled inwardly] smiled.

He is a hero of the kingdom, but *질시* [envy] and *의심* [suspicion] are as big as the praise he receives.

Special Envoy Lyman knew everything about how much of a big weakness the suspicion of being a Demon Race follower could be to such people, so he could no longer *토를 달하다* [argue with] his opinion.

‘Yes, step back like that.

That’s the way for all of us···.’

He had *무력화시키다* [neutralized] the one who had been *반발하다* [resisting] the most strongly, so he was about to start persuading in earnest.

“Your *오만방자함* [arrogance] is *찌르는 하늘* [sky-piercing]!

How dare you say such a thing to anyone!”

A shout that echoed through the grand hall was heard.

The nobles who were gathered were so *당황하는* [flustered] that they couldn’t hide their *기색* [expressions].

And the woman who shouted at Special Envoy Lyman.

Princess Vanessa rose from her seat, drew *시퍼런 불꽃* [fierce flames] in her two eyes, and *당도했다* [arrived] in front of Special Envoy Lyman as if she would *꽂을 주먹* [throw a punch] into him right away.